Dear Diane,
I had alot of fun this weekend, and I return to Tulsa 10 pounds heavier. The family dinner was great and I found Holly's family is no crazier than mine. I felt right at home with the little bit of gossip and backbiting, but the overwhelming sense of love and in-it-togetherness that I get when I'm with my family. It was a relief.
I'm apparently "Adorable" and welcome back any time. I guess my ability to make a good first impression hasn't left me. Neither has my massive ego. But I feel like this girl is something special and I'm glad that I passed the family test.
But now comes the tough part: FINALS! I'll be stressed for the next 3 weeks about the five exams in ten days that start a week from tomorrow. We'll see how I do, but that's all that is on my mind until I get to jump in the car and take off for home in 3 weeks.
I'll keep you updated on my mini-breakdowns
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy American Thanksgiving!
Diane,
This is the first year I will be celebrating a real American Thanksgiving. Last year I spent the break at my apartment, just hanging out and reading for finals. This year, I made the trip to Long View, Texas, to meet my new girlfriend's family. Scary? Surprisingly not. Her mother, step father, and brother have been great since we got here yesterday and I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the family this morning when we travel to Tenaha, Texas for the big family dinner. Hope I make a good impression!
Right now I'm sitting in front of the TV with my laptop, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What I'm really excited for is the Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin pie, and the 3 NFL Games on TV today. Should be great.
But I want to let you know how thankful I am for you and all my family and friends back home. I have a mother and a father that believe in me and support me fully in what I'm doing here in the United States. I have two incredible sisters that I'm incredibly proud of. My friends keep me humble and laughing every day. I have my health, my well being, and my sanity because of the tremendous support system I've been blessed with. Everyday I thank God for the gifts that he has given me and I try my best to not take this for granted.
So pass along my best to all back home on this run-of-the-mill Thursday; I love and miss you all. I'll see you in 4 weeks!
This is the first year I will be celebrating a real American Thanksgiving. Last year I spent the break at my apartment, just hanging out and reading for finals. This year, I made the trip to Long View, Texas, to meet my new girlfriend's family. Scary? Surprisingly not. Her mother, step father, and brother have been great since we got here yesterday and I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the family this morning when we travel to Tenaha, Texas for the big family dinner. Hope I make a good impression!
Right now I'm sitting in front of the TV with my laptop, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What I'm really excited for is the Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin pie, and the 3 NFL Games on TV today. Should be great.
But I want to let you know how thankful I am for you and all my family and friends back home. I have a mother and a father that believe in me and support me fully in what I'm doing here in the United States. I have two incredible sisters that I'm incredibly proud of. My friends keep me humble and laughing every day. I have my health, my well being, and my sanity because of the tremendous support system I've been blessed with. Everyday I thank God for the gifts that he has given me and I try my best to not take this for granted.
So pass along my best to all back home on this run-of-the-mill Thursday; I love and miss you all. I'll see you in 4 weeks!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Hail Flutie
Diane,
Tonight marked the 25th Anniversary of Boston College's 47-45 win over the defending national Champion Miami Hurricanes. Doug Flutie was the Quarterback and threw a 60 yard hail mary pass at the end of the game to win it for the Eagles. It has been considered one of the greatest plays in sports history.
It just got me thinking about all the memorable games I'd seen Doug Flutie play over the years, either on TV or in person. His time in the CFL was historic and he re-wrote the record books several times over before heading back to the NFL in 1997. Once he got there, he still had to fight for playing time, but never for recognition. He has always been, and always will be, and iconic figure in football.
I took a look for some articles on the possibility that Doug Flutie might ever get into the pro football hall of fame in Canton, Ohio. Other than baseball, it is the most difficult HoF to get into. His combined numbers are impressive - 58,179 total passing yards, 369 passing touchdowns, 6,759 rushing yards and another 82 rushing touchdowns - enough to make some experts consider him for admission.
But the argument seems to focus too much on his statistics. His supporters point to the name on the door in Canton and say "It's not the NFL hall of fame, It's the PRO FOOTBALL Hall of Fame!". I suggest the inflection should be elsewhere, namely, the Pro Football Hall of FAME.
Doug Flutie is a legend. From his days winning football games and Heisman Trophies at Boston College, to his drop kick extra point in his final NFL game(something that had not happened since 1941), Doug Flutie was a star. The numbers may not back it up in terms of general NFL statistics, but it has more to do with a lack of opportunity than a lack of skill. But regardless, you ask any football fan over the age of 10 who Doug Flutie is, I guarentee you 80% will know who you're talking about.
More than Doug Flutie deserves the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame deserves Doug Flutie. It would feel empty without him.
