North light late night

[Eyreplenh]

My last, first and so far only reflections thread had a spelling error in the title, something I did not realize before the artist now named Amos put forth a rhetoric and precise question; what is a weel?

To follow up on that, this title, has moved on to several possible syntax errors. I'm not sure of that, I'm not even sure if a syntax error is what it would be called. Is that progress? I don't know. At least I'm sober when I write this, so that I wont have any excuses for it either way -though it might be argued no level of inebriation is any defense for spelling "wheels" without the h.

But it is what it is, the times they are changing, and that is true even for me. Last weekend I did a horrible drive to Tromsø and back, and those few days were absolutely trash. The whole moving process being done, however, I am looking immensely forward to getting up there now and getting started.

For the first time since I was fourteen I am going to attend school without one or more jobs on the side, and for probably the first time I have the proper motivation to do so. I am eager to have the time to immerse myself in what I want, and not having to skim through everything in life because there was always a job waiting within a few hours. I am currently a little bit ambiguous towards my history of working. On one side, it has made excelling in school or hobbies more difficult, and may be one of the reasons that I at the age of 24 in a way start university all over again all the while my friends are finishing. This point of view used to bother me quite a lot, but at some point I left (most of) the whole age/panic thing behind. The people I care about now are all doing different things, studying, working, having babies, and overall, they are still the same people with the same personalities they had before.

In stead, I will try to focus on the brighter side of things. I am still 24 and have almost 11 years of continuous and varied working experience, with glowing references from every job I've had. In meandering so much in life and in my studies I have now found a course that I like and am getting more fascinated by with each passing day, and from having worked one vein of that future course already, I know it is something that will remain interesting and meaningful for a long time. And that, I think, is something that matters.

In moving again I've frustrated some of my friends, but mostly just the fringe ones that, if I'm honest, does not matter that much to me. Of the ones that do matter one hell of a lot, some are a bit sad, but hey, so am I, and we all know it doesn't really change anything. Sure, getting together several nights of the week wont be possible, but the great thing about truly great friends is that even if you just see them a couple of times a year, the feel in that shared livingroom is the same. You spend a little time catching up is all. And I can live with that.

I leave now to fly up north, and tomorrow I'm starting this exciting new adventure. See you there

[Eyreplenh]

It's been pretty much a week now, of this new adventure of mine. I must say I like it so far, but I am also pleased there is a huge potential for growth yet.

So far I've only been to the university twice, once on an introductionary type of day, and today to submit some of my previous university education for approval here. I have my fist lecture tomorrow, then another subject kicks in next week, and the last the week after that. A smooth and lax start for me there, as you can see. I intend to work hard at my studies this year, and that pretty much starts tomorrow. As there has been very little disclosure about our recommended reading so far, I don't even feel bad for not doing anything this first week.

Also, some of the other activities I'm planning to attend start this week. Tomorrow or thursday (the information is vague) I'll try out for the local Futsal team. I really hope I'll make that cut, as it'd most likely lead to some cheap trips around the country on which I could say hi to my scattered friends. Football is starting up on friday and I'll probably go for one more activity, still have not decided between bandy, tae kwon do or bunjinkan...

What I have been doing so far, is reading a fair bit, getting to know the town a little bit, and exploring my mountain. It really is a beautiful place that I have moved to, and I love the air. It's a mixture of sea and mountain air, which, you know, cannot be bad. I, with my slight allergies, breathe a bit lighter here, and the somewhat increased chill is a small price to pay. Wonder if I'll think the same in the winter, hehe.

The quiet trips to the mountain has me actually thinking again too, I am working on an idea that might be interesting to work with academically, I just need to get a decent phrasing of it. I'll try it out on you first, of course

[Eyreplenh]

I've been back home for two days now, and it's really quite a wonder this time. The place hasn't changed much, so I guess I must have, because I'm noticing and relishing so many little things this time around.

First off, something is different. It's a real winter this year. Way up north we've had temperatures steadily between 0 and -5 degrees, while here in the south it is now -21 and the average the last couple of weeks have been -10/15. Everything outside is crystallized and covered in a few inches of snow. I've been taking the dog out, and yesterday we went deep into the forest. I let the dogs nose lead us wherever it wanted, and we happened across countless holes that judging by the tracks in the snow hold an almost infinite amount of hares. Further in we came across bigger tracks and soon happened upon grooves in the snow where deer and elk had been sleeping. The dog exulted in all the smells, of course, while I started keeping a wary eye out for any big, grumpy animals. After a couple of hours of walking I did catch a glimpse of a biggie, it was the swaying hips of a yearling elk dissappearing over a ridge.

