-Tuesday, May 9th, 2006
Before I begin, I bet you're wondering what the "Vote Kyle Petty" sticker is about. Every May, around the 20th, NASCAR features the "All-Star Race" which is a combination of past winners, and people who have won races from the previous year. Yes, believe it or not, Michael Waltrip IS a past winner, so he'll be in the race. Anyways, one position is for a driver who wins the sprint race just before the all-star race, and one driver gets voted in by the fans. Kyle Petty would like to garner your vote because if you vote him in, he will donate his winnings to the Victory Junction Gang camp, a camp for children with special needs dedicated by Kyle and Patty, in honor of their son Adam who died in a racing accident. So I suggest that all you Dale Jr fans out there, rather than vote in Truex again, lets do something nice for the world and vote Petty. There's alot of little kids who'd appreciate it. Click on the picture above to go to his website.
Now we can proceed onto my usual rant and rave. Well ladies and gents, boys and girls, another school year has come and gone and I am out for the summer. What will you do over the summer you ask? Well I haven't quite gotten it figured out. Three things are obviously apparent though. #1. Rest and relax from the school year. #2. I have to serve Jury duty on Wednesday of this week (so be expecting a theme for next week's rant), and #3. Get my windshield fixed from where a semi threw a rock into it. Now you notice getting a job isn't in there? Well, yes I do need to do that too, but its just not at the top of my list at the moment. In all honesty, I would be quite happy if I just didn't work this summer. I don't want another repeat of last summer with Heartland. The people were great, but that was about it. But in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy what I have, even though it seems weird just a couple days ago I was hanging out with the guys, and now they're spread out all over the country. Man, that's too weird. But we'll be back together next fall, right? Right?
I also want to take a second and give a big shout out to my friends Dustin and Edgar, because on my birthday this past week they threatened to pull a prank on me similar to the one they had done last year (this shall remain untold since most of you know the story anyway). Rather than prank me, they presented me my new #55 Michael Waltrip/NAPA Racing/ Bill Davis Racing hat. So you guys, truly awesome. I know I've picked a great group of friends, and its really cool to see just how great this group really is. So thanks guys. Have a good summer break.
And have a good summer break to you too! I'm out.
-Wednesday, April 26th, 2006
I have a few things I want to get taken care of tonight. First of all, on Friday night, Dale Earnhardt will be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, posthumously. So, a big big big congrats to my first favorite NASCAR driver, one of the best there ever will be. Secondly, Saturday would mark the 55th birthday of The Intimidator himself, and Sunday marks the 43rd Birthday of Michael Waltrip. So come on Michael, bring that ol NAPA Dodge to the track and have a birthday blast!
But of primary importance is the weekend race. Talladega Superspeedway, and the Aaron's 499. Dale Earnhardt was the supreme king of this race track, with over 10 career victories. "Mr. Restrictor Plate" was his nickname, and when that black and white GM Goodwrench #3 came flying to the front, fans and drivers everywhere knew that car would be parked in victory lane. Dale Earnhardt earned his final career win here in October of 2000, driving with everything he had from 17th to 1st place in 4 laps. Ladies and gents, that is one awesome feat! "The Intimidator will not be denyed" they said that day, and they were right. This became one of the greatest moments in NASCAR, and one of the major events that sealed the deal for Earnhardt becoming a living legend.
This weekend would mark Dale's 55th birthday, on April 29th. He isn't with us now, but with support from the manufactures, his racing creation, Dale Earnhardt Incorperated has unveiled a plan of cosmic proportions. On Saturday, the Aarons 312 will feature 43 NASCAR race cars, all dawning the Dale Earnhardt Foundation logo, a company started by Teresa Earnhardt for Children, Education, and Wildlife Preservation. Furthermore, DEI is also fielding 4 race cars for the Busch and Nextel Cup races, all with the legendary black, white and silver paint scheme that adorned the #3 since 1987. And his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr, would love to see nothing less than a win. Dale, let me tell you something. You have every NASCAR fan out there on their toes, you have all their support behind you. Earnhardt fans, Petty fans, Gordon fans, we're all drafting right there with you. So when you go out on that track, you give them every last ounce of hell you can muster, and I guarntee you that black #8 Budweiser Chevy WILL be in Victory Lane, and this will be the best tribute in the history of all stock car racing.
BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY MAN! LETS GO RACIN!
-Thursday, April 13th, 2006
Well this is Thursday of the week, and usually I update you on my life and my thoughts early on in the week. Honestly, I had a bunch of stuff to do so I just didn't get around to it. And I'm doing this now because I'm procrastinating and I don't want to get around to that. So enjoy my procrastination.
