“Farewell Howard, You Were Good To Me”

By Terrence Cain

Indeed, it is true that all good things must come to an end. The grades are in, and I have passed all five of my classes with flying colors. Over the last two and half years I have learned so much and met some very interesting and nice people. I've learned a lot about myself and what I need to do to better myself and I feel like I truly accomplished something great. Over the last couple of years I have had some extremely low points and some exceptionally high ones. I'm very proud of my accomplishments and I'm very happy to be the first in my family to have a college degree. Come January I will be moving on to Angelo State University to get my bachelors degree in journalism.

I am very excited to be going to Angelo State in January because I'll be taking a film editing and media law class, plus a French language class split into two sections over my first semester there. I'll also be living on campus for the first time as well. I also plan to take action and get involved in writing for the Angelo State newspaper and working the radio station there if I have the time as well. I'm going to be extremely busy at Angelo State, that's for sure. I will miss Howard College, but I know that I have to move on so this is where I will conclude that my time has come to an end.

I wish to thank former sociology professor, Adrian Calvio, for encouraging me to come and write for Howard College. I also wish to thank my editor, Cindy Smith, for allowing me to write for the Howard College blog site here in Big Spring. I know I haven't always been the easiest to work with, but I know I've become a better person thanks to her. I also wish to thank professors like Amber Buske for pushing me so hard and encouraging me to keep moving forward all those times I wanted to just give up. It wasn't always easy to get my head wrapped around every subject I took, but I did my best and that's all I can say to anyone who wants to just give up. Keep working hard, keep trying even after you fail, and you'll eventually make it out on the other side a wiser person for the experiences you took upon yourself. If someone like me, who isn' all that intellectual when it comes to subjects like math, can pass it then so can you. This is my official sign-off as Howard College's blogging machine. May you all live long and prosper.

 “The Long And Winding Road Continues”

By Terrence Cain

Well folks, the semester is just about over. Next week are finals and then it's all over...for a little while anyway. Most of you will be continuing your education at Howard, and that makes me happy to see you being so determined to make something of yourselves. As for me, my time at Howard is coming to an end. After finals are over I will be moving on to Angelo State University to start my first of many semesters there. I'll be taking a video editing class, a media law class, and two French language classes, split into two eight week sections in one semester, for my first semester there and I can't wait to get started.

When I was at ASU last Friday I was very happy with the choice I made to attend their university. I was also accepted to Texas Tech in Lubbock, but that campus scared me to death with it's overwhelming size and the way people seemed to be stuck in their own little worlds. At ASU everyone was exceptionally friendly. Even total strangers, meaning random students on campus, were saying hello and sparking up conversations with me. Even the professors there seemed to want to start right away with teaching me about what I needed to know to become a professional journalist. ASU is exactly how all universities need to be, just as I feel Howard College is how all junior colleges need to be. You can't improve society if you have no passion for what you do. That's how I feel, anyway.

Next week will be my last blog post for Howard College. It's been an awesome journey for me and I am forever thankful for having this wonderful opportunity to flex my writing muscles and to have the chance to express myself to all of you whom have been reading my blog. Remember that giving up on your goals is never an answer. If you truly want something you must go for it and you must never stop until you get it. Until next week, this Howard College's blogging machine saying; “Float on.”

 “Reflecting On The Past”

By Terrence Cain

I feel as though the time left at Howard College that I have is going to be over quicker than the blink of an eye. I swear that this week has been a total blur for me. Maybe it's because I'm excited to be graduating soon, maybe it's because I will be at Angelo State this Friday getting registered for my first semester, or maybe it's because I'm just in total shock that I actually made it this far. I find myself being a bit dizzy from the entire thing because I came so close to giving up early on and now here I am within reach of graduating. I really feel that people put far too much stress upon themselves and allow things to be too difficult for them. If we'd just slow down and pull back a bit so that we can look at the broader picture I feel we would be a far better species. I know it's something I should have done long ago myself and something that I should keep doing more often. In retrospect I am very glad I didn't quit in my first semester—or my second—or my third. I'm very proud of myself for not giving up.

I believed back before I started going to college that getting a degree in something was a very important thing to have in one's life. I still believe that, and even more so than I did back then. There is so much uncertainty out there in the world. The economy is improving, but the media is in such a panic over this so-called “Fiscal Cliff” that it makes you feel like your job isn't going to matter come 2013 if they don't fix the problems before the turn of the year. Of course having a degree in whatever your field is wouldn't matter much if we did have a recession hit us over the head again, but I don't think things are going to be as bad as the media portrays either if something isn't done before the start of 2013.

I think with the way the economy is slowly growing, and the way the media over sensationalizes things, it's best to stick it out in college and get your degree. I see so many people, most much younger than I, who give up midway through a semester. It's really sad to see because if they'd just stick it out they'd be okay. And it's not the end of the world if you fail a class either. I failed my second level preparatory algebra class with Prof. Buske my second semester in and was able to pass it when I retook the class my third semester. I just want you all to know that life isn't over if you fail at something. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes, we all fall down sometimes. What's important is that we don't give up. We have to get up off our duffs and fight back and keep trying until we succeed. That's what is important. That's what everyone needs to remember at the end of the day. Giving up should never be the answer to any problem that comes our way. Okay, that's all I wanted to say this week. Next week is the final week before we take our finals. It's going to get a little hectic for us all, but I know we can make it through just fine if we stick to our guns and don't let the finals defeat us. Until next week, this is Howard College's blogging machine saying; “Never give up.”

“Entering The Final Stretch”

By Terrence Cain

Well here we are folks, just a few more weeks and this fall semester will be completed. I feel a little sad though because that means the end for me at Howard College here in Big Spring. Starting in January I'll be attending Angelo State University in San Angelo where I'll be moving forward with this trip I've been on since 2010. It's strange to think I'm that I'm getting closer and closer to getting my associates at Howard. I really thought I wouldn't make it this far, but here I am. I'm very proud of myself to make it this far too. I'll be the first member of my family to have an official college degree of any kind.

These next few weeks are going to be crazy insane. As I write this blog post I am sitting in the lunch room of Angelo State—soaking in the atmosphere and seeing all there is to see—while the lunch room plays some classic Rush and Pink Floyd music. Makes me feel like I stepped back into the 1970s, and that's not something I really expected when I arrived here with the Science Club from Howard College in Big Spring. Everyone here has been exceptionally nice and helpful, just as they were when I showed up at Howard College in 2010.

I feel like time has sped up this semester for me. I feel like I should still be in September, but I guess that's how things go when you're excited and anxious to move forward. I really do appreciate the time I've spent at Howard College. If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing. The things I learned at Howard College has really helped me to define just who I am and what I like about education. Thanks to Professor Tune, Professor Calvio, Professor Davidson, Professor Hobbs, and Professor Buske for being so open to conversations about the subjects I learned from you all. I know I was a difficult person at times, but those difficult times truly helped me to get the things I wanted to know put into a way that was succinct with my thought processes. Well that's all I have to say for now. I'll be back after Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a good time and gets home safely for the holidays. This is Howard College's blogging machine saying; “If it ain't broken, don't fix it.”

