Mmmmmm boy… my stomach is full and my mind is hungry.  Well my stomach’s full at least.  So it’s Sunday night and I am just getting ready for tomorrow.  At one o’clock this afternoon I got to get back in my dorm room.  You see, we had basketball games Friday and Saturday over break so I was here on campus from Thursday night until now.  All of the residence halls were shut down over break, except for Smith Hall, which is where all the basketball guys living in dorms had to stay.  So, (if that last sentence makes any sense) I had to live in a room all weekend that wasn’t mine.  It wasn’t bad at all, it’s just really really extremely nice to back in my own room.  So I hauled all my junk back in here at one and it’s still a little messy, just ask my roommate Ryan, he’ll tell ya. 

 

So now that everyone is back from break I am realizing that I really missed you all.  Sure, this is a really nice campus…but its really not the same without all the people.  I mean what good is a coloring book without all the crayons?  (that great analogy was supplied by Jessica Eberwine) I have come to realize that AU is what it is because of the people here.  Sure, I don’t want to go to class, but it will be good to catch up with everyone… and hey only two weeks until finals!!! Yeah I know no one likes finals, not even nerdy kids like me, but the fact that finals are coming means that Christmas Break is coming!!! YAY I love it.

 

So I am glad that AU is back and running, and I am looking forward to a great week, just not to that paper I have to write!  I think I will take a page out of Maggie’s book and do a little procrastinating on this paper…shoot I think I already am behind on this one.

 

As it was Thanksgiving just a few days ago, please remember to be thankful for all that you have.  I am so thankful for the wonderful family and friends and girlfriend I have!!!

 

Yay for Thanksgiving!!!

 

Zach

I am the worst procrastinator in the world. Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration… but it really feels like that sometimes. I’ve known all semester that I had a big paper due tomorrow (well… it’s 1 a.m. so it’s actually due today). Did I work on it a couple weeks ago? No. Did I start it early this week? No. Did I work on it this afternoon after class? No. I waited until about 3 hours ago to start. Bad, bad, bad idea.

 I got it done… but I’m not guaranteeing it’s any good or that it makes any sense.

 So you might ask what I did INSTEAD of doing my paper… Let’s see… I went to class this morning, hung out in the Admissions Office with Kelly, Krysta, and Josh (some of my co-workers), did a little of work in the office too, went out to lunch with my friend Julie, hung out in Mocha’s with some of our other friends, went to another class, hung out with Amanda after class, watched Cash Cab with my roomies (yeah… we’re that cool), hung out at Mocha’s with Emily, had an Alacritas committee meeting in Mocha’s (which turns into girl talk time… we don’t get much work done), and then came back and checked my facebook, email, myspace, and every single away message on my buddy list.

All of this to say: I love procrastinating because it means I am spending time with the incredible people I have met here.

 However… I’m probably going to regret this at least a little when I get my grade back. OH WELL! Totally worth it.

So why is it good to be on a smaller campus like AU?  Do let me explain… So here’s the scenario… It’s Friday, I am tired because I was up too late on Thursday night for no reason, and I am so ready for the weekend.  So I am taking a quiz in Calculus (so fun! – that’s sarcasm in case you couldn’t tell) and I finish and I am dragging… what do I need?  I need a latte!  So its 11:50 and I have a class at 12:00… I don’t have time! – or do I?   If I hurry, I just may be able to get down to Mocha Joe’s and get a drink and make it to class by 12.  So I rush down there, no one’s in line – phew – I order a Mocha Joe (this is like a regular Mocha only they use chocolate milk to make it rather than regular milk…mmmmm… it’s so delish).  So I hurry, carefully as not to spill my precious Mocha Joe made by the one and only Mocha Joe’s, over to Hartung for my next class and I sit down.  I see kids in the room…but only a few… I look at my phone to see what time it is.  I was five minutes early!

And you’re asking me…so what?  You tell me on what other campus in the world can you get to the dining hall, get a first class latte, and get to class in FIVE minutes.  It’s amazing… I love it.

If you’re at a big school you barely have time to breathe between classes because you have 10 minutes to make a 15 minute walk.  I mean, if you’re at IU you may have to take the bus to class, do they serve lattes on the bus? I think not.

Well there you go… one more reason why AU rocks my socks off!

Thanks

Zach

 

P.S. The colder it gets the more you enjoy the small campus J

So, I know it’s Sunday night, but I’m going to write a post about Thursday. I’m always running behind!

 Thursday’s chapel was absolutely amazing. A bunch of students spoke about our need for unity and a renewed spirit on campus, and then challenged the student body to do something about it. They had placed 2,100 small wooden crosses in the Valley (the middle of campus), symbolizing our 2,100 undergrad students. Any of us who wanted to commit to making those changes were encouraged to take a cross with us.

I’ll be honest though… I saw something completely heartbreaking after chapel. I saw a student go straight to the Valley, kick over a cross, pick it up, snap it over his knee, and then throw it back down. He walked away without ever saying a word. The whole crowd was stunned for a few moments. I don’t think any of us knew what to do. It was such a violent response to a message of peace.

Then I got to see something beautiful. Another student, my friend Gina, walked over and picked up the pieces, and the rest of us took our crosses from the ground. I am sad for the guy. I wonder what has happened to him while at AU to make him so angry. I don’t know who he is or where he lives, but I hope his floormates, RD, and professors are there for him to talk to. I know mine have always been a huge support system for me.

