I have 6 followers?

Cool?

I haven't really blogged in awhile. Sorry.

I feel I should say that I have been busy ... except I really haven't.

All right. Recap of my life:

School is finally done, and has been done for almost two weeks.
Freshman year = successfully completed with all A's over the 2 semesters, with one A- and one B.

Not too shabby if I say so myself.

Finals went for the most part well, except my stupid philosophy final.
THAT was a disaster. So a week before the final my professor gave us a study guide with 150+ terms, and was like, "OK, good luck!" So I spent like 8 hours, finding all of those words, and compiled a study guide, mind you was 6 pages after all was said and done. So I thought I would be prepared enough for the final.

NOPE. I left about half blank and/or guessed.

Moving on.

So yes, school is over, it is May, I have been sleepin' like no other, and am currently looking forward to a good summer.

Glee party on Tuesday = enough said.

Shout out to Kayleen ... 46 hours and 4 minutes.

Oh, glad to say that I have survived yet another apocalypse.

So at the moment: I have survived the apocalypse of:

1994
Y2K
2011.

Pretty good huh?

BRING IT 2012. BRING. IT. ON.

If the world really does end in 2012, the moment before I die, I'll be extremely pissed that I died before I could graduate college. Seriously. Would make me angry.

So the world will not be ending in 2012. I have decided that it won't. And yes, the universe listens to my commands.

Yeah...

Well I think that sums up my thoughts at this present hour.

RG

Late night ramblings

Sorry blog world, it's been awhile.
It's not you, it's me. Honest.

Moving on...

Speech banquet was tonight! Brought back a lot of good memories, and a lot of nostalgia at that too.
But it was fun seeing all the kids get the awards. And yes I teared up a couple of times seeing the coaches tear up. I'm emotional ok? I'm always crying when speech is involved. It's like an involuntary reflex. And when I cry, I can make other people cry. Just ask people from NFL's last year...

So then we decided (the coaches, though I am not really a coach...) to go out for drinks.

So naturally I had a pepsi and a water. Pretty tipsy if you ask me...

It was really a lot of fun, just to sit down, relax, and just talk and be with each other.
As I was driving home, an ironic or paradoxical thought came to my mind.

One of the coaches, who shall rename nameless, really influenced my life the last three years of my life, and I couldn't imagine where my life would be without that person. Yet after tonight, I realized how little I really and truly know about that person.

Seems...interesting to think that someone could make such a huge impact in our lives, yet we know little about what makes them ... them.

I guess it was the nature of the relationship, as an older adult usually does not go on and on about their childhood memories, and reveal all their secrets.

If they do...that's creepy and probably not a good thing. Just saying... You might want to call the show to catch a predator...

But I guess now I get to learn what makes this person who they are.

At first, it's odd. But then I become thankful.

Now I can begin to understand all the quirks and why that person does what they do. Relieving, yet then a twinge of regret resides now too, because I feel that I've been too judgmental, not even trying to understand their past.

This is a really pointless story, but I guess the moral of the story is seek to understand rather than to judge. Who we are, our personality, and our actions, are a reflection of our environment.

We learn what we live, and we live what we learn.

So before you quickly pass judgment on someone, just remember that sentence.

Well I should be off to bed, since I do have finals. Whoops...

Yet another "before sleep" blog post

I find that I need to blog before I attempt to sleep.

So... today was definitely a Monday, (and it took me about a minute to sleep definitely). I really hate that word, just like I usually hate Mondays.

Mondays are just horrible ... seriously. The start of yet another long and predictable week. And I usually don't get much sleep because I stay up way too late on the weekend, so that makes Mondays even more unbearable.

I hate Mondays. Enough said...

And moving on...

I took a three hour nap today ... from about noon until 3... So that's why I probably can't sleep tonight... that and I had two cans of pepsi at 8...whoops... 

I really just want this semester to be over...only five weeks left. Well six if you include finals, but I don't ... just because...

So five weeks left of my first year of college. A little scary to think that I'm one third of the way done with my college education...at least for undergrad.

I'm getting so old...except not really... I'm turning 20. So halfway to 40.......

Again, moving on...

I had wanted to write about something ... but now I forgot what it was ...

(A slight pause to remember what it was ...)

