Sheer Literary Genius

... she knew that she could not have reached this white serenity except as the sum of all the colors, of all the violence she had known...

I sat down to write it all out. I know now that I won't. In the spirit of Howard Roark, of Dominique Francon and Gail Wynand, but no.... This isn't in their spirit at all. They're characters on a page. This is purely my own, and I'm too possessive, too protective of these feelings to adulterate them for your sake.

And I'm not ready to give them to you. Not yet.

In Today's Headlines...

I haven't been very loyal to my interest in the news lately, so I've decided to tackle a few headlines here in the next day or two. These are the ones I want to talk about.

• Weiss Grants Little Boy's Dying Wish (AP)
• Anti-War Protestor Sheehan Arrested for Civil Disobedience (VOA News)
• 'Intelligent Design' Debate Underway in Pa. Court (AP)

More to come. Stay tuned.

Good Morning, Sunshine

The cream-white plaster of my bedroom wall came into focus this morning as my eyes jerked open. In that instant which each day untangles my imagination's nightly-spun fantasies from the consciousness of waking life, I was content with the air of my first few breaths of the day, with the dust-filled rays of light cutting through the room above me, with the soft, cool touch of the unused side of my pillow as I buried my arms underneath and pressed the side of my face reassuringly deeper into the feathers. Almost instantly, my serenity vanished, splashed like the placid waters of an untouched lake on a windless day at the moment when a free-falling child breaks the surface in his descent from a cliff, high above, sending wave and ripple out to all its shores. My mind was diving, like that child, through the dreams and the darkness of the night before, its fingers outstretched, pushing away eagerly the air and water, reaching out for the state of mental, emotional, and spiritual elation I suddenly vaguely recalled departing late last night in favor of slumber. I found myself wishing away the last several hours of dreams that I might have preserved the feelings I'd stumbled across, submersed in the words I've so taken to getting lost in lately. I stood from my bed, driven by a purpose, the intent to take up that book and deliver myself into a new mental intoxication. I knew it would be unique, different than the night before. I've come to realize that with her, they're all different..... fantastically, perfectly different.

But as I crossed my little apartment to where I left the book, I found a beautiful, accurate relic of last night's journey. I'd left it for myself to discover this morning when I knew I wouldn't be able to recapture the sentiment, but that I'd desperately want to. And, if only for a moment, it worked.

Happy to Oblige

Heidi wanted pictures.... Heidi's got pictures.

We knew she was worried about getting keg-spray all over her outfit, but imagine our surprise when she came into the room like this ;-)

Yes, it's tape.... don't ask...

Stop it, Heidi...

This picture is my artistic interpretation of Heidi at her best... intent, determined, and going somewhere

There you have it folks.... my beautiful ex-roommate. See any facebookable pictures? (Let me know if you want anything cropped, Heidi-ho ;-)

Muse - Time is Running Out

New video..... If you guys haven't heard Muse before, this song should serve as a decent introduction.... They're incredible. You should also watch the video 'cuz it's fun. On that note, I really didn't have anything to say. I will be writing my review of Coheed and Cambria's new album, which is now available in stores. For now, though, I'm going to go run. PEACE!

Remember When There Was Music on MTV?

Well, those days are gone. But the days of music are infinite, and as long as there's music and video, there will be music videos. In conclusion, I've added a music video player to my blog. I even hand-picked the videos you get to choose from. I'm not saying you couldn't probably find these videos and more elsewhere.... I'm just saying there are some here as well, and since I picked them, you will be able to gain valuable insight into my soul by watching all of them. After all, that's the reason you're here, right?

Pshh....

I'll be showcasing different videos as the mood strikes me, so buckle up and enjoy the ride. This is life in the fast lane. For my first video, Blood Red Summer. Cheers.

The moon is slowly preparing to tuck itself into the blankets of the horizon, so I think I better hurry up to catch it while there's still a midnight sky of which to speak.

I Am A House

There it is. Chapter eleven, page 140. Expression and utility melded together just as the words of this book kiss the language that conveys them. Questions start to answer themselves. And everything under the sun suddenly seems to belong there.

