So here I sit on my "fitness ball," a low-key addition to my core workouts for crew and such, typing out another post, more than two weeks after I last bestowed my thoughts upon this blog.
Classes are shaping up pretty well, and much like last semester, I like all of my instructors. Some of them were quirky or intimidating at first, but through their lectures and interaction with their respective classes, I have come to respect and enjoy each of them. I have my first test coming up next Thursday in AC389, a more advanced computer applications class dealing with accounting information systems (AIS).
Crew began the day after I last posted, and now nearly three full weeks of practice are over. Tomorrow afternoon we will be driving up to Chattanooga for our first competition, the Indoor Rowing Championships at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga gym. I am eagerly looking forward to the competition; I heard a great deal about it last year, but I was unable to go because of resident adviser interviews that were being held the same day. However, this year, no such obstruction is in place, and I will be contending for a first place time on the team, as I have been hot on Drew's heels since we started this semester. I beat him by 12 seconds on a 6000m time trial, and he beat me by two and four seconds respectively on the first and second 2200m time trial, so it has been close.
Stephanie and I are continuing to plug away at wedding planning. She has been doing a wonderful job of organizing tasks and getting them completed and checked off the list. One of her strong points is definitely that of organization. She likes having a planner with all of her assignments, homework, and obligations laid out neatly and concisely, and then she works through them as they come along. I help out where I can, offering my input and opinion where needed, and supporting hers when I do not have a preference. Yesterday it was 100 days until the wedding!
It is tax season, and I am going to be attempting my first real individual tax return. Hopefully I have retained something from last semester...
I am in the midst of something I thought I would never do: pledge a Greek society. Do not fear, it is not a fraternity; I am pledging Beta Alpha Psi, an academic honor society for upperclassmen accounting, finance, and MIS majors. Along with crew and Avanti, BAPsi is going to be one of those "other" large time-consumption items on my schedule.
Speaking of Avanti, we are gearing up for SROW, the annual Southern Regional Orientation Workshop. This year it is going to be held in Columbus, which is Stephen's hometown, which is pretty cool. Sadly though, I probably will not be able to connect with the Sauciers, even though it will be my first time in that area of Georgia since the fall of my freshman year!
And that is a general update of the last 18 days.
The end.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Some Thoughts
*Caution: Entering Rant Area*
What is the average marrying age in America? The world at large? Hm, I do not know those numbers off of the top of my head, but I do know that it is getting older. The 20th century brought a lot of changes to the way young people mature--especially here in America. And America is where I am going to stay for this, because it is where I have grown up and actually know.
First of all, what is this whole "adolescence" thing? Up until the early 20th century, the term did not even exist, let alone the stereotypes now associated with its use. There were children, young adults, and adults--and those young adults were given and expected to shoulder various responsibilities which corresponded to their ability. They were not babied for many years beyond puberty, softened by society into 18-year-old individuals that are still children unable to carry themselves in life, because to do so has never been expected of them!
Can a 14-year-old take on the same weight and responsibility that a 30-year-old may? Probably not, but there are plenty of tasks that he can do, and should be assigned to do as part of his routine. Growing up, I have been blessed with the company of young men that have taken on responsibility at a relatively "young"--as thought of by society--and thrived, even excelled!
Adolescence has been a recently invented "age group" that now stretches from early teenager-hood to the early 20s. The term itself is actually several hundred years old, originating in 1482, meaning, quite literally, "increase, grow up." However, that period of growing up is looked upon in a much softer, tamer light today than it was five centuries ago! Those having the distinction of being an adolescent usually balk at handling any extraneous responsibility (because they are rarely called upon to do so), are mentally and emotionally immature (even if they have a mature exterior), and are often unable to conduct themselves properly in society. However, I do not move to place the blame entirely on those individuals for their behavior, for it is what they have been taught. If an individual is treated as a child, he will behave as such.
A boy--young man, really--at 10, 11, or 12 years of age in 1482 was trained in either his father's trade or the occupation of another man as an apprentice. He could work around the house, on the family land, and in society to a small extent. Similarly, even up into the 1800s, "boys" possessed responsibility of which boys today would never dream! They were taught to handle horses, how to use a firearm, to farm, hunt, track, trap, build, and so many other practical skills.
Today, how is a boy's time occupied? Any suggestions from the audience?
Well, for starters, what boy wants to go outside when there are computers, Playstation 3s, GameCubes, XBox 360s, PSPs, numerous cable channels, stereos, and a snazzy HDTV inside with which to be entertained? There are a few boys that will still go outside, or that will be inside, but with a book--but it is a very few. The men of today are softies--because the boys from which they grew were never challenged to be strong, and not until they had been adults for quite some time did they finally step into the real world and take on jobs, families, house payments, grocery bills, and other responsibilities. And then those men turn around and raise the next generation of boys that will be the next generation of men. It is a vicious cycle.
