I am writing this on my lunch break, mostly because it does not take me an hour to eat a turkey sandwich and a banana, and I can only spend so much time on ESPN.com.  Without a real agenda in this blog, I figure it should just be some general musings or thoughts.

To begin, I have exactly one year left in college.  I know it is an extremely redundant statement, but the time really does fly by.  I feel like I have been in college for a year and a half, not three.  But I guess that is the way things go.  When we’re younger, summers last forever and there are never enough activities to occupy our wild imaginations.  Now, as I sit in a cubicle from 8-5, I can’t find enough time to do the things I want.  At only 21 years old, I am already making nostalgic comments about my early years.  Is that problematic?  I hope not.

With one more year remaining at Wabash College, I am eagerly anticipating the last few chances I have to enjoy college.  I have two more semesters and only one more soccer season left.  My ‘organized’ soccer career is almost over.  That’s a weird thought to have considering I have been playing organized soccer for as long as I can remember.  Two and a half months left and then it’s all over.  I won’t miss the beep test or the strength tests; and I make no qualms about that.  But those few things I dislike about organized soccer pale in comparison to the things I do like.  I am not going to list them all because that seems unnecessary and frankly, kind of boring; instead, I will name just one thing I will miss.  (I figure that since I will have numerous boring lunch breaks over the summer, I will continue to list more things at a time to be named later).

Since I consider myself to be a funny or humorous guy, I don’t want to talk about serious soccer moments at this time, I would rather touch on the lighter part of team sports.  I think one thing that I will absolutely miss is the complete absurdity of our over night bus trips.  Although some of the trips (Philadelphia) are so long that I actually punch Funston just to create some havoc, I generally enjoy every minute of the trips.  There is nothing quite like 25 guys arguing over what movie to watch, what volume to watch it at, and who is breaking the cardinal rule on the bus (going number 2 in the bathroom).  Even Coach G and Coach O get into the spirit of things which only adds to the hilarity.  Often times we have to study or do something school related but that only comes with the territory; however, the majority of the time we use those bus rides as a way to relax, vent about our days, lack of women, and a way to focus our mind’s on the upcoming game.  The bus rides provide the team with a way to see every person out of their soccer element.  Generally, the majority of the time that we spend together is on or near a soccer field.  Even though we are traveling to a soccer field, the bus rides allow us to spend some time together off of a soccer field. 

Well, this all kind of seems incomplete and random but it’s about all I could get out during my break.  I expect to be updating this every few weeks.  Hopefully next time I will have a funny work related story; which reminds me that I have a co-worker who constantly uses the word “irregardless.”  Look the work up, it’s not a real word.  It is redundant because it means “with regard.”  Guess where that co-worker went to school.  Take a guess, I bet you know.  Just another random thought I had a moment ago.  I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this moderately nice weather we are having.

Thomas Hanewald '09