ACCORDING TO ZAC

Today was a good day in higher education. Nancy will always be my favorite professor. She cares about students and believes in each of them regardless of how good they are at any one particular skill. Anyway, I asked her when I could meet with her so we could talk about the class I'm taking from her, what I can do with a journalism degree, et cetera. She said she'd love to treat me to lunch and we could chat. I politely refused her lunch offer. She insisted. We're going to lunch next week. Ha ha. But, her interest in my life, my thoughts, and spending time enough with me to get to really know me was so astounding. I want to be a professor or a teacher so badly, because I think I could be that professor that cared about the students, that was an effective instructor, and that helped inspire people to do new and exciting things with their lives, just like she has. College would be a lot different if every professor was like Nancy. Sadly, that's not the case, but ...

There are a few things that are really fun about being the only child at home. For instance, my input is always taken into consideration when discussing what to make for dinner. It's not always the definitive plan, but it's at least considered. All that aside, some of my favorite time spent with my parents is when we sit in the family room watching television. Most often we are watching HGTV, talking about what we like/don't like about the designer's plans, and one of us is almost always asleep at any given time. Tonight was no different. The three of us sat and watched President Obama's State of the Union address. Someone was sleeping during parts of the speech, either Mom or Dad. Surprisingly there was no dialogue until after his speech, but it was just like any other night. And I wouldn't have it any other way. :) Side note: the funny little addition to our normal television watching formula is that I was reading my New York Times instead of listening to...

I just set up a subscription to the New York Times ... I feel like such an adult, which is both awesome, and awful. Adult status aside, the Times is sort of a giant deal, so it'll be cool to get it delivered to my house every weekday. On a different note, visiting the Times' s newsroom is on my bucket list.

I'm just going to hibernate until May. See you then.

Another glimpse at my future career from this website . Reporter 1: “Lightning is going to come through that window any second now.” Reporter 2: “That’s why we have thick, double paned windows. To protect us from God’s wrath.”

I got a haircut today. It had been 16 weeks and 2 days since my last one, which is an abnormally long time for guys to go between haircuts. (I don't actively keep count, I looked back at my calendar, I swear) Anyway, I'm glad it's gone. :)

Tomorrow begins my fourth semester at the University of Arizona. (What the crap!? When did I get so old?) It's a pretty special place, filled with exams, papers, hatred, and stress. I mean, it's also filled with awesome stuff, like the Institute, my friends, and the journalism department (though I'm only occasionally in love with that place). Here I come, a three-semester veteran. Let's do this thing. ::

Kendle and I have been friends for a long time. We haven't gotten to see each other much lately, but the other day she said she had something for me and that I should pick it up. Well, I had commissioned a painting a while back, and it was done! It was based on a series of four I had seen at Z-Gallerie (camera, turn table, typewriter, headphones). I haven't decided which I'm going to have done next, but I'm thinking I could use one or two more. Kendle, you are truly fantastic. I love that we can talk about art and color and design, and it never gets old. You are a big reason I'm so invested in photography. :) ::  [Sunlight is coming through the back, creating the white streaks.] :: :: [For the record, Zacky Poo is an exclusive name only Kendle calls me. It is generally unwelcome, and always unstoppable. I accept it as a sign of her friendship. Haha] :: :: :: ::

One of my favorite quotes is by Dean Koontz and it says: A man's life can pivot on the smallest hinge of time. No minute is without potential for momentous change, each tick of the clock might be the voice of Fate whispering a promise or a warning. I've been thinking about life today and how precious it is and how fortunate I am. I just hope that we live our lives in such a way that if tomorrow is our last day here we can be happy with what we accomplished, instead of being upset at the things we never got to do.

I sometimes wish I could live my life in my slippers. Okay, I always wish I could live my life in my slippers.

Welcome to the new year. I'm sort of mortified that it's 2011. As each year passes, I think about everything I wanted to accomplish but didn't. The more I think about what didn't happen this year, the more I think about what I want to do next year. A lot of the things on that list carry over from year to year, and that will probably happen for the rest of my life. What probably should happen at this time of year is to look back at all of the awesome things that happened and what I was able to accomplish. As I do that, I feel a little bit better about all of the stuff that I didn't accomplish because I really did do some cool stuff in 2010. I've never been one to say good riddance to a year of badness and welcome in a fresh start. As time has gone on, I still think that if you're waiting for January 1st for your fresh start, you need to take a look around. Your fresh start begins when you're ready to put in the effort and make it a new and better time...