Bloomington or Bust

A New Beginning

2007-12-21T20:13:00.000-05:00

As the year 2007 closes, we are once again brought to the fact that we will ceremoniously wipe the slate clean and hope for better in the coming year. Though 2007 was not a bad year, and far from it in fact, there is always room for improvement. And improve we will. The start of my new year will coincide with a new blog shortly thereafter.

Seeing as I am an art student, with a great interest in computer driven art, I will be designing my new blog and hosting it on a website. That's right, farewell Blogger. This website is easy to use and has been a great place to write down thoughts, express ideas, and just plain rant sometimes, it is time for something bigger and better.

The website is in developing stages at the moment and this being the holiday season (and my semester break) things will probably move slowly for a while. But soon enough, my blog will return in a much greater fashion.

Expect more news on this soon. And trust me, you former readers will definently wish to return when we make our triumphant return.

So here's to a great 2007, and the joys of 2008 that wait just around the corner.

Happy Holidays, all!

This Isn't Right!

2007-11-29T16:49:00.001-05:00

I think I have finally decided why people love Christmas. It's because when the day finally arrives it means you you have absolutely nothing you have to do except recieve gifts. That's not hard at all. As I was walking around campus the other day, probably going from one thing only to start another, Silver Bells began to play on one of the clocks on the hour. It made me happy, but I also took it as a reminder that Christmas is coming and the song is helping us march on to the day.

I am swamped by work, and whenever I see something that reminds me off Christmas I can't help but be a little more happy and push myself that much harded. The end is coming, and there is plenty that keeps me from forgetting.

Beyond Pysch tests, 3D projects, short stories, and papers there are cookies, boxes of presents, and Christmas Eve dinner. There is family, all together for one time out of the year. There is cool nights that turn into mornings with a layer of white snow covering the ground. There is sledding instead of studying, hot chocolate instead of energy drinks. There is sleeping in til noon under three covers, instead of waking like a zombie, cold at 8 in the morning.

I do not like the end of the semester. Teachers feel as if they need to cram everything in before we slip away. I learn little, because I have to find someway to fit it all in. I can't complete things as well as I should, and I forget about them the minute the go from my hands to theirs.

So I may not remember what was on my Pysch test, but I do no what is on my Christmas list (thought not much right now). In the end, we are all just working for the break. That's the stuff that really matters.

It can't come soon enough.

Scoff Now, Laugh Later

2007-11-07T23:54:00.000-05:00

The college season is underway. Derrick Rose is a GOD! The top is stacked. Blah, blah, blah.
So, it's new and fresh and I'm already tired of the talking heads at ESPN.

I've been listening, reading, and checking in on everything college basketball for the last couple days, and its all the same crap. And that is the fact that we are getting NO LOVE.

Honestly, I think I like it that way.

On ESPN College Gameday Preview, the opening question was which teams are favorite to win it all. The announcers mentioned every time, EVERY, Top 10 team except my Hoosiers.

I'll watch the season, laugh later, and write them a little e-mail when they all claimed they called us at the beginning of the season.

Eric Gordon gets love as potentially the best player in the Big 10 this year. D.J. is just outside the votes for All-American. But we ZERO chance of winning the title.

Ha.

With Mich. St, Ohio St. and Kentucky losing in the early stages....and not only losing, but putting up pathetic amounts of points, I don't understand why we are still off the charts.

We are explosive. We are talented.

You'll see us in March.

I called us now, the heads will call them later.

They didn't call us now. That's for sure.

Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

Yeah, Its Back

2007-11-05T21:34:00.000-05:00

First off, I'm back. Slight delay in posting but there is no reason to panic.
So is winter. How do I know?

1. I have worn my hoodie way too much the past week.
2. Walked out of Pysch today to darkness. At 7. Ugh.
3. Bought Chapstick today. Dry lips. Such a nuisance.
4. I don't want to leave my three blanket layer of protection in the morning.

5. And the good reason. I watched some Hoosier basketball on Sunday.

It was a busy week. Wait. It has been a busy semester. A quick, but oh so busy semester. I've already had to register for my classes next semester. And maybe I should probably be putting thought into where I want to live next year, or what I want to do for spring break. But you know what, I'm not. And I'm okay with that. There is plenty going on constantly to take my attention.

School is always there. However, I'm sure you all know that the IU basketball team has taken the majority of my attention. I went to see their first game of the exhibition season this weekend, and it seems rightfully so. This is not your last years Hoosier basketball. This isn't 11 point half time scoring.

