NPR : Ben Gibbard Gives Solo Concert

NPR : Ben Gibbard Gives Solo Concert

How To Eat a Watermelon

Walking

Have you ever gone on a long walk and just wished that all the lights around you would just turn off. I find myself almost every night going for a walk right around 1 o'clock. I like being alone and sometimes just wish the lights would all shut off for the duration of my expedition. I seem to always find myself ending up at this one special place where the only light that seems near to me is that of the stars. I'll just sit there. In actuality I think that although I am there and I want to seem solitary I truly could use someone by my side. Anyone. I feel like I've gone down a path too far and that there is nobody but just me. I haven't made a single true friend here at "home". It sucks all too much lemme tell you. Is it possible to find anyone in the dark? Someone who is alone and wants to be alone as well? I think my efforts are in vain. Until I can find it comfortable in the light again I just want to walk in the dark. There is nothing for me here and I am very unsettled. I think I've quite literally become the stranger on a quiet street.

AHHH! 911!!!

Today seemed like it was gonna be one of another in a series of boring days. I had spent most of my day, sadly, in my basement on my computer. At 9 o'clock my little brother andrew ran downstairs and told me my little brother Ryan had broken his arm. I can't describe the amount of urgency I took as I bound out of the basement. I ran upstairs and out the back door and sure enough back behind our playground in the backyard was my little bro with his arm bent in a place it very well shouldn't have been bent. My brothers and one of Ryans friend were running around chasing each other when Ryan slipped down the ladder on the playset. His arm, unfortunately, became stuck between two rungs and snapped. I told him not to move it and immediately called 911. It's really scary to see a loved one in turmoil. I'd never broken a bone in my body but I can guess it is similair to the pain I felt if not worse when I had torn my lateral meniscus. He was in shock at first when I had initially arrived on the scene but after he quit moving it and my mom calmed him down he immediately wanted to solve the problem. He didn't cry a bit from that moment on. The sight of his bent arm made hime a little sick to his stomach but he endured the pain like a real champ. I'm in absolute awe as to how well he dealt with the situation. My dad was at a town meeting so my mom and Andrew had to pick him up. We couldn't reach him on his phone because he was speaking at the meeting. Thanks to one of the neighbors that offered to drive over and tell him what had happened we could rally the family together. As the family was getting together I offered to ride with the paramedics and Ryan in the ambulance to help answer any questions.

The paramedics were extremely nice and Ryan
answered all their questions
including the ones about school and baseball.

He could feel but it hurt to move his fingers

Even on the bumpy ride to the hospital all the way in Cinncinnati he kept the most calm composure. The paramedic asked some questions and with a little help from me the topic of conversation eventually landed on whether he was going to be able to play baseball or go to school. At the Hospital everything went by smoothly.

Not a Bit Nervous

He got put to sleep for a bit and they re-aligned his radius and ulna and they bound it in a temporary brace and fitted him for an arm sling.

Taking a Nap

Drowsy Thumbs Up

Already Being Pampered

Walking out of the hospital all he was worried about then was how much longer he would have to wait to get home so he could eat some oatmeal. we just got back home at about 1:15 and he's off to bed and hoping that next week when they put his cast on if he can have it done up so it looks like camoflauge...he loves anything army related. I can admit to coming to tears a few times tonight. I can't stand seeing anyone I love come to harm. Even when the doctor raised his arm a bit and he winced in pain. I felt just absolutely distresed. Now everything is better and from here Ryan gets the king's treatment. Unfortunately he will have to stop playing baseball...too bad too he caught a line drive at 3rd base the other day. I'm just glad that he isn't in any more pain and proud to have such a truly brave little brother.

Don't know what knees are?

