The Plaid Pladd Blog » nostalgia

Grad School Yearbook

pladd — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:00:13 +0000

Yesterday was potentially my last day on campus ever! I turned in my final paper, went to my last class, and am so not going to graduation. The bus ride home was probably one of the most anticlimactic Last Day of Schools ever. I felt absolutely no remorse/sadness, and not even really any relief. In an attempt to try to reclaim some of that Last Day of School Nostalgia, I’ve decided to make a list of Grad School Memories. I’m imagining it as a kind of Middle School Year Book, with the kind of entries I remember thinking about for days before actually writing in another person’s. If only Grad School had yearbooks, these would probably be some of the entries I would write to the people/things I remember most:

Goth Prof

Sadly not an actual picture of goth prof

Goth Prof, I know you were only a PhD student stuck teaching me cataloging first semester, but your class really meant something to me. It was probably one of the most practical in grad school, where we learned a practical skill and all of the assignments were directly related to cultivating it. You didn’t waste my time, which was awesome. Also, you dressed like you were going to a goth Ren Faire most days, which was also awesome. One time when I was absent my partner claimed you wore red, but I don’t believe it.

Yahoo Answers for Credit

Yeah, I've totally got a reference book for that

Reference class was another one where most of the assignments actually seemed practical. Answer random reference questions assigned by the prof, answer questions for the ipl… answer Yahoo! Answers questions. Yahoo! Answers, you may or may not be the future of reference services, and I’m not sure you’re really where the majority of people are now turning for their “information needs”, but I’m not going to complain about an assignment where I get to spend time with you, answering ridiculous questions instead of reading some boring article. Answering ridiculous questions (“What’s the PINKEST book in the library??”) is pretty much why I got into this business in the first place. That, and the mystique.

“I made this PowerPoint from scratch!”

Couldn't find a picture of them, but here is their natural habitat

Oh, People Who Take Library Grad School Seriously. You are hilarious! I sincerely enjoyed all of my time in class with you. The times you asked the professor what size font the final paper should be in on the first day of class. The times you asked questions about ridiculous hypothetical situations like “What should we do if a child vomits on the floor and another child tries to eat it? Could we be sued for that?” The times you actually thought the professors knew what they were talking about. The times you created elaborate reasons for your side of the books/technology debate (“What if all world governments collapse and we find ourselves living in a post-apocalyptic society? We probably won’t have electricity. We’ll need BOOKS to tell us how to SURVIVE.”) The way you would make a 20-slide PowerPoint for even the shortest of presentations. Yes, your antics pretty much kept me endlessly entertained, but also showed me to my own path, my grad school mantra, if you will. Which brings me to:

What are you going to do, fail me?

Not Pictured: Grad School

I’m pretty sure nobody fails grad school, at least not Library science Grad School. All you have to do is reassure the faculty (however erroneously) that yes, they are useful. While other people got worked up about the fonts on their PowerPoints, I just silently repeated my Grad School motto, “What are they going to do, fail me?” and stopped worrying about it.

“Teens like clothes, right?”

Oh, Professors Who Have No Clue What They’re Talking About! We’ve come so far since I first met you! Just think, back then I still had some respect for your ability to teach a class without sounding silly! Ha ha, and then that memorable day when you were forced to acknowledge that teenagers exist and, hey, some libraries actually have the gall to try to put on programs for them. What was your suggestion? Oh right, I remember because I wrote it down for evidence: “Teenagers spend a lot of money on clothes, so maybe you could bring in some ‘cool’ teens to tell the other teens how to dress.” Yeah, that was it. And maybe you might have heard a weird noise after you said that, as an undertone to the general uproar from those of us actually listening to you? Yeah, that was me, screaming with my mouth closed.

Magic Cupcakes!

I know this was only a few weeks ago

But you've got to admit, they're pretty awesome

Preschool BFF Reunion!

On Wednesdays, we wear pink

Megan!!! My favorite grad school memory by far is discovering that we have always been besties! Megan and I have been grad school friends for awhile–ever since we discovered that we are both awesome–but it wasn’t until my mom saw a post she made on my facebook wall and said, “You know, your best friend in preschool had that same name!” that we discovered we go way back. Natch it’s hard to remember all the deets from when you were three, especially when we both moved away shortly after.

