Trying to get back at it...

In order to avoid being called a liar (again), I am posting up!


Hello. It feels like it has been a long time since I have blogged at all, especially for my own personal enjoyment. I am typing this post on my brand new laptop that I got this evening! It is very exciting to have a computer with the most recent versions of Word and that can run iTunes while also having an Internet browser open! So tonight I have spent far too much time installing new software and various other things that go along with starting up a new computer.

I do need to get to bed though because I have an early morning in the Picnic Basket. But in order to make this post not entirely fluff, I have two bits of reflection:

1. It is incredibly frustrating when people inform you that you did not give them all of their food order when they have not, in fact, checked the entire contents of the food basket. Please, ma'am, give me more credit than that: of course I put a spoon in their to go with your yogurt. Sir, if you would just look underneath the salad, you will clearly see that I put both the chocolate milk and the chicken noodle soup that you so desperately desire... At least have the courtesy to carefully examine the basket away from the pick-up window.

2. Read Slaughterhouse 5. I am currently re-reading it for the third time now, and I love it even more with every read. I would recommend going slow and possibly finding a good literary analysis to go along with the book. It will help put a lot of the philosophy and prose in context.


OK, well, have a wonderful evening, and look forward to more blogs!

Mostly because I'm bored...

So, this week has been a surprising mix of boredom and stress.

I have a huge literature review due on Friday. Luckily I have gotten to start and I'm roughly 6 pages in. It needs to be at least 20. But I also have most of Wednesday and all of Thursday to hit is hard. So no worries. For tonight, I prepared a thesis/methodological statement for my research paper in Early Islamic Art/Arch. My only beef with this is that we were supposed to print out a copy of it for every member of the class. So I am going to get a copy of all 17 members of my classes thesis? With all due respect, I'm just not that interested. I'm sure it could be riveting and inspire lots of deep conversation, but I just don't think so. And tomorrow I'm supposed to go to the the science lab and mix up some buffer solutions, glucose, and cacao for my Diabetes research project... Again, really not looking forward to it, but it could be worse. Amidst all these projects, I am also getting ready for a research paper for my hip hop class, and sort of determining my future by choosing my M. Div. school (I should hear from CTS on Friday). But despite all of these projects going on, I am amazed at how bored I still am in between venues. I really need to start bringing my pleasure reading books along with me every day...

Speaking of which, I'm on track for 12 books this year; I just finished Jonathan Safran Foer's "Eating Animals". Anyone who is considering being a vegetarian or completely oblivious to the CFO or factory farming industry that produced nearly all of our meat should read this book. It was highly informative and persuasive. After reading it, I'm glad that I have already started the path of becoming a meat-free eater. But now I'm not really all that sure about eating eggs. But anyway, everyone who eats (that means you) should read this book, and make a conscious decision to think about what you eat and what is it worth to you.

Oh on a final note, US hockey did me proud in the finals against Canada. I know it's old news now, but I was proud of the effort that our team, especially Ryan Miller put up on Sunday. We kept it competitive and hopefully brought some well-deserved respect to the US Hockey program. We will certainly get you next year, Canada. And, obviously, go Blues! First game back tonight. Hopefully we can kick it into high gear and nab a playoff spot.

Females in Hip Hop and more

So the other night in my hip hop class, we were talking about women in hip hop. And it was at the moment that Dr. Schur asked us to think of women who were hip hoppers that I realized how few women I actually listen to. Besides Jean Grae, Lady Sovereign, MC Lyte, Lauryn Hill, and Queen Latifah, I had a hard time of coming up with women in hip hop heads... This was really frustrating to me. I really like hip hop because it really encourages people to come, have fun, and be who you are, but that message just does not seem to be reflected in who is producing music and who is getting distributed. Dr. Schur said to me something like the language of authenticity seems to only be accessible for males. I wonder what it will take to make hip hop more gender friendly? It's a really big question that I want to reflect on more, but for now, I just want to point out that it frustrates me that hip hop does not have more popular female MCs (background vocals do not count)

In other news, I just finished a sweet graphic novel version of the US Constitution (thanks Brian). It was really cool; it reminded me why I started studying political science and why I really like AP Government in high school

Oh and I am absolutely excited for two things: This weekend I get to see my girlfriend and visit Eden Theological Seminary!!! And, next Thursday I get to eat lunch with the former president of Amnesty USA Bill Schulz!!! I know. You are all jealous. Well you should be because, well, it's super awesome...

Oh yeah, and Model UN is just around the corner, I realized today! What the hell? I have to go represent Haiti in St. Louis in basically 3 weeks, I believe. I'm not really as prepared as I wanted to be, but I am excited for it.

OK well, that's not really as thoughtful of a post as I would like, but it is a nice update, isn't it? Have an enjoyable rest of the week!

Link Up Time!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you in on a little secret. I am managing a blog for my Hip Hop Nation class, and I wanted everyone to be able to look at that too...


