Much Ado About Everything
I.)Stalking a Ninja (aka Amy Schultz)
I just want to get this out there for those of you who don't already know: I was Senior Class President in high school. It's really nothing to be proud of, and I introduce it like this because I didn't want to glibly drop it midway through this paragraph. I think that would be more arrogant. Putting it up front, I want to make it clear that, in retrospect, it's something I highly regret, for myriad reasons. Mostly because of the complete and utter asshole my Senior Class "adviser"/AP Statistics teacher was to me. I seriously thought about ending my graduation speech like this: "So class of 2005, go out there, work hard, have good character, and, oh, Ms. [so-and-so]...you can get AIDS and die. Thank you all, God bless, goodbye." Its relevance is that I've once again been dragged into working on some event against my will because of it. This time by a ninja.
About two weeks ago I get a call from my old high school classmate, fellow Live Journal/facebook friend, accomplished ninja, and partner-in-crime, Amy Schultz. She coerces me into jumping on board the planning committee of the American Red Cross's "Blood Tour Reunion" for Virginia Beach Public High Schools. Basically, on July 27th there is going to be a blood drive at Cinema Cafe on Independence Blvd (for all you Va Beach'ers). Our job is to basically be publicity bitches for these people at the ARC. And, being class president, charged with the duty of organizing class reunions for the next 50 years, I get lassoed into this. It is a good cause, no doubt. And working with Amy is always fun. (Remember Kellam people: who was it that orchestrated our class prank but the combined tandem of "Most Likely to Succeed" and "Class Clown"--an unexpected, but lethal superlative duo.) But this is horse shit and stupid for me to do because I'm already too busy as is (yea, yea, yea, like every person our age). But, no really, I'm too busy.
Also, after our planning meeting on Monday, Amy and I went to "Max 'n Erma's" for dinner. As we were waiting for our food after ordering, a hired magician roaming the tables stopped by ours and performed some card tricks. He was amazing, and I was thoroughly impressed. More estaurants should do this. A unique memory.
II.) Nickel and Dimed
Currently I am bringing in the only income for a family of seven--no trusts, saved money, or pensions from my parents, no help from family members, no loans, nada. Don't tell me about student loans and being broke (example A: UChicago tuition-$45,000 v. UVA tuition-$15,000). Hope the parents will get jobs soon, but until then, my 50 hrs/week is gone in a puff of smoke. Not to slam those who are in a different situation, with different purchasing priorities, I'm sorry. I’m just trying to delineate my situation with commensurate, honest emotion. My family and I are very blessed, but not in the financial realm. Indeed, I am going to use some of my money this summer: for road trips and other, random expenses. God is good indeed, and this tough time will be a necessary learning experience for me to truly appreciate the luxurious lifestyle I have in Hyde Park.
III.) WorkWorkWorkWorkWorkSucksWorkWorkWorkWorkWorkSucksWorkWorkWorkWorkWorkSucksWorkWork
Speaking of work: It affects me in several ways. First and foremost, it bores the hell out of me. It also makes me appreciate things more--such as the gift of education I'm getting at UChicago. In case you don't know, I have a prototypical "Office Space" cubicle job at a mental health care HMO (Value Options Inc.) It's good pay, and in much better conditions than, say, flipping burgers, but it's also mind-numbing, and don't forget that. Aside from my Kellam girls, Sarah and Jean, I have made one other friend: my black, gay, Republican friend, LaVell. I'm not making this up, by the way. He's The shit, says the most racist/hilarious things, and looks like he fell out of a Banana Republic catalog onto a cover of Vibe.
IV.) On the Road Jack
After almost 5 straight weeks of work, guess what? I'm taking this Friday and next Monday and Tuesday off. After work tomorrow (Thursday), I'm diving straight to Farmville, VA to stay with my dear, dear friend Amanda Anderson until Sunday morning. This girl is amazing and our friendship has truly been unexpected. We've known each other a total of two years, but only get to see each other about every 6 months. We don't go to the same college (she goes to Emory) and we went to high school 3 hours from each other. But, nonetheless, thanks to constant communication via phone, writing, and the internet, she's one of my two best friends. How did we meet, you ask? Math camp. Well, technically it was the Virginia Governor's School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology--a month long program I attended the summer before my senior year. But I call it Math Camp for the theatrical flair. We take turns visiting each other, the last being her stay at my house for a week over winter break. Her summer has been quite impressive compared to my mundane one: a week in Florida, 3 weeks in Uganda, a week road trip to see family in the Northeast. See her should be wonderful, I’m very excited.
