Sunday, April 30, 2006

You Know You're A Marquette Alumni If...

Hey all... I found this in an old file on my computer, thought it was great... Some of them need to be edited. Post your suggestions...


You Know You're A Marquette Alumni If...
1. You have an 8x10 glossy of Chris Farley framed in your living room.
2. You don't balk at the idea of taking public transportation to and from the bar.
3. You're not impressed if someone tells you they just rode in a limo.
4. Lake Michigan feels toasty warm at 68 degrees.
5. You have carpal tunnel syndrome from playing so many rounds of Boat Races.
6. You know that a big white tent on the West Mall of the AMU means free food.
7. You prefer the Champagne to anything made by Anheuser-Busch.
8. You skip dinner full well knowing you'll be filling up on mozz sticks and Cheeseburgers at one of Marquette’s fine eating establishments around 2:30 Am.
9. You have gotten into at least one fight with the guys at Gyros, probably because you tried to swipe someone's bag of food, passing it off as something you ordered and paid for.
10. You know it's ok to wear New Balance sneakers when you go out on the Weekend.
11. You believe a gold t-shirt is the essential part of any wardrobe.
12. You've stiffed the guys at Real Chili at least once.
13. You're not scared of bums.
14. You have seen the inside of Sinai's emergency room.
15. You look both ways, 3 times, before crossing Wisconsin Avenue, to avoid getting nailed by a city bus.
16. When you attend a baseball game, you miss the first five innings due to the 3-kegstand minimum at the tailgate.
17. You or someone you know gets their hair cut by Gay Don.
18. You know about the "other" Harp.
19. At some point, you have gotten in trouble for having beer in your fridge.
20. You bowl and throw darts better when hammered.
21. You have been to Target, via the City Bus, at least twice.
22. You have volunteered hungover at 8am on a Saturday and loved it.
23. A backyard BBQ consists of a mini-weber, the family pack of brats, and 3 30-packs of miller products.
24. The toolbox, the monkey cage, and the jes res are some of your old haunts.
25. You dream of re-opening the Avalanche.
26. You were able to wear shorts for only 4 weeks of the school year.
27. You either are a devout packers fan, or are someone who makes fun of them.
28. You know who Chris Grimm is. And you know that when he goes on the court, it's bad news.
29. You were, at one time, a member of the student athletic board.
30. "Home" is either a suburb of Chicago or a small town in Wisconsin, with a few exceptions.
31. Cumulatively, you have spent at least 10 hours outside on cold winter nights, thanks to fire alarms.
32. You can leave your house with $15 in your pocket on a Thursday night and come back wasted.
33. You used to reserve Monday nights for progressives at Caffrey's.
34. The only time you ever drank at Angelo's was freshman year... for good reason.
35. You know at least three girls who claim to have slept with Diener.
36. You have to bypass at least 3 "ethnic food aisles" when grocery shopping.
37. You know that the fewer number of white guys on the basketball team, the better.
38. You know where to go to get hammered off of one margarita.
41. You think Naylor was an asshole.
42. Warrior vs. the Golden Eagle discussions can raise your blood pressure. And "Gold" gives you a palpatations.
43. You remember eagle option 2 for 1 at the pub.
44. You know at least one person who can do a dead-on Father Wild impression.
45. You left the dorm on Thursdays at 6:00 pm with an empty backpack
46. You entered the dorm on Thursdays at 6:15pm with a full backpack
47. You have drank green beer until you have puked, or passed out, or both (often in class)
48. You know Angelo’s is run by the mob.
49. You think "Goddamn Marquette Girls, you think you're better than me? Bitches!" is funny.
50. You remember Greenfield
51. You've bought shots in a basement
52. You ate at Ziggy's (probably only once)
53. You still go by some nickname you earned within the first year and a Half at MU
54. You know what somebody means when they say that they had to "ride on the cheese"
55. You know what the sausage race is, and you know "hot dog" always wins.
56. You can tell which direction the wind is coming from just by the smell
57. Your shower caddy consisted of: soap, shampoo, 2 cans of beer
58. You have memorized id information while on your way to a bar
59. You've been to "the dugeon" even if you didn't know any of the people who lived there
60. The beginning of April is the perfect time to take a run down to Lake Michigan via Wisconsin Ave.
61. You remember Louie D's and how much better it was than Marquette Gyros
62. You have sun bathed at McCormick beach

thanks for 59-62 Amy!

