Day 144

Early early start to this morning. I decided to stay the night at Mike's house but I just couldn't get comfy sleeping. At 4:00AM, I got up and decided to just go home, and give my bed a shot.

I did, and I slept, all the way until 11:30.

Woke up, hung out, showered, COD'd, and then took a drive up to Alpine to the only remaining Pep Boys in Grand Rapids. Dropped off my car for an oil change, and was told it would take thirty minutes. Therefore, I walked up the road through many parking lots to Wal-Mart, followed by lunch at McDonalds. After lunch, picked up my car, used my giftcard for the oil change (thanks Grandma Diane and Grandpa Bob), and I was on my way.

Made it home, changed, and went to work, where I spent some of the night filing, some of the night giving tours, and the ladder of the night working out, once my shift was done.

I went home and seriously ingested protein, from powder, raw eggs, milk, vanilla chai, and a huge salad. Watched "Goodfellas" which I fell in love with. Best gangster movie I've seen.

- Me at work

Day 143

It feels like I haven't been to church in forever. Actually, I haven't. Last Sunday I was working, the Sunday before was Christmas, and the Sunday before that I was out of town for a family Christmas.... plus.... I might have even worked the Sunday before that as well. Man....well I'm thankful I was able to go again this Sunday.

Good service, everyone was there, including Jordan and her family. After the service, Chad, Sam, Jordan and I all went out and grabbed more Chinese at Akita Buffet. I could eat Chinese food every day. I ordered a beer with my meal, which is something I've never done, only because the refills at Akita sometimes don't come.

After the meal, Chad dropped me and Jordan off at her house, and then me and her decided to hit up the Woodland Mall area, as well as Plato's Closet. I ended up buying the film "Goodfellas" on blu ray for only 4 bucks, which is almost a steal for the acclaim that movie has been given. We stopped at Best Buy, and I also picked up a copy of the 14th season of The Simpsons..... man, The Simpsons is as old as me, when will that show end.

Her and I went back to my house, watched some "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", where Mike joined us.  Then we met up with Chad, Sam, and Caleb, and watched the film "Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy" at Celebration Cinema. The film was okay, the pacing was much slower for my personal taste. After the film, we all went to Steak and Shake, and I enjoyed the guacamole burger.

Add some more COD at midnight at Mike's house, and that my friends, was a busy Sunday.

- Us after we "broke in" to Santa's workshop at Rivertown Mall -

Day 142

Not a whole lot exciting today. The cold I had is finally gone, and it's another warm day..... almost 50 degrees. Shocking for a January Saturday.

I slept in a good portion of the morning, which only gave myself two hours to hang out before I had to be at work. I picked up a 15 inch sub at Boardwalk Subs, which was plenty filling. After my lunch, I went into work, and put in the typical 6 hour Saturday shift. I did some extreme painting, which left my hands and arms looking "nice."

After work, I went to Q'doba, grabbed some dinner, then went to Mike's, where I played COD with him for a solid 3 hours.

This was my Saturday.

- COD -

Day 141

My stomach is slightly soar and tight from the previous day's ab work out.... this is a good thing.... but ugh..... ughh... That's all. Ugh.

I did a lot this morning, accomplished a great deal. I got my worksheet for my major out and updated the classes I had, classes I will be taking, and did the math, and with one summer class, I'll graduate on time. I'm happy and very thankful, if not blessed, that everything has worked out with this. My last schedule was more choppy as well, but the classes I am in now are alligned perfectly and I don't even have to start class until 11:30AM. Sleep0in time is guaranteed.

Shelby cut my hair right after lunch, and I'm pleased. Just so sick of washing through what felt like a mop. Kudos to women and their hair. Mike called and wanted to do some COD, and I say to that, why not? After an hour or two of bullet-storming, I cleaned my room and re-arranged it only slightly, making more room available. I can't wait to move out... I've begun looking for room-mate ads rather than find a place to myself.... I'll make a new friend if I have to, if that means saving half off on rent and still being able to move out.

