Mashed potatoes with gravy (white, please) & watergate salad are my two favorite dishes to consume at Thanksgiving time.  Sure, the turkey, stuffing, ham, & black olives are nice, and I made certain I was stuffed with them as well, but these two dishes have just always had a special place on my tongue.

So what should happen last night, the night before the Thanksgiving meal?  Our microwave went out, as did the light fixture in the kitchen (fluorescent lights, can't just replace the bulb).  The light luckily found new life by the morning, though it's on the fritz again now.  The microwave, however, gives off that beautiful smell of a burning electrical motor when it is turned on.  I like the smell, because it reminds me of the model trains dad and I used to play with.  Everyone else just thinks about the mess with having to replace this microwave.  I just worried that I wouldn't be able to make a pizza in the microwave.  Luckily, the big meal went off without a hitch, even though it didn't have any pizza - I'm still hungry for some, if you're free Friday or Saturday.

So tomorrow is Black Friday.  I wish you all a safe day of fighting crowds and traffic.  Take a camera along and snap a few shots of the crowds, just to give yourself something to do while in line.  Just make certain you keep a tight grip on the camera and the wallet as both pickpockets and store clerks will try to suck every penny out of you.  I just need to work on convincing my dad that 700 MB is not enough free space on a hard drive, which means he needs to get a new computer.  I don't think I'm going to get anywhere.

I was seeing a lot of friends whom I usually don't get to see.  I was talking to some of them, when out of nowhere, Katie comes at me and tries to draw an 'X' on my neck like she's been doing to everyone else.  Only catch is, everyone else knew it was coming.  I just know that someone is suddenly stabbing at my neck with something sharp.  So I have some scribbles on my neck.  It's been described as a tic tac toe board, a swastika, a prison tattoo, and a sign that I was first to pass out drunk.  A couple of people from church told me I shouldn't go to sleep so early when I'm partying, and one guy from the dorms asked me if I had a girl in my room when he saw it.

A couple of showers later, and it's still on me.  Granted, I don't try hard to get it off.  I like it.  It's unusual.  And it's amusing.  If I can get a good picture of it, I'll post it, I promise.  But my "tattoo" doesn't even compare to the one another guy got while drunk.  On his back is written "If found, please return to Marlatt ###."  Remarkably, they respected his wish to not have any drawings on his face.  Though they did write "Not on the face" on his arm.

Tonight is the final performance of the musical "Annie" at Mulvane High School.  The show starts at 7:30 pm.
I'd like to take the opportunity to tell all performers and crew to break a leg and throw a broom!

It's starting to get colder now, which I greatly appreciate.  Both windows in the room are open each night.  Last night I slept under the comforter, thick blanket, and a coat.  I also had a knit hat on my head.  It was some of the best sleep I've had in quite some time.
My father thinks that I am extremely odd.  He thinks that I should make the room warmer so I don't need all the covers.  My father doesn't understand that the covers aren't there only to keep me warm - they're there to create a comfort zone.  I just have to make the room colder so that when I get in bed, I have a warm, cozy spot to relax in.  And I like the weight of all those covers, too.

According to a report from FoxNews.com, Santas from Syndey, Australia are being asked to change their laugh.  The traditional "Ho, Ho, Ho" that is familiar to so many has finally overextended it's welcome.  The reasons: the term "ho" is derogatory towards women; small children might be frightened by the traditional laugh.  Santa is instead being asked to laugh "Ha, Ha, Ha!"  Some people who train to be Santas have already quit over the change.

This is one of the most ludicrous attempts at political correctness that I have heard.  A kid will be scared of the big, odd-looking man whether he laughs with an "oh" or with an "ah".  Since fright isn't the reason to change the time honored slogan, then the association with slang must be.  But if the powers that be are afraid of offending women's right groups (not that any groups have complained, the powers are just being foolish), why aren't they also afraid of offending Jews or Muslims or Atheists by using a symbol of Christmas?  The whole mess makes little sense to me, as they're not protecting the children from exposure to bad words.

