Cars, Coughing, and 'Crastination

Hello readers - - -

I have a made-up reason for not blogging recently (I wanted casual viewers to the page to see The Engagement Story as the title of the most recent post and read it) and a real reason (I've been really busy with school, work, and everything in between) but in the end, it's just the simple fact that blogging takes up time and I don't have a lot of that. . .

So why would I possibly choose nearly 0100 in the morning to start writing a blog after two weeks absence?

One word: Procrastination.

I officially have three weeks of school left and it's getting down to the nitty gritty. I have an insane amount of insecurity right now about my grades. With my classes right now, I have the potential of getting a 3.6 G.P.A. but it is also very possible for me to get a 2.4 - - that's how up in the air everything is right now. I believe fairly strongly that I'll end up with a 3.0 even (the most likeliest of scenarios would two A's, one B, and two C's) and I would be ecstatic if that indeed happens. If my one classes tails down into a D, however (which I never thought would be possible for me, but lo and behold, it is a possibility) then I have to turn that into three A's, one C, and one D for that desired 3.0 average. More updates to come as the semester winds down.

However, the one major reason that I have been struggling this semester is the fact that I have lost the passion for Journalism. I blame it two main things: 1) My Journalism 210 class on Fridays, which has caused me to have to delve into "Investigative Journalism" which is not an interest of mine in the least, but a mandatory lesson for future journalists of any kind and 2) I'm not writing what I like to write, namely opinion pieces, reviews, and editorials. This one has more to do with the fact that I'm not writing for a paper that I'm among the editorial staff on (I'm not even writing for a paper at all, to be honest) and have no reason to even write articles like that, except for my own betterment. Well, I haven't, and I'm beginning to forget how to write a movie review (not really, but it would take some time to get back into the swing of things) or even express my opinions in written form (well that's not really true, but you get my point). I'm struggling, to say the least, and I have decided that I'm not going to pursue something that I hate doing.

Because, you see, I hate school. The thought of dropping out has crossed my mind numerous times, but will not come to pass because so many people want to see me graduate and I suppose that I am one of those as well. A break is an option, sure, but I know me, and I don't think that I would ever return to school if I took even just one semester off. . .

So I have done the only thing that my rational mind could come up with:

I'm switching majors.

Yes, I am forgoing (potentially - anything is possible after I actually get that piece of paper down the line) the lifelong dream of calling NBA games for a living because I am not enjoying a single Journalism class that I am taking. And as Heather put it, "You should enjoy your major classes - they're your Major!" - - Smart lass, she is. . .

So what is taking its place? Well, it's kinda funny actually. Ever since I was little, my mom's mom (Grandma Pat, or GP) has always told me that she saw me teaching one day. Well that would be one potential occupation for me after I attempt to get a Bachelor's Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. I looked at my classes this semester and the only one that had subject matter that interested me was my Marriage and Family Relations class, which was in the section of FCS. So, let's go with that, I guess. I do have a meeting with an adviser on December 3rd and my registration date is December 4th, so a final decision will be made quickly and soon, so keep in touch to find out what all goes down.

Other than school, work at the MW is going ok. I'm much more comfortable now selling suits, however there aren't any customers to sell suits to! We have been surprisingly slow (so I'm told) for this time of year and I've spent a lot of my time at work reading books and playing games on my cell phone. . . which is fine and all, but it doesn't make me any money! I'm still doing about the same that I would be doing at the FL, but I was promised more, so I'm really hoping for a whirlwind of customers over the month of December to make up for this initial month.

And with that hope of more money comes the very real possibility of me becoming the proud owner of a new car! I have been car shopping very seriously over the last two weeks and even went as far as to test drive a couple last Friday. . . I am actually poised to make a purchase this week (if all goes according to plan, it would be either Thursday or Friday) but I'm gonna keep the make and model a secret until it actually goes through. . . Just know that it is absolutely positively NOT another Volkswagen. . . no no friends. Not again. . .

I have also been fighting a nice cough/congestion/runny nose/no voice cold thing since last Tuesday and it pretty much made Thanksgiving a forgettable one. Of course I am supremely thankful for Heather taking care of me on Thursday (even while cooking our turkey dinner all by herself - it was just her, me, and her mom, who worked most of the day - - my parents went up North to be with my Aunt and Uncle and cousins but since I had to work Wed. and Fri. I could not attend. . .) and the meal turned out great. I wish that I could have been more a part of Heather's first turn as a turkey cook and that we could have done things more together but I had to just lay on my ass all day and watch blowout football games because I didn't feel good. Heather took such great care of me though. . . It really does make me think about how much that she cares for me and how lucky I truly am when she makes me hot tea (with honey and lemon, her favorites) and goes to the store to get soup and cheese to make a Grilled Cheese sandwich (which I ate rather quickly!). If it hadn't been for me feeling like absolute crap, then I could have enjoyed all that she did even more, but she certainly made a difference on this so-so holiday.

Anyway, now that I've spent the last 20 minutes writing all this, I'm thinking I should get cracking on my three-page Media Critique on a website that is devoted solely to Men and their world (I'm choosing the oft-visited by me Ask Men) that is due in now thirteen hours. . .

