Halloween Bash at Mont Co

I take off my plastic ring and HUNGER GAMES wristband, swapping the pentagram necklace for the Bronze Oak Leaf. I later get out of dad's truck with a camouflage cloak wrapped over my shoulders and carrying a heavy bag of candy. As soon as I walk in, there are a few people sitting at a table. Once I get to it, my friend Leyna comes out and answers when they ask if I'm in the drama club (responsible for the party). "So you don't have to pay." one of them says. So I didn't even need my five bucks and ID.
    Walking into the darkened cafe, I ask where I should put the bag of candy. Leyna puts it on top of a vending machine to serve as 'extra' in case the other stuff runs out. I don't see that happening, though. Its mostly cubed fruit, but there are also treats like soda and gum. I'm just glad there isn't any beer. If no one eats the candy, it's more for me then! :)

    I spend quite a bit of time leaning against the wall with my hood up, or at the snack table eating chips. I talk to a few of my other theatre class/drama club friends like Ryland, Dominic, and making one or two new friends. Like James with his wizard garb.

There's a DJ with the system and everything, playing lively beat music and getting everyone on their feet. Well, most of them. There isn't too big of a crowd until before nine PM, (I got here at quarter to eight, fifteen minutes before it was supposed to start) and then thing's get a bit crazy. Of course to some people, it would be considered normal. But to me, it's insane.

 

Dancing. Yeah, most of us get to our feet and went crazy. And when I say "us" and "our" I mean INCLUDING ME! Yeah, I actually do a lot of break-dancing (which I never ever ever ever ever ever thought I would EVER see myself do in a million years) during it. See, it started when I was talking with my friend Dominic saying I can barely dance except a couple things I've seen, and he said it was good. So when there's a bigger group, I just walk up there and join in, going crazy. I even incorporated a lot of my martial arts moves (like punches and high kicks in sync with the music). I even made up a few small dances like "The Ranger", "Gollum", and "Indiana Jones." With that one, I would wave my fist and say [in the beat of the song playing]: "I HATE SNAKES, JOCK! I HATE 'EM!" I think they enjoyed that.

When I was doing one of my kicks, 'SNAP/POP!' goes my leg. From the inside, I mean. Swearing angrily and quietly (at least, compared to the music blaring through the huge speakers), I limp back to a chair I had previously claimed next to Dominic, attempting to nurse my sore leg.

After a while, Leyna comes over and brings us both out on the floor. I do as much as I can, without bending my right leg too low. Of course I get worn out, hot and sweaty, (several times) which makes me take my cloak off a few times over the four hour duration of the party. When I sit down, I try to take as many good pictures as I can. (I couldn't get one of all of us in a 'conga line' which I really enjoyed, hence the reason I didn't take my camera out of my pocket)

 I did manage to get these, though :)

Me, Ryland, Leyna, and a few others sort of work together and try to get James to dance after finding him sitting on one of the couches. Not the best results (he barely moved) but at least we got him off his butt.

After all that at midnight, after a bunch of us have left, the lights come back on and I decide to hang around for a while with the remainders and pick some stuff up. I guess I just don't want to leave 'till the others do and then there's nothing to keep me here. I did help a bit, picking up the strings of lights and shoving them in a plastic bag. I think I felt my phone vibrate with a text, but I don't bother to look at it yet.
Not wanting to forget, I reach for the bag of candy on top of the machine. James helps me get it down, after which I take off my cloak and use to wrap/cover it up.

We are later told we all have five minutes to leave so I say "see ya" to my friends, who fortunately I will be reunited with on Monday for theatre class and drama club!



10/28/12
aw crap I just found out about Hurricane Sandy and classes are cancelled Monday and Tuesday. I don't have class on Tuesday anyway, but... UGH! But at least I have Intro to Theatre on Wednesday (if it doesn't end up cancelled too)

The HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Live Spectacular

On September 15th, 2012, I went on a cool trip I'm not gonna forget, to see the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Live Spectacular with the drama club.

