One more chapter in the article anecdote. Here's the final (maybe?) revised edit.
And it seems some of my facts might have been a little twisted before. Just know there have now been four edits.
Squarin’ Up with God
by Krister Rollins
It’s a sweating sea of tangled, writhing bodies.
To clarify: They are all wearing clothes. And they are upright. And they are dancing. Square dancing.
The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) decided to host a night of square dancing, lassoing, apple bobbing, and food eating in Clark Gym. Christina McKee, Outreach Coordinator for RIT’s chapter of the IVCF told me this was an “outreach event” and that they were trying to convince people that “being a Christian isn’t necessarily boring.” But the night almost didn’t happen. There was no band up until a week ago, as the previously contacted minstrels were called off to one of two other coincidental square dances held that very night. Luckily, they were able to piece a band together last minute.
The plan partially worked. There was a huge turnout, with people coming from as far off as Fredonia and Geneseo. However, it did seem like the majority of the attendees were already in the IVCF fold. But they were certainly not all familiar faces, as Christina did not recognize a bunch of people there and was also pleasantly surprised by the number of deaf people on the floor. They all had a ball. Or square. The entire night I’m not sure I saw one frown. Everyone was cheery and good-natured.
A lot of them were sweaty, too, from all the running around. I spotted three guys who were sitting up in the back of the bleachers. “Ah,” I thought to myself, “These disaffected youths will provide an opposing angle on my story.” Nope. The bleachers were rarely populated because it was always people, like these chaps, just sitting out a round to rest up.
No one seemed to mind the weird tarp covering the floor, the cut-in-half donuts, or the Drunken Interloper who came from nowhere and danced on the stage like an idiot until the guitarist politely requested he leave. Which he did.
Keith Hunt, the caller, who has been calling since the ‘50s said, “[it’s] great fun to see everyone dancing out there and having a good time. It’s really encouraging.”
What was interesting to me was how extreme everyone was in their keen intent on having a night of good-natured fun. People enjoyed the donuts, sometimes even splitting the halves in half. The non-carbonated and, you can bet your butt, non-alcoholic drinks were consumed with equal fervor. I saw more radiating smiles and glowing happiness at this dance than at any large event I have been to. Everyone was bound and determined to have a good time. And they did.
30.1.06
29.1.06
I went to a Square Dance last night for the Reporter. It was run by the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
I wrote an article. Sent it to Tristyn, she seemed to enjoy it. My editor liked it. He sent it to his superiors.
They found it Wildly Offensive.
So I was awoken today by Ben, my editor in this article, asking if I wouldn't mind re-editing it. So I got up and re-edited something that I had already worked hard at making not offensive.
So in the interest of...something...here's the original.
It’s a sweating sea of tangled writhing bodies.
Most unchristian.
But then, they are all wearing clothes. And they are upright. And they are dancing. Square dancing.
The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship decided to host the night of square dancing, lassoing, apple bobbing and food eating in Clark Gym this year partially because they have seen it done at other nearby schools in The Fellowship, partially because it is fun and partially because people might come and see all the secular fun these folks are having and think that attending their Friday night meetings might not be so bad.
The plan partially worked. There was a huge turnout. People came from Fredonia and Geneseo. Unfortunately, the majority of the attendees were already members of the fold, already in with The Big Guy. But they all still managed to have a ball. Or square. The entire night I’m not sure I saw one frown. Everyone was cheery and good natured.
Kinda drags you down.
Everyone there was happy and glad. A lot of them were sweaty, too, from all the running around. I spotted three guys who were sitting out one of the dances up in the back of the bleachers. “Ah,” I thought to myself, “These disaffected youths will provide an opposing angle on my story,”
Nope.
I realized something was wrong when I got back there and they were all sweaty and grinning. They told me they were up in the bleachers to get a good angle on the floor and really see everything going down while they rested up between songs. Johnny Arkansas told me he learned to square dance in the third grade. Another guy from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania told me they danced square all through high school.
