Brazil Navidad

Monday, March 14, 2005
Depart: Madison, WI @ 7:20 PM Madison (MSN)
Arrive: Chicago, IL @ 8:15 PM O'Hare International (ORD)
United Airlines Flight 5560 Nonstop

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Depart: Chicago, IL @ 9:30 PM O'Hare International (ORD)
Arrive: Sao Paulo, BR @ 10:55 AM Guarulhos Intl (GRU)Tuesday, March 15, 2005
United Airlines Flight 843 Nonstop

Friday, March 25, 2005
Depart: Sao Paulo, BR @ 9:20 PM Guarulhos Intl (GRU)
Arrive: Chicago, IL @ 5:10 AM O'Hare International (ORD)Saturday, March 26, 2005
United Airlines Flight 842 Nonstop

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Depart: Chicago, IL @ 6:45 AM O'Hare International (ORD)Saturday, March 26, 2005
Arrive: Madison, WI @ 7:34 AM Madison (MSN)

Let me create something for you to mangle

I remember talking to someone who was a graphic artist for a large insurance company. He was frustrated because he would create brochures and promotional materials and then had to present them to the CEO of the company. The CEO would tell him to change colors, move this here, change that font. The CEO had no graphic background. It was frustrating to the specialist.

Standing at the edge of the shadow of a doubt

I am not sure, but I don't think I slept last night. We did do some guitar/drumming last night.
Back to the halls of scholarship.

half the world lives, half the world takes

I'm outta here.

She turned around as I was walking away...

This forsaken place is incredibly lonely at 10:16pm CST on this Saturday.
The thermus of coffee is my only friend. I feel graviation toward the fiesta I know of.

She done let me down now

Today I shall compile my accomlishments for display and also lift heavy things so it becomes easier. I think I am throwing a party in the library, BYOB. book.
Holly entered with about 11 repetitions left while Arnaub and Colleen did well representing the East. Perhaps redemption is beginning, though nob usually isn't included in the plummeting. Operations will remain in mystery. Next week perhaps colleen will pull herself from the bowels into the clouds of glory.

Alright, time to lift things. I'm up before 1pm on a Saturday. Cleaned too.

Mix.

Well..wow

Yes, I need to attend more of these Brazilian events...

I see your city-fied high heels

AIESEC 349
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

I presently declare that this commences the organizing of a leadership seminar to be held in Madison near the middle of April.

The problem with you is the problem with me

I exited the library at 4:06am. Three in a row. Woot.
I stood by the window and spoke of bases, subsets, transposes, and electrostatics as I watched many beautiful babies stroll by. I have a physics test next Wednesday, which cramps the theme of the weekend, but we'll fight through it. It's a team game, right? Me thinks.
You can find me at "The Taste of Brazil" from 7pm - 8pm CST this evening, perhaps networking for the Samba event I'm organizing for the gringos in our LC. I'll be ready when the eagle lands.

A few more of the beautiful madison ladies have joined the community:
Ali G.
Katie 80
Has Madison taken over Austin?

A song I've been thinking about all day just came on.
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge...

Completely incomplete

Going to try to get out of the library by 4am this evening.

Exxxcapades

WSC
ROKS Spring 05
Ice Fishing

My water is boiling

I told a guy I didn't have any money for him. He said "alriiight" in such a manner that it should have been preceeded with "gigity gigity."
If you think those "magnetic" bracelets will cure your arthritis, you are sadly mistaken. Blood is non-conductive my friends.
It's all mental.

The smoke clears and here I stand

I'm not sure why anyone would decide to take a nap at 3:38am in the library. I've taken a nap at 3am at home, but the library? Such a poor place to wake up in.
This math is really hard. I'm going to hope for the best tomorrow inbetween classes.
The power went out tonight. For those of you who've been here, basically all of State Street was out of power, along with the entire grid it sits on. It was oddly comforting. We smoked hookah to candle light.
The shadow on the wall loomed over and ensured Grace.

I will eat one banana on the way home.
Allow me this:

If we burn our wings
Flying too close to the sun
If the moment of glory
Is over before it’s begun
If the dream is won --
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost

When the dust has cleared
And victory denied
A summit too lofty
River a little too wide
If we keep our pride --
Though paradise is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost

And if the music stops
There’s only the sound of the rain
All the hope and glory
All the sacrifice in vain
if love remains
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost

Rush

T14 - T15

AIESEC 411
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

As the evening proceeds to pass 3:38am, the percentage of foreigners reaches its zenith.

I've been at the library for almost nine hours. It would be beneficial to not let it reach that nine hour mark.

T13: A question

I am interested to find out how different cultures view death and the passing of life. Can I get a little enlightenment here?

T11 - T12

AIESEC 329
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

When you have to use the method of Integration by Parts 4 times, you are bound to lose some constants. Channel your frustration into moving to the next problem. Or use Maple. Make a note to seek approval of this tool from professor.

After our first SN info session, me and the Messiah did the "follow the leader" dance. One SN was still there and saw us.