No. This team is explosive. This team is raw talent. This team has unlimited amounts of potential. It's Mr. Basketball Eric Gordon. It's DJ Whites leadership. Its talented frosh. A deep bench. It's slam dunk in your face front court and its drive or shoot the deep ball backcourt. Hoosier basketball is back and I'm going to be there to see it all.

If you thought I was excited last year, hear me talk about the potential for this year. Who knows, maybe the beach won't be in my spring break plans, but instead Indy to see us in the Big Ten Tourney.

To kick off the season I will rank the games I am most looking forward to:
1. VS Kentucky Dec. 8...The Wildcats come to Assembly Hall for a potential Top 10 faceoff. Self explanatory.
2. VS Illinois Jan. 8...Eric Gordon came here. Not there. We have to rule the roost in our Assembly Hall. Huge Game.
3. VS Michigan State Feb 16...Would be 2, but we didn't get tickets to this game. Most likely to determine who wins the the Big 10.
4. VS Connecticut...They will most likely be a Top 25 team then. Huge non-conference during conference season.
5. VS Purdue...Rivalry. Underrated Purdue team. 10th Row Court seats. Looks like a damn good time.

So now to back story news.
Halloween was on a Wednesday this year, meaning me and Kiernan dubbing it a 12 day weekend, Thursday to the following Sunday. It didn't quite play out that way, but we had a killer week of Halloween celebrating. There were plenty of parties to attend and plenty of slutty girl costumes. But beyond that, there were tons of creative, awesome, hilarious, etc costumes.

So my favorite costumes...
1. Three Hole Punch Jim (from The Office for you who don't watch. Shame on you.)
2. His buddy, Dwight. The guy just had it down.
3. Matt as Tourette's Guy. (watch YouTube Tourette's guy if you are lost.)
4. Tomb Raider (yes a girl with a great costume. Spot on with the costume. Skin, but not slutty.)
5. I'm gonna be conceited and put me at here. Wario got some mad props all week.

Other random news:
- The Hoosier Football team is bowl eligible. Not for sure bowl bound, but this is a huge step. First time with 6 wins since 1993. Oh happy day. With Northwester and Purdue remaining, bowl aspirations are still very much alive.
- I really like the new Matchbox 20 song. Rob Thomas is much better in a band then by himself.
- I bought Guitar Hero III last week. Its badass.
- I hate the clock change. So primitive. Can we get rid of it already.
- Theresa is coming to Bloomington on Thursday. So a shout out to a sister visit to rival the brother visits. Haha.
Looks like I won the quickest visit to a brothers respective college. Hooray me!

That's all I got.

I'm a Wario! Im'a gonna ween!

Chimp in my Pumpkin

2007-10-23T20:38:00.000-04:00

My Design:

Why Should the Fire Die?

2007-10-22T15:56:00.000-04:00

Two summers ago, Nickel Creek's album "Why Should the Fire Die" was nothing more than that. However, earlier this year Nickel Creek decided they would disband, and after seeing them perform once more, it remains a question in my head. Why exactly is the fire dying right now? I walked away from the concert stunned and mesmorized by the sheer talent and quaility of their music, and can't help but wonder why they could disband now.

Nickel Creek chose to close their encore with this song as well. Playing completely acoustic, with no microphones and their instruments unplugged, the hushed crowd listened in amazement as their incredible musical talent mixed with their perfectly harmonized voices softly filled the Brown Theater. It was an intimate moment with a band that is leaving everything they've got on stage at every performance. Chris Thile said they played it this way to show how good the acoustics were in the theater, but part of me beleives it was a gift to the fans that had supported them for so long, especially after he said we were the best, most attentive audience they had ever had. It was a special song, and it seems as if my gaze is still stuck on them singing that song with pure talent. They left the stage after singing the song, but not before Chris Thile seemed to gaze back with a sort of sadness that signaled the journey would soon end. I know he isn't sure he wants to let it go.

Before this incredible end, Nickel Creek played to a packed, and strangely older audience, for a solid two hours. There was the expected, but there was much more that kept me intently mesmorized by the show at every turn. This was not just a concert, it was an interaction between the band and their most loyal fans. They didn't just play songs, they told stories, joked, and laughed. They let us see past the band and to the individuality that makes them Nickel Creek. Stage presence is key to a great concert, and the charisma the three members of the band show is second to none. They are not afraid to poke fun at each other, themselves, or even the crowd. And they seem genuinely proud of and thankful for the fans they have. Sara explained that her newest song was inspired by the fact that she had too many cups in her cupboard; it was a break up song. Chris explained that his breakup song had a simple proposition that every Ex should consider. The refrain stated.."If your gonna leave me, set me up with one of your freinds." It was yet another surprise in the show, showing a lighter side of the band compared to their deep, thoughtful lyrics that spread across all three of their CD's. Sean joked that his break up song was on the lighter side; one of it's lyrics says "I hope you meet someone your height, so you can see eye to eye with someone as small as you."

