The meetings need to stop

I've decided meetings are worthless. People really need to schedule work sessions, where the just sit down and get the job done. Tonight we're having a meeting (note my gleeful key strokes) about a house activity. I know what's going to happen. It's going to go like this:

President: I know there's been a lot of discussion about this...
NIB: We need to change the structure of the event. It sucks.
Older Brother: But We've always done it this way.
Social Chair: Guys, we have an entirely different problem.

And then he's going to whine about something off topic for a while, then the house treasurer will make an off topic comment, Todd will say something almost intelligent but be drowned out by a chorus of people who have written him off as useless, another NIB will say something dumb, and in the end, the original NIB who brought up a very good point will have nothing. There will be no change. It will be drowned out in a chorus of naysaying, and swept away with the cleansing power of fear. In the end it comes down to the fact that people are afraid to try something new becuase they are afraid to fail.

Maybe this will be the meeting that proves me wrong. I sure hope so.

After that though, we're having a waffle comm work session. Big strategy and thinking here. I'm also going to make these guys help me fill out the budget.

And then part of me says screw it. I'm going to be a senior. I've got an honors thesis to worry about. Do I really need to jump through student government hoops? There's a reason no one likes these kids, and thinks the SA is worthless. Do I really want to make them look good? Heck, today a friend (and house president here) mentioned I should bring it up with IFC -- that they'd help to sponsor my event.

We wouldn't have T-shirts. But it was never about the T-shirts. It's about making things safe, yet fun. What's stoping me from taking $100 of my orientation week check, making a shitload of waffles, and handing them out myself -- from having fun and making things safe?

And I realize the answer is nothing. What would they do? Have the IPD dress up in full riot gear to remove me from Ho plaza? I'm peacefully assembling in a public place. And if I'm on the sidewalk, the Supreme Court has my back. Since all sidewalks are considered public domain, I cannot be removed unless I am causing a disturbance. I won't be forcing my waffles on people -- just offering them. They can take, or leave, as they please.

And I can't believe that the CU Tonight kids would think this event encourages drinking. The drinking is going to happen regardless of whethere or not I hand out waffles. Their logic is flawed. But then again, these are the kind of idiots that are going to be running Cornell in 20 years, making it much easier for me to forgo my alumni contributions.

But now it's time to walk to dinner.

Keeping up with the Jones

I had lunch with former Sun editor Scott Jones today. We had a nice, hour-long chat about life and such. Most of all, I enjoyed Scott's wit and wandering eyes. It was funny to watch him track an attractive blonde or brunette as she moved behind me. At times he looked like he wasn't paying attention at all, staring off in a daze at the redhead in the farthest corner of the room. I understood though. I've been on that other side of the table.

We had another Mock Election meeting tonight. I was about 5 minutes late for the dinner meeting, and had to squeeze in next to Mike. Best mistake ever. It ended up where I was able to monopolize the conversation at our 10-person table, and get everyone to agree on making an informational pamphlet to send out to political figures and media organizations. Cornell has apparently agreed to pick up the tab, so I'm excited for full-color and glossy.

On a more serious level, though, I think that the pamphlets will make our event appear much more professional. It should help us to snag a few unsuspecting elected officials, or two as well. At the same time, it'll be the first concrete thing our group has produced. This is why I hate group work when I'm not the chair. Too much talk about ideas, and not enough work on the actual concept. We're also working on a letter that's going to come from President Lehman. I'm re-working the draft now, and hopefully we'll be able to get some hard copies from him by the end of next week.

And the people working on this thing, albeit some of them appear to be as life like as the statue of Ezra Cornell himself, seem pretty cool. I'm excited to see what unfurls itself during the course of our planning. The only issue I forsee is if Danny and I disagree on an issue. We're both strong-willed individuals ... but I think I could take him ;)

(I can't believe I just used an emoticon. I'm going to go do something more masculine now, in hopes of forgetting about this.)

Social Butterfly

I just received my invite to DTD's Delt Prom High. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm excited to get invited, especially since it's rare for guys to invite other guys to their fraternity events. It'll also be the second (semi) formal event I've attended in as many weeks. I've got to find out if I can bring a guest.

I also got my first facebook.com snub over the weekend. I suggested a book to some girl, who wrote back thanking me for the suggestion. I then offered to lend it to her since it's harcover and expensive, and in return she added me as a friend. Then she dropped me.