T9 - T10

AIESEC 391
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

Coffee service closed at midnight. Luckily the coffee machine never closes.

A dude in one of my classes is now at the table. He is a friend of a friend as well. I forgot his name. I conclude I will never remember it.

T7 - T8

Ducks
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

New subject: New cup of coffee. I'm starting math 3 hours late.

The Declaration of Independence doesn't mention the British-American conflict until it is 273 words in.

T6

C Notes
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

Midnight marks an exodus from the Halls of Scholarship.

T4 - T5

8:50am
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

I am taking a test tomorrow and will have read only a few pages of the total material (over one hundred pages).

It's hard to put energy into something you don't believe in.

T 3

AIESEC 154
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

I'm thinking about going to Austin for the reception weekend. Then again in May. It might not be a prudent financial decision to go twice. But what is the price of love?

Will to persevere

AIESEC 287
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

I'm going to blog certain key thoughts that enter my head in the next few hours. I will try to post a picture with each thought in order to keep it sexy.

Thought one: It's going to be a real long night, lengthened by this object of technology sitting at my table with me.

Thought two: Many beautiful babies out tonight and around me. One of them has nice shoes and a blue shirt. Drinking jamba juice. Leaving.

Swinger Time

Alright Fine! I'll ask her.
Where can we find the high school girls around here?

Piano Man, 4:30am

Piano Man, 4:30am
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

The routine.

Bite your lip and close your eyes, I'll take you away to Paradise

I'm probably more excited about this new member party than I should be. We added some more 90's music to the juke box. Alas, I'm still in the lab. Out soon though.
There's something special about Friday evening in the lab. There's really no one else here (makes it easier to sans the pants), so I crank the music and go about my business. I should be getting keys for the lab and building soon. Woot.
I think I'm found a song that would be a good theme for nomadlife. Post that baby later.

Order

After X amount of hours, a system not in chaos will plateau in it's performace (however that's measured). At that point, you must actually decrease order, breaking down the system, then allow it to build it back up. In those dire moments, ideas, actions and processes will be created that will actually end the plateau and renew the growing.
The first step is recognizing the plateau.

You found her. Now go get her.

It was brought to my attention that I missed a blogger from Madison, Mark. He blogs some decent stuff, though I'd compare some of it to self-secreted bullshit. In any case, I endorse the occasional perusal.
An econ ravaging shall ensue in 7 hours, 19 minutes and thus will begin a very poor 6 days. I shall only be guided by the light of hops and cheese at the new member party this friday. Come to The Lodge if interested.
I guess I'm on the team that is creating the AIESEC Learning Program. Funny how one just gets sucked in. Let's see if I can't spice things up and add some longevity to this bad boy.

We are looking to do an alumni banquet at the end of this year. Being that most people of nomadlife are alumni, what sort of elements should be considered? All members from the country are invited... Austin? Michigan? I know who I can count on.

No nap today. Flashlight is out. Disaster is in.

So the cathode in my lab burned out. That's comparable, though maybe a little worse to brushing your teeth while taking a whiz. Then you drop your toothbrush, it plummets through your stream of yellow acid and lands in the bowl of no return. Then you realize you have no extra toothbrushes and Bruni should have given a courtesy flush.
Hopefully data will be streaming by Friday.

Save me with your sweet smile.

Let's write the story where we begin to remember.

Fire on every decision I make

Fact: Ninjas are mammals

By tomorrow morning I should be fully recovered from this past weekend's ROKS conference. Whenever I attend one of these, I get toyed with. There's something weird about meeting up with all these awesome people from all over. I tend to wish we all went to the same university. It plays with my emotions.
There are many great memories and I will be posting pictures soon.
I didn't get to facilitate my leadership session because the OC had no conference rooms for Sunday. Thus, it ended saturday night. Things happen I guess. We fought through it.
Props to Roland for putting the exclamation point on the conference, it added the needed element.
Nob, we shall meet again. Goblet or no goblet. We'll do it for Donna Lewis and loving always forever. Kaiser was a great added spice. All we need is Meyers and C$.
Michigan causes such frustration in my life, but I continue to let them come back.
I really think that after the first conference, ROKS should become a Leadership Development Seminar for the experienced members. There is so much potential there. It never seems anyone feels me though. The vision session went well though. Many people said they enjoyed it.

Valentine's Day. Hallmark's greatest creation. I have never believed in showing your love by buying something expensive. I think that trivializes your relationship. I have always put much more emphasis on time and thought rather than purchasing power. They are worth so much more than the green stuff. I also don't see the point in there being a special day for this. Again, more trivialization. But alas, "I don't understand."

Back onto ROKS, our new members are really really sweet. So much energy and many unique people. Time and again I am amazed by how many cool people we pull into our LC. I am thankful it is as strong and tight-knit as it is. I can swim in that while I try to endure missing my friends from other places.

