One man, in his own words.

My oven is finally fixed, thanks to Steve, the maintenance.

I can finally get back to increasing my badassery in cooking.
Behold my first success:


Leon's "Ma! Sit Yo Ass Down!!" Chicken Alfredo Pizza with Crush Red Pepper and Homemade Garlic Butter Sauce.

Yes it was good, and yes... I know you wish you had some right now.

-Leon

This entry should last you a little while. I have stuff to do, and honestly, my brain is a tad fried and in need of recharging. I didn't know my thoughts were in such high demand, thanks to you Google people.

1) Obama is the projected winner North Carolina... and obviously half of Indiana Democrats at the time of this post (and some jackass Republicans) just don't get it yet. This whole process really inspired me, at first. Now, it just proves to me that the "powers that be" still have control over the democratic (small "d") process in America, and they still can have influence that distorts and perverts the will of the people, and prevents real issues from being discussed. That's mainly why I chose International Studies, instead of Political Science as my new major. I couldn't be tied down to the study of American politics, because it is deeply flawed and entirely frustrating in its contemporary form.

2) Two finals this week, and I'm done. I can't even study for my 8AM exam tomorrow, because my mind and heart knows that it would be a big exercise in futility. I was looking for this semester to answer a lot of questions I had about in what direction my academic/post-collegiate career was going. However, all it has left me is the same doubt and a little more uncertainty. Ah well, at least one class is a guaranteed "A" or an "extremely high B". Here's to a summer of self-discovery (and moderate drinking, like a character in an Earnest Hemingway novel or something).

3) I hate to sound self-important, or to toot my own horn (giggidy), but I feel very under-appreciated at work. My department would be really up a creek for a little while, if I weren't there to do the things I do. I think my boss knows that, because she always slips in positives comments to keep me from flipping whenever I see co-workers slacking off or flaking out or whenever she needs me to works hours I obviously don't feel like working. I guess I am partly to blame for this situation as well. I take the extra hours, because a) I enjoy any extra cash I can make, and b) working keeps me from having time alone to think about other crappy things that I tend to not want to deal with right now, in my life. So yeah, we have etched out a nice little means of co-dependency there, for right now.

4) I opened up a savings account with my part of my tax return, and my "economic stimulus" thing the government dished out to everybody. Partly to have some money stowed away (probably to save more for a car), and partly to say, "FUCK YOU GEORGE BUSH! YOU WANT ME TO STIMULATE YOUR FUCKED UP ECONOMY? HOW ABOUT YOU STIMULATE *THIS* BY KISSING IT?!?! *Points to rear end*"

Just kidding about the political statement, but yes... that money could have been used in wiser ways. Everyone I know is either using it to pay off debt, or place into savings... so it basically defeats the purpose of the whole operation.

I want to get paid in euros, like Gisele Bündchen and Jay-Z.

5)  I'm slowly becoming a "foodie". Food has almost become like porn to people that thoroughly enjoy porn (which has become sort of pointless and not interesting to me, as of late). You get introduced to the simple stuff... like mild cheddar or a yellow Gouda, similar to the normal bimbo-fake tit straight hardcore you find in a smut mag or skin flick at age 14. Soon after, you find yourself knee-deep in Japanese tranny midget clown porn.... or er... you just find yourself making a Muenster grilled cheese sandwich or something with a nice  Gorgonzola cheese sauce. I feel frustrated that I haven't had the time,energy, or resources to devote time to exploring my culinary aspirations. My oven is broken, and I need better cooking pots (I saw a set on America's Test Kitchen that I really dig), to really get down and dirty. I haven't even made a fresh pizza by hand, or fired up the blender for an alfredo or pesto sauce in ages.

And I totally want to get into scratch-baking. I've been aching for a good blondie lately.

I guess my quest for cooking mastery stems from my newly found urge for total self-sustainability. Lately, I've wanted to be able to be 100% self-sufficient, so I'd have no reason to depend on another person for something I can do myself. I've just really decided to quit looking to most people for dependency and assistance. Going it on my own, seems to be the quickest and easiest way to live physically and emotionally. */Dr. Phil moment*

I promise that I will have more culturally relevant information here later. I need to start "bringing the heat", as Danielle said. Not all of us can be Journalism majors that aspire to work for the New York Times, and whatnot. OHHHH SNAP!