Here is a short tutorial that will help you -

• knees

Securely Secured

I LOVE my new job...don't get me wrong there are pros and there are cons but for the most part my choice of job this summer is flawless. As security guard for a theme park there are many responsibilities...more than I had originally bargained for. My job does comprise of standard security things such as patrols and standing guard at certain places but unlike most security jobs a security job at a theme park demands constant attention. My first day on the job was rather easy. One of the more experienced officers, Rob Otero, had me shadow him. All in all that day was uneventful due to rain...this however made for a very drenched me. The next day was sunny and nice out and I was on my own. This is where I did most of the learning. All the radio lingo and signals were foreign to me. I did have a decoding chart but had accidentally left it at home...so I'm sitting there listening to base calling out signal 7s and 26s and I'm like WTF?! Not much harm came that day thankfully. Just two days ago I helped apprehend 8 drunk kids from a ride. They were all in their late twenties and two of them tried resisting arrest. Too bad the jail was full or they would've been sent to the slammer. But wow let me tell you...there isn't too much of a difference between me and the other security guards and the on site police officers. It was an absolute adreneline rush to be there on the scene of an arrest...It felt like I was in a COPS episode. The cons of the job are easily gotten over when you look at all the good you're doing for people. Cons include soar legs blisters on your feet and sunburns. A lot of good comes from what I do there. I reunite lost children with their parents, help people find things they've lost, help keep the park clean, and so on and so on. I can't wait until the park opens full-time! Hopefully I'll get a chance to ride some of the attractions...it's hard as hell to describe a ride to people you've never been on yourself!

Rider on the Storm

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh! I need to just scream...I'm so stressed out.

3 Tornado drills today.

3 times today did I have to stop my studying and writing to file into a hallway and sit on the ground and waste precious time...Time which seems so precious and yet at the same time so wretched. The storms wasted probably about a good 4 hours of my day. By the third one I decided to run outside before the RAs could catch me and I just stood in a field crouched down and watched the rage of the flickering bolts and prodigious pounds as the sky moved in opposite directions converging at what seemed to be right over my head. It was relaxing but when it all subsided on went college.

When I got back I found out my roommate was leaving today...like right then when I got back. It was sad. I'm sorta alone now here as I type away in my lonely, bare room. I'd give anything to leave now as well but unfortunately for me I have the privilege of lingering here in the bowling greens until Friday. Stoopid finals. I'm gonna miss Corey and all the guys. We've all made plans to go to the Warped Tour in Cincy later in the summer so there still may be one last reunion...then I go my way and they theirs.

A lot has happened this past year. And I feel no regret leaving it all behind. In some odd way I enjoy having this room to myself. I have wanted some solitude for awhile now.

Phase Daze

A great anxiety has welled up from inside of me lately. I'm ready for something to happen next. I want so badly to barrel into a new phase. Dont'cha hate that? It seems to me as if we all track the progress of our lives in phases. Please, correct me if I'm wrong. It's so linear. I can, in a short one paragraph essay, guide you through the series of phases that have compiled thus far in my life. Sad, but despite that fact the end of one phase and the beginning of another tends to be such large punctuated milestones in our lives...I think I'm about to hit one here...I think...I hope. Am I there yet? Am I there yet? Am I there yet...?

Pink Bullets

I don't know if any of you are big indie rock fans but I sure as hell am. I was messing around with some equipment and some stolen software on my computer last night and I was able to mix down a song done by The Shins called Pink Bullets...I don't own a pop filter(yet) so the vocals aren't all too great and the levels are kinda shoddy...I realized later what the problem was (computer related) but I was finished with the song by that time and I don't think it's too bad. If you'd like to hear scroll down to the bottom of my blog here and find my little project playlist player and scroll to the last two songs on the little list thingy. You'll see the first one has no effects(except for an echo filter on the harmonica part) and then the other one has a myriad of phaser type things - that was just for fun. Listen and let me know whatcha think! You may have to hit play and then hit pause and let it sit for a bit to load (I do) but if that doesn't work for you or if you run into any other problems e-mail me and I'll send you the mp3 file...that way you can add it to your ipod if you'd like).