Tonight marked the 25th Anniversary of Boston College's 47-45 win over the defending national Champion Miami Hurricanes. Doug Flutie was the Quarterback and threw a 60 yard hail mary pass at the end of the game to win it for the Eagles. It has been considered one of the greatest plays in sports history.
It just got me thinking about all the memorable games I'd seen Doug Flutie play over the years, either on TV or in person. His time in the CFL was historic and he re-wrote the record books several times over before heading back to the NFL in 1997. Once he got there, he still had to fight for playing time, but never for recognition. He has always been, and always will be, and iconic figure in football.
I took a look for some articles on the possibility that Doug Flutie might ever get into the pro football hall of fame in Canton, Ohio. Other than baseball, it is the most difficult HoF to get into. His combined numbers are impressive - 58,179 total passing yards, 369 passing touchdowns, 6,759 rushing yards and another 82 rushing touchdowns - enough to make some experts consider him for admission.
But the argument seems to focus too much on his statistics. His supporters point to the name on the door in Canton and say "It's not the NFL hall of fame, It's the PRO FOOTBALL Hall of Fame!". I suggest the inflection should be elsewhere, namely, the Pro Football Hall of FAME.
Doug Flutie is a legend. From his days winning football games and Heisman Trophies at Boston College, to his drop kick extra point in his final NFL game(something that had not happened since 1941), Doug Flutie was a star. The numbers may not back it up in terms of general NFL statistics, but it has more to do with a lack of opportunity than a lack of skill. But regardless, you ask any football fan over the age of 10 who Doug Flutie is, I guarentee you 80% will know who you're talking about.
More than Doug Flutie deserves the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame deserves Doug Flutie. It would feel empty without him.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
24 hours of basketball
Diane,
Today was the official kickoff to the NCAA basketball season. It began last night at midnight and had continuous games across the country televised nationally on ESPN for the full 24 hours. The University of Tulsa was a part of it and we had a game against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. The Golden Hurricane is expected to win Conference USA and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a few years. Needless to say, this was a mis-match.
The interesting part was how the game played out. I convinced a friend to come with me, but only after he put $50 on Tulsa against the spread...which was 16 points. As the game neared the end, Tulsa was flirting with that number, leading by between 14 and 19 points in the final 3 minutes. But even though the game was out of reach, the final minutes played out like it was a 3 point game. The UALR Trojans were playing a full court press the whole time, even though there was no way they could win. In the end the Trojans ended on a 5-0 run and lost the game by 14, but won against the Las Vegas spread, costing my friend his $50 bet.
It really got me wondering; Why was the team playing so hard? I know there's pride on the line, but have we really reached the point in college sports where teams know the spread and play to beat Vegas expectations, but not necessarily the team they're facing? The Trojans played flat most of the game and only came to life in the final seconds to just cover the spread. Had they played that frantic, up tempo-style all game long, they probably could have won. I guess it's more important to set the bar low and just get over it.
So to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans...Congratulations! You made a few more people losers with you today.
Today was the official kickoff to the NCAA basketball season. It began last night at midnight and had continuous games across the country televised nationally on ESPN for the full 24 hours. The University of Tulsa was a part of it and we had a game against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. The Golden Hurricane is expected to win Conference USA and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a few years. Needless to say, this was a mis-match.
The interesting part was how the game played out. I convinced a friend to come with me, but only after he put $50 on Tulsa against the spread...which was 16 points. As the game neared the end, Tulsa was flirting with that number, leading by between 14 and 19 points in the final 3 minutes. But even though the game was out of reach, the final minutes played out like it was a 3 point game. The UALR Trojans were playing a full court press the whole time, even though there was no way they could win. In the end the Trojans ended on a 5-0 run and lost the game by 14, but won against the Las Vegas spread, costing my friend his $50 bet.
It really got me wondering; Why was the team playing so hard? I know there's pride on the line, but have we really reached the point in college sports where teams know the spread and play to beat Vegas expectations, but not necessarily the team they're facing? The Trojans played flat most of the game and only came to life in the final seconds to just cover the spread. Had they played that frantic, up tempo-style all game long, they probably could have won. I guess it's more important to set the bar low and just get over it.
So to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans...Congratulations! You made a few more people losers with you today.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Lest we forget.
Dear Diane,
Today is Remembrance Day...Vererans Day here in the US. I'm at school, in classes, because it isn't a holiday that is held in the same regard as it is back in Canada. I'm very disappointed in the response and the respect that is shown to veterans here.
