All things California

Reading Will's post about California (and what it lacks) got me thinking about a couple neat things that have happened to me in the past couple weeks which are worth sharing. A lot of you were around for the meteor shower that we saw outside together on the roof of Mirrilees. Despite the light pollution, it had been a real long while since I had seen shooting stars. That was a nice night.

A more awesome experience occurred while I was returning home to the hills the other night at about 1:30am. I was driving down the road and sort of heard this thundering outside. I rolled down my window and looked to my left and realized that a herd of horses were simply running alongside my car as I drove, and had been doing so for the length of the road. All of them almost perfectly in sync with the speed I was driving, and maybe twenty feet away. I stopped in the middle of the road and just watched them continue running. So fast, so much energy, and kicking up all this thick dust in the middle of the night. The whole thing occurring, mind you, in near total darkness as the hills don't have any streetlights. It was pretty awesome.

In addition, I've gotten out yacht racing on the bay for the last two weekends, which has been tons of fun. That'll get it's own post and pictures when I decide to post and wrap up how this summer has gone. Can't wait to see everyone soon!!

and many returns...

so, when are we all back on campus? and who's ready for the shitshow of a lifetime???


For me, it all starts on September 5th.


and you?

I should be working

But posting here will be item #27 on the list of things I've done today other than work. I really don't know if it's that long, but I'm constantly amazed by what I come up with to avoid doing more work than what's minimally expected of me in this place. To be fair, many of my diversions are important. There is a spankin new bulletin to peruse and a time schedule to check, and those Facebook messages won't reply to themselves. Occasionally I'll even do a bit of work for my thesis, and I take up way too much of AJC's bandwidth doing various tasks for DM.

I only have six more work days, and clearly I'm counting. The monotony of my job is really starting to get to me, and I'm anxious to move on to honors college and especially to get back to Stanford. It's been a little weird not to be there after spending most of my first two summers on campus. On the other hand, I'm really glad that I'll arrive having missed the place a great deal.

I've been wondering how other people are feeling about the upcoming year. I suppose it's kind of the obvious question: how do you feel heading into senior year? I don't expect anything other than the same mix of anxiety and excitement that I feel, though I'm sure the proportions vary from person to person. This summer has proven useful in that I'm no longer thinking about going to grad school right after college, but that unfortunately generates at least as many questions as it answers. And it still doesn't allow me to completely devote myself to things at school this year...god knows finding a job will be as stressful and time-consuming as applying to masters programs would.

On a completely different note, I've been regretting not having been in better contact with many of you this summer. Not that an occasional phone call or e-mail would substitute for what I really miss...those absurdly late conversations about free will or good wine; our epic, semi-lit wiffle ball games on the lawn; reliving random moments of "Manstud" production...but it might lend a bit of comfort. Suffice it to say, I can't wait to see you all next month.

"I Should Be Sleeping"

I'm back home in St. Louis as of Monday night. Fortunately it's cooled off to a mere 90 degrees, with humidity so high that the air feels thick...heavy, even. Your clothes cling to you and you can walk around all day without getting thirsty because you're drinking in so much moisture with every breath. It actually seems pleasant this time around.

when I got back Sunday I slept 15 hours straight, so tonight I woke up at 3 am and thought I'd check in.

I'm so glad to be out of California. Don't get me wrong, as states go it's nice enough, but I'm sick of it. Everything is dead and brown. There's no weather. I can count the number of times I've seen lightning from campus on one hand. The dorms remind me of cell blocks or egg cartons. Pretension, ego, and determination to succeed permeate the walls. The place seems to have no soul of its own. Maybe that's why it seems like it's trying to steal mine. There are so many street light that everything is well-lit, even at night. You can barely see the stars.

I think my recent rejection of Californian culture and my complete disappointment with today's popular music scene (coupled with the sad truth that "classic rock" is not a growing body of music) are responsible for my new-found love of country music. It's reminded my of home during this last rather trying month in CA--despite the fact that I never listened to it in the STL. Unlike my other options on CA radio, the lyrics actually seem relevant to my life experiences, although we all know how much I like pimpin' bitches, rollin in ma benz, flashin ma bling wid ma chains a-sturr, jus crankin' tha shit cuz gettin ma party on all up in hurr.........right.

Joel, you're probably lucky that this happened after we quit being roomates.

Oh, and Pandora.com is the best thing to happen to music since the mp3 player. It allows you to create personalized, fully customizable, commecial free radio stations. It's a great way to discover new songs and artists. Check it out if your haven't already.

Hello everyone. This is my last week at Stanford for the summer. I will soon head home for I few weeks before I return for staff training. In recent news, my research has finally turned up some results, but in doing so it has raised only questions andprovided no answers. My cousin was here this weekend, which was a nice change of pace. We toured SF on saturday and walked through the redwoods of Big Basin on Sunday. Jenna was kind enough to allow us to join in her birthday festivities. Thank you, and I am sorry. It was clear that most of you thought he was obnoxious rather than entertaining. I appreciate both your tolerance and your charity.

On a different note, I want to apologize to all of you whom I have offend in my poor attempts at humor. For all the disparaging remarks and the cultural, racial, religious, and regional jokes, I am deeply sorry. My sins are all the greater for having forgotten them. I have only recently come to understand the effect such seemingly inocuous comments can have.

I hope you all are well,
--Will

Learn To Play Golf

Hey Fuckers - So Sam and I are going to play a weekly game of golf this year, and it would be a fun way to get all of us together and outside once a week. So if any of you have been looking for an excuse to learn golf, or pick it up again, this is it! Take a lesson this summer, get some clubs, and come play with us. It'll be fun. I promise.

wine and birthdays

hey all!

so my parents are coming out for my birthday and are continuing on to napa valley. does anyone have any recommendations for a B&B for them to stay at?

on that same note, all of you who are around should come celebrate with me next week! it will likely be ridiculous. saturday night, when i turn 21 at midnight for a bit and sunday night probably starting at 9 at nola's. let me know if you are around and can come!

hope you are all doing well wherever you are. miss you guys! xoxox- jenna