The economy, excited airline time, people watching, and a little Procrastination September 30, 2008

My internet is kinda cooperating right now…hopefully it continues!  So…I finally finished my paper that due …well today I guess.  Its about 2:00am here. Nothing like a little procrastination! At least I know Im not the only one up late writing this paper! (Hope your having fun…and hopefully you aren’t putting it off until tomorrow Erik!) Guess he didn;t need moral support or help staying awake since I havent recieved a “Im loosing my mind” text tonight. (Ok…maybe it wouldn’t be a text exactly like that…but whatever).  So I fly out to Ohio today…well tonight (or early Wed am for you in Ohio).  I have so much reading to do, so hopefully I will be able to get some of it done on the plane!

Can I say Im actually a little happy that the House vetoed the $700 billion bail out of wall street!  I recognize that there is a crisis and all, but couldn’t understand why we would hand over that type of money unchecked!  Why cant the government pass a bill with more funds for a social service (ie: MR/DD, Education, health, etc) but can immediately put forth a proposal to help idiots who were basically doing a legal form of gambling?!?!  Ok enough about the economy!  Erik you are rubbing off on me!  Stop it!

I am actually excited about taking off tomorrow/today.  Yes, I am happy about being able to see friends and family, but not so interested in returning to Ohio…Im content out here…But I am excited about all the people watching I will get to do in my nearly 30hrs of airport time!  I love people watching.  I saw some interesting characters tonight waiting on the bus, including a cross-dresser…He was not as cute or good looking as Scotty though (Scotty is a good looking woman!)  Wonder who I will see in route to Ohio…Debbie if I run into you at any airport, I will truly believe we are destined to be traveling around the world together…Is it Amazing Race time yet?  The Cookie Queens are beginning to die off..we may need a new name.  How about the Wacky Wierdos?  Any suggestions? 

Well Im off to try and sleep…the key word there is try!

Later!

Painful days, bull riding fools, and who needs offense? Oh right the Packers! September 28, 2008

Well, I’m beginning to think that my Sundays are cursed!  My Packers lost yet again, this time in the Battle of the Bays.  The opening drive was great, but then the rest of the game was horrid, at least from the offensive point of view.  Tramon Williams did what was needed from him in place of Harris, but Bigby was missed…Rouse just isn’t the same!  The one good thing was Woodsons Interception for TD!  Awesome!  My offense had better find a way to protect the QB and make plays, because, I will be getting angrier if they continue to loose.  Right now Im rooting for Philly so that Green Bay remains atop their division!  Come on Eagles (I cant believe Im saying those words…or rather typing them!) 

Ok, off football, and onto roommates.  I spent all night last night hanging with my “lil bro” Eric.  What did we do?  Talk about all his girl drama and then watch a TV show about extreme athletes and their brushes with death…Snowmobiles (not that deadly), tow in surfing(ok I can see that), bicyclists “boxing” (just plain funny), basejumping from buildings (looks like fun!)…but bull riding and extreme bike cliff jumping are just plain insane!  The only time I flinched over the enitre night was the bull riding, which #1 brush with death was an angry bull who made the rider his doll and tried to eat him! Ok, I can honestly say I will never date a bull rider now because they are nuts!  Even the bike cliff jumper, although crazy, I can understand (even after he was paralyzed).  Who knows what we will watch tonight, but I have a feeling that it will be something completely bizarre because thats what Eric always finds!

Until then, Im off to read Haas and Gordon Lauren and try to finish those chapters so I can write a paper due Tuesday.  At least Ive finished Mondays paper, although Im not sure my analysis is all that great, but I followed the format he laid out, so hopefully I don’t bomb it! 

See some of you as early as Wednesday night and Thursday am upon my return to Ohio…and all most everyone else I will see Saturday as we PARTY! 

Later!

Weekend writing, wedding countdown, and some wonderful ale September 27, 2008

HPU

3rd Floor Lanai…where I do some studying

 

 

First off…congrats to my cousin Brent and Lisa on their newest addition!  Can’t wait to see more pics! 

Sorry about not blogging last night…2 reasons for a lack of post…First and perhaps most important, the night involved some wonderful Hawaiin beer, and thus random conversation and slight intoxication after class.  Secondly, the internet was down at the house, so blogging wasn’t an option(ok so the second reason probably has more of an impact on blogging then the first…but whatever). 