Catch you folks later.

-Leon

Thank you Mavericks...


Thank you for three years of underachieving. Thank you for a season of ups and downs, unmet expectations, and overall underachievement.

How'd that Jason  Kidd trade turn out? Leveraging the youth of the team for  a "this guy will make us fantastic, even though he hadn't made the team he was currently on good in over three years... but that's okay".

Trades always seem to come to bite you in the ass, eh:
1 Trade Nash, Suns become a yearly dominant West power.
2. Trade Finley, won a ring with the Spurs
3. We even got rid of MOTHERFUCKING DJ Mbenga (who was my favorite of the "international players who we sign and rarely play" people on the team), and he is on his way to possibly winning a ring with Kobe in LA.

So, according to recent trade history, Devin Harris, Desegana Diop, and the Nets will be at least Eastern Conference Champions by 2010.

I'm just so damn tired of putting all my stock in this team and them always disappointing.
The collapse to the Heat. Golden State. ALMOST MISSING THE PLAYOFFS, AND NOW THIS!!!

Mark Cuban needs to do what he has to do:
1. Fire Avery (Pay big bucks to someone who knows how to motivate a team to play hard)
2. Either go out an get a SUPERSTAR to team with Dirk (he has proven that he doesn't want to be the #1 guy)  or TRADE HIM while his value is still sorta high (someone will be willing to give you a few decent guys, and maybe a draft pick if they are stupid enough).

I'm just fucking tired of all the mediocrity and lack of heart.
We are the laughing stock of the league. Soft. No one respects us.
You still can't get over shit that happened three years ago.

And I, for one, will no longer continue to support you until you show true effort to change that....

So let's all go blaze one up with J-Ho, now that this craptastic season is over..

1) I am officially taking a break from being a fan of the Dallas Mavericks. As I learned with my dealings with women, I only give two chances before I chuck deuces to you and let you go with the wind. Either grow some balls and get over whatever the hell happened to you two years ago, or realize you fucked up and start over. Either way, I'm done with your pussy-ass play when things tend to matter in a game.

2) I am just about sick of all this "Going Green" campaign being shoved down my throat by everyone who has even the slightest moniker of celebrity. For f*ck's sake, I will recycle if I damn well wish (which I do), use those energy efficient lights (which I did at my old house), and drive a hybrid if I could afford one (and they didn't look like I would have to put my penis in the glove compartment in order to drive all the ones except the Lexus). EVERY OTHER DAMN COMMERCIAL DOESN'T NEED TO TELL ME THAT I CAN SAVE AN ENTIRE FOREST BY PAYING MY BILLS ONLINE (which usually comes with a service fee, so forget that), OR THAT I'M GOING TO HELL IF I FORGET TO RECYCLE THE BOTTLE OF VITAMIN WATER I HAD WITH LUNCH. Yes, if we did more recycling it would prolong decent living conditions for future generations... However, I've decided that I am not having kids. My seed dies with me, so whatev to everyone else's great-grandchildren.

I just recycle because it's practical and economically efficient for production of various goods. That is that. I have no higher sense of morality for doing so. They are not building a special wing in heaven for Leonardo DiCaprio, just because he buys organic and rolls a Prius.

3) I'm tired of the Democratic primary right now. This is petty shit, and it just needs to stop. I wouldn't really look at all too down on Barack Obama, if he just stopped pussyfooting around, just went all Mays Gilliam on everyone.


The clip still works, you just have to view it directly from the site, if the embedded clip is on the fritz. Something fishy is going on with You Tube and their broken embedding.

From about 4:40 on in this clip is why this ended up being one of my favorite movies. Obama needs to get on some of this. I am dead serious.
What the hell else would there be to do to harm or gain anything?


