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	Welcome To My Home... October 30, 2002 In-N-Out... Eventually The windowless sixth floor of the CSUF library has an atmosphere that can best be likened to that of a tomb. It is completely removed from all forms of social interaction, and at some times, it can exhibit so little evidence of concurrent human existence that one might wonder if there wasn't a nuclear holocaust while he was in the elevator. On my first encounter with this surreal isolation from modern distractions, I loved it. The atmosphere was certainly a welcome change from the residence halls, where people have forgotten (or chosen to ignore) the fact that there are other inhabitants who are also trying to live and (on the rare occasion) study in the building. Thus, over the past few weeks, I have often sought refuge in the library when the need arises to do something that actually requires some degree of concentration. On one particular day, I found myself in the dorms, trying to interpret Fa-hsien's accounts of Indian Buddhism while simultaneously listening to a combination of what some might call "music" from fully three different sources. This could only be topped by the fact that the people in the room directly above mine seemed to be holding a series of pogo-sticking contests at that very moment. Since, I decided, this was not the optimum environment for effective study, I naturally decided to head out. I packed up my stuff, planning to retreat once again to the deadened silence of the library. However, I was not, at the time, in a very productive mood, so I decided a short walk might do me good before commencing my research. And what better place to walk than to In-N-Out where I could make use of my free hamburger coupon? It was settled. I packed up my books, grabbed my coupon, and left my noise-plagued home. The plan was simple. I would walk into In-N-Out, obtain my free hamburger (and nothing but my free hamburger), and leave. This, as anyone who produces coupons can probably tell you, did not work. After a good thirty minute walk with a backpack, suddenly an eighth-pound hamburger just didn't seem adaquate anymore. Thus, I found myself reluctantly purchasing a drink and some fries, bringing my "free" hamburger to an approximate cost of $2.30. At this point, the thought crossed my mind that here, my drink cost me just over a dollar, while I only paid about twenty-two cents a can for the coke I had at home. Meaning I would need to drink a full five glasses of coke before leaving in order to justify the expense. This lead, or course, to the revelation that if, instead of returning to the library afterwards, I should simply study at In-N-Out, I would effectively have access to a never-ending supply of soda. Studying at In-N-Out worked surprisingly well. For one thing, I found that I prefer the constant, yet non-distracting ambient noises of In-N-Out over the unsettling silence of the library, where the sound of one cough or sniffle could echo off the walls and linger in your ears for several minutes afterwards. In-N-Out also offered, of course, refillable sodas, which the library, to my knowledge, does not. This on its own makes for good study ethics. Since there isn't a whole lot to do while sitting in In-N-Out, I found that I didn't take quite so many breaks from study. And I couldn't leave, obviously, because as soon as I walked out the door, I would lose my sacred soda supply. Not to mention the powerful, underlying forces that prevented me from leaving (if I ever foolishly considered the prospect) before having consumed my obligatory and cost-effective five glasses of soda. For these reasons, I managed to continue studying for much longer than I ever would have in the library. A great deal of my research was, in fact, accomplished in that 'N' between the 'In' and 'Out'. Comments October 30, 2002 Got the Message? This isn't cool. If they keep pulling crap like this, the term "boy scout" will take on an entirely different connotation. "Want to get some email but have no friends?" Seriously, though, this is a fun idea. October 30, 2002 Poor Kid... Isn't Boy Scouts supposed to teach morals and ethics? And isn't tolerance and compassion a part of that? Well, it is a private organization, but that sucks. When you get down to it, people are people. On a brighter note, I think I'm going to see "The Ring" this weekend. I heard it was scary like no other, but I think I can live. I just don't know if that's the right movie to go to on a date..... so..... any suggestions? Maybe I should just wait until a nice, safe G-rated movie comes out so I won't embarrass myself screaming. Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful wonderful Halloween! I wanted to dress up as a kitty cat, but my brother says I'm too old for that. *Sigh*..... well, I could always pass out candy to little kids..... ~Jocelyn		Quick Links - Fun 'n Folly - Juggling Club - RF Haunt - RF Gallery News/Updates HOME - Latest Post ARCHIVE - Full Archive <- PREV | NEXT -> 10/30 - In-N-Out... Eventually 10/28 - Zen and the Art of Warcraft 9/26 - Our Own America 10/24 - I Was Dead Yesterday 10/21 - Terrors of the Deep 10/13 - Your Vote Counts! 10/10 - Back to Life 10/8 - Finding Myself 10/6 - Seeking Direction 10/4 - The Privacy Issue Previous 10 shown Read More... 8/6/02 - First Post HOME - Latest Post ARCHIVE - Full Archive
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