Okay, last night I was reading Toons--one of the best free periodicals ever--and I saw one ad that always takes me back. It's a picture of the guy that did my piercings, smiling up from the page. I thought for a little while, and realized that the tattoo/piercing parlor I went to was right next to where Jeff's Pizza is now. That's right, I live in the building where the most painful experience of my life happened. At least, the most painful experience I can remember. I don't remember how much it hurt to have a tent pole through the roof of my mouth--I was only a year old at the time.
Secondly, this morning I went to Target to get a card to refill my phone account (Hooray for pay-as-you-go plans) and I misjudged how much I needed to get out there, buy the card, and get back. I was left with 26 cents to get back--the bus is one dollar. I know, I could use my ISUCard to ride the bus for free, but it would feel like stealing since I'm not a student, and don't plan to be until next fall. So I walked the 2.3 miles (according to Google Maps) home from Target. I needed the exercise, and I felt good afterward--hungry, but good.
Now, I must return to my fortress of solitude to await the upcoming James & James concert.
21 August 2009
20 August 2009
Short Post
So yesterday, after getting only 4 hours of sleep overnight, I took an afternoon nap. Where did I take it? Was it:
A. in bed
B. on my futon
C. in my comfy recliner?
That's right, the correct answer is D. the floor. It's more comfortable than you would think for a short nap.
After my nap, I went and visited people. I saw the engaged couple mentioned in the last post. They confirmed they were engaged. (I believe her more than him. I know him too well. Sorry, big guy.) So, I won't be waiting for the "GOTCHA!" anymore.
A. in bed
B. on my futon
C. in my comfy recliner?
That's right, the correct answer is D. the floor. It's more comfortable than you would think for a short nap.
After my nap, I went and visited people. I saw the engaged couple mentioned in the last post. They confirmed they were engaged. (I believe her more than him. I know him too well. Sorry, big guy.) So, I won't be waiting for the "GOTCHA!" anymore.
19 August 2009
4 hours sleep is not enough
Okay, first I need to correct something in the last post. When I said Cru is the mortal enemy of Salt, I was forgetting that computers fail at sarcasm worse than a newborn giraffe would fail a quantum physics test. Sorry about that, newborn giraffes everywhere, I'm tired and not in the mood to be politically correct to you.
Anyway, back on to the real post. Last night, I went to an engagement party for a couple of friends. I'm still not completely sure I believe it actually happened, and part of me expects them to shout "FOOLED YOU!" about a week from now--this is from the cynic in me that says you can't get engaged when you're not even dating. Congrats to them anyway. They're younger than I am, so I got that feeling that I'm old and alone again--I thought I had gotten rid of that, but that shows what I know. The spam I've been getting that says I can get a free travel bag if I sign up for AARP now doesn't help the old feeling.
--PAUSE WHILE I TRY NOT TO QUOTE FROM MONTY PYTHON AND THE QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL--
-Old woman!
-Man!
-Sorry, old man!
-I'm 37!
-What?
-I'm 37, I'm not old!
-Well I can't just call you man.
-You could call me Dennis.
-I didn't know you were called Dennis.
--PAUSE WHILE I FEEL SHAME AT FAILING TO NOT QUOTE--
I also think I'm developing allergies, which is true, but it was also a good cover-up for my eyes looking like they're about to burst with tears--not sure if they really looked like it, but they felt like it.
What made me the most sad, however, was answering the old "How are you doing?" question that about half the people who talked to me asked. I could never be a professional poker player. My emotions are right out for everyone to see. Because I couldn't hide that I was feeling lousy, I felt like I had to keep rehashing the fact that my parents are getting divorced. The more I repeated this, the more I realized that I'm not as okay with it as I had thought. By 9:30, the effort it took to keep from breaking down in tears was making me exhausted, so I took off. I chose not to take the stairs up to my apartment, and I think if I had taken them, I wouldn't have made it. As it was, I made it into the elevator and broke down.
I made it back to my apartment, and finished the crying I had started in the elevator. When I was done, I felt awake again, so I decided to get back into my book--Insomnia by Stephen King. When my usual bedtime rolled around--11:00--I checked to see how far I was from the end, because it was getting exciting. Only 150 pages or so. Then I started to debate staying up and finishing it, and decided to, probably because some subconscious part of my mind knew that if I went to bed, I'd start crying again.