4) Boston Legal is basically the only show I actively watch now. Blatantly Liberal in its stance. In tonight's episode, they spent a good 10 minutes ripping the horribly partisan record of the Supreme Court. I can't wait to find a clip of it on YouTube.
But here is a little bit of candy from an episode a while ago...


James Spader is a Fucking G!

-Leon

P.S., Holla to those who used Google Reader as an excuse to read my journal without having to actually get an LJ account, or actively visit the Live journal account. I promise to write more to keep you informed. I don't know how to get the video clips to show up there, so ah well.

The folks that work in the receiving area usually listen to some really weird stuff. Looking at the liner notes in some of the CDs, I can only get that most of them were classical music troupes from possibly former Soviet nations (depending on the year recorded). However one day, I heard a tune playing by a familiar and heavenly voice, as I was down there processing something to be shipped out...



Astrud Gilberto, is a wonderful Jazz songstress. The song Garota De Ipanema (The Girl From Ipanema) [live version w/ João Gilberto, for download] has a song that for ten years has been one of those songs that I heard constantly... playing on random radios... sung live in random venues.... sung by many a beautiful woman in my dreams... and hummed randomly by myself, but I could never download it because I never knew the title. Now that I am reminded of the lyrics, it makes the song even more fantastic. Something about that 60's class and tone of jazz. Bossa Nova. Men with snifters of brandy and smoking jackets. And women had real sense of class in those days. Some days I just think I was born far too past my time.

So yes, Astrud Gilberto is apparently my distant, unrequited, and unmet love. I have only had brief and fleeting affairs with her. Her voice lingering in my head always, without me knowing her name until now.

I have the whole album, if anyone wants it. Good stuff to chill out with on couch or on the patio with a drink or cigar or something.

-Leon

1) Fat Luther was just about always better than Skinny Luther
2) I bought some new threads. I haven't worn a pair of chinos in about two years. I'm ready for the impending unbearable Summer heat
3) I'm looking for a new apartment to move to in the Summer. I'm getting screwed a little for how much I'm paying in this place, compared to what others I know pay for the same or even more. I'm thinking about getting a dog, too.
4) I'm lonely, but I'm dealing with it. Slowly. Due to recent events, I'm leaning towards the idea that there really isn't someone for everyone out there. That doesn't mean I can't live an otherwise fulfilling and satisfying life.
5) I'm making midnight tacos. My body will most likely retaliate in the morning with some nasty heartburn, but oh well.

Peace.
Leon

Why all the fuss about her? him? herim? Thomas having a baby?
I haven't slept since Wednesday, and was watching a clip of the Oprah thing on BBC News, and just thought I'd make a post of it. Trying to make this page a little more relevant in the world.
But yeah...
This has been done before, people. Twice even...

Remember this?




And of course, everyone remembers this historic event...

-----------

So yeah. I must say that I am far from understanding and comprehending what goes through the mind of people who go have gender reassignment treatment. That must be a difficult and painful decision to deal with mentally and physically...

But yeah... this is just.... Man.
I guess there isn't anything wrong with wanting to bring a child into this world within the confines of a loving and caring family, but still. What are they going to tell the kid? It will take a lot for him/her to wrap their head around "daddy used to be a woman, so that is why he could have a baby.", and not have it fly in the face or the normal gender role positions (and conventional biology) they will grow up learning in this society. Sure, there are are same sex couple that have children. I read Heather Has Two Mommies, and thought it a very useful tool (minus the political and science-y akwardness), but it is a little more delicate and complicated situation for a child to understand, right off the bat. "Heather has a mom and a dad that was born a mom, but was really a dad to begin with, so he went to the doctor and the doctor made him into a dad, and dad had gave birth to her because mom couldn't ".

I hope you get what I am trying to say here.
I'm not condemning it, but I'm not 100% condoning this situation.
Right now, I'm about about 65%
I'm just saying it is what it is.

I'd love to hear a comment from anyone who comes across this that has an obviously more educated viewpoint than I to share.

-Leon

Today in my Critical Issues in World Politics class,  I was reminded that I'm on the right path.

