Whatever and Ever, Amen.

Confucius Say:

2006-04-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

True love surpasses all, even computer usage.

Awsmack (9:35:00 PM): ah, well, I'm rarely on blogger anymore. seriously, I am occupied all the time...and I love it!
Awsmack (9:35:06 PM): it was a nice filler for a while, but nothing compares to true love.

...Lord help us...

Wow.

2006-04-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

Well what the hell is the point of returning if no one has stuck around to acknowledge my ongoing existence???

This week is absoutely insane.
I have three tests and then directly after my last I am taking off, vehicularly, for Dallas where I will spend the Easter weekend with my family and boyfriend.
I am peeling horribly.
This new Listerine Pre-Brush Whitening Rinse makes my mouth shed lining.
I haven't worn my contacts in a good week.
I make a really sexy fat pimp.

And that about sums up my life to this point.

Chilifest

2006-04-01T21:18:00.000-08:00

After a rather long hiatus, I have returned.

This weekend, in Snook, Texas, was held Chilifest for the fifteenth year in a row. Chilifest, a country music festival and, as is implied by the title, chili cook-off, lasts for three days, Friday through Sunday. Groups of people, usually students as Snook is merely fifteen minutes from College Station, form teams that submit their made-from-scratch chili recipe for judging on Friday and results are announced on Sunday; Saturday sees, from 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM, a full day of country music performances, including this year such Texas artists as Pat Green, Randy Rogers, and, our favorite Ag, Robert Earl Keen.
Though Chilifest is presented as a Food and Music Festival, it is largely an excuse for Aggies to get together, camp out, and drink beer. Indeed, the grounds are marred by crumpled beer cans, empty kegs, destroyed boxes, and interesting campsites:

Most made their camps feel like home with old couches, makeshift cots,

makeshift coolers,

and flags to demonstrate their pride:

We arrived at around 10:00, just in time to see the Randy Rogers Band, true Texas Country, play, and it was incredible:

The first half of the day was incredibly entertaining. What could be boring about watching amazing concerts, as after Randy Rogers another Texas Country classic, Cross Canadian Ragweed, came on, drunk Aggies stumbling back to their camp cots to pass out at noon, and eating good ole Texas BBQ? However, after five hours of this, the drunk people began to become rather bothersome; one can only have beer sprayed on them and be stumbled over so many times before one begins to get annoyed, not to mention I, being incredibly dimwitted, forgot to put on sunscreen and was essentially fried in the sun:

(Seriously, the shadow over my chest is darkening very little - I really was, and still am, nearly that burned.)
Nevertheless, after being soaked in beer many times, burned to painful extremes, stumbled over and stepped upon constantly, and after slipping in the mud so that the entire lower-half of my body was covered in it, I was done. I was exhausted and irritable and ready to get home. Thus, at 7:00 we left, quite controversially, about an hour into the Robert Earl Keen, the Old Army Ag, concert before we could even hear "Fightin' Texas Aggie". Honestly though, I have no regrets; I was so drained.

Overall, Chilifest was absolutely insane. It is one of those things one must do is one goes to Texas A&M, but do not expect to be up to anything the day after. Don't get me wrong, I had a fantastic time, but today, let's just say that I am taking full advantage of the 8th Commandment and resting.

Sad News

2006-02-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

Nobody reads my blog anymore...

What Happens When You Take a Self-Defense Class

2006-02-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I swear these really hurt. The knuckles and wrist injuries came from punching the big canvas Everlast bags, and the foot injury, which actually bled and is still bruised, came from a poorly-judged side kick which planted my instep on the corner of the stereo speakers.

Woe is me...

Cliff's Trip to Texas A&M

2006-02-22T13:16:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know, Cliff came down to College Station this weekend, but his trip was not easily had. On Friday night, I recieved an email from American Airlines stating that his flight, set to depart Atlanta at 8:30 Saturday morning, had been cancelled due to ice storms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; thoroughly distraught, I then spent the following three hours on the phone with a Walter, a Ryan, a Tiara, and a LaShira, somewhat calmly attempting to reroute him to anywhere within the state remotely close to College Station. Finally, after a full night of worrying and negotiating, and an eight hour round-trip drive to Dallas on Saturday morning, he was home with me at A&M.
Unfortunately, the weekend weather did not prove very condusive to exploration. The temperature reached a high of 36 degrees (no exaggeration), and Cliff, having brought only a sweatshirt and flip flops (idiot), was not wont to venture outdoors. So, we spent the weekend as recluses. In fact, we were so antisocial that some actually questioned whether or not he had actually come. This is, of course, a ridiculous idea, but just to put the worries to rest, here is my proof:

Listening: Mae "Embers and Envelopes"

Blasphemy

2006-02-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

After five years of successfully holding to my morals, I have finally caved.

...

I got a myspace. I told myself time and time again that I would never fall to the pressures of contemporary culture, that I would stick with the higher class version called facebook, but alas, I am not as strong as I once was.
Actually, to tell the truth, due to a lack of school support, Cliff is unable to have a facebook, so my establishing of a myspace account is solely to save myself the trouble of having to relive every online conversation, photo, or encounter to him; now he can see for himself. So, if you, like myself, have fallen to the whims of the cyber Muse myspace, increase my virtual popularity by one and add me as a friend!
( http://www.myspace.com/mere2009 )

Listening: Waking Ashland "Silhouettes"
(PS: I was excited to learn recently that someone else has actually heard of Waking Ashland! And I thought I was the only one...)

