Tales from the Library Bathroom

So yesterday was a Debbie Downer day until I went to the library. I was hoping for something funny or great to share with you today, and thankfully I have something perfect.

On the days I have class, I go to the library to go over what we will be talking about that night. Yesterday was no exception. I made a little trip to Starbucks, and then I went to the library. I sipped my coffee and read over my notes and highlighted stuff from the text. Then nature called.

So before I make my way to my building, I decided to stop by the library bathroom. I know it seems like a weird story I shouldn't be sharing, but I promise it is totally worth it.

I go into the small, two-stall bathroom on the ground floor of the library. Two other women are already in there; one washing her hands with the precision of a heart surgeon and the other was in one of the stalls.

So I check to see if someone is in the other stall. Then the girl comes out the stall and announces to me and the other woman, who is still meticulously washing her hands, that there is no toilet paper in that stall. So she goes into the one I was investigating.

So I decide to wait my turn, and as I try not to watch the girl with crazy hand washing tactics, something happens.  The girl in the stall blows her nose once. Then twice. Then a third time. I know you wondering what is so funny.

Here's the kicker...Between the second and third nose blow, a little gas escapes (if you know what I mean).

The other girl was still washing her hands. I swear they should have been red and bleeding by then. And there I was waiting my turn like a good girl when the girl in the stall lets out a very prominent toot.

And what did I do? Tried my very hardest not to laugh. It is so childish, but it is always funny. My mom is 43 years old, and she still laughs at toots every time. While it makes you feel a little sick and uneasy, you still have to stifle a chuckle. Every time.

So I take the toot as my cue to get out of there, and I walk over to my building. This building is shaped a lot like a parking garage with open airways. But the bathroom situation is a little messed up. The even floors have the ladies rooms, and the odd floors are for the men.

So I take the elevator to the fourth floor ladies room. While I am in the bathroom stall, another girl comes in. And she blows her nose. Twice.

I come out of the stall to see that the Library Tooter is in my building in the fourth floor bathroom with me. And when I come out of the stall, we recognize each other. Let me just say, I was in shock. And she was glaring at me. I know she had to know I left the library bathroom to get away from the funny awkwardness.

It was unbelieveable. So unbelieveable that I couldn't have made it up. Things of this nature only happen to me. And there are always no witnesses...unless you want to count Washed Raw Hands from the library bathroom.

Moral: If you have to blow your nose, please try to refrain from blowing so hard that you pass gas. It just puts everyone in the bathroom waiting on the one stall in an awkward position (ex. the awkward eye contact made after such an incident has occurred). I realize gas passing is out of a person's control at some points. But just be aware.

Until next time...

Sometimes Crying Feels Like the Best Option

I don't really know how to explain what I feel like today. But I can give you a pretty good idea.

It started last night while I was watching Will and Grace. They got into a fight, and I cried, just a few tears. Then Grace got married, and Will felt left out and stuff. Then I cried again. So the crying is in my near future. Then I drove to work this morning, and I had a whole new level of ill feelings toward the drive.

I am a commuter. So I drive with 98357925 other people from Conway into Little Rock three days a week. This morning was nothing out of the ordinary. Same amount of cars. Same amount of time spent driving. Same everything, except for the fact that my emotions were holding on by a tread.

Most mornings are just normal. Cars dodge in and out of spaces they can barely fit into to begin with, and unexpected stops are made almost every 10 minutes. Like I said today was nothing out of the ordinary. But I just wanted to cry. It's sad, but true. I am an emotional wreck for some reason.

I really hate the commute. I don't like worrying if I will make it to work on time (which I mostly always do). I think I am to the point where I need to have a good cry. All girls know what I mean when I say this. Sometimes you just have to get it out. Yesterday I didn't feel good, and I haven't been sleeping well (or not enough). I'm sorry for being a whiney girl today. But this blog serves as some kind of outlet for emotions. So here is the disclaimer*** Sometimes I will whine. Not often. But sometimes.***

Now that that is cleared up...If anyone has any advice on how to get over the mid-week blues, I am all ears.

On a happier note, my mom and I discussed my birthday cake. Let me just tell ya, this cake is going to be oh so good. Homemade chocolate cake with homemade chocolate icing...with an additional caramel drizzle to top it off. Chocolate is one of my all time favorite things, as is caramel. So I thought why not put them together to make the ultimate gooey birthday cake. I mean it's a win-win situation, at least for me.

I am getting more excited about the birthday. After 21, the birthdays just don't seems as big a deal. I just it's all down hill from there. This year I turn 23. It doesn't really seem like a big deal, but I am still thankful to see another year. But 23 doesn't sound very fun. Cause pretty soon 23 will be 25 and then 29 and then 35. Eekk!! I freak myself out when I do that. This is the last time I talk about my birthday in a negative way...No more talk of the years to come. It is just too overwhelming.

