advice to the graduate

...sleep on your back, ash in your shoes, and always use the old sense of the word.

GVSU commencement went better than expected. Sure, it was long and monotonous, but the constant flow of departures during the ceremony gave me assumed permission to walk around so I didn't have to sit and listen to the butchering of 1,400 names. Instead, I read the paper - featuring the calvin spoof article. My thoughts go out to the calvin chimes staff as their spoof was pulled this year and members were fired due to leaking it on the interweb. www.calvinspoof.com Sure, it may look bad, but it's nothing that should cause calvin to do-away with the spring chimes tradition altogather. Xtina is working late tonight (3pm-2am). My main objective tonight is to meet with peter and erin and remain sober enough to pick her up at the end of her shift.

Tomorrow we're bagging the family thing entirely. Tonight is a late night and we haven't been able to see each other much all weekend. I've decided that in order for me to establish a higher degree of autonomy and weekly continuity it's time that we create a sunday morning ritual. What is married life without a sunday morning ritual? Perhaps I'll read the paper with my slippers on and sit on the futon drinking a french press of coffee. Too bad the NYT is five bucks on sunday. I know there's much more content, but there is something ingrained that won't allow me to shell out five bucks for a newspaper despite how many five buck beers I consume the night prior.

I've had the majority of the day to myself - the entirety of xtina's shift. It's odd being alone for so long. Not "alone" meaning the absence of my spouse, but alone. It's comforting, albeit a little boring as the only projects on my list are one's I'd rather not do. I'm calling the day a success, however, as I just got done washing dishes.

Zach - I'm sorry I missed your call, I think that number is yours anyway. Well, perhaps it's time I join my friends and take it really easy for the next four hours. Then again, perhaps I'll wait it out a bit longer.

...get in some licks, hold your head up, and soon you will be drinking from that crystal cup.

opposite day at the office

Taken from toothpastefordinner.com. I saw this comic this morning and got a great chuckle, a sad chuckle really as it's exactly like my office environment. I don't have much to say, I just wanted to share this with you, dear reader.

This weekend is GVSU commencement at vanandel arena. Sitting while they read off 1,400 names doesn't sound like my idea of a good time. Hopefully the beer tent will be open. Perhaps I'll spend some time with Becky while she's in town.

vegan trial week: night one

It appears as though I haven't updated in a while. Let's see... last weekend xtina and I went cambridge house and also to a birthday party and ended up talking with matt halteman for perhaps a couple hours. Speaking with him made us realize that maybe we should try the vegan thing. Tonight was vegan week night 1: jerk spiced portabella mushrooms with rice and broccoli. Grade: B+. This is going to be tough. I'll keep you updated on how the week-long trial period goes. Tonight xtina is at the "Farms without Harms" event at the wealthy theatre. I'm sure I'll come home to a dozen more reasons why I'm a monster despite my best efforts to consume conscientiously.

I'm thinking more about how unfulfilling my job will become in the summer time. I'd like to get out of here and I think my superiors are expecting it: they aren't exactly stacking my itinerary with summer projects. I'm not sure where I'd like to apply - the dwelling place has a position open but I have no idea if I'm qualified for it. I don't want to be put in the same situation as I was last summer. If anyone has ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

Easter sunday was a bitch. I'm not sure why I subject myself such a beating. I got a "why dick devos should be the next governor" speach. It wasn't very coherent and made little logical sense but that argument would have to take such a form to be made. I don't aggrevate the situation anymore; I tend to keep my mouth shut which is often-times more painful. I hate how it makes me feel like I'm fifteen all over again. I guess some things never change.

I'm attempting to come up with unique ideas for my fast-approaching one-year wedding anniversary. Flight+hotel to one of our favorite exotic locales would be nice, albeit expensive. We could stay in downtown detroit for a couple nights at less than two hundred bucks. Greektown casino, anyone? I'm open to suggestions - locations, hotels, events, activities - I need some help, folks.

with the lights out

It's Saturday afternoon and I've nothing to do. I'm not sure how this happened, but I feel I'm neglecting something. xtina is gone with the car so I'm somewhat limited as to what I can do.

Nothing much to report on this end. Another week has traveled at the speed of light. Last night I went to the free-radical gallery. It was great to be among a large number of people for an event on south division. The artist spaces looked great. I wonder what the homeless thought of all the people traversing their neighborhood. There was one problem - over half of the studios were without power. The one night of the season they do this and the artist spaces are pitch-black. The electricity wasn't out for just a few minutes, either - hours. Returning home xtina and I were delighted to see our house the only dwelling in the downtown area with power, a welcome change. We saw "palendromes" last night, recommended to me by sean. I loved it but xtina wasn't so keen.

"new" albums I'm currently obsessing over: Jens Lekman, Neko Case, The Boy Least Likely To, and not flaming lips.