WAg - Up on the Roof

You know you are near the end of your Thanksgiving vacation when you find yourself wrangling Christmas lights 25 feet above the ground.

Hello. This is Caleb, your host speaking. I have experienced the aforementioned situation, and can safely say my Thanksgiving hiatus has come to an end. Thank you for being patient.

This is where we recommence with the web logging.

I would apologize for the lack of updates, but I’ve been immersed in a world of recreational reading, and afternoon naps, and DVD viewing, and casual shopping. Not that I don’t do any of these things anyway, but I was able to do them for periods of longer than 30 minutes at a time without major backlash.

At least, not until tomorrow…

So, please accept a late wish of Thanksgiving and of having a good day.

Meanwhile, I’ll start the countdown to Christmas.

Ready… set… go.

'Its_all_downhill_from_here'

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WAG - I know, I know...

Not much updating has been done. Bad Caleb!

Man it's been a busy week. So much has happened and I've written about so little of it. It looks like I'm going to put forth (whatever that means, though I think it's better than put fifth) more effort into bucking the trend.

And I want a kitten too, but moving on...

It's Super Bowl Sunday which means there's a lot of great commercials premiering tonight (which are frequently interupted by a football game).

Maybe I'd be more excited about the game itself if the match-up wasn't so depressing. Yeah it's nice that the top NFL offense it pitted against the top defense. Sure it's nice that it features a team that never made it to the Super Bowl before, but did it have to be the Bucs and the Raiders?

In picking the lesser of two evils, one often tries to figure out which one they hate more, rather than which one they like the most. It's always an interesting scenario when you're asking yourself who do you want to cheer against over who do you want to root for.

I am hoping the Raiders will lose (notice how I am not saying I hope the Buc's win), though the odds are against me. Either way, I figure I'll be taking bathroom breaks during the football game to ensure I don't miss anything important.

One other quick note before I head out to church this morning: last night a bunch of friends got together and watched "Final Destination" (because the sequel is coming out next week and some hadn't seen the first one).

Skipping over musings about the plot, characters, or the fact death takes the longest time in catching up with these people (okay maybe I'll let that one slip in, but does it really make sense that death put those people on the back burner for several months before going after them? Okay, I'm done now...) some of the most fun came from the special features.

The deleted scenes weren't anything special, and we didn't even finish all of them, but there was a games section that had a Psychic Ability Perdictor and a Death Calculator.

I volunteered first for the Death Calculator ("Do me! Do me!). After going through a series of questions about my health, diet, and family medical history I was informed that I am to die on February 9, 2016 at 9:45 PM.

I wrote it down; I figured it might be important.

I've since figured out it will be a Tuesday, and that will help me choose my final TV selections (because you know my death was probably set for Eastern Standard time and I'm not going to be able to finish Letterman).

Anyway, I'm sure you can imagine the laughter that errupted when my death sentence came up. As other people tried the test, who all lived progressively healthier lives to me, they were getting earlier and earlier deaths. The most fit one of us all got 2010.

I was feeling better about my date, but there was one last
experiment to do. We did a control test where we entered the worst possible factors (loves junk food, doesn't exercise, etc). The perdiction: September 20, 2048.

My roomate did the psychic test (we all might have tried it if it weren't for the fact it involved trying to pick the right symbol 25 different times) and rated average.

So I have roughly 13 years to go. No big deal. If I can make it through this semester, I'll be happy enough (and if I can live through the summer till grades come out, I'll be estatic). And if I live till I'm 115, I won't recognize anyone or know where I am, so it won't matter.

Happy Super Commercial Day!

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WAG - Update from the Couch

Ah…

Sweet, sweet lack of responsibility…

I must breathe it in deep now, for the time to savor such a rich aroma is limited…

Ah…

I’ve spent lots of time napping, watching DVDs, and reading.

Translation: I haven’t moved from this couch much.

I got out and around yesterday, doing the standard Wal-Mart run, and got to church today, but I haven’t gotten around to doing anything important.

And it’s been wonderful!

