What's in a Name? (Pt. 2)

So by popular demand, and so I don't get beat up by my brother who requested this, I will talk about some of my nicknames. Again, I will mention what I said in the first part, I think of myself as Tom. I know this might be upsetting to some people but I really don't think of myself as any of these nicknames. That said, I do not mind being called any of these. Not a big deal to me at all .

SportyDebo - This has become my most popular nick name in recent years. Of coures this comes from my love for Sporty Spice, she was the only talented one in the group. (Thank you Wikipedia for that little opinion) If you don't believe that, I guess it might come from the fact that I am the sibling in the Debo family that has the most interest in sports. Matter of fact, any interest means I have the most interest.

Sporty - I think its just used when folks are too lazy to add Debo to the end. Sometimes though, I worry that they are confusing me for Sporty Spice. On my bad days, we do look a bit similar. (The Sporty joke may never get old)

Debo - I was called this more when I was back in Buffalo, when hanging with my friends back there. Since moving out to AZ, Mike has taken the mantle of Debo out here, and I am the second of the Debos that people will meet so I am differentiated by being called Sporty.

Uummmm........I think that's about it. If I forgot any, please remind me. I'll either edit them in if there are just a few or do another post.

Final Answer?

Wednesday, I had my first chemistry test. I really didn't know what to expect from the test and I really hadn't studied at all cause the week was just a tough one. Luckily, the test was really easy, pretty simple stuff, but after meeting some community college students and talking to some of my classmates, I realize many others might have found it a bit difficult. One of the questions was a list of items and asking which were 'Pure' substances and which ones were 'Mixed'. I have no idea how they got these answers, but I did have one classmate say that he thought 'Blood' might be a 'Pure' substance and another say he though 'Air' was 'Pure'. This is Chemistry! We spent the first 3-6 classes just talking about the periodic table!

I just don't get how others think sometimes.

One Rotten Apple

None of my classes are really that bad. I get along with most of my classmates in the classes, but there is one issue. In my Philosophy class, I have a classmate who just seems to annoy the whole class. He always seems to have something to say that does seem relevant but the way he goes about it makes him seem like a pretentious jerk. I believe most of the class would agree. He has actually laughed a little at other classmates when they say something. I don't think I have ever had a classmate this annoying, who seems genuinely disliked by the whole class. I even think the teacher isn't a fan and she has just ignored him a few times. His comments, and responses/reactions to other peoples comments, just seem to ruin the whole class. More people would speak if he didn't monopolize the whole class.

The funny thing is that he shares a name with a former coworker who was sort of the same way, just in a work setting instead of a school setting.

Desire or Addiction?

One night not too long ago, I was working during the night, as I tend to do for my night job, and I noticed a few guys in a park playing frisbee. Man, was I jealous of them. I realized that I haven't played a sport in months and darn do I miss it. I have started to get really antsy to play something again. So antsy that I am wondering if I am sort of addicted. It feels like I need another 'hit' of sports. I don't know if its a bad thing or what. Maybe I just think it could be bad cause I use the word 'addicted' Hope its not a bad thing.

What's in a Name?

Last night, a friend and I were texting each other for a bit. For some reason, the name Tommy came up and she started telling me that she was going to call me that from now on. It got me thinking about all my different names, mostly just the variations I use of 'Thomas', and the meanings behind each one.

Thomas - Used when I need to be formal. If I am applying for a job, I refer to myself as Thomas. Also used whenever I have to deal with legal authority figure like a judge or police officer. I don't go by Thomas very often, nor do I think of myself as Thomas.

Tom - Used when I am introducing myself to most people. I feel this is the casual version of my name. I think of myself more as 'Tom' than 'Thomas' mostly cause that is what I am called 95% of the time.

