Realizing Restart.

Number 5: Back at ODU
It feels good to be back at ODU. Really good. I'm finally back and settling down in my new apartment and have been to all of my classes at least once. I hope to get back into the swing of things and start posting once or twice a week about random stuff. :P I just wanted to write about what was going on in my life again because I wanted to write about what I've realized about how interesting college is(and whats a little different)!

Food: I can now cook my own food. I still have a meal plan, but it's really exciting to know that I can throw on some Popcorn Chicken(my favorite) or a pizza or make a PB and J. Speaking of PB&J's, I have made quite a few of them lately, but I decided to go for the "Extra Crunchy" PB instead of the "Creamy" everyone is always raving about. Extra Crunchy wins hands down. I'm obsessed, and already need to buy a new jar. XD

Classes: I'm really excited about my classes next year. I am switching my major to marketing, but marketing only has 300 and 400 level courses. So you have to take certain classes and then apply to the college of Business and take the marketing courses your last 2 years if accepted. So I'm in Accounting 201; it seems interesting, and the teachers cool, but I have a feeling that once we start expanding the class it will mostly involve tricky definition memorization.
I'm in Public Speaking; I already know it's not going to be my favorite class, but I am still excited about learning everything I can from it, because that's a crucial skill.
I'm also doing Math, Physics, and all that other stuff.

Friends/Roommates: We have 4 people in the apartment, 2 bedrooms. My friend from last year, David and I, live in one of the rooms. The other guys are cool. It's kinda awkward making small talk with them sometimes; but one of them just hangs out, is a pretty good cook, and is joining the national guard. The other, I almost never see around the apartment. I have met a few new people because of them, but I've mostly just rejoined with my old crew. We always get together and hang out(and a lot of us live at the Powhatan Apts). But I've been thinking about doing what I do in Herndon and try to just go out and meet a ton of new people and chill with different groups, but I actually don't want to down here. I'm pretty content with the people I hang out with and don't really need anyone else yet. XD

Games: We have wired AND wireless in our apartment! I wasn't able to play GunZ last year because it only works on ODU's wireless system for some reason. But since I have both I can now play! (haha and thats probably not a good thing) Then there's Brawl. We've actually played that a little bit and I've figured out that ZELDA is a beast. She's one of my new mains, and has almost no moves that aren't badass. I'm really excited about getting good with her, and someday putting her in the leet lvl with Lucario. I've been playing SSX Tricky a little(since I got it for 3 bucks right before going back) but haven't really had the time.

So thats whats been going on around here. I hope everyone else at college is having a good time. But what is everyones college address? I'd most definitely be willing to start writing some college to college letters!
Here's mine:
4701 Powhatan Ave, Apt. KK4; Norfolk, VA; 23508
~Andy

The End Is Here.

Episode 4: And Maybe Now is the Time
This summer has been my kinda summer. Halfway through, especially the month of August, was not nearly as good as I had hoped, but it was still an awesome summer.

Why? Because I accomplished quite a bit. And I'm a secret fan of some of the drama that goes on around here, and we had a lot. And I met new people. And I did a lot of things I don't usually do. And I've had a lot of surprising information dumped on me from time to time. And I saw a ton of my friends. But that all said and done, I think now is the time to go back. The summer seemed the perfect length, with maybe a little bit too much rush in August. Had it lasted any longer, it would have been too hard to leave again!

But it seriously has been a great experience. From going on Picnics, to seeing a few college friends, to getting a girlfriend, to playing some Brawl, to going Ice Skating w/Anna, to going to VA beach w/Everyone, to playing Carcassone, to meeting new people, to going to Six Flags and seeing Flo Rida w/Lori, to getting a cool job, to renewing my relationship with my brother, to playing Frisbee w/Matt, to late night talks, to crazy drama. XD! Sorry for that ridiculously long and incorrect(structure-wise) sentence.

And even though our "Band" didn't get off the ground, I'm still glad I was able to record another song right before going back. And remember the promise people, we are going to complete one song together over Christmas brake!

I'm not saying my mind is completely free from everything that happened this summer, there are some things still at the back of my mind. Even in this last week alone crazier things have happened that can be hard to let go! But I am ready to go back almost. And this last week has given me so many ideas of things to write about, from music to confidence to other subjects. It will be nice to return to my old blog style where I wrote about topics and gave my opinion on how "Andy Hulme" sees them. So I hope you guys remember the name, we will all still be in touch I'm sure, and I'm surely hoping to make a few visits to other colleges this year.
Good luck everyone!
~Andy

Me Singing Pt.2!

Episode 27: I'm Hypnotized
So today was family day for me. After going bowling and putt-putt and eating Boston Market with the fam, my dad and I decided to try something. He really likes this song called "I'm Hypnotized" by Little Anthony and the Imperials. He had the main vocal, as well as the 3 back up vocalists(the imperials) on a program on his computer. Then he bought a box, one end that plug into his computer and the other into a microphone with some knobs on it. We got a microphone stand and a headphone splitter(that we could both plug our headphones in and hear the background helping tracks and us singing). I sung the lead vocals(which were a little too high for me but I think I did a decent job), and my dad did all the background vocals. The box also came with this software so we were also add to add a cheezy base and drums in as well as some microphone effects. As you can tell by the time I'm posting this, we stayed up way to late working on this. XD And I'm going to Six Flags tomorrow so I really need sleep! Anyhow, here's the link to our "finished but could use some touch up" version.
~Andy
http://www.box.net/shared/tsfycmcibf

And here are the lyrics I sing so you can follow along:

Reality comes tumbling down
And disappears when she's around

The magic love within her
Has got me hung up in her eyes...
I'm hypnotized

The very mention of her name
She slipped with lightning
Through my brain

I dream of ways to win her
When I get hung up in her eyes...
And I'm hypnotized

Wa wa wa........

