Ground Zero
Well, for those of you who don't like hearing about other people's parties and having a good time. Stop now. Read no further. In fact, by reading the "Read no further part", you've already read past the Stop and will probably continue to read until it is too late. There is no hope for you. The rest of you... Pary on. So last night we had another raging party. All day was rain off and on, which was really our wild-card for the whole shindig. I wasn't sure if anyone would show up or not. As it turns out, there is no stopping a huge crowd from coming to the most notorious party that will ever happen at CMA. I know, I know what you're thinking... That is a lot of partying that this can be the MOST epic one, but just you wait. So, at 5, me and Luke are driving down to pick up 3 kegs of beautiful water, wheat, hops, and barley, and return to find the band has set up to play the Shoreline Ampetheater in our front living room. There are two gynourmous towers of speakers from the ground to the cieling, enough guitars, drums, equipment to fill that whole section of our house, and the skies clearing for what was going to be a good night. It all kicked off around 9 and the beer flowed like wine, the band started playing, and right away, you could tell... It was just crazy. The band was FRIGGIN AWESOME. So they ripped, shredded, and proceeded to make my ears bleed with pleasure whilst in the backyard, people came in and nobody seemed to leave. So we ran out of beer at one point, not sure exactly what time, but early. Everything was gone quick. So the 3rd or 4th time the cops came, we aren't exactly sure, they were there to break up the party for good. About 10 of 'em entered the backyard and a hush fell. They went into the house and everything changed in a heartbeat. One of Vallejo's finest sat right down... AT THE DRUMS! And the band raged through another set or two. It was THE single craziest most awesome moment ever. I cannot put into words the confused emotions pouring through me when they came to break up the party and wound up rockin' with the party. Basically, it was just epic because of the police on the drums. Insane fun... If you were there, you know exactly what I'm talking about. And if you weren't, well, you missed out on history in the make.
- posted by @ Clark 21:12

 
Complaint Dept.

Complaint #45456940

This entry is going to be nothing but complaining. If you wish to continue, consider yourself aptly warned. If you do not wish to continue, I would suggest www.homestarrunner.com as something a bit more light-hearted and fun. Now, down to business...

As most of you know, I am a member of a program with the Navy. Part of this program talks about leadership. Every week we're supposed to send in a report summarizing our lives of the past week and predicting how things are going to go in the next week. There's all sorts of little rules about formatting and what is to go where, and exactly how many paragraphs there are to be and all that typical bull shit. This week, I was out of town so I decided not to do one. Conciously decided to say "Screw this! I'm not around a computer and I'm not going out of my way to get to one". And I got a 300 word essay. This is where my complaint starts. Not because it has to be 300 words long. But the EXTREME bull shit that it must jump through to achieve its 300 words. Following are the exact directions on the essay. When you are finished... Comment on whether you agree with me or not. Personally, I think this essay is going to do more harm than good as I view it more as a block to be filled. However, it has me using some bigger words at present. :)

"1. The length of the essay is to be exactly 300 words (in the body), and the essay must be hand-written. Words must have four or more letters to count; these must be underlined and numbered (numbers go on top of each word with four or more letters). Words with 3 or fewer letters must be circled (these do not get numbered and do not go toward the total of exactly 300 words). You must double-space the body starting under the subject line in order to provide space for the numbering, as shown here.

2. Failure to complete an essay correctly could result in additional Extra Military Instruction, including redoing the original essay and writing another on attention to detail/failure to follow instructions/whatever the assigner chooses. Failure to follow Proper Memo Format is grounds for such EMI. The standard due date will be the next drill day, but this is up to the assigner’s discretion and may depend on the seriousness of the offense.

3. These essays are not punitive in nature; rather, the process helps the assignee understand military culture, knowledge, and values. "

All I can say is double -grr...

Complaint Closed.
- posted by @ Clark 08:39

 
Wise Words of Woeful Wisdom...
"Y'all ain't gonna see a hearse with a luggage rack." These are merely a few words to live life by. Live this life we got till it won't let us live anymore. Money, time, school, everything is for not if we aren't living it up at the same time. You'll never take "stuff" to the grave with you. Money won't mean anything. All you're going to have is memories of the good times. That was my philosophical moment for the day. I hope you're all happy. In other news, my away message for the day depicts my attitude towards school today... "The rain pouring forth from the heavens is merely a physical representation of my internal emotional state towards continued education...AKA- School makes me want to cry" I almost sounded smart for half a second there. Scary. Check crazyclarks.blogspot.com soon for our 70's party update. I know its been a long long ass time coming, but c'mon people, I have a life too... And on that note... Time to make some rub-a-dub-grub for lunch. Keep on keepin on and remember you can't take nothing with you when you leave. So live it up while you can. "Y'all ain't gonna see a hearse with a luggage rack."
- posted by @ Clark 11:21

 
New post! HOLY $#!+ There's a NEW post!
With all the hustle and the bustle of the busy life of a college student (Hey, quit laughing...) I have managed to neglect my readers of something of interest. If you figure out what's missing let me know... I can fortell nothing. Its 1030 in the morning on a cold, over-cast, windy, choppy day and we may in fact still be going out on Fowler's boat. Its a sweet little flat bottom river boat that holds about 3 people plus a cooler laden with refreshments and ice. Its a good time. Last time we went out was a near death (nobody got hurt...Or even close), but it was crazy. Had the sheer pin on the propeller break so we lost propulsion with a tug boat bearing down on us while pushing a barge. Then, with the motor half out of the water, I managed to remove the propeller, pull out the old pin, put in a new one, and re-attach the propeller while underway still... Actually drifting under the Carquinez Bridge and toward the shore really. But that was last time. This time may have some new stories if people would call me back... Saw Team America. All I have to say about that is, I laughed so hard I coulda pissed my pants. America, *$%# Yeah! You'll understand after you see it. I also invested in Ron White's cd, "Drunk in Public". HOLY HELL! That man is one of the funniest people I've ever heard. Granted that list of people is really really really really long, but still. I'm a huge-mongo fan of comedy. Everyone could use more in their life. Anywho, that is all that is new on my end. OH! I'm not longer technologically indignant and stuck in the middle ages! I have a CD player and an MP3 player that can hook into the tape-adapter jobby and play ball! Well, I may be helping Andy change out the clutch master-cylinder on his truck. That should go interestingly. Never done it before, but how hard can it really be? Honestly now. Until next time... Hold you head up high, even in the face of defeat.
- posted by @ Clark 10:34

 
New Stuff...
Hey hey crazy campers! Well, some new stuff in the stuff department. If'n school starts to get you down, you attended one of the Florida St. Shenanagan Shindigs, or merely want to see the coolest place in V-town to go and hang out... crazyclarks.blogspot.com. This site is going to be in a state of change as we move to update it with new cool pictures from recent parties as well as make some of the older pics smaller so the site takes less time to load. The newest accomplishment was making the Mr. Mug section work. Totally bitchin. Anywho, check it out for updates... We just had another party so more pics are on the way with the possibility of some movies of people on the half-pipe attempting to ride it.
- posted by @ Clark 01:40

 
Go Big or Go Home!
Okay, so anyone who knows me, knows of my love of cars and most things automobile. I say most things because I cannot stretch my love for four wheels and an engine to encompass import cars and some other domestic cars, as well as most to all new cars. So basically, I could say I have an affinity for the finer things in life... An open road in the back woods rolling country side of God's beautiful Earth. Blasting down the road with Lynyrd Skynyrd blaring at the maximum volume. Gas pedal mashed to the ground, spraying gallons of gasoline into a huge fire-breathing engine trapped beneath the hood of a steel beast. Hot Damn! If that doesn't get your blood pumping... You're probably a member of the rice-runner crowd or like new cars. But... To each his own. So that is mine. I was cruising the web this evening in an endeavor to find what size carb I should put on my truck and I stumbled across a Mopar page. Since at the very base of my soul resides a 1973 Plymouth Duster 340 with a 3-speed manual transmission... I had no chance of changing web pages without a search. My fruitful search produced a saying which besides having never heard it before, was also witty. "Mopar or No Car!" That shall hang on a sign in my garage. Right next to the sign that says, "There's No Replacement For Displacement!". Some people may argue that I'm obsessive compulsive... Card decks, money in my wallet, my room... but I'd just argue that I'm obsessive. If any of you have talked to me since June, I'd argue that at least once every few conversations the topic of my truck comes up. I'd like to appologize for that. But I'm just so damn happy because of it. Someday someone will understand this love I have. For some, it may be music. They must have it. They cannot live without it. They talk about it incessantly. For others, Hell, I don't know... Everyone has that one thing which the mere thought of will boil blood and send them to excited levels of life. For me...Its the road. The old cars cruising down the wide open expressways from this life to another. The black stretches of asphalt are the stairway to Heaven for me. Who am I kidding, there's no cure for my addiction. I've got motor oil and diesel fuel pulsing through my veins. So now I am going to motor off into Friday night...

- posted by @ Clark 20:28

 
On Swallowing Pride...
So I finally did it people. I swallowed my pride, tucked my tail, and hauled my truck off to Midas. I know I know...I can hear everyone going, "what's wrong with that?" But I don't need someone else to wrench on the Green Lantern. So here's the plan... I pay the 20 bucks for them to inspect the whole thing and the brakes entirely for me. Then...If machine work is needed (i.e. the brake rotors are warped or the drums are worn too much) I have them do it and replace the pads and adjust my pedal. But Hell, I've probably lost a lot of people already. Needless to say, I'm just dropping it off for something I'm perfectly capable of. The clutch is entirely another story though. I have no problem ponying up the cash for someone else to do in a couple hours what would have taken me 8 hours and then some to do. Money sucks. I just thought I'd put that one out there. I personally don't like people's dependancy on money, but there's no way to live without it. They say that money can't buy happiness, but without money, you can't live life like you want to. Thats all I am going to say for now. I could go on about what I want to do with life, with my truck... Perhaps on who I'd like to spend more time with and who I would want to spend less with. This is life... Love it or leave it.


PS - This is what the alphabet would look like if Q and R were eliminated.
PPSS - I'm sorry, I did not learn my AA BB CC's God God Damnit Damnit!
PS - No really, this is my first entry from HOME! WooHoo! I have internet at home!

- posted by @ Clark 18:30

 
Formal Appology...
I want to formally appologize for subjecting you, my reader, to the perils of my mind. This should not ever happen. Most mental capacities cannot handle the simplicity of my thoughts or the way I try to live life. Who the Hell am I kidding? I don't live a simple life. Honestly people, anyone who knows the truth knows how many different lives I lead because I have to. So for now, I'm going to sit here, miss the Hell out of my good time friends, wish to Hell I was somewhere far away with no chance of ever coming back, and thinkin' of how I coulda been out at Kelly's place hanging out tonight if I wasn't in charge of the Engine Room right now. Life's a chance we roll the dice every day...Gimme the damn dice...I'm tired of the roll I'm on... C'mon Snake Eyes... You're more than an animals body parts....

- posted by @ Clark 22:59

 
On Love...
Yes people, this is going to be an entry with some, albeit a little, feeling to it. I know it is not common, but hey... Variety keeps people on their toes. Have you ever had that feeling for someone that they could completely make your day with the mere thought of them? The kind of people who can turn you into a complete puddle of mush when they are having a bad day and you cannot help them. It seems that all people are after these days is physical. Is nobody searching for Love? Have we abandoned all hope and thrown up our arms in defeat? Meh... here's to those of us still searching... I'll raise my glass to that...

- posted by @ Clark 21:30

 

- posted by @ Clark 21:36

 
Grades!
Okay people, I just realized that nobody has seen grades for last semester. So here they are...
I had 30 units, 12 classes, and pulled a GPA of 3.58. Yeah buddy! That's about all I have to say about that. I was going to go through my classes and list 'em all individually, but decided that my 6 A's, 5 B's, and one ungraded class didn't need to be listed. MUAHAHAHA!!! Here's to being one semester closer to gradumatation!

- posted by @ Clark 20:00

 
Reflections...
So walking around this morning I realized just how different life is now than it used to be. When someone says "High Risk" what is the first thing that comes to mind? For me, its jumping off a bridge, or rally racing a car around a dirt road expecting somebody to be coming from the other way at any time. But that is not the context that high risk was used this morning. These people were talking stock market. Its a strange world in which we live. My little brother is trying to get my folks to buy him a cell phone. I didn't get one until I left for college and needed one just to stay in touch. Now you can't walk through a 6th grade class without seeing less than 2 people covered from head to toe in name-brand B.S. and and the entire class probably has cell phones. Culture pushes people into this. I just want to go back to when high-risk meant that you were pullin' some crazy stunt. Now, high-risk is everything. That food is high-risk, the sun is high-risk.... Life is high-risk people. Fact of the matter is 100% of ALL people FAIL to get out of life alive. So we need to get off this high-risk band-wagon and head back to the simple days.

- posted by @ Clark 11:33

 
Deliciously Redneck!
So anyone who knows me at all knows my love of country music, and my ability to wear nothing but blue jeans and t-shirts unless required by school or the Navy. Yesterday was another delicious delve into my southern roots in America. With the gumby-green truck parked in the drive-way, jacked up with one wheel off, I was sittin in a wifebeater and blue jeans with a rattle-can of black spray paint. And just why was the wheel off? And why the paint? Because I was there painting my rims flat black in my front yard! Well, anywho, next stop on the truck department is Flowmaster exhaust, a 500cfm carb, and the body work to straighten everything out again and fix the bed. After that the paint'll be slopped on. Then the stereo. Then ....Then I just cruise and save $$.

Sometimes life deals the wierdest card. I forget what I was going to say. But sometimes you can fall entirely for someone whom you've never in your life met and its alright. Lifes suprises are always the greatest. And on that note...I'm off like a prom dress...

- posted by @ Clark 22:21

 
Devil's On Your Tailgate...
Big truck slidin’ easy ‘round that bend
Foot through the floor board, runnin’ with a friend.
Wanted for havin’ way too much fun,
It ain’t over till you say its done.

Devil’s on your tailgate, good luck and god speed.
You gotta get away ‘fore the Devil does his deed.
Good luck and god speed, life goes on this way.
Just gotta stand on it so he can’t catch up today.

It’s a fight to the finish, that’s a good place to end.
Racing through life, racing with a friend.
It don’t really matter, if you win or lose
Just gotta have fun, no matter what path you choose.

Devil’s on your tailgate, good luck and god speed.
You gotta get away ‘fore the Devil does his deed.
Good luck and god speed, life goes on this way.
Just gotta stand on it so he can’t catch up today.

Tires spinnin’ down the back woods gravel,
Keepin’ it floored no matter where you travel.
You’d think at that’d speed life’d unravel
But you’ll soon see, livin’ life this way
Keeps us all movin’ past yesterday.

Devil’s on your tailgate, good luck and god speed.
You gotta get away ‘fore the Devil does his deed.
Good luck and god speed, life goes on this way.
Just gotta stand on it so he can’t catch up today.


Somedays you just gotta run... This is one of 'em...

- posted by @ Clark 13:41

 
Party Like A Rockstar!
For those of you who attended our little hoopla gala last night... You'll need no reasoning behind the stories. I would like to say that me and my three room-mates threw one fahkin HELL of a party! If you only knew what went on... I can't even say it all. The fact that two kegs were chained to a tree in our backyard with TIRE CHAINS! oughta speak a little. The police were only called three times on us. The third time giving us a "Disturbing the Peace" violation. Which means that if they come anytime in the next 5 days we get slapped with a $600 fine. Yoikes! It was quite the day yesterday. Between Anthony's parking ticket for not curbing his tires, the water getting shut off, and a few other miscellanious problems, everything went off without a hitch. I have tons of pictures and must put them on my computer and shrink them down before I can post them online. So keep some eyes peeled. I don't even know if anyone reads this crap anymore. Meh, I don't really care one way or the other. Sometimes you win, most time you'll lose...

- posted by @ Clark 13:05

 
The House Mom
So every house must have someone who cleans up after everyone (and doesn't mind too much), knows where everything is, and is there for people right? Right? RIGHT? So I guess I am this so called House Mom. I didn't start the day that way. I started it out all rugged and manly. Attempting to make my truck go all the way to the gas station on virtually empty. As I swung it up into the station, it actually died and was damn near out. I was super stoked to even make it. So I pull up to the pump... And realize its on the OTHER SIDE! Dang it! So I crank it over, luckily it starts up and I move to the other pump. As I set the brake and get out to pump my $3.00 of change into the empty tank, I note a HUGE puddle forming under the front end. NOOOO!!!! Thats exactly what I needed right? WRONG! So here I am, barely a gallon of gas in tank, no power steering, and attempting to go home. When I got home, I muscled it into the drive-way. I say muscled because that is what you do when you have a truck and the power steering doesn't work. Its a lot harder than a truck that has no power steering. Almost as if, with a problem, the power steering unit makes life much more difficult. But needless to say, I had my roomie Anthony take me down to the local auto parts store and pick up a new high-pressure line for the power steering. For anyone who has worked on a '92 GMC V-6, more power to ya. If you had to change the power steering line... I give you props for not selling it on the spot. Me, I'm much much much more patient than the average joe, so I was stoked to be in my driveway wrenching on my truck. After taking a few miscelanious parts off surrounding the problem area, I delved into the knuckle scraping world of pulling the old hose. So after about an hour of struggle, I managed to get the old hose off and the new one on. Few quick turns of the various wrenches and I was in business. Or was I? Yeah, it seemed way to easy to me too. Thats why I forgot to put the o-rings on the ends of the hose before putting it in. So I had to pull everything back apart and put it back together with the o-rings in place. Flush the system out, put it all back together again and.... And... Get the keys. Slide 'em into the ignition. Depress the clutch. Turn the key. Sparks fly and... BAM! I have power steering again! So we're off again off again. And then my attention turns from the green beast in the driveway to the place we called a kitchen. I found 4, count 'em 4!, dead mice in our cabinet. So after spending the duration of the afternoon and evening cleaning and cleaning and then cleaning some more....You know what? I'm tired. I'm going to finish this some other time. Stay tuned. Later

- posted by @ Clark 23:56

 
On Growing Up...
I've always lived by the maxim "Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional." So a little over a year ago, my best friends tied the knot. This is one of those "growing up" events. Of course, I was there for both of them when it got ridiculously hard, but since then... There hasn't been a single problem between them. They are the picture perfect couple. And now... A year later... I'm going to a baby shower. Do you have any idea what thats like? I'm amazed at how much those two have grown up... It was a year ago that we were doing Flaming Paularitas and Sizzling Shortys (Both drinks are HIGHLY dis-advised). Last night I was over at their place just kinda hangin out... We sat, laughed, had a great time. I realized I'm still the short funny guy that'll probably never realize when to take any situation seriously, but thats okay, because I've also learned that there are people out there who take EVERY situation like its life or death! But I've noticed... They both seem so grown-up like now. Its scary really. Now, I'm not sayin' its a bad thing... but I don't know... I'm sure somebody else out there knows what I'm talkin' about. It's like awesome - for them. I'm not so sure its for me just yet.

On another note... I need to start attending meetings. Love-Aholics Annonymous.
I took the first step last night. I admitted that I love too much. My weakness... 110 pounds of slobbering heart. Combined with Amie's dog too...Sieux (pronouce Sue) is a killer puppy too... Man... I'm in love with my puppy. She knows when I'm happy, hungry, sad, tired, or just want someone to lay in my lap and stare up at me with the kindest eyes.... Sniff sniff... Yes people! I actually do have a soft side! I'm not an asshole all the time! I try and break it down so there's some equal dispersion, but things like my dog will make me want to do anything... So that is step one. I hope that step two involves treats for no reason, walks in the middle of the night because she wants one, and even more love...Cuz thats what she's gonna get. Who am I kidding? Too much love? "Its like a girl too pretty, a car too fast... Too much money there's no such thing... No matter what they say I've done, well, I ain't never had too much fun..."

Also... If you know about car stereos...I'm going to need some help soon. My old man wants me to put a stereo in his car... I can do the deck and speakers, put in new wiring and stuff, but I don't know how to hook up an amp or a sub. But yeah, advice/help would be great. Anywho...Thas all I gots for now...
- posted by @ Clark 12:39

 
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Whatever You Want...
I'm tired of chasing my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they are going and meet up with them later. ~Mitch Hedberg

Today was a good day. I did a whole lot of nothing and managed to get nothing accomplished. Watched some flicks, chatted it up on the 'ol computer, and attempted to pack my stuff for a two month summer cruise. Do you have any idea how hard it is to pack enough stuff to keep you entertained for two months? Honestly now. Some people just have no idea how rough it really is. I have my Rubik's Cube, my Rubik's UFO (both of which I'm quite proficient at solving),my MP3 player, some DVDs, and a laptop with a busted CD drive. I have no intention of bringing my nice new computer with me on ths cruise. As cool and groovy as it would be to have something this nice... I know what'll be happening. There is no way that I'm going to come out of the Engine Room everyday smelling like roses. Which means I'll be covered in grease which subsequently covers everything I own with grease as well. Its the nature of the greasy beast. Basically, right now...I would like nothing more than to be sitting down with friends to play some poker or something. However, that won't be happening. Not on this night. Tomorrow, probably. After my best friends' baby shower... They are so happy together. I'm so happy to see them make such a happy couple. Someday, somewhere... That someone will cross paths. I may not know it at the time, but I'm sure there's someone out there for me. Some people already know who that someone is for them... Currently I'm watching a movie that makes me wonder if we have ever lived in the past. Do you ever enjoy something, have something that peaks your interest, but you have no idea why. You can't really explain what it is but it does. For me, its the old school mobsters. Meh, i can't really explain it. But...bleh. Stupid brain. Stop failing me! You're miserable.

Okay, so I must pursue boredom in search of something better. Bleh. Here's to all the lonely single people sittin at home right now...
- posted by @ Clark 21:58

 
Drunk in Public...
"I wasn't drunk in publick. I was drunk in bar. THEY threw me into publick."
~Ron "Tater Salad" White.

Okay, for those of you who haven't seen Blue Collar Comedy Tour. It is a must see. I was up visiting my friends Mike and Paula while on my way up to Nor Cal on an expedition to showcase my truck and see some friends like Steve-O among others. (Sorry to the "others", Steve-O was bitchin' that I never mentioned him... So it was my solid ode to Steve-O and the rest of you are just as important, but the squeeky wheel gets the grease...) While I was there, I again got in trouble. Mike, Paula, you're both great people, but I just wanna do the dishes damn it! C'mon! Is that too much to ask. Actually, I'm really messing. I didn't get in trouble. Although, they do give me that "look" when I pick up the sponge and go to town on the dishes.

So my truck... That's right people MY truck. I am the proud owner of a [God only knows what shade of] green 1992 GMC Sonoma pickup truck. It was quite the change from the "other car". I went from a small, light, 4 cylinder, front wheel drive car to a large, heavy, steel, V-6, beast of a rear-wheel drive truck. Meh, I have officially rn out of the will to sit here and type any longer. I've almost said everything i wanted to say, and I've said it all not how I want to say it. So that is good... It'll make people think. Bleh... Reality bites.

It's going to be a while folks before I can write again. I hate to say "I told you so" to all the people who're going to the Grad and loving it. But I must... I TOLD YOU SO! So yeah, gotta love my love life. You know, the one that I have. I swear I have it... It must be in my pocket... Damn. I left it at home. I do have my Visa card though. Never leave home without it...
- posted by @ Clark 12:47

 
"Sometimes I wonder what I'm gonna do, cuz there ain't no cure for the summertime blues..."
To summarize the events of this summer thus far would be the unintentional demise of a great story. There is no way to capture all the memories and stories that stemmed from my 3 weeks in Japan. I banked a good 15 hours of flight time. This may not seem like much to the average individual. But the people who were leaving as I got there only had 2.5 hours of flight time. And that was at the end of their second week. Basically three weeks time condensed looks something like this...

After a 12 hour flight, what is something that one would want more than anything? To stand up. That's right. I'm glad we're all together on that one. Instead, I was met with another 2 hour wait for my 1.5 hour bus ride to the naval base I was stationed at. Upon arrival, I no longer wanted to stand up. I was merely yearning for my pillow and some wonderful dreams. After waking up at the wonderful hour of 4am (Thank you time-changes and jet-lag!!! WOOO HOOO!!!) I went outside and took a picture. It was sunny. i.e. the sun was way up by 430 in the morning. I hope that is striking everyone else as a bit odd. So I go into the squadron in my khakis (the last time I'll wear those this trip) and recieve a flight suit. I promptly change and am given a patch to put on it so it doesn't look so plain and boring. I am now a "Rotor Cowboy" according to my bright pink patch. I spent the rest of the day off and me and the other two MIDN who were leaving that weekend all went out on the town.

