Van's Blog

1. I have been inspired a lot by my friends, and I’m thankful for all of them. Especially in terms of writing. For example, Jason inspired me to write this after I said I never would.

2. I first listened to a rock song in 8th grade thanks to Mr. Plant. He made me a mix CD called “Viva La Revolution.” The first song was “This Love” by Maroon 5. I’d say they’re my second favorite band behind Relient K (which I’m listening to right now), which I credit to both Jason and Jose.

3. The first (and only) rock concert (concert in general for that matter) was Cobra Starship, We The Kings and Metro Station. Even though I hated Metro Station, I had a good time with Jason and Dylan.

4. I’ve been to a club once (maybe twice). With Adrian, Frank and Brandon, and didn’t dance. Then I decided that clubs are a waste of my time and money. When I’m 21, I’ll probably revisit 6th Street and come to the conclusion that I shouldn’t go there very often.

5. Speaking of all these guys (not previously mentioned: Nick, Jeremy, Dylan, Josh, Jonathan and Phillip), they’re all my good friends. But I would be hesitant to say that I have a best friend. I just don’t like the term.

6. Speaking of terms. I don’t believe in love and hardly ever say it, not even in a platonic sense. Recently, I’ve grown to not like the term “potential” either. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.

7. List of favorite movies: 1. Casablanca 2. Pulp Fiction 3. Antwone Fisher 4. Lucky Number Slevin 5. Fight Club 6. Reservoir Dogs 7. American History X 8. Life 9. Sin City 10. The Godfather

Honorable Mention: Training Day, Brick, The Maltese Falcon, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Double Indemnity, Memento, The Usual Suspects, Fritz The Cat, North by Northwest, Lost in Translation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, The Truman Show, The Graduate, Apocalypse Now, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, For a Few Dollars More, Forrest Gump, The Departed, Munich, Sideways, Mystic River, There Will Be Blood, Michael Clayton, Atonement, Juno, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, Fargo, The Color Purple, Star Wars (IV, V, VI), Annie Hall, Kill Bill… To Be Continued

8. List of movies I need to see: American Beauty, American Gangster, A Clockwork Orange, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Good Night and Good Luck, A Beautiful Mind, Traffic, I Am Sam, The Shawshank Redemption, Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Rocky, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Rear Window, Indiana Jones (any except the last one, cause I don’t want to see it)… To Be Continued

9. I write poetry. A lot. Ever since freshman year in high school. Every day during the summer before sophomore year. And now for Longhorn Confidential. I sometimes think about not doing psychology and becoming a writer.

10. I suffer from ataraxia which is a freedom from worry and anxiety. It’s not always a good thing. For example, I have homework due for my 10 a.m. class, I have to wake up at 8 a.m. for my 9 a.m. class, but I haven’t started the homework and it’s now 2:24 a.m.

11. I want to either A) Get a Ph.D. in psychology and become a marriage and relationships counselor or B) Go to law school, become a lawyer, run for U.S. rep or Congress or governor, and then run for president.

12. I have exactly 5,500 songs, 14.6 days, 25.02 GB of music in my iTunes library.

13. I have had one legitimate girlfriend. It was from 7th to 8th grade.

14. I (as recently as Thursday) am often subjected to the “Friend Zone.” I know so much about it, I plan on writing my Plan II Thesis on the “Friend Zone” (if I can stay in Plan II past this semester).

15. When I go to Starbucks, the Baristas know to make a Grande Cinnamon-Dulce White Chocolate Mocah. I go to Starbucks a lot. I can make a Frappuccino that tastes like Snickers.

16. I don’t know how to drive. I don’t have a license. The first time I drove I drove from my uncle’s funeral 18 miles only to crash into a tree that was placed to the left of the driveway to which I was turning into because I was tired of driving and wanted to stop. I haven’t driven a car since. I don’t think I have PTSD, but I wouldn’t know because I haven’t tried.

17. I had my parents drive me across town so I could work on the “rich” side of town in a grocery store. I applied on the “east” side, but got hired on the “west” side. I liked it so much, I stayed in the area for two years. They would take me at 8 a.m. sometimes, and pick me up at 1 a.m. sometimes.

18. I don’t tell my parents I love them enough. But I do. It’s just hard for me to express it.

19. I’ve bought NCAA Football at midnight every year since NCAA Football 2005.

20. A part of me was very afraid to go to college in California (Pomona College). The other part loves UT. I couldn’t have made a bad choice. I think I made the best one. But at times I think college isn’t for me.

21. I get involved in organizations to feel needed. It’s a good feeling. But, I also like helping people. It’s also a good feeling. The two go hand in hand.

22. I got caught in a hurricane, collided with a homeless man, and lost my glasses because I walked a girl home from a study session. It was worth it.

23. I grew up on a farm of sorts. We had pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, goats, snakes, cats, dogs, horses, sheep, geese, an iguana, a turkey and a peacock…oh, and a rooster named Cookie who pecked and chased everyone.

24. If I were on death row, my last meal would be Chicken Parmigiana, salad and Peach Cobbler. If I could be any superhero it would be Superman because he’s the only superhero born a superhero. He embraces his heritage. The disguise is Clark Kent. Whereas other superheros are superheros by chance, and have costumes to hide who they really are (e.g., Spiderman is Peter Parker’s disguise).

25. I haven’t had a haircut since 5th grade.

Bonus. Only about 5-10 people other than my family know my middle name. It’s John Charston.