Tommy - Used only by a select group of people. I don't like someone who has called me Tom to switch to Tommy, it feels weird. I do think its an immature verison of Thomas. I almost think it has gone too casual. That being said, there are a select group of people who call me Tommy that I don't mind. I think its cause they have always called me that. This group includes my sister, mother, aunt, and, for some strange reason, Corrie Hayes. They all seem to fit into a group until that last one.

Also, in my Spanish class, we have been learning about verb conjugations. Tomar, to take, in the 'you' form is Tomas. Deber, to should, in the 'I' form is Debo.

My name in Spanish, Tomas Debo, means something like 'You take, I should'. Interesante.

My Driver Test. (Spoiler: I Passed)

So, I had to take a test online for the ticket I received. I spent almost $250.00 on various fees to take the class and test online. About 4 hrs were spent not reading the text and answering questions that were supposed to make sure I read the sections. I couldn't go on until a certain time had passed even though I would have it answered in minutes. I then took the final test. 50 questions done in about 5 minutes. 100%. Was all this really necessary? I don't think so. Waste of freaking time. Well, on with the rest of the week.

A Much Needed Break

Yesterday, after studying all day, a friend invited me out. Still having a lot of studying to do, I accepted. The reason, I am not a medical student, I should be allowed to have a life.

Great time meeting a bunch of really cool new people. (By new people, I do not mean babies, who would be the newest people to the Earth. I mean, people I had never met before, or people who are new to me.)

Not Myself

Sometimes, like right now, I don't really feel like myself. I was just thinking, I should figure out who this mystery person who I feel like is. What is the story of this person? What is the nationality and background of this person? Not that I enjoy feeling like someone else, but since I can't really control it, I should study it or something.

Well, enough of that. I need to study.

The Organization

My nickname is Sporty. As you may know, it is because, out of all my family members, I am probably the most knowledgeable about sport and I definitely am the one who enjoys sports the most. I love to watch and play most sports. That being said, while I love Hockey and the NHL and enjoy football and the NFL, I can't stand the NBA or MLB. I do enjoy playing both of them, though I am a much bigger fan of the other two sports, it's just those leagues don't intrigue me. I don't really care to watch MLB regularly or the NBA at all.
I started thinking about this the other day, and started to realize why I would rather play a sport over watching it. I feel that there is a lot of 'heart' and passion missing in the leagues. When I go out to play with my friends, I am going to play the sport to have fun, not for a paycheck or because it's, 'What I do'. I know any professional athlete, from someone playing in the Premier League to someone playing Aussie Rules Football, would tell you stories of their passion or the 'heart' they have for the game they play. But, honestly, I have a hard time believing it. There is something about going out there with friends, not knowing when you'll get a chance to play a sport again and that you're just going out to have fun with, hopefully, friends who are, hopefully, are the same skill level. To me, for a professional athlete to have the same passion for a sport as I or many 'Average Joes' do just doesn't make sense to me. I am not saying most Average Joes have more passion that most athletes, but I do think that the most passionate fans have more passion than the average athletes.
This got me thinking, randomly, about other organizations, specifically the Church. I look at sport leagues and the church in somewhat the same way. I do not see a way that a church can have as much passion as a group of people just meeting to talk about their beliefs and help teach each other. I really think that is the idea that churches are supposed to be built on, but, when you look around at churches, how many do you see that are actually that way? I see way too many churches that have implemented rules on themselves of how to act or how to study the Bible. The organic growth of people spirituality doesn't seem to be apparent anywhere that I have seen. I don't want anyone to be under the impression that I believe I can 'judge' where everyone spiritual levels are. It seems that most churches are almost a 'Christian Factory', they put you through the same things wherever you go and teach some of the same basic things everywhere. When people just meet in groups together and let the conversation evolve organically, you get a chance to let people grow in the way they specifically need to. No two people grow physically in the same way, why do churches seem to think that they grow spiritually at the same rate or level?

I don't know. Maybe this doesn't make much sense to anyone but me, and maybe it won't even make sense to me tomorrow. It's just my current thought. Hope you enjoy it.

