Hide and Seek

Wow, ten days. A lot has happened, but sometimes I just can't write anything. But I will try.

I forgot how hard it is to make good lasting friendships. Yes I have friends that I have made at school, but I still feel alone. I miss everyone and I'm afraid I won't make friendships like I had. I was so content with my surroundings and friends and now everything has been pulled out from underneath me. When I go home I wont even have a room anymore.

I was given a warning about the West Side of campus. "It's nice, but it has a way of cutting you off from the world." Apart from my lack of current news and knowledge about what is going on in the world overall, I also feel very separated from the main campus. With only two dorms on the west side right now and the third larger one being renovated there seems to be no life.

But if I weren’t in the city, I wouldn’t be able to witness a fight on an overly crowded train or be asked for money every block or a drunken bachlorette party on a trolley hitting people on the street with a large penis or watch a paralyzed man go over the Chicago river via a tightrope. The last one is going to happen at the Merchandise Mart coming soon.

I'm becoming poor fast. The city has a way with my pocketbook. Plus the girls like to take me shopping, something they should learn not to do. I know being rich doesn’t bring happiness, but it will buy me the stuff I want and need. I haven't been robbed yet. I must intimidate them.

I need to go get a haircut...

I still feel like a stranger to this city. I don't know where to go, what to do. You can’t miss what to think. Anti-Bush. Along with my school. Every professor so far has in one way or another brought the topic to how they dislike Bush. It's almost annoying. I'm no Republican but I disassociate myself with the Democrats everyday. I almost had a job with the Democratic National Convention until I realized their strategy was based on hating Bush and hating Republicans. You can hate Bush but don’t base your party on that. Once he's gone what do you have? And as for hating Republicans, they have the views they have because they have to. There must be division and disagreement for democracy. There can’t be one party. The Democrats were focused on killing Republicans. But then when they are gone what next? So I ditched them.

I've also been looking for other random jobs such as a test subject. Some psychological research here at UIC is supposed to call me back. I've heard sperm banks are great sources for money, but I don't know how I would feel knowing I have children that I will never know. There is one right down the street from me... Worst comes to worst, the Target here is amazing! It's two floors and has an escalator for your cart! It blew my mind away so much that I stood there for about two minutes watching it. Is it weird that I almost miss working there??

It's time for a new life to being.

Long Time, No See?

I know I haven't posted in a long time. But in all honesty, how do I describe what's going on?

Basically classes have started. The classes I am taking now force me to question whether I even left high school.
History 100 - Beginning of Time - 1648, cliché history class
Modern Greek 101 - Good class!
English 160 - Shoot me. I hate English classes
Classics 102 - Good, boring at times added to the fact that we don't do anything
LAS 110 - Success in the City - I hate this class. It's stupid, sucks, and the teacher is a slight bitch, pardon my French.

The one thing about classes I like here is my ability to

A) Not go if I so wish, though most of my professors take attendance.
B) Go outside and not be stuck in one building all day
C) There is no C.

All in all I'm having a great time. Like I said before, the people here are good and I've made some good friends. But that’s just the Polk Street way I guess. Wow that was bad.

I keep telling myself everyday, "Don't get fat! Don't get fat!" I try to eat healthy more often and I've cut pop/soda out of my diet a good amount of the time. Once I get into the hang of things, I'm going to start to work out every week. By the time I come back I will be a powerhouse of muscle...Have you puked yet? Stop laughing at me! I can do it...

I declared my minor! I now am majoring in History with a minor in Anthropology.

Yeah, I think I'm done.

Battle of Who Could Care Less

It never stops raining. Except for the past few minutes Uranus has been mating with Ge. I just got out of classics class. Don't ask.

My first day of class, I woke up late. Not late as in "I missed my class," but later than I wanted to get up. I rushed out the door putting on clothes fitting for a warm sunny day. I was soaked before I reached the bus stop. I also forgot to buy some books and notebooks. The whole day I seemed to be behind, never able to catch up. I was wet, cold and pissed by the time I arrived back at my dorm.

Today I woke up on time, though getting to an 11 o'clock class is not hard. I decided I needed to shave and it was a perfect time to use my new electric shaver. I had used it once before and it didn't cut very close and left patches of hair. However the manual says it takes time getting used to it. So I gave it my time.