A house can have integrity, just like a person," said Roark, "and just as seldom."
"In what way?"
"Well, look at it. Every piece of it is there because the house needs it--and for no other reason. You see it from here as it is inside. The rooms in which you'll live made the shape. The relation of masses was determined by the distribution of space within. The ornament was determined by the method of construction, an emphasis of the principle that makes it stand. You can see each stress, each support that meets it. Your own eyes go through a structural process when you look at the house, you can follow each step, you see it rise, you know what made it and why it stands. But you've seen buildings with columns that support nothing, with purposeless cornices, with pilasters, mouldings, false arches, false windows. You've seen buildings that look as if they contained a single large hall, they have solid columns and single, solid windows six floors high. But enter and find six stories inside. Or buildings that contain a single hall, but with a facade cut up into floor lines, band courses, tiers of windows. Do you understand the difference? Your house is made by its own needs. Those others are made by the need to impress. The determining motive of your house is in the house. The determining motive of the others is in the audience."

I'd say dare to be bold, but that's cliche and I don't really want most of you to be bold anyway. The real challenge, the piece de resistance of your life, I think, should be this: dare to be. But for God's sake, figure out why first.

In Books I Find More Life Than in Life

I've only read like three chapters of The Fountainhead, but I can already tell that I'm in love with this book. Howard Roark astounds me.

Give it time.

The lake below was only a thin steel ring that cut the rocks in half. The rocks went on into the depth, unchanged. They began and ended in the sky. So that the world seemed suspended in space, an island floating on nothing, anchored to the feet of the man on the cliff.

It's As Simple as Somethin' That Nobody Knows

Tonight was the first time in my entire life I've ever actually mixed anything with anything. I can see where this could get quite addicting. This sound clip is also going to play in my profile.... I will continue to try to make improvements, but I really need to be focusing on the volumes of "IRL" things I need to be doing, like

• Getting another job
• Reading everything Ayn Rand ever wrote... Ok... Maybe not everything...
• Continuing my self-taught guitar lessons
• Continuing in these fun and educational recording/mixing endeavors
• Keeping up the (thus far) superbly dedicated workout routine I've established for myself
• Helping Sheriff Wolfe get elected
• Evidently being Clark Kent by day, Superman by night.... quite exhausting if you ask me

So I'm going to do what's good for me and go to bed, even though I could stay up all night recording things. Thank you, Jack Johnson, not only for helping to create a memory with Linzeroo, but also for being so gracious as to let me use your song to try to figure this stuff out. Much obliged.

Flip! Flip! Flip! Flip!

Real quick post before I go accomplish things.

Double Dizzee sent me a few pictures, the most important of which I believe to be the first picture I've ever had of the two of us together.... So now, for your viewing pleasure, Lil' Flip and David David David David Banner!

Next to Nothin'

I'm pretty exhausted right now, so I think I'm going to crash without saying much, but I just wanted to direct your attention to some of the changes I made. You won't really be able to see some of them, but I believe most or all of the ones you can see are going to be in the "nav bar" dealie to your right. New profile, etc.... I'm not too pleased with my "Portrait" just yet, but I'll put some more work into this later. I guess mostly I was just trying to see what all I could do with Blogger. It's really not too bad at all. Let me know what you guys think of what I've done so far!

No work tomorrow... gonna try to get over to the brother's house and pick up my laundry, play with the kids, and the whatnot. Who knows? Maybe I'll bring pictures back ;-) Everybody loves pictures.

Speaking of pictures, I'm missing Huntington a little bit right now, so I was looking through some of the old ones, and I found something that reminded me of last summer... I present, from left to right, Jimmy Metal, Gor, and Jimmy Metal's Mom ala Remedies :-).


Goodnight!

I Got Nothin'

Way too late.... Need to go to bed....

Both as a mandate for myself and as notice for all of you, I'm going to start doing some things with this blog..... making it feel a little more like home, if you will..... I have some really good ideas. We'll see what happens.

Sweet dreams.

