a look back at 2010

This was probably the greatest year (so far) of my life. Going back through some memories the past few days this past year has been nothing short of an adventure. It has also reminded me that I have so many great things to be thankful for.

2010 started with a hobby that I have just picked up this year: ice skating. At the Depot in Minneapolis is where I brought in the new year. That night also included the science museum which is one of my favorite places as well. It's funny that I had barely been ice skating before this year, now that I'm away from the snow covered state of Wisconsin, I've probably been skating more times in 2010 than the rest of my life put together.

NFA. No photographic evidence of HFO.

2010 was my senior year in college, and also the last opportunity I had to do forensics competitively. I couldn't have asked for a better turnout. There were lots of incredible moments in forensics in 2010, but I think my fondest memory was HFO in January. It's a tournament I had never done well at in the past, and always seemed like the pro bowl for forensics. Individuals who have big names and talent always seem to do well there, and to see so many of my teammates do well at that tournament and scoring a fifth place trophy was incredible. Something just clicked that weekend, I broke 4 of my 5 events to finals (including impromptu, as much as Karen Morris will deny it) and was able to share the stage with Dylan Jambrek getting 1st and 2nd in Persuasion. 2010 had other forensic accomplishments, I finally realized my long term goal of a national final, and IOC was incredible as well, but there was something about HFO that I'll never forget. It was walking between finals, UT-Austin's campus was quiet, it was 70 degrees in January and the sun was going down over the capital building. Whenever I think of that memory I always smile. It's a good one.

I'm slowly realizing that writing a blog about how awesome the past year was makes me sound pretty conceited, but I'm not writing this to brag, I'm writing it to remember and celebrate how fortunate I've been in 2010.

Mean Streak, the coaster I worked on.

I graduated college in four years. That was pretty cool too. The ceremony was hot and long and all I can remember is live tweeting to pass the time and giving a dumb grin to the camera company that was trying to pinch me for more money (as if I hadn't given the University enough money in 4 years!) After the ceremony and incredible grad party I packed the car and drove to Sandusky, Ohio for one last adventure before joining the real world. I was there for 3 weeks, but looking back it was a pretty positive learning experience, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I rode so many roller coasters in those three weeks, and that was pretty damn cool. I also finally got to see what an amusement park employee does and how everything works behind the scenes. I also learned how not to treat employees (and how to as well) and what makes a good respectable manager. Most importantly, I made a few friends that I wouldn't trade for anything. Not many of you know some of the people I met in my short time in Sandusky, but I really wouldn't trade that time for anything. I went back to Ohio for a couple days at the end of summer to meet up with those friends. The worst part of Cedar Point was the way they treated their employees. If I was 17, I don't think I would have had any problems with how things worked, but being 22 I think I have the right to have friends overnight where I live, or be able to have a bottle of wine. The rules given to employees and their personal lives was ridiculous, which is why when I went back to visit I had to climb under a fence (destroying a woot shirt and giving me bear attack like scars on my back in the process) just to stay the night in a friend's room.

I went home to work at West Allis Memorial Hospital in the OR. I met two of the greatest people in the process. Both Tony and Jamie were in their 40s and had families, and they taught me more about life than I ever could have ever expected. I learned about politics in the work place, how to deal with drama, and that if my dreams ever wear out becoming a medical equipment salesman is a very lucrative position to have. I also got to reconnect with Sam Simonson, a great friend from high school and college. I went out with him and his friends quite a few times over the summer, and explored his apartment complexes pool a few more times than I expected to.

Perhaps the most important thing to happen in 2010 was the call I got in early August. I remember being at work ordering medical equipment when I saw my phone buzz with an unfamiliar number. Right before I was able to answer, the phone went black and I missed the call. 5 Seconds later I realized the call was from England, and it was the call I had been waiting for over 6 months to receive. About 30 minutes later the same number called back, and after a 5 minute conversation I was employed with a real job. Tony was in the room when I took the call, and he knew right away. He had been encouraging me the entire summer with this job opportunity, and he instantly chest bumped me when I hung up the phone.

Ferris Wheel at Chessington World of Adventure

Now I'm working for the second largest amusement company in the world next to Disney. Every six months I change locations and have been working in Times Square since September. Looking back a year from now I could have never seen any of this coming. 2010 was a year of extreme change for me, a year that will no doubt be remembered as one giant adventure. Leaving one part of my life and starting a brand new one. Accomplishing numerous goals while setting even more difficult ones in the future. Meeting loads of new people from different parts of the world and learning what it means to live in the real world by jumping straight into the largest city in the United States. Things haven't always been easy, and they shouldn't be. The world isn't the nicest place to live in sometimes, but it allows us to make mistakes a learn from them. It allows us to appreciate the things we do have and the things we do accomplish.

I will never forget 2010.

El Toro Rocks.

Oh, and probably the most important thing about this past year. I added 30 new roller coasters to my count, including my first international coasters. I've added loads of new coasters to my Top 10, including a brand new #1 wooden coaster, El Toro. There was a topic in a coaster dork forum I post in about 2010 coasters. Here was my response:

First Park of 2010: Valleyfair
First Coaster: High Roller
Last Park of 2010: Six Flags New England
Last Coaster: Bizzaro
Best new to me Coasters of 2010: El Toro and Bizarro
Worst Coaster: Mind Eraser (SFNE)



With that said. Bring on 2011.

Washington DC

The nation's capital is one of my favorite places to visit. There is incredible architecture, history, and museums, and best of all, its almost all free. Finally, a great way to put those hard earned tax dollars to work: a free vacation.

The plan was to drive down to the district, but after realizing that taking a bus takes just as long but ends up being thirty bucks cheaper than gas (plus you can sleep the whole way) and that DC has a Metro system anyway, it was off to Port Authority, then Union Station to be picked up by the lovely Jake Johnson. After getting back to his place, Kayla greeted us all (Jake, Natalie, and their roommate Jordan) with mulled wine. I had never had mulled wine before, but it was delicious. We stayed up all night chatting. Great to see them again, they are a ton of fun.

The next morning we headed into the city and went straight for the Smithsonian American History Museum. I hadn't been to this museum in ages, and I was really looking forward to it. I had been to Philadelphia earlier this fall, so I got a good amount of American history there, but this museum trumps all. We probably spent the most amount of time (like an hour and a half) in the war section of the museum. There was a ton of George Washington's property and other Revolutionary War equipment that had been saved and placed into the museum. I love looking at an item that was owned by someone who has gone from being a hero to a legend. Looking at his camp chest and stool that were worn out with use made him seem more real and less legendary. It somehow makes the story seem more tangible, which it what I love about history.

My biggest complaint about the war section of the American History Museum: I spent a good 20 minutes looking into each major war because the sections were so large, but when I got to the section on World War One, the great war, the war to end all wars, there was one window display with stuff. The Great White Fleet got a small mention, and there was a figure with a gas mask. I realize that WWI was ugly, but I would hope for that section to get a big revamp in the future.

After the museum I got a call from my awesome cousin Caity who lives in northern Virginia. I hopped in the Metro and she picked me up and took me out for one of the tastiest sub sandwiches I've ever had. I wish I remember the name of the place we went. So good. We went back to her house and waited for the rest of the family to get back. My cousin Kellen got back first, showed me that she got Caity a crowbar for christmas (to fend off zombies of course, Kellen is awesome) and we promptly started playing Left for Dead 2. After killing zombies for awhile my Aunt and Uncle got back to the house along with my cousin Keegan. I love this family so much because even though I only get to see them every couple of years, we have the greatest time together no matter what. We always pick up right where we left off (in this case, it was Super Monkey Ball 2) and it was really hard to leave after dinner that night. I'm sure the pumpkin cake and homemade meal probably had something to do with that, but I love them.

