My job for the semester is being a monitor in the EWT game room. On typical nights when I work, things are pretty quiet. I get the occasional pool player but otherwise the room remains empty unless there's some special event scheduled to take place inside. The biggest example would be the Red Sox playoff games. Boy were my shifts long those nights. The couches would be moved around the big screen so everyone could get a good view of Beckett, Ortiz, who ever was their favorite.

Things got really intense last night during World Series game 4. Having just got back from a costume party (see A Family Tradition) I had to get to work for my 7 pm shift that night. When I saw Jeff and the EWT RA's bringing in soda and chips my first thought was: oh crappers and milk, here we go again. Okay so it wasn't exactly like that but you get the idea. Students flowed in on their own time until the seats were chocked full. Even Student Life got into the spirit, some more than others though. A good number left when the pizza was finished though and it only enforces my opinion that the biggest reason students attend these events is that there's either free food/stuff to be given away. Still, we were all waiting on baited breath when it came down to the bottom of the 9th. When Papelbon made that final strike, the whole room shouted.

Afterward was the raffle for the $250 Visa card, which I did not win, and then everyone started heading back to their respective dorms. I would have gone back too if everyone didn't leave their garbage lying around! Someone even spilled chips all over the floor by one of the sofas. There was little I could do about it by myself so I got the assistance of some of the leftover RA's and we cleaned up as much as we could. Part of me is glad that this sort of thing is over, but another part of me will miss the excitement of watching the Sox win the World Series, until next year.

Posted by Trevor Keyes Deming at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello fellow students, I've decided to take some time and tell you about an old tradition my family has done for over 10 years to date. The air becomes cold, the sky becomes dark, and the whispers of ghosts lurk about you. Yes Halloween is here again. Let me ask you one question, what do you and your family do to entertain trick or treaters that walk up to your door? Do you just simply open the door and give them candy or are you more creative than that?

If you believe you're creative then listen to this. Back when I was wee tot in elementary school, my folks did a little set up on our little sidewalk based around Peter Pan. My parents and older sister got into the act on that fateful night while I went out to gather my yearly stash of sugar. But, I would soon realize similar scenarios would become a part of my life about two years later when a wizard’s cave was made in our garage. Each year these set ups got more intricate to the year I grew out of trick or treating, the year we chose The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown as our theme. We hung a large tapestry with a giant pumpkin painted on it to resemble the fictional squash. At that point, family and friends had gotten involved in the show, even me (though I dressed as Mario that year). You think that was creative, these ideas reached a peak my first 3 years in high school where my dad acquired several used stage flats and he was dead set on putting them to good use. Freshman year, we did a mock up of the Triwizard Maze form Harry Potter 4 (I dressed as Malfoy), sophomore year we did MBM, or Mostly B Movie Studios (I stepped into the role of a director), and junior epitomized our Halloween with a pirate ship (revolve al Captain Jack Sparrow). We'd draw in at least 150 kids to our house each year. It was exhausting but fun.

Sadly, the flats were so worn out we had to dispose of them after that night. To wrap things up, my senior year we did a sort of Memory Lane featuring props used from the last 12 (that’s right 12) years and once again had a huge turnout. Last year was different since me, along with my twin brother and friends, could not be there for support. Instead, my parents worked in conjunction with our local church and their Haunted Meetinghouse which had been brought back after years of absence. It drew nearly 250 kids alone to our house. As for today, I just came back from a costume party held on the 27th. We're going back to one of or earlier ideas, the Wizard of Oz. When I got home Friday night, I noticed our driveway had been set up to be a yellow brick road. Plus, our deck had two event sized tents to accompany folks should it rain. Despite our lack of lumber (and helping hands), my family continues to make a name for ourselves on Hallow's Eve no matter what obstacle comes our way.

Posted by Trevor Keyes Deming at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's October, fall has arrived (for real this year), the Red Sox are on fire (along with the Mission Hill apartments), and me? Well I've been doing this and that around and off campus aside from class. Where to begin, ah yes let's start with the RHA. The entire organization got restructured last year and I immediately seized the chance to run for one of the new executive positions. Sadly, I was one of two to actually have competition and I lost the election. I did not give up however so with my warrant to improve my leader skills, I ran for the 555 Hall Council. This turned out the opposite of last year and I am now officially a member of the RHA. Plus, I'm enrolled in the 2nd level course for the Soar in Four curriculum. My next target is becoming an Orientation Leader, look out SLP!!!

On a more social side of life, I attended College Fest this year. In a nutshell I said it showcases many things students like us are interested in, and boy was I right! There were booths from businesses ranging from the technological side, like Microsoft, to Peter Pan Bus Company. I spent most of my time playing Guitar Hero 2 at the Microsoft and Best Buy stations. I think I had about 6 bottles of Hydrive Energy Water, and 10 slices of Uno's pizza. I also got hooked on the Zune, Microsoft's answer to the I-pod, and tried to win one both days of the convention, but alas I was doomed to fail. But, I did come out a winner of the Microsoft Office 2007 software. I think my crowning achievement was when I participated in the "Man Chairs" contest. It's like musical chairs except me and 9 other guys were the chairs, and all the contestants were female. I knew I would've gone further had the judge, Parissa from the Real World Sydney, not been concerned about my health after two rounds. Both times, two girls tried to get on my knee so take it from there. All in all, it was a fun weekend. I'd post pictures but I don't have a camera.

The near future I plan to head home the 26th for my family's annual Halloween Party. I'm needed for setup since my father can't do it all by himself in the required time. For those who are curious, I'll be posing as Tim the Enchanter, for you seek the holy grail (sorry, I had to do it).

Posted by Trevor Keyes Deming at 1:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)