Poker

Just like a casino, we ran a couple tables of card games. The first, and easiest (in my opinion) was blackjack or "21." The difficult part, I'm guessing, is learning all the jargon (or specific vocabulary) to play the game. If I want a card, it would be a "hit," if I just want one more card and to double my bet, it's "double down." If I have pairs and want to play two hands, it's a "split." And if I'm happy with my cards, I just want to "stay." Each particular occupation or group has very specific language, even if it is just a simple card game.
More complex, was Texas Hold 'Em. Knowing what "hands" (or group of cards) beat what other hands was the most difficult part of that game. Also, I think we all saw that luck plays a big part into how the game turns out. No matter how much you understand a game, or how much effort you put in, luck often determines the winner.
At one of the tables was five card draw. Again, the difficulty is knowing what hand beats what other hand. I think the order goes like this:
High card
1 pair
2 pair
3 of a kind
Straight
Flush
Full House (2 of a kind, 3 of a kind)
Four of a Kind
Straight Flush (with Royal Flush being the highest)
Because I received no responses to the last blog entry, and we are still talking about games, I still want to know what kinds of games do you play. What specific language (or jargon) goes with those games? Do you play with family or friends? Do you have any special rules (also known as "house rules"). Let me know anything about any games.

Spoons

Spoons is played with a standard deck (or decks) of cards and a number of spoons. The spoons are placed in the center of the playing area, so that all players can reach for a spoon. The total number of spoons is one less than the number of players.
Each player is dealt four cards with the object of drawing and discarding cards one at a time until a four-of-a-kind is acheived. After the initial deal, the dealer takes a card from the top of the deck, either replaces one of his/her cards in hand or passes the card to the player at the right. If the dealer does replace a card, the card that was previously in their hand is passed to the right. The dealer repeats this as fast as possible, and soon all players should be picking up and discarding cards. The player to the dealer's left creates a discard pile to be used in case the deck runs out.
The player first achieving a four-of-a-kind may then grab a spoon. When this happens, all the other players, regardless of cards in hand have to also grab a spoon. The player left without a spoon is eliminated.
An alternative rule rewards letters to the losing player (like a game of HORSE in basketball). If a player doesn't get a spoon, they get a letter, starting with "S" and are eliminated when they spell S-P-O-O-N-S.
Players can also "bluff" and reach for a spoon, trying to get another player to touch a spoon. If you touch a spoon without having four-of-a-kind or another player having four-of-a-kind, you will get a letter or be eliminated.
For those of you who played this game, what did you think of it? What other card games do you play? Do you play card games (or any other games) with your families and friends? What is your favorite? Let me know your thoughts on games.

Body Language

Not only what we say, but how we say it and what we are doing when we say it say a lot. Does that make sense? What I am trying to say (actually, write) is body language and facial expressions are used a lot in communication.
Going back to the silent movie film clips we watched, we could understand the humor through what the people were doing. Even Mickey Mouse as Steamboat Willie used facial expressions. Even the whistles on the steamboat in Steamboat Willie had facial expressions. This is all part of body language.
When Buster Keaton falls through the hole in the roof and the woman in the bathtub yells at him to get out, we understand the emotion and expression even though no one is talking. This was before sound...even before color.
Body Language is also called Non-verbal communication and comedians, to give one professional example, need to master it. The little things we do are called cues (or visual cues) that let others know what we are thinking, expressing, trying to communicate, even if we ourselves are unaware of what we might be doing. Sometimes we exaggerate to make something seem funny. We cue a friend or audience to let them know they should laugh.
What I would like to know this time is...what visual cues, non-verbal communication, facial expressions, or body language do you use to express or say more (than just with words)? Is there any body language that is specific to your culture? What examples did you see in the clips we watched - or - what examples have you seen in other shows or movies? Just a few things I was wondering.