After some good salad making and potato meat dinner my mother made, I went off to Red Robin, to meet Jordan, Ryan, and Phil there for some drinks and half off appeteizers. We were there for a good hour, and then I went back to Jordan's house to wait for everyone to meet up downtown. I left there and met up at Gardella's, but was the only one.... everyone was late (Ryan and Phil being almost an hour late). We grabbed drinks, then walked over to the B.O.B., but I departed from Dana and Karina, two people I haven't seen in awhile, especially Karina. The Wolfpack then went to Pyramid Scheme, which is probably one of the coolest bars ever. Old video games, pinball machines, it's my kind of bar. Not the sex-in-the-city esque club. It was a general feel for a nerdy crowd, and I was plenty happy with that.... Iron Man Pinball? Sold. Returned home but stopped off at Jordan's again to rest for an hour. No, I was not drunk or buzzed, I was perfectly legal to drive. Just got really sleepy on the ride home.

- Ryan got me pretty good after I left Red Robin. That flirtatious waitress can check me off her list -

Day 140

I failed. Today was COD day. After playing some with my friend Mike, I would soon be in for more.

Thankfully I worked today at 2, and even left my house at 1:00, but after the work shift, and a good hour massage, I was back at home.

I did stop off at the mall after the massage and return a gift, and browse some other stores, Teavana being one of them. Stopped at Michaels to look at frames for some art I need displayed. Everytime I go into Michaels, I keep getting motivated to move out more and more. I plan to do this, probably in the spring. I just need out. Spent six glorious months in Los Angeles, which is so much more expensive.... I can move out.

Returned home and played more COD with Mike online for a good three hours. I'm a guy, I'm single, and it's a week night. Still off of school. Sue me.

- MW3 -

Day 139

I'm really trying to dodge the usual morning routine of a game and breakfast, followed by logging in hours trapped in my room.

Thankfully Jordan called me over today to make me some Reubens. I love a good Reuben sandwich, my favorite being at Rockwell's, though Cracker Barrel did bring some competition to that weeks ago. We hung out at her house and video-skyped Pat, who is still living the dream in the Netherlands. After her house, I met Melissa back at mine, and we hung out before leaving together for a work meeting.

The work meeting was good, and I passed my tour test. After work, I worked out with my buddy Dana. A good hour we put in; 15 minutes of that being fully devoted in the sauna. I've never sweat that much before. Had a protein bar, Melissa picked me up a protein shake, and then Melissa and I returned to my house, to have some spaghetti and watch old films, one being "Modern Times", and the other would have been "Rosemary's Baby" but a slow internet means no movie..... She leaves for Ireland tomorrow, she'll be gone two weeks.... so it was good to spend an eve with her.

And yes, a new phone.... an iPhone 4! I like Droid, I like Google, but the software glitches, bugs, crashes, and issues that happen on a weekly basis have made me go bananas. Another Apple product in the bag.

- Modern Times -

Day 138

I've come to enjoy sleeping in. It has been a huge aid in helping this cold deteriorate in me. It also gives me a morning to relax and enjoy the little things.

Having said that, after my own little morning of a break, I had lunch with my friend Jordan. We went up to Ming Ten for some Chinese, and stayed there a good hour. (I can never get sick of Chinese food). After the food spree, we went to Plato's Closet, in the hopes I could find one more pair of jeans. I did, but I didn't buy them yet. I'll wait to sell some clothes and then if they're still there, trade time.

Jordan then picked us up Starbucks, and we went back to her house, and just hung out and talked until I had to go to work. In her room, which is literally like a studio apartment and I'm jealous, is a giant Rorschach painting. I was amazed at how each person will see different things in the art. She and I saw completely different things, and it amazed me how even some are subject to different colors vs. other colors. Left her house, ran to Meijer to get some eggs for her dad's birthday cake, then went on my way to work. Got to work, worked, and was surprised by Melissa who brought me my favorite soup, complete with bread bowl and cilantro. I was very thankful and it made my night.

After work, I went to Mike's, where we played 3 hours of survival missions on COD. Yah....

- Rorschach Painting in Jordan's Room
* Top to bottom, going right, I see a Motorcycle Driver, Wasp, Lady Gaga, A Chinese Birthday Cake, Two Eskimos Racing on Small Horses, Two Unicorns having a bloody battle, 4 Guys wearing Gasmaks while playing Rock Em-Sock Em Robots, And a guy at the beach at night.