The family came up the other day and we unloaded most of my room of its contents...kinda devoid in here but when move out comes up here in a week I'll just have to basically hop in the van and take off. So close...Stay cool!

I need an AED

Last weekend I was certified by the Red Cross to administer adult, child, and infant CPR, the use of an automated electronic defibrillator, and basic first aid. One more step towards being officially certified for my security job this summer.

With the end of the school year upon me and so many plans for my near future...it's getting harder and harder to stay concentrated on the here and now. This is a bad thing. I’m just too excited to get out of here. I’ve already started packing my things and my parents are coming this weekend to take most of my stuff back home.

In the second week of May I’ll have the majority of the week off and so I’ve devised a plan to visit Oswego. This is convenient for multiple reasons. Tom will be in Ohio that weekend and will be able to pick me up and drive me back with him to Oswego and it’s also the week of the spring musical at OHS! I was worried I wouldn’t get the chance to see the show but since theme parks don’t open full swing till later in may the gaps in the earlier weeks of may give me some freedom. I can’t wait to see everyone!

My Videos

If I could direct your attention to the side panel over to you right you'll notice a new section deally called My Vids. I encourage you to go ahead and click on those and watch them. Right now I have some videos of one of my favorite blues harpists and also the man I've been taking online lessons with via youtube. His name is Adam Gussow, He's an Ivy League graduate and he played on the streets of Harlem back in the late 80s with a guitarist who went by the name of Mr. Satan. Together they formed Satan and Adam a two man blues band that reigned over the streets. Check it out!

See Food

I like seafood. I like fish, crawfish, and even enjoy a good piping warm bowl of Chunky New England Clam Chowdah. But...today I was absolutely repulsed by what usually would be a savory idea for a meal. The Sundial (which is the closest dining hall to me here on the campus of BG) closed at 7 tonight...I decided I was hungry after 7 and was denied food from their sub-par dining dith hole of a hall. So I went to my room realizing I had been saving up for such an occasion. I had two large cases of Ramen Noodle. One is chicken the other shrimp. With little debate I proceeded in cooking up a cup of the shrimp and noodles. MMMM!!!! Shrimp..........NOT!

-Tah-Dah-

If you can see it there it's right next to the tip of that pen. I've never seen a shrimp that...well...shrimpy. Plus - shrimp aren't suppossed to look like aborted fetuses .
-sorry-
I am just as disgusted. Honestly. I almost Vomed.

Here it is...the last few weeks of my freshman year of college. Kinda came up on me fast here it seems. This week has been kinda stressful but the other day I got a package in the mail from my mom. Two dvds and a modified easter basket full of candy. Gotta hand it to her, she knows how to get to my heart. Having that little bit of home in front of me when I opened the box up on my dilapidated couch of a footon made me think back to home and how much I love my family. I definately needed to take a moment to stop thinking about school constantly and remember that I have them too.

ah yes new template...any comments? I made the little dealy picture with my Stranger on a Quiet Street theme.

Short update. Lots to do this weekend. stay tuned in case anything exciting happens. I doubt it.

I Gots Tha Bloos

Not really...I do have a 30 dollar Hohner diatonic harmonica however. I've wanted to pick up playing harmonica for a reasonably long time and I thought what better reason to prompt me to do so than to buy a rather expensive one and let the guilt of wasting the money on it drive me to play it well...and success. It has been the best thirty dollars I've spent so far this year. Over the course of the two days that I've had it, thanks to some online tutorials and hours of intentionally winding myself till my diaphram hurt, I have mastered many aspects of harmonica playing and even taken on some rather expert techniquey kinds of things like bending notes. Here's some eye candy:

Today was my first day of two for introductory on site King's Island security training...basically from 8 in the morning until 5 in the evening I watched various bad speakers read material straight off a power-point presentation. This gave me plenty of time to size up the comp. While doing so I noticed I was a minority. I hadn't experienced a war. LOL Every single security guard (except for one but he looked like Farva from super troopers so that made up for him) had experienced some time in the service in either Vietnam or Desert Storm...A lot of Vietnam vets. My next thought was maybe I should look out for the well being of the other security guards in addition to the patrons...who knows when they're gonna have a flashback of napalm and punji stakes. Okay I'm exaggerating a bit...there were some other college kids too. But still...

