Florida (Day 1!)

Well, flying wasn't all that bad I suppose. Take off was really awesome! That felt like a roller coaster! The seat next to me was empty, so the flight was fairly comfortable as well. I just bought a couple magazines and listened to my iPod. It was dark, so I could look down and see all the city lights below, no clouds, no turbulance. It was such a fast flight too. I looked down and saw what looked like a big city and I was thinking, "This must be Toledo." And then the captain came over and said we're preparing for our initial descent into Orlando! That was fast! Flying is definately the way to go in the timing aspect though! A pretty smooth flight! But, it seemed like no one mentioned how crappy landing on an airplane is! Man, we were circling around Orlando and it felt like the plane was sideways and the wings were pointing toward the ground! I did not like that part at all! Then we finally hit the runway and I looked out the window and could obviously see that we were going 400 mph. I just wanted to yell out "STOP before we keep going into the swamp!" But, the captain hit the breaks!

Matt picked me up at the airport, I landed on time around 9:00. We drove on the tollway past Disney and Universal Studios and such. We talked about the plans for the week. Then we made it to Lakeland and he showed me around town. Drove me past his school, downtown, and then we went past Joker Marchant Stadium (Tiger's Spring Training facility). That's got me pumped for Saturday! We're going to watch them play the Mets.

We got back to his place, ate what we stopped and picked up for dinner (Checker's) and chilled out for a little while.

Today Matt had to work, so I woke up and farted around on the internet for a little while. Then I went running because it's such a nice day out. I've spent the last 2 hours or so laying by the pool getting that tan!

Tonight me and Matt are gonna go play around in Lakeland. Get dinner, he has some shopping to do for school, then who knows!!

The rest of the week is looking like this:

Wednesday: Go to work with Matt.

Thursday: ?

Friday: Matt's taking a sick day and we'll probably head to Gatorland and to see my grandfather in Daytona.

Saturday: Tigers game, Third Day concert/Strawberry Festival

Sunday: Universal Studios/Islands of Adventures

Monday: Fly Home.

Well, gonna go run! Later everyone!!

Minutes away!!

Ok, I am getting ready to fly to Florida to see Matt! I have never flown before, and I am flying alone! We will be boarding in a few minutes! I stopped and had a drink to help calm the nerves. It worked! Excited, nervous, psyched! Here I come big brother!!

From all different walks.

Today, as I was walking downtown Ypsilanti, I was thinking about where I really wanna live the rest of my life. Not as in where on a map per say, more of whether it'll be in the country or in the city. I'm a country boy at heart, I feel it, I know it. I love the wide open spaces, I love the openness, the fact that your space is your space and you don't have to share it with another house built on top of yours. I've been settled on that decision for a while.

But as I was walking through downtown today, I remembered what I really do love about city living. It's the fact that you can walk and have so much to see and look at at marvel at. This is true in the country too, the rolling land and wildlife that's far more inclusive of more than just the random fox squirrel or pigeon.

In the city I can do one of my favorite things. I really do like to people watch. I don't think I like it for the reasons most other people do. I don't like to judge people, it's more of a wondering thing to me. I wonder about so many things when I see people. Where are you walking to? Where are you coming from- your house, apartment, mansion? Who did you just leave, if anyone, or who are you going to see? What has your life been like so far? What ambitions do you have right now? Are they the same as mine (an education and better job), or are you trying to get to the liquor store as soon as it opens because you drank the last drop of vodka last night and need to feed the addiction?

Why are you sitting on this cold bench at nine in the morning? Waiting for the bus to go to work, or because this is where you stayed last night, the same as every night before? Are your parents still alive? Do you have important relationships in your life that you treasure, or are you living a lonely life, day in and day out? You are dressed so simple, yet your might have all the riches in the world. You're wearing the most popular clothes, but could be the most shallow person in town. What struggles have you faced? Have you overcome the odds or let them punch you down so far you can't see the top of the mountain? Are you struggling with so many demons right now and you're just waiting for one person to come by and help with just one of them?

Is it a strange phenomenon that I wonder about so many questions just because I pass one person walking down the street? Is it that I am just really nosy? I guess I don't take things for face value, but I wonder about so many things that go so much deeper than what appears on the outside. I think it was the way I was raised that I am slow to judge when encountering people I've never met. If you're being a rude jerk to me, there's a reason that probably has nothing to do with me. If you're wearing the sloppiest clothes, I'll assume you're just as kind and friendly as the next person wearing a business suit. I notice this thinking is so important in the job that I do, and working at Cabela's might even amplify these reflections. Cabela's is not a cheap place to shop. However, we get some of the scrubbiest people that walk in and drop $1,000 on one purchase. Some of the ugliest people are the friendliest, some of the better looking people are just arrogant, and that also goes vice versa. Don't just people by their money or what they spend, but also don't judge them on their appearance, because chances are, you're gonna be one hundred percent wrong!

Don't get me wrong. I'm human and I go completely against everything I just typed at times myself. A lot actually. Some days I just don't like anyone that crosses my path. Other days, I have days like today. I do judge just as much as the guy sitting next to me right now. It's just important to remember things like this every once in a while.

