my story, ... my life

Arkansas vs. Alabama: Michael Washinton Dunk!

2009-01-30T21:28:00.002-06:00

Heck yeah; picture of the night! Enjoy!

Arkansas Razorback Recent Pics!

2009-01-24T16:53:00.009-06:00

Mcfadden!!

This is my favorite by far!! (the one above)

Here are some pictures of a recent swim meet that I took thursday afternoon.

LSU vs UAF

2008-11-30T21:22:00.002-06:00

Here is a recent picture that I thought I might put up. I haven't had time to do much of anything lately. I'm going to keep it short because I have 5 tests and a paper to do this week, and the following week is just going to be worse. I just hope the teachers don't assign any homework even though they might. Anyways, the game was great to shoot and it was purely awesome. I almost got trampled three or four times and the last goal was one where I almost got trampled. Well, I better go. I have lots to catch up on now that I am in Fayetteville.

My Job Again!

2008-10-26T12:50:00.003-05:00

So, its been a while since my last post. I officially decided to not post any more pictures on here except when I have time, but here is one that of my photographer friends took of me. It was at the absolutely crazy Ole Miss/Arkansas Game this past weekend. I was so spastic because there was an extremely crazy amount of stuff to shoot at the game, but I must say I did take the time to go to the press box and get some awesome brownies. I love it so much!! I can go anywhere I want to except of course the locker room, but I ended up sitting with my brother and his gf for a while and after the game I was on the field and then later I interviewed Casey Dick and Petrino. The night before I got to interview the UA basketball head coach. So, I am still rocking out the pictures and learning lots. School-can't get enough done. Today, I have to read 3 chapters, work on a major Fluids project, do a Fluids homework and study for two tests for this week. However, after staying two nights in the Engineering center I have gotten a lot of stuff done like a major bibliography and some other stuff like an OChem Lab report and a whole lot more. It sounds nerdy of course to stay in the Engineering place, but I just dont want to walk home so late after staying so late studying. Its pretty scary on Friday and Sat nights after people have been drinking and what not. Still lots of cars are around at that time of night. Anyways, hope you like the pic. I have plenty of Petrino and Nutt. I'll have some printed sometime or another!!!

Razorback vs Alabama Game

2008-09-20T20:51:00.005-05:00

No Restrictions!- That is what it's all about. haha, wow I haven't posted anything in quite a while. It doesn't mean that I haven't been taking pictures. A lot of things have gone down since I have came back to school. One of the two major things is that I have been sick since school started. So, I am pretty sure I have mono, but I don't know how that happened. hmmm, but a lot of people have been sick lately though. The other big thing is that I am a photographer for the Razorbacks. So, yeah it's pretty awesome. I shot my first football game today for the Razorbacks, but unfortunately we didn't win and I got a really bad sunburn on my face with the sweet sunglasses tan. Oh yeah! So, 19 hours of school and my job have kept me really busy, and it's just getting busier. I am suppose to be studying for two tests that I have this coming week, Fluid Mechanics and Statics, but I haven't yet cracked a book. Mainly in part because I have been needing sleep. So like every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have like three CHEG homework's due. It is absolutely ridiculous on some of them. My first homework for one of my classes took around 14 hours one day, and I still didn't get it done. Thankfully, the TA gave us all credit. It was great! My classes: Honors Thermodynamics of Multicomponent Systems, CHEG Seminar, Fluid Mechanics, Statics, Archaeology and Lab, and Honors Organic CHEM I and Lab. So, archaeology lab is really awesome because I know some of the mapping tech already, but the lecture is quite boring. We have to write this big paper in there by the end of the semester. I'm doing mine on the Collapse of the Mayan Civilization; probably generally, but I might do the effects in Belize. I have like twenty books on my desk that I need to go through, but really haven't had the time. But anyways, so here are the pictures. I haven't got the chance to go through all of them yet except the ones that I was like those are good when I took them. I have like 1000 and something pictures. I'm really glad I got my new 8gig card. Next big game, but I'm shooting the Florida one as well: Ole Miss. Yeah baby! The clash of the giants: Petrino vs Nut! Oh yeah, Dr. Sugg and I talked before the game, ... haha.One of my favorites of him!

C. Dick and Petrino!
So, these last two were very neat shots to me. I got a lot of great action shots, but of course I can't load them all and so I wanted to put a mixture of everything on here. Check out the ball in mid-air in both of them. The last one was awesome. Oh, yeah I almost got hit twice. They just run for the sidelines, and the camera guys just have their eye in the lens for one shot and others are running for the sidelines as well. So, it's just crazy to get out of their way.

New Lense, New Equipment!

2008-08-15T22:42:00.006-05:00

These are just some recent photos that I took with my new lense and equipment. I really hope you like them! The flowers are tiger lillies that come up every year at my grandma's old well. The skeet are just some random skeet that I saw stacked up on my parent's carport. They were pretty sweet! I took the picture of the clouds at UACCB after work one day, and the girl down below is Lisa Stapleton. Her eyes are so Gorgeous! Beautiful Girl! The jalepenos were in my dad's garden early one morning still with the dew on it, the worm was crawling around in the garden (pretty sweet, haha), the flower was so random flower by his garden, and the corn cobs were some dried out ones that were left over from his crop. The birds are sure eating them up. I really don't think they are left anymore. So, well I really hope you like my photos. I am going to start shooting weddings and hopefully I'll be shooting for the razorbacks. That would be really awesome!

Recent Photo Shoot

2008-08-05T16:33:00.003-05:00

This is a recent photo shoot that I went on with my younger cousin Madison. I really hope to do some more stuff like this in the future with other people.

Hope you like them! If you ever need a photographer, call me up!

Lastnights Bike Ride

2008-08-01T10:24:00.004-05:00

Here are two neat pictures that I took last night before I went on another bike ride.

Hope you like them. I can't wait to go on Sunday's trail ride, it's going to be awesome!

My Weeks Keep Getting Busier and Busier

2008-07-28T09:11:00.009-05:00

Here is how busy I have been for the past few weeks. I guess it's probably all the biking that I have done recently that has taken up all my time. The three pictures below are pictures of my gma, Madison, and I at my papa's grave. I can't believe it has already been a year. I look pretty ruff in this picture because I just biked to the cemetery from my house at Pfeiffer. So, basically I biked from my house at Pfeiffer to Gainesboro, then to the cemetery, then to UACCB, then to the North Complex, and then to my house. Anyways, below are some more pictures as well of the past week or so.

Madison setting on Papa's gravestone.The angel is my great grandmother Honey's. It was beautiful!

Caleb and Brittney Oster's Wedding. It was spectacular! haha, I got some great shots and I hope they like them!

Madison's Birthday Party!

Bethany and Dalton bowling.

Madison and Bethany chilling at the party.