Everyone there was completely happy. The bleachers were never that populated and it was always just people sitting out for a round to rest up. No one seemed to mind the weird tarp covering the floor, the cut-in-half donuts or the Drunken Interloper who came from nowhere and danced on the stage like an idiot until the guitarist politely requested he leave. Which he did.
I just didn’t really understand it.
And then it dawns on me. Little hints from over the evening; the exaggerated reenactment of the Drunken Interloper, the phrase “good clean fun,” the apple bobbing, the lasso. The phrase “a night of fun without drinking” pops into my head. And it dawns on me.
These are people with whom I have a fundamental incompatibility.
Complete abstinence is about as reasonable to me as complete indulgence. I can have fun without drinking, yes, I had a good time at the square dance. But I can also have a good time with drinking. Not too much, of course, memories are nice and I’m no fan of hangovers.
But these folks didn’t seem to have any interest in it.
I was also shocked when people started leaving promptly at 11 pm. Surely it could not have all been to go to bed. But I imagine most of the dancers also go to church on Sundays. So I guess it makes sense that they would want to leave.
Anyway, I can’t really malign the event or the attendees. Everyone was cheery and bright and had a lot of fun. I saw more radiating smiles and glowing happiness at this dance than at any large event I have been to. Can’t deny the happiness.
But you also can’t deny the extremes.
And now, for your reading and comparing pleasure, the re-edit.
It’s a sweating sea of tangled writhing bodies.
Most unchristian.
But then, they are all wearing clothes. And they are upright. And they are dancing. Square dancing.
The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) decided to host the night of square dancing, lassoing, apple bobbing and food eating in Clark Gym this year partially because they have seen it done at other nearby schools in The Fellowship, partially because it is fun and partially because people might come and see all the secular fun these folks are having and decide to attend the group’s Friday meetings.
Christina McKee, Outreach Coordinator for RIT’s chapter of the IVCF told me this was an “outreach event.” That they were trying to convince people “Being a Christian isn’t necessarily boring.” But the night almost didn’t happen. There was no band up until a week ago as the previously contacted minstrels were called off to one of two other coincidental square dances held that very night. Luckily, Ben Proctor was able to piece a band together last minute.
The plan partially worked. There was a huge turnout. People came from Fredonia and Geneseo. The majority of the attendees were already members of the fold, already in with The Big Guy. Christina did not recognize a bunch of people there, and was also pleasantly surprised by the number of deaf people on the floor. They all had a ball. Or square. The entire night I’m not sure I saw one frown. Everyone was cheery and good natured.
Kinda drags you down.
Everyone there was happy and glad. A lot of them were sweaty, too, from all the running around. I spotted three guys who were sitting out one of the dances up in the back of the bleachers. “Ah,” I thought to myself, “These disaffected youths will provide an opposing angle on my story,”
Nope.
I realized something was wrong with my cynical approach when I got back there and they were all sweaty and grinning. They told me they were up in the bleachers to get a good angle on the floor and really see everything going down while they rested up between songs. Johnny Arkansas told me he learned to square dance in the third grade. Another guy from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania told me they danced square all through high school.
Everyone there was completely happy. The bleachers were never that populated and it was always just people sitting out for a round to rest up. No one seemed to mind the weird tarp covering the floor, the cut-in-half donuts or the Drunken Interloper who came from nowhere and danced on the stage like an idiot until the guitarist politely requested he leave. Which he did.
Keith Hunt, the caller, who has been calling since the ‘50s said it’s “great fun to see everyone dancing out there and having a good time. It’s really encouraging.”
What was interesting to me was how extreme everyone was in their keen intent on having a night of good natured fun. Nothing about the evening upset anyone. Ben and Keith had a jocular exchange exaggeratedly imitating the drunken cavorting of the interloper. People happily enjoyed the donuts, sometimes even splitting the halves in half. The non-carbonated, and you can bet your butt nonalcoholic, drinks were consumed with equal fervor. Everyone was bound and determined to have a good time.
And they did.
Everyone was cheery and bright and enjoying themselves. I saw more radiating smiles and glowing happiness at this dance than at any large event I have been to. Can’t deny the happiness.