Pie in the Face

For those of you who watched the comedy clips, most liked the 3 Stooges Pie Fight. The 3 Stooges are famous for being dumb, but obviously their humor still makes modern audiences laugh.
The "Pie-in-the-face" gag was featured in film as early as 1914. The Keystone Cops (who were clumsy policemen chasing a burglar) featured it regularly. The comedy duo Laurel and Hardy had a giant pie fight in their movie "The Battle of the Century." It is rumored that over 4000 pies were used.
Other comedians, like Charlie Chaplin, have used the pie fight, and even cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny use the gag. But "pieing" hasn't been used just for laughs. Pieing has also been used to make political statements, and if it is done to someone who doesn't like it, it can be considered assault! So remember, if you are going to throw a pie at someone, make sure they have a good sense of humor, or you could get in trouble.
J told us that sometimes people are hit with a pie in the face on their birthday. I was wondering, though, what other pranks (funny tricks you do to people) are popular with you and your friends? Have you ever done the pie-in-the-face to trick someone? What do you do to have a laugh or make other people laugh?

Humor

Not all humor translates from one culture to another. Early humor was meant to be understood by a lot of people, and this was done by using "physical" humor. In the earliest movies, sound could not be used, so comedians had to use their body to do funny things.
Comedians like Charlie Chaplin are famous around the world because no language is needed to understand what he is doing. Most of the time, he is just acting silly, but he was very good at doing this.
Cartoons often imitated violent, or "slapstick," humor. Like the movies, early cartoons were silent (just with music in the background) and a physical type of comedy worked well.
Slapstick humor was used often by the 3 Stooges. They would resort to very basic forms of comedy, like the "pie-in-the-face" routine. Often, they looked like living cartoon characters themselves.
Television had sound when it first began, so it could use language as comedy. Some television stars still resorted to using physical and slapstick humor, however. Lucille Ball is an example of someone who still used physical humor, although she had the convenience of sound.
But I want to know what you think is funny. What type of humor or comedians do you like and why? What are your favorite funny movies or TV shows and why? What do you think makes something or someone funny? I want to know your opinions.

Visit to the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge

Here are a few pictures from our visit to the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.












When it stopped raining, it turned out to be a good day. We saw some animals; if you look closely at the first photo, you will see a deer. The refuge is a beautiful place and I recommend visiting it sometime if you have the chance. Have a good summer!

I Wish I Had a Camera

Jeff Sanders visited the Conversation Group this last Wednesday (I hope I have that name right). He talked to us about Shakespeare, specifically, how we should listen to the rhythm of the words before trying to decipher the meaning. It helps to think of The Bard's (a.k.a. Shakespeare's) work as being like poetry, or even like a song. It helps to know the tune, even if it is complicated (like jazz).
We recited the first few lines of Romeo and Juliet:

"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."

Repeating these lines helped us learn that rhythm, and where the rhythm changed on the word "break," helped establish the meaning of the entire play.
When acting these lines, the actors must treat this language as it is happening, whether it is thought or dialog. To help us understand how actors interact, we did a few exercises. The first exercise had us arranged in a large circle. One person pointed at another person and had to wait for a spoken permission of "yes" before taking that person's position in the circle. Then everybody in the circle just had to do it with their eyes, no pointing.
The last exercise was the funnest. Every time someone in the circle was pointed at, they had to imitate an elephant, a rabbit, roadkill, or Elvis. With the help of the two people to the side, they had to create a trunk and ears of the elephant, the hopping body and ears of the rabbit, the corpse and vultures of roadkill, or the King himself (Elvis Presley) with two screaming fans.
I bought new batteries for the camera, but forgot to take pictures of the circle of actors in performance.
Let me know about your opinions...any opinions...concerning acting, Shakespeare, plays...literally anything about the "performing arts."

Poetry and the Conversation Group

I would like to try something new with the Conversation Group. I would like anyone coming to the Group on Wednesday, May 14th to bring a poem written in their native language. I would like to hear the poem read in the original language and then an English translation of the poem (also to be read).

It doesn't matter if you do the translating, or if a book has versions in both languages. It can be a poem you have written yourself. I would also like the whole group to discuss a poem after it has been read.

