The One Where We Experience Alcohol...

People drink for a variety of different reasons. Some drink to run away from pain. Others drink because they enjoy the inhibition-less version of themselves. Then, there are those who drink because it's what everyone else is doing. Usually, I drink for the experience of drinking. Not only do I try new drinks in an attempt to expand my palate (which is unusual because I am notoriously a picky person who is afraid of trying new things), but I also drink to experience a different side of life. I suppose that latter reason would put me close to the category of drinking because I like the me that has less inhibitions. Mostly, that's because normal me is a very cautious, frugal, and stodgy person. But put a little alcohol in my system, and I am a considerably more amiable individual. Not only am I more friendly, but I also tend to be more open and honest in conversations. So, if any of you want to know secrets....I'm one of those noobs who will give away secrets if you put alcohol in my system. Which brings up an interesting topic. And that is: What does alcohol actually do to a person's body? In my [almost] expert opinion, alcohol (I keep misspelling that word.) simply clouds the brain's inhibitors. (at this point The Piebald Penguin hit the vodka a bit too hard and lost his train of thought...)

The One Where We Revisit Emma Anne

So, I've got this one sister....and she's basically awesome. I don't know how else to say it. A constant source of support, an infinitely deep foundation, an incredible encourager, a wise woman...and she dropped me on my head when I was a baby. That's right, you heard what I said. If you were ever wondering why I'm so strange (and by strange, I mean smart, funny, gifted in academics, incredibly good-looking, fashionable, social, and all that jazz) well, that's the reason. Really, everyone's big sister should drop him on his head when he is a child (by the way, I usually use the masculine pronoun to refer to the neuter case because, honestly, using him/her, or him or her, is a ridiculous waste of words. And don't get in my face about it if you're some weird feminazi. It's not worth getting in a fight about and, ultimately, you know that it's the proper way to do things).

But I don't really want to talk about Emma Anne dropping me on my head as a child. It wasn't her fault...(that's a blatant lie, really...but at least I admit it, right? That's got to count for something) What I do want to talk about is Emma Anne. I recently had the pleasure of spending a couple hours with her and Superman (her husband). They are simply delightful people to be around. By the time I arrived at their house, their kids had been put to bed, and they were just waiting to hang out with me. They made me dinner. It wasn't anything super fancy, just a toasted roast beef (I love beef) sandwich. But it was special. You know why it was special? Because it came with a side of time spent with Emma Anne and Superman. That made it a fantastic sandwich. In my earlier years (i.e. everything up until the last couple months), I took my relationship with my sister for granted. She's my sister, and that meant that she was usually around to talk to, complain to, and spend time with. But that was just it. She had to do it because she was my sister. When I would come home for my breaks, I would spend an afternoon or evening with her, and the rest of the time was spent with my friends. I regret this. Not because I hate spending time with my friends, but rather because spending time with her is something to be sought after. Not only that, but she likes spending time with me. Which is something that I always knew, but again, took for granted. Of course she likes spending time with me, I'm her brother. But she "gets" me. She knows who I am. Even if I don't always keep her updated with all the little details of my life (I really do try though...) she still knows the part of me that hides behind the mask. I think it's a well-established fact that there is a special bond between siblings, and it's my opinion that this is part of what makes it special. I can act as mysterious and enigmatic around my friends, be someone who I'm not. I can hide behind a mask all I want. But when I spend time with my sister, it all fades away. There is no mask. She's stuck with me. Just me. And she still chooses to be seen in public with me. Because we're not just friends. We're siblings. And I love her. Thanks for being awesome Emma Anne.

It's true, my ears stick out. But I have an elephant tie...so there.

~The Piebald Penguin

P.S. If you missed my last post about Emma Anne, click here.

The One Where We Chase Horizons

Let it be known, here and now, that The Piebald Penguin loves chasing the horizon. Not only do I appreciate the individual words that make up a beautiful word picture, but I also enjoy physically chasing the horizon. It's adventures with a little buckling and a lot of swashing. Sails up and all ahead full towards the elusive creature that is the horizon. I packed up all that I own and threw it in my car (known affectionately as Hulk Jr.). He sure is a trooper, carting all my junk across a barren and sun-swept desert. Currently, I'm back home with my family, but that's only for a limited time. In just a few short days, Lord willing, I will loading up a U-Haul truck and driving north-by-northwest. I'm moving to a land flowing with milk and honey (well, ok...it's really flowing with water...lots of water....but it's the same thing to me). My soon-to-be roommate and I are still waiting to see if we get approved for the apartment we applied for. You see, he's a drug dealer, and kinda a really shady character. I'm hoping that my outstanding virtues can cover his exceptional vices enough to get us approved. We may have to bribe the manager...or make her...tea. Of course. (you were thinking I was going to say something else...right?? But I'm perfect. I don't do awful things like that...) Ok, ok, it's nothing as bad as that. My roommate really just turned in his application recently, so it hasn't even gotten to the manager yet. Anywho, that's a brief update on the crazy, hectic, super-busy life of The Piebald Penguin. <-SARCASM

Here's a brief snippet from my upcoming current event:
People complain about TSA checking them for bombs in an airport, but they don't care that the police are allowed to give you a ticket for not wearing your seatbelt?

