Echos of Tomorrow

Last week I was approached by the Campus Cruiser manager on my decision to apply for supervisor. Specifically, if I was still interested in the position or not.

The loyal may remember a post I wrote back in November entitled 'Supervise or Drive' in which I speak about the dilemma of either being a supervisor or simply focusing my energies on the core of the Campus Cruiser job: picking people up. Well, things have changed a little since then and last Wednesday, I interviewed for the position of Echo, otherwise known as a field supervisor.

The interview with Jason and John went well, and this evening I received a call from John to inform me that I got the job!! I'll now be in charge of opening and closing the shifts, working with the other supervisors on implementing/changing policies, and handling office-related tasks, among other things. Not as important, but the job also come with a wage raise, which is nice considering the fact that my rent is going up by $300 a month next year due to the fact that I'm moving into my own room.

I'm also really excited that I'll be working more closely with the four other cruisers who were also promoted - Cruiser 17 (Mike Terrill), Cruiser 22 (Michelle Thrakulchavee), Cruiser 33 (Evan Smith), and Cruiser 54 (Brett Mendenhall) - in addition to the pre-existing support staff. The fun begins in a couple weeks, so look for periodic updates on the topic once training beings.

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Cheap Read

I generally shy away from these things, but I really don't want to study right now. And although this isn't a real update, you still might be able to learn a couple things about me.

---

[ full name ] Daniel Robert McConnell

[ spell your first name backwards ] Leinad

[ birthday ] 11/09/82

[ sex ] Male

[ status ] Alive and Well

[ where do you live?] Los Angeles

[ 4 words that describe you ] Relaxed, Enthusiastic, Intelligent, Charming

[ hair color ] Red in the winter; blonde in the summer.

[ zodiac sign ] Scorpio

[ heritage ] Irish, Scottish, French Canadian

current...

[ location ] My room

[ clothes ] Swim with Mike T-shirt, Relaxed Boot Fit jeans, Rainbows, and a black belt
[ procrastination ] Reading Psychology

[ listen ] "Hush" by LL Cool J

[ read ] Word Freak....still

[ cd ] When cruising, I'm usually listening to my 'Vegas Trip Mix' mp3 CD

[ refreshment ] Milk

[ worry ] Nothing...I rarely worry

last person...

[ you touched ] Devin

[ you talked to ] Heather

[ you hugged ] Natalie

[ you kissed] Emmy

[ you missed ] My Sister

either / or

[ righty or lefty ] Righty

[ innie or outtie ] Innie

[ boxer or brief ] Boxer briefs

[ pepsi or coke] Pepsi

[ McDonald’s or Burger King ] Mcdonald's

[ single or group dates ] Depends on the occassion

[ adidas or nike ] Nike

[ lipton ice tea or nestea ] Lipton

[ 7-11 or wawa ] 7-11

[ cappuccino or coffee ] Coffee

what is your...

[ most overused phrase] Devin just asked, "What's with you and saying 'good job' all the time."

[ best feature ] My eyes or shoulders

[ bedtime ] 2:30 am

[ greatest accomplishment ] Forgiving those who don't deserve it

[ most missed memory ] Flexing out

favorite...

[ food ] Any meat with BBQ sauce

[ drink ] A Gin and Tonic

[ color ] Blue

[ shoes ] Rainbow sandals

[ animal ] Tiger

[ movie ] Schindler's List
[ vegetable ] Carrots

[ fruit ] Peaches or Pineapple

[ cartoon ] Doug

[ article of clothing ] My black track jacket

are you generally...

[ understanding ] yes

[ open-minded ] yes
[ arrogant ] yes

[ insecure ] no

[ interesting ] no
[ random ] no

[ smart ] yes

[ moody ] no

[ childish ] no

[ independent ] yes

[ hard working ] no

[ organized ] yes

[ shy ] no

[ difficult ] no

[ attractive ] yes
[ bored easily ] no

[ thirsty ] no

[ responsible ] yes

[ angry ] no

[ sad ] no

[ happy ] yes

[ hyper ] no

[ trusting ] yes

girls / guys

[ favorite feature ] Smile

[ favorite eye color ] Blue

[ best hair color ] Brown

[ best height ] <=5'6"; shorter than me, even in heels

[ best weight ] depends on the height; thin

have you ever...

