Mitch's farewell dinner at Saffron was tasty and lots of fun. Tonight I say good bye once again to Mitch and Amy. We are going for drinks to the Ground Round. I am not much of a drinker, so I will probably enjoy a cocktail then kick back with my giant glass of water.
Things are going well here at work. I am probably being too efficient, as I am running out of things to do. I put some cells in their hypoxia chamber this morning, so I will be pretty busy next week with those. I pretty much have the next three weeks planned, practically down to the second. In some way it is nice, but in other ways I would just like some time to chill. I guess I will have time to do that in Minneapolis. I am busy shopping online for furniture and stuff. I think I am driving my mom nuts with questions. Oh well, it is usually the other way around. Karen and Matt are coming down with colds. I was really tired last night and this morning, so I hope I am not getting it as well. I guess that is what I get for living with Karen and seeing Matt almost everyday. I finally got out Scuba trip information. The sucky part is that I don't dive at the same times as Matt, so one of us will always be sitting around waiting. Oh well, I have a few good books to read.
Matt moves onto campus next week. I hope he will start working out with me then. I love working out, and I know that if he starts, he will continue to after I leave. With our family histories of heart disease neither of us can afford to be couch (or video game) potatoes.
I better get back to work. I think I will section some tissues to help out someone's study. Otherwise I just have filing to do....yuck!

Well, we bid a fond farewell to Mr. Derek Rieckens yesterday. He is moving back to Eau Claire for the summer, and then off to Columbus and the seminary. I wish him good luck!

The BBQ at Boeser and Mel's was a blast. I had lost of fun listening to Boeser and Mike make fun of Brad. The brats, chips, beer, and cookies were great as well. Great job burning the brats Boeser!

Tonight I am going to Saffron to wish Mitch a great summer in Baltimore and good luck starting his PhD program at Georgia Tech. Thursday I do the same with Mitch (yup, he is so special he gets two parties) and Amy, who is off to Cornell for her PhD program. I will apparently be the last one to leave Fargo....so I don't know who will have a party for me (probably Matt, celebrating his freedom).

I have to get back to work now. Until my meeting this afternoon there really isn't much to do around here. Hopefully that will change.

The Official Harry Potter Website

My favorite book (so far) of the Harry Potter series is finally brought to film (considering LOTR fans waited a lot longer I guess I shouldn't use longer here.....I guess I am just impatient). I am happy to see the new cast members, they are all quality actors and I feel they will capture the fun of the Potter movies. I also am looking forward to the new "darker" look provided by the new director. The next two books, Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix, are both darker and darker, so this movie is critical in setting those books up. Ten days! I can't wait (well, I will probably wait a little longer because I want to go withadults........)

Anaheim Angels News

I am glad to hear that Darin is recovering faster than expected. I know that he is a dedicated person who hates being injured. I wish him and the Angels the best of luck this year!

GO ANAHEIM!

Yankees suck (sorry Matt!)

and the Twins do too (unless Anaheim isn't playing....then go Twins!)

This is me with the adorable Jennavive (Jena for short). She was cranky on graduation day, but was nice enough to let me hold her for a few minutes! 

Here is my roomate Tanya and I at my graduation party. 

Here is my father Earl and me at my graduation reception. I want to thank Ewa for the nice picture. My Aunt Donna is in the background. My Dad has a spot on his shirt from the champagne he was serving.  

I have some pictures from graduation that I am going to try and upload on
this blog.

I went to Shrek 2 last night http://www.shrek2.com/. It was so good. I actually thought it was better than the original movie. First of all, the animation was breath-taking. The best example is that Shrek now has skin texture, also check out Puss in Boots, he practically looks real in most frames. I also liked the story. I think I laughed throughout the whole thing, the jokes just kept coming. The nice thing was that none of the jokes were overplayed or too gross/sexual. Adults could laugh at the innuendos, and kids can laugh at the action. I would definately go to this movie a second time, and I am going to get the DVD when it comes out. This is a must see in my opinion.

In other things, I am going on an apartment hunt this weekend with my family. It is going to be interesting. I have three apointments set up so far, with more on the way. I hope to have a place lined up by Sunday so I have time to change my address, get a cell phone, and internet, BEFORE I move.

At work I am cruising through my "to do" list faster than I anticipated. It is making for some pretty boring days, but I know I need to tie up the loose ends before I leave. Better get back to it now.

I checked my grades today. I did it! I kept my 4.0 throughout college! Honestly, I didn't think it was going to happen this semester because Recombinant and Animal Physiology were difficult. I think I missed too much class going on interviews. Oh well, apparently my visions of failure drove me to do well. It looks like rain and possibly some storms tonight. I hope it just rains, because I hate storms. Work is going great right now as I wrap up the last four years of work. It is sort of scary that I will have to get to know a whole new lab crew very soon. Well, I need to write in my lab journal and read some more journals. Tonight is laundry and thank you note wrap up. If I get really motivated I will start baking cookies for all the people I promised them too. Oh, and I have to pick a lab to rotate in tonight. My apartment search weekend is rapidly approaching, so I should probably work on that as well......
MOVING: it really sort of sucks!