Bovine Inspiration

God doesn't need us. We need God. All of this is starting to come into focus. We were dead, and we were given life. Our lives will be taken away. We get to participate in this, God's creation, for a short time, and all He asks of us is to live these borrowed lives consciensciously while we can. This whole mundane world can be a blindfold, distracting us from simple, enumerated truths, or it can be utilized, as I believe God intended, to enlighten ourselves and bring to bear mortal, flesh-laden guardians of the word and will of God to protect his worldly creation.

The vast universe of knowledge within which we as mankind have immersed ourselves has caused me to feel torn between scientific truths and the doctrines of the Christian faith. I've come to realize that the perfection and beauty of the natural laws that sustain this universe in seemingly flawless equilibrium are, in fact, the highest testaments to the encompassing wisdom of its necessarily and obviously divine Creator. No new knowledge that we may encounter could be construed to negate His wisdom or disprove His supremacy, but would only stand to firm the grounds on which that supreme wisdom is based. What we learn, He has already known, engineered, if you will, and only gives to us as we mature to accept it.

God doesn't want to make it hard for us to please Him. He doesn't want to weigh us down with obfuscated rules or loads we cannot carry. On the contrary, He wants it to be the easiest decision we've ever made to recognize, not decide, that our lives are, have been, and always will be His.

Go ahead, folks...... Rip this apart. I want..... no... I need a challenge.

So If I Seem a Little Out of It, Sorry

Tonight is a very Elliott Smith night.

The spin of the earth impaled a silhouette of the sun on the steeple
And I got to hear the same sermon all the time now from you people
Why are you staring into outer space, crying?
Just because you came across it and lost it

Do you think you took the easy way out? I think you're a genius. And a coward.

Lest We Forget

Well, well, well...

I don't want to talk about it. Check back tomorrow.

90% of the time, I can keep my feet on the pavement, steady focused on life, liberty and property here in Indiana, and afford only fleeting glances back at what I've left behind. The other 10% of the time, I find myself with nothing but my own blood, running far too cool from a weakened heart, to give me warmth.

I want to share another secret with you. It's another secret from my childhood. You know I'm adopted, and I've carried that with me for most of my life as a source of burden and confusion. This secret I carry with me always as a source of courage and faith; an everlasting reminder of the ease of my own perseverance; a temporal manifestation of the nature and body of my Father.

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish,
sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
my child, it was then that I carried you.”

This secret is entitled 'Footprints in the Sand'. My parents had a plaque with this engraved on it in our house, and although nobody ever knew I did it, I hid in the basement and read it to myself thousands of times growing up. It was always very uncharacteristic of me to need someone to hold my hand, you see, but to read that there was a man who would not just walk beside me in times of trial and pain, but pick me up and bear my load with His filled my heart with joy; this was what I came to know as love, and it was perfect love. Whether I believed the man was real or not, I vowed never to love any of my fellow creatures on this Earth with any less intensity than I'd found on that plaque.

I don't know if I expected the man to carry me through the darkness unscathed, or if I never expected him to be there at all when I set off to grow into myself, start college, fall in love, become a man.... I could feel myself growing, tearing and healing again and again, stronger with each generation of muscle, spirit, and mind; but all the way, I felt blind and alone. I had long ago closed my eyes, weary with anticipation of a helping hand that I couldn't see anywhere on the horizon.

Tonight, I opened my eyes for a moment. I took in my surroundings, and then, puzzled, I turned to face the path I've taken to get here. It was rugged, treacherous, and laced with obstacles big and small.... that much I expected. It took a few minutes to take it all in, and then I realized that I had to look back to see it. My eyes had been closed for so long, and yet here I was, alive and well, smarter and stronger than ever before. Then I'm certain I could feel the Lord put me gently back on my feet and place His hand on my shoulder, and we walked together again.

To my fellow skeptics: I don't exercise blind faith, and I'm not trying to imply that the difficult nature of my own life is (of itself) evidence of the existence of a higher power in the universe. All I'm saying, and all I feel I need to say tonight, is this: Open your eyes. Open your heart and mind. I don't think God is outside waiting to get in like you'll hear from most Christians. I truly believe he's inside waiting to get out.

And Now Let's Bring on the THUNDERING HERD!

Quick post before bed, I think. I have an early morning tomorrow.