The funniest bit may have been when Chris's explained that he regrets naming the first song on their debut album Ode to a Butterfly. He said its hard to name a song when it has no lyrics, but maybe they should have considered using the muscial notes of the main chord as the title. But then he said he knew DJ's would never play a song titled like that. He assured us though that they never played it anyway.

Each song was played with special care, filled with the special attention to detail that makes the music soar. Each note was accompanied by one, two, or all three of their amazing voices harmonizing their beautiful lyrics. They knack they have for writing such powerful songs amazes me. None was more impressive than a slightly changed but more powerful rendition of "House Carpenter." I have become especially fond of this song lately, and when they began to play it I was extremely excited. Chris's voice on this song was so pure, and the edited lyrics were awesome. They jammed between the stanzas and finished the song with a couple minute instrumental that had everyone in the crowd gazing in awe. It was simply amazing.

The set included Nickel Creek staples such as "This Side", "When You Come Back Down", and a soft, simple version of "The Lighthouse's Tale" before the final song of the encore. Favorties of mine such as "Out of the Woods", "The Fox", and "Reasons Why" were stellar as well. And what would a Nickel Creek concert be with out a few showcases of their first class musical talent with a few of their instrumentals.

It was the complete concert. Filled with their best songs, and new ones that everyone enjoyed. A humble band, and a thankful, awe-filled audience. It was like a conversation with your best friend. When they started the encore with "Ill Be There" by the Jackson Five and followed with their now cult-hit cover of "Toxic" by Brittany Spears you knew they were comfortable with their audience. They gave us everything we could handle and we got everything we could have hope for. The band was humbled by the response they recieved after the final song before the encore, and hurried back on stage to reward the crowd. No one sat back down until the set was finished.

I'm saddened by the fact that I may never see Nickel Creek again, or buy another album. But I am happy to say that I have seen them twice and have listened to their music and been a loyal fan. I wish them the best in their future endeavors and hope one day I will be purchasing their fourth album. Though the fire must die, as they sing "you have to go alone, you have to chase your dream" I wish the didn't have to. But in the same song they reassure us, "I'll still be there, when you come back down." Maybe its all written in their lyrics. Maybe we just have to wait.

Weightless Waiting

2007-10-14T18:42:00.001-04:00

The doorbell rings,
And the ghosts of the house awake at the sound.
A silence has persisted for only a few days,
But it seems like years
The living but half empty residents arise too,
But only enough to walk to the door
Half hoping to see their son,
Half hoping for Death,
In his dark hood, coming to take them, too.

Down the hall was another
Past wood planks that squeak with life
Under feet pressing them down.
The hallway was dark, void of the former life

This door was shut tightly,
A cross hanging from its knob,
Above, The Lord’s Prayer nailed to its frame.

Two were now staring down this passage,
A mother and father,
Seeing only a void now.
Mirroring the one torn through their hearts-
Hearts aged twenty years this week.

Their heads turn back to the front door,
With their hearts still staring blankly down the hall
Death was not waiting at the door, or their son,
But instead another nameless face, aching with a void.

A motion, come in, another, a hug
Eyes meet, nothing can be seen
They stare through each other
To the void that pierced the others heart
Tears follow, they mean nothing

Silence falls once more
Like the world dropped out from under them
The wood planks, leaving blackness below them

In her eyes, the boy changes for an instant
The scene moves far away, far from her present prison
Her boy, shoes unlaced and loose
Dragging a Scooby Doo backpack down the sidewalk
A bus, yellow as the sun he had finger-painted the day before
Stopping, turning, smiling, waving his small hand

A larger, much colder hand grasps hers
Tugging her back, back to the present,
The hand leaves hers and beckons
The boy moves forward
The father whispers
The boy understands

The boy leaves them alone,
Just as they were before he walked away
Climbing the stairs, he stops, taking a breath
Collecting his thoughts, he is weightless

He enters a room, though it doesn’t feel right
Something screams at him to turn back
There is nothing he will like here
The room is a mess, restless almost
Maroon walls
The bed is made, though, seeming out of place
It is big enough for two
But no one had slept in it for days

On it, a newspaper article,
An obituary
Wet with tears and crinkled
As if it had been clutched for many hours
His mouth falls open as he reads it
A small gasp shoots through the room
Reverberating just long enough for him to shuffle to the mirror
Nothing reflecting back

At the front door, a weary woman
Clutching the knob and peering outside
A shout from the kitchen rouses her
“Anyone there, honey?”
She collapses to the floor in grief
There was no one there

The Fair

2007-10-14T01:14:00.001-04:00

Purple and yellow buzz by
Followed by blue and red flashes.
The colors race after one another
Shining brightly on marquees.