I try to tell her how I feel
But when she's near
I can't reveal

The way that I adore her
Cause I just can't ignore those eyes...
They hypnotize

Wa wa wa.......

Stars Into Darkness

Episode 26: Recent Tragedies
So I used to watch a lot of TV, and my mom being into those magazines like "Star" and "In Touch Weekly" (lol, Rag-Mags as she calls them) kept me up to date with what all the celebrities are up too. In the last few years however, I've almost watched no TV or Movies and don't read those trashy magazines. But there are a few celebrities I still like, and it's really upset me that all these actors and actresses deaths from shows I actually do watch have been happening this year. It has also shown me how diverse(and maybe weird XD) my TV/Movie watching habits are. I really like the picture post I had last week, so I'm going to give a little shout out to a few of the recent unfortunate deaths to the stars.


Bernie Mac: Died August 9th, 2008 at age 50


My Favorite: Oceans 11
Bernie Mac is hilarious! He was an actor in my favorite movie Oceans Eleven, as Frank. A really successful actor who even later got his own show, and was pretty much respected by all. R.I.P Bernie.

[During a con, pretending the Nevada Gaming Commission is racist]
"They might as well call it WhiteJack!"
~Bernie Mac, as Frank from Oceans 11

Isaac Hayes: Died August 10th, 2008 at age 65


My Favorite: South Park
An extremely talented soul singer. He also believed in Scientology. Took up a really unusual role and became South Park's "Chef." In SP, Hayes played as the kids elementary school chef. He was like the only "normal" citizen in the town and even busted out a few soul songs(about women usually). His song from an episode of SP "Chocolate Salty Balls" reached number 1 on the UK singles chart. A great and Singer/Actor, R.I.P. Isaac.

[Singing while trying to sell his Fudge and Chocolate Balls at a Sundance Festival at South Park]
"Say everybody, have you seen my balls? They're big and salty and brown."
~Isaac Hayes as South Park's Chef

Estelle Getty: Died July 22, 2008 at age 84


My Favorite: The Golden Girls
Somehow, someway, my mom got me into the Golden Girls. Estelle Getty played Sophia, the mother of Dorothy(Bea Arthur). She was so funny, always talking about her home town of Cicily or all the Havoc she caused while she was in her Nursing Home. She always had amazing delivery with her one liners. For this role, she was nominated for 7 Emmys(and won one) and 3 Golden Globes(she won one of those also). R.I.P Estelle!

"[Dorothy]: Hey ma. Where are you going?
[Sophia]: To the Boardwalk. I like to see the old guys rearrange themselves when they come out of the water."
~Estelle Getty as Sophia from the Golden Girls


LOL. She also won a Golden Raspberry award for "Worst Supporting Actress" in the 1992 comedy "Stop! Or my mom will shoot!" With another one of my heroes, Sylvester Stallone.
~Andy

Room Search

Episode 25: Finding the Past

So in my bit of boredom this morning waiting for a call to chill with people, I decided to take a look around my room. In the back left of my closet, I found a purple crate. Once I moved the various Teddy Bears and footballs and such, I found a Herndon High carrying bag.

Much to my surprise, I opened it, and there were a ton of different things inside. And the weird thing was, they were all interesting parts of my past at Herndon!

1. Well, maybe except for the coffee mug. For now, I'll just say that the mug represents HHS as a whole, and can be a good memory of the cool time I had there.

2. Ahh the dead flower. This is from prom 2006, where I went with my friend Maggie Osburn. I didn't know if she was going to get me a flower or not to pin on my suit, so I went ahead and got her one to give me. She ended up surprising me and getting one that better matched with her dress, so my mom said she was just going to keep this one. Now I know where! XD Sadly, our time was ruined because Maggie got food poisoning from the place we ate at!

3. The Box. Inside was a clock from prom 2007. I think it's ironic that was a clock; because my date was so boring I couldn't wait to get out of there. She was just talking to friends and ignoring me at after grad; so I hit up the Texas Hold Em' table for two hours and CRUSHED. Everyone.

That ended up being the highlight of prom!

4. This robotics button. I have no idea who made this button, or who gave it to me, but it was in the bag! But I feel like this represents my friends, as I had many who were in robotics. It also represents the running joke where I was "in robotics." I would show up and crash all the team parties, and well as other robotics events and even wear team apparel. I've had parents at the team party apologize for not recognizing me. :P

5. The paper plates! These represent so much to me. These were paper plates for chorus, but we also got them at the end of the drama musical(which I did Junior/Senior year). It became such a fad that one time, my drama friends and I just made them for each other. They we're funny. XD

I didn't have the lowest note of the guys nor was I even close to being the best sight singer, but it was cool to get these anyways.

6. My Pitch pipe! I was so glad I found this, I thought I had lost it! It represents the singing part of my time at HHS. I received it when I was elected as Vice President of the Madrigals my senior year. I must admit... I felt cool carrying it around and using it in my regular classes. XD

So I thought I'd just share this because I found it really interesting to find all of these things. Not only did I find them, but in one bag, and it carried things that expanded across my adventures at Herndon. I don't know why, but I am interested in the past. If you guys found any memorabilia about your/our past, that would be awesome. XD

~Andy