Saturday night was GIRL’S NIGHT! So it was just me and my best friend Renee Levine. We’ve both been “hella” busy, as Renee, the Californian native would say. Therefore, we wanted to hang out and get a chance to talk. We haven’t seen each other in a dog’s age. Since we were both finished with our obligations at 5pm, we planned to meet up and then decided we wanted to go to this event called Dance Evolution 2008, The Joker’s Revenge.

Dance Evolution was an event of all sorts that took place at the New Paltz high school, which was a 3 minute drive to get there! So close! Even if you didn’t have a car, they had shuttles leaving from the Haggerty Administration Building circle on campus, so you could make it to the event on time and without paying a cent! However the event was 4 bucks if you lived on campus and 8 bucks if you lived off…so not ENTIRELY free. I drove Renee, my friend Akeem, who lives in the same suite as my brother at UAlbany, Angie, and Lisa, Angie’s roommate. Dance Evolution was SUPPOSED to start at 6pm “sharp,” but there were major technical difficulties and it almost started an hour later than anticipated! To be honest, that was a little frustrating. This is no fault to anyone, especially the performers. Heck, I’m sure it was frustrating for them too, but it was a while to sit in the audience and wait for the show to start. At any rate, everything turned out alright. The event had several entertaining acts, as well as an enthused audience. Let me show you!

Below are several videos! The first one is the National Anthem sung by Paula (I didn’t get her last name) and the black National Anthem.

Video of M’Powered! 9-17 year olds dancing hip hop and African dance! This dance group is A-MA-ZING!

Video of Culture Shock 1^st part

Video of Culture Shock 2nd part

This guy rapped a song called “Bubble Butt.” Obviously he could have sang, “Mary had a Little Lamb,” and the lady audience members would have still loved him.

Then after the concert, Renee and I were starving so we drove into town and decided to try this new sushi place. It was called Hokkaido. The restaurant was a cute little place and we were excited to get a nice meal, but uh, we couldn’t find the door. There were stairs on the side of the restaurant, but no doorway. So we actually walked around the building a couple of times until we finally found the entrance around the corner. AH. So we sat down, ordered some endamame, and some rolls. For those who don’t know endamame is a healthy appetizer. Here, I’ll copy and paste what Wikipedia says about them: “endamame is a preparation of baby soybeans in the pod commonly found in Japan, China and Korea. The pods are boiled in water together with condiments such as salt, and served whole.” I ordered the common California Roll and the Shitaki Avocado Roll: both hit the spot!

Then after we had some “us” time to talk and catch up on each other’s lives and thoughts, we went back to Renee’s apartment on Main Street, which she shares with three other people. I changed into my pj’s which I brought from my room and jumped on the couch with Renee to watch Thirteen going on Thirty. I bought that movie over the summer and haven’t really had a chance to watch it yet. It was an uplifting chick flick, but there were parts of it that were SO SAD! However, it ends nicely, thank the lord. It stars Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo and Judy Greer. I really love Jennifer Garner. I find her acting to be so genuine. Anyway, it was a nice ending to a nice night. Our girl’s night, sleepover was a success!

Here’s the trailer for this movie!

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2209546521/

In the morn we got up at 8am since Renee had work at 10:00AM and the Bistro, right down the street, was calling our names for a hot meal. So we got all freshened up and ready for some breakfast. The Bistro is always SUPER CROWDED so we wanted to get there early. Never have I ever walked into Bistro and sat down right away. There is ALWAYS a wait, because it is just that well known. However, today, we made history, by being seated right away. We were right by the door, but we were sitting! We both ordered the Breakfast Special, which is 2 eggs any way you like, homefries and 2 pieces of wheat toast, all for a little under $2!! Isn’t that amazing? It’s handy for all us poor college students, that’s for sure. Anyway, as soon as we were delivered our meal, the power went out….I’m not kidding here. The power just went, Ka-poot. So I saw another historical moment: The Bistro had to actually TURN DOWN customers, because they wouldn’t seat people until the power went back on. Crazy! And it wasn’t just The Bistro that lost power- it was all along Main Street! Starbucks had a sign on the door saying it was closed due to the power outage, and I know my friend who lived on Main Street didn’t have power…insane! While we were eating Renee looked at me and asked, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I wasn’t sure, but she said, “I’m thankful we got our food before the power went out!” Wow were we on the same wavelength with that one!