If this works well, I would also like to do the same thing on May 28th to give other people a chance to share something. What do you think? Can you think of poems to bring? Does this sound interesting or just boring? Feel free to be honest.

I will volunteer to start things off by reading something when we attempt this.

Cross-Cultural Communication

Michael Reid spoke at the Writers' Center on April 30th. He brought up many interesting points regarding culture. When he asked the audience what their ideas of culture were, various answers were given. Heritage, Socialization, and even Music were different parts of culture that came to people's minds.

Mr. Reid began by explaining that everybody has different levels of needs. Level 1 is basic needs like eating and sleeping. Level 2 is safety and security, like having a house. Level 3 is to find love and friendship. Level 4 is to know that love and friendship will continue (known as status and esteem). Finally, we have self-actualization that allows for the creation of art.

In Mr. Reid's own definition, culture is the quest of people to meet the needs within the bounds of their physical environments. Water, for example, would have a different importance to an island nation than it would to a desert nation.

One idea that was reinforced was that of "willingness." How willing are people to communicate with one another? We all have to be willing to communicate to learn, agree, and understand other cultures. Each individual is different, however, and this can lead to challenges when facing other people. But it is important to try. So important that it can mean (in the most extreme conditions) survival.

So, if we respect other cultures, people, and individuals, we can actually learn a lot about ourselves. We have to put forth an effort and keep at it in order to succeed in communication. I thought Michael Reid's topic was excellent and enjoyed the discussion. But what about you? Can you tell the blog about a time when you succeeded in cross-cultural communication? How about a time you failed? What do you think would make communication easier? I welcome your ideas and thoughts about culture and communication.

Mascots are Cool!

According to the Internet (which is never, ever, ever wrong), the term Mascot comes from the French word mascotte, meaning "sorcerer's charm," "faerie friend," or "good luck piece." We think of mascots today as a person, animal, or object that brings good luck. Sports teams have them. Schools have them. Consumer products have them. Even countries have their own mascots.

Some of us discussed this in the last conversation group meeting. The United States, for example, has the Bald Eagle while Malaysia has the Tiger. These are symbols that help create group unity.

I also wanted to briefly write about mascots because the Olympics are coming up. The Summer Olympic games have the Fuwa and the Winter Olympics in 2010 have a trio of furry creatures. I don't know why, but it is always a big deal in the news when the new Olympic mascots are announced; I guess it is because if mascots represent group unity, then the Olympic mascots represent world unity.

My question about mascots is this: if you had your own group (country, sports team, school, etc...) and you could choose a mascot to represent your group, what would you choose and why?

I look forward to your answers.

Commenting on the Blogs

I wanted to moderate the comments (give them an "ok" before posting) because of Spammers putting comments on our blogs. This has led to problems, so I am not moderating...again.
If you see a comment that says "click Here or Here," do not click on either "Here" or "Here." If you see a strange name, do not click on their profile.
You have been warned!
Now...feel free to comment as much as you want.
Thank You!

Get Lit! Events

Do you like to read? Do you prefer fiction, where things are made up, or non-fiction, writing about factual things? What are your favorite books? Have you ever read the same book more than once? Have you ever gone to hear a writer read their work aloud?



Next week, April 16-20, Spokane celebrates literature will author readings of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. The celebration is called Get Lit! Many of the events are free, or cost as little as $10-$15. Below is the schedule of things you might be interested in going to. Some are even here on campus. If you have any questions about it...ask us. It is a VERY cool week. Give it a try.
For even more information go to: http://www.ewu.edu/getlit/

