My suitemate walked into my room two days ago, or maybe three, doesn’t matter - time flies when you’re me. (yeah, yeah… I know that’s not the exact saying… and I realize this new saying contains a fundamental flaw: you are not me. but don’t we all wish we could be. actually, I can be me, so technically that doesn’t apply to me…only to you. Understand? good.)

Now, where were we? ahh yes…

My suitemate walked into my room an unknown number of days ago and says, “Hey do you guys wanna go to the Spurs game? I have four tickets."

ummm yes, very much yes.

Turns out her aunt, or grandma, or some awesome family member has season passes they weren’t going to use, so they gave the tickets to us! My roommate, my suitemates and I left around 5 pm and went to Panera for dinner that evening. (my new favorite place, by the way, and also a potentially great study location) Then, we trekked over to the AT&T Center for the game.

In the car, I cursed myself for forgetting to bring binoculars. It's usually really hard to see the players from the college-student priced sections. (...oh how little I knew.) We were walking over to the main entrance, when my suitemates began veering left. My roomie and I are like, “Guys, entrance…that way," pointing toward the huge mob of people lining up to get into the game. But our lovely suitemates said, “No, we go in over here," pointing to the scary looking bouncers outside a more discrete entrance.

I don’t think the realization hit me until we had walked down a very long tunnel with flashy Spurs photographs and into the sleek restaurant/mezzanine/bar/TV/lounge area…we were VIPs. holla! I happily withdrew my I-forgot-binoculars curse, as we settled into our seats 15 rows up from the mid-court line, and our waiter, Hunter, asked us if he could get us anything from the menu. (of course there was a menu, we were VIPs, and VIPs need food and water. fact of life people.) The Spurs ended up losing to the New Orleans Hornets…sad day, but oh well, the whole experience was wicked awesome!

YOU: Wow, that is such a great story, but how can I be sure you aren't lying to me?
ME: Good question. How about some proof.

Me, pointing at my suitemate with the amazing ticket hookups.

Me, pointing at the court, 15 rows away.

Me, lounging in the restaurant/mezzanine/bar/TV/lounge area...yeah, yeah, yeah, so I took a few pictures of myself...

My roommate and the other equally awesome suitemate.

Tony Parker shooting a free throw as Tim Duncan looks on wistfully....okay maybe not wistfully but the point is he's in the picture.

YOU: Wow, I will never doubt you again.
ME: I appreciate that.

So, long story short:
Dinner at Panera. VIP at Spurs game. Spurs lost. Didn’t matter. My suitemates are awesome. bam! end of story.

that is all.
maddster

Posted by Maddy at 12:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Okay, so I want to take a quick moment to brag about someone other than myself.

wait don't go away!

oh good you're still here. I know this is a change of pace, but stick with me for a sec.

Here's a little known fact about one of my fellow bloggers:
Mark (if I could say his last name right here, this sentence would sound so much cooler) is a playwright! He wrote Broadway Review this year, and it rocked!

I reserved tickets for opening night - my friends and I sat in row H amidst the packed Stieren Theatre. The singing and acting was great as usual, AND the student-written script was fantastic! Broadway Review blew the pants off everyone - seriously, the entire audience was sitting there naked. okay, so maybe not... but for real, we were either singing along to the musical numbers, or cracking up at the script’s constant stream of brilliance! So, ladies and gentleman, this is an official congrats and thank you to Mark, a fellow blogger and talented playwright.

Congrats!
Thank You for a great show!

that is all.
madaroni

Posted by Maddy at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's add/drop week. A time for frenzied planning, and for making decisions that will have permanent ramifications on your future.* …and for begging the professors of your wait-listed classes to please, please, please let you in. (because i am a good student, who contributes in class, and would really benefit from knowledge gained in MUSC 1346-1.)

*not true

In honor of add/drop, I wanted to throw out some advice. So, dust off that old baseball/softball glove (we're gender inclusive here at Trinity) and get ready to catch this tidal wave of knowledge that, if used appropriately, will never leave you out to dry, up a creek without a paddle, or “Just Around the Riverbend":
(i apologize for the sentence above. when you are a master of the written word, you find it nearly impossible to suppress the unremitting geyser of intellectual expression that animates your privileged understanding.)

anywho.

The funny thing about college…well, one of the many funny things about college is that the world feeds students contradicting messages regarding when you are supposed to have it all figured out…you know, your classes, your schedule, your major, your career, your life, your future.

Some say you have as long as you need. Many of our parents still don’t know what they want to be when they grow up, so for goodness sake take your time. You don’t have to pick a career in college.

Others complain about students’ indecisiveness and lack of dedication. These are the folks who tell college kids to declare their major as soon as possible, to prepare for the future, where real life is not all fun and games.

These messages are straight-up wrong.

(Disclaimer: the views expressed here represent one student’s extensive research and experience on the subject matter, and are not necessarily true for every circumstance no matter how qualified, reputable, intelligent, and attractive the author of such views may be.)

