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I suppose I will start by stating the obvious, its been a LONG time since I have blogged. I am interning in the ASUI office working primarily with the Leadership program we do. We have started a new program the Idaho LEADS Emerging Leader Program. There’s a group of five of us you have committed to a semester of weekly workshops and service projects. Part of the program is to journal “regularly.” I am considering this my “journal.” So, with any luck and that extra incentive, I will begin blogging with a greater frequency. Its amazing how a few little time it really takes and how beneficial a few minutes of quite, reflective time can be. For now I will try my best to hit the high points from the last couple of weeks.

The first weekend of October I ventured down to Boise to run the City of Trees Half Marathon for the second straight year with my buddy Josh. Neither Josh nor I had trained very hard for it, but we wanted to run it again. However, we managed to be just a minute or two slower than last year. We, placed second and third in our age group last year and first and third this year. It was on a different course. I missed running through the historical north side of town but enjoyed the elevation climbs being at the beginning/middle of the course instead of the middle/end.

It was a great weekend. Katy Fox also road down with us. We got to see Vanessa. She ran the half as well. Her step-dad had been training with the goal of beating me but ended up hurting his back a few weeks before and wasn’t able to race. And the best part was hanging out with my bro’s family. Maddie and Maggie are growing up so fast and continue to be cuter and cuter. I wish I had brought my camera and would have gotten photos of them. Maddie loves to show off her back yard garden. Maggie crawls every where and is going to be walking soon. We picked mom up in Cottonwood so we she got spend a weekend with her grandbabies.

I don’t remember much from the week after that. I am sure it was rat race, filled with homework and such, even a flat bike tire. Oh, AND we had our first ROMANIA team meeting. That’s right I said Romania. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it at all in a blog yet. I am going to spend the last 3 weeks of Christmas break in a small village, Valea Screzii, in south-central Romania with 11 other UI students and 3 advisors. We are going through United Plant and will be working it looks like with the Pro Vita orphanages. From the info we have so far there are about 100 orphans and then need help building more houses for them. I am super stalked to spend time helping out over there.

We had our first team meeting this past Sunday and carved pumpkins (see above). Our team is amazing. We are split into two “families.” I am the team leader for one of the families. Its going to be an amazing trip. I just got my passport (its my 3rd, can you believe that) the other day.

Last, weekend I got to go help out with the detachments field training exercise. Basically we played some serious paintball. In our first scenario I was a POW and almost ended up getting saved. They were able to snip the guards and I was able to escape but about the time I made it to the perimeter a bunch more of the “terrorist” made it to me ;(

Our physical fitness test was Wednesday morning. I had to go to Pullman Tuesday to get my waist measured. Turned out we also now have to do height and weight before the PFA. At the beginning of the semester it took me forever to make weight, so I was freaking out. Luckily I ended up being 3 pounds under the max weight for my height. And my waist had also dropped nearly 2 inches is the beginning of the semester. I was able to max out on the run and sit-ups. The push-ups I was just a little short on. My 8:49 mile and half really surprised me. I haven’t done any serious aerobic exercise beside PT and a couple swims since the half marathon.

I got this new 6 week swim workout. Owen found it and has been doing it. He is up to the point now that we can swim a mile without stopping. I will get there in due time.

I was nominated for UI Homecoming King (thanks FAB!) and we had to turn in a page of biographical information. They asked for our goals, here is what I told them:

My short term goals over the next year include scoring well on the MCAT, earning admission to the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, finishing my bachelorette studies, commissioning in the United States Air Force and completing both a whole marathon and Olympic distance triathlon. As far as long term goals, I plan on completing medical school, earning placement into the residency program of my choice, traveling the world, starting a family, climbing to the rank of Colonel before retiring at age 40 and moving back to the great northwest to continue raising my family and practicing medicine.

I figure its good to lay it all out there. Gotta shoot for the moon, cause even if you miss you will land in the stars, right? I had an interview last night where they asked some ridiculously difficult questions. Like what are you supposed to say when asked if you are “Tried and True” or “Brave and Bold” my answer of course was both. But no they made me pick one. I went with “Tried and True.” They also wanted to know which Idaho Alumni we would want to have dinner with and why. That was easy, my big bro Jeremy. We don’t make it down there to visit nearly enough and truly is my motivation and role model. Then the one that totally left me speechless, “What’s your favorite longstanding Vandal tradition besides Homecoming?” Uh, do we have that many “longstanding traditions.” I have never been to mom’s or dad’s weekend. Hello walk isn’t all the friendly any more. The “I” bench is still there but no fountain. The Vandal Walk isn’t that exciting after you have done it once yourself and walked freshman through it the past three years. Don’t get my wrong, I enjoy being a Vandal and have pride in it. I just feel as though there aren’t that many “longstanding” and extremely enjoyable traditions beside homecoming.

