Well,

I suppose I can join in again. I was worried tha tmy posting was perhaps getting a bit stale and you all didn;t want to hear me sayign the same things over and over kindof liek Vin Diesel.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/dieselscripted.html

So anyway, I'm back and starting next monday (or perhaps before then). Cheers.

Andy - are you alive? It's been ages since you've enlightened us with your witty comments.

I just would like to inform everyone, I had an AWESOME senior prom! The night was filled with plenty of picture taking, grooving, sweating, and parched throats. The theme was "A Night In Paris," so the juniors had an eiffel (is that how you spell it?) tower in the middle of the floor. At first I thought having it in the middle of the dance floor was a dumb idea, but it just made everyone dance in a smaller area, so it was great. There were icicle lights coming from the top of the eiffel tower and Christmas lights underneath covered by quilt batting. The rest of the decorations sucked, though, but at least they had one nice detail. Me and Chip decided to dance under the tower for the last song. We were the only ones who did all night. While we were dancing, the principal came walking over. We both thought, "Crap. We're in trouble," but he just comes over there trying to be all funny and says, "Whatever happens under the tower, stays underneath the tower." What a dork. Anyway, the whole time we were dancing we could feel the Christmas lights crunching underneath our feet. We just laughed, but I bet the people who owned the lights weren't laughing when they found them. Hee hee! After prom was a lot of fun too, and Worlds of Fun was awesome. I love roller coasters! The whole weekend went by way too fast, though. It kind of made me sad. I mean, I can't wait to get out of that prison, but that's the last time I'll have a dance like that with all my friends, so it made me kind of sad. I'm not going to dwell on those thoughts, though. I had a fantastic time while it lasted and that's all that matters.

I couldn't resist posting a few cute pics from Linzo's prom.
Lindsey and the 'rents:


Lindsey and the boy:


Dog following the boy and the girl:

Life update: I joined a kickball team and at the tournament today we were rockin' the field until we lost the championship game. The prize was Sconnie (student company, think slang Wisconsin) sweat bands, so at least we didn't miss out on much. Plus there was free lunch for all. I now like kickball, even though I sucked for all but the first half of the first game. =)

Happy Easter, everybody! I unfortunately have to spend the majority of the day studying and doing laundry, but I will be sure to do something Easteresque to get into the spirit of things. Friday and Saturday were taken too relaxed to be able to have today off.

It’s the last day of the 2006 legislative session. Thanks to Nebraska’s new term limits law, this is the last day ever for 20 of our 49 senators. The past few weeks have been intense and have included 1) a controversial bill that would split the state’s largest school district into three separate ones; 2) a vote to impeach one of the university’s regents; 3) a vote that will allow people to carry concealed weapons. These are the kind of issues permanently alter the state’s political climate.

I wish I were there. Simply reading about legislation isn’t nearly as exciting (or informative) as watching it happen. Newspapers can’t communicate body language. I can’t watch negotiations evolve. I can’t overhear the conversations between two of the senior members whose desks were located about 18 inches from mine.

When I read the newspaper or watch the news, I can imagine the buzz of energy in the chamber because I’ve been part of it before. But imagination isn’t as powerful as participation, and it’s hard to be an outsider once you’ve been an insider. The closest thing I can compare it to is visiting your alma mater. The surroundings are familiar, but everything feels strange because you’re no longer part of the scene.

My former coworkers have told me that the last few weeks have been grueling. Everyone is edgy and tempers are flaring. They’ve been working until 9 or 10 p.m. most days. I remember those days – they’re mentally exhausting, but ultimately rewarding.

Times like this make me question whether leaving was the right decision. Career-wise, it was the right thing to do. On a more personal level, moving on has been more difficult.

In the next few years, all of you will be making big choices about your futures. With choice comes change, which always brings a strange mix of joy and turmoil to our lives. I’ve decided that almost every big decision – whether it’s changing jobs, picking a college, or getting married – is a huge leap of faith. There are no guarantees in life, and even the “good” or “easy” choices require us to adjust and grow up.

The good thing about difficulty is that it often changes us for the better. I’ve learned more during the dark times of life than the shiny, happy ones. Don’t be afraid to take risks and move outside your comfort zone. If something doesn’t work out the way you planned, you’ll likely gain something far greater.

This is the long-awaited APPLICATION TO DATE HAYLEY. Feel free to modify it for your own purposes.

If you answer yes to any of the following, please cease applying for the position of Hayley’s boyfriend.
1. Are you a cowboy?
2. Do you hit on younger girls because you think they’re easily manipulated?
3. Do you Febreeze your jeans instead of washing them?
4. Do you average more than one parking ticket or motor vehicle violation annually?
5. Have you been sexually intimate with anyone who wasn’t a serious girlfriend at the time of said sexual act?
If you answered no to all of the above, proceed.

Where would you take Hayley on your first date?
a) To a baseball game
b) To a movie and the emergency room
c) The Parthenon (the restaurant, not the Greek artifact)
d) A group date with your ex-girlfriend and her new man
If you answered A or C, proceed. If you answered B or D, you’re probably That Guy that our dad wants to roundhouse kick.

If the date went well, what would your next move be?
a) Call five times the next day to tell her what a great time you had
b) Decide to date your ex-girlfriend instead
c) Don’t call her at all. Let her make the next move.
d) Call her the next day, but take it slow. You believe in the philosophy “You can’t hurry love; you just have to wait.”
If you answered A, you’re a scary stalker. If you answered B or C, you’re an emotionally incapacitated twit. Cease applying immediately.

