Year Two, Week One

This'll be a round-up and summary of my last week, which was very busy, so you can use this to pass the time while waiting for the rain to stop. Also, sorry for lack of pictures in this post.

Room- / floormates

This first week has been pretty sweet, and a good marker of what's to come this year. My roommate and I had talked late last spring and during the summer to figure out how the room would be. We're all moved in, and I'm sure we'll still tweak things as we go, but it's a great set-up. Whenever we think we might intrude on one another's homework time or play music too loud, we talk, and things get settled. 

To reader's with new roommates: Just talk. It seriously settles things out. Unless your roommate won't talk or compromise...then I'd say go chill with friends in their dorms when all else fails.

Late last week my roommate and I did our hall's Open Door Night and met lots of people. My roommate challenged himself (and dominated) about learning people's names. We both say it was around "40 names," and it actually isn't that far from reality. Of course, now everyone will probably know him as "The Guy Who Knows Everyone."

We also got to know more people on our floor. One of our immediate neighbors has one of my classes, which is always good to have familiar faces in class.

Clubs

During the Info Fair last week, I signed up for the campus clubs Browncoats and Bad Wwulf: Joss Whedon and Doctor Who clubs, respectively. For those that don't know, Joss Whedon created Firefly, among other awesome things. Sounds like this week I'll be able to go to their first meetings and get to meet new people.

Last night I went to the Humans Versus Zombies for our first staff meeting. Got me excited for the upcoming game [Insert subtle plug for the Fall Game, running from Oct. 19-26, here]. I look forward to working with everyone and do my part to make the game run as seamlessly as possible.

Weather

This dark, stormy, and rainy weather over the last few days really makes me want to do a few things; namely jump into a pile of blankets and pillows, read, write, type, and paint. If I come up with anything creative and worthwhile, I'll probably write about it on here. 

I love the feel and dark of fall weather, but not so much walking through the rain. Now, watching it while warm and dry, that's another thing I like.

Back to campus!

This was a move-in, college-filled weekend. This past week really snuck up on me, especially considering I finished my big art project on Friday. Anyways, on Saturday I spent all day packing and figuring out what to store, get rid of, or just take with me. Got pretty much everything into the car.

Yesterday I moved in, the process was really fast, as usual. People helped move stuff from cars into a holding zone inside, and then from there they helped get it upstairs and into the dorm. I think in total that was 15-20 minutes. My roommate had been there hours earlier, so he had the beds all bunked like we talked about over summer. Lofting gives lots of space in the room, but bunking does so much more!

Also, we figured whoever had the earliest class in a quarter gets bottom bunk.

 The biggest surprise was our windows. There isn't one large window, just five individual windows. It looks a little strange and quasi-prison-esque, but we can really control light and breeze into our room this way.

Three pictures composited for one image. 

Basically the view from sitting at my desk.

And now the rest of the room:

 Last night my roommate and I went walking and chilled in town with one of my friends from last year. Fun way to catch up with people and stay up late, as well as get used to the town again.

Today, bought some textbooks I needed, saw some more friends, and browsed through the Info Fair. I'm stoked there's a Doctor Who club: Bad Wwulf!

Jack's What to Bring, Bonus (Humans Versus Zombies)

sponsored by 
La Crema Coffee and Roastery, 
La Conner, WA

A lot of colleges have a group of students that play a game called Humans Versus Zombies. For those of you that don't know, HvZ is a Nerf-based game of tag with two teams: Humans and Zombies (obviously). Humans get Nerf blasters and darts, and socks, while Zombies tag with hands. Simple enough, but I thought anyone that's new to it might want some tips on what to bring for this week of mayhem.

The Rules and Schedule

At WWU, the group requires all participating to attend an informational meeting to learn the basic rules. Last year, all those playing had to also then take a quick test afterwards before getting their player cards. You can find WWU's HvZ rules on this website, and stay in the loop with the Facebook group and page. 

Knowledge
It is good to be really acquainted with different tactics and the lay of the land. Take a day or two during down time to wander the campus and find different route between buildings. Humans are safe indoors, so find routes that allow you to jump from safety zone to safety zone to all your classes. Talk to experienced players--even after only one season of HvZ you learn a lot of tips and tactics, so listen up. 