“Time...There Isn't Enough Of It”

by Terrence Cain

Oh boy, has this week been a gut buster. I had an Algebra test on Monday, followed by a Speech outline I am having to construct into a concise format that is proving to be more difficult than I thought it would be, and of course the elections Tuesday night were a bit taxing on me. Is the president going to win, what's going to happen if he doesn't? I was very thankful he won and that the Democrats won more seats in the Senate. And a huge congratulations are in order to the state of New Hampshire for being the first state to elect all women of the Democratic Party. A historical mark in this country if I ever did see one. After Tuesday Wednesday definitely felt more relaxed for me.

Still though, I've got an Ethics paper to finish up, a Speech paper to get cut down so it fits just under four minutes in length. Not to mention I have more Algebra to complete before Sunday night, and then I have to schedule several events all at Angelo State so that I can be ready to attend starting next January. This is definitely a harsh week for me. I assure you though I will make it through just fine. Especially now that President Obama has been re-elected.

I know Conservatives hate the fact he won for a second term, but if not for the President I would have not gotten into college so easily. Thanks to his bold moves in overtaking Pell Grants I was able to go to college without the fear of more mounting debt on top of the debt I've already accumulated from losing my job in 2009. Now that I am in college I have a far greater opportunity of getting back to work than I had in the year and a half I attempted to find work before giving up and attending college. I do truly believe though that now is the time for us all to contact our representatives and senators and let them know that they need to work together on getting people back to work no matter what and then getting our debt cut down tremendously. Well that's all there is to say for now. Until next week, this is Howard College's blogging machine saying; “If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we'd all be having a merry Christmas.”

“Give Me An Inch, And I'll Take A Smile”

by Terrence Cain

Oh yeah, I'm back again this week. It's time for the weekly blog post, folks. Get ready for some crazy antics—or a heart warming story—that will hopefully make you glad you read this. In all honesty I really don't know what will be said because this is all on the fly, so this is going to be just as interesting for me as it is for you. I will try to keep this very short though because I've got a ton of math work to do before Monday's test, plus I have to finish up my ethics paper and get started on my next speech.

I can tell you this. This final week of October has been pretty awesome. I went to a great play on campus [you can read about it in my special article I posted earlier this week right here http://terrence-howardcollege.blogspot.com/2012/10/anight-at-theater-tomb-of-count.html] and then I took a test in Astronomy that I'm feeling pretty confident about. I also did a little Halloween celebration by watching some great 1980s horror films like Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Monster Squad, and Critters.

On November 16^th I'll be going over to Angelo State University to tour its facilities and see how things are done over there before I transfer next January. Should be a great time with the HC Science Club of Big Spring. There's so much I have to get done before next year so that I'll be ready for my first semester at Angelo State, so I'll be getting quite busy over the next couple of months.

Friends, I must advise you strongly to go vote this Friday. It's the last day of early voting before you can vote on the official election day next Tuesday, November 6^th. I honestly think everyone should vote for the President because he's the best man for the job. Of course that's my opinion and everyone should vote for whomever they think is best qualified. Just make sure you get out there and vote. It's the one right no one can ever take from you. Exercise that right, okay?

Stay strong my fellow classmates. This semester is almost over. I know that things can get a bit tough nearing the stretch, but trust me it is well worth getting your degree. I've been seeing a lot of you skipping classes or dropping out all together. You may not think education is all that important, but trust me it's the most important thing you will ever do with your life because it will open so many doors to you throughout your career in whatever field you wish to be a part of. I also strongly urge you to do whatever you can to intern for a company in your field. I know it's a pain that internships pay nothing at all, but I promise you that it will help you tremendously once you get the degree you need to work in that field. Well that's all I have to say for now. I want bid everyone a great weekend. Thanks for reading my posts. I really appreciate the kind words you've all given me in the halls here at Howard College. It makes me feel good to write for your entertainment. This is your friendly neighborhood blogger saying; “All school work and no play makes Terrence something something...”

“A Night At The Theater: The Tomb Of Count Gangrene”

by Terrence Cain

Last semester I saw the very first play I had seen since I was a child in elementary school. For those of you who don't know, that was some twenty years ago for me so that would mean I was around nine or so. Anyway, that play was called Sylvia. It was a fantastic little play put on by Howard College of Big Spring's acting teacher, Kirk Davidson. It was inventive, it was funny—and sad—and it gave me a passion for plays that I never thought I would have. Well I just saw another play this Hallow's Eve called The Tomb Of Count Gangrene put on yet again by Howard College's Kirk Davidson.

So let me put a little atmosphere down for you first. When I walked into the Hall Center For The Arts I was greeted by numerous attendees who were all waiting in little groups of four or five to see the play. There were even a few who decided that they'd get in on the fun by dressing up. I did so a little myself. I wore a black shirt, slacks and shoes, and a very red tie. The tie kinda has that paint red look to it that you see in old Hammer horror films from the 1960s that they want you to think is blood but you know all too well that it is just paint. Yeah, they hadn't perfected blood scenes really until the late 1970s.

Okay, so we're all waiting in the front just outside the play room. As we were all waiting I decided to look down the hall leading to the play room where I was able to see a white plastic sheet with blood splatter patterns that looked like they were silk stained into the plastic. On top of the sheet were some plastic—or maybe they were made of plaster of paris—bones laying in various spots all over the plastic sheet. It was laid out like a long rug waiting for royalty to walk down it. My first thought was; “Finally! Someone is getting into the holiday spirit and they're not trying to be all trampy about it!” I'm sorry to say, but Halloween was way more spooky and frightening when I was growing up. Nowadays all you see is women dressing up like hookers and men dressing up like they're at some disco. Yeah, we've definitely have to get back to the scary side of Halloween, folks.

So as I looked on I saw a big bat hanging from the ceiling just above the entrance to the hall that leads to the play room. I also saw one of the ushers who was carrying an old lantern with a lit candle, which I thought was pretty cool. As they walked us into the play room some of the actors from the play were at the door hamming it up for the audience; trying to do their best to get the crowd all psyched up for the play. As I sat down in the front row I looked over the painted black set. I loved all the decorations they had there. From the bloody foot and hand prints on the floor, and some hand prints on doors and glass, to the stag on the wall covered in spider webs. It was all fantastically horrifying. I loved the fireplace as well with the skull inside and the big fat chain going in a half circle shape in front of the fireplace. Above the set was a big pinata-like spider hanging from a rope. They even had sheets covering two sets of one kind of chair. What I mean by that is there were two chairs that were of the exact same design.

