I appear again!  This time though a lot has happened and I don't know what to say.  I bet everyone feels like they are at some sort of crossroads at some point, and right now thats where I am, wondering if the path I've taken in life is the one that is right for me.  The thing is I've decided to consider something of a career change.  Engineering isn't for me right now and I've been moving into other areas.

Sometimes I wonder whats going to happen to me with this new venture into unknown territory, but to be honest its the most exciting thing ever.  I feel like I'm going to be the guy at my 10 year reunion and everyone is going to say "WHOA MAN you totally are different from how you used to be when I remember you!"  When that happens I know I've made it.  I never really saw myself as the guy who'd stay the same after a period of time because if I was the same person, then probably nothing has changed in my life.  That is just wrong.  Ten years and nothing to show for it?  Thats not for me.

When I think of the people that I know when I get in contact with them I feel an excitement sometimes.  I see where they're going and where I'm going and I feel like I'm making it.  Its an awesome feeling to know that you've reached the level of the people you look up to, your peers and your heros, and now that I'm here, I'm almost not satisfied.  I want to push further, all the way to the edge so I can be where the new pioneers are.  Thats who I want to be.

When you see me at that ten year reunion, and you're thinking to yourself "MAN TRAVIS YOU CHANGED A LOT!"  Remember that I said it here, June 26, 2005, and that you should have already known.

Episode Two - An Empty Schedule

Travis was sitting at home in a chair for the past few weeks, clicking and typing away on the computer.  He looks at his paper, then back at the monitor, then at the clock.

"This sucks" Travis mutters under his breath while resuming his paper.

Several hours pass.

Travis clicked and typed away on the computer.  He looks at his paper, then back at the monitor, then at the clock.

"This sucks" Travis mutters under his breath.

Several hours pass.

Travis clicked and typed away on the computer.  He looks at his paper, then back at the monitor, then at the clock.

"This sucks" Travis mutters under his breath.

Several hours pass.

Travis clicked and typed away on the computer.  He looks at his paper, then back at the monitor, then at the clock.

"BLARGHERE(*$!NKF*(N(*@ *T%( %    $@#(*$!@)_$*JBCAJH!@!"

So I've been reading up on my journal and I noticed a definite lack in the real stuff about my life and I really wanted to get that stuff down because you never know when you want to see what you really thought about certain situations.  After some planning I decided to present my life in serial novel format!  Enjoy!

Episode 1:  The Mystery of the Stolen Toilet Paper.

Same shit, different day.  Travis hated the kind of monotony that working an information desk at the library offered but the job was easy, and the pay was good.  Sadly nothing ever happens of interest, and days are spent staring at the different kinds of girls that walk in, but every so often...

"Hi, can you help me out?  I was in the women's bathroom and they're all out of toilet paper, can you please tell someone that the women's bathroom is all out of toilet paper?  Thanks."

Travis had been dealing with crappy questions since he started working at the library, but today in particular everyone seemed to spice up the normal questions with some variation that seemed to give him more work.  The woman seemed nice enough, though she did have her little quirks about her, like the not-so-subtle makeup, her polka dot dress and her oversized bag.  Needless to say he wasn't very pleased at the sight of her or the request.  Still, work is work; any change in the endless lull is at least half-heartedly welcome.

"Yea sure, lemme go talk to the people upstairs and I'll see what I can do."  Travis put on a nice smile and put out his away from desk sign.

An adventure from the desk!  Finally a great excuse to leave for a long period of time and to fool around for at least a few moments.  Travis headed up the floors to talk to the janitor and asked they replace the toilet paper together, he knew how boring it was upstairs as well.  He agreed and they walked back down and talked a bit about this and that while he supplied the bathroom with new rolls. After they took a little break to make fun of some of the harder working chumps at the library and headed their separate ways.

Not too long after the same woman approached Travis’s desk.

"Hi, ummmm, there’s still a problem with the women’s bathroom;" the woman looked annoyed, "can you please send someone to put some toilet paper in the bathroom?"
"Oh!  Yea we actually just put some new rolls in there, you should be okay now."
"No, actually they're all out, I just came from there.  Thought I'd let you know so you can tell someone to do something about it."  The woman turned her makeup caked nose to him and walked off in a huff while Travis was left puzzled.

"What?  All out of toilet paper?" he thought to himself.  Searching his memory he made sure that it was one of his many daydreams.  Info desk workers are often prone to zoning out, the periods of inactivity were just too long.  Then he asked a friend to go check it out.  Sure enough the bathroom was once again empty.

Something was afoot.

Travis walked back upstairs to talk to the janitor and he too was puzzled but thought to find out what was happening.  After replacing the rolls once again, he sat outside of the restroom, hoping to catch whoever was doing this. And so he sat, waiting for anyone to walk in and leave with his supply of toilet paper.  No one came, except for Travis who sat next to the janitor.

"Dude, you've been sitting here for a while, any luck at all?"
"Nothin, just been chillin here for the last thirty minutes.  No one walked in since we last replaced it and I'm done waiting.”  Not to end on a bad note he added, “At least it was a good break!" he said with a chuckle.

Just then the same woman walked in.  The two library workers sat and waited for her to come out expecting to accept a small thank you or good job or something for filling the bathroom.  Instead she emerged from the bathroom in a fit.  Walking up to Travis she complained.

"I thought you were going to put in the toilet paper!  Theres NOTHING!"  Veins were popping out of her head at this point.
"But we just replaced it, there shouldn’t …."
"I'm going to report you to your supervisor!  This is unacceptable!"