I'm reserving my season analysis and whatnot until I've seen the guys play together tomorrow. I didn't get to watch the William and Mary game last weekend as I'm several hundred miles away, but I listened to most of it online. It's just not the same. I need to see some serious chemistry tomorrow and I need it to be awe-inspiring. I realize nobody thinks we can come together this season, but I refer you to the rings to your left and remind you that nobody expected us to even be here today, threatening conference records of a number of big schools in Conference USA. Marshall football is blessed with glory divine, a program risen quite literally from the ashes of tragedy to greatness, something no other team in college football can (hopefully) ever fully understand. It doesn't matter if it happens tomorrow or not, but I guarantee you this. We will continue to rise. We are Marshall! (I say it may not happen tomorrow, but in reality, HELL YEAH it will! Give 'em hell, Herd!)


Working at the Pasta Grill is fun, it seems relatively lucrative, and it certainly feeds me well, but it's exhausting. I'm surprised I had enough fire to work out tonight before bed. I know I'm going to feel really good about that in the morning. That's my favorite benefit of exercise - the endorphins. I guess I'll always be a drug addict in one way or another.

Radiohead's O.K. Computer is the best album of the 1990's according to Pitchfork. I just finished listening to it, and I'm going to have to agree. Also, Radiohead and Muse do sound a lot alike, but with different instrumental preferences and styles. Both bands = A+, but I'm more inclined to Muse's (I believe) more advanced musicology. Whatchyou gon' play, now?

So much for a quick post. Randy, Chad, and Bobby wanted to say goodnight to all you faithful readers, and to remind you to wear Green tomorrow!

The moon climbs high into the midnight sky, a lasting tribute to the players, fans, coaches, and crew whose lives were taken from us on November 14, 1970.

... and Give You Peace

I wouldn't call it easy to see, but when I think about it, even my own long, ambling tribulations find a predestined path. Who could've orchestrated such a thing?

I've been searching for a long time for an intellectual author to blanket my thoughts and ease my mind about God. I think I've finally found that author.

It's me.

Follow the White Rabbit

I don't have time to post today. Too busy...

I just wanted to get this list back up to the top so I could see what I still want to write about.

Expect the Marshall Football post to come during or after the Kansas State game this weekend... (I have mixed feelings about my excitement for this game....) There will also be other posts not on the list, but that's my prerogative.

Hey, look at that.... I did have time to post today ;-)

• My Letter of Resignation from Marshall University's Student Government
• Why Nick Jo Rahall II is Unfit for Public Office and What We Can Do About It
• The Week I'll Never... er... Remember: AKA My Trip to Purdue
• Musings on Religion (ongoing, I hope)
• A Full Review of the Album I've "Never Heard"
• Marshall Football 2k5: Sweet Jesus
• I also hope to read a book of some sort, which you'll inevitably have to hear about

Sometimes I Struggle to Breath

I'm not feeling part three right now, but I just want to type something. I can feel tension mounting in my blood as more and more is piled onto my plate. I've had several incredibly productive days in a row here, but it seems like a one step forward - two steps back kind of thing is going on... maybe just one step back, but still, that's like standing still. Why am I working so hard and getting so much done if I'm standing still? I don't know.

I didn't work out at all today. Maybe that's why I feel so blah. Wait. Now I remember. Last night.

This whole campaign thing is a bit overwhelming, especially when I need to be focusing on populating my bank account right now, but I can't stop thinking about it. I've already done a lot of work, and I anticipate a lot more soon, but I'm thinking that it would probably be a good idea to take a step back for a little while and get things in order here in Indiana before I dive headfirst into a necessarily gruesome year-long endeavor.

I'll feel a lot better about everything when I find a law firm that will hire me. It might help if I actually tell them that's my plan. I doubt they're going to start knocking on my door any time soon. Know any good lawyers in Evansville, anyone? ;-)

Ok...... a little typing (and breathing) has gone a long way. I feel better already. I think tonight I'm going to stay home and find out what the Qur'an has to say about life. I've been meaning to do that for a while now. I just haven't had made the time.

Damp blue light ripples across the page as the moon reassuringly climbs the midnight sky once more.

Round Two: FIGHT!