Sunday morning I leave from Amanda's house to Blacksburg, VA to visit my brother Ed at Virginia Tech. He's there for the month at...the Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture. (Hey, it runs in the family.) That evening I'll drive to Johnson City, TN to stay with my great UChicago friend John
Ross until Tuesday. I'm very much looking forward to this, and it's a long-overdue break from monotony. Also, completely out of the blue, I may be seeing a long-lost high school friend, Jessica Smith. I haven't seen her but once since graduation and, until today, we had not spoke in about 9 months. Good times, quality people.
V.) Hanging on for dear life
Speaking of Amanda Anderson, she has an extremely unique skill: handwriting analysis. She must be on of the youngest certified handwriting analysts in the country. She could easily work for any police department or germane government agency. Basically, if you write her a page of cursive in pen, she can
tell you things about yourself that would make you think she is psychic. Anyway...
One of the traits evident in my handwriting, she tells me, is a tendency to not let go of friends, especially non-platonic, but seemingly platonic girl friends. This is terribly true. Currently in my life there are two Va Beach girls I’m great friends with, have always been platonic friends with, and will most likely never have a relationship with. The sad thing is I can’t “let go” of them-I can’t stop calling them or drooling over them when we hang out. I can't stop thinking that maybe, some how, some where, there is a possibility of a relationship that defies all these odds. They don’t go to UChicago, and we don’t have the type of long-distance, consistent communication I have with Amanda or Jim or my family, but I still somehow think I can inspire a Renaissance of feelings. So why the rushed tendency to have a summer romance that will not last and most likely hurt them and me? I don’t know. Just let it go, just let it go.
VI.) Running, running, running
T-minus 3 months until the Chicago Marathon. Guys...I'm trying, I'm trying, but it's going to be hard. I've lost 15 lbs. since last summer, 10 since January 1st, and 5 in the last 4 weeks. I'm definitely going to run in two half-marathons in September (the Rock 'n Roll half-marathon in Va Beach and the Chicago half-marathon). Doesn't that fulfill my goal of running a marathon? HAHA, nah, that’s not quite it. But I'm getting there, but I have a long way to get to 26.2 miles. Wish me good luck. And I need to stay away from El Tapatio.
VII.) Anti Road Rage
In late May I was involved in a very serious car accident near Midway airport on the south-west side of Chicago. Both the driver--my good friend Leah--and me walked away completely fine. I didn’t even have bruises. But if you looked at the totaled vehicle, you would have thought we were both killed, it was really that messed up. Since then I’ve had some variation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder when riding in cars. It’s quite likely now that I’m the safest, slowest driver on the planet. Ever time I step into a car, it’s like I’m going to war. Yea, it’s good in some ways, but it’s also terribly stressful. It’s made he hate driving, when I used to love it. Living in the city, relying on the CTA, has made me take driving for granted. Until I got into this accident, I really looked forward moving back to a suburban setting, but I hate the daily commute to work and am quite worried about my road trips this summer. I mean, this is the guy who took a month-long, coast-to-coast road trip last summer. I've driven in LA freeway traffic.
VIII.)Jim's return from communism
My other best friend, Jim Adler, is returning from Prague, Czech Republic next Wednesday. He has been studying abroad there for the last 6 weeks. I haven’t seen him in over 4 months (since my horrible Spring Break [see old post]). Great times, I love this man, truly miss him. We’re going to the O.A.R. concert on August 2nd. Anybody want to join us? Reading Catch-22 together is also on our To-Do lists.
IX.) IV-affinity
Emily Capo, Amy Dix, Josh Sauerman, John Ross, Fischer Lees, Bridget O'Kane, Lila Umhau and a few others became great friends during our first year at UChicago through the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. Surprisingly, we're all doing a great job of seeing each other over the summer. Seeing John Ross this weekend is just one example. During the first week of August, my brother Ed and me, after visiting our cousin Ashton in DC, are going to NYC for several days. There I'll meet up with Darian Gier, see John Connor and Emily (they both live there). Simultaneously, Amy and some of her South Carolina friends may be arriving. Furthermore, Fischer and his family are vacationing in the Big Apple during the same time. And dragging John Ross up there is not out of the question either. Should be a blast of a week. And I've never been to NYC. But I think the shock will be less now that I've lived a year in Chicago. Nonetheless, New York is in a class of its own.
