So..the plans are officially on. I am flying to Boston in July..and then I'm driving to Albany and Saratoga, NY to see friends and family. And then...I'm going to Horseheads. Haven't seen those kids in a few years now. Haven't talked to some of them in just as long. Should be awesome.
Next weekend I'll be in Alva, OK...visiting some friends from camp (that's right...i have friends now :) at least that's what they tell me). I've never been there before..I'll have Doug with me though, so we'll see how it goes. Anyway..
Did I ever talk about my new hair? I don't remember saying anything. I have a mohawk now..not a very nifty one, but a mohawk nonetheless. I had to trim what was left of my hair because it was so long I couldn't do ANYTHING with it at all. I don't know what's going to happen with it, or how long it will last..
6-24-2005 - Grr...what's wrong with people? Little things..simple things..what's so hard about it??
6-23-2005 - I went to McDonalds for a parfait tonight...it was kind of lonely.
I'm all sunburned..I've spent the last week on a concrete slab building a garage with my uncle. it's hotter than friggin blazes out there. today we were standing on top of the garage hanging joists..i'm a little toasty. Tomorrow we're doing his driveway...yae.
I'm traveling!! Well..not right now, but in July. I replaced the tickets I didn't get to use this month and am taking 2 and a half weeks to romp around before I go to school. I've been talking to some old friends (the oldest I've got anyway) and we're making some plans.
Now, kind of a step in the other direction. I was thinking today..and I know this is a ways off still...during college, my summer vacation isn't really mine because I have to spend a chunk of it at sea for the Navy. Afer college (in 4 years), I'm on my own. I'll have my own house...my own car...my own life...it's just really weird to think about that. Where will I be living? What will I be doing (my actual job in the Navy)? Will I be on my own or will someone be there with me? Am I scared now or just excited? I don't know..
6-17-2005 - (2) So the topic of the week was leadership...how to be a leader of integrity, respect, and honor. It was really cool how things have lead up to this week...though they may not have been how I was hoping. I felt like I was supposed to be at this camp...like this camp was there for me to prepare myself for this upcoming school year, for the next 4 years of college, and for the life I have chosen as an officer in the navy. The seminars we attended displayed the importance of having good character and what that really means. I have been telling myself that I need to improve on certain areas of my life...there are things about my character and the preson I am that I need to change, and this week gave me the stepping stones to get me started. It was just an awesome week.
There was another message too, that I think might be of some importance. All week, the camp director would make this comment about the girls, saying they are "God's most beautiful creation", and we certainly can't disagree with that, now can we? Anyway...the point he made later on was this: "How many people have seen a commercial for a Lamborghini Diablo? None...why? Because the makers of the Lamborghini Diablo don't need to advertise...if someone wants one of these cars, they know how to get one, and they know how to take care of it when they do get it. It is completely a quality car. How many people have seen a commercial for a Ford Ranger? All of us...why? Because they're cheap. They have to advertise because they don't last, people don't take care of them...they're just a throw away car." Girls...be Lamborghini's. If a guy really wants you, he'll know how to treat you and respect you. And the same message went for the guys...to be a Lamborghini buyer...look for a girl who knows what they're worth without having to let everyone see it. And when you finally find that girl...for God's sake hold on to her...treat her how she deserves to be treated...like she truly means something to you. Respect her and love her. She deserves it. What will come from your relationship as a result of that...it's unbelievable. And it's a lot more fulfilling than the "flavor of the week" game a lot of guys play. Just be good to her...
(1) Finally home from camp. It was a good week...very tiring. I did a whole lot of...nothing. The game Mafia became the big craze...it was comical to watch. All the junior high kids would try to play and had no idea what they were doing...so they would end up screwing up the entire game for everyone. It was pathetic.
When we first got there, the workers were introducing themselves and one of the guys goes to Mount Vernon Nazarene University...so I made a point of talking to him to see if he knew one of my friends who also goes there. It was neat.
This place as definitely in the middle of nowhere Missouri. I'm used to camps with at least a field you can do something in...you can run around and have fun. This place...they had a small little...grassy spot. And you couldn't throw water ballons or shoot water guns...so half of the things I brought for fun sat in my suitcase the whole week. For what it was worth...the grassy spot was barely ig enough to throw a frisbee, and we even managed to squeeze a game of ultimate frisbee in there. And that was about all I did this week. But I'm not complaining...rest and relaxation is always a welcomed treat :)
6-14-2005 - Barely still the 14th. Getting ready to head to camp in the morning. Have call the recruiter tomorrow on the way to Missouri to get all my paperwork filled out...and then hopefully find a place to mail it. Should be fun. I packed an entire suitcase before I actually packed any of my clothes. It has water guns, balloons, and then a TON of food.