So if you're interested, the link is http://hiphopnation1126.blogspot.com

Check it out! It's so fly...

Mixed Day, I guess

Well, today was an interesting day.


So last night I got some solid sleep, which was different than the rest of the week. I guess I'm getting back to feeling comfortable in my bed here. Anyway, this morning I heard back on my GRE results and I got a 6 on the Analytical Writing section (It's on a 1-6 scale)! So that was actually amazing. That made me quite happy, but it was a bit dreary, so I headed to the library. I got a decent amount of work done, but I was sort of inefficient. I have so much writing to do for these applications to seminary, and a lot of the writing questions are unique for each school.

But either way, Drury Men's Basketball came from behind to defeat the Lewis Lew-sers, or whatever they are. It was a great game to go to and there is something so great about cheering at sports events like basketball. There is so much excitement and yelling (my voice hurts a lot from the two back to back games and last night's party).

So after that I came home, did some more work, then I went out to pick up a nostalgic video game. Anyone who is familiar with the Twisted Metal dynasty understands. So we went to this amazing store called Vintage Stock, found the game, and also found the elusive Ghostrider #24 and Marvel back issues were buy one, get one free! So I got 2 Ghostrider's and 2 Captain America's for six dollars. If you know anything about comic books or back issues, you know that's a great deal. So I was happy about that...

Well, we decided to go to get food at Jimmy John's. And for some reason, I was so excited about getting my delicious vegetarian sub with avocado spread that I left the keys in the car... Wow, I was absolutely frustrated. So luckily I was with people who had an Smart Phone (Thanks Nic/Brian) and we contacted a locksmith to come unlock my car.... for 60 flipping dollars!?!?! Exploitation at its finest...

Anyway, the guy shows up, opens my car and says to me "Alright, that will be $65." I'm sure my face was priceless because I was already livid that I had to pay $60 to get the car opened, and now I was going to have to pay more? I said something to the effect of "Are you serious, you told me on the phone $60." Well, he relented and said $60 would be fine, so I guess he thought I was made of money and wanted to get a little extra out of me. Little did he know he had me wait in the rain for 15+ minutes to pay $60 dollars do make up for a stupid mistake... he was not getting any of my generosity... And to top it off, Twisted Metal Black for the PS2 was waaaaay more frustrating than I remember... So let's add all of that up:

+ Great GRE Writing score
-/+ Semi-productive at the library
+ Drury defeats Lewis
+ Bought Twisted Metal Black for $5
+ Got Buy One, Get One Marvel back issues, filled in Ghostrider collection
- Locked keys in car, paid $60 to have a jerk to unlock it
- Twisted Metal Black fairly frustrating

Well, I guess it looks like it was good day, but man, it was an expensive day...

Back at School!

Well, the journey was successful.

I'm back at Drury University for my last semester of my undergraduate career. The day started off great with a hearty breakfast at Denny's with mother and father, followed by packing up the car (and of course I forgot to pack my belt! I always forget something silly), a nice drive West on Interstate 44, and then arriving back at my house on campus.

Lots of good food today. Nic, Valerie, and I dined at a place called "Grad School," where nearly half of the choices are vegetarian and most of it is made from scratch at the restaurant! That was great, then we ate tonight at an Italian place called Nonna's for Dalston's birthday. Both new places to eat, both very tasty.

It was nice to see everyone tonight. We all got together and laughed a lot. It's great when everyone comes back together that first time. Those are the times when everything is the most exciting and energized. Every story gets a laugh, and there are plenty of the things we forgot about each other that we missed.

I'm not particularly looking forward to the rest of the week, mostly because I have to actually be serious and get some things accomplished (i.e. get textbooks, complete seminary applications, Mirror article, and brainstorm topic for political science project). But I am really looking forward to getting a rhythm going and enjoying my time. Anyway, I need to sleep/read my graphic novel interpretation of the history of the United States Constitution. Awesome.

Getting Revved Up Again

Well, I can see that the last time I updated was nearly two months ago, so I think it's appropriate to check back in for a minute.

This post will be more of a place holder. I wanted to just say that I plan on posting up some thoughts soon. Things that you can expect to hear about: My winter break, my New Year's resolutions (past and present), books I recently finished, my process of taking the GRE/applying to Master's of Divinity programs, my opinion on Conan/Leno debate, my observations on becoming a vegetarian, some cool things I found/rediscovered while I was doing a thorough reorganization of my room, or possibly my thoughts on my next and final semester at Drury University.

All of these things are for sure to come within the next few days. But for now, I am going to go get some dinner, shower, enjoy my time with Mom and Dad, go visit my girlfriend, and get all situated for my return the to my beloved Drury.

Anyway, I hope that this list of things to come is a sufficient post that will tide everyone over until I fully commit to getting back in the swing of things :)

Oh yea! I just found out that I am required to host a blog for my Hip Hop Nation class, so I will eventually put a link to that on here too, so you can get a double dose of Matt's thoughts!! Aren't you all out there just so lucky?