Smart Car! So small! So cute! So efficient!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
A Less than Wonderful Start to the Year
On September 1st I moved into a new house with 3 new roommates full of anticipation and excitement at the coming final semester of classes. On September 2nd my new house was broken into and my laptop and camera stolen. This made me less than pleased.
Whoever did the breaking in must have been desperate (and pathetic) because they broke the glass on our door with their hand and then subsequently bled in big spots all over the house. This is my only consolation, that whoever did this is now seriously hurt. For all those in the area, look for someone with a cut up hand. We are thinkin it would be the right hand based on the location of the blood spots. The presence of the Minneapolis Crime Lab at the house got us all in a CSI mode. That was the only cool thing about the break in.
So now I don't have pictures, a camera, a laptop, notes from Ireland, or a case to put a new camera in. I also don't feel quite comfortable at night yet, despite the break-in happening in broad daylight. We've gotten motion sensor lights and PVC piping to keep the windows closed and new locks for the screen doors. But I still feel vulnerable. It seems like we're in the same position as before and someone just as desperate (and stupid) could do this all over again.
I do appreciate my friends for supporting me after all this. It truly sucks and I'm sure it will happen to others as school gets back into session.
Speaking of school. Today was the first day of classes at the University. As odd as some may think it is, I like school, I like class, and I was very disappointed that on my first day of class in my ONLY class, my professor didn't show up. As of this posting, I still don't have an email from the professor explaining himself, appologizing, or even giving me back my money for sucking. Hopefully this doesn't become habit, as I expect to leave this institution with an education.
On a good note, I found Ben and Jerry's coupons in the Minnsota Daily's Survival Guide and I fully expect to use them now. It's 92 degrees today and my house doesn't have air conditioning, so I need anything cold I can get.
Whoever did the breaking in must have been desperate (and pathetic) because they broke the glass on our door with their hand and then subsequently bled in big spots all over the house. This is my only consolation, that whoever did this is now seriously hurt. For all those in the area, look for someone with a cut up hand. We are thinkin it would be the right hand based on the location of the blood spots. The presence of the Minneapolis Crime Lab at the house got us all in a CSI mode. That was the only cool thing about the break in.
So now I don't have pictures, a camera, a laptop, notes from Ireland, or a case to put a new camera in. I also don't feel quite comfortable at night yet, despite the break-in happening in broad daylight. We've gotten motion sensor lights and PVC piping to keep the windows closed and new locks for the screen doors. But I still feel vulnerable. It seems like we're in the same position as before and someone just as desperate (and stupid) could do this all over again.
I do appreciate my friends for supporting me after all this. It truly sucks and I'm sure it will happen to others as school gets back into session.
Speaking of school. Today was the first day of classes at the University. As odd as some may think it is, I like school, I like class, and I was very disappointed that on my first day of class in my ONLY class, my professor didn't show up. As of this posting, I still don't have an email from the professor explaining himself, appologizing, or even giving me back my money for sucking. Hopefully this doesn't become habit, as I expect to leave this institution with an education.
On a good note, I found Ben and Jerry's coupons in the Minnsota Daily's Survival Guide and I fully expect to use them now. It's 92 degrees today and my house doesn't have air conditioning, so I need anything cold I can get.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Back Home Again in Indiana
Saturday morning Andy, Pete, and I got up excruciatingly early to take a train trip down to Indiana to visit my family. Andy was more than excited for the train and was practically giddy by the time we boarded. Turns out, trains are really fun to take. Sure, it's a longer trip. But you can get up and walk around to stretch, go visit the observation car or the dining car, AND you get a seat with more room than first class on an airplane. Plus, you don't have to buckle in. The trip into Chicago was mildly uneventful and relaxing.