We had an hour-long discussion on the Iraq war conflict.
Pretty heated.
I got my jabs in.
I absolutely LOVE the even exchange of well-developed and articulated opinions.

Though some folks are stuck in the past, just like the Democratic candidates (which worries me a little).
You can't win the argument with "We shouldn't even have gone in there in the first place" anymore.
Five years too late for that.

But anyway.
I've been re-invigorated to pursue my studies.

You'll see me in the halls of the United Nations headquarters or at a World Affairs Council meeting in no time.


-Leon

- Drinking (Some was free, because of my birthday)
- Working 8 hours the whole week (could have needed more money, but enjoyed the time off)
- People took me places (had a great time with most of them)

I didn't do a lot of the research for my paper about the current of democracy in Russia (due April 9th, Leon!), but I found my old one on the history of the democratization of Russia... so I can borrow  heftily from that. It isn't plagiarism, if it is your own work, right?

I really wish I could quit school, but the economic prosperity, occupational stability, and social/mental satisfaction of the remainder of my life most likely depends on me finishing college.

My birthday present to myself is supposed to arrive tomorrow.
I spent way too much money on it (impulse buy). Ah well. I can always put it back on eBay and maybe even gain a profit off the sale, if it comes to that.

I feel the need to exert some show of significant maturity, but I don't know why or how. Which probably means I have some more growing up to do.
Try as I might to be content, there is still something missing from my life right now that is keeping me from being that way.
I just wish I knew what it was.

And I'm two years late, but this is a really great album.


I had the full album on my iTunes, but I don't know where I got it from.
I like it though. Good music for sitting and thinking.

Ah well.
Back to work and school tomorrow.

-Leon

P.S. The original intent of this new journal was for me to periodically post content of some significance. That is still the plan, so work with me here.

So yes.
I'm officially 24 years old, as of yesterday.
Quarter-life Crisis begins (or continues?).
But I've really already lived a third-life already, depending on which life-expectancy experts you talk to.

Anyway.

Fun times were had. I was "kidnapped" by some very interesting folks.
Blindfold made for a little motion sickness in the car, but I was alright.
We went to *undisclosed locations* and had fun doing *classified activities*.
Some very fun, some (in hindsight) I'm not to sure why I agreed to do.
I think I have developed Stockholm Syndrome.
Anywho.

So now. It's time to grow up, and get down to business.
Be an adult and everything.
I say that every year, but I plan for it to stick this time.
I heard that women find maturity incredibly attractive, anyway.

-Leon

I totally forgot today was St. Patrick's Day.
That was, until my downstairs neighbor (still can't remember his name) stopped by with shots of Jameson.
Gotta love people who use a false sense of pride for heritage as a reason to drink.

Though yeah, that really put a wrench in my plans today.
I had a few more things I planned to do around here.

Ah well.
This is going to be a drinking week, and there is nothing I can do about it.

-Leon

This entry may look a little weird in format, because I was using Google Documents to produce it, which is a very useful app for people like me with sporatic attention spans that need to bring up projects from anywhere, at the spur of the moment.

This Craigslist post was brought to my attention by a friend, and I was asked to take my opinion on it. I decided to dissect it methodically,but in a little nicer way than the guy in this blog, So here we go.
----------------------------

"What Happened to All the Nice Guys?"

What happened to all the nice guys?

The answer is simple: you did.

Her, and years of watching cheesy romance movies while listening to sappy love songs that gave an unrealistic viewpoint on romance.


See, if you think back, really hard, you might vaguely remember a
Platonic guy pal who always seemed to want to spend time with you. He'd
tag along with you when you went shopping, stop by your place for a
movie when you were lonely but didn't feel like going out, or even sit
there and hold you while you sobbed and told him about how horribly the
(other) guy that you were fucking treated you.

Yeah, and you probably wondered why every situation you thought to put yourself in to get laid, without making it seem like you wanted to just get laid (because that's what the jerks do, and I know you really genuinely liked her), got you squat.