On a less surface (heres what I have done) level and all little deeper. We talked about values in our emerging leader workshop this week. Really got me thinking about my priorities. I like to think I possess most the values that are usually considered “good,” but how do they rank in importance. Which take precedence over others. Ideally equal focus could be spent on all of them. But man values take time and time is most definitely a limited resource. My top ten values I said (merely in alphabetical order): Achievement, Contribution, Growth, Human Worth, Independence, Integrity, Knowledge, Loyalty (family), Responsibility and Spirituality. We were than asked to pick our top five. We were force to throw the others away and say something along the lines “These values help define who I am, these values ……, and I am throwing them away.” I managed to in my mind slip those five I was throwing away into the others. So it wasn’t to bad. Then we went to three and did the same thing. Last we went to just one. I chose CONTRIBUTION because really I feel that all the others are in a sense tied to my desire to contribute to society, my family, my faith, my eduction, etc. Yeah so that wasn’t super deep but it was a little deeper than the rest.

Anyways, I had the opportunity to spend a half hour with the Blessed Sacrament yesterday at St. Auggies chapel. I am going to start doing Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday. I want to make more time in my life for religion and reflection. I am beginning to realize how much I need that balance. I have been able to find time for fitness. Its a struggle, but I manage. So I am sure if I focus and make it a priority I can find time for God and reflection.

I have to. I have had numerous friends express concern lately about my well being. Apparently, I have seemed overly stressed and unhappy. It’s a warm feeling knowing that many people care, enough to say something. And its also enough to motivate change. I will continue to be dictated to school (I have to be if I am going to achieve my goals) and I will be stressed from time to time. But I will definitely try to give myself more balance.

I figure all this is safe to through on here at the end cause no one is going to want to read this for down

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Here is a quick and hopefully less nerdy blog. This weekend when I was supposed to stay in on Friday night and rest up for a busy Saturday, I ended up at CJ’s and ultimately had a great time. However, it made for a short night of sleep before waking up bright and early to help with check in at the Fall Student Leadership Conference. I had the distinct pleasure of introducing the key note speaker Troy Stende http://www.stendeinspirations.com/. From his message during the opening address and then from attending his board breaking workshop, I relearned the power of the mind and positive thoughts. I truly is impressive. I also met some amazing individuals, Josh and Liz and Belena.

Then my adventures took me to WSU to sell programs once again. I ended up having this random kid in an Oregon jump suit carrying a very large black bag stumble into the load dock I operate and manage my sellers from. He asks if he can change there. I politely tell him that there is a restroom just down the hall. But he’s like you know I am the DUCK, I need lots of space. Sure as shit, he opens up the bag and starts putting on all the items he needs to be the Mascot. He talks about knowing David Vobera former Vandal and Mr. Irrelevant from this past draft. Then he tells me about the the mascot fight he caught in that caused the DUCK to get banned for two games. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY0B8qtUF8o

After programs I rushed home to clean up and head over to Dean’s house for dinner. I had briefly made time to call my brother and wish him a happy birthday and then had a wonderful hangout with Dean and Denelle and Alex and all their guests. Dean made the best lasagna I had had in years.

Saturday night I finally did make it to bed early. Then Sunday I got up and in took it pretty easy before I got the wild hair to go run a little bit. I found a 10 mile loop I was going to try. Well it ended up turning into almost 12 miles, but I survived: http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=249290. Good practice for the half marathon next weekend: http://www.cityoftreesmarathon.com. Really I probably shouldn’t be running that far that close to the actual race but what the hell.

Ok and heres the final link for the day: http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/couric-palin-open/704042/

Until next time,
Kelbs

PS I ended up with an 88 on the Fluids test!!! The average was 71.

Last night from 1730-1930 I had my first exam of the semester (the take home test in ME341 the first week of school doesn’t really count as an exam). It was in Fluid Mechanics and rumor had it that this Prof, Woody, gives the second hardest engineering tests on campus (more about the hardest engineering test giver later in this blog) and I hadn’t really studied. You could say I was a little more than scared. I go the library about 1530 to do some serious cramming and wonder out to go take the test about 1515. I show up at our regular classroom JEB 126 right around 1525 and look in. EVERYONE is already there and working on the test. I knew he told us we could come early and start early but I didn’t think the WHOLE class would show up and be working five minutes before the scheduled start time, WEIRD. So I venture in and try not to disturb everyone, take my seat and begin working on it. As everyone is frantically scribbling the stress and tension in the room is tangible. Five minutes later, Woody in a quite loud voice says, “OK, start NOW!” We all STOP and look up in confusion. He responds with, “What? I said you could start, not that you had to stop?” accompanied with the most innocent look you have ever seen. We finally figure out he is jostling us and all breathe out a sigh of relief. He succeeded in calming us down. And if their was an anxiety left, it all got broken up then this girl’s cell starts ringing with a loud ass song as the ring tone. It might of made her a little embarrassed but it definitely lighten things up for the rest of us.

