So the girl in my blog picture is my girlfriend whose name is Ashlyn. This past weekend marked our 10 month anniversary, if you will. This time last year we were talking, but not officially together so I got her a smaller gift for her birthday and Christmas. Her birthday is ten days before Christmas, so she's used to getting her presents all at once and that doubles as both birthday and Christmas gifts. My problem this year is that like any guy, I don't know what to get her for either.
When I say I don't know what I want to get her, I mean I do have an idea, it just may come off as selfish. I'm thinking about taking her to the ACC Championship Game if we make it which will be fun, but I don't want her to think I am being selfish. She likes football, but sometimes she gets confused about the game. On the other hand, I really enjoy watching some Hokie football. Pros of this idea: it's a unique gift that won't be forgotten, get to spend quality time with my gal, Hokie football. Cons of this idea: Hokies may not make the Championship game, expensive, traffic, close to exams. The quantity of cons are greater than the quantity of pros, but the quality of pros far outweigh the quality of cons.
That takes care of her birthday, but that leaves Christmas. I asked her mom and her mom said either pajamas or some kind of jewelry or perfume. While these are great ideas, they just seem boring. Do girls like that or do they like to be surprised? Anyway, we went to the mall this weekend and I made her go into stores she liked and I noticed the things she looked at for a long period of time or things she showed me, so hopefully that'll help me.
Yet another issue I face is how much should I spend. I asked her what the price range is of my gift and she is refusing to tell me. I know you can't really put a price on a relationship, but I don't want to spend a significant amount more or less than she spent for my gift. Speaking of my gift, it is in my room right now and Ashlyn isn't so I could peek, but my conscience would kill me. Oh well, I'm open to suggestions even though you all don't really know her.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The Final Countdown
This upcoming Saturday (November 16) is my very last home football game as a student. It will be the last time to jump to Enter Sandman as the team rushes the field and the last time to wave a turkey leg instead of my keys on third down as a student. It makes me sad that my last football season is coming to an end, but as I reflect on my times at football games, I can't help but get a big grin all the way across my face.
My very first game; however, is the startling exception. I don't know if you all remember this, but in 2010, Virginia Tech played JMU at home. It was my first home football game as a student. Even though it was raining and I didn't win the student lottery, I managed to get a ticket from a friend's friend. I sat there in the rain with a stranger and his family and watched such a disappointing game. I have no idea what the final score was, but it was a loss and it was such a hard loss to take. I also remember the time Virginia Tech played Boise St. back when they were good. I can't remember if this game was before of after JMU, but what I do remember is being cramped in a small dorm room in Lee Hall with twenty other people cheering on the Hokies. We got off to a horrendous start, but Tyrod brought the team back within striking distance. Despite the game being practically in our backyard (Landover, MD) as compared to Boise St., we still lost. My Freshman year we ended up going to the Orange Bowl to play Stanford. At the time, Stanford had Andrew Luck who is now a starting NFL quarterback, so the season finale wasn't too pleasant for the Hokies, but spirits were high going into the 2011 season with Logan Thomas as the new quarterback.
The 2011 Virginia Tech football season was Logan Thomas's first year as starting quarterback. The guy is huge, but often inconsistent in decision making. Anyway, we only lost once in the regular season and that was against Clemson. We got to the ACC Championship Game ranked in the top 5, but lo and behold, Clemson beat us again to claim the ACC title. We faced Michigan in the Sugar Bowl and in one of the worst calls in NCAA bowl history, we lost the game (link posted below).
Last year was a complete disaster. Even though I went to most of the games, we struggled through the year losing to opponents we should have blown out. The only highlight for me was hearing Darius Rucker sing the National Anthem against FSU on a Thursday night game in Lane Stadium. We did however make it to the Russell Athletics Bowl, or something like that, and beat Rutgers which was the first bowl victory for VT while I was a student.
This year was the first year I purchased season tickets and it has been wonderful. I have great seats with great people which makes the games so much more enjoyable. Tech has lost to Bama, Duke, and BC so far and if we win out, we may get to face FSU in the ACC Championship. If this is the case, I'm buying tickets and going to game. Hope you all take advantage of your time here at VT as it has flown by for me.
My very first game; however, is the startling exception. I don't know if you all remember this, but in 2010, Virginia Tech played JMU at home. It was my first home football game as a student. Even though it was raining and I didn't win the student lottery, I managed to get a ticket from a friend's friend. I sat there in the rain with a stranger and his family and watched such a disappointing game. I have no idea what the final score was, but it was a loss and it was such a hard loss to take. I also remember the time Virginia Tech played Boise St. back when they were good. I can't remember if this game was before of after JMU, but what I do remember is being cramped in a small dorm room in Lee Hall with twenty other people cheering on the Hokies. We got off to a horrendous start, but Tyrod brought the team back within striking distance. Despite the game being practically in our backyard (Landover, MD) as compared to Boise St., we still lost. My Freshman year we ended up going to the Orange Bowl to play Stanford. At the time, Stanford had Andrew Luck who is now a starting NFL quarterback, so the season finale wasn't too pleasant for the Hokies, but spirits were high going into the 2011 season with Logan Thomas as the new quarterback.