    First, I was dropped off at the Pottstown Mont Co campus, and almost immediately met up with a few of my friends from the club and the few family members brought along for the ride. Twenty tickets had been available, but I think we had two extra cause two people bailed. I'm pretty sure...
    Anyway, we got on the shuttle bus parked right outside around four o'clock. We sat for a while 'cause a few of us ran late and we were supposed to wait till everyone was there. That already made it better than any random bus trip. The shuttle wasn't very big, maybe eight rows of seats on one side, so it was easier to interact with the others. That was key to more than half the trip, to tell ya the truth.
    See, it's about an hour ride from Pottstown to the Blue Bell campus, and then the same amount of time from there to the part of Philadelphia where the show was gonna be. And as college kids and immature (come on, let's be honest) for the most part, we needed to keep our minds occupied. So we would all just name a bunch of random/stupid topics and discuss, laugh, and just keep each other amused. It went on after we went to the Blue Bell campus to pick up a few others who were coming.
    The only really annoying part was, that thing in the back (behind the last row in my column of seats) that's apparently meant for handicaps, I don't know what it's called; for when someone in a wheelchair has to get on and off the bus-- anyway that thing and the rest of the shuttle would rattle loudly when we would hit a small bump, or pretty much anything. So we had to speak pretty loudly just to hear anything. None of us seemed to be the quiet type anyway, so it wasn't hard :)

    Now, we got to Philadelphia and parked around ten after six, and then it got confusing. About half of us went somewhere to eat, while me and the others went straight to the door of the huge building to get our tickets scanned. It was pretty crowded, so I'm glad I went with them.
   After the tickets, then it got kinda scary. The escalator we took to get to the section of the theatre where our seats were, it was so high. Literally, one gigantic lobby with two escalators and two extra stories on the left side.. So we were going up a three-story-high escalator. I had to shut my eyes just to avoid freaking out. I was relieved when we got to the top. We walked around the long hallway and balconies upstairs, seeing the city from there. When we found a doorway labeled 202 and 203, we walked through it and into the "theatre." Or should I say "stadium"?

    Yeah! It was so freakin' huge, and we were on the third level of seats. THE THIRD LEVEL! So we were incredibly high and it was scaring the crap out of me. I did pretty well of not showing it very much except saying a couple times calmly that the height scared me quite a bit. Ads played in lights at the base of the third level, and it would make me jumpy when they would switch between ads 'cause for about a second it would get dark and then bright again. Not all of us were in our seats right away so I was able to slip out and wander the upstairs 'lobby' for a while until about ten to seven o' clock. I made my way back to my seat and finally relaxed. Took a few minutes, though.. Especially when the show finally started.
   IT WAS INCREDIBLE! Ok, three quarters of the stadium were the seats, and the last bit was covered by black curtains and a giant screen. The floor was covered by a giant screen too, so it look like am Imax theatre or something. Besides the screen, the actors did a good job with the combat, weapons, and riding the dragons-- OH MY GOD THE DRAGONS! If you couldn't see the bases that were attached and making them move, you'd swear they were real. Pretty much every detail was exact in terms of how they all looked and sounded. I had never seen anything like it before, nor did I ever guess that I would. A bunch of people in the audience were taking pictures, so I took out my phone a few times to get some shots (unfortunately my phone takes really crappy pictures so I didn't have a lot of luck). There was a twenty-minute intermission around eight, and by then the huge windows were black and the lobby and halls looked a lot brighter 'cause of the darkness outside.
    After the show, we walked out of the stadium and most of us were together. The rest of us would meet at the bus later. Going back down the escalator was easy, and we just walked straight out and got back on the shuttle bus, taking our seats and waiting for the others. When they finally got on and were seated, the bus lights turned off and we could hardly see each other but we could see the lights outside, which actually made it a bit easier to see each other.

