The Way I See It # 405

I feel compelled to write.
But I'm not going to write about the election, or those Polly pessimists, or the fact that a lot of people don't even know Obama's policies... or that I've just experienced a life-changing historical moment, or anything like that. I feel as though there isn't much to say that hasn't already been said.

But like I said, I have this itching in my finger tips to make a connection with my key board, and where else am I going to satisfy the urge? I'm left with an empty night due to the fact that my Urban Planning Professor canceled class 15 minutes prior.... so I'm at commons trying to keep myself occupied until I get hungry or decide to walk home in the drizzle.

A couple entries ago I noted the fact that I feel like I am in a powerful position, and I'm determined to keep my life following this track. I sometimes feel invincible, and I don't want it to end. I think I've finally realized that I have the "ball in my court" so to speak, and the world is my oyster. Really, nothing can go wrong. It's almost as if just as this country is on the brink of change, so am I. I would like to think in a romantic sense that my life is in tandem with the state of the world.... ripe for change.... eager for new experiences... but I fear this may be jumping the gun (something I'm always afraid of doing.)

I feel as thought flats make my feet look dainty.
Is this weird?
I'm staring at my feet, and I've noticed that I particularly like the way they look in skimmers, such as the ones I am wearing.

OH.
Before I headed over to Urban Planning, I was attending a lecture on Paleopathology (The study of disease in ancient times) and Peruvian Mummies. Really interesting stuff, but it was entirely too biological. However, as I have finally (FINALLY!) declared my major as Anthropology, I can get started on my World Studies Passport, which is this little doo-hicky that I need to have completed before I graduate. I essentially have to go to lectures and seminars and learn things that are really cool, and then have proof that I went and had a rockin' time.

hmmm....
maybe I should eat before it gets too late.
I was talking to Sarah Waks today and we both agreed that it feels incredibly depressing and lonely to realize that you don't have anyone to go to shafer with. Isn't that the saddest? While I fully appreciate flying solo at Shafer during the day, there's just something about when night falls that makes me want to feel...... interactive with other people. I just shudder at the thought of eating alone at night. I mean, I experience this at home when I eat there, but somehow at Shafer it is different. Probably because I'm not eating left-overs while laying in bed watching The Girls Next Door.

I think Shafer should install beds.

Wait... No. I take that back.
---------

I applied for a YAAB! A YAAB! (job).
I'm trying to be an Apple Campus Representative at VCU.
Here's why:
1. It's awesome.
2. It pays well
3. I can get a free mac book out of the deal
4. I get more experience in sales! :)

I think I have it in the bag, which is good because this means that if I get the job.... I might not have to work at Tysons over winter break, and that's oh-so appealing to me right now. Resto. I love you to pieces, but I'm scared that all the people I worked with won't be back (they would be insane to be there...), and that I'll kill myself with the winter crowd. Summer I may return.... but then again the Mac position is a full year job....so.... mabes not! :D

Having a job over next semester will be good too because I can actually amass money to start a savings account. All my talk of getting into the market (well... that's pretty much gone now) and I don't even have the safest form of investment!

ALSO:

More money would mean that I would have a surplus, which is good because I really want to move in to the apartment next to mine. The girl that lives there is a senior, and I met her last night. She's awesome. And her apartment is a dream. A REAL DREAM. I can't believe how nice it is. The only problems with it are noise from the garbage guys in the morning, and the bartender who lives behind her.

With the extra money I'd cough up the difference in rent ($875) to live there. So I'd pay 225 a month.... hmmmm...

At least I'd be able to entertain!
Maybe I'll just ask my landlord for a new stove?

The Way I See It # 398

My GOD Urban planning, you are ruining my life!

I've been in the library all morning, it is now 2 0' clock, and I'm not even done with this chapter! I'll have to resume my studies after Linguistics. I am famished, and will venture out into the cold to find food.


Winter is coming.

The Way I See It # 397

An Urban Observation:


When someone asks me where I live they are usually very surprised. My usual answer is “The 900 block of W. Franklin St.” Their surprise is not rooted in the safety or general “word on the street” about W. Franklin St, as it’s actually a safe and welcoming block, but instead it is rooted in the fact that most wouldn’t peg the 900 block as a residential street. Virginia Commonwealth University has purchased most of the old Victorian real estate on W. Franklin and turned the charming town houses into administrative buildings for the University. The President’s House is on my block, which I like to think gives my own address some sort of regality (even if it doesn’t), and my very own address is across from the Wilder School of Political Science and two doors down from the Buford House (Art History). This juxtaposition of the few residences that have invaded the block and the University buildings creates an aura of collegiate academia—one that I am happy to live amongst.
It’s 4:00 PM on the 900 block, and due to the blistery cold weather, not many people are outside. On a sunny day people can be seen strolling down the sidewalk under the line of trees. Many people walk their dogs toward the dog park up N. Harrison, and more so are there students walking to class. W. Franklin is one of the few side streets of the VCU campus among which students frequently utilize to get to class. But for right now, there aren’t many people about (reasons for this include the weather, and perhaps for the lateness in the day), and the street is predominantly empty.
At one end of the 900 block runs Shafer St., and on its corner is the Chesterfield apartment building, which holds a wonderful restaurant, Cous Cous, and also one of two VCU bookstores. Now it is apparent that the 900 Block of W. Franklin has bee utilized by different types of building zones: restaurant, retailer, administrative buildings, and actual residences. All of these different zones provide an inviting feeling when one steps onto the block, and it feels almost as though you have everything you really need at an arm’s reach.
Perhaps what is more responsible for the inviting feeling one gets from living and walking here is the Victorian charm of the architecture that is prevalent on W. Franklin St. I myself live in the downstairs parlor of one of the Victorian homes that nestles up to W. Franklin and it’s odd to think that at one time whole families rather than apartment dwellers such as myself used these homes. In fact, this very Victorian architecture that is seen on W. Franklin is one of the many things that draws VCU students to attend the University. The charm of these large, elaborately decorated homes adds a sense of sophistication and wonder to those who live and work here.
As for neighborly interaction, normally when it’s cold outside I don’t see much of anyone. However, when the weather is warm, it is not unusual to see a gaggle of people on every stoop down the block, talking academics, “I don’t understand why my students in Art history 103 aren’t getting the concept of the Golden Rule!” (at Buford House), or talking about anything in general. The neighbors are jovial and in good spirits when the weather is up, and it’s just as common to see people from the street join in their conversation, and even make their way up onto the stoops. However, due to this cold, windy, weather, most people are walking fast and trying to get home or to class. All kinds of people interact on W. Franklin, whether it be professors heading to office hours, bike kids making their way across town, VCU students, workmen working on restoring the buildings, or just regular inhabitants of the block, everyone and everything seems to mesh together quite nicely. I personally couldn’t imagine a better place to work or live.

The Way I See It # 393

Girl what you do what you do what you do what you do is amazing!
You got me watchin' you girl what you do is amazing!
Do what you do what you do is amazing!
You are the truth
The truth hurts


So I'm pissed about my Urban Planning Midterm. What's wrong with paper tests? I know all of you "green" people give a shit, but honestly.... at least this technology isn't dependable, obviously!

I'm just mad because when I checked back to see if I could get into the test, I was able to, but I was already past the 3 hour time limit (and my teacher knocks off a point for every minute you go over!).

Let's all let out a long guttural moan.


But other than that all I have to worry about is my French midterm tomorrow, and then my week will be over. Thank goodness. This has been really rough!

The Way I See It # 332

I'm back in the library, and it feels so nostalgic, I have to admit. Like the blogger I am, I have Starbucks in hand, and am feeling thoughtful. If I can remember, there was always something about Cabell that made me feel insightful, studious, and even a bit inventive. Maybe that's the academic that I know I am.... maybe I just belong in an institution such as this. I just got out of my Linguistics class, and ducked out of the rain for a bit before my Urban Planning course at 7:00. For linguistics homework I had a reading about the sexual bias in language- importantly on Neutral pronouns that aren't. it discussed the common usage of "he", "his", and "man" as neutral pronouns, used to indicate a neutral party. By using these words people are more likely to think of men, rather than women, and it is a sexual bias to use such pronouns instead of ones that are actually nuetral, such as "s/he", "he or she", and "they". I really enjoyed reading the article, but when I got to class today I was disappointed by the class discussion. People either seemed to relish coming off as "intellectual" by second guessing our professor's points, or they sat confused and contested whether or not his points were really making sense to anyone. Well, they were! I got everything fine, and so did a few people, but the ones who spoke the most only made our professor confused, and he appeared to be a complete push over. The class discussion quickly was out of his hands and there were so many tangents, even I couldn't keep up. I hope our next discussion isn't anything like that, I was so frustrated.

I went down to the Commonwealth Times to see if I could nab a spot as a staff writer. Turns out they never got my application, and they aren't hiring at the moment because they don't know their budget. Anyway, the Opinion editor said that I could send in articles that I write, but that she couldn't guarantee that they would run. The only requirement for the articles that I send in is that it has to be factual, and I just can't make up things to write about. It wasn't the visit I was hoping for. I hoping to have an interview with the editor in chief, talk about my experience as a writer, tell him what I was hoping to write about, and see where it went from there. Now all I can do is hope I can catch "Greg" who runs the whole place and see if he will hire me onto the staff, or send in opinion articles and see if they get published.

maybe one thing I would really like to do would be to write a blog about VCU. Maybe not just about me personally, but where people go, post pictures of parties, review restaurants close by, do articles about student activities, the Art community.

There was always that possibility for a "sister-blog" at VCU for the blog my sister Christina wants to start up.... I wonder if she's done anything with that...

I'm thinking about getting a sandwich from Starbucks, as I don't want to go to Shafer because of the rain. That's kind of silly, but Starbucks sandwiches are actually kind of tasty. By the time I get out of Urban Planning it wil be 10, and all I'm going to want to do is go home and do my paper about scientists and such for physics..... which, actually, i could be doing now.


I guess I'll get to it then....