Mo Sno

We’ve got some beautiful snow in Durango, but the weather during the rest of the week is supposed to be quite odd. Highs hitting near 50 degrees!? In January? Of course, I’ve never lived here during a winter, but…

Mags and I hit the slopes again last weekend. We totally forgot about MLK Jr. day. So a big thanks to the man who fought to make us a little more humane, and whose legacy offers us a day to be a little more humane–aka enjoying the people we love to be around. At least that’s what I’m choosing to do. It all gets real again tomorrow. Time to really refocus on academia. Growing up in a place where there was never snow and just sand and saguaros, it’s kind of fun to walk to and from classes, across campus and into town with the snow blowing. It’s truly beautiful. I see why people who live here love it and never leave.

I have been working a lot, relatively speaking. When I came back, one of the guys who was also working as a bar back decided he was done in Durango. So. There you go. Some never leave, some leave and never come back. In regards to the latter, it’s going to allow me the opportunity to work as much as I want to. I’ve even got the good vibe to bring my studies on slower days. That’s cool, but that’s not my preferred goodies…

My face. Ah. Too soon to tell, but I am enjoying the ease of the application and “system.” I will say that I’ve noticed fewer, stubborn little blackheads after only a few days, but if I’m being fair, I haven’t been entirely consistent with the Proactiv directions yet–I forgot to do it this weekend. OK. I’m busted. I didn’t shower on Saturday or Sunday.

Snow Bunnies

Snow time, snow time… Now it feels like Christmas. We’re just crashing out up here. Did I mention how much I won on that Oregon v. Wisconsin game? I haven’t even mentioned it, have I? Had I lost, I would have been out significant funds. Significant. But, I didn’t. I won a betcha with Maggie, and scored enough cash to afford our weekend at Purgatory/Durango Ski Resort. I need to try and get a job here so I can ride for free. It’s not pricey like some of the other Colorado resorts, but when you’re saving for a life with your honey, well, you don’t want to be spending excessive funds on snow. Maybe I’ll see what the story is. If not this year, then for next. Maybe I could get on in the summer. They do mountain biking stuff during the summer…that sounds fun, too.

Maggie is a good little shredder. Well, maybe she doesn’t shred yet, but she’s a jock, so it just made sense to her. Only took awhile for her to really get going earlier today. Now we’re cozied up, and ready to flow with some Netflix. Then up and at ’em again tomorrow for more glide.

Oh. My face. Remember how I said I’d stress and break out after that car accident. As small as it was…still got me. I’m telling you, my physiology is just off. There’s too much testosterone or something rolling through my body. Exercising regularly somewhat helps, but nothing so significant to think that it’ll solve any problems. At least it hasn’t in the past. And football, geez, that just made it worse. But at least it was predictable. OK. Movie time. Sleep tight…or party on!

Boxing Day Flag Football is a Blast…Bet you Didn’t Know That

I love days like today. When what you think might happen isn’t even close to what actually happens. I woke up, looked in the mirror and literally said, “F*** you, zits. You’re refusing to leave, then you’re gonna have to party with me today.” No. I don’t condone that language, but sometimes it is just so powerful when you use it. For some reason, I get saucy when I’m over here. Remember the fight I got into with Maggie’s old dude back in the day? Summer before last? Geez, Louise. That was stupid. I think it’s my cousin. He just gets me fired up. So, it was him who called earlier today and said, “Wanna play some flag football?”

At first the idea didn’t really appeal to me, but then he mentioned that they had access to an indoor soccer facility that had been rented by one of his buddies, who I also know. I said no, then about 15 minutes later he called back and said that his buddy said, “Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me. I guess those PAC-12 pansies wouldn’t want to mix it up with us.” That was all it took. I didn’t know that it was a tradition of theirs. They call it the Christmas Hangover Bowl.

I accepted, then hollered at Maggie’s Uncle, who is still in his 30s and in most excellent shape. I wanted to see this beast strut.

So. Mag’s cousin and I show up together, and immediately we’ve put fear into everyone else who was there to play. While there were guys bigger than me there, I had height on most of them, and this was just a friendly game of flag. We had 12 guys, so we were able to throw a little 6 on 6. Maggie’s uncle and I went off. He was playing QB for us, and we just had instant chemistry. After our 3rd TD combo he told me that if I didn’t walk on next year that he would drive to Durango and drag me to the field. That was maybe the best Christmas season present I received. Everyone called me PAC-12 all day, and I let them know that what I did to them is what Oregon will do to Wisconsin. Then Maggie’s uncle refused to take me home for saying that. Seriously, I had to fetch another ride. He said we’d square up on the 2nd. Love this dude.