The 2011 Virginia Tech football season was Logan Thomas's first year as starting quarterback. The guy is huge, but often inconsistent in decision making. Anyway, we only lost once in the regular season and that was against Clemson. We got to the ACC Championship Game ranked in the top 5, but lo and behold, Clemson beat us again to claim the ACC title. We faced Michigan in the Sugar Bowl and in one of the worst calls in NCAA bowl history, we lost the game (link posted below).
Last year was a complete disaster. Even though I went to most of the games, we struggled through the year losing to opponents we should have blown out. The only highlight for me was hearing Darius Rucker sing the National Anthem against FSU on a Thursday night game in Lane Stadium. We did however make it to the Russell Athletics Bowl, or something like that, and beat Rutgers which was the first bowl victory for VT while I was a student.
This year was the first year I purchased season tickets and it has been wonderful. I have great seats with great people which makes the games so much more enjoyable. Tech has lost to Bama, Duke, and BC so far and if we win out, we may get to face FSU in the ACC Championship. If this is the case, I'm buying tickets and going to game. Hope you all take advantage of your time here at VT as it has flown by for me.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
George Washington was a Wimp
Ever wondered why George Washington is on the quarter? Well, I had a dream last week in which it was revealed to me why G-Dub is on our nations quarter. Keep in mind, I am not lying about any of this and it was all a part of my dream, so here we go.
One day George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Franklin Roosevelt were riding on horseback throughout the country. They came upon a lake and allowed their horses to rest and get a drink. While resting, they all noticed something swimming around in lake. With extreme caution, they managed to capture this unknown creature. The creature was slimy and white, but not much bigger than a normal sized fish. They had no idea what to do with it or what it was, so they took the captured creature to the smartest people they knew. After several days of asking around, one old man told the four men what this creature was. The old man said this creature was damned and that anyone who tried to attack it would get killed by the animal. This came as a surprise since the creature wasn't that fierce looking, but they listened to the old man's advice. Word eventually got out about this creature and the strongest and bravest men came from all around to fight the creature because they knew if they killed it, they would be awarded with fame and riches. The men kept on fighting the creature, but time after time, the creature kept killing them off. After just one day and many causalities, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt met up to discuss what to do with the creature. In just a few minutes, George Washington jumped on his horse and rode away. Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt looked at each other and said, "Surely, he has more "cents" than all of us!"
I then woke up from my dream in complete laughter. They may have actually said "sense", but it sounded like "cents" and those men were all presidents who are currently on US coins, with Washington being on the one of the most value (in case you didn't get it).
I immediately woke up my girlfriend just so I could share my newly found knowledge with her, but I don't think she was impressed. I also began telling my two best guy friends this story later that day and someone overheard me and claimed I was either crazy or on something, but whatever. I can honestly say, this has been one of the craziest dreams I've ever had, but I didn't mind, it was kind of cool.
One day George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Franklin Roosevelt were riding on horseback throughout the country. They came upon a lake and allowed their horses to rest and get a drink. While resting, they all noticed something swimming around in lake. With extreme caution, they managed to capture this unknown creature. The creature was slimy and white, but not much bigger than a normal sized fish. They had no idea what to do with it or what it was, so they took the captured creature to the smartest people they knew. After several days of asking around, one old man told the four men what this creature was. The old man said this creature was damned and that anyone who tried to attack it would get killed by the animal. This came as a surprise since the creature wasn't that fierce looking, but they listened to the old man's advice. Word eventually got out about this creature and the strongest and bravest men came from all around to fight the creature because they knew if they killed it, they would be awarded with fame and riches. The men kept on fighting the creature, but time after time, the creature kept killing them off. After just one day and many causalities, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt met up to discuss what to do with the creature. In just a few minutes, George Washington jumped on his horse and rode away. Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt looked at each other and said, "Surely, he has more "cents" than all of us!"
I then woke up from my dream in complete laughter. They may have actually said "sense", but it sounded like "cents" and those men were all presidents who are currently on US coins, with Washington being on the one of the most value (in case you didn't get it).
I immediately woke up my girlfriend just so I could share my newly found knowledge with her, but I don't think she was impressed. I also began telling my two best guy friends this story later that day and someone overheard me and claimed I was either crazy or on something, but whatever. I can honestly say, this has been one of the craziest dreams I've ever had, but I didn't mind, it was kind of cool.
Monday, October 28, 2013
I Have Absolutely NO Future
So I'm a Senior in a Freshman class, kind of lame, I know, but I actually really enjoy it. Coming in to college, I wanted to be a medical doctor so I took all my hard science classes early on; therefore, I would be left with "easier" classes my senior year. This plan is working perfectly, it's just I don't know if I want to be an M.D. anymore.