Clothing
Be sure to wear clothes and shoes that will allow you to run well and move easily. Last year, I wore a jacket with a lot of zippers and just crammed a ton of notebook paper and a pencil or two into them so I didn't need my backpack. If you absolutely need a backpack that week, strap it tight to you so it's not flopping around. You can use a belt, cable, or cord to help pull everything closer to your body.

Cell phone
This handy device can help you communicate with other players if they're in-game--no consulting non-players or someone that's been stunned. Zombies can use it to coordinate attacks while hunting humans, and humans can inversely use it to track packs of zombies to evade.

Camera
Having a simple point-and-shoot camera that can also take video can help capture epic events as the game unfolds. If you get footage and post it online, be sure to tag it thoroughly and correctly so other players can go back and find it. Also, it doesn't hurt to also post about it. 

Buddies
While just playing this game creates an environment of camaraderie, having a friend or two with similar schedules play as well helps morale. Also, you just have a blast with friends. I suggest forming a team, which can sometimes be done in an official manner, depending on the rules of the current season.

Manners
I know that when you get super into the game, nothing else matters, but the campus does continue to operate while the game goes on. So, be cautious of non-player students and staff, so you don't run them over--or get run over by bikers and skateboarders. Also, hanging around classrooms means you may attract attention away from the professors and their lectures.

Socks. Lots of  clean socks.

Unless you want to start as a Zombie (because it is pretty fun), balled-up socks are a great way to defend yourself as a Human. First, they're easy to conceal and carry, and you can use them at whatever distance you feel comfortable throwing. I've seen a lot of people walking around "defenseless" and tagging with a surprise-attack sock, as well as at extremely close range and if a blaster jams.

Darts
Of course, you need darts for your blasters to work. The darts that are used in WWU's HvZ are the Streamlined, Suction-Tip, Micros, and Whistlers. Velcro-tipped are not allowed. Pre-loaded, extra clips, whether the usual or drum-type, are very useful.

Blasters (All-game legal)

Most Nerf blasters are legal for the entire game, some have to be modified a certain way, and others are just illegal unless during announced Missions (see more below). You can go see the list of blasters on the Arsenal page. For safety concerns, the Longstrike CS-6 cannot be used with either it's barrel or shoulder stock attached, because the silhouette is too realistic.

Blasters (Mission-only)

Many of the battery-powered blasters that just spray darts aren't legal during normal game days, only during announced missions. Basically, if it's big, hulking, and shoots a lot of darts, it's mission-only. Below are three of such guns.

Top, left to right: Barricade RV-10 (Battery-powered), Stampede ECS (Battery-powered)
Bottom: Swarmfire

Vulcan EBF-25 (not vector'd due to time restraints)


----

Other than that, just have fun!! 

Looking for good coffee in La Conner, WA? Look no further than La Crema Coffee and Roastery for your caffeine needs. Great coffee and timely service,  with seating, Wi-Fi, and parking available.
Personally, I like the dirty chai.

I claim no rights to Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney does.

Jack's What to Bring, IV (Entertainment)

sponsored by 
La Crema Coffee and Roastery, 
La Conner, WA

Stuck in a dorm room, sometimes you have to have some sort of entertainment to break from all the schooling. And sometimes you gotta step away from the computer.

Jack says: [And sometimes you write blogs revolving around inanimate objects...]

In this techno-raging era, of course the go-to boredom-buster will be TV, video games, and the internet. Well, even these will become somewhat of a bore (or even too much of a distraction), so I'm going to offer other venues of entertainment, since these are so ingrained in or lives that they're second nature. I'll name a few things that can get you out of boredom, and yes, outside. So, brace yourself.

As a librarian and avid reader, my first recommendation will, of course, be reading.

I'm not saying it's the first thing I grab for, but it's a good start for this list. It doesn't even have to be books; you can use magazines, comic books, graphic novels, web comics, online articles, newspapers, and any other written media. Just read something...actually, I personally have a line of what I won't count as reading, but you can all have yours.

