If you're walking, 0.533 miles is just about far enough away to make it inconvenient to get the mail. In a downpour. If you're running 0.533 miles is a little over half-way to a mile, a distance I was able to run in about 5 min 45 sec, at my peak If you're running, 0.533 miles is half-way through a good 6 minute run, 4 minutes if you're an olympian. Running, 0.533 miles is about half-way through a good six minute run. Or just enough to realize treadmill running is not for you, if you're anything like me.

Now suppose you're in, let's say, a souped up Chevy Monte Carlo with a V8 going an average of 123 mph. Only, you're traversing that 0.533 miles in a circle that is completely enclosed by stadium seats built high enough to accommodate 160,000 people within 3 square miles. And there are 43 (ok, let's call it 38) cars just like yours going round and round with you. Now you can see why they call Bristol Motor Speedway a giant toilet bowl. And you can also see why there was enough carbon monoxide and enough round-and-round dizziness to cause my favorite driver to think it was a good idea to spin himself out to get a caution and then brag about.

In unrelated foolishness, on the heels of me shelling out X amount of dollars to give a special someone extra web e-mail space, Google announces they are in the beta testing mode of offering a GIGABYTE of free e-mail space! A GIGABYTE! Good grief.

Dustin's last post generated quite a buzz around thedustin.com with 12 comments. I would have thought this would have caused Dustin to make even more posts... But its almost been a week now and I'm having difficulty living vicareously through Dustin's online 'scrib.' What's up with that?
- Paris (taken from JohnnyConvo)

In a perfect world, I wouldn't have a test tomorrow and I could build on my last post's success and write a running diary as I watch tomorrow's controversial episode of Dr. Phil. But, alas, this is not a perfect world and I'm not that much of a slacker. So instead, I'll have to leave you with this little gem about a revelation I had the other day.

So I'm watching TV when an ad for one of those 2-Disc CD collections comes on. This ad is for Tha Down Low, a collection of urban radio hits from the early to late 90's, back when there was no such thing as urban radio because R&B was Pop (those were the days). My ears were captivated by the smooth sounds and sultry lyrics ... "Somebody's sleeping in my beeeed" (Dru Hill), "Givin him something he can feeeel" (En Vogue), "Don't leeeeeave me Girrrrl" (Blackstreet). Words can't describe the euphoric nostalgia I was feeling, and it was all I could do to keep from picking up the phone and dialing the number. I HAD to have this CD.

Then it hit me. I HAVE this CD. Only it cost me 20 times the $27 price tag over the last 10 years to get it.

Seriously. I don't physically have this 2-CD set, but I could make it. Legally. Never heard of Az Yet? I don't have the album but I've got the CD single. (You've probably heard of Peter Cetera, or at least the songs he sang with Chicago. A couple of them were made famous by the first two Karate Kid movies. Yeah, that guy.) Their version of "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is proof that every great 80's love song should be remade by R&B harmony groups.

Yeah, you've heard of Boyz II Men, En Vogue and probably even Babyface. But you probably thought Rome was just a country in Italy. Well you were wrong. I've got his CD single as well.

People think the boy band thing started with New Kids on the Block because white people should get credit for everything. But what about the Jackson 5? What about the more contemporary New Edition? Or how about Hi-Five? So old, I don't even have the CD. I've got the cassette tape.

And for reasons even I can't explain, Deborah Cox is a part of my collection.

All in all, only 11 of the 30 songs in the collection are missing from my stacks and quite honestly that number is disappointingly high. In fact, I'm positive that number would be lower if I didn't have to start paying for my own lunches when I got a job in high school.

Over the last few years, my evolved listening taste has been one of the personality changes I've pondered most. I still love R&B, soul, and hip-hop music, but most of the music purchases I've made have been in the modern-rock, singer-songwriter genre. I'm a sucker for great melodies and "I love you, I miss you, I need you" lyrics. But it seems like today's R&B is all about bein with as many girls as possible or about dancin at the club all night long with overproduced hooks and beats. I loved R&B when it was sweet, heartfelt and more about the singing and harmonizing then making people "bump". I liked R&B when it wasn't cool for a teenage male to sway to sounds of Boyz II Men or Hi Five. I liked it then and I still like it now. But let's keep that on Tha Down Low.