I'm really not an alcoholic. I know it's hard to believe, but you'll have to trust me. I had two nights off this week, and tonight, I found out what karaoke night is like at the Fox and the Hound. I also got to hang out with a lot more of my co-workers, which eventuated in a good, although likely forgotten time for all parties involved (especially this party). Tonight, I spent a lot of time with my friend Jack, which led to vocal entertainment approximately 7 times... I coudn't tell you exactly how many times I held a mic tonight, but let's assume seven is close to accurate. Obviously, since I won't be able to compose a coherent "new" post, I'm about to start round two of the week I'll never remember.... How ironic, since I won't remember writing this tomorrow, but as per Double D's request, buckle up, cuz here we go...

(Commence Part Deux)

So.... Where did we leave off? Ahh yes. It was 8:30 in the morning and Jon was swearing. Nothing new here. (The 8:30 in the morning thing, maybe...) Donovan sort of waited up for me, so he was nowhere near waking up, Saturday morning before classes started and all. Jon and I decided to head to Vienna for some waking up and catching up. I introduced him to chai, or "kai", as he initially insisted on calling it. Still, it was one of the most memorable mornings of my summer (granted, probably one of the few mornings of my summer, period...) From this point on things get a little hazy. I'm pretty sure we drove around in Donovan's 'stang for a little while, taking in the campus and visiting some old friends (the loose sense of the word...) By the time we got back to Jon's, Donovan was awake and wondering where we had gotten off to.

[If you can fill in the blanks, feel free to email me at adamnationx@yahoo.com]

I remember some excellent music followed by some beirut.... Generally speaking, I think the next day or two resembled the Safe House in many ways. Let's just leave it at that.

Next thing I know, there we are, sitting at Cafe' Hookah enjoying some fine coals.... Honey and Rose, I believe, followed by orange and something. Either way, there was a beautiful young woman waiting our table by the name of Katie with whom Donovan and I enjoyed some wonderful conversation and coal-fixing. She invited us to an electronica ("not trance!") show at the aforementioned esbatlishment that night, which we attended with Cate and Jon.... Jon, however was on the phone for the majority of the show. The guy on the boards was ok, but I wouldn't say he was better than Jon, so we mostly just enjoyed our hookah and conversation. When we finally left, Cate went home and DD, Jon and I went back to their house for some reminscence.

I may have missed a night in my recount. I'm going to consult the proper authorities and see what they think, but in the meantime, I think you've had enough Purdue-opoly for one night (wow..... that was the night after Reggaefest, right D?) Anyway, I leave you with part two of my [God knows how many] part documentary entitled "The Week I'll Never.... err.... Remember".

Until next time,

Hearts and Karaoke

(to be continued)

Brewed and Bottled by: Cerveceria Modela (alcohol-induced post)

(Warning: Long post.... and I can't figure out where paragraph breaks should go when I'm drunk... You know you want to read this anyway)

To kick things off, today was a great day at work. I finished my last day of training, so on Wednesday I start making some tips, which should be enjoyable. After I was done with my shift, I got to start my wine-tasting venture, which I get to continue until I've tried every kind of wine we have, including the reserves and whatnot. That was pleasant. I also got a free shot of our new gin, Stellar, which lives up to its title, if I do say so myself. It's "citrus-infused". I even ordered a Stellar Tonic after I tried it because I liked it so much. I tried the Chicken Marsala tonight (two herb-grilled chicken breasts smothered in marsala wine sauce with portobello mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes, if you're interested... actually, I'm just testing my menu knowledge, so shut up and listen). Around the time I finished eating, two of the girls I work with called me over to the table at which they were seated (don't end clauses with prepositions) and informed me that I would be accompanying them to the Evansville night scene. I was left with no choice but to agree, since I don't know anyone here, and off we went to the one bar/restaurant I've ever been to in this city besides Pasta Grill, called The Fox and the Hound. We didn't stay there very long before I decided I wanted to see something new, so they took me to the most redneck bar I've ever seen, Laura's Place. There was a band there that was actually incredibly talented, and I danced around while they played their country whatnot. I was shocked when they actually played some George Clinton song.

