Small Town

Rarely does a song or piece of literature reflect each aspect of a person's life. I am no exception to this.

Usually I tend to take certain aspects out of works that describe myself. Such as the fun loving politican like Bill Clinton and George W. Bush or the modest Nick Carraway who could never understand why people did the things they did in the Great Gatsby.

However, the song Small Town by John Mellencamp is probably the best representation of what I consider myself to be. Enjoy the lyrics.


Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Prob'ly die in a small town
Oh, those small communities

All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity

Educated in a small town
Taught the fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic that's me

But I've seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an L.A. doll and brought her to this small town
Now she's small town just like me
No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be

Got nothing against a big town
Still hayseed enough to say
Look who's in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and that's good enough for me

Well I was born in a small town
And I can breath in a small town
Gonna die in this small town
And that's prob'ly where they'll bury me

Traveling with a Map and Compass

I just haven't felt like writing the past couple of days. I think I had a small letdown after I got back from Georgia.

Of course, I couldn't tell any of my friends that. To be honest I really think it's best that I not tell them that. No one is going to (or should for that matter) sympathize with someone who has basically had two weeks of vacation in Georgia and Florida.

I have to sneak that small fact in anytime I get the chance. My friends are still pretty upset about it.

But because of this little letdown, it has been very difficult to concentrate on life as it exists right now. My grades are still doing well and I am staying on top of my studies but my mind seems to be slipping a bit.

For whatever reason, it has been drifting toward what life might be like in the future. Normally, I have tried not to think about the next chapter in life until I am finished writing the current one. This week it hasn't been the case.

It's true that I have finally figured out what I would like to do after college. The picture of my life, as of late, has become more clear.

But at times, it still looks like a painting that could only come from the mind of Picasso. (And my high school art teacher thought I'd never learn anything)

It has to be Senioritis becauseI feel the exact same way I felt at this time four years ago. The only difference between then and now is that instead of getting lost on backroads and dark alleys I have a road map and a compass.

So for now, I think I will gather my thoughts and pull over at the nearest rest area. Granted, I won't get there as soon as everyone else but sometimes in life you just need to take a pit stop and look around.

Jon Stewart: My Generation's Newscaster

I finally made it home! "Back Home Again in Indiana . . . " and I forget the rest of the words. I'm just kidding. I know the last part of the song as well, ". . . my Indiana home!"

It's such a great song especially when you are returning from a long out of state trip. And even though some of us (myself included) might not know all of the words by heart, we are still able to hum the melody as we return home.

But all joking aside, it was a great weekend. Seeing my brother and his teammates swim was very exciting. In the end, my brother finished 21st in the 100 Fly and received Honorable Mention All-American Honors for his participation in the 200 Medley Relay.

The Boilermakers as a whole finished 16th in the team competition which I am told is the best they have ever finished in their history. Congratulations and Boiler Up!

The wonderful thing about these meets is that they are very quick and are nothing like the high school swim meets that seem to drag on for hours. I had a lot of free time on my hands.

As you may know, I highlight a specific speech each week. Usually, it is from a President or important political figure. This week I chose to pick someone who I consider to be My Generation's Newscaster.

I may be wrong in assuming that but it is difficult to argue that Jon Stewart has not been the shining light in the dark and partisan world of politics. He has made this world seem much more humorous and much more human.

His Commencement Address to the William & Mary Class of 2004 is one of the finer and funnier speeches I have ever heard. It is unique simply because only he could deliver a speech like this that well.

As he was wrapping up his remarks, he spoke about my generation and whether or not we are ready to tackle the real world. It was these words that convinced me that Jon Stewart was My Generation's Newscaster. Enjoy!

"And the last thing I want to address is the idea that somehow this new generation is not as prepared for the sacrifice and the tenacity that will be needed in the difficult times ahead.

I have not found this generation to be cynical or apathetic or selfish. They are as strong and as decent as any people that I have met.

And I will say this, on my way down here I stopped at Bethesda Naval, and when you talk to the young kids that are there that have just been back from Iraq and Afghanistan, you don’t have the worry about the future that you hear from so many that are not a part of this generation but judging it from above."

Christopher Walken for President?

I am back in my hotel room after the opening round of preliminary swimming rounds. Chris did a great job placing 21st in the 100 Butterfly while defeating every IU swimmer.

I never thought I'd be happy to see a Boilermaker beating the Hoosiers but it feels pretty good. Also, the Boiler 200 Medley Relay qualified for the Finals this evening.

I will continue to keep you posted on that however let's go straight to the big political topic of the day. Christopher Walken is running for the office of President of the United States of America.