OH! Now I remember. I was able to go sections for speech this past Saturday. It brought back a lot of good memories. Although I am so so so glad I don't compete anymore. Getting up at 430 was a pain in the fricken ass. I have no idea how I did that for three years, and never miss a bus. Also I remembered what it felt like to be waiting for final round postings. And how much I hated it!! I wasn't even competing, yet I was freaking out. It was horrible. But it was also really fun and rewarding seeing all the kids succeed, and taking care of those who weren't as fortunate. Oh speech ... such a bipolar activity. You love it. You hate it. You cry. You laugh. You wonder why the hell anyone would put themselves under that much stress. But then you wonder where you'd be without it. I am hoping that I can go down and watch state...hopefully I can get work off.

That's all for tonight.

RG

no me gusta Mondays

I am not a fan of Mondays.

They are horrible. I have been at school for 8 hours, and I feel like I've been hit by a semi truck. I am so exhausted, and it isn't even 4 o'clock. (3:54, in case you were wondering).

I will be so so so happy when my philosophy class is over with...only five more weeks!!!
I just hate talking about stupid philosophical arguments at eight in the freakin' morning. Just not my cup of tea.

I have nothing to look forward to on Mondays. Nada. Zip. Goose egg... I think you get the point.

What to blog, what to blog...

I kind of want to cry when I think how many papers I have to write within the next 5 weeks of this semester.

I have to write:

1. 2 page escrito analitico. (Spanish)
2. Another 2 page escrito analitico. (Spanish)
3. A 4 page essay about the evolution of war throughout Spanish History for my final exam.
5. A 10 page paper, aka informe escrito, about one time period in Spanish history, where I just show all the shit I know.
6. A 10 page college writing paper.

Too much!! It's ridiculous...

All right, I am done complaining. I have to get to my professor's office hours.

And some kid just burped really loud. Gross.

RG

Damn you facebook.

Today is the 27th day of March.
Pretty exciting huh?

Well what to blog about...

ONLY SIX WEEKS LEFT OF THIS SEMESTER.
That makes me pretty happy!

So in six weeks, summer will be here.

And to think I only have two years left here at UMD.
And then 5+ years with grad school.. yeah... not going to think about that.

Anywhoo...

I feel like all my blog posts are so pointless and meaningless.

All of my posts are about complaining about everything and anything.

So here's a complaint. I tried to live a facebook free life. And I survived for 48 hours.

I have had that stupid thing for 4 straight years come this May. And really what have I accomplished? Not much, other than staring at a blank computer screen. Well I've probably ruined my eyes in the process. win.

Unfortunately it seems that at least for me, facebook is like oxygen, and how interconnected my life is to it. I would want to get a hold of someone, but I don't have their phone number, so what I would normally do? write on their wall.

If I have something really cool/interesting/lame that I'd like to show people.. I post it on facebook to share to the virtual world.

If I want to find someone? Search on Facebook.

Support a cause? Facebook.

Facebook, Facebook, Facebook.

10 years ago, facebook, twitter, and myspace didn't even exist. But today, can we imagine a life without them?

Unfortunately no. Every website seems to have a facebook link. At American Eagle if you "check in" you can get 10% off your purchase.

While I do agree that the easy exchange of ideas, causes, thoughts, and everything in between is great, and all the revolutions going on in the middle east is partly due to the fact that my, our, generation is living in the social network age, where dictators can't easily control what information they want their people to see. That is absolutely fantastic and great.

But I don't live in the middle east. I live here, in a small city in the US.

Facebook has the incredible force in my life. I find myself thinking "Oh! What a great status," or wonder why people didn't "like" that status.

When you deactivate your account, they show pictures of your "friends" and say that they will miss you?
Really? People will miss me on facebook? I have 614 "friends" but when is the last time I have talked to 600 of those friends? Never. I really don't think they will be missing me...

Seems to me, that Facebook is a necessary evil. While I complain about it daily, it has its benefits, as more and more people join everyday.

Ok, I'm done.

And you know what? Ironically, I will be posting this blog, on my facebook.

RG.

It's been awhile...

...Since I've blogged.

So now I blog.

I am currently sitting in my lecture hall, waiting for class to begin-my marriages class. I like it, but it is two hours long, and until 4 o'clock. AKA WORST TIME EVER TO HAVE A CLASS.

