If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims, obviously!!! Sorry, my grandma told me that old joke the last time she was over (the thousandth time I've heard it from her), so I figured you guys could share in my misery. If anyone needs clarification (due to a failure to study every minute aspect of American history in school, perhaps), just let me know.

I have graduated and am now an official alumnus of the University of Illinois. My glory will be short lived as I start my second PwC internship in about a week and a half. I'm a bit nervous because I don't know what they'll have me doing, but I'm anxious to have the paychecks coming again. Went to meet with the priest this morning to do some marriage preparation. The wedding that once seemed so far off is now less than 13 months away. We had to convince the priest that we aren't currently married and that we don't drink and beat each other, but after that it was easy, peasy, japoneasy. Going to a Cubs game tonight, so I'll probably get raucously drunk on some Old Style. The upcoming weeks are filled with a spate of graduation parties, so it should be more of the same. I actually went to my first casino last weekend after a graduation party. I decided I don't like gambling as the money disappears way too fast. I've repressed my Irish nature and I refuse to bet on the horses or the dogs. Maybe if PwC doesn't work out though...

So, what's the latest with the Man U buyout? I haven't followed much of anything lately, so I haven't heard how everyone's taking the news. The only news I've watched or read was this morning when I was trying to figure out why a highway right next to my house was closed yesterday, causing me to have to sit in traffic. Turns out a man went nuts and attacked police with a machete, so they shot and killed him right along the highway. Perhaps he was a Man U purist or a friend of Magnier and McManus. You never know.

Good luck on all the exams. I'll make sure the beer stays cold for you.

Tim

Tim's Pics

See all of Tim's pics (including those on Walker's site) at my new Fotki.com site (www.fotki.com/timothyfrench).

Tim

Bono's Got My Digits

I suppose my big news at the mo' is that I went to the U2 concert on Saturday night and had the time of my life. They've sold out 4 shows in Chicago for the spring leg of their tour, and I believe 4 more for the fall leg, and it was wicked tough to get tickets. I'm glad I did though as I had a blast. They really do put on a great show, and Bono gave mad props to Chi-town. We packed 22,000 people into the United Center. During the show they asked us to text our names to a certain number, and I got a text back yesterday. I open my phone thinking who the hell is texting me, and the text starts off, "Hey, this is Bono." I don't know about Ulli, but the rest of us don't get texts from Bono every day.

One more week down in Champaign with all my friends before graduation. While I'll be back down here next year, most of my friends are moving elsewhere for grad school, mostly Chicago. We're all having a blast right now, but it's hard to believe the undergrad days are nearing the end. I, of course, have no exams since I finished them all in December, so I manage to irritate everyone with my lack of things to do. Not sure what I'm up to right after graduation. Got a couple possible road trips in the works, though we're short on time and funds. I really wanna do a road trip since I've been to more cities in Europe than in the US. Might go down to Texas and see what kind of state it takes to produce George W. I, too, have put on some pounds since BCN, and I could use a bit of Ulli's workout regimen. And some sun. Both in copious quantities. Well, I'm determined to get through Bill Clinton's autobiography, so I'd best get down to it.

Cheers,
Tim

C'est La Vie

I think that life has been good to me recently. Just liked to say that because my friend said that no one was satisfied with their life.

I came back from Berlin on Monday. It was great trip what else does a man need ... Beer, Football (soccer to some of you), Sun. I can think of one thing but let's not start complaining. I'm not going into details of the trip but it was a blast. Interesting to see such an important part of history as the Brandenburg gate and such. And we should cheer because the WWII ended 60 years ago.

Got my thesis back tonight a week late. Doesn't really matter because I don't need all the time given to finish it. I hope though that the teacher will give me extra points because of guilt. He would if there where more Catholics in the country. Btw congrats on your new Pope Tim. Personally I don't like him (along with most other Germans (that was a joke)).

In 18 days I'll go to Thailand and I'm looking forward to it. I'm trying to get into shape before that and I'm running for about an half an hour a day. I have put on a few pounds since BCN. Nothing to be to worried about.

At the moment I'm still looking for a good job but I have got something solid to fall back on. And actually it's a good job just not in my interest field.

Start writing people!!!

Úlli