Andrew Lafrance

With Thanksgiving coming up so quickly, I decided it was time to compile a list of my favorite things. You will probably end up wanting to throw something rude at me because all of the things I like are wonderful and will make you feel happy and giddy inside even if you don’t want to, but that is not my fault. Here is my list:

1. CoffeeIf you know me, you know I love coffee. I love it so much, I got a job at Java City just so that I could have more of it throughout the day. I did not start drinking coffee until I was in North Carolina one summer on a vacation with my friend and his family when I was 15. His dad made coffee, but then dozed off in front of the TV as dads are prone to do. I gazed for a bit at the steaming pot. Then I quietly stole a cup. Then I had four more. I was jittery all night, and it was wonderful. Now, I cannot stop even if I try. Sad? No; delicious.

2. Television showsOh my. I love TV so much, which is unusual because my family does not get any channels on our television and I am too poor to afford cable in the dorms. But I have come to adore many, many shows thanks to online Web sites such as hulu.com. My favorites include “Gilmore Girls” (for real), “30 Rock” (which stars my hero, Tina Fey), “Friday Night Lights” (football… yay!), “Glee” (“At first I was aroused… then furious!”) and “Arrested Development” (“For British eyes only.”). It is difficult for me to keep up with all of the shows currently on air, but I like to think I make a good effort. Sacrificing sleep for a lovely weekly episode conveniently available online is a good use of time in my world.

3. Sioux FallsSince coming to Brookings last fall, I have come to realize that as lovely a place as it is, sometimes you just need to leave it behind for an afternoon. A small town such as this one has many charms, including an awesome downtown and some quaint shopping opportunities such as Wal-Mart Supercenter. But sometimes it is good to get to the big city, and Sioux Falls works in a pinch. I especially like that Sioux Falls has Barnes and Noble, which is where I would live if they didn’t keep tossing me out onto the street after finding me under the café tables at night.

4. BirdsAren’t birds enchanting? They are to me. When I was little, I used to want to have the job of climbing up in trees to check if the birds were just snoozing or if they had died. Because I was so fond of birds, I did not realize that this job was not a real profession at all. And even if it was, I don’t think anyone would pay me to check on wild and potentially dangerous or sleeping birds. But still, aren’t they charming? I would love to be able to fly and tweet to my little heart’s content. At least I can Twitter, even though I only have sixteen followers.

5. NovelsYou probably assumed that because I love Barnes and Noble that I love reading as well. If you guessed this, find me and I will give you a pet rock or my recent paycheck. Right now I am reading The Lovely Bones, and it is hard for me to concentrate on my homework (and this column) when it is sitting beside me on the desk begging to be read. Also recently I have enjoyed Wuthering Heights, A Tale of Two Cities, I Capture the Castle and My Sister’s Keeper. A girly good yarn or two is never harmful to anyone, but to me these books are so much more than stories; they are reasons to keep on living my own life in hopes that someday it, too, can become some sort of best-seller.

As you can see, there are many charming and glorious things in my life, and probably in yours as well. I am grateful to have so much when others around me have so little.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have a bit of free time and need to check on some birds.