A Rare Day

Today is February 29th, a day that we don't get to experience all too often. I don't know too much about it so I did a little research and found out that it is just an added day to help us with our calendar. Still very neat. I've never heard of anything real crazy that has ever happened on Leap Year Day or Leap Day, but the only person I know that has a birthday on it is Jenna.



I want to say Happy Birthday and hope you have a great 5th birthday. Pretty neat stuff.



I also want to say that I am going to get engaged on Leap Day, so that gives me a new goal; find a girl, court her :), and then purpose 4 years from today. Lofty goal some would say, but it will happen. Be on the lookout for the wedding invitation.



Peace in the Middle East as they say.

A New Venture?

So I read in the school newspaper that the Ketchum's are leaving Culver for India. This is really exciting for them and I wish them the best of luck. Now there is a hole in the RD world and I plan on filling it. I know I know that most of you are thinking, "hey this guy's not qualified, he's not even married!" Well despite popular belief, I am very qualified; I am a goal-oriented, task-driven, honest, hard-working American grad (grades pending). I know the insides and outsides of NNU and plan on making that first year for Freshman males a great one! I'll be like one of the guys, except I'd be ruling with an iron fist.

I'll be able to keep up my gym appearances, Dex meal times, and most likely Chapel attendance :) I know that most of you would miss me so much if I left NNU and that is why I am planning on coming back, but as Culver's RD. I have already begun rubbing shoulders, kissing babies, squeezing knees, tickling tummies, caressing backs (not lower backs) to the higher up peeps to get this job.

I know that most of you are concerned that I am not married, and usually these RD's have a significant other; I plan on when I move in to be MARRIED, that's right I said it. I will be married when the new Freshman move in. You may ask, who is this vixen of glory, this angelic being from high and I'll tell you who she is: her name is Ilga Brasgalov, she is a mail order bride from Turkmenistan. She is quaint, dresses moderately (I know this is a concern for living in a dorm with all boys), and has a great sense of humor (if you understand Russian or Turkmen).

I know that most of you are used to babysitting or seeing little kids around the dorm and campus and I have already filled that gap as well; I have adopted TWO Australian boys who I will teach the fundamentals of hockey to and make them the best Australian hockey players to have ever played. They will be here in mid-August so Ilga and I will have time to "get aquatinted".

I know you are all very excited for me and my new endeavor as well as excited to see me for the remainder of your time here at NNU. I hope you treat me like the same great guy that I am. Fingers crossed Carey Cooke and Karen Pearson pick me for this position or I'm screwed!

I (heart) Movies & Change

Tonight Matt, Adam, Grant, and I went to go see "Be Kind Rewind" with Jack Black and Mos Def and it reminded me that I (heart) movies. I haven't really been watching many movies lately for reasons that I am not too sure of. I love to laugh and Andrew has been pointing out that when I find something really funny, I'll grab my chest with one or both hands, who knows what's going on there, maybe I think I'm going to have a heart-attack.

I don't know what this means for me and my future, I enjoy watching and making films but I am unsure of what I am going to do after school. I don't really want to go down to L.A. because it's just not my scene, but maybe I'll have an opportunity somewhere else. I am trying to not worry so much about the future but keep my options and eyes open. I know that God has his plan and I am just trying to be watchful. He knows that I want to travel, help people, and have an adventure; He will honor my heart, He always seems to.

Even when He doesn't answer the way that I want, it always comes out alright in the end anyway. I (heart) movies and am just fascinated with them. I found myself tonight analyzing camera movements and racking my brain on how they did that shot; it's just who I've become. There is a reason why God has put this enjoyment and passion in my heart and head; there is a place for me to do something along these lines somewhere out in that big wide world.

I have a bunch of movies that I have and haven't seen and some that I really want to see. I think I stopped watching movies for a couple reasons: I felt like they were consuming too much time from my life and I was just being dumb in general by letting my human nature get a hold of me. I am remembering the first and letting go of the second.