The next week was full of tests and studying. Yes, I know, rough. I had to learn all sorts of Emergency Procedures for the SH-60B helicopter. And not only did I have to learn them, I had to memorize them. I took both an open book and a closed book exam on them. I took a course rules test that quizzed my knowledge of the flight pattern in and around the base, egress procedures for getting out of the helicopter in an emergency, and a whole litanny of hoops to jump through before being able to be put on the oh so elusive flight schedule. At this point there is a rumor that I will be able to jump out of the helicopter. Oh the joy that would bring. It'd be awesome.

So now that my A.D.D. has kicked in (Not diagnosed, but if you know me you'd swear...), I've grown mentally weary of trying to make it sound all interesting and what-not. I'll do my best to get some pictures up so they can do the talking for me. In the meantime I'll summarize and completely be unable to fufill my desire to do the adventure justice. I got to ride in the F-18 Superhornet, H-3, and H-60 SeaHawk. I also got to fly the H-3, H-60 SeaHawk, and S-3 Viking. All of which were a total blast and I had a great time. I also had the privelege of jumping out. That's right. They made it happen. For those of you, one person in particular, who kept askin if I was scared when I was doing this stuff... The answer is no, not until I got under the rotor wash of the H-60. I was swimming along next to the guy who was jumping with me and we were about to be picked up so that we could jump again. To pick us up the helicopter would hover overhead, they'd lower the hoist, and lift us into the back of the helicopter. While the helo is hovering overhead, water, mist, and air swirl around you and pummel you. You can't see a damn thing. All you can hear is the chop chop chop chop of the helicopter blades and you are searching for the guy who was just right next to you so that you could be right there when it was time to be hoisted. That was perhaps the scariest moment of the trip. After the first time however, it seemed much easier to see and work your way through the wash. Kinda like that first time you put on a snorkel and stuck your face in the water. The way your brain says "Just breathe normal.", but your lungs say, "Screw you! You're face is in the water! I ain't doin' nothing!"

My adventure home was much longer than the trip there. Its really not supposed to be that way, but it was. I left at 1200 for the airport. We arrived at 1315. We were supposed to show up merely 4 hours before our 1925 flight. So after arriving so damn early at the airport, our plane is delayed and we can't even board until 2000. And then we are further delayed and do not actually get on the plane and seated before 2100. After flying all night, which if you ever get the chance to do...Don't, we landed. I then had the 2.5 hour car ride home during which I recounted much of my adventure to my eagerly listening parents.

Japan is a great place - for me to visit. I can't wait to be back home.
- posted by @ Clark 11:33

 
What's Happening... (Post 2 of 2)
This one is for my lil' bro. Yes, he hasn't been my little brother for years...I get most of my clothes as hand-me-ups from the guy, but he's graduating in the next few days on the 10th. What a great time that'll be. I just wanted to say what an awesome guy he's been and how fortunate I've been to have him as a younger bro. Best of luck with the future chief!
- posted by @ Clark 18:12

 
What's Happening? (Post 1 of 2)
So here's what has been going on in the last few weeks for me. I am currently beyond broke. My monetary reserves are in the neon pink range quickly moving towards non-existant with every penny I spend. I recently purchased a 1992 GMC Sonoma SLE long bed V-6 pickup truck. Thats right people. The Civic treated me well... But it is time to kick it in gear with my awesome ass truck. Such a beautiful automobile. Well, I picked that up Friday and left for Japan early Monday morning. So sad. I've been in Japan for about a week and a half now. Having a great time. Who woulda thought that BBQ heart and tongue would be so damn good? I wouldn't have, but being in a new country you open to new ideas. So I gave it a whirl. Wicked good to say the least. Been around. Went to the beach... Its an impressive view to say the least. I have also gone up for about 5hours in the helicopters. Once was 2.5 hours in the Navy's Seahawk, which is a version of the Blackhawk helicopter. The other 2.5 hours was in the Navy version of the presidential helicopter. That was fun. I saw a bunch of wicked awesome stuff out the gunner's door. I was lookin' at Mt. Fuji, downtown Tokyo, the beach...Everything. From the birds eye view. It was awesome. So now we have plans to climb Mt. Fuji next weekend. We'll see how that goes. More to come soon enough.
- posted by @ Clark 17:59

 
Good Advice Or Bad?
Pipe Dream: (pIp dreem)N. - A fantastic but vain hope.

So I finally sack up and tell my old man I'm lookin' at a truck. I'm halfway through and he turns away and says, "Nothing but pipe dreams. You have nothing but pipe dreams" and walks off. I was listening to the radio at work today and a song comes on with the lyrics sayin' something along the lines of "how is someone supposed to keep going on with nobody to back 'em up?". Seems so odd that with such a lack of support from one side, I have managed to still be a dreamer. Yes people, I will admit it, I dream a great many things that'll never happen. However, I dream them with the hopes that someday they might. So after my father had doled out his advice last night, I woke up this morning to my ma's great advice. My dog came and woke me up today. As I cut the anchors holding down my eyelids I peered out and saw nothing but the black nuzzle of my dog lapping endlessly at my face. Try as I might I couldn't get away. The harder I tried, the more excited and harder the puppy licked. So I finally gave in and got up. I ran around chasing the dog and pettin' her and doin' what I normally do when my ma stopped me. She was like, "Maybe you should love her less" in her sarcastic voice. Yes, I don't get my sarcasm from just me. I get about 150% of it from my ma. Its always amazed me how my dog could "sense" when I wanted her around. At the precise moment that the time was right, she'd be there with her head on my lap looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes... sniff, sniff...

So, I have decided to follow my mom's advice and love the dog just the same (which is what she was really implying...That she enjoys seeing how happy the dog makes me). And ignore the old man, yet again.

There is a special reason why I have a kinship with the dog. My first dog picked me when I was 4. If you know anything about me or have seen pictures of me when I was younger, I could put on a pair of fire-man boots and they'd come up to my waist and I'd still be up in the air. I was a small kid (still small now). But my dog picked me when we went to pick her out. It was my parents way to get me out of my shell. I was remiss for about a year after my brother was taken out of this life and put into the next.

It just so happens that today is a fairly important day. Its his birthday. The big 22. No longer in the ages that matter much. 21 is the last big birthday from what I hear. Eh, life's funny sometimes. Things may be different if he were still around. I might not even have the two little brothers I do now. Fate has a funny way of working itself out sometimes.

Well, its off again off again. Pipe dreams and love are just around the bend. I'm goin for a small jog with the dog. She'll love it and I need it. Catch you on the flip side...
- posted by @ Clark 18:53

 
And the Survey Says...
So it's as good as written in stone. I'm going to be joining a squadron in Japan for this summer. I (barely) passed the swim qual. I don't know what it is about trying to tread water for two minutes in full flight gear (Harness, helmet, flighsuit, gloves, g-suit, steel-toe boots) that I cannot manage the first try. But when I try for the second time it is much easier and I'm much more relaxed. Bleh. So much for me bein' Mr. In-Shape. I'm an embarrassment to mankind as a whole.

Why do I have such a vivid imagination? It used to be me going insane with the Duster. Now, its a 1984 Chevrolet S10 Pickup which I'm fantacizing about (among a few other fantasies floating around that mind of mine...). My goal is to get this truck. I want it. I need it. Okay, so maybe I don't NEED it for vehicle sake, I need it for sanity sake. I need something other than the same pile I have driven almost my whole life. For a while in high school it was the "shaggin' wagon", a HUGE blue van which has resulted in many a good and embarassing story. The Civic has a lot of history, but I'm getting bored. C'mon people, its a fahkin Honda Civic, how cool is that? I WANT OUT! Its a car club I no longer wish to partake in.

So I have decided that I suck. Everything I want (people included) are falling into two catagories:
1). Too far away that it doesn't work.
2). They don't want me back. (This works for vehicles too as they tend to dissappear when I get close to closing a deal)

So for all you things that are far away or don't want me back, someday it may work out. Whether I am there when it works out or not is not for me to say. Fate has a great many twists that are never planned for.

New favorite song: "Riding with Private Malone" by David Ball. Totally awesome totally touching song. Any by totally awesome I mean totally cool. And by totally cool I mean... HAHAHA, what a laugh...

- posted by @ Clark 19:55

 
If you'd just stay.... Stay gone!!!
So it's been an entire week since school has let out. Have I done anything? You bet your ass I have. I have sucessfully driven more miles in a week than most truckers; totalling out at 2300+ miles. I have managed to visit many friends, work this last weekend, watch a basketball game a friend's house, went line dancing at the G-rad, and sucessfully completed my physical for the Navy. So I will be out of country and out of mind for the next month. Thats right, I'm going to Japan. Who's gonna miss me? I think I see a hand...no, they are just scratching their head. I know my dog will. She went crazy when I was gone for one week! Imagine one month! Then a week at home and two months gone!! She's going to go nuts! I love that dog to death. Its crazy how much a puppy can inprove your outlook on life. Speaking of life... I'm lovin' it!!! School is out, grades are in, and I'm goin nuts just trying to make it through. I start work on Thursday though. So that'll consume the rest of my free time for the next week. Bleh. I don't want to work. Its that same filing in the steel cage with no ventilation or lighting or MUSIC!!! (AAAAAARRRGGHHHH!!!!! That's the real downfall!) Anywho, I ain't complaining cuz life is grand. I'll check in periodically now that I'm home. More to come tomorrow...

This is Matt signing off...
- posted by @ Clark 17:50

 
Meeting The Mark...
So I got my grades, they have been released at a predetermined undisclosed location. They are DAMN good! Booyah!

Plant Operations III - B+ (Can I fix it? Yes I can! Send me your broken ship and we'll fix it)
Manufacturing Processses - A (Can you make something from nothing? I can.)
Mechanical/Material Lab - B+ (Can you say WASTE OF TIME???)
Mechanical/Material Lab Lab - No Grade (What is this crap? It was a semester of labs and reports for no grade.)
Refridgeration and A/C - A (I can work on A/C units now! I'm certified!)
Heat Transfer - A
Mechancial Design - B
Advanced Fluids & Thermodynamics - A- (Thas right! Three, count 'em, three thermodynamics classes.)
Engineering Design Processes - A (We designed a shopping cart. Its rad. Suspension, steering, and a motor. Need I say more?)

This leaves me with a semester GPA of 3.684. Whoop whoop! All the late nights, all nighters, and 4hours/night of sleep weeks have finally paid off. This yields a total GPA of 3.510 with oh too many units towards my GPA. Here's to the good times just gettin' started.

Well, I have my orders folks. I'm going to be attatched to a helicopter squadron out of Japan. I also passed my test saying that I can be a pilot. Here's to hoping...
- posted by @ Clark 21:31

 
Sad Songs and Waltzes aren't selling this year...
After much time saying good-bye to old friends and new friends, I ventured home again. Its always hard leaving the company of the people I spend 8 months out of the year with. Some of those people may in fact be gone forever. But that is no reason to be sad. They are carrying on with their lives as everyone must as they move through the stages of life. So I've been home two days now. I've seen my best friend for 30 seconds as he was off to his home in Monterey again, and my other best friend for another 30 seconds as I made him pull over on the freeway because as fate would have it, we were both headed the same direction at the same time. He on his way to class and I on my way up to set up my physical for the Navy. A grand total of 450 miles has been driven in those two days. With a few miles of bike riding and some basketball with my (no-so)little brother. It used to be that I had a younger brother (who was 3 years younger, but larger than I) and a little brother (who's 7 years younger, but smaller). Now it seems I have two younger brothers. One's 3 years younger and bigger'n me. And the other looks like he could wear the same size shirts as I do. What is this world coming to? When my brother who's 7 YEARS younger than I am is bigger than me, there MUST be something wrong. Lots of miles will be put on the 'ol car in the next few days. As it looks, I'll be in Lemoore all day Thursday, maybe out to Monterey then. If not, I'll be back home and head out to Monterey early Friday. Which leads me into work in the San Fran all weekend, followed by a trip back to Lemoore on Monday or Tuesday and again on Wendesday. So, for those of you wondering how this in some small miniscule way partakes to you, IF I am in Lemoore on Monday, I will be going line dancing at the G-rad that night. Otherwise, I won't. That is how it affects you. I wonder how many people actually noticed that we weren't there on Monday... I'm willing to bet that everyone's lives are already back to normal and they don't even miss us all out there. I doubt anyone asked, "Hey, where're all the rowdy kids?" Eh, ain't no sad songs sellin' this year. Instead you'll get the summer beats of Guns N' Roses "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child O' Mine" or "Ain't Nothin' Wrong With The Radio" for you country fans out there. Wherever you are and whatever you're doing...Crank the good time tunes and let the good times roll.... And drop me an e-mail @ tyrantsupreme@hotmail.com I'd love to hear from friends....Later
- posted by @ Clark 14:50

 
Have you ever wondered...
Have you ever wondered why people turn out the way they do? Products of their environments is a strong argument to make. Take for instance...Me. I have no faith in my abilities to do...well, anything. So normally I just go for it, if I fail, meh, oh well, I'll try again. If I suceed, rock on! So in this trial and error method to life, I made a huge error last summer. Needless to say, 2nd degree burns later, things changed. I had realized what a bad decision string I was making. So I'm on the folks with the Old Man, and I start talkin about cruise. I begin to tell him about how I'm turnin' 21 before Korea and 4 or 5 people have already said that they're takin' me out. Well, this was an instant bomb shell which began to get dropped from 20000 feet. I should have seen it coming, but no, the bait was there, I stepped straight into the snare. So he begins to lecture me on how its "Not a good time to talk about being 21. Last summer you blah blah blah...You're life flashed before your eyes... blah blah blah..." No faith in me and my judgement. You make one mistake and it will haunt you for the rest of your life. I'm not saying that my mistake was minor or in any way proof of my total lack of judgement. As can clearly be illustrated by some of my photographic moments. Backflips off cliffs into remote lakes, backflips on snowboards, 360's on snowboards, attempted 180's wakeboarding.... So yeah, basically, it was like the instant downer. I was ultra stoked about cruise and being done with school, and here's my father being the eternal nay-sayer and lecturing me. ME! This is beyond frustrating. He needs to put it in nuetral and go with the flow for a bit. Fact of the matter is, I still don't think he likes me. Oh, sure, he loves me cuz he must, but c'mon people. All evidence indicates otherwise. We can go through case by case arguments, but I think you'll agree. I'm not what he wants me to be. But tonight...Ain't about that. Its about me havin' a good time. So . And you can take that to the bank. More to come...
- posted by @ Clark 21:31

 
WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!
I am DONE with school! That's right people! All that bitchin', moanin', grindin', and everything has finally paid off! I just got out of my last final and am currently dancing around my small little dorm-room in a good-bye dance. This is the last time I'll be spending the night on campus. For next fall I will be off campus in a house with a bunch o' friends. Which'll be more fun than anything so far... Except maybe Monday nights and some other random days/nights on which fun things occured. (Vague? No...Never...) I am so smart! I am so smart! SMRT! SMRT! D'oh! So I will continue to write as long as people continue to read. And how will I ever know if you continue to read? I won't. So I'll just keep writing. Until later tonight when I have something more meaningful to say (Unless I'm at a party)... Peace!
- posted by @ Clark 10:56

 
Lessons In The Swampland...
So not only is it ridiculously hot in my room right now, I have to sit being eaten alive by these little pesky sons-o-bitches they call mosquitoes. Those mothers have taken over my room. Its hard to just sit without a shirt on without gettin' a few bites all over. So tonight, we struck back. We being me and my trusty fly swatter. Thas right, me an my swatter went to town in an effort to minimize the numbers. Many casualties were taken on one side, although I think my fly swatter has seen better days. One would think that they'd make the handle material a weeeee bit stronger. Perhaps its the fact that I'm too damn strong for it, which I KNOW isn't the case, or the fact that they are chosing the thinnest, cheapest, left over coat-hanger wire ever seen. So today, I sent the mosquitoes to their maker and finally felt some of the heat I'll feel this summer. Well... I say some of the heat because thats the nature of the beast. If you haven't noticed I'm an outdoors guy. When I go home I'm never online... I ride my bike the 12 miles to town for work and sometimes I'll manage to actually ride it home too (Its wicked up-hill at the end on the way home...Which is way more pro than I can handle), but I go canoeing...And what the eff people, why didn't you stop me from gettin' side-tracked. I'm talkin about how hot it'll be when I get there. Some days are 113 F just down the hill where we spend a lot of time. Most of the time it'll hit 100 F at work. The real bummer is the fact that I work in a giant metal shed. Hey, that may be why I haven't gained a pound in college...I go home and sweat it off. The shed has no power, no vents, and I spend 8 hours a day out there. Roop roop! Gotta love work, I ain't complainin' though. Its what I enjoy or I wouldn't go back. I love that place... The city ain't nothin' like back home. The sayin' goes you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy. S'true for some, not for others. I know some people who came from nowhere and are eatin' the city life up. Just ain't for me. So I'll stick to my grass-roots and I'm off to bed for the night. So if you didn't learn anything else, you learned that I'm going to be in good shape after the summer. And thats comin' from me...Which is sayin' a lot if you know me at all.
- posted by @ Clark 02:13

 
"We're Goin To Aspen"
"You take the high road
And I'll take the low road
Yes Sometimes I wish I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then
And give me something to believe in"
Today has been an all-around interesting day. After a random road-trip to Davis, to just turn around and come back to school, I basically did nothing until this morning when I got up and took a final. Perhaps I could have studied more for it, but its too little too late I guess. Then there was work. I love my job...Actually I don't, so when it takes me 2 hours to get there I'm a little upset. As was my boss, since I showed up late. So we clock in, I clock in a friend as he was going to be there in like 5 min. or so we thought. As we go about our tasks, the Floor Manager calls me over and is like, "So, how many people did you sign in tonight?" To this my response, with a huge grin..."Tonight... Just me...and Ben." The "and Ben" part was half said, half just breathed out. She laughed and said that it was completely against policy. And went off on me for a while. So I employed my SAN (Smile And Nod) and everything went well. Later that night it was break time...So I went on break. My Floor Manager was IRATE! She was like, "I didn't say you could go! We need to talk later after we get back..." So during this later talk, I proceeded to get blasted and then got off the hook. She was going to formally write us up with paper-work and what not, but had to give us a verbal warning since the ship was out of the forms for a write-up. So retarded...Whatever, I'm over it. For those of you who read my AIM away message... I did show off some wicked nice maneuvering skills to the people in my car and passers-by... You should all be so fortunate to be in an automobile that I'm in control of. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I'm a pretty damn good wheel-man. I also sat in traffic for DAYS! Bleh. Damn Bay area... But on the way we saw Lloyd. It was some goofy lookin' guy ridin' a moped like they do in Dumb and Dumber. I turned to Filipe and said, "We're goin to Aspen." And we both let out a roaring laughter. It was pretty damn funny. He was thinking the same thing. Anyway...Nothing else new, so basically my current favorite cd is Poison's Best of Ballads and Blues. Wicked good album...Below are a few lyrics which are fitting to my mood.


"Lay Your Body Down" by Poison

I've spent my life waiting
For that famous final scene
I believe you know the one--
When she falls in love with me

As for you, you've been fakin' your smile
Fillin' your time
on small talk
And cheap wine
Knowing in your heart there was someplace
That you'd rather be

So right or wrong,
I wrote you this song
To tell you how I feel

Don't put up no fight
You just turn off the lights
Walk over here to me

And lay your body down on me
Down on me tonight, oh yeah
Oh, let your tears fall down on me
Down on me tonight, oh yeah

As for me I've lied to, denied to
fight with, and tried to
apologize for all my ways
To all the women
who were fool enough to fall
in love with me

You played your role
like a movie
Got your lines for who is,
who was, who would be
Somehow you lost track
While real love slipped away, yeah

So for tonight, just turn off the lights
And let those real feelings show
There's no wrong or right
but until you try
you're never gonna know

And lay your body down on me
Down on me tonight, oh yeah
Oh, let your tears fall down on me
Down on me tonight, oh yeah

Before you was mine
I was so lonely
Ain't it a shame
Your heart must feel pain
before you get back on your feet again

So let's draw the blinds
Forget wasted time
And let them old demons die
Take ahold of my hand
Then you'd understand
Why love's worth one more try

And lay your body down on me
Down on me tonight, oh yeah
Oh, let your tears fall down on me
Down on me tonight, oh yeah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- posted by @ Clark 02:45

 
Riddle Me This... Riddle Me That...
Since someone FINALLY decided they wanted to put down that they will black-mail me if I don't post a reply, I have put up the answers to the riddles from many moons ago. You can find them if you click the comments button.
- posted by @ Clark 14:10

 
Moby What?
Call me Matt. As I commence the story of my last few days, we must begin the adventure 3 years ago. It was a spring day such as this in a small town in the middle of no-where. Finals were coming up within a month or so and College applications were due. So in my small town, middle of no-where mind, I decided I wanted to go to a small school. Flash-forward... As I commence the last few days of my Junior year of further education, I cannot help but feel a mix of emotions. Not because of the shit going on in my personal life, but because...I've made it. That's right people, despite all the bitching, moaning, complaining, procrastination, late nights, lack of sleep, and many other things in the negative department, I have made it. Next semester will be a breeze and the semester after that even easier. 17 units... I'll be able to get a full time job to help afford some of my free time activities. Fahk...So I lied. My free time activities cost me $3/week to go line dancing. I just want the $$. Who couldn't use money? So yeah, I'm totally jazzed about the end of my semester. I konw that this will be the end the daily run-ins with people I'm friends with, but maybe they'll actually try to keep in touch with me. So with that... So yeah, it may not be suprising, but its 2200 (10pm) and I've been awake for 38 1/4 hours, and slept for 45min. HHAHAHAH...Ain't life grand. I bet I could set some sort of world record for most time spent awake. Meanwhile... I'll be adding more later. When I'm actually paying attention to what I'm typing.
- posted by @ Clark 22:08

 
So here's to my "new" life...
You ever done something you thought was right? Yeah, but afterwards it didn't seem so right? Yeah, its been one of them weeks. So... Bleh. Drop a line if you people actually read this thing? I don't think anyone does so I may just stop writing it. I don't think more'n one person actually cares anyway.
- posted by @ Clark 13:59

 
On How Much the Right Thing Feels Like the Wrong One...
Its been one of those weeks. I will spare you the recounts of failure that have spotted this week like the black stripes on white zebras. Yes, zebras are white with black stripes in case you didn't know. I have found comfort in oldies and Comedy Central. This weekend holds plans for watching a movie tonight, going for a run in the morning, followed by flight testing, followed by parties in Davis. Then... Who knows. And Sunday is work. So bleh... Drop a line people. My life went to shit, that doesn't mean you need to stop talking to me.
- posted by @ Clark 18:45

 
King Nothing
Wish I may
Wish I might
Have this I wish tonight
Are you satisfied?
Dig for gold
Dig for fame
You dig to make your name
Are you pacified?

All the wants you waste
All the things you’ve chased
Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger, but there’s no one around
Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle’s crumbled and you’re left with just a name
Where’s your crown, king nothing?
Where’s your crown?

Hot and cold
Bought and sold
A heart as hard as gold
Yeah! are you satisfied?
Wish I might, wish I may
You wish your life away
Are you pacified?

All the wants you waste
All the things you’ve chased
Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger, but there’s no one around
Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle’s crumbled and you’re left with just a name
Where’s your crown, king nothing?
Where’s your crown?

Huh!

(spoken)
Wish I may, wish I might
Have this wish, I wish tonight
I want that star, I want it now
I want it all and I don’t care how

Careful what you wish
Careful what you say
Careful what you wish you may regret it
Careful what you wish you just may get it

Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger, but there’s no one around
Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle’s crumbled and you’re left with just a name
Where’s your crown, king nothing?
Where’s your crown?

Oh, you’re just nothing
Where’s your crown king nothing?
Oh, you’re just nothing
Absolutely nothing
Off to never, never land
~Metallica

This is a summation of my present thoughts and feelings. Fahk it. I'm over it.

