Cul-De-Suck: The Start of Christmas Break

The end of my hectic Fall semester has finally arrived. After having a gaggle of final critiques at ungodly hours in the morning, I am finally free at last. Free to run around, tearing off articles of clothing and screaming to the heavens for sanctuary. Or, I can spend all evening maneuvering around the worst traffic disaster since Pittsburgh tried out a "Hot Wheels Loop" on the Parkway.

Outside of my dorm (I refuse to call it a "residence hall") there is a fairly small cul-de-sac and a handful of parking spaces that are always occupied. Because there are a handful of people who are too lazy to obey the rules of the parking lot, there have been a number of cars always situated along the outside of "the sac." Specifically, a stupid Jeep Wrangler and a crappy green car with beer bumper stickers all over it (if you're reading this, shame on you!) Today was no exception for these heartless people, who took their positions around the circle. But so did about half a dozen other people, all eagerly trying to pack up and leave.

Or so it seemed... Rather, people would park their cars and go into one of the two dorms around The Sac. People wouldn't turn on blinkers or anything, they just parked and left. Meanwhile, you have people like me, who are are doing everything they can to get out of this school and on the road at a reasonable time. Where did I end up parking Le Sabre? In a handicapped spot. That's right. Because of these inconsiderate schmucks blocking every which way (but loose) in The Sac, I had to be an inconsiderate schmuck and park in a handicapped spot.

To put salt into my gaping, angry wound, it was pouring down sleet all morning. This made carrying my containers of goods to my car all the more challenging. Some things, like dirty laundry and plastic bags of filthy mugs, were able to get a little wet. But boxes of books and my PowerMac couldn't take Mother Nature's drippings. I went into my room, which was now merely a husk of its former self, and grabbed a towel out of my drawer. I draped the towel over each box so that it wouldn't get wet. When it was time to carry out my flatscreen monitor, I used two towels (one of which was Puff's) and swaddled the gigantic black screen like a liquid-chrystal baby Jesus. After about an hour of running back and forth between my car and freezing my buns off, I was ready to hit the road.

I left the Sac a complete mess. The whole place was completely jammed with cars, none of which were inhabited by people! Parking there and leaving the engine on while you load up your trunk is one thing, but parking in the middle of the Sac while you go inside and have a spot of tea is just preposterous!

The ride home was perhaps even more awful than the parking situation. This was Le Sabre's first big test in bad weather. Everything seemed rather fine in Greensburg, but one I got on that turnpike, things got a little frightening. Pretty soon, I was going about 40 in a 65, too afraid to change lanes because every time I did my tires slid. But with the help of El Rushmo and my iPod Shuffle (connected to Le Sabre with a tape deck adapter) I made it home alive. I hope that everyone else made it home safely as well!

I don't think I've ever needed a break as much as I need this one coming up. For as much work as I did during this semester (both academic and extra-curricular), I've felt that my creative capacities have gone by the wayside. So over break I'll be working on a new set of radio show episodes with James, writing a story to submit to Eye Contact, continuing work on the Dweller website, and making a few changes to this one. I'm also going to be digging into my growing reading list (especially once I get some of the books I put on my Christmas list) and playing some videogames that I have neglected for some time. And, of course, the blogging will be as good as ever!