Uhm... Fwinter?

A.) Today, i woke up, stepped outside, and my tongue froze... still inside my mouth.

Let me back up...

A couple of days ago it was bleak mid-winter. Blizzarding, ice falling from the sky in blocks big enough to carve at Icefest.

That is called "winter."

Then it was sunny and into the 50's for a couple of days. I actually had the windows in the living room open all day yesterday.

That is called "spring."

Then today, i wake up, look out my window, see the sun shining beautifully over the brownish grass, and decaying leaves... so what do i do? I don a light jacket, head out the door... and i can't move my face. At all. The mud that was making everything so gross yesterday, still looked like mud, but it was hard... it froze like that. Fossilized, really.

That is called "Fall."

It looks like spring, but it is too damn cold, and it is called fall. Fall.

Lets review: It went Winter, Spring, Fall.

FALL. That is what came after spring?

Where... wait for it... was summer? We could have had the shortest year on record, but someone messed up. Whatever.

Its fall again. Great.

BREAKING NEWS

This group of former hippies left their Italian knoll and has finally bought the world a coke.

Harmony ensues.

I knew the hippies could make it happens. All it took for the world to stop fighting was a coke... and turtledoves... and feathered hair coupled with white turtleneck sweaters. Thats what the Israelis and Palestinians have been missing. Tacky clothing, and coke.

Don't Buy In

Ok Gators...


We all got accepted to Allegheny, so it would seem that we are all at least that smart... right?

So WHY are so many people excited about the changes being made to Brooks and McKinley's? One ASG member put it really well today. "I don't understand why people are excited. They should have been doing at LEAST this much all along."

People on campus are literally buying into Sodexho's scheme, which seems to be "if we give them really really crappy service for four years, it will seem amazing when we just do the minimum of what we should have all along."

I don't know if we are all aware, but Sodexho has been resistant to many student suggestions such as buying local, and providing food from the community. Allegedly they argue that it is too expensive to provide locally grown food. However, Grove City College (just down 79) has lots of locally grown food at their cafeterias, their students LOVE the food and, guess what... they pay SIGNIFICANTLY less than we do for meal plans.

People... there is more hope out there. My Arch Nemesis Ronnie Sims may be getting the boot, as there are at leasts two other companies vying to buy out the contract and treat the Gators the way they should have been treated all along.

ASG is meeting with Sodexho today, and the other two companies later this week, and sometimes later this semester the competition will have the option to wow us with their selections and service.

I am serious. The next person i hear praise Sodexho's new food at Brooks is getting a side of beef to the head... it is still over-cooked to the point of being rock-like, so it WILL hurt.

Oh Britney...

Dubbed "the hot mess" by someone at Allegheny's Collegiate Leadership Conference earlier this year, Britney Spears just cannot keep herself out of the crazy-light.

I was driving through Meadville the other night flipping through radio stations and i found "Nights with Alice Cooper" on the classic rock station in town. Alice Cooper, for those of you who don't know has never been considered exactly "normal".

He told some corny joke, but then started talking about Britney (some connection with Angus wearing a school uniform and Britney doing the same... i don't really remember). Anyway, Alice made some comment about "what happened to Britney? She is really messed up. I used to think she was just a little booze crazy, but i think she needs some major help. Lots of meds too, or soemthing." I don't remember EXACTLY what he said, but i think that was the gist of it.

Lets think about this for a second. When ALICE "I AM GOING TO PAINT MY FACE TOO LOOK LIKE A SCARY CROSS-DRESSER AND COVER MYSELF IN FAKE BLOOD AND ACT LIKE A MANIAC" COOPER says something is wrong with you, it is a good indication that your life is on the wrong track.

It reminds me of a story i heard on NPR's "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me!" when they had the guy from Veterinary ER show on. The guy was a bouncer for years for bands like the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead. He said that after spending years protecting these guys, Keith Richards took him aside and said "you really need to give up this bouncing and do something with your life, man."

He remark on the show was "when Keith Richards tells you to get you life together, you should probably listen!"

Anyway... Britney, you hot mess... here's hoping you get it together.

Apparently you CAN polish a turd

The saying about Caflisch has for years been "You Can't Polish a Turd." I went to Brooks today, and I am here to tell you that it IS possible to polish a turd.

The Sodexho Suits (or the "SS") have been in Brooks dining hall and McKinley's food court all year, like some quiet corporate mafia... scheming, talking with my Arch Nemesis Ronnie Sim'...
Apparently they are actually worried about losing our dining services contract because they polished that turd like never before.

Brooks is equipped with a new sign-in station, a 40-some inch plasma TV on the wall (too bad the Gator-net doesn't provide anything in HD), a brand new service line where the old TV was in addition to the other service lines that have always been in the little alcove, a full service deli, full service second option, a newly designed pasta in front of the pizza line, and a dessert bar where the deli bar used to be. Also, everyone down there is now dressed like a Chef (not to be confused with a Chief, or a Chief, or a Chief).

The selection is impressive... I decided i should probably sample a few things to really get a feel for the new place: I had Spaghetti Alfredo, Chicken and Dumplings, French Onion Soup, a dang Quesadilla, and guess what... ITS THE SAME FOOD WE HAD BEFORE! The Soup was just brownish water with salt and a few onions floating in it, the quesadilla was just a burned tortilla with like a 16th ounce of cheese in it, and the Alfredo had no flavor until covered in twice as much Parmesan cheese as sauce.

Yes Gators, it is true. Sodexho took that turn, spit shined it, put in a brand spanking new turd box, and gave it back to us... STILL a turd.

There is good news, however. There have always been a few items at Brooks that were not terrible. With the vast new selection of options at each meal, i am betting we will each be able to find something palatable. For me, today, it was the Chicken Dumplings.

