Syracuse Foursquare T-Shirt and Woot! Smores Math Equation Shirt

Alana gave me some great t-shirts. The Foursquare and Syracuse together? AWESOME!

If you want to see a better image of the S’more math – check out this image (h/t to Scott Beale at Laughing Squid for the image.

Great gift and really funny!

Me Write Pretty One Day

“Writing is pain. I’m not here to make it less painful for you. I’m here to take you to new levels where you will experience deeper and different kinds of pain.” – Pat Mouton, Liverpool High School English

I started writing this post 15 days ago, when the most influential teacher in my life Pat Mouton passed away. Without her, this blog wouldn’t exist. It’s arguable if I would have even made it to college. She challenged me and helped me during a very traumatic time in my life and for that, I’m forever in her debt. The fact that I’m at a loss for words about the death of the woman that gave me the power to use them is ironic….and poetic, in a way that I think Mrs. Mouton would appreciate. Thank you, Pat – for everything you gave me and the countless other students who you touched during your time as a teacher.

Carmelo and The ‘Cuse

Carmelo Anthony recently returned to Syracuse to dedicate a new basketball court near South McBride Street. Here’s some video footage:

Having only spent 1 year in Syracuse, I am always surprised at the amount of support that ‘Melo gives to the University and Community. He’s done some charity work, donated money for new basketball facilities, and has actually returned to Syracuse more times that I have in the last two years. You can check out the full article on Syracuse.com

Homesick Blues

The recent malaise in Boulder – it’s been a few days without sun and lots of rain – has made me a bit homesick. It’s not the kind of homesick that makes me want to return or even look into scheduling a visit. Rather, it’s the kind of homesick that causes you to see the silhouettes of your past in the window. It’s a longing for something that doesn’t exist – like trying to catch a glimpse of thunder or hear that bolt of lighting.

I’ve been looking back through my Flickr Photostream to see things. It’s weird to look at some of these pictures. The dreary scenery of Syracuse reminds me of the reasons I decided to escape – yet there is an affinity there that I can’t quite place. I guess that just makes it home – even if I no longer have many friends and no family there.

Not Going Home (or Holy Crap! That’s a lot of Snow in Syracuse)

Despite having an extended vacation – I decided not to travel home for the holidays.  Instead, I stayed in Boulder.  My roommate Kezza, who happens to be from the same hometown, did travel home.  As her video commentary points out – Syracuse was receiving 3″ of snow an hour.  Go here to check out her videos (Front Yard and Back Yard)

So far, I have to say I’m relieved not to be traveling this time of year.  My friend Vanessa had to reschedule her flights because of a storm in Chicago, my friend Alana arrived in Detroit to lots of snow, and there was that whole thing about a plane crashing at DIA.

So, I’ll be spending the next few days in reading, writing, and catching up on those things I neglect during the busy work week.  It will be nice and relaxing – a real vacation – versus what everyone else seems to be going through.

Flying Home

Going home for the first time in ten months – for Mike and Kelsey’s wedding. Is it bad that I feel anxious to actually take time off from work?

Things I’m looking forward to:

Pizza
Bagels
Wegman’s
Friends
The Wedding

Things I’m not looking forward to:

Humidity
Sleeping on couches
Relying on others for transportation
Airports

Hopefully the pro’s outnumber the con’s at the end of the trip…