Getting stomped on was a usual part of working at the information desk, so he took the complaint in stride and ignored her threats. While she spouted off, Travis and the janitor checked to see what happened and indeed the toilet paper once again was gone!  At that moment in the corner of his eye, he saw something slip behind the trash bin.  The woman screamed.

"What the hell is that!" the janitor exclaimed as he backed to the door.

Of course, that was just a reaction.  The janitor knew exactly what the hell it was:  a rat had made a home in the wall of the women’s restroom. An exterminator was called and discovered the rat had built a nest with some toilet paper and was preparing to give birth to a nest of rats.

The janitor groaned. “I was hoping to catch some weird old man stealing the toilet paper; at least that would have been exciting, now I wish it was some weird old man, this is just plain disgusting!"

Just as he said that a roll of toilet paper fell out of the woman’s purse. Travis and the janitor’s eyes follow the roll as it winds its way down to the brown cardboard.  Almost as if on cue they look at each other then to the woman.  Finally the woman notices them look at her with menacing eyes as her face turns white.  Travis grabs the purse and discovers a trove of library goodies: bookmarks, signs, computer mice and…

"Toilet paper!" Travis says excitedly.
“What is this all about!?” the woman shrieks.  "What are you doing?"

Travis in the usual way ignores her and proceeds straight to the security desk and asks the woman to be escorted out of the library.

As the library quieted down from the commotion and things started to go back to library business, Travis took a nap.  All that work got him tired, and the library didn’t pay him enough to do as much as he did today. "All in a day’s work” he mumbled as he slipped into a deep uninterrupted sleep.

I have found through these many nights that I'm growing more and more into a guy who prefers the night.  Since not many people are around when I get home in the wee hours I do get a lil lonely, and if it wasn't for my luvable stuffed animal Kumax the night would be downright unbearable!  In the usual Travis fashion I have decided to do something about it.

Now I can't say with any remote amount of honestly that I know what kids these days do but from what I hear I get the distinct impression this nightlife stuff is serious business.  I did a little resarch and found that 100% of all late night crews are INSTANTLY WICKED COOL due to the underground feeling of it all.  One thing I do know for sure is what I like, and as such I've put a lot of thought into this and am in the process of forming a band of similar minded chums who like having a grand old time.  The final part of my plan was to think up what to call us.  STREET CRED IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME so I had to think up a hot name.  I know that when we call Power 106 we gots to shout out to other homies, so it has to be short, sweet and hardcore:  The Friends Incorporated!

I don't want to throw too many ideas of mine out there but I do want to tickle your fancy by giving you an idea of what we do.

I'm so hardcore I sometimes scare myself

Sleepovers/Cuddle sessions - Who doesnt miss a good old sleepover or two!  I know I do!  The best part is the pillow fights, and boy oh boy do we EVER have the best pillow fights!

Weekly Danceoffs - What better way to show off the latest DDR moves than with a danceoff!  Especially snazzy dances take away the trophy for the week!  Of course bring it back for next week because its kind of expensive and my mom can't pay for a new trophy every time.

Pie eating contests - Bring your punch and call it a party!  A great suggestion from a buddy of mine and has quickly become a favorite among us all.

Bird Watching - Binoculars not needed here but are very helpful.  NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY PLEASE LOL!

Cosmic mini golf - One of my friends is the manager of Silly Put Put and has agreed to let us get crunk during a rousing session of mini golf!  This event is a definite lady pleaser!

And much much more!

Actually that last part about "much much more" was a lie because I was under pressure to make a good impression but at this point if you're reading up to here you are hooked and that is a very good thing!

The late night crew I've formed so far is a rag tag group of go-getters who just want to get a little wild from time to time.  But don't take my word for it, here are a few testimonals from some satisfied members!

"I came from Guam and when I was a kid I used to roll a bike tire on a stick, now I get to do that and more!  Thanks Friends Incorporated!"

- Flavio the Janitor





"I must admit I was a skeptic at first because I've been around these kinds of late night groups.  After a few meetings I'm compelled to say that Friends Incorporated is at least THREE TIMES BETTER than any Sailor Moon chatroom I've ever been to!"

- Hank

So its 1230 right now and I'm tired yet I can't sleep.  I must submit my new journal entry before I go to sleep!

Ahhh the good old days when TV used to be the thing to keep me awake as long as internet does now.  I remember when I was a kid I'd get hooked on those late night infomercials.  One of my favorites was the Dura Lube commercial where they had a bunch of cars racing around to show that the oil could withstand whatever anyone could throw at it.  They even threw sand into an engine treated with Dura Lube!  I loved how exicted how everyone was at how they could reduce the wear and tear on their bearings by 90% with the product.  Then there was that juicer commercial with the old man who swears by the thing and can pull 100 boats by swimming.  I wasnt too interested in that commercial but I remember thinking that this guy was way too energized.  A man at his age should be sitting on his porch getting angry and swinging his cane at the kids who play on his lawn.  Oh man and I remember the Ginsu Knife commercials where they would cut everything, including bricks and what not.  Action packed and I loved the Asian touch!  It added the mystery of the Orient to an already excellent product!  And oh MAN!  Who can forget the classic Ronco commercials!  More specifically the Dehydrator commercial.  Best infomercial ever in the history of history.  It had surprises, a great host, a neat product and it was something that I would actually consider wasting my money on!  Seriously though I really miss the golden age of the infomercial.  I mean there are some okay ones these days but really they haven't been living up to the over-the-top-ness of their predecessors.

Nad's was close, but for different reasons.
Girls Gone Wild doesn't count by the way:  Its not exactly something wacky.  Its just softcore porn!  Who wouldn't want to see porn on basic cable TV?

Oh yea here is another puzzle I got a long time ago.  You guys might like it.
http://crux.baker.edu/cdavis09/roses.html