All I can say is that my life is pretty plain...

Carpal Tunnel anyone?

2008-02-28T15:03:20Z

Back from the Dead?

2008-02-06T19:47:19Z

I really should get back into the habit of blogging more. Does anyone even use LJ these days?!

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-08-08T11:25:00

2007-08-08T16:27:26Z

I just got a message on Word that read: "Too many spelling and grammatical errors to continue checking...", i.e., "You're too stupid for this program; please go back and repeat fourth grade."

Stupid as it may be, this has made my day.

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-08-04T14:10:00

2007-08-04T19:10:55Z

This is why untrained Americans should not sing in other languages:

Summer Grumbles

2007-07-21T17:56:48Z

If I've come to only one conclusion this summer, it's that I need more ~~straight~~ active friends. When it's summer and 80 degrees every damn day, I want to be outside and doing something. It's bad enough living in the city, working every day and not being able to enjoy wide open spaces, but when it feels like pulling teeth to get a few people together to do something mildly physical, it seems like a waste of summer. Most of my friends have left the city for home for the summer, and the ones who have stayed often have conflicting work schedules. Even then, the only thing that people seem to want to do after work is go out or go dancing. That's all well and good, but I tire of it and want something a little simpler - why must alcohol, music and money always be an integral part of that fleeting concept called fun? I have a few friends who are usually willing to go running or work out, but the sterile atmosphere of the gym makes those activities, however active, seem like yet more work. What ever happened to those classic summer activities like tag, kickball or frisbee? In our quest for adulthood, have we forgotten how to enjoy life in Nature's most pleasant season?

I want sun! I want green grass! I want to run! I want to laugh and ache at the same time! I want summer back!

Alphabet Soup

2007-07-11T15:17:57Z

ETA HSLC IR LWW OUP BMJ BBC CNN BCC LSSAA CV GPA GRE GMAT HIV HR BP PR SJ TEI

I think I've had quite enough acronyms for one day. And it's only 10:00.

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-07-06T21:15:00

2007-07-07T02:16:29Z

I so just got hit on by one of my roommate's female friends!

I've still got it! =D

Reflections

2007-07-01T23:20:40Z

Perhaps it's the fact that my summer is half over, perhaps it's the fact that I am now 21 or perhaps it's the realization that I only have two short months left of living in MN/WI before leaving for Spain for a year only to return to be frenetically searching for a job, but I have been incredibly pensive lately. Rather than enjoying my "newfound freedom" to go to the bars and get smashed like the majority of people my age, I have found myself feeling quite nostalgic and reflecting upon the last few years of my life. It should be noted that this is something of a rarity for me. I have always been a bit of a rushed child, always eager to move on to the next stage in life. But now, as I stand on the cusp of the most momentous experience of my life, I find myself looking backward and taking account of the things that I have gained and lost.

I can unequivocally say that in the past three years I have become more confident, mature and motivated. I have also become more aware of myself and of my surroundings. Perhaps such things come naturally with the university experience, but I honestly believe it's more that my lifestyle reflects and has enhanced qualities that I already possessed. In any case, I have surmounted obstacles both big and small and I now feel that I am an independent young man willing to take on any challenge.

However, I must admit that, somewhere during the last three years, I have lost sight of many of the things that made me happy. After great efforts to make myself into a versatile, educated person, I have forgotten many of the simple things in life that make it worth living. To an extent, it seems like I've rid myself of almost all of the aspects of the "old me" in search of a new identity, without taking into account how those old aspects have defined me.

Part of this has to do with being away from home and family. I was slightly sad recently when my cousins were having their graduation parties and I realized that I couldn't just hop in my car and be there in 15 minutes to see people, eat and bullshit anymore. I also no longer have the ability to just walk into the garden and pick a pepper or cucumber or tomato to eat, much less walk into grandma and grandpa's house and expect to have a home-cooked meal or slice of pie "forced" on me.

