“Okay class, for this next project, I want you all to write a manual about something. It can be instructions on how to make your favorite coffee drink, for instance, or something more technical like how to do something on a computer,” The instructor says.

“You all have 10 minutes, I want you to brainstorm some things up - talk with your neighbor. With 15 minutes left to class I will call us all together again and we will go around the room and share our ideas.”

I turn to my neighbor.

“What did he just say?” I ask, my face glazed over. That man, has THE most boring voice in the history of instructors.

“I think he wants us to think of ideas for writing a manual.”

“As in, an actual manual?” I ask, incredulous.

“Well, as in, you have to write 5 to 7 pages from it.”

“Oh okay,” I say, “So what are you going to do?”

“No idea.”

“I have the perfect idea.”

“Yeah?”

“How to do a jumping jack”

“Yes; it’s objective AND specific”

“I wonder what my thesis statement would look like?” I ask, mocking a deep-thinking pose.

“Clasp hands above head…you think he’ll let us use 48-point font?”

“Doubt it…wait I have another. How to…use an elevator!”

“Get on elevator…push button…”

“Okay okay, too easy. You have any ideas?”

“You know what I don’t think using an elevator is easy enough. Maybe how to use an escalator?”

“Perfect, but wait, I think - you know how you could keep it going? Maybe something like, ‘when he went to step off the escalator, he slipped, fell backwards, and landed at the beginning again’…”

“Yeah, just have him fall down an escalator 72 times in a paper; how many ways do you think I can describe that?”

“I’m sure you can get creative. Or, wait, this is perfect! How to order at a fast food restaurant?”

“Would you like fries with that?”

“I’m gonna do it.”

“Naw to easy; you realize we aren’t really brainstorming, right?”

“Yeah so what, I’ve already got my idea anyways,”

“What’s that?”

“Describing the Internet.”

“You know, somehow I think that that subject is a little too broad.”

“Maybe I could do it in 57 pages?”

“Yeah, and 3-point font to boot - I don’t think so.”

Man lately I’ve been feeling pretty boring.

Boring in the non-creative entries, I mean.

Today Farouza and I went to the International Fair here at ISU. That was pretty fun. I got a Churro from the Spanish table and some free Korean candy. We watched a clogging event for awhile and then left.

All-in-all it was pretty good - there were a TON of people there so it was really crowded, but other than that it was pretty fun!

I’ll let you know when my life gets more interesting. ;-)