Considering how hard I was pressing myself leading up to Friday, I’m glad I had the opportunity to slowly decompress. I know I’ll have to look into the stacks of homework I brought with me later in the week, and that no matter how long I try to stretch it out I’ll have to get back to the grindstone sooner or later.

But until then, the cat and I are going to crash on the couch.

'Let_the_slacking_commence'

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WAG - What a way to start the day...

I got a lovely wake up call from my girlfriend and I had a slew of emails waiting in the inbox.

For all of you who sent an email, thanks. It's really brightened my day.

If it weren't for the test, I'd have no complaints.... So let me work on that one cloud, and things should be fine.

Thanks again. You all rock.

'Not_about_the_Ego_but_boy_was_that_nice'

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WAG - Mail, Call for

Here's a quick note now that I may or may not add to later:

For my Strategic Communication Class (AKA Intro to Advertising), I'm supposed to formulate a campaign designed to sell me as a dependable, hirable person.

As part of the “research” going into this, I need at least “3 emails” from “friends and/or relatives” where they “tell what they think” about me. They don’t need to be long; I just need some descriptions of me.

I’d rather they not be vulgar, but I have a black marker just in case; and the teacher says such edited emails aren’t uncommon. I just need to print out three emails and turn them in by 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

I apologize for the short notice, but I didn’t think of this earlier due to previous distractions listed in earlier posts.

I’d rather not have to spam friends, for doing so would probably lead to less than favorable reviews, but any feedback would be great.

Just email your favorite rambling Blogger named Caleb at
Jakcal922@hotmail.com or
cmszp5@mizzou.edu.

Thanks for your time and your messages.

'Return_to_Sender'

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WAG - Homemade Recipe

How to combat the stress involved with accidentally breaking another glass bowl, juggling the Thanksgiving cooks slaving away in the kitchen, having a resident receive undeserved hate mail, helping another deal with a robbery (purse snatched, no harm to her, thank God) and MUPD officers, and trying to finish my short story when facing a mental block caused by all the aforementioned items and more:

Step1) Listen to REM's Bad day.

Step 2) Watch the trailer for Miracle about the 1980 US Hockey Team.

Step 3) Read a list of reasons why Jessie loves me composed around 2 a.m. in the morning during a bout of insomnia after she finished writing down the books in her collection (so I could better craft my Christmas shopping).

Repeat steps 1-3 as necessary and in whatever order you desire.

'made_from_scratch'

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WAG - Righteous Indignation

I'm writing because I'm severely irked.

Some stuff is going down that is extremely funky.

And it involves Communications Law.

Not the class, but the concepts behind it.

Screw Friday's test. I have a real life example to deal with concerning real people and some questionable appropriation and/or copyright usage.

Question for the class: When someone publishes your text without your permission, what does that entail? Also, if they edit your piece so that it appears sketchy, unsubstantiated (devoid of facts), and standing in opposition to your original article, what then?

And what if they put your current email next to the article and sit back as people attack the writer for for the article being sketchy, unsubstantiated, and touting extreme opinions (that the writer never meant to express)?

I wish I knew…

I intend to find out.

'reversed'

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WAG - On the Road Again

I wanted to duck in and say "Hi. I survived the weekend," before promptly waving goodbye again. I'm on call a couple times this week, I have the Thanksgiving test to coordinate, two more tests, a couple band practices, a short story due, and lots of miscellaneous responsibilties and other spelling erors to deal with.

I also have to leave to go to Wal-Mart to buy The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Special Edition for Jessie's birthday (in a a few weeks).

I'll be check back in wherever I can, but until then, peace out.

'time_out_space_out_zone_out_whatever'

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WAG - The time is 12:29 a.m.

I’m the only one awake in the house (potentially excluding the cat).

I’m bloody wide awake.

I can feel only the slightest twinge of sleepiness nibbling away at my consciousness.

Stupid insomnia…

In my sleep deprived state (not an irregular condition) I turn to writing for solstice.

No, that’s a pagan thing (and something involving the length of the day, but I never paid too much attention in science class). I’m looking for solace.

Good, I’m tireder than I thought (no, “tireder” is not a word. Yes, it should be “more tired.” No, I’m not gonna go back change it, but rather press forward).

Nevertheless, I’m still awake.

