2 Distant Hearts

ANother check-in

2008-12-01T00:37:00.002-06:00

I was just taking time to read the posts I had put up since Megan and I broke up ... which is damn near two years ago.

That's weird to say. Really really weird.

It feels like both way longer and way shorter than that.

And why would this blog still be in existence? I don't know.

Anyway, just wanted to post to check-in.

11:11

2008-08-31T02:11:00.004-05:00

This is from probably my favoritest blog of all-time.

It's called post secret. Check it out.

Megan was always real big on "11:11". She was constantly reminding to make a wish ... sometimes if were like 11:09, we'd even stare at the clock until 11:11. Haha ... I used to roll my eyes, but secretly I thought it was mega cute.

Just one of those little things ya see that reminds you of stories like that...

What to do with the blog

2008-08-31T02:05:00.002-05:00

I can't decide whether I want to make this blog private or not.

Here's the problem, I haven't posted in forever ... and I really hesitate to post because of a reader or two who is close to me ... that regularly checks in on this blog and can't keep their thoughts to themselves ...

I don't want to be judged and frankly, I know everyone's opinions around me ...

And I know that Megan will never read it ... so if I make it totally private, then each post is totally only for my own vent ... and that completely defeats half the purpose of the blog, and why I still post.

So I've decided after much debate to keep it 100% open. We still get a lot of random people stumbling in and maybe this blog's purpose will continue to be served for one of those random people each week.

Thus, if you have an opinion and I know it already ... keep it to yourself. Don't even tell me you still check it. I know already. I can see who reads and when ... This blog isn't for you. Don't make me start moderating comments or obliterate them all together.

And if you just have to comment, keep it supportive, and understanding ... 'cause I don't want to deal with it otherwise.

And hopefully that settles that.

Chester, South Carolina

2008-04-30T01:12:00.002-05:00

So I needed to e-mail Megan tonight. First time I've had any type of contact in so long I can't even remember when.

Actually it's not like she's responded back yet, so I can't even call it contact. Anyway. I was debating whether I should. Then I got caught up in the show on PBS called "Carrier". Long story short, took me back. Nearly teared up. I could never describe the emotions I felt when dating her.

Anyway, I went ahead and e-mailed her with my query. Tried to keep it brief, to the point ... the way she wants much interaction to be I think. Of course after doing that I felt compelled to check this blog, which I haven't done in well over a month.

Whenever I check the blog, I also check the IP addresses of the last 20 visitors. Just to see if it's anyone I know. Got a couple hits from the UK, standard. Got a hit from collegeville, MN ... I don't know if I know anyone in collegeville, but I see that IP address a lot.

Saw a few from here in my area. Prolly just people checkin' up on shit.

And then there was the most recent hit ... from an IP address in Chester, South Carolina.

45 miles and 54 minutes (according to mapquest) from the grand metropolitan area of Clinton, South Carolina ... Megan's new home for her new life.

I know in my heart of hearts that this is obviously a coincidence. It wasn't Megan checking up on the site. Pretty sure she's totally forgotten the web address anyway.

Yet, I can't help but wonder, that's one hell of a coincidence. This blog get visitors from all over the world. From Texas to Fiji to the Phillippines ... and yet someone logged on from Chester, South Carolina.

Little did they know the very subject I write about is a mere 45 miles from their very location.

Of the entire world, of all the possible places ... and we get a hit 45 miles from Megan's new home.

I've only ever seen one other hit from South Carolina. It was from the largest city close to Megan, Greenville, South Carolina. That was months ago. But I always wondered ... could it be? What would she think?

I know in this situation it's most certainly not Megan. But whoever you are Chester, SC, the girl to which this blog was created for is a mere hop, skip and a jump away. Hell you may even know her, or have run into here and never have known it.

It truly is a small world.

A little James Blunt on this rainy day

2008-03-03T16:29:00.002-06:00

Good-bye my Lover
by James Blunt

Did I disappoint you or let you down?
Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?
'Cause I saw the end before we'd begun,
Yes I saw you were blinded and I knew I had won.
So I took what's mine by eternal right.
Took your soul out into the night.
It may be over but it won't stop there,
I am here for you if you'd only care.
You touched my heart you touched my soul.
You changed my life and all my goals.
And love is blind and that I knew when,
My heart was blinded by you.
I've kissed your lips and held your head.
Shared your dreams and shared your bed.
I know you well, I know your smell.
I've been addicted to you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

I am a dreamer but when I wake,
You can't break my spirit - it's my dreams you take.
And as you move on, remember me,
Remember us and all we used to be
I've seen you cry, I've seen you smile.
I've watched you sleeping for a while.
I'd be the father of your child.
I'd spend a lifetime with you.
I know your fears and you know mine.
We've had our doubts but now we're fine,
And I love you, I swear that's true.
I cannot live without you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

And I still hold your hand in mine.
In mine when I'm asleep.
And I will bear my soul in time,
When I'm kneeling at your feet.
Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.
I'm so hollow, baby, I'm so hollow.
I'm so, I'm so, I'm so hollow.

Everywhere

2008-02-20T09:39:00.001-06:00

Everywhere
by Tim McGraw

We were born in this little town
Growin' up I was countin' down
Every single day
'Til we made our get away
But you said you could never see yourself
Tryin' to make a life anywhere else
This would be your home
And I was on my own
But ever since you said good bye
I've been out here on the wind
And baby you would be surprised
All the places you have been
I've seen you in...

Albuquerque
Waitin' out a blizzard
Arizona
Dancin' 'cross the desert
Watchin' the sun set in
Monterey
Girl I swear just the other day you were
Down in Georgia
Pickin' them peaches
In Carolina
Barefoot on the beaches
No matter where you choose to be
In my heart I'll always see you
Everywhere

Now days
When I'm passin' through
The conversation always turns to you
I hear you're doin' fine
Livin' out by the county line
Got a man that's home every night
a couple of kids and the kind of life
That you want to lead
Guess you couls say the same for me
Cuz you and I
Made our choices
All those years ago
Still I know
I'll hear your voice
And see you down the road

Maybe in
Oklahoma
Drivin' 'cross the prairie
In Dallas, Texas
Isn't that where we
Always said we would
Like to try
Never did
So maybe that's why you're on
Every highway
Just beyond the high-beams
Right beside me
In all of my sweet dreams
No matter where you choose to be
In my heart I'll always see you
In...

(Repeat chorus)

Love Actually

2008-01-07T11:14:00.000-06:00

Whenever I think I of Love Actually, I'll always think of Megan. It still makes me smile, and cry.

Her sister Sarah and I worked together last Christmas to actually do this in person. Of course it didn't work, but it was worth a shot. At least I pulled out every big gun I could to get another chance at us.

via videosift.com

And p.s if this is Austin...

2007-12-08T18:47:00.000-06:00

What kind of man would hang on that long,
What kind of love that must be...

-Austin by Blake Shelton-

Bottom-Line: I'm pretty messed up

2007-12-08T18:37:00.000-06:00

One of the hardest parts of breaking-up for me is trying to move on. I could devote hours to pouring my heart out over this topic and still not really cover it.

Will I ever really move on?

I've been confronted with a lot of questions recently, as I've come to be very close with someone over the last six months. And absolutely beautiful and amazingly fun girl ... that I think feels more and more like I can only give to a point.

I don't know how I feel or what I feel. I know I like her. I know I still miss Megan. Especially this time of year.

Anyway, yesterday she told me she needed to take a big step back because I wasn't ready to move on.

It wasn't exactly a break-up as we weren't together, and the future is still yet to be determined. But it did suck. A lot.

Bottom-line: I'm just messed up. Megan hurt me pretty bad, yet I still miss her being in my life. I think this all would have been a lot easier in the long run if things would have gone down differently.

I think it'd be easier if Megan would ever approach things differently too. Maybe that's what sucks too. Knowing that my own heartache could have been or could potentially lessened, but that was and is dependent on her ... and no matter how much I try to take the power back, I can't permanently.

Okay, that was cryptic. Anyway, I'm done venting.

I do miss Megan.

I also Miss my co-counselor.

I hate that I drove the first away.

I hate that the second is being driven away because I'm still dealing with driving the first off.

Ggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Memories of times past

2007-12-08T02:31:00.000-06:00

I was having a fine night not thinking about Megan.

Then on the way home, driving three drunk friends, in the distance I saw the sillohoute of a college guy grasping the hand of another girl. She was wearing his jacket. They had obviously been to a party and were plodding through the snow on their way back home. Neither were drunk.

For whatever reason it reminded me so much of Megan and I ... and what feels like not that long ago, but in reality was nearly two years ago.

I can still feel how that felt. I can still feel her. And all the times we spent together in room 652. For almost our entire time in college it was Megan and I. And it stills feel like it was yesterday.

Hell it still feels like it should be today.

I don't know if it's the same for her. It's probably not. She's starting a new life. One she doesn't want me to exist in. Nonetheless, I still wonder if it's ever the same for her.

I'll probably never know ... and always wonder.

More than a memory by Garth Brooks

2007-12-07T16:17:00.001-06:00

I come to you with great certainty that this new song by Garth Brooks, entitled "More than a memory", was written about my life after Megan. I know it sounds crazy, but the only explanation for how 100% dead-on this song is, would be to assume that Garth had someone stalk me for a few months and then write a song about it.

Just listen ... then listen again.
Here are the lyrics. The parts of the song that really really really speak to me I've put in red. Mind you pretty much it's the entire song.

People say she's only in my head
It's gonna take time but I'll forget
They say I need to get on with my life
They don't realize

It's when you're dialing 6 numbers just to hang up the phone
Driving cross town just to see if she's home
Waking a friend in the dead of the night
just to hear him say it's gonna be alright
When you're finding things to do not fall asleep
Cause you know she'll be there in your dreams
that's when she's more than a memory

Took a match to everything she ever wrote
watched her words go up in smoke
tore all her pictures off the wall
that ain't helping me at all

'Cause when you're talking out loud and nobody is there
you look like hell and you just don't care
you're drinking more than you ever drank
and sinking down lower than you ever sank
When you find yourself falling down upon your knees
praying to God, begging him "please"
that's when she's
more than a memory

Cause when you're dialing her number just to hang up the phone
Driving cross town just to see if she's home
Waking a friend in the dead of the night
just to hear him say it's gonna be alright
When you're finding things to do not fall asleep
Cause you know she's waiting in your dreams
that's when she's
more than a memory

People say she's only in my head
It's gonna take time but I'll forget ...

Finding things to do not to fall asleep, 'cause I know she'll be there in my dreams

2007-12-04T02:21:00.000-06:00

I had a weird dream last night. I feel like everyone I know was in it, but it was specifically about Megan.

Long and short of it is, her and I were like friends (clearly a dream), at one point her, Brooke and my parents were sharing stories and cackling in an RV. This upset her sister Sarah and I to know end as we both agreed she's not allowed to be friends with Brooke.

She was wearing something goofy, attractive but goofy, which eventually made me realize it was halloween.

I leaned for help her with something, grazed some silk skirt she was wearing, she sort of made a move for my male parts ... I pulled away because I told her it made me uncomfortable. It made me want her. Not like sexually. I cant explain it.

