Finally, The Spring Semester
Mood:  special
It's been way too long since I've written. Not even this year. A lot has been going on. I guess I'll just try for a quick summary since it'd never work to say everything that's gone on for the past 2 months. I've had my lessons going once week this semester. So I'm finally getting down the horse riding thing. I'd say we're moving along at a nice chop. I've been hanging out Mackenzie lately. She's the VP of the equestrian club. We've had our weekly viewing parties of Horse Power on Animal Planet. She likes to make fun of Nikko and watch for Lindsay from Malora's barn. I've been sort of busy with classes, it's hard to tell with the schedule I have. I think I'm adjusting well. I've been talking to my roommate Andrew more. That's good news because we'll be living together again next year. I'm glad to finally live with someone for more than one year and having to start over. Our football team was great this year, so all of our other teams have had to suck it up. Basketball is trying to hold on to a .500 record to take into the conference tournement, which Memphis should win even if they were all blindfolded. Baseball has started up and not much better with only one win in their first 6 games. Hopefully this weekend will go better. I guess that's about all I have to report for now. This is the second night in a row I've been dead tired and not been able to fall asleep. I blame NBC for showing too much of the ladies free skate. There were some people we didn't need to watch, and we didn't need commercials between every skater. It could have ended at 11:30 if they wanted it to. Happy 21st birthday, Ashley. I'm looking forward to spending some time with Diana when she's in Orlando for spring break. Hopefully I'll get to keep hanging out with Mackenzie, being a little more social. I'm going to try and keep running like I have most days this semester. I'll be home for spring break in two weeks, March 9. Hopefully I'll start posting more again since the semester seems like it's pretty much over.

Night of Bliss
Mood:  amorous
I haven't written anything in a long time. Since I've been home in fact. But tonight I have to write about. This is probably the first time I've written an entry dedicated soley to be about Malora. That's just how it's going to be though. Last night was nice. I met her at one of her friend's house and hung out with her band people. They're all really nice. Tonight I met up with them again at the Double T. Then Malora and I went back to her house to watch The Polar Express. That was a pretty good movie, but that's not the part that made the night so nice. Even watching it with Malena, Malora still got all cuddled up. Then 3/4ths of the way through the movie she ended up falling asleep in my arms. which is the first time she's done that. I know it sounds really stupid. It was just a really nice feeling. That's where the bliss feeling comes from. That and the past two nights have been beautiful. To walk out and the air has a nip to it and the sky is bright and clear with the moon shining bright. The light reflecting off the snow that's left. It's just the most peaceful thing. It being 12:30 too, so there's no one driving by and everything is still. I even drove down Rt. 40 with my window down to feel the cold air. It was just such a peaceful night. Merry Christmas everyone!

What A Time For A Bowl
Mood:  down
Well I've spent most of the afternoon, or majority of my waking hours studying today. And now I just feel like I can not possibly study any more. I hope I do well on my exams tomorrow. Boy do I hope, since I didn't study at all yesterday. But the reason I'm writing is that offical word has come out that UCF has excepted the invitation to play in the Hawii Bowl. I can't help but be disappointed, I would have like to have a bowl party, much like a Super Bowl party, but that went aloha with the acceptance. It'll be hard to watch a game from 8:30-11 on Christmas Eve, and you bet the house no one else will be watching ESPN at that time either. It just sucks, we could have been playing on New Year's eve day if we could have just scored yesterday. I know I should be happy because it's the first bowl we've ever been to and should be happy to take what we can get, but I wouldn't mind throwing this one back. You can kiss fan support goodbye too. A lot of people were talking like they'd go anywhere to see us play in a bowl, but I have a feeling it is restricted to the continental US. I guess the only way Hawii could be further away from us is if we were in Miami. Well, I guess I'm not going to church on Christmas Eve.

