First Year Over?

It's incredibly hard to believe that I arrived here in august completely not wanting to be here. I was scared of what I was about to embark on, and would much rather have stayed at home. This was my future so I had to be here and make the most of this opportunity. I quickly adapted and made some new friends. I never got to choose my schedule and was forced to take classes I was not interested in early in the morning, this resulted in me not waking up in time or not paying attention in class. My grades were average, but for me they were not good enough. I really was not interested in any of the classes though so I really just had to suffer through them. When it came time to pick classes for next semester I got everything that I wanted and have enjoyed most of them. This has resulted in A's in all of my classes but one. But when I look back on the year I don't think of my classes or my grades, I remember all of the memories I had with friends. This year was awesome it was filled with parties, riots, NCAA tournament, pranks, meeting new people, and creating new bonds with people I'll never forget. So many great times were had during this first year of college and I know for a fact that I won't be forgetting them anytime soon.

Busch Gardens

When was the last time you guys went to an amusement park? I went to Busch gardens this Saturday with some friends, I had not been to an amusement park in over a year so I was really excited. The people I went with actually work at Busch Gardens, so that meant that we could get to the front of the lines on most rides. This was really awesome since the lines we pretty long, not to mention we got employee parking, 30% off all purchased items in the park, as well as free admission into the park. So I had a free day of enjoyment. The rides were fun, and hanging out with friends and getting away from the college environment was really fun. This goes to show you cannot outgrow having fun at an amusement park.  

Really Stressed Out!

Choosing classes for next semester is really stressful. I went to see my advisor to discuss my options for next semester, and everything seemed alright at first. Then I got to thinking and started second guessing the classes I originally planned to take. To top that off when I went to register there was a hold on my account that my advisor forgot to take off after I met with her. So now I'm not able to even register, and I'm unsure about what I should take :( The whole situation is more trouble than its worth. On top of that I have so much work to do, as teachers are assigning everything at once to get grades in by the end of the semester.

Origin of Easter

With Easter being on Sunday I started thinking about the holiday itself. How does a "bunny" become the overall symbol of the Easter holiday? I looked it up and here is what I found:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Bunny
http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-easter

Are We Really Safe Here?

So last night I was chillin in my friends room, and we all heard a loud POP. My first instinct was that someone just got shot, but everyone else thought that it was a skateboarder. Since the sound came from a close proximity I looked out the window to see if I could see anything. The first thing I saw was a white car do an immediate u-turn in the Panera parking lot, turn on flashing lights and speed toward the BP gas station. As I am watching the events taking place at the gas station, more cops start speeding down the road in pursuit of the shooter. Everyone at the gas station took one look at the guys body and drove away in a hasty fashion. After we observed the scene for a good while, we made out the persons body lying limp in a puddle of his own blood. This was a sickening thought. It was quite obvious that this person was dead just laying there so lifeless. If he even had a remote chance of survival then they would have brought in an ambulance, which they never did. I know this kind of stuff happens around here quite often, in fact my roommates and I saw the same thing happen right by the Cathedral that we walk past everyday. The chilling part is that it happens so close to campus, and we are never even alerted. After seeing that guys body I'm really going to think twice about what I do at night.

10 things I'm looking forward to next year!

1. Moving into 8 1/2 Canal apartments
2. Having my own room to myself
3. Having my own bathroom
4. Being able to cook my own food 
5. Being able to sleep whenever I want, and not be kept up by my roommates
6. Hopefully having a decided major, and taking some classes that relate to it
7. Getting really good grades
8. Making new progress in the gym
9. Setting new goals for myself
10. Enjoying life one day at a time

Great Food

My birthday was on Friday, and I went out to dinner with my family to a Japanese steak house, which is called Kabuto. It's a really nice restaurant that I really enjoy eating at every year. I have never had a bad meal there ever. Its family style seating so you will most likely be sitting with a few more people. There are eight seats to a table. This is no ordinary table though, in the middle of the table is a flat top grill that your meal will be prepared on. When your order is placed fresh chicken, shrimp, fillet mignon, rice, eggs, vegetables, and sauces are all loaded up onto a cart and wheeled to you table by an excellent chef. He checks your order and then begins preparing your meal right there in front of you with plenty of flashy tricks, flips, and jokes. It's a really awesome experience that is fun for the whole family. Not to mention that the meal is out of this world delicious. Definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a good time and a great meal.    

