A Buntology Thanksgiving

Angela says: Thanksgiving = guilt-free gluttony
Thanksgiving is the best holiday for a few reasons. First of all, it's the kickoff to the holiday season and i walk around my big warm house feeling all tingly and nostalgic inside. Second of all, five days at home is the perfect mini-vacation and a great vaca-teaser before winter break rolls around. But that best thing about Thanksgiving is that it encompasses everything i love in one day. Food, tree and family. I'm a simple girl.

I'm laying in my bed typing this and at 5:08 pm my family (save for alicia who's at work) is passed out. We eat early and for the rest of the day our food is buffet style on the dining room table. Let the eating fest continue into the night! I wasn't too pleased with my afternoon performance, i think living off of my roommate's rice pilaf for the last month has shrunk my stomach and left my body frail.

Jackie says: I eat to live and I live to eat!
Thanksgiving, a time to be with your family and loved ones. I love coming home for this holiday because it means the major amount of work from the semester is over with, and I get to chillax with mummsy, daddo, and most importantly Ange and Alicia. Ya know, I rarely get to see my sisters so it will be a rare treat this holiday season. Can you sense my sarcasm through text?

One of my favorite things to do in the whole entire world is eat. I also love to cook, so helping out on this day of feasting is always a good time. Sleeping is really cool too, so overall Thanksgiving is the best! Cook, eat, sleep, eat, eat, eat, sleep,eat...eat.

I am trying to think back on a memory from a past Thanksgiving I could talk about, but all I can remember is times of me taking foil off of dishes and sneaking food when nobody is looking. Alicia usually ends up catching me and gets all pissy. Ah, good times good times.

Rochelle says: The Best Holiday
I love Thanksgiving! It is actually my favorite holiday.

It starts with my job letting me out a couple of hours early on Wednesday and then moves right into a four day weekend. I don't have to have a gift ready for anyone for this holiday or drive anywhere. The focus is on having way too much food and just hanging out in comfortable clothes with my husband, daughters, and pets. Movies are watched in a variety of rooms, we nap, we eat more. If it isn't too cold I take my dog for a walk and pretend I worked off all the dessert calories. How could you not love this day?

I remember Thanksgiving when I was a kid. We always spent it with my Aunt Beatrice, Uncle Harry, and my cousins. My grandparents would be there too. It was such a good time. Mostly because I adored my aunt and uncle and whenever my parents were with them they would be in a good mood. All but my mother are gone now. You just think things will always be the way they are and then suddenly they aren't anymore and it's just kind of sad. My aunt actually died on Thanksgiving day back in 1989. Cancer. Anyway, I never connect the holiday to her death only to the good times had at her house. So those are my thoughts this Thanksgiving. Thankful for sweet memories and looking forward to making some new ones.

Will says: I have two Thanksgivings, you have one!
Seriously though, I do. Every Thanksgiving my family alternates which side of the family we eat dinner with and which side we eat dessert with. This year we're going to my dad's side for dinner and my mom's side for dessert. For all you 'left brain' people, I hope I haven't lost you yet because I know the math isn't right. That's still one Thanksgiving a year.

The second one comes the day after. My parents are both one of five children so both sides of my family are big. However, my dad's side is italian so in reality... it's massive. Because there are a lot of families on my dad's side and a lot of cousins and second cousins and close family friends, we all get together the day after Thanksgiving to enjoy a second Thanksgiving where we eat leftovers. Unfortunately (or fortunately) this event has become so hectic and popular we have started to have to make new food on the second day. And then, like most families, we mentally and physically prepare ourselves for the four to five following days of remaining leftovers. Each and every one of which, I will enjoy.

Ivan O. Cordero: Ivan’s Thanksgiving Dinner
Every Thanksgiving we have dinner usually at my Mom and Dad’s in Springfield, sometimes at my sisters in Ludlow. I pick up my grandmother, Abuela Julia, and bring her over for dinner. My brothers David, Roy, and my sister Lisa come over. Lisa’s two kids (my nephew’s) Peter and Connor come over too. My brother, Orlando and I, usually end up trying to avoid preparing anything for the day because we’re lazy. But that’s usually impossible and we have to go get some rolls, or dessert, or prepare the table or something.