I wanted to look through my "little black book" to go through my list of things I wanted to change; I feel like I have strayed from it lately (thanks Becca Deitz). Thanks for reminding me of my list of change. As I was looking through my book I found this quote that I heard at church at the beginning of this semester (I've posted it before, sorry but it's applicable). "Perhaps one reason God delays His answers to our prayers is because He knows we need to be with Him far more than we need the things we ask of Him." - Ben Patterson. I feel like this is a wake up call because I have been struggling with devotions lately; I plan on working on that tonight!

Wrapping it up now. I plan on continuing to change into a better Al (people don't call me Al here though). Just remember that the new Alex 2.0 is not the same as 1.0. I have a firmer handshake and a brighter smile (Andrew knows what I'm talking about). Alright I better stop rambling. Peace.

P.S. Sorry I write so much....

falling apart

I awoke this morning struggling to get out of bed because of being sore from working out the previous day pretty hard with Andrew and Evan (gotta love the "shorts"). As I was getting ready to get into the shower, Andrew pointed out a bruise and cut on my side that I did not notice; then I remembered last night when Kyle pointed out that on my other side was another abnormal cut.

I am falling apart and I hope I can find all of the pieces like in Humpty Dumpty's story.

A little memory

So tonight as I was folding my socks, cause I just did some laundry, I found myself ripping the holes in my socks into larger and larger holes. This is what my mom would always do with my socks when she would do my laundry. At the time I was always upset cause of course I would always wear the socks till they had holes where my toes would pop out or my heel would be exposed; now I just smile cause its something I can remember about my mom. I know Leo definitely knows what I'm talking about, he wears socks out like nobodies business. I think Jenny does this too! I can only smile about it.

P.S. This is not a pic of my foot. Andrew can tell you that I have ugly feet. I don't like them.

Remembering the past to relate to the present

I was looking through some Calvin and Hobbes comics tonight and came across a few that I really enjoy or relate to the here and now. Enjoy.



This one is for Matt; for that one time he went to Razzle Dazzle and they just had to shave it all off. I think hats were in at that time.



I wore my lucky rocketship underwear a couple nights ago and I had a similar day to Calvin :(







This reminds me of my dad, he always wanted to raise a kid and tell them just crazy stuff. (Black is white, up is down, things are not what they actually are) Luckily it wasn't me but my brother I don't talk about, Claude (Sorry Kristin no relation to Clyde or whatever his name was) ha.



This one's for Kyle cause he loves math, but sadly he probably won't read this. We miss you Kyle.

Back in town but my mind still wanders

This past week has been tough for me; staying focused on school work, my senior film, and classes. Mexico was such a great trip and a needed time of relaxation, but ever since I have been back I have felt out of my element.

At our intramural basketball games I have just felt sluggish, not my normal get up and go probably because of all the fine Mexican dining we ate as well as candy/pastries. I held auditions this last week for my 3 roles in my senior film and it went alright; I had about 10 people signed up to audition and only 4 actually showed up. Luckily two of the people who showed up were pretty darn good so that was nice, and the other will do just fine.

I find myself sitting in classes and just zoning out remembering how awesome the beach was or how pretty the water was down in Mexico. I know Spring Break is not too far off and that is going to be an epic trip, but Mexico was Mexico. Every time I have gone South of the border, it has always left great impressions. Just adding more to the list.

I know I'll snap back into this thing called school and my regular routine, but for now I'm going to keep remembering the fun times in Puerto Penasco.

2,200 mile journey

Not sure quite what to say. There was so much that went down that I forget most of it. I'll give you the highlights:





Left Thursday evening; drove 20 hrs down to Puerto Penasco which is south of Arizona about 1,200 miles. We drove non-stop. Puffer and I had the late night/early driving. We had a good time swapping stories, saying just crazy things, and learning a little more about how weird we are. Luckily we had a ton of drinks from the Perk to keep us awake. Matt and Andrew tried to sleep like babies, they got a little bit of shut-eye.



Got through Vegas and to the Hoover Dam where we wanted to get out and walk around it and use the bathroom; all we found was a federal vehicle blocking us in ON THE BRIDGE and giving Puffer a ticket for "an illegal u-turn". That costed $135 plus .41 for a stamp (they didn't provide a stamp).