There’s not much on late night TV.

Correction: there isn’t a lot of good, quality, sleaze-free television.

I’m past the hours of decent syndication (former primetime shows that were once good now aired after network programming and local news go off the air). I’m now left with a trailer trash dating show, a courtroom justice program (staring a Judge Judy wanna-be), an old lady playing an organ on the local cable access channel, and the old dependable Home Shopping Channel (currently showcasing a lovely Simulated Turquoise and Mother of Pearl Bracelet [a real deal]). I’m sure infomercials (that never seem to contain any information) and trash talk shows (rarely containing talk and more often featuring chair throwing) are to come later this hour.

It’s times like this when I wonder if Marxists and their “Down with Democracy and the Corruptive Dregs of their Evil Capitalistic Empire!” maxim wasn’t so far off.

It’s too bad I can’t turn the TV off.

I’m not joking.

Shortly after the warrantee on the television ran out, coincidentally of course, it began more difficult to turn the TV on. The power would go on and static would appear, but there would be no reception. One could spend minutes turning it on and off (by remote and HAND!!!). Turning it on and letting it “rest” while switched ON would work about at poorly.

Once it turned ON, however, there’d be no trouble. When it got to take up to 10, 15 minutes to turn on the TV (and eternity when you’re used to CLICK, ZAP, “And in the news today…) it got to be standard practice just to leave the TV ON.

Now, we only turn it off during vacations and when company is here (and even then it depends on the company). No, I’m not joking.

Turning the TV off is a serious taboo in my family. The consequences are sharp and annoying (which can be a more effective punishment than pain). Over time we’ve become conditioned to leaving it on, no questions asked.

It remains ON for weeks at a time, constantly radiating it’s multi-colored light. Sometimes it is on MUTE. Sometimes the last person in the living room just leaves it to whisper its soft, teasing song.

From the Late Late Show to Today to the National News and over again (with all times of crap in between [unless it’s left on public television, in which case it may be boring ,confusing, or even unwelcome, but it’s always educational]) the TV stays ON.

Uh oh…

There’s now an “info”mercial for the Raised AeroBed.
Any product placement program, that does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the station it is played on, that starts with the line, “This may look like a regular bed,” can’t end well.

And I don’t care to be around when it does.

I’m going to bed now. I’ll probably be going to sleep in a couple hours.

I wish you all a good day.

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WAG - Everybody Cut, Everybody Cut

Footloose.

'Cmon_before_we_crack'

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WAG - Special thanks to the 10,
plus me, who got us here.

For those of you who would scroll down the page...

WAIT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR! I... I'll wait...

- Pause -

Welcome back to those of you who just went whizzing down the page - and thanks to the patient people who waited for me to finish.

I just noticed my website finally topped 1000 hits.

Granted 990-odd of them are me, but to the rest of you out there, thanks for contributing.

'We_now_return_you_to_your_previously_scheduled_website_already_in_progress'

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WAG - Ain’t Misbehavin’

Today Jessie and I celebrated our six-month anniversary.

I won’t go into details about gifts or cards or things said, but will rather characterize the day with this simple anecdote:

The title track was the song I started the day with (just after midnight). It is a tune that has played in my head all day long. This is also the lullaby I’ll probably fall asleep to.

Here are the lyrics to the song, as sung by Joe Williams and backed up by the incomparable Count Basie Orchestra:

-------------------------------------

No one to walk with,
I’m all by myself.
No one to talk with,
but I'm happy on the shelf.
Ain't misbehavin' . . .
Saving my love for you. . .

I know for certain,
the one that I love.
Through the flirtin',
it's just you I'm thinkin' of.
Ain't misbehavin' . . .
Saving my love for you!

Like Jack Horner,
I’m in a corner.
Don't go nowhere.
What do I care?
Your kisses are worth waitin' for. . .
Believe me baby!

I don't stay out late,
I don't care to go.
Home about eight,
just me, my TV, an' radio!
Ain't misbehavin' . . .
Saving my love for you. . . baby.

Saving my love for you.

[Instrumental break]

Like Jack Horner,
I’m in a corner.
I don't go nowhere.
But what do I care?
You’re kisses are worth waiting for. . .

