I had to title it that. I'm sure you understand.
I realized that during my break highlights I never mentioned the run I went for with David. Which was stupid of me, since that was definitely one of my highlights. It is actually perfect that he took up running, because as we've stopped seeing each other (ever), it has become harder and harder to actually talk with him. The problem is that what we've usually done is play video games, but
while playing video games, very little conversation occurs that is outside the realm of video games. This wasn't a problem when we saw each other all the time, because eventually we would either grow tired of video games, we would need to eat, or something would happen that eventually led to us talking about other stuff. But when we only see each other once or twice, the conversation part doesn't really happen. Until recently, when I went on a run. We run slower when we talk, but it's still a decent workout. We just work harder at a slower pace because of the talking. So we are still multitasking, but we actually get to the whole point of being friends, which is awesome. Of course, it still takes us forever to get around to actually saying anything (both because we are boys, and because we don't see each other much), but hey, it's a definite improvement.
I received an email with the following text in it:
This morning, a student exhibiting troubling behavior in a Law School classroom was removed and transported by University Police for crisis assistance. There were no direct physical threats or weapons involved. The Law School is working closely with University officials to ensure that the Law School remains a safe learning environment.
Doesn't exactly inspire confidence, huh? Also, another student has dropped out of our section. I guess things are taking their toll on some.
I enjoyed my corporations class today. My professor is interesting, opinionated, and pretty funny. The material is dry, so reading for class is a pain, but the actual class time itself is good. He has a ton of anecdotes. Hopefully it continues in a similar manner. Of course, I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to have been learning this far, but that will probably sort itself out.
Today we learned that corporations are a great way of limiting liability. They stop a claimant from being able to go after your personal wealth. All they can sue you for in your corporate capacity is your worth in the company. This can be contracted around (banks can make you sign for things personally, etc.), but it can never be gotten around by a tort claim (as long as you keep yourself sufficiently separate from your corporation). So if I run someone over with a company car doing company business, they can only recover what I'm worth in the company. So if I've invested $500 in the company, but I have a million dollars, they only get to recover $500. Their lawyer will obviously try to show I wasn't actually on company business or that I haven't kept myself separate from the company in a meaningful way (this occurs all the time when people start a company for themselves; they file as a corporation, but they mingle bank accounts and expenses, they don't keep official yearly meeting minutes about elections, they don't re-file promptly, etc. and then the lawyer can show the "corporation" is really just the person anyway, and can get at his assets). I'm also still liable for criminal charges (might still go to prison, for example). But my money is likely safe. So as an alternative to insurance, just incorporate yourself! Weird, huh?
In other news, I did this to myself:

You might want some back story. So I had this weird bump on my arm about two weeks ago. I squeezed it, and sure enough, it popped. Some puss came out, and I thought that was the end of that. This isn't
that uncommon. Usually it occurs when a hair follicle gets infected or something. Then it swelled up again, and I popped it again. And a third time. And a fourth time (over the course of a few days). Eventually, after ten days, it hadn't completely disappeared. It hadn't gotten any worse, either, so I wasn't like, worried about it or anything. But I did what any rational person would do and poked it with a safety pin to try and drain it for good. I poked it, squeezed it, and a bit of stuff came out. I could feel the swelling in a bit more than the area I poked, so I put the pin back in the same hole and advanced it in the direction of the rest of the swelling. This never hurt, which surprised me. So I kept pushing, out of a sort of morbid curiosity. Before I knew it, the whole pin was in there. I must have found the exact right angle of entry or something, because to move it at all hurt quite a bit, but getting it in there didn't. Also, when I tried from a different hole (my curiosity was in full swing), it hurt and I stopped immediately. So that was really weird. And now the swelling has disappeared completely. I'm pretty proud of myself, I must say.
I wrote a poem a little while ago. I figured I'd share it with the rest of you. Sarah S sent me a poem, and the first couple lines made me think of my own version, so this is a bit of a riff/take on that first bit of hers. Which is also why the style doesn't look quite like something I'd typically write.
I didn't title it.
So I heard you
shouldn't
stare too long into
the sun
so I stared
into your eyes
instead,
I should have
known better,
should have chosen
to have my eyes
seared
once and
be done with it
better that than
tempted
time and again
blinded so gradually
that, finally sightless,
I still think I can see
the faint outlines of love
shining bright as ever,
the lines I memorized
in your irises
radiate from the blackness
a reassurance
that isn't real
better to be blind
and know it
basking in my
blaze of glory
better anything
than being told I'm blind
and wondering
for how long.
I forgot to set my next deadline for writing. I think I should have time tonight and tomorrow, but let's set five more pages due by Wednesday. I'll try and make it at least a couple times a week, but school might start picking up here soon, and I would hate to make promises I can't keep. I've started a couple things since last time, but I don't really like them. I might try rhyming something also. I don't know. I will always have five pages due by Sunday, though. That seems like a pretty minimal output, but I've got a life. Sort of. If you count blogging. But there are some new developments that might further cut into my time! I'll get to those. Calm down...