I just laughed, and added her as a friend so this time the request comes from my end. It's funny to have read so much on social capital, and how online reputations can be built and ruined, and then have someone snub me. It makes me wonder if I'm developing a bad rep, or if there was some other reason she dropped me. I don't know, but I'd love to find out. It's too bad people are so guarded and cautious about their social interactions with strangers. I've got so many questions, and hardly anyone to provide answers.

---

The grapevine says that Waffles & Ho's caught the eye of the CU Tonight commission, but that they don't like the name. Apparently it was also one of the sloppiest applications they received, which has prompted comments like, "He's a comm major? Aren't they supposed to have better presentation skills?"

Hey -- they didn't ask for an oral presentation. I'd have given a great speech in person. My hand writing on the other hand ... let's just say that's why I'm glad we're supposed to type our papers.

Anyway, I'm supposed to be contacted in the next week for more info and feedback to make some changes. At least they seemed cool with the idea of paying for T-shirts. Without the T-shirts the guys in the house don't seem that interested.

---

I Finally got out of the B range on one of my Comm Law papers. It's the only class that I'm not pulling an A or better in this semester, and with one paper and the final still looming, it looks like I can change that (for the better or worse depending on the work I put in). I'm just happy to finally get an A.

Todd Goes Home

We make jokes about a brother in our house being spacey. Like there's a map of the U.S. in the house, and everyone has a flag to signify their hometown; we added a picture of Mars and moved his flag there. When Time Magazine ran a piece about sending a manned mission to the Red Planet, we jokingly congratulated him for making the cover in his space suit.

And then today, he sent the following link. He's from Northern Virginia (It's more Northern than the rest of Virginia, he's been known to tell people.), which makes this even funnier.

"McLEAN, Va. (AP) -- Whether life exists on Mars is an endless source of speculation. But if there is life, and if those life forms can hit a curveball, then northern Virginia has dibs on their Little Leaguers.

That's because Little League Baseball this year granted its northern Virginia district jurisdiction over the planet.

District Administrator Michael Pobat wanted a theme this year as northern Virginia prepares to host the annual state tournament, whose champion competes for the right to represent the United States in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

He thought a Martian theme might be a way to get kids excited about science and technology, so he petitioned Little League to annex the planet into the northern Virginia district, which serves about 5,000 boys and girls on teams in the Washington suburbs of Arlington, Alexandria and northern Fairfax County."

( an excerpt from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/baseball/mlb/04/25/bc.bbo.littleleague.mar.ap/index.html?cnn=yes)

A Victory for Cornellians Everywhere

Yesterday Cornell Lacrosse beat Princeton, at Princeton, to end an Eight-year ownage streak. The win puts Cornell in control of the league, and with a win over Brown, gives the Red a return-trip to the NCAA tourney. I'm really excited about this becuase Cornell is also hosting a quarter-final round, which means we could play at home infront of a huge crowd.

I also went to Victory Club yesterday -- it was great. Katie and I got there, talked for a little bit, got some chips, and then at down at a blackjack table. We played for 2 hours on $15 worth of chips. All the while, all these people we knew kept coming to sit at our table. We played with Raul one of our Comm Grad students, Jesse -- a guy from Katie's floor last year, Marc Zawel -- former Managing Editor for The Daily Sun, and Matt Schuster from Glee Club. It was a blast each time one of them joined the table, and the brothers (Marc, Jesse) kept the champagne flowing (none for me, though, mono and all). It was great.

I've got another seal of approval for Waffle Night. This time from the Cornell police, so I'm excited. Now I just need to get some more people to sign off on the event, and we should be good to go (CU Tonight or not).

This week should be packed, but managable. We've got contact dinners tomorrow, a Head Clerk meeting on Wednesday, more KDR stuff on Thursday, and then the weekend. Workwise, I need to do some reading on the Comm comedy theories I've been gathering, and work out the details of a paper for Tuesday's Comm 345 class. I'll also need to start doing the Sociology readings, so I can be ready for the exam next week.

Paris Hilton is a Dude

So I went to campus today, ran some errands, turned in some work, and then I headed to the fraternity house for dinner. After Jon, Todd, Matt and I watched some movies (most notably Police Academy), and then I got a ride home.

When I got home things seemed off. There was a lot of noise coming from the building, so I knew someone was having a party. When I opened the door and walked in to find two busted girls in trucker hats blocking my doorway, I was pissed. I've been home a lot this week, and no one said anything about a party.

I wandered upstairs to see Jason, Phil and Amy Green were there. Graham was the only apartmentmate in the room. All of them greeted me as I entered and asked how I was doing. I told them I was doing well, and immediately they tried to explain what was going on.

