My Brother Graduates College

Hey there everyone. My brother graduated from college over the weekend. Well, he walked in graduation over the weekend; technically he finished classes back in December, but his school gets so much snow in the winter they measure it in feet, and my grandparents weren't going to be able to make that trip. So instead of braving a frozen tundra, we went on a calm trip that was still a little nippy (there were mounds of snow, our hotel had a sign on the door that said "patio may be icy," and according to my brother there was still a fair amount of snow when he went back a week before to tie up some loose ends. Anyways, my brother, dad, and I took one car and my mom, grandpa, and grandma took another car. Mom left on Thursday and took 2 days to get there, whereas Dad, bro, and I took 1 day to get there.

Now for some stories. I took off the Friday because graduation was Saturday and we needed to travel all day Friday. The plan was I go to my parents house on Thursday, spend the night, and then we leave right from there house Friday morning at like 6AM. On Thursday afternoon, one of the project managers decided to hold a meeting 10 minutes before I was going to leave, and I was determined to get out of there. I came in, said "here's what you need to work on, I'm going on vacation now." He kept pressing the things I was saying his team needed to work on, and why I was bringing it up to him, and I responded "because that's what senior management wanted me to do, now I'm going to start my vacation." This went on for 40 minutes. Now, this manager and I have a good working relationship, and the kind of banter we were having is OK because of what we've been through, so it's not like I was causing any problems, but I did have a rocky start to this little trip. Once I finally got out of work, I packed up my stuff, and began my hour long drive to my parents house (because rush hour traffic). For dinner, "the men" had pizza from one of the local joints. I basically spent the night streaming playstation vue and trying to finish a project I started 2 years ago. I also cleaned off my video camera memory card, because I was going to film graduation and I don't want to run out of space (because that would be bad). I also wanted a drink after the day I had, but dad and bro don't like the same kind of alcohol I like (they like just beer, I like everything except beer), so I was really glad to find one of my Henry's Hard Soda's in their mini-fridge from the last time I visited.

OK, wake up at 5:45, load up my stuff into the jeep, eat my muffin, pack some drinks and snacks for the road, and get ready for a 10 hour car ride. I was finally going to watch some of my DVD box sets. I started out with Please Twins (which I reviewed and can be found here), an anime series I picked up at a thrift store on impulse (it was $3, and I like anime). Pretty funny series, even if it is a bit weird. After that I watched the first half of Futurama season 5. That was pretty much what we did for the drive. While we were driving, we stopped at a gas station, and it just so happened that we caught up with my mom and grandparents at that same gas station. What a coincidence. I also picked up some chips. I got dill pickle flavored chips and maple bacon flavored chips. The maple bacon flavored ones were REALLY good. I don't know how to describe them, except like the perfect blend of sweet and salty, with a hint of bacon. After 9.5 hours of driving, we reach my brother's college town, and we stop at his and dad's favorite bar. They each have a beer, and as someone that doesn't care for beer I had their house soda (a cherry root beer). Now, I'm not a big fan of root beer, but it was cool having a house brewed soda. After our drinks, we checked into our hotel and unpacked, and mom arrived at about the same time.

Now for trying to figure out dinner. At first we thought "order in pizza," but we couldn't really find a good place. Them my mom had the idea of "lets get these local meat pies," because grandpa and bro really like them, and everyone else likes them, except me. Luckily the place that makes them also makes deli sandwiches, so I had an Italian beef sandwich. I had my sandwich, and everyone else had their meat pie. Now, it's been a good 6 years since I last had one of the meat pies, so my brother wanted me to try it again; I did, and still didn't like it. This confused my grandpa; "what do you mean you don't like it, it's good stuff." Because I like my potatoes fried not baked, I don't like the other things they put in it like peas, and they don't put nearly enough meat in it for my liking. Oh, and here's a real hoot; when we went to get the food, I ran into one of my old college professors. This was really unlikely, because my old college and my brother's college are nowhere close to each other. He must have been there for graduation as well. I made some small talk, and pulled out my challenge coin I got for completing the program. That impressed him some. Then when we went to pick-up some house brew beer from dad and bro's favorite bar, we ran into some of his old professors. That was kind of fun.

