spring break: plan Q

My plans to go to Denver next week have flown out the window. Too many people out of the original group backed out to make the trip feasible for the rest of us. It is unfortunate for a lot of reasons but will be ok in the long run. I'll save a considerable amount of money and get my work done for the paper nazi.

Under no circumstances do the plans to go to Denver being cancelled equal me staying in Brookings for the week. Not a chance in hell that's going to happen. Four of my college peeps are going to get a hotel room in the Twin Cities area for a few nights. As for me, I am going to talk to my sister and see if she would like a houseguest for the week. (Tina, if you read this before I get a chance to call you, give it some thought!)

That senario is ideal for me. I would have somewhere isolated to work on my papers plus I would be close enough to hang out with my friends who will be in town and all of the other people I know in the area.

However, if my plan to hang out at my sister's doesn't work, Dawn was kind and offered to let me stay at her place. For Dawn:

yesterday

It was one of the most hilarious spontaneous days in recent memory.

Things started out normal. The plan was to make hotel reservations for Denver, work on a paper and get a couple of other little things done. I got the reservations figured out and just before I was ready to book them 2 of the 8 people going on the trip backed out. Who backs out a week before you're supposed to leave? Then panic mode set in. Now I had to find somewhere that would hopefully fit 6 people. After a bit of frantic searching, I found something that will actually work out better than the original plans.

Then a couple of the guys wanted to go get the stuff for case day. On the way out to the car we took out the garbage including our old vacuum. If you ever need to work out some aggression, take an old vacuum to the parking lot and smash against the pavement. It was one of the funnies things I've ever witnessed. It was just like the scene out of Office Space. So then we hit the town, got some lunch, rented a few movies and picked up the necessary supplies. They talked me into participating in half case day (which I didn't finish). Most of the afternoon was spent sitting around, watching movies and drinking.

Around 7 we got a little bored and wanted to do something. A spontaneous trip to Sioux Falls for ice cream? You better believe it. We all piled into the car and sober Jess was kind enough to drive us an hour down the interstate to cure our Cold Stone cravings.

Then it was back to Brookings to finish watching movies.

It was a much needed day of fun.

feelin' blue in a red state

I'm sure most of you have already heard about it but this afternoon South Dakota legislature voted to ban all abortions with the exception of those which endanger the life of the mother. Mike Rounds, South Dakota's governor plans to sign the bill. If he signs it, the law goes into practice July 1st.

I'm about as pro-choice as they come. Personally I don't think I could live with myself if I had an abortion. However, if someone else can deal with those emotions and decisions, it should be their option. It is my body and I should have the right to decide what happens to it.

There are circumstances where abortion should be considered. In this case, rape and incest were ignored. I think life is a precious thing but can you imagine the mental distress a woman would go through carrying a child conceived by rape? It would be awful. Not to mention that once the baby is born the "sperm donor" would technically have parental rights.

The timing of this bill is not a coincidence. The recent appointments of Alito and Roberts allow for a potential reversal of Roe v. Wade. The legislature is already setting up an account to accept donations that would be used to defend their decision. I can only hope that once this case reaches the supreme court (and I have no doubts that it will) they don't reverse the Roe v. Wade decision.

curling part 2

John, Shawn, Bob (coach), Joe and Pete

This is USA's men's curling team. Right now they're playing for bronze. The match started at 6am our time. Unfortunately for me, I had to leave for class. Score was 6-2 after end 6.

edit: It looks like they took the bronze with a final score of 8-6. Nice work guys!!!

johari window

I can't be the only member of team chipotle who doesn't participate. You know the drill. Go here

curling

I'm absolutley addicted to curling. I sit here in the living room watching the US vs. Canada match. It's the 9th end, Canada is leading 6-5 and they have the hammer. This isn't looking good.

*nervous, nervous, nervous*

:nerd:

edit: It ended badly. The US will now play for the bronze. Let's hope the boys from Minnesota can at least bring home a medal.

*happy dance*

I just found out my night class for tonight was cancelled. This means I have an extra 3 hours to work on my paper. WAHOO!!

a moment of zen

This picture was taken in March of 2003 when I was skiing during spring break in Alberta.


Right now I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with school. I forgot about a paper I should have started a couple weeks ago plus I'll take 2 tests within the next 2 days. I'm starting to think 18 credits was too much for this semester.

