Possibly the most fantastic...

...show in the history of the Fools! Well maybe not the entire history, seeing as I've only seen one semester's worth of shows, but I still hold that last night's End-of-the-Semester-Ship-of-Fools-Grand-Finale was a positively awesome show, from the Foolish awards ceremony (during which Andy was magically conjured by a shout of "Andy! Andy! Andy!") to the no less then legendary feat of "Five Things" in 2 minutes 15 seconds with Benji un-failingly guessing and T-Rex and Freshman giving the flawless clues! The five Things included but were certainly not limited to: Resequencing DNA in a sandbox, shaving a cat using WD-40 instead of shaving cream and a Motorola Razr, and giving birth to audience suggestions. And at no time was anything other then mime and gibberish used!
Yet another feat that struck awe into the hearts of the audience and participants alike was the extraordinary "Sideline Sermon". The subject was "pungently reverberating Pepto-Bismol" and the game went like this: Paul got up and almost immediately got pungently, switch was called and Wes got reverberating within mere seconds, switch was called again and Paul ended things by saying Pepto-Bismol practically right out of the gate. I think everyone would agree that it was probably the fastest sermon on record.
Last night also held a first for me. My first "Chain Murder Mystery". Turns out everybody wanted in on the action! If I remember correctly we had a total of ten people waiting in the wings (or hallway) to get killed. But we spiced things up even more for the audience! Alex and I went in as twins joined at the hip (One day when you get a few spare moments, link arms with someone and try to convey the location "roller rink" using only mime and gibberish, it's fun), and T-Rex (the last person) was shot by Stu as soon as he walked in the door, but naturally went ahead and guessed what the location, occupation, and murder weapon were. The first two things amazingly made it almost all the way down the line intact, the weapon however didn't make it anywhere (it turned out to be a gerbil exercise ball). And I've got it all on tape! What I've described here is really just the tip of the iceberg. My summer project now seems to be to find a way to convert my VHS-C to some kind of digital media that could be mass produced. Everybody and his brother wants a copy of the by now mythical "Five Things" game.

There really isn't a moral to this story children, but I'll throw this in, don't tell Benji that he's lost The Game, because he will now punch you if you do.

Serendipity....

...is what I am rejoicing in right now beloved readers, and also the fact that I don't procrastinate about absolutely everything. Most things, indeed, but not everything. When I went to try to CODO into Freshman the advisor there told me what classes he thought I should take and I was going to take his word for it. He also told me that it might be a good idea for me to go talk to the advisor in Aero. But he said that he didn't think it would matter if I went to see him now, or next semester. I chose to hike right on over there, and I'm sure glad I did! When I went to my appointment with him yesterday he gave me the low-down about CODO'ing right into Aero. It turns out that he would be a bit more flexible then Freshman (a vision of iron rods and places-where-the-sun-don't-shine swims before my minds eye...) (not pleasant by the way!). For instance, he said that instead of me dropping the aeromechanics to take computer programming that he would accept my VisualBasic programming course from IUS. He gave me advice about what to take when, and when to get back with him for another review to see about when I could be signed into Aero. Apparently all I need to worry about now is learning MATLAB over the summer (it's used significantly in the Aero courses, and he said that he thought that's what's primarily taught in ENGR 126, which I can't get into) and keeping my GPA up. Of course in the fall I'll also have to worry about passing multivariant calc and perhaps linear algebra as well, but that's a bridge that I won't count before it's either in a haystack or has rolled off a log. Or something...
But on to the bit about serendipity! Dr. Williams told me about a seminar that was going to happen at 3 o' clock...this was at 2:45. He said that it was somebody from JPL so I went down to see what was up. Turns out it was Bob Mitchell! Director of the Cassini mission to Saturn!!! It was fantastic! He spoke for about an hour, and he had some of the pictures there that he commented on, and slides of some of the technical problems that they encountered. Did you know that when Cassini made it's trip up through Saturn's rings, they turned it around so that the high-gain antenna could act as a debris shield? I love multifunctional stuff! But anyway, I said hello to him afterwards, and told him what an honor it was to hear his seminar. Seriously, I have been following Cassini for ages, I never dreamed I'd get to shake the director's hand! I got his autograph too.

