This is the right one, I can feel it.

I picked a grad school and program of study for those who want to know. It's the University of South Carolina my program is amazing and the school is not too shabby either. For those of you who are thinking that I'm just a sophmore and that it's too early for such a decision that is not entirely true. Some grad school programs have certain prereqs that they look for. So now I know where I'm going and I can contact people about any classes they feel I should have taken before I get there. Now I have a specific direction and am jumping in with both feet.

Vaya con Dios,

MB

As promised, here it is. Suggestions may be made, but I might not listen to them depending on who is making the request and who they are requesting. Most won't get this, but that's ok the ones who do will get such a kick out of it. I should mention that the suggestions should be for the open spots, any wishing to rearrange will most likely be ignored, however if you must go for it (just be prepared for nothing to happen). Have a field day.

The List

1. Police Escort – Eric Millegan
2. The First Present of the Season - Josh Groban
3. Snoopy – Sean Faris
4. Spirit of America (US Postal Eagle Float) – Jeremy Sumpter
5. Great American Marching Band – Matthew McConaughey
6. 80^th Anniversary Hot Air Balloon – Keanu Reeves
7. Balloon Head Pilgrims –
8. Jojo Circus –
9. Tom Turkey – Jesse Spencer
10. Sesame Street Float – Nicholas Cage
11. Big Bird – Bret McKenzie
12. Super Grover – Johnny Depp
13. Weeble – Sean Biggerstaff
14. Magic of Childhood (Fisher Price) –
15. “Marion –Carole” Showboat (Ms. USA) –
16. Dora the Explorer –
17. Oklahoma Rising (state Centennial float) –
18. Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses float –
19. Scooby Doo – James McAvoy
20. Humpty Dumpty – Yani Gellman
21. Spiderman – Hayden Christensen
22. Jimmy Nuetron –
23. Kermit the Frog – Christian Bale
24. Mother Goose (Julie Andrews) –
25. Circus Calliope Wagon –
26. Tutenstein float –
27. Spongebob Squarepants –
28. Flying Fish – James Phelps
29. Energizer Bunny Ballonicle – Oliver Phelps
30. Expedition to the Top of Rhino Mountain float – Scott Speedman
31. Cloe the Holiday Clown –
32. Animal Wonders float –
33. Starship Discovery float – Chris Pine
34. Pikachu  –
35. Bridge to the Future float – Rick Peters
36. Harlem Globetrotters – David Krumholtz
37. Barney – Vincent Larusso
38. Kids’ Candy Creation Lab – Rupert Grint
39. Charlotte’s Web float –
40. New York Daily News Big Apple Float –
41. Statue of Liberty Float –
42. Balloon Head Founding Fathers –
43. Uncle Sam – Ewan McGregor
44. Healthy Mr. Potato Head – Carey Elwes
45. McDonald’s Big Red Shoe Car – Tom Felton
46. Ronald McDonald – Hugh Dancy
47. Snobo Balloonicle – Michael Montenuto
48. Garfield – Dan Radcliffe
49. Teddy Bear’s Workshop float –
50. Harold the Fireman – Robert Shwartzman
51. Holiday Lovin’ Oven float (Doughboy) – Eddie Cahill
52. Polar Express float – Mark Wells
53. Santa – Reserved

Others

1. Easter Bunny – Elijah Wood
2. Leprechaun – Orlando Bloom
3. Cupid – James Franco
4. Ground Hog – Hugh Jackman

Kind of sad, but still cool

I noticed a friend of mine join this group on FaceBook and went to check it out. A guy started this group, which is sad because he felt he had to, but still cool that some guys haven't forgotten certain things. here the list as found in the Description catagory of the FaceBook group "There Are Some Things Guys Should Always Do For Girls. Period." I don't agree with all of the rules, but there are some good ones and at least the guy is trying.