Haha, here I am bowling at my Madison's 6th birthday party. It was a blast!
Brandon, Christopher, and Madison at White River. They are her identical step-brothers. haha, they really don't look identical to me. They're from Rockwall, TX.
Christopher and Madison at the River.Madison and her step-sister Bethany at the river.
Three of the four of them at the river. One of my favorite shots of them, but I only wish that I had Brandon in the shot as well. lol

The whole lot of them being crazy. Christopher was pretty sad that I stepped on his cup of water. HAHA!Chris and Madison at the park swinging away before they left back for TX. It's crazy about how strong Bethany was. She hadn't even seen a doctor and I believe she had a staff infection.Anyways, I hope you like them!

Bogg Springs 2008

2008-07-21T10:47:00.005-05:00

Here are some of my favorite pictures from last week at Bogg Springs Teen Camp.

Keith being all serious and all.Nathan and Blake doing some sweet moves off the diving boards at Bogg. These chairs were ultimate Lazy Boys.Compton being pretty crazy the first night. Haha!

Amy, Jennifer, and I infront of the tabernacle at Bogg.Amy and Jen looking beautiful!Amanda trying not to be beautiful. Gosh!
Cell Group time Thursday night at Bogg.Awe, ... ain't this just sweet! Haha, I was afraid Ludie was going to kill me for this one!Keith's car! haha, pretty funny. I knew that Paige and her sidekicks went to go get pads, but I didn't realize they went to go get them for this reason. haha!

There and Back Again, ...

2008-07-03T12:19:00.003-05:00

I thought this would be a neat picture so I snapped it quickly as this random woman was walking out on the ledge to see the sweet view of the Badlands. Anyways, I love seeing things that make you just stop and stare. This week I have been biking up and down my road. I don't do it every day because that isn't good for the muscles, so I have been going every other day. Sunday and Tuesday I rode 16 miles each evening, and tonight I am due for another 16 miles; maybe I'll add some more. I guess it will just depend on how much time I have. After tonight, I am biking another 16 sunday afternoon. So, I guess I am trying to say is that I enjoy seeing random things while I am riding my bike. Weird aih? haha, it's good for ya to just stop and stare for a little bit instead of getting caught up in the chaotic nature of the World. I wish everybody could this do. It's definitely a way to get inspired to do something amazing. When's the last time you experienced something amazing?

Day 8: Burlington, Colorado

2008-06-22T19:54:00.008-05:00

Well, I am finally sort of back to civilization. haha, tonight we are finally staying in a hotel. I hadn't watched television or anything for like three weeks. Today, instead of shooting back home, dad decided to go through Estes Park. At the park we went up on that Continental Divide for the second time and got some awesome pictures. We also got to see like 6 moose. That was pretty amazing because we hadn't seen any moose the whole trip, and we were about to not go through that park. We also got snowed on today; sweet. lol, of course I am speaking more broken English. sorry! Final count of all the good pictures: 998! This is a crazy amount of pictures and this is not even counting what all I took. For every great frame there are probably on average about three more of it. My parents don't understand why I take so many. The reason I take so many is because I'll have plenty to choose from. It basically ensures me that I am going to get a great shot. Anyways, here are the pictures.The snow was way deeper than this, but this is me on Mount Washburn in Yellowstone Park. It was rather chilly there, haha.

This picture was taken on Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone NP and I thought it was awesome. I got a whole lot more pictures like this. They make really good screen savers I might add except this one because it is a portrait!

The famous falls at Yellowstone, one of my favorite pictures.Me at Old Faithful for the second time. Old Faithful never seems to fail, but it does seem that she has weakened in 6 years.

The Tetons and snake river. Awesome park!I think this one is the largest mountain in Teton NP.Me on top of the world!This picture was rather dangerous in that area because it was definitely the highest point at around 13000 and it was lightening. The grey on the mountains behind me is snow. Yeah, it was rather cold. It was 30 something, but in the valley it was like 75. Crazy!Some moose that we found coming down out of Estes Park. I think we saw like 6 total. Most of them had young babies. The one behind the one at the creek is a younger moose of the one at the creek. After Estes Park we drove through Winter Park and now we are staying in Burlington, Colorado. Anyways, I won't be home till Monday evening. Dennis, if you are reading this I will be at work Tuesday morning bright and early. I really hope it doesn't storm that bad tomorrow. The weather channel is predicting a lot of activity for tomorrow across the nation. Anyways, I hope you like the pictures. I know it is rather windy here. We are staying pretty close to Kansas, ... I think. haha

Stout

Day 7: I think these numbers are messed up; Laramie, Wyoming

2008-06-21T23:02:00.002-05:00

OK, apparently I already messed up the numbers because I guess I didn't get to blog yesterday because of the crazy internet situation in the West Yellowstone KOA. That Kampground sucks! haha, it literally did; I promise. Anyways, we stayed there last night and now we are in Laramie, Wyoming. This KOA is actually pretty scary. Details later because I'm tired. So, apparently this Kampground internet isn't good either. I can't load any of the pictures from yesterday or today. So, I guess I will just load them Sunday night.
Oh, today I saw a bald eagle as we were about to drive through the Tetons. Sorry all this english is broken, I am pretty wore out. Well, we should be home Monday, but I am still not really for sure on that. We are going to spend the night again on the way home tomorrow, but I really don't have any idea where and if we are going to Estes Park in Colorado. So, I hope we are at least home by Monday night so that I can catch up with some of my people that I haven't seen in a good while.
Stout

Day 6: Gardiner, Montana

2008-06-20T08:56:00.005-05:00

Well, today we went white water rafting on some class 2 and 3 rapids, horse back riding in the mountains, and we also went into Yellowstone for a little while to see what kind of wildlife we could see in the evening. We were really hoping to see some grizzlies, but we didn't get see any unfortunately. However, we did see an awesome bighorn sheep and some other things. So, here are the pictures of the day. Today, we are going back into Yellowstone and then we are staying in West Yellowstone, Montana tonight. After that we are going down into the Tetons and then I think we are heading back home, but I don't have any idea quite yet. Hope you liked the pictures from the day.

Stout

Well, ttyl.

Day 5: Close to Gardiner, Montana

2008-06-19T01:09:00.002-05:00

Well, we left Glacier National Park and we are now heading to Yellowstone. This will be my second time through Yellowstone. I am still excited though. Anyways, tomorrow we are suppose to go horse back riding and white water rafting in Gardinier on the Yellowstone River. Today, we made a good long journey down to pretty much Yellowstone. Therefore, I really didn't get any pictures, but I did manage to snap a few when we got here. Oh, now we are staying in some cabins in a valley between a lot of mountains and grizzlies. haha, they literally told us not to go exploring. There are lots of elk and deer here as well. Anyways, here are the pictures below. Hope you like them. I was going to climb a big mountain behind us to take some pictures, but Mom persisted that I didn't because of the bears, cougars, and wolves. I was pretty upset because it would have been awesome! I have more than these for today, but I just didn't have enough time to go through them all. Well, tell me what you think. cya

Stout

Day 4,... I think: West Glacier, Montana

2008-06-18T01:08:00.004-05:00

Well, today was a very eventful day and a very long one at that in the park. I guess these few weeks are going to be more of a photoblog than anything, but anyways here are the pictures. At the end of our journey through the park, lol, my dad hit the biggest, most grandest pot hole ever in my mom's Mazda. I thought it was quite hilarious, my dad didn't however. It was funnier after the fact, but not at the time I told them. ;). lol Anyways, we went down the road and I knew something was wrong because the car had never shaken like that before. lol Well we stopped like twenty miles down the road and found out that we had a flat and then we found out that the rim was bent. Again, not funny to my father! ;) Anyways, I also got to go into Canada as well, but that was before the whole tire situation. So, today was a very awesome day I must say. The terrain is so amazing, I still can't believe that I am here. I think I shot 800 and something shots today. I am very glad that I brought my laptop. It would have been very hard to have limited myself to 518 pictures on my little card.