My Teacher's a Witch!

On Thursday I took my second exam in my Anthropology class, and I have to say that I most likely failed that one as well. The final grade in the class is based of of three test and that's it. On the first test the mean grade for the entire class was a 60%. In my opinion that reflects heavily on the teacher. If everyone is failing her test then she is obviously not doing her part. I studied hard for that test because it covered so much material. Even after all of that nothing that I studied prepared me for that test. It was filled with random questions that I really had no idea where she got them from. Apparently everyone else thought the same thing since everyone got a 60%. Every day in class she starts talking about random topics in her life that don't even pertain to the course, and then she'll give us a test on material we have yet to talk about. To top it all of this isn't even the teacher that I signed up for, she was actually replaced by this evil witch craft studying women. That's right the first day of class she told us she studied witch craft. Bottom line do not take a class taught by Amy Nichols-Belo.

Perfectionist?

I am very sorta OCD, because I like everything to be perfect, and just the way I have it. I hate when things are out of order, or not in the right spots. I really irritates me when someone just moves my stuff around. I'm a really chill person and am really laid back, but I just like to have everything clean, neat, and in its proper place. Every time I am assigned a project or some kind of work, I just can't turn it in unless I feel that I have given 110% and it's perfect in my eyes. I think this is the reason that I give it my all in everything that I do.

I thought this was pretty funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1ZsLfS5tvc&feature=related

Tear Gas!

After the heartbreaking lose to butler on Saturday, many flooded the streets to vent their frustrations. Hoards of people rushed to broad street where they where met by a very well prepared police force. Some friends and I decided to check out the insanity, and where in shock to see swat teams, armed with riot shields, mace, tear gas, dogs, horses, and prisoner buses. Once on broad people were really drunk and doing some of the dumbest things I've ever seen. The police force was not yet intervening at this point. People started to shoot off fireworks, and light things on fire creating a total uproar. The cops threw some tear-gas in hopes of breaking it up, but people quickly came back. It was not until some people lite a tree on fire that the police started moving in pushing us back. People started to throw things at them, such as bottles, and rocks. When they pushed everyone back onto Laurel, people would not move and decide to fight back. That is the point when the police started using rubber bullets, and mortaring tear-gas into the crowd. If you have never experienced tear-gas, then your lucky, because that was insanely uncomfortable. It took my breathe away and almost forced me to throw up. My eyes burned so much that they water and my nose just started running. Everyone scattered and ran to safety, for me and my friends it was back to the Rhodes/Brandt patio. Certainly that was a night that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.  

Bookstore Adventure

"How to Get Fat, It's as Easy as One, Two, Three" If I saw a book with this title, I think I would go crazy. In a country where being overweight has become an epidemic, the last thing we need is a book telling us how to become overweight. That would be completely counter productive to our cause of becoming a healthier nation. If I saw this book I would probably stand there day in and day out to be sure no one bought it. I really want to aware people about the dangers of being overweight, and help them to change their lives. So a book like this goes against everything that I want to do.

VCU!!!!!

Great game! I was on edge the entire time. Afterwords the streets were roaring with people celebrating, it was an amazing night. All I have to say is ELITE EIGHT! BABY!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSDKMmwzQZY

That Damn Card!

I just finished looking at my VCU card online, and was kind of shocked at the numbers. I have practically no dining dollars, and very few swipes left. I think it is complete bullshit that are options are so limited when it comes to food. I hate shafer, and can never find anything worth my swipes anywhere else. Also the plan that I am on only allows me to use two swipes a day! I eat a lot and that does not cover it for me. The meal plan is entirely over priced, especially when the food quality is so low. Last semester I also had trouble with my swipes and dining dollars. I ran out so fast, so this semester I tried to be cautious, but it obviously hasn't worked out to well. If you go to shafer you have to swipe to get in and then anything that's good cost you more swipes. It's a joke. I feel like they give you just enough to survive, but that's just me. How are you guys doing on swipes? Do you find the food here to be good?