I should shave every morning, that way it doesn’t leave as much behind. However I am lazy and shave every few days. After I went through once, I had an uneven strange looking beard. I kept going over it but it didn't seem to do much. So I brought my trimmer out which also can double as a small shaver. It was still in its shiny new package that I broke a pair of scissors trying to open. I need to explain to Pat why his scissors are now in two pieces.

After struggling with the package for five minutes, I got to use it. However, I had never charged it. It died within three seconds. So I gave it some time to charge while I got dressed. I came back and used the regular shaver some more. Now my bathroom has no storage space or counters, except a small metal overhang off the mirror, which is broken, and hangs down a bit. I foolishly set my trimmer on this piece of crap. It fell into the toilet. Things started to go south from there.

My shaver decided to eject the blades on its own will. I could not get them back on. I relied on my small, wet trimmer to do the rest of the job. But it still was not charged enough. I had very little time left to get to the shuttle and get to my class. I had no choice but to leave my face as is. Again I hope it would be nice out. The moment I stepped out those doors it started to drizzle. When I got to the east side it was pouring.

Apart from this my phone is falling apart, literally. The plating is starting to come up making my keys harder to reach and harder to use. Basically everything has gone to hell.

Emily Wood, Stop Spying on Me!

That's right, I'm on to you woman. The moment I leave you start spying on this blog. Maybe I will close it down. Thanks for letting Mom and Dad in on it too! Good thing I didn't put "questionable" material on this blog...

Will I ever escape this family? When if ever are you going to move out? I'm a big boy now.

Is It Any Wonder?

The past few days have crawled by and I feel like I've been here longer than I really have. The morning I moved in I was anxious and unsure of what to do or think. However sad it may be to leave your family, it's also exciting to go off and start a new life apart from them. My mother was also very sick and unable to see my off. Sort of a downer, but nonetheless I am only 45 minutes to an hour away.

My dorm isn't as big as I would have liked, but after some reorganizing it looks much better. I'm very glad that I like most of the people here. Within the first day alone I met very nice and funny people. I hope I don't scare them. I can be very weird...

I found out how much of an escape the Internet is and how often we use it. I never realized before...

I've wandered around the city, walked far, VERY far, and figured out how to use the el. The el is the train/subway system for all of you non-city folk. Now if I could only figure out those damn buses I would be good!

I woke up to the strong smell of marijuana this morning. I was wondering if I was going to get high of the fumes. Welcome to college!

The food is not bad here. I get one meal a day at the cafeteria, and then about $500 for the semester to use anywhere including the fast food restaurants littered around campus. However $500 on my stomach may not be enough. I'm trying to eat healthy! And I walk a lot so I think I'm safe from the "Freshman 15."

There was a foam party the other night. It was a bit lame, but I am a lame person so of course I jumped right in. However I did not know the dangers of this foam. It stung the eyes, and hid a small concrete structure that killed many people. But the worst vice of all happened when none other than your friendly/clumsy buffoon, Michael Wood, accidentally swallowed a large chunk of foam. I gasped for air as I struggled out of the foam. As I started to dry heave the head RA was asking me if I was all right. Do I look all right? How about some water? I didn't go back in.

This blog is very sporadic and not linear in its time frame. Confused? So am I.

My Penis Hurts

Simply stated, this blog is a very straightforward.

I was in Sam's pool for her little get together for the people leaving for college i.e. Merika, Miles, Zachary, Ian, Melissa and I. We were at her aunt's house with pool, food and good times. After hours of swimming/eating I felt a small tinge, though thought nothing of it at first. As I was playing with the goggles and snorkel, my "member" started to burn intensely. And not just anywhere on Mr. Dick, right on his head where there are more nerve endings than anywhere else on my body. Why am I cursed?

After getting out of the pool and inspecting my package I thought it best not to go back into the pool with the chlorine and all...

The rest of the day I struggled to get by. Walking became a chore and everywhere I went I had to hold it, looking as if I was hiding something else...

Amy's mom is a nurse. So Kayla thought it best to ask her what to do. She recommended a warm shower and a good washing. And I followed her instructions. The pain was so extreme my massive sunburn felt like a soothing massage.