I met back up with the gang and we went to the Big Pencil, or the Washington Monument, whatever you wanna call it. Being able to touch the 150 year old granite on the base of the monument is pretty incredible. Also, being the only ones there at 9PM was also pretty cool. We also headed down to the White House, checked out the christmas tree (which looked fake), and the giant White House train sets. Guess which was my favorite?

I learned a really important lesson after that. I had been getting over a cold that came back after I didn't take care of myself during a cold. Turns out spending 4 hours in freezing temps wasn't the greatest idea. The next day I didn't feel great, and when I got home to Jake and Kayla's I literally crashed. Fever, chills, no energy. They had a great night and I tried to as well, but I don't even remember most of that night. So sick. Sunday we went to Madame Tussauds and had some Fro Yo. It was really interesting to see another Madame Tussauds after working in one for the past few months. There were parts of the attraction I loved, and others I didn't so much. The Frozen Yogurt was delicious, but perhaps way too sugary.

Other than falling victim to a virus for a third time in a month, my trip to DC was absolutely wonderful. While I got to see a bunch of monuments and American history, nothing could compare to just sitting around and chatting with my friends and family. It was something that I took for granted for a long time back home, but being out here makes those moments all the more special.

Especially with the holidays right around the corner. I worked both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but Skyped with my family both days. My next blog will explain what I treated myself with on Christmas. It was impromptu, and amazing.

SNOWPACALYPSE

Coming from Wisconsin, I've been through a fair share of snowstorms, but this storm I'm viewing from my window is pretty epic. Visibility from the tenth floor is maybe 200 yards, I'm hearing sirens more often than normal, and wind is literally forcing its way into my apartment. The wind is coming in near 25-30mph, which is causing some serious drifts outside the apartment. Half the grass is uncovered, while the other half has over 2 feet on it.

Times Square, early snowmagedden

Something I've noticed: snow creates this unusual quiet and calm. Even with the wind blowing so hard here, the snow quiets the sound of the tires on the pavement, and less drivers means less noise. People aren't driving like idiots either, which helps with the honking.

Mass transit goes crazy with a storm like this. NJTransit announced delays before the snow even started coming down this afternoon, and my train home seemed to go very slowly. I can't say I know very much about how trains can operate in the snow, but I know that regional trains between Boston and Washington DC were either canceled or delayed by nearly two hours. I had nearly an hour to kill at Penn Station, but luckily the Packer game was on at the bar, and the stranded Giants fans were way too much fun to talk to while I was waiting. Armed with my Packers fleece and iPhone (to check into Snowpalalypse on Foursquare of course, unlocking the "epic swarm" badge) I did what any good Packer fan would do in a bar of the enemy. I gloated on every Packers score. Man it felt good to watch the Pack show up in a big way during a big game. It's what you like to see.

The view.

Now I'm pretty much stranded inside my apartment. It's not supposed to stop snowing for another day or so, and I sure am hoping that trains are in good condition in the morning, because without them I'm not sure how I would get into the city for work in the morning. Madame Tussauds apparently has an "always open" policy. I'm not going to swim over the Hudson, but I'll get there somehow.

At this moment, I'd like to apologize for really ignoring this blog as of late. The holidays catch up on anyone, and I haven't had much time to blog. Just know that I've got a big entry on Washington DC and Pee Wee Herman. Yes, I said Pee Wee Herman. I know you're excited. You have good reason to be.

Pray my apartment building stands the night. I wanna go sledding.

i can't do a triple axel

New York is a really, really expensive city to live in. Rent is outrageous, food is pricey, and entertainment blows half a paycheck. Luckily New York has one gem that doesn't cost a dime if you have a pair of ice skates.

The Pond at Bryant Park (42nd and 6th) offers a free ice rink along with free lockers (you provide the lock) all winter long. I love it. I can't stop going. There is something about skating outdoors among giant buildings to Christmas Music that is so appealing to me. When I heard the rink was literally 2 blocks away from my work, I went to Modells and bought some skates. I figured if I went three times I would pay off the skates compared to rentals. It's December 8th, and I've already paid them off more than twice.

Welcome to The Pond

Mind you, I'm not the greatest skater known to man, and there are plenty of people who go to this rink just to show off to their friends and girls, but I've gotten much better than I was in early November. I can now skate with a crossover on the curves, and I've been working on turning around and going backwards. That normally results in me landing on my ass, but whatever. By the end of winter I really hope to be able to go from a forward skate motion to a backwards one without stopping. Just keep falling and learning, which is why gloves are the most important piece of clothing to wear throughout this activity. It was a pretty cool experience to skate with KJ and my Mom when they visited in early November in just a sweatshirt in the 50 degree weather. Very odd. Now a coat and scarf are pretty important.

Tonight I actually got tackled by a girl as she was falling. Instead of grabbing for the wall right next to her, she decided to go for me instead. I felt like a 6th grade running back, it was poor form, but she still made me fall down.

Ice Skating in other places around the city is pretty ridiculous. I really want to skate at Rockefeller before I leave, but its 20 bucks even if you have your own skates. I get that its an experience I'm paying for, but thats steep. Luckily the ice is never that crowded because of the prices. Central Park operates an ice rink owned by Donald Trump. It's price isn't too crazy, near the 10 dollar range for a bigger rink than both Rockefeller and The Pond. While the rink at Rockefeller may seem big on TV, its actually very tiny. It's also crawling with tourists because of the Tree, which is quite lovely. The Pond is full of locals (probably because its free) but also can get really crowded on the weekends and right around 7PM.

Completely unrelated, here is the tree at Rockefeller Center. 

It's just nice to do a little skating after a long day at work. I really can't jog where I live (especially at night) but ice skating provides a bit of exercise and the freedom to skate as fast as you can. The city can get cramped sometimes (especially in Times Square) but the Pond lets us break free from the city for awhile. Fact is, after an hour of ice skating, I'm a little sweaty, my face is red because of the cold, and I feel fantastic. I have been fortunate enough to go with friends most of the time this year, but even if I'm stopping in by myself after work for an hour of skating before closing I still leave feeling marvelous. It's a stress relief, gives me something to look forward to after work. I love it. I wanna go atleast 10 more times before it closes in late February, right before I leave the city for my next destination.

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. Work has left me with little free time, but I promise that I have a few ideas for posts pretty soon here. Just know that if you are reading this I am most likely missing you very much right now, and definitely will during the holidays that are quickly approaching. Not being home for Xmas will be tough. I'll just have to ice skate instead.

i am 95% sure I witnessed a porno being shot in the apartment across from mine last night. never thought that would happen.

Style, popularity, and what it all means.

Style. I don't understand. To me, style is something I'd rather sacrifice just to be more comfortable physically. Sweatpants or jeans and a T-Shirt is pure comfort. Sadly, in the real world one cannot wear sweats and a woot shirt to work everyday. But this really isn't about dressing professionally, it's about whats cherished outside of that realm. Fashion and style is constantly changing, designer stores create new fashions constantly so we can look better than others and they can make more of our money. But style is so much more than that simple equation to us, for many in New York it is one of the first things to be able to judge another upon. How much effort did they put into their outfit today?

I understand not looking like a slob all of the time, but I guess I think being showered and wearing clean clothes that match is putting effort in.

Could you please smile?

I'm pretty lucky that I'm not a girl, because it seems way harder to be a girl than a guy. I don't have to worry about make up, shoes, and wardrobe that fits only certain occasions quite as much. There is this image of what a person should look like, and many of us tend to listen to that image and try to emulate it as best as possible. The problem is we all look different than the models who we stare at, so we never tend to reach that ultimate goal. So we try again. And again.