One Man Wolfpack

Zach Galifianakis. When I think of the greatest speech ever given on planet earth this guy comes to mind. His "One Man Wolf Pack" speech had me torn between laughter and a state of disbelief. How could someone be so dumb and so brilliant all at the same time? This is probably one of the most epic speeches that my hears have ever heard. Just so you guys can experience the awesomeness the link will take you to the speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdMxRG9Jol0

Just Do It Already!

"I don't think I can do it"

"Yes you can. I know you can its not hard."

"But its twelve feet of water and I can't even swim well. How do I get back up to the surface?"

"All you have to do is slide down the slide into the water, then paddle back up to the surface. Its really not bad at all."

"Yeah easy for you to say."

"Quit being a bitch, and just do it! I don't see what the big deal is. You can swim well enough to slide down a dumb slide. You not going to die."

"But I'm scared."

"Really? You're the one that wanted to do it in the first place, so why are you backing out? We all did it and survived."

"Yeah but, your big and muscular, and Dante's Dante, and Ryan's a lifeguard. No problem for you guys!"

"Wow. Do whatever you want I don't give a shit."

"Fine. I'm doing it. I'll go down the damn slide, but if I die I'm going to kill you!"

"I find that hard to believe, cause if you die then there's not much you can do to me. Plus I get free tuition!"

"Ha ha very funny. See you at the bottom."

PS3 vs XBOX 360

A lot of people debate between XBOX and playstation, and which is a better choice. Personally I could care less about which is a better console. In my opinion they both play games and you can pretty much do the same things with each console. I would settle for either one, but I personally own a Playstation 3. I partially believe that I went with this choice because I owned a PS2, and I knew that I could trust Sony to make a good console. Also the online is free on PS3, where as on XBOX you have to pay for online. Each system has there own exclusive games, and I think that PS3 might have XBOX beat with those, Uncharted, God of War, and Little Big Planet are all top games that are exclusive to PS3. Sony also incorporated a Blu-Ray player into the PS3 design, which also allows for game disc to store more data and sometimes better graphics. The price on a PS3 is a little steep which draws more people to the XBOX, but you should also account for the online fee for XBOX. Sony actually loses money when you buy a PS3 system because it cost more to make then they are actually selling it for. In all honesty though I would play both systems whenever I feel like I need a fun little break from my day. I would love to hear about what you guys have to say on this topic leave some comments below.

Erging

On Friday I went to the gym with a friend who is on VCU's crew team. I usually do not do much cardio any more, so I really did not know how I would do. I was extremely eager to try this crew workout since my friend said that I would not be able to do it. When I enter the gym I become a different person. I get really focused and try to push my body to its limits and set new personal records. We went upstairs to the erging machines, and my friend set up my machine with the workout that the team does every morning. As we started erging I realized that I was going really fast compared to my friend. We kept doing intervals on the machine with only short periods of rest. At the end of the workout my friend checked each of out times, and he was shocked by mine. Apparently my times were incredibly good and could compare with the top crew members. My friend was shocked and could not believe that I found it so easy. We were not done there though, next was a three mile run. Which was a little tougher since I was sorta tired already. Afterwords, I was pretty impressed with my performance and it was good to know that I was still in good shape. Now I think I'm going to incorporate some more cardio into my workouts and see how far I can push myself.

Death to Athlete's

I strongly believe that soda should be banned all together. It is honestly a slow death for continuous drinkers. No good comes out of guzzling down a soda. If you drink just two soda's a week then you increase your risk of pancreatic cancer by 86%. Soda is just empty calories, which cannot be used in the body so it generally gets stored as fat. I use to drink soda a lot when I was younger and I was actually pretty big for about three years. I have played sports my entire life so I was always in shape, but when I entered high school things changed dramatically for me. When conditioning one day for soccer I realized that even though I was in decent shape, I was nothing compared to the rest of the team. After the hardest run of my life, the coach had a talk to us about diet. He told us that to get the most out of our hard work we had to eat right. He said that "soda is death to athlete's" these words stuck to me like glue and I still have not forgotten them. Since that day I have not drank soda once, and I try to eat a clean as I can. My body has changed for the better and I feel so much better than I did all those years ago when I drank soda. I don't understand why you would drink something so cynical. Soda is linked to an increased risk of stroke and other heart related illness's. So why would you ever do that to yourself.


