No. Not brotherhood. That's the bad guys in X-Men. I'm here to talk to you about broHood, which is a group of high-fiving, chest-bumping men. Proud to fit the stereotype, and generally inseparable. Wayne and Garth. Seth and Evan. Frodo and Sam. Will and Tim. Danny and Rusty. Jake and Elwood. Mario and Luigi, for heaven's sakes. While often under-appreciated, broHoods are the basis of our society. If the world were based on the relationships girls have with each other, trust me, we would be in a much worse place.
It's a simpler sort of thing. There's not any smoke and mirrors, and if we're tired, we say we're tired. If we're annoyed, we say we're annoyed. If there's a dispute, broHoods have the ability to look past it, move on, not carry grudges. There's no pressure to entertain a bro, because if you stop keeping them constantly occupied with something interesting to do or talk about, they'll stick around. Bros don't ditch to find more interesting bros. That's just not how it works. Belonging to a broHood is even better than belonging to the Isabella's Subs frequent buyer club, and I'm not just saying that.
The reason is say this is twofold. One is obvious, I'll be back home in less than 2 weeks (it's crazy, I know,) and will finally be reunited with my bro. Like, the bro. The purest form of broHood the world has ever seen. And I cannot wait. It's been a long year, and having someone I know I can trust with anything will probably be one of, if not my absolute favorite parts of the trip. It's something I knew I wouldn't have here, and it's something that takes a long time (and the right dude) to develop. But the 2nd reason is less... good. I recently learned my main dude over here, John, is graduating after his junior year, negating an entire year of broHood. This, coupled with previous knowledge that he would be in America for the 1st semester of nextyear has me less than ecstatic for the 2nd half of high school. He's a gamer, he's funny, and he's leaving. My other dude friends are awesome, but they're in the dorm, and that's just not the same. They know that. John was gone for one week with dingy fever, and that was weird enough.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm bummed. Without thinking of this summer, and just next school year, it looks more, well, bleak. I can count on John to not ditch, and even the dorm guys have their...pursuits. I just naively assumed that after this past year, I'd be mostly done with big sad goodbyes, which will never be the case. There will always be people coming and going, especially in a missionary school environment, and that's just something I'm going to have to get used to. I just really wish I didn't.
-Will
"You smell like a bodybuilder."
Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
I'm No Superman
This past week marked the finale of one of my most beloved TV shows: Scrubs. So I'm going to take this time to reflect on it, whether you like it or not.
I have to give credit to my main man Tim for introducing the show to me, pretty late in it's lifetime. The episode "My Musical" caught his attention, and after getting a strong recommendation, I decided to go ahead and pay the 2 bucks on iTunes to give it a look. What I saw, I must say, was quite unlike any show I'd seen before. Of course, not every episode is in musical form, but the format of that particular episode grabbed the attention of an impatient 13-year-old that an ordinary episode might not have been able to do.
This isn't to say, however, that the normal format of an episode is dull. Every episode I've seen, I've loved, and whether it's the music at the end, JD's awesome daydreams, or the sometimes cheesy way that every episode wraps up, tying various plots together with one overarching moral, they usually have me smiling at the end. Because, what started off as a parody of the multitude of dramas in hospitals took off into a genre of it's own, different from most TV shows on now. all the characters are ridiculous and nigh-unbelieveable, except for the experiences they have. Take JD and the Janitor and put them anywhere else but a hospital and that relationship is impossible, but on TV, in such a dreary environment (if you don't mind me saying,) you can almost believe that a support staff would hold a vendetta against a doctor. Even for something as simple as a penny on the first day of work.
I have to say, though, I started watching at a bad time. Season 7, supposedly the last, began when the writer's strike was at it's strikiest, and lasted just a little more than 10 episodes. While this was a great time to catch up on the 6 seasons I had missed, Season 7 lacked a certain quality that the others had. It was funny, sure, but at times too much so, and while I enjoyed watching Turk and JD throw water balloons at the annoying interns, and Elliot's bizarre relationship with Keith, it seemed out of place. The show, while always a comedy, wasn't taking itself seriously enough. Still a decent portion of TV, but season 7's downfall's gave way into season 8's perfection.
