Summertime and the Livin's Easy

Hello blog readers, it has been quite a while since my words last graced this blog. Let's see, school ended harmlessly on May 14, and grades were sent out a week later. I worked hard over finals week, but was lucky to have just one final on each day except for the last day, when I had two. I had to rush on Wednesday, May 14 to get out to the dorm because they kick us out at 5:30, and I am perpetually running behind. After school was out, I hung around Kansas City for a few more days to hang out with friends-- it was pretty laid back and I got to attend a Royal's game right behind home plate (thanks to Megan Rogge), but I had to return home sometime for the summer, since of course my family couldn't wait to see me. This summer, my time from studying and all other things campusy have been replaced with working 4-5 days a week at my family's river resort by Steelville, Missouri. It is good work and good pay, but I am literally cut off from civilizaiton down there because I don't have access to phones or computers. My summer is going pretty well right now, just looking forward to my vacation to the beach at the end of July, moving into my new house off campus, and of course the beginning of the fall semester, which is always fun to see old friends and meet new faces. However, I have to prepare to head to my ranch tomorrow, so now that I am caught up on the blogging, I have to head to where computers are scarce. Another day another dollar...

A Deep Bruise

So the days have gone by, and here we are- on the brink of summer with five days of finals before us. Actually, after tomorrow, which is a dead day, I have four days of finals. One on Thursday, Friday, Monday, and two on Tuesday. This last week has been busy of course, as everyone is this time of year. I always tell myself that I am not going to procrastinate, however, this past week was so hectic because of my weak planning. Tomorrow during the dead day, I have an orientation workshop for all of the freshmen who will be sophomore coordinators next year, so that should go well. I also joined a new organization called the Student Alumni Association where I basically plan fun events for alumni to attend and I get to hang out with them, so it doesn't sound like a bad gig.

Had to go to the doctor last week because I had a sore throat for a week. They drew blood and I am waiting on the results, but the nurse that took my blood just jabbed the needle in my arm and gave me one of the longest lasting bruises I have ever possessed. Also, last week I got to meet with a marketing firm from Iowa that Rockhurst recently hired to take care of all of its new marketing material that it sends to prospective students, transfers, etc... It was just an open dialogue with me and three other students in front of three adults. We all gave Rockhurst pretty good reviews and in turn gave them good ideas on how to market this diamond in the rough. Yesterday was a little rough: had to wake up at six in the morning to get to class on time. I was in St. Louis for my Grandparents 50th anniversary, so a nice little four hour drive by myself in the morning.... I better of aced that quiz.

April Showers with No 'Holiday in Spain'

The campus at Rockhurst has recently been hit with a lot of weird weather; sunny, gorgeous mornings and afternoons turn into dark, dismal stormy evenings. However, the welcomed rain has brought back a green tint to Rockhurst, and every coming day, more and more kids are playing soccer, frisbee, or tennis out and about on the campus. I myself lost in a close 7-5 match this last Monday to a friend (he got lucky), and it was great to be comfortable outside in shorts and a t-shirt. The highlight of my week was last Wednesday, when a friend of mine named Guy had won two free tickets to see the Counting Crows in Lawrence, KS. I was lucky to be asked to attend the concert for free with him, and it was awesome. I know the Counting Crows are a little outdated, but they do put on a great show. I went home the following weekend to see my little sister's first communion, so I missed out on any fun Rockhurst activities that weekend.

It is kind of weird, but today at Rockhurst, some students are participating in a vow of silence from 8 to 4 today for an upcoming organization called UNITY. It is interesting and commendable that someone on campus could actually go that long without speaking a word, even by accident, to anybody.

Ben Lee is still coming May 3rd, but preceeding him is a local Rockhurst band named Thomas Aikenhead, so it should be an great show...

The Shins

Rockhurst's campus has been booming with activity of late. First of all, I went to the Ben Folds concert that was a joint show for UMKC and Rockhurst, and of course, Ben Folds was great. Even if you don't like his songs, his piano skills are unmatched. Earlier this week, I officially attended my second ever $3 movie night, that the Student Activites Board (SAB) puts on. I saw the new movie "21", about MIT students who hustle Vegas casinos by counting cards. I had heard mixed reviews about the movie, but thoroughly enjoyed it, and recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen a good flick in a while. Also this week, a guy known as "The Regurgitator" came to campus to put on a show. SAB also sponsored this event and also catered free Taco Bell to entice students. I wasn't too keen on the combination of a mass quantity of tacos and a guy who is known to regurgitate things. Hoping to not be treated to a guy who vomits tacos, I went to the Rock Room located in the middle of campus and watched his act. He was amazing- it turns out he eats objects, like a pool ball, and then brings them back out. Doesn't sound entertaining, but the first thing I saw him do was have a volunteer light a lighter while he regurgitated a butane bubble and lit his hand on fire. Overall, it was a good event to attend.

