It's Always Winter In Canada

My life is well situated four hours from my family. I'm one of the lucky ones. Really, I do love my family. I try to get home for the holidays just to see everyone. Well, almost everyone. You know what I mean. There’s family and then there’s those people you reluctantly call family. I like to go home to see the first group. The second group is the reason I stay away for the rest of the year. I need my space. And my sanity.
Anyhow, Thanksgiving just passed. I now have a refrigerator filled with turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and whatever was left of our alcohol supply. When we grocery shop for Turkey day, we buy food and alcohol at an almost 1:1 ratio. It’s kind of ridiculous. We’re not alcoholics, mind you, but we know how to have a good time. And we know how to party together. We keep mental lists of who can drink what, and how much of it, before they’re going to need a bed to crash on. Or a designated driver to rant on. We’re a big family, so we can provide both. Those are the holidays for ya.
Along with the food and parties, we plan for a lot of shopping. I, for one, have to plan where to go, who to go with, and how much I can spend. I need to know where to go so I don’t waste gas on some convoluted route. How much I can spend is always a big one. I work at a bank, so I scoff at people that can’t balance a checkbook. As to who to shop with, that’s a big decision. I don’t window shop during the holidays. That kind of meandering is reserved for days off when I can take my time and listen to my ipod (By the way, current track is “Oxycodone” by Glassjaw). Holiday shopping is a well thought-out mission. I can’t go with people that get sidetracked by pretty things in the window display. If I dare set foot in a mall during Black Friday, I have a set list of stores to go to. There’s no dilly-dallying. There are maniacs out at the malls at all times, but especially during the most wonderful season of all. You gotta avoid ‘em. Or step softly and carry a big stick. Whatever works. That’s why you have to enlist loyal and obedient troops. I can be in and out of the mall in under an hour and have most of my shopping done. You have to keep up, man. Or you drive yourself home. Well, I’d come back for you eventually, I’m sure. Haha.
Another big thing about the holidays is just getting home. I have to plan what to bring, which bag am I taking, is the cat coming with me? Can I get that time off work? How am I getting there? Who’s house am I staying at? That’s always a big question. My cousins and I are really close. I consider them to be closer than my siblings sometimes. So do I do the right thing and see my parents first thing when I get home, or do I just go where I want to spend the night? I usually end up at my cousin’s place. There’s always tomorrow to see Mom and Dad. And Grandma and Grandpa. And my brother and sister. Yeah, that’s the usual order.
How to get there is always a fun game. I can spend $70 on a bus ticket. Then I know that I’ll get there anywhere from 5 to 8 hours from my departure time, if the bus doesn’t break down. I usually meet fun people, but sometimes I meet them when I just want to sleep. Or I can wrangle myself a ride from someone who’s leaving when I am. That way, I just spend around $30 to pitch in for gas. That’s the best choice. Especially if they come with good conversation and good music. That’s what worked out for me during this trip. I found a friend who went to high school near me and had an extra spot in his car. Score. So there I was, 3pm Wednesday, in a car with 3 guys heading for Minneapolis. Any girl’s dream. Hah. Not that they weren’t good guys, but I just wasn’t feeling it. Any guy that you share an OTPHJ joke with isn’t on the dating list right away. By the way, if you don’t know what an OTPHJ is, think dirty and think Wedding Crashers dinner scene with Vince Vaughn’s character. You’ll get it. Those boys soon found out how difficult it is to actually offend me. I usually find the punchline to dirty jokes before most of my guy friends. It’s become a contest now to set up good “That’s what she said” lines. It’s not that hard and it’s a bit shaky. Haha.
*New track: “Jeepster” by T. Rex
Our four-hour long conversation didn’t just include dirty jokes. We talked music, of course, and we talked ice cream. If your inner child had its way at a Coldstone or a Dairy Queen, what would your toppings be? Mine include, but are not limited to, brownies, Reese’s Pieces, Snickers pieces, and strawberry syrup. Sounds delicious, right? Yum. We also spoke of, being a car full of engineering students, creating an all-terrain vehicle to travel from one end of North America to the other. Going from Florida, through the Everglades, to Canada, where apparently it’s always winter. It was a very detailed conversation. And a very nerdy one. We decided necessary tire sizes, what type of engine, and even what type of fuel to use. I don’t care if I am a geek, that is going to be one kick-ass car. We’re going to be rich, baby.
Whoo, that‘s a long one (hah. That’s what she said). I think I’ll leave you now. G’night. Or good morning, afternoon, etc. Wherever you are. (Ending track: “Grace Kelly” by Mika) I’m out.