But you also can’t deny the extremes.
Enjoy.
I wrote an article. Sent it to Tristyn, she seemed to enjoy it. My editor liked it. He sent it to his superiors.
They found it Wildly Offensive.
So I was awoken today by Ben, my editor in this article, asking if I wouldn't mind re-editing it. So I got up and re-edited something that I had already worked hard at making not offensive.
So in the interest of...something...here's the original.
It’s a sweating sea of tangled writhing bodies.
Most unchristian.
But then, they are all wearing clothes. And they are upright. And they are dancing. Square dancing.
The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship decided to host the night of square dancing, lassoing, apple bobbing and food eating in Clark Gym this year partially because they have seen it done at other nearby schools in The Fellowship, partially because it is fun and partially because people might come and see all the secular fun these folks are having and think that attending their Friday night meetings might not be so bad.
The plan partially worked. There was a huge turnout. People came from Fredonia and Geneseo. Unfortunately, the majority of the attendees were already members of the fold, already in with The Big Guy. But they all still managed to have a ball. Or square. The entire night I’m not sure I saw one frown. Everyone was cheery and good natured.
Kinda drags you down.
Everyone there was happy and glad. A lot of them were sweaty, too, from all the running around. I spotted three guys who were sitting out one of the dances up in the back of the bleachers. “Ah,” I thought to myself, “These disaffected youths will provide an opposing angle on my story,”
Nope.
I realized something was wrong when I got back there and they were all sweaty and grinning. They told me they were up in the bleachers to get a good angle on the floor and really see everything going down while they rested up between songs. Johnny Arkansas told me he learned to square dance in the third grade. Another guy from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania told me they danced square all through high school.
Everyone there was completely happy. The bleachers were never that populated and it was always just people sitting out for a round to rest up. No one seemed to mind the weird tarp covering the floor, the cut-in-half donuts or the Drunken Interloper who came from nowhere and danced on the stage like an idiot until the guitarist politely requested he leave. Which he did.
I just didn’t really understand it.
And then it dawns on me. Little hints from over the evening; the exaggerated reenactment of the Drunken Interloper, the phrase “good clean fun,” the apple bobbing, the lasso. The phrase “a night of fun without drinking” pops into my head. And it dawns on me.
These are people with whom I have a fundamental incompatibility.
Complete abstinence is about as reasonable to me as complete indulgence. I can have fun without drinking, yes, I had a good time at the square dance. But I can also have a good time with drinking. Not too much, of course, memories are nice and I’m no fan of hangovers.
But these folks didn’t seem to have any interest in it.
I was also shocked when people started leaving promptly at 11 pm. Surely it could not have all been to go to bed. But I imagine most of the dancers also go to church on Sundays. So I guess it makes sense that they would want to leave.
Anyway, I can’t really malign the event or the attendees. Everyone was cheery and bright and had a lot of fun. I saw more radiating smiles and glowing happiness at this dance than at any large event I have been to. Can’t deny the happiness.
But you also can’t deny the extremes.
And now, for your reading and comparing pleasure, the re-edit.
It’s a sweating sea of tangled writhing bodies.
Most unchristian.
But then, they are all wearing clothes. And they are upright. And they are dancing. Square dancing.
The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) decided to host the night of square dancing, lassoing, apple bobbing and food eating in Clark Gym this year partially because they have seen it done at other nearby schools in The Fellowship, partially because it is fun and partially because people might come and see all the secular fun these folks are having and decide to attend the group’s Friday meetings.
Christina McKee, Outreach Coordinator for RIT’s chapter of the IVCF told me this was an “outreach event.” That they were trying to convince people “Being a Christian isn’t necessarily boring.” But the night almost didn’t happen. There was no band up until a week ago as the previously contacted minstrels were called off to one of two other coincidental square dances held that very night. Luckily, Ben Proctor was able to piece a band together last minute.