    The ride back, holy crap it was awesome. It was like the ride to the theatre, except we were even more obnoxious. A bunch of the things we talked about led to me and couple of the guys singing a bunch of random songs and making fools of ourselves, laughing like crazy and just being goofballs. The driver asked us to quiet down a little (twice, I think). One of the guys brought up an "Epic Rap Battles of History" video (on his phone) of Albert Einstein vs Steven Hawking, which we hovered over and listened intently. He was sitting behind me so I had to stand up and hang onto my seat.
    I remember at one point he said we actually look better in the dark, and we all laughed at that.
    It went on like that till we got back to the Pottstown campus between 11:30 and midnight. I just waited a minute or so until most of the others left 'cause I didn't wanna leave right away. But when I did, mom and dad were right there in the car. So I didn't have to sit around for another twenty minutes or so.
    Overall, it was one of the best theatre experiences I've ever had, and not I'm not just talking 'bout the show.

PS If I see the show again someday (I'm pretty sure I will), lower seats PLEASE!

"I finally did it!"

I am sitting cross-legged on the gym mat floor. To my left is the wall painted like the American flag, and on the other side is a giant mirror. Directly in front of me is a table with a few candles, a pile of small rocks, and an incense burner. Thankfully it masks the smell of the SUBWAY on the other side of the wall.

    I am in the middle of the first row of many, maybe six or seven rows of three going down the gym. The rest of them who I see are barely older than twelve, some of them younger. Some of them are relaxed like me, but not many. Most of them are screwing around with the candles in front of them and making jokes. Don't get me wrong, I love jokes. But when it gets annoying and a bit disruptive, part of me says "Just don't get involved." But when they say something I actually find funny, I look over my shoulder to them and laugh or comment lightly.
    In front of each of us is a small plate with a little round candle, and for each of us, our Black Belts. To just look at mine and be that close to it is amazing. I have to grip my knees tightly just to resist grabbing it.

 At six, one of the instructors lights the other small candles laid out at the edges of the gym, and the ones in front of the other instructors sitting in front of the table. There are seven of them in a row, and Mr Morgan is in the middle, sort of facing me. The lights then go out, and the music player under the table (covered by white tablecloth) is playing a narration apparently by Haeng Ung Lee, the Eternal Grandmaster.

    My row of three is supposed to walk up to the instructors and we light our own candles by holding them to the instructors'. I light mine using Mr Morgan's, and I can feel my pulse pounding inside my head as I do it. It takes me a few tries and am sort of afraid I'll drop out or that it will go out before I go back to my spot. But when I sit back down with the lit candle, I am relieved.

   When it is over, Mr Morgan tells us to blow out our candles, and after a few moments, the first boy on my left is brought up to the front with his Black Belt. He takes his Red-Black Belt off and Mr Morgan ties on the black one. He says the boy's name, everyone claps, and then he shakes the instructors' hands before...

I am called up. Mr Morgan whispers a few congratulations to me while he ties on the belt, and asks if I'm gonna end up running the Pottstown school. Since I might as well, I say yes and then he says it to Mr Wolfel, one of the owners.

"First Degree Black Belt, Mr. Derek Bartlett."
   There is clapping, I shake a few hands, and I walk back to my spot. From a distance or up close, the Black Belts look bigger than colors belts, and that's cause they are. They're thicker by about half an inch, and maybe twice as long so you have to wrap it around once and then knot it. Mr Morgan tied it on very tightly around my stomach above my waist where I normally tie my belt on, so it takes me a minute to get used to that.
   One one end of my belt, my name DEREK BARTLETT is written in gold letters. On the other end I think it says "American Taekwondo Association" in Korean. When I watch the other kids get their (First Degree, and some others getting their Second Degree) Black Belts, I can't help but smile and help cheer them on. 'Cause that's what they need, motivation and encouragement.









