Back to School

So school is officially back in full force. It is going to be difficult, with 18 credit hours and 15-20 hrs. of work each week. This is my last academic year, and I have mixed emotions about it. Mostly, I'm really gonna miss it when it's gone. Strange. This is the year when all of the knowledge we've crammed into our brains so far is finally becoming useful. We're applying it at long last. For most of the last two years I've wondered why I was being forced to learn some things that seemed an awful lot like nonsense. The idea is for us to be able to solve problems and make recommendations. Not just count pills. I hasn't all been useless. In fact, the opposite is true. What I'm trying to say is that this semester promises to be wicked hard; but just as rewarding. And I love it. Honestly. I love drugs, and I love learning more about drugs. But the drugs and the learning opportunities will be there long after graduation. That is, if I'm a half-decent pharmacist. What won't be there are my pharmacy friends. I'm sure that some time soon after graduation a class of 2007 diaspora will occur. We are a close knit community and I've met some wonderful friends from class and Chi Alpha whom I will miss dearly. I love you guys! Seriously, for once.

If Your Friends Jump Off a Cliff...

...will you jump too?

I would, and I did. Twice. First H-less Megan jumped without hesitation as seen below. Then Corey went (right). After being assured by Megan that it didn't hurt, I jumped only to receive the wedgie of a lifetime. Later Megan told me that her landing was in fact painful as well. She had an enormous bruise for a week or something. Liar! We couldn't exactly determine the height from which we jumped, but I think it was about 2 stories. So...quite high indeed.
The weekend at Table Rock Lake was enjoyed by Megan, Ro, Johnny, Cory & Jaime, Lynn & Dave, and myself. Lynn and Dave have the cutest house down there. There is a landing strip nearby, and they sometimes fly their little plane there. It is the vacation home of my dreamings. Oh, and one of the closets in the house has a built in record player.
We went boating, tubing, swimming, and Johnny's favorite: golf carting. Joan prepared an "authentic" Spanish meal of paella and sangria for us all. It involved rice, shrimp, chicken, and mussels. If all the necessary ingredients would have been available, there would have been squid in it too if I understood correctly. Interesting. So in summary: Good food. Good times. Good friends.

Spanish cowboy in his most perfect moment. (Beaumont Club) 

Here is a little teaser...there is more to come. 

To Whom It May Concern...

I will be blogless for a few days. I'm going to Table Rock Lake for the weekend. I'll post about it when I get back.
Until then, here's a freak to entertain and nauseate: The Real Life Peter Pan.

Evidence of my Redneck Heritage

I hope no one is offended by this post.

So I drove back to Marysville on Sunday night. I wanted to visit home one more time before school starts again. Plus, I had a few days off from work.
Ryan (my brofo) may want a ride to Topeka tomorrow, because he's looking to buy a new truck. That's all fine and well, but there's a red flag as to the kind of truck he wants. Ryan wants to buy a truck with a V8 and I don't mean the vegetable juice. Why does he want a V8? Because we're part redneck. He can't deny it. When I purchased my truck in November, I had the choice between 4 cylinder and 6. Knowing that I would get better gas mileage with the 4, I chose the 6 anyway. I think I subconsciously felt the need to represent. Also, I think my dad may have wanted to disown me if I didn't go for the power.

As I pulled into the driveway on Sunday night, I notice this:

Exhibit A - Behemoth in Driveway
Dad recently bought this 1978 masterpiece so that he can fish for days and days in style. What's missing from the picture is the satellite dish that goes on top of the RV. Also, I've just been informed that it has a 440 engine that is big enough to pull the boat, too. (Dad is reading this over my shoulder.)


Exhibit B - Miniature Horse in Backyard
Here we have Comet. He is NOT a pony. In fact, he takes offense. Comet is a miniature stallion. I mention him because my parents don't exactly live in the country anymore. Technically, they don't live in town either which is why it's ok to have a miniature horse in the yard. From time to time he escapes from his pen to terrorize the neighborhood and eat his fill of green grass. Mom and I are to blame for him, letting Dad off the hook for once. He's recently discovered that he LOVES apples. And it looks like he's due for a haircut.


Exhibit C - 1967 Dodge Power Wagon 4X4
The definitive workmen's truck. I'm pretty sure my dad has had this forever. It used to have a winch in the back that came in handy for cutting down trees, pulling vehicles out of ditches, and other such nonsense. He used to sell firewood. If anyone is wondering, no, that orange door isn't original. And no, it's not fuctional either. I remember fearing this truck as a child. It is so loud that you can't carry a conversation, and there are holes rusted through the floorboards.

Exhibit D - Family Reunion

Fair play to both sides of the family. This is my Mom's side at the lake this year. Beers + Trucks + Sun = The perfect day? A picture is indeed worth a thousand words.




Honorable mention: We have a neighbor across the road who likes to get drunk and shoot his gun. If anyone can think of something I'm forgetting, please let me know. I welcome new pieces of evidence.

Spicy Salsa

This be the obligatory post about Salsa dancing. I thought about calling this "Chunky Salsa" but that really only applies to me, and therefore wouldn't be fair.