The Lipton Raspberry Tea, on the other hand, is as amazing as it ever has been. I am just grateful that Lipton has its act together.

Lets Talk about the Turnpike and 79 North

A) I drove back to school today. Pennsylvania Turnpike and 79 North. I drove at 74 MPH most of the way, cause it is posted at 65 and i believe that 9 miles over is the cut off for not being pulled over. (plus it is not the end of the month, so cops shouldn't be looking to fill quotas).

B) Speaking of cops... i believe they should be required to drive at or above the speed limit, and in the fast lane at all times. I HATE when they drive under speed limit in the slow lane... who wants to pass a cop?

C) I have always thought the 79/turnpike interchange at Cranberry is curvier than Britney Spears in her hot days, and think that people drive too fast on it, especially the semis (i suppose that is the old man in me talking). The cop i alluded to following above was headed for that interchange today. When we got there we came upon a tractor/trailer on its side. ON ITS SIDE. It looked like some kid had taken a matchbox car and just laid it gently against the jersey barrier on the interchange... and then blown all the windows out.

MORAL: Slow the crap down on the turns, trucks. GOSH!

D) The Cranberry toll plaza on the turnpike has a special lane where people with EZpass don't have to slow down, they just keep on trucking (hehe) and their EZpass unit is scanned. Those of us without EZpass have to get off and go through the toll plaza on the side like everyone has been doing since 1930.

Why then are there still "EZpass ONLY" lanes in the plaza where i get off to pay? I can understand making a couple that are EZpass AND Tickets, in case some moron with EZpass forgets to use the speed lanes in the middle, or just feels like driving through a narrow corridor just for giggles... but EZpass only? That is ridiculous. ARGH!

E) It is time for me to finish unpacking now. The record player is hooked up to the surround sound again, so it is time for some classic vinyl. Peace.

BUH-WUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH????????

A. I am almost over this cold... i think.

B. I took the dog out today. I stepped outside, smelled warmth with a hint of baseball in the air and realized this:

SPRING IS HERE

Considering that WINTER is cold and flu season, and i have a cold, and winter only lasted like 4 days, i managed to beat the odds and get my cold in the shortest window of the season ever. Cwap. I have achieved the "INCONCEIVABLE!"

SportsNight... and day

A. Everyone here is getting sick... but that doesn't seem to be stopping us from hanging out... all the time. I love these people.

B. Chest and sinus congestion are my only symptoms. I am officially adding "Dayquil" to my list of inanimate friends. Congrats, Dayquil.

C. The Pens play at 3. I will be watching.

D. The Steelers play at 8... I don't even know what to think anymore. Of course I'll be watching.

E. The high temperature in Meadville last night was 29. That may actually be a record high for this time of year tho... i am not sure.

F. According to the little sis (who by virtue of being the age she is MUST know all about these things) "Zoey 101" star Jamie Lynn Spears (Britney's little preggers sister) was written off said Nickelodeon show this week. Apparently the people behind the show wrote, shot and produced the made-for-TV movie in a week so they wouldn't have to deal their star looking like a hippopotamus with a gland problem.

All reports From those under 20 years of age: it was sad.

Those over 20, on the other hand, cannot seem to stop laughing.

G. Speaking of The Mixed of Life of Miss's Basil E. Frank-Spears'... Britney and Jamie Lynn's mother was about to publish a book on how to raise well grounded, well rounded children. NO JOKE: The publisher put it on hold when soon to be mommy Jamie Lynn made her little announcement. Awesome. Two Spears are now in the "hot mess" category.

Thoughts of the Day

VS


Someone out there scolded me for not posting in a couple of weeks, and i'll be frank: i was surprised. Who knew anyone read this. Great. So, here are some thoughts.

A. Pittsburgh Magazine released its 25 most beautiful people list for the year: Daniel Sepulveda is on there. I am straighter than 79 North, but i agree with the people over at QED. Total man-crush.

B. My Dad has officially started trying to hook me up with the women that made the above mentioned list. Thanks Dad... but just lemme know when you figure out who Pittgirl is.

C. Speaking of which my "Pittgirl Says Drink" Sweatshirt came, and Miss Book got her t-shirt. Everything is right with the world for a moment.

D. Someone complained about all the Steelers posts from me, so I am happy to oblige our friends from Ohio: The Penguins are doing marvelously. Yes... I used the word Marvelous. We are, in fact, one point behind first place New Jersey. Suh-weet.

Malkin had a hat-trick last night, and even without those three goals, we would have won by a point. .






E. Did anyone watch the Winter Classic on New Years day? We did... an hour of pre-game, and the four hours of actual game. Amazing... winning on a Sid the Kid shoot0out goal. Awesomeness. I even had a Jersey fan tell me she liked Sidney. HAH!

What was up with the National Anthems tho? They Sang Canada's... my response: Uhm... DID Buffalo secede? I know it is a Canadian sport, but we are from the PA, (US) and the Sabres are from New York (US)... whatever Sid the Kid is a Canuck by origin, so I'll allow it.

So now it is time for the US National Anthem... "The Star Spangled Banner"... right?

WRONG! Apparently not in the NHL. They decided to sing "God Bless America." As good as this song may be, it is NOT the national anthem. I'm just saying...

F. I hope you got your free Sheetz coffee all day Christmas and new Years days.

G. Prediction of the Day: The Pirates will be one game over .500 this season. More to come on that prediction later.

H. Grades Were posted yesterday on WebAdvisor... let me clarify that... Yesterday... the 3rd of January. Finals ended when... the 18th of December? Thanks to the Mathbox, i passed astrophysics. Distribution #1: DONE.

Peace out, Gators.