I will be flying back to Ohio on Tuesday…damn…so soon!  And as I sit out here in Hawaii, I get to observe from a distance, I get to perform my own sociological study on family and its functioning when a wedding is involved…Hopefully mine learns to breath soon!  I feel like I should be helping out more, but its kinda hard being 1/2 way around the world!  However, I can’t say that im feeling too guilty, cause Im really liking sitting back and laughing at the spectacle…right now that is.  Come Thursday I will be running like crazy and will have been dragged full force into Hurricane Jessica and Michael!  And then by Saturday, I will have been strapped into an evil contraption known as a bridesmaid dress and forced to smile for pictures!  Oh well, all in the name of family right?!?

On a more positive, or at least less doomsday note, my wonderful Al Harris may not be lost for the season…he may be back by mid-season…if his spleen heals…and if he gets medical clearance…its still alot of ifs…but I’ll take it!  Here’s hoping that Tramon Williams does whats asked of him in the mean time! (Plus I get to watch the battle of the Bays tomorrow on TV…Yeah.  Although its not the same without the Sapp/Favre matchup of yester-years).

Well, Im off to do some of that never ending reading Im always talking about, and then some of that writing that always is involved in grad school…Hopefully I get it done!

Later!

Crazy viking, poison mushrooms, and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster September 25, 2008

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

 

And now for some Thursday Philosophy Funnies, courtesy of my Professor:

On the Bush Doctrine: Bush didn’t hear God speak to him, he heard Cheney on the interoffice speakers…ala James Earl Jones voice.

My professor wants to join the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster cause you get beer and strippers when you die.  Plus you can talk like a pirate every day….After all what will you do with 72 virgins if you are dead (in reference to Islam).

Reasons women are not in combat…because women are more violent then men, they fight dirty!  And my Professors backing for this arguement, Pandarens…a group of women who lost husbands, sons in battle, who were vicious killers (ie: World of War Craft).

Random piece of historical information for the day (with a little parody)…

The vikings use to feed poisonous mushrooms to their horses, and then collect the piss and drink it.  The horse would dilute the poison, creating a hallucinogenic, which they would then ingest.  They would then paint each other blue, grab their spears, and run full force yelling into battle, scaring every one to death, forcing opponents to run away from the crazy,  thus sparing thier lives.

Ok, by now you must understand why I like my Philosophy professor so much…he’s a little crazy!  But what philosophy professor or student isn’t right?!?  Every class, he says some of the strangest things, and so tonight I recorded some of them for your enjoyment.  Hope you enjoyed them!  And FYI, there really is a Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, it was creatded in 2005, and they really do believe that heaven has a beer factory and strip clubs (and Hell has stale beer and strippers with VD).  If you want to know more, follow the link above…it is too funny!

Later!

A little Indecision 2008, War, and relaxation September 24, 2008

John Stewart link on Sarah Palin Gender Card

Colbert Report Link : Financial Advice from Gorlock

 

Oh no…trouble in paradise for McCain/Palin?  Apparently there is a disagreement about global warming, and what causes it between the two. And the person most in denial? Palin.  Now I think this is wierd.  She is of course from Alaska of all places and sees the effects global warming is having on the world perhaps better than anyone (except those living in the south…sorry hurricane victims).  Yet, she still denied global warming.  Um ok.  All I can say is that I can’t wait to watch Colbert Report and John Stewart to see their responses!  In case you haven’t seen the clip about the Gender Card issue with Hillary/Palin at the center of the debate, you should check it out.  Follow the link above to watch it, or not.  Your preference!

All I have been reading is primitive warfare and the correlation between civilied societies.  All my classes are beginning to overlap a little, which is nice.  Now if I can only keep up with the work load!  Im having mixed reactions to going back to Ohio next week.  Im excited to see everyone, but I have soooo much to do!  Ahhh…stress kicking in…need to breath…need a break…must watch news…..ahhh stresss again….ahhh no more IRA, 401k, ….economics=panic!  Ok Im done now.  Well hopefully some relaxation will come soon! Until then I am off to write a paper, and another, and another…and yet more!

Later!

Studying, Hitler, Palin, and a little rain September 23, 2008

done

More Boogy Board Surfing

 

Not much new happening today.  Im glad that at least some of you shared my pain over the loss of my dreadlocked cornerback!  And yes, I will be praying to some odd God that the Browns pull off a win in the Battle of Ohio for you all! (Well for Mandy and Leenee anyways).  So far my favorite responses to yesterdays blog has to be in response to my study abroad plans, and the abundent amounts of “where?” replies I recieved!  Too funny!