It's not their fault, and I actually didn't mind that so many people were over once I knew that Graham, Jason and Phil were all there too. We have good times together, so I figured I'd just roll with the punches on this one. As it turned out, we were unsuspecting hosts for the Key Elements after-concert party. They bought all the alcohol, and asked to use our apartment (one of the group members lives downstairs). They also e-mailed me and apparently left a few messages on the machine. I didn't mind so much once I found out what was going on, I was actually kind of excited.

So I saw Dave, the Uber Wang, downstairs. He was busy doing group stuff, so I talked to him for a while and then went back to the other guys. That's where the real fun was, and it included the following:

• Phil getting some guy to chug all of our maple syrup for $12
• Jason getting this hot girl to eat dog food with him
• Me wandering around with my Terrorist playing cards, telling people not to worry becuase we got 'em all
• The girl with the mannish handshake
• The girl with the mannish handshake dissing waffle night

Then the coolest thing of all happened. All day I've been running into people, and recognizing them from the facebook.com. I don't say anything, beucase we don't actually know each other and that'd be wierd, but I still recognize them. Tonight I met Paris Hilton, and I can say that he does not look like her photo. Yup -- the person masquerading as Paris Hilton -- he's some asian dude.

But now it's time for bed.

I have a date for Victory Club

After working to find someone new to meet, and then take, I decided to go with a good friend. Now I can start worrying about something important. Like all the work I have due tomorrow.

Waffle Ingredients: $86.78, Chairs: $114 ... throwing up on your front lawn after a day of classes and paperwork: Priceless

So today I did the full slate. I went to class, handed in my assignments, and then worked on the application for CU Tonight funding for "Waffles and Ho's." What did I learn at Cornell today?

1) Everyone loves Waffles on Ho Plaza
2) There were a lot more CU Tonight Applications than I thought there'd be
3) Cornell Student Assembly President Nick Linder is an asshole, and I have no idea how he fits his head through doorways
4) The Dinning people are nicer than expected
5) I could do Waffles on Ho Plaza without CU Tonight for around $100 (a much simpler version, sadly)
6) Sean Greenhalgh does not get assists
7) Don't eat lunch at the Ivy Room

I write the last one becuase I just had lunch there, read through the McPaper sports section, and walked home. While turning the corner onto Eddy, my mouth started to water intensly and I thought, "Gee ... this hasn't happened since the last time I threw up."

Then I threw up on the lawn. Twice. And then once more when I was in my apartment for good measure. I don't think anyone saw me outside, but I still feel a bit embarrased about it. I understand that it's a normal physical reaction, and that a lot of sorority girls do it here at Cornell all the time, but I still consider it a sign of weakness. It says to the world that I'm not ready to be back here, in the daily grind. It says I need to slow down even further.

I mean I know why it happened. My abdominal muscles have been feeling strained all day (probably becuase I just laid around last week on the couch), and all the jostling of walking home was too much for my body. Reverse parastalasys (sp?) started, and that was it. It's like when I used to eat too close to races in high school. Afterwards I'd be huddled over the trash can.

But now it's nap time.

Waffles and Ho's

So the CU Tonight people told me I had until April 21st to get them the application for Waffle Night on Ho Plaza, and in typical last-minute fashion, I'm finishing up the details now.

I got our Fraternity advisor's signature on Monday (the hard part), just filled out the UUP form to use Ho Plaza (another hard part), and now I just need to write up the event. I'm done at 12:05 tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get it done by 1:30 p.m. and hand everything in by 2 p.m.

Anyone want to bet something gets derailed in the process?

Anyway -- for those of you still wondering why the brothers of Kappa Delta Rho would be serving waffles on Ho Plaza -- the answer is that we're going to provide an alcohol free alternative to the parties in collegetown during the first weekend of orientation. At the same time, we're not ignoring those students who chose to drink -- we're actually embracing them as the flawed individuals they are who may need help. In this manner, we're serving water and waffles so that these intoxictated freshmen remain safe, and can balance the OH molecules in their systems.

I mean, they're going to drink. They might as well drink safetly and pass by the watchful eyes of EMTs as they stumble up through Ho Plaza and back through to North campus, right?

A-Rod, Jesus, and Pat the Pirate

My friends often complain that I'm never on instant messanger. For good reason, I try to limit my usage to business and school work, and don't log on other than when I need information from someone. Of course, tonight I just needed a distraction, and after two minutes of being online she found me.