Last little picture here...I was driving around downtown Loveland this evening and I happened to pass a canoe rental place...upon passing it I noticed a sort of land mark. It was a canoe that had been turned into an art piece. On it was a little tune painted out and I noticed something rather peculiar about it...I had SANG that tune not but a year ago almost consecutively everyday...The very first song I sang with my barbershop quartet back during my junior year of highschool was a song called "I'd Love to Live in Loveland". I always that it was a strange circumstance that my family decided to move to a town named after a song I had sang...Well here take a look at this:



It's really something to see parts of your life fit together in strange little witty ways like this. Granted there is a bit of an amendment to the lyrics for the sake of advertising for the rental place but the tune is there and the thought does count.

Am I the only person who instead of doing much needed work, opts for renovating my room? HAH! I picked up a pair of socks and an hour later I emptied the contents of my closet cleaned it and re hung and inserted everything...Instead of doing an essay that's due at 3:30 tomorrow...AH procrastination!

I got a chance to play with Final Cut Pro today (a video editing program). I felt like I was back in OHS in the TV4 lab working to finish my project before the building closed...OHS stays open much later however and so this time I was kicked out at 8. Still it was so satisfying. A few of my group members came to watch and throw in any ideas. I hate boastful people but just sitting in that chair and editing away as they stared complacently made me feel proud. I can't wait for next year. I'll get the chance to edit by splicing!!! YES! I'm coming Columbia!

Edit: I am a nerd. Period.

Back in the BG

Spring break went by all too quickly.

I am as of yesterday ( Sunday, march 11, 2007) a hired man. I'll be working this summer at King's Island at the local Cinncinati amusement park: King's Island.

My Job:

Park Security

I was pretty nervous going into the interview. My boss is a cop who is sanctioned to oversee all of the security staff in the park. I looked around the room to see the competition and saw mostly men in their 50s. The conversation amongst the other applicants started and then circled around the park's expectations concerning the appearance of the employees...This subject was prompted after one of the older gentlemen commented on my facial hair and eyebrow piercing...bastard. Basically they were explaining everything the park looks for in their employees and none of which did I adhere to. regardless of their accusations my boss, whom interviewed me, was impressed with my background in scouting and impressed with my responses to his questions, which I thought were extremely basic. Basically I pwned the interview. I will have to shave and get rid of the eyebrow ring but those are minor sacrifices. I'll be working as many hours as I want and feel comfortable working and will have a starting pay of $7.75. I'm extremely anxious to begin working this summer with a steady job that doesn't rely on tips.

Until then I need to bulk up. Who knows what situations I may be thrown into? My boss mentioned, amongst the 20,000 incidents reported last year some of them included:

missing children

Knife fights

fist fights

drunken fist fights

3 cars were reported stolen

and more that I can't remember offhand. I say bring it on! After I lift some lead and drink some protein shakes I'll be ready to take on the droves of assholes that pile into the park walls day in and day out...too bad I don't get a billy club or some mace...naw, I'll be fine. :)