Date	Time	Event Description	Presenter(s)	Location	Admission
Monday April 14, 2008	9 p.m.	EWU Creative Writing MFA Student Readings	EWU MFA Students	Empyrean 154 S. Madison Street	Free
Tuesday April 15, 2008	7:30 p.m.	EWU Creative Writing Faculty Readings	EWU Creative Writing Faculty	Empyrean 154 S. Madison Street	Free
Wednesday April 16, 2008	6:30 p.m. (open registration begins 5:45 p.m.)	EWU Writers in the Community presents: Teen Poetry Slam	Teen Poets from the community at large	Empyrean 154 S. Madison Stree	Audience: free Entrants: $2 plus can of food each.
Thursday April 17, 2008	7:30 p.m.	Spokane Community College presents: One culture, many people	Diana Abu-Jaber Opening: Joseph Bathanti	Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague	$15/$10
Friday April 18, 2008	Noon-1 p.m.	Poetry Reading with origional music composition by Center for Excellence musicians	Center for Excellence musicians, and Thomas Lynch (poetry)	EWU Music Building Recital Hall, Cheney	Free
	1-2:15 p.m.	Lost Horse Poets at Get Lit!	Lost Horse Press Poets	Spokane Club 1002 W Riverside Ave., Rm TBA	Free
	2:30-4 p.m.	Festival Authors Reading	Yesho Atil, Elinor Langer, J.W. Marshall, Robert McNamara, and Lex Runciman	Spokane Club 1002 W Riverside Ave., Rm TBA	Free
	7:30 p.m.	An Evening of Poetry and Jazz	Dorianne Laux, David Wojahn, B. T. Shaw and Glen Moore	Showalter Auditorium	$15 plus fees
Saturday April 19, 2008	1-2:30 p.m.	Black Heron Press Readings	Black Heron Press Authors	Spokane Club 1002 W Riverside Ave., Rm TBA	Free
	2:30-4 p.m.	Festival Authors Reading	Dan Butterworth, Jennifer Davis, Phillip Garrison, Karen Karbo, and Katrina Roberts	Spokane Club 1002 W Riverside Ave., Rm TBA	Free
	7:30 p.m.	The End of America	Naomi Wolf Opening: Doren Robbins	Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague	$25/$15 plus fees
Sunday April 20, 2008	1 p.m.	An Afternoon with Tobias Wolff with host Jess Walter	Tobias Wolff	Spokane Club 1002 W Riverside Ave., Rm TBA	$10

Cabaret Night

Going to a Jazz Club can be expensive. Sometimes there is a cover charge to get in and often they make you buy a minimum of two drinks...not cheap drinks either. Ping-Fang told me all about her trip to a club in Portland and said she was glad Gatto's was affordable.

Several of the conversation groupies chilled with pizza, soda, and FREE jazz last week to hear the small groups from the music department strut their stuff. I wanted to thank you guys for coming to hear me sing a solo song. My teacher noted the audience that filled my table and said, "I didn't know you were an internationally renowned singer." 'I'm famous," I told her.

Seemed like there were several people in the group that actually listen to jazz music. If you liked that event, there are tons of concerts that happen on campus each quarter. Friday, March 14th, for example, the choirs--both classical and jazz--have an evening performance at the Recital hall at 7:30. Again, this is a FREE event. Keep your eyes and your ears open and you can hear all kinds of music on campus! Also, check out KEWU--the campus radio station. They play a lot of jazz. Check out 89.5 FM http://www.ewu.edu/x5082.xml

What did you guys think of it? What do you know about jazz music? What other kinds of music do you like?

Who is Kermit the Frog?

Attention: First of all, if you haven't received the e-mail, the museum visit has been canceled. I did not get enough e-mails (only one e-mail reply) from people early on, so I wasn't sure what kind of numbers we were going to have. Sorry...maybe next quarter we will go.

Okay, now to Kermit the Frog. We played a game that was like Pictionary, but we kind of made up our own rules. One person would draw on a big pad, and the teammates of that person tried to guess the word represented by the doodles. If the team didn't guess in a minute, then the other team could guess. One successful guess would equal one point.

During the game, it seemed that nouns were easier to draw than verbs. But what about proper nouns? Proper nouns can prove to be very challenging.

If a person is unknown to another culture, then it is impossible to come up with a specific name. This problem came up when Dani tried to get her team to guess Kermit the Frog. Some of you know who (or what) this is, but for those of you who don't, he is a kind of puppet called a "Muppet." There are many Muppet characters, and Kermit is kind of a leader to the rest of the characters. There are two shows that feature the Muppets: Sesame Street (an educational show for children), and the Muppet Show (more entertainment than education). There are also several movies featuring the Muppets.