I woke up missing her, and I keep seeing flashes of her in the dream throughout the day.

Believe me when I tell you that it's just awesome I'm dreaming about her again. This wasn't exactly isolated. So now what?

I miss her. I hate that I miss her. I hate that I don't hate her.

The End.

Break-Up Music: Stupid Boy

2007-10-25T08:21:00.000-05:00

One of the best ways to get through a break-up is via music. You can't download any of it, but here's some music you can listen to that might help. And if anyone wants a song I have them on my computer so I'll hook you up via e-mail.

This song pretty much defines exactly how I feel about how and why Megan and I ended ... still rings true 100 zillion percent almost a full year later.

I was a just a stupid boy.

Break-up Giggles

2007-10-19T12:24:00.000-05:00

Finding humor in the break-up is never easy, and only now, like 10 months later am I personally really able to see something humorous about relationships or breaking up and laugh.

Thus in an effort to share at least some jollies, since this blog is really pretty depressing, here's some break-up humor.

Some things you just can't Hakuna Matata your way through

2007-10-05T11:25:00.000-05:00

I don't blog much anymore in general. Let alone at this one. For some reason I feel compelled to write here again.

I'll be honest, losing Megan has been tough. Toughest thing I've ever faced. It's one of those things that happens in life that you're not sure you'll ever really recover from ...

Yeah, you'll move on ... eventually be happy again ... lead a normal life. But you'll never really recover.

It's really sad actually, so I'd rather not dwell on it.

I think this certainly taught me that there are some things you just can't Hakuna Matata your way through.

In high school, when I broke a bone or struggled with grades, I could always smile my way through it. When I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy I rolled with the punches, whenever Megan and I fought I always kept saying Hakuna Matata ... when she left for England I said it over and over in my head through the tears ... and when she came back and I didnt know if I wanted to even see her, I gave her the biggest hug and kiss I possibly could because hey, Hakuna Matata.

I've even Hakuna Matata-ed my may through being kicked out of my major and not being allowed to student teach because I'm not a good enough person.

I've done a fair job keeping Hakuna Matata in mind when things were at their worst.

But somethings you can't Hakuna Matata your way through. This is one of them. Even now ... I mean I have a lot of happy moments. I'm generally getting over it well ... met a few girls, even kinda have one I'm sort of seeing. Although nothing official. I don't dwell on Megan or the fact she has a completely new life .... that we're not really friends. I just don't look over my shoulder much, and I keep plodding forward.

I'm generally fine with everything ... in good spirits. Some would even say I've turned that corner and I'm in the home stretch.

But like I said, there are some things your really never bounce back from. Not really. You move on, you change, you fake happiness and then you are happy, but you never really bounce back.

You know, considering this blog was initially for inspiration, love and to help others in a long distance relationship, it's now just full of sadness, misery, heartache and a pretty bleak outlook.

Not Even Friends

2007-01-15T00:16:00.000-06:00

One thing that is really making this difficult is the fact that were not even friends anymore and she appears to have no desire to be.

I mean like for three years this girl is my smiling, loving best friend. Could totally be myself. Even in our worst moments and I was so frustrated or she was so frustrated, we were best friends. And then, we have a period we had a silly on-line argument ... well I felt like she was trying to start one. We dont talk much for a few days, cause I had this insane like 50 page unit plan due and I literally didnt sleep for days (I'm Narcoleptic, hello, I nearly died ... literally)...and it didnt bother her that we didnt talk ... and so she called me to break up with me. Fine, done deal ... it crushed me, but it's not like we had this huge drag-down falling out ...

It's not like we screamed obscenities at each other, it's not like one of us walked in the other with someone else ...

So we it wasn't like this horrific falling out or end ... and yet, it's like she wants absolutely nothing to do with me. Not even just that, it's not even like she keeps me out of sight so Im out of mind, it's like I annoy her. Even like the simplest things. I don't know. I really just feel taht way since Dairy Queen. Before that I was iffy, but then I told her multiple times the hardest part was just losing my best friend, and even if she wasn't romantically interested, I would still like some sembleance of a friendship (turns out, I still have this strong drive to make her smile, and thats hard to do if she acts like I don't exist ... haha) .... and she e-mailed me like every day last week, she made a point to ask about hanging out, made a point to make sure that happened, etc.

We went out to ice-cream and I thought maybe, just maybe we can be genuine friends.

But ever since ice-cream.

Ha.

And its not like she hasnt had time, or hasnt been on-line. U know ... like she just genuinely has no interest in a friendship. And I definitely feel like I annoy her. Like I could just pop on AIM or send an e-mail and as I do with anyone else, be like, "Hey, just saw you on-line wanted to say good night. Hope all is well" and if I got a response at all I'd expect to feel like she was just annoyed. Or that my message served as a reminder I still existed and it bugged her.

It's like fine, whatever, I don't need you to survive, so if u dont genuinely want to be friends dont lie to me and say u do. But more so than that, I dont understand why she cant handle being friends, or why I dont make her genuinely smile anymore. I mean, I dont know. Maybe Ive been annoying her for three years and she jsut snapped ...

It just really hurts. Like really hurts. U know, like breaking up wasn't bad enough ... i've not only lost the love of my life, and the girl I am still absolutely infatuated with, and have been for three years ... but I've also lost a best friend ... my most sturdy support structure, biggest stress relief, the place I channeled my creative energy, etc ... and I dont even feel like I have a mildly firm grasp as to why, what happened or what Im supposed to do about it.

I dont know. It hurts, and its depressing ... and it is like I dont know, any amount of self-esteem I have is slowly being torn down day by day by this ... not shocking ... but it sucks to know that the girl you wanted to spend the rest of ure life with, suddenly puts u on the list of last people on earth to talk to ...

Anyway, thats my vent for the day! Godspeed!

-Jim-

Megan Doesn't Approve of the Blog

2007-01-11T23:26:00.000-06:00

So I don't think Megan really appreciates, likes or approves of my blogging about our break-up here on the site ... although in fairness, we have ballooned from a few random lost surfers to a hefty 18 unique hits a day since I've started blogging again. And that's without doing anything to promote it! Haha, wait, perhaps that's one of the reasons why she doesn't like it ...

Anyway, I don't know what that means for the future of this site, or at least my recent blogging activity. She has sort of stopped talking me, e-mailing me, responding to my e-mails or IM's ... (although she did call me back when I texted her yesterday, and she responded to two texts last night) ...

But she's stopped responding to e-mails, and she had said she didn't know how she felt about these posts ... so I dunno. I may end up moving (I doubt I'll leave the new site information on this blog) or I may stop altogether. Either way, I shall be sure to have a final post if it ever comes to that...

Hopefully one or another Megan lets me know her feelings on the subject and if she has reservations, I shall respect them.

Godspeed!

-Jim-

Stories from Splitsville

2007-01-11T23:08:00.000-06:00

God works in truly mysterious ways ... here are some break-up stories (randomly thrown at me mind you, wasn't browsing or anything), from yahoo.com.

P.S. I didn't know where splitsville was, so I searched for it on mapquest and guess what, I FOUND NOTHING! Thus, I don't know that I trust the legitimacy of yahoo's reporting on this one...anyone, without further ado, my favorites...

When it comes to matters of the heart, each one of us has a story to tell. Sometimes it ends with a "Happily ever after." All too often, however, it can end with an abrupt and out-of-the-blue "The end." Recently we asked members of Yahoo! Personals to share their own personal stories of how the fat lady sung. And, boy, did they have some whoppers to tell.

"An old boyfriend returned all of my stuff to me by putting it in a basket and then bringing it to me at my place of work. He entered singing and creating quite a stir, so that everyone would notice what was happening."

"I had cancer of the esophagus and it required surgery. I was hospitalized for a month of recovery. They had to put a stomach tube in me just so I could be fed. When it was time for me to be released, my mom and dad came into my room. My mother was in tears. She told me she got a call from my wife and was asked not to bring me home because my wife said she couldn't deal with taking care of me. Because of that she was filing for a divorce."

"He broke up with me on MySpace."

"As I was preparing to go to my in-laws for Christmas, I told my ex-wife that I couldn't go and that I had met someone else.""

"I had a stroke in 2000. My wife came to see me in the hospital with her attorney and said that she was filing for divorce. It was Christmas Eve."

"I broke up with my ex on his birthday. We had a major fight and I left him at the gas station. I had the keys to the house and he was five miles away from home."

"It was our anniversary and I had just gotten off work and was ready to celebrate. When I came home she was sitting on the bed upset, so I asked what was wrong. She said that her ex-boyfriend had come home from Iraq and asked her to marry him and she said yes. Then I heard a horn out front and she left."

"I was two months pregnant with our daughter when the guy I was living with for two years said he would be right back. I didn't see him again until our daughter was 12 years old."

"After my ex sent me an email to break up with me, I received a text message from his new girlfriend stating I had only two weeks to find a new place to live, as she was moving in!"

"Six months before my wedding, my fiancé calls me and tells me that he isn't sure what he wants. In the background I hear a woman's voice telling him that she loves him and then I hear him saying it back to her. Later, he sued me because I didn't give back the ring."

You can find the rest (there's a bunch) in the article (click the blog title).

Man, am I feeling a little better about how Megan and I are. At least neither of us are sleazy enough to do any of these. Wow, just a lot of sadness ... like that guy who had a stroke and then had his wife file for divorce on Christmas Eve! And I thought my Christmas was bad!

Diagnosis: Broken Heart

2007-01-10T01:12:00.000-06:00

According to Thefreedictionary.com, the following is the definition of Broken Hearted.

1. Having the spirits depressed or crushed by grief or despair

Well that pretty much sums up EXACTLY how I feel ... thus, while I have never actually been to medical school, I am quite literate, and thus am diagnosing myself with a broken heart.

According to Wikipedia, The prognosis is questionable and treatment is day to day based on symptoms.

"Because 'Heartbreak' is a subjective emotional trauma... conventional treatment does not exist. Depending on the psychological nature of an individual and the severity of the trauma, the length of time for the symptoms to disappear naturally will greatly vary. In most cases effects will last for a period of months. However, there are cases in which sufferers are able to move on within a few days, or alternatively never recover."

Well there's a joyful thought. Some people are like, "Who are you again" after a matter of days, and others are pathetic, depressed zombies for the remainder of their existence ... Why is there nothing in here about Miraculous Happy Endings!

I'm pretty sure that this condition is quite rare and I expect to be featured on an episode of House early next season. :)

-Jim-

On the surface...

2007-01-10T01:06:00.000-06:00

So these postings should be temporary ... right? I mean eventually I'll stop needing this therapy ... yet, for some reason, I spent much of my evening tweaking and playing with the blog layout.

I pretended at first it was because I wanted liked the design so much I was going to apply it to another blog. And I do really like the design...BUT, if I wanted to apply it to another blog, I'd just do it. I wouldn't tweak this one first, 'cause I'd have to tweak the new one anyway.

The more I think about it, the more it seems kind of odd to me. Why of all the things I'd be doing, I would spend time fixing how this blog looks? It's not like I advertise it ... and it's not like it really technically matters. Megan has says she's gone, and here this is a site devoted to and all about us ... sure it's a great forum, but why bother tweaking it?

