8/27/07
So Long Sweet Summer
Is summer really coming to an end? I work in the Res. Life and Housing Office at NWU and with everyone moving into their rooms for the year it feels more and more like summer is over. This summer has been truly unforgettable. I think I needed one last summer of fun before my senior year: there have been concerts, visits home, branched oak swimming, fun parties, photo booth fun at The Slowdown, and most importantly time spent with the friends and family I love. I don't think I could really ask for anything else.
My name is Kenny Zeiger and I am a senior here at Nebraska Wesleyan. I love music and I love spending time with my friends and family. I am a Communications major with a minor in Gender Studies. I hope this "diary" helps give you some insight into what life is like at Wesleyan. I hope to be able to share with you the different things I love about this school while giving you my own personal perspective on college life. I told you I love music so with every entry I'll probably be sharing with you some song lyric that relates to things going on for me at that time. This comes from my cliché "end of summer song" that I listen to every year, "Age Six Racer" by Dashboard Confessional.
"So long sweet summer, I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays.
So long sweet slumber, I fell into you now you're gracefully falling away."
8/31/07
It Will Be Beautiful
Time sure does go by fast! I can't believe the first week of school is over. I really like my schedule so far, which is an even mix of classes for my major and minor mixed in with some electives. I'm taking Basic Design and Poetry for fun, and while both seem like a lot of work, I'm really looking forward to them. This week has pretty much just been me adjusting to my schedule, which involves my 5 classes, working in the Residence Life and Housing Office, and an internship at the Attorney General's Office. I'm the type of person that likes to keep himself busy.
Now that the weekend is here my mind is totally focused on seeing my friends and family. My best friend is going to be back in town from Japan where she teaches with the JET program so I'm really eager to see her. She's only been gone a month but it feels simultaneously shorter and longer than that. Two of my friends and I have a date with downtown Lincoln tonight. Since Monday is Labor Day on Sunday I'm driving back home to my Mom's in Carter Lake IA. Hopefully I'll get to see my stepsister and niece and get some family time in! I'm really excited for that, I try to get home often but sometimes my schedule can prevent that so I have to make the most of the time I get to spend at home.
I'll be sure to let you know how it goes, until then I'll just listen to Tilly and the Wall and be hopeful for the long weekend ahead.
"Oh come on say it plainly before words lose their meaning. Surround me and everyone that I love. I can feel things are changing, summertime is slowly sinking in. I remember back, I still believe…"
9/7/07
We are the Challengers of the Unknown
Last weekend turned out to be perfect. I went home and spent a few fun days with my Mom and my niece. I think being further away from family has helped me to better appreciate them. I'm sure that sounds lame, but this is my 4th year at Wesleyan and the busier I get the harder it becomes to make time to get home.
Last weekend I also tested out some restaurants here in Lincoln that I've never been to: Buzzard Billy's and Brewsky's. Both were really good and I definitely recommend them! I also went to the really lame Halloween remake; I'm not sure what I was thinking there but seeing the hilarious Superbad the other night made up for it.
But my favorite part of last weekend was getting to see one of my best friends Lyndsi, whose been off teaching in Japan. I don't know if your generation every watched or got into Dawson's Creek, but she's my Jen and I'm her Jack. That's another situation, where, our time apart has made me realize how much I love her and appreciate her. Distance clearly isn't always a bad thing.
Having no work and class on Monday for Labor Day has definitely made this week go much faster. I feel as though I'm really getting into the swing of things. I'm kind of getting excited for Visions and Ventures next week, it's a week where Wesleyan brings in a variety of speakers to talk about different topics. A few years ago Morgan Spurlock, of Super Size Me, came to talk with us and for this year we have Chuck D! Most of the teachers will either require you to go to one or two and some even offer you extra credit for going and writing a response.
Well I'm off to work in the Residence Life office, until another day, I suppose I'll share with you the thing that I've been most trying to do or be. It comes from a song by The New Pornographers from their new album and the second I heard this line I knew it was something I myself was striving to be, who knew something so simple could be so powerful?
