Closing at 3 my ass

Perhaps I’ve told you already, but I’m planning on spending this spring gallivanting across Europe, mostly in Vienna. The application deadline for the program was today, and I spent all morning filling out forms and writing essays when I really should have been working, doing homework, or attending classes. Then I walked to Schmitz at 3:30, a full half-hour before the IPE office closes, to turn everything in, only to discover a sign on the door notifying me that they closed early today. All is not lost; the deadline was pushed back to Monday in light of the early closing time today, but the fact remains that my morning was wasted with a task I only thought was urgent. Sigh.

Speaking of trips, I’m going to Mexico for the week of February 16th. If you want to come with me, you can – really. My grandparents have a condo with space enough for you. The only catch is that you have to supply your own airfare, which is certainly beyond my means (although perhaps not beyond yours). If I’ve already told you about this little scheme, I have the following amendment of which you should be aware: my parents will not help you with the cost of a plane ticket, contrary to what I said earlier. But if money is no object and you can afford missing a week of school to lead a playboy lifestyle, then I recommend that you consider flying to Cancun with me.

Forgive the sudden topic shift, but the strangest thing happened to me today. I was walking past the HUB, trying to catch the last fifteen minutes of my OS class in Mary Gates, when two guys walking beside me stopped me and introduced themselves.

“What are you listening to?” one asked, as I removed my headphones.

“The Shins,” I replied, not without a touch of pride.

“Hmm, never heard of them,” he returned. Here I became immediately suspicious. I listen to some semi-obscure music, granted, but I don’t usually count The Shins on that list. As far as I’m concerned, knowledge of The Shins is a more-or-less hard requirement for the comfort of my society. I contained my shock.

“So what’s your guys’ deal?” I asked. “What are you all about?” When someone you don’t know wants to have a conversation with you on campus, you can be sure they have an agenda. This pair’s mild manners already led me to believe they served the Big Man – the Lord, that is – and guy #1 confirmed this for me.

“We’re with campus youth ministries. Do you believe in God?”

I told him that I did; what church I attend (when I do); that my aunt is a missionary in Chile. He asked if I wanted to attend a Bible study to discuss “why people go to parties and drink alcohol and stuff”. I declined, explaining that I didn’t really get anything out of discussing religion with believers. I’m sorry, Jesus, but the people who attend Bible studies like that one just aren’t my kind of people. No offense. That’s what I told them, and refused to give them my email address or phone number. We shook hands and all was good. I think I got off pretty lightly; Socialist Bryan had a run-in with a similar group last quarter, and somehow had to have lunch with one of them at a later date.

Finally, the new docs page is done, and you can go check it out if that’s your game. Astute readers will notice that the “writing” links to the left now have a complimentary structure. I think it’s pretty.