Hm, many answers ... and then again some questions I don't have answers too.

Anyway, I am slowly tweaking it, I may or may not change the background picture.

So just be on the lookout.

-Jim-

p.s. I have come across a kink in Firefox versus explorer I'm trying to iron out or work around, so that is a total pain in the butt!

Dairy Queen

2007-01-09T17:22:00.000-06:00

So Saturday night Meg and I went to get some ice-cream at Dairy Queen. I was pretty excited that she just wanted to hang out with me at all. We had a nice time, well I did. We had about 45 minutes of conversation, had some good laughs. Real smiles, etc. Anyway, I won't go into much detail ...I e-mailed her thanking her for letting me take her out for Ice-Cream and all that.

I mean it was nice. I really have just missed talking to her. Just missed seeing her face. And it hurts to not be able to hug or kiss or tell her how much I adore her ... but it's about 80 million times better than not seeing her at all. And I found that I just liked being with her again. I don't think I can handle being a group setting ... but on an individual level, she really does just make me happy. And it really was nice to see her smile and laugh.

But I guess I'm just kinda bothered 'cause she never e-mailed me back. And I know what that means ... and it's all bad. So I doubt Dairy Queen will be in the future plans again ...

And even if she didn't have a good time, or it was just "eh" or she forgot about it already, or whatever ... a lack of return e-mail would have been great. Because not having one, means that either there's something up and she doesn't wanna respond, that it was so inconsequential to her she hasn't taken the time to respond, or 8 million other things .... none of which are overly good news.

Even if its just something simple, like her sister has been there and she's been busy. Today she found time to respond to another quick e-mail I sent, and she didn't respond to that one.

Im not mad or agitated or irritated ...

Anyway, so yeah, we went to Dairy Queen ... I guess that's the story.

-Jim-

Some Days are Easier than Others

2007-01-09T13:38:00.000-06:00

I have found that some days are much easier to get through than others. For example yesterday, while Megan was on my mind all day as usual, it was a good day. I got through it pretty well. Today, for whatever reason ... is proving much more difficult. There's no rhyme or reason why, I don't think ... but today, I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't put a barrage of posts.

-Jim-

Total Vacation Excitement Buzz Kill

2007-01-08T20:05:00.000-06:00

While reminders of Megan are literally everywhere and I have to try far harder to ignore them than to look for them, a few occur each day that really just stick out the most.

Such is the case about 10 minutes ago.

By some act of God Marriott Hotels called my Dad and because he signed up for some silly Reward Zone Membership while staying at a Marriott, they offered him 4 days and five nights at any Marriott of our choice for 4 people for a grand total of ... $200! We have a whole year to pick our weekend, currently we are signed up for a beautiful resort right by Disney World, and we have the option of upgrading to some mega amazing two bedroom villa (because we have 6 people in our family) for an additional $200. We just had a major vehicle repair fee, and so we dont have a ton of money, we gotta worry about airfare, etc. And clearly we have to make decisions on when, who's going, if we want to upgrade, changing our destination, etc. But considering how expensive taking just 4, let alone 6 of us, anywhere can be, and considering it's such an amazing deal ... my brother and I talked my Dad into it.

Anyway, naturally the house has been buzzing with excitement the last hour, and when we finally talked through it after he got off the phone, the excitement level peaked as I raced to the computer to get on-line and check out all of the possibilities from Marriott's website.

I also wanted to shout it to the world. Instantly I hopped on, and double-clicked Megan's screen name to leave her some message about going to stay in a Marriott Villa by Disney World, or maybe Hawaii for a week and asking her if she wants me to try and talk my parents into letting her go with us...

Then I remembered we weren't dating ... that she wanted time and space ... that she doesn't want to be that person in my life ...

And it was a total buzz kill! Haha, true story. I was like, oh man, I have no one to share this amazing news with. Well I mean, I have a plethora of people I could share it with, but I don't have a Megan to share it with.

And normally, if I didnt go it wouldnt be any big deal. Because odds are it would mean I would A) Have a vehicle for a week (and thus get to see Megan) or B) I'd have the house for a week so Megan could come stay at the house with me (very exciting). And then I realized that wasn't try anymore, so staying at home suddenly was no longer a win-win situation.

It's really minor, but it was like I came screaming back to Earth after making that realization.

So I'm sure I'll share with people the excitement, but it's not the same ... and it sucks!

Anyway, I feel like I should I have a report in my face, "Jim a month ago Megan broke up with you ... what are you gonna do next?"

And of course my response, "Um, I guess I could go to Disney World ..."

:)

-Jim-

The Family Stone

2007-01-07T23:55:00.000-06:00

Tonight I just caught the last half an hour of a movie called The Family Stone. It's pretty much a chick-flick, but I really love it. I haven't seen it in forever, so I had to watch it.

I think the reason I loved it so much is because of when I watched it. I was on the airplane home from England (visiting Megan) and it was on. And i was doing homework, but it totally sucked me in. I remember sort of tearing up at the end too. I think I was just feeling so much emotion at the time.

I am pretty sure that the week I spent with Megan in England was probably the best week of my life. I have never felt so much in love, so alive, so happy ... I seriously wanted to marry that girl, and move to England and live with her forever. I just kept thinking that whole week how great it was, and how I couldn't wait to graduate. I wanted to whisk her away to somewhere other than Normal, Illinois and start a new life. And it wouldn't all be like that week, but I knew that week was a really good glimpse into what life together would be like and it was everything I had dreamed of and then so much more...

On that plane home I was certain we were gonna make it. I don't think I'd ever been so certain of anything in my entire life. I can still feel that feeling to my very core, like just thinking about it ... I just can't explain it.

And I really love the movie, because I think that it reminds me of Megan, and reminds me of that feeling. I can't help but relive how I felt when I hear the title or see the movie, and it was such an incredible time ...

And I think that part of the way main character looks at the girl he's with at the end (right), it's just totally true. Like it is the essence of love, and it just reminds me of Megan so much ... and how i look at her ... and how I felt that whole week and on that plane home.

I would probably give up 20 years of my life to relive that week.

I also think that the way the family is in the movie, well it reminds me so much of both of our families, which makes me smile. And it also makes me think of what our family would be like if we had one. Like I totally put us in the position of the old couple, and they have such an amazing relationship and amazing family, and I'm like that would totally be Megan and I in 35 years ... and I felt all that when I watched it the first time ... so of course anytime it's on, I have to watch it. At least the last half an hour, it's my favorite part.

There is this part at the end where the main character goes to prevent the girl he's in love with from getting on a bus and leaving. And they embrace, and she's all like "I can't do this, it's too much". And he holds her and is like, "No it's not" ... and then she gets on the bus, it slowly starts to roll downt he street almost is gone and then stops and she gets off. And they embrace, but it's not a kiss, it's just this huge hug (left).

Anyway, I decided tonight that's totally how I feel about Megan and I. She feels like she has to go, like I tried to stop her and she told me that it's all too much, that she can't do this ... and i hugged her and told her it wasn't ... and she got ont he bus to take a different path and to leave ... and Im standing at this bus stop just like crushed and distraught because I had found the one and she couldn't see it. I know she felt the same thing, but she still left ... and I'm watching this bus pull away and it's getting farther away ...

know ... that she'd realize how she felt with that ring on her hand andI just wish that life was like the movies. You before she got on the bus (go see the movie), and that she'd speak up and stop the bus and get off and ask me what I was doing for New Year's ...

Alas, 'tis just a movie and I need to realize the bus ain't stopping. But that doesn't mean I can't watch the movie, and remember all those feelings and pray that happy endings do come true just like they do when I watch it ...

I just see such a parallel and it's like, it happened in the movie ... and real life has been pretty much the exact same thing, so why cant we have the same ending?!?

True story ...

:)

-Jim-

Taking Separate Paths

2007-01-07T23:37:00.000-06:00

Well, I have debated deleting this blog for sometime now. Megan and I have been having a rocky semester, I blame myself mostly.

Anyway it peaked about a month ago when Megan made the only decision she felt she had left, and what was best for her ... so she broke up with me, and not like one of those it's over and then a few days later comes running back to me break-ups...which is what EVERYBODY asked me. Her sister, all my friends, my family, my room-mates, etc. When someone found out their first question was always something like, "Is it really over?" Or is this like, she needs a week to recompose over...or "u just had a fight and she's pissed" over. And then when I would respond, "no, it's 'over' over" ... everyone had the same response. Disbelief ... almost some like mourning. Sort of like everyone's outlook on life, at least for a moment, became just a little bleaker. It was hard for a lot of people to hear/believe. I don't think anyone really wanted to ...

Anyway, so one of the trivial issues of the fallout has been what to do with the blog here. I mean, I've started a new blog so everyday I sign in a couple times to blog and see this sitting on my blog dashboard.

I just couldn't bring myself to delete it, you know. I don't know. And the more I thought about it, the more I knew I needed an outlet for what I'm feeling, but I hate depressing people and Megan sure doesn't what 18 e-mails a day filled with my feelings on the subject of "us", or apparent lack thereof.

Thus, I realized that this blog could be a perfect outlet. I'll warn anyone reading this, it's probably going to b e pretty depressing. I doubt it anyone still reads it, so it's prolly a moot point. I'll try and let Megan know that I am writing on the blog again. Not that I expect her to read it regularly or anything, but it was/is just as much her forum as it is mine (considering it was designed for US collectively), so I feel like she should at least know I'm posting to it again.

Feel free to leave any comments (that includes you Meg). I'm not going to promise that I'll spin everything positively, or that everything I write will be fair. I'm just gonna use it as a place to put my thoughts and feelings out there. That was it's original purpose. A place for us to connect and share our love for each other with the world ...

Hopefully this is as therapeutic as I think it could be. Hopefully it will do some good for someone else too.

-Jim-

it's been awhile...

2006-06-01T07:33:00.000-05:00

hey all...so it's been awhile, i know. i've just have exams and jim's started work for the summer and we've just both been a little preoccupied recently. but i'm done with school for the semester...my last exam was last week, i spent the weekend in scotland, and now i'm passing the two weeks until it's time for me to come home. i'm going out with friends, saying goodbye to people, enjoying the time off, and generally trying to enjoy my last few weeks abroad. it's taking its toll on me and jim and we don't get to talk as much as we'd like, which is really sad. we're still struggling with a lot of things, and these last two weeks may prove to be the hardest yet.

~megan~

sad saturday

2006-05-07T06:01:00.000-05:00

the weekends are the worst time to be apart...because that's the time we usually get to spend the most time together. during the week we're both at school, so even now it's easier to get through the days because we're used to being at school and not being together. but when the weekend hits classes are over for the week, we have some free time...that's when it really hurts. yesterday (saturday) was a bad day for me, i was just sad and lonely all day, knowing that if i was at home we would be curled up watching a movie together, or eating dinner with one of our families, or proudly watching our siblings take their prom pictures.

i'm ready to come home...but at the same time i'm not ready to leave england. i had a great time at the Athletic Union ball on friday night. our team got dressed up, had dinner, danced...it was awesome. but the whole time i knew it would be 100 times better if jim was there too. i'm having a great semester, but i miss jim so much. it would be perfect if he could be here too.

