A Tale of a Vuvuzela

The favorite instrument of the World Cup (and least favorite instrument of viewers of the World Cup) lead me to take a little trip down memory lane recently. Though, since I moved home, a lot of things take me on a trip down memory lane.

My junior year of high school I hung out with my friend Lisa and a bunch of dudes. Some of them were on the football team and we did the whole Friday night game thing. My friend Bryan, one of the few not on the football team (turns out he's insanely good at volleyball), was all about school spirit that year. He painted his face (and then smeared it on me to try and give me a Hitler mustache), wore crazy costumes, and got plenty of noisemakers.

One of these noisemakers, and no doubt the most infamous, was a blue vuvuzela. Of course, we didn't know that is what it was called at the time. We always referred to it as Bryan's horn. Bryan would blow it while we drove down the streets, he'd blow it in his backyard, and he blew it at school.

Well, at one football game, Bryan had the audacity to bring his horn and blow it at all the wrong times. It was so obnoxious that I refused to stand directly next to him. I thought it was funny the first five times or so. Then it got tedious. Turns out I was not the only who thought that. Bryan's horn blowing became so obnoxious for both teams that he was asked to stop multiple times. When he didn't, a technical was called on our Holy Family Tigers because of the "rowdy" fans. The next day, the incident was written about in the high school sports section of the Denver Post. Cue Bryan and his vuvuzela's 15 minutes.

I don't know what happened to Bryan's vuvuzela and his stunt was the talk of HoFam for a few weeks. I don't think anyone was truly mad at him. In hindsight, the incident is absolutely hilarious to me, especially with all the vuvuzela dissing lately.

So if there is a sudden rise in popularity of vuvzelas at Holy Family football games this fall, it's probably because of the World Cup. But remember, Bryan blew it first.

10 things that I like right now

10 Things that I like right now (because I have nothing else to write about)

This CD

Florence and the Machine, "Lungs": Her voice is melodic and haunting, I love her lyrics and her style. Plus, she is Britsh. So that means I like her even more.

These girls

Kelley and Abby are still in Cincinnati and still keep me entertained. Bless them.

This Book

"The Wednesday Wars" by Gary Schmidt: I love it so much that I am teaching it to the 7th and 8th graders. It's a charming and witty tale about a 7th grader reading Shakespeare and growing up in the Vietnam era. Parts are tender and true, others are off the wall and laugh out loud funny. Perfect for the classroom!

This TV Show Couple

Finn and Rachel as seen on Fox's "Glee": They are both big characters with big voices and have undeniable chemistry. I hope they continue to sing together on the show! (And I hope that one of these pregnancy plotlines gets dropped soon)


This Drink

Diet Mountain Dew: Keeps me caffinated throughout the school day. And tastes good! And is zero Weight Watchers points!


This TV Show

"Modern Family" on ABC: Every week if makes me laugh out loud, so much sometimes that I almost end up crying (see the episode with Shelly Long in it). The adults are sometimes stereotypical, but they are painfully honest. There are some fantastic lines on this show..."at least I don't have a son who wears aftershave and dresses like a count" "why is our daughter dressed as the hamburgler?" and, of course, "Batman doesn't get picked on because he's a muscular genius. Manny can't make it to the top bunk."


This Author

John Green, author of "Paper Towns," "An Abundance of Katherines," and "Looking for Alaska": Now I've only read two of is books and I only liked one of them ("Katherines"), but I'm a huge fan of his video blogs on YouTube. He's funny and philosophical, the perfect combination! I went to see him in Columbus and get some books signed and he was humble, funny, awkward and very intent on making sure that everyone had a good time a got their books signed. What a good guy!


These Movie Stars

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint: I love all three of these actors and they are even pretty good when they aren't in Harry Potter related projects (Dan Radcliffe was hilarious in his guest stint on 'Extras' and Rupert was very good as a boy learning to drive in 'Driving Lessons'). These kids are movie stars, but still seem approachable, and terribly normal. They act like kids their age, but don't embarrass themselves. I'm excited to see what their futures have in store for them!


This Comedian

Conan O'Brien: I love him, he makes me laugh, and I'm so used to watching him almost every day that I feel a little empty if I don't. Sad. But he makes me laugh when I'm sick, tired or cranky. And who doesn't love a man who does that?

This Poem

Invictus


Out of the night that covers me,
Black as
the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my
unconquerable soul.

In the fell cluthc of circusmstance
I have not
winced nor cried aloud
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloddy,
but unbowed

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror
of the shade
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me
unafraid

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with
punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my
soul

"Invictus" by William Ernest Henley: I didn't know of this poem's existence until I saw the trailer for the movie by the same title. I read the poem and loved it, looked up its meaning and its connection to the movie and loved it more. The last four lines really get me!