They climb!

So, Winter, our new hermit crab, loves to climb the coconut skin on the side of the crabitat. She truly loves it. She'll go eat some food, go for a dip on the pool then climb till she gets scared (about 4inches).

I've read that hermit crabs like to climb things but Echo never did. I wish him and Winter would go up there together and have a sort of friendly gladiator match 2inches in the air.

Oh that po' chicken.

My lovely fiancee and I had a gorgeous Christmas together baking cookies, visiting the nursing home, wasting gas looking at lights and eating delicious food. The Christmas chicken, however, was a much more formidable task than shaping spritz'.

I watched my father dozens of times carving a bird – turkey, duck, chicken – and it always seemed kind of self-explanatory. Tug the leg. Slice. Grab the wing. Slice. Just that simple. However, something I had never taken into account was that my father had done this routine, likely, hundreds of times, thus nearly perfecting the carving craft.

Damnit, I tried my best. That was enough for Adla and I.

The bar has been set a little higher for the Easter duck.

The Last Shot

Wow, could this shot really be the end all of all shots as the writer describes. OK, so it has a lot of alcohol, but does it really taste good?

NO!

Again, as I will confirm time and time henceforward, the white russian is the best drink ever.

ever.

Ugh. Finals.

Finals awake the intense anxiety in me.
I lost it. Truly. The weekend before finals I don't recall consuming anything other than alcohol and bacon, and alcohol-laced bacon.

I was scared. Paralyzed. Unable to move because of fear of the unknown. My psychologist calls it "anticipation anxiety." Yep, that sounds right.

it's like I don't know what's going to happen and the fear controls me – lays me in bed for hours when I should be studying, but what to study when I dont know what's on the test. Ugh!

So, I broke. I wanted to be void of all emotion and anxiety. No worry. A self-medicated relaxation.

No eating. Exercise. Alcohol. Bad choice... in hindsight, of course.

At the end of my restriction bender my fiancee found me pseudo-comatose in bed contemplating partial treatment.

Many times I like to feel like I've dealt with my anxiety. But, the reality is, I struggle daily.

I struggle daily.

Battle of Soldiers' Souls

There are many anti-war supporters. An anti-war fan myself, I never thought of taking it to the source of U.S. war: The Recruiter.

Their system completely under minds U.S. efforts to continue the war. However, the theory is good. Stop the soldiers before they are soldiers.

But, doesn't that leave the armed forces with sufficient troops? No, those left are commended to areas of minimal aggressor contact.

I feel bad deceiving a recruiter. Sure, that's natural.
Think of it this way. For every moment one occupies a recruiter.
You save a soldiers life.

Seriously, there are enough people doing this. And I admire the convictions of recruiters, they believe they do good work.

What I love is the ingenuity and creative uniqueness of the project.
The pro-war folks should be doing the same.

Bored and Awake

It's 2am and I am not tired. My fiancée is sleeping in the next room and all I can think about is how much a want to go for a run. I would be satisfied with only 20min., but would be extraordinarily happy with 2hrs of cardio.

I've been thinking of working out more often. Well, pretty much everything is more often. I've been thinking about fasting more often ('cause many articles on the Internet say how good it is to fast), and I've been thinking about how gross my body is much more frequently.

However, the most important strategy to overcome personal rhetoric is to reframe negative ideas i.e stomach becomes abdomen.

I am writing now and concidering the impacts of going to the gym. i would also like to cuddle up with my sweetheart for a cozy night. Hmmm.

Western Hatred Runs Amok. Rightly so.

The new Burger King ads are so obnoxious (in a bad way), they embody every negative stereotype of americans.

It assumes all those hungry in famine regions need is a whopper. Again, Burger King is feeding starving people whoppers. As a advertisement!

I just... I just don't know where to start. So the agency goes into starving regions and only bring whoppers? How does that effect their consistent regional diet?

But, seriously, a whopper! That may nearly kill someone whose had only 1500mg sodium their entire life, let alone a single meal.

What was the conversational meeting and critique behind this?

OK, I promise my readers I will email Burger King Public Relations and try and get an answer.

Keep updated.
I wouldn't want this to be the corporate america the international community sees.

My Hermie is moving on up!

Every night for about the last week, my hermit crab Echo has been investigating another shell in the crabitat. This evening he almost has his whole body inside it! I'm pretty sure he's gonna do it.

