Day 79

So this was a pretty good day.  Thankfully it was far more calm than yesterday... That was way too much.  This morning after I got up the garage door repair guy called to come fix the garage door.  He got there around ten.  And he fixed it.  Yay!  I guess he signified that he was done by knocking on the door into the house... I didn't realize that.  I must have gone downstairs three times to check the front door and no one was there.  Finally I opened the door into the garage and he was just standing there.  Oh well.  He got it fixed.


I had an omelette for breakfast.  It was pretty good.  I really like eggs.


After breakfast I Facebook chatted with Brandon for a little bit and caught up with his life.  That's always an adventure.  Love ya Brandon :)


After I took a shower got a form printed out to send to MVNU so that they will send a final transcript to Ball State.  Apparently I never did that.  Ball State never asked for one... but I feel like they should want one?  They're getting a transcript whether they want it or not.  I missed the mailman, so I had to go to the post office.  Then I went to grandparents to move some chairs to the garage and bring a box inside.  After that poppy and I played canasta.  It was an interesting game.  For one hand he would have all the wild cards, then I would get them all, then he would... it just went back and forth.  In the end he beat me by a couple hundred points (which isn't that much, for those who haven't played).  Being the bright person that I am I forgot to take my shirts with me for mama to tailor, so I made plans for a second trip later.


When I got home I finished getting dinner ready that mom had started.  And by that I mean I stirred the chili.  While dad and I ate he told me about all the excitement that was to come at practice... talking with a junior about how she hasn't been showing "varsity level" effort, then working with another player who has a bit of an attitude problem.  He was pretty excited about that.  That was a lie.


After dinner I played a little bit of a "game" called Stanley Parable.  It was more of an artistic game than anything else.  It had about 6 different ending depending on which paths you chose.  There was a narrator who told you where to go, but you didn't have to follow.  For instance "when Stanley approached the room with two doors, he went through the left one."  If you go through the left, the story continues without hitch.  Going through the right one earns you a "Now Stanley knew that was not the right direction, but he was so bad with directions he went that way anyway.  Not wanting to upset anyone he took the first possible left and headed back the correct way."  If you choose not to go on the proper path, the narrator gets even more heated and angered.  It was very interesting.  A game that truly gives the illusion of choice.  Most games give you no options, simply do the one thing that you are told to do.  But there were options in Stanley Parable.  Even though all the options were scripted, you felt like you had the freedom to choose.  Interestingly enough, the only way to "win" and gain your freedom out of the facility was to follow the directions, so as to make you not even feel like you truly earned your freedom.  A very interesting concept.


After dad went to practice I went to go watch a soccer game for him.  Findlay was scrimmaging St. Mary's and Liberty Benton plays St. Mary's in a couple weeks.  So I watched to see how St. Mary's is.  And they were very good.  Findlay generally has a very good team and St. Mary's was putting up a very good fight, which is saying quite a bit since Findlay is division 1 and St. Mary's is division 2.  So... good luck Liberty Benton.


At half time it looked like there was a storm coming so I left and went to visit the grandparents again.  Mama measured some stuff so she could make my shirts fit better, then we sat around and talked for a bit.  We discussed college educations and how most of the lessons are not ones that are explicitly remembered.  Most lessons change your way of thinking.  Which is kind of frightening if you think about it.  We learn so much of how we think in school that over a few generations, life can be drastically different.  Let's say the a generations' teachers taught them a certain philosophy.  If that generation rejected it, they would pick something new to teach their children.  If the children liked it, they would grow up living out the philosophy.  Those children become the janitors, CEOs, and presidents of the country, which dictates how the rest of us live.  And I think we're seeing that now in our country.  Teachers/professors are unhappy with how things are, so they instill new doctrines into their students to change the future.  And it is reasons like these that I left education... all of that power and responsibility, yet it is one of the most under appreciated and government crucified areas.  No thanks.


When I got home I talked with dad and mom for a while about their days and told them about mine.  Then I did some dishes while they made lunch.  And I finished the day with my standard Team Fortress with Miles!

