Welcome! Our blog follows the lives of Bobby Burton and Connor Schmidt. We are living far apart from each other so we made this blog to keep in touch. The posts will act as blogged emails so you can follow our daily lives in letter form.
So start reading, and keep reading! We are glad you are here.
It's okay though, I love answering them! But first. . .
IT IS MY BIRTHDAY! YAYYYY.
also,
I GOT THE JOB.
( It is for writing a blog for Prospective Calvin Students!)
I'm so excited!!!! Woo!
There are so many things I want to tell you Bobster!
First, juggling classes, meetings, and homework is hard,but it is like a big puzzle! I make sure to use my Google Calendar religiously, otherwise I miss appointments and things. It is quite unfortunate.
Second, I really wish I could go to your play. I am super sad I'm not able to see you act, you were always amazing at portraying crazy and hilarious characters. I'm sure this is no different.
Third, watch this video . . . because I really like it.
Fourth, a Nomad from LiNK ( Liberty in North Korea) spent the night in my room last night. The nomads travel around America giving presentations on LiNK and show the documentary. It was really nice to meet the nomads and hear what they had to say about the organization.
Fifth, I really want to skip theology because it is my birthday, but I know I shouldn't.
Sixth,I liked the Hana Pestle video, She has a nice voice. It is super lame that you can't go. :( Also, I liked drama, at least now I miss it a bit. It wasn't vital to my joyfulness but I did like being in front of people. I like the limelight hahaha.
Seventh, I did a group presentation on Coffee trying to prove that it was necessary for college life. It was super fun! We made coffee for the whole class and acted like we were giving an infomercial. We compared Coffee to energy drinks and gave health and social benefits. I think we got a really good grade.
Eighth, I should go to sleep.
I hope everything is well with you. I miss you (And Trevor) a bunch. I just want to hang out with you and sit around and relax.
In case i didn't mention it, that's the name of my play, lol.
WOW!
It sounds like you had quite the week dude! It must have been really amazing, being able to talk to important collegiate people from all around the states. Plus an amazing party with pumpkin carving AND laser tag? I hope i get to go to a party that cool someday. :)
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ok, i have something that has been really bugging me recently. I have Calculus II lectures from 11:20 to 12:10 Mon-Thur, Organic Chemistry lectures from 12:30 through 2:10 on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Labs on Tuesdays from 12:20 to 4:10. As you can see, i am usually doing school related things around noon on the weekdays. However, whenever my college decides to have something cool happening like a live performance of dance or a lecture or singers in Grey Wolf Hall or Baker Hall or the Parks Building, they insist on scheduling these events at times between, wait for it...
11AM-2PM.
I don't see how this is a good time to schedule anything cool or interesting that people would want to attend. 90% of the people i know at EvCC have classes somewhere in that time slot almost every weekday.
Just last week we had Hana Pestle perform in Parks, but i didn't get to go because i had O-Chem lecture.
Next Monday the college has two published poets reading snippets of their new work in Jackson Center (event building basically), but it's at 1...so i can't go. Parks is hosting a club fest from 11 to 1 on Halloween. All the clubs will have tables set up and there is going to be a costume contest and lost of other cool stuff. but i can't go because YADDA YADDA YADDA SAME SAME SAME. Sometimes i wish i wasn't a fairly responsible student so i could blow off a lecture to go to an event or two.
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OH MAH GERD
i have zero time to do so many things! >:/
Being in a play and having three core classes to keep up with is no picnic. I basically have had to do a weeks worth of homework over the weekend for the last two weeks because of final dress rehearsal and the performances. I just don't have any time for HW over the week. speaking of which, i hope someone takes some pictures of me in costume so i can post them on here. I love my costume. I'm dressed all victorian proper-like. You should TOTALLY do some acting in the near future and then tell me alllllllll about it! Acting together in highschool was so much fun!
wait.
i forget. did you like being in theater in highschool?
I recall someone saying that they were only in theater b/c it was the only other EC besides basketball & choir. was that you or ben? BTW, How is your family doing?
It was President Le Roy's special week at Calvin. A Regina Spektor concert, academic symposiums, flash mobs, inauguration, and galas galore. The week was packed, but it was incredible.
I was a Student Ambassador for the week. Wearing my Calvin tie and official name badge, I helped delegates from different colleges get ready for inauguration, ushered for the event, and looked all around studly.