I know I'm a senior and should have a grasp on such things like my future, but whatever. I've been looking at Ph.D. programs for Chemistry or Pharmacology/Toxicology and they all seem very interesting. I've come to the realization that money does not equal happiness, but it's easier to be unhappy in a Lexus as opposed to my 2002 truck with a missing front bumper. Anyway, I like people so teaching at the collegiate level is very appealing, but teachers even professors don't make all that much. But like I said earlier, money isn't everything. I would like to teach an upper level college class that students must have in order to graduate, so what I say goes.
You all are Freshmen and Sophomores, so I encourage you not to be one sided (like I was) when it comes to picking a career. When I first showed interest in the medical field, my parents really pushed me to do that route, but I'm having second thoughts. I should have realized a long time ago that it is MY career, not my parents' careers. Go to career fairs, even if they don't fit your major exactly. I hear stories of people getting accepted into medical school with majors like history. Go out on a limb because you never know what my spark your interest. Do something you're passionate about, that way what you do the rest of your life won't seem like work.
Since I recently had these hesitations with med school, I need to get a move on applying for grad school. I need to take the GRE, get letters of recommendation, and update my resume, cover letter, etc. Hopefully everything will turn out fine and I can actually be a benefit to society instead of a permanent college student, which honestly doesn't seem that bad.
I know I'm a senior and should have a grasp on such things like my future, but whatever. I've been looking at Ph.D. programs for Chemistry or Pharmacology/Toxicology and they all seem very interesting. I've come to the realization that money does not equal happiness, but it's easier to be unhappy in a Lexus as opposed to my 2002 truck with a missing front bumper. Anyway, I like people so teaching at the collegiate level is very appealing, but teachers even professors don't make all that much. But like I said earlier, money isn't everything. I would like to teach an upper level college class that students must have in order to graduate, so what I say goes.
You all are Freshmen and Sophomores, so I encourage you not to be one sided (like I was) when it comes to picking a career. When I first showed interest in the medical field, my parents really pushed me to do that route, but I'm having second thoughts. I should have realized a long time ago that it is MY career, not my parents' careers. Go to career fairs, even if they don't fit your major exactly. I hear stories of people getting accepted into medical school with majors like history. Go out on a limb because you never know what my spark your interest. Do something you're passionate about, that way what you do the rest of your life won't seem like work.
Since I recently had these hesitations with med school, I need to get a move on applying for grad school. I need to take the GRE, get letters of recommendation, and update my resume, cover letter, etc. Hopefully everything will turn out fine and I can actually be a benefit to society instead of a permanent college student, which honestly doesn't seem that bad.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Life as an RA
I think I've told you all, but in case I haven't, I'm an RA in Slusher Hall (Floor 11). This makes my third year as an RA and the second as Senior RA (SRA). The only additional work I have to do as SRA is work with hall council as well as make the duty schedule for the building. There are 18 RAs in Slusher Tower and Wing, so you can imagine how hectic scheduling duty must be for everyone. One plus of being SRA is I can put myself on duty when I know it won't be a bad night. So before I hate on being a normal RA, let me tell you some of the bonuses.
First and most importantly, I have FREE room and board. This is a huge benefit which has allowed me to study abroad and enjoy trips I wouldn't have normally got to go on. Second, in addition to the stipend, I get paid. No, it's not a lot, but it is really nice to see a paycheck twice a month, no matter how little it may be. Third, I get a room to myself. My girlfriend is a big fan of this benefit. However, next year this benefit will be gone. Finally, I gain skills such as leadership, community building, blah, blah, blah.
So now, let me tell you the negatives. Living is Slusher is loud. It's really bad on the weekends, but even on the weekdays it's pretty bad. The walls seem paper thin so going to sleep is actually a chore. Next, Slusher goes from hot to cold in 4.6 seconds. From August to now, it is hot. From now until about April, it is freezing in my room. Luckily it heats up again in May. There is no A/C, so my box fans have been on full blast since August. However, I woke up this morning and it was 55 degrees in my room. We do have heat, but it won't be turned on until the average temperature drops below a certain point for a certain amount of days. The most aggravating aspect of being an RA is ignorant, immature Freshmen (sorry guys). The last time I was on duty, I was walking through the Wing at 9 pm. In the middle of the hallway there is a guy drinking a Bud Light. Not in a Red Solo Cup or a coozie, just the bright blue can. My duty partner and I stopped and asked why he was so irresponsible and naturally he gave us attitude, so we called the police and he ended up getting arrested because he was carrying a fake ID and lied to the cop about pretty much everything.
I understand you want to have fun and make memories and friends, but be responsible. I was a Freshman once, but I like to think I have my head on right, so I was smart about partying. That guy could have stayed in the room and he would have never gotten caught. If you stay in your room with somewhat low music, the RAs will not question it. By now, the RAs know who goes out and who stays in, so don't think you're sneaky. We know you drink in your room, so be extra careful and look after each other.
I know I ranted about the negatives, but being an RA is actually not that bad. I've met a lot of great people, not only my residents, but my staff as well. Staff meetings are usually pretty chill and it's a good time to catch up with everybody. If you are interested in becoming an RA, mandatory info sessions are happening this month as well as November.