Freak Out for Fun

I think I have test anxiety. I was freaking out the other day right before taking the oral part of my Spanish quiz. I felt I hadn't studied enough and really had no idea how to respond to any question the teacher might ask. It wasn't until the night before the test that I remember that the teacher had given the class a list of about 25 questions that she would ask 3 from. After looking over the list, I felt a little better, but not much. I knew the answers when looking at the questions but when the test would come, how would I do without the sheet in front of me? So, I go in to take the test. I answer all 3 questions and being to feel like I messed up on a few words. So after the class, I talk to the professor to ask her if I could retake the test in front of her instead of being recorded through the computer. She gives me a puzzled look and informed me that she already graded them. She then shows me that I got 13/12. I guess I did perfect and even got a bonus point. All the worrying for nothing. Well, at least I can move on from that and start worrying about the written part of the test, which I will be taking Tuesday. Maybe I can get 100%+ if I worry about that too.

Time Isn't Always on My Side

Sometimes, I never feel like I have enough time to do all the things I want to or need to get done. The last few days, I have had a very strong desire to update this blog but obviously haven't actually done so. Hope I can get a few posts up in the next few days. I have a lot of studying to do so there is a good chance that by Tuesday (my next day of class) I will have a few posts up, a totally cleaned house, will feel well rested, and won't have done much studying. Ah, procrastination!

Already Nervous

SO, I really haven't given an update about how school is going. Not that I am planing on giving an in depth update yet, I sort of have something else on my mind, but I'll just say that I'm having a little bit of a rough go of it so far. Just can't really get into my classes. I'm not doing poorly, just wish I was more excited about them.

Well, anyways, too the matter at hand.......

OMG I'M FREAKING OUT!!!! For my Philosophy class, my teacher just released the instructions for the final/semester project. It is to research and make a survey about a current issue, then to interpret the data and create a presentation from it. First off, I don't really like to do research. Having never spent much time doing any, I am a little worried about that, but honestly, it's a paper, I can do it. I can figure out how to create a decent survey and all that. I am not excited about it but I can do it. I am FREAKING OUT about the presentation part of it. I honestly hate getting in front of a group of people who I don't really know to talk about anything. I am much more comfortable being part of a discussion and talking with people in a small group.

I know I'll be fine, and it's not due until late March. I just don't like the idea of doing a presentation. As the date comes closer, I may start losing some sleep (not that I get that much now) over doing it. It doesn't seem healthy to be this worked up over something that isn't going to happen for weeks.

I honestly wish I could still drop this class, that's how bad it is. Don't worry, I won't drop it. I'd still have to pay for it and that would be a waste.

Music

I had a friend of mine give me some music. She let me borrow a thumb drive of some of her favorite songs. I am not totally sure how to tell her that I don't really care for 90% of it, but I am very glad she sent it. Thanks to her, I know have probably one of my top 10 favorite songs ever, Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley. I think it is one of the most beautiful songs ever, but for some reason did not have it in my music library. Hope you enjoy it too.

Commercials

I do not get advertising at all. I mean, I understand that they are trying to sell a product anyway possible. I just don't really get the idea of some commercials. Beer commercials might be the strangest ones. I never see people act like they do in commercials after having a few drinks. And why the heck does everything need to have a female model to be advertised?

I would make a terrible marketing person. I would show what the product does, no real need to embellish. Probably would have that job for a week. (At most.)

Phoenix in Phoenix!

Last night, I saw the band Phoenix play an amazing concert. I have not gone to many concerts in my life, but this was probably the best I've been to. It was an amazing time with some very good friends. I am looking forward to seeing this band when they come back to the area. I hope it's soon but, since they live in Paris, France, I sort of doubt that. Maybe an international trip???

Art of War

So, I recently started reading 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu. I am thoroughly enjoying it, but it is nothing like what I expected.

Guess I won't be painting the picture of the Battle of Gettysburg anytime soon.