S-O-L

The other day a fellow film student from BG whom lives in the Cinncinati area drove over to my place to meet. We got dinner and then drove over to the local blockbuster where we were denied service due to an inactive card...not the first time this has happened to me. Afterwards we began to drive to the next movie store we knew of but before this happened the radio turned completely off...cue bad omen. We made the quick decision to pull over into a nearby driveway and just as we did so the car died. We were barely in the driveway when the woman of the house was trying to pull in to her driveway. Well after the master of the house came out and looked the car over we found that not only was the battery dead but the serpentine belt had tore and was absolutely no good. At this point it was certain we weren't going anywhere in that car. The kind couple let us inside their house out of the cold and offered us something to drink. I kindly responded no thanks. In the end my father came and piked us up and the man offered to guard the car ovvernight as he charged the battery. Problem solved. One thing the whole experince made me realize that no matter how untrusting society is of complete strangers, the fact is there are good people out there. They could have left us to deal with our problem...hell we could've been shady shysters waiting to take advantage of an unsuspecting couple. It gives me faith to see such unrestrained kindness.

Nature is Calling

I have the immense Urge to go camping. I mean real camping. Nothing but the wilderness and me. Somebody...please kidnap me and throw me out into the wilderness with only the clothes on my back, I beg of you.

Thanks but No Thanks

In other news...I was offered a job as an assistant manager at the local Meijer and enthusiastically declined. The prospect of the money was enticing but then I remembered there is this whole school thing...working full time would've severely difficult. It was quite the akward inteview...Maybe I'll get that job as security guard for King's Island, a local amusement park...That or something at Borders....I LOVE BORDERS! To be surrounded by good books,movies,and music all day would be unbelievably bearable, please call me in for an interview this week!

I end this post today with some genereal advice on handling newborn children:

Good Evening.

Confession of a Lovestruck College Boy

ok...so I've got this kind of embarrasing confession I'd like to get off my chest...I'm in love. A sweet musique runs through my head when I hear her and my palms sweat and my knees begin to tremble uncontrollably...the embarrassing part...I'm in love with Leigh Nash. You may know her better as the real hot singer from Sixpence None the Richer the band that does that real sappy song Kiss Me:





Basically, everytime I hear her song Kiss Me ( and this just so happens to be quite often) I imagine that she is singing it to me...hence the whole sweating and knees thing. There. I've confessed my love and now I feel like I can take on the world...and propose to her...yes I know she's married...that's why we're going to elope to Australia or maybe Bangladesh. I learned how to play the guitar part so I can play along with her, then she can sing Kiss Me to me forever! YES! I'm gonna go start making up the invitations now. Bye Blogger! Hello Leigh Nash!




LEigh Nash - My Idea of Heaven

I need a hobby

The first day of spring break and already the boredom sets in. Anyone wanna start a barbershop quartet?

Today is my birthday...kind of. Today is the day my family has decided to celebrate it. I can't wait till next year when I'll get a real birthday. Being born on a leap year sucks. It shouldn't be allowed. They shoud either pre-maturely birth you or just wait until the next day. Having a birthday once every 4 years just isn't right.

Anyone want a good read...try Erik Larson's Devil in the White City. Excellent non-fiction depiction of the planning of the 1893 world fair in Chicago and the events surrounding it...specifically the deaths of numerous women at the hands of a man named H.H. Holmes. Reads like a fiction, and then you remember it actually happened.

Spring Break?

Spring Break?

I've spent the past two nights awake in a computer lab working under my prime condition...PRESSURE! The work load was large - the work itself maticulous and seemingly pointless. Nevertheless, it is done and I begin my srping break here at my house in Loveland Ohio. Unfortunately...I'll probably be working even harder this week than this last week. The latter half of this semester is going to be real rough. I'm gonna try and get some of the work I know will be expected of me later out of the way now. Then when I'm not doing homework I'll be looking for job applications for my summer job/s. Spring break seems to be an extremely loose...it's more so spring week where I don't have to be at school but I have to work just as hard. Granted, I realize I will probably procrastinate and find other more extracurricular things to do around the house.




What are everybody elses plans for this spring break...if you're one of the two people I think might stumble over my blog here let me know. BTW if you two, Brian and Sarah, would be so kind as to maybe spread the word as to my blogs existence to those who might care that would be terrific!

well I'm gonna tinker around with photoshop! Bye Blogger!