"We are the challengers of the unknown"
9/14/07
I Have Been Here Before
Last night was an amazing night with 3 of my friends; we went to the Rilo Kiley concert at Sokol in Omaha. Rilo Kiley was amazing. Jenny Lewis has one of those powerful and beautiful voices that you don’t really hear in music these days. They played some of their old stuff mixed in with most of their new stuff. My friend Madi and I definitely had a blast dancing the night away. Jonathan Rice was one of he opening bands, and he was amazing and funny as usual and then there was this band I was unfamiliar with called Grand Ole Party and they really got me dancing feet in motion. All in all it was a truly great start to the weekend.
This week also consisted of Visions and Ventures, probably my favorite was Chuck D. He was kind of all over the place but he made a few good points and plus it was Chuck D! I wasn’t required to go to that one but I had to go just so I could say I saw him.
This week was the first meeting of M.O.S.A.I.C., that’s the Meeting Of Students Addressing Intercultural Concerns, and it’s one of the few organizations at Wesleyan I’ve really committed my time to over my years here. I’m not one of those people who can be involved in everything; I’ll stick with the few things I really care about so I can better devote my time to them. I’m definitely excited for this year and the different events and things we will be working on.
September is about half way through; time sure goes by fast when you keep busy. College seems to go by really fast, I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, I guess, it’s a mixture of the two. I’m looking forward to this weekend, I have a lot homework to get done but that won’t be too bad, I really just want to spend time with my friends, we are all so busy we don’t always get to see each other during the week, so weekends is our time when we are able to see each other. I’m already planning on going to pick up one of my best friends and we have plans to hang out tonight!
This weeks lyrics come from one of my favorite songs, Throw It All Away by Brandi Carlile.
"This love branches out like an oak tree
Reach for the sky and roots to the sea.
So when you’re shaking, down, and broken
Find your piece of mind in knowing
I’d throw them all away
When I’m hollow, deep as the sea goes
All I know is I would throw them all away"
9/21/07
Pieces of You
It all just gets away from me sometimes. This week seemed to go by really fast but it also felt like two weeks rolled into one. Different projects, papers, and other commitments seemed to have taken over. But in all honestly I like keeping myself busy with work and school and plans with friends. First, it makes me appreciate my free time more when I have it. Second, it just seems to keep me organized and focused.
This weekend I’m going to see David Bazan in concert at The Slowdown, one of my favorite venues in Omaha. I saw him in concert during my junior year in high school so I kind of feel some weird sense of coming full circle. I’m making “dinner” for my friends tonight, nothing fancy by any means but something simple: I think were aiming for veggie burgers, soy dogs, and rice. Not that any of us our vegetarians but everyone should eat a little soy product every now and then.
Not a lot going on this week, just focused most of my time and energy on the tasks at hand. This weeks lyrics are from my youth, a little Jewel from her song “I’m Sensitive”…
“I'd rather see the world from another angle
We are everyday angels”
10/5/07
Fall, Concerts, and... Laundry
It’s October! I really feel like fall is here now!
Seriously, we’re getting into my 3 favorite months of the year…something about October, November, and December just strikes a nerve within me. A good nerve…I love this time of year.
A lot is going on in my classes with a few different projects and papers starting it up. I really can’t put these things off until last minute like I want to. Sometimes I let things get away from me and end up stressing myself out in the end, but it’s really my fault that it got to that point anyway. The thing I have to do, that really helps me, is to stay organized. I have a planner that I live my life out of and it really helps me keep track, visually, of everything going on and everything that needs to be done. I am a planner person.
This week has been good although I started getting sick which is never any fun, but I’m starting to feel better which is very important because I have a very busy weekend this weekend!
Last night my friend Jeremy and I went to see Maria Taylor and tonight me and my friends are going to see Regina Spektor and then were following that up with Tilly and the Wall! And on top of that all I’m squeezing in some family time and I’m going to get to see my friend Gwen who’s back in town from Baltimore for the weekend. And I also really need to do laundry, which is probably going to result in a trip to my Mom’s or Grandma’s.
I suppose in honor of the really amazing songs I heard last night I’ll leave you with a little Maria Taylor, the second I heard this line I connected with it. My friends, my close friends, are as much my family as my own family. This line from “Birmingham 1982” is perfect!
“Do you still remember?
Fireflies, four-leaf clovers
Fingerpainted skin
Where life was a reaction
And love was just laughing with a friend”
10/5/07
Fall, Concerts, and... Laundry
It’s October! I really feel like fall is here now!
