Attack of the Killer Clowns

So I know Boulder is this ultra-healthy town where everybody runs and plays Frisbee and frolics in the grass with their golden retriever.

Yoga and palates are huge here.

Everyone is always looking for the next best exercise they can do to keep their bodies looking and feeling great.

And usually I'm like, "Whatever makes them feel good...go for it. Just don't run me over in your Subaru Outback trying to get there."

This morning on my way into work I saw something that I've decided is over the line. I just can't jump on the bandwagon of thinking that is a good thing to do.

This guy was riding a UNICYCLE on the bike paths around town.

A UNICYCLE!?!?! Since when has it been cool to be seen on one of those things outside the circus? This guy was wearing serious biking clothes (tight lycra shorts, padded bum, neon green windbreaker) and huffing and puffing on his UNICYCLE.

Maybe I draw my apprehension to this activity from my past experiences with the riders of the UNICYCLE.

In my undergrad there was a group of really weird kids that all banded together and made a club called "the Sword and Quill." Once a semester the S&Qers would set up a medieval tent in the middle of campus, dress up like Lords and Ladies, RIDE UNICYCLES WHILE JUGGLING, and recite Shakespeare. Bizarre.

Now, I'm not saying that people shouldn't do that if that's what they're into. I think it's cool to have hobbies that are a bit away from the mainstream....heck, I'm a fiddler!

My aversion to the UNICYCLE came during one of such impromptu renaissance Festivals. I was trying to get into the bookstore to get a bluebook for a test. It was urgent, and the tents were blocking my way. I pushed through the tents in my critical quest for a bluebook. Well, I guess that was unacceptable because some kid started CHASING ME ON A UNICYCLE. When he caught up with me he yelled at me for disrupting the authenticity of the scene.

Anway, now I'm jaded about UNICYCLES and all people who chose to ride them. (other than, of course, the occasional circus act. I love the circus)

My faith in humanity has been restored

Lately I've been growing a bit jaded about my fellow inhabitants of this earth. There seemed to be a vast perponderance of people whose base interests seem to be the driving force behind their actions. All of the looting and rioting and people sitting in garbage in Louisianna and Houston...all of the politicians just letting that happen. It all just seems to really be getting to me.

Yesterday the ear doctor and I went to my favorite little sandwhich shop for lunch. We were sitting on the cement benches eating outside in the sun. We were almost done with our lunch when two guys came and sat at the table next to ours. About a minute later the girl who was working the sandwich counter came out and told one of the men that he had dropped a $20 into the tip jar. He looked surprised and followed her back into the shop.

Moments later he came out and was commenting to his buddy about how impressive it was that she was so honest. She was right that he hadn't meant to give that big of a tip.

The thing that impressed me was that she didn't have to do it. She could have sat back quietly and doubled her hourly wage for the day, but she didn't.

And that is why I am back to my postion of thinking that, for the majority, people are good and honest and aren't out to cheat you out of a buck.

Perfect Colorado Weekend

Last week NPR said that last weekend was going to be best Coloradan weekend to see the fall colors...and they were right.

My pal Sarah, her husband, the ear doctor, two of our other friends and I went up to Guanella Pass above Georgetown, CO to go camping for the weekend.

As we drove away from Boulder and up into the mountains I was overwhelmed by how beautiful everything was. The yellow aspen leaves seemed to be glowing in the bright mid-day sun. Set against the deep green of the pine trees they seemed almost electrified. The aspens grow in veins down the mountain and make it seem like huge deposits of gold embedded in the sides of the majestic Rockies.

We got up to our campsite and much to our chagrin, the gates were locked. It turns out that the campground we were planning on using was closed up for the season. CRAPPY! We hemmed and hawed trying to decide if we were going to be rebels and laugh in the face of park rangers, or if we were going to submit to their unreasonable demands.

While we were waiting a very nice older couple drove up next to us. We asked them if they thought we'd be in trouble if we stayed in a locked up campground and the wife said, "Well, we're the Beckers. We do what we want and we say you can go ahead and camp there."

So, under the authority of the Becker's we decided to stay put.

The only problem was that we'd planned on car camping....which means we brought pretty much everything, including the kitchen sink. This was a problem because we now had to leave our cars outside of the gates and haul everything down the road to the campsite.

After about 3 trips each we finally had our camp set up.

We made dinners (the best tin foil dinner I've ever had) and made smores. We laughed and had the best time imaginable. As it turned colder we all decided it was time to get into our tents to the warmth of our sleeping bags.

In the morning we took a short hike up to Silver Dollar lake. As usually, Sarah took off with all the power of a steam engine, effortlessly steaming up the side of the mountain. I, on the other hand, rather enjoy a leisurely walk. I doggedly chugged my way up and made it to the lake in time. The view was breathtaking. There was actually still a bit of snow packed up above the lake from last year.

