Wow, I haven't made on of these in a while. Actually, right now I am "making" time for this- I need a break from the damned homework. Need a little UNRV time...
I thought at the beginning of the year my AP U.S. History class would be boooring. I always thought U.S. history would be boring. Boy, was I wrong. Right now we are covering Jacksonian Democracy, and I have become somewhat enchanted with the figure of Andrew Jackson. Despite a few personal flaws and a bad decision or two, he probably was an excellent president. He was orphaned at age 14, and taught himself law, passing the bar exam at age 20. He was in over 20 duels defending his wife's honor! He was even shot in one, got up off the ground, and killed the guy! He never removed the bullet and really deserved the nickname "Old Hickory." Although he was quite rash and was over-forceful on even small issues, he had very high moral standards and was generous to a fault. He was an excellent statesman and served a record number of offices in the three years before he became president. One thing he did wrong was kill the national bank out of ignorance, and he also narrowly avoided (and almost started) a civil war. He was undoubtedly one of the most popular presidents. He was the "Self Made Man."
One thing I still want to look into:
He fought in the Revolutionary War at age 13 as a messenger. He made himself into a great general. He was an amazing general. He destroyed an Indian warband (Seminoles?) of over 2000 men while losing three men. He also did the same to the British at the battle of New Orleans, killing 2000+ soldiers and losing three during the battle and ten dying later. Wow. What I want to research is just how good of a general he was, for he may be overlooked too often on the "greatest" lists.
-------
My Siege of Masada project is going well. I got responses from all the professors I sent to, and even got a reply from the tour guide himself! (Masada is in Jeruselum) Now me and my research partner just have to log some of our sources into NoodleBib, and start looking for video footage for our documentary.
-------
I recently helped my employer build his new guitar shop he has expanded into; the store is 12X bigger and has a warehouse and omg it is awesome. I learned how to do a lot of things I never knew how to do before. I helped turn an old motorcycle store into a guitar shop, putting up slat-wall, painting walls, putting up siding... I feel rewarded enough just knowing I can walk in ten years later and say, I did that! The only complaint I could have is that now the store is in a larger building, it has lost that "small shop" feeling- the original was about 900 square feet of store and office combined- a tight fit but had it's own special feeling, especially on those summer days I would go down to hang out or work... But the new place is awesome, and sales will be so much better due to the better location and... well, everything! I'm excited to see what the future has in store for the place!
------
And yes, I am being a good boy... so whatever Lost_Warrior and her ninjiggy subs say are all lies. (She gets inside looks into my caffeine/boredom induced adventures with friends I have on weekends off my myspace blog)
(And when you live in a village of 5000, yes, one does get bored.)
Whew.