Believe me baby!

I don't stay out late,
I… don't care to go.
Home about eight,
Hi-fi, TV, an' radio!
Ain't misbehavin' . . .
Saving my love. . .
Saving my love for you baby. . .

My. . . little baby. . .

I’m. . . saving my love. . .

My little baby,
saving my love,
just for you!

-------------------------------------

Yeah, that sounds about right.

'Beats_the_Perry_Como_version'

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WAG - Goodnight Room, Goodnight Moon.

Goodnight senators dealing with nominees and gloom.

Goodnight clocks, Goodnight socks.
Goodnight to fillibusters no longer being knocked.

Goodnight stars, Goodnight air.
Goodnight rabble rousers everywhere.

Enjoy the all nighter. I'm going to bed, but will see the winner in the morning.

'Night_night'

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WAG - Oh... Goosebumps

Check out this trailer for The Polar Express.

I know I'm a sucker for nostalgia and Chirstmas, but I hope it leaves you as tingly as it did me.

And for those of you who don't want to wait as as long for a magical train ride, might I suggest a spell on the Hogwart's Express?

Or at least the Knight bus...

'All_Aboard'

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WAG - How I was more productive and learned more by not going to class

I’m sorry. I skipped class today because my English Literature of the 18th Century class has become a joke.

Let me explain…

I should have taken the concept of having an English class in the Cornell Hall, or the “Business Building,” as a warning to be cautious. I didn’t think it was dubious at first, but after so many people repeated the facts with a questioning tone (“You have an English class…in Cornell?”), I began to wonder if that was a bad sign.

I should have paid closer attention to the omen at the beginning of the class when the very first thing the professor did was show up late. She’d had the wrong room assignment. Now, over half way through the semester, part of me feels like she’s never quite gotten back to the class she’s supposed to be teaching.

We seemed to have focused on everything but the literature itself. I like having the social and historical context of the authors as well as having parallels drawn between the 1700's and the modern day, but it has gone to the extreme.

We talk about feminism so much, even when talking about male authors, a less than acute student in the class (I don’t mean to stereotype him as a slacker or anything, but he has admitted to much drug use) one asked, “Do we get Women’s Studies credit for this class too?”

The last class period we watched 30 minutes of the 1978 classic "The Buddy Holly Story." The rationale was that novels were “movies” of the time period, and the teacher wanted to look at a scene where the new Rock and Roll music was framed between scenes featuring Country and Gospel Music. No offense to Gary Busey, or any of the re-created Crickets, but that’s getting ridiculous.

Whenever we break into small groups for discussions, the topic typically goes back to, “Are you learning anything in this class?”

To answer this question, and the rationale why my time today was better spent on my own, here are some selections from my English 324 notebook:

-------------------------------------------------

Welcome to English 324
Walking into a classroom you think is yours and finding is deserted – bad.
Walking into a classroom you think is your and finding it filled with students who inform you you’re wrong – worse.

What’s your definition of retired?
The teacher is retired – but is returning for two classes. Interesting.

Why have a multimedia presentation when you could use a glorified flashlight and some stacked books?
In a room lined with internet ports, a digital projector hanging from the ceiling, and plug ins at every seat, we are reduced to using a slide projector.
Not the first time and probably not the last.
Note: It wasn't.

Teacher’s test of whether you really like something: You’d rather be sleepy and do the activity THAN rest and not do it.
This is also the weighing process used by the students who sleep through class.

On the expansion between 1680 and 1790: “By this point, the world had largely been explored – or at least decently mapped.”
My reading of her implied message: Can we say “Imperialism” boys and girls?

Stream of consciousness rant after accidentally shooting off the tip of my pen:
Crap – My pen busted. Zing. Nice arc. I’m sure the people in front of me appreciated that. Crud…

Oh, am I the only one not here right now?
There are few things like swapping written assignments and perusing the first paragraph of your neighbor’s paper, and suddenly thinking to yourself, “Are we in the same class?”

Teacher: “Enjoy the intellectual journal. When you ask questions – you need now answer them.”
Answer to previous question: No.