Conference Championship
Mood:  spacey
What a heartbreaker. It was all over almost before it began. 44-27, and you knew it wasn't a good sign when they scored 21 unanswered in the first quarter. Even if we did come back to be down 4 at the half. We then got shut out in the second half. Our record attendence of 52,000 never seemed to be completely into it either. It was a pretty good day for me though.
I woke up at 6 yesterday and left my room about 7:40 to head over to Freedom Ride. Which is a barn for mentally and physically disabled riders who ride use horses as a type of therapy. Yesterday we organized a show for them, where they could ride and be judged and then hand out ribbons. We also had stations for them to do things while they weren't on horses. We had one of fingerpainting a pony, making Christmas ornaments, and making horse treats with apples and dipping them in different things. I was only there for a little bit and most of the people there hadn't shown up yet when I left. So I feel much better that I helped set up on Friday when they probably needed me more.
Parking at the game was a pain in the butt, and didn't even get a free shuttle to the game because the line was forever long and had to just walk to the game. But once I was there it was fine. I found Pegaus easily and Heather had a field pass with my name on it. It's a really sweet looking one from C-USA. But I was the only person from the club there for most of the game. So I was busy, busy. Also they had fireworks being set off right in front of us on top of the scoreboard. So there were several times that I had to handle a spooked horse. But I think I did pretty well of controlling him, I didn't let go. I think that might be why my arms are a little sore though. Most of the game it was just me and the Golden Knight and everyone else went and watch the game. Pegasus did so well yesterday, after I was so nervous about how he'd react to 52,000 people. We were in an entrance on the field for a lot of the second and fourth quarters and he did so well. He stood for a ton of pictures and didn't put much of a fuss. Unfortunatly he never really got to make his ESPN debut. He didn't want to go inside the bowl for whatever reason, but he did so well in the entry way I won't complain. Heather said I was probably the best squire they've ever had, which was very nice. I think her husband likes me too, but that might just be that he likes having another guy there to talk to.
Once the game was over, well, 3:00 left or so, I went and stood by the tunnel where I figured Trivett's seats were. And sure enough about 15 minutes after I was standing there I saw them come out and then caught up with them. We then went over to the player's exit as some of the players came out to meet their families. Then I walked with them and they gave me a ride to my car so I didn't have to take a bus then. Then we both drove back toward campus and met at a Panera Bread and had dinner together. So that was nice, and Mr. Trivett said he was glad they saw me because he was dreading reading an e-mail from me about this game. This was probably the last time I'd see them before January since basketball is off for finals. So I'm glad I was able to meet up with them as well. Our basketball team got killed yesterday at Florida. Not a good day for us.
Well I need to study for finals, even though I really don't feel like studying. Two tomorrow and then I'm over the hump. I just have to kill myself today so I can get through tomorrow. But it's so hard, I'm still tired. I should probably wake up around 5 tomorrow to study before I have to catch the 6:30 shuttle so I can be at the exam before it starts at 7. Thank goodness I got an A in Sexual Behavior and don't have to take the final in that class. I'll see everyone soon I'm sure.

Championship Tomorrow!!
Mood:  on fire
Ladies and Gentlemen, tomorrow marks the day of the C-USA Championship game, as well as, the day of reckoning for Tulsa. At least that's what we hope for. Also I will get to be there, and do Freedom Ride before it. I was out at Freedom Ride this afternoon to help them set up and ended up working with a guy who got dragged there by his girlfriend. So we washed and put up tables while talking about girlfriends who ride horses, and he asked about D.C. some too. But I found out that Pegasus is going to be at the game and I will probably be there with him. So be sure to watch ESPN tomorrow at noon and see if you see him. Also watch the biggest game in the history of UCF. We've sold over 50,000 tickets and it should be the largest crowd ever to see a UCF game ever. Also sounds like it will be filled with bangs, which will be interesting with the horse. In celebration of a school of jubilation coming tomorrow I wanted to give you some Ashley Burns from the week. And I found out I can get the articles on UCFnews.com, so my life just got easier. Here you go.

11/28 "Holidays Are Close But The Lousy Songs Are Already Here."

"Wow, I really wanted UCF to play UTEP on Saturday, and, if anyone saw the highlights of the Miners' collapse against Southern Methodist on Friday, they would see it's pretty obvious why.

Now, the Knights will play Tulsa. Whoopee! I don't know much about Tulsa, but just saying Tulsa makes me bored.

Regardless, there are still tickets to be purchased. I have already shelled out for 60, so everyone else needs to buy, buy, buy! I command my minions to sell this game out. Anyone who disobeys will be locked in a room and forced to watch the new Ryan Reynolds bomb, Just Friends ...

I will step out of character momentarily to tip my hat to USF fans everywhere and say, "Good job" to everyone involved with that program.

I was split with the prospect of USF going to the Sugar Bowl. As the biggest proponent of this rivalry, of course, I want the Bulls to lose - and lose miserably.

But, as a person who loves college football, I wanted them to make it to a BCS bowl game for three reasons: 1.) Coupled with the Knights' success this season, it would show that the so-called Top 3 aren't safe for much longer; B.) It would shatter the BCS and create more controversy than ever; 3.) It would make UCF fans that much more intense about building this rivalry.

Either way, the Bulls did a great job this season, and I'm being very serious with my sentiments here. So no choke - joke! I meant joke! - here ..."

12/1 "A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far Away, NCAA Football Was Made For One Reason."

