There are places I'll remember all my life... most are chains

I always feel guilty sitting next to students in Panera. They are usually cramming for tests, furiously typing papers, or trying to decipher lecture notes, whereas I am usually catching up on Desperate Housewives. Or laughing inappropriately at FML. Or eavesdropping. I don't actually know which of us I envy the most.

Tonight is my last college fair. If you already know that, it's because I've been adding it to every email and facebook status for the past week, and am considering renting a blimp. It's so nice having evenings free. This is also my last full week of travel. Thanksgiving? Next Thursday. I just blew your mind, didn't I? December 1, a.k.a. the start of my lease? Two weeks and one day away. I just blew my own mind. December 11, a.k.a. the end of my employment? Well, we don't need to do the math on that one. The point is, this semester (look at me, still measuring time like a college student) has flown by. And, as Keri has been so kind as to point out, I only have a few weeks to make a cinema-worthy impression with my blog. Anyone know any agents? Maybe literary ones? I could slum it with a book deal.

Today I met with ten kids at one school. It was completely, delightfully productive... at least in entertainment value. I applaud their abilities to stall; most kids their age are so graceless in their attempts. Congrats, random PA high school students. Well done. I decided to send them back to class, however, when one of the kids asked, "Do a lot of people kill themselves at your school like at (insert similar college)?" Apparently this other school has several mini-monuments to the deceased. I would assume/hope that it isn't a reflection on the school.(?)

I also met one student whose older sister is a current student. It's always comforting to hear someone say, "My sister says there's absolutely nothing to do there because it's so small... but I really like it." It just shows that location is almost irrelevant if you're skilled at "hanging out." (This girl gets a billion adorable points for making an effort not to use the word "party" when she was telling me about a weekend she spent on campus recently. Instead, she detailed the different dorms she visited on Saturday night "meeting" and "spending time with" and "checking out where they live." It was an extensive list of euphemisms.)

So I mentioned my extensive experience eavesdropping in Panera... Right now, I'm listening to a middle-aged man and his parents look up hotels. He's listed four or five at this point, and I have stayed at all of them. (Insert dirty joke here.) Road warrior? I think so.