This is a completely different blog than what I normally type. But these were thoughts that I just wanted to write down and share because they consumed my whole walk from main campus to downtown. Must've been something I should share huh?

Now, gotta get to class!

Good day all!

Hey everyone! How are you all doing?

Things are good on this end. This past week was really busy and didn't have much time to do anything! I had 3 exams, work everyday, class 2 days. I was exhausted!

This week is going better. Had a couple days off, which was nice respite! I got my math exam back this morning. It was a 72. I thought I had done a little better than that, but it's ok. I didn't get my book in the mail until Sunday (3 days before the test).

Funny thing. JP started talking about Nascar a little bit last week- he's not a fan. But, apparently he is now! We started a Nascar Fantasy league! Cracks me up because I have no idea how any of this works- but we got some sweet names! Our league name is the "Left Turn Hillbillies." I named my team "The Mullet Mafia!" I feel like I achieved ultimate hillbilly status now!

I drove to class with no heat in my car this morning. It'll have to go in the shop tomorrow. I am really hoping it's not a big fix that's gonna cost a lot of money. The fan works and it blows semi-warm air, but not too much warmer than cool air.

Not a whole lot on tap for this weekend. Friday I'm working out and then hanging out with Ryan and JP. Saturday I have to work (hooray for a boring Valentine's Day). That's also draft day for fantasy Nascar! Then Sunday is race day! HAHA! I can't believe I actually care about this! Me and JP work together and we're gonna take our lunch at the Wilderness so we can watch the
start of the race.

Next week might be pretty busy, but then it's off to Florida! I really cannot wait. We had a nice warm up here that's gotten rid of the snow, brought back an old friend (the sun), and flooded the river. But it's back to good ole reality and cold Michigan February days!

Hope all is well with everyone...better go take some econ notes!

Almost Friday....Update!

Honestly, as crazy as I expected this week to be, it has gone by pretty quick. Yesterday it was Wednesday and I was thinking it was still Monday. Today is the end of the craziness.

Tuesday I had class all day then I worked til close. I had to be to work at 6 am yesterday and work til 3. We're in the middle of putting our spring merchandise out, which means a big floor move and shrinking racks. I was supposed to do this with Ryan, but he showed up to work puking, so I just told him to go home. I worked my butt off all day and went home and studied for my first exam of the semester today. Math- not cool.

I had such a hard time getting out of bed this morning. When I did, I went upstairs to take a shower and the pipes froze in my bathroom again. No shower! No wakey! I was feeling a little nauseous. And then I stepped in cat puke. Not a very good start to the day. I went to class, took my exam, and now my day is going much better. It helps I think I did okay on my exam. Probably not an A, but at least B or C quality. Hey, considering the run-around I got getting my book and not getting it til this week, I'll be happy with it! I have 2 more classes, then I work til close tonight. I'll prolly go over to JP's after work for a bit and then go home and sleep, sleep some more, and then keep sleeping!

No big plans for the weekend. Going to the Ida and Dundee bball game tomorrow with Ryan and Brandon. Both are state ranked. I have two exams Tuesday, so I need to do a lot of studying and I work both Saturday and Sunday. Whewww.....are you as exhausted as I am? But I also need to get my butt to the gym and run every chance I get now that this crazy week is almost ended!

I'm sitting in the student center people watching when I should be working on homework. But I'm so drained, I'm just relaxing and chilling. I'll get to that this weekend!

When will I sleep??

Well, this week is off to a very crazy start. And it's not a craziness that I really like.

First, a recap of the weekend. I was off work all weekend so Mike, Jess, Taylor, and I drove up north and surprised the crap out of Mom & Dale. It was hillarious. We had a good time, except Saturday night. Mike, Dale, and I went out Jeeping, and ended up getting the Jeep stuck out on a back road. So, we called Mom and asked her to bring us a shovel. She drives the truck and gets it stuck on the other end of the road. It was awful! We walked and walked and walked some more. It was cold, I only had a zip up hoodie and t-shirt on. I walked across Lost Lake to get back to the house in snow up to my knees! NOT FUN! The vehicles stayed in the woods over night until the contstruction equipment came to get them out Sunday! Looking back now, it's funny. But at the time, I was not laughing very hard.

Spent a lot of time in the hot tub this weekend too. We also broke out the pictures of when we were little. It was really nice to walk down memory land, but it was also sad seeing pictures of Gram again. Nonetheless, we had a great weekend.

Sunday night I hung out at JP's for the Super Bowl and kicked it back with him.

Yesterday, I studied a little bit in the morning, worked 12-9 and came home and had to read some econ chapters. The rest of the week is what's going to be tough. I work til 9 tonight after I get out of class, have to do some more reading tonight- then work from 6 am to 3 pm tomorrow. I have an exam on Thursday I'll have to study tomorrow night for, and 2 coming up on Tuesday. Class all day Thursday, and work til 10 Thursday night. I'm looking forward to Friday- my only day off this week. I can't complain, it's hours and money in the checking account, but it's hard to juggle it all and stay awake!

I started running again last week, but I have no time in this week's schedule to hit the gym. That means I'm really watching what I eat because my goal is to lose about 15 pounds.

I'm sitting in econ class and this is normally my nap time. Gotta go!!