Computer Changes

2006-01-31T15:21:00.000-08:00

My computer looks so different now for I was forced to download Mozilla Firefox.
Let me explain.

My roommate, apparently not feeling well, was in the midst of a nap yesterday afternoon while I was trying to finish my work on Lycidas. This work required me to look up various archaic words and their definitions in the OED online, not to mention quite a bit of concentration, so I plugged my headphones into my computer and listened to The Album Leaf to provide some white noise. The room was dark save for the minimal glow coming from my desk lamp, and the musing, abstract sounds of string, beat, and bagpipe mixed with the myriad conceits of Milton had put me in a strange, ethereal mood. All of the sudden, in my ears, I heard the loud moans of the sexual variety and, upon looking up at the computer screen, a pop-up. In this advertisement was an offer to find hot, young, local girls to be my sexual partner as well as some rather tasteless quick videos of these girls in very awkward, not to mention uncomfortable positions with baseball bats.
Needless to say, I immediately downloaded Mozilla Firefox.

So, I am having a rather difficult time accustoming myself to the changes.
Actually, I also downloaded AIM Triton, which, now that I think about it, is the real reason that I am having difficulty accustoming myself to said changes. Mozilla Firefox is really no different than Explorer; I really just wanted an excuse to tell my dirty pop-up story.

Listening: The Album Leaf "Thule"

Could It Be - Substance?

2006-01-27T12:43:00.000-08:00

No.

I realize that I have posted entirely too many pictures in the past few months; I apologize profusely.
I suppose you all (all one of you who still read my blog) can see for yourselves that I had a wonderful Christmas break, so no need to bore you with all the details. I have successfully completed two weeks back in school; again, no need to bore you with all the details.
Needless to say, I am finding myself in much more difficult classes this semester, namely English 394 with all juniors and seniors, and I am having to learn from very different professors. I have the Mexican professor with a speech impediment teaching me the "history of Texas," though the class would be more aptly named the "history of the Spanish and U.S. oppression of Mexicans in Texas," and then I have, teaching me the archaeological, historical, and literary evidence for a Trojan War, Scott Scheule, Sr., a man who likes to make obscure statements such as claiming that the movie Troy is to history like Brokeback Mountain is to the 700 Club.

The next few weeks are going to be absolutely packed. Beginning Tuesday I will have my first round of quizzes, and then the next week will see the start of my first round of tests. Mom is coming on Valentine's Day, leaving Thursday, and then Cliff flies in Saturday. Why I am relaying this message to all, I am not sure; I suppose it is to justify my future lack of posting anything of import.

Well, I'll go ahead and start early.
Back to my shower.

Listening: Matchbook Romance "Promise"

Take A Break After A Long Break

2006-01-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

Picture time...

2006-01-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

"Trumpy, let's play a game!"
"Like hell, where's my food?"

2006-01-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Shooting injuns is fun!

2006-01-18T11:13:00.001-08:00

I love how the pole is growing out of Andy's skull.

2006-01-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Dear God Almighty. What the hell are you doing?

2006-01-18T11:11:00.000-08:00

Oh, someone sucks. Seriously Nick, how depressing.
I remain the reigning champion of the Buzz Lightyear ride.

2006-01-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

Horrified in the Haunted Mansion. She refused to open her eyes...

2006-01-18T11:09:00.001-08:00

The Happiest Place on Earth!

2006-01-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

Nick, you're an ass. Poor little thing.

2006-01-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ethiopia's water supply.

2006-01-18T11:06:00.001-08:00

Wow - well at least it's short enough for you, Ange!
You kind of look Asian too, what with your eyes unnaturally squinty and all.

2006-01-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

The hell's this? Thank you Nana...

2006-01-18T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is my gift? Squid jerkey?
Alright Nick, next year, no Bod for you!

2006-01-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

Strangley befitting her personality.

2006-01-18T11:02:00.001-08:00

Mmmm...squid tenticles...Thank you Nicholas...

2006-01-18T11:02:00.000-08:00

Oh my.

2006-01-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

Look at all those gifts...such avarice, such disregard for those less fortunate.
Mankind, you make me want to vomit.

2006-01-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

Megan, Dad, and the most horrifically awful Santa impersonator I have ever seen.

2006-01-18T10:56:00.000-08:00

On our way to pick up Nick. Santa got sleepy...

2006-01-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

Before leaving for the airport to pick up Jesus. Oh, I mean Nick. This was taken prior to the lamb sacrifice; pardon the irreverence.

2006-01-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

My sweet little boy. He had tied Mom's legs up with his leash, but how can you be angry at that face?

2006-01-18T10:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas in the Mason household.

While Google-ing For "The Thing That Hangs From a Chicken's Neck" I Stumbled Across:

2005-12-12T14:11:00.000-08:00

I'll bet you didn't know...
[P.S. It's called a wattle.]