First and most importantly, I have FREE room and board. This is a huge benefit which has allowed me to study abroad and enjoy trips I wouldn't have normally got to go on. Second, in addition to the stipend, I get paid. No, it's not a lot, but it is really nice to see a paycheck twice a month, no matter how little it may be. Third, I get a room to myself. My girlfriend is a big fan of this benefit. However, next year this benefit will be gone. Finally, I gain skills such as leadership, community building, blah, blah, blah.
So now, let me tell you the negatives. Living is Slusher is loud. It's really bad on the weekends, but even on the weekdays it's pretty bad. The walls seem paper thin so going to sleep is actually a chore. Next, Slusher goes from hot to cold in 4.6 seconds. From August to now, it is hot. From now until about April, it is freezing in my room. Luckily it heats up again in May. There is no A/C, so my box fans have been on full blast since August. However, I woke up this morning and it was 55 degrees in my room. We do have heat, but it won't be turned on until the average temperature drops below a certain point for a certain amount of days. The most aggravating aspect of being an RA is ignorant, immature Freshmen (sorry guys). The last time I was on duty, I was walking through the Wing at 9 pm. In the middle of the hallway there is a guy drinking a Bud Light. Not in a Red Solo Cup or a coozie, just the bright blue can. My duty partner and I stopped and asked why he was so irresponsible and naturally he gave us attitude, so we called the police and he ended up getting arrested because he was carrying a fake ID and lied to the cop about pretty much everything.
I understand you want to have fun and make memories and friends, but be responsible. I was a Freshman once, but I like to think I have my head on right, so I was smart about partying. That guy could have stayed in the room and he would have never gotten caught. If you stay in your room with somewhat low music, the RAs will not question it. By now, the RAs know who goes out and who stays in, so don't think you're sneaky. We know you drink in your room, so be extra careful and look after each other.
I know I ranted about the negatives, but being an RA is actually not that bad. I've met a lot of great people, not only my residents, but my staff as well. Staff meetings are usually pretty chill and it's a good time to catch up with everybody. If you are interested in becoming an RA, mandatory info sessions are happening this month as well as November.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Prom Sucks
For some prom is a lovely opportunity to show off your date, your outfit, and your overall swag. For some prom is a very memorable experience that will be in your memory for a lifetime. However, prom was exactly the opposite for me.
Let's start with Junior year. I had been seeing this girl since around October and it was prom season so I decided to ask her to prom in early March so she would have time to get her dress. Unfortunately, we split up before prom, but decided to go anyway. It was so miserable and awkward. From the car ride there to the car ride back, I kept thinking how miserable I was and how I wanted to leave her on the side of the road. I didn't do that, of course, but on to my next prom. Since I'm from a small town, I was asked by a girl from my rival high school to go to her prom. She was a Senior and I was still a Junior. She was a very sweet girl and very pleasant about being around, so you may ask what the big deal is. She was the big deal...literally. All girls need some loving, the ugly ones, the fat ones, and a combination of both and she fit that perfectly. Like I said, she was so nice and this was in fact my most enjoyable prom, but still not what I had in mind. After both of these proms, we went straight there and straight back home. No after prom fun.
Now that I'm a Senior I was determined to not let my prom suck, but I managed to also screw this one up somehow. Once again I was asked to go to prom with a girl from the same rival high school, but this time she was a total dime piece. Brown hair and brown eyes, she was truly spicy. Here comes the but. But, her high school's prom and my high school's prom were on the same night in the same place. We figured we would split time at both and then after we would go hang with her friends because I'm a gentleman with ambition of seeing more than her brown hair and brown eyes. However, as soon as we got to prom, she ran away with her friends and the next time I saw her was to drive her to where her friends were wanting to hang out. Thinking I could still save the night, I played it off like ditching me was no big thing and told her how nice she looked, blah blah freakin' blah. When we got to our destination, she told me she would be back in 3 hours and to be waiting for her. This made Adam sad, so I called my mommy and she told me how special I was for the next 3 hours. I took her home in complete silence, she slammed the door behind her when she got out, and I literally ran every stop light on the way from her house to mine in pure disgust. Luckily I didn't get a ticket because there are no cops in my town, especially at 4am.
I couldn't make these stories up folks. These are real, first hand accounts of high school prom and I guess it's cool that mine sucked so hard because telling my story is usually in stark contrast to everyone's lovey dovey prom story. Anyway, I hope you all had nice proms that were certainly better than mine!
Let's start with Junior year. I had been seeing this girl since around October and it was prom season so I decided to ask her to prom in early March so she would have time to get her dress. Unfortunately, we split up before prom, but decided to go anyway. It was so miserable and awkward. From the car ride there to the car ride back, I kept thinking how miserable I was and how I wanted to leave her on the side of the road. I didn't do that, of course, but on to my next prom. Since I'm from a small town, I was asked by a girl from my rival high school to go to her prom. She was a Senior and I was still a Junior. She was a very sweet girl and very pleasant about being around, so you may ask what the big deal is. She was the big deal...literally. All girls need some loving, the ugly ones, the fat ones, and a combination of both and she fit that perfectly. Like I said, she was so nice and this was in fact my most enjoyable prom, but still not what I had in mind. After both of these proms, we went straight there and straight back home. No after prom fun.