So I'm starting to get a little psyched up and ready for the spooky and terrifying fun of this play called The Tomb Of Count Gangrene. As the play begins a character named Ghoulardi [played by veteran HC theater actor, Eric Ochoa] comes onto the set and speaks with a very gravelly and whinny voice in a dark brown suit, black gloves, and his face painted gray with black circles around his eyes. You can't have a dead man tell tales without looking dead, right? He was funny and great about telling people to shut their cell phones off during the play; which became a gag in the beginning where they killed a girl for using her cell phone and walking through their “tomb” as the called it.

Well as soon as Ghoulardi got going another character named Mitch [played by Tyler Hall] came in and sliced his stitched mouth open so that he could talk and ask where his wife Louise was at. It was all very funny, and I do believe that was intentional do to the fact that the overall play was very comedic. Soon after two girls known as Ethel & Gertrude [Billed as the Vampira Twins and played by April Zavala and another veteran actress, Lindsey Heckler] who are supposed to be sisters, and looking like Elvira's would be daughters by the way, come running out and acting all spastic-like and screaming; “Bodies flying!”, or at least I think so. That part is honestly a little foggy due to everything else that was going on.

Well soon after Madame Phatima [played by Courtnie Smith], a psycho loon gypsy who is blind, comes into the room. The play really didn't kick off though until after Count Gangrene [played by Justin Case] came in via his octagonal shaped old style casket. The role was hammed up pretty good and was played very well. It reminded me a lot of the old horror hosts who were on local cable access channels on Saturday nights hosting bad to fairly decent horror films. So onto the three acts of the play.

Act I: “The Spider” –

This first of three acts in the entire play was all done in the dark. The point was to make you feel like you were listening to an old radio show. This act was adapted from Wyllis Cooper's story called Lights Out! Spider. The story was about two guys in the jungle who were looking for spiders. Well they found one. A very big one. Apparently it was the size of a dog and was a vicious killer because one of the guys was eaten up fast followed by the other guy who was eaten alive by the spider's babies. This first act worked out superbly well. The voicing, done by Ryan Stockton and Will Cross, was very clear and the acting was great. I really felt like I was in the jungle with them as I watched them from afar. The sound effects really set the mood up right and gave me a chill at how real everything sounded. From chirping birds, to a soft sounding waterfall, and even bugs that could be heard buzzing around. This was definitely bumping the play up a notch from what was already a great start. I also liked the red pulsing light used to emphasize parts of the act. Very well done for sure.

Act II: “The Lake” –

The second act was based off of a Ray Bradbury story of the same name. The story is about a young woman named Sad Sara [played byAutumn Alton] who tells a tale about her childhood where she watched a friend of hers drown. It was a very dark and sad story that had its advantages in making everyone cry, but fell a slight bit short because they had set up two wireless mics for the two actors in this particular part of the play. The actress who played Sad Sara kept walking back and forth from the mic, which made me feel like someone was constantly turning the volume knob on an old radio up and down. It was a tad bit irritating honestly. I really think that this part of the play would have been best suited without mics because you could hear them talk without them. I think if this play is done up ever again that they should forego the mics. They really weren't needed. Great story and acting otherwise.

Act III: “The Witch's Game” –

Again, just as in act one, this one was played out in the dark to make you feel like you were listening to an old radio show. This act was also based off another Ray Bradbury story called The October Game. The one thing that somewhat ruined the overall mood of this act for me was the fact that me being in the front row I was able to see all the actors behind the black curtain with scripts and flashlights while they gave their performances. Now I'm sure they weren't even aware that any of us could see them, but I think they'd have been better off if they had gone further behind the set so that no one could see them because seeing them as they were made it somewhat difficult to delve deep into the imagery that was being set up for us. It was basically a Simpsons Tree House Of Horror kind of story where they talked about what physical things people would use to tell a horror story. At the end people were being murdered and dragged off, which was actually being visually used at the end of the act with flashlights shining on the actors being dragged around. It was sort of similar to the red pulses we'd be getting in act one for certain parts of the story. A great ending even if I could see the behind the scenes part of this final act.

The Program's Design –

Mindy Ralston did a fantastic job making the program for this play. It looks like an old comic book, and even had ads on the back of it. The only thing missing were those phony X-Ray Specs that were supposed to allow you to see through people's clothing. The layout of the program was great and very easy to follow. There even some great responses from Count Gangrene just like Marvel Comics had with their old soap box portions of their comic books. I loved the corny nicknames used as well. Like Count Kirk and Mindy “Arson Enthusiast” Ralston, among many others. It reminded me of all the goofy nicknames Matt Greoning and his team would use in The Simpsons for their Treehouse Of Horror specials. It really added to the atmosphere.

My Overall Opinion Of The Play –

I thought the play was fantastic from beginning to end. Nobody goofed up their lines. No one tripped and fell. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and I actually thought that the comedic angle was great. I loved Count Gangrene, Ghoulardi, the Vampira Twins, and Madame Phatima. They added to the quirkiness of the play that was trying to take a poke and a stab at its self while giving some great stories. It wasn't a dark and scary play like I had originally imagined, but that's not a bad thing. I think Howard College has most definitely got a great acting director in Kirk Davidson. He knows how to get his actors to perform at their best, and he knows what stories to tell that capture an audience's imagination. If you're looking for a great night of fun then go see one of his plays that he puts on each semester. You'll be delightfully entertained and you'll have a great time watching up and coming actors cut their teeth for what is probably their first time acting.

“No More Mr. Nice Guy”

by Terrence Cain

You're probably thinking by the title alone that this blog post is going to be all angst filled and moody. No way, man! Are you kidding me? I mean I know I got a hot temper at times, but jeez, I swear I'm not in a sour mood or anything like that. I promise. Halloween is coming up next Wednesday, my favorite holiday by the way, and since it is coming up I thought I'd use a line from a classic Alice Cooper song for fun. Just like the last two weeks I've ended the blog with famous lines from classic horror films. I bet people are still scratching their head as to what movies they came from, and I assure you I'll never tell.

Oh boy, am I in a giddy mood today. I'm doing really well in my classes, I just got done talking to an Angelo State rep for transferring to their university next January, and to top it off I also found out that I'll be visiting Angelo State on November 16^th with the Science Club. The only thing that could make life any better right now is winning the lottery or getting a job working for a music magazine that sends me all over the world! Okay, calm down, Terrence. No need to get all crazy with excitement [enter derisive laughs here.]

