Midsummers revelation

This is a short post cause I'm sleepy, but here's a revelation from midsummers...

Friendship, bonds, relationships, whatever you call it, is at its core that rush of excitement and energy at seeing and being around others who you can't see on a regular basis, and that warm comfy feeling of home you get while around them.

Leftovers from last night

Last night several of us hung out and had fun, and at one point I had a really good conversation with Caitlin and about the transition of college to real life. Now on Friday I went out with Feng, another new hire who's from Illinois and therefore new to VA, at one point we had a kinda similar conversation. Starting out with the conversation with him, we discussed being in a place you've grown up, and gone to college at, and therefore having a well established network of friends and people you associate yourself with. He posed the question about whether I had ever thought about moving to another state far enough away that the convenience of having friends close by is gone; where you have to pretty much prove to yourself that you can make it on your own, and survive in an unfamiliar setting. Its something I contemplated doing during my job search, and I didn't come across the opportunity to give it much thought since all my offers for jobs were in state. Giving it more thought however, I don't feel as though that I would really have the guts to do things similar to Feng or others I know from UVa who have made that large leap to unfamiliar territory.

This conversation flowed over to last night, when others and I discussed how relationships developed in college have that inherent convenience of being able to go grab a lunch with someone, be library buddies, or even just have the opportunity to just randomly run into one of your friends. When you graduate college, you leave that convenience behind in multiple ways. In one way, the way you interact with friends you developed in college changes; you can no longer just randomly run into them, or go walk five minutes to a house. The relationships from college lose their convenience, and you have to put a constant effort into your daily schedule to try to maintain those relationships. This isn't a bad thing at all, because the moments you have on gchat or via text message/phone call are still completely fun and enjoyable. Furthermore, the instances where you go to visit and see these people you consider best friends whom live hours away are amazing and exciting.

The other way in which this convenience leaves is that meeting new people, finding new friends become SO much harder after college. Thus far, I've made two new friends, and these are people I have met through work. Don't even ask me how your supposed to meet new people in the "real world," other than making a ridiculous interview tape for MTV to get on a show that in no way resembles the real world. Its an adjustment to something that many of us have been used to for 4 years, and is something that there's sadly no easy little handbook that has a 5 step program of how to adjust to a new lifestyle.

Braving new territory

Last night I went out with one of my coworkers who I met on Monday. He just moved into the area from Illinois, so he came to a new area where he didn't know anyone. While discussing all sorts of stuff, we got on the subject of braving new territory, seeing things you haven't seen, going off and living somewhere for at least a year without knowing anyone in the area, and if you can sanely, economical, and socially do well.

This discussion kinda made me wonder if I would be able to or not, I know this past year when thinking of it one of the reasons I would take anything in my home state is because it would be so close to the ones I love. I dont know if I'd quite have the will to do so. So to those of you who read this, what do you think (not quite necessarily about me, but about yourselves and in general?).

Geek out time

To those who are not as nerdy as I, E3 is a video game/technology expo held in the beginning of June which is the time major publishers unleash their secrets to get a share of the market. These are the titles I'm looking forward to purchasing when they eventually come out... (Image credits to IGN.com)

1. Legend of Zelda Wii

Above is the game I'm probably most excited about. Nintendo has released the above image to prevent fanboys from throwing their Wiis out the window in the event of no tangible Zelda news. The main rumors are the girl (which looks an awful lot like the master sword) is going to be the Master Sword, if not some form of a weapon. I'm personally hoping (and predicting) she'll end up being able to turn into a variety of things, such as a sword or bow...here's hoping to creativity. Another bonus is that LoZ Wii will use the Motion Control + (more on that later).

2. Metroid: Other M


This gem right here was a complete surprise, as there was no indication that Nintendo would reveal such a thing. This is another entry in the Metroid series, and from the looks of it will be quite a mature adventure and potentially something amazing.

