The Disneyfication of Christianity? Nah.

What does Christmas mean to you?

Well in my case,

Christmas is...

• singing carols with breaks for hot chocolate and hot apple cider
• watching the excitement of a young child as they loudly thank Santa for his yearly bounty
• enjoying the chaos that surrounds the shopping centers and malls.
  
• reading these words to young ones, "...and all through the house, not a creature was stirring. Not even a mouse."
  
• deciding what decorations should adorn the tree this year.
  
• the smell of freshly baked gingerbread trees.
  
• making a mouth-watering meal for Christmas.
• the pit-pat of little feet rushing to presents.
  
• snuggling under a blanket with a loved one.
• walking down the street and taking in all the decorations from nativity scenes to lights as far as the eye can see.
• leaving a plate of cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve.
• curling up on the couch to watch It's A Wonderful Life, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Christmas Story.
  
• going to sleep early and then waking up at dawn on Christmas morning to open presents, even years after you stop believing in Santa.
  
• remembering the nervousness that characterized the wait between your letter to the North Pole and Christmas as you pondered your fate- were you naughty or nice?
• remembering when you yourself were small and you would sit in the lap of a mall Santa, a long wishlist on the tip of your tongue.
• the smile that lights your face the first time the tree is lit.
• being wrapped up in loved ones and them being wrapped up in you.

I think that about sums it up.

So what does Christmas mean for you folks?

Wednesday Workshop: Dolly Hearts Ramses

It's that time again folks. My assignment from Mama Kat this week goes as follows:


1.) Tag! Post and write about the 6th picture from (the 6th folder of?) your Flickr account and then do the same for the 6th picture of the 6th folder on your computer.

5...4...3...2...1...



This is a picture of Dolly posing with Ramses before the last football game against Duke.

I had yet to actually go to one so me, her, and Scarlett met Eva in the Duke section. That was awesome, especially the reactions we got when people noticed we were decked out in UNC paraphernalia.

Duke fan: I think you're in the wrong section.
Scarlett: No, you just went to the wrong school.
Eva: (head in her hands) I don't know these people.

Good times indeed.

By the way, we won that game 28-20. GO HEELS!

Turkey Day '08

I'm sitting at the kitchen table in my parents' house writing this. I'm tired, in a wee bit of stomach pain, and overall satisfied with the day.

Cool Things That Happened:

1. As soon as I arrived this morning, me, my mom, and my sister started cooking breakfast. French toast, scrambled eggs, Smith sausage, and hash browns. It was delish.

2. Uncle E & The Lady Friend finally admitted they were married. I saw The Grandmother starting to say something negative so I stepped in and gave them both hugs. Why would she be unhappy at her youngest brother being married? Well...it may have something to do with the fact that his wife is white.

3. Me, The Mini-Me, and Aunt C decorating The Godmother's Christmas tree.

4. Speaking of The Godmother, I got to have a ball teasing her about a man in her life whom I shall refer to as Hopeful Godfather (HG for short). She has been divorced since before I was born and I am happy to see her spending time with someone.

5. Eva had me stop by for a while at her mom's where I had homemade apple cider for the first time. I think I'm just addicted to any apple product.

The one bad thing to happen today was me not really being able to eat Thanksgiving dinner. Know the saying "I am my own worst enemy." In my case, that's true. My stomach is my worst enemy. Le sigh.

I managed to get along with The Grandmother and my dad so I am feeling quite accomplished today. Sadly a lot of the people I wanted to see didn't come to town.

I figure since today was Thanksgiving and all, I should name at least one thing I am thankful for.

Here goes...

I am thankful for the people in my life. They who have accepted me for who I really am and love me anyway. Who I can go to for a hug, a laugh, or just a simple smile. I am thankful that I have been blessed to know them and try my best to help them be happy. So thanks guys, even when I am on a sugar high from hell and you want to duct tape my mouth shut, I still love you.

Now I need to get to sleep as me and Scarlett are braving Black Friday in Raleigh tomorrow.

Oh and I am also thankful for this



Thank you Far! I love it.

Enjoy your Turkey Day/Thursday Everyone!

P. S. Please be safe.

"Who Loves Ya, Baby?"

Tonight's a short post, sorry folks.

I make no secret of the fact that I am a nerd.

So when Scarlett called me yesterday and said they had bought Gears of War 2 for the XBOX 360, there was no way I or The Bait were going to turn down coming over to play it. Is it strange that I find butchering masses of monsters while making quips with my friends relaxing?

Maybe.

Now ask me if I give a horse's left nut.

Folks, the nerd in me was near orgasmic level in happiness. Take a short gander as to why.



Best quote of the night (Me and Scarlett vs Marilyn and The Bait):

Scarlett: "Kendall?"
Me: "Yes?"
Scarlett: "I drive, you shoot."
Marilyn/The Bait: "Shit."