"My buddy Jono has accused me of not being excited enough about Saturday's Conference USA Championship game.

He sends me instant messages 47 times a day to let me know how excited he is and how disappointed he is that I don't share in his emotion. I tell him that he's right.

The problem with all of this UCF football success is that I don't know how to feel anymore. Of course I'm excited. I'd have to be a eunuch at a porn festival not to be excited about this game. It's the conference-freaking-championship, for crying out loud.

This is what we were all put on this planet for. Some divine power created us so that we could procreate and teach our children to become overly obsessed with collegiate football teams.

Our purpose in life is to pick two colors and tell people how much we bleed those colors and then cheer for a bunch of players united under the flag of a fictitious animal, or medieval knight for the matter.

When I'm 64 and I'm raising a son with my 20-year-old third wife, I'm going to instill in him the love of UCF football that I have and teach him how evil the Gators, Seminoles and Hurricanes are. If he disobeys, I will sell him to the Chinese black market. I know it sounds harsh, but that's the power of college football.

I'm happy that more than 36,000 people seem to agree with me. That's how many tickets were sold as of Tuesday. It's not too shabby, but it's not nearly enough. If there are people on the fence about spending - gasp! - $8 on this game, then let me try to convince them all one last time.

Millions of years ago, when there was no Earth and the universe was simply dense gasses, some stars and other stellar stuff, the college football gods were hanging out - tailgating, perhaps - and they decided they needed some entertainment.

They called me up and asked what they could do for fun. I told them to invent a new game.

Up until that point, we spent our time picking on the gods of figure skating because it was easy and didn't require much thought at all. But it wasn't enough.

So I asked them what they thought about a game in which players threw a ball created from a pig's rear end and tried to score touchdowns. They loved it, and, at that moment, college football was born.

The college football gods called upon a buddy of theirs, and within seven days the Earth was created. The process took quite some time because mountains and oceans had to be created, some dude had to give up a rib so we could have cheerleaders and apparently there were some giant reptiles making everyone's time hard.

After a few hundred thousand years, the first football field was created. But the planet was suddenly covered in ice, creating an atmosphere only suitable for the Green Bay Packers and the Canadian Football League.

Domes were out of the question this early in the creation of college football, so the gods simply had to wait it out. All the while, the gods of figure skating were eating it up and rubbing it in everyone's faces.

Eventually the ice cleared and people started hanging out again. Another few hundred thousand years later, some small institutions of higher learning in what is now known as Europe formed some teams.

The first Heisman Trophy was awarded to Galileo after he threw for 73 touchdowns in one season.

But then a massive plague swept through the lands, again putting the sport on hiatus.

The gods finally ironed out most of he problems, and, by the early 1900s, the sport was becoming steadfast. Teams were popping up all over the U.S., and an organized structure was finally created.

Over the years, conferences were formed and bowl games were designed to feature the nation's best teams. Awards were given to the best players, and a Top 25 ranking system was installed to make teams feel bad for not being good enough to make it.

But recently the college football gods had to face their mortal enemy: the college football devil. He decided that this sport wasn't complicated enough, so he instituted the Bowl Championship System. Millions of fans felt anguish and questioned whether the gods were powerful enough to stop such madness. They weren't then and they aren't until this day.

Then the devil made things more difficult. He added dozens of new teams to Division I-A. This expanded conferences and made it more difficult to recruit in states like Texas and Florida. This made it harder for the little guys to make an impact and it made it even harder for the big dogs to lose.

Despite his best efforts, though, the college football devil hasn't been able to stop the little guys from making waves. Year after year, more unknown teams have cracked the Top 10 and shown the weaknesses of the BCS. One of these years, some little team - maybe even UCF - is going to stab the BCS in its heart and end the cruelty.

I know most readers are now asking themselves, "What the hell was the point of that?" There was no point. It was probably the most worthless thing ever written or read. But I guarantee it made some people laugh and it might have even made a few people stop and buy tickets for Saturday's game.

Some people may say that I'm beating this subject to death and to them I say, "What's your point?"

I'm not beating a dead horse. I have a dead horse on the ground in front of me and I'm using the world's strongest defibrillator to bring that sucker back to life so I can ride it up and down the streets of Orlando to tell people how important this is.

If you don't care about UCF football, then I'm not going to change your mind. I'm not worried about people suffering from indifference. I'm worried about the UCF students who are more occupied with attending the ACC Championship or watching the Miami game.

Those are the people that we need to sway and get them on the bandwagon. Those are the people that will make the difference.

The single fan is what is great about college football. When it boils down, it's not the most important thing in the world.

But if UCF wins on Saturday, that might just change."

