There are so many experiences in life that it can be fun to look back once in a while. A key to this little game is to go one step further. Think about something you enjoyed or absolutely hated and then move back a few steps further. Are you suprised at how you got there? Do you think you had any control over the outcome? I dunno, maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s fun just to take a few steps back and relive some of the interesting memories in life. For now it strengthens the idea in my head that anything can happen at anytime even when you least expect it. To me that’s life. What’s pulling me along this ride I have no idea. All I know is that although I can’t see the track it’s already laid out. It may seem like I have the choice to change the way my life is going to play out but whatever changes I make were just meant to be.

This is not to say that I’ve lost all interests in life because I don’t believe I ultimately control it, just that I accept the fact and I’m ready to expect anything.

I dunno. I really wouldn’t bother asking what I was thinking about when all that spewed together in my head, it’s really not all that important. I just like to let my fingers tell the messed up story that likes to fill my brain with ideas from time to time.

John

So. Where to begin. Ahh…

A while back, I really don’t remember when, but it’s not really that important, someone had mentioned a goal he’d like to accomplish before graduating. Anyway, months and months, possibly even a year or two, had passed and this goal had not been achieved. Plans were made, plans were broken, it just wasn’t adding up right. Ok, so that roughly gets us up to today!

Let’s set the stage!

There was once a man slightly more experienced trying to make this dream come true. Several days earlier this man set a date. Others were going to join in on this dream and make it a real sight to see! One by one as the night dragged forward several of those people, for lack of a better word, wussed out. It was too cold they said! Before the time had come all but one retracted their offer to join in. This included the very man with the dream. As that man lay sleeping in bed the lone ranger stood strong and was not going to take no for an answer. Just as I had once, no make that twice, sucked it up and jumped out of a plane, it was once again time for me to just go all in. Before showing my hand I begged another fella, a Dynamic kinda guy if you will, to join us. No, he was not part of the original plan, but he was a good man. After some convincing he was in. My cards were shown and the game was on.

December 17, 2005.

The weather outside was a mere 14 degrees on this clear, calm December evening. The three set out. A single car passed by and soon the only sound to be heard was the crunching of snow and mumblings of what lay ahead. Through peoples park, passing building after building, and running cop car, to the quad. It was almost time. The area was scoped out. WAIT!

There was a single man. He was walking into the distance. We paused. He turned around! What was he doing? We changed directions. He continued to pace. A detour was in order. But wait! He was still pacing. Just what was this man doing? We mad our way up and around the quad trying to beat this crazy man at his own game.

Finally he left. As his stiff body slipped between two buildings the game was on. The gazebo was a prime target.

As our three amigos reached the Gazebo they knew it was time.

(Ok, we had to tie shoes and deal with pants that didn’t quite work with the shoes and a hat. I’ll take credit for 2/3 of that mess but no more!)

Anyway. It was time.

In a flash the three stripped to nothing. The plans had been made and nothing was about to change them. “We won’t leave you behind they said,” as I put my shoes back on. The silence was broken as the two took off running. They just left me! Shit! I bolted. Sweatshirt and pants now in hand I sprinted to catch up. The freezing cold air could not overcome the adrenaline rush! Across the quad they ran. In a single heartbeat it was over. The cold caught up quick and it was time to get dressed.

Turning the corner on our way back we noticed the one and only witness to our evening. Rolling along the sidewalk towards us he flicked his cigar into the wind. Crazy bastard followed us! The four of us headed home.

As I really don’t know how else to end this it will just have to end like this. Although before I end it like this it should be noted that there’s still one person out there who hasn’t fulfilled his dream. Maybe one day…maybe one day.

John

This morning my throat was a bit scratchy and my nose a little stuffy. Nothing like signs of the first cold. As is my usual method for cold relief I stopped by Walgreens on my way home this afternoon. My drug of choice, as anyone who as ever asked me which medicine to get for a cold could attest to, is Aleve Cold and Sinus. At only 2 pills a day it’s quite easy to remember to take and it has the ability to knock me on my ass the first day and then provide me with cold relief minus the drowsy side effects throughout the rest of the cold.

Anyway, now that I’m done being a walking talking advertisement I’ll get to my point.