I took a picture of some of these robots that were on the wall of the Bistro. They were called Junk Bots and they were on display for purchase. Interesting. Renee’s favorite was the robot that had a body similar to the shape of a piece of bread. Do you see it?

So I went out to eat a lot, at least one meal each day of this weekend, but it was fun and worth it! Plus I got to spend it with good company.

Alright, mucho sleepy. Must go to bedy bye! Night all! <3

Hi Weekenders!

It was only Friday and Saturday, but boy how they were Jam-packed with events (mostly Student Ambassador related- hence my choice of title.) Alrighty, well, if you don’t know what this foreign, yet official sounding position is, lemme show you a website that can explain most efficiently!

–> http://www.newpaltz.edu/admissions/ambassadors_become.html

Also check out our cool biographies of all the Student Ambassadors! There’s pics up of us, so you can see how purdy we are (haha.) Also, we have fun facts! Cooooooool dude.

–>http://www.newpaltz.edu/admissions/ambassadors0708/ambassadors_all.ht

At any rate, Friday night, all us Student Ambassadors had a nice, bonding dinner at Rock ‘da Pasta! I just blogged about that place, I know…so it’s been my second trip there in a rather short period of time (for me at least.) I don’t normally go out to eat TOO much I feel, but this weekend, I went out to eat a truck-load!

I just want to give a ginomrous thanks to Jamie Michelman, for being the coordinator of our bonding supper! She also brought together some student ambassadors to go to the Headless Horseman event. (Unfortunately I couldn’t attend since I had a show that night.) However, she is a loving individual who just wants all us employees to have some fun together and get to know each other! She even saved a seat for me when I came in late after my dance rehearsal. Isn’t that sweet? Shana, I think this gal needs a raise (wink, wink.)

Well would you like some visuals of our happy-go-lucky times at Rock ‘da Pasta? What’s that you say? You would? OH, well splendid! Catch a glimpse of these nut-zoids.

Jamie Michelmen, everyone!

Jamie Michelman and Marlea Liguori being cute kiddies.

Erica Clough, Brittney Daily and Kevin McSherry (NP BLOGGER WOOT WOOT) all giving a wide grin…cept for Kev here. Hmm.

Erin Kowalsky and Meagan Olsen giving the ever-so-cheesy “thumbs up.”

Student Ambassador group shot!

Well we couldn’t ALL fit at one table!

Haha, this is painted on the top of the fridge they have in the restaurant! Rock (Da) Pasta!

It was a grand ole’ night! Here’s a video that I took of us conversing and being silly. AWWWW YEAH! Oh and Kevin stands up to get his dessert before he leaves! I find it HILARIOUS!

YOUTUBE VIDEO OF US AT ROCK DA PASTA!

Oh and thanks Shana for buying us all dessert!! Mmmm it’s nice to go out to eat with your boss! Let me just say, it was a FRENZY at the other table to get to the desserts first. You could hear spoons clanking. So three cheers for a joyous night. Now we all had to go to sleep early to arise at 6:15AM for, youuu guessed it, OUR 2ND OPEN HOUSE!

Now, Open House was pretty much the same ordeal as the LAST open house, cept in my case, it went a lot smoother and quicker! Hooray! There some little mishaps here and there, but all were taken care of in a jiffy! I put up balloons again (just like last time) and worked in the Athletic and Wellness Center to help aide the volunteers and mingle with the families (just like last time.) However, I have some new pics and even clip-age of vidoe. Soooo here ya are!

Nichole Saldana yelping when I took a picture of her. She was caught unawares!

Meagan Olsen acting like the gem she is when we are walking through campus to tie up those darn balloons. We don’t want any families getting lost, now do we?

My theatre professor, Stephen Kitsakos, sacrificed his own raincoat to put over the jacket the costume shop made. It rained!!

Gianna Cioffi rolling that raincoat covered jacket out of the Athletic and Wellness Center.

Jamie Michelman one more time and Zuri Regisford at the Staff meeting after we officially completed the Open House season!

Chris Levine and Stephanie Samuel smiling at the staff meeting! They ain’t tired!

Kevin McSherry on the go!

Marlea Liguori a little sleepy (which is totally understandable! It’s a looong day! By the way, that’s what I looked like last open house!) And there’s Paul Kohler in the corner, all smiles.

Sarah Doran just discovered we have HUGE pockets inside our jackets.