I've always heard the jokes about the Canadian Military and how if it wasn't for the US and their mighty armed forces, we would have been taken over years ago. True or not, it really makes me proud to be a Canadian when I think about the pride and support we give to those who serve our nation, not only when they put on the uniform, but after they take it off. I don't see that here.
I wish I could have attended a service today, but it's just not possible. I did sit on my couch at 11 in my apartment, turned off the TV, pulled up the Last Post on YouTube and had my own moment of silence. It was nice, but it still didn't feel like home. Kudos Canada, on instilling the sense of pride and tradition in everyone that makes them want to show their respect even when no one else is.
Today is Remembrance Day...Vererans Day here in the US. I'm at school, in classes, because it isn't a holiday that is held in the same regard as it is back in Canada. I'm very disappointed in the response and the respect that is shown to veterans here.
I've always heard the jokes about the Canadian Military and how if it wasn't for the US and their mighty armed forces, we would have been taken over years ago. True or not, it really makes me proud to be a Canadian when I think about the pride and support we give to those who serve our nation, not only when they put on the uniform, but after they take it off. I don't see that here.
I wish I could have attended a service today, but it's just not possible. I did sit on my couch at 11 in my apartment, turned off the TV, pulled up the Last Post on YouTube and had my own moment of silence. It was nice, but it still didn't feel like home. Kudos Canada, on instilling the sense of pride and tradition in everyone that makes them want to show their respect even when no one else is.
Monday, November 9, 2009
A visit to Geekdom
Diane,
Not sure if you're interested in what makes me a geek, but I've always read comic books. Started with Archie when I was 8, moved on to Superheroes when I was 12. It's always brought me happiness to pick up a new issue and escape for 15 minutes or so.
I pretty much had stopped collecting comics(other than Spiderman) when I got to University, but about 4 years back a friend suggested I check out a Zombie comic called "The Walking Dead". It's an ongoing black and white graphic novel that starts out alot like the beginning of the movie "28 Days later" with a guy waking up in the hospital after a zombie apocalypse. His original goal is to find his wife and young son to see if they're still alive...and he finds them in issue 3.
The difference between the movie and the comic is that the story never ends. It is more about the interaction between characters; the development of civilized characters living in an uncivilized world. The most interesting stories in the book are the relationships between the characters and how there is a underlying distrust of other humans. At the heart of the story is that what the survivors have to fear the most is other survivors.
The latest story arc dealt with the survivors being stalked by a group called "The Hunters". We find out that these "hunters" are desperate people that love meat- but can't catch animals- so they've turned to hunting and eating human beings, who are much easier to catch. Our survivors are able to turn the tables on the hunters in a kill-or-be-killed moment, doing what they need to to survive and protect the weaker members of their group. When they finish, the leader, Rick, who has changed more than any character in the book, realizes exactly how far he's strayed from his humanity, but concludes that if he had to do it again, he'd still act the same way. Desperate times...
Why bring this up? AMC has optioned the comic to become a TV series. This is incredible news because I have always thought that this book would make a great television series; one that everyone would get excited over and want to watch. It's going to be directed and produced by Frank Darabont, the same guy who directed "Shawshank Redemption". I think this project is in very good hands.
Lots of hurdles to get over, but I'm hoping to see this show up sometime in 2010. I think it's going to be a HUGE hit.
And tell Jeff Spriggs to finish reading issues 1-50 so I can let someone else borrow them. Thanks.
Not sure if you're interested in what makes me a geek, but I've always read comic books. Started with Archie when I was 8, moved on to Superheroes when I was 12. It's always brought me happiness to pick up a new issue and escape for 15 minutes or so.
I pretty much had stopped collecting comics(other than Spiderman) when I got to University, but about 4 years back a friend suggested I check out a Zombie comic called "The Walking Dead". It's an ongoing black and white graphic novel that starts out alot like the beginning of the movie "28 Days later" with a guy waking up in the hospital after a zombie apocalypse. His original goal is to find his wife and young son to see if they're still alive...and he finds them in issue 3.
The difference between the movie and the comic is that the story never ends. It is more about the interaction between characters; the development of civilized characters living in an uncivilized world. The most interesting stories in the book are the relationships between the characters and how there is a underlying distrust of other humans. At the heart of the story is that what the survivors have to fear the most is other survivors.
The latest story arc dealt with the survivors being stalked by a group called "The Hunters". We find out that these "hunters" are desperate people that love meat- but can't catch animals- so they've turned to hunting and eating human beings, who are much easier to catch. Our survivors are able to turn the tables on the hunters in a kill-or-be-killed moment, doing what they need to to survive and protect the weaker members of their group. When they finish, the leader, Rick, who has changed more than any character in the book, realizes exactly how far he's strayed from his humanity, but concludes that if he had to do it again, he'd still act the same way. Desperate times...