Dead Days

2005-12-08T01:45:00.000-08:00

So I have finished, save for my last four finals, my first semester at Texas A&M University. Classes ended Tuesday morning, and the next few days are designated "Dead Days" to be used for studying. So, what am I doing during these days, you ask? I expect you picture something like this:

But alas, it is not such.
Tonight, my second night of freedom, was spent doing everything but studying. It was 26 degrees outside tonight, sleeting and icy - the perfect night for ice cream. Lynsey, Callie, and I, after a rather nice two-mile run at the Rec and after practically having to amputate my tongue [see below]

journeyed to McDonald's for a round of sundaes. I was not fully aware just how technologically advanced McDonald's had become until I entered the "Room of Fun and Laughter." Gone are the days of slides smelling ominously of old french fries, finding old diapers in the ball pit, and playing Nazi-and-Jew in the tubes. Mickey-D's has gone high-tech with its playhouse:

That's right. Children can now play Gamecube and eat greasy condensed chicken at the same time! I successfully annihilated two ten-year-old boys at MarioKart, but then had my ass handed to me on a silver platter when I played Tak: The Great Juju Challenge. Those damned feathers are impossible to catch! Seriously.
All in all, the day was quite productive. What could be wrong with sleeping in late, going to the mall, getting Starbucks, running, and eating sundaes? Nothing, I say.
What will tomorrow hold, you ask? More of the same? [see below]

[I'm that blue-headed chick from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, you know?]
Unfortunately not. I have my hardest final on Friday morning (History of American Seapower), so tomorrow will hold a full day of studying. But, after Friday, my hardest finals will be over, I will have only a few days until I return home, and then only a few more until the whole family is together!
So, here's to the next few days flying by!

A Typical Roane Family Reunion

2005-11-27T22:52:00.000-08:00

The following is a picture post, because I am far too busy, well, mainly too lazy, to write a real post detailing my excursions during Thanksgiving Break.

2005-11-27T22:33:00.000-08:00

It's Anderoo!
[At the movie theatre about to see Harry Potter, which rocked.]

2005-11-27T22:32:00.000-08:00

And Cribber Doo!
[Same location.]

2005-11-27T22:31:00.000-08:00

Michael and Christopher created a treehouse out of lawnchairs and towels...they were trying really hard to avoid being assigned duties on Thanksgiving day.

2005-11-27T22:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, Christopher and his minions [Jay and Michael - Andrew was on the phone with his Carly] painters-taped him to the stilts.

2005-11-27T22:29:00.000-08:00

And then they seran-wrapped Michael to the lightpole. It took him twenty minutes to get down.

2005-11-27T22:28:00.000-08:00

Typical sleeping arrangements at a Roane Family Holiday.
[Jay stole my lovesac and I had to sleep on the floor - my neck hurt all day :( ]

2005-11-27T22:27:00.000-08:00

And a typical early-morning wake-up call...

2005-11-27T22:26:00.000-08:00

I am a thug - who gives out free cookies.
[Wearing Andrew's trucker hat]

2005-11-27T22:25:00.000-08:00

Family portrait on Thanksgiving. Dad was actually in a good mood for this picture - amazing, no?

2005-11-27T22:24:00.000-08:00

Post-meal storytime.

2005-11-27T22:23:00.000-08:00

Listening to Uncle Jim's "Fast-Actin'-Tinactin" story, that or the "Gopher Game Loogie" story.

2005-11-27T22:22:00.000-08:00

We are thugs.
[Driving around Allen at 9:00 listening to Black-Eyed Peas and Kanye West looking for somewhere to eat.]

2005-11-27T22:21:00.003-08:00

One of the many times we were up at the A&M-TU game.

2005-11-27T22:21:00.000-08:00

Daddy and me at the A&M-TU game.

2005-11-27T22:20:00.000-08:00

T is for Texas A&M.
P.S. - Our band rocks.

Late Nights

2005-11-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

What better to cure a week of boredom and stress than a weekend of - well, not boredom and not stress. Nothing - that's the answer. Well, that's just what I did.
Friday night, after spending the afternoon helping Hayley get ready for the Navy-Marine Ball, and after about two and a half hours eating dinner in Rumors with Lynsey, she and I went to Blockbuster. Never ever rent De-Lovely. It is advertised on the cover as "the romantic tale of the life of Cole Porter, the love of his work, his life, and most of all, his wife," which, between Lynsey and I, sounded like the perfect chick-flick for the night. Imagine our surprise when, fifteen minutes into the film, Cole Porter is "getting-it-on" with a dude! The movie was, in fact, a musical on the life of Cole Porter, one of the world's greatest Broadway composers writing such songs as "Anything Goes," made famous by Kate Capshaw in the classic Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and "Night and Day," one of Frank Sinatra's more famous works, but, unbeknownst to us, he was a man who struggled with homosexuality and essentially drove his wife to her death. Needless to say, that film put a damper on the night.
Saturday was filled with sleep, movies, and coffee, in that order. The day flew by, possibly due to the fact that I slept for half of it, but before I knew it, I was finished with my nightly run and back in Lynsey's room debating on what to do. We went to Freebirds, a College Station delicacy, and annihilated burritoes the size of my lower arm before, once again, being out of ideas. We then sat in her room for the next three hours creating, on Paint, such masterpieces as

and playing a bizarre form of Mexican Pictionary. But of course, no night is complete without its midnight trip to IHOP for desert (God bless college towns - everything is 24-hours). It is very sad when, having had nothing in the form of alcohol that night, you can blend in with the drunken crowd out at midnight. I swear our waitress was convinced we were either plastered or stoned, and I suppose that us ordering a banana split and chocolate fudge brownie mound did not allay her suspicions. Upon our return I made the somewhat catastrophic mistake of watching Silence of the Lambs on TNT and did not fall asleep until nearly 4AM, and now here I am, having been awake for about an hour.

I love the weekends.