Procrast... aww crap, I'll finish spelling it later

Sunday. Nice. Made it through my Friday property final, and seemed to walk out of there with less of a limp than many, so I think I was able to get the B- that I was aiming for. That is truly a victory. Afterward, went out with the law crew for a little bit, and then went with Kenz back to her place to meet up with Ang who is now in town TO STAY! Anyway, Ang passed out, then I passed out, and it was looking like an early night. Kenz dropped me off back at home, and I was walking up the stairs when a classmate invited me up to his place for some beers and a movie. Cool... Chill enough. He and another old friend from the theater program at MU and I watched a cowboy movie, then started watching True Lies, while taking frequent smoking breaks. On one of the breaks I ran into another guy from the building, who is a total hottie. The guy then later texted me to go over to his place... Ended up with him till 5am... Nice.

This guy, however, was ultra fit, and I feel like he looked on me with a certain amount of disdain. Law school has killed my discipline for working out. In fact, tomorrow I am gonna try to go on a new fitness kick. Anyway, he kept making little comments that seemed to illude to the fact that he thought I wasnt taking care of myself. Dude... Whatever. I dont care how hot you are... That shit is just worthless. I still look pretty good, all in all, not peak, but whatever. I got better things to stress about. (afterthought: while this guy works out 2 hours a day, I am staying sane in law school, volunteer teaching kids and helping at a legal clinic, trying to keep some sort of social life... eat me. You're gonna get old and lose all that you have worked for. I will not.)

Anyway. Then I nursed that MASSIVE hangover the rest of the day. It was the perfect day to sit around and enjoy a good hangover, in that it was cloudy and rainy all day. Kinda nice really. Then met up with Ang and Kenz and went out on the town with them. They had to call it an early night for shoe problems, and I had already almost started a fight at the Saloon, so we were on our way earlier than usual. Still a good night though.

Ive got another final on Wednesday... Crim Law. Totally unprepared for this one. I truly havent been paying attention, doing the reading, anything lately. And yet I look at the material we are supposed to know and it is fairly sparse, which then reminds me of our Contracts exam. It wasnt about how much you knew, but how you argued it. I can handle that... But knowing that, now I am slacking again. I'll kick it into gear tomorrow after the study session scares me a little bit.

Friday, April 28, 2006

Thank God for the Internet

Well, yesterday wasnt as bad as I thought it might be. I received some 8 IM messages, 6 emails, 5 MySpace Posts, 3 facebook messages and some 20 facebook wall posts wishing me a Happy Birthday. Even a professor of mine sent me a very funny e-card when I tried to make her feel guilty for making me study on my birthday. A bunch of friends from school called, and Carey and I had a good long chat. This all helped to make up for a no cake, no cards, no gifts, eatin-Pasta-roni, not leaving the apartment, my roommate doesnt know, my father doesnt call (till 9pm) I'm studyin all day Birthday.

Truly, the father thing is the only part that still bugs me. Everything else is cool. But I seriously had thought he had forgotten me. He said that he had had a busy day, and then proceeded to tell me about all the meetings and things he had had, didnt even get a lunch break, and then, of course, he had a massage. Busy Day. Fuck that. But apparently he has sent me a gift. He got it in the mail... yesterday. I should receive it about a week after my birthday. Oh. Thanks. It doesnt quite help that I went downstairs to check the mail (the only occasion upon which I left my apartment yesterday), eagerly anticipating some nice birthday treat from someone. Well, if student loan statments count, then I got my wish. Yuck.

Honestly though, as much as aspects of this year's birthday sucked, it was good to feel such an influx of love from all over the place. People I havent talked to in years were wishing me a Happy Birthday, and I got a number of sweet phone calls. I know I have many friends who would have celebrated with me had they been available, or if I had been available. That helps to know.

