Random Thoughts and synaptic misfires of a former Grad Student

2005-09-19T00:29:00.000-04:00

So I may have an ethical dilemma on my hands. I went to Meijer tonight and at the checkout I wanted to use my dept card as a credit card so I didn’t get those nice user fees (you all know what I’m talking about) well the casher push dept and said “oh sorry…just hit in the wrong pin, it wont go through and we’ll do it as credit.” I’m thinking, interesting, but it should work. So I hit in 4 numbers that are not my pin, and it goes through. The casher said, “Why did you put your pin in?” I told him I didn’t. He said, well it looks like you’re all set. I asked him if he was sure, he said there isn’t much I can do about it now.

So on my way out I talked to a manager to tell them what happened and asked them what I should do about it. She said once the transaction went through on their computers there wasn’t a lot she could do about it, and said thanks for being honest.

So I got home and checked my account online, it hasn’t posted, yet. I’m going to wait a few days and see if it does post at some point…but if not, what do I do? Meijer said there wasn’t anything they could do about it.

But if it does go through I think I’m going to have to talk with my bank to see what the heck is up, anyone can use my card with any pin? Doesn’t matter what’s going to happen with this one I’m going to have to talk with Meijer or my bank. Fun fun.

2005-09-14T17:48:00.000-04:00

I forgot how hard it is to start a new job (or maybe I just suck at this one.) When things were first getting started for me at the House it took a few weeks, if not months, to get into everything. In that I mean I was eased into what I would be doing, found out what I was best at and where I would work best for the office. So there was time to get to know the systems, people, and things of that nature. In this new job there has been no time to get a feel for things at all, I’ve really been thrown into the deep end of the pool, but for now my head is above water.

I'm not feeling overwhelmed, yet, but I have a feeling it's going to come and soon. I'm also starting to feel that I may not be as good at this job as I though I would be. The really hard part about it is I don't want to mess this up. There are too many people that I respect, from when I was a student here, to people that I’ve just gotten to know over the past month, that I don’t want to disappointment (for lack of a better term.)

It's funny; when I was in the House I didn't really care if I messed up. I just went about my job and was good at it. Now I feel like I fumble through the day. I hope it gets better, I think it will, but right now there is just a ton of work that needs to get done, a lot of stuff from before I got here. But what are you going to do? I'm just going to have to go through this one day at a time and making the best outcome I can. Maybe after a month (or two) I'll feel that I'm as good at this job as I was at my last one...(this is just new job jitters, right?)

2005-08-27T19:44:00.000-04:00

Well I'm back in Mt. Pleasant and have too many people pulling me in too many directions. I'm not complaining, I mean it's great but I'm going to be here for a long time (I hope) so I'll have more than enough time to do things with people.

Monday is the big day, first full day with CMU in Public Relations and Marketing, I guess I'll start the day with some meetings and getting to know everyone. I'm sure we all know how the first day at a new job goes. You don't get anything done and you can't remember anyone's name that you've met. But it's all good.

Other then getting ready for work I've been trying to pull my place together, right now it's a box inspired décor, but should all pull together very nicely! I'll find a camera and get a few pics of my room and apt up in the next week or so, as well as my new office. (I really have one now, no cube!!)

Photo: For none CMU folks this is Warriner Hall the administrative building, located on north campus.

2005-08-16T10:53:00.000-04:00

New look to the blog -
As I'm sure you noticed when I started adding photos to my blog the posts were getting all messed up so I decided that I should just find a new template to use. I like the look of it however I lost my links and the HTML part of the template is a lot different than my old one so it may be a few days (or weeks) until I put together how to get the links back.

Yesterday I went around to all of my member offices and let them know that I'll be leaving at the end of next week. Rep. John Proos (web site www.gophouse.com/proos.htm.) said "well that's really coo, but you're going to have A LOT of work writing for President Rao and me..." I though that was cool.

The odd part of leaving the House in the summer is that we don't have a lot going on, so I have almost nothing to do. I've begun to hand over my long-term projects to others and am just doing a once over of my stuff to see what should be handed off and things of that nature. But most of my day is spend getting ready for CMU reading up on stuff on their news and info site and things like that. I still get little projects at my current job but it's more along the lines on things that only take a hour or two....

This photo is of my current and soon to be former stomping ground, the House chamber. In the front of the chamber on the right just under the voting board is where I would sit during session. The chamber is one thing that I'm really going to miss. It's darn cool to be on the floor and sitting with the reps as they vote. The second photo is just of the Capitol...

2005-08-15T09:26:00.000-04:00

New Job -
At the end of last week I accepted a new position at CMU in the Marketing and Public Relations office as President Rao's writer. It's very similar to what I do at the House of Reps, only I'll be writing for one person. I'll still be pulled in about a 1000 different ways but by one office rather than 7.

My first day back at Central is two weeks from today, last day at the House, about a week and a half. This should be a good opportunity and it will be good to be working at a University once again.

2005-08-08T22:18:00.000-04:00

Synaptic misfire may be right on tonight. About a week ago I got a concussion the first night was a little rough but after about 24 hours I felt great, back to normal. Well I was told that I could still feel the affects for as much as two or three weeks after. Well tonight I'm feeling them a little. But it's all good. :)

So lets talk Costa Rica: This is a beaches just at the base of the mountain that my parents will be building their house on. It's just north of a surf town, but those few miles make a huge difference. This beach is almost always disserted, it's great. The body surfing is great too (I'm going to try real surfing at Christmas.)

Not really sure what else to say about this one so I'm just going to leave it at that. My heart isn't really into writing tonight....lol

2005-08-07T16:22:00.000-04:00

Costa Rican View - I'll explain in the text...

After two and a half months of no posts I though it was time to start again. I think the main reason for the gap between blogs was the lack on anything really going on and the fact that I spent most of the month of July on vacation, a good chunk of that out of the country.

So what have I been up to? Well two trips to Costa Rica (my mom and dad got a place down there, oh yeah.) Family in from the Idaho for two weeks and SAE's leadership school in Chicago. Oh yeah I've also had two job offers and found out at the end of last week that I'm a finalist for yet another job.

Where to start....How about Costa Rica. Man where to start with that one. I've added a photo that I took on my frist trip down. This is a view to the South, South-West from where my parents house will be. It's up on a ridge about 3 miles in from the Pacific Ocean and at about 900 feet up. The town is called Dominical. It's about half way up the Pacific cost from Panama. Great area, great people and GREAT food.

There really is too much to write about in one blog so I'll do a few on Costa Rica over the next few weeks and seeing as how I have photos I'll put some of those up too.

2005-05-04T22:04:00.000-04:00

It's always interesting when you get to see someone in a different setting then what you perceive as “the usual.” It might happen say, when you get to see your college friends at home interacting with their high school friends. Well this past weekend I had that experience with one of my college friends. It was so much fun.

It wasn't a case of a complete opposite thing going on...but the types of jokes, the conversations, the friends were not really what I was expecting. It's not a bad thing. (Truth be told, I’m not even sure what I was expecting.) His friends are really great and we didn't stop laughing and or making really bad off color jokes all night. It was so great.

Sometimes I'm amazed at how many different levels people have and, in some cases, how little we really get to see of the different levels. (It’s kind of like when Shrek is telling donkey that Ogres are like onions. “Onions have layers, Ogres have layers”…you know how it goes.)

But I guess the point is that it was a lot of fun getting to see this other side of my friend that I don’t usually get to see.

2005-04-25T14:02:00.000-04:00

One year ago this past weekend Michigan Delta-Omega officially became a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

When this crazy journey started in the fall of 2001 I had no clue that it would turn out like this, heck I was even surprised that it got off the ground. But here we are almost 4 years later and it's going strong. Currently there are 52 active undergraduate members and 20 alumni members, we've formed a housing corporation to being laying the ground work for a house and just a few weeks ago we started an alumni chapter.

We're even making a few changes in the Greek Community, not only at CMU but in Province Omega, made up of Michigan and Ontario. Last week at the CMU Greek awards SAE cleaned up, taking home first place in all but three awards as a result we also got the Presidents Cup.

To add to the awards, the past March the chapter also received Province chapter of the year, less then one year after getting our charter. (Now I'm not sure if that is a comment on how good we are as a chapter or how much work needs to be done at others. That statement could also ring true for the Greek awards at Central.)

All in all though I can't believe how far we've come in such a short amount of time, it truly is amazing...

2005-04-19T20:32:00.000-04:00

So, do you know what really sucks? Having your friends move away (now you're thinking, yeah, tell me something I don't know.) Ok then, I love summer, I love everything about it, with one major exception, in general that's the time of year that people go their separate ways and things change, which really sucks...

I'm remembering back to my 2nd year at Central, I was living in Saxe-Herrig with (who were at the time) all my good college friends. There was a whole group of us who hung out all the time. Towards the end of the spring semester we decided to take a camping trip together, there ended up being about 18 to 20 of us in all. It was a blast! Too many random stories to tell, right now anyhow.

Well we got back to campus after the weekend and got back into the school mindset, after all finals were just around the corner so there was the last minute scramble to decide what classes you could pull out of the gutter by studying hard and as every good college student knows if you just study hard enough for those last two weeks, cracking open books that haven't moved all semester, you can pull that low B up to maybe a high B or even a low A. (Because that happens all that time!)

Finals came and went and then it was time for us all to be on our own ways, one by one we packed up our stuff and left the hall. A few cried as people left, others said hurried good-byes and were on their way. We all were going to be living in different places next school year, but close by, so we said it would be the same.

The next year came and to no ones surprise, it wasn't the same. But we were ok with that. Every now and then we would run into our old friends from the halls and we would chat for a few minutes but then we would be on our way.

Today I still talk with maybe 3 of those 20 or so people and they are the three that I lived with for the rest of my time in Mt. Pleasant. Why am I writing about this? Truth is, I'm not sure. When it started I was going to tell you about a friend of mine who's leaving to go down south for the summer, he has a job that he's really excited about. I am very happy for him, because he's excited about it. But at the same time it sucks...lol. He says it's only going to be for the summer, but that there is a possibility that it could turn into something more long term...all I can say is bastard! (only kidding)

I think that the part that sucks the most is that this is someone that I've know for a few years now, we’re fraternity brother, but it's only been over the past few months that we've really been spending time together, more so because he is one of the few people that I know in the Lansing area, so we became better friends because of circumstances but still he‘s a blast to hangout with and it sucks that he‘s leaving.