[ kissed in the rain ] no

[ called someone because you couldn't wait any longer to hear their voice ] yes

[ thought about someone so much you annoyed yourself ] yes

[ talked about someone to the point of people telling you to shut up ] yes

[ watched the stars with someone ] yes

[ cried because you were so happy ] no

[ kept something so you could smell it when you missed that person] not on purpose

[ eaten an entire box of oreos ] no

[ eaten sushi ] yes

[ been on stage ] yes

[ gone skating ] yes

[ made homemade cookies ] yes

[ been in love ] yes

[ dyed your hair ] yes

[ stolen anything ] yes

[ played a game that required removal of clothing ] yes

[ been caught "doing something" ] yes

[ been called a tease ] no

[ gotten beaten up ] no

[ changed yourself to fit in ] no

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Good-bye, to you...

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Palmam Qui Meriut Ferat

Thought I'd post an excellent essay on what exactly the Trojan Knights are, for those of you who simply know us as, "the guys with really good seats at the football games."

---

Daniel Kacinski
March 9, 2005

The Defenders of Troy:
The Trojan Knights and the University of Southern California

The traditions of the University of Southern California are held close to heart of every Trojan. From proudly displaying the "Fight On!" sign to regularly attending every football game, each Trojan finds their own way of showing pride in their school. But one organization has sworn to protect these important parts of university life. The Trojan Knights, one of the foremost spirit and service organizations at the University of Southern California, has dedicated itself to ensuring that our most deeply treasured Trojan traditions survive on for generations of Trojans to come.

The foundation of the Trojan Knights intended to protect the traditions of the University most dear to the institution. Forty-one years after the foundation of the University of Southern California, the Trojan Knights laid down roots at the university. Three students, Harry Pryor, Harry Kennedy and Lindley Bothwell, founded the group in 1921 in order to create an organization dedicated to both pass on the University traditions and to strengthening both the University and local community.[1] The original class of fourteen strove to create a group in which the Spirit of Troy would be protected within a unique brotherhood that would serve the University for years to come.

The Knights' service to the University spans through to the present day. In their earlier years, the Knights pioneered a number of stunts and other spirit events at football games. "Fight On," the University fight song, was composed for a Trojan Knights sponsored contest.[2] The group also moved the organization towards events benefiting the community. Knights have gone to serve in positions in the University and beyond. One of the founding fathers, Lindley Bothwell, went on to be the first coach of the University Yell Leaders[3], taking the traditions of the Knights to a university-wide level.

Today, the Knights continue the traditions they have striven to protect. The group has emphasized its charitable role in the community, founding a number of events directly linked to supporting society. "Swim with Mike," an annual swim-a-thon, raises money for the USC Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund. The event honors Mike Nyeholt, an Olympic swimmer paralyzed in 1981, and has raised over three and a half million dollars since its inception. Knight Bowl helps to raise money for Troy Camp, which helps to give underprivileged children from the community an unforgettable summer camp experience.[4] The commitment to community even to today has kept the Knights as one of the foremost organizations on campus.

This dedication to spirit and community makes the Trojan Knights the continued protectors of the University of Southern California. These warriors of Troy guarantee that Trojans for years to come will be able to yell "Fight On" with pride, dedication and honor.
________________________________

[1] No Author. "History." Trojan Knights 2005. URL:http://www.trojanknights.org/history.html,
Accessed March 9, 2005.

[2] No Author. "History-The Von KleinSmid Era" About USC. URL:
http://www.usc.edu/about/factbook/history/vonkleinsmid_era.html,
Accessed March 9, 2005.

[3] No Author. "About the USC Yell Leaders." USC Yell Leaders. URL:http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/IMREC/spirit/yell/about/about.html,
Accessed March 9, 2005.

