After tomorrow, I will have survived my first twenty-one days as an Iowa State student... I gotta hand it to myself, I'm pretty proud. I am taking some big steps towards becoming a big boy here, and I am loving every second. This past week was a little (a lot, really) rough as I got to battle a particularly nasty strain of strep throat combined with bronchitis. Yuck. I'm pretty much over it now, just have some congestion and am still coughing up nothing good. I'm working quite a bit still at the bank and I'm the happiest I've been with my job since I started last March. I'm coming up on the one year mark there, which is a pretty big deal because I haven't had one single job that long since I graduated high school... I guess you could say I'm pretty finicky. I managed to get a raise this month (small, but hey, a raise is a raise) and my boss has been noticing the extra effort I've been putting in and the extra tasks I've been taking on without being prompted. I've been spending more time with my friends and have a couple of trips lined up for this year. In March, Lindsey and I are going to go to Seattle, which has been a dream of mine pretty much since I was a fetus. I turn 21 in June and could not be more excited, since all of my friends are already at least 21 and I can't wait to be able to go out with them! My love life is still non-existent, but I have decided that 2009 is my year - I am in the process of changing my attitudes and trying to become more outgoing and social. I think I might join Psych Club at ISU - which if you weren't able to pick up, is a club for psychology majors. Clever, right?
All in all, my life is going pretty well right now :) I'm excited to see what the rest of this year has in store for me.
cjk
1.29.2009
1.24.2009
It's so good, it must be fattening.
So whilst I was browsing around on Facebook today, being bored and having no clear goal in mind, I managed to stumble across this GEM. It is a list of twelve reasons that gay marriage should not be made legal in America, followed by a hilarious afterthought, effectively punching holes in its validity. Enjoy, and if you feel so inclined, re-post it, or better yet, send it to a Republican friend you might have :)
1. Homosexuality is not natural, much like eyeglasses, polyester, and birth control are not natural.
2. Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Infertile couples and old people cannot get legally married because the world needs more children.
3. Obviously gay parents will raise gay children because straight parents only raise straight children.
4. Straight marriage will be less meaningful, since Britney Spears's 55-hour just-for-fun marriage was meaningful.
5. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and it hasn't changed at all: women are property, Blacks can't marry Whites, and divorce is illegal.
6. Gay marriage should be decided by the people, not the courts, because the majority-elected legislatures, not courts, have historically protected the rights of minorities.
7. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are always imposed on the entire country. That's why we only have one religion in America.
8. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people makes you tall.
9. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage license.
10. Children can never succeed without both male and female role models at home. That's why single parents are forbidden to raise children.
11. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and we could never adapt to new social norms because we haven't adapted to cars or longer lifespans.
12. Civil unions, providing most of the same benefits as marriage with a different name are better, because a "separate but equal" institution is always constitutional. Separate schools for African-Americans worked just as well as separate marriages will for gays & lesbians.
1.13.2009
So I lied...
You may have noticed that I did not have a post yesterday like I alluded to on Sunday. Oops - my bad. Well, it may be a day late but it's here, so get off my back.
I had my first day of big boy college yesterday when I officially started at Iowa State University of Science and Technology (the full name makes it sound so classy and FANCY). I had to be up at 7:15 (sick, I know) to primp and look hot because, hey, this could be the day I meet Mr. Right, right? (Editor's note - it wasn't. I did get hit on by a girl on the bus though. Damn.) I scraped off my car (for the third day in a row, might I add) and drove to the commuter parking lot at Iowa State Center and caught the #23 Orange bus to take me on to campus. After a couple stops, I exited at Beardshear Hall and from there was only a stone's throw from Carver Hall - home of my MATH 105 class. This class had me mildly stressed out as math=nothing good. However, there is no midterm, no comprehensive final exam, and the teacher is awesome. Good news here is that he says most people who are really good at number crunching and things of the like have trouble in the class, while people with a basic working knowledge or less (i.e., ME) seem to do better. Thank GOD.
After math, I make the trek across campus to Hoover Hall, braving snow, wind, and cold, to get to my ECON 101 class. This bitch was awestruck. 480+ people packed into an auditorium that reminded me of the freaking Civic Center! I mean H-U-G-E! This class has me pretty well worried - I don't know how I'm feeling about all this nonsense. Seems like a challenge that I may or may not be up to. The jury's still out so I'll keep you posted.