Day 78

I'm trying something new today.  I'm going to update this prior to going out for the night.  Just in case I'm too tired to do it when I return.


This has actually been a really interesting day.  It started off with a visit from Jehovah's Witness about 5 minutes after I had woken up.  So I talked with them for a little while about science and God and such.  They seemed appreciative of my open mindedness.  Basically I told them that I believe science and God work together.  Things like "how long did God take to create the universe" aren't deal breakers for me.  Things like "does Jesus love me" are deal breakers.  As long as Jesus still loves me, then everything is good.


So after they left I ran an errand for dad.  He left his phone here at home, so I took it to him at work.  When I got back I had breakfast.  An absolutely amazing breakfast.  A pop-tart with crunchy peanut butter and a big glass of milk.  You are welcome to be sad that your breakfast wasn't as good as mine.  I know it wasn't because mine was breathtakingly good.  But you can try it tomorrow if you'd like.


After my amazing breakfast I played Team Fortress for a little bit.  And then it happened: I heard a crash downstairs.  Freaked out, I went down to the TV room to see that a shelf had fallen and broken a vase.  Still freaked out, I went back to my room, grabbed my asp and searched the house for an intruder.  I carried my asp with me for a while.  But I cleaned the glass up, vacuumed, and all that business.  Glass went everywhere.  I still have no idea what caused it.


I eventually got the courage to shower after I was certain that there was no one else in the house besides me.  Then I got some lunch.  I think I did.  Yeah, I had peanut butter and jelly.  After lunch I played some more Team Fortress for a little bit.  I did really well, I actually broke some of my previous records (woo).  Then I hooked up mom and dad's new TV.


Mom got home and I told her about my exciting day.  Then she started making dinner and dad got home.  Shortly after he arrived I heard a loud bang.  Quite sick of these noises, we let it go.  Until dad went out in the garage.  Apparently the wire on the garage door snapped...yay.  So dad and I wrestled that up so he could leave for soccer practice.


We had fish and rice for dinner.  It was yummy.  After dinner I finished setting the TV up, then folded clothes with mom.  Then dad came home and we all talked for a bit.  And now I'm off to go see a movie!

Day 77

Today was a bit of a blur.  I didn't sleep well last night and woke up really early, still pretty exhausted.  I got some breakfast, played Words with Friends for a bit, brushed my teeth.  then I went back to sleep for a couple hours.


When I woke up the second time I felt better, but still pretty out of it.  I haven't sleep well the past few nights...hopefully tonight goes better.  Anyways, after I woke up I played Just Cause for a while.  Then I saw that Jared was playing Team Fortress, so I joined him.  Shortly thereafter James played with us.


I didn't have lunch today.  I couldn't find anything to eat and I was too lazy to go out and get food.  But for dinner I had the other two hamburger patties that were in the freezer.  And mashed potatoes.  It was pretty good.


After dinner I did some laundry.  Well, more accurately I folded some laundry.  I had been working on laundry all afternoon.  About that time mom and dad got home from Muncie.  They were both pretty tired.  I talked with them for a while, helped them clean the van out, put seats back in the van, and all that goodness.


It finally hit me today that I'm going to be moving into school in a week.  That was a scary realization.  I had 4 years of undergrad schooling where I didn't have to think about how close the real world is.  But now in about one year I'm going to have to do adult things.  Heck, I guess I'm going to be starting adult life in a couple weeks to some extent.  It feels weird that I'm going to be teaching a college level class.  I don't feel qualified.  But I guess if the head of the department says I'm qualified that's all that really matters.  It's just so different from being at Mount Vernon: I was only taught by professors with their doctorates (on occasion a masters, but almost always a doctorate).  Ha, and a masters seemed so lofty...until I realized that i was going to be getting a masters degree.  Now it just seems like another thing: nothing too special, just a thing that I'm going to do.  But on with life we go.  And as I've become fond of saying: "something will happen."  My life isn't big enough to stop the universe when I have to make a decision.  The world will keep turning, the sun will keep shining, the waters will keep flowing.  Something will always happen.


