BKaF - Brad Kovach and Friends

Hey, ya’all!

Guest blogging is a treat.  You get to pop in from time to time, share some story or news, and then you are on your way.  The key to good guest blogging is to show up every now and then.  

Now, I am not talking about like when you are low on food in college and you stop by “friends” apartments at supper time to see “what’s up” and to hope for an invite to the tasty morsels on the table.  Nor am I alluding to when you are low on gas; so, you pop over to your friend’s place because they or their parents have a 500 gallon fuel storage tank and you “accidentally” run out of gas in their driveway and end up with the “No problem, just push your vehicle over to the bulk fuel tank and fill ‘er up” strategy.

When you stop in like the examples I share it gets really old after you do this for several weeks, and believe me, several months.  Especially when you start coming over at breakfast time.  People really get upset when you are an early riser like me, but usually they will accommodate you since you’ve arrived hungry and ready to help get them on with their day.  Lunch is a pretty good time to stop by, but don’t get trapped in the “let’s go out and eat” approach.  You may find yourself stuck with the bill and that defeats the whole purpose of getting a free meal.  

Nevertheless, I digress.  You have to spread it all out a bit and make it appear that you are in real need.  Of course, after everyone reads this guest post the jig is up.  I apologize for the inconvenience, but that is how life is sometimes.  Someone comes along and blows your cover, ruins a good thing, or rats out your leeching scheme.

Guest blogging is different though.  Its not leeching by any means, and the more I think about the times leeches have attached themselves to me I realize they were just “looking” for a little help.  Some blood to get them by until they can find another host or until they are ripped from your skin and tossed onto the beach to die a slow, parched death as the suns rays bake away the simple life you had as an everyday parasite just trying to find your way through this complicated, high priced, and exciting world.

The worst way to go for a leech is when some kid finds you and has been taught the ways of “salting” you. This really causes consternation when it comes to your way of life because you now have your host seeking you out and dehydrating your life from you.  Most of the time you don’t even get the opportunity to do your parasitic thing, and there is no enjoyment for both sides in this situation whatsoever!

To summarize, it’s nice to serve as a guest blogger, and I hope you enjoy this post.  This has been my favorite blog since Brad went to Mesquite (Remember everyone!?!).  I just realized I forgot what I was going to post about in this guest post; so, I must apologize for taking up your time.  There is nothing here of any interest folks, please move along…

Now where is that Schedule A, and what did I do with my Form 1040.  Let’s see, what is my social security…Oops, sorry I was typing out loud!  That is a long post; so, I should add a picture or a movie or something to add visual appeal, but those guest blogging instructions on the whole picture thing are like..Well, like this Form 1040!  Do I spell check this or not?  What about that whole 6 Traits thing, oh bag it!  ;-)

Peace!

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So, Brad’s brother Brian bought Rock Band. Frankly, for lack of a better word, it is mindblowingly-intenso-awesome!

I spent like 2 hours playing it at his house the other day, and we had oodles of fun singing (in Brian’s case, wailing), drumming, and pseudo-guitaring. (I personally believe that I hold the title of best air guitarist ever.) But, at one point, during a particularly intense rendition of a Nine Inch Nails song, Brian said, “Being in a real band would be so much cooler!”

Then, I remembered my dad, curmudgeonly stating, “Back in my day, kids actually learned to play REAL instruments!”

I look down at the plastic guitar I hold, with its brightly colored buttons and tactile little switchy-thing. I watch Brad thumping on the drums, and Brian stumbling through a Rolling Stones song.

And I ask myself, “Is there really any difference?”

And for that matter, does it make any difference?

-Tom

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Update! RSVP on Facebook!

Who: Anyone who wants to come.
What: An improv comedy event. Everyone freezes in place for a specified period of time, thaws, then leaves.
When: April fools day… Briefing starts at 6:30PM
Where: Thriftway in Afton
Why: For fun.

For anyone who cares, I stole this hilarious idea from the genii in charge at improveverywhere.com.

How

Execution of this shenanigan will be crucial. Everyone must be in the Thriftway parking lot on time at 6:30 for briefing. The briefing will let you know of any important changes to the plan.

Since documentation will be so crucial, we’ll have a few people filming the whole event. Melanie Robinson will be there with her purse/video camera. We need more hidden camera videographers. If you have a small digital camera or something, please bring it and hide it! Hide it on a shopping cart and drive around. Place it between some Macaroni and Cheese on a shelf and leave it. Just make sure its in a good spot.

1. 6:30pm: Briefing.  This won’t take too long, but it’s super important!  I’ll go over final details and changes.  Be there or don’t participate!
2. 6:45pm: Everyone will enter the store inconspicuously (in a way that isn’t obvious). You might enter with a group of friends, but we won’t herd in together. Everybody should be in the store ready at 6:50
3. Shop… browse… do whatever—just act natural.
4. When 7:00 hits, listen to the intercom system.
5. When you hear the first intercom after 7:00 (if it’s not happening, Mel will get a bag boy paged), FREEZE!
6. Wait for five more intercom announcements, and then unfreeze after the last announcement finishes.  (Emergency plan: if it’s been about 5 minutes without an announcement, Mel will have a bag boy paged to help her.  At that point, leave.)
7. Act like nothing happened. Leave. It’s as simple as cake.

If you’re still confused, watch this video (it opens in a new window): Frozen Grand Central.

In summary

We’re freezing in Thriftway on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 for the duration of 5 intercom announcements (subject to change).

Be at the briefing in the Thriftway parking lot for final details.
Briefing: 6:30 PM
Everybody in the store by 6:50 PM
Freeze: the first announcement after 7:00PM

If you can, bring a camera or something so we can document this feat.

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For Prom of 2008, our group had a photo scavenger hunt. Each group was given a list of tasks written by the man from another group. We were given an hour to photograph everything. Here are the results.

Task: Photograph at least 7 odd tasks
Time allowed: 1 hour

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Couple: Brad Kovach & Susan Keeley
Completion: 10/7 (that’s right! we did them all)

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Couple: Thomas Wells and Analisa Stephens
Completion: 8/7 + smelly people

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Couple: Steven Campbell and Shalisa Christensen
Completion: 10/7 (second place for the photos on the police cars)

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Couple: Michael Lechner and Ariel Luthi
Completion: 10/7 (winners for the photo on Thomas’ couch)

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