picture pages...

Soooo I thought i might take some pictures... they are pretty random, so i'll try to explain... from left to right:

1) 3 days after it snowed afew weeks ago, i looked out my window to see that my big snowman was looking alot smaller... someone had knocked him halfway down! i saw som elittle kids there and i kinda just assumed they were the ones who did it... but after i watched for a minute, i saw that they were actually building it back up to correct snowman proportion... it kinda made me happy that i was wrong about them
2) 2/14/06... being my first single valentines day since 2003, i figured it would be pretty crappy... but i just decided i'd buy some little things for afew single girls i knew and spread the love and just be happy anways... and it worked. I had a visit to my applied therapeutics class (the one where we present, discuss, and get questioned on patients at a memphis hospital) i decided to go for the pink tie and pink-ish shirt to celebrate the holiday

3) OK... so there is this poster of a half naked girl that says "study hard" at the house... the last guy who lived here was somehwat of a patriarch and his last request before he left was that we leave that poster up... and when i was putting together our fraternity composite pictures, the photographer brought some large prints from last year, and i was just one of the random one he brought... so he let me have it and then i had the idea to put it up over her face... i mean.. the tie kinda matches... it creeps some people out... but i like it.

4) these are the movies i've got right now... 2 of them arent mine, and 2 of them are kinda weird ones that i wouldnt have bought myself but someone got FOR me for a present "go" and "true romance"... so i really dont have that great of a selection... i mean... i've actually got 4 or 5 more decent movies around here... i just need to round them up and put them in their place...

5) ok so i was looking at my book case... and i figured it was time to do a lineup of some of the heavy hitters... and i figued i'd stand on it... i dunno... YES i know everyone has big books from undergrad or law school or wherever, and i'm not trying to say my stack is bigger or better (and thats not all of them, by the way)... just saying... they make a nice little stack...

6) thats a closer look at them... added the tennis ball for comparison

7) thats my bedside table... if you notice, there are a handful of drugs there... and i promise you, they are all either ibuprofen, or tylenol... just in different dosage forms- extended release, quick release... why are they there? because when you wake up every single night with pretty bad hip and leg pain... its not a matter of IF you need to take something to go to sleep, its a matter of how SOON you can get it in you and go back to sleep so you arnt up for an hour and a half... so the quicker the better...

8) thats my computer desk... i've got a desk directly behind that chair, that i can put pharmacy stuff on so i can just turn my chair around 180 degrees and be at a totally different desk... it works... and let me say... if you've got an extra monitor, and a computer with a port to add in an additional monitor, DO IT! it is so awesome being able to multi-task... aka- watch movies on one, and type on the other... chat on one, and read on the other... its seamless- i can tell you how if you want to know... but its really changed the way i surf- i totally recommend it...

9) lastly, thats me in front of the poster i have hanging over my mirror in my room--
it has a picture of a guy holding up his fist and smiling while showing the camera a C- history test... the quote at the bottom says "SUCCESS: It may pay to get As but Cs get degrees" and under that in smaller text "ancient chineese proverb"... which i dont really think it is... ha...
but its something inspirational to look at for those of us who still have to measure our inner worth by one of 5 letters... yikes... i think i'll be glad when thats not happening anymore...

other than that... all is going well... we have or "white coat ceremony" this week where we get our custom fitted jackets with our names inscribed on them and the special "UT college of pharmacy" patch on the right sleeve... woot... i just like all the pockets... i try to put something in every single one just so i feel like i'm getting all the worth i can out of them...

discussion question:
rhode island is neither a road or an island... discusss

Seems like an opportune time to post

Most of you have met my sister, Kristina. She can be a little over-dramatic. Well, over the summer, she told me something I've carried with me, half in speculation. She told me about how lots of young women get married and really have a sort of identity crisis for a while. She said that you want so much to be a good wife that you feel(for days or for months) like that's all you can be. She explained that it's a process of breaking one's self down to one thing, when that one challenge is all you have room for. What you eventually learn to do is, slowly and carefully build yourself back. Eventually, your individuality won't necessarily clash with the duties that come with being 1/2 of a successful team.
In the summer, I thought she was just being dramatic. And now, at the tail-end of winter, I can attest that(at least in my case) she was onto something.

