"I have a confession to make: I'm from Utah." That's the way I started this column, and now, in its last edition, I find the words increasingly less relevant. A few years ago, after one of my professors first bored me into reading one of these columns and I found myself thinking, "Hey, I could probably use that many pop culture references to be as self-deprecating," I was eventually placed at the helm of my very own bi-weekly column.
Days on the Lawn began this week and, at the same time, my graduation is just around the corner. Contemplating these two bookends of college life made me realize that I've seen a lot of change in my time at the University. I've witnessed the births of the new O-Hill and the John Paul Jones Arena.
Let me cue you all into a secret: I'm a giant nerd. What, not surprised? What tipped you off? Was it that I write for the newspaper or that I admit to being from Utah? Well, maybe it wasn't as well-kept a secret as I'd have liked. Though, at U.Va., there's really no need to keep one's nerd-dom under wraps.
I know Valentine's Day was last week, but I missed it. This was no accident, as every year I struggle to forget about the holiday.
Music is the soundtrack of our lives," said the great Dick Clark. I couldn't agree more. But if that soundtrack starts to suck, does life get worse? Imagine how well "Star Wars" would have been received if Fred Durst had replaced John Williams as composer.
Though the calendar is well into January and the weather has jumped forward to March, the holiday season is still on my mind.
Ah, Charlottesville. Home of ThomasJefferson; site of his University,Virginia's last stronghold of liberal intellectual elitism; and -- according to some news publications -- the best damn place to live in the entire country. Unless you ask movie-goers. Last week, Virginia held its annual film festival in our fair city.
Devastation. Pure and simple. There are no other words for the feeling I had when I watched UNC intercept Hagans' pass with two minutes to go.
How many times has this happened to you? You're walking to class, taking your time, with no particular reason to rush.
Generally, I'm glad I left the house. I appreciate that I don't ever feel compelled to mute my "Sopranos" DVDs because my little brother's in the room, and I love that my roommates and I can laugh when we put a hole through our wall rather than having to cover it with a poster until Dad's in a good mood.
