“Welcome to Adulthood…”

“Welcome to adulthood, where life is more important than a status update.”

11/03/2010 - Chips: The Senior (Citizen) Center by Rachel Rudeen

 

I thought this was pretty funny and it made me think about when our generation who have basically lived on Facebook for around four years and when we will have to give it up. 25? 30? 35? 40?

My Dad has a Facebook and he is 51, but will it be different for our generation that grew up with Facebook

China?

Today in my Politics of China, Russia, and India class the professor asked us to predict when China would become a leader in both global economy and politics. Many people said between 10-25 years from now (2009) that China would become a economic giant, while the predictions for it becoming a political giant were between 20-70 years. A few people also argued that China would never become a political giant or leader because of their Communist system and the closed system it maintains currently.

This is a very interesting as well as scary prospective to us as Americans. We like to think that we will forever be the top dog in the global world, but as countries such as China continue to grow in power, this is becoming less and less true. In the last 10-20 years I feel like we are becoming less and less influential throughout the globe and while we still hold some power and influence it lessens every year. Having said this I do not believe that we will ever not be among the top nations/powers until our nation completely falls. We will just have to share our power and will have to learn to work with others.

In the next 10,20,30, or 40 years I don't think that one major power will emerge but there will be multiple groups of nations. We have already seen this in Europe the E.U, as well as emerging groups in Africa, South America, and Asia. So that many nations (within the group) not just one nation will hold the power. This seems like an impossible goal to accomplish especially with continents such as Africa which are so different economically, politically, and ethnically but I think that when other groups emerge it will put the necessary pressure on countries to unite themselves. This will probably make the world a more peaceful place but may also cause another cold war scenario among 5 different groups and not just two.

The worst thing about prison was the... was the Dementors.

This is a great website if you need to look up a quote from the Office. Its very comprehensive.

Anyways, It has been a while since I last posted on here and this is my fault. I have not been busy at all. Besides working at Luther Colleges Cafeteria, I really don't have much else to do besides watch TV or a movie or hang out with friends. But I love the people I am working with. They are just fun and very nice people to be around. I have made a few new friends this summer. Although a few have just disappeared lately.

Okay one thing that has been bugging me lately, why cant people spell? I mean yes some words can be difficult to spell but for the most part if you are in college you should know how to spell the basics at least. On the internet you have no excuse because spell-checker is everywhere now-a-days (I'm using it right now to write this). Facebook Statuses, Bloggers, E-mail etc. now have spell-checkers. So why are people still misspelling words so frequently. Aren't you smart enough to use a program that will check your spelling for you??? I guess not.

There are about 2 weeks and a day left until I can go back home and I am excited as well as sad. I will miss the people I have met and might not see some of them again for a long time. On the other hand, it will be so nice to be home for most of August. I have missed my family a lot this summer and I miss working with kids. I am definitely going to work for Camp Minnehaha next year (if I don't get an internship again).

I have started to write a science fiction novel after watching I am Legend again for the fourth or fifth time last night. I have decided to use current events and mix them with the Sci-Fi elements that I have been exposed to during my lifetime. Its not a super serious project but I really want to prove to myself that I can write something for fun and not have it graded or anything. Well I think I am going to work on that a bit. Hopefully I'll post more here in the next few weeks.

Oh P.S. I'm going to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince tonight with Jenna and Gina! I'm pumped because I've heard it is very good.

Update!!!!!!

Okay, well I am finally @ home, back in the STP. It has been a good time so far except that my life is literally falling apart at the moment. Or so it seems. I have been spacey and super unmotivated since Wednesday the 20th when I got home and my social/mental/physical well-being has suffered. This is mainly because I have needed to take Adderall and simply haven't. This will all change tomorrow hopefully, and my life will get back on track.

