Unwritten

A while back (January 2001) I ran 2 posts which compared a day in the life of me.. 1 when i was a college student.. then the other when i was working.. I think i’ll continue that and post a day in the life of me.. today.. well modern times.. haha. But first i will repost the original days..

Original Post Date: January 26, 2001

SO here i am: Over a week without any e-mail and how do i feel? I feel… GREAT. Not that i didnt miss it, but its good to realize that my life doesnt have to revolve around my computer. Its nice to know there is life outside of the technology that so infuses most of our lives. so for you’re reading enjoyment: I will be presenting two short narratives. The first narrative will be a typical day in my life when i was a freshman here at good ol UC Davis. The second will be a typical day in my life in the present (as in as a almost graduating super senior) I have to say i’m surprised at all the differences. Well Enjoy =)

“December twenty-fourth–nine P M, eastern standard time. From here on in i shoot without a script. See if anything comes of it–instead of my old Shit…”

Location: University of California, Davis. Leech Hall room 129, 8:00am

The gentle fluttering of vertical venician blinds are the only thing breaking the cold silence of this morning. The blinds bump and shuffle togehter, as if someone was preparing to play a round of pasoy dos. The sun has yet to peek out over the horizon, leaving the room pitch black. The alarm goes off–but the ruffling of blankets and a soft THUD puts an end to that annoyance.

9:30am

The gentle fluttering of the vertical blinds begin to let in the light of the early morning. In the haze his figure stirs, moving about on his lofted bed. The furniture is wooden, matching the countless other dorm rooms strewn around leech hall. The air is stale-recycled air flowing through the dorm’s central cooling system. One would think that opening the window would solve this simple delima. However, the dank air is much better than the putrid smell of bovine which envelops Tercero like a fog.

Like a fog horn the alarm goes off again. He sits up almost immediately and THUD, a little to fast this sleepy morning. He curls up and curses to himself while rubbing the tender spot on his forehead- the same spot hit on the low celing almost every morning. He rolls out of bed and to his feet, slaps the alarm off, the hops back up into his bed and under the covers.

9:59

The gentle fluttering of the vertical blinds begin to annoy him. He looks down at his alarm.

“OH FUCK!”.

He hops out of bed and grabs the first pair of pants within arm’s reach. He tosses on a shirt (over the one hes allready wearing) pulls on a sweater then pauses to find where a clean pair of socks might be hiding. The minifridge opens and closes, filling the room with soft yellow light for only an instant. Backpack in hand he slams the door shut.

10:13

Hes in Japanese class. Why is he here? he loves anime, and he thinks Japanese girls are cute. Who knows, if he learns Japanese he can impress them at the anime showings. Its all he really has at the moment: Anime and this service fraternity hes pledging: Alpha Phi Omega. His brother got him interested in it and it seems cool enough so far. Damn it, Uchida sensei is picking on him again. Just because all he knows how to say is “Wakarimasen” (transulation: I dont know). He thinks he should study more but he really doesnt want to. He’d much rather be sitting back at the dorm mucking around. Mucking is something he has been doing for the last 3 years. An offset of his old BBS (Bulliten Board System) days. Online he found people who were just like him, weird. He felt comfortable telling them all about his troubles. Most of all he felt comfortable because in this world, he could be whomever he wanted- and nobody would know who the real him was. He could escape from his pathetic life. Before he knows it Uchida sensei calls on him again, he blinks out of his daze and answers, “Wakarimasen”

11:00

Amazing how it took him a good ten minutes or so to get to class, and yet it only took him maybe three to get back to the dorm. Following his routine he tosses his backpack under the bed and starts up the computer. The power usage is pretty precarious here- there are extension cords everywhere. After the computer starts up he reaches to the top of his dresser and flips on the tv. He can barely get one channel but he leaves it on anyways- it makes it seem like hes not alone in the room. He takes off his sweater and sits down, the intoxicating glow of his seventeen inch monitor pulls him in. Within minutes hes logged into the campus internet server. Seconds later hes in his second home, his mucks.

By now hes not only just a he, hes a she. He takes on the role of four female characters: each ranging from ages twelve to threehundred and twelve. He is a goddess, a Chinese Amazon, A female human and cat halfbreed, and a young female alien. As for male characters, he plays an ancient kung fu artist, who also happens to be a pervert. He plays a male who turns into a female when splashed with cold water, and he plays an alien who can change his appearance and dissapear into the shadows. He meets up with his friends. Male? Female? He doesnt really know half the time, and they dont really know what he is. Here is is just a person. There is no color, no race, no sex. He is engulfed into it and soon loses track of time.

3:00

He missed his Calculus class again. He doesnt care. Next class comming up is Comparative Literature. The teacher, Mr Sharky, is an asshole so he has to get going yo class. He grabs his backpack and heads back off into the world. He leaves everything on, he’ll be back soon enough.

5:05

Class went by as if it were a dream. He got to the classroom, listened to Sharky ramble then fell asleep. Before he knew it it was five and class was over. He returns to his room and finds his comfortable seat. He looks up at the tv and chuckles a bit at some rerun. He tries to log into the school internet but theres an error. Damn, theres a message on his phone. He picks it up and dials into the message center. Hmm… its someone from Alpha Phi Omega reminding him about a service project he signed up to attend in two days. Cool, if he didnt get the call he would have completely forgotten. He sets the phone down and logs his computer in. He returns to all his virtual worlds, never noticing the light outside begining to fade.

10:00

He looks up at his clock. Hmmm… its ten: The DC is closed. Why did he ever sign up for an unlimited meal plan when he never seems to go to the DC to eat anyways? Luckily for him he has Munch money. Munch Money is cash that is stored on his reg card which allows him to get some food from Trudy’s East. He heads off to the dorm recreation area and into the food store. He orders his usual: Hamburger with everything on it, Large soda, and some chips. He swipes his card and returns to his dorm and his computer.

Midnight

Its midnight, Star Trek DS9 is starting. He pauses a bit from his computer “work” and looks up at the TV. Its a lovely fantasy: a world with no money, purely devoted to exploration and adventure (and hot chicks in tight fitting uniforms). For the next hour he splits his attetion between his mucks and the TV.

2:00

the mucks empty out, most of the people have gone to sleep. He remains until he is almost the last person to leave. Sadly he shuts down his computer and slips out of his clothes. His pajamas are still on (under the layer of clothes he put on in the morning.) He sets the alarms and crawls up into his bed and into sleep.

The day is over.