Seriously, we’re getting into my 3 favorite months of the year…something about October, November, and December just strikes a nerve within me. A good nerve…I love this time of year.
A lot is going on in my classes with a few different projects and papers starting it up. I really can’t put these things off until last minute like I want to. Sometimes I let things get away from me and end up stressing myself out in the end, but it’s really my fault that it got to that point anyway. The thing I have to do, that really helps me, is to stay organized. I have a planner that I live my life out of and it really helps me keep track, visually, of everything going on and everything that needs to be done. I am a planner person.
This week has been good although I started getting sick which is never any fun, but I’m starting to feel better which is very important because I have a very busy weekend this weekend!
Last night my friend Jeremy and I went to see Maria Taylor and tonight me and my friends are going to see Regina Spektor and then were following that up with Tilly and the Wall! And on top of that all I’m squeezing in some family time and I’m going to get to see my friend Gwen who’s back in town from Baltimore for the weekend. And I also really need to do laundry, which is probably going to result in a trip to my Mom’s or Grandma’s.
I suppose in honor of the really amazing songs I heard last night I’ll leave you with a little Maria Taylor, the second I heard this line I connected with it. My friends, my close friends, are as much my family as my own family. This line from “Birmingham 1982” is perfect!
“Do you still remember?
Fireflies, four-leaf clovers
Fingerpainted skin
Where life was a reaction
And love was just laughing with a friend”
10/12/07
While the City Sleeps
Happy Birthday Lindsey!
Today is one of my best friend’s birthdays, so this weekend we have a lot planned! But before I get into those details I’ll catch you up on everything that happened this week.
First, we had our first step team practice. I hope you all know what stepping is! You might have seen it in Stomp the Yard, Drumline, or on plenty of TV shows. Anyway, Nebraska Wesleyan has their very own step team, X-Clusive. Every fall we host and perform in a step show and we bring in different Sororities/Fraternities and various local high schools to compete. It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work but this is my fourth and last year on step team, so, it’s kind of an extra special year.
Also, fall break is next week! So I’ve been working on a few papers, which I’m looking forward to finishing this weekend! And then I have only one test next Wednesday, so wish me luck!
My mind unfortunately has only been looking forward to tonight and tomorrow. Tonight my friends Ember, Jeremy, Lindsey, and I are going to the RANCH OF TERROR! So it better be a little scary, but we’re only wasting $8 on it and we thought it would be a fun way to start the weekend, plus Lindsey didn’t want to do something we always do. And tomorrow we are going to Omaha where we plan to eat at various restaurants and then go to The Peacock Room for drinks to close out the night! And on Sunday I will rest, relax, and do homework!
I think I’ll go with a little 80’s classic, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston.
“Clocks strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away
I've done alright up 'til now
It's the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls loneliness calls
Oh! I wanna dance with somebody”
10/19/07
Here I Am Again Talking to Myself
It’s fall break! 3 days off from school! I’ve been looking forward to this break since school started. Just kidding, kind of, but seriously I definitely need this break to give my mind a rest and focus on other things for just a bit. I’ll still be working over break but I’m planning on getting a little family time in at some point, although I’m not sure just when that will be yet.
The tests and papers are over for a few weeks, which, is another big relief. I’ve got no big plans this weekend and my to-do list is fairly empty except for a trip to the grocery store.
Occasionally I have these moments in my life where I have no obligations to school or work or whatever may be going on and sometimes I just don’t know what to do with myself besides to enjoy my time away and relax as much as possible. It may seem boring but I enjoy being boring from time to time. Here’s a little Elliott Smith for you by way of “Ballad of Big Nothing”.
“Said you can do what you want to whenever you want to
You can do what you want to, there's no one to stop you
All spit and spite, you're up all night
And down every day
A tired man with only hours to go
Just waiting to be taken away”
10/26/07
Trick or Treat!
I know it’s technically not Halloween yet but Halloween is on a Wednesday this year and I’m sure I’ll just be sitting at home doing homework and watching scary movies. So my Halloween celebrating will occur this weekend. Just a few Halloween parties, nothing too exciting; tonight I’m going to be an 80’s aerobics instructor and tomorrow I’m going to be a pumpkin.
