Hey everyone. Again, sorry about the lack of updates. It's column time again, however, so here I am. I can't imagine mom will like this one very much. But then, I thought she would have hated the last one. Anyway, I have a ton more to do this afternoon, so here it is:

Suffice it to say, I've burned a few bridges in my day. I was discussing this tendency of mine to alienate with a friend the other day and we collectively realized the expanse of broken and uncomfortable relationships we've cultivated during our three and a half years as Miamians.
It's really pretty sad.
I mean, it's not that I'm just a total jerk all the time and thrive on developing additional dysfunction and stress in my life. I really don't. It's just that when you're a dumb college kid doing a host of dumb things at every possible opportunity, you tend to annoy some people in the process.
I guess what I'm really trying to say is that it's getting harder and harder to find someplace to hang out these days.
I know, I know, I should just suck it up and got to my typical haunts and deal with the discomfort. I should belly up to my favorite watering holes and damn the evil stares I'm reeling in from every nook an cranny.
But I just can't, man.
I'm non confrontational by nature and all this negativity that seems to engulf me like a black cloud before I can even dig out my two forms is just getting a bit old. I've tried hitting up nearly every bar in this town to see if I could shake the ill will marathon, but I found I'm usually annoyed by them for a whole list of other reasons. Too many first-years, too many Greeks, too many jam bands, too many places serving shots in little plastic condiment cups (boy that gets my goat)!
I'm thinking I might just give up.
In fact, last weekend I did. And you know what? The results were amazing.
First and foremost, I saved a ton of cash. Rather than getting a tummy full of fat boy beer up at Steinkeller, I stayed home and split a bottle of cheap red wine. Just a hint of warmth for another cold ass night.
And you know how sometimes when a person asks if you've seen some classic movie and you've only heard your buddies talk about it but you say you caught the tail end of it just so you won't sound stupid? Yeah, well, I don't have to do that as much anymore because I had time to catch a bunch of flicks I needed to see in order to promote healthy conversation in the future.
And you know what is slightly more fun than watching that dude from your sophomore IDS class puke all over the bar at Skippers?
Calling your first-year dorm room (and whoever else's you're with) and asking them to decide what movie you should watch. We usually do best out of three just in case someone gets a dork without a sense of humor. What'll it be tonight, friend, Captain Ron or Y Tu Mama Tambien?
So I suppose the moral of this story is don't alienate everyone you hang out with, kids, because by the time your a senior and looking to have a disorderly good time uptown, you might just be stuck chillin' at home with a stack of old DVDs.
Man, I'm lame.
- posted by alec @ Monday, January 27, 2003

 
So I'm heading up to the paper. Man, this thing is starting to get to me. I know, I know. I love the paper and it's always a blast once I'm there, it's just the motivation to get up there and know I'm going to have to slave in front of those old screens till 12:30 in the morn. I am excited, however, about our new printer and the INCREDIBLE increase in quality. Our images are so sharp now. I'm so excited. And we are done early. We have to be. Or the paper does not happen. These new guys are pretty cool, but they're a bigger outfit and they don't have time for my bumbling. Anyway, I'll be done early and that's a huge bonus. So I smell so good right now. Thanks to my sister buying me that Marc Jacobs for Christmas, I'm prettier than a damn rose. To the paper cave ...
- posted by alec @ Wednesday, January 22, 2003

 
Last night was fuuuun. Tonight's gonna be fuuuuun. Golden Globes! I'm such a geek.
- posted by alec @ Sunday, January 19, 2003

 
I really don't have much to write about other than I'm pretty cold and slightly annoyed with my professors. I mean, it's not that I don't mind having class called off for the day. I love it when that happens. But when I come to campus and walk to the other side of the universe in teh cold, I expect the class to be interesting ... and at the very least, in existance. But not today. Oh no. Anyway, not that big a deal, I got some stuff done that I would have put off otherwise. Anway, I had a ball last night. Honestly, I hated First Fun, but the company was excellent. OK, I think I might cook a turkey or something.
- posted by alec @ Tuesday, January 14, 2003