~megan~

Updating on Us: The waves get choppier

2006-05-04T08:44:00.000-05:00

Well, wanted to update on Meg and I, as the relationship since Spring Break has been anything other than smooth sailing. True Story.

I think it's been a time of hard transitioning. We came out of Spring Break and life was good, then I had to move out of my dorm and like 80 things were due, so we didn't get to talk much. And then then three days after break Meg went on her month long spring break. She spent the first week in a friends' apartment. Literally, we didn't get to talk more than like 3 minutes because of scheduling until, oh, a week or more after I left England. So that was rough. And then that week was hit or miss on whether we got to talk.

The following week she then left to go travel Europe for about three weeks, give or take a few days. That was a very rocky affair. I just don't think I deal with the absence very well. I think I'm too insecure. Anyway, I got e-mails form her every 3-5 days, although we had one time where she had some drunken fun and relayed the story in a manner to where I thought she was being dangerous. And I didnt think I lectured her, but I did brng her judgement into question (the last thing I want is for Megan to be the next Natalee Holloway). I quickly rescinded ALL of my comments however as jsut being irrational, and then the next day Meg let me know she had just misportrayed key details. However, the damage had been done as she focused pretty much solely on my negative e-mails, rather than mountain of positive ones, and so I didnt really hear from her the last week and a half ... and when I did they were short generic e-mails. So that was depressing. She pretty much avoided the e-mail and avoided saying anything at all really, so for that whole last week my insecurities only grew because I knew something was weird. And weird is never good.

Anyway, she came back from break about two weeks ago, and we spent the first 48 hours fighting and mad. The weirdness just trickled over. We got over it. Meg was gone again for three days, so no communication, and then she came back and Sun/Mon night we didnt talk much becase I'm in crunch time with school and literally worked around the clock for like three days. So anyway, that, in part, led to us fighting the last two nights.

Well, not so much fighting. But two nights ago, I could tell something was weird,so I asked her about it. And it led to this HUGE conversation about how she feels this great disconnect between us .... and she doesnt know how to fix it. And she knows we'll be fine when we're together, but until then we're not ... and I think the theme I kept taking out of it was, pretty much she feels like we've stopped dating and instead are just waiting. So I really went to bed that night not knowing what was going on. In my opinion, our whole relationship status was called into dating. Does this mean we're on a break until she gets back? Are we just nothing until she gets back? What is going on ... Really I kept asking her lots of questions abotu her thinking, and she confirmed a lot of things you never want to hear in a relationship ... anyway, so I didnt know what was going on and I was fairly confident we had sort of like broken-up-ish. Like we werent together, but we werent available either.

So then I woke up yesterday morning to an e-mail that did some mild clarification and retratction on her part. At least in what the status of us is ... however, yesterday we had two conversations in which she seemed really distant and/or weird and went MIA more than once for long periods. And/or responded in short meaningless answers. It was very frustrating, and her whole mood and attitude seemed to be more reflective of the previous night, not the morning's e-mail. So we touched on that barely before bed, and she spent a second night going to bed crying.

However, I think today is a new day in many respects. I sent a few e-mails last night, she seemed to be in high spirits this morning. I have a feeling we're moving on past all that. Although many questions, insecurities and some doubt remains on this end of the ocean. So we'll see what happens. I have a feeling things will get better as the stress of school for me subsides, although it may not. I may have less to occupy my time with. Who knows.

But it has certainly been interesting. I think we're both pretty much just sick of being apart. And not just being apart, but being like this. I know we couldn't survive a whole school year of her being gone. And I'm a little worried we're going to trip in this last leg of the adventure too. Okay, I'm more than a little worried, but such is life.

Turns out Meg can be reaaaaallllllllllllllllly confusing ... which leads me to my next point, girls are confusing, 'cause a lot of trouble, waaaaay too much stress and are generally a pain in the arse. Haha, having said that, I miss Megan a lot and it's a lot more okay for her to be all of the above things when we're together, because when she frustrates me or we're fighting I can just give her a big kiss and things are all better. Haha, having no outlet for that here, everything just escalates and snowballs on us. Anyway, have a good one.

-Jim-

a poem about absence

2006-05-03T14:17:00.000-05:00

Sonnet 44--by Fulke Greville

Absense, the noble truce
Of Cupids warre:
Where though desires want use,
They honoured are.
Thou art the just protection,
Of prodigall affection,
Have though the praise;
When bankrupt Cupid braveth,
Thy mines his credit saveth,
With sweet delayes.

*absense is protectioin against desire, and the pain that comes with desire or being rejected. i get that, but that doesn't mean it's fun. and if you're in love with the person and they love you back, then you don't need the protection b.c the desire and love is reciprocated.*

Absence, like dainty Clouds,
On glorious-bright,
Natures weake senses shrowds,
From harming light.
Absence maintaines the treasure
Of pleasure unto pleasure,
Sparing with praise;
Absence doth nurse the fire,
Which starves and feeds desire
WIth sweet delayes.

*so while absence can protect you, it also helps you appreicate the other person when you are with them. that makes sense, and is definitely true.*

Presence to every part
Of Beauty tyes,
Where Wonder rules the heart
There Pleasure dyes:
Presence plagues minde and senses
With modesties defences,
Absence is free:
Thoughts doe in ansence venter
On Cupids shadowed center,
They winke and see.

*when you're apart you can take a step back and do some thinking and be objective. i guess that makes sense, b.c you're not constantly around the other person and so visibly involved. when you're apart, it's easier to be objective b.c you don't have them there reminding you why, you have to remember for yourself.*

But Thoughts be not so brave,
With absent joy;
For you with that you have
Your selfe destroy:
The absenve which you glory,
Is that which makes you sory,
And burne in vaine:
For Thought is not that weapon,
Wherewith thoughts-ease men cheapon,
Absence is paine.

*your insecurities come out when you're apart and your thoughts turn against you...so in the end absence sucks. you start to think about what if they don't miss me, what if we're not as great as i thought we were, bad stuff like that. in the end, absence hurts and this semester has been proof of that.*

i obviously can't speak for jim, but i would have to say that overall absence isn't any fun and is just a hassle to what is already a good relationship. neither of us do well when we're apart, and so while this semester has taught us more of how to deal with it, i can't say i'd recommend it to anyone to try. absence may make the heart grow fonder, but i think that my heart could have been made just as fond by spending a few weeks apart. a whole semester is just unnecessary.

this poem is from my modern love literature class, by the way...which has give me lots of stuff to think about in terms of relationships and love. this is one of the pieces i could personally relate to.

crazy

2006-05-02T04:20:00.000-05:00

in case you can't tell...jim and i have both been crazy busy with school the past couple of weeks so we've been slacking on updates. well, he's been crazy, crazy busy with school and work, i've just been busy since i've gotten back from break.

hopefully once things calm down a bit we can really work on some new posts. i know we've had a request to talk about how absense has affected our relationship, and i think that's a great idea since obviously it has affected us.

but i have to run to class...it's my last seminar for american novels class. (yeah, i'm in american novels...but there's english people in the class and an english professor, so it's cultural too) hope everyone else has a good day.

¬megan¬

my return...

2006-04-25T10:02:00.000-05:00

hello again...i'm finally back from my european vacation and have to go back to school and classes. having a month off is great, but it makes the transition back to real life a little rough. i just posted some pictures on facebook, so feel free to check them out, and hopefully i'll have a summary of my adventures up pretty soon.

we're on the home stretch now, and i'll be home before we know it. only two weeks of class left and then finals...yikes. i really have to crack down on all the school work i avoided all month.

Megan's location and the blog

2006-04-17T00:38:00.000-05:00

Well, life here at Illinois State University is once very crazy ... I really hate being an education major.

I know that Megan is having a great time (or so I'm told). She is in Athens and tomorrow from all information gathered they are going to the Acropolis tomorrow.

Here in Normal it never gets easier, but it's nice to know she's enjoying herself.

I am trying to really finish up the last 25-35% of the blog re-design ... but like I said, way too busy. I'm sure I'll finish it about the time Megan comes home.

I have been updating the photo album regularly so check that out ... and does anyone else think the tagline under the header and the body text should be bold, or is that just me?

-Jim-

European vacation...

2006-04-13T09:50:00.000-05:00

hello all!! i'm sitting in the lobby of Hotel Kronio in Olympia, Greece at the moment taking advantage of their free internet to finally post a new entry. my traveling experience is going awesome, italy was pretty cool and greece is already amazing and i've been here for a day and a half. no worries, i have a ton of pictures that will most likely get posted on facebook within days of my return, and hopefully some stories to share with you all.

some highlights so far...the three of us went to pompeii and the archeological museum for free since it was Cultural Week in Italy, we took a ferry across the Adriatic Sea that had multiple viewing decks a bar and a restuarant on board. we then got off the ferry and had a couple of days until we had to meet the rest of our group in athens, so we decided to take a train down the Peloponessian coast and stop in Olympia. we were true backpackers rolling into town and hoping someone had a place for us to stay. we head to athens either tomorrow or saturday where we rock out for a week before coming home on the 23rd.

yeah, i love my life right now.

and i am keeping my journal for jim so that when i get back he can read about what i've done and what i've been feeling, and hopefully feel more a part of what i've been doing. it's really nice to have an outlet for things i want to tell him, and since i don't always have access to the internet my journal is a way to make sure i get everything down that i don't want to forget. it's been an interesting experience and i can't wait to share it with him. (and with all of you, though you don't get to read the journal...haha)

so that's all for now, sorry i've been mia for awhile...but i'll be back as soon as i can. hope everyting is going good for all of you. ciao!

megan

An Update on Megan

2006-04-11T13:31:00.000-05:00

Hello! I'm currently in a computer lab at Illinois State University killing the half-hour or so I have until the Pink D bus stops by and takes me home (or as close as the route gets) ... so I figured you all needed an update on Megan's whereabouts.

She is still on break (seriously, a month is just ridiculous). She spent the last week in Naples Italy ... and it was cultural week in Italy so she got into all of the cool touristy attractions for free! (Talk about dumb-snot luck!). I know she visited a lot of places, like Pompeii which she thoroughly enjoyed. Although after one day (maybe Pompeii) she reported that she was quite sunburnt and her feet hurt a lot.

She and her two friends stayed in a hostel, which I hear wasnt bad, although wasnt int he greatest part of town, so they got lots of Italian men yelling at them, whistling, making lewd comments etc. We haven't gotten to talk, but she has e-mailed every few days from an internet cafe by her hostel. Altho apparently the internet cafe is real "shady" and they only went there at night once, and now they only go during the day because its less creepy. Um, I know they are being smart and staying together (or so Im told) ...

and the other day (well night for Megan as they are 7 hours ahead), Megan proposed to me via text messaging. Haha true story. She was drunk with her friends at about 10:30pm her time because she drank a whole bottle of wine and texted me a few times. The last one asking If I would marry her. Haha, true story ... I know she remembers it, although Im sure she has no idea what she was thinking! Lol ... nonetheless, I knew from that text she had to be feeling pretty damned alright from the booze. Lol. Altho it is nice to be missed.

