Gone but not forgotten.

Three years ago today, I lost family.

I lost a friend.

I lost my reason to pursue higher education.

Josie was eleven years old when she lost her fight to Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma (PXA), pictured here on the left with her sister Kala (Middle) and Mother Lori (right) 

Josie was a lover of life, outgoing and compassionate as long an Alaskan summer day.

Whenever I would visit, I couldn't help but smile. 

I often find it ironic that while legally blind, she always saw things through rose tinted glasses. 

A friend often tells me often that an 8 year old can learn from an 18 year old can learn from an 80 year old, the same way an 80 year old can learn from an 18 year old that can learn from an 8 year old. 

Josie taught me patience.

Josie taught me to appreciate every day.

Josie taught me that beauty is not an image, it's a filter, like rose tinted glasses, and when you understand, you can see beauty in everything. 

Josie, 

I miss you all the time, but there is not a single day that goes by that I don't thank God for the time I spent with you, maybe next time I see you we can have some thumb wars, I imagine you'll beat me like you always did.

Learning from loss.

16 year old Andrew Duerkop, of Eau Claire Died at Luther hospital in Eau Claire. He died on Thursday April 9th 2009 at 8:47pm but was kept on life support until the next day.

Andrew I went through the intersection you were hit at, five years ago today, and I was speeding... as I noticed my speed and adjusted to a more legal level it hit me that today was the "anniversary" of your untimely death, I use the quotes because I don't believe anniversary should be the correct term to use for the date of someone's passing. you see, that school year I was in the same math class as you, two seats behind and one row to the left I was the shy, soak in the world's sights, and sounds without making any of my own type. and frankly you weren't... I despised it at first, I was in class to learn algebra and geometry and you were in the very same class to slow down the process. all fun and games, the class clown even, but the first day you didn't show up to class anymore there was a deafening silence. the sound was more absent than the seat a knight's move away from mine. and the more the days went by, the more that I learned about you after your passing it seemed that the hole in the room, and the noise was being filled in. I regret not being more open when I had the chance, I regret not learning more about you, from you. You donated your organs, saved a man with congestive heart failure, and made your legacy of generosity extend beyond the grave. so now, five years later I'm writing the words I was never able to say, God bless you Andrew Duerkop, you've saved more than one life with your generosity.

Week 19

A lot has happened this week. Almost too much to put in one post but I'll go for it. I was on Facebook the other day and an old friend started talking to me. Turns out she's pregnant and due in April. She asked me to be the godfather, which is an honor but I can't drop everything to go see my godson if I'm still taking my finals, and there's the fact that I'm a poor college kid. I also got some money for a new laptop, which is good because my current one decides that it doesn't like to admit when there's a WiFi connection near. I also got to hang out with some cool people, pull a few nights without sleep, and find a new music artist on spotify. Bowman beat south hall in "dodgeball after dark." Which is not the event's real name, but it still sounds good. If you can't tell from the picture I haven't slept more than two hours since Wednesday afternoon. So yeah :) I hope everyone has a great rest of the week! (Sorry for being a day late)

Music listened to while writing: Car Radio, by Twenty One Pilots

Bowman buzz cuts (week 18)

It's the 18th week. Woo. So I got this here haircut, because it's The start of the bowman buzz cut season. It looks kinda odd, but I'm dealing with it pretty well (wearing a hat most of the time)  I'm finishing a paper for English Composition between writing each sentence for this. Expect a post this weekend for all you people that actually read this when it comes out. I might try something very tricky to make and then have some more info about the beard. Adios for now

Music Listened to while writing: My Eyes To See, by Alcoholic Faith Mission

Back to work! - Week 17

Well everyone who actually noticed I was gone for almost two months, Here I am again. and I've got topics to talk about. it's day 119 of 730. I took all of December off because of the letterman program, one of the challenges was that we couldn't use any social media, which includes my blog. afterward I sorta enjoyed it that much that I neglected my weekly updating duties. thankfully I took pictures of a few of the weeks I took off... I think? anyways the rest of the post will be a menagerie of beard, things I did over my no social media time, and anything else I want to include... Roll the photo reel!

December 6th

 December 13 (post haircut)

 random picture of dinner I made :)

 December 28th, Wearing the hat I got for Christmas while on a bus to Kentucky

 January 24th, back in the dorm and sporting the college freshman blank stare

As you can see I didn't take many pictures... so whatever.

Beard Blog: Day 63 of 730 (A little late)

Hello readers,
Sorry for posting a day late, but I've been having fun, and on second thought I won't apologize for that.

Thanksgiving break was an amazing time to reconnect with my family, but I found myself longing for the brotherhood that is Bowman house. Sorry about the lack of a week 8 picture, that's something I will be sorry about but guess what?! I got a new camera during pre-black Friday shopping. So after this week's picture, they should be a lot better! Thank you all for taking the time out of your day to read this, it means a lot to know that my Typing isn't just lost in cyberspace. Love you all!
-Cody James Gorell

Beard blog: part 8 of 104

Well it's thanksgiving break. And there are a lot of things to be thankful for today. :) from new and continuing friendships, to having a roof over my head. This year I am especially thankful for friends and family. I'm at my uncle's house right now, and my uncle Paul is here. Uncle Paul is the other one doing the two year beard with me, but his facial hair grows a lot faster. :/
I'm going to update this tomorrow with the picture, because right now it's really late, and I can't be bothered to try and take a picture in pitch black. God bless!

-Cody James Gorell