$25, and Customer Service

So, Delta is instituting a new policy where the second bag you check, and every bag thereafter, costs you $25. I know this, because Orbitz just sent me an email telling me so. This is because one of the flights that we're taking to Prague is a Delta flight.

Well, that shouldn't be a problem, I say to myself, because we have been thinking about just doing everything in a carry-on apiece anyway. But, just out of curiosity, I decided to log in and see which flight it was that was on a Delta plane.

I clicked the little button to look at all the flights, and spent about 3 minutes very puzzled. See, we're taking three flights to get over there, and three flights to get back. I have the itinerary in my inbox. Well, I see three flights coming back, but only two flights on the way there.

How odd, I think. Perhaps they decided to direct-flight it? That's cool. So, I look closer. I see the flight out of Cincinnati, to Washington. I see the flight from Washington to London. They're exactly the same as always. Then I look in disbelief as THAT'S WHERE THE FLIGHT ITINERARY ENDS!!!!!

I'm mildly concerned at this point. I have five people going to Prague, places lined up and everything, and my ticket ENDS IN LONDON!!!! Now, don't get me wrong, I like London - or at least I think I would. Cherok says lots of nice things about it. I'd like to visit some time.

BUT I WANT TO GO TO PRAGUE!!!! Moreover, I PAID to go to Prague!

Well, I'm on the phone right now with Michelle, a very nice lady with a bit of an accent, who is finding me a new flight, no charge. I'm very very thankful. Though, I'm curious - what would have happened if Delta hadn't started charging for the second checked bag, and I hadn't logged in to look at the itinerary again? THAT would have been a nasty surprise!

"Bless the Lord, my soul
and bless His holy name
Bless the Lord, my soul
who leads me into Life"
~ song from Taize
.

IHoP All-nighter

So, sometimes, when students have papers they have to finish, they stay up late and write them. Sometimes, however, they decide to pull all-nighters.

Now, there is a protocol for all-night study/writing events. First, you should choose your destination. There are a few restaurant-type places that are open 24-hours a day. Examples of these would be Tim Horton's, The Anchor, and the International House of Pancakes.

The second choice that has to be made is your all-nighter companions. This is a crucial step in "pulling an all-nighter." If your companions are too studious, they will have already finished the paper, and will be asleep by the time you realize you need to stay awake all night. If your companions are too flighty, they'll go with you to the restaurant but will never get anything done, and will prevent you from writing much more than three paragraphs over the course of the night.
The ideal all-nighter companions, then, are those whom you enjoy thoroughly, but who also really want to finish their assignment as much as you do. It helps if they are in your class, working on the same paper or studying for the same test that you are.

You might be surprised to find that there are really only two steps to pulling an all-nighter. You might not realize, however, how crucial both steps are in pulling a successful all-nighter.


I am pleased to report that the restaurant chosen was the IHOP by the Very Large Meijer, just off of Exit 8A on I-71 North.

The companions consisted of Corey Isaac, Scuttle, Becckha, and myself.

The time had was an excellent mixture of laughter (mostly Corey and myself), poking (exclusively Becckha), enjoying the fact that she's not in Advanced Greek yet (exclusively Scuttle), and paper-writing. I myself left with seven double-spaced pages at 7 o'clock this morning.

One important factor to consider is your coffee-tolerance. If you only drink coffee as an occasional paper-stimulant, do not drink the whole Bottomless Pot you purchased and were brought, and do not ask your waitress for another. This results in energy for a while, until you realize that your brain is incoherent, but too hyped up on caffeine to realize that it is exhausted. Then you try to sleep, but are unable to for the next 7 hours. For your own sake, moderate your coffee-intake.



All in all though? I had a BLAST, and will not forget this paper-writing experience for a Long Time.

one of Those People

I hate myself so much right now.

mmmm, no, that's not true. I wouldn't trade this for the world.

but still . . . i'm one of Those People.

The people I mock, the people who can't seem to spend enough time with their girlfriend, so they stay out right up to curfew and then come trooping back to the dorm. Those people.

k, so, I went for a walk. It was a nice night out, right? beautiful. Sure, curfew was in 15 minutes, but that's cool. Sure, I might have been holding hands . . . I don't mind that part. At all, actually. [editor's note - he was not holding hands with himself, but rather with his girlfriend] Wait, didn't I mention that part? Oh, yeah, I have a girlfriend now . . . but it was a REALLY nice night out too, I promise.

So, we're walking, enjoying the night air . . . and it's curfew time. So, as we walk back to her dorm, I notice EVERY other couple walking back as well. And then it hits me. i'm one of Those People. I'm part of the club, the group of people who all troop back down to the dorm right as curfew hits, having spent their last precious moment together with their significant other for the night.

But I'm not one of those people, I promise! I'm trying really really hard to maintain individuality for the both of us. I don't want to be That Couple, who eats EVERY meal together, who is practically joined at the . . . well, hands? Shoulders? *insert body-part here*? 'Cause, I mean, we're dating. We're not engaged. We're still individuals, with our own responsibilities and lives. Sure, I like her - obviously! Sure I enjoy spending time together - obviously! But I still want to remain individual people, for now. If it doesn't work, that limits the pain. If it does work, it won't be a problem - there's plenty of time. I tend to throw myself whole-heartedly into anything that I determine is worth doing. That's great and wonderful, that's a terrific ability/gift. But I'm learning the value of caution and boundaries. Not that I didn't ever have boundaries before - but I'm learning more about them, and about what it means to be a man in a relationship.

So, really, I'm not one of Those People. I have boundaries, and I don't have to be with her ALL THE FREAKING TIME!!! Just, tonight, part of the time that I bounded out to spend with her, happened to fall during the stereotyped time.

cool.






oh, and I REALLY appreciate people who come and talk to me, instead of 1). assuming, and 2). starting rumors.

Not that I've heard any rumors - but I know how my campus works.

Responsible

I am not responsible for my guilt, I realized this morning. I am responsible for my actions before God. If my heart is both seeking him, and clean before him, then I can reject any feelings of guilt that are pointed my way.

It's easy for me to feel guilty, when I take on responsibilities that I shouldn't - or say no to things, and then feel bad for it. But, really, there is only one judge, who is able to save and destroy. I just need to please him, right?

I feel like there's a little danger in being so simplistic - I actually intended to simply right "I am responsible only before God," but then as I wrote it I felt like that was a very dangerous proposition. I don't think it's wrong, it's just easy to abuse if your heart is wrong.

Now, not all guilt is wrong. But I know that it is a powerful tool that gets used against me. That's why I hate it SO MUCH when people try to guilt-trip me into doing things. I do it to myself, however, and I'm so much more insidious. It all comes back to God - am I honoring Him, or not? if I am, I can stand firm in that. If I'm not, I'd better start moving, now!


Whatcha think?