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Surrounded by either the focused, extroverted, or regulars, I once again find myself doing homework at my fav, Bollo’s. I have no complaints. A long-time barista is back, so I ordered my old regular; once again a success. While I would consider Bryan only in the initial phases of addiction, my love of “mocha” has blossomed despite the Blacksburg cold setting in.

Oh yeah, and this is my iBook’s first experience at Bollo’s. I think she likes it ?

To fully describe Bollo’s would be exhaustive and a waste of your and my time; however let me describe to you a few of the regulars, me being one of them (I’ll let my description slide because, hey, you’ve maybe been reading).

The studious student: this form of coffee-hauser only escapes to Bollo’s because the libraries get old for studying. And now with Wi-Fi, Bollo’s is all the more eligible for a relaxing atmosphere for test crams. While the studious student will deny it, their continuous visits have addicted them to the fix for the rest of their life; a phenomenon that Starbucks will thank local coffee shops all over the world for once these students graduate and move to metropolitan areas.

The enraged political liberal: menacing on the outside, these people tend to be great conversation-goers. Or rather conservation-taker-awayers. Lead these people on by acting a conservative and you’ll leave Bollo’s with less of your soul; the experience may cause you to naturally take a different route around town when passing through. Expect a level of pseudo-threatening NPR each visit to overwhelm the background chatter, you’ll have to deal with that one as a given.

The intellectual Mac user: not that I have anything critical to say about these people, but they are clearly a significant crew to not exclude. They will be quiet by themselves, taking care of tasks as necessary, but open up politely in conversation with friends who stop by. They are focused and goal-oriented, leaving their regular seat only after completing their intended assignment. These are the best; get to know them; they will be your friends.

The soon-to-be-intoxicated sorority girl: this type fears traveling solo, so expect a group, a big group to enter as one body. And only on the weekends. Dressed in their ruffled skirts and uber-revealing halter tops, they romp in the spider-webbed door blabbing erratically and bumping into those by the entranceway. Whatever they order must be topped with whipped cream (‘watching those calories girls!’) and their exit is full of just as much bravado as their appearance. Their disappearance is always appreciated by the studious student and the intellectual Mac user. During the soon-to-be-intoxicated sorority girl’s visit, the enraged political liberal doesn’t lose a beat.

That is a hint of a shade of Bollo’s. Had they more convenient lighting this late into the night I would take photos. ::sigh:: Unfortunately not.

I did it. Almost three full years after being introduced to Amity, I bought a Mac. Granted, had I the money, I would have switched immediately after my first brush with Apple, likely one of my many visits to hang out with Jeremiah when he would show off all of the things I couldn’t do on my PC at home.

From those early months came years of zealous yearning. I next met J’s G4 PowerMac, then Mark’s 15″ iMac G4, then Adam’s 17″ PB, then came my experience with VT’s computer alliances. I can recall my first experience of stepping into the Math Emporium. Generally, students who have to use the Emporium for online classes and quizzes will be resolved in their hatred for the building; I do not share this malice with them. In fact, I adore the Math Emporium; how can you hate a room bursting with 505 iMacs? Somehow, doing my quizzes and such over there isn’t such a bad thing (plus, now there is a Starbucks across the street for the extended stay).

Thus my allegiance to Apple and their rock-solid UNIX core grew with passion and ferver. Relying on Windows for my engineering tasks makes me feel like I am undermining a good thing.

Next came Bryan! He agreed to sell me his iBook. Today I have an iBook. Understandably, because it doesn’t have earth-shattering performance capabilities I am not able to entirely switch (Virtual PC7 would slow this thing down to a stutter), but I am going to transfer all of my daily activities over to this machine (email, web browsing, word processing, basic stuff etc.).

It feels good to begin a transition like this. I think I stole back an integral part of my soul from Microsoft. No. I *know*.

What’s more, I feel even better now that I have been chosen to be on the Student Technology Council here at Tech to advise the Engineering Department on the implementation of new technologies. And our first assignment? A Mac Pilot Program. I look to the horizon on this one.

I submit that the most effective way of combatting illness is to indulge yourself in your loves. To lose yourself, momentarily, in all of your ‘favorite things’ remedies disease and fatigue, I assure you.

I’ve been under the weather as of late and went to bed early last night to compensate thus. This morning, no luck, I felt horrible ::insert gloomy organ accents here::

So after a good-morning-workout, something no Tuesday of mine can be approached without, I took a walk towards Bollo’s. Granted, I had already done all of my homework, so I didn’t have any regrets looming around me. With a copy of the CT, I sat down with my medium cappucino friend and we paved our way through news, editorials, and sports (even sports!). Nay, I should not forget to pause for a second to remember my friend, lost to uncontrollable desires on my part. “Forgive me,” I plead.

Then I stopped by the Off-Campus Housing Fair to pick up some info in case I need it (not likely, even with the co-op now). Although, I got the “here have some free stuff” treatment, which I am susceptible to.

Along with this brief retreat from typical Tuesday morning work, I decided to further offset my illness with another pleasure. Nice clothing. Or in this case, hott* clothing. H&M thank you. I fear over-wearing this shirt because it is just so good, but nothing could restrain me from another attempt to alleviate physical pain. And allieviate pain it did

Ok, and then after that I got back to my room and read physics until my brain refused me access.