Anyhow, mom and dad went to bed a bit early.  Dad had a long day with his triathlon and everything.  Then I played some more Team Fortress.  And I'm really tired so I'm going to bed now

Day 76

Someday I should actually try blogging at night again... hopefully tonight.


Yesterday went well.  I got up, had some cereal, talked with mom a little bit before she went to the soccer game.  Liberty Benton had their alumni soccer games so mom and dad went to that.  I just kind of hung around here.  Mom and dad's new bed was supposed to come at some point, so I waited for it in case the delivery people came while mom and dad were gone.  They didn't.  But that's ok.


For lunch I had some of the left overs from dinner the other day.  It was tasty.  Mom and dad got home around the time that I was eating.  They went to Muncie yesterday because dad is in the Indianapolis Triathlon.  So they left for that after the bed came.


After mom and dad left I played Team Fortress with Jared for a while.  It was fun.  I enjoy playing with him.  Then I played Just Cause for a while.  When it was dinner time, I wasn't sure what to eat... Mainly I didn't feel like putting any effort into making food.  So I found some frozen hamburgers in the freezer.  I put a couple patties in a skillet with oil and covered them with Italian seasoning.  When they were done I put them between bread, cheese, lettuce, and pickle relish.  It was so good... Oh my word.  Dinner with an extra serving of heart attack?  Check.  But it was great.


After dinner I went to Kohl's to get some pants.  Then I went over to Becky's to hang out with friends!  That was fun.  Marci is in town for a couple days so she came and hung out with us.  I hadn't seen/talked with her since December, so that was good.  Later on in the night James even came over.  And good times were had by all!

Day 75

So.  Yesterday was fun.  I had a haircut in the morning, so now I don't look like a monster.  I like going to the barber, but I never really know what to say.  Usually we end up having lots of silence, which is fine with me.  They have a TV playing sports, but I've never been super interested in that... so he tries to make conversation off of what's going on in the game or highlights but since I don't follow sports I can't really contribute.  Which doesn't specifically bother me... he can talk about whatever he wants.  But when he asks me a question I have no way of responding.  Oh well.  When I was about finished this guy came in who was... very strong in his opinions.  And by that I mean spouting out racist comments.  So my barber just kinda looked at each other awkwardly.  So I said to my barber "I bet you get all sorts of opinions in here."  He said that he did.  Clearly he was not a fan of all those opinions.  Oh well.  So I paid him and left.  He always seems very appreciative when I tip him.  So did my barber in Mount Vernon.  Last time I went to Swanson's (my Findlay barber) he said that a lot of the older men tend not to tip.  And since that's a lot of their business, I guess they don't get tips very often.  Oh well, glad I can help a little bit.


When I got home I made lunch.  I had tuna salad.  I don't remember what all I put in it, but it was good.  I think there was some mayonnaise, pickle relish, garlic salt, minced onions... maybe something else.  I was going to put celery seed in it but it didn't smell as good as I wanted it to. But it was really good.


Um... after lunch I just kinda lazed around.  Watched youtube videos.  Pretended to clean my room (I didn't really).  Then I started making dinner!  I made a chicken and pasta dish.  It was really good.  I cooked pasta, then added some summer squash and zucchini I had cut up.  I cut the chicken into thin slices and put in in the skillet with oil and lemon pepper seasoning.  Then for a sauce I combined chicken bouillon, milk, corn starch, salt, and lemon pepper seasoning.  It turned out really well.  I didn't have about half the ingredients the recipe called for... so I improvised!  I felt like such a real chef :)


After dinner dad went to soccer practice.  He has a coach for the JV team now! Yay!  Mom got home a little after dad left.  After she ate I showed her how to change some stuff on her phone that had been confusing.  I added some ringtones for her.