Finally, we hit the snag in the day. Now, this was a snag that I was prepared for fully from the get-go. My third class is ENGL 225, which is located in Food Sciences 2311 (because, let's face it, if you had to pick an ideal location for an English course, you'd pick the f*cking Food Sciences Building). Anyhow, this is clear on the opposite side of campus. Even with getting out of ECON 7 minutes early, I was still 5 minutes late to class. Great. And this class only had 30 students in it, so everyone got to see the NOOB (moi) walk in late. To top it off, there weren't anymore seats. The teacher had to give me her chair. Nice, Christopher. Way to not draw attention to yourself.
After that class I beelined for the #23 Orange Circulator again to get back to my car. This time, the bus was filled and it was standing room only. Wouldn't have been the worse thing, except I was between two people that I am convinced have never heard of deodorant. Once they started speaking I understood why. One word for you - FRENCH. You can imagine. I got back to my car and got home in time to boil some lima beans for lunch, throw them in a Gladware with a pound of Country Crock and a dash of salt and pepper, and take them to-go to work. Worked till close, came home, and BOOM! Hit my wall. I was down for the count.
Now we come to the present. Slow ass day in the banking world, so I left work at 2:30 (supposed to get off at 4:00). Making a super pot of chili for supper (YUM) and working on homework! CHYEAH!
The joys of being a student. An employed student.
cjk
I had my first day of big boy college yesterday when I officially started at Iowa State University of Science and Technology (the full name makes it sound so classy and FANCY). I had to be up at 7:15 (sick, I know) to primp and look hot because, hey, this could be the day I meet Mr. Right, right? (Editor's note - it wasn't. I did get hit on by a girl on the bus though. Damn.) I scraped off my car (for the third day in a row, might I add) and drove to the commuter parking lot at Iowa State Center and caught the #23 Orange bus to take me on to campus. After a couple stops, I exited at Beardshear Hall and from there was only a stone's throw from Carver Hall - home of my MATH 105 class. This class had me mildly stressed out as math=nothing good. However, there is no midterm, no comprehensive final exam, and the teacher is awesome. Good news here is that he says most people who are really good at number crunching and things of the like have trouble in the class, while people with a basic working knowledge or less (i.e., ME) seem to do better. Thank GOD.
After math, I make the trek across campus to Hoover Hall, braving snow, wind, and cold, to get to my ECON 101 class. This bitch was awestruck. 480+ people packed into an auditorium that reminded me of the freaking Civic Center! I mean H-U-G-E! This class has me pretty well worried - I don't know how I'm feeling about all this nonsense. Seems like a challenge that I may or may not be up to. The jury's still out so I'll keep you posted.
Finally, we hit the snag in the day. Now, this was a snag that I was prepared for fully from the get-go. My third class is ENGL 225, which is located in Food Sciences 2311 (because, let's face it, if you had to pick an ideal location for an English course, you'd pick the f*cking Food Sciences Building). Anyhow, this is clear on the opposite side of campus. Even with getting out of ECON 7 minutes early, I was still 5 minutes late to class. Great. And this class only had 30 students in it, so everyone got to see the NOOB (moi) walk in late. To top it off, there weren't anymore seats. The teacher had to give me her chair. Nice, Christopher. Way to not draw attention to yourself.
After that class I beelined for the #23 Orange Circulator again to get back to my car. This time, the bus was filled and it was standing room only. Wouldn't have been the worse thing, except I was between two people that I am convinced have never heard of deodorant. Once they started speaking I understood why. One word for you - FRENCH. You can imagine. I got back to my car and got home in time to boil some lima beans for lunch, throw them in a Gladware with a pound of Country Crock and a dash of salt and pepper, and take them to-go to work. Worked till close, came home, and BOOM! Hit my wall. I was down for the count.
Now we come to the present. Slow ass day in the banking world, so I left work at 2:30 (supposed to get off at 4:00). Making a super pot of chili for supper (YUM) and working on homework! CHYEAH!
The joys of being a student. An employed student.
cjk
1.11.2009
It's just another Monday, except...
Tomorrow happens to be my first day at Iowa State. I'm so f*cking excited - for a multitude of reasons. First, it means that I never have to go to DMACC again, which in turn means no more driving to stupid Boone (which in itself is cause for celebration). Second, it means that I am halfway done with my college education! I could/should be farther ahead, but we all know how that goes... I'm nervous to actually start at a real university though. Just the size of the campus overwhelms me, but knowing that I am going to be receiving my education at the same place as so many famous people in history have learned is pretty cool. I went on Saturday morning and got my textbooks ($350 - which is actually quite low so YAY) and stopped by Target tonight to use a giftcard I got for xmas for some supplies. I have my backpack all loaded up and have the coffee pot set to start percolating first thing in the morning. Since my apartment complex is kind of off the beaten path, I have to drive to Hilton to park and take the commuter bus onto campus. Holly and I rode the bus around town the other night so that I could get a feel for the whole situation, so I'm aptly prepared for it. I don't know... I guess what stresses me out is that I'm going to just be another body in a class of 200-400 people. At the same time though, I can actually find some comfort in knowing that because I'm just an average Joe in the classroom, I won't feel so much like I'm in high school again - like I did at DMACC. Seriously. That place was just like being in 13th and 14th grade. It sucked.