Stuck In Reverse

2005-11-10T00:39:00.000-08:00

I feel so helpless, like I am being swept along in life with absolutely no say in the matter whatsoever.
I went to the Rec tonight and ran more than I ever have before, and I did not even realize it until I almost fell over from the inability to breathe.
The pain almost felt good.
This is not something that will end with the closing of a book, or the final mark on a scantron, this is permanent.
I had a strange feeling walking back from the Rec. I looked up at the stars and they were sparkling like I have never seen before. Perhaps it was my contacts reflecting the light from the lamp posts, or perhaps it was that I was incredibly dehydrated and hallucinating, but as I looked up at the clear sky, the stars were brighter and comforted me.
Returning to my dorm tonight I looked at the campus, watched the moon have its beams shredded into strips by the ancient oaks, the fragments casting eerie shapes; I watched the light battle the dark upon the arcs of the aged dome, and was flooded by an overwhelming sense of belonging. I could not ever leave this place, for it has become my home.
I cannot really describe my feelings, for they are too numerous to transcribe.
I have been listening to Coldplay's "Fix You" on repeat since about 7:30 this evening; it seems to fit my mood.

And no, none of this was meant to make any sense.

From The Mouths Of Babes

2005-11-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

This morning, while on the phone with each other, my little sister Caroline and younger cousin Kirsten, both 10, decided that they wanted to go to A&M. But, they said, if they were both unable to get into A&M, then they would go to UT.
God bless children, especially ignorant ones.

CAUTION: The Following Is Merely Irritation Unleashed

2005-11-01T15:46:00.000-08:00

Is it bad that I can think of nothing that I want for Christmas? I have been wrestling with the issue for many weeks now but I cannot, for the life of me, create a sufficient list. I am not trying to be a pretentious prick, and I'm not advocating any Tiny Tim philosophies on Christmas, but I can honestly think of nothing.
Ok, I want a car, but how logical is that?
I want some cds - whoopty crap, I want cds every year.
I want clothes - again, every year.
I want a trip to DC this summer - practicality?
[cue Flying Lizards] I want money - that's what I want.

This has been a bad week, all two days of it. I find myself starting not to care about school anymore. It seems to me that, no matter how hard I try, I seem to get the same scores, and someone always seems to do better than me, despite the fact that I studied harder than they did. For example, last week I had a test in Human Geography for which I studied a good long while, and I made an 83, while the two other people with whom I studied made a 98 and a 91. We all studied the same amount and the same material, but I made a much lower score. Then, today, I was handed back my quiz in American Seapower for which both Hayley and I studied like crazy. Walking out of the quiz I was sure that I had made a perfect score, but, when handed back today, Hayley had made a 100, and I made a 90. When compared we had identical main points, and I even elaborated more in my essay, but she got the better grade.
I am so frustrated. It seems that no matter how hard I try it does not change the outcome.
What is the point?

Pardon the rant, but today has not been the best of days.

Your Weekly Blather

2005-10-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

I awoke this morning neither pleasant nor refreshed; on the contrary, I am certain that, with a bit of make-up, I could have passed as Regan MacNeil. I rolled out of bed at 7:05, showered, dressed, and trudged to class in the cold. Class, I swear, lasted forever, and, not yet having had a drop of coffee, my head bobbed as I drifted in and out of sleep, waking only when my professor used such words as "invaginate," or "phagocytosis" (which she pronounces fag-o-site-osis).
Unable to go another class without coffee, I somehow managed to haul myself over to Poor Yorricks, the little coffee shop attached to the library, where I asked for "the biggest, strongest thing" they had. Fully caffeinated, a little happier, and slightly more presentable, I headed for my last class of the day.

Perhaps it is growing up in the South, or perhaps I am just a complete idiot, but I did not realize how many Germans there were in Texas. At one point during History of American Seapower while discussing WWI, my professor took a quick poll of the class. He asked, of the approximate 145 students, how many were of Italian origin, and about ten raised their hands; he continued with this, asking how many were of Polish, Czech, French, and Russian origins with no response, until he asked how many were of Scottish and/or Irish origin; my hand immediately shot up, expecting to be accompanied by dozens more, but only one other hand was in the air, and all eyes were fixed on the two of us. After all had had their fill, the professor asked how many were of German origin and every single other hand in the room went up. I was astonished. Growing up in Alabama everyone was Scotch-Irish, which makes sense as the "Backwoods" were settled by Scotch-Irish immigrants, but I guess I never considered that it would not be the same elsewhere. Needless to say, the class was a little confused at my exclamation at the extraordinarily high number of Germans.

After my epiphanic experience, I came to another sudden realization. Halloween is in a week, and I still had yet to finish my costume, so, Hayley and I decided to track down a bus and go to Target.
Now, I knew that Target was located near an Alberston's, I was just not sure how near, and apparently none of the bus drivers knew either. I was also unaware that College Station has two Albertson's; now, why we need two, especially two within a ten mile radius of each other, I do not know, but they are there. So Hayley and I exited the bus on a small back road under the impression that through two parking lots and a little field would be the Albertson's and thus the Target; how wrong we were. We crossed the two parking lots, hopped our way through the field, and wound up in the parking lot of the wrong Albertson's. Now, a wise person would have walked back to the bus stop and gone back to campus to find the correct bus; I am not a wise person. Convinced that it could not be too far (afterall we are in College Station), I told Hayley to keep walking.
Two major highways, six or eight jaywalks, about thirty weird looks, and two hours later we arrived at Target.
It appears that, after all of our trouble, Target is not, and never was, located anywhere near an Albertson's. It is is next to an HEB, and the closest Albertson's is about four miles away.
What can I say? I am a navigation god.
I am never giving anyone directions ever again; you would think that I would have learned my lesson the first time, but, alas, it is not so.

All in all it was an eventful day. I went from zombie to lone-Scot to directional nimrod (yeah, that's right; I said nimrod).
Perhaps to keep with my recently discovered loserness, I will go watch Rob Roy and drink some tea.