Editor's Note: Too bad my friend said it was a hoax! Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. I'll keep the rest of the post the same however please remember that Christopher Walken in NOT running for President.

For now according to the website, he will be running as an independent (at least until another party is willing to support him). It will be a small grassroots campaign however we have seen with Ross Perot in 1992 that an independent can make a huge difference in a Presidential Election.

From what I can gather, Walken is choosing the Iraq War, Campaign Finance Reform, Military Spending, Abortion Rights, and Stem Cell Research as important issues in his platform.

In my opinion and in the spirit of Walken, This country has a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell (or someone who knows what they are doing than our current president).

It will be interesting to see how things turn out. I wish him luck! Below, I have posted Walken's campaign website. Enjoy!

Christopher Walken for President (Fake Website)

My Night in the ATL

Before I start writing about my evening in Atlanta with my friend Cade, I want to send my condolences to every Duke fan tonight. On behalf of the millions of people who picked your team to win that National Championship, I am truly sorry.

With all honesty, I felt sorry for their fans. Seeing them all mope around town tonight just made me want to give them a hug and tell them that it's okay. The sun will come out tomorrow!

Now that the sad part of the post is completed, let's get started with my night in the ATL. It was great seeing Cade tonight. It brought back a lot of good memories from this summer.

We met at my hotel first. You know those commercials that end up with some average Joe saying, "No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night." Oh yeah, that's where I am staying.

Anyway, we headed straight to the Phillips Arena in downtown Atlanta. We drove right by the CNN World Headquarters on our way in. It was amazing to see the building that has become my number one source for news.

After parking the car, we went into the arena to watch the Atlanta Thrashers take on the New Jersey Devils for my first ever NHL game. Contrary to popular opinion, Hockey games are exciting and this one was no exception.

The Thrashers fell behind in the 2nd period to trail 4-1 going into the last period. As it would turn out, the Thrashers would score 4 goals in the 3rd period to send it to overtime with a 5-5 score.

As if that wasn't enough of an energy drainer, the Trashers scored a goal in the extra period to defeat New Jersey. It was quite an experience.

After the game was complete, we headed to the world famous Varsity Drive-In for some food and a little political discussion. Great chili dogs! Great politics talk, as always!

Though I won't go into the details of that conversation, I can say that it was wonderful catching up with my good friend. Hopefully we will be able to hang out some this summer. Possibly in DC. Thanks for a great night in the ATL buddy!

Georgia & MTV on my Mind

Well, today marked the beginning of my trip to Georgia. I guess some of my friends are getting a little jealous that I am on my second week of vacation. Sorry guys! Even the President sometimes has to take long extended vacations. Ha ha. I'm just kidding Jen!

The plane ride was pretty good. I made some considerable progress in my new book Our Endangered Values by former President Jimmy Carter. It is a great page turner!

Once I arrived in the Peach State, I contacted my good friend Cade. I'm really happy that we are going to get to hang out this week. Not really sure on exactly what we are going to do but if it is anything like DC, we'll have a good time.

I also learned today that when in a hotel room with a group of people, the television will be turned to a show that no one regularly watches. Of course, judging by the post title, it was turned to MTV to watch Date My Mom: Spring Break.

The object of this show was for an Abercrombie & Fitch clone to date three 40-year-old women. The contestant must then pick one of the three daughters to travel with him on Spring Break based on how well each date went.

In the spirit of comedy and shear boredom, I decided to write down some of my most memorable quotes from the moms. This is my Top Five Memorable Mom Quotes:

1. "I'm gonna unleash the beast on this guy!"
2. "I gotta get my party on!"
3. "My daughter is a brickhouse."
4. "Holla!"
5. "What! What!"

It is amazing how crazy MTV and television in general has gotten. In the words of Bowling for Soup: "When did reality become TV?"

Lacking Motivation

Today, I am feeling extremely lazy. I swear that I am lacking the motivation to do anything other than sleeping, hanging out with friends, or surfing the internet.

My schoolwork is still doing quite well by traditional standards but I feel as if my mind has began to drift the last couple of weeks toward other things. The semester is beginning to come to an end and for some reason I am really looking forward to it.

It's unfortunate that I feel that way because this means that I will begin to see some of my friends less and will have to move out of the President's office. I have enjoyed my time there but I am ready to hand it over to John.

I miss being involved in local government and politics which I am slowly moving back into. It is going to be a big year for the Democratic Party and they are going to need as many people to help as they can.

I'm willing and excited to help with these campaigns because no matter how hard I try to get away from it, the drive and determination keeps coming back. It's not like a lamp that can be easily turned off and on.