Jack says: [He just put me here...but I do kind of like these*]

If you're inclined to create, like draw, paint, sculpt, carve, etc., then by golly bring some supplies to do so! Just because you have classes and homework doesn't mean creativity ends. If you forget supplies, the AS Bookstore also carries a variety of supplies for Art Majors that have run out of everything from paper to paint to carving tools.

Puzzles are always a good way to keep your mind going, whether they're Crosswords, Sudoku, Word Search, Scrabble, actual jigsaw puzzles, Rubix Cubes, and Portal...wait, that involves a computer / TV ...(still counts, though).

One can type and / or write to kill time--if you're into that sort of thing. I know writing and reading are generally not a favorite of college students, but there are many who do still enjoy it--like myself. Last year I typed on my typewriter for an hour while waiting for my laundry. You can also start writing letters with a penpal, whether in your dorm hall, on campus, or somewhere else in the world.

[Don't worry, the writer doesn't bring the typewriter to class]

Bringing a deck of cards is a must, because sometime within the school year someone will want to play either Go Fish!, War, Egyptian Rat-Slap, Baseball, Black Jack, Texas Hold 'Em, or any variety of card games, and these can be very entertaining, especially when you 'up the ante' and bet with a variety of things, as seen here.

[Hell, once you dust them off, you may even find a group of people that will fight against your deck of Magic: The Gathering or Pokemon cards]

Now, to get outside. College is full of different groups of people, all hanging out together--especially when it's sunny. Some activities I've seen outside include: 

• Frisbee
• Hula hooping
• Hookah smoking
• Humans Versus Zombies (more later)
• Football
• Hiking
• Soccer
• Skateboarding
• Biking
• Basketball
• Boomerang
• Volleyball
• Slack-rope walking
• Climbing
• Swimming
• Free running (parkour)

So, you should bring some essential things for these, like a bike, skateboard, soccer ball, football, basketball, hookah, swim suit, etc.

Music is always a good way to be entertained...or at least have it in the background while doing other things. I suggest a pair of decent speakers--or headphones, in case your musical taste is "unique" from your roommate.

Hanging out! Get out there and make new friends, and then go do awesome stuff with those friends! This can include going to a hookah bar, performing music on the streets, getting hot dogs at 2 a.m., driving to Canada, having sex, going to concerts and shows, go drinking / partying, gambling at casinos, dressing up fancily for dinners, write a web comic together, create a new cult, hypnotizing each other, ordering pizza way too early in the morning, watching movies, etc.

Basically what this post is all about is knowing that there will be several hours you have to fill at some point. It is best start thinking about it now, while you can gather supplies to fight boredom. While this list is short and in no way claiming to list everything used to fight boredom, I hope it gets you thinking about this topic before school starts.

* - Books shown are (L to R):

• Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
• Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's Batman: Dark Victory
• Trigun, Vol. 1 and 2 / Trigun: Maximum Vol. 1-14 by Yasuhiro Nightow
• Kate Laster's Deadcat, Vol. 1 (in envelope)
• Collection of Gerard Way's Umbrella Academy: Dallas, single issues
• "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" and The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, both by Richard Feynman

Looking for good coffee in La Conner, WA? Look no further than La Crema Coffee and Roastery for your caffeine needs. Great coffee and timely service,  with seating, Wi-Fi, and parking available.

Personally, I like the dirty chai.

I claim no rights to Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney does.

Jack's What to Bring, III (Dorm: Furniture)

sponsored by 
La Crema Coffee and Roastery, 
La Conner, WA

Most dorm rooms come equipped with some furniture, usually a bed, some drawers, a desk, and a chair (well, at WWU anyway). Beyond that, students must bring what they need to feel more at home. This blog may be a little short, but should still get the job done.
Jack says: [That's what she said!]

Extra seating (...)
University-issued chairs can be back and forth. Some people get rigid, wooden chairs and some will get flexible, plastic and wheeled chairs. It seemed to be mainly on which dorm hall you lived in. Either way, one chair per person isn't enough. Bring at least one fold-up chair, or a couch of a manageable size to help with the seating and space issues.
[I personally use a fold-up camping stool I found on a beach]

(True story, here it is):

... And extra bedding
My roommate and I had a big cushion we kept on the floor, and it was essentially a dog bed; except we used it store-bought-new. It was a great place to sit and watch / play games, and it doubled as an extra bed if someone stayed over. This could work for certain rooms, but it's just a good idea to have a spare set of pillows and / or covers for any additional sleepers. This isn't exactly "furniture-level," advice, but if you get a large dog bed like we did, it counts as furniture.


