Halloween Joy

In the past 5 years, I have come up with approximately 0 Halloween costumes on my own. As the CCM Halloween Party approached, I was getting nervous -- I had to live up to three years of awesome costumes. The awesomeness, however, had been generated by the awesome roommates of my past years.

As I struggled to come up with any idea, I got a message from Wendy. As I mentioned when I posted about Homecoming, Wendy could not make it down for that weekend. So instead, she was coming to the 'burg for Halloween! She already had a costume idea : Love-birds!

Sunday afternoon, she brought felt and feathers and googley eyes to my house, and we created the costumes from red and pink hoodies. Using glue, thread, and safety pins, we covered our hoodies with hearts and feathers. Wendy sewed beaks to go on the hoods, and we placed eyes behind the beaks. We completed the ensemble with feather boas in pink and white.

We came together to the Halloween Party, where we met, among other wonderful characters, Steve from Blue's Clues (he led the entire room in song), the Catholic Spice Man (modeled after the Old Spice commercials), and three Sarahs who formed a Tri-Sarah-Tops. Much to our joy, Wendy and I won Cutest Couple in the costume contest, continuing my winning streak!

xkcd: Mu

I don't have an insightful commentary for this comic. It's just fun!

Keep Fear Alive!

I went home to my parents last Friday, in pursuit of a shirt I'd left in the laundry and some time with my parents away from Williamsburg. Since my time in the area coincided with Stephen Colbert's March to Keep Fear Alive (sorry, that's the bit I loved; I'm not so much about the Jon Stewart side of things), I had no excuse not to attend an event that I wanted to attend.

Here's the thing though: I didn't really plan ahead on, um, anything regarding this trip. I knew it started at noon. On the Mall. I knew it takes me 20 minutes to get to the Metro and less than an hour from there into the city. I knew I didn't care if I was at the back of the crowd, and I didn't care if I was a tad bit late. So I left home at 10:30.

Fail plan. Traffic was backed up three miles before the exit for the Metro, based on the light cycles off the exit. Just to give you an idea of how crowded it was. The line to purchase farecards stretched through the station, across the bridge, into the parking deck, outside into the sunlight. The standing room in my Metro car was filled by the time we left the second station. I didn't make it into the city until 1:30. I spent 3 hours on a journey that should not take more than 1.5 hours.

When I got into the city, I followed streams of people coming in just as late as I was, held up by the same traffic. I walked around, looking at snarky signs and hilarious costumes... and offensive signs and offensive costumes. I pushed my way through a variety of crowds, attempting to find a friend whom I was supposed to meet. Text and phone calls wouldn't go through. Eventually I gave up and wandered the outskirts, catching bits and pieces of the rally speeches and music as I walked past speakers. So I enjoyed the "Legalize Pot" signs and the anti-Christine O'Donnell and the people dressed as Jesus and bears and holding fake tea parties. Then I caught the Metro at Capitol South, a few stops ahead of where the masses of ralliers got on, and headed south again.

At one point, I hopped off the change lines, and a man waiting for the same train asked if I'd been to the rally. Which set the stage for a conversation with him all the way home. It was a very random conversation, and a little awkward as he mentioned failed Match.com dates and glanced at my hand (I wear a ring on my left ring finger; I think it helped me out here). However, the overall impression I got was that he's rather lonely. He was glad to find someone else who went to the rally alone, and I hope our conversation brightened his day a little. It made me laugh, which always brightens my day.

Part II

I've changed my mind. There is no part II. Stay tuned for posts about the Colbert/Stewart rally, Halloween, and other tidbits of my life.

Day-Maker #11

To break up some of the heavy stuff...

About 60 seconds after Percy and I parted ways at midnight last night, he called me, asking if I like doughnuts. Two minutes later, he showed up on my doorstep with doughnuts tied to strings, apparently part of his payment for a juggling gig. Also, part of my breakfast this morning.

Part I

I have a lot of catching up to do on here, and we'll see how it goes. I like to do things in chronological order, so that means it'll take a few posts before I catch up to the present for occasions such as the Colbert/Stewart rally and Halloween. However, the things on my mind that will come out are not exactly cheery topics.

A couple weeks ago, a student at the College took her own life. It is a tragedy that shook the College. As John Donne wrote,

No man is an island,

Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main....

Each man's death diminishes me,

For I am involved in mankind.

It is even more true that we are a part of each other, when, as I recently wrote, the College has such a strong community. We are united as more than humanity; we are united as the College.

I want to go two places with this, so please indulge me in two less-than-happy posts.

I first found out about the tragedy from a friends G-Chat status, reading, "Take care of one another, Tribe," followed by a link to the article in the local newspaper. In subsequent discussions, the idea came up that we as a society have forgotten how to take care of each other.

I run some mornings, and a few days ago as I was running I saw a plastic bag blowing across a yard. I thought about picking it up, decided that I didn't want to run across a neighbor's (wet) grass, and went on. For a few more steps. Then I changed my mind. I decided that I wanted to be That Girl, and I often am not. I wanted to be That Girl who picks up plastic bags blowing across yards. Who smiles at strangers. Who makes overworked cashiers laugh, or at least breath a little more easily. Who sees the beauty in others and speaks it to their faces. And thinking about being That Girl does not make me her. It makes me someone who thinks about being her.

How many people go through life considering being That Girl or That Guy? Seeing people who maybe could use one extra smile, one extra hug, one extra kind word... and don't want to step on a neighbor's lawn. And yet, the prospect of making the world a better place should motivate us to take that extra step. After all, we all do have a responsibility for each other. This idea is obscured by our society's views of independence and, I think, promoted by our over-commitment to tolerance, which too often translates into "leave other people alone."

When we "leave other people alone," however, we... well, we do just that. When we remove ourselves from other people's lives and problems, we step back from where they need us most. Of course, not everyone needs every other person poking his or her nose everywhere. However, we all need shoulders on which to lean, ears which will listen, hearts onto which we can unburden ourselves. After all, who wants to be left alone to face the world? I, for one, could not take it on alone.

In the wake of the recent suicide, I have heard a lot of talk about how we need to take care of each other. The first step is to realize that we can't just "leave other people alone." We need others. Life without people who care, both best friends and random strangers, is empty.

Final note: I want to echo the words of Monsignor, who said Mass the Sunday after. He emphasized that if you are feeling trapped, lost, backed into a corner, do not give up. Do not despair. There is always, always someone there for you. If that means calling me at any moment, do not hesitate. If that means being in touch with someone better able to help you than I, do not hesitate. Here is a place to start: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (1-800-273-TALK (8255)).

Day-Maker #10

The speed limit on I-295 around Richmond is now 70mph. I can go fast.