Toy Car

Every day I wake up and start getting prepared to head to class. I clean up and brush my teeth, and then I start the daunting task of getting dressed. Layer after layer I put on getting ready for the freeze blast that awaits me outside. By itself I can handle the cold but when it is combined with typhoon like winds and a ten to fifteen minute walk it becomes unbearable; especially if I forgot to bring a hat. There are ways that I have come up with to help the cold seem less ferocious.

I have found that if I keep my mind focused on other things besides the blistering cold that I can trick myself into thinking it isn’t that bad outside. Music is always a good choice but usually I like to fantasize about myself getting superpowers and saving the world. There are so many different things that can go wrong and need saving. Occasionally though I spot something out of the ordinary that gets my mind thinking. It can lead to a memory of mine or another fantasy of saving the world or just more curiosity on the subject. This time though it lead to some memories of high school and an old friend. I think its funny when people make fun of something they have that they know everyone else makes fun of. This VW Beetle driver knows people see his car as a joke. I don’t mean to put down the Beetle; it’s a nice car and the way that all car companies should be going, but it looks like toy. This driver sees that so he or she expanded on the idea. Other people, though, don’t see this and take offense when their car is made fun of. My friend Alex was this way.

When he turned sixteen, his parents bought him a Beetle. For the most part I agree with their reasoning; good gas mileage and safe. But it’s a Beetle, a car that I see is meant for girls. What makes it worse is that its color is a light purple bluish color. Now my friend loves his car, which we all should love our own cars, but every time I see him I have to bash him for driving a purple Beetle. He always gets defensive about it too, but knows I’m just messing with him. We have a good relationship so its fine.

And just as I have completely turned the topic of this post around, so does my thinking make me completely forget that I am walking out in the freezing weather.

Who Needs Sidewalks

If you are anything like me you always look for the most efficient way of doing things; taking showers, getting food at the dining courts, and getting from place to place. After spending a semester at my college I have come to the conclusion that it is set up in one of the most inefficient ways possible and I am sure other students agree. In fact I have proof. Anywhere you go on campus you can see it.Kids see that they can shave a few extra seconds off their travel time by cutting corners or making entirely new paths. And with this weather every second counts. It’s ridiculous how fast one can get cold. I don’t see why I must take a giant loop around a patch of grass when I can just walk right through it. Even for short trips, like to the corec which is right across the street, I take the diagonal path through the grass instead of taking the sidewalk. It’s grass, that’s what it’s meant for.

For most of the year this has been fine, no harm done. But now that winter is here and the grass is going into its dormant state, you can definitely tell where people are walking. Just look for the patches of dead grass. Before the grass would only get a little muddy when it rained but would dry up in a day. Now it seems we are killing the grass. And you would think that with it being below freezing we wouldn’t have to worry about mud, but actually whenever it snows the ground turns into a kind of snow/dirt slush and is twice as bad as before. This still doesn’t stop us students; we will carry on no matter what.

I don’t really know if the university would be willing to put in new sidewalks, probably not. A lot of the paths I see are right next to new areas where they just put in sidewalks. But obviously they didn’t plan too well. I have wondered if it would be better if they just got rid of sidewalks altogether. Just have grass everywhere instead. I believe it would work if we lived in a place with a better climate but with all the rain, snow, and generally bad weather we have it probably won’t work. So next time you’re feeling efficient or are late to a class look for those proven paths that guarantee quicker journey.

Winter is Here

Alas! The time has come. We have survived the hot humid days of August and coasted through fall to finally make it to winter. It was a long and arduous journey but we prevailed.Now I wouldn't really say it was a difficult journey but it was long. The worst part was the month of November when it would taunt us with warm 70 degree weather and then the next day drop to 30. The last week of November killed us students, highs in the teens with negative wind chills. 7:30's became that much more undesirable. What made this even more degrading was the fact that all we had was cold. There were no snowflakes to keep us company on the long walks to class, no ice to slide on; just the frigid wind ripping us apart.