Anyway, today is the day of my Properties exam. Im actually feeling pretty confident, which I think gives me a one-up on those who are scared shitless by this exam. While looking through the professor's supplement materials yesterday, I think I found one of the essays she is giving us, based on the cases she had us prepare on (it's like a closed memo)... anyway, I think there are few students who found that, and hopefully that gives me some sort of a head start. The test is from 1-5pm and I am gonna be good and ready to get wasted after that. My friend Angela lands in town tonight about 8... Would love to be sober enough to see her. Then again, I would love to be drunk enough not to.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Seems about right...








Your Birthdate: April 27

Your birth on the 27th day of the month (9 energy) adds a tone of selflessness and humanitarianism to your life path.

Certainly, you are one who can work very well with people, but at the same time you need a good bit of time to be by yourself to rest and meditate.

There is a very humanistic and philanthropic approach in most of things that you do.

This birthday helps you be broadminded, tolerant, generous and very cooperative.

You are the type of person who uses persuasion rather than force to achieve your ends.

You tend to be very sensitive to others' needs and feelings, and you able to give much in the way of friendship without expecting a lot in return.


Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Looking back:

Excerpt of a post from May 1 of last year:

It's a little after 10pm, and I have all sorts of work to do for the week. Once again I am sitting here, contemplating the fact that tomorrow I start my last week of classes at Marquette. I am graduating. I am moving. My friends will be leaving, and I am now, just now, really starting to get it.

I went out last night after work to join Justine and Danielle and a few others at La Perla. Kendra was there. I hadnt seen her in ages. I know that she is dissapointed that I am not the friend she was hoping for. We have just grown apart, and I let that happen. That's gotta be okay. But just hanging out with her on Saturday made me really feel it. Here is this person that I was friends with, who meant a lot to me, and we will be moving on in a few short weeks, and we wont be friends anymore. What do I do about that?

I guess that I just need to be grateful for the moments that we had. For the times that she was an incredible friend to me. For the hope that she will have her every wish fulfilled in life.

I can't help but feel a little bit lonely. I want someone's arms to curl up in, who I can know will not be leaving me, who will be with me through these transitions. And funny, I think I could have that person if I would let it happen, but I know that this, how I am feeling right now, is just a moment, a moment that will pass as I go through the next weeks and really enjoy my goodbyes.

Still no word on Senior Speaker. Good God. I just want to know.
...

So where am I now? Tired. Scared. Wishing I had more time with my friends. Wondering where the time all went. Hoping that I dont have to grow up too fast. Maybe if I dont get these final projects done, they wont let me graduate, and I can keep things the way they are? I don't think so.

Ahhh... "Where the Streets Have no Name" just came on my mp3 player. There isnt any more emblematic song for my career here. The rush at the start of the basketball games. The cheering with the best friends I could hope for. The feeling that we can take on the world. The knowledge that we will have to do just that.

My Momma told me there'd be days like these-- Van Morrison

Started off the day a bit rough.... Went to go see my counselor, and ended up just bawling. Tomorrow is my birthday, and my mom's death seems to be hitting me harder than usual. Mom's are the ones who are supposed to make you feel special on your birthday. Important. I have a photo on my wall of my mother looking at me for the first time some 24 years ago. But for some reason this year I feel like I just dont have anybody to make me feel special. I have an exam the next day, so I dont quite know how I am going to celebrate the day, and I kinda feel like it is just going to pass me by without notice, and that just feels depressing.

I can think of at least one person who will read this and perhaps feel slightly offended because she would be at my side if I showed even the slightest willingness to divert from my studies, and I totally appreciate that. But this year my life just feels a little bit empty. For my 22nd I was so completely happy to celebrate by going to a "parilla" dinner while reading Harry Potter in downtown Madrid, so what I am feeling is not about being alone, but perhaps it is about being lonely. Whatever that means.

The day did look up however. I got an email confirming that our CATHOLIC law school would buy a table at Minneapolis Pride this year as a recruitment effort. This is a major deal, and I was preparing for a fight to make it happen, and am beyond ecstatic that it came about with so little pressure. Makes me very proud of St Thomas. Then I had a meeting with the other OUT!Law chairs and got pretty excited about what we are thinking up for next year. There are a lot of people willing to put some leadership in, and that always feels good.