- posted by @ Clark 13:56

 
Start Over...
Have you ever wanted to just go back and start things over? Do things the right way the first time, "know then what you know now"? Today is one of those days. I don't want to go to Berkeley for my Navy deal today. I don't want to be a Mechanical Engineer today, hell, I don't even want to be in school right now. There are people graduating in three weeks. They have paid their dues to this place and then some. However, the bull-shit that occurs more and more often now wasn't as bad for them. Bleh, things were going my way for a while there, but the currents are changing and the tide is going back down. Damn the man. Hope it isn't a full moon to draw the waters even further back than normal.
- posted by @ Clark 12:10

 
HAHAHAH!!! I LOVE BEING POOR!
Well people, its official. My bank accounts are both cruising in the Blue. Its what happens when they hit the red and then hold your breath while hoping they both don't zero out. I have invested in a brand new laptop. No more will I be able to make useless entries about how I had to spend a week without being able to watch a single DVD. Or how I couldn't do a lot of work because the entire computer crashed and had to be re-loaded. Damn, what am I going to talk about now?

Anywhosers, due to the outstanding performance of my new machine, I was finally able to watch "The Untouchables" which I was unable to do for the last week and a half since I bought it. Amazing how that works. Such a great movie. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. And if you are looking for other recommendations, go through my DVD drawer. I don't own a single movie that I would suggest ya'll watch.

As for my Navy dance, that was a blast. Maybe I'll get crazy and post a picture up here. Who knows... Ahhh...The freedomes of technology. Gotta love it. Another freedom I'm about to excercise is the freedom to sleep. Catch you all later...
- posted by @ Clark 23:53

 
THE last straw...and the "Keep It" slice...
Well people, I have finally felt the straw that broke the camel's back. After attempting to download a program that would let me read Cd's written on my internal drive in my external drive. Long story short, it damn near crashed my system and I was reduced to nothing with merely a keystroke. I could do nothing on the computer without it completely crashing. It was like, e-mail.....loading loading...Fahk you! So after a restart it was, My Computer...fahk you! A few restarts later, you want to run Anti-virus? Fahk you! So after dealing a few blows to my positive outlook...I said Fahk you back to the computer. A few program removals and some start-up changes later... HAHA! This damnable beast is back on a leash. However, come tomorrow, I am hopefully going to remedy this situation like it's never been remedied before. Its that time... Oh yeah! So here's to draining my wallet.

On a lighter note...
Mitch Hedberg, a stand-up comedian, once commented on slices of pizza and their size.
I got a slice of pizza the other day. It was the smallest slice of pizza ever -- if the slice of pizza was a slice on a pie chart with the topic, "What would you do if you found a million dollars?" my slice of pizza would be "Donate it to charity." I want the "keep it" slice.
So Costco hooked it up with the largest piece of pizza on the rack. I say that it is the largest, but you all know the truth. Every slice of pizza at costco is the size of a compact car. Between Costco and Safeway, one could get a month's worth of food and iced tea for about $50. And that's eating really well.

So this one goes out to big slices of pizza and huge piles of money.

- posted by @ Clark 01:05

 
THIS is what happens...
Do you see what happens when you put me in front of a computer with no DVD player, no CD's, no TV, no homework, nobody around, nowhere to go, and nothing better to do? Do you see that? This is more proof of how bored I really am. Bleh. Double bleh really.
- posted by @ Clark 01:33

 
See if YOU can figure this out...
We'll start you easy (a.k.a. Even I got this one...):
Given: A man was building a house when it collapsed all around him. He wasn't injured or upset, and he calmly started to rebuild it. What was going on?
Hints: Although he constructed it with great care, the man thought that the house might fall down. He didn't intend that he or anyone else live in the house.
Answer: Are you kidding me? Post what you think it is in the comments. I'll get back to you after someone gives it a whirl at least.

Now, step it up a notch, burn some more brain cells off when beating your head against the wall with this one (a.k.a. Why didn't I get this one again?)
Given: A young woman applied for a job as a secretary and typist. There were dozens of applicants. The woman could type only eleven words per minute, yet she got the job. Why?
Hints: She was chosen on merit. She was a good typist.
Answer: You don't need no stinking answer. Make a guess. I'll let you know.

Since we're already baking, lets crank up the heat a bit more (a.k.a. What in the Hell? People can actually answer this???)
Given: Because it was raining, the firemen hosed down the road. Why?
Hints: They used regular water. The road was not contaminated in any way. It was for a special event. They did not hose the entire road.
Answer: You bet your ass I ain't tellin...

An extra one for good measure...
Given: A pennilss sculptor made a beautiful metal statue, which he sold. Because of this he died soon afterward. Why?
Hints: He lived a lonely life in a remote building. He made the statue out of copper. It was taken far away and he never saw it again. He died as a result of an accident. No other person or animal or sculpture was involved.
Answer: This was a good one to kick it all off don't you think? Make a guess. I'll bet you're wrong...

All the Questions and Hints were given in one part of the book and the answers another. You have all been given just as equal an opportunity as I had when going through these questions. No information was with-held (although, in my opinion, it appears that is severely true in some cases). Drop a little answer in the "Comments" and I'll let you know how you did. Runnin' into the intellectual wall is fun... Won't you join me?


HAHAAHAHAH...Who woulda known that celebrating my own stupidity would be so much fun? Hope you all have fun squirming in your pants!
- posted by @ Clark 01:29

 
That's a Good One!
So here's a story, and a damn funny one at that!
So my room-mate (who is hardly ever here) was not here again. Anthony came over to meet up so we could go down and wrestle and brought a little friend along too. She had to be the most perfect woman I've ever seen. Nice perky round... eyes. She was also inflated to 25 psi. HAHAHA That's right people! She's inflatable! So we stick this wonderful individual into my roommates bed and make it look like a sleeping person has invaded C132. So after the bait was planted, Anthony and I went down and wrestled. During this time I had a few people swing by to visit. Person 1 was Andy. He knocked on the door, noted nobody answered and opened the door. He thought it was unusual to be unlocked with nobody around and thus opened it slowly. He noted the lump in the sheets and walked over to see why Rick (my roommate) was sleeping. To his suprise he found the doll and had a good laugh about it. Person #2 was Eric, another friend of mine who was stopping by for some help. He came in, saw the body, and then went to Andy's room to inquire about it. They both had a good laugh about it. So person #3 was my actual room-mate Rick. So in walks Rick and he's like "Who the Hell is sleeping in my bed?!?!?" So then he came in making all sorts of racket and there was no motion from his sheets. He leaned close to the head which was burried beneath the sheets and heard no breathing. So he began to poke it and realized that it was a doll! HAHAHA!!! He was like, "What the Hell?!?!?!" At this point as he tells me what he did, I was rolling on my bed in laughter. IF for some strange reason you don't find this funny, that's OK. I however laugh hard just thinking about it. Hope you find humor in this little prank which holds much comedy behind it.

Current Mood: Mixed Between the Highs and the Lows

- posted by @ Clark 00:44

 
HAHAHAH....Ain't Life Grand?
Oh yes! I love this crap! HAHAHAH!!! LOVE IT! No, actually I don't. Not at all. If anyone would like to see the worlds first flying computer, stop by my room RIGHT NOW! It may not fly, but it sure as Hell will be falling with style. So I go to watch the movie and it starts to play. So I step out for just a second and come back in and the infernal machine has stopped. This is me frustrated. This is me not frustrated. This is me frustrated. This is me not frustrated. Frankly, my computer isn't going to win this war. It has won the battle of boredom for I must now sucker down and do some homework to entertain my brain, but I WILL CONQUER this beast! I WILL!
- posted by @ Clark 10:20

 
Don't Mess with The S!
In this case, the "S" is for Stupid. Which is exactly what this damnable machine I call my computer is. Again the CD problem has reared its ugly head, and this time, I weilded the sword of repair in its face. Before I could strike the problem down with a glancing blow, it jumped back into whatever hole it had sprung forth from the bowels of the earth. Okay people, now that the problem's been put into the writing that would keep me interested, I will put it into normal-speak. CD drive stopped working, I decided to repair it so I'm going to send it in. CD drive started working again. See...Isn't that so much more boring? Honestly now. Damn I love line dancing! Eh...Someday soon enough, people will see what I'm talking about and will have experienced the line dancing experience. Ummmm yeah.... So I'm out of ideas and don't know which movie to pop in while I sit here doing my homework. Its Tuesday again... ;) That means its a good day in the week of Clark! Not only was my morning class cancelled for the past two weeks, I have nothing till this afternoon. Anywhosers, I think its time for a little Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Its been a long while since I've seen that movie. Its got one of my favorite characters in it. The wolf guy in the pin-striped 30's suit. Oh yeah! Its my fave character. If you don't know what I'm talking about, watch "The Mask". In one scene Jim Carey is walking in and the wolf-guy is a lamp in the foreground. He also turns into the wolf guy while howling at Cameron Diaz on stage. Outside of that guy, the Weasels from Who Framed Roger Rabbit are way up there. That 30's style of dress is fahkin awesome! Yeah buddy! Anywhosers...Popcorn's popped and movies rolling... fight the good fight...
- posted by @ Clark 09:58

 
Soothing Tides and Superb Sunsets...
As the gentle hand of nature rocked me to sleep Friday night, I couldn't help but feel completely myself again. The ship had been out all day, as we were brought out to meet her I was ecstatic to be there. Many people complained that this was a waste of time, which it was most definitely being as I learned nothing new, but that feel of being out to sea again. Several had a hard time finding their sea legs and slept for most of the trip, I however, had no trouble and was excited and enthusiastic the whole time. It took a full hour and a half for us to tie up which was a little frustrating, and the deck-side even ran the ship into the pier. This may not have been an inexpensive incident, but everyone is learning. "Boys will be boys" I guess. Eh, we had some problems go down in the Engine Room as well. To make the long story short, we now have 6 weeks to fix the problems developed. The list is long and undistinguished, but all needs to be fixed before we take off for the next 4 months.

As the cruise went on, I realized I'm probably going to have a very lonely future in store. The Navy will have me out to sea for a lot of time and I'm not sure how many people will be able to put up with my shenanagans AND the fact that I'm not around. I want to go back to when life was simple and I didn't have to face the reality that I don't know who I am or what I want out of this life. Have you ever been asked what makes you happy? I tend to ask myself this a lot and come up drawing a blank. Yes, there are people in my life that make me extremely happy, and some of the things I do make me happy too...

Yes, I had an idea going before, but now...Not so much. I'm not sure what I'm getting to or why...So I leave you with this thought...

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.
~Dr. Seuss
- posted by @ Clark 20:59

 
Gonna Be One Of Those Days...
This morning started at 5 for me and everyone else here at school. I'm not sure how many of you have heard the infamy of our school to have the fire-alarms pulled. This morning, we awoke to people talking and yelling, the fire-alarms going off, and it being the ass-crack of dawn. So my room-mate and I jumped out of bed as people began shouting "Fire!" The dorms were on fire down the way. It was insane. As I went down the stairs next to my room, I could see the smoke pouring and the orange glow emitting forth into the morning's bare light. So after going down the stairs, we see the people who are climbing down from balcony to balcony in an attempt to get out of the dorms. Due to the great design of our campus, there is really only one exit from the dorms I live in. Its a stairwell that connects all three levels. In the building that went up, this stairwell is what was a raging inferno. People were stuck without exit and stuff. After about an hour and a half, we were allowed to go back to our dorm rooms. My room-mate and I sat and watched the morning news and then went to breakfast. Here I sit, studying it up for the midterm I have today. I'm pretty stoked about the afternoon activities. We get to take the Training Ship Golden Bear and go for an over-night adventure in the San Francisco bay. I shall return at 1600 tomorrow with stories, pictures, and adventures. Until next time... I hope to drop a line that is of humorous nature for my next entry. Perhaps I have been getting a bit too serious of late. Neglecting my duties of making people laugh. Ahh... The tangled web we weave...
- posted by @ Clark 09:49

 
Drink up me heartys, Yo Ho!
Yo ho, yo ho a pirate's life for me.
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort, we pilfer, we filch, and sack,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle, and even highjack,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char, inflame and ignite,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We're rascals, scoundrels, villains, and knaves,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We're beggars and blighters, never-do-well cads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

This is the song pouring through the empty cavern of my skull at present. There is no real reason for this. Perhaps it is that inner yearning for that feeling of freedom. If you have never sailed the high seas, you are missing out. I highly advise anyone who needs to. All in due time, everything happens for a reason. Fate and free-will will continue to do battle as they have for many years past and will for many years to come. It is almost fate how some people meet. However, it is the free-will to go/do whatever you were doing when you first met. It's quite a perplexing paradigm really. Its the whole chicken/egg scenario played out into every-day human life. That ends my intellectual thought for the week. Its almost scary how smart I can make myself sound. One of these days it's going to bite me in the ass when someone actually thinks I have a shred of intelligence...Then I'll be screwed. Perhaps that day I will have the Duster which has eluded my grasps for so long. In that event, we'll go for a ride and they'll forget about the fact that I'm not all that some people think I am. A few trips down memory lane lends to caress my soul which was disquieted with the recent bout of dream-smashing. I hope that the guy who sold the car is happy with the money. Because I know I'm not happy with his choice at all. Its not just any car mind you people... That was THE car. Needless to say, I am in constant pursuit. At first I pondered what I would do if I reached this dream while young. It doesn't matter when I reach it, but only that I do. I over-heard an elderly gentleman commenting on muscle cars and how he was too old for them. I had to interject that you are never to old for it. If you've never ridden in one, there is something to be said for the bone-rattling, ear-splitting, pulse-stopping raw power that is derived from 8 cylinders forcing the back tires to spin in an endless cycle of perfection. Ahh...The good 'ol days...
- posted by @ Clark 13:15

 
"If you don't get in the water, you're never gonna learn to swim...
Life is made for you to live
The best love is the love that you give..."
~"Grandpa Told Me So" by Kenny Chesney

Not sure why I'm typing that, but its whats blasting out the computer speakers at present. It seems that my computer is working fine these last few days. Guess it doesn't hate me as much as it used to. Perhaps it realized just how close to death it was...Hmm...

'Tis St. Patrick's day, a day for people who aren't Irish to pretend and drink 'till their liver is standing on a bar-stool beside 'em pounding a pint. Lucky for me, I am not quite 21 and am not going to get suckered into going to the bars with friends. As much fun as it would be to sit around a pitcher of ale and sip, I would much rather not. It'd be funny though, and I wouldn't even have to pretend I'm Irish, beings as I am about half Irish as it is. Muahhahhahahah.... Anywhosers, I will still raise my glass (although filled with water... Yes, I am out of Iced Tea) to all those who're out for a good time tonight.



Current Mood: Not sure. I'm hot, tired, want to be outside, done with school, and in my car cruisin' around...
Current Song: "Country Boy's Tool Box" ~Aaron Tippin
- posted by @ Clark 14:15

 
Alas!
HAHAHAHA!!! The day is mine! Despite my complete lack of working out, 150% unhealthy diet, and without trying, I have managed to lose 6 pounds. I now weigh in at a startling 150 lbs. Yes! Well, I could lose a little more...So I'm going to. So in an attempt to get back in shape (feeble but an attempt no-the-less) I went swimming tonight. Bleh. I cannot beleive how hard swimming is. Don't laugh! I hear you! Yes you! You in the back row! Don't try to hide! I hear you laughing. Swimming is a work-out and a half if you ask me. For those of you, like myself, who don't float, swimming is an adventure just to stay on top of the water. Needless to say, after jumping off the platform a couple times doing flips and what-not, and swimming about 12 lengths of the pool, I was done for. 3 of those were in one breath mind you. It was pretty savage. To swim from one side of the pool to the other is crazy. The feeling of trying to get to the other side is kind-of wierd too. Its like your body realizes that it doesn't have enough oxygen so it starts to shut things down. By the time I'm almost to the other side, I don't hear a damn thing. Maybe I'm concentrating on making it to the wall so hard, or the fact that my brain said, "Non-Vital" and shut it off. Who knows...But I do know this...I'll probably be sore in the morning. Bleh.
- posted by @ Clark 22:58

 
Eleanor eludes my clutches...Yet again.
Well people, for those of you who put up with my crazed car-madness, which was rightfully acceptable mind you given that it was a dream car, you have reached the end of it. The car has eluded my grasps despite my best efforts. Yes, I am definitely in a state of shocked depression. However, the cool iced tea and support of a couple people will probably get me through it. Yeah, thats right, he sold the car on me. I guess it just wasn't meant to be just yet. However, now all the homework is done. Next time I find one, I know exactly what I need to do, where I need to call, and what needs to happen to make things come through. Damn. I'm def. not happy with this outcome. In fact, I'm not happy about it at all, but I'm going to put the smile on my face and pretend I'm happy. Which, in one sense, I am happy. For it leaves me with that elusive pursuit of my "Eleanor". If I had gotten the car I've always wanted now, despite being extremely happy, I would have had nothing to strive for, to work towards in the means of an automobile. Now, now I'm on a mission. Hell bent and determined to make this happen. The first time I departed a car of this sort, my old man sold it to a lawnmower mechanic for some maintenance costs on his lawnmower and a little pocket change. He told me that it would have been a project and "was too much power". This time, the guy just plum sold it. A fool will tell ya the third times a charm. Well...I raise my iced tea to that one. Here's to dreams...And hoping that they come true. And Eleanor, I'm going to get you, so rest up, for the chase is on...
- posted by @ Clark 00:51

 
We Have Finally Come To An Agreement...
Technology and I, we have it all worked out. I hate it, it hates me more. That's all there is to it. So now that my digital camera is on its way back again (they sent one that was either broken, or it decided to break before I took it out of the box), I'm quite frustrated. We have the formal tomorrow and I was hoping to be able to take some pictures. I guess nobody but people there will see me in my whites. I'm going to have to unlease my new look... Blue Steel... HAHAHAHA...Sorry, just couldn't help myself. I'm in quite the good mood the last few days. Still hoping and dreaming, but regretfully, I am having moments of doubt. But I will stand strong. I think that there are two people who actually want me to get the car. Me and a friend. I know most of my friends on campus are like, "you're nuts...Keep the Civic..." and my folks are like, "we have to talk about it" and other people are like, "Do what you want, but you'll be getting worse gas mileage...and blah blah" in an attempt to put all the negatives out there. I've weighed the positives and negatives out. And when you get a chance, you just have to take it sometimes. It may be for the better, it may be for the worse, but at least you'd know. I think that its better to have tried and failed than to have failed to try. And that my friends, is motivating!!! Old man wanted to know if it was a once in a life-time deal. I wonder if he may be right. I wonder if something better may come along, but then there is the flip side to every coin. What if it IS the best deal I'll ever find? There's only one way to find out... I must find a way to finance this expedition. I must. There is no way around it. Does anyone out in the not-too distant future have any ideas? I am at a loss here. Bleh.

...Maybe one of them souped up muscle cars,
The kind that makes you think you're stronger than you are.
Color don't matter, no I don't need leather seats...
"Speed" by Montgomery Gentry

- posted by @ Clark 14:10

 
Too much to handle...
Somtimes a dream grabs a-hold of you and won't let you go. This is what has happened to me. I want this Duster so bad I can almost feel it in my everyday life. As I climb behind the wheel of the 'ol Civic this afternoon, I cannot help but feel the flood of memories pour over me. The feel of the seats, the sound the motor made. As I wheeled my car around the first of many corners, I drop it down into second and imagine myself sinking down into the seats...Yes people, this is what my life has become. My only hope is that I am sucessful in my quest. I fear the depression that will settle in if this falls through will be monstronious. Yes, some may think I'm materialistic, but it's not really about the car itself. Its more the memories associated with the car. Grr... Here's to hoping...


- posted by @ Clark 21:05

 
Dreams Come True...
So since it is said that good things happen to good people, I can only hope that I may be considered a good person and my turn for a good thing is up. I have found my dream car. That's right people, I have located the 1973 Plymouth Duster to right down the road. To say I have my hopes up is an understatement. It has consumed almost every thought throughout class all day long. I yearn to feel the steering wheel on my fingers and the powerful 360 V-8 motor blasting me down the road. I cannot afford this dream right now, yet, I am going to do my damndest to make this work. Soon enough I shall know what's going to happen. I know I don't NEED this right now, but I want it now and in the future. People may not be supportive of my crazy idea, but I figure that if I get the car now, I won't be buying a car again for quite some time. Ahh... I only hope this works out. I refuse to think of the worse case scenario, and the best case scenario keeps playing out in my mind over and over and over...

Mood of the Moment: Yearning, hopeful, and dreaming...
Song of the Second: Aaron Tippin ~ "Ain't Nothin' Wrong With The Radio"

Sometimes she runs, sometimes she don't
More than once she's left me on the side of the road
The older she gets the slower we go
But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio
She needs a carburetor, a set of plug wires
She's ridin' me around on four bald tires
The wipers don't work and the horn don't blow
But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio
I've got sixteen speakers crossin' my back dash
A little bobbin' dog watchin' everybody pass
Dual antennas whippin' in the wind
Lord, there ain't a country station that I can't tune in
She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls
But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

- posted by @ Clark 20:34

 
Eff'in Computer!!!
So after reloading my computer yesterday, I am going through the same process again today. It appears that I am an utter failure when it comes to technology. Yes, it seems as though my computer has feelings too... It abhors me as much as I hate it. Bleh. However, nothing could really douse the high-spirits and high hopes that inherently come with being close to a dream.

Current Mood: I hate you computer!!!
Current Song:"No-Leaf Clover" ~Metallica
- posted by @ Clark 19:27

 
On Troubles and Un-cultured Swine...
Have you ever had that feeling of trouble looming somewhere in the distance? This feeling has been with me the last few days and the storm clouds appear to be moving in. There's no real explanation, and I'm not sure what to say about it. Everyone around me seems to be getting depressed. Its almost as though I hit a low and everyone else did the same. So, in true Matt-fashion, I am deciding to be happy. It worked for the most part today. I had a rather disturbing phone call with the parentals today. My old man called with regards to taxes. After dealing with that and a few minutes of chit-chat, I informed him that I was getting ready for work so that I could make some money. He was shocked that I took work over Monday nights and so on and so forth. I also made mention of the Duster I found nearby. I think he was ready to reach through the phone and beat me senseless at this point. Andy, my neighbor, then proceeds to knock on my door and ask if I'm ready to go yet, to which I told him we could leave in a minute or two. I get back on with my Pops and was like, "Hey, I gotta jet but..." And before I was even halfway through with the thought, his rage burst forth and I was met with "fine. bye. click..." If anything, this only re-affirms the fact that I think my father hates me. I think he only loves me because he must as a father, but as a person he hates who I am and everything I do. So we left for work. As I sat on my deck with friends talkin' it up as people from a local online-business had their party, I couldn't help but wonder how different life would be if certain things didn't happen. For example, if my bro hadn't died, I don't konw if I'd even be remotely close to where I'm at today. I don't know if I'd have had two little brothers, or even a variety of things. Life is like a choose-your-own-adventure book that you may only read once. If you get a bad ending, you can't go back and try and do things again. So zoning back to reality, I stand clearing plates from hundreds of people as some cheesy elevator music blares in the back-ground. Why in the Hell do I go to work again? After about an hour of the music and wierd people, I went up to the party deck. Up there the music was jumping and people were dancing away. "From the windooooooooows to the wall..." and people were gambling their heads off at 21, craps, and roullette. Amidst all this good time, I couldn't help but have a few more life's "what-if" questions. I know it may come as a shock to some that I am capable of semi-rational thought every once in a while, but its true. Just don't say anything. I have a reputation to uphold here. (Not really though...) I often wonder what people see when they look at me. Like from a 3rd person point of view. Kinda like driving down the freeway, I wonder what me and my car look like to other people. I can see the black Dogde Ram pickup behind me, but I wonder what the driver sees when he looks at the rear-end of my car. The same in life. I can see what I see in other people, and know exactly how I feel about them, but I don't know exactly what other people see and feel about me. If that makes any sense. It'd be awesome to have a 1 day out-of-body experience so that I could see just how I really am. So basically, in all this mind-less meanderings through several thought processes, I have concluded that there are several troubling clouds looming on the horizon. I hope that my ship is strong enough to weather this storm. Who knows... at any rate, you don't see a hearse with a luggage rack, so what the Hell you know? All or nothing. So here goes my all...