Granted, I've never worked on a campaign that won unless you count my student government campaigns. But, the work always proves to be rewarding and satisfying. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I am a 90's Kid!

This is my 100th blog post. Wow! I never thought I'd get past two. Usually, we tend to think back when we reach a milestone in our lives. Today while surfing Myspace, a little post from my friend Amanda helped me do that.

So with this in mind, I am proud to say that I am a 90's Kid! Maybe you are too. Check out the characteristics of a 90's kid which I have posted below.

You know you're a 90's kid if...

• You've ever ended a sentence with the word "SIKE!"
• You listened to Cassette Tapes
• You can rap to "The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air"
• You know that "How Rude!" comes from Stephanie of "Full House"
• You remember when it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons
• You got super excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school
• You remember reading "Goosebumps"
• You know the profound meaning of "Wax on, Wax off"
• You took plastic cartoon lunch boxes to school
• You remember the craze then the banning of slap bracelets and slam books
• You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence
• You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
• You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates
• You ever got injured on a Slip 'n' Slide
• You remember boom boxes vs. CD players
• You knew what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!"
• You remember New Kids on The Block when they were cool
• You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell"
• You played and/or collected "Pogs"
• You remember K.I.D.S. incorporated
• You owned a Skip It
• You had at least one GigaPet or Nano and brought it everywhere
• You watched the original Care Bears and Ninja Turtles
• You remember when the new Beanie Babies were always sold out.
• You remember a time before the WB.
• You've gotten creeped out by "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"
• You thought it would be so cool to be Alex Mack's boyfriend.
• You thought Donkey Lips was the coolest Fat dude and you really wanted to go to summer camp.
• You basically think old school Nickelodeon rocks!
• You know the Macarena by heart
• "Talk to the hand" ... enough said
• You thought Brain would finally take over the world
• You always said, "Then why don't you marry it!"

"Youth is, after all, just a moment, but it is the moment, the spark, that you always carry in your heart." -- Raisa M. Gorbachev

Back Home Again in Indiana

I am finally home! This past week I was on a cruise ship which spanned the Caribbean Sea and I had a blast.

Mostly, my days consisted of sleeping in until late and wandering around the ship while I waited for my next meal or beverage to consume. However, there were a couple of interesting experiences during this week long odyssey.

The Captain's Night was a fun one for me because it meant dressing up in my suit and Presidential tie. The guys and I got some really great pictures taken even though it was quite warm on the ship.

I also learned the wonderful and sometimes heartbreaking rules of the casino as I tried my hand at Blackjack, Slots, and Roulette. For my first time gambling, I think I did quite well by breaking even.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. In the end, it was a great way to spend my vacation. I got to know my friends better, bought some great souvenirs, and met some interesting people in the casino. Go figure!

But, it's great to be back home again in Indiana.

Welcome to Miami

I'm tired and sleepy after a long day of traveling but I am moved to blog on this beautiful evening. As I type this blog post, I will be looking out of my 8th story hotel room in Downtown Miami, Florida, to a sea of light and activity. However, that is not where my story begins.

John and I awoke around 8:00 AM this morning and got ready for the long day of driving that layed ahead for us. After filling up the tank for only the second time, we were off racing (safely, Mom) through the interstate of Georgia.

We arrived in Florida in what seemed to be no time at all and decided to take a pitstop. Just like myself, John likes to experience the culture firsthand and dine at places we normally wouldn't in our home-state. So with that in mind, there was really only one place to go.

After finishing our McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers, we were back on the road. This time on the Florida Turnpike which is in reality a toll road. After this experience, I am convinced that a toll road in Indiana does more harm than good in the private sector. It was just dead economically along this stretch of highway.

Finally, after making a few expected and unexpected pitstops (John, he he!), we made it to Miami where we decided to take in the culture by trying out the nearest McDonald's. Go figure! Sometimes you just want a burger from McDonald's.

We made it to our rooms around 8:00 PM but we knew that we had to go out for some late night fun in Miami. Fortunately for us, there was a Marketplace/Shopping Center nearby where John and I made a couple purchases for ourselves including a "Bubba Gump Shrimping Co." hat. Good times!

Well, that is the story of the last day of The Great Journey of Kyle and John. It only took us 19 hours of driving to make it to our destination and were we proud of ourselves. Some say that flying is the only way to travel but I tend to disagree. If the company is right, the food is good, and the music keeps on blaring, driving is the only way to travel.

Let Spring Break Begin

Even though many college students will be taking the next week off, I will still continue to update you on my travels to Miami for my Carribean Cruise.