So there you are children, I think the moral is clear. Don't procrastinate all the time, and sometimes beautiful coincidences can happen.

Ok, splendidly fascinating update time...

...Hey, that could be the title of my autobiography! As most of you know by now, or at least anybody who has been reading this blog, the semester is winding down faster then ever. For me there's just about 6 days left! Being, I think, a forward thinking sort of person I am trying to get into the Aero school. That may seem insane, but I would like to have my degree before I'm, oh say..., about 59. I know, I'm a big dreamer. Today at 2 o' clock I have an appointment with an advisor in Aero, hopefully he will be able to give me some answers and help me work up some kind of a game plan. I am hoping against hope that he can somehow get me signed into ENGR 126 for the fall. Supposedly you can't get into that course unless you are in an engineering school, and yet I can't get into an engineering school until I've had ENGR 126. Little do poor unsuspecting students know that being admitted into Purdue opens a veritable Pandora's Box stuffed full of red tape. But now I'm just mixing metaphors. On the bright side, I am at least now reassured that Aero is definitely what I want to do. There's just no getting around it. When I was in Grissom Hall yesterday to make my appointment I saw in one hallway where they had the students rockets hanging from the ceiling along with their pictures, and there's cases of model aircraft by the stairwell and that's just very exciting to me. That's the way it's been with so many things in my life though. I'm completely convinced of something, and then there's a period where an element of doubt creeps in, and then an event or a memory will reassure me to the same level or a higher one then I was at at the beginning. It seems insane, but true. A week or so after I first got my horse he tested me like...well I can't think of a good example...but anyway, he tested me! Which is totally natural for a horse to do, but it was very hard on me. There were times when I asked myself why the heck I wanted a horse in the first place, but then I'd remember the feeling I'd get in the pit of my stomach whenever I saw a saddle, or felt the soft, fuzzy skin at the very tip of a horse's muzzle, or smelled that wonderful "horse" smell, and that thought alone would convince me that there was more to this then just a passing whim. I suppose I could say the same for Aero. I believe that it is something that I want to do with my life, and furthermore I think that it is something that I can do. Maybe I won't be able to do it with the same ease as say, a philosophy class, but I still think I can do it.
Ok, enough musing, it is getting near appointment time so I'm going to go brush my teeth again. I will probably post yet another update later to either muse, celebrate, or rant about how it went.
Until then, think on this adage:
In some cultures, what I do would be considered normal.

Surreal to say the least...

...Yesterday I got a phone call. "That's not surreal!" you say, but you didn't let me finish. The phone call was from a complete stranger. A wrong number, this feller was looking for a Julie, but he got ahold of me, instead of just hanging up like people usually do, he ends up talking to me for like half an hour! If you're the type who frequent chat rooms, then it was just like the introductions on those! "Oh really? So what are some of your hobbies? That's great..." Weird! It was wrapped up by him saying that for a total stranger I was pretty cool to talk to and maybe he'd call me again. Yeah, weird!

And now, surreal happening no. 2: I also talked to my older brother on the phone last night (this was after wrong number dude). Now it should be known that me and Josh get along very well, and there isn't a heck of a lot that's taboo, or off limits for discussion, in our family. I have been known to discuss the use of condoms with my male neighbor (Granted this neighbor was more like a family member, but even so...). That having been said, last night it was fairly late and the bro and I were joking back and forth like we usually do and somehow we got onto the subject of his love life. Now let me interrupt the story here just to say that there are some things that you do not want to know in great detail about your brother! Maybe he'd had a couple beers...But anyway, he somehow started to let slip what kind of undies he likes his girlfriends to wear...yeah! "Josh! Shut up! I don't wanna know!" Gee whiz...And that's not the first time something like that has happened to me either!

The moral to this story children is never, ever, ever answer the telephone! Some guy who's got the wrong number could be on the other end! Or your brother.

That's how it really happened...

