I don't use the student bathrooms that often; however, I share a bathroom with a few unnamed people who take old-people lengths of time in the bathroom. Today I lost the race to one of these old-people-who-really-aren't-old-but-take-as-much-time-as-an-old-person-in-the-bathroom-god-what-are-they-doing-in-there-this-is-taking-so-long. As a result, I had to use the student bathroom.
There was only one student in there and he was in one of the stalls. I could hear him blasting some music in his iPod while he was, well, blasting a #2. The music was pretty heavy stuff, like the stuff from soundtrack to the movie 300. It occurred to me that this kid was taking a pretty epic poop. I imagine in his mind the act of pooping was his way of fighting back innumerable hordes of orcs, that it was helping him save a princess, that it helped him conquer a dragon, that it saved the twin towers from terrorist attacks. There is really nothing epic about the act itself, but today was different, today lived in infamy, today that kid became a legend.
At least in his own mind.
Addiction Part 3
(This blog is a response to a recent blog entry by Ed, from the blog Striving for Mediocrity)
I can stop at any time. Really, I can. I mean, I don't need another guitar. I can just look, after all.
And look I do. Craigslist, eBay, you name it. Even though I have several guitars myself (far more than necessary), I look for new ones. Whenever I feel guilty about this need irrational need for more material possessions, I justify it by looking at guitars for other people. It's not so bad then, right? It might even be noble; an expert on the subject simply bestowing his opinion upon the unknowing masses. My dad's looking for a hollowbody guitar, so now I can indulge in the browsing and buying process. I get my little taste, my fix.
You see, the thing is about guitars is that you do kinda need multiple guitars. Not only do they get different sounds, which you need for performing a diverse range of sounds for a diverse set of songs, each guitar has its own set of songs. Picking up a particular guitar changes the ways your hand moves, influences what chords you will play, and bestows a certain mentality for songwriting. Playing new guitars is almost a creative necessity.
But I'm not addicted.
But that temptation can sure be strong. I mean, there has been some deals on Craigslist lately. Once in a lifetime deals; the kind of deals where you could easily justify indulging one more time. The thing is, though, sure the guitar's a deal, but the guitar I envision is not the guitar that's for sale: It's the guitar with all the mods. New pickups ($80). New tuners ($30). A set-up including intonation, adjustment, etc. ($50). That $150 guitar just became a $300, requiring an extra $150 I never actually had.
And them I'm down in the hole again. I hit rock bottom when my bank account bottoms out.
But I'm not addicted. No sir, I can quit any time. In fact, I've been "clean" for a full year now and counting.
Hi, my name is Ben and I'm a guitar addict.
I can stop at any time. Really, I can. I mean, I don't need another guitar. I can just look, after all.
And look I do. Craigslist, eBay, you name it. Even though I have several guitars myself (far more than necessary), I look for new ones. Whenever I feel guilty about this need irrational need for more material possessions, I justify it by looking at guitars for other people. It's not so bad then, right? It might even be noble; an expert on the subject simply bestowing his opinion upon the unknowing masses. My dad's looking for a hollowbody guitar, so now I can indulge in the browsing and buying process. I get my little taste, my fix.
You see, the thing is about guitars is that you do kinda need multiple guitars. Not only do they get different sounds, which you need for performing a diverse range of sounds for a diverse set of songs, each guitar has its own set of songs. Picking up a particular guitar changes the ways your hand moves, influences what chords you will play, and bestows a certain mentality for songwriting. Playing new guitars is almost a creative necessity.
But I'm not addicted.
But that temptation can sure be strong. I mean, there has been some deals on Craigslist lately. Once in a lifetime deals; the kind of deals where you could easily justify indulging one more time. The thing is, though, sure the guitar's a deal, but the guitar I envision is not the guitar that's for sale: It's the guitar with all the mods. New pickups ($80). New tuners ($30). A set-up including intonation, adjustment, etc. ($50). That $150 guitar just became a $300, requiring an extra $150 I never actually had.
And them I'm down in the hole again. I hit rock bottom when my bank account bottoms out.
But I'm not addicted. No sir, I can quit any time. In fact, I've been "clean" for a full year now and counting.
Hi, my name is Ben and I'm a guitar addict.
Frosh
I've started teaching freshmen this year for the first time since student teaching. It is kinda awesome. They will do anything and everything I ask them with such relish for life and just plain freakin' breathing it will bring joy to your heart.
It's also a pain in the ass.
These kids want to share any and every little thought in their tiny little brains, no matter the pertinence of the story. I've done a pretty good job feigning interest, but it's very difficult at 7:15AM when they start coming in and just watching me do anything I do. It's like I brought my dog to school, actually. It's not like, really, it is bringing my dog to school.
During one of my freshman classes today, a girl asked me if I got tired of listening to or saying, "That's really interesting!" to freshmen stories or connections. I looked at the class - silence.
"I never really say 'that's interesting,' have you noticed?"
Sorry freshmen. I love you. Really, I do.
It's also a pain in the ass.
These kids want to share any and every little thought in their tiny little brains, no matter the pertinence of the story. I've done a pretty good job feigning interest, but it's very difficult at 7:15AM when they start coming in and just watching me do anything I do. It's like I brought my dog to school, actually. It's not like, really, it is bringing my dog to school.
During one of my freshman classes today, a girl asked me if I got tired of listening to or saying, "That's really interesting!" to freshmen stories or connections. I looked at the class - silence.
"I never really say 'that's interesting,' have you noticed?"
Sorry freshmen. I love you. Really, I do.
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