Pirates!

Since Sunday, not much has happened. Or, that was a lie, and my life has been full of activity since then. One of the two.

After Focus, we went to Braum's and had free ice cream. Well, not exactly free, but close enough, since Focus paid for it and I didn't. Sarah got onto me for having three ice creams that day (once at the zoo (a double dip waffle cone), once on the way back (a triple dip cup of gelato), and then another double dip waffle cone at Braum's), but really, I don't mind eating all that ice cream, someone was going to have to eventually. And that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

While we were eating ice cream, we got it into our heads that we should play cards. I don't remember why, but it was fun though. We had a game of Go Fish! (which I failed miserably at), followed by a fun game of Spades. Apparently, Matt (G) knows how to play Spades pretty well, as do I; Sarah on the other hand, could use some practice. I think we decided that we should stop after just two games, with Matt and I with a score of 120 or so, and Sarah's team almost back at zero (negative twenty something I think they were at?) . All in all, it was a fun time at Braum's.

Monday, I had day two of my training at Steak and Shake.

And, this post has been in editing for three days now. I am just gonna post it, and make a follow up later.

Cast

• Me: Lazy boy with too much work
• Sarah: Girl who enjoys ice cream… to a point
• Matt (G): Fellow BSoA who also knows how to play Spades
  

Bongo

So. It's been a few days. Time for an update.

I went in for training Friday. It was good stuff. I had six hours of quizs and stuff, over simple things like "Don't mix chemicals" and "Don't put knives in water." Nothing really useful. Then I had three hours of following someone around, to find out how to be a server. Nothing too useful there either; I followed him for two tables, but it got to be to busy for that, so I just staid back and made drinks, and then learned from another trainee how to bus tables, so I did that when I noticed a messy table. All in all, a very worthy day, that Friday.

I'm really very happy to be working now. For the past three years of my life, I've been focused on one subject for the most part. Making mysely worthy for a girl. Half a year for a girl that was already taken (and I ended up attended her wedding just last december), two years for a girl whe ended up not wanting me, and a month or two now on a girl that's out of reach (now). So, maybe I'll get my mind on something proper now, instead of putting to much effort into the opposite sex. Of course, it could be said that I could have devoted myself to school from the beginning, but I really am not much of a fan of school. I do it because I have too. Interesting classes are worth it, but I haven't had an interesting class in a year now almost, and even before that, it was easy to split my attention between the class I enjoyed and the girl I was seeking to impress. But a job, that's different. I mean, there are good things about having a job. Money, work experience, and possible pathways to better things. So, hopefully I can do well at my new job.

So, I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but I had originally planned on going on a field trip yesterday. Well, that didn't happen. I had school work that I needed to do, laundry, and people to hang with. Yesterday was fun, because I got to hang with Keshia (who never comes to see us!), Eric, Matt (Gilliland), and Sarah. All very fun stuff. We went swimming (bad choice, it's freaking cold), then made food (my quiche!) and watched Gladiator. A very good day indeed. Everyone especially liked my throwing of the hat at the movie, but really, it was unhelpable. Someone had to throw a hat at him, and I was just the angry person to do it. And so, I did.

And now, there is today. Another great day (oh believe me, God has been good with me recently). Woke up early to go to the zoo with Keshia, Eric, and Sarah. Took a train, and went to the zoo. It wasn't as good as the Fort Worth Zoo (the Dallas Zoo that is), but it was still fun all the same. A grand full day adventure, of animals, friendship, and overpriced zoo food. We even had a nice running gag going, which they insisted I put up on the site. So, here it is. I don't remember which line belongs with who, but it doesn't really matter.

"Oh look, a bongo!" (A bongo is a weird grazing creature)
"Hey, Joe can play the bongo!"
"Really? How do you play a bongo?"
"I guess you grab it by the horns?"
"No, you beat on it's belly."
"Not that belly!" (In refrence to Eric's lack of a fat belly)
"Maybe that belly?" (In refrence to my non-lack of fat belly)

So, not that funny, probably more of a you-had-to-be-there kinda thing, but whatever. I have pictures from it though, and that's always good. There's other pictures there too, but the later third are all from the zoo.

Anyways, I gotta go to Focus now. Fun stuff, and praise God!

Cast

• Me: One very lucky guy, on his way to… Something
• Eric: Friend on campus, and fellow lover of animals
  
• Keshia: Girlfriend of Eric, and friend to the rest of the cast
  
• Sarah: Friend on campus, and fellow lover of animals
  
• Matt: Boyfriend of Sarah, and frend to the rest of the cast
• (Wow, that's sorta eirie… Are Eric and Sarah the same person too? Does this mean that I'm Sarah? Does that mean that I'm dating Matt and Sarah?)