(I would like to take this time to apologize for the inferior quality of writing of this post.... I'm drunk. This would be a good time for me to tell you about the week I'll never remember. Initiate launch sequence... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....)

My "summer vacation" really only consisted of about 14 days of vacation. I took twelve hours this summer at Marshall, I waited tables at the Hall of Fame for a few months, and I suffered through a friend's messy divorce, so I wouldn't call the rest of my summer anything but gruesome. Needless to say, when it ended I felt compelled to do some catching up, but in the process of moving to Indiana and finalizing things and such, I guess I neglected to do any of that (with the exception of my moving out party at the apartment and Nam's little shindigs..... those are some fiestas I really will never.... errr..... remember...) I got to Evansville, a nice little city of nothing where I know noone, and it only took me about 6 days to realize that I was an under-partied, lonely bastard with a slightly improved physique (what is there to do in this town besides work out? I'm only just finding out....) Toss in a dash of women, and you've got yourself a recipe for disaster.... and by disaster, I mean I left my apartment at 12:30am and drove my ass through every cornfield in Indiana all the way up to West Lafayette, proud home of the Boilermakers and a few of my best friends on the planet. ETA - 4:20. (Isn't it ironic? Don't ya think? It's like raaa-i-aaaain.......) So...... as soon as I hit the door of JC and DD's house, I pretty much collapsed on the floor. I don't really remember much after that until Jon walked into the room where I had crashed out and uttered some obscenities about some unexpected random body on his floor (I had neglected to alert Jon to my arrival for the sheer surprise factor). I only intended to stay at Purdue for about 2 days, but something about the way I woke up at 8:30 that morning to Jon's familiar expletivity should've told me I wouldn't be leaving for a while. Seven days, to be exact.

Well, kiddies, I think that's enough for tonight. This story's going to have to come in parts.... I think that's appropriate, though, all things considered. It was, after all, the week I'll never remember. It's not like I'm going to forget ;-)

Until next time,

Hearts and Amnesia

(to be continued)

I Have a Secret...

I found this here (not work safe). For some reason, it spoke to me. Hmm.....

That is all.

A Truly Extraordinary Life

This entry is not political in nature.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist was like a father to these United States. Among his plethoric accolades: he was the only sitting Justice to have voted in the legendary Roe v. Wade; he was one of two justices in history to preside over a presidential impeachment hearing that divided a nation; he helped reunite a divided nation by deciding the outcome of a presidential election; perhaps most nobatly, he championed the "One Nation Under God" approach to judicial responsibility, a righteous and noble effort no matter what one's stance on the cause.

The raging, shifting winds of change keep ripping away at the fabric of time. What's in store for this great Nation under God? I can't begin to answer that question, but I do know this: that one of the greatest men ever to grace this Earth has been called to service by God to watch over us all, and I will rest easy tonight with that comfort on my mind.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist
A Man and a Legend
Octobor 1, 1924 - September 3, 2005

 

A Farewell to Arms

I want to publish this letter so I can read it whenever the feeling strikes me, but also as a reminder to those special people I left behind in Huntington, should they ever happen upon this, that I meant what I said and I said what I meant ;-)...

Senators,

Serving the students of Marshall University has been an educational and inspiring endeavor through the course of the last year. Even laying aside the countless memories, the strongly-forged friendships, and the endless pages of hilarious dialogue I've taken from this body, there is something profound to be said about the principles of democratic self-government, the sense of duty and fulfilled call to service I've witnessed in each one of you as we've gathered together week after week. There is at least, but most important of all, one common interest that has driven us here: that is the heart-felt desire to propel Marshall University forth in excellence for ourselves, for our fellow students, and for students to come for years after we've left our marks on these halls.

In the short year of my own service here, we've helped to extend the hours of the Drinko Library, proving that student opinions can and will be heard, if only they are voiced; we've worked alongside two university presidents to create a better life for the students of Marshall; we've contributed in many ways to ongoing battles against such student concerns as cancer, poverty, hunger, and AIDS; we've helped empower over a hundred other student organizations in their own equally pertinent and beneficial engagements to this university; and now we've managed to carry this torch into a new academic year, rich with the promise of inspiring and exciting changes for Marshall University. You have the unique and crucial opportunity to shape these changes for generations of students to come. I encourage you to enjoy this opportunity to its fullest, as I'm confident you will, but also to bear in mind the weight of your responsibility. I believe we've already given credence to the fact that we are here to, and we will, make a difference.

