The key here is the fact is that you have it. You posses it. You live with it every day of your life. You wake up in the morning and, over the course of the day, take three steps forward with it. And in the context of a 100-mile trial, this seems negligible, almost as if you didn't even do anything. But you keep it up just because you know you're supposed to. The next day you take another three steps. The next day, five.

No, really. I ate some just the other day. They aren't that bad once you get over the texture.

Ok, now, nobody freak out. What's really going on, you ask? Only the latest college craze sweeping campuses across the nation: Humans vs. Zombies.

Here's how the project works. Our teacher gives us three songs from an existing band that none of us have ever heard. Based on these songs, we divide up into three groups that would normally represent different divisions of a record company.

But there are so many more ethical issues in the music business. In fact, just last week, we discussed one during our guitar master class. Master classes are when everyone of the same instrument in the school of music comes together for lecture, teaching, or whatever the head of the guitar department has planned for us that week. This week, we started out with a discussion about the ethics of teaching guitar.

I was sitting at my desk, finishing up some work, when I suddenly heard the trickle of rain and the faint crack of thunder in the distance. It wasn't all that unusual; we've had some rain the last few days. Then it sounded again, only louder. It sounded again and again, and kept getting closer and closer, louder and louder. Finally at its pinnacle, it boomed so loudly that it shook my entire mod!

But what happens to these resolutions? Why do gym memberships peak Jan. 1 and return back to normal by Jan. 14? My theory: because their resolutions are so, so big!

But in reality, finals week isn't that bad. Instead of having classes meet two or three times a week, you only meet once. It's very possible to have classes Monday thru Friday, but then one or two completely open days during finals week. Sure, you spend time studying and maybe even freak out a little. But I have yet to take a test that's worth more than 25 percent of my grade.

Of course, the great irony is that, in realizing this, I had an epiphany. Go figure. But all this to say, I haven't had any great insights into life lately. And I'm coming to realize that's fine. So here is merely a recap of some things that have happened to me over the past couple weeks.

During the last couple of weeks, some very tragic things have happened back at home. Some very dear friends of mine chose to leave my church because of some trials we've been going through, and a very good wife, mother, and friend of the family died from cancer.

Answer: BED RACES!!!

This last Saturday, my college hosted its annual bed race competition. Here's how it works: Teams are made up of five people: four pushers and one rider. Each team is given a bed with large wheels screwed into the bottom.

Sophomore year, however, many more freedoms are granted. And while I'm still living on campus, and my room is... well, still my room. But this year, now that I have my own kitchen, I have been branching out in the food area, and so far, it's been a lot of fun!

To fully appreciate the humor and irony in all of these happenings, we have to go back to the end of Men's Chorale tour this last summer. At one point in the tour, the director talked to me and said that he was thinking of having me sing in the tenor section this upcoming year. I was currently singing baritone, which is right between bass and tenor, and I didn't really want to change parts. But whatever, I thought, as long as I'm still a part of Men's Chorale. (OK, now take that story and put it in a little box. We'll come back to it...)

In the sophomore/upperclassman mods, however, visitation hours are from 9 a.m. to midnight every night, and extend to 1 a.m. on the weekends. Some friends and I, being the intelligent college students we are, decided to take full advantage of these new extended hours one Friday night. We ordered some Little Caesar's $5 pizzas, busted out the board games/videogames/laptops with Youtube on them and played the night away. We watched some hilarious videos, burnt through a bunch of pizza, and played a mean game of Apples to Apples. Boy, was it a good game. I won 7 cards in a row! I kicked butt.

(Little did I know my butt would come back to kick me... )

First off, welcome back and thank you to all returning readers. I'm excited about continuing my journey with you as I enter my sophomore year.

For anybody who's checking out Reporter U for the first time, welcome to my blog! I hope you'll become regular reader in this upcoming school year. I love hearing any comments or questions you may have, so don't be shy! Who knows ... you could totally spark an idea for my next blog entry!

Here I am on Saturday, May 3rd. I'm sitting in my room eating some junk food, watching Star Wars Episode III, and packing up for Men's Chorale Hawaii tour!! Yes, finals, homework, projects, dorm life... it is officially over for the year. I've put in a lot of work this year and I'm not exaggerating when I say I've probably had one of the best years of my life.