My mother makes the majority of the food, but my dad helps and makes a lot of stuff too. Being the picky eater that I am, I usually go thanksgiving without eating too much. My mom will have all this turkey, pork, rice and beans, potato salad, pasteles (food made of plantain bananas grinded up with meat and stuff that boiled, my mom makes it a lot and everyone loves it) and a lot of other stuff too that I don’t even know. I usually eat something quick before dinner since I don’t each much. I’ll sit at the table and chill with the family at dinner but I usually will only end up eating a bread roll, and a couple pastelillos. What’s pastelillos? It’s Spanish and I don’t know what it’s called in English. But it is like this fried turnover thing, made with dough and with meat in the inside. It’s delicious, and that is really the only Spanish food/Thanksgiving food I eat.

So on Thanksgiving it is nice to be home and see all of us get together, friends and family, and be thankful for everything we have. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Bailout Will the Baker

Let's make up a story. I recently read that keeping your mind active and thinking is a great way to decrease your risk of Alzheimer's, so maybe this will help give us a head start.

Let's pretend I open a bakery called Will's Bakery (what a nice ring) and I sell cookies, cakes, muffins and all kinds of goodies. For all intensive purposes let's pretend I open up my first bakery in North Adams and I'm the only baker in town. Well all these North Adams people start buying my baked goods for a while and it doesn't take them long to realize... Will's a horrible baker. His cookies taste like baking soda, his muffins are stale and his cakes are dryer than a bad case of eczema. Unfortunately for the people of North Adams, my atrocious bakery is the only one in town and all these families need to blow out their birthday candles on something. So I make a little money.

Now I'm feeling loved since I'm still making a buck so I expand my business and open up shops in all sorts of cities and towns throughout New England. Sadly it doesn't take long for people to figure out that my baking skills are non-existent so I start losing business. Over the course of a few months of bad business, I'm nearing bankruptcy. Bummer.. I really thought I had a chance of making the baking big time. And then it hit me. I can still keep my bakery alive if I walk door to door asking strangers for money. Talk about the power of thinking big!

So let's now pretend I'm walking to your door and we're total strangers. I explain to you my business is failing and I need... I dunno... let's estimate 25 billion dollars over the next five months to sustain it. I then, with little pressure, explain that you won't have to pay for it on your own... you can share the load with all the other people I can rally to my cause. And we'll even have payment plans so that you only have to donate a little bit of your paycheck at a time. Wait a minute Will... you're getting ahead of yourself. No one wants to eat your shitty cupcakes in the first place... why would anyone be willing to give you money to make more? I guess they wouldn't.

Okay let's end this chapter of the story because it sucks. If GM, Ford, and Chrysler can't make cars people want to buy and their business is failing, why is it the responsibility of people who pay taxes to keep it afloat? Isn't our economy supposed to be in a bad state? Why is surrendering even more of the little money we have to a terminally ill business a good investment? Surely when those companies go under, they'll be replaced. There's gotta be a better baker out there than Will Cimino. Let's save 25 billion dollars and meet him sooner than later.

Entourage and the city...of Westfield (by angela)

The Entourage season finale aired last night on HBO, and while I've seen no more than 1.5 episodes of the show and didn't watch a lick of the season finale, my friend Tim told me, "They were in Queens and Vince got a role in a Scorsese movie."

In last week's episode, Vince, played by Adrien Grenier (who we all remember from Drive Me Crazy!!!), discovers his career is going down the crapper. At least that's what HBO.com is telling me (in a nutshell). It should be noted that Adrien Grenier is extremely, extremely hott.

The point of all this is that I live across the hall from six dudes. All of them watched Entourage yesterday/ asked me if I was watching it / talked about it throughout the day. And that's fine, but don't tell me it's not blatantly Sex & the City for guys. And don't make fun of me when I cry when Carrie and Aiden break up for the second time! "And that night, we slept on the other side of the wall...for the last time," or something like that. I don't know, I've only seen it a few times. It's too painful. WHY CARRIE, WHY?!?!?!?

In the first clip Ari goes on one of his crazy tirades! And in the second clip Samantha goes on one of her crazy tirades! Honestly they aren't very similar but hey who doesn't want to hear chicks talk about getting tea bagged?