Another character, Miss Piggy, loves Kermit, but she makes him nervous, so he doesn't respond to all the attention she gives him. You also see how normal Kermit's personality is when he is talking with crazy characters like Gonzo, Fozzy the Bear, or Cookie Monster. Kermit has a couple of popular songs: "Rainbow Connection," and "It's Not Easy Being Green." You also might see his image on some products available for sale.

Although I am writing about Kermit as if he were real, he is actually made out of felt. Since many people grow up from childhood learning the alphabet from this fabric puppet, though, they feel as if he were a real television actor.

So...what are some famous characters from your television, movies, books, etc...? Are they real or imaginary? What do they do? Why are they popular?

An Afternoon on the Tubes

Bear Creek Lodge - note the snowtube sign

We had a lot of fun going up to Bear Creek Lodge on Mt. Spokane for our snowtubing trip. Allow me to explain what snowtubing is all about.

First we brought our tickets to a person who explained all the rules. Then we grabbed snowtubes (the inner lining of a tire) that have ropes attached. We could pick any snowtube that was available, but a firm, symmetrical tube is considered best. Then we each handed the metal piece on our tube ropes to a guy that attached it to another moving rope. Then we sat on our tubes, and the moving rope pulled us up to the top of the hill.

Picking the right tube is important, just ask Chris and Li Gen

Going up the hill

As we were being pulled up the hill, we used the opportunity to throw snowballs at each other. Not a very nice activity, but it was a good source of amusement.

Yumi takes aim

As soon as we got to the top of the hill, we rolled off our tubes, and another guy detached the tube rope. We lined up in groups of four before getting permission to go down the hill.

This is where the real art of tubing comes in. For speed, the "tuber" will want to detach the tube rope, get a running start, dive on the tube, and lay as flat as possible. For simple enjoyment, the "tuber" may opt to sit cross-legged in the tube and take in the scenery.

It's not lonely at the top

On your mark, get set...

GO!!!

I've been sledding before, but never tubing. It was a great first experience. There are no pictures of me going down the hill because I was going too fast for the camera.

If we are going to have all this snow, we might as well take advantage of it. Dani was also especially happy that the rope going up the hill was working (last time she went, she had to walk up the hill). What do you think of tubing? As spring comes around, what are ideas about good spring things to do?

P.S.: I must again thank Hao for providing the pictures. He's quite the shutterbug (i.e. photographer).

Speaking of Art...

The last two weeks, the conversation groups took short field trips to the ART building to look at the art created by EWU faculty. The pieces in the exhibit were amazing (there was even one painting painted on egg shells). My favorite, though, was a rolodex full of ideas and prices. I believe it was titled "Thoughts With Values Looking for Place." This particular piece got me thinking about the value of art, and then I came across an article in the New York Times.
The article, called "At Zurich Museum, a Theft of 4 Masterworks," describes how thieves with guns came into a German museum near closing time on Sunday, February 9and stole 4 Impressionist paintings: a Degas, a VanGogh, a Cezanne, and a Monet. All together the paintings are worth $163 million dollars (Holy Cow)! The Wednesday before that, two Picassos were stolen (in a nearby town also in Germany) worth a combined $4.4 million.
Shortly after that, a missing Basquiat (an American graffiti/post-modern/neo-expressionist painter and late contemporary of Warhol) was found in a Manhattan warehouse. That painting, last seen in Brazil is estimated at $8 million dollars.
The biggest heist in America, though, happened in Boston in 1990 at the Isabella Sarah Gardner Museum in Boston. Included in the stolen paintings were a Vermeer and a Rembrandt. The total cost was estimated at $300 million dollars (that's a lot of iPods)!
Finally, at the beginning of the year, two stolen Mickey Mouse paintings (from the movie Fantasia) were recovered in Florida. These two watercolors are worth $140,000 dollars.
So, what makes art valuable? What makes some art expensive (and the target of thieves), while other art is ignored? What do you consider to be art? Who are some of your favorite artists? How much would you be willing to pay for a painting? Share your thoughts on art and value.