This is going to be my last post until Monday probably so hope everyone has a safe and relaxing weekend.

P. S. Bonus points if anyone can tell me where this post's title comes from.

A Day To Just Be

Sometimes it is cathartic to spend time with your friends. So often I am too busy stressing to just chill. Too preoccupied with getting things done that I forget to relax.

Like a flashback to the summer; me, Eva, and Imogen spent a day just being our goofy selves. I had not realized just how much I missed this. School, and most specifically tests, did not exist today. Schedules were a thing of the past. Our only jobs were to have fun. There was no such thing as a budget.

This was just S, K, & C: The Comeback Tour.

• Went out into the courtyard outside my apartment and attempted to tie dye some sheets. Ended up with more of the dye on ourselves than the sheet but it was still a blast.
• Made a huge pile of leaves to jump in. Now sporting a lovely scrape on my back from jumping in with Eva in my arms.
  
• Decided to take a trip to the pond and fed breadcrumbs to the ducks there. Had a butterfly land in my hand which was very cool.
  
• Had someone coming from the game (drunk as all get out) ask if we were all dating each other and commenting that I was a lucky bastard. Proceed to spend the next five minutes screwing with the poor guy's head.
• Watched Sweeney Todd and Juno. I was informed quite matter-of-factly by Imogen that I had a crush on Helena Bonham Carter, couldn't believably deny this charge. Loved the music so much that I had Limewire downloading the soundtracks to both during Juno.
• Made a pizza entirely from scratch with whatever toppings we could think of. According to Eva, "it's like my stomach is having an orgasm."
  
• Decided we hadn't had enough singing and went out to do some karaoke. Me and Eva got a standing ovation singing Aladdin's "A Whole New World" and Faith Hill & Tim McGraw's "It's Your Love". Deciding to do a silly song, we got Imogen on stage with us to sing Rocky Horror's "Time Warp." Great times.
• Came back to my apartment around 1 in the morning, all showered and changed into sleeping clothes, and camped out in my living room. Decided to be complete nerds and tell ghost stories with requisite flashlight.
• Woke up with Eva snuggled against my back and Imogen's foot almost in my eye.
  
• Decided to hit up IHOP for breakfast. Mmm, french toast. Me and Imogen proved we really were 5 at heart and spent a good bit of time flicking bits of hashbrown at each other.
  
• Imogen went home and me and Eva headed back to my apartment. Not sure who kissed who first but we end up having quite lovely slow sex. Afterward take a nap curled up together.
  
• See her home, decide to crawl in bed and continue reading A Lion Among Men.
  

Sometimes it is wonderful to just spend a carefree day with the people you love. I didn't think about the tests or papers I have coming up. I didn't stress about my mom and dad's divorce. I wasn't worried about finding (and affording) an apartment or townhouse with Scarlett next year.

I was completely destressed, a feeling I had forgotten over the last month.

I was just Kendall.

And damn if that didn't feel fantastic.

When was the last time you took a day to just live?

Welcome President Barack Obama

Yeah this is pretty much the epitome of happiness. Congratulations President Obama! I toast you and the American people sir.

Tonight I am more proud of my country than I have ever been in my 20 years on this Earth. To all those in Grant Park tonight, enjoy yourselves and be sure to take lots of pictures. I need to live vicariously through you.

You are witnessing history in the making.

To those who did not vote for President Obama, I ask that you can put it aside and let us work together to be a better America for all her people. I ask that you allow him to earn your trust. This is our land, both democrat and republican. And we are stronger together than we are divided.

As for myself?

I go to bed with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

Ah, why the Hell not.

"Will You Be My Neighbour?"

Here's the skinny. I'm walking home from work when I notice a man of about middle age across from a jack-o-lantern display. I would have turned away and kept walking were it not for the fact that he carried a large white sign that proclaimed DO AWAY WITH HALLOWEEN. Even better, he very very much resembled Fred Rogers.

For those of you who are new here, I love Halloween. It's even more exciting than Christmas to me. So saying I was a tad disturbed by this would be an understatement. After the debacle with the two McCain supporters, you'd think I'd have learned my lesson by now.

You would think.

So yet again I meander up to this protester and ask him what issue he takes with this holiday.

Kendall versus the Protester. Take Two. Ohhhhh...LET'S GET READY TO RUMMMMBLE!

Me: Excuse me Sir, but what does Satan have to do with Halloween?

Mr. Rogers: It is a Pagan holiday and has no place in a Christian country.

Me: I suppose that logic makes sense were it not for two things.

Mr. Rogers: And what would those be, young man?

Me: One, this isn't a Christian country. Two, one of the biggest holidays of the Christian calendar started off as a pagan holiday.

Mr. Rogers: Son, words change meaning all the time. Christmas is no longer a pagan holiday. I personally do not see the good in it from a spiritual or mental point of view.