Be sure to check us out. I hope you enjoyed your dose of Ashley Burns. Later.

Thanksgiving Weekend
Mood:  not sure
Well it is the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I am avoiding work. On Monday we start the last week of classes. It is so unbelievable. Finals start in just two weeks. I need to bust my butt to get ready for them. At the same time it's so hard to get so motivated for school work. I did get some work done over Thanksgiving. It was hard being at my Grandparents'. However my family and other set of Grandparents left last night and I headed back to school so I could get all of my work done and ready for finals. Which is probably the best way it could have gone. I got my ticket for the Conference USA championship game one week from today. We either host UTEP or Tulsa. It's exciting. I stood in line for 3 hours to get that ticket. The only disappointing part is that I don't know that I can use it. Of course the game has to be on the same day as Freedom Ride. The Equestrian Club's philantropy, and mandatory for all members. I'm hoping the horse will be able to go to both and I can stick with the horse. We've got 28,000 tickets sold already, we're hoping to pack over 50,000 in the Citrus Bowl. Anyway, the other major reasoin I'm putting something down is that I uploaded new pictures, so everyone should check them out. I'll put a quick link in here of where the pics are, but remember that I have 3 pages of pictures.

http://community.webshots.com/user/drew81985

There it is, enjoy the rest of Thanksgiving weekend.

THE SEASON, GAME 1
Mood:  sharp
All right everyone, tonight is the night. We are all rooting for a Southern Miss loss. All we need is one and we have a shot at C-USA domination. Tonight is the first likely chance. They play at Marshall at 7:30 on ESPN 2. I know this will get in the way of Gilmore Girls, but I think you can flip by on commercials. Plus it will last longer and start sooner than Gilmore. I've already decided that when I'm ready to go to bed Southern Miss is losing, then I will stay up for the rest of the game till I can nail the coffin shut. It'd be unfortunate if they win tonight. But then they have to go play at Houston with 4 days between games. Remember, we only just barely beat Houston and they have the best offense in C-USA. It was also our fans that made them lose, now they'd be at home. Also they get Memphis and DeAngelo Williams at home the weekend after this one. That's 3 potential problems. I also realized that we do have the same number of games. I didn't realize that they had 2 games postponed. So let's hope the Thundering Herd can squish the Golden Eagles tonight. Or maybe Houston, or the Tigers of Memphis can rip the Golden Eagles to shreds. In fact, all 3 can't hurt either. Go Knights! and Herd (for tonight only)!

Dah, da, da, duh, da, da, da, da, da
Mood:  hungry
Now when I say hungry, I don't mean hungry for food, but hungry for a championship. Last night was homecoming and our last home game for the 2005 season. We are still the most improved team in the nation and went 4-0 at the Citrus Bowl. We have the biggest game in our history one week from yesterday. I know it seems like every two weeks we have the biggest game in our history, but it's true. We need to beat UAB, favored to finish second in the conference preseason. If we get through them we should be able to beat the 0-8 Rice Owls. That would finish us off with only our one loss. Southern Miss.'s best chance for a loss comes on Tuesday. They go to Marshall, hopefully they'll be tough, and even tougher with the home field advantage. The division all comes down to who loses first. Right now we're set to tie with Southern Miss and since they crushed us they have the tie-breaker. We still control our own fate, and since Southern Miss was idle this weekend because of the Tuesday game we put some pressure on them. They also have 4 games left, compared to our 2, because they also had 2 hurricane postponements. It's nice having a full game lead on them, but too bad it won't last.
So, the parade yesterday was interesting, something I hadn't done before. I ended up handing out candy to kids. The game was the best though. I got to be on the field again. We did have some problems with the horse acting up with probably the crowd noise. Last night was the first time this year and probably the past few that we've had over 30,000 people to a game. The alumni advisor said that she was very impressed with me over the day though. Still along the same lines that the horse and I get along I guess. She also added that I'm fearless and in control around him. I guess that came from my walking him out and not being at all scared when we scored and the cannon went off. I guess that's both myself scared of the cannon and not scared of the horse's reaction to the cannon. Unfortunately, or not as bad as that sounds, Pegasus got sent home durning halftime because they suspected his back was sore. I guess from the riding in the parade and then the football game. So they took off and I said I was staying to watch the rest of the game. I also had my field pass so I watched the next half on the sidelines with Mr. Trivett. O'Leary had given him a pass on Friday at lunch. That was really nice. Equestrian club has been so great for me, it really has. I'm also beginning to remember people's names. That's real good because was having problems and everyone knew me since I'm the only guy at anything. I still blame the whole invovled in the equestrian club on Malora. Hopefully I'll also start my lessons around 2 weeks from now. Too bad it's like starting up, getting in two lessons, then take a month off and start again.
Well that's it for now. I should get back to my sexual behavior so I have all the questions answered for our test on Tuesday. I'm also going to my first volleyball game today. Mr. Trivett has been begging me to go see a game forever and I agreed last night to go today. I'll check in later. Oh, and a happy birthday to my Mom.

