An Optimistic Look at the Summer

“A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.”-Unknown

School is out in two weeks. I realized this during American Government today when my professor mentioned that our final is only one week away. Not that this news is particularly worrisome, but it hit me...in two weeks, just two weeks, I will no longer be living at JBU.

A popular question traveling around campus is 'What are your summer plans?' (Although, this question has temporarily been replaced with 'Are you going to kayak, raft, or canoe to class today?' Seriously, campus looks like a miniature version of Minnesota - land of 10,000 lakes.) In fact, just yesterday I was asked about my summer plans. I sat there...staring back into this person's inquisitive face and stammered, "I...uh....I don't know."

I don't have summer plans yet. Which is kinda scary.

Therefore, I have decided that I will take an optimistic look at what my summer options are. Are you ready?

Option 1 - The Internship. Last week I applied for an internship that I really want. In a perfect world, I would get this internship and spend a happy summer in Arkansas and New York working on something that I actually want to do. In a follow up email today the company mentioned they were still interviewing potential candidates. Therefore, the eternal spring of hope hasn't dried up yet.

Option 2 - Stuck in Indiana. My friend Dustin has invited me many times to Indiana with him. It sounds like great fun, spending the summer with friends. But, unfortunately my mind can't let me get past the question "What would I do!?" Dustin's family lives out in the country, and since I don't have a reliable means of transportation, or any means of transportation for that matter, this fact could pose potential problems. I envision myself not being able to find a job and being stuck in Indiana with no money, no car, and only the goodwill of friends to keep me alive. That and forest bark...which I hear is yummy in a pinch.

Option 3 - Fat and Happy (but bored) in Illinois. I could go to Illinois, live with my Grandma, and get a job at a delicious ice cream place called Whitey's. Here's the issue. Whitey's is an intensely stressful (yet boring) job. I have a tendency to stress eat. I also have a tendency to eat out of boredom. I'm sure you can see where this is going. Stressed + bored Matthias + ice cream shop = fat Matthias.

At least I'd have ice cream.

Option 4 - Mediocre in Iowa. I could go live with my aunt in Perry, Iowa and attempt to get a job at a grocery store. At least I have friends in Perry, and I can walk everywhere. But, I kinda made a new year's resolution to not go back to Perry this year...therefore, this option creates cognitive dissonance, and we all know where that leads...

(Actually, I have no idea where that leads. Probably an incredibly boring summer, in this case, working minimum wage putting canned beets on a shelf.)

If any of you have brilliant ideas of how I can spend my summer, please tell me. I'm open to anything! Well...almost anything.

-Matthias

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So freaking proud...

This is Kacie Williams. If you haven't heard of her yet, you need to go check out her music right now by clicking here. She's one of the most incredibly talented people I'm blessed to be friends with. She's the winner of "The Next Big Thing" - an event that I created for the campus of JBU (which, side note, theres a nice possibility that The Next Big Thing is going to be a NATIONAL event next year. Stay tuned for news...exciting things are happening!) As the winner of the event, Kacie has gotten to write with people like Alli Rogers, Jeromy Diebler (lead vocalist for FFH), and rub shoulders with some people pretty high up in the Nashville music scene. She also won studio time to be used for recording a new album. Anyway, Kacie just texted me, and I quote: "So, Sara bareilles drummer is playing on my record. WHAT?!"

Yes. Sara Bareilles' drummer is playing on Kacie's new album. This adds to the number of celebrities who are aiding in the creation of this incredible project. Miss Kacie Williams is indeed the next big thing. So, be watching.

This is Adam Howard who goes by the stage name of The Duke of Norfolk. He is another one of the incredibly talented people that I am blessed to call my friend. He was a crowd favorite at The Next Big Thing. If you are not yet familiar with his music, you need to check it out here. The other day, Adam and his lovely girlfriend stopped by my office on one of their fairly regular impromptu visits that I've come to look forward to. In the midst of conversation, Adam said "Want to hear some exciting news?" As you all know, I'm a sucker for exciting news, so I replied with "Sure!" Adam proceeded to tell me that he is going to be featured on a compilation album along with the likes of David Crowder Band, Derek Webb, Sufjan Stevens, and others. The album is set to release in March of 2012.

I am so proud of these two artists. I like to think that somehow I have helped them out along their journey, but if that's true, I've helped only a very little bit. These two have worked so incredibly hard in pursuit of their craft, and it's just starting to pay off.

Beware world. These two are about to blast into the big time.
-Matthias

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