I’m currently listening to: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?

Since the temperature has not reached above 10 degrees for the last week, and frequently dips below zero, I figured I would let you all know that Ivan Denisovich and I are now best friends. In fact, just the other day, as Andy and I were waiting out in the sub-zero cold facing twenty to thirty mile an hour winds as we waited for the Illinois vs. Michigan State basketball game we decided that our predicament was worse than our troubled hero’s. You see, Mr. Denisovich had the task of hard manual labor to occupy his time. This helped his situation by providing both a means of generating body heat, as well as a way to pass the time. However, Andy and I were stuck waiting in the cold, with nothing to do but stand in line. By the end of the hour, my feet were honestly frozen. I had never been concerned about frostbite until this moment. I am not exaggerating that it took until the ten minute mark (of game time) for my feet to thaw. Notice, we get into Assembly Hall roughly forty-five minutes before the game starts. This means my feet were frozen for approximately an hour and fifteen minutes after entering the building. I just thought you all should note the type of pain and suffering I am subjected to. Pat, if you want the book rights to record my plight, you are more than welcomed to them.

P.S. we got floor seats and the game was awesome, I have no regrets.

I’m currently listening to: The Lawrence Arms - Cocktails & Dreams - Faintly Falling Ashes

Today was blissfully cold. How can I like the cold you ask? For some reason, I just feel like I am more awake in cold weather. Perhaps the chill proves that I do still have feeling– that I am alive. Whatever the reason, the numbness in my fingers is always welcomed as I stroll between classes battling the wind and listening serenely to my iPod. On mornings like this I never hurry; instead I slow my pace and observe the world. Everyone else seems to quicken their strides and drop their heads, as if cold weather is just a phase, a burden to be endured. Fall is a time to be relished.

Strangely, I always find myself craving the unpolished voices of The Lawrence Arms or Jawbreaker when the cold first arrives. I guess something about their scratchy voices just feels right with the harsh weather. Maybe its the lack of refinement. In fall/winter, the focus shifts from extravagence to minimal effort, to survival.

I probably sound really emo right now, and so I think I’m gonna stop. CS473 has destroyed my brain for the night. However, we picked out an apartment we want, and I think we’re signing the lease on it tomorrow. In addition, I will be going home for the weekend– something I have been craving for a long time now. It should be incredible seeing my friends again.