Hillsdale- 3rd Semester

Here I am again back in Hillsdale and starting to transition into my new schedule. Yet I made such a transition difficult in part because of my involvement with a seminar on Revolutions conducted by a 93 year old don at Oxford University. James, Stephen, and I agreed to work on various revolutions in the Middle Eastern nations of Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. It should definitely be a fascinating experience although it only lasts the first three weeks of the semester. In the meantime, my Mondays and Wednesdays are swamped with classes going from 9am to 9pm.

I am also continuing my career in college debate which is also proving to be a greater obligation with the arrival of a new debate coach. I have a new job this year, in the admissions office giving tours of the campus to prospective students. So with all of this in mind, the new school year is proving to be just as exciting as the first year. But I am oh so glad to not be a freshman anymore...

Classes are really good thus far. I almost feel kind of overwhelmed by taking both an upper level history and english course. I hope to devote enough time to my semester long 15 page research paper on the topic of American non-interventionism in the 1920's.

Since I am in a rambling mood, I must also confess that my stomach continues to hate me for eating the food around this place. Although that might be a slight over exaggeration, I continue to wonder how I made it through an entire year eating around this place...

Niedfeldt continues to be the place I call home this year. I am so glad I came back for another year here. The freshman appear to be really nice and there is so much more involvement and community here than last year. My procrastination from Spanish homework (which is from El Diablo himself) led me to waste a good half hour of my time sitting out in the lobby with 5-10 other freshman and upperclassmen talking about the most random of subjects. My college experience is now complete as I now better understand the idea of true community in a dorm.

Hope anyone who happened to read this managed to stay awake... time to get back to that Spanish homework...

College Football- BCS predictions

Because you all have been so eagerly anticipating... Here are my predictions for the 2007 College Football BCS games. If you wish, go ahead and list yours (Or if you're Garrett, go ahead and write a counter-post). We shall see who's brilliant display of knowledge comes out on top in the world of college football.

Rose Bowl-
Michigan(11-1) versus Texas (11-1)
Big time rematch that the media will absolutely push for. Both teams will drop a game preventing them from playing for the title.
Winner- Michigan (How could I not?)

Sugar Bowl-
West Virginia (10-2) versus Florida (10-2)
There is no reason West Virginia cannot exploit a weak Big East to get themselves into a BCS game. Urban Meyer gets his team back into a BCS game although not for the title this time.
Winner- Florida

Fiesta Bowl-
Oklahoma (11-1) versus Wisconsin (11-1)
Both teams are due for BCS appearances. Despite the fact that both teams have a quarterback issue, defense and intangibles should get them into a January Bowl at the least.
Winner- Oklahoma

Orange Bowl-
Virginia Tech (11-1) versus Tennessee (10-2)
Toughest one to pick for me. I still think Louisville, Georgia, and maybe even a California team all have legitimate shots at sneaking in one of these bowls. Virginia Tech I am more sure about. They are once again loaded defensively and should lose only to LSU this year.
Winner- Virginia Tech

National Championship-
USC (12-0) versus LSU (12-0)
Yeah I know I am being cautious. But one cannot ignore how powerful both teams are going to be... again...
Winner-USC

The End of Summer

At the beginning of summer, I wrote a post titled "The Beginning of Summer." Creative isn't it? I think that is when I came up with the crazy idea to not drink pop for an extended period of time. The ideas I come up sometime..
It does not seem like it should be the end of summer. It has not sunk in yet that this is my LAST week at home, even as other friends are headed back to their schools for RA training.
There is much to think about concerning this summer. It was pretty quiet in many ways as friends from high school continue to go in different directions. Even more of them became engaged, or got married.
California would be the definite highlight of the summer. I am so glad I spent the money and took the time off from work to make so many amazing memories with the Howards.

The news from this past weekend is a sobering way to end the summer. Life can end so fast, even to those one least expects it to end for. My heart aches for all those mourning for their son and daughter, their brother and sister, their grandson and granddaughter. Life can end so fast--- it is almost unfair...