Awkward Pause

This summer has been such an awkward pause for me. On one hand, I’m pretty sure this is the busiest, and arguably, most productive I’ve been between the months of June and August. On the other hand, I feel like I’ve done absolutely nothing. 

College goes by quickly, yeah yeah yeah, whatever. But it does! And as much as I’m counting down the days until I can get back into my go to class, go to work, weekend routine, I’m secretly dreading it. 

Why? Because it’s the last time I’ll be doing it. I’m holding on to this summer because it’s the last one before I wake up in the real world. I know just how fast time goes by once classes start and once I’m back working 60-80 hours a week. I’m starting my senior year of college. Class of 2012 once seemed like forever away but in a few months, it is 2012. And a few months after that, it’s May. I’ll be standing inside the Carrier Dome looking around and wondering what the hell happened. 

But I’m also bored out of my mind. I want everyone to come back. I want places to go on the weekend. I want to stay up until 5AM on a Saturday and regret it until 5PM on Sunday. 

I guess the best case scenario would be the year starts and goes by at a mind numbingly slow pace. Because even that will be too fast. 

Unknown age female, found unconscious at party

  • Police Officer: You're hammered. What is your name?
  • Girl: Bob.
  • Police Officer: Bob? How old are you, Bob?
  • Girl: Twelve.
  • Police Officer: Tell me your real name of I'm going to put you in handcuffs.
  • Girl: My name is Bob. Seriously. I am twelve. And I am drunk. But I'm okay.
  • Police Officer: Okay? You were passed out on the lawn.
  • Girl: But I'm Bob!

Doing Grown-Up Things

Today was a big day for my adult life.

I realized I’m moving into my apartment next week and it would probably be a good idea to get all my utilities figured out and stuff. I called over to National Grid and scheduled the power to get turned on and then once that was all figured out, I bought the cable and internet package and even got a deal along the way. 

Bills. Growing up. Hmmph. 

Dear Kaplan,

angelinaaaax:

My name is Angelina and I am a high school SENIOR & it’s march.
No, I do not want to sign up to take a free PSAT.
No, I do not want to sign up to take your $1,000 SAT prep course.
I have been done with SATs for over 9 months now.
Stop sending me mail!
Please?

Love Always,
Angelina

Oh dear. Get used to it, I’m almost a junior in college (not sure how or when that happened, but anyway) and I still get emails like “Ace that SAT and get into your dream school today!” or “Applying for College? Check out this awesome scholarship”. 

…DELETE…!

Source: theeflutegoddess

The Real Rules: Save My Seat

Protest #2: “If you say fives, you’re guaranteed your seat within the next five minutes.”

No, you aren’t. “Fives” is a bullshit rule. First of all, “Fives” isn’t even a word. It’s the plural of “five,” implying multiple units of “five.” When people talk about “fives,” they mean only one unit of 5 minutes, meaning they are using the word incorrectly (so they’re stupid). Second of all, “Fives” doesn’t rely on the presence of anyone who was there. Those who believe in it don’t believe you need to say it to anyone in particular (which is bullshit), they don’t believe you need to say it audibly enough for others to hear (which is also bullshit), and they believe that if everyone who was there when you said it leaves before you get back, you still get your seat back (which is bullshit).

Source: frakkingoff.blogspot.com

Socks

I’ll preface this blog post with a simple thing about me: I hate feet. I can’t really explain how it started, but the word, the object, the thought just disgusts me. I am not a fan of the flip-flop, sandal, etc. Whatever, get over it.

Anyway, given my lack of liking of the foot area, I’m a big fan of the sock culture. I like socks. They’re warm and keep you dry and make me feel safe in any form of footwear. But, people…

Match the socks. Seriously.

I saw a kid walking down the hallway on the way to the bathroom - I’ll not even BEGIN to comment on how disgusting that is in the first place - but the thing that stood out was one was a black sock that went up to his shin area and the other was a white low ankle sock. Not only are they different colors, but they are also two totally different sized socks. I know virtually all of the people that would actually read this do the same thing (cough, Ellen, Lauren, Rachel, Trav, etc.) but still.

