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| Wow... I haven't written in here in a long time. I actually don't know what sparked my interest to sign on this thing. Oh wait, maybe those "little reminder" emails Xanga keeps sending me telling me how much they miss me. So perhaps think of this as an entry to shut them up for a little while.
So what all has happened since October of last year? A lot I suppose... but here's a few highlights:
I've read a few books. I just finished my first Chuck Palahniuk one, which I enjoyed. So I'll likely read more. And I just read Chelsea Handler's second one. What a hoot! She cracks me up.
I got in my first car accident, and it wasn't even my fault. To make a long story short, she was going the wrong way on the road and I didn't have time nor space to avoid her completely. My driver side front corner got smashed in pretty well, but the car was still drivable until I could take it in. The estimate came to over $2200, but it's all paid for by her insurance. Now I'm driving a rental Dodge Caliber, and it's not one of my favorite experiences. I'm not used to sitting up so high and the windows are awkwardly placed. I have no telling where the car's boundaries are... which of course is great on Austin's roads.
I can't believe I graduate in one year. That blows my mind.
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| You laughed at the Packer fans when we still knew he had a
good game left in him. You point out his interceptions, but forget that those
risky throws have also made him number one in touchdown passes, completions,
and in wins as a starting quarterback. He has the most consecutive starts for a
quarterback. He’s the NFL’s only three-time MVP. In a league where a player is convicted of dog fighting, Favre is a great husband, father, and
role-model. Most of you didn't recognize any of it. To you, the guy who spelt his last name weirdly was far past his prime. But now that the Packers are doing better and Favre has broken a few more records, he is all of a sudden
"so fun to watch" again? Where was all this "legend" talk
the past couple years? The sports announcers can try to take their feet out of
their mouths tonight by comparing him to Michael Jordan and saying things like
"This is why people watch Monday Night Football", but a Packer fan
sees right through it. It’s everything we always knew but everyone else ignored
because it was easier to talk about his age. Well the "old guy" is leading the
league’s youngest team to a 6-1 start this season. And tonight, my middle
finger stands erect for you. | | |
| Last summer I went to a wedding. While we were upstairs
having some punch and cheese cubes before the reception, people were pointing
out the fact that the wedding planner was wearing really ugly shoes. They were
pretty hideous, a dark brown pair that she must have stolen from an oversized
leprechaun that also happened to be adorned with white pointy socks over the
top. Admittedly, it was amusing to see the irony in that the wedding planner,
of all people, would have such poor shoe taste. But while we chuckled, I
couldn’t stop thinking about how much this poor lady was being judged.
If there’s one thing I try to improve myself on as a person,
it’s judging people. At the time, I was laughing with everyone else. I joked that
I’d film her and send the tape off to Stacy and Clinton. Yet she was merely there
doing her job, working diligently to ensure things went smoothly while probably
half the room was ridiculing her behind her back. When I put myself in her
shoes, I could only relate to how terrible it feels to be taunted. As a kid, I
was pretty socially awkward. The kids would rather tease me (to my face and
behind my back) than befriend me. And after realizing that I was no different
toward this poor lady, I immediately became ashamed of myself.
On the other extreme, I tend to think that judgment is the
reason why some people willingly spend an unreasonable amount of money on
simple things like purses. I mean, what’s so special about it? Does it come
with a free European vacation? Does it know the meaning of life? No, it just
has a name; a very famous name. And it’s hard to understand why someone would
make such a purchase… until you factor in judgment. In owning such a purse, one
is viewed as rich. Not everyone can afford it, and so those who own one feel
like part of an elite group. The positive judgment is enough of an incentive to spend the
money.
Dr. Seuss once said, "Be who you are and say what you
feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't
mind." It’s something I try to think about when I start to focus too much on
what others think of me. And I realize that it’s human nature to want to be
accepted. One would be crazy to completely disregard what others think of them.
And I won’t be the first to say that I’ll never judge someone again. But the
more I see people judged for who they really are, the more respect I have for
them.
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| The sun's rays pounded the pavement as Linda drove home in her
dilapidated '84 Crown Victoria. It certainly was one of the most
miserable summer afternoons she had endured, and the lack of
functioning air conditioning only heightened her miserable state. Had
it not been for the breeze entering her car through the open window,
Linda assumed that it would not be long before her blood would
literally boil over in this smoldering heat.
But that
pleasurable draft came to an abrupt end as Linda put on her brakes. The
car in front of hers steadily approached a dead stop. She felt the
first trickle of sweat begin to flow down her neck, and immediately
grew agitated. After such a long day, she only desired to get inside
her cool home and relax. Was that too much to ask? She didn't think so,
but the world seemed to betray her with every conflict and obstacle
that kept her from her bliss.
As she crept along at a sluggish 10mph, Linda noticed the twinkle of flashing police car lights in the distance.
This better be a good accident,
she thought to herself, figuring that at least a sizeable portion of
mangled iron and bloodshed would suffice her turmoil amid the Texas
heat.
But as her luck would have it, the scene that drew
closer into view proved nothing more than a typical person receiving a
traffic violation. And right as she drove by, the traffic started to
speed up.
How annoying.
To
make matters worse, Linda found herself slowing down again a half-mile
later. Her irritated face began to take a shade of red as the
perspiration erupted from her pores. The several cars whizzing by on a
nearby frontage road nearly drove her to an envious rage.
I bet those cars have air conditioning too, she bitterly mumbled under her breath.
It
didn't take but a moment for her to decide that she needed to be on
that frontage road as well. Her only issue was to successfully swing
into the next lane in order to catch an exit. In many modern compact
cars, such a task does not require much more attention than the thought
process of tying one's shoes. However, Linda's car had the maneuvering
capabilities of an aircraft carrier, and therefore accomplishing the
lane change ought to earn her a monument along a sparkling pond.
Linda
flipped on her blinker, with hope that a sympathetic driver would
merely give her enough room to let her in without much hassle. But all
the cars kept driving on, not even thinking about stopping. They
ignored her. If she wanted to get on that frontage road, she would have
to force her way in.
And so she did. As soon as the next car
passed, she flung the front end of her car over, almost getting
side-swiped by the approaching car and nearly hitting the car now in
front of her. Several drivers took the initiative to honk, however at
that point it had no effect on Linda. She entered the right lane
without killing anyone. Mission accomplished. She immediately exited,
and soared down the frontage road until she reached her home street.
The layer of sweat now soothed her as the incoming gusts glazed her
face.
Linda felt much like a young child opening her first
Christmas present as she neared her final destination. Her smile
extended from cheekbone to cheekbone. Her garage awaited her. Linda
parked inside, welcomed with ample shade. As she turned off the
ignition, she smiled, took a deep breath, and paused. The realization
that it was only Monday momentarily froze every tissue in her body. And
with that thought in mind, she sighed. | | |
| Ich bin megageil. 
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