The first activity I was able to go was the amazing flash mob to the Cupid Shuffle in the middle of Commons with the President himself
Woo!
.
You might wonder what we are wearing. That would be the beard shirt.
As you might have noticed from the classic picture of our
new President I included, Michael Le Roy has an amazing beard. So all the
students, staff, and faculty bought these grey and maroon “beard shirts” and
wore them to the flash mob! ( Facial Hair Clothing is the new fashion, in case
you didn’t know)
That's me in the glasses down at the bottom! Right there ^
Next on my agenda was volunteering as my student ambassador
position on Friday at the Fieldhouse. I met some awesome Calvin staff while I
was there. They ended up helping me get to the inauguration gala. My job during
this time was to assist delegates from other colleges who were coming to
process in their regalia ( think Harry Potter robes) during the President’s
inauguration. I met all sorts of kind ( and important) people all around the
States coming to show respect to our new Prez!
Beauty Shot. ( Ignore the crooked tie)
Saturday was the big day; inauguration. I arrived early to
help assist delegates and ended up filling in as an usher for the big day!
Swarming with students, staff, faculty, and alumni, everyone was here to see
the inauguration. It was an amazing time. In fact you can see it right here!
I was invited to the Black-tie Optional inauguration gala by
the kind Calvin staff I had met earlier!
In case you don’t know what “Black-tieOptional” means, don’t
worry. (I didn’t either) After Googling the term (I’m quite positive that is a
word!), I found that the normal attire for these events is a tuxedo for men, and an
evening gown for women! All I had was a suit, so it had to do. I ended up being
dressed formally enough.
The Gala was absolutely stunning. Located in the Marriott Ballroom in
downtown Grand Rapids, there were around 300 people invited. ( Who were all way more important than I)
We ate
delicious food, mingled, and listened to speakers talk about President Le Roy’s
awesome personality! It was incredible.
The food was to die for.
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After all that, I'm sure you thought there could not be more. But there was. A giant celebration in the fieldhouse complete with catered food, dance party, laser tag, pumpkin carving, and a jazz band! It was a great end to the week.
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All in all, the week was utterly amazing. I'm quite positive that our new President enjoyed himself quite thoroughly! Calvin knows how to throw amazing festivities. I was quite honored to take part in them.
grrrrrrr, why is there so much stuff to do this weekend? oh yeah. it's because MY PLAY STARTS IT'S FIRST PERFORMANCE THIS TUESDAY!
YAAAAAAAAAY!
We just got the last part of the laboratory scene setup and i get to flip giant switches and play with an old redesigned sound board! EEEEEEEEE i am so excited!
Oh my goodness. how many credits are you taking this semester? I cannot find a way to balance out the amount of time i am spending on each class. You know how long it took me to write up my last Organic Chemistry Pre-Lab?
7 HOURS.
How do you balance out your time for your classes?
Speaking of classes, what is your favorite class you are taking this quarter? Mine would have to be biology.
This quarter we are learning all about the tissues that make up organs and organ systems in plants and animals and the different organs and body parts and what they do and how they function. it's pretty tough, but it's also really interesting!
OH YEAH! i just remembered that i finally decided where i am going to transfer after finishing my AA! I'm going to go to Western Washington University! :D They have a marine focused Biology program that i will be going for. I would be more excited...except i just found out that i have a WHOLE YEAR more of classes before i get to transfer. i'll be applying to western for the 2014 Fall Quarter. If i'm lucky i'll have my bachelors sometime in 2016.
guess what i did yesterday instead of doing a post on time? that's right!
ZOMBIE HUNTING.
It was so much fun! I went with a couple of my friends in the drama dept. and Beth (the drama major advisor). I got on a wagon and we drove through a corn field and had to defend the cart we were riding in from an onslaught on ZOMBIES! it was so scary! here's a picture of us after the zombie hunt:
It was raining the whole time, which made it even more INTENSE. lol. :)
Also i made a scary face. SCARY!
In the theme of the season, What are you going to be for Halloween? I am gonna try to find a pair of blue jean overalls and dress up as a 1950's grease-monkey.
That is a really good question Bobby. Yes I have changed. In many ways, but here are two.
DISCLAIMER: These probably make no sense.