Will Paul finally find all his problems solved?
Will his identity crisis be taken care of?
Will settle into his job well?
Find out, next time on "UTD Life, or Something."

I'm ready!

It's my first day. And I got no sleep last night. I tried, I really did, but couldn't do it. I lay in bed at midnight thirty, hoping to be asleep by one. Well, I think I finally drifted off around two, two thirty in the morning. And then I tossed and turned all night. And then I woke up at seven in the morning, unable to get back to sleep. So, hopefully I won't die today. But, it's always a possibility.

Anyways, time to get dressed and go in for training!

Cast

• Me: A very tired, but still eager, young employee
  

Late night fun

I think I want to play some pool right now. It's what I like to do when I'm sad. So someone come and play some pool with me.

Cast

• Me: Somewhat sad about missed chances
  

Good day

As an update to the previous post, let me explain.

I have a job now at Steak and Shake, but have no car. Steak and Shake isn't nearby. It's close enough that I thought that I could at least ride a bike there though. I was wrong. If I rode a bike, it would go like this…

• Day of school draining energy…
• Bike ride there killing me…
• Hard day of work finishing me off…
• Ride home impossible…

That's not exactly what I need. So, I've given up on that idea, and will depend on rides, until I can get a car. So, anyone with knowledge in how to go about doing this, contact me and help. I have money, and my father said he can help, so I just need to know what to do now.

About the job: I'll be paid less than minimum wage, only about two thirteen an hour or so, but will make up for that (assumably) in tips. I go in for training on Friday at ten, and will have my first day of work that same day at six in the afternoon. So, fun stuff there.

I took my govt quiz today and got an 83, so good stuff. Just pray that I can do as well on the exam tomorrow. (Gosh, I really gotta remember to get the exam form tomorrow before class…)

Also, keep Linda (my second mother, Thomas's real mother) in your prayers. She's in the hospital right now, getting a kidney removed. I don't know how this is gonna work, I thought she already had one gone, I don't know how she can go with just one. But, keep her in your prayers, that she at least remain comfortable, and come out of there ok.

Cast

• Me: Very tired, newly hired mediocre college student
• Linda: Best mother ever, and the woman most deserving of love ever
  

Death to me

*dies* I just rode a bike from here to Wal-Mart, and died. I don't think this is gonna work. If any one has any contacts or helpful info on how to get a car, give it to me now. I really really need a car.

Cast

• Me: A poor dead soul in need of a car
  

Haha!

Eric, you lose! It's not my theme! This theme did it too, twice in a row, I had to kill gnome-panel. So, take that!

Cast

• Me: A happy computer user who can now reclaim his theme
• Eric: A loser! *poke poke*
• gnome-panel: An applet that needs to stop freaking dieing!
  

Job and friends

So, news from Sarah: "Stoehr, Sarah: Congratulations on your new job." So, she says that I'm gonna be given a try at least. And that, in my opininon, is what we call "good stuff." The interview went well, and I think that they like me. Combined with what Sarah said, my hopes are getting pretty high. I know that they shouldn't (I always get high hopes with jobs, and then get dropped), but this seems like the best chance I've had yet.

In other news, I hate my TA's. In all classes pretty much. My TA for CS 2110 Intro To Digital Systems Lab is ok, but she is the only one. My lab class for cal is supposed to get out at ten, so he is supposed to give us our quizes at nine thirty. Well, he didn't give them out tonight until a minute after ten. So, I didn't get out till about ten minutes after the hour, and that really sucks. I hate bad TA's, quite a bit.

So, a friend of mine (Alena) came up with a song for our sorta-pastor, Brandon Worsham. It goes to the tune of Captain Planet:

Brandon Worsham, he's our pastor
Skin as white as alabaster
Preaching sermons, singing hymns
Racquetball at the gym

We're disciple makers
You can be one too
Cause saving our planet is the thing to do
Hating and debating is not the way
Hear what Brandon Worsham has to say...
Christ's powers are yours!

So, one day, as she and I were watching Charlie play racquetball at the activity center, we decided that he needed a theme song too. After much deliberation, we came up with the following, done to the music of Sponge Bob Square Pants:

Who plays racquetball at a quarter till 3?
Charlie Martin!
Skillful, left handed, and agile is he..
Charlie Martin!
He'll whip out a racquet and play you a game
Charlie Martin!
With all that he knows he will put you to shame!
Charlie Martin!

So, that's all fun stuff.

Cast

• Me: Overworked individual looking for more work
• Sarah: The best friend ever
• Crappy TA: What more needs to be said?
• Alena: Friend from Focus, musically inclined
• Brandon: Pale skinned semi-pastor
• Charlie: House-mate of Eric, and friend to all
  

Addendum

Ok, so, ftp doesn't hate me now. I have done nothing to appease it, but it is magically working now. But earlier, I swear, it wasn't working darn it!

