Playing with Fire
3pm: the fire alarm goes off, waking Amanda up from her nap and catching me in the middle of brushing my teeth. So, with mild cursing and griping about bad timing, we make our way down all 20 flights of stairs to go chill in the UC for a while. We come back shortly thereafter and go back up to our room, where we just have the time to turn our computers back on and get resettled when... the fire alarm goes off again. With slightly less mild cursing and griping this time, we again make our way down, this time heading to the lounge area on the top floor of Montpetit. After conferencing via cellphone with our other 20th floor compatriots, we decided to head back. Trooping back up the stairs, we get only about halfway when, surprise surprise, the fire alarm goes off
again. This time the cursing and griping is anything but mild. It is now 5:30 pm and I am back in my room, but for who knows how long? If it goes off again I am taking my Psych textbook and spending the night in Morisset Library next door.
It is not the huge inconvenience of it all that really bothers me. It is not the costs that will no doubt be incurred by continually summoning the Fire Department for false alarms, nor is it the extraordinarily bad timing (we are, after all, in the middle of finals here). I don't really even mind walking up and down 20 flights of stairs, because I do that anyways. Heck, my butt is probably better off for it.
There is a larger problem here. I seriously do hope that this was caused by some kind of malfunction, because if it was in fact some kind of prank, I have to question the thought processes of the person(s) responsible. Inconvenience and discourtesy aside, repeatedly pulling the fire alarms was a wholly bad idea. I know for a fact that many people didn't bother leaving the building for the third alarm. What if there was a real fire now? How many people would be hurt (or worse) because of some idiot's continuing insistence on crying wolf? Such actions are inexcusable, because fire safety (I'll risk sounding corny here) is crucially important and must be taken seriously. Also, could it not occur to the person(s) responsible for this that the Fire Department has more important things to do than investigate juvenile pranks? One thing springs immediately to mind: maybe they could be off fighting
real fires. People in serious danger could be losing their homes or their lives because the Fire Department was delayed, thanks to childish students at the U of O. How do you explain to a child that Mommy died in a fire because the Fire Fighters were too busy running back and forth to a University residence that wasn't even on fire?
Speculation is widespread that the alarms are an attempt by a desperate student(s) to get their exams deferred. Call me crazy, but I'd rather just
study, write the exams as scheduled, and go home for the holidays.
The children in this rez need to stop "playing with fire" before someone gets burned- literally. I am now sincerely hoping that my rant has been unjustified, that the whole fiasco was the result of a mere malfunction, and that certain Thompson residents are not as juvenile and selfish as they've appeared today.
Seeing as I've lost several hours of study time, I've lost my right to procrastinate any further. I'll now turn my slightly irritated self to the books.
Exit Chelsea, Stage Left.
Study Habits and Shivaree
I haven't posted in a little while, due first to homework/studying and then due to simple lack of motivation. I've been living an ever so slightly sedentary life for the past few days, since I wrote my English Lit pre 1700 exam on Wednesday. So my existence has been leisurely, filled mostly with sleeping, chilling with friends, and idle, half-hearted studying... which will intensify begininning today because I have two exams on Thursday (Psych and Religion- oh hooray). My Lit exam went very well, I'd say, and I am pleased that I will have the same prof again next semester for English Lit
post 1700. The prof seems to like my writing style, and I like her teaching style... so I am well contented with this turn of events. I am also taking a poetry analysis course, which ought to be interesting. Hopefully we look at mostly good stuff.
In other school-related news, I finally took my French placement test. Now I have to register for a second-year course on French grammar. Grammar... I can barely contain my excitement.
It seems that there is something going on in rez that if you put something white on your door at 11:30pm tonight, you will be given a "present to help you study." I believe it has something to do with Red Bull. I think Amanda and I shall participate... though we may well have left for our little movie night with Andrew over in Stanton by that point. I suppose we shall have to see.
It just occurred to me that all the doors have something white on them: a whiteboard.
Well, I'm officially envious of all the people who get to go home before I do. Why must I have an exam on the 22nd? Not fair! It's Philosophy 1101 too... compulsory for all first year Arts students... which means that like half of the first year students have to stay. Bollocks- why do freshmen have to get the shaft?
On a nicer note: my mommy sent me another package full of useful things. She is the greatest Mom a girl could ask for. I feel so loved. I will arrive home to a fully decorated, festive house, and I am eager.
I suppose I should really go... I need to study while Amanda is writing her Poli Sci exam so when she gets back I can be ready to go watch a movie. She will be looking to kick back and relax... especially since she has been studying her pretty little head off for the past while. She gets to go home in less than a week though- so lucky. And I will be roommateless, except maybe for Ian- haha.
I've decided to declare that Ambrosia Parsley (I have no idea what is up with a name like that, I'll be honest), who sings for Shivaree, is now Girl of the Day. Her music is funky-fresh and very chill... good for having on in the background when studying when I want something relaxed but with some subtance- puts me in mind of a speakeasy, I guess. Anyways, Shivaree is on the extraordinarily long and equally varied list of music I enjoy. Variety is the spice of life, they say.
They also say that intelligent people are more likely to have very eclectic music tastes. Hahaha.
Anyways, Ambrosia Parsley of Shivaree is my Girl of the Day. Plus she's a cutie... see?
I guess that's all for now. It's time for me to glance in the general direction of my Psych textbook.
Chelsea Out.
"Nice Guys" Finish Last
So true. So sadly true. It also, it is important to remember, works in the reverse.
Anyways, I laughed. Thought you might like it.
The View from atop the Soapbox: Vote or Die?
On January 23rd I will get to vote for the first time. I'm not sure how I feel about that, really, so I have been attempting to educate myself more thoroughly about the politics of our country. I have never considered myself downright uninformed, but I think that the democratic process is most effective with an educated and
participating voter population. Therefore some investigation into pertinent issues is certainly due, I believe.
In my opinion, too many people base their political opinions on stereotypes, gossip, mudslinging, and assumptions. They judge a party based on what they
think they know, and on media impressions, rather than actually investigating party policies and practices. I see this as irresponsible. If it is worth your time to stay up-to-date on your favourite sports team or TV show, is it not also worth your time to keep on top of
the running of your country?
Anyways, I'll cut the preamble, get down from my soapbox, and get down to business. As someone who absolutely loves taking quizzes and such, I wanted to recommend you take this quiz:
http://www.votebyissue.org/cbc/
You just might learn something!
So sorry if I got a little preachy. Hope all is well.
Chelsea Out.
