Benjamin Steinberg (That's the Name)

12 days, that's what it took. Though it didn't really require me to build much courage. So, I went to dinner at Simmons tonight, even though I was going to be alone, which makes it much more convenient to drop by Redifer because you don't have to stick around. (though I suppose with take out meals that isn't really necessary at Simmons either, but I've never experimented with that yet) Anyway, I was about half finished with my meal when I young man asked if anyone was sitting with me. I said that there wasn't and he asked if he might join. Imagine the awkwardness he might have felt if I had said he couldn't (something I would probably do on occasion). So he introduced himself as Ben (though I soon forgot this and had to ask him again right before he left, BUT I DID). He said he was in the band, plays the clarinet, and had just gotten back from Michigan. He asked his roommates to come to dinner with him, but I guess they don't like Simmons. He said he just thinks Simmons food is better, not interested in the healthy aspect which apparently turns his friends off. I on the other hand usually don't head to Simmons or any other dinning commons for dinner because it costs too much, but we didn't get into that. He said his major was computer science, wasn't sure what he really planned to do with it though I asked a couple times. He's owned by the army, since they're paying for his school, and will have to give them 3 years after college. He figures he's in at that point, but doesn't really want to make a career out of it. He hates the army for sending him to Georgia in the summers. He wouldn't mind Atlanta, but they've placed him in the middle of nowhere. To this end he was sorry for dissing my rural roots when I told him I was from a farm. He is from Bethlehem, which thanks to Kristina I have some idea where is. He's got a friend with a severe milk allergy which is THE WORST KIND. This after I told him I eat breakfast at Pollock (who's food he detests) because my friend can get gluten free food there. He was very disappointed I don't go to the games, or at least watch them (I didn't get into my whole reasoning for that being that I unplugged my tv so as to not waste my time). We decided it wouldn't be worth my money to buy a ticket to a game at this point. He is not a Schreyers' student and feels like an intruder every time he dines at Simmons. We discussed scheduling. The unfair advantage that Honors students get because they schedule first. He's a junior and has never been able to schedule all the classes he wants, especially this year English 202. That privilege in itself would have been enough for him to join the college. Though he thought it interesting that not writing a thesis only resulted in the penalty of not graduating with honors, so we get the "better" dorms and scholarship money and great scheduling. I think he wishes he had joined. He got 2 hundred and some calorie cookies for dessert, though his plate was really not that full for dinner. He had 5 missed calls from his parents, they think he's going to die when he's sick. He thinks every one's parents are like that. Then we left, he making sure Rebecca was right, and me wishing I had kept better track and having to ask again. Anyway, I think that sort of fills the requirement of my 2nd to last blog. I didn't think the last one really counted.