There’s a guy sitting 2 tables away from me at the coffee shop. He’s having a conversation with what seems like an interviewer. Guy A is talking loud enough that I know a couple things: a.) he’s a college senior about to graduate in the spring, b.) he considers himself a designer, but goes to a Christian college and apologizes for it and  c.) he wants this Guy B to give him a job.

Guy B is so not into it.

Awkward. Very awkward. I should tell Guy A to leave right now and enjoy what’s left of college before the real world comes.

Back in 2002, college was just getting rolling for me. At the beginning of that year, I was living it up in the second half of my freshmen year. My rooommate Josh was a one of the most interesting guys I had met at that time. He brought a lot of variety to our dorm room. His day consisted of 4 basic elements:

1. Class
2. Workout and protein shakes
3. Drinking your face off
4. Watching Fight Club

Every day. Rinse, wash, repeat. Occassionally a Taco Bell run would make it’s way between step 3 and 4, and you can guess who was Designated Derek. I actually was fine with it, though. Josh had a PS3 so by my count, our living arrangement was very synergistic- especially when Grand Theft Auto III came out that spring.

I don’t think we even played a single mission in the game, it’s just as much fun (arguably more) just running over women and children, chopping cars, and shooting rockets at helicopters.

Anyway, Josh was a fun guy – and rooming with him was a heck of a way to start peeling away my extreme type A behaviors. As I found out throughout the course of the year, maintaining one pile of clothes and conducting the “sniff test” can be just as efficient as using a closet or dresser.

Here’s a shot of us getting ready for one of our dances. Yeah, our college had dances… just like high school.

And for the record, I refuse to confirm or deny any rumors that suggest we had our tips frosted together.