Eyes dart from place to place
Overwhelming barrage of color.
From balloons exploding at dart point
To ribbons decorating the winners.

Tongues peek out of slightly open lips
Reaching to touch the sweet smells in night air.
Amid others thwarting the nostrils
While still more dive straight for taste buds.

Every step reveals more of this festive welcome.
Clouds of spun sugar, soon sticky to the touch,
Fingers jabbed forward, pointing to the treasures
Sizzling and tantalizing at each concession window

Youth simmers here, boiling to excitement in every person.
A mysterious passion for the thrills they seek.
The moon swung bare, staying just beyond
The rides climbing high to reach it.

Family Ties

2007-10-12T11:20:00.001-04:00

(One of the poems I submitted in my portfolio today.)

My tie was knotted tight against my neck
Seeming more like a noose to a boy my age.
A warm smell floated from the kitchen,
The women of the house with aprons over their dresses.
A cool breeze swept through the porch,
The men of the house taking in the fall day.
I was there too, though
Not quite a part of the ritual, not quite a man.

I took a seat next to my grandpa.
His aura was warm and comforting,
Oozing the love he had shared with so many.
He sat there quietly, taking in the scene,
Collecting his thoughts, waiting to speak.
He said few words now, but I could still
Remember the stories he used to tell.
Sitting in his presence, they flooded out of him.

His eyes spoke of the lands he had seen
But only one could tell the story.
The other moved but said nothing.
It was glass, and instead told one story.
His wrinkled, tough hands told
The rest of the stories from his working days,
His feet tapped on the porch,
Almost as if he was surveying his work decades later.
His skillful hands built this place,
And lovingly he raised seven of his own here.

His gaze met mine,
I was embarrassed,
But he slowly reached down, adjusted my tie
Then patted my head as I smiled up at him.
I looked from him to my own father,
Gazing at the unmistakable resemblance
Remembering I have always looked like my dad.
He was the tie that connected me to my grandpa.
I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be.

Symbol Project, Octopus

2007-10-11T13:57:00.000-04:00

Assignment:
We were given a number that corresponded to a floor of an fictious museum. Each floor housed different areas of natural history. My number, seven, was ther floor that housed sea life. After knowing our number and topic, we had to choose an animal or object that would be used to represent the floor as a whole. Next, take that chosen animal and intergrate it with the number of the floor we had. The objective is to create a fluid integration that does not emphasized one part over the other. Your eyes should catch the number and the animal almost simultaneously. Thus, the visitor will know exactly where they are and what they can expect to see. It should be easily recpgnized from a distance as well.

So without further ado, my project:

Lots to Say

2007-10-10T14:13:00.001-04:00

Okay. I just want to let the loyal viewers of Bloomington or Bust that there will be much read and see in the coming days. I have been uber-productive lately and I'm preparing to post some things on here. Starting later tonight you can begin to read and/or see these posts:

1. The State of Hoosier Basketball
2. What Rap Isn't
3. Each day a new poem I wrote for my Creative Writing Portfolio
4. My latest 3d Project Pictures
5. My Graphic Design Symbol Project

This is for you to get excited for the coming events...and for me to remember.

Check back often.

Gus-terrific!

2007-10-03T01:12:00.000-04:00

Guster had an easy time warming up the crowd after the guy in between acts called us Purdue. After a flood of boos, Guster came out, said they were happy to be in Bloomington, IN at Indiana University and everyone liked them. They did a lot to keep the crowd happy and entertained for the rest of the night, too.

Dustin, Matt, and I had stellar seats right down the middle, in row 25 with no one blocking our view because we were the second section of seats about the entrance tunnel. Doesn't get much better than that. The set got off to a quick start with one of my all time favortie Guster songs, and actually the first one I ever heard. Then it was in Matt's room at Dayton, but this time Demons was playing live on my own college campus.

The set continued with an ecletic mix of new and old, and very old. But I knew and loved them all, except for one. Brian noted that he saw a lot cornhole sets while driving around the campus so they did an impromtu song about cornhole. It was interesting to say the least.

