Terminalcoffee discussion

As I was sitting there, moving my eyes over the pages of Lady Chatterley's Lover but really thinking about returning to school next week, I was thinking what a bummer January is.
This month is the first real, strong, blast of winter we get in these parts, December being a pretty warm and sunny introduction to winter. At that point everyone is into winter, loving their scarves and hats. January and February are just grey, dark, and cold. There is the super bowl to look forward to, if you are into men in spandex bumping into each other. Then there is the Academy Awards, if you are into people in tuxedos and shimmering dresses waxing each other's egos. Valentines Day, but really, who gets excited about Valentines Day?

Also, when I returned to graduate school a couple of years ago I remember thinking "now which semester was it that I like more, spring or fall?" Now I know. Fall. The Spring semester takes about 2389 longer and is 82393 times less fun.

"The Spring semester takes about 2389 longer and is 82393 times less fun."

wow, Sally, you and I have completely opposite experiences...we must be opposites!
(hate the fall, it goes slowly...love the spring, it goes way too fast!)

yeah, this is like Jebuary. it lasts forever. at least in march you can sorta see april peeking around the corner. when i see the first spring flower or hear a bird sing i officially declare it spring. not by the calendar.

For me the days drag, but the weeks fly by, no matter what time of year.

Every January I wonder if this will be the year that I die.

Oh shit, Cyril. Shit!

What?! Is this the year???

I don't know, dude. I don't want to know.

wow, so much for birds singing and daffodils blooming

Wow, that is dark Cyril. And funny, Kevin! I like that: Jebuary. Really, there is nothing to break up the long gray month.

except that i am leaving saturday for 2 weeks in india. that kinda breaks things up for me

Indeed! Wowza. Where in India are you going? I'm really intrigued by Western India, recently.

The spring semester is worse for me because of the cumulative effect of the two semesters combined. The summer break is so much longer than winter break, and the physical toll of winter so exhausting, that the students seem tired of school by February. Plus January is insanely busy at our place...we start a ton of new programs this time of year.

I look forward to staying in the house as much as humanly possible in January and February. Once we hit Valentine's Day, though, the light at the end of the tunnel emerges...you know by March first maybe the cold is present but the temps will start to rise for...ahem, all the mud.

Yeah, I want to hear more about India, Kevin...

i am leaving for a medical mission trip to Repalle, India on saturday. i am not in the medical field, but i think i was asked to go mostly because i am a people person and have international experience in these kinds of trips. i am tagging along with a Christian based group called IREF. i think this is my 14th international trip that is humanitarian mission based. i primarily work in Honduras and West Africa. this is on the east side of india. my first time there although i have been to asia several times before. looking forward to it much now that the holidays are over. i am really into photography so this will be a major photo op.

btw - i have really enjoyed this group much. thanks!

Kevin: I'd be interested to hear about your missions in Honduras. I've led a group of students on a 'service learning' course (volunteer work) in the DR...we're looking for other humanitarian missions in the Spanish speaking world (I also teach Spanish, among other things).

This isn't the year you or anyone else will die. That won't happen until December 21, 2012.

So get your bucket lists ready, kids. Time's a-wastin'.

You're saying nobody will die this year, Gus? That nobody will die until the Mayan calendar resets?

Sorry, I meant those of us who post in this thread.

Hope you are right. If not, here's an interesting David Brooks column about death:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/opi...

Death: the Number One Cause of Death.

http://www.deathclock.com/

i usually just consult this to see if i need to pay a bill by a certain date or not

I'm posting in this thread just so I don't die this year.



Wow, that was easy. Thanks!

Oh Kevin, I don't like that death clock site. It freaks me out and somewhat reminds me of a horror film, while subsequently reminding me of horrific pop up ads and spyware.

i just found out that i have til 2037. i am def driving faster and eating a high fat lunch today

I don't trust the death clock because I lift weights and fuck up my BMI. The BMI doesn't count for as much if you lift weights because of that whole muscle weighing more than fat thing.

yeah, that would be the only reason i wouldn't trust it :)

That and, um, everything else:)

You guys are weird. :)

Re: spring and fall semesters, I like the beginning of the fall semester best (b/c ooh, yay, it's school after so long away!) but the end of the spring semester best (b/c ooh, yay, school is over for a while!).

Yes. That kind of makes sense, Mindy. I hear you.

I love that Death Clock. It always cheers me up, for some reason.

Death Clock says I will die on my 99th birthday. There goes my planned celebration for the big 1-0-0.

Just before my 98th for me.

But BMI is a HORRIBLE measure for just about anything. It could work as a general guideline, but for people with any amount of muscle development it's useless.

I made my BMI worse and my life got longer by 8 years.

How the fuck are you people going to live so long?? It has me dying in my late 70s. Maybe my BMI is too low.

It's BS, dear Crustacean.

Gus wrote: "Sorry, I meant those of us who post in this thread."

I do love Gus. And miss him dearly.

Phil wrote: "But BMI is a HORRIBLE measure for just about anything. It could work as a general guideline, but for people with any amount of muscle development it's useless."

Good Lord Phil, that makes me feel so much better. Cause I am RIPPED. So the BMI is like fucking meaningless.

Lobstergirl wrote: "How the fuck are you people going to live so long?? It has me dying in my late 70s. Maybe my BMI is too low."
Death clock says I expire at 79. I am using this figure in my retirement planning until I find a better life span estimator.

Cynthia wrote: "Good Lord Phil, that makes me feel so much better. Cause I am RIPPED. So the BMI is like fucking meaningless."

True dat!

Apparently I have until I am 81. Death on a Tuesday, no less. I have always disliked Tuesdays.

I'm going to die when I'm 52 apparently.

Well, its been one hell of a ride so far. If I come back as a ghost, I'll be sure to haunt Goodreads and this group in particular.

April 9, 2037.