Food
If you have food in your room, chances are you need to keep it fresh, have a way to prepare it, as well as store it. The shelves and drawers in my closet helped with some of the stuff like macaroni, ramen noodle packets, and cans of tuna just fine. I have a small, two-in-one fridge / freezer that was most useful the first quarter, when we actually kept food in it. Also, a microwave that got more an more use as we ate more and more midnight-on popcorn.
[Just think of your room as a boat: limited space, and there should always be food and rum...unless you're underage, of course].

Storage
The dorms I was in had built-in closets with built-in drawers, which helped for clothes, cleaning supplies, shoes, boxes, etc. Some of my friends on my floor had various sizes of shelves to suit their needs of storage vs. space. You might want to wait until the second or third week to bring in shelves, because usually by then your room will be in a semi-permanent state--as far as furniture is involved--and you can find the best type of shelving unit to use.
[Best to be creative in solving problems: Just grab an old, flattened box, and use it as a make-shift shelf].

Entertainment
A lot of people lately need ways to entertain themselves, and a majority of people are using appliance-grade ways of killing boredom. These are usually known as televisions, XBox (360)- / PS- (1, 2, 3) / Game Cube- / Wii- / Dreamcast- / Atari-ses (basically, any video game systems), and laptop computers. If you are one to use these, and won't use them as an excuse from homework (too often), then I recommend you bring them.
[Trust me, you're going to use electronics a lot].

Looking for good coffee in La Conner, WA? Look no further than La Crema Coffee and Roastery for your caffeine needs. Great coffee and timely service,  with seating, Wi-Fi, and parking available.
Personally, I like the dirty chai.

I claim no rights to Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney does.

Jack's What to Bring, II (Dorm: Daily)

sponsored by 
La Crema Coffee and Roastery, 
La Conner, WA

Last week, my co-host Captain Jack Sparrow was involved in an unfortunate accident while in the dark depths of the Adidas baqpaq, but is well on his way to recovery. That is why this week's post is late, but he will make a brief appearance in this week's list of things to bring to college.

Before the accident, showcasing a blended dirty chai

Jack says: [Over the next few posts, there may be some overlap with things to bring to college. This is because a few things I'm suggesting to bring weren't that easy to say 'they were just this category, and not that one.' So just take another swig...of apple juice...and keep reading.]

This post will center on many of the items I used on an almost-daily basis within the dorms. Most of it will be like 'well-duh' category, but it's always nice to have a reminder.

Bathroom and Laundry Supplies
Everyone needs the essentials, for obvious, hygiene concerns.
[Just because you're taking college advice from a 18th-century pirate, doesn't mean you have to smell like one].

• Toothbrush / -paste
• Towels
• Shampoo & Soap
• Sandals (some people prefer them for in or just after the shower)
• Other personal items
• Big, loose bag for laundry (plastic bins are big and awkward at times)
• Laundry detergent and dryer sheets: possibly split with roommate--I had lots of detergent left over
• Laundry card (if provided by university)
• Clothes for wearing and washing are good, too. If you need help deciding what kind, follow me.

Cache of food
Even with the best meal plan, you're still limited to the hours the dining halls are open, and you're in college--which means you'll get peckish at midnight and all those odd-hours. Having at least a constant cache of chips, bread, or granola bars will stave off hunger until dawn. Also, a water bottle to refill is really handy, especially since you have to stay hydrated.
[Some form of a plate and cutlery will generally serve you well in this as well--but I'm fine with my hands and teeth].

Greenbacks
You should always have some means of currency on you, whether it be a few greenbacks, such as Washingtons ($1), Jeffersons ($2), Lincolns ($5); checks (yes, the kind your grandmother writes for your birthday), or cards, like credit and / or debit and / or gift. You never know when you might have an opportunity to go on an adventure. Also, having like $50 for the AS Bookstore is helpful for those days you need to buy a folder, pens, CDs, or a nice WWU-branded sweatshirt.
[You can always bum off a generous (and slightly more prosperous) friend. As long as you don't give them the duck and actually pay them back in a timely fashion, that is].