But now all that has changed. I woke up this week to attend my class and when I walked outside I felt as if I was walking into the world Narnia. A blanket of white fluff had covered all in sight. I took a deep breath and felt my throat and lungs burn, but I did not mind this burn for along with it came the sudden pricks that were the snowflakes hitting my throat. On the sidewalk a patch of ice invited me to slide across it and instantly I got the urge to go ice skating. I crossed the street and about wiped out trying to step up on the curve. Yet I was not angry or upset by this, I actually enjoyed it. The sight of snow just seems to make all better for me.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, lo and behold the sight that IS winter appeared to me; a mighty Christmas tree, decked in all its holiday gear. What made this special to me is that my Christmas tree was not up when I left after Thanksgiving break, so until I return home this tree will be my surrogate tree. What I was also glad to see in this tree is that unlike all the Christmas trees at my high school, this tree was decorated in traditional Christmas colors. The tree at my high school was always blue and white, which was a nice modern look and did coordinate with my school colors but it just wasn’t the same as the good old red, green, and gold.

So to all of you out there enjoy this weather while it last, go make a snow angel or snowman and just have fun. Merry Christmas and happy holidays

Sticker Thursday

Elementary, quite possibly my most favorite time in life. Things were simple then. School would involve naps, playtime, RECESS, and occasionally we would get some homework.Even when we were assigned some homework it would be okay because when we showed it to the teacher she would give a sticker. A sticker! Back then this was everything I strived for in school. Just a simple piece of paper; one side containing some type of adhesive and the other a colorful cartoon character with an uplifting phrase.Who couldn’t like getting one of those with every assignment? But alas it had to come to an end.

When I moved on into intermediate school, stickers were a thing of the past. Now the only thing teacher placed on our homework were grades in red ink. There was nothing left to look forward to in school. It was the same for junior high and high school.As I entered college I had all but forgotten about stickers. It wasn’t until one of my teaching assistants mentioned something about having Thursdays become sticker Thursdays that all the great memories returned to me.

But this last sticker I got was questionable as to what its intended meaning was. Most stickers say encouraging phrases like “Good Job”, “You Did Great”, or “Terrific”. The sticker I received seemed a bit depressing and down to me. Instead of saying how well I did it said “Way to Hang in There”.…? Is it just me or does that have more of a “sorry you did terrible” sort of feeling about it? Like the only reason I am getting this sticker is out of pity. I don’t know? That’s the way I took this sticker.

Grant it I am not saying take the stickers away, for that is my only reason for going to class on Thursdays. I’m just hoping my TA’s choice of stickers improves. Or if they are trying to tell us we are doing a terrible job, to just outright tell us. Not hide it in a phrase on a sticker

Something to do in the cold

As the weather gets colder, most people retire to their warm homes and never set foot outside in the miserable cold. But as always, my friends and I never seem to do as we’re supposed to. When the weather starts to turn for the worse we bundle up and get ready to go outside. We put on our hats, gloves, and coats and get ready to bare the elements. We’re not idiots though. Believe it or not we bundle up and go out to get warmer. Every year at this time, when it’s getting cold out but just before the first snow fall, my friends and I have a big bonfire.

In my opinion it’s the best time to have one. Because it’s cold, everyone is forced to stay close around the fire. Usually a couple people bring guitars so all night long we have music. And with my group of friends this is the best part. Three of them write their own music. The lyrics can get pretty hysterical; my favorite this time was “Transvestite Angle”. Of course with every bonfire there has to be s’mores, and with those come countless Sandlot quotes.

All in all, the bonfires are a time for us all to catch up and just have fun with each other. We all can sing along to songs, throw frozen marshmallows at each other, and just be ourselves. If you’ve never had the opportunity to partake in a bonfire I urge you to. If not for camaraderie, at least for the sweet smell of burning logs stained into your clothes for days.