[editor's note: I legit took three hours searching for clips of the shows to compare and ended up just watching mad Sex & the City moments. Balled my eyes out when Harry proposes to Charlotte.]

mark hoppus speaks out = ange having a heart attack

I'm freaking out right now.

"In the midst of everything else that has happened lately, tom, travis, and i have all spoken together. first through a number of phone calls, and then a couple of weeks ago we all hung out for a few hours. they’ve all been great, very positive conversations. we’re just reconnecting as friends after four years of not talking. it’s a good thing." >>> - Mark Hoppus

http://www.newser.com/story/43175/blink-182-makes-up-after-travis-close-call.html

http://www.pickrset.com/markhoppus/?p=306

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599714/20081119/blink_182.jhtml

Life on Mars by Rochelle

While my darling daughter, Jackie, anxiously awaits the season premiere of "24" I am delighted to have found a new show that seems to appeal to both me and my husband.

This is a rare thing. We typically suffer through each other's shows (OK, he watches endless hours of "Law and Order" while I have grown to like "Family Guy") so when a TV show comes along that captures both of us... well that is a special moment in the Bunt household.

Some shows we have both loved:
#1 Hill Street Blues (the best ever! endlessly entertaining, Dennis Franz was outstanding, every character was as interesting as the next, never dull...how we loved this show)

#2 Sopranos (please... need I explain)

#3 House (I liked it and Rod grew to like it)

Okay.. so that's about it. Until now. Show #4 is Life on Mars, Thursdays 10 PM on ABC.

This is one of those shows that started out in England and we ripped it off and did a US version. The story is about a cop who gets whacked by a car and wakes up in 1973. It is a time travel, cop and robber, surreal type of show and the cool part is the "past" is the year I graduated high school. Sam Tyler, the star, is quite the hottie which is a bonus because I love the show anyway. Sam is trying to figure out why he is back in time. Is he in a coma or perhaps dead? Can he get back to 2008 or is this it? Oh, and every so often there are mix ups in the time... like he picks up a paper and there is a story about G. Bush or a kid has on a shirt with a picture of a current band.

It is really worth checking out. See how your momma lived way back before cell phones, internet and DNA evidence. Part of the fun of the show is watching Sam struggle through 1973 with the knowledge of 2008. There are changes in language and expressions. I actually caught a "blooper" because at one point Sam said something "sucks" and no way would that be okay in 1973.

Oh, and I just found out that this actor Jason O'Mara who plays Sam is from Ireland and is just doing an American accent for the show. That always impresses me.

Other actors on this show include Michael Imperioli (Christopher from Sopranos), Harvey Keitel, and Gretchen Mol.

So the Bunts have another show they agree on. Check it out this Thursday night.

Spike > Edward ... by Alicia

"Twilight" book review:
No bite, no thanks.

I am in bed right now, where I've been for the better part of a week, derailed by pneumonia and bronchitis. Don't cry for me - I've used the opportunity to explore my psyche and some literature. Everyone's been telling me I would love "Twilight," the story of mortal Bella and her beautiful blood-drinking boyfriend, Edward. Since the movie debuted in theaters today, it's the perfect time to review it, no? I finally got up off my high horse and deigned to purchase the obsession-inducing novel online 2 days ago. Official Buntology stylist and longtime friend Jodie Botto offered to lend me the book, but I forgot to take it and thought to myself, "Why do something for free when I can frivolously throw away my money?" I got the book, a 500-page tome, this afternoon in the mail. ($7.98, no shipping charge, from eBay.)

Being hoarse and looking rather vampiric myself, I abstained from the hopping North Adams party scene for a night, and instead "bit" (get it?) into my new book. I finished about 10 minutes ago. Don't be alarmed by my "inhuman" speed (get it?) - when I have the time and inclination, I can polish off 500 pages in about 4 hours. Which I did.

My eyes are swollen and my lower extremities are atrophied, but as a dutiful Buntology writer, I'm using my last reserves of strength to review the book.

Bella Swan, clumsy and unwittingly gorgeous, moves from her beloved Arizona to her dad's home in Forks, Washington. Long story. She doesn't think she'll like it, because it's always cloudy and rainy, and she doubts she'll fit in, but guess what? Not only does she fit in, every boy in school wants a piece. Including pale, perfect Edward, he of the smoldering eyes and crooked smile. First they're lab partners, then he saves her life a few times, then she finds out he's a vamp, then they vow to be together forever and ever. What problems could possibly arise from THIS relationship?