I was in the middle of an Alex Ip conversation about CS and such when my facebook friend (Christine) messaged me. I laughed at first, because chode has been talking about all the wierd im's he gets from guys who saw him on the site. This was my first, and not necessarily unsolicited since we'd been messaging back and forth for a while.

She was excited to find me online. I pulled the typical bland and coy routine, trying to feel my way into the conversation. She didn't buy it. She said I needed to lighten up. So then we started talking about hispanic midgets, how I hated/she liked the show Friends, law school, and the tent she had just bought. Infact, she was in the tent at that very moment, typing to me on her laptop.

I was impressed.

It was something that I could see myself doing -- being so wrapped up in a new purchase that you just couldn't put it down. It's like sleeping with your new baseball glove, or refusing to leave your new chair. Sometimes I still like to lace up my track spikes, even though it's been nearly four years since I put them on and got into the starters blocks for a race. To me, sitting in a tent was completely normal.

So we messaged some more. And we kept going, so I told her this was pretty dumb and that we should just meet in person since we were both up and just a block away. Besides, at this point I was convinced I was actually talking to some guy who was just leading me on, and that there was no tent. I had to make sure this was actually happening. She was reluctant at first, and I was ready to go to bed, but then we somehow drifted back to religion. Then she said she was calling an emergency meeting -- I had to discuss this with her -- in the tent.

So then it's midnight, and I'm walking to her apartment so we can sit in her tent and talk about Jesus. I went, and I know that you probably think we're both crazy for sitting in a tent indoors. But the craziest part is that it was one of the most intense and enjoyable conversations I've had at Cornell. She was genuine, and warm. There were no pretenses of facades. No lies between us.

Earlier this year, a bunch of students got together and protested Cornell's proposed West Campus parking lot. They didn't want the University to tear down a forest to build it and promptly launched the "save the Redbud woods" movement. It seemed passionate, and in some ways I was envious. I wanted to feel that passionate about something. But then a few months ago I was talking with one of the leaders of the movement, and he admitted to me that he has never really spent any time in the redbud woods, he just thinks its something worth protesting. That drove me crazy! How could he protest to save something he didn't know anything about? Something he'd never done anymore than look at from the window of a house or car?

And that's what made the conversation in the tent so amazing. It was all upfront, and none of it was manufactured or contrived. We rambled about a bunch of topics, and just spoke our minds. It was so free and unsheltered, something I haven't had since Nagowski's nights on the porch.

I've been looking for a Victory Club formal date, and originally thought she might like to go. When I asked, I jokingly added that I wondered what she would look like in a cocktail dress. She assurred me (and after meeting her I could see it) that she would look good. I think from now on though, I'm going to start asking people what we'd talk about if we were sitting in a tent.

Hopefully they'll answer God, the Yankees and Pat the Pirate.

It's just five days

First night back and already the sleeplessness is setting in. I think I'm just too pent up over stuff, and need to relax a bit. I'm almost done with a paper that should have been in last Monday. The concepts are not hard, I know all the material and have done all the reading. The hard part is forcing myself to sit down and write it. It's like the challenge is gone becuase I know, I know the answers. If it's not a personal challenge, then why is it worth doing? I suppose an A would be nice, but it's not the same motivation. I'm just going to have to bite the bullet -- get it done, staple my doctor's note to it, and hand it in.

I'm babbling, though. Or am I? Is it possible to babble in a textual setting?

It's warm in Ithaca, and warmer in the apartment. I'm really enjoying the weather and having my window open. The best part is that it feels like the summer again. I spent the whole summer here, with Graham and Jason and Kajsa, and now that feeling is back. It was filled with lazy days and nights, and brimming with promises of greatness that never seemed to materialize, as if they were a passing dream in the morning sun or the fading touch of a love long lost. The soft June breezes whispered -- beckoned -- to us from the outside in the afternoons, and drove us to mischeif at night.

After their classes (and my job at the Journal), we'd make dinner and lay out in front of the TV watching endless hours of baseball. The weekends started on Thursdays for us then, and people seemed to be in high spirits. Tonight was the same way, with a similar cast of characters (Graham is living here again, and Jason came to visit). We watched playoff basketball this time; secure in the comforts of our living room, the comforts of each other's friendly chatter.

