We do it right.
One more exam and I’m HOME FREE!
Boulder
A Sunrise Hike
The other weekend Gil and I braved the cold and awoke before sunrise. We made our way to Chautauqua, at the base of the flatirons, and proceeded to work our way up.
The hike was gratifying, despite bumping my head on a rock and developing a bump the size of a golf ball.
The view was quite worth it. Wedged between two rocks, we ate our cheese sticks and peanuts and soaked up the sun before heading back down.
After making it off the mountain, Gil and I went to the Farmer’s Market and got some delicious (and over-priced) breakfast before returning to campus and crashing in bed. It was a wonderful last morning hike before the snow came and covered everything in white!
This weekend from college… an REI expenditure!
Return of the selfies? Maybe…
I kept this weekend low-key, as I was trying to kick the cold that I caught earlier in the week. I did however, manage to complete some crucial things. No, I didn’t do laundry. No, I didn’t send out those post cards I wrote two weeks ago. I made a trip to REI.
Whenever I walk into REI I am hit with so many feelings. Its a combination of comfort, excitement, and overstimulation, with the underlaying feeling of dissapointment that I can’t really afford anything around me. This is pretty much true for any outdoor store, but REI seems to do this the most.
So I don’t know if it was out of boredom or self pity because I had been sick all week, but I decided to splurge on this particular REI visit.
Mammut Brecon II High GTX Women’s Boots
The biggest and most exciting purchase was a new pair of hiking boots. I tried on 7 different pairs which lead me to the winner: Mammut Brecon II GTX boots.
When evaluating the boots I thought about blisters first and foremost. I actually got a little anxious thinking about the blisters from earlier this year (from which I now have scars.) All I can hope is that these boots lead me on many adventures in the future.
“Let’s Get Lost” United By Blue tank
After finding my boots I proceeded to walk around the store for nearly an hour soaking it all in. I rarely buy clothing with words on it, except when those words are perfect. I just couldn’t pass up this 100% cotton tank.
Eldrid Cosmic Lady Chalk Bag
Lastly I bought a chalk bag and chalk sock. I figured it’s about time I make the purchase… especially because I just joined the newly renovated climbing gym in the rec center. I better get climbing!
Today from college… Thoreau and forgetting things.
I might start doing these posts every few days… or I might not… basically don’t expect anything from me!
I was in my Introduction to Environmental Design Theory class this morning (it’s a bright and early 8am’er!) and couldn’t help but hear the conversation behind me.
“It’s a fine line… we need to look good this early, but we can’t look like we’ve tried too hard.”
“Yeah like I don’t want the guys thinking I tried to look good but I don’t want to just roll out of bed.”
A few minutes passed and the conversation made a riveting topic switch…
“The trick is showing up to the party with like, a small group. Because like, if we show up in a big group we might as well have ‘freshman’ written on our foreheads.”
“Yeah, like I feel like 6 is the perfect number… wait no maybe that’s like, too many.”
I had a hard time not turning around to identify these dipshits fellow classmates that were having this conversation at 7:54am. If only they knew the irony around the fact they were having a whole conversation about not trying too hard. Ladies… I’d say if you’re strategizing, you’re already trying too hard.
So eventually the professor walked in and I no longer had to resort to the girls behind me for entertainment. Half way through our lecture the professor put up a quote by Thoreau that almost made me laugh… out loud. The quote read as this:
“Which would have advanced the most at the end of a month — the boy who had made his own jackknife from the ore which he had dug and smelted, reading as much as would be necessary for this — or the boy who had attended the lectures on metallurgy at the Institute in the meanwhile, and had received a Rodgers’ penknife from his father? Which would be most likely to cut his fingers?”
Here I am, trying to convince myself that college is where I am meant to be… when this quote shows up. It seemed almost pointed towards me– highlighting the drastic change from my life last year and this new college life.
Would I love to return to that “jackknife making boy gal?” Well of course. But in the end, I suppose it’s a good idea to “attend lectures on metallurgy design theory” also.
On another note, we had a free-write in Writing class today. The starting point was: ‘I don’t remember…’
Mine went as follows:
“I don’t remember a lot of things. Sometimes I try to forget, and sometimes things just escape my mind. Regardless of how or why it happens, I have to figure– I’m better off without those memories. As least, that’s what I tell myself after missing a deadline.”
My inner most thoughts… they speak the truth.
08/28/14
Alexandra Upadhyaya 