Well, I'm no longer a boy...

I am a man.

I just realized this. I mean, my name even has the word 'Man' in it.

Not that I don't need improvement- There are things I like about myself, and there are things I don't.
I like...
That I'm a nerd.
My regularly tangental and hard to follow thought processes.
My fascination with worlds that don't exist.
That I have friends who can tell it to me straight.
That I have friends who will stick with me no matter what.
My calves. (I know that's kinda weird, but they're really awesome.)
That I'm weird. ^see above.
That if I can get over my self-consciousness, I can really enjoy myself. 

I don't like...
How self-conscious I am.
My complete inability to focus on any one thing for more than about 15 minutes at a time.
That I'm a pretty messy person. Very disorganized.
How I manage to offend people even when I'm specifically trying not to.
How I can't play any RPG as the 'bad' guy. I just can't do it.
That I don't already own a firearm.


On another note, I did the Army 10-Miler saturday(Friday night for all of you), and I did a pretty good job. It's a nice feather to have in my hat.

One thing that's driving me nuts right now(It kinda always has, but more specifically now) Is that I've still never been in a 'guy/girl' relationship. I mean, I figured I would have at least dated someone by now. I see a lot of other people, people I did most of my growing up with, pairing up and getting ready to tie the knot-or having done it already. (Yes Trev, you're pressuring me, whether you like it or not.) Brandon's engaged, he's just waiting on me to get home so I can be the best man. Chris even managed to find somebody. (Scary thought, I know.) Not that I don't have people I'm interested in, it's just that geographically, it would be irresponsible to pursue them right now. So I'm kinda going nuts. I probably didn't do a good job of explaining how I feel, but when do I ever?

Specialization is for insects...

A human being should be able to

change a diaper,
plan an invasion,
butcher a hog,
design a building,
write a sonnet,
set a bone,
comfort the dying,
take orders,
give orders,
solve equations,
pitch manure,
program a computer,
cook a tasty meal,
fight efficiently,
die gallantly.

Specialization is for insects.

-Robert Heinlein

And a tasty little tidbit specifically for Mr. Barcroft Neeley, who will immediately regret selling his copy of Halo: ODST. Love ya, buddy!      

http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive31.pl?read=942160

The Road Goes Ever On

I have so many things to say, I'm not entirely sure what order they go in. And yet... It also feels as if I have so little to say, because everything gets lost in the jumble.

Well, I guess I want to start by saying I'm sorry that it's been so long between posts. Because of my perceived lack of things to say, I just kept putting it off. Well, I made a list of things I had wanted to say, but none of my notes mean anything to me now. Go figure.

So... I got to meet Dennis Haysbert, Robert Patrick, and Randy Johnson a couple weeks ago. Pretty awesome, yeah? I thought so. By the way, Mr. Haysbert is taller than I am. And Randy Johnson is even taller!

Otherwise, life here remains routine. I'm about 85 days from my R&R leave- Australia, here I come! And in other news... I should be home to see all your smiling faces by mid April. I can't wait!

My off-duty activities include Running, Mass Effect 2, reading and watching movies. Sounds boring, right? It isn't boring so much as it's just the usual. The days are moving fairly quickly, which is a blessing. Don't know quite how I'm going to deal with Christmas... i imagine it'll be pretty rough. But, I'll handle it. Don't have much of a choice.

I'm beginning to like me for who I am... a lot more than I used to. Which is good. I have plans to attend college next year, either at Emmaus or ISU, either way, I'll be out of Des Moines... I have mixed feelings about that. (As much as I love you, Brandon, I believe Emmaus will be my choice... Every time I get homesick, it's for Dubuque, not for my actual home. Which is kinda weird, and I feel a little guilty that I don't miss home and my family more. but it's a good thing too, I think.

I've signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon, on Oct. 31st. Unfortunately, I'm recovering from a pulled calf muscle, so I will likely wind up walking a good portion of the 26 miles to the finish line.

My online Role-playing experience is going down the tube quickly... The Hunter game is moving very slowly, and the Mage game has turned into a make-out fest between two of the Player characters... something I'm not interested in at all. If I've ever RP'd with you in person, know that you are part of the best RP experience I've had thus far. (Yes, even you, Calvin.)

Last, some of you know that I dream of retiring from the army and opening my own coffeeshop/cafe. I thought I'd give a few more details to those interested in helping me with a name. Ideally, at it's most basic, It would have a very industrial feel to the architecture- lots of metal, very 'function over form' design. I'd like to design it in a gamer's tribute to the Halo franchise, have some nifty collectible items, maybe theme it after a UNSC ship. But I dunno... haha So toss me some name and/or theme ideas, and i'll pick the ones I like best to do some preliminary designs. I just need that jumpstart, you know? I've been staring at my notes for a week now trying to start, and nothing's coming.

And I'll leave you with this as my parting shot.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.