Subtle Coolness

On the Saturday evening of December 4 just past, I was at the LDS Institute of Religion. That evening, many young people gathered to make gingerbread houses and watch a performance. The “gingerbread” was really graham crackers, but the performance was real. I was privileged to be a part of “The Forgotten Carols” by Michael McLean.

But I digress.

As I was observing the graham cracker house making, I ate some chocolate. This was not an abnormal practice of mine. In fact, it was quite in the ordinary for me to ingest chocolate on occasion. Quite as much in the ordinary as the next man, naturally. The real excitement comes later.

The following Wednesday, being December 8, I was at work talking with Inbar. We have a tin of candy at work to which we can help ourselves at any time. I was in the act of helping myself to a Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup, when Inbar mentioned that she thought she was addicted to chocolate. After her explanation, I was thoroughly convinced that she was indeed addicted to chocolate, and I suggested she stop eating it.

She certainly wouldn’t have any of that. I told her that I would stop, too. And I did. I replaced the Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup without opening it. But she didn’t. Stop, that is. So now I’m not eating chocolate for no reason whatsoever. And I’m actually enjoying it! However, the real excitement comes later.

Yesterday, I found myself again at work, and I was on shift with Inbar, when our supervisor walked over to our desk from her office with a large (that is to say, large) slice of cake. She offered it to us, and I began to laugh. And Inbar began to laugh. Because the cake was the most chocolatest chocolate cake with chocolate frosting I have ever seen in my entire life!

And yes, Inbar enjoyed it.

I went with some friends to see my very first live hockey game. There was a lot of yelling, and a few fights. Then the game started. I have to admit, the Lubbock Cotton Kings seemed to handle the puck with more elegance and grace than the Austin Icebats. But as you know, elegance and grace ne’er won manly hockey game.

The only time Lubbock scored was when two (2) of the Austin players were in the penalty box. At the end of the game it was tied 2-2. Therefore, there was five minutes of sudden-death overtime. Let us all rejoice, for the Icebats scored with 55 seconds left and we didn’t have to wait for a shootout.

The best show the whole night was the people on the outside of the glass, banging on it whenever the opposing team skated by. Weird. Oh, and the Icebat mascot threw us a t-shirt. Super cool.

That’s right, impulse. And I’m not talking about subwarp speeds, Captain Picard.

Completely on impulse, I went to Waco for two days. I was helping my friend pack his things for the winter break, when I looked at my schedule—-I’m never without my schedule, it helps prevent impulsiveness—-and realized that I was doing nothing, nothing for two days. So we stopped at my apartment and I packed up a bag quickly and we were on the road to Waco!

I’m starting to shop impulsively, too. Perhaps that’s just Christmas coming to get me, though. I have so many people that I want to get things for, especially because I have been forgetting birthdays left, right and center the entire year. And somehow, I have the funds. It must be a blessing.

So, “Merry Christmas” to all. And don’t forget to impulsively wear clothing you haven’t worn since you were fourteen years old. Now, who’s up for a Pinewood Derby?

I think there’s a new guard at the library.

Tuesday morning, I didn’t recognize the library guard when I came in to open the computer lab. For the life of me I couldn’t reach the key. I could hear it down there when I moved books around—-as a matter of security, I don’t think I can tell you where the key is actually kept—-but I just couldn’t find it. I went to ask the guard if he could go get the key for me.

He said he didn’t have access to that area, and the librarians who did have access didn’t arrive until eight o’clock in the morning (it was 7:45 at the time). I tried to explain that I worked for ITS and I needed to open the computer lab before 8, and all the other gaurds would go get the key for me when I couldn’t get it for myself, but I gave up and decided to try one more time to get the key on my own. I succeeded, thankfully.

That was Tuesday morning. This morning, the same guard was working. And he carded me.

He carded me!

There is a sign that clearly indicates that I should be prepared to show a University ID card to enter the library “between the hours of 10PM and 7AM,” and this was most definitely not between the hours of 10PM and 7AM. And do I look like I’m just some guy off the street interested in a warm, semi-comfortable couch and a good read?

So back off, man. I don’t even use this library to study. Ever. I’m just the guy up on the third floor to whom everyone comes for library-related advice, and I reply that I don’t work for the library, but I’ll help them anyway.

Read the badge. I work for ITS.