Song of the hour: "Turn the Page" by Bob Sieger and the Silver Bullet Band.
Current Mood: Ready to take on the real-world... For now.
- posted by @ Clark 00:49

 
Coincidence? I think not...

What Finding Nemo Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

- posted by @ Clark 03:13

 
Life in Bliss...Reason #38.6 to not take more than 20 units...
If people only knew the Hell that others go through on a daily basis. The comment I recieved this evening merely reflected that feeling. "Wow, you look better than you did last semester." Yes! I'm glad I don't look like ass 24-7! Just 23.999 - 7. Granted, last semester I would get minimal amounts of sleep and still manage to survive. I am again torturing my body and mind much past the point of breaking on a daily basis now. I guess I'm just getting used to it. In the last 4 whole days (~96 hours) I have received 14 hours of sleep total. I should have gotten about 32 hours (~8 hours/night). I'm not complaining mind you, because each night of tiny bits of sleep is my fault. My only fear is that this lack of sleep is what is fueling my depression. Which has settled in pretty heavy this evening. I long for the freedom of the ocean and it calls me with each whispering wave crashing against the hull of the ships that pass by. That is all for now. My mood is improving with each passing minute and the help of some distractions.
- posted by @ Clark 20:23

 
Random Ramblings... Take 2...
So in my last random ramblings entry, I told you one of the 2 motivating poems. This time, I shall include the other two, yes, 1 +2 does equal the 2 motivating poems. Here goes...

The Charge of the Light Brigade
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front of them,
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air,
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the sabre stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made,
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred.

Yet another piece of my motivation that proudly hangs under my flags on the wall. Next to "The Charge of the Light Brigade" hangs the lyrics to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "The Last Rebel". Just another little piece of motivation that is read on a daily (if not more) basis. Anywhoser, now that I am sufficiently motivated to continue my homework for the evening and severely depressed because I didn't get to go line dancing tonight... Bleh.
- posted by @ Clark 21:05

 
Of Drinking and Responsibility...
So it's Saturday afternoon, I'm watching girls line dance on top of a bar. If you've seen Coyote Ugly, you know what I'm talkin' about. If not, watch it, good flick, someday I may even have my own Irish pub with country night. So its time to leave, we're heading out to San Jose for a little party. So Kelly is driving me and some buddies down so we can have a good time, this is a rare occasion for me. I am typically ALWAYS the DD, which is cool and all, but not really. Sometimes its nice to be able to cut loose a bit too. Unlike some DD's, I don't drink at all in the night. So, we're at this party and everyone's gettin toasted, I'm doin a little of everything. Downing shots of Capt. Mo in between the beer in my right hand and the So Co and coke in my left. It was quite an interesting night really, had one friend get really drunk and pissed off. I think he completely lost his noggin. The rest of us however, had a great time. I was glad to just be me for the evening and not have to worry about anything. It was a nice change of pace. So at 5 am when we are driving home, I realize that I had a great time, wasn't drunk at all, and it was going to be a long weekend. At 10am when I got up the next day, I attempted to do some homework but to no avail. Not because of the hangover, which I never got, but because I really didn't feel like it. So my folks were visiting the City and came by to see the school for the first time since Freshman year. I think I can say without any apprehension, that I am the apple that didn't fall far from the tree...Riiiiiiiiight. If you ever meet my folks, my ma and I are very similar, but well...I'm not sure if I have a single trait like my old man. Eh, anywhoser, so yeah, I had to stand watch on the ship last night too. From 0000 to 0400 this morning. Am I tired? No. Would you be tired after 8 hours of sleep total in the last 3 days? I didn't think so either. So here I sit, doing the worlds largest homework assignment, wishin I was elsewhere, dreamin of line dancing that I can't go to tonight, and wondering why I decided to help the guy out by taking his ship-watch for him. Okay, so I'm sure there's a point here. I don't know where it may be hidden, but lurking deep beneath the drama and B.S. I call my life, there was a point to this entry. I'm sure someone somewhere will figure it out...and maybe use the comments section and tell me...
- posted by @ Clark 19:22

 
Random Ramblings...
As a few of you know, I now have a new edition to my arsenal of alter-egos. His name is "Matt". Some have heard the story of a friend of mine who called me Matt for two years without me even noticing. There may be a reason behind it, but who knows. Needless to say, he realized my name wasn't Matt, but now continues to call me that for fun. So "Matt" has taken on a very positive upbeat version of me. The last few days I have been quite depressed and didn't know the source. So as I went to bed last night, I told myself that I wouldn't be depressed today. I awoke refreshed, renewed, and happy this morning. Sometimes its better if I just don't ask...

In response to my own entry from yesterday, what makes me tick? Persistance. Thats the only answer that I can think of. When I fail, which is often, I have a tendency to just keep trying until I get it right. I am not typically a person who will think about the results of my failure, or what may have caused the failure. I use "trial-and-error". Some people may view this as a bad thing, but its what I know how to do. I did gymnastics for 13 years, I was okay at it, but persistance is the only way to learn in that sport. Attempting a double back-flip requires that you just keep practice it until you feel confident to do it for real. I guess I just applied this theory to the rest of my life. I know, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The trial-and-error method is a drawn out history lesson over a long period of time. When you fall off a bike, you just get back on and try again. You don't sit and figure out what you did wrong.

In other thoughts, isn't it amazing how we see ourselves? No matter how another person may view us, we can only see us from our own point of view. At least this is true in my stead. I have stubbornly argued many a debate on how people view me vs. how I view myself. Isn't it just crazy how so many people do it though. Its not like just one or two people view themselves differently, but most people I know see themselves much differently than I see them. Have you ever wondered what someone else really thought about you? If you were to get into their head and see through their eyes, what would they truely feel inside? What would they see from their eyes? I often wonder this and fear that they will see what I see (or don't see) in myself.

Ramblings complete I leave you with one of the two poems that often motivates me through what I do...

The Road Less Travelled
~ Robert Frost


"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference"

- posted by @ Clark 01:03

 
What Makes You Tick...
*WARNING* ~ I wrote this yesterday and saved it...I don't know if it is done or not...But I'm done with it so I hope it makes sense.

What is it that makes people do what they do? Why do some people go out of their way for other people. Much time is invested in some ideas that may never even make it off the paper. Many people fail in their attempts to push things further than ever before. Have you ever lost sight of your objective? I have. Its like losing sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. Then you become all disoriented. Hopefully you'll find the railroad tracks again and get out before the train comes through, or someone helps put you back on track. Have you ever feared that you'd try too hard for something? You'd want something to happen so bad that even the slightest setback is magnified to some horrific size. I have. I've been to the point where I'd get very mad at myself because I may do one little thing wrong. I do not know why I put myself through what I do.

I am attempting to put my class schedule here... I'll let you know what I figure out...It'll be in a diff. journal entry

Now there's much much more that is thrown into the factors of what I have time for, but as you can see from my schedule, not much of my time is left up to me. When homework is tossed into the equation, as well as being a club-officer, as well as ROTC, as well as a few other cookie jars I dip my hands into. And the worst part, is when I lose sight of goals. I put myself through Hell to get little to nothing out of it. So you know what people? I'm done complaining. That's right. That's it...Line is drawn in the sand. If it were THAT bad, I'd be gone. I just don't know why I do what I do. If anyone else does... Needless to say, I'd rather be wrenching under the hood of my '73 Duster parked in the driveway of my house. Dogs running in the huge yard... And you know what? THAT's why I need to do what I do. So that I can accomplish my dreams. Without college, without ROTC, without it all, I'm not really much anything. For fear of boring my readers, I draw this to a close. No real points were made this evening. Nothing of imporantance was said. And frankly, a feeling of unimportance appears to be running freely through me. BLEH is all I can say about that. I just wish things would work out for the best, but it looks like the common bad luck I have is still with me. Fahk... I want my Duster. I'll blast down the open roads letting the gasline in my blood course freely as I rampage my way down the road with the windows down.

- posted by @ Clark 23:33

 
"Mach 2 with your hair on fire..."
As I sit with a far-away glazed over look in my eyes, the distant sound of incessant babble drones on incessantly. Every now and then I catch a bit of a word here and there. "Oil refineries..." "Desk job..." "Calculations..." And on and on and...there I am, sitting at a voluntary function because I have to. Yes, sounds quite awkward right? Well it is. Since I'm an officer of ASME, I had to be at this voluntary guest speaker presentation. I learned two things today. 1. I DO NOT want a desk job. I will go 300% more insane that I presently am if I get stuck behind a desk. This leads me straight into lesson #2. I still want to be a stunt man. So as our guest speaker so diligently convinces me more and more that I don't want to do the whole 'engineer' thing when I get out, I think of what it would be like to thrown off the stage into the auditorium chairs. I figured it wouldn't hurt that much, its a big gap, but it wouldn't be too bad. Or stunt driving into a wall and flipping the car. That thought crossed my mind as well. Things like jumping out of an airplane, bungee jumping, wreckin' a car, blowing stuff up... That's what gets my blood pumping. It really stirs the dieself fuel and motor oil flowing freely in my veins. So, in case you were wondering, yes, the guts thing still stands... But by no means am I inferring that I'm not crazy. Don't get me wrong. I'm just sayin, people do what they do, and the people who risk it all for something that isn't known deserve a little something extra every now and then. When sucess comes to those who are careful, its not as powerful as sucess that comes to those that put it on the line so they could try for a dream. If you were to ask me freshman year where I'd be when I got out. I wouldn't have a clue. Now, I still don't know, but I have general directions and doors I'm going to walk through. Its not about the money. Never has been. Happiness is the key to life. Go wild, go crazy, have fun. Find someone to share it with... You know what, don't follow my advice though. I really don't know what I want out of life. Don't know what I'm doing with my major. Don't know what I'll be doing when I graduate in a year. But I'll tell ya this much... I won't be happy unless I'm goin' mach 2 with my hair on fire...
- posted by @ Clark 18:26

 
Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger
But there's no one around
Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle's crumbled
And you're left with just a name... ~Metallica, "King Nothing"

This one goes out to the people with "guts". That's right... The guts to follow your heart, the guts to do the 'impossible'. I say, 'impossible' because nothing's impossible. Some things are improbable yes, but not impossible. If you want something bad enouth you can make it happen. Yes, I know, one of the (maybe if I'm lucky) 3 people who read this are sitting there thinking, "You can't travel back in time..." And frankly, I'm not here to split hairs. Lets just cut the crap and get down to brass tacks... Just kidding... It was def. gettin a little to serious for me though so I changed the tone with a little humor...Anywhoser, yes, this is for the people with the guts to stand up, stand out, and go crazy. It is you who will stand alone in defeat, and you who will stand alone in victory. One could only dream of being so fortunate. Everyone has a lot of history burried deep down inside. Even the ones with guts have friends who know all about this history. It is your friends who stand with you so you aren't alone - in victory or failure. I'm not sure what the point of this entry is. Maybe its just a tribute to the gutsy people who do their gutsy thing, maybe its that everyone has friends and everyone has a story. Maybe we should all just stop and listen to that story sometime. I'm sure that it'll change the way you see someone. Who knows...

Here's to the wild ones and the stories...

Current Mood: Who the Hell knows...

Current Song: "No Leaf Clover" by Metallica (This song will def. pump you up...)
- posted by @ Clark 14:02

 
Happy Valentines Day...BLEH!
So today is supposed to be a day of romance. Filled with joy and all sorts of other assorted things that have been imposed on us by people for generations. Its all bull. There should be no more love today than any other day, but most certainly there shouldn't be any less. For the world of Clark however, there seems to be a tear in the space-time continueum. Work has officially gotten in the way of my desires. Yes, I would much rather have been somewhere else tonight. But no, instead I was sitting on a 400 foot boat watching hundreds of happy-ass couples dancing, eating, enjoying each others company. Do you have any idea how depressing that is? Compound that with the absolute lack of tips from the customers, as well as the time spent, and it just amazes me that I still go to work. I stand there staring at all sorts of nice people having a great time, and normally I would be having a good time too. But I've had this little loneliness bug bite me. It bit me good though, cuz over the past two days I've felt pretty damn lonely. Eh, I'm hoping that maybe today will bring some change to that wind. Who knows. So we showed up to work late because it took 2 hours to get from V-town to the City. It took us roughly 30min. to get home. Thats right folks, 1.5 hours of traffic. And thats with me driving. Anyone who's ridden with me knows that you get places a little faster than normal. I am by no means a wreckless driver, and I don't speed faster than 75mph (speed limit 65mph). But I have a tendency to maneuver through traffic quite well...except tonight. All lanes were slow and there was no maneuvering to be done. So we made the best of it by making a "Happy Valentines Day" sign that we'd hang in the window when we saw a target we wanted to with a happy day to. So after showing up to work late, I just didn't want to be there to begin with. Then I got stuck with people at the table who were jerks. I did not like the people I was serving and I get the idea they didnt' like me. Its my job to clear the plates people! FAHK! I'd go to take their plate and they'd be like "I'm not done yet" with the biggest attitude. Then I'd be walking by a few minutes later, the plate would look exactly the same and they'd be like "Can you get this out of here? Thank you" with even more attitude. By the end of the nigth my wisdom teeth were killing me. They hurt SO bad. I couldn't really concentrate at all. Anyone who's suffered through the pain of the wisdom teeth has an idea of what I'm talking about. I say they have an idea, because unless you have had one coming in sidewas, you haven't a clue. The pain is horrendous. Its like the pain of regular wisdom teeth x 10. Not only is it pushing up out of the gums (only a little) but it is forcing damn near every tooth on the bottom of my mouth to move. No pain killers on board the ship, and of course, I don't have any in the car, so I had to suffer it out. Bottom line...Valentine's Day sucks. At least when you're spending it by yourself. And especially when you're by yourself waiting on couples. I appologize after the fact for being very pessimistic about this supposedly awesome holiday. Cupid can take his arrow and... Well then, now that I'm thoroughly depressed...AGAIN...I'm gonna try and sleep a bit. Maybe the night/morning will be a change in the tides of my life.

Current Mood: Lonely and depressed
Current Song: Lonestar's "Lonely Grill"
- posted by @ Clark 03:21

 
'Tis the Luck of the Irish...
So after an incredible weekend of craziness and boarding, I have been forced to trade the fun-card for the work-card. I wish it weren't so. Some things have just been catching me wrong the past couple of days. Maybe its the absolute lack of sleep, maybe its the work load, maybe its the stress that I don't show at all, maybe its just me. Things that would normally not bother me are killing me. So as I sit sipping iced tea, blaring some Diamond Rio. "I'd start walkin' your way, you'd start walkin' mine. We meet in the middle 'neath that old Georgia pine. We'd gain a lot of ground, cause we'd both give a little. Ain't no road too long when we meet in the middle..." Have you ever wondered what makes you tick? What makes you truely happy? Ever asked yourself what you do that makes you happy? What you like about yourself? You know what I answer to all the above questions, most are I don't know. Some are definite no's, but there are no yes's. I have no clue what makes me happy. I am def. not happy with myself. And I still don't do anything about it. Theres no excuse that I shouldn't be happy. I got a lot goin for me I guess. Some great, very truely awesome peope in my life, that without, I'd go nuts. I wouldn't make it through some situations without the friends I have. I cannot re-itterate how awesome all of you are. I'm am truely lucky to have as many great friends as you all are...

Current Song: Lynyrd Skynrd "Lucky Man"

Current Mood: Lucky
- posted by @ Clark 23:50

 
Addicted to Danger
"Here's to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A cold beer—and another one!" ~Irish Toast

What a wonderful way to kick off the weekend. As I recite this toast and clink glasses with friends, I can't help but think of how much fun I'm having just hanging out with people. My friends called me up and said to come on over. In a few hours of a Friday night we covered many topics from what the hardest semester at this school was to what people wanted to do when they graduated. Its amazing to hear some peoples dreams and see that they know exactly what they want. As I head back to my room, my head is full of dreams. Some may come true, others most likely won't. But a dream is something to build, shape, mold and work towards. They don't just come to you overnight. So I hit the rack on Friday night thinking about how awesome this weekend was going to be.

Saturday I awoke with a single thought on my mind....Tahoe. I packed my gear and headed up to the Loading Dock where we were all to meet. People came out of everywhere, laden down with snow gear for the next two days. As we loaded up into the vehicles, I couldn't help but be excited that we were gettin' out and goin' on an adventure for a few days. Our noble charriots to carries us into the sunset was Spencer's lifted GMC Suburban burdened with people and John's full-size Chevy pick-up carrying the necessary goods and equipment to make the trip possible. As we venture off into the sunset, I'm receiving quite the musical culturing. There is no country music in the car. I have techno music and random bands from around the world. I'd have to say that the top of my favorites list was the Red Elvises, a Russian surf band. The bottom of the list would hands down be the Japanese noise music my friend John was blaring for about 5 min. before I turned it off for some beat-boxing. After a long adventure full of music, discussion, and waving at random people on the freeway, we finally made it around 9 o'clock at night. As we pulled off the highway as far as we could, the 3 foot snow bank on each side of the highway made this difficult, a light blared out of the Suburban window. It was pointing at the break in the trees leading back towards a cabin about 300 yards off the road. This was the place, but where was the driveway? We were in front of it. 3 feet of snow, ice, and absolutely no chance of driving in. So we dig the snow bank back enough that the Cali Highway Patrol man who stopped earlier would be happy that we were far enough off the road. Then began the trudge through the increasing cold towards our home for the night. Digging our way into the front door, literally, we stepped into a very nice wood cabin. Then I made a quick mental checklist of things we did and didn't have. There was no running water, no heater, no insulation, no bathroom (unless you count the tree outside). However, we did have good times planned, a deck of poker cards, poker chips, food and beverages, snowboards, a lot of snow, and some snow shovels. The last three become very important later in the night and during the next day. As a couple people cook dinner, the rest of us dig makeshift stairs into the snow on the porch and dig a pathway out the front door to our stairs. After dinner we busted out the cards and chips. With a couple decks being played, we had 10 people to start out our Poker game. After many rounds of poker, I changed the game up to 3-5-7. Poker hadn't made anyone broke, so I had to pull out all the stops. 3-5-7 is a continuous game that gets a huge pot rolling and knocks a great deal of people out of the game. After a few hands, not games mind you, of 3-5-7 almost everyone was out. So we called it quits with the cards and went outside in search of a good time. By this time its about 11 at night and half of our crew was in the house playing video games and the like. I cannot beleive that they wouldn't want to come outside... Those bums. Needless to say, a contingency of the guys went out with sleds in hand and scaled the hill in the backyard. After a few sled runs, an idea is tossed into the open that everyone embraces and starts out to attack. Someone suggested we build a kicker at the bottom of the hill and snowboard. Grabbin' up the shovels and packin' the beautiful powder down, we built the jump. It was perfect. It had a great lip that allowed us to go a little up and a lot out off the end of it. Great for trying spin tricks - which is exactly what we tried. So my first attempt at the jump was an utter failure, I didn't even get to the jump. Yes, I know, I probably shouldn't have even tried. It's only my 3rd time ever going and I can't make it down the mountain even, but I had to try. Next jump...BAM! 180. Solid and landed. A few people thought that was awesome, so I kept the ball rolling with the adrenaline pumping. Next try was a 360, which I biffed and didn't have a chance to land. After that were two more jumps, one a backflip, the other a misty flip. Neither was landed, but they were close. If I only knew what I was actually doing...Instead of just kinda goin by feel. A friend of mine, Anthony was tryin backflips too. Everyone else was stickin' to the more subdued and much safer 360's and 180's. So after we concluded the snowboarding and headed inside, it was a beautiful 130 in the morning. Gettin' out of our wet snow clothes and heading to bed, we took note of the 12 degree outside temperature. Brrr.... After 30 minutes of sleep, we were awoken by a beeping noise. The first thought to go through my head is, "It can't possibly be 7 already..." This thought was quickly followed by, "What the Hell?!?!?" Yes, the cabin was full, I mean FULL, of smoke. Someone had set a log on TOP of the wood burning stove and it had proceeded to gain heat and almost burst into flames through the night. At 2, the smoke detecter beeped to let us know that something bad was goin down. Lucky on two counts for this incident! The first case of luck is that the wood didn't just burst into flames, but filled the place with smoke first. That cabin woulda gone up like a stack of toothpicks in a furnace. The second count of luck came from the fact that Spencer put the batteries back into the smoke detector. We had pulled the battery while cooking dinner since it was putting out a lot of smoke and we didn't want to open a window since it was so cold out. Lucky... So after we took the wood off the stove, we opened the windows in the house. I have never been so cold in my entire life! Wowsers! All I had to keep me warm was the thin blanket off my bed and a pair of thermal pants. Everything else was wet from the snowboarding earlier in the evening. So I proceeded to lose all heat from my body and sheets when the windows were opened. As I lay there shivering, I couldn't help but wonder how the cavemen did it way back in the day when they didn't have clothes or sheets or heaters and stuff. So odd how dependant on technology we get, but that's a different topic for a different day. I'm tellin' a story here....

Sunday morning began at 7 am with the beeps of an alarm clock. As we all meandered downstairs into the kitchen/family room for the beginnings of breakfast, I looked to see how cold it was outside. The temperature had come up significantly in the last few hours. It was currently 32 degrees outside. Then I looked next to the outdoor thermometer at the indoor thermometer. At a cozy 34 degrees, we all stood shivering with cold breath pouring from our mouths. As breakfast was cooked, me and a couple others began to shovel several feet of snow off the roof. Gotta earn your rent somehow, you know? That warmed me up quickly to the point where I was sweating in just a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt standing waist high in snow on the roof of the cabin. When the breakfast call came out, we were kinda leery of how we were going to get down off the roof. So in true crazy fashion...I did a backflip off into the snow drifts. Would I do this normally off a roof? Probably not, but hey, you only live once. Breakfast concluded, we packed up the cabin so that we could head off to Northstar at Tahoe. At 930 in the morning we trudged back out to the trucks and loaded up. As soon as we could, we began a u-turn that would never be completed. I was in John's truck with John, and everyone else was in Spencer's Burban. We did the u-turn and pulled off to the side so they could make the turn and take the lead position. The Suburban turned almost all the way around and then... Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened. His truck died and wouldn't start back up. So as we sat on the side of the road for an hour trying to trouble shoot the situation, we played Go-Fish at the same time in the bed of Belushi's truck. Belushi is John, he looks like John Belushi so we call him Belushi. We all gots nick-names amongst the most of us. Mine is Matt. We have a friend named Filipe (Actually it was originally Little John because he's little and a John), but he called me Matt for 2 years. I never even once noticed this and so when he found out my name was Justin, he didn't beleive me. So he keeps callin' me Matt and I keep callin' him Filipe. So after about an hour of cards, they decide to call AAA and we decide to hit up the backyard kicker again. So as we grab our boards and race back across the highway, I can't help but wonder what crazy stunts I'll try to pull today. I got three runs down the kicker that morning. My first run was an attempted tail grab. I was able to get the tail, then I hit a sweet superman, then...THUD! Belly flop! And yes, my ribs have finally finished hurting today. After that it was a perfect 360. I landed it too! It was beautiful. Off the kicker into a smooth turn into a great landing. The next run, I didn't even make it down the hill. I fell. Such is the price I pay for not knowing a darn thing about what I'm doing. Anthony busted a nice 180 and a good 360 attempt. And my friend Jonny-Mar, really named Jon, jumped over all of us. We layed down on the backside of the kicker and he jumped us. It was wicked crazy! Its a view that you'll never see. So after that, Belushi called his dad, who luckily was in the area with a Suburban. So we traded his truck for another Suburban and Spencer got his towed. So 6 of us climbed into the Belushi Burban, he cranked the japanese noise music again, and we rolled up toward Tahoe. Once we arrived at Tahoe, I was convinced to hit up a Black Diamond run. For those of you not familiar with snow-sports, a Black Diamond run is supposed to be very difficult. There are multiple diamond Black Diamond runs which are cream of the crop, there's terrain parks with jumps and stuff. Well, the run I was on was pretty steep, and as with my true snowboarding tradition, I went balls out. Yup, 3rd time up and I'm running down the side of a mountain carving between trees and crashing through the powder. Yeah, I fell. yeah, I got back up and kept going. By the end of the day, I felt like a pro. So we came back Sunday night, forging our way through hours of traffic. Stopping for substanance and gas and carrying on. The ride home was un-eventful and though provoking. Hopefully, I'll be able to take some friends up there at some point. With all the activities of the weekend, I had a few people convinced that it was def. more than my 3rd time ever going up for snowboarding. Needless to say, they didn't beleive me when I said that it really was my 3rd time. Why does nobody beleive me? I haven't a clue. Its like me not working out. Nobody beleives me when I say that my pushups/situps routine is few and far between. Such is life I guess. So it has been decided through all my crazy stunts this weekend, that I'm addicted to danger. And there's no real cure.
- posted by @ Clark 23:30

 
Work in progress...
Eh, I had a lot typed for this entry. I just now clicked delete. It was not up-lifting. It contained no words of encouragement. There was nothing but despair flowing freely. Needless to say, this is my second entry for the night. I have more, but it is still a work in progress...
- posted by @ Clark 01:00

 
Weekend Warrior...
Okay party people. As many of you know, I went snowboarding this weekend. Not only did I go for my 3rd time ever, but I went down the black diamond runs of Tahoe. I also landed a 360, attempted a misty flip and a back flip. Landed neither flip, but went for 'em anyway. Needless to say, the details are on the way, but will take some time as many many stories have stemmed from this weekend.
- posted by @ Clark 00:53

 
I sit staring out my window looking as the ships roll past day in and day out. I long to re-join the freedoms of the sea. It has been too long since I have felt its cold breath of mist fall upon my face. Too long since I last saw the sunset over the horizon instead of the hills. There is an inherent loneliness that comes with being at sea, but I don't think that will stop me from going to sea. There's just something calming and soothing about it. I think the beach is a very relaxing place to stop and think. Perhaps thats why I enjoy sailing so damn much. It gives me a chance to forget about my troubles ashore. The weights of life are lifted for that short while. This didn't exactly take the turn I wanted it to. I cannot seem to find the right words to describe how I feel about this matter. Perhaps at a later date, I shall try again. But for now, it is late, I'm tired, and must be up in the morning. Much is on my mind and after tomorrow, I hope that all is well. Only time wwill tell. Until next time...