So how does what's going on now relate to the story? Well I guess I'm hoping that this situation doesn't end up like the story. It's total different now and I'm much better at keeping in touch with people (ok stop laughing or cursing at me, what ever the case maybe) and it would be a real loss not to have this kid as a friend, but I know he'll always be a brother which also makes it easer to stay in touch and things of that nature, I hope.

2005-04-15T15:55:00.000-04:00

WOW, two posts in one week, heck in about 48 hours : )

But I found out something last night that I just had to do an entry for. And seeing as how it's a slow day at work I may as well do something productive.

My last post had to do with what I want to do when I "grow up" well one of my much younger friends has made his decision and it deserves a public commendation.

My friend has decided that he is going to join the Navy after graduation. Now that's still about a year or so down the road, but it's something he has been thinking about for a while now and he seems really happy about the decision he has come to.

I'm really proud of him, it's a choice that's not popular with everyone, but it's what he wants to do and that's commendable. (Plus Navy officer uniforms are just really cool.)

After telling me last night he said that he's going to be putting a little more pressure on me to make pick one of those choices that I listed on my last entry and I'm going to look into it…maybe this is just temporary insanity, for me.

2005-04-13T22:26:00.000-04:00

Yeah I know I need to get a little better at keeping the posts up...but hey life gets busy at time.

Before I get into this post I want to make an amendment to my last one...by no means do I think I'm perfect or above the subject of my last post, it's an area that I also have to work on too. :)

I've been thinking a lot as of late about what it is I want to do when I grow up. Yeah, ok lets not even start with the jokes. I feel like I'm at a point where I could make a few different choices, all of which I think would fit me, but all of which would lead me in very different directions.

Should I stay where I'm at, working for the state or should I run for office myself? Is opening a business with a friend down in the islands something that I should really do? Maybe I should join the Navy, something that I've always wanted to do but always seem to find reasons not to., is it the right time for that? I could go back home and help with the family business or do I still have the drive to go to seminary?

The other night I had all this written out much better, but then the site crashed and I lost everything...but I think you see where I'm going with this. See I've been under the impression that life gets easer as you get older, but I just seem to have more questions. I guess I suffer from the grass is greener syndrome or something like that.

I'm sure you're reading this thinking, what in the heck does one of those choices have to do with the other...not a lot, I know. But the funny thing is that I can see myself happy doing each of those, they would be different kinds of happy, but happy nonetheless. But I guess I really need to ask myself what does my heart tell me I should do?

2005-03-29T22:47:00.000-05:00

I've been debating for some time now as to write this entry or not. The fact that it's now posted lets you know the decision I've come to.

One thing that I think everyone needs to do is to be true to themselves and let others know when they are putting them in a tough spot. Because from my point of view if you are not going to take the time to tell someone that something they are doing bugs you or makes you uncomfortable you have no right to expect the situation to change. Additional if a certain amount of time has gone by and you still have not addressed the situation (and I'm not talking hours or days here, but more like weeks and months) then in my opinion you have lost all right to bitch about it. There comes a time when you need to lay everything out on the table or just suck it up.

The main reason for this entry is because by keeping things bottled up or not addressing an issue directly with someone is how things get blown out of proportion and major misunderstandings occur. Also you never need to feel bad about how you feel or about your opinion and if anyone makes you think you should feel bad for those or to apologize they're wrong. Friendships get tested for countless reasons the real test is how each situation is addressed and resolved. If in the end things don't workout the way that you had hoped and that's ok. People come in and out of our lives everyday, some stay a little longer then others, most serve some purpose. It may take time to realize what that purpose was or is but you'll know. If you find yourself in a situation where a friend maybe slowly (or quickly) leaving your life make an effort to make the departure something that you don't look back on and regret. Unanswered questions and things lift unsaid are some of the hardest things to live with...

2005-03-15T00:26:00.000-05:00

So who here remembers being a little kid? When I think back on being little, like elementary school age the three longest times of year were, in order, summer vacation, the week or so leading up to Christmas/Christmas Eve and then, the week leading up to your birthday.

Today summer still feels long, to a point, but nothing like it did when I was a kid and the week leading up to Christmas is now just like any week, with the exception of the messed up work schedule. But the week leading up to a birthday now seems so uneventful, so much so that, at least I did, forget that your birthday is coming up...too funny I know. And I don’t want to hear anything about any old man jokes.

Now here is the really funny part, I don't even really care one way or the other if anything really happens. I hope a few people remember and say hi/happy birthday, but that's really about it. It's just funny how out looks change and things as we get older.

This may just be me, but I would be interested to know if anyone else when they were younger, though that they were the only ones born on their birthday? I know that it is totally not logical to think that and I'm not even sure why I did, but I did nonetheless. I remember the day that I discovered that my aunt had the same birthday as me and then it just went downhill from there, totally killed that idea.

Ok I'm totally rambling here. However there is one REALLY GREAT thing about my birthday, it's back to back with one of the greatest holidays, St. Patrick's Day! A day dedicated to drinking and general debauchery, much like any weekend day for a college student, but St. Patrick's Day you don't have to explain anything away.

Have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day all and have a beer (or two or three) for me!!!

2005-03-10T00:39:00.000-05:00

A 149 years behind us and the beginning of our 150, Happy Founders Day SAE.

Today, March 9th, my beloved fraternity turns 149. On this day in a small room on the campus of the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa the first meeting of this amazing group took place. It was the vision of 7 men, the oldest of which was 22, to bring a new Greek letter origination to their campus. shortly after the birth of this new group the 7 original members and most of the membership of the first chapter found themselves fighting in the Civil War, for the south. All but one of the original 7 members died before the end of that war.

149 years later to the day of that first meeting Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the nation's largest social fraternity with more than 280,000 initiated members, approximately 203,300 living alumni, more than 10,000 undergraduate members, and is made up of 205 active undergraduate chapters, 12 colonies and over 200 alumni chapters.

This fine group has turned out one U.S. President, William McKinley, one of the best football coachs of all time, Bo Schembechler. William Faulkner and Elliot Ness are also counted among our ranks as is Phil Jackson (Bulls and Lakers) and General Richard Myers the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The list goings on and on...

This is a day to celebrate and reflect on where we've been and where we will be going.

To all SAEs who read this Happy Founders Day and Phi Alpha!!!

2005-02-23T23:03:00.001-05:00

All you can do is laugh!!!
So I was having an average night tonight, nothing to write home about. Had dinner and watched some TV that was about it.

Then at 10 I decided that I needed to run to Meijer to get a few things, I went through the store picked up the items I needed and a few extra as well. I went to the self checkout and went to go pay, no wallet. Never happened to me before. There was a student in the checkout next to me and she started laughing. She apologized and said it was funny because he roommate had done the same thing about a half-hour before. The Meijer employee also got a kick out of it, and I saw the humor of it too, I mean really what are you going to do?

So I ran home got my wallet, went back to Meijer and paid for my stuff. You know you need those little kicks that bring you down a step or two every now and again.

2005-02-17T22:11:00.000-05:00

(Part 2, from 3 entries ago)
I end up spending the next few nights in Mt. Pleasant, didn’t really have much of a choice. Once I got Toby back up there it was too late to drive back to Lansing and get a good night of sleep. Plus no matter how I cut it I still had to drive back to Mt. Pleasant the next night for a meeting, so sleep won out.
Friday night I was planning to head back to Muskegon after that meeting to see my parents and just relax. Well Friday night there was a surprise birthday party for a brother so I had to stay and celebrate. Good times as always. Ended up crashing at Steve and Lonnie’s, just like most times that I end up in Mt. P. So the next morning I was again planning on going back to Muskegon, but I had a few things to take care of in Mt. Pleasant before I left. Well I did not get up until almost noon Saturday and one thing led to another and I decided that I need to spend another night at Central.
The reason for the second night…a G.I. Joe and Barbie party.
What is this you might ask? Party goers come dressed as their favorite G.I. Joe or Barbie or any G.I. Joe or Barbie. My good friend Andy and I decided late Saturday afternoon that we were going to attend and that we needed to have great costumes as well.
So Andy and I ended up heading to General Jim’s in Clare to purchase military wares, thinking that we would be able to find a simply navy uniform or something along those lines. Oh no, we ended up leaving General Jim’s with Air Force Officers uniforms. Picked up a few accessories at Meijer, Joan Fabrics (no comments please) and after grabbing a bite to eat headed back to Andy’s to put together the costumes.
When all was said and done Andy and I were both 3-star generals in the Air Force, we were thinking that no one would be able to mistake us for that rank at our age, plus despite the fact that we looked great, it was still clear that we were not in the military.
The party was fun as always after the party Andy and I ended up back at Steve O. and Lonnie’s for a ruckus good time.
So that was day two….a few weeks late, but that’s ok…

2005-02-08T16:13:00.000-05:00

Today is such a busy day, but I've got to take a few minutes to post this. This is a little long but very much worth the read. The first document is a letter from Mark Brewer, Michigan Democratic Party Executive Chair and the second letter is the response from Saul Anuzis Michigan Republican Party Executive Chair. This is why politics is funny, please take this in good humor...

Dear Mr. Anuzis,
As the Executive Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, I am calling on you to take a stance on the following issues directly affecting Michigan’s workers:
(1) Do you support the proposal by Democrats in the Michigan House and Senate
to raise the state's minimum wage to from $5.15 to $7.15 per hour by January
1, 2007? The increase would be a certain boost to the economy and directly
benefit at least 464,000 Michigan workers or nearly 1 in 6 hourly workers
statewide.

(2) Do you agree with departing Michigan Republican Party Chair Betsy DeVos’
statements that “Many, if not most, of the economic problems in Michigan are
a result of high wages…” and that we can improve the Michigan economy by
making the state a low-wage, Right-to-Work state?

We request that you respond to these questions by February 8th, 2005. Please fax your
response to 517-371-2056. If we do not receive a response, we will assume you do not
agree with the positions expressed by the Michigan Democratic Party.

Sincerely,
Mark Brewer
Michigan Democratic Party Executive Chair

Republican Response....this is where it gets good...