Canada or Bust BABY! I really thought I might get like thrown in jail or something. I looked very suspicious walking up to the border lol. Well, I've always looked pretty darn suspicious. haha

BEFORE:AFTER: haha! One of my FAVORITE shots from the day. This is another favorite. My little brother shot this one; I might say he's pretty good. lolWell, I'm really tired. Hope you like them. I have a lot more to show.

Stout

Day 3: West Glacier, Montana

2008-06-16T23:13:00.004-05:00

Well, we have finally made it! It has been a very long ride to Montana, but we have finally made it to West Glacier. It is so amazing here. The mountains are so beautiful and so mysterious to me. I may sound too much like a dork if I say this, but I would love to know what is buried under so much of that rock. The mountains are so huge. I mean that is a lot of rock. Anyways, below are some more pictures of some of the area. Tomorrow we are spending the whole day in the park. Oh, earlier today we saw a beautiful bald eagle, but I didn't get to get a picture because we were kind of in a hurry. It was in one of the Indian Reservations we drove through.

Well, that was pretty much today. I just got back from taking a lot of pictures. I am also extremely tired. Montana is a very large state! haha, hope you like the pictures I posted.

Stout

Day 2: Hardin, Montana

2008-06-15T22:31:00.006-05:00

Well, everything is going great. We have made it to Hardin, Montana and the umm climate is defintely different up here. I almost put some pants on when we headed out to supper. The temperature is suppose to drop down into the lower 50s tonight. So, yeahhh, it might get a little cool. Anyways, here are some pictures from today. Oh, I didn't post the flying saucer pictures, but those are a must-see. I've got TWO from two different places, and other pictures taken like a second before them. It's really strange because how would something move that fast in one second to get into the next picture. Very weird! haha

This picture was at the Lewis and Clark Memorial Bridge at Chamberlain. The river is the Missouri River. I wish I could have taken this camera to Belize. I am getting some really awesome shots. We also made it to the Badlands today. This is my second time to go to this park. The view still takes my breath away.

Well, that was the second day. After the badlands, we went to the infamous Wall Drug Store Cafe. haha, what a great place. The last place we stopped before Montana was the ole' Devil's Tower. I have seen this thing three times, but this was actually my first time to get a picture of it.

Well, I hoped you liked the pictures. Tomorrow we are heading out for West Glacier or something like that. I'll get more details when we actually get there. Oh, and I think we might go up into Canada for a little bit, and then there has also been some talk of seeing the Painted Desert in Utah on the way back home. Both would be awesome!

Stout

Day 1: Mitchell, South Dakota

2008-06-14T20:24:00.005-05:00

Well, we left out at a bright and early 5:00am. I pretty much slept the whole way, except but a few hours like to eat and what not. Anyways, here are some pictures from the day. Oh, and we are staying in a KOA Kampground. Haha, awesome! Lots of bikers and hippies.

The picture above is from a very bad wreck on the Interstate in Missouri. We were halfway between Kansas City and St. Joseph. It was a crazy wreck too. We did a U-turn and went through the country there. That was pretty awesome!
After sleeping pretty much the whole trip we made it to Mitchell, South Dakota. This is the 2nd time I have been to this Cabela's and the 3rd or 4th time through this town.

These shots were from outside Cabella's; I thought they was rather interesting.

This is our cabin at the KOA Kampground; it is quite amazing too. Haha, way cheaper than a Hotel! I'll be fine. I have slept in way worse conditions. haha

Here is another shot from the area.

Well that concludes the first day. Way more to come!

Stout

Post Belize!

2008-06-12T12:51:00.018-05:00

Well, I am finally back from Belize, C.A. and I am finally back into a routine. It sure wasn't nice that I had to go to work at 7:30 am that next day, but I had to. The picture above is of Romel. Daniel, Callie, Holly and I met him on the streets shooting crabs with some homemade sling shots. Well, this kid was awesome. He led us through the village and told us where people were at because we didn't know if people were home or not. Anyways, long story short, his brother's sling shot broke. So, when I send him his letter, he is going to get two awesome sling shots. He was an amazing shot with just some sticks and rubber bands. Now, he going to have some good stuff. Awesome crab killer!

Two awesome Canadians! Haha, they were great and we had lots of fun!
Awesome picture of Marlin, Callie, and I at Old Belize. The chicken nachos were quite amazing! I really should have taken a picture before, but I think Callie was really hungry. Haha, jk, I was hungry as well.
Ahh, I found a crystal skull! Haha!

The Croc was awesome!Cal and I at the ruins.

Cal and I in the Jungle. Great picture!

Some pieces of obsidian and pottery. The little pieces of obsidian were used for cutting and bleeding. They were pretty awesome to find with the tour guide.
Me on top of the Mayan Ruins. One word; ... Awesome!Out of all the pictures that I took, this was by far my favorite. I was definitely gross, and I only knew this boy for about an hour. When he said goodbye, it was like a knife going through my heart.
Just thought I would try out my tree climbing skills. Haha!
utiful water! This was after we went snorkeling. You can see the waves crashing on the reef.

Well, this concludes the trip. This is the sunrise that Callie and I got up for. I have a whole lot more, but this one was by far my favorite. Well I keep you up to date while I am in Montana. Overall, Belize was a great trip. I can't wait to do some medical missions sometime.

Post Finals; Must Read!

2008-05-21T23:14:00.005-05:00

Well, ... everything has been better since finals. I am home-home now, and I am enjoying the long-awaited sleep. However, that has ended and now I am back to work tutoring math, chemistry, and physics. Haha, some great stuff right there! Fyi, my UPhysics II final went great. I started studying the Tuesday before the final at 6:00pm and stopped at 2am, slept for two hours and started studying at 4am for the 10am final. It wasn't a very good day because I had to drive across the state after loading everything in my Honda on just two hours of sleep in the rain. After getting home, I just had to check my grades. I made an 87 on the test which was awesome for not even finishing all of the material for the comprehensive final. All I had to make was like a 60 to have an A. I ended up making a 96 in the class or something like thatIt was great!

