Horror at Work

On Halloween, Jesica and I (and some friends) discovered the joys and pains contained in silent movies. We, for the first time, experienced the horror that is Nosferatu. It actually was a little scary - in more ways than one...I mean, look at the guy, err monster. The point is, as we sat around and made fun of the movie with our friends, we were ingrained with the walk of the monster, with the look of the monster and with the creepy music that played throughout.

So, knowing that Nosferatu could be looming, even after his doomed ending in the movie, it is even scarier when you see someone walk like the monster. If you think that it is creepy on film, I can tell you of an office where you can see this hideous figure daily.

You may think this is rude and malicious - let me explain. She doesn't look like Nosferatu! She only walks like him, hovers like him and I feel the hair on the back of my neck raise as though creepy music is playing in tiny ear pieces I have yet to find when I see her walking towards me.

I'm actually glad that she isn't in my office. And fortunately for you, I won't tell you where to find her. Just know that she is out there waiting for your visit. When you see her, she'll have over-zealous eyes and a craving you just can't understand.

Thanksgiving Delights

Every Thanksgiving for the last four years I've worn my favorite shirt. It is Christmas green and simply states with holly for quotation marks:

Holiday Magic

Jesica hates it with a passion! But she puts up with it because - well, I don't know why she puts up with it (maybe I should be worried). There are a great deal of things to be thankful for today and there is a certain kind of magic in the air. So, as we sat around the dinner table with her family, I stated a few things I am thankful for. The two items that top my list are: Family and a safe place where my family can reside and do what we want to do when we want to do it...

...within the bounds of the law.

But there are some other very important things and I'd like to thank a fellow student of mine in AP Literature in 12th grade - Charles "Chuck" Kidd - for engraving them in my mind. I have lots of quotations and stories to attribute to Chuck, yet one stands out every Thanksgiving.

We were discussing what we were doing for Thanksgiving. I discussed the Turkey bowl, key lime pie and a movie. He had only three things to discuss, as well, and then an exclamation. I'll forever remember his comment:

"Evan, I only have three things planned for Thanksgiving and school work is not one of them:

Eat,

Sleep,

and Watch Football...

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!"

Chuck, thank you kindly! Need I say more? Oh, Happy Thanksgiving!

I Did What?

Today, in my class that I enjoy so much, I realized what Senator Craig (Rep. ID) must be feeling - that is if he really doesn't like men. Examine the picture below:

Those chairs are really close together...

Consequently, I apologized several times to Nila Loveall (my bright and stalwart friend through 3 crazy courses - who always saves me a seat, encourages me to study and frequently scores higher on tests, oh and is responsible) and this guy who couldn't stay on his side of the line.

I'm not a homophobe, but now, late at night, I want to know what the heck was up with this guy. He had a lisp. He nudged my foot. He rubbed elbows. His thigh twitched as he crossed his leg and bumped mine.

All that was lacking was a hand gesture under the partition. I don't know what else to say...

...except, thank you kindly, Nila, once again for taking notes in class - even if they are just notes of the crazy stuff Prof. Zentner spouts off!

Cream in Laguna

The definition of laguna: a bay, inlet, or other narrow or shallow body of water. The definition of Laguna Beach? Fun in the Sun (near the shallow body of water). Today you can see the effects of the sun on me after our wonderful time on Memorial Day. I've been called red, rosy, stupid, and white boy. And asked by each of those accusers if I knew what sun screen was.
Is it really necessary to remind me of my lack of color? When I hold my arm up to my wife's and her little sister we find that the coloration goes from cream to caramel to chocolate.

The only problem today is that I am now more of a strawberry cream - and I'm hungry!

Memories of my Mother!

Now, my Mom never made me stand in front of my school for punishment as seen here (go ahead and click the picture for the full story).

But, I do have some crazy stories of how my Mom tried to cure my issues during my schooling years:

1. I went to preschool twice - my Mom held preschool for 12 children in our playroom and because I started young, I went twice.