This is me with my “big, tripped-out name tag” as they say in that Progessive commerical. You know what I’m talking about, right? I’ll put up a YouTube video of it, BUT, I just want to let you know that Jamie MADE this name tag for me. Shana, the bossy boss, says she ordered me one, but I’ve been a Student Ambassador for 2 semesters and I STILL don’t have one. Not like I’m bitter or anything. Haha I just can’t win! So here it is, my homemade name tag for you all to see!

Big, Tripped-Out Name-Tag on YOUTUBE!!!!

Shana Circe with our Team Leader, Matt Vitale. Matt is graduating this December, so this was his last Saturday tour of his life here at SUNY New Paltz !

A REAL group shot of all us Student Ambassadors 2008, after Open House ended! We’re on the Admission Building’s steps. We’re all serious here.

All us being silly gooses! AHHH haha Kevin McSherry what are you doing to that pole!?

Well guys, I thought I’d end on a funny note here- Kevin McSherry, fellow New Paltz Blogger, vandalizing that column.

Thanks everyone who helped out at Open House who made it a smooth, successful day!

Bon Voyage all!

Hey all! I’m doing this a little backwards, but I’m going to talk about Saturday and THEN about Halloween. Okie dokie smokie?

Saturday night was something called Midnight Theatre. This is an event that the theatre students put together, where we make light of the mainstage productions, and other current events that are taking place. For example, the hosts of Midnight Theatre, Andrea Green and Evan Teich, did some jokes about politics, since the elections are coming up Tuesday (S0 S00N!). Well there were a lot of laughs all around.

I actually have a video here of Paul Rigano and I at Midnight Theatre. In the musical production of Company here on campus, Paul played Harry and I played Sarah. (I’m sorry I keep talking about Company, but I guess it was a large part of my life thus far this semester.) Anyway, Harry and I were “happily” married. I use quotations because every marriage has their pitfalls. As a couple in the show, we did love each other, but we each had our vices; that definitely showed in our production. At any rate, there is a scene where Harry and I actually get so riled up that we perform karate on each other. And that karate eventually turns into petty street-fighting; anything to WIN against one another! So, I hope you enjoy this video of Harry and me during Midnight Theatre. In the beginning, Paul and I are reenacting the karate scene from Company to teach the audience about stage combat. However, the longer we are “play” fighting, the more we truly wanna beat the crud out of each other! Well, hopefully you watch and laugh!

P.S. If it wasn’t for my roommate Sam, this video would never have been up and running. So thanks Sam!!!

NOW, about Hall-o-ween! I hope you all had a marvelous Halloween! As you can see from Jessie’s blog and my previous blog on the Headless Horseman, New Paltz is pretty well known during the Halloween season. It’s quite the sweet spot. Lots of people get into the spooky spirit round these parts! For one thing, my friend Becca Cotton had this really cute Halloween get together where her house was DECKED OUT!

Oh and there was a live band playing in her living room! They called themselves Crazy Cat Lady. My friend and alum of SUNY New Paltz, Emma Jerome, is a singer in the band! Cool, huh? Let me show you some pics of Becca’s house, as well as me and my friend’s costumes!

Sorry to change the subject, but who’s excited to vote!?!?! AHH I’M SO PUMPED. This will be the first time I am eligible to vote for the President of the United States! I feel so empowered! However, some people may not feel this way. Some say our vote doesn’t count, due to the electoral college, etc. etc.

That is why I want to end this blog with a quote that my acting teacher, Nancy Saklad, said to us during my freshman year in Acting One. As soon as she said it, I took out my notebook and scribbled it down. I felt and still feel that it is so inspirational. Also, I believe it pertains to tomorrow with a lot of us young-ins voting.

“We need people like you to help this world become a better place.

We need your wit,

your smile,

your kindness,

your brilliance,

your enthusiasm,

and your creativity.

You will be the savior of this generation;

don’t deny us what you have to offer.”

So remember, you can vote from 6am till 9pm tomorrow! Don’t wear any pins, buttons, shirts, or any other paraphernalia representing candidates. If you do, you will not be allowed to vote! Bring Identification, and don’t be lazy and NOT wait on the lines because they’re long. YOU’RE VOTE IS WORTH IT! WE MATTER!

Hello second Weekend of Company!!

