Ice and Germ Warfare

Captains log 4: 30.1.11

My computer now officially has a name, Igby Kiril.  I am also happy to report that I have successfully ignored the siren song of distraction in favour of getting school work done. 

Last night, I  aided two of my friends in conquering their fear of ice.  One I simply had to, after dragging her onto the ice, remind her the ice was an inanimate object and what she was really afraid of was falling. Strangely enough she was one of the few in the entire rink who survived the whole night without doing so. 

My other friend took a lot more convincing. She had never been on the ice before and truly felt it was out to get her.  She went around the rink twice clinging to the walls before I was allowed to give her my arm and skate around with her. By the end of the event, she like my other friend had greatly improved and was one of the few to not have fallen the whole time. 

I count this as a success. 

Lately I have also been battling a much more sinister enemy, a germ or bacteria of some sort. I remain unsure of what its intent is because it changes so frequently. Mostly I retain a a mild to moderate fever headache, Yesterday a cough joined  to add injury to my headache.  Now my head pounds whenever I cough, not a fun sensation. The weird part is that I will feel okay during the day and the symptoms will only show up at evening and night-ish. 

I have not given in yet, however, I am planning a retaliation attack with emergen-c and lots of sleep. 

I will tell you how it goes.

Maybe, if life continues.

Floyd, out.

Peter Pan Syndrome and A Farewell to Childhood (shirts)

Captains log 3: 23.1.2011

Following the tradition of every new year, everyone has expounded upon the necessity of possessing something new. Two of my roommates are fulfilling this urge in the form of new hair. One is changing the colour; the other, her style. Two more of my roommates are implementing a different tact. They are seeking the new in the form of relationships. One is slowly forming a boyfriend connection with a recently returned missionary she knew from before. While the other has quite simply moved out in order to occupy the house she and her fiance will own once they are married. The  last roommate occupies her time with a new phone she acquired. Leaving me feeling very not new.  However, I am okay with that because a renewal in different course work is usually all I need to make me feel like I have progressed somehow as a person. 

Unfortunately, the last week or so I have discovered a nasty situation. All of my clothes in my possession, with the exception of a few jackets, to collectively retire and or kick the can. I can understand their sentiments given half of them were brought into my ownership secondhand, while the rest have followed me from middle and high school.  I cannot help but feel some sadness at losing them, given we have been through so much together. I knowingly acknowledge that a few people who read this scoff at such an emotional attachment to a piece of clothing. These are the people who have never owned a shirt longer than two years, or if they have only because it was their 'lucky' one. To such people I say, imagine if the newest shirt you owned you have had for four years. Every single one of them are in a way your lucky shirt.  One would be the shirt you were wearing when you had that car wreck. Another would be your paintball shirt that you never got shot  while wearing. Yet another would be the one you were wearing on your very first date. People with the means to buy new clothing or wardrobes every year simply cannot comprehend the memories a shirt you have owned for eight years can hold. 

Despite this, the day has still arrived when it becomes necessary to put away the old and purchase the new. Even now, I am trying to devise ways to hold onto each precious  scrap of cloth that has served me so well these past eight years. Hailing from a variety of sources: High school and even middle school band t-shirts, soccer hoodies, math team, beta club, book club, gamma club, quiz bowl, relay for life volunteers, drama play longs,  and even girl's camp. Each symbolizes not only the time and place or their origin but in a sense the essence of the person that wore them for so long. 

I have worn them so long I do feel as though they are in a way representative of me, and why I feel putting them aside is symbolic almost of myself growing up.

My new wardrobe will be the first that I will actually have to compile with thought and purchase on my own with my own hard-earned money.  Even though I can now refine or change my style  and wear cloths that are new and that fit, a part of me still balks at the thought. I do not want to grow up, I'm not sure I am ready; However, ready or not the process is happening without me being able to do a single thing about it. Perhaps, what scares me the most is twofold. I am afraid of losing the person I used to be, of forgetting my inner child, just like my old clothes. As well as afraid  of who I will eventually become.

My only comfort comes with the realization that I am the one who will decide.

So I guess I will see what tomorrow brings.

Maybe, if life continues.

Floyd, out.

A Casualty of Death

Captain's Log 2: 19.1.11

My latest adventure spans the entirety of these past few weeks.