X.) The sad story of an old friend
Last Friday I went directly from work to see an old friend. As of a year ago, he was the other male leader at my church’s youth group with me, the student government president of the most prominent Christian high school in the area, and an all-around great guy. He also dated the pastor’s daughter at my church, who is one of my best friends and a great human being. We were roommates together on a missions trip to Mexico last summer. When I came home in December I noticed some changes in him. I hung out with him over winter break, seeing him slowly deteriorating: He had dropped out of college, was now working full-time, possibly taking classes at the local community college, and feuding with his parents while living at home. His younger brother, who he is very close with, was butting heads with the Christian high school, about to be expelled. At this point (6 months ago), I knew he was already heavily into marijuana, along with drinking and smoking cigarettes. From others, I heard he was picking up shrums, but wasn't too worried. Wow, how things have changed.
After his brother dropped out with only four months of high school left (and after their parents paid for 12 years of private school tuition), the brothers got this shitty apartment together, which mind you, is in THE WORST area of Norfolk. Could easily pass for the projects of Chicago (take my word for it). Now they slave as workers at a local restaurant and spend all their money on drugs. I see him and can barely recognize his face. He has lost 40 lbs. since January!!! Partly because of drugs, partly because of being poor. I look around the apartment and notice pipes and pills everywhere. I take him out to eat and we get to talking. He tells me he has picked up a cocaine habit (which doesn't surprises me), and has tried heroine, methamphetamine, and CRACK!!!!!!! Let me repeat that: JUNE 2004, graduates from prominent Christian high school as school president, going to a good college. JUNE 2005: IS USING CRACK!!! I could not fucking believe what I was seeing and hearing. He's in trouble with the law, has had his license taken away, and is starting to deal. HE'S DEALING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. I don't know what else to say.
NOTE: I went through an entire post (albeit with great difficulty) without talking about books, politics, or academics. BOO YAH! This one goes out to LaVell!
**Fist pump**
I just want to get this out there for those of you who don't already know: I was Senior Class President in high school. It's really nothing to be proud of, and I introduce it like this because I didn't want to glibly drop it midway through this paragraph. I think that would be more arrogant. Putting it up front, I want to make it clear that, in retrospect, it's something I highly regret, for myriad reasons. Mostly because of the complete and utter asshole my Senior Class "adviser"/AP Statistics teacher was to me. I seriously thought about ending my graduation speech like this: "So class of 2005, go out there, work hard, have good character, and, oh, Ms. [so-and-so]...you can get AIDS and die. Thank you all, God bless, goodbye." Its relevance is that I've once again been dragged into working on some event against my will because of it. This time by a ninja.
About two weeks ago I get a call from my old high school classmate, fellow Live Journal/facebook friend, accomplished ninja, and partner-in-crime, Amy Schultz. She coerces me into jumping on board the planning committee of the American Red Cross's "Blood Tour Reunion" for Virginia Beach Public High Schools. Basically, on July 27th there is going to be a blood drive at Cinema Cafe on Independence Blvd (for all you Va Beach'ers). Our job is to basically be publicity bitches for these people at the ARC. And, being class president, charged with the duty of organizing class reunions for the next 50 years, I get lassoed into this. It is a good cause, no doubt. And working with Amy is always fun. (Remember Kellam people: who was it that orchestrated our class prank but the combined tandem of "Most Likely to Succeed" and "Class Clown"--an unexpected, but lethal superlative duo.) But this is horse shit and stupid for me to do because I'm already too busy as is (yea, yea, yea, like every person our age). But, no really, I'm too busy.
Also, after our planning meeting on Monday, Amy and I went to "Max 'n Erma's" for dinner. As we were waiting for our food after ordering, a hired magician roaming the tables stopped by ours and performed some card tricks. He was amazing, and I was thoroughly impressed. More estaurants should do this. A unique memory.