First, I have become extremely open and accepting. People in the North are SO much different than people in the south. In some good ways, in some bad ways. That isn't really the point.
The point is, that seeing all these points of view makes you pop that comfort bubble and look at all sides of an argument. It makes me question things I had originally believed, and hold on even stronger to things I still do. No matter what the topic, there is always someone who thinks differently than I do.
In Dallas that wasn't really the case.
I'm not saying its bad to think alike necessarily, I mean, if everyone thought that we should get ice cream for free, I would be all for it.
BUT
My point is,
I have experienced So many ideas and opinions. It has made me a more knowledgeable, cultured, and respectful person. Yay college.
Second, I am more humble.
not because I necessarily want to be, but because there are
Numerous people smarter than me
Numerous people cooler than me
Numerous mistakes I have made
Numerous failed attempts I have done.
Anyways, I have realized how lame i am. Hahaha. That is a good thing I guess. WHATEVER.
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Oh, here are those pictures by the way. That totally adorable Asian girl is Rikako Funai, the intern from Japan. SHE IS SO CUTE. Anyways, the photos aren't great, but they are fun!
Rika
My hilarious Professor when I told him to get mad at me.
Oh fall, I love you
Me and the prosps
Ceramic Studio
RIKA
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Now for the millions of questions.
1. I'm not voting. I forgot to fill out the absentee ballot/I was too lazy/ I'm too stupid to know who I want to vote for and even if I wasn't I would vote for some third party hooligan who would never get elected.
2. Whoa, after college? Why the heck are you thinking that far in advance! I mean, I guess I would like to go to graduate school for communications and continue with my Japanese studies. I am learning so much and I love every single minute of it!
3. Don't worry if you feel like you are drowning. Take a Japanese Class. I know you will love it. I know you won't become a hobo, but even if you did. IT WOULD BE OKAY.
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Over and out!
I haven't watched all of the debates so far, but what i have seen has been just embarrassing. It seems like neither Romney, nor Obama have a firm grasp on what they are even talking about. When they are making sense, Romney is the one who seems like he knows what he's talking about (not that i agree with everything he is saying) and Obama can barely make a rebuttal! So i have my choice between a candidate who I don't agree with on the vast majority of his views, but can at least verbalize his plans, and another who i want to vote for, if only he could keep a sentence going without a 10 second pause between every freakin word! (that's an exaggeration, but you get my point).
UGH.
politics aggravate me.
Who are you going to vote for? I need some help deciding. Washington State votes in November, i think.
GEEZ, has it only been a little over a year since i moved? It feels like it's been so much longer, honestly.
How much do you think you have changed since we graduated?
Like, SERIOUSLY, this is a serious question. I feel like so much has happened since i started college up here. When i think back to who i was a year and a couple months ago, its hard to believe who i was and who i am now. I mean that in a lot of ways.
It's hard enough to think that in just 3-4 years we'll both have our bachelors and probably be working full time or doing any other degree of other things. Are you planning to go for a masters right after graduating, or are you going to take a break and find some solid, well paying work?
I know I'm really lucky to be where i am now, being so close to my college, having a program that lets me do the first 2 years of my degree at community college SUPER CHEAP and then transfer to a 4-year university. I can't help missing my brother and sister though. I guess i thought my family would always be close to each other, but half of us ended up on the opposite side of the country! It's not like I'm worried about them or anything. They're doing really good in fact! Johnny just had his first kid with his wife, and Maggie is really happy where she and her family are at the moment.
Maybe I'm just...anxious. It's like, well, this move was going to be my chance to have a say in how my life is going to go from this point on. From before that point, I had never really felt like i had the choice of what i would be doing in the grand scheme of things. Now that i am slowly moving away from having to rely on my parents, it feels like, at any moment, something could go wrong. I'm not going to have my parents to fall back on forever.
I just get all of these crazy thoughts of how something could happen that would leave me in some kind of terrible situation, and no one would be there to help me get back on my feet. Sometimes it feels like I've been uprooted, and everyone that i want to be close to me is really far away. I've made lots of friends here, but we all live in different cities, so i don't really get to hang out with people a lot.