Why do we keep trying? Probably because a lot of others are doing the exact same thing. Friday and Saturday nights in the city are absolutely insane. I see countless girls dressed the same, super tight, super short skirts with big heels, tons of make up, and a tan faker than Snookie's. Personally, I'm usually amazed at how much work goes into that outfit, and how the girls tend to soak up all of the guys who are staring (and sometimes yelling) at them, who are thinking about only one thing. Sex defines style on the weekends, and if you aren't participating, you probably aren't included.

I'm probably just cynical because I truly don't understand style. As much as I tend to poke fun at it, I've certainly tried to up my fashion sense a bit since coming to New York, somethings work, but for the most part the best pieces of clothes I own have been picked out by others. Whatever works, I guess.

All of this harps back to one single concept: Acceptance. Acceptance is something that everyone, whether they would like to admit it or not, strives for. Acceptance can mean doing a great job at work, having the most friends, or buying the newest car. Whatever it means, we all search for it. If one dresses like he's part of an 80's hairband everyone will think he is making one giant joke. No one can seriously get away with something like that if they wanted to. Style is part of the real world's version of popularity in high school. There may not be as much bullying, but if you've got style and some money, you've definitely got some friends. And with all three of those things comes quite a bit of power. Power is an intangible that we all unconsciously strive for, because when you've got social power you can get lots of other people to do what you want them to. You're in control. It feels good.

Maybe I'm reading way too much into all of this. Maybe style is just about making one feel better about themselves when they look in the mirror. I may think that its fickle, but its certainly a part of society that keeps some individuals in a higher place than others, just another part of the social ladder than we keep trying to climb. It's a slippery ladder though, so its a climb that is easier for those who have nice boots.

I don't know. What do you all think? Post in the comments below and give me your take. Is it important? I look forward to reading them.

ripples

There are small moments in one's life that effect us more than we would once expect. Some of these memories include when I was randomly introduced to Counter-Strike at Milwaukee PC when I was 13, or when I decided to go to that first forensics meeting on a whim. This could qualify as another one of those moments I suppose, although perhaps not as life changing when it comes to my actions, perhaps more a philosophy.

As a freshman in college I got involved in everything. Why not do everything in the first semester then choose what I like best? This included me getting involved in Housing and Residence Life, and since my RA just happened to be the NCC (national communications coordinator, basically the guy that talks to other schools Housing orgs) for UW- Eau Claire, he got me onto the short list of people to attend the NACURH (National Association for College and University Residence Halls) housing conference at UW- Oshkosh. If you haven't noticed already, housing really loves their acronyms, so I'll try and keep to to a minimum from here on out.

At these conferences there are countless speakers and educational moments to be had, along with some fun afterwards (but watch out, there are RA's everywhere). One speaker named Paul Wessleman, who calls himself the Ripples Guy, and even drives a Ripples themed car, gave a speech about how small acts can cause a large difference given enough time and effort. He started his speech by handing out small "Ripples" cards to everyone in the audience and told us not to look. Next he told us to start exchanging cards around the room, as many times as it takes to get "your" card. Given that there were atleast 2,000 people in this huge athletic arena, and noone was able to look at what these cards said, chaos ensued. I probably handed off my card 7 or 8 times until I found my card. We got back to our seats and he said, flip them over.

"Trust your crazy ideas"

           -Dan Zadra

 I don't know what it was about that quotation, but it made me smile. I've been an individual who can go off the beaten path a little compared to society, and sometimes makes a few crazy mistakes. This quotation empowered me, it helped me believe that some of those crazy ideas could work for me. I put the card in my wallet, and it hasn't left since. There were (and believe me, there still are) times when I've doubted a decision that may not have been popular, or a thought that certain individuals thought could never work or be approved, and looking at this phrase has helped my mind to move past the doubters, and keep the idea growing. When an idea becomes powerful, it doesn't matter the opposition. 

When I got home from NACURH I went to Paul's website, http://theripplesproject.org/ , and signed up for his weekly emails. It's nothing creepy or cultish, its just one email that takes 2 minutes to read each Monday morning that aims to inspire you in a different way. I know there will be people that read this blog that might instantly think this whole idea is just weak, or dumb, but I don't really care. I happen to think I'm a pretty average guy, and I make sure to read Paul's emails every Monday; they have become a part of my routine. 

So how did that small ripple effect my life in a physical way? I figure the Ripples Card may not last forever, so I decided to make the quotation a bit more permanent. So yesterday I went into Queens and got it tattooed on my chest. It's not huge or anything, just a pleasant reminder  that one's imagination is an incredible gift that should never be wasted. The quote was handwritten by a great friend, and my tattoo artist was a very down to earth fellow who I came to respect pretty quickly. 

I told myself after getting my first tattoo that I would never get another one, but apparently I forgot that I decided that. I've got no remorse over this one whatsoever. The first tattoo was a symbol for me, and this one certainly is too. Will I ever get another? It took almost 3 years for me to get my second one, I guess we'll have to see if it takes that long again, but lets say that I've already got a solid idea for a third. 

If your a normal person who might like (or need) a bit of inspiration now and again, I would highly recommend Paul's website and newsletter. I think that under all of our tough exteriors we are all looking for something to keep us motivated, and this is a good outlet for that.

Till next time. :)

Day 11

Day 11 - your siblings

This should really be titled your sibling, because I've only got one, but she's pretty cool, so it works out.

Her name is Kelsey, she is four years my younger, and is currently a freshman at UW- River Falls. Lately its been really hard not to be proud of her all the time. She graduated from high school and choose a school far away from home and things she found comfortable. Quite the risk, but she is handling that risk and turning into pure reward. As a 1st semester freshman she has already been involved in two shows at UWRF and has made loads of friends. One of the saddest parts of moving to New York is the fact that I would had been only an hour away from her if I had stayed in Eau Claire. She still needs to get a tattoo, but she can't until I get there.

Four years age difference isn't much today, but growing up it can be a big difference in maturity experience. Once she hit high school I was four hours away and haven't had much opportunity to just hang out with her unless its a type of family outing. That makes me sad, cause she's a cool girl and I think we deserve a little more time together.

Which there will obviously be time for in the future, but you should just know that my sister is very cool, and you should like her.

Any grammar errors can be blamed on my iPhone keyboard. Adios!

Historical Cheesesteaks

Continuing with the tradition of "I have a day off, I must travel hours away" I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit my friend BJ Pickard who lives in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia.

One wonderful part of living in New York is the fact that public transportation rocks, and is frequently much cheaper than driving yourself. For example, in Wisconsin taking a bus 3 hours away would probably cost you almost 40 dollars. My Boltbus ride to Philly cost me 23 bucks round trip. A bus up to Providence for the Ke$ha concert (don't you dare judge me. We all have guilty pleasures) only cost 15 dollars round trip. This allows for cheap and quick travel, which is very convenient.

I only had Friday off of work, so this was going to be a quick day trip to the city. I wanted to explore the history that the city had to offer. It did serve as the capital city of the United States for over 10 years, so there had to be quite a bit to offer other than the Liberty Bell, and I was right.

I took the Subway into the old city (Philly terms: Center City is downtown, and Old City is where downtown was 200 years ago. Don't even get me started on whatever Water Ice is) and when I got there I headed for the Liberty Bell. I figured it would be a good place to grab information and set my bearings for the day ahead. Turns out I was right. The building that housed the Bell was filled with historical facts about the Bell. Where it came from, how it got cracked, and even when it was rang and why. I love history, so it all seemed very significant to me. The bell itself was old. What surprised me the most is that it still hung from the original wood plank that it was mounted on all those years ago.