So this week was pretty awesome, as you can no doubt tell, but it wasn't just what happened today with ASU and the overall semester grades report I saw either. I'm beginning to really enjoy science again, particularly Astronomy. It really is quickly becoming one of my most treasured classes; and not just because I made a ninety-five on my last test either. There is just so much I am learning thanks to Prof. Hobbs. There are things about the black hole I just never knew. All I ever knew is that light could never escape it and that its density and gravity literally crushes everything inside it. Finding out that it more or less bends light, slows the speed of light, and possibly even recycles time and space just blows my mind. I'll never be good at math calculations, but science thrills me like no other subject right now. Being in this class just makes me want to learn more just as I felt when I was in my youth. Now you're probably thinking; “Well why not get a degree in science then.” Well that's because I love to learn, but I don't want to be in it for a living. I do love to write, music is the thing I know of the most, so that's where my heart will always be.

Okay I gotta get moving on an ethics paper. Please, if you're a student or faculty member at the Howard College campus in Big Spring go see Prof. Davidson's play, The Tomb Of Count Gangrene, next Tuesday at 7 pm. Do try to be there by 6:30 so that you have a seat available to you. Cynthia Weeks is selling the tickets to the show, $3 for HC students and faculty and $5 for outsiders. She is in the Science building right behind the Music Hall. You'll find her on the first floor near the elevator. I want to say here office number is 107, but don't quote me on that. You'll see her name by the door.

I promise you, it's going to be a great Halloween play with free candy and a great atmosphere. I've already seen the set and it looks great. It's going to be in the tradition of three stories told by three different hosts, similar to old radio serials and horror shows like Creepshow and Tales From The Crypt. I'll post up the flyer for you to look at again here at the end of this blog. Okay, well that's it for now. I hope everyone has a safe and warm weekend. Until next time, this is Howard's blogging machine saying; “You forgot the power glove!”

“What A Week!”

by Terrence Cain

I cannot believe how hectic this week has been for me. Is it just me or did classes get extremely busy and complicated this week? I've got a boatload of homework to do this weekend, then I gotta do two tests on Monday. I also had two tests this week. Hopefully after Monday things will slow down a little. Well we're half way through October and just about to make the halfway point for this semester. I'm getting super psyched because that means I'm almost through with my tenure at Howard here in Big Spring, but not done with college all together. I've got to go to Angelo State University starting next January so that I can get my bachelors in print journalism. That's where the real journey will begin.

Now that's not saying I am ungrateful to Howard College, as a matter of fact I'm very pleased I went to Howard College to get my associates. It's definitely one of the best junior colleges in the United States. I'm just excited to be graduating because I'm halfway there to getting back to work because that's the goal I have in my life right now. If someone was to ask me what college they should attend, I would tell them to start out at Howard and then work their way up to a university.

Okay, before I say adios I want to remind everyone that they should go see Professor Kirk Davidson's play [The Tomb Of Count Gangrene] on October 30^th here in Big Spring at the Hall Center For The Arts. Students and faculty only pay $3 to see the show, and $5 for those who are not attending or working for Howard. Show starts at 7 pm, so don't be late. It's going to be a great little horror play that is reminiscent of Tales From The Crypt and Stephen King's Creepshow. I hope I'll see you all there. Well, that's it for now. I hope you all have a great weekend. Until next week, this is your friendly Howard College blogger saying; “Welcome to primetime...”

“Why College Is Important”

by Terrence Cain

Some people say that college is like the military. After a certain amount of time in you become a completely different person than you were before. While that may be true in some ways, it's not necessarily in others. I know in a lot of ways for me it has helped me to solidify more of the stances that I've always had on a multitude of topics—while in other ways I've had my eyes opened to new ideas and concepts that I would have never thought of otherwise. Even if I fail to obtain a degree, I will never say that I regret going to college because it has been one of the most awesome experiences in my life.

That's something I unfortunately don't see in a great number of people under the age of twenty-five. I wish more people would be engaged in wanting to grow their mind and become better people for the future of all humanity. I'm sure this is nothing new, humans have pretty much been this way since the dawn of time began, but it just seems to me like a great share of people just don't seem to care about their own intellect or wanting to impact the world in a positive way. They're too busy with their electronic toys, too absorbed in having a good time with friends, and in some ways just uncaring of the world that surrounds them. I know that last comment is a harsh one, but the truth is that's how I perceive things. I want people to care more about their surroundings. So many things are happening today that need a positive change. If we're to continue evolving as a collective whole then we as individuals need to stand up and take charge of our destinies.

Every semester a class will have an average of twenty to forty students and almost half of them stop showing up after the first test is completed. I'm not really sure that there is anything that we can be done to change that because of the fact that people will do whatever they want regardless of how hard others try to make them change how they function. That's why I think that statement I gave at the beginning of this piece is only half true. People have to want to be engaged in order for things to change. I hope that as future generations come up into this world they will want to be more involved, but something tells me that's not going to be the case. I hope they will prove me wrong.

Okay, so something truly amazing is coming up on Hallow's Eve at Howard College here in Big Spring. On October 30^th there will be a very spooky play hitting the stage called The Tomb Of Count Gangrene that is being put together by theater professor, Kirk Davidson. Yes, the same Kirk Davidson who teaches Development Of Motion Pictures and Speech at Howard College here in Big Spring. If you're a student or faculty member the tickets are $3, for outsiders it will be $5. So here is a brief synopsis of what the play will be like.

“In the tradition of Tales From The Crypt and Stephen King's Creepshow—The Black Box Actor’s Guild welcomes you to...The Tomb Of Count Gangrene! Muahhahahaha!!!

Count Gangrene has risen from his crypt along with Madame Specter and Ghoulardi, the Crypt Keeper to tell you three spine tingling tales of terror! The first tale is called “The Lake.” It's about a friendship and a friend that will not die. The second tale is called “The Spider.” It's about a three-hundred pound arachnid with an appetite for human flesh. The third and final tale is called “The Witches Game.” This final chapter is about a game in which the loser loses her head...quite literally might I add. It's all spine tingling Halloween fun with free candy and and traumatizing treats and tricks! Muahhahahaha!!!

So please, come have fun with us on October 30^th as we put on one heck of a show for you all! The tickets are $3 for students and $5 for general admission. Call 432-264-5161 for more information. The show starts at 7 pm at the Howard College Hall Center For The Arts in Big Spring, so come crawl into The Tomb Of Count Gangrene...if you dare. It should be a spooky fun time!”

It's really going to be a great show, people. Come support the arts and spend Hallow's Eve at the Howard College Hall Center For The Arts here in Big Spring and have a spooky good time. I'll be there for sure and so should you. Well that's all I have this week. Until next week, this is your friendly blogger saying...they're coming to get you, Barbara...Muahhahahaha!!!

“October Is Finally Here!”

by Terrence Cain

Ah, October is finally here and I couldn't be happier even if someone told me that I had just won a billion dollars and didn't have to work another day in my life. Okay, maybe that would make me happier, but I swear I'm not a procrastinator. I love writing, and that is work for a lot of people—including me. I'm so elated with life right now because things seem to be moving forward for me and those in my life I love the most. Life does seem to move in mysterious ways, that's for sure.