Now that I'm a Senior I was determined to not let my prom suck, but I managed to also screw this one up somehow. Once again I was asked to go to prom with a girl from the same rival high school, but this time she was a total dime piece. Brown hair and brown eyes, she was truly spicy. Here comes the but. But, her high school's prom and my high school's prom were on the same night in the same place. We figured we would split time at both and then after we would go hang with her friends because I'm a gentleman with ambition of seeing more than her brown hair and brown eyes. However, as soon as we got to prom, she ran away with her friends and the next time I saw her was to drive her to where her friends were wanting to hang out. Thinking I could still save the night, I played it off like ditching me was no big thing and told her how nice she looked, blah blah freakin' blah. When we got to our destination, she told me she would be back in 3 hours and to be waiting for her. This made Adam sad, so I called my mommy and she told me how special I was for the next 3 hours. I took her home in complete silence, she slammed the door behind her when she got out, and I literally ran every stop light on the way from her house to mine in pure disgust. Luckily I didn't get a ticket because there are no cops in my town, especially at 4am.
I couldn't make these stories up folks. These are real, first hand accounts of high school prom and I guess it's cool that mine sucked so hard because telling my story is usually in stark contrast to everyone's lovey dovey prom story. Anyway, I hope you all had nice proms that were certainly better than mine!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
I'm the next Johnny Depp
So I am a Senior Biochemistry major and Chemistry and History minor and the only planned course for a Biochem senior is a 4000 level class called Physical Chemistry or, as we in the business like to say, PCHEM. Even though it is a two semester course, it's very nice to only have one class to take. This allows my schedule to be very open so I can take a lot of bull crap, I mean joke, I mean easier classes. Not saying 1st Year Writing is one of these, but it is a refreshing difference to the hard sciences. Also, I am one class away from completing my History minor. As you all know, or about to because of Course Request, Virginia Tech requires their students to fulfill a Curriculum for Liberal Education, or CLE. All this being said, I must schedule PCHEM and one more history course for next semester, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I'd like to focus on an Area 2 class, which to me are the weirder classes offered at VT, which will complete my CLE. The class is called Introduction to Acting.
When I think of actors, I think of Hollywood, fame, fortune, drugs, scandal, all the good stuff, but this course is NOT that. I thought the class would be us read a play or watch a scene from a movie and then do our best to reenact that scene. Think again! Most of our class time, which is 75 minutes all together, is spent waiting around as our instructor calls role. Once this has been accomplished, we push our chairs aside and do an exercise called "Take a Walk." We simply walk around the room and our instructor will give us different prompts such as "make no eye contact" or "walk like someone you admire who's in the room." All very weird things to do, but we press through. That's the entire class right there. It's a very strange class and it makes me wonder are all actors and actresses as off the wall as my instructor? Probably so, but weird or not, Jennifer Anniston is still easy to look at.
I've given you a lot of negatives, but the class isn't 100% bad. The walking may get annoying, but a few times, the instructor has had us lay down belly-up on the ground. Once we were lying down, he took us on a "journey" of our lives and had us imagine certain images from our past. You may be asking yourself, does this guy drop acid before every class and while I think the answer is yes, it calmed the heck out of me and really hope we can do it again. Also within the past two weeks, we received our first acting assignment which I'm pumped all the way up about. It is a two person play in which one person is a doctor and the other is a disgruntled patient who refuses to pay the medical bill. It's a really short play (not even 5 minutes), but there are two showings; in one I am the doctor and the other I am the angry patient. Like I said, I'm so excited. I'm probably going to get discovered and shoot straight to the limelight. Good knowing you guys.
I'm just kidding about getting discovered and forgetting you all, but the class isn't what it seems. But hey, if you are passionate about acting, go for it. Every now and again, a local director will come in asking if people would like to be in a crowd scene for a play which is pretty neat and every great actor must start somewhere. Or, if you're like me, were just curious and wanted and easier class. Either way, don't expect agents wanting to sign you for a Hollywood blockbuster, but you can expect a different class in which you can really express yourself.
When I think of actors, I think of Hollywood, fame, fortune, drugs, scandal, all the good stuff, but this course is NOT that. I thought the class would be us read a play or watch a scene from a movie and then do our best to reenact that scene. Think again! Most of our class time, which is 75 minutes all together, is spent waiting around as our instructor calls role. Once this has been accomplished, we push our chairs aside and do an exercise called "Take a Walk." We simply walk around the room and our instructor will give us different prompts such as "make no eye contact" or "walk like someone you admire who's in the room." All very weird things to do, but we press through. That's the entire class right there. It's a very strange class and it makes me wonder are all actors and actresses as off the wall as my instructor? Probably so, but weird or not, Jennifer Anniston is still easy to look at.