But! The important thing I’m trying to get across is that we should never refuse ourselves pleasure in light of our own ignorant persistance. Because sometimes, I am ignorantly persistent and withdraw from stress relief calling it “lollygagging”. I learned this Sunday at the de-Stress session put on by RAs. I learned something

For the sake of my future self, the one who is sub-svelte, frazzled, and suffering from slight dementia, I will blog today. I want my future self (let’s call him Optimus Ryan for clarity) to know that I thought of him today. I pondered his wishful grasping of reality. I wept along with him as he sought but could not find.

I want to remind Optimus Ryan that he may be shaving with a dull razor (so grab a new one!) and that he has likely forgotten…something.

Hopefully, Optimus has completed all of his homework, I, however, have just begun my list for today. I hope Optimus still enjoys lattés and uses Macs. And I recommend he pick up a good book every now and then as well (as I have just done myself).

Optimus, you may need a hug. As I may. But until, we both luck out…

Question: Without using the word “today,” specifically describe what you did today.

Response: Well, today [aside] “oh I broke the rule” I rocked the gym. Rocked it hard-core. Later on, after some grueling grading and whatnot, I visited my physics class as well as my diffEQ class. Both of which were typically info-laden and exhaustive. Apart from that, today [aside] ::chuckle:: “I did it again” I read the CT at Bollo’s and watched a black turtleneck-wearing elderly man explode (less than literally) at the campus bookstore at the same instant he was informed he could not return opened software. Then I ogled at a 17″ iMac G5. This all happened today [aside] “darn it”

I am considerably…usually…um…sometimes cautious about speaking out with my political views, primarily because I don’t want to sound foolish if my facts are incorrect and often I feel as if I never finish my thoughts. Yet…Tuesday night I was *unwillingly* forced to listen to the VP debate on NPR. While cramming and jamming for my statics test scheduled for Wednesday morning, the barista decided that she would turn-to-life the in-house stereo and tune into the live broadcast. At an unprecedented volume, no doubt. So therefore, while I crunched numbers and solved equilibrium equations (rock rock on!), I heard every bit of the debate.

It was almost ironic in fact, because just that morning I had downloaded and listened to the presidential debate, thanks to the iTMS. I missed hearing that one due to a separate study session, and also since a different, less-politically-motivated barista was working the counter at Bollo’s. So anyways, I was allowed proper background for the VP debate since the first one was fresh on my mind.

After Tuesday night, I now fully understand why Pres. Bush said Dick Cheney could be president (this occurred shortly after Kerry picked the newborn politician/medical-malpractice lawyer, Edwards, for his running mate). Cheney is an eloquent and consummate speaker. While the presidential debate seemed much more party-rhetoric-filled, I was very surprised, and honestly consoled, when I heard Cheney speak his mind so completely. And it was great to see Edwards stumble about. My mimicry in the first paragraph (check the ‘bove) was based on Edwards’ incapacity to follow a simple debate question rule, just insert “Kerry” for “today” from my example. I thought it interesting to note Kerry’s/Edwards’ continual stance that the Dem’s “better plan” provides for the quick removal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, the progressive removal of troops from Iraq to facilitate and transfer power, and also the influx of some more troops in Iraq to secure peace and the transfer of power.

But anyways, I enjoyed listening to the debate. Deep in the fathoms and crevices of my mind, I do believe that my Tuesday night political injection gave me some miracle-drug for success. Wednesday morning I scored nicely on my statics test.

Today after checking out the bookstore, and the iMac, I had a newfound appreciation for the abundant iPod users across campus. Regardless that approximately 75% (is that correct, I thought I heard that somewhere a few months ago…sure I’ll keep it in for now) of iPod owners are Windows users, I still think it’s a fantastic step forward for Apple to control the digital music world. Anyways.

In my anticipation of receiving a phone call yesterday afternoon, I hurriedly departed with my gum to pick up the impatient receiver.

The call was an announcement that I was being offered a co-op with Parker. This deserves a *woot!*…or two. Maybe some Bollo’s tonight. Bollo’s tonight while I study for a Statics test. Hey, but it’s still Bollo’s.

Post-the initial elation, I discovered what I absent-mindedly did with my gum. Apparently, I put it on one of the pages in my DiffEQ book. Overcome with this sense of sheer personal power (from the co-op offer), I became uber-proud of my engineering abilities and began to brainstorm ways to separate the two objects at hand. And when I say brainstorming, I mean attempting many unsuccessful feats of gum-removal without failing to come up with a new idea after each unfortunate failure. In the end, I won the Ryan Is A Complete Moron 2004 award but had my DiffEQ book back in its originally used condition.

Irony is all around. Here’s one clever example:

Take my Mechanical Design and Econ. class for instance. Serving as an introduction to ME, this course helps us turn concept to drawing and drawing to text. Thus, grammar, punctuation, and ample writing skills are heavily emphasized. Yet! Never (nay I make this claim!) have I seen so many misspellings, punctual murders, and grammatical disasters than in this class. Certainly I can’t wait for tomorrow’s class where we will discuss a defromable body, then use concept sereenings to check out it’s features. Yes, people, do believe it all. Despite this course’s flaws, the rest of the ME program here at Tech is rather laudable.

Now. Off, off, and Away! to Physics!