Shadow Tag

It's that time of year. If I had a dime for every time I've heard that in the last week I think I'd have 5 dimes. The time of year to which I'm referring is that of the Shadow Tag. It's a great game where you stay in the sun as long as necessary. It's perfect to play at this time of year because it's so cold outside and that makes you sad. When you walk inside the heater makes you warm. But when you can feel the sun it warms your heart.

So. Basically. This is how you play: While walking around campus you avoid people's shadows. You can pass through shadows from buildings and trees and you can pass through people's shadows when they are on top of the building/tree shadows but you can't touch other people's shadow's otherwise. This is to maximize your time in the sun and the warmth in your heart.

Warnings: If you take this game seriously then you will end up walking at the oddest speed intervals and in the most zig zag motion depending on where the sun is and which way the shadows are going on your path. You may end up walking on the left side instead of the right, or suddenly stopping or speeding up, or suddenly pivoting. But. All for the sake of staying in the sun. It's worth it.

Not So Benign

This is my life. I prefer the x-axis to the y-axis. I feel emotionally closer to cos than sin and I think tan really just needs to make up its mind about what side he's on and stop appeasing everyone. My favorite numbers 1-10 starting with my most favorite are 4, 2, 1, 7, 8, 10, 9, 6, 5, 3. I generally think 6 is a traitor who got sucked into 5's rhetoric for evil but generally even numbers have a kinder center then odd numbers do. But I'm a huge fan of pi and i. I think forks need to have a reality check and stop being so nosey. We all know the knife and the spoon share some kind of deep brother sister bond, we don't know why. Plates and cups are just passersby. I think these personifications have root in my childhood relationships and certain traumatic experiences I had with the times tables. Am I alone in this? I realize it makes no sense but is there no one in the wide expanse of this world who does the same weird things?

Live Awkwardly

I propose we stop using the word "awkward." I have found in my recent experiences that this word is used entirely too often and means entirely too little. It's become a word that conveys a wide range of feelings and therefore none at all. Plus, what's so bad about awkward? Doesn't it just make life more interesting? It just gets your heart beating a little faster, maybe you get a little red, feel a little thankful for your understanding of social mores. 

Instead of awkward I propose we express our feelings in a more clear and meaningful way. "When you blatantly crush all social norms I feel uncomfortable and afraid for my safety, sanity, and reputation." Or, "I realize you are an adolescent and have not yet learned how to effectively communicate with the opposing gender and I appreciate your efforts but would request that you clear any text messages with your mom before you send them my way."

Oh what a world we would live in if everyone could express their feelings so clearly. Embrace the awkward in us all and live a more full and rich life. Watch others squirm as you nail the situation and brush it off before it even hits the climax.

Double Bubble

Remember way back when you would chew this huge chunk of bubble gum and blow bubbles the size of your head while simultaneously removing all fillings, ruining your braces, and slowly wearing down your jaw? Those were the days. I think we all need to chew more bubble gum. You can really gauge the child inside by the popped bubble shards under their chin. Sick, I know, but a fairly accurate measure. Bubble gum was the largest draw on my income from ages 7 to 10. We couldn't chew gum at school so I would put it in my backpack and whip it out on the bus then pass it around to all the other kids in the back seat. That's right, I rode in the back seat of the bus. Jealous? The coolest bubbles are when you blow one then it pops and as you suck it back in you make another popping noise. Did you know that you can buy 8500 1/2 inch assorted Double Bubble gum balls for the small price of $49? What. A. Deal. Something I'm willing to consider. . .

To The Death

This semester promises to be one of that feeling where you listen to an hour long lecture and leave feeling so confused as if you are trying to grasp the concept of eternity over and over again but really just can't wrap your mind around it. I'm taking my first math class after 4ish years. That should be a great opportunity for growth. And then this other class says I may not understand everything in the reading after the first careful read through. That is, actually, the understatement of the century. It really is. I checked all the other understatements of the century thus far and this one totally wins. Oh how I love sitting with a confused look on my face, on the verge of tears, thinking about any alternative around this course requirement rather then focusing my energy on completing my work. But, this I know, If I do these classes right then I will look back with only fond memories and will recognize the growth I was so blessed to experience. Because these classes will not beat me. I'm super determined. . . Right now anyway.