I looked at it the other evening at the shell was clean inside. Yep, he's getting ready for a move. I'm really looking forward to his new shell 'cause it painted like nemo. Nemo!

Don't worry. when he does move pictures will be posted immediately.

Multi-level marketing

Pyramid scams will alienate everyone around you. Don't do it!



No longer should I be surprised when someone offers me a way to get involved with an exciting new business opportunity. I know what's coming, but I'm still curious. So I say, sure tell me about it.

Always the same thing. Some enigmatic individual comes up with this great way to cut costs, but somehow only a select group of people know about it -- not financial advisers, not business/wall street types. Odd, hmm.

So, enigma man somehow gets followers, of whom I would have no idea would be susceptible to such fraud.

What do people fall for these things? Do they have no self respect or are they just lazy and want easy money?

As for my future responses, I will continue to ask why. Because I'm always interested in the different ways one can reframe multi-level marketing.

embarassed to be an american

Who would consider this funny?
Is this what the american government means by liberators. To exploit the friendship and generosity of a people.
The first thought through my mind was, "Wow, this soldier is an asshole. A complete, inconsiderate prick."
No wonder the international community doesn't like us. Our troops do disrespectful crap like this and under mind our governments already ill-conceived efforts to raise an occupied country's morale.

Forgot what I ate. Oops.

Most days I try and remember what I eat. Not to make sure I eat too much, but to make sure I eat enough to maintain my weight. I'm usually good through about noon.

Eventually, I randomly eat something that looks good. I forget about it for a while, until I cannot remember how many calories it was. Then, as it goes, I get nervous about over eating and eat very little for the rest of the day.

I need to keep writing material and paper more available.
Or, maybe, as my psychologist recommends, I could just eat whenever it's time to eat. Regardless of whether I am hungry or not.

Perhaps...

Another reason to live in Scandanavia

The Norwegians have been long envied for their ethical commercialism. Really, I have nothing left to say. This is just an amazing idea. I would love to live in Norway, Sweden, Finland or anywhere I can see the benefit of taxes. For me, taxes are OK as long as I believe or see they are used for something beneficial -- not war. But I'm drifting.

This Norwegian law is great because it keeps ads honest. Something that shouldn't require a law. Unfortunately, I wish this was part of U.S. policy.

Mumbai

Hehehe, it sounds like a hop-hop dance. But then I thought, "Why would terrorists attack a hip-hop dance?" They didn't. So, If you haven't heard, Mumbai is a large city in India. It's on the southwest coast. Several hotels and religious center were seised by terrorists Wed. afternoon CDT.

The Indian Navy was actived. Their form of the national guard was activated. And many countries around the world with bases or ships close to the port city pledged support.

So why was it done? I don't know. How does it effect me? Because I am for whom the bells tolls.
We are citizens of humanity. When I see numbers that say 13 Americans dead, 10 Isrealis injured, 78 Indians captured, I think, "They are from my wordly family." I did not know those arbitrary Americans more than I did the Isrealis.

But for all intents and purposses, be sure to focus the majority of media grief on the closest geographical group of suffering. Oddly, something about that seems to make sense.

My Irreplacable Companion

Yes, the turkey was good.

There was a lot of anticipation leading up to the meal. I struggled the urge to workout too much. I struggled to not restrict the days leading up to the big meal. And I talked with my fiancee about what was going to be served (her mother was cooking).

I had a lot to cope with on Nov. 27. Thankfully, I was with a gracious family who loved me.

This is the first holiday season I've experienced post-treatment. I learned the importance of a companion. Someone who was with me every meal, every difficult moment. Her persence was invaluable, irreplaceable.

We would process as a coping skill before and after meals. Even during dessert I was a little less anxious just because someone was around who knew what I was feeling.

If you had a tough time over Thanksgiving, I would recommend telling a friend or companion how meals and eating make you feel, just to get it out there. At the very least you care share sympathetic glances from across the table.

Thanksgiving

Today is the first Thanksgiving without my father. He passed away January 17. But as my fiancee said, "Our families got a little smaller, but they also got larger," (referring to the passing of our loved ones and our recent engagement).

Tough as the holidays may be this year, I am thankful for family and love.

Winter, holiday moments are a perfect setting for looking through time. As if things around me stand still long enough to see how far my envoronment has moved. Relationships end and begin. One year can be a long time. Some things should only happen once a year. Maybe fortunately, one only has control over how they react to external forces.