Dear Mr. Brewer,
In your letter to me dated February 1, 2005, following a list of questions, you wrote:

“If we do not receive a response, we will assume you do not agree with the positions
expressed by the Michigan Democratic Party.”

As I am sure you are aware, I am the Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party (see numerous articles). As I am also sure you are aware, the Democrat and Republican parties have long been rival political parties (see U.S. history books; also read a newspaper), holding to separate ideologies and espousing oftentimes divergent platforms on a myriad of issues.

I hope you will not be too surprised to discover that there will be many issues expressed by the
Democrat Party with which I do, and will continue to, disagree (see your and my job descriptions). Chief among those disagreements is the unconscionable level of unemployment existing in Michigan since Jennifer Granholm became governor, and the generally poor state of Michigan’s economy – especially when compared to other states – that has resulted during her term.

Since you are such a curious fellow and thought enough to solicit my opinions, I would like to be
polite and ascertain your thoughts on a few issues:
1. Do you support Governor Granholm’s administration and policies that have resulted in
Michigan’s unemployment levels being the highest among all 50 states?
2. Are you willing to join me in calling for Governor Granholm to not seek re-election so long
as Michigan remains the state with the both the highest unemployment and the highest state
budget deficit?
3. Do you support Governor Granholm who called state school Superintendent Tom Watkins
a valued member of her administration, or do you support the “other and mysterious”
Governor Granholm who was simultaneously calling for Tom Watkins to resign?
4. Will you join me in stating that Governor Granholm has abdicated her leadership position
on unemployment and the economy, focusing instead on creating 100+ person advisory
boards instead of fixing the tax and regulatory structure that hinders Michigan job creators
and deters employers from relocating in Michigan (see Nero fiddling while Rome burns)?
5. Do you agree with American freedom, prosperity, and security as expressed in the
Republican Party platform (http://www.gop.com/media/2004platform.pdf)?

One point I want to be absolutely clear about is that I do not blame the unemployment level or the disadvantageous business climate on Michigan workers. Nor do I blame the job providers. I do blame a non-competitive tax structure and a burdensome regulatory environment. And I blame Governor Granholm for spending more than two years avoiding being a leader and presenting ways to address these problems. If she had spent half as much time working to improve the economy as she has talking about being a mom and cleaning up messes, Michigan would be in a lot better shape.

I request that you respond to these questions by February 8, 2005. Please fax your response to 517-487-0090. If I do not receive a response by midnight on the aforementioned date, (a) you will turn into a pumpkin, (b) I will assume you do not agree with the positions expressed by the Michigan Republican Party and consent to my expressing profound shock and dismay to that effect at every available opportunity, and (c) I will assume that you do agree with my views and positions on Governor Granholm (and won’t mind me saying so).
Sincerely,
Saul Anuzis
Chairman

P.S. I request that you take it easy on the environment and spare a few trees by ceasing to send any more pointless and insincere letters to myself (I intend to save trees by not responding to any such future inquiries) or any Republican candidates. If you fail to do so, I will assume that you do not agree with the positions expressed by common sense.

P.S.S. Without written notice or proof of otherwise publicly expressed views, do NOT assume
anything about any position you feel compelled to play politics with. Any assumption on your part without written or expressed proof of said position will be considered liable and we will attempt to find an unbiased trial lawyer to defend our rights under the constitution and the rule of law.

2005-02-07T16:00:00.000-05:00

Man I hope today wasn’t an indication of how the rest of the week is going to go. This morning when I came into work I could not remember my apartments building number. I had to break down and call my roommate. Then the rest of the day just went away. It's 4pm and although I did get a lot done today I still have that feeling that I didn’t do a lot, I just don’t know.

Here is the kicker for the week, tomorrow is the State of the State address, which will require me to be at work until about 11 or 12 tomorrow night and then I have to be back at work at 5am Wednesday...I'm never going to sleep...or something like that. But once mid day Thursday rolls around things will be a lot lest busy and I may be able to get some sleep!!!

I hope everyone else is having a good week as well...I'll get back to my story from last weekend in a few days, it was just getting good. ;)

2005-01-31T10:31:00.000-05:00

Toby - "hey, what's up how's it going tonight?" Jon-"not too bad, what's up? Toby, you there?" Toby "Yeah, hold on a second...let me call you back in a few minutes." 20 minutes later still no call back, I'm at the "Nut House" in downtown Lansing getting ready to watch the Michigan Michigan State basketball game, I had just finished dinner and ordered my beer. After ordering the beer I stepped outside to call Toby back to see what the first call was all about. A perturbed Toby answers. Jon - "You ok?" Toby - "we'll, really, no. Car died I'm stilling under a bridge in Brighton." Jon - "What?!" Toby - "Yeah, it died when I was talking to you, that's why I had to go." Jon - "Ok, I'm coming to get you." Toby - "Well no, really you don’t have to." Jon - "I will" Toby - "Ok let me call you back in a few minutes and let you know."
I go back into the bar to find my beer waiting for me and the game tipping off. No sooner do I take a sip of my beer then Toby call me back and say "yeah, can you come get me." And that's how this adventure of a weekend started, with a random road trip to pick up a stranded friend on a Thursday night.
Now here in lies my dilemma. I'm not sure if I should give the abridge version of this weekends events, because I really don’t think it would do them justice...However if I were to give you more details this would be a really long entry. So this is what I think I'm going to do. Do a few entries, maybe one entry for each day. That will make things a little more manageable....

2005-01-24T21:01:00.000-05:00

Enough is enough -
Ok, yeah so, we've all seen those Little Casers guys dancing outside with a sign advertising their $5 pizza. Well today on my way home from work there was this guy dancing around outside dressed like Uncle Sam. I had the luck to be stopped at the light right in front of him. Now as I'm sitting there I'm trying for the life of me to determine what the heck this person is doing. Then I put it together, there is this huge sign behind him that says something to the effect of "have fun and get your taxes done." I put it together when "Uncle Sam" turned around and he had the same logo on his back on the huge sign.
So would have your taxes done at a place that advertised by having a guy dressed like Uncle Sam dancing outside? I don’t think I would. Plus when are we going to stop this advertising stuff by having people dressed up as charters and dance. It's getting a little old, plus I just feel really bad for the people who are stuck in those darn silly costumes. But I guess at the same time the advertising did its job, I remembered what it was for and what their saying was, so...

Will the madness never end! - This morning on my way into work there were more crazy people dancing outside advertising something...I think this time was trash pick up or something like that. Again WILL IT NEVER STOP!!!

2005-01-18T16:59:00.000-05:00

Passive aggressiveness...
If there is one thing that drives me up a wall, it’s that. I just don’t understand people who sit there and don’t say anything when something is bothering them. They take the approach that it is better to just hold it all in or something like that; it doesn’t make sense to me.
Where is the logic in thinking that if you ignore something it will just go away. People are not mind readers and more often then not if you don’t tell someone that something they have done or said bothers you, the other person is never going to know. I also really don’t understand what it is that makes people not want to have discussions about an issue. Now, I’m not saying that everything needs to be discussed, there is by no means enough time in the day for that, but if something bothers you so much you owe it to yourself to let whoever is causing you this distress to know what they are doing bothers you.
Sticking your head in the ground like an ostrich does not make the problems or issues go away and not addressing something is an even better way of insuring that the thing you dislike continues. Avoidance never solved anything and honest is often the best way to go, although it is seldom the easiest.
I’m sure you’re asking yourself, is this directed at one person, no it is not. It is just an issue that I though needed to be addressed and that is what I am doing.

2005-01-12T23:49:00.000-05:00

I wrote this Wednesday night, this entry fits very will into my ransom thoughts headline....enjoy.

It is absolutely beautiful tonight, it's almost 60 and there is a nice breeze blowing in from the South. It's wonderful, feels like spring. The weather can't help but make you an optimist and make you think about all the possibilities in life, I just love it. I have the peaceful feeling of being totally content and I don’t think that anything could really bug me, not tonight.
Moments like this make you realize what really matters or rather how little it takes to make someone happy.

I am in such a great spot in my life right now my job is going really well and I only see things getting better from here on out. Some things are coming together at work that are just going to be sweet and they are going to give me some really great experiences and background, things that could easily transfer to a plethora of other careers.

I've got to comment on the breeze again, it just brings optimism with it, not sure how but it's great...and with that I’m off to bed.

(addition...you need to check out this link...http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4150000/newsid_4155100/4155115.stm )

2005-01-10T16:12:00.000-05:00

Ok, Ok...I know its been a few weeks between posts and I'm sorry I'm just not sure where the time went. The funny thing is I'm trying to find time to start a second blog that looks at Michigan Politics...yeah that has not even gotten off the ground yet; other then I have a location for it. I'll link it up once I start posting.

Not really sure what the rime and or reason there is going to be to this post, more then likely there will not be any...ha!

Ok, man this past week has just gone by SO fast. The new reps came to town on Jan. 3 and I've got some great new people that I'm working for/with. They have all been keeping me on my toes and with a new boss there's all kinds of fun going on.

Last night (total change of subject here) I saw one of the best movies I have ever seen, Garden State. It was just one of those really great movies that come along every now and then. It was also the first time in a long time that I had seen a movie and could identify with. I'm not going to ruin the movie for anyone but you really need to check it out if you haven’t, it's great for us 20somethings who are looking for direction and feel like they are just floating through life.

It was written and directed by Zach Braff (Scrubs on NBC) who also stared in the film. One of the best lines in the move is something along the lines of being homesick for a place that doesn't even really exist anymore. Oh man...good stuff. And as if the movie wasn’t good enough Natalie Portman is also in it. So this one gets thumbs up, 5 stars what ever you want to say.

Ok I need to get a few more things done so I'll leave it at that.

2004-12-27T19:34:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was Christmas (as you all know) and my brother’s 21st birthday (as you may not have known) and I think I need to go back to work to recover from all the activities of the past few days.

A few fraternity brothers came over to help celebrate the birthday, we did a lunch thing on Sunday then Brodie was off with friends to live up the night. One of his friends rented a limo to take my brother and 11 of his closest friends around town for a few hours. Me, my sister and a few of our friends ended up crashing his birthday part over town…and let me just say I felt REALLY old! Brodie’s friend who was throwing the party still has a brother in high school and he had friends over as well, so there was a large mix of ages all around, didn’t stay all that long just enough to say hi, really didn’t want to be THAT guy, but I think I had a good reason at least for one night.

