Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Ghosts of Halloweens Past

Halloween is always a good time. I don't know what I'm going to be yet, but I'm sure it will be something epic. It always is. The last two years have been successes. Last year I was Miss Scarlet, along with Susan as Mrs. Peacock. Sammy was also Mrs. White, but unfortunately the rest of the crew bailed on us. Whatever. Notice the rope and the candlestick. If you and your friends are planning on being the Clue gang for Halloween, don't forget the weapons. Then the year before that, me and the roommates, Susan, Emily, and Sammy, and our dear friend Jessica, were the Spice Girls. You will see me featured here as Posh. I would have pulled it off better had I cut my hair but I wasn't willing to commit quite that much to the character so instead I just didn't smile all night. I think that made up for it. The sad news is that this year, I'm living with different people and so my roommates no longer want to do a joint costume, which is always a good time. So, I can't be a part of any girl groups of board game casts. Bummer. I'll probably end up being a cowgirl or something. Heaven knows I've got the hat for it. Besides hurting for a costume, I also find myself nearing middle age as I realize that I have no desire whatsoever to go to a halloween dance. A halloween dance sounds horrible to me. Maybe it's because I haven't been to one in a lot of years or maybe it's because I really do think they're stupid, but I do know that in my younger years, I was really able to kick up my heels on the dance floor. I tell you, my dance card used to be full. But not these days. These days I'd rather eat carmel apples and wish the little trick-or-treaters a happy halloween and send them on their way. Speaking of old people, now's as good a time as any to share a little story that I don't think I've ever shared with anyone. If you've heard it, I'm sorry. But I'd be willing to bet you haven't seeing as how it's a secret story that I've kept inside me since I was about 11 years old...

One Halloween night, I was out trick-or-treating with my friends Belinda and Michelle. It's possible Teah was there too. I don't really remember. But it doesn't matter. We were trick-or-treating and having the time of our little lives. I was probably a French maid or a witch or something. I don't really remember. The years of dressing up all kind of blend together for me now. But I was something awesome, I'm sure. Anyway, that's beside the point. We were walking the streets of Fullerton, knocking on doors and filling up our puffy painted pillow cases with all the sugary goodness we could get our hands on. There was always the houses of the dentists who gave us each a toothbrush, the houses in the rich neighborhoods that gave us each a king size candy bar... trick-or-treating gold..., the regular houses with the fun sized candy, the houses where candy had been left on the porch and some punk had taken it all, and the sweet houses with haunted mazes and things in the front yard. It was a typical, mystical, and magical Halloween night. As we were hard at work collecting goods for the weeks ahead until Thanksgiving and Christmas, we came to the house of an old man. He was sitting on his porch with a bowl of jelly beans. Still to this day, I feel something for this man. It almost brings me to tears just thinking about him. I don't know why the image of him sitting there has stayed with me so well, especially since I was only 11 when I saw him, but it really has. Everytime I think of trick-or-treating, I think of this man. He seemed lonely. He seemed to me to be a widower, and the fact that he was alone on his porch only encouraged that idea. He was so sweet as he gave us each some jelly beans with his shaking hands. He smiled and wished us a happy halloween. He seemed more sincere to me than anyone that night, and anyone since (at least on Halloween). It hurt me to know that most people wouldn't even eat his jellybeans because they weren't wrapped and we were told to throw away unwrapped candy. I really wanted him to know how much I appreciated his jelly beans, but being 11 didn't really know how. I'm not sure that I would be able to express my appreciation even today. But I will never forget that sweet man sitting on his porch handing out jelly beans. I don't even know how to explain why, but there was something about his gentleness and his grandpa-like smile that made me want the best for him. It also reminded me that even on a holiday as dark and scary as Halloween, we are here to help and serve each other, and that no man is truly alone.

Now you may have guessed by now that the reason I've never told anyone about that is because it's kind of weird. But, there it is. I was kind of a weird 11 year-old.

On a lighter note, the blue pumpkins up there were carved by me and my fhe group last night. The one on the left is the best because my group made it. That and it's got a mustache. This was the first year in a long time that I've carved pumpkins, but it was way fun. Also, the cat is a cat that decided to follow us home one night. I thought it was cute.. so there ya go. :) Happy Halloween everyone!

Monday, October 26, 2009

180 Miles of Pure Joy

Team Wayne's World - Ragnar Relay 2009 from baci on Vimeo.

It's been a little while but I don't have much time. I just wanted to share this fantastic video made by my friend and team member Brad. Me and 11 other people just ran Vegas Ragnar a few weeks ago and it was the time of our lives. Our team name was Wayne's World and we partied on. The people I knew on the team were Mallory, Brad, Sarah, Liz, and Katie, and I soon got to know good old Branden as well. It was a lot of fun. In other news, I got into the English Teaching program and will be starting classes and such in the winter. Also, this semester is going pretty well too... well so far anyway. I just got a midterm back today that I got a 94% on. Sweet! Anyway, enjoy. :)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

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