This was a good junk-food read. Like a Butterfinger, I devoured it quickly and enjoyed it, but derived nothing truly satisfying from it.

The story was painfully predictable: Why was Edward so mean to Bella at first? Because he's so attracted to her and they can't be together. Heard that one before. Uh-oh, his vampire sister doesn't approve - yawn. What makes her so special, anyway? That she has no sense of self-preservation? Seriously?

I mightn't have had such a problem with the tried plot if it weren't for the fact that the words "smoldering" and "chiseled" and "perfect" weren't used so often. "Smoldering" especially.

I became increasingly aware of how frequently Edward's eyes were the topic of description. Which is fine, he's a vamp, and their powerful gaze is often the subject of literary scrutiny. But eyes can only smolder so much before a human - or a reader - either gets pulled in or loses interest. I need more than smoldering eyes and a crooked smile - I need a little more conviction from my vamps. I need to be a little afraid. Sorry, Edward. Not doin' it for me.

I'll take alabaster-skinned Spike* any day.

Besides the predictably broody, moody, magazine cover-worthy Edward, Bella's acceptance and adoration of the whole situation was wholly unbelievable. I also thought Meyer's treatment of the vampire nature was offensive - the Cullen family doesn't feed on people, only animals. And throughout the narrative, there is a sense that everyone - the vamps, the humans - find feeding on humans to be reprehensible. The author's disdain for what we all know to be a vamp's true nature comes through, and makes the story pitifully shallow. Part of what makes the vampire such a fascinating and enduring character is that sensual, passionate nature and essential desire for blood. Turning a vampire into a shameful, guilty creature is entirely unappetizing (get it?).

I did, however, like Edward's family - the compassionate Dr. Cullen, who overcomes his bloodlust to care for humans; the elfin-faced Alice, who can see the future (like fashion and stock trends!); and my favorite, big, blond, burly Emmett, who treats Bella in the rough-and-tumble style of a big brother.

Bottom line - I liked the book OK, but I don't know if I'll go for the sequel. Meyer's vampires are meek and indecisive, but not in that complex, I-can't-drink-your-blood-so-I'll-have-to-settle-for-hot-sex way. I like my vampires as brooding as the next girl, but what's the use of superhuman feelings if you can't channel them into something physical?

Final thoughts: No sex, no feeding on humans? NEXT.


* Spike is the sexy, sarcastic, moody vampire from late-season Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Is he going to kick her ass, make out with her or drink her blood? I don't know ... and I like it! Now THAT's how a man should treat a lady.

Jack Bauer > Chuck Norris

After much anticipation my favorite show will be back on the air in less than a week! Well, not totally back. It is only a two hour teaser really, but I will get to see Jack Bauer back in action..finally. The two hour event is on Sunday, November 23rd at 8:00 on Fox! The real show doesn't start start until January 11th.

I remember seeing a small preview a long time ago, before the whole writer's strike issue and it looked crazy good. Tony, a main good guy who was supposed to be dead, wasn't dead and was a bad guy and C.T.U. the place where everyone worked wasn't there anymore and all this wildness. Now the preview I am seeing is like Jack in Africa helping African children or something? I am kinda confused because Jack doesn't care about children except his hot ass daughter (Elisha Cuthbert from Girl Next Door), and how and why is he in Africa? These are questions I need answers to get to the bottom of on November 23rd, and so should you.

Also, I hate when people compare Jack Bauer to Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris is dumb. Yeah I watched Walker Texas Ranger when I was little but it was corny and the fighting was corny. The fighting and killing and torturing that Jack Bauer brings down on terrorists is intense and he could beat the shit out of Chucky. No contest. I just wish Keifer Sutherland didn't go to jail for getting so many DUI's ..kinda ruins Jack's good guy image for me.

Pleading the Fifth by Alicia

Alicia has been freaking out about this video all week. It's a lecture from Professor James Duane about why you should never talk to the police. It's pretty interesting, but I don't talk to the police anyway. I'm a "good kid." - Ange

Hi. Yes. Never, ever talk to the police. Why talk to the police? - it can NEVER help you, only hurt you. Don't answer questions, if you're innocent, if you're guilty - don't talk to the police. Don't do it.