And so, as you lead Marshall into a new year, into Conference USA, into a new set of challenges, it is with a reminiscent smile and a tinge of regret that I hereby submit to you, my colleagues and friends, official notice of my resignation from the Student Senate of Marshall University and all relevant committees therein, effective immediately. I will be pursuing my studies at Purdue University, but shall remain, as always, a respectful servant of the Student Government Association and of This Great University.

Thank you for everything, and may God be with you in all that you do.

Yours in Friendship and Service,
Adam D. Litton

Benvenudo al Sogno Nostro

*sits down at computer*

*sighs in relief*

*starts to type*

Did today really just happen?

I woke up at about 7:30 this morning to the less-than-subtle Cingular tune. Heidi was calling me to talk about her shitty night, but I, the loving friend that I am, thought it best to spare her from my morning conversational "skills". So I rolled over and slept until 11.

She called back at 11:12 (because we're good ex-roommates like that) and I got the run-down, to which all I can say is that Heidi is a trooper - an excellent person by any standard, even mine.

Amid all this I was realizing that standing in the rain one fine morning in Huntington last week, I managed to contract a cold. The timing couldn't be better, since at this point I'm jobless and feeling relatively worthless aside from providing some comfort to an old friend. So I excused myself from our conversation to take a shower, fought back the sniffles with some OJ, and set off to try to remedy my unemployment.

Thirty minutes later, I had a job at a local mid-to-upscale Italian place called The Pasta Grille. It's "family"-owned an operated, which is code for.... well, nevermind... If I told you that, they'd have to kill you. Regardless, the food is astounding. There are two master chefs who started the place like seven years ago, and they like to show off their culinary genius, so if you're ever in town, they'll make whatever your heart desires. I feel extremely lucky to have found this place, especially so quickly. Life smiles upon me. I worked my first training shift tonight from 4-9:30, and I go back tomorrow at 4. Occupationation. After my shift, the owner (Chef Trent) and my FH Manager both bought had an Italian beer at the bar and I hung out with some of the regulars. And tomorrow, I get a wine sampling. What a job.

The moon has never felt so warm, caressing the sickly midnight sky.

Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

Coheed and Cambria has some of the most interestingly-named albums I've ever seen. Not that I am listening to a pirated pre-release version of the new album right now, but if I were, I would highly advise anybody who's never listened to CoCa to start doing so today, and if you are already a convert, buy this album. It's just as rockin' awesome as the rest of Coheed's albums, but they seem to have matured musically... diversified, if you will. But I'd only say that if I had just listened to it, which I clearly haven't.

I don't even know what to say right now. I suppose I could go off on some political rant or tell you all about my crazy 10-day vacation which, coincidentally, just ended today. I don't think that's what I want to talk about, though. I think I'm content to just make words appear where before there were none. As my friend Shawn recently discovered, sometimes that can be an excellent release.

All this writing has to be leading to something. Whenever I have paper and ink, graphite, blood... whatever..... the blankness of the page seems to draw me in. It's enchanting, and I've been surprising myself with the things that come out. I think my mind is gearing up to write a book; amazingly enough, it feels like it's doing that of its own accord. I don't know how to make sense of that to you people, but I suppose I don't really have to. Instead, I think I'll give you a synopsis of some of the things you can look forward to (or dread) reading here in the coming days:

• My Letter of Resignation from Marshall University's Student Government
• Why Nick Jo Rahall II is Unfit for Public Office and What We Can Do About It
• The Week I'll Never... er... Remember: AKA My Trip to Purdue
• Musings on Religion (ongoing, I hope)
• A Full Review of the Album I've "Never Heard"
• Marshall Football 2k5: Sweet Jesus
• I also hope to read a book of some sort, which you'll inevitably have to hear about

I warned you from the start, this is life in the fast lane. Hop in or move the $#@! over. And yes, I took the picture.

The moon emanates silver radiance against the velvet canvas of the midnight sky.