"WHEEEEEE!!!!!!" - the snail, while riding on a turtle

I have meant to do this about a hundred rimes this week end. I think I need to start carrying around my stupid note pad again so I can remember all the things I think aboot when I am oot & aboot and unable to blog.

The highlights:

I still have a job.

I am going to visit New York. Awesome. It will be a historical field trip arranged by my dad, inspired by the book 1776. I can’t wait.

Randy and his wife came down for a visit last Friday, it was wicked awesome.

I watched Frank Mir get his face smashed.

I got bummed out that Frank get his faced smashed and not vise versa.

I checked my calendar and realized that my first final for summer semester: 7/16 next Thursday. Last final for summer semester: 7/24, the Thursday after next.

What am I going to do between final #2 and first day of fall semester?

-whatever I want

-make a friend

-find out if my baby is a boy or grrrrrl

-zero homework

-go to NY

-go to the beach

-go take a nap

-exercise my awesomicity muscles (“skills” in napoleanspeak)

-get sunburnt

-read a book for fun, maybe this one finally after finishing book #6 like a year ago

-update my resume

-post my resume

-get my degree

-shave my face

-grow out my hair…maybe

-practice using my notebook for blog topics instead of chemistry notes

“I will get all over that, just like awesome on Pete” –j.p.…. a quote that made my day.

why did the tomato turn red?

I picked my guitar up yesterday for the first time since around March. It was fun. I was happy that my fingers could remember bar chords. I was really tempted to start making phone calls and leaving songs on answering machines. I think I may do that net week, or the week after. I can’t decide. I want to be able to put Dean’s Dream (waiting to see a pick from these guys on la musica coolica) on somebody’s machine, but it has some funny transitions and is mostly F#. Kinda tough for somebody as out of practice as I am, but you just wait… Sarah. Maybe I will do Paint it Black, it is a new one for me, and I don’t know how it will sound, but whatever, I just might do it any way.

What else...

That’s it for now, getting back on the ol’ geetar. Gonna get geetarded in here.

old project: new forum

An update on some not for school research:

The merit of awesomicity is still undergoing extensive research, but I think that along with my large team of highly Awesomistic researchers, I have been able to kind of learn a little more about it. Here are some of our findings:

Awesomicity is kind of the opposite of Idiocy, but can easily be confused, kind of like poofy hair and real live animals.

Awesomicity can be used as energy for work or play, much like coffee or Ritalin, but is more safe/healthy and more fun when shared with others.

Awesomicity is as awesomicity does.

It may be something you’re born with, but maybe not.

It has nothing to do with white-out on backpacks.

Things we still need to find out:

Can it be measured on a scale, if so what scale?

Can a boss have it?

Can it be extracted and stored?

What does it have to do with magic tricks, long boards, and motorcycles?

Can it make my chemistry class more bearable tonight?

On independence for me personally.

independence

in·de·pend·ence n. (ĭn-dĭ-pěn'dəns)

1. The state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction of one's own affairs without interference.

dependence

de·pend·ence n. (dĭ-pěn'dəns)

1. The state of being dependent, as for support.

2. Subordination to someone or something needed or greatly desired.

3. A compulsive or chronic need; an addiction.

What would have happened if our fore-fathers would have waited until New Year’s Day to declare independence? What if they had waited until every body around them saw things the same way they did? What if they had waited for somebody to tell them to?

What if they had waited until it just happened naturally because they grew out of it? What if they had waited for somebody else to do it?

Independence Day is special to me. On July 4^th 2005, it was the day that I decided to claim freedom for myself. I don’t know how long I knew I was a slave to alcohol before that day. I do know that directly because of alcohol I could not enjoy many freedoms that I wanted to, such as have somewhere of my own to sleep, have a car to drive, have a meaningful relationship, have food in my tummy, not be sick so often, have a life out side work and a bar. I cannot express the contempt I had for myself because I could not break the chains of bondage that I chose to put on myself. I cannot relate the number of times I had cried myself to sleep because of complete emptiness and how alone I felt from getting drunk by myself… again. I won’t even start on the chain of events that got me to where I was that night. I can’t understand why I thought I was so helpless and undeserving of anything better.

I don’t know exactly what it was that gave me the fire to change. Maybe I was a little inspired by the sentiment behind Independence Day. Maybe all my parent’s prayers, along with Randy’s, had finally answered. Maybe my god knew that I was going to finally talk my wife into going on a date with me the next day. I don’t know. I don’t think that I could have done it by myself. I am glad it happened though.

I can describe to you how weird it was to have fun, and remember it the next day. I can tell you all about how it felt like I had doubled my salary instantly. I can explain to you how hard it was try and hang out at some of my haunts without having a drink. I can tell about how good of an example and inspiration both my dad and brother were, each in their own way. I can tell you about how easy it is learn how to line dance when I drink 7up instead of beer. I can tell you all sorts of awesome things in my life that are a direct result of my choice on Independence Day.

So, I say to anybody, make any day independence day.

http://www.aa.org/

http://www.addictionhelpservices.com/

http://www.smokehelp.org/

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/

http://newlifehabits.com/

http://www.wowdetox.com/

On independence in general... kind of.

The 4th of July. Nobody over this last week has me what I am doing for Independence Day. I have been asked, what are doing… this weekend, for the holiday, on the fourth, on Saturday? The second question is almost always has something to with fireworks, and is usually followed by an opinion about where I can find the best ones.

Independence. Wow. When was my first taste of independence? When I learned how to tie my own shoe or get dressed by myself, so I could do it whenever I wanted? When I learned how to use the microwave or the toaster oven? When I was able to walk to school by myself? When I learned how to ride a bike? When my mom gave me my own lunch money? When got my drivers license? When I got my first job? When I turned 18? When I no longer had a curfew? When I moved out for the first time? When I turned 21? When I moved out of my native state for the first time? I think about the feelings I had for each of my personal “independence” milestones, I think about how hard it was to work for some of these things. I try and imagine what it would be like without the freedoms I enjoy. I am pretty sure that there are many people who don’t experience their first true sense of independence until they leave their country of birth and come to the United States. I cannot imagine that. I am both glad and thankful for the people that settled this country. I am thankful for the visionaries that created this Union. I am thankful for the guidance and the bravery required to act in spite of anything so many people have received and possessed so that I have the freedom to go to church, or go to school, or marry whoever I want, or even wear a shirt that says I hate my president if I feel so inclined, at little or no risk of punishment at all, might I add. Wow. It would be really hard for me to believe that this is not one nation under god. I believe that divine guidance and planning has created that place that I live. I believe that God is still watching over us as a nation in spite of what many people, some lawmakers included, believe. It breaks my heart at the way many have used their freedom to try and limit the freedoms of others. That is what we get for living in an imperfect country I guess. Whatever.

Long story short, Happy Independence Day, stay safe, and remember, you don’t have to be jerk to take pride in what you are.