The first hour of the exam is open book and was really pretty easy. Straight forward problems, directly from our homework assignments. The second hour, was more difficult but still do-able. I didn’t really need my book for much. Overall it was way simpler and straight forward than anyone expected. It was tempting to over think each problem. I am pretty sure I avoided that for the most part and should pull a high B if not an A.

Now for the hardest engineering exams on campus. Carl Rink, the ME exclusives expert, prides himself on exams that average he claims in the 60’s. However, talking to former students it sounds like the true averages are usually in the 40’s or 50’s. That’s plum ridiculous. I my first System Dynamics exam from him in just over an hour. So I suppose I better go cram a little more. I will let you know how it goes and see if he lives up to his reputation.

Sorry to write such a NERDY blog

So, its been a while since I created this blog and posted the first and only post up to this point. When I started this blog I wasn’t sure if I would actually use it, but I am thinking it could be fun and quite useful. Therefore, here comes post number TWO!

Since the last time I wrote, I was still on summer mode and felt as though school had me completely bogged down. Maybe it wasn’t so much school but all the other stuff I do, or try to do: ASUI Internship, Activities Board Chair, AFROTC, working out, having a social life, etc. But finally now that we are four weeks in I feel like I have things relatively under control, heck I even get some of my HW done before the night before its due!!!

I completely my first triathlon on September 6, it was a total BLAST! Way better than the half marathon I ran last October. It was the sprint distance, just 500yd swim, 15km bike and 5km run. A ROTC buddy, Zeb, talked me into doing it. I was able to loan a road/tri bike from a campus bike program and bought a helmet and all. I finished at 1:07 plus some change, which was just under my 1:10 goal, so I stocked about that. Josh and I are going back to the City of Tress half marathon in two weekends in Boise, but after that I plan to focus on triathlons rather than strictly running events. I need to keep working out, because by the Air Force standards I was over weight. Its total BS how the figure it, but I finally just cleared their weight standard last week and now I have been eating like a pig again, better tone it down before I beef up again.

Went camping Friday night. May or may not have experienced skinny dipping for the first time It was pretty much a blast and the water was even warm. Saturday we sold programs again at the Wash St game. I crashed hardcore when I finally made it home and slept a solid 15 hours last night. I assuming that and the cup of coffee I had at 9 while studying with Marie in the ASUI office is why I am still awake right now. Watched a ton of PBS TV today, the digital to analog converted box works awesome for some free entertainment. The History Detectives are pretty much the bomb diggity!!! Got all my HW done that’s due tomorrow. Even made it to church tonight.

Well that’s probably more than enough for one entry. I will try to write sooner next time! Till later keep SWIMMING!!!

Not exactly sure why I decided to start a blog. I suppose I am jealous of some of my friends’ blogs. I thought what the hell, may as well give it a shot.

I am still in Moscow attending the University of Idaho studying Mechanical Engineering and Pre-Med. Doing the whole Air Force ROTC gig and staying active on campus.

Things are back in full swing for me, here at UI. School started back up on Monday. Wasn’t so ready to be back. With being a new student orientation leader and having quite a bit of responsibility with pulling our large university tabling event, Palousafest, off on Saturday night I wasn’t exactly well rested for the first day back. Oh, plus I couldn’t resist going on Saturday night to celebrate the ol’ b-day.

Its now Wednesday and things are going a little smoother perhaps. Made it do the pool to do a little swimming before my 8:30 class (I am trying to be in shape for the Palouse Spring Triathlon in a week and a half). Also, handed in my first homework assignment of the semester this morning. Tried to give blood. I went by to ask if I could or not yesterday since I sold plasma a few days in July and they told me that I had to wait until today. Now today I get all worked up and all and then get told I have to wait until tomorrow ;( I didn’t get PB&J sandwich out of the deal so things aren’t all bad

Anyways I am just relaxing, cleaning out my inbox from the summer, working on a few things for ROTC and waiting for my last class of the day.

Not sure how often I will be blogging, nor if I will even share this URL with anyone …….

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