The turnaround was evident from the first 2 episodes last year. Focusing Dr. Cox's troubles with his new position, and the hospital bromance duo talking to a terminal patient in his final hours, it was clear that the show would go out with a bang, and not just another half-decent season before puttering out. The season's had sad moments, crazy ones, touching ones, hilarious ones, and it's fair share of daydreams, but most of all, it was Scrubs again. People say that finales are often a letdown, yet I had high hopes for Scrubs, and, as always, it did not let me down. I'm just manly enough to admit that the end had me sniffling, and not just because I have a cold.
Scrubs has little to no followers at DA and not a ton at QHS (high five, Erin.) Of course, here, things like that are often rated by their inappropriate content, not their quality level, but that's beside the point. The point is, whether you liked it or not, is that it's over. It went out stronger than most, and even its harshest critics can't say no to the fact that it brought something new and fresh to the table. Goodbye Scrubs, and thanks for everything.
-Will
"I can't do this all on my own, no I know; I'm no superman."
I have to give credit to my main man Tim for introducing the show to me, pretty late in it's lifetime. The episode "My Musical" caught his attention, and after getting a strong recommendation, I decided to go ahead and pay the 2 bucks on iTunes to give it a look. What I saw, I must say, was quite unlike any show I'd seen before. Of course, not every episode is in musical form, but the format of that particular episode grabbed the attention of an impatient 13-year-old that an ordinary episode might not have been able to do.
This isn't to say, however, that the normal format of an episode is dull. Every episode I've seen, I've loved, and whether it's the music at the end, JD's awesome daydreams, or the sometimes cheesy way that every episode wraps up, tying various plots together with one overarching moral, they usually have me smiling at the end. Because, what started off as a parody of the multitude of dramas in hospitals took off into a genre of it's own, different from most TV shows on now. all the characters are ridiculous and nigh-unbelieveable, except for the experiences they have. Take JD and the Janitor and put them anywhere else but a hospital and that relationship is impossible, but on TV, in such a dreary environment (if you don't mind me saying,) you can almost believe that a support staff would hold a vendetta against a doctor. Even for something as simple as a penny on the first day of work.
I have to say, though, I started watching at a bad time. Season 7, supposedly the last, began when the writer's strike was at it's strikiest, and lasted just a little more than 10 episodes. While this was a great time to catch up on the 6 seasons I had missed, Season 7 lacked a certain quality that the others had. It was funny, sure, but at times too much so, and while I enjoyed watching Turk and JD throw water balloons at the annoying interns, and Elliot's bizarre relationship with Keith, it seemed out of place. The show, while always a comedy, wasn't taking itself seriously enough. Still a decent portion of TV, but season 7's downfall's gave way into season 8's perfection.
The turnaround was evident from the first 2 episodes last year. Focusing Dr. Cox's troubles with his new position, and the hospital bromance duo talking to a terminal patient in his final hours, it was clear that the show would go out with a bang, and not just another half-decent season before puttering out. The season's had sad moments, crazy ones, touching ones, hilarious ones, and it's fair share of daydreams, but most of all, it was Scrubs again. People say that finales are often a letdown, yet I had high hopes for Scrubs, and, as always, it did not let me down. I'm just manly enough to admit that the end had me sniffling, and not just because I have a cold.
Scrubs has little to no followers at DA and not a ton at QHS (high five, Erin.) Of course, here, things like that are often rated by their inappropriate content, not their quality level, but that's beside the point. The point is, whether you liked it or not, is that it's over. It went out stronger than most, and even its harshest critics can't say no to the fact that it brought something new and fresh to the table. Goodbye Scrubs, and thanks for everything.
-Will
"I can't do this all on my own, no I know; I'm no superman."
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Seussical the Musical
Let me tell you a story of my recent free time,
but to make it more fun I will tell it in rhyme.
