Finally! We found the I!

Democrats.

Because it is October and we're all getting ready to vote.

100 skills

Thanks to StumbleUpon I have found a list of 100 skills to add to my list of requirements for the perfect man. This is where I got the list. Here is the list in blog form.

Automotive

1. Handle a blowout
2. Drive in snow
3. Check trouble codes
4. Replace fan belt
5. Wax a car
6. Conquer an off-road obstacle
7. Use a stick welder
8. Hitch up a trailer
9. Jump start a car

Handling Emergencies

10. Perform the Heimlich
11. Reverse hypothermia
12. Perform hands-only CPR
13. Escape a sinking car

Home

14. Carve a turkey
15. Use a sewing machine
16. Put out a fire
17. Home brew beer
18. Remove bloodstains from fabric
19. Move heavy stuff
20. Grow food
21. Read an electric meter
22. Shovel the right way
23. Solder wire
24. Tape drywall
25. Split firewood
26. Replace a faucet washer
27. Mix concrete
28. Paint a straight line
29. Use a French knife
30. Prune bushes and small trees
31. Iron a shirt
32. Fix a toilet tank flapper
33. Change a single-pole switch
34. Fell a tree
35. Replace a broken windowpane
36. Set up a ladder, safely
37. Fix a faucet cartridge
38. Sweat copper tubing
39. Change a diaper
40. Grill with charcoal
41. Sew a button on a shirt
42. Fold a flag

Medical Myths

43. Treat frostbite
44. Treat a burn
45. Help a seizure victim
46. Treat a snakebite
47. Remove a tick

Military Know-How

48. Shine shoes
49. Make a drum-tight bed
50. Drop and give the perfect pushup

Outdoors

51. Run rapids in a canoe
52. Hang food in the wild
53. Skipper a boat
54. Shoot straight
55. Tackle steep drops on a mountain bike
56. Escape a rip current

Primitive Skills

57. Build a fire in the wilderness
58. Build a shelter
59. Find potable water

Surviving Extremes

60. Floods
61. Tornados
62. Cold
63. Heat
64. Lightning

Teach Your Kids

65. Cast a line
66. Lend a hand
67. Change a tire
68. Throw a spiral
69. Fly a stunt kite
70. Drive a stick shift
71. Parallel park
72. Tie a bowline
73. Tie a necktie
74. Whittle
75. Ride a bike

Technology

76. Install a graphics card
77. Take the perfect portrait
78. Calibrate HDTV settings
79. Shoot a home movie
80. Ditch your hard drive

Master Key Workshop Tools

81. Drill driver
82. Grease gun
83. Coolant hydrometer
84. Socket wrench
85. Test light
86. Brick trowel
87. Framing hammer
88. Wood chisel
89. Spade bit
90. Circular saw
91. Sledge hammer
92. Hacksaw
93. Torque wrench
94. Air wrench
95. Infrared thermometer
96. Sand blaster
97. Crosscut saw
98. Hand plane
99. Multimeter
100. Feeler gauges

Read more: 100 Skills Every Man Should Know: 2008's Ultimate DIY List - Popular Mechanics

Break!

My first break from college is finally here. What do I plan to do with two days off from school? I have no idea. I've made some very vague plans with a lot of people, but nothing really set yet. My cousin's daughter is turning one, so my uncles are visiting and I'm hoping to spend some time with them and the cousins. I haven't seen my aunt on the other side of the family since dad left, so it would be nice to see them too. And approximately half of my friends are staying on campus for this break, so I should make time to hang out with all of them too. I really don't know what to do here though, everything is closed for break. Which is completely ridiculous. What good is a few free days on a college campus if nothing is open? Oh well. I'm sure we will come up with something. Chances are I won't be getting nearly as much done during this break as I had hoped, but I am determined to enjoy it AND accomplish something.

brotips

I have a few internet addictions. The newest, and probably best, is brotips. I've read all of them. All 1,192 of them. Most of the tips are geared towards guys, or bros, obviously, but the lessons can be applied to pretty much anyone. Although, one of my guy friends recently told me that I am chill enough to count as a bro. I'm just going to assume that it's a good thing since it implies that I am definitely out of the ho zone.