Next stop, Christmas!

Ahh. Yes.

Soup is always good. It's mostly good, and it's filling.
Filling without many calories means I can eat a lot of delicious soup. Or, I may have a delicious side with my soup. Or, soup can be the side.

Soup is so versatile. I may have some now.

MMMmmmmm.

Athletic sex is the best

OK, this is what I've been waiting for. proof that physically driven individuals do it better.

Also, Divine Caroline is an amazing site. Bookmark it. Use it. You're welcome.

Exercise tomorrow?

Most of the time I am too lazy to exercise. I've been riding bike to and from work though (my therapists sat it's OK), so I think I can run a bit tomorrow.

My Psych and I have come to the conclusion that just because some enjoy running does not mean I must. In fact, I do not run for fun. I bike for fun. I lift weights for fun. But, damnit, I do not run.

Exercise concerns me, I love it because it releases endorphines, which has the same effect as 5oz. of dark chocolate. But it's a trigger that sets me up to exercise too much. Where do I find the peace. The point that I love the physiological benefits of exercise, but don't become obsessed with the weight loss attribution.

Where is the line?!

OK. Now it's getting kinda chilly.

I just got over a cold. So, I wasn't biking for a couple days. But, now that I have defeated the cold! muahahahaha! I am biking again, and have realized that it's kinda chilly. Gosh darnit, the days are so shiny and bright with sun though, what is one to do.

Yep, I'm going to ride until there is snow on the ground. Then, I may or may not get studded bike tires and continue riding.

A change of view

I thought this was a good example of what the majority would feel like.
It really puts things in perspective.

I've threatened for months to call my fiancée my partner if she will not set a date. However, perspectives can change.

After thinking about the so called "experiment" it sank in. It seems odd that the government would deny to recognize the individual rights of citizens.

God gives us freedom. Not the government.

YAY! Everyone has a new black friend.

Only moments after Barack Obama became President elect I received several text messages to my phone from friends whom I thought were socially conscious. When, in fact, they were just excited to have a communal black friend.
OK, so you voted for him. That doesn't mean you can make black jokes. You know what, racist jokes are not cool. We, as a country, have worked decades to overcome civil rights oppression. And now, we have overcome it. hooray to us, sure. But it's all in vain if we continue proliferate the mindset that separates us from them.

C'mon! We've finally become a legitimate body in the international community! This is huge, seriously, the last time countries respected us was before Reagan sometime. You better not blow this U.S., please U.S. don't mess this up by making Obama into some self-righteous better than though hooray-U.S.-won't-bomb-the-democracy-into-you cliche.

No jokes, please.

I am not the first to say this.

Obama will do more for this country than any president in over a half decade.

A political shift has come to america.
Get ready for the new new deal.

We call them hermies

I now own hermit crabs. Two of them. Xavier is the large one and Echo is the small one, though both are relatively small. My girlfriend and I have decided to make them hippie crabs. They have a hammock hanging from palm trees, a little cute crab pool and some beach balls to conserve moisture.

Apparently, a large majority of people think hermit crabs are just little disposable, expendable creatures. Not true. My hermies have character. They like attention. They sleep close to each other. And they after I take them out of their cage for play time I give them a vanilla cookie and then they are all like, nom nom nom nom nom.

I will never again come home to an empty apartment. Sometimes I just can't wait to see what they've been up to all day. At this time in my life, I could not ask for better best buds than Xavier and Echo.

oh, that sweet Missoula air.

The other night was chilly here in Fargo, ND. It was a nice chill, cool and fresh. The weather has been reminding me of when I was going to school in Missoula, MT. Even in the cold, we just bundled up and biked places. I guess I've been missing that attitude here. Without being surrounded by a community that enables my adventurous side it can be difficult to breakout. But, damnit, I will try. I am sure some night I will be lucky enough to run into a biker gang i can join.

Maybe I'm hanging around the wrong parts of town?
Where do mt. bikers hangout in Fargo?

I miss Missoula.

I found a special lady friend

There is a lot to think about when looking for a engagement ring. The sales people will tell you about the 4 Cs: Cut, Clarity, Carat weight, Color. Of course, the missing 5th C is Cost. I've heard the average ring should cost from 2-3 months salary. That's nutso! I can hardly imagine spending that much. But then I think, "Wait, if I make more that will ease the burden." But no! Because it's still a percent.

