Wednesday, May 28, 2008

"You Can Make Me Smile In the End" - May 28, 2008

So this is it, huh? I know I stated you wouldn't hear from me for about a month since my last post, so just consider this some filler. It's not as if I'm going to indulge into my personal life over the past two and a half weeks.

I would however like to commemorate the last day of Sophomore year, which ended all but three hours ago from right now. It's a blog dedicated to the 2007 / 2008 school year, one which, as I reflect, I'd truly enjoyed. I stabalized myself in a lot of areas, such as friends, grades, etc., something I basically needed to do after last year. I couldn't be happier being surrounded by the people I see and call close friends, nor could I be happier about my place academically, because it's really where I should be right now.

I consider this year somewhat like a President's legacy. You know it was pretty good, you just have to wait awhile before it officially makes it's mark on history. That's how I feel. I did a lot of bitching, and quite frankly it still makes sense, a lot of it. That doesn't diminish the fact what this year has done to me from a more personal side of things.

And yes, there are some things I seemingly couldn't accomplish that I would have liked to. My biggest is finding a stable relationship, and considering some points I'd hit in my personal life before, would've been nice to have earlier. Am I so focused on it now? Not so much. However, it would've still been nice. I also couldn't seem to get myself to do Porter Press this year, which I should really do next year, considering I am an aspiring journalist.

So after the sores, the complaints, and above all the stress, I have three months to sit on my ass an relax. Sure, I'll go out and do things too. Lots of people I need to see and do things with. But it's just nice to have the downtime to do whatever I feel like doing, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. This weekend, I have two parties to attend: One for one of my best friends, the other a family thing for my sister. Nice kick-off weekend, if you will. What comes after that will all be told in my next blog.

Cue Alice Cooper, school's out for summer! I know it's cliche, but it's felt good the past ten years, and it STILL feels good now!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

"Let Me Tell You About This Love / Hate Relation" - May 18, 2008

I tend to like a lot of things that are seemingly love / hate with people. I'm a Cubs fan, a Rush fan, a Genesis fan, a Duke Blue Devils fan. So naturally it's an interesting concept to me. I guess one could say that this time of the year is no different, except I feel both emotions this time around. I love it because school's almost out, the weather should be getting warmer, concerts and baseball games come around more often, as well as stays in Midway.

I hate it because school is such a ridiculous pain in the ass right now. I'm approaching my last week, but it sure as hell don't feel like it. It's as if I have three weeks left, because all the work that's coming my way in such a short period of time. I don't understand why teachers feel the need to cram everything they were too lazy to teach before, when we already have to worry about finals anyway. The extreme packets they give us hardly help any of us. They're usually taken for an outrageous total of points thus adding more stress to us who have to finish that and study at the same time. I mean, it's not like ALL the material can be found on that ten page packet...

So I have a busy week ahead of me, one which I really am not looking forward to. On a brighter note, there's a whole lot going on in a very short amount of time that's going to make all this work pay off. What would that be, exactly? Well, the last time I posted a blog about my personal life goes back to April 15th (which seems like ages ago), so perhaps I should cover that stuff first (and leave you readers at the edges of your seats to see exactly what's going on later [as if you actually care]).

The rest of April wasn't too shabby. The Cubs were winning, I was starting to get more and more concert plans together. It was basically the period when I started to get my summer planned and organized. Other than that, there ain't too much to discuss. I saw Iron Man, I spent some time with friends (though not as much as I SHOULD), and really just kinda chilled and did my own thing over the course of the month. What is there to really discuss?

I have felt good. I've spoken to some old friends recently and spoken to some new ones as well. My grades are staying consistent, the weather's been nice (though it could be nicer), my baseball teams are doing quite well right now. There really hasn't been much to complain about as of late as far as my personal life is concerned. Today, I also hooked up my VCR. What's the significance you ask? Well, I have a TON of old baseball games on VHS tape right now that need to be converted to DVD, which I plan to do through my DVD player and VCR. This has been an issue for me the past month, and I finally took care of it today. Thanks to this one site for the inspiration (www.baseball-almanac.com).

