Why the Things We Do

In an old house down by the beach
Lives an old man who's just out of reach
Oh oh
He's got nothing to lose

Some say he's a crazy old man
A refugee from a rock and roll band
Oh oh
He's still playin the blues

In the mornin when you rise
Aren't you glad to be alive
Oh oh
Put on your barefoot shoes

When you dance beneath the moon rainbow
Can't you feel the afterglow
Oh oh
Why the things we do
Why the things we do
Why the things we do

In the driftwood house you learn how to dream
The truth is stranger than fission it seems
Oh Oh
There's no earthly rule

And the people come just to hear him say
Life's to short to live it your way
Oh oh
Who's really foolin who

Invisible means are the key to support
Makes you king in your own court
Oh oh
What have you got to lose

Push the sadness from your heart
There's no livin in the dark
Oh oh

Why the things we do
Why the things we do
Why the things we
Why the things we do
Why the things we do
Why the things we do
Why the things
We do

In the mornin when you rise
Aren't you glad to be alive
Oh oh
Put on your barefoot shoes

When you dance beneath the moon rainbow
Can't you feel the afterglow
Oh oh
That's why the things we do
That's why the things we do
That's why the things we do
That's why the things
We do

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"And isn't it ironic..."

As I type Liz is in the other room tutoring calculus. It's funny how a week ago she was asking around for a tutor and now she is the tutor. Too funny.

Today after the Homecoming meeting we plastered various parts of campus with advertisements. On the way back Bertrand, the guy in charge of the Homecoming talent show, asked me when I was going to sign up for it. My oh so witty reply: "When I get some talent." Now I was expecting something like an "oh" or maybe even a chuckle. Instead he countered with, "But you're bec," to which I could only reply, "As great as that is, I hardly think people would consider it a talent."

So I told Liz about this little conversation and she said, "You should do it!" She was completely serious, but she forgets one thing; I have no talent. She's the one on stage all the time, she's the one with the lead in the musical, and I'm the one who cheers her on. That's just the way it is. I don't think it's that I couldn't act; I just don't have the right look or mentality for some one in the performing arts. Come to think of it, I don't have the right look or mentality for a 20 year old either.

Regardless, I'm going to keep doing whatever it is I do and hope that maybe someday my random talent will reveal itself and I can be special for just a little while.

Positive thought of the day
It's the weekend. I know this because I can't see my floor. :)

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I will never understand how Liz can dress up and look like a movie star, and I can dress up and look like a total yutz.

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Today has been a long day. I was up at 5am to take Nick home, and despite a short nap after that I've been up and going ever since.

In the last few days I've been thanked for being such a great leader. My family has been telling me my entire life that I'm a leader, and I guess now I have proof. It makes me feel pretty good knowing that all the work I do around this place (Florida Tech) doesn't go unnoticed.

On the downside of all of that is the fact that I worry I've been neglecting my classes in favor of meetings and sleep. It's definitely got to be fixed. If I don't watch it I'm never going to meet my GPA goal for the year, and I need to keep that at the forefront of my mind at all times.

Repeat after yourself bec:
"I'm here for school, the rest is extra."
"I'm here for school, the rest is extra."
Very good.

Anyway, today there was a group of about 30 guidance counselors and high school representatives on campus taking tours and asking us questions and whatnot. That's one thing I love about Student Ambassadors; the interaction I have with people is amazing. It's allowed me to get out there and be more myself than I ever was in High School.

I think the most interesting thing today was at the end of the whole thing when Andrew and I were standing at the door of the APR. This woman came up to us and asked if we knew Stephen Reiach. I said "Yeah, finally graduated last semester." She said "Yeah, I'm his mother," and just wanted to say hello because Stephen had always enjoyed the Ambassadors. She was going to try and grab an umbrella for him because admission was handing them out and she knew he didn't have one.

I walked back to my car with a smile thinking of the one ambassador who will always be "Our Fearless Leader", and how I am where I am because of him. I know it sounds funny, but he was one of the first students I met here before I'd even been accepted. He told me that day I'd be an Ambassador, and on Orientation move in day was a familiar face in an unfamiliar crowd saying "Hey! I know you!" Somehow he and the rest of the board last year had enough faith to make me Vice President. That alone has changed everything.