Me with the Liberty Bell

There was a sense of pride and amazement that started with the Bell which only got bigger as the day went on through all the sights. Side note: While I was visiting Old City alone as BJ was preparing for the Sixers-Bucks game that evening, I was lucky enough to meet a student named Krystal who was visiting the city for a conference in the afternoon. So many of these sites we visited together.

As cool as the Liberty Bell was, it was really nothing compared to some of the other sites I was able to see. We had tickets to the Independence Hall tour that morning. The tour (like just about everything else in the Old City) was free and was put on by the National Park Service Rangers who were very well versed with their American History. I've gotta say, while I find myself to be a bit of a dork who has been waist deep in Uncle John's Bathroom Readers since I was 13, I can't say I knew my American History from the time of 1790-1800ish. In school we are educated about the time before the Revolutionary War and the War itself, but then there is a pretty big gap in there when the country was sort of figuring itself out for the first time. Making all the rules, making sure democracy was going to stick, that sort of thing. Those years is what Philly was all about. Independence Hall is the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed. It's where the Continental Congress met and discussed breaking away from the mother country. It's where the damn constitution of the United States was signed by George Washington. Many of the artifacts inside the Hall were original or period pieces, including the chair that George Washington used to sit in.

Independence Hall is currently undergoing renovations

Independence Hall took almost an hour altogether, and it was around lunch time. I needed a real Philly Cheesesteak before I left the next morning, and we got a recommendation from a park ranger to try a place called Jim's. It was about a 15 minute walk and another 5 minute wait, but it was oh so worth it. Jim's may not be one of the original Cheesesteak places in the city, but it was still pretty darn good. The grill was filled with beef, piles of onions and peppers along with whatever kind of cheese one could prefer. It was mouthwatering, and easily the best cheese steak I've ever eaten. Fully recommended.

At this point BJ was taking a break from work and Krystal needed to go present a study she took part in, so we parted ways. I grabbed a cookie and Beej grabbed cheesecake and we went back into the city. He took me to Christchurch, which is the church many of our founding fathers all attended and a few are also buried at. The church was massive for something so old. Being able to see Benjamin Franklin and George Washington's pews was surreal. When icons from the past are spoken about so often but never really visualized as normal human beings they seem almost mythical. Being here reminded me that these people were just that. People. They laid the groundwork for much of our country to be founded upon, but they were rebels. Really ballsy rebels. Benjamin Franklin's grave was still in really good shape compared to some of the other headstones that had been broken in half and dominated by the hundreds of Pennsylvania winters they have endured.

Beej had to go back to work, so I explored a little more by myself for a few hours before I took the Subway to the Bucks game later that night. I went to Carpenter Hall and also the old US War Department. Look, I've been to Washington DC more times than I've been anywhere else in the country other than Wisconsin and Peoria, Illinois, but the old capital is so much more different than Washington. The US War Building, the Pentagon of its time, staffed five people during its service. Five. Even the old congressional building (which I'll get to later) was about the size of a small mansion. This all represented a country that was just out of the womb. A country that was based off a few people's ideals, and wasn't even really sure if it would survive to see the next century. A government that was so broke after the Revolutionary War it had no idea how to raise the money from the states that needed their own independence too. It's incredible how powerful this country has become in such a short amount of time. Humble beginnings certainly.

Carpenter Hall

Also on site was the US Mint building. I've always wanted to see how money was made, so I stopped inside for a tour. The "tour" was really just a long hallway with old coinage and a few windows overlooking giant machines that produced our country's pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, 50 cent pieces, and dollar coins. I know that the government is obviously trying to stop the ability of counter-fitters by not having information about how the processes worked, but I would have hoped for a tour guide, or atleast a TV screen depicting some information about how the plant worked everyday. I enjoy knowing how and why things work the way they do. The US Mint creates millions of coins a month, and how it does that baffles my mind.

The one downside of everything being operated by the Parks Service is that everything shuts down promptly at 5PM. I had time for one more tour, and I saved the best for last. Remember Congress Hall? This is the building that housed both the House of Representatives and the Senate for over a decade. The tour began with the guide inviting us into the House Chamber and telling us to sit down at any chair. Sitting in the same place that the founders of this country sat in was pretty cool. Obviously the chairs weren't original (upstairs in the Senate they were) but there was still something special about looking up at the same place George Washington handed over the Presidency over to John Addams after two terms even though many were afraid he might not. It was the birthplace of Congress. After getting more information downstairs, we were invited upstairs into the Senate chamber. It was tiny. Back then there were only 26 Senators, the Vice President's chair, and the Senate Secretary. The room was lush to say the least. A giant carpet, beautiful chairs, a big chandelier, and huge curtains. In meeting rooms surrounding the chamber there were massive portraits of Marie Antionette and King Louis of France. Again, I got the feeling of a very intimate atmosphere compared to things at Washington which are so huge. I could see debates getting very heated in this room, because a Senator would only be sitting maybe 20 feet from the man he was debating at the time. Incredible.

After five I walked around the old city for about an hour, then grabbed the Subway to the Wells Fargo Center on the south side of Philly. The 76ers were playing the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks had one of the worst games of basketball I've seen in awhile, but I did enjoy Crab fries and cheese from a local eating establishment called Chickie's and Pete's. They were amazing.

Left the next morning to make my closing shift at Madame Tussauds. Too short of a trip, but a very nice trip nonetheless. Really makes me want to get down to Washington DC again and bring in the Smithsonian's one more time.

Till next time.

nick...emotional? what?

There are days that I get a bit homesick. I miss my friends, I miss the hell out of my family. I knew coming out to the east coast by myself wasn't going to be an easy transition, and some days are better than others. Some days start great but end differently, and its always interesting to see what turns the tide of my emotions.

Today went everywhere. I really like going to work. I enjoy my job, but if anything it gives me the ability to socialize. I have friends at work, and that's not to say I don't socialize outside of work on occasion, but I like certain people at work better. Unfortunately the social structure at work doesn't mean I go out with them often.

Tonight after work I went ice skating at Bryant Park, and looking up at the tall buildings that surrounded me while I skated outdoors without a coat on gave me a great feeling in my stomach. I was here. I'm doing this. I never thought I would do this. I skated for 45 minutes, dodging the slow skaters and trying not to be thrown off by the "advanced" skaters, who were mostly skating to impress members of the opposite sex. Since everyone is on a different skill level, there are individual skaters all over the place, and its fun to interact with absolute strangers when everyone is off guard because they can't keep balance on the slippery ice. Everyone is on equal playing field. No one is judging your style or accent or smile because they are far too focused on the task of not falling on their asses. It's surprising how much fun that can be.

Unwinding after a long (but rewarding) 5 days is quite the process. I just sat there for a good hour and a half. Ate some food. Watched lots of football. Tweeted. Talked with some people. Then downloaded Michael Buble's Christmas album for two bucks off Amazon. I love Christmas music, but this year its nearly a double edged sword. I never realized why I love Christmas music so much until now. It reminds me of everything associated with Christmas. Cards. Trees. Family. Gifts. Shopping. Snow. Fireplaces. Hot Chocolate. Love. Listening to the Christmas Song made me smile uncontrollably, but also created a feeling of loss at the same time. Christmas is going to be tough, but that's not to say its a complete loss. Tomorrow I fully expect to come home from Target with a small tree and some lights to decorate with. I will Skype with my family on Christmas morning. Who knows, maybe I'll even find a church here finally and step inside.

I'm extremely grateful for all of my friends who have taken time and money to come out here to visit me in New York. It was a real fear to think that I wouldn't see anyone while I was out here, but that hasn't been the case at all. I still have more visits coming, and don't worry Wisconsin, I'm coming for you sooner or later.

I miss hugs. Just one of those loving hugs you give someone when you are really happy to see them.

