"You know what they say...a lint is a shells best friend

Props to Angelo Z. and Nicole G. for this video...

Marcel the Shell"

So, Stev left today.  Sad, sad day.  It marks the separation of the last two 1502ers that coexisted.  My hope is that although our physical distance grows, we never grow distant socially.  Technology these days makes it unacceptable to forget about one another.

Stev and I went on a bike ride to target and kohl's to get some stuff for me.  We then went to Wheaton so Stev could get one last sandwich from Shane's.  I think he enjoyed it.  After some Smash, I took him to the airport.  I heard recently that the human body is not meant to perceive strong emotional events.  Dropping Stev off was a testament to this.  We exchanged hugs goodbye, but it really didn't hit us that, this really was the last time we would see each other for an indefinite amount of time.  We talked about how we would get something arranged by years end, but as everyone has moving pieces in their lives, nothing is for certain at this point.  When I left for Mexico, I knew I would be back in Ann Arbor to move stuff, but now, there's no necessary reason to see each other.  It's just nuts, 4 years of friendship and seeing each other almost daily, cut to now seeing each other maybe 2-3 times a year.  I suppose it's all a part of growing up...sad, sad day....

After getting home from the long ride back from Midway, I met up with Chuck and Anderson.  We went on a search for Sam Adams' Octoberfest, couldn't find it, and ended up getting some other beer.  We played some Asshole, Anderson had to go home around 10 because he has flight instruction early tomorrow.  Chuck and I ran to the local gas station because he was crazing a black n mild and some Mickey's.  We got home and Squires came over.  Funny side story, Stev and I made some frozen pizza the other night but I put in the pizza upside down so it all dripped to the bottom of the oven.  I had just finished telling Chuck and Squires about that when we started to smell burning upstairs. I went upstairs, it was around 12, and Ron decided to run one of those oven cleanings and it was sooo smoky.  He asked me if I had put something in the oven that could have caused the smoke and I said "Well, I mean, aside from the frozen pizzas, I haven't used it much"....So there's one of those lies that I hate telling, but I just didn't want Ron to think I'm that stupid, that a pizza looks the same right side up or upside down...oh man...

So from the 4 years I have known Stev, what is the most important thing I have learned from him...

I think the most important thing he, specifically, has taught me, is to always seek the truth from people.  Like, there's the light conversations people have (shootin' the shit) then theres the conversations Stev has with people.  With his style, you can find a lot out about a person, more than a casual talker would find out in months.  I've used this method many times and it has helped shape and advance important relationships in my life.  Maybe Stev would agree with me, but people like to share private information, but only if asked.  They don't want to bring it up out of the blue, but if you ask them a more intimate question, they will feel inclined to tell the truth.  Especially with people the just met....Maybe there's more behind that, but I don't feel like thinking about that....So thank you Stev, you've helped me become a more real person that looks for the truth in people.  I don't have much of a reason to get up before noon tomorrow because Stev won't be downstairs, so I'm feelin a 2 or 3 oclock wake up...

Here's to Stevann because whatever he ends up doing, we all know the fight will ALWAYS be on,

Chin