There was an odd series of coincidences this weekend though that I have to share. Brodie turned 21 on the 26 of Dec. so midnight on Christmas he was thinking he would go up to the gas station (the only place in town that was open) and buy some beer. Well he found out that you can’t buy beer on Christmas and on Sunday’s beer/liquor can’t be sold until noon. I guess the last chance to buy alcohol was 7pm Christmas eve. So Brodie was a little miffed about that, I though it was just more then a little funny.

I hope everyone had a great holiday and is relaxing; I will be going back to work for two days starting tomorrow, but then it’s another 4 day weekend which is always nice. Happy New Year everyone!

2004-12-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

Love and Hate
I was reminded at several points over the day why I love and hate my job so much.
The past few days have been rather quiet, the Reps. are all out of Lansing, doing what it is they do when they are back in their districts and we are just holding down the fort, so to speak.
Then today the Speaker-elect named the new chair of appropriations, which to most of you out side of the political world doesn't mean a lot, but here it does. The "approps" chair is the most powerful committee chair in the House, he or she oversees the state budget process and dozens of sub-committees. The rep that was named to the post was some what of a surprise, because until yesterday his name was not in the running and he had already been elected to a leadership position within the House, a position from which he is no stepping down from.
So when all of this is came out today we were doing a great job of staying ahead of the story (because we knew it was going to happen before hand.) It was a lot of fun, release goes out at "X" time and others are notified after that.
One of the representatives that I write for was affected by the appropriations chair choice, so I decided to be proactive and draft something up to send out. After that was done I sent it to my new boss for approval before sending it to the representative's office and the out to the press (if everyone approved it along the way.) I guess that was not the right thing to do. I didn’t get into trouble for what I did, however, it was made clear that things were being handled and we didn't need another release out there, which is fine. But then things just keep coming down all around me for about the next hour and that’s when I decided that I really hated my job too.
It's so funny, one minute I was sitting drafting up quotes and release with a few of the other writers and the next, crap.
I guess really I'm just pitching a fit for no good reason, but on days like these when you have other job offers on the table its hard not to think about leaving. But then I think would I miss the excitement of what I do and really being "in the know," I really don’t know. (No pun intended) I guess these are questions for another day or something like that...

2004-12-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

My dear Watson!!!
So this weekend I discovered that I have a few blog stalkers...people who read my blog but do not comment and do not have a blog of their own. On the one hand I'm glad to know that there are others out there reading my blog and that this stuff isn’t just going out into the abyss of the net, but at the same time feedback is fun!! With regards to the title don't ask, but it is intended to be along the lines of I got it!!! (and I'm all about the ! today for some odd reason.)

Don't really have all that much to talk about today....had a great weekend as I have been known to do from time to time (although as of late I've been having a lot of those.)

To all my friends who are still in college (which is most) good luck on finials and I'll see you on the flip side.

2004-12-08T14:41:00.000-05:00

Tradition...
There is a tradition in the Michigan House that in the closing days of session the members who will be leaving give a speech, it can be whatever they like, some even sing from time to time. One common theme that seems to come out in almost everyone’s remarks is that although they share different points of view with the members on the other side of the chamber they are all friends and that they are better representatives for having been able to discuss public policy with both democrats and republicans.

In complete contrast to this, I was watching the news the other night and there was a report talking about the differences in America and how we are growing further apart in the middle. The reporter doing the story had focus groups with both republicans and democrats, something similar was said by both groups, something that really bothered me. In so many words both groups said that they really did not want to be friends or could not be friends with people who had different political points of view and both groups saw the others as far right wing religious nuts or far left wing tree huggers.

How is it that we can function as a society if we don’t engage in political debate? More often then not we are going to come up with better solutions to problems. But if we start to only talk with or be friends with people just like us there will be no one to say, “hold up here, what's going on, we need to take a few steps back and really look at this.”

Moving too far in one direction or another is not a good thing and the last thing that we need to do as Americans is become so wrapped up in our own little worlds that we are too short sighted to see the big picture. Debate is good; questions are good, seeing a new point of view, even if you disagree with it, is a good thing. Only when we can all stand up and have a free discussion of what we really believe and not have fear of being shot down for those believes will we be as great a society as we think we are.

True freedom is listening respectfully as someone speaks in support of an issue that you would speak against with just as much passion. That is freedom and that is what a democratic government should be based on.

2004-12-06T00:37:00.000-05:00

A Song
So this weekend I was talking with a friend and trying to remember the name/words of this song...didnt have any luck until I got back to my computer...but I just though I would post this for today. The meaning for the song isnt too hard to determin.

"What if I said"
We've been friends for a long long time. You tell me your secrets and I'll tell you mine. She's left you all alone and you feel like no one cares. But I have never failed you, I've always been there.

You tell your story It sounds a bit like mine. It's the same old situation It happens every time. Can't we see it oh maybe you and me Is what's meant to be. Do we disagree?

What if I told you? What if I said that I love you? How would you feel what would you think, what would we do? Do we dare to cross that line between your heart and mine or would I lose a friend or find a love that would never end?

What if I said she doesn't love you? Oh it's' plain to see, I can read between the lines of what you're telling me.

He doesn't hold you the way a woman should be held, how long can I go on keeping these feelings to myself?

What if I told you what if I said that I love you? How would you feel what would you think? What would we do? Do we dare to cross that line between your heart and mine? Or would I lose a friend or find a love that would never end? What if I said?

Oh we've both had our share of lonliness, so whose to say that we can't have a little happiness? And if I found that in you it would make my dreams come true, or would you walk away? Hear what I have to say.

What if I told you what if I said that I love you? How would you feel? What would you think? What would we do? Do we dare to cross that line between your heart and mine? I've always wondered from the day we met, what if I said? What if I said? What if I said?

"What if I Said" Performed by Anita Cochran and Steve Wariner

2004-12-02T11:07:00.000-05:00

20 lbs of hamburger...yes 20 lbs!
Yesterday was an interesting day to say the least, the very least. I was having one of those days where I just couldn't sit around in my apartment after work. So I ended up heading up to Mt. Pleasant to hangout and just get away from Lansing for a few hours. After being in Mt. P for about an hour I get roped into cooking 20 pounds of hamburger meat for the Phi Sigma Sigma girls. I guess that tonight they have a fundraiser where they will be serving tacos. The girls who volunteered to cook the meat claimed that they didn't know how to cook taco meet.

Now Duffy and I were skeptical of this fact and though they were just looking for a way to get some guys to cook for them. However, after answering several questions and having a really good laugh when it came time to drain off the fat I was a little more convinced that they really didn't know how to brown hamburger. Fun times let me tell you.
So all of you up in Mt. Pleasant who partake in the Phi Sigs taco night, I hope you enjoy it because Duffy and I worked hard for you.

After the cooking extravaganza I got to spend some time with Steve O., which as everyone knows is always an adventure. We hit up The Bird in downtown Mt. P (the first time in about 2 years that I had been to that bar and the first time in about 4 that I had been there in the middle of the week.) Had a couple rum and cokes and talked until about 3:15am, then I drove back to Lansing (don’t worry I wasn’t drunk, 2 drinks over a 3 hour period does not do me in.) Let's just say however that getting up for work this morning was not a lot of fun...but I made it in nonetheless (only to find that we have a 6 page agenda or about 100 bills to vote on today, AKA a long ass day.)

Random nights like last night are always fun, it was just one of those really great times that you couldn't not have planned even if you wanted to.

2004-11-29T12:01:00.000-05:00

Jobs and Change
Ok, so, I'm sitting at working this morning after a very relaxing weekend and thinking about changing jobs (as I’ve been doing for a few weeks now, there are several different factors at play here which I’m not going to get into.) I've sent out a few resumes over the past week and a half and found another job last night that I think I may want to apply for too.
The thing is it's not as though I don’t like my job, because I do, it's a lot of fun and I get to work with some very interesting people. It is just that this isn't something that I can see myself doing for a long time and being the type of person that I am, if I don't see something as a long term option, I just see it as a waste of time. (Ok ya’ll stop rolling your eyes)
So where is all this coming from? A number of things, but I have been offered a job, something that will be "on the table" until the end of the year.
I've talked to my parents about it and they don’t see anything wrong with looking for or getting a new job. But my dad did make a comment and it was something that I really had not though about before. He said, “you've gotten use to having a job with excitement, are you sure you could go do something else that isn’t as exciting?” At first I said that I really didn’t need excitement in my job, but then the more I think about it, the more I realize that he may be right. One of the things that I love most about my job is its pace (almost always fast) and that things are always challenging, keeping me on my toes.
Working in communications for government is a lot like working in news and it has the aspects of news that I miss, you never really know what the day is going to be like (or for that matter how long the day is going to be.) There is a ton of pressure, which I love among other things.
I guess what I'm getting at is I think I may be ready to move onto another challenge, but will I be able to find one that's as high paced and have the other factors that I'm looking for?
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

2004-11-22T10:10:00.000-05:00

Great weekend = long Monday!!!
This weekend was great, really long, but great.
Where to start...
Saturday was the last football game of the season for Central, and it was a great one, classic CMU football. We started the game down 27 nothing in the first. A lot of students decided that it would be better to head home and watch "a real football game," Michigan/Ohio State. But those who left missed a great game. Central ended up coming back to tie up the game going into half time and then it was a back and forth game until the end of the 4th when CMU took the lead for the first time in the game (41-40) which ended up being the final score of the game. Ball State, I don't think really knew what to think, with being ahead from the start or of the comeback that Central made.
When the game was done the students rushed the field and lifted a football player or two on their shoulders, did some CMU yells and songs. It was a really great way to end the season.

But CMU football wasn't the only think going on this weekend. It was also D.O. week for the MI-DO chapter of SAE. D.O. week is the last week of our new member period, we mark it with several brotherhood events and general fun things, like movies, games, over nights in one of the academic buildings...stuff of that nature. It's a dry week, which I'm sure several people are surprised about, but none the less it is. One of the highlights of the weekend would have to have been Saturday night when the Delta's (the new members) decided they needed to go to Meijer at about 1:30 in the morning to buy a new board game. About 3:30 they came back and didn't really say a lot and without a game, although no one noticed that at that point. A few minutes later I went out to my truck to get something and noticed that the car parked next to me (one of my brother’s cars) had window paid on it with Deltas (the Greek letter) around the driver’s window. Then after taking a second look around the parking lot I realized why it had taken the Delta's so long to get back. They had painted several SAE's symbols on active member’s cars. It was actually cool.