It's November and Homecoming Week
Mood:  party time!
Well this is the first post in the month of November. Hard to believe it's come already. Things have been flying by, before our eyes. It's just one week from today when I fly home for the long Veteran's Day weekend. Then two weeks later my family is coming down for Thanksgiving. So, Monday was Halloween, what a waste of a holiday. The more I look at it the more I see it as a true greeting card holiday, only this is one for the candy manufactorers. I think you have to be under 10 to celebrate, after that and it's just pointless. Maybe just another reason to get drunk, and an exuse for girls to wear even fewer clothes than they already do, and gives men a chance to be women without the transexual accusations. This weekend is also our last home football game and Homecoming 2005. Hard to believe football is leaving us, after just our fourth home game we go on the road for the final 2 games. This could quite possibly be the biggest game of our short history. With a win on Saturday we would be bowl eligible for the first bowl game in our history. What better way to do it than in the last home game on homecoming. Also if we win the rest of our game we win the East Division of C-USA, but that might be looking too far ahead, we have a couple tough games remaining. Mostly Houston who we play on Saturday is no pushover, and UAB I fear is going to wait until we play them to show the talent they were supposed to have all season. Rice might be the only game of ease down the strech, it'd be interesting if they lose their remaining games we can solidify them a defeated season in the last game of the season, OH THE IRONY!! Although they came very close to their first win of the season last weekend, so things might be coming together for them at the wrong time for us. Tomorrow is the first homecoming event I'm going to participate in. Tomorrow at lunch time it's the time to meet with Trivett's to go to the last Lunch with George for the year. Then after my research methods quiz I think I'm going to at least check out Spirit Splash, I haven't been since my freshman year. Saturday is going to be the busy day. Saturday morning I will be walking in the homecoming parade with the equestrian club. Should be fun, about a 30 minute parade in Downtown Orlando. Then Saturday night is when the game is. I very well might do more horse stuff there. The alumni advisor tells me that she believes me and Pegasus get along well. For that I feel safe in blaming Malora. Stupid girl getting me involved with horses and encouraging me to join the equestrian club and therefore making me get so involved in school. I CAN'T BE A BUM IN MY ROOM ANYMORE! Even though I still do spend a lot of time doing that, it's just a day here and there. Then I guess there might be some pregame homecoming tailgating mixed in on Saturday as well. I think we might make our hopes of having a crowd of over 30,000 at a game. I think everyone knows the weight of this game, and our football team isn't half bad. With a win we also secure our first winning season since like the early '90's. Bah, bah, bah, bum, baa, ahh, ahh, ahh, umm. Yeah, that really doesn't make any sense if you don't know the fight song. Also I have to remember my Mom's birthday is Sunday. I think I'll do something when I get home, I just have to remember to call. My Dad is off the hook since he took her to Japan with him. I guess it all lies on Amy and I. Everyone enjoy your first weekend of November. I have only a month and about a week left of school! And the weather is back to normal since the last time I wrote. Bah, bah, bah, bum, baa, ahh, ahh, ahh, umm. Sorry, I know you don't get it, but I just can't get it out of my head. Hoot, hoot. Be sure to watch our game on the i Network. Yes, that is i, I guess they felt PAX was too long and needed to be shortened. GO KNIGHTS!

Weathered Wilma
Mood:  lazy
Well I'm tired. I've had another successful day before 8 AM. Mostly because there was a group of loud people outside my window this morning and woke me up around 2 or 2:30. The problem being that I woke up wide awake. Wilma rolled through yesterday and didn't do any great harm here in the Central Florida area. We weathered Wilma well. The threat of tornados was probably the greatest fear. We got a lot of rain, and quite a bit of wind. Everything was gone by 2 in the afternoon though. I was dead tired yesterday from my not sleeping much the night before. The only problem I had was a pipe in the ceiling of my bathroom leaked or something. So there were a couple large paint bubbles that were holding water. Now they've pretty much leaked and dripped and I caught them in a pan with no great flood. Now I just have to wait for maintence to come and see what they'll have to do. They may have to rip a 3 inch strip out of the center of my bathroom ceiling, maybe even remove some tiles from my shower. It could be a major pain, we'll see. Right now I'm absolutely freezing. I got out the sweatshirt for the first time. It was probably 80's on Saturday. Today is a high of 68 and it is still really windy. Weatherbug right now says 50, with like 10 MPH winds, bringing it down close to 45. I can't wait for Thursday. One more day in the 60's and then back to a high of 78. Thank goodness. Brrr. I mean, this is like the temperature we have in December. Hope everyone has a good week.

