The Ravings of Demented Rabbits

Alive and Kicking

As you all may have deduced from my (infrequent) tagboard postings, I AM actually alive here in CT, though astonishingly busy and unable to connect to the internet except through the campus labs. I think I may finally have time to go work on that, so I imagine I shall, since not being on the internet is a horrific fate. I've actually called AT&T about the possibility of getting a phone line and DSL put into my apartment, but apparently in the 21st century, this new age of information, AT&T cannot bring themselves to offer any sort of high speed access in my chunk of a very densely populated urban area. Apparently they're still all about dialup, which while it may have been ok to use back in, you know, the Dark Ages, it is woefully inadequate in these new and enlightened times. So I guess we're going to see what Earthlink and Comcast can do for me.

School, meanwhile, is utterly ludicrous. I'm finally registered for classes, all three of them, now fully two weeks into the term. You wouldn't believe the bureaucracy around here, but I'll attempt to enlighten you anyway. Cast your minds back, dear readers, to almost three weeks ago. Newly arrived on campus, I travel to the registrar to attempt to register, since the computer system wouldn't let me previously, telling me I had to walk into the registrar to get it done. Since walking in took a couple thousand miles and about a week, well.

Registrar: Can we help you?
Me: Why yes, I'd like to register for classes. The online system told me to come here.
Registrar: Oh, ok. Come on in and use our computer.
Me: Ok, let's see. Need to take 501, 503, 504, and maybe 506.
Computer: Sorry, I can give you 503, but 501 and 506 are closed.
Me: Suck. But what about 504? Why won't you let me register for that?
Computer: Because 501 is a pre/coreq for it. So's 503, actually.
Me: That does me very little good. Hey registrar, what do I do about this?
Registrar: Go talk to the department. Here's where they are.
Guy On the Other Computer: Actually, I need it too. Same deal.

And there was much walking, much as our forefathers of old might have walked.

ILS Department: Can we help you?
Me: Why, yes. I'm trying to get into ILS 501 or 504 or both.
ILS Department: Well, uh, go talk to these professors, since they'll need to give you permission.
Me: Right. I shall now write multiple emails. Oh wait, it's Dr Kim, who totally helped me out at orientation the other night. And he teaches one of the sections! Help me, Obi-wan Dr. Kim, you're my only hope.
Dr. Kim: Well, we're trying to get another section open for 501. Meanwhile, why don't you go talk to Dr Sche, the chair.
Me: Awesome.
Dr. Sche: Well, I don't see why you can't get into 504 if you want. Also, why don't you apply for an assistantship?
Me: You guys are way too cool.

So time passes, I am registered for 504, but then disaster strikes!

Computer: Sorry, can't register you for 501. It would put you at 9 credits, and you can only have 8.99.
Me: What the...?
Drs Kim/Sche: That's ludicrous. We all want you to have this class. Go forth to the registrar, and force them to cave to your demands.
Me: Forth, to conquer for libraries everywhere!
Registrar: Oh, you can't register because you aren't a matriculated grad student.
Me: I could've sworn I was.
Registrar: But you aren't. Go talk to the graduate school. They're across campus. Right by the library, actually, where you came from.
Me: Fantastic.

And there was much treking across campus. In a slightly more exotic locale, epics would be told. Instead, you get this post.

Graduate School: Well, the dean totally has to sign off on letting you in. But since everyone in the universe is more or less on your side, it's probably ok. We'll call you later today.

Tomorrow comes, I try back.

Graduate School: Yeah, meetings, you know? But you're in. Congrats.
Me: Score!

Whereupon I immediately register for the new section. By this time, I've already had my first ILS 503 class (which was awesome), and it's Friday.

Come Monday night...

ILS Department: Yeah, so that new 501 section got canceled because of low attendance. Try registering for one of the other ones. We'll let you in.
Me: Ok, no big deal. Do it after class.
Computer: Sorry, no deal. You have a hold by the health services department for some reason.
Me: WTF? Ok, talk to 'em tomorrow.

Today...

Just as I get to campus...

Staples Delivery Guy: Yeah, hi, got your bookcase, be there in half an hour.
Me: Uh...actually, drop it at the store, I'll get it there. I can't do it now.
SDG: Er, ok.

Health Services: Yeah, we need proof of your MMR immunization.
Me: That so happened in like 1982. But I'll try to dig up a copy, from OREGON, for you.

So I actually have to wait a while (I could've been there for the Staples guy...sigh), because nothing in Oregon is even open yet because it's 8am there.

Corvallis Clinic: Well, we're just not going to be here. So deal.
Me: Uh...right. Hey Mom, do you have a copy?
Mom: Sure do. Want me to fax it to Staples?
Me: I'm in their parking lot for my bookcase. Sounds good.
Bookcase: I am too heavy to be moved by mere mortals.
Me: Crap. Uh, Staples guys, this is gonna sound lame, but can you deliver it again?
Staples Guys: Er, yeah, ok.
Fax: *whinewhircrank*
Me: Ok. Armed with my new paper, I shall now go back to campus!
Health Services: Thanks. That was fast.
Me: I'm just not going to say anything. I haven't killed anyone today, and don't want to start.

But I'm registered now, so we're all good, I think. 3 classes, I'll hear about what I'll be doing as a graduate assistant any time now, and I'm almost entirely moved in with the exception of a real bed and the internet. Life is good.

Next time hopefully I can do this from home.

Posted by Dwip at September 12, 2006 12:03 PM