Well, after having some bad headaches last fall, ... I found out what was causing them. Unfortunately, my eye doctor said "your going blind." Haha, jk! He didn't say that and it isn't funny, but I am losing my eyesight. I look at computers and books too much. They are some pretty sweet glasses though! Anyways, well I was suppose to go to Denver, Co., but those plans were changed because my older brother had an interview with Entergy in Little Rock, AR. the Thursday that we were suppose to be in Co. So, I was a little upset, but then again I was kind of ready to be home. I mean I did just finish up the hardest two weeks ever! Now, I am ready to go back. I have no idea why, but it just doesn't feel right where I am at. So, this weekend I decided to go to a concert. It's going to be rockin'. haha, anyways it'll be fun. ;) Some of my other friends have an extra bedroom so that'll be great. Today, I got my shots from ....... a nurse. Let's just say it was the worst experience ever. I literally thought I was going to die. She gave me one of my shots (HepA) and pumped my arm full of air. Well long story short, she almost got the Typhoid shot. However, I wasn't very mobile because I had fallen over because of the shot. haha, I can't give you anymore details.

Next week, I will hear from a wildlife magazine about some pictures they have of mine. Hopefully, I'll hear something before Friday! :o Peace to my peeps!

Sorry, it has been a very long time since I have posted.

Something Called Fun

2008-04-24T19:08:00.003-05:00

What do you consider fun? Haha, I really should be studying for a UPII test on optics, but to me that's just NOT fun. Anyways, so I thought I would write about something I don't get to do very much, and I consider this hobby to be just simply put, ... awesome. This past weekend I got to go on another "photo shoot," and this time it was at my gma's house. I posted a few pictures out of the bunch that I thought were pretty good. Of course I am not going to post the better ones, but lets just say their are some amazing ones! I guess this hobby is fun to me because it takes my mind off of the stressful things in life. It basically allows me to get down and dirty on the ground and see things never before seen or noticeable to some people. I think it's important to do something like this because people need to allow themselves to have some sort of balance in their life. People can only take so much before they break. I have also submitted some of my photography to a magazine that is having a photo contest. Hopefully, they'll like some of my work because if they do like it, future publications are possible. Oh, and there is a cash prize as well so that makes it pretty sweet.

So, what do you consider to be fun? Hopefully it's fulfills a purpose and isn't too wild. I mean this past weekend I could have gone out if I wanted to, but I know where that road leads to and what kind of trouble people can get into. I honestly do think that this is the BIGGEST misconception of all college students, and I am pretty darn sure that since it is a misconception students are going to fulfill it because people that make that misconception believe that they are going to do it. I hope that wasn't too confusing. This has been bugging for a long time. Anyways, not all students are partiers and pot growers even though there are some next door to me. Yeah, this is suppose to be the time of our lives, but really if you think about it I am going to have a professional career in a few years. I don't want to sound all boring because I'm not. ONE thing I know for sure is that in order to keep kids from rebelling is to get to know them and to develop relationships with people you don't normally associate with. This is one thing that I think is essential to society because people need to know that people actually do care. It also makes people feel like they are apart of the society that they live in. It also keeps them connected. Kids that move off feeling such a connection are more likely to make better decisions because that part of the conscious kicks in and tells them what they are doing might be wrong. On the other hand, I have also noticed that people do move off so that they can live a life that is so called "fun," even though it may hurt people they know back home.

Communication has been lost because it's not a top priority. Paying bills, making deadlines, and keeping things in order always seem to come first. The other day I noticed one of my good good friends had upside down crosses as ear rings. Many times I have wondered why people go to such lengths to buy ear rings like that and especially put them on in public. It bothers me to know that she thinks that way, but from her personality you would have never known it. She is the nicest person in the world, but really what I would like to know is just when did she make that decision and what made her make it.

Summary: Rebellion to me is led on by lost communication because of various misconceptions.

I don't want to sound like I am like ragging on people because I am not. If things are broken, then they need to be fixed, and if things aren't broken fix them anyways. Many times things are best fixed if you step back and just look at the situation at hand. Don't worry about the fine details within the situation. Fix the big stuff and work the small stuff out. Neil Armstrong didn't just didn't go running around the moon, they first looked at what they wanted to do and then they stepped out and took that leap.

Not all great teachers are good thinkers.

FYI: Apparently I am going blind, my hair is turning colors (red)/falling out/and pulling an Einstein. So, in a few years it looks like I am going to have patches of wirey, red hair.

Recent Update

2008-04-16T20:08:00.005-05:00

So, ... I took my Chem E test today. I don't want to say much about it, but let's just say it was the hardest stuff I have ever encountered. We had a process where air was coming into a system at a certain temperature and humidity, had to be heated through a heat exchanger to become fully saturated (adiabatic saturation), and went through a dryer. Easy right, ... well that wasn't it. We also had some waste substance that needed to be dried in the dryer as well. It had a certain temperature and weight percent of water in it. The waste went through the dryer, and the water was picked up by the dryer and put through the saturated stream of air leaving the dryer. This was split and some of it was recycled. Haha, it was horrible, period.

However, it was amazing that I did get done with the test. Below is a verse that I randomly found last night. I flipped to this page and there it was in black and white. It wasn't the same verse that I read, but it'll do.

31st Psalm 1-13

For the leader. A psalm of David. In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice deliver me; incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me. You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead and guide me. Free me from the net they have set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God. You hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. I will rejoice and be glad in your love, once you have seen my misery, observed my distress. You will not abandon me into enemy hands, but will set my feet in a free and open space. Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am in distress; with grief my eyes are wasted, my soul and body spent. My life is worn out by sorrow, my years by sighing. My strength fails in affliction; my bones are consumed. To all my foes I am a thing of scorn, to my neighbors, a dreaded sight, a horror to my friends. When they see me in the street, they quickly shy away.

Simply put I got chills and my heart felt like it skipped a beat.

Pulling a 180, I haven't got to workout in a long time. I feel horrible about that, but I just haven't had the time. I sure have had the time to eat Oatmeal Creme Pies though. These little things are my favorite ever. Haha! I didn't want to post a picture early, but here it is. Fajitas are my favorite. I have quite a few hispanic friends. Therefore, I have them often. Not quite to my goal yet. :(

A Man of Wonders

2008-04-09T23:34:00.003-05:00

I think I wonder too much! I don't like to say I think because thinking usually gets you somewhere and I usually go nowhere with it. So, I like to call it wondering because that's what I usually do is wonder. I guess if I were to be placed in the woods somewhere foreign I probably wouldn't be able to make it out alive. You can pretty much symbolically relate my thought processes to these "woods." The reason I would get lost in the woods is that I would probably end up wondering aimlessly in the woods instead of thinking my way through the woods. Do you ever wonder what people are thinking about?
Something I have always wondered about is the meaning of the words of material items. This is crazy and your probably thinking I've got way too much time on my hands, but that's pretty much what I do in class. The only reason I go to class is to turn in homework. Anyways, have you ever wondered why we associate meanings with certain items or objects. What if a pen wasn't actually a writing utensil like we know it as? What if that object itself was called something else like a book? The reason these thoughts came up were because of Thermodynamics. I started to think about the reasoning behind numbers like the boiling point and freezing point and why they are those certain numbers. It's crazy to think that these numbers are set numbers, but that's the way it has always been. None different! What if some mathematician or scientist told us that the freezing point of water was actually like 15 degrees fahrenheit instead of 32. The meaning of numbers is really interesting because we associate everything with them; speed, temperature, enthalpy, entropy, heat, work, etc. It's the same business with words. Anyways, that was my long-time wondering. I have to go home now because the library is closing. :(
If you can answer this, please help! HaHa
Stout

