Thursday, June 23, 2005
Church Anyone?
Now that I'm back on a college campus, taking classes and such, I've gotten back into my habit of putting on the headphones, walking arms crossed and head down. Don't ask me why, just habit I guess. So this morning I decided to take a look around this new place I've contracted myself to for the next two years.
A few things are immediately noticeably different. First of all, in the grand tradition of my college life, and I am most certainly not exaggerating here, I live on the opposite corner of campus. Always have, and I guess for as long as I will live on any campus setting, always will. Nevertheless, as opposed to the 25 minutes it took to walk across the UW campus, it now only takes me 10 minutes; very do-able and a blessing for 8am classes everyday.
Secondly, this might be the deadest summer campus I've ever seen. Even Whatcom Community College with its grand student population of about 6,000 is more alive during the summer. Very odd, but it is nice to currently park on the sidewalk across from class for free. Not sure that will be an option during the school year, even at 8am.
Thirdly, and I'm amazed that it took me this long to realize this, in the maybe 5 block length of my daily journey to school, there are 6 churches. All of them located on campus (not sure how that's legal) and all of them fairly large, multiple stories. The first intersection I get to, McCallie and Douglas, is the only stoplight in my path. As I looked up to see what all these brick buildings actually were, three corners of this intersection were churches, churches bigger than many of the school buildings. Ironically enough, the fourth corner was the bursar's office. Three churches and hell all sitting together.
As I began count of churches on campus on my way to class, I also begin to realize that although there are many parking lots on campus. I like this idea until I see that just as there are an inordinate amount of churches, many of these parking lots belong strictly to these churches. A few may allow UTC parking from 8-5 M-F; however, if you happen to park even fifteen minutes past five, they will lock you into the parking lot and you must then pay the parking ticket fee for a Campus Cop to let you out (I've seen it happen). Cutthroat much? When a city has more churches than Lynden, WA, you know something's a little off.
A few things are immediately noticeably different. First of all, in the grand tradition of my college life, and I am most certainly not exaggerating here, I live on the opposite corner of campus. Always have, and I guess for as long as I will live on any campus setting, always will. Nevertheless, as opposed to the 25 minutes it took to walk across the UW campus, it now only takes me 10 minutes; very do-able and a blessing for 8am classes everyday.
Secondly, this might be the deadest summer campus I've ever seen. Even Whatcom Community College with its grand student population of about 6,000 is more alive during the summer. Very odd, but it is nice to currently park on the sidewalk across from class for free. Not sure that will be an option during the school year, even at 8am.
Thirdly, and I'm amazed that it took me this long to realize this, in the maybe 5 block length of my daily journey to school, there are 6 churches. All of them located on campus (not sure how that's legal) and all of them fairly large, multiple stories. The first intersection I get to, McCallie and Douglas, is the only stoplight in my path. As I looked up to see what all these brick buildings actually were, three corners of this intersection were churches, churches bigger than many of the school buildings. Ironically enough, the fourth corner was the bursar's office. Three churches and hell all sitting together.
As I began count of churches on campus on my way to class, I also begin to realize that although there are many parking lots on campus. I like this idea until I see that just as there are an inordinate amount of churches, many of these parking lots belong strictly to these churches. A few may allow UTC parking from 8-5 M-F; however, if you happen to park even fifteen minutes past five, they will lock you into the parking lot and you must then pay the parking ticket fee for a Campus Cop to let you out (I've seen it happen). Cutthroat much? When a city has more churches than Lynden, WA, you know something's a little off.
Normal?
So now that I've been rudely awakened by some retard undergrad (been waiting years to say that) who pulled the fire alarm and forced me to then wake up to what sounded like the end of the world, I'll take this time to post a blog.
I've realized that many of my blogs begin in the word "so." Might want to work on that.
SO things around here are different (dang it! did it again!). The ones I've been thinking about the most are: people don't really pay attention to those white and yellow lines painted on the road. Apparently around here, and this goes for pretty much everyone that drives around here. they're really more of guidelines than actual rules. Now the most irritating part of the whole scheme, I have to also abide by this breaking of the rules because if I don't venture out of my lane while someone else is coming into it, I will get hit. Now, I'm not sure about this state, but I've been told that in the south, lots of states are "no fault" states. As in, if some moron who got their license from the McDonald's ( they did not pay me to place that ad, I just have a serious love-hate relationship with their food) drive-thru hits you, it's not his fault you are still stuck up a really bad smelling creek. I thought Canada was bad...
The other most important thing around here, the squirrels. They might be the fattest, laziest, stupidest squirrels I have ever encountered. I watched this squirrel cross the road taking his sweet time, and then realized that's why I've seen more road kill here than anywhere else. Unbelieveable. You'd think evolution would work it's way in by now...jeez.
I've realized that many of my blogs begin in the word "so." Might want to work on that.
SO things around here are different (dang it! did it again!). The ones I've been thinking about the most are: people don't really pay attention to those white and yellow lines painted on the road. Apparently around here, and this goes for pretty much everyone that drives around here. they're really more of guidelines than actual rules. Now the most irritating part of the whole scheme, I have to also abide by this breaking of the rules because if I don't venture out of my lane while someone else is coming into it, I will get hit. Now, I'm not sure about this state, but I've been told that in the south, lots of states are "no fault" states. As in, if some moron who got their license from the McDonald's ( they did not pay me to place that ad, I just have a serious love-hate relationship with their food) drive-thru hits you, it's not his fault you are still stuck up a really bad smelling creek. I thought Canada was bad...
The other most important thing around here, the squirrels. They might be the fattest, laziest, stupidest squirrels I have ever encountered. I watched this squirrel cross the road taking his sweet time, and then realized that's why I've seen more road kill here than anywhere else. Unbelieveable. You'd think evolution would work it's way in by now...jeez.