I finished up just before 3, and went to bed. Just as my subconscious mind suspected, I broke down again. I hate crying alone in the dark. It just makes me feel so empty.
Anyway, back on to the real post. Last night, I went to an engagement party for a couple of friends. I'm still not completely sure I believe it actually happened, and part of me expects them to shout "FOOLED YOU!" about a week from now--this is from the cynic in me that says you can't get engaged when you're not even dating. Congrats to them anyway. They're younger than I am, so I got that feeling that I'm old and alone again--I thought I had gotten rid of that, but that shows what I know. The spam I've been getting that says I can get a free travel bag if I sign up for AARP now doesn't help the old feeling.
--PAUSE WHILE I TRY NOT TO QUOTE FROM MONTY PYTHON AND THE QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL--
-Old woman!
-Man!
-Sorry, old man!
-I'm 37!
-What?
-I'm 37, I'm not old!
-Well I can't just call you man.
-You could call me Dennis.
-I didn't know you were called Dennis.
--PAUSE WHILE I FEEL SHAME AT FAILING TO NOT QUOTE--
I also think I'm developing allergies, which is true, but it was also a good cover-up for my eyes looking like they're about to burst with tears--not sure if they really looked like it, but they felt like it.
What made me the most sad, however, was answering the old "How are you doing?" question that about half the people who talked to me asked. I could never be a professional poker player. My emotions are right out for everyone to see. Because I couldn't hide that I was feeling lousy, I felt like I had to keep rehashing the fact that my parents are getting divorced. The more I repeated this, the more I realized that I'm not as okay with it as I had thought. By 9:30, the effort it took to keep from breaking down in tears was making me exhausted, so I took off. I chose not to take the stairs up to my apartment, and I think if I had taken them, I wouldn't have made it. As it was, I made it into the elevator and broke down.
I made it back to my apartment, and finished the crying I had started in the elevator. When I was done, I felt awake again, so I decided to get back into my book--Insomnia by Stephen King. When my usual bedtime rolled around--11:00--I checked to see how far I was from the end, because it was getting exciting. Only 150 pages or so. Then I started to debate staying up and finishing it, and decided to, probably because some subconscious part of my mind knew that if I went to bed, I'd start crying again.
I finished up just before 3, and went to bed. Just as my subconscious mind suspected, I broke down again. I hate crying alone in the dark. It just makes me feel so empty.
17 August 2009
Pez dispenser update
All the Pez dispensers have found homes around my apartment now. Some hidden, some visible, some stalking you......
Anyway, while I was setting them up, I found an old set of pictures (yes, my camera uses film. it's not one of those new-fangled digital cameras) from my first two years at college, including some from that wild Spring Break trip to New Orleans. Ah, the memories.....so much booze, so many women.....I have never slept in a room with that many people before or since......
Now that at least some of you have the wrong idea about that trip, it was actually the spring break after Hurricane Katrina. I went down with a bunch of people from Cru (I know, they're Salt's mortal enemies, but they do do some good things every once in a while) to help clear some of the debris. We were gutting houses (and one convenience shop--hence the booze) in the 9th Ward--the poorest part of New Orleans. We stayed in a warehouse on cots that were so close together, if you rolled over, you rolled onto your neighbor--why there were so many people sleeping in the same room, all men in that room. It was a good week, and I'm glad I went. I'll always have some good memories--and some painful ones, as well.
Anyway, while I was setting them up, I found an old set of pictures (yes, my camera uses film. it's not one of those new-fangled digital cameras) from my first two years at college, including some from that wild Spring Break trip to New Orleans. Ah, the memories.....so much booze, so many women.....I have never slept in a room with that many people before or since......
Now that at least some of you have the wrong idea about that trip, it was actually the spring break after Hurricane Katrina. I went down with a bunch of people from Cru (I know, they're Salt's mortal enemies, but they do do some good things every once in a while) to help clear some of the debris. We were gutting houses (and one convenience shop--hence the booze) in the 9th Ward--the poorest part of New Orleans. We stayed in a warehouse on cots that were so close together, if you rolled over, you rolled onto your neighbor--why there were so many people sleeping in the same room, all men in that room. It was a good week, and I'm glad I went. I'll always have some good memories--and some painful ones, as well.