This is Thursday of week umpteen of the second semester of the 2005-2006 school year. From here, we have easter weekend (by the way, Happy Easter everyone), then the last "normal" week. After that comes "dead week" where everything is supposed to be winding down. And of course, exam week, which has the unfortunate occurance of my birthday. Anyways, what I want to dictate to you today is the stress level of students. This is the time in the semester where professors really start piling on the homework and the projects. Why? For a number of reasons. First of all, every college professor is required to put forth a plan of events, called a Syllabus. Some professors are completely obsessed with sticking to this unreasonable schedule, to those, I stick my tongue out at you and ask you to go ahead and retire. Some professors understand that the quality of learning is more important than the quantity of material covered, and so more often than not, they will be days, if not weeks behind the schedule. To those professors, I must give props because they make a hard honest effort to do make us ignorant students learn and often at the expense of professors who believe the schedule should be strictly adhered. I haven't left out projects either, as many of you may be clamoring for recognition. There are also many professors out there who assign projects, halfway through the semester or a few weeks earlier. Now if they would only coordinate projects with each other so 12 wouldn't be due on the same day, students would be much happier, much more rested, and still be equally as ready to end the semester!
I'm done complaining for this week. Bye everybody!
-Tuesday, April 4th, 2006
Well this is another day, of another week, of a new month, and what do I have to complain about as always? Daylight Savings Time. Yes folks, that time of the year came and passed where residence of Indiana had to move their clocks for the first time in something like 40 years. At least, that's what I heard on the news the other day. So being as this is my first experience with changing the time myself, I would like to aire my grievances with you.
1. I still operate on "Indiana time". Indiana time is basically what time it would be without this dumb DST. So when I look at my clock, or watch, I say to myself "Okay, its 8pm, that means under the old system, it would be 7. It feels more like 7 anyway."
2. I hate getting up in the dark. During the first few months of the semester, its always dark when I get up and get ready for class. It makes me feel better when I get up, and the sun is already there waiting on me. Now that we've set everything back an hour, I'm getting up in the dark again. From what I read in the paper, it won't be until Mid-May before I can experience that again. After spring break, I should be able to count on the sun being up every day before me, its weird not having that there.
3. I hate it being light so late in the evening. It shouldn't be bright and sunny at 8 pm until the longest day of the year. Anything other than that is just weird. Besides...how do you feel about it being 8 pm, bright and sunny...knowing you have to go to bed in a couple hours anyway?
So these are just a few complaints I have. Really, I liked the old system better, and this DST thing just seems like the Governor wants to conform to what the other states are doing, just for the sake that everything can be the same. Oh well, maybe I'll get used to it. Or maybe the people will discover this plan is nothing but a big crock of smoldering crock of dung and they'll demand we do away with it again. I wonder, if it was in use 40 years ago, why did they stop? Hmmm...
That's all my rant and rave for this week. Its already just about half over so everyone have a nice weekend.
-Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006
Well guys, I'm taking a procrastination break to update my website. I've included a few pictures for you, from my most favorite track in all of NASCAR. Atlanta Motor Speedway! Yes ladies and gents, it got rained out, and that was really depressing. I waited around all Sunday for the race that never came on Sunday. Instead it came Monday, and I was really surprised that FOX 59, our local station, actually cancelled their programming to show it. So kudos to Fox man! They made a lot of grumpy college students happy! And next weekend we go to Bristol Motor Speedway, which is another of my favorite tracks, so you'll be sure to get a bunch of pictures of all the DEI teams that go there, and of course I wouldn't leave you without pictures of the ol 55.
What new and exciting things do I have to tell? I just got back from spring break. Let me give you a piece of advice to those of you who are on spring break or are getting ready to go on it. Enjoy it, and don't work too hard. I worked hard, and I feel like I missed my entire break. So I came back from break and immediately had an exam waiting on me this Friday. Hopefully I'll get to go for a few weeks without having a test because, I've had at least one a week every week so far, and I'm getting tired of it. I just want a regular week. Can I please have a regular week with no exams? I guess not.
Being as you all probably have your own problems to contend with, I will shut up now. Good luck and have a good week y'all.
-Tuesday, March 15th, 2006
I have been alerted more than once that I haven't updated my website in quite awhile. Sorry about that, I've been rather busy. So hopefully some new pictures and a new thought will hold you over. The week before spring break (last week was rather hectic for me because I had 3 exams on the same day, and a bunch of stuff due later in the week. Combine all that with the 24 hour flu on Sunday, and you can see why I was so busy. And how is my break now? Busy. I'm toiling away over the red Ranger trying to get it running good again after I wore out a couple lifters. I may post pictures of them later. They're rather neat looking. Anyways, that's taken up most of my time and I haven't gotten to see many friends, and by many, I mean I haven't gotten to see any at all.
