Wherein I contemplate the effects of spring on the psyche of a college student...

One of my favourite hobbies has always been people wacthing--On the subway, on the street, in a cafe, on the Ram Van, in the caf (especially in the caf). Let me clarify one thing before I continue. When I say "people watching" I don't mean it in a stalkerish way, or in a creepy way; I just love observing people's habits and tendencies, and perhaps trying to speculate on their characters.

Anyway, now that spring appears to have offically sprung (pardon the cliche), I have noticed a few key effects that the warmer weather has on the brain of a college student:

1. A lack of motivation to do anything other than take naps in the sun and sit outside. It's nice out and we want to be outside. That's all. There's no harm in that. The problems kick in when the amount of time spent outside eclipses the amount of time spent going to class, doing work, and doing anything productive in general.

2. An increasing number of people (read: Fordham students) who have changed their appearance drastically in some way. In the past two weeks, I have seen more people dying their hair (especially guys dying their hair red, very peculiar) and people with faux-hawks. Wtf. Perhaps the rebirth of spring inspires people to have personal rebirth. Maybe they're just crazy. Who can tell...

3. Everyone is falling in love. I know that spring is the time for lovers, but the recent change is kind of ridiculous. I swear that in the last four weeks of people watching, I have seen at least an 80 % increase in people holding hands. PDA has hit harder than allergies. Everyone is confessing their love for everyone else. These extraneous signs of affection, of course, make me all the more glad that I am single. Now, I'm not bitter; I believe that everyone should love someone. However, it makes a girl feel really good about herself when everyone seems to have someone and she's in the dust saying, "What about me?" Good times.

4. An extreme heightening of school pride or an increasing hatred towards the place. Take your pick. I know a lot of people who don't want to leave, who thought it went by way too fast, and just as many people who have professed a strong desire to "get the hell out as soon as they can."

Anyway, my people watching is not creepy. In fact, it lets you learn a lot about people in general and about yourself. There's no better way to spend an afternoon.

Lazy Sunday...

Spring. The weather is beautiful, the birds are singing, everyone is happy and frolicking, I'm in love (yay! cheesy!), and life is--on the whole--pretty darn good.

Unluckily for me, my internet had decided that it no longer wishes to function. Therefore, posting updates to this blog has been a little bit difficult. However, thanks to the kindness and generosity of Amanda Deal I have been able to write this.

Luckily for all of us, however, today was a day of unparalleled beauty which has inspired me to write in lofty and unnecessary prose. But, seriously, today was spectacular. Everyone was so happy: girls frolicking in their brightly-coloured sun dresses, boys in shorts and occasionally without shirts, general merriment all around. The weather might have just made up for the Sodhexo's banana-on-a-stick-drenched-in-white-chocolate specialty. That's right, kids, it was that good.

Anyway, to celebrate the beauty and general splendour, the girls of Robert's Second went on a field trip to Eddie's. Marie and I set up camp underneath the partial shade of a tree and just sat there, being happy. Others soon joined and what had been two girls playing Mika became a full-out event. Now, I don't really like the sun. I'm pale and pale people don't like the sun. First of all, we can literally feel our skin burning when the sun comes out in the morning. Second, sun produces heat which produces sweat and discomfort. Third, and perhaps most importantly, pale is the new tan. C'mon now...let's admit it. Now that I have had my little sun rant, let me say, I did enjoy the sun today (with beaucoup de sunscreen, of course!).

I also had rehearsal today, which Allegra thankfully moved outside. And yes, we did perform Romeo and Juliet on the steps of Martyr's, facing out over the lawn, being stared at by passersby (they had no idea why they were biting our thumbs...*giggles*), and literally performing by the light of the sunset. Sigh. Why can't life be a musical? I'd really like to know.

If every day could be like today, I might just die from happiness.

General musings

As I pondered on whether or not to create a blog, several questions darted through my thoughts:

Question #1: Do I have anything worth while to say? --Maybe...
Question #2: If so, who will ever read this? --Hopefully someone other than myself and some internet predators.
Question #3: What shall I say? --I suppose I can think of something.

These questions answered (though somewhat inadequately, I must add), I decided that "Yes!" I was to create a blog.

So, here we are. 22 of March, 2008.

Spring break is almost at a close and tomorrow, we leave Vermont for warmer climates and less-stunning scenery. Though the previous statement makes me feel somewhat like some migratory bird, I must admit, I feel as if I have done something with my life over these past few days.

I managed to get through several books which I had been itching to read for some time. The Lord of the Rings, however, remains unfinished. Five months and counting... I did, however, finish Atonement last week, which I loved. I loved the movie just as much. So, life is good. I read some more Jane Austen and watched many televised adaptations of the same. Equally pleasing.

On another note, I also did some writing. Katie called me last week and gushed, "I've written a book!" "Great," said I, "You should get it published." "I have! It came out last Friday!"

Note to self: Stop calling yourself a writer when (a) you probably can't write, and (b) you never sit down with any story long enough to produce more than forty pages of perfectly-edited prose.

So, spurred on by the news, I sat down at my lap top and actually wrote. Shocker! So, I am no where near getting anything published, but I have a determined spirit and will try to actually finish something. Maybe...

This is why I tell people I want to become an English professor. So that I can get paid for being surrounded by writing, literature, and the great works all the long day, while writing on the side. Thus, if my writing career fails or proves to be less brilliant than I had hoped, at least I won;t be living in a box. It's something to think about.

Speaking of things worth thinking about, I would like to conclude this, my first ever blog, with some witticisms and advice from one of my many muses, the great and late Oscar Wilde. He said it all--and beautifully, too, I must add!

A Few Maxims for the Instruction of the Over-Educated:

• Education is an admirable thing. But it is well to remember that nothing worth knowing can be taught.
• The only link between Literature and Drama left to us at the present moment is the bill of the play.
• In old days, books were written by men of letters and read by the public. Nowadays, books are written by the public and read by nobody.
• To be really mediaeval, one should have no body. To be really modern, one should have no soul. To be really Greek, one should have no clothes.

And that, my friends, is all.