Another Update

2008-04-02T08:02:00.003-05:00

Well, it's getting closer and closer to summer and I can't wait! Really, ... I think I only have like four weeks, but I'm not for sure on that. It'll fly by fast. I am so ready for this weekend as well. I am starting to move some of my stuff home. It's so that I don't have to make the long trip back up here after finals. HOPEFULLY, I will be able to leave directly from my UPII final and go straight to Tulsa so that I can go to Denver. Matt and I are going job hunting, ... I guess that's what you might call it. :) More else he is looking for an engineering firm or something like that, and I am going along for the ride. Hopefully there will be some relaxing time, and I may not have to take my UPII final so that might be great as well. I'll just be chillin up here that wednesday, ... hopefully.

Workouts! Wooo, I am tired of them. I started the P90x program and lets just say I had to step up my game. I hadn't been home in a little while to see the results, but over anything I have gained muscle. This is the program that I wanted to start basically before the semester, but it was freakin' expensive.

Next Summer, I am almost certain that I am going to Syria to excavate some 10,000 year old ruins. Yeah, it'll be awesome. It also counts as field research, so it'll be a very educational trip. Oh yeah, I am minoring in archaeology. It and chemical engineering are pretty much polar. They are nothing alike. HaHa, but I wanted to add a little fun to my schedule.

Next fall:
5: Honors Organic Chemistry I and Honors Lab
3: Statics (Have no idea what it's about)
3: Fluid Mechanics
3: Honors Thermodynamics of Multi-Component Systems (crazy stuff)
1: Professional Practice Seminar
4: Archaeology and Lab
Sum: 19, I think. I am about to go to DiffEq, tell me if the math is wrong. lol, I miss the easiest things on the tests. lol

Anyways, next semester will be crazy.

I love Music!!!

2008-03-30T23:02:00.003-05:00

Check out this link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QZssyK5exo&feature=related
Some of you guys probably don't like country, but I like everything. It doesn't matter what it is. It's by George Jones, but Josh Turner is singing it. "He stopped loving her today." Great Song! Great Artists! I would play in their band in a heartbeat.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!!!

2008-03-27T22:17:00.003-05:00

Here are some newer pictures that are absolutely amazing to me. I printed these 8 x 10 and added them to my portfolio. If ever you need a photographer, just let me know! To me it's not business, it's just pure fun.

Stout's Out

Back Roadn' OutLaws!

2008-03-21T00:05:00.003-05:00

Definitely check the videos out. We saw some interesting things, including the amazing waterfall/wet weather spring below. It was great to hang out with Meams and have fun doing the simplest things. Sorry the images are kinda fuzzy, they were done with my phone.

Fun Song!

2008-03-17T21:38:00.003-05:00

One of my all-time favorites! From the sound, you'll be able to tell that I have a very old piano. I wish I had equipment to record from my Kurzweil, the sound would be tons better. Oh, and the song has been altered a little bit, as well as all the other songs I play. When I do change a song, it's usually by instinct or a melody that has been stuck in my head. It's weird, me and music have some kind of connection.

Another One of My Wonderings!

2008-03-17T03:50:00.003-05:00

Catching up! Wow! I hadn't blogged in a good while. Well, I came home early. A lot earlier than some of my friends did. I skipped Thursday and Friday last week and came home Wednesday. Really, I haven't done much. Friday, Mimi and I went four-wheeler riding back in the country. That was pretty fun! Hopefully, Tuesday will be another beautiful day to go riding again. It'd be nice to get on my brother's bike, but from experience it's pretty much too dangerous.

Below are a few words from one of the newer films that I have recently watched. If you get a chance you must see “Into the Wild.” It’s a longer movie, but it has some good “meat” to it. On my way home was actually the first time I had heard about the film, and before that I had even been thinking about doing something like him.

On those eight hour trips, your mind really gets to thinking, and substantially starts to wonder about things like: school, happiness, family, friends, purpose, … life.

I don’t want this to sound like I am copying him because that would just be absurd. I think that dropping everything like that wasn’t too smart. It was actually too rebellious for me, but one of the things that I have been hoping to do is to travel the World and see what people see, do what they do, and live like they live. Anyways, here’s the excerpt:

Two years he walks the earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. Ultimate freedom. An extremist. An aesthetic voyager whose home is the road. So now, after two rambling years comes the final and greatest adventure. The climatic battle to kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the spiritual revolution. No longer to be poisoned by civilization, he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild.

Alexander Supertramp
May 1992

One thing I really think he was trying to do was to grow spiritually, and possibly come back to society a new person, … something refreshed and free of “poison.” But in reality if he came back refreshed, “society” would still be there with the same ole’ people and the same ole’ “poison.” He pushed himself over the edge with his ideologies. He was “too far” into it. He was thinking too far into all that jazz. He realized that happiness was only real when shared. At that point he truly realized how unhappy he was. He had no one! This is a change of subject, but have you ever wondered about people, teens, and children that truly have no one? Or have you ever felt this slight unhappiness? Or have you ever wondered why people isolate themselves from society? Sometimes it’s not the person’s fault that falls into isolation. People push people into social isolation! Ok, enough of that rant. Anyways, he did have family that cared, but he pushed himself away from society. As said by his sister, “Christopher was writing his [own] story.” His own poison unfortunately lead him to death.

Two more quotes from the movie are below. These were quite amazing! Hopefully in a few years I’ll be able to write a few chapters to my story, … my life.

“But when you forgive, you love. And when you love, God’s light shines on you.”

“What if I were smiling and running into your arms? Would you see then what I see now?”

Oh yeah, I am pretty sure I am double-majoring now. I was just going for chemical engineering with a minor in mathematics, but now I have decided to study archaeology as well. My minor in math is pretty much complete. Actually with another chemistry class I would probably have my chemistry minor as well. There’s so much that I want to do and could do. I am totally interested in cell biology, hardcore chemistry, climatology, and, believe it or not, rocks. Oh, I also passed the hardest electricity and magnetism test that our physics teacher could make up. It was sad that everybody failed it, but it was great that I only missed one 3 point question. It was the easiest question. Really, I knew the answer to the question, but I marked the wrong choice.

