1:  Alisa!  You have so much stuff to do, and you’re doing what??  Doodling in your sketchbook?

2:  I am trying to decide on a hairstyle, thank you.

1:  You could at least be doodling a part of the newspaper that you’re redesigning.

2:  Look at my to-do list!  I’ve accomplished a lot today.  Besides, a haircut is necessary.

1:  A job is necessary.

2:  I’ve got it covered.

1:  Where?

2:  In my head.

1:  So basically, it doesn’t exist, and you’re doodling hair.

2:  Yes.

I hate arguing with myself.

So today as I was coming out of the Arizona Student Media office where I work, I saw an old friend and his roommate walking closer to my office building. I haven’t spoken to this friend in such a long time, since last year sometime, and he has never hurt me in any way, but for some reason I had this huge urge to duck for cover, and then run away.

So anyways, I was walking out of my office, and I spotted this friend’s roommate first. His roommate always has this goofy, crazy, mad scientist look in his eyes, and you can pick him out from a mile away. I literally did a one-two step backwards and whispered to myself, “No. no. nononononono.” I spun on my heels and jammed my fingers at the keypad to get back into the building, where it was safe from uncomfortable situations and full of things that are nice and predictable like Mac computers, gay guys, and every edition of the AP Stylebook since 1980.

“Hey girlfriend, didn’t I just see you leave?”

“Yeah, well, I’m back. There were some people out there that I didn’t want to talk to, so I am avoiding an awkward situation.”

“Ooohmigosh. I KNOW how you feel. I TOTALLY feel like that at least once a day.”

“That’s good, I’m not alone.”

“Would you like to read an AP Stylebook to calm your nerves?”

“Yeah. Are you using that Mac?”

“Weeeeellll, I’m done now.”

“Okay good. Would you bring me the the 1994 edition of the book?”

School starts again tomorrow. I can’t believe that I’m starting on my second semester of college. I don’t feel like I’m a college student. I guess I had always imagined that it would be different somehow. I think that the media portrays college as something that is akin to Disneyland for big kids–fun all the time. And not only fun all the time, but the ONLY place on earth that you can have fun. I’m so disillusioned that sometimes I wonder if it’s possible to have fun once you grow up and get a real job.

At any rate, college is fun, but it’s not fun all the time. Just sometimes. It’s fun to look at all the different classes that are available, and imagine all the possibilities of the future. But it’s also been the most stressful time of my life. Now I understand why psychological problems start appearing once people hit the college age.

I’m hopeful and optimistic. This will be a good semester.

The other day I went and took some photos of my favorite places on campus. I think that the most recognizable building on campus is Old Main (the very first building where farmers and miners studied). It’s also one of the most boring buildings to look at.

So the following are some some scenes that I saw every day on campus this semester.

This liquid nitrogen tank was always suspiciously leaky sounding. One time I saw someone in a hazmat suit messing around with it. It still sounds leaky, even after I saw that person.

I pass through this wall after my English class. I bet you never would have thought that Arizona is so green.