Here's the new column. I got some comments on it, but I think I've come to the conclusion that the only reason I was able to get away with a junkier column this week is because people have gotten used to seeing my name and pic on the Op/Ed page, and look to see what I've written for the week. If I wrote every 4 weeks like I used to, then nobody would've read this week's column. So I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not...certainly there's some power associated with that.

It's late. I need to go to bed. But I need to blog as well.

First things first, I have a new column out....BUT the jackass (excuse my language) who does the website didn't put it up online. So instead, I'll link to the Letters to the Editor. The first one is in response to last week's column.

In other news, I had an amazing day. I'm too tired to tell the whole story, but long-story-short, we had a career fair today on campus and I finally met the COO of a company I've been in contact with this past week about a job opening they have. Let's just say the chat went quite well. He wants me to visit the office (in downtown Minneapolis) next week to meet some people, as well as talk in a better setting.

BOOYEAH!

Basically, if you could create a profile of the job I am looking for, it's exactly what this guy was offering. And if you could create a profile of the type of person this guy was looking for, it'd be me. I'm pumped. Even if i don't get the job, and I think it's a long-shot that I would, it's exciting that there really are jobs out there in the field I want to work. Wow.

That's all I got.

ooooooh what a day, what a day, what a day. So last night (Friday) I stayed up until oooh, about 4 a.m. organizing my iTunes and my iPod because I have a long road trip coming up and plus I was going to work on homework all day Saturday. Needless to say, I was planning on sleeping in late. But I'm the manager on-call this weekend for the library and I had to call into the library just in case someone didn't come in for their shift. So I called at 10:05 to check in....and somebody was sick.

Damnit.

I rolled outta bed, got my homework together, put on Friday's clothes, brushed my teeth, threw some water on my face. Of course I forgot to put on deodorant, and my hair....wowzas....there aren't any words that could describe what my hair looked like. On the way out, I grabbed what I thought was 4 quarters so I could drink a Dew while at work and wake up a little. Turns out it was 3 quarters and a nickel.

Damnit.

So I worked until noon and made a little extra money, not bad, and the 2YG brought me a Dew, also not bad, and then we ate lunch together. After that, I went to the Business Lab (a seperate computer lab in the business building) and worked on a website I have to make for my Business Communication course. Five hours later, I had 2.5 pages done out of the 5 I have due Tuesday morning at 7:45 a.m. Actually, I have a little more than that done...but basically I easily have another 5 hours of work left. Yikes! But it looks good.

Then tonight we had a bit of a party here. I really didn't partake because the 2YG was coming by and I wanted to be sober. There were a lot of people here, though, and a weird mix. Probably because it really wasn't our party. This girl was turning 21 and wanted the party to be in our room, because security basically never comes down to where we live and so the party wouldn't get busted. And it was loud, though not as loud as it has been in the past, and we didn't get busted. The best part of the party is the cans and bottles the people left behind. Those go towards the keg fund.

On a totally different subject, but not really.....it's interesting dating someone who is totally out of your friend group. I've heard so much about me from people who ask the 2YG questions about me. I guess quite a few people think I'm mysterious and intriguing....probably because I always wear my yellow hat and I'm a bit conspicuous as well.....it's just weird because I never would think to describe myself as mysterious OR intriguing.

Anyway, the 2YG went downstairs to where the party was to get a glass of water. While she was down there, she saw a dude that she was really good friends with last year, but hasn't really seen much this year. He said that he's seen us together quite a bit and wondered if we were dating. Then he said he'd read my columns and liked them because I was blunt...but get this, the one he liked the best was the Party Lifestyle column. Weird. I thought that was just a throw-away column. But I guess it touched someone....'cause he's the type that transcends the two groups.

I know it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn here...but that's not what I mean to do. What I'm getting at is that sometimes you lose sight of the power of words. Of course I hear the comments from my friends and the same ones say the same things, whether for good or bad. But I know their political opinions and what factors into their comments. To hear stuff from people I don't know is amazing. Especially since it means that PEOPLE ARE READING THE NEWSPAPER! Anybody on a college campus knows how amazing that is.

The other day I was at a poetry reading here at Wartburg and the poet read a piece that featured words such as, Crotch and breasts. They didn't faze us at all, of course, because we'd all heard much worse. However, the poet told a story afterwards of when she read that same poem at an elementary school and the entire auditorium just exploded in laughter and repeated "Crotches" and "Breasts". And the poet felt bad when she saw the teachers rolling their eyes and shaking their heads, but then she realized how powerful words are. Especially to young minds that haven't yet been warped by society.

And I forget the power of my words. Usually I'm scrambling at the last second to find an idea, research it, and write a column before the deadline. Or I'm passionate about the topic and hold out a big middle finger to anybody who has a problem with what I'm saying. Or I feel something needs to be said, but nobody is willing to take the time to do it except for me.

I love that feeling that I'm making students and profs and staff and whoever actually think as they read the paper. Especially because I really don't think I'm that popular of a student. I'm never in the running when it comes to the positions based on how well-known you are. In fact, when I've heard about people talking about my columns, sometimes I was standing right next to them and they didn't even know who I was. That's fun as well. It's like being a ghostwriter.

Maybe these feelings are stronger right now because on Wednesday I found out that I could do exactly what I wanted to do for my senior seminar final project. The prof. is letting me write the first couple chapters of a new young adult book idea I've had for more than a half a year now, but haven't had the time to work on it. And any writer will agree that it's so much easier to write with a deadline. I dunno....I'm just so pumped. I haven't written anything creative in a while because column writing takes over my brain 99% of the time. But now....I've got new life. I wrote 2 poems this week. For no reason at all. Just because I had that writing pulse back in my blood.

But, alas, I've gotten long-winded. It's time for me to wrap this up. Did anybody see that the Gophers won the WCHA championship tonight with a big win against Alaska? I'm pumped. They are dominating the nation this year....should make up for a poor showing the last couple of years in the Frozen Four.

Ok, have a great day, folks. Peace.