I've given you a lot of negatives, but the class isn't 100% bad. The walking may get annoying, but a few times, the instructor has had us lay down belly-up on the ground. Once we were lying down, he took us on a "journey" of our lives and had us imagine certain images from our past. You may be asking yourself, does this guy drop acid before every class and while I think the answer is yes, it calmed the heck out of me and really hope we can do it again. Also within the past two weeks, we received our first acting assignment which I'm pumped all the way up about. It is a two person play in which one person is a doctor and the other is a disgruntled patient who refuses to pay the medical bill. It's a really short play (not even 5 minutes), but there are two showings; in one I am the doctor and the other I am the angry patient. Like I said, I'm so excited. I'm probably going to get discovered and shoot straight to the limelight. Good knowing you guys.
I'm just kidding about getting discovered and forgetting you all, but the class isn't what it seems. But hey, if you are passionate about acting, go for it. Every now and again, a local director will come in asking if people would like to be in a crowd scene for a play which is pretty neat and every great actor must start somewhere. Or, if you're like me, were just curious and wanted and easier class. Either way, don't expect agents wanting to sign you for a Hollywood blockbuster, but you can expect a different class in which you can really express yourself.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Good Boys Gone Bad
As you all know, I love the game of baseball. My team of choice is the Atlanta Braves and has been for twenty-one years. Over the years, they have consistently produced quality teams which makes being a fan pretty easy. Their recipe for success is solid pitching, timely hitting, and southern hospitality. However, the southern hospitality was in question yesterday (Sept. 25) when the Braves got in a fight with the Milwaukee Brewers.
A few years ago, the Braves Hall of Fame manager, Bobby Cox, retired after many seasons in baseball. He alone holds the all time record for ejections from a game so I'm used to some heated, passionate baseball. However, the new manager is a little more tame so seeing a fight like this brings back the good old days.
So here's what happened. In the top of the very first inning, Brewer batter, Carlos Gomez, crushes a homerun of Braves pitcher Paul Maholm. Okay, whatever, that sucks, but Gomez starts taunting Maholm as he is rounding the bases. Braves first baseman, Freddie Freeman, calls out Gomez for being such a punk, but Gomez continues to taunt Maholm. Eventually, Gomez is rounding third and heading home, but Braves catcher, Brian McCann, will not let Gomez pass to touch home plate. Immediately the benches clear and the teams begin shoving each other around. The video is posted below.
Of course this viewpoint is bias and I may not even know the whole story. I knew there was a little bad blood between Gomez and Maholm, but I didn't think to this level. Anyway, I hate when baseball gets to pushing and shoving and not just baseball, any sport. I think the best way to get back at someone is to be the better person and help lead your team to victory. What Gomez did was wrong by showing off, sure he absolutely crushed the ball, but run the bases and keep your mouth shut like a gentleman. I also think, and here's where I'm really bias, Brian McCann did the right thing by standing up for his teammates and showing Gomez he can't just say whatever he pleases.
Overall, whether it be baseball, lacrosse, or underwater basket weaving, show some respect. Play the game the right way and you'll do fine. There is no need to make a fool of yourself, show total unprofessionalism, and worsening your reputation as a player. Expect "boos" next time you visit Atlanta, Gomez, but at the same time, don't expect the Braves to retaliate, they are better than that.
http://wapc.mlb.com/atl/play/?content_id=30939261&topic_id=8878972&c_id=atl
A few years ago, the Braves Hall of Fame manager, Bobby Cox, retired after many seasons in baseball. He alone holds the all time record for ejections from a game so I'm used to some heated, passionate baseball. However, the new manager is a little more tame so seeing a fight like this brings back the good old days.
So here's what happened. In the top of the very first inning, Brewer batter, Carlos Gomez, crushes a homerun of Braves pitcher Paul Maholm. Okay, whatever, that sucks, but Gomez starts taunting Maholm as he is rounding the bases. Braves first baseman, Freddie Freeman, calls out Gomez for being such a punk, but Gomez continues to taunt Maholm. Eventually, Gomez is rounding third and heading home, but Braves catcher, Brian McCann, will not let Gomez pass to touch home plate. Immediately the benches clear and the teams begin shoving each other around. The video is posted below.
Of course this viewpoint is bias and I may not even know the whole story. I knew there was a little bad blood between Gomez and Maholm, but I didn't think to this level. Anyway, I hate when baseball gets to pushing and shoving and not just baseball, any sport. I think the best way to get back at someone is to be the better person and help lead your team to victory. What Gomez did was wrong by showing off, sure he absolutely crushed the ball, but run the bases and keep your mouth shut like a gentleman. I also think, and here's where I'm really bias, Brian McCann did the right thing by standing up for his teammates and showing Gomez he can't just say whatever he pleases.
