So this semester is quickly drawing to a close.  People are packing up, selling books back, studying, and even taking finals.  It’s been a fun semester and it will end my first 2 years at ISU.  Next fall will see some big changes.  Some are moving into apartments, some are leaving all together, and there are even some returning.  I myself will be moving from 695 Colby, where I’ve been for 4 straight semesters, to a nice single in Watterson.  It’s going to be a bit of a change with new people, new responsibilities, and a brand new view.  Right now I see it as a positive change.  It’s nice to be constant for some time but then there are times for change.  That’s what college is about, change.  College changes the way you look at life, yourself, and others.  Becoming an RA next semester will undoubtably bring on some big changes for me.  Instead of living with 40 other people I will be in charge of 48 people I’ve yet to meet.  Well, subtract a handful of people that wanted to take the plunge that is moving to Watterson.  In the end it will be a change.  I will meet new people, make new friends (withouth replacing the old), have new experiences, and hopefully improve the person I am.  To be continued…..

For now though I wish everyone good luck on finals they will be taking this week and ones they are studying for next week.  We’ve made it through yet another fun filled year and another is right around the corner! 

John

Cool News For the Day:

1.) Called Grant and I have a job there starting May 10th.  No big suprise there but you know.

2.) Was called by my boss and asked to help in the interview process for our new ResNet Assistant Manager.
      I must be pretty high up somewhere to be asked to do that.  At least that’s what I hope!

3.)  Was then called by Vance Publishing and had a mini interview on the phone for a job this summer.  Tech support would beat
       the pants off sitting outside in the hot summer weather all day.

4.)  Finally, went to dinner with all the Exec people on ITSA.  Got to meet the president and all the other members.  It was a good time!

That’s all.  I have a Calc2 test at 2pm.  Hope that it doesn’t eat me!

John

Yesterday was the concert in Charleston.  Wasn’t a bad drive there, we had plenty of music and were ready for the concert.  When we finally got into town we needed some food so we stopped at the local McDonalds.  It doesn’t matter where you go, there’s always a McDonalds!  Anyway, normally I wouldn’t mention something as insignificant as McDonalds but this one had a conveyer belt which amused me and made me curious.  I watched that damn thing as I ate until I saw them drop a few bags of food on it.  Apparently the belt transports the food from the front end to the drive up area.  Neat!  Anyway, after that we were onto Lantz arena.  Turns out the place was right around the corner so we werent too far.  We passed by Old Main which is Eastern Illinois Universities castle.  I’ve now seen two of the five castles in Illinois!  YAY.  Anyway, we finally parked and then went to the back of this long line that we didnt even know we had to be in.  Upon getting closer we realized that everyone was going through one metal detector.   Then another line to pick up tickets, and finally another line to get tshirts. 

Alas we finally made it into the arena to find we were right in the center section.  The seats werent that bad, we had a decent view.  By the time we got to our seats we only caught one song by the second opening band.  The Format wasn’t as bad as I had read but then again I only heard one song.  After a half hour long setup for SoCo they finally took the stage at 9 and everyone was up on their feet singing away.  Now I haven’t been to a lot of concerts like Neil and Jessica have, and I’m not a person that picks apart every little thing, so my review will be really short.  The show was awesome!  Everyone there was going crazy, the set was good and everyone had a great time.  Even shorter, I’d defintely go see them again.  On to Yellowcard.

Again in short Yellowcards show was good as well.  Great songs, except for some old ones that I didn’t know the words too.  They were good, I just couldnt sing along.  Oh well.  Anyway, during the show they told everyone to crowd down on the floor even though they limited the floor tickets to 500 or so.  So we all ended up rushing the hallway to the floor but they wouldn’t let us pass.  So we were back to our seats.  The show was great and I’d go see them again when I get the chance.

So that was that, at about 11:30 we were on our way out to hit the road.  I was up and awake until we got on the highway, then it hit me.  But I managed to stay up the 110 miles back and was in bed shortly after getting home.  And that was that,  I relaxing sunday before finals and a great concert.  A good end to the weekend. 

John

So remember that theoretical the other day about the fountain. Well I have a bit more to add to the story now.  After getting back from playing in the fountain the first time Bill and I were hungry.  So we convinced Amy and Jill to hike over to watterson with us for some food.  On the way there the fountain again called our names and made us play around in it.  This time we didn’t stay in too long and shortly after were off to cause trouble in stevenson.  If your familiar with the building you will note that there is a huge mail shoot that covers the stairway from 1st floor to basement.  I’ve walked by that thing everyday for almost 2 years and it never dawned on me that it would make a kick ass slide.  That is until Amy and Jill mentioned it and pressured us into doing it.  Well I guess there really was no pressure I did it on my own.  Anyway, after me Bill decided to give it a try along with Amy and Jill going together.  Fun was had by all.  After that we were on to watterson to get food.  Only apparently they close at 8 now and it was 8:45.  Oh well, on to Subway.  We proceeded to eat our food on the fountain and during the time we were sitting there the fountain shut off.  Bill, being all giddy because of this fountain wanted to play some more.  The bowl dried out and he was rolling around and jumping up and down all over the damn thing.  Until the ISU cop showed up on the scene that is.  He checked all of our ID’s and basically told us he was worried about us being intoxicated while goofing around.  We knew we weren’t but I think we gave him the impression that we were.  That’s basically it.  No hand cuffs or anything, just a bored ISU cop looking for something to do.  Fun Times!

To update the status of the “Fish” he was apparently having a very lazy day and seems to be OK now.  Definetely not what it looked like the other day though.  So thats positive.  You will note that I called him Fish.  I did this because I can’t remember his name and it will just be easier to call him Fish!

Done.

