Let’s face it — we’re stuck in the thick of it. Things aren’t going especially great, you’re down to your last couple of pencils because you’ve lost the rest one by one (or maybe they just ran away?), and you’re at that stage where you’ve contemplated skipping brushing your hair for an extra minute of sleep. Either way, we here at the Clog have devised a foolproof plan to pull you (and us) out of the wretched semester slump, which has arrived and hit hard.
Go to a UC Berkeley event
If you’re looking for a fresh, new way to stimulate all of those intellectual UC Berkeley brain cells, look no further than the events page on the UC Berkeley website. You’re the captain now — from politics to engineering, there’s an endless academic buffet, and the choice is all yours. If history and humanities put that sparkle in your eye, consider attending the lecture “Remembering Queen Mary: Heritage Conservation of Free Blacks on St. Croix, U S.V.I” on Nov. 7 from noon to 1 p.m. But if a lab coat and goggles is more your definition of street style, check out the lecture “The Art of Giving Feedback” on Nov. 7 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
We’re going to take a shot in the dark and say that if you’re a true UC Berkeley Bear, as much as you may protest about going to class, somewhere deep down, far below the gates of cynicism, you like learning. So why not learn about something lighthearted? And what’s more endearing than seasonal veggies? Hit up the Tang Center on Nov. 7 from 12:10 to 1 p.m. to learn how to whip up the freshest and finest veggies around town.
Spice up your life
It’s time to pull out the sugar and spice and everything nice (or we could just skip straight to the cayenne) because we’re in some desperate need of a few dashes of new flavor up in here. If you’re looking for a pinch of sugar and need an extra reason to smile (or more practically, a new room freshener), buy yourself a bouquet of flowers. Roses, sunflowers, daisies — pick your vibe and throw it in a vase for an easy peasy pick-me-up that’ll leave you feeling sweet.
If you’re looking for a bit of a stronger spice, look no further than fashion. While you’re looking in the spice cabinet, you may also want to keep your eyes peeled for a pretty penny, because vintage shopping can get a bit pricey. Buffalo Exchange on Telegraph Avenue is a perfect place to start, but if you’re feeling especially daring, try scoping out Hello Vintage on College Avenue in Oakland to walk the streets with an extra dash of pep in your step.
Watch the sunset
Either Karl the Fog has been acting up lately or we’re deeper in the our semester funk than we originally calculated, because the world has been especially gray lately — or maybe we just need to clean our glasses? Either way, we’re grabbing our glasses and heading to the sunset because we need to start seeing the world in a different light: namely, a tangerine and pastel-pink light with a side of perfectly placed clouds. Depending on how much walking you’re interested in, we have the perfect sunset-viewing options for seeing whole shebang. For the least amount of effort, check out the view from the outside of I-House. If you’re feeling a little more energetic, put on your hiking shoes and scale the fire trails to snag the perfect view of the sunset, with San Francisco as the backdrop. And if you really want to go for it (warning: you’ll need your Clipper card for this one), a short bus ride can land you on the Berkeley Marina with an ultra-special view that includes getting to see all of the pretty colors bounce off the water.
See you never, semester slump! We’ll catch you on the flip side, but in the meantime, we’ll be living it up as we re-energize in time for finals.