So for Thursday's Speech I had to give a speech about music and how it's had an affect on me and how I've come to be in college thanks to music. In case you all have forgotten, or you're a first time reader, I will be going to Angelo State University to get my bachelors degree in print journalism where hopefully afterwards I will be writing about music in a profound way that isn't just the latest gossip about who beat up who, or who shot who, or who died of an overdose, or who married who for five seconds and then decided to file for a divorce over “irreconcilable differences.” My goal is to write about music and the positive energies it can bring to one's life. I want to write about albums, I want to talk to the musicians who made the music and find out what they wanted to get across in their lyrics and the mood of their music. Seems like people are far too nosey about what celebrity is doing what these days and I want to change that for the better.

So I not only did that this week, but I also almost managed to have a screwed up week as well because I thought I had lost a math paper I had due that was actually stuck in the middle of my notebook. It was embarrassing to say the least, but at least I got it turned in and with no problems from my algebra teacher, Prof. Keeney. It made me think of my days as a kid in elementary school when I'd lose my papers for class all the time. Seems like something never change. At least this was the first in about seventeen years, and hopefully last, that I will do such a thing as that.

This semester seems to be going much smoother than I had initially thought. I really thought this final semester would be a gut buster of a semester, but so far it's turned out to be pretty mellow and relaxed. It could also be that I am far more prepared than I was for my first couple of semesters. Well I must be moving forward towards the weekend. I've got a lot of math to do before Sunday, not to mention a few house chores, so until next week this is Howard College's blogging machine, over and out!

“Waiting For October”

by Terrence Cain

Well folks, we're coming to an end in the month of September. Just a few days left and I can't wait. October is my favorite month of the year, and not for all the reasons one would think. Yes October is the month where horror movies become a nightly occurrence, and at the end of the month we all dress up as something truly spooky—although in recent years that seems to have changed quite a bit and people more or less treat it like Mardi Gras or of the Playboy Mansion's parties. One day we'll have to rectify that and put the horror back in Halloween. With that being said, that's not the reason I love the month of October. I love October for the weather. It's cooler in October. The plants start to change their colors. The mood of people seem to change and mellow a bit in October too—or so it seems. It's just the perfect month I think.

So last week I told you all that I was going on a trip to Lubbock with Howard's “Science Club” to visit Texas Tech. We went to the medical area to see how they're teaching people to become nurses and doctors. Got to see a really cool table there where they can dissect the human body in a multidimensional computer generated world. We then went across the campus over to the Biology and Horticulture area where they showed us the latest developments going on in their fields. After our lunch break we visited the Science Spectrum. This was like being thrown into a time machine and taken back seventeen years for me. In 1995 I visited the Science Spectrum when I was in the sixth grade. I could not believe how little this place of science had changed. Almost everything was where I remembered it. I was able to get a few photos which I'll share with you below. If you're ever needing a place to go visit on a weekend I highly recommend the Science Spectrum in Lubbock because it was very cool to see all the things we've progressed with in the field of science. Well until next week, this is the Howard College blogging machine saying have a great weekend!

“I Am Not A Victim”

by Terrence Cain

I am completely outraged over comments a certain former governor of Massachusetts made towards Americans who are on hard times because of a recession that started under our former president and has slowly improved under our current one. I don't mean to complain about all this hoopla going on in the real world, but I feel I need to touch on this issue because this comment and idea could affect a lot of college students like me. I am extremely offended that this former governor has labeled me and millions of others as dependents of the government and also said that he believes we believe we are victims who deserve food, housing, and health insurance; although we most certainly don't in his eyes. Essentially he feels that if we'd just go out and get a job we'd be independent of the government. Not that there is a whole lot of work to be gotten, but that's his position. Just go out and get a job you freeloaders. Right, so we can be dependent on private businesses for food, healthcare, and a place to live. Now this former governor didn't call us freeloaders, but that's the sentiment behind his words.

My point is this. We're all dependent on one another to survive. That's what a society is and does. Each city is made up of a group of people who are dependent on one another for survival. We all want to ensure that our society thrives. We work together, play together, eat together, and take care of each other—especially when someone gets sick. Anyway, I just found his comments to be degrading and vile and if you feel as I feel you'll help ensure that this former governor of Massachusetts does not become our president on November sixth. I may not have been able to pay for my college, in fact I had to get a Pell Grant to go because through no fault of my own I wound up broke and jobless, but I can tell you I am no victim. I'm in college so I can get back to work—like a lot of other people. I work hard and do my best to pass my classes so that I can return to being a productive citizen of this great nation we live in.

I know of people in my hometown of Odessa, and even Midland, who are hard working and who are unfortunately homeless because they can't afford an apartment because of the rise of rates, or can't find a vacant apartment to live in. It's something that's been going on for awhile because people are relocating from other parts of the country down to Odessa, Midland, and even Big Spring to get work in the oil fields. These people do not see themselves as victims. These people keep their heads held high and keep working hard to get themselves in a better place than they currently are. There is no one I know that sees themselves as a victim no matter how low their life may seem. And now you have this former governor trying to save his campaign by saying that he's for everyone when he's truly not.

The bottom line is that the forty-seven percent of this country are not for the President because of government funding that keeps us from working, which none of it does by the way, but because his compassion for all people is far greater than that of his opponent whom I refuse to name out of disdain for his atrocious comments towards the middle class and the poor. The President has worked hard to try and get job plans put forth, but is constantly being blocked by his opponents who wish to see him fail and that's not right for our nation. Okay, I think I've said my piece on this. Thanks for letting me get it all off my chest.

Okay, so this week's classes were really good. I'm in love with Tuesdays and Thursdays now because those days are my Development Of Motion Pictures and Speech classes. At first I was anxiety ridden to be in Speech because I couldn't stand being in front of people and talking to them. Now that Professor Kirk Davidson is teaching Speech, as well as the Motion Pictures class, I feel far more at ease. For anyone who doesn't know Prof. Davidson he's a pretty wild character who personalizes his classes to make you feel at ease and to make you feel like you're truly learning something, rather than just telling everyone to read a chapter out of a boring text book that will later be discussed. Now I'm not saying text books aren't necessary, they most certainly are. But if all you do is teach from a book, then to me I don't feel I am learning anything meaningful. I feel a lot of people are that way because in my Speech class that's what the majority of students told Prof. Davidson when he first came to our class and he asked us what kinds of instructors we like and don't like. I'm still a bit nervous, or apprehensive, but I think by the end of the semester I won't be that way anymore.