Here is a quote from our server at the Bison Turf last night:
"Are you guys done? Wow! That was easy- AND cheap.....a lot like my ex-girlfriend!"

I don't know who this guy's ex was, but I got a laugh at her expense. I think we know why she dumped him....

Here is the text for my Commencement address that I delievered on May 15th, 2004 at the 110th Annual Spring Commencement at North Dakota State University. It was an awesome experience that I am very grateful for. Thank you to everyone who helped me get there.

Traditions- A Student Perspective.
Today I would like to talk about a word that means a lot to me: tradition. While considering what to write for a commencement address, I thought back to all the commencement ceremonies I have attended while playing clarinet in the band or when watching my cousins and friends graduate over the years. One unifying, central theme that all these ceremonies had was tradition. From the customary robes adorning the graduates and professors, to the ceremony of handing out diplomas, tradition is ever present. As Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Goodman once stated “Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe and aren't even aware of.” The past four years of my life have been marked by the unique, often unnoticed, customs that denote the passing of time at NDSU. Today I am going to explore these unique traditions that encompass life at NDSU.
First of all, traditions are what bring us together. Think back to your first year, what do you remember the most? I doubt it is how hard biology 150 was, or the professor’s jokes in Chemistry 121, it is more likely the fun and excitement that occurred during Orientation, welcome week dances, and residence hall activities- all of the traditional activities that mark the passing of the school year. In fact, as students we can mark our calendars by routines surrounding fall and spring semester. No matter what, every year begins the same way, and ends with commencement, as it is today.
Traditions not only bring us together as students, they connect us to the past. This year has been one full of traditions for me because of participation in band. The Gold Star Band at NDSU marked its 100th year as an organization on campus. Along with this celebration came an alumni event. At this event I was able to speak with Bison alumni from as far back as the 30s. What did all of these individuals remember the most about their time at NDSU? It wasn’t the calculus they learned, it was the rituals that they help start or uphold. I heard stories of why certain cheers were started, and why activities that I had been doing since first year are significant.
Even though traditions connect us to each other and to the past, they have to evolve. Whether it is on the playing field, in the classroom, or on campus, the customs upheld today are often different from the ones that my father participated in 30 odd years ago. And yet, it is the continuity of the activities that hold us together as students, and make us part of the larger Bison family.
Even though they evolve, traditions continue to tie us to the past. However, sometimes the emergence of a new tradition is necessary. For example, this year marked the ending of NDSU’s participation Division II athletics and with it the longstanding rivalry with the University Of North Dakota. The loss of this rivalry and the traditions surrounding it is very sad because most of us have some fond memory about this rivalry. My memories include four years of exciting Bison/Sioux weekends as a member of the Gold Star Band. Now, with the DI transition, the rivalry with UND has ended and a new one with South Dakota State University has begun. Though exciting, this new rivalry will never replace the old one in the hearts of the Bison family. However, for all of us NDSU’s transition to the next level is a blessing because many new traditions, such as the Dakota Marker, will emerge as the old ones are modified to meet the needs of everyone involved.
In our own lives, we are experiences a transition not unlike that of NDSU. Like NDSU, we are heading into unknown, but not uncharted territory. As many before us, we will end our tenure as NDSU students during commencement this morning. From there, we will go our separate ways to the future, the next level. For some, like me, it is just the beginning of a journey towards more education, but for others it is the first step towards a career and a new adult life.
The footprints towards the next level have been laid down by our predecessors. They are now ours to follow and make our own.
The conclusion that can be drawn from my observations is that traditions are the understated glue which holds together the core of our culture. No matter what kind of achievements our futures hold, everyday customs and rituals will continue to play a large role in our lives. Long after we receive our diplomas we will be members of the Bison tradition because our futures are forever tied to this school, as our successes reflect upon our professors and our peers. Therefore, no matter where we go, there is one tangible fact that can unify all of us: we are Bison. I am proud to be a Bison, and hope to someday come back and see what traditions are being upheld by the students of tomorrow.

The War in Iraq just hit a little closer to home today. Phil Brown, a classmate of my sister's, was killed by a roadside bombing. I didn't know him that well...but somehow it is sad thinking that his life ended protecting people who are not appreciative of his sacrifice. My thoughts, prays, and condolences are with him family. Their son died a hero.

Well it is hard to imagine that this is my last week of classes and that I still don't know where I am going to school! The mental battle between the University of Minnesota and University of Connecticut is getting pretty intense in my head right now. The "good" news is that I have three finals this week, so I guess I will be too busy studying to worry. The Friends finale is also this week. It is going to be weird on Thursday night next year, since Friends and Scrubs are the only two TV shows I watch. Oh well, I probably won't have time in med school anyway. Good luck on finals to everyone. I will post my final decision when I have made it.