And so, to Stephen, Thank you. :)

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When I opened this window I actually had something I wanted to post. I appear to have forgotten.

Keebler called me this morning. Too cool. :)

It's always nice to hear from old friends and I have to admit that I've actually been talking to him quite a bit lately.

As I type, Kylie is on her way to Australia. I'm still insanely jealous, but I know I'm going to get there one day. I know I'm not all that rich now, but I'm hoping that somewhere along the way I'll have the money to be able to go do all those things I've been talking about for longer than I can even remember.

Today puts the Buffett concert exactly one week away. I'm really looking forward to it, and it's too cool that Mom is going to go with us. Unlike a lot of "parrotheads" our age we actually grew up on the music and haven't seen a show with Mom since we were 2 and 3. :D It also puts Homecoming at about a week and a half. It's really cool to see how it's all coming together and I know it's not over yet, but I'm already thinking of ideas for next year and how to improve from where we are right now.

I've had a lot of people asking me lately about what other things I'm involved with and where I have positions and whatnot. I never thought it was all that important to anyone else what I was doing. I mean sure I put in a lot of time for a lot of people, but beyond that I didn't think it really mattered. Apparently, as I've heard a lot and mentioned before, my hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. The thing is I never did any of it to get noticed. I did it because I wanted to.

Anyway, I seem to have digressed quite a bit although I'm wondering if you need to have a main point before you can do that. Ah well. I'm off to buy float supplies with a few other Special Events people. Homecoming Parade here we come!

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Familiar Voices from the Past

Yesterday I sat here and wrote a nice long post, but when I went to publish the window errored out and I lost it all. :(

Regardless, yesterday morning I woke up to find an email from Ansku, the exchange student from Finland that lived next door to us my senior year. We graduated together although, if I remember correctly, she had to go home to another year or two of schooling. Needless to say we saw a lot of her - gave her a ride to school in the mornings, hung out after class, et cetera. She was a runner, and a darn good one at that. Before I'd even met her I'd heard of her as the one who shattered the school cross country record set the year before on some course like it was nothing. When her time in the United States was up she told us she'd always remember us and that if she ever really made it as a runner we'd be some of those people she'd thank.

I was telling Liz the other day how long it had been since I'd heard anything from her and that I'd have to send an email to see if I could find out what she was up to. That's why yesterday's email from Ansku was so great. She said she thinks of us often and thought it'd be nice to kind of check in. :)

It's those kinds of little things that make you smile. I guess you never really know how much of an impact you've had on someone until they find you out of the blue on a random day and give you a sign.

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If I had a million dollars...

In all honesty, money has never impressed me. Ever since I started telling people I was going into something with computers they've told me how much money I'm going to make. Honestly, I don't believe them. With the right job that could be the case, but without it I don't expect much. I've met people from families with money who are complete assholes. One in particular comes to mind, but that's another issue altogether.

But if I were to suddenly wake up with money tomorrow, I know exactly what I'd do with it. First I'd pay off my debts. I owe money for school and my car, so I would get those out of the way immediately. Obviously some would go to my parents. Most of what's left after that would be put somewhere for safe keeping so that once I finish school I could travel the world while I'm still young. I want to see everything and I don't believe that will ever change.

My life's ambition is not to be rich, but to be happy. Sadly sometimes I look at all the things I've always said I want to do and I realize that money does play a part in that. However, while I remain the broke college student I am, I'm left with dreaming.

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So Jimmy...how much for the plane??

Yesterday the Porch of Indecision opened up at the Margaritaville Cafe up in Orlando. Now obviously with Buffett playing Orlando tonight, and the announcement of Club Trini being at the Cafe, it seemed the perfect opportunity to drive up there with fingers crossed that we'd get to meet the one and only Jimmy Buffett.