I really love dressing up for parties and different events it’s a fun excuse to go out to the thrift stores and find something you can throw together. There’s a Salvation Army and Goodwill very close to campus and both have plenty of clothing and other items to sort through. This was a quick week with classes because we just got back from fall break. Too bad every week isn’t a 3-day week!
So this week I’ve just been trying to get back into the swing of things. I had a beautifully boring fall break. I worked a little and got a small amount of family time in on Tuesday. I mostly just hung out with friends and enjoyed my few days off. You definitely have to make the breaks count because when they’re over…they’re over. So if you want to go home, do it and if you want to hang out with friends, do that too! I did everything I wanted to this break and I’m happy with how it all went. For the lyrics this week I decided to take it back a few years with a little “Sweet Misery” by Michelle Branch.
“I was lost
And you were found
You seemed to stand on solid ground
I was weak
And you were strong
And me and my guitar,
we strummed along, oh
Sweet misery you cause me
That's what you called me”
11/2/07
There's a Crisp Chill Hanging in the Air
“Just like thinking of your childhood home
But we can’t go back, we're on our own
But I'm about to give this one more shot
And find it in myself”
I thought I’d switch it up and start with the lyrics this week, which come from “November” by Azure Ray. It is finally November, that is a really crazy concept to grasp. I’m not sure where October went but it was over in a flash. Although I must admit I am excited for the approaching holidays!
I’ll be honest, I started listening to Christmas music a few weeks ago, just the occasional song but still I got an early start. This week was a longer one and as predicted I spent my Halloween at home resting, doing homework, and watching a couple scary movies.
Step practice has been filling most of my late evenings. We usually practice anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours a night except for Friday. It’s been a lot of fun but is also a lot of work. The step show is Nov. 30th and we still have a fair amount of things to learn and put together by then.
Thursday was my friend Corey’s 21st birthday so we spent Thursday evening downtown. Tonight I’m definitely hoping for something a little calmer and hopefully to call it an early night. Sunday however is creamed chicken lunch at my Grandma Brandt’s church, I love when they do creamed chicken! I suppose it’s the little things in life that make it worthwhile or at least that’s what they say. I am definitely the type of person that appreciates and enjoys the small minuet details in life.
11/9/07
Ready for the Weekend
This weekend came faster than I thought it would and my mind is only set on one thing, Tori Amos. My friend and I got tickets months ago to see her in concert, tomorrow! In case you haven’t been able to tell I talk about music and going to concerts a lot. I’m a very passionate person and one of my passions is music, I can’t sing or play an instrument but I still connect to music. So Saturday is devoted to Tori and then on Sunday my mom wants me to come up to her place, she promised home cooked meals and the use of her washer and drawer and I was sold. No big plans for tonight yet, but it’s still early.
I’m just glad this week is over I’ve had a major research paper due, a big test, and a presentation. And on top of all that, step practice has been getting a little stressful, but everything worked out and I’m incredibly excited for our performance on Nov. 30th.
Next week is looking pretty calm compared to this week and I have Monday off at my Internship for Veterans Day, so I’m planning on picking up some extra hours at work to make an extra bit of spending cash. Well I should get back to work, until next week here’s a little Brandi Carlile, In My Own Eyes.
“Lost in translation, free to fall,
One situation, and lose it all.”
11/15/07
In Bed All Day
Ugh. I’m so glad this week is over, I’m so glad next week is a shortened week at school, and I can’t wait to go get better.
I have bronchitis, which has come along and knocked me of my feet for the past few days. But yesterday I made it into the doctor’s office and got on some medication so I’m on the road to recovery. But because I’ve been so sick I’ve had to miss my internship, class, work, and step practice. So now I feel totally behind in everything. This weekend I’ll definitely be playing catch-up.
This weekend is also CHEESCAKE BABY! A tradition started by my friends last year where we go to The Cheesecake Factory and hang out in Omaha. I’m not going to lie, I’m really looking forward to this even if it will take me away from doing everything else I need to do. I always love to take a little time to hang out with friends.
