birthday gift

It is my mom's birthday tomorrow. I have no idea what to get her as a gift. I did already purchase her some new kitchen utensils, but that feels more like the kind of gift for the sake of getting someone a gift. I am considering attempting to bake a red velvet cake (her favorite), but past experience has taught me that me baking won't be good for anyone. You know, I bet having your birthday on April's fool day must be pretty obnoxious. How many times can someone pretend to forget only to shout, April's fools! I know I have been guilty of doing that to her a time or two. How lame of me... I think I will solve this birthday gift dilemma with a home made card. Nothing says I care like an elaborately self made card. Hopefully it comes out good, I can be crafty when I put my mind to it, wish me luck!

Randomness

Today I have decided that I am not turning 30 this year. Its not that the idea of turning 30 is a traumatizing concept, I just don't think I am ready. I do not see any reason I cannot be 29 for two years, people tell me I can't just decide things like that, but I don't see why not... anyways, I have committed to the idea, so no going back now. 29 it is!

Later in the day I took an embarrassing fall outside. To be clear, I fall a lot. I am cursed with clumsiness, so me falling in and of itself isn't irregular. However, it was raining and I was trying to be a jerk and splash my friend by jumping in a puddle, when I slipped on the curb and tumbled down. I am pretty certain I have sprained my ankle, and I was soaking wet on top of my grievous injury. I guess the lesson learned is not to jump in puddles with the intent of splashing unsuspecting victims. I would like to tell you I have learned this lesson, but I think I should get him back for laughing at my fall, even if it was my own fault. Measures of revenge must be taken.

To be continued.

The Zoo

Today I went to the Columbus Zoo. If you weren't aware, it is a super massive zoo. I think it is the second largest in the US, next to the San Diego Zoo. Don't quote me on that, but it sounds right, so we will go with it. I try to go at least once a year, and I have been back home in Ohio visiting family, so I made the trip over. Let me state that it is the absolute best around Christmas time when they have the whole park decorated in lights, but I still had fun. One of my favorite animals are penguins, so I definitely made sure to stop in on the penguin exhibit. I think the penguin caretaker was getting a little annoyed with my questions, but they didn't look especially happy, so I felt obligated to enquire. There wasn't any snow in their exhibit (a penguin needs snow) and they had clips in their ears... I wasn't fond of the clips and made it known, to the displeasure of the guy taking questions. I started to get other people near the penguins worked up (mostly children) with by my line of questioning, so I was politely asked by the zoo employees to quiet down. Free the penguins in my opinion. Probably my favorite exhibit at the zoo are the manatees. They're in this giant aquarium and they come right up to the glass. I like that they have whiskers and are really fat. I like over weight animals, it gives them character. The manatees always seem like they're content and happy, its a calming feeling to watch them swim around. I would like to ride on ones back around the aquarium. I would probably have to know some people in high places to make that wish come true... oh well, a guy can dream. I wish they had a narwhal exhibit. I'll assume you have no idea what a narwhal is... they're the unicorns of the sea. OK, not really. They're just whales with a big tooth protruding out of their head, but it gives the impression of a unicorn horn. I am not sure any are in captivity, I doubt it. That is something I can google later on if I get bored.

Prewriting

So this week in my composition II course we worked on prewriting techniques. I have never been a fan of prewriting, I have always done my research, taken notes, and then jumped right in to writing my rough draft. After trying out a few of the prewriting techniques during the week, I have decided that the two I favor are free writing and listing. They did seem to help generate ideas, especially free writing, but I am still not sure if it is something I will continue to use. I usually have an over abundance of ideas and I typically struggle with choosing an idea from the many more so than coming up with ideas to begin with. I think in the spirit of the course I will employ them while writing my research paper and determine whether or not I found them to be helpful.

My Day

Today was sort of interesting. I guess you could say it is blog worthy. I got off of work early and was able to pick my niece up from her mom's. First we went to toddler time at the library. It was definitely an event... kids running around everywhere... it was controlled chaos. However, as soon as it was time for songs, they all instantly calmed down, sat around the librarian, and began to clap and sing all at once.

After the library I took her to the mall and let her run around in the activity center. It was funny to see her climbing over ladders and going down slides. It doesn't seem that long ago that she was learning to walk. After she wore herself out I bought her one of those giant pretzels. I asked for extra cheese sauce and the guy gives me a giant cup filled to the brim. Needless to say we both ended up with cheese sauce all over ourselves.

Later that evening I had a date. It wasn't a good time by any stretch of the imagination. I think I am beginning to lose touch with people in my age range. I am aware that it is most likely me, but I won't let a little thing like facts stop me from placing blame on others. The best way I can sum the night up is when she began to bust out her CD collection and enthusiastically have me listen. I humored her to the best of my ability, but after about the 5th song by some band I've never heard of, I told her how they all sounded like a generic version of The Cure. Her response... "Who are The Cure? Wasn't that some band, like, forever ago." I died a little inside.

Deep breaths, Aaron... deep breaths.

Anyways, I came back home just in time to watch The Upside Down Show with my niece. It actually isn't a bad show, I wish they'd play more than the same four or five episodes repeatedly, but I suspect I am becoming desensitized to Nick jr.