Famaree

I remember when my little sis couldn’t say family. I know. I know. You thought I was making fun of Asian people whose first language is not English. No, no. If that were the case, I would have used something that possessed the letter L. It’s always good to have the whole family together. Such a great energy. I love this group of people, what can I say? I don’t know if I’ve mentioned in the past two years that we always do our Christmas presents on Christmas Day with everyone there… so literally, everyone brings all of their presents, and I’m telling you, you’ve never seen a stash like this. It’s quite absurd. There are probably 20-25 of us on any given year… plus presents… amazing.

Losing my other grandma earlier this month really got me to thinking about how special these occasions are. When I talk about them, I get that nobody can quite understand what I’m say. The sheer magnitude. AND, the coolest thing for me is that Maggie and her family are all joining us this year. Our parents have become pretty tight due to our relationship, and got each other presents this year, so they’re doing something with Mags Dad’s side of the family on Christmas Eve, which I’m joining for, and then they’re all coming to my grandparent’s place on Christmas morning.

We generally get together mid-morning, rap, play games, watch TV, sports, then have a nice brunch/lunch, lounge for awhile and open gifts. If I’ve offered all this info. before…I’ve just wasted 45 seconds of your time.

Every year someone says something about my complexion, and I snap at them, but I think with Mags being around this year, people will try to embarrass me in other ways. Not humiliate me. Just razz me. I’m looking forward to it.

No Snow Just Makes Winter…Cold.

I was really hoping for some significant snowfall while in Madison, but right now, it’s just cold. No white blanket, but wonderful kith and kin, and a tree that is most worthy of a Griswold family Christhmaths. Seriously, the tree at my grandparent’s house is ridiculous. I was the first person to see it, and my grandmother’s first words: “Do you think it’s too big?”

Nice to see you too, grandmother.

Anyway. It’s cold here. Not a lot going on. My cousin and I have been hanging out a bit, but I’ve honestly spent most of my time between my grandparent’s place and Maggie’s place. I’ve been here all of 36 hours, you know?

My face, you ask? My face? Never ask a woman her age or weight, and don’t ask me about my face. It’s fine. You know, it’s crazy. I am rapidly approaching the two year anniversary of beginning this blog, and dating Maggie. Two years. I can still remember the chair I was sitting in when I started writing all of these joyous gems. So many things have changed and yet, my zits remain…not the same…but they’re always around for the party. I’ll get to see my aunt tonight. The one who knows of this blog and has followed it for the last couple of years.

What’s next in year three? Honestly, I would hope for clearer skin. Not that I wanna stop writing about my visitors of the acne bacterial variety, but I think I’ve paid my dues. I’m seriously ready to move on. At present I’m just stoked because Derek Anderson left town and has never returned. Though he did leave some stuff in his rental house. That honestly may be one of the worst things about zits. Their residual nature. Just sucks.

OK. Enough. Time for a Choxie truffle!

Christmas Time is Here…

Finals: Complete. Bags: Packed. Girlfriend: Hot.

So. I mentioned a movie and celebration yesterday after Maggie’s final, but when I mentioned a hot shower, I thought of Trimble Hot Springs. Wait. Let me back up. I was going to take a hot shower, then I thought, “I should just take her to the hot springs,” which I did. As a surprise. And it was amazing. I mean amazing. There’s just something so enjoyable about being in the hot springs pools when the weather is like 20 degrees out, and the snow is falling. Come on! Definitely have to do that again. I can’t remember the last time I slept so good.

So. Yep. We’re getting geared up to head out. I’m working tonight, then we’re gonna drive down to Albuquerque tomorrow to fly out. We get into Madison fairly late, but it’s going to give me a few days with my grandparents before the rest of my family gets to town. I’ll also get to spend some time with Maggie’s family, and some of our mutual friends. My cousin is actually going to pick us up from the airport. He is no longer with Maggie’s best friend, but from what I understand, everything was amicable. I know he was totally cool with her being with some other dude that she met this fall, so I guess that’s how life works.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone, and eating and watching bowl games and hopefully winning another Rose Bowl bet vs. Maggie this year. She’s far too loyal to the Badgers.

OK. I gotta put some tinted acne cream on my gaudy zits, and get to work!

Oh. My. Gosh. The Snow.