  After we are all given our belts, Mr Morgan walks around giving each of us a stone. Not like any stone I have ever seen. I focus on the one in my hand, feeling it smoother than almost anything I've touched, and it has cracks in different places. Mr Morgan goes on to explain how it symbolizes the whole path we each took, learning Taekwondo. There have been smooth spots along the way and some rough ones, he says. And I couldn't agree with him more. But most of the stone is smooth, which is the way I have viewed it. Some rough spots, but it is worth it overall. The candles, we keep as well.

    Finally able to wear the belt that I have seen hanging on a wall in the lobby for nearly three years, it feels amazing (despite the fact that it's squeezing my stomach right now, lol). I've come this far, working hard. Here's my prize, and my ability to keep going with my training. I FINALLY DID IT! I'M A BLACK BELT NOW!

Black Belt Testing Part I and II

PART I: The Fitness and Knowledge Test

It was nerve-wracking just getting there 'cause it was on a Thursday I had to miss one of my evening classes at Mont Co to get there. Thankfully I can always make it up later. Anyway, I had my uniform and gear bag in my mom's car so we could go straight to the Exeter school straight from campus. When we got there and I was able to change into my white uniform, the test(s) started in the gym/studio.

First: The knowledge test. They had two-page packets separated by thick binders so no one could see each others'. I was relieved to find out it was a written test instead of being asked the questions right then and there, 'cause you gotta answer in about a second. This time I could think a little. I was worried I had gotten about two of them wrong, but when I got it back, it was a hundred percent! :)

Second: The fitness test. There were five stations set up, each one being watched by a Black Belt, and they were all different. We were each supposed to carry a small piece of paper that the Black Belt at each station could write down how many of each exercise we did. The first station was crunches, which I liked. Now, the second was pushups. You had to go down low enough to make a pad squeak, or it didn't count as one. So i did about twenty-three, very painfully. The third station was punches on a pad, which I didn't mind except I was close to worn out and my knuckles were getting sore. No bruising or anything, though. The next station was kicks, and I was really getting worn out there. The last one was punches and kicks on a bag, and by the time I was done I was beat. Literally, when I had to slide myself over a few feet to move the line when more students went through the stations, I had to drag myself and then I'd fall in a heap. I'm so glad the rest of us were sitting instead of standing. The muscle pain was gone but I literally felt like a heap, my limbs little more than noodles and my head full of rocks.

After that we did a twenty-minute workout, and then we were dismissed after being told that the hard part was over. You have no idea how thirsty I was.


PART II: The Test

I didn't have college the next day (Friday) except in the morning, so I wouldn't have to miss anything. This time, my stomach was knotting for hours 'cause of the nerves, but I was thankful to just get it all over with. Ok, so here's how it went. Me and my parents go to the rec center where my other belt tests have been, and it was SO hot! I'm not joking, it was boiling and there were four giant fans set up. The only ay to get cooled off was to stand in front of one of them, or go downstairs to the basement where it was a bit chilly. At six when all the recommended Black Belts like me (and not to mention first, second and third degree Black Belts) were there, we were all lined up and then we all were put in a corner with our gear bags and the two wooden boards we were each given. They had our names written on them in black marker (they spelled mine wrong on one of them! It said Derrick B. instead) to not get mixed up, thank god.

The Black Belt tested, and it took a while cause there would be six of them on the floor at a time. Eventually, me and the other Red-Blacks tested for form and self-defense. When that was over, we all got our sparring gear on, which got us even MORE hot and sweaty. I was relieved when I finally got to spar against one of my friends from the Exeter school (I go to the Pottstown school, but in the summer last year I went to the Exeter for a while), 'cause I didn't wanna sit and stand around in line anymore.

We were dismissed from sparring and then the Black Belt tested for their board-breaks, which of course, involved real wooden boards. Me and the others sat on the floor watching, and for a bunch of the Black Belts, we clapped (and stomped, that "We Will Rock You" beat, which at one point I started by stomping with my feet and clapping) and cheered when the boards were successfully broken.