If it still hurts tomorrow morning I'm going to a doctor!

...but now I am

Night changes many thoughts. I am now prepared and excited to move on. At the party tonight, I wasn't sad, surprisingly, as I said goodbye to people I may not see until next winter, the people I have grown to love and be with.

This sounds bad but hear me out. I'm not sad to say goodbye to everyone. Not that I won't miss them. In fact I will miss many of them too much to express. But I am glad that they will also be moving on in their lives, having different and exciting futures. It's the course of life. Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. Wow, I guess that has duel meanings in my life these days...

My room is becoming bare and ugly. My whole life is either packed into a box sitting around my room or either in a trash heap far away where it will decompose for years. Or do they burn trash? I've moved many times before, but this is different. I will be alone. Away from my family, my friends and my dogs! Oh lord I don't know what I will do without Graeme by my side. I know this sounds pathetic right? But he has been MY dog and my best friend for six years now. I don't know what he will do all alone with that bitch Maggie ruling the house. The brat.

To my friends I say goodbye. I don't know if I will ever find people as interesting, quirky and loving than the ones I have now. I will miss you all dearly and I hope the best to you all in life. I'm sorry for whatever stupid thing I did to you. I'm sorry if I ever treated you wrongly. I'm sorry if I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry if I didn't get to know you.

Come to Chicago sometime. I will show you a good time...once I know my way around...

Now that I stand on the edge, I don't want to jump

The past few days have been quite an experience. Saturday morning I left with Kayla, Ian and Amy to Lakewood, WI to stay with her grandfather for a few days. The first day alone we did enough tubing to make my arms fall off. That night however we laid on the boat and watched the stars. It's amazing how small one feels when they look out to the massive galaxy above.

I was completely relaxed, something I had not been for a while. I forgot everything that night, and didn't want to come back. Apart from boating and tubing we also went hiking in the woods, which I found amazing though others where either unimpressed or angry. I realized how much we humans don't stop our lives once in awhile and look around us. Maybe that's the solution to all the world's problems, people just need to relax once in awhile.

The last day we went white-water rafting. The rapids weren't too difficult though we did manage to get stuck on quite a few rocks. The drops were good and an amazing rush. Amy did fall in once and got stuck more than usual to the amusement of us all.

Today however I managed to watch all three Lord of the Rings movies. The extended versions of course. I went over to Gabby's house at 9 am. We finished at 11:11 pm. Why do I pay attention to these things? Because I'm special like that. It was nice to spend time with her alone one last time. Watching all three in a row also makes it more special and gives the movies more emotion because you feel like you have been with them on this long journey and have experienced everything they have.

And as the boat leaves for Valinor carrying some of the most important people in all Middle Earth and as the friends say goodbye for the last time I am reminded of my soon departure. I heard a line from some song that happens to be the title of this blog. And it describes my thoughts. I don't want to leave this life behind. Everything I know is here in this town (however boring it may be) and in my friends. And now, all will be pulled up from underneath me and I will be facing life full force. I know this is what I have wanted for years, but why am I not excited?

Corny? I know. Emo? Definitely!

Time to Dance?

I apologize for that last blog. I was in a little Debbie downer mood and content to whine and complain about life until I made myself feel better. But onto new things!

Oh wait, nothing has happened. Really. This week I only worked two nights, so that meant waking up late to a small collie taking up half my bed and leaving a sea of hair all over me. Disgusting? I know! I'm just in a constant state of waiting, and anticipation to the day I move out!!

This is a very boring blog. I felt that I needed to post something because it has been awhile, but I have found myself doing nothing the past week. Help me!

Rapport?

I'm alone. No spouse, lover, friend with benefits or even a one-night stand. I've always said I like the single life, and I do. But I also wish I had someone to be with. I see all the couples and best friends around me and realize I'm all alone. And yes, I know most of it is my fault. I've avoided a relationship since day one of high school. Plenty of girls have wanted my attention, but I have rejected them. On a worldly level, some weren't of astonishing beauty. And on a deeper level I knew they weren't the one I wanted to spend my life with. Some of my friends said, "You need practice." I say Love doesn’t need practice. Do I expect to Love at first sight? I guess so. Is that unrealistic? Probably. Will I ever Love?

