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April 19, 2007
Mid-week Update...
Amazingly I ran almost 8 miles yesterday, bringing the week's total (Sunday-Wednesday) up to 14 miles. Eight miles was a bit out of the ordinary for me... I made a huge loop through the city around the convention center then back home. Does anyone else feel self-conscious about running through downtown? I mean, I want to run to Loring Park, and I want to run through a pedestrian-friendly area, but I don't want to run through crowds.
I'm not keen on the idea of driving to go running, but I mean, that's simply what one has to do if a non-uptown resident wants to run at, say, Lake Calhoun or Lake of the Isles. I like running by the river, but I need to switch up scenery from time to time. Going up or down the river can only last so long.
Right now I'm in the new location of the Purple Onion Cafe, inside the 1301 University Building. The cafe is great, nice view of downtown, nice patio overlooking University Avenue, nice decor. I guess my beef is with the building itself. 1301 University describes itself as "an upscale student living experience" -- and this is what I have a problem with. I mean, I like to live the life of luxury just as much as anyone else. After all, I did just buy a new Volvo. And I lived in a brand-new pre-fab 6-bedroom house my senior year, which was pretty nice compared to most of the Dinkytown slums.
But isn't living in a slum part of the college experience? Or am I wrong to think this? I thought it was an experience everyone goes through at some point in their college career. Don't get me wrong, I think 1301 University is super sweet, and I would have loved to have lived there; it's so close to campus and no bugs come out of the floors. Unfortunately anything above $500/month would have broke the bank. I guess my main concern is the character-building experience that many students are going to miss by not living in a slum. This sounds rediculous, but they need to know what it feels like to have bugs crawl over you and to have a shower's plumbing fail and to find 3-year-old pot in a removable floorboard. This is the University of Minnesota, not the University of St. Thomas.
Speaking of the Volvo... Chris Farrar noted that the only reason I got the car was because of this:
Well, it is true that I am a fan of the logo--how virile. But in all honesty, I liked the whole perceived image of Volvo. Yes, it has the power that I need. But, it isn't in a pretentious way (i.e. BMW) or in a hip-hop video way (i.e. Mercedez-Benz). I don't think I've ever seen a hip-hop/rap/soul (read: black) music video that has the artist driving a Volvo. With Volvo class and power is tacit. However, I do like the logo better than Saab's logo.
Posted by piep0058 at April 19, 2007 07:38 PM | Home
Comments
Sometimes, when we are self-conscious, it will just hinder us from achieving our goals or anything that we want to do. It could be hard to run in a place full of people. But if you are just shy to do what you want or need to do in the midst of the crowd and you felt self-conscious about it, I think you should get rid of it. You know that you are not doing anything wrong or even shameful.
It could be true, however that people may stare at you and wonder what you are doing. But it doesn't really matter to them that much. You should not be self-conscious about that.
Posted by: Self-conscious at August 21, 2007 12:53 PM