When people told me it snowed here a lot during the winter, I expected what I usually see when I go to Madison, WI for the Christmas season…and there’s not always snow there…not in abundance. Well. There’s a considerable amount, but sweetness, this is amazing. It snows everyday here. Like inches. They get inches. Maggie and I are getting passes to Purgatory, and we plan to spend a lot of time on the slopes this winter. I guess there is some amazing back country skiing and snowboarding around her as well. Sure. That’s obvious. But, there is, and that’s something I have never done.

The beautiful, white blanket almost makes me forget about the trouble I’m having with my face. I’m just realizing how different the dry, winter air is here when compared to what we get in the Phoenix area. I’m becoming fascinated by what I suppose is meteorology? Pretty stoked about an Astronomy class next semester. And I have a short-story creative writing class which should be fun. Still don’t feel any closer to a major, but I’m able to grab these little classes here and there to try some stuff out.

Yes. I keep changing the subject from my face. I don’t know what’s wrong with it. I really don’t. I know that it sucks when you have zits like this and walk from class to class feeling like they’re frozen when you reach the next destination. Instead of killing that bacteria, the cold weather is preserving it. Certainly can’t get cold enough to kill anything. Though I wonder what effect frostbite would have on my zits?

Getting excited about break. Right around the corner. As in…4 days from now? For me, I’ve only got today, tomorrow and Wednesday. All my finals take place over the next three. I’ve already had one this morning, and I was feeling cold, so I came back to just stand in a hot shower for awhile. That’s probably not good for my skin either.

How to Prepare for Finals

Not like my roommate.

Thank you. I’ll see you next week.

It’s crazy. I’ve seen a lot more zits this week than I have the weeks prior. I think stress is starting to catch up with a few people. Potentially my roommate. He’s got some good friends from high school who go to school here, too – they’re mostly who I hang out. Anyway, he usually studies with them, but apparently there’s been a re-tooling of the study habits after his recent scores have been slipping and sliding. I’ve offered to help, like quiz him on stuff, but he always refuses. I don’t get that. I noticed the poor guy, as well as a few other people I know, are enjoying a few of my permanent facial residents on their own faces these days.

I just don’t recommend that as a result of studying for finals. Now. If you’re like me. You’ve got this crap all the time. So, I consider it balance. A nice, zitty balance. And I’m sitting on a 4.0 for my first semester. Not bad, if I may toot my own horn (toot toot).

My study method is based off the old Ant & Grasshopper fable. That one would belong to Aesop. Had a teacher last year when I was a senior in high school who said that he could guarantee academic success in college if we’d just read and understand that fable. Ultimately, you study more, but it feels like you study less when you stretch it out with regular review sessions all semester long. You retain the knowledge better through repetition, and you might even have an opportunity to apply it through some wisdom.

So. If you stumbled across this post by accident, and had no idea that a dude who wrestles daily with his acne was dulling out academic advice, there you go… Put it to practice. See what happens. Seriously. Review throughout the semester, all next semester… you can send donations in form of check, written out to “Awesome Advice Giver” c/o F*** My Zits @ WordPress.

How is it November Again?

OK. I’m starting to see what they mean about time flying. My grandpa always tells me that it simply goes faster and faster the older you get.

Kind of makes you think about Einstein’s theory of relativity. Time in this realm…it has to bend and flex. Everything in existence does. To some extent. Especially the larger that it is. Anyway. It was August, and now it’s November. What a blur.

I’ve been running again. It’s cold, cold, colder than I’m used to in the mornings, but I’ve been running. A little difficult on the lungs, but it has proven to be intriguingly beneficial to the facial complexion. I run in the cold, come back, shower, exfoliate, moisturize, then head off to class or get some studying in. My roommate has even run with me on a couple days. He was a quick distance guy in high school, but likes to get out and road run a few times a week. That helps motivate me in the morning.

So. Complexion = So-So. Classes = Cool. Grades = Excellent. I’m tutoring Maggie right now in her math class. That’s not her inclination, but she’ll rip through historical facts, and stuff that I’ve never even heard of. She’s one of those Internet types who will chase any interesting white rabbit. And then has a wealth of knowledge, some of it fact, some of it opinion, all of it interesting. We’re trying to figure out what we’re doing for Thanksgiving this year. We’re thinking about going to my parent’s place in AZ, because we’re both going to Madison for Christmas.

Right now, I gotta get to a class. I should blog in a class sometime, huh? You know? Tomorrow it’s on. Blogging from Geography.