Dad got home shortly thereafter.  Around 8:30 I went to Becky's to make puppy chow!  It was fun.  The silly recipe wanted us to make it in the microwave, but obviously the stove is the proper way to melt chocolate.  While we were putting all the ingredients away I was thinking about how good the chocolate and peanut butter tastes in puppy chow.  It was at that moment that I spotted a box of chocolate-y cereal in Becky's pantry.  So I experimented: a spoon full of peanut butter dipped into the cereal.  Oh my word, so much goodness.  It was all that I wanted and more.  Anyways, we just sat around and talked and played rock band for a while.  It was fun.  And then it was night time!

Day 74

Today was a very busy day. It was really good, just busy.

I got up around 8:20 this morning to go over to the grandfolks. They wanted my help taking stuff out of the garage that was labeled for the office. So poppy and I got the maybe 10 boxes and took them inside for mama to sort. She was a trooper. There was a lot of stuff with sentimental value that she had to decide if she wanted or not. But she got through it all.  I also helped poppy move a table in the art/sewing room.

At the point I will apologize for spelling errors and formatting discrepencies. Our internet isn't working and I had to update from my phone.

Anyhow, after grandparents I came home and had lunch. I think I had.. Something. I have no idea. Anyways, after my apparently very good lunch I cut up the doors and walls of the closet-thing we has downstairs. That was an adventure.  Anyhow, that was messy but I got i lt done.

Then I made ravioli for dinner. Then dad went to soccer and I bagged all the pieces of wood I cut up earlier. I really hope the garbage man takes them. I also watched the neighbors teach their son to ride a bike. It was cute :)

Um... Then dad got home, we talked, mom came home, amd we just around and talked for a bit. When they went to bed I played TF2 until now. And now it's bed time!

Day 73

I woke up this morning at 10.  I felt quite rested.  Useless, but rested.  Sleeping in has always kind of bothered me.  I feel like I'm wasting day.  I know that I'm up for 16 or so hours regardless of when they are, but the whole daylight thing plays into my head.  Once it's dark outside, it's harder for me to be motivated to do anything.  It's easy to work when it's light outside.


Anyhow, after breakfast I replaced one of the screens in mom and dad's bedroom.  After I stopped being stupid it went well.  I forgot which sides I had lined up before I put the edging stuff in.  Silly me.  So after many distractions from a game I've been playing on my phone I was done and had another screen done.


I'm quite ready for this sinus congestion to go away.  I feel a lot better, but it's still there.  It's in my head and it makes me disoriented.  Concentration and focusing are very difficult.  I lose track of time easily and get lost in repetitive mundane tasks.  It's very frustrating and I hope I'm over it soon.  It just feels like there is...not a fog, just a small mist.  Like a vapor that you can't see, but you can feel.  You know it's there and it puts you on edge, keeps you from thinking clearly.


I had lunch.  Leftover chicken and pasta from the other night.  After lunch I took a shower and put some laundry away.  Then mom came home and I talked with her while she made dinner.  She made baked potatoes and pulled pork. It was really good.  After dad went to soccer, mom and I tried to think of things I need before school.  Cooking things, spices, clothes.  I think I'm going to go get some pants Friday or Saturday morning.  Yup.  I also learned that there is a Grooveshark app for Android which works nicely, so I don't need to worry about actually putting music on my phone.  Yay!


I went over to Becky's this evening.  Tomorrow is the last day she's babysitting so she's doing something special for the kids.  She wanted to make a pirate themed scavenger hunt for them.  So when I got over we covered balloons with papier-mâché to make a piñata for the kids.  We'll see how that goes.  After we were done Miles came over and we went to Wal-mart so Becky could get stuff to make butter beer, which is like root beer but with ice cream and butter.  And Miles got dinner.  So we got back, Miles made dinner, Becky made butter beer, and I played words with friends to stay out of the way.  When they were done we tried to make a mast outside for a ship.  That went well.  We hung a sheet in a tree and put the inflatable wading pool underneath.  Miles kicked a branch at me... I wasn't expecting it.  But I survived because of my ninja reflexes.  Then... Becky made a map, Miles and I filled up water balloons... we burned the edges of the map to make it authentic... and then I was tired.  So I came home!  And here I am.  Going to bed.  Night!