It is high time for that to cease being the trend, and for responsibility to directly correlate to capability.
Something to ride on a future train of thought: what would happen if technology as we knew it suddenly became totally useless and completely irreparable?
What is the average marrying age in America? The world at large? Hm, I do not know those numbers off of the top of my head, but I do know that it is getting older. The 20th century brought a lot of changes to the way young people mature--especially here in America. And America is where I am going to stay for this, because it is where I have grown up and actually know.
First of all, what is this whole "adolescence" thing? Up until the early 20th century, the term did not even exist, let alone the stereotypes now associated with its use. There were children, young adults, and adults--and those young adults were given and expected to shoulder various responsibilities which corresponded to their ability. They were not babied for many years beyond puberty, softened by society into 18-year-old individuals that are still children unable to carry themselves in life, because to do so has never been expected of them!
Can a 14-year-old take on the same weight and responsibility that a 30-year-old may? Probably not, but there are plenty of tasks that he can do, and should be assigned to do as part of his routine. Growing up, I have been blessed with the company of young men that have taken on responsibility at a relatively "young"--as thought of by society--and thrived, even excelled!
Adolescence has been a recently invented "age group" that now stretches from early teenager-hood to the early 20s. The term itself is actually several hundred years old, originating in 1482, meaning, quite literally, "increase, grow up." However, that period of growing up is looked upon in a much softer, tamer light today than it was five centuries ago! Those having the distinction of being an adolescent usually balk at handling any extraneous responsibility (because they are rarely called upon to do so), are mentally and emotionally immature (even if they have a mature exterior), and are often unable to conduct themselves properly in society. However, I do not move to place the blame entirely on those individuals for their behavior, for it is what they have been taught. If an individual is treated as a child, he will behave as such.
A boy--young man, really--at 10, 11, or 12 years of age in 1482 was trained in either his father's trade or the occupation of another man as an apprentice. He could work around the house, on the family land, and in society to a small extent. Similarly, even up into the 1800s, "boys" possessed responsibility of which boys today would never dream! They were taught to handle horses, how to use a firearm, to farm, hunt, track, trap, build, and so many other practical skills.
Today, how is a boy's time occupied? Any suggestions from the audience?
Well, for starters, what boy wants to go outside when there are computers, Playstation 3s, GameCubes, XBox 360s, PSPs, numerous cable channels, stereos, and a snazzy HDTV inside with which to be entertained? There are a few boys that will still go outside, or that will be inside, but with a book--but it is a very few. The men of today are softies--because the boys from which they grew were never challenged to be strong, and not until they had been adults for quite some time did they finally step into the real world and take on jobs, families, house payments, grocery bills, and other responsibilities. And then those men turn around and raise the next generation of boys that will be the next generation of men. It is a vicious cycle.
It is high time for that to cease being the trend, and for responsibility to directly correlate to capability.
Something to ride on a future train of thought: what would happen if technology as we knew it suddenly became totally useless and completely irreparable?
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
First Days At School
Today has been a pretty lazy day thus far--Stephanie and I walked to her room after eating lunch in Fresh Foods with Steph, Casey, and Blake, and now she is touching up some makeup before we head off to the Student Health Center and Men's Wearhouse to pick up a prescription and for me to try on tuxedos, respectively.
We arrived back on campus late Sunday morning, and after hastily unpacking Stephanie's car, we ate a quick lunch in Lakeside and then drove over to the rec center for our four-hour Avanti training session with the rest of the crew. The time was filled with various small--and large--group activities like relays, races, and cheer-making that encouraged working together toward a goal and creativity. Our first training session wrapped up with some catered Q'Doba victuals, and we cleaned out quite a bit of food.
That led up to our first orientation, Monday morning, starting at 6:45 in the Ferg. I worked the Campus Drive/McCorvey Drive corner by the Ferg parking deck with Toaster, and we talked a lot about the summer orientations, people that he had met, people we saw that day, crew, and other random stuff. I was glad to be outside, because for some reason, it was very hot and stuffy inside, and I would have been quite miserable had I been cooped up in the Ferg with lots of other people, standing behind a table!
My favorite parts of the day were running into the ballroom, where all the new students were sitting, and giving them a big excitement boost with an energetic rendition of the fight song, and also working with the business students in Bashinsky to get their schedule figured out for the semester. I met many interesting people, and I spent the first 40 minutes or so running between the two main lab rooms, being a courier for papers and forms that needed to be cleared for various students.