We made it through that lengthy process unharmed and went on our way through Arizona. We met a friend along the way, but al we could do was pay our respects. This cow (it had utters and horns. gender-bender?) was hit and drug off the road. *GRAPHIC PICTURE*



Got to Lukeville, U.S. border town which is just a gas station and border station; I snapped a photo of the "10 Most Wanted Fugitives" just incase we found them across the border. Didn't find any. If you want to know about the Canadian guy, you'll have to ask me about it cause it seems to difficult to type it out.



We drove through the Mexican border town of who knows what where we ran into some construction i.e. a HUGE HOLE in the road. Of course their detours suck but we eventually made it to Puerto Penasco. It is a small town that is getting ready to be the new big thing in Mexico; tons of huge resorts are going up.



We had a great time lounging on the beach in our speedos, playing toss with our football, haggling with the locals, eating local cuisine, hiking a mountain, and sleeping on the beach. I got a Mexican fighting mask, we saw a 3 legged dog, and Puffer touch a pelican.





This is of course the watered down version of our trip. Hope you enjoy all of these pictures. I have a ton more; these are only a handful of ones I thought you'd all like to see. Enjoy.





















Adios.

R&R

A little rest and relaxation for Matt. We are all pretty tuckered out and I'm glad Matt is capitalizing on the occasion. Sorry for the shaky camera, Matt has been sleeping with his eyes open a lot lately so I didn't want him to catch me filming him. Enjoy.

Happy Birthday! We miss you (100th post)

So even though I’m super pumped for this weekend, there are still more important things going on in everybody’s’ lives: Matt just got a new car yesterday (good for him), Kyle has a girlfriend now, so on. I want to talk a bit about my mom since I won’t be able to post this on her birthday.



Saturday would be my mom’s birthday. I would’ve already had a card and a little special something sent to her since she was one of the only people’s birthday that I could remember. I am terrible with birthdays ask my best friend Mike, I always forget his. I’m a horrible friend.

As I said sometime in December there are certain times in the year when I just have a tough time, and this is of course one of them. Oh yeah you gotta love Valentines day, but it gets more difficult when I know that a couple days after it should be her birthday. I like to spend it looking at old pictures and trying to remember things about her and calling my brothers and dad.

Times are certainly changing and at a rapid pace. I remember when my dad and mom left that Sunday afternoon the beginning of Freshman year and my dad gave me that great wisdom, “Alex, don’t embarrass the family name.” That’s stuck with me so far and probably for sometime after, but the one thing that I will always remember is when my mom and I said goodbye and how I could see in her eyes that she was so proud of me and excited for what was to become of me here at NNU. I know that I have changed a lot since freshman year, but hopefully for the best, I just know that I am still making her proud today.



During these certain times in the year I always look back on what she has missed out on and that really saddens me; of course I do believe that she sees each of us and those great moments, but I would still love to see her here and hear her reaction to certain things. I know that she would be making trips galore to visit Ian and Jamie and the three grandkids (she always wanted grandkids), I know that she would be here for my graduation planning a get together with all my friends and family members (now my dad is doing that, thanks dad), and probably helping Leo and Jenny move or relocate for the summer to one of the Carolinas.

I just look back and miss talking on the phone with her because she was full of so much wisdom, wisdom that I need right now. Many things have been on my mind: school, after-school, girls, projects, trips, just everything and I know that she would have something to say about each that would help. I know that I have a great family and can talk to them about anything, but sometimes it just doesn’t feel right cause I know that mom and I would talk about it. I feel like I need to communicate more with my family especially since I’m “growing up” because they have wisdoms and insights that will help me.



Since I started this blog, I was always real excited to post 100 blogs and I kept thinking about what it might be, some crazy excursion or a prank, but I am so glad that it could be me sharing my love and memory of my mom.

Happy birthday mom! I miss you tons and love you.

Power outages, rioting, looting, and just plain havoc

(This could've been us over at Paul's just making off with tons and tons of cardboard boxes.)


If this title doesn't sum up what happened tonight then I don't know what would. It all happened when our power in our house went out around 7:30p.m. and we were changing to go play our intramural b-ball game. Our neighbors across the street had power but our whole block had nothing. Parts of NNU campus had no power. We played our game (this is all we'll talk about it) then went home expecting the power to be back on. Nay, not true. It was still out so we decided that we might as well go wreak some havoc around campus. Right when we all got dressed and literally heading out the door, the lights came on.


