Day 151

The nightmare ends today...

I woke up and continued in what turned out to be a two-hour search not just for my keys, but my spare key. Closets, shelves, desks, furniture, and more was ransacked and over-turned as I desperately begged for a key to turn up.

Nothing.... I called the Todd Wenzel dealership, called my grandpa, had him pick me up, and took my title and set out for new keys. (I still wonder where they are.... because at this point in time, as I write this, they are still gone). Someone took them... or God did. One of the two. The snow even melted today, and I walked up and down my driveway, but still no sign. Farewell keys.... your lanyard said "Go State" but you clearly followed another order... "Go to Heaven". See you again someday...

So my grandpa drops me off at Jordan's house, where my car is still sitting. Jordan took me out to Todd Wenzel and I paid the small amount (33 dollars) for a new key, as well as an extra three bucks for a spare key. We stopped at Arby's on the way back and I bought her lunch, as a way to say "Hey, sorry I got you dragged into this... can you drive me everywhere today." After Arby's, I slid the new shiny metal into my keyhole and Bam! My car was resurrected from its cold, dead, stationary state.

I drove home and relaxed for a little bit, and even watched some Batman with my brother. Shortly after, I got in my car and drove out to visit my good friends Dan, Steve, and Silvia at their house. We hung out, ate some dinner, watched "Super 8" on the new 65 inch HDTV complemented with surround sound, and talked film business.... well, not just talked, planned, and started working again.

Drama Class has officially begun pre-production!

- Todd Wenzel must sell to the Secret Service -

Day 150

Today was such a busy day, by busy, I mean fun.

What started as a rocky start to my Sunday soon melted it's way as a great time of fellowship and well, goodness.

I drove myself to Church and sat next to Chad. After a great service about honesty, gossip, and my personal weakness, manipulation, Jordan, Chad and I went out to eat at Bagger Dave's. Mike was our waiter, and the three of us ordered custom burgers. I got three beef patties on mine, as well as the Artichoke Sauce and green olives.

After dinner, I went back to Jordan's house, where her and I drove back to my house with her brother and the trailer and the quad. Yes, winter snow, means winter driving! Taking a 4 wheeler out into the ten acres that surrounds my house was a perfect way to add adrenaline my afternoon. Jordan and I rode around for a good thirty minutes, and then pulled Ethan behind us on a sled. We then went inside, had some hot chocolate, and then hung out in my room, until Mike, Chad, and Sam joined us. Then all of us suited up (some more suited then others, but thankfully we have ample space and extras in our closets) and we all went sledding and riding on the quad. I wanted to get some pictures, but the cold wind, snow and wet air flying into our frozen faces may have ruined my new phone, so I got a different picture instead.

Coldness won the better of our time, but not after plenty of sled wipe-outs and whiplashes (there were 3 sleds being towed). We went in and played monopoly before leaving for Applebees for some late night appetizers. After we left, my car, which was at Jordan's the whole day, needs keys. And after an hour of searching, my keys are gone. Yes, there is nothing more frustrating than having a 3,000 pound slab of metal be stuck because you are missing .3 oz of another slab of metal. I called my boss and informed him of my dilemma, but it's gone. My keys are gone. I will get up super early tomorrow and try to look again. Paying a dealership bundles of cash for a replacement key is not in the Derek-Budget right now. FML. Seriously.... FML. Those damn keys have evaporated.... I remember where I had them last, and put them in my pocket, but they are gone. The heavens have called them up.....

..... Seriously, I'm so frustrated......

- Monopoly in my room, after a cold outdoor adventure -

Day 149

Today is Saturday

We have been dumped on with still more snow.

I cleaned my room partially, but needed to still escape the feeling of being trapped behind snow.
So I went to Mike's. I brought my laptop, ordered Jimmy John's, and we did a research / hunt day. Jobs, sales, houses, news, anything that might add to our lives. We wouldn't mind finding another 2nd job, so we spent time on our laptops doing just that.

At 3:00, we left to go see the film "Take Shelter", which I give an A for acting but a C for a story. It was just a boring story. Film nuts would argue with me, but I did not care for it. Meh.

We returned to Mike's house, where some COD with him was done, but only for an hour.

Ended the night by hitting up the casino with Chad..... we both lost... Gun Lake is a scam. I was never even ahead at a point.... and I'm confident I saw an employee guarding a slot machine, only to offer it to a man, who then won 100 dollars.... something's up. I'm done. No more casino.... No more....

- Take Shelter -

Day 148

I have to admit the first week of school went by so fast, but that's probably because I only have classes on two days of the week.

The storm dumped a lot of snow around me, and I had to help move my sister's, boyfriend's car out of the ditch at our house. We have a notorious driveway that becomes more slippery than a politician. After some salt and some pushing, the car was out. I had to work today from 2-6, which went by fast as well. Had a meeting with my boss, and shared some new ideas for the club. I'm excited for what's down the road....

