Week 9: The Girl at Cyberia Café

Now, I’m sure many of you are thinking “huh, that’s strange and nondescript…” But please, let me explain to you my Friday Night…

This Friday at around 6:45, I got it in me that I should go for a walk.  I didn't really plan out how long it would be (and I can prove that by my choice of shoes—clogs), and I wasn't even really sure which direction I would go in.  But I started at the same place I start all of my walks, which is at the Great Lakes Research Center.  It’s a newly built campus building that is right on the edge of the Portage.  

When I got to the base of the Research Center (literally the shore of the water), I started walking west.  I didn't really know what was west of there exactly, but it turned out to be Facility Type Buildings and Campus Vehicles, and dirt roads.  It was interesting to me that this whole part of campus is blocked off and not really visible from Main Campus, so I kept going west.  Eventually I hit the end of that trail/dirt parking lot, and had to move back up towards real road.  This road ended up being the Bike Trail/Snow Mobile Trail.

From there, I walked.

And walked.

And just kept walking west.

When the Trail turned, I turned with it.

Until I got just 200 feet away from the Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge.

Then I turned around. 

But rather than just return the same way I came, I went up even higher, to the streets of Downtown Houghton.

And this is where the real magic happens.

I was walking back, when I saw Cyberia Café.  And I thought to myself, “Hey, Jinan. You should get something from there. It’s getting chilly out, and why not?”

SO, I went inside, I placed my order, took my debit card out, and the barista was about to start making my “Leprechaun Latte” when she said “actually, we don’t have a card-swiper here, and I dunno what bank you use, but there’s a Wells Fargo ATM down the street.” And feeling a little defeated, I said “You know, it’s okay, I actually don’t use Wells Fargo, so it’s probably not gunna happen.” And as I turned to walk away, she (amazingly) responded with “well, if you want, we could probably just use the Honor System (as she continues to make my drink), and you can just come back sometime later this week and pay for it then…” I stopped in my tracks. I couldn’t believe it. And all I could think was “What? Only in Houghton would something like this happen.”

So I took her up on it.

And I enjoyed that Leprechaun Latte all the way home.

And then when I got home, I sat in my comfy chair, with my warm(ish) drink, and read.

It was really great.

And more important from a “free” latte, and the beautiful sights I saw while on my walk, I learned something very valuable. I learned that it’s okay to do things alone. And as Nicole later said: “Being alone, doesn't have to mean being lonely.”

Later that night I got an early Birthday Cupcake from Myder, and I went to a Country Music (Katie Armiger) Concert with friends, where I swing danced, and had a great time.

I also saw a shooting star that night

.

This week was great. At times it was almost boring. But truly, this week was great.

Other Cool Things that Happened This Week: Saw Ted in Fisher; Watched Presidential Debate #2, and Bonded with Amanda; Went to “the Dating Doctor”; Went to Cyberia to repay my debts with Sophie, and played with a puppy; Life Chats with Audrey and Catie; Went to the HuskyLEAD Seminar on Robert’s Rules of Order; and Skyped Liz for 2 Hours.

Week 8: Homecoming Week/Trevor Birr

To be a leader means to step up when you’re not asked.  To step up even when you don’t want too. And to do good even when no one is watching.

This week that’s exactly what Trevor did.  I’ve known Trevor for over a year now, and we’ve had a lot of really great times together.  From going to dairy queen, to building a Christmas Gingerbread Trailer Park with other Hallmates, to watching Bones, and to just having Breakfast together, Trevor has impressed me many times.  But this week, I was impressed more than I can properly express.  

As it was Homecoming Week, this week held a lot of hurdles that I, as a PA, had to overcome.  And it was having Trevor there behind me that helped make it manageable. Cardboard boat was destined to be a failure. Though people said they wanted to do it, no one was stepping up.  The week prior, Ellen got people to sign up, but no one was actually attempting to make the boat.  And it was difficult to know if I was supposed to take the initiative and force them to make it, or if I was just supposed to let it slide, and not make a boat this year. 

Fortunately, on Wednesday, Trevor stepped up.  I went with him to pick up cardboard, and to buy duct tape, and even though we faced difficulties, by the end of the night we had the base of a boat done! I went to bed that night grateful.  Grateful things were working out, and grateful for Trevor, who I knew didn’t really want to head up cardboard boat, but was still willing to because it needed to be done.

From there, things just started getting better.  We finished our boat.  Trevor drove it down to the park in his truck.  We had a big barbecue at Chutes and Ladders.  And when it came down to it, we totally lost in the race.  Like, didn’t even make it off the starting line, lost. 

It was great.

I was so proud, not only of Trevor, but of my entire house.  People came together, and worked as a team.  For a moment, differences were put aside. 

And I believe that none of that would have happened if Trevor hadn’t stepped up.

This week a lot of really great things happened:

I found out I got the 4^th highest grade on my first Combinatorics Exam.

I champed my Calc 3 Exam.

I didn’t completely fail my Abstract Algebra Exam

I hung out with Nicole, who I hadn’t spent time with in Forever

I saw 'Brave' in Fisher

I saw 'Pitch Perfect' at the Houghton Cinema (a Classy establishment)

I saw my good friends Jade and Sophie perform at Coffeehouse

I watched the Vice Presidential Debate with my House

And We lost Cardboard Boat…and I couldn’t be more proud.

Quote of the Week: “Ninety percent of life is just showing up” – Woody Allen

Week 7: The World

So, tonight, I faced a dilemma. What happens when everyone is great, but no one stands out? What happens when you realize, even though you’re going to fail your exam on Tuesday, and even though sometimes you find yourself overwhelmed, you are still extraordinarily grateful for the life you have, if only because of the people that are in it?

Well, that was this week.

This week was difficult.  But it was also great.  An uphill battle, that I’d like to think I conquered.

I learned many things this week, and maybe because it’s late at night, but I just don’t have a lot to say about it. Only, thank you. Thank you, world, for being awesome.

Quote of the Week: “Oh love, oh the many colors that you’re made of” –Brad Paisley

Cook Things this week: First Presidential Debate; Life-Chats with Many-a-Folk; Saw the Amazing Spiderman in Fisher; Gave Tours with Open House; Had my First Rounds as  PA; Walked around the Great Lakes Research Center; Painted the SDC Windows; Didn’t go to Career Fair