The plan partially worked. There was a huge turnout. People came from Fredonia and Geneseo. The majority of the attendees were already members of the fold, already in with The Big Guy. Christina did not recognize a bunch of people there, and was also pleasantly surprised by the number of deaf people on the floor. They all had a ball. Or square. The entire night I’m not sure I saw one frown. Everyone was cheery and good natured.
Kinda drags you down.
Everyone there was happy and glad. A lot of them were sweaty, too, from all the running around. I spotted three guys who were sitting out one of the dances up in the back of the bleachers. “Ah,” I thought to myself, “These disaffected youths will provide an opposing angle on my story,”
Nope.
I realized something was wrong with my cynical approach when I got back there and they were all sweaty and grinning. They told me they were up in the bleachers to get a good angle on the floor and really see everything going down while they rested up between songs. Johnny Arkansas told me he learned to square dance in the third grade. Another guy from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania told me they danced square all through high school.
Everyone there was completely happy. The bleachers were never that populated and it was always just people sitting out for a round to rest up. No one seemed to mind the weird tarp covering the floor, the cut-in-half donuts or the Drunken Interloper who came from nowhere and danced on the stage like an idiot until the guitarist politely requested he leave. Which he did.
Keith Hunt, the caller, who has been calling since the ‘50s said it’s “great fun to see everyone dancing out there and having a good time. It’s really encouraging.”
What was interesting to me was how extreme everyone was in their keen intent on having a night of good natured fun. Nothing about the evening upset anyone. Ben and Keith had a jocular exchange exaggeratedly imitating the drunken cavorting of the interloper. People happily enjoyed the donuts, sometimes even splitting the halves in half. The non-carbonated, and you can bet your butt nonalcoholic, drinks were consumed with equal fervor. Everyone was bound and determined to have a good time.
And they did.
Everyone was cheery and bright and enjoying themselves. I saw more radiating smiles and glowing happiness at this dance than at any large event I have been to. Can’t deny the happiness.
But you also can’t deny the extremes.
Enjoy.
28.1.06
All right, I've messed with the time on this post so it'll appear after the post with the original two drafts.
Apparently the re-edit wasn't up to snuff, either. So there's a cop out, sliced up version from the Editor-In-Chief. Who I still like, it's aping my voice, but lacks my message and comes off sort of sucking the IVCF's dick.
I have requested to have my name removed from it.
Here it is:
Squarin’ up with God
by Krister Rollins
It’s a sweating sea of tangled writhing bodies.
To clarify: They are all wearing clothes. And they are upright. And they are dancing. Square dancing.
The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) decided to host a night of square dancing, lassoing, apple bobbing, and food eating in Clark Gym.
Christina McKee, Outreach Coordinator for RIT’s chapter of the IVCF told me this was an “outreach event” and that they were trying to convince people that “being a Christian isn’t necessarily boring.” But the night almost didn’t happen. There was no band up until a week ago, as the previously contacted minstrels were called off to one of two other coincidental square dances held that very night. Luckily, they were able to piece a band together last minute.
The plan partially worked. There was a huge turn-out with people coming from as far off as Fredonia and Geneseo. However, it did seem like the majority of the attendees were already pretty familiar with IVCF. That said, they were certainly not all familiar faces as Christina did not recognize a bunch of people there, and was also pleasantly surprised by the number of deaf people on the floor. They all had a ball. Or square. The entire night I’m not sure I saw one frown.
As a further testament to the crowd’s enjoyment, the Clark Gym bleachers have never been so populated; and it was always just people sitting out for a round to rest up. No one seemed to mind the weird tarp covering the floor, the cut-in-half donuts, or the Drunken Interloper who came from nowhere and danced on the stage like an idiot until the guitarist politely requested he leave. Which he did.
Keith Hunt, the caller, who has been calling since the ‘50s said, “[it’s] great fun to see everyone dancing out there and having a good time. It’s really encouraging.”
What was interesting to me was how extreme everyone was in their keen intent on having a night of good natured fun. Nothing about the evening upset anyone, and I saw more radiating smiles and glowing happiness at this dance than at any large event I have been to. People happily enjoyed the donuts, sometimes even splitting the halves in half. The non-carbonated and, while it goes without saying, non-alcoholic drinks were consumed with equal fervor. While it may be counterintuitive to many, this event was proof that good clean fun really is a viable form of entertainment for college students.