Sunday was another great day, initiation for the Delta's and Steve O's birthday. Now my plan was to go to initiation for the new members and then head back to Lansing so I could get a full night of sleep, but did that happen...no, why would it? Steve O. gave me this "you're not going to come out for my birthday" sing and dance thing and how can you say no to Steve O? So I ended up at the Wayside for about an hour and then drove back to Lansing to get, oh about 5 hours of sleep before getting up for work.

So long fun weekends (even ones without adult beverages) make for a long Monday (as I down a HUGE cup of coffee,) but I wouldn't change a darn thing about it. So, Phi Alpha guys and welcome to the new members!!!

2004-11-19T10:36:00.000-05:00

A window to the world....or at least downtown Lansing
So this week the powers that be in my office decided that they would move my desk. I guess there were some who though that I didn't like my current (now former) cube. (By the way I never said that I didn't like it, I just pointed out on several occasions that we had three open cubs along the wall with windows.)
So Wednesday I got the go a head to move! I must admit it is nice. I now have a huge cube with a window and the view isn't all that bad. I know what you're thinking, Jon it's still a darn cube, but hey, it's my darn cube. It's funny how little things can make you happy at work.
Short one for today...you should really check out my last blog, funny story.

2004-11-12T22:32:00.000-05:00

So Heather D. blogged about a mouse in her house last week (see her link on the right) and one of our friends asked if she would rather have had bats. Now I think Kim was refering to a time in undergrad when their soruarity house had a bat (they had a few truth be told.) One night the bat decided it would be a good idea to haing out in their front entry way.

I happened to be over that night (I was over there a lot of nights that semester) and the girls asked me to help them get the bat out of the house (oh, by the way I HATE bats.) So I get a few of the girls in the house to help. We put blankets up by the stairs so it doesent go up into their rooms and we shut off the front from the rest of the house.

One of the ladies takes a long broom and kind of pushes the bat off the wall, I'm standing in the middle of the room with a tennis racket the bat starts flying and I start runing at it with the racket. Now I get the bat headed towards the door and out into the poarch area only to find that the girls have shut me in the VERY SMALL outter entryway with the bat. So now I'm trying to get the door open with this bat dive at me. But I get the door open and the bat out. So it was a funny story that the ladies told for a few weeks.

One really funny part about it was that there were two girls standing behind me with a huge blanket and they were going to catch the bat in it if it flew towards them (behind me) the bat did and they just yelled and hid under the blanket. All in all it was a very funny experience, all be it one that I wouldnt really do again.

2004-11-08T00:18:00.000-05:00

Northern Lights and EDA...
Wow this was a really great weekend (and not just because I didn't have to do any campaign stuff.)
But lets start with how the weekend ended. As I was driving home from Mt. Pleasant Sunday night I looked out my driver side window and though that I needed to clean it, then I realized that it was the Northern Lights! They were really awesome tonight. I called a few friends and had them go look too...they were excited.
After I got home I took a drive, found a dark place and just watch the lights for about 20 minutes. It was just cool, the lights looked like they were breathing, getting brighter and dimmer and swimming across the sky. It was just a really unique experience very moving. Kind of makes you want to be a poet or something.
Now onto the rest of the weekend.
It was our bi-annual provincial conference for SAE. We met up at Ferris State in Big Rapids. It was really interesting to see all the different undergraduate chapters interacting and the alumni from across Michigan. It ended up being a short meeting only a morning and half an afternoon. But we did get a lot of organizing done. Such as electing a new E-Board for Proviance Omega. When all was said and done I was elected EDA (Vice President) and tasked with being the communication person between the province and the undergraduate chapters. So here starts my 2 year term...lets hope I don't mess up too bad.
I'm sure that in time to come more of my blogs will focus on this...but I need to get to bed, so...

2004-11-03T22:49:00.000-05:00

Wow, so it comes to an end…in a way. It is 4:30am on Nov. 3 and I’m just getting home, this is the first night in more then 2 weeks that I’m sleeping in my own bed which I’m really excited about. This also marks the end of my first political campaign as a staffer. Man did I learn a lot, what did I learn though? I think it is going to take me a few days to process it all, I’ll keep you posted.

But let’s take a look at some of the numbers here, number of races that I had, 5, won 3. In the past 3 weeks I’ve put more then 3200 miles on my truck, crossed the Mackinac Bridge at least 10 times, spent 4 nights in a hotel and 10 sleeping of friend’s couches in Mt. Pleasant. I’m sure there are other numbers, but my brain isn’t working all that well at this second.

In the end the House Republicans came out with 58 seats. We lost one sitting representative as did the Democrats. The older people there tonight/this morning were tell us that this is the first time is over 70 years that Republican’s have kept the majority for this long. (For those of us keep count this is the 4 cycle that we have won it.)

That is enough for right now, I really need to get some sleep…

2004-10-26T00:49:00.000-04:00

Net Junky...
I don’t think I realized how much I am attached the internet and all the things that it lets me do until it was taken away. I find myself sitting in a hotel room in Sault Ste. Marie no internet…I do have my cell phone, however at a $1.45 a minute roaming I’m not about to start calling people. So I’m flipping through the TV finding that there isn’t really anything that I want to watch and typing out a blog that I won’t be able to post for a few days until I get back to the lower peninsula.

The really funning thing about it is that just a few years ago we never used cell phones or the internet. Now they are both apart of our everyday lives. I use them both to talk with my friends and get the news.

This is just an observation of someone with too much time on their time.

I should note that about an hour after I wrote this off line, I discovered that my hotel had internet…so now I’m a happy boy…but I still though I would post this….

2004-10-11T20:39:00.000-04:00

AMERICAN CARS SUCK!!!!
So I was having this great weekend, it was homecoming up at Central I got to see a lot of friends had some good laughs stuff of that nature.
Getting ready to head back to Lansing last night and my car (which I JUST got back from getting fixed) started making a new nose. Kind of sounds like breaks, which I had done two months ago, so I call my dad and he tells me to bring it home and we're taking it back to the dealership that worked on it last week. Turns out the clips came off my break pads so they fix it, said it wasn't anything they did (but they didn't charge me so makes you think.)

Now I'm a happy guy my car works and all that good stuff. So tonight I'm driving around doing a few things seeing as how I'm in town and it starts making the same F-ing sound. Talk about pissed! So now I have to go on the road tomorrow for work up to the U.P. in a car that's not mine...kind of a little pissed about that. But what I'm most pissed about is that this truck has cost me WAY too much money. And the crappy thing is it's not like I drive it hard, I don't go two tracking (although I did in high school in my mom's car and it always worked great) I just drive it to and from work that's it. I always change the oil, have the breaks checked and all the stuff you should do and this is how I'm repaid...F-ing American car. This is the last one that I ever buy.

Ok, enough bitching for one night...I'll post something more upbeat later, maybe a recap of the weekend. Always fun times!

2004-10-06T19:54:00.000-04:00

Fun times
Tonight my roommates and I went to dinner, the food was great as was the argument.
My roommate Ken and I do not tend to agree on a lot when it comes to government and politics (as I'm sure you all know I'm right though....only kidding.)
But tonight we had a really great one that went on for about a half hour. The really cool thing about it is that when we argue it doesn't get personal. There are a few people in the world that I have that kid of relationship with, and it's really cool. When you come away from the discussion it was all on an intellectual level and I come away with these new insights and ideas that I would not otherwise have had.
People in your life who you can have intellectual arguments with a truly special and I hope that everyone has at least one person in their life like that, because there's nothing better then a good argument.

2004-09-28T20:28:00.000-04:00

Life is odd, that’s about all I can really say about it. At some point someone needs to explain to me why it is we have such a range of emotions and you can experience them all within such a short amount of time. From joy to sorrow, and how a look from one person can make you feel that all at once, I just don’t get it.
Do we only truly appreciate the joys in life when we know what true sorrow is? (And by no means am I saying that I really know what true sorrow is, just go with me here people.)
Ok, I can’t believe I’m about to do this, but what the hell…I’m going to quote a song. “Oh, this is the start of something good don’t you agree? I haven't felt like this in so many moons” (for those of you who are wondering what song that is, it’s Gavin DeGraw’s song Follow Through.)
Ok enough on that for now…I’m sure there is something more interesting and worthwhile that I and you all could be doing then reading this.
I’ll put up a better entry later in the week.

2004-09-19T22:43:00.001-04:00

Mixed up…
This is a long one...

So I have been spending sometime advising my chapter and was thinking about taking a more active and/or official role in that this semester because I’m no longer in grad school and only an hour away from campus. But it seems that a few of the other alums don’t think it is in mine or the chapters best interest to remain involved with the group. Despite the fact that the active membership enjoys having me involved, or so they say.
One of the other alums keeps bring it up, but packaging it as he is concerned that I’m missing out on things in my life by being involved with the group, and that by being involved I’m “trying to hanging onto some part of my college life” or some crap like that.
Then when I come home today I come to find out that my roommate (who is also a brother) had a conversation with the brother who thinks that my involvement is bad for me. So I start talking with my roommate about all this, and I come to discover that they are not just concerned about me “growing up” (or not as the case my be in their eyes)but that I may have too much pull in the group and that the guys hold what I say in too high regard, and that could end up being detrimental to the group. There was also something about how they don’t think that I would really be a good advisor, or something to that effect. Which was more my pulling out of the conversation then something that was said.
The first thing that I wanted to address was my involvment was bad for me. They seem to think that it is taking away from great things that I could be doing in Lansing. Right now I’m only going up on Sunday nights for general board meetings so its not really taking that much time out of my week and I’m not really sure what I’m missing out on in Lansing for those few hours.
Second thing, I have too much pull with the group. I don’t really see that, when I’m there I don’t talk. I just sit in the back and watch what’s going on. I talk with the guys before and after meeting about what they are doing in school and how things are going. I almost never talk in meeting, even when I’m asked to I defer. I really don’t think that I’m driving the group in a direction.
Then the point that really pissed me off was that I wouldn’t be a good advisor or am not qualified to be an advisor. My response was that I’m not some novice in advising student groups, working with students or understanding how students work. I do have a little background in the area and may have an understanding of how to work with undergraduates, but that’s just my opinion.
After talking with my roommate I went for a drive, wasn’t sure where to go in Lansing, not a lot of water (at home I go to Lk. Michigan when I’m mad about something and need to think about it.) As I was driving a question popped into my head, it's a question that I’ve asked several guys in the chapter over the past year or so, “is what I’m doing what’s best for the fraternity or is it what’s best for me?” or something to the effect. The funny thing is I can’t come up with a straight answer.
I like being involved with the group, its fun and I like the guys, so that would be personal. But I also think that my involvement is going for the group. Do I think I’m the only one who can do the job? No, by no means what so ever. But do I think I bring a unique point of view to the table? Yes. So in that respect it’s good for the chapter.
I’m just really confused at this point and a little distressed about how to go from here...are the other alums right, is it bad for the group and me to be involved or is is ok that I'm around? I just don't know.

