The onus of waiting

34 days 21 hours 49 minutes 06 seconds.
This is when the world will end.

Well, actually no, this is not Donnie Darko. This is the countdown to Qualifier 1. Many of you have heard of Q1 or at least of other departments prelims and the like. This is the test to end all tests. This is the test that will shade the color of my existence from here 'til kingdom come. I have been studying all summer and have become slightly burned out. My buddy, Tison, and I have taken most of this week off and it seems like an eternity. I can feel the formulas leaking from my head. I know that I need to get back on the horse, but I am so regretting this chore. May the gods of Statistics grant me serenity.

Wedding!

I leave tomorrow to attend (and be an usher in) Annie Rissman and Andrew Pezalla's wedding. It is looking to be an absolutely fantastic time.
I love weddings. Everyone looks so good, and everyone is so happy. People dance, drink, and carouse to their heart's content.
Maybe I'll get married some day. Is everyone free next Thursday?

O.k. I'll get married next Thursday. Mr. Gubbins, you bring the beer. Fast Eddie, you bring the chips...and my bride.

drugged...

I am enjoying a rare moment of lucidity. You see, I hurt my back last Wednesday whilst playing softball. I could barely walk it hurt so much. So I went to the student health center and the nice doctor gave me muscle relaxants and tylenol-3 with codeine. together, the drugs knocked me flat on my back for the better part of four days. My back is feeling better now, though I'm still not 100%. And a pity that is, since softball playoffs start tonight. ah well.

that's the news from Columbus.

Safe journey spacefans, wherever you are.

Neverwhere

I just finished the novel Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Lemme tell you, it was wonderful. At times it felt a bit...sloppy...but most of it was a ripping good read. Gaiman has a real gift for character writing. He also has an amazing ability to paint his fantastic worlds.

I first heard of Gaiman after watching the movie Mirrormask.



I watched this with Melissa and we both liked it so much we watched all the special features. it is there that we met neil in all his scruffy glory. he is best known for his Sandman graphic novels (i just ordered a couple off of amazon) and his handful of novels. he has received much praise from his peers and good reviews from the critics. anyway, if you're in the mood for a fun, exciting, and stunning novel or movie pick up mirrormask or neverwhere.

to blog or not to blog

Hey kids.

I don't really have anything to report, but it has been 10 days or so since my last entry. So here I am, filling the smallest corner of cyberspace with inane ramblings. so here's my question to you:
Would you rather have a lifesize bust of billy crystal tatooed on your chest, or have sex with a horse (you'd be on the receiving end).

next time you're at dinner with your in-laws this makes a great ice-breaker question.

-The Plug

born to be wild

Well, I finally went down to the BMV and took the skills test on my motorcycle. I passed and I now have a motorcycle endorsement on my license!!! For those of you who don't know about the process, all you have to do is pass a written test to get your motorcycle permit. This permit lasts one calendar year and has three restrictions
1) no riding at night
2) no riding with passengers
3) no riding on congested freeways

Having done all of these things anyway, I guess I'm not going to experience anything new, but darn if I don't feel great right now.



Another thing, I want to thank all my Minnesota friends for the amazing time I had last week.
Special props go out to:
Mr. & Mrs. Fast Eddie, Mr. & Mrs. Gubbins, Brother, and the incomparable Natalia (pictured below with yours truly)




Super profundo on the early eve of your day!

Truth, Justice, and the American way.

So I've been watching a lot of superhero related material. Justice League of America, Superman Returns, Superman the Animated Series, etc... so I would like to ask all of you:

If you could be a new superhero what would you call yourself and what would be your superpower.

Example: I would be called Young Nasty Man and my power would be to kill a yak from 200 yards away with mind bullets (that's telekinesis, Andy).

Example: I would be called Gamma Man and my power would be to make any object I touch become invisible.

You can also describe how you attained your power.

Example: I accidently gargled nuclear waste mixed with baking soda.
Example: I was born caesarean section.
Example: The earth's yellow sun makes me invulnerable.
Example: I was born of the union of Zeus, king of gods, and an ill-tempered banana slug.