Um, and I got an e-mail this morning that said "we're in casserta waiting for a train to bari, it's been a crazy and stressful day." I know they are on their way to Greece today, and I believe taking a ferry ... although I don't know where Casserta or bari are in relation to Naples.

And that is the update on Megan!

-Jim-

Dear Anonymous: Part II

2006-04-07T16:00:00.000-05:00

Dear Anonymous, I have since rereviewed that post and I understand all of your questions come from that. I do wish Megan was around to send you all of the stuff. As far as what I can find, here is a poem she sent me on March 4th

My very sweet and most beloved one
Night and day for love of you
I sigh
Be firm and loyal
Love me so that I feel it
I ask

She also wrote me this e-mail on Feb 28th:

...in modern love this afternoon we discussed an author named Luce Irigaray and it was an essay on her thoughts on love. more specifically, her thoughts on the equality of love and how language has influncedher perception of what it is. anyway...the part that really stuck out to me was how she thinks love needs to be about two subjects, instead of a subject and an object. one person should not be doing the loving,and the other receiving...there should be equality b.cthey should both be subjects. (that's where thelanguage comes in, and using direct and indirectpronouns, but it doesn't matter that much) the paragraph on equality really struck me, i don't think i agree with everything, but it made someinteresting points.

"And so: you do not know me, but you knows omething of my appearance. You can also perceive the directions and dimensions of my intentionality. You can cannot know who I am bue you can help me to be my perceiving that in me which escapes me, my fidelity or infidelity to myself. In this way you can help me getaway from inertia, tautology, repetition, or even from errancy, from error. You can help me become while remaining myself."

basically two people can never know each othercompletely, b.c they are always changing...and that's ok b.c it's supposed to happen. what love is is the ability to allow the other person to change and still feel the same way about them. to expect and accept the changes as that person grows...but being with that person helps them to change. being in a relationship is helping the other person grow into their true self,and love is knowing enough of the person to know you're going to like them through it all and until the end.

i know i'm changing this semester, i hoped that i would. i don't want you to see it as i'm changing becuase you're not here, but becuase that's what people do. and that you can just notice it more b.c you're not here with me. i want to change and grow this semester so that i can come back and really know who i am and what i'm capable of. we've been together for a long time, and it's been the time that most people are able to explore what they want and who they are...it's college. in a way we didn't get to do that b.c we were together and workingon making an Us. i don't regret it, and i don't think it's a bad thing...but i have the opportunity to do that now, and i want to take it.

I'll keep digging for anything she sent related. Hope this helps!

-Jim-

Dear Anonymous

2006-04-07T01:12:00.000-05:00

To whomever left the recent anonymous comment on the blog:

I looked back over that post u referenced, and that writing was one I am not sure I have. Megan had it as a part of her course curriculum (as I am sure u deduced), and while she may have sent it to me (I'm sure she did) I need to find it, so I shall look for it and get back to you ASAP.

In terms of your second question, in terms of that second question I was a little confused. To which post were u referring, and if it is the same post, can u quote the part for me?

I hope this site continues to help.

Rock On!

-Jim-

Two hearts, two lives, two journals

2006-04-07T00:43:00.000-05:00

So Megan is officially gone for Naples, Italy and then Greece. Sad. She left Tuesday and won't be back for like 3 weeks ... very sad. Before she left she asked us to start something ... which I thoguht was really cool, and really just sort of excited she suggested anything like it at all ...

I am not sure for how long, but at least for the duration of her trip Megan has requested that we both journal for each other. Sort of like writing daily letters only without the postage. I think it's going to be good for both of us and it'll be awesome to read what the other person wrote. Although we havent worked out when we'll stop or when we'll read the other person's. Nonetheless I'm excited, even if Megan has just a few entries (seriously, she's in Naples with like 6 other girls, who thinks she has time to waste writing in some little notebook to someone she isnt even with?!? Not me! Haha ....)

Im excited anyway! I think its another good thing long-distance couples can do.

-Jim-

spring break!

2006-04-01T10:22:00.000-06:00

hello all. i thought i'd give an update as to what's been going on over here in england. this week started our four week easter break, so yes, i am out of school for a month. for this first week i've been living in one of my volleyball teammates apartments, since we have to move out of the dorms, and it worked out that he is in the states visiting his girlfriend so i get his apartment to myself. and i love geoff's apartment, it's a single, big living room, kitchen, and his awesome dvd collection. it's been a good week so far.

on tuesday however, i leave for london because on wednesday i fly to naples, italy for 6 days. i'm meeting one of my new american friends from the volleyball team, sonja, and her housemate erin. we're going to visit pompeii, the island of capri, and do some other touristy things, but it's just pretty cool that i'm going to be in italy. then we're taking a ferry across the sea to athens, greece for the last week and a half of break. we're meeting more of sonja and erin's housemates and we'll be rocking out in athens and on some sunny greek island. i love easter break in england.

so aside from having to get used to cooking for myself, and having only a bathtub but no shower, this break has already been a great time. campus is right around the corner, the bus stop to catch the bus into town is a block away, and some of my volleyball friends are still around to hang out with. i was worried that having to move out of my dorm for the four weeks was going to be very stressful and expensive as i had to find places to live and feed myself, but this has turned out to be nice and relaxing. now i'm looking forward to italy and greece.

The Great Redesign

2006-03-30T18:43:00.000-06:00

Helloooo! As everyone can see the blog looks completely different! I've been working on this forever, and it's nowhere near complete ... I'll keep tweaking it and adding to it now that I've got the time ...

sorry I've been MIA from the blogging world ... but we're back. Lol ...

Lemme know what everyone thinks needs to go/stay, or is good/bad about the new look ...

Rock on!

thanks

2006-03-22T13:29:00.000-06:00

so after 12 days together jim and i are again an ocean apart. but we had 12 great days that were the highlight of my semester. i just want to thank everyone again for helping it happen, we couldn't have done it without you.

and i hope you forgive us for not posting more while he was here.
~megan~

Megan's Floor Catches on Fire

2006-03-14T08:11:00.000-06:00

“The English learn a valuable lesson in how to make toast”

At the beginning of this semester I stole a hat from my brother’s closet which was given to him by my Father many many moons ago. It’s a red truckers hat, still in the never-worn condition, that has a simple white State Farm Logo in the center, and directly under reads: Special Disasters Team.

I took it to the dorm with the intention of wearing it as a joke in my last semester as an RA, but as it turns out wearing that hat has become more appropriate with each day. As many of you know late last semester my floor caught on fire. Two bulletin boards were damaged, my floor was engulfed in smoke at one point, and I was ordering people at the top of my lungs to either get off of the floor or to bring me the damned fire extinguisher. Sometime last month I was walking my floor when it decided to flood, and I was a part of that initial response staff (since I was one of two people who saw it happen) and spent the next 2 ½ hours cleaning up the havoc wreaked by the Chester Flood of 2006.

Well, I can now add another notch to my Special Disasters Team belt. I have recently resigned my job as an RA, and escaped to England (at least for a brief time), and in the small dorms here I felt it was safe to assume I would not have to worry about anything remotely related to RA work or fire alarms.

It turns out I was wrong.

Last night, after spending 2 ½ hours of our lives watching Terminal (which wasn’t a terrible movie, just long) Meg and I are just lounging around be bums and enjoying each others company. After a few moments of nothingness Meg begins passionately kissing the back of my neck (because she knows it makes my hair stand on end and gives me goosebumps). She was harassing me like she has not harassed me in a very long time. While this bit of information is inconsequential to the overall story, you may understand my dismay in a few sentences a little better now.

After a few minutes of this the proverbial green flag is waved and the feelings of the moment begin to take us elsewhere (bottom line, we were about to make out y’all). As she began to kiss the back of my neck with increasing force, a shrill sound shattered the peaceful calm of the room and startled me in such a fashion that I completely forgot where I was, for a moment. I nearly rolled off the bed yelling “AIR RAID!!” at the top of my lungs. However, after that initial split second I regained my senses, realized that the moment with Megan was ruined, which made my heart sink, and was able to ask her what in the name of Sam Hill is that ear-piercing noise. As it turns out, it was the fire alarm going off.

I was at least mildly impressed at the time, as I think the alarm would have woken a dead man, or at least a slumbering Narcoleptic in this situation, which is much more than I can say for the alarms back home. Instinctively I had my shoes on, coat in hand and hand on the door knob within maybe five seconds … and in fact felt mildly annoyed when I realized that Megan was still finding her shoes, then debated whether to take a coat, then lollygagged to the door.

After these few moments we exited her room and to our left, through a set of double doors we see a mildly smoky scene. It appears the last few stragglers are jogging out of the area, laughing mind you, and that they at least seem confident everyone has vacated the area. I debated for a moment, walking through the double doors to ensure that the fire was under control (if possible) and more importantly to double check the area had been cleared. However, partly because of my RA training, and partly in spite of it, I suppressed whatever reactions I had and decided to follow Megan and just blend. Although for at least a moment I considered standing at the bottom of the stairs, holding the door open for like the twenty people in her dorm and hollering “This is the real-deal people, please go stand by the basketball courts.”

We get outside the alarms still going off, only to be met by raindrops and a cold Meditarranean temperature that could not have been any warmer than 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Needless to say this was a stark contrast to the comfortable room and warm embrace I had been enjoying not five minutes earlier. After a few moments we made our way to the group people we know who live in the smoke-filled hallway. It turns out that someone had simply forgotten about some toast, and it had managed to catch fire, which they apparently put out.

While this put us at ease, the actual reaction from the University staff was less than comforting. As we initially got outside, it became clear that their was only one hall staff member outside with us. As to whether there is any other staff member in the hall, I don’t know. What I do know is that 60 kids were huddled around each freezing, and one girl, who must have been a senior or early grad student, was clutching a phone/hand radio and a piece of paper that closely resembled the play chart held by most NFL coaches on the sidelines. Literally, I felt the urge to run up behind her and ask her if she thought we should run “32 bubble-cross Q” or if they’d expect that and we should mix it up with “12 ZZY Post” … Haha, I don’t think she said a word to anyone the whole time either. She just stood up against a wall, clutching her phone and paper like her life depended on it, as he muscles continually tightened.

To improve my confidence in their emergency response, after a few minutes of standing outside I began scanning the area for fire trucks or some sort of response team. It had been roughly five minutes and I figured they should be arriving any minute. This is a campus of 30,000 students, surely they dealt with this with some sort of regularity. To my surprise the only response was a man in a security outfit (not rent-a-cop, but real security), strolling across the grassy knoll that is Megan’s front lawn and making his way into the dorm. He looked fairly annoyed, and silent for that matter. We watched him duck into the building, and then a few moments later appear in the small kitchen of the third floor where the burnt toast had been. He came in and out of view, as moved certain things around.

I was beyond shocked. Back in Normal, Illinois at Manchester Hall, when a fire alarm goes off, at least one if not two or three fire trucks and at least one police car swarm the front of the building within three to five minutes. And that’s just for a false alarm. If smoke is reported, another fire truck, police car and ambulance arrive a few minutes later. In Nottingham England when a hallway fills with smoke, a lone tough security officer, with his flashlight and gun attached to his belt, arrives to deal with the situation. He literally was the response team. Sure, it was no big deal that it turned out to be a minor incident. However, it seems that to elicit the same response seen in the states, the building would have to be engulfed in flames with pillars of black smoke racing upwards to the heavens.