At the time, you probably joked with your girlfriends about how he was
a little puppy dog, always following you around, trying to do things to
get you to pay attention to him. They probably teased you because they
thought he had a crush on you. Given that his behavior was, admittedly,
a little pathetic, you vehemently denied having any romantic feelings
for him, and buttressed your position by claiming that you were "just
friends." Besides, he totally wasn't your type. I mean, he was a little
too short, or too bald, or too fat, or too poor, or didn't know how to
dress himself, or basically be or do any of the things that your tall,
good-looking, fit, rich, stylish boyfriend at the time pulled off with
such ease.

Most likely, my friend, this scenario was a product of your own conjuring. She probably saw you as "just friends" because all you did was "just friends" things. You never made it clear that you had more than "just friends" feelings for her, so the thought probably never crossed her mind. You never dropped hints to her (or at least not in a non-passive aggressive way) that you thought she was had it "going on" and wanted her to be your boo and whatnot. Also, if she was genuinely fond of you, then she probably just enjoyed your company with no ulterior motive (unlike yourself). Besides, if you held all those negative attributes (and she was such the manipulative, judgmental bitch you make her out to be), then why would she even take the time in the first place to make some sort of significant personal space in her glorious social life for you?

Eventually, your Platonic buddy drifted away, as your relationship with
the boyfriend got more serious and spending time with this other guy
was, admittedly, a little weird, if you weren't dating him. More time
passed, and the boyfriend eventually cheated on you, or became boring,
or you realized that the things that attracted you to him weren't the
kinds of things that make for a good, long-term relationship. So, now,
you're single again, and after having tried the bar scene for several
months having only encountered players and douche bags, you wonder,
"What happened to all the nice guys?"

Well, once again, you did.

So instead of being the nice friend you said you truly were, you decided that since you weren't getting ass out of it you would sulk and mope, instead of either accepting it or (once again) fighting for the girl of your dreams. And when things went wrong for her, a period of vulnerability where you actually could have gotten in good with her, you were too busy moping and becoming all "heartless cynical jackass dude" to realize it. But you still probably planned and dreamed for those several months about how she was going to come to your doorstep on a rainy night, soaking wet, mascara running, saying "I'm sorry! I was a fool! Now make sweet, passionate love to me to make me feel like a woman again!" just like the last movie you received in your Netflix queue.

Damn you John Cusack.

You ignored the nice guy. You used him for emotional intimacy without
reciprocating, in kind, with physical intimacy. You laughed at his
consideration and resented his devotion. You valued the aloof boyfriend
more than the attentive "just-a-" friend. Eventually, he took the hint
and moved on with his life. He probably came to realize, one day, that
women aren't really attracted to guys who hold doors open; or make
dinners just because; or buy you a Christmas gift that you mentioned,
in passing, that you really wanted five months ago; or listen when
you're upset; or hold you when you cry. He came to realize that, if he
wanted a woman like you, he'd have to act more like the boyfriend that
you had. He probably cleaned up his look, started making some money,
and generally acted like more of an asshole than he ever wanted to be.

It would have been easier to just say that you realized that women aren't mind readers, and you actually have to speak up to get a woman to notice you. Just because you bought her that Amy Winehouse CD, or boiled some spaghetti and put some sauce on it doesn't mean her clothes would automatically come off at the end of the night. And logically boyfriend trumps the "just-a-friend" when it comes to who a person would rather have sex with. You never gave her a choice, because you never said anything.

Fact is, now, he's probably getting laid, and in a way, your ultimate
rejection of him is to thank for that. And I'm sorry that it took the
complete absence of "nice guys" in your life for you to realize that
you missed them and wanted them. Most women will only have a handful of
nice guys stumble into their lives, if that.


So, if you're looking for a nice guy, here's what you do:

1.) Build a time machine.
2.) Go back a few years and pull your head out of your ass.
3.) Take a look at what's right in front of you and grab ahold of it.

And after all these years, you still are waiting for her to call, most likely. That's why I advise you to take your own advice, buddy. Always focusing on the chicks that did you wrong will really allow you to miss the really awesome chick that is probably right around you that wants to hook up. But of course you can't see that because you yourself have your head up your ass. Let it go and move on.