Today, I slept in, and then a little later in the morning I went down and started working with Stephanie on wedding planning items--or more correctly, I lounged and read WORLD as she talked to her mom and looked at prospective photographers. Afterward, I was moping a little because it was after noon already, and we--in reality, I--had not done anything yet, but she reminded me that she had indeed been taking care of things, and that I could have been, but I chose not to...I will be soon though, even if it is just trying on tuxedos. Meh.
We arrived back on campus late Sunday morning, and after hastily unpacking Stephanie's car, we ate a quick lunch in Lakeside and then drove over to the rec center for our four-hour Avanti training session with the rest of the crew. The time was filled with various small--and large--group activities like relays, races, and cheer-making that encouraged working together toward a goal and creativity. Our first training session wrapped up with some catered Q'Doba victuals, and we cleaned out quite a bit of food.
That led up to our first orientation, Monday morning, starting at 6:45 in the Ferg. I worked the Campus Drive/McCorvey Drive corner by the Ferg parking deck with Toaster, and we talked a lot about the summer orientations, people that he had met, people we saw that day, crew, and other random stuff. I was glad to be outside, because for some reason, it was very hot and stuffy inside, and I would have been quite miserable had I been cooped up in the Ferg with lots of other people, standing behind a table!
My favorite parts of the day were running into the ballroom, where all the new students were sitting, and giving them a big excitement boost with an energetic rendition of the fight song, and also working with the business students in Bashinsky to get their schedule figured out for the semester. I met many interesting people, and I spent the first 40 minutes or so running between the two main lab rooms, being a courier for papers and forms that needed to be cleared for various students.
Today, I slept in, and then a little later in the morning I went down and started working with Stephanie on wedding planning items--or more correctly, I lounged and read WORLD as she talked to her mom and looked at prospective photographers. Afterward, I was moping a little because it was after noon already, and we--in reality, I--had not done anything yet, but she reminded me that she had indeed been taking care of things, and that I could have been, but I chose not to...I will be soon though, even if it is just trying on tuxedos. Meh.
Friday, January 4, 2008
One Last Morning
This morning at six o'clock, I woke up for the last time in my bottom-bunk bed in the bungalow, the gas heater valiantly thwarting the frigid 14 degree air outside. I had finished repacking my clothing and miscellaneous items last night at 20 till midnight, and so when I got up and donned several layers--including a never-before-worn Barcelona scarf from Stephanie--I packed up the Volvo.
For me, it was the last day of my second Christmas break in college, and the last time I would be leaving 280 Old State Road as a regular resident. Stephanie, Connrad, and I were packing up and leaving; Stephanie to head back home and to school, Connrad for two weeks in San Diego, and I was preparing to leave forever.
Now, 18 hours later, I sit on "my" bed in the basement guest room at the Casto's residence in Lacey's Spring, trying to keep my weary eyes open long enough to finish this brief post. We made the 911 mile trip in 15 1/2 hours--which includes about an hour's worth of stops. I only missed a couple turns: in Baltimore trying to get back to I-95, and on 1-24 west of Chattanooga, looking for Rt. 72.
Stephanie and I have been blessed once again with a safe journey over many miles, and we are looking forward to our second semester of sophomore year, and our wedding in 18 short weeks. Yes, we finally set a date: Saturday, May 10, 2008--just under a month shy of our meeting, two years ago this June, and 15 months after we started dating last February.
What a time it has been, no? God has been awesome in his providences and blessings in the last two years...well, for all of my life, really, but in recent memory, he has been an undeniably present help.
For me, it was the last day of my second Christmas break in college, and the last time I would be leaving 280 Old State Road as a regular resident. Stephanie, Connrad, and I were packing up and leaving; Stephanie to head back home and to school, Connrad for two weeks in San Diego, and I was preparing to leave forever.
Now, 18 hours later, I sit on "my" bed in the basement guest room at the Casto's residence in Lacey's Spring, trying to keep my weary eyes open long enough to finish this brief post. We made the 911 mile trip in 15 1/2 hours--which includes about an hour's worth of stops. I only missed a couple turns: in Baltimore trying to get back to I-95, and on 1-24 west of Chattanooga, looking for Rt. 72.
Stephanie and I have been blessed once again with a safe journey over many miles, and we are looking forward to our second semester of sophomore year, and our wedding in 18 short weeks. Yes, we finally set a date: Saturday, May 10, 2008--just under a month shy of our meeting, two years ago this June, and 15 months after we started dating last February.
What a time it has been, no? God has been awesome in his providences and blessings in the last two years...well, for all of my life, really, but in recent memory, he has been an undeniably present help.
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