The World

I've been meaning to write this post for a while now, but it's never come out right; however, this time I'm going to write it either way this time.

Last year as the leaves changed color and the snow fell, I found it aggravating that the phrase "entering the real world" found it's way into so many of my colleagues plans for the upcoming year. It would fall casually out at Downer, Senior Dinner, or at Graduation. College is not some play time phase of our lives where we study in the candy land forest and stroll down gum drop lane to class. My four years at Lawrence stand in stark contrast to what I'm currently doing, but I've never felt that the experiences I had, the growth I underwent, friends I made, challenges I overcame, and things I learned at Lawrence are not real. Lawrence was four years where I lived in a real bubble.

Soap

Only I didn't say fudge.

The Year 2007

The year 2007 is coming to a close and the best of lists are going to come flying of the press and rolling out of the blogs. Top ten albums, films, books, celebrities, homes, and anything else you could imagine. I don't have any top tens, and I don't feel a need to classify my thoughts, moments, and hobbies into a calendar year, because it's not during the moment when I exclaim "happy new years" that I get a new set of interests or trends. Forget that.

Fastidious. I like that word. Not for what is stands for or means, but for how it sounds. "Fastidious." There I said it.

Last week I ended up in a mall to purchase pants. I forgot it was christmas season; that's a mistake I'll never make again.

Like usual I need a haircut, and this post has lost it's direction.

The Year 2000

Until I dated my rent check December 4, 2007, I had completely overlooked the fact that it was December 2007. There were small clues lurking in the background these past four day; the morning I realized that I had forgotten to say "rabbit rabbit" or the light flurries that dusted the ground on my trek to work, but it sunk today: this is December. For me the year 2007 happened in the future, and I watched the milestones stampede past me - graduate, get a job or go to school, find some health care, move to a new place, pay loans, give up a car, learn how to cook. After some turbulence, things fell in place; I ended building a place to live out of duplo and lego - a bit of a mismatch but with a touch of finesse all the pieces fit. Now here I am in DC 6 months removed from graduation, 4 months removed from Chicago, and closing in on 2008. It's a year I've never thought about; probably because I was never really sure if it was possible. Here it comes, and I won't be surprised if I feel the same way in one year.

Here's a picture of my neighborhood.

Monday

I need a half day today in order to ease myself back into working.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I enjoy having chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. For the most part it's candy for breakfast, and that's delicious.

Confused in October

My body is physically confused. The calendar says that October is coming to a close, but the leaves are still green, the barometer is still sitting over 80 degress, and I haven't started school yet. What happened to Fall?

Around Town; College Town

My building has the oddest elevators. It's ten floors total, and I live on the 9th floor; however, I never seem to ride the elevators with anyone. Up and down all day with out any company. Occasionally, in the morning it stops on the 7th floor to pick up the 14 year old who is on his way to school, but other than that it makes the building feel like a ghost town with empty carts oscillating between the floors. Anytime of day, I flow up and down with only the slight ding breaking the silence to remind me to exit.

This evening when I was riding back from a quick but urgent trip to McDonalds for french fires, and I found myself in the strange position of riding up the elevator with an older couple who, according to the elevator buttons, live one floor above me. They must have been over 80, and have lived in the building since it first opened.

She looked me up and down and inquired about my sweatshirt "Lawrence...is your name Lawrence?"

"No, I went to school there."

"Oh, have you heard of Miami University in Ohio, Oxford, Ohio? I went to Miami. Miami in Oxford, Ohio. I loved it, beautiful campus."

"Yeah, I have a friend who went there."

"Oh, wonderful! I loved Miami."

I wonder if I'll feel like that about Lawrence in 60 years. At this point I'm not sure.

Today

Today I don't have to work. Today I'm going to get a couch, and plants.

Storage Closet

I had to leave work today so I could make it home before the metro closed.

Work Life Balance

Work-Life Balance - one phrase I'll never be fooled by again.

Zoo

I went to the Zoo today. I took some pictures with my new camera.

ATM Cards

Why do ATMs withhold your card until the end of the transaction? I head to the ATM to get cash, deposit money, etc...when I'm finished the transaction and I have my money: mission accomplished. I got what I went for; however, I still have to get wait for the card. That is unintuitive, and that's why ATM machines have successful eaten both of my ATM cards this past week.

Commute

Every morning at some point in time before I wake up the Wall Street Journal is tossed in front of my door. When I leave work I pick up the paper. On the metro, I attempt to read the paper. Unfortunately, I'm still too distracted by the crazies. I wonder when I just won't notice them anymore.

My new camera came this week. Photos coming soon. It's still hot here, I don't know how I'm going to survive summer next year.

My bed

I spent a week sleeping on the floor. Now I have a bed. I love my bed. My best investment ever. Recently, I've gotten into the habit of misplacing everything: ATM card, iPod, headphones, carrots,.... It makes life difficult. I'm glad that I can't misplace my bed. Some people might be curious to see this.

I can't say that I'm proud.