Me: I think Halloween has become our one holiday where there is no better meaning. It's just meant to be fun.

Mr. Rogers: On that we agree, however, I don't feel comfortable with the fact there is nothing to really celebrate. It's merely an excuse to scare the dickens out of other folks.

Me: I can respect that stance. I've known families who would do other things on Halloween since they didn't agree with it. But now that I think about it, I think there is a greater lesson to Halloween.

Mr. Rogers: And what would that be Son?

Me: That no one should take themselves too seriously.

And the Mr. Rogers look-alike chuckled at that one, agreeing on this point. We ended up chatting for a few more minutes until I said I had to go.

Me: Sir, may I ask you a question?

Mr. Rogers: Go right ahead.

Me: Will you be my neighbour?

Mr. Rogers threw his head back and laughed. He looked at me with a smile and said, "I get that a lot."

So today I learned the meaning of Halloween. Or puzzled it out I suppose would be more accurate. At least it's better than waiting for the Great Pumpkin to rise. Poor Linus.

The moral of today's story? Don't take yourself so seriously. If only for this one night of the year.

And in the spirit of that lesson, I shall leave you with a rather appropriate song from my favourite movie of all time.




Happy Halloween Folks!

And I'm Not Even Blaming My Dog

Dear Internet,

I know. I know. I haven't written anything since Thursday and even that was just passing along the Kreativ Blogger Award. I have an excuse and I promise it's better than any cock-and-bull story you ever told your teachers/parents/bosses/various disappointees.

As some of you may or may not know, I kind of had a packed weekend between Daybreak's 4th birthday party yesterday morning/afternoon at her Grandma's and the Haunted Lab Friday night and last night.


Friday:
7:25 Educational Theory Lecture

9:00 Theater Appreciation - usually a fun class as there is a lot of improv but this was mostly a lecture day. I ended up surfing the internet instead of listening. Oops. Did watch the last two acts of Medea though. All throughout, "Cruella De Vil" was playing through my head.

12:00-3:30: In the Lab building, making a maze, hanging plastic to block off hallways, decorating each individual scene. I have never had to move so many tables in my life.

3:30-4:30: Me and The Ginger hit up places like the mall, Wal Mart, Target, trying to sell ourselves. The Ginger got hit on. As she was wearing a short white dress with a good bit of cleavage showing, she was hit on a lot. She was pissed; I was amused.

4:30-5:00: Eat a free chick fil-a sandwich and change into costumes, I practice with the chainsaw so I can start it within 20 seconds easily.

5:30-10:30: Showtime!

11:00: get home, catch up on missed calls, shower, then bed

Saturday

7:30-9: I make Daybreak a batch of cupcakes for her birthday then meet her and Eva for breakfast at Perkin's in Durham. Yet again, I am the only black person in the joint. Eva makes many jokes at this. After that we hit the road for Eva's mom's place for the party.

9:30: Road trip to Eva's mom's for the party.

10:30-3:30: Arrive, help set up, the most hilarious game of duck-duck-goose ever, food, cake, presents, everyone mingles outside on the deck, at this point I have to head back for the second night of the haunted house.

5:00: Back in costume, chainsaw primed and ready, looking forward to chasing screamers across the parking lot again

7:24: I am chasing a woman down the sidewalk when I fail to the notice a puddle. My right leg slides inward and I hit the ground. Hard. End up spraining the knee. To my further embarrassment, this is caught on tape.

8:00: I have found a replacement and taught him what to do. I take over as a tour guide for the portion of our haunted house taking place in the woods. My basic job was to make my group of 10-15 people more paranoid than they all ready were. Judging by the shrieks and scattering later, I think I did my job well.

10:00: We pack it in for the night and we get to hear our total earnings for both nights. Over two grand, folks! That means we had over 400 people come through which is amazing.

10:30: We're all hungry so we take about seven cars and basically take over the local Chico's until 12 when we're pretty much kicked out.

12:30: Finally home. Shower immediately then straight to bed.


Best quotes of the weekend:

M: What's up negro...oh snap, you really are black! My bad, my bad.

K: (the most deadpan voice ever) Oh no, I been bit.

Me: (after hearing one girl say the haunted house wasn't so bad) We'll see about that. (run from my hiding spot with chainsaw in hand, scattering and screaming ensue)

Scared Girl: I'm not scared. I'm not scared.
Me (walking behind her with the chainsaw in the parking lot) Then why are you walking so fast?
Scared Girl: I'm not scared! (I rev the motor) AHHHHH! (takes off)

Me: We need to hit up Wal-Mart.
The Ginger: Why?
Me: Because there is no other place as scary. Just think of the mullets.

Daybreak: Papa, when are you and Mommy going to give me a little sister?