The forest, the hills and the fields, covered in crisp white snow... It is simply dazzling. Sure, some of the effect might possibly be brought on by starting snow blindness, but I dare say it is beautiful, oh so beautiful. It's the thing that I used not to notice except in rare, melancholy moments. Now I have a more positive apprehension of these surroundings, I think. It must have something to do with my coming of age

I saw a lot of windfalls (that's the most appropriate translation I can think of, and what I mean is trees felled by the wind) yesterday and so today I brought an axe with me when I took the dog out. I let the dog loose to chase whatever smells and trails he wanted, and was amused by the periodical bursts of yapping that meant he'd caught a real interesting one. It's a funny one, our dog, nowhere near fast or clever enough to actually catch anything, but appreciating a good chase nonetheless. Anyway, I wasn't quite sure who owned the part of the forest we were in, but since none of the windfalls were fresh I was pretty sure whomever it was wouldn't mind me cleaning up a little.

You know, out there in the forest, me, the dog and the axe, it could have been a totally macho experience. I even wore one of these:
http://www.naturogfritid.no/bilder/290043.jpg

I say could, because it wasn't. My axe was too small I only found a small axe we use to chop some kindlings, but I wasn't to be deterred by that, and went to work with gusto. So much gusto that I was albe to throw jacket, gloves and hat in 15 degrees below and still work up a sweat. I stacked the smaller branches in small piles and then went on to split the stem into neatly sized logs. Finally I stacked the logs next to a nearby tree. By the time I finsihed my arms were tweaking from the repeated blows by the axe and the dog had returned to my side, panting and rubbing his back in the snow to cool off.

I figure that if the wood hasn't been claimed in the next couple of weeks I'll haul it on home and put it to good use, as well as going at the remaining windfalls. If the owner is too lazy to check on his land then he probably wont miss it

Ah, the exam weeks took a toll out of me, even though I was prepared and did good this year. It's a mental blowout that left me quite fatigued, but it is helping now. Besides working in the forest, I was able to finish a book today, the first in some weeks. The energy... it's coming back

[Eyreplenh]

Before, when I used to reflect on a regular basis, I think I used to drink a lot more, and I think this might have something to do with the current frequency. Anyway, last weekend, in Paris, I drunk alot. I don't think there will be a whole lot of reflecting in this post, but quite a lot of drunken debauchery. And who doesn't like that?

I went down thursday night, and after a quick taxi from Orly (I'll make a Should you visit post, but if you're going to Paris, always land at Orly -unless you're flying Air France) met up with three of the four guys who'll, me included, consitute the funding trust "League of Ordinary Gentlemen". We went out to eat and have some drinks, but this was a fairly quiet night. Apart from learning that rats thrive in Paris, nothing much to report, really. Or, yes, I always forgot! On the way home, we went past a place where my residing Paris friend eat more than once a week. The place was closed down, but the proprietor waved us in for a night cap. We went in, and sat down to have some excellent (and super strong!) frozen margeritas, and had just made a toast to Miguel who let us in, when his wife wandered in. Even our somewhat inebriated quartet were quite easily able to see that she was more than surprised and less than pleased that Miguel had let in four drunk norwegians and that we still had the better half of the pitcher with the margeritas in front of us. The temperature in the room went noticeably down, and for some minutes the air could be cut with a knife, something that we, drunk as we were, had trouble not to laugh out aloud at. Luckily, she was somewhat of a tennis fanatic, and since one in our party at one point was courtside at a Roland Garros match, he was able to keep her tail wagging until the rest of us had killed off the drinks and thanked Miguel. Of course we went there the next day just to get a second helping of the heavy air...