Of course now the weekend starts on Friday afternoon. There are deadlines to meet and projects to accomplish. I view the week not as a liesurely stroll, but rather as a race. It's filled with hurdles, and while I can see the finish line -- Friday -- clearly in the distance, it's still seems so far away. I know it will be a quick race, and in the end it'll linger like a childhood memory -- more sensory than substantive. Still, it's the anticipation that's got me now. It's the anticipation that always gets me.

And so at 4:26 a.m., I sit in the dark of my room. I await the dawn that signals the start of the day. I await the race's beginning, only in that it will speed the coming of the end.

All dressed up ... no one to take

Yesterday was a bit depressing. It was a suny and warm 60+ degrees in B-Lo, and an equally impressive sunny and warm temp in Ithaca. But where was I? On the couch, indoors. sure I got to go outside for a little bit, but even then my mom made me bundle up and sit on a blanket.

"The Grass is damp and wet," she scolded. I wanted to argue back: so is the shower, but I was still allowed to take one of those yesterday; but thought better of it.

I'm pretty much over the symptoms of both the mono and the strep, the frustrating thing now is just how long I'm supposed to be inactive for. And what the hell does that mean? They keep telling me I can't play contact sports, but if I'm feeling up for it, is running okay? How about lifting at the gym? I know I'm going to be tired for a while -- I'm tired now -- but when can I start doing what? Someone really needs to write an instruction book about this stuff.

But that's not what's really eating me.

There's a list out there of 101 things every Cornellian needs to do before they graduate. It's in some book, and I got it again in an e-mail while a freshman. I was pretty excited then, reading through the list, to have discovered that I had hit a lot of it. I think I was up to 43 things, and there were some others you couldn't do (like meet AR Ammons for breakfast at Temple of Zeus, becuase he had passed away since the list's creation). I felt like I would complete the list before May 2005, my expected departure from the Hill. On Thursday I got a little bit closer -- the EIC is going out of town the weekend of Victory Club, and offered up the complementary tickets the paper gets. I snagged them.

What's so great about Victory Club? It's supposed to be this black tie affair, very posh, very uppity. All the "cool" kids go -- actually I don't know anyone who's gone to Victory Club outside of some of the brothers who run it, which is more the reason why I want to go -- just to see and experience it. It should be a good time, like a big who's who campus cocktail party.

So what am I frustrated about? Finding a date is tough work.

I had been having a rather nice string of cmc (computer mediated communication) conversations with this girl over the facebook.com, so I asked her. I assumed the worst (that she had a boyfriend), and sure enough it looks like she does becuase she shot me down and used him as the reason. I'm not upset or mad, just dissapointed in her limited ability to conceptualize our relationship. If we can be friends in a virtual setting, and talk about things like the Yankees, Cornell and God online, what makes going with and talking to me at Victory Club taboo? Is anything any different outside of the setting? If her boyfriend is worried about me breaking them up in person, what makes me harmless online? I still have all the same thoughts, dreams and anatomical parts -- only the settings change, not the people or the topics.

Through comparison we can further see that the settings aren't really that different. I'm assuming that she uses her facebook account in a private manner, and doesn't necessarily share the exact text of our messages with anyone. Virtually, this can be compared to talking at a corner table of a restuarant. Our conversation is secluded and intimate in both places (online and in our imaginary resturant setting), and in neither are we truly bothered by outside or overhearing conversational attaches. Comparing both of these settings -- our virtual corner, and restuarant table -- to the Victory Club setting, there is some noticeable change however.

If anything, our social interactions would be more reserved and more guarded while at the formal than while online. This is due to the presence of others, social onlookers who would force us to behave in the norms dicated by the situation. Clearly, even if I had the intentions to, we wouldn't be engaged in things viewed negatively by her boyfriend (i.e. sexually charged conduct on the dance floor) becuase it's not what the social norms of the evening allow. From all angles, their relationship would actually appear to be less in danger if we met in person than online, becuase it deflates all the mystery and social ambiguity from the situation.

(Ambiguity has long been thought to be one of the driving forces behind online chat and dating sites, becuase it allows us to portray a different side of ourselves than we can in person. The bald man can pretend to have hair, the woman can pretend to be a man. We are excited, boldened, and empowered by the possibilities that these new roles offer us. It all drives us forward in our online interactions. We are enthralled with the steps and rythm of our new social dance -- our conversational tangoes.)

Online situations are so perplexing. I'm definitely going to have to focus in on this in my honors thesis next year. In the meantime, if you are a fun-loving female (class of '06 and up please) who likes to dance, can carry on conversation from topics ranging from politics to the infield fly rule, isn't looking for any kind of sexual hijinks, and would like to go to Victory Club, please feel free to contact me. I've got the tux and tickets, I just need a date.