Current Song: "Free Bird" ~Lynyrd Skynyrd
Current Mood: Thoughtful
- posted by @ Clark 01:01

 
Only So Much Good Luck...
One can only have so much good luck and fortune before the tides of life turn again. As I leave my morning class completely covered in grease, yet again, I wonder why it is that I work so hard when others don't. The way this class is set up is so that there is a group of upperclassmen (typically Juniors) and a group of underclassmen (typically Freshman). The upperclass usually has a small group of underclass assigned to him to accomplish various tasks about the Engine Room of our training ship. Some members of the upperclass view this "supervising-power" as a right to tell the underclass to work while they sit around and talk. There isn't an upperclassman out there who hasn't delagated a job to the underclass so we're all guilty as charged. But some upperclass are afraid to get dirty. As I stand up to my elbows, literally, in grease, I look over and see a few of my Freshman standing around. I knew there wasn't much to do as this was a two person job. But instead of making one of them coat their arms entirely in engine grease, I just hopped in and did it without even thinking twice. Where I was going with that...The world may never know. So needless to say, after countless hours of scrubbing, my hands, elbows, and forearms look like that of a mechanic. Splotches of oil stain that won't come out, calluses and cuts, and that wonderful grease/diesel smell. During my first real class for the day, I was able to exude my ignorance as I completely failed a quiz. After that quiz, yet another one to be blown halfway. I know I got part of it right, but there was a section of it that I was clueless on. One would think that by doing homework constantly, doing all work assigned, reading in the book, and taking copious notes in class, that that would be enough to pass a quiz. But no, not here. Not at Cal Maritime. Grr! So tonight my neighbor and I do battle once more. With speed and courage we step out into the chilled night air and begin our run. About half-way through, my heart/chest feel like they are going to explode and my pace suddenly gets cut in half. After about 2/3 of the run, I have to stop to dry heave a few times on the side of the road before I can continue. Needless to say, my neighbor was on top of his game today. Every dog has there day, and today,was most certainly, not mine! Perhaps again some other day further down the road, I shall become winner again. But I do not feel that change in the wind for some time now. 'Tis merely another day in the life of Clark drawing to a close. I think I've just about convinced my folks that I should live in a house off-campus next semester. My ma is totally sold on the idea and thinks it would rule. I told her my idea for a desk with the milk-crates I already have and a plank of wood. She informed me that cinder blocks work really well too! ;) Oh, yes, its all making sense now isn't it people? You are starting to see my roots are established somewhere and I'm not just a loon out of the blue. But my pops is taking some time and such with the situation. Personally, I don't think he likes the idea of my independance. He won't take me off the dependant on his taxes since he benefits from it, even though I could apply for wicked scholarships and get 'em cuz I don't make much money. He HATES, absolutely ABHORRS, the idea of me getting a truck. That's all I want right now. A little Chevy S-10. Something different and fun. And I don't think he likes the idea of me not living on campus where my life is completely regulated. Perhaps it is a simple freedom that I desire that I'm not finding while living here at this school, or driving my current car. I know that I have a free spirit that must not feel bound, but I didn't know it would manage to work its way into my school life as well.

"Come in the evening, come in the morning,
Come when expected, come without warning;
Thousands of welcomes you'll find here before you,
And the oftener you come, the more we'll adore you."
-Irish Greeting –
- posted by @ Clark 00:46

 
Everybody changes every now and then...
Guess what party people? After a great many hours of trial and error (much more error than anything) I have succeeded in putting a comments section on my journal. I hope to Heaven that it works. I havne't tried it out yet, but I know the link works. If you want, drop a comment on any of my previous journals. I'll be sure to look and see. HAHAHAH I'm stoked!!! Okay people, I gotta study...I am actually in school and doin alright. Hopefully I can keep this breakneck pace up for at least the rest of this week. We're supposed to go snowboarding this weekend. But I'm not sure if that's going to work out... Money is a tight situation presently. But what else is awesome is the fact that I might have a house for the fall!!! No more on campus BS! No more $850/month! No more crappy mess deck food! FREEEEEDOM!!! FREEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOMMMM!!!!!
- posted by @ Clark 00:53

 
Motors and lights
Knobs and switches
And a 4-wheel drive
Runnin' up the road
Or crawling across the farm
And when they break down
I jack 'em up in the yard
Pull out my tools
My pirde and joy
Man ya got a love 'em
Big Boy Toys

It's boats and cars
Tractors and trucks
Gasoline and diesel feul
Running through my blood
~Aaron Tippin

So as I leave my first class this morning, I feel very satisfied. I accomplished a few things besides being covered in motor oil for a diesel generator on a ship. We were charged with the task of pumping down the sump (where the oil is contained inside the motor) and cleaning the junk out of it. After many times to fix a problem with our pump, we finally got everything working. I spent much of the class leaning over the side of the crankcase down into the sump in an attempt to fish parts and stuff out of the lube oil. Such a dirty job, but I love it. This is the stuff I live for. I don't want to take a partial derivative of something I couldn't care less about. I want to be turnin wrenches. Pullin' pistons. Crankin' levers. Pushin' buttons! Anywho, I'm not sure where I was going with this when i started it...but I've now finished it.

- posted by @ Clark 00:51

 
"You're Superman...You just don't know it."
~Jon-O.

Yes, this is what my friend had to say when I related my story of gettin run over on Friday afternoon. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get run over? Actually, I'm sure not too many people have. I did. For quite some time actually. I always figured it might hurt a lot since cars weigh a lot. But then I'd think about the fact that the tires are full of air so it wouldn't hurt too bad at all. Needless to say, Friday I got to find out. My buddy was cruising down the parking lot and I stood in front of him. You know how friends do when they're messin' with each other. So its all good and I step out of the way and he slows to an almost stop. So to mess with me back, he swerves at me... Only problem is...He hit me. So after running my foot over with the front tire of his truck, he has the guts to ask, "Did I run over your foot?" I didn't really have a smart-ass comment to retort with, but all I could do was laugh and struggle out a "Hell yea" through the laughter. Did it hurt? Not at all. That's the funniest part about it. Everyone I've told is like, "Whaaa?" and don't beleive me. Didn't hurt a bit. I laughed. He felt bad. The biggest pain of the ordeal is that now, I have to polish truck tire print out of the wonderful Navy issued black shoes that I wear for ROTC. (Course, I wear the exact same ones for school...) Dang...I just polished 'em the other day too. Grr!!! S'all good though... Cuz like Jon-O said...I'm superman, just don't know it.
- posted by @ Clark 00:49

 
WARNING!
Do not put any sharp objects in a spot where if you bend over and stand up again you could knock your head. That is my warning to the rest of the free world. Our, me and my roomie's, mini-fridge chills on the floor (no pun intended...but funny none-the-less) and is rarely used. So I bought enough iced tea to last the rest of this weekend (3 2-liter bottles) and was proceeding to put one away yesterday when I was caught by a corner. Not just any corner mind you, this could have been the corner to end all corners...Okay, so maybe not, but it was close. As I was standing back up from puttin the iced tea back in the fridge, SMACK! Right into the corner of the bookshelf that hangs precariously above the fridge. It hurt like Hell then, but only for a second. So I'm scratchin my head today...and guess what? I found this nice little cut/scab deal where I lost to a bookshelf!!! What the Hell? Needless to say, I am just puttin out an All Points Bulletin for others... If theres any possibilty that you COULD hit your head on something sharp...You most likely will.
- posted by @ Clark 13:55

 
I wasn't happy 'til I was sad... I wasn't rich 'til I was broke...
Well hello again my 'ol friends... Been a while since I made a nice little entry so that you could have a brief glimpse into a section of my life. Alas, Friday night turned out to be a blast. Monster trucks dominate! That's all I have to say about that. Watchin' one rig dang near flip over twice after goin' vertical, watchin' Grave Digger hit up the cyclones before smashing one of them beautiful Jaguars out there, and after watchin' everyone I know go crazy for the awesome-ness of the Freestyle portion of the show...I return home a very satisfied individual. If there were some way to take the beautiful sounds of 4,000 Hp motors turnin 5' rubbers...I would. But for now...Just imagine... You stand there in awe as you see this truck, driver sittin' about 12 feet off the ground, growls into the stadium. You note the awesome skull/skeleton/cemetrary graphics surrounding this Chevy Panel wagon. Then you see the Jolly Roger flying from the back. This is the unmistakable paint of Grave Digger. With a huge roar and a sudden burst of dirt, the truck goes flying over four cars and the driver whips the truck around like it were a little Honda Civic. Some more noise and it blasts through the side of a van. Now theres so much noise filling the auditorium you can't even hear yourself yelling. Grave Digger's spinnin' cyclones, you're standing there cheering and screaming at the top of your lungs...But you hear nothing but the ROOOOOOOOAOAAAAAAAAAR of the trucks gynormous engine. Then as quickly as it all began...the noise silences and you snap back to the reality that everyone is cheering... The roar is replaced with whistling and cheers thrown up from the crowd. After a few hours of driving, I was releived to find I was home again. Have you ever done something you said you wouldn't? Like, driving for instance. I said, "I'm just gonna kick back and let my buddy drive his truck". After a few hundred feet of riding in the truck, I throw out an idea, "Want me to drive? My car'll get better gas mileage anyway..." Here's your sign... Thats the longest I've played passenger in a month or more. Guess I'm addicted to danger... ;) So I sit wondering why I bought so much food from Costco yesterday and feel bad for polishing off all the food I have so far... The fat kid inside me is havin' a hay day though. He's lovin' the fact that I know I have food and am just devouring it at an un-Godly rate. I'll eat to that one (as I take a huge bite of beautiful poppy seed muffin). I am also the proud owner of another personal favorite movie... "Gone in 60 Seconds". Yes, I am in love with Eleanor. That silver beaut is gorgeous. I can dream... Man, I can dream... Ahhh the joys of life... I wasn't happy 'til I was sad... I wasn't rich 'til I was broke...
- posted by @ Clark 12:04

 
Outlaws, Renegades, and Rebels on the Run...
For the record...My neighbor ran like Hell today. I just wanted to say that before I informed you all that it has happened once again. That's right. I have sucessfully completed the run faster than Jon. I wanted so much to win again. I was running oh so hard when I thought I was done for. I was suprised to realize that I was in the lead. I was racing ahead and gaining ground as I ran down from Egypt. I had to convince myself that I had more in me, that I would be able to run faster still. And suprisingly enough, it worked. I managed to pull it off again. However, this time it was much closer than last. I ran so slow on the last leg. That feeling that your stomach has looped over itself and that your lungs don't like to have air in them isn't one I particularly enjoy. It's like someone has taken your stomach and tied it in a knot around your lungs. However, at the end of the day, we congratulate each other on another run well done. For it isn't the fact that I won, or I usually lose, but the fact that we got out there and ran it all the way till the end. This is what 'ol Jon-O had to say about the recent events...

"relating to the "run of champions", for i was just beaten by a certain anonymous short man living in my hallway. i have lost but it will only make me better...

"far better it is to dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs although checkered with failure than to take rank with those poor souls that live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat " ~Teddy Roosevelt"

'Tis a good feeling to know that you are noticed. Even if it is because 'ol Jon-O hates to lose. The guy can't stand it. Unlike myself, where I can do nothing but think of what I did wrong and what I'll do better next time, Jon-O gets really really pissed at losing. He espescially hates losing to me. Its like a pet-peeve or something. The Rubik's Cube is a prime example of something that definitely frustrates him. For those of you who may not know, I'm such a nerd. I know how to do all sorts of different Rubik's cubes. The Homer Simpson head, the regular cube, a freakish-lookin UFO, some odd geometric shaped one... All sorts. Jon-O and I had a little "Rubiks Race" and I smoked him. So needless to say, Jon-o went and got a new cube and came back and schooled me like a kindergartner learning to fingerpaint. (Not sure how that's relevant or even a good analogy) So now that I know how to do all these different things, Jon-O doesn't. Yes, it frustrates him to even see me with a Rubik's UFO in my hand for the mere thought of me being able to do something, not just better, but that he can't even do in general is unacceptable to him. So this is the eve I ran like a rebel and lived. Tomorrow may be his day. It may not. Every dog has their day as the saying goes. Sleep beckons like a landing strip on a runway. My bed is there waiting...pillow fluffed ( means that its thicker than the sheets by a little bit) and the bed is pulled out of "couch-mode". Thats right people! Bed before 0100!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!! Sleep on! Dream the good'ns.
- posted by @ Clark 00:25

 
Just Another Day In Paradise... Or Not...
As the clouds cover the glorious sun for yet another day of bleh weather, I ponder what I will be doing this weekend. It is my only escape from the present wonderful situation. As I sit doing my work, that's right people, I do my homework...Shhh...Shh....Keep it down... I don't need everyone to know, it'll ruin the reputation I don't have. Anywhoser, as I sit doing my work, I am now seeing the sun poke through the clouds. Its almost as though the weather has decided that I was sick of it being bleak and dreary. I wish I had my 1990 S-10 right now. Just go climb in and drive off somewhere. No destination. No time limits. Just going. But alas, I don't. I have my Civic still, and I have time restraints, and a suffient lack of motivation to walk down 50 stairs to go up 150 more. So I'll sit here for at least a moment longer before I return to my former life (or lack there of) and continue my work. Hopefully, the weather will hold, dinner will be good, I'll get a lot of work done tonight, and might get more than 4 hours of sleep. In the past 3 nights of sleep, I've had a grand total of 9.5 hours. Out of the 24 recommended sleep hours, I got less than half. That's cool people. Really really cool. Catch y'all on the flip side...
- posted by @ Clark 16:37

 
Don't know what you got 'til it's gone...
You know how there are some people that come into your life and you'd consider really good friends? These people are extremely rare and must be held as close as possible. Sometimes you lose a close relative (like a brother) and you spend time trying to find someone who you can be just as close with. Then you may finally find that person to fill the job description and something doesn't work out. Things get complicated and troubles ensue. Yet you must still hold on to that person. For true friends are like diamonds in the rough. I think a rough gauge for who's a good true friend and who's more of just an aquaintance-type friend is whether you could call that person at 2 or 3 in the morning. If you think you could make that call, and you know that it wouldn't bother them, no matter what the reason, that's a true friend. Always there for you when you need em. Kinda funny that I'm typing this as I listen to "Like a Rock" by Bob Sieger and the Silver Bullet Band. I have been fortunate enough to meet a few people I'd consider true friends. Perhaps they consider me a true friend back, perhaps they don't. Losing someone like your brother is never easy. When some people find out, they feel sorry for you. Others, they wonder what happened and what you remember and the like. Sometimes I wonder what it'd be like if my brother was still around. Sometimes I feel like I'm living life for him too. Other times, I know he's right there watching over my shoulder and helping me through the daily struggles of everyday life. On more than one ocassion he's reached in and saved me, or helped others save me. If you've ever seen a blue flame lapping up the side of someone's face you'll know what I mean... Scariest damn moment of my life... Life is so mysterious sometimes. But I do know one thing. So when you feel like you're walking against the wind, remember you have friends for a reason. They help you through the hard times and celebrate the good ones. They pick you up when you're down, and stand with you against the odds. Heres to all my friends...
- posted by @ Clark 17:53

 
Lessons in Caffine...
So the current time is 0430 in the morning. Many of you may be wondering what I'm still doing up. In response to such ponderings I have just got off watch. Yes, the completely useless event which draws the life-blood out of even the best of moods. Needless to say, around 0030 or 0100 this morning I had a cup of coffee. Not only was it a cup of coffee, but it was straight black jet fuel. This stuff would clean the chrome off a bumper. Plus side: I was awake for watch. Down side: I'm still awake now. Why's this a down side? Because I know that in less than 7 hours I will have to be back down there again. My watch group is OK. Not the one's I'd pick to spend 20 of my 48 weekend hours with, but I'll manage to make do. I'm totally losing at our game of Rummy 1000 though.

As I cower as far into my coverals as I can, the wind-driven rain beats on me with unrelenting chills. I ponder spontaneous travel. This Star-Trek-ish technology would make my life very simple. I'd step on this pad and POOF! I'm somewhere else. I'd be able to visit people everywhere instantly. If I wanted to be half-way across the US, it'd take a matter of seconds. Then I realize that the rain is beginning to come down harder, so I run. Not only does this get me more wet, but it is rather awkward to run and think at the same time. Yes people, my mind is very simple and cannot multi-task like some peoples. People are amazing. The things that some people are capable when they want to do something is just amazing. How'd we get to the moon? (Strip off the multi-billion dollar industries, the governmental agencies, and a few other things) We got there because someone wanted to. They looked up in the sky and said, "I want to look at Earth from there..." Ahhh...the caffine is wearing thin. I am losing my train of thought...yup, it's definitely derailed. If anyone finds this thought, can you please return it to its owner so that it may be properly processed. Thank you.
- posted by @ Clark 04:43

 
Amazing...
Isn't it just amazing how life works sometimes. You meet some people and cross paths and go your own way. Other people will travel along your path for a while and then go their own way. And yet, others, others are so drawn by you that they follow alongside your path for life. Everyone fits into one of those three catagories, but what is it about people that makes that initial path cross. Its just amazing how changing one little thing in your life could have meant you didn't meet someone. If I had logged off-line before they got on and a mutual-friend introduced us, if I had not gone line dancing that night. If they hadn't gone line dancing in the place they don't normally go. (Although they are constantly frequenting the place now...hmm....) Its just amazing what happens. Its like certain people were meant to meet. I don't know... I just find it amazing. It stuns me every time I think about it. The idea is like the breeze, everyone has it, but its so hard to capture the true feeling down. So I leave you to think for yourselves...as I go to watch a movie about speakers so loud they'll blow the clothes off women... "The Italian Job"
- posted by @ Clark 22:09

 
"We're on a mission from God"
Ladies and gentleman, yesterday marked the first day of my new-found freedom. We had a little shindig (Only about 7 30-packs of brews and a handle of Jim Beam) before break. This little shindig was on-campus (which is a dry campus) and in our dorm rooms (which is in violation of at least 3 Codes of the Corps of Cadets) and had 10-15 people, depending on when you were around. So in the middle of this little event, I decided to venture up to Old Res to see a few of my Freshman compadres and find out how their finals were going and stuff. As I walk back into my dorm-floor, there is mondo trouble laying out. A few RA's are still behind, but for the most part the damage was done. Busted. Roughly 160-180 empty cans were removed from the premisses at this point of the night and still it continues. I leave to take out my contact lenses, which are a pain in the ass. I cannot wait 'til I get the corrective surgery. But as I close my door, Campus Security rolls my neighbors room for the second time in a night. Once I hear them leave, I come back out and head next door again. This time there's 7 full cans and thats it. So, what's next? After the alky's gone, out come the firecrackers. After several minutes of running around shooting off these little bundles of joy, me and a few friends begin the trek back to our room. It was a complete shock when my buddy lit one off and dropped it on the path where we were walking. So we sprinted to my buddies dorm room. WHOOP WHOOP! Busted. That's right guys, busted 3 times in one night. Lucky for me, I was not around for the first two, and the way the report was written up on the 3rd violation kept me from being held for it. So as I sit facing the Conduct Reveiw Board and they make their way down the people charged with the alky violation we had a chance to plea our case. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Not Guilty. That was the statements made in the first few minutes. In the next few minutes, I developed my case. Brought down my witness for my where-abouts that night and proved I wasn't involved. By the time I was finished, I had made a panel of peers drop the charges and cleared my name. The fireworks violation was next and after they read the report, we stated we had no idea what was going on. Pled ignorance, and got my name cleared. So after a full night of trouble, and a few hours of drama, I was a free man. I wasn't burdened with punishment, but I do have the guilt of gettin off the hook while my friends took the dive. You may be thinking I'm a huge jerk at this point for doing what I did. But there is a perfectly logical explanation. Earlier in the semester I was a victim of "wrong place, wrong time". I had already been charged with an alcohol violation (I wasn't even drinking...thats the stink of it) and received punishment. A second offense for alcohol gets put before a board that decides whether they want to kick you out of school or not. This board would have had my fate entirely in their hands and I couldn't have that. So I told them what they needed to know to answer the questions, but nothing more. I mentioned how I wasn't around at the time of incident. I proved I was somewhere else. And when asked if I was around at all that night, I mentioned how I live on the floor, so of course I was around. There was no evidence anywhere pointing that I had an alcohol violation. Thus, case dismissed. This is a big deal around here. That party is by far the largest this campus has seen in a very long time. So if you have ever seen the original "Blues Brothers", you'll know what I mean when I say, "We're on a mission from God."
- posted by @ Clark 22:00

 
"I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night"
By KISS

You show us ev'rything you've got
You keep on dancing and the room gets hot
You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy
You say you wanna go for a spin
The party's just begun, we'll let you in

You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy
You keep on shoutin', you keep on shoutin'

I wanna rock and roll all nite
And party every day
I wanna rock and roll all nite
And party every day
I wanna rock and roll all nite
And party every day
You keep on saying you'll be mine for a while
You're lookin' fancy and I like your style
You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy
You show us everything you've got
Baby, baby that's quite a lot
drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy
shouting, you keep on shouting
I wanna rock and roll all nite
And every day
I wanna rock and roll all nite
And party every day
I wanna rock and roll all nite
And party every day

This is in case anyone was wondering what the words to this song were. I know someone who knows nothing but "I wanna rock and roll all nite... And party every day." Which granted, is 75% of the song... But just in case you wanted to know... This one's for you...
- posted by @ Clark 21:42

 
You know that feeling of ecstacy when something is going your way? When you do something right and that feeling of joy just floods over you? Yeah, that's not me right now. I have lost 4 concurrent games of Checkers, my friend isn't even paying attention to the game really (course neither am I), but then I lost all the volleyball games earlier. I even had the privilige of swimming in the straights. Bleh! Anywho, nothing really new. Not sure what to write about...so I write...nothing. later party people...I had something I wanted to write, but by the time I logge on I had forgotten what I wanted to say. I'm sure it was meaningful too...