Now the real festivities begin. Bro's program was holding a little reception at one of the dorm ball rooms the night before graduation. My grandparents wanted to go, but they have trouble walking, and the ball room was down a bunch of stairs. That was not good, because that meant they weren't able to go, because this was held in a location that was not ADA compliant. Apparently there was a freight elevator, but that went to an office that no one had the key to. We found this out after getting my grandparents in the car and driving there. Needless to say we were not happy, and Mom made it known. I suggested we sue, to get some of our tuition money back, but we didn't go through with it. So, I took a bunch of the cookies they were serving. Mom asked me "why am I taking so many cookies," and I said "they're for the pain and suffering; if we aren't going to sue, I'm going to take a lot of cookies." She didn't argue with that; no "that's childish, grow up, let it go," because they had it coming. It was a nice little reception. They showed all the graduates in a slideshow, and bro's picture had him with scraggly hair and unkempt beard. Since my grandpa couldn't be there, I played his complaints; "hey, that beard doesn't look good, you knew you were getting your picture taken, why didn't you clean up your beard, and why didn't you get a hair cut." Just yanking his chain.

Now for the big day. Bro goes there early because he's part of the event, and mom went early to make sure they got a good seat. Now, my brother was only able to get 4 main stadium tickets, but there were 5 of us. So, the parents and grandparents take the main stadium tickets, and I had to sit in overflow. Overflow, means I had to watch it in the basketball gym on a projector. It was the same live stream my other grandpa and aunt watched at her house. Anyways, I was still going to film the important parts (even if it was a low quality boot leg, lol). Now, seeing that this wasn't my first graduation, I knew I needed to bring something to keep me occupied. Yes, the speeches by the university president and guest speakers are generally good (unless it's a 2 hour speech on the peace corps, like my mom experienced at another graduation ceremony), but I don't care about the 400 other students getting their names read. So I brought Avatar The Search Part 1 and Michael Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man, 2 books that have been sitting on my shelf for years. I also had my 3DS, but I take it everywhere so it's not like that's special. I also had my camera bag, and safety vest, and cargo shorts full of my normal random stuff, and my fedora. Now the trick to looking so conspicuous is to subtly act like you're official and should look that way. Seeing that I like to casually dress like this and have been for 8 years, I've learned how to do that, but I was fully prepared to get searched. The bag checker asked to see inside my camera bag, saying "just looking for bombs, flasks, weapons, drugs, and such." Well, it's a good thing I don't carry my pocket knife in my camera bag. I found a good seat in the center. I played my 3DS, and read the dedications that were being shown. One student thanked Monster Energy Drink, and that was funny.

Now for the great thing. About 10 minutes before the ceremony started, a lady came in and said "OK everyone, we have about 200 seats open behind the graduates, anyone interested?" Sure, I'll take a better seat. I go there and "set up camp." The grads were all in, and I took some video. Here's something good. While taking the zoom shots, one of the people in front of me kind of kept getting in the shot. I thought "hey old man, can you stop getting in the shot" (he had white hair). After about 45 minutes, I thought "the back of those people's heads looks familiar," and then I realized that was my family, like 5 rows in front of me. How about that? So my mom got there 3 hours early to make sure she got a good seat for my physically challenged grandparents, and I get essentially the same seat by chance 10 minutes before it starts. The speakers were good, and they did it in alphabetical order. Though, it was a little confusing since one announcer was reading the graduates from 1 department, and the other was reading the graduates from another department; but I eventually figured out the rhythm and was able to read my books while I waited for my brother to get called. Then when he got called, I continued reading my books. Part way through the ceremony my grandpa had to stand up and turned around some, and saw me; then everyone turned around and saw me.

