this is it

Hmmm, it was kind of settling in today that I am turning 25 this month. It's the first age that I have a distinct memory of noting when I was younger. I remember one particular dinner at my grandmother's when my uncle was about to turn a quarter of a century. He was reminded of this repeatedly in a variety of ways.

I remember thinking that by that age you had to grow up and know what you're doing. I've discovered exactly the opposite. I was much more focused and intense in high school. Now it's kind of wandering around going through the motions. I could live with Jodi for 10 years, or end up in Paris next month.

Grr, it's really exciting finding something you're really passionate about at a pretty young age, but it makes you wonder about times that are less so. Is it ok? Are you supposed to be looking for something? Are those rare times, to be treasured? Or the standard for how most things are supposed to be?

Are you talking to yourself?

Don't worry though, I'm not hearing voices yet. That's still a few years down the road.

back to school

When you spend all weekend back in high school, you see and hear some interesting things. Particularly when most of that time is spent with high school kids saying things at you.

My favorite Freudian slip? President Cheney. Oops.

But there were lots of good ones.

One puffer thought that the con's statistical evidence was seriously screwed. Repeatedly so, in fact.

An orator seemed to go out of his way to emphasize he was only opposed to illegal immigration, then left an awkward sentence hanging with immigrants notably lacking a preface of illegal. Also, among other things, we need to stop border smuggling of drugs before they get out of hand. Before? High schools are shopping malls. Then the next speaker mentioned how Ritalin could be considered kiddie cocaine so many kids abuse it. Considered? It's only a schedule II drug just like meth and cocaine and amphetamines.

An extemper was talking about how peace in the Middle East means the US needs to protect Israel better. After all, it's where the civilized nations, er, cities, are.

And one guy tried to convince me that Hugo Chavez is so dangerous that his influence is unstoppable in creating some kind of evil anti-capitalist socialism. He has so much influence he can make a PhD in economics do it [whatever exactly this horrible it is]. I mean, the US is such a great example of free trade in South America, from the DEA's coca eradication efforts to such open borders with Cuba.

And then there were the debate rounds. Ah, good times. Did you know that 277% of housing foreclosures are due to bankruptcy? Or that a war with North Korea is imminent unless we expand the army...7 years ago?

But perhaps those lovely posters teachers love to plaster all over the walls take the cake. I share two. On one, a very comfortable Garfield lies down, thinking in thoughtbubbleland that to make your dreams come true, you have to stay awake. Right. My dream after setting an alarm for 5:45am was precisely to not be awake. And 30 years from now, it won't matter what jeans you wore or what hairstyle you had...it's what you learned and how you used it. Uh huh, let's see, you didn't graduate from high school, but you say you learned a lot. Welcome aboard Johnson!

westcountyness

So I did the drive Interstate 64 as fast westward as possible today. It's so almost comfortable yet so not what I really want. It just feels a little dirty hightailing it out of the city as fast as possible after work.

But, it was for a good cause today. Districts have started! Debate tonight, IEs in the morning, then more debate, then some IEs, then back on Saturday.

Oh, and I made some good time, too. 19 minutes from my work parking lot to 141 and Clayton Rd. Take that you regular Ballwin/Chesterfield/Des Peres types.


Also, exciting basketball news. Liberty boys and girls are both headed to Warrensburg. I decided this was postworthy when I noticed that opposite them in the bracket is a certain McCluer North High School. I was already planning on being in Columbia next weekend anyway with my Clayton kiddies. How fabulous would that be?

Seriously, how fabulous?

pine orange banana returns

Haha, and not only is it back, but check out how I started my shopping today. Apples, grapefruit, juice, and nonfat Yoplait.

To balance it out, I quickly rushed over to grab some cookies n cream ice cream and a four meat frozen pizza, lest any of the lovely college students who get to be out during normal hours of the day start to question my manliness. Seriously, no wonder college is great. After a tremendously wintery weekend, they get to roam around in the gorgeous, sunny weather running errands and jogging through the park. Oh work, why can't you only meet 14 hours a week?

happy king day

I mean, Happy Presidents Day. The President can't commit war crimes or imprison people without charging them with a crime, right?

Whew, otherwise we might need to rename the holiday. And that will mess up all the marketing literature for the car and mattress sales.

jump for joy

Or jump for survival. Take your pick. Either way, it's freezing. I'm not sure I've totally thawed out yet. But I have had several cups of hot chocolate. Mmmm.

Well worth it to see Julie go crazy.

they might be giants take two

One of the roommie's found out that TMBG is outside in Soulard. The Florida one. Apparently, that's a dealbreaker.

Alas, so our group is one smaller now.

In other news, I heard the most bizarre song yesterday suggested as a great Valentine's Day song. Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for the overplayed get-stuck-in-your-head Top-40 stuff. And Lips of an Angel certainly has a great sound to it.

But with lyrics like my girl's in the next room, sometimes I wish she was you, and, girl you make it hard to be faithful with the lips of an angel, wow, that's, uh, kind of a guy's dream for Valentine's Day, ain't it? And it was the female DJ who made the comment!

they might be giants

So we're going Saturday to see They Might Be Giants. I think it's in Soulard. You're welcome to come join us. Andrew, if you and Anna are in town, you're welcome to stay here.

We're actually having a winter this year. I hardly remember what those are like. It is white out right now!

I ask my roommates this evening if they want to cook dinner with Julie and me tomorrow. They're both like, uh, we're not eating dinner with you tomorrow. What are we, a couple? Your third AND fourth wheels?

So, uh, it'll just be me and Julie.

emergency

I'm at the store and the fancy juices are on sale for the same price as the store brand. Good right? Except I scan fervently and futilely (futily?) for Dole's Pine Orange Banana. It's nowhere to be found!

I have to settle on the orange strawberry banana. Good, and a perfectly acceptable substitute from time to time. But come on guys, this absence of the best stuff better be rectified the next time I go shopping.

slackin' off again

Alas, no excuses. But welcome February, last month before I turn 25, and home of SuperBowl goodness. Even if it is another year without the Chiefs. *sniffle*

Also, congrats and good luck Kim! I'm a little behind the ball here, but that's gotta be fun to work in labor/delivery once your patients find out you're pregnant.

So I turn on the TV as I'm about to sit down for a fabulous dinner finishing off the wings from Sunday, because of course what's dinner without TV, and I run across Modern Marvels on the History Channel. Now, whoever can say no to a show designed to make us feel all sophisticated in our 21st century goodness at the expense of all our simpleton forebearers I would like to meet. So I dig in to the wings, which is pretty much committing to the current TV show for a few minutes. Well it turns out to be the one about sex tech.

But no worries. It was actually really good. Did you know for example that the most common form of birth control in the US is sterilization? The things you learn.