For my last Spring Break ever (Senior Year at Oakland University) I was going to go to Florida for Spring Break, but my friend cancelled on me. So as a second effort to have a good time on my break I decided to buy tickets through a school trip to NYC! Tickets were super cheap (170 bucks for 4 days). The only person I knew was Andy Baker, but after those 4 days were over I made a ton
more friends and had the greatest time I have had in such a long time!!

Here are the things I remember us doing....

When we first got there we immediately went to times Square where Andy lifted me up on his shoulders and we took pics and hung out.

I felt so gross from the long bus ride, but we couldnt yet check into the hotel.

I dont remember specifics about what we did on the first day after that, maybe we went to the comedy night that night with Adrian Bass and others, I am not sure.

In the morning for sure I know we made our way to the Metropolitan museum. It was one of the largest . . . Read More..

When I got back from Europe I was so tired and out of it and I went for some apple sauce in the fridge.

I was explaining to Susan what I was wanting to eat and I said I want some mashed apples. Here's what I said... "I want some of those apples, what do you call them.??? Those mashed apples."

She laughed so much at it and I will never be able to eat them again with out hearing about the mashed apples.

nyThe first day we got Shemp was quite the memorable moment. We found an ad in the Oakland Press about puppies for only 35$. This was just after we lost Whiskey so I didn't think it'd be such an easy transistion. Anyway, we pull up to this house in Pontiac right by Northern High School. I now believe that the house was some sort of opium den or possibly(to avoid any sterotype) a crack house. This might explain many of our dog's actions. In the house there were many puppies but only two that were running around and playing with each other. We got lucky and picked Shemp. On the way home in the future Tijuana Taxi, Shemp pooped. It was love at first sight for the Stalker family. That night Noel and I both wanted to sleep with Shemp. So what ended up happening was the last time Noel and I shared a bed together and the last time Shemp slept with anyone else besides my parents. Shemp still remains a good dog and poops in more places than the car.

Noel brought up a memory of the store called"The Vault." This made me think of "Comics and Cards."It was located at Walton and Sashabaw, basically on the border of C-town and Waterford. The guy who owned the joint was like the comic book store guy in the Simpsons only a little bit thinner.

My biggest memory of the place was putting an Isiah Thomas card on layaway. I'd go in there every week and put like 5 or 10 bucks towards the purchase of this collectors item. After I gave the wierdo my parents' money I would always look through the smokey glass of the counter, and stare at this basketball card. I'm not sure how much that card is worth today but I could never part ways with it.

This entry was written in the airport before my flight left for London. I thought I might share it along with my final reflections of my trip

So I am here at the airport waiting for my adventure to begin. But unlike in the movies, where actions don't have a direct affect on you, in my life, this trip has affected me and the characters around me.

It is the most emotional thing to see the ones you love sad. They are sad of the unknown. Mostly thinking something bad is going to happen. My mom felt so much pain when she let me go off on my trip. She never tells me of any pain she is in, but I saw it in her eyes when I said my final goodbye. My throat and eyes hold back the emotions because I hate to see my mom sad. Every time I see her sad my body just folds in pain.

I hold things back because for one... I don't want to bust out crying in an airport and also because this trip will probably change my life and I will become a greater man because of it.

Those who I love are . . . Read More..