Friday, a much better day. We started the day slightly hungover, and had a big breakfast before heading down to the Seine to soak in the sun and some champagne & beers (a couple of my friends for some reason love champagne, while I have one companion in the hate boat. We tolerated it on this occasion because, well, we were in France), and by midday we were already starting to feel the heat. Time for a late lunch and some more of those margeritas! We then headed back to our flat to relax a bit, mix up some cuba libres and listen to some music. By the time we headed out to eat we, and especially me (I'm sad to say) was really starting to feel it. We were also waiting for the last friend who was arriving with a late flight this night. Moments before he arrive to meet us at the bar, I stand up at our table and solemnly declare (yep) something that translates to: Shit! I'm fuckfaced! Help! Apart from the mixup here, there is something quite special going on here. Some personal growth has definitively happened here. Not only do I recognize the fact that I am about to crash and crash badly, I also plead for help. Four years ago the solution to this (unlikely) insight would have been a round of tequilas. Also, there must have been some growth among my friends too, because they actually took me outside for a couple of minutes and then ordered me a bowl of chips. Four years ago the solution to this "problem" would have been a round of tequilas! After this place, three fifts of our group went home to sleep, while R and I went to find this supposedly hot club called Showroom. We walked and walked, but wasn't so sure where we were going, and soon I was so in need of a piss my eyes must have been yellow. Not quite ready to urinate all over Paris (it was only a friday, after all), I went straight for the nearest club, past the long line, looked the guys in the door straight in the eye and got a nod and a pass. I ran straight for the toilet, and lo and behold, there was no line here. Relief! I meet up with my friend in the area of limbo in any club, that between the bar and the toilet, and we consider just staying here, but decide we want to find the Showroom and head out. We walk around for another half hour, just to find the place we left was the bloody Showroom! I try the routine again, going past the queue, but something had to be lacking from my eyes this time because all I got was a frown and a pointer down the line. Our tails between our legs, we went home. You'd believe that the level of drunk had gone down with the amount of walking we did, but when we got back I passed out, clohes on, next to the mattress I'd been assigned.

Saturday, of course, was the real plum in the pear-rrr. More of that some other time. Maybe

[Eyreplenh]

Lets forget about Paris for a minute (more than the three weeks I've been forgetting about it so far), and lets focus on the fact that I just had an exam. I wish I could say it went swimmingly. This for two reasons. First, and most obvious, if it went swimmingly, it means I did as good as I'd hoped, no problems, exam done. Secondly, I long for the green pastures of maybe-tomorrow land, where my recent performance would have been considered very good. I figure I am somewhere on the edge of the A, cannot really know for sure if it is on the fight side of said edge, but damn, an exam where you at the very least got a B and is in the running for the A should be good, no? I don't know.

I am competing for one of 34 positions in the program here and 1 of 52 places in Bergen (but I'd really prefer not to have to move), and the average grades end to be high. Usually there is about 15-25 applicants per position, however this year the university has accepted almost twice as many students into the first year (we compete with the grades obtained in this) -because of an administrative error, would you believe it?! Now, a lot of these extra students are not, what do you call it, of the motivated or interested kind (but as long as you can fill some basic credentials you are entitled to a higher education) so it might not mean much for competition, but it very possibly could. Either way, the average last year was weak, historically speaking, and was closer to B than A. However, I am operating on a worst case scenario, and would very much like to get the A average, no minus or comma involved. Thus, a possible A but maybe B is a FAILURE! Bah...

...Ah, but wait! I just now realized I have been operating on a worst case scenario when it comes to grade determination as well. But what makes and A is set beforehand, and would you know, I've calculated quite a margin. I figured somewhere in the 90-93% area would be sufficient for an A, but it turns out a measly 85% is enough. I my friends, have just got another A! Two down, one (twoish) to go. Now, the real bugger is that the first year grades we compete with is based on subjects that total 40 study credits (or what you want to call it. We call it points). I have had two exams based on ten points each, and I've gotten two A's (if I right about the one today. I think I am), so far, so good. There is only one exam left though, which means it covers 20 study points/credits. Since the average is calculated on the grounds of study points/credits, this last exam is really the gamebreaker.

Which means, I guess, back to the books! More precicely, back to the book

[Eyreplenh]

At my last exam I called over one of the old pensioners that always function as overseers and administrators at these things and asked to go outside for a while. I seldom have to go to the toilet or anything, but taking a breather always helps me keep focus all the way through. We talked about nonsensical things, things you talk about with people you'll know for these five minutes and no more, but it was rather pleasant as the old bugger had a weird sense of humour. Anyway, when I turned in my exam he was very kind and funny, and as a way to return the favour I gave him my unopened bar of chocolate (was to busy writing) to share with the other crones. He was so thankful he almost cried, no doubt because the sugar would help all of them to stay awake during the last two hours of the exam. End of story

Ah, it felt good to turn in that exam. When I first reviewed the questions I felt very insecure, and also a bit annoyed since the questions they asked didn't seem very relevant to the curriculum. As I wrote though, I was able to pull out most of what I knew, and as the writing was drying up I actually felt good since I knew that there are a lot of people who would struggle more than me to wrap their head around the angles. And while that is pretty selfish of me, it's also true. It's a coveted spot I'm competing for, and I'll take any edge I can get.

