S.F.W.I.F

S.F.W.I.F is my new abbreviation substitute for T.G.I.F and who can guess what it stands for?

Ok, I can tell you've given up. 

It means "so fuckin' what it's Friday" in homage to my new Friday morning class.

The class is Media Business Law and it starts at 8 on a Friday morning.

The problem with this is not the material, although I do find law boring, it is not the teacher, he is a delightful individual and I told him so on a note I handed in on the contact sheet we had to fill out. You see, the problem is it's MORNING! Morning goes against all that is natural to me. Anything before 10 am is too early for me. Anyone I used to work with in Amarillo knows this, why can't Dallas understand it? The only good thing about the whole ordeal is there are no people in the class that are "Happy Morning" people. Everyone is pretty chill and I appreciate that because I didn't have to punch anyone in the face today.

me in class

On with the rest of the day. Since it was ruined already, I decided to visit my "wonderful" financial advisor. She informed me that the school is disbursing the refunds in a new way now and will not be going to my bank account which I have set up as a direct deposit. So now I have to set up a new account at a new bank and then transfer the money to my bank to pay my damn bills. FML…why did they do this? Also, the requirements for loans have changed and I just can't wait to tell my parents about this and keep my fingers crossed that I still qualify for a loan so I can pay my living expenses and continue to go to school….THE WHOLE REASON I MOVED TO DALLAS!!!

Now, I go to complete my homework for Monday's class and the student and faculty drive is down and who know when it will be up again. Shit! That is where my homework is. If it's not fixed by Monday I'm screwed because I didn't save it to my flash drive. Ok, so I guess I will go look for the books I need for my new Media Business Law class. They are over $90 a piece at the school bookstore so of course I laughed and said, "Fuck that" and left to HalfPrice Books down the road. I found my books for about $24 for the both of them. I don't think there were another copies, so I don't know what my classmates are gonna do. We have three chapters to read for the quiz next week.

I have an essay due in my Philosophical Perspectives in Food class. The instructions were to "articulate as clearly as possible what you think about the importance of food in human culture." I went with something I know: The ol' Municipal Court Food Days!

Here is my essay, tell me what you think.

Consider the Office Potluck Luncheon

An office potluck luncheon is proof that the right food is critical to the culture of the people in the office and the dynamics of its personnel. Just across the United States alone, any company these days is comprised of people ranging in age and ethnicity. This, of course makes for an interesting food day because who else except those from North Dakota and Minnesota would get excited about seeing something called “Tater Tot Hot Dish” on the sign up sheet posted in the break room or even know what it is? Nobody in a California office would acknowledge the maritime delights of “French Fried Jimmy Crabs” unless they had just moved from Maryland.  Who in Utah would salivate over the thought of a bowl of Louisiana’s best crawfish soup? And how many cube mates in Maine would delight in the anticipation of a taste of red chilequiles from Sedona, Arizona? The anticipation of knowing a special day celebrated with food is the most talked about event all week. Sure someone may mention the actual business at hand and there may even be some talk about last nights’ sporting event or a TV show, but nothing beats arguing about who makes the best cheeseball and how the pea salad made by the lady in accounting just melts across your tongue.

Historically, food was hunted and gathered and was simply a vehicle for gaining nutrition. These days, that’s okay if all you want to do is make a turd, but food should be prepared in a way that is to be shared and remembered. In a gathering such as the office potluck, presenting specialty dishes and hand-me-down recipes stimulate the senses: “That looks delicious”, “That smells heavenly”, “The texture is so creamy”, “Listen to that crackle”, “This tastes like dirt”.

Talking about food is a good starting point at breaking down barriers and allows people to connect in order to promote further conversation. Groups become exposed to multiple viewpoints no matter the subject and this allows for more productive problem solving once lunch is over. The food we eat has a way of bringing us together and in the case of the office culture it can even help build a team. The office potluck brings everyone together in the same way an old-fashioned dinner brought families to the table: communication. When people are sifting through green bean casserole, rhubarb pie, a six-inch grinder and a pot of three-alarm chili, questions about the ingredients and where to get them awaits answers. While picking through the choices of pasta salads, inquiries on whose recipe is best and can copies be generated and distributed are asked; because when on any other day would someone from the file room think to talk to someone from the distribution department or who would suspect that the second shift security guard makes the best chili outside of Texas?

Dishes brought to the office potluck represent the different cultures that make up the people in any one certain place, which, of course, represents all of us.