Hopefully something funny or great will happen today or tomorrow that I can share with you. I hate being a Debbie Downer, but somedays you just don't feel like being perky. Hope all is well with you guys. Until next time...

Dark Days are on the Horizon

I have officially started school. And I say this because I have a syllabus for every class. So that means what little bit of a social life I did have is now over.

Going into the semester, I knew I would have to write a 20-25 page original research paper. I did not know I would have to write a 15-20 page term paper in another class. So needlesstosay, my social life is over until May.

There is one small glimmer of hope. My birthday is two weeks away. Usually by now I am so excited people can hardly stand to be around me. This year I have planned my birthday events around my school workload. It's a sad day in paradise to admit this sorry fact. But this is how I know I have gotten old.

Birthday celebration consists of: Friday, a trip to Cajun's Wraft for too many Play-de-doughs and dancing, Saturday, a day at the horse races in Hot Springs with beer and hot dogs, and Sunday, my actual birthday, a "Superbowl/Birthday extravaganza". So it should be a pretty eventful weekend. I guess homework will be designated to Friday day and Monday. I am looking forward to it.

I hope everyone else has a better looking semester than the one that is staring at me. A much needed break in the homework pace will be provided thanks to a birthday celebration. Then it is all up hill until May. I am trying to stay optimistic, but it is tough when 40 pages of work fill the days ahead. Until next time...

Bookstore Blues

In an earlier post, I talked about how I love the smell of Barnes and Nobel and how it feels to go in there with all those books. I can't say I feel the same about the University bookstore.

When I got into graduate school, I was pretty excited that the University had an online book checking thingy to tell you what books you would need before you got to class on the first day. I know...it is a pretty lame thing to be excited about, but I was so excited.

Funny story: Originally, I was only suppose to have one textbook for this semester (according to the book checking thingy). So I went before school started and bought the one book required for the semester. $145.00 for a brand new book.

I go to the first class, and she makes sure we know that there is a required book for the class...WAIT ONE MINUTE. So I had to go after that class to buy the second required book. $108.00 for a used book.

Today I open my e-mail and read a message from my professor. He says something to the effect of "The bookstore has your book in stock. It is not online so be sure you stop in and pick it up." WHAT?!?!

So I have to go today in this horrible, rainy, potentially snowy weather to get another book, which brings the total to three books (one for each class). $29.98 for the third and hopefully final book.

But I must say $29.98 sounds pretty cheap for a textbook. And with the way my bookstore luck is going, I will probably get in there and pay $100.00 or more. Hopefully, the price is right. Until next time...

A Case of the Unfortunates

So far this week has been a total bust. I had high expectations of making this week a complete success. But let me tell ya...so far it has been a week of the unfortunates.

The week started off beautifully. I went to work Monday morning for three hours. But unlike most days where I just sit behind a desk and rack my brain for new story ides, I was actually out on campus participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Some of our youth made and distributed hygiene kits to Little Rock's homeless. Basically it was a very successful and fulfilling Monday. But then starts the down hill spiral into the unfortunates.

Unfortuate Case No. 1:
After leaving work, I went to the dentist for a routine cleaning. The dentist found a leaky filling, which will need to be fixed ASAP.

Unfortuate Case No. 2:
School started yesterday. I signed up for an online class mixed with graduate and undergraduate students. So far that has been a bust.

We all had to meet during the time alotted for the class...which is set on the undergrad schedule. So it was an extremely difficult to figure out how to finagle my work schedule around a 9:25 time slot. Sidenote-- To add to the stress of the situation, I don't have a parking pass to park on-campus because you can park anywhere after 4 P.M.

Unfortunate Case No. 3:
The Internet was down at work all day yesterday. So needless to say, nothing got done. Everything I do requires some form of Internet usage. I was completely grounded. And stuck inside the walls of the good people's prison.

Unfortunate Case No. 4:
I already have quite a bit of homework, and I have only been to one class thus far. I have one class tonight and one tomorrow night.

Unfortunate Case No. 5:
It is suppose to snow while I am at work tomorrow. I realize a good thing could come from this, as in school being cancelled and the University shutting down early. However, that is usually not my luck. This snow will fall, and I will have to go to class at 6 P.M. Then when I get out of class at 9 P.M., I will have to drive all the way back to Conway in the dark, snowy abyss.

ONE MAJOR GREAT THING THAT HAPPENED: The beautiful ladies of Alpha Sigma Alpha's Beta Lambda chapter, my chapter, added 27 new babies to the wonderful traditions and sisterhood I experienced for my four years at UCA. Congratulations ladies!! I am oh so excited for you guys. You have made my week of unfortunates so much better. Until next time...