My School Can Look Cool Too

For all of you die hard fans and alumni of my current school who have read my blog (because I know there are SO many of you...) and were offended by the "Oasis or University" post, I apologize. I know its not right to say our campus is not beautiful, that it is dull in comparison to Indiana University. At the time I wrote the post I was naive and new to this campus. I had yet to gain my barring and realize the hidden beauty that my campus has to offer. My school my not be outright gorgeous like that of Indiana's but it still competes.The problem, or really distinctness, about my campus is that its beauty is not straight forward. If you look at all the building on campus you see brick, lots of it. One person can only take so much brick. Honestly, there is a ton of it. It took me quite a while into the semester to finally find the beauty on my campus. The problem as to why I had trouble finding it before was not that I wasn't looking in the right places. the problem was that I wasn't looking at the right TIME. All this time on campus I was trying to find something magnificent looking during the day. I would find some interesting subjects in a back alley or some type of tree or bush. But nothing great. It was not until I realized that our campus looked its best when the sun was down and the moon was out. Until one night I was walking back from church around 830 and something caught my eye.

I was walking past the University building, as I always do during the day, but it looked different, inspiring actually. Something about it at night made it much more pleasant. After a while I realized it was the lighting. The way the building was illuminated made it seem so much more distinguished. The light played off the stairs and handrails, as well as the windowsills and roof. So I began to wonder if any other buildings improved their appearance at night. I walked to others I thought would play off the light well. It was like I had been transported to whole new campus. Every building had a brand new look, like they had been torn down and rebuilt.

The one structure that impressed me the most was the clock tower. On a normal day its red brick put upon the white stone looks decent. It is one of the better looking building here at school, for looks is all it has(the bells are fake, which greatly disappointed me when I found out). But at night, its height along with the four giant spotlights positioned around it make it so much more. Something I didn't realize either, you can see the clock tower almost anywhere on campus. The four tiers capped off by a brilliant white crown. I no longer wish I could attend IU because of its beauty, for I have found here at my school.

The reason I write this is not just for reassuring me I went to the right school or for people I might have offended earlier, but instead I wrote it for the people who read my blog and feel the same way about their college campus. If you don't see anything great in your campus and feel it is just blah, then you need to look harder. Try it at night or in a little alley way you haven't been in before. Every campus has its beauty, you just need to find it.

Under my Umbrella

"Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
Ella ella eh eh eh..."

We all know the song. "Umbrella" by Rhianna. It is a catchy tune. But honestly how many of us have ourselves or seen anyone ever share an umbrella with a stranger or someone they see walking down the street. Not I, says the author. Why would I? There is usually barely enough room under my umbrella for me. It never completely shields me from the water droplets. There is always a part of me that manages to get soaked. Although it always amazes me how little rain it will take people to get out their umbrellas.

I myself always carry my umbrella with me, you know jsut in caste. When i looked out my window this morningI was unsure if i should use the umbrella or notIt wasn't pouring but it was more than a sprinkle. INERT ALWASY CARRYING I wasn't getting drenched but the feeling of the rain ,for some unexplicable reason, felt strange and uncoomfortable. so idecided to to put mup m as sdid the mmost of the other student body.

The Way You Move

One would think the walk to class would be the relaxing part of my day, but, in fact, this is the most stressful part. Everyday I wonder if this is the day I will die or will I be able to turn in one more assignment? What makes the trip so dangerous aren't the side alleys I take or the multiple cars I jump out in front of just so I don't have to wait another thirty seconds, it are the insane kids riding bikes who think they can fit through the narrowing gap between myself and the oncoming walker. These encounters either leave one of the pedestrians having to leap to the side to save their life or getting sideswiped by the bicyclist. I myself have been fortunate enough to never have been sideswiped. Although now that I say this, Monday morning I am sure to get hit at least three times.

What needs to be done to solve this problem is that students need to invest in alternate forms of getting from their dorm to their classes. Now bicycles are probably the most effective way of doing this, but at what cost. How many innocent pedestrians will have to suffer before these bikers realize they need to either take more heed of others around them or find a new way of moving about. Its not like they have limited choices when deciding on other ways of traveling. There are plenty of ways.













After biking the most popular way of going about is by skateboard. Now i don't mind skateboarders, they seem to have a different agenda than bikers. These people use skateboards because they want to get to their destination quickly like bikers, but unlike bikers, skateboarders won't take out anything in their way. They are more relaxed and willing to wait on pedestrians. I have never seen an accident between any skateboarder and walker. I do see skaters doing tricks at random places around campus and this is actually enjoyable. They don't even endanger those around them when they perform these tricks. Something that I did not know until I came to college is that there are multiple types of skateboards, little wheeled ones, giant over sized ones, long boards. Basically a type for any person. Those are two main way people travel, but there are other ways.

