Volunteer, Advocate, Trekker.

Hahaha, okay, so you may or may not know this about me: but I am a packrat/hoarder. Not really, I definitely know when it's time to throw things away and I hate clutter -- but I like to keep records (digital and otherwise) whenever possible, and if it doesn't need to be deleted, it can be hidden somewhere else. So, waaay back in the day, circa January 2008: the University of Akron CKI held a meeting to endorse candidates for District Office (if you don't know what any of this means, now is not the time to explain.) At the time, I wanted to run for District Treasurer (haha, I remember the days when we could convince people - MULTIPLE people to run for this office!) Anyway, part of the process is to get endorsed by the club. I was worried, for some reason, the club would not endorse me if I was not present (because they happened to hold their club meeting on a day I was going to be down in D.C. for President Obama's inauguration!) So, I prepared a script for a video ...

I have wanted to, for some time now, be able to rock a good vest. Some people can easier than others, but I am still determined to find that perfect vest out there that I look awesome in. I bought one today because it was so cheap at Burlington Coat Factory, but I will probably return it after trying it on with practically every combination of my button-up shirts (which, suffice it to say, is alot.) On a separate note, I also bought a square-bottom knit tie which I think I could pull off with a spare few outfits, but only in the fall. It was also really cheap at Burlington Coat Factory, so I will probably keep that. Lately in particular I have been searching, after this past year of Once Upon a Time with character Sherriff Graham -- who consistantly wore a vest and leather jacket and looked fantastic doing it. (Googling now, I wonder if some of his badass image is in fact the piece he carries...) He also has a Scottish accent and that "rough" facial hair look -- s...

I've been in a political mood lately, and with that, comes predictions for the 2012 Presidential election. First of all, I am hopeful and supportive of President Obama being reelected. Romney has no foreign policy stances, his understanding of the plight of the common man is abysmal, and overall has done nothing to identify with any issues important to voters. He's not "going to beat Obama on the economy" or on "healthcare" or by riling people up over this or that, he wants to beat Obama because he's "the Republican challenger." I am hopeful and optimistic, that Ohio will go for President Obama. (As they say in politics, "So goes Ohio, so goes the Nation.") I have also, after playing with CNN's election map app - given Nevada, the Carolinas and Florida to Romney (and his homestate of New Hampshire, which I think I was being generous about.) But rather than the "sideburn" states that Kerry won , I think there are ...

Haha, I remember when I saw The Muppets (2011) in theaters -- which by the way is an OUTSTANDING movie, definitely on my list of movies to buy on DVD -- there is a scene talking to a TV producer about what is and isn't popular these days (producer played by Rashina Jones .) The chart has 100 little icons on it, and I remember thinking "haha, one day I'll freeze frame that and identify all the little jokes. Today I did. It's not complete though, because upon reading the title: " Key Demographic Analysis of Top 100 Things in Pop Culture " (Subtitle: Ranked in Order of Relative Popularity .) Then at the bottom of the chart, if you look closely, it reads: " Updated.... 4th week of June of the current Year... ", subtitled: " Prepared by the Research & Analysis Department of CDE Television... " Gonna have to click that for the most detail. I ran out of room to draw lines, and I don't think I could make out every single image, bu...

I'm considering doing some post-bac work in a foreign language, either get another degree, or teaching certificate. (I'm really just considering all my life options this summer.) But I can't find a very comprehensive list of Ohio schools and what they offer anywhere. When I can't find something, I presume others can't find it eather, so I should try to make it easier for the next person by posting what I find on my blog. That's my logic anyway, so here are my findings. (Note: I am not including American Sign Language in my research.) The University of Akron Only French and Spanish are offered as majors. French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese are offered as minors. But I know classes are offered (at least 2 years worth) in Russian, German, Latin and Japanese. Also a single semester of Korean. Not enough to qualify for a major or minor, but they meet the "Foreign Langauge" requirement many have. Kent State University Major: French I think , German , L...