Not a lot to report this week, I guess being sick makes me lamer than usual. Here’s a little Tilly and the Wall, until next time…
“Hold your hand after the dark
Kiss the luck, well Omaha's so drunk
It's my Terabithia
So pull over
Let's watch the mountains burn
This is where I want to be
And let that sad, sad song that always plays in your head finally sleep”
11/30/07
A Step Back In Time
It’s been a while, lets see, Thanksgiving was great. I spent some time with my Dad’s side of the family in Hastings and then made it back to my Mom’s in time to have pie! I spent the break with my friends and family, which was more than I could have asked for because I have been so busy since getting back to school.
Tonight is NWU’s 5th Annual Step Show!!! This is my fourth and final year on step team and I am pretty excited (in a bittersweet kind of way) for tonight. We’ve put in hours and hours of practice over the past month or so. It’s really paid off and tonight we get to show the school, our friends and family, and any visiting guests some hot dancing and stepping!
That’s pretty much been my life this week; we had practice until about 11pm since Monday. My Dad actually came into town to see the Step Show, he lives out of state, and so we squeezed in a lunch and dinner visit where we could.
I’ve got lots of papers to start working on; this should be a very busy weekend. No real plans except to get back in the swing of things like, cleaning my apartment, working on homework, laundry, and…ok, I think that’s about it. I guess step has pretty much consumed my life this week but that’s ok case it’s almost over! Here’s a little Sum 41, I heard this sing on an episode of Gossip Girl…whatever, it’s called “With You”, and here you go:
“Through it all
I made my mistakes
I'll stumble and fall
but I mean these words
I want you to know
with everything I won't let this go
These words are my heart and soul
I'll hold onto this moment you know
Cause I bleed my heart out to show
that I won't let go”
12/7/07
Sunshine is Days Away
I am so ready for the weekend! We’re finally winding down things here on campus and I have so much work to do still these last few weeks before the semester is over! I have lots of papers, a few exams, and research papers. My last week at my internship is next week and as much fun as it’s been, I’m just ready to for it to be over and take the next step forward in my life. It’s a very exciting time to be a senior!
It’s been work and study this week, not a lot is going on! But I have plans with friends tonight and tomorrow, so I’m definitely looking forward to that. Getting to see my friends is always something to look forward to. I can’t wait for 5 o’clock to roll around!
There is snow on the ground and allegedly more on the way, it’s a beautiful winter wonderland outside! So here’s a little something from a tune called “Maybe This Christmas” by Ron Sexsmith.
“Maybe this Christmas will mean something more
Maybe this year
Love will appear
Deeper than ever before
And maybe forgiveness will ask us to call
Someone we've loved
Someone we've lost
For reasons we can't quite recall
Maybe this Christmas”
2/1/08
I Look Around and My Eyes Confound Me
Wow. It’s only the second week back to school but it feels as though I’ve never left. So far I’m enjoying every single one of my classes. Everything seems to be a rush, this is my last semester of school but I feel like I only just started. I suppose that’s life. That’s how things work, right?
This weekend is all about Groundhog’s Day, which may not mean anything to you, but my family is from Unadilla, Nebraska and in Unadilla Groundhog’s Day is right up there with Christmas. There’s a bake sale, historical actors, a parade down main street, and catching hot dogs with my mom. My friends and I really love it and we make it a fun midday excursion.
Well, the weekend is here and I need to get out and leave school behind for a few hours. Expect more updates soon. Until then, here’s a little Alexi Murdoch from a song called All My Days.
“Well I have been searching
All of my days
Many a road, you know
I’ve been walking on
All of my days
And I’ve been trying to find
What’s been in my mind
As the days keep turning into night”
2/8/08
It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To
Not that I really would, but I do like the song.
Anyway, this week was my 22nd birthday, which was exciting. I went and had P.F. Changs with some friends and did some shopping at Urban Outfitters (which is one of my favorite stores in Omaha).
This week was pretty average and I did have to miss a few classes yesterday but I’ll tell you why in a second, but I just thought I’d share my weekend excitement first. Tonight I’m going to see Phantom of the Opera in Omaha with some family and my best friend Ember. Then tomorrow I’m going to hang out with some more friends and just have fun. Finally on Sunday, I plan on going to my Grandmas and doing laundry and relaxing. I guess you could say I’m pretty excited for this weekend!
