"Shake it up baby now"

A post for Shannon:

L: How I miss being used everyday. Now I sit by your side, thinking of ways to sabotage your desktop computer so that I might once again have your attention.

A: Shut up. Leave me alone. I'm tired.

L: Perhaps you should fire me up and give me some attention before going to bed.

A: Conversations with inanimate objects at all hours of the night suck.

L: If you would have used me yesterday for your paper maybe it would have gone a lot faster.

A: I got it finished just fine, thank you. And it's a kick-a paper. Again with the paper?

L: You're not making much sense.

A: ..............

"There never will be no conspiracy of happiness"

A: Well paper, you're the last one of college, and you're really giving me a hard time.

P: It's my job to do that. At least you've got me started after about 40 hours of trying to do so.

A: Yeah, I'm getting to be very motivated now that its due in like 11 hours and I need to sleep for awhile in between now and then.

P: You know paper after paper, I let you write early and take your time...this being our last time together, I really wanted to make it count for something. I'm worth 250 points after all. Let's make a memory with me.

A: An all-nighter isn't a memory. How about we get you knocked 3/4 our in the next hour? What do ya say?

P: I doubt that will happen. Maybe, just maybe if you disconnect your internet so you can't be distracted so easily. Hey, how was your night anyway?

A: Well, tonight I went to see Duncan Sheik at the Music Mill with Greg, Jason & Mason. The guy is pretty amazing. He's got a great voice and some very cool music. A very enjoyable show.

P: Sounds good. What else?

A: Got a call back from Chicago company again. Going to visit either May 12-13 or May 19-20. They're hiring for "several positions in Chicago, Detroit, and Cincinatti." They'll probably have "5 to 10" candidates up interviewing on the same day.

P: 5 to 10? Sounds like a lot of competition.

A: I thrive on competition. I'm looking forward to it. Hey, you're distracting me from my true goals here tonight of finishing you off once and for all.

P: Yeah, um, man I'm the last one?! Can you believe it? It's flown by huh? Think of all the papers you've written over the past four years.

A: It is amazing. I said to day to good friend Nate D. it's wierd to be graduating, because there's nothing that really indicates that this is it - the point being that it feels just like any other semester coming to a close: a couple of papers and tests, having a good time with friends, and it's over. I wonder when it will hit. Will I cry at graduation? Will the first few weeks after graduation be like any other summer? It's going to be weird packing up my room. I have a lot of sentimental thoughts, but not a lot of sentimental follow-through. For example, a slideshow with music of all our pictures over the years would be awesome to have, but who's going to put it together? That would definately make me cry. Fortunately George W. is putting one together of me and Lisa for our wedding.

P: Yeah - you're just rambling now... maybe it's time to ramble off 3 to 4 pages.

A: Sounds like a plan. You're the last one. Here I go.

"On this journey of soul's desire"

The week has been good. Very good. Tonight was Halo Night. The first in a long while. Oh to go back to posts of yesterday when I wrote on playing Halo every night. It was a good night. 16 people gathered in the Lounge, controllers in hand. It was, in some ways, like the old days. Much less intense. Slightly less enjoyable, but still a good gathering.

Tomorrow is Duncan Sheik. Should be a good show. The bad news is: between now and Friday I've got to write a paper. I hoped to have it 3/4 finished by now, but instead I haven't written a successful word. I've had a couple of brief false starts. So that leaves me with a busier day tomorrow, but that's okay.

I got a call back from Chicago company X today. They want me to come back up to interview on a Friday and Saturday. So that is good news. I may be gainfully employed afterall. I will certainly be hoping and praying it goes well. This would be a good job to start my career. A very good job. Wherever we end up will be good. I'm not worried. Just anticipatory (and yes that is a word).

So the big thing I alluded to awhile ago that I was excited about is the Falls Report magazine. http://www.anderson.edu/falls/ . It was released today through the Herald Bulletin to 24,500 people. It turned out really well also. We're very proud of it. Should be something good to take with me to Chicago...

Tomorrow's my last Thursday of regular classes. I've always like Thursdays so I guess that's kind of a bad thing. This whole thing'll be wrapping up here in about a week. It's a whirlwind. Haven't really had time to think. To catch my breath. And I probably won't. Next Saturday will be an emotional day. I'll graduate, go to a party with my family, then come back to the Lounge to sleep as if nothing were different. But it will be different. George will be gone. Josh will be moving out to live at home. New Loungers will be in. I'll be packing up probably.