Maybe I Could Get a Summer Job With the Circus

"Whoa -- you could ski off that thing!"

or at least that's what the look in the doctor's eyes told me. I suppose it's a good thing. All of my attempts to get a summer internship (see 30+ applications to daily papers, a resume submission to Intel, and two senate applications) have produced nothing so far, I suppose I could string this sick thing out and join the circus.

"I've never seen anyone's neck swell up that much," is what he actually said. "You must have been sitting next to some really sick kids in class."

"Well I didn't get this sick the fun way," I told him. He laughed. I'm glad someone can.

And the good news from my doctor's visit today? ... yeah, I'm still waiting for that, too. Apparently it's going to take me 4-8 weeks to get completely over the mono thing. The doctor even said that having strep and the mono must really suck. I wasn't sure if I should correct him. "Really suck" is a bit of an understatement.

At least the swelling has gone down enough so that I can eat solid food again. The Penicillin also seems to be kicking in. So the next question that needs to be answered is, can I pull a full day's work at school? I mean, going to class and sitting there, taking notes is all fine and well. Yet what about the 25-minute walk to class, and the 25-minute walk back? Let's not forget the extra reading, project meetings, and assignments that are currently piling up while I'm sitting at home, sleeping 18 of 24 hours of the day.

Ugh.

And now that I've been awake three hours, it's time for bed.

Fun with Mono

So I got up at 8:30 this morning to get ready to meet my advisor. Then I turned off my alarm by mistake and rolled back over in bed. Around 8:53, I woke up and realized I should get moving. But I couldn't. My legs felt like jello, and my entire body was burning up. Eventually I made my way out of bed, and into the kitchen where I drank some water, took some pills, and hopped in the shower.

But I couldn't do it. I couldn't get myself onto campus -- didn't have the energy to make the 20+ minute walk. Instead I called my advisor, and on the third phone call got a hold of him. We discussed my Fall courses, what I might do for an honors thesis, and the passover holiday. I told him I went to my first Seder dinner, and then we talked about his first Seder at home, which happened this past week. Then he wished that I get well, and we both hung up.

Which is when I went back to bed for the second time. I tried to get up at noon, then 1, then settled for 1:38 p.m. I needed to put together a financial statement for a scholarship, as well as a statement about my interpersonal communication skills. I managed to put the two together in about an hour, and by 3:00 p.m. I was on campus. I handed everything in around 3:26 p.m., and then headed to Gannett. My throat had been killing me since Wednesday, and I was going to go get some drugs to take care of it.

So I got to Gannett and went to sign in. They asked me to fill out my symptoms on a sheet, and asked what I was going through. I told the woman I had a swollen throat and my glands were larger than normal. Then the look on her face changed. It was like I had just told her the Russians had launched the bomb. She told me to wait in the seats, and almost immediately someone came and took me to a room.

"It sounds like you have something pretty serious," they said. "We're sending you to level 6 to see this person."

Then the nurse scribbled someone's name on a sheet of paper, and sent me upstairs. I went up to level 6, checked in, and was told to wait. About three minutes later, another nurse came and put me in a room. I sat there for a while, at one point almost tossing my cookies. Of course, since I hadn't eaten solid food in a while, there were no cookies to be tossing. Instead I just spit up tons of flem into the garbage can.

Then the doctor came in. I had recovered, and was sitting on the examination table by then. She immediatley started saying things like "I knew you had mono!" And "Look at the size of your glands!" I thought she was a quack -- I mean, everyone says that Gannett tells you, you either have mono or you're pregnant. The pregnant thing was a bit off the mark for me, so I figured mono was the only other thing they could diagnose me with.

But then she showed me why she thought I had mono. I don't know if she was making it up, but it's hard to make up the spots on the roof of my mouth, and the blood tests that say I do indeed have mono.

So I guess I've got mono. And they also told me that I might have strep throat, so they put me on penecillin, too. I called Mary Ann when I got back. She and Bill are coming to get me tonight. I'm going to be home for a while. I figure I'll get better rest there.

Sick Again

"Dude you look like shit," Jon told me, as I took my fleece off my face.

I had been sleeping on his big green couch -- the Shamrock -- for more than a hour. I was in Room 10 at the house, and had wandered up there after having dinner on campus with one of the comm professors and our advisees. It was the end of a very long day, and after not being able to swallow solid food larger than some lucky charms cereal, the feaver had hit me.

