Cherney’s Life Story

Hey hey hey. . it is Saturday.

Yep, I tried to make that rhyme. . it doesn’t come naturally.

Not much to write today, probably because the morning has just started.

The weather continues to be just amazing. I am SO happy to have survived the long winter once again. I went into the fall and winter months not being able to do much, because of my knee surgery. . but like a butterfly spreading its wings, I too. . am about to fly. Both physically, and emotionally.

Running rocks!! I don’t know the last time I have written that, but it really does. I still smile like a crazy guy when I take off on runs each day. It feels so good to be free, free of the pain and all that I had to go through over the winter. I am taking extra care not to have the same thing happen again. I am wearing my knee brace and not over doing anything.

Today I am off on another hike. . this one isn’t all that far from home. .but it should still be nice. Only a couple more weekends to head to the mountains or ocean. Then. . France.

I just looked at the clock, I think I need to roll. . talk to you all later.

Friday is finally here. and not a moment to soon.

I had a long week this week, there is no doubt about that. I was sick, and busy with school work. I am glad that I can finally sit back and enjoy another wonderful weekend.

Last night I was suppose to give awards to my students, and I did. What I wasn’t ready for was the short amount of time I was asked to present. I had some really nice things written for my students, but at the last moment I learned that I needed to chop it down. So, as I was working on the chopping.. I was called on stage. No time to even prep, just as I was leaving the holding room they called my name. I had to jog to get to the stage. It is kind of funny now, but at the time it wasn’t. It was more stressful than anything. I am still recovering from my cold, so now I am gasping for air. . and trying to talk. Not a pretty picture.

I did get a few laughs, so that was cool. I think comedy has something to do with timing. I managed to get 2 laughs, for 2 jokes. I suppose that this would be considered a good ratio, right?

I’m going to keep this post short for today, so have a good one everyone.

Tonight is the big night of the awards. I get to dress up, as do the students. I think I know what I am going to say at this point, it just waiting for the moment to say it. Even after all of these years, I still don’t like getting in front of large groups of people to give presentations. I do it all the time in business school, but I still don’t like it. I think they should make us stand when we talk in class, this puts the spotlight more on you. . thus you would get more used to speaking in front of crowds.

I have a friends house warming party that is taking place tomorrow. I am a little sad that I will not be able to make it. Why does life have to through so many things at us at once? Responsibilities, school work, group work, blah blah blah.

The weather is still amazing today, I wonder how much longer it is going to last? My allergies are starting to pick up, and my cold still isn’t gone. Maybe the two are going hand in hand?? Either way, it sucks. . and I will be happy to rid myself of both of them.

Not much to write at the moment, I should probably put my attention to other things. . like things that are graded. Ouch. Papers suck!! Have I mentioned this before?

Well, they do?

I have another friend how has been living at the library these past few days. I can’t imagine doing that either. I will be happy when this term comes to a close. The sooner the better.

Tomorrow I am going to be giving a couple of awards to my students. The whole award thing is kind of cool, and is almost a milestone for a student passing through the computer center. Not everyone gets one, however, if you do receive one it is an honor. I actually received this award for two straight years. I remember how much it meant to me, I only hope those feelings are shared among my students. I started something, a few years back. I hung the pictures of all the past recipients in my office. It kind of shows a time line of those who passed before. This next batch of students will be put up on the wall as well. I don’t know what is cooler, being able to look back at past winners. . or being a past winner handing out the new awards?

I have NO idea of what I am going to say. . I should probably figure that out soon. Can we say, project for tomorrow? Sometimes saying stuff right off the hip is good. . but then again, I don’t want to embarrass myself or my students.

The weather is still awesome, and I’m loving it! And can you blame me??? The only bummer, I got this nasty freaking cold.

I’m taking all the vit. c I can handle, with other herbal things. . and drinking so much water. . I’m getting tired of peeing! lol. . . TMI?

No new stories to report, so we’ll just have to live with my old ones.

I’m probably going to head to the coast this weekend. It will probably be one the last road trips I’m going to take with my French friends. Maybe I can squeeze another one in. . Who knows. . It will be fun though.

Have a good day all.

So, why can’t every day be a weekend? I mean, really?

I suppose if you won the lottery, every day could a vacation. . but then again, it might not be.

I had a lot of fun these past few days, it kind of got me wishing for summer. As if I hadn’t been wishing for summer since November, having time to play outside (w/ nice weather) kind of makes a huge difference. I am a little sad that I didnt’ have ultimate this weekend, but there isn’t much I can do. Next week is the last week until summer league, which I will not be around for.

I am certainly the type of guy who enjoys nice sunny weather. Are there people out in the world who don’t? I would really like to meet one of them.

There have been some days this past week where I had some time to reflect. Nothing really special, just reflections in general. I am happy to be where I am in life, and look forward to what is next. Actually, I’m very excited for what is next. Viva Le France!

6 weeks in a new country, meeting new people and experiencing something that only only a select few get to. Most exchange students I have ever known have been undergrad students, there really aren’t many grad school exchange students. Only a couple come to mind when I think long hard about it. I wonder why that is? Could it be that grad students don’t have the time, or they are no longer in a position to do it? I know I should be doing an internship this summer, but life is to short. Why do I want to work when I have a once in a lifetime opportunity?