Finally, it was my turn. I handed the boards to both holders, readied myself, and then, CRACK! I split the first board clean through with my right forearm, and then I went to the other one to kick. Unfortunately I couldn't break it. But the cool thing is, those of us who couldn't break were given another chance after were were all done. So when I finally got to go again, my right foot shot straight through the wood, something I had never guessed would be possible for me.

I had never sweated that much in my life. We don't get our new belts until some ceremony on Thursday, and thankfully we don't need our weapons/gear bags. It's at six, ("Of all days of the week, WHY THURSDAY?!") so I will need to make that up, too. It shouldn't be too hard. Plus, the hard part is over, so I'm ready.

First Day of College at Mont Co.

    When I got in the car this morning with my heavy backpack, I was nervous about starting college because I was afraid of how much different it would be from high school. But now, the reality is that so far it's not that difficult to get by, unless you have a massive schedule, which I don't.

Starting
    I went into the art building, trying to keep up my confidence. hardly anyone was there, but the classroom I was supposed to go to was unlocked and I was the first student there, for Introduction to Theater. I put my backpack in a chair and waited outside the room for class to start, and more students came every few minutes or so until 8:40. When class finally started, there were about a dozen of us and a few of us showed up late. I didn't know anyone there except a girl named Leyna who gave a tour of campus during orientation. It was interesting to get to know some of the other students and the teacher, Krista Apple ("Just call me Krista," she said) who was really nice. After a bit of a lecture, she had us imagine a world atlas on the floor and stand on it, at the points where our family tree goes. I just picked New York since I was born in Syracuse. Some of the other students mentioned their family trees going back to Ireland, Africa, and one girl saying she was related to Pocahontas. I mentioned my relation to Captain Miles Standish, and Krista ended up mentioning our ancestors probably met or something, that got us all laughing a little. Then we stood on part of the "map" that our favorite stories were. I picked Europe cause Middle Earth was meant to be a type of world similar to that as far as I've heard.

After First Class
    During the ten-minute break between classes, (I left my backpack and denim jacket in the room 'cause my next class was in there) I ran into Tim Gallagher (my 12th grade English teacher Joe's brother) and told him about the movies I had my teacher in, and he laughed a lot at that. Looks like those two will have something to talk about later, huh? :) I also saw some of my friends from high school, which really made me feel good.
    My study skills class was ok. First we each filled out a sheet that had stuff like "three words that describe you" or "name an experience that changed your life" and "where do you see yourself in ten years?" It wasn't exactly boring but not that cool. At least it's something else useful if not as interesting. I don't know, maybe it will help.

Break Time
    After my two classes were done, I went to the other building into the cafeteria to take a break and eat lunch. Not many people were in there so I ate a little and went to the library so I could read the amount I was supposed to for my study skills class.
    After I finished reading, I went back to the cafeteria to find it mostly crowded, which I was relieved to see. In fact I took my theatre book out and read the first chapter there. See, the problem I have a lot when I read assigned stuff like this is I have a ton of racket going on inside my head and I have to block it out with "real noise." So I sat down at a table and read before eating more and socializing.

Social Life
    I did quite a bit of socializing. In fact, at the table right next to mine sat a costumed girl in red white and blue polka dots who gave me a flyer for the drama club when I asked "What up with the dots?" I looked it over and thought it was interesting. I saw Leyna and two other students (Scott and Sharii, I think) who were dressed like Vikings walking around the cafe handing out flyers as well. And apparently the Viking garb is in spirit for the How to Train Your Dragon live show that has been out for a while and I've been dying to see it. On the flyer it said that they're going to see it on the fifteenth, so that sounds like a lot of fun. Anyway, I signed up for the drama club (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and the students nearby seemed happy about that, giving me a lot of positive comments about it saying we have fun, and I think they are planning a 24-hour lock-in which sounds awesome. I'll have to see how it goes after the first club meeting.