The good news is, that school is over, I have about 7-9 days left of being home before I return to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and I am over-eating. It has been a good break so far besides losing a few things and totally spacing out on a few things as well. But my friend isn't going to Japan anymore so I don't have to miss her, which will be nice but not nice for her. It's 1:26 in the morning...I really should be in bed...but I have lots on my mind.

Like this girl who I like said that she basically likes me back. The only problem she is currently going out with another guy. But she says we will start hanging out and see where it goes from there. Maybe something will start, maybe not. I will not get my hopes up however, as I have learned from previous experiences with the female gender. They can be quite crazy sometimes.

I forgot this one important fact NEW amazing thing, we have cable now. In our house. Including FSN. The channel that the Minnesota Twins play on. How sweet is that? and guess what, we didn't even pay any extra for it.

Well its finals time again, and everyone here is super busy. Today is the last day of classes but for me (as well as others) its not the end of homework, studying, or writing papers.

I have to write:
1. a 7-8 page paper for history thats due tomorrow
2. a 6 page Latin paper,
3. a 5-6 page paper for World of Saint Patrick

Tests:
1. Chemistry = Saturday
2. Latin 302 - Exam 3 = TBD

So thats all I have left to do before my summer can officially start. Then I have two weeks at home until I return to Luther to work in the CAF this summer. It should be a fun time, but I am worried that I won't have enough to do. Well I better get going. I'll hopefully write more soon, when I get a chance.

An update on my life...

Well I haven't blogged for a bit, this is because I've been super busy with friends and school and just haven't had a whole lot to write about. But now because my summer plans are up in the air and there is only 4.5 weeks left of school, things have been speeding up lately.

Okay, the whole job situation, in St. Paul I applied to Ace Hardware on Grand and Davannis. The other option I have is to stay @ Luther over the summer and work on campus. Room & Board is only $5 if you work full-time, so that is a great deal. I applied with Dining, Custodial, and Facilities. The one I am hoping I get is Facilities because I would be able to spend time outside working on digging up turf and other things like that. But my friend Jenna who is also staying @ Luther over the summer and is working @ Dining services, so she wants me to work in the CAF with her. Which would be okay, because at least we'd have the same work schedule.

Oops I forgot to mention a few things...

Oopsies, I forgot to mention that it apparently snowed here Saturday morning. I actually missed it because I slept late that day and it had all melted by the time I woke up. I also really want to see Slumdog Millionaire. Well now I really should get back to that latin homework.

Bye!

P.S. I really need to meet with my advisor because I cannot tell what requirements apply to the class of 2011 (my class) and which apply to the current freshman (2012). The records that tell us what we have to accomplish and what we have already accomplished are quite confusing. Well I will get to that. Pay-day is coming up (April 15th) I am very excited.

Well is April, the month of Baseball, Rain, cold weather and snow?!?

Well today was Opening Day of the Major League Baseball Season 2009. There were many games on today, a few on ESPN (so I was able to watch them). Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox games both got cancelled because of rain and cold respectively. The Minnesota Twins played the opening game of their opening series and...lost 6-1 vs. the Seattle Mariners. Not the best way to start a season, but we will recover. Second game of the series on tomorrow night around 8. If your like me and not in the GREAT state of Minnesota, you will probably have to watch it like I do: through ESPN/MLB gameday. I must find a way to watch the games or at least listen to them out of state. If you know a way please contact me. I will be forever in debt.

Anyways today was a pretty good day. I got my "Room Draw" card and have a number of 322. This is a good number to get I believe, it is pretty low (lowest is better). Anyways my roommate got a 179, I knew he'd get a lower number than me because he is a music major so he has to take lots more classes than me (Classes that only count for 1 or 2 credits). Anyways you are supposed to average the numbers you get to see what order you will be able to pick your room for next year. Our number is 250. Pretty good if I do say so myself (I have not asked anyone else what their numbers are, so I have nothing to compare it to).