So last night was our last Thursday performance of the musical Company. Thursday nights are full of “the peers.” This is because 1.) its 9 bucks only on Thursdays if you go have a New Paltz ID and 2.) all the theatre classes have to see the main stage productions as part of their class requirements (so Thursdays are the cheapest!) Therefore, the house was packed! I can’t believe Company is in it’s stages of “lasts…” It’s a little sad. I’m going to miss this show. Well- I can’t talk like that now! There are still shows to do!

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you a homemade trailer that was created by our very own Michelle Hines. Michelle plays the major role of Joanne in Company.

Her trailer is hilarious and well perceived by all involved! Check it out!

Enjoy the video and enjoy your Friday!!! OH and tomorrow is one of TWO Open Houses here at SUNY New Paltz. It’s gonna be craaaazy!

To tell the honest truth, I like my history and social studies classes -a lot.  And when I hear a professor talking about the “hot button” issues in our fair nation, I always get really motivated to make change, because I believe that change does come from such simple, modest roots as one individual, and to quote Gandhi, I’ve always wanted to “Be the change [I] wish to see in the world.” Well, in less than a week, I supported two causes near and dear to my heart.

On this past Saturday (the 18th) I took part in the Gunk Project. Organized and coordinated by Wyatt Krause -RA in Lenape Hall- the Gunk Project was a day of cleaning up out fair Gunk.  Many times during capture the flag on Tuesday nights at 10PM we have had players (Rob Schemitsch and a few others) who have been as brave to swim in the Gunk for the sake of the game.  However, over the course of these capture the flag games we (Rob and Co.) have retrieved some SIX (6) bicycles and FOUR (4) traffic cones. It was then that Wyatt got the idea to have a Gunk cleaning project, aptly named, the Gunk Project.  On Saturday, a few “dredgers” -Rob included- swum the Gunk to remove as much “stuff” from the depths as possible.  To my knowledge, the dredgers worked tirelessly for hours to retrieve a screen door, a paper towel dispenser, two shopping carts, a computer monitor, a skate board, and various debris the likes of which I have forgotten! In addition to dredging out the Gunk, others and I went around to collect some THREE HUNDRED signatures of those that were in support of our efforts, and want to urge the administration in cleaning up the Gunk more, and making our campus more green.

I was very proud that so many students from different Residence Halls came together to clean up our campus, and that I was a part of that group as well.  I believe that moving toward a greener campus, nation and lifestyle, we can all ensure that our lives and the lives of those that come after us will be secured, safe and healthy.  This Gunk Project is a small step because not only do we want the administration to take up the next “leg-of-the-race” but we also want to inspire more pro active actions and good habits in our own lives and that if the people around us.

As for the second bit of getting involved that I am about to tell you about, I feel very strongly about both the subject matter and the actions involved.  On Tuesday (10/14) I got a phone call from one of my best friends, Tim K. who is a sophomore at SUCO Oneonta.  He tells me that there was a protest that took place on his campus that day involving a Christian man and his anti-homosexual views.  He also said that he heard this man was coming to SUNY New Paltz soon!  So after informing my entire Women: Images and Realities class, I waited until on week later on the 21st when he showed.  I saw the men protesting homosexuality of all sorts on the concourse of the SUB on my way to my women studies class, and upon sounding the alarms, the bulk of the students went during the break to protest these individuals in return!

Personally I feel that everyone should be entitled to express themselves in the way that they were born to be, and should never be subject to anyone else condemning them.  In that light I made a killer sign, sporting rainbow colors, that said: “DON’T LISTEN : D.” This also made me feel accomplished because I finally had the chance to demonstrate some inalienable rights bestowed upon me from birth, and protected through the United States Constitution! (What-WHAAT! -Take THAT!!!).

It is in these actions and in voting that I feel my civic duties are being fulfilled, and it is a great start!

With that in mind, I have a very appropriate song selection for this blog:

“Everybody’s Gonna Love Today” by Mika

and

“Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” By The Beatles

and

“Carry That Weight” by The Beatles

Peace,

Matt Stracq

: D

Well hello all and welcome the lovely month of October!

I cannot express enough how excited I am that autumn is flourishing right now, showing off its reds, oranges and yellows for the entire town to witness. Autumn is my FAVORITE season….which works out nicely being in New Paltz since it has SO MANY events going on during this time of year. There’s apple picking, pumpkin picking, carving or painting pumpkins, baking, Halloween costumes, Headless Horseman hay ride and haunted house (a big deal here at New Paltz), not to mention Sleepy Hallow not being too far of a drive. Many a thing to do here this time of year!