Another, larger, part of my losing sight of things is that I've been too wrapped up in studying and working. Rather than keep a decent balance between school, work, play and self-improvement, I've tended mostly towards school and work, only focusing on the latter two when there's extra time. This last semester I tried to find more of an even balance, worrying much less about my studies, and lo and behold, my GPA stayed at about the same level. But I still really miss having someone to do nothing with. When I lived in the Residencia, Peter was always an IM or short walk down the hall away if I ever wanted to kick around a ball or toss a frisbee or just go get a bite to eat. Now it takes quite a bit of effort to get people together to do anything but have a party. Never before had I had a constant, easygoing male companion who was always willing to hang out, and in a strange way, I'm afraid that I never will again.

Beyond reflection, this summer has been one of changes and goals. I've tried to get myself out of my serious student mentality and into a more relaxed state of mind. With the help of Andres, Jorge, Irene and others, I was largely able to forget all of the things I usually worry about and focus on enjoying the here and now. Unfortunately, since they've all returned to Spain, there's been a bit of a void in my social life. I've tried hard to establish a habit of spending time with certain people, but our schedules always seem to conflict. My problem is that I was always too independent and now, particularly when it comes to being physically active, I realize that I really do rely on others for motivation and enjoyment. I have set lofty goals for myself this summer, but without the right people to back me up, any aspiration now seems difficult to attain.

Maybe these worries are only temporary. Maybe it's not too late to make the best of the time I have left here. Or maybe I just need to stop thinking so damn much and just focus on the things that really matter.

It means "stop!"

2007-06-28T21:21:28Z

I just saw the cutest thing ever! On my bus ride home, there was a Chinese woman and her two adorable daughters, who could not have been more than three or four years old. On top of being as cute as a button and dressed in that lovable little girl style, complete with pink checkered shirts, yellow shorts and sandals, the children were incredibly smart! The girls would chat amongst themselves in English about what was going on in the streets around them, and whenever they got too excited or jumpy, the mother would scold them in Chinese and they would quickly quiet down and get back into their seats. Then, in order to harness their curiosity for their benefit, the woman quizzed them about the things they were pointing out, like the colors on the stoplight and what each one means, and the girls would respond first in Chinese and then in English. I couldn't stop smiling and had to pretend that I wasn't staring so the woman wouldn't become self-conscious or embarrassed, but I don't think I've ever had my heart melt so much nor enjoyed the simple pleasures that can be found even in the most routine of things!

Changing of the Guard

2007-06-27T14:33:50Z

The biggest news story of the day:

After ten years at No 10, Tony Blair has stood down as Prime Minister.

My hat goes off to you, Mr Blair. You are a great man.

Le franglais, c'est cool

2007-06-26T20:57:56Z

FRANCAIS
FRANGLAIS
ANGLAIS

Parlez-vous anglais ?
Douille housse pic n'glisse ?
Do you speak english ?

Etes-vous prêt ?
Ail ou radis ?
Are you ready

L'addition
Débile
The bill

Félicitations !
Qu'on gratte tous les jeunes !
Congratulations

Passer un coup de fil personnel
Ma queue perd son alcool
Make a personal call

Plus d'argent
Mords mon nez
More money

Joyeux noël
Marie qui se masse
Merry Christmas

Nous sommes en retard
Oui Arlette
We are late

Attirance sexuelle
C'est qu'ça pèle
Sex appeal

Le dîner est prêt
Dix nourrices raidies
Diner is ready

Fabriqué en France
Mais dîne Frantz
Made in France

J'ai fait un bon voyage
Ahmed a l'goût d'tripes
I made a good trip

Le boucher
Deux bouts d'chair
The butcher

Il parle Allemand
Il se pique Germaine
He speaks german

Tu as sauvé toute ma famille !
Youssef vole ma femme au lit !
You saved all my family !

Asseyez-vous sur la chaise
Six tonnes de chair
Sit on the chair

le sel et le poivre
Sâle teint d'pépère
salt and pepper

Né pour perdre
Beaune-Toulouse
Born to loose

Je cuisine
Âme coquine
I'm cooking

Epicerie fine
Délicate et saine
Delicatessen

Où est l'épicier ?
Varices de grosseur
Where is the grocer ?

Donne-moi de l'argent !
Guy vomit sous mon nez !
Give me some money !