Now if you want people to notice you when you are going to and from class you have a few choices. Grant it, you are most likely getting noticed because people are making fun of you, but, hey, it may be worth it. The first of these is the moped/scooter. Now these are great to have, get form point A to point B without doing any physical work, but honestly I laugh every time I see someone riding one. Maybe its the giant helmet they wear or the squatting position they are in, which looks like they're ready take a poo. Whatever it is, it gets me every time. And when you see two people riding, its just twice as funny. Other modes of transportation I chuckle at when I see it are razor scooters and roller blades. Some people know how to ride in style though.

A couple times I have been fortunate enough to see a segway go zipping by. Those are impressive to see because they are at the technological top of personal transportation. Another thing I see parked almost everyday but still never seen in action is the "bike bullet", as I like to call it. As I pass it everyday, I am tempted to cut the lock and steal it. From the looks of it, I wanna say it can go forty fifty miles per hour, but probably not. Even so I am sure whoever owns that, feels like Batman everyday he or she comes to school.

If none of these ways of getting to class interests you, you can do what about ninety-five percent of the student population does: walk. It easy, no one gets hurt, and you don't have to worry about your bike being chained to a tree. I use it and it hasn't failed me yet.
So I urge you, crazy kid on bike trying to get to your class as fast as you can with no regard to those around you, please consider me and all those who fear your presence on the sidewalk. Take your time. This is college, teachers don't mind if you are five minutes late. And if possible, to make the world a better place, use these alternatives I have mentioned.

Pirates!

I was heading towards my mid-day class when I started to hear someone crying out. At first I was alarmed; could someone possibly be calling out for help? But no one else seemed to care. It was very faint but I could tell I was walking closer. As I got nearer to the source of the cries I started to question what I was hearing. These weren't cries of normal people, they sounded different. They sounded angry and I wasn't positive of what they were saying. The words I was hearing were similar to English, but not quite the same. Every now and then I would hear one these mystery people call out a loud "AAARRRRRRR!" Finally the origins of the sounds were visible to me. I could not believe my eyes, PIRATES!

The yelling I heard came from the half-dozen or so pirate clad students. They carried signs saying 'Save the pirates' or 'Help the pirate foundation.' Their pirate king was standing on a bench shouting to those who passed him, "Save the pirates", "Don't let the pirate way of life die" (with a strong pirate accent of course).


At this point I was totally and utterly perplexed. Why would these students come out here and do this? What motivated them? So I inquired in my class. I found out with an overwhelming response that that day happened to be Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept 19). Following this discovery I found something that would change my life forever. Not only was it Talk Like a Pirate Day, but the glorious and addicting Facebook also was taking part in the great that this day was.

As soon as class was over I ran back to my dorm and followed my fellow classmate’s instructions. At the bottom of a Facebook page there is a language option. Click on it and you get a list of languages, one of them says English (Pirate). Select it and let the fun begin. All the titles and labels are translated into pirate talk. The page is full of many ship references and plenty of AARRR's. If Facebook wasn't addicting enough, this new feature will surely add hours more a day to peoples Facebook enjoyment. So I encourage all of you to try this new form of Facebook and next year when you see a one legged man yelling profanities about scurvy and walking the plank you won't be a perplexed as I was.

Fall

Strolling down the sidewalk, you keep your eyes fixated on the ground. Trying ever so hard to weave between the millions of leaves who have found themselves spread across the landscape. When "CRUNCH!!", you step on one. You freeze, startled by this new and thrilling sound. Could all of this time been a mistake, avoiding the leaves? You try it again "CRUNCH!!!", and again you are filled with a feeling of accomplishment. You continue to walk, mashing every leaf you find. People look at you weird as you laugh and smile going out of your way to destroy another. What brought about this new found happiness? Something I like to call: Autumn.

