Aside from the big Saints win, this past week has not been very exciting. Exams have started and I got the flu. Not much to write about there. So, once again I'm relying on something Ryan sent me that inspired a post. Here goes.
It was a piece from the NY Times that talked about boring books. This is the excerpt that hit home:
“Pay close attention to the most tedious thing you can find (Tax Returns, Televised Golf) and, in waves, a boredom like you’ve never known will wash over you and just about kill you. Ride these out, and it’s like stepping from black and white into color. Like water after days in the desert. Instant bliss in every atom.”
The black and white he's referring to is like my Industrial Organization text book, or the Public Management slides I have to memorize. I haven't been as good about studying as I should be because I can't really take it anymore. I have read more about minutiae than I care to, so today I stepped out into the color, and went grocery shopping.
The cheese men at the fancy store are always so friendly, and today did not disappoint. I was choosing a Gruyere (which is my new favorite) when one of them tried to start a conversation. I replied with my standard, non parlo molto Italiano. To which he replied, something in Italian. But it ended in buono so I assumed it was... but you spoke that so well! I thanked him and he gave me cheese.
Because I had a pretty, furnished apartment to go home to, I decided to take advantage of the one cheap thing here in Switzerland - flowers. I got almost a dozen tulips for $8, and they're gorgeous. I'm hoping they bring a little color into the next few days.
Here's another funny line from the Times article - “Bliss — a second-by-second joy and gratitude at the gift of being alive, conscious — lies on the other side of crushing, crushing boredom.” You know what's on the other side of my boredom? My family is coming to Lugano over the Mardi Gras holiday! This cannot come fast enough...
Oddly enough, the Times piece was not referring to studying, but rather a book about accounting. Here's a little antic dote from my accountant. Ryan "ran home" on Saturday after going out with some guys in the building. It was 3 in the morning, he was cold, and wanted to shorten the 30 minute walk home. Running seemed like a good idea. Problem - he was in dress shoes and a blazer, the only one on the street not in a car, and again, it was three in the morning. So, here's the plan he concocted... run, but when you see a car, start walking, so as to not look like a crazy person. Brilliant! Guaranteed those cars saw him running and stopping for their benefit. No crazies here, right? We had a good laugh about that when I got woken up by said crazy person, coming into the apartment out of breath.
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