Day 333, 334, 335, 336

Ho ho ho!

Judgmental Penguin is watching you from above. Be careful, for he is more watchful than Santa Claus. He also only knows when you've been naughty; he couldn't care if you've been nice. Thus is the life of Judgmental Penguin.

But hey, Christmas is on the way. The 'rents decorated the house today, and we have the (fake) tree put up now, as you can see. I got to pull it up from the basement, and Mom basically put it up. It's been in the family for years. The leaves have metal tips that get put into the center shaft. Completely safe. It has to be at least 10-20 years old by now, I'm sure. We've also got the manger set at the bottom, which has also been around for awhile. Not much else to say, other than that I think this picture turned out nice compared to the originals.

Why haven't I been updating? Simple - I've been at work and taking no pictures! The Christmas ones were taken today, and Judgmental Penguin had his picture taken Tuesday.

Working short shifts on Wednesday and Thursday was fun and relaxed. I get to drive around the golf cart for deliveries. The thing is a speed demon! A whole five miles per hour! It's crazy!


So, these are the stockings for my immediate family. They're hanging up over the parents' fireplace now. The ones on the ends are my parents' stockings. They figure that, since we get these nice sized socks that they get the big socks for presents.

Also, all the brick and stone is actually stucco. I used to think that it was brick and stone until I figured it out when I was about 10 or 11 (I've lived here since I was 2). Dad does fake brick and things like that. It's pretty convincing.

Lastly, these things. Oh God these things. Five of the six grandkids are getting these things. They spin and make giggling noises that would easily drive parents insane. I'm kind of glad that I only have to deal with these tomorrow, though. Poor parents have to deal with them even more.

If you're wondering, the fifth one is a giraffe. And if my body is found in my room on Christmas, then this picture will be my suicide note. I can take some annoyance and I regard myself as a patient person, but these things are bad. Just plain bad. Hopefully I'll survive.

That's all the pictures for now. Maybe I'll actually have an on-time post tomorrow. Then pigs will fly and Christmas will have freezing temperatures this year.

Day 328, 329, 330, 331

Phew! Long past few days.

Thursday: Noo!

This baby broke. I was getting out of the car with my care hanging out of my pocket. The door slammed on the card, I walked away without knowing it, and it snapped.

I've been using it to carry around my student ID ever since I got this thing at orientation. I'm sure I can just go out and buy a new one, but that's lame.

:(

Friday: Rehearsal dinner hall

I drove about 500 miles to Missouri to see some family. There was a wedding on Saturday that I was able to go to. Since I didn't have a Thursday final, I decided to move all my stuff out and get going. The rehearsal dinner was nice, the hotel was comfy, and there was a pizza place right next door that was delicious. I have nothing else to say about it.

Saturday: Okay, this was here the day before. Gimme a break!

The wedding was nice and went smoothly. I was asked to take a few pictures of it, but only a small fraction of them turned out to be any good. I also took a number of personal pictures, like this sunset and the next one of the flag. I might have ended up with more of those than wedding pictures, even though I took more at the wedding than I took at the reception.

Sunday itself was filled with another 8 hour drive, of which I was in the driver seat for the entire time.

Sunday: Flag!

Coming home to an unpacked room and lots of general crap thrown around from trying to clean up before moving back to college is...not fun. I grabbed my bookbag and clothes bag and brought them to my room.

I went to sleep at around 5 or 6 on Sunday thinking I would get woken up for dinner. Then I wake up and its Monday. I'm not exactly sure how that happened.


The drive up and wedding are excuses for not posting, alright? I've got pictures from these days, too, so I'm not doing that badly!

To my beloved school,

How is it that I can get a C in the class I expected to get a B in, and get a B in the class I expected to fail? Why is your curve so crazy? Why are you just nuts when it comes to tests? Why did you make me have a mental breakdown during one of my finals? How am I supposed to survive you?

Love,
Wes

Day 185

Before midnight? Bam!

Picture: "What's going on?!"

Background: This is the reason we were all at the 'rents! (well, mostly the reason). My nephew got baptized yesterday and we had a barbecue afterparty. Here you can see the priest pouring the water from the baptismal font on his forehead. He was really well behaved and didn't make hardly any noise all throughout Mass. I swear, that boy is cute. Seriously. I've got a lucky sister to have such a cute kid. The best part was that they dressed him up in one of those suits that you would see some sort of concert pianist play in, with little tails and everything.

today's video is more returning to childhood...

