Sometimes, when you amble through the miasma that one calls life, do you stop and ask yourself, what gets you up every morning? Is it the sun and the prospect of a beautiful day? There is someone I know who tells me that she likes the orangey glow in the mornings. However this very same person also does some silly and bimbotic things, so I seldom take what she says very seriously. If you know who I'm talking about, it means that you agree with me about her being silly and bimbotic. Or worse still, its you.
Is it your handphone alarm? Which I've come to hate because it wakes me up every morning. I have encountered strangers who actually put my handphone's alarm ringer as their message tone, so when they get a message, I get very freaking irritated. It actually causes severe distress to me, like I will feel uncomfortable all over, very much like when you need to piss and you can't find a toilet. You would get that too if you heard the same thing waking you up every morning when you sleep on an average of 4 hours a day. Its a wonder I haven't thrown my handphone across the room yet, or at those people. Its a brick by the way, not like the light airy feathery slim ones on the market nowadays, so it would probably make a deadly projectile.
Some people would tell me "its the prospect of seeing my him/her again" that gets them up every morning. A totally cringe-worthy statement that is too mushy for words. But in any case, its a lot more engaging than what I would usually say. I've been accused of being dismissive sometimes, like a conversation ender. You'll see just why with my reply as I show later below.
Friend: What gets you up every morning?
Me : Coffee.
Totally witty and it destroys all chance for a conversation. Apparently when I give such dry one worded replies, I am sending a strong signal that I am not interested in being involved in a conversation whatsoever. Perhaps I am flattering myself by saying it is witty, but I'm certainly not flattering myself by saying that I'm a conversation destroyer.
I would go on saying that this is not a case of self-serving bias but generally a sound knowledge of 201 is not really appreciated in CS at this moment because everyone is struggling with studying for the exams. When I try to recite the textbook people ask me to shut up. Which is really ironic because these very same people then end up reciting the textbook back to me later in the day. And the best part is, they can recite things that I don't even know exist in that book.
Speaking of exams, its really crap studying for them. For the first time in my life I actually have to quote my sources and reference them, and I can't use wikipedia because encyclopedias, especially online ones that can be edited by your 8 year old kid cousin are no longer regarded as valid sources.
I was wondering if I could use my lecturers as references, like (George, Lecture on alternative and niche media, 2007), but I've a feeling that Dr. George would not find that very funny even if I were to reference something he actually said in lecture. Guess lecturers would obviously be a no, unless you want to reference our broadcast lecturer Aquila which you would probably have to since all her readings are published by her. Just make sure you don't spell her name wrongly because she wouldn't take very kindly to that I'm sure, as some unfortunate students already found out in their term papers.
I don't think it would be very right to reference fellow students either, like (Alfian, an email to Thio, 2007) for the infamous "piss on your grave" rant. Which is totally sad because the email was exciting and certainly controversial.
Ok, but back to my main topic since I've obviously digressed so much. What gets you up every morning? The desire to save the world and make it a better place? Orangey glows? Your significant other? Noisy alarms? Inconsiderate neighbours with huge boomboxing speakers that go off at 8 every morning?
What should I say in the future if someone asks me "What gets you up every morning?" I think I already know.
"Coffee."