On Wednesday I had a test in my Astronomy class with Prof. Hobbs, and although I think I got most of the answers right, I still feel I didn't do as good as I had hoped for. Next week I'll know for sure how well I did or did not do. So tomorrow is a special day for all those who take Prof. Hobbs' Astronomy class, or Stars & Galaxies as it was labeled on my class sheet I got last May when I signed up for this semester. On Friday morning we'll be going to Lubbock's Texas Tech to see some really cool things there that deal with science and the stars. Next week I'll try to do my best to give you all a full report about it. Until next time, may you all live long and prosper and carry the force with you.

“Best & Worst Week Of The Semester...So Far”

by Terrence Cain

I bet you're thinking there is going to be some really juicy gossip with that headline, aren't you? Well one thing I can assure you is that you will never read here about who said what or anything of that nature. Well here's the worst part. I'm sick. Late Wednesday night I started getting a soar throat, and by Thursday morning I was feeling like what the muddy dirt outside my home here in Big Spring looked liked today because it's been raining all day here. That is a great part of this week. The rain is so needed around here, and I absolutely love it when it rains. I should probably be living in Seattle, Washington just for that reason alone. In due time as they say, in due time.

Anyhow, as I said last week there were to be some very intriguing things coming up this week and let me tell you it was definitely a good week for me. First we finished watching Spike Lee's “Do The Right Thing” in our Ethics class to try and get a perspective on what the differences are between moral values and ethical ones. It was very interesting for sure. In my Astronomy class we did an experiment to try and figure out the speed of sound. It didn't quite go as well as some of us had hoped, but Prof. Hobbs seemed to be happy with it so I guess we didn't do too bad.

The big change for me and other students was our Speech class. Prof. Crockett had to bow out because we were having too many “technical difficulties” with her trying to teach us through a monitor from her home, so Prof. Davidson—who teaches my Development Of Motion Pictures class too—will be teaching Speech from now on as well here in Big Spring. I really like Prof. Davidson. He's a very lively professor who is willing to make a fool of himself to make you feel more comfortable in your own skin. I think I am going to love my Speech class now that he's teaching. And for the record, that's nothing against Prof. Crockett. She's a fine professor too. She just teaches differently, and unfortunately she couldn't teach at the school because of her ill husband. Well I think I'll end it here and go get myself better with some medications I've got around the house. I hope everyone has a good weekend. Stay strong and focused. If I can do it, so can you.

“The Truth”

by Terrence Cain

Well this week was rather short with Labor Day giving us an extra day off. It was nice, but it sort of makes me feel like I should be going to school on Friday to make up for it. Just a quirk my mind has I guess. So this week's classes were alright. Yeah, just alright. It's so early in the semester that honestly there isn't much to say. My evenings at home for the last two weeks, however, have been amazing. I don't mean to get on my soap box and preach the gospel or anything like that, but after watching last week's Republican National Convention, and then this week's Democratic National Convention, I can honestly say that I feel that something from the mindset of a college student should be said because it's extremely important that we be heard on this very important issue. What we do in November will affect us all. Now I'm not going to get into specifics about the pros and cons of each party, I just want to give you the reason(s) why I will be voting this November.

As many of you who read this blog know I've been out of work since 2009. Because of that I decided it was time to try and give college a try again because when I graduated from high school in 2001 my parents couldn't afford to send me to college, let alone myself. The only way I could have, as it is now, is through Pell Grants. Well in 2001 I was told my family made far too much money to send their only son to college to get a degree in print journalism. It took me nine more years, and for a Democratic President to remove Pell Grants from the banks that held them and to put them under federal rule, in order for me to finally go to college as my parents had dreamed.

After listening to the forty-second president, Bill Clinton, give a forty-nine minute long speech Wednesday night about all the accomplishments of President Obama it gave me a great feeling in my heart that I did make the right decision in 2008 when I voted for then Senator Barack Obama for the office of President to the United States of America. Sometimes you listen to the news and you get all wound up because you're hearing something and don't know whether to believe what the newscaster is saying is true or not. Then you find out the truth about everything and realize you were worried about nothing to begin with. That's how it felt for me Wednesday night. Finally the truth was being told and I felt good in my decision to vote for President Obama.

No matter what side you yourself choose, I think that it's extremely important for everyone to get out and vote. That's the message I want everyone to take from this. Now I understand that most of you reading this are not in favor of President Obama, and a lot of you are probably shocked that I am, but you have to realize that I am because of how his policies have affected me in a most positive way. Not just Pell Grants, of which I would not be in college without the bold moves President Obama made, but also his Affordable Healthcare Act, his Fair Pay Act also known as the Lily Ledbetter Act, and his economic policies that have helped give over four million people new jobs. My hometown of Odessa was recently noted for having one of the lowest unemployment rate in all of Texas and that makes me extremely proud that my city has been able to accomplish that through policies President Obama put forth and the ideas that the local government of Odessa set forth as well. The bottom line is this. If you voted for President Obama in 2008 you should do so again in 2012. Okay, that's all I have to say for now. I hope everyone has a good weekend. Next week I'll let you all in on some things coming up in my classes next week. May you all live long and prosper.

“The Final Semester”

by Terrence Cain

So what can I say in my fifth, and hopefully final, semester at Howard College here in Big Spring that I haven't said before in the last four semesters since I started writing for this blog? Well not too much to be honest with you. This week hasn't really been all that special. Just intros to my classes and getting a feeling of what I can expect over the next three and half months.

With that said, I'll give you a little info into what's happened this week. I have five classes this semester. On Mondays and Wednesdays I have Ethics with Prof. McIntosh, College Algebra with Prof. Keeney, and Stars & Galaxies (Astronomy for the uninformed) with Prof. Hobbs. It was to be with Prof. McAfee but for whatever reason he's no longer a professor at Howard College here in Big Spring. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have Development Of Motion Pictures with Prof. Davidson and Public Speaking, commonly referred to as Speech, with Prof. Crockett.

The most loathed class, and oddest one, is my class with Prof. Crockett. Now that's not an indictment against the professor. I'm just not comfortable with talking, let along giving a speech to a room full of people. I get tongue tied easily, my heart beats start to feel like Keith Moon of The Who is in my chest pounding away like the wild man he was, and at times my fingers can twitch and lose control. It's not easy for me to look up as I am expected to either. I don't have anything to hide, except my fear of being up in front of others listening to my horrible voice, but I am sure people will think I am not being honest when I speak because of that part of me that will be hard for me to not keep my head from being down and looking at my note cards as I speak. Hopefully this class will kill those fears in me and give me the opportunity to enjoy the class as time goes on.

Another thing that was odd for me, or rather weird I should say, was that Prof. Crockett was not in the class room with us. She was on a big screen television with a camera on top for her to look at us. As she would scan the room to look at us it felt like I was in the world of RoboCop or something. Prof. Crockett had us stomp on pieces of paper where we had to draw a bug, our most hated food, and a nickname we'd call our lover. It was silly, but I think the point was to break the ice and to get everyone to realize that life can be silly some times and that's okay.