...And that's one of the games that was played at last night's improv show. The phenomenon occurred at Hillenbrand Hall. It was touted as the Grand-Prix/Grand-Alternative alternative. Non-alcoholic refreshments were provided, and very much welcomed at that. I was able to film the entire show (lets hear it for my camcorder battery!), but it is a little shaky. About 5 minutes into the show I decided that the tripod just wasn't working out (to low, couldn't get the entire stage) and decided to hold the camera, which ended up working pretty well, except for when I laughed, hence the shakiness. But anyway:

FunFact:
~ "Hued" is a verb. eg The streets were hued with many colors.
This definition brought to you by Ryan in "Two Person Story"

And now, just for kicks:

Stolen from Ryan, who stole it from Sarah...

If you have 40 of these, then you are... Spoiled!
Do you have:
(x) your own cell phone
( ) a television in your bedroom
( ) an MP3 player
( ) a photo printer
( ) your own phone line
( ) TiVo or a generic digital video recorder
(x) high-speed internet access
( ) a surround sound system in bedroom
( ) DVD player in bedroom
( ) at least a hundred DVDs
(x) a childfree bathroom (do the other undergrads count as children?)
( ) your own in-house office
( ) a pool
( ) a guest house
( ) a game room
( ) a queen-size bed or larger
( ) a stocked bar
( ) a working dishwasher
( ) an icemaker
(x) a working washer and dryer
( ) more than 20 pairs of shoes
( ) at least ten things from a designer store (HAHAHAHA!!! I wouldn't know designer if it bit me in the butt!)
( ) expensive sunglasses
( ) framed original art (not lithographs or prints)
( ) Egyptian cotton sheets or towels
(x) a multi-speed bike
( ) a gym membership
( ) large exercise equipment at home
( ) your own set of golf clubs
( ) a pool table
( ) a tennis court
( ) local access to a lake, large pond, or the sea
( ) your own pair of skis
( ) enough camping gear for a weekend trip in an isolated area (Geez, how much do ya need? Gimme a couple cans of pork n' beans and a sleeping bag. Well, and a can opener, and some clean water, and some toilet paper...- ok, ok, point taken.)
( ) a boat
( ) a jet ski
( ) a neighborhood committee membership
( ) a beach house or a vacation house/cabin
( ) wealthy family members
( ) two or more family cars
( ) a walk-in closet or pantry
(x) a yard (The one at home counts right?)
( ) a hammock
( ) a personal trainer
(x) good credit
( ) expensive jewelry
( ) a designer bag that required being on a waiting list to get (A wait list?!?! For a PURSE? Wait lists are for new livers and kidneys and such!)
( ) at least $100 cash in your possession right now
( ) more than two credit cards bearing your name (not counting gas cards or debit cards)
( ) a stock portfolio
( ) a passport
(X) a horse (Heck yeah! My bestest boy, Tiger!)
( ) a trust fund (either for you or created by you)
( ) private medical insurance
( ) a college degree, and no outstanding student loans (HAHAHA!!!)
Do you:
( ) shop for non-needed items for yourself (like clothes, jewelry, electronics) at least once a week
( ) do your regular grocery shopping at high-end or specialty stores
( ) pay someone else to clean your house, do dishes, or launder your clothes (not counting dry-cleaning)
( ) go on weekend mini-vacations
( ) send dinners back with every flaw
( ) wear perfume or cologne (not body spray)
( ) regularly get your hair styled or nails done in a salon
( ) have a job but don't need the money
OR( ) stay at home with little financial sacrifice
( ) pay someone else to cook your meals
( ) pay someone else to watch your children or walk your dogs
( ) regularly pay someone else to drive your taxis
( ) expect a gift after you fight with your partner
Are you:
( ) an only child
( ) married/partnered to a wealthy person
( ) baffled/surprised when you don't get your way (HAHAHA!!!)
Have you:
( ) been on a cruise
( ) traveled out of the country
( ) met a celebrity (I saw Robin Williams on TV once...)
( ) been to the Caribbean
( ) been to Europe
( ) been to Hawaii
( ) been to New York
( ) eaten at the space needle in Seattle (My grandma lives in Tacoma...)
( ) been to the Mall of America
( ) been on the Eiffel tower in Paris
( ) been on the Statue of Liberty in New York
( ) moved more than three times because you wanted to
( ) dined with local political figures
( ) been to both the Atlantic coast and the Pacific coast
Did you:
( ) go to another country for your honeymoon
( ) hire a professional photographer for your wedding or party
( ) take riding or swimming lessons as a child
( ) attend private school (well...sorta, I was homeschooled...)
( ) have a Sweet 16 birthday party thrown for you

Well there ya have it folks! And since this post is now ludicrously long, I'll wrap it up.
The moral children, of this story would have to be: short and sweet will get you far!