Degas

VanGogh

Cezanne

Monet

Chinese New Year's Celebration

Many people were in attendance


Last Friday, there was a Chinese New Year's Celebration on the EWU Campus. Many students and guests met in Tawanka for the festivities. Refreshments were provided for everyone. For entertainment, there were several performances and games (with prizes for the winners). Guests were divided into four groups: Tigers, Dragons, Phoenixes, and Mice.

These two look familiar

Our hosts gave us information about New Year customs. I remember that fireworks were important because they were used a long time ago to scare off a monster (is this correct?). No fireworks were used indoors (of course), but the talent provided plenty of excitement. There was singing, dancing, instrumental performances, magic shows, and videos. I had no idea so many of the students had such great skills.


Li Gen sings!

I must thank Hao for all the pictures! Some of you may also recognize Xiao Xiao. They were both dressed so elegantly for the occasion.

When we weren't watching the entertainers, we were invited to play games. One game called Dragon Chases Phoenix (is this right?), one player had to copy a gesture from another player and then add one to it. The players had to remember many moves and be very nimble. It made people look silly. Another game was like "pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey," but in this version, blindfolded players had to put eyes, nose, and mouth on a blank face. The results made the poor face look deformed.


The game would be easier without the blindfold

Of the food, I liked the dumplings the best. They are shaped to resemble old Chinese money (is this true?). I regret not going back for seconds. I'm still thinking about the dumplings.
I learned a lot about Chinese customs, and I think that there should be a celebration on campus every year. What did you think of the celebration? If you did not go, do you think you would go in the future? What do you do (or did you do) to observe the New Year? What do you think the Year of the Mouse/Rat will bring?


"Gong xi, gong xi, gong xi ni!" I still have this song stuck in my head!

Snowtubing!!!

As most of you know, the trip to Bear Creek Lodge at Mt. Spokane is February the 23rd. We will meet at 10:30 in the PUB. If you want to go, you have to let us know somehow. For some reason we have not been getting some e-mails. If you sent one, try sending it again. Or...stop in the Writers' Center and let us know your intention of coming along. Or...you can leave a comment on this blog!

So far these people said they will go:

Yumi
Ai
Ping-Fang
Melody
Hao
Li Gen
Chris
Dani
Neal

Excuse Me; Do You Have Any Duct Tape?

During one of the Conversation Group sessions, while we were playing a game, a reference to Duct Tape was made. So what is Duct Tape? Well, according to the Wiki site (information that I've confirmed with other web sites), Duct Tape got its start in World War II as a waterproof sealant for ammunition cases. It started green, but was soon manufactured as black or silver to match heating or air conditioning ducts (the metal tunnels through which air moves inside buildings). The adhesive is made with rubber, and it is backed by a cotton-like fabric to provide long-lasting use and stability.
Duct Tape has the reputation to be able to fix anything. In fact, NASA has used Duct Tape in emergency situations to patch up equipment and space-craft. Because Duct Tape is so well regarded, people who don't have or don't know how to use tools, think they can rely on Duct Tape alone to fix their possessions (including houses and cars).
The Duct Tape craze has expanded beyond repair jobs. People are now using Duct Tape for making crafts. Wallets, jewelry, hats, and even pants and shirts have been made out of Duct Tape! I personally have not gone so far as to make Duct Tape clothes, but as a teenager, I used to keep my old Chuck Taylor Converse shoes from falling apart by wrapping Duct Tape around them.
So if you ever here anyone mention Duct Tape, they are referring to a fantastic "fix-all" product. If you ever need any, you can find it in any store... ask for it by name.

P.S.: It is not called Duck Tape, although sometimes people say this because the tape is waterproof.

P.P.S.: Here's an iPod case made from Duct Tape.