Seriously, who decides to have a class from 2-4. I guess there could be worse, but this one is pretty high up there.

Anyway...
It's only Tuesday of this week, but it feels like it should be Friday of this week.
I guess the week back from spring break just is a struggle week...

And my ta has a picture of Darth Vader with sunglasses on...

interesting... And no. Google does not have the picture in case you were wondering...

What would we do without google? Seriously...

It's one of those things that I can't imagine not having. Not being able to google something and not know the answer right away would really piss me off.

I'm glad I don't live in the middle ages where it took months to communicate...or years. Scary

I love google. And I love how our English language now has the word "google" as a verb.

yay 21st century technology.
Ok...I'm done about my love for google...

Moving on....
No glee on tonight, at least new episodes. make me sad : (

Tomorrow is a wednesday! Happy hump day.

Well class is about to start...

All for now.

RG

Time to spare

I finally have time that isn't devoted to reading, writing, or researching for class. So I blog.

Spring break is so damn close.
One. Week. Left.
5 Days.
A little over 100 hundred hours.
I'm too lazy to count minutes...

This spring break I plan on being an absolute bum.
Where I do ABSOLUTELY nothing. Except eat, sleep, watch tv, and lounge. And love every minute.

I'll need that time to take a breather, relax, and finally stop going at lightning speed.
This semester has been so flippin' busy. And I have a feeling it's only going to get worse from here on out.
I don't mind being so busy-most of the time. But some days where I get home at like 11 o'clock, I have to ask myself, ok what just happened today. I tend to run on auto-pilot. And just do what I need to do before I can think of even complaining or not doing it.

I just have to get past a Marriages Test (Thursday) and a Spanish Presentation (Thursday). And then I am ON THE HOME STRETCH.

Random things that are bothersome at the moment:
Snow/Cold Weather
My space button still doesn't freakin' work on this blog. UGH
Long days.
It's only March, and I really want it to be May, or summer.

Well I think this is all I have time for.
Until next time.

RG

Yeah I have to analyze this piece of art for my presentation.

Pretty interesting right?

Right....

A late night rant (typical)

Forewarning: This blog will most likely be incoherent, so I applaud those who still read this blog.
I have a lot on my mind tonight, and I need to blog in order to clear my mind, and actually get some sleep tonight.

UPDATE OF MY LIFE THIS SEMESTER

Starting time 11:59.

So, lately my life has been crazy, hectic, and incredibly busy. School this semester has definitely been more of a challenge- academic wise. A couple more credits this semester and the classes are harder- though I really like them.

Spanish class is really a struggle, almost every day. But I really like my professor. The class has really taught me to organize my notes obsessively and being really anal about certain dates and people in Spanish history. I really like the general ideas we talk about in class. Overall a good class.

My philosophy class is hard, but at the same time very interesting. Our last unit was explaining and defending the arguments for the existence of God (the theistic western definition of God). We went through a lot of the arguments and critiqued them and showed "what was wrong" with them. And ironically I think this has helped my faith in a sense. Yes I'll grant you that this argument fails here or there, but that's where faith comes in- we don't know either way. We can't disprove or prove the existence of God. Anywhoo...this is not a religious blog, so I'll end there.

My marriages class is really interesting and we learn practical information. Plus I love my professor. Like today we learned that couples that took five minutes before going to bed each night to ask each other how were they doing, reported in higher satisfaction and less chance of a divorce. So it's really important information to know, and also fascinating at the same time.

I have a one credit psych seminar- pretty boring, but required for my major.

My last class is my college writing class. Although boring, I feel its already helping my writing skills. For those who are still reading this (again, I applaud you) you can probably tell my writing style is sketchy at points.

Overall I feel I'm having a really good semester class wise. But most importantly I feel everything is starting to fall into place. I'm almost done with the process of becoming an "actual" mentor to my kid (well not really "mine"... I don't need to give my mom an illegitimate grandchild at the moment...) and we can start doing activities with each other and build more of a relationship.

Work is going well, as well as work can go. Hopefully will be serving during the summer, HOPEFULLY by next school year, or I might die a little.

All of my classes are finding a way to enhance each other. Like my college writing research paper is about the effects of early childhood education and all the research I've done so far has solidified what I learned in developmental psychology last semester.