I got my hair cut tonight. I'll post some pics of that sooner or later. If all goes as planned...it should be...interesting to say the least. But it's camp and who really cares.
My gram is going in for surgery tomorrow morning...she's just having something taken out of her chest...some heart recorder thingy. Anyway...it's supposed to be a quick outpatient thing.
I love thunder storms...we've had tornado-producing weather all around us forat least 3 of the past 5 days. On the way home from youth group tonight, someone said they saw a funnel cloud dropping...nothing more came of it though. That's the closest any of it has been to us. All the rest has been in various other towns.
And now I can't think of anything else to talk about...I think I'm going to watch Doug get himself ready for tomorrow...and get some sleep. It should be a good week...
6/10/2005 - Okie City...not too long of a drive. Went there with my uncle today..and we hit a spot where traffic stopped for like 30 mins. And then there's why we were going to OKC...he needed to get a nail gun fixed. We got there and the guy took like 30 seconds to fix it. And the ring that was causing it's major malfunction...I called that. I said before we even left for OKC that the ring might fit the other way...but he didn't believe me. I think he wanted to hit me after "I told you so" came out of my mouth..
I stole a bunch of music from him, though..some RUSH, Bon Jovi, Damn Yankees, Deep Purple..good stuff. 2112 Overture/Temple of Syrinx is one of my favorites..
I hate paperwork..I needed to call my advisor at OU, but I didn't..and now it's the weekend. I'll do what I can before we leave Monday morning for camp.
I ran yesterday...and I made it a full mile and a half. I won't even give a time because it's shameful...but I know I can do it faster. It was my first run like that since high school...so give me a break. And I wasn't pushing myself too hard...I was still standing...
6/8/2005 - (2) And then there are days like today..really good days where all I want to do is call her and tell her how good of a day it was. And that's usually the end of my good day.
I went bike riding with my dad today..and we had a really good time. We rode all over town, through all the nice neighborhoods and threw a frisbee (well..tried to..it was windy) in the park for a while. It was just an awesome time..just us and no crap..something we've never really been able to do and end on good terms. But then when I got home, I was like "I have to tell someone"..and..I don't know..I miss those phone calls..
It looks like I'll be traveling in July..the very last few weeks that I have before crunch time for school. Hopefully I'll be seeing some old friends..that would be good..before all available time is precious and used sparingly. School's shaping up good, though..just lots of paperwork to fill out..and I don't know what I'm doing on most of it..so it should be interesting.
(1) Hey..there's a calendar on here now. It's just through Yahoo..but it does the trick.
6/5/2005 - Just got off the phone with an excellent friend of mine. She was very helpful..especially with the weekend being pretty crappy. I have a little more reassurance now that everyone is happy. That's all that I can ask for right now..I may not like the outcome of all this..but at least knowing that she is more content helps me worry less. I miss all the memories that we talked about tonight..I'll miss not being able to make more memories like them.."I'm dying for you tonight". But..at this point..who knows what is in store. I still have a long ways to go before this is settled completely..with whatever outcome. "Not a minute wasted..none the pain could ever take away." It was perfect..
And camp is next week..should be fun. Trying to think of something to do with my hair..either Wolverine or Rufio..
6/4/2005 - SO..today be's the day. Graduation. It's a wonderful thing..a wonderful feeling. Congratulations to you all..and the best of luck..
6/2/2005 - Holy crap...it's already June 2. We spent most of the day running around, bringing my brother to the airport, and just wasting time. I finally heard Green Day's new album, though..it's good.
I got a nasty headache yesterday..the first one I've had in years, and definitely rating among the worst of them. I spent a few hours in the blazing sun moving concrete with my uncle and dad and a few other guys and it was no fun at all. I finally got rid of that headache, and while we were driving around today I could feel it coming back.
So..the revelation of the day..or week..or whatever: I'm not alone. As much as I feel like it right now, I have many many people who still care about me and want me to keep breathing. And as much as I feel like I've lost, I just need to keep looking at what I have..what I can still work with. In other words..I'm doing better :)