two.points.collapsing

the weather here lately had been fantastic. for the past week it’s been noticeably cool instead of boring old perfect like always. still sunny, just cooler, and more autumny, which is so nice after about 6 months of absolutely constant lack of weather variation. i’m liking it a lot and it’s making me more cheerful.

this weekend is parents’ weekend here at school. exciting, i know. my parents live too far away to come (don’t worry mom, this isn’t me saying my parents don’t love me), so really this has no effect on me. except that today in my asian religions class, a girl had brought her mother and father to class, and the three of them were sitting a couple rows in front of me. this allowed me to make a few observations:

1) i could never bring my parents to class with me. it just would not work. even if it was a huge three hundred student lecture class, and they wouldn’t be that noticeable, i still could never do it. what made me think of this specifically was when the girl’s mother, sitting beside her, put her arm around the girl for a minute and sort of squeezed her shoulder. it’s a normal, motherly sort of thing to do, and it was very brief, but seeing that in a classroom setting was somehow very offputting. but even if nothing like this were to happen, i still couldn’t bring my parents to class with me. not to say that i wouldn’t want them to see what my classes and teachers are like, especially the good ones. i think it would be really great for them to experience what my classes are like; but for that to ever happen, i’m afraid my parents would have to learn to become invisible. it’s just the way things have to be.

2) speaking of experiencing the classroom — i don’t think parents know what it’s like to sit through lectures, in a lot of cases. these two certainly didn’t. bear in mind, this is one of the more interesting, attention-holding lecturers i’ve had at this school, not to mention it only being a 50 minute class. after half an hour, the father began looking at his watch pretty regularly, and both of them looked about as restless as any party-recovering college student on a friday morning after a thursday night. i’d like to see one of my parents, or any parent, go through a week of classes — setting aside the fact they might not know what was going on, just assuming they already knew all the prerequisite course material — and see how really unbearable it can be sometimes. maybe it would make them appreciate more that college isn’t always very fun at all.

3) (and this one isn’t quite as lofty as the previous two) parents usually don’t really know how to dress casually and still have any sort of style. i think they get used to dressing business-casual for work purposes, and just give up on the idea of being fully casual but still having any fashion sense. this isn’t a harsh critique; you kind of have to love a dad sitting two rows in front of me with a little “Gear For Sport” insignia on the back of his windbreaker, but honestly, when do you think was the last time this guy played any sport? it’s one of those loveable but baffling things about parents that i’m not looking forward to falling victim to if ever i become one. it sounds judgmental, but don’t hate me. i’m only saying it because it makes me smile, not because i think it’s bad.

the best video ever made is gone. if you missed out, i’m sorry, but it was there for almost two weeks.

but i like the idea of posting stuff i think is especially good, so for now i’m gonna post a song i can’t stop listening to. now it’s somewhat embarrassing to have to admit, but i had never really listened to sunny day real estate, only heard of them as one of those bands i should have already known all about. at least i’m being honest here. but i finally checked them out and although it’s too bad i’ve missed out so far, i decided that this way i get to “discover” this great band out of nowhere and have something new to listen to that blows my mind. this song does that especially lately. of course, most of you probably already have the cd or are over them by now, and that’s fine. i’ll just listen myself and be glad that i’m that much more informed musically — finally.

this rocks my world. new songs new songs new songs. truly exciting.

to compensate for yesterday, i totally owned my marketing midterm today. that test was my little marketing manservant and i abused it properly. so at least one of the two will bring back a good grade. i feel better.

i had to go to the post office today. and boy, do i love the post office. i get to stand in line for a nice long time not just listening to music (i always go equipped with headphones), but seeing a nice collection of people stand around being impatient, not to mention experience the delightful customer relations of the local postal workers. it’s a lot of fun, and luckily average wait time is something like 45 minutes, so the fun just goes on and on! the post office is not without its irony, however, because the one time the television set in the corner was showing batman beyond (exceptional cartoon), i didn’t get to see the end because of the ill-timed availability of a post office teller. it was a riveting episode about the nerd at school who used a large robot bodysuit to get revenge on people that picked on him, hence becoming a bully himself, and i never found out how batman foiled his reign of terror. drat.

today was good though because it wasn’t at all like i said. i only waited for maybe five minutes tops, and all they were showing on the television was news. this way, everybody wins.

i found out from a link at biscuit city road fan club (which is now residing at your left) that if i were a robot from blade runner, i’d be roy batty. i am pleased with this verdict. and slatch is a good blog.

give me more life.

i didn’t do as well as i would have liked on the test today, i’m guessing. we’ll see for sure next week. i’m blaming my poor performance on my roommate beating me twice last night at video games in two separate first-to-eight punch and kick battles. at least today after i came home and told him it was his fault i’m not going to get a good grade, i promptly challenged him to a rematch, winning 8-5 and reclaimed the title. things have a way of evening out like that, it would seem.

now i get to study for ANOTHER midterm for tomorrow, this time in marketing! grand!

tried to post earlier, but the blogger was not available. not to worry, all i was going to post was a short apology that i’d lived such a boring day i had nothing to talk about. gave a couple decent group presentations at school today (i had to wear a tie. although they’re not comfortable, i do feel sexy, so it’s not so bad), and came home. nothing remarkable.