I turned over on my side, mumbled something back to Jon, and spent the next three hours or so wandering in and out of consciousness. Not even Joel's blaring music woke me, a surprise considering how loud it was. It seemed like I had been passed out for hours, but it was just 9:30 when I finally was moved to get off the couch. Jon and I then took matching shits, discussed our upcoming pledge activity, and said goodnight. I wandered downstairs to see if I could get someone to give me a ride home.

Our pledges are good kids. Sure enough, one of them was willing to give my sorry as a lift back to college town. Before we left, though, I raided the bar, taking a bottle of W-Up and leaving $5 in it's place. I really neeeded to get some liquid in me, and figured I should pay my social fee for the week. Killing Two birds with one stone was pretty good.

So then I came home, passed out for a while more, and woke up to find Condaleza Rice on TV. Apparently I had fallen asleep again while watching C-Span. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't follow the testimony -- I was too out of it. Instead I flipped around and started in on the W-Up.

And now I'm headed to bed. But not before I had a fun chat with Jevon and Graham. We just sat in the common room for a while, talking about this and that. Then Graham said something really funny.

"Look at that Gouter on Your neck!"

I was worried this morning when I woke up, becuase my neck looked wierd and swollen in the mirror. No one said anything all day, though, which surprised me. When Graham did, I laughed.

We later named my swollen left gland "Svelt." While he's been great, I hope Svelt calms down soon. I miss being able to swallow real food.

Holidays are Happy Family Times...

So I attended my first Seder tonight. It was an interesting and enjoyable time, and I highly recommend the experience to other non-jewish students.

Midway through Bill and Mary Ann stopped to say hello. They had just spent the weekend visiting my brother, and when asked about it my dad shook his head and my mother just started to cry. I then offered to go have dinner with them, but they declined. I even invited them in to join the Seder, noting that there was plenty of food, but they also declined.

"I don't want to pull you away from your friends," Mary Ann said tearfully.

I said it was no problem, and that we should catch dinner, but they still said no. Nothing I said or offered seemed to change the fact that this was going to be a short visit. It was strange. I mean, these are the people I have had great, long conversations with. We've always gotten something to eat whenever they visit -- even if it's just been ice cream after a concert. We always go somewhere, and we always talk. And there was so much to talk about this time, especially since I haven't had a substantial phone conversation with them since last Wednesday or so.

But no. Something that had happened hundreds of miles away was biting at them. Mary Ann was bitter, and while I know she didn't mean to take it out on me, she did. And it really sucked. In the end we had an awkward ten-minute conversation, spelled with some relief from Justin -- one of the brothers who was parking his car. Then they got back into the car and left.

I called my brother later to tell him he was an asshole for making mom cry. I hope he feels guilty. After 20+ years of having mom and dad help him along into adult hood, he really should.

Razzing an old Friend

SkyCam2: i spent all day with karl ravech, buck martinez, and scott reiss in the studio updating all the games
FushYuki: that's kind of cool
FushYuki: how do they take their coffee?
SkyCam2: buck takes his black
SkyCam2: don't know about the others
SkyCam2: and no, i don't get coffee for them, i heard someone offering to make a cafeteria run
FushYuki: lol

Things Panned Out

So the other night, I came home to find my inbox cluttered with e-mails. Most were from work (still haven't started rebuilding my filters yet), but one was from a person I had never heard of before. While most of the time I delete these e-mails, the subject inspired a change of heart.

"we have your frying pan"

It was all I needed to know. Of course, inside were details of how to get my pan back, and how they stumbled on it. Apparently after visiting, the girls became curious and dug around the apartment. Tucked away in some obscure drawer was my pan, with the note Sarah told me she had written.

I was really excited. Haven't gotten it back yet, but I'm still really excited.

---

Course enroll is tomorrow, but I've got to be to work by 8 a.m. I'm thinking of going in, getting into the building early, and setting up my laptop to do course enroll via the wireless connection we have. Then, I figure I can get it done on time and be to work early. We'll have to see if this bone-headed scheme actually works.

---

Last night Jason, Phil and I decided to make burgers and waffles. The result was a damn-good waffle burger, and a hilarious ride through college town. On our way back from Wegmans, we drove all around Cornell. I held the box of Waffle mix out the window and yelled things to people.

A lot of them responded positively to the messages of "Waffles!" and "Make waffles, not love," with some even responding back. One guy chased us down to a red light, poked me on the shoulder and yelled "Waffles Rule" into the car.