I also felt mildly miffed at the fact we were all standing within 10 feet of the entry ways. Once again back home, we empty 18 floors, or roughly 600-800 kids in a matter of 10 minutes and keep them a couple hundred feet away, no matter how many RA’s are present. Here, the kids huddle right up next to the building, no problemo. No safety risk there.

Haha, one thing is universal from country to country though. The moment that guy turned the alarm off, the residents made a mad rush back inside. I patiently waited at the back of the line and laughed to myself. I don’t know why it is so universally assumed that once the alarm goes off it is safe to go back inside. Heaven forbid the emergency responders turn off the blasted alarm so they can actually think while working. Anyone else tried to communicate while standing in a hallway with an alarm going off? IMPOSSIBLE!

And of course, I made everyone proud by ribbing Megan’s English friends about it. I had to make sure I asked, “Now did we learn a valuable lesson about how to make toast? Specifically the length of time required?”

Megan also gave me a hard time about how it’s me. Wherever I go something catches on fire or floods, which may be true. But it should also be known that perhaps God just ensures I am around. I mean, my casualty to damage ratio is still perfect … and by that mean in two fires and a flood we have had 0 deaths and damage has been done to the hall every time. So as long as that keeps up, who can argue with my impeccable record?!

News from Abroad!

2006-03-11T11:51:00.000-06:00

I MADE IT!!!!

Haha, I do apologize for the delay in posting on our site here. I wrote my last post on Sunday the 6th, and then on Monday the 6th I resigned from my job at ISU as an RA because they fired someone on my staff, the next day I had two big lesson plans due, the next day I spent two hours tutoring, had more lesson plannage due, dealt with a teacher who wants me to drop a class I have to finish this semester and oh yeah, I flew out of O'Hare Wed night! Haha ... so it's been hectic.

Not going to lie, I am sure posts this week are going to be sporadic as I intend to spend more time with Megan here in England rather than on-line telling you all about it! Haha, but i do promise regular updates this week! And I will take pictures since Megan apparently won't so that you all can see what Megan is experiencing (believe me it involves lots of rain and narrow hallways!)

She is at dinner right now (I'm not overly hungry) and then tonight we are going to some bar for an hour and then its off to some other American girls' apartment for an "American" party (we have to dress up as our favorite Americans). They are real big on theme parties down here ... but I think tonight, other than the weird costume requirement, we get to teach the crazy Redcoats how to play such wonderful games as Beerpong and flippy cup!

Haha, I hope all goes well back in the States.

Enjoy Spring Break for those of you who just started it.

*Puts hand to ear**Hold Microphone close to mouth*

From Nottingham, England this has been Jim Boyer, ESPN.

Kegs for Megs 2: A Success!

2006-03-05T16:24:00.000-06:00

Last night was definitely a crazy amazingly good times!

We did well fundraising (numbers coming out tonight!) ... and it was such a good time!

I'll update more soon, but I just wanted to thank everyone who came out!

And if anyone's got any pictures, lemme know, so I can put them in an album and then put the album ont he blog!

Later guys...

Love in Literature

2006-03-04T06:54:00.000-06:00

I'm taking a class this semester called Early Modern Love Literature, and we're reading all kinds of stuff that has to do with love and sex and relationships. It's pretty interesting, and it's also amazing how much we read I find applies to me and Jim. We read a poem the other day about absence, and how it sucks but can be good for a relationship. Obviously, we are going through that right now. We also read something about how a relationship isn't about completely knowing the other person, but helping them change and become the person they're supposed to be. Which is kind of ironic, since I'm going through changes this semester that are putting a strain on us, and we're having to figure out how to cope with that.

Basically this class is turning out to be a source for all the things I'm feeling but can't really figure out how to put into words. It's kind of strange, but nice at the same time. It's sometimes easier to see what an author is talking about, because I can really relate, but also harder because I feel all the emotion that goes along with it. I'm glad I'm in the class, but it would have been nice to take a class like this without having to fly across the ocean too.

2006-03-03T11:03:00.000-06:00

1 out 1 Tommy's agree, Kegs for Megs was awesome!

2006-03-03T11:02:00.000-06:00

Here's a life lesson: Do not for any reason, use paper towels after the toilet paper runs out ...

2006-03-03T11:00:00.000-06:00

Somebody's happy...!

2006-03-03T10:59:00.001-06:00

Once again, it's best not to ask questions

2006-03-03T10:59:00.000-06:00

Apparently I was a "soccer mom or dad" ... Psh, the dark purple '96 Caravan was a pimped out hot-a$$ beast!

2006-03-03T10:58:00.000-06:00

X-MARKS THE SPOT IN THE TAXI!

Progress Reports

2006-03-02T23:40:00.000-06:00

Meg and I are slowly improving. Yeah. 12 days in England will be just what the doctor ordered.

The site redesign is going amazing. I've still got a ton to work, but it's going to be completely different from what it is now. I'm really excited!

2006-03-02T21:51:00.000-06:00

Me Kassie! Me so happy! (Haha, I love ya Kass, that's why I'm harassing u!)

2006-03-02T21:46:00.000-06:00

Aimee and Kassie: Take 2

2006-03-02T21:38:00.000-06:00

Cheers!

2006-03-02T21:36:00.000-06:00

Aimee and I counting the money she made from the bucket ...

2006-03-02T21:35:00.000-06:00

It's best not to ask questions ... I don't know and I don't ask! It's best that way.

2006-03-02T14:55:00.000-06:00

Kassie, Aimee and Abby ... before the party really got going.

2006-03-02T14:54:00.001-06:00

Master Bartender Brian

2006-03-02T14:54:00.000-06:00

The Master bartender Brian doing his thing...

2006-03-02T14:53:00.000-06:00

Scorno showing Abby and Aimee what real cleavage is!

2006-03-02T14:51:00.000-06:00

I have no idea why we were flicking off the camera ...

2006-03-02T14:50:00.001-06:00

Dave has the single greatest face int he background of this photo ... ever! I crack up every time I look at it.

2006-03-02T14:50:00.000-06:00

I swear she was sober!

2006-03-02T14:48:00.000-06:00

Abby is such a happy drunk when she's horny and chasing boys ... and don't ask me what the heck Jeff was talking about in this picture, but I think we all have our own assumptions ... and he is giving himself waaaaaaaaaaaay too much credit!

2006-03-02T14:46:00.000-06:00

Aimee and her donation bucket. She used her cleavage all night to entice donations. There were three amazing parts to this: 1) She was sober; 2) It worked!; 3) She got the apartment security guards who broke up half the party halfway through the night to donate their spare change ... true story.

2006-03-02T14:40:00.000-06:00

Abby and Aimee ... after they've seduced everyone out of their cash! God Bless 'em...

2006-03-02T14:39:00.000-06:00

There's a hot threesome ... if only it wasn't two guys!

2006-03-02T14:38:00.000-06:00

Abby and Dave

2006-03-02T14:37:00.000-06:00

Aimee and Kassie, and Kassie sure looks like she's having a good time there...

Kegs for Megs: A Photo Diary

2006-03-02T14:25:00.000-06:00

Well, I've been meaning to do this all week, and while I shouldn't be blowing off my homework for it, such is life! Here are some selected pictures from the first Kegs for Megs that happened last Friday night! I am using the Hello Upload editor, which is convient, but unfortunately every picture is it's own post. Sorry y'all...

Captions are underneath the pictures ... these will be the first of many pictures posts ...

Kegs for Megs: PART TWO!

2006-03-01T11:19:00.000-06:00

Soooo, Kegs for Megs was such a blast and I was begged by more people than I count to have a second round ... and while I don't expect anywhere near the same profit, it'd sure be nice to get up to that 655 mark by the time I leave. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....because it was too much fun not to do again, and because I like to please the crowd,

2Dh.com proudly presents the SECOND (& FINAL!) can't miss event of the semester...

KEGGIN FOR MEGAN: PART TWO

When: Saturday March 4, 2006

Time: 9pm-ish

Where: 106 W. Locust (click the link to see a map).

It's two blocks north of Manchester (my dorm!)
It's a little house

Who's invited: EVERYONE! Feel free to bring anyone and everyone you know!

Cost:

Attendance is free
BEER KEGS = $5 a cup (There will be multiple kegs)
Some type of Jello Shots (or something) will be available for like a dollar if the demand is high enough ... so who wants something other than beer?

Taxi Info: No Taxi Service, sorry guys. It's in a central enough location, u can take the night ride or redbird express!

RSVP: Not mandatory, but it'd much appreciated so I can get a feel for numbers. Please e-mail me, call me, IM me or leave a comment on this post if you are or might be there and how many people you are or might be bringing.

Don't be afraid to put this in your away message, facebook message, e-mail and tell everyone and anyone you know!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE CAUSE
BY COMING OUT TO PART-AY WITH US!!!!

The Music of our life: Wild West Show

2006-03-01T02:19:00.000-06:00

*Click title or link below to access song for free*

As things only get darker for our fearless heroes (that's a little shout to Calvin and Hobbes' Spaceman Spiff), I felt this song accurately reflects the current situation...

Wild West Show by Big & Rich

I'm feelin' like Tonto,
Ridin' a Pinto,
Tryin' to chase the Lone Ranger down.
I'm a little unravelled,
But I'm still in the saddle,
Cryin' your name out to the crowds,
Hey yaw, Hey yaw!

Why don't you meet me,
Back at the tepee?
We'll lay down by the camp fire.
There, in the dark night,
We'll smoke the peace pipe,
Forget about who's wrong or right.
Hey yaw, Hey yaw!

Yeah, it was a big showdown,
Oh yeah, we stood our ground.
Shot out the lights:
It got a little crazy.
I don't wanna see us go,
The way of the buffalo:
Don't wanna have another wild west show.
Hey yaw, Hey yaw!

Only forgiveness,
Will finally end this.
There won't be a witness if we both fall.
There's never a hero,
In a battle of egos.
There's never a winner of the quick draw.
Hey yaw, Hey yaw!

Yeah, it was a big showdown,
Oh yeah, we stood our ground.
Shot out the lights:
It got a little crazy.
Don't wanna see us go,
The way of the buffalo:
Don't wanna have another wild west show.
Hey yaw, Hey yaw!

Hey yaw, Hey yaw!

It's like a ghost town,
Without you around.
Why can't we just forget it,
Ride off in the sunset?

It was a big showdown,
Oh yeah, we stood our ground.
Shot out the lights:
It got a little crazy.
I don't wanna see us go,
The way of the buffalo:
Don't wanna have another wild west show.
Hey yaw, Hey yaw!

I'm feelin' like Tonto,
Ridin' a Pinto,
Tryin' to chase the Lone Ranger down.

lyrics courtesy of anysonglyrics.com

THANK YOU MIKE CARLSON!

2006-03-01T01:00:00.000-06:00

Okay, here we go ... the second of two of the biggest donation Thank You's.

THANK YOU MIKE CARLSON!!!!!!!!!