II.) Nickel and Dimed
Currently I am bringing in the only income for a family of seven--no trusts, saved money, or pensions from my parents, no help from family members, no loans, nada. Don't tell me about student loans and being broke (example A: UChicago tuition-$45,000 v. UVA tuition-$15,000). Hope the parents will get jobs soon, but until then, my 50 hrs/week is gone in a puff of smoke. Not to slam those who are in a different situation, with different purchasing priorities, I'm sorry. I’m just trying to delineate my situation with commensurate, honest emotion. My family and I are very blessed, but not in the financial realm. Indeed, I am going to use some of my money this summer: for road trips and other, random expenses. God is good indeed, and this tough time will be a necessary learning experience for me to truly appreciate the luxurious lifestyle I have in Hyde Park.
III.) WorkWorkWorkWorkWorkSucksWorkWorkWorkWorkWorkSucksWorkWorkWorkWorkWorkSucksWorkWork
Speaking of work: It affects me in several ways. First and foremost, it bores the hell out of me. It also makes me appreciate things more--such as the gift of education I'm getting at UChicago. In case you don't know, I have a prototypical "Office Space" cubicle job at a mental health care HMO (Value Options Inc.) It's good pay, and in much better conditions than, say, flipping burgers, but it's also mind-numbing, and don't forget that. Aside from my Kellam girls, Sarah and Jean, I have made one other friend: my black, gay, Republican friend, LaVell. I'm not making this up, by the way. He's The shit, says the most racist/hilarious things, and looks like he fell out of a Banana Republic catalog onto a cover of Vibe.
IV.) On the Road Jack
After almost 5 straight weeks of work, guess what? I'm taking this Friday and next Monday and Tuesday off. After work tomorrow (Thursday), I'm diving straight to Farmville, VA to stay with my dear, dear friend Amanda Anderson until Sunday morning. This girl is amazing and our friendship has truly been unexpected. We've known each other a total of two years, but only get to see each other about every 6 months. We don't go to the same college (she goes to Emory) and we went to high school 3 hours from each other. But, nonetheless, thanks to constant communication via phone, writing, and the internet, she's one of my two best friends. How did we meet, you ask? Math camp. Well, technically it was the Virginia Governor's School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology--a month long program I attended the summer before my senior year. But I call it Math Camp for the theatrical flair. We take turns visiting each other, the last being her stay at my house for a week over winter break. Her summer has been quite impressive compared to my mundane one: a week in Florida, 3 weeks in Uganda, a week road trip to see family in the Northeast. See her should be wonderful, I’m very excited.
Sunday morning I leave from Amanda's house to Blacksburg, VA to visit my brother Ed at Virginia Tech. He's there for the month at...the Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture. (Hey, it runs in the family.) That evening I'll drive to Johnson City, TN to stay with my great UChicago friend John
Ross until Tuesday. I'm very much looking forward to this, and it's a long-overdue break from monotony. Also, completely out of the blue, I may be seeing a long-lost high school friend, Jessica Smith. I haven't seen her but once since graduation and, until today, we had not spoke in about 9 months. Good times, quality people.
V.) Hanging on for dear life
Speaking of Amanda Anderson, she has an extremely unique skill: handwriting analysis. She must be on of the youngest certified handwriting analysts in the country. She could easily work for any police department or germane government agency. Basically, if you write her a page of cursive in pen, she can
tell you things about yourself that would make you think she is psychic. Anyway...
One of the traits evident in my handwriting, she tells me, is a tendency to not let go of friends, especially non-platonic, but seemingly platonic girl friends. This is terribly true. Currently in my life there are two Va Beach girls I’m great friends with, have always been platonic friends with, and will most likely never have a relationship with. The sad thing is I can’t “let go” of them-I can’t stop calling them or drooling over them when we hang out. I can't stop thinking that maybe, some how, some where, there is a possibility of a relationship that defies all these odds. They don’t go to UChicago, and we don’t have the type of long-distance, consistent communication I have with Amanda or Jim or my family, but I still somehow think I can inspire a Renaissance of feelings. So why the rushed tendency to have a summer romance that will not last and most likely hurt them and me? I don’t know. Just let it go, just let it go.
VI.) Running, running, running
T-minus 3 months until the Chicago Marathon. Guys...I'm trying, I'm trying, but it's going to be hard. I've lost 15 lbs. since last summer, 10 since January 1st, and 5 in the last 4 weeks. I'm definitely going to run in two half-marathons in September (the Rock 'n Roll half-marathon in Va Beach and the Chicago half-marathon). Doesn't that fulfill my goal of running a marathon? HAHA, nah, that’s not quite it. But I'm getting there, but I have a long way to get to 26.2 miles. Wish me good luck. And I need to stay away from El Tapatio.