I had made the decision to go a week without listening to music. I spend a lot of my time with headphones in, both because it stops me from having to talk to people, and because I like being distracted from what I consider to be the "worthless" parts of life. But I think it's those parts that actually might give me the time and quiet I need to have something to write about. And now that it seems I will be going without my phone altogether, the not listening to music thing at least is a sure bet. So because you guys didn't know anything about this intention, it looks pretty silly in retrospect. I only made it one day without my headphones before my phone died!
I got the tracking info for the cables in my inbox today. I don't think I've ever had a package I care more about getting here promptly. I don't know whether that's pathetic or what. I mean, on the one hand, I don't usually order things that I'm that excited about. But on the other hand, this is really showing how dependent I am on my phone.
I got two doughnuts from the cafe today. Then two muffins. Then a bagel. So I have breakfast waiting for me in the morning, which is a good feeling. Reassuring, you know? No preparation required. Just get up, and there's a delicious raspberry muffin with my name on it. Excellent. I ate the doughnuts right away. Then I went and rowed until I could taste them again. Blrgh. I think the most important thing about rowing was finding the right form. I can row pretty steadily at the same pace as ever, even though I haven't been doing it regularly. Also, it's astonishing how many people sit down next to me and have no freaking clue what they are supposed to be doing. One guy who sat down next to me today started off with a spasmodic stroke that involved the cable going above shoulder height somehow. I resumed rowing, and he at least started trying to imitate what I was doing, but he still looked pretty hopeless. Then as I was leaving, I saw an older guy sit down, and it was obvious he had done this plenty of times before. But he still didn't lean back to finish his stroke. When he hit the end of his legs pushing, he hunched forward instead of getting the last bit of power out of his body. I felt both superior and guilty. But who am I to say something? I've never actually rowed a boat before.
Today was even more special than usual because this pretty cute blonde girl and her friend came over and (of course) had the worst form imaginable. They didn't even get to the end of their legs pushing out before they were letting the cable pull them back in. I have no idea what they thought they were doing. But the more interesting thing was their conversation. I don't know whether people have gotten so used to everyone wearing headphones in a gym that they feel they won't be heard or (way more likely) they just didn't care who heard, but they were talking about their night out drinking, their sexual encounters, their friend's sexual encounters, and even at one point the fact that the blonde girl had smoked weed with her dad over break. It was a bit depressing, because it really solidified the idea that most people really do partake in at least some aspect of that lifestyle. The fact that they never gave me a second thought just contributed to my feeling of alienation.
On my way into the gym, as I was walking past the free use studios (usually filled with dancers/fitness classes/martial arts people), I saw some people juggling. I glanced at them and continued on my way. Then I went back and watched a bit. Then I went and worked out. On my way out, there was just one guy left working on some deft little three-ball motions. And I went in and talked to him! You know, like I never do ever? So now I know there is a group of people who meet every Monday and Tuesday (this semester) from 2:00 to 4:00. I plan on joining them tomorrow until 4:00, when I'll get on with my handball stuff. How about that! I might actually get to pass some clubs (assuming I can remember how the patterns and everything work). If it goes well, I might ask my dad to bring up some of my stuff when he comes.
Also, there is growing interest in my section in Magic: the Gathering. Some people went to a prerelease this weekend (I didn't, because I don't want to spend money on cards I know I won't use), and they've started talking about getting together regularly. I might become part of a bunch of social groups. This is weird.
Also on the topic of Magic: the Gathering: a bunch of really, really good counterfeits have been found recently. So, much to my chagrin, I may have been exaggerating when I said my cards would always hold their value. Now I'm wondering if I need to take steps to combat this development (either selling out, or trading for cards that are harder to counterfeit). Not what I want to be thinking about right now. Maybe I'll try and make an informed decision when the Minneapolis Grand Prix rolls around in a couple of months. Here's the article if anyone is curious:
http://www.starcitygames.com/article/27693_Counterfeit-Cards.html
I don't know how much I put on here about my credit card struggles, but a while ago I returned a $200 textbook and it never showed up on my card. I then had a fun process of trying to make it appear on my card. Well, it seems it has finally sorted itself out. I still have $18 of credit left over after buying some external hard drives for various folks, but I'm glad I got most of that out of the hands of Capital One. I've also gotten my full thousand dollars out of my Magic scholarships from my high school days. I'm running out of random revenue sources!
Man, after all the personal stuff I wrote not long ago, these posts start to seem a bit too bland. Where's the controversy!? Where's the stuff I wonder if it will offend people? Well, for now I can't actually think of anything that qualifies as an update to those posts. I have a hint of something I've been trying to pin down, but I haven't had the willpower to really dig it out of my brain yet, so I guess stay tuned or something.
Five more pages of writing due by Wednesday night.
Thanks for reading!