Cure For The Itch

2005-10-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

If you are bored, first and foremost read my blog for weekly entertainment, but if my inane ramblings and photoshop masterpieces don't do it for you, read Ben's blog, also full of inane ramblings, though slightly less comprehendible.
No one knows quite when it happened, but sometime in the last week our little Benjerman became funny.
I belted out quite a few laughs.
He writes now on the hellish experience that is living in Lockhart and the plight of the unemployed living with the parents, but soon he will be detailing his adventures in DC, as he is moving there in two weeks.
So read and enjoy, but don't forget your source.

Darwinism at Work

2005-10-19T01:13:00.000-07:00

Meet Scott "Long-Arms-McGhee" Scheule.
What you see is the truth; it is no photoshop masterpiece.
No one really knows the reason for Scott's extremely long arms; my first inclination, as a student of science, was to believe it to be the work of Marfan Syndrome. Afterall, he does have abnormally long fingers and small ears to accompany the grotesqueness of his arms, but he lacked other serious symptoms which soon eliminated Marfan Syndrome from the list. The only other thing I could think of was that Scott was a key example of Darwinism at work. It soon became my belief that, for some reason, nature was selecting the extreme phenotype present in Mr. Scheule over the average, coinciding with Darwin's theory of "survival of the fittest."
I know what you are all thinking: how does having long arms make one more "fit" for survival? The answer is simple. Longer arms makes everything easier.
Think about it.
Having longer arms means running faster, hence outrunning predators, as the force created when one's arms are swung results in forward propulsion, reaching things higher, which (laugh all you will, but when there is a bomb in a building and the deactivation switch is way up on a shelf, who will you turn to?) could prove very useful, and the ability to shop at Big & Tall, where just because you're big it doesn't mean the prices have to be.
With long arms, you can save yourself, save other people, and save money; what more proof do you need?
I used to look at Scott in pity, but I now realize that his condition is a blessing, one to be treated with respect and admiration. Sometimes I still want to laugh, but then I think about that bomb and I sober up pretty quickly.
So, cheers Mr. Scheule; my hat is off to you.

Win A Date With This Little Beauty

2005-10-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

It is true; I do have large eyes, I do have an odd fetish for grammar, and I can at times, if looking in bad light and from a bad angle, have a chin worthy of Reese Witherspoon, but it is nothing when compared to the likes of Nick's nose. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures on hand that do his nose justice; perhaps it is too large to fit on the camera screen.
Speaking of too large, here is a man who needs no introduction:

Fat Nick

Unlike my brother, I will not disguise my views in sarcasm. He is not bigboned, he does not have high blood pressure, and obesity does not run in the family, he is just a fatass. That is all there is to it.

There was a time when Nick did not run seventeen miles a day, in fact, there were times he could not run at all. There was a time when this little (or big) guy's idea of a workout was popping the top off a Shiner, walking back to his computer chair, and straining his fingers over a three hour Viking conquest of Northwestern China.
When looking at a photo like this, it is clearer the reason he remained single for nearly the entirety of his collegiate career, as are his reasons for leaving for Japan. American chicks weren't digging the rolls, so he moved to a country where, if you are white, you are gold.
So feast your eyes Blogosphere, but pace yourselves; it will fill you up quickly.

Hear Me Out

2005-10-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, I would like to thank April Forgot-Her-Last-Name for introducing Nick, and therefore me, to Frou Frou. I have been listening to them nonstop for the past week.
They are an odd combination of The Cranberries and Laurie Anderson, which, however bizarre, mesh beautifully. I have been listening to "Flicks" and "Hear Me Out" on repeat all day, both of which are wonderful.

In other news, Mom is flying over tonight to spend the weekend with me. I am very excited, for I have been, as most of you know, incredibly homesick of late. Tomorrow I am skipping class, as Lit, my only important class on MWF, was cancelled, and we will most likely spend the day eating Mexican food, BBQ, and shopping for unneeded A&M trinkets.
Tomorrow night Mom is checking out of her hotel and coming to stay in my room, for she waited too long to make her reservation, and the damn Okies came in and took all our hotel space. This, however, is not exciting, for our room is truly disgusting. It is going to take me hours to vacuum the floors; we have a Persian rug, as Ben so aptly put it, forming atop our carpet.

Speaking of, let it be known to all that Benjamin McBride sucks. A few days ago, I discovered that he is moving to Washington D.C. in three weeks, and abandoning all of us, or me, here in Middle-of-Nowhere, TX. I was going to wait and let him break the news to the blogger community, but he was taking too long.
All I can say is good luck to you sir, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Now back to Frou Frou and vacuuming.

My Kind Of Day

2005-10-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

It is a glorious 62° outside, drizzling and breezy - my kind of weather.
I love these days.
I am currently awaiting the arrival of my unemployed friend, whereupon he, Hayley, and I will depart for Dallas. Until that time, I will continue doing what I have been doing all day: sitting in a sweatshirt, drinking tea, and listening to Peter Gabriel, Ellis Paul, and David Gray, the ultimate rainy day music.

5:30 Came Rather Early Today

2005-10-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

And it would appear I have no lower-body strength, either.
I must say that it is a good thing we do not eat with our feet, because I'm not sure I could even lift my leg to my mouth on a regular basis, let alone after this morning's workout.
Now I am hungry, but I still cannot use my arms efficiently, and now I cannot use my legs, and Monday's Viking feast was a little too messy for my taste, so I'm not yet sure how I will eat.
Regardless, I am off to shower and finish off Libeaus Desconus.

