Home for Christmas

It's crazy how when I left this house, I told myself I was never looking back.  While leaving for college a few years ago I told myself that I was leaving this old town in the dust and shattering the rear-view because I was moving onto bigger and better things.  At that moment in my life, I didn't know that once I left there would be no better feeling than coming back, lying in my bed, hugging my mom, playing with the dogs, seeing the acres I grew to love, and the place that made me the person that I am today.

Every time I come home, I just want to stay here, never to leave.  It's like the stress melts away and I feel comfortable.

This Christmas break has done a lot of good for me. I really needed a break from college and classes, work, my house and all the stresses that comes with those things. It feels so good to relax, and my mom and Chuck are here to help take care of my dog if I want to get away and hang out with friends I haven't seen in a while.

I honestly don't know what I would do without that pup to come home too sometimes. He isn't always an angel, and he has his flaws, but he is always there for me to listen to and to know that I am not alone. It is nice though to have a night off of parental duty.

Home is where the heart is. <3

Thanksgiving

There is just something about thanksgiving that I love.  Maybe it is seeing my family together (which doesn't happen too often) or the pre-dinner bloody marys, or maybe just the actual amazing food at dinner.. I think it is more than that though. We're not the family to go play football out in the yard or decorate the christmas tree together; but when my family all comes together we are full of stories and laughter, and we know how to make our own fun.

Thanksgiving is definitely my favorite holiday. :)

More PRSSA Tours (Padilla Speer Beardsley and The Minnesota Wild)

Today, my group of SCSU PRSSA members along with a the UW- Eau Claire PRSSA toured Padilla Speer Beardsley and had a following tour with the Minnesota Wild in the Exel Energy Center.

We gained a lot of insight about what we should include in our cover letters and resumes, some interviewing and internship tips, and essentially what to do to get our foot in the door at one of these places.

One of my favorite parts about these tours is seeing what people do on a daily basis and the environment they work in.  It really gives me some insight on the areas I would like to get into and focus on later in my career.

If you are attending college and are a junior or senior taking your major classes and trying to figure out what is next after you graduate, I would highly recommend touring different companies and agencies around your area and being a part of an organization that focuses on what you are attending school for.  Most companies are more than happy to show you around their office, tell you about what they do on a daily basis, and give you some tips on what you can do to stand apart from the pile of applications they receive daily.

My advice: Get involved, and gain as much knowledge and connections as you can, it will really help you out in the long run!

The visitor's locker room at the Wild. 

The stadium! :)

Some days are more memorable than others.

Today marks the day that my dad, Larry Norlund, lost his 16 year battle with ALS three years ago.  After 16 years suffering not being able to walk, talk, move his muscles, or breathe on his own he decided to have a medical suicide knowing his end was near and he would rather have his life end surrounded by the people he loved.

Today, exactly three years after I watched my father pass away, I also watched my uncle Fred Norlund join his brother, (my father) at the gates of Heaven.  It was a sad moment to see the man that acted like a second father too me through my life leave on the same day as my real one did. I know that neither of them are in pain any longer, and it was great that they both left surrounded by their friends and family that loved them dearly, but it is never easy to let go of someone you love so much.


My dad wasn't able to teach me all the things a dad could because his chair held him back, it was his brother Fred that taught me how to shoot a gun, drive an ATV and snowmobile, and how too change his socks. (The last one I wasn't too fond of).  They were both strong, courageous, hard-working, loving, and two of the funniest men I have met.

Heaven is lucky to have these great men.

I love you!

R.I.P.     Larry Norlund  4/11/2009 ..  Fred Norlund 4/11/2012

Lessons you learn

Things will come and go,
you can't always predict rain or snow
the ice will crack
and the sun will burn
but it's up too you
which lessons you learn.

Without pain
there'd be no pleasure
a theory
I cannot measure,
my scars bring me back
revealing the strength I do not lack

when the day comes I appear weak,
even if I can barely speak
know the thing that kept me till this day
were all the experiences along the way.

I wrote a new song tonight, let me know what you think.

I've been drinkin' 

I learned the hard way,
some roads may end.
Some hearts left broken,
too frayed to mend.

Well, I've been
smokin, drinkin, thinkin 'bout you
lying, crying, now and again,
I've went too far
come home with scars
most nights I couldn't tell you where I'd been.

And I start thinkin'
that I've done wrong,
then I begin singing,
some old sad song

about how I threw away chances,
missed some dances
could have fought for you
but I let you go.

And now I'm
smokin, drinkin, thinkin 'bout you
lying, crying, now and again
I've went too far
come home with scars,
most nights I couldn't tell you where I'd been.

I can't forget
that look on your face
in our last moment
I knew I'd never replace

And now I'm
smokin, drinkin, thinkin 'bout you
lying, crying, now and again
I've went too far
come home with scars,
most nights I couldn't tell you where I'd been.

Well, I've been drinkin.

Pumpkin Fest 2012

I am trying to get into this whole video editing thing, considering my major is Mass Communications and all.  I had to do an event coverage for one of my classes and I chose an event by Lake George called Pumpkinfest.  I actually even volunteered there for a few hours as well, it was a lot of fun and the kids seemed to really enjoy it!

Here is my video, the quality isn't very great but I did what I could with it (apparently I didn't use the right settings on the video recorder.)

http://youtu.be/HnBKATU_m3g