I say anyone will be able to find a nice looking ring for about $2000. Try switching sets, changing cuts, bands and shopping online (there are some very reputable sites).

Opportunity cost is the biggest hurdle for me. What else can i buy with this money?

In light of these environmentally conscious times, I advocate the engagement scooter.

NA

I cannot lie. O'Douls non-alcoholic beer is not that bad. In fact, compared to cheaper domestic it's superior. Here's the thing: Good beer tastes good. But when it tastes really good, I could drink it all day long. Which, unfortunately, leads to me becoming intoxicated. However, with NA beer I can have a few while doing homework and feel just fine.

Why haven't more companies experimented with delicious non-alcoholic beer. I truly think there is a niche out there. People who want to drink beer at a party and drive home, safely.

OK, I'm getting thirsty.

And the winner is...

Palin performed well. Biden forced some answers. But who won?

As I have been in debate for a couple years, I know a thing or two about how one should answer questions. On strictly debate, Biden answered the questions, provided the most sources and properly refuted. Palin regularly went of subject to address issues she knew most about: not good debate.

Technically, Biden won the debate. But who won the audience? I truly must credit Palin with doing an impressive job with connecting to voters. She regularly made important points while looking at the camera, she related to lower middle class (the american ideal) and I believe all of her "Washington outsider" talk was baked up by outsider language -- she didn't speak as formally as Biden.

Ultimately, the question remains: Who would you rather have to lead? Palin is happy to be the outsider with minimal experience. Biden is comfortable basking in 30+ years of D.C. professionalism.

Speak.

I enjoy public speaking. To capture an audience is truly amazing. I would really enjoy being a lobbyist. For something worthwhile, of course. The experience of selling discourse to the public is especially interesting to me. Though, it makes me doubt the perceptions of the common folks, serfs some would suggest. Just because people are easily manipulated does that mean they deserve to be? Certainly no! Unless they are specifically benefited from said manipulation. It's like giving an unwilling dog heart worm pills. It will eat it's "special" food and be worm free. Yeah, that makes sense. That's my post for today. Sometimes you have to hide the helpful pill.

These Financial Times

If you are wondering what exactly Congress is going to do with this "bailout plan" for mortgages, Reuters has a easily readable factbox that was very helpful.

A few months ago when I was reading news of the government helping mortgage firms, I thought, "ok, no big deal." But as the issues and facts surfaced I realized how crazily complex it was. It seems media assumes the public knows how the gears of financial buyouts work. The more I read, I concluded that taxpayers have no obligation to save these firms. We're getting a rough deal here. Why am I responsible for the bad decisions of a few greedy wall street execs? Why?

Consequences

Dear, Government
Why do you treat me so? I feel this relationship is no longer working. Our communication is gone. You no longer listen to me. Do you no longer care? Please, talk to me, tell me why you do these things?
I would love to go back to good times, but I'm afraid over the past 6 years you have been unfaithful to my heart. I cannot look at you the same way. You have lost my respect and my love.
Goodbye old friend.

She got fright, yo.

Palin scares me! She truly makes me shiver, while, also, making me embarrassed for her. A talented woman indeed. But having a person like that, with so many character flaws (important and necessary character flaws) one breath away from the president of the United States should scare every human being shitless!!!

Oh man! Do I really sound like this.

If being in-shape and living longer is something to make fun of then maybe I could get into that.

But seriously, I wish this were me.

Watch the first 1.45min.



Oh wait! Yep, I'm that guy, albeit foreshadowing cancer.

Nope, I am that guy.

"It's a good way to get exercise."

Where do we want to go?

A fear struck me as I read Joe Klein's newest essay in Time, and I thought, "Holy Lord! He is right!" The reality of our political future struck me: As a nation we always want our ideal self -- what we think our lives should be, not where they should be headed -- and thinking irrationally like that will give us time and time again the same results. The past.

I understand all individuals who vote want change. But, any look beyond the thin superficial surface can see that the change americans want is toward better times. Unfortunately, for most of us, that means the past, or some vision of the american past.

Mr. Klein makes several references to "small town america" and how Mrs. Palin represents this. When any empirical research shows there is no more small town america. It does not exist. We are suburban. We live in cities. Sure, many of us would like to believe we live in small towns, but we don't.

Who is Mrs. Palin talking to? An america that only exists in the past. An america that only exists in our heads.

Tactless?!