Whew...now that thats off my chest....
- posted by @ Clark 23:16

 
Hmmm...
Have you ever wondered what other people thought of you? Not in the sense of "Do they think I'm cool? Do I fit in?", but more, what do they think of you as a person. How do they feel you treat people? How do they describe your personality to others? Well, I have on various occasions. But on this day more than others. I'm not sure what compelled me to think these thoughts, but it was enough to encourage a little drive to think. Back home, it'd be easy to go think. I've got a rock on top of the mountain I hike up to and sit at, usually the middle of the night. From this rock the stars are closer and life seems to fade away below. It's beautiful and provides ample opportunity for deep thought. Instead of this, I get the feeling of freedom from driving down the freeway for unknown destinations and unknown reasons. Today I drove for about an hour and a half before returning to my life back in reality. I always wanted to be able to sit above the real me and watch myself for a day. I often wonder if I'm as big a jerk as I think I am, or if I'm actually as good a person as some people say. Not that I don't beleive 'em, but I don't. It's just one of those things I'll never understand I guess. Well its now 0251 according to my clock. That means that I have to get some sleep. Hopefully I'll be back to my shallow talk-about-nothing self again tomorrow. I only get all deep-thought when nobody's around. I always feared that people wouldn't like that fact that I really didn't know what I was doing with my life or why. Friends all think that I've got things figured out for the most part, but little do they realize I'm just a deer in the headlights on the highway of life...
- posted by @ Clark 02:56

 
Recovery From a Feeble Attempt To Move Mountains...
Have you ever done something for so long, that when you were done, you felt like you were still doing it? Like, rollerblading for hours on end. When you put on real shoes again it feels really wierd and you feel like you should still be blading. Or ice skating, once the real shoes are back on theres no sliding to get around. After 7 hours of snowboarding, I felt like I was still going as I layed in bed attempting to sleep last night. The funny thing about muscle memory is that it really works. The few times I smashed my noggin into the ground I know exactly what happened to lead up to it. As I laid there thinking it over, my feet would move as if I were still goin down the mountain. Then my brain would send a signal to itself that it had just smashed down on the hardest surface since the wall I was beating it against the other day. Needless to say, I was twitching and moving as I drifted off to Never-Never-Land last night. As I awoke to the sun this morning, I began to move. First mistake. Was I ever sore. My neck, shoulders, arms, abs, and back were all stiff, stubborn, and very sore to move this morning. So as I attempt to move my stiff body to get up and shower, I began to realize that my attempt to move a mountain on my own was utterly useless. However, I think I will be attempting to move mountains for quite some time. Ahh, the pains of life. I don't mind being this sore actually. I really enjoy it to be quite honest. It shows me how truely out of shape I am, and means that I took the time to go do something I wanted to that was fun.

Current Song: Metallica - "Seek and Destroy (live version)"
Current Mood: Livin' it up!
- posted by @ Clark 11:30

 
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire...
I will be the first to admit the mountains of Sierra at Tahoe to have annihilated my body for the duration of today. The other day I made the investment of a snowboard, boots, bindings, pants, gloves, and what-not. So today I was allowed to utilize said equipment. Today I had the privilige of what we like to call a rude-awakening. The first time I went a while back was THE most perfect day from what I hear. It was powder, sunny, and clear skies. Today, quite the contrary. It was icy, sunny and clear skies. You may be thinking to yourself, two out of three things are the same. Weeeeelllll, the difference between ice and powder is just that. It is the difference between night and day. The difference between black and white. The difference between.... You get the point. So on my first run of the day I ate it. Not just any 'ol wreck, but a head-smashing, backward-rolling, goggles-and-beanie-rippin'-off wreck that hurt like Hell. As I continued, albeit my group just left me and continued on, I continued with the falling. Powder=Heaven. Ice=unforgiving relentless pavement feeling. I spent the duration of the morning trying to figure the snowboarding thing out all alone since the group was way better than me. It was good and bad. It was bad in the sense that I had no idea what I was doing that was making me wreck. Well, I do, but I didn't know how to fix it so I had to learn by trial and error. And it was good in the sense that I didn't feel like I was holding anyone up. And majority of my wrecks were caused by my lack of abilities. I would catch a toe-edge and it would knock me off balance and I'd then catch a heel-edge and flip end over end backwards. It was that or I'd be trying to slow down and catch a toe edge which would send me into a flat spin....ha, kidding, it would merely send me careening face first toward the softest of landings. So after a half-day of me nearly killing myself, we broke for lunch. I met up with my group and we had food in my buddie's truck bed. After lunch I had a friend goin with me. He had misjudged a jump and landed on his shoulder so he was wounded for the day. Luckily he didn't mind helpin me out. I learned a lot from his help, fell less, learned how to carve on both my toe-edge and heel-edge and I was feeling more like the mountain was winning less. After a few runs, he ducked off for a drink at the lodge. I continued my adventures alone again and proceeded to make it down the mountain falling only once. Then I met up with some other friends from school and wend down the moutain with them. I was beyond stoked when I was able to kinda keep up with them for most of the run. They have been going for at least two seasons and I was able to stay up with them till we went our separate ways down different runs. The score at the end of the day was: Mountain:10+ Clark:3. As I climbed into the 'ol Silver Bullet, I realized just how sore I was and began to account for my pains. My head was pounding from the assorted hits, my butt hurt from falling extremely hard a few times, my right shoulder from flipping onto it, my left wrist from stoppin many a fall, knees from falling face-first, and my right ankle and knee from twisting it to get on the lift. Needless to say, I was beaten down by the mountain. But I will rise up agains the beast of in-experience and show it who's boss. So I now sit in my dorm room, licking my wounds, pondering when I'll be able to escape again to the fury of the mountain. A few of my more notable wrecks actually had witnesses. One I caught my front edge, not sure how, but that basically flipped me over head over heels. From my friend, I gathered that I almost made a full flip, but with my luck, I landed on my shoulder and slammed the side of my head into the ground. That was my favorite wreck of the day. The rest of 'em I could pin it down to something I was doing. That one was the only one that just happened to happen. It was like someone just flicked the back of my board up in the air and started pointing and laughing. I could do nothing but get up, laugh, and say "Wow, that was rough." I can't wait to hit up the hill again. We were talking about snowboarding earlier. Decided that it was a rather awkward sport. You spend $350+ on worthwhile gear, board, boots, bindings; $50 for a lift ticket; $20 in gas, and $5 for lunch. All this money so that you can take a trip up a mountain and head back down a mountain covered in trees, strapped to a plank of wood hoping to make it to the bottom in one piece and unbroken. Makes sense right? That's what I thought. That's why I do it...
- posted by @ Clark 21:57

 
Spring Cleaning?
For those of you who may have visited, ummm.....do I see a hand in the back? No, he's just stretching. Anyway, for those of you who have visited, I have a very large bathroom. The mirrors make the palace it is look more like a mansion in its own, but alas, it is not. Needless to say, this large bathroom has what I would consider to be one of THE nicest bath-tubs ever built by man. It is the most comfortable place to go and unwind from the troubles of the day. Today was the day for me to clean the beast. That's right ladies and gentlemen. I was going to get down and dirty in the bathtub. After running my stereo speakers down the hall and into the bathroom to blast some AC/DC while I cleaned, I searched for the cleaning supplies. Ah, the joys of living where I do is that there isn't many places to hide such ammenities as cleaning supplies. So after I commenced the Comet bath for the scum line at mid-tub level, I proceeded to wash the mirrors and assorted knick-knacks around the bathroom. Okay okay, you called my bluff. There is no bathtub in my bathroom, the bathroom is small and theres nothing but showers in there. I don't have to clean it and AC/DC wasn't blaring at all today. What just happened you may ask? I was fufilling a friends request to turn something so small and insignificant as cleaning the bathtup into something grand and extravagant. I did what I could and could have continued, but I feel the point has been proven. You don't have to have an exciting life to make it seem that way. However, in the reality of my life today, I got to feel two experiences of awesome power. The first was this morning while I was in Plant Operations. For this class, we go down to the ship in our work clothes and do various jobs on board the ship. The tasks range from pulling/cleaning/replacing heads, cylinder liners, pistons, piston rings to changing lightbulbs around the house. Yes, what I just said may have been over most of your heads, but I shall continue none-the-less. So today, I was working with the Electrician. After mounting a fan to the bulkhead of the 2nd Mate's office, we proceeded to test phone lines. This was the first feeling of power. The freshman working with us were the gophers for the parts and extra phone line we needed. Usually, I was on the gopher-end of the line and had to go get stuff for the upper-class. Dang it, I forgot where I was taking this. Needless to say, I really enjoy that class. If you want to know more, drop an e-mail. The second....Oh what joy and glory is embedded in the second. Since the beginning of the year, my neighbor and I have been running off and on for roughly every other day. It's a good sized run and I ALWAYS lose. Always. No matter how well I do for the first part of the run, Jon, my neighbor, always seems to pull some extra out for the last leg of the journey. Tonight, however, the tables have turned. As the saying goes, "Every dog has their day". Today was this dogs day. I finally beat him. Not just barely either. I had a good 20 to 30 seconds on him. By the end of the run I couldn't breath and I was dry-heaving on the side of the road, but I had beat him. On the last leg I was running from my shadow. As I would run past a light, I'd catch a shadow of a person running and it looked like they were just behind and off to the left of me. I thought it was Jon staying right on my tail, but it winds up it was just my shadow. Never-the-less, it helped me run faster as I wanted so bad to beat Jon. You ever get told you would never be able to do something? Told that there was no way it would happen. Had nobody beleiving in you. Well, thats the way this has gone. Before every run, I'd tell Jon how his number had been pulled and it was only a matter of time before I called it. He'd always laugh and we'd go run. Usually dry heaving at some point in the run, whether it was up the first huge hill, or on the last leg, I would finish up out of breath, stomach in a knot, and tell Jon that he was lucky for today. We'd have a good laugh and go do our pushups and situps. Tonight was a totally different story. I didn't say that I was going to beat him, but I had that feeling. As we ran up the hill that I normally slowed down on, I kept my stride up and was able to catch up and close the gap between us. By the time we were running down the stairs, I was leading. I hit the bottom and just took off. Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone" came on and I cranked up the volume and extended the stride out a bit. You see, you have to understand that Jon is at least 6'3" (maybe more) and has a stride that makes it hard for me to keep up with my short legs. I finished and damn near fell down because as hard as I tried, I couldn't make my lungs work. They just wouldn't pull in any air. After all is said and done, Jon did a very commendable job with his run. The adventure now will by attempting to maintain my title on the top of the list. I don't know if I'll be able to. Jon doesn't handle losing very well and is extremely motivated to take it back. Which I don't mind. He hasn't been beat running since before the summer so me being able to beat him once, even if by luck, makes me a very happy person. Nobody beleived in me. Hell, I was starting to lose hope myself and thought I'd never be able to beat him either. But alas, it was my time to shine. Okay, I'm done gloating. For it just ain't right. Although I worked my ass off to beat him and would have been happy just pushing it to 110%, I know he tried 120% just to try to catch up. Therefore we just have to keep pushing each other in an attempt to better ourselves. Well, it appears that I have been rambling for some time and taking up many peoples time so I will go. Run like the Devil's on your tail...
- posted by @ Clark 23:53

 
Ain't Life Grand?
As I walk through the morning funk of the Bay Area, I couldn't help but think of how horrible Tuesday mornings are. Most people don't like Monday. Personally, I live for Monday. Well, Monday night at least. So Monday nights lead straight into Tuesday morning with little sleep and cold, misty, foggy wind whipping past us as we rush across campus in an attempt to make it to class on time. Sitting through my Tuesday morning class is an adventure. Not only am I fighting sleep, but heat. Not just any heat mind you, this heat would melt the chrome off a trailer hitch. Clothing removal is not quite an option while sitting in uniform, so I must just sit and suffer. The best part is that everyone in the room with me is in the same uncomfortable position and even a few are suffering the miniscule amounts of sleep. People miss out on Monday nights. At some point I shall have my digital camera back and I'll take a million pictures (or 200+ because that's all my card holds) and you'll see what I mean. Imagine cramming hundreds of the coolest people (Some not as cool) into one place, winding 'em up like a top and watching 'em spin to the floor in some of the craziest dance moves seen on this planet. Oh if I could only put down in words the feeling of freedom and happiness that getting out of my school and heading off to Davis does. If you went here and took a billion units like some of us, you'd want to get out too. Beleive me, it's like Stress Releif 101. It's our night class. Held every Monday night like we were recovering alkys or something. HAHAHA! I laugh and laugh and laugh. (Sorry, you won't get the whole effect it has when we say it, there's a voice you have to do too...) Ahhh....Gotta love gettin a hair cut, all of them mind you, not just one.
- posted by @ Clark 09:15

 
Reason # 124,504,202,131 that my computer sucks...
Allllriiighty then! I love my computer so much, i decided to reload Windows ME over the Christmas break. It loves me so much, that it decided to die. Not really keel over and stop working, but just freeze every time I tried to do something. Solution? Do nothing. Or re-load it all again. Which was done. Only to be met with the adversary we all know as... a problem. Oh yes! Does that mean I reloaded again? You betcha, red-rider. Is it frustrating? Yes, but what would I do without my computer. I'd lose contact with several close friends, some of which I never get to see in person, but only personalitys on the other end of an Instant Message. ...sigh... Well, my computer demands I restart it again... So here goes nothing. Restart # 54 is coming up and I'm still sitting here tooling around with my computer. Bleh. So many problems with this darn computer and I still try to use it without seeking professional help. I wish I knew what I were doing to screw things up. Grrr! Anywhoser, time to restart...I'll catch the party people on the flip side...
- posted by @ Clark 22:24

 
Grades are In...
Advanced Writing ... Credit (Hell Yeah! Passed the Graduate Writing Exam)
Numerical Analysis ... A
Turbines ... C+ (that hurts quite a bit there, eh!)
Turbines Lab ... B+
Diesel Plant Sim ... C (Phew , I passed... Thank the heavens and a whole lot of studying)
Basic/Adv. Firefighting ... Credit (I want more classes like this...SO much fun)
Engineering Ethics ... A
Fluid Mechanics ... B
Electromechanical Machinery... A+ (What the Hell was that class about??? I haven't a clue)
Electromechanical Mach. Lab... A- (The Lab was just as wierd as the class...)
Instrumentation ... B (If you have ever had a scary teacher...This class had one...)
Instrumentation Lab ... A (What? Dr. P. didn't have enough of us in class?)

And the GPA is.......3.405! Wooo hooo!!! With an overall of 3.481! So far I have 121 units completed. People graduate with degrees at less than 121 units. Insanity I tell ya...

Oh yeah, I forgot my grade from Berkeley,
Navigation 1 ...A-
Bust out the 'ol TI-89 to figure a little new GPA with above grade included (two schools, two GPAs....gonna get combined) for a semester GPA of 3.44. For those of you playing the "At-home" edition, taking 28 units in a semester is insane! Not just the workload. But think of the finals! I mean honestly, sitting through the finals should deter most people. In the end, I was not happy with my C's, but I'll deal. A minimum amount ( I mean bare minimum) was put in. I should have put more in, but in the end, it doesn't really matter. I passed em all and I'm actually quite stoked.
- posted by @ Clark 00:35

 
Life is not holding a good hand; Life is playing a poor hand well.
This Danish proverb rings so true. As I sit in the serene silence of my dorm room the faint sounds of "Name's Bond. James Bond" in the backround. Then an underwater love-making session and the saga continues. I sit here pondering the existance of some people. Where they are, what they're doing with themselves. In some instances I know. Others, less known. Ha! Back up north? I think not! Still in SoCal living it up! Line dancing! I'm so very envious. Anything would be better than sitting here, nobody around, nobody online. Ah, the simple life was so good. I was listening to a song that reminded me instantly of home. Home, where we don't lock the front door, nobody locks their car, people welcome you with a genuine warmth, and there isn't the sound of traffic constantly. The song was "I'm Goin Back" by Trace Adkins.
"They say it's the City of Angels, but there ain't no Saints
If I spend one more day on this freeway I might snap
'Cause I can't take a breath and I can't see the crest of those mountains
That lie in my path

I've got to get back to the farm
Where the cars aren't alarmed
And the people are happy to see ya
Where the world's biggest stars hang above my backyard
And there's room to stretch out and relax
My truck is gassed up and I'm packed
I'm goin' back

Hey lady, what color is that you've got in your hair
Sorry dude, but that dress and high heels threw me for a second there
The fact that don't even phase me is freakin' me out
Am I gettin' used to these lunatics who can't discern between friction and fact

I've got to get back to the farm
Where the cars aren't alarmed
And the people are happy to see ya
Where the world's biggest stars hang above my backyard
And there's room to stretch out and relax
My truck is gassed up and I'm packed
I'm goin' back

Goin' on back
Windmills and dirt roads and bean fields, my kinfolk
It don't get much better than that

I've got to get back to the farm
Where the cars aren't alarmed
And the people are happy to see ya
Where the world's biggest stars hang above my backyard
And there's room to stretch out and relax
My truck is gassed up and I'm packed
I'm goin' back

Yeah, I'm goin' back
Can't wait to get back
Give me some more of that hee - haw! "

So here I sit in my room wishin I was back home again (even though I just left) yearning for life to be simple again.

- posted by @ Clark 22:09

 
How To Catch A Dog In 10 Miles...
For anyone who has had a dog get out or known someone with a dog that has gotten out, you know better than most what a pain in the butt it is to try and catch said dog again. So as I watched the stray dog wander across the main road where I live, I set out the hunt and the chase began. At first, I turned to grab a lead so that I could control the dog when I did catch him. Yes, I had it in my mind that I would chase him to the end. So by the time I turned back to him, he had wandered halfway down my block and I already had to set out my run. So after I caught up to him, he darted up to me and then jetted off in the opposite direction. So as I pursued him, I followed him to the ends of my block. I ran into my newest neighbors at the end of the block and he proceeded to tell me he’d seen the dog at various places, ranging from the church up the road to the Whiting Center up the road. He also told me that he set out turkey bones a couple days ago and they were gone the next day. After proceeding to tell me how much this particular dog looks like his neighbors dog “Girl”, I followed the dog. By now he had worked his way down to the Equestrian Center where we hold horses. I continued to pursue. Now he darted back at me again and I was able to catch merely a glimmer of his neck hair. Now, my hunt renewed, I continued to chase. Up the block again I ran, chasing and chasing the dog. My target edging ever closer as I closed the distance in a dead sprint. I continued the chase through my neighbors yard. Feeling somewhat like a victorious naval captain, I chased the dog until he was cornered. Beaming with pride at the apparent end to the chase, I pursued him into the corner. Like a crazed criminal who just ran a road block the dog took off with renewed vigor. Since history has been repeating itself during the duration of this chase, I attempted a new tact. I whistled at the dog and then began sprinting in my own direction. The dog followed. I now sprinted toward our coral where I could close the gate and hold the dog in until I could catch him Then I ran into the knee-high piece of re-bar buried in our front yard. After barely missing a beat on my run, I continued toward the coral. Once inside the dog realized that the end was near he darted up as if I was going to run after him again. Instead, I locked the lead on and patted him on the head. After a quick phone call, I ran him the ¼ mile home. As I ran the ¼ mile back home after a little dog-delivery, I couldn’t help but feel very proud. I had run down the elusive prey by becoming the prey myself. There is a lot of thrill in the chase. In the end, I’m glad I did those strangers that deed. “Scout” had me for a while, but in the end, it wasn’t his ability to run at the same relentless pace for miles on end, but the human ability to reason and adapt.

- posted by @ Clark 22:00

 
The Story of My Break...Extended Encore Version
For those of you who may not already know, I LOVE driving. In fact, I’d drive on a random road trip every day if I could. To the beach today…Tahoe the next, Davis the next, San Diego a few later…. Hmmm, this is beginning to sound a lot like my vacation. Yes people 3,500+ miles (and an oil change later…supposed to be two oil changes but my car loves me and knows I’ll be replacing it soon enough with a bad-ass truck…) I’m ready to begin my adventure back up north. This year I completed a brand new chapter in life though. Spontaneity…the spice of life. After about 20 seconds of begging and not even being able to finish the question later, I was on a 6 hour drive up to Davis for line dancing at the G-rad and snowboarding at Tahoe. Snowboarding= Wicked awesome. That’s all there is to it people. Wicked awesome=Fun. Thus by Pythagoras’ Law, Snowboarding =Fun (with a capital F mind you!). Never had such a good time falling down a mountain in my entire life, wait, that’s because this was a first time situational thing. Allllllrighty then…

So after a quick jaunt up to Tahoe and a short little trip to my best friends place in Monterey, I went back up to San Francisco for work on New Years Eve. Let me tell you people, if you have never been to the city, don’t do it on a holiday. Especially don’t do it on New Years Eve. New Years Eve on the waterfront is INSANE!!! Hell yeah party people! The city is where its at. That’s exactly why I was working in the city that night. Work…bleh! I hated the first hour. It was somewhat the people and somewhat the DJ and somewhat the fact that it was New Years Eve and here I was standing in my uniform looking sharp and snazzy to catch peoples sneers and jeers as the last of the holiday stress is released. Some people are very generous and actually gave a tip. Yes people, I am a firm believer in the tipping policy. That policy clearly states… Tip and tip big. That is all. Four little words that can either make or break someones night. It is the utmost of disappointment when after clearing, pouring, getting, chatting, hustling and bustling to get 80 people happy and kept happy and you get no tip. Nothing. No “Happy Holidays”, no “Thanks for everything”, nothing. Zip. Nada. Zilch. But guess what? You can’t rain on this indoor parade! Hell no you can’t! If you have ever been around when I’m even remotely slightly bored, ADD kicks in with the utmost of speed and agility. Thus it was never a dull moment that night. From sneaking in a few dances on the dance floor to getting some random girls phone number. This already discarded piece of useless information was not helpful to me. They didn’t leave a name. They didn’t leave an area code. They left a bunch of letters and numbers like it were some ancient Egyptian code that must be broken by midnight for the spell to work. Wow, now that I realize that I’m traveling down some random ass bumpy road of a tangent to my point, we’re going to do a little four-wheelin and get back on track. So I get nothing from the people. But you think I’m let down? Hell no. You go in expecting nothing. This way when you do get anything, even a buck will make your night. Then the fireworks went off. 15 minutes of flickering, flashing and booming in the middle of the San Francisco harbor… Don’t get much better’n that. Okay, so it does, but …fine, no excuses. Gotta remember, ‘excuses are like butts. Everyone has one and they all stink.’ Write that down.

"They call them weak, the ones who never chance the flame..."
~Garth Brooks

Been a while since I've actually listened to that song. Now all I can do is laugh. For I no longer stand outside the fire. I've stood inside the fire...literally. LOL. So between 29 December and 1 January, I drove 1300+ miles in an attempt to have some fun. That attempt was very very succesful. I went snowboarding, line dancing, and then worked. Funny thing about working through the holidays is that I don't really have to deal with them. Most people love the holidays. I'm am among the people who've always had difficult times through the holidays. So instead of suffering another hum-dum New Years at my place doing nothing and trying to keep awake in the town that sleeps by 9, I went to work. The first hour of work just dragged f------o--------r-------e------v-----e------r. The dj wasn't the best in the world, in fact, I plum didn't like him. I spent the first hour of waiting on people listening to the dullest of elevator music that would put even a deaf person to sleep. After that the night was kicked off by the dancing and loud blast of 70's dance music... "Play that funky music white boy...." This was my escape. I didn't have to deal with another lonely night while I was working. I got to watch the awkward moments at table 220 unfold (that was my table...) and then, look at the hot girl in the red mini skirt at table 204 (not my table...). I wish I could have been somewhere else tonight. Far away even. A few rounds of the good stuff, some poker with friends perhaps. Well, holidays over, I have attacked my computer with everything I've got. It should be up and running again within a few days. I'm making the final preparations so that it is ready for renual....Oh yes, this beast is going down!!! LOL

Well now that work is done at 2 am, which also happens to coincide with closing time, I make my 3 hour drive back to my best friends house in Monterey. Some may call me crazy, but I beg to differ. There’s a fine line between crazy and me. I’m not sure where that line is, or even if its not blurred out by some crazy craziness, but it must be there.