Reunited and it feels so good!

Nostalgia Bus: Rice Roommate Forms

pladd — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:48:44 +0000

My brother called me today, asking for advice on filling out his Rice roommate form. This instantly brought back a tide of shame at how lame mine was, and I got it out to make him feel better about his own (I naturally pasted it into my journal after they gave it back to us senior year with “WHY ARE YOU BAD AT FILLING OUT FORMS?” written under it in giant marker block letters.) My only explanation is that I was still looking at it as An Important College Form, having spent a year filling similar things out, and so tried to be as serious as possible. Also, High School Patricia was the most boring person on the face of the earth. Except for that whole published novel thing, I don’t know.

Anyway, in an attempt to make myself feel better, I’ve decided to fill out the Rice Roommate Form again. I’m including High School Patricia’s answers to make the comparison of how awesome I’ve become even more poignant. I’ve skipped the stuff that hasn’t changed, like my birthday and how tall I am.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY:
High School Patricia: Fairly average with a tinge of eccentricity
Like a sitcom except that it’s impossible to tell who is playing the Straight Man

WHAT ARE YOUR ACADEMIC INTERESTS?
High School Patricia: English literature, history
Library science, speculative zoology, mad science, adventure archeology

WHAT ARE YOUR EXTRACURRICULAR INTERESTS? HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR SPARE TIME?
Reading, writing, library volunteer work, storytelling
Being too cool for school, watching bad movies, making cupcakes that look like dinner

FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR FAVORITE IS AND WHY…
BOOK:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (High School Patricia apparently thought this was self-explanatory)
Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje–I like a man who can complain about his family in poetry

MOVIE:
Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
Twilight with RiffTrax–”Like, what, and stuff?”

FOOD:
Apple pie (cold)
Steven-made sandwiches or improbably fancy chocolate

HANG OUT
Borders
Carrboro–can’t beat seeing people walking ferrets on the street

HOW ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR SUMMER?
Working in the children’s department of the library
Fighting crime, time travel, wearing a variety of stupid hats

WHAT TYPES OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO? (LIST A FEW GROUPS/BANDS…)
Beatles, Great Big Sea, the Rutles
Lady Gaga, Jonathon Coulton, Jeremy Messersmith

DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM VACATION
Touring famous sites from English literature and having afternoon tea whenever possible
Hot air balloon paint ball war

WHAT THREE PEOPLE, REAL OR FICTIONAL, WOULD YOU HAVE OVER FOR DINNER AND WHY?
Gordon Ramsay, because someone will have to cook the food, Eleanor of Aquitaine, because I want to know if she invented flossing, and Rhett Butler
Teddy Roosevelt, Silas J. Mariner, and Mark Twain. They know how to party.

IF YOUR HOUSE WERE ON FIRE, WHAT THREE INANIMATE OBJECTS WOULD YOU SAVE?
My laptop, favorite pen, and Sydney (top hat and close personal friend).
Laptop, favorite pen, and Sydney (top hat and close personal friend)
This one also makes me sound lame, but, damn it, that pen cost like $200 and how else am I going to keep up this famous author facade?

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU SEEK IN A FRIEND?
Loyalty, honest, wit, intelligence
The ability to shoot laser beams with their eyes, sense of humor

IF YOU COULD HAVE A ROMANTIC OR TORRID RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYONE, REAL OR FICTIONAL, MODERN OR HISTORIC, WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Napoleon Bonaparte, because he had a very impressive hat
Marie Curie, to break Michael Curtis’ cold, Danish heart

I think High School Patricia was just confused about how to fill out forms/was morally incapable of lying on an official looking piece of paper, especially for comedic effect. Good thing I got over that one quick.