Most normal people would walk into Walgreens, find that their favorite drug is no longer stored on the shelf and ask the pharmacist to grab a box for them. They would then present their ID, pay for said drug, and be on their way.

Let me now explain to you how I’m not most normal people.

Upon heading to the Cold and Flu section I find that all boxes have been replaced with little slips of paper with a note overhead informing me that I would have to pick up my Aleve at the pharmacy. I shake my head knowing that I will be forced to prove that I am 18 or older prior to purchasing this product. I present my ID, pay for my medicine, and I’m on my merry little way. It doesn’t end here. Quite intrigued at the fact that I must pull out my license to buy cold medicine I return home and mention how the notion that those over 18 are less likely to produce meth from cold medicne is ludicrous. I then decide that I must learn about meth just to stick it to the man. Afterall I am over 18 and thus won’t actually cook up my own meth but the mere fact that I’m researching it should be enough to irk them just a bit.

Anyway, as where most people would have been on their merry little way without ever giving what just happened any thought, I decided to use it as a chance to learn. I hopped on Wikipedia to get some information on meth and found there to be an insane amount of information right in front of me. I learned the chemical make up of meth, roughly how to cook it up (I say roughly because I’m really very far from having enough knowledge to actually do it and of course will make no further attempt to acquire this knowledge), how meth is administered (let’s just say that people who partake in this activity are f*%6ed up!), the crazy amount of names given to meth (batu just in case you’re in Hawaii), as well as all the side effects (tends to destroy teeth quite well) and legal issues (duh!) surrounding this growing trend. Crazyness!

The point here is that I learned something. Actually I learned quite a bit. In my persuit of knowledge I was also able to learn quite a bit more about Wikipedia. Until now I had never actually visited an articles Talk page. This page is used as a location to discuss the facts and format of articles. For all those that think it’s quite easy to pull one over on someone by sneaking in a bogus fact, it really isn’t. Granted there are some instances of false information out there that have been available for much longer than they should be, but by and large there’s bound to be someone that calls you on your edit or just throws it out. Very cool!

So to sum up my evening:

1. Get cold
2. Get carded for buying cold medicine
3. Discuss issues surrounding meth and become curious
4. Read about meth
5. Find new (to me anyway) feature of Wikipedia
6. LEARN!

I’m done for now. Less learning and more sleeping for me. Night!

John

Wowser!

Where has the time gone really? Let’s see, where to start…

1. Like most everyone else I travelled home for Thanksgiving break. Much food was eaten, shopping was done WAY too early in the morning, I will soon be the owner of a very spiffy new suit, and Christmas decorations were hung with care.
2. One more week of classes. I have two presentations to do in the coming week. One I’m ready to wing and the other needs a 4-6 page research paper before I even think about winging that one. Other than that, no more tests until finals week which is also right around the corner. I was hoping to have all three on Monday but that didn’t happen and I have one on Thursday. Oh well. The week after finals before Christmas will be a free week. Work a little, do some Christmas shopping, etc. The semesters pretty much over!
3. Soccer’s been going well. One more game this session and then second session starts a week after. Game time this week is 8:40! Be there!

What else? There has to be something fun or interesting to comment on. Hmm…

4. I finally went to the post office to renew my passport. We all know what that means! And if you don’t I’ll spell it out for you in three words and a number. Spring Break Cancun 2005! I can’t wait!
5. Latest Projecting. Zen garden has been done for a while but has just been sitting in my room due to the fact that the reptile sand wasn’t necessarily the best idea. I have since washed it off removing all the calcium and other vitamins. I then baked it dry in the ove. It’s ready to be poured back in. My picture frame just needs to be put together but I think I need some drill bits before I can tackle that task. This weekend was supposed to be cheesecake weekend but unfortunately I do not yet own a springform pan. Totally didn’t think about that little detail. Soon though! And finally I made a Buddy the Elf hat this weekend. Although quite small because I had no idea what I was doing it came out well. I plan on making a bigger one once I get my hands on some more poster board.
6. New Feature! I found this little plug in for this blog that allows simultaneous posting of a short excerpt from here to there. That way all the slackers looking for updates on their friends pages will find them. It also means less work for me. So yeah, you’re welcome LJ people!
7. My room is decorated for Christmas. Complete with lights, garland, a tree and star!

That’s all!

John