I think that this is the worst thing about the US. Don’t get me wrong, the USA is a great country. . but the priorities are all wrong. Working is important, and having a drive to be successful is important too. What isn’t important is the need to enter the work force when you are 16 years old. When we become a country of greed, I mean consumerism, we began to encourage this behavior. You have to work to make money, and you need money to buy the things you want. What is interesting is that the cycle doesn’t end there. The things you bought need money to maintain. Thus, you are working to pay for the things you have. Seems kind of bent out of shape, right?

I have been out and about the state these past few weeks, and I have had a great time. Granted, all this driving wasn’t very sustainable. . but I didn’t really buy anything, and I still had a good time. I was able to receive something better than “things.” I have memories that are priceless. I have stories I will be able to share with friends, an I have experiences forever shared with others.

This reminded me a lot of my time in Australia, and the beauty was that I didn’t need to travel as far to find it. I guess the point I am trying to make is that, the best things in life really are free.

So, if can establish that sharing experiences with others and then talking about them at later time is awesome. You can then understand one of my worries while overseas. I am SO very grateful to be staying with my friends sister for my first week. I will have a friend to talk to, and ask questions too. When school starts I will also have people in the class that I will be able to share stories with, but I have a feeling it will be a little different. I look forward to the independent adventure, but I still wish I had someone back home with me. A lot like my Australia trip, people when I returned could only listen and not live the stories I told. There is something really cool traveling overseas with friends, I hope sometime in the future that I will be able to do such a trip.

There is SOOO much I want to see and do, I don’t think 6 weeks. . (or should I say, 2 free weeks) will be enough. Should I come home when it is over? Maybe, I should just stay until school starts up again! Sure, that would pretty much end my job back home, but boy. . would I have stories to tell.

I’m wonder how much I am going to change, or if I am going to change at all? People I have talked to say that you change, and coming home is harder than you may think. It will be interesting for sure. I will look forward to visiting with my friends that I missed. Seeing their smiling faces, and laughing. . the return will be fun.

Life is journey, not a destination. .

Today is Memorial Day. . a day to remember and give thanks to those men and women who have served our country.

If you really think about it, where would we be if it wasn’t for their sacrifices?

Over the years, I sad a lot of stuff about our country. . what things it needs to improve, where we can do better, and why we suck in so many different ways. The one thing I never talk about is the spirit that resides within the people our this nation.

There is a national pride that can’t be written about. People believe in their country, and will give the ultimate sacrifice so that others may enjoy it too. For all that is wrong with this nation, there is something right. The people. Americans volunteer to serve in the military. They accept the risks associated with it, dedicate part of their lives to it. I, personally, would never do this. . but I applaud those who do. It is through them, that we have what we have today.

As I look at immigration policies around the world, many countries are very hard to get into. You have to have special skills, or pass a points test. You have to speak the language, you need to have a certain type of education. There are so many things I have learned these past few months. Now, lets look at America.

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

You have a chance to become anything in this country. The opportunities are endless, through hard work and perseverance. There isn’t a point system to get into this country, there isn’t a special skills test you need to take. This country is great because we welcome all, and that is something special.

The liberty’s, the freedoms, and the lives we live. . are only available to use because of those people who served our country.

As the bumper stickers says, “Freedom isn’t free.”

It is Sunday morning again, and what a difference a week makes.

Last Sunday I was writing about being relaxed, stressing about my upcoming tests, and complaining about how my blog wasn’t working.

Today, most of that is behind me.  Granted, I still have school work to do, but most of the last week of stress is gone.  Stress, in general, could be one of the reasons why I caught a cold earlier in the week.

Yesterday I went up to the mountains with some friends and did some longer hikes.  Okay, they weren’t MAJOR but it was still longer than anything we had done before.  We hiked some more waterfalls, and around this lake called Clear Lake.  The lake is simply amazing!  It really is clear.  It is something you have to see for yourself.  I think the fact that you can’t use a motor on the water helps keep it so crystal clear.  I will try to add my all of my photos from the various hiking trips today.

Anywho, we did a picnic lunch, and spent the afternoon in the mountains.   There was a lot of laughing, and even a little bit of learning.  Yeah, I said it. . learning.  I was hiking with my friends from France, and my other friend in town who has spent time in Europe.  (sorry again about names, but as you know. .  I don’t add them)  I quizzed them on American trivia, they drilled me with European.  Who do you think won??  :)  (Hint, it wasn’t me)

I asked one of them why they have a “Latin” Quarter in Paris.  I said, I don’t see any Latin American influence on anything.  He laughed a pretty good laugh.  He responded by saying, “Think. . Original Latin” ..   It then clicked in my head and made sense.  But then a new question came up in my mind, how did Latin American get it’s name?  It seems to me that there is a lot of Latin getting thrown around.

This morning is a day of recovery, or sort of.  My body kind of hurts, and I’m still pretty tired.  I watched a movie last night, which was kind of fun, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”  With so much talk about Paris, and French names, I thought what a fitting movie to end the day.  I had to laugh when I stopped at my primary video rental site, as they movie was CHECKED OUT!  I was like, WTF. .  this is an OLD movie.  :)  So, journeyed over to the other movie place and found the film.  What are the odds that this old film would be rented?

Time to get ready for the day.  Fire up the coffee and grab the newspaper.