"Your voice is small and fading"

It's been a quick week. A quick year really. It's hard to believe that one year ago, I didn't know what I'd be doing or where I'd be living. Now I call a new place Home and go to a building far away from the good old FSB. I've still got the same girl and the same friends. Is it odd that we haven't made any new friends in Michigan? I don't really feel like we need to...after all we've got plenty of friends. Great friends. While we've got one foot in Indiana and one foot in Michigan will we ever really assimilate to this new place? Does it even matter?

For now, I feel just fine knowing we've got a dozen friends for life a few hours away who love us dearly.

"One way or the other"

Nothing like a rough day of work to bring a swift end to a wonderful weekend. And the weekend was wonderful as Rogers and I had a blast watching Arrested Development with Shannon and Josh, eating at Bahama Breeze with a small crowd and hitting Broad Ripple with two great friends named Nate (Nathan and Nathaneal respectively).

And the day of work was rough as I had little fun drowning in work that I did not expect to do today, while the work that I really hoped to focus on remains untouched and daunting.

In the meantime, I thought I would update my Blog.

Listening to: Aqualung and Regina Spektor
Watching: The Hills
Feeling: Like I need a long shower and a nap
Hoping: To not do any work tomorrow night (fat chance)

At least Spring (or is it Summer?) has arrived. I love it.

"This is a story about the three of us"

So here's a new picture of my nephew -- by birth named: Jose Luis Toc Mejia. Adopted name: Preston Scott Luis Spires

The Guatemalian just looks like he's ready to conquer America doesn't he. I'm very stoked to have a Hispanic relative.

So work and Chicago and Indiana has kept me from updating recently. To my faithful blog checkers: I sincerely apologize. I know the feeling every day when you check and there's just nothing new. A feeling of mild disappointment. So there it is.

Currently listening to: Aqualung - Memory Man

Buy that CD. It is a stinking catchy album.

In other news, I'm behind on American Idol (and video games) so it's time to go do both.

"And the daffodils look lovely today"

Ah, the Return of Spring. There may be no single better day in the year. (And that's saying a lot because I am a big fan of Christmas!) Today was that day when Spring makes its return out of the depths of Winter. Of course it never stays long during that first post-Winter visit. But it leaves you with a taste that will get you through those last couple of weeks.

It was nearly 70 degrees here today. The Spring weather made me miss (in no certain order):

• TfT
• Spring Break vacations to warm lands
• College
• Late night Applewood movies with Ricky and Josh
• The feeling of being done with classes and having no homework on a day like today

I do need a vacation in the worst way. I'll have to settle with a short visit to Chicago and Anderson (in that exact order) beginning on Thursday.

I worked from home today. And I'm glad I did. I listened to music and enjoyed the breeze through the window. Unfortunately, I was working...hard. I've got so much to do, I thought it better to stay put rather than drive back and forth for 2 hours today. And I'm still going at it now. Just wanted to make sure I captured a few thoughts...can't wait to see you guys this weekend. Save room for me.

"The man keeps coming round"

The weekend is not as great when you have to put in a full days work as it passes by. Both Rogers and I had to do so this weekend. Nevertheless, we managed to have a great Saturday on our first visit to Grand Rapids to partake in Chinese food and a Pete Yorn concert. Not to mention the time we enjoyed driving around the area exploring with the windows down because it was so nice out. Ah, suddently it's Spring, I thought to myself as I opened the door to sunshine, birds chirping and a light breeze on Saturday morning.

Let's just hope this work subsides before next weekend when I should be in Anderson having a tiempo fantastico con mi amigos! Shoot am I tired.

"Dancing in the shadows"

Schedule for the next couple of weeks:

March 16 - 18: Anderson!
March 23 - 25: Anderson!

At least that's the current plan. We'll see how it works out. I understand many of the guys are going to see 300 on Saturday. If you wait one week, I'll go with you! If you do not wait, I understand. If it were me, I would be hardpressed to wait, because there are no other Bro Shows out right now so it is the perfect movie to see.