This might change your mind about what you chose to drink next time:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1IXWfO/nutritionresearchcenter.org/healthnews/what-happens-to-your-body-if-you-drink-a-coke-right-now/

Random Movies

As I am writing this the movie Step Brothers is on and it inspired me to write this blog about funny movies. My top recent funny movies include; Step Brothers, Pineapple Express, The Hangover, and Dinner for Schmucks. Here are some clips from these movies.


 Step Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YuyDcySbiA

 Pineapple Express
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEhL-_u2agQ 

The Hangover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpOdCWaTsIk

Dinner for Schmucks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuN0rm4Ln94&feature=related


Have you guys seen any of these movies? What did you guys think of them? Did you like them? What is your favorite movie?

Life Without Technology...

Technology is everywhere these days. People rely on technology so heavily that it has become a basis for survival. Cell phones have turned into hand held computers, and cars can start with the push of a button. Technology plays so heavily into our lives that I think that if something happened and it all vanished then people would be chaotic. All technology needs some sort of power, which is usually electricity, and if there was no electricity our nation would be screwed. The aftermath of hurricane Katrina left New Orleans in a state of devastation. There was no electricity after the storm at all. This led to many home break ins, and much looting throughout the city. The city was in turmoil and it took FEMA days to get food and water to the people of Louisiana. For these reasons I do not think that people could survive without the use of technology.  This is also why I was curious as to how I would react to the absence of technology. I decide that I would go without using my laptop at all for an entire day. So on Friday when I woke up I did not even go over and turn it on. I kept myself busy the entire day, by going to class and packing up to go home for the weekend. When I got to my house I just put my backpack, which contained my laptop, on the floor and went into the living room to chill out. My brother put in a movie and to be honest I had no need for my laptop at all. Later that night my dad took us all out to the Olive Garden, where I enjoyed a delicious meal. I found that by keeping myself busy throughout the day there was no need for me to use my laptop at all. I think that I am usually on my laptop when I am bored and have nothing to do. As much as I use my laptop on a daily basis I was surprised at how easy it was to not use it. I think that if I was in the dorms then it would have been much harder for me to accomplish. Overall I think that this was an interesting experience and I am interested to try this out when I am in the dorms. 

A New Experience

It was extremely dark outside. The sun was not even up yet. I could not believe that anybody would ever get up this early. I glanced at the clock, bright red digits showed that the time was 5:45 am. I stumbled out of my dark room into an even darker bathroom. I spent some time in there trying to make myself look presentable for my big day. I trudged back into my room and tried to pick out something that would make me look cool. I glanced out the window, it was dark and rainy outside just like my spirits. I really was not looking forward to going. I made my way down stairs, where my mom was hard at work preparing for the day ahead. She was busy making lunches for my brother, me, and herself. She greeted me with a smile and ask what I would like for breakfast. She began making me an egg, bacon, and cheese breakfast sandwich. We started talking and she told me how she could not believe that I was so grown up. Before I knew it it was time to go. I grabbed my backpack and made my way slowly to the door. I walked slow hoping that she would say that I did not have to go, but she did not. I walked out into the dark, cold, and wet morning heading toward the spot where I would meet my doom. I looked to my left and saw the big bright lights shinning through the dark. The big object rolled to a stop in front of me, and its doors opened wide. I clambered up the steps, and took a seat. The bus pulled forward already in route to take me to my first day of high school.

My mom says that she remembers this event very clearly. The whole time she was in the kitchen that morning she just kept thinking that her children where growing up so fast. To this day she still tells me that fairly often. To her I am her first born son and she just does not want me to grow up. I know my mom would do anything to make me happy, and I appreciate everything that she has do for me in my lifetime.

Are You Gonna Win?

August. Your kind warm eyes shine
over-top of your dark circular glasses.
Thin, white, whispy hair caught in
the warm summer breeze.