But most importantly what I'm beginning to realize that I am so glad and happy with my choice of staying at UMD for college. I'll admit it was hard the first couple of weeks of the school year when people were posting literally hundreds of pictures on facebook of the dorm room and such. And I was wondering if I should have left home and have gotten your "typical college experience." People were always saying, "well you're not getting the real college experience" if you stay at home. And yes my experience is different than most because I chose a college in town AND stay at home. But reflecting on it, I'm so glad I did and I feel I've made the right decision for me. I just look how things are working out this semester- with mentoring, with my classes, with the opportunities that have arisen such as the Bahrain trip, really show me that I made the right decision.

I'll move out soon enough- I plan on going to grad school somewhere other than Duluth, and preferably out of Minnesota.

So the overall message I've learned? That things will always fall in place as they should, and that we shouldn't question it while we are in the middle of the process, but rather just have faith that things are happening for a reason. Just need a little patience, something I will continually need and learn how to develop.


Whew...what a blog. My head feels clearer and I might actually be able to get some sleep....probably not.

I think that's all.
Until next time (folks)

RG

 

FINALLY: I can blog. Much overdue

Week one from hell is finally over.
Week two from hell starts Monday.
But I have Saturday and Sunday to recuperate.

Today was a good day.

I had a philosophy test, which given a little luck, I'm pretty sure I nailed the test.
I hate sounding arrogant, and usually karma bites me in the ass, I feel really good about the test, and there was only question I really had to BS. And when I saw BS, I mean really really really had to BS. I just made it sound really nice, and talked about 6 things that really didn't pertain to the question as individuals, but as a group, they had the possibility to (not at all) make sense.

Anyway....

Awkward moment.

I also had lunch with Tami, and it was really nice to catch up.

ONLY 14 DAYS UNTIL SPRING BREAK. EXCITED DOESN'T EVEN START TO SUM UP MY EMOTIONS.

I would love to blog but...

I am up to my eyeballs in homework.

Three page Spanish Paper
Two page Psych Paper
Five chapters in my Marriages class
Spanish Test
Philosophy exam
two page writing paper.

So I really shouldn't be bloggin'....

SPRING BREAK YOU CAN'T COME QUICK ENOUGH

(Except I'm not even going anywhere close to a tropical paradise for spring break....)

no me gusta analizar el arte de Espana

I am not a fan. Let me tell you.
I just want this week to be over. But no I have to go to Spanish class and analyze art and poetry.

News flash:

I CAN BARELY ANALYZE ART IN ENGLISH, LET ALONE SPANISH.

Ugh...I just want this week to be over. The week from hell.

I don't know why it was bad, but it just seemed to be one of those weeks where nothing can go right, and everything just seems stressful.

I just have two more hours and then I am done. And then I can curl up in my recliner and take a good long nap and watch the Cosby show. Yay.

What else to blog about...

I did not do well on my Philosophy quiz, which was to be expected, because I did not study at all last night. Whoops. But I aced the other two quizzes, and he drops the lowest quiz, so I am not even worrying about it.

Its nearly the weekend, but I work both Saturday/Sunday. Oh well.

I think this blog is done.

Until next time.

RG

It's a Wednesday (again)

I'm not a fan of Wednesdays. For many Reasons.

But today I have a short anecdote.

While eating lunch yesterday, I saw this girl that was in my Bio lab last semester. And seeing her reminding why I am not a fan of her. She was one of the those spoiled brats. I'll refrain from using more profane language.

She always walked into the lab with her head held high, thinking that she was queen bee and everyone bowed down to her, and that the world revolved around her as well. You could tell that she was coddle, spoiled, and fed with a golden spoon throughout her whole childhood. She was always like "Daddy does this, and Daddy does that..."

She was always complaining about our lab, and how much it sucked, and how much she hated the lab professor, and on and on and on.

IT'S LIKE SHUT THE HELL UP.

She always just had the tone in the voice that everything and everyone was beneath her.

Ugh. My blood pressure just rises when I think of people like her.

Really. GET OVER YOURSELF.

The world does not revolve around you.

Anywhoo, I needed to get that out of my system.

On a brighter note, Glee was good last night.

And I think that this is my blog post. (I feel much better).

Until next time.

RG

Marriages and Families

I really don't want to go to that class.