Luckily, I had class on sept. 11.
Ironically enough, my ethics professor asked if Hitler could take over in america today.
I thought it would be juvenile to respond immediately, so I waited in silent agony to reveal to the class my political fervor.



"Oh yeah!" I replied euphemistically. To be like Hitler all one would need to do is: 1)execute a false flag operation 2) Initiate an US v. Them propaganda. a.k.a. another race or religion is wrong. 3) action.

I'm not so callused or naive to make the Bush is Hitler argument.
All I'm saying is that the United States government had specific knowledge of events and individuals whom were complicit in the events.
The evidence is there.

My arguments were more accepted today than they were four years ago.
Thankfully, a man wearing an Investigate 9/11 t-shirt supported my ideas.
Time will only unveil more facts about the true events that happened that day, but unfortunately, by that time it may be too late to undo any actions this country has taken based on false information.

I'm not trying to bring down the government. All I want to know is what caused world trade center building 7 to collapse? Please, give me a plausible scenario. Anyone?

Late nights with my lovely.

I love design. I love messing around with type. But at some point the life can be bled out of any living breathing exciting hobby, or love in my case. College does this to everything. In fact, it is the purpose of college, to find something you love and want to do for the rest of your life and explore every facet of said field for as long manageable.

The conclusion I've come to after my fifth year in college is: I must not let college get in the way of my education. And it's true. If you really care about something, spend time with it, get to know it, spend late night alone with it. That's passion. Not a scheduled time in the morning with 20 other individuals.

Wow! It's so Hot.

One thing I know about habanero peppers is they are extraordinary in salsa, quesadillas and pretty much anything spicy that needs to be spicy-er (these days pretty much anything sold in a local supermarket needs to be spicier).

One thing I did not know about habanero peppers is they leave a microbial oil residue wherever they are cut or used. Thus, wash your hands and cutting boards.

Oh, the pain! I washed my hands once, but not twice. I, then, rubbed my eyes. The ensuing actions were completely involuntary. I ran to the sink, held my eye open and began splashing cold water on my eyeball. Oh, the pain! As if one hundred bags of one hundred doorknobs hit my face all at once. Again, I tell you, "Oh, the pain!"

Shall this post henceforth bear witness to the agony brought forth by hands twice washed and oily residue left by the delicious and necessary habanero pepper.

Enjoy!

Huh. Come again?

I have no doubt that random individuals can be knowledgeable with arbitrary issues. However, what I really want is to find someone who can give specific detailed accounts of their most inconclusive musings. Thus leading me to my new favorite quote I found here.

"The one thing I don't like about being an adult is the people always want to have serious, meaningful conversations."

I was peacefully sitting at work yesterday eating my balanced meal, reading the newest Time. Doing my own thing. A nurse at the table answered a phone call from an enthusiastic lady, whom was later identified as her daughter. After the short informatory call, the nurse said to my coworkers and I. "Well, that McCain picked a woman for vice president. She's against abortion and guns!" But she didn't stop there, despite her mixed audience, she continued her ill-informed regurgitated message. "Well, I don't know about that. That McCain is gonna get the female vote now. Yep." Then, she left.

What was I to say? How could on respond to such a contorted array of, just words it seemed. Words strung together by a loose brain. Ugh. My head hurt. I looked up from the story I was reading on the differing views of the candidates on economic policy, and shuttered. I received a text message from Reuters as soon McCain announced his choice and immediately went on line to get some info about this Gov. Palin.

I'm getting off topic. My point is, this woman decided to make a case for McCain's choice and then left immediately after she was done speaking, leaving no chance for reply/rebuttal. Why didn't she just comment on the weather? Or she could have said, "That McCain wears a lot of sweaters. Ya think he gets warm in southern states. He never looks sweaty. Ya think he sweats?"
Now that is the type of conversation I need more of in my life. But no! I have this talk to me about something meaningful sign on my head. Shucks, what am I to do?

My 18th first day of school

I never thought that I would take early classes, nor did I expect I would be biking to class at 6:30am. The sun holds a special place in my heart when it wakes me up on the way to school. Now, there are countable bikes on the rack. It will be interesting to see how many students keep with it, or just fail at their new attempt to get exercise on the way to school. (I've been doing this for years kids.)

I hope for little. However, if only a small portion of students decides to do a few errands to or from school, they will have accidentally been good stewards of the earth. But does one bike chore really make a difference? Sure, because of things like this. One is never alone in taking care of the earth.