The Most Evil Person on Earth

Sorry for the hiatus, but the two days following the STAR Retreat were spent catching up on things like school work and Broncos football, meaning that this is really the first time I've been able to get on to post. The whole STAR thing was really a lot better than I thought it would be...I ended up having a really good time despite some good natured griping about missing a Friday night to be out there. I have my first workshop session in the AMU on Thursday, but the people in my group seemed really cool, so it should be a relatively fun time.

Which brings me to the title of the post. I have seen evil, and its name is McCormick Hall mashed potato lady/man/demon. I had crew practice yesterday and, as usual, we got out VERY late...like, 7:45 instead of 7. Which wouldn't be so bad until you add on the 2 mile run back to campus, so that I didn't get to McCormick for dinner until 8:15. So now not only do I have to GO to McCormick (the worst dining hall on campus) I also have to stay up late to get work done (er...try to get work done...mostly watch football). Anyway. I walk into the dining hall still sweaty from the run and start surveying the food stations: chili cheese dogs (not happening), pizza (empty), deli sandwich (boring), or salad (I am actually hungry at this point in the day...salad's not going to do). I finally settle for the lesser of the evils, the "almost meatloaf food cube with potatoes and corn." In my estimation, it was just groundbeef that had glomed together and was smothered in gravy. The guy at the station gives me one little chunk of meat (which is all I would have asked for of that stuff), a big spoonful of corn (which was no good...HOW DO YOU MESS UP CORN!?!), and then some mashed potatoes. Now, I don't even like mashed potatoes that much, but at this point, I just wanted a ton of carbs to fill up and go back to Straz without being hungry. So what does he give me? This tiny little blob of them that is almost two bites. I ask for more. He says,

"Can't dude, we are low. Got to save them."

He literally has a WHOLE DAMN TRY full of potatoes in front of him. It's 8:20 by now. Who is coming in to get potatoes this late at night? Is there some sort of late night tuber craving that everyone in McCormick gets? Is he saving them for himself?

Begrudgingly I take my plate and eat it with the rest of the team. Now Tom, my teammate, is in the same boat here. He goes back to get more potatoes after he is done. There is a different server now, but even she won't give him another scoop! It's 8:45 now! Who are these potatoes for? We are pissed off enough that we just leave. As much as I love Marquette, dining services is starting to grate on me. The food is good enough, but they have the most rediculous policies. I paid for the meal plan, they just need to give me the food I want.

A Brief Farewell

Just thought I'd let all of you know that there will be absolutely zero chance of a post going up tomorrow. I know how often all of you check and I wouldn't want to burden your time. I leave tonight at 5:30 for the "STAR Retreat," a leadership program through the Office of Student Development. The plan is to spend the next 24 hours at a camp just outside the city learning about what it takes to be a leader at Marquette. The retreat is the kickoff to a semester long program where I attend bi-weekly workshops to hone and perfect my ability to guide the Class of 2012 to greater heights. As an aside, STAR stands for "Students Taking Active Roles," not "Standing Together Against Rape."
I'm not fully sure how excited I am about the program, since it is another burden on my schedule, which is now being engulfed by the Club Crew Monster. More to come (and hopefully pictures...still no cord but I will steal them from someone else).

Um...WOW

Just discovered the coolest thing.

At the Memorial Library (Raynor Memorial Library for those of you keeping score) I can text message or IM the library and they will answer questions or look things up for me. I am literally sitting on the Memorial Bridge (the sky bridge/lounge that connects the old and new libraries...also my favorite study spot) and talking with the circulation desk on my computer. They are checking on book availability while I sit on my butt and post this.

Marquette continues to surprise.

Trying to Right Certain Wrongs

I know that all of you appreciate the frequent updates on this blog. I also know that all of you are busy people. That's why I haven't typed anything in a week. It was all for you. I know how you all obsessively read my musings and with classes starting at several universities I didn't want to burden you. But I am back and you will now have to endure (gasp) DAILY POSTS!

I had the distinct opportunity of communing with a fellow grizzly bear on Saturday when I met my Alaskan counterpart at the club crew dinner. There are only two of us in the Marquette class of 2012 and by some twist of luck, or fate, we both ended up deciding to row on the greatest club team in the nation. We actually had a lot of fun comparing the questions all these midwesterners ask us ("Is it always dark?" "How cold does it get?" "Do you know Sarah Palin?"). Practice starts today on the Milwaukee river and I am very exciting to get out on the water, even though it is pouring rain right now.

I also need to apologize about the lack of blog sexyifaction (there it is again for those of you who make fun of my word creation habit), it fell victim to the 150 pages I read in my seminar book on Sunday. Actually, almost everything fell victim to "The Sparrow," possibly the worst novel ever penned. Nothing like a a bunch of Jesuit priests (one of them gay!) who take a mission to a new planet to meet the local aliens. Compliment that with a heavy dose of obvious religious commentary and a whole chapter on masturbation and you have the recipe for one...interesting novel?

More to come tomorrow...I promise. Pictures also also coming soon, just waiting on the cord. If I don't find it tonight I'm going to buy a new one so the problem should be solved by week's end regardless.