Changing My Life: Day 56
Day 56: Today, live the Heavy Metal lifestyle at its most decadent
- Ate lunch at West Campus to finish off my burrito taste test. In the middle of lunch I stood up, threw my burrito across the room and yelled, "CUNTS!"
- Sent in my housing agreement for next year. As I approached the box to drop in my envelope I toppled it over, kicked it and gave everyone the finger. Then I walked out. I don't think I'll be getting housing next year.
- At the Freep I took a baseball bat to one of the EMacs. Needless to say we can put out a paper for the next 2 weeks at best.
- I also plugged in a guitar and rocked out like Eddie; Tracy, the office manager and a huge Van Halen fan, started dancing in the middle of the room.
- I didn't even eat dinner. Instead, I popped a bunch of pills and fell asleep.
- I woke up in a pool of my own vomit. There was a girl sleeping next to me, inexplicably.
- I went to the Vagina Monologues and yelled "I LOVE IT" everytime someone said vagina. I was dragged out after twenty minutes.
- Celebrating the monologues at the Sunset Cantina, I played a random set and brought down the house. Then I shagged five fit blondes in the mens' room.
- At Cannarsa's I drank like a fish, beligerently telling everyone my deepest, darkest secrets. I got all emotional like any washed-up rock star would.
Okay, only one of these statements is actually correct.
I really went to the Monologues and had a good time. Manders was phenomenal, as were the rest of the players. I wasn't really squemish or anything by it (people say, "Oh yeah, guys feel uncomfortable."), but I laughed a few times. Manders brought the house down with her line, "Who needs a handgun when you got a semi-automatic?," before a mock handling of a gun.
Met her mom after the show- she's very sweet and suuuure loves her beer (well, how it's made that is). We all went to the Sunset for food, drink and celebration. Good times.
Then I bum-rushed it to Cannarsa's (the Village, just cross the street) at 12:01 a.m., as Phoebe told me I had to haul ass or else I wouldn't be able to get in (stupid guest policy). I made it.
*Cue emotional portion of journal*
Basically, it was an e-board gathering.
E-Board . (Editorial Board) N: The prominent members of a newspaper staff who convene nightly to discuss the next day's editorials. These figures normally administer daily sections and the daily operations of the newspaper. They are a tight-knit group of individuals who spend hours upon hours of time with eachother each week.
Or, in Lehman's terms, the top-eight editorial staffers at the Freep. In this semester's case, it's Pat(Editor in Chief), Chris (Managing Editor), Matt (Executive Editor), Merrill (News Editor), Shreema (City Editor), Andrew [that's Cannarsa] (Sports Editor), Neal (Editorial Page Editor) and Phoebe (Photo Editor). The positions never change, but the people do each semester.
As Muse Editor, I'm a weekly editor, meaning, I'm right on the cusp of the e-board. I'm what is usually called "the extended e-board." Each Wednesday I get to sit-in on the budget meetings with the e-board and discuss the editorials. So I'm not e-board, but I'm close.
So, for Cannarsa to invite me to his place for this get together is one thing. I mean, I really didn't have to be at the gathering. It wasn't an extended e-board thing, it was an e-board thing. But he wanted me there. So I got there at midnight.
Man, what a night.
We basically played cards and shenaniganized. We did the usual games: Asshole, Kings, before finally succumbing to a large round of "Hot Seat." For those who don't play Kings, Hot Seat is where each player asks you one question, and you must HONESTLY answer. Usually these questions hover around the sexual end of things. Of course.
What I learned? Pat HATED me for the first few weeks. One: I flooded the Muse with 24 pictures each issue the first few weeks, making the entire production go incredibly slow. Two: I accidentaly reconfigured the server folders, creating an entirely new folder and making everyone have to re-upload content. Yeah, I'm an idiot. So for the first few weeks he really got pissed at me, when I wasn't there of course. But he said it became a joke after a while, and it is.
I also learned other things about many people, but I don't choose to share. What's in Hot Seat STAYS in Hot Seat, unless the person in Hot Seat cares to talk about themselves.
Like me, now.
Pat asked me which MuseMuse staffer I'd hook up with (err, not in those words). I gave an answer (that I will NOT share because my Muse girls all read this).