Well, if you ever in Fayettown there’s only one place that you can find me and that’s on the third floor in the Mullin’s library at a table between the books on war and the books on food chemistry. Oh, and I had to post a picture of Multnomah Falls and some more pictures from this week. Hope you like them. This summer, I am definitely going out West again. It is a definite! But this time I am going out to Montana for vacation, and possibly to stay in Colorado for a while. Peace out! ps, these make excellent backgrounds. LiL Stout

Older, but Greater Song!

2008-03-11T21:00:00.004-05:00

Check it out, you'll be able to recognize who it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Kd7IGPyeg

Ever Wonder?

2008-03-10T22:47:00.003-05:00

Do you ever think about the craziest things? I sure do, ... especially in class. The other day I was trying to remember some voices of friends. This is crazy hard to do. I mean I could probably recognize them if I heard them, but I couldn't remember ANYBODY's. There are a few that I can remember, but those are like my friends from school now. After being locked up in an apartment for a while you start thinking why you lost that communication, and if they even think about you.

There's a communication disorder! After engaging for awhile, people unfortunately give up when there's no one there to listen.

It's not a hard problem to solve, ... it takes two!

Stout

A Night of FUN!

2008-03-07T23:04:00.007-06:00

Well, ... here they are! This man is pretty much my new role model. A book can't be big enough to tell you about the experiences that this man has been through. This man is also very nice. Taking pictures is something I love to do. I definately wish I could do this all the time. I also wish I could do something like him. Lay down everything, and do something. Hope you like the pictures.

Snow, Snow, Snow!

2008-03-04T08:03:00.006-06:00

Here are some pictures of the crazy amount of snow Fayetteville received. In some places up here, there was 12+ inches. This morning it sounded like Batesville was getting hit pretty hard, but I don't know. I know that my mom didn't make it like 1/8 of a mile down the road before she had a wreck. So, if the UA is getting out, then every school from here to Memphis, TN must be getting out. Crazy weather! Now, the sun is shining. Didn't even get done with the post. The first images are like thirty minutes after I came in from the snow. Hope you like them!

Practice Makes Perfect!

2008-03-03T06:57:00.002-06:00

Many people say that "practice makes perfect," but what if there is a part of us that is imperfectible. There's a few things in my life that can never be perfected or fixed. What about yours? What if we could just take those in somewhere and actually get them fixed? Would you do it? I honestly don't think that I could. Those things that make me not perfect actually make me human. I don't think I would ever be "Jerm" if I didn't have those imperfections. Yeah, it would be really easy to just say that we don't have anything that needs a fixing, but in reality we all have some part of us that we don't like.

If we were perfect, then we wouldn't be able to relate to anybody else at all. I think that we were all made to have our imperfections so that we could really be something unique. Instead of them being called imperfections, we might need to call them something else. Something that doesn't seem so wrong. Maybe characteristics? I really do think that these characteristics are unique only to us individual persons so that we can reach out to somebody else that may have problems, instead of looking down on them in despair. So, be careful what your perfecting because it maybe some part of you that really doesn't need perfecting.

Project FAME!

2008-02-28T14:34:00.003-06:00

Project FAME is what it's all about! lol. I am now starting a project that has to do with Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME). This is pretty insane. These esters are basically used to make biodiesel. I'll am basically projecting what equipment we will need for this project, and then I will be running the samples through GC; most likely through GCMS. I still have the same supervisor of course. Now, he's going to be like the person that pushes for our project needs'. Anyways, this is an amazing opportunity!

My Work?

2008-02-28T09:11:00.004-06:00

Well, I have finally finished my coal gasification paper. It has been two long gruelling weeks in the library and a whole semester worth of intense reading. I have read things that dealt with solar power to hydrogen production, and quite a lot of global warming. Some stuff probably didn't even apply to the paper, but it's important to know about the renewable energy resources that we have available, and it's also important to know the energy conversions and efficiencies that apply to each of these systems. It's also important to get a grasp of what actually happens and how much emissions are produced by these systems so that we can research into designing better processes that produce way less emissions. I wanted to post a picture the energy balance and entropy balance that I have learned, but those equations are way too large to put on here. I had to put some picture, so, I put one of my favorite pictures instead.

Sparingly, I have worked in our engineering labs doing whatever that needs to be done. Today, I am actually meeting with my professor/supervisor to see what else he wants me to do. He has been talking about having me running some ethanol samples through a gas chromatograph (GC). This system is pretty neat because of how it works. When the very small sample is injected into the "shoot," the gas is actually nebulized so that it's particles are broken down so that they can be analyzed by the computer. Some pretty sweet stuff happens here. In a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry (GCMS), a unknown is ran through the column and the data that is generated from this sample is actually compared to a library of substances. The printout from this sample shows how much (the peak) of what the unknown consists of.

Anyways, not too much to it. I just have to be careful around the expensive equipment, specially in what we call our "lab III." In this lab we actually have a distillation column setup. What's that? lol. It itself can be one system in a plant. Actually, my dad knows quite a bit about these because he has worked with them for a very long time. Now he does that and other stuff with biodiesel. Anyways, we use the distillation columns for the senior students who really mess with ethanol. We also have barrels of brandy. Alcohol! lol, just kidding. It's an experiment that deals with why ethanol seeps through the wooden barrels to the atmosphere. This is something that the brandy distillers actually want to happen. Crazy, otherwise brandy would have a way higher concentration of ethanol and it would probably have a really, really burning taste.

Well, that was my rambling about work before I hit it hard.

Where Do You Want to Be?

2008-02-26T13:44:00.002-06:00

Where would you like to be in 5, 10, or 15 years? I think I know where I want to be, but it's crazy to think about this because in reality we may never reach or attain that goal. Yeah, we could try to get there and eventually give up, or this might be a goal that we think we are destined to obtain and actually make it there. But would we really be happy after all of those struggles. It's near impossible to actually make a prediction of where we might be in a year, month, and for me even a week. Next week, I will actually be in three different states for three different events, AND I will not be missing any of my classes OR PHYSICS TEST.

I'll tell you more else what I would like to be after I graduate. Two major goals of mine are to become a National Geographic photographer and to go to Culinary School. One reason for this is because I have always had a National Geographic to look at even before I could read. You probably can not even fathom how many boxes of National Geographic books my family own. I don't even know where they are all at. Anyways, even before I could read I remember just waiting to get another book so that I could look at the pictures of all the exotic places. Culinary School is my plan "B." I love cooking! It doesn't matter what kind of food it is. Give me a recipe and I'll tweak it. Let me tell you I make some killer pancakes AND syrup. Right now, I am learning to cook chinese food. It's pretty neat. Note: one cup of rice makes way more than one serving.

So now, let me pose the question again. Where do you think you want to be?

Ewwww that Smell!

2008-02-24T23:38:00.007-06:00

It's definitely skunk mating season. lol. Last night, I had no idea what I hit. I was going through construction and stupid me was messing with the radio. Anyways, all of a sudden I abrubtly hit something with my front right tire and subsequently the back one. lol Ok, so my theory from the sound it made and the number of times that I smelt that funky skunk juice on the way to Fayetteville; I am most certain it was ole' Pepé Le Pew.