2004-09-15T01:46:00.000-04:00

Second Chances
I had a second chance tonight, it wasn’t anything I was expecting or looking to have happen, but a second chance non the less. An old friend (one of my best friends from undergrad) came into town. He lives in Alaska now and has been gone for a year and a half and I’ve talked to him all of twice in that time. When he left we were really not on the best of terms, it was a see you later kind of thing, (like he was going to class or something) after having lived together for 5 years in college and going to high school together you think that there would have been more, but that was it, from both of us.

After he had been gone for a few days, it sunk in that he really had move, but I was in grad school and wasn’t seeing him everyday so it wasn’t all that big of a deal, I though.

I knew that he was coming into town; we have a wedding that we are both in next weekend so I knew I was going to see him, but I really didn’t know what to expect. In a way I really didn’t want to see him and I don’t know why I was thinking of reasons why I could drive up to GR after work, but I ended up going.

When I met up with him this afternoon we were at a bar and he was hitting on the bartender (who was very hot might I add, so same old Ryan) and didn’t really take notice of me, so I started talking with our other friends. After a minute or two Ryan said ok, I’m done hitting on the hottie, come give me a hug you jackass. There was a little awkwardness between the two of us for a little while, but it didn’t take long for us to slide back into our old patterns.

It was a really great night. I didn’t realize how much I missed himuntil he was back and the funny thing is we can’t remember why we were mad at each other when he left. Another funny thing is that it doesn’t seem like he has been gone all that long, we talked about stuff just like we had seen each other last weekend.

I guess what I’m getting at is second chances are great and you really know who your good friends are when you can pick up where you left off, even if its been a few years, and no one says anything about past arguments or things of that nature, it was really cool.

A second ago I talked about sliding back into our old patterns, and boy did we! Did some bar hoping and drinking, a good amount of drinking, I’m sure we made asses of ourselves more then onece (I know we did.) There were several drinks spilled, none by me I was the sober driver which is always fun when my friends are drunk. It was just a really good night.

2004-09-13T00:14:00.000-04:00

FOOTBALL and OTHER FUN THINGS IN LIFE
So this past weekend my CMU Chippewas played at MSU, we lost, but had a good showing none the less. Game was rather boring, nothing special happening on either side. Pre-game activities (tailgating) at State was good times, except for having to carry two 24 packs of beer many blocks to find the guys. Why did I have the beer? Because someone forgot! Who forgets beer for tailgating?

After the game Ryan and I hit up the Pizza House, I would say some of the best pizza in EL, just my opinion. But Ryan and I are sitting there eating, we have CMU shirts on so through the course of eating we have about 4 people just come up to us and start talking. Two were freshman at CMU who Ryan ended up giving rides back to Mt. p to, because they had lost their rides. And two others were these old guys who had gone to CMU back in the day, which was cool, but they were talking to us so much what we couldn’t eat our food! We were really nice to them, thanked them for talking to us and all that, but we ended up for the most part getting out pizza to go.

It made me think though, I really hope that those two older guys who we were talking with have someone at home to talk to, because one of the guys was there alone. Just kind of makes you think I guess. I should say something profound here or something like that, but I'm kind of at a loss. Actually I feel bad, because I always talk about how nice CMU students and alum are, and here I am speeding up my meal to get away from a guy (and fellow CMU alumni) who just wanted to talk about football.

Now that all of my friends are ashamed of me, I think I'm going to crawl under a rock for a little while until the stigma of being a jackass goes away. (no comments from the peanut gallery on that please, and yes I'm talking about you, you know who you are.)

Ok it's getting late and I need to get to bed, so I can go to work in the morning...should not be too bad of a week, only one day of secession! And a friend of mine is coming in Tuesday from Alaska for two week so it will be nice to see him again too.

2004-09-05T23:18:00.000-04:00

(There isn’t going to be a lot of rime or reason to this, but it’s me so hay.)
Interesting weekend…Not really sure how to put it other then that. All in all it was a really great weekend, I didn’t do anything that I had planed and just kind of went with the flow. I ended up in Mt. Pleasant for two plus days hanging out with friends. Spent a lot of time in the pool and some time bridge jumping into the Chip River west of town.

I had planed on being home all weekend to see the rents and stuff of that nature, but I got a phone call and made a last minute decision Friday after work to head north. There wasn’t anything really unique about the weekend, just good times with good people. Saturday I would say was pretty much a darn perfect day, really easygoing hanging our by the pool, football-watching day kind of day. Had a BBQ, went to Dinner Bell at 10pm and then watched Super Troopers (a quality flick.) And the remarkable thing about all of this is none of us had any beer or other alcohol.

I did have an interesting conversation with a friend about how he defines love, and I think he has a good definition, so I will share it all with you. He said you love someone when you care more about them then you do for yourself, when you put their needs ahead of your own. I though it was good and rather close to what I think of love as well, I had just never really put it into words like he did.

So now you're asking yourself why was the weekend interesting? So here it is, I feel like I've been having issues with one of my brothers (Greek) but he denies that he is upset with me about anything. But the last few times that I have gone up he has made himself scares, I know he is a busy kid and all but it just seems like there is more to how he is acting then just being busy when I'm around. I don’t know maybe it’s noting, and I'm just reading more into it then is there, but it just feels like there is something else going on there.

Oh, one more addendum to the weekend, I did end up making it back to Muskegon this weekend (Sunday night) and I spent a good part of Today out at Lake Michigan, we had about 5 to 6 foot waves breaking ahead of a storm that was coming across the lake and let me tell you the body surfing was great! It was a wonderful way to have summer end!

2004-09-01T11:56:00.000-04:00

Party guy, I guess
I have never really though of myself as a “party guy” or someone who did dumb stuff in college. But the more I think back on my undergrad years at CMU I realize that I may have had a little too much fun (if you can have too much fun.) But I am smart enough not to post my many undergrad exploits online for all to read, so sorry to anyone who though they were going to get the goods on me, but ask around I’m sure there are enough stories out there to make everyone happy.

Where is the blog coming from you may ask? Last week I went out to a (or several) local Lansing bars (so technically it was bar hopping) with several friends, some new some old, but you get the idea. The next day at work I was talking with a co-worker who is only a few years older then me, she asked me what I did last night, when I answered the question I got a look of you went out on a weeknight! You would have though I was telling here about some kick ass rave or something like that, the look was a combination of surprise and something close to that’s so juvenile. I was a little taken back.

When I got home I was telling Ken about this, and his response was see if we lived in Chicago or someplace cool like that, no one would think anything of you going out on a week night, because that’s what people our age do. But because we are in Lansing you’re “that guy” (but I’m sure he meant we’re those guys.) So it looks like I’m a “party guy” (which is rather funny if you ask me.) But I guess I could be known as worse things too, like an MSU student. (Only kidding, don’t all you MSU students get your panties in a bunch.)

2004-08-23T11:10:00.000-04:00

So this was kind of a long weekend, I moved to Lansing and spent way too much money. It’s kind of funny when you move you end up going out and buying stuff, stuff that you didn’t need at your old place, or stuff that you misplaced during the move, but for some reason it's stuff that you need right now in your new place, so I think I may need a crash cart near by when I open my credit card bill in a few weeks.

But how is the new place you ask? It’s great, I really like it. I’m living with two other guys, one is a senior at MSU and the other is stating Medical School (today) at State. The med student is a fraternity brother of mine from undergrad and the MSU senior is a friend of his from high school. I think it should work out well. We have a great apartment with a lot of space so we won’t be on top of one another, plus we have a really great deck with a grill and everything.

The day I moved in I even got my bedroom all set up and that never happens, in fact in the place I just moved out of I never really got settled in at all.

This move is my 6th or 7th in about as many years and it usually takes me a good week or two to get everything in my room the way I think I want it, but Saturday after we got all my things unloaded I started moving stuff around unpacking my cloths and putting up pictures and posters. So now it really feels like my room, which is always a good thing in a new place.

2004-08-04T17:24:00.000-04:00

Call of the House
After two weeks away from Lansing, the representatives have returned to work on the budget. Secession started today at 10am and by 10:30 the Speaker did what is called a "Call of the House." What is this you might say? There is a little used rule that the House Speaker can use ordering all representatives to the House floor and once the reps are there they can not leave until the Speaker allows them to. Now the really fun part about all this is that if a representative is not in Lansing or will not come to the floor for some reason, the Michigan State Police can be dispatched to retrieve the wayward rep.

As far as anyone in my office can remember this is the first time there has been a call of the House sense the "Prop A" debates in the early 1990s. However a month or so ago there was a "Call of the Senate" (same things apply) and two senators were out of town, one in Detroit and one on Mackinac Islands and I believe that State Topers were sent to retrieve both; nothing that exciting today however.

Right now it is about 5:30 and the reps are sill in meetings about something...I'm hoping that they have things wrapped up at a reasonable hour tonight, because most people in Lansing, myself included, were up late last night tracking primary returns as they coming in. So there are a lot of us who are in need of sleep at some point this week, reps included. But if the representatives get things done tonight then maybe they will not have to be back tomorrow, so I think I may be willing to loose another full night of sleep if it means an easy rest of the week.

2004-07-21T14:56:00.000-04:00

I think I forgot how much I love news!
despite the fact that the reps. are out of town for the next few weeks I have had almost no down time, which is both a good and bad thing.