[4] "History," Trojan Knights 2005

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Forecast: Cancer

I couldn't be happier with the weather here in Los Angeles...



...except for the fact that, eventually, it'll probably kill me.

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Double Black and Back

Early this morning (6:20 am), after a long night of partying (Happy 21st, BJ) and about 45 minutes of sleep, I departed for the Sierra Nevadas to ski Bear Mountain in the Big Bear mountain resort. Myself, KC, Jonny Seamon, Aaron Goldstein and his friend Brandon took off for the slopes and after purchasing rentals and lift tickets, took the day's first run at around 10:30.

Overall the day was pretty amazing, but started early with Jonny and I trading jabs over who was the better skier (I've only been on one other ski trip, btw) with him ending up head-over-skis into the powder on the first run of the day! Aaron and KC got their snowboarding legs under them and Brandon tried to master the art of maintaining a moderate speed.

As the day progressed, Brandon became a bit embarrassed at the fact that we kept having to wait for him at the end of the runs and decided to take to his own. The four of us decided to then take the presented opportunity and turn one of the tougher blue runs into a break-neck race to the ski lift located at the bottom.

I started off well, with Jonny only a couple yards ahead of me (damn those extra 8 cm). Half-way down one of the steeper areas on the run, I decided to look back to see where the other two competitors were (Coach Warrick always would get on me for doing that during a track meet). The confidence booster turned into a race loser as taking my eyes off the slope allowed a small mound of snow located just in front of me to thrust me into the air disoriented and bewildered, ending with a crash landing that sent my skis flying in two different directions and allowed KC and Aaron to whiz past me while spraying snow in my face. It then took me another five minutes to walk back up the forty feet or so up the hill (told you I was going fast) to retrieve my skis and put my boots back in the bindings, only to coast to the bottom of the hill with a newfound humility of my skills and respect for the mountain.

Those feeling lasted all of two seconds when we decided to take back up to the mountain for our first black diamond of the day and my first black diamond ever. It was actually relatively easy, with a slightly sharper decline than the blues and a slightly narrower path. We reached the bottom of the hill after enduring snow flurries and thick fog when Jonny and KC decided to get some warmth and relax a bit before finishing the afternoon. Aaron and I still had quite a bit of adrenaline still left in our tanks and decided to head back up to the top for a couple quick runs.

Originally, we were simply going to try to take some fast runs down some of the more challenging blues, but instead, decided to take the ski lift littered with "Expert Skiers Only!!" signs to the DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND run affectionately named 'Geranimo'.

Now, before you become super-impressed with my ski-skills, let me explain something. First of all, this run starts at the highest peak of the entire park, which incidentally, is also the highest lifted peak in all of Southern California and also the sixth highest in all of California at a elevation of 8,805 feet. Secondly, since Aaron and I had rode so high in the sky on the lifts to this summit, the entire run was not only much colder than the rest of the park, but also located entirely in the clouds. That's right, we had climbed into the clouds, effectively reducing visibility to that of about 100 feet. Not a big deal when walking down the street, but quite the different story when flying down the mountain at speeds of 20 mph on a pair of shaped wooden planks or a giant board strapped to your feet. Thirdly, when we reached the peak, I realized that I my sunglasses must have fallen out of my pocket while on the uber steep lift ride to the top. Not a big deal since we were in the clouds and couldn't see the sun anyhow, you might say? I say you don't understand. The $8 glasses helped to protect my fragile, contact-aided eyes from the horizontally traveling snow-sleet and high winds. Needless to say, I was in for the ride of my life. After realizing what I had gotten myself into and that the only way down was on my trusty 160 cm long skis, I sucked it up like a buttercup and attacked the slope like a pro.