The struggle began on the 23rd of December with a vindictive strike from chance at my good luck streak I had been having; apparently life can be too good, too easy. The attack occurred the very same night the somewhat heavy snowstorm hit Provo. While my contented self wandered through the land of Nod, dirty rain water pooled on  the top shelf positioned above my desk.  Once it  gathered enough strength the water moved to the second shelf. Quickly filling that shelf's flat surface the now large quantity of water decided to make like a waterfall and plummet to the desk top waiting invitingly below. Normally, this would not bother me: 'Meh, it's only a leak. That can be fixed.' However, (to horribly butcher a quote by some important person probably named Kennedy) the water's right to splatter its droplets freely ends at my laptop's keyboard. The water unfortunately remained blissfully unaware of my and the laptop's, Hugo, rights and continued to asphyxiate his vulnerable circuits. The slow death proceeded for a good hour before a worried ally, my sister, became aware of Hugo's untimely demise.  

Many attempts at resuscitation ensued, but none were successful.

Hugo's  pronounced time of death: December 26th, 9:18 pm. 

May he find the other dead electronics hospitable.

His death was hard to cope with, but trying to replace him has been even harder. My dismal and rather dire financial situation has been an ever present obstacle to overcome in his absence. Trying to persuade the apartment complex to understand the fact that it was there negligence which allowed the water in has not been a winning fight. They insist they have not been negligent in the least and therefore do not owe even partial compensation for Hugo's loss. I would believe them  a little more if the apartment had not sprung two more leaks since then...

Alas, while this skirmish  continues, I at first attempted to stay on campus and work through the HBLL library for all my computer needs. This version of dedication to my scholarly pursuits soon proved to be more harmful than helpful. The main reasons being; more expensive and much more time consuming. I would then have to be on campus everyday 9am - 9pm. After two days I came to the realization that my brain neither focuses when other people are around nor when I want it to. Thus this method of coping was eliminated form my list. 

Next, I took to sharing one of my room-mate's laptops whenever she consented or was not around. The second method was as successful as the first. Our schedules are very similar and even though she mainly plays on her computer...borrowing someone else's stuff is just weird.

So I finally gave in.
 I did not cancel my Stafford loan for this semester like I had planned and purchased a new best friend. Although, he does not have a name yet, he is proving quite useful at schoolwork. And unfortunately as distraction from schoolwork. Especially equipped with so many new and cool programs and features to call invitingly to me in siren song as I attempt to be studious. I must figure out a way to proverbially stuff my ears with beeswax to ignore them. Until then, I remain in their constant peril and mercy. Even now, I am falling victim once again to the one called iPhoto.

My fate is yet to be determined.

Maybe, if life continues.

Floyd, out.

Holiday Revelations

Captains log 1: 8.1.11

While this first entry may not be the snapshot of some adventure recently experienced, I am going to post it anyway in the hopes that your enjoyment will ensue its perusing anyhow. 

Over the holiday break, I learned several things. In an effort to be as unself-serving as possible, I will share with you these treasures of knowledge which can, if applied correctly, be beneficial to any who reads them.

One's siblings may grow up, rear families of their own, and hold a job, however, they will always act like the same immature, teasing, and goofy kid you simultaneously looked up to and hated as a child.

The best way to win a nephew or neice's undying loyalty is not through playing with them or buying things they like. Simply pay attention solely to them when they are addressing you and one will obtain a willing minion for life.

Even when your parents claim the only present they want is to see you for christmas...a well thought out/made gift is always a welcome and usually expected 'surprise'.

What people crave the most during Christmas or any other time is to feel needed and or wanted, not to receive presents.

Decadence never has and never will look good on anyone.

A person can always do and act responsibly while living by themself, the true test of character arises when living with others..

Playing a game will teach one more about his family or friends than nearly anything else. 

What makes a book worthwhile is not how well written or visually inspiring the words are, rather what feelings and impressions it leaves behind.

Lastly the more important piece of knowledge I gained during the holiday break is how incredibly expansive, inclusive, and free the public library's collection of classic rock is.

Now that you have had a glimpse into some of my most superficial thoughts, whether or not you will join me in my explorations into tomorrow is up to you. However, I close my entry with the hope of seeing you again!

Maybe, if life continues.

Floyd, out.