First "Oh Sh*t!" College Moment

Well, friends, on the eve on Barack Obama's historic speech, I stand before you freaking out! I lost my cell phone today. As I formulated this determination in my mind, I called my parents (naturally, after looking thoroughly through self, room, and car AND calling it from my room phone while looking through self, room, and car). When I called them, they said, "Hey honey, what's up?" I said..."Well, I had my first "Oh Sh*t!" moment today. I lost my cell phone. No sooner than I was checking my email so I could regain access to my Verizion account to take care of it, then USAA sent me an email to call customer service because my card number had been stolen and they needed authorization to shut down that card and send a new one. Great, lost cell phone AND almost stolen identity in one day. Brilliant.

I did have time to sit down an enjoy Barack's monumental address. It made me feel even more confident about him in the White House. Today, he leads McCain by 6 points. After tonight's speech, that is bound to increase. I think he is th perfect man for the job and his speech inspired me and instilled so much hope in me. I just hope he can follow-through, which of course, the conservatives have been pointing out all along. I hope you got to enjoy this wonderful moment in Presidential History too.

Before that, though, we had our own Presdential Speech here at UM. A few speeches were lined up for us new freshman to welcome us to the University. At the New Student Convocation, held at Crisler Arena, the same hallowed court that dozens of big-ten championship basketball games have been won on, the same place that hosts two graduations every year, we were welcomed today by many of the University big-whigs, making equally intellectually stimulating and entertaining speechs about how great it is to be a Wolverine and how awesome U of M is a place to be. President Coleman, the University President and a Regent of the University, said it best. And by best, I mean most concisely and poignantly all at once. She must have learned after being President for so long, what is important to saw and how to best say it. She inspires me to be my best here at Michigan, as did the many other deans, provosts, and executives that spoke to us this evening. I won't let you down, guys! (That includes them, and all of YOU reading this out there, my friends, family, and colleagues.)

Well, a rough day it was. Health appointment went well, though. Nice GP taking over primary care for me, getting all my blood-tests (weekly INRs) in order, and my prescriptions transferred. The University Health Service Pharmacy didn't take our insurance though, so I had to go running around Ann Arbor finding a pharmacy that would. More stress! And to think, classes haven't even started yet! I can't wait...

All this, of course, can teach us a lesson. "Baptism by fire," my mom called it. Learning all the hard lessons and having to learn how to handle these emergency situations all at once, will lead to being more prepared in the future and not having to take care of them later on. 'Getting it all over with at once,' if you will. I can genuinely say that I "have gotten it all over with at once." And that I feel very burned from this "baptismal flame." Sure doesn't feel like there is any positive side to this now, but it will soon. So tired from all this hubbub and hassle. But Tomorrow, I will put together the pieces--rise anew as a Phoenix from the ashes of this "Baptismal Bonfire" we had today. Get the new card in the mail in a week (and change all my automatic payments to match the new card number), find or replace this cell phone, and cash some checks at a bank so I have money in the mean time. Your prayers and support would be much appreciated and are much needed, right now. I'm trying to maintain my composure, but seeing as this week was hard enough a transition away from home and parents, it's testing my mettle, that's for sure. And now, tired and burned, I go to sleep and try to rest my weary eyes.

May the promise of better days, however close to home like my little issues, with a promise from a parent; or however farreaching as Obama's promise for a new and better America full of hope and change, help us all get a better sleep tonight. Goodnight, and Good Luck, my friends.