Phoebe asked me if I'm really happy being Muse Editor, especially after my rough times at the Freep (basically everyone knows about shit that happened in the past [which is LONG GONE and fixed :)]). And yup, I definitely am. Moreso than if I were anything else. It was then that everyone said that the Muse has looked absolutely amazing. They applauded (I think at least, I can't remember this). I felt like I were about to cry. I mean, I don't know, this sounds friggin silly, but I've been a part of the paper for 5 semesters. My time has been well documented.
As a City staffer I slacked. This is no secret. I know...KNOW...Kate wanted to absolutely kill me many times. While John was busting his ass for the section, I was hardly doing research and turning in crap articles. I didn't care so much. I know why Clynton got City Associate over me, and frankly, they made a great choice. I sucked. Really sucked. And Clytnon is amazing- the choice was easily justified. So of course, I got mad because I thought I was screwed. Looking back, I know it was ME that screwed myself. For one, my quality was not there. Second, I made such a huge deal about the whole application process. I think it was my wanting for acceptance that drove me to that.
I think I performed better as Sr. Assistant City Editor. Handling the beats showed people I had a knack for something. Granted, I'm not the best hard journalist. Not even close. But I knew how to organize and handle a staff. And I had passion to make City better, even if it wasn't by writing. Thank God for John, my best friend at the paper. He kept me in it. I was so ready to quit, then he sat me down. He flat out told me he didn't want me to leave. So I stayed.
After handling the beats and such, I thought I was a lock for Editorial Page Editor. I never figured Shreema would go for it. She did, and she got it. The board said it was the toughest decision they had to make. Whatever. Shreema is AWESOME. At the time I was beaten. I thought no one cared for me at the Freep. People hung out with eachother outside of the office...but I was never part of it. It really made me think about my place there. Should I leave? Was it really worth it for me just to stick around and flunky my way through somewhere else? Well, I wanted to kick down the doors when I came into the office that first time since being rejected, but then it happened: They wanted me to be Muse Managing Editor.
At first, I thought it was their way of keeping me out of the office even more. I thought, sheesh, I went from daily to weekly, if that. But as the semester progressed, and as Alexa and I put out more issues, I found comfort in the Muse. I found a place I can be. I also found Quark, something I could master. I applied for Muse Editor, and that day Pat called me to congratulate me, I finally felt at ease.
So, halfway through the Muse, the e-board tells me I've done a "bang-up" job with it. Vindication? Respect? No. It's more comfort. It's more a happy feeling. It's more something inside myself. I've done something I know I'm happy with.
After 5 semesters, I'm finally where I should be. No need to apply for anything else again. No need to try to be better. No need for justifications. Okay, maybe I'll go for Muse Editor again. But that's because I feel at home with it. I love doing it. And supposedly I'm good at it. We'll see.
Shreema asked if I ever had gay thoughts. Damn Shreema, who knew? But alas, I've never had them.
Neal asked me about how much I hated him after he wrote a letter to the editor slamming one of my lines in a piece last year. I told him I wasn't a fan of his, but after getting to know him, I've totally turned that notion around. Neal, is, a, great, guy.
Cannarsa's roommate's brother (I think?) asked me if I had any crushes. So, I told everyone about Erin. Everyone went "awww." I blushed.
Cannarsa then asked me who was the second funniest person at the Freep. Second? Well, he said I was the funniest.
Wow. Are you kidding? With a staff featuring Pat, Stoutie, Scheity and D-Kauf, I'm the funniest? That's debatable. Very debatable. I mean, a lot of people have called me the funniest person they knew, and I always get flattered with that compliment. This is where I have to say Cannarsa is the MAN. But anyway, I said Stoutie has to be second (although it's got to be close).
Ummm...Merrill asked...I think...asked who was the coolest person to work with at the office. That's so tough. I love everyone there, and I love working with everyone. But alas, I said Phoebe. She is really really cool.
I forget what Chris asked. Dang.
Anyway, I know I went on and on and really let everything out. But last night was just that- the night where everything came out and...and it felt great. It felt great being a part of it. It felt right.
Thanks, guys. Thanks for letting me in.
I hope I can come to the next one.