Over the past two days I have put together two news confs. one for Thursday and another for Friday. (The Friday one I high jacked and am making it my own, but it is just too good a story not to be done right.)

So after putting together the news releases, having visuals made up, writing remarks and sending out the media advisories for these two events I'm calling news outlets all over Michigan pitching these two stories.

What are these stories you ask yourself? Tomorrow one of my reps will be unveiling a Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. It's a ten bill package of legislation, and it is taxes, which in and of its self isn’t all that much fun, but when you put the right face on it, it is.

Then the Friday event is just great all around. Hogs for Dogs (yep its a real thing, check out their site www.hogsfordogs.org) will be making a stop in Lansing at the Capitol and another one of my reps will be their host. Hogs for Dogs is a couple who is traveling around the lower 48 states to raise money and awareness for Paws With A Cause. The cool thing is this couple have side cars on their Harlies for their two dogs, get it Hogs for Dogs, you got to love it! So my media and advertising mind is just a going. There will be some great visuals, now I just need to get the media there!

Ok I should get back to work, I have a few more papers and stations to call...

2004-07-14T13:52:00.000-04:00

This summer is going by WAY to fast...it's already July 14! This working every day is really cutting into my beach and boating time. I think I may need to have a talk with my boss about that one. (Which if I do, I'm sure I'll end up with a lot of beach and boat time...haha)

Once again I'm at work trying to kill time, as the reps. decided it would be a good idea to come back into town today and have secession, but they have been in caucus all morning (and now afternoon.) So I'm sitting on a few releases waiting for votes to happen and to get final approval from the rep before sending it out.

I should be making my much anticipated return to TV at some point today, or that was the plan. I was going to start on air reporting for the House Republican's this week, but it looks like I may have another week of just being on radio (sorry to all my fans who have been waiting with bated breath to see my mug on TV again, it may be a few more days.)

Wow that was a really arrogant paragraph there...it’s all good though, everyone needs it every now and then.

Ok, I should find some work to do, there is a stack of papers just a calling my name!

2004-07-06T17:18:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day of secession before the Reps. leave for the summer! That means starting tomorrow I can sleep in an extra hour and not show up to work until 9am and the best thing of all is for the rest of the summer it’s going to be jeans and polos, no shirts and ties!

Its been a long time between posts I know...I keep thinking that I'll write something, but then there is always something that takes my attention, like sleeping or TV..hahah.

It was a great weekend, I had two weddings, one of which I was in. A note to those who are getting married in the future, although beer is a lot of fun to have between the wedding and the reception (for the wedding party and all others I'm sure) it isn’t so good for the best man when he has to get up and give a speech 2 minutes after walking into the reception. "What I don't even get to have a slice of bread?" I was told I did ok, but you never know!

I did have a lot of fun at the reception though and it was great to see so many of my friends/brothers in one spot. I'm sure that those who didn’t know us though we were having a little too much fun, but what ya gona do?

Hope everyone is doing well...I'll post more I promise....fingers crossed behind my back ;)

2004-05-18T21:15:00.000-04:00

ya ok, so I really hate living alone. It was kind of cool at first, got to watch what I wanted to on TV didn't have to listen to anyone bitch about anything and it was quiet for once. But after a few weeks of this the fun part has worn off.

I use to think that I wanted to move to Montana get a dog buy some land that had a river on it and just fish and read all day. That was about it. But now I'm thinking that I am way to much of a social person for that.

But at any rate dinner is just about ready as is the table for one...

2004-05-12T22:45:00.000-04:00

What to Say
I remember when I started grad school almost two years ago now a comment was made that I would grow a lot and that I specifically would need to tone down my willingness to share my thoughts, because they were not entirely acceptable for the field I was going into.

I kind of let that slide off my back and did not think a lot about it. Anyone who knows me knows that I have not dialed back my opinions, however I have changed. I don’t think however that the reasons I changed were the reasons that the person who made that statement though they would be.

I think that most of the change that has occurred in me has to do with my involvement in MIDO and seeing its members grow over the past few semesters. (I know that over the past month or so a lot of my entrees have had to do with SAE and my brothers back at CMU, but as of late they are what have been giving me strength and direction.)

Before I got to know a lot of the guys in MIDO I had spent a good part of the past few years just going through the motions in my personal life. Not really letting anyone new in and trying not to get too connected to anyone, because that’s the best way not to get hurt. But when you choose a path where you don’t allow yourself the possibility to be hurt you are guaranteed not to have fulfilling relationships. It is one of those “does the benefits outweigh the risks” thing.

After a long time and though, I have come to the conclusion that the benefits more then outweigh the risks. Although I found myself a few weeks ago questioning whether it was…but I now know unequivocally that my life is much richer and more fulfilling on this path.

I want to illustrate what I’m talking about, however, I’m not the best with words, but here goes.

I can’t imagine life without Charlie’s singular wit, and the look he gives me when I’ve just gone too far with something. He is my anchor and moral compass, who has much more often then he would care to, set me right. Rafe’s selfless and upbeat personality is so infectious that you can’t help but smile when you’re around him and I hope to have that opportunity more often as time goes on; also I hope I can be as good of a “big” as he deserves, which is a very tall order. Ryan’s straightforwardness is a refreshing change of pace in a world where people seldom say what they mean and the words that do come out are often empty. The conversations we have are some of the most enjoyable and effortless I have had in a long time. Toby is someone who I made an instant connection with, at times its scary how much we do have in common; but one of the things I enjoy about him the most is that no matter my mood, talking with him or reading one of his emails makes my day better. Brad is one of the smartest kids I have ever met and one of the most eloquent linguists to boot. His capacity to care about his friends is unsurpassed, although he is young, I can only hope to have half of his charter at twice his age. If ever I have doubted a person’s capacity to grow and learn and become a better man, Kyle eliminated it. At 20 he walked into one of the hardest leadership positions anyone could imagine, president of MIDO. It was by no stretch of the imagination easy, there were stumbles, but he took it with the grace and humility of a seasoned professional (at least in public, which is all that really matters.)

I could go on and on about others in my life and how the relationships I have with them have help to change me over the past year and a half…but this entry has gone on long enough. I guess the point that I’m trying to make with all this is that I would not know these people like I do if I had not let down my guard and allowed them into my life. They have all (and many more) taught me so much about life and myself. For a lot of people who “know me” they would think this kind of openness on my part to be very out of charter and the me of a few years ago this would have been, but I guess anyone can grow.

The sad thing is that really words don’t seem to be enough to convey what I’m trying to say and what I’m feeling…but unfortunately words in all their impreciseness and awkwardness are all I have.

To everyone who reads this friends, family, brothers…know that I will always be there for you no matter what. You are all what matters in life not careers or money, but the relationships I have with all of you.

2004-04-29T22:15:00.000-04:00

This week has been going so fast
that I haven’t had a chance to write anything in my blog. And the thing is a lot has happened this week that I want to write about.

This past weekend SAE-MIDO got its charter. The events and ceremonies that we went through were some of the coolest things I have ever done. The banquet on Saturday night after it was all said and done was about as perfect as it could have been. My parents (and all the parents that were there) really enjoyed themselves and I think they liked to see that we were not like a lot of other male Greek organizations out there.

I also had the chance to get to know a lot of the younger guys in the group, and they are all great. Especially my great grand little Toby, he and I really hit it off…and we have a lot of really random things in common (too many to list). I also had the pleasure to get to know one of the younger leaders in the group, Brad. He is truly an amazing young man with a lot of passion and wise beyond his age.

Then there was work this week, for the first time in a long time I felt like I was giving tasks that I would not be able to do. I was in over my head, or so I though. A few new things were added to my job description, several of the things I had never done before I really did not have a good idea of how to go about doing them. But after I got a hold of myself and took a look at things I knew I would be able to handle it and things are going great.

2004-04-19T20:40:00.000-04:00

So this weekend is the BIG weekend....Graduation from grad school (which I'm not attending) and SAE-MIDO becomes an official chapter, which I will be attending. It is hard to believe that almost three years ago this journey with SAE began in a apartment in Tall Grass with three guys. Now we have over 50 young men who will be taking this next step together. It's kind of funny, I'm not even sure why I joined this group in the beginning other then I wanted to be Greek because I though it would be cool and I though it would be cool to start something at CMU. Now its not about that, these young men who are now in the group amaze me. I had no idea that I could have such passion for a group of people.

Sunday was one of those really great days, it was one of those days that you think about and just smile....it kind of makes you wonder how many really great days you get in your life.
My brothers at CMU threw a parents picnic at Island park in Mt. P the weather was perfect the food was great and company was even better. I think the parents of the guys really enjoyed getting to know each other and it let them see that we are a different type of fraternity.
I got to spend most of the day with my grand little Ryan we did all the shopping for the event and set everything up, we had a few laughs curtsey of the wind which giving us a few set backs when it came to keeping things from flying away. And the afternoon ended with me taking a swim in the Chip River (after I supervised the dunking of another brother.)
Like I said this was one of those really great days that you just smile about when you think back on it.
Some people may be questioning my choice not to walk from graduation this Saturday and instead attend events for my fraternity but I know I am making the right choice and yesterday only made that choice clearer for me.

2004-04-08T23:07:00.000-04:00

This is odd
Today, Toby was officially welcomed into my family tree as a active member of SAE….unfortunately, I had to miss his initiation because I had to attend one of my last classes at Grand Valley. Although that is a very good thing, I really wish I was able to be up in Mt. Pleasant with all the guys.

The past few weeks have been odd for me (I don’t want to say they have been hard, just different.) And I’m not really sure what that means, its just the best word I can think of to describe how I’m feeling. Over the past few weeks I have had the chance to rediscover my fraternity and I can’t help but feel that I’m missing out on something up there. But on top of that there is also this feeling of emptiness, I just don’t get it. Maybe I’m tired or something like that, but I just don’t feel like me. Like I said I don’t get it, but at any rate, there is no use dwelling on it…I’m sure things will work themselves out, it feels better just to get it out there.

2004-04-01T22:02:00.000-05:00

It kinda hit me tonight
So tonight when we were sitting in class, it hit me...we only have a few weeks left in grad school. Now I'm not sad about leaving GVSU or anything like that, and I love my new job...but it is going to be very odd not having classes with all the people that I am use to seeing on a daily basis and much to my surprise I think I may even miss a few of the other grads. It's odd, I know...but hey it is me we are talking about....