As I drove home from bowling, it hit me. It was nice outside and I just wanted to drive around. I ended up at the middle school and sat on my car looking up at the black sky with the stars I could see. And at that moment I wished I had someone to share it with. My loneliness hit me. It happens at random moments in my life.

And now that my dog has just puked next to me I have lost my train of thought. This emotional (emo) blog is over!

My World

Let me tell you a story. It happened last night at Target right at 10 pm when the store closed. I was helping at the front lanes to get the last of the guests, as we call them, out of the store.

A lady in my lane scoffed about how long I took with the last guest. I'm sorry but the previous guest wanted her Peanut M&M's. There was nothing I could do about it. After I scanned all her items, the total came to $31.43. I remember the exact amount because I was so angry.

She had a gift card with $8.21 on it. I scanned it and it deducted $8.21 from the total cost. On the screen it said "Payment: $8.21" She than gave me $8.21 thinking that is what she owed when in reality she owed about $23.22 I was not paying attention took it. I typed in an extra $8.21 in cash, but there was still $15.01 to be paid. I told her and she took the cash back from me. She thought she owed only $15.01.

Since she took the cash back from me, I asked another cashier how to cancel out the tender that was paid to me. He didn't know. I told her that $8.21 is going to be added to the amount due since she took the money back. She started blaming me for overcharging her and kept telling me it was my fault. I calmly tried to explain it to her, but she wouldn't listen.

Something snapped. She blamed me. I wasn't going to take any more crap. I take shit from people everyday at Target and I am tired of it. So I got mad, and she could clearly see it, as did the other cashier who promptly called the manager of the front lanes. Jen came over and I explained the situation to her. After I was done, the "guest" said, "No, this is how it really happened," and said how I told her she owed $8.21 and then added another $8.21 to the total cost.

Jen is not stupid and saw what happened and explained it to the lady. It took a few more tries but she finally understood. Even though Jen was saying the same thing I was, the lady understood her cause she didn't want to listen to me. It was very awkward after Jen left and the guest paid for the rest.

In retrospect, it wasn't a big deal, but like I said, something snapped inside of me and I got very mad. It had been a long day.

The picture, that is how I felt.

Memoirs of A Hat

I got my MacBook! Thank Vishnu! I’m writing this post on it right now. I have taken her virginity. She is my honey-buns and we will make sweet love together!

Anyway, back to my life...

I went to Big Woods today to play some ultimate Frisbee with Stan, Stan's brother, Cory, David and his brother, Darin, Andre and Steve. Miles and Ian joined us later. Despite the heat and the player’s lack of stamina including me, we played on. Lots of sweat, Gatorade and slurpees later I felt good. I had actually gone outside and was active. And I got to hang around with people I don't normally see. Some of them I don't see for a reason, but that is beside the point.

After that I went to go see Lady in Water with Ian, Devin, Amy and Lindsay at Charlestown. But before the movie started we went shopping where a fatal and tragic event happened. My hat, 77, was lost. I didn't notice until after the movie ended. I believe I left it in Bath and Bodyworks due to me trying on hand lotions. I must have set it down when I tried to wash the nasty crap off my hands. I am so absent minded that it scares me.

The movie. I loved it! I think Shamalan (sp?) is an amazing writer and director. His work is original and the way he shoots his movies is creative and simply amazing. I loved every minute of it. However, the rest did not. After the movie ended, Amy and Devin started laughing. It made me more confused than mad. Why didn't they love it? But all is relative and because I loved it doesn’t mean they have to. Unless I make them. Which I will.

Ian on the other hand, didn't say anything when the movie ended but claimed he thought the same thing that Devin and Amy where saying. Then after hearing my rant on how good it is, suddenly he thought it was "O.K." I'm onto you Ian!

Naperville: #2 Town in America

I woke up yesterday morning to three things:
1) One dog was scared of the storms and shoved his face into mine hoping I would console him
2) The other dog decided to lie on my bed and take up half of the room, leaving little for me
3) A horrible and never-ending thirst

I tried everything. Brushing my teeth, eating cereal, drinking juice even a little bit of water. But nothing quenched my thirst. I knew what I wanted. Lemonade. But it was 9 am! Isn't against some unwritten rule to drink sugary things that early? I didn't care. I hurried over to Target and bought the lemonade that was calling to me. As I drank it, I knew it was the best lemonade ever.