I spent most of the day trying to finish War before Civilization, and am about 40 pages away from finishing.  With any luck I will finish it tonight…and then its paper time!  Class today went as expected;  I always learn something new.  Todays random piece of information is: Hitler was Time Magazines Man of the Year in 1936.  Now that has me thinking….who else in recent history has been Times Man of the Year who might end up comparible to Hitler in 50 years time (as judged by History)?  I guess I will have to do some research and come up with a list of possibilites.  No I am not suggesting that there were any genocidal lunitics in recent Man of the Year Covers, but Im sure there will be some questionable people…Was Bush Man of the Year ever?  Hum…..The other half of this new tidbit is that now Im questioning Time Magazines journalistic integrity…I mean come on…I know Hitler helped turn around the Germany economy after WWI (yes Erik I am talking economics…you should be proud!) and helped “save” his people from terrible times, which may have been the motivation behind the Man of the Year nomination, but even then there was build up of troops and his public addresses that should have been warnings about his guy.  Oh well, I guess propaganda really works sometimes!  Ok enough on Hitler…

Apparently reporters have been “flocking” to HPU in search of information.  Turns out Palin attended HPU for a semester.  So everyone wants to know about her.  The funny thing is that according to my professor, no one remembers her even attending the school.  Its not that faculty have left, but more apt that she was a “forgettable” student.  Not exactly sure thats a comforting notion to me…not that the idea of Palin is comfoting anyways!  What can I say, I may have feministic views, but im more of a socialist, and she scares me!

My day has improved from yesterdays “hangover”. I even got to dance in the rain today…of course I looked like a drowned rat by the time I got home, but if you can’t appreciate a little rain every once in a while, then what can you do?!?

Enjoy the video!

Later!

Evil Dallas part 2, ruptured spleens, and a little techno anyone? September 22, 2008

Now thats what I call tackling!

Al Harris

I will miss those dreads flying!!!! Sniff Sniff

 

 

NNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  As if the Dallas/Green Bay game wasn’t horrible enough to relive this morning (it was like having an early morning hang over from too many screwdrivers!), apparently my beloved Pack have lost Al Harris for the entire season after he ruptured his spleen….SH*!, D#%^, F&*K..(Hope that cussing made you happy mom).  We are so dead!!!!  So much for bump and run coverage…Woodson you better not get hurt!  Ok…now that my screaming and racing heart is slowing down, I will move onto updates for the day that will probably be much more intersting to most of you then the Packers recent loss…

As if the morning wasn’t bad enough, I woke up to read Just and Unjust Wars for class.  Now I really like this class, and this book, but if you are coming off a figurative hangover, trying to read philosophy can be a little mind numbing!  Im not actually sure how much I remember reading, althoug I read a chapter!  Guess I will have to re-read it.  And then class tonight was okay, except that I forgot I volunteered to “lead” a discussion on one of the readings, and so bombed in the interpretation of the article, although I really enjoyed and understood it.  I so hate public speaking!  I should be use to it by now, but fear I never will be! 

I think I have decided that I really want to work for the ICRC as a delegate.  It looks really interesting, and is kind of a combination of the Peace Corps work, APSI work, and negotiations.  Right up my alley!  Now I just need to brush up on my french!  Parlez-vous francais?  Mai oui…un peu!  Ok thats enough french for now.  (ok just a little  more…ou est le petite chattons, Terri? Hope you read this blog entry…Elisha tell her to read it!).  Of course Erik still thinks I should and will work for the state department…Ok dad I know…future secretary of state… yada, yada, yada(NOT!)  Not my ideal way to save the world, working for one country instead of for the good of the whole world( and yes I know an argument can be made that working for the US government is not a bad thing and its not an evil empire waiting to stomp on the world) Ok I may be going on a little too much of a tangent now…so back to class. 

There were a few bright sides to today after the horrid start and rough ending.  First, I actually got assigned to a group in which I actually know people and am friends with (Kyle and Erik). Our topic is the mexican war on drugs…which I know little about.  Second, I have been looking for a way to do study abroad with this program and may have found it!  It only makes sense to travel when learning about the world of diplomacy and learn others points of views! So how about Slovenia?!?!  Anyone want to come visit me in Slovenia?!?  I know Togo wasn’t a very realistic travel destination for most, and Hawaii is definately on the too fly list for everyone…but I am seriously thinking about doing a semester abroad at the University of Ljubljana (located in the capital of Slovenia).  I may need to brush up on my Slovik and apparently my techno and vodka drinking too.  As long is the vodka is not mixed with OJ I should be fine (hense the too many screwdrivers reference from before).  And last but not least, the third thing that was a plus for the day…I got a ride home from class and didnt have to make the trek from the bus stop…only those 80 stairs!  Yea!  Although Im grateful for the ride, the exercise is nice! 

