Recently, I watched season 1 of “The Wire” on DVD. It’s a great show, well worth the view. But that’s all beside the point. One episode caught me off guard- and had a bit of a unexpected effect on me. It made me really miss college.

In the show, this character is a heroin addict, and has made a decision to “get clean”. He doesnt have a home, he doesnt really have any friends, he doesnt have any family, so really – he doesn’t have any help to do this. Instead of hanging out in the projects sleeping in abandoned buildings; he starts hanging out in a park, sitting on a bench. The same bench. Every day, just watching people and listening and letting time pass. In the show, it’s actually a pretty lonely and cold feel that you get. But something about this scene made me desperately miss college. I want to be able to just sit down and watch the day go by without any worries, without any cares. That really doesn’t happen to often in the real world.. But in college, there were plenty of days where it did.

In college, things weren’t real. You didn’t owe money (although you were sure in debt), there was always a way to get some food, classes were optional, studying was optional. Something about it was just not real. Some how, some way, I just knew things would work out. That made it dynamic, and that made it fun.

I suppose i’m pretty lucky. I met a great group of friends at the very beginning of freshman year, and we pretty much all stayed friends through our entire tenure of higher education. And there’s just some passively liberating feeling that I don’t have anymore now that i’m in the “real world”. That’s nothing new, i suppose.. I have been graduated for over 3 years now. But that doesnt really change how i feel about anything. I miss walking over to 17c laker village and just sitting on the porch. I miss playing wrestlemania 2000 and super smash brothers for 5 hours at a time. I miss 30 packs of bush light. I miss skipping my one class of the day to go to a concert. I miss calling in sick at meijer. I miss laughing at cechg. I miss making fun of kramer’s imac. I miss our custom names in Revenge. I miss burgetta. I miss laughing at febreze (the person). I could go on and on… I definitely miss college. My immature, childish side will always have a soft spot that wishes college lasted forever.

There are, of course, plenty of things i do not miss… Cobol. Theresa Peterman. Public Safety. Housing. Joe Hornik. Scheduling. Buying Books. Moving. bb.gvsu.edu. River.it.gvsu.edu. Finals. Assembly language. Dishes. ICQ. etc… But, these are really trivial. And don’t hold a candle to the things i have now come to miss.

College really was one of the best things to happen in my life. That’s another one of those wierd decisions. It seems so small, so insiginificant when you’re a senior in high school. “where should I go to college?….. Hmm… How about GVSU.” And then, it shapes your entire life.

ef you, website.

What a wierd word. What a wierd thing. What an astounding affect this word has on one’s entire life. What an astounding affect one decision has the potential to impact. Staggering.

First, two bulleted items:

• A belated congratulations to Enfuego on his semi recent addition to Spectrum health
• Congratulations to Vanbergs on his recent addition to Fox17, where “Present anus, bring own lubricant” is no longer his job description

Recently, (being intentionally vague) – I was presented with an opportunity; a decision if you will – regarding my career. A big decision. A career changing decision. A life changing decision? More responsibilites, sure… More money, probably… All really boiling down to one question: “Is that what I want to do with my life”. I couldnt really come up with an answer. I spent a few nights losing sleep trying to envision a possible future. Never really making any conclusions or forming any opinions. Just thinking.

Then one day, it comes… suddenly. without any warning. the moment of truth. “Do you want this, eric?”. No. My immediate answer. Like a reflex… “I don’t know if i am ready for that… etc. etc.” And just like that, almost as quick as the discussion began; the discussion is over.

Thinking back – that was the definitely the right decision. The career path i’m on now is steadily growing in its own direction, and at a good pace. After all is said and done – It was the right thing to do. But jesus… what a big decision.

So apparently, a highschool age girl comes to my door and sales pitches me about buying magazines. Normally i would politely refuse, but this time – i was already getting ready to renew motor trend anyway. So, she starts her speech about it being for her school, help get money for college, learn about careers, etc. etc. I sign up, write a check for three years of motor trend.. everything is good.
Well, apparently the receipt says “Seller is not affiliated with educational institution, or local/state govornment.” I.e., i just got absolutely conned. So, after some helpful research from johnson2, have found that this company is a total scam that won’t let people cancel orders, fulfills them automatically, ETC. Its a total racket.

Apparently this woman didnt know that i am vanberge.

Clearly, the first thing i did today was to walk my bank’s branch and do a “Stop Payment” on the check. Go ahead company, try to cash the check… maybe you’ll even send me motor trend anyway? ef you.
Johnson2 also helped me by mailing out a cancellation letter via “CERTIFIED MAIL” – so we will get a reciept upon delivery as proof order cancellation.

Long story short, don’t ever buy magazines from little girls who can’t shut up. Im embarrased and frustrated that i even fell for this hideous sales pitch. I genuinely lost that battle.
Clearly, though, i have won the war.

Many other things have transpired this week; but i do not want to steal thunder from my hermano – so i am awaiting a published update from him before proceeding.

brb / ef magazine girl.

Since vanlandw is a noob, i’ve decided to simply utilize the wordpress default theme. Ef vanlandw for being a loser who can’t use a cool theme..

Congrats to vanbergs on making a profound post.

Congrats to uncle billy bomhof.

Congrats on Windows for really making me not be able to completely migrate to linux. This has been the most serious of all my attempts, but i really cannot commit to migrating fully to linux. Too many things are just too hard. I can’t sync my ipod, I couldnt rip dvd’s… And by the time you find an app that will work for you, its a KDE app and you are using Gnome. Linux is fun to run, but i just can’t do it full time.

good god give me a 4 day weekend of DS holiness.

*** edit ***

brb default theme