The post-baccalaureate year is really not fun! At least getting married has cushioned the blow and I'm not in Nashville, totally disconnected. I'm not that fond of my full-time salaried job. I'm still learning how to function in a way that is helpful to my colleagues; I'm fairly new at it. To be honest, I feel like this period in my working life is something similar to a hero's trial. I pray to GOD that graduate school is in my near future, that I will eventually find work I'm passionate about.If you ask, I will let on that I have a few ideas for that. a few.

i'm boring aren't i? you've stopped reading, so now I can really get crazy and not use ANY punctuation! or can i.

Let's see~Dudley's getting pretty big now, but aren't we all. Josh and I have an appointment tomorrow night with a trainer at the YMCA--the first of 4 meetings in this 12 week shape-up thing. We're using Bonnaroo as our goal, since it'll be hot out there and lots of people won't be wearing clothes. I've got my hopes up for this personal trainer thing, but fully doubt it'll be like they spotlight on E!, whipping those celebs into shape.
We've been hanging out with some people lately that I never really knew in high school, like Alison(Grewing) and Mike Nash and Billy Hammock and Jody Southards(band buddies,all of them). So that's cool. We're also currently church-hunting and have visited a couple of really really "different" ones. yikes. And you thought I was extreme?!

I guess I'd also like to mention that Josh and I are probably up for, or atleast will consider, another road-trip and/or inexpensive travel outing with any of you guys. Bonnaroo is June16-19th, but we're open to a long weekend, an overnight campout(NOT at my parents property...ever again. what an uncomfortable night!), or something else. So share your ideas. We might even be willing to come to you.

Jason Myatt--when is the wedding? I remember it was tentatively set for June.
Matt Rogers--when are you going to famous? How's that going?
Johnna~Where even are you? Josh said your email came back to him. Let's get together some time.
Scott--(i just know you like being included.scott rules.)

Alright. Til next time!
(Oh and we attended a Marijuana Criminalization debate at Vandy last night. You can discuss that if you like.)

Cartoons and Violence

http://blog.stopanncoulter.com/

A friend of mine from Sewanee maintains an anti-Ann Coulter website. This week, Coulter's column was on the violence over the Muslim cartoons. Check it out and her column if you want to get two different sides.

Also, apologies if anyone is a fan of Coulter and her work. Scott (my friend) takes her argument, breaks it down and contradicts all of her points.

You've been warned.

Bonnaroo

Anyone who didn't receive the Bonnaroo email, consider this:
http://www.bonnaroo.com/2006/

It's a 3-day concert event, with so many great bands. Yeah, it's way expensive. Yes, it means you'd have to possibly take off work/school.

But if you're interested, let Josh or I know! :)

We now interrupt this broadcast....

Hayley’s news in brief:

The job is still great. I had almost forgotten what it was like to ENJOY my work, and not just feel bound to it by duty, money, need for survival, etc. We’re going to be switching dockets soon, so, I’ll get to gain experience with more state cases. Almost all of my work has been federal docket, so state might be a little different…. Texas laws are strange about some things. The perks are great, the hours nice and flexible, and the people I work with respect me and know I do a good job. Awesome.

Volunteering is going slow, though. I signed up to volunteer (again) with Planned Parenthood’s main surgical campus in Houston. I passed the background check and security clearance to be a “scout”, meaning I escort people to and from their cars, shielding them from the wacko protestors. I was supposed to being in January, but they had a protestor incident, and I think the security is doing some switching up as well. Hopefully, though, I can being again in late February or beginning of March. It’s a bit of a sticky situation… every now and then, one of the teachers from Jack’s school takes a bunch of KIDS down there to protest on the weekends. I don’t have a problem with it… and he respects my decision (he wants to get involved too, but doesn’t want to run into any teachers, so he comes to the speakers and mixers with me). I might have to answer a few questions at the school’s Christmas party, or something though.

I’m still waiting to hear back from law schools. U of Maine, U of Denver and LSU are out, and I’m waiting on all the rest… though I have “you’ve advanced to the last round of application review” letters from most of my schools now. I called the U of Houston law center, and they said that at this point, “no news is good news”, and if you haven’t been rejected… you’ve probably made it to the final round. Well, you all know how serene and patient I am…. I want to know NOW, DAMMIT.

Jack asked me to move in with him. I said yes… with the provision that I get into law school in Houston. If I end up somewhere else, he’ll wait a year and keep teaching, promoting the band, etc., then move to where I am. His band (Archer Avenue) is the second-highest selling ITunes band in Germany for the past three weeks. Just under Night Rider himself… David Hasselhoff. But they DO love the Hoffmeister there… The band is in talks for a summer tour, and if the European charts keep up… an eventual Euro-tour, as well as playing (hopefully) at Whitney’s wedding in October.