[Insert long passages written for Creative Writing in lieu of ramblings on social values]

Why classes should engage you and not leave your mind to wander; especially when you’re sick: I feel tired, kinda sickly, and can hardly wait for my digestive system to stop realigning itself… Ow, ow, ow.

I’ll take Self-Explanatory Definitions for $500, Alex
Teacher, unknowingly playing Jeopardy: “If this story were made up, it’d feel less real.”
What the Class is thinking: What is the distinction between fiction and non-fiction?

[During discussion of “The Rover,” about a roguish pirate, insert several drawing of sword-fighting figures saying things like “Avast!”]

During a discussion concerning the devotion people have to their sports teams:
Student: ”All we have in Nebraska are the Huskers.”
Teacher: ”That’s not true. You have Willa Cather.”
Me thinking: Does anyone want to tell her she’s dead?

Written account of common classroom struggle:
Must fight urge to stick keys in electrical socket in order to get out of lecture early.

Coca-Cola is good for cleaning. Don’t ask.

After drawing a pictorial representation of a remote control and pressing the “buttons” feverously:
Note to self, drawing a FFWD button on a scrap piece of paper and pressing it repeatedly during a boring lecture will NOT have the same effect as a remote on a tv.
-But it was still worth trying.

Musings on the business school somewhat sinister room layouts - where the curtains lower at the flick of a switch.
As they all descend uniformly at the same time, slowly casting the room into shadows, I find myself saying, “How conveniently creepy and how creepily convenient.”

Trying to figure out the right adjective for the above scene:
Is it 'How Illuminati-y, -est, -like?'

Conclusion of a 10-minute discussion on a confusing passage that no one comprehended:
If you don’t understand the first half of the metaphor, you’re probably going to be screwed when drawing conclusions in the second half.

Beware of the lessons people might draw after a taxing, tiring debate:
If “misogyny” makes you think of “Me so horny,” you have a problem.

Another common classroom urge:
If you have the urge to peel the “USED” sticker off your dog-eared textbook ant want to affix it to your own forehead, you certainly had a rough lecture.

-------------------------------------------

Here’s my answer for those still asking, “But did you learn something?”

Yes.

It may not have been something on the syllabus, but yes I did.

'Class_preemptively_dismissed_by_class'

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WAG - The Future is Afoot

Rumors are flying.

They don't quite crackle with energy above one's head, but their pressance in the air is palpable.

Let me pause while I make sure "palpable" is actually a word...

Pal-pa-ble - adjective - capable of being touched, perceptible, tangible, and detectable.

Yep, it's actually a word.

Anyway...

Announcements about who got the CA and PA jobs should be coming out soon, and war in Iraq will soon follow a vote at the UN (and pass or no pass, the invasion will soon follow).

I'm not depressed by all these uncertainties circling above my head (they are merely new members of the flock and their addition is barely noticable). I do find myself a bit more contemplative.

Here's a not so secret, secret: I don't like not knowing the future.

There are many gaps in the plans I have for the future. I'm not sure how everything is going to work.

Since the start of this semester, after becoming a Junior-credit wise, and entering the J-School I find myself getting caught up in what I have deemed, "the lurch."

For the first time in my life, the next steps aren't so clearly defined. Elementary school is followed by middle school which is followed by high school which is followed by college which is followed by... (think)... (um)... (yeah)...

I'm entering the phase where the next action isn't pre-plotted. Upcoming actions aren't obvious; in fact they're camoflagued, buried, or otherwise hidden from plain view.

Is that a bad thing? No.

Is that a sad thing? No.

Is that a scary thing? Potentially. (Laugh)

I'm not worried I won't find where to put my feet next. I'm a bit concerned about where those footsteps will lead me, but I believe they will be where I need to go.

Sure, I may misstep (and I do so constantly), go down dead ends, stray from the straight path, and remain motionless while pondering crossroads - we all do- but I think I'll eventually get to where I need to go.

Regardless of the crazy things circling me, I can still crack a grin and have some peace.

In times where my nerves threaten to prompt a freak attack, I am often comforted by the wise words of a song I've often heard in church:

"Many things about tommorrow I don't seem to understand,
but I know who holds tomorrow,
and I know who holds my hand."