After work the fun began. I went home and played COD (sue me) for a little bit. After that, Ryan had a birthday, which me there was fun to behad. We all went to Jake's Hotel and had a ball. $1.00 miller lites, karaoke, pool, and a much more chill environment. Downtown GR has so many bars where it's a "sex in the city" esque joint; a place of my car is bigger than your car, or my wallet is bigger than yours.... Not every bar downtown is like that, but I feel some nights that crowd of "my dick is bigger than your dick" or "look at my Prada!!" seems to gather. Jake's was much more chill. I got to see several people I haven't seen in awhile from my high school years, plus meet up with Chad, Caleb, Jordan, Ryan, his girlfriend, Phil, and Pat. We had some drinks, talked, everyone kind of hung out, and my personal highlight of the night was Chad doing karaoke. He sang "Doing the mess around", an oldies song, probably heard in the film "planes, trains, and automobiles". He had some dancers join him, and that my friends is a good bar.

After wards a select few went back to my house, where more snow covered roads, late hours, and icy conditions put some of our casino plans on hold. Looks like Saturday night is the ticket!

- Chad doing karaoke -

Day 147

Not another school day.....

yes, this was an all day, 11:30AM until 7:40 ordeal. I took my lunch break at Mcdonalds, checked the news, ran to the mall to pick up a gift, ran back to school, did two more classes, ate dinner, and then went to Spanish.

I wish this was longer, but it twas a short day.

To top it, the roads were horrible due to our first winter storm, so it took me a solid 45 minutes to get home from GVSU. My film plans fell through with Dan & Steve, but that will happen next week. Made it home and.... I'd prefer not to say. It rhymes with sod.

- Winter Storm (not taken by me) -

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Day 146

The days just keep coming.... 146.... man, I can't tell if this makes time fly or if it makes me feel stupid for doing the same things on so many days...

I woke up and..... you guessed it: COD. This was only for a mere thirty minutes. After a few rounds, I got dressed and met my friend Katie for coffee at Bigby's. She's been in Florida since August, and even before that, we really haven't talked or spoken (my fault). It was good to catch up and see a friendly face. After coffee, we walked next door to Jimmy John's, where we hung out and ate until I had to leave for work.

Work came, and it was a good day. Stayed busy, cleaned machines, signed a guy, and learned first-hand from my boss how to do even better with sales and my dialogue. I'm a fast talker, and this is something that, while great for displaying energy, happiness, and overall positivity, it can seem shiesty when you're dealing with people, particularly older folk.

After work I met my friend Jordan at Costco for some dinner. While there, Noah and Alana both called me and begged me to go clubbing with them, which I kept attesting to with "no's". I sat in my car with Jordan and listened to a barrage of begs and pleases until I finally thought "why not?". I said I'd go. So I run home, change my clothes, (probably overdressed for Club Sixx), then went on my way to meet at Noah's. Jordan and I left with Noah, and we stopped at Alana's, where we hung out for awhile with her room-mate before leaving. Once at the club door, Jordan left her I.D., and only have a printed out copy of an identification card from Texas, which the bouncer didn't let fly. The girls dropped me and Noah off and told us they'd pick us up. Noah and I walked in, and were two of 40 people in there. It was dead. No one on the dance floor, people just standing around, couches wide open, it was like an open house. We finally met up with more of Noah's friends, talked, and ended up dancing, but Jordan disappeared due to a birth at the hospital (not her's).

Not a successful night there, but hey, if I say so myself, I looked gooooood. No conceit.

- Katie & I, Jimmy John's -

Day 145

First day back of classes!

I got up an extra two hours early to ensure my school day would be ready, which of course,it was. I didn' t purchase any textbooks, only because I wait to see if I really need them, which in this case, I don't. More $$ saved.

I got out to GVSU and sprinted what felt like a mile because I thought the campus safety office was near me, but it wasn't. I had to buy a parking permit, and on top of that, I didn't know it's free to part at campus safety. Oh well, it was a beautiful 48 degrees out, and a little sweat and running never hurt, though I've realized that Sperry's are not designed for running.

First class is awesome, only because the room and chairs are spinning and reclining chairs, and the teacher is so chill and laid back. I love it. After that, I had a two hour break, so I met my friend Chad for lunch at Bran's Steakhouse. We did the all you can eat soup, salad, and rolls deal for only 5.99! Lobster bisque was my evil desire.

I then returned back to campus, and went into my vision and culture class, which is cool. The prof. is a female version of Robert Downey Jr. She is witty, fast, and very energetic. After that, I returned to a class I had with a prof. last year, who is also chill, laid back, and has such dry humor, it makes me laugh.

After that class, I made a new friend..... Taylor. He's a sweet guy, works at HopCat. We had dinner together in Kirkhof, and talked about life, girls, and religion. He left, I finished my subway, and then I went to my Spanish 102 class. Yay more Spanish!

Left the campus after a long day at 7:30, stopped off at my aunt's to catch up with her and just see where I am in my life. She encouraged me to travel this summer, go to Europe, Japan, wherever. I've decided to  do just that. I'll keep everyone posted.

Made it home for some late night COD and The Simpsons.

- Mr. Burns -