I'll stop with this nonsense. Have a great night, folks.

day ten

Day Ten- What you wore today.

I'll be honest. I think I looked good today. I've got my new haircut to sport, a purple shirt and matching tie along with gray pants. Most people at work don't wear ties, so after everyone stopped asking whether I had a hot date or a job interview after work, it worked out. Infact there was an impromptu runway walk that may have took place. Fantastic. I like getting a bit more dressed at work on occasion. It gives a bit more confidence. I like not looking homeless. That's not to say that I understand fashion at all, because let me tell you...I'm reminded of it everyday. Fashion is insane around here, and while I'm learning, I know I won't grasp it before my time is up here.

I'm blogging from the Boltbus right now, but I'm gonna try and take a picture anyway.

Upon further review, its not going to work out. Looks like you'll just have to visualize.

When you're visualizing, visualize the fact that I lost ten pounds too. Oh yeah.

day nine

Day nine- your beliefs

So...that's not vague or anything.

I believe in a lot of stuff. I believe that gravity is real. I believe that macaroni and cheese is always delicious when I make it myself. I believe all people have some bit of good inside them.

If the question was framing my beliefs on religion. Well. I think that's for another blog post. God and I speak, but the church and I don't get along as much.

I have a lot of beliefs. I believe that people should work to put others before themselves sometimes. They should actively help others. They should try and make others lives easier even if it means making things tougher for them for a little bit. Compassion is another thing I believe in. Forgiveness isn't always an easy thing to do, but without it the world could never go on.

I believe that, for the most part, the world works on economics. We will switch to clean energy when coal and oil get too expensive, or it gets too hot, whichever comes first. We will truly tackle world hunger when all families in America have comfortable budgets to do so. Minority groups of all types will stop being oppressed when the majority stops fearing the loss of power.

I believe that if you are going to go anywhere impressive, you must learn to take serious risks. You must find the limits of your comfort zone and run five hundred miles away from it. The more you experience and the more you learn the better.

I believe that life isn't all flowers and roses. Shit happens. Plain and simple. Life is never ever going to deal you a perfect hand. So what can we do? Fold or bluff. I believe in working with what you have to create the best possible outcome for yourself and others. It's not always easy, but crying about it won't change any situation. That's why I don't freak out very often. I believe that staying calm and not letting emotions take over all action (a little is ok) keeps us thinking about how to handle a situation best, not just what feels right.

I believe that Brett Favre probably didn't send naked pictures to Jenn Sterger, but he probably did something which his wife wouldn't appreciate.

But on that note, which one of us is perfect? The way I see it, everybody is going to screw up here and there, and we're probably all liable for a big mess up once or twice. It's how we pick ourselves back up from the storm that defines who we are.

I believe that our society has no patience and has no interest on gaining any. They enjoy electing new politicians every two years in hopes of Utopia. People don't understand constraints and politics, so many choose to hear only what they want to hear, and the media makes a boatload of money off it.

I believe that the world in 50 years will look nothing like it does now. Technology is expanding so quickly that we don't even notice the incredible strides of the past decade. 4th graders carry cell phones. This effects the way we socialize. Instead of saying hello to people you see in public, the majority of people on the C train in the morning are far too focused on their headphones or game of Angry Birds on their iPhones to pay any mind to the elderly woman who has nowhere to sit. People are uncomfortable in public situations because they are with people they do not know, and luckily our portable electronic devices give us the perfect excuse not to speak with anyone else because we can just throw earbuds in and pretend like no one else exists.

I believe in improvisation within daily life. I believe in switching things up when you're bored. I believe that you should never plan too far into the future, because your plans are likely to change anyway. I believe that life is too short to worry about little things, unfortunately that means when I don't worry about little things, people who do usually look down on me and think I just don't care about the situation. I guess I do care, just very little, because I believe that those small pieces of drama will work themselves out with time, usually about two weeks of it, and things will go back to normal. Live is too short not to love other people.

I believe that if you are still reading this far that you are a good friend of mine, and if for some reason we don't talk often, we probably should. I also believe you should comment or blog about your own beliefs. This is actually quite refreshing to review what exactly I believe in. Sometimes throughout this struggle we call daily life we can forget what is truly important to us. The cliche quotation is for us to stop and smell the roses. I may not have roses to smell in NYC, but I certainly have huge buildings to stop and look up at. They are incredible. Goodnight.

wanna be a dork like me?

I got a model of the USS - Enterprise from Woot. It's sitting in my room looking awesome. I have this dirty part of me that hopes I get some more models for my house during my life.

I bet that makes me real attractive.

day eight

Day eight- a precious item

I haven't updated in days because I have no idea what this item was going to be. There were certainly a few front runners in my mind for some time, and it was tough to narrow the count down to just one. I'll be honest- my TV was up there pretty high, along with my laptop. Intact four of the top five were electronic related, which probably says a lot about my personality right there...sad.

My iPhone didn't win. It's precious, but I don't have as big of a love for it like I have for this object.

This object has been there for me through the tough times, good times, and was even kidnapped once and brought back from the dead to return to me. His name is Edison, and he's my bear. Edison is the kind of bear that is a great cuddler, but doesn't mind being a pillow if you need him in the middle of te night when you grab and the pillow just isn't there for you.

He's got a bell inside his belly, so if you shake him you know just how pleased he is to be there. He really is a great bear who always looks out for others before himself. He gets along with everyone ge meets. He's been there longer than anyone outside my family. He goes where I go. He rocks.

a night at the opera.

I know I've already written about favorite music choices, but after listening to it the 50th time, I've gotta admit to the world that Queen's "A Night At the Opera" is an amazing album.

It's got a huge variety of music. And Freddie is at his finest. Download it. Listen to Seaside Rendezvous, I bet you haven't heard that song before.

day seven

Day Seven- Your best friend

Oh boy. This has been a question that has alluded me for years. Since I was very young actually. Who is my best friend? I can't put my finger on one person. This must either be because: 1. I've never had one, or 2. I've had many.

For sake of my sanity, I'm going with option B. I've had loads of people enter and (sadly) sometimes exit my life that I have shared great experiences with. Right now I'm at a point of change in my life, sort of missing a best friend. Anyone wanna apply?

All my friends back in Wisconsin are still my friends, and I miss the hell out of them. All my roommates, my teammates, and even Bridgman hall. It's not that our ride is over in any sense, it's that right now the powers that be arent allowing us to be close. If you feel like I've been a terrible friend because I havent come and visit yet, I'm very sorry about that. It's never that I don't want to be there, but things in life do come up unexpectedly and we have to work with what we have. I'm working on it, really am.

Wisconsin, I'll be home after Christmas, I promise. Right now I'm on a train, missing my friends, but still excited for whatever is coming for me before the year ends. I know you'll be there for me. And just know I'm always here for you. One phone call to be exact.

Yeeeees

My momma and KJ are coming to New York tomorrow. They have have a fun list of things to do in the city. I have the weekend off. It's gonna e fantastic weekend.

Day six

Day Six- Your hobbies.

I like long walks on the beach, roller coasters, and sci fi. I like sports, video games, and cooking. I'd like to think I take nice photos sometimes. I enjoy spontaneous trips places; when things aren't planned they are more exciting, adventurous. I did speech the past four years in college. I worked at a board game store for 8 months, and it was awesome. Sitting around playing Power Grid, Killer Bunnies or even Monopoly is a blast. Wiffleball rocks. Hobbies are way more fun when you are partaking them with other people. And how about the arcade? They keep disappearing, but I love them.

I also like to laugh and smile. That's a hobby too.

My hobbies are a bit on the dorky side. Going to rambunctious parties may not have made the list but that doesn't mean I don't like to have fun. dorkiness means quirkiness which translates into a unique individual I think.

iPhone rocks

Just downloaded a blogging app for the phone. Finally my thoughts on the train will be published before I forget them during the work day.

day five

Day 05 – Your definition of love

Well this ought to be interesting.