John

So…lets say hypothetically a college, lets call it ISU, were to build a giant bowl in the middle of campus.  Let’s also say that this bowl was really a giant fountain.  And hypothetically 3 college aged students happened to chance upon this fountain.  Would it be wrong for them to removed their shoes and socks and frolich about inside the bowl?  I mean, the designers had to know what they were getting themselve into.  A giant bowl, water, college campus…I mean really now, it’s all there.  What I’m trying to say is that we went in the damn fountain and it was FUN!  It was all that we could have ever hoped for plus much much more!

On a depressing note.  The last remaining betta in my room, I think his name is Fruit is on his last breath of water.  It’s sad to see him go but we’ve had a long run and his time is near.  I only hope my life will be as exciting as his.  Here’s to Fruit!

More later….

John

Upon walking to class in Stevenson yesterday I noticed something I’ve been waiting for since I first stepped on campus.  Well, maybe I didn’t really care that much, but anyway, I’ve been waiting for this the past few days.  As I walked up to the door I heard a sound I had never heard before.  It was a calming familiar sound.  That sound was the trickle of water flowing inside the huge bowl that is part of In Exchange, or School Street Pass to get all technical.  They had finally finished the fountain and had added the water.  What a wonderful day!  That was really all the excitement for Thursday with either means I get way too excited about little things, or the day was really boring.  Oh well.

John

OK, so it’s been a while since I really felt like posting here, but now I’m back! YAY!!  Anyway, I have lots to say so we’ll just jump right in……JUMP……

For all those that have listened to me babble over the past week about “stuff” I thank you very much.  I think this semester is the first in which I’ve realized that there is no way in hell I will ever be able to approach a situation from many different angles on my own.  I used to think that I could do this and would never ask others for personal advice.  I’ve since learned that the people you talk to and see on an everyday basis are some of your best resources.  Go figure, right!  Thanks to everyone again! 

Fast forwarding a bit to the end of last week.  On Friday I attended my 4 classes despite the fact that it was the most beautiful day this spring.  I got out of class at 3 and just walked across the quad watching all the Relay for Life teams setting up.  Charity and Neil found me and we ended up chilling and playing catch in front of Fell.  Then Tyson and I had to head off to Watterson to attend our first staff meeting.  I think the reason I really wasn’t nervous is because of the fact that the excitement level hasn’t really fallen at all.  I got to finally meet my resident hall coordinator Paul as well as the current RA’s in Smith/Jeff.  At the meeting I also met Lily, the 3rd and final new RA in the area.  Just her, Tyson, and I.  We’re the only newbs in Smith/Jeff.  Needless to say we hung out outside for kickout.  I’m sure we’ll be asking each other for advice since we’re all going through the same experience.  I really look forward to getting to know them better and working with them next year! 

Also while there I got to meet the RA I will be replacing.  I was told that I have a lot to live up to in replacing him which puts a little extra weight on the shoulders but I think I’ll be fine.  He showed me around the floor and his room with the awesome view of dominos and the sound of roaring trains passing by.  He also introduced me to like 20 people.  The only problem is that I dont remember any of there names!  I’m seriously gonna take pictures of all my residents when they move in to memorize them. 

After all the Watterson fun I headed back to my room to change and chill out a little.  Then at 9 I decided to head back to the quad to walk with some of my friends.  I realized as I walked around counting the luminaries that this was definetely something I have to do next year.  I did donate some money this year but I feel like next year I can do a lot more than that.  It really was an amazing sight to see out there all night.  As Bill, Karen, and I made a few laps we were discussing how cancer has affected our lives.   I thought about how young I was when my grandpa passed away.  I was not so young as to not remember him but I realized that I was not truly old enough to get to know him as well as I should have been able to.  He never got to see me graduate high school or move away to college.  These are memories that I believe all people should have.   I really hope one day I will somehow get the opportunity to just sit down and talk about everything we missed.  It is because of this that I will be creating or joining a team next year in order to support the ACS.  Probably something I should have done long ago but better late than never. 

Moving on to Saturday.  I spent a whopping 7.5 hours outside on the quad that day.  Just walking around, chatting with people, listening to music, watching everyone enjoy the beautiful day on the quad.  It was a very nice day and everyone was out and about.  I bounced all around campus visiting everyone I could and doing as much as I could.  The last big event was a performance by Recycled Percussion.  They started a little late but the music and visual performance were really good.  I’m glad I stayed to watch them instead of getting to the circus on time.  Eventually I made it over to the circus and met Bill, Karen, and Eric there.  Not too much longer into the show this guy ends up proposing to his girlfriend right in the center of the arena.  It was craziness.  She said yes and the rest is circus history! 

Almost done for now…..

Sunday Sunday Sunay!  That was the day.  The day the guys headed out to Chilli to have an awesome time shooting paintballs at each other all day.  We ended up on the same team so no firing on each other but we had tons of fun anyway.  We left a little early so we could get back before mass and RA training.  I had just enough time to hop in the shower, find clean clothes, and then head on over.  I met up with and sat by Lily and Nate for the 4 hours.  The whole time we were either rolling our eyes at the questions some people asked or laughing at David Holtzman.  That guy cracks me up!  Anyway the meeting was longer than it should have been but was still rather informative.  I’m on my way to becoming an RA!  While on the subject I forgot to add that I was placed on Smith 4 just so anyone knows.  Also, Me, Bill, TJ, and Logan are currently living on that floor and there are still rooms open if any guys wanna make the big switch!  Anyway, I still can’t wait for August, it’s gonna be a blast! 

That’s all for now. 

John

PS.  I was looking through some of my past entries and I’ve realized that I make MANY spelling errors in here.  Spell check has failed me!  Oh well

It’s so nice to hear a familiar voice!