Well, I almost got excited

I hardly get post from other people so imagine my surprise that I find 5(!) posts under one of my blogs...however it was just an ad. Oh well, I guess that one moment near excitment was worth it.

I was about to write about loneliness, but I think it would be a bit dull. Instead, wtih a little help from Winkipedia, I will write the causes of loneliness and leave it at that.

Believing that "everyone else" has friends
Feeling embarrassed and self-conscious
Being in a crowd but not feeling part of the crowd
Feeling shy and scared
Experiencing low self-esteem
Feeling angry, defensive and critical
Feeling socially inadequate and de-skilled
Being convinced there is something wrong with you
Feeling disconnected and alienated from your surroundings
Feeling frightened and sad that no one knows how miserable and isolated you feel
Losing your capacity to be assertive
Feeling reluctant to attempt to change, or try new things
Feeling "empty", depressed, or even contemplating suicide

"I keep looking for a place to fit
Where I can speak my mind
I've been trying hard to find the people
That I won't leave behind" ~B. Wilson

Thanksgiving

Any holidays are always strange in a college town with over 2/3's of the population gone it feels like a ghost town. Last night, as I was meeting some friends at the bars, deer came down from the woods and walked around campus, which is neat until you realize mountain lions will be right behind them. The bars were dead with the bartenders were playing pool inbetween serving drinks.

Last night drinkfest was the first time it was just the guys drinking. I am in a major where there are eight to nine women to every guy. So yea, we talked about chicks last night.

Actually, most of our conversation was women and comparing teacher's teaching styles we've observed.

The various teaching styles have been interesting to compare. Some teachers are a bit too strict, but we've realized that a lot of teachers really aren't strict enough. When a new school year starts a teacher need to spend the first two weeks setting the ground rules for young students (6th grade or younger), and then you can launch into your various lesson plans. However, some teachers think by "telling" students what to do as problems arise is a better system (and really, in any job, is that a good idea?). I'm all for kids learning in ways that are easier for them, but they need to have some structure because...well...they are kids and don't know any better.

This all comes back to the arguement on why people shouldn't teach kids that aren't qualified. One of the guys I was drinking with is going to start his own charter school in a few years (He's going into the Peace Corps first), which I guess is the best way to have complete control of your classroom, and you can have an open door so parents can (and should!) visit their children anytime they wish to. It's a good idea.

Happy Thanksgiving

The super late October Top Ten lis!t

And because this list is late I'm going to make it a extra long. BTW, if you guys want to see any "Top Ten" requests let me know! Anyway, here we go...(and Happy Turkey Day!)


Top Ten Halloween theme songs (and yes, this is a bit late, but I've been busy.)
1. Danny Elfman- "This is Halloween" (from Nightmare before Xmas)
2. Bobby "Boris" Pickett- Monster Mash
3. Oingo Boingo- Dead Man's Party
4. Warren Zevon -Werewolves of London
5. Michael Jackson- Thriller
6. Donovan- Season of the Witch
7. Screamin Jay Hawkins- I put a Spell on You
8. Oingo Boingo- Weird Science (Danny does like that stuff!)
9. David Bowie- Scary Monsters
10. Edgar Winter- Frankenstein

Top ten Children's books I have now read more then five times in the last few weeks.
1. The Lorax
2. The Tale of Ferdinane the Bull
3. Cat in the Hat
4. Five little monkeys
5. The doctor, the nurse, and the lady with the alligator purse
6. "some book on a farm with happy cows"
7. Green Eggs and Ham
8. "some book with a happy horse in a barn"
9. "some book with a happy dog in a house"
10. I think you guys get the idea...

Top ten things I am really looking forward to at this very moment.
1. Finishing the CSET's on Jan. 20th
2. Graduating
3. Xmas break
4. My fundraiser on Wednesday (All you can eat Sushi!)
5. My friend's birthday party on Saturday.
6. Showing off my art projects in December.
7. Thanksgiving break (Even is I just stay up here)
8. Mo's 21st birthday party in two weeks (THAT will be fun!)
9. Spring Break (I want to go somewhere not "Spring Breaky", yet somewhere fun. Thoughts?)
10. Summer Break!!!

Top ten talk show hosts
1. Johnny Carson
2. Dave Letterman
3. Regis Philbin
4. Merv Griffin
5. Oprah Winfrey
6. Steve Allen
7. Dick Cavett
8. Conan O'Brein
9. Phil Donahue
10. John Stewart

Top ten non-alcoholic drinks of choice (you'll notice I don't drink soda)
1. Water (Duh!)
2. Orange Juice
3. Chocolate Milk
4. Apple Juice
5. Iced Tea (No fruit flavors please!)
6. Lemonade
7. Cran-apple juice
8. YooHoo's
9. Thai Iced Tea
10. Grape Juice

Top ten favorite muppets
1. Animal
2. Cookie Monster
3. Grover (aka Super Grover)
4. The Count
5. Kermit
6. Fozzie Bear
7. Oscar the Grouch
8. *tie*, Bert and Ernie
9. Beeker
10. *tie* Stanley and Waldorf (The two old guys who make fun of The Muppet Show)
*Screw Elmo!*

Top ten historical U.S. momuments
1. Statue of Liberty
2. White House
3. Empire State Building
4. U.S. Capital
5. Golden Gate Bridge
6. Mt. Rushmore
7. Washington Momument
8. The Alamo
9. Jefferson Memorial
10. St. Louis Arch

