So I'm a little annoyed they removed the word damn from my final column and printed darn in its place. I don't say darn. I just want all of you to know that. Anyway. I bought a camera the other day. Birthday present. Sorta. Christmas too. But it's cool. Anyway, the weekend is over. I'm going to valley thrift since I haven't been all semester then I'm going to begin work. Yuk.

- posted by alec @ Saturday, November 23, 2002

 
I think I developed a nice soup recipe. I've been making it quite a bit. Tomatoes, tuna, broth, beer, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, onion and olive oil. And some chili pepper to spice it up. Anyway. That ties in to my new column. Because it's really cold. Check it out:
Although leaving Miami this coming May means my parent-funded, collegiate utopia is about to come crashing down around me like a ton of bricks, there are a few things I certainly won’t miss.
Like finals on Fridays or Spanish class. But there’s this one thing in particular that sticks out just a little more than the rest:
This bitter ass wind has simply got to go, man.
I mean, I’m from Indiana, so it’s not like I’ve been ambushed by the fact frigid fingers of wind were going to sneak through my polartec and chill me into an extended state of foul disposition. I know it’s coming every year, so you’d think I’d be a little more tempered – prepared to finally make my peace with the wind chill factor.
No way, man, this stuff still sucks.
And if you’re like me, you probably live in a crappy apartment whose builders decided to cut every insulation corner permitted under the law. Right now there is a fuzzy frost building up around the corner of my window. Last time I checked it was still November.
Honestly ... this just isn’t fair.
If I turn down the stereo a notch and listen close … no, strike that. The wind whipping through my room is way louder than the DJ Shadow disc I’m blaring.
Great.
What’s even worse is that I live with a bunch of guys who for some odd reason don’t see this predicament as being incredibly important. They actually seem to like keeping the place chilled to sub-zero conditions. One of them actually made it a frequent practice to leave the window open when it was snowing last winter.
(Author shivers violently at memory)
Who really likes being cold? Be honest, now. I mean, every year, without fail, I hear all these kids around campus talking about how they just can’t wait for it to snow.
Oh please. I know you all hate it as much as I do. Don’t lie.
With snow comes misery, people. Haven’t you ever watched the news in January? Cars slide off roads, skiing accidents abound and colleges never have snow days!
And my fingers are freezing. I hate that.
See, look what the cold has done to me. I’m in a bad mood again.
I know I should probably just put on that extra sweater and suck it up. I know I’m blowing this way out of proportion. I know I should have chosen a toasty little college in the Bahamas.
But I guess I’ve resigned to just deal with it again this year. I suppose I’ll try and make the best of it. Embrace the sterile, deadness of the falling thermometer.
Hello wintry weather, it’s so nice to see you again. Just kidding, I still hate you.

- posted by alec @ Tuesday, November 19, 2002

 
DJ SHADOW!!! Man, I always knew I loved him, but that show was simply amazing. I've seen a few good shows this year, actually. He was just outstanding, though. Nice guy, amazing skill, incredible sound. Anyway, thanks to Shiv for hookin' us up with the tickets. OK, I've gotta go check on my simmerin' soup and read the shipping news.
- posted by alec @ Monday, November 18, 2002

 
Damnit. I just wrote a bunch of stuff, but the browser shut down and I lost it. Neko Case. She's pretty good if you're into alt-country. Anyway, I was saying that although I want to go to law school - I'm not totally sure I can get in this time around. So the other day I was asking my professor what he thought I might do it that fell through. He knows me pretty well, knows what I'm good at, whereI'm likely to have success. Anyway, he said he has a bunch of friends in San Diego and could help me get a job out there pretty easily. I did some research on San Diego and it's about the coolest damn city in the US. So anyway, I have a pretty decent option in that if law falls through this year. I do want to go, though, so I'll keep on plugging away at that option. Maybe I could go while I'm out there. Who knows. I never know what I'm doing. Anyway, I'm off to talk in Alrutz's class.
- posted by alec @ Friday, November 15, 2002

 
Long night at the paper. I think it'll be a good one though. I need to sleep.
- posted by alec @ Thursday, November 14, 2002