In the spirit of the play, and like Dr. Seuss
I'll give it a shot. Don't you snicker. Moose.
It all started out in mid-late December,
When the auditions were held, I still can't remember
But as I recall, I showed up and acted
for the part of the general, and the teacher reacted
better than expected, for I got the part
of the Mayor of Who, which gave me a start.
'Twas a bigger role than expected, yes,
yet not such as big as Horton, I guess
But I loved it and looked forward to begin
and that's about where thing's gave right on in.
It had been a while since I had last sung,
and I didn't think I'd be perfect, but it stung
When I realized how much I had since then forgotten
basic musical terms, plus my voice sounded rotten
I was "married" to someone else in the BGC,
and was the "father" of her brother, which was strange to me.
The first couple weeks, surrounded by singers,
were hard and embarrassing, and put me through the ringer
yet after the start, I began to have fun
with the other performers, including my "son"
I became more comfortable with each passing day,
so, by the time we had to put on the play,
I knew all my lines, I could sing all my songs,
and all of the cast members just got along
Which made it much better, and easy to do
I could be both happy and Mayor of who
On the opening night, I forgot 'bout my mic
I fussed with it some, yet it was on mute
For most of Act 1, so the point was moot
Come Saturday night, we did much much better,
still, I kicked part of the set, almost forgot a letter
Then yesterday night, It really came together,
even though I was feeling quite under the weather
Tonight was alright, overall very good,
but I didn't do well, didn't think I would
My throat was sore, my nose was runny,
even more than last night's, but still, it was funny
My lines were alright, yet my singing was off,
I still had my cold, plus a pretty bad cough
The whole thing was tiring, yet worth all the work
And the suit that I wore was but just one perk
But it was a blast, I had fun on Who,
Yet it's all over now. And the Mayor's? We're through.
-Will
"When the news is all bad,
when you're sour and blue,
when you start to get sad, you should do what I do:
tell yourself how lucky you are!"
but to make it more fun I will tell it in rhyme.
In the spirit of the play, and like Dr. Seuss
I'll give it a shot. Don't you snicker. Moose.
It all started out in mid-late December,
When the auditions were held, I still can't remember
But as I recall, I showed up and acted
for the part of the general, and the teacher reacted
better than expected, for I got the part
of the Mayor of Who, which gave me a start.
'Twas a bigger role than expected, yes,
yet not such as big as Horton, I guess
But I loved it and looked forward to begin
and that's about where thing's gave right on in.
It had been a while since I had last sung,
and I didn't think I'd be perfect, but it stung
When I realized how much I had since then forgotten
basic musical terms, plus my voice sounded rotten
I was "married" to someone else in the BGC,
and was the "father" of her brother, which was strange to me.
The first couple weeks, surrounded by singers,
were hard and embarrassing, and put me through the ringer
yet after the start, I began to have fun
with the other performers, including my "son"
I became more comfortable with each passing day,
so, by the time we had to put on the play,
I knew all my lines, I could sing all my songs,
and all of the cast members just got along
Which made it much better, and easy to do
I could be both happy and Mayor of who
On the opening night, I forgot 'bout my mic
I fussed with it some, yet it was on mute
For most of Act 1, so the point was moot
Come Saturday night, we did much much better,
still, I kicked part of the set, almost forgot a letter
Then yesterday night, It really came together,
even though I was feeling quite under the weather
Tonight was alright, overall very good,
but I didn't do well, didn't think I would
My throat was sore, my nose was runny,
even more than last night's, but still, it was funny
My lines were alright, yet my singing was off,
I still had my cold, plus a pretty bad cough
The whole thing was tiring, yet worth all the work
And the suit that I wore was but just one perk
But it was a blast, I had fun on Who,
Yet it's all over now. And the Mayor's? We're through.
-Will
"When the news is all bad,
when you're sour and blue,
when you start to get sad, you should do what I do:
tell yourself how lucky you are!"
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