I just want this day to be done with.
In case you were wondering (which if you weren't, I don't care, it's my blog) I really hate Tuesdays. They are by far my longest days. I have class from 930 until 350, then I have to rush to meet my mentee from 4ish to 6ish. Then I rush home to eat dinner, and do all the homework that I have usually procrastinated. And by the time I have a break its usually time for bed. And the next thing I know it is Wednesday.

Speaking of that, I probably should read instead of doing nothing and wasting time.

Until next time.

RG

My Daily Fix

This is like the 3rd or 4th day straight that I've blogged.

I'm proud.

Anywhoo, what to blog about today.

For one I do not have any ounce of motivation to do any of my homework. I wish I had actual projects to do, something concrete. When I only have reading, its way too easy just to push it down the road, saying "Oh I'll do that tomorrow." Well that tomorrow becomes the next day, and the the next day becomes another day, and then finally its the day that you have to have finished the reading, and you don't have it done. Ugh.

Such is life.

Next on my list (Yes I have a list of what I would like to blog about...) is I don't understand how people can't find my house. Really it is not that hard. Ok. I know my house after a down sloping driveway, and it is hidden a little bit by all the trees in the summer. But in the winter, you don't have to worry about that. It just frustrates me because we always get calls, "WHERE IS YOUR HOUSE!?!?"

And then I'm like did you not follow my directions. If people were just to look and maybe use some common sense to figure out that when I say its the last house on the right before the big turn, and if you pass another stop sign you've gone too far I really mean that it is the last house on the right.

BUT NO. Its just too much to ask. So what would normally take like ten minutes to get picked up, turns into like half hour because people can't figure out where I live.

Ok.

I'm done.

I feel better. And if you are wondering what brought this on, was because someone called my mom asking where our house was. And it took her 10 minutes to explain it.

RG

Why do I always....

...Take a Spanish class every semester. I'm always regretting taking it when I see the huge amount of work that I have to do.

For example

I have to write a one and half page paper architecture. I have been writing (staring) at my computer screen for a total of two hours and I have about 3/4 of a page. One and a half pages doesn't really seem a lot, and it normally isn't, but it is a lot when you have to write about architecture and it's historical impact...
It took me nearly 20 minutes to figure out what the directions said in the syllabus.

Ugh this semester is a total bitch, and its not even the third week.
And of course instead of working on the paper, I complain on my blog.

And moving on.

I want this semester to be over. Enough said.

Until next time.

RG

Its hard to believe...

...That I've been bloggin' since September.
Give some breaks in between the boring, random, quite uneventful life of Ryan Gallagher has been chronicled for about 5 months.


HOLY SHIT!! Where has the time gone?

Always a good question. 

RG

One Hit Wonders

I'm listening to She's so high, which is definitely a one hit wonder of the awesome decade of the 90's. But hey, its a good song. I mean he even has the 90's haircut. Which would make sense...

Anywhoo...

I wish 90's Saturday cartoons were on. I hate to say that "kids these days" don't know what they're missing....because I am only 19, hardly an old geezer myself, but, its true.

And moving on.

Today is Saturday. Which means I work in approximately 4 hours and 7 minutes. Well actually 2 because I can clock in 5 minutes early to work. BIG BUCKS RIGHT THERE.

Hopefully work won't be such a debacle as it was last Saturday. I'm praying for a good shift.

I really should be starting my Spanish paper. And reading for philosophy. and reading for psych.
and paper for college writing. But why?

Exactly.

Until next time.

RG

Hibernating Squirrel

What to blog about...
My backspace button STILL isn't working and it is making me mad.

Our newspaper (UMD's) had on the front page an article about how Sen. Klobuchar came to UMD and spend the day touring our exciting lab facilities blah blah blah...

What really got my attention was the byline or tagline or whatever line you want to call the caption under the picture. Under further examination, the caption read "Sen. Klobuchar looks on as she sees a hibernating squirrel".

Um, Excuse me?

1. I didn't know squirrels hibernated...
2. WHAT THE HELL.

Why would our state senator come up to our university to watch a damn squirrel hibernate. HOW IS THAT EVEN EXCITING!?
And why can't you just go outside and find a squirrel? Please come to my yard, and you'll find thousands. You can observe them in their natural habitat, and watch my dogs try to kill 'em.