Rumors can continue their endless cycle. I've got better things to concentrate on.

'3'

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WAG - There’s a Party Going on Around Here

A celebration.

Why am I grooving to Eric Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally” while leaning back in my chair with my feet propped up on my desk while raising a bottle of Sam’s Choice Sparkling Black Cherry flavored water, which I’ve been saving for a special occasion, in toast to my Linguistics’ teacher?

Because after hours spent worry and working (and working and worrying) on a big project for his class, I went to his office and found he had left a note giving everyone who was to turn it in today an unrequested extension.

Cheers to you, Mr. Youmans!

Of course, that means my work is still far from done. Now, however, I have more time to do some more polishing on the assignment. And I have a bit more time this afternoon to take a breather before heading off to my regularly scheduled student staff meetings.

Ahh…

Time to get back to work…. after one more toast…

'Salud_Youman'

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WAG - After an earlier rant on reality TV, and a review of items in the news tonight, I stand by my comment that truth can be stranger than fiction (or the fiction posed as truth in most “reality” television).

Today CNN.com reported that a couple from Maine decided to make a “political statement” with their luggage about airport security.

Anyone who has had to travel by plane has seen warnings warning one not to joke about bombs, concealed weapons, or hijackings. Penalties of severe fines or imprisonment are threatened (and the heavily implied impression that one may be shot; what a punchline) and one look at the stressed, weapon totting security found at the airport leads one to believe they’re quite willing to follow through with those threats.

Of course, in that high-tension environment, one can be extremely tempted to have fun with the system.

When asked security questions like “Did you pack your own bags,” “Have you let the bags out of your sight,” etc, one is tempted to give funny or whimsical responses.

“Actually, I wasn’t gonna mention this, buy a Pakistani man stopped me and paid me five bucks to repack my bags for me as long as I promised not to peek…”

In a book written by the offbeat magicians Penn and Teller, there was a section on having fun with airport security. Since one is required to turn on devices like laptops or other select electronic devices to prove they’re real, they suggested having a screen saver that read:

ARMING MECHANISM TRIGGERED…
ARMING…
ARMING…
ARMED…STARTING COUNTDOWN…
20:00
19:59

You get the idea.

Another gag I recall was one of my favorite moments in the movie "Airplane" through roughly went:

“Hey, isn’t that our friend Jack?”
“Yeah, it is… Hi Jack!”
Jack waves and is promptly pounced on and dragged off by airport security.

The last time I traveled by plane, I was struck by the “play with authority” mindset.

While my mother repeated told me to “Shut up!” I quietly whispered comments about “mentioning our bombs,” or at least “declaring the cocaine we were smuggling” right before we went through one of the x-ray stations.

In my opinion, mocking centers of authority or criticizing senseless rules is simply a part of human nature.

The couple referred to a while back, however, took it a bit too far.

According to the previously mentioned article, Paul Donahue and Teresa Marie Wood, a couple from Maine, cobbled together batteries, wires, an electrical power strip, and a snow boot to look suspiciously like a bomb (I’m sure this must have looked lovely on the x-ray screen).

Airport officials, of course, red flagged the bag. An investigation soon found the shoe to be harmless and was coupled with a note that read, “To the uniformed puppet opening this bag -- congratulations. You've just brought this once free nation one step closer to becoming a fascist police state."

My first thought is, “That’s good, insult the people with the guns.”

That’s promptly followed by, “What a ridiculous way to try to make a point.”

Officials concurred, charging the couple with making a fake bomb. A spokesman went on to say, “"This is like pulling a fire alarm in a theater and watching what happens.”

There’s a difference between rationally debating a subject, and pulling a stupid stunt like this. A person shouldn’t call out “abandon ship” to get them to listen to their lecture about defects in the system.

There are problems with the system. That is admitted. They’re working on it.

At this point, we also don’t have anything better.

The solution required to protect America from the threats it faces today won’t be found in closing or borders or by throwing open the gates; it’s in an undiscovered line located somewhere in between.

We know we haven’t found it yet, but we’re still looking for it.