Now, you might think that I'm just posturing, like any egocentric male might, but that is where you're wrong. Aaron and I, in all seriousness, handled that double black slope as if it were any other. It was a bit steeper than anything we had ever experienced before (that means more coming from Aaron than from me) and conditions were absolutely terrible (see aforementioned fog problem and lack of glasses/goggles), but we took it like pros and only each fell once. When we did fall, however, we seriously sunk into the virgin snow a good eighteen inches, since it was snow that hadn't yet been defiled, at least since the last snow-fall.

We reached the bottom absolutely ecstatic at our accomplishments and completely relieved that we didn't die. I decided at that point to give Jonny and KC a call to invite them to join us for another run of Geranimo, only to discover that the zipper pocket which housed my phone had somehow come unzipped and that my cell phone was no longer in my pocket!! Needless to say, my moment of exhilaration quickly became my moment of exasperation.

Now, some of you might not think that losing a cell phone is the end of the world, but it's obviously a totally different feeling for me. My two most valuable physical possesions are my cell phone and my computer hard drive(s). My hard drives contains pictures taken over the years, videos of the most memorable events in my (recent) life, important documents (read: tax returns and class notes), and, of course, my entire music collection. My phone respresents my entire social life. Every friend I've made in the past five years, every business contact, all my family members, etc. are contained on that phone and on that phone only. So, when I realized that I had lost my phone, I actually made me feel a bit sick. Now that y0u understand, let's get back to the story...

After some random and quite inappropriate four-letter words, I made my way to the security office where the lost and found was located to see if, on the off-chance, someone had turned in my phone. Things did not get any better during the thirty minutes I sat at the office door while waiting for the guard to return from rounds, so I treated myself to a 1/4 pound cookie.

When the office opened, I entered to find some young teens filling out forms of what they lost and where and even wondered if it was worth filling out the paperwork since it was similar to someone finding a needle in a haystack to find my 3" long phone in thousands of acres of fresh snow at the mountain. Since I was already there, I decided to stop being an idiot and talk to the woman. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: How often does a lost item actually turn up?
Lady: Quite often, actually. What did you lose?
Me: My cell phone.
Lady: What does it look like?
Me: Well, it's got black around the screen and silver around the button and on the back. It's a Sony Ericsson phone provided by AT&T. Ummm...it's also dented on the bottom of the battery cover.
Random Security guard that was being nosy: It's just a cell phone.
Lady: It's not the phone, it's the contacts in the phone.
Me: Exactly...
Lady: It's a camera phone?
Me: (Hopes growing...) Yeah!
Lady: When the phone is on, what is the main screen?
Me: A red lantern for the Chinese New Year.
Lady: Here you go...(gives me my phone)

At this point I go insane and don't really remember what I said, but it was undoubtedly very grateful and gave hope to the kid who had just finished filling out the identification form for his missing beanie. I almost requested a hug from the woman, but stopped for fear of looking like a complete (as opposed to a slight) lunatic. After telling Aaron, who was waiting outside with our gear, that I had got my phone back, we headed back to meet up with Jonny and KC to meet Brandon at the car to head home.

I've only been on a ski trip twice in my life, but something tells me that this one will always remain in my memory. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did!

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Breaking Tradition

Every year I seem to do the same thing for spring break. I usually go back to Las Vegas to see my parents and my sister and sometimes head down to Oceanside to see my grandparents for a couple days. Being my senior year, I wanted this year to be a bit different, but as of yesterday afternoon, I hadn't made any plans from the norm.

Well, that all changed when Devin told me about a cruise he was planning to go on down to Mexico. Five days as a Carnival cruise lines passenger always sounds nice, but most of the time, at a price. However, when he told me the deal he was getting and that he was looking for people to go with him, I couldn't turn it down. That's right, I'm actually doing something spring-breaky for spring break! I'm still going down to Oceanside to visit my grandparents for the beginning of break and will probably go to Las Vegas in late March, but I'm so stoked that now I actually will be doing something different for the final spring break of my college career. I leave from Long Beach on Monday, March 14th and return on Friday, March 18th, so I'll let you know how it goes upon my return.

Now go back to studying; I know you have a midterm coming up.

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