The Four Amigos!

I think the pattern behind most of my blogs has been "start with a title and end with something that relates to the title, making everything between totally random." And I'll continue with that pattern tonight.

There's a little bit to catch up on. I had to write a French paper on Tuesday so I could have it edited by the writing lab and then turn it in on Wednesday. Since I had a couple hours after my Italian class I decided to write the paper outside the door of the writing lab on some comfy chairs. There's usually a handful of people there, and Tuesday was no exception. As I was writing, one of Emily's roommates, Haley, came up and said hi, and we talked for a little bit and I explained why I was there and blah blah blah, eventually she left. Well, this girl sitting in a chair across from me looked up and asked if I had said that I was in French and I said yes, and I helped her on a paper she was writing and we talked for a little while about what we were studying, etc. Things people talk about when they first meet. Then she got up and left, without her backpack.

When I looked back up again I noticed her backpack was still there, so I got up and asked another girl sitting on another chair if she thought it would be kosher if I looked through the other girl's backpack for a name so I could look her up in the directory and let her know she left her bag in the JFSB. Unfortunately, Allison Steenblik didn't have a number or e-mail listed, so I had to either take it to lost and found or leave it. The office was closing in 45 minutes, however, so I couldn't be sure that she would get it back that day. So I left a note under the backpack that said,

"If you are getting this note and not your backpack it's because someone took it to the lost and found. If you are taking this backpack to the lost and found please leave this note here so whoever left the backpack will know that her backpack is safe! -Sincerely, French Guy (Casey Garland)"

I felt pretty good about that. A couple hours later I got a text from someone saying thank you for leaving the note, and it was a 509 number! So we started talking about where we lived, and then started talking about everything people who just meet talk about. Again. Then, in the middle of this conversation I got a text from her that said, "This might seem a little forward, but will you go to Peter Pan with me before it closes on Saturday?" Forward indeed! BUT, I had talked to her enough to decide she wasn't just a weirdo (pretty cool, in fact. I mean, she's taking French) and that I would probably have a good time, so I said yes! And now we're going tomorrow at the matinée showing after my soccer game. Which I'm also pumped for, by the way.

So I skipped a few days. Wednesday I turned in my paper, which I was pleased with. I was also pleased with my English paper that I wrote a rough draft for. I went to the basketball game that night (BYU vs. SDSU, who was undefeated AT THE TIME) and worked until after halftime, and then watched the rest of the game. It was insane! I've never heard the Marriott Center so loud. We were playing a #4 team as a #9 team, the first time any two top 10 teams have been in the MC at the same time. We won 71-58. The fans stormed the court and everyone was going crazy, all night. I left and went to Tyler's to eat pizza, and hung out with him, Michelle, Merilee, and Mckenzie until 12. On Thursday I went to class and then jammed with Emily from like 3-7. We recorded "Firework" and put it on YouTube. I think it's great. Then I went to Jenn's and hung out there until 12:30 or so. Melissa made cookies and I think I had 10. At least. Also probably the best brownie I've ever eaten that Miranda made. And pizza that Jenn made. I'm always fed sooo well when I go over there.

Another example of this would be tonight, when I went there after working the volleyball game and ate angel hair pasta and more cookies. Then Melissa, Jenn, Ben and I (Four Amigos) went to Sammy's for burgers/shakes, came back to my place and did nothing. They just left :(

But speaking of the volleyball game. Men's volleyball is amazing. It's like women's volleyball, but with guys. Who make things, let's be honest, just a lot more intense. Like women's basketball, lacrosse, or softball? Come on...don't get me wrong, I love watching women's volleyball and soccer. But that's about it. Ok back to the match. I got stuck working in the corner of the fieldhouse making sure no one snuck in the backdoor. I think I talked to 5 people total - over 3 hours. Fortunately, my newest friend Allison came and sat with me for like 45 minutes, and that made things a lot easier. Turns out she loves volleyball too! We're gonna try and play in the RB after Peter Pan. Hopefully everything works out :)

Alright, that's about all for now. I should rest up for the game! Is it wrong to eat Cap'n Crunch before playing sports...? What if I blend it with milk and a banana...hmmm...I'll try it.

Ramblin' Man is excited for tomorrow!

The Boxer

As I sit in the "no shh" zone of the library I listen to the musical genius of Simon and Garfunkel. Unfortunately I'm limited to their greatest hits album, and if I know anything about a greatest hits album of any band it's that often times they don't have an eighth of the band's best songs. The album "One" comes to mind. Anyway I hope some day I get more of these guys, they're too good. Classic, I might say. Well...I would say it. Obviously I just did. So. Anyway.

This weekend was pretty great. I jammed with Emily after classes on Friday and went straight from there to Caitlin's going away party, just a couple hours early. I got to drive Abby's car, which is a stick, and I only stalled twice! It was one of the prouder moments of my life. We used cream soda for beer and fiji water for vodka. Everything in the apartment was labeled with Russian words, which I thought was awesome. Even Good Translate gave a different definition here and there. We watched Easy A and then I biked home in the sleet and went to a BOM read-a-thon. At 2 in the morning. I got home around 7 a.m. and slept until 3:30.

