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how we met
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
A. J. Strickland, Washington, Kan., senior, is a cowboy who likes to spend time on the shooting range. Sandra Mayle, Wichita graduate, is an urbanite who likes to hang out in coffee shops. He drives a truck. She drives a Nissan Sentra.
They couldn't be more different from each other, but one night they found themselves working the eight-hour late shift together at the front desk of Lewis Hall.
Sandra Mayle and A.J. Strickland
He was intimidated by her looks, and she thought he was kind of weird. But with nothing to do but sit for eight hours, Strickland and Mayle ended up talking and getting to know each other: "I don't know how she could have put up with me talking about my farm in detail for at least half an hour," Strickland says.
As their shift came to a close, Strickland found the courage to ask Mayle on a date. "He asked me to go with him to the shooting range," Mayle says. "But I think everyone secretly wants to shoot a gun. At least I did."
The couple has been together for more than a year.
Kathleen Sebelius Kansas governor
WHICH SUMMER MOVIE ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR?
My chick flick is definitely Sex and the City. It also looks like there is a great new Indiana Jones movie as well as fighting pandas—a good summer for all
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE
HOLIDAY?
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I enjoy spending time together with my family and close friends as well as enjoying one of the great American dinners of turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. It's far less hassle and hype than some of the other holidays.
The only superhero I ever knew about growing up was Superman—"faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a powerful locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound." Since I've never run into kryptonite, I still think those powers would be the best.
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
In 2004, the Caucus was just about who was going to attend the convention. This year, Kansas Democrats had a real voice in choosing the party's nominee. We have a candidate in Barack Obama who is inspiring thousands of new voters to tune in and turn up, to work and to vote. It will make a huge difference in the election and in his opportunity to be a great president.
I am really looking forward to The Dark Knight. After all the hype about Heath Ledger's character, I think it's going to be a very interesting movie to watch.
WHY DO YOU THINK ATTENDANCE IN THIS YEAR'S DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WAS SIGNIFICANT HIGHER THAN IN 2004?
WHAS HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
My parents, Katie and Jack Gilligan. They gave me unconditional love and support, taught me about sacrifice and service, and gave me the confidence to believe that anything was possible, if I worked for it. Every child should be so lucky!
I'm going to be very unoriginal and say Christmas. I just really love being able to spend time with my family.
I would love to be able to teleport to anywhere in the world like in that new movie, Jumper. I've always wanted to travel all over the world, but being a poor college student, I don't exactly have the money to do that.
I think the young people in our country are finally getting excited about politics. I think their involvement really increased this year's attendance.
My grandma. She was raised on a small farm in Kansas and was always struggling. She's become very successful and I look up to her a lot.
Gina Souders
contact the writer:
gsouders@kansan.com
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02.21.2008 VOL. 5 ISS. 21
interesting fact: In 1998, Miss Piggy released "Moi," her own brand of perfume. -muppet.wikia.com
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