The only time I talk to cops is to say "get that flashlight out of my face, PIG."

No, just kidding. Actually, I had a very positive experience with a cop last night on my drive home from work. My office is 22.6 miles from my house. During the day, I can make the drive in 28 minutes. At night, I can do it in 23 (my best time).

I got pulled over for doing 43 in a 25. OK, it's 12:30 at night, there's no one in that school zone.
Of course, I had this whole James Duane lecture on my mind, so I'm like "I'm not tellin this guy ANYTHING."

But, to my delight, the cop was young and tall and kind of cute. Totally shaved head, like Patrick Stewart (who I also think is hot).

So at first this guy is trying to act all tough, but I'm just so damn sweet to cops he couldn't play for long.

He asked me where I was coming from, I told him my job. He asked where I worked, I told him. He asked me when I'd gotten out. Hmmm ...

Me: I don't know, like, a half-hour ago? (19 minutes.)
Officer 6'1": Do you know why I pulled you over?
Me: Noo ... (cell phone makes doorbell noise - a text!)
Officer: I clocked you at 43 in a 25.
Me: (Big smile) I .. iiiii .... A. I didn't realize it was a 25, I thought it was 35, and B. I thought I was only doing 40. (Smile)
Officer Suddenly-Not-So-Authoritative: (Poorly repressed smile) OK, well .. (glances at my license) OK, just sit tight, Miss Bunt, I'll be right back.

(8 or so minutes pass. I text everyone I know telling them I'm about to get a warning.)

Officer Can't-Stop-Smiling: How do you feel about warnings?
Me: I love them - and I love cops who give them to me! (big smile, with teeth)
Officer Crew-Neck-Sweater: Well, you'll like this. I'm gonna save you $180. .. Now, so you know, I always work this shift, so I'll be watchin' for you.
Me: Well, I always drive home at this time, so I'll look out for you.
Officer Trying-To-Find-A-Way-To-Prolong-This-Conversation: Well, OK. You should slow down, though, Miss Bunt. (smile)
Me: I will, officer, I promise.
Officer Semi: OK. Have a good night.
Me: You too! (parting smile)
(I stuff the warning in my glove compartment with all the others and drive away. Cue the music)

I may have left out a smile or an eyelash-bat here or there, but that's what happened.

BUT. If this guy had asked me any questions, inquired what was in my glove compartment ... Well, just watch the vid.

Everything I know lately I've learned from the Howard Stern Show by Rochelle

My kids know, my mother knows, most of my co-workers know. I am addicted to The Howard Stern Show. Not such a big deal except I am a 53 year old, middle class female. Now don't get me wrong, I can live without the bits that involve strippers and hookers but to be honest they are not that frequent and that's always a good time to actually shower and get ready for work. Oh, who am I kidding? I bring the speaker into the bathroom with me so I don't miss even a second of the show. I even listen to the wrap up show and repeats on the weekends to catch what I missed when I was at work.

The Stern show is my soap opera. I know all the characters and their problems. Artie relapsed and started doing heroin again but he went to rehab and is clean now. He is FINALLY seeing a therapist. We all hope he and Dana will get back together but there is the dog issue... Howard and Beth got married recently after being together eight years. Howard swears he won't have anymore kids but he swore he wouldn't get married again so.... Sal is still married but miserable, Ralph is single and won't take a lie detector test to prove he isn't a thief, Richard will do "gay" things to be entertaining for the show but swears he isn't gay, and so on and so forth....Gary, and Robin, and Fred, and the Wack Pack, and all the others. I need to know who did what over vacation, I need to hear about the wedding and what Sal and Lisa did since they weren't invited.

See, it isn't just naked women and gross stuff. It is stories and humor and drama and craziness of everyday life, in a life that I am not part of but I know ALL about.

Sometimes I think Howard is an ass because he has some really old fashioned ideas (for real!) but the man is a genious for what he has created.

Some nights the TV never gets turned on and my husband and I just lay in bed listening to the Stern show AGAIN. Like watching a rerun of a favorite show.

I wonder if Howard would be surprised if he knew.

Covering the coverage? with Ange

10:15 pm
This is what I know so far. Question 1 was NOT passed (holler), question 2 WAS passed (HOLLER) and question 3 was passed (yay!). Not sure if these are projections or what.