I was going to post another video for everyone, but will do so tomorrow, tonight is a tribute to my fallen cornerback…sniff, sniff.

Later!

Evil Dallas and the horrid Game September 21, 2008

I hate Dallas!  I knew this game would be horrid, but damn!  Our offense couldn’t get anything going until like 5 minutes left in the game, and then of course, Dallas’s defense was playing back.  Our offensive line really needs to step up and start protecting our QB, otherwise we won’t have one!  Our defensive front four needs to learn to block the run without the help of the secondary…Come on Jolly!  Can anyone tell Im heated?!

And of course my oh so lovely Eric had to be the antaganist for the evening and root for Dallas just to piss me off!  (Eric my roomie that is)  It’s probably because I wass making fun of his Denver team for almost loosing it to Automatica Gramatica until Automatica decided not to be so automatic and missed the FG.  Oh well.  I’ll live.  Heck, its still early and we are on our way to the Playoffs (hopefully) and we will re-meet Dallas then and kick their butts!  Ok I need to psych myself up, because I have a ton of reading to do tonight, and if Im a grumpy sourpants Im not gonna get anything done!

The only bright side to the night is that I will win fantasy this week regardless of how Gates does tomorrow for Jessie! (unless he gets like 50pts…please don’t get 50 pts!)

PS  In case you couldn’t tell Green Bay lost 27-16.

Later!

Magic Island and lobster skin September 20, 2008

So far I have spent most of the day outside in the sun, bathing it up before I head back to Ohio.  I spent most of the afternoon hanging out with the ADMS crowd at Magic Island in Ala Moana Beach Park.  They had a cookout and hangout event, which ended up being a nice relaxing afternoon.  I spent most of the time talking to a few graduating students as well as some of the professors.  I finally met some non-military, slightly hippie liberal students in the program!  Unfortunately, most of them are either graduating this winter, or are in the last of their classes and writing their papers next semester.  Highly unlikely I will see any of them in my classes in the future.  Dang!!!  Spent most of the afternoon talking to a guy named Drew and Dr. Hart. 

I have effectively developed lobster skin!  I am red!! And I sat in the shade most of the day today too!  Oh well, its not painful burnt, but I do look like a lobster!   I’m off to read some more for class.  Hopefully I will have good news tomorrow about the Pack….but my nerves are all jumbled with anticipation.  At least the ‘Boys have lost the past 5 times they have played in Lambeau….hopefully the streak continues!

Later!

Frickin’ frogs, battlefield tactics, and a sleepless night September 19, 2008

Boogy Boarder

Surfer dude with Dreads?!

 

So for all of you that didn’t know…It was International Speak like a Pirate Day!  I learned this last night from my philosophy professor, who started it a little early!  We spent most of last night talking about the codes, and diplomacy of duels…thats right duels…as in sword fights…  Needless to say it was entertaining to learn the history of duels.  Tonights was a little less interesting as we examined the battle of Waterloo, and others.  The beginning of class was interesting…we talked about the actual reality of a soldier in battle.  However, my interest was lost when we started examining battlefield diagrams of how Napoleon lost, and where his troops were, etc.  I spent most of the bus ride then subsequently having Erik explain it to me.  I understood it, it just isn’t important to me.  I know I need to understand some aspects of this so that I at least can apply it if needed in the future…but its hard for me to keep that analytical mindset going with maps!  I miss my theory.  I miss my examination of the human element.  Oh well…ill survive.

My insomnia is in full force…Erik suggested I break open a bottle of wine, and just let it knock me out.  The only thing wrong with that theory is that 1) I dont have wine 2)I dont drink wine, its been a rough to try to acquire the taste for it and 3) I have a feeling I just wont sleep.  So Erik suggested I read Keegan (the book with all the battle diagrams) and then maybe I will go into a coma from boredom and get sleep that way! ( If I get desperate maybe I will try it). At least suggestions are forth coming!   Maybe I needed to have the sleep clinic done when Vickie had it done like Jessie suggested!

So I have officially decided that frogs are following me everywhere!  During the day, its all the dead frogs, and at night the especially like to greet me as Im walking up the stairs.  They obviously have no sense of danger because between the cars and feet, they are constently on the verge of dying!

Well for all of you that don’t know ( or that dont follow football)…my beloved Pakers are in for a dogfight of a game Sunday night…so hopefully I wont be throwing anything!

Im off to “try” and get some sleep…I have some beach party thing tomorrow to go to…should be intersting if not fun! Hopefully I will have some new pics.  Oh and for those of you that don’t know or havent figured it out yet…I got my nose pierced.

Later!