Love is when you will do literally anything for a person no matter what. Love isn't something that comes quickly or easily, and is something that can go in and out. Love takes time because it takes trust and experience when an individual. I might like you after meeting you for a month, but I'm not going to go pick you up at 5 in the morning in the Bronx because you don't want to take a cab.

Love isn't something that can be explained or predicted. It's a feeling you've got that you can't explain in words. That's love you have for a significant other.

Love for my family trumps all. They are all I've got for sure in life. I've known that for years, but the past two months have taught me it more than ever. When you go away, you're family is always with you no matter how far apart you are. That's love. Even when you've spent a week with them and you just need a break, you still love them.

Then there is the love that you show to people around you in daily life. This type of love isn't the type that you get for family or a significant other, but its one you show with compassion to friends and even strangers.

I'm a loving person. I don't know why, and I'm sure it gets me in trouble sometimes, but I try and show people that kind of love whenever it is possible. Trust me, being a new manager this isn't an easy thing to do everyday. Others will try and take advantage of that love, so I'm learning that sometimes others won't treat that love with the respect you would hope for. It's something that I'm coming to accept, but I'm trying not to change because of it. It's still worth it to me to treat others as well as possible. To love others. A little golden rule if you will.

#thenorton

I just wanted to make a quick shout out to my UWEC Forensics team. They placed fourth at Bradley's Norton tournament which we can consider the National Tournament of first semester. Fourth place in the nation. They are blowing everyone's minds right now. Including mine. I'm insanely proud to be a UWEC Alumni right now.

small world, extreme stress

New Yorkers are too stressed and many of them take things far too seriously. When things don't go as planned and you don't know why, its really not worth freaking out about, but the fact of life is that most people do. When I don't, I'm generally looked down upon, which I think is sad. When something unexpected happens, all we can do is adapt to each situation best we can. Freaking out and having a yelling contest doesn't fix anything. The world needs a little more relaxation, because our life expectancy is about to dip down.

I'm turning off my cell phone on Saturday to relax. While the iPhone might be incredible, it provides stress along with information. Saturday is a stress free day. I said so.

Today I ran into Ryan Henneberry in Newark. He competed for the ISU speech team. I thought that was pretty insane and unexpected. Amazing how even in the most populated place in America you can still find friendly faces.

Day 04

Day 04 – Your Music

Here comes a random post, because there is no rhyme or reason to anything I listen to. Infact, I'll probably offend all of you at one point or another here when you'll stop and say to yourself: "He listens to that?"

For starters, I don't have a favorite song. Queen is probably my favorite band. I go on different kicks of different music all the time. Over the summer I went on a serious Top 40 kick. I'm still enjoying it, but its starting to lay off a little. I'm always good for a hit from the 90's and early 2000s, those songs are usually just fun.

Generally speaking for driving I enjoy things I can sing along to and that are fast/heavy music. Slow music in the car puts me to sleep, which I've heard is a bad thing while you are driving. Yes I sing in the car. No one can hear it, unless you are sitting next to me. If you don't like it, sing louder, or sit in the back seat.

I really like 40s big band music and jazz. I think its great music to have in the background while you are focused on something else. It's the music I like to listen to while I'm writing (like right now) or even when I'm with people chatting and having a good time.

Christmas music. Its past Halloween, which means I won't say no to Christmas music, but I also won't force it upon others. After Thanksgiving that changes. The day after Thanksgiving is the day I decorate my room (or apartment in this case) with the Christmas Tree, lights, and stockings (maybe I'll get a wreath this year too so my apartment smells like pine) along with a ton of christmas music. I like the classics along with the newer stuff. Trans Siberian Orchestra is fantastic too. Favorite Christmas song is actually "The Christmas Song"

Also, the Grinch is great too.

You might be wondering what is playing right now. I'm currently listening to "Believe it or Not" by Joey Scarbury. It's an 80s classic, and it reminds me of my short stint at Cedar Point. This song played in the queue of my favorite coaster there, Magnum XL-200.

And you thought I couldn't fit coasters into a post about music. How wrong you were.

That reminds me, I miss Cedar Point a little. They treated employees a little better than they did dog poop, but it was still good.

I don't like country music. I never really have, and even after listening to it way too much in Eau Claire from various roommates, I still don't care for it. Sorry folks.

I don't enjoy rap all that much. Unless it was from when I was in 8th grade during my "Jordan Phase." I call it that because I bought Jordan shoes during that phase, which should answer why I liked rap back then.

I've always loved Classic rock, probably always will. I'll do musical theater on occasion, its good to sing along to. I just really like music. My apartment is never quiet when I'm home. There is always something playing. Always.

Grooveshark is my best friend. If you don't know about Grooveshark yet you should visit www.grooveshark.com and check it out. It's like Pandora except you pick your own playlists of whatever music you want. It's 100% legal and web based, and has every song you could imagine ready for you to stream for free. It's a great service, and I use it all the time.

I think this is where I leave you. Until next time.

So, this is what hell must be like...

Sunday. Halloween. The Meadowlands.

Turns out finding legit tickets to the Jets-Packers game wasn't as easy as it was in Wisconsin. After trying and failing to secure tickets for over a week Bj and I ended up taking a train to the stadium and trying to find an individual who would be willing to part with tickets. We found them in about 15 minutes, and after paying far too much (Yeah, NFL!) we were sitting in Section 134, row 10. It was right above the 20 yard line and in the middle of season ticket holder country. That proved to be the most entertaining part of the game actually. The stadium itself was very...grey. For being brand new, it really wasn't anything special, although the fact that I had an individual seat instead of a bleacher without a backrest was very nice.

Our View

Gametime. The Jets fans next to us were actually very nice and respectful, that can't be said about the groups behind and infront of us. There were slurs that I had never heard before coming to this game. Instead of yelling normal things, they threw out words that were plain offensive to anyone that would hear them. I believe I even heard a diabetes joke at one point or another directed at a Packers fan below me.

The game itself was quite an experience. I've never been to a real NFL regular season game before, and even though there was only a grand total of 9 points scored in this game, I LOVED the experience. The low score actually kept me on the edge of my seat at all times because I knew it only took one big play to change everything. Every pass completion meant something, you know? It was especially funny to turn around at the Jets fans and sneer right back at them when things didn't go the Jets way, and boy did they ever. After blowing his two challenges in the first half Rex Ryan couldn't challenge a horrid call that gave the Packers an interception in the second half.

I'm fairly certain that Bj was scared of the fans the majority of the game, and it probably didn't help that I was yelling back and forth with the fans, but it was all for the experience. One fan was nice enough to dump his water bottle on my bag. As he was leaving the game with 1:30 to play I told him to enjoy the loss. He didn't have much to say to that.

At the end of the game you could see only Green and Gold left in the stands. A "Go Pack Go!" chant was started and we all joined in. I especially enjoyed that moment of the game. Seeing all the Packers fans (and there were actually a lot of them there) coming together to high five and things after the game while all the Jets fans stayed quiet was great.

All in all this game was another thing I can check off my list of things to do in my life. I've been trying to get lots of things checked off my list while I'm in the east coast. I really believe that life is about the experiences we are blessed to go through, and while I'm away from home I want to experience everything I possibly can. We shouldn't get caught up on the little things, we should just go to Packer games instead. :)

Elections in New Jersey

Here's something Wisconsin does right: Same day election registration. I found out yesterday that to vote in New Jersey I must register atleast 21 days in advance. I had just moved into my apartment at that time. Very frustrating since I'm pretty sure I've voted at each major election since I turned 18. I know this helps voter fraud, but so does needing a drivers license when you register instead of just a bill. If you don't have a drivers license then you should need multiple forms of ID. Something that proves you are an American citizen.