Appendix A
Tha Down Low tracklist. Songs/artists not in my collection listed in bold.
Disc 1
01 I'm Goin' Down | Mary J. Blige
02 All My Life | K-Ci & JoJo
03 Soon As I Get Home | Faith Evans
04 When Can I See You Again | Babyface
05 I'll Make Love To You | Boyz II Men
06 If I Ever Fall In Love | Shai
07 Back At One | Brian McKnight
08 In My Bed | Dru Hill
09 Don't Leave Me | Blackstreet
10 Anniversary | Tony! Toni! Tone!
11 Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) | Mint Condition
12 Understanding | Xscape
13 I'd Die Without You | P.M. Dawn
14 Someone To Love | Jon B (Featuring Babyface)
15 Tha Crossroads | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Disc 2
01 Unbreak My Heart | Toni Braxton
02 Brown Sugar | D'Angelo
03 Angel Of Mine | Monica
04 Your Body's Callin' | R. Kelly
05 At Your Best (You Are Love) | Aaliyah
06 Weak | SWV
07 Sweet Lady | Tyrese
08 Nobody's Supposed To Be Here | Deborah Cox
09 I'm Ready | Tevin Campbell
10 Stranger In My House | Tamia
11 Stroke You Up | Changing Faces
12 I Like The Way (The Kissing Game) | Hi-Five
13 I Belong To You (Every Time I See Your Face) | Rome
14 Hard To Say I'm Sorry | Az Yet Featuring Peter Cetera
15 Giving Him Something He Can Feel | En Vogue

... never coming home to my wife saying, "I think we need to go on Dr. Phil."

Please forgive me. I'm in the middle of an onslaught of self-inflicted procrastination stab wounds and I can't stop the bleeding. Any medical, psychological or otherwise helpful expertise relevant to my present condition is welcome. In the meantime, have a wonderful week.

The plan was for the next incarnation of MTV's The Real World to take place in Philadelphia, PA but thanks to the ghost of Jimmy Hoffa and a few of his friends, those plans have been nixed. Well, this little bit of information led to the following conversation between myself and T-Rav ...

T-Rav: Well where are they gonna have it? They should bring it to Raleigh.
Me: That's what I was thinking.
T-Rav: "The Real World ... The Triangle" (spoken in that now famous 'Real World' way)
Me: Or better yet "The Real World ... The Triad"
...
T-Rav: What would they do?
Me: (impersonating a potential Real World: Triad conversation)
Real Worlder 1: "What are we gonna do tonight guys? We've been to Ziggy's like 5 nights in a row!"
Real Worlder 2: "Orrr ... we could head down to Rockingham to check out the fastest growing sport in America"
Real Worlder 3: "Ziggy's it is then"
Real Worlder 4: "No wonder that Ben Folds guy was always so melancholy"

Help us compile a list of things Real Worlders could do in the Triangle, the Triad, or Charlotte and we'll forward 'em on over to Bunim/Murray. Oh and we'll be sure to offer lots of nonunion labor.

Added
- Update Spring Break Updates

Further Spring Break Updates are unlikely until this weekend or Monday (so it will be an "In Conclusion" update), but I've come across this, and found it an interesting read.

BJ and Amber are officially buying their first house, complete with "everything [they] wanted in a house" and "huge trees in the back with a creek for the dog". Stay tuned, thedustindotcom will be the official web headquarters for pictures and other updates related to the house. Congratulations BJ and Amber!

It pains me to admit the reason for a lack of updates lately is a lack of progress on my list. But today is a new day, and with a new day comes new procrastination.

"Knocked" Out
Make one wild and crazy but relatively inexpensive purchase just for kicks - Yes I did it. I made the wild and crazy purchase of the ages. It was even a bit of an adventure since, apparently, Target doesn't carry the greatest frozen treat ever ... that's right, my wild and crazy purchase was a package of Fla-Vor-Ice. Luckily, Food Lion does carry them, though only in packs of 24 (I prefer the boxes of 100 because I go through them like a baby goes through diapers). Disagree with me qualifying this as a "wild and crazy" purchase? Well I don't care. It's been at least 3 or 4 years since I've had one (or two or three ... thanks Gilligans). I'm 23 years old. We just had snow a week ago and it's a summer treat. I think it qualifies.

Progress Made
Finish project for former boss of friend (or is it boss of former friend?). Negotiate for a yacht, settle for long-sought-after "extra" monitor money - I haven't made great progress, but any progress is an improvement.

I know it seems like I didn't make a lot of progress on my list today, but it's still early and it's Saturday. No one should be expected to be productive on Saturdays unless they're postmen (or postladies) or emergency room surgeons.

[View updated list]

Added to List
- Go eat barbecue with former roommate (and current ones) and wait for those wonderful words; "Y'all college students."

"Knocked Out"
- Catch up on emails.: Email(s) written. Task complete. That's all I have to say about that.

