I am a nerd... and proud of it.

Is it strange that I thought the test I took today in my Civil Wars and Ethnic Conflicts class was almost... dare I say it... enjoyable? I mean really, minus the part that it was at 8:00 in the morning, it really wasn't half bad. The subject matter is absolutely fascinating, so I'm sure that helps. But still, thinking a test was almost a relief to having to listen to the professor lecture? Wow, I really am a nerd. But I guess I should have already known that, as I really, honestly, truly love the library. This is not a joke, I really do! There is no other place on campus I would rather be. It's a refuge from noise (except when I'm with girls on my rugby team. oops :)) and it is a place to delve into my wildest intellectual dreams, even if those dreams include French grammar. I am learning some amazing stuff this semester. I really do like all my classes, even if one of them is Advanced French Grammar. My International Terrorism class is fantastic. In my French Literary Theory class I'm reading the first ever recorded King Arthur story in French (with the English translation right next to me at all times, of course :)) and I'm learning to do the Haka in my Polynesian Dance class (yes, even the girls do the Haka, scary faces and all). Over the past few weeks, I've really started to more fully appreciate the opportunity I have to learn all of these interesting things. I have never felt quite so hungry for knowledge as I have lately. I suppose that's a good thing. Let's just hope it keeps going through finals... :)

Nostalgia

Winter 2006

It is amazing to me how there are people in your life that no matter how much time is not spent together, whenever you do get the chance to meet up with them again, it is just like you never left. Case in point: freshman year I lived in Heritage Halls with some amazing girls. There were twelve of us that became quite close and Jaimie dubbed us the South Side Homies because we all managed to live on the south side of the building. We even made shirts declaring our unity... While we have all split off into our own smaller groups and gone our separate ways, whenever we get together, I remember how much I truly value these people. This semester we've decided that every two weeks, we all get together and go to dinner, go to ice cream, or play a good old fashioned game of Ligretto. Last night, we went to ice cream at our beloved creamery on 9th where we frequented freshman year and as I left, I realized how grateful I am for truly good people-- people who will still be good no matter how much time passes.

Winter 2008

A little explanation...

I've decided to start a blog primarily as a means of a personal outlet of thoughts, ideas, and randomness. If people choose to read my blog, great. If not, that's okay too. Feel free to comment as you like... As the name of this blog suggests, I love to play in the dirt. While this does include physical dirt (mud wrestling and rugby in the mud are favorite pastimes), I also believe the phrase "play in the dirt" means that instead of watching life go by while standing on the sidelines, it it better get in and experience life to its fullest, even if it means getting dirty along the way (of course this excludes moral dirtiness :)). While I certainly have not begun to accomplish and do all the things I want to in this lifetime, I do have plans-- plans that I am determined to carry out before I leave this earth. I find it is these plans that help sustain me through the sometimes tedious day-to-day life. But yet, even though I go to school everyday, eat relatively the same things throughout the week (except what I'm privileged to go to Fo's for dinner), and go through the same schedule day in and day out, I am determined to enjoy this time of my life as well. It is my time to learn all I can about whatever I want, enjoy living on my own, and discover what kind of crazy person I really am. So while I haven't been to Europe (yet), or Africa (yet), I am experiencing life and getting dirty along the way, just the way I like it.

P.S. If any of you were wondering about my blog address, the position I play in rugby is called a "flanker," so the verb of "flanker" is "flanking" and of course, I shorten it to "flankin'". As for "keester".... it's just a Siebach thing.