Random Thoughts After My First Day of Graduate School

I’m such a better student now than I was as an undergrad. I looked around during class today and saw people (mostly younger than me), surfing the internet, texting their girlfriends, doodling in their notebooks. Never occurred to me to do any of these. I was a rabid doodler as an undergrad; my class notes were barely decipherable amongst all the doodles. But I didn’t make one doodle today. I can’t conceive of the idea of NOT paying attention, of NOT hanging on every single word the professor is saying. It’s unfathomable to me. I want to hit these people upside the head. But I won’t. I’ll just do everything better than them.

Up until twenty minutes ago, I was the hairiest person I’ve ever met in my life. I came back from the casino (more on that in a moment) and, eager to rid my body of Eau de Cigarette before bedtime, hopped in the shower. Whilst thoroughly washing myself, I noticed something disturbing. (No, really, if you’re weak-stomached, stop here). My armpit hair was so long it was CURLY. I’m talking, think Richard Simmons’ fro. Yeah. I had Buckwheat in a Headlock. You’ve never seen a fat girl dive for a razor so fast in your life. Then I wondered what that implied for the rest of my body. I ran a hand over my legs and actually involuntarily let loose with Lesil’s patented Yeti mating call. It was bad. It was a two-razor event. So, Panda, Jenn – your job for the next two years is to remind me at least once a week to take ten minutes away from schoolwork and do a personal hygiene check.

So, casino. Today after classes let out (9:00 am – 4:30 pm, and we got out half an hour early), all I wanted to do was UN-EFFING-WIND. Having contacted my two trusted hanging-out buddies and finding them otherwise engaged, I decided to strike out on my own. Which means, of course, a trip to the casino. I was so pumped, emotionally, by how great class went, that I decided to actually get dressed up (which means clean blue jeans and nice sweater, earrings, makeup, and heels), and go out. I was amazed. So many guys (ranging in ages from 21-over 60) stopped to talk to me, flirted with me, smiled at me from across the room, opened doors for me, gave me Blackjack tips, etc. The trend continued when I stopped at the grocery for some late-night popcorn and Big Red (the soft drink, not the gum, all you non-Kentuckiana-residers). I felt like a woman for the first time in a very, very long while. I lost $90, but I had so much fun, it was so worth it. The Blackjack table I was at was very spirited, very friendly people, very lively, and we all played together for over two hours before I was out of money and it was time to go.

So now I’m home with my loving, lovely kitten resting peacefully on the table next to me while I type. I’m all clean and hairless, relaxed but energized about the future, and ready to watch the Redbox movie I rented today and just enjoy being young and alive. Life is finally good again.

Top 5 Least Favorite Times of Year

5. Christmas – I just don’t like it. It happens during winter, which is cold, wet, gray, dead, and ugly. It serves two functions: to make one feel guilty about not going to church, and to make one feel guilty for not buying enough/the right presents. It’s lonely, depressing, perfunctory, and annoying.

4. Allergy season – Here in Allergy Valley, there are generally at least a couple of months of perpetual, nonstop misery filled with mucous and antihistamines.

3. The beginning of spring – The first day the mercury reaches anywhere above 50 degrees, women start shedding clothes like crazy. Stupid little ruffled skirts that barely cover one’s ass, four-inch wide strips of cloth that somehow try to pass as tops, shorts that literally crawl up butts. It’s just disgusting.

 2. Election season – Thousands of annoying yard signs in distracting colors pop up in an attempt to goad you into voting for someone you’ve never heard of to become Commissioner of the Local Order of Goat Herding. Nobody votes. Nobody cares.

1. Derby season – An entire city shuts down for two weeks in anticipation of an event that lasts two minutes.  For two weeks, streets are shut down, shops close early, people ditch work, drink, and scream in the streets.  Because of an event they know nothing about, other than that it’s an excuse to party.

Church, Day One

Today I met Ryan and Christie, Scott, and Jason. I only really spoke to Ryan and Christie, who invited me to a meeting of their community group, which meets in Beuchel. A bit out of the way, I’d say, but I might check it out. I found out there are *extensive* opportunities to get involved in community service at the church and tried, unsuccessfully, to email the guy heading up those projects. Apparently I have the wrong email address. I’ll follow up on this some more.

The service itself was surprising and a bit more physical than I care for on a Sunday morning, but refreshing; everything is led and run by young people. I saw a total of four people there over the age of 40. The pastor, the band, the welcome wagon, everyone involved is in the 25-30 year age bracket. Very refreshing. Pastor Daniel Montgomery is hysterical. I found myself doubled over in my chair laughing during the sermon.

This is not to say there weren’t several times during the service where I felt completely and hideously uncomfortable. More than once, I asked myself just what in the hell I was doing there. The place was packed and there were people I did not know directly on either side of me, yet I felt completely removed from the 300+ congregation at times.

I think, the more I go and the more involved I can get in this community service stuff, the funner it will be. Next Sunday I plan on trying out the 5:00 service.

After church I called my parents and chatted for a bit, then dropped in at a coffeeshop in the Highlands for lunch and my daily dose of wireless. Then it was home to change clothes, finish reading my book, and a little nap. When I woke from said nap and saw that it was 5:00 and still beautiful outside, I realized that I was in danger of wasting a major portion of a perfectly good day indoors. Sleeping. So it’s back to the coffeeshop, then to grab some dinner (BW3 craving like never before!), and then home again to unwind with a nice movie and my spicy garlic wings.

Today is the first day that loneliness has really set in. I realized, when the hunger began to hit, that there’s really no one I can call on a whim to have dinner with me. That makes me a little sad. However, I know this is a temporary problem. And I’m finding that in my own company, I’m more aware – and happier – than I have been in recent months. I’m even trying Jones Cherry Soda for the first time, and I gotta tell you, it’s disgusting. But buddy, at least I tried it.

I was so wrong; there’s so much to life in Louisville that I haven’t experienced.  I have so much living to do. And for the first time in my life, I’m excited by that, rather than disheartened by it.