Progress Made
- Finish project for former boss of friend (or is it boss of former friend?). Negotiate for a yacht, settle for long-sought-after "extra" monitor money

The Spring Break To-Do List
[Edited: Rather than relist the Spring Break To-Do list everyday, I'll just link back to the modified original]

How's this for "Reality" Internet. Follow along as I try to have the most exhilirating Spring Break ever without even leaving Raleigh ... Introducing the Spring Break To-Do List. Each day I will attempt to mark something off the list, and if necessary, write a little bit about the activity. This is an ambitious project, therefore following-through with this will be item numero uno. (Note: The period during which I will be spending my Spring Break outside of Raleigh does not qualify as it will obviously stand on its own merit considering it will be time spent with my better half.)

The Spring Break To-Do List

• Follow through with overly-ambitious, totally pointless weblog gimmick


• Wash car (again), but this time, don't wimp out on cleaning the inside - people are starting to notice the smell. Ok, not starting, they already did. I'm starting to notice the smell!


• Catch up on emails. (Keep names private to protect the innocent. You know who they are)


• Send long overdue package to someone far away. (No, not you. Yes, you)


• Finish project for former boss of friend (or is it boss of former friend?). Negotiate for a yacht, settle for long-sought-after "extra" monitor money


• Consider using any extra money earned during break to pay off credit cards instead of buying extraneous materials which only breed laziness and dorkdom


• Continue reading The Purpose Driven Life


• Read at least 1 novel, try to fit in 2. Knock out the one by that novelist from North Carolina. Don't share author's name to preserve manhood.


• ... If name slips, retort with "well this was his experimental 'suspense, thriller' novel". Don't mention the titles of the other books you've read by him or movies you seen that go along with aforementioned books


• Build and implement RSS feed system into ScribNotes so David will "shut up" :)


• Give girlfriend a kiss.


• Continue thesis literature review.


• Figure out a way to get an M.S. degree in the IE program without doing a thesis.


• Memorize verses


• Find out about getting a watch battery. Don't make the mistake of setting up an appointment with watch maker (little joke, think about it)


• ... lobby for pity chuckle from audience


• Make one wild and crazy but relatively inexpensive purchase just for kicks


• Cook steak on the grill and give them to Sammy and Elby (family dogs). Exclude spoiled Sally because she's fat.


• Make self stronger than at the writing of this


• Simulation project proposal


• Pseudo redesign of a certain website


• (Added 03/05) Go eat barbecue with former roommate (and current ones) and wait for those wonderful words; "Y'all college students."


• Add to list as needed

Feel free to make predictions each day as to what I'll do, what I won't do, whatever. Play along, it will be fun. Well it will be for me anyway.

I don't want to speak to soon. I don't want to jump too far ahead of myself, for there is still much to be done. But I don't want to look back and regret not savoring what could possibly be my final Spring Break. If you know my life direction and can do the math, yes, that means I'm actually trying to graduate in December instead of May '05.

I made the decision after speaking with my advisor a couple of weeks ago. We were discussing my possible/probable thesis when he casually asked me if I was planning on graduating in December. I responded with what must have looked like a "what the ??" expression on my face and a confused "uhh, I didn't know I could graduate then." We went over the requirements and what I would need to do in way of a thesis and I realized it was very possible.

And it really got me going.

Well, sort of.

It really got me excited about the possibilities. I started paying more attention to the "Jobs" link on every corporate webpage I happen to casually visit. I started thinking about what I should and shouldn't put on my resum? (No, I don't already have one). I started thinking about what car I'll drive.

But first things first.

I have to get through this semester. Half way there.

I have to work hard this summer and perhaps get the bulk of my thesis work done. Easier said than done.

I have to get through 6-9 hours of classes in the fall, and knock out 6 research hours sometime between now and then. Easy enough.

I have to have confidence in myself and know that I have a pretty decent personality when I let it show through. And I have to remember that I have been hired before and that someone will want to hire me again based on my qualifications and personality and not solely based on a piece of paper that will put forth a moderate grade-point average, little work experience besides healthcare service and lots and lots of "research" hours. Crap-shoot.

But most importantly, I have to realize that I'm here because God wants me here. I must remember that each day has been laid out for me; that God is doing His part and all that's left is for me to do mine. And right now, I know that my most important task is to just be patient.

"Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Mt 6:34

There's a North Raleigh Hilton (and undoubtedly countless other hotels) full of Lord of the Rings faithful going nuts right now. If you are Thunder you might wittingly call them The Fellowship of the Oscars, and if you attended the Raleigh Grande Marathon Viewing of all three films you might find that funny. I'll admit I wanted The Lord of the Rings to win, and I'm proud of it. Glad one thing on Sunday ended right. Well technically the Oscars ended on Monday here, but you get my point.