Office-like supplies
These are just downright helpful when you need them, and relatively cheap. And you can even let your friends use them!
[There you go! You can repay that debt you just got from last night's adventure].

• Sticky notes
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Pens
• Paper clips
• Rubber bands
• Folders
• Surge Protector 
• Ethernet cable

Painter's tape
I had a roll of this with me in my art supplies, but little did I know how useful this stuff can be. Anything paper I needed to stick somewhere, I grabbed a bit of this tape. Something was falling down--tape.  Something broke--tape. I would recommend it for its helpfulness, and ability to leave wall-paint where it is.

[It's a miracle!]

Looking for good coffee in La Conner, WA? Look no further than La Crema Coffee and Roastery for your caffeine needs. Great coffee and timely service,  with seating, Wi-Fi, and parking available.
Personally, I like the dirty chai.

I claim no rights to Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney does.

Jack's What to Bring, I (Clothes)

sponsored by 
La Crema Coffee and Roastery, 
La Conner, WA

The weather here in Bellingham is fickle in such a particular way. It will jump around from rainy to snowy to windy and sunny, and almost all in the same day. Having gone through a cycle in my first year, I feel pretty confident about what you should bring clothes-wise to adapt with the weather.

Thick rain or hiking boots - I myself have hiking boots that are just a few hairs too big, so they're comfortable when I lace them up, and I don't get too hot if I have to wear them all day. Also, you don't have to be scared about getting your socks wet when walking through campus, which is notorious for puddles. Just relax, and have a moment of childhood nostalgia just splashing through the puddles.

[Jack suggests: "Wearing boots without holes...or made by Disney in China."]

Jackets / coats / sweatshirts - It is a good idea to have a variety of cover, from light to heavy. Then you're ready for the sunny-yet-not-warm days, the truly-rainy days, the suddenly-sunny days, as well as the days the sun takes a break: snowstorm-days. Umbrellas are a good accessory, but be wary--the use of an umbrella is oft-seen as a non-Washingtonian trait.

["One word: layers."]

Cold-day clothes - Layers and boots go a long way to keeping warm. As do gloves and / or mittens, a scarf, and a hat. A hat or hood of some sort is perfect for keeping your head / hair dry. To stay with the "in-crowd," I suggest a beanie, hooded sweatshirt, fedora, or any hat you feel comfortable with.

["Tricornes are perfect, and proven against even the saltiest weather."]

Sunny-day clothes - Once and a while, the sun will decide to visit unannounced, like traveling relatives, and so it is always a good idea to have appropriate apparel for these fleeting moments. Whatever you wear during warm days, whether its short-sleeve shirts, tanktops, shorts, unbottoned-button-up shirts, sandals, etc., that's what I recommend to bring, even during Fall and Winter quarters--just in case.

["You have to learn to take in the sun, especially with some rum."]

Fancy / Dress-up clothes - Many times this year, I've seen groups of people all dressed up as if there was a fancy dance. Most of the time, it was for an off-campus party, or just a group of people wanting to be randomly fancy at dinner or late night. If you are one to wear ties and / or nice dresses, it won't hurt to have them available.

["Make anything look good."]

The main point is to be ready for almost any kind of weather at any time of the year up here.

Looking for good coffee in La Conner, WA? Look no further than La Crema Coffee and Roastery for your caffeine needs. Great coffee and timely service,  with seating, Wi-Fi, and parking available.
Personally, I like the dirty chai.

I claim no rights to Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney does.

College By the Numbers, Year I

For those that are curious, I've compiled some numbers from my freshman year that may be useful. This info has been gathered from each of the quarters (Fall, Winter, and Spring), so you can click the links for more quarter-specific numbers.

Edit: It has been requested that I reveal the numbers on living expenses in the dorms. According to this WWU document, dorms (w/o meals) cost $5,571.

Each student is given a Laundry Card to use the washer and dryers on campus. Initially the cards have $1.75 on them, and then each student is responsible for reloading their card by going to the dining halls and paying cash at the converter. While doing laundry this year, I spent $19.50 from the card ($17.75 of cash onto the card), and found $8.39 in the machines, hidden in wet piles of lint, hair-ties, lipstick, and paperclips.