I suppose the other possibility is that you STILL don't really want a
nice guy, but you feel the social pressure to at least appear to have
matured beyond your infantile taste in men. In which case, you might be
in luck, because the nice guy you claim to want has, in reality, shed
his nice guy mantle and is out there looking to unleash his cynicism
and resentment onto someone just like you.

If you were five years younger.

So you changed your look, and read all the books that guaranteed you copious amounts of poon , and she still didn't even look your way. So your glorious Jenny Jones Show moment of "Look at what you could have had, baby!" failed. So yeah. you go trolling the college campus bars for young impressionable girls to satisfy your thirst for conquest to build your fragile self-esteem. (That my be a bit harsh, but probably true.)


So, please: either stop misrepresenting what you want, or own up to the
fact that you've fucked yourself over. You're getting older, after all.
It's time to excise the bullshit and deal with reality. You didn't want
a nice guy then, and he certainly doesn't fucking want you, now.

She's probably found a decent enough guy that isn't so jaded and douchebaggy to be with. She ain't comin' back dude. And because of all your incessant passive-aggressive resentment, you probably lost a good friend long ago. Too bad.


Sincerely,

A Recovering Nice Guy

Because being a nice guy was like having VD, or something.
---------------------------------

I really do understand where this guy is coming from. I have actually BEEN this guy a time or two (went through the same process with a few "girl-friends"). On REALLY bad days... I still am this guy.You just have to realize that sometimes you miss your shot by not letting her know what the deal is. Again, people in general aren't mind readers. You can't sit there with "I LIKE YOU! I LIKE YOU! I LIKE YOU! BE THE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN!" running through your head, and expect them to pick up on it all of a sudden.

I've learned that you have to be proactive to get the girl. At least to get her to notice you. It's a crap shoot, whether or not she reciprocates the feeling,but that's the way you gotta take it. Get shot down, patch up the bleeding heart with a few drinks and a spin or two of a Morrissey CD, then move on.

What's really disappointing about this entry is that I have realized this at a fairly young age, and this dude is most likely a good five years older than me, and still doesn't get it.

Ah well. Some people. That's just my take on all that.

-Leon

So Obama didn't win Texas. I'm still always proud to vote in any election, and have to freedom to do so. This is what the election process is all about. This is America.

However, I'm still damned frustrated that the 18-29 age group continued to be the lowest in voter turnout. THIS IS YOUR FUTURE DAMMIT! I'd Better see you in November, or I don't want you ever saying shit again about how the government does nothing about issues you care about.

This has been the most influential and heavily contested primary in history. Such passion and dedication for each candidate. I could do without the negative racial/gender undertones and the stupid commercials, biu. yeah. I'm excited to see this through. I've made my commitment.

Yes, this was a hard loss for Barack Obama supporters, but he is still in the lead.
Think of it like sports: These are the playoffs. It's a best-of-seven series. Barack was up 3-1, and Hilary toughed out a good win.. We have a lot of game left.

We can still do this.


-Leon

So i was listening to the Morrissey station on Pandora today, and I came across a song I hadn't heard in a long time.



zShare link, because I care.

So as I listened to this song, it really hit home with a lot of feelings I have been going through for the last two years or so.

Morrissey is awesome like that. I had a conversation with a co-worker about him (Trent Reznor was thrown in too) speaking for how I've felt for some time now. We were in agreement about his musical genius and contributions to the betterment of music as a whole. It's weird that his music is so melancholy, but positively so. I don't feel bad after listening to a Morrissey album. I always have this grand catharsis, and I actually feel a  bit more content, like I've gone through some therapy session or something.

I don't usually post lyrics, but here they are. The third verse is the nail-on-the-head moment for me.



This whole album...
If anyone wants it, just hit me up and I can zip file it to you.

-Leon

I've most likely  let the one girl that I really, honestly, saw myself liking a lot just up and walk away without much of a fight. This was way long ago, but it's just hitting me hard now.

Oh well. Maybe I was even a little unsure of what would have happened if I actually had her.
That feeling kinda sucks.
But it's something I've learned to deal with.