Being bored and having nothing to do, I watched the movie I got from the library. The Machinist. Christian Bale (Batman Begins) was the main character. He was 120 lbs. Worse than me. Worse than Paul. Every bone of his body was sticking out. His head was all skull and skin. I about puked. The plot line doesn’t matter. The skeleton walking around distracted me.

A bunch of us went to Naperville last night as well. The list included Ian, Kayla, Tim, Christina, Lindsay, Megan, Devin, Kyle and Jimmy. We ate at Mongolian Barbecue. It was do-your-own Stir Fry and a lot of fun. The place was busing with fun, heat/steam and the price was a wee bit high. Afterward we walked around the town stopping at Barnes and Noble. As the night and heat dragged on we found and funny looking fountain and what else would we do but jump in to the amazement of many bystanders. We had ourselves some drunken fun without any alcohol. The drive home was a bit drenched but it was worth it.

The last get together before the inevitable. :(

You take care of my kids, or I'll get you in Hell.

His last words spoken to anyone on this earth. To my Grandmother. He is my ancestor, my blood, my Grandfather. My family's skeleton in the closet. He wrote to his brother before leaving this earth.

"By the time you read this I will have done a very terrible thing. I want you to do me a favor. Sell everything I got and some how give it to the kids. If you can take them to live with you and be a good dad to them. I tried and was doing a pretty decent job. (I thought.)
If you could possibly do this for me I will be eternally grateful. Tell the kids what happened and why. Never let the truth be buried from them. We are all part of the human race that doesn’t like to be lied too.
...Well, Joe this is it. I feel like I am going to pull up to the front lines. Tell everybody I pulled some boners in my life but I'll bet this is the last one. Tell mom I sure am cold sober too. But I have to have something before I do it.
With Brotherly Love, Bob."

He then proceeded to go to my Grandma's parent's house (my great-grandparents). There he planned to take my grandma and kill her where he would follow with suicide. However her parents fought him, and he shot both of them. My mom and four uncles were very young. However one of my uncles (I don't know which one) did witness the events.

My grandfather hit my grandma with the butt of the gun, causing her to fall down. He then called his family and told them what he had done. They pleaded with him to stop but he refused. He asked them to come pick the kids up so he could finish killing my grandma. They were unable to. My uncle cried out to his father to stop. He wouldn't. My uncle wanted to go with his father. Bob wouldn't allow it.

He looked at my grandma and said "You take care of my kids, or I'll get you in Hell." He then walked outside and when the police showed up, he shot himself in the head.

I have known about this for a while, though my family doesn’t talk about it. My mom has been searching for everything about that night and recently, she found his journal. It isn't long and only documents his last few days before he committed the act. I read what I could. His handwriting in the beginning is horrible. Almost looks as if a kid wrote it. Words are misspelled and sentences don't make sense. But by the end, it changes into amazing cursive that is too good for me to even read.

I still don't know why he did it. His diary talks about the "Truth" of why he left, the "Truth" of his actions but it makes no sense to me. My grandma will not talk about it. And I am afraid her secrets will die with her.

They say I look a lot like him. The picture above is of my grandparents on their wedding day. I never knew my grandfather. I only know him by pictures, the police report on the table downstairs, and his short diary that was hidden from us until now.

Shuffle Up and Deal

Did Texas really create Texas hold-em? Or did they just want to attach their name to boost their pride even further? The latter sounds good to me. Another poker night! YAY!

It started out a little shaky. With a $5 fee to get in and my chips dwindling, I was not the happiest camper alive. But I soon forgot the game and relaxed. Had some good/strange times. Introduced the group to the meaning of losing one's blob. The chips had a mind of their own and started flowing to me. Slowly at first but by the end, much faster.

I am writing this half awake. It probably doesn’t make much sense.