I don’t agree with giving up liberty for protection, but I don’t believe current airport security measures do that, and pulling a juvenile prank in a San Jose Airport isn’t going to help the situation either.

Many people have thought about pulling a wacky stunt while going through security, but most of them heed common sense and wisely choose not to follow through.

Let’s hope for smarter travelers in the future…and a pony, and a mansion, and a space shuttle, and world peace.

Hey, at least we can dream…

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WAG - It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
(Now Starting in October)

It's that time of season again.

No, not the time of year when you are woken up in the night and open your door surprising a person, who you’d earlier warned to be quiet, who was in the process of writing an obscene message on your door and is still clutching your dry erase marker while they stare at you with a dumbstruck look on their face.

Well… yes, that did happen earlier today, but that’s not what I’m focusing on.

I’m talking about the Christmas spirit being in the air.

I’m not sure whether it’s due to the dip in temperatures or Wal-Mart (home of the underpaid migrant workers) rolling out the Yuletide stock even before October was finished, but it’s beginning to manifest itself earlier this year.

I think it’s due to the fact Thanksgiving isn’t a very involved holiday. Other than preparing and cleaning the meal or eating and digesting the meal, depending on what stereotyped group you belong to, there isn’t much to do.

You don’t put up strings of cranberry lights. You don’t hang little turkeys on trees. You don’t sing Pilgrim Carols. People don’t dress up as Squanto stand next to a donations bucket ringing a bell for several hours.

Once you move outside the kitchen and dining room, there isn’t much to do. You can watch televised parades (let the big cities have their own parades. We “quaint,” and “simple” folk will enjoy our warm homes while you city dwellers slowly develop frostbite in the shade of a 98-foot tall corporate mascot balloon) and football. You can turn your back on conventional wisdom about it being the biggest shopping day of the year and spend 5 minutes shopping and 2 hours standing in checkout lines for every store you visit. You can also spend hours plotting your return route along the congested roads on one of the most heavily traveled days of the year.

There are so many traditions or watermarks to forge, it’s amazing that more people don’t go insane. But that’s the saving grace of the approaching Christmas season; it gives us hope and something to look forward to.

Already I know people who are putting up little Christmas decorations. People at church were talking about putting up their lights this week. Lord knows after Thanksgiving break rooms will take on a more festive look, but even now the transition is moving away from scarecrows and werewolves and more toward shepherds and wise men.

Personally, I’m focusing on music right now. I’ve already started to play Christmas music. I plan to put up snowflake decals, replacing the back to school decals that have languished on the glass since August.

I just wish I knew why it had to come so early. Not the feelings of good cheer and best wishes, but the unabashed commercial overkill. I know it seems to get earlier every year, but you’d think one could pass a law where you had to wait for the week of Thanksgiving before peddling X-mass (the celebration of consumers, not the Christian holiday).

Winter-themed items would still be allowed, as of November 1st, as would soft sell Christmas orientated items, but otherwise there should be a ban.

The law would never get past committee, but it’s fun to image the revving up to Christmas involving more carols and less “blowout sales.”

In the meantime, I guess I’ll raise a glass (of orange soda) to the dearly oppressed native Americans, begin the mental preparation for braving the discount hungry shopping hordes, and play Weird Al Yankovic’s “Christmas at Ground Zero” to get in the mood.

“Hey! Isn’t it too early to be playing that kind of music?”

“Nope. It’s November, isn’t it?”

'What_a_crazy_fluke_were_gonna_get_nuked'

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WAG - Made a List, Now Checking it Twice

"Busy" has been the standard reply to those who ask me how my day has been.

I don't have any major tests this week and a major project due date has been pushed back till Monday, but I still find myself working to get lots of little projects done.

A friend asked me, “What did you have to do today?” I laughed and pulled a small piece of paper from my pocket.

Here's a review of my "to do list," which has a few more things crossed off it than what my friend Paul read, but still has some things to go.

I'm also listing the status of the items to show how I am becoming a more efficient user of my time.

That and crossing something off the list, however simple or mundane, feels great and this way I get to do it twice.

Call Jessie (1) - (only once because I'll see her at church tonight). Check. Finished around 1, though she first called me around 8:45 when I was doing...)