A look of intent in your eyes as
you battle against your only worthy
opponent. Yourself. Knobbly hands
clenched tight. You just want a win.

A smile breaks across your wrinkled
face. You have broken your adversaries
defenses. You kind selfless man.
Are you going to beat the odds?

check out the link:
http://clip.vn/watch/Geri-s-Game-1997-Pixar-Short-Film,H8o

Endless Gaming?

As I am sitting here writing this, the sounds of Call of Duty Black Ops is being blasted out of my roommates television. You can also here the sounds of games being played all throughout the floor. Now I understand that video games can be fun as well as relieve some stress in the process, but there is such a thing as excessive game play. Honestly you know you have problem when you turn on the console as soon as you roll out of the bed. This video game addiction is effecting everything I do as well. It has resulted in many nights were I just simply can not get sleep because of the noise. I myself do actually play video games occasionally but no where near the amount of some people on this floor. I honestly feel that some of these people need help. They all run on very little sleep, get no exercise, and just constantly eat junk without even realizing it. Some one on my floor has gained 17lbs since he as been here, and he is one of these excessive gamers. I just think people should be a little more sensible about what there doing with there time.

http://www.pharmacyescrow.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/computer-addiction-7.jpg

I'm a Careerists

Now a days, to get ahead in life college is almost mandatory. People with a college education have a much higher chance of getting a job, and on average earn much more money than those without higher education. Both of my parents graduated with a college degree, and from a young age it was instilled in me that a college education was of utmost importance. Besides creating job opportunities college is a good learning experience that helps to prepare you for the outside world. Even though my major is currently undecided I know that I the education I receive here is essential for finding a career. So while I am here I am going to make the most of my experience so that I am able to get a great career and support my family. My biggest motivation for attending college aside from my parents, is so that I can acquire a successful job in the future.

Do You Like Shafer?

Since I am really into health and fitness what I eat on a daily basis plays a huge role in my life.  Working out and eating healthy go hand in hand, and what you put into your body on a regular basis is what you get out of it. I have noticed that it is very hard to get proper healthy nutrition at Shafer. The products are dense in calories and cooked in fats and oils. Also Shafer is a buffet, which can easily lead to overeating. It has been proven that eating three meals a day is not the best way to get your nutrients in. Instead you should eat 6 to 8 small meals a day, each should contain healthy fats, carbohydrates, and protein. This is also hard to do since students on a meal plan have a limited number of meal swipes. I personally do not like Shafer, and try to avoid it, but when I do go I try my best to make good choices. When you first walk in it is easy to be overwhelmed and just dive into the first thing that looks tasty. Try to walk around and observe all of your possible choices before selecting something to eat. This way you can pick something a little more healthy and satisfying. Try to avoid things that are fried or cooked in grease/oil. A good trick is to always start your meal with a salad and a glass of water. This way you will be partially full, and will generally eat less. Avoid the soda machines at all cost, the excess sugar and calories will just be stored as fat in the body. Have water or milk instead. The omelet station is always open and is a good way to get something a little healthier, just be sure to ask for real eggs. If your trying to lead a healthy lifestyle or even lose a few pounds a good place to start is with proper nutrition.     

Bucket List

Things that I hope to accomplish in my lifetime:

1. Graduate college
2. Get married
3. Start a family
4. Travel the world
5. Go skydiving
6. Star in a movie
7. Be on the cover of a magazine
8. Be the designer of a video game
9. Write a book
10. Become a millionaire
11. Bench press over 450lbs
12. Be a video game tester
13. Be the designer of a workout supplement
14. Run a marathon
15. Go surfing in Hawaii
16. Shake the presidents hand
17. Save someones life
18. Drive a Ferrari
19. Master a Martial Art
20. Fight in the UFC
21. Stand on the Great Wall
22. Be a chef in a gourmet restaurant
23. Catch a world record sized sailfish
24. Float in space
25. Go on a cruise
26. Run a marathon
27. Send my kids through college
28. Go to a Victoria Secret fashion show
29. Inspire a change in someones life
30. Go to Times Square for New Years
31. Write a song
32. Climb Mt. Everest
33. Bungee Jump
34. Punch Justin Bieber
35. Invent a cure for all types of cancer