(Or this could've been us getting attacked by the riot police.)


AHHH big let down, I know, but don't worry. All of NNU's power went out so we still went out. Evan met over here at our house and we roamed around campus seeing what we could do. Right when we were getting ready to head into the music building, 2 security guards with flashlights shined over at us and yelled at us to not go in the building. We sadly just went back home where we met Ian, Joey, and Phil in the roadway and had an old fashion gang fight. Instead we went home and watched Kyle and Kristin (no clue what her last name is) making out hardcore in our basement. It was very awkward.


(Or this could've been us lighting fires in the streets and dancing like little Irish men.)

So we built up this sweet thought of having the whole campus on a platter for us to just explore and have a great time and it all shattered in front of us. This was a once and a lifetime opportunity and we tried to take advantage of it. Better luck next time.

Just reminds of that one time in Louisiana when we were looting like crazy and throwing molotov cocktails. Rest in Peace.

If I cannot be reached, try here...

31°19′N 113°32′W

Matt being productive

So tonight I came out of my room from working on some things and having a little bit of "me time", and I saw that Andrew was playing his piano and then I saw what Matt was up to. I'll let the video do the talking, but let me tell you that he was doing this for at least a couple of minutes until he thought he saw me filming him. Enjoy :)

broken man

thirteen, i only had a few songs to play
and big dreams to take the whole world on in a day
oh i believe that everything that hurts has a way
to make you see in ways you'd never seen
god knows i'm a broken man
and i need him to change who i am

i want to run
with all that i have
i won't let this go
you gotta know
and i want to say
something the world can hear
something more
you gotta know

some days its hard to feel the world over me
stand alone believing in some things i can't see
oh i believe that everything that hurts has a way
to make you see in ways you'd never seen
god knows i'm a broken man
and i need him to change who i am

i want to run
with all that i have i won't let this go
you gotta know
i wanna say something the world can hear
something more you gotta know
i wanna see things that i've never known
and never seen you gotta know
i want to run
with all that i have i won't let this go
you gotta know

Just plain sad

I saw this article on MSN and just genuinely felt sad. How terrible for the happiest day of your life.

-DAVIE, Fla. - Kim Sjostrom wanted a real-life version of the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," which played in the background as friends fixed her hair and makeup before her own marriage ceremony.

But less than an hour after she and Teddy Efkarpides were wed, Sjostrom crumpled in her husband's arms during a Greek song that means "Love Me."

At 36, Sjostrom was dead from heart disease.
The wedding had became a project at Davie Elementary School, where Sjostrom taught first grade. Fellow teachers provided the wedding gown, the flowers and decorations. One of them, an ordained minister, performed the ceremony.

"It was perfect for her," said Dominic Church, the minister friend.

Sjostrom carried blue and white flowers during the ceremony — the colors of the Greek flag — as she exchanged vows with Efkarpides, a 43-year-old carpenter and Navy veteran. They had met three years to the day before the Jan. 19 wedding.

During the couple's first dance, Sjostrom complained of being lightheaded. Efkarpides thought his wife, a diabetic, needed sugar, but she collapsed.

Wedding guests, paramedics and doctors at a nearby hospital were unable to revive her.

She had a previous cardiac episode in her 20s and was a poster child _ literally _ for juvenile diabetes, relatives and friends said. Efkarpides recalled seeing the poster featuring her on New York subways.

He consoles himself by reading a list of "101 Reasons Why I Love You" that Sjostrom gave him their first Christmas together. "Number 1. You make me smile."

No. 98 is especially difficult: "You're the one I want to grow old with."

A picture says 1000 words

Tonight was the Valentine's Day Banquet and let's just let the picture do the talking...



In all reality it was a fun time. I went with Kristin Plyler and I feel like we had a good time. We went to a restaurant called Brick 29 where we had awesome food, an illusionist, photo opportunities, as well as me heckling anything and everyone. We sat with Andrew and Andrea, Matt and Becca, and Seth and Molly. It was a good table. It was really nice to see everyone else there (you know who you are: Bartlett and Carly, Jenna and Kylie, Kyle and Olivia, Jenn. After all the festivities we changed and went bowling! I hate to brag but I did win, 129 I think; sorry Matt, he was so close I think he was 124. Fun times! Where did my hair go?