Now everything is kind of empty. One part of me is already looking forward to going back in a couple of months. I just perused all of the subjects the university is running next semester, and found no less than 53 I'd be interested in following. I'll probably only be able to do a couple outside the psychology subjects I'll be having, so deciding will be tough -and ultimately decided by what my obligatory schedule will allow. The other, not so study-keen part of me is rooted in the fact that until I know the results of the recent exams, I don't know if I'll make the cut. And if I don't make it, I don't know if I'll go back to the university at all. WG says I'd be a fool not to, but as much as I like to widen my horizons with all kinds of subjects, there's only really psychology I want to practice in the real world. Going back to uni to become some generic academic subsequently teach something somewhere with low or no motivation... I don't know about that. I have a good enough resume to land a decent/going nowhere job, so I'd be just as well of doing that and reading whatever I like on my own.

A lot of things look juicy next semester though. Basic arctic biology, marine top predators, political philosoph, sustainable energy, basic programming, discrete mathematics, dissertation in economics... it all sounds fun to me! I am also considering joining a politcal party (greens) as well as probably getting a job of some sort on the side.

Bah, bottom line is I really hope I get into the programme I want, then everything else will fall into place. I hope

[Eyreplenh]

Yeah, baby! It's the flow of the century, eight wonder of the world!

No, wait, that is someone else. I am feeling rather good, however, since daddy just landed a new pair of As

I've ben hitting the refresh button on the university websites a little to often these last days, since the grades should have been pubished two days ago. Today I'd just checked once in the morning before giving up for the day, when I got a text from someone who'd just checked and found the grades. And I got what I wanted. Ah, it feels very, very good. It means I can relax a little bit before the last, since a B there probably will be enough, and I'm almost certain I at least got that much right. With another A there, though, I'm guaranteed a spot, so I'm still hoping for that.

Now WG and I are doing some preliminary packing for our move. We'll be taking over the new place in the start of july, but since we're going south to visit family for some weeks, we try to get as much in order as we can. Stopping by Trondheim on our way down, to visit some friends there for the weekend. The residents there have been lobbying me to get me back there, but I am pretty much certain WG and I will take at least one more year up here. I know for sure I'm not moving again in august if there's any way in hell I can avoid it. Seeing Trondheim again will be sweet though, an hopefully there's someone cool behind the turntables at my favourite little dubstep grotto. I really miss that perfect soundsystem...

Catch you on the other side of the weekend

[Eyreplenh]

Guess what? I landed a big whooping A on the last exam too. I am officially a straight A slugger

I found out while we were visiting WGs father and his girlfriend in Sweden, and it took some time too sink in, but now I am actually quite excited. Only a statistical fluke of the century stands in my way now, and while I'm not always a smiling optimistic, neither am I a paralyzed neurotic, so I figure it will be allright. Allright!

The last couple of days I've been rewinding at my parents house, while WG went back up to see if she could catch some work and do some more packing and preparing. I'll be heading up next week, but before that I'm going in to the big city to visit some friends I haven't seen a while and catch a couple of bands that feature other people I know. The weather is warm and the beer is cold, so it will be a fun weekend. That said, I'm looking forward to the days from sunday to thursday, when I will be doing absolutely nothing. We've been going so much to and fro and spending time with family and friends everywhere, and while I'd be quite a douche not to appreciate that, I'll be honest and say that some days of absolutely nothing is just as good.

Still going to be a couple of weeks before I get the eventual call from the uni offering me one of the coveted places, and I'm not going to think too much about it before then. Still have a move to get through, as well as following up on the two jobs I applied from. Still waiting for the university to list positions as assistants, which I think I might be keen on as well. Just have to watch out I don't end up with too many jobs. It has happened before...

My mind still seem to be in that post-exam mush where I prefer movies and tv-games to reading and writing, but I'm sure that will be better post-moving. At least I hope so.

One downside was that a girl I've been working quite closely with and that has been trying to get in for two years already "only" managed to get a B average and probably wont get in. I'm sad because it means really much to her and she works so hard and is very knowledgeable -but really underperfoms on exams. She sounded okay and up for another try, but she will be going the third year straight doing the same courses. I know I would have buckled under from boredom and foreboding futility.