You may be sitting there asking yourself what was I doing before New Years. What was I doing before I went up north to go line dancing and playing in the snow. Well, okay, so maybe you weren’t but I’m still tellin’ ya anyway. I was home. I was doing nothing. In fact, Christmas night I wasn’t even able to go home. I was out at my other best friends place (they are twins its okay to be best friends with both…) and it began to dump this odd white powder stuff onto the ground. The typical snow season for us is from around Thanksgiving to April or so, and we haven’t had a white Christmas in the past 4 or 5 years. So on this the rare occasion of actually having a white Christmas, what does it do? That’s right race fans. It dumps 8 inches of the blissful white powder to the ground. Most people fear that they may get stuck on the way home. I don’t even get that opportunity. Long story short, they shut down all the roads going to my house so I didn’t even get a chance to get stuck. Then what? Oh yes people, what any 20 year-old boy with a manual Honda Civic and no chains would do. Brodies in the parking lot. Ha, actually just twice. The second one was smooth though, I even got the acceleration out of it. Shoulda been there. My friend Matt was thoroughly impressed. It’s a funny combination, my best friends. Matt is one and he can’t stand the way his brother drives. Thinks its totally unsafe. Mike, his twin brother, drives fine. Sure he slides a little here and there. So Matt is gripping for dear life to the “Oh-$#%^” handles of his brother’s car as Mike drives home. Upon safe arrival at our destination, we decide a soda run for the people who need it most was in dire order. So I drive. Now remember, Matt can’t stand Mike’s perfectly normal driving. So we’re in the middle of the road, snow everywhere, ice, slipping and sliding. Matt is completely at home. No handles needed. Then… WHOOSH! A simple crank on the e-brake sends the Civ into a semi-controlled spin down the road. Does Matt flinch? Not an inch. I get a “Yeah buddy” out of him. So we continue to play in the snow. The frozen tundra lay unfolding before us as we stepped out of the car. If you have ever been in a snow storm with wind, it it’s the most Antarctic-feeling I’ve ever had. You’re standing in completely virgin power. Walking where nobody has walked before. The wind is whipping the white flakes around you like a sand-storm in the desert. It blows the loose powder from the upper-most layer of snow coating the ground. I’m not sure what compelled me describe to you feel that frozen-tundra feeling, but it sounds good so it stays.

So after I get back from working New Years Eve, I get a few days relaxing in. Or I should have been relaxing at least. If you have ever dealt with computers, you realize how frustrating it is when things are going your way. So after a little virus-removal, those nasty buggers get in so easy, but are such a pain in the, oh my, children are present… They are a pain to remove. Needless to say, I failed virus removal-101. So after I got rid of some Trojan-horse virus, my computer ran like my grandma with no legs (I don’t really have one people…just an analogy). I proceeded to spend an entire day. 8 hours in my room saving stuff I wanted, getting rid of stuff I don’t. And in the painful process of cleaning up my hard-drive I come across my 1600 digital pictures from this summer. Do they fit on one CD? No. Do they fit on two CD’s? Barely.

As I begin to peruse what I have just typed, I realize exactly how long this is. So we’re all going to do a little exercise. It’s called, do what I tell you. Okay. Put one hand on your hip like you’re throwing attitude and are really pissed off. You must be standing for this exercise so make sure this paragraph is fully readable on your screen. Once you have one arm on your hip, put the other up in the air like you were a waiter with a tray in your hand. Now repeat after me, “I’m a little tea pot, short and stout. Here is my handle and here is my spout. When I get all steamed up, hear me shout” Now dip to the side that you are holding the tray on. “Tip me over and pour me out”. Yeah!! Rock on!! If that wasn’t enough for you, sing the entire “99-bottles of beer on the wall song” or 25+ verses of “This is the song that never ends”. After doing any of the above, the brain shall be eagerly awaiting the rest of my saga.

Where was I, ah yes, Reloading the computer. So it’s now 1730 (5:30pm for you civilian-types) and I get a very disturbing phone call. It says that they need someone to cover a watch for school at Mulvaney’s in San Diego. Ha! Such a sly cover-up for a deep-rooted plan to get me to go line dancing. Did I require the cover-up? No. But was it much more interesting than saying, “Hey come to SD and go line dancing”? You bet your ass it was. And you know what I did? I blew off all plans. Spontaneity struck again. 5 minutes later my bags were packed and I was blaring “Ain’t Goin’ Down ‘Till The Sun Comes Up” by Garth Brooks as I cruised the 3½ hour drive to San Diego. That wasn’t the only song I listened to but it is the first one on the CD I was listening to. I got to track 04, “The River”, belted the entire thing out, hit the repeat button, did it again and then proceeded to plop in all the upbeat country I got. At this point of the adventure, I’ve listened to almost all of my CD’s. Is it possible? Yes, but not probable. After so many miles of so many hours of driving I have listened to nearly all my CD’s. So I’m line-dancing at Mulvaney’s and havin’ a killer time, then 0130 rolls around. It just rears its ugly little ‘closing-time’ head up and strikes with a venomous attack. Such is life. Still a 30 minute drive to Oceanside, we cruise blaring more loud music and talking it up! I love San Diego. It can turn anyone, and I do mean almost anyone, into a completely laid back totally mellow individual. San Diego has that effect on people. After an arduous nights sleep to awake at 8am (freakishly early for the Reilly house I suppose) and look forward to a full day of sunny San Diego. I called up my buddy Matt a few times cuz he was down there visiting for a while. As it turns out in my technological depression ( I didn’t have access to the internet) he’d already ventured back home to Seattle. Such is life I suppose. After an entire day of nothing (we went shopping at the Commissary) we rented a few movies and plopped down with our Half-Baked ready to rumble. “I feel pretty, Oh so pretty…” Yeah, that’s right party-people. “Anger Management”. Kelly and I were dying. Lisa had a 0 on the smile-meter. I don’t think she even chuckled once. What a party pooper. Next to bad was “The Ladies Man” which will bring even the reluctant laughers to a roar. So after this it was time for “8 Seconds”. It was a semi-serious flick but, “Shut up woman”. Ha! Classic…
“Joe Dirte”
“Don’t you mean Dirt? Don’t try and church it up son. I got a name for this car. Rusty.”
“Shit’ll buff out”

Now we were in the zone. It was nearing 3am and “Joe Dirt” was our smash hit wonder with SuperTroopers to follow if we had time. So about halfway through Joe Dirt, after the “I can see down your shirt” scene, and the “Keep the Skoal baby” scene, but before the firecracker scene, I went to bed. You know the firecracker scene. “Whoskerdo’s, whoskerdon’ts, something something something, with or without the scooter sticks…” Bam 345. Oh yeah. Up at 410. In my next entry I shall give tips for traveling. The up at 410 part will come in then. So we proceed to the San Diego airport at the butt-crack of dawn, I mean even the sun is sayin, “Damn it’s early I ain’t even up yet…” Kelly is dropped off with a series of cracks about how the mass of peoples in the walkways above were all going to be for her plane and she was going to miss it… Well guess what? They were all headin’ for Georgia too! And guess what? Kelly missed not just one but two flights! Hell yeah! Let’s give it up for the people who barely got her to the airport in one piece… I mean in time… If you don’t like the driving… Ha, just kidding. Ya’ll are fans. And you know it. Deep down inside you always wanted to NASCAR rub the car in front of you. Rubbin’s racin’ son. So after a few hours of driving San Diego for absolutely no reason. Well, two actually. I thought Matt was supposed to be down there still (wrong…I’m a retard) and another ROTC friend of mine, Paik, was supposed to call me as he was leaving for Tahoe so we could grab lunch. Neither plan worked out. They never do. People, this is why I don’t plan. Just being able to get up and do something is perfect. There’s no need for you to plan every second of every day of your vacation. So I drive home to arrive safely at my destination on 25 min of sleep, an All-American Slam from Dennys, and a Cherry Coke. So far, that is all I’ve had all day. Yes. Right now I’m starving and droning on about my wonderful time in San Diego. Why I wasn’t invited down sooner is beyond me…but perhaps better luck next time. Or hell, I may even talk to my Aunt and Uncle and let me live down there this summer. There’s a Hornblowers Dinner Cruises down there too. I’m sure a little lateral transfer can be worked out. Anywhoser, it is time for me to scrounge up some food. And let your eyes rest. For crying out loud, you’ve been reading forever. Forever. F o r e v e r ….. Hhahahahhahahah I crack myself up. I leave you with this parting thought; morning people aren’t usually late night people. Late night people are not usually morning people. If you are (un)fortunate enough to know someone who is both and is a little crazy, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, make this person drive at 430 in the morning. It’s just bad form. You’re looking to get into trouble. Outside of that, anyone who can be WIDE awake after 25 minutes of sleep and not planning on sleeping again the rest of the day has issues. These people should be avoided at all costs. The problem I suffer is, I can’t get away from myself.
- posted by @ Clark 20:18

 
Do you feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?
Thats right party people! I have finally updated my journal. It no longer appears as the boring bland and completely static basic starter form. I have learned slight code and figured out. Maybe I'm crazy, but it's really not as bad as I had originally thought. This is what its like being the jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none. This early stuff is probably just easy, the further I get the harder it'll be. I'll probably fail miserable when I try to change it up again. But for now, livin' it up! I can't beleive I learned this much so far! I know that I know nothing of computers, a friend of mine knows a TON about computers. I think he could probably trouble shoot my computer from across the country. He should be able to help me out soon enough. I think he'll apply himself and create the craziest of journals. Kelly's computer is not liking the yellow though...Bummerama. ANYWHOSER... So now I'm livin in the glory of knowledge...albeit it will only be a temporary glory...
- posted by @ Clark 23:48

 
YEAAAAAAAA BUDDDY!!!!
Guess what party people! I got a C! I needed a C and I got it! I'm stoked like a winter fire on a cold night! It's totally awesome! Not partially awesome! But totally awesome! So I watched Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King with my best friends who now live in Monterey. It was 2 1/2 hours in the car for a 3 1/2 hour movie. Was it worth it you may ask? Of course it was. If my friends want to start a bar and stuff (like they do) in Monterey, I found out where I'd live within close proximity. I'd be in the foothills around Santa Cruz for sure. I drove another friend of mine home from school so that he didn't have to take the bus home today. It was crazy. He lives in a completely awesome place. Why do I want to live in the middle of nowhere? If you know me at all, you'll know why. But for those who don't, I just don't do the whole city thing. I remember the first times I had to park on the street. I was never sure where to park or even aware of a lot of the rules associated with said parking. But now? I still am unsure where I can park. Back home we just pull off into the dirt in front of people's houses. Never have to worry about sidewalk cleaning at 6am every 4th Tuesday of the second month of each annual trimester. Don't have to worry about street sweepings...ever... I talked to my old man today too...He told me how much he didn't like the movie Master and Commander. I called him crazy! That movie was awesome!!! I get to look at an El Camino on Tuesday. I'm super ultra-stoked about that. If I can convince my Dad to let me buy it... Oh yeah! But if I can't convince him, I'm still lookin for my truck (Mid-80's/Early-90's manual Chevy S-10). AAAAalllllrighty then... yeah, I missed out on line dancing again. That's something I'm gonna really miss while I'm at home. Its not the same to go when I'm back home. When I get back though... I'm going every chance I get... Anywho, nobody's around now. I think I'm gonna pack and then plop in a good movie... Maybe add more later, who knows.
- posted by @ Clark 19:31

 
Rollin deeper than I want to be...
What's up guys? for those of you who may not know, i just finished my homework! HOMEWORK?!?!?!?! for this week. That's right. it is finals week here too. So you know what we're doing? Studying? I think not. How bout rollin' 5 deep in the brewsky department. That's right! Here's to the 'silver bullet'... Needless to say, it's 2 am, I have a final in 7 hours, another final a couple hours after that, then the worlds largest volleyball game. Meh, sometimes things just happen the way they are going to. That's why I'm a little buzzed at 2 am, 7 hours before my 7th final. Hmmm.... Anywho, I'm tired now, and I'm def. gonna need sleep. Monday nights of line dancing and beautiful people rule! That's right! You guys all rock! Fahkin-A! Monday nights were made to go line-dancing. If I had missed any weeks in the past few I feel bad. However, I know I didn't so I don't feel bad. Meh, you know what? So now I must sleep and learn instruments in a few hours. Anywhoser, hope to hear from anyone who wants to drop a line... Hey Paula....if you're reading this....What the Hell? You should respond to my e-mail...;) LOL.... Yall wanna go line dancing tomorrow? It'd be a good time. ( tomorrow being Thursday)...

Okay party people, you should never write in your jounal while rollin deep and tired early the morning before a final. That's the moral of this story.

lata!
- posted by @ Clark 02:10

 
"Ill take the rapisists for $800, Alec!"
"That's therapists Mr. Connery." Okay so, here's a little word of advice for you people who like to have lives. Don't take 28 units. Don't have 9 finals. Don't do it. That's my advice. Don't be crazy and wild and take soooo many classes, because I'll tell you what. As I wind down to my last two finals tomorrow, I'm burned out. I don't want to take them. I don't want to study, I don't want to do anything. Having a little kick-back tomorrow night in celebration. Kelly, your ass better be there! Even if we are all.....yeah.... and it is late...it'd be a good time. Friends, neighbors, and thrill-seekers alike will be there. A few I wish could be there probably won't... So yeah, my best friend is gonna visit on Thursday with his wife. I think we're going to the city, but since they don't ever check their EMAIL! I guess we'll never know. Oh yeah!!! So we're gonna be playin volleyball tomorrow. Anywho, I just got raped on my last final and hopefully I'll be golden on tomorrows two beasts. I hate fighting a double-headed dragon like that, but I'll do what I must.

BLeh! Drop me a friggin line here people... Just cuz its finals week don't mean I ain't got a life... I even went line dancing last night. Many hours of great times. Lot of people saw ex's there last night...musta been a theme I was fortunate (or unfortunate depending...) to have missed the memo for. Did you get the memo for the cover sheets on the TPS reports? I'll get it faxed right over.... PC Load Letter? What the hell does that mean?

Alrighty then.... So yeah, this whole study thing is way over-rated. I'm not a fan of doing homework on a regular basis, but normally that's expected. What is total crap is that I'm working on a Motors assignment AFTER the final. AFTER people. I'm officially recognized as done with the class, but I still have a project to do. There's even an extra credit part due Friday. You know what he can do with his extra credit part? Assign it to me so that I won't do it. Meh, gotta do what you gotta do I guess. So yeah, I am doing one assignment due tomorrow, finishing the project due tomorrow, and studying for my last two finals. My brain is on perma-melt-down and frankly, I couldn't give a rat's ass about school right now. You get so burned out in this final push that you lose track of why you're even doing things anymore. If someone were to ask me why I'm majoring in Mechanical Engineering right now, I wouldn't have an answer. Which is sad really, being as how I'm bustin' my ass day and night so that I can get a degree in it. I'm way past the point where turning-back and starting over is an option. And I'm not sure if I'd go back if I could, but I def. don't know why I keep going forward. I have a couple reasons, but none compell me to maintain my insane status. Somethin's gotta change. I need a truck people. I need to get out of my car and get a truck. That's what I need. So I can build stuff for it and modify it up and make it burly. If anyone wants to know why? It's cuz I don't like my car. I want a truck. And what else am I gonna do with the mad money Im making while working? Save it? HA! Nah, I'm just kidding people. But I really do want a truck. Preferably a late 80's, early 90's Chevy S-10 manual. Standard cab/bed is cool, extended cab/long bed is cool. I don't really care at this point. Although, the shorter cab/shorter bed set-up is more desired. That's what I'm workin on now. Since I can't change my major or anything else in life. Might as well start with something I use multiple times a week. Anywho, back to the studies...catch the party peeps later...


- posted by @ Clark 15:16

 
Holy Mother-Boards Batman!
Well, after leaving my room very frustrated with the computer, I suddenly realized how stupid this whole ordeal is. I'm gettin upset because a piece of machinery was improperly functioning. I was allowing technology to control how I felt. Robots do that. So instead of maintaining my anger towards my computer, I redirected the angst against something bigger. Something beyond the scope of a mere keyboard and monitor. Oh yes! You all know what I'm talking about. Cafeteria food. Now you're thinking, this could go on forever. Flashing lights outside...thats crazy... But no, I'm not going to let this complaining go on forever. There's bigger fish to fry than a computer not working. Granted it may be frustrating that it is improperly working when I needed it most, but that's ok. I'll live. So you know what happened when I came back? Wow, more flashing lights, that's a couple like fire trucks and police cars and an ambulance all across the bay.... I came back and my computer was fine. It acted like it didn't have a single thing wrong with it. No CD drive errors. No problems opening links. No slowness. Nothing. Like someone said "POOF".....You will work! And it did! I thank my lucky stars for that one. Okay, the flashing lights are gone now, but I am lookin at a ship going by outside. Based on the lights that I've learned, I know that it is a basic ship, underway and making way, I'm looking at the port side (I see red lights) and that it's less that 50 feet long. That means it's most likely a tugboat based on the standard boats that come through here. Amazing what I actually did learn in a class I didn't think I learned anything about. Hmmmyea, I must sounds like some random rambling nerd...

Okay, so if you ever feel like you want to eat a potato, make sure that you at least peel the skin of first. The skin is just plain disgusting! My room-mate stabbed my baked potato at lunch. In a sheer panic, and completely impulsively ( I didn't want to lose my potato...must be the Irish in me...) I grabbed it off the knife and bit off 1/3 of it. That's right! Like a savage! With my bare hands! Walking uphill both ways in the snow with only one shoe because my little brother had the other one since we couldn't afford two pairs of shoes...Dang it....Sorry, wrong story. That one's for some other time. So yeah, I'm talking to my best friend tonight. He's 20, just got married, and now has a kid on the way. Uncle Shorty? C'mon now, I didn't want that title for like at least another 5 or 6 years. It's just plain awesome. Tugboat still in sight, flashing lights not. (just updating you on whats outside). Well, we almost went for a run tonight. It would have been at 1130 or so, but Jon never came by. I would have gone too. just so that I could say I went running at midnight in the rain in an attempt to get my miserable self into shape. That's right people miserable! How many people do you know would almost puke twice in the same run from over-exertion? Needless to say I'm a smidge(holding arms as far apart as humanly possible) out of shape.

It's now 1230 and I HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO (Sorry, very very inside joke...) go to class tomorrow. BLEH! Hey, what're we doing this weekend? That's right! Work! Monday night...I'm not sure if I'll see the inside of the dance-hall. It's not lookin pretty at this point. However, I'll definitely be workin my ass off to make it. I'd love to be able to go one last time before I have to revert to the Co Cal style of line dancing. Currently I see no barge or flashing lights. Quite a shame. Anywho, I'll catch you party people later....

- posted by @ Clark 00:22

 
So, does my computer have feelings?
If my computer had feelings,
I'll tell ya how it'd feel.
It'd be tired of all the dealings.
With all its had to deal.

My computer'd want to hurt me,
It'd want to beat me up.
I think my computer hates me,
almost as much as I hate it.
Cuz it didn't take long to realize
It was a piece of WHOA!!! Alllllllllrighty then. So my computer abhorrs me. Absolutely abhorrs me. I have again been un-capable of utilizing my CD drive. it's official people. My computer is the bane of my existance. There is nothing more frustrating then to log onto the computer, attempt to burn a CD, fail miserable, and then try to shut down. I say try to shut-down because it won't even turn off right. I get warning and error messages on shut-down. C'mon people! I say we band together! Unite in a cause against... I have no idea. I have no problems with my computers on a good day. But I have projects and stuff I have to burn to CD's so that I can take them to class and use them in computer labs and I really really don't need this $%^& from a computer at this moment in time. For those of you who are computer minded, "There's something wrong in there" (Pointing at hood...)
- posted by @ Clark 14:46

 
Ain't Gettin' Up 'Til The Sun Goes Down? Or is it Ain't Goin' 'Til The Sun Comes Up? Either way...
Okay party people, if you are EVER in the bay area on a Monday night. Go to Davis. No questions asked. If you do not have a good time at the G-rad line-dancing your heart out, then...WOW. Learned a few new ones and exaggerated a few old ones last night! Hell yeah! Who exaggerates? I don't. C'mon now. Those are trade-mark moves. I'm super stoked nobody-in-particular got a parking ticket for parking illegally! Woo HOOO!!! Breakin the law and gettin away with it! Gotta love my early morning class that...oh, I didn't go to. Winds up I HAVE to go on Thursday though. No choice. If I want to opt out of the final, that's how its gotta be. So Thursday morning you can bet you're bottom dollar on where I'll be. But next monday...Hmmm....I'm not sure yet. Gotta look at the finals schedule. I hope I can go. And Wednesday, if y'all are in the area, we're throwing a huge floor party (I hope). So yeah, that's it for now. I did only get up a couple hours ago anyway. LOL

- posted by @ Clark 10:36

 
"I'd rather be hit in the face with a boomerang..."
That is the battle-cry for the week! When you are doing something you really don't want to, shout it out. I.e.: When a friend asks "You wanna help me do the homework assignment?" You reply, "I'd rather be hit in the face with a boomerang." If you really must know, I just spouted it off when a friend jokingly asked if I wanted to write his English paper. He laughed and asked who in the hell would get hit in the face with a machine gun. To that I sheepishly raised my hand and said "Me. Yes, boomerangs do work. Yes they return. And yes, they are VERY difficult to catch." If faced with the question "Do I want to go to school today? Do I want my Diesels final? Do I want the Instruments quiz? Do I want the insane amount of work that I have to do?" My reply is simple. I'd ratehr be hit in the face with a boomerang... again.
- posted by @ Clark 10:04

 
My Computer...Takes Flight...
Ha...just kidding...but I bet it got your attention huh? Pretty funny. Yeah, I'm now in one of those Bleh moods. Began reminiscing on the 'good 'ol days' and it definitely wasn't pretty. You ever wonder why we compare ourselves to someone that you don't think you'll ever be able to be like. For me, that's my older brother. If you've never talked to me about my older brother, that's cuz it's a rather rough subject. Needless to say, I still compare myself to the guy. He was like an angel on Earth. Some days I feel like I couldn't be half the guy that he was. I even look up to my little brother. It seems like he's doin it all right. Friends are doin it right too. Just one of those things that is I guess. I'll forever look up to people I'll strive to be like since they are perfect people. but i'll never be able to be like them. If that makes any sense at all... So needless to say, yes, depression has set in. Eh, I'll manage I guess. Rather wish certain people were around at CMA tonight. But, I'll be line dancing with friends tomorrow night. Optimism is a very powerful tool unless it turns on its user. I think optimists hit bottom hardest since they set their sights the highest. But that's the way we are. I want to be able to be the guy that everyone goes to for help. They have a problem and I help em out. I'm not sure exactly why I'm throwing that out there. Yeah, I shouldn't really write these while depressed. Yall are used to the light-weight comedy of my computer issues and car troubles. Some days are just more than technical issues I guess.

But today is no exception to the technical rules. Fixed my buddies truck this morning. Woke up at the ass-crack of dawn to help him do that. That's another example of how things had changed. Freshman year, if you'd have asked me to borrow my car. I'd have said "Well, I don't know...", or in other words NO! HELL NO! But on more than one occasion friends have been like, "can I borrow your car?" and I'm just like "yeah, its got a full tank. " I was all set to let my friend take the car to Sacramento (couple hours away), then to see his lady-friend in Davis. Not even thinking twice about it. Guess we all change eventually. Some for the better... Hopefully I was for the better.