I Am A Noodle

2005-10-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

Last week, after having supreme difficulty buttoning my jeans, I decided that it was high time someone stuck the infamous Freshman Fifteen in the ass. With a little peer pressure from Hayley and Callie, (they called me chunk, covered me in bacon fat, and set the dogs on me) I decided to begin a new six-day-a-week workout routine starting this morning.
The alarm went off at 5:30 AM; I rolled out of bed, grabbed a thermos of coffee, put on some tennis shoes, and we left. Still dark as night, we walked out of our dorm to see and hear the Corps running out for their morning PT; we dawdled for about ten minutes, thoroughly entranced by the sight, but finally made it to the Rec at about 6:00.
Today's workout consisted of upper-body lifts; one does twelve reps of one weight, then ten of the next highest weight, and so on and so forth. Lifting weights in the A&M gym was the most bizarre feeling. Finding a skinny white girl in the Rec at A&M is like finding a promiscuous male at a Battle Star Gallactica Convention. I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life, aside from the time I tried to wax.
We finished around 7:00 and began the long trek back to the dorm. I must say I didn't realize how much of a workout I had received until I picked up the coffee pot and almost dropped it. My arms are killing me.
Luckily, I do not have class until 12:45, so I am now going to go shower, listen to some Snow Patrol, and then eat some Poptarts off the desk Viking style.

Answer Me This:

2005-09-30T16:33:00.000-07:00

If one has hazel eyes, how would one describe that color?

2005-09-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

This was Mary Katherine's lab report for her 1st grade class that I recieved this afternoon. She's going to be quite the scientist one day.

I Got My Camera Cable!

2005-09-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

So you can all stop emailing, calling, and writing me letters begging for me to post pictures.
They're here.
Quit your whining.
Seriously, you guys - come on - stop.

2005-09-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

My hurricane provisions. Milk, milk, and more milk. Almost two thirds of that was gone after watching Leon: The Professional, however, so I had to go buy more. Sad, no?

2005-09-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

As promised, again, my beautiful ATM tanline. If you are a complete idiot and cannot see it already, look at my right cheek (the left side of the picture). It's pretty obvious, and it's still here two weeks later. It won't go away.

2005-09-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

The new addition to my desk, my fish, Boots.

2005-09-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

Me in front of the house of my birth, sort of.
I don't know - I lived there until I was two, does that count?
Anyways.
Me - Lockhart - End.

2005-09-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Callie and I before our first night out on the town. This was taken the night we went to the Tap and saw the Spazmatics, the 80s coverband, play.

2005-09-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

As promised, although it was a long time ago, the new color. Now, weeks later, it looks much the same as it ever did, but this was taken a few days after having it done, so it was really dark. Needless to say, looking at my expression, I was unsure what to think of it.

2005-09-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

It's Pinhead Santa! Callie and I found this little treasure in the market in Galveston Labor Day weekend. Isn't he a beauty?

Here I Am - Rock You Like a Hurricane

2005-09-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Or not.
Mighty Rita - the horror of the Gulf, the bane of the coast, the Texas Terror - well, she came - and went - leaving not a drop of rain in her path.
Classes were cancelled on Friday, we had hall meetings detailing the course of events for flooding and power outages, they even had me a tad bit afraid, and what did we get? Wind. That's all. 40mph winds and nothing else.
I am quite disappointed.
And I have a test today, a really hard test. I have had a test/quiz everyday for the past week and a half, and they don't appear to be subsiding anytime soon.
I might go insane, seriously. I am sick of studying until 1:30-2:00 every night.
I need sleep.
I need rest.
I need one complete week with no tests. Just one, that's all I ask.

Song for the Day: [aptly] "Just Breathe" Telepopmusik

Happier

2005-09-21T16:54:00.000-07:00

Classes are cancelled on Friday and quite possibly on Monday, as well.
And I found out that I got a 93 on my test yesterday morning.
This day is going quite well.

Theme song for the moment: Poison "Ride the Wind," a great song for good days.

Happy Frappy

2005-09-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what a shower, a pot of tea, and Guster's "Barrel of a Gun" (and "Happy Frappy," for that matter) will do to lighten one's mood.
I feel rejuvenated.
How wonderful.
Tea is absolutely glorious.

Random Query For The Day

2005-09-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

What is it that can make a day suddenly change from good to bad? Why is it that one can be perfectly content, even happy, one minute, and then throroughly disheartened the next for no apparent reason?
This phantom barbiturate has hit me today, and hard. I can't put my finger on a precise cause, but I just know that this morning I was feeling fine, but now I feel very distressed.
Put it this way, I've been listening to the Backstreet Boys and Michael Bublé all day long.
Maybe I need a nap, which is entirely plausible seeing as how I was up studying until 2:45 and woke up for my test at 6:30.
Well, whatever it is, I really hope it goes away, and soon.

Just a little side note: never, when you are the slightest bit depressed about anything, listen to Michael Bublé's "Home." It's like listening to Pink Floyd at a funeral.

Post-Shower Realizations

2005-09-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

I got out of the shower about ten minutes ago to discover that, not only do I have a nice one-sided farmer's tan complete with arm, leg, shoe, and sunglasses lines, but I also have a nice little ATM tanline on my cheek from those face tattoos.
How fantastic.

We Are The Aggies - The Aggies Are We

2005-09-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

True to each other as Aggies can be
We've got to fight boys, we've got to fight
We've got to fight for Maroon and White...