So far today was mostly dedicated to driving but John and I still had a lot of fun. We made excellent time by making it to Macon, Georgia, in just under 12 hours. Also, we have only had to fill up the car once and are living well within our budget.

The weather was great once we left Indiana and Kentucky. It seemed to be raining cats and dogs the entire way until we reached Tennessee. It also feels great to be able to walk around without a jacket on.

I want to send a special thanks to Mike, Erin, Trish, Jen, Chris, Steph, Sandi, and (as always) Mom for calling us today to check in. It definitely was a great way to pass the time by chatting with each of you. Keep the calls coming because once I am in international waters my cell phone will not be functioning.

Well, that is all for the first day. I will give you a better update tomorrow as I am very sleepy. So good night and sweet dreams to all of you as I enjoy the great southern hospitality provided by the Comfort Inn of Macon. Take care!

Stop Trying to Scare Me!

It is the last day before Spring Break and I find myself sitting in the middle of my Educational Psychology class. The temperature in this room has got to be in the 80's because it is just crazy hot in here.

Despite it being extremely hot in here, things are going quite well and I have nothing to complain about. However, I am confused on why some are intent on trying to scare me about the future.

Seldom does a day pass when I hear such things as, "Make sure you remember this because it's important," or "If we do not do this, something bad could happen in the future."

Stop trying to scare me into studying, listening, or thinking! What I have never been able to comprehend is why it is such a great tool as well. Why is fear of the unknown such a great tool?

Is it because we don't actually know what will happen to us or is it simply human nature to be too prepared and over analyze ever situation? I think it could be a combination of both but I don't want to sound like a philosophy major so I will stop right there.

Sorry Chad!

The moral of the story is to just live your life so that you are content with it and not be scared into doing something simply based on that. Stop trying to scare me! I'm onto your little games!

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Just Another Wednesday

I really don't have too much to say today. With Spring Break rapidly approaching that has pretty much consumed my life along with finishing up my last minute classes and exams.

Enjoy the picture that my good friend Octavian sent to me recently with Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. Granted, my friend wasn't sure who was taking the picture but it's still good times nonetheless!

"You might have met John Kerry but I met Beaner Linn!" -- Nick Stevens

In My Room

I was able to go through the drive-thru of the local Subway this evening! That's right! I took my car into the body shop to get my driver's side window fixed. I guess it was an electrical problem but other than that I have no clue what was wrong.

As long as my windows, air conditioning, cd player, and engine are working (along with the other stuff I don't know about) then I'm happy. Cars are way beyond my understanding. Just gotta make sure that the alternator fluid is full, right Mike?

After I returned home with my Subway Club on White, I escaped to my favorite place in the entire world: My Basement. All I have to do is close the door, turn on the television, and sit in my LA-Z-BOY to enter what I like to call, "Heaven on Earth".

Currently, I'm listening to some music. I'm a huge Green Day fan but I also enjoy the classics, especially Old R & B and Motown such as the Temptations and Marvin Gaye to just name a few.

In the spirit of Spring Break being only a few days away, I chose to listen to some Beach Boys this evening. So to close this post about my special place, I will post the lyrics of one of their songs that deals with just that.

There's a world where I can go and tell my secrets to
In my room, in my room
In this world I lock out all my worries and my fears
In my room, in my room

Do my dreaming and my scheming
Lie awake and pray
Do my crying and my sighing
Laugh at yesterday

The War at Home

This Sunday evening was spent much like last Sunday evening was spent with my friends and I heading to IHOP and Starbucks. Tonight was different though because I didn't feel like ordering my usual Chocolate Chip Pancakes.

My order was a Patty Melt and Caesar Salad which is kind of a weird combination but I certainly enjoyed it. Despite it being pretty good, I still have to say that the best Patty Melt I have ever had was at Ned's Corner Pub. Great place!

My friends are almost beyond the breaking point right now with it being so close to Spring Break too. By the way, I will be able to update from the cruise ship so stayed tuned for that next week.

Anyway, I'm really feeling sorry for them and I hope that they will be able to survive the next few days of school. I'm sure they that will be able to hold on just a bit longer because my friends are pretty strong people.

I guess the only real thing that I am having trouble with right now is the current situation confronting my hometown. I've overheard rumors of protesters causing trouble at the fallen soldier's funeral tomorrow which has brought the Iraq War to my own backyard.

I really hope nothing major happens at the funeral tomorrow, especially because of the family. Whether you believe in this or any war, there is no reason for anyone to cause this family anymore heartache and sadness. Losing a family member is too much for most people, let alone having to deal with protesters.

