October 31, 2007

So close...

I am terrible at ordering things. Well, ok, that's not always true. At restaurants, I have time to decide what looks really good before placing my order. Online I have many options and take my time with whatever I'm choosing to buy. At Caribou, however, I have discovered that unless I drag my aching body to the counter and whimper "coffee" I suck. Yesterday I went to Caribou because I had a coupon that was expiring today. I walked in, excited about the caffeine soon to be rushing through my veins, and got to the counter only to completely freeze when the guy asked me what I wanted. Stammering, I think I picked the second thing I saw - saying 'medium macchiato' thinking soon after that I had no idea what that was. I think Meg Ryan ordered one in You've Got Mail, but she says more than medium macchiato and she was at a Starbucks. I also ordered a muffin then waited for my drink.
When I got my drink, it seemed light, like it was only half-full or so, then I sat down and took the first drink. The only way I can describe it is to say that I have almost completely blocked it from my memory. Tears came to my eyes, that's all that's left.
I waited a few minutes before scuttling over to the counter to get a package of sugar and a creamer.
It almost saved it.
Almost.

October 29, 2007

One of a Million

I am one of the (over, I believe) million supporters of Steven T. Colbert. It is a true fact. Check the facebook group.
A story written on my home page (well, not mine, but it pops up when I open Mozilla) talks about Steven Colbert's run in South Carolina.
I am included in this group, and this group is in the news, therefore I am news.
You heard it here first.


In other news, I went to a signing of Post Secret books today. It was awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I bought a book - it was even on sale! - and Frank signed it. I was going to have it "personalized" but decided against it at the last minute. I don't really know why, I guess it just seemed odd to me that I would ask someone to write something in a book, making it look like they themselves thought of it and wanted to write it in my book, when really I just wanted to seem cooler to the people who see it on my coffee table and pick it up. I think FRANK in red ink next to the title is just about the right amount of coolness for me.

October 10, 2007

Not So Manic Monday

I like shortcuts. This is probably one of those things that is universally enjoyed by most, especially those living in cold places, or to those that are usually running late (pun intended). There is one shortcut that is used by many people here at the U that goes through the medical complex. I just discovered this week a shortcut within the shortcut (tricky) that goes past a little statue of Lucy, from Peanuts. It's great. My dorm is also right across from an emergency room, and next to it, a cancer center. Sometimes, well more than sometimes, it is a sad place to live. Seeing sick children getting some fresh air with their parents, people with IV's going for a walk by themselves, families(presumably) looking tired on their phones across the street, or a husband and wife exchanging worried looks and holding hands as they walk through the front sliding doors is extremely humbling. I often walk through and think about what these people think of being right in the heart of a college campus. Are they worried? Do they think of different lives for themselves? Do they resent the fact that we are choosing to go through these places and don't have to stay when they have no choice and have to stay for an indefinite amount of time?
Although sad, the shortcut is nonetheless extremely helpful leading to the back of the Student Union. Monday I was walking back, using the shortcut, and as I was about to cross the street, a car passed by. Now, I don't usually make a point to look inside the car, mainly because that is CREEPY, but on Monday I happened to glance at the passenger window and who should be sitting there but Al Franken himself. Realizing this about halfway through the crosswalk, I think I might have said aloud (to no one) Was that Al Franken?!
I remembered then that this was the day that he was having a rally in the Student Union. After walking back to my dorm and up four flights of stairs to my room, I decided that, while I probably won't be voting in Minnesota, I needed to go and experience my first ever political rally. I'm not going to recount every detail, mainly because I'm really tired after working tonight, but here are some highlights: I met Al Franken's wife. Her name is Fannie (or maybe Frannie...) she was really nice and was walking around giving people cookies. They were pretty good. Before the rally officially started, they were playing popular music for, well I don't know, but it reminded me of Hilary Clinton's campaign theme song contest thing. By the way - that video on you tube - LAME. Anyway, one of the songs they played (Besides Waiting For the World to change, OF COURSE) was on the pre season promos for The Office. It's a good song and it made me happy. During the music playing they were also showing a slideshow of all these pictures of Al Franken, and one of them was from when he graduated from college. Let me just say, best picture EVER. So funny. Same glasses, same hair but a little longer. Great. Ironically, before I left my room to go to the rally, I looked in the mirror and thought wow, my hair is ridiculous. But then again, so is Al Frankens. Ha. Ok, one last highlight, during his speech he was talking about my generation (our generation?) and the time period we've come of age and he said something I have come to agree with. This was it, verbatim. "Many of you don't know that our president doesn't have to be incompetent and clueless." One more thing that I really liked about him was that his speech wasn't all about how Republicans suck and should die. I'm not a fan of that. It's not that I am a Republican, it's just that to me, that solves absolutely nothing which should be the purpose of government.
Ok, I'm getting dizzy. Goodnight internetdom.

Shoot, one last highlight. I got a sign with Al's autograph on it. My first political rally and autograph all in one afternoon. So very exciting.

October 5, 2007

Pink eye, puddles and other ways to die

Today I almost died. Several times.

#1 - I woke up this morning with a very red eye, which had started last night, but got worse through the night. After my first class I went on an ingenious website to check my symptoms only to find that I have to wait a little longer to see if I do indeed have pink eye and will die an eye related death. Probably will be freaking painful and an obviously very pathetic way, but such is life.

#2 - I had to go across the bridge for class (which goes over the mighty mississippi) and realized about five minutes before I should leave (if I was going to ride my bike) that it is raining again. I decide that I will ride my bike instead of taking the bus - it can't be that bad, right? Riiiiight. Ok, so I start riding and my tires, which are not the knubby kind, more like the street kind, are kicking up an unbelievable amount of water at the bottom of my pants. I decide to go around large puddles. Naturally, this makes very little difference. Shortly thereafter I realize that my back tire is also kicking up a fair amount of water. On the back of my pants. So now, not only does it look like I peed my pants, but also that the pee made it all the way down to my socks. Fun. Hypothermia, here I come.

#3 - Still riding bike. Momentarily considered locking up bike near bus stop and ride bus instead. Alas, did not take this course of action. Riding down the sidewalk, I decide to go around someone on the grass since I am impatient and didn't want to follow them at a very slow pace. I get off the sidewalk, am past the person, turn to get back on the sidewalk...and wipe out. Almost completely. Amazingly enough, I didn't fall on the sidewalk, but managed to ram someone's backpack (maybe arm too, can't remember) with my handlebars and simultaneously look like the biggest idiot EVER. Completely mortified I recovered, started riding again and had to pass the same person a second time. Also, because of the rain, I was not wearing my helmet. Not the best decision of my life, given that this was the closest I came to death thus far on my bike.

I'm writing this with about 8 hours left in the day. I am optimistic that there will be no more near death experiences today, but I am and will not bet money on it. Why, you ask? See above.