Table Tennis: A New Fad

Big chunks of my day are now laid out with one sole purpose, getting better at table tennis. Often referred to as ping pong, table tennis is a great sport and doesn't require a lot of sweating and running. Table tennis is a very inexpensive sport, paddles can cost anywhere from $5 to $50 and balls cost under $10 for a pack of six or more! More than usual I play with my pals Josh Hones and Josh Trueblood. Neither of them played much back in their respected towns, so I came into our games with a lot more field experience. I have a table back at home, and I utilized it very well. Although I usually beat up on both of them, they are getting better and our games last longer now. As Christmas presents we have even joked about getting each other new paddles! My first night at Wartburg I got beat by a person I should not have lost to. Since then I have attacked table tennis with a much needed enthusiasm that has led to many hours practicing my serves and backhands and endless nights on youtube watching professionals play each other. My knowledge has increased tremendously on this sport, and I feel that maybe someday I should enter a table tennis tournament. Even if that never happens, the memories of playing with some great friends will be beneficial for the rest of my life.

A "Heated" Debate

Today's debate on global warming in class got really heated! It was awesome to see a side of people that you don't usually see, and it was sometimes a little scary watching people tear each other apart. I enjoy debating immensely and for a while in high school I thought I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up. I was involved in mock trial, my mom was the coach, and won two outstanding attorney awards in the two years I was involved in it. Although I get really nervous talking in front of crowds, thinking quickly on my feet is something I feel I specialize in. I'm the kind of guy that always wants my opinion to be right, and so I love tearing apart opponents, especially the opposing council in today's debate! I think it's the inner lawyer trying to get out. I'm going to change my major. I've already decided that being a Political Science major is probably the best fit for me. It matches up well with a history major as well, and possibly even law school??? Who knows... I guess I'm still stuck in this part of my life where I just want to keep running and playing my trumpet and gaining knowledge in my classes here at Wartburg. It's kind of scary when I think about it. I wish I could be one of those people that has their whole life figured out. But I guess I have to do what I do best, think quick on my feet :)

My dog Porgi

I have a dog named Porgi. She is a mix of a pug and a corgi, thus her name being Porgi. Since I left home I have missed her greatly and look forward with massive anticipation for the next week when I get to go home and play with her. My family got Porgi when I was ten years old. I still remember the first night she was with us she wouldn't stop whining and crying, so my dad stayed up all night with her and put her to sleep with some jazz music. Porgi is my dad's dog through and through, but I think that she is starting to miss me more and spends more time with me when I am home. Porgi's younger years were spend terrorizing my brother, sister, and me and all the neighborhood kids. She comes from a herding ancestry and is extremely good at nipping at the heels of people. Since then she has settled down quite a bit and has enjoyed countless days of naps and walks around our house ( we live on about a 4 acre yard in the middle of town ) Porgi's worst enemy is the word "downstairs" and whenever some says "downstairs" she will immediately begin to bark and start scratching the door to get to the basement. That is where her mortal enemy lies: the dreaded sump pump! It is hilarious to watch her growl at it and make sure that we stay away from it unless it might attack us as well. Porgi is getting old though. She has a bad hip and isn't much good for walks nowadays and she sleeps all the time. I will miss her when she leaves us and will spend as much time as I can with her before that day comes.

End of State of Fear

I just finished up State of Fear by Michael Crichton and loved it! What an excellent choice for a book about global warming, Mrs. Wright. What interested me the most was that Crichton used this book to express his opinions on global warming, his opinion being that he didn't really think that it was a major issue. I never thought that I would hear the day that I didn't think global warming was an issue anymore. That just doesn't sound like me! I wish I could be more environmentalist, but I'm kind of lazy and am just too busy all the time (sounds like a lot of bad excuses doesn't it...) Anyway, now that both sides of the issue have entered and gone through my brain analysis I have come to the conclusion that whatever Crichton says, I will believe. Haha! I have just come to respect Michael Crichton so much while reading his novels that his ideas just catch me and drag me along for the ride! For example, the ending of State of Fear really struck me that we need more groups to help support the impoverished people of the world and help give them food to stave off starvation. I believe there are bigger issues to address than global warming since all global warming is is a THEORY. State of Fear has drastically changed me outlook on global warming and in turn has made me more educated in this field of science. Thank you Michael Crichton.

Global Warming

This college experience is really making me think about many opinions I have had in the past. I have always thought that global warming was a major issue to this planet, but after reading State of Fear my opinions have changed. I believe Michael Crichton to be a very smart and influential author, and I respect him very much. I also believe that Al Gore and the many environmentalists of our world are also worth my respect. But who is right and who is wrong? Both groups back themselves up with a plethora of scientific charts, graphs, and evidence to support their theories, because global warming IS a theory as of yet. I suppose I am a little more biased to side with Crichton because I am a big fan of his books, and plus I am also a Republican. Putting all funny business aside for right now, I am having trouble determining what side to go on now that I know many more facts than I used to. Environmentalists say that the world we live in may not be here in 50 years because of global warming and some argue that global warming is a myth! Everyone in this debate is educated so it is a legitimate discussion with both sides pushing against each other. In the end though I may side with the group that says global warming is an issue, because even though it may not be in reality, the cutting back on inefficient energy consumptions may save our planet 1000 years from now.

My Trumpet and Me

The Spanish call a trumpet "trompeta" literally meaning trumpet in English. I play my trompeta here at Wartburg in the Symphonic Band. We had our first real concert last weekend and my family came over to watch! My dad was my band director in high school and it was an emotional concert for me as I watched him silently cheer me on in the crowd. Having my dad as my band instructor in high school was an honor because he is the person that I most respect in my life. If I end up being half the man my dad is then I will be happy. Watching him in the background as I played made me feel old. I never thought that I would see the day that I would be in college and not have my dad to help me out through a band program. He didn't hold my hand or anything, I learned to play well on my own, but he was always there when I had questions and now I have to go to different people to become a more educated band student. I have grown as a musician in the past few months and with a different instructor my horizons have been broadened. People are right when they say that you learn a lot about yourself in college, and I learned that even without my parents help I can accomplish many things on my own. It's a different way of thinking when you decide what's best for you and not having someone else decide what's best for you. One piece of advice that my dad left with me was to read the newspaper every morning and stay informed with the current events of this planet.

Hot Topic

I recently went to the Cedar Falls mall and entered a store called Hot Topic. My friend Josh Trueblood had a bad attitude upon entering the store, and in fact I had a bad attitude towards the store as well. We were looking for cool shirts that we could wear, shirts with bands such as RA RA RIOT and Band of Horses. Upon entering the store we were overwhelmed with New Moon accessories. That is really scary situation to be in when you are a good looking college guy. Teenage girls everywhere garbed in black shirts and black eye liner and goggling over everything with New Moon printed on it. We immediatly shot to the back of the store and found our shirts, but being poor college students we quickly decided that $20 was too much to spend on a shirt. I guess the moral of this story is that the store Hot Topic can be considered a hot and cold shopping event, one never knows what may jump out at them while in the store. There are really cool shirts with many neat bands, and then there are really weird accessories that make me flinch to look at. The whole shopping experience at a mall can be satisfying and an opportunity to learn what stores describe you. I would describe myself a Gap/Old Navy type of guy because I can be very stylish, while saving money at the same time!