But now then, on to bigger questions; to keep the caveman-beard, or not? I'll discuss it with the razor.

[Eyreplenh]

It's finally starting to sink in. That I'll actually be doing what I really want next semester. That I made it. Not that it's that unique to make just this it, but that I did it. That took some following through, that's for sure, and that was pretty much a first for me.

I was counted as pretty quick and sharp in my early years in school, something that has followed me ever since. Mostly in the form of guilt that I've never really excelled at anything. Up until this year I've spent whatever edge I have for learning on pure mediocrity, as in spending as little effert as possible to get acceptable grades. I was very succesfull at that...

I feel quite good now, feel that I've crossed a threshold of some kind, that I've pushed through the curtain of soft and safe mediocrity. I just hope that it is true and will stay true in my academic achievements, but also that it spills through into other aspects of my life. Main two areas that I would like to make it happen is in 1) my exercise and health, where I've always been at the same stage, somewhere far from obesity and problems, but almost as far as actually being fit. I'm going to join up with a soccer team again, and I'd like to see how far I could push it. And 2) in my effort to go green, where I, for some time, have been living a little greener than average, but far from green enough to make a difference. I've already registered as a passive member of our version of a green political party, and am hoping to maybe get active as well.



In other news, the next three days wont be quite as quiet as I had originally planned. My old soccer club got a few sudden sick calls, so the next days I'll be filling in as an instructor for some kids at a summer soccer school. It will be fun, I think

[Eyreplenh]

Turned out being an instructor for kids isn't all that it's cranked up to be. I was seriously disgusted with most of them, I tried to direct this disgust at their parents, but it wasn't always that easy. All in all, I walked away with a decent tan, a symbolic wage and some money earned for my old local club, but no joy.

Top three downers with kids at soccer school:

1) They have no interest in soccer. The majority of the kids were there for one thing only, the parents wanted/needed some time off and the soccer schools fee was probably lower than three days worth of babysitting.

2) Kids are incredibly spoiled. We tried giving them "homework" (excercises that should be fun to do anyway) with the added reward that if they could beat their instructors we'd buy them a Playstation 2. The kids replied they already had that, and that if we didn't put anh\ything else on the table we could forget about it.

3) This growing disgust with the young is probably proof of my own dwindling youth.

There was a few highlights though, a few kids were nice -and this was in perfect correlation with having parents that actually cared enough to show up and look at their progress and pick them up. Oh, and I did a perfect high in the air over the head volley (hurt like hell when I landed on my back, but I bit it back) and after that the kids wanted my autograph

Up north now, in our new flat. Moving was hell, as it always is, but at least the weather was nice and things went pretty smoothly. I really think I'm going to like it here, we've checked it for mold and other nastiness and can find none of it. I figure there's a decent chance we'll spend the remainder of our student days here

Sigh. We'll be packing out and getting in order this weekend, and then on monday we're going further north (yes, it's possible) to visit WGs grandmother, as well as attending a meet of that part of the family *shudder*. In a way, it really sucks to have your friends and family spread out an around -so far this summer there's been very little time to just ease up and chill out. Always there are people to see and things to do. Not vacation in my book. The two weeks after the next two weeks look promising though.

Lets cross out fingers for that

[Eyreplenh]

A long sommer is coming to an end. It's been hectic, both in a good and a bad way, and now I am really looking forward to starting a new semester and get into some routines again. Mostly, this summer has been hectic due to two things; our moving and a family meet in the very north of norway. Other than that, it's been pretty much business as usual, visiting my folks, WGs folks and hanging with some friends. There has been a lot of travelling, since I now live so far from most family and friends, and this is a long country. And in the travelling, as in experienceing new places and peoples, there's been nothing this summer. Granted, I'd easily swap the family meet in northern norway with some more exciting place and plans, but as it were neither wallet nor calendar would have allowed anything much.

