Things you hear through the heating vents

1. Conversations
2. Dorm prank reactions
3. Movies
4. Video Games
5. The guys next door trying to sing along to opera

SNOW in RENO

When I woke up this morning (at 11:30), it was 38 degrees outside. Within thirty minutes it was starting to sprinkle snow. An hour and a half later and you could makes snowballs where-ever you went. It full on snowed and it's only beginning of October. Of course I wasn't content to just passively watch the snow. Drove up the mountains next to the campus and was rewarded with a Jeep caked in mud (both inside and out). The Jeep did pretty well until I lost all the traction in my tires because the threads were packed with mud. Had to come down to clean them off. Here's some of the pictures of the venture. (click on the pictures to see them close up)

Homelessness in the Quad

So tonight my friend Desirre dragged me to a community service event in the Quad, which is the huge grassy area where most of the main events on campus are held. There is a picture of it all sunny and empty for ya. I still can't remember to take my camera anywhere.

But anyway, the part that caught me off guard was that there were a number of people making shelters out of boxes, and planning on spending the night in them. Reminds me of the Wilderness Survival merit badge in scouts. We sat and listened to a few guest speakers, stood in line for soup and sandwhiches, then spent and hour and a half making blankets. I have to say a few homeless people are going to end up with some interesting color schemes.

I was kinda tempted to stay the night, but tomorrow is Friday and that means I get to sleep in. Also all the boxes had been crafted in elaborate forts already, and I still have memories of sleeping on the ground freezing cold. Maybe some other night, but I doubt it...

I played in the whitewater today

So my roommate and his friend invited me to go down to the Truckee River here in Reno. I'd never been there before, so I thought I'd at least go check it out. It is actually a very public space, despite the freezing temperature of the water. You can walk over bridges to the concrete and rock isle in the middle of the river, and if you feel adventurous, go wade in the water and splash around. But if you're feeling daring, you can try the only noteworthy part of this whole story. Now, the Truckee is your normal good-sized river, and with it come a few small rapids. A few of these are right next to the concrete park mentioned earlier, and presto, you have Reno's version of Wet'N'Wild.

After watching some of the other river-goers, I waded upstream (and by wade I mean march with difficulty and almost slip repeatedly). Positioning myself above the center of the whitewater, I waited shivering for about five minutes, like any self-preserving person would do. But where is the fun in that? So I gave myself to the river, slowly being dragged towards the rapid, feet first. There is a large dip right before the white, which means I get a good long look at what I'm heading into. And then I'm in, eyes squeezed shut and a swimmer's lungful of breath. I can feel the water push me down, but only slighty, like a water slide on steriods. I feel like I'm gently tumbling through the water (I am in fact still foating down feet first), and I stay under the water a little longer than I thought. But it's nowhere near long enough to make me panic. I kick back to the shore, so I avoid the rock further down and the next set of rapids (I haven't tested those yet).

It was fun enough I did it two more times, although by that time the sun had gone down, and I was starting to feel quite numb. Only problem was the last time, we had swam to the other side of the shore. Instead of walking upstream first, I just crossed where the rapids let out. It was overall a pretty fun day. I'll go again in a weekend or two, and I'll come back with pictures to show you!

The Dorm

Alright, as promised here are just a few quick pictures around the dorm while my roommates were gone.

My bed and some familiar posters from home


No nightstand, so I had to get creative with the clock


Bulletin board, trunk, fridge, microwave


The desk and my closet


A better look at my desk


More of my spacious closet

The sink area (that's a blender on the shelf)

Common area couch #1

The other two chairs and couch #2

The view out our front door

Mail!

So I've rented a PO BOX here in Reno should anyone want to send me mail. There is an address for USPS and one for UPS/FedEx. I'd recommend mailing most things USPS. Pics of the dorm are coming soon...

USPS:

Gilbreth, Andrew
Andrew Gilbreth
PO BOX 880000, #1,060
Reno, NV 89507

UPS/FedEx

Andrew Gilbreth
#1060
c/o Wolf Package
87 West Stadium Way
Reno, NV 89557

I hate b-days...

Two weeks away from another birthday and you’d never know it. Or should I say I’d never know it. I have not paid any attention to the fact that I’ll be 19 soon. Now I’ll give that my day of birth has again fallen in between the cracks of much larger events. The biggest is that I’m leaving for college in only nine days. Of course it doesn’t help that my birthday is the first day of school. Even if it weren’t for the approaching jolt of lifestyle, I’d still not be excited to turn a year older. Nothing whatsoever is going to change in my life after that day. I’ll still be the same cynic before my birthday as I will be after. The ages of 18, 21, and 60 offer conveniences that will make my life easier. Nineteen just makes me one year closer to running out of years. So then what do birthdays have to offer? Free stuff right? Now here is the biggest problem I have with birthdays. Everyone complains that they have nothing to buy me because I don’t like anything. I would like to think I have everything I really want. So it doesn’t bother me not getting much of anything. The attention makes me feel out of place anyway. However, for everyone that insists that birthdays need presents and are stubborn enough to buy me a gift no matter what, I have a small list ready to throw at you so you can’t say I’m impossible to buy for!

-Blue October posters
-Anything about Jeeps
-Belt buckles
-Hoodies or Jackets that remind you of me (size L)
-Morbid things with skulls on them
-Almond M&Ms
-DVDs like Cloverfield, Iron Man, the original Star Wars, Batman Begins, The Mask of Zorro, Underworld (or sequel), Man On Fire...
-CDs of Gorillaz, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne

Gift Cards are a good bet for anything when you are out of time or ideas.
-Any bookstore
-Best Buy
-iTunes
-Any major restaurant (these come in very handy)
-Walmart or grocery store (food is a theme here)

Incipio

Reno, Nevada! Home of… well, the second biggest city in the state! More exciting, the residence of University of Nevada, Reno, were I will be studying Journalism in the Fall. A very exiting move for many reasons, but a sad transition as well. I will be saying goodbye to many people for quite some time in only two months. However, leaving friends behind is so many times necessary, and this will be only one of many such events. I have never been good at ‘keeping in touch,’ but should you be interested, here I will post thoughts, stories, and happenings of various interests. So to all past, soon-to-be past, and future past (geographically nearby) friendships, I give you the blog of Andrew Gilbreth.