"Always forgive your enemies--nothing annoys them so much." -- Oscar Wilde

One Bad Relationship at a Time

I found an interesting link on Mike's blog that displayed many Men's Rules (That Women Should Know). Some of them are quite true while others are simply for entertainment. Enjoy!

Men's Rules (That Women Should Know)

I've also found it interesting how scared many of us are of being dumped, hurt, or getting our heart broken in relationships.

I will admit that I am just as worried as the next person about the same thing happening to me because, like many of you, it has happened to me numerous times in the past.

Are we so afraid of getting hurt that we are willing to give it all up? Last time I checked, love cannot simply be turned on and off like a lightswitch. It is my firm belief that one thing is true.

Life must be lived, one bad relationship at a time. It is what makes finding that special someone so special when we finally do. To me, I think we appreciate it so much more because of all that we have been through.

I see each new interest as a new chapter or adventure. Most are short (very short in my case) and few last longer than a month. Some are relationships that I could never forget and others are one's that I'm still trying to forget.

But, the great thing about relationships is that no matter how good, bad, short, long, or ugly they turn out to be, they add spice and spontaneity to our life.

I'd rather walk the bumpy road to paradise than wait for a bus to take me there. It's so much more fun and exciting that way. And now for the quotation of the day!

"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me." -- Winston Churchill

Long Day, Short Post

Ever had to go somewhere and the time it takes to travel to the event is longer than the actual event itself? That pretty much sums up my day in a nutshell.

Today, I traveled to Bloomington to have lunch with the Board of Trustees, University President, and other Student Body Presidents in the system.

Although the 4-hour drive down and back is difficult every time, I enjoyed the free food. Plus, it’s always a fun experience to chat with the South Bend and Bloomington S.B. Presidents. However, as my friend Chris (El Capitan) would say, there is only one El Presidente!

I wish I had more to say but I’m feeling a little under the weather, so, for now, I will leave you with today’s quotation.

“Old age and sickness bring out the essential characteristics of a man.” -- Felix Frankfurter

"Just Say No!"

I have done some interesting things in my life. I have lived in Washington DC. I have seen the greatest pitcher of our time Roger Clemens play a game. Heck I have even been to Canada.

But, what I can't understand, is why there is so much complaining in the society that we live in today. Is there a lack of faith in each other or a lack of faith in ourselves? It is beyond me why there is a need for this kind of behavior.

I have always been raised through the simple way: "You keep your head up and make yourself get through adversity." Now, please do not take me for a cynic on this subject because I try to look for the good in all people.

The problem that I have is that so much time is wasted by complaining and bickering that very little is accomplished during the day. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard, "I am too busy. My schedule is crazy!" I could have retired three times already.

I used to be in the same group. I used to be busy all the time and it seemed as if my day never ended until I fell asleep. I am here to say that I have a brand new technique that is sure to lighten the load that you carry on your back.

This technique is free, cost effective, and you don't even need to sign a warranty paper for it. It is a simple one word answer that we all know especially when it comes to dating. The word is: NO

If there are times when you just can't fit anything into a schedule, use this word and you will begin to feel better about yourself. You'll have more time to spend with your friends and family while doing the things you enjoy.

So in the end, remember that no matter how busy you get or how complex your life has become, you do have control over your own schedule. As Nancy Reagan said, "Just Say No." The more you do it, the easier it will get.

The Busy Day

The busy day has never bothered me that much. Coming from a family that has always insisted on doing something, it comes quite naturally. I guess that's why I've never understood those who seem to constantly complain about how busy they are.

Some may hate it but I love it and today was no exception. The major task of the day was having a late morning meeting with two great people from Cinergy. The meeting lasted about half an hour and the subject was the city of Kokomo.

I found it quite interesting that they were interested in hearing what I had to say about the city I've called home for my entire life. We talked about a variety of topics including healthcare, business, and education, but the most interesting of topics was local government.

For my out of town readers, the local paper has been covering reports, recently, about the Mayor's troubles as of late with the recent freedom of information ruling by a judge and allegations over false signatures.

I couldn't help but at least chuckle when that subject came up because in all honesty, I wouldn't wish those troubles on anyone. Democrat or Republican. It will be a tough road, I'm sure. I wish him the best.

This evening was devoted almost entirely to basketball with a few breaks in between. My shots have begun to drop more and I'm able to enjoy the game a lot more due to my increased exercise. It's a great game to play with friends.

And now, I must leave you for I must get ready to watch my favorite late night host: Conan O'Brien. But, before I do so, I will leave you with one of his greatest quotes. Enjoy!

"In New York, we had primary elections for mayor. To improve their chances, all five candidates changed their name to Rudy Giuliani." -- Conan O'Brien