Regardless of the band’s tours, the “Jack and Hayley 2006- The Living in Sin Tour” will commence in late July. I’m a little nervous and apprehensive, but we’ve been doing trial runs with living @ each other’s places, switching each week. It’s been working, though I am still getting used to him leaving things on the floor (are men genetically predisposed to throwing their clothes on the FLOOR?!?!), leaving dishes on the counter NEXT to the sink, instead of putting them IN the sink, and the “who’s making dinner” tiffs. I think it’ll work though… we had a little sit down and made plans for grocery shopping, meals, etc. Budgeting with another person makes things a little cheaper for both of us… if I can keep Jack away from buying $3 designer sodas… he loves them. We’ll get a big loft or townhouse and settle in, I suppose. Cramming the two of us with the cat and dog into a 700sq ft place is a bit of a stretch. Ah well, it’s still fun and fresh… hopefully the household drudgery won’t set in for a while.

I’m posing a scenario/thought to you all that might be a little controversial, but it’s an issue here in Houston now… here goes:

Suppose you go to a private institution, and this private school’s theology dept. offers extra credit based on kids (13-15 yr. olds) participating and picketing an abortion clinic. Now, the kids that do not go for whatever reason get NO extra credit, and the teacher is advocating, supporting and leading the group to the clinic. Is this ok?

Talk amongst yourselves… I’m a bit verklempt.

C.Butt Co., Inc. presents: josh censors himself (...sort of)

i had originally posted an entry here regarding my current feelings about the Muslim situation. however, i was a bit concerned that someone might get offended(?) by it and i didn't want to start anything. but at the same time i feel very strongly about this issue and what i wrote. so as a compromise i posted it on my blog and decided to provide a link to it on this one. this way you can read it if you like. obviously, since i posted it here first, i wanted to share it with everyone, but i suppose i understand if you dont care to read it. so... here it is:

click here if... uh... you like stuff.

thanks

woxy.com

i dont know if any of you listen to or have ever listened to woxy.com, but if you have and would like to support them, now is when they need it the most. if you've never heard of them then probably disregard this, but if you have then you know how incredible a station it is. well, they're really struggling right now with support and need it more than ever. they're going to a $9.95/mo rate for the CD quality stream and if that doesnt help they probably will get shut down. the rate doesn't start till Feb 12 or so, so if you know anyone that likes independent music (eg. someone that listens to college radio) tell them to check it out. there's no way they wont like it. anyway, if you're interested check it out...





in other news, this friday (2/10) is the season (series) finale of Arrested Development. if anyone is interested in having a brouhaha in honor of the show that night, i think my house will be the location. not my apartment, but my house in MJ. we're being presented with the classic "my parents are out of town and i have the whole house to myself" scenario here and i feel like we whould accept the invitation. so anyone interested, please let me know and we can plan accordingly.

and finally, where the crap is everyone (refering to the dozen or so listed to the right)?? did bryan and i run everyone but pappert off with our "tough love" attitudes present in all entries/comments?

How right you were

So I finally started watching season 1 of Arrested Development, and I can say after 3 episodes that all of you were absolutely right. It is great right from the beginning. I was honestly skeptical, just because most TV sitcoms are only good for what they are. This goes beyond my expectations. Thanks for the recommendation, and screw Fox!

the nominations are out

here are the Oscar nominations for 2006


(go Crash and Terrance Howard)

A History of Violence

Has anyone else seen this movie? I finally got the chance last night and I am curious what others opinions might be. I, for one, thought it was good, but wasn't sure if I liked it, exactly. How about Brokeback Mountain? Anyone else see that one? This will probably end up being a conversation between me and Hunter again.

It's the MOST Wonderful Time of the Year!

Tax season! Many will find that absurd, but for me, tax time is when I get to call in that interest-free loan I've been extending to the U.S. Government for 13 months.

This year's refund: $1240.00

Not too shabby, am I right? That's becuase as a married student with high tuition filing jointly, our total income tax for the year was $0. Education deductions, sales tax deduction (that's right- you get a deduction just becuase if the insanely high TN sales tax).... It's great. I highly recommend TurboTax. For just $10-20 (depending on which version), you get all this done and transferred to your bank in about 10 days.

Now what do I do with that $1240? I guess I have to share it with the wife, since she accounted for about 85% of the income.