The Pez dispensers have taken over
So, last night, I decided I'd try to set up my Pez dispensers somewhere. The question is where.... I started this morning by counting and organizing them. I have 118 normal ones (including the Star Trek Collector's Series), 2 motorized ones (I think the motor is burnt out on one, so you have to use the hand-winder on the bottom), 2 miniature ones (although they don't dispense, and they only hold 4 pieces each), and one that looks like a freakish cross-breed of a plush toy and a Pez dispenser.
I organized them into groups--Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Star Wars, Simpsons, Peanuts, Garfield, etc.--and just left most of them sitting on my table, which means there is no room to eat at said table. The Star Wars are hanging out with the cardboard bust of Darth Vader, who now wears a cap on top of his helmet. The Muppets--with two Kermits--are standing behind the army of frogs that hang out on top of my TV--Kermit's army. The Star Trek Collector's Series--still in the box--is on the wall near the thermostat. Finally, the Simpsons--with an extra Lisa and an extra Maggie--are on top of the fridge, just watching. The rest reside--at least temporarily--on my table. ...I think I know where one group can go, but I won't reveal that here.
On a completely different note, I've only been here two weeks now, and I'm on my third roll of TP. This new high-fiber, low-fat diet is making my toilet work overtime. Good thing water is free and I have a plunger. The good side of this diet is that I've lost 15 pounds in about a week. The only time I've lost weight faster was on my 5-day fast--I lost 16 pounds, but put 6 of them back on the first day I started eating again. At this rate, I'll be back to junior-in-high-school weight (250 pounds) by the end of the month (I'm currently 275). The weight loss will probably slow down however, and I might only make it to going-home-after-freshman-year weight (260 pounds--I lost 45 pounds my freshman year and put 40 of them back on over the summer).
I organized them into groups--Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Star Wars, Simpsons, Peanuts, Garfield, etc.--and just left most of them sitting on my table, which means there is no room to eat at said table. The Star Wars are hanging out with the cardboard bust of Darth Vader, who now wears a cap on top of his helmet. The Muppets--with two Kermits--are standing behind the army of frogs that hang out on top of my TV--Kermit's army. The Star Trek Collector's Series--still in the box--is on the wall near the thermostat. Finally, the Simpsons--with an extra Lisa and an extra Maggie--are on top of the fridge, just watching. The rest reside--at least temporarily--on my table. ...I think I know where one group can go, but I won't reveal that here.
On a completely different note, I've only been here two weeks now, and I'm on my third roll of TP. This new high-fiber, low-fat diet is making my toilet work overtime. Good thing water is free and I have a plunger. The good side of this diet is that I've lost 15 pounds in about a week. The only time I've lost weight faster was on my 5-day fast--I lost 16 pounds, but put 6 of them back on the first day I started eating again. At this rate, I'll be back to junior-in-high-school weight (250 pounds) by the end of the month (I'm currently 275). The weight loss will probably slow down however, and I might only make it to going-home-after-freshman-year weight (260 pounds--I lost 45 pounds my freshman year and put 40 of them back on over the summer).
10 August 2009
Apartment Version 2.0 Features
I neglected to mention many of the features of Apartment Version 2.0 in my last post, so here goes.
--Marvel at the two towering tape towers!!! One is a roll of painter's tape and 9, count them, 9 rolls of electrical tape--no two of which are the same color!! The other is 19, you heard correctly ladies and gentlemen, 19 rolls of duct tape--in 19 different colors!
--Be amazed as the apartment converts from daytime mode--with seating for 7 and a table for eating or playing games--to nighttime mode--with seating for 5 and a bed, or sleeping room for 4!
--Become hypnotized by the lava lamp!
--Gaze deeply into the eyes of the bust of Darth Vader, made entirely out of black cardboard!
--See the results of a tube of cyanoacrylate cracking and exposing the contents to air
--See the blue line demarcating the boundary between where shoes/sandals/flip-flops are allowed, and where they are forbidden!
--Watch the video made as a German 102 class project, which highlights my rollerblading skills! Wait, on second thought, don't watch that. You won't be able to appreciate the amazing skills.
--Play video games on the system with the best graphics money could buy in 1995! That's right, ladies and gentlemen, it's a Sega Saturn!!
--Hear tales of free laundry, free heat, and free water! "Did he say free laundry?" Yes! FREE LAUNDRY!