All this to say, I'm really just avoiding the inevitable...I've got to write this paper. I guess I'd better get this introduction going at least.

"Some sort of window to your right"

So the week is going very nicely. One of those relaxing types of weeks that college should be like, but mine has rarely been - especially this year. A paper and a group project but not a lot of other commitments. I love it. So that means tonight is another movie night.

Two nights ago was Life as a House a very good movie that brought a tear to my eye, I don't know that the tear came out, but it was definately there. Tonight is ? ? Maybe I'll let you know tomorrow. Bout time to start putting out some more applications. Haven't heard from Chicago yet. I think I'll hear from them either way, but it's better to be safe than sorry. My projections 50 - 50. I honestly think there's a 50% chance I get the job. Why? I don't know. I feel qualified. I think the tests went well. But there are other candidates. So we'll see what happens hopefully in the next day or two.

Goodnight. Movie Time!

"Would you do it all over right from the start"

Top 3 Daddy Issues Movies:

1. Field of Dreams
2. Life as a House
3. Big Fish
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"Be happy everyday." That's the first part of my motto. No matter how bad life gets, how upset or angry you are at this or that take a moment and breathe deep and be happy. Happy just to be alive. Happy for what you have to be happy about. Everyone has something to be happy about and if not, then go back to being happy just to be alive. I'm still working on the second part of my motto.

If you are miserable, angry, upset, bitter, resentful, hateful, jealous, worrisome...why not stop? I know it's harder on life than on paper, but just stop. Let a moment of peace pass through you. Why go through life unhappy? We are all dealt a hand of cards to play with in life. Everybody has crap. Everybody has pain, sorrow. Things to be mad about. Things to be jealous about. Everybody experiences loss. Everybody has somebody they don't want to forgive. Forgive them anyway.

So we all get this hand of cards dealt to us. Some of us get horrible horrible hands. Others seem to get all the Aces. My theory is that it's not playing the hand your dealt, everybody has to play whether they want to or not (although some quit early). It's the way you play your hand that makes the difference. It's not what cards you have, or even what you do with them, but the way you play. Play to have fun. Be happy regardless of your situation in life.

Enjoy it while it lasts. We're past 20. We may be 1/3 done. Probably 1/4. Life's too short. It really is. Make it count.

"Maybe a handful of times before the next life"

So this is it.

Two weeks left. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Graduation. Count them down. Mark them off. Toss your hats. Tip back your glasses and drink deep. It's the Final Countdown.

I haven't been updating, because I've been without (Internet Access that is). Teetering for Tots has come and gone. This years for me was nothing like last years. I wasn't out there nearly as much, didn't play nearly as many video games, and didn't have a huge leak in my room when I was at home. While one of my videogame playing buddies has consciously chosen to not play much anymore, I have not played much because I've been pretty darn busy. However, I don't think that I'm anywhere near the end. After all, even if I go without for awhile, my kids are going to get the latest and greatest....at least a couple of years after they're out so we can get them really cheap.

So this week I will go to a Duncan Sheik concert with Jason and Mason. Here's what I've been listening to recently since I no longer have a song of the day:

Duncan Sheik - he pretty much rocks. Mello music for a wounded soul and an afternoon nap.
The Faint - they pretty much rock. Dance rock for happy people who like to crank it.
Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang = good album
Stellastar* - 80s sounding style, one unbelievable song
Maroon 5 - I know I'm about 3 years late, but this album is filled with potentially hit songs

Don't forget. It's the final countdown. Have fun. Make the most of your time. Take the time to make some more memories.

What do you guys say we have two or three bonfires over the next two weeks and sit outside under the stars and reminisce and enjoy each other's company?

"There's nothing more to it"

So I'm not quite ready for bed yet. I've still got 45 points of my 150 point paper to pound out. So far I've been working on it for...well the entire night. But I expect to finish by 5:40 a.m. Just in time for 2 hours of sleep. We'll see if that works out. I'll have time to nap more later on tonight, so it should be a good Thursday if I make it through classes.

Tonight I was very honored at the FSB Banquet with the Wall Street Journal Award & the SIFE Leadership Award. I actually got 2 standing ovations, which was very cool. I didn't deserve them, esp. not the SIFE one, since I'm more of a figurehead, but it was cool. I have worked my tale off for the FSB because I love this place so it was a great honor. Dr. Truitt had some very kind words for me. The best part was that Lisa was there with me to witness the whole endeavor. Hopefully it gave her a sense of how much the work I do is appreciated.

