I guess this is a "yesterday" blog now.

Last night I went over to my friend Rylee's house just down the street. They got a new Wii-U for Christmas and invited me to try it out. It was so much fun that I have to get one. (Isn't the lack of distinction between desire and necessity so funny?) My favorite game that we played was a cooperative Pikmin game. Cory, Rylee's husband, played as the captain. Rylee and I played as Pikmin (the captain's little plant soldiers that can whack enemies with their leaf ponytails.) Awesome!!!

Friday, December 28, 2012

(Yesterday) I woke up earlier than I wanted to. I had parked my jeep on the street the night before (which is where I usually park my jeep so that my parents can freely use the driveway) and a Municipal Code Enforcement Officer came right up to my parents' door and threatened to "tow the vehicle with the expired registration" (yes, it's expired... working on that...) away if it wasn't moved within one hour so that the snow plows could clear the whole road of snow. My mom told the officer that they never clear that spot and apparently he replied that "things are different this year." Mom knocked on my door and told me what was going on, so I jumped out of bed (unhappily) and went outside to move my car into the driveway. Didn't even bother to clear the snow off of my vehicle and just left the driver's side door open so I could see (which would have been a fun way to drive if I hadn't been so peeved.) When I came back outside to drive to work, most of the street was plowed... EXCEPT the spot where my jeep was parked. I worked until 22:30, and when I came home the spot was STILL not plowed. Apparently the only thing that is different this year is that the Municipal Code Enforcement Officers will come to your door and make your day needlessly worse. Is it an overreaction for me to talk to the city council (or write) and explain what happened? Either I want them to plow that spot if they're going to threaten me with tow-age, or I want them to leave me well enough alone while I'm trying to sleep. Is it a waste of my time to get involved in my local government? Is it really possible for one person to incite change in their community?

I'm Terrible at This

Just sayin. Life is still the same. Work and play. I burnt my leg on my motorcycle tailpipe the other day. Second degree burn. It's healing up fairly well though. I'll see if I can figure out how to post pictures from my phone.

Still Alive

On Tuesday I decided to make decisions that may or may not have been the best decisions.

I stayed up all night—literally all night—playing videogames with some of my friends. When I went to work at noon, I felt like a zombie and had absolutely no motivation to do anything. I also felt queasy. My boss, Thor, said that as soon as I finished taking care of a sample request for Research and Development, I could go home.

So I took care of what I had to do as fast as I possibly could. I went home and took a nap from 1700 to 2100 and felt great after waking up from that. So I went to hang out with friends again. This time I stayed out until 0600 and went to sleep with earplugs in since my family was starting to wake up. I didn’t want to have any trouble falling asleep.

I set my alarm for 1030 so that I could shower and make it to work by noon., and then I lay down in my bed.

The next thing that I remember, my mom is opening my door and saying something. I sit up in my bed, startled, and mumble something with an inquisitive tone.

“Your work just called, they're wondering where you are," said Mom.

"What time is it?" I asked, sleep still on my lips.

Please be earlier than noon, please be earlier than noon, please please please be earlier than noon.

"It's just past 3 o'clock in the afternoon," she replied.

Crap crap crap crap crap!

"I don't do stuff like this! Ugh stupid earplugs." I sat up and checked my phone. Two missed calls, two voicemail messages, a text, and even a Facebook message. I was sure they'd be pissed off with me.

Afraid of what was coming next, I checked the text message first.

It was from Robert: "Hey homie, we're all worried about ya, if you can, send me a text, if you decided to run away that's cool too just text me so we know youre safe."

The voicemail messages were from Thor, my boss and friend. He said to call the lab if I could, and that he hoped I was okay.

The Facebook message said, "your coworkers are very worried about you, call the lab when you can."

If I didn't feel terrible before, I definitely did now. I got dressed as quickly as I could and sped to work. When I got there I learned that I had been the center of dozens of tales of untimely demise. They'd checked hospital emergency departments and news reports of car accidents. Karen had apparently been on the verge of tears-- wondering if I'd crashed my motorcycle.

I was touched that nobody was angry--even when they found out I was still alive and had simply slept through my alarm. They genuinely care, and that means a lot.

For Mom

I love my parents. They are great people and I aspire to be like them in many ways. I also respect them and want to live my life in a way that will make them proud to have me for one of their children. Lately I have been spending most of my time at work and out with various friends. I haven't spent much time with my family lately. It's so hard to balance work, friends, and family. My mom suggested that it would help her feel better about my balancing difficulties if I started blogging again, so here I go. I love you, Mom.