VII.) Anti Road Rage
In late May I was involved in a very serious car accident near Midway airport on the south-west side of Chicago. Both the driver--my good friend Leah--and me walked away completely fine. I didn’t even have bruises. But if you looked at the totaled vehicle, you would have thought we were both killed, it was really that messed up. Since then I’ve had some variation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder when riding in cars. It’s quite likely now that I’m the safest, slowest driver on the planet. Ever time I step into a car, it’s like I’m going to war. Yea, it’s good in some ways, but it’s also terribly stressful. It’s made he hate driving, when I used to love it. Living in the city, relying on the CTA, has made me take driving for granted. Until I got into this accident, I really looked forward moving back to a suburban setting, but I hate the daily commute to work and am quite worried about my road trips this summer. I mean, this is the guy who took a month-long, coast-to-coast road trip last summer. I've driven in LA freeway traffic.
VIII.)Jim's return from communism
My other best friend, Jim Adler, is returning from Prague, Czech Republic next Wednesday. He has been studying abroad there for the last 6 weeks. I haven’t seen him in over 4 months (since my horrible Spring Break [see old post]). Great times, I love this man, truly miss him. We’re going to the O.A.R. concert on August 2nd. Anybody want to join us? Reading Catch-22 together is also on our To-Do lists.
IX.) IV-affinity
Emily Capo, Amy Dix, Josh Sauerman, John Ross, Fischer Lees, Bridget O'Kane, Lila Umhau and a few others became great friends during our first year at UChicago through the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. Surprisingly, we're all doing a great job of seeing each other over the summer. Seeing John Ross this weekend is just one example. During the first week of August, my brother Ed and me, after visiting our cousin Ashton in DC, are going to NYC for several days. There I'll meet up with Darian Gier, see John Connor and Emily (they both live there). Simultaneously, Amy and some of her South Carolina friends may be arriving. Furthermore, Fischer and his family are vacationing in the Big Apple during the same time. And dragging John Ross up there is not out of the question either. Should be a blast of a week. And I've never been to NYC. But I think the shock will be less now that I've lived a year in Chicago. Nonetheless, New York is in a class of its own.
X.) The sad story of an old friend
Last Friday I went directly from work to see an old friend. As of a year ago, he was the other male leader at my church’s youth group with me, the student government president of the most prominent Christian high school in the area, and an all-around great guy. He also dated the pastor’s daughter at my church, who is one of my best friends and a great human being. We were roommates together on a missions trip to Mexico last summer. When I came home in December I noticed some changes in him. I hung out with him over winter break, seeing him slowly deteriorating: He had dropped out of college, was now working full-time, possibly taking classes at the local community college, and feuding with his parents while living at home. His younger brother, who he is very close with, was butting heads with the Christian high school, about to be expelled. At this point (6 months ago), I knew he was already heavily into marijuana, along with drinking and smoking cigarettes. From others, I heard he was picking up shrums, but wasn't too worried. Wow, how things have changed.
After his brother dropped out with only four months of high school left (and after their parents paid for 12 years of private school tuition), the brothers got this shitty apartment together, which mind you, is in THE WORST area of Norfolk. Could easily pass for the projects of Chicago (take my word for it). Now they slave as workers at a local restaurant and spend all their money on drugs. I see him and can barely recognize his face. He has lost 40 lbs. since January!!! Partly because of drugs, partly because of being poor. I look around the apartment and notice pipes and pills everywhere. I take him out to eat and we get to talking. He tells me he has picked up a cocaine habit (which doesn't surprises me), and has tried heroine, methamphetamine, and CRACK!!!!!!! Let me repeat that: JUNE 2004, graduates from prominent Christian high school as school president, going to a good college. JUNE 2005: IS USING CRACK!!! I could not fucking believe what I was seeing and hearing. He's in trouble with the law, has had his license taken away, and is starting to deal. HE'S DEALING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. I don't know what else to say.
NOTE: I went through an entire post (albeit with great difficulty) without talking about books, politics, or academics. BOO YAH! This one goes out to LaVell!
**Fist pump**