(PS) I asked Sharii if anyone from the club has ever thought to bring a camera and make a short film, and the others seemed to like that idea. Not confirmed of course, but it's a possibility that would make sense, being surrounded by actors.

WISH ME LUCK!! :D

Archery Upgrades

Since it's been getting cooler bit by bit these last few days, I've found more time to go outside (in the evening, too hot during the day) and shoot my recurve bow. I also went to Dick's Sporting Goods and got a few upgrades, mostly meaning my gear.

First, there's this. My new quiver, designed on the inside to keep arrows from falling out, and it has a screw-on lid. The whole thing is made of two tubes, one of which you can adjust to fit any arrow length. This will come in handy someday when I have a longbow, because I will need arrows that are both longer and heavier.

 

Two new arrows that I bought because I was missing a few. But hey, archers replace their arrows all the time.  A word of advice. Get bright colored arrows like these when you can, because there is a smaller chance of losing them if you are shooting on a grassy lawn like I always am (there aren't any archery ranges I know of nearby, and my three acres are big enough)

New arm-guard, and the only comfortable one I have ever seen. It fits like a glove, feels like a sock, and actually covers my arm unlike the strip of leather I've strapped to my arm (and get a bad itch) several times before.

 

Look closely at this, and tell me what you see...













HA! Seriously though, I hit the tree by accident. See, I shoot at a hay bale with a target spray-painted onto it, and somehow the arrow skipped off the top and sort of jumped out of the way into the tree. Crazy, huh? That this is a way-out-of-the-way tree, about thirty feet away from the target. And as you can probably tell, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures.




I also taught my mom how to shoot yesterday. The day before, she said she wanted to learn how, and I let her use my first bow with three of my longest arrows. I watched the technique and all the little details, which make the biggest difference when shooting arrows. I've never taught anyone how to shoot before, so this is definitely something new. As it gets cooler out, I'll be shooting more often and getting more practice in.

Getting Outside to Shoot

Kind of ironic that in the summer I am not into going outside, well because its too hot out. But today is different. Today was actually a good day to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. About time, too.
I picked up my recurve bow and walked down the street, maybe a mile (I've never exactly measured it) to hang out with my twelve year old cousin Caius for the afternoon. he had his compound bow, which has a fierce draw weight.

    After I got there, we set down the bows and arrows to go for a joy ride in the truck that is still in good enough condition despite it being over thirty years old.I'm telling ya, Caius can really drive that thing. going fast, over bumps (just in the gigantic yard, duh), etc until finishing after a few minutes.

    After getting out of the truck, we shot our bows, aimed at a hay bale positioned in the yard. the only problem was that a couple times his cat Rocket would walk nearby and Caius had to get him to leave. But I'd say we're doing better. I picked up a way to aim and hold the bow by seeing THE HUNGER GAMES and from watching the Olympic archers with my uncle in New York. I held the end of the arrow to my jaw with the bowstring next to my nose, positioning the arrow point exactly where I wanted it to land. After releasing it, it came out as a pretty good shot. Now all I need is more practice.

    On my walk back home I ran into my friend Hali on the road and chatted for awhile. It always feels good to see my high school friends, which I am hoping to do a bunch of times this year and after.

    A few hours after getting home I decided to practice some more since it was getting cool enough in the evening. So I picked up my stuff and walked out into my own yard, shooting the same way at the hay bale I spray-painted a black and orange target onto last Halloween. I'm definitely getting better, but again I just need more practice. Now that I actually know how to aim a bow, I don't have to do as much experimenting as I have since I was sixteen. And hopefully it'll keep getting cooler over the next few weeks and I can get outside more without dying of the heat.

    Another good sign is I'm actually getting some muscle pain in both my arms and little bruises on my fingers. Normally wouldn't sound like good news, but it means I'm doing it right. So all I need left is practice