And fight we did.
66 - 8!
We Beat The Hell Outta SMU!!
What a game; it was absolutely incredible. One cannot describe the feeling when looking out onto a sea of maroon, singing, arm in arm, the Aggie War Hymn, while echoes of the cannon signaling yet another Fighting Aggie touchdown resonate through the stadium.
As I said, it was amazing.
Now to shower off my face paint and sweat.

After they've boosted all the rest
Then they will come and join the best
For we are the Aggies, the Aggies are we
We are from Texas A.M.C.!

2005-09-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

Again, our band marching off field.
I believe that is me in the lower right-hand corner text messaging either Dad or Ben to update them on the phenominal first half of the game.

2005-09-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

Our outstanding Fighting Texas Aggie Corps Band performing during half time.

2005-09-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

(From left to right) Callie, Me, Lynsey, Brittany and Carrie (both Lynsey's friends), and Hayley.
This was taken last night standing, and sweating, in line before Midnight Yell. If we look miserable, it's because we were; words cannot describe how incredibly hot it was. It was 90 degrees outside in the open, at eleven o'clock at night no less, but we were cramped in close quarters for about an hour before they even let us in the stadium.

2005-09-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

At First Yell with Callie and Hayley watching Bill Engvall; he was absolutely hilarious, very vulgar, but hilarious nonetheless.
He went on for probably twenty minutes about his obsession with breasts, which was hysterical.
About an hour into his routine he seemed to have neared his end; he thanked A&M for inviting him and complimented the students before walking off stage. A few seconds later, at the outcry from the crowd, he emerged, grinning, and said,
"You didn't think I forgot, did you?"
The next half an hour was spent enjoying his signature "Here's your sign" jokes.
It was so much fun.

C'est Finit!

2005-09-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

It is finished!
The finishing touches on this masterpiece courtesy of Mr. Benjamin McBride with the help of the ingenious photographing abilities of none other than yours truly.
Comments/complaints?

New Look

2005-09-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

I can't let my loser brother one-up me on blog formats.
Actually I have been trying to figure out how to do this for a long time.
So? What do you think?

Clarification

2005-09-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

After many an inquiry, I feel it necessary to clarify pieces of my previous post.
First, 42 is not a drinking game; it is like Spades but with dominos, and I was playing with Nicholas Martin, Benjamin Hubbard, and Wayne [insert middle name here].
Second, I truly am a great tennis player, and nothing you say will make it not so.
Swallow your pride and admit it; you were beaten by a girl.

Now back to listening to Oasis.

Very Concise Weekend Summary

2005-09-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend was spent in Lockhart, the place of my birth. While the majority of my time was spent catching up with long lost family friends, I did have the opportunity to come to many a realization.
1) I am a damn good tennis player, and woe be unto any who disagree. I successfully beat one, who will remain anonymous to protect his pride, and won a free Sonic milkshake due to said awesomeness.
2) Sonic milkshakes are the best milkshakes that can be had for under $2.
3) Never watch a football game in a house full of Longhorns being an Aggie. Texas fans are severe pains in the ass; cocky little buggers they are. Dad continuously text messaging me comments such as "Jesus was a Longhorn, Judas was an Aggie," and "A&M will find someone to beat; I'm sure they could walk all over the College Station Girl Scouts," didn't help much, either.
4) The Brothers Grimm is a twisted movie. I am still deciding whether or not I enjoyed it; on the one hand, what is there not to enjoy in splattering mud that melts facial features and bleeding pieces of glass, yet on the other, watching a shriveled 300 year-old Monica Belucci feel up on Matt Damon with three foot long finger nails is not too appealing. I don't know. However twisted, I believe it warrants a second viewing.
5) Drinking beer and beating "pros" at 42 is most enjoyable, especially when one has never played before.
6) GameCubes that don't work are most inconvenient, especially when one is in the mood for a thick, creamy chocolate milkshake.

I am extremely tired right now; I successfully had a cumulative eleven hours of sleep in the three nights spent in Lockhart, and I, consequently, was forced to consume approximately six pots of coffee, but to no avail. I am now getting to the point where I have to drink four cups of coffee just to level my personality at what it would be had I had a full night's sleep; if I actually want extra energy, I have to drink twice that.
And that was my weekend. Exciting, no? Indeed, it was.

And now back to listening to Vertical Horizon and surfing the net for nothing in particular.

Christopher Mitchell

2005-09-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?

Glowing Jellyfish and Other Such Wildness

2005-09-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

This Labor Day weekend was spent with Callie and her family at their Galveston beach house. We arrived late Friday night after convincing ourselves many times over that we were lost. The majority of the night and the following day was spent indoors (it was gray and rainy outside) talking with her family, watching TCU miraculously defeat OU, and awaiting the start of the A&M v. Clemson game.
At the start of the second half of the Clemson game, already sure we were going to lose, Callie and I went to cool off on the back porch. The sky had cleared and, no cities nearby to obstruct, the stars were shining brightly; indeed, one could see both the Milky Way and Mars quite clearly with the naked eye. Soon her dad directed our attention to the beach, which, in the dark, seemed to reflect the moonlight creating a beautiful glow to the waves. Intrigued, I decided to investigate. As I approached the beach, the water began to look more and more bright, and soon the sand had also taken on a glowing quality. When I stepped on the wet sand, the ground underneath and around my feet lit up a brilliant shade of green, like something out of a strange sci-fi film; the waves, too, I noticed, shone brilliantly when they crashed, and when the water splashed on the sand it left marks likened to a fluorescent paint splatter.
It was amazing. Using my vast array of biological knowledge, or from the year I spent in Marine Biology, I concluded that the culperate had to be a bioluminescent algae of some kind.
Fully clothed, Callie and I waded out into the open water to get a better look; as the water splashed on my jeans it left a glowing residue, and when I scooped water into my hands I could see the algae gleaming like aquatic fireflies. The algae only glowed when churned in the water or when on an organic body, so not only did our legs glow in the water, but there were hundreds of luminous jellyfish washed up on the shore casting an eerie semblance to the beach. The rest of the night was spent talking in the water and throwing glowing jellyfish at each other. It was incredible.

