I found that one way to stay out of trouble when I was in college is for people to think that I was in the library. This interesting building was a perfect place to people watch which, if you're a faithful reader of this blog, you know is one of my favorite hobbies. The library was set up with a room full of tables as you entered, then there were random places to study that were dispered through the stacks of books. Our library was 3 floors, including the basement. I loved getting a seat in the first room when you entered because you could see everyone that entered and left the building. I must admit though, I got almost no studying done in this room. I basically just put my headphones on and watched everyone that entered or left. These tables were so hard to come by that I eventually came to the library first thing in the morning, set up my books and notebooks all over the table and then went to breakfast, classes, lunch, more classes, dinner, and then eventually to the library. Isn't that horrible? Someone went through the library two and three times unable to find a table because there wasn't one available in the people watching room.
If I ever needed to study, I had to go somewhere without distractions. I went to tables in remote areas of the library, but that didn't work because I felt like a special agent who was hiding from the police. My mind raced about things I had seen in the movies about tipping over the stacks of books in a domino formation to get away from prosecution. Then there was the "secret" stairs that went down into the archives from the front desk that I would get easy access to freedom from.
I also tried a cubicle and that was no good because I would listen for people talking around me to see if there was anything interesting going on. I was pretty much the nosiest person on campus.
There were some chairs on the upper floor that were pretty secluded. I found out very quickly why this wouldn't work for me. The chairs sat in front of a huge window which overlooked "The Heart". This was a formation in the mountains where there was an absence of trees in the shape of a heart. I spent all day looking out into the scenery.
No, if I wanted to get studying/work done, there was only one place in that library where I could do it. That was the bathroom in the basement behind the stacks. It was the perfect place, because barely anyone knew this bathroom existed, and even better, there were only 2 stalls, so most people that did know about the bathroom opted for another choice that provided many more stalls. I would bring my notebook, textbooks, and pens in there and sit down and study for hours. It was perfect. There were no distractions because I was basically looking at the walls of the stall if I looked up. If someone came in, I was pretty sure they weren't going to be talking to anyone, especially since there were only 2 stalls and I was using up one of them. I got so many "A's" from the studying that I did in that bathroom stall. It's hilarious to think about now.
My roommate and I had a pact that anytime either of our parents called if we weren't there, we were always in the library. That strategy worked well until Big Red told my parents on a Saturday night that I was in the library. They didn't buy that for a second. There actually was one Saturday that I was in library during the evening time. Rather than use the bathroom, I went into the basement and around the right corner. Back in this area, there was a row of tables, but hardly anyone went down this way unless they were going to get some microfilm. So, there I was doing some of my most productive studying ever until the lights went out. When I say they went out, I mean all of them. There were no safety lights and since I was in the basement, there were no windows to let in street lights or other means that would have helped me get out of the basement. So, I scurried my materials together as quickly as I could. The last thing I wanted was to be trapped in the library all night. I got down on all 4's and crawled my way back as I remembered coming in. I reasoned that on all 4's, I wouldn't have far to fall if I ran into anything. After a considerable effort and with minimal bumps and bruises, I finally found my way to the staircase that led to the main level of the library. I crawled up the stairs and arrived on the main floor, where I got to my feet and ran for the front. Luckily, I made it just as the front desk staff was sitting by the door waiting to exit. There were like, "Oh wow! We didn't realize anyone was left in the library! We're so sorry!" I was ok with it, after all it was approaching Saturday night and here I was in the library studying. What kind of life was that? That was pretty much the last Saturday I was ever in the library, accused or actual!
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