How is everyone doing today!?!?!?  I hope life for you all is marvelous.  I just want to tell you all that I am in love with this time of year.  Why?  A better question people is, Why the heck not?  So… we just passed the excitement of Halloween, but there is much more fun to be had in NoveCember.  (NoveCember is the name given to this time we are all in right now.)  First, basketball is starting all over the country (NBA, NCAA, High School… all of it),  and if you’re from Indiana that’s exciting (really exciting).  For me I can’t wait to stop practicing so much, and start playing some games.  Our [AU men’s basketball’s] first game is Nov. 17^th.  Besides bball, you have the NFL action really heating up.  I mean it’s seriously make-or-break time for your fantasy team.  No one wants to finish in the cellar of a 12 team league…that’s embarrassing.  And oh yea… I guess the NFL playoffs are looming, but we all know fantasy football is way more important. 

What, you may ask, could be any more exciting than basketball and football?  Do let me inform you that Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away…yep…Thanksgiving.  You know – that holiday where you just stuff your face with food!  I don’t care if its turkey, ham, or chicken that you fancy… it’s all delicious.  The best feeling in the world is sitting in your Grandpa’s LazyBoy at 4 in the afternoon, stuffin down your 12^th and 13^th yeast rolls.  You just feel like you could sit there and watch the Lions play a meaningless, unentertaining football game for the rest of the week.  Shoot!  The best part about watching something boring on TV is that you can take a 20 minute nap and not worrying about missing anything important. 

So, here’s the beauty of this time… you always have something to look forward to.  I mean its football this weekend and next, a big feast a few days after that, and then all the sudden you’re off for Christmas break!  And then there’s Christmas itself and New Year’s Eve. 

Settle down everyone… I know its great, but please refrain from cheering aloud for the people around you may think you are crazy (if you’re alone though, keep on cheering and yelling and jumping…I’ll never tell).

Anyway… I hope after reading this you are super pumped up for NoveCember (no I did not make that up… google it…ok I made it up… there’s nothing on google about it, THUS it does NOT exist). 

I hope all of you have a wonderful time today and in the days to follow.  Don’t forget to enjoy every stinkin’ second of every day.

Zach

It has been so long since I posted!!! Yikes! It’s because I’ve been so busy and crazy. And, a lot of it has been with my social club, Alacritas. We have been up to a ton of fun stuff, and we have a lot more planned.

Last Tuesday was Halloween (my favorite holiday!!!! seriously, you can’t go wrong with candy and costumes!), and our club participated in Trick or Treat for Riley, benefitting Riley Children’s Hospital. We got all dressed up and went trick or treating, but instead of collecting candy we asked for change to add to our little red bucket!

The coolest part was how awesome this community is. We would ask for change, and the families would give so generously. Plus, several of them gave us candy too!!

 On a different note, but still along the lines of Alacritas, we had our weekly club meeting tonight. Every Monday we get together for a meeting that consists of a weekly devotion and a LOT of laughing. But, we changed it up tonight. We had a candlelight footwashing ceremony for all of the girls, and then a time of sharing what is on our hearts and minds. Then we prayed together. It was really emotional for me, and it made me even more grateful for the amazing women that God has surrounded me with.

 Alright, I’m getting sappy… which means it’s probably time for me to get to bed!

So my girlfriend and I were trying to decide what to be for Halloween, and about a month or three ago (yes we were thinking in advance, because dressing up is super awesome!) we came up with the idea of being Santa Claus and one of his elves (she’s a shorter than me so it worked out perfectly!)  Somehow she made us both these awesome costumes, I was really amazed.  So last weekend we went to a friends Halloween get-together dressed in Christmas gear.  It was tons of fun.  The highlight of my night had to be going into a coffee shop and ordering some lattes dressed as Santa and an elf.

Then, last Tuesday (which was actually Halloween) hundreds of kids came trick-or-treating in the residence halls all across campus.  I rushed back to the dorm after basketball practice so I could jump into my Santa costume (yes, I showered after basketball practice).  I got ready and got my candy out.  There weren’t a ton of people on 4^th floor so I ventured down to Third.  It just so happened that the entire 3^rd floor was decorated like Christmas.  You see, it has become a tradition to celebrate Christmas early on 3^rd since no students are actually here during Christmas time.  Anyway, down there I fit right in.

There were so many adorable little kids all decked out in their costumes.  Several of the girls were dressed as fairy tale princesses, and a majority of the boys were superheroes.  Our R.D. had an awesome Superman outfit, and fortunately he had been training hard for the role and looked great.  One student was dressed as George Bush, and 1^st floor serenaded us with a “Happy Halloween� jingle.  

 

 

 

I must admit I do feel kind of bad, because I think I confused a lot of the younger ones.  They tended to give me this look that said, “why in the world is Santa here already? We don’t even have snow yet� (Yet people… remember this is Indiana, the snow will come).  I hope I did not seriously hope I did not completely screw up any little minds.  I had plenty of kids who did ask me though if I were the real Santa.  I just explained that I really admire him, so I dressed up like him. 

Everyone should have fun at Halloween, I understand that when your between 5^th and 8^th grade that you are too cool for Halloween, but trust me, the older you get the more fun it is.  So think up something creative, find someone who can sew… and be whatever you want for Halloween.  You know what, heck, be whatever you want when ever you want!!!

So if you see Santa on campus in the middle of April…don’t get worried…it could just be that I felt like dressing up…

                                                                                                            

Thanks,

Saint Nicholas