I went on for far too long, and now I have to get to work.
Cheers.
- Ate lunch at West Campus to finish off my burrito taste test. In the middle of lunch I stood up, threw my burrito across the room and yelled, "CUNTS!"
- Sent in my housing agreement for next year. As I approached the box to drop in my envelope I toppled it over, kicked it and gave everyone the finger. Then I walked out. I don't think I'll be getting housing next year.
- At the Freep I took a baseball bat to one of the EMacs. Needless to say we can put out a paper for the next 2 weeks at best.
- I also plugged in a guitar and rocked out like Eddie; Tracy, the office manager and a huge Van Halen fan, started dancing in the middle of the room.
- I didn't even eat dinner. Instead, I popped a bunch of pills and fell asleep.
- I woke up in a pool of my own vomit. There was a girl sleeping next to me, inexplicably.
- I went to the Vagina Monologues and yelled "I LOVE IT" everytime someone said vagina. I was dragged out after twenty minutes.
- Celebrating the monologues at the Sunset Cantina, I played a random set and brought down the house. Then I shagged five fit blondes in the mens' room.
- At Cannarsa's I drank like a fish, beligerently telling everyone my deepest, darkest secrets. I got all emotional like any washed-up rock star would.
Okay, only one of these statements is actually correct.
I really went to the Monologues and had a good time. Manders was phenomenal, as were the rest of the players. I wasn't really squemish or anything by it (people say, "Oh yeah, guys feel uncomfortable."), but I laughed a few times. Manders brought the house down with her line, "Who needs a handgun when you got a semi-automatic?," before a mock handling of a gun.
Met her mom after the show- she's very sweet and suuuure loves her beer (well, how it's made that is). We all went to the Sunset for food, drink and celebration. Good times.
Then I bum-rushed it to Cannarsa's (the Village, just cross the street) at 12:01 a.m., as Phoebe told me I had to haul ass or else I wouldn't be able to get in (stupid guest policy). I made it.
*Cue emotional portion of journal*
Basically, it was an e-board gathering.
E-Board . (Editorial Board) N: The prominent members of a newspaper staff who convene nightly to discuss the next day's editorials. These figures normally administer daily sections and the daily operations of the newspaper. They are a tight-knit group of individuals who spend hours upon hours of time with eachother each week.
Or, in Lehman's terms, the top-eight editorial staffers at the Freep. In this semester's case, it's Pat(Editor in Chief), Chris (Managing Editor), Matt (Executive Editor), Merrill (News Editor), Shreema (City Editor), Andrew [that's Cannarsa] (Sports Editor), Neal (Editorial Page Editor) and Phoebe (Photo Editor). The positions never change, but the people do each semester.
As Muse Editor, I'm a weekly editor, meaning, I'm right on the cusp of the e-board. I'm what is usually called "the extended e-board." Each Wednesday I get to sit-in on the budget meetings with the e-board and discuss the editorials. So I'm not e-board, but I'm close.
So, for Cannarsa to invite me to his place for this get together is one thing. I mean, I really didn't have to be at the gathering. It wasn't an extended e-board thing, it was an e-board thing. But he wanted me there. So I got there at midnight.
Man, what a night.
We basically played cards and shenaniganized. We did the usual games: Asshole, Kings, before finally succumbing to a large round of "Hot Seat." For those who don't play Kings, Hot Seat is where each player asks you one question, and you must HONESTLY answer. Usually these questions hover around the sexual end of things. Of course.
What I learned? Pat HATED me for the first few weeks. One: I flooded the Muse with 24 pictures each issue the first few weeks, making the entire production go incredibly slow. Two: I accidentaly reconfigured the server folders, creating an entirely new folder and making everyone have to re-upload content. Yeah, I'm an idiot. So for the first few weeks he really got pissed at me, when I wasn't there of course. But he said it became a joke after a while, and it is.
I also learned other things about many people, but I don't choose to share. What's in Hot Seat STAYS in Hot Seat, unless the person in Hot Seat cares to talk about themselves.
Like me, now.
Pat asked me which MuseMuse staffer I'd hook up with (err, not in those words). I gave an answer (that I will NOT share because my Muse girls all read this).