Wilma
Mood:  rushed
Well, Wilma is knocking on our doorstep. Supposed to get bad here sometime just before sunrise. We've already had tornados on the eastern coast. None around here that I know of. I don't think it's raining now, but we've had some down pours tonight. If nothing else we'll have some flooding, but we should get some nice tropical storm force winds in those predawn hours. Hopefully nothing close to the 115 mph down south. It did strengthen into a Catorgory 3 storm since this afternoon, even this evening. I'm going to try and sleep now, it's just hard. You are really unsure about what is coming and what you will wake up to, and whether that would be too late or not. I have survived one hurricane in this room, but I think that wasn't too strong. Everyone is different. But I need to sleep while I can sleep and not throw my schedule off too much. We have no school tomorrow/today. They cancelled that around 2 in the afternoon. My Aunt is still planning on leaving tomorrow, and the airport still plans on being open. I think the theme parks said the same and have started revising their plans though. All this talk of Cat. 4 and 5's this year has dumbed it down to look like a Cat. 2 is nothing, but things get more serious with a Cat. 3, even though there is only little difference. My parents fly into MD tomorrow/this morning. I realized in my last post I talked about the football game and completely forgot to say that we won 34-24. I think that's it for now. I'm hoping for power in the morning, but it's not seeming likely. I'll try to post again as soon as I can, otherwise I should be online. Take care.

Weekend Recap
Mood:  crushed out
So, it is Sunday. I mind as well recap what happened over the weekend. I have no plans to do anything worth recounting today. Today I plan on doing lots of work and hoping school is cancelled tomorrow. If it is, then I get tomorrow off with no work and can clean or something. But that's why I want to get through everything today, plus I haven't done homework any other time this weekend. I'll start out with Friday night. We had our football game night, moved from last night because of the impending doom of a hurricane. And Tulane wanted to be no where near a hurricane if they didn't have to. So I got to the game and waited for the gates to open and then went in a little over an hour prior to game time. I finally found where they park the horse trailer and I waited there for people to come back. When I got there I'd see Pegasus and the other members just rounding the corner to where I couldn't see. At the start I was just going over because they ask that as a club member you stop by to at least one football game and they'll take a picture of you with Pegasus and the Golden Knight for the website. But I ended up working the entire game instead, which was fun. I started out the night shy, but by the end I was back like being with Malora at a horse show. Where the trailer was didn't have a great view. Only a distorted view of the Jumbotron. So it was like listening to the game on the radio. But when Pegasus walked the sidelines I got to go out there too. That was a much nicer view than anywhere. The company was nice to have, since I'm always by myself during the games. It was also interesting to see the PR aspect. Everyone walking by sees the horse and the little kids want to pet him. All the guys walk by and say it smells and we laugh at them, and when the horse is relaxed then they comment on that. Hopefully I can start riding next weekend. I might just check on whether or not my boots came in yesterday in the mail, or if they'll be here tomorrow, or the next day.
Yesterday I spent at my grandparents' house. My aunt and two cousins came down for the weekend. So I was over to visit with them. I spent the entire day in the pool with my one cousin and had a good time visiting with them. I also got to talk to my parents. They are California now and coming home tomorrow. So confusing what time their in. In Japan they were 13 hours ahead, now they're in California 3 hours behind. I can't keep things straight.
So today is work and monitoring of Hurricane Wilma. We'll get something, but depends on how close the center of the storms comes to passing over us. everyone have fun for the rest of the weekend. We better have power tomorrow for my 7th Heaven!!