It's a girl!

I got a call from my brother today and he told me that they are going to have a girl. I am really excited for them and am starting to think of names. Let me know if you have any good girl names. I don't understand what this picture is showing me....is that the baby's elbow?

Boy or Girl

Gender-bender or Shim? You be the judge. (Not a great example...sorry)

No no no, not the fun game that Andrew and I like to play when looking through the scambook. Actually we played it last night, if you don't know what it is I'll explain real fast. You pick a person's picture that is questionable of whether or not its a guy or girl. Try it sometime, you might be looking at a picture of one of us!

Alright back to the point. Today/Tomorrow sure depends on when you read this, my oldest brother, Ian, and his wife, Jamie, go in to see if they are having a little boy or a little girl. They have two little boys, who you should all know or at least see a picture of cause they're so darn cute, so they are really excited to see if the boy streak continues or if a girl changes things up.

If its a girl, then it would be a big step in our family, since there are only 3 boys in our family. Jamie keeps a blog for Easton and Waylon, see side bar, and she put up a pole to see what everyone's thought on the sex of the baby; I voted girl. I'm ready to have a niece. So I'll try and keep you all up to date.

Easton, their oldest, flip flops between what it should be but in one video clip he said that he thinks its going to be a boy and that mommy and daddy should name him Batman and if its a girl then of course Batgirl. I told my brother and his wife to keep their options open cause Batgirl could be a kickin' name.

Peace.

Sweet 16

No I'm not talking about somebody's birthday party or even college basketball, I'm talking about Andrew and my undertaking. I don't know if most of you remember Andrew's blog but we have just made it successfully wearing our "special" underwear for 16 days straight. It was a great test and experience; "I feel more prepared now that I have made sure that my underwear can stand up to the rigors of my life." Alex Hackett.

For realsies, we did this because for Spring Break and our Europe trip we are going to be packing the bare minimum for clothes and we're only going to bring a couple pairs of underwear so we wanted to make sure that they lived up to our standard of living. So all of you who were marking your calendars or who just plain forgot, you can stop worrying, I'm here to tell you we have made it.

2012

Some would look at that date and see the world in a Jetsons like-futuristic way, others see it being not too far off, or even a presidential election, maybe the London Olympics, or perhaps a parole date, but then some others see it as Doomsday or the end of the world.

I heard about this today from my good pal Puffer. According to the Mayan, Egyptian, Cherokee, Hindu, and Hopi civilizations' calendars on December 31, 2012 will be the end of the world. They have predicted in their writings that this is when the world is going to transition into a "new world". Not real sure what this means but it is pretty eerie.

In the year 2012 there are a lot of other interesting things going on during this time:
Charles Manson is up for parole (Don't forget your pins)
The Sun is supposed to reverse its own magnetic poles
The Freedom Tower in NYC is supposed to be completed
Earth will be home to 7 billion people (According to US Census Bureau)
Venus will make its last solar transit in this century (Bye Venus)
It will be a leap year (Happy B-Day Jenna)
433 Eros will be the second largest Near Earth Object on record expected to "pass" the Earth

I don't know about all of you, but I am going to be real anxious when 2012 rolls around. Make sure you mark your calendars.

Surprise Guest

Last night the Collective met together and we had the great privilege to have Jenna's mom there to rock it hard with us. I am really glad that Jenna brought her. It wasn't awkward at all or weird, it was just like old times. I was really impressed in her willingness to participate even though we struggled through a couple of songs. She is officially our first special guest!

Best Nephews in the World

Waylon on the left and Easton on the right.

Most of you know that I am an uncle...nay...a PROUD UNCLE. My oldest brother, Ian, and his wife, Jamie, have two little boys and another child on the way. Easton is the oldest, he's over 3, while Waylon is a little over 1. I had the great opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with them and have been checking up on their lives through their blog that Jamie keeps up-to-date. I love it Jamie!

I love to see how they grow up more and more and how they become best friends with each other. I am very excited to see them hopefully for graduation! I just want to share some favorite pics of them.