Day 184

DESTROY US ALL DESTROY US ALL DESTROY US-sorry

Picture: 60

Background: My Dad turns sixty on the 25th. Technically it's today as of writing this post, but we celebrated on Sunday because the whole family was over. The reason for that will be explained tomorrow, though, because today's post is going to be about his birthday. These numbers are eight feet tall. The hilarious part of these things is that my dad actually helped my older brother load the plywood onto his truck. Earlier that day, when my dad was talking over the phone to the same brother, he (brother) said that he was doing yardwork. Which was partially true, because he was doing work in the yard, spray painting the numbers.

today's video wants you to do the monkey with it...

Day 180

I think I'm going to change the blog heading to "Updated between noon and 2 am." or something like that. Sheesh.

Picture: Baby!

Background: I have six nieces/nephews, and one of their birthdays was today, so I got to see most of them. I wish there was a common word in English to combine nieces/nephews into one group like I know there is in Spanish ("sobrinos"). Alas, there is not. Pictured is the youngest of them all, only 3 and a half months old so far. Those are my parents, her grandparents, playing peekaboo with her. She likes to be held a lot more than she likes being laid down. Right now, you can see the "What on earth are you doing" look on her face. Then again, my parents get that look a lot *cough*

Other than that, I didn't work today. And I don't work tomorrow. Which means if you alive and available to hang out or something...

today's video is about getting somewhere...

Day 153

Doing a Thursday update on a Saturday...LIKE A BOSS

Picture: Welcome to my (Dad's) garage

Background: Not just parking space, but a World Class Destination. Our garage is pretty awesome. We've got tiled floor, half the walls are faux brick, and some black and white pictures of family members and the mill on the upper stucco part. And a black PT Cruiser inside the garage. With an awesome license plate. If you saw it, you would agree with me - and be completely jealous.

Other than that, Thursday was an ordinary day from what I recall. Nothing too interesting happened that sticks out in my mind. Oh, that piece of paper in the picture? All in due time, readers, all in due time...and at the rate I update, that will be a long time.

today's video is the only bieber song i can listen too...

Day 151

Did almost nothing today! Hurrah!

Picture: More of the deck WIP

Background: The stairs are in now (for the most part). I had a great idea to run a small HvZ game in my front and backyards, as well. But since there's no railing on the deck, and it's nowhere neared finished, I'm putting it off until later. I do have a few ideas for how to run the game, but that'll be later in life.

The 'rents and I ate dinner on the deck - steaks! The breeze blowing by was pretty nice. Other than that I didn't do much today. No work, everybody's elsewhere, so I just hung around the house all day. Horray.

today's video is about forgetting backpacks...

Day 146

Updating earlier than 11pm? Preposterous!

Picture: A lot of wood

Background: The 'rents deck is coming out nicely. Dad and two older brothers have the posts set, the deck and stair frames built, and the top of the deck's extension already has a floor. It's a nice change from our 17 year old deck that was getting ready to fall apart. The wood is nice and new for once, and they'll be staining it and putting a pergola on the outer part...It's gonna be nice, and great for the grandkids.

In other news, I'm closing in on 30,000 words in the story I've been writing for awhile. Crazy. And I don't even know where I'm going to be going next. I've got a very rough idea of where I want to get to, but everything in between is hazy.

today's video is braiiiiiiiiiinsssssssssssss...

Day 142

Hurrah!

Picture: Baby tomatoes

Background: See that wood? If I took this picture a few weeks ago, that would've been rotten, 17 year old wood. But Dad replaced it all! Now there aren't any stairs going from the deck to the ground below. He's got a ladder! I got to haul it all off to a part of the woods where we'll be having a nice burning someday. And these tomatoes are so cute, aren't they? There's even the little green things growing in there that I'm not entirely sure what they are - if they're more tomatoes or something different. Irregardless, it's nice to just sit on the edge of the porch drinking a 1-1/2 liter Dr. Pepper like I did the other day.

today's video is another they might be giants song...gimme a break, okay...

