halcyon_dusk

Man have I been busy...

1. New Job - I've been in training the last 2 weeks for my new job. I can't really get into my job here, but needless to say, it is truely a stretch for my normal talent.

2. Thesis - I had to revise my proposal for my advisor before the beginning of this semester.

I have basically no time to write right now. I will update when I get a moment, I just wanted to tell you I am still alive!

Did you ever have a night when you had no energy whatsoever?

I mean, no energy, not just tired, but unable to move! That was me last night. I felt as if I was in some kind of waking coma for the entire night. I have begun to think that, given I stay on the same level of physical exercise and diet, I may eventually morph into some kind of "brain-in-a-vat," unable to communicate with the outside world with anything other than the random brainsignal-to-keyboard interface, except the vat would be my actual body itself.

OK... so that was strange. Needless to say, I was able to get around and do my usual routine this morning, I think I just needed a good night's sleep. Or maybe it actually happened and I don't even know I am living in a dreamworld...

Whatever.

Ok, so I am basically forced now to acknowledge the downside of academics... that being that I am now soundly unfit to do manuel physical labor of any variety.

Yesterday, I helped my father-in-law and brother-in-law, (both of whom are pretty fit), insulate the attic and walls of a neighborhood house.

I got the "easy" job of putting the cellulose into the hopper so they could spray it down in the house.

Not only did I temporarily lose control and feeling of my feet from standing outside in the cold for 8 hours, but I also feel as if I killed myself with all the lifting and work, (as you might have guessed, had I been even the least bit in shape, this would have been a cushy job).

I may have the soft, milky-white hands of an elitist academic, but in my heart burns the fire of a burly he-man of industry.

And my arms hurt like crazy.

Now I ponder what exactly I am suppose to do with myself now that I have all this freetime.

I have considered devoting myself full-time to a number of short-term time investment opportunities, including cleaning out my TIVO, (i.e. watching probably 80 hours worth of TV that has been accumulating since beginning of October), working on my very outdated website, playing videogames, or simply hibernating.

Turns out I have "chores" and other "tasks" that demand my attention as they have been generally ignored as I devoted myself to academic endeavors over the past few months.

Not really falling into one of these categories, (and hence my immediate interest and doing it), was shopping for and wrapping my daughter's presents. The shopping part doesn't really interest me that much, I mean, I like seeing what she is going to get, but I don't like shopping in general. The wrapping part is where I shine: call me metrosexual if you want, but I feel that I am particularly good at wrapping presents, a trait that people have informed me is a bit "unmanly".

With these individuals in mind, I endeavor to discover which is the easiest way to give a huge lump of coal- boxing, bagging, or simply wrapping?

"It is finished."

My two 20-page papers that is.

It never ceases to amaze me how much one person is able to accomplish if he/she puts their mind to it. It also never ceases to amaze me how much time one can waste if one puts their mind to it as well... I bet I could have been done with these papers 2 weeks ago if I hadn't kept getting distracted by TV/Blogging/Email/Gaming and the like.

Oh well, they're done.

Well, this past weekend Jenn and I went ahead and decorated the house for Christmas.

I have never had a live Christmas tree before.

We decided on our way home Saturday that we would get a live tree this year. We saw a place along the side of the road, (homemade sign), and stopped to see what it was all about. The guy, (whom I am fairly sure was under the influence of alcohol or some other type of substance), gave me the lowdown; $25 for any tree on the lot.

While this seemed like a great deal, at least when we are talking about killing a tree, we had to be careful. The trees, as I expect all samples of random plantlife in this region, vary from specimen to specimen, aka: the towering giant vs. the Charlie Brown tree.

Needless to say, we wanted to get our money's worth. We ended up chopping down a huge 8 1/2 foot tall Douglas Fir with only my wife and child to help me to secure it to the top of our SUV... so I was pretty much on my own to try to heft this gigantic plant 8 feet in the air, (as my wife was unable to help due to a bad back she has been dealing with, and my daughter is a lazy 16-month old, plus the 'tree-guy' was no where to be found... probably ran down to the minimart to spend my freshly spent $25 on refreshments). I finally got the behemoth onto the roof and got home... drug it through the front door and erected said tree as best as I can.

Needless to say, unless the memories of the hard physical labor, inconvenience, and the three hours spent fades within the year, this might be the last time we have a live tree.

Drive by sometime and see the monster through our front window.

Well, not too much going on here except the celebration of small victories! Got one of two 20-page graduate papers done... one down one to go. Only about 2 weeks of class left, so I have to get my butt in gear on several accounts. Still haven't ironed out my graduate advisor or any of my readers yet... right now things are looking bleak and I might find it necessary to take a semester off and write independently or something... we'll see.