Been A Long Time
Mood:  spacey
Well it's late. I should be asleep, but I can't sleep. I watched the end of the Cards-Astros game. Cards are pretty lucky, let me tell you, 2 outs in the top of the 9th down by 2. I guess Puljos earned his salary for the year. Part of what is keeping me up is my conscience. I told the equestrian club alumni adviser I'd meet her at the barn tonight. I tried, but I couldn't find the place. I really hope she got home and checked her e-mail and saw what I wrote. But I haven't got a response, so I can't be sure. I was going to meet her to meet the club horse since I'm looking to start taking lessons soon. As soon as I find boots that is. Just a note when looking riding boots, the following helps: don't be a male, there are next to no men's boots; next don't be cheap, only rich men ride horses it seems; and last is don't be over a size 12 shoe, that already small selection get less for big feet. Some how I fit into all of those catorgories. On Saturday we got pilliaged by Southern Miss. 45-7 at halftime, 52-31 final score. 5 first down turnovers for us, at least 2-3 on special teams alone. Only thing special about them Saturday was the short-bus ride home. At least 4 times in the first half Southern Miss must have started their possession in the red zone. You just can't stop points when things go like that. Regardless we're still in a 4 way tie for first place in C-USA. The win would have only given us a true security of the C-USA East Division lead. Now we have to fight like we've never fought before. I already have my ticket and parking pass for this Saturday against Tulane. Better be a much better game. I figured out that when I come home Nov. 10 it's actually less than a week after my mom's birthday. So before I got back out of bed I was dealing with the conscience issue as well as trying to figure out what to do for her. I figured Malora and I could make dinner or something that Friday night. Then I was thinking of what we'd make. My head just runs away, it really does. I'm begining to get the idea that sleep is just overrated. I haven't heard anything about Stephen Lynch, Dan's man, he here last Thursday night. I didn't go see him, I had an equestrian club meeting just before it, not that I'd have gone to see it anyway probably. That would mean leaving the security of my hole in the wall room that I hide in and do lots of school work. I had a philosophy midterm in what is now yesterday, also a research methods quiz. I've already submitted my research methods paper that's due soon enough today. I got my second e-mail from my parents, hard to believe they're 13 hours ahead of us. Patrick's 5 hours in England was hard enough to comprehend, not to mention that went the other direction. Ok, I'll try sleeping again. Hopefully I can meet up with the alumni advisor in her office later today, I still feel so bad. I'm so spoiled with Yahoo! messanger letting me know immediately when I have e-mail. I almost don't comprehend only checking e-mail once a day. I check it when I have it, and that always seems to be at least 5-6 times a day, but I always know what's going on it. Oh well, goodnight.

UCF's First C-USA Game
Mood:  down
So, UCF's first home game. Playing Marshall, our old MAC opponent meeting for the first time in Conference USA. I got to the game well before game time to make sure I could park. Hopefully I can get to the game an hour later next time. But everyone was out tailgating and drinking and such in the parking lot next to where I was. The parking lot I was in was more families tailgating rather than Greek kids. I met up with the Trivett's (the couple I met at the baseball games who have season tickets to everything) about an hour and a half before game time. I had seen them Friday as well at O'Leary's lunch. Interesting enough I guess I should break off and talk about that so things seem sort of chronological.
Apparently when O'Leary was at Georgia Tech he started this thing where fans could come the Friday before home games and have a lunch with the coach. So on Friday I met up with Trivett's at our really nice athletic facility. Then we picked up our free lunch provided by Chipole (first time having it, not too bad). Then we went to the team lecture hall. O'Leary talked some about recruiting and showed us the video of the campus they show to recruits. Then the offensive and defensive coordinators showed us some Marshall game film and broke some of it down for us. It was then concluded with a little open forum of asking the coach some questions. It was pretty nice, and only about 30 people were there.
So, back to what is now yesterday. I was sitting with Trivett's by the fan fare strip of radio stations and food, next to all the tailgating. We get up to head into the game and there are like 30-40 cop cars in front of the stadium. What has now been learned, but not confirmed is that an undercover UCFPD officer was doing something alcohol related when he pulled out his gun and fired rubber bullets at someone in the immediate area. An Orlando police officer mistook this for a fan pulling a gun and so he then opened fire on the undercover officer killing him. We didn't know all that when we went into the stadium, only that shots were fired and at least one person was dead, but it sounded like fans were involved somehow. But then again, there were several thousand people in the of the shooting, so stories will fly.
But once inside the stadium I went to the student section and sat about 4 rows back in the corner of the . Our school is stupid or something, you'd think that you'd put students in the sections, but they only put us halfway through in the and then curving around to the sideline. Our section ended up spending the entire game trying to get the other student section to stop cheering when our team was on offense. Things started out well when Marshall marched down the field and then missed a field goal. We got a touchdown our second time out I think. We went into half time up 17-0. It was very nice. We also had some US Navy planes preform a fly by at the start of the game, and then 5 helicopters flew in formation during halftime. We came out in the second half and our defense failed some. We just kept giving up first downs. But, they made the stops when we needed to. The game ended up 23-13. Snaps our NCAA leading 17 game losing streak. Everyone was really excited and they kept telling us not to rush the field, but of course, a lot of people did and felt quite accomplished that they tore down a goal post. I didn't stay for a lot of post game, but cleared out of there before everyone would be leaving.
Unfortunately leaving left more or less a bad taste in your mouth. Sort of like in a play. You need a great beginning that people will remember, or a great ending to send people home thinking about and the middle doesn't have much to do but keep you entertained. You go walking out to your car and 1/4 of the cars in the other student lot have become part of a crime scene and their are cop cars everywhere. The crime scene tape all over the place. Those powerful lights on the scene with all of those yellow plastic markers on the ground marking where shots hit. Sort of a depressing scene to come out to. Which is why I mention the bad taste, the pregame is all about police activity, and then coming out that's the last thing you see leaving the stadium.
I guess it's good in a way that rumors were wrong. Where they made sound as though a student was armed and involved. In some good way it was only police officers who were armed. Although it's still someone getting killed in a crowd of thousands of students. Just aren't too many safe places anymore in the world. Innocence is a virtue, and unfortunately you grow up and it's just hard to hold on. After all, some kid put a beer in front of me while I was sitting and talking to Trivett's and told me to drink it. I was certainly caught off guard, why would you put a beer in front of a kid who is sitting and talking to two 60 year old people? I declined the offer, but still, where is that supposed to get you? I'd hate to say it, but it just seems as though drugs and alcohol seem to be at the root of all evil. Until there is some controlled way to allow people to have either in a way that doesn't harm anyone else, or themselves, nothing will get fixed. Part of why our school announce some new promotion of getting citations for doing good things while tailgating rather than just looking for the bad. Despite all the alcohol flowing for people of all ages, legal and not. It just seems like the only true, and unrealistic, solution is alcohol permitted in one tailgating area and another parking area for those underage. Give you or something to see who can drink and who can't like at bars or something. Or maybe build an on campus stadium so there are less tailgates from the students who can walk. Not to mention the many other benefits that we're trying to tell the community so they go along with the idea. But everyone knows that not much good comes from alcohol, except maybe the joy of drinking it. But why do you think they had to watch what Benjamin Franklin said in the pubs back in the late 1700's? The vast majority of people still seem to be able to control themselves around it. Well anyway, I'm sorry for those of you who drink and find your other reasons for doing so. I guess it's just that I prefer my tea and crumpets.

