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.