I feel like I'm missing that drive that everyone should have. That thing that pushes you to get out on your own and start your own life. I kinda feel like I'm floundering, which makes it seem like everyone around me is moving ahead on their own. I don't even have a job yet! You work in the library at your college right? If i want a job inside my college, then I'm going to have to wait another year, since EvCC only hires annually.
IT'S NOT ALL BAD THOUGH!
SERIOUSLY!
I'M NOT GONNA BECOME A HOBO!
I PROMISE!
It just feels like so much has changed and is changing and will change in just a few short years. Its a lot to take in sometimes.
Let's see, how will i end this post? hmmm...PBS IDEA CHANNEL. This is an awesome YouTube channel. Love the questions this guy comes up with.
Back to more important things, My dorm retreat is this weekend. There is an 100% chance of rain. WHOOPSIES. Pray that everyone doesnt freak out and not show up and complain and whine and all that obnoxious-ness.
(I had a midterm today that was 30% of my grade!!!!)
It was in Persuasion and Propaganda. AHHHHHHHH Like the test was
actually really fun, it is just scary because it was a hard test and there was so much to talk about.
Oh Bruises, such a classic orange Ipod song. I loved that old Ipod. It was so kind to us.
Now like half of those songs are super old and throwbacks. SO WEIRD
We are old.
Old people are . . . . . kinda gross.
(Don't tell my dad I said that)
Next post, I am going to upload my pictures from Calvin in 24. It is this awesome day here where everyone takes tons and tons of photographs about their day and they all upload them onto the interweb facebook page! I have taken some. . . interesting photos and there are more sure to come. It will be an amazing wordless post. Get excited. GET EXCITED. Oh, and Gravity Falls is actually kinda funny (at least the two clips you showed me) but I don't have time to watch T.V. shows. I seriously am WAYYYYY too busy.
This friday i'm going to my friend Xander's Spelling Bee. Did you know there was such a thing as adult spelling bees? I didn't. I think i'm gonna show up with a sign. Gonna treat it like i'm at a basketball game or something, hahaha.
A few of my friends and I are going to a planetarium in Seattle this Saturday. When was the last time you went to a planetarium? Did you ever go the science place in Dallas? MAN that place was cool.
OH MY GOSH YOUR BIRTHDAY IS ALMOST HERE I HAVE A PRESENT TO SEND YOU.
I waited an extra day to post this since you posted a day late. So don't worry, I didn't forget about it.
This week is UnLearn week here at Calvin College.
It is basically a time to 'unlearn' all the stereotypes we find in the world today.
Race Stereotypes
Sex Stereotypes
Religious Stereotypes
Wealth Stereotypes
The point is to unlearn these biases that we have in us from society, friends, etc.
It is a really fun week with lots of cool talks to go to. There is one on Hip Hop Theology, a talk on stereotypes in Disney movies, a look at Islam and Christian relationships, A International Food Festival, and Much much much much more.
I wish you could be here, it is fun!
Guess what. . . .
I had to do an hour of community service. HAAAAAAAA
I used this amazing backpack vacuum to clean out the basement of my dorm as punishment for toilet papering my RA's room. (Yeah, Calvin is tough). But it wasn't so bad. I felt like I was from Ghost Busters, vacuuming up Ghosts left and right. It was pretty epic. But it also hurt my back.
I don't know how they carried that thing all the time! Goodness Gracious.
I seriously think there is SO much to say. laskjf;alskdjf;las.
Anyways, For my dorm talent show this weekend, I am performing a song with two of my friends from KHvR( Andrew and Caitlin). Here is the actual song. It is by Greg Laswell featuring Ingrid Michaelson. (They are married!!) Anyways, The Ingrid Michaelson concert was AMAZING. She was seriously the most hilarious person.
IN THE WORLD.
At one point, she took out a water bottle, took a drink, and was like,
" Did you know Lady Gaga doesn't drink water on stage? She thinks it is too human"
"I bet she would drink the blood of a baby goat instead"
Then she start saying Baby Goat, but like Baaa(Baa-ing)by goat.
Then she randomly started playing Poker Face by Lady Gaga but she changed the lyrics.
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba Baby Goat.
Na na na na
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba Baby Goat
Baby Goat
My baby Goat is my best friend.
It was to die for. *dies*
Here is that song,
I love it so much. The harmony, the guitar, the lyrics. I am so excited.
Anyways, I could talk forever.
You know that though.