Afterwards I met up with them and helped get them out of the stadium. I also brought up how much of a hoot it was that I was able to essentially sit with them. We got everyone out and in the hallway while we wait for my bro. When he shows up we go to the photo op area and take some pictures. We even get some with the mascot. There were also some refreshments. Mom and I each had a $100,000 cupcake. And after some time, we happened to get our picture with the university president, because he happened to walk through the hallway at the same time we were. Cool. We also took some pictures outside. Being an ammeter filmmaker, I played with perspective to make really good shots of the family. After those pictures, my brother and I went around to some more places around campus he wanted to get pictures of. Again, good thing I know some things about photography, because I was able to take some well composed shot (well, as good as one can take with what I had to work with).

After taking pictures, we stopped at his frat house. He said hi to his frat brothers, I introduced myself as "his biological brother," and I had a hot dog (because hadn't eaten anything since breakfast). They weren't the kind of frat boys I'm used to from my college days. The frat boys at my college were the typical "frat boys," whereas his frat brothers were more laid back. An hour later we had dinner at the hotel restaurant. There were also a lot of prom kids that started showing up as the dinner went on, because apparently it was prom weekend too. That took me back. The rest of the night was pretty laid back. My brother spent the night with his frat bros, and Mom just couldn't sleep because he was out.

Now it's Sunday, and we head back home. I finished Futurama season 5, and started Cowboy Bebop. We stopped at the same gas station that had the maple bacon chips, and I was going to buy many bags. Unfortunately, they were sold out. Something tells me I'm not the only one that really likes those chips. After 10 hours of driving, we arrive back at my parents house. We unloaded my dad and brother's stuff, I loaded up some stuff to take to my condo, and then I started the hour drive back to my place. It was a really good trip. Short, but good. This has been Pokematic, signing off, and bu-bye.

I talk creation vs evolution for a documentary

Hey everyone. Today I did an interview for a documentary on the creationism vs evolution debate. While we're no strangers to speaking our opinion on matters similar to that, see catholiccontriversy, but this was the first time I've ever done it for a documentary.

This was quite an experience. First I got there, but didn't know which precise room, I was just told some studio in this one building. Well when I couldn't find the room, I went back to my room. Since I set up the appointment over facebook I decided to check to see if there was anything about it. My dorm and this building are on opposite sides of campus. It takes 15 minutes to walk cross campus. My appointment was 12:30, got there the first time with plenty of time. When I couldn't find the room I left and went back to my room. 15 minutes. Check, find room, and run across campus. That took 10 minutes. I'm about 25 minutes late. Turns out that it was better for the director creator.

I get there, sit down, and the bright studio lights shine on me. I got used to them quickly. I couldn't wear my vest because it reflects under light, and the yellow can screw up the color balance. Been a while since I did video production where I cared about how my video looks. Oh well, with no vest I'll probably be taken more seriously. As an Internet video producer, I'm quite used to looking directly into the camera. With those, you're talking directly to the viewer typically. Well in the world of professional video, that's only OK if you're doing like a nature show or something where you're talking to the audience. Since I wasn't speaking to the audience, I was supposed to look off camera. Hard habit to break since I do it whenever I make videos. I did it a couple of times so I was pulled back to looking off camera.

The interview was handled very well. Being interviewed for a documentary on a very political matter, I was a bit sceptical. It's for her honors thesis, so it's pretty safe to assume that there will be no BS. But then again Bowling for Columbine was an Oscar winner and that movie is full of BS. Based on my experience, I don't think there will be any BS. All the questions weren't weighted towards 1 view. There was 1 question about people saying there is no proof that god exists, but since my views are predominately creationist, and that I spoke strongly to that, that question was probably ask to see my mentality. Chances are there was probably  question about "where it all started" for pure evolutionists. My answer was "well what proof is there that god doesn't exist?" At the end of the interview I asked to not have my words twisted. She said she would never, and I said "OK, just want to be sure you won't go Michael Moore on me."