Not only are the leaves the colors of a sunrise, but they are crispy and scattered all over campus. I’ll let you in on a little, guilty pleasure I have: I truly relish in stepping on as many crunchy leaves as I can find. I actually scope out for a pile of these leaves on campus. That crackling sound always reminds me of home. Once the school season started, Carmine the bus driver would drop me and my brother off at the end of our court, where we’d race to our driveway. Kyle would usually win, because he’s just a gazelle like that. I wouldn’t care though (usually) as long as I was able to find a good pile of super crunchy leaves and stomp-the-heck-outta-them. Ah memories.

I took this picture right outside of the Humanities building! These are good leaves to crunch, lemme tell ya!

Here are some lovely pictures around campus that I’ve been taking. I told you I marvel the spectacle of autumn, especially here at New Paltz!

Here’s right outside Capen Hall.

I took this on my way to Hasbrouck Dining Hall today.

Some more trees outside Capen Hall. Not all the trees are turning just yet.

You bet I’m gonna gush some more about Autumn. I can’t wait to go apple picking and stuff when my fam comes up to visit. I’m with NPblogger Jessie on this one….New Paltz is the place to go and celebrate the changing of this season.

It isn’t even the middle of the semester and I’m already pulling an all nighter for a test tomorrow. I enjoyed myself this weekend, spending time with old friends, watching lots of movies for another class assignment, seeing Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and Religulous, eating out in town and helping co-sponsor Rock the Vote on campus. However it is Monday morning at the wee hours and I now find myself depleted of money, hungry and sipping on energy drinks while listening to techno music to keep myself awake enough to study for this test. In other words, I am faced the consequences of a fun but irresponsible weekend. When I could have been studying between activities, I decided to sit out on the grass and read a book or watch a movie with a friend. This is a lesson to learn for all other weekends that I should plan ahead and actually stick to my schedule. Alright, I will get back to my Art of the Western World 2 work and stop procrastinating!

P.S. Has anyone ever realized how upbeat the band Justice is? You don’t need an energy drink if you listen to the track “Stress” long enough

Long time no talk, huh?

Sorry I keep bombarding you with blogs, (oooo alliteration) but I just can’t help mah-self! I have so much to share with you! The end is swiftly approaching, of this lovely time off, and tomorrow is chock full of things to do! For example, I have a plethora of rehearsals for the musical: 10:30AM rehearsal with the Stage Combat choreographer, 12:30-1:15 rehearsal of my particular scene in the show, 2:45-4PM rehearsal with all the married couples, and at 6:15 the entire cast is called for notes and a run-through of the show, until around 10ish? SOO tomorrow is gonna be CRA-zy. Since my Wednesday will be run by rehearsal mayhem, I’m happy to say I did get a couple papers out of the way. Unfortunately, I still have a reading, another paper, and an application due. So it kinda builds, now doesn’t it?

However, this blog entry isn’t actually about me at all. It’s about a junior who lives right down the hall from me in Bliss Hall named Danhui Wang.

This is Danhui Wang! Say hi everyone!

She had some very exciting experiences this past week, and I thought I should share them with you, especially since they involve some WONDERFUL opportunities which New Paltz gave her. I don’t know if you’re really supposed to do this, interview someone for your blog, but what she did last week was extraordinary! Also, since I’m a dum-dum when it comes to international relations, it would be much harder for me to comprehend and to take part in the expeditions that she has, first hand. So why not interview someone who has? Let me actually tell you what she did and where she went already, huh? SHEESH! So on Wednesday she went into the city to see the President of Iran and on Thursday she participated in a protest! How appealing is that? Don’t worry, I have the details. Danhui wasn’t very keen on me video taping her, so I respected her decision, but now I’ll have to try to sum this up in words to the best of my ability! Alright, here it goes….

Well this opportunity came about by her Academic Advisor actually e-mailing her and asking her if she’d like to meet the President of Iran. Danhui says, “It is one of the most exciting opportunities I could ever come by,” so of course she jumped at the chance. Therefore on Wednesday, she woke up at 5 AM to meet at the Haggerty Administration Building on campus, or the HAB (we’re a fan of abbreviations or “abbreves” here at New Paltz). From there she met up with 3 International Relations major professors and 12 students from New Paltz. They took three cars (2 of the professors drove) to the Poughkeepsie Train Station, which is approximately 20 minutes away from campus.