Sometimes, guys, we gotta be men, not guys. Step up. Seriously... it's getting annoying. really. 0. But... there are exceptions to these rules, if she REALLY wants to do something... you have to let her. See rule 32. 1. Open doors, whether it be to a building or a car, that's just a given. 2. When in a place of worship (or other places that have aisles and pews), if a man is at the end of the pew, when exiting he should stand in the aisle and let all the females go before him. 3. A man should tolerate the occassional chick flick (or musical, or opera, or ballet.. whatever her preference is) *without* complaining about it! 4. Play one of the songs that would make any woman weep like the little girl she once was (but in a good way). A brief list includes, but certainly isn't limited to: "You & Me" Lifehouse, anything by Frank Sinatra, any rendition of "Everything I Do, I Do it for You", "Collide" by Howie Day, "Out of my League" Steven Speaks, and MOST IMPORTANTLY "Question" by the Old 97's (if you propose to a girl with this song, she is putty in your hands). 5. Talk! The strong & silent bit goes from intriguing to boring quite fast. 6. Find out what her favorite flower is & buy them for her randomly (or if you're in the doghouse...). Good rule of thumb: a single rose says more than dozens of anything else. 7. If you miss her, or love her, TELL HER! Even your friends like to hear it every now & again. 8. Re-enact Zales commercials (the ice is nice but certainly not mandatory). 9. Remember: the best gifts you can give are usually free of cost. 10. Leave a note (or send a message) just to say "hi". 11. Ask her questions about herself. 12. Dress nice every once & a while. Any girl likes to see her brother/friend/boyfriend/e tc. in a well-ironed button up with some nice slacks. 13. PRIDE & PREJUDICE ...that's all I have to say about that (I mean, that should speak for itself). 14. Tolerate small children as best you can. Meaning, put up with the things that can get annoying. They're children after all. Show them love and care, teach them how to become a better man than you. 15. Learn to dance! There is nothing sexier than a man that can dance really well. If God did not bless you with the grace of Fred Astaire, at least put forth the effort, it will be greatly appreciated. Always slow dance (even if its just like you danced in middle school). Also, men, sing to a lady. Even in you're terrible, suck it up! They love to listen to it and will not care what you sound like. It's the thought that counts on this one. Unless you're just downright terrible, nothing sexy about that. haha, thanks Jade! 16. Kiss her on the forehead. 17. When she's sick, stay up with her. If you can cook (which is *always* a plus), make her some soup. If you can't cook, there's Campbell's soup at hand for you. 18. Pretend to throw her in the pool (or fountain/pond). She'll fight you, but seccretly she loves it. If you really do throw her in, you better jump in yourself. **NOTE** There are some women who just hate this, so you had better do two things: 1) never allow your buddies be a part of it if you're unsure of how she feels about getting thrown in and 2) you had better know how she feels about it! 19. Hold her hand while you talk, drive, or just for the heck of it (it's the small things that win you big points). 20. LOOK IN HER EYES, NOT AT HER CHEST!!!!! 21. Stupid jokes= awkwardly adorable moments. 22. Tickle her, tease her, let her tease you back with out getting all bent out of shape about it 23. Don't call her hot, or pretty, or cute, call her beautiful because that's what she is. 24. Offer her your jacket/sweatshirt. (Note: you may not see that particular item of clothing for a while, if ever again). 25. Don't be too proud to apologize. 26. It's not stalking to watch her sleep if you fall asleep watching a movie. It is stalking to watch her sleep if you're standing outside her window with night vision goggles. 27. When she feels at her worst, tell her she looks her best. 28. If you're trying to get more than friendship out of the relationship, take it slow. 29. Because you're a guy doesn't mean you are completley incapable of calling when you say you will; it just means you are highly incapable of it. There are few acceptable answers to, "Why didn't you call?" & being male is not one of them. 30. Don't check out other girls in front of your girl friends/sisters/mother, unless you are sincere when you later ask them if you think she could introduce the two of you for more reason than you "want to get some". Pull this in front of your girlfriend/fiancee/wife, she has every right to clock you in the jaw. 31. Guys- Always offer to pay for the date. No matter how expensive it gets, especially if YOU asked HER on the date. 32. Always do everything in your power to keep her as happy as you can. And cheer her up in any way possible. 33. When walking on the sidewalk, always walk on the outside near traffic. 34. At least do everything in your power to keep cursing to a minimum while around her. If you can, cut it out period while around her, or cut it out of your vocabulary. Women don't want to hear it, guys don't care about it, adults don't want to hear it, it doesn't impress employers, and you sure won't want your children or someone elses to hear it! 35. Sometimes you have to take the initiative. don't always wait for her to come to you, because if that's how it always is you're going to lose her. 36. If any lady is walking alone to her car in a dark parking lot/garage, or is carrying a heavy load, always offer to help walk her to her destination and carry things, if not the entire load. **This may work a lot better and come off non-stalkerish if you at least know the girl you're trying to help. haha Thanks to a LOT of people on this revision. 37. If a woman says no, let that be her final answer. Do not pressure or force her in any way. Don't make her give in to something she doesn't want to do. 38. Always be honest with her. No woman wants or likes a dishonest man. If you can't be honest with her she can't trust you, and shows you don't trust her enough to be honest. Trust, honesty and integrity are just as an integral part of a relationship and just as important as love. 39. A man should always genuinely listen to women; no matter how boring or busy the man is, actively listening to the woman will keep him from pain [and bring the man and woman closer together]. This works best, of course, when both the man and the woman actively and equally engage in conversation (this includes listening). For the ladies reading this, please talk - always talk - especially if you are having problems with the relationship and to also avoid making bigger problems. Thanks guys for all the comments and adds and invitations. I just want every guy to see this list at least once, if he can't do it... great! That means there's a better chance for guys to take a step up.

Drivers should have to pass literacy and common sense tests

On my way home last weekend it was raining, like most of the week before. People were speeding, as usual, which is not a good thing to do when your visibility is down and the road has a lot of water on it. There was an accident, which did not surprise me. Before I even got near the accident there was a huge light up sign that said there was an accident and that the left lane would be closed. So, of course, impatient people got over into that lane to zoom ahead and cause the traffic to stop. If they had followed the sign, it might have been a bit slow going through that area, but no stopping. So, read the signs, they are not kidding about lane closures and traffic will be better for it if everyone had the literacy to read the sign and the common sense to follow it's directions.

At home, I got a haircut, new profile pic to come, and played laser tag. First game was fun, second one...not so much. Laura and I finally watched a movie we had been trying to watch together for about a year, let's hope this time we can watch the movie before we both almost forget we wanted to watch it.

I'll be home this weekend for NAC and to finish up planning The Great Hunt. This will be the last one, so be there or you will not have a chance to do it next year.