The story of the plastic toothbrush package:
About a month ago a brand new toothbrush was liberated from its outer casing.

Toothbrush was born, probably in Japan, and immediately imprisoned within a little clear-plastic cell. After traveling many miles (to the HEB off Olmos) in his portable prison, Toothbrush waited on his shelf for days yearning to be chosen by just one of the many faces that walked the personal hygiene aisle. Then, finally, one afternoon, after a particularly sleepless night – the mint flavored floss had selected that night to launch a rather rambunctious assault on the electric waterpicks – Toothbrush was chosen. But this story isn’t about a toothbrush. It’s about a plastic toothbrush package that ended up living on the floor of our bathroom for an entire month.

i visually catalogued its progress or lack thereof over the course of the month

exhibit A – week one

exhibit B – week two – still there…even after our room was cleaned.
apparently, when we moved the rugs out of the way for the cleaning staff, the package was also safely put aside and, post-cleaning, was returned to its initial position along with the rug.

exhibit C – week three – the sudden appearance of a dish towel next to the package takes me by surprise, i keep my distance so as not to disturb their interactions

exhibit D – kicking and screaming the toothbrush package finally made its way into the garbage…a sad day indeed.

with this little tale in mind, my soon-to-be-college-freshman readers, here are a few things to think about when filling out that potluck roommate form.

1.don’t fret about it.
nothing is ever as bad as everyone makes it out to be…except maybe organic chemistry final exams, those really do suck. not that i would know or anything (being a drama major, and never having taken a chemistry class in my life, much less organic chemistry), but i’m like 99.9% sure it would really suck just based on the name. there probably isn’t much worse than organic chemistry. or wait, i take that back, maybe inorganic chemistry…yeah that would suck.

but chemistry has nothing to do with anything (really, it doesn’t. don’t tell the chemistry majors, they'd be heartbroken)…so anyway back to the potluck roommate form…

2.consider you’re living habits as well as who you might want to live with.
if you’re messy, put messy. if you’re neat, don’t think, “oh its not ‘cool’ to be neat, i’ll put messy” or “oh, i don’t really care…” Trust me, you do. (or at least you will after the first sixty days)
this idea goes for every choice you have to make, not just messy vs. clean.
smokers vs. non-smokers
partiers vs. non-partiers
and that brings me to #3.

3.please note that by “partier” it usually means a back-after-midnight boozer – nothing wrong with that, but just be aware…and don’t step in the vomit by the toilet when you get up to use the restroom at 4 am.

A perfect example: I go to parties, but I don’t drink. Would one consider me a “partier” simply for attending the evening’s events?

One: No Madi, you would not want to describe yourself as a partier on your freshman roommate form.
Me: Thank you One, but I’m a junior, so that no longer applies to me.
One: Oh, excuse me, Madi. Sorry for wasting your time.
Me: Yes, that is okay, but don’t let it happen again.
One: …right, I won’t.

4.night-owl or early-bird?
for all those people out there going, “what if I’m neither?” – tough luck, pick one.
for all those out there going, “what if I’m both?” – put down the Red Bull and the No-Doz and go to bed.

but really, how do you choose?
things to think about: right now you probably get up at some god-awful time every morning to go to class five days a week for about eight hours. (wow, i do not miss high school) what if you didn’t have to? what if you could schedule your classes around times when you’re more…well…alive? now, you can’t always get lucky, especially as a freshman, and get all afternoon classes. but at least the first ones here at Trinity don’t start until 8:30 am. and the freshman live about five minutes walking distance from the classroom.

Another perfect example: My internal clock never fails to wake me up by 8 am, usually earlier, around 7. During high school, I was fine getting up early for cross-country practice, so i thought, “ya know, I’ll put early-bird.”
One: (interrupting her) Yes Madi, that’s a good idea, you should put early bird.
Me: I thought you said you wouldn’t let this happen again.
One: Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it, I’m so embarrassed, how can you ever forgive me.
Me: I’m not sure I can One, I’m not sure I can…

anyway...... after being so rudely interrupted I’ve lost my train of thought…
One: sorry
Me: Silence!

sigh right, as I was saying. Think about what schedule you’d like to have, I’m not saying you’ll get it, but you probably won’t have to wake up as early as your used to. Also keep in mind that they usually try to match early-birds with early-birds and night-owls with night-owls. You don’t want to be trying to go to sleep at night when your roommate’s doing somersaults off the dresser; but, at the same time, those early-birds can be quite noisy getting ready for class in the morning when you’re trying to sleep in.

so, consider my advice, but you must know, it doesn’t come free. just place five dollars under you pillow, and i’ll have the tooth fairy pick it up for me next Tuesday. we’re good friends.

okay, so it’s 11 pm and this little early-bird is going to hit the nest.

that is all
mabirdi