First day on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives
On another note, lets talk about my first day on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives. I was talking with one of the reps (and using my hands to illustrate my point) when my left arm got a little excited and I knocked the nameplate of that rep off his desk and it landed on the desk next to him…yah great first impression, but everyone who was standing around me got a good laugh out of it. Then to top it off, I though I would just kind of slip away, but no, I had to catch my upper leg on another reps desk, good times all around. But all in all it was a really great day.

2004-03-29T20:54:00.000-05:00

What is this crap I'm feeling?
I can’t decide if this is a good thing or not…that is to be close enough to someone and to care about how that person feels to a point that when they are hurting and there is nothing you can do about it, other then listen, it hurts you too. With a few exceptions in my life I have done a good job of not crossing the line of becoming emotionally involved in another persons life. But for some reason over the past few months (or maybe even over the past year) I have allowed my defenses to come down and have allowed that to happen. Now I find myself in a situation with a friend where the only thing I can do is be someone to talk to and a person to listen to the problems, but I can't do anything about the situation to help them. It just kills me to know that someone I care about is hurting and there isn’t a damn thing I can do!

I know that most people would say I am doing a lot by being there as a person to talk with and listen…but right now, to me, it just does not seem like I’m doing enough.

Is this the hard part of life, Is this what builds charter? I can handle my own feelings and situations, but when people I care about are in tough spots, that IS what really tests me. If this is what it means to care about someone, maybe I’m better off being a self centered SOB (which I know I’m know, I’m just venting.)

2004-03-28T01:37:00.000-05:00

WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND - and its only Saturday!
Today my "nephew" (Kevin isn't really my nephew, but his dad and I have been friends for a really long time and Kevin calls me uncle Jon) had his 3rd birthday party, let me tell you if you have not been to a birthday party for a little kid as of late, you need to find one. There were so many funny moments, the best one I think was as Kevin was opening one of his presents, and Ami (his mom) says "that one is from mom and dad" Kevin go "oh" and puts it back down and goes for another present to open, it was great, everyone was on the dying!

Then tonight a friend of mine and I had a really great conversation. You know the kind that just goes off in all directions; it was Philosophical, educational, funny, and just great.

Tomorrow I'm going back up to Mt. Pleasant to spend some quality time with my brothers, and then Monday I start a new chapter in my life, my job in Lansing with the Michigan House of Representatives.
A lot for just a few hours in someone’s life, but that's what makes it fun!

2004-03-22T21:36:00.000-05:00

So now that I will be starting my job here in less then a week, does that mean I need to change my blog title to something without the words "grad student" in it? Let me know.

ya, so the past week has been a very trying one (and this week is going to be even more so)...and the worst part is that I can only talk to the people who it involves. I do not think I truly appreciated the gravity of the situation until the events that occurred last night. Does the good of the many always out weigh the good of the one? If so then the choices that I have helped to make are the right ones...if not, I just don’t know.

I know this is a VERY cryptic entry, but I can not really go into more details about things...which sucks.

Ok....enough with this, I'll post a better blog sooner rather then later

2004-03-05T14:22:00.000-05:00

Ok, so today has just been a REALLY great day (or more to the point the past 26 hours.) I was up in Mt. Pleasant with my brothers for our big little ceremony (I got a great grad little, welcome to the family Toby,) it was bar time after that, which is always fun. Then this morning I got a call from a place I had interviewed with and they offered me the job. So come graduation I will be heading to Lansing!

It has been a long and strange road, but I am really happy with where I will be working and with what I will be doing and the steps that I have taken to get there. So I'm now enjoying my last day of my last spring break and thinking about how much fun I am going to be having in my next career move.

2004-03-01T00:42:00.000-05:00

I remember back at Central making a decision that I was going to be a career orientated guy. I did not want to have to worry about getting tied down with someone, more to the point I did not want to plan my life/career around someone else. Is that selfish? I don’t know...I have a friend who thinks it is, she says that is the point of a relationship is to go though things like careers and other challenges that come up along the way. I seem to think that it is not selfish at all, because I am making the choice ahead of time that I do not want to put someone else in that position. Now if I were to get into a relationship and then after the fact throw that out there, now that would be selfish, just something that I have been thinking about a lot as of late.

Something else that I find funny, it almost seems like it is more important for some of my friends that I be in a relationship, then it is to me...they give me the line "I just want you to be happy." I guess this friend is blind or they really do not know me as well as they think they do, because I am happy. I love going out and being with friends and not having to worry about the aspects of being in a relationship...but at the same time I find myself kind of seeing someone...but for some reason I'm too chicken to talk with her about me being a career person. But at this point, the concern maybe mute, I may have waited too long, and she may think I have lost interest.

New topic...has anyone ever had a friend(s) who had a tendency to get down on themselves? I do, and it just kills me sometimes. You sit there and watch them beat themselves up (not in the physical cense), but you don't know how to help, but a lot of times it is because they won't let you. I found that sometimes it is there way of letting off steam...but still at times it is scary. I am not even sure what I am trying to say here...lol...like that's new.

Reader poll....(and nothing to do with what I have written so far.)
This is from dinner Thursday night after class with Mike, Ken, Amanda and myself. Were you the kid that the other kids let play because you had the ball? (or insert other fun item here...I'm talking kids stuff here, get your heads out of the gutter, come on, this is a family show...lol)

2004-02-25T23:44:00.000-05:00

I have a really hard choice to make and it centers around April 24, 2004. Two huge events in my life will be occurring at the same time. My graduation from grad school and the chartering of my fraternities chapter. I am in a position that no matter what choice I make I feel like I will be making people I care about feel like second tier friends.

In Mt. Pleasant I have a group of about 60 guys who have been working towards the goal of getting a charter and full membership in SAE for more then 3 years and on April 23 and 24 all of that work will pay off. I am one of the original members of the group and it would mean a lot to me (and a lot of other young men) if I was there.

In Grand Rapids I have my graduation from grad school, something that I have been working towards for two years and in that time have become good friends with a number of the other grads and I fell that if I decide to be in Mt. Pleasant that weekend I will be in effect saying, sorry guys.

Fun times….at the very least I’m hoping that I can attend the reception later in the afternoon for the CSAL grads and then head back to Mt. Pleasant for dinner. Man who would have thunk it….I’m torn between CMU and GVSU events.

2004-02-21T10:50:00.000-05:00

It has been a few days cense I have put up a new post, so I though I better get on the ball. Nothing really that interesting to post right now....although I do have two interviews this coming week, one at the University of Michigan for housing and another at the University of Wisconsin Superior for programming. Very exciting! But we will see how it goes; they are both phone interviews so if they go well I could be heading off to their campuses.

A few weeks ago in the online version (I did not see it in the print version) of the Chronicle of Higher Ed there was an article about the highs and lows of the job search. I read it before I had my first interview and subsequent first rejection. And let me tell you, there are some major highs and lows in the job search process, just like the author said.

I want to close with thanks to everyone who sent condolences about Gus, it is really nice to know that you have such great friends.

2004-02-18T00:47:00.000-05:00

In the past five minutes I found out that my dog of 13 years died...and like my friend Heather D my head is telling me it is good for him that he is gone (this past weekend was not good), but still my heart is breaking. I'm also worried about my dad, Gus was a big part of his life, he went to work with my dad every day and Gus was always there, no matter what he was doing. Ya, so now I'm sitting on IM talking with my sister about our dog (and my friend Ken). It is always hard when someone dies...and I'm having a hard time with this one. To one of my oldest and best friend, Gus, you will be missed and there will never be another dog like you.

2004-02-18T00:30:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to work on chapter two of my thesis this week and it is just not coming together...the good news is that chapter one is done for the most part and I'm hoping that chapter two starts to take better shape this weekend. But I think I am going to call it quits on two for the night and just turn in what I have done for tomorrows thesis meeting, something is better then nothing....right?

After talking with friends over the past few days, homework/school (which has been the biggest stress in my life the past few weeks) is starting to coming into perspective as not really that big a deal, which is something that I have always know but every now and then I need a little reminder of that.

To all my friends who I have taken for granted and my brothers back at Central that I don’t see enough even though I could get up there more if I tried....I'm going to try harder to be a better friend/brother. Everyone that I have come into contact with throughout my life have helped to shape me into the person that I am today and that deserves thanks, because with out all of you I don't know where I would be.

Not sure where that all came from, but I though it needed to be said.

2004-02-17T00:33:00.000-05:00

After one day of bloging (sp) I have a few friends doing it now too...one is using it to vent (which is a good thing...it means I will not have to hear it as much, I am hoping it will be therapy...and to that friend, love you and I am only give you a hard time.)

This past Friday a friend of mine and I took a road trip and we had a VERY odd conversation about whose responsibility it was for Americans getting fat. Was it the fast food companies who are more concerned about making a buck, or the consumer’s lack of self control and laziness? I took the point of view that people need to take responsibility for their own eating habits and stop eating fast food 2 or 3 times a day and cook every now and then. My friend thinks that fast food should offer more healthy options and stop asking people to super size everything (the latter I agree with as well). Just another debate...let me know what you think.

2004-02-16T03:19:00.000-05:00

Ya, so my friend Ken suggested that I start a Blog...because its cool or something like that. I guess he thinks I have the free time to do this. We will see how long I can keep up with updating it.
Jon

2004-02-16T00:54:00.000-05:00

Ya, so another random weekend in the life of Jon....I went up to Northern Michigan for V-day which was cool. Dinner was really good and the company was even better. After we ate I suggested (as a joke) that we should drive up to East Jordan (even further north in Michigan) to have drinks at a friends bar, and we did it. It was A LOT of fun though, plus being totally random like that is good every so often.

As a result though, my Sunday was shot...I was going to be homework, but I just could not get myself motivated. (In my head I'm out of grad school...not a good thing with about 10 weeks left in the semester.) And now I am taking up even more time with this (but this is fun).

Ok All, I think I'm going to call it a night...do a little pleasure reading and then get so sleep tonight and try to homework thing again tomorrow.

More random thoughts and synaptic misfires tomorrow!

2004-02-16T00:44:00.000-05:00

testing to see if this works...