Top ten Indian proverbs
1. To touch the earth is to have harmony with nature
2. We will be known forever by the tracks we leave
3. Man has responsibility, not power
4. He who serves his fellows is the greatest of all
5. He who would do great things should not attempt them all alone
6. Do not speak of evil for it creates curiosity in the heart of the young
7. The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears
8. With all things and in all things, we are relativies
9. Life is both giving and recieving
10. Know that we are eager to share our gifts, in the name of love

Top ten favorite NFL football teams
1. St. Louis Rams (by a wide margin)
2. Chicago Bears
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Seattle Seahawks
5. San Diego Chargers
6. Washington Redskins
7. New England Patriots
8. Atlanta Falcons
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. San Francisco 49ers

Top ten magazines I would like to have a subscription to
1. National Geographic
2. Rolling Stones
3. Readers Digest
4. Premiere (which really has improved!)
5. Scientific American
6. Sports Illistrated
7. Time
8. Popular Science
9. Newsweek
10. Dive Training (I've started doing an old hobby again)

Top ten Mythological creatures
1. Dragon
2. Unicorn
3. Cyclopes
4. Pegasus
5. Minotaur
6. Medusa
7. Cenetaur
8. Troll
9. Griffin
10. Fairy

Top ten things I hope aren't under my bed
1. A monster (HEY! Stop laughing!)
2. A rat/mouse/or any critter known for causing plauges
3. Homework that I thought I turned in but didn't
4. Food (Of any kind!)
5. Dirty clothes (because, like food, it can stink after a while
6. Dirty Kleenex
7. Old CD's I didn't know I had so I went out and rebought them
8. A hole in my floor (because that would explain why my house smells like pot sometimes!)
9. A winning lottery ticket that expired yesterday
10. A listening device so evil people know my every move (Why? So they can continue their plan for world domination!)

Top ten worst celebrities
1. Anna Nicole Smith (The others in the top ten I don't like. Anna is just an awful, awful person.)
2. O.J. (No explaination is needed)
3. Paris Hilton (Surprise, Surprise)
4. Micheal Jackson (Just sad!)
5. Rebecca Gayheart (You can look her up on the internet on why I don't like her, but I will never watch a TV show or pay for a movie she is in!)
6. Bill O'Reilly and all others like him (Anger and Greed, that's all they promote)
7. Tori Spelling (aka The ultimate example of what is wrong with the "Hollywood Industry")
8. Arnold Schwartznegger (In his defense I haven't seen any cyborgs attack us yet.)
9. Mel Gibson (Yea. It's the alcohol.)
10. Tom Cruise (Get over yourself!!!!!!!!!)

Top ten positive emotions that have cool sounding names
1. Vibrant
2. Turbo-charged
3. Magical
4. Phenomenal
5. Awesome
6. Energized
7. Outrageous
8. Soaring
9. Booming
10. Jazzed

Top Ten things I love to eat during Thanksgiving
1. Stuffing
2. Turkey (I know! It's #2! I am a bonefide stuffing junkie!)
3. Pumpkin Pie
4. Mash Potaoes and Gravy
5. Yams
6. Cranberry Sauce
7. Heated rolls (and warm bread is good!)
8. Green Beans
9. Ice Cream
10. Salad (Really, does anyone think about the salad on Thanksgiving?)

Top ten all time "crushes" (Yep, it's time! Since I suspect I know who visits my blog chances are you will not know who these people are, but if you are curious, well then respond!)
1. SM (I know, no jokes please)
2. KK
3. TG
4. RN
5. LG
6. A
7. AR
8. JN
9. KB
10. HB
What? Were you expecting the whole name?? Tough! You get what you pay for! Hope you had a great weekend!!!

Huge news week, and other excuses on why I am single

Democrates take D.C., Dubba kicks out Donald, Saddam get Death, Britney dumps KFed, and "I too nice".

That last part was just told to me this week. Relationships (the oldest topic known to man, just ask Adam and Eve) was the center of converstion yesterday, and of course my single ass was one of those sub-topics. The conclusion was that I am too nice a guy and need to be more aggressive...sadly, they aren't wrong.

I am having a case of Deja Vu as I write this, I might have talked about my single life and relationships before. However...

I know that confidence is the most attractive quality in a person, and when it comes to girls that is something I lack. I am good in social circles, but when it comes to one-on-one with a young lady I might like I become the biggest boob! I am afraid of rejection, like everyone else, however being in this school enviroment changes things to because I really don't want to date anyone young (remember the "20 is 20" blog!!!).

The topic was brought up because I live next store to this wonderful young lady (Ummm, Deja Vu again) who is an avid athlete and asked me to go running with her...I said "no". Why? I don't think I wanted to look silly trying to keep up with her, so I told her I'd slow her down. She seemed disappointed, and so was I. WHAT WAS I THINKING! It wasn't a date or anything! It was just running! How lame is that! I really have to think a little higher about myself. Really! I mean if I can't go running with someone how can I ask them to a movie or coffee!

I have to grow some unless I want to continue this very old trend!

"It's now or never" ~ E. Presley

Study Buddies

There are several different ways to absorb knowledge. Some people are visual learners, some are audible. For me I have to read and write info down, and then attempt to re-write it without looking at my notes. This is what works for me, and this is how I have made it this far in college (besides my sense of humor). Another way I learn is when I get to study with people. Asking each other questions is always a great way to learn for anyone.

I have two hard core tests. One was today, the topic was Phonetics and other lovely linguistic styles, and the other test is my CSET on Satuday which is a ton of Human Development, Art and P.E. stuff. I was up till 3am and up at 7am studing for today's test with school mates. However, my CSET buddies are flaking like a biscuit, which is sad because this is one of three tests you need to get into a credital program. So I am writing this...instead of studing, which means I am waisting time as well.