Closed-Toed Shoes

pladd — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:57:16 +0000

In the midst of putting things away, I discovered half a sheet of paper from sophomore year with the lyrics to a song I wrote called “Closed-Toed Shoes” in response to Katherine McPhee’s “Open Toes”, which, to be fair has incredibly vapid lyrics which Rob wouldn’t stop singing at the time. Here is what I apparently decided to write as a “revenge song”. I don’t remember anything particular about the night in question, or if I also made up a melody, but I can guarantee you that it all went down in the OC Lounge.

Closed-Toed Shoes
By Patricia Holla! Ladd

I’m goin’ out
It’s a Friday night
Gonna shake my sweet
Ass just right

But then–what’s that?
Oh no!
My feet
They really smell

Close-toed Shoes! Close-toed shoes!
Hide the odor and athlete’s foot!
Hide those unsightly deformities
Deformities because my parents are related!
Close-toed shoes!

They say I’m mad hot
I say “Whadyou expect?”
And as long as I keep on my shoes (close toed)
They won’t know any different

Close-toed shoes! Close-toed shoes!
Just keep them on to conceal
The fact that you have 7 toes

I think I should give up finding a job and just wait for the royalties to roll on in. I’ll give Rob a cut, since his annoying taste in music was my inspiration.

The List: Final Round Up

pladd — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:45:53 +0000

After weeks of denial and trying to use all my Tetra points (to no avail), I think it’s finally hit me that I’ll never be coming back here and these people will never be part of my life again. The defining moment: taking The List off the wall, incomplete, and lovingly taping it into my journal. I told everyone to tell me if they happen to complete any of our so-far unmarked items so I can cross it off, but it seems unlikely that we’ll be able to #53 Start a Pyramid Scheme at Wiess. Ah, missed opportunities. Here is The List in its entirety (with amusing anecdotes where applicable and completed items crossed off):

1. Meet Beyonce
2. Go On a Cruise
3. Cheesy Pop Concert
4. Go to the Rodeo (we really have no excuse for failing this one)
5. Kool Aid Snow (for some reason we have like five tins of Kool Aid in our room, but we never got around to throwing it at each other)
6. Create New Language/Slang so as to confuse Arin Lastufka
7. Play beer golf
8. Pop psychology vid/youtube phenomenon (for awhile we thought we could create some kind of PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE BIKE video to achieve this)
9. Film Real World audition tapes
10. Drink a lot
11. Prank “the doctor” (this was code for Matt Dahlgren. In the end, we decided it was too easy. Also, he figured out it meant him. Mostly because on the paper copy “Matt Dahlgren” is written first and then crossed out)
12. Find best College Night Theme (Dirty Sparkly College Night: From Miley to Hannah)
13. Kidnap Kill Jeremy Caves (yeah, now you know the rest of the story. He escaped our plans by disappearing into the wilderness for a week)
14. Assemble breakable things for Beer Bike
15. Build a statue and then turn it around (a recurring theme on The List–and maybe my life–is trying to steal other people’s paths to glory)
16. Flyer Wiess with Instructions
17. Secret Admirer
18. Picnic in the acabowl
19. Howl at the Moon Bar
20. Let’s go to Austin!
21. Rockets Game
22. “Cause all kinds of drama”
23. Not between us
24. Find Paprika (this was Rob’s hamster from freshmen year, dramatically and secretly set free in the wilds of the IM fields. Rob still holds out hope that she is living happily amongst the squirrels, and everytime we’re walking at night and see a rabbit he shouts “Paprika!!” It’s never her.)
25. Get a squirrel in the room
26. Lounge it!
27. Act impulsively
28. Daytime drunk
29. Befriend underclassmen to be our favs
30. Get like Philshizka (in the original spelling, his name has an integral sign in it)
31. Pretend to be Sarah Tambra
32. Tie everyone together
33. Hold auditions for next BFF
34. Surpass Matt Youn
35. Mary an apparition (this was completed when, through a combination of sleepiness and poor wardrobe choice Rob mistook me for a vision of the Virgin Mary)
36. Mixed messages!!!
37. Do something to Josh? Pretend we don’t know him?
38. Harass Josh Langsfeld (I’m glad that harassing Josh Langsfeld needed two numbers)
39. Set off fireworks
40. Drive in movie
41. Be too cool for school
42. Ruin Dr. Dodds’ life (plans for this one always remained vague since he already seems so bitter and downtrodden)
43. Out do last year’s seniors
44. Pub crawl!
45. Inside joke—laugh even if it’s not funny
46. Tell stories—compulsively lie
47. Tell stories about Wiess four years ago… see above (yeah, back when Wiess was cool we had a zipline. And a tiger. And robotic butlers. You wouldn’t remember.)
48. PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE BIKE
49. If you go to cabinet… bring a bottle of wine
50. Tell BC that Christa is our favorite RA
51. Get sippy cups
52. Become 4 year olds including speech impediments
53. Start a pyramid scheme at Wiess
54. Develop glow in the dark clothing company (this was added after realizing we could corner the market on Glow-in-The-Dark Quinceanera dresses–take your pictures in front of the Mecom Fountain AT NIGHT!)
55. HOLY WAR
56. Go missionary style at Jones (I think originally this was related to the above but somehow got completed separately…?)
57. Rice basketball game
58. Rice baseball game
59. Infuriate Marianne by being friendly
60. More gifts
61. Earth Day swap—anti-earth party
62. Senior Citizens Party
63. Bring up shuffle board
64. Make holiday!
65. Miley Caroling (The Hoedown Throwdown? Now you know. Oddly, this was written on The List months before we eve knew about the Hannah Montana movie. Prophetic)
66. Pretend reality show
67. Convince someone that we are black sheep Kardashians
68. Perform séance
69. Hold auditions then perform exorcism
70. Have a servery challenge with alcohol to make signature drinks
71. Go to Kimberly M’Carver Show
72. At one dinner pretend we’re all pregnant
73. Pretend we are friends with fictional characters
74. Get a human leash
75. Send Bo dispatches from the front weekly Here’s the email I sent to Bo fulfill this:

Subject: Dispatch from the Front

Dispatch from the Front 2/10/09

Mr. President:
It is cold and foggy STOP Luckily some of us have someone to keep us warm
coughDhruvcoughFiggy STOP West Side Story has angered the Commons studiers beyond reason
STOP Revolution is in the air STOP Danger of a coup STOP Do not trust Erin Waller STOP
Damn seniors always in the OC lounge STOP Suspect them of source of rancid meat smell
STOP Recyclemania Situation Poor: Hanging up bottles in trees and pretending its art STOP
Servery graspin STOP Food rations tightening STOP Under FDR (Jack Hardcastle) this never
would have happened STOP I’m not trying to blame you but I’m just saying STOP
End of transmission

Respectfully compiled by
P. Ladd
Secretary of State

Unfortunately, Bo’s reply was just a reminder to tell everyone that cabinet would be in the WAR room that week. He didn’t really get into the spirit of things.

76. My Bloody Valentine 3D (we became briefly obsessed with the idea of seeing a Valentine’s-themed pick axe massacre movie in 3D in January, but not enough to actually pay money)
77. Walk Creepily
78. Abuse List Serv
79. Tacky Airbrush T-shirts
80. Taaka off
81. Lose newsletter job/List Serv Power
82. Play real pocket tanks
83. BINGO!!!!
84. Write new Twilight
85. Karoke
86. See a psychic
87. Steal Colleen Lamos’ Dog
88. Go see Molly and the Ringwalds
89. Go to brunch
90. Tell Charles Lena our RTV5 show ideas
91. Human Midnight Party (we were also intent on somehow playing Real Life versions of many board games for awhile, including Midnight Party, Clue, Monopoly, and Minesweeper)
92. Perform Brain Surgery on the Uglies
93. Get Prof. Gorrey to throw his iPhone
94. Have our own Wiess Day
95. Drunk Bus—Rice Shuttle!
96. Armadillo Spaghetti Pants
97. Drink on the Inner Loop—French style
98. Go to Gulf Breeze
99. Go to Swirl
100. Hannah Montana Movie! (Rob and I had a brief argument about whether this was momentous enough to be #100 on the list; I admit it: I was totally wrong)