When I was younger...

The following is a photo taken in late 2002:

I am apparently trying to crush Valerie's shoulder.

Look at that young man's face!  He's thin, he's smiling, his haircut isn't that awful, AND he's having the time of his life.  

Life as a college freshman was quite an eye opening experience.  It was something that transmogrified a bright, painfully shy, somewhat closed minded young man into a bright, slightly less painfully shy, much less closed minded young man.  I met some wonderful people.  I took a couple of interesting classes.  I made lasting friendships.  If given the chance to do it all over again, there are very few things I would change. 

After my freshman year, I had a decision to make.  My academic performance was less than stellar(ha!), and my once large scholarship would be cut in half if I returned for another year.  Oh to know then what I know now.  Back then I believed that the only way I was going to be successful was to finish college.  I was convinced that a college degree would guarantee a great job that was life affirming and lucrative.  In my 20 year old mind there was only one option:  go back to school in the coming fall and kick ass!  

I went back.  

I got my ass kicked.

The following photo was taken moments ago:

I wave because I care.  

I am now 26 and I'm a bit heftier, scruffier, and more knowledgeable.  I've learned that not having a college degree won't ruin your life.  I've been working for UAMS for five years this coming September and have managed to secure a nice paycheck.  Of course, a good chunk of that paycheck goes to student loans(over $500 this month alone) and credit card statements(we won't talk about that one).  Had I decided to end my college career after my freshman year, I wouldn't be paying these student loan payments, nor would my credit card bills be at the level they are.  Que sara, sara!

It's not that I don't plan to finish college.  I do.  I just know now that I should have waited on that sophomore year until now.  Would I advise high school seniors against going to college right away?  Never!  Everyone should give freshman year a try and if it works out, keep going.  If you come up short, maybe take a semester off, or a year off, or six years off : )  

Just keep working.

Not only great on the Golden Globes...

Ricky Gervais is pretty great all the time...

White (2 weeks after) Christmas!!

Last Friday I woke up to the above.   There were two men on the roof for hours.  Thankfully they fixed the roof when they did...

...because the above happened Sunday night.

The above is the view from the back porch.

4.5 inches Sunday night.  By Monday morning, we had well over 5 inches of snow!

We celebrated by making waffles.

We celebrated even more by making macaroni and cheese.

Monday we walked down to the park.

Brad and Faith doing their best Bigfoot photo impression.

Rocket slide surrounded by snow.

Brad surveying the land.

When we returned, I built this guy on the top of my car.

Brad decided to add some class to my snowman.

Later that afternoon we took a walk to the grocery store.

We would have driven, but Tuttle didn't quite make it.

The snow has all but vanished from the streets, but it's still holding strong in our yard.  While it was a fun couple of days, I can honestly say I'm ready for spring: )

Gettin' up in 2011's guts

So this is the New Year

and I don't feel any different

The clanking of crystal

explosions off in the distance...

Remember that song?  If you're my age, you would've been around the age of 19 when Death Cab for Cutie released this song and ten others on their album "Transatlanticism" and this man became the vessel through which your heart wept:

I feel you, friend.  Look through my weird glasses into these eyes.  I will over-enunciate every word for you.

Regardless of the fact that nobody really cares about DCFC anymore, "Transatlantacism" was a great album.  Somebody is still listening to it!  According to Amazon, the album is in the top five of the genres of Shoegazing, Twee Pop, and Dream Pop.  I have no idea what those are, but hey, it was impressive enough for this girl to marry ol' weird glasses up there:

I know a guy that's in a band with Jim James.   Also, I'm pretty hot.

In other news, Operation 2011 Financial Lock-down has been put into place.  I've created a budget and have been calling Citibank every day to try and get them to lower my APR.   They always seem so disappointed when they tell me to call back at another time since they can't lower it for me at the present time.  It makes me think they probably really dislike their job.  Would you be happy if you had to answer call after call from angry customers all day long?  I always try to be cool headed when I call.  Kill 'em with kindness, right?  Their approach of "Kill 'em with incredibly high interest rates" seems to be working a little better, though.

Until next time...

Gone Fishin'

It's 7 a.m. on Saturday morning and I've just stumbled out of bed.  In about five hours, I will be seeing this:

Dad and I are hitting the White River to do some fishing for rainbow trout.  The weather is going to be perfect...the leaves are changing...most of the family will be there.  It's going to be a good day.

Pay up or ship out

Today I sold my one and only electric guitar:

The Epiphone served me well these past few years.  I bothered many a neighbor, hit many a power chord, and broke many a string.  The Ep was an essential part of Forty-Two, beginning as our only guitar and spending the rest of its days as our rhythm guitar(with the occasional blazing solo).  I didn't really want to part with it, but sometimes you have to make smart financial decisions.  And when you fail to make those smart financial decisions, you have to sell your guitar.  

Thankfully, I still have my prized acoustic possession:

While it may not play as loud or sound as mean, the Masterbilt will get me through these hard times.

As soon as I can pay off these pesky medical bills I will start to focus on acquiring my next toy...

The Tele on Tom's lap...what were you thinking, perv?

Audible sigh

Witness one of the only bands I'd still pay money to see play one of my favorite songs off their old album "At Dawn".  


Then witness them perform "Wordless Chorus" on Fallon last night.  I've really got to get Jim into my Frontman Stage Presence Clinic.  That cape MUST go.  Also his dance moves could use some work.