P.P.P.S.: And one more picture demonstrating a creative use of Duct Tape.

A Winter to Remember

You may have noticed that it has snowed a lot this winter. I remember (growing up in Spokane) the temperature being very cold (-40 degrees Fahrenheit), but I can't remember this much snow. And it is going to snow even more!
I walked to and from the grocery store, and the snow was up to my knees. It was very difficult to walk where the sidewalk had not been plowed. Huge piles of snow cleared by the snow plows lined both sides of the street. It is still better than the Ice Storm of 1996. Many homes and businesses lost power for several days. Road conditions were very slick because of the ice that formed from the freezing rain. Should we consider ourselves lucky this year?
One thing that is fun to do in the snow is to go sledding. If anyone is interested, we are going to Mt. Spokane on February 16th (Saturday) at around 12:00 to go sledding. The cost is $10.00 dollars per person. Dani sent out an e-mail, so you should all have a message in your Inbox.
Speaking of Dani, I took a picture of her freezing in the cold outside. She is trying to look like she is having fun, but she is actually very uncomfortable (the camera never lies). What do you all like to do to have fun in the snow? That is what I would like to know. Does anyone ski? Snowboard? Ice skate? Ice fish? Build a snowman? Make a snow angel? Have a snowball fight? Or do you just sleep like a hibernating bear?

Good News Bloggers!!!

We made a mistake (impossible, but true)! You only need to write a blog entry on the weeks you come into the Writers' Center. That means...some of you are still behind. Get to writing, please; we want to read your comments!

Eagles Win in Overtime

A small (but significant) group of us went on Thursday night to see the Eagles play Northern Colorado in Reese Court. The basketball game was very exciting. At the end of the second half, the two teams were tied 71-71. In overtime, the Eagles outscored their opponents and managed an impressive win: 91-85. One player, Adris DeLeon (number 10) scored 42 points!

We had a fun time cheering from the stands. They handed out free EWU hand-towels, as well as red and white pom-poms, so we had something to wave everytime a big play was made. The cheerleaders led the crowd, but instead of following along, the crowd just yelled and clapped. The band also helped to get the excitement going and keep the environment loud.

During half-time, EWU students and EWU faculty played a game of dodgeball. Several small red balls were lined up in the middle of the court. From opposite sides the faculty and the students ran to the middle to get the balls. Then, they started throwing them at one another. If a person gets hit by a ball, they are "out" and have to stand at the back of the court. The last side with a player left who is not out, wins the game.

What kind of sports or activities do all of you like? Do you like to play, or just watch? Why do you like it?

Happy Holidays!

Tomoko, Jones, and Ai at the Coeur d'Alene Cruise

Just as finals were finishing, we decided to go play in the snow, We decided to go be kids! Gail, Neal, and the three smiling people you see above piled into a van. While I drove, we introduced Jones to the Beatles. It was an hour long drive to the Coeur d'Alene Resort where we were to catch a boat for the holiday light show.

We headed for Japanese food, but soon realized we had to be on the boat in fifteen minutes, so we left our menus and ran for the boat...hungry...only to stand in line for a good half-an-hour. But that's okay; there were treats on the boat. Yummy chocolate treats!

We saw some fun shaped light figures as we pulled away from the docks then sailed through the night to "The North Pole" where Santa and Mrs. Claus have a house. He talked to the kids on the boat, even called them by name and then the whole village lit up with a huge tree and all. The funniest part was that they were busy making fake snow, to help set the mood, but it was already snowing real flakes, big fat wet ones!

In fact, it snowed so much we had a little snowball fight in the parking lot as we waited for the car to warm up. I don't remember who won. (Maybe Neal can tell us.) After a fine meal at the restaurant in the resort we headed home through what felt like a blizzard and I got everyone home safe and sound. It was a good way to start the holidays.

What kinds of things did you do to celebrate the holidays and make it special? Did you travel to see family or friends? Did you do something silly and fun? Did you play outside in the snow? Watch Christmas movies? Sing songs? Tell us about something you enjoyed doing over the holiday break.