Day 131

About to play some 3 card poker, baby

Picture: There's something missing...

Background: The deck! It doesn't have a railing! The 'rents decided to expand it (finally), and Dad took the railing off yesterday. I took this, which I've been meaning to, and some WIP pictures for the 'rents. Apparently Mom already got the Before pictures. I'm curious as to how it'll turn out. There's lots of talk about how far it'll go out, about pergolas, and the wall below. I might take an after picture just for you guys. Because I love you.

...as a friend

today's video is about uprising (read the vid description first)...

Day 130

Sat around, did little of anything, conquered a solar system, shot some Kirby looking dudes. Decent day overall.

Picture: When you see it...

Background: ...it'll see you! The 'rents put faces on trees a few years back. They told me a week or two ago that they were actually growing into the trees themselves. So in a few years they might even be gone, with just a face imprint left. Creepy to think about, isn't it? But they look pretty cool, especially from a distance like this.

today's video is about stereotypes...

Day 129

For some reason I searched the number 129 to see if it was prime (it's not, it's apparently semiprime), and it's actually the sum of the first ten primes. It's even a happy number! Seriously, where do mathematicians come up with this stuff.

Picture: Sorry, flower-namer, I actually know this one!

Background: It's a marigold! Emphasis on the "gold". Then again, it does look merry. This is probably one of half a dozen flowers I can name by sight. I took this (along with what will probably be the next few days' worth of pictures) on Saturday after working outside for a bit.

For today, I went to work for my brother that's closest in age to me. He does catering around here, and today's job was a 400 person deal. I haven't gotten up at 6 in the morning in quite awhile, and I hope I don't have to until July when I work for him next.

today's video is about ponies, physics, and fantastic animation...

Day 128

2^7

Picture: Who are these folks?

Background: Aunt + Her Husband + their two boys were in Georgia this weekend, so lunch was had with the whole family. I didn't really get a good picture of anybody, but here's one. The guy turned around is my uncle, and those are my cousins. My Uncle kind of looks like the band director at Tech with that shirt on, except taller. Because, you know, everybody's taller than...

Anyway, lots of driving too. I also got a new book that I'll have to blab to you all about, since the author is supposedly a mix of Douglas Adams and Stephen King. So it sounds good already.

today's video is...oh my god...

Day 114

AHA

Picture: 1:17:32?

Background: Gaming time, of course! I saved a game right at 1 hour and 17 minutes and then noticed it. I didn't actually try for it this time! Awesome. Also, someone I know online showed me this list that, if you look at number 15, you'll see why he showed it to me. Number 100 is pretty good - probably the best one if you ask me.

Other than that, decent day today. Saw all my nieces/nephews today. Cuties, all of them! And with the video, the second double-update in a row is over! Blargh.

today's video is about a homemade airsoft gun...

Day 93

I refuse to acknowledge that it's past midnight.

Picture: What IS this thing?

Background: My nephews and nieces went Easter egg hunting today! The Easter bunny hid them everywhere, including on a lamppost up high, on and around cars, and in bushes and the grass. Thankfully the yard is large enough to where that bunny is able to hide all forty-eight eggs! I'm surprised he found enough spaces for all of them. And if you're that one or other person who actually saw day one or two, then you'll recognize this little guy! The outstretched arm belongs to my oldest brother, and the frog belongs somewhere in nature. I can't remember who the feet belong to, though.

today's video is about guitar hero and volcanoes...

Day 66

I'M SO ASHAMED! I had today's picture lined up yesterday. Yesterday. And I got caught up with dorm room happenings, hall council, and schoolwork that I completely skipped the post for today (well, yesterday, so I had the picture two days ago...whatever).

Picture: When I live by the garden and the sea

Background: Of course, me and my nature pictures always prevail. Before I began Project 365, I was taking many, many pictures of the flowers in the garden outside. I put up a lot of them on the internet to be viewed. I really like macro photos [taking pictures of things up close], and many of those pictures are flowers up close. I've actually been putting up my Project 365 photos in the same place, and I plan to put them all together some time in one big album. But that's later down the road when I finish this.

Speaking of the future when I finish this, I do have a few ideas of things to put up here. It won't be updated nearly as often, as I can't come up with material for 365 pictures, much less independent posts without pictures to blab on about. I think I've mentioned it here before, but I'm working on a story - I may post an excerpt or two, maybe, or at least a short synopsis explaining what it's about.

