Life

Accelerated Thanksgiving

It takes six hours to drive home to New York from Charlottesville.My father left Sunday morning. He had come down with our cocker spaniel Skylar for the weekend to watch his alma mater Temple University get slammed by the Wahoos. He was going to stop in Washington on the way home to buy my sister a fish for her dorm room and take her out to lunch. He drove down the street around the Corner, and I wondered how long it would be until he cranked up the Temptations, the Supremes or the Four Seasons and rolled down the windows. "Give mom a hug for me when you get home," I had told him.

Breathing easier

Cost of adult CPR training for one person at the Central Virginia Chapter of the Red Cross: $41. Cost of CPR training for University students: $0. The major discount is the result of a new project created by fourth-year Commerce student Kara Kalasky that, through a partnership between Madison House and Red Cross Central Virginia Chapter, allows University students to train for free to become CPR-certified. This past summer, Kalasky interned at the Red Cross Central Virginia Chapter, where she realized there wasn't much of a connection between the group and the University.

We're Still in Kansas, Toto

Ah, Charlottesville. Home of ThomasJefferson; site of his University,Virginia's last stronghold of liberal intellectual elitism; and -- according to some news publications -- the best damn place to live in the entire country. Unless you ask movie-goers. Last week, Virginia held its annual film festival in our fair city.

Life's little secrets

Many University students likely can attest to the bafflement they felt when confronted with painted IMPs and Zs on nearly every building they passed on their prospective student tour of Grounds.

Not what the doctor ordered

I am, to put it mildly, a little afraid of going to the doctor. Make no mistake -- I'm not talking about "Oh, gee, I hope I don't have to get a shot" (something I wouldn't dare utter in a bar in relation to tequila) scared.

Twirling her life away

It may be easy to remember when you were always jealous of the one girl in high school who had everything in her life together -- strong academics, beauty, talent, and offers from various top universities -- but who did not let that separate herself from others socially?

The good, the bad, and the ... mediocre?

I've had a rough time lately, I have to confess. This is not always the case, of course. Often I feel as if the rails on which I run are greased and shined and spit-polished to an acme of smoothness, and I'm left to slide dreamily on, nonchalantly ignoring the harshness of the land over which I travel. That hasn't been the case recently; if anything, I feel as if I've gone off my tracks entirely.

Perhaps the best part of University football games is that even those students with a less-than-confident grasp on the details of the sport can enjoy themselves, especially when rallied by the University cheerleading team.

Flu fever

Across the country, worries about the scarcity of the flu vaccination this year continue to plague individuals as the winter season approaches.

Dorm sweet dorm

A welcome sign on the door, a colorful pillow on the couch, a group picture framed and placed on the table in the corner, a little bowl of candy on the center table -- whether it is something bright and eye-catching or something simple and subtle, most students take the trouble to find some odds and ends to make their dorms and apartments feel a little more like home. One popular way to make a student's home away from home feel cozier is holiday decorations.

The adventures of superfan

"Hey, can I get a picture with you?" For three of Scott Stadium's biggest superfans, this question has become a common request at each home game.

Almost as coolas phrenology

Iam officially addicted to AIM. I've spent so much time on it that I could write a social psychology thesis on the displays of personality through AIM.

Astro-nomical disappointment

Clinging to a four-run lead with nine outs to go, I knew we were close to boldly going where no Houston baseball team had gone before. "Robbie," I said to my friend, "All I want is to see the Astros make it to the World Series one time during my lifetime.

Hoos inoculated

I'd like to walk up to someone on the street and in the most sincere tone of voice ask, "Excuse me.

Is tattoo totally taboo?

According to several sources of celebrity gossip, "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria recently demonstrated her love for her boyfriend, basketball player Tony Parker, by getting his initials inked in a private place.

Brew it yourself (or let the pros do it)

"The best part is definitely the end result." These are the words of Frank Hostetter, a fourth-year College student majoring in biology who has converted part of his University Circle apartment into his own home brewery. Charlottesville is home to several more prominent breweries, among them South Street and Starr Hill, which are at different stages in the evolution of their brands. Hostetter, who plans to attend medical school, took up home brewing as a hobby. "I started earlier this year, and have bottled three batches," he said. His fourth batch, a German Weizenbock brew, sits underneath a makeshift air circulator: a cardboard shaft leading from an air conditioning unit to the floor, where another cardboard box protects the beer from sunlight. According to Hostetter, sunlight and high temperatures most jeopardize the quality of his beer, as they can interrupt fermentation. With a growing knowledge of the brewing process, Hostetter says he enjoys having control over making his own beer, experimenting with different recipes and sharing the fruits of his labor with a select group of friends. "I usually give away about a third of what I make," Hostetter said. Federal regulations limit a household's annual production to 100 gallons per of-age resident and 200 gallons total. Hostetter produces anywhere from 30 to 50 12-oz.

Look Hoos knocking

Little ghosts and goblins, miniature Disney princesses and superheroes, tiny t-rexes and plump pumpkins -- every Halloween, for a couple of hours, the Lawn is transformed into a magical land of monsters and fairy tale characters. The annual trick-or-treating on the Lawn, held yesterday late afternoon, attracted hundreds of children and their families from the Charlottesville community.

Spooky superlatives

I have to say that this is my lucky week. Recently there have been no insanely dumb commercials for me to ridicule and no old-school game systems for me to fall in love with again.

20 questions

Each week, The Cavalier Daily asks a student 25 Questions and allows him or her to eliminate five of them.

The generation of entitlement grows up

What are you doing for the rest of your life? All those who are 21 or near it like to think they are the most important people in the world.