But stay tuned this week. I'm hoping to put thought to type on a theory that I have been constructing in my mind over my last few journeys down to CSUN (there's only so many things you can think about when you drive long distances. . .) that I will merely tease you with in the form of a title:

The Justinian Theory of the Male Viewpoint of Sexuality

Intrigued? I know you are!!!

Anyway, I'll post again soon - - take care of yourselves!!!

Until later,

Microphones, Mucus, and Milestones

Hello everyone who is reading this! And only to you. The rest of the people out there really don't matter. . . Actually that would be a lot of people. . . I take back that first part then.

Anywho, it's Tuesday night and I have to work in the morning. I actually have to work the next three mornings. That's a good thing actually. So, in the words of a country song that I have heard the last few mornings when I wake up, "There's a lot of things I don't have to do. I get to." I don't know who sings this song, and I don't necessarily like it, but that line kinda resonates with me. How many daily activities are there that we say we "have to do"? Why don't we say things like "I get to fill my car up with gas" (an obviously unenjoyable experience but one that only occurs if one owns their own car, which is something to be grateful for!) or "I get to work today" (meaning of course that you are employed, which is something that not everyone can say)? Just a thought. Call it an insightful insight. . . (Remember that everyone???)

Moving on, I am sick. I picked up the head cold that seems to be going around whenever it is least desireable to have. I think I picked it up sometime Saturday because I woke up on Sunday and I felt like absolute crap. And that was my Heather day!!! Well I spent most of my time with her either coughing or blowing my nose, which was unfortunate. Either way, I almost called in sick on Monday and ended up sleeping most of the afternoon. I even skipped bowling on Monday night because I felt so bad. I ended up with several dayquils and a couple nyquils in my system before the day ended and I woke up this morning feeling a tad better. Not perfect. Just better. I dislike so much the common cold! Why can't it be called the "damn near irrelevant cold" because it's never around!?!?! That would be nice! But instead we are stuck with the almost full assurance that the stupid virus/bacteria/crap will strike us at least one time a year! That is, unless we're Bob Barker! Have you seen this guy? He has not taken a day off in like fifty years! That's why he's retiring at the end of this year! So he can get sick! I have you figured out Plinko-man!

Anyway, so I haven't been feeling well. And the funny thing is that I was just looking at my very own archives (a feature of this blog that I enjoy utilizing) and I was sick at the same time last year! I got my wisdom teeth taken out the end of 2005 and then was sick for over a month and into late January of 2006! Bizarre, huh?

(O, by the way, it is now midnight on the 31st, which means that it is officially mine and Heather's third anniversary! Balloons, streamers and confetti!!)

This evening was Senior Night at Desert Christian High School. This is the final home game of the regular season and an opportunity is given to the seniors to give out a thank you to their parents in front of everyone. Well, in order to do this, a microphone must be plugged in and the sound board must be used. I have been imploring the athletic director, Mr. Dean Spoelstra, to allow me the opportunity to announce the guys games. "Announcing" essentially means calling out the starting lineups and then doing a kinda play-by-play (saying "So-and-so for two" when a basket is made and stuff like that). Apparently the music teacher did not want her sound board messed with, so they could never allow me to do that. Well tonight it was hooked up! I took that chance and ran with it! I immediately asked Mr. Spoelstra if I could announce the guys game and he agreed! I figured it would be a great chance for practice and a way to see if I was any good at something that I hope to be a part of my future. In a nutshell, I loved it! I thought I did a good job and everyone I talked to after the game agreed with me and gave me kind words of encouragement. I'm hoping for at least one home playoff game so I can do it again, but we'll see. I loved every second I was doing it and I wasn't even nervous once I began talking. I was born to talk about basketball. Let's juse see if I am going to actually fulfill that destiny. . .

Well, now that it is 0025 and it is definitely my anniversary, I would like to say a few words about my wonderful Heather! This is how much she loves me: (a direct quote from a text she sent me back in November) "It's like when you draw a graph and the arrows on the ends of the lines imply they go on forever. . . like that :)" How lucky am I???? I was just thinking about an "It's A Wonderful Life" situation with me. If I had not hypnotized Heather three years ago, what kind of person would I be? Would I be happy? Would I be career-and-goal-oriented? Would I be dating lots of girls or would I be alone every Friday and Saturday night? Would I have more money? (The answer to that one is YES!!!) But all that aside, I know for a fact that I would be in no way better off if the wonderful Miss Heather Acuff had not said yes to me three years ago. If she had of pushed my hand away in that cold suburban driving through the streets of Tiajuana, Mexico (For the whole story of how we got together, head here), then I would be in a much worse position than I am at this point. I am forever thankful for the role she has in my life and I am never burdened by the fact that I have a girlfriend. I am always challenged, always tested, and never right (actually, sometimes I am - - o wait, that's just a mirage!!!). But I have a companion. I have a buddy. I have a friend. I have a mate. I have a beautiful young woman by my side and hopefully in three years time, we will not only share jokes and ideas of the future, but also a last name and an address. I love you Heather. Forever 11:11!

Goodnight everyone - - -

Sleep well and have a good Wednesday!