More of the Same

This haas been a rather busy week of tests, working and meetings, but with all that over, I take my Thursday evening to relax and lay down some thoughts on the people. Shamenomics wrapped up our regular season as we began it, with a win. This time we defeated the SAE "Blue Balls" squad with a 26-5 second quarter onslaught to break a halftime tie and pull off a 43-22 victory. I credit Brian Shell with the play of the game without question. Following an early rejection on a drive to the basket and much heckling from the pledge class and team, Brian procded to drain a three in his defender's "eye" and stride confidently down the court with both middle fingers extended to the opposition and their lameass cheering section. Now, we hold our collective breath with a far outside chance of a playoff berth. Perhaps this one time, the universe will shift in our favor.

In other news, my brother who many of you know now calls Baghdad, Iraq his home has sent out his first correspondence to the family which helps us all breath easier for a week at least. He tells of many strange situations he has been encountered with in the desert land of the Middle East but shares his unshakable optimism for his safe return and benefits from his situation. In fact, he claims to be enrolling in grad school after being discharged to pursue the "freshman year he never had" in a "animal house-esque" fashion. I do not doubt his resolve at all on this matter.

In my news, I seem to be emerging along with the weather from the winter doldrums and I have managed not to seriously harm anyone or myself, so thats always good. The spring weather and attitude bring a welcome change, and I eagerly anticipate the nearly two weeks of relaxation awaiting me after 6 more days of class and two exams. Although I am slightly concerned about having only one class scheduled for this spring term thus far, I am optimistic that it will all work itself out and this will be a spring term for the ages. Long-term things to look forward too include the annual Destin trip for Easter break and every Furmanites' favorite....Beach Weekend! This year will undoubtedly surpass the extreme hilarity and good times had at last year's 3 day party in the sand and I am already in that state of mind. Without souring this moment, I will leave you with those hopeful thoughts for the future. Keep your heads up kids.

Endings and Beginnings

Two of the most exciting times in our lives! I only bring this up because I am wrapping up the second to last Monday of Winter term, a very welcome ending. Second accounting exam might have gone well today, but I'm going to hold my thoughts until it is returned. I recently ended my reading of Angels and Demons by Dan Brown and mere hours later bugged Erin into giving me her copy of the Da Vinci Code both of which have proved themselves to be exceptionally involving reads and I finally realize what the fuss has been about for the past two years that the Cod has spent on the New york Times bestseller list. I have put off my bedtime for 30 minutes every night to feast upon the mysteries of European art, much to the chagrin of my "Early to bed, early to rise" roomate. A beginning I am not so pumped about would be the start of my fear of this Intermediate Macro test on Wednesday. I find some solace in the knowledge that after completing this exam and its take-home portion I'll be safely on the downward slope into spring break. Thursday night brings the possibility of seeing another of Virginia's favorites with the Pat McGee Band at the Handlebar and Averil's shared enthusiasm makes me even more excited because, how can you have rock n' roll without the Roll?

Jimmy's Shame Immortalized

Jimmy's Shame....No One's Gain

It's been longer than I would have liked since filling everyone in on the happenings surrounding my existence. Several attempted blogs fell into the great abyss of cyberspace for unknown reasons, so hopefully this one will survive to reach my loyal readership. The title you ask? Last night all in attendance at the FU men's basketball game (a victory over Western Carolina 73-66) had an opportunity to win a flat screen television by throwing a paper airplane of their own construction from their seat and landing it closest to said television. Jimmy managed to slide his plane from our dedicated post next to the guy's bench under the TV. Unfortunately for B208, another plane did the same sailing in from another side of the court. Then it came down to random number selection and both contestants were the same distance from the required number. Alas, the fate of our apartment's future relationship with a flat screen tv and Jimmy's shame would be decided at the free throw line. This was, at first glance, a cause for celebration due to the sickly nature of Jimmy's opponent, who much to our chagrin and the surprise of all stepped up and sank his first shot under a barrage of chants from the Shamenomics squad (or at least those dedicated enough to attend) Obviously, Jimmy now needed a free throw to keep our hopes alive. One free throw. Fifteen feet from the basket. No defense. It is at times like this, to quote Brian Shell, "games are won and lost". Well, this is also when flat screen televisions are won and lost, primarily lost. It is at times like this that words fail and then return, words like "choke", "dong" and especially "shame" come to mind. As you may have assumed by now, Jimmy sent his free throw clanging off the iron, and sent the TV out the door in unworthy hands. Needless to say, the shame has been nearly unbearable for our friend Mr. Peters and his friends have been more than welcome to keep this pressure up, merely preparing him should this opportunity ever present itself again.
The evening did not improve much from here. With Jimmy's monumental defeat still fresh in our minds, we witnessed Blackwell's Back put up some real basketball skills in a brave loss to the volleyball team. While exiting the parking lot, Erin, still sore over her loss in the Frosty Free Throw Challenge moments before suggested that there was but one car on the road, so it would be fine for me to pull out the wrong way to avoid wasting 30 seconds on superflous turns. My mother had always taught me not to trust women, but for a mere moment, possibly a point of weakness after recently shaming her at the free throw line, I followed this ill-fated advice. It would appear that the one other vehicle on the road was one of Furman's finest out on his daily rounds. Now, as all students of Shamenomics understand with the cyclical nature of shame, it was now mine to bear. One can imagine how the situation went down from there on out. The officer did not appreciate our laughter, but let me off with a slap on the wrist. Our vehicle troubles continued at Wendy's where someone insisted on making a scene, but luckily for that unnamed individual it is time for class. Adam's birthday tomorrow, look for a hilarious post about the things he does on this evening of excess.