a funny thing happened on the way to PT

So I ride my motorcycle to physical therapy. Physical therapy is located in the Wilce Student Health center. Think of it as a clinic serving the medical needs of OSU students. It's tucked away in an alley, so I figure I can park my bike wherever. I pull into the alley, and then begin to turn around. What I didn't notice, however, is that part of the street nearest an opposing building had an incredibly warped section.So I turned hard, bounced on the brick, hit the brake (to keep from smashing into the building) and promptly fell over (to my left). No big deal, as I was going roughly 5 mph. I fell over with the bike, cut up my leg a little, and scratched up the underside of my right leg...or so I thought.
I pulled the bike up, parked it, and walked into the health center. I looked at the back of my leg and thought "that looks pretty scratched up, but no big deal." Then I thought, "hmmmm...that actually burns a little bit." the adrenaline begins to leave my bloodstream and I realize that I didn't scratch my leg, I burned the ever living crap out of it. My leg must have fallen against the engine.
So the check in lady sees me looking at my leg and says "are you o.k.?" I say "Um...I think I need a little help." So she points me into the appointment nurse office wherein I say "Wassup. (or something to that effect) I need some first aid. Do you guys have a kit around here?"
The lady looks at me and says "You need to see a doctor before I can give you first aid. Let me see if there's an appointment."
At this point my leg is starting to heat up. Stay cool, I think.
Luckily my usual doctor, Doctor Colgate (who kicks major ass) was avaiable.
"have a seat in the waiting room" says she.
"my leg hurts" says I.
"he'll be with you shortly."

So I sit...and wait...and now my leg feels like someone is rubbing out cigarettes on it. My hands start to shake and I start to sweat. A nurse calls my name. salvation. she brings me in back.
"step on the scale" says she.
"my leg really hurts" says I.
"185 pounds" says she.
She brings me to her desk, sits me down and asks "What seems to be the problem?"
I look at her. I look at the blistering flesh on the back of my leg. I look at her.
"Um...the second degree burns on the back of my leg?"
"O.k. what would you rank your pain on a scale of 1 to 10"
"Um...it's hard to say. Let me show you. Do you have a cigarette?"
Takes my temperature.
"96.5..."
"Yeah, that could be because I'm going into shock because of the second degree-"
"Please have a seat in the waiting room and the doctor will see you shortly."


so I wait.
pain. much pain.


Dr. Colgate (who is my hero) brings me into his office.
"Hey, Peter."
"Hi, Dr. Colgate."
"What's the problem?"
I show him the back of my leg.
"Oh, goodness, hop up on the table." He calls in a nurse.
me: "My leg hurts."
Dr. C:"it looks like you have first and second degree burns here."
me: "yeah, and I weigh 185 pounds. I should really stop eating at McDonalds."

long story short, they clean me up, bandage my leg and send me off.
it feels better with the bandage, but it still hurts. the bike is fine, though the sideview is now loose. ah well.

this made me smile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNF_P281Uu4


Oh the places you'll go.

motorcycle

So it's about time I showed y'all some pictures of Alice, my 1972 Honda CB350. She's beautiful isn't she?

What would you say?

On a cool Autumn night, you are gazing up at the sky when a being suddenly appears and asks, "What can I do to make you believe that I am God?" What is your answer?

sometimes popups can be fun!

I was watching some daily show clips and I got an ad with this link:

http://www.shaveeverywhere.com/index.html

and then check out the music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpEsNrYEssw&search=bodygroom

I was intrigued. I went. I laughed.
Kudos to norelco for finding a way to market a product which many deem taboo.
Who knows, the next time you see me I may have gained an optical inch.

-SP

t-minus two weeks

One more week of class, a couple finals, and then it's a much deserved ten day break before summer classes start.

For now, Jen and Erik are driving to Columbus to visit yours truly!!!

You gotta love those kids.

Mama said there'd be days like this...

Word up, my homies?

I had a bad day. You know what cheers me up when I'm having a bad day? The Justice League of America.

I don't know...even the Justice League are having a difficult time pulling me up from this mood.
Tell you what. Why don't you post your favorite "pick me up" song so that I can make a feel good playlist for myself.
Thank you in advance.

Twenty-Five

Hey kids.

Well, it's official. I'm 25 years old. I'd like to give a shout out to Karen Grumstrup, my biological mother. I'd also like to give a shout out to Mark Sprangers, my biological father. Without those two people I may have never existed. Finally, I'd like to give some props to Alex. Without his amazing show of self-restraint, I would have been killed in numerous gruesome (yet creative) ways.

Peace out, y'all.

-The Plug

Petrus

also best website ever

http://www.peepresearch.org/index.html

I know that easter was three days ago, but can't we all still enjoy watching Peeps dissolve in Phenol?

Cheers,

SP

best website ever

Dudes,

My friend Bernhard (a.k.a. The German) sent me this from Deutschland.

http://peter.sprangers.youaremighty.com/

Sooo cool.

Happy Easter!!!

What better way to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ than by doing statistics while wearing bunny ears.

Wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?

Maybe I'm overestimating my blog's popularity...but I was expecting a lot more than two Fibonacci poems! Thanks to the creative individuals who posted. I'm guessing the second one was Johnsoep@stolaf.edu?

Anyway, please post more!!!!

I love you all.