Then I spent the rest of the day studying in the park for this dreadful exam. At one point one of Brianna's friends joined us and helped to quiz me on my flashcards. Turns out I know my stuff pretty well! NICE!

Tomorrow I turn 24.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Censorship

Nothing gets me good and ticked like old-fashioned censorship....

So I am wasting precious study time (God knows I am a procrastinator before anything else) and I notice that a link has been removed on my MySpace page. Where there used to be a super-attractive guy lying on his stomach, there is now an "Image Censored" sign care of someone at a 3rd party site, MyYearbook, which I dont even use. WTF?

First of all, I am in law school. I am judicious enough to know to keep porn off my pages. So this image couldnt have been that bad. Worst case scenario, there was some handsome butt-crack showing.

Who is this website that thinks its a good idea to not only be censoring THEIR content, but somehow censoring MINE! Im ticked. Just for that, I think I might need to do something really truly vulgar.

Or, I might just go back to studying property law... lame.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Moving On

Good God... Its been almost a month since I have last posted. Wow... Its not that I have been busy, although I have, but more I have been happy. I guess I tend to write more when Im pensive, and Im more pensive when Im meloncholy-ish. Spring has sprung, I have found some fantastic people to surround myself with who care deeply for me, and I feel much more myself than I have in a while. Roo-Raah!

This weekend is the first one I have spent in town for a while. Last weekend I went home for Easter, which was lovely. Every time I go back to TC I find that there are fewer and fewer people there for me. With the (important) exception of Jeff & Dick, I spent the weekend entirely with Dad and Carey. The night I got home we all stayed up till 3am just catching up, and I was amazed at their talent for making me laugh.

The weekend before that I went to Milwaukee to see a friend before he shipped out to Iraq. It was a wonderful trip, and I realized how much I am actually attached to that city. I thought it was Marquette, (Mitchell), or my awesome friends there, but it turns out that it is something far more basic: I miss the familial way I am greeted at the bars, by people all over. Its just so much more blue-collar (read: less stuck-up). I got a chance to visit with a ton of people, including a quick visit with Justine. Phenominal!

It is nice to be in my apartment this weekend though. I am getting my fun out of the way before I buckle down for exams, which start this week. I just wish I could fast-forward these weeks and get to summer. Went clubbing with Kenz and Anthony on Friday to two of the most fun clubs I've been to in a while. The second one was probably the best gay bar Ive been to in the U.S. ... Although I could have just been wasted. Then Saturday I watched "V for Vendetta" (amazing flick) and then went on a boat cruise down the Mississippi with Kenz and a my law school group. It was odd because I would have felt very lonely without Kenz there. I just dont feel like a part of the law school crowd right now. The guys are all guy-ey, and the girls are... well I just dont feel real close with them right now. Anyway, Kenz and I ended up talking about some very deep things and it was just wonderful to have her there.

The reason I titled this entry "moving on," is because I have totally been in freshman mode this year. After years of working for orientation and making new homes for myself in various countries, you'd think Id be better at recognizing this process. Freshman (or 1L) year you get thrown into a mix of people who you pressume you need to be best friends with. But after some months of trying to really work these relationships of convenience, we all realize that, while convenient, these people may not really have anything in common with you. They may not make you feel good about yourself or have the qualities that you generally surround yourself with. I went through this in a major way my freshman year. Carey is finding that right now too. She is having a rough go at school feeling like she hasnt made any "real" connections with some of the girls she has been hanging with all year.

Anyway, now that I recognize that this has been something that I have been struggling with, I also see that I am coming out of it. There are people I am choosing to hang out with more, others less. I'll still have my drinking buddies, but it's definitely nice to know that I am finding people who I can rely on for more than that.

So, now it is heading into exams, so it may well be another month before I write. I'll try not to do that. Oh... and for those who might have been thinking about it, DO NOT upgrade your Hotmail accounts with their new beta software. It sucks. Trust me.

But Ive moved on.