The plan is to live in Larsen Hall (bad picture, but its all I have). I found out that the only guys floor, at least according to the floor plan, is the third floor which is fine. But their are only about 5-10 double rooms. So hopefully we will get a room in Larsen, otherwise we could live in Miller Hall (heres the specs, becuz I couldn't find a picture, which I'm not suprised about Miller is ugly!). So thats basically my rooming plans for next year, I have not completely figured out what classes I am going to take next year. I did map out what I have to do to graduate and complete both my Political Science and Classics major as well as my History minor.

I am still jobless for the summer. I e-mailed the people who run Camp Minnehaha the place I have worked full time the last two summers. My brother recently got a job there so hopefully I will be able to work at least a little there. I really need to make money this summer because right now I am very broke. Well I am hoping that that will all work out. It would be devastating if I was unable to find a job anywhere and just had to sit around my parents house all summer.

Well it has been hard getting back into the 'swing' of things (homework and such), after my amazing spring break trip down to New Orleans and then Mississippi to do Habitat work. (My Blog Entry: My Return to the Gulf Coast) But in 4 days Easter Break is here! I am going home Thursday night, and then coming back sometime on Monday. I have lots to accomplish over those three-four days. I need new jeans (my old pair that I took on the Habitat Trip are all ripped up, and then the only pair I have left are way too tight) so my mom and I will probably go to Target to buy those. Then I am going to try to go to the Apple store to try to find out whats wrong with my iPod. It is freezing and not holding a charge. I think thats about it. It will be so nice to be able to see my Lexie (who is a cockapoo) and to eat my Mom's good home-cooked meals. Mmmmmm!

Well I should probably be doing my Latin HW right now, but luckily I did most of it (all but 10 lines) last night. I was very productive and probably should have just done it all, but I was tired and needed sleep. Well I think that is all I have. Oh I got a "B" on my New Nations, New Worlds paper from a while ago, that was a nice plus to a great day. Well talk to you later!

Bye!

Reflecting on the Habitat Trip in 2009

Last week I went on my second Habitat for Humanity trip down to Ocean Springs, Mississippi with our group from Luther. It was another great experience similar to the first one but also vastly different in many ways. For example when we got to New Orleans it was still interesting and exciting but a lot less so (this is illustrated by the fact that I only took about 12 pictures in New Orleans compared to about 60-70 last year.) Well I still had lots of fun and it was a good way to relax and enjoy our break from schoolwork.

When we got to Camp Victor, all the good memories I had made from last year came flooding back. The place just has a good vibe or something. You can almost sense that God is present here, with all the good that Camp Victor does for its community members. Anyways it felt good to be a "veteran" and to know where everything was even though Camp Victor had been changed around a bit. We were given a tour of its facilities and then got a chance to put our stuff away and make our beds.

Later that night we had a meeting where all the jobs available for that week were announced. I originally wanted to be on the roofing crew, but it was full so I went with a group headed by Dale (probably a good thing too, I would have gotten so burned up on that roof). I was the oldest student in this group and took charge of getting tools and talked with the other group members.

The next morning after a pretty good nights rest and a decent breakfast of biscuits and gravy, Ross, Eli, Jessica and I went into the tool storage room. Dale had been unsure of what tools we would actually need but we were told to get a few basic things such as hammers, a circular saw, a few crowbars, and a couple ladders.

When we got to the work site, we found out we would be tearing down rotting Fascia and Soffit board. I didn't have a lot of experience in tearing things down, but we all jumped on ladders and began ripping down the Fascia first and then the Soffit last. We accomplished this using a combination of hammers and crowbars/wonderbars(sp?), it was tough work because some were very stuck and stubborn.

The group I worked with really surprised me in their wiliness and as the week went on their skills in accomplishing tasks. They all did what they were told and even while working we were laughing and having a good time. I was the "veteran" and they were the "newbies" but I really learned a lot from them and it was fun getting to know them by working and talking with them.