Sorry that the posts have been so few and far between. It's just been a little semi-hectic around me lately, so the blogging was put on the back burner. Never fear, I shall start making more regular posts. I have a feeling that there might be one coming tomorrow night (just sayin').
Hopefully everyone had a nice weekend! Back to reality tomorrow.
cjk
Sorry that the posts have been so few and far between. It's just been a little semi-hectic around me lately, so the blogging was put on the back burner. Never fear, I shall start making more regular posts. I have a feeling that there might be one coming tomorrow night (just sayin').
Hopefully everyone had a nice weekend! Back to reality tomorrow.
cjk
1.01.2009
When words can't even come close.
It's hard to find words to console someone when you have absolutely no idea what they're going through. At best, I'm sorry comes to mind, and that keeping them in your prayers is obvious. But how do you truly express how much pain you feel for them; how much sadness you wish you could somehow take away with just some kind words?
I don't think I can come close to trying to putting it into words, but here it goes. To all of the Jeff Young family, I send you my deepest condolonces and sympathies. My heart aches for each and every one of you, and I wish that there was something I could do to make it better. It makes me feel truly broken to be unable to mend the wounds that have been placed upon all of you - but know that if there is anything that I can do, I'm here, and I'm ready to do whatever I can.
I don't think I can come close to trying to putting it into words, but here it goes. To all of the Jeff Young family, I send you my deepest condolonces and sympathies. My heart aches for each and every one of you, and I wish that there was something I could do to make it better. It makes me feel truly broken to be unable to mend the wounds that have been placed upon all of you - but know that if there is anything that I can do, I'm here, and I'm ready to do whatever I can.
12.21.2008
A lot can happen in 15 days. A lot more can happen in 365.
I'm laying here typing this, even though I should be sleeping. The next week is going to be brutal - work open till 4 tomorrow, open till close Tuesday, and open till 3 on Christmas Eve (we're closing early, thank GOD), and then from there we have 6 Christmases in 5 days. OMG. I swear, it seems like we end up adding one every year. It's a lot of family time, a lot of stress, and a lot of work, but in the end, it's always worth it :)
Every year around this time, I like to take some personal time and just reflect about what I've accomplished in a years time, and where I was 365 days ago. It makes me take into account what I've done (or have put off), what I want to do (or put off again), and what I think I'll be doing when I do this again next year. Usually I feel like there's been some kind of personal growth, or at the very least, an attempt at it.
This year, as I sit and think back on 2008, I'm left wondering where all the time has gone. I just don't even recall all of the days - it's as if I blinked and it was over. I'm noticing that the older I get, the less time I spend just enjoying life, or appreciating the simple things. Instead, I'm constantly worried about how much my next paycheck is going to be, or what I'm going to have for dinner. Stupid things that don't matter have now become the staples of my day, highlighting every single portion of it. I tell myself that it's all just a part of growing up, and that after I finish college things can only get better. I've gotten to the point where I just don't believe myself anymore. Will they get better? I, along with everyone else, can be so quick to say 'things will get so much better once you graduate and get a good job,' but in all reality, nobody can forsee the future. Nobody can tell what will be.
I'm getting to the point in my life where I'm starting to think about my future. A lot. I can't tell you how hard my birthday was for me this year. 20. It was such a turning point for me. I'm not a teenager anymore. I'm two decades old. I decided that my 20's were going to be the best part of my life. I was going to make some big life changes and turn my life in a different direction. Who knew that every direction was exactly the same as the one before it. I'm now less than six months away from 21, one of, if not the most, exciting birthdays in a person's life. And you know what? I'm not any more excited for it than I was for 20. It's another year. Another year that I get to worry about how many days late the gas bill will be, or how I don't have enough hours at work. I'm over it.
I want to have fun. I want to meet someone. I can't take one more night of falling asleep with nobody to say goodnight to, one more afternoon of loneliness, one more Friday at home watching TV. I'm constantly obsessing with the way I look, convinced that if I looked like they do, I wouldn't be in this predicament. I'm constantly seeing everyone around me go through the ups and downs of committed relationships, and I can't stand it anymore. When is it my turn to have ups and downs? When will I get my chance to tell everyone about the sweet text message I got out of nowhere, or the night I spent cuddled up watching TV?