Fall or autumn, which ever you prefer, is a wonderful time of the year. It has a beauty unparalleled by those of the other seasons. Spring is full of flowers, of new beginnings, a time when the world starts over. Summer is the beach, lemonade, and sun bathing. When hot sunny days engulf us with happiness with our friends. Or when it's not lighting storms give us a look at the world in a way we've never seen it. The winter pure. The white snow covers all that is evil and makes untainted. But fall has them all beat. Its beauty is an uncanny one. Its a beauty of death. The plants are dying off, the trees are hibernating, and all the wildlife leaves. But from this an artistry appears. The tree colors on a mountain side show what the green leaves have been hiding all year long. A crisp cold breeze as you are walking, brings chills down your spine. There is a scent in the air of cleanliness. Despite the death all around you, you feel alive and well.

Now autumn has not always been my favorite season. I used to love winter, I still do. I like how everything seemed perfect. The white snow allowed for the most demonic thing to look at peace. You can stand still and hear nothing, no birds, leaves rustling, nothing. Everything is frozen until spring. After a good snowfall, snowball fights and snowmen are everywhere. It is a peaceful time of the year. But what has made me recently change my mind about this season is college. Before now, on a normal basis, I would only be out in for a minute while I walked to and from my car. But now I must walk everywhere in the freezing cold. Its not even November and I can barely make it. I don't want to imagine what its like when its below thirty. So because of this fact, of having to walk everywhere, winter can no longer be my favorite season. One of the few drawbacks of college.

Wipers

Through the years man has developed technologies that have bettered human life. One of the greatest of these was the automobile, a way for humans to span great distances and transport goods hundreds of miles per day. Since the age of the Model T, new and better inspirations have changed the face of this technology and today I witnessed the grand climax of this. For this little red mid 90’s car had wipers. But not the normal windshield or back glass wiper, no, this car had wipers on its headlights. If you ever decided to drive into the eye of a hurricane, I am pretty sure you could make with this car. Those little headlight wipers will keep your visibility as perfect as a bright sunny day.

Although I am sure in the history of the automobile this little feature is nothing. My favorite era of cars was when we decided we all wanted to be astronauts so our cars became our own personal space rockets. Sleek designs, giant fins, lights that looked like rocket engines, we had it all. But none of them compare to the headlight wiper.

Everyday this car is parked in the same parking spot, and as I walk by I have to check and make sure those wipers are still there. It just seems too funny to be real. It’s also a shame it hasn’t rained since they brought their car. If I had those wipers I would want it to rain everyday just so I could use them.

Landscape

You think by me paying 18+ thousand a year my school could do a little better job of making my campus look nice. I mean I guess they tried… but not that hard. At least they planted something…a small, scarcely green, bush, which really does nothing to accent the area. I wouldn’t even mind if they just had one or two more bushes. That would fill in the area more than this single bush does. Other areas of campus have nice landscaping, multiple types of plants with varying colors and shapes. I just think they gave up when it came to this little section.


The reason I guess that I see this and am slightly disappointed is that my parents take great pride in their garden and keeping it full of blooming flowers year round. We have hundreds of plants in an area about three times the size of this plot. Ever since I was a kid, my early springs would be filled with planting new annuals, summers with watering the beds at least bi-weekly, and falls planting new bulbs for the spring. I know how much work it takes to keep up gardens and flower beds, but I know the school could do a much better job than this.

Heck I wouldn’t even mind just going out and buying my own plants to plant in the bed. Anything so that it looks slightly presentable to a passerby.

A Monkey, Really?

The fountain of youth, the elixir of life. There are hundreds of ways people try to stay young, but the way I've found to be the best is to always keep a part of it with you. There are two effective ways to do this. One is through your blanket, or as most call, it your blankie. The other, which I prefer, is the stuffed animal. I feel this shows more about a person. The type of animal is representative of the person. If you are going to have a stuffed animal make sure it is a recognizable one.

I do not think this looks like a monkey. It may have the face of a monkey but that's where it ends. What species of monkeys have tuffs of hair, the body of a dog, and a tail that looks more like that of a snake? I'm all for monkeys, almost half of the stuffed animals I had were monkeys. With mine you could at least tell they were monkeys. Bananas, long tails, big ears, all helped to set their identity. I believe I am going to have to bring one of mine so this person can see what a real stuffed animal is supposed to look like. Until then I will continue to harass this person about their "monkey".

