My inner nostrils are frozen

Among other interesting things.

I am experiencing a strange shift in perception. It was incremental, not altogether foreseen, and I am perhaps slightly sheepish.

Caf food=good.

Now, don't get riled up. There's a lot behind this statement. First of all, this is the only time in my life where guaranteed food, of various varieties, is less than a 5 minute walk from my domicile. Second, I never have to prepare the food myself, which means it never gets burnt, rotten, rancid, or moldy. Third, I pay for the merest fraction of the actual cost, thanks to Coe's hefty endowment.

This philosophy has extended to the rest of campus, where I enjoy convenient computer access, ample heating, a library is just outside my "apartment," three low intensity part time jobs that don't make me go insane, and of course all the deep thoughts whirling through the air. This is a truly odd part of my life.

In other news, the temperature has reached record lows. Literally. This is the coldest Cedar Rapids has been since they started measuring the temperature. Frostbite is a possibility.

Yet we manage to keep our spirits up. Select individuals from 9th floor Murray and associates could be seen romping in the snow last Saturday night, as well as engaging in the making of snow angels and possible allusions to whirling dervishes. At one point, said associates were joined by fellow rompers leaving Peterson Hall. I kid you not, we joined hands in brotherhood and we spun. Semi-heathen rituals have never been so enjoyable.

Rocketships and Masking Tape

I tapped into my inner child this weekend. Select members of 9th floor Murray had an early breakfast of waffles and ice cream before beginning an epic journey of cardboard mastery. I will say our rocketship (The Darling Clementine) was a success, as long as you keep in mind nostalgic memories of childhood architecture. One of the fins, stabilized by cardboard ribs and wishful thinking, succumbed to gravity. The booster however was a resounding success, as well as the cockpit.

This all began when I finished moving in everything that had been dormant for over a year in the Coe College storage facility. It was odd to see what I thought was necessary to save (empty CD cases, scraps of paper, Judy Garland stickers...), and a bit distressing to remember what I had in fact left at home (bedsheets). However, one of the boxes was big enough for 9th floor's rocketship dreams.

Classes are stimulating. My Intro to Political Science class is frightfully large. And I turned in my Turkey application, although I won't hear anything until late March. It's a bit anticlimatic (Whoopee...).

Hardcoreitude

flakes
Today's my first at college. It's been fairly underwhelming. Nothing is all that surprising, except that I don't know anyone. All my friendswere upperclassmen, and they've either graduated or hid themselves away in the apartments. Hell, I don't even know my roommate. She seems nice though. AND has a hello kitty toaster. Which I am allowed to use. Rockin'.

I've already had a memorable day. I went to my old job (its premises anyway) and re-applied. I found out beforehand that the Environmental Club lets students rent out bikes for free. So I took advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the warm January air by a faster mode of transportation than foot. And I could feel superior to all those air-haters in their automobiles. Mom had called me just before and asked me if it was sleeting. I scoffed. "It's gorgeous out mom, you're being ridiculous."

As I wheeled the bike onto 1st Ave however, the sky let loose. Enormous wet flakes whipped my face while I biked the mile over to the URrelay building, feeling even more superior than I did before.

For those who don't know (which is probably pretty much everyone who reads this blog), my New Year's Resolution is to buy nothing new for the entire year. Exceptions are:

* Medicine and Medical Attention (that isn't optional, like Botox)
* Food
* Cleaning supplies (detergent, deoderant, etc)

Everything else, I will just convince myself I don't need or I will shop at second hand stores. The idea is that I stop thinking as a consumer, as well as reducing the carbon trail of most of my goods.

Another recent change is I've become vegetarian. I'm anemic, so I'm not sure how this will work out. I'll probably binge on a steak once I start getting too lethargic. One Marie Hunt has purchased a small grill that can be used in a dorm room, apparently, so we're planning on getting organic steaks when the need arises. She is also cutting back on meat, but for completely different reasons.

Anyway, I'm officially a hippie. Hippie 2.0. Of course, like most suburbian hippies, I'm probably contradicting myself completely without even knowing it (Lattes are a food.....).