On a positive note, in regard to #'s 53 & 54 on my 100 things about me list, I'm no longer homeless as of August 1st. Friday Ace is signing a lease for a 2 bedroom apartment and has invited me to stay with her. Thanks Ace!!

eta: It is now 4:37 am and I've been up studying and working on a paper. I'm giddy because I found an article from The American Economic Review circa 1933 online. I think it could save me. Who expects to find an article online that is 73 years old? Certainly not me.

things that make me happy

this is a list I made a while ago but wanted to share:

stars

rain on sunny days

snowball fights

my friends
my family

animals (especially dogs, cats and penguins)

sunshine
trips to the lake

long walks

music

learning
movies
mail

sleeping in
not waking up alone

ice skating

softball

"calculus"

warm rain

pictures

driving

golf

rollercoasters

hugs

road trips

laughter (especially that of small children<---the happiest sound on earth)

driving the '39 Chevy
dancing
unexpected phone calls
the smell of fresh cut grass, clean laundry and my mom's homemade cookies
eta: chipotle

maintenance

The drain of the shower in one of our bathrooms was clogged and the repair guy just came to fix it. He made sure to throw it away here so the girls that use that bathroom could see what he got out of it. He also pointed out that he used a rubber glove and almost lost his lunch. twice.

*I'm scared of the garbage can but have an abnormal curiosity to check it out*

That's grandpa. The cute little girl with him is me.

adhd extreme

so I'm tired and lacking ambition. the vacuum stopped sucking. our floor is gross. lots of people are falling down on tv. shouldn't ice skaters be better than this? it's the olympics after all. 1 test down, 5 to go. tomorrow night I'm going to sleep a lot. it'll be good. we should all strive to be romantically smooth. 2 skaters left then I have to study. bison cards everywhere. I didn't eat supper tonight. I'm hungry. I should be studying. distractions are everywhere. russian adrien brody is going to win the gold medal. this guy is lord of the dance. beam me up scotty. the vacuum smells like burning. michael doesn't think oscar is american. claussen kicked the vacuum. the cheese slicer is MIA. some people eat bugs...uuuuhh. last skater. gotta catch em all. fatty fatty fat vac open up and let us play. claussen fixed the vacuum. oh wait, no he didn't, it's smoking. the files are in the computer. my laptop is serving as a space heater right now. we had to open the window because of the smoke. in soviet russia, ice skates you. skating is over. I'll stop wasting your time now.

valentines day

***WARNING: RAMBLING AHEAD***

My emotions ran on high today.

This afternoon my family buried one of the first men I ever loved, my grandpa. I'm sad and happy at the same time.

I'm sad for obvious reasons. I loved him more than life and I hate the thought of never seeing or talking to him again. I'd give anything to see him laugh or smile just one more time. It hurts like hell but losing anyone you love does.

I'm happy because I was lucky enough to know him. He brought joy to me and everyone else he knew. He loved making people laugh. I can't think of a single memory of my grandpa that was bad. He brought me so much happiness and love. There won't be a single day that I won't miss him.

---------------------

Generally I'm never sad on Valentines Day. Today was different because I felt alone. Death always has that effect on me. It always seems like the rest of the room pulls away and then I'm standing outside looking in.

Feeling alone has nothing to do with being single. I love being single and definitely believe there is a difference between being single and alone. I refuse to allow corporate America make me feel bad because I'm single.

Don't get me wrong, I have no opposition to relationships. Just because I'm not in a relationship doesn't mean I will condemn them as a whole. I don't need to be with someone to be happy. In fact, I love the idea getting married and having kids. However, I'm not going to get depressed because I'm not married or in a relationship at this point in life.

For me, Valentines Day isn't about that "special someone", it's about everyone you love. It isn't about spending a gazillion dollars on a gift. It isn't about feeling bad about yourself because you're single. It's about taking the time to say "I love you" to all of the people you care about.

here's the fam

A couple of the family pics we took today are good so I'm sharing.

Here's Mom (Kathy) and Dad (Bernie). It's my favorite photo of them. Ever.

This picture isn't quite as good. First there's me, then my brother Marvin and my sister Tina. We took some pictures of all five of us but the two on my camera turned out crappy. Hopefully my aunt got a good one.

So in case you were wondering, there's the family.