 
I had a long weekend. I was pretty upset about several things (none of which I'll explain here), but I talked to someone who is fantastically important to me and I feel much better. I'm sure you don't read this thing, but thank you anyway. So I'm feeling slightly more chipper today and I'm very appreciative. My capstone this morning decided to cancel friday classes. I mean, hello! That's amazing news. I have a three day weekend - every weekend. You know, lots of people have experienced this schedule for years, but this is my first crack at it - so shut up. Anyway, the other things that might have turned the emotional tide for me began with my sister getting in to the house she wanted at Butler. Now, those of you who know me, know I hate the greek system. With a passion. But I have a slightly different opinion in regard to Butler - and my sister. I know she's going to love it and it will make her love Butler even more. Way to go Al - you'll have to reteach me all those Theta songs Mom taught us when we were little. The other reason I feel significantly better is actually quite silly. But it's not. I (thanks to one huge stud) now have the new Massive Attack disc that I've been waiting for since Mezzanine came out in 1998. Hello. That's like the best thing that has happend to me musically in a VERY long time. I've had it in my changer for less than 24 hours, but here's my initial response. Pure beauty with a deep, dark ghetto beat. Just what I would expect from Mr. DelNaja and company. To quote a friend "This is the soundtrack to our next five months." To say the least.
- posted by alec @ Monday, January 13, 2003

 
I'm not in a very good mood.
- posted by alec @ Saturday, January 11, 2003

 
Hey everyone. Time for column season again. Here is the unedited Friday edition:

Now it could just be that I’m a huge dork, but I just can’t help getting a little excited about the start of a new semester. I mean, really, just think about all the fun things that come with the berth of a fresh academic calendar in a beautiful little college town! There are new courses, new books, new classmates, new professors, new homework, new headaches, new sleepless nights, new annoying bastard in the back of the room who won’t quit coughing all the damn time (I swear, if he coughs once more), new … wait.
Oh, my bad, new semesters suck.
See, I really do look forward to the coming semester, but it’s only because I’m too stupid to remember what it actually entails. All I really think about is the new scenery and I’m dumbly enticed by the unknown. Everything always seems like it could/should/will be better in the new semester but we all know that’s just a farce.
The work still piles up the first day, the classes still get insanely annoying two weeks in and that punk in the back of the room …
Remember when the first day back to school really was fun? Well, maybe it wasn’t ever for any of you, but at my Midwestern, public high school, oh man, the first day was a slacker’s paradise.
Everyone came in all rowdy and full of stories from break and the teachers didn’t ever have the energy to tell you to shut up. So you just didn’t. You didn’t do much of anything.
It was so beautiful.
But of course that time-honored tradition of initial academic sloth just couldn’t be carried over into college! Certainly not! Here in big kid school we have to read lots of books and write important papers on the first day!
And quite possibly the most aggravating aspect of a burgeoning semester is the drastically altered schedule I’ll now be forced to follow.
My internal timepiece is totally screwed. When does Bob Barker come on? What time does that bus come by here? Do I have class at seven tonight? How long have I been sitting here? I don’t know, man, I just don’t know.
I’m craving my old routine like some sort of junkie. Can’t I just do my Monday and Wednesday classes from last semester for a few more days. Please. Just once. Please. I totally had that one down pat. Please.
You know I’m just kidding about all this stuff … to an extent. The first few days aren’t really as bad as the picture I’ve painted.
I mean, some classes don’t really get annoying until the second week.

- posted by alec @ Wednesday, January 08, 2003

 
I'm back Oxford. You know, this place ain't all that bad. I mean, I guess I'm just trying to say I may miss little old Oxford a smidge when I'm out next semester. Well, more than a smidge. It's pretty damned annoying in this town sometimes, but yeah, I'll miss some things. So I'm a little hungry. I'm holding out on the grocery. I bought some bread tonight though. That should do me well for a few days. After break though, it might not hurt me to skip a meal here and there. My POL class was cool as hell tonight. I think my professor is a real badass. Anyway, I might go make some toast. No. I won't. I'll just go watch our big ol' television. Night.
- posted by alec @ Monday, January 06, 2003