When do I get my turn?
Every year around this time, I like to take some personal time and just reflect about what I've accomplished in a years time, and where I was 365 days ago. It makes me take into account what I've done (or have put off), what I want to do (or put off again), and what I think I'll be doing when I do this again next year. Usually I feel like there's been some kind of personal growth, or at the very least, an attempt at it.
This year, as I sit and think back on 2008, I'm left wondering where all the time has gone. I just don't even recall all of the days - it's as if I blinked and it was over. I'm noticing that the older I get, the less time I spend just enjoying life, or appreciating the simple things. Instead, I'm constantly worried about how much my next paycheck is going to be, or what I'm going to have for dinner. Stupid things that don't matter have now become the staples of my day, highlighting every single portion of it. I tell myself that it's all just a part of growing up, and that after I finish college things can only get better. I've gotten to the point where I just don't believe myself anymore. Will they get better? I, along with everyone else, can be so quick to say 'things will get so much better once you graduate and get a good job,' but in all reality, nobody can forsee the future. Nobody can tell what will be.
I'm getting to the point in my life where I'm starting to think about my future. A lot. I can't tell you how hard my birthday was for me this year. 20. It was such a turning point for me. I'm not a teenager anymore. I'm two decades old. I decided that my 20's were going to be the best part of my life. I was going to make some big life changes and turn my life in a different direction. Who knew that every direction was exactly the same as the one before it. I'm now less than six months away from 21, one of, if not the most, exciting birthdays in a person's life. And you know what? I'm not any more excited for it than I was for 20. It's another year. Another year that I get to worry about how many days late the gas bill will be, or how I don't have enough hours at work. I'm over it.
I want to have fun. I want to meet someone. I can't take one more night of falling asleep with nobody to say goodnight to, one more afternoon of loneliness, one more Friday at home watching TV. I'm constantly obsessing with the way I look, convinced that if I looked like they do, I wouldn't be in this predicament. I'm constantly seeing everyone around me go through the ups and downs of committed relationships, and I can't stand it anymore. When is it my turn to have ups and downs? When will I get my chance to tell everyone about the sweet text message I got out of nowhere, or the night I spent cuddled up watching TV?
When do I get my turn?
12.06.2008
Where the F have I been?!
Hi gang! Sorry for the blog hiatus. What a week.
When we last met up, I still had two Thanksgiving dinners to attend. Last Saturday Lindsey and I ventured out in the snow to Granger to Aunt Sheila's. After eating my weight (and then some) in turkey & such the day before, the spread of homemade chili, potato soup, and little smokies was a very welcome change. We got a chance to see some of our extended family from Chicago and St. Louis that we just don't get to see enough of, so it was fun. We stayed till about 9:30, and noticed that the snow was still coming down. Since we had the furthest drive back home, we took off. The county highway we took between Granger and Minburn wasn't in the best shape, but by the time we hit 169 & 44, things were just fine. I should mention at this point that in order for us to get to Granger, there was a bit of a power struggle between my sister and I. I thought it would be best if I drove for three reasons. 1. I had a full tank of gas in my car, whilst Lindsey was on empty. 2. I am older (if only by 3 years) and have had a little more experience in snowy driving conditions. 3. I am a control freak and a backseat driver anyway, so why not let me just win? Of course, Lindsey ended up driving us. I met her after she got off work, left my car in town, and we left. Anyhow, on our way home, she dropped me off at my car, I got in and was driving behind her home. We get to the lake where the road conditions soured once again, and not 60 seconds later, I'm watching in horror as my poor baby sister veers off the road (at NO fault of her own, might I add) and her little blue Cavalier is careening into the trees. Her finally comes to a rest (after what seems like an eternity) and I could not get mine stopped fast enough, or so it seemed. I race over to find her in hysterics and shaken up, but otherwise uninjured. Her car, however is another story. The front passenger side is mangled with the side mirror about 5 yards behind the car, her front passenger door is unopenable (word?), and the front passenger window (sensing a pattern of impact yet) is broken out. Everywhere. Glass. Inside her purse (which we didn't find until two days later.) I get her into my car and we make it home. Jerry and I ventured back out to cover the window with a slab of cardboard since the snow was still coming down. So much for a quiet night. (Like there's ever one of those around my parents house anyway)
Sunday was a much better day. We headed over to Grandma's for TG #4 (the last supper, so to speak, and THANK GOD!) We mingle with the family and have a great time playing Catch Phrase (as evidenced by pictures on Mom's blog). We get home at about 10, when I realize that I don't have any desire to drive back to Ames tonight, so I'm postponing it until tomorrow. Which is exactly what I did. I left town at about 1 on Monday, and worked at 3.
