Onward bound

Even though I can no longer keep a captive audience by recounting trips to Macdonalds in Australia, I have decided to keep the blog going. Something about writing drives me forward and keeps me sharp. You can expect random thoughts, important event summaries, and the typical Andrew nonsense hopefully at least once a week from here on out.

• Let's talk shutter island. Greatest movie ever or worst movie ever. I still cannot decide, but I think it really pushed the border of innovative and ridiculous. While a restless South Carolina crowd didn't think much of it, I think I did. For now.
• Andrew Update: What's currently new on my iPod. John Mayer, Train, and Third Eye Blind. All three have new CDs out, I've never really liked John Mayer but he's bringing some noise, and you gotta like Train. Why can't you be-by third eye blind is getting it done also. School-I'm writing a paper about economic institutional development during the glorious revolution, and I'm conducting F-tests around the clock. I recently took a one week hiatus from facebook, and I'm thinking about deactivating my account-probably will never happen. I am now a huge Brandon Jennings fan. He's a flashy PG with a flat top what's not to love. MSU basketball is really, really, really pissing me off.
• Things I miss about Australia: The people, the ocean, the muffins from bond cafe, the weather, not having class on thursday, and having a gym in my building. Things I don't miss about Australia: My roommate, the food from bond cafe or the bra, Robert Wrathal's macro economics course.
• The Olympics are really making me want to play hockey. Team USA hockey is awesome, they are young and physical; they beat people and take names end of story. Chung Suang, the chinese aerialist, has the most swag out of any olympian I've ever seen. The fragmented thoughts continue...Great Olympic sports: Any skiing or snowboarding, men's hockey, biathlon, any sort of cross country skiing, and luge/bobsled. Terrible Olympic sports: Speed skating & Figure Skating (includes the super elton john game of ice dancing).
• The Charles Barkley 5 dollar box that rocks commercial is great, the nationwide I need a blue phone commercial is retarded.

Adios.

Homecoming

I am officially done with exams, and I went out on a stellar performance. It's been a long two weeks, but I came out on top. I am already packed, and all I have to do is go to the beach tomorrow, and stay up all night until my bus leaves for Brisbane at 7am on Sunday. Check out this for an itinerary:

Dec. 20th
-Depart Bond Uni at 7am
- Depart Brisbane a 1205 pm (13hr. flying time)
Dec. 20th- Arrive at Lax at 7am
-Arrive at Santa Ana Airport via shuttle around 11am
-Depart Santa Ana at 120pm
-Arrive Dallas, Texas 615pm
-Depart Dallas, Texas 735 pm
-Arrive Charlotte, NC 1055pm (Still Dec. 20th)
-Arrive Home around 1145pm

*Dec. 20th will be for 40hrs Long
**Phileas Fogg had a better travel itinerary

It's going to be tough to leave Australia. I really enjoy everything here from the people to the beaches, you couldn't ask for much more. I'm looking forward to the day when I can come back, and go to Cairns, the Outback, and New Zealand. Before I left for this trip, my mindset was really focused on challenging myself with a new situation. Clemson was becoming too familiar, and I wasn't taking the next step with my life. As my time in Australia went on, I realized that the situation wasn't really serving as the challenge I thought it would be, but it showed me that I have my life on a good track. So I leave Australia with great memories, optimism about my direction, and in search of my next challenge. Thanks for reading everyone. I hope you've enjoyed reading all this stuff as much as I've enjoyed living it. Later.

Birthday Exam

A year older, and somehow I don't feel that much wiser than yesterday. The exam went pretty well, but now I'm just exhausted and tired, Not too mention hungry. The real grind begins tomorrow. I'm definitely ready to be done with exams, and come Sunday I think I will be ready to come home. Maybe.

Two Down, Two to Play

Two exams down, and I have been absolutely going off so far. Good stuff. Now I have my two hardest exams tomorrow and Friday. Friday is going to be epic. Maybe the toughest exam I've ever had. For everyone looking into buying me a 21st birthday gift the bar has been set high. Evan and Ashley got me a dozen krispy kremes as an early present. Good luck trying to top it....Anway I haven't been doing anything except hitting the books hard. I guess I will leave you with my 2009 exam music playlist. Enlighten yourselves:

1. Bullet and a Target by Citizen Cope
2. Street Lights by Kanye West
3. Breakdown by Jack Johnson
4. Remember the Name by Fort Minor
5. Allot by Young Jeezy
6. Bad News by Kanye West
7. Crazy Game of Poker by oar
8. I got It by Gorilla Zoe
9. Why Can't You Be by third eye blind
10. No Matter What by T.I.
11. Welcome to Hearbreak by Kanye West

Update, as of Late

Study, Study, Study. My first exam is tomorrow followed by monday and tuesday (birthday). With the festivities concluding on friday. I just shaved my head, and I am in total warrior mode. I live at the crossroads of hard work, confidence, and natural ability.

Nothing really to say, except there is a really cool website everyone should check out. www.LetsSayThanks.com I don't know how much hype its getting back home, but pretty much it's a way to send a thank you message to a US soldier which is really cool. I hate talking about politics, but through all the bailouts and stimulus packages I feel like people forget that kids just like me are on the other side of the world in a War. I don't really talk about this much, but I really admire every single US troop, and I have thought countless times that I too should be overseas protecting my country. The least we can do is take 5 minutes out of our day to say thanks.

Aight Everyone stay strong, LATer!

Byron the Third

The Campsite around 8am Saturday Morning, Check out the wind blowing on the tent and your boy's bronze

There's a crab in the foreground of the pic but its tough to spot-- just in front of the light from the flash

From Left to Right: Jenna, Sarah, Me

Night Time View from the tent

Toilet Seat Shopping, all I'm saying is there was a remote control and an electronic, extendable ______ that _____ _____up your ______. GROSS!!!!

East Coast Remix

Man Points +10

View from the hang gliding launch pad back towards the beach

Looking down from the lighthouse towards the most eastern point in OZ, see bottom pic

In the town of Byron, Note the Surf Boards on the van in the foreground

Down the cliff leading to the lighthouse, It doesn't get much better

As far east as you can go in Oz without your eyes getting wet, technically illegal to jump off the path and go to this point, but c'mon I couldn't pass this up.