R.I.P. Eddie G.
1967-2005

Yeah, so this weekend was pretty cool!

Well, let me be more specific: Sunday as a whole was pretty cool.

The reason I say that is because despite the fact that I had a four-day weekend, (reason: Thur- School canceled due to lightning strike. Fri- Veteran's Day), my wife was gone for the majority of it. Sunday was the best day.

1. Got to see my first NFL game: Bills vs. Chiefs and it was a great one! We sat right next to the field (good) but on the one end (not so good) but at least it was the side where you could see the jumbotron so/as to see the replay of the action when it is on the other end of the field, (ie. 20 miles away). The first Lee Evans touchdown was right in front of us, not more than 15 feet away! Also, the whole JP Losman coming in for a hurt Holcomb was awesome, you should have heard the crowds cheer! Also, saw a few random drunken fights, (including a nearly naked drunk guy being pulled out of the stands onto the track by like 50 security guards).

Needless to say, despite all the distractions from the fans on the sidelines, the Bills were able to win the game, and my idea that you should not be allowed to drink beer without a permit were reaffirmed.

Did you ever feel like you were stuck in a rut? I think everyone does from one time or another during their life. Right now, I feel like I am in the Grand Canyon of all ruts... I keep doing the same things over and over again, and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight. I also got to thinking... why can't I be as witty and clever as everyone else around me? I mean, is it a question of timing, am I too slow on the uptake, or am I just too lazy to put the effort forth to actually think about one thing long enough to make a witty observation.

Anywho... been pretty busy as of late... end of the semester is coming up and I have 2 twenty-page papers due. I'm doing one of my papers on the affective language of Edward Taylor and Jonathan Edward's works, and the other is looking at the pros and cons of teaching Harry Potter in a public school setting. Pretty cut and dry stuff, but I am doing pretty well on them regardless. I am also looking at getting my final graduate thesis off the ground soon by getting it approved and lining up a graduate thesis director. I am pretty sure I am going to do an psychoanalytic study of S.T. Coleridge. We'll see...

Oh, I'll be at the Buffalo/Kansas City game this weekend. Sweet!

Ok, so it has been awhile since I last wrote. A list of pathetic excuses follows:

1. I haven't been working much as of late... this is typically the slow time of the year still.

2. Just got Internet hooked up at the new house.

3. Grad work has been killing me.

Other than that, not too much has been going on as of late. I am now more than ever contemplating a start-up web development company for local businesses. Up to this point, I wasn't sure if there was a very strong need for this service in this area, but upon examining the county business directory that just came out last weekend, it became very apparent that business websites were not really prevalent. I actually came up with a list of 60 businesses in the area that did not cite nor seemed to have a website presence... SOOOO.... I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

Like I said, not too much else going on right now. Have been spending a lot of time with my daughter as of late, (being home from work), so it has been fun to watch her grow and develop a little every day. Very cool!

P.S. My washing machine is now working... cause I know you were in rapt suspense about it since my last post.

Yes, I realize that many of you out there have had TIVO or some other form of DVR for awhile now... well back off, I just got it and I love it!

I am pretty much free to flaunt my television watching responsibilities and put off till tomorrow what I could be watching today - television for the chronic procrastinator, I love it!

Not only that, but the ability to freeze time with the pause and rewind buttons is, simply put, the sweetest! I have been having so much fun with my TIVO, which I got this weekend, that I can't now imagine what life was like without it!

In case you didn't hear me the first time, I love my TIVO! (Or am, at least, in a strictly platonic working relationship with it).

As another topic, Jenn and I had to go out and buy a washing machine last night. I do not love the washing machine, as I do my TIVO. The stupid thing wouldn't hook up to the archaic connections we have in our basement, so hence I am both unable to do laundry, which we are in dire need of doing, and have to go and pay MORE money for new connections to the antiquated pipes that are already there. It's funny how two inventions, both made for man's pleasure and ease, could be so fundamentally opposed to one another in actual functioning ability.

You cannot buy happiness. Here's proof:

---
TIVO - $5.99 a month, free machine
WASHING MACHINE - $283.58, plus connections at who-knows-what ungodly price, plus detergent, plus water, plus electricity.
---

I think you get my point - (though wearing clothes that don't smell has it's own intrinsic value, I suppose).

This weekend was fun-filled an busy!

Friday Night-
We had the Gerhardts over for dinner. Jenn made ziti and a good time was had by all. More unpacking.