We went to IHOP late saturday night (~6am), Ali was there.
Damn, that cat was gone!

why I'm silently weeping

At the library we had a draft for teams of intellectuals. My teams:
Mathematicians
-Gauss (captain)
-Riemann
-Poisson

Physicists
-Feinmann (captain)
-Maxwell
-Planck
-with Galileo looking on, a source of wisdom

Isn't it good

Three hours at the library yielded two and a half completed problems of physics. My night life would be so sweet if I didn't have physics. What do liberal arts people do with their free time?
Sickness is nearly gone, neck is really sore. Some of the only times I wish I had a girlfriend is when I crave massages. Hopefully she gives good ones.

Remember to live and let live

Brat's, post GMM
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

We go to Brat's, a restaraunt/bar after every GMM. We get some pretty big groups there, which is cool.
Today I've spent either in class or sleeping. On the upswing sans a headache.
One thing our LC struggles with when picking members is people who can't speak good English. You can't really put them on an exchange team without good communication skills, but the added value of them potentially being a good member and adding culture/diversity to our LC makes it a difficult decision. Pondering...

crawled through the funeral pyre

I have been sick for about the last 28 hours. My body is real sore, and when you touch my skin it feels like it lights on fire or a bunch of needles are puncturing it. It was funny at first, but the laughs ran out long ago. I layed on the couch for upwards of 6 or 7 hours today, which was a nice change from the normal schedule, but the next few days will be hell as a result. It gave me much thinking time when I wasn't unconscious. I hope to be back at it on the morrow.
Madison added 17 new members this semester. We had about 27 interviews or so I think. We had a cool 55 at our kickoff, which isn't that impressive but works for the Spring.
Looking forward to seeing a bunch of people at the conference this weekend. Rickesh is coming to Madison on Thursday. I better get physics done beforehand. I wish Dana was coming.
Aight, back to the bed. My wireless internet keeps cutting out. I might be raging soon, but the cool lies of Kelly are keeping me relaxed.
Here's a list of blogs of people from Madison:
Kelly
Kristi
Jenna
Trent
Burbs
Cat - Alum

Big Man and Little Man

Big Man and Little Man
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

Keeps me on the path.

Costume?

Trust me
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

I'll leave the culprit to claim the prize.

And everything returns to me in shades of mediocrity

Thanks to Alfredo for posting this link. I think it is real real good.
It was almost gone, but when I emerged from the scattered dust of lab, a new coat had covered up the secrets.
But it'll return. It seems it always does.

Night Swimming deserves a quiet night

I can now officially declare I'm on a weightlifting program. I'm in my third week. I've altered my diet ever so slightly.
The guy next to me keeps looking at my screen.

Smoke Clouds rolling symphony of Death

Me, Kristi, Ankica
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

In about 6 days is our region's new member conference. It looks like I will be facilitating sessions on leadership and on vision. I am running the Delphi team meeting this week.
I'm in that corner of the computer room again, seems more phyiscally spacious this time. My mind is in honey, not quite running in a polished manner. I think Katie from Eau Claire is stopping by this week. Alison stopped by last week. No math assignment due this week... guess I'll get to bed before 6am this wednesday.
I'm about ready to purchase a plane ticket to Brazil. I might meet up with a native in Sao Paolo. I also am waiting for the go-ahead on the ticket to Austin.
Last night we went to a party a bunch of freshman were attending. Me, Messiah, and Donny wore nice clothes and sun glasses. I carried a boombox playing "I wear my sunglasses at Midnight." Some of the girls laughed. The guys sipped their beer.

Spoon

IMG_5985
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

Top that.

Madison

41 degrees, much warmer before. I saw people running in shorts and others walking around sans coats.
Huh?


It's one of those days where my eyes burn. I said good-night shortly before the sun said good morning.
I have to write 2 essays for my study abroad apps for tomorrow. One on what I've done to prepare to study in Egypt and why I want to study there. THe other on How studying abroad will fit with my goals (personal & Professional) and what I expect the most challenging aspects of studying abroad to be.
Any ideas for topics?
I think the title of one will be "nomadlife.org, the early years"
Topic, of course, up for grabs.

Keep education out of the classroom

In districts around the country, even when evolution is in the curriculum it may not be in the classroom, according to researchers who follow the issue. (NYTIMES)

Teaching guides and textbooks may meet the approval of biologists, but superintendents or principals discourage teachers from discussing it. Or teachers themselves avoid the topic, fearing protests from fundamentalists in their communities

She takes the wheel when I see double

Well, you see I can only assume that this weekend was superb because I think I time travelled from Friday at about midnight to saturday at 8:50am (the magic time this year) to sunday at 1:47pm. I'd also like to post pictures, but my camera stayed back in St. Cloud for one last night of passion.
If I put together a few pieces, I do recall:
-alcohol shot in my face and eyes twice (cinamon schnapps burns)
-wrestling 2 girls
-sleeping on floor with no blankets or pillows in dead body position
-jenna putting up with a lot of malarky coming from her backseat
-at least 2 power hours, the true number will never be known

and that's really about it.
It was probably one of the best weekends I'll never remember. I can't believe the MC had their team retreat during that weekend... simply disappointing. Alright, so have the team retreat, but have it in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Now it's time to piece my life back together.