My "love life" is at a stand-still right now. Before I had been under the assumption that I was making some minimal progress with the girl I'd mentioned in previous blogs, but now we've kinda reached a standing point as to what's going on. Am I still trying? That's part of the problem. I've recently lacked the inspiration to go out there because I feel like it's not going to get me anywhere.

She knows my stance. My issue is I'm not clear on her's, and that's what's causing the problem. I wouldn't mind just having a simple friendship with her, at all. The problem is, at this point I'm lead to believe that I could make some progress with the situation, which is what's forcing my confusion. I really wouldn't mind if there wasn't a chance of me making progress, the problem is I really don't know what to believe at this point.

Anyway, to end that rant, you know what I've done and I've updated on how I feel. Let's discuss what's going on, shall we?

Basically, I'm booked up until June 20th, and I'm not even kidding. Next weekend, I'm going to Peoria to see the Chiefs (Cubs A affiliate) with my dad. That's gonna be a nice getaway from the usual nothing I deal with on a regular basis. I also intend to get my Ryne Sandberg jersey signed, if I get lucky and catch him before the game starts. Following that, I'll probably spend Memorial Day here, then finish up the rest of the school week, sister's eighth grade graduation. My following weekend is confusing. Laura has her party the 31st and my sister's grad dinner is some day in there. If it's June 1st then I go to Laura's party. If it's the 31st, I don't. And I really want to go to that party, but if shit happens, it's beyond my control.

The week after that looks alright. I'm open everyday, but trying to make some plans. I promised Laura I'd take her to a movie and then get dinner or something afterward, before I left for Midway. I'm still debating what day that would be, and it really depends on what other plans I make with other people, as well as when she's free. So that's my only plan for the week and it's still rather hazy as to when that's exactly going to happen. But regardless, I'm still trying to set plans with others as well. We'll see what happens, still a couple weeks before it happens.

June 7th I head to Midway for a week, spending the days until the 10th at Dale's. At Dale's, we may hit a Sox / Twins game on June 8th, then we have the Rush concert we've waited for over the course of four months on the 9th. We'll probably do random assorted things in there as well, like we always do, and document them on video like usual. On the 10th I'll move to my uncle's and spend a few days there, going to the Cubs / Braves game on that day. The time I spend with my uncle is always nice because we always end up doing something exciting. Then sometime after that, I'll probably head over by Sean's, either on the 13th or 14th, catch a Sox / Rockies game (possibly), play MLB 2K8 and All Star Baseball 2000 all day, and chill with some old friends I haven't seen since August. After that, I'd go home.

Following that week, I have no plans, and frankly I don't want to think that far ahead anyway. I'm booked up to the max, and honestly I couldn't be happier with these plans. Just a lot going on for the first time since probably March, and for the first time since then, I'm actually looking forward to something, which couldn't be a better feeling.

So that's pretty much that. In other news, Genesis' DVD was held off until June 10th. Pissed about that, but what can you do? I'll still buy it when it comes out. Other than that, the confusion with my interest, and the anger I'm feeling about this upcoming week, I couldn't be happier, because so many positive things are on the horizon.

Next time you hear from me may be the longest blog I've ever done, and I'll leave you with that. See ya next month!

-Zach

Sunday, May 11, 2008

A New Era in Zach's Blogging

Inspired by both Laura and the shitty way MySpace handles new blog posts copied from Microsoft Word 2007, I've decided to retire posting my blogs there and hosting them on this blogspot account.

Why call it "Zach's Travels?" Well, the climax of the nearly 30-minute "Duke Suite" by Genesis is called "Duke's Travels," and I figure since I normally blog based on my life, the things I do, and where I go, "Zach's Travels" has a pretty cool ring to it. Chances are that's what I'll end up titling my book someday as well :D

I'll have a new post sometime this week (and no, I don't do them that regularly, usually life updates about once a month, and void fillers here and there). That's pretty much that. Good to move on to something new, after spending a year and eleven months (fine, two years) with blogs on MySpace.

-Zach