How We Get Educated

Most of the time we are studying studiously and working our wee fingers to the bone getting good marks and working with tutors. However, those short periods of time when we decide to wrench away from our homework, we do things like this. We are usually those people you see in public and think "I don't know weather to laugh or to be really worried." Well sleep easy. We are completely harmless*.


We take the couch to the park.













We are absurd.













Caterpillar and Rabbit.












Attacking the red queen.












We are wonderland.













We are so good at photo shooting.


















*On most, if not all, occasions. Excluding taggle*.








*A mix between wrestling and tag.

We Play School

Some adventures of absurd, yet still highly invested, college students.

Ryan tells scary stories.

Detective work on Halloween.

New hobbies. Love it.

Footballing. Injuries included.

Sardines group. Check the elevators.

Oh Tim and Dustin...

The rocking couch. No really, it rocks back and forth.

After we woke up while camping.

Every day we try to make the next day better. So far so good.

As it happens.

Let us say that perhaps one day we will look back on everything we have done. Will we be satisfied with our past? Can we accept everything we knew we missed? Will we or will we not wish we could do it all again? 

Some people fear death, some people fear rejection. All I fear is this simple fact: Wishing I could relive what I have already had the chance to. I do not desire to ask for something I have already been given so freely. I have decided now that want such a life that if someone were to ask me if I feel that I have lived solid, full, and splendid years, I can look at them in all ernest and say ‘yes’ with all confidence. 

In this wide world we are all so eagerly a part of, there is much more to see than what most people believe. The seven wonders of the world, the great art of history and the ancient words written on the subway walls hold no light to the miracle of waking up and having the potential to discover all of them and so much more. We know, surely, in our hearts and minds, that it is not where you have been but who you have seen them with. Such a gift should not be experienced alone. 

So let us say that perhaps one day we will look back on everything we have done. 

Will we be satisfied?

Nicole Plays Work

Whilst working at the Ron Wilson Center (for effective living) there are many things that are to be taken seriously. When working with people with disabilities their safety, well being, and personal preference for activities is a very high priority. Fortunately I work with clients and staff that counter the seriousness wonderfully. These are some of my favorite moments and/or quotes. 

One client I work with has a small job at the local grocery store putting food away and organizing displays. He loves rock 'n roll and enjoys dancing just as much as the next person. One day while organizing the front wall we had a growing garbage pile that needed to be disposed of. I suggested that he should throw it away before it got too big to carry and he looked at me and said "I can't, I broke my legs." and walked a little ways away. He looked back and smiled and came back to take it to the trash.  As he left he threw up a peace sign and chanted "Peace, love, and rock 'n roll" as he made his way to the garbage. 

A typical moment at Monmouth 1 house:

Darren is watching Star Wars (episode 1 only) and nodding off every few seconds. 

The phone rings.

"Hello?" Darren says tiredly. There is a long pause for the reply. 

"Yes." he said. 

"Uh huh." He seemed a little indifferent and bored. 

"Yeah. I will." and he hung up. 

"Who was that?" I asked. Curious because they don't get many calls. 

"Wynter." He says. She is another staff that works at the house. 

"Oh. What did she need?" 

"I dunno." He said falling back asleep and taking no further interest in the matter. 

One conversation with Jessie St. John:

"So Jessie, What do you want to be when you grow up?" I asked.

"Elvis." He said simply while he went out for a smoke. 

My boss was giving out high fives at lunch at the day program The Center has. 

But she doesn't know that one of our clients has egg salad sandwich all over her hands that i went to go get a napkin for.

Gotta be ready for anything. 

Nothing like a good day at the RWC. 

Nicole's Life Soundtrack

I have been compiling a list of sweet tunes for quite some time now. Sadly it still not very long, but i am getting there. They are not in any particular order, i do not play favorites. These particular songs are special and have a significance i don't even know the meaning to. I hear them in stores, waiting rooms, commercials, and films and they always stand out among the rest. I don't know what it is about them but they are different. A bit weird? well yes.

1.) Green Day- Castaway
2.) Foxboro Hot Tubs- Mother Mary (Green Day)
3.) Sufjan Stevens- Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland
4.) Owl City- Hello Seattle
5.) The Boy Least Likely To- Be Gentle With Me
6.) Regina Spektor- The Call
7.) Ben Kweller- Sundress
8.) Chicago- 25 or 6 to 4
9.) Muse- Supermassive Blackhole
10.) Claude Debussy- Clair De Lune
11.) Coldplay- Kingdom Come
12.) Gabe Dixon- All Will Be Well
13.) Ordinary Boys- Lonely at the Top
14.) Rusted Root- Send Me on My Way
15.) B.B. King- Stand By Me
16.) Chuck Berry- Johnny B Goode
17.) Death Cab For Cutie- Follow You Into The Dark
18.) Jose Gonzales- Heartbeats

Nothing like a sweet beat to make the day.
Check 'em out.

Cheers.

Some Typical Shinanigans

Once upon a midnight day there was a group of utterly ridiculous, completely niffty college kids playing in a dumpster. (it was cleaner than it sounds.)

Then one fell in.

After such an adventure they had a sudden burst of creativity. They soon decided what better way to express them selves than to have a tye dye party.

Once they decided they were heading dangerously close to the social "norm" they made plans to remedy that fact by playing a good old fasion game of cowboys and indians. It seemed logical enough.

Indians in their native habitat. Or something.

This one died.

Once this subsided we realized that our unique activity quota was not as full as we would like. So we declared a bike jousting tournament. (The correct precautions were taken as seen bellow.)

Fat Suit.

Before.

After.

Mexi wins.

Then somehow she made it into this tree.

After every week of ridiculously outlandish events we end them playing at the dunes and trying to build a fire and share less than scary stories.

The End.

(ish.)

Nicole goes to school.

As i am back at school, this also means classes and other such commitments. My class list is as follows:

1.) Fencing- It's a lot like ballet but with 398 more ways of offending people. Even the slightest move can send people into a fury.

2.) Philosophy- Ancient Rome philosophers and the tales they told to get them in trouble. Its an interesting class to say the least.

3.) Social Problems- More like stand up comedy for an hour and a half, our proffesor makes us call him Steven. Not Proffesor Smith. We learn about how people act in situations that go against what is normal to them, and how they always leave in a more awkward mood anyway.

4.) Church History- Self explanitory. It is an interesting class, which is interestingly enough held in the agriculture building. Who would have thought?

5.) Humanities- The study of literature, music, art, film, philosophy, and also human beings. The people in this particular class are perfect example of "individuality". Interesting indeed.

6.) FA 100- Fine Arts 100 is a compilation of concerts, plays, and other such performances which must be attended as a requirement for graduating. Naturally i had no choice not to take it. Sooner is better than later i suppose.