c'mon show 'em who you call 'daddy'...

Elijah James "E.J." Bedford - 23 - Colorado via Connecticut

[ej-bedford]

thecoolcatgang‌:

“To some extent, I thought I could be civil.” He clenched the umbrella in his hand tightly, turning aside to mask how quick the other guy had gotten under his skin. “But I retract my statement. I need this actually. Get soaked for all I care.”

“I shouldn’t be as surprised as I am but that was nearly effortless.” Elijah smirked, shoving his hands in his pockets. The sky was a threatening gray but he thought they may have a little bit of time before the downpour. It was a shame that Collier was so easy to rattle (and hated his guts), in a different world EJ may have actually hit on him. Collier looked like a lip biter.

“I have always been told I wasn’t made of sugar. I am sure I won’t melt if you retract your hospitality.” he answered, smiling at a group of freshman girls who naturally dissolved into whispers and smiles. He had that way about him. 

“Regardless of the impending weather, we need to come up with a plan for the new blood in the newsroom. Undoubtedly we will lose half of them around midterms so we should get prepared.”

[ej-bedford]

thecoolcatgang‌:

“You can keep the umbrella you know? Of course, it’s probably pointless because the sun’s just coming out after it’s been raining all day. But, i’ve got plenty to spare. And if I didn’t, i’ll just go get a new one. No big deal.”

“What is wrong with you, Collier?” The blond looked to his companion with a mix of disgust and confusion, “I ask to borrow one umbrella and suddenly you’re softer than marshmallow?”

[ej-bedford]

jazzy-alba:

Isn’t it that way with everything, though? The bad takes longer to wash away?

I don’t think I could turn my back on all my formative years and stop worrying about my teeth - but I would say yes to something else. Maybe some herbal tea.

Herbal tea it is.

Do you think it’d be a good story to chase - the rumor - or so you think I’d be wasting my time?

[ej-bedford]

jazzy-alba:

It’s admittedly harder on people sometimes to treat babies. Your cousin hasn’t chosen an easy path for themselves, either. I think of it as a public service I would be honored to perform.

It is very honorable, no doubt. He has as many good stories as he does bad but I fear the bad stick around longer.

Would you like to get a drink? Doesn’t have to be coffee if you’re worried about your teeth but I think all this talking has me jonesing.

[ej-bedford]

jazzy-alba:

Which says more about my theory of their addiction and dependency on it. Something I’ll try to speak about on a lower voice from now on, at the risk of my own security.

Neonatal, actually. Not that I’ve had any hands-on experience, yet, but that would be the main subject my focus.

Takes a strong person to work in neonatal I would think. Not saying you aren’t but sick kids would be my own personal undoing.

[ej-bedford]

jazzy-alba:

Has he ever had to use whitening stripes? If not, I’d dare say we’re not too similar.

Luckily, I’m not familiar with the editor types. I’ll get my very own when a head nurse gets to call all the shots. I’ll call off the witch hunt on caffeine addicts. It would never win me a popularity contest around campus.

Don’t think it’d make you popular around the hospital either. All of those people in hour nine of a twelve hour shift? I think they’d go nuts without caffeine.

Do you have a specific department you’d like to focus on? Cousin is a pediatric nurse in Baltimore and loves it.

[ej-bedford]

jazzy-alba:

It’s hard to kick an addiction away, isn’t it? I moderate them now more than I did when I was younger.

Have you ever tried whitening strips? They’re not fun. I pity the fool that dares try and take them from you. Although I would add jittery to that description of your lifeless appendages.

Didn’t take you for the Mr. T type...

Well, you try and be up against deadlines and exams and an editor who hates everything you are. Caffeine is needed.

[ej-bedford]

jazzy-alba:

I can’t claim to be an expert in that area. Although they say we’re not likely to survive our later years without anything close to an IV drip of caffeine. It’s probably worse for you in the long run, but I’m a bigger fan of energy drinks. There’s basically an all-you-can-drink buffet behind the bar for us.

So their hyped up prices are well worth-it for the quality of the drinks? i think coffee can be too bitter sometimes. And there’s always that underlying fear of having my teeth stained, however irrational it might seem.

Energy drinks are worse for you. Too much and they mess with your system. Be careful.

I feel like keeping Crest in business would be worth my macchiatos. Pry them from my cold, dead hands.

[ej-bedford]

jazzy-alba:

That does sound more carefully thought-out than the conclusions my mind jumped into. Although it’s a strange form of disloyalty for the current vendors.

I take it you’re a frequent buyer? I wouldn’t be able to name whatever I get on the rare times my study group chooses to congregate in coffee shops. Is there a non-Starbucks version of your drink or do they not get the same taste going?

Really? The same vendors whose coffee taste like it was brewed in a sweaty shoe?

You can get it anywhere but Starbucks makes it the best. They always find a balance. I spend far too much time in coffee shops, honestly. Easiest place to write.

[ej-bedford]

jazzy-alba:

Is that financially smart? They might get an increase in traffic until the novelty wears off, but they would also take away from their actual locations where people actually sit down and spend more money on pastries. Not that I actually know where their earnings come from – maybe it is the quick pick-me-ups that rack up all the extra bucks.

From what I hear a group of graduate students used the idea for their project and someone in development had an in. The company would probably try it out with one cart first.

Not going to lie, it would be much more convenient to get my grande, nonfat, half-caf macchiato on campus in between classes rather than have to run almost across town.

[ej-bedford]

There’s a rumor that Starbucks wants to take over the coffee carts on campus. 

[ej-bedford]

rhettnotbutler:

Thirty nine percent, actually. Not really reliable, I know but it’s a lot easier to blame him than take responsibility for the winter blues that remind you that you once thought Colorado was a smart place to move.

Maybe it’s because I grew up in the northeast but I don’t think it’s that bad. Plus. with these ridiculous weather days we’ve been having it’s a damn crap shoot what kind of weather we’re getting.

[ej-bedford]

rhettnotbutler:

I’ve never hated an animal more than I hate Punxsutawney Phil right now.

I wouldn’t worry about it, man.

He’s only been right twenty percent of the time in the past twenty years.

[ej-bedford]

thecoolcatgang:

I’m sure you wish it were!

Thanks for this E.J. and thanks for reading over Is’s work. I’ll get back to you about your write up on…Tuesday? Wednesday morning the latest.

That’ll be fine. I’ll be on campus until it’s printed and then I’ll see you next year. My gift to myself.

[ej-bedford]

thecoolcatgang:

Absolutely not the case. The most it’ll probably get you is a headline on the front page directing to the page it’ll be printed on. 

It irritates me that anything of yours I read all I hear is your always pleasurable voice.

Sounds like thinly veiled jealousy to me.

[ej-bedford]

serendipisly:

Lunch interview or failed Tinder date?

 A permanent dirt nap, synonymous with dying. Known causes include too many final exams at once, too little fun. High-risk targets: double majors who hate themselves.

I don’t think it’s that bad. I’m a double major too. I mean, the lack of sleep and dependency on caffeine to survive is the best part.

[ej-bedford]

serendipisly:

Constitutional first right, Bedford. Constitutional first right.

I’ll bite but only because my lunch interview bailed. What has made you want a ‘dirt nap’?