Joey

My cat just winked at me. She knows what's up.

Anyway, a friend facebooked (yes, this is now a verb) me this questionnaire. Apparently you just shuffle the entirety of your ipod library and write down the song that comes up for each question. No skipping songs. Here we go...

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Mama’s Got a Girlfriend Now – Ben Harper

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Tight Wad Hill – Green Day

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Everything to Me – Jackie Greene

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It) – The Rolling Stones

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Beat of Your Drum – David Bowie

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Rollover DJ - JET

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
10,000 Days – Tool

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Moonchild - Chris Cornell

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Geek in the Pink – Jason Mraz

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Hear My Train a Comin’ – Jimi Hendrix

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Black – Pearl Jam

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
The Way - Fastball

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Childlike Wildlike – Jason Mraz

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Amazing – Josh Kelley

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Friends Will be Friends – Queen

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Devil in The Wishing Well – Five for Fighting

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Break Ya Neck – Busta Rhymes

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Subterranean Homesick Alien – Radiohead

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Guerrilla Radio – Rage Against the Machine

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
No Reply – The Beatles

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
A Shot in the Arm – Wilco

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Show Off That Body You Got – Petey Pablo

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
3x5 – John Mayer

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Stare At the Sun – Thrice

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
You Had Me – Joss Stone

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
All You Need – Sublime

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
What You Are – Dave Matthews Band

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Wild Night – Van Morrison

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Joey – Bob Dylan


Nice. I approve of my ipod's choices for me.

Giving In With No Pressure At All

Finally started my own blog. I'm always late to try things. But I'm on time for life. That counts. Point for me. Anyway, this blogging deal is new to me and I'm going to give it a shot.

What am I supposed to write here? Is there a manual somewhere? "A Guide to Telling People Stuff" by Tami D. Yup, I'd buy it. Do I write about me? Here goes...
> Ohmigod, I'm, like, totally psyched to be here. I'm, like, a college kid in Wisconsin and I like math and, like, numbers and physics and stuff.

Yeah, that'll work. Except I don't speak like an idiot. Let's try again.

> Hey kids. I go to school for engineering and physics and I work to get money to stay in school. In my free time...oh wait, I don't have much of that. Haha. Just kidding. I cut back on sleep to make sure that I have time to kick back and relax with friends. Or by the lake. With a book. With my ipod. Always with my ipod. I need music like people need air to breathe. Current track: I Am Kloot - "Twist". Nonono wait, The Kooks - "Always Where I Need to Be". I write too slowly for just one track.

That was better. Except I'm not that much of a talker when it comes to myself. What else can I write about? How about what I'm doing right now? Naw, I'll leave that to your imaginations. Maybe I'm surfing, maybe I'm bar-hopping. Maybe, just maybe, I'm a secret agent working on a super top-secret project involving new missile controls aboard the F-35. Yeah, I like that one.

Hah. Gotcha. Or did I? Anyway, I'm noticibly an odd person. My maturity fluctuates between that of a four-year old and that of an old crone. You just never know!

I do write a lot though. I write when I'm happy, I write when I'm sad. I usually box when I'm angry. It's a bit more satisfying than hitting the keys on a keyboard. But I figure that an excuse to write whatever I want is great. So here I am. Writing to you.

Side note: If I write a combination of words that doesn't quite fit in with the story, more than likely it's a song lyric. It may be one of my own or I may have borrowed it. I tend to have lyrical outbreaks. It's a disease, but I like it.

If you're in Wisconsin, or perchance I'm in your town, and you see a girl (who, on a good day, could be considered of an average height) semi-dancing while walking, there's a good chance that it's me. I've always got a song in my head, and it moves me. It makes me happy and keeps me as sane as I want to be. Try it. If you're happy while in public and you show it, you make others happy too. It's an awesome feeling. I'll leave you with that for now. By that way, the track has switched to Jason Mraz - "Butterfly".