Off The Record: Volume 8

I know baby, I know.

I've missed you too.

Familiar with the feeling of having no idea where to begin? Welcome to the club. Let's stick to the basics.

I have one year of school left. Had I planned better, I could be done now. Yet how many people truly feel their first year at school is put to good use? Eh. Had the privilege of making a cool video project for my Supply Chain Management Class. Our group parodied 'The Office' with a video called 'The Tanner' (get it? No, seriously, GET IT?!) I'll post it online sometime, because Tarantino says I should. I added an Economics minor to join my Spanish minor. At least it'll look good on a resume. And yes, I'll be back in school for my Master's in a few years.

After the semester concluded, Elise and I visited California for a week. She's a "Wicked" fan, so was excited when I bought us tickets. Allow me here to send out props to Erica Stevens for taking me to it two years ago (and also for giving us directions to arrive at the Pantages from UCLA…it's a maze!). Truth be told, I enjoyed Wicked more the first time around. Whenever I see a movie or a play the second time, I just sit there looking for all the flaws. This time, I realized 10 minutes in that the guy playing the Tin Man was a kid I did theatre with way back when, and he was an oddball. A few years ago I met the cripple girl, too. That just destroyed any suspension of reality I may have enjoyed during the show.

Of course, I went to In-N-Out probably five or six times, too. How dare you think otherwise. "But Lowell, why do you get such a rush off In-N-Out?" a friend in Salt Lake asked me. My only response was to think of Pink Floyd. Have you ever listened to the Dark Side of the Moon? Eric Whitacre? Shostakovich's 5th Symphony? First time or two you listen, nothing really stands out. Give it time, though, and it envelopes you. Maybe that's only excusing my addiction. Forgive me for appreciating good things.

Back to my California trip… I'm always asked, "Lowell, when are you moving to California again?" Answer: when everyone else leaves. Having the beach, Disneyland, and everything else nearby isn't worth it if you can only avoid traffic by driving before 8am or after 9pm. I am currently living in Sandpoint, Idaho, and doing and internship with Coldwater Creek. "Hey, isn't that a women's clothing company?" Yes. Go ahead and laugh. Elise and I both have good internships up here. I'm working in Management Training and she's involved in numerous HR projects. It'll open up doors in the future. Besides, the area is beautiful. Rolling hills of forest, a peaceful atmosphere, no pollution anywhere, a great job. So go ahead, California, and keep your bloated Mecca of Commericialism™. I'll choose a relaxing, peaceful environment. It is a euphoric moment when you realize how much better many things are outside of Southern California.

On a final note, Elise has been reading my journal this summer. I've kept one since junior high, and have done so very consistently since going to Florida in 2001. And boy, she's been through it all. Any fun date, any random trouble-making incident, my entire experience as a missionary in Chile, whatever might involve you, the reader, she knows… Somehow, she says she loves me more because she knows. Five points for me. [high five!]

Stay tuned for more.