Zachary Diaz

It's been more than a month since my last post and for that I sincerely apologize. I will admit that I was actually halfway decent with keeping current this time, but the last month has just been a complete blur of good times.

First of all, for those that might be unaware, I started working at the Urban Outfitters here in Baton Rouge this October. It's almost been two months and I cannot give enough praise to this place. My coworkers are absolutely brilliant and a blast to work with. The people I work with ate so unique and so...authentic...that I feel completely at home working there. It doesn't hurt that the Urban "style" isn't too far off from my preferences, so there's that too.

Of course, I can't forget to update you on my school situation. I finished finals a week ago and I couldn't be happier. I know I did poorly on two of my finals -- I thought I was prepared but apparently I was not. And you know what? I'm okay with that. I realize I can do better and next semester is another chance at improvement.

Now, there are a few other wonderful updates that I'm sure non of you are dying to hear. I'm definitely hoping to head back to California this break. I don't think I'll make it back for my birthday but I absolutely must celebrate my birthday in California. I will feel incomplete until I do so.

Oh, yeah, there's a girl that I've fallen for. Yep.

I say y'all quite a bit now, so feel free to make fun of me for that all you want.

I'm fairly certain I'm smarter, healthier and happier where I am right now. Maybe it was just the transition to fully living on my own, or the actual college experience, or the "fresh" start.

Who knows the real answer, but I'm ecstatic.

You?

You are beautifully cruel.

I am so doing something like this on LSU’s campus.

I am fairly certain that one of these days I’m just going to get punched in the face while walking down the street. Not because Baton Rouge isn’t a safe place, or because I’m going out looking for trouble. Quite the countrary (to both) actually. I just feel that some sort of cosmic justice is coming my way — an equalizer if you will.

Why do I need a punch in the face? Things have just been way too good for me lately. Somewhere out there someone is getting all of my bad luck and I think it’s going to come back and bite me in the ass eventually, but I’ll put that out of my head until it actually happens.

Of course I bet you’re just dying to know what makes me thing I’m having such a good time out here, right?

Here’s the rundown…

SCHOOL IS AWESOME, GO TO COLLEGE CAUSE ITS RAD

Being able to take the courses I wanted, I was happy just knowing that I wasn’t going to be bored this entire semester. However, now that the semester is almost over and I can actually see that I’m doing better than I could have expected in 4/5 of my classes, I’m ecstatic. Class scheduling for next semester is opened for myself and I’m just giddy looking at my choices. Philosophy? Calc II? Argumentative Debate? Macroeconomics?! SIGN ME UP. ALL OF THEM. NAAAAOOOOWWWWW.

Plus I have met a staggering amont of intelligent, articulate, kind-hearted people who have welcomed me into Baton Rouge and LSU with open arms. Not that people back in California aren’t swell, but all of the favors and random acts of kidness I’ve been showered with has been delightful. Kevin, Chase, Autumn, Matt, Derek, David, Taylor, Jonny, Vishnu, Mike 

THEN I GOT A JOBBBBB

I really needed money so I applied at quite a few places but didn’t get any calls back. I had pretty much given up on everything until I realized there was an Urban Outfitters here in Baton Rouge…not 5 minutes down the street from where I live. I applied, went in for an interview and was hired all within the span of a few days, it was excellent.

I’ve only been working there for a week and a half now, but I can already tell it’s going to be an excellent place to work. The orientation leader for my training session, Josh, was an awesome dude to begin with. Turns out he’s actually a DJ at KLSU, which made him even more badass than I had originally anticipated. My managers and coworkers have all been so nice to me, putting up with all of my questions and nagging without any complaints (that I know of, anyways.)

Last night after work I went out with a few of them and we went to a roller-skating rink and went roller-skating/rollerblading, which was a blast. It sounds ridiculous but falling on your ass and watching others do the same will bring a smile to your face very quickly. After that we went to East Chimes (a resteraunt in Baton Rouge) and met up with some more managers/coworkers and had good two hours to eat/drink/talk…and I realized that it’s just one big dysfunctional family. Not only am I thankful to have a job, but to have a job with such a cast of people is just another plus in the long list of good things that came with working for Urban Outfitters.

THEN THERES MY HEALTH

So, ever since moving out to Baton Rouge, I’ve tried to start living a healthier lifestyle. Blah blah blah of course, you’ve heard that a million times I’m sure. But the fact that I can now run 6-7 miles in an hour, COMBINED with my asthma dissipating, has made me feel like a new person. Not feeling that burning cold in my lungs after two minutes of light jogging is amazing. I’ve been skating every day, to and from class, around my apartment complex…everywhere. I’ve never had more energy and actually find myself upset if I have to miss a day at the gym or can’t go out skating because it’s raining. 

IT RAINS. A LOT.

But it’s a beautiful city and I love the rain so I don’t really mind. Seriously though, not being able to skate for three or four days kind of sucks. Just give me every other day, BR, and I’ll be happy.

Do you want a video? Do you want more walls of text? A photo essay perhaps? Let me know what you want to know and how you’d like to find out…it’s all for you guys, so just even one comment will sway my decision!

Here are some of my FAVORITE weird noises right now…!

Greg, if you EVER read this, I should have listened to Tokyo Police Club much earlier. I remember hearing this song on your MySpace, but never really having gotten into it. Why? WHY?! IT’S SO GOOD.