Apparently the re-edit wasn't up to snuff, either. So there's a cop out, sliced up version from the Editor-In-Chief. Who I still like, it's aping my voice, but lacks my message and comes off sort of sucking the IVCF's dick.
I have requested to have my name removed from it.
Here it is:
Squarin’ up with God
by Krister Rollins
It’s a sweating sea of tangled writhing bodies.
To clarify: They are all wearing clothes. And they are upright. And they are dancing. Square dancing.
The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) decided to host a night of square dancing, lassoing, apple bobbing, and food eating in Clark Gym.
Christina McKee, Outreach Coordinator for RIT’s chapter of the IVCF told me this was an “outreach event” and that they were trying to convince people that “being a Christian isn’t necessarily boring.” But the night almost didn’t happen. There was no band up until a week ago, as the previously contacted minstrels were called off to one of two other coincidental square dances held that very night. Luckily, they were able to piece a band together last minute.
The plan partially worked. There was a huge turn-out with people coming from as far off as Fredonia and Geneseo. However, it did seem like the majority of the attendees were already pretty familiar with IVCF. That said, they were certainly not all familiar faces as Christina did not recognize a bunch of people there, and was also pleasantly surprised by the number of deaf people on the floor. They all had a ball. Or square. The entire night I’m not sure I saw one frown.
As a further testament to the crowd’s enjoyment, the Clark Gym bleachers have never been so populated; and it was always just people sitting out for a round to rest up. No one seemed to mind the weird tarp covering the floor, the cut-in-half donuts, or the Drunken Interloper who came from nowhere and danced on the stage like an idiot until the guitarist politely requested he leave. Which he did.
Keith Hunt, the caller, who has been calling since the ‘50s said, “[it’s] great fun to see everyone dancing out there and having a good time. It’s really encouraging.”
What was interesting to me was how extreme everyone was in their keen intent on having a night of good natured fun. Nothing about the evening upset anyone, and I saw more radiating smiles and glowing happiness at this dance than at any large event I have been to. People happily enjoyed the donuts, sometimes even splitting the halves in half. The non-carbonated and, while it goes without saying, non-alcoholic drinks were consumed with equal fervor. While it may be counterintuitive to many, this event was proof that good clean fun really is a viable form of entertainment for college students.
12.1.06
I'm keeping a dream journal rather inconsistently. I write as soon as I wake up, so my brain isn't always together. And this one was kind of a nightmare, so the writing is particularly...weird.
Anyway, here it is. Verbatim from my dream journal:
I've been having a recurring dream wherein I'm at an aquarium like a giant petting tank. It's huge. But the fish and lobsters are done with being there and they're attacking people. The lobsters in particular.
I was there with Joe Dube and he though the fish was trying to be his friend. A lobster threw him across the taken and I called at him to get out. He jumped out buy two people had already jumped in to save him. One was Jeremy, one might've been Jason Pierce. Jeremy got out right quick but Pierce started riding a lobster and it clamped him. Then, somehow, a lobster got out. On land they're surprisinly graceful and run like dder. A man and his daughter were completely unconcerned even though the lobster went to him first. "You just have to know you're not going to hurt it," he said, domonstrating by putting his hand on a lobster's mouth.
It didn't bite him.
As Joe and I walked away a lobster came up behind us and put a pincer on me. I focused and was able to walk away.
Then another. I focused. It's grip tightened.
Then I woke up.
And Bob Barker was there.
So, that was a weird dream. I've had it before, too, that's how I knew to tell Joe to get out of the water.
Anyway, here it is. Verbatim from my dream journal:
I've been having a recurring dream wherein I'm at an aquarium like a giant petting tank. It's huge. But the fish and lobsters are done with being there and they're attacking people. The lobsters in particular.