Kim asked me to speak at her wedding, so I wrote this here. Was still writing it as I arrived at the reception, haha, and I think I could have done a better job if I had recorded the speech I kinda prepared in my head driving home from the rehersal dinner but oh well -- I've been told this one went off pretty well anyway.   Hi, I think the best man does all the jokes that make this an “Adult Reception” and I’m supposed to provide the sweet, awe-inspiring anecdotes as the BFF that was there when these two started dating. My name is Andrew, and it’s crazy to think that Kim has been one of my best friends for almost 10 years now. I was there, in the summer 2004, at the Garfield Heights Homedays when all this started. Knowing what I know now, I would have told Kim that Ross was a fine, upstanding young man with a good head on his shoulders and a heart of gold, that would become the love of her life, and an inspiration to anyone who sees them together. At the time, I...

Well, I may still be unemployed -- but at least I have been catching up on my want to actually read books! Even better, some of the books contribute to potential careers I'm studying up for. Complete Book #1 of Summer: Decision Points, by George W. Bush . The memoirs of our immediate past President were at least slightly interesting, and offered a different view of his thought process than I'd ever really been exposed to. He did focus a lot on the decisions that developed him into the person he was, he candidly spoke of his battle with alcoholism, his military service which was a contested point in the 2004 election, and various other "how he came to that conclusion" on policies like embrionic stem cell research. Not particularly ground breaking though, at least I didn't feel like I came away learning "WOW! I NEVER KNEW THAT!" stuff. Complete Book #2 of Summer: Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton . Published in 2003, this basically told...

Well, explored this abandoned building back in July of 2011, but it was after my ex had broken my camera so I only have pictures from my cellphone, which went massively unorganized until I decided to empty it a few weeks ago. So now I'm getting back to blogging about the adventures I missed over the last year do to lack of pictures. I first spotted this house en route to Aurora Outlets I think from the street, and we had to park in like a cul-de-sac artificial suburb and run across a busy street to explore it. And then it started raining, so we didn't explore it in that much detail -- but I was more eager to actually get inside the structure and take some pictures so I have something to show for it. Alas, within a few months, the house, barn and any evidence of the place has been torn down. Song of the Day: "Both Sides Now" by Carly Rae Jepsen . This came up on "recently added" on my iPod while I was in the park last night, and I actuall...

First, Panda eventually unknowningly convinced me to get a Tumblr through her reposting things on Facebook and I eventually wanted to know what this thing was. Now I go to it daily - there's always something entertaining on there. ( My profile, name is AJHalliwell of course .) First cool picture I want to share: Sunday night while watching Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (which, by the way, is the most awkward of the Harry Potter movies. There are so many awkward scenes, between poorly made [IMO] romantic scenes and just odd conversation that I don't think was carried out properly.) The best of which would have to be the Girl drama while Ron is unconcious, while ALL the teachers are there just silently watching it play out. Prof. McGonnagal shooting her head back and forth like a Tennis match and Snape's stone-solid face, to Dumbledore's eventual "Oh, to be young..."  But I'm getting off topic: What I'm trying to say is back when I read t...

Wow, I have fallen dramatically behind on blogging I see. It's already freakin' a third of the way through July! :( Summer is going by so quickly. Well, I guess I'll focus on the fact that I went to Cedar Point the other day with Brittany, Tea and Mike L. and it was fun. It was also, oh, THE HOTTEST DAY OF SUMMER. After LSSP/ICON in New Orleans reaching heat indexes of 105 degrees, I figured it surely wouldn't get that hot back home. Wouldn'tcha know, I come back, only to get the same unseasonably warm temperatures here. The 7th it was 99 real degrees with a heat index of 105ish. Everyone in the park was disgustingly sweating, and even I was relegated to stripping down to ONE LAYER of clothing x_x Oh well, it was fun, most of the lines were shorter because people in their right minds chose to stay home. Then we saw Carly Rae Jepsen perform (after having to wait OVER AN HOUR after she was supposed to start, lol.) The others didn't actually want to see her ...