College Station at Christmastime

The past couple of days hasn't been overly eventful. I did get to go tree-spinning for the first time. And it was much more fun than expected. It's an area tradition where the local kids come to the big Christmas tree in Central Park, stand under it and spin around staring up at all the lights. I was introduced to it by Clay. Definately makes the "Top 50 Things To Do In College Station At Christmas Time Before You Graduate" list (pictures coming maybe tomorrow). Last night,Penny and I returned to Central Park to enjoy Christmas in the Park. I love College Station.

I also accidently led a breif revolt against Aggieland Outfitters/Inspirations. I was disgusted by the idea that they would produce a shirt supporting the sips in the Rose Bowl. So while at work, I posted about the vileness of the shirt on the TexAgs Football Forum. It led to a downright riot with angry Aggies threatening boycotts of the store. I also caught wind of some people that actually recieved my post in an email that was circulated around their office. The shirt was pulled from the shelves shortly after. My intentions were just to whine and complain... Oops.

Work's become a bit more entertaining. People are bustling around in the building getting ready for Christmas and our week-long break. Meanwhile, I've become more creative in finding shortcuts through campus in the University Van. As a matter of fact, if vehicles were restricted to driving only on the sidewalk, I don't think it would affect my routine all that much...

How Does It Feel?

I am finally done with finals and my fall semester. It's really less exciting then usual since everyone else has been done since last week... Oh well. I'll have a small party by myself. I'll bring the Chinese food...

Catching Up

Well I'm back at work, teeth and all. It was nothing a little 3 hour dental surgery couldn't fix. I started my birthday off with an early awakening by my mom. We got to my dentist's office about 9:00. And then the fun started. After receiving the Happy Gas (they have to have that in order to get people to actually come into the dentist), 6 shots in the mouth (which didn't completely eliminate the pain), and some painful x-rays, Dr. Cody came in and informed me how upset he was at the dummies at the ER and how easily they could have pushed my teeth right back into place and let them heal. But now that they had begun setting themselves, he'd have to reloosen them and try to push them back to where they belong. He then began trying to shove my teeth back into place. He then asked me to help by gritting my teeth as hard as I could to try to shove them back into place while he shoved. Since they were pushed into my gums some, they didn't go back exactly where they belong, but they were better. Still they weren't where they oringially were, so he then began reshaping my teeth so that none of my front teeth touched the tops when I bit down. He told me that my bite would be significantly different and very bothersome to me (which I can tell you now is absolutely true). He then splinted the five teeth together, told me I could come back in January to get my chipped teeth up top fixed and would need to return in three months to get the splint off and most likely have a root canal done where one tooth was broken beneath the gum. I was then showed how to care for the teeth (since they were bonded together, I couldn't floss between the teeth, but I would have to use a small device to shove the floss through my gums by the teeth). And most notably, I was told I couldn't bite anything with my front teeth for the next 3 months, making eating most foods very difficult. Afterwards I felt terrible and just wanted to head back home, but soon enough the drugs kicked in and made eating at Fermin's tolerable (at least I got to eat at my favorite restraunt on my birthday). We made it back home that night, my teeth are repaired and the difference isn't really noticable to anyone else but me. I survived, now I can move on. Which means studying for my final I have on Monday. I'm the only person in College Station still studying for finals...

We had a great birthday dinner for me on Wednesday night. It moved from TGI Fridays because the hostess proved herself to be a total dummy. So we went to Ninfa's (where all birhtday parties end up). I knew enchiladas weren't as hard to eat without use of your front teeth as other foods I've tried, so it was all good. I got some birthday presents and then we went back to my house. When I got there, there was an 8 foot penguin chilling in the house. Tiffany, Gage and Karen had so sneakily acquired Nick's keys and left from dinner early to set it up (I use the term sneakily very loosely and mainly to appease them). But it was nice. The high point of the night involved drinking the Thanksiving Dinner themed Jones' Sodas. We drank the set in this order: Brussel Sprout Soda, Turkey and Gravy Soda, Wild Herb Stuffing Soda, Cranberry Soda, Pumpkin Pie Soda. Upon opening the first drink, the room filled with a putrid odor. Some of the volunteers that had stepped up to drink the Brussel Sprout chickened out and set down their glasses. The stench was literally making people sick, so this had to be done fast. Nick downed his shot, made an ugly face and proceeded to rinse his mouth out in the sink. The smell made me quite queezy, so I asked Nick to move out of the sink. I raised my glass, took a swig and immediately ran to the sink and threw up for the first time in 5 years. I don't think eating or drinking anything has ever made me throw up. And we eat some pretty nasty and random stuff. Meanwhile, Tiffany is throwing up just outside the doorway, strictly from the smell... The rest of the drinks were pretty rough, but I held the rest of them down. It was quite an adventure.

And now, here I am. Back to work on a Friday. 8-5 will be my schedule for the remainder of the break. Aside from Monday, as I will be taking a final, alone in my professors office. That sounds quite intimidating if you ask me. Therefore, it's time for the studies. It's my first day without having any vicodin, and I think I've done pretty good. Aside from a little pain and some trouble I had eating (don't laugh when I eat, it's not polite...) it's been good.

Oh and before you reply to this post or any of the others, the "All I want for Christmas is my 5 front teeth" joke. I've heard it...so stop.

Safe Arrival

I safely arrived in Corpus thanks to Penny's driving. On the way, "Let That Be Enough" by Switchfoot started playing, "It's my birthday tomorrow, no one here could know. I was born...22 years ago." Perfect timing...

Well, I'm going to go back to studying for my final on Wednesday, I don't know how much time I'll have to put forth to it over the next couple of days. I got the final scheduled for tomorrow postponed for a week. And I realized that due to this misfortune, the trend has not been broken. I've never had a final on my birthday and now, I never will. Thanks broken teeth!