Carlson, and I have been friends for a long time now, although we don't get to hang out nearly enough ... although oddly enough his girlfriend goes to Illinois College (that's where Megan goes when she's not in England!). Anyway, Carlson stopped by before the party got going to chat for a few minutes and drop off a very generous donation. I told him I couldn't accept, but he kept saying that he'd be planning it all day and that "No one should have to be away from their love" ...

Here is a huge huge thank you to Mike Carlson .... I just hope I can repay the favor someday.

Thank you Luke Mester!

2006-03-01T00:47:00.000-06:00

Here's the first of two big big thank you for donations I need to throw out there!

THANK YOU LUKE MESTER!

I was randomly mingling at the party and someone slipped a check in my front shirt pocket. I had no idea who did it, just how much it was for. And I was like, who did this ... Miss Kelly pointed out the brilliant suggestion that I just see who signed it. I thanked him at the time and I am thanking him now. It was an incredibly generous donation and it really gave me those holy spirit goosebumps...

Luke is an amazing friend ... even after we made him split his head open playing some stupid game (sober!)!!

Rock on man! And thank you.

Overhaul

2006-02-28T13:43:00.000-06:00

So I'm looking at a major site re-design. I mean major. Let me know what you like/don't like about the site ... what colors we should use ... layout, etc.

Thanks for the input!

-Jim-

Kegs for Megs: Donation Thank Yous

2006-02-28T13:32:00.000-06:00

So I owe some huge donation thank yous! First, however, it should be known that I don't post what people have donated for a reason. Some people have donated large sums of money and I dearly wish to thank them, but I also know that some people have donated far less money, yet it means the exact same in terms of importance because it represents literally all or even more than they can probably afford. So I won't post what people have donated, just that I thank each and every one of you for your contributions big and small mean so much to me.

Okay, for this first post I'm going to thank a few individuals at once.

Thank you Bill Malott and Casey Aubin! Neither made it out to the party, but donated what they would have spent for the cause nonetheless! Thank you!

A Big thank you also to Carol Csanda! Abby's Mom threw in for the cause even though she didn't always support the way in which we've operated.

Another big thank you to Scorno! He didn't have to and he knows what I'm talking about!

Finally, a big thank you to my Parents, who have been very leery of this undertaking and how financially sound of a decision it is ... and especially my Mother who has not also not always supported the ways in which we've operated ... they decided to reward "good decision making" and made the final leg of the journey so much easier!

Thank you guys!

Thanks!

2006-02-28T04:12:00.000-06:00

so i've been MIA for a little while, sorry about that...i spent the weekend in london and have been kind of busy otherwise. i just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped make this possible. this is probably the most exciting thing that's going to happen to me while i'm over here...jim's coming to see me! it wouldn't have been possible without all out you, so thank you so much.

it's been a rough semester for the two of us, and it isn't over yet. as i'm sure you all know, we've had our share of spats and fights the last couple of weeks, which is taking a toll on both of us. we just want a break to be together and to recapture what we've been missing...we really need it. thank you guys, so much.

Google Recognizes the Skillzzzzzzzz!

2006-02-28T01:36:00.000-06:00

While, I'm blowing off my five page paper due tomorrow morning before I assess a first grader's ability to do whole number operations it has come to my attention that you can now Google "2 Distant Hearts" and in fact we will come up as the first results of the page! Not that it means much since very people would actually google that ... however, it means google is officially indexing us and that my friends is a huge start! WOOT WOOT!

Note: You can also google, "distant hearts" and we come up first as well.

Site Traffic: A New Unique Visitor Record!

2006-02-28T01:34:00.000-06:00

According to our CQ Counter, we broke a personal site record as 106 different computers visited our site yesterday!!!

Thanks to everyone who made that possible! We hit triple digits! Woot woot.

Kegs for Megs: Thank Yous

2006-02-27T21:35:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to throw a few big big shout-outs out there!

Thank You BRIAN VANDERBUSCH for working so hard to make this happen! He spent a lot of time, energy and financial risk to see this through and didn't ask for anything more than to cover his expenses, thank you so much!

Thank You MATT & ANDY for letting us throw the party at their place!

Thank You JASON BOYER (my brother!) as well as MY PARENTS for letting me use the van this weekend!

Thank You AIMEE KERBER for using your cleavage to entice donations all night long!

Thank You ABBY CSANDA for what you were willing to do for the cause!

Thank You JEFF DEROSE, TYLER TUFANO & MIKE MAJEWSKI for working to clean-up the bathroom and outside puke!

Thank You SCORNO & SPIDER-MAN for helping me plan shit out and name this little shin dig!

Thank You NICK DAGGERS for helping to get the keg!

Thank You Kelly Snyder & Spider-man for bringing cups (even if they were the wrong color!)

Thanks to everyone who came, even if it was for a quick little stop in! The show of support was amazing!!!!

Let's see of course I need to thank my publicists, you're all such beautiful people ... my make-up artist for making look beautiful ... and who else, I gotta thank the Man upstairs for giving me the talent to get here and helping me persevere through so much ... *tear* ... oh, oh, oh, how can I forget?!? I need to thank the academy as well and everyone who voted for our little project ... *tear*, *giggle,*

On a serious note: I know I'm forgetting some people, I just get so flustered at these things ... if I am, I'm SO SORRY! Please remind me!!!

Second Serious Note: Donor Thank You posts are next, so stay tuned!

Kegs for Megs: The Official Announcement!

2006-02-27T16:21:00.000-06:00

The question I have been asked most in the past 48 hours is, how much did you make? Well, all the results have been tallied and I am proud to present to you the final financial figures for how much money was made through Kegs for Megs.

******DRUM ROLL PLLLLEEAASSSSSSSSSE!******

...we paid $50 for a keg of beer and about $145 in hard liquor. We covered those costs completely.

...after all the liquor had been covered we made a total of $157.07, which includes the wonderful job done by Aimee Kerber walking around using her cleavage to collect spare change donation, as well as the "Las Vegas"-esque show put on by a friend of ours.

...$27 was collected during the Taxi Service. After $12 was taken out for gas, a $15 profit remained

...and finally throughout the evening we made a total of $160 in straight up donations from four individuals (thank you posts are coming this evening)

THUS,

The 2distanthearts Kegs for Megs benefit party netted a GRAND TOTAL OF $332.07

Thank you all so much for your support. It was a huge success financially, and it was an even bigger party success. I know everyone had a blast, I've had people beg me to have round two this upcoming weekend ... and so to everyone who made this possible thank you so much!

2006-02-27T00:20:00.000-06:00

*** FLIGHT ITINERARY ***

Flight Itinerary: Round Trip, Chicago, Illinois to London, United Kingdom

If you need to contact Hotwire Customer Care, please have your itinerary number available. In the U.S. and Canada, we can be reached toll-free at 1-866-HOTWIRE (468-9473). To call toll-free from London, Dial 00-800-HOTWIRE2. You can also call 1-920-330-9418 (regular toll charges apply).

Airline: American Airlines
Departure
American Airlines Flight 98
Departing: Chicago O'Hare Intl. (ORD) Wed, 03/08/06, 11:25PM
Arriving: Heathrow (LHR) Thu, 03/09/06, 1:00PM

Return
American Airlines Flight 91
Departing: Heathrow (LHR) Tue, 03/21/06, 4:25PM
Arriving: Chicago O'Hare Intl. (ORD) Tue, 03/21/06, 7:10PM

http://www.hotwire.com

Plasma Donation Press Conference

2006-02-26T23:38:00.000-06:00

*****Press Conference Transcript****

Date: Feb 26, 2006
Time: 11:30pm
Speaker: James Patrick Boyer, 2Dh.com PR Officer

Hello ladies and gentleman. Due to recent reports from reliable sources and informants this agency has decided to cancel its plans to organize and hold Plasma Donation as a fundraiser. All appointments with the Bloomington, Il Plasma Donation Center will be canceled at 8am tomorrow morning. Any and all volunteers are more than welcome to participate in the donation program individually, however this agency will not be accepting any fundraising money made from plasma donation.

This agency is continually striving to find innovative and enjoyable means of fundraising that not only benefit our cause but also meet some need in the community. While we once thought that Plasma Donation was a viable fundraising option, it has come to light that this is not the case. So for the good of the whole community and in particular of the donation participants we have chosen to cancel the Plasma Donation in favor of other fundraising possibilites.

We thank everyone for their cooperation and support, especially our Plasma Donation volunteers. We thank you so much for your willingness to support the cause at all costs and we hope you repay your help and loyalty in the future.

I will not be taking questions at this time. If you would like to ask any questions or would like to follow up please do so at the 2Dh website. Thank you.

The good news and the bad news

2006-02-26T23:22:00.000-06:00

The good news is we made enough money that I went to bed at 4am Saturday morning after the party about $30 short of the goal. The bad news is I woke up at 12:30 and lost $116 I thought was coming in because Google and I are at odds over my adsense revenue (and by at odds I mean they suspended my adsense account and won't respond to my demands of watning to talk to someone). Haha, but nonetheless, we are are almost to the goal! Except about 80 posts int he next 24 hours, I'll be releasing official numbers for how much we made at the party, a public announcement about plasma donation, party details, party pictures, donation thank yous, possibly a Kegs for Megs 2 (now titled Keggin for Megan), and a progress report on Meg and I! So check back regularly! I'll try and space them out!

-Jim-

Kegs for Megs: The Overnight Results

2006-02-25T04:10:00.000-06:00

HUGE SUCCESS! Everyone keeps talking about how amazing it was and how such a good time it was ...

and from a fundraising perspective it was a bigger success than I could have possibly imagined!

I have some very generous friends, and this was an awesome fundraiser! Thanks to everyone who made it possible...

No worries, more details/stories and of course financial figures will be coming in the next 24 hours!

IM GOING TO ENGLAND!

The Drive 655: Thank you Lauren!

2006-02-24T16:24:00.000-06:00

So we've got some great people supporting this cause and in the past few days a few random donations have come my way,and I hope to thank each of them here on the blog, however, one came in the mail yesterday that amazingly rocked my world.

Lauren was an RA on my staff first semester and then she transferred from here in Normal, Illinois to Marshal University in West Virginia second semester! I don't know if she went down solely for the boy, but I know her boyfriend was a big part of it.

Anyway, Lauren, who is as poor as any of us sent me a small check and this amazing card.
SO THANK YOU LAUREN FOR YOUR SUPPORT, BOTH MONETARY AND MORAL! You are amazing and I can't thank you enough!

(Front)

(inside)

Progress Report: A New Day Rises

2006-02-24T11:20:00.000-06:00

Well, I sent her a few text messages, a bunch of e-mails ... I stayed up to 2:30am to say good morning. I think we're doing better ... I hope so anyway. We talked a lot about me just wanting to move there for the rest of the semester. I'll probably write more about that anyway. Really, in a perfect world I would either make a ton of cash blogging about my adventures to go see her or someone would pay me to write a book about this, becuase its hardcore chick flick material. Just quitting school to go live in Europe with Megan ... hardcore chick flick! Anyway, enjoy the pictures I sent to Megan this morning ... rock on guys and I'll see you tonight!

