Freshman 15 Myth?

Most of us Americans are well aware of the so-called freshman 15 - the idea that people gain 15 pounds during their first year if college. I guess it's mainly due to drinking beer and a the unlimited meals at the dining hall, but I think the reasons to lose weight during that first year outweigh the reasons to gain weight. A more appropriate phenomenon would be the post college 15.

Post college, many of us get office jobs where we sit around in front of a computer all day. That can't be good for the health and fitness. A less active social life might lead to a more sedentary lifestyle away from work as well. In college, many hours are spent in front of a computer as well, but i just think the walking that is generally required for getting to and from classes and residence halls in college more than makes up for the buffets and beer. Or maybe it was just my college experience and current work environment.

Bureaucracy at Work

I'm still waiting on those trips my boss said we were going to have this summer. Maybe they've been postponed. big surprise. I'm also really frustrated with the bureaucracy and various contracts at work. With all the levels of contractors and subcontractors, it's pretty ridiculous now. someone in Montreal or NYC or Washington, call me for an interview!

Online Relationships

As much as we may sometimes try to delude ourselves into thinking our
online friends are satisfying, an online chat is not nearly as
satisfying as a face to face chat. Many of us have lives that largely
revolve around Internet communication for a variety of reasons.
In my case, the internet provides a nice outlet to connect with other
bridge players, particularly the 20-somethings across the country and
world and in that regard, the internet (bridge base) has done wonders
for my social life. While it has certainly detracted somewhat from the
social life I might have locally, the bright young bridge players are
who I identify with best and probably would get along with best. It
just kind of sucks that they're all far away.
I would still choose almost anything that is face to face over any
Internet social activity despite it being more expensive and possibly
with someone I don't like as much. This is why I don't think I'll ever
stop playing in actual bridge clubs as long as I'm still playing
bridge and working in a job that requires little to no social skills.
Can one fall in love online? No. And I feel strongly about this. Even
if you talk daily online and play games together every night, you
can't build any emotional connection nearly strong enough to sustain
love without physically being with the person. Online friendships,
much like the difference between email and phone calls, is too
impersonal. Once a connection has been developed through actual face
time, it can be sustained for a short time online.
That is all for now. Time to go be social with and play with some
bridge players I mostly only know online.

Ten Things I Hate About You

For most people, Ten Things I Hate About You probably just goes in the category of mediocre teen romantic comedies. It is largely formulaic and full of clichés but it remains one of my favorite movies. Earlier this week I watched that movie again, for probably about the 10th time. I love the character of Kat Stratford, played by Julia Stiles. She’s a rebellious and smart independent girl. But unlike similar characters in other movies, she’s not goth or homely but rather attractive. So, the last couple of days I started watching the Ten Things I Hate About You TV series that started (and ended) last year. Not surprisingly, I liked what they did with the show. It’s the same basic characters, but I think I liked Kat even more in the TV series. She’s still the rebellious and smart girl who isn’t afraid to stand up for her beliefs and do what she wants but she has a concern for the environment and pro-actively tries to do something about it which is admirable. Her stubbornness is quite appealing as well. Her love life, which revolves around one guy, who she repeatedly denies having any feelings for and doesn’t want to believe can actually be happening, is far more intriguing than that of her sister, a wanna-be cheerleader who wants to date the hottest most popular guys in school. Anyway, apparently the show isn’t coming back for a second season. 


But there’s another reason this movie is particularly special to me. It’s what I watched on my first date, or at least what I consider to be my first date, and surely Kristen’s first date as well, 10 years ago. And as I recall Brian was there with another girl, too, but I really have no idea who. Good times but I don’t want to go back. Or do I?