I also know (based on projections) that Obama took Pennsylvania and Ohio which means he basically has this shit on lock.

I'm sitting in my friends' apartment watching the coverage. We are all drinking and hanging. I am SQUEALING inside. AJHGALJHGA. Just had to call my mom.

This is AMAZING. The first prez election I've been able to vote in and it is the most historical election ever!!!

We have been switching back and forth from CNN to MSNBC to FOX News. So CNN is like, "Obama is projected to win here, here and here," and MSNBC is like "BOOO YAHHHH! OBAMA IS TAKIN' IT AND MCCAIN HAS NO CHANCE!" and FOX is like, "Sooo...*looks around* annnywayy..."

Comedy Central is on now. I feel this crazy buzz of excitement and disbelief spreading across the country. I am actually proud to be American in this moment.

11:03 PM

OBAMA IS PROJECTED AS THE WINNER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT!

THIS IS AMAZING.

PEOPLE ON-CAMPUS ARE SCREAMING, RUNNING AROUND OUTSIDE.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

Between 11:05-11:20
A bunch of us head outside armed with cameras and a notepad (I had the notepad). Groups of students were walking around and most of them heading to the Father Dean Dining Commons for Pancakes with the President! You could tell that students just wanted to be outside sharing in the vibe. The campus really did feel alive. We all gave each other high fives. (Rhymes mcgee over here. But seriously, we did.)

11:25 PM
I'm watching CNN. McCain is giving his concession speech. The crowd is pretty disheartened. Sarah Palin looks bummed, or maybe it's just relief? Cindy and Sarah are wearing matching chiffon(?) suits.

I see McCain people hugging, chatting. Me and my roomie (and Buntology photog) are smoking a victory bowl! Sorry but it's true. We are. We must.

"Barack Obama will become the next President of the United States," says this dude on the news.
"People will always remember where they were the moment they first heard..."

11:40 PM
Christina and I are still watching CNN. Obama won by a LANDSLIDE. I feel so weird inside. It's like I'm finally part of something historical and awesome. This is the first time I've ever felt truly connected to America and iiii like it!

12:00 PM
Obama is speaking now. He sounds great, but I can't help being jaded about the fact that this speech was probably written weeks ago. Barack really tugs my heart strings when he says he misses his family tonight.

I'm trying to see through Obama's presidential facade and figure out what he is actually thinking.

His speech was good. I wasn't really moved by it, Christina says she thought it was dope. Obama did seem to get emotional toward the end.

Joe Biden is onstage now, I wonder what he is thinking.

Michelle Obama and the wife of Joe Biden come out. They are pumped. Michelle walks over to Barack and hugs him and she said something to him that I couldn't make out. She seemed like she was consoling him almost. This must be such an intense and emotional time for Obama. Take a nap, baby boo.

Ward 3A...and a Van Ride from Hell by Jackie

Election day is finally here! I woke up at 9:00 AM with butterflies in my stomach. It felt like Christmas morning, except at the end of this day I might kill myself or move to another country. It all depends on the polls baby! (Helllloooo Sweden! - Angela)

At 9:45 AM my Political Communication class met together outside of the Ely Building and piled into an "alleged" 15 person van. It was quite stuffy and with all the moving around and opening and closing of doors I saw one too many butt cracks. Nothing is wrong with a butt crack every once in a while but it was way too early.

We were headed to the different voting wards in Westfield to hand out surveys to voters. As soon as I sat down and buckled in, my T.S.D. (Temperature Sensitivity Disorder) started acting up. Angela complained of the temperature as well and of it smelling like bodies. My roommate Caity sat between us and controlled the digital camera.

"I feel like I'm on a road trip, only in a van filled with strangers who breathe heavy." - Angela

Angela and I were loud and acting a little obnoxious. Well I was acting a little obnoxious. We sat in the way back and Angela kept flailing around because a fly was buzzing around her. (I hate flies because they never know when to fuck off. Listen fly, I don't have any problem with you if you don't have any problem with me. But just stay in your turf and stop buzzing around.) She kept trying to hit it with a clipboard but it wasn't working. When it finally flew up towards the front of the van Angela started laughing and yelled to the other students, "Ha ha now you can deal with it!" They had no clue what was going on. (Those bastards.)