"Well, I daisy if you do..." ~Doc Holiday 'Tombstone' <--- Personally a favorite movie in case you're wondering.
- posted by @ Clark 22:42

 
My Computer...Take 3
I have not yet decided which action to take. I have two choices. Throw this beast out the window and see if she flies...or... I can try to make it work 'till at least this weekend when I can have a good friend of mine help me out...or...reload the entire hard-drive..... I think I'm gonna try to make it last till this weekend, but links on my desktop have now stopped working and AIM decides that it'll freeze up on me constantly. Needless to say I'm really happy about that. But you know what? I'm gonna be learning about my computer. The more I think back to my watch-standing escapade, the more I realize what a good learning experience it was. I shoulda realized it sooner, but I didn't. So now, I sit here wondering if I did everything I could to correct the problems and the answer is yes I did. I could have stayed but it wouldn't make much difference. Not too many people listen to the little guy... ;) It's all good though, cuz I got my share of input yesterday in my Turbines Lab class. I'd throw out an idea for what could be wrong with the plant, it'd get shut down and burst into flames as it crashed out of control (yes, they really were asses when they didn't like my idea), and then suddenly they'd realize that I was right. It was great. A few times they'd ignore me and my neighbor (also in the class) would say the same thing again and they'd hear him. Maybe I just needed bigger vocal cords, who knows... it was a fun time. Classes are going Bleh! That's all there is to it. Finals coming up, lots of homework and projects. How would you feel? I have two finals down already though! Yes! Of course, one is optional and of course I'm opting not to take it...
- posted by @ Clark 10:11

 
Training Ship = Okay To Screw Up...I hope...Gulp...
Well last night was quite interesting. While standing watch on our lovely training ship, one of the members of my watch noted a ton of steam spewing from a place where steam normally emits at a much lower rate and amount. I quickly take note of it and call down the night engineer (I'm the watch engineer and the highest guy on the individual watch, the NE is the guy in charge of all watches), and we get to work on figuring it all out. Personally, I feel that a lack of cooling water circulation was the cause of the problem and I had a damn good reason. After explaining myself (I'll spare you all the technical details for the sake of sanity...) I changed over the watch. Needless to say, I had a final today I needed to study for and the end-result of the shit hitting the fan is that I should be studying now. As you can tell, I'm studying hard. After changing over the watch, I don't think they took my advice. I'm not sure yet, but I'm gonna ask around. If we messed something up, I hope it isn't that big a deal. That's why its a training ship right? Right? C'mon now... Nothing could have been screwed up, but there could be some definite problems with heat exchangers after last night. :P Gotta love it....
- posted by @ Clark 10:59

 
When technology bites... Run in fear
Yes, that's right folks, RUN. No walking, no turning and slowly backing up, just run. My computer has issues (as does its operator I'm sure), but there's no way that I lost the A:/ drive all on my own last night! I put in the 'ol disk, it starts to open, then BAM! like the timer of a turkey it pops up and says No disk in a:\ drive. Please insert a disk... Yeah, at this point I get a little worried. Then the fatal disk error warnings ensued to the death of my machine at around midnight. I knew there was a fatal disk error. But it wanted me to put the disk BACK in so that it would fail to read it and continue telling me that there was an error in the disk and that there wasn't a disk in the drive, though clearly, I inserted the damn thing myself. Gimme a nice ball-peen hammer and this could all work out... Phew, one of these days I'll get this whole computer thing down. Oh yes, but not today, or yesterday, or probably tomorrow or the next day. So fear not race fans, we aren't at the white flag yet. Only got the yellow "caution" flag flying, pace car's comin' out, and we'll be under green in a few laps. But I gotta decide, pull into the pits? -or- stay on the track and let it all just work out? Hmmmm... Reload computer -or- figure out whats wrong... Eh, I'm sure it'll all work out. I was really frustrated last night. I'm not so much now. Because I know that I can live without my computer, but my computer can't live without me... for I'm am its life-blood (shhhh...I know I can't live without my computer...but I'm trying to guilt it into working...it may work...Who knows? If you got a better idea...)

Ha! For those of you who didn't think I was crazy before...

Anywho, yeah school...last few weeks. Dragging on and on! But well worth it. I made it this far and I'm sure as hell not gonna try and swim back to shore now. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming... (Finding Nemo is the best damn movie ever for those of you who haven't seen it...Move out and attack! you're mission whether you choose to accept or not is to watch that movie!)
- posted by @ Clark 10:02

 
Good Run Of Bad Luck...
A high roller even when the chips are down...
Till it's time for a windfall and not a single minute too soon
I've been too long overdue, now I'm gonna shoot the moon
I'd bet it all on a good run of bad luck
Seven come eleven and she could be mine
Luck be a lady, and I'm gonna find love comin' on the bottom line
I've been to the table, and I've lost it all before
I'm willin' and able, always comin' back for more
Squeezin' out a thin dime till there's no one hanging on my arm
I've gambled on a third time, a fool will tell you it's a charm
If I'm bettin' on a loser, I'm gonna have a devil to pay
But it's the only game I know how to play, it doesn't matter anyway
~ Clint Black

Well people, down to the final days of the semester...Some get out sooner than others! Screw that noise! What're we doing? Why do I have to stay an extra week? What did you all do to deserve getting out a week earlier? C'mon.... It's all good though. I'll get it back when...ahh screw it, I'm losing on this deal. No matter how you flip the coin. Every other college/ person in the known universe gets more days off than we do. No real holidays except now a SPRING BREAK!!! And what am I going to do? I don't know. The bitch about not being 21... Everyone else is goin to Vegas (which would rule!) but I'm not 21 so it would suck. Grrr!!! Why? Eventually something will go my way...

Muahahhahahhahhahhahaha! 4 hours of sleep! I love life! Monday nights rule! (Even though it was dead and some people weren't there...) What's even cooler is how everyone else who played in the 4 rounds of 30points/game volleyball yesterday are feeling the effects of cold weather play today. Except me! Ha! I am invulnerable to you mother nature! You threw rain, wind, and cold at us! I laugh at you're pitiful attempt to stop us from playin the sport! Except gravity did a good job of makin me sore from all the diving I did yesterday. That means no wrestling club tonight. Dang it. I hate to just bail like that on my own club, but when it just hurts to walk... Anywho, nobody appears to be around right now. It's like I'm the ONLY person being irresponsible. And just when I start bein responsible later, everyone else will be done. Just my luck...
- posted by @ Clark 20:23

 
What's round, white, and a hell of a lot of fun? Volleyball...
This is a fun little game,
Made much more fun by the rain.
Four little rounds of smashing good times.
Hitting the ball this way and that,
that way and this,
Constantly hoping the other team would miss.

It's pouring down rain,
People think we're insane!
But I can't complain,
For my teams winning this game.

Mud and sand from head to toe,
Hours of homework yet to go,
Still I stand...
Hittin the ball this way and that,
that way and this,
Constantly hoping the other team would miss.

~Ode to Dr. Suess....(Yeah, it's more like a nursery school rhyme...I should've had some shnurples throwing glurples of large balls that were purple...)
- posted by @ Clark 14:00

 
TECHNOLOGY SUCKS!!!
Its official, the polls are closed, the votes tallied, and it has been declared. Technology officially sucks. How much fun would it be to ride horseback everywhere? Loads. How much fun is it to sit broken down on the side of the road? None. How much fun is it to try to burn a CD and your computer decides that it will arbitrarily not read my driver. Hence, no roundy-roundy of the CD and no burn. This is frustrating. I'm not sure what the cause or exact solution for this problem is. It's happened at least once or twice a year for the past few years. I'll take a few screws out, open it up, close it back up, put the screws back in and that works for a while. If that doesn't work, I re-load the entire damn system. Why, oh why, does this suck like that huh? As you can tell, I'm in that stage of "It-doesn't-work-but-I-am-not-worrying-about-it-just-yet". If you have ANY suggestions (throwing it out the window is an impossible option...I've thought long and hard about it before)... Shoot em...

Technology...You're lettin me down. I was counting on you...and you dropped the ball... The really ironic part is... I'm askin for help using technology. I keep in touch with people using technology. And thanks to technology, my parents can reach me damn near anywhere on my cell phone. (the real bonus there is that technology also developed a nifty device called "Caller ID"...Oh yeah!)

Update on the Technology front...
For the record, I'm a moron when it comes to computers. I can change out the clutch on a car with relative ease, but WOW... I'M A RETARD!!! The CD problem is a problem that occurs often enough to frustrate me when it occurs. But now, I have taken a few screws out, removed a metal plate on the bottom of the drive, put the plate back on, put the screws back in an BAM! it works again. What the hell!!! I hate this computer. I have it merely to haunt me. I'd much rather be wrencing on the above '72 Duster (Which I will one day own a '73...fear me, for I am a man with a mission). You know how I fixed my buddies car the other day? He's got a new Hyundai Accent and the check engine light came on. We changed the air filter/spark plugs with no change in light status (it was still on). Next, I disconnected his battery and then reconnected it. You know what? It reset the damn computer and the light went out. Grr....
I'd rather look at my many guages (you know that old cars have no computer so guages are heavily relied upon) to figure out what the problem could be and then fix it. It's so frustrating for me to encounter a topic that I just don't understand or anything. I'm such an idiot, my friend is askin me for information off my computer, it's staring me cold-faced right on the keyboard, and I can't find it. I keep askin "Well...how do I do that?" Lucky for me, he didn't get all pissed off at how dumb I was, he kinda just played it off (although I'm sure it bugged the hell out of him). I'm impressed with his patience at this matter. Had it been me working on fixing this problem, and the screw solution didn't work/help, it'd be out the window. No questions asked. I don't know what I'm doing at all. I've called the computer people and they don't know what's up either. It's really really grr... Bleh. Gimme a '73 Duster 340, a barn, some tools, and I can go to town. You plop a laptop the size of a binder in my lap, you'll get the computer back and it won't work. This is the story of my technology-free life! This is what happens when guys from small towns with nothin better to do than go outside and work/play do when they get stuck with a technological problem. Grrr! Cowboy up...it's time for dancing in T-minus 30 minutes and counting. Gotta love this place...Cold, wet, dreary, lonely...wait, that's kinda like prison...Welcome to CMA...That's right ladies and gentlemen... This is my life... One of these days I'll have what I want...and this will all be a memory. A good memory, but a memory none-the-less.

Current Mood: BLEH!

Current Song: We Ain't Much Different -or- Home Is Where The Heart Is (Both by Lynyrd Skynyrd) It's a tie...sorry people....I'm not gonna decide. Both rock!

- posted by @ Clark 10:19

 
Free Bird...
If you could be here rockin' out to the 12 minute version of Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, I would suggest you do. I feel that it is essential to blare Lynyrd at least once a day. For me, I need a double dose. I had one earlier, now I'm takin my second helping. O.R.R. still kills, but Sweet Home Alabama is up next on the play-list. In case you don't know how it goes...
Sweet Home Alabama ~Lynyrd Skynyrd
Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Here I come Alabama

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Sweet home Alabama
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor's true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Yea, yea Montgomery's got the answer

Yes, school now is at an all time low. I think I've realized the end-purpose of college. The work may be done much like that in high school (everyone helps each other out and gets it done together) and very little is learned in the way of actually use-ful knowledge. But it is how that knowledge is achieved, the research, the time-management, the friends, the stuff that happens outside of class. Of course parties, gettin together and doin crazy stuff (i.e. Gettin a ticket for urinating in public)...

Course, college is about... Well, us... livin' it up day in and day out. That's why I'm going to live it up tonight at the G-rad. Its a shame some certain specific people can't be there... It'd be nice. Perhaps some other Monday...
- posted by @ Clark 00:07

 
My pickup's gassed up and loaded up and ready to go
I put out the word to all my good-time friends
We're meeting at the dock, that's where the party begins
Hell yeah! Today... I did nothing! Do you know what it is like to do absolutely nothing? It is the WORST, I mean THE worst. To have done something is ok, but nothing is un-bearable. After 10 weeks of nothing but go-go-go, barely sleeping, working my ass off for little or no reason at all, I figured some time to do nothing would be nice. But no. Not even close. It was almost unbearable. I cannot stand doing nothing! I don't know what I was thinking. In fact... I can't wait to put off my work again so that I can fall behind and go line-dancing on Mondays so that I KNOW work won't be gettin done. Give it up for Monday nights baby! Hell yeah! That's why Monday was made. Not so that you could come down off the weekend and have a good time, but so that you could PARTY HARDY!!!

Just been one of those days. I'm sure that you know the kind. The ones where you really really really don't feel like doing anything, know you have to, try to do something and feel like a moron cuz you can't. If that made any sense, more power to ya. I have sucessfully learned one song on the guitar. Look out! Love Top Gun so much that's the first and only song I know to date. But that's not what matters... The fact that I'm tryin says a lot. C'mon people, A for effort right? Sniff...sniff... i know...that's not what matters anymore, but I'll still try. One of these days I'll be cruising my Duster blaring music (most likely country music) singing along and livin it up. But for now, I look at the pile of work-to-do on my desk and my empty work-done pile and think to myself "Why? Why the hell are you doing this?" Then I realize, that's the only way I'll be able to get into the Navy. I'm only goin if I get a degree. That in-it-of-itself is enough to motivate. So now I blare Lynyrd Skynyrd's "O.R.R." {Outlaws. Renegades. Rebels.} and crack the books...
- posted by @ Clark 18:03

 
You hook 'em, I'll clean 'em and fry 'em...
For anyone who has ever tried to teach themselves something, it is really hard. So you must start small and work larger. I'm now teaching myself to play the guitar (hopefully with the help of friends soon enough), but for now.... I'm learning the Top Gun Theme straight off. Need motivation to get the ball rolling for other songs. In case you didn't already hear, my brother's fooz-ball team just took their division in high school football. That's right! Champions! Hell yeah! Best damn game I've seen. They gave us the doubt for sure. Ranked low in the league they played the #1 team and defending champions. The other team came in saying that we had no right to be there....and left saying we deserved it. Give it up for mountain football....

Freedom isn't free....

Okay, playing guitar is a hell of a lot harder than many think. however, I now can play the first part of the song with an absolute ability! Hell yeah! Look out Jimmy Hendrix here I come!

- posted by @ Clark 20:12

 
Heart
Dragons are said to have hearts of stone
But when it comes to having a heart
They stand alone.
They wake up each day knowing they must run
Run faster than the fastest knight,
Fly faster than the fastest arrow.
They wake up each day,
Look defeat in the eye and laugh.
For if their heart were stone,
They'd need no bone.
But since they have bone,
They must have a heart.
Heart and will to face each day.
So I, in turn, face defeat,
And laugh.
Laugh for the sadness and sorrrows it causes
Laugh for the pride
Laugh a laugh from deep down inside
We dragons have hearts alone
Nothing to hide
Nothing to shone
Nothing to fear
When all alone.
Our heart is not hidden,
But hard to reach.
One must peirce the armor
Then they are there.
So I turn again and laugh at defeat.
For it will not catch me.
No, not today.

~Anon
- posted by @ Clark 08:40

 
Every day you wake up is better than the last. For each day you begin anew, with chances to change the world. It all could have ended the day before, but it didn't. And now you have the opportunity to right all the wrongs and live life.
- posted by @ Clark 20:12

 
Limbo... And we're not talking the game with a pole, tropical tunes, the beach, and beautiful bods...
As of 230 this afternoon, I entered Limbo. You know that place between Heaven and Hell. As my grade also entered its own form of Limbo between pass and fail, I enter as well. If I fail this class...That means one more year of good 'ol college for me. If I pass, and the chances of this are much greater than I'm lettin on, then I continue down my insane climb through the ranks of classes. I can only hope that my Instruments teacher grants me a stay of execution. Lord only knows that I put more time than I should have into studying. I hope it pays off. In a few days I'll find out.... Gulp...

On a lighter note... "Finding Nemo" is damn near THE best movie I've seen lately. "Pirates of the Carribean" takes the cake still... BUBBBLLES!!! SOrry, couldn't resist...

So yesterday's entry was a complete BLEH kinda-day entry. If you're ever talking to me and I just kinda keep changing subjects and jumping around, not really finishing entire thoughts and.... What was I talking about again? LOL, but it usually just means I'm really tired (which is entirely possible most days) or that I'm hittin one of those good 'ol fashioned depressions that tend to settle on everyone at different times.

You ever read your astrological sign information? Sometimes its just scary how damn close to true it really is. Course, sometimes its not. But its still wierd what they predict based on the stars... Speaking of predictions off stars, if you ever have the opportunity to take a celestial navigation class, DON'T.

Todays song: "American Soldier" by Toby Kieth.
"I'm just trying to be a father,
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,
Everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early,
I'm all in my business suit,
Yeah, I'm dressed for success from my head down to my boots,
I don't do it for money, there's still bills that I can't pay,
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,
Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,
And I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekends been to strong,
I just work straight through the holidays,
And sometimes all night long.
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrafice,
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dyin's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with an honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an american soldier, an american,
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight. American soldier, I'm an American,
An American,
An American Soldier"


- posted by @ Clark 19:43

 
"I know what I was feeling, but what was I thinkin'?" ~Dierks Bentley
Life's gonna knock you down. That's all there is to it. The only thing that you can do is jump back up, look life in the face, and smile. As crazy as it sounds, it works. It took a few friends of mine to point out to me that I'm worrying about the wrong stuff. School ain't gonna matter in a few years. That's right folks, useles... That's what school comes down to. Yeah, some stuff you learn you'll remember, but for me... I don't plan on usin my major for much. It'll come in handy when I'm wrenchin on that 'ol Duster, but not for much else. I cannot beleive how long ago I started school. Time has just flown by. And as bad as some days seem, when you look back over the whole experience, I like it. I wouldn't do it again, but I definitely am makin the best of it the only way I know how. Doin it again? Hell, I don't think I want to by any means. Grad school is out of the question for now... I'm too burned out with school. But this weekend and vacation'll do me damn good. I can't wait to go home and sleep!
Enough about the philosophy of life... (Even though it is convoluted and a very un-smooth thought process to follow...) I am going to watch my younger bro play football this Friday. I'm stoked. I hear he's good and I can't wait to watch him smash the stuffing out of some guy on the other team.
You ever do something just because it makes you think about someone that makes you feel better? Loggin' into messenger, there was only a couple of people I wanted to see online. After only a few short years I'm gettin out in a few more short ones. I can't beleive it... I'll add more to this later, I just can't keep any thoughts goin right now...

- posted by @ Clark 20:51

 
"I'm such a lucky man, I try to be a stronger man
I shed a tear or two but that don't make me a weaker man
It's made me a better man, I've given all I can
To a world that sometimes thinks that I'm a lesser man" ~Lynyrd Skynyrd

Today was going to be a long day. I had to be up at 0600 so that I could make it to the Make-Up PRT today. That's a 40 minute drive just so that I could make it to the Unit on time. What a pain DC is!!! Needless to say that the pouring rain made it seem more like the Amazon rain forests than Berkeley, but it was very motivating weather for a run. After two minutes of pushups and situps, we finally got to the 1.5 mile run. For the first time in 3 years, I wasn't able to do more pushups and situps. Damn Esto and his futile attempts to sever my arm from my body while wrestling with CMA's new wresltling club. Course that was weeks ago but it still hurts like hell... Any who, 7:02 mile!!! Hell yeah! For those of you who don't know, a 7:02 mile is something that is completely unheard of for me. I'm the guy who runs the 10 minute mile most of the time. God bless this rainy weather we are having!

Once safely back in my room I cracked the books. I hit the ground running and got a small dent in my homework. If you picture a 40 foot tall, 2 foot thick steel wall- that's my homework. Now take a small ball-peen hammer and put some weight into the hit BAM, that's all I got done yesterday, but I tried. Today we shall have to throw the grappling hooks and scale that beast...

1900 and I'm back at the Unit again for some fun time festivities. Wow, I really wish I had someone waiting for me when I got back, but to no avail... Poppin in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. I figure a good laugh is definitely in order... "To train ze dolphin, you must tink like ze dolphin. I'm like 'ukay ukay ukaaay' and he's like 'okey ukey ukey'" Aaaalrighty then...take care now, bye bye.
- posted by @ Clark 23:59

 
"Well, my heart knows what the wild wind knows. And I must go where the wild wind blows..." ~Brian Setzer
Today was a day filled with random fleeting thoughts of my future and where I want to go with my life. Everyone has this master plan of where they want to live, what they want to drive, who they think they want to spend all eternity with, what they plan on doing when they are 60. I don't have half of that, granted, I know what kind of house I'd like, I know what car I WILL have (Yes, for those of you who don't know...I WILL HAVE IT!!! Oh yes, yes I will...) And if you were wondering what it was, it's a 1973 Plymouth Duster 340. I know, I know, you're probably thinking, "Nothin special". And you know what? You're right. Nothing special to you. But to me, that car is the world. I have very very good memories associated with a '73 Duster 340. I have a variety of jobs I think I'd want to do during my lifetime after my stay with the Navy. I think firefighting is on the list, stunt work (ie- stunt driving, gettin tossed out the 100th floor window...that kind of thing), teaching, all sorts of jobs I'd find fun. Most people are going out into the world lookin to make the big bucks. I just want to have a good time you know? I personally think that most people take life way too seriously. Even I do most times. Today would be a prime example. I get so wrapped up in the work due tomorrow that I barely had time to get online and talk to friends. Luckily, a good friend of mine was on at 02early and we got to sit and chat. But alas, after 2.5 years on the market...Yeah, I'm still on the market. Damn it all. One of these days I'll be able to look forward to someone waiting for me to come home. Until that day...My heart knows that the wild wind knows. And I must go where the wild wind blows...
- posted by @ Clark 01:39

 
"Why you doin this? It's not you're fight..."
"Why, that is such an aweful thing to say. You're my friend."
"Hell, i got lots of friends."
"I don't..."
~Tombstone

Today began...Yup, just like every other day... Me in my beautiful sheets, alarm blaring in my ear as it sits next to my head. Then...the snooze button and me crawling out of bed. Today was gonna be a good day... Best day for school breakfast that we have, biscuits and gravy day (Can you honestly think of anything better than biscuits and gravy? I cant). Hopefully all who desired watching the Lynyrd Skynyrd link did so. If you didn't...That is YOUR loss. I tried to hook a friend up with a tailight off my car. He's got a salvaged car and is trying to clear the salvage title. Did you know that absolutely nothing can be wrong with the car if you do that? He's got a small crack on his right tail-light and needed a good one. We both have '98 Civics, but my lights are shorter than his. What the Hell were they thinking when they built Hondas? Honestly...such crap! Wouldn't find such discrepancies on a same year domestic car... Eh, I guess you do what you gotta do. Life sucks. If college is the best years of my life...Well, it just can't be. I HAVE to have something...anything to look forward to in the future. Just one of those days...
- posted by @ Clark 23:13

 
Red, White, and Blue...
I just got done watching one of the most moving music videos... If you get a chance to watch "Red, White, and Blue" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Do so. If you need the site, let me know...Beleive me, I'll hook it up. This song brings a tear to my eye... Leave it to Lynyrd Skynyrd to rock! In all honesty...This song really does pluck a few heartstrings. Everyone should go to "Red, White, and Blue" and watch it. Beleive me, its well worth your time...

Damn that homework! I didn't get to go dancing last night as has been my Monday night ritual. I live for Monday's and the past two weeks I haven't been able to go. I'm goin through wicked withdrawls...Like, dancin all over the place, singin all the good tunes...I just wanna go line dancing people! Is that so damn hard for my teachers to understand?
- posted by @ Clark 09:22

 
Just when you thought you were going to make it through class... The teachers incessant droning and a freezing cold class-room get to you... One minute you are making doodles on a scrap piece of paper with friends and the next, BAM, out like a light. When you join reality again, you have a piece of paper in front of you with some new additions to the doodle. One of my favorites of today was making fun of Dr. Suess, who by the way, is an awesome guy. So here I sit in my room during my 50 minute break for today and wonder if I should be doing work... It may be worth my while, but I don't know if I really want to. After this weekends shenanagans and good times, we all felt like real college students for the first time in weeks. Party all night and not worry a drop about school... Dancing the night away with friends at a local dance... sniff, sniff... I'm gonna miss having a life because now the week is back full tilt. Oh, but I will get out tonight...yes I will. There is few forces in this world that will stop me from going... And if I don't start my paper due tomorrow...that will be one of them

Ain't goin down till the sun comes up...ain't givin' in till they get enough...Go around the world in a pick-up truck...Ain't goin down till the sun comes up
As I drive down the freeway with my country music blaring and me sittin in a t-shirt singing to the tunes at 75mph, I realize what it must be like to be the car next to me. To see a flaming skull on the windshield, a guy with his arm hanging out the open car window like it were mid-summer and he's goin to the beach, and it's really only 50 degrees on a cold night. Once that thought entered my head, I had an epiphany...That's right race fans...me with an epiphany. I suddenly realized that sanity would never come to within my grasp. From every aspect of my life, I must look insane. However, this thought was fleeting for as I saw my exit a sole thought entered my mind to stay until the drive-thru lady said "Is that all?"...That's right...I wanted FOOOD!!! So now I sit in my room defrosting because I'm too lazy to hit a couple switches in my car and put on the heater/defroster. Instead I roll down the window in a t-shirt. You do the math...

Course, now I'm sittin here wondering just how long it will be until I get what I want. Everything I desire is outside my reach. I want to be with someone somewhere else (you know who you are), I want a truck instead of the 'ol Civic, I want to be done with school (not in 1 1/2 years), and on with life...But all these things are just outside my grasp... Now the race is on...Will I reach sanity first? Or my dreams? You decide...
- posted by @ Clark 09:55