Friday, March 23, 2007 | by nathan

152 - Bryan

Eleven years old, he tortured me in ways I had never known were possible. He, more than anyone, turned me into a person who fights back.

Thursday, March 22, 2007 | by nathan

honky tonk women

Anybody wanna start a rock and roll band? Like - like ROCK AND ROLL, with cool guitar riffs and fun lyrics, not that self-important "I’m so deep, look at my tribal tattoo" type stuff, but just fun music - the kind of stuff the Stones used to do, that the Scissor Sisters are doing now but without the glam, and without the dance stuff?

Anybody? Money for nothing, guys for free? Beats working, ya know. No one? Fine. Get back to work, ya bums.

Thursday, March 22, 2007 | by nathan

Vague Little Patches of Light

So, I didn’t get an interview with the very cool arts nonprofit. In order to salvage my fragile ego I’m going to tell myself it’s due to the fact that I submitted my materials literally at the VERY.LAST.MINUTE.

Then, today, I got some potentially exciting job news. I can’t really talk about it for two reasons: 1) I’m the only one who knows about it, and the people who need to know are as yet in the dark. I sincerely doubt they read this little internet rag, but I’m-a keep quiet anyway. And 2) I’m trying not to blog too much about work, as I really like my job, and most of the people at my job, and sometimes - sometimes, not all the time - even the ungodly amounts of work that pile up on my desk every day.

So. Good news abounds, though most of it exists still in potentiality and not actual news. Have I been vague enough for you?  

Thursday, March 22, 2007 | by nathan

151 - Erik

Ever wonder how your car got gum shoved in the locks? That’s what happens when you tell people my best friend slept around on prom night.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007 | by nathan

150 - Tony

I couldn’t believe the crush I had on him; it was such a surprise that, even at fifteen, I didn’t really consider if it was wrong.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 | by nathan

breaking a promise to myself

I know I said I wouldn’t think about it until I graduate, but I have a lot of time to think this week, as I am on spring break - which means little when you work 27 hours a week at another job - but I have come to two very important conclusions about any future education attempts I might undertake. They are as follows:

1) I will never again attempt another degree just because I think it would be useful to me professionally. What does this mean? Never, ever again will I expect education to transform my current professional unhappiness. Luckily at the moment I am not professionally unhappy - at least not in the sense that I hate my chosen field - and so this is not a problem. I do not, however, want to spend the next thirty years of my life working at a desk job just to pay the bills. If ever I return to school, it will have to be because SCHOOL is what I want to be doing for the foreseeable future, not because I think it will help me make more money or rocket me up the career ladder. People at work ask me all the time if I’ve considered law school. Right after I tell them the next bus for Hell is leaving in ten minutes and that they should be on it, I tell them that while I would probably love law school, I have no desire to practice law or to undertake any of the myriad of careers one can have with a J.D. If I go to law school - or divinity school, or go get a Ph.D. - it will be because I want to be taking classes, teaching undergrads, researching, writing papers, and staying up late into the night reading. It will not be because I think it would be cool, one day, to be a college professor or ACLU lawyer or whatever.

2) I will not undertake more education until I have whittled my current student debt down to 0. Once I graduate, provided I get a job I like, I can have this done in a few years according to the plan I have made for myself. I am willing to put off more school until this is done, because right now I have a very large number hanging over my head, and I don’t like having it there, and I REALLY don’t like the thought of it getting any bigger. Also, the next time I am a student, if ever, I do not want to feel pressure to work as much as I work right now, and even though I could have my student loans deferred, I’d just as soon not even have to think about it. Also, after a few years working in my current field I should have a good sense of whether or not I want to continue on course or return to school. No decisions will be made rashly, and that is A Good Thing.

For now, I have a lot of homework, work, and thesis to catch up on, so I’ll leave you with that.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 | by nathan

149 - Kara

The tallest girl in sixth grade decided to pick on me, the shortest boy. Humiliation turned to rage and I punched her dead in the mouth.

Monday, March 19, 2007 | by nathan

148 - Andrew Rice

We met the day we both became members of Mayflower. He gives me hope that perhaps a new generation of politicians will find a better way.

Sunday, March 18, 2007 | by nathan

147 - Marshall

Went out of his way to make junior high hell for me, but the man he is now in no way resembles the boy he was.

Saturday, March 17, 2007 | by nathan

146 - Dax

Good God, did I carry a torch for you. You followed your conscience, as it were, and I followed my heart, and those paths never met.