i’m feeling all restless tonight though because i was telling dom and dustin about the absolutely gorgeous girl in my art class, who was in my group presenting, and who sat right in front of me in class, and who i’m insanely crushing on. now i’ve got girl-craziness and i can’t quite get into studying for my finance midterm. i don’t want to sit here in my room doing homework problems, i want to be out and bump into her coincidentally and finally start a conversation with her so i can see what she’s like. because i think i’ve pinpointed what is bad about being single. the potential for exciting new relationships is good, and the freedom is good, but again potentially. the bad thing is not having anyone on whom to focus your efforts, emotionally. if you get in that mood where you want to be around someone you’re interested in, you don’t really have anywhere to turn, unless you’re already in the process of courting someone. otherwise, your only option is to just go out somewhere hoping to meet someone, which i’ve never done and can’t see happening. so what happens is you’re stuck at home all frustrated and restless, like i am now, with nothing you can really do about it.

if you’re not single, this is never a problem because there’s someone out there you can either go see, or at least know is out there and not have to get this frustration of having no leads to pursue. as i see it, the key problem isn’t having no special girl or guy; it’s not having access to any potential girls or guys. and sometimes, that’s all you want. that’s my theory.

of course, maybe this just means i’m not comfortable being single, which some may see as a problem. i’d rather not dwell on that for too long. we’ll come back to that. just chalk it up to a little bout of post-breakup loneliness, maybe. that’s normal, right?

hey, looks like i did have something to talk about.

oh, i had nearly forgotten to remark on the fact that i finished good omens yesterday. what a pleasant read that was. it wasn’t the most moving work of literature, but it was just such a joy to pick up and read. very sharp, and sort of touching. i liked it a whole lot.

now it’s on to about a boy, from the author of high fidelity, nick hornby. based on the first 50 or so pages of this book and having read high fidelity, i’m pretty convinced that this author is the master of making you laugh and breaking your heart in the same story. you might think it’s tricky to do both, and maybe it is, but he sure seems quite capable. i really like it so far. some of the parts about the school boy being taunted by the other kids cut to the core though, so don’t expect too lighthearted a romp. it’s pretty emotional, especially for geeks who can relate.

also: listening to the new end original cd has not diminished my enjoyment of their music. a couple songs i think were better live, and it’s not the best cd i’ve picked up recently, but it is certainly a solid piece of emotional rock and roll with a few soft pretty places in between. i’m listening to it right now. good stuff.

in class right now. the project i finished last monday to turn in this monday is apparently not due until next monday because the rest of the class isn’t as sharp as your captain here. oh well, i’ll take the brownie points for turning it in today; at least it’s done.

why is this the coldest computer lab in the history of the universe? i swear they’re storing embryos in this building somewhere because it’s unbelievably cold in here, and my tee shirt isn’t providing the insulation necessary to keep me from shivering occasionally. and i’m in southern california in the middle of the day, it’s probably like 80 degrees outside. what the hell.

today was filled with homework so i haven’t much to tell, although i have a finished marketing group project and a pretty good paper on jainism vs. hinduism. so that’s good.

this is interesting though, and i forgot to mention it yesterday: i saw bob sagat. yes, i’m serious. tv’s bob saget was on our campus this weekend, discussing scleroderma, a disease his sister died of, at the LA times health and fitness festival held on our school grounds. it was so bizarre, hearing this guy who was on full house talk about a debilitating disease. and he made some sort of inappropriate jokes too. what a weird guy. i also saw tv’s larry king talking to tv’s chuck woolery (host of the love connection) about aneurysms. hot dog! oh, and we’re pretty sure we also saw george carlin driving a ferrari in the lane next to ours on the freeway that same afternoon. i’m not kidding.

what a weird place i live in.

and speaking of weird, i got a postcard from australia from my friend josh. what a great guy! of course, instead of having a neat picture of any of the beautiful or memorable sights from down under, he sends a postcard with a picture of two guys riding camels that says “camels central australia.” on the front. umm… okay. but turn it over to hear about his exciting times down there, at least, and stare again in wonder, because what does the note say? a bunch of stuff about seeing camels in australia.

damn you josh.

but i still have to say, i miss you buddy.

freshly returned from the grocer’s, but you don’t want to hear about that. you’d much rather have me tell you about the new end original concert i went to before i went to get root beer and ice cream at ralph’s. so i’ll indulge you. first there was a band called red light halo which i’d never heard of and who played some songs i really like, until their equipment failed during song 4 and one guitar player was silenced. they had to just give up because he couldn’t figure out what went wrong with his gear. i was sad, they were in the middle of impressing me when that happened.

i must say, i really really enjoyed hearing and seeing new end original play. a colleage said afterward that he though jonah (singer) was arrogant and thought he was so great but wasn’t assertive enough to make you believe it. i thought the opposite. i get the impression he’s the most earnest, sweetest guy to play in a band in front of a crowd. he does the whole, “i’m sensitive and i love you guys for wanting to hear me play” thing that stupid dashboard guy does, but from jonah i believe it and it makes me happy. and the songs were good, because he has a fantastic voice, and writes interesting, pretty songs, and the band really knows how to rock when it comes down to it. a good mix of soft and touching with aggressive and pounding that hit the spot for me. i hope listening to the cd, which i bought at the show, is equally satisfying.

now i have to put forth a theory. the last few indie rock type shows i’ve gone to, as i’m looking over the crowd around me, i tend to notice attractive indie girls. it seems to me, though, that all the girls at these shows either are with a) their boyfriend, making them unavailable to me, or b) in a group of other girls that are putting off the definite girls-only, not-interested-in-anyone vibe. so does that mean that all the cute indie rock girls are either taken or don’t want to be? i keep hoping i’ll meet some great girl at a show and it’ll be perfect, because i’ll already have the head-start of knowing she was cool enough to want to see that band and we have similar music tastes, but that wish has never ever been anywhere close to coming to fruition. it’s sort of depressing.

at least the band are usually really good; i’m not pathetic, i swear.