I learned two days ago I got the NROTC scholarship. The guy said it listed the U of M as the school it applies to, but St.Thomas was my first choice, and their part of the program works in conjunction with the U of M, so idk. It would probably require me a couple of days a week to go across town to the U of M campus to the ROTC center there, which would suck. I'm not sure I'm into that. I'm also not sure on how long I have to decide to accept it or not. This ROTC program would pay for my 4 years of college. I would have to major in something dealing with science of course. After college I would serve 4 years on active duty, and would then spend 4 years on reserve after that. Such a long time. I keep thinking on what job I would want to have after that, but it would probably take care of itself when in the Navy. Do I want to stay in Minnesota? Or would I care to live somewhere else? Do I want to keep traditions going that I've had in my life so far? One job I've thought about doing going the Non-ROTC route is being a teacher. Not exactly what subject to teach, but it would be at high school level. The feeling of teaching kids your interests, in tomorrow's tech filled world seems really appealing to me. It would be immensely rewarding, thats for sure. Of course, once I get out of college, I would basically start teaching almost the same stuff for the rest of my career. Well sort of. Would there be chances to teach or try new things in life? Should I go out into the world and go beyond before I settle down into a career? My dad never got a chance to do that. My mom basically has been travelling all her life though, so thats good. And she likes her jon. My attachment to Minnesota seems high, but should I make a point to live somewhere else? I've been trying to think of other careers and jobs I would want to do or be interested in, but nothin' much has been coming up. Thats what college is for. Going the Non-ROTC route would allow me to explore more options in college for sure, so thats another route. Another thing to deal with is world politics in the future. North Korea, Iran, Syria, and China. These are all dangerous countries, and I've got a feeling something or another is going to happen with one of them. I've heard most NROTC guys don't serve during their reserve years, but with these countries, there's bound for something to happen. Up to 8 years in the Navy doesn't sound appealing. I would rather have a job, an assignment, or something else that would take about 4-5 years of my life after collage than spend it in the Navy. Of course I would go places, but I'm not into the danger that goes along with it. There's thrills in life other than the Navy, I know. I don't want to fight an enemy that could have been avoided. I don't want to fight one that we created (i.e. the "war" of today).

I just want to make a decision and go on from there and deal with it. I know we all have immense potential. I hope I use get to use all of mine.

When I see it, I'll understand.

My awesome new dog Winston, the Duke of Winchester. This is him playing in our yard. Man can that dog run.  

They both autographed the poster. Alex Zanardi wrote, "Hi Tom!" Yeah!!!! I am so going to keep this in a safe place from now on. Back then it wasn't that big of a deal to me, so thats why it looks ruffled.  

A poster I got when my dad took me to Target when I was younger to see these two drivers, who at the time I didn't know. They were Jimmy Vasser, and Alex Zanardi, a driver who today amazingly is still able to race, and race well.  

Kingdom Come

One... Two...
Still (Steal?) my heart and hold my tongue
I feel my time, my time has come
Let me in, unlock the door
I never felt this way before

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummer begins to drum
I don’t know which way i’m going
I don’t know which way i’ve come

Hold my head inside your hands
I need someone who understands
I need someone, someone who hears
For you i’ve waited all these years

For you i’d wait til kingdom come
Until my day, my day is done
And say you’ll come and set me free
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me

In your tears and in your blood
In your fire and in your flood
I hear you laugh, I heard you sing
I wouldn’t change a single thing

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummers begin to drum
I don’t know which way i’m going
I don’t know what i’ve become

For you i’d wait til kingdom come
Until my days, my days are done
Say you’ll come and set me free
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me

The world's first 30,000 calorie sandwhich. Mmmmmmmmmm 

Bruce Springsteen - The Rising

Can’t see nothin’ in front of me
Can’t see nothin’ coming up behind
I make my way through this darkness
I can’t feel nothing but this chain that binds me
Lost track of how far I’ve gone
How far I’ve gone, how high I’ve climbed
On my back’s a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder a half mile of line

Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight

Left the house this morning
Bells ringing filled the air
Wearin’ the cross of my calling
On wheels of fire I come rollin’ down here

Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight

La,la, la,la,la,la, la,la,la

There’s spirits above and behind me
Faces gone black, eyes burnin’ bright
May their precious blood bind me
Lord, as I stand before your fiery light

La,la, la,la,la,la, la,la,la

I see you mary in the garden
In the garden of a thousand sighs
There’s holy pictures of our children
Dancin’ in a sky filled with light
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancin’ on the end of my line

Sky of blackness and sorrow ( a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness ( a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear ( a dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow ( a dream of life)
Your burnin’ wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life

Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight

La,la, la,la,la,la, la,la,la

How You See The World - Coldplay

Are you missing something?

Looking for something?

Tired of everything

Searching and struggling

Are you worried about it?

Do you wanna talk about it?

Oh You're gonna get it right some time



Theres so much to be scared of

And not much to make sense of

Are you running in a circle?

You can't be too careful

And you can't relate it

'Cos it's complicated

Oh You're gonna get it right some time

You're gonna get it right some time



It's how you see the world

How many times can you see?

You can't believe what you learn



It's how you see the world

Don't you worry yourself

Your not gonna get hurt



Oooohhhhh...



Is there something missing?

There's nobody listening

Are you scared of what you don't know?

Dont wanna end up on your own?

You need conversation

And information



Ohhhhhhhhh...



Gonna get it right sometimes

You just wanna get it right sometimes



It's how you see the world

How many times have you heard?

You can't believe a word



It's how you see the world

Don't you worry yourself

'Cos nobody can learn



Oooooh

Oooooh

Ooooooooh



That's how you see the world

That's how you see the world

Coldplay - Talk

Oh, brother, I can’t, I can’t get through
I’ve been trying hard to reach you
Cause I don’t know what to do
Oh, brother, I can’t believe it’s true
I’m so scared about the future
And I want to talk to you
Oh, I want to talk to you

You could take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be
You could climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody had sung
Or do something that’s never been done

Are you lost or incomplete
Do you feel like a puzzle
You can’t find your missing piece
Tell me how you feel
Well, I feel like they’re talking in a language I don’t speak
And they’re talking it to me

So you take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be
You could climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody had sung
Or do something that’s never been done
Or do something that’s never been done

So you don’t know where you’re going
And you want to talk
And you feel like you’re going where you’ve been before
You'll tell anyone who’ll listen but you feel ignored
And nothing’s really making any sense at all
Let’s talk, let’s talk
Let’s talk, let’s talk






Life at the moment.