Dear Great Friday,

A day off of school AND March Madness?  You are no longer Good, you are now Great.  There are 8 basketball games taking place today, which means I get to sit on my couch and watch my bracket. 

I love sports but I don’t take the brackets too seriously.  I usually pick all the underdogs so that even a few upsets means my bracket isn’t that bad.  It’s also much more fun to root for the team that has nothing to lose.

Hopefully I’ll place a bet and win some money.  Although, most of my bracket is shot after yesterday.  I mean I had Oral Roberts going to the championship and they’re already out.  Yes, I know it was a long shot but how can you not root for a school called Oral Roberts?

I’m not worried though.  I’m placing all my money on Boise. 

Go underdogs!
CMS

Dear Belmont,
You almost did it.  One more point and you would have beaten #2 Duke.  One more point and my NCAA bracket would have been phenomenal.

I admit, I only chose you because of your name.  I also root for the underdogs.  I had a feeling you could win and it hurts more that you were so close.  It would have been the upset of all upsets.

Oh well.  At least no one can say anything when I say I chose Belmont.  One more point and I would have been asking them why they chose Duke.

Respectfully,
CMS

Dear The Office,

I miss you.  Come back!  I never once complained about the writer’s strike.  It was tough but it wasn’t all bad.  The Late Night talk hosts proved that they actually are funny, even without the writers. In fact, some shows were better because of the strike (i.e. Conan-Stewart-Colbert brawl).

But enough is enough.  The strike is over and I need you back.  You’re by far my favorite show and I used to live for Thursday nights, 9:00. 

April 10th.  You’ll be back and I’ll be watching.  I know it’ll be worth the wait.

Trying to be patient,

CMS

Dear The Listening Project,

Thank you for bringing your film to Emmanuel College. Your documentary about how other people in the world view America was definitely eye-opening.

The fact that multiple people believed America to be a falling empire was a bit shocking. It makes sense though and all prior empires in history have fallen. What makes us think we won’t, if we do in fact consider ourselves an empire?

The girl in Tanzania made an interesting point about the fact that everyone knows where America is, but how many Americans know anything about Tanzania? I think the fact that we’re a powerful country has a lot to do with it; I think most people know about China as well. She has a valid point though. I, as an American, know very little about other countries and until now I had never thought much about it.

I hope you continue sharing your project. It is not very often America has the chance to examine itself and question whether or not we are helping this world more than hurting it.

Very grateful,
CMS

p.s. http://thelisteningprojectfilm.com/

Dear US dollar,

Your current worth is getting ridiculous. Coming from one who loves to travel, trying to plan trips and vacations is becoming harder and harder. A trip to Europe is currently out of the question because I would rather not see my hard-earned cash convert to hundreds less.

If it were only Europe, I could handle it. The Eiffel Tower and Spanish Steps will always be there. I would be willing to play the waiting game and visit at a more economically friendly time.

It is not, however, just Europe. You are failing me everywhere. My friends and I were planning a trip to Canada for New Year’s Eve. Due to our late planning, the prices were pretty high. Imagine my glee when I realized a common known fact: you are always worth more in Canada! I quickly checked the exchange rate to see just how cheap our trip was going to become. I checked site after site but I kept getting the same price. How have you become equivalent to the Canadian dollar?!

I feel a little betrayed. Mostly, I feel stranded. I am stuck in a country where gas prices prohibit me from road trips and flights are a crapshoot. College is supposed to be a time where you see the world, because it’s cheap and you have the time. I have all the time in the world but you suck everywhere in the world.

Hopefully, you increase your value. Until then, I’m going to hoard you and pray that we don’t go into a recession. If we do, I’ll move to Bali…I heard you’re doing well there.

Your frustrated friend,
CMS