Chicago itself was busy. Union station was packed with people and no one knew where to go or what to do. The three of us managed to get outside to grab some food down the street and check out the Sears Tower. After that we stood in a long and confusing line, and then hopped on the train to LaFayette. This leg of the journey promised to be even more uneventful as the three of us were not sitting together. However, just outside of the second stop our train hit a car. We were stopped for about an hour, and thankfully the driver managed to walk out of the car alright. It was a bit jarring to be apart of that experience though. We finally made it home in time for some good, old fashioned sleep.
Sunday we enjoyed a lunch with Grandpa, Jean, Mary, and Dale. It was a delicious cook out with corn, green beans, burgers, and tomatoes picked from the garden. Later Pete and Andy went four wheeling as I walked around in the woods and was generally fearful for their safety. Pete managed to make it all the way across the abandoned railroad bridge. A feat that no other guest has accomplished. After dinner at the Overpass, we three enjoyed a friendly game of Boggle and unknowingly expanded our vocabulary.
Today it was raining pretty hard, so we ditched plans for kayaking and canoing in the Wabash for some drier activities. We drove out to Indianapolis for a tour of the speedway and a look through the museum. Then we wandered through Circle Center and saw what a mall in the downtown of a city is supposed to be like. After that we dined at the Alcatraz Brewhouse and drank home made beers. Yum! On the way home we stopped for some ice cream and took a hike through the woods to the infamous location of my four wheeling accident. It doesn't look like too many people have traveled through there recently.
At the moment we're enjoying a relaxing bit of reading in the sun room. I'll add pictures when I get them uploaded.
Chicago itself was busy. Union station was packed with people and no one knew where to go or what to do. The three of us managed to get outside to grab some food down the street and check out the Sears Tower. After that we stood in a long and confusing line, and then hopped on the train to LaFayette. This leg of the journey promised to be even more uneventful as the three of us were not sitting together. However, just outside of the second stop our train hit a car. We were stopped for about an hour, and thankfully the driver managed to walk out of the car alright. It was a bit jarring to be apart of that experience though. We finally made it home in time for some good, old fashioned sleep.
Sunday we enjoyed a lunch with Grandpa, Jean, Mary, and Dale. It was a delicious cook out with corn, green beans, burgers, and tomatoes picked from the garden. Later Pete and Andy went four wheeling as I walked around in the woods and was generally fearful for their safety. Pete managed to make it all the way across the abandoned railroad bridge. A feat that no other guest has accomplished. After dinner at the Overpass, we three enjoyed a friendly game of Boggle and unknowingly expanded our vocabulary.
Today it was raining pretty hard, so we ditched plans for kayaking and canoing in the Wabash for some drier activities. We drove out to Indianapolis for a tour of the speedway and a look through the museum. Then we wandered through Circle Center and saw what a mall in the downtown of a city is supposed to be like. After that we dined at the Alcatraz Brewhouse and drank home made beers. Yum! On the way home we stopped for some ice cream and took a hike through the woods to the infamous location of my four wheeling accident. It doesn't look like too many people have traveled through there recently.
At the moment we're enjoying a relaxing bit of reading in the sun room. I'll add pictures when I get them uploaded.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Bridge Fell Down
Today the 35W bridge by my apartment collapsed into the Mississippi. Andy's mom called to tell him that a bridge had collapsed, we turned on the news to see it was the bridge that was a block away. Andy had just arrived too, coming over the bridge next to the one that collapsed. Thank goodness we take the 10th Avenue bridge daily, and not 35W. I didn't even hear the collapse, but that's probably because I live in a fortress, and on the first floor. Our lights did flicker though. So far everyone I know is OK, and I'm thankful that we had some people over when it happened.
I do appreciate all of the calls and texts from people concerned about me. My sympathies are with those who have been lost and injured from the collapse.
Thankfully, I don't travel on the interstate usually. I'm a bit worried about how traffic is going to be affected because of this. It's going to be really bad in my area now, since most people will take the 10th Ave bridge that goes right next to 35W. Biking around is going to be more unpleasant now, I'm guessing.