A&M lost - to Clemson - by one point. The bastards. Everyone but Callie be glad that they were not at the house when Dean made that kick, because I think many an opinion about me would have changed at my reaction. I was not a happy camper.

Callie and I have pets! This afternoon we brought home Boots and Chaser, two beautiful Betas, from WalMart. Boots, my fish, lives quite contently in a tank on my desk, while Chaser lives on Callie's desk, less luxuriously.

All in all, this weekend was quite fun; Callie and I had a great time together, and her family is incredible.
I hate to cut this little tale short, but now I must go now and read The Dream of the Rood for class tomorrow!

Labor Day - With No Monday Off!

2005-09-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

Callie and I are leaving for Galveston tomorrow!
If I return with Hepatitis C, you will know the cause.
I think we will have a blast if we can only get over the unsightliness of the beach.
To quote a friend, "[i]magine the brown water is really blue and the dead seaweed is something less dead, and then swimming will be fun."

The beach will be the perfect escape I need, not that I need an escape, but it will be more fun than sitting in my dorm room drinking tea and watching Comedy Central's Roast of Pamela Anderson for the fourth time. I can only stand listening to tales of Tommy Lee's elephantoid member and, consequently, his children's ability to simply walk out of Pamela's uterus for so long before I get grossed out.
Otherwise, I am rather enjoying myself. My classes are fairly interesting, save a few, and my professors, for the most part, are quite intriguing.
My US History professor is amazing. He makes everything so easy to learn; I can just sit back and listen, and get more out of his lectures than out of all the notes I ever took for any class. He loves what he does and consequently makes others love it too.
My English professor is absolutely incredible. He looks, acts, and sounds exactly like John Lovitz; he is hysterical. I greatly admire his ability to quickly and easily make clear his point but still remain incredibly scatterbrained and crazily (technical word) funny. He, too, adores his job and has caused any doubt that I had about becoming an English major seem preposterous.
My Human Geography professor at first seemed spiritless, for lack of better word, but the more I am in his class, the more I like him. He does not take himself too seriously and he actually has a sense of humor, a very dry sense of humor, but it's there nonetheless.
My Zoology professor is a bore. I can forsee many a morning sleeping in her class. She just seems dull, but then again, she is a scientist. It's not that she is not a nice lady, she is just boring as hell. There is no other way to describe her; her voice is boring, her stories are boring, she's just boring. Oh, and my lab sucks too.
My Naval History professor is pretty fun. He taught at the USNA for something like twenty-seven years before retiring, only to go back to work at Texas A&M. He reminds me a lot of Poppy. He is an ex-Navy officer and is now, no longer kept in shape by morning PTs, rather rotund. He is a very sweet man, though. And he hates Europe, which is fun. The limp-wristed milksops, as he calls Europe, is his favorite topic for nonsensical rants; he will go on and on for minutes upon minutes about their crack-pot policies and questionable styles. He cracks me up.

So all in all everything is going well. I mean, I still don't have a date for First Yell, not that I am actively looking, and there is still no prospect of a ride to Austin for the ACL festival, but otherwise everything is going well.
Now I must be off for to watch the comic stylings of some french fries, a milkshake, and a lump of meat.

I Wish...

2005-08-30T23:11:00.000-07:00

Keane is playing the Austin City Limits Festival in Austin, obviously, on September 23rd!
The tickets are cheap and everything, but I have no car and no one with whom to go.
This is thoroughly depressing; what I would give to go.

To My Best Friend

2005-08-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Annabelle!
We've been through boyfriends and break-ups,

2005-08-30T15:24:00.003-07:00

beaches and horrible sunburns,

2005-08-30T15:24:00.002-07:00

weird silver men and moves,

2005-08-30T15:24:00.001-07:00

Bourbon Street and college trips,

2005-08-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

wanderings and ramblings,

2005-08-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

but we have persevered through it all together.
I hope you have the happiest birthday imaginable,
and thank you for a lifetime of friendship.

I'm Dying

2005-08-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

My left eye's pupil is completely dialated and my right eye's pupil is not at all.
It is really scary; the Student Health Services office is closed on Sundays, and so I have resorted to calling my Uncle Gary in hopes that he will have some answers for me.
I can't see very well out of my left eye and it itches like crazy.
I hope I'm not dying!

Why me?

2005-08-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

I was hit on...by a bisexual!
Eww!
He told me he would like to get to know me, which right then turned me off, but then he proceeded to tell me that he liked it both ways.
Why do I attract the freaks?
Why?
Why?

Enter Rudder 343:

2005-08-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our humble abode. This is the first thing one sees when approaching our dorm; our door sign, which we painted last night. Callie is the crafty one, because everyone knows that I am not.

2005-08-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Callie's side of the room. Isn't it cute?
We have a bathroom too, but Callie took these pictures, because my camera cable is at home, and she didn't take any of the bathroom.

2005-08-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

Callie's desk and our awesome fan.
Everyone admire her computer; it glows in the dark and is transparent. Pretty sweet, huh?