Last, but definitely not least, I've become an uncle again, for the 6th time! I'm heading up on Friday to go see my little niece. Can't wait!

today's video is probably the most amazing take on the pokemon series...

Day 59

Long day => Long post

Picture: A TV stand.

Background: So, three main things happened today. First, I woke up earlier than I have woken up in probably a year to go work with brother and dad. Since I'm not used to physical labor, it took its toll. Second, the shower afterward? Heavenly. It's been awhile since one has been that relaxing. Since I haven't had a sincerely private not-near-hallmates shower in awhile, I took the liberty to actually sing a few songs. The third involves this nice little TV stand you see in the picture. After that shower, I had to wait a bit for my vehicle to arrive home. Once it did, I carried in the groceries that came with it (if I tried to carry the woman driving, I might hurt one or both of us), and prepared the car to hold a nice TV and stand. Drove to the brother's house, picked up the heavy, painful-to-lift TV, and loaded it into the car. Drove down to the dorm. Called roommate, who had to call another hallmate because roommate and I couldn't pick it up together. Bring into room. Carry the less massive stand into room. Try to arrange stuff around, and decide to postpone until Saturday. Which is actually going to change. Took the stand home because it was taking up way too much room in the dorm (and roommate and I couldn't lift it onto the drawers+stand without killing someone). Grabbing some food because it had been awhile since I ate. Came home, took stand out, took a picture, and sat down and begin writing this post (among other internet-reading-gaming things).

So yes, it has been a long day for me. I feel as if I might fall asleep trying to find a video that none of you will probably watch anyway :D

today's video is actually pretty hilarious, and worth the watch...

Day 58

Tomorrow morning will test to see if I can drag myself out of bed early. This is going to be rough.

Picture: The old white Chevy

Background: Way back, when I wasn't even born yet, my parents got this truck. Two months before I came into this world, they got this Chevy truck. They've had it longer than they've had me. But what happened today was that it has finally been sold. An older gentleman had come by and said he would probably be restoring it a bit and maybe reselling it. It's seen better days for sure, but my parents have had this truck longer than I've even been here! It's sort of sad to see if finally go, but it's nice knowing that it'll get fixed up a bit. Going to work now and then in it as a kid? Fun times! But they've got to get that red van fixed up, and if Dad drives that truck around anymore, it might just fall apart in the middle of the freeway.

I've just got this sneaking suspicion that, now that they've sold the white truck, they'll be selling me when my birthday comes around.

In other news, I'm getting that facebook page together for the heck of it. So I won't be spamming my personal facebook page with the individual posts, but instead with advertisements of the blog's facebook page. Trading one for the other. /shrug

today's video is about wasting time...

Day 12

Early update for the crazies that actually give me pageviews at noon. Which would be nobody. But early update anyway because I caught a good picture with an hour between classes and I have my laptop with me.

Picture: DO NOT DRINK

Background: I passed a cement truck (not a mixer, according to second oldest brother) on my way to class. Near the bottom was a large-ish tank that said just that. I sort of chuckled to myself. I mean, you would think it would be pretty obvious that you should not drink things in large tanks that are attached to cement trucks. So I had to stop and take a picture (even with some odd looks, but I didn't really care. It was funny).

Today is also Say Happy Birthday to a Marine Day (aka, my brother's birthday). Gonna call him once I finish typing all this out. He's old. But I'll be old too, so it's okay.

today's video is a little subtle...

Project 365 - Day 1

Like I said in my last post (which got so many views, I know), I wanted to start that Project 365 that I've seen so many other people start. Day one is today, January 22nd. It's official.

Picture: My two nephews

Background: My brother picked me up last night to play D&D like we (try to) do every weekend. This morning I woke up and was basically suckered into watching the two kids he and his wife have had so far. They left his wife's phone behind for the older one to play some sort of game on, and the younger was entertaining himself with the blankets and with the game.

Hopefully this project won't die on me; that's my biggest worry with it. This whole blog is going to start out with Project 365 and will go from there. I'm planning to also post some writings and maybe other pictures, but I already have two or three places that I put them up.

today's video is very inspiring...