It’s dumb.

Selling Books

I officially participated in one of the pastimes of college students around the world. I stood in line, with a crate of books, and was hopeful I could make even a fraction of the money I spent on them back.

Now, I’m not the intense kind of person that sells them online and does shady things, if I get anything, it’s found money.

Anyway, I go up there and put my books on the counter and got a little under $90 for all of them - all six of my books. Except for one, my mint-condition, nevrer-opened (trust me, it was never opened) Economics textbook.

So I went to one of those “Sell Your Books 4 Cash” vans on the street. He scans it and hands me $1. Yes, he handed me a one dollar bill. Now I’m sorry, but I don’t understand who determines these prices and how one dollar is EVER considered reasonable.

I digress…

Distractions

  • Chris: Alrighty, well I'm gonna try to get some studying in. AKA the computer has to go away. Feel free to text me.
  • Me: Ha! So you only feel somewhat guilty when you're being distracted if it's via text and looks like you're studying.
  • Chris: Well, then it's you reaching out to me. So that's okay. Then I'm just being a good friend.
  • Me: HAHA, Okay.

Worst Case Scenario

  • Me: Hmm, if I got like, a B in this class...I'd be okay. That's the best case scenario.
  • Ellen: You ALWAYS go for the worst case scenario.
  • Lauren: Yeah, so you got a D. Let's go with that.

Laundry

I’ve calmed down somewhat, but I have some points about the collegiate laundry system that need to be addressed. First, let me level the playing field and explain some givens about the process:

  1. A laundry cycle is 55 minutes. It’s labeled. Everywhere.
  2. There are 500 people in the dorm. There are 10 washing machines.
  3. There is a website that tells you exactly how many minutes are left in your cycle. It even will email you when your laundry is done.

Okay, so now the issue. When I look at the website and see every machine is available, I assume that…well…every machine is available. To walk all the way downstairs with my laundry to find every machine FULL of completed laundry is absolutely ridiculous. How hard is it to get your shit when it’s done.

So you may be thinking. “John, don’t be an asshole, not everyone is a nerd like you and checks the moment it’s done”. Sure, I’ll give you that. But in the time I did a 55 minute wash cycle and another 55 minute drying cycle (that I had to fit in the ONE available dryer, causing me to need to dry everything a second time) and the SAME clothes haven’t moved, there’s a problem with that.

Could I have taken them out? Sure, why not. But it’s not my responsible to touch some grody person’s clothes and shenanigans.

Fair warning. Next time, I’m unplugging the machines when the door is locked. See how you like that. That is all.

Major Change of Major

I’ve been unbelievable busy recently, and I love every minute of it. At home, it takes me forever to do anything and I feel like I lack the ambition to do much. As soon as I get to school and I’m truly back to being on my own, it’s like something snaps and suddenly, I’m ambitious and do whatever I want.

Recently, I’ve been going through the process of changing my major. This was a big deal and something I talked about a while back. Originally, my idea was to go into the Whitman School of Management here at SU and major in Business. It seemed like the best idea (at the time) and I began going through the process as soon as I got back.

Last week, my friend’s brother (an alumni from SU) came to visit and happened to ask me how life outside of my old major was. He asked me what I was planning on doing and long story short, gave me a whole new idea of what to do.

I looked into Information Management and Technology and realized it was exactly what I wanted. It was everything I liked about business, the project management stuff, allocation of resources, teamwork, working with people and ideas without the crap I didn’t need like the math and accounting and entrepenurial stuff. Let’s face it, I don’t plan on starting my own business and fighting with the titans of industry.

The program offered business classes, project management stuff but also gave me an outlet for everything I love about the internet and technology. I’ll be able to take website design classes, networking and classes that teach me how to use applications to present ideas.

I applied and was told I was almost guaranteed acceptance.

I’m anxiously waiting the final word, which if accepted, will mean I am now in the #1 ranked school for Information Management and Technology, right above MIT. Hopefully, all goes well.