Editor's Note: Marshall didn't try to score on their first drive, we forced a fumble and we scored on our first drive. We ended the game allowing 11 yards rushing, recovered 2 fumbles and had 2 interceptions on defense.

What a Waste of a Day
Mood:  down
What a day, what stupid, worthless day. I accomplished next to nothing on the day. The stress and work load of 17 credits is beginning to hit hard and I'm trying to keep my head above the water (at least I haven't drowned like the football team). Now we have to pair this with the arguement I had with Malora this afternoon. Apparently I don't know much about being a good boyfriend and don't fight for Malora enough. Girls get so difficult. I used to think I knew girls, now I know they just wait for you feel like you know them and then throw you down. I guess I'm lucky enough that Malora has some paticence with me. What was the highlight of the day turned out to be the last straw. Ashley Burns will be pictured in all the USF apparel he can and hug USF's mascot. It was supposed to be a the start of a rivalry, that apparently USF never wanted to start. It was supposed to be a good game, where we were going in thinking we'd win and over come our 9 point underdog status. 31-14, just unbelievable. Keep in mind that last touchdown is not well earned. But just what we could muster in the final 3 minutes against backups. Going into halftime down 21-0 I'm not sure how to take this. But I think USF should have put in their cheerleaders, just because our tackling was so delicate you'd think we were playing girls. Or whether we should have just put in our cheerleaders because there's no way they could do any worse. If anything their looks would slow down USF's rushing game that ran us 6 feet under, and a whole lot further, the entire game. We had two big plays in the game. A blocked field goal and a 60 yard kickoff return to the 4 yard line. The block got us nothing, the return allowed us to score our only touchdown. Probably one of the only times we were on their side of the field. We went in with our heads held high after our proformance against South Carolina, however, it seems that just made it easy to take an ax to our necks. We extend our streak to 17 straight facing Marshall next week. I think at this point I'm going to write off the season. We needed this win, and after getting not only defeated, but decimated we're in the toilet. Completely and udderly decimated. That's the biggest disappointment, we didn't even compete, I'd at least be somewhat happy if we lost 14-17 or 21-24 or something, but no. We couldn't run; and I'm not sure if we did end the game with positive rushing yards, I know we hadn't in the 3rd quarter; and we couldn't tackle. If this keeps up I think we'll have to lead a charge for getting O'Leary as sacked as our quarterback. I think it's going to be an early bedtime just to get this day behind and move on to tomorrow. But hopefully I'll get a call from Malora before that happens, until then I'll probably finish my book so that it can stop distracting me from my readings of Plato.