I was there with Joe Dube and he though the fish was trying to be his friend. A lobster threw him across the taken and I called at him to get out. He jumped out buy two people had already jumped in to save him. One was Jeremy, one might've been Jason Pierce. Jeremy got out right quick but Pierce started riding a lobster and it clamped him. Then, somehow, a lobster got out. On land they're surprisinly graceful and run like dder. A man and his daughter were completely unconcerned even though the lobster went to him first. "You just have to know you're not going to hurt it," he said, domonstrating by putting his hand on a lobster's mouth.
It didn't bite him.
As Joe and I walked away a lobster came up behind us and put a pincer on me. I focused and was able to walk away.
Then another. I focused. It's grip tightened.
Then I woke up.
And Bob Barker was there.
So, that was a weird dream. I've had it before, too, that's how I knew to tell Joe to get out of the water.
5.1.06
I'm cooking up a couple of ideas for comic books. Front of the pack right now, but that's not saying much, is an idea I'm calling "Hair." My way of describing it is "Like the Hulk, but with hair."
So this guy has a transformation where he basically turns into a hair monster. Like a Wookie, I guess, but not as big. And no mouth to see. I assume he has a mouth and he's just covered in the hair, but I haven't decided for certain yet. When he's not hair he's a rich socialite of some acclaim or another and then he has to figure out what's happening to him.
Should be amusing.
Also I don't think it's something he can easily stop. He's got to struggle with controlling it.
Maybe he's some really uptight guy most of the time, but then just goes fucking nuts when something happens. Kinda like Bruce Banner. Shit. This needs some work.
I still like it a lot though.
Also got an idea for a group of Undead Superheroes consisting of a Zombie, Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula. Call it "The Formerly Human, Formerly Deceased Defense League." I've got a bunch of characters for that one, but no plot to speak of as of yet. Less of one than I even have for Hair.
I've also got an idea for a comic called Squib about some high school kid coming to terms with his latent pyrokinetic abilites.
And that's that.
Krister, out.
So this guy has a transformation where he basically turns into a hair monster. Like a Wookie, I guess, but not as big. And no mouth to see. I assume he has a mouth and he's just covered in the hair, but I haven't decided for certain yet. When he's not hair he's a rich socialite of some acclaim or another and then he has to figure out what's happening to him.
Should be amusing.
Also I don't think it's something he can easily stop. He's got to struggle with controlling it.
Maybe he's some really uptight guy most of the time, but then just goes fucking nuts when something happens. Kinda like Bruce Banner. Shit. This needs some work.
I still like it a lot though.
Also got an idea for a group of Undead Superheroes consisting of a Zombie, Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula. Call it "The Formerly Human, Formerly Deceased Defense League." I've got a bunch of characters for that one, but no plot to speak of as of yet. Less of one than I even have for Hair.
I've also got an idea for a comic called Squib about some high school kid coming to terms with his latent pyrokinetic abilites.
And that's that.
Krister, out.
1.1.06
Something amusing. At least to me.
My mother's cousin got me a gift card to Wal-Mart, so I went in and perused their DVDs. I found Chinatown and while looking for something else that would fit on the card, I happened to look up at the girl across the video rack from me.
"Hmm," I thought to myself, "She looks an awful lot like Ashley Knight." Ashley Knight is, of course, sister to Melissa (my ex). It dawned on me Melissa might be in the store.
Sure enough, Melissa was right behind her. As soon as I saw her I wheeled around and started looking intently at the comforters. I don't know as I've ever worried about comforters mroe than that moment.
It was like in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when they see the hitchhiker in the road and wheel around in the car. Or when they see Christina Ricci in the road and speed around again.
I didn't even think about it until later. But that was an amusing reaction, I think.
Other Stuff
Spent a lot of time with people other than Nick this break. Surprised me, made me happy. I really like the Portland social scene. It's cool. A lot of people in a lot of bars all within walking distance of each other.
Some people I haven't seen in a long time; Tiffany Dembowski, Heather Flick, Jess Nash, Morgan Demers, Donald Thibodeau, Matt Bassett and, most surprsingly, Jada Fitch. Also, Adam Towes.
Good times so far.
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