Okay, I think I've said enough for this first post of many this semester. I hope everyone has a good and safe four day weekend. Things will surely kick up on Tuesday when we all return. Take it easy everyone!

“Four Down, One To Go”

by Terrence Cain

What a semester this has been! It was a whole lot of fun for me, as I hope it was for all of you. Next semester will be my last—and although I am a bit sad—I am also very happy because I will have proven to myself that I am no dummy and that I can accomplish anything as long as I work hard and do my best to stay involved in the work presented to me. That's the key to success, hard work, and it doesn't come easy; that much is true, but it is well worth it in the end I will guarantee you that. Having a college degree will help you out in so many areas of life and it will make finding work a lot easier than just having a high school degree or no degree at all too.

I did quite well for myself this semester and I found out that the longer you go the easier things get because the things you learned in the previous semester will help you in later ones, so hopefully in 2013 when I am attending a university for my bachelors it will make transitioning to there that much easier. I know it won't be no walk in the park and that the demands are much higher there than they are in a community college, but still I feel what I learned here at Howard College will help me greatly at the university I will be attending; whichever university that may be.

Well I hope all of you will have a great summer and will be returning to Howard in the fall, or if you're graduating, then on to a university of your choosing. Remember, only you can achieve your dreams and those dreams are the key to your happiness. Until next semester, live long and prosper.

“Time Keeps On Ticking”

by Terrence Cain

Well folks the end of the semester is drawing fast upon us. It's going to be here before we know it and then what do you do when it's over? Well for me personally I'll be enjoying a summer break before my final semester here at Howard College in Big Spring. That's right, I will be graduating and earning my basic associates this year so that I can go on to a university to get my bachelors in print journalism. It seems like it was only yesterday when I started my journey to reinvent myself after losing my job in 2009. I will admit that a little bit of fear still lies within me that I could be still in the same boat I am in today when I finish and obtain my bachelors degree in 2014, but I don't let it consume me because I wouldn't be the optimist I am if I did. I know that no matter what this journey I've been on has been well worth it. It has been a great teaching moment in my life of what I can and cannot do.

I never thought in my life that I could make it through the very first semester and I did it just fine. Now I'm about to finish my fourth semester and I've got the best grades that I've ever had in all my time here at Howard College. I thought Algebra was going to kill me slowly from the inside out (figuratively speaking of course) and I've been able to stay strong and keep myself afloat through all of it. I have bad memorization and yet I've been able to retain the information need to pass the majority of my tests this year, with pretty high grades might I add. I've even managed to impress myself enough to assist one of my professors enough to ask for my help in a project we'll be putting forth next week for our final class before the finals the week after. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision to forgo the hardships of being unemployed for these last three years so that I could make the time up I could have done this in ten years ago, but sadly could not because of my living situation at the time.

So I bet now you're wondering what I will be doing for my summer break. Well this summer I plan on doing some much needed yard work, as well I plan on working on a novel I've been writing for the last five years or more. I think I'll try to spend time with some of my friends back in Odessa where I'm originally from since it's been a really long time since I've seen many of them. I think I'll try to catch up on some book reading as well. Well that's all I have to say for the moment. Until next time, this is Howard College's blogging machine saying in the immortal words of Mr. Spock; “Live long and prosper.”

“Music's Influence”

by Terrence Cain

I don't mean to be a downer this week, but the world I know and love has lost three very special people this week. This week we lost legendary American Band Stand host Dick Clark on Wednesday; and musicians Greg Ham of Men At Work and Levon Helm of The Band today. Music has been a major part of my life and always will be. Both my parents became avid music lovers and singers in their own right and shared that love with me which has put me where I am today at Howard College. I'm not just a music lover but a musician too so the loss of Greg Ham and Levon Helm is especially hard for me. I know a lot of you out there probably don't even know who or what Men At Work or The Band were, and that's okay, but I think if you want to hear some great tunes then I highly recommend you look these groups up and give them a listen because their music was some of the deepest ever made.

I know that in my life music has helped me through every hardship life has ever thrown my way, it's made me feel better about myself, and it's helped me to focus better as well which is something you most definitely have to have if you're going to get through college. I know I've gotten better grades in class while studying with music playing softly in the background, of course at times it has been a bit distracting too but that's a rarity.

For those who don't know why I am in college I am here to get the career I wish I had gone for years ago when I just graduated high school. I've always enjoyed writing, learning, and expressing my point of view with others about any subject in the world; especially music. Once I finish here at Howard College at the end of the year I will hopefully be in Austin, Texas attending college there at the University of Texas to get my bachelors in print journalism and then on to work for a music magazine or newspaper. Even though I am out of work, and have been for three years, I am thankful for the opportunity provided for me to go to college so I could work my way towards the job I was meant to be doing. And with all the things happening this week I know that life is something that can end at any moment without any real rhyme or reason so it's pertinent to do what it is you know you're good at and to never settle for anything less that being happy every day.

Okay, I'm off now to go work on a presentation I was coerced by Prof. Davidson of Development In Motion Pictures to do for Monday's class. I will be talking about George Lucas, Star Wars, and the questionable authorship of that film. In the immortal words of Mr. Spock, live long and prosper.

“Where Did The Time Go?!”

by Terrence Cain

Well after last week's post I feel a little out of sorts because I don't really have much to say this week. The weeks are wrapping up fast and the semester is almost over. Time for this semester has zipped by so fast that I'm not quite sure how I even got to this point. Maybe this means I've already graduated from a university and I'm living in Austin working for a newspaper or magazine all while looking back on my time at Howard College. Well one can dream, that's for sure. Okay, so off I go to do some reading for my book report for my U.S. Government II class. Hopefully I'll have something really good to say next week. This is Howard College's blogging machine, over and out!

“Theatre On A Saturday Night”

by Terrence Cain

Last week I saw one of the greatest, funniest, and saddest plays I've ever seen in my life. The story is about a man, a dog, his wife, and the trials and tribulations thereof. The play is called Sylvia; originally written by playwright Albert Ramsdell Gurney Jr. in 1995. You might also recognize other plays A.R. Gurney Jr. created such as The Fourth Wall, Far East, and What I Did Last Summer. Howard College's version of the play was directed by two fellow students of Howard College, Mindy Ralston and Courtney Smith.

The play starts with a man named Greg, played by newcomer Ty Hopper, who has been married for twenty-two years to his wife Kate, played by veteran Howard College theatre actress Amanda Brown. Greg and Kate are high school sweethearts who have been happily married for twenty-two years. At this point in their marriage Greg has become bored with all aspects of life and finds himself in a mid-life crisis.