--Look on in wonder at the filing cabinet that can slice open fingers! (I'm okay, just need to keep putting on new band-aids in the morning)
--Marvel at the two towering tape towers!!! One is a roll of painter's tape and 9, count them, 9 rolls of electrical tape--no two of which are the same color!! The other is 19, you heard correctly ladies and gentlemen, 19 rolls of duct tape--in 19 different colors!
--Be amazed as the apartment converts from daytime mode--with seating for 7 and a table for eating or playing games--to nighttime mode--with seating for 5 and a bed, or sleeping room for 4!
--Become hypnotized by the lava lamp!
--Gaze deeply into the eyes of the bust of Darth Vader, made entirely out of black cardboard!
--See the results of a tube of cyanoacrylate cracking and exposing the contents to air
--See the blue line demarcating the boundary between where shoes/sandals/flip-flops are allowed, and where they are forbidden!
--Watch the video made as a German 102 class project, which highlights my rollerblading skills! Wait, on second thought, don't watch that. You won't be able to appreciate the amazing skills.
--Play video games on the system with the best graphics money could buy in 1995! That's right, ladies and gentlemen, it's a Sega Saturn!!
--Hear tales of free laundry, free heat, and free water! "Did he say free laundry?" Yes! FREE LAUNDRY!
--Look on in wonder at the filing cabinet that can slice open fingers! (I'm okay, just need to keep putting on new band-aids in the morning)
09 August 2009
Apartment Version 2.0
Why do people look away from a 280-pound man who has just been jumping in puddles? Is there something unusual about that?
On a completely different note, my apartment (Version 2.0) has just been opened to the public. There are still some bugs in the system, but I hope to have most of them fixed by the release date of Version 2.1, which is yet to be determined. There is now seating for up to 5 individuals--not counting fold-up chairs, the bed, or the floor. The interface has undergone an upgrade, so you won't be seeing as much plain white space as with Version 1.0. We have also upgraded the sound system to meet 2.1 speaker settings. Hopefully those that were displeased with Apartment Version 1.0 will be more satisfied with Version 2.0, and those that never saw Version 1.0 will drop by and enjoy the updated look and feel.
On a completely different note, my apartment (Version 2.0) has just been opened to the public. There are still some bugs in the system, but I hope to have most of them fixed by the release date of Version 2.1, which is yet to be determined. There is now seating for up to 5 individuals--not counting fold-up chairs, the bed, or the floor. The interface has undergone an upgrade, so you won't be seeing as much plain white space as with Version 1.0. We have also upgraded the sound system to meet 2.1 speaker settings. Hopefully those that were displeased with Apartment Version 1.0 will be more satisfied with Version 2.0, and those that never saw Version 1.0 will drop by and enjoy the updated look and feel.
04 August 2009
I'm ba-ack
I arrived in Ames last night, and I feel tired. My apartment is a nice little place, so that's a blessing. I've been walking around town today running errands and trying to get a job. This morning, I got change for a 10 because I would be riding the bus a lot, and it would feel like stealing to use my ISUCard when I'm not actually a student. Turns out CyRide is free this summer--at least until the 15th. So now my wallet is fatter than it needs to be.
I bought a shower curtain today, because my shower didn't have one, and it was hard trying to shower while worrying about how much water is getting on the floor. I tried my best, but still ended up toweling more water off the floor than off of myself. My towel was still damp at 3--and I showered before 8.
Just 2 weeks until the dorm dwellers initiate their arrivals, and I'm looking forward to seeing many of my friends before they start getting too involved in classes.
I bought a shower curtain today, because my shower didn't have one, and it was hard trying to shower while worrying about how much water is getting on the floor. I tried my best, but still ended up toweling more water off the floor than off of myself. My towel was still damp at 3--and I showered before 8.
Just 2 weeks until the dorm dwellers initiate their arrivals, and I'm looking forward to seeing many of my friends before they start getting too involved in classes.
03 August 2009
Move-In Day
Today I move in. I'm currently doing the laundry and making a checklist so I don't forget anything. (I will anyway, just watch) The apartment probably won't be very furnished until Saturday, when my parents rent a van, because it's hard to fit large items into a Kia Rio. Still on the lookout for a job, and I pray I'll get one soon. Otherwise, I'll have to dip into the savings account to pay the rent next month.
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