Cast

• Me: So very very confused!
• ftp: So very very confusing!
  

Job!

So, I'm going into an interview, in about half an hour. I've been looking for a job for the past two weeks or so (kinda passively), and one of the places (the only one so far *is ashamed*), called me back and asked me to come in for an interview! I've gone job hunting before, but never have I been called back after turning in an application. This is a first for me! Admittedly, I had help. Sarah (Stoehr, not the one from recent discussions) helped me out by giving a good word on my behalf. So, that may play a small part (or large, more likely) part in why they decided to give me a chance. So, now I'm all dressed up, and full of energy. *bounces*

On the topic of school, I have a chance to bring up my grades for Age of Dinosaurs! I bombed the midterm (with a horrible grade not worth mentioning (41/100)), and so I asked him today what I could do. Well, he is looking for slave labor, and offering extra credit in return for it. So, I am offering up my body to do work setting up for some theater production, in return for passing this class. It really seems like I'm taking a bit more charge in my classes and grades. Hopefully, I won't be kicked out of college this semester!

Still on the same topic of school, but more towards government this time, how do I study? I know how to study for cal (do the questions from the book), but how do I study for government? He doesn't use the questions from the book, and I don't have old quizzes of mine to look over, so I have no clue where to start. The exam is on Thursday though, so I need to study soon. Helpful input is nice, so tell me how you do it if you don't mind.

Oh, and ftp hates me again.

Cast

• Me: Youthful energetic student taking charge of life and school
• Sarah: Friend and contact at Steak and Shake
• ftp: Very confusing!
  

Plug

Just a plug for my new favorite holiday.

(By the way, this is not a joke (well, it sorta is), I encourage everyone to take part)

Cast

• Me: *will be participating*
  

Thoughts

So, thoughts always mess me up. I want to do one thing, but I know I shouldn't. I've ever put up a barrier against me doing it. It's an easy to pass barrier, but every time I want to do it, the barrier is there reminding me of my determination not to.

I want to check Sarah Barker's blog. I know I shouldn't. She's gone from my life. It messes me up when I find out info about her. It makes me feel like crap. But, she was a part of my life, hell, she was my life, for almost two years. And so, I still have a lingering urge to see how her life is going. But I know that it will mess me up.

*sighs* Things are screwy. I want to also tell her about this blog. Maybe she would like to read what happens in my life. I don't know. But, if I invite her into my life again, I don't know if I would be able to take it. Word from the wise here: Don't be sexually immoral. It messes you up, and causes feelings that aren't real. I don't regret what I did, but I know that it was a mistake, and this is just a message for those out there that are in positions where things could mess up. Don't do it. I sometimes think back on Sarah, and now my thoughts are always tainted with what I did to her. (If anyone has questions on this, or needs some guidance on this topic, feel free to contact me. I'm not ashamed to talk about my mistakes, if it will help keep someone else from falling off the path.) I think I'll just wait awhile, and ask some friends for their opinion, then decide whether or not to tell her about this blog.

Cast

• Me: Confused soul in seek of guidance
• Sarah (Barker): Cause of all the confusion
  

Dream

So, I think I just had the wierdest dream ever (that I've remembered). It was me getting a phone call from my ex (Sarah Barker), and her telling me that she is pregnant and getting married. Four months pregnant. Now, it's only been about three months since we broke up, and I know that I'm not the one that made her pregnant, so in the dream it all became clear on why we broke up: she slept with Scott and now has to marry him since she has his child. Now, that's not the truth of the matter, we broke up for a variety of reasons (that I'm not going to go into), but in the dream, that's what happened. So, she wanted me to come to the wedding and be the best man (for Scott), and a bunch of other stuff. Well, when I woke up (about four minutes ago), I had this huge urge to check up on her, look on her site or call her and see how things are going. But, I know that it's not for the best, and I should just not peer into her life anymore. So, I'm not.

But, it was an odd dream, either way.

Cast

• Me: Old romantic fart, getting over his past interests, but interested in new things now
• Sarah (Barker): Old romantic interest, now out of touch with the main character
• Scott: Friend from church back home, contact broken with for past three months
  

Day two

Well, a fairly average Sunday today. A shortage of food around the house (and eventual decision to seek food elsewhere), a lot of sitting on the computer, and FOCUS (Fellowship Of Christian University Students), the on campus christian group that I am a part of.