Overall, whether it be baseball, lacrosse, or underwater basket weaving, show some respect. Play the game the right way and you'll do fine. There is no need to make a fool of yourself, show total unprofessionalism, and worsening your reputation as a player. Expect "boos" next time you visit Atlanta, Gomez, but at the same time, don't expect the Braves to retaliate, they are better than that.
http://wapc.mlb.com/atl/play/?content_id=30939261&topic_id=8878972&c_id=atl
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Good Day Mate
I like to think that America is one of the best, if not the best, country in the entire world. However, it was sophomore year of college and I had never been out of the country. Coming to Virginia Tech really opened my eyes to a variety of subjects and courses, one of which was a study abroad course that was offered the summer between my sophomore and junior year. I was really hesitant because I didn't know how I could ever pay for a trip of this magnitude. Oh yeah, the course was in Australia! Eventually I brought it up to my parents and they, as they always do, laid out the pros and cons of this trip. Turns out where I got a job which paid for my room and board, I was able to afford the trip and was ready to go as far away from my little home town as I could, literally.
I have always been on vacation with my parents, so navigating through the Charlotte Airport and LAX by myself was absolutely nerve racking. Fortunately, this old couple noticed me in my Virginia Tech sitting by myself in the Charlotte Airport. The man said he went to Clemson and even though they beat us in football that past fall, I was relieved to see a friendly face. God was looking over me that day because they were originally from the states and had moved to Australia later in life. They took me under their wing and I had someone to help get me through the maze of LAX.
After a thirteen hour flight across the Pacific Ocean, we landed in Brisbane, Australia. As for the actual experience in Australia, it was a blur. For one, just the experience being in such an exotic place made time fly by. There were sixteen students from Virginia Tech and seven from San Diego State and we all became good friends. I was only twenty at the time and, in Australia, the drinking age was eighteen so that's another reason it was a blur. Finally, we actually did a lot of work over there. The class was centered around sustainability and was a six credits so definitely not an easy course. However, I had so much fun abroad. I got to camp out in the Outback and watch kangaroos bounce across the weedy terrain, feed a family of wallabys, scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, perform community service on supposedly one of the oldest rain forests in the world, go skydiving, and many, many other things.
Overall the tip was amazing. It was nice getting to go someplace different and I'm so very thankful for my parents for helping me pay for such a wonderful experience. Neither of them have been out of the country so I felt selfish in a way, but I know they want me to be happy. I say it was a once in a lifetime trip and certainly sky diving was, but I hope to return one day and revisit all the places I visited, but in more of a tame manner.
I have always been on vacation with my parents, so navigating through the Charlotte Airport and LAX by myself was absolutely nerve racking. Fortunately, this old couple noticed me in my Virginia Tech sitting by myself in the Charlotte Airport. The man said he went to Clemson and even though they beat us in football that past fall, I was relieved to see a friendly face. God was looking over me that day because they were originally from the states and had moved to Australia later in life. They took me under their wing and I had someone to help get me through the maze of LAX.
After a thirteen hour flight across the Pacific Ocean, we landed in Brisbane, Australia. As for the actual experience in Australia, it was a blur. For one, just the experience being in such an exotic place made time fly by. There were sixteen students from Virginia Tech and seven from San Diego State and we all became good friends. I was only twenty at the time and, in Australia, the drinking age was eighteen so that's another reason it was a blur. Finally, we actually did a lot of work over there. The class was centered around sustainability and was a six credits so definitely not an easy course. However, I had so much fun abroad. I got to camp out in the Outback and watch kangaroos bounce across the weedy terrain, feed a family of wallabys, scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, perform community service on supposedly one of the oldest rain forests in the world, go skydiving, and many, many other things.
Overall the tip was amazing. It was nice getting to go someplace different and I'm so very thankful for my parents for helping me pay for such a wonderful experience. Neither of them have been out of the country so I felt selfish in a way, but I know they want me to be happy. I say it was a once in a lifetime trip and certainly sky diving was, but I hope to return one day and revisit all the places I visited, but in more of a tame manner.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Rock, Paper, Scissors...Lizard, Spock!?!?
So this summer I was one of twenty-four Orientation Leaders (OL) responsible for welcoming in the Class of 2017 to Virginia Tech. Orientation itself lasted from July 8th through July 25th, but we had to arrive back in Blacksburg a week early for some additional training. Even though it was a two day process, the OLs only interacted with the students on the first day, so we had a new group of 15-20 students four days a week for three weeks. I was Group 20 and after all was said and done, I led about 200 new students overall. So enough about the boring, boring stuff let's get to the turned up, ratchet part of orientation.
My day started at 5:45am with a shower, 6:30 breakfast, 7:30-11:30 morning duty, 11:30-12:30 Opening Session, 12:30-3:00 lunch/tour, 3-5 naptime, 5-7 dinner, 7-10 Community of Hokies, 10-11 skits! Yes, it's pathetic that I still know the schedule, but it was so much fun. The only bit I want to talk about actual orientation are the skits. I was in a group with three other people and had to come up with a 5 minute skit showing what life was like in the residence hall, what a roommate conflict looked like, and what the role of the RA was. We decided that we would make our skit based off the show Big Bang Theory and I got to play Sheldon. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz1hBzIKWtA. It got to the point where we knew the other teams' skits just as good as our own.