Happy Valentines Day everyone.

the greatest hurt I've ever known

It's over. Grandpa went to meet the little girl in the white dress at 10:05 this morning. I got to the hospital at 9:58. I watched him take his last breath of air. It was so peaceful for him. He took a breath and the next one never came. Mom and Grandma told him that we were coming. They said he wouldn't go until we said goodbye. I didn't have the strength to say anything. I regret it already. I should have told him I love him. He had to know, right? I haven't stopped crying. Not because of regret. It hurts. It hurts a lot.

to sarah:

when I go to your blog, I see a giant screen of pink nothingness. are you breaking things again? is this your idea of a subtle way to tell me I've been kicked off the team? what is going on at headquarters? I am confused.

long live team chipotle!

theresa

reflection

I gave this morning a lot of thought as I sat in class and I came up with a solution as to why it all went down the way it did.

Within the past couple of weeks I decided that I needed to eat breakfast every morning. If I don't eat before drinking coffee my stomach gets all upset and I get grumpy. Up to this point, I've been eating peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. Yesterday the pickles ran out so this morning I couldn't make a sandwich.

If my car wouldn't have been hit, the coffee wouldn't have spilled. If the coffee doesn't spill, I have an upset stomach and am grumpy. That is also why I have no checks, cash or my student ID. No money = no coffee = me not having an upset stomach or being grumpy = me being happier all the way around. Well, except the scuff on the bumper of my car, which just a minor detail at this point.

I like it when I figure stuff out *pats self on back*

oh what a beautiful morning

Here's how today started:

I got up and got ready to go to class. Went outside and started my car. Came inside, made coffee, brushed my teeth, etc. Left to go to class. Get to the stop sign at the end of the parking lot and all of a sudden *BAM* I get rear ended. Well, it's icy so I end up getting pushed into the Jeep in front of me so they get rear ended too. Now there's a big scuff mark on the bumper of my car. So I get the guy's information who hit me and go on my way. I get to school, park my car, go to get my coffee and find out when I got hit, the coffee cup fell out of the cup holder and there is now 16 oz of coffee on the floor in the back of my car. It's fair to let you know that I'm a pile of shit without coffee. I figure no big deal. I can stop at the coffee place on campus. Nope, can't do that either. I don't have my student ID that has flex money on it, nor are there any check blanks left in my wallet.

Why aren't there check blanks in my wallet? Glad you asked. The reason is because yesterday I had to write 2 checks out to the place where I get my oil changed becuase they told me the wrong price. Oh yeah, and they raised the price of an oil change for my car by $15. That's a 50% increase. Time to find somewhere new to go.

I think I have Earl Hickey syndrome.

frames can't catch you when you move like that

I wish I weren't so busy today. It's snowing and very beautiful outside. I want to go for a walk and take pictures. But alas, I have too much to do before I can go home tomorrow.

Time to get back at it.

100 things about me

As promised, here is the list. I think anyone who know's me will find at least 1 thing they didn't know before. At least I hope that happens.