Earlier in the day, I went over to a friend's house, and helped him attempt to prank his roomie's computer. He had a simple java program that would wait ten minutes, then flood the screen with a never-ending stream of windows. Problem was, when it ran, it opened a console window, which wouldn't work very well. So, he needed to make a jar file for it. I was a bit of help (I think), by showing that he needed the JDK (actually suggested by Eric). So, actually, I probably didn't help much… But I tried at least! And that's the important thing.

So I went back home, and it stormed! Such a good day for a rainstorm. I always love the rain, and so here it comes for me! I think it's God saying "Good job on your cal exam, have a rainstorm Paul!" And I like that. So, good stuff there.

After Focus, we sometimes go out to different restaurants for some fun and fellowship. Well, at this particular outing to Burger Street (not recommended), Sarah was being hassled and poked by Matt (Gilliland), and in order to protect her, Eric reached across the table, spilling Sarah's drink all over her. Well, she doesn't like pictures (whole 'nuther story), but awhile back she promised that she would let me take one of her. And, her standing there, pants soaked with coke, I thought of the promise that she made. So, for your viewing pleasure, I present to you, Sarah!

In completely different news today, I switched from apache2 to lighttpd. I never got into apache2 much, but I can say this about lighttpd: the config is much smaller, and I did everything I needed to set it up in about five minutes. Also (and this is from Eric), it seems to be much faster. So, if page loads are faster, it's all because of this.

Cast

• Me: Slightly wet twin of Eric
• Eric: Computer junkie on call
• Sarah: Student and friend, jealous of the twins nearness to the pool
• Matt: Cohort from Focus
• Pranking Friend (Matt Clark): Mischevious friend in need of CS help

FTP released from custody

Ok, so, my problem is solved. It wasn't ftp's fault *apologizes to ftp*, so I wasn't right to blame it for something that it didn't do. No, instead, for some reason that I don't understand yet, my router has a habbit of throwing away packets, semi-randomly. It will work fine for months on end, then randomly, when no one is even in the room with it, it will start dropping packets. Quite annoying, really. And so, to fix it, I have to do what Comcast calls "power cycling". I have to turn off my router and modem, leave them off for half a minute (coffee time), then turn them on (in the order of router first, modem second), and wait for them to reconnect. All in all, it's a huge pain in the ass, and I wish I could get past it, but it happens sometimes.

So, now everything is up and running normally, and I am gonna work on templates! So, if you care to see what I'm doing, head on over to my testing blog. Hopefully, I will keep working on it, and not give up immediately. So, root for me! Time for some work.

Cast

• Me: Lazy and liable to quiting lovable male lead
• ftp: did nothing wrong after all
• Template testing blog: Hopeful start-up, on it's way to mediocrity
  

Addendum

Ok, correction, I firmly dislike ftp now. Or, something. Whatever it is that's messing this up. I have no clue when this will actually be posted, because, blogger can't seem to publish to my webserver. I'm angry at this fact. So, tomorrow, Eric will (hopefully) come over and help me fix the problem. Once that's settled, I will like ftp again (for it's ability to let me use blogger on my own space), but until then I'm a bit aggravated.

Cast:

• Me: An angry, tired soul in dire need of sleep before explosion.
• Eric: The kind friend that will come to soothe the savage beast that is ftp.
• ftp: Really really annoying.
  

First good title!

So, time for an actual first post!

Just as a heads up, I have no clue where this blog will go. Well, actually, I do. I think it'll probably serve as my best ranting outlet. I used to use livejournal (but we won't talk about that), and that was it's major purpose. Other then that, this will just be an easy way for me to keep track of my life, and what's been going on.

So, as a good first post, let's go into today! Or, my life… Umm… Today!

I volunteered for a guitar thingie. It was semi-interesting, but not really. I didn't get to hear them perform. The only good parts about it were being able to hang with Sarah, and getting a free shirt. Other then that, it was just blah. I had to go and wear my nice pants, and then get them all wet (because of the lovely Texas weather).

But, on a more important note, I found out about setting up an ftp server today. And how much of a hassle it is. (Hint: Semi-annoying) But, I figured it out, and so it's all good now. Eric made it seem like so much more, but it's only a slight problem. Once I (AKA he) found it of course. I'm sure that I would have been able to find it, but it would have been a day or two. I get angry at things to easily, and give up. Gosh, I really need to work on that…

And, to begin something else, let's have a cast and crew for today!

Cast:

• Me! as My Adorable Self. Linux using wierd guy. Surprisingly handsome and fun to be with though.
• Sarah Stoehr as Sarah: Hyper friend, living nearby, also interested in guitar.
• Eric Anderson as Eric: Closest male friend on campus, fellow linux user, but not as good looking as the lead actor.

Again

And once again, for another feature… Let's see if this works!
--
dg

Testing again

123
--
dg

Testing!