I have a job interview at the campus bookstore on monday, and then I meet my new classmates on tuesday. Am hoping for, and rather confident of, both to work out just fine. Am more than a little bit curious as to what we'll be put through the first couple of days by last years class, they have a tradition to put the new students through some weird stuff. Have to decide on my subjects for the semester in the next couple of days. There is a pretty full schedule of obligatory stuff I have to do, but I'll look for some spots in the calendar to fit in a couple of extra subjects, as I kind of enjoyed the increased workload that gave me last semester. I'm currently sniffing at an introductory course in macroeconomics, one in sociology about modern workplaces, trying again to register for environmental philosophy (it didn't run last years due to lack of registers), and am considering a couple of literary classes, one of which is actually science fiction and fantasy based. I am a little bit reluctant though, because when I did some literary classes a few years ago all the professionalism threathened to take away most of my joy of reading. Don't want that, no sir. There's a lot of other subjects I want to check out too, but it really comes down to whether the schedule will allow me to attend any lectures/that the exam dates aren't all on the same day. Either way, I look forward to getting back on campus.

The end of this summer ends on a musical note, the past weekend was great, and tomorrow I'm heading to Oslo to attend another festival, where I plan to see the likes of Jens Carelius, James Blake, Matthew Dear, Okkervil River and Kanye West.

Hooray

[Eyreplenh]

So... It's sort of starting to feel real. I'm a part of one of the really prestigeous programs, like top three in the country, in the university. I've met my new classmates these last couple of days, both in the university and out in the semi-real world of university-city bars and clubs. If I am disappointed with anything, it's the level of, what should I call it... intelligence? , academic achievement?... something like that. I had been looking forward to some real challenges and sharp minds to hone my own on, but so far I'm not so sure about that. I wont despair though, either these heads will rise, or it must mean I am quite smart myself. That, or, of course, seeing as I am writing this, quite a douche. We seem to connect quite well socially though, something I think we'll benefit a lot from. After all, I'll be bunkering with these people for several years ahead, so a little chemistry will come in handy.

I feel good about the situation, it's a security of sorts to know you'll be doing the same thing for a while, not have to think so much about choices, moving and all that. At least I hope there's a little while until I next have to move. Urgh. Moving.

My next goals now is to close down (or hand over, which is unlikely as noone seems to want it) the student organization I am still head of. We've been mostly hibernating for a year now, and noone really seems to care very much about it. After all that is over -and it will be a massive weight off my shoulders- I'll look into some extra subjects. Right now I am angling towards doing a few courses in macroeconomics, as the financial world seems hell-bent on going to the shits, I'd like to understand what's really going on better. I also went to the interview for the campus bookstore, and I think it went well. It will be nice to have a little extra money coming in, so that I can continue traveling and maybe even get my saving back on track. My savings account is still pretty solid (it's a special benefits one with decent interest rates and some tax reductions, but it's tied down to buying a house or apartment), but my buffer account, which also used to be quite sturdy, has lost quite a few battles this last job-free year.

I think... I really think this will be a good fall

[Eyreplenh]

I think this will be a great fall, he said. Not knowingly, that's for sure. So far, fall, autumn, whatever you prefer to call it, has been so-so. At best. But finally, finally the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting brighter.

Some things have been done. I have managed, after over three years of swimming against the current, to convince my fellow (psychology) student leaders around the country of the importance of an organization that will help students from the different universities to fight for the same rights and ease the flow of communication. The workload is pretty much the same now, but when things are going the right way, swimming is not so hard, it's actually quite enjoyable!

A couple of other guys and I also decided to try and get a futsal team going (that has got to be confusing for you on the other side of the pond, but it's like soccer, only with a different ball, different rules and it's played inside ), from a motley band of slack exercisers. In just a few months, we've got the team registered and up and running, with a healthy economy and over 50 members.

I've been elected leader of the psychology students association in Tromsø, without really doing anything much -yet. But I've got plans...

Also, I managed to convince my class to start a fund-raising project where we each month donate money to worthy causes. This month I even (so far) got the majority swayed towards donating to the awesome World Land Trust, something I am quite excited about. Next month we pitch the idea to the rest of the faculty, hopefully we'll get the rest of the classes on board.

In addition to this, I have, in the laboratory of my pants, grown an enourmous penis.

Er, no...

That was bragging. That's not good. Still, I'd like to ask your forgiveness. I had the need to put these things down to make it clear to myself that lving in a state of near worn-downedness for the better part of three months have been worht it. I think it has been.

Other than this, I'm kind of disappointed with my new program at the university. All of us that were offered places there had to work our asses off, now there's almost nothing to do or expectations to deal wit whatsover. And it's not even a liberating, go explore on your own kind of nothing to do. There are lots of small tasks that require nothing but time, it's dull and I hope it dies. We've had one course in statistics that was kind of fun, the rest has been blah. Hopefully the semester ends on a high note when we go out in the field the first week of December.

