The E-pocalypse

Now it couldn't have gone unnoticed that a short week after spring break, we were in for the most famous Mines-specific holiday of the year, suitably dubbed "Engineering Days".  Nobody calls it this of course.  Every year they come up with a play on words around the shortened, and more colloquially known "E-Days" that range from pirates (Sail the 7 SEa-Days), to the twenties, to even zombies.  The theme for this year's E-Days was of course, a zombie apocalypse, what with the real apocalypse going on at the end of this year anyhow (2012).  It was soon known by all as the Epocalypse or Epocalypse-Days.

After weeks of anticipation, stocking up on cardboard, and preparing for another zombie apocalypse, E-Days was finally here, and the night kicked off with a comedy show, casino night, and ceremonial male beauty pageant known as "Mr. Big Digger".  But the real fun started on Friday.  

As part of the biggest collective group of Mines students you will ever see outside, I joined several hundred other students bright and early Friday morning to participate in the traditional Ore Cart Pull down Colfax Avenue.  With enough people in white T-shirts to stretch almost a mile down the street, people in the front holding onto the rope pulling the ore cart, a donkey wandering around, several people on unicycles, and a group of adventurous people playing follow the leader, the group proceeded down Colfax for about 7 miles until we ran into the Capitol and stopped to listen to some quick speeches before we began our feast on free Chipotle Burritos.  By the end we were all happily exhausted with our stomachs full, and lazily rode the bus back to Mines to participate in my personal favorite E-Days festivity, taking naps outside and playing the guitar.  Other events of the night included a stunning Tesla coil demonstration, an Undie Run where donating clothes gives you an excuse to run around in your underwear, and a surprisingly fun Dubstep/Techno Concert.

The next morning awoke with a must-see, the legendary cardboard-boat race down Clear Creek.  I'm telling you, the people here never run out of things to do with that Creek.  From all over, people brought their brightly painted and duct-taped work to be put to the test of floating down the river, competing for prizes ranging from best themed to best fall or crash.  Surprisingly, several boats held up fairly well, and were able to make it down the river 3 and sometimes even 4 times before becoming too waterlogged to stay rigid.  I was so excited by it that me and a friend are convinced that we're making a boat and entering the contest next year.  

Next was the carnival, the home of the catapult competition, mining competition, and very long lines for free food, but free food nonetheless.  I find it very rewarding to give up some time and volunteer at events like these.  I ended up being the balloon-blower for a kid's (as well as grown-up's) carnival booth, and it was one of the funnest parts of my day.  As a contradiction to the usual reputation that E-Days is known for (lots to drink), I ended the last night going to a root-beer keger and a fun late night of playing Super Smash Brothers.  Sunday the campus was quiet, it was evident that many were just plain exhausted from the weekend.  Our Mines brains snapped back on and we tried to get as much homework done as we could, but our efforts usually ended up being futile.  That was okay though, because it was the weekend, and it was nice outside, and who really does homework on E-Days anyway?  Little did we know what was to come.  Should have listened to my classmate and read her hand-drawn sign that was displayed on the ore cart pull, "REPENT FOR THE END IS NIGH, FINALS ARE COMING" (to be continued...)