Check Your Pockets

Working at a dry cleaners involves going through the pockets of every item before it is cleaned. This results in a collection of random things people forget to take out of their pockets. Tissues, chap stick, business cards, lecture notes, funeral programs, cuff links, and the occasional money. Things also seem to come in phases. We have the "OMG it's getting cold I just HAVE to get my coat cleaned now" phase and the "I'm getting married in June and need my wedding dress cleaned and pressed" phase and the "school's starting so I need to get all 27 of my dress shirts cleaned" phase, you get the idea. Right now its the "crazy-rush-for-no-reason-I-need-my-comforter-asap-cause-its-cold-and-I-was-too-stupid-to-think-ahead-and-get-it-cleaned-earlier" phase.

Last week, the whole community of Moscow decided to spill drinks on themselves. Every time I worked someone came in with an article of clothing that had coffee, or hot chocolate, or milk, or some beverage spilt all over it. This week, everyone has decided to leave money in their pockets. And for that, I am very thankful. I have collected a total of $72.10 this week from various people leaving various amounts in their pockets. Its one of the perks of the job. You find it, its up to you to do what you see fit. Of course if it's a huge amount we give it back.

So the point of all this is to say, check your pockets. Make sure that you go through your jeans and coats before washing them. Who knows, you might become a more wealthy person.

Up

It was raining all day on campus. I was walking from the music building to the Admin and everyone I passed was bundled up in coats and scarves and hats and other warm items. Nothing surprising there. Then, as I scanned peoples' faces, I noticed that 99% of the people were staring at the two feet of wet pavement in front of them. They didn't dare look elsewhere for fear of letting in a cold draft or stepping into a dread puddle. Over all, everyone looked miserable and terrified and acted as if the stream running down the street would carry them off if they so much as touched the moving water.

Why miss the glory in the rain? Yes it is cold and miserable when you have to walk in it all day, I know. But if you never take your eyes off the ground you will miss the dripping tree leaves. You will miss the shining roofs of the buildings and the clouds flying past in the wind. You might avoid every puddle in the world and still manage to soak your feet in the wet grass. Why not go for the puddle? Exercise that little bit of freedom now that Mom isn't there to scold you.

Let the drops fall on your face, open up to the chilly wind, stomp in a puddle, send a leaf raft down a sidewalk river, and then huddle up back inside your coat. You have tasted the glory.

Where It Starts

Hello. This blog is dedicated to my experiences as a college freshman, and may end up containing my whole college experience. I am a Vocal Education major at the University of Idaho. For those of you who might be confused by that title, I will be learning how to teach people to sing.

In addition to school I work at a dry cleaners and as a house cleaner, and take care of my horse Dante. My days are full and I often wish for more then 24 hours in a day. But life is good.
I have decided that I don't like school, but I like my classes. Weird, I know. Basically my ideal school life would be taking three classes none of which started before 10am. But seeing as I am a music major who is determined to graduate in four years I need to take more then three classes. For those of you who don't know, music people keep ridiculous class hours. I know people who have lessons at 6:30am and then don't finish with classes till 6pm. Thankfully I only have two 8:30 classes and only three days that school goes till 5:30.

Knowing me, my posting will be spastic and random so don't expect any regularity with this blog ;)