Last week was also Greek Week here at Rockhurst. My fraternity placed a respectable fourth out of eight, but got first in various minor events. Competitions included greek games, sidewalk chalk art (ours was glorious), canned food sculpture, capture the flag, and a skit night (ours was embarrassingly bad apparently). The baseball and tennis teams have also started playing games, so there hasn't been a lack of things to do on campus as usual. There is actually another concert here at Rockhurst on the first weekend of May, put on by a guy named Ben Lee. I enjoy his music so that should be pretty fun to attend as well.

Spring and Easter Break

In the last couple of weeks, it seems as if we have hardly been in school at all. Two weeks ago, we had a week long spring break, came back to school for four days, and then had this past weekend off; Friday through Monday for Easter. With that being said, it is crunch time here at Rockhurst University, where there is basically one critical month left for assignments to be completed and grades resurrected from the dead. I had a great spring break, where I traveled from Destin, Florida, to Mississippi, to New Orleans, and finally to Dallas. My trip was a lot of fun, a little expensive, and I think that next spring break, I might try one of the many opportunities Rockhurst offers to travel abroad and do service work in poorer countries. I have heard so many good things about people that went to Honduras, El Salvador, and other places-- their experiences and trip were said to have been amazing, so I am going to look into that for next year, since my spring break this year was so...... tiring. This past Easter break was therefore welcomed as a true chance to relax at home with the family, before delving into the loads of school work that are awaiting.

The most exciting thing around campus is the anticipated arrival of Ben Folds Five, who will be performing a free concert for Rockhurst and UMKC students over at UMKC's gym. The concert is on Saturday, April 5th, and will surely not disappoint. I have never seen them in concert, but enjoy their music and have heard good things about their shows. Rockhurst basketball intramurals just ended, and my team took second place unfortunately. I have now been on a team that has come in second in softball, soccer, and basketball here at Rockhurst. Hopefully, we can get over the hump in either volleyball or football, which are two big spring sports here at Rockhurst. Between work and school, however, I am primarily focused on trying to improve my grades and in making money so I am not such a poor college student.

The view from the condo I stayed at in Destin.... before my stay was cut short....

Penguins, Ladybugs, Razorbacks Wrestling With Work

Since last time I wrote, life has gotten quite busy to say the least. Two weekends ago, as I mentioned before, I went to two date parties on back-to-back nights. When I say this I am not bragging, I am looking for some sympathy. I enjoy the wonderful sororities here at Rockhurst, however after two date parties, I was extremeley exhausted on Sunday, which didn't bode well since I was starting my new job just across the border in Kansas at a business the next morning at 7:00. Let me clarify, that is 7:00 A.M.! I am not a morning person, so I recommend that if you can exploit one of the many opportunities of work study here on Rockhurst, take advantage of it. Anyway, I have been working for two weeks now, and work is going pretty well. I just do errands around the office basically, but I get a hefty sum for such labors. School is gearing up for the annual midterms right now, and along with work every day, my ability to use time wisely is being challenged. Last weekend, myself and eight other orientation coordinators traveled in a massive van to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Yuck, I know-- however, we had a good time at the conference, meeting kids from all over the southern states of Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. I came back from the conference tired with the bad habit of saying "ya'll". I am looking forward to orientation next year now; getting a chance to help the freshman transfer from high school to Rockhurst is a lot of fun and a good experience. School work this week has been a little rough, so I am now down to counting the days until spring break: 8 days until I embark on my journey to Destin, Florida.

Over My Head

This last week has been extremely busy and happening around Rockhurst. Last Friday, the ZETA's, a sorority on campus, had their "crush" party, which I attended and was a lot of fun. However, I had to wake up early the next morning and be in Wichita, KS by 10:00 a.m. the next morning. I was in a dilemma to say the least; go to bed after the dance, which would of been around 2:00 a.m. and risk not waking up, or stay up all night and drive to Wichita with my friend Seth. I chose the latter, since I couldn't miss this convention which was some leadership conference that lasted for what seemed like hours. I don't ever want to go to Wichita State again, where the conference was held, or Wichita for that matter (no offense for those of you from Wichita, and there are many at Rockhurst-- I am from Rolla, so I can't say much). Anyway, the next day I had orientation interviews, church, chapter, and then an intramural basketball game, which we won (without my help).

The busy weekend was succeeded by a busy week, as I had orientation interviews both Monday and Wednesday. These interviews are necessary to find leaders to help the incoming freshmen next year become acclimated with the campus (by the way, if I spell something wrong when I am trying to say something smart, let me know). Monday, a couple of comedians came to campus and put on a hilarious show, and Wednesday was $3 movie night at the Plaza. So far this semester has just been ridiculously busy, and I know I am not the only one that feels that way. However, it will only get worse, as I had my first test today, I have two date parties this weekend, and a 15 minute powerpoint presentation next Tuesday on Poland. That's right, Poland-- a country I know nothing about but hope to in the next week. I thought college was supposed to be full of sleeping, eating, and video games?