~The Piebald Penguin

The One Where We Learn Where the Piebald Penguin Has Been

The Piebald Penguin is back...from outer space...yes. I know, I know...you've all been waiting on the edges of your seats for me to get back to blogging. And now I'm back and better than ever! Seriously. I'm a better person as a direct result of last week. I walked across a stage, shook an old guy's hand and received a little blue cardboard thingy that will eventually hold a little piece of paper that says that society excepts me for who I am. Also, that little piece of paper apparently means that I am qualified to begin looking for a job. For those of you who are still sitting there scratching your heads and wondering what I'm talking about, I just graduated from college. It was pretty epic and exciting and sad. Yes sad. But really happy too.

Funny story. Yesterday, I was sitting in room, doing absolutely nothing productive, when I had a really bad feeling. It was one of those, "Oh, crap. It's late, and there's something due tomorrow...I just don't remember what..." feelings. I'm sure that, at some point in your lives, you all have felt something like that. And I freaked out for a couple seconds trying to remember what I'd forgotten to do. Then I remembered that I had just graduated college and definitely didn't have anymore homework. Ah. Such a good feeling.

Along with graduating, I'll be leaving the city that my college was in and moving to a brand new city. I say brand new because it is neither where my family lives nor is it where I've lived the last four years. It's going to be an exciting experience...I hope. The experience thus far has been suitably fraught with worry and wonder as I try to figure out where I'm going to live and what I'm going to do. Since I'm moving, I have to pack up everything that is currently in the room that I'm staying in now. Whenever I pack, I always go through a process.
Step 1: Sift through the mental debris and clean out all the old memories
Step 2: Sift through the papers that are scattered around my room
Step 3: Get rid of as much of trash that's around the room
Step 4: Pack the clothes in suitcases and the non-clothes into boxes and bags

I'm currently on step 1. It's amazing how many memories I have of the last year. Sometimes, I have a memory that I don't ever want to get rid of. These moments are the extremely rare, please-let-time-stop moments in time. Over the last four years, I have had exactly 4 of these moments. It's a moment in time in which I have the clarity to realize that it's something that I want to never let go of. While there are lots of times that are fun and exciting and memorable, there are very few times that I wish to freeze time. The reason I bring this up is that the most recent of these moments happened at graduation just this past Friday.

Anywho, this is just a little update on the life of The Piebald Penguin as he begins the next stage of life.

~The Piebald Penguin

Dear Diary...

Dear Diary,

Today was my last day of college. It feels really good to be able to say that.

~The Piebald Penguin

8

Pizza Party for the Passing of a Prof

The title makes it seem like our professor died, but really he just went on to bigger and better things. However, being that we liked him so much, we decided to throw a going away party for him. Really though, the impetus behind the idea was his possession of Disney's Robin Hood on his video ipod. That's right. A grown man, and a math professor, was not afraid to tell us that he liked Robin Hood. Which was beneficial to him because we all like it too. So, for his going away party, our small class met in one of the classrooms. Soccer Girl and I went and bought pizza, cookies, and soda. Our professor brought Robin Hood, and we hooked my laptop up to the digital projector in the room. Then, the four students and the professor had a fantastic time hanging out, eating, and watching a Disney classic. It's things like this that make being a math major worth it. Smiley.

~The Piebald Penguin

9

Leaving Something Behind

We as humans often like to know that, when we're gone, we will leave a legacy behind us. I'm here to tell you about what I left behind at my college. Now, I don't mean to get all abstract and intangible. I've definitely left something behind that is physical, visible, and noticeable. The summer before my junior year of college, I purchased a car. Not just any car, but a Honda Civic. Sadly, I'm not rich, so it was hardly new (as I would come to find out, it was ummm...poorly taken care...).

On Labor Day of that year, I drove down to the cafeteria because I liked my car, I didn't want to walk, and I could. I got to the Caf and realized that I hadn't brought my meal card. So, I got back in my car and began driving out of the parking lot. Now, what happened next will only make sense if I first describe this particular parking lot. It's a long strip that dead ends into a wall. The exit is a sharp left turn right before this wall. I was driving down the strip and nearing the end, when I decided that I should put my seat belt on. It wasn't being particularly cooperative that day (don't you just hate it when that happens? Sometimes the seat belt just clicks right in, but there's always that time when it takes a full minute to fit the stupid thing into the slot...frustration). I was fumbling with my seat belt and moving ever so slightly forward because I knew that I still had space before the wall. Unfortunately, it took me longer to get the belt into its place than I anticipated. Just as the belt clicked into place, my car jerked to a halt. I had hit the wall! Fortunately for me, my car wasn't damaged. As a result of this mishap, there is a streak of black paint on the otherwise tan wall. At least I know that I have left something behind. Smiley.

~The Piebald Penguin

P.S. Dinner wasn't even very good. Sad face.