Laundry - Check. Finished at 8:50 a.m. Later followed by....

Folding clothes... (excluding socks). Check. Finished at 2 p.m. ... Socks done.... TBA

Lunch - of Toasted Beef Ravioli and Cheese Nachos - around 1:30 p.m.

Journalism 319 Reading Assignment. Check-sorta. Read Friday's assignment, but skipped today. 9:05 a.m.

Clean (general) ... Note: I'm never done doing this, but it's still important to put on the list.

Shopping (for nonperishable items for the Cramer Thanksgiving Meal). Check - (Returned 6:35 p.m. after much dodging of traffic and hefting of groceries.

Poetry for English 324. TBA, probably right before class begins.

Sentence Divisions for Linguistics 340. TBA (See English 324).

Church. Check. Attended 7-10 p.m.

- Subset "Copies" for my class. Check. 7:01 p.m.

- Subset "Jessie ?" Check. Confirmed ride so Jessie and I could watch movies after church Sunday.

- Subset "Folders, Mechanical Pencils, and Name Tags". Check. Purchased during previously mentioned shopping trip. 6:24 p.m.

Send Floor Meeting Summary through Peer Editing Process to avoid miss-communications.

Send Email through Ground Floor List Serve. Check. 10:15 p.m.

Journalism 304 - Internet Research assignment. Check. Finished 9:30 a.m.

Email "Going Home Tips". Check. Passed on old email composed at the end of my first semester for the use of other staff members to use for end of semester boards. 2:00 p.m.

Make Thank-You Cards for Journalism Support Faculty. TBA (still have until Friday.)

Go to MU Bookstore. Check. Perused prices of office supplies (decided to go to Wal-Mart) except for a purchase of another organizing divider. 12:15 p.m.

Confirm arrangements to leave band early (for later shopping). Check. 4:15 p.m.

English 50 Short Story Critiques. TBA (though I should really finish them before they're due at 8 a.m. tomorrow).

Post. Check.

- Subset "News." Check. Updated "In the News" board with article concerning student staff member/friend's death. 3:00 p.m.

- Subset "Flyers." Check. Put up posters concerning campus activities and warning that dishes left too long in kitchen will be "disposed off."

- Subset "Site." Website needs to be updated.

'Check_Now'

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WAG - Shout Out to the Sis!

As promised, here's a word for my little sister Hannah, who I got to talk to last night as we simultaneously watched an episode of Gilmore Girls.

Talk about surround sound.

It was great... We should do it again... We should use her phone card...

But seriously, it was nice. We caught up during commercial breaks, got share a favorite show again, and had much laughing.

I consider that time well spent. (So does AT&T, but that's a different matter).

Keep on keeping on, Sis.

And remember what we learned last night: don't worry about flinching in the spotlight even if you did once before; when the chips are down I know you'll come through.

That and I want a plastic ferret for Christmas, but as always, that's a different matter.

'Just_call_You_Know_Who'

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WAG - Ping... Pong...
Highs.............Lows.............

The last few days have been full of ups and down.

I have several good memories from the church hay ride and Rocky Horror and spending part of the day at Jessie's, but one major thing overshadows the rest.

A staff member from another hall, and a friend of mine, was in a car accident Saturday. She and two others were coming back from a staff retreat and due to poor road conditions crashed. Another friend I had in the car walked away, one is still in intensive care, but Katie died.

We were both in the Honors Learning Community in Hatch last year. We never were close, but we always seemed to stop to swap words and briefly catch up whenever we crossed paths. The last time I saw her was Wedsnesday and we did the typical exchange.

I don't know how to feel. We may have been on a first name basis, and I gave her pointers on getting a staff job, but still I feel conflicted. I probably won't shed any tears, but I still feel torn up inside.

As you can tell, I'm working my way through the cycle of loss with my typical approach of mixing gallows humor with contemplative pathos.

I know it will take time, and talking about it, and writing about it... It also means getting back to work, even if you feel a touch of survivor's remorse for still getting up and breathing every morning.

It's not fun...but it's life. And I need to make the most of it while we can.

'We_miss_you_Katie'

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