We got out there just before six to find a huge crowd of people standing outside the porch. Now before every Buffett show these people on stilts (making them about twice my height) gathered near where we were and told us to join their conga line because we were all going to be on TV. Chris and I jumped right in, although I have to say it was a fairly pathetic attempt. Realizing how many people we had around us, Chris decided there was no way would could be there and not have a camera, so he went in search of one. He came back a little later with A Pirate Looks at 50 so that he could at least get an autograph should we see some one of importance. I had already stolen a menu from the Cafe. We'd noticed Mac sitting next to the venue and I told of how this little boy walked right past security and got an autograph from him. Chris and I were tempted, but decided it was better to ask. Naturally that was my job. Who else are you going to send to ask a security guard if he'll let you slip by for a moment? That's right, the girl! So we get our autographs and as we're talking this guy throws down Mac's earpieces. We took this as a sign to go, although looking at it later and how bored he appeared, we were under the impression it would have been totally ok if we'd stayed.

So the band starts playing and we decide once again that we need a camera. I decide to take my chances, leave my menu and the pen with Chris, and venture further into Universal. Chris has been unable to find a camera in the one direction, so I walked towards Islands of Adventure to check if I'd really seen a souvenir shop. Fortunately there was a window on the side that didn't require park entrance.

Me: "Excuse me, do you have cameras? Like something disposable. I really need a camera and I don't have one."
Him: "Um, yeah, but not here."
Me: "Well do you know where I can find one...not inside the park, 'cause I don't have a ticket."
Him: "Hold on, I'll call some one."
:::enter longest two minutes of my life::
Him: "Some one is bringing one over."
::enter longest five minutes of my life:: By this point I can hear them playing Cairo over at M'ville. AAAAAHHHHH!!!!
I thank the guy who brings the camera, pay, and run back to Chris just after Mac has taken the stage. They start "The City."

We snap some pictures

~*~*~*~
I started writing this a few days ago with the intention of coming back to it, however, as of yet, that hasn't happened. To make a long story short (too late) we snapped pictures with Mac and Utley, got some autographs, ate some food, and went home. Not as exciting or suspenseful as I'd originally intended, but I digress. I'd also like to mention this occurrence marks the first time I have ever met some one famous. :)

Captured At:1047

We're that damn good!

It's hard knowing something and not being able to say anything. All weekend long I knew Student Ambassadors were going to come out of Homecoming with a trophy or two and placement in the top three. I wasn't allowed to talk and I didn't.

I think the only thing cooler than watching Jenn, our president, crown our Ambassador nominees Maria and Andrew as Homecoming King and Queen was watching one of our new Ambassadors get on stage to accept the trophy for the overall win and come down absolutely beaming.

They all worked so hard, but had fun in the process. And while all I really wanted to see them do for all their work was place, seeing them come out of all of it with the win was just amazing.

I'm very proud of Andrew, Maria, Melissa, Maddie, and all my other Ambassadors who made this weekend as great as it was. As tough as it was to just sit on the sidelines and watch at times, it's given me new faith and hope in where the Ambassadors will go from here.

Congratulations everyone!

Captured At:1637

In several ways today has been a worthless day.

I gave my usual campus tour. I took my usual morning shower. I skipped my usual classes.

Honestly, I would have rather not missed them. They're both very important classes that I've neglected terribly during the past few weeks of Homecoming madness. I'm really starting to get worried and I think it's time to slow down a bit. I have one thing done and I'm not planning on taking any more for the time being. It's time to focus.

However, not going to class was the right thing to do. My aunt and uncle were highly appreciative of the help we provided and said they were so tired when they got back from the service that they're not sure they would have been able to do it all. I will admit that it was mostly Liz who took care of the kitchen and food for our eclectic group of mourners, but it was nice to be of at least a little help.

Sitting in the funeral parlor today I realized how fortunate I am that my family is in good health. I don't mean to jinx myself, but I have all four of my grandparents, met at least one of my great grandparents, and still have several great aunts and uncles alive and well.

Earlier that morning I was giving some one a wedding card wishing them the best on their beginning, and then there I sat listening to people tearfully share the fond memories that could only come out of an end. It's amazing how life is like that.

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