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THF MTY Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006 _L J 1 1 J 1 ^ m Page 9 FLYIN'SOLO ' t ■ Special to THE GAMECOCK Treat yourself to dinner or a movie alone —you can do it Alexis Arnone ^ THE MIX EDITOR It is always nice to go out with your friends or your significant other on a Friday night. You can be going to the movies, to a bar or even just to dinner and hanging at a friend’s house. It can be even nicer to take someone else out on a date — yourself. Our generation has been taught that the world is a scary place. You shouldn’t go anywhere by yourself; you always need to bring your buddies. Safety issues aside, many people don’t take _ themselves out often enough because they’re afraid of what others might think of them. Second-year political science student Brett Woodward agrees with that theory. “I hate it ‘cause then everyone looks at you and you’re 'that guy’ who is eating alone,” he said. On the other hand, third year pharmacy student Roxann Mule feels that going out alone is a good thing because “it’s forcing yourself to be a little more independent than you would be normally.” So what’s the harm in a little self-TLC? To ease you into this new idea, here are some suggested “starter dates” and ideas you can use while on a date with yourself. (No, these tips do not include that long-awaited awkward moment at the end of the date where you ask, “Do I kiss him/her now?”) The first step is to mentally prepare yourself for the date. Sounds a little weird, but in order to get past the fear of what others will think of you, you have to build up your own self esteem. Look at yourself in the mirror (or just repeat to yourself) that you aren’t going out alone because nobody else wants to hang out with you due to your lack of personal hygiene. Rather, you’re going out alone to experience something new. After you’ve pumped yourself up for your little adventure-, it’s a good idea to plan something out. (Once you’ve become a pro at self dating, then it’s okay to just go on a whim. For now, it’s best to take baby steps.) If you’re hungry, pick a smaller restaurant where it won’t be crowded and your apprehension won’t be so high. Bring along some homework or a nice book to enjoy. That way, you look busy and give off the impression that you just enjoy the peace and quiet. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, relax. This time is all about you. Beth Bouknight, a third year associates in science for radiology student at Midlands Tech, feels strongly about taking herself out on the town every once in a while. “I would take myself out on a date to a nice dinner or a shopping date... sometimes you just need alone time with a movie or some downtime,” Bouknight said. Her comments bring up another great idea. If you’re a little too scared to jump out in the single-dating scene with a dinner, then start with a movie. It’s dark, you can pick the movie you really want to see and you don’t even have to share your popcorn. If going out isn’t your thing, why not just stay in? Shut off your cell phone and lock the doors. Pop in your favorite movie and order some pizza or make something from scratch. Spend a little quality time with yourself. In a world full of distractions being pushed down our throats, it’s nice to take a little vacation and explore our thoughts. Of course, this article is not meant to send you down VOU • II Violinist to aid Katrina victims Former student to play benefit concert; proceeds to go to storm relief programs nathan Rouse FOR THE GAMECOCK Five months ago, one of the worst natural disasters in American history nearly destroyed the city of New Orleans. The news coverage of the event was frantic as thousands of reporters flooded the area. Since then, the event has slowly receded from the news. Any mention of those who are still suffering in the wake of the disaster is rare. But the victims of Hurricane Katrina have not been forgotten. Thursday, USC will hold the USC Cares concert, an event from which all proceeds will be donated to Katrina relief programs. The show will feature Samuel Thompson, a South Carolina native and former USC student, performing on the violin. But Thompson is more than just another musician trying to aid a distant cause. He was there. Thompson was staying at a youth hostel in New Orleans and preparing for a violin competition in Italy when Katrina struck. He was one of the nearly twenty thousand people who found themselves scrambling for cover in the Louisiana Superdome. But as most have heard, the building turned out to be ill-suited for shelter purposes. There were not nearly enough supplies to maintain the masses seeking shelter there, and it became apparent that the Superdome was not built to withstand the destructive rain and winds that were tearing the rest of the city apart. Conditions within the Superdome deteriorated quickly; there was not enough water, sanitation was far from adequate and rain was falling from gaping holes in the roof. “I don’t think people realize how bad it could have gotten,” said Thompson. In the midst of this scene of destruction, the unexpected sounds of Bach’s sonatas were heard. Having saved his violin from the storm, Thompson was doing his part to provide some form of relief from the despair of the situation. “I didn’t think about it at first, but then when I started playing, it felt like the right thing to do,” Thompson said. After he and the, group of people he was with were moved to another shelter in a local basketball arena, he continued to play, mostly at the urging of those around him. “I thought there were more important things to do, but people kept walking up and asking me to play,” Thompson said. “I think people really did appreciate it.” When he was finally able to leave New Orleans, Thompson could not get the events he had experienced off his mind. He took some time off from his practicing and playing to come to terms with the things he had UlOLiniST • 10 • Helloy my name is Astrid Rivera Colon Third-year criminal justice student WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT ON CAMPUS? “Taco Bell, because I like •tacos.” WHAT IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOUR HOMETOWN? “The only interesting thing in Irmo is probably the Okra Strut.” WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME? “Reading all kinds of books — mostly science fiction.” IF YOU HAD A MILLION DOLLARS, WHAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WOULD BUY WITH THE MONEY? “I would buy a Viper.” WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? “I don’t really have any fears. I guess I’m fearless.” WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST DREAM YOU’VE EVER HAD? “I don’t ever remember my dreams. I sleep ... that’s all I do.” IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY MUSICIAN, DEAD OR ALIVE, COME TO THE COLONIAL CENTER, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? “Beethoven, because he’s a classical genius.” WHAI a YUUK rAVUKIIt PICK-UP LINE? “I really like the one with the pirate and the parrot.” WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CUSS AND WHY? “Criminal Justice, because it is my major.” WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR GOALS FOR THIS SEMESTER? “To make good grades and to try and make it on the dean’s list.” STEELERS OR SEAHAWKS? “Neither, because the Green Bay Packers should be going to the Super Bowl.” IF YOU COULD SPEAK ANY FOREIGN UNGUAGE, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? HELLO • II