I Am Out of My Mind

Well sorry for a lack of posting over the last few weeks. I had injured my back, first at the gym and second on the mountain, to the point where sitting was about as uncomfortable as is getting a jack hammer through my spine. I have now healed for the most part, and am back with my butt getting to the work of reforming its groove that had been losing shape over its absence. The reason for the title is simple. I have done something completely out of character, and I am going out of my comfort zone to experience something which I have always wanted to do regardless of my fears. As my (3) readers know I am a nerd. I have many posts dedicated to this, but in this particular case I am referring to my history nerdiness. I was looking for a study abroad program in Greece for the summer after this year, but when I talked to a counselor about what I still needed to graduate I found out that I would need to take summer classes in a foreign language to graduate on time, so a summer in Greece was really out of the question. After this depressing realization when talking with my friend, who wanted to do the same study abroad and was foiled by the same class, we realized that after the end of our class and before we headed back to school there would be time for a short flight over some small body of water and a few days in Europe. We set to work planning a trip that was really expected to be a figment of my imagination, but soon it became more and more real as the sum of money needed became reasonably doable. So after four days of planning I bought tickets, and proceeded to freak out beyond all measurable insanity. All the “what ifs” that could go wrong keep interjecting into my thoughts. The worst is the money issues, which are amplified by my not working because of my back. I will go back to work and I will make the money. This is what I need to remember. I am so excited to go that I have already checked out for the summer, and I still have this term to finish and two more to go until I am done and ready to leave.
The plan is still in its infancy but I will relate it as I know it right now. We will start by flying into JFK, then on to Madrid, and finally on to our destination of Athens. We will spend two nights in Athens, and then catch a flight to Crete where we will stay two to three nights. Then flying back to Athens, we will catch a train to Patria and the ferry from that port will take us on to Venice. After two nights in Venice, we will ride another train down to Florence where we will spend three nights. Taking our last train ride we will arrive down in Rome where we will spend five nights and then fly back home on the same route, except for an extra stop in Georgia. It should be quite a trip. At the moment I think I am just as scared for it as I am excited, but the more I plan the less fear I have. I know there are many things I cannot plan, and would not want to, but it makes it easier to negotiate those decisions when you know where you are going to sleep that night. I am so out of my element in doing something like this that I do not know how I got into it in the first place. I just know that the awe factor will keep me going through the poverty necessary to save the money I need, or I could just sell some drugs. I hear there is a lot of money in that.

Another Year in the Books and I Miss it Already

I started a conversation only mere hours after the Super Bowl. A discussion that really opened my eyes and saddened my soul. A female friend of mine was talking to me about her viewing of the big game and how she really did not understand any of it. She went on to say that she finally understood the idea of what a first down was after a few drinks and a lot of shouting by crazed pigskin fans. I offered my educational skills to help her get at least the basics. I was expecting a lack of interest but was surprised by her reaction. She was ecstatic by the offer, so I started to work out logistics in my mind when a paralyzing depression engulfed me in despair. She could not have had worse timing. My wounds were still fresh and denial had my mind incapable of seeing my truly dim reality.

The Colts win, Peyton is the MVP, in a game that no man deserved it alone, and Dungy finally gets his well deserved ring that barely eluded him with my Bucks. All of these events I wanted but still something was not right with me, and it took that conversation to awaken me. I shed a tear on a day which should be a national holiday celebrating the end of something so American. The Superbowl is one thing but this is the end of football as we know it. No more pro, college is long gone, and i think even arena league is done. The next taste of football you get to look forward to is the NFL combine results for your favorite college players, the draft, and the new freshmen class for your respective colleges. This is where we all must part ways with football and let the writers take over with the speculation. It is always hard when someone so close to you deserts you, but she will always come crawling back. I know that I will always take her back, and she will never leave my mind for as long as I breath and can fill my lungs with that distinctly fall smell. This is the only instance where football will be known as a she only because of the ability of football to leave we always wanting more. I knew this goodbye would get sappy but I need to remember the good times. LT breaking the TD and scoring record, Drew Brees leading the Saints out of the gutter, Florida beating down the "unstoppable" Buckeyes, and Oregon State knocking down that two point conversion to beat the mighty Trojans all these events have made this football season one worth the cushion ware. I will miss it, but I think when my spring fling arrives I can forget my lost love for a while.