Two more things in response to things I've heard and read about this. This is NOT an act of terrorism. And I'm sure we can't blame the mayor for not giving us enough transportation funding, since there was work being done to the bridge.
For more information go here, and surprisingly here.
I do appreciate all of the calls and texts from people concerned about me. My sympathies are with those who have been lost and injured from the collapse.
Thankfully, I don't travel on the interstate usually. I'm a bit worried about how traffic is going to be affected because of this. It's going to be really bad in my area now, since most people will take the 10th Ave bridge that goes right next to 35W. Biking around is going to be more unpleasant now, I'm guessing.
Two more things in response to things I've heard and read about this. This is NOT an act of terrorism. And I'm sure we can't blame the mayor for not giving us enough transportation funding, since there was work being done to the bridge.
For more information go here, and surprisingly here.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
My Trip to Mountain
A week and a half ago I went to Montana for a leadership retreat called the Power of Choice. Before I left I was pretty vague on what I was doing out in Montana, because I only had a vague idea. My mom went a few years ago and really enjoyed it and got a lot out of the program. She thought I could benefit from it as well, and offered to send me. Since development is what I'm interested in the Human Resources realm, I agreed.
It turned out to be a really important experience, as well as very fun and relaxing. We spent a lot of time looking into our pasts to discover what happened in the time between birth and puberty that created set patterns of maladaptive behavior. We discovered these beliefs we created as children, and then analyzed how they affect us as adults. Its surprising to see how my childhood still affects how I behave now. Ultimately, the goal of the program was to create new patters of healthy behavior.
We worked with horses during the program because they are very sensitive to how people interact with them and can act as sort of mirrors to our behaviors. One of the most rewarding round pen exercise was that we had to get the horse to walk, trot, then walk around the pen once, and then come into us. All without touching the horse. I managed to get my horse (Lad) to walk around once, but when it came to making him trot, I was at a lost. The key was to make myself big, and I'm not used to being big and making people do things I want. So actually making myself big was difficult, but with some help I managed to become big and get Lad to trot right around the pen. It was really exhilerating to be able to do something like that.
Currently I'm struggling to actually get myself to move beyond my maladaptive behavior. Hopefully, once I relax more and address problems and I enjoy life to its fullest.
I also got to play with baby wolves.
It turned out to be a really important experience, as well as very fun and relaxing. We spent a lot of time looking into our pasts to discover what happened in the time between birth and puberty that created set patterns of maladaptive behavior. We discovered these beliefs we created as children, and then analyzed how they affect us as adults. Its surprising to see how my childhood still affects how I behave now. Ultimately, the goal of the program was to create new patters of healthy behavior.
We worked with horses during the program because they are very sensitive to how people interact with them and can act as sort of mirrors to our behaviors. One of the most rewarding round pen exercise was that we had to get the horse to walk, trot, then walk around the pen once, and then come into us. All without touching the horse. I managed to get my horse (Lad) to walk around once, but when it came to making him trot, I was at a lost. The key was to make myself big, and I'm not used to being big and making people do things I want. So actually making myself big was difficult, but with some help I managed to become big and get Lad to trot right around the pen. It was really exhilerating to be able to do something like that.
Currently I'm struggling to actually get myself to move beyond my maladaptive behavior. Hopefully, once I relax more and address problems and I enjoy life to its fullest.
I also got to play with baby wolves.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
We the people are disappointed
Truer words have never been written:
"What the Pew poll reflects is a profound disappointment in America’s failure to live up to its own ideals and standards."
To put it in a very American way, as a country we are all talk and no walk. And I am sorely disappointed.