Saturday -
Jenn went with her sister to get fitted for her bridesmaid's dress for her sister's wedding, coming up in May. Zoe and I hung out at the house all day and just kinda took it easy, unpacking and watching movies. More unpacking.

Sunday -
Watched both the Bills game and the NASCAR race. Went home to see if I could get a lawn mowing in by it started to rain. Watched Napoleon Dynamite again. More unpacking.

Monday -
Off work for Columbus Day, (I love made-up holidays that the government gives you off for!), hung around the house pretty much all day just spending time with Jenn and Zoe. Couldn't mow the lawn again because of rain. Spent the evening at a local laundry mat doing our laundry because the house's washing machine is broken. Got to eat at Pizza Hut, which is an event since we are poor and shouldn't be eating out!

Overall, not a very eventful day, but fun all the same.

I am tired! For the last few days Jenn and I have been working non-stop at moving in all our stuff into our new house. I never knew we owned so much stuff!

The last few days I spent at least 6 hours putting together a entertainment hutch for our living room that I bought. The instruction claimed the thing could be erected in about an hour, which is obviously wrong!

I finally finished my paper for my grad class. Not much to say about it since I am sick of it already. How am I ever going to find something I like writing about enough to actually writing a 75 page thesis on...

I just got word that

Well, yesterday was about the longest day I have ever experienced... even though I do the same thing every Thursday and yesterday was no different. I go to work at 6:30, work until 3 and then have to wait around until 6 for a three hour grad class. I don't get home until 9:30-10pm! Anyways, I am also writing a paper that is due next Thursday, so if anyone has any comments on Jonathan Edwards and Edward Taylors use of affective language in their conversion narratives/poems, please feel free to enlighten me on your opinion.

A couple in our church is getting married this weekend, which is cool for them but not cool for me as I won't be able to attend due to babysitting duties. Best of luck guys!

In other news, Jenn and I get to move into our new rental home tomorrow afternoon... which is sweet because we will have our own place, but also more responsibility and more MONEY... of course!

Gotta go get coffee, (I know what you mean, Scott!)

Well, the interview yesterday seemed to go fairly well. Everyone seemed really nice and it was really informal, sans the hot, itchy sports coats so we could all be comfortable. They asked the usual questions and I am excited at the prospect. It would be a few 8th and 9th grade classes, plus some coaching opportunities, we'll see.

In other news, I finally quit my other job... 'nough said.

Well, today is pretty much like any other.

I did my presentation in American Literature last night; was suppose to talk for between 30-45 min, but the discussion was so good that we ended up talking for almost 80 min., and we only stopped because I ended the discussion.

I finally got hold of the people at _______________ School District and got an interview setup. I don't know much about the district, but anything would be better than subbing in my opinion. Jenn went and bought me probably $200 dollars worth of dress cloths last night for interviewing, including a new blazer. It looks pretty sweet, haven't tried them on yet, though.

My mom went with Jenn and also got us a ton of stuff for our house... they painted another whole room and half of another one yesterday... which makes 3 1/2 rooms done to day. We only have a few more rooms to go and the whole place will be done. I think it is really shaping up into something pretty nice right now!

Oh, by the way, got a really nice compliment on my photography last night at college... apparently someone in my class went on the link and really liked them. Cool! In case you haven't seen them, you can go to my profile and find the link there.

Well, this past weekend was VERY tiresome! Jenn and I finally got the go-ahead to begin working on our house rental in preparations for our October 1st move-in. My mom and gram came up to help us move-in and do some painting, so we got right to work.

Saturday we pretty much just moved all the furniture off the moving truck and then "attempted" to return the rental truck... with little success at first: we couldn't find the darn place! We drove up to where they said to take it and couldn't find the place, nor did it exist in our local phonebook! We ended up driving it another 20 miles to the next place. All I know is we'd better not get charged for extra mileage or I'll be "upset".

Sunday we got started with the painting and did so all day long! I did get to listen to my Bills game on the radio, but it just wasn't the same thing! (Yikes, did they get crushed! Maybe it was better that I DIDN'T see it!) We were able to paint the ceiling, walls, and trim in two huge rooms and get a really good start on a third. The place is really starting to shape up and I am really happy with our progress so far!

Here is my post to a Survivor 11, Guatamela, community on Livejournal discussion Episode 1 and the new format of having 2 former survivors on the teams. Click here.

And here is another posting on another Survivor 11 community which discusses how to get kicked off the quickest and Margaret's strategy for being the "mommy medic". Click here.