But the best part of my week so far was yesterday! I missed my afternoon classes to go downtown and meet a very cool young woman. I got to meet Chelsea Clinton yesterday at the Coffee House here in Lincoln and she said my gloves were “awesome”! No matter where you stand politically I hope you can understand the excitement of being able to meet and get to talk to someone you admire like that. She did a great job of representing her mother and answering some very in depth questions. That’s really all I got this week, I guess it’s just a week for making memories.
In turn I’ll give you a little Bloc Party by way of "Banquet":
“And if you feel
A little left behind
We will wear you on the other side”
2/29/08
See You Later, February
February is at its end. Which can only mean midterms and spring break are approaching!
This week was career week on campus and I was glad I got to take the time to go to the gender studies panel and next week I look forward to going to Backpack 2 Briefcase (an event for students to mingle and meet potential employers). This week I also get to hear the wonderful Jackson Katz talk about masculinity and violence and about presidential elections. He’s got some really eye opening things to share with the world and I was glad I had the opportunity to get to meet him.
I’ve been working on projects for Digital Media a lot this week, mostly because the project I’m doing is a lot more detailed than I had realized and its going to take over my weekend since it’s due on Monday. Classes are going well I’m trying my hardest to not be sick anymore but it’s easier said than done.
It’s been a good week in music and this week’s lyrics come from my favorite band Tilly and the Wall. More importantly this song is responsible for an email exchange between Perez Hilton, whose website I’m a big fan of, and myself. So here’s a little "Beat Control":
“All these people talking bout you now
They don’t make no difference, no
We always have the rhythm here
In our blood and in our souls
So let the beat control you now
There’s nothing here to care about
Just you and me, let’s break it down
So follow me, I’ll show you how”
4/11/08
I've Seen it with My Own Eyes
Time seems to fly by this semester and I like that it’s almost over. I can’t wait to graduate!
Spring Break in Chicago was a blur. I loved spending time with old childhood friends and family. Back at school my time has been spent working on a few major papers and applying for jobs these past few weeks.
This week has been busy too; its housing selection week, which means the Residence Life Office, has been very busy. Other than that thing’s have been very calm and I’m just getting excited, as we get closer to May. This weekend I plan on just chilling and laying low until housing selection on Sunday.
Here’s some lyrics to think about until next time from Gnarls Barkley’s “Going On”, it’s been my anthem since before spring break and I find it to be very poignant to anyone going through change in their life.
“And you can stand right there if you want,
But I'm going on.
And I'm prepared to go it alone.
I'm going on.
To a place in the sun that's nice and warm.
I'm going on.”
4/20/08
Everyone I'm Sure Will Tell You
I have less than a month to go before graduation.
I’m still doing the job search thing and keeping up with my schoolwork. I have a lot of papers and final projects to work on and I’m trying to stay on top of things so that I don’t end up doing things last minute.
I’m just really enjoying the rush that is my life right now and am trying to make time for myself amidst all the responsibility. That’s one thing I had to learn to do, you have got to make time for yourself. Whether it’s to hang out with friends, go home for the weekend, or just veg out and watch TV. I like to think it helps to keep me from feeling overwhelmed.
Some words for thought this week come from The Postal Service song "Natural Anthem."
I'll write you a song
And I hope that you won't mind
Because all the names and places
I have taken from real life
So please don't get upset
At this portrait that I paint
It may be a little biased
But at least I spelled your name right.
5/4/08
The Ends Not Near, It’s Here
Dead week is here, finals week is next week, and it all concludes with graduation. I can’t wait.
I am so excited to graduate and no, I don’t have a job lined up yet but I’m going to move home temporarily and continue my job search in Omaha. This next week is my last week to work in the Residence Life & Housing Office which is sad, but I needed the time off during finals week to move all of my stuff home.
After graduation, I’m going on a short and fast trip to Arizona to see my cousin graduate from high school and then I will be back to the grind of job searching.
Looking back on the last four years, I wonder where the time went. I’ve grown up so much during my time at Wesleyan. I’ve made plenty of mistakes, accomplished and learned so much, and ultimately came to a better understanding of myself. My advice for you is to get involved, work hard, have fun, and to appreciate it all.
I guess what best sums it all up is the Patty Griffin song, When It Don’t Come Easy.
I don't know nothing except change will come
Year after year what we do is undone
Time keeps moving from a crawl to a run