Prendre le train
Toute ta queue traîne
To take a train

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-06-20T18:13:00

2007-06-20T23:13:59Z

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the product that is going to revolutionize the American sex industry:

http://www.prontocondoms.co.za/

Because condoms weren't easy enough to use already =P

This is why I love the 21st Century

2007-06-17T15:40:48Z

Today I am working from home. More specifically from bed, where I have spent the last eleven hours. And I'm not even going to think of putting on clothes!

God bless technology!

America the Indebted

2007-06-13T14:11:41Z

I really love living in a country with a for-profit education system, where the government doesn't help even some of the best students cover the full cost of their education through loans, thereby forcing said students to seek funds from private lenders at nearly twice the interest rate.

This truly is the greatest country on Earth!

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-06-01T09:55:00

2007-06-01T14:55:30Z

NESSIE LIVES!!!

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-05-30T11:27:00

2007-05-30T16:41:38Z

The Politics of Eurovision

A rather interesting article, I must say. And what's more, an American newspaper has actually (finally) covered it, rather than the usual focus on the disappearance of the beloved pet frog of Tommy in Kansas or the newest outrage over a smoking ban somewhere in California. I kind of laugh at the part of "American Idol-style voting." The article is about the politics of Eurovision, voting blocs and nationalism, yet the author fails to recognize that American Idol, Spain's Operación Triunfo, France's Nouvelle Star and all of the other similar shows are basically ripoffs of the UK's Pop Idol. But hey, who ever said that objectivism in journalism was a requirement (Fox, anyone?)?

I'm curious to see how NBC's proposed American version of Eurovision turns out. I have a feeling that Idaho's entry will be a worldwide smash hit! Fifty bucks says it's a flop if it ever makes it on the air, no matter how interesting the politics involved.

Anyway, the point of this post, if it has one, is that I am sad to say that I am slowly becoming addicted to trashy reality shows. I used to abhor them, but Dancing with the Stars grew on me and I've been increasingly expanding my horizons with other shows. Help me now!

And now for something completely different: Poor Verka!

All you need is positivity!

2007-05-30T13:24:51Z

My job sometimes reminds me of the old Soviet adage: I pretend to work, they pretend to pay me

On mornings like this, the only thing that makes it bearable is the Spice Girls music playing on repeat in my head.

Note to self

2007-05-28T17:40:42Z

Self, don't fall asleep in the company of girls with nail polish. The results aren't pretty.

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-05-25T08:00:00

2007-05-25T13:03:24Z

Twelve days after I turned in all of my papers and two days after the last day to submit them, I finally have all of my grades reported:

Principles of Environmental Science: AB
Survey of Early Hispanic Lit: A
Int'l Business and Development: A
Latin American Int'l Relations: A

Term GPA: 3.846

HELLZ YEAH!

Racism in any direction is still racism

2007-05-17T16:42:39Z

In a world of hyphens and subnational identities, I am sick of being pigeonholed as merely white, or worse yet, as Caucasian, a term which I find stupid and insulting. I shall now refer to myself only as European-American, or more specifically, an American of Germanic descent. To call me anything else is simply racist.

Sad day for America

2007-05-15T18:04:53Z

The Rev. Jerry Falwell dead at 73

I'm not about to go dancing in the streets, since even though I disagreed with the man on nearly every issue, I do have respect for human life. I am, however, curious to see how the GOP candidates respond to his death, especially Sen. McCain, who once called him an "agent of intolerance" but was buddying up to him no less than a year ago. Praise might be necessary for the base, but too much could be political suicide in a general election.

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-05-08T18:10:00

2007-05-08T23:10:52Z

One presentation and two pages down.

Only one more presentation, two partials and twenty-eight more pages to go before Monday.

Shoot me now.

n1c0x1c0 @ 2007-05-02T23:51:00

2007-05-03T04:53:58Z

If applying for a student visa is almost as bad as working a full-time job, I don't even want to know how many hoops one has to jump through to get a work visa.

No wonder so many people decide to immigrate without documentation!

Hallelujah!

2007-04-30T17:56:52Z

It's about damn time!

Yes, this is for you, Alex

I'm in love!

2007-04-29T02:37:33Z

ROFL!