 
I'm not sure if this one will make it into the paper tomorrow, but if not, you all still get to read it. Some confustion with my editors. Anyway, it's not the best, but hey, it's just sort of what's going on in alec's life. Oh well.
Is it just me, or is school getting progressively uninspiring as the semester slowly deteriorates? I don’t know about you, but these days, I can barely bring myself to glance at the computer unless e-mail or ebay is somehow involved. And books? Oh, man, I nearly retch at the thought.
I think I’m just really bored.
I mean, it’s not like I don’t have 3.5 million things to do, it’s just that none of them seem very interesting any more. I really can’t explain the phenomenon.
I’m in a bunch of classes that should be inspiring. I’m currently working my butt off in courses that are supposedly putting the final, polishing touches on my first-rate educational experience.
Yet somehow sitting on the couch and trying to figure out why I have four remote controllers for one television still seems like a much better way to utilize my time.
Perhaps an example will further illustrate my dilemma. Let’s take for instance the group meeting I’m getting ready to attend at lovely King Library this gloomy Sunday night. We’re going to talk about the current marketing strategies employed by Secret deodorant and prospective advertising tactics that could potentially make it a stronger product in the future.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Now the project I speak of is no doubt an incredibly useful example of the real-world problems I’ll be dealing with next year in my post-Miami existence – let’s make no mistake.
I’m just not really feeling it this semester.
It could just be that I’m a senior and my real life is rapidly rushing toward me. That’s what most people say when I mention the lackluster academic year, anyway.
They’re probably right.
The real world and I are about to be in one serious head-on collision and honestly, things aren’t looking all that pretty. I still don’t know what the hell I’m going to be doing one year from now and for some reason, figuring this out seems a little more pressing than reading White Noise for a fourth time.
Call me crazy.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I really can’t pin the blame on anyone but myself, though. Trust me, I’ve tried to push this one off on everyone … but all signs still point to yours truly.
I guess I just need to quit thinking about it so much. Instead of tuning out the lecture on coupon distribution strategies (it really was pretty interesting, no lie) in order to think about applications, resumes and personal statements, I should just relax and enjoy this stuff.
After all, school is a pretty good time. It’s not always the most interesting thing in the world, but you might as well enjoy it while you’re here.
So I promise I’ll try and stave my penchant for boredom and stay focused. I really am committed to finishing off the education I’ve worked diligently toward for more than three years.
Just not this afternoon. Tomorrow. I promise. I’ll do it tomorrow. Really.


- posted by alec @ Monday, November 11, 2002

 
Oh man. This one goes out to Shiv, Laura, Bo, Bean, Vincent, Mark, Terry, Amusement and the whole crew over at Miami Commons. Nice one.
- posted by alec @ Sunday, November 10, 2002

 
So this jackass broke into our house last night and destroyed AJ's room. Smashed all his pictures off the wall, stole his digital camera, his keys and some other crap. Then he poured condiments all over his sheets. Yeah, now he won't admit he did it even though we know it was him. What a night. I'm out in the streets.
- posted by alec @ Saturday, November 09, 2002

 
OK, so I was a little late. I got busy this morning doing stuff for my class. I had a quiz! Geez. Anyway, I think I'll go out and play tonight. I've had a longish week and next week will only get more busy. Walters is over, though. Looks like AJ is out of order. Marky is in Iowa mockin' it. Matt. I think Matty is done with his O Chem test. He'll want to hang out. Oh, and maybe Lopez. He has to work all weekend, so he'll want to go out tonight. Sarah is at work. Hmmm. Isn't it funny how I'm going over options for the night on my blogger? AJ and Lynds are watching Changing Lanes. And it's really loud. Anyway, I'm hungry. Talk to you later.
- posted by alec @ Thursday, November 07, 2002

 
Man, I haven't written in forever! I'm sorry to all my throngs of readers. Anyway, I've been gone for quite some time. I was in Orlando all last week and didn't get back until Sunday night, so I guess I have an excuse. We just finished up the paper for the night. Pretty raunchy. Mom won't be happy with this one. Oh well, it happens. I do it all for the people. The thousands of adoring fans the Amusement has generated over the years ... I mean. Yeah, whatever. If people don't read that much, that's fine. I really do think we have a much greater readership this year, however. Our stuff has gotten a great deal funnier over the years and I really only think it will continue to get better. Anyway, it looks like I'm not going to be called back in tonight, so I can just call it an evening! I promise I'll try to write more. Like tomorrow morning before my two. OK, enough. G'night.
- posted by alec @ Thursday, November 07, 2002