Only the beginning of the Adventure

So I'm back home in Pittsburgh, doing all the things I wanted and needed to try and do before school starts, realizing I don't have enough time here.  

I don't have a full blog post today, but what I do have is a new facebook photo gallery, which if you read each description, winds up being like a blog post in itself. The gallery chronicles my last 3 days in Los Angeles, hanging out on campus, going to the beach, and going to the observatory. The roommates took me to a kind of unofficial "Goodbye Alex" dinner on Wednesday night before I left, unfortunately I totally forgot my camera. Bummer. 

If I was graduating right now, I think I would most likely be headed back out to Los Angeles. I have definitely become attached to that city and people in it. With a whole two years of school left, its hard to know what to do with those thoughts. Luckily and very thankfully, I am blessed with so many wonderful reasons to live in the moment while at school. Words can't really describe how excited I am to spend time with so many amazing people, and how much I am looking forward to what is sure to be a quarter filled with wonderful experiences shared with many people. 

Here's the gallery. Check it out.

Rock on. See you soon!

Much love,

Alex

Leaving Narnia

On Thursday I fly out of Los Angeles with no idea when I'll be coming back.  

I'm thrilled to spend some time at home and then head back to school for what is sure to be an awesome quarter, but I can't believe how connected I've become to this place. There is a lot to hate about it, but at the heart of the city is an amazing opportunity to take part in a revolution of positive change.  

A few months ago, I thought the lyrics to the song "The Call" at the end of Prince Caspian were cool, but now after an amazing summer they have real meaning.

. . .

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
Till it was a battle cry
I'll come back when you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to war
Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it, too
Doesn't means that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
Till they're before your eyes
You'll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when they call you

No need to say goodbye

Ode to Dave Devine

Well, folks, today is my last day of work after six months at Crew Creative, so I thought it would be fitting to write a post dedicated to my most loyal blog-reader, my coworker, Dave Devine:

Dave Devine tries to make you think he's some really mean tough guy, with his motorcycles, black shirts, shaved head, goatee and tattoos, but that really couldn't be further from the truth.

Back in Winter Quarter, I sat between Dave Devine and Ben Black (also a great guy) in our "pod," and Dave was definitely the first person to really make me feel welcome at work. He was the first to really talk to me, the first to find out about my unique interests in things like Disney and musical theater, and first to make fun of me because of those interests.  

Although Dave was almost always the first to make fun of me about something at work, he was also always the first to help me out. If I had a question, I knew I could ask and almost always get an answer.

And regardless of how much I was made fun of by him or by anyone else at work, it was never out of spite or hate, I guess it was just some weird way of showing they liked me, and that was cool to know.

Dave Devine has my blog set as his homepage, which is actually pretty creepy. This isn't really part of the tribute, I just thought everyone should know about it.

Try as he might, Dave Devine is not some hardened, heartless biker.  

Dave Devine is actually one of the best guys I've met at work. He took me under his wing during my time at Crew and definitely taught and showed me a lot, while making me feel welcome and cared about at work.  

I know he'll miss me when I'm gone, and I guess I'll miss him, too.  

*there's your post, Dave