In other news, this new wireless keyboard and mouse I got from my brother are pretty B.A. Baracus.
I can even type from the bathroom.
(Yes, I tried it.)

-Leon

Copping after my credit card bill comes in for this month.

The rest of their stuff.

-Leon

You can count this as an "Did You Know?: A Moment in Black History" type entry, I guess. Though it isn't sponsored by McDonalds or anything.


Texas State Representative Helen Giddings (D- De Soto) spoke to a group I was in about the history behind the unique relationship Texas Formed with the country of South Africa in the immediate post-apartheid era.

Rep. Giddings was the starter and head of the group whom was the first to visit the country after Apartheid, and set in place legislation that directly linked Texas economically and diplomatically with the new forming government. To this day, Rep. Giddings maintains a strong tie to the country and is the only Honorary Consul to be named in the post-apartheid era. It was she who moved to amend the state constitution and lift sanctions placed on S. Africa (there had previously been a state constitutional sanctions placed on the government of S. Africa in 1988, because of their apartheid actions), and she who went directly to (then) Governor Bush to demand that economic ties be established with the new South African government. He granted her wishes by allowing her to lead a group of 36 people to meet with various members of South Africa's government.

And she has met Nelson Mandela!
And has been in the same room (invited on the same exclusive guest list) with Muammar "G-Smoove" al-Gaddafi and Yasir Arafat.
That's like... Oprah juice.
She was also the first African-American AND woman to chair the Committee of Business and Industry. She was appointed by a Republican, and he go flack for it by the head of a business group. She heard about this man not liking her being a female minority head, and called some of the businesses involved with said group and asked if they shared in the chairman of the group's opinions, after their talk... those business pledged to no longer be associated with that group.

Power, influence, and dignity folks.

I wish I had a recording device with me, because she was the most amazing story teller, and I have the memory of a fruit fly. I was going to bring my camera with me to photograph some amusing and poignant Valentines Day graffiti sprayed on the business building, but damned if I forgot it. I missed a great photo op there. But I got her autograph.

It's people like her that help me stay inspiried and on this path that I have chosen. I really want to make some sort of difference in this world. She reminded me that one person, paired with a lot of drive and direction aided by others willing to help, can really do something worthwhile on this earth. I really need to refocus and find what I see as worthwhile, and what I'm willing to truly fight for in this world.

Later,
-Leon

- Book is still not read. I'm just not getting into reading about international law, and that scares me because international law makes up about 25% of the content of my new chosen major.

- Work is starting to suck. They still haven't hired a new person to help out in our department, so I'm working just about every avaliable minute I have. Unlike other people. Everyone else seems to have an excuse to get out of working, and that pisses me off.

- I hate this warm weather smack in the middle of the damn winter. I've had a headache for the past four days.

+ However, I won some money from some chump Patriots fan on the Super Bowl, last night. Woo.

+ And there is a party I'm going to on Friday night.

I just want this week to be over already.
Eh.

-Leon

Or at least test my not sleeping (which I already do), speed reading (d'oh!), and badass paper-writing abilities...

-I have to read this book, and write an opinion and review by next week for my Critical Issues in World Politics class.
-After that, I have to read something else to get to 400 total pages (I'm counting the book I'm reading for the other class) for my History of US Diplomacy from 1945 and write about those items, as well. I think that is due the week after
-There is also my first exam in my World Civilizations from the 16th Century course coming up pretty soon as well. Then a break for a week or so, then on to starting my 10 page research paper for the Critical Issues class again.


Hmmm....

After I typed that, it doesn't seem too bad.
I can do this damn thing. As long as I don't have any distractions.

Like this Lost review show.
This shit is too confusing.

Get off the damn island already, so we can get back to our normal crap-ass television!
Stop playing with my emotions.

But yeah. I'm shutting myself in until the 7th.
"No TV and no beer make Leon... something, something..."
"Write fantastic papers?"
"DON'T MIND IF I DO! WHAAAAALLLPPPPKKKASDSAF! *Scribble*Scribble"*Type*Type*Type*

I'm going to bed.