Why bring this up? AMC has optioned the comic to become a TV series. This is incredible news because I have always thought that this book would make a great television series; one that everyone would get excited over and want to watch. It's going to be directed and produced by Frank Darabont, the same guy who directed "Shawshank Redemption". I think this project is in very good hands.
Lots of hurdles to get over, but I'm hoping to see this show up sometime in 2010. I think it's going to be a HUGE hit.
And tell Jeff Spriggs to finish reading issues 1-50 so I can let someone else borrow them. Thanks.
And now a lesson in Caring
Dear Diane,
We had a guest speaker in Professional Responsibility this afternoon. His name was Timothy Durham. In 1991, Durham was accused of a horrendous rape/murder of an 11 year old girl and was convicted on some shoddy evidence. He looked similar to the person who committed the crime and shared some DNA markers with hair samples found at the scene. He'd had some run ins with the law before, but never anything violent; He'd never been to jail. Another person of interest killed himself before police could even get to him. On top of everything, he wasn't even in Tulsa the weekend of the murder; He was at a skeet shooting competition in Dallas with his parents. 11 witnesses testified to seeing him in Dallas that weekend.
Due to a lot of issues in the defense, Durham was still convicted of all 8 counts he faced and was sentenced to in astonishing 3220 YEARS in prison. He served almost 4 years for those crimes before DNA evidence showed that he wasn't the killer.
End of the day, it was a sloppy defense by a veteran lawyer that sent an innocent man to jail for crimes that there was more than enough evidence to show he wasn't even in the state to commit. It was an eye opening look at what happens when lawyers don't take their job seriously enough and take a slam dunk win for granted.
Time to swallow hard and hit the books. I can't settle for just 'good enough' anymore.
We had a guest speaker in Professional Responsibility this afternoon. His name was Timothy Durham. In 1991, Durham was accused of a horrendous rape/murder of an 11 year old girl and was convicted on some shoddy evidence. He looked similar to the person who committed the crime and shared some DNA markers with hair samples found at the scene. He'd had some run ins with the law before, but never anything violent; He'd never been to jail. Another person of interest killed himself before police could even get to him. On top of everything, he wasn't even in Tulsa the weekend of the murder; He was at a skeet shooting competition in Dallas with his parents. 11 witnesses testified to seeing him in Dallas that weekend.
Due to a lot of issues in the defense, Durham was still convicted of all 8 counts he faced and was sentenced to in astonishing 3220 YEARS in prison. He served almost 4 years for those crimes before DNA evidence showed that he wasn't the killer.
End of the day, it was a sloppy defense by a veteran lawyer that sent an innocent man to jail for crimes that there was more than enough evidence to show he wasn't even in the state to commit. It was an eye opening look at what happens when lawyers don't take their job seriously enough and take a slam dunk win for granted.
Time to swallow hard and hit the books. I can't settle for just 'good enough' anymore.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The loves in my life...
Diane,
I have a few loves in my life and a couple of them are getting into conflict. My love affair with food is causing strain in my relationship with the mirror. I've been paying alot of attention to my food-friend and the mirror is getting upset. It tells me that when I look at it, it doesn't even know who I am anymore. I'm not the attentive partner that it needs me to be and it's getting fed up with always being taken for granted. I'm starting to agree with it's arguments. I need to pay more attention to my mirror's needs. It needs me to be the best person I can be and I want to be that guy for it.
Starting tomorrow, I'm going to redefine my relationship with food. No more late night booty calls from Whataburger. No more sneaking away for a nooner with taco bell. I must reform my cheating ways and be good to the mirror, as it has been good to me in the past.
I think the mirror and I have a good thing going and I'm not going to give it up for a hussy with special sauce.
I have a few loves in my life and a couple of them are getting into conflict. My love affair with food is causing strain in my relationship with the mirror. I've been paying alot of attention to my food-friend and the mirror is getting upset. It tells me that when I look at it, it doesn't even know who I am anymore. I'm not the attentive partner that it needs me to be and it's getting fed up with always being taken for granted. I'm starting to agree with it's arguments. I need to pay more attention to my mirror's needs. It needs me to be the best person I can be and I want to be that guy for it.
Starting tomorrow, I'm going to redefine my relationship with food. No more late night booty calls from Whataburger. No more sneaking away for a nooner with taco bell. I must reform my cheating ways and be good to the mirror, as it has been good to me in the past.
I think the mirror and I have a good thing going and I'm not going to give it up for a hussy with special sauce.
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