Here’s the lot of them who came from New Paltz, I believe. This was taken in New York City.

From there, they arrived at New York City in about an hour and a half’s time, and went to the Grand Hyatt Hotel on 42^nd Street. That’s where they went to hear the President of Iran, Mahmūd Ahmadinejād, speak.

A picture of the President of Iran, Mahmūd Ahmadinejād, that Danhui Wang took herself!

Even though it was a room of 500 people, it was “a very intimate setting,” says Danhui. Not only was New Paltz present, but some other schools attended such as SUNY Binghampton, Hofstra, Colgate, and Columbia. Danhui said it was rather interesting to hear live one of the most infamous characters around today. She told me some of things he has said in the past, such as, “Israel must be wiped off the map,” and “In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals like in your country.” That down-right shocked me! Consequently, “he’s not really popular among the western world,” says Danhui. She said the event was shorter than she expected, but her impression of him was that he was a very good speaker and a very good politician, especially since he “dodged 95% of the questions,” says Danhui. That comment made me laugh…a lot. At any rate, since Danhui is an International Relations major, this was a different learning experience, because “professors try to give you a bias perspective so you can formulate your own opinion, but with politicians they convince you to favor their side.” However, as an individual, you have to “look through the deception and flowery wording and understand their real policy and position,” as Danhui so wonderfully phrased it! Kudos! I couldn’t agree more!

On that note, here’s a video of the debate last Friday, if you missed it like I did!

P.S. I encourage all of you to register to vote if you haven’t already done so!!

First Presidential Debate of 2008 -McCain and Obama- Video and Transcript

The next day, Danhui went to the city again for an Amnesty International Protest. The protest was against the inaction of the UN member states with the crisis in Darfur. In case you are unaware (like I am with this stuff!) Darfur is a region in Sudan that since 2002 has been subjected to genocide and it’s still continuing today. Danhui went to this protest with five of her friends who are all in the Amnesty Club here on campus. None of them have ever been to a protest so that must have been sooo exciting! I wish I could have attended! Once there, all six of them were handed cardboard cut outs of people representing the Security Council member states, with a red ribbon around their eyes to symbolize their blindness toward the sufferings of the Sudanese people.

The gals holding the cardboard cut outs.

Her experience was that the entire occurrence was very powerful. Danhui says, “Protesting may seem very small on the outside, but you feel like you’re making a difference.”She wants to participate with more protests in the future! Hey- maybe next time I could join her!

Also, Ms. Wang got some free stuff at this protest, such as T-shirts and Instant Karma CDs of mainstream artists covering John Lennon songs. (She gave me one of those CDs! How nice of her!) Oh, and all six of them signed a petition to stop these crimes in Darfur.

All six who went to the protest, in their shirts and with their posters!

Well I learned a lot from this blog, and I hoped you did too! Now, it’s back to classes…BLAH! :-p

[Side note: The Amnesty Club meet Thursday from 6-7 in the Student Union building or the SUB Room 416. Oh and by the way, DANHUI IS THE PRESIDENT. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled that I capitalized that. There are amnesty programs pretty much at every school, Danhui tells me, and they’ve made a lot of impacts on promoting human rights! They have a facebook group here at New Paltz, which is: Amnesty International New Paltz Chaper II. Check it out!]

Yo, Check-It, today was the Fire Safety Bonanza I was telling Y’all about and it was AWESOME!  It was really a good time overall, and for those of you who went and supported your halls: Good Job!  And for those of you who didn’t wake up until 2pm: oh well, maybe next year.  There was food, free pamphlets, keyring toys, and activities.  The activities were really the best part because they were a real eye opener to even me, a real fire safety buff (or at least now I am…)

Next to the R.H.S.A. table there was the R.A.D. program table.  At this table, there were Officers Kelsey and Coxe who played the victim (who knew how to beat the snot out of an attacker) and the attacker, respectfully.  Very cool.

The first activity was the “Rescue Drag.”  This entailed some poor soul (Me) thinking they could drag an -approximately- 165 lb. dummy fifty feet and back.  FIFTY FEET!  Lets just say, that the dummy and I were lucky that Capt. Scott Schulte was there to help me with the last forty five feet (give or take my dignity…)

After that there was the “Let’s-all-crawl-into-the-smokey-room,” dealio and that was scary -no lie.  There were five of us, and one Fire Fighter, and he briefed us about feeling the door, staying low, and crawling TEN feet to the exit door.  Scary…  As soon as I got in, I was like Dane Cook in the War Flute bit! LOLOL  First of all, lets just talk about this phenomenon of memory loss that happens when you open the door:  I forgot to crawl.  Then, I was blinded by -no, not the light (thank you, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band) but by the incessant smoke, no matter that we were on the floor.  Oh, did I mention that I went first?