They gave us a choice between Either Way and So Long, with Eden being the "we aren't going to play it even if it wins the vote" song. I voted for So Long, but Either Way came out on top. In the end, I liked that they played it. They mixed in the new songs, but my favorite live song is still Happier, and it did not disappoint.

They did not sale any tickets to the balcony, so the ushers went to sit there when the concert began. At the end of the set, Brian said before they came out for the encore he wanted only the 20 or so people in the balcony to chant for the encore. After a stellar performance of Fa Fa, the crowd could not resist but cheering and they returned seconds after they left stage knowing their plan was not going to work.

They closed with a crowd favorite of Airport Song which i was especially excited for. The crowd through ping pong balls. Odd, I thought an IU crowd would skip this tradition in lue of loosing their beer pong balls. Oh nevermind, it was Guster. Good 'ole Guster.

It was a stellar show, which the entire crowd enjoyed thoroughly. No one left the Auditorium disappointed.

Can't wait to see who they brin in for the Little 5 Concert.

Time Flies By in Seconds

2007-09-28T14:13:00.001-04:00

Wow. Bye September, it was nice knowing you, even if it only seemed like it was two weeks instead of the four alloted. Anyone else think September flew by at an alarming rate? I think someone needs to test if time is no longer passing at the same rate it used to.

It has been a quick month here in Bloomington, and I am definently enjoying my sophomore year. This past weekend was a highlight with the Brothers Dowell coming down for a visit. Matt said it best by saying the details are foggy at best, but you can rest assured we had a fantastic time. Soccer, football, being lazy, and hanging out. Who could want more?

There are some very exciting times on the horizon as well. So the fun is sure to last for atleast a bit longer. Soon, I am leaving to see the one and only Kiernan at Purdue. No real reason except to take a break from Btown so its fresh when I return, and of course to have a great time. Here's to hoping Purdue and Notre Dame find a way to both lose the game.

I bought my basketball tickets today! Now that is maybe the most exciting thing I've done all year. And thats without even going to a game yet. Are you ready for some college basketball, cause this Hoosier fan is.

How'd your fast Semtember go?

But on a happier note...

2007-09-20T01:34:00.000-04:00

It's already time for yet another renewal of The Brother's Dowell College Invasion Weekend (Theresa you really need to get in on one of these...). On the football field, the rivalry of the Fighting Illini and the Hoosiers will be renewed, and the sibling rivalry of Matt, Greg, and Mark will continue in who is the most awesome brother category. The latter will be much of the same, but hopefully the former will be a bit more athletic than the last attempt.

I have no clue what will and could happen this weekend, but its always exciting. So check back on Monday for a recap.

Fuck Threadless!

2007-09-19T23:40:00.000-04:00

Yes, my one true love in life is on my shit list. Big time. That's right, way down there at the bottom.

It took two tries, and two weeks for my last shirt to get to me. Well, the last one I ordered never came. And it never will come. It was the shirt I was most excited about from all the shirts I have bought from Threadless. Don't look for me wearing it though, cause it never came.

They tried to sway me with a $5 coupon, and 5 Street Points which equals $7.50. You know what that doesn't equal though..the price of a shirt. They fuck up my order twcie in a row and don't even offer me a free shirt. I say, screw you. That's not very good business.

But, if you are wanting shirt I do have that coupon for $5 off every shirt in the order.

Guess I'll take it.

But I still want my shirt.

The First Time I Ever....

2007-09-09T22:11:00.000-04:00

Our second poetry excercise for Creative Writing Class.
By the way, I love this class.

"A World So Distant"

The first time I imagined myself as a brave explorer
I was a curious boy of no more than five
Set on letting my mind take me places
No man had seen or ever would.

My imagination took me to thick jungles
Dense with lush draperies and lumpy couch cushions
Over tall mountains no larger than my bed
And caves cramped below box springs.

I jumped from table to chair
Narrowly escaping the perils of carpet hot as bubbling lava.
A distant voice cried out of danger
But as a brave explorer I knew I must continue.

Continue because I knew these lands
Though endless in my mind would someday vanish
Just as the décor of the rooms changed
So did the gears of my imagination
Clanking slowly to a stop
And quickening then in the opposite direction.

No more lush jungles, just stone jungles.
No more imagined lands, just the cruelly real world.
Every day the worlds faded
Deeper in the back of my mind.
They had been there for years,
Ever since the first time I grew up.

Defend the Kingdom

2007-08-30T20:23:00.000-04:00

So, the year has begun. My fifthteen year of being academically challenged by the education system is underway. It has promise to be one of the better years of learning, seeing as I have finally gotten to the point where I can take classes that strictly pertain to my favorite areas of study.

