A guy has to be pretty lucky to have roommates like mine.

Bill, Joe and Mike know me, and they know that I tend to take things far too seriously sometimes. Thankfully, I live with the three of them, people who make life in O'Neill Hall a madhouse of diversion and zaniness. Their antics keep me constantly guessing, but in the process, I'm finding that each day I not only have friends to share a room or eat dinner with; I have a trio of instructors from whom I can learn what life is all about.

For one thing, it's about being sensitive to each other's needs.

I remember the time when I received a death threat over the phone. I can't tell you how good it made me feel to watch Joe bounce around the room, reveling in the belief that a dead roommate would guarantee his getting straight A's. Mind you, we had recently viewed the movie "Dead Man on Campus," but who's to say that such a rule even exists at Notre Dame? Anyway, leave it to Joe to turn my crisis into his quest for academic excellence.

And how did Mike factor into that situation? I seem to recall him turning off the lights in the room and playing the theme song from the movie "Halloween" on his computer. Call it setting the mood.

Speaking of Mike, he's a daily lesson in survival of the fittest. His hobbies include lifting weights — and lifting weights. But I'm pretty certain that he pencils in classes between workout sessions.

True, he never has homework, but Mike spends plenty of time devising solutions to our most pressing concerns. When the room feels like an icebox, for instance, Mike thinks it's too easy to turn off the air conditioning. Instead, he advises throwing on about four layers of clothing and wrapping up in a blanket or two. And here's a style tip from Mike: Don't throw away those old T-shirts; cut off their sleeves and use them for headbands.

Ah, but perhaps no two roommates are as stylish as Joe and Bill.

Joe is "playa, playa" chic. He's the one who will approach a random female in the dining hall and tell her something like, "If you were a flower, I'd buy a dozen of you."

"Even when I tell the truth, I lie," Joe admits. As a side note, Joe tells girls all the time that he's good-looking and smart.

Bill, on the other hand, has his own style. He sports the khakis and polo shirt look, but don't mistake him for some prep. Bill is the epitome of staying out late and sleeping in the next morning. When it comes to the small things — and in some cases, even the important stuff — Bill has introduced me to the "Forget It" method. If I can't get my French homework done, don't sweat it; forget it.

In all seriousness, though, I'm grateful for the opportunity to live with this bunch of quirky guys. They're a complement to my earnestness and cynicism. And even though they drive me crazy from time to time, I can't imagine staying sane without them.

• Great group of guys