Ah, catch you on the flip side. Peas!

[Eyreplenh]

Ah, it feels good to land again. To get feet and face in solid contact with the ground again. To taste again the feelings of misanthropy and... grit.

Because, dear freund, the lofty and obnoxious statements in the previous post has been given an answer. Lo!

First off, let me say that if mentions of the unmentionable contents of ones pants gives pleasure onto others, then Fizzy, you're welcome
That being said, the rumours of grandeur turned out to be delusions.

Also, part of our futsal team now signed off after we split the group into two (to cope with space issues) different groups. Luckily for us, there seems to be a correlation between dedication, skill and overall not being a douchebag-edness. Since the decision to split up the groups were unanimous, we also keep the drop-outs small financial contribution. Still, it's not so cool to have quite a bit of hard work undermined by people who are dismayed they might actually have to show up to practices to make the team.

The grand finale, however, was the equally grand collapse of the fund-raising project. In what started as a small reminder to the class from the projects keeper of the scrolls, my class erupted into an argument that lasted for over two hours. For my part, I realized the project was lost the minute people started arguing. I cursed myself for not laying down clearer rules at the beginning, but could only watch as the project I'd initiated, where the main idea was that we each month had to take it upon ourselves to actually acknowledge some of the problems of the world and consciously do something about it, could only watch as that ended up, after a vote, in a wine-lottery where the profit might or might not go to... something. I take consolidation in the fact that we got one months money to a school project in Uganda, and another to the World Land Trust. Also, I feel I might have gained some insight into why the climate summits fail to get anything done.

So, all in all, a week of frustration for me.

I have WG by my side now, and that keeps me from really submerging in my self-pity and world-loathing. Maybe that's a good thing. But I kind of miss that pool, you know. It threw some killer parties.

Also, I think these reflection post used to be better back when. Maybe even funny, at times. Someone said that, at one point.

Oh, well.

[Eyreplenh]

I miss writing. Writing for fun. The first weeks of the new year has been hectic ones for me. I'm still busy with a lot of stuff besides studying at the university, I agreed to work an additional day every week at the job (the bastards appealed to my bloated ego, it was impossible to resist) and I've taken on double of what is considered the normal student workload, credits-wise. Of these things though, there's only really the "stuff" that is taxing me, the other things I do because I like doing them. Ah, this fragile flower called student democracy, and other student organizations are really taking it's toll out of me. Mostly because I don't particularly care, and it's only my conscience and sense of decency that's keeping me from jumping ship. These things are important, in a way, but I just don't care too much. I'd much rather spend my time doing things I've come to consider important and/or fun. Like do triple the student workload and maybe even up my goals to two masters' besides my psychology degree

Academically, this is a much more fun semester for me. Last semester, expecting a greater workload, I did no extra classes and bored the hell out of myself. Now I am doing classes in environmental philosophy, microeconomics and consumerism besides my psych stuff, and I find it all very interesting. I've made plans to finalize a bachelors degree in psychology, as I have the credits for it, and in two semesters to get one in economics as well. Then there's always the sociology classes I've taken, I might pursue something there as well, if I can't work them in with some of the other stuff. I've received some feedback on my plans and what I've heard so far is that it would be a killer combo when it comes to eventually entering the job market. The psychology program I'm in basically is a guarantee for a decent living if you get through it, but then again, I've always liked my options. A high point in uni so far this year is I made the cut for some office space. I'm the only lower grade student to get this, and my classmates are all envious. Anyone that's attended a crowded university will appreciate the value of having some personal space to work in, I guess...

Also I want to start making an effort on bigger themes than whether or not professors should be forced to share their powerpoint presentations, or how much a bagel and coffee should cost in the student cafeteria. I want to maybe start contributing pieces on things I find important to the student newspaper (and submit it to other papers as well) and maybe even, hold on tight, enter politics I realize this might be an equally frustrating and time-consuming occupation, but at least I'd be doing something I care for.

In other news, WG and I are still getting along swimmingly, we're currently (well, she is anyway) searching for a decent table for our apartment, so we can invite more people over for dinner. We've agreed to find a second hand one, but where I typically would take the first one that could fit six-eight people, she's a bit more picky. So she looks around, and I help pay for it and carry it. I think we're both comfortable with this mix of labor. I have a plan to start having some theme dinners for people in my class to stimulate conversation and awaken people to the fact that being in the university library is but one part of the whole "education" business