3. Super Mario Galaxy 2

The next entry in Super Mario Galaxy, should be just as good if not better than the first. Biggest addition revealed so far, playing with this guy:


4. New Super Mario Bros Wii

Another Mario title, only this is like the originals, with multiplayer. Seems to be promising. More new costumes, more insanity, and hopefully more fun.


There's my geek out moment, I'd throw a BSG timeline theory up here, but way too many ppl haven't seen 4.5 yet. (woot to it coming out in a month and to The Plan in the fall!)

Work life balance?

Personal goal of the month: get a work life balance, I need to do more during the week than work, exercise, eat and sleep...if anyone has any amazing insight into this, lemme know...

Reflections, baseballs, whifbee, WORKKKKK

So, as I said in my first post, I wanted to write down my thoughts and close out all the reflecting I've done in the past 2 months. But I also wanted to share where I'm at, and what I'm looking forward to.

I guess reflections for me started before the thesis was done, and around the time of APO banquet. I had only attended one, and through what I witnessed and experienced, I held it in my mind as a time of reflection, open thoughts (even though that forum should always exist...), and respect for those who have paid their dues (both literally and figuratively). Coming into it, I had no clue what to say to those I'd be leaving, and frankly didn't feel I had anything wise to share that had not been shared before. After getting there of course, and while playing LOOFA bingo (thanks Mark) I learned how I had felt about my college experiences, and how they shaped the person I am today. I came into college a shy introverted person, not proud of who he was, and left with what I was missing before college. I found confidence, BSG, cooking skillz that killz, myself, my strength, and most importantly I found those that I could never see life without, those who complete my crazy wacked out family. As JD said in the video I posted previously, "It's all about the people that you let into your life."

Which pretty much leads into the immense feelings of pride I realized I had for not just those I surround myself with, but with myself. Thesis. Done. Finally. That is what I felt when I turned it in, although I admit that sadly I didn't have a rush of pride, excitement, or anything of that nature after initially turning it in. I don't know if it was sleep deprivation, effing 436, or a comment about my thesis that I'd rather forget that caused that. However, after a phone conversation to let one of my APO littles know I had turned it in had that feeling of pride started to well up and really start to sink in. With that thesis done, I was effectively done with what was frankly 4 years of scholastic hell.

Which all of this led to a beach week (which at some points were rather overwhelming with the degree of craziness...I kinda wanted to creep back into my cave) that despite some craziness I loved and enjoyed. Being able to spend that time with 2 of my closest friends throughout college, my group of ridiculous but amazing service-doers, and the friends and littles that defined my fun part of fourth year was totally worth it, and a good way to wrap up the college experience. And I will never forget the amazing hell that is polish/APP poker.

Graduation happened, it was a whirlwind, got a HUGE piece of paper, sat through a boring speech, took some pictures, ate some food, and finally took a deep breath of relief. I feel like everything above kinda summarizes the graduation feeling.

After graduating, I had to get my own car, which, I DID! I got a blue, Honda Insight Hybrid, and I love it. Its not the raptor of CMelt's that I saw at beach week, but the best name that I have for it right now is Bumblebee (thanks lil). Yay car.

Although related to the car, for those who have yet to encounter it, real life is swarmed with disgusting paperwork. And I have a dreadful feeling it will not go away.

So right now my quality of writing is decreasing, along with my inspiration, so I'll continue with these thoughts later.

old, busted, yet fresh and new

So following in the tracks of several of my friends who have graduated, I decided to start up a blog (only after recently starting to read blogs) to have an easy way to convey what's on my mind and let friends follow up on what I've been doing (if any of them actually wish to do so lol).

So, past month...major events....thesis completed, graduated college, bought a car, moved to NOVA, and starting my job in just a few days. As of now I wanted to just get a first post out there, but thoughts and reflections on the past month and 4 years of my life are soon to follow, along with my looking ahead. Cliffnotes version, alot of it was actually summarized in the Scrubs finale, in the following clip (don't watch if you don't want the finale to be spoiled.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SliYzq3htBg

-T