If you were unaware of what I am taking this semester, here is the list.
Intro to Creative Writing
Graphic Design 1
Intro to 3D
Art History: Rennaisance to Modern
Intro to Psychology

Now a few facts for you to chew on:

1. I am taking the single largest class taught this semester, Psych 101, with 418 enrolled. Now, we all know not that many are going to show up. It is being taught in the largest classroom on the IU campus. The first day we didn't have AC. It was 95 outside. Dwell on that for a while.

2. I get to use the most awesome computers ever in my Graphic Design class. Huge 24" Macs, with the CPU and monitor all as one sleek looking machine. I get excited about using them every time I walk into the room.

3. For 4 years of my life, I went to class knowing there would be nothing but guys in the room with me. Well the coin has flipped. There are 22 people in my Graphic Design class, and there is one guy other than me. That leaves the rest as girls. Thats a new one for me.

4. My Japanese 3D teacher says she has been speaking English for 15 years. I don't believe her.

5. Guster is coming to the IU Auditorium on October 2nd. Bob Dylan was announced, and he is coming to Assembly Hall on October 19th. I'm going to see Nickel Creek in Louisville on the 20th, and hope to see them in Bloomington on the 18th. That is the greatest month of concerts ever. You are jealous.

6. <---The number of wins IU to play 13. I'm sitting, waiting, wishing...

...for some hoops.

On the Up and Up

2007-08-27T16:44:00.000-04:00

My long-awaited, lost Threadless shirt has gotten here. Guess I get to show it off when I head to class in a bit. Which means, that classes of course must be in session. I've been to two, but you can never get a real good feel from sylabus day. 3-D looks like it will be engaging and fun, but I'm not a real fan of my teacher yet. She is funny, but I'm not sure.

Creative writing will definently be fun and will get my creative juices flowing. The more I can stay in that mode, the better. Getting to class doesn't seem like it will too much of a hassle either.

Is it wrong to be excited about my check from the bursar office that I eventually have to pay back?

In definent good news, Guster is coming to the IU Auditorium on October 2nd.

Good things abound.

Store One Away, Create Another

2007-08-21T15:28:00.000-04:00

Americans, perhaps the rest of the world, too, love to mark the end of one thing and the beginning of another. To throw away the past, store the good parts of it away for safekeeping, and wipe the slate clean for what is to come. Well, I'm here to join in the fun and mark the end of this latest summer of my life. The box marked "Summer 2007" has been filled to the brim with the people, places, events, and all the memories of them it included, shut, taped, and stored away only to be brought out from time to time when its needed.

A new box has taken its place: Indiana University, Year 2. It's empty as the middle of the Sahara. No part of it has been filled, leaving it open for infinite possibility. Nothing but potential as far as the eye can see. I'm prepared to overstuff it though. Maybe we'll have to pull out a second box. A third?

I can't say I'ver ever been so excited for one thing in my whole life. And yet, all it is is potential. It could be the best year ever, but potentially it could be just another run of the mill year of existence. But I'm betting a trip to the box store has better potential.

I'm moving into my very own apartment on Thursday. Here lies a whole world of potential in itself. Much better potential than last year. I come into my space this year knowing both of my roomates, two guys I get along with very well and have a great time with. I'm excited to live with them, and I think we'll have tons of fun. And maybe get our studying done.

I'm excited for the potential of an exciting, if only in the tailgating lawn, football season. I'm excited to watch the soccer team build on a good finish last season. The potential laying dormant within Assembly Hall is maybe at an all time high. I can't wait for basketball season. I'm looking forward to seeing the potential of my classes, the people I will undoubtedly cross paths with, the friendships I will make and build on, and the opportunities I will build for future years.

Here's to year 2 filling a couple boxes. The potential alone fills up a few, so all I need to do is replace the potential with tangible memories of the fun I undoubtedly will have this coming here.

Here I come Bloomington!

My Crows Count to Two

2007-08-05T02:09:00.000-04:00

Before last year, if anyone asked me if I thought I would ever see my favorite band in concert I would have replied with a saddened "doubtful." To my great joy, that answer would now be twice and counting. That's right. I'm still counting the number of times I will see the Crows in concert. Number two came last night here in Louisville at Slugger Field. And the Counting Crows played better this time than they did last time, and I only expect them to be better the next time I find myself at their concert.

Last time, it was the first tour they had been on in a couple of years, and my excitement brewed almost exclusively from the fact that I was getting my long awaited wish to see the Crows in concert. Beyond that, I didn't know what to expect or what they would sound like after a long lay off. Caught up in the spectacle that was the Crows, it was a great concert.