Lindsay, Kyle went out. Ian was next but bought another set of chips to our dismay. Isaac also went out but followed suit with Ian. He didn't last long. The chips liked me better. Ian again was running out, and the chips were flowing between Amy and I when disaster struck. Lindsay, our card-dealer, became tired and left. But she is a sly one. A fox in disguise.

I told you, I'm tired.

As we saw her pull away, Amy realized the $40 pot was gone. And who had it? We blamed Lindsay. As we watched her cruelly drive away, we called her. "I wanted to get you ice-cream," she said. We were furious. And yet all of us knew she wouldn't do it. We all hoped she wouldn't do it. Ian and Isaac took off in haste after her in the Maroket, when Lindsay led us via phone to the true hiding place of the money. Amy's mom!

But we aren't ready to hand the money right back to Isaac and Ian. What shall become of this $40? Only time will tell.

I get some!! I was so winning!

Foamed Mouth

It's coming! It's coming! My baby is coming! In 5 buisness days it shall be here. I shall hold it to my bosom like a new born infant that wants to suckle from its mother's teat.

Now that you are done puking I will tell you what I mean. My MacBook is on its way. And I am giddy like a schoolgirl who has just lost her virginity.

What is with these metaphors I am making?

Do I Really Need A Title?

I hated every person that walked through those doors. I glared at them, in my mind of course. If they knew for one second they were not wanted, they would complain and I would be jobless. I'm a slave to other people's wills. I only stay there because they entice me with money, more than other places pay.

I was scheduled to work yesterday, the Fourth of July, from 5-11pm. That meant no fireworks for Michael. I sped through my work and at 8 asked my boss if I could go early. She agreed only if I did more work. Another hour of boring repetitive tasks and I was out the door. The parking lot was full. People sitting outside theirs cars, having parties, waiting for the fireworks. But I needed to leave! As I (carefully) sped through the crowded parking lot, I noticed they had blocked off the entrance/exit. I was angry/confused/tired/hurried/needing to pee. Luckily they had one open and were directing traffic. I was the only person leaving. They all looked at me like I was the biggest inconvenience ever. The feeling was mutual.

After more crowd surfing in my car I got to my street, which happened to be packed with more people who did not live there. I admit. I was going fast. But A) It's my street B) I had to get to Paul's before the fireworks C) Did I mention I live there and not all of these people? I got yelled at to slow down. Yes, I needed to slow down, but how dare this woman say such a thing to me. I live here. I have seen people use my street for traffic. I have seen people with their loud engines show off down my street. I have seen accidents and people lying on the pavement, a bloody mess. I yelled back "I live here!" I may have flicked her off. Not too sure. I was focused on getting home.

My dogs were surprised. Why is he home? What's going on? I was in such a rush it scared them. But I got my crap and started running. I found my family and their friends and talked to them for a while. And then I ran again. I took another short break at the school were a drunk girl happened to see me and started to dance with me. I ran again, this time even faster. I saw small fireworks going off in the distance and I knew I was missing fun.

Other than that it was a normal Fourth of July with the explosions, drunks and people angry with you cause you are disrespectful and don't love America because somehow America is the best country alive. I don't know about you, but I think there are much better places in this world, such as Western Europe, Brazil, Istanbul, Tajikistan (cool name), Israel, Japan and Antarctica. It's the one place in this world where you don't owe allegiance to anyone! How cool is that?

How do I end this blog...

Spelunking

You know when you’re bored? What do you do? Sit around the house. Watch some TV. Play some games. Read a book. All of those are fun at times, but after you have exhausted every option then what do you do? Maybe call some friends and debate about what to do. After an hour or thinking what to do, you go to a friends house and watch a movie. Movies are good, but you've watched one almost everyday, and you want to spice your life up. Do something new. However your stuck in good ole Batavia, Illinois and what can you do? Nothing other than what is mentioned above. Welcome to my life.

I tried adding some of those spices by getting together with people I have never hung with but somehow know. Their names, Mackenzie and Natalie Brooks. I know what your thinking. He takes two ladies out to Noodles and Co. for a pimping date. Get your mind out off the gutter. Mackenzie has a boyfriend and Natalie is 13. You sick freak.