1. my name is not Earl.
2. I’m making a list anyway.
3. I like the show Four Kings
4. One of my roommates is three feet of angry.
5. favorite sandwich: peanut butter & pickle
6. Unless it’s made with sweet pickles (sweet pickles = gross)
7. I had one for breakfast this morning
8. I’m a senior at SDSU
9. I’ll graduate in December with a BA in Economics -Business specialization
10. I’ll also have a minor in Sociology
11. I take coffee to class every morning.
12. When I grow up, I want to work in finance / investing
13. I will be living in the metro area a year from now.
14. I only like pens with black ink
15. my favorite color is blue
16. I have a hard time trusting people
17. no single person knows everything about me
18. I play golf and softball
19. I would like to successfully play tennis
20. my favorite sport to watch is baseball
21. my favorite baseball team is the Twins
22. I love photography
23. feet are gross
24. clowns & bats scare me
25. I can’t pick a favorite movie
26. penguins are my favorite animal
27. I went ice skating tonight and fell down twice.
28. I won’t be able to walk tomorrow because of it
29. I’m learning how to stop
30. the first (and only) time I skied was in the Canadian rockies at sunshine village
31. I enjoy camping in the summer
32. favorite breakfast: breakfast burrito
33. Thanksgiving is my favorite holdiay
34. favorite coffee place: Caribou
35. I have cool “internet friends”
36. my biggest fear is my mom dying
37. I had a dream last night that she got shot
38. I drive a VW Passat
39. it is a manual
40. I didn’t like or drink milk until I came to college
41. I have a journal
42. I should write in it more often
43. favorite childhood pet: a blue healer named Duke
44. he got hit by a car
45. I was born in Spencer, Iowa
46. I moved to Minnesota when I was 3
47. I lived on a farm until I was 13
48. during summer vacation I got up early to do chores even though I didn’t have to
49. there are over 250 dvd’s in my apartment
50. I like playing in the rain
51. this is my last difficult semester of school
52. I name plants
53. as of 8/1/06 I will be homeless
54. I’m not worried about it
55. I took 4 years of Spanish
56. I remember very little of it
57. the next car I buy will be another VW or a Mazda
58. I’m trying to plan a trip to Denver
59. it isn’t going well
60. if I could only travel to one country it would be Ireland
61. I like swimming
62. there is a hole in my sock
63. I made a pasta salad and potato casserole for supper
64. there are a lot of leftovers
65. I cried at work 3 times this afternoon
66. I get embarrassed when people see me cry
67. it makes me feel weak
68. there is a nice park across the street from my apartment where I like to walk
69. 69!! (it’s like I’m 12)
70. my lamp’s name is Rita: she’s part bowling ball and part hawaiian
71. I have a brother and a sister who I get along with
72. I want to get a private pilot’s license
73. I flew a $4 million jet
74. I’m addicted to the game donkey conga
75. my birthday is November 27^th
76. trombones led the big parade
77. I’ve always wanted to own an island
78. I’m drinking a raspberry woodchuck cider while writing this
79. I want to learn how to play guitar and piano
80. I count money, play pool, guitar and cards left handed
81. I have three fish: Justin, Rob and Fez
82. I would like to have a real pet
83. I was born in 1983
84. I sing loudly when I don’t think I can be heard
85. some people call me steven
86. if I were a boy, my name would be josh
87. I can’t sleep when it’s hot
88. I have a large head
89. when I make snow angels, they have big heads
90. I like getting mail
91. I get all warm and fuzzy when someone holds my hand
92. I like taking naps
93. I would rather stay up late than wake up early
94. I get up early a lot
95. I’m a member of girl’s team chipotle
96. I hate it when people lie to me
97. I don’t spend change – it goes in my piggy bank
98. I’m a sucker for a guy who can sing
99. I like moJItos
100. favorite soda: diet coke

untitled

I had a good weekend mostly. I had a great time in the cities. For a recap of the events, see Dawn's blog (link on right).

I talked to my sister on the way home yesterday and found out that my grandpa isn't doing very well. He has cancer and we've known about it for a few months. He has gone downhill fast. My mom and dad went down Saturday night to stay with him and Grandma. He was up about every 30 minutes through the night. I guess he is starting to see things like little girls in white dresses coming out of the walls as well.

We knew the end was coming but things like this makes me realize that it's going to be sooner rather than later. It hit me last night and it is all I've been able to think about. I'm not in any way prepared to deal with this. He's the only grandfather I've ever had. I want to be optimistic and say he'll make it through but I'd be lying to myself. I know he'll be better off and I don't want him to suffer anymore but I'm selfish and don't want him to go.

I'm going home this weekend to visit. I don't want to go but it could be the last time I see him alive.

On a lighter note, I'm working on my "100 things about me" list. Hopefully I'll have it up tonight or tomorrow.

I'm lame

I gave up fun(sorry Jess) to go grocery shopping, study and do laundry.

This week sucks.

The End.

ten top trivia tips about me!

I ripped off Dawn's idea who she ripped off of someone else. Some of these are good. My favorite is number one. It's really funny for some reason.

1. Theresa will give a higher yield if milked when listening to music.
2. Theresa can't sweat.
3. It's bad luck to put theresa on a bed.
4. 99 percent of the pumpkins sold in the US end up as theresa.
5. Theresa can turn her stomach inside out.
6. Theresa is the world's tallest woman.
7. Theresa has 118 ridges around the edge.
8. The condom - originally made from theresa - was invented in the early 1500s.
9. While sleeping, fifteen percent of men snore, and ten percent grind their theresa.
10. Most bottles and jars contain at least twenty-five percent recycled theresa.