Eva(dancing with me at the party): I'm surprised Daybreak let me have you to myself for a few minutes.
Me: Your mom is excellent distraction.
Eva: Amen to that.

Shaner: Our MVP of the night, the man who had us laughing our asses off as he took off after people with a chainsaw. He made one man twice his size run to his car and lock himself in. Our psycho clown, Kendall A---.
Me: (standing up in the restaurant) You like me. (wipes away a fake tear) You really do like me.

So see Internet, I have a perfectly viable excuse for the lack of updates the last few days.

Better than saying "my dog ate them".

Marching to the beat of my own drum,

- Kendall (The Odd Duck)

My Weekend: The Abridged Version

I hope you folks have enjoyed your weekends thus far and have tried not to get too shitfaced. Here was my weekend in short scenes.

Scene 1: On the bus back from Schoolhouse Rock
Skittles: (horribly off key) "CONJUNCTION! JUNCTION! What's your function?!"
WG: (holding her hand over her eyes) "I'll conjunction your function if you don't stop."

Later...
Frizzle: "I have very good news for all of you."
"We're getting a pony!"
"Barney's coming here!"
"The aliens are here!"
Frizzle: "Umm...no. You all said you hoped Kendall could stay with us. Well he is."
Skittles: "Yay, we get to keep our Kendall!"
Me: "I didn't know I was a pet, little one."
Skittles: "I don't know. You'd be cute with a pink collar. Are you paper trained yet? Have you had your shots?"

Scene 2: State Fair
Imogen: "So what do y'all want to do first?"
Eva: "We're getting on the Ferris Wheel. Someone has never been on one."
Ruth: "What kind of sheltered soul has never been on a Ferris Wheel?"
Daybreak: "Papa?"
Imogen/Ruth: "We should have known."
Me: "Nuh uh, more like the kind of sheltered soul that doesn't come to your waist and is afraid of heights."
Eva: "She has always kicked a fit when I would try and get her to."
Imogen: "So she tried to buck the blame to Kendall?"
Me: "Yep."
Ruth: "This child is becoming more like you every day."
Me: "Scary isn't it?"

Scene 3: Watching movies at Eva's apartment
Eva: "Daybreak, what are you doing?"
Daybreak: "Gettin' comftable."
Eva: "Comfortable means crawling into Kendall's hoodie like a kangaroo?"
Daybreak: "Yes Mommy."
Me: "Apparently I'm warm."
Daybreak: "He's a teddy that hugs back."
Eva: "Beaten out by my own daughter, I see how it is."
Me: "Daybreak, since I can't see past the mass of blond hair in front of my mouth, how about we all just share a blanket?"
Daybreak: (taps her chin through my hoodie) "I s'pose."
Eva: "This way we both get to use Kendall's heat."

Scene 4: Church with The Bait and Pippi
The Bait: "I still think I'm onto something."
Me: "We're not exorcising Faith, end of story."
The Bait: "She's evil."
Pippi: "How do you figure? Faith's the cutest puppy ever."
The Bait: "You only say that because she doesn't enjoy tormenting you. That dog is evil."
Me: (laughing) "That makes her evil?"
The Bait: "What would you call it?"
Me: "Knowing when I've found an easy target and milking them for all their worth."

The Times; They Are A Changin'

It's officially October which means it is time for me to begin preparing for Halloween. It also means warm apple cider, gorgeous trees, and lots of other fun activities.

Halloween. The time has come once again for my favourite holiday and I have a lot planned for this year. I am beginning to get what odds and ends I need for my costume. Sadly, I have to shave off my goatee to put on the makeup for my clown costume.

I only know of two bad things about this month.

One, it's the first anniversary of when one of the women who raised me (Mami's wife) died in a car crash. Last year was the first time in 19 years I did practically nothing for Halloween. The fact that I was all ready very very depressed before she died only made things harder to deal with.

Two, I have midterms from the 14th to the 18th. Sad fact of college life is that you will have exams. To quote Tinkerbell, "I think college has made me dumber."

However, there is more than enough good to balance this out.

1. Haunted Lab. I have been excited about this since my lab partner first convinced me to join the science club. I get to chase people with a chainsaw through the woods. What's not to love about that?
   
2. Halloween. Trick-or-treating. Baking cookies. Dressing up. Nightmare Before Christmas. So many wonderful memories.
   
3. The elementary school I work at is having a costume contest for the kids the night before Halloween and I get to be one of the judges.
   
4. Daybreak is turning 4 on the 24th! Eva says she is going to probably cry that day and bemoans how old she is. I tell her she's barely six months older than me to which she replies that's still older which is all that matters. Women...
5. Fall break! Granted, I have midterms right after but that's a four day weekend for me to get in a last stretch of studying as well as try to unwind.
   
6. Schoolhouse Rock Live with my kids. 'Nuff said.
   
7. "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." Again, 'nuff said.