Bike Rack

It’s about time someone came up with a new type of bike rack. I mean all these years of the same old arched metal bars. This new style, I'm sure, took years of planning, hundreds of designers, and multiple prototypes. Just look how the bike sits perfectly parallel with the ground. And the way the back tire sits on the tree, genius. There must be some kind of quick release hidden in the trunk of the tree. I don't know how much my school paid for this, but it was much worth it.

But really, this made my day. I saw some girls taking pictures, and it looked like they were just taking them of the building, real cool. But they kept look up and I didn't know why. Then I saw it. I just broke out laughing. Honestly who would take the time to put a bike in a tree? I can see taking the wheels, breaks, ECT. Those items are easy to get, just bring a wrench and there you go, free bike parts. But putting a bike in a tree, kudos to you my friend. Honestly it’s not that mean of a thing to do. At least they didn't steal any part of it. Unless they used their own lock and there is no way of getting it down. I guess it just teaches people to make sure their bike is properly secured.

Oh and if you didn't notice, someone is trying to challenge the new bike rack with an idea of their own. Just throw it in the bushes.

Satans Poltergeist

To most this looks like an ordinary drinking fountain, at least it did to me. But behind its retro metal facade something hides. Something Lucifer himself conjured up. Some evil so dark, I dare not even think to drink from its reserve. For this fountain has the power to visit the minds of those around it; to haunt them with malicious intent. If you dare to let your guard down it will attack with indiscriminate furry. I myself could not withstand its prowess and became one the many that has fallen to it.

It preys on its victim while they are at their weakest; while their minds are weak and unable to fight back. Their unconscious state is a perfect breeding ground for its wickedness, their dreams is where it attacks.

I made the unfortunate decision of talking a nap right next to it, and for the rest of my life I shall regret that decision. It forced itself into my dream. Every little rumble of the machine turned itself into a fierce beast growling, chasing me in an endless cavern, and never being able to escape its presence. Its hiss would curl around me squeezing tighter and tighter until the serpent took every last breath I had. Then it would all stop, give me time to recover, and just when I thought I'd be okay it would start all over again. Again and again it tortured me this way, never ceasing until I awoke.

This goes out as a warning to all of you. Never let your guard down. Always be ready for the evils that The Prince of Darkness has for you.

Oasis or University

You just got done with a multi-variable calc test, dazed and confused you start to walk back to your dorm. Your mind is shot from the complexity of the test, you have no idea where you are walking, and you just walk to walk. When you finally come to, you have no idea where you are. You are walk

ing in a grove of trees; nothing but tall mature trees surround you. To your right a path goes off into a thick forest. Up ahead you can see

the break in the trees. When you come out you are staring straight at what looks like a fairy tale castle. Next to this, a cemetery straight out of a Zelda game, where I am sure if I went and kicked over one of the tomb stones I would definitely find a ruby.

Where could I possibly be that has such a majestic panorama? Certainly a college campus was far from my thoughts, but that’s just exactly where I was. I recently took a trip to IU

to visit some friends of mine. My

sister attended IU and I had been there many times, but I never realized how beautiful of a campus they had. Grant it I love my campus, but it’s nothing compared to IU’s. The limestone buildings in all their glory, mature trees, and hilly backdrop make IU an oasis for students. If my school and IU had the same programs of

study I would most definitely choose it over my school.

Late Night Snack

When it hits there's no stopping it; no way of controlling this primordial instinct. No matter what you do it calls you, and there is only one way of sufficing it: midnight hunger. Look around the room and eat whatever you see. Normally this is a great thing; grab a box of Cheez-Its or some ice cream. But I happened to be in a little dilemma. It was three in the morning, and I was at my friend's dorm with no food in sight. I didn't know what to do. How was I going to quench my need? I got up and went in search of some delectable late night snack. I walked around the floor hoping someone dropped a Pop-Tart or another quick snack, but nothing. Then a beacon of hope. There, at the end of the hall their floor lobby. As I walked in I saw it on the table: brownies.