Rough Week

2006-02-24T00:24:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately Meg and I have had a rough week to say the least ... which culminated in a three hour on-line fight tonight. Yeah, went that well. It was very sad. Pretty much it was ready to end like three times ... and I say that because when you're fighting with someone you go at it, and then you come to this point that you're both still upset but its coming to a close and the only thing in the entire world that can make the entire thing go away or be better is a big hug ... we came to that point like three times, and then we just kept on fighting ... it was like we couldn't quite close it out. I pretty sure that all three times were my fault. I just had a lot of pent-up feelings. But anyway, it was a very rough week and a very rough night to say the least ...

And had I owned the amount of money needed for airfare, I'd have had a plane ticket for 8am this morning bought and scheduled. It's just rough. I think we really really need spring break, but even more than that we're not good at being this far apart. End of story, we're not. And I dread the three months after spring break like I dread death.

Alas, she is on her way to London this morning to share good times with her fellow American exchange students.

So we're on standby until Sunday sometime. Wonderful,eh? Nothing like a big fight and then 72 hours of radio silence to keep a couple going strong. If I could find someone to pay me a few hundred hundred bucks a month, I'd just go travel Europe and write a book about it (we're both actually great writers, so I'm pretty sure it would be amazing). I'm so tired of life, and school, and my job, and school, and my future and school, and Normal, Il. I'm so tired of it all. I'm not even a teacher yet and I already need a break. I just want to run away. I've been wanting to run away for 8 months, and now that I have somewhere to run to ... at least temporarily ... the urge is overwhelming.

Rock on guys and I'll see everyone tonight!

TAXI SERVICE

2006-02-23T22:45:00.000-06:00

Kegs for Meg will officially be sponsoring a TAXI SERVICE for everyone to get to and from the party!!!! YEAH! This way everyone will have a blast AND be responsible at the same time! WOOT WOOT!

So fare is $2 round trip or $1.25 one way.

All you need to do is IM, e-mail, or leave a blog message before 5pm OOORRR Call me anytime! And we'll work something out! Note that you need to give me a half or hour heads up before being picked up. And then as you want to leave we'll have someone to make that happen.

ALSO! I need som help with drivers.

I'll be driving thr 8:15-9:15 shift. WOOT WOOT!

Bridget has been kind enough to take the 9:15-10:15 shift.

I could use someone for any time blocks aftet that. U can be a half hour drvier, 45 mintues, an hour .... whatever! I don't have much but anyone who wants I'll pay a small wage AND I'LL BUY YOU ANY FREE PINT OF BEN AND JERRY'S ICE CREAM FOR FREE!!!

I've got the vehicle if you don't, so I just need drivers! Woot ...

See everyone tomorrow night!

Blog Development: Working Together on the List Mixer

2006-02-23T14:05:00.000-06:00

So in my cyberspace adventures I stumbled across this little thing to add to the blog called list mixer, which you now see under the tag board. This is amazing. Pretty much it lets us link to people like the "friends & allies" section, but not permanently. We may stumble across something we like, a website or blog, but not want to take the time or the space to add it to the blog template itself permanently. Through this thing, it adds it to the page in that box, and if we don't click on it again in 30 days the site is gone fromt he box. So its like a, here are our friends and sites we like right now, sort of thing. It's very unique, in fact i haven't come across anything like it! Anyway, I had some issues of making it visually fit in with the site ... and the creator of list mixer has been helping me out. We've swapped blog comments and e-mails for the past 24 hours or so. Anyway, he just sent me a link in which the whole ordeal (and yours truly) is mentioned in the blog.

So in an effort to help further his blog, promote the listmixer and of course show-off the fact I made someone else's blog I don't know personally, here ya go! Haha ... enjoy my five minutes of list mixer fame!

http://listmixer.wordpress.com/2006/02/23/not-crazy/

Kegs for Meg: Theme Song

2006-02-23T12:17:00.000-06:00

Ladies and Gentleman while working on homework (NO LIE!) I stumbled across this music video and I started cracking up...

Here is the theme song for Friday's Party!

Get Drunk and Be Somebody by Toby Keith

Songs

2006-02-23T05:32:00.000-06:00

The closest songs i can think of off the top of my head are "goodbye my lover" by james blunt, and "sober" by butch walker. (i have the acoustice version of "sober" and it's really good) neither are exactly about change, more of breaking up or drifting apart, but they may be a starting point.

I just hope this doesn't imply that you're making me a breakup cd....what a terrible way to do it. announce it on the blog before you actually talk to me about it. haha, that would suck.

Best Song for....

2006-02-22T10:18:00.000-06:00

Okay, first no one read too much into this.

Second, here's hoping this is something our 90+ visitors a day can assisst me with. What are good songs about/for people changing, or just change in general?

Thanks y'all!

The Music of Our Life: "Squeeze me in"

2006-02-21T20:47:00.000-06:00

*Click on the Title or Link below to access song*

At the moment I feel as though the following song really applies to Meg and I...

Squeeze me in by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

Honey, I know you got a good job
You're out there making all that dough
They keep you late working that overtime
And I don't ever see you no more
I guess you're not checking your message machine
Seems like you're never in
But I've got a hunch if we can just do lunch
I could get your attention again
Oh I know you got your schedule and you're keeping it tight
But you got something going morning, noon, and night
But I got something here I think you're going to like
Honey can you squeeze me in?

Bridge:
Whoever said it's a man's world
Don't know what he's talking about
You've got me working around the clock
Honey, trying to figure you out
I know time is money
But there's more to life honey
Than how much you can spend
You've got to make a little time for the good times
Honey, can you squeeze me in?

I've got it circled in red on the calendar, babe
You told me that tonight's the night
I've got the champagne chilled
I've got a gourmet meal, soft music and candlelight
I try to get you on the phone I get stuck on hold
I guess you keep getting sidetracked
I've been faxing you love notes all day long
But you don't ever fax me back
Well I know you got your schedule and you're keeping it tight
But you got something going morning, noon, and night
But I got something here I know you're going to like
Honey can you squeeze me in?

Chorus:
Whoever said it's a man's world
Don't know what he's talking about
You've got me working around the clock
Honey, trying to figure you out
I know time is money
But there's more to life, honey
Than how much you can spend
You've got to make a little time for the good times
Honey, can you squeeze me in?

Lyrics courtesy of sing365.com

My Mom comments on the Kegger...

2006-02-21T18:08:00.000-06:00

My Mother and I had a conversation about the Kegs for Meg tonight.

Just click on the link to go see it, but if u leave any comments, hit back on your browser so you leave them on this post!

-Jim-

A Little Reminder

2006-02-21T09:44:00.000-06:00

I would just like to say that any profit from this aptly named event goes directly to Jim's plane ticket to come see me....haha, so the Kegs for Meg really are kegs so he can come see me.

Have fun at the party everyone, i wish i could be there. (but of course, that would defeat the purpose of having the party in the first place...so i'll be there in spirit!)

Thanks everyone, enjoy.

Kegs for Meg...

2006-02-20T10:33:00.000-06:00

**************UPDATED: Mon Feb 20 at 9:47pm**************

2Dh.com Proudly Presents THE can't miss event of the semester...

The 2 Distant Hearts Benefit Bash

When: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2006

Time: Festivities kick off at 8:30pm (aka that's when we tap the kegs)

Where: 1530 Trumbull Avenue, apartment #10 (click the link to see a map).

Plenty of Parking available!
If you're still confused, it's located just off Raab Road by Heartland Community College
It's the apartment of Andy, Matt St. J and Brian Vanderbusch if that helps anyone out who may have been there and not known the actual address...

Who's invited: EVERYONE! Feel free to bring anyone and everyone you know!

Cost:

Attendance is free
BEER KEGS = $5 a cup
Mixed Drinks:

WITH PURCHASE OF BEER CUP = $1/drink
Otherwise, $3/drink while supplies last

Shots:

WITH PURCHASE OF BEER CUP = $1/shot
Otherwise $1.50/shot

Taxi Info: We will potentially be running a shuttle service for $2-3 roundtrip! (Or half that one way). Please lemme know if you'd be interested in driving for (we have a vehicle if u dont) or in utilizing that service...

RSVP: Please e-mail me, call me, IM me or leave a comment on this post if you are or might be there and how many people you are or might be bringing. Also please let me know if you will be utilizing our shuttle services.

Don't be afraid to put this in your away message, facebook message, e-mail and tell everyone and anyone you know! And please let me know if you're coming so we can have enough liquid courage for everyone!!!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE CAUSE
BY COMING OUT TO PART-AY WITH US!!!!

What anniversary?

2006-02-20T05:37:00.000-06:00

In my defense month anniversaries after you pass a year don't quite have the same significance, at least I don't think so. They still mean something, but they're just not quite as important. Granted, I didn't remember, or even really know what the date was....and I'm not trying to give myself a way out, I flat out forgot. Do other people feel the same way, or is it just me? It was really sweet that Jim remembered, and that he said something, and therefore even worse that I didn't....but, who puts their 26 month anniversary on the calendar in the first place? Haha, that's two years and two months, it's such a random amount of time.

How about from now on we only really celebrate year anniversaries (wow, that sounds so weird...we've been together a long time!), and I make a note on every 19th on the calendar so I'll remember every month. Jim will still probably remember better than I will, but at least I'll have a fighting chance. He can't be the only one who remembers our anniversary, even the random little monthly ones.

ANNIVERSARY ALERT!

2006-02-19T17:21:00.000-06:00

Happy 26 Month Anniversary to us!

So today Megan and I have been officially dating for 26 months! Woot woot! Haha, and no we did not make a big deal out of it. It seems that more and more the individual month "anniversaries" become pretty trivial. As a matter of fact Megan totally forgot ... she didnt even know it was 19th! I was like Happy Anniversary (cause I knew she forgot) and she tried to be like I knew that ... but conceded after a few moments.

Anyway, happy Anniversary to us. Here's hoping that I'll be in England one month from now celebrating the next one (and then hopping on a plane to head home! Lol...)

What's Your Romantic Fantasy?

2006-02-18T19:34:00.000-06:00

*Posted by Megan on another blog, reposted by Jim to this one*

Jim and i took an online quiz tonight--"What's your Romantic Fantasy?" After going through the questions we anxiously awaited our individual results....

only to find out that we've been dating too long since both of us came up with the same results. Of course, we're pretty sure that the quiz was intended for females so that may have messed something up, somewhere along the line. Haha, so enjoy seeing what kind of fantasy we both hold about our significant other...

Your Romantic Fantasy is a Castle in the Sky
Whether you're waiting for a knight in shining armour or for Prince Charming to appear, you have visions of being swept off your feet, literally, by the soul mate of your dreams. Your Castle in the Sky romantic fantasies are fantastic indeed. Running through a golden wheat field towards that special someone, the wind whipping through your hair. It's a miracle you get anything done during the week. Believe it or not, you're easy to please because you are a softie (in a good way) for every romantic cliché in the book: rose petals on the bed, adorable nicknames, and sunset sonnets up on the hill. But your head isn't always in the clouds. You understand that your brand of romance is like a precious gem-special because it is rare. Still, there's nothing better than you and your sweetheart (whether fantasy or real) galloping through the misty countryside toward the white, stone castle...(cue string music and fade to black).