Toluu

Preston

now what's up

4424January 6

I was at the kitchen table eating dinner with Dan and Sue. The phone rang. We all looked around and realized Ellie wasn't home to answer the phone. I said to them, "Let's just let the answering machine get it." Sue scoffed and rolled her eyes, Dan got up to answer the phone. We overheard Dan say, "What? I can't understand a word you're saying." We look at each other and bolt to a near by phone. As we listen, we also couldn't understand him. We listened a bit longer, Sue pulled the phone away and said to Dan, "I think this guy is having a stroke!" We listened longer, Sue spoke in a calm and soothing voice- people having strokes may not be able to understand what is spoken, but they are able to comprehend the tone of voice. Sue asked the man on the phone what his name was, he continued with his incoherent speech. She asked again, finally made out, "John Banano". Dan and Sue looked at each other, they both knew John. He started to give his address, "...4424..", Sue said, "Don't worry, we know where you live, we'll be there soon". We all hung up the phone, briefly looked at each other bewildered, put our coats on and headed to John's house.

John, lives with his wife Marie, both ancient. We knocked on the door, Marie answered. We asked if John was home and if he was alright. Marie said he had just gone upstairs to put on his pajamas. We told her we had received a strange phone call, she could tell we were worried, so she went upstairs to check on J

on textingDecember 6 2008

Alright- I just vented to a friend about this.. I didn't mean to.

Recently, I've been getting really frustrated with text messages I receive. Texting is supposed to be a convenient and quick way to get a message to someone. I read a short blog a while back, my favorite quote, that I whole heatedly agreed with: "We've already invented an incredibly efficient way to get thoughts from our brains to others - it's called speech."

So my bottom line: getting text messages that require more than a 5 word reply just bother me. I don't want to send 7 text and take 20 minutes to figure out say.. when we're going to meet to work on a project. I would prefer to simply pick up the phone and make plans and be finished and clarified in 3 minutes.

I think texting is getting out of hand. And it pisses me off.

lost and found, lost and sorry it's not hereNovember 21 2008

Often, so so often, people loose their USB drives. As a lab monitor, I'm obligated to check the lost and found and that's. about. all. I really feel for these people; what a bummer to loose all your work. I try to help brainstorm and I look in other places for them, like drawers that they would and should not ever be in. The truth is though- that all my sympathy won't make your USB drive pop back in your hand. That leads to the other truth.. it's not really my problem. Ahh! I can't believe I just said that, I feel like I'm just asking for bad karma.

I don't think I'm better than anyone, but why don't they back up their information. Especially if it's something as simple as a paper. (Just at note that Illustrator and Photoshop files take a lot more time and space). Of course, I wouldn't ever tell someone that while their in the middle of their panic attack.

So anyway, what a strange topic to suddenly blog about. The reason I had to talk about this somewhere is because of the most recent student that lost her USB drive (about 5 minutes ago). I didn't know what to do as she sat there, probably just retracing her steps, but also looking at me as though I knew where it was, but wasn't telling her. I made my best attempt to phrase my unhelpfulness in the best way I could. "I'm really sorry, I'll be watching for it". What got me was when sh

how is it my homie?September 29 2008

I don't mean to take credit for a phrase I obviously did not coin. I do think, I can take credit for the popular usage of the word "homie" amongst the UClan international community of spring 08.

Phrases such as "Que Pasa homie", "How is it my homie" or "my dear homie" were unprecedented until even late in the spring semester. In my unbiased opinion, the usage of "homie" was a trickle down effect, starting with, myself [at Uclan].

My credit can be attributed to Miss Ostermann, starting from the fall of 2004. She is a lingo Goddess. What she says- we all say. And we spread her word. Congrats HO, your influences have made it to Europe. =)

What's happening?August 22 2008

Everyone is getting MARRIED! It was such a stir of emotions when I saw Libby and Tad got married. It's even more strange that this is the couple that has made me feel so damn old.

I met Libby my freshman year, we lived on the same floor. Without introducing herself, she gave me a hug, as I was walking back to my room from saying good-bye to my parents. I wonder if she knew I had been crying (I was wearing sunglasses). I also met Tad my very first night at Iowa State. I remember him describing himself as a "hard core Christian". He was friends with Danielle... a total opposite of him. I wasn't especially close with Libby, but I can say, with confidence, that I've watched her develop through out her time at Iowa State.

I think I'm so taken by this particular marriage (as opposed to Sarah & Brad or Jayleen & Fab) because we all started in the same place- literally. I've observed them both over the years, Libby more so than Tad, and observed them as they eventually found each other. It may be a bit difficult to take in because, from and outsider's perspective, it all seems so effortless, classic and, well, perfect. It's all pretty Libby-style. =)

Moreover, this time, this particular week, seems like such a milestone. It was four years ago that I met these two people, who eventually met each other and have now committed to each other for life. Even more- I'm still here!! Even if for just one extra semester, I feel like I shou