I hope your classes are going well, I miss you!!!!
whoops, i forgot to post yesterday. (This sentence was sung out loud.)
Anywaaaaaaaays, i spent approximately 19 hours last weekend doing nothing but homework. ...yeah.
CORE CLASSES ARE AWESOME! 8D
oh awesome! i love those pictures! where did you find them? My favorites would have to be first one with the spoons and the last one with the monkeys. they look like those monkeys that you'd get in the barrel when you were little. i LOVED playing with those.
hahahahaha! someone got you to play SLENDER?! was this willingly or did you not know how scary that game is? There's a really funny video of a guy playing it and getting really scared on youtube. here:
It gets really funny around 1:30. :)
What is koala no marchi?! it sounds delicious! I WANTS.
oh yeah, going back to a previous conversation, my mom told me she went to a Unitarian church for a while. i'm gonna ask her more about it maybe tomorrow or wednesday.
Yes, Victor Frankenstein IS the main crazy scientist guy. I am SO EXCITED for this play because we only have 2 more weeks till our first performance and i am really getting into my part.
Final thing before i go, what is your favorite kind of board/card game? mine is APPLES TO APPLES! :D
I don't get overwhelmed easily. It is just that I can handle a lot of everything. Sometimes I feel bad for people who get overwhelmed very easily. I want to comfort them.
Anyways, YOU OVERWHELMED ME WITH VOCALOID. and no, i did not know that IA is overtaking Miku!!!! That is not happy! But such is life, fads come and go.
Anyways, pictures are awesome, and these aren't even that great. But still, I love pictures.
Tonight I played a horrifying game. A game that scared the living daylights out of me and literally raised my blood pressure up past anything healthy.
The game is called SLENDERMAN.
SLENDER
MAN.
(read this as, you should play this game. . . now)
Thane, my roommate is watching me type this blog post. He is cool and is eating Koala no Marchi with me while I type things. Okay, I'm tired. Goodnight Bobby.
Mambo-Dead-Behind-The-House-P makes songs that sound really good, but have REALLY WEIRD LYRICS. His cousin draws PV's for his songs.
Third! I'm not so sure you know this, but miku is quickly becoming old news with IA having been released in the last year.
Like seriously, miku is still popular, but IA has become almost as popular as miku!
Last!-My favorite vocaloid artist ever-Jin-is getting a manga that ties together all of his songs, which are all gathered together and titled The Kagerou Project.
Once the manga is done, they're making it an ANIME!!!! SO. EXCITED. These are some of my all time favorite vocaloid songs Connor. Like, SERIOUSLY. I made a playlist with all of the songs that currently have a PV in the album, in the order that they were released. the first three songs are the "sister songs" to the next three on the playlist, explaining parts of the story from different viewpoints of the characters.
It seems as if I am always late or forgetting everything. This included.
Sorry I didn't answer your question beforehand, My major is
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS!!!!!
It is basically the best major ever in the history of the world of all time and existence ever.
It is basically public relations, event planning or human resources. Like talking to people
SOCIAL MEDIA YOU KNOW?
I have a Klout score of 61. It tells people how influential you are when it comes to social media. 61 is very high. I am so happy that I am influential. Yayz.
DAWWWWWWWWWWW. I love puppies.
Anyways, onto more serious thoughts, last night I was talking with my friends about torture and pain. How much torture would you endure for your loved ones? I would die instantly for any of my friends, but to experience a slow torturing death made me think really hard. I know I can't really know until I'm in the situation, but I would hope that I would take someone's place if they were going to be tortured. It is an eerie thing to think about, but it sure is fascinating.
Back to our previous conversation about Churches, I changed my mind the night before. I didn't go to the Unitarian church, instead I went to a Quaker Meeting!!! It was amazing :) The Quakers meet for one hour, in silence together. If someone feels led to share, they do, but there is no obligation. It is just an hour of silence listening to God's voice and silencing your own thoughts. I loved it. It is just like Centering Prayer. Do you know what that is?
UH. Is Victor Frankenstein the main mad scientist?!?!? That is awesome! I wish I could see your play really really really really really really badly.
There is so much I want to say, but I will wait to Friday because this post will be WAAAAAAY too long. I am super excited for Vocaloid. I miss my friend Hatsune Miku. She is so great.
