The standard Subaru Outback comes with a radio that does not have a tape player or any type of auxiliary input, making connecting an iPod impossible. I tried the Griffin iTrip, which transmits music over FM, but had very limited success. I decided it was worth it to do something more to get my iPod to interface with the car, and the only way to do that was to replace my existing stereo.

I purchased an Aiwa CD/MP3 receiver from Crutchfield because it was the cheapest unit that fit my car and had an easily accessible (front) aux input. Next I picked up two items from Belkin, their iPod Auto Kit, which uses the dock connector on the bottom of the iPod to provide power and to receive audio, and the TuneDok, which lets me mount my iPod in a cup holder.

Now, if I wanted to be really fancy, I would have looked at a more permanent way to mount the iPod and to hide the power/audio cable, instead of having it go from the iPod to my cigarette lighter and then up to the aux input. but I’m not that fancy, so that’s how it is.

Installing the stereo posed a bit of a challenge despite Crutchfield’s nice directions because they required me to create my own adapter to go from the plug in the car to the plug in the back of the radio. Not a fun process — they provided both ends, I had to connect all the cables together and crimp them in place. A visit to Home Depot later, I was set. Everything seemed to work on the first try, and so far there has been no unexpected badness. The iPod fits comfortably by my side, a single unobtrusive cable goes up to the dash, and beautiful sound comes out of my speakers. Mission accomplished for slightly less than $200.

So last night somehow my hair came up as a topic of conversation, and the various females in the area took turns playing with it, reflecting on its softness, and asking me what shampoo I use, and whether I condition.

It was scary.

But hey, maybe I’m the next John Kerry!

I can see the goal post from here. In less then eight months I’m out of this place, and I have some important decisions to make. Where to go. What to do. How to best be self-sufficient.

I think I can answer the first question. I’m not good at making new friends. With a few exceptions, it takes a long time before I feel really comfortable with people. I don’t want to strike out to lands unknown where I will be completely alone. I know people will disperse after college, but I have at least a few good friends in the Boston area, so I probably want to stick around here.

It would be easier if I had some major ambition. If I wanted to go to law school, or enter politics, or whatever, then my path would be a bit more clear. But I don’t have any clue what I want. I want to be happy, but the hows and wheres and whats are all up in the air right now. I don’t have any anchors holding me back, but at the same time there is no wind pushing me in one direction or another. It’s just vast, calm seas all around. Only — to stretch this metaphor even more — I can feel a monsoon approaching. If I don’t start making choices, I’ll be stuck in a situation I hate.

When I started writing, I thought it was going to be about student government. About how I’ve lost my commitment to it, to making Brandeis better, because my perspective is shifting. I didn’t apply to serve on any University committees, because I realized that I don’t much care about working with people in IT or Dining Services or whatever. I’m not enthusiastic about big projects. I’m not so worried about chilling with administrators.

I was starting to feel bad about this, but then Kevin told me that, even now, my level of commitment to the Student Union is higher then a good majority of the other officers. He’s right, and so I don’t feel bad. I could be doing more for my constituants, the students of Brandeis, but I’m not sure the students really care, or will notice.

I don’t want to be in student affairs. I don’t want to be a politician. I don’t want to be in marketing or sales or customer support. I don’t want to be a wrestler. Well, that doesn’t really narrow it down much.

I’m focusing on my academics, and trying to get good grades, but I’m not really sure why, because I’m not sure if a 3.3 is markedly better then a 3.1, especially if I don’t know what I’m going to be doing with it. American Studies? What is that, anyway?

Today I got asked a bunch of questions about what kind of Legal Studies internship I wanted, and they focused a lot on my skills and what I’m good at and what I want to do with my life. Man, that was hard. The real interviews will be a lot harder. My interviewer kept telling me to stop being so vague. Through our explorations we discovered that I’m good at editing. Maybe I should work for a newspaper after all.

I dunno. I don’t have a conclusion to this entry, because I don’t have any answers yet. I guess it is just something to continue to ponder.

Advice? Something better then “it’ll all work out?”