As for the election results, it certainly evens things up a little on Capital Hill, not like the democratically controlled everything could get what they wanted passed when they had a super majority anyway. Less will probably get done now because there will be so little compromise. Both sides say they will compromise at the beginning, but that rhetoric will change in 5 months.

As for Wisconsin, I was a little surprised that both Johnson and Walker won. I expected one to win, but not both. I still hope the high speed rail goes in. The logic against putting it in is crazy. If we don't use the federal money it will go somewhere else, not back to the tax payer. We might as well use it in the state of Wisconsin. It was a political move against public spending that was used in the election, but it should stay in the election.

Madame Tussauds: After Dark

Not many people get the opportunity to work in a haunted house during their lives, so when I was told I'd be helping out with Madame Tussauds Halloween event, I got pretty excited. My duties were really all over the place for the 8 day event. They started with me working in the lobby answering questions and providing support for the staff, but as a few days passed I couldn't resist throwing on some make up and getting involved in a little scaring.

Saw a lot of great costumes at the door during the event. This guy didn't know what a Batliff was, which was majorly disappointing, but I still liked his costume enough to take a picture with him.

Luckily for me there was the opportunity to do just that. A few of the "seasoned scarers" helped teach me how to put on some pretty gross make up, and I was off. I was able to scare in many different zones at the attraction as I was mostly filling in for people who weren't able to work certain nights, which was fantastic. My first night officially scaring was in the eight floor "maze" room. We transformed a storage room into a huge maze with 4 different zones. The best part of scaring in a wax museum is that since the people pass so many wax figures before they get to you, sometimes you don't even need to hide to scare someone. Just stand very still in a funny pose and nobody will think any different. Once they start looking closer at you wondering, you strike. Of all the scares I did that one was definitely the most effective.

The maze was lots of fun. I was in the jungle themed room, so I did a lot of yelling. I also had a gigantic plastic centipede that I liked to slam against walls and the floor. It made lots of noise. Noise scares people.

There were a lot of jerks that came through the attraction. Most of them were boyfriends trying to impress their significant other. Laughing and not being scared I'm fine with, but the guys who pretend to slap us or scare us back are just stupid. They generally waste their 25 bucks because once you do that to a scarer we generally stop trying to scare you. Way to ruin it for your entire party.

The last two nights of After Dark I spent scaring people in "The Gallery." Its where we keep our political and historical figures, and when the lights go out its a lot of fun to scare in there. Once again my favorite scare was pretending to be a wax figure. When standing in the middle of the room people would occasionally spot me, but whenever I stood next to Jackie Kennedy or GW Bush nobody ever did. Those were the best scares. I also enjoyed sliding in front of people and pretending to be a dead body that came back to life. That one usually got people running away.

After work things got a bit more annoying. Public transit sucks after 11PM, and there are no NJTransit trains after 1:20AM, so a coworker and myself needed to Subway it to World Trade Center, then take a PATH train to Newark Penn Station. The commute home took around 2 hours each night. Gross. 

BJ said it looked infected. He might be right.

After Dark didn't really seem like work though. The shifts flew by and despite my horrid, horrid sleeping schedule that has ensued from getting home at such late hours (i woke up at noon today) I really enjoyed my short tenure as a haunted house scarer. Back to reality on Tuesday when I start being an Operations manager again. I enjoy that job as well, I just don't get to scare people for no reason anymore. Its nonsense, but at 22 I love it when I can get it.

Atleast one more blog coming today. Many more coming this week.

Day Three

Yes, I know its technically November 1st, but its been a busy day. Here's my update for Halloween:

DAY THREE: YOUR PARENTS

There is no doubt in my mind (and hasn't been for a long time) that I have the greatest parents on earth. I have been friends with so many people who have things so much harder than I do, and its all about my parents giving me the tools to succeed without doing things for me. I have always had a lot of freedom and trust from my parents. I always had a curfew, but it was generally late and could always be adjusted depending on the event. I was the first born and was the experiment, but my parents always gave me freedom to make decisions and choices myself, even if they were bad ones. I never really realized this until about a year or so ago, but my parents have influenced my life so much and I see them coming through myself all the time. When I went to college I think my relationship with them grew even more despite the fact that I had moves so far away. They were no helicopter parents at all, I spoke with my mom on the phone every few days just to keep tabs on our lives, and things only got better. They are always there for me whenever I need them to be and are supportive of the choices I make, even if they are a little ambitious at times. My Mom braved a 15 hour journey in a 92 Jeep with the windows down the whole way to help move me out here in the first place, if thats not love I don't know what is. My parents rock, plain and simple. 

Lots of blogging to come this week. Lots to write about. 

Day Two

Day Two: Your First Love

Good question. What does love really mean? I can tell you the first person I had a real middle school crush on. That'd be Alyssa Mueller (soon to be Alyssa Miller, ha) who is still a great friend of mine and hopefully always will be. She wasn't my first love though. I think the person I had actual feelings for was another Mueller actually. Not just because I love people I share a last name with, but because it was my first girlfriend that actually lasted more than a month. Her name was Beth and we dated during my Sophomore year of high school. She went to a different school than I did, but thanks to a great set of parents, we were able to see each other once a weekend at one of the countless parties or dances or movies that we attended that year. Beth was (and I'm sure still is) a great person. She was nice, very sincere and pure funny all the time. Its funny this question comes up because while I haven't really seen or hung out with any of those people (including Beth) from that year in high school for years, it all came into conversation just a couple weeks ago. A great friend from high school and before, Kim, actually lives in NYC as well. We met up and talked about all those times for hours at a dive bar in the East Village. It was amazing because both of us really seemed to have moved past those times and nearly forgotten about them after college, but Kim had some pictures to look through that brought all the memories back. They were good memories. Life wasn't complicated at all. It was just about where the next party was, or the next Six Flags trip. Less worries and more fun. It was all structured, but sometimes structure is okay. I guess I was just amazed that I had forgotten about so many of those times. It's good to look back on occasion. Beth actually got married a couple of months ago. I hope all is well with her life.

Terrorism

One thing that I expected to have to deal with working in NYC was the occasional bomb threat in Times Square, what I wasn't expecting was how often.

You may have heard this morning that multiple UPS planes and trucks around NYC were stopped pending the discovery of a "suspicious package" that was a toner cartridge manipulated to look like a bomb. These were found not to be dangerous, but the fact is this is just one scare of many that have gone unpublished since I've arrived. Being in Times Square everyday, I get emails regarding safety in the area, and probably once every 4 or 5 days there are a string of emails updating on suspicious vehicles or packages that shut down multiple avenues and blocks in and around Times Square.

Obviously none of these suspicions and threats have turned out to be true, but it goes to show what kind of day we are living in. It also shows how quickly the NYPD and Port Authority PD are responding to these threats as well. These reports generally go unheard of because the police shut down the blocks, call in the bomb squad, and have things back to normal within an hour and a half. There are NYPD cops on patrol on street corners all over Manhattan on actual shifts that are designed just to watch and deter terrorism.

Reports say that the scare this morning was a dry run for a mail bomb plot. Practice. It's good to know that almost all of these suspicious packages were found and stopped before they even got off the plane. Terrorism is a legitimate fear I have working in Midtown, but it's nice to see the authorities are always on their game here. Makes me feel a bit safer.