Notes about my childhood:
on Nintendo

• I was only aloud to play video games for one hour each day. I remember one time, when my childhood friend Eric R. came over to spend the night, we played Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game and defeated it. (Of course we were using the game genie.) Anyway, the point is, that game had to take over an hour. But Eric felt sick and ended up having to go home, which was no big deal because he lived pretty close. But I was sad. That night, my Mom could tell I was disappointed so she let me stay up late and play Nintendo for another hour. I remember, I turned to Super Mario Bros. 3.

on playing with action figures

• I vaguely remember the first couple of times that I played with action figures and imagined that they were fighting. On a related note, I remember at the dawn of imagining battles, my Uncle Dave played Army guys with me. We set them up and would take turns shooting down one guy at a time from the opposite army.

on Santa Claus

• I remember visiting Santa Claus and only being allowed to tell him 3 things that I wanted. I wanted a lot more than that, but my Dad said I could only tell him 3 things.
• When I asked my Dad if Santa Claus was real one Christmas, he told me he'd tell me later. That night when he tucked me in, he said that Santa Claus wasn't real...that he was the one who put the presents under the tree. "But I don't think Mom or Julie know," he said, "so let's keep it a secret." To this day, we still open presents from "Santa Claus" (fortunately, we have a baby in the family again, so it's not too pathetic!)

on my earliest memories

• I remember my carseats. In our blue car, I had an uncomfortable car seat. It never felt right. In our maroon stationwagon, the car seat was much more comfortable.
• One particular Sunday morning before church, my earliest tangible memory was learning that I shouldn't swallow the toothpaste...that I was supposed to spit it out. That was probably the reason I didn't feel good.

on holding hands

• In preschool one day, I made a girlfriend and we were holding hands in the hallway. I remember another kid saying something like, "Are you guys married or something." I told my mom about that later, and if I remember correctly, I was told to not hold hands with girls.

"Please come back"

It's not a good feeling, when you've got work hanging over your head for days on in, but you just can't find time to get it done. It's a college feeling, and not a good one. And now I'm experiencing it in the so-called real world as well. Booo...

That being the case, time to go back to work for a bit.

Things I'm excited about:
Visiting A-town soon
Pete Yorn on Saturday
Lost was really good tonight
Going to bed soon

"By way of California"

Listening to: Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Reading: All about Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Associations or VEBAs
Watching: Amazing Race

Wishing I was: on a vacation...I really need one. Where's Spring Break when you need it?

Today was a good day. Mi ladi and I traversed the Oakland county landscape exploring just where Grand River would take us if we headed East through Farmington Hills for a Sunday Drive.

We found...a Coldstone as well as a very cool and huge Bargain Bookstore. I'm also pleased to announce that we found what will heretowefindanother be known as "our Mexican restaurant." It's a cute little place on the lake called OleOle Southwestern Restaurant and Bar. It features some darn good chips and salsa, and a good quesadilla (why isn't it spelled Kasadia?) and at the end of the day, all you really need is chips, salsa, & Kasadia. The caveat is that we also discovered at least 3 other Mexican restaurants during our Sunday drive within a 20 min. of our Novi apt. So we do have to try those before it becomes official-official.

"In the shape of something wild"

Listening to: Hot Child in the City
Reading: Psalms
Watching: Sex and the City - Season 3
Dreaming about: High School Basketball -- although Wilbe was in the dream as well -- I couldn't find my uniform before the last game ever, and Wilbe and Ricky both gave me keys that might let me into the shed that my uniform might be in.

I wonder if I'll ever have more "I am MasterChief Halo Dreams" -- Phil wasn't the only one...

Not too much is going on in the North. I have a b-load of work to do this weekend, so that sucks. By the way a b-load is maybe like 5+ hours, so it's not too bad...not even as bad as homework used to be...plus I'm compensated for it. But I still don't like it.

I think I missed my Indiana home this week more than ever. Maybe because it's been like a month since we've visited, which hasn't happened too often, or maybe because I know we're not coming home for at least another few weeks, or maybe because we've been gone for like 8 months now...but I sure do miss you all. I look forward to living in Indiana again someday. I just hope a few of our friends decide to stick around in Hoosierland. And if not, then we'll have a good time visiting you wherever you live.

And to think, immigrants came and never went back...not once.

Playing: NFL Street
Eating: Party Pizza
Drinking: Diet K (or whatever Kroger's brand is)
Snacking on: Reese's Pieces