This most recent concert, however, showed my that the Counting Crows are definently back. Back, and maybe better than ever. It was evident that the band had found there former skill and had been fine tuning in the studio while recording a new album. It was obvious they were hyped up to be back on the road gaining some face time to get us fans ready for another album. And I couldn't be more excited.

Due to lame friends (haha) and kind of expensive tickets, I went out to the concert by myself. All for the better considering I know one who loves the Crows as much as I do. It was a chance for me to be soley focused on the concert. After sitting through a pretty mediocre 2 and half hours of (unlike the Crows) definently washed up 90's bands Collective Soul and Live, plus breaks, I was more than ready to hear my favorite band rock the house.

On a tour such as this, it was kind of surprising for Adam to walk out and tell the crowd they were going to start out with a new song. But to my relief and utter joy, it was a very good sound. Made me eager to get my hands on the next album, but that will have to wait til November. They played 2 other songs from their upcoming album, both sounding just as good for new songs. Nothing was better than the classic Counting Crows they played though. There were a few songs I was disappointed they did not play last concert, but I got all of them this time, lucky me. The set included Recovering the Satellites, Mr. Jones, Perfect Blue Buildings, Holiday in Spain, and many of their old favorites. But my favorite was, and will always be, his amazing rendition of A Long December.

Adam's performance once again shone through, with his uncanny ability to add to his songs and make them much more than their studio recorded form. He was very personal with his singing and his attachment to the crowd. His voice just captures all the emotion and purpose he intends to have in his songs. He seems to do it with such ease as well.

So as I wait for the next album to drop and the next tour dates to be released, I'll be content listening to what has kept me happy for many years. Here's to hoping I'll never have to stop counting the number of times I see the Counting Crows.

Bloody Hell, Harry Potter!

2007-07-23T16:53:00.001-04:00

Harry Potter mania is upon us for the last time (atleast for the original and better form) as the 7th novel in the series was released Saturday morning at 12:01 AM. Beyond the partying, the dressing up, the info-starved readers, and the 8.3 million book sales within the first 24 hours, the Harry Potter book series is a phenomenon we have not seen in ages, and ever in the literary world. And the most surprising thing about it all, the thing that makes it all amazing is longevity.

In this world of instant pleasure, rapidly changing fads, and TV shows that air and are cancelled before you knew they even existed, Harry Potter has only gotten bigger and better as time has passed. In fact, he pulled a John Elway and went out on top. The book series reached it pinnacle with the release of this book, and now having completed the book I can say the hype was justified.

I am not a big fan of reading, but I love books that stir the imagination and pull you out of this world for but instant, but hold on to you while you are in that other world. Harry Potter is everything every kid wanted. A life full of magic and woder. JK Rowling not only created an amazing story that has gripped the world, she has created an event we will be talking about for years to come. She stuck to writing, we stuck to waiting and reading, and a world-wide phenomenon that looked to never happen again happened. She got the whole world excited for one book, for one boy and his tale. With all that is happening in the world, the get so many people to wait anxiously for months, getting them to wait for a midnight release, is improbable, and fittingly magical.

I dressed up for the opening, as none other than Seamus Finnigan, and I was not the only one. People of all ages, sizes, and interests were there. Waiting to see if Harry was to live and save the world of magic forever. I'm not here to ruin it for you, but I hope you do read to find out. Wizards and witches, muggle and squibs everyone should be thankful Harry Potter is around. Wether or not he saves his world, he added tons to ours. It's good to know people still gather to find out if good can conquer evil.

2007-07-23T16:53:00.000-04:00

If You Help Yourself, Help Me Too

2007-06-06T18:01:00.001-04:00

So, I have developed quite the addiction to buying and wearing Threadless shirts. They have quite the selection of humorous, interesting, etc, shirts. So if your looking to add to wardrobe, you can help me out too.

Go browse through this link, and if you buy something, I get $3 in credit for my next purchase. We both win!

http://www.threadless.com/?streetteam=dowellm

It's Not Just a Floor, But A World Unto Itself

2007-05-01T16:33:00.000-04:00

Ask I pack up my things, and watch the first of my floormates, or shall I call them friends, leave, it makes me stop and think about what a dorm floor is when you are away at college. You have roomates that live in the same space as you, but really its the whole floor sharing one space. It's much more than a bunch of rooms making up a floor, however. When you spend most of your waking hours on the floor, it becomes your own little world. No one else experiences a floor unless they are a part of it.