I loved this years trip I think more than last year because of the new people that came on the trip, hanging out with them, talking with them, and working with them. I am definitely going again next year, and will be trying to recruit my friends or whoever will listen to come too. This is a great trip because you learn new skills, make lots of new friends, get to escape cold tempatures in Iowa, and you have fun everyday of the trip. Can't wait till next spring.

Sam "SMG" Gaylord

Unless I magically stop time. My wouldn't that be nice...

I figured I would blog again now that I have plenty of time to waste. Well kinda, I could be doing my Latin homework right now, but I would so rather do this. Thats why my name is now as follows: Samuel Procrastination Gaylord.

I am sitting in Brunsdale at the moment enjoying a bowl of Ramen noodles. I would have liked to take a nap after my classes ended @ 2:30, but my roommate has a weekly phone session with someone and so I am unable to. I figured that this was a good thing because then I would be forced (well kind of) into going to Brunsdale and getting something done. Because if I leave my Latin homework till 11 at night, I will get very little sleep. Even though Latin class is a lot of work, I feel like it is making my ability to learn Latin increase by leaps and bounds. I feel like I am mastering the language more these days, much more than I ever did in Middle School or even High School. Of course I am actually trying now that it is my major and I am in college but it makes me feel good that I can easily conjugate basically any verb and am starting to be able to pick out if a verb is subjunctive or indicative mood.

The Final Countdown by Europe just came on randomly on my itunes. It is part of a playlist labeled "Adrenaline" for when I need to be pumped up lol.

Today my first class was New Nations, New Worlds which is basically America History but told from an Eastern or Indian perspective. It also is a more focused history of the time period in 3 specific regions, the Chesapeake, New England, and the West Indies (as well as the Carolinas). Anyways the professor is Tebbenhoff who is a very great prof, he said this today:

"Those are weasel words, what do you really think?"

You know what I just realized?

I love college. People who tell you that it is the best time of your life are very right. You are on your own with people your own age, you date, party, study, do homework, and eat with your peers. You don't have any real requirements besides going to class and doing your homework. And if you are a male, you are surrounded by women. Haha. The ratio of women to men at Luther is 57% to 43%, which is better than the national average 58% to 42%. According to the Admissions FAQ from the website: Luther.edu.

Heres our class profile: Class of 2011

I feel like I have come so far from when I was a High school senior @ Minnehaha Academy. College really does change your personality and forces you to grow up in both educational aspects, relationship wise, and in social aspects as well.

I love finding new music and new artists. Its great to expand your musical tastes and basically have every kind of genre of music in your iTunes library.

I recently filled out a form (which my dad suggested) to get more information from the US Navy Reserves. I think it would be very cool and prestigious to serve my country. Now don't worry I am not planning on fighting in any wars, because honestly that would be scary and I'm not quite the best candidate for combat. But I was thinking something like a Navy Intel Analyst

I definitely want a job doing something to help defend America from Terrorists and those who want to do us harm. I have wanted to for quite a while, I think being a defense analyst would be great and very interesting. I feel like I would enjoy going to work day after day because it would be so current and would change daily or at least weekly.

Well I should probably be doing my Latin homework now so I don't have to stay up super late again tonight. Especially because I am still sick and trying to recover from whatever "bug" I got in either Mississippi or Nawlins over break. I had to take Tylenol PM to fall asleep last night.

Okay just one more thing. In Latin 302 this semester we have been reading Roman plays, and right now we are reading a very long play called Pseudolus by Titus Maccius Plautus commonly known as Plautus who was a Roman playwright. His comedies are among the earliest surviving intact works in Latin literature(Source: Wikipedia). It has been very interesting but also has been A LOT of work. Our professor gives us lots of lines each night and the latin isn't exactly hard but it does take some time to get a good translation.

Alright time to do that Latin homework now.

I might write again later on tonight. I don't think I am going to watch Heroes tonight. I need to catch up and so will probably watch it sometime later this week. Same with the Office. Unless I magically stop time. My would that be nice...