This sentiment stems from the fact that I really enjoy reading about history. I like learning where I come from, how life has changed, what great things the people of the world have done against incredible odds. Even after taking a course on US history in the the public education system I was ashamed of where I come from. After learning about how racist immigration policies have been, how Lincoln "freed" the slaves with no aim to actually liberate them, how our government repeatedly lies to the people of our nation; I've become a bit more jaded with history. Not history as a subject, because it is important to learn the truth behind the lies, even if they do come 30 years after the fact. I've become angry at our history as a nation because it lingers and continues. Our history of lies and deceit from the government is a reality that continues to this day. These lies have terrible consequences for the poor and working class at home, and everywhere America "fights" abroad.
One subject that really bothers me is immigration reform and this bullshit proposal that thankfully failed. Yes, legalizing the status for many immigrants would be wonderful, as most are not a burden on our society (just like most legal citizens are not a burden). But that bill did not address the actual cause of so many immigrants from Latin America and other parts of the world. Instead of toppling democratically elected governments and supporting brutal dictatorships, our government could support democracy, thereby creating fewer refugees fleeing from death squads in their homelands. American companies should support their employees and not create sweatshops that pay below poverty wages. Americans glorify capitalism and a free market, well, then our corporations abroad need to not complain anytime a new government of a Latin American country steps in and doesn't support your brutal ways.
If America is ever to be respected again then it needs to truly support and nurture democracy, peace, and freedom. Our government is merely giving lip service to the ideals this country was founded on, and it is time for people like you and me to stand up and do something about it.
"What the Pew poll reflects is a profound disappointment in America’s failure to live up to its own ideals and standards."
To put it in a very American way, as a country we are all talk and no walk. And I am sorely disappointed.
This sentiment stems from the fact that I really enjoy reading about history. I like learning where I come from, how life has changed, what great things the people of the world have done against incredible odds. Even after taking a course on US history in the the public education system I was ashamed of where I come from. After learning about how racist immigration policies have been, how Lincoln "freed" the slaves with no aim to actually liberate them, how our government repeatedly lies to the people of our nation; I've become a bit more jaded with history. Not history as a subject, because it is important to learn the truth behind the lies, even if they do come 30 years after the fact. I've become angry at our history as a nation because it lingers and continues. Our history of lies and deceit from the government is a reality that continues to this day. These lies have terrible consequences for the poor and working class at home, and everywhere America "fights" abroad.
One subject that really bothers me is immigration reform and this bullshit proposal that thankfully failed. Yes, legalizing the status for many immigrants would be wonderful, as most are not a burden on our society (just like most legal citizens are not a burden). But that bill did not address the actual cause of so many immigrants from Latin America and other parts of the world. Instead of toppling democratically elected governments and supporting brutal dictatorships, our government could support democracy, thereby creating fewer refugees fleeing from death squads in their homelands. American companies should support their employees and not create sweatshops that pay below poverty wages. Americans glorify capitalism and a free market, well, then our corporations abroad need to not complain anytime a new government of a Latin American country steps in and doesn't support your brutal ways.
If America is ever to be respected again then it needs to truly support and nurture democracy, peace, and freedom. Our government is merely giving lip service to the ideals this country was founded on, and it is time for people like you and me to stand up and do something about it.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Who can turn the world on with his smile?
PETE!
Pete bonding with Minnesota favorite, Mary Tyler Moore on Nicolette Mall.Since I last updated Pete finally arrived in Minnesota! It had been over six months since I last saw him and now we can have loads of fun on the other side of the ocean. We both have jobs now! It's exciting to start getting paid again. Being unemployed is very depressing. I don't much feel like describing what I've been doing recently. So here are some more pictures with descriptions.
Pete, Andy, Melissa, Scott, Allie, and I went to a concert at the Mill City Museum. They played a washboard and washtub bass. It was way exciting.
Then we wandered around the Stone Arch Bridge and watched a barge go through the lock. Much more exciting than you would think.
Then we made our way to the new Guthrie and wandered about. This is Pete's album cover for his debut album "Boat".
Andy and I played make-believe and had fancy dinner at Forepaugh's in St. Paul with his winnings from the Indy 500.
After fancy dinner we drove through St. Paul and strolled along the high bridge.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)