Aren't She Pretty?  The MSU Campus in Winter

“I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn’t hurt.
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn’t bad, so I had one more for dessert.”

Actually, I woke up Sunday morning and saw an inch of snow on the ground outside, with big pretty, fluffy snowflakes falling from the sky. It made me think of that song by the Man in Black, and grab a beer at 9 a.m. to numb my depression of the coming winter. It made me think of my Tuesdays, when I have class, park my car, and walk across the vast, cold expanse that is among the nation’s largest campuses in land mass, Michigan State University.

Parking is a rip off

I’ll be the first to say I am a cheap ass, and one of my pet peeves is paying for parking. Let’s think about it for a second... pay-for-park is basically like burning money. And, I speak from mid-Michigan, where metered parking or lot parking at $1 or less an hour is in abundance. But, why pay for something that is also free with a little exercise? Also, do the math – 15 classes a term x $3 for parking (3 hour class) = $45. Ummm, that’s like, two cases of Sierra Nevada or Bell’s Oberon.

Park by a pub

So, I usually park up by the Harrison Roadhouse, or behind the Peanut Barrel, (it is good for one to always proximate one’s location to the nearest pub) in the neighborhood with two-hour parking. In the spring, summer, and early fall it’s GREAT – head to class among the beautiful campus foliage, read a book along the way, listen to my iPod, look at the pretty co-eds, etc. But, in the winter (when snow hits the ground it is officially winter, which is now), that walk ain’t so much fun anymore. Blustery winds, icey snow drifts... hell, if it gets cold enough, your freaking eyelashes freeze. Jeez. Thusly, one might pay for parking at the lot at the center of campus, reduce my walk by... say 15-20 minutes?

Naah... I’m still a cheap ass. I’ll strap on those boots, put on my parka, throw on a hat and gloves, and take that weather head-on. No snow is gonna beat me down.

There is a silver lining to the parking off campus, winter or not. While walking back to my vehicle, I can always stop in for an icy cold, frosty beverage at said pubs. Yes, even an icy cold one in the sheer of winter warms the soul. No doubting that is a better use of one’s money than paying it to the man to park my rusty piece of shit car.

Well, at least that’s what Johnny Cash sang about. It’s good enough for me.