Last weekend's NASCAR race was a dismal failure. I wasn't expecting too much out of DEI or Michael Waltrip, and that's what I got. Dale Jr did pretty darn good all day, running at times in the top-15, but a late speeding penalty in the race dropped the Brew Crew out of the top 10 in points, and gave them a 27th place finish. Truex didn't fare too well either. Michael just flat out had a bad day running about 4 laps down from everybody with an ill-handling race car. Oh well. Onto my favorite track this weekend for the MBNA 500, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. And for the first time since Daytona, I have 4 cars to root for. Yes, that's right, the 8, 15, and 1 will be together on the track again with Paul Menard behind the wheel. And of course, Dale Jr is gonna win Atlanta, just you wait and see. The celebration will last for 3 days.
Wel back to work now, so everyone who's on break, have fun. Everyone who's over break, hehe, sorry buds. And everyone who has a break still yet, lucky dogs. Get outta here!
-Saturday, February 4th 2006
Alright, I want to take a moment and revisit the complaint department, and you all have to hear me out on this one. When I was a freshman and a sophmore, it was not hard for me to walk down the street, and strike up a random conversation with a random person. You know, I did it to meet new people, to make the walk back from class pass more quickly, or in general just hoping to lighten someone's day cuz I'm a fun guy to talk to.
My Junior year has marked a noticable difference. Everywhere I go, people have cell phones stuck to their head. I can't talk to any of them because they're already talking to somebody. Which isn't a bad thing unless:
1. You get drug into their conversation because they're so loud.
2. They aren't paying attention and run into you, or run you off the sidewalk.
3. They get more than one phone call on the same trip to campus.
This effect has also spread to cafeterias where everyone is eating and talking, in the lecture halls where everyone can't listen because they're talking, and lord knows some poor soul on the other end just heard a flush.
I was sitting in history class behind this girl who I am acquainted with, and she complained that she didn't get enough sleep the night before because people kept sending her text messages. My own roomate got a call Thursday night at like 1 am that he had to answer, and another friend spent a large amount of money on text messages this month alone. Geez people! I'm not sayin you guys are bad but lay off the electronic devices for awhile! When you go to bed, if you don't want disturbed, SHUT THE PHONE OFF! Do you really need to be in constant contact with the whole world? You're gonna get sick of it when you have to be at your job anyway. So shut your cell phone off and give it a break. Look around and talk to people in class instead of someone on the other end of a signal transmission. If you don't, I may have to buy a jammer :).
Hope you all enjoyed my rant. Have a good one!
-Saturday, February 4th 2006
Hey y'all. I had a few minutes before its time to go to my great aunt's for my mom's birthday party, so I thought I'd sit down and write a spell. First of all, I wanna visit the complaint department... I am sick and tired of predictions. If you've followed all the NASCAR news lately, there IS NO NASCAR news, so instead, everyones spending their time making predictions. Some of them are fairly decent: Tony Stewart will make the chase again, maybe even win, Robert Yates Racing's program will vastly improve, Kevin Harvick's struggle will continue, DEI did poorly in testing, but don't count them out. But there's one particular nasty rumor I keep hearing that's going to drive me to a NASCAR death. I'm talking about Dale Jr driving the #3 Goodwrench Chevy of Richard Childress. Last year he put out an interview saying sometime in his career he would like to drive the #3, but he had alot more work to do. That immediately started the speculations, rumors told to be true and heard from the man, and people screaming the sky is falling. Dale Jr's moving to the #3! Next year! Dale Jr's quitting DEI!, Dale Jr #3, Dale Jr no longer in the 6.7! Okay, people....he said he'd LIKE to race in his dad's car. Didn't say it was gonna happen anytime soon. Leave the man be, and enjoy his red #8. And also, as far as all the predictions for 2006, just don't bother. They don't mean a hill of beans until the green flag drops at the Daytona 500. So quit flaunting your opinions as the truth. Granted I know, some people out there do expressedly say that their opinion is exactly that; others will swear to you their opinion is the bible, so you guys out there, shut up.
Other than that I'm having a great weekend. Didn't work too hard, actually didn't work at all. Just drove. It was fun. Its nice to get away from college for awhile, take a step back and a sigh of relief. Supposedly this is the longest stretch of the school year, between Christmas break and spring break, that we go without a day off. Well, that's fine by me I guess. The way I see it is we're getting ready to start the 5th week of school. Spring break officially begins after the 9th week of school. So, lets do the math....counting next week, that means we have 5 weeks until spring break starts. So we're about halfway there. And then we get our week off...and then its a very simp,le, easy 6 week shootout til the end of the year. So, you know, we're not doin too bad. Just hold together guys, we're gonna make it. -Peace out.