Here’s the bottom line: In college you don’t have to decide exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life. You should just try to find out what you are interested in. Major in the department you are most fascinated by. …and it may or may not have something to do with your eventual career.

Moms and Dads, by a show of hands tell me how many of you out there are still pursing the profession you chose when you were 20 years old?
(okay, i hope you didn’t actually raise your hands because i can’t see you. i apologize for tricking you; i understand you baby boomers harbor a certain resentment against your technologically advanced children in this computer age. but we can’t help it if we are smarter, faster, prettier. however, that is beside the point… actually it’s nowhere near the point, but it needed to be said.)

now, back to the point…
My advice to students: Take the common curriculum or basic requirement courses until you have an idea of what sparks your interest. Then check out the requirements for the major in that department. If your still interested…bam! There’s your major. (not your career, not you life, not your future. It’s just a start.)
Experience can tell you that it’s really easy to fall to the unnecessary pressure of having to make a premature decision. I have taken a lot of classes in pursuit of a major I wasn’t interested in, so I changed my mind (and my major).
In summary…
1. Don’t officially declare a major until you have to.
2. When you do, make sure it’s interesting.
3. Finally, don’t be afraid to change your mind.

YOU: Why should I listen to this kid?
ME: Because I have a confession to make: Yesterday, I dropped my business major, and, being a second semester Junior, I kind of freaked out…but now, I can take the classes I really enjoy - classes that I would have missed out on.
YOU (slightly confused expression): …
ME: And because I am an all-knowing genius.
YOU (completely satisfied, appreciative, and subservient expression): Thank you so very much!
ME: You are welcome.

that is all.
madoutofmymind

Posted by Maddy at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Trinity has a three-year living requirement. In other words, you get to/have to live on campus for three years, before you have to/get to move off campus. What does this mean? Well… most likely you will return to the parental unit’s base camp for Spring, Summer, and Fall breaks through your third year at Trinity. Many students moan and groan about having to live on campus, while others find it quite fun and convenient. It really depends on your personal preference. My view on the subject, and the only one that matters here, is as follows: my extended on-campus existence has been the perfect excuse to live with a handful of my closest friends, within walking distance of classes and food, right down the hall from a 24 hour laundry mat that takes Tigerbucks. What more could you ask for? Actually, a Starbucks in the third floor study lounge would be a nice addition…i should pitch the idea, i’m pretty sure Starbucks would seriously consider it.

Anyway, returning to base camp… Most college students end up living with the rents for a few days on and off throughout their college career. So, hold off on that teenage rebellion thing for another year or three, you still need those two renegades and their resources. Now, i’ll be honest, i know it's not all Christmas carols, lollypops, and smiling faces for everyone. Returning to the scene of the crime, going behind enemy lines, stealing candy from a baby (okay so that one doesn’t fit, but the idea is there) can be a dangerous and frightening enterprise.

but i’m gonna have to let you figure that one out on your own…

i have a wicked awesome family, that lives on a wicked awesome farm, so i don’t have to worry. good luck to those who don’t have rockin’ parents though, let me know how it goes. (actually don’t. i’m not really interested. but if it makes you feel better you should type out your emotions in a email addressed to me. just make sure you don’t hit the send button. or the save button for that matter) (your welcome.)

Anywho, here’s what I was doing during the hectic holiday hoopla…
first I get home and unpack:

the female parental unit obtains a photograph as evidence of the event

then I do a little relaxing on the couch with my favorite peeps:

again, parental unit is compelled to record my activities in visual format

followed by some quality downtime:

documentation persists…need i say more?

finally i modified my location, yet my state of relaxation remained wholly intact:

(yep… rockin’ rents, a wicked awesome farm, and horses…what more could you ask for? actually, a Starbucks could squeeze into the bedroom my brother occasionally occupies.)
if you haven’t noticed, when those little college babies come home, the documentation of their activity never stops. Get used to it. It means they like you. and that is good.
although, i think it’d be simpler if my mom had the interior of our house set up with security cameras so she can retire the digital camera and still capture all of those Kodak moments. Better yet, my brother and i should just offer to strap camera-helmets to our heads, record every moment, and send real-time updates to a pda Mom can keep in her gigantic mom-purse.

(get ready, here’s a really great transition)

Speaking of cameras, filmmaking was one truly exciting endeavor an old buddy, Natalie, and I pursued this winter break. (nice transition, right? i know: when i’m good, i’m good.) It’s a trailer to a horror film called Silent Night: A Christmas Story. It’ll change your life. Here’s the youtube url, you should probably check it out right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbvTdGVWphQ

note to all film scholars, all potential/future bosses using my college blog as a basis for construction of a background analysis on my suitability for future employment, and/or the E! True Hollywood Story creators: please disregard our blatant violations of the 180-degree rule, our discontinuity in lighting, our all-but-professional sound design and the countless other filmmaking/editing faux pas we have undoubtedly committed in the making of this film. that’s what a low budget and a tight schedule will do to you.

happy Christmas
happy 2008

that is all.
madiclaus

Posted by Maddy at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)