-17.75-8.39

[-$9.36]

In total, I spent $960.80 on 13 textbooks. Most of them I was able to sell back to the bookstore for some cash, but I'm going to try and do more student-to-student transactions when possible, to keep costs down and cash-back a little higher.

-960.80

[-$960.80]

Each quarter, students with certain meal plans are given $150 Dining Dollars on their ID cards. This money is for buying food and beverages at the on-campus diners and markets. The leftover money is carried over each quarter, except for summer, where it disappears. Of the $450 given to me, I easily spent it all.

450-450

[$0]

I paid for an Unlimited Meal Plan for three quarters, with the combined cost of $3,179. The unlimited plan allowed me to eat whenever the dining halls were open, without worrying about using up all of my meals.  I've been keeping track, and I've used 161 meals which equates to $1,233.75 if I had paid for each meal myself. Each quarter there were 10 guest passes available, and I used all 30.

Meals, 146 (1,125 of 1,208), 176 (1327.5 of 1049), (1233.75 of 922)

3686.25-3,179

[$507.25]

Each student is given $25 a quarter for printing off of the school's printers. With black and white costing $0.05 and color $0.25, that's 500 and 100 pages, respectively. Out of the $75 available to me, I only used $38.10, and all in black and white (762 pages). If students run out of this free account, printing cards can be purchased and reloaded in the library.

75-38

[-$37]

At the beginning of the year I had a $100 gift card to the Associated Students Bookstore to buy things other than textbooks. All of this money was used to buy pens, pencils, paper, CDs, surge protectors, and a few other things I needed throughout the quarter. I found it was really good to have the card on me, as I didn't have to spend my cash--which could then be used to buy other things, like bowling or hot dogs in Bellingham.

College Rat Move-Out

During Finals Week, I had a lapse of humanity, and started to express a possible instinctive trait carried down from rodents after the Great Chasm in Earth's biological evolution from germ to demi-god-germ. The specific trait I am talking about is shared with birds, rodents, pregnant she-humans, and many other organisms discovered and hidden: nesting.

The definition of nesting instinct (according to Wikipedia) includes phrases such as:

...nesting instinct refers to an instinct or urge in pregnant animals to prepare a home for the upcoming newborn(s). It is found in a variety of animals (both mammals and birds) including humans...It is commonly characterized by a strong urge to clean and organize one's home...

[--All-Knowing Wikipedia]

It is thus that I have a confession to make...I am having a nesting instinct because I'm pregnant: with ideas! Also, I was moving out at the end of the week. Here is a selection of picture-images of the sequence of chaos.

My side of the room after I took it un-lofted it (lawfully). I had a fridge, microwave, locker, drawers, and box of food beneath it, so it had to be moved into the open middle.

My roommate's bed before taking it apart (top), and then the following chaos of his bed on my bed [uncensored].

Through the scattered remains of the bed, I noticed that our Jeweled Doorhandle Owl was leering at us. And then I realized his bed was suddenly de-lofted like mine!

This is how my closet and fridge / microwave combo looked until the moment I moved out. The other power plugs were either taken, or inaccessible due to other displaced stuff. So, it was all plugged into my closet.

This clutter intrigues me, and terrifies me at the same time. It's like the image of hiding yourself away in the middle of a huge museum of paintings, or shelves and shelves of books--I'm drawn to that idea, but I'm afraid that once I start, I won't stop.
It is this image of being nested within something inspires me. I want to be enveloped in it. Also, the nesting thing may also be my mind cradling all these ideas in my head--some of which will be taking fruition soon, and some I have yet to start tilling.
Damn, my metaphors and literary devices are scattered today.

Jack's What to Bring, Intro

The full title is actually Jack's What to Bring to College, but it will be shortened for future posts.
This summer, with the help of Captain Jack Sparrow and La Crema Coffee and Roastery, I will explain things to bring with you when you go to college, from clothes to ideas to dorm-living. Hopefully this will be an entertaining little project to keep posts going for a while during summer break.

If you have any suggestions, write them here (anonymously, or not), or post on the Facebook page for Alex Kramer Blogs.