On the way home I slept as sound as I ever have. I woke up about 15 minutes outside of Boulder and looked at my friends. I realized I am one of the luckiest people because of the great people I know and love.

I'm jealous of a TV show

Last night I was watching Laguna Beach (she says very guiltily, and somewhat embarrassed) and they were taking their spring break trip to Cabo. The beaches they frolicked on and the resort they stayed at made me really really jealous. I need a fun trip badly.

Plus, there's the fact that my pal is touring France right now.

I was starting to get bummed until I heard last night that my brother had booked his plane tickets for our spring break trip to London in March and now I am SOOOOOO excited.

All the time that I should be spending working on my Matlab program has been channeled into the much more enjoyable task of trying to find some kickin internet deals on flights and hotels.

Thank you internet for providing me with yet another device to enable my procrastination.

A little off Kilter

Tuesday night the ear doctor and I went down to Denver to go swing dancing. Just in case none of you knew it, my boyfriend is one of the best swing dancers around. In his undergrad he was on the college swing team and went around doing shows and all that kind of stuff. Very hardcore.

Anyway, since we started dating he has patiently taught me how to do it and now, almost a year later, I'm getting decent.

Back to my story. Tuesday we show up and the dance floor is pretty sparse, which is good in swing. Less people to bump into. Less people bumping into you.

I was wearing some new pants that were very cute; dark with pinstripes making me feel quasi-20's-era-gangster. We're dancing the night away and things are really clicking. I've stopped worrying about how I look and I'm just dancing for the fun of it.

The ear doctor takes a step back and spins me around fast. I prep for the turn, but a split second later I find myself face down on the floor in push-up position.

Yep, that's me. My cute pants were my demise. Somehow a corner of fabric found itself caught under my shoe and sent me hurtling off kilter down to the floor.

The funny thing was that I really wasn't embarrassed at all. I couldn't care less because I landed somewhat gracefully. Nothing but my feet and hands touched the ground. I was so impressed with my cat-like reflexes and ability to fall without totally injuring myself that I considered it a credit to my skillz.

Weird, huh?

Sweet Revenge

It's official. I have evened the score with mi enamigo.

After class I glanced over at him as he was packing his bag and saw (much to my chagrin) the blue pen, splintered, broken and defiled. Fury built up in my soul and I just couldn't take it. As we filed out of the room I slid into line behind him and noticed that HIS TAG WAS POKING OUT THE BACK OF HIS SHIRT.

Normally I do the right thing, and tell the person whose tag is out about their fashion malady. But not today. Today I broke the socially acceptable course of action and let him keep walking on.

Take that mi enamigo! I bet he walked around campus all day looking like a FOOL!

(insert crazy maniacal laugh here)

Moving a step behind

So I don't know what it is lately, but I feel like the rest of the world is advancing a fraction of a second ahead of me. I seem to be late to everything I do, regardless of my good intentions to be early. The following is a list of examples of the acceleration of the world, and my inability to keep up:

1. Missed my flight to Seattle on Saturday morning. I've never missed a flight before. Ever. It was bizarre to be there standing at the big window looking out at the plane I was supposed to be on pull away from the jet way and take off without me.

2. Forgot to do my Spanish homework. Usually I am a homework fanatic. Usually I have all my homework done at least a day in advance. For some reason time decided to rush ahead without notifying me and I found myself at class on Tuesday morning completely empty handed.

3. Tuesday night all I could do was sit and watch TV. I was unable to get off my bum an do anything due to the fact that my normal amount of energy looks like total lethargy when set in the reference frame of this new dizzying paced environment.

4. Yesterday I realized that I had to get all of the homework and quizzes graded for the class I TA and I didn't have a solutions key made yet. For some reason, unknown to me, the huge gap of time I thought I had to create a key had fallen in on itself and I am left to scramble to get the grades entered.

5. My hair has grown wildly out of control and I didn't notice until my friend Amy (who cuts my hair) asked if I wanted an appointment. I didn’t even notice anything.

6. Despite my best efforts, I have been late to 3 of 4 lectures this week.

So there you see. Proof that the rest of the world is spinning faster than normally and for some reason I missed the accelerator bus.

Sincere Apology

So I have been the kind of blogger lately that I hate. The kind of person that I wish would write more, but doesn't. The kind of person that I leave on my sidebar because I truly want to see what is going on with them, and think that if for some reason I keep them on the sidebar they will feel inspired and impelled to write something.

Sorry.

This whole back to school thing is crazy and I feel like I hardly ever have any time to just sit and think about something non-school or work related. Last night I had to spend the entire evening laying in bed watching Real World just to detox from the overload.

The crazy thing is that I love my life right now. It's overwhelming and hard and pushes me to exhaustion, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I feel like I am learning so much so quickly. Everyday is filled with something and someone new. I am so happy with the choice I've made!