Siri

This is actually sad and funny at the same time. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

Freshman 15? Not on these hips.

How I fight the Freshman 15:

1. Live on 3rd floor.
2. Go to the Wellness Center every time someone invites you.
3. If the package says that a serving size is seven, eat seven.
4. If one is broken in half, don't look for the other half, round up. It's still one piece.
5. Watch lots of TV shows about morbidly obese people trying to lose weight.
6. Find someone that is more in shape than you and then secretly try to catch up with, or even surpass them.
7. When you're hungry even though you just ate, drink water.
8. Invest in a really cool water bottle.
9. Hang out with the jocks.
10. When you want to eat something unhealthy, imagine telling someone that you're a Health Science major while you eat a Little Debbie.

Blog Frustration

I'm seriously annoyed at myself right now. This wasn't supposed to be a place for me to bore you with the details of my weekend, but it wasn't supposed to be a slightly personalized version of StumbleUpon either. I guess I just express all of my deep thoughts and feelings with a select few via text message. There's a lot going on in this head and heart (it's an expression, unless you're really into phlebotomy, there isn't really anything interesting going on in my actual heart). It'll come out in blog form one of these days I'm sure.

Weekend. Ugh.

This weekend was interesting. A friend just asked me how my weekend was, and I was surprised that I really had to stop and think before I could answer him. Parts of this weekend were really tough. But, thanks to my wonderful friends, some here, some in Idaho, and one in Missouri, other parts of this weekend were incredible. Over all, it averaged out to a pretty good weekend. Friday night Vespers was a little long, one important lesson that bible workers seem to have a hard time understanding is that longer is not always  better. Having said that, I will admit that Vespers was pretty good. My roommate was gone on I Cantori tour, so I stayed up way too late and woke up way too early. Sabbath was just a rough day, but I did get to spend time with some fabulous people. Saturday night Nicole and I kidnapped Po and Indian and headed downtown. After some coffee we decided to go bowling, but after seeing all the T and TH parking stickers in the car windows at the first bowling alley, and being creeped out by the bouncer at the second one (yes, a creepy bouncer at a place for kids), we decided to go to a movie. Naturally, the dude behind me had a constant stream of comments that he just couldn't keep to himself. Fortunately for him (and everyone else) his comments were quite entertaining and added a lot to an otherwise mediocre film. Naturally, he had a Southern ID on a Southern lanyard hanging around his neck. Finally, we stopped by Taco Bell (first time I've been there since my dad left!) so Nicole and I could eat. The silly boys weren't hungry. They were also complaining of being cold most of the evening. There's something seriously wrong with them. Nicole and I were fine. Finally, a half hour before curfew, we headed back to school. It was awesome, but I'm still tired. Today was much more relaxed. Our normal lunch at CK at one and then the long slow adventure back with the Jamaican. That was very interesting. My roommate went to Six Flags today, I rearranged the room. ha. Hope she doesn't mind too much, but if she does, we can change it back. I guess. Anyway, three days of school, then October Break. I'm definitely looking forward to it. No real plans, but I did just discover that my amazing little cousin is turning one this week! Ohh, and for those that care (and actually, even those that don't), I'll be home in 60 days!

Barbie

Barbie in reality. You all need to read this article. I'm not going to go crazy and tell you that Barbies are evil, I played with them for years and never consciously thought that I should look like Barbie. but this is kind of interesting. I really think the answer to this self-esteem crisis is to take what we've learned the hard way, and be sure to help our daughters build a positive self image and raise our sons to be the kind of guys that help girls be confident and not the kind that tear girls apart. Anyway. After an awesome but exhausting beginning of the weekend, I'm going to sleep. and remembering this picture as I get ready for church and everything else this week. In fact, I may print it and put it by my mirror.