I grab one and just before I begin to gorge on it, I stop. Is this really a good idea? Should I be eating brownies that have been sitting there for who know how long? Someone could have made them as a joke and put something in them. They looked so good though. There was only one way to find out, I picked the best looking one and took a small but reasonable bite out of it. MMM MMM MMM. Not just a chocolate brownie but a mint chocolate brownie. To this day I have not had any repercussions from this decision and I stand with all the way. When the urge hits you, anything goes.

No Shoes

I'm sure it was illegal and wrong on so many levels, not to mention if the guy that's in it actually knew I was taking the picture or if someone walked in while I was, but I had to. When you see something like this you have to let others see. I'm all for going barefoot, it’s comfortable. Only at home can you do this, not in a public place, especially not in a bathroom. This wasn't just your ordinary public bathroom. This was a guy’s dormitory bathroom. I can't imagine all the sick and disgusting molds and fungi that breed there. I'm not saying our janitors do a crappy job cleaning, they do a great job. It’s just you can only clean these restrooms to a certain extent.

Over the summer I had to take care of a condominium's clubhouse. This included cleaning the restrooms. After seeing all that people do to restrooms I'm surprised I still use them. One instance that I remember is when someone used the sink and counter as a urinal. They must have had to really go because, I'll admit, they did a pretty good job at covering everything. Now, don't worry. I didn't just give up and leave it there. I cleaned it up to the best of my abilities. And for reasons like that I will always wear some type of shoes when I use the restroom. As a closing, I'll leave you with this picture, which I took a couple days after the first; a kind of case in point.

Balanced Meal

Alone these objects would just be an apple and a beer bottle, but together they are so much more. The fact that the apple was half eaten and the bottle of Bud Light was completely gone says it all, college campus. This picture is the epitome of college. What really caught my eye about this scene was the fact it was not there as I walked to my 7:30am class but only as I walked back. So it was placed there sometime in the period of 7:30am to 8:30am. Either my school has raving alcoholics who can’t go one meal without have a nice cold refreshing Bud Light or my school has amazing parties that last until eight in the morning. I’ll let you decide.

What this picture has gotten me to think about/realize is that college can change people. People who had never drank in high school, for fear of their parental units or whatever reasons, seem to find the new freedom of college as an excuse to be able to. I am not against kids drinking, as long as they do it responsibly and not all the time, but I myself don’t drink; yet. I’m sure the day will come when I’m a extravagant alcoholic like my siblings, but not today. I mean who doesn’t love passing a group of drunks on a Friday/Saturday night, they’re always amusing to watch. My favorites are the emotional sobbing girls that yell at random passerbys. I took this picture because it amused me and I liked the juxtaposition, I hope you enjoy it as well.

My Purpose

If you are looking for a blog that will debate the Presidential race, this is not it. If you are looking for a blog that discusses stories in the news, this is not it. And even if you are looking for a site that will stay on the same topic for the entirety of it, this is not that blog. This blog is about the random sights that I see in my daily life and how I interpret them. It can be anything, an animal I see, a sunset I thought was unusually nice, or something someone wrote on a bathroom stall door.

The reason I’m writing about random things instead of one specific topic is because, quite honestly, I don’t think I could handle one topic for the entirety of this blog. I would get bored with it. I’m not saying I have A.D.D. or can’t focus on things; I just like variety in life, in what I do. I like to think and I think about what see, so why not write about it too. I also think it’s unique how the human brain can see or be thinking about one thing then all of a sudden go on a tangent on something totally unrelated, which I’m sure my blogs will do from time to time. I also like to see the hidden beauty in things, which is why I take pictures of certain objects. I believe they’re unique and something should be said about them.

Anyone can write a blog about the random things they see, but what makes their blog different from others is the way they interpret those things. Each person sees things differently, I just want people to see the way I see things. No one thinks the same why I do, just as I don’t think the same way others do. My blog may let people see things in a totally new way other than how they had always seen them. I hope you will find them interesting, they should be starting up the beginning of this coming week.