Anywhoo... I would think that if a senator is going to come up and view our science facilities that you would him or her some really cool chemical reaction. Just anything cooler than a hibernating squirrel. Really...

And while I'm on that topic, instead of paying big bucks to observe a squirrel, how about we use that money to pay towards tuition. But of course not...

I'm really sure observing a hibernating squirrel really has its benefits........

All right, I am done ranting about that.

Its a Friday, which makes me really happy. And I don't have tooooo much homework, so life is good.

Well that's my blog post. Until next time.

RG

I can never remember what day it is.

...But now I know it is Thursday, because I checked the date on my laptop.
Anywhoo...

How is my week going?
Pretty blah and nothing too exciting has happened this week.
I have had classes, I tutored on Tuesday, worked yesterday, and now I am here, bloggin' before my first class of the day.
In case you wanted to know, my stupid enter button is not working. AND ONLY ON THIS WEBSITE. wtf.
It's really bothering me. But I digress.

So what do I want to blog about? Nothin' really.
It's actually really balmy and warm outside. And by warm I mean 23. But hey, I'm a duluthian, so I can take this type of weather.

I really wish I had something really important to blog about, but nothing in my life reflects such a thing.

So this post was a whole a lot of nothing (like they usually are).

But!

 

Case of the Fridays...

It's a Friday. Which means it's nearly the weekend. Which means more sleep. 

Again this vicious cycle has begun yet again.

Anywhoo...

What to talk about.

MY PHILOSOPHY CLASS.  The class literally boggles my mind. I find it interesting, but holy sheeett....my brain is fried after that class. To make it better? It's at 8 in the AM. Just lovely.


I don't understand why I take 8AM classes....I hate getting up so damn early. But here I am taking another class that early and complaining about it on my blog.

Anywhoo...

What are my plans this weekend? I work the whole weekend. Ugh...


And thinking of money doesn't even help me want to work anymore...


Well I think I'm done blogging.


Adios for now.


RG

Getting back on the bloggin' (band) wagon...

Hello virtual world,

Sorry for the lack of bloggin' lately! But alas, I am here and ready to rant and vent about my (boring, but sometimes amusing) life.

So. Where shall we begin?

Well second semester of college started yesterday!

And so far.... so good!

Classes are fun. It's going to be a hard(er) semester, but looking forward to it.


Ok now that I have the school info out of the way, now it's time to vent about how I really feel.


I AM SO EFFING TIRED. But understandably because I was up until like 2:30 watching the stupid Australian open. I've always been a fan of tennis, but last night I could just not stop watching it... I watched Venus Williams' match, and she nearly lost! So of course I had to watch the entire match (which ended up being 2.5 hours) to see if she won, which she did. But barely.

 


So I lost two hours of sleep because I couldn't not know what happened in that match. Typical...


And it wasn't even like a championship match or anything like that. It was still the second round, and she nearly lost to some chick was who/is rated 97th in the world...


But I digress. So yes I am tired, and instead of going to bed, I blog about it. Logical huh?


I should be doing homework so I don't get behind...but bloggin' is so much more interesting.


What else can I talk about?

Hmm..I think that's it.

Until next time.


RG.

Wisdom teeth....

SUCK. 

Enough said.

First Sunday of 2011

Exciting huh? Not really...

Random musings:

I hate the price of textbooks-it really pisses me off.
Tomorrow will be my 10th straight day of work.
I'm getting my wisdom teeth pulled out Tuesday.
I really hate the packers.
But I don't really watch that much football.
I'm tired.
It's 10:00


This was another pointless blog.


Night.

Day 1/365

Well, the first day of 2011 is nearly over, and what did I realize?


I'm horrible at keeping my resolutions, and its only day one!


Writing in my blog is the only resolution I have kept so far.


Today:
1.) Drank pop
2.) Ate junk food
3.) Swore way too much


But, tomorrow is a new day, so another second chance.

So, what else to talk about. I know this sounds really nerdy, but I'm definitely ready for school to start, yet I still have two weeks left!


I really do enjoy being in classes, and other than my writing class, I'm really looking forward to my classes this nest semester.


And then next semester, its Spain!! HELLS TO THE YES.


Well my computer is being a bitch, so I'll write tomorrow.


Ryon