I am really interested to see how this turns out. I made references to some evolution vs creationism in pop culture, particularly futurama episode 9, season 6, a clockwork origin and the song you can't make a monkey out of me. She also said I bring up good points. This will be really cool. And here's some trivia, I was wearing my boy scout troop t-shirt during the interview. Because we aren't supposed to wear the boyscout logo when doing political stuff, it has to do with miss-representation, the logo will be blurred out. So if you're wondering, that's what that is. Well this has been Pokematic signing off and bu-bye.

And to anyone who may jump to the conclusion that I'm a blind to the truth religious nut, you're wrong. I accept elements of both arguments and mix them to fill in the holes. Evolution explains the changing and similarities, and creationism explains where it started. If I get enough requests, or hate from closed minded evolutionists where the mere mention of intelligent design warrants "you're stupid"who don't read this section, I will explain my views with a catholiccontriversy post.

My family vacation blogs

My family vacation, day 1 
Well today was eventful, kind of. I'm going on a family trip to my relatives down south. I'll tell you about the entire time, but due to possible inaccess to a computer, it may not be posted the day that I write it. I'm writing this on my Nintendo dsixl using the Nintendo ds web browser using my hotmail. I write it on hotmail, because of my 3 emails, it's the only one that will load. I then send it to my gmail or drafts in blogger. I don't post immediately because I want to spell check.
 
Well onto the day. We packed our minivan to the gills, half of which was snacks provided by my grandparents. We have a DVD player in our van so my cousin and I watched tomb raider cradle of life and Coraline. It was kind of hard on the way down because my grandma kept trying to force some snacks onto us kids. Oh well. Once we got to the hotel we're staying for the night, we went exploring the city looking for a place to eat. We went to this place called The Lucky Moose. It was sure lucky we found it. Mom convinced my grandparents that they served moose and we were all getting moose burgers. They went to eat at Bob Evens, because they would never eat at a place called the lucky moose. Eventually mom let them in because they were getting concerned. But she did say we'd bring them back a moose burger. If the McDonald's that's here had a Pokemon toy I didn't have, I would have bought a happy meal and give the burger to them saying it was a moose burger. More to come.
 
family vacation day 2
OK, today is day 2. But let me tell you about the night before. My grandparents love stories, and when we were all trying to go to bed, they were telling us stories.
Well now for the actual day. We all pack up and set out. It was raining incredibly hard. It was flooding in some places. We went to an awesome video game store that we stop at every time. They have both new, AND OLD, games. And when I say old, I'm talking nes and later. I bought A Bugs Life for Play Station, Banjo Kazooie, and a rumble pack for my n64. The place is called Play N Trade, and I recommend any fan go there. It pones gamestop.

Well we arrive, and things are weird. I have 3 girl cousins, 1 boy cousin, and they all wanted to talk to my girlfriend. Boy cousin starts asking awkward question, girl cousins are crazy, and utter hilarity happened. It was quite funny. At one point, I was the conversation messenger between everyone. GF says something, transfer to cousins. Cousins say something, relay to GF. Tomorrow we're going to holiday world. You'll hear about that tomorrow. I'm tired and going to shower and sleep. Bye.

family vacation day 3
Day 3 and boy am I tired. Before I talk about my day at the amusement park, let me tell you this crazy thing about my cousins shower. OK, I get that she's a girl, but do you really need 20 different soaps and stuff? My shower consists of a bar of soap and shampoo. That's really all you need.

Well now to talk about the amusement park. We went to a place called Holiday World in Santa Clause Indiana. The place is amazing. It has free pop, or soda for you southerners. No shit, FREE POP!!! Sure beats $5 for a bottle of water. There are great rides, and plenty of good shows. Another great thing is access to both parks. If you live in Indiana, or are going there, I highly recommend Holiday World.