Now what would you do in this instance? Would you have an affair with a younger woman in her twenties? Or maybe you would go sky diving instead? Of course you could start up a band and do some gigs at the local bar. That might just do the trick. You could even go out and buy yourself a sports car and go cruising down the boulevard. Well you know in your heart of hearts that those things just won't do; especially having an affair because you took those vows to heart and you still love your spouse dearly. So what should you do to give life to a life that has no life at all? Well naturally you just go on out to the park and take home a stray dog home, right? Well that's what Greg exactly did. He went to the park and brought home a hyper-active, wet nosed, cute and cuddly, precocious, furry, flea carrying mutt. Yeesh! So Greg takes this stray dog home in hopes that it will make his life so much better. Now surely nothing could go wrong, right? Everybody loves dogs, right?

Well Sylvia, played by newcomer and fellow Howard College student Lindsey Heckler, is not liked by all those who inhabit this quaint home. Greg's wife Kate absolutely hates Sylvia with a passion when she comes home to find this stray dog in her living room. Kate has had to deal with dogs in her youth, and it wasn't pleasant for her by any stretch of the imagination.

So even though Sylvia is met with negative response from Kate she does her best to communicate nothing but love and affection to her. That, however, is not going to happen if Kate has her way about things. Early on in the play you can see the tensions grow between Greg, Kate, and Sylvia. So after Greg and Kate fight over the new dog Greg decides to take Sylvia out for a walk and goes back to the park where he found her to try and sort things out with his newfound happiness that doesn't seem to make his wife happy at all. At the park Greg meets up with a lively character named Tom, played by another veteran of Howard College theatre Eric Ochoa. Tom gives the worst advice to Greg about his new found dog while he takes his own dog to the park.

As things escalate Greg and Kate's relationship starts to come apart at the seams. Things become a major problem when Kate's friend Phyllis, played also by Mr. Ochoa, comes to the house only to be physically violated by Sylvia. This causes major strife between Greg and Kate, so to try and save their marriage they seek a marriage counselor named Leslie, yet another role played by Mr. Eric Ochoa, who is just as lively as his other character Tom. In her last ditch attempt to rid the family of Sylvia, Kate accepts a once in a life time opportunity to go train for a new job over in England for six months. This does not bode well for Greg and Sylvia.

Greg quickly realizes that Kate's hatred for Sylvia has come to a point of no return and essentially Kate gives him an ultimatum. Their marriage or his dog. This is where things break down and get super heavy. Even though it kills Greg's new found joy he decides to give up Sylvia in order to save his marriage; and even though Kate has held a hatred for Sylvia for the longest time it breaks her heart too. Just as Greg leaves with Sylvia Kate runs out to bring them both back home.

The minimalist set worked really well for the overall look of the play and its characters. There was an abundant usage of good music in the show a well. I heard Ben E. King's 'Stand By Me', the opening theme from Bruce Lee's 'Enter The Dragon' [a great little tune by Lalo Schifrin] that was used for a couple of quarrels between Kate and Sylvia, a Richie Havens tune called 'Looking For A Way To Say Goodbye', and even 'Werewolves Of London' by Warren Zevon was used. I was moved to tears in the dramatic parts and laughed till I cried at the comedic parts. Everything just seemed to worked flawlessly.

Overall I give this play four stars out of five. The only reason it didn't get a five from me was because I felt Eric Ochoa's part as Phyllis, and then Leslie, was too distracting. People seemed to be laughing at the idea of a guy in drag instead of what lines he was delivering as Kate's friend and Leslie the marriage counselor. Other than that one part it was great all the way through. No one fouled their lines up, no one tripped, and the transitions were done extremely well. If this play was playing again this weekend I would see it no matter what was going on in my life.

The only downside to the play was the crowd. People refused to turn off their cells, some dressed like they were going to the local dive bar or strip joint, and there were even some who were rudely talking throughout the play. I even had a guy behind me who thought it was a great idea to put his feet on the back of my seat as well. Other than the unruly crowd this was a great play and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new avenue of entertainment.

I want to give a big thank you to Professor Kirk Davidson, Big Spring's professor of Development Of Motion pictures for inviting me out to see this play. I also want to thank the play directors and all the actors and actresses involved in the play for giving their all. Without them the story would have been dull and lifeless. It can easily be said that more great stories like this need to be put out there for people to see. I truly feel that plays like this are where real entertainment is at today. This is Howard College's blogging machine, over and out!

“Farewell To The March”

By Terrence Cain

This month has gone by so fast that it almost feels like a lost month to me. I guess that's what happens when you're having so much fun that time just seems to fly by. I almost feel like I missed some important things in my life. Hopefully next month won't be so fast.

Well the school semester is almost over with, folks. We've got about a month and a week left before we can call for a summer break. It's a shame too because next semester is most likely my final semester at Howard College here in Big Spring. I will be getting my basic associates this year so that I can move on to a university and get my bachelors degree in print journalism by 2014.

That is probably going to be the hardest decision to make for me as well because there are so many great universities out there and so many great cities that I could go to and spend the rest of my life in. Right now the University of Texas at Austin is looking like the best and most logical choice however. It's the closest to home, it's got many great opportunities, and it has the best thriving music scene in all of Texas. There are numerous newspaper and magazine publications in Austin as well, so that would be a great help to me when I graduate.

At the University of Texas at Austin you can also do an internship for their on campus news paper called “Burnt Orange” which would be a great way in helping me to get my career going in the right direction as well, so that's most likely where I will be going to if I can gain acceptance to that university. The other university I've been looking at is all the way across the country in Boston, Massachusetts. U-Mass has some similar qualities to the University of Texas at Austin, but it is much farther away, and since they most likely won't be paying to help get me there I will be doing my best to try and get into the University of Texas at Austin. It's a dreamland city for me anyway. Just a great thriving town for a person like me.

In 2006 I went to Austin a couple of times when I was in an Alternative Rock band called Dead Bang Go. We went there to play in a contest where we won the first round of three to go on to play at some European festival. By the second round, about seven months later, I had quit the band over some personal conflicts. I personally feel that my leaving is what cost them the second round because the drummer they replaced me with wasn't very good.

Now I'm not trying to rub salt into old wounds or anything, but at the time it did make me feel pretty good to see the impact I had on the overall sound of the band. We probably would have won the second round if I had stayed. We may have even went on to play in that European festival too, but that's the past and I don't regret one bit where I am today. Music has and always will be a part of me, so being in Austin will be great for someone like me.

Although I am a bit sad that I will be leaving Howard College and West Texas behind next year, I know that I won't be too far away from home and that I will be carrying my root values with me no matter where I go. I hope that each and everyone of you going on to a university will be realizing your own dreams and aspirations and getting something more out of your education than partying and being part of a fraternity. Remember, life is much longer than a party. Well until next week, this is Howard College's blogging machine, over and out!