Today had its ups and downs. I started out tired, but happy…because in the middle of math class, I finally figured out my CFD homework. It’s amazing how sometimes things really DO start to make sense if you stare at them, sleep on it, and then stare at them again. Thankfully this assignment was one of those things.
After our three morning classes, Nick and I walked to Breakers for lunch. Thanks to the limited selection of snack foods and my strong aversion to cooking, I have recently discovered that I really like blueberry yogurt. Hmm. Good stuff.
After CFD class I headed to the newspaper office for my first meeting with Mark, one of the two Opinions section editors. He’s the one that works on Wednesdays. Duh. Anyway, it is an odd feeling to be merely a writer instead of an editor. With the Technique, I would write, edit, and layout my editorials all on my own. Unless I asked Chris to read over it, I don’t know that anyone saw it before it was printed except me.
But now of course things are different. I sat beside Mark as he read my column word-for-word, made a few changes, and then read it again. Even though his corrections were extremely minor, I found the whole process very nerve-wracking. I was uncomfortable sitting there watching this guy that I’d just met go over my words with a fine-tooth comb.
When I write something I know will be published, I edit it myself until I think it can’t get any better. I wrote my column for this week, thought it was as good as it was going to get…and then Mark got to put in his two cents. It’s not a bad system at all, in fact I think my writing will certainly benefit from having an impartial editor. It’s just yet another thing to adjust to.
Sadly enough, the highlight of my day was watching the season premiere of Dawson’s Creek. I swear, if I were allowed to have only one vice, that show would be it. But the viewing experience, like everything else in my life, has changed. Six months ago I would have recorded the show (because I would have been at Technique consensus), and watched the video on Thursday with Christina or Carter or Kent. Kent would tell me that everyone dies in the episode, and I would laugh. Tonight I watched alone on the couch in our living room and painted my fingernails silver.
They match my new shoes, at least.
