Chicken little is back and he’s mellowed. My situation isn’t much better, my mood just naturally shifted. I was able to channel some of that nervous energy positively before coming down. I also did buy all those power bars and that case of Red Bull (which is surprisingly tasty, like cherry kool-aid.) As always, I found some solace in music. The Life Aquatic soundtrack is very calming. The new Stereophonics album is well done too. I give it a gold star of goodness. The one thing I haven’t cut back on has been exercising since I think it actually helps my energy level. I use the cardio room on campus where you have to reserve cross-trainers for use in thirty minute blocks. Everyone (except me) always cheats on the reservation sign-up sheets. Last time I went, “Bjorn” had reserved one thirty minute block, left a ten minute space and then re-reserved the same machine for another 30 minutes. There were no other time slots so I signed up for the open ten minutes and then wrote my name darkly overtop the first twenty minutes of Bjorn’s second block. So on the schedule sheet for cross-trainer #7 it was Bjorn for thirty minutes, then me for ten minutes, and then for twenty more minutes
Me darkly superimposed over Bjorn. So Bjorn was currently on his first time block on the machine, pumping away furiously. I got on an exercise bike to warm up and eye him until his time was up. Bjorn’s time ended and he got off and I took over (after I wiped his Nordic cooties off). The cardio room is mirrored all around so I was able to watch Bjorn go check the reservation clipboard and quickly swing his head around to me with an angry expression. Ha ha, that’s right, I overwrote you!
Obviously his plan had been to monopolize it for a whole hour. No one ever signs up for just a ten minute block. I could tell he was fuming. He got onto an exercise bike and kept looking over at me with a sour grapes face (I pretended not to notice). So my first ten minutes ended and if there was going to be a confrontation, it would be then. Bjorn got off of his bike and started to approach. I wanted to look as intimidating as possible so I put on what I hoped was a nasty, frightening scowl. I was listening to 1980 music. “Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker” was playing on Luna, something with at least a little edge. It would have been difficult to muster a good scowl if “Abba – Super Trouper” or “Lipps Inc – Funkytown” was playing. Anyway, Bjorn got close, looked right at me and….dropped his eyes and walked right by! Yeah!!! Woohoo! Triumph! Score one for the mean face. I wonder if that made any sense.
The Ancient Undergrad 
What a great thing!!! I love being a “jerk!”
Don’t worry, I don’t know what I want to do either. I’m halfway towards either a biology or chemistry major. Neither of which I really want to do! Argy!
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i love the Life aquatic soundtrack. i love High Fidelity. i would have loved to be there to see the showdown between the Nordic wightsman and you, our friendly neighboorhood blogger. :)i think its interesting that we are forced, through society, to choose an area of expertise. why isnt there a group that just floats around and does lots of different stuff? (other than the group typically known as “Slackers”). what if you arent meant to be an expert in any one thing, what if you’re meant to have a wide variety of interests, talents, and knowledge? i dunno dude. you are in a worse boat than i am, but i know how you feel.
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I love the imagery of a gigantic Viking contemplating kicking your ass over the use of gym equipment. Had there been a confrontation, you should have told him to go out rowing or something.
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i dug yr narrative slice from the gym. congrats on winning alpha-dom in your relation with bjorn.
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oh you are so mean! and after i complimented you on our shared music/movies tastes. well i say to you sir: Take That! zero eprops to you as well! Ha!tomfoolry my ass…;)
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I really like your writing. I’m at the same point in my life and your struggles speak to me. Keep your chin up. It does get better…I think. Good on you for telling Bjorn off (if tacitly)!
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RyC: control your dorkiness!
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RYP: excellent. we didn’t have to sign up at UCSB. But then again, we all worked out at different times.
RYC: I know. I wondered if you still read him. I guess you still do. There were things I needed to know, and learning them – made me realize things about myself. I waited until his birthday (today) to finish what I started. I’ve no desire to know anymore.
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who suddenly made you the High Critic of Online Blogs? just because everyone always compliments you on your wonderful stories and other shit doesnt mean you can go around criticizing other people’s blogs. for your information i purposely do not capitalize for informal conversation effect and to make capitalized items stand out. and MAYBE i didnt want to put too much “meat” in the most recent post… some things i keep to myself, ya know. 😉 Zero props once again, i’m afraid. perhaps you’ll do better next time.
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LOL to the above comment.
I was thinking about this last night too. Who gave you the right to pass judgement?
Do we consider each other friends? Or are we just audiences, glimpsing solid reflections when the waters are still for a second?
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*jumping into my hiding hole*(it’ll take some gentle coaxng to get me out)
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nor was my above comment serious either, you crazy cat. get out of that hole and fight like a man damnit! lol. will an eprop help? here’s two. not that you deserve it but hell, i’m nice.
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