Simply insane or insanely awesome? You decide.

Spring Break Road Trip 2010

Leave Muncie for Minneapolis at 7 p.m. Friday, March 5 – - (10 hour drive)
Arrive in Minneapolis at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 6

SPEND THE DAY IN MINNEAPOLIS – SPEND THE NIGHT

Leave Minneapolis for Bismarck at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 7 – - (7 hour drive)
Arrive in Bismarck at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 7

Leave Bismarck for Ellensburg at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 7 – - (19 hour drive)
Arrive in Ellensburg at noon on Monday, March 8

SPEND THE DAY IN ELLENSBURG – SPEND THE NIGHT

Leave Ellensburg at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 9 – - (2 hour drive)
Arrive in Seattle at noon Tuesday, March 9

SPEND TUES. AND WED. IN SEATTLE, COAST, ETC. SPEND THE NIGHT TUES. AND WED.

Leave Seattle for Portland at 8 a.m. Thursday, March 11 – - (2 hour drive)
Arrive in Portland at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 11

Leave Portland for Boise at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 11 – - (7 hour drive)
Arrive in Boise at 11 p.m. Thursday, March 11 SPEND THE NIGHT IN BOISE

Leave Boise for Salt Lake City at 8 a.m. Friday, March 12 – - (6 hour drive)
Arrive in Salt Lake City at 1 p.m. Friday, March 12

Leave Salt Lake City for Denver at 4 p.m. Friday, March 12 – - (8 hour drive)
Arrive in Denver at 11 p.m. Friday, March 12

SPEND THE NIGHT IN DENVER

Leave Denver for St. Louis at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 13 – - (15 hour drive)
Arrive in St. Louis at midnight Saturday, March 13

SPEND THE NIGHT IN ST. LOUIS WITH VICKI

Leave St. Louis for Muncie at 2 p.m. Sunday

Go to school the next day and try not to kill ourselves.

Dave for Every Occasion…

I made this last summer right before the Dave Matthews concert. I was digging through Facebook and thought I’d post it again. For all you Dave-haters…avoid, avoid!

When you mess up: Let You Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbSJFwt6dW8

When you only know one Dave song: Crash Into Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLn42V1pFU

When you fall in love: Oh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR33AyciWbc

FAVORITE
When we can do anything together: You & Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxvK-5AOQg

When you go to Louisiana: Louisiana Bayou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idkddlChfRE

When somebody leaves a room: Where Are you Going
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoBLOsc5AJQ

When Jane’s around: The Song That Jane Likes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoC5_G3E2rA

When you want to mindlessly dance like a hillbilly on acid: Tripping Billies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn4TgXyfG6o

When you want to feel great and love the world: Everyday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRpgwgVwCVA

When you want to celebrate: Two Step
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eejRZaL9-LQ

When 40 just isn’t enough: #41
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uesIbOfT8hk

When regular bread isn’t cutting it: Cornbread
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZfRQbeOGRw&feature=related

When the water is muddy (or bloody): Don’t Drink the Water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMAnYUwIhk0

When you want to celebrate the holidays: The Christmas Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdFZDKGO-A8

When you feel like everyone is the same: Ants Marching
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t7xE8yovw4

When you feel old and wise: Granny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbHfKOHNW4g&feature=related

Does normal really exist?

I’m the type of person that can sit and watch “normal,” everyday people for hours. When I go to the store, a bar or even the dentist I have a tendency to stare at people. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not a creep…I just think people are absolutely fascinating. I was YouTubing a few months ago, and I stumbled upon a channel called, “Shaytards.”

A guy named Shay Carl decided that during his 29th year of life he was going to make a video blog everyday. Well, these blogs aren’t anything ridiculous, they don’t have crazy special effects and they don’t usually don’t involve any other people except a happy family.

This family (Shaytard, Mommytard, Sontard, Princesstard, and Babytard) go through their day having fun and experiencing life together. They play frisbee, they go to Costco and they go on road trips. Shay Carl seems like a great dad. He’s caring and always saying something funny and goofing off. You’d think with parents being so “whatever” about things their kids would be awful, but they seem to be adorable and great kids.

I guess if you really think about it, there’s no such thing as normal, just as there’s no such thing as perfect. So, basically, all people are fascinating. I just have a preference for those who don’t do anything extraordinary. They’re much more fun to watch on YouTube.

Shaytards or ShayCarl

You should take a look. You’ll either hate it or love it. What do you think? Does normal really exist?

Let’s talk about something fantastic. Die Neue Haas Grotesk.

Things that make this world better: Birthday Cake ice cream. Getting so lost in a book you forget where you are. Marking everything off your to-do list. Helvetica. (Die Neue Haas Grotesk. I had to put something interesting so you’d be curious and read this. If you saw a typeface, you wouldn’t bother. It’s okay, I understand.)

I watched the Helvetica documentary today and it brought me back to my fascination with type and design. When I have one freelance project piled on top of the other and school to worry about,  sometimes I forget how passionate I am about design. I forget about the typography and design books sitting on my bookshelf, collecting dust. I forget how excited I get when I create a design that’s simple, while eye-catching and strong. Placing the crisp, black, bold Helvetica over white background. The power of negative space. The ability for something easy to create to make such an impact.

Okay, I get it. I’m odd. I’m obsessed. I think I fall into this category…

“I’m obviously a typomaniac—which is an incurable if not mortal disease.” – - Erik Spiekermann

One day my roommate got me talking about type, and I think she regretted it. She said I probably have more emotion about Helvetica than my friends and family. Let’s hope that’s not true. But I guess we’ll never know. I’m one of those people that walk into a store because I like the way the sign looks. My favorite use of Helvetica: Crate&Barrel. It’s sqeaky clean and is more beautiful than the first snow of winter.

Heaven.

I’ve attached some images for your viewing pleasure. (I pulled a group clip so we may have some repeats.) Logos that look timeless and sharp, without of the use of insane typefaces that make me want to vomit.

Pay attention to the stores you shop at. If it has an ugly typeface, shop somewhere else. Fight the battle against bad design.

What’s your function (of learning)?

Gee, Bill, you sure have a lot of courage and patience.

In light of the last first day of school, I thought I’d regress.

Remember the days of School House Rock? Well, if you’re my age, my parents age or even my grandparents age, you will. So, all ya’ll know what I’m talking about. I mean, this started back in the 70′s. It’s incredible.

Well, I have to say, my favorite was the America Rock series. “I’m Just A Bill,” airing first in 1975 is probably the best one. It’s informational, catchy and a great way to remember facts you used to have to learn in school. Once we get out of high school and focus on our majors in college and our “real world” jobs, we forget the interesting facts that we once knew.

Want to remember how to really understand grammar? Try this one. It may seem silly and childish to go back to cartoons we used to watch, but honestly, I think it’s a great way to brush up. (If you’re really that embarrassed,  lock your doors and shut your blinds. I know you will enjoy it once you start.)

Here’s a quick way to learn all the presidents and state capitals, brought to you by the Animaniacs. I bet you’ll remember it all.

There are so many new flashcards and games out there to help adults re-learn what they used to know. Why pay money when you can YouTube your education?

Well, I don’t know about you all, but I’m going to go learn about Dollars and Sense.