Sadly, Angela and I were separated and I was sent off to some school with my friend and fellow classmate, Jay. We surveyed some pretty crazy people! It was a lot of fun. I talked to a Vietnam Vet who was racing around in his scooter with a huge sign on the back of it saying GO VOTE. He seemed a little loopy, but I do know that he voted for Obama. When we first arrived at Ward 3A a cop came out telling us we had to be 150 ft. away from the premises or some crap. In actuality we could stay right in the front, even go in the building as long as we weren't promoting or trying to sway anyone's votes. We were simply handing out surveys. I didn't want to fight with a cop so I crossed the street. I did get the cop to fill out a survey though and he was the man. He told me he thought there shouldn't be dog racing and that weed should be legalized completely! I hope this guy pulls me over sometime.

Another guy who seemed to have lost his marbles found his way over to Jay and I. He said he voted for Obama because he wanted to vote for the person who was less smart...uhhh so that was weird. There was a toothless guy who talked to us about his Hockey interests and I am pretty sure he was a McCain fan. The best part of the ward was probably when a really cute dog came walking by and hung out for a few minutes.

(Meanwhile, Caity and I were at ward... 2B? It was pretty exciting, except I felt like a big newb. With the help of our teach' we gave out surveys. All of the "old people" loved me when I asked if they were first time voters. People were mostly nice, and because my prof was kind enough to find volunteers for us we avoided the awkwardness of being shut-downnnn by those who didn't want to be surveyed.

One of the last people I polled was an older gentleman. I asked him if he felt informed about health care and he said something to the effect of, "well, I'm just getting ready to die anyway..." Aren't we all?)

Thanks to (Doctor) Professor Tom Gardner for taking the photographs of survey takers/survey givers in action!

Fantasy realized! by Alicia

FIRST OFF and MOST IMPORTANT: Mama got second place in her costume contest at work! She was half-devil, half-angel. She wore my red pumps and took home $300 cash money! And what is she doing with that cash, you ask? Buying a new cam for buntology! My mama know how to werkk that azzz. (Sorry to be disrespectful, Mama, but I gotta play to the crowd.)

So I had originally (back in June) decided I wanted to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer for Halloween. My friend and Angie's roommate Lauren was going to be Faith, Buffy's dark-haired slayer nemesis. We planned it all out at the first Bunt BBQ. But that was back when I was a blond. I colored my hair red over the summer.

We realized I couldn't really be the blond slayer with red hair - I could be Willow, Buffy's redheaded lesbian witch buddy, but fewer people would get it. And Lauren couldn't really be Faith on her own; no one would get it. Long story short, I went from slayer to vamp.

I have always loved vampires. I want to be one; I want to date one. I want to do some demented sensual vampire things, you know? Oh and listen up, all you fake-ass, "Twilight"-reading, blood-bandwagoner johnnie-come-latelies: I had a thing for troubled, tortured blood-drinking boys since before you were even born.

So Angela and I got these special vamp teeth. I knew when I picked 'em out they'd be hardcore - it said on the box that they're for "gamers," like people who do live-action role playing (LARPing). We had to like mold them into our mouths, but don't TELL me it didn't look totally badass.

I had to come up with two nights of costumes, for Friday and Saturday.
Friday night, actual Halloween, everyone was kind of tired from Thursday. But I worked and went to bed Thursday, so I was ready to rage. I dressed up as a lumberjack, which I thought of last-second as an excuse to rock my new Timberlands. Lauren was an elf! That's her next to me, with the bow and the ears, which it's too bad are hidden in the pic. Lauren loves elves and fairies and all things fantasy, much like myself. All night, she kept jumping around and crying out in delight, "I'm a fuckin' elf!!!"

Buntology staff writer Will Cimino and his cousin, Steve, both had friends from home visit. Will wore a gorilla mask and it made me very nervous for reasons I can't quite put my finger on.

Night two. Vamp time! Someone's ass was gettin BITTEN. You know, not someone's literal ass. Their jugular.

