Tim Peterson's Blog

Ruth was back from co-op on Monday, and had asked if I’d be available to hang out. I called Jackie around 6:30. She said she’d call Ruth to find out when she could come over and watch a movie. Thinking that this would be a quick call, I stuck around near the phone to wait for the return call. After several minutes, however, I decided it would be more fruitful to go do something else. When it got to be nearly 7, I started wondering if she had forgotten me. So I called back. And got a busy signal. I should have known that they’d manage to talk for an extra half hour. I guess I’m still not used to girls. But she soon called back, requesting that I arrive at 8.

They didn’t have any movies I’d necessarily like, so I agreed to bring something. We don’t have a whole lot of movies here, but I found two that might be suitable. I still wanted something I could be more sure we’d all like, though, so I left early and stopped at the library to look around. The trouble is, I don’t usually want to watch a movie unless I know it’s something I’ll enjoy, and it’s hard to tell if it is without having watched it. (Alas, a catch-22.) So, I didn’t end up getting anything.

I got to Jackie’s at 8, but Ruth wasn’t there yet. To pass the time, Jackie started flipping through channels on the TV, and came upon the Disney channel showing the beginning of what I recognized as Holes. I had seen it once before with my youth group at church, so I suggested we watch that. It was still good the second time around. I had seen the movie but not read the book (though I should), while Ruth had read the book but not seen the movie.

Following the movie, Ruth “enlisted my assistance” in moving boxes from her room to her car as part of her relocation. I happily obliged, and we spent the better part of an hour moving things (and watching the fish tank drain).

Ruth: I think I can handle the rest myself.
Tim: Done exploiting me?
Ruth: That’s what friends are for, eh?

Earlier in the day I had read in Our Daily Bread about how God orchestrates both the big things and the little things in our lives. It included a story of how some children and their parents, after parting ways in a large amusement park, were unexpectedly reunited at just the right time. I realized on the way home that God had done the same sort of details work for me tonight. I had wanted to watch something that would be enjoyable for all three of us, so I was worried about what I could bring that would accomplish that. But in the end, there was no need to worry, since God provided a movie I hadn’t even thought of that fit my desires. On top of that, He gave me the opportunity to be useful and help Ruth. It was a good night. Thanks, God.

After small group on October 19th, Ruth, Anthony, me, and he whose name I cannot remember went to Buffalo Wild Wings. We had Thursday’s 50 cent boneless wings. In the past Ruth has mentioned that all female RIT students are assigned two stalkers, partly due to the oft-cited gender ratio at RIT, which presently stands at a little under 2:1. [Ed. note: Strangely enough, on the day that I write this, I happened to notice in an RIT history page that in 1911 there were actually more females than males at what is now known as RIT.] She proceeded to mention that one variety of them are away message stalkers… and motioned in my direction. I explained. I had picked up her screenname from the IV directory along with those of other people I was familiar with (not necessarily those I had actually talked to before). On January 15th, shortly before midnight, I noted that her away message said something about not understanding centroids, evidently a topic related to her physics. So, I attempted to be enlightening.

Tim: If it’s centroids you want, Wikipedia knows all about them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centroid
Ruth: who are you?
Tim: I am Tim Peterson, from IV.
Ruth: not ringing any bells
Tim: Well, I’m not very memorable.
Tim: I was sitting on the railing with bare feet on Friday, and you said hi.
Ruth: I’m such a dummy
Ruth: sorry
Tim: I’ll live.
Ruth: I was just wondering why you had my screen name
Ruth: not many people check my away message that I actually know of
Tim: A while ago I grabbed a bunch of people from the IV directory I was acquainted with, but I’ve rarely IMed any of them. Instead, I just check away messages once in a while.
Ruth: ah
Ruth: does that mean you’re a stalker?
Ruth:
Ruth: just kidding
Tim: Muahahaha.
Tim: That’s how I find out what’s going on, since I don’t actually talk to anyone.
Ruth: aaaah

That’s how our friendship began. I’ve been stalking her ever since (in the most minimal way possible, of course, since I couldn’t let her notice me).

I work at RIT right now. After lunch yesterday I walked down to the bookstore, and when I went by the library I saw several girls wearing signs saying, “Free hugs.” Julie was standing by and observing, and we greeted each other — “Timbo!” (She’s the only person who ever calls me that.) On my way back, she was still there. She said, “Timbo, you look like you need a hug. It’s all over you.” When I expressed unwillingness, she pointed that someone I knew was over there, and that “nobody’s been hugging Kate because they think she smells bad.” She walked over, and I reluctantly allowed her to hug me. Julie cheered. I smiled as I continued on to my destination (not necessarily from the hug, but from the general amusingness of the situation).