Day 47

I woke up slightly earlier than usual, only to enjoy more of the morning before work and school would consume my day.

I went to work at 10:00 and did the usual, plus caught up the book I'm reading (Child 44). Not much to say. Work is work. For the sake of saying something specific so I can look back on this and see something I did, today at work I cleaned a lot of the glass, as well as gave a tour to a small Asian man.

After work I prepared for school and went, only to find out my debate class was missing a professor and we just watched a video, a video that only half the class stayed for, and the rest of the class left halfway through when the video froze. The video was about deaf people, and it depressed me. Ended school with Spanish class, and horay for ethnicity!

After class I went over to my friend Ryan's house where he showed me his place, and then the two of us went to Brann's for some beer and pool. I like Brann's, but the 44th street Brann's is a butthole. Its dirty, packed with non-impressive clientel, and the manager kept hitting on me and at one point came up to me while I was playing pool and rubbed my belly. Apparently someone had a "sizzler". Despite the janky atmosphere, me and Ryan caught up and played 3 games of pool. I only won one game. I've known Ryan since the 5th grade, went to school with him for two years at Freedom Baptist. 10 years passed without me ever even hearing about him, until a couple months ago I ran into him at a bar downtown with some other friends. He's a good guy, very giving and funny. Need more beer nights like this.

After Brann's I went over to Melissa's house where she gave me some cool ties she bought me at a thrift store, as well as this kick-A military jacket that looks like it was worn by a 1960's Stalin guard, complete with patches. Need to find a night to wear this. I love it, I love it. Thanks beautiful.

- Hiel! The Red Curtain! -

Day 46

Speech class came, and the speech went with it. It was good. A simple yet informative speech on McDonald's and their gambling ploy with the Monopoly pieces. I did great, and the class gave me stares. Oh well.

After class I went downtown and met my girlfriend (I like this word) for lunch at Bite. We got their lobster bisque, which is truly an art prize entry in itself; the best lobster soup I've ever had. We talked there and were robbed of time to finish viewing the venues for ArtPrize, so we said goodbye and then Mike called me to see if I wanted to do a Woodland Mall / Plato's Closet run with him. I agreed, and for the next 3 hours we did just that. I bought a track jacket sweatshirt. Another warm necessity for the colder and colder nights we're getting.

After our shopping excursion, I went home and started to work on a project for my LIB310 class, and then Mike came over again and we talked before we headed up towards Gun Lake (again). We met up with my dad, Sam, and Chad. None of us really won anything.... all up at different points, but lost it. I only lost about five bucks. Not bad. My dad banked on blackjack. He had a good night. I guess I did too, money taken out of the equation, I was with people I cared about, and that means something.

- Napping on a couch @ Macy's -

Day 45

For the cold weather we've had on shelf supply, it got significantly warmer today than usual, resulting in a beautiful day.

I woke up and had to tear down my Dexter kill room. It was only once I stepped back into that plastic bubble that I saw the dog had come down and peed on the floor. Now luckily, it was on plastic sheeting, so the carpet stayed fine. However, a dog peeing is a dog peeing, and there were consequences that followed, and I'm a man who knows how to consequence. My dog got spanked, and when she bit me, she got slapped. (I'm not giving her Popeye blows, no need to call the shelter for animal cruelty.)

I hung around the house as usual for a Monday, cleaning my room, making a healthy lunch, and played COD. Around 3:30, I left for school. You have to understand, it was such a beautiful day. As I was driving, I realized "I can't go to my debate class on a day like this.... who wants to argue on a day like today?!" I drove into the sun, heading for Holland. I had contacted a guy on craigslist who was selling a plethora, yes, a true stock yard of posters and other movie memorabilia, so I called him and headed towards mini Dutch land.

On the way I stopped and grabbed a Xing Tea, which is priced at the gas station on Byron Road about 8 miles west for only $1.00 thats with tax and deposit. I made it into Holland and found this man's apartment. He was clearly a nerd, but that's cool, because in my own way, I'm one too. He showed me the stuff in his garage, which was only the tip of the iceberg. He then led me up to his apartment (after typing this I realize how sketchy craiglists sounds... strangers taking you up to their apartments) and we finished looking through everything up there. He's got comic books, posters, and autographs from Comic Con's galore. I was there for probably thirty minutes, and found some art I really liked. I paid the man, and was happy to know there are people nerdier (way nerdier) than me. I have my moments. Taking a minute to reflect on this man, this stranger: Here is a guy who probably didn’t have a lot of friends in high school. He was probably picked on. He was overweight, and well, he fit the role of the comic-book nerd. He felt special because he got to go to big comic book galas and meet writers, other fans, etc. That was the highlight of his year. At home, he’s more of a lone, yet spending the thirty minutes I did with him looking at his items and talking to him hopefully meant a lot to him. I like him to think that the world isn’t just a cold place. It’s inhabited by nice people too, but the bullies come into play. Bullying…. Let’s save this for another time.

I was still going to go to my Spanish class, and when I punched in GVSU on my GPS, it said it was 48  minutes away. I didn't believe that, mainly because, well, that just seemed too long. I was wrong. I hadn't realized I had gone so far south in Holland that I was nearing Hamilton, complete with signs for Benton Harbor and Niles around me. I drove through downtown Holland, still taking in the slowly setting sun, and enjoying the weather. Exactly as predicted, but with some minor trimming, 42 minutes later, I pulled into GVSU. I was only 4 minutes late for my class, but so was my professor. That worked out swell.