My gosh, there's only...

...two weeks left in the semester! Fifteen days to be exact. Hard to believe. But anyway, on to the updates!

1) My mom did indeed come up for the weekend. That was a whole hunk o' fun! I took her to improv with me and introduced her to all the guys, and then forced her into playing the traditional and obligatory game of "Family Moving People".
All the Fools and audience participants stepped up and gave a splendid show.

FunFacts:
~Pink brings out the color in Freshman's eyes.
~Benji's first kiss involved CPR.
~Purdue was founded on a bet that tons of students could be forced to live out in the middle of a cornfield.

2) Song I'm listening to right now: Mack The Knife sung by Michael Buble'.

3) My dance sneakers arrived, and I am very pleased! They are quite comfortable.

4) Spring is here! The cherry trees are blooming beautifully and there are flowers popping up all over the place and they've turned on the fountains here at Purdue! I love fountains.

5) Oh, and it looks like I won't be able to get any financial aid for the summer, which sucks...but ah well, such is life. I'll manage.

Tomorrow is the second to last dance lesson. Didn't think I'd end up liking it this much when I started. But again, such is life. ;)

The moral of the story children is: You can't win. You can't break even. You can't even quit The Game.

Lackey Wanted...

I’m holding try-outs for a minion; please submit your application at the front desk.

(or the comments section in this case.)

How exciting...

...is this? I have officially ordered dance shoes! The instructor suggested some dance sneakers. They're basically built like tennis shoes, so you get the cushioning, but they have a split soul so your foot can bend and special grips so you can still spin but you aren't sliding all over the place. They should get here some time next week.
Exciting bit of info no. 2: My mom may be coming up to see me this coming weekend! If it works then she'll come on Friday night so she can come watch the Fools with me.
Speaking of the Fools, Last night the taping of the practice went very well. The angle was great.

Some highlights to the evening include:
~ In "Moving People" one movee (Stu) and one mover (myself) both thought that the situation we were given was a Golf Convention. Turns out that it was supposed to be a Goth Convention! The scene was amazingly smooth considering that the characters were in totally different conventions!
~ In "Blind Lines" Benji declaring that the warning label on the fake ham said "You are very ugly!" thereby getting him fired from his job reennacting "Braveheart".
~ Benji's Clinton impression in "Three Things" using only mime and gibberish.
~ SOG's (Alex) invention of the "paper attracting magnet" during workshop!
~ In "The Clap", (as Shakeel and myself steal the scene from Alex and Benji) I open with, "Look, I have no problem with lighting things on fire, but...it's your mom!" At which point the scene was stolen from us by Cowboy and Stu.

A good time was had by all!

And so children, the moral of the story is that if you want to take up improv, be prepared to sever all ties with any family members you might have.

A bittersweet reunion...

You people out there may not realize this, but there's only about a month's worth of classes left here at good ol' PU. I was thinking the other day about this paradox that I've been living in for the last 3 months. There are some days when all I want to do is get away from here. I just want to be home where there's people I know, and classes I'm actually good at, and grass to walk on. But then there are other times (which I'm happy to say are growing more frequent) (I think) (maybe), when I feel like I belong here, like I was right to fight to get here. I know that next semester is going to be very hard, and half way through I'll probably wish that it would be over, but I also know that I'll be excited to come back here in the fall. It looks like I will definitely get the same job back, which is wonderful. I like working at the library.
If I can just pass calc II I'll go into summer break a happy person!!!
Children, the moral of this story is that even when you feel desperately out of place, the human heart is a very versatile thing, you can get used to an upended universe and you can wind up actually liking it that way.