How do I feel about study abroad? Thanks for asking...

Dear UMD,

Today, a member of your faculty or staff posed to me the question, "How do you feel about studying abroad? We want to know!" via email. I would like to start off by thanking you. You, UMD are the first college I have attended to ask me that, instead of just moving straight to the phase of telling me to give study abroad a try. I appreciate that you want to know how I feel. Because of that, I have decided not to ignore your message and send it straight to the spam folder (like I do with all other college-wide emails... don't take offense, I did it at my other schools too - with the exception of the safety and security messages from the U. I enjoyed reading the physical description of the attackers over and over and over again, followed by the statement that "race or ethnicity is no reason to cast suspicion on an individual..." over and over and over again. Really? So say you have fifty crimes in your area in a four-month period, and 49 of them have red-headed unicycle riders listed as the suspect. Walking home late at night, would it not be prudent to keep an extra close eye on the red-headed unicycle rider who seems to be shadowing your pace?)

Instead of the spam folder, I decided to respond, because you really MUST want to know how I feel about studying abroad.

The importance of 15 seconds

I've been parking quite a ways from the college this semester and walking, mostly because I don't want to risk any more parking tickets. Last semester, I got pretty good at learning the patrolling schedule avoiding most tickets, but one or two slipped by anyway. It was a minor annoyance, but it's not the parking tickets deterring me from choosing a closer, open neighborhood spot to park... Those annoyances I can handle. I just can't handle the calls from my father whenever the impatient UMD sends HIM seemingly bi-weekly reminder notices that I am supposed to pay the aforementioned ticket. The hassle of talking to him about it, hearing about costs of "towed cars" (after one ticket? really?), and the feeling that he really doesn't think I am capable of handling the issue without him overseeing it really bugs me though.

So to save myself that, I often opt to walk 10-15 minutes through the sub-zero Arctic Circle terrain that is Duluth, to get to the school. This may have something to do with why I struggle with attendance, but that's beside the point.

Anyway, on to the point of my story (there is one, I promise)...

No thanks, I'm allergic.

After 23 and a half years of saying "no thanks, I don't want any of that," or "I don't like (fill in the blank)," I realize I have been wasting my time. Saying these things regarding foods I don't want to eat only launches myself into this argument of "Oh, you HAVE to at least TRY it!" "What is wrong with you?" "Gosh, you are SO PICKY!"

Instead, since I really just want to be left alone to eat what I KNOW is good, I have decided on a new strategy. "I'm allergic."

Two simple words that could have saved me from 23 and a half years of picking at crappy food. "I'm allergic." Two magic words that suddenly makes it okay for me to NOT eat something, and could even have someone consider making me something different altogether.

It may be the best and brightest idea I've ever come up with. (Remind me to make a top 30 list of my best and brightest ideas... suggestions are also welcome)

The little old lady and her ice chipper

My neighbor is approximately 78 years old, and just a very kind, little old lady. She's very active, so we don't get to see much of her, but we do share a sidewalk, and steps leading up to the garage.

Our neighborhood "does" the snow removal for us, which leads to about three inches of packed snow on the sidewalk, and very very icy steps and pathways. I always end up worrying a little bit about our little old neighbor, so a few times I've gone out and done what I could with a plastic shovel (metal blade, of course) to clear things off.

One day, she caught me doing it

Signs for signs' sake

I've always been drawn to read signs, I think we've all been trained to do that growing up. If something is posted and legible, there's a good chance your eye catches it and you decipher the message.

Two signs in particular have caught my eye at UMD this semester. As I made a detour on the way to class Thursday to use the bathroom, my eyes focused on the sign staring directly back at me (guys know, at urinals, you stare at the wall. If there's a sign there, it's a bonus. Don't look down, sideways, and certainly not a combination of the two.)