Due to the wild popularity of our waffling message, we have decided to make a whole box of mix next weekend, and take the resultant waffles into college town around 1 a.m. when the bars close. We're then going to hand the waffles out to people. Phil really wants this to take off, thinking we could be known as the waffle guys. I just want to see people's reactions. If you want in, e-mail me. The address is on the left-hand side of this page.

A Guest Rant:

"Dear Mr. Buck,

I recently appealed ticket number #523485, and I have received your
response to my appeal. I feel that your response is both misguided and
extraordinarily misinformed.

Firstly, you wrote in your letter, "I understand you do not feel the above
violation was properly issued." To that, I have a simple response: The
violation WAS NOT properly issued. As I indicated in my initial appeal, I
always park in the metered spaces, which are clearly marked, and are
clearly posted to be free in the evening. There are never any exceptions
to this. Why would I park in a spot that is restricted and get a ticket
when I can park in a spot that is free and unrestricted?

Secondly, you indicate that "the ticketing officer has clearly indicated
that your vehicle was parked in a space by Helen Newman Hall individually
posted as reserved for "MT" permits at all times." You mean to tell me
that the ticketing officer remembers exactly where I was parked on March
8th at 7:02 p.m.? I highly doubt this, especially considering the fact
that the ticketing officer incorrectly labeled my car as a 4-door sedan on
the ticket when in fact my car is a 2-door coupe. Since he or she could
not even correctly identify how many doors my car has, I would think that
his or her memory as to the spot I was parked in would be incredibly
suspect.

Lastly, you wrote: "As I can find no error in how this violation was
issued, the fine is being upheld." You go on to say, "If you have
additional factual evidence that demonstrates you did not violate the
cited regulation, you may reappeal within ten calendar days." My question
to you is, what factual evidence would be required for you to eliminate
the fine? Clearly your only goal is to extract as much money as possible
from every person possible, so why would you eliminate my fine at all? The
answer is that you wouldn't...judging from the wording of your letter and
how quick you are to assume that the ticketing officer did not make any
mistakes, you have one motivation: to make money. However, I again pose
the following question to you: Why would I park illegally when I can park
in metered spots which are free? The answer is that I wouldn't, because I
am a rational human being.

Please note that I have written the check for the ticket and will mail in
my payment tomorrow. However, please note that I now carry a camera in my
car at all times, and if I am ticketed a third time incorrectly, I WILL
take you, as well as Cornell Transportation and Mail Services to court,
and my lawyer has assured me that I am well within my legal right to do
so.

Regards,
Philip Rant"

A Hussein Moment

We have a brother in our house who's done some pretty crazy things (think substances), and occasionally it shows. The past two days, I think I've had some of those crazy moments.

No, no drugs for me (not the fun ones anyway), just good old fashioned fever and dizziness to make me slightly less perceptive than normal. Of course, while walking around while sick instills a strange and almost fun-house like feeling (loopiness, jolting sensation -- not necessarily bad, just different -- shooting down your extremeties with every step. Yeah, I kind of like it, except for the falling over feeling.), being bed ridden does something else.

It seems to be a lot like the withdrawl symptoms I've read Steven Tyler had. I convulse alot. One minute I'm burning up and sweating -- the next I'm freexing cold. I've got two sweatshirts, a fleece, and a long sleeve-t next to (or on) me at any minute of the day. I'm rarely hungry, I pee the color orange, and my eyes hurt to open.

Being sick sucks. It also messes up your sleep schedule, something awful, which is why I'm up at 6:06 a.m. writing.

But the cool thing is that you look for something to do. I could be studying for a test I have this Friday (tomorrow -- gasp!), but instead I checked out the web stats for the new Daily Sun site. They're pretty cool. It turns out that my column was viewed 189 times yesterday. Considering we ususually sell around 80-150 papers at news stands, and then those papers are re-read in places such as Trillium and the Ivy Room, I can estimate that around 300 people read my column yesterday.

Why should you care? You really shouldn't. Why should I care? I really shouldn't. But it's cool to say that I'm the best read sports columnist on the website.

(No. 18, currently as the most requested article at our new site -- the only "regular" columnist beating me is Mark Harrison, but that shouldn't even count becuase he wrote about Cornell and the SAT. Can you imagine how many long island families spend time researching "Cornell + SAT" in google?)

Oh, and Spring has finally arrived in Ithaca. It's early morning and I can once again hear several birds chirping outside my window.