If suddenly the man in front of the mall starts laughing with a "Ha!"
instead of a "Ho!," I would think kids would ask questions.  Most
parents will probably try to write it off to Santa looking for a
change.  But without redoing the vocals on several movies, the
discrepancy will persist.  The parent's explanation won't hold up, and kids will look elsewhere for the solution.  Kids are very curious.  Eventually, some kids are going to get a very early and rapid introduction to the slang term "ho."  And they'll tell their friends, too.  Which isn't protecting kids from the bad word at all.

I remember that every year when I was young, the bank would hire someone to play Santa.  He would sit in the lavishly decorated lobby of the bank, cookies and coffee and punch and fruitcake were served.  That man laughed with an "oh."  Several Christmas movies that I enjoyed watching (OK, I still enjoy them) have Santa's signature laugh of "Ho, Ho, Ho!"  I can distinctly hear it inside my head, and I associate it instantly with Santa Claus.  If I heard a Santa saying "Ha, Ha, Ha!," I would probably tell him he was laughing wrongly.

I simply cannot understand why someone, somewhere feels the need to assault this time-honored tradition in hopes of pursuing political correctness nor what they intend to accomplish by it.  I, for one, intend to politely ask any Santa I see using "Ha"s to not insult our intelligence and instead continue to use the traditional laugh of "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

In Australia, Santa Claus is being asked to not say "Ho, ho, ho" because it could be perceived as derogatory towards women (link).  And to keep kids from being exposed to sexism.
Hello.  They're kids.  A bunch of stories and movies have Santa saying "Ho, ho, ho," so when the real ones suddenly stop saying it, a bunch of kids are going to ask why.  Even if parents don't tell the kids, the kids will find out about the word "ho" and what it means.  Oh, and by the way, if you're insulted by Santa's laugh, you deserve to be insulted, because you're probably insecure about some of those late night romps.  Or just because you're an idiot.

It's November 11, Veteran's Day.  This video is of a song I wish I could have performed.  This is the story behind it.

I went on Ebay and found lots of sound equipment I want.  I found an aural exciter and a couple of cheap snakes.  I am extremely tempted to try to get them, but I don't have any use for them, unfortunately.  Still, the aural exciter would be really nice to have, and I could use it at performances with the Singers.  But I must resist the urge, I think.  Instead, I'll go do some homework.  And then go to bed early.

It's finally fall.  Within the past week, most trees went from mostly green to mostly naked.  Just this morning, on my way to breakfast, every bit of sidewalk and grass was covered with leaves.  As I look out my window, there are still a few patches of green on the deciduous trees, but they are quickly loosing out to the dead brown colors.

MHS will be putting on the musical "Annie" next weekend (November 16 & 17).  You should be there.

"Hey, do you think we'll have a quiz today?" - Me
"Uhh, no, we just had a test." - Kurt
"Oh really?  When was that?"
"Last class period."
"Oh.  So how did I do?"
"I don't know."

At least I went to the test.  I have absolutely no memory of taking it, but I think that won't be too much of a problem.  And at least we don't have a quiz today!  So bring on the weekend.

"A static choir is a dead choir." - Chad Pape

I think that this applies to all sorts of situations, not just choirs.  If you have a good thing going right now, you tend to think that if only things stay this way forever, things will always be good.  However, something always changes.  Since we don't like what the change brings about, we tend to trivialize it and reason that if we can keep everything else the same, things will stay good.

In fact, things stay good, and stay alive, by changing.  We should expect some people to leave our lives and new people to enter our lives.  We should expect for the status quo to be disrupted and accept it as a necessary part of the transition to a new position of stability.  And by doing so, we can keep the good times coming, rather than becoming stuck in a series of could have and should have beens.

Hugs are now banned.  At several schools, that is.  According to this article from FoxNews.com, schools are including hugs in their limitations on public displays of affection to avoid being sued.  Students who are caught giving hugs can get detentions or suspensions.  I'm just glad that my university has not joined the ranks of those banning the hugs.  I think that a hug can be a very important part of the life and social environment of a contained institution such as a school, just as handshakes and a clap on the back are.  I really hope the hugs don't become a major taboo, cause I like giving hugs (in case you didn't know).