On Saturday, Buntology publicist Ivan (who dressed up as Honus Honus from Man Man the first night and Michael Jackson) the second had a Halloween party at his apartment, which we call "Mont Street." Ange, her roomies, her neighbors and I were getting ready for hours. The vamp teeth, which came with a whole kit to construct a custom-fit mold, took 30 minutes alone. Jackie was down in her apartment with her roommate, being cranky and indulging in some self-loathing. But eventually, we made it to the party.
Angie's teeth didn't work right, I like messed them up somehow. They wouldn't stay in. So, with a quick dab of red lipstick on her neck, Angela had a new costume: vampire victim. And it turned out to be the best costume there, cause she looked like a hot-ass vamp victim. Several stals (stal is short for stallion, meaning a strapping, appealing young man) blatantly told me how good my sis was looking. I was like "Ummm don't I look pretty too?" Whatever LIKE I NEED YOUR VALIDATION!!!

But enough about my psyche! What else happened, you ask? Well, here's what:

1. The roommates and Jack and her roommate Caity left en masse and went to McDonald's, leaving Ange and I to run shit at Ivan's.
2. My teeth, which were very sharp, cut my lower lip so it was all puffy and a little bloody-looking. So I kept sneaking drunken looks at myself in mirrors, pretending I was a vampire infiltrating a party and preying on young healthy college kids.
3. I toasted to "jah love" with Amy-Lou, a former Mont Street resident and friend of buntology, about 30 times. We were drinking Red Stripe, and we made a grand plan of how we should go to Jamaica this summer and really get into it and learn the history and relax and party. Yes, good idea in theory, but like my costume .. just a dream.
4. People continued to tell me how bangin my sister looked.
5. We plugged buntology a little.
6. We left and hung out for a little.
....
That's about it.

But now that Halloween's over, we can look ahead to Thanksgiving -- and the start of "Rock the House," a long-running sketch comedy Angela and Jackie created at least 10 years ago. They videotape all the holiday festivities starting from Thanksgiving and do a Christmas countdown. RtH has songs, interviews, fashion shows, dances, decorating and, perhaps most famous, a little program called "Angela's Anything Show." Curious? Anxious? Titillated? Stay tuned, because this year, RtH is going digital!!!

Hell-O-Ween by Jackie

Halloween 08 has finally come to an end. The festivities began on Thursday night and didn't end until Sunday. On the actual day of Halloween I had already had enough and was ready to call it quits with the whole costume thing. I don't know why, I just wasn't feelin' it. Takes way too much work to find a costume, especially when you want to spend close to nothing.

The roommates and I had a Gin Bucket/dress up party on Thursday night. I made the gin bucket with 1 handle of cheap gin and 1 liter of Sprite. Apparently you are supposed to use two liters of Sprite, oops! Tasted pretty awful. (Tasted pretty good to me. So did those four shots of 100 proof Soco I took earlier in the night Arghhbgh... - Angela) At around 10:30 PM one of the R.A.'s came to the apartment and basically said, "We know you are having a party and drinking and if you don't turn off the music and be quiet we will get everyone in trouble." Annnoyingggg! (Guess that is what happens when you have the resident director and her two toddlers living below you.) So a lot of people left and it turned into kind of a bummer. Up until that point I had fun stabbing people with my devil pitch fork.

Friday night all of my roommates were gone and I had the apartment to myself. Alicia came up to visit along with fellow Buntology writer, William Cimino. I took out the leftover Gin Bucket and had a little get together. I was tired and threw on some wings. I was beat from the night before so it was way too hard to drink. That was the actual night of Halloween and I didn't even do anything too exciting. (Me either. My body was too sore from puking up bile from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM that morning.) The best part of the night was probably receiving funny drunken texts from my roommate Caity.

Saturday night Ivan had a Halloween Party kegger at his apartment. There were lots of people there and even though it was freezing outside, the body warmth from the tons of humans made me sweaty and irritable about 20 minutes in. (When I got to Ivan's I asked him if he was dressed as Jack White. I was like, "Oh my God you should have told me I could've been Meg!" Turns out he was dressed as Michael Jackson. Whatever.) The night ended with a crazy trip to the McDonald's Drivethru and a horrible migraine. As soon as I got back into my apartment and shoved a number 4 down the hatch I started going blind in my right eye. I popped a pill and went to bed. Still feeling the headache today. (The night ended with me making rice pilaf and chicken with frozen veggies at 5:00 AM. Yum.)