I had a good time with my ladies and will soon break that social barrier of Natalie's. She will break through. I am determined. The Brooks are so funny/witty/cool. That's right Zachary, we had fun. :-D

They soon had to go home and I was again left alone. Thank god Miles suggested calling Mike Meaden, or we would never had found our heaven! Mike and Cory took Miles, Zachary and I to a place we never knew existed but we hoped was out there in the endless shops and stores that we care nothing about. It is called The Cave. Games, food and hanging for a relative cheap price. Other than the very hot and uncomfortable heat, it was everything I wanted. I rocked out to Franz Ferdinand in Guitar Hero. I'm not the best but soon will be. I will dream of that place until I can go back. It is my long lost love, or really the love I never had. "Oh Michael, when will you date?" Who knows? Not me. Not you.

Now I am faced with a dilemma. What do I do? Go to church/appease my family/become holy? Or go to the flea market/be social/see Zachary before he leaves/buy something cool? Do I dare stir the pot and not go to church? Do I dare face the wrath of my parents? Do I want to go to hell? Possibly.

Last Chance

So, before we all leave for college a few of my friends and I want to go on a trip. We discussed road trips and camping trips. Why not both at the same time? A road trip to somewhere far (or sort of far) and then camping. My ideal vacation would be backpacking. However this is impossible right now due to the amount of people going and the fact that I would die. I don't know what the hell I'm doing.

So we are planning on going to Custer State Park in South Dakota. A long, fun (hopefully) road trip with a few days of camping/hiking/biking. And due to Zachary going to Japan and everyone moving for college, we can only go in a very small time frame in August. I tried to plan it last night, but some of my friends (COUGH COUGH for those of you who are reading) got lazy and didn't want to do it. That's fine, but I have a sense of urgency to get this planned out, make sure everyone can go, get Paul to drive and get reservations before Zachary leaves in a week or so.

I got frustrated at them and I feel sorry. But we need to get this thing done quick before it turns into all of our other "escapades" meaning nothing happens. Remember the "secret island camping?" Course you don't. It never happened. If we get everything organized, our parents may be more willing to let us go. And everything hangs on Paul. If he doesn't go, we need a car. Of course Paul was "busy" last night "watching" a movie with Aimee even though I told him we were going to try and plan it before hand and he said he would come!!!! AAAAHHH!!!

Calm down Michael. Don't become a bitch.

On the flip side, my parents have left the state for the weekend and I am free from their evil clutches! In the words of Martin Luther King Jr. "Free at last we are free at last!"

Now I feel bad for using such great words for my very stupid cause...

The picture: The Yew Trees from Hampton Court Palace in England. Beautiful, yet deadly. Very poisonous. Don't touch unless you want to die.

Purgatory a.k.a In-Between

Really, nothing eventful has happened, happening or will happen (so I believe). Some people have wondered why I have not blogged as of late (Zachary) and it's because my life is boring. It is not always this way, just in this purgatory I'm in between high school and college. I believe its called summer, but I haven't been able to tell. Summer hasn’t meant much ever since sophomore year in high school. Sure, I do things with my friends. But it still isn’t the same now that I work. I remember the days where I would burnt red all over my body except for my feet which would be pitch black. What good days those were. Thank you Target for consuming my life. But if it wasn’t Target, then something else would be eating me. Let's just be glad I don't work at places such as the Woof Wash or the Library... ;)

I earned that biggest spender award at Devin's party. After paying almost $300 back just to make up for my numerous "bounces" and hefty fees, I realized something has to change. No more Starbucks during work anymore. No more trips to the mall. No more $40 pair of shorts...or where they $60? I’m going "cold turkey" style. Maybe I will start a budget. However it is very difficult to know my monthly income when it changes every two weeks. But I need to start saving more and being chaste...with my money that is.

The "Freshman 15" scares me. Even though I may be a pile of bones right now, I have seen people plump out fairly quickly. I have become much more aware of all the crap I eat. And it's not even gaining weight that scares me. Diabetes runs in my family, and I am addicted to sugar. Pop is a rare thing in my house anymore, which is good. Water will do me just fine. But there are cookies and chocolate stored in the secret places of my home that will kill me one day. These are my goals. Spend wisely and eat healthy. Now, to actually achieve them...

Again, the picture above has no correlation to my blog. I just like it.