For Those that are Half n' Half!

2008-02-21T21:48:00.003-06:00

Yeah, today was probably the busiest day that I have had in a long time. I had two essays to write, other things to do, and a big lab report. I got one of the essays done, the lab report, and the other things done as well. lol, Anyways, I still have the research paper to do, but I just haven't had any desire to do it.

So, this one is for those that are half and half on issues that they may come across in their lives. I find many of the times that when I am to decide one way or the other, I usually do what bests suits me which is most of the time right down the middle. Have you ever had this problem? Or am I the only one that is so narrow-minded that I have to have this self-satisifaction. I sure hope I'm not. Could it be that we are so use to having it our way that we forget about others? I do it all the time, don't worry. As a student, of course, I would like to make the highest grade on everything. That doesn't happen, but sometimes it comes to a point when it gets real competive with a person that your not too fond with. I'm talking about like going behind them when they walk away from their computer, and logging the computer off. I've never done it, but sure have thought about a few times when they have been working on it a good three hours.

I mean really! If one person could be compassionate with just one person every day of the year. That's just 365 and some odd people. I meet that many people in less than 50 minutes at least 10 times a week. If the person that you were overly nice to was nice to other people every day of the year, then we would have a exponential growth curve on our hands. It's kind of like radioactive decay (this stuff is pretty neat to deal with, trust me), but opposite. But we know from experience that this will never happen because everybody's a politic. One time they agree on abortion, and the other time they don't. Or one time they believe in saving sex until marriage, and then they fall flat on their face in the same sin. Crazy, I hope you don't think that I'm perfect. Trust me, I'm not. Only if you could just see what my eyes see and know the thoughts that graze this narrow-minded brain of mine would you understand. Everytime, I choose a path were I know what the end result will be, but only if I could pick a road like the picture above. One so rugged and grown up with weeds that I myself have to clear part of the path knowing not what may be around the bend.

Some Oldies, but Goodies!

2008-02-21T14:23:00.002-06:00

Got bored doing stuff. This is my mom's car. Pretty sweet pics to me.

So Much to Do, So Little Time!

2008-02-21T10:39:00.003-06:00

I have so much to do, and not enough time to do it. Last night, after being at school from 8:30am-7:20pm, I was in the library from 7:30 until 11:30 working on random things. In four hrs, I read 5 chapters of physics, typed a lab report, did physics homework, and finished my thermodynamics homework. That day, I had already done three engineering problems, and three diff eq problems. It's unbelievable how much I have do to do today. Right now, I have already done another 15 or so problems in physics that has to do with circuits. Later, I have to write two papers, and write-up another lab report. I also have a meeting at 6:30pm. Crazy, and I'm planning on going home this weekend! Don't think it's going to happen. Probably shouldn't be blogging.

You Know What's AWESOME?

2008-02-20T16:01:00.004-06:00

You wanna know what's awesome? Today, I found out that I made a 95 on a Differential Equations test. This was amazing because a lot of people had trouble on this test. Our class size is about 60 or so students, and the test consisted of doing 6 Diff Eq problems. They weren't fun at all. The only thing I got counted off for was a sign in one of my exponential/financial problems. The other thing I got counted off for was a halfway wrong interval. It was quite amazing. The picture above is of one my easier problems in the class. It was very short! I also noticed today that I am going to have to get some more pants. Apparently, ... mine don't really fit anymore. ;) AWESOME!

The Midnight Special

2008-02-19T10:42:00.005-06:00

CCR: The Midnight Special

Well, you wake up in the mornin, you hear the work bell ring,
And they march you to the table, to see the same old thing.
Aint no food upon the table, and no pork up in the pan.
But you better not complain, boy, you get in trouble with the man.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a everlovin light on me.
Yonder come Ms. Rosie, how in the world did you know?
By the way she wears her apron, and the clothes she wore.
Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand;
She come to see the govnor, she wants to free her man.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a everlovin light on me.
If you're ever in houston, well, you better do the right;
You better not gamble, yeah, you better not fight, at all.
Or the sheriff will grab ya, and the boys will bring you down.
The next thing you know, boy, oh! you're prison bound.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a everlovin light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a light on me.
Let the midnight special, shine a everlovin light on me.

Many people know me as a piano player, others have no clue that I can play the piano. The truth is, I haven't been playing very long at all. I started piano lessons my tenth grade year, so right now I guess it's been almost four years. My mom took lessons at first, and then I asked her to teach me the keys and the notes of the music. I subsequently took it up very quickly. She stopped playing, and so my supply of sheet music abrubtly stopped. So, I decided to take piano lessons. I played around on the easy stuff for a short while, and then I wanted to move onto the harder stuff and I did. Anyways, point being. I like music! Right now, I am loving me some CCR. It's pretty fun to listen to while working out. One thing I wish I could do, is go back during that era and get a "good experience" of what it was like. I also would have loved to listen to all the music back then. What we hear now is basically a teaspoon of what was created "back in the days." I must say, this song would be awesome to play using an Organ.

An Awesome, But Gloomy Day!

2008-02-16T21:14:00.003-06:00

It's crazy how things work out. I'm talking about how everything may seem to be bad and getting worse. Well, it got a lot better this weekend. So, here's the story. About a month ago, me and one of my good Circle K friends', Cassandra Ellington, went to a Kiwanis Club meeting to steal there gavel. Anyways, we were also there to tell them about an event we were running called "Winter Social," and that we needed some prizes to give away. So, this real estate agent like walks up to us and was like I can give you some trips to auction off, and we were like that is so awesome. At first, I was kind of shady, but these trips are totally valid. So, we go to his office and we have a good three hour conversation with him about everything. You name it, we talked about it. I should have been studying for my UPII test, but it was good to socialize a little bit. So, he handed us this big binder full of coupons and everything and he basically said, "pick a few." So, we picked like a 4 day Bahamas trip with free airfare, a 2 day trip anywhere in the United States with a buy one get one free airfare, and an 8 day Resort to anywhere Worldwide with a buy one get one free airfare. I was like, "Sir, could you print me a few of these off." Unfortunately, he wouldn't do it. I was a little upset, but you know what? I was bound and determined to get a trip. Lol, so I did! We had the silent auction that we were suppose to have, and I found the trip that I wanted. I signed it a few times and watched it like a hawk, and in the end I won it. I won the trip anywhere for 8 days and 7 nights.