Well back to finish this case and then hopefully a nap. Red Bull = Good for Focus

"This is just a half-life"

It's not really that great having no idea where you'll be in 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, the next couple of years. Perhaps Chicago. Perhaps Indianapolis. Perhaps Cincinnati. Probably not the only home you've ever known. It's unsettling to think about. Unsettling to think you might be leaving for good. Unsettling to think that the person you're bringing with you is perhaps even more scared than you are. Not that you're scared, just apprehensive. Ready, but apprehensive. Apprehensive about what you'll be doing. How many hours a day you'll be doing it. When you'll start, and how you'll fit in. Ready to be done with the first few months so those questions will be answered.

In the meantime...inbetween times...you keep busy going about the days you've created for yourself in this portion of your life. School. Work. Sleep. School. Work. Less Sleep. Occasionally you work in some time with your friends. Unfortunately, those times have been very infrequent recently. Unfortunately, those times may not exist at all when that 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks rolls around. It's April 18, 2006. Wake-up. Things are about to change. Pack your bags. Bring your lifemate. This end like all ends brings new beginnings. This New that is beginning like all things New and Old, will bring extreme joys and extreme sorrows, days of depression and days of jubilation, moments of amazement and moments of fear, a life of busyness and a life of rest. There is a time for everything. This time that is quickly approaching is the time for Change that is always around the corner but seems a lifetime away.

"Mr. Drake stayed up late...and made me cry"

It's been a long day. A good day. Easter day. I miss Lisa. In the wee small hours of the morning. That's when I miss you the most. So sings Frank Sinatra. So thinks Berg. So tonight I sleep and dream wonderful dreams.

"I only taste the saline"

Happy Easter. Chicago was good. I hope to be back soon for an interview, after successfully completing the tests. I hope I succeeded anyway.

Tonight was day Cookout @ Sharps night. A good night. A very good night. One highlight was pouring Coke all over myself - Stone Cold Style. Another was just hanging out with everybody. Playing catch, sitting around the fire. Learning 'The Wilbe' dance move. Having an all around great time.

Yea for Easter! Goodnight.

"But the wind blew me back via Chicago"

I'm in the middle of a Communications Exam for the company that I'm interviewing with. I need to e-mail them my responses or take them with me on Thursday when I complete the rest of the tests on-site. Hopefully, they'll go well.

The spring weather has been fabulous. Daylight Savings Time has been awesome. Suddenly the sun doesn't set until after 8. It's awesome, and I wish we would have had DST when I was a child, except I don't know how you would get kids to go to bed when it's still light out.

So there isn't much news, but you get what you pay for on Berg's Blog. Last night was a late night, so I'm looking forward to sleeping soon.

"I was in love with the place in my mind, in my mind"

Well in a couple of days Ms. Rogers and I will head back up to Chicago for some Job Qualified-Testing and perhaps some apartment hunting. What seemed like a sure thing one week ago, has changed. Who knows where we'll be? I'm excited either way, because I know it's going to be great to be married and building a new life on top of my current life in a new place with a new wife. It's going to rock.

"You're in the room, but your heads in the stars"

Yesterday for maybe the second time in my life I bought 3 cds in one day. Sam Goody is going out of business so they were like $5.50 each. Pretty good deal for a music lover like me. So I picked up The Music, Stellastarr*, and Pat McGee Band. Unfortunately, I wish I would have gotten 10,000 Maniacs over the Music. I may go back to get the latter. 60% off right now.

So the next few hours are homework hours as I have two tests and an assignment due on Tuesday and then my Job test for Chicago that I have to finish this week as well. Should be a good and busy week, hopefully, full of some good things. Today all I want to do is sleep. Unfortunately, my lack of work yesterday does not leave me in a position to do that.

So that's the news for April 9, 2006.

"An infant tries to dance as it grows up then dies"

If you like to dance then you might like The Faint - www.myspace.com/thefaint If you don't like to dance, then you probably won't. Thanks to Nate D. for turning me on to them. I just want to spread the love.

Well Anderson U. SIFE will be attending the National competition in Kansas City in May. We had a very very good presentation in Cincinnati and successfully moved on to the next round.

In the last Cheap Thrills of my college career I was on stage for about 30 seconds in an ESCIFE skit about SIFE. When I started school, I planned on joining Dativus. If I hadn't torn my ACL, probably would have. Then I may have been in a lot of Cheap Thrills, maybe.