2. 2nd Grade - On the intercom in class I was told to come to the principle's office. Once there, I was instructed to walk home (one mile) to make my bed.

3. K-5 - My Mom was the playground lady...all 6 years! I thought that it was kinda cool, but when I fought other kids, my punishment was so much harsher.

4. 6-8 - She was the lunch lady for these three years. My friends and I had a belching contest and only my best friend and I got kicked out of the cafeteria.

5. 6-8 - These were the only years that I rode the bus to school. I rode the bus because it was too far to walk (4 miles if you Mapquest it and then add some time for a kid walking). The point is this: if I missed the bus...I walked! In fact, my assistant principle (ironically named Mr. Rule) just waived my tardies because my Mom would call him while I was walking. I guess he loved to side with my Mom on disciplinary action.

6. 11-12 - She was a snack shack volunteer for break periods.

Maybe you noticed the lack of 9th and 10th grade, but that is for another Blog. Throughout my schooling, my friends loved my Mom. They were always welcome at our house, we had a great playroom, the fridge was available to anyone, and my Mom was always cooler at school events to them. Though I was embarrassed often, I look back and now, I wouldn't have wished it any other way!

Thank you kindly, Mom - love ya!

Today in History for the Birthday Men

So, I really didn't do much research on this one...that would have been a little creepy. I mean I love my brother Jon and Boone is great, but that I would take a grip of time to research their special day may have been a little much. However, everyday I get an email from Reference.com so today here is a copy of this day in History with some additions by me:

Feast day of St. Comgall, St. Credan, St. Maieul, St. Tudy, St. Ansfrid, St Walter of l'Esterp, St. Richard Reynolds, St. Francis di Girolamo, St. Ignatius of Laconi, St. Asaph, St. Gengulf, and Mamertus.
Jamaica: Bob Marley Day (memorializing his death in 1981).

Events:
1647 - Peter Stuyvesant arrived in New Amsterdam to become governor.
1858 - Minnesota became the 32nd state of the Union.
1910 - Glacier National Park in Montana was established.
1946 - The first CARE packages arrived in Europe, at Le Havre, France.
1947 - B.F. Goodrich Co. of Akron, Ohio, announced the development of a tubeless tire.
1949 - Israel was admitted to the United Nations. 1949 - Siam changed its named to Thailand. 1969 - The Monty Python comedy troupe is formed, with Monty Python's Flying Circus first airing on October 5, 1969.
1980 - Mobster Henry Hill busted on drug possession.
1984 - Haunted Castle at Six Flags Great Adventure burns down, killing 8, A transit of Earth from Mars takes place.
1997 - "Deep Blue," an IBM computer, defeated Garry Kasparov in a six-game chess match, who lost the match 2.5 to 3.5.
1998 - A French mint produced the first Euro coins of the 12 European Union member countries, collectively known as the Eurozone/Euroland.

Births:
1803 - Hector Berlioz, French composer.
1854 - Ottmar Mergenthaler, German-born American inventor of Linotype.
1888 - Irving Berlin, Russian-born American composer.
1894 - Martha Graham, American dancer, choreographer, pioneer of modern dance.
1904 - Salvador (Felipe Jacinto) Dalí (y Domenech), Spanish surrealist artist.
1912 - Phil Silvers (Silversmith), Emmy Award-winning American comedian, actor.
1980 - Justin Boone Botkin, future American Senator from Utah, future president of NACTA, poker genius-winner of World Series of Poker 2010.
1984 - Jonathan Gillis Eastman, future former American-born Latvian ambassador to the UN, future Cello playing bass operatic soloist and conductor for the Bartlesville Symphony.

Deaths:
1812 - British prime minister Spencer Perceval, assassinated in the House of Commons.

Happy Birthday!

May 11th!

Here is to my musically-inclined, Cardinal loving, not-so-little brother and Anchos serving, Utah loving, air-controlling friend!

to both of you, I mean:
"daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā!" and "feliz cumpleaños!"