I had been planning on playing soccer at 12, but that wasn't gonna happen. I had too little sleep and too much to eat for that to happen before several more hours of composing myself. So when I woke up I got an invitation text to play more soccer at 4:30, which I would've been ok with. Plans only follow through every now and then with these guys though, so I made other plans to eat lunch/dinner at the Cannon with Tyler. I went there, planning on leaving after a while to go play soccer whenever my friend texted me. Meanwhile Mckenzie and Michelle joined me and Tyler at the Cannon. I got a text that said it was too cold to play outside and the IPF was closed, so we rescheduled for sometime this week. I stayed at the Cannon for 3 hours. It was awesome.

I went with Tyler and then to a little get together at one of Mckenzie's friend's house, and I met a bunch of really cool people and had a blast playing ping pong, catch phrase, and signs. Turns out one of the kids there is Brother Dowd's son! Anyway I was there until 12:30 or so. I came home and did some homework I think.

Woke up on Sunday, went to church, came back and started on a stack of homework I think I started the night before. Worked until ward prayer at 9, came back from that and worked until 1 or so. Then I learned that Luke Lasalle died.

That kid was a boxer if I ever knew one. That doesn't really make sense, because Luke wasn't really the athletic type. He was really smart, did journalism for CWU. It took me like 15 seconds to like him. He had this natural charm, was super nice and easy to talk to. He was funny and had great taste in music. I could talk with him forever about music, or whatever really. I saw Justin post something about "RIP Luke" on Twitter, but I thought it was just some celebrity or something. Then Caitlin asked me who Luke was as I was going to bed Sunday night and I couldn't find anything on Google. Then I started thinking about friends I had named Luke. Luke Lasalle was the only one I knew who actually went by 'Luke,' but there was no way it could be him. How could he have died? I went to his Facebook, and sure enough there was about a thousand and five posts wishing him well in the afterlife. It went from everyone wishing him a happy birthday to wishing that he rest in peace. He died the night of his birthday, or the day after, I'm still not sure. I couldn't believe it. It's still hard to imagine. In fact, when I woke up this morning I had totally forgotten about it. It hadn't settled at all. Then I was sitting here in the library when this kid walked by that I swear was him. Turns out it wasn't. Because he really, actually, in real life died. Travis said it was heroine, which is really sad because he was by himself when he died. He was doing heroine by himself...? This is Jordan Manthei all over again, except I was actually recently friends with Luke...he left a legacy behind. I know he won't be forgotten, and I hope when I go home I have a good long chat with his closer friends about him. I wish I had known him better. I'll miss him. I pray that he rests in peace now and that God is with him.

Ramblin' Man' is a little shook up.

Billionaire

I wish I could sit down and blog and then I be inspired to create a 25 billion dollar social networking site and become the youngest billionaire ever. First I need a girlfriend. And then I need her to break up with me. Step one might take a while...plus, did I mention I need to be a computer genius?

Early Morning Blues

Don't be misled, the title of this post is solely based on the fact that I'm listening to John Mayer at 1:22 in the morning. "Who says" is currently playing. Chatting with Hannah and Gentry on Facebook after a long night with Jenn, Melissa, and Warren and then Caitlin and her roommates. At Jenn's we made cream-cheese chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, cut up fruit and corn bread muffins. Super good. The grape Koolaid was...an interesting addition.

Then at Caitlin's I watched Gilmore Girls for pretty much the first time, and it's actually really funny. I met the other girls from the apartment, they seem really cool! I hope I spend more time over there this semester.

Speaking of this semester. I have advanced composition for French, Italian 201, Bio100, BOM122, and Writing 150. Lots of writing. A third of it in two other languages. I already screw up some spoken stuff, so hopefully I can keep it straight on paper.

Already too much homework for tomorrow and Tuesday. Not looking forward to the rest of the semester. BUT I'm done in April, which is awesome. Then I'll find out about my internship, and then (hopefully) I'll have a five month summer, leave in October and spend the school year in France.

I'm glad to have to have a day off tomorrow. One of two for the whole semester: wttfff. So it's like, a month straight until my next day off, and then two months straight after that. Yikes. It's crazy to think I'm halfway done though...

I realized that I don't have a best friend about my junior year of high school. Then I realized that jumping from place to place every year probably doesn't help. Central last year, BYU this year, France next year, who knows where I'll graduate from. It kindof sucks. I have all these friends who have their best friends and I watch all these movies where everyone has a best friend and blah blah blah. I really only have a lot of people I can call friends and close friends. But I don't have that 'best friend' and I really wish I did.

Anyway. I don't have much more to ramble about. No one is even following this blog haha.

How funny, the end of this post ended up making sense with the title.

Ramblin' Man is a little lonely.