Now, this next one, was probably the least realistic, but regardless, it was a good experience.  I participated in the Fire Extinguisher training session.  There was a Fire Fighter that operated a propane flame source from a “trash can” and I used the Water Pressure Extinguisher and the P.A.S.S. technique: Pull the pin; Aim; Squeeze the lever, Sweep the extinguisher back and forth at the base of the flame.  Very Savvy…

Now here’s the BIG ONE -Oh My GOSH!  At 2pm they lit a mock college room on fire -legit: no propane, dynamite, gasoline, charcoal, aerosol cans, candles, steak dinners, what-have-you.  Just the room and the flames.  This was one of the most scary and impressive things that I’ve ever seen -and I know what you’re thinking: “Hey Matt, you sure do get scared a lot, huh?”  Nay.  No I do not; but this inferno was something to be seen.  And for the late sleepers of the group, I’ve got a snazzy-do video you can chickety-check out.  Now, this was an event that I wasn’t going to miss, so I planted myself some forty feet away and setup the cam.  As soon as they lit this thing up, i could smell smoke, and as soon as the smoke accumulated there was fire -from there it was over: the picture fell ,the computer monitor EXPLODED and the tapestry created a curtain of flame.  Even me being forty feet away I could feel the heat, and it was deceiving how real it was, because at first, I thought it was the sun, or me just getting all worked up, but when I checked in with the peeps next to me, they confirmed that it was real flame broiled hotness.

Overall, I was super glad that I went, schmoosed, took pictures and video, and had a blast.

Oh, and I have recently discovered “No Air,” by Jordin Sparks (recently? I know, right? what, do I live under a rock? ).  And in case some Dane Cook fans are wondering, I am seeing My Best Friends Girl tonight!

PEACE!

Matt

P.S.  There will be NO audio on the video -do not fret!

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fire-safetyb1

Yesterday, I saw my bff Kellie in the SUB and she was all:  “Hey, come on down to Queer Action Coalition with us!” and even O.L. Eli F. and my co-Blogger Holly Gooden were all: “Yeah, definitely come!” So, I went, and I really enjoyed myself.  The meeting is Wednesdays at 9pm, in SUB 402 -but wait, you don’t know what Q.A.C. (pronounced “quack”) is?  Well, it is a group on campus that advocates and educates about G.B.L.T.Q. (Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transsexual, Queer) rights and so forth.  So far they have events like Coming Out Day, Halloween parties, something-for-Thanksgiving, and other cool business going on.  To tell you the truth (the whole truth, and noting but the truth) I wanted to continue to get involved, but I didn’t think it was going to be with Q.A.C.  Actually, I thought it was a one-time-deal meeting instead of a weekly organization, but as it turns out, I really like it and I’ve got something else to be involved in.  And that’s another thought that popped into my head: that you never stop getting involved in new things, if you don’t want to.  That being said, I will be as active in Q.A.C. as I can this year, because I am PUMPED to be there, with Kellie, and Holly, and my new friend Leighann.

Now, back to my friend Kellie: she is a riot! I met her last year because we were in F.Y.I. together, but only in the last few months.  I find it weird that in such an involved organization as F.Y.I., there can still be people that don’t meet until the party’s almost over -in this case: F.Y.I.  Regardless, we are crazy close and if any of you see her just shout out some Anchorman quotes and she’ll get the idea/laugh incessantly.

Aside from Kellie and Q.A.C., I am really looking forward to this weekend.  No, not to engage in illegal and debasing activities but for Fire Safety!!! On Saturday, at high-noon in the Old Main Quad, there is a fire safety Bonanza and they will be burning a college room -and for real, though, they lite the room UP!  I also heard that its basically going to be an awesome get together of classy, classy individuals like Fire Chief, Scott Schulte.  I hope to see you all there -yes, ALL of you!

Oh, and just in case you guys were wondering, Ive been listening to a lot of Bob Marley -namely: “Could You Be Loved,” it’s magical.

My homework AWAITS-

Matt Stracq

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