Hayley’s grandma is in the hospital. How do you react?
a) Don’t call her; let her deal with the situation on her own.
b) Complain that she’s spending too much time with her family and accuse her of not taking your relationship seriously.
c) Send her a bouquet. On the card, you write something to the effect of “Just wanted to know that I’m thinking of you. Call me if you need a shoulder to cry on.”
d) Do C, plus bring her food from Sonic when she misses dinner on campus because she was at the hospital.
Any answer other than C or D is unacceptable.

You’ve been dating Hayley for one month. How well do you know her?
a) She loves dancing, singing, and going out – and she needs a guy that can keep up with her!
b) She’s a fan of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
c) She loves going to rodeos and talking about her daddy’s farm equipment.
d) Her favorite TV shows are The Office, Sex and the City, and One Tree Hill.
e) Her idea of a great summer day is going to the lake and snuggling under the stars in your grandpa’s boat.
f) She doesn’t have hobbies. She’s so grateful that a guy is paying attention to her that she’ll be whoever you want her to be!
If you answered C or F, the relationship is doomed.

You’ve realized that you can’t dance, can’t sing, and can’t handle Hayley’s awesomeness. How do you break up with her?
a) Tell her that you’ve had a great time with her but don’t see things working out in the long run. Attempt to stay friends after the initial weirdness of the breakup wears off.
b) Lock yourself in your room and listen to kill-me music and tell everyone that you broke up with Hayley because she performed fellatio on half the baseball team.
c) Do A, but attempt to turn your newfound friendship into a booty call.
d) Act like a spineless little asshat and make Hayley so miserable that she breaks up with you … then cry whenever you see her on campus. You want her to feel REALLY GUILTY.
If you answered A, your mama raised you right. If you’ve ever done B, C, D, just give up and stop dating. You’re a bad person.

Enough about Hayley. What kind of person are you?
a) I’m the type who tries to impress girls by showing off my car, then running it into a tree, then taking my date to the emergency room. But I won’t turn in my insurance claim and I’ll hope her dad never wonders why he keeps receiving medical bills. Hmm.
b) I’m going to live in the Sandhills and raise 20,000 head of cattle. My wife will be a nurse in a town 40 miles away. Since I love Hayley oh-so-much and appreciate the sacrifices she’s made to be a rancher’s wife, I’ll take her dancing on Saturday nights.
c) I’m a law-abiding young man with no felonies or misdemeanors on my record. I am a Christian. I want a good, smart, fun-loving girl that I can treat like a princess. I like baseball. I will go dancing with Hayley, and I will enjoy it. Women tell me that I’m good-looking and wear nice cologne. I am mature, thoughtful, and emotionally intelligent. I am not a manipulative little twink. I don’t have any tattoos, piercings, or weird lesions on my body. I am a virgin and will not attempt to steal Hayley’s innocence until our wedding night. If I break this promise, I understand that her brother-in-law will hunt me down and kill me. And I care so much about the love of my life that I simply wouldn’t risk The Wrath of Andy for just a few moments of pleasure.
If you answered C, congratulations. I grant you permission to date my sister.

So dissapointing.

One blog after I threaten to put Monday Musings on paid leave until some other bloggers step up.

Too bad, I had some good ones this week. The European markets ----- dynamite!

Monday Musings is on hiatus until the other bloggers share some life.

Lindzo? Mary? Paul?

Sup.

aw

Jules and Hayley -- Andy can give you a full-fledged financial lesson, but upon Hayley's request, I thought I'd share my top 10 tips for saving money on everyday stuff.

1) Pick and choose furnishings and decorations you really, truly love. I bought lots of stuff just to fill the space, and I still regret how much money I wasted. It's really worth buying one item at a time and gradually building your collection of treasures.

2) If you live with a roomie, share things like condiments, toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies. You'll save precious closet space and money.

3) Find a grocery store that has a good "store brand." I love Hy-Vee because their products are the same as the real deal. I usually buy the store brand for these items: cream cheese, juice, milk, packaged cheese, salsa, all canned goods, pudding cups, frozen fruits, chocolate chips, and ice cream bars.

4) If you have room, buy these items in bulk: light bulbs, Kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels, bar soap, Clorox clean-up wipes, cereal (if you eat as much as I do, heh heh) and pretty much anything that doesn't expire.

5) Make only one shopping trip a week, if possible. Anytime you run into the drugstore to pick up one item, you'll probably walk out with five others. :)

6) Make a shopping list and STICK TO IT! I think we eat much healthier and save money when I take a few minutes to plan a menu for the week.

7) Clip coupons and shop sales. Sounds so mom-ish, right? But it really does save a lot of money. (Sales are almost always better deals than coupons, however.)

8) Make nutritious meals that yield lots of leftovers. I really like leftovers that I can put in the freezer, then defrost on a busy day when we don't feel like cooking. Soup, lasagna, meatballs, and enchiladas freeze well.

9) Take advantage of cheap meal nights at local restaurants. Andy and I still go to Old Chicago a few times a month for the Wednesday night $1 slice deal.

10) Once you're away from the dorm meal plan, it's so tempting to go out to eat instead of staying in and cooking. Bring your lunches, prepare stuff at home whenever possible, and treat yourself to a weekly dinner out with friends.

11) Sorry, thought of another one. Bar drinks are expensive. Save your liver and your pocketbook and limit how many drinks you buy. ;)

Watch for my next installments: Quick & Cheap Meals, What to Keep in the Kitchen at All Times, and What's Worth Splurging On.