Moving on...

Monkeys have returned my brain, and I decided that it was time for something new. So if you would, please join me at my new blog, Miming Through Life. Also, a big thanks if you're actually reading this and hadn't kicked me off your blogreader, or whatever!

Haiti

Let's be honest, Katrina doesn't come close, not even in the same ballpark to the earthquake in Haiti. And to be brutally honest, to the point of being a bastard, I never felt truly sorry for Katrina victims that chose to stay. Why? Because staying in a city that's below sea level with a hurricane coming (mind you, you can see a hurricane coming from a week away) is pretty much the definition of stupidity. Oh, and Katrina happened in the U.S. and despite the aftermath, people were quickly, for a bureaucracy, shipped out of ground zero to better shelter. The U.S. has infrastructure, Haiti doesn't. Which brings me to my point, and to quote myself from recent conversations, Haiti was a (crap) country to begin with, and that is why I feel terribly for them.

Here's an article that mirrors my feelings. I'm rather pessimistic about the whole thing, it's not like countries haven't tried to help. Goodness knows, we've messed with their politics and shipped tons of money there. We can't ship them to Houston and give them debit cards. I fear that Haiti will emerge worse off than before, with political officials pocketing the insane amount of aid money (let's be honest, our country kicks major ass: $300+ million dollars) and local gangs hording supplies a la Blindness.

I hope that it ends up being Etch-a-Sketch Haiti and the country rebuilds into something better. Here's to the future.

It is what it is

So, I recently watched Star Wars Episodes 1-3 and came to this conclusion... Anakin/Darth Vader = Jesus, if he hopped off the cross, gave Caeser a high five and then slaughtered the Jews. George Lucas is anti-matter incarnate.

Also, people are apparently getting depressed because they can't go to Pandora from the movie Avatar. I'm depressed that I can't become a cartoon fairy and be wisked away to Ferngully, so I suppose I can relate.

Insert something witty here.

School starts on Tuesday and with it, my final semester as an undergrad. To be honest, I'm currently overwhelmed by fear. Being an undergrad has a certain sense of comfort to it, people don't expect more form you because you're still "in school." Regardless of what happens, I'll never truly be able to lean on it as a crutch anymore. That said, at some point in my life I'd love to get another bachelor's degree in something else.

Do me a favor and pray for me. The coming months are likely to frazzle my brain even more.

Don't Look at Me Like That!

First off, thanks for birthday wishes and such... yes it's been that long since I've put anything in here. My goodness things have been crazy.

For starters, I'm going to mention my B-day. Em surprised me with a camping trip. It was wonderful. Tinfoil dinners, and orange cupcakes (made in an orange in tinfoil.) Campfires, tents and walks with flashlights. Noah's sharp eye for the moon. Perfect, just perfect. And I wasn't planning on doing anything for my 30th.

Big thanks to all those in SoCal who helped us in one way or another on our trip out there. Thanks for not taking our kidneys.

Speaking of, Disneyland was great, even without going on any of the blue ticket rides. Noah's shear delight thoughout It's a Small World and the Dumbo ride, paid for the tickets. Despite a broken toe, it was amazing. Also, Double Double Animal-style with a straberry shake. /drool

School is busy, and I'm enjoying it. I think one of my research reports is going to revolve around Albert Camus (nope, not an existentialist.) The other, I'm not sure yet. I'm heading up to UW-Madison next Monday, let's hope I don't make a total fool of myself.

Lastly, I must say I'm a rather lucky guy. I've got a great wife and son, wonderful family, great in-laws, and fantastic friends. Let's see how long it takes to write another one of these...

Assessment

Well, I missed August.

I'm in the midst of 4 straight days at work, which might not sound like much, but I've been knee deep in poo for these first few days. Not a fan of poo.

I turn 30 on Wednesday, what an oddly appropriate day to turn 30. I feel a bit like I'm reaching what looks like a plateau, only to be faced with more climbing. I can't say I'm where I want to be. But that's not saying much seeing how I've spent a good portion of my life in a sort of limbo as to the direction of my life. In so many ways, being laid-back is good, but I seem to lack that needed self-kick-in-the-pants that more "successful" people have.

Treading water in the middle of a calm lake is the image that just came to my head. I've been staying afloat just fine, but I need to get to shore soon because I'm tired and it looks like clouds are forming.

I suppose this isn't the normal stuff I would share here, despite being serious from time to time. It is, after all 330 in the morning, and I'm tired. There's a clarity that comes from being tired I think.

Thanks for not taking my kidneys...

An optional title for this post could also be... "Mother Nature: Sex Maniac."

Well, it had to happen eventually, I'm back at work and it's 2:30 in the morning (as opposed to 1 but really, who's keeping track.) The trip was fantastic, despite minor hiccups here and there. As it always seems to be the case, there just wasn't enough time to see everyone as much as we wanted, ultimately short changing people that I would've liked to have chilled with much longer.
I could linger on that, but there's always next year, when we'll probably be out there again, or you could come visit us, which I won't blame you to much if that doesn't happen.

But I digress a bit (digress from what, you may be thinking.) The title actually has a purpose. You see, along with the visit to Max and Stephanie a couple months back, we stayed with Ben and Melanie in Springville during the second leg of our trip. Why would they try and steal my kidneys, you ask? Because Emily met Steph and Mel or the internet, and people you meet there usually end up on the news, like Nancy Grace (who, oddly enough, looks like Eddie Izzard.) (I'm sure using lots of parentheses in this post.)

However, I have survived these experiences with kidneys and life intact. Soon comes the real test when they come out here at the end of the month. It's just common curtesy not to take people's kidneys while you're a guest in their home, and I might as well return the favor by not taking theirs.

Also, (and this is not an after thought) here's a quick shout to Erin, a.k.a. SixShotSally who did Em's nails while we were out there. Not only does she and her husband pew pew with me in WoW, they rock IRL too. If you're near Provo, and need a good nails person, I'd send you her way.

Well, that's it for now. Except for this link.

A quick GRE question...

For those who have taken it, if I started studying this month, would 3 months be enough time to take the GRE at the end of August? Also, can you recommend a good test prep book?