Tonight I hung out with some very good friends for an evening that culminated with a viewing of Santa Slay, a fairly decent B Horror movie.

"In the bloodbath of birth"

Hello friends,

I hope you have enjoyed my blog over the past 464 days that I have kept it. In that time I have writtend 411 times. Both of those numbers were complete estimates. Who knows how accurate they really are. Well 5 minutes of research would reveal the answers, but I refuse to do so.

Why, you ask? Because I am tired. I am feeling emotionally drained again, which is no fun. I really had a not so great day, as I think back upon it, but there were many great things about this day as well.

Tomorrow, I will head to Cincinnati with my fellow SIFE team members. We will probably eat dinner at the Rock Bottom Brewery. It is a SIFE tradition. SIFE is going well. The job hunt is going okay. Most of my relationships with friends aren't so great because I have invested no time in my male friends recently, which horribly sucks because I am not spending the last few months of time that we have together with them. So hopefully, that tide will turn quickly, and I can go out with a bang. Honestly, life seems to suck right now. Yet, as much as it sucks, there's plenty of positive. I guess I'm way too focused on the positive to ever be too downbeat.

Sincerely,

Me

"Cool these engines calm these jets"

I'm exhausted. Last night was a short night due to paper, NCAA tourney distracting me in the business lounge and a fun / funny spur of the moment SIFE Chat that consisted of 11 people including SIFE Director of Security, Jon Ross at 12:30 a.m. That and my unfortunate 8:30 a.m. class.

So tonight I'm in Plainfield so that I can quickly get to my job interview tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. So I can sleep for a bit, but I ended up being up much later than expected because I was talking to my sister. Thus tonight should be an average night, but shorter than I hoped.

I'm in the midst of another busy week - but mainly busy with during-the-day activities and outside stressors rather than work or homework, which is a nice change.

"As I lay to die the things I think"

Ten years ago I was 12 years old and finishing up Mrs. Bailey's sixth grade at Liberty Christian School. For our class trip at the end of sixth grade we went to Chicago to the field museum and shedd's aquarium I think. Then maybe we went to a baseball game too, or something. I'm not real sure. I do remember I wore AAU basketball shorts to Chicago and maybe a Tazmanian Devil t-shirt. I must have looked like a punk. I guess those were the days before I carried money. When I was that age, I used to put money in my socks sometimes.

Five years ago I was in 11 grade. Life was good. I was still at Liberty Christian School and we had one basketball season and one year of school left. Every year on the last day of school we would go to Ricky's house for a party. Ricky's house was home to some of the best parties in high school. Keep in mind that our high school parties were very mild. We played games, sat around the campfire etc. Sometimes we swam.

Lisa and I were dating in 11 grade. We'd been dating for 2.5 years at the time. I remember in high school thinking that we might stick together. I never realy thought much about us breaking up, but more about the possibilities.

I don't know that there was anything spectacular about my junior year of high school. I'd have to get out the old journal to see for sure, I suppose.

Today I received my first official job offer. I have until Thursday to decide. I also received a call asking me to come up to Chicago to test for a Communications Analyst position. That would be a real deal type of job. However, on Wednesday I'm interviewing for a Health & Benefits Analyst position with the same company in Indianapolis. So in short, it should be an interesting week. As those weeks go, I've also got a paper to finish tonight.

"Time tears through life and steals away leaving nothing but a few remarkably vivid memories and a lot of waste behind." -Berg

"Like a cat's shadow"

Well the weekend has come to an end. Time for me to go to bed. I've got a busy week ahead of me that will hopefully include me having a good idea what company I'll be working for after graduation and a successful SIFE trip down to Cincinatti.

Lisa and I found what could very well be our first married home this weekend. Here's the floorplan...
So as you can see there's an extra bedroom and a pretty big living room. That means that ya'll are welcome to visit anytime...and you'd better. We're going to keep looking, but so far this is the best we've seen for us that is affordable. We're about 5 minutes from the Castleton Exit on 69. That means about 10 minutes from 2 different Coldstones! The good news is, that this is our worst case now. We're on the waiting list. The only place to go is up if we find something better!

"It feels good to be a gangsta"

Tonight was Jennifer Aniston Movie Marathon night with Leprechaun and Office Space, both of which I missed a good portion of due to sleeping. Booo... But we had a good time.

Lisa and I went apartment hunting, which was fun. Going again tomorrow. Hopefully we'll find something cool and affordable!