Only if you live on a floor do you see the constant inner workings of the things that make it turn. Though my roommates were definently not the best this year, I have no complaints about the rest of my floor. It started out as a place with many strangers coming together cause this is the floor they were assigned. Now, I feel a little sadness and lost as each of my new friends and floormates packs his things and heads home. I see each one leave and remember the very good times we have had together this year, and how we have lived together and changed each other. We are like an ecosystem, in the larger ecosystem that is IU. We rely on each other in more ways than you can ever imagine before experiencing it. I looked forward to living the dorm life for many years, and I'm sad to see it pass. It was one hell of an experience.

If you went to every floor in every dorm at IU, you would not find two that are even remotely similar. We create such a unique space by bringing 50 strangers together and making them live on one floor for a year. It's the kind of thing you can experience no where else. What other floor has Mario Kart tournaments almost every night of the week. What floor can you find people get so excited for the ordering of an extra large cheesy bread from Mad Mushroom? We have developed an indentity, and if you had ever been to floor 11, you could pick out what we share. There is so much about this floor and the people on it that I love that I couldn't even begin to write about it.

I hate to see it go, but I know there is so much more to get excited for. I'll take what I have gotten here, and move on to the next thing. I am in Bloomington, I go to IU, but Floor 11 is my home.

Running with Scissors

2007-04-30T11:46:00.000-04:00

"I give it to you not that you may remember time, but you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all your breath trying to conquer it. Because no battle is ever won. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools."

I love this quote. I did not really enjoy the book, however. When I came upon this quote, it jumped out at me. I've read it many times since I first read it in "The Sound and the Fury", and everytime I try to grasp it a little bit more. I'm still not exactly sure what it is trying to say, but it can be interpreted in many ways.

As my first year as a college student fades to a close (Yes, it was fast), I came back upon this quote and tried to apply it to this year. Going away to college, all everyone hears is that the next four years could easily be the best four. If only I took advantage of the possibilites that lay before me, I knew it couldn't be anything too bad, in the least. But within that expectation, there is the reality that it is only four years. Immediatly, there is a boundary which your expecatations can not rise above. Therefore, I think it is best that I just forget about time for a while. If I spend all my time attempting to make sure every moment of college is amazing, I will only fall victim to regret and miss opportunities. Living in the moment is always a better option.

Because no battle is ever won. When someone decides they are going to beat the reality that college is only four years, they will ultimately reach the end and wonder where it all went. The battle is lost, becuase they should be remembering how amazing those four years were. So, there is no use saying this year has come to an end. Yes, I will be coming home for a couple months to spend with family and friends in my great hometown, it is only a pause. Returning to Bloomington will be like picking up right where I left off, with even more possibility ahead of me.

With that said, the time I've spent here up until now has been quite the journey. Growth, some backward steps, an opportunity to learn from mistakes, and many opportunities to make it better the next go around. Like most other things, college is a cycle. Class, study, waste time, and let loose on the weekends. Meet people, spend time with them, some fade away, and others become your best friends. I may have learned more this year than any year before, and not really in the classroom.

Going away, I had an expectation for college, and I must say it has been met. I lived on my own for the first time, and I was fairly successful I must say. Other than the fact that my room was never clean (is it at home?) and I fall behind on my laundry (Mom, you're the best!), I had no life threatening experiences. And never ruined a load of clothes, if that stands for anything. I got a job, made some money, went to class and got good grades, and met more people in this short of time than I could have ever imagined. My friends range from classmates, floor mates, and those I see only once in a while as we pass on the sidewalk.

I made time to grow, but I never forgot. I never forgot where my roots were, and how I got to where I am now. I made time to call my parents and thank them and tell them I love them. I never forgot to make time to call a high school friend and say "How are things going for you?" I never forgot to make a trip every once in a while to see their faces and remember how much fun I have with them. I never forgot that though us Dowell siblings are in four different places, we have a bond that is unbreakable. I never forgot to stop and ask for help knowing I can't do it all on my own. I never forgot that when I go home in the summer I will be exactly where I am supposed to be.

I made new friends, and kept the old. I heard new music, but you'll still never find me without a Counting Crows album near by. I forgot old regrets, and pushed through the new ones. I made new mistakes, but remembered the old ones so I could fix them. I found more of myself and the world. I lost a little too, some I hope to get back and other stuff I'm glad has left.

I took a risk, made a new place my home, with almost nothing to fall back on. And I'm still standing tall. Maybe taller than I was when I got here. I didn't worry about how much time I had, cause that battle is a losing one. If I don't stop to stay a year is over, I can never really know how much time I have left here. Stop and think for a while, it doesn't matter how much is left if you enjoy what you have now.

Yet, I still remember never to run with scissors.