I am really thinking about taking my Nan Nan (grandma) because she really needs a good vacation. Last summer on July 27th, her husband (my PaPa) took his last few breaths. Everybody was gone except my Aunt, my cousin Dalton, and I. I just made it back from a trip, and my aunt and cousin were over at Nan Nans' house. I was at my house checking my email from a long week. I JUST made it back from the trip. I am talking about within like 5 minutes. I hadn't even unpacked. I think that it was kind of meant to be this way. I sometimes think that since we had a really, really good bond that I was somehow allowed to talk to him just one more time before he passed. It's crazy to think that he died about 10 minutes after I got home. I was just about to go over there to visit too. Really, it was a sad situation because I didn't get to spend as much time as I wanted with him, but in the end I did get to tell him goodbye. It was worse than what you have probably seen in the movies and something you probably don't even want to think about experiencing. But I am very much thankful to have won the trip, because I am really wanting to take my Grandma somewhere amazing. She is kind of scared, but we'll be fine together. I am a pretty darn good navigator, and she is very patient with me because we have a strong bond as well. Fiji, Syndey, Scotland, Ireland; can you say somewhere amazing! I'm really thinking maybe a beach somewhere in the Phillipines or maybe over in that area.

Another week Down!

2008-02-16T14:57:00.005-06:00

Another week down and I am as sore as ever. This week I stepped up by game and have worked out even harder than ever. I am not trying to build too much muscle, but just enough so that I can be toned Anyways, I didn't get to weigh this weekend because I didn't get a chance to go home, but next weekend I should be able to weigh, and hopefully I will have pretty good results. This upcoming week I also hope to change up my diet a little bit. Instead of eating peanut butter crackers for lunch, I am going to have an all-natural low-calorie granola bar. I am doing this change because I just realized what I was consuming. Crackers have a lot of fat in them, granola bars don't have too much. A recent picture is above. I wish I would have taken a before picture, but I probably would have been too embarrassed to have posted it. I didn't really feel like posting a shirtless picture right now because that is just too weird, but I am going to take a recent one and then after this semester is over I will show the before and after. HOPEFULLY, there will be a significant change and I'll be ripped.

The Update!

2008-02-09T10:29:00.000-06:00

The pictures below are from Gassville and the Cotter area that were blown away, and some other pictures that I took along the way from Fayetteville this weekend. Their is another picture thrown in there from the Melbourne area. That place stinks really, really bad. It's because all of the dead cows. When I was driving through that area he was buring his cattle. It was really sad and gross. I hate to imagine what something like the holocaust was like. Oh yeah, after a week and a half of intense "training," I have lost a total of 4 lbs. This is amazing! Anyways, peace out.

Lil Stout

The Destruction!!!

2008-02-09T08:20:00.001-06:00

Monday the 4th! Third week of workouts.

2008-02-04T15:21:00.000-06:00

So, ... some people know me as a pretty crazy or picky eater. Well, I have become to be even pickier when it comes to food. It's not that I wouldn't ever eat it. Don't get me wrong there. I could pull a Chuck Norris on some bbq hamburgers right now. When I was a kid, my mother always tried to feed me different kinds of meat. I would try what she would give me, and I would unfortunately refuse to eat it. I was a slight vegetarian in my younger years. I didn't eat meat because I frankly didn't like the taste or the texture. I still don't like a lot of meat, and I still pick around the hamburger meat in hamburger helper so that I can get the cheesy noodles. Crazy!

For three weeks now, I have been slightly and variantly working out when I got the time. During my first two weeks of school I didn't do too good at doing a regular workout, mainly impart because I had the goal to read every chapter of all my classes. I must say that I did accomplish that goal in a week and a half. 43 chapters of University Physics II on Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics, 7 very long chapters of Thermodynamics of Single Component Systems- neat Conservation of Energy Equations, and 16 chapters of a Chemical Engineering book. WoW! Anyways, so this past week I really hit it up pretty hard in my working out. I hadn't done anything like that before in my life. I started early last week everyday working out for an hour straight. This is pretty hard to do if you have been out of shape for a while. So, I have always, sort of-kinda, had a two pack. It would sometimes dissappear in the holidays and reappear when I felt like getting back into shape. This past year I had actually gained weight. I didn't like that at all. I absolutely had to change that.

Well, my goal now for this semester is to have a 6 pack by finals. I think I am getting there. Lol, this weekend I am already beginning to see the definitions of the 4 pack, and my obliques are swinging in pretty good. However, I did sprang my ancle pretty good Saturday night playing raquetball. It hurts really, really bad. So, you are probably ready for me to get to the point now. Ok, here's how I am doing it. Change your routines up like every two or three weeks, drink plenty of water, and go low calorie/low fat. Basically, eat healthy foods and don't overdo it. You know you have overdone it when you know your full or "to the brim." You should never eat till you are full. So, here is what I say you do if you have this problem. SLOW DOWN!!! Take smaller bites and take MORE time eating. Try it at least one time. Just try to eat slower. I promise that you will "be full" faster than you would if you had eaten everything off your plate. At least think about it just one time. If you save enough food on your plate now, you could have a free meal that was just as good later. That's like getting two meals for one deal. Crazy HUH!!

Also, eat some things you probably wouldn't normally eat like a package of crackers. Everyday for lunch and breakfast I have a package of crackers. NOW, your probably saying that I am starving myself. Well, I am not. I usually make up for the calories that I need during supper. For supper, I usually have whatever I want as long as it is healthy. Sometimes, I will eat a few small things for supper like a can of mandarin oranges and some kind of meat. One thing that you must think of when you are working out is to make sure that you are using the energy that you are taking in. This pretty much goes back to a form of the Conservation of Energy. Think about it. Burn off some of the calories that you take in so that you will not store them for a later day. Try to cut back on the amount of calories that you are taking so that when you are working out, you are burning the stored energy from maybe a year ago.

I know since I have been working out I have felt better when I woke up. Everday last semester, I woke up with a major headache and had to have some form of medicine. I still have no idea what the headaches were from. I know I was fine on the sleep because I am the kind of person that has to be in bed at 11:00pm. I routinely get up at 6:30am on weekdays. Anyways, I guess what I am trying to say is that working out and being healthy gives you a better perspective about life because when it's all done you can be proud of how you look and the things that you have accomplished just because you have felt better about yourself. Don't worry about skipping workouts either, it's not about working out 1 hour on the dot everday of the year. You need to mix it up and have fun doing it. Oh, and when the day is over think of the things that you have accomplished that day and not too much of the things that you have to accomplish because I promise you that you will also feel better about yourself.

2008-02-02T20:12:00.000-06:00

These are more pictures that I took of Old Main and the lawn. It's amazing what God will do to brighten your day! I was freezing like I have never froze before, but I didn't care. It was beautiful, and I knew I wouldn't see the campus like this for a while. Afterwards, I went back to my apartment and had me a good bowl of chicken noodle soup. :) Hope you like them!

Stout

Snowy Day at the UofA

2008-02-02T19:44:00.000-06:00

Out of all the pictures that I have taken recently, ... this is my favorite by far. The man is J. William Fulbright, and the building behind him is of course Old Main; the image that many people know and recognize to be associated with the University of Arkansas. Daily, I have walked by this statue and small garden, and I have wanted to take a good picture. Well, ... here it is. This was one of the best days I have had all year. I love snow days, even though I still had to take my chemical engineering test the next day. Lets just say that I didn't get much studying done that day, but it's all cool because it's not every day that snow falls from the skies in Arkansas. :)