The rest of the week was pretty fair to partly cloudy. Tuesday night Roomie's mom and stepdad came to town and took us out to eat at Applebee's (our fave) and came back to our house to help us put up our Christmas tree. Now, this is where I tell you about my tree. I bought it last year for $11 at the D.A.V. Thrift Store in East Des Moines. It is an adorable six foot tree, and it is my pride and joy. I don't know why, but it is my favorite piece of furniture. This year we decorated in purples and golds, along with mauve and copper as our "counterbalances." We used purple lights. I'll have to post pictures soon.
Now it's Saturday night and I am starting to feel better, thanks for asking. Oh, did I not mention I was sick? Yeah. Sick, starting at about 8 Friday night and not really letting up until now. I had to miss Roomie's Christmas party (sad face) so instead I came home to Panora to get babied. Tomorrow we'll decorate the tree here, and I'll head up to Ames afterwards. It's finals week, so we'll see if I get a chance to update you before I go on Christmas break.
Have a happy weekend, everyone!
cjk
When we last met up, I still had two Thanksgiving dinners to attend. Last Saturday Lindsey and I ventured out in the snow to Granger to Aunt Sheila's. After eating my weight (and then some) in turkey & such the day before, the spread of homemade chili, potato soup, and little smokies was a very welcome change. We got a chance to see some of our extended family from Chicago and St. Louis that we just don't get to see enough of, so it was fun. We stayed till about 9:30, and noticed that the snow was still coming down. Since we had the furthest drive back home, we took off. The county highway we took between Granger and Minburn wasn't in the best shape, but by the time we hit 169 & 44, things were just fine. I should mention at this point that in order for us to get to Granger, there was a bit of a power struggle between my sister and I. I thought it would be best if I drove for three reasons. 1. I had a full tank of gas in my car, whilst Lindsey was on empty. 2. I am older (if only by 3 years) and have had a little more experience in snowy driving conditions. 3. I am a control freak and a backseat driver anyway, so why not let me just win? Of course, Lindsey ended up driving us. I met her after she got off work, left my car in town, and we left. Anyhow, on our way home, she dropped me off at my car, I got in and was driving behind her home. We get to the lake where the road conditions soured once again, and not 60 seconds later, I'm watching in horror as my poor baby sister veers off the road (at NO fault of her own, might I add) and her little blue Cavalier is careening into the trees. Her finally comes to a rest (after what seems like an eternity) and I could not get mine stopped fast enough, or so it seemed. I race over to find her in hysterics and shaken up, but otherwise uninjured. Her car, however is another story. The front passenger side is mangled with the side mirror about 5 yards behind the car, her front passenger door is unopenable (word?), and the front passenger window (sensing a pattern of impact yet) is broken out. Everywhere. Glass. Inside her purse (which we didn't find until two days later.) I get her into my car and we make it home. Jerry and I ventured back out to cover the window with a slab of cardboard since the snow was still coming down. So much for a quiet night. (Like there's ever one of those around my parents house anyway)
Sunday was a much better day. We headed over to Grandma's for TG #4 (the last supper, so to speak, and THANK GOD!) We mingle with the family and have a great time playing Catch Phrase (as evidenced by pictures on Mom's blog). We get home at about 10, when I realize that I don't have any desire to drive back to Ames tonight, so I'm postponing it until tomorrow. Which is exactly what I did. I left town at about 1 on Monday, and worked at 3.
The rest of the week was pretty fair to partly cloudy. Tuesday night Roomie's mom and stepdad came to town and took us out to eat at Applebee's (our fave) and came back to our house to help us put up our Christmas tree. Now, this is where I tell you about my tree. I bought it last year for $11 at the D.A.V. Thrift Store in East Des Moines. It is an adorable six foot tree, and it is my pride and joy. I don't know why, but it is my favorite piece of furniture. This year we decorated in purples and golds, along with mauve and copper as our "counterbalances." We used purple lights. I'll have to post pictures soon.
Now it's Saturday night and I am starting to feel better, thanks for asking. Oh, did I not mention I was sick? Yeah. Sick, starting at about 8 Friday night and not really letting up until now. I had to miss Roomie's Christmas party (sad face) so instead I came home to Panora to get babied. Tomorrow we'll decorate the tree here, and I'll head up to Ames afterwards. It's finals week, so we'll see if I get a chance to update you before I go on Christmas break.
Have a happy weekend, everyone!
cjk
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