Happy Birthday Teeth!

Well, it's 8:30PM Saturday Night and I just woke up. That means I missed the Heisman presentation. Way to go Reggie Bush... Vincent who? But now I have little else to do put type in my blog. I figure I have enough to type about to do so and since I won't be able to type an entry for Monday, now's a good time to explain why.

Well, Monday is my birthday. And the first present I'll recieve is dental surgery. How do I do it...
Some other business majors and I have been planning on getting a football game together during finals nearly all semester. And finally yesterday was our chance. We assembled at 6:30 on A&M Consolidated HS's football field. It was some good football for the first hour and a half, there was some blood, cuts and bruises. I got to attempt my best "Reggie Bush impression" as Jason put it. We had good stats all around and the Hats (my team) were dominating the Non-Hats for the first hour and a half. After a brief break in the action due to a cut above Clinton's eye, we were back on track and it was as intense as ever. I'd been covering Jason all night and in what became the last play of the game, he ran a short out, caught the ball. At the same time I converged to take him down and prevent the first down. He turned up field as I hit him and his shoulder caught me right in the jaw. The hit knocked the ball loose, which Clinton recovered and was going to return for a TD. Until he noticed Jason in pain and me sitting down on the ground bleeding out of the mouth. Dang, that hurt. I spit the small pieces of teeth that had chipped off out along with some thick, red blood and then felt my teeth with my toungue. Something wasn't right. A couple of people were over checking on Jason and the others followed me to the bathroom as I hustled off. I was bleeding a lot. I washed my mouth out with water, which didn't help all that much. But I looked in the mirror and saw that 5 of my front teeth had been knocked out of place. Obviously I'd had my teeth gritted and somehow the impact knocked my 5 bottom teeth down into my gums and pressed them forward. Upon arriving to the ER, I'd also noted the chipped teeth and my split gum. Clinton had driven me to The Med, Jason joined us to check on me. Although upon arrival, there was an empty waiting room, it still took longer than necessary to learn what little they had to tell me. While I was in the back waiting for the doctor for the 3rd time, my in-town cousin, Kay walked in. She reported to me that my dad had called her, so she got up there as quick as she could. She also told me that as she came in, she passed Jason and Clinton and asked, "Which one of y'all did it?" And threatened the guilty. I was told I needed to go make an appointment with the orthedontist on Monday and I was sent home with a prescription of Vicodin. My hometown dentist knows better though, so he's having me come in Monday morning to get my teeth shoved back into place and fixed with a splint. The splint will keep them in place until they heal back to normal.

So I am traveling to Corpus tomorrow by way of Penny and should be returning Monday night. However, my birthday dinner is postponed till 6:59PM on Wednesday. But for the past 24 hours I've kept guaze in my mouth to minimize the contact between my top teeth and the painful bottom teeth. And have been on a diet of luke-warm tap water and luke-warm soup. Oh well, "Boys will by boys," right? My team ended up winning in the end. So it wasn't a failure.

Happy SYFTIS Day!

Today is "Stuff Your Face Till It Snows" Day! It's not a national holiday, but it's certainly celebrated in my life. How did this holiday come about? Well, it can best be explained by actually experiencing it. My day began this morning at work. It was our annual Christmas potluck. Plenty of food and desserts for all. And best of all, it was only for those of us that work in the TCC (some student workers and Robin), so that means no creepy guys from the other side of the building or turf wars during lunch as is often experienced in CIS-wide luncheons. It was good food, I stuffed my belly full of warm chili which was so welcome on this cold day. That is just the beginning of SYFTIS Day. In order to continue stuffing my face, there is a 2nd planned potluck tonight at 6 at Karen's house. This one will be quite a bit larger with more food. We're responsible for the brisket and sausage. Two potlucks in one day assures that there is plenty of food to stuff your face with. SYFTIS Day is dependent on the availability of plenty of food to stuff into your face. The holiday also needs weather.com to include this nice little picture next to the forecast for your area:

Now that is what some people call snow, or if you're from Texas, you're probably more familiar with the term, rarity. As night turns to dawn, sleet will turn to snow. The feasting ends as the snow begins to fall. It truly is a magical holiday.

Although we're not projected to get the snow that Waco is going to get, I implore you, celebrate with us. If you gain a little weight, who cares. Tell your friends and co-workers that it's just holiday pounds. If you get pnemonia, call and tell your professors, they'll push back finals for you. It's SYFTIS Day, the happiest time of the year, they'll understand.

Full Steam Ahead

Well I ended last Friday sick and having to miss the 2 games of the College Cup on Friday. Zero Fun. Luckily however, I was all better by Sunday. Just in time for the national championship. Portland blanked UCLA, which is what I was rooting for. It was the first National Championship that I have ever witnessed first hand, what a great, cold time. Oh, and I hate Soccer Head.

I'm back at 100%, I didn't really feel like myself at all last week. I don't know why, probably the lack of sleep. But now I'm feeling great. Just in time to finish up these dreadful projects and begin studying for my finals. I've got 2 coming up on Friday (my two hardest classes), but I'm confident. Bring it on, let's see what you've got. I'm sure this optimism will fade by Friday, but right now I can't be stopped. I can be slowed however...but only by a nap. But tonight, it's full steam ahead. Work 8-5; group project 530 - Completion!

Sleepy

4th night in a row I haven't been able to sleep well. I'd say since Monday I've probably gotten around 12 hours of sleep at night. Naps help, but when you're at Sbisa for breakfast at 7AM, at work at 5PM, then at soccer till 9PM, it leaves you little time for shut eye...