So I'm sure many of you noticed how picturesque the weather was today. 70 degrees, sunny, a little breeze . . . while I took down a club sandwich and fries on the Legend's patio, I felt a huge sense of relief.
They have this new thing called Seasonal Affective Disorder, and while I look at the medical merits of such a syndrome, I usually chalk it up to a load of you know what. Think about it though - winter can be downright miserable. Being outside can chill you to the bone in less than 60 seconds, and the sun hibernates longer than usual, leaving your waking hours half light, half dark.
Then, one of the most underrated days of the year occurs - when we move the clocks forward! At this age I haven't had to worry about waking up that early, so whether the sun is up at 6:00 a.m. is not of my concern. But when the sun stays up until 7:30, then 8:00, then those wonderful 8:30 p.m.'s in July, it is oh so nice.
It is during the winter months where everyday routines become a grind; during the summer, though, everyday routines feel more like a nice, structured life.
During winter sporting events like the Super Bowl, people go to a bar or friend's place bundled up in their North Face, only to trudge home after the game. During summer sporting events like baseball games, you bust out the grill, cooler, and soak in the rays in your shorts and flip flops.
During the winter months, you can see your favorite band in the Assembly Hall or United Center - that is, after you slide your way into the arena from the ice covered parking lots. During the summer, you can pull into a grass lot, go into an amphitheater, sit on the grass and watch the stars come out while the music plays.
Okay, okay - enough cliche-ridden sentimentality.
Long story short: I love summer. There's something every weekend that takes place outside. Your favorite baseball team plays basically EVERY DAY - as opposed to the weekly Bears game or the two Illini basketball games a week. When you get to your car in the morning, there is no scraping of ice and five-minute warm-up session necessary before you hit the road.
So, in honor of summer, I will be celebrating it to its fullest. Concerts, a couple baseball games, grilling out for dinner as much as possible, finishing up my summer classes by doing homework outside any chance I get.
I made a pledge after last winter - no more would I ever complain about the heat in summer. I didn't complain once last summer, and I am pretty confident this summer will be the same.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
GRADUATION: The Good, the Bad, and the Richard Herman
So I suppose it's about time to leave a sentimental goodbye. This, of course, on a blog that admittedly I have abandoned for long stretches at a time. Nonetheless, there has been a therapeutic feel to each post, and perhaps I will take this up full time after the academic requirements are lifted.
Still, it is probably appropriate at this time to reflect a bit on college as a whole. And, if I were to be completely, utterly honest, I would lose many friends, alienate acquaintances with vulgar language and brash judgments, and God knows what other repercussions would come as a result if I tried to encapsulate this whole experience.
We will find ourselves asked many times throughout our lives, "So how awesome was college?" Perhaps not the same words, but the same idea. There will, inevitably, come a time where we say "Oh, man, it was awesome." I would even say that now.
Still, it has to be said, and it feels as if our bureaucratic academia-minded administration could care less about ANY of this . . . what about what goes on outside of the classroom?
See, the hardest thing for me to reconcile from the get go was that these four years are, in fact, the biggest transitional phase in any of our lives . . . period. There are high points, but there are just as many heartaches, heartbreaks, and damn near nervous breakdowns. I know I'm not the only one of that opinion.
I didn't know it coming in, but these past four years have felt like I've been put through the wringer with mixed results. It will all end up benefiting me as a person, but in the present, as we young adults face certain things for the first time, it is downright exhausting.
When I hear of the importance of attending class (and I attest, it is important for the classes that are relevant to your future, but Drug Use and Abuse? Why would I attend that amateur dog and pony show with any regularity?) I feel compelled to ask the academia-minded, high horse-riding administrators if they EVER, in their lives, had times where frankly some dopey elective didn't mean a damn thing to them?
Their honest answer would be "Yes" . . . at least I would hope.
But for the sake of fundraising, they wouldn't dare. For the sake of political correctness and portrayal of our fine, yet flawed university, as a beacon of knowledge, they will diplomatically address any issue as politely as possible. For instance, the University Police arrested 25 people on drug charges last Tuesday. Robin Kaler, spokesperson for the Chancellor, said the U of I doesn't condone any drug usage. Thanks Robin, how enlightening - I take this as an admission you never smoked a joint in your life?
Cynicality is not a trait I desire to carry, but damned if the powers that be don't exacerbate notions that would encourage such pessimism.
To my friends, fellow students, and, to be honest, the vast majority of teachers . . . you have all been great people, great influences, and people that have taught me at least one thing about myself or the world in general.
To the University . . . I look forward to when you send me the first letter for the alumni association. Depending on my mood, I'll either send it through a paper cutter, or I'll burn it with my charcoal before I plop on some T-bone steaks and smoke a Cuban.
Construe it however you like, and label me a budding Anarchist (ahem, trust me, I'm not at all) but the bigger the business, the less genuine the message.
Still, it is probably appropriate at this time to reflect a bit on college as a whole. And, if I were to be completely, utterly honest, I would lose many friends, alienate acquaintances with vulgar language and brash judgments, and God knows what other repercussions would come as a result if I tried to encapsulate this whole experience.
We will find ourselves asked many times throughout our lives, "So how awesome was college?" Perhaps not the same words, but the same idea. There will, inevitably, come a time where we say "Oh, man, it was awesome." I would even say that now.
Still, it has to be said, and it feels as if our bureaucratic academia-minded administration could care less about ANY of this . . . what about what goes on outside of the classroom?
See, the hardest thing for me to reconcile from the get go was that these four years are, in fact, the biggest transitional phase in any of our lives . . . period. There are high points, but there are just as many heartaches, heartbreaks, and damn near nervous breakdowns. I know I'm not the only one of that opinion.
I didn't know it coming in, but these past four years have felt like I've been put through the wringer with mixed results. It will all end up benefiting me as a person, but in the present, as we young adults face certain things for the first time, it is downright exhausting.
When I hear of the importance of attending class (and I attest, it is important for the classes that are relevant to your future, but Drug Use and Abuse? Why would I attend that amateur dog and pony show with any regularity?) I feel compelled to ask the academia-minded, high horse-riding administrators if they EVER, in their lives, had times where frankly some dopey elective didn't mean a damn thing to them?
Their honest answer would be "Yes" . . . at least I would hope.
But for the sake of fundraising, they wouldn't dare. For the sake of political correctness and portrayal of our fine, yet flawed university, as a beacon of knowledge, they will diplomatically address any issue as politely as possible. For instance, the University Police arrested 25 people on drug charges last Tuesday. Robin Kaler, spokesperson for the Chancellor, said the U of I doesn't condone any drug usage. Thanks Robin, how enlightening - I take this as an admission you never smoked a joint in your life?
Cynicality is not a trait I desire to carry, but damned if the powers that be don't exacerbate notions that would encourage such pessimism.
To my friends, fellow students, and, to be honest, the vast majority of teachers . . . you have all been great people, great influences, and people that have taught me at least one thing about myself or the world in general.
To the University . . . I look forward to when you send me the first letter for the alumni association. Depending on my mood, I'll either send it through a paper cutter, or I'll burn it with my charcoal before I plop on some T-bone steaks and smoke a Cuban.
Construe it however you like, and label me a budding Anarchist (ahem, trust me, I'm not at all) but the bigger the business, the less genuine the message.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