But today rained. That sucked. We started out in the water park this year, and that was OK. Rain in swim trunks works fine. But I'm a fan of the rides and not water rides. I was there for about 2 hours or so. But after riding some rides, it started to down pour. I would have left with my uncle, brother, and cousin, but I had a key to my locker for the swim stuff. Let me tell you about the key. My brother and I were sharing an amusement park lockers for our clothes and stuff. Well after we were done swimming, we decided to return the key and get the deposit. But then mom made me go over and beg for the key back. Thankfully enough, they gave it back. The staff is also incredibly friendly.

So it rains, and I wait it out. I go on many rides, and then watch the diving show. It was a good day. Everyone should go to Holiday world. If not for the good prices and fun rides, for the free pop. Well I need to end it here. I've been taking many pictures of there cats in search for the perfect lolcat. Later.
 
day 4
Day 4, I haven't been on a computer except to fix my aunts today. More on that later. I can't access my personal email because it wont load on my ds. I am forgetting what it's like to type with my fingers instead of pecking. Depressing mission log over. Time for fun blog.
Well I woke up earlier than everyone today. Wouldn't be a problem, but it was a good 3 hours before everyone woke up and everyone was asleep in a room with the only T.V.s. I can only make my backpack o fun and a book work for so long. I went stir crazy.
Well now for fun stuff. Today I went to one of the last restaurants to have brain sandwiches. You heard me right, brain sandwich. Deep fried pig brain on a bun with pickles. I love them but they aren't for everyone. Here are the pictures.

I also went duzing with my Uncle Duz. Since it isn't his real name, I'll use what we all call him. We weren't able to go dumpster diving because it wasn't Sunday, but we had fun looking at all that he picked. It's amazing what people throw out. I took a bunch of pictures of the stuff, and plan to send them to American Pickers. They're doing this contest where if you send in a video of your stuff, they may come and pick you. Here are pictures of what I found.
(Awesomeness to much for this blog. Just wait for when the American pickers come and we're on TV.)

Then we had a firework show tonight. It was really fun, especially since we can't do them back home. I lit off many, and so did my brother. We had like $100 of buy one get 2 free fireworks. It was a really good show.

Now earlier I mentioned that my aunt's lap top had a virus. It took my cousin, my uncle, and me to fix it. I diagnosed the problem and found no solution in sight. My cousin found a way to fix it, and my uncle found the way to get the Internet to work on all wireless signals. It takes a family to fix a computer. I should shower and go to bed now. Later.

day...I forget
As the title implies, I have forgotten what day of this journey is. Since I can't go back to blogs, just go with it.
Well today was our last day with the relatives. Yesterday night we watched boomerang until 12 midnight, which for me equates to 1 am. We watched Jonny Quest and Penelope Pitstop. I was surprised as to the amount of violence and political incorrectness in Jonny Quest, but then again it was a different time. Penelope Pitstop was so ridiculous it was funny.

Well today I woke up at the same time as my brother and cousin and we watched T.V. We packed up once everyone else got up and moving. We left after our good byes. Oh, but before the leaving, we went to this amazing Chinese buffet. It had the best steak and teriaky beef I ever had buffet wise. Actually best teriaky beef ever. They also had this chocolate fountain. It was an amazing buffet, and clean and large too. The crazy buffet was the name.

Please pardon my jumpiness, but it was a long week and I miss my bed. Well tonight we're staying in this really nice best western. The room key is this like radio wave thing like at the flash your card at the check out. No magnetic swipe strip. This one isn't just going in the collection with the rest. It also has this really nice breakfast as it would seem. It also has an expensive coffee maker in the room. Here's a picture.

There was also a really nice pool. I looked at it, but didn't swim. Why didn't I swim? Because I'm not a big fan of swimming. I'm also quite tired so I wouldn't have had much fun anyways. I'm content to just blog and watch the season premier of Futurama on Comedy Central. I'm glad Viacom bought it since Turner doesn't know a good show when they have one. I'll get this posted when I get home. Later.
 
Day 6
Well I'm home. My copy of banjo kazooi and A bugs life for PlayStation work. Probably should clean my banjo game and rumble pack. Oh, and I'm on my lap top. Glad I'm home.