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Dallas, Texas, United States

Monday, April 07, 2008

My Apologies To The 'Rents With This One


I've come into the 21st century, folks. It only took me 8 years, but I finally own a laptop! Contain yourselves, please.

Today I had to drive to the DHL office to pick up said laptop. On my way over and back, I cut through the SMU campus, as I've done most of my life.

Oh I was never a student there, but I spent many a night at the SMU library and the student center back when I was just a pup. And by pup, I mean not old enough to realize what a pain in the ass I surely was back then.

Travel back in time with me, folks. Back to the days before we had laptops, before we had desktop PCs, before there was a major in college called "computer science".... back to the time of the *gasp* card catalog and the Dewey decimal system.

I know. I know. I'm ancient. But I'm cute, so you love me. Say it. SAY IT!

Back in high school, we had these things called term papers. Do they still do those? Probably not - that would require our nation's youth to earn their diplomas. Shut my mouth.

Anyhoo, we'd spend weeks gathering information from the card catalog, microfiche (whatever the F that was) and periodicals. We'd spend hours in the "stacks" gathering book after book (remember those?) and pile ourselves into the smoking lounge (oh yeah, they had those back then, too) at the SMU library and begin to compare and contrast the offerings of Issac Asimov and Ray Bradbury or debate the issue of euthanasia. And we used words like juxtaposition, which I haven't used since then.

And smoke cigarettes and flirt with the frat boys. And flirt. And flirt. And fuckin' flirt some more!

Come ON. We were 16 at best. We thought we were so friggin' cool - trying to get invited to the weekend's keg party. Never happened, sorry to say. I mean, we weren't even done filling out our bras, yet we thought these guys would be all over inviting jail bait to their drunk fests. Only now, decades later, do I realize just how smart those guys were after all, but at the time, it was nothing but disappointment - until the next evening when we would meet at the library and start all over again.

It's a wonder I graduated from high school with the hours I wasted on flirting in the smoking lounge. Hey, I don't think I ever made less than a B+ on any of those papers and that wasn't even trying.

Mom & Dad, sorry, but I didn't really apply myself. Except in the flirting department. And that was a science I didn't master until my mid-20's. And it had nothing to do with the fine education you graciously provided. If you'd only known what was going on at that library. Oh yeah, you probably did. So thanks.
*Can anyone help me with my transition into the 21st century by telling me how to make that playlist thingy move over to the left a little?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

tres cute! I never really applied myself either but my parents so knew that ;)

darnie said...

I use to spend the 11th grade skipping school, going to watch them film the music TV shows with my sister and a few friends (some things never change) I was a good student but would get in trouble for wearing too short a skirt (just my extra long limbs) and lots of eye makeup) very Mod. It was the great escape from a childhood where parent argued and fought like cats and dogs!

Your blog is sweet, funny and fun to read!

Thatgirl7278 said...

You flirted w/college guys in HS???? Wow. I would have never! You've got some cajones girl! :)

MrRyanO said...

Ahhh yes! The Card Catalog! I remember spending hours of my youth messing up the order of the cards. Good times! :D

CruiserMel said...

Golightly - Hey, all the cool kids were doing it, right?

Darnelle - Awwww, you're making me blush....

Thatgirl - WHAT? I thought that was normal?

Rockdog - That was you? DAMMIT.

Anonymous said...

Hey - I'm just impressed that you have the song list thingy at all! By the way, I love that Jason Mraz song that is playing for me right now. "Absolutely Zero". Nice. Miss you M. I hope I get to see you before the wedding... :)

CruiserMel said...

KP - I'll have my machine call your machine and they can do lunch. :) Thanks on the Jason Mraz song. Ain't that one helluva voice? Dayum.

Random Musings said...

I love this picture!