Went home that night and put together my speech for my class in the morning. I couldn't pick a topic, and it was only after I stopped at a McDonalds for a late night dine that I realized what I would choose. My speech topic is fast food gambling. Okay, I'm a nerd.

- Holland, on a day like today. no photo credit -

Day 44

Woke up at Mike's house, only to find his room was freezing. Mike and I like sleeping with the windows open, and even thought we closed it midway into the night, that was no help. The room was so cold in the morning my nipples could have torn through the blanket I had over me. It's a flaw in science that I couldn't see my breath.

We went to church and sat in our usual stoop in the balcony, accompanied by Chad and Tanya and Melissa drizzling in. After the service Melissa went home with her family and the rest of us went to Ming Ten, my favorite Chinese buffet in Grand Rapids. I had four plates, so the lunch was much merit to my body.

Afterwords me and Mike returned to his house and played Black Ops for about thirty minutes, then I ran some errands to prep for my party I was having that night. The party was for Dexter. If you've never seen the show, its a must. Winner of 2 Golden Globes, several emmys, and over 100 nominations, it's a genius blend of writing and drama, mixed with the subject of a lovable serial killer. Mike and I, with Tanya's help, turned the entire basement into a kill room. Plastic sheeting, fake blood, table, pictures of the notorious villains, everything. Then came time for the premiere. The first episode was really well done. Excited for the new season, and it runs through January 8. After everyone left, myself, Lauren, Chad and Sam all went to Applebee's to enjoy some extended conversations and friendship.

Ahh yes, finished Hithcock's "Rear Window" when I got home. A truly genius thriller, with the entire film shot out of a man's apartment window, looking through other windows, that tells a story of a man who killed his wife and a wheelchair bound photographer who must prove he's guilty. 

- My homemade killroom, Dexter Premiere -

Day 43

Due to a late night the previous night, I woke up at noon today, thus driving my Saturday morning into the bed, literally. I had to be at work in two hours, so I did what I could, and ate an omelet and went to work.

I started reading the book Child 44, which is excellent. It's well written and the pacing and visuals are deft. Mike let me borrow the book, and I'm glad he did. It's cool, because two people can read the same book, and they envision the characters, the setting, and the environment completely different. It's how our minds shape the book's atmosphere.

After work I met up with Tanya and Mike and we went to Gun Lake Casino, where Mike's parent's were also at. Tonight was good, we spent about an hour and 15 minutes there, and I killed it on my first slot machine. It's a winning to bid game, and its stacked with mini games on it as well. I did really well, I started with $5.00 and had that up to $60, but then that came back down to $40. I walked away with the 35 dollar gain. Later on, I played a few more games, and earned another $40.00, although I had still lost some. At the end of the night, I left the casino with a net gain of $35. 94. I'll take it.

Went back to Mike's house where I stayed the night. Good Saturday.

- I started watching Rear Window today, another movie I need to x off the Top 100 list -

Day 42

Friday morning means no school, but it does mean I work meeting. No worries, I planned this one myself.

Went into work and discussed work related issues. I'm excited to find out that the club is getting a huge make over, complete with tanning beds, new floors, and equipment. I've been waiting for this for awhile.
After the meeting I began a workout for a bit, trying to stay healthy (I put this here because, as you'll see, I will fail at eating healthy in the next paragraph or two.)

After work I ran to Meijer and bought a protein shake (still eating healthy), complete with vitamins and other replenishment elites that I could put into my body. I then went home and played some COD, cleaned my room, and sold some clothes at Plato's closet today before heading into work. Then the unhealthy storm came.

I stopped at Mcdonalds again tonight to play that infernal Monopoly game they have going. I ordered a Big Mac, large fry, medium coke. This was at 6:00PM. After a successful night at work and signing another 5 members, I met up with Melissa and we got Mcdonalds again. They accidentally gave me someones meal, so the simple fry I ordered turned into ANOTHER big mac, large fry, and Melissa's drink....

As I type this, I have a giant container of pure tangerine juice, hoping to clear out my soggy veins.

- Melissa's picture she took of my sin -

Day 41

Early morning for a Com 101 class today.

Found out that I need to have a speech ready to present by next Tuesday. I have no idea what I'm going to talk on yet, though my friend Google will probably help me. Informative speeches aren't the hardest thing, but I would prefer a persuasive speech any day.

Left school and ran around town looking for materials I needed to put together a very special gift for someone. After I had found what I needed, I met Mike at Costco and we got lunch and talked. I then went home and stayed at my house while Shelby moved more belongings back in and the dogs fought.

Tonight at work was great. I've never worked a more busy shift. I ended up signing 5 people, touring a family, jumping a man's car due to a dead battery, and performed other avid tasks.

I'm sure the biggest highlight today, if not of my more recent months, was after work I took that "special gift" over to Melissa's house and asked if she'd be my girlfriend. A brief history on that: We've known each other for over 4 years. Her dad was my teacher, and through the grapevine of friends of friends of friends, we became myspace friends and began hanging out. Cornerstone University, Fall of 2007, a much interested me became drafted out of her mind, and she began a relationship with someone else. A year later I moved to California. I never thought I would see her again, and many many other people. God had different plans. Three years later, I got blessed. I'm excited for the future, I have my best friend now at my side to help me get through it. The gift I gave her was a home-made replica of the Beauty and the Beast glass rose. There was a tie in to all this from past memories, so the glass dome and flower were the streaks and smears into the painted canvas we have now of a relationship.

I am blessed

- Peppino's: blurry picture, clear individuals -