On Saturday night, I went Salsa dancing for the first time. I went with Becky, and we met a bunch of people there including: Lynn, Dave, their friend Will, Johnny, Ro.Lo, H-less Megan, and some of Ro's co-workers whom I just met. Missing (and missed) were Corey and Jamie, Brandon, Mimi, and Galan.

We went to the Westport Beach Club, which is attached to the Beaumont. It is an outdoor venue with a cabana type bar, a live band, and some sand volleyball courts. I can't quite figure that out.

The free Salsa lessons started at 8:30. I found them to be really helpful. I learned how to do the basic steps, and a simple spin. My dance partner, when we were learning the spin, was a regular. I'm not sure why he was at the lesson, but he just kept spinning me! It was a bit excessive. I felt like a top and got dizzy, but I learned the spin really well.

Later, when the crowds filtered in there was hardly an empty spot on the dance floor. The male/female ratio was overwhelming skewed. There were a lot of dudes. Mostly a lot of middle-aged Mexican dudes. Becky, my tall, blonde cousin broke many hearts that night. The offers to dance poured in, which was flattering in a way but then annoying in another.

The occasion gave me on opportunity to wear my sassy, pointy shoes AND hang out with a lot of cool people including Becky who I don't see often enough. I think that Salsa dancing is more of a date type activity than it is a going-out-with-friends activity. But I still had a great time. Yeah.

Bring on the Wreckage

Last night was the Douglas County Fair's most important cultural event: the Demolition Derby. Here is an article from the Lawrence Journal World.

It was all part of Missy's brilliant plan. When she asked me if I wanted to go, I did not hesitate. The spattering of mud and the smells of smoke and blown radiators were irresistible. In attendance were Missy, Joan, myself, and thousand(s?) of excited others. We came to see cars turn into heaps of twisted metal. We were not disappointed, although there could have been more fire. Also, Missy would have liked to see better designed cars. More color, more appropriate fonts. Most of the cars looked quite poor, graphically speaking.

We did spot two excellent mullets and one horrific rat tail. It was on a woman, and she had only the rat tail itself bleached blonde. Joan got a healthy dose of Kansas culture, and sampled local cuisine: a corn dog and funnel cake.

On the agenda for tonight: salsa dancing at Westport. It should be fun.

In other news, my Venus Fly Trap was pronounced dead this afternoon at 1:47 pm. The cause of death was neglect. Apparently I have no idea how to care for such a carnivorous plant.

 

Rock School

Gene Simmons is getting his own show on VH1 called Rock School soo obviously borrowing from the Jack Black movie. What the crap?!? What do I know, it may be entertaining.

Bienvenido a los Estados Unidos

Wow. 'Twas a full day.

The first order of business was welcoming Joan, the pharmacy school's exchange student from Spain. Five of us went to the airport dressed in our "I Love Drugs" shirts and cowboy gear. The poor guy had a terrible time getting here. His travel agent booked his flights with too short of a layover. As a result, he missed his flight in London. Then, he had to wait for 10 hours in Boston. Add to that the airline (American) losing his luggage and jet lag. Joan was in surprisingly good spirits though, especially considering the cirmcumstances. He handled it much better then I would have. (But then again, when I flew to Prague I cried a lot, wanted to go home desparately bad, and slept 29 hours the first "night".) We went to lunch at Papa Keno's, showed him around Malott Hall, and introduced him to Dr. Staudinger.

After that I went swimming with Mimi in the pool at Quail Creek, also known as the former residence of a certain Mike, Aaron, and Timmah. I inhaled much water, and indured a painful cramp in my calf while in the deep end (9 ft.) This was after Missy left, and there was no one within screaming distance. I pictured myself drowning. Then I came to my senses, realized that I am physically incapable of sinking below the surface, and stopped being so morbid.

Then this evening, I got a phone call from someone interested in looking at my car. They came by, AND BOUGHT IT!! I thought selling my car would be more bittersweet, but at this point it's almost entirely sweet. I've been through so much trying to get rid of that thing, its a relief to have it over with. Plus I really need the $$.

Mad Hot Ballroom

I went to see Mad Hot Ballroom tonight with (H-less) Megan at Liberty Hall. I love Liberty Hall. The movie is a documentary about inner-city 5th graders learning and then competing in ballroom dancing. I enjoyed it. It made me want to take lessons and learn how to do those dances. I'm officially adding it to my life's to do list. Mark my words: some day I will merengue.

Precious.  

This is the little rascal that won. I had him picked; he had a look of steel in his eye. He was actually set to finish third, but then the second place weenie tackled the would-be-winner, and this dude won! Good times. 

Wiener Dog Nationals

Yesterday the sky was clear, the temperature was warm, and the legs were short. The Woodlands Race Track celebrated their 12th annual Wiener Dog Nationals. This is the design the t-shirts had, unfortunately. I would have liked to get a shirt, but I just can't bear to walk around with the phrase "Got-R-Done" on.

The dachshunds raced between greyhounds. Those little guys are soo cute. Besides the dogs, there was some really good people watching. Rofo is the best for that. She's so fun. We spotted at least 2 mullets and some slammin' outfits. Is dressing in head to toe turquoise a bad idea? Absolutely! Purple though...that's hot.