Day One

Day One: Introduction

For starters my name is Nick Miller, and I was born near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I started this blog to help people keep up with goings on in my life as I have moved from Wisconsin to New York City for six months. I currently live in Newark, NJ and work at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Times Square. I'm here for six months on a “Graduate Program” where I move from attraction to attraction around the US (and maybe elsewere) training to start a career in the entertainment industry. It's a job I absolutely love and time is literally flying by. I've been here nearly two months already and feels like I just got here yesterday.

Before moving to the east coast I spent four years at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire studying Public Relations and Sociology. I was also on the competitive speech team each year. Speech is something that I never thought I'd enjoy, but I ended up falling in love with it and pursued it throughout college. I was also an RA in my dorm for two years. I like long walks on the beach and Battlestar Galactica along with roller coasters and adventures. Needless to say I'm different. Some people think weird, I think unique. I don't want to say a whole lot more because I've got 29 more days of mini blogs here, but I'll just leave with this. I've been through some major changes in the past two months. I've moved to a completely different part of the US and its been pretty tough adjusting. I also think that the challenge is all part of the process though. I really like where my life is going, and I'm excited for it to unfold even more.

Helping me Blog

 Each day I post a new entry. I figure this should help me post everyday for a month. I'll be as honest as I can.

Day 01 - Introduction
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – Your music
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your hobbies
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your purse
Day 13 – Your mode of transportation
Day 14 – Where you live
Day 15 – Your childhood
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Six Flags New England.

Well here comes a trip report about a week late, as seems to happen with my blogs lately. I'm typing this on a Megabus where my laptop battery may very well short out as it seems to do every half hour or so. Hoping that I get a fair amount of this done before the laptop gods inevitably cut this little typing session short.

I was lucky enough to have the company of the wonderful Natalie Hunter on this trip to Patriots (ugh) country. The drive from Rhode Island to Springfield, MA was absolutely beautiful. Fall colors everywhere and the TomTom was good enough to take us through some great state highways that were full of turns and hills. That combined with sunshine and 60 degree weather made the two hour drive fly by. Getting into the park was simple. We actually parked at a side lot for 5 bucks instead of the highway robbery Six Flags parks tend to charge (15-20). It was actually a shorter walk from our side lot than it was the Six Flags lot anyway, so that worked out quite well. Without a coupon for Natalie we were looking at a pretty stiff admission price. Armed with my season pass and persuasive power I asked the admissions lady if there was any discount for season pass holder's friends. I was expecting perhaps a $7 discount if anything at all, but the admissions lady was good enough to give us $12 admission for Natalie instead of $40. So far, so good, Six Flags.

As I tend to do with new parks, Natalie and I just wondered around for about 20 or 30 minutes checking out everything the park had to offer rides wise and such. I really liked the front of the park, it reminded me of Six Flags St. Louis with fairly narrow streets with old shops everywhere and not a whole lot of advertising. The back of the park was a different story. Its easy to see where the park was before Six Flags bought it, and what was newly added. Cozy theme park cobblestone streets replaced with giant concrete paths littered with Papa John's Pizza and overpriced Johnny Rockets. I'm the kind of person who obviously loves roller coasters and thrill rides, but its the overall park experience that gets me to come back to a park, not just the coasters. That's why my favorite parks are ones like Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Islands of Adventure, and Dollywood. Parks that have thrill rides, but focus more on overall experience such as theming, landscaping, and hiring employees that aren't 16 year old jerks. I know what I'm going to receive when I go to a Six Flags park. Some stellar rides, sure, but also snobby service (if any at all) dirty pathways, and an overall lack of upkeep which is just depressing. Six Flags New England was no different (except for one fantastic worker at a restaurant who nearly made my night with his customer service) but luckily they had some great thrills and I had great company, so the day turned out great. Now that the little rant is over, here's how things went:

The weather turned out way nicer than expected during the day, so for the first time since Hurricane Harbor opened at Six Flags Great America, we got a locker to put our coats and bags in all day. We came back 3 or 4 times, so it may have actually been worth it. The number one reason why I came to this park was for a ride called Bizarro. For those of you who have read my previous installment, you might be thinking its the same Bizarro at Six Flags Great Adventure, but you'd be wrong. This Bizarro does not go upside down, instead it drops you 200 feet and it packed with loads of airtime and tons of turns, tunnels, and bunnyhills. It has won Amusement Park Today's Top Steel Coaster award atleast five times, so I have been pretty excited for this coaster for awhile. It did not disappoint. Queue was about 25 minutes long all day, and our first ride was in the back row. First drop rocked, so did the second and third. The onboard audio was the same as Bizarro in Great Adventure, but that was fine. The second half of the ride was the best because it wasn't traditional like most big steel hyper coasters. It was filled with twisting and turning track that dove into the ground and back again, airtime the whole way. Once it was done I had to ride it again, this time towards the front, cause I knew it'd be even better. More on that later.

Something this park really has going for it is history. It still operates a 70 year old wooden roller coaster called Thunderbolt, and has another old wooden coaster called Cyclone. Cyclone had about a 25 minute wait as well, and after waiting for the front row it was decided that the ride was different than most wooden coasters I've ridden. It was big, and the turns were way intense. Yeah, it was a little rough, but I was okay with that. Fun coaster, not top ten worthy, but definitely better than most for how old it is.

I just need to interject that Air Force One will be our inflight movie today. This might make blogging more difficult. So badass. You rock, Harrison Ford.

I hit a milestone at the park last week. Not about how many coasters I've ridden (as it stands, 180, adding over 30 coasters this summer) but the types I've ridden. I have never ridden a Vekoma Boomerang or SLC until that very day. All coaster dorks know what I'm talking about, but they are the two most cloned coasters in history. They are everywhere, and somehow this was my first time riding both. Turns out the rumors are true, SLC's kick the living crap out of your head. That was a one and done. Boomerang however I found to be quite intense and fun. I'd ride it again. It's not Deja Vu, but its still fun! There was also a flatride made by S&S that I don't know the name of, but it was totally amazing. So intense! Wish I had pictures to show, but forgot the camera. Sad.

At one point we walked through a haunted maze. It was the lamest thing in history. This shows again the Six Flags attitude to the whole park experience. Scareactors were few and far between, and while makeup looked nice, I only saw maybe three actors the whole night. Couple that with the ridiculous prices to get into the real haunted houses, its ridiculous. On the upside, the park did have a B&M Floorless coaster themed to The Dark Knight before the movie came out. There were cool cutouts of Batman characters in the Queue which were fun to read. The ride itself was short but packed a punch. Rode it a couple of times during the day. Quite fun.

After riding all of the coasters in the park (including having a screaming contest with two random people on the wild mouse ride) we decided to ride Cyclone, Batman, and Bizarro a few more times. Bizarro the most. Cause its the best. While waiting in line for the coaster at the end of the night there was a twenty something year old who thought it'd be a great idea to start smoking AND drinking in the middle of the line. After 3 other guests asked the guy to put out the cigeratte (with him just ignoring them completely) security was called. After he ignored security for 10 minutes, 5 or so rent a cops showed up to get the guy out of line. He just kept walking until a security guard cornered him off. At this point everyone wants this guy out of line and out of the park. He pissed off everyone in line and had been taking too many pulls of Jack Daniels for anyone to care what happened to him. I may or may not have told him to stop acting like a third grader, which may have almost got me hit, but after that he went with the security gaurds. Who knows if they kicked him out, but atleast he didn't get to ride. It was just nice to see Six Flags actually enforcing policy.

This is getting a bit long, so I'm going to end by saying that Bizarro was even better in the front, its now my #4 coaster of all time, and I want to ride it more because I think its got potential to grow on that list even more. Great stuff.

Thats it for trip reports. For those of you who hate them, good news! I'll be blogging about life a little more often now. There are so many life questions that need to be answered, and this blog has to be it.

Infact, I've still got a good 2 hours on this Megabus, might as well start another now.