Phoebe asked me if I'm really happy being Muse Editor, especially after my rough times at the Freep (basically everyone knows about shit that happened in the past [which is LONG GONE and fixed :)]). And yup, I definitely am. Moreso than if I were anything else. It was then that everyone said that the Muse has looked absolutely amazing. They applauded (I think at least, I can't remember this). I felt like I were about to cry. I mean, I don't know, this sounds friggin silly, but I've been a part of the paper for 5 semesters. My time has been well documented.
As a City staffer I slacked. This is no secret. I know...KNOW...Kate wanted to absolutely kill me many times. While John was busting his ass for the section, I was hardly doing research and turning in crap articles. I didn't care so much. I know why Clynton got City Associate over me, and frankly, they made a great choice. I sucked. Really sucked. And Clytnon is amazing- the choice was easily justified. So of course, I got mad because I thought I was screwed. Looking back, I know it was ME that screwed myself. For one, my quality was not there. Second, I made such a huge deal about the whole application process. I think it was my wanting for acceptance that drove me to that.
I think I performed better as Sr. Assistant City Editor. Handling the beats showed people I had a knack for something. Granted, I'm not the best hard journalist. Not even close. But I knew how to organize and handle a staff. And I had passion to make City better, even if it wasn't by writing. Thank God for John, my best friend at the paper. He kept me in it. I was so ready to quit, then he sat me down. He flat out told me he didn't want me to leave. So I stayed.
After handling the beats and such, I thought I was a lock for Editorial Page Editor. I never figured Shreema would go for it. She did, and she got it. The board said it was the toughest decision they had to make. Whatever. Shreema is AWESOME. At the time I was beaten. I thought no one cared for me at the Freep. People hung out with eachother outside of the office...but I was never part of it. It really made me think about my place there. Should I leave? Was it really worth it for me just to stick around and flunky my way through somewhere else? Well, I wanted to kick down the doors when I came into the office that first time since being rejected, but then it happened: They wanted me to be Muse Managing Editor.
At first, I thought it was their way of keeping me out of the office even more. I thought, sheesh, I went from daily to weekly, if that. But as the semester progressed, and as Alexa and I put out more issues, I found comfort in the Muse. I found a place I can be. I also found Quark, something I could master. I applied for Muse Editor, and that day Pat called me to congratulate me, I finally felt at ease.
So, halfway through the Muse, the e-board tells me I've done a "bang-up" job with it. Vindication? Respect? No. It's more comfort. It's more a happy feeling. It's more something inside myself. I've done something I know I'm happy with.
After 5 semesters, I'm finally where I should be. No need to apply for anything else again. No need to try to be better. No need for justifications. Okay, maybe I'll go for Muse Editor again. But that's because I feel at home with it. I love doing it. And supposedly I'm good at it. We'll see.
Shreema asked if I ever had gay thoughts. Damn Shreema, who knew? But alas, I've never had them.
Neal asked me about how much I hated him after he wrote a letter to the editor slamming one of my lines in a piece last year. I told him I wasn't a fan of his, but after getting to know him, I've totally turned that notion around. Neal, is, a, great, guy.
Cannarsa's roommate's brother (I think?) asked me if I had any crushes. So, I told everyone about Erin. Everyone went "awww." I blushed.
Cannarsa then asked me who was the second funniest person at the Freep. Second? Well, he said I was the funniest.
Wow. Are you kidding? With a staff featuring Pat, Stoutie, Scheity and D-Kauf, I'm the funniest? That's debatable. Very debatable. I mean, a lot of people have called me the funniest person they knew, and I always get flattered with that compliment. This is where I have to say Cannarsa is the MAN. But anyway, I said Stoutie has to be second (although it's got to be close).
Ummm...Merrill asked...I think...asked who was the coolest person to work with at the office. That's so tough. I love everyone there, and I love working with everyone. But alas, I said Phoebe. She is really really cool.
I forget what Chris asked. Dang.
Anyway, I know I went on and on and really let everything out. But last night was just that- the night where everything came out and...and it felt great. It felt great being a part of it. It felt right.
Thanks, guys. Thanks for letting me in.
I hope I can come to the next one.
I went on for far too long, and now I have to get to work.
Cheers.