When It's Time To Party, We Will Always Party Hard!

It is almost 2 in the morning, I'm tired...but I feel like doing this right now. For those of you that weren't there, I had a farewell/good luck party today, there was family, close friends, food, beer, and kids running around like crazy. Surprisingly, I think the last part was one of the best, ha ha. If you weren't here, you should have been!

Everyone really showed me that they are giving me their support to do this, and from the bottom of my heart I thank you for it!! I'm definetly going to need it, so don't be afraid to send a letter, email, or to pick up the phone and call...I figure a phone call to Cameroon will be less than a gallon of gas will be by mid-summer.

I named this blog, Brilliance or Madness, for two reasons: the first one being that most people either think this is either a great idea or a crazy one. The second reason is because I think this is either a great idea or a crazy one. As June 4th gets closer and closer I find that it is a question I keep asking myself. Since I'm still unsure of the answer, I have to test the water. Everyone has mixed emotions about this, but I just want to show you that I do too. It is not easy for me to leave, this is harder than it was when I left for Oz. I had similar doubts for that trip....and it was Australia for crying out loud! I'm looking forward to the pre-staging event in Philadelphia to help put a stop to these feelings of uncertainty, for me and for you, however I don't think they are going to disappear until months ahead. But at least it will start, and hopefully the unknown won't look so scary.

I think I'll try to make it back here around this time next year, you know just to keep everyone in check!!

Goodnight.

My Days are Numbered

As yesterday was the one month marker, I thought I should write again. Wow...it's hard to believe that in one month I will not be here to enjoy the summer with everyone. You really have no idea what kind of roller coaster ride this is, unless of course you're also joining the Peace Corps or have already served. It is wanting to leave so badly that you wish you could grab old man time, knock him on the head, and push the clock forward so you can start the next chapter of your life. Or it's coming to the realization that your family and friends won't be 10 minutes away anymore, and that you're going to miss them more than you can ever imagine. No more fun rides in the Dune buggy (just sitting in that is a pleasure that no one else enjoys more than myself). You begin to realize that the next two years are not going to be easy. But, no matter how intimidating it is I will not back away, I cannot back away.

Change is always a scary thing in life. The unknown...no one likes it really, however, the times you walk into the unknown are the times you never forget. The feeling of triumph can lead you out into the world fearing nothing, and defeat will remind you of its triumphs over you for the rest of your life. I believe that if you face change full on, then you'll have a greater chance of triumph than those who run away. With a year left of college, I knew my life had to change eventually, hell, I wanted it to change. So, I did my best to make it happen and so far I've succeeded rather well. I cannot promise these results for the future though, lol.

It's been a wonderful spring so far, I'm glad I'm here to see it. The grass is green, leaves have engulfed the bare branches, that we in Ohio see far to much of, and I'm just glad the winter's gone. Set some time apart to hang out with me while I'm here, call me, text me, email me, however you want to get ahold of me, I'll answer.

Remember, my days are numbered.