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February 14, 2007
Stranded Across Campus: an Epic, by Karissa J. Kilgore
Classes were cancelled today for only the second time since I've attended Seton Hill. I have entirely too much work to do at the moment, so I was excited to not have to stress about getting so much done in so little time.
I decided to trek across the parking lot around 2 this afternoon to hang out with some friends, work on some things on my laptop, and just be in good company. We walked to dinner around 5, walked back around 6, and I got quite a bit accomplished.
Around 9 I was ready to go back to my own room, which is in main complex. I got bundled up and took a couple of steps on the sidewalk only to discover that when a sidewalk looks like coffee-table glass is sitting on it, it's not safe to walk on. I gently hopped into the snowbank so that, instead of falling face-first down a flight of stairs, I could punch my boots through the glazed snow (I think the snowbank was ultimately a better choice, but that's just me).
I tried to get to A Lot, but I was petrified. The ice seemed really thick, and I was sliding on the flat ground... I was terrified of what it would be like trying to get across the arc of the parking lot. I turned around and chickened my way back inside.
What was I going to do? I was carrying my laptop--one of the most expensive things I own (other than my car, which I don't think I'd take out on this ice either)--and I only just got off crutches a couple of weeks ago. I cannot risk falling on this glazed wonderland.
So, I did what was natural: I called maintenance to see if they were working on the sidewalks... they said their focus was the roads and that they'd try to get to the sidewalks...
And then I called Campus Police. I asked if they could give me a ride. They said they were tied up, and to call back around 11.
11 o'clock? Aw, man.
I waited it out, and called again. I got my ride back, and I am safe. (I know, I know--anticlimactic ending, isn't it? But at least I'm okay, right?)
Words to the wise: if the weather is awful everywhere else, it's probably worse on the 'Hill.
Posted by KarissaKilgore at February 14, 2007 12:22 AM
Comments
As an adventure survival story, it's a bit thin. Needs a grizzled old-timer warning you back at base camp not to go out on the ice at night, and you ignore the warning and go anyway, and maybe a demon wolf starts chasing you.
OK, maybe not the demon wolf part.
But seriously, given your history of bone breaks, I can't say that I blame you in the least. In ye olde days you could have nailed bottlecaps to the soles of your shoes.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz 
at February 14, 2007 9:58 AM
It's like reading a Jack London story!
Posted by: Mike at February 14, 2007 10:36 AM
LOL! Thanks for the, uh, suggestions...
Nail bottlecaps into my shoes?! That's pretty B.A. But I don't think I would have had access to any bottle caps (other than the plastic kind), nails, or a hammer... oh well. Guess times have changed.
Posted by: Karissa at February 14, 2007 10:40 AM