The really fun part of orientation were the weekends. The staff became really close, but amazingly there was no drama between us. Every day of every weekend we had something going on and yes, we got crazy! The word of orientation became "ratchet" and we stayed ratchet at all times of all weekends. Even though my liver became 48% concrete and sleep schedule was shot, it was a wonderful experience and I would recommend applying for the position.
The link I posted sometimes works and sometimes doesn't so, just in case, here is another one that is of the actual show and not our skit, but contains one of my most difficult lines to memorize.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz1hBzIKWtA
My day started at 5:45am with a shower, 6:30 breakfast, 7:30-11:30 morning duty, 11:30-12:30 Opening Session, 12:30-3:00 lunch/tour, 3-5 naptime, 5-7 dinner, 7-10 Community of Hokies, 10-11 skits! Yes, it's pathetic that I still know the schedule, but it was so much fun. The only bit I want to talk about actual orientation are the skits. I was in a group with three other people and had to come up with a 5 minute skit showing what life was like in the residence hall, what a roommate conflict looked like, and what the role of the RA was. We decided that we would make our skit based off the show Big Bang Theory and I got to play Sheldon. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz1hBzIKWtA. It got to the point where we knew the other teams' skits just as good as our own.
The really fun part of orientation were the weekends. The staff became really close, but amazingly there was no drama between us. Every day of every weekend we had something going on and yes, we got crazy! The word of orientation became "ratchet" and we stayed ratchet at all times of all weekends. Even though my liver became 48% concrete and sleep schedule was shot, it was a wonderful experience and I would recommend applying for the position.
The link I posted sometimes works and sometimes doesn't so, just in case, here is another one that is of the actual show and not our skit, but contains one of my most difficult lines to memorize.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz1hBzIKWtA
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Fishy Fast Food Fobia
This past weekend, my girlfriend, Ashlyn, and I, were arguing over how we can spend our Saturday night. This argument comes after the football game of course! Anyway, we bickered for a few minutes and it was brought up that we should watch "The Lion King," and you bet your bottom dollar that was okay with me. So, we put in the classic and began watching and watching old childhood movies always either makes me reminisce about the good ol' days or cry because today's youth doesn't understand what Hakuna Matata is all about. In this case, for whatever reason, I reflected back on a childhood story that I can still feel the ramifications of to this very day.
As a young lad of about four or five, I wanted to be just like my Grandaddy. Growing up, I spent a good deal of time with my grandparents because both of my parents worked and for that I am very thankful. One particular day my grandparents were taking me around town, which is a considerable distance away since I live in a very rural area, and it was about lunch time. Now since I was a spoiled rotten child, I always got to pick where we would eat. I don't know if it was the flashy colors or my Grandaddy's persuasion, but I chose Long John Silvers. I had never been there before in my young life, so I was anxious to see what was in store. My grandmother ordered me a happy meal so naturally, I was more excited for the toy rather than the food. When we received our food, I tore into my happy meal or should I say my slathered in disappointment, make me want to throw a tantrum, with a side of torment meal. I was in shock! No, not because of the quality of food, but because Long John Silver did not give me a toy. I pitched one heck of a fit! If my Grandaddy wouldn't have taken me into the restroom and given me a real reason to cry, I was sure we could get kicked out. Like a football player brags if he makes a good catch, I brag because I almost got my family a life long ban in LJS...or so I think.
After 15 years recovery period from this day, I've decided to give it another chance. Just kidding. Since that day, I've never put as much as my pinky toe into a Long John Silvers and don't reckon I ever will. I was cheated on that day and cheaters never win and winners never cheat. "Murica!
As a young lad of about four or five, I wanted to be just like my Grandaddy. Growing up, I spent a good deal of time with my grandparents because both of my parents worked and for that I am very thankful. One particular day my grandparents were taking me around town, which is a considerable distance away since I live in a very rural area, and it was about lunch time. Now since I was a spoiled rotten child, I always got to pick where we would eat. I don't know if it was the flashy colors or my Grandaddy's persuasion, but I chose Long John Silvers. I had never been there before in my young life, so I was anxious to see what was in store. My grandmother ordered me a happy meal so naturally, I was more excited for the toy rather than the food. When we received our food, I tore into my happy meal or should I say my slathered in disappointment, make me want to throw a tantrum, with a side of torment meal. I was in shock! No, not because of the quality of food, but because Long John Silver did not give me a toy. I pitched one heck of a fit! If my Grandaddy wouldn't have taken me into the restroom and given me a real reason to cry, I was sure we could get kicked out. Like a football player brags if he makes a good catch, I brag because I almost got my family a life long ban in LJS...or so I think.
After 15 years recovery period from this day, I've decided to give it another chance. Just kidding. Since that day, I've never put as much as my pinky toe into a Long John Silvers and don't reckon I ever will. I was cheated on that day and cheaters never win and winners never cheat. "Murica!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)