Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Random thoughts of a Tennessee fan on life, sports and more TV shows than any one person should be allowed to watch.
About me
Name: Michael
Location: Nashville, TN
E-mail me!

View My Complete Profile
100 Things About Me
My Facebook Profile
My Wish List
Syndicate Big Orange Michael


Also For Your Reading Pleasure For Your Listening Pleasure (Podcasts)
Slice of SciFi
PodCulture
Two Insane Fans: The Statler and Waldorf of Doctor Who commentaries

Archives
04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004
05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004
07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004
08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004
09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004
10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004
11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004
12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005
01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005
02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005
03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005
04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005
06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005
07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005
08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005
09/01/2005 - 10/01/2005
10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005
11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005
12/01/2005 - 01/01/2006
01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006
02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006
03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006
04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006
05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006
06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006
07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006
08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006
09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006
10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006
11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006
12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007
01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007
02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007
03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007
04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007
05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007
06/01/2007 - 07/01/2007
07/01/2007 - 08/01/2007
08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007
09/01/2007 - 10/01/2007
10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007
11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007
12/01/2007 - 01/01/2008
01/01/2008 - 02/01/2008
02/01/2008 - 03/01/2008
03/01/2008 - 04/01/2008
04/01/2008 - 05/01/2008
05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008
06/01/2008 - 07/01/2008
07/01/2008 - 08/01/2008
08/01/2008 - 09/01/2008
09/01/2008 - 10/01/2008
10/01/2008 - 11/01/2008
11/01/2008 - 12/01/2008
12/01/2008 - 01/01/2009
01/01/2009 - 02/01/2009
02/01/2009 - 03/01/2009
03/01/2009 - 04/01/2009
04/01/2009 - 05/01/2009
05/01/2009 - 06/01/2009
06/01/2009 - 07/01/2009
07/01/2009 - 08/01/2009
08/01/2009 - 09/01/2009
09/01/2009 - 10/01/2009
10/01/2009 - 11/01/2009
11/01/2009 - 12/01/2009
12/01/2009 - 01/01/2010
01/01/2010 - 02/01/2010
02/01/2010 - 03/01/2010
03/01/2010 - 04/01/2010
04/01/2010 - 05/01/2010
05/01/2010 - 06/01/2010
06/01/2010 - 07/01/2010
07/01/2010 - 08/01/2010
08/01/2010 - 09/01/2010
09/01/2010 - 10/01/2010
10/01/2010 - 11/01/2010
11/01/2010 - 12/01/2010
12/01/2010 - 01/01/2011
01/01/2011 - 02/01/2011
02/01/2011 - 03/01/2011
03/01/2011 - 04/01/2011
04/01/2011 - 05/01/2011
05/01/2011 - 06/01/2011
06/01/2011 - 07/01/2011
07/01/2011 - 08/01/2011
08/01/2011 - 09/01/2011
09/01/2011 - 10/01/2011
10/01/2011 - 11/01/2011
11/01/2011 - 12/01/2011
12/01/2011 - 01/01/2012
01/01/2012 - 02/01/2012
02/01/2012 - 03/01/2012
03/01/2012 - 04/01/2012
04/01/2012 - 05/01/2012
05/01/2012 - 06/01/2012
06/01/2012 - 07/01/2012
07/01/2012 - 08/01/2012
08/01/2012 - 09/01/2012
09/01/2012 - 10/01/2012
08/01/2013 - 09/01/2013
10/01/2017 - 11/01/2017
11/01/2017 - 12/01/2017
09/01/2022 - 10/01/2022
10/01/2022 - 11/01/2022
11/01/2022 - 12/01/2022


Sunday, August 15, 2004
Scooby Doo, Where Are You?
Tomorrow is a big day for a lot of kids in the Nashville area. The Metro Nashville schools open up tomorrow morning with many youngers facing their first day of school. In preparation for that, the city of Nashville hosted their annual Mayor's First Day Festival this afternoon down at the Gaylord Entertainment Center (or GEK (pronounced "Geck!") for short).

Now, I'm not sure exactly what the point of the First Day Festival really is. I guess it's supposed to get the kids excited about going back to school. More likely, it was about giving out 7500 backpacks to students and the other free giveaways from the vendors who showed up there. Also, you could find out about some of the school lunch programs, tour a school bus, find out which bus stop you should go to, etc. All kinds of useful things.

Now, some of you are probably asking--why were you there? You don't have any children and you aren't a teacher. So, why bother to go?

Well, I'll tell you. I went because a temp agency in town called me up Friday and asked me if I'd go and play Scooby Doo for the local ComCast office. I'd worked for ComCast before and even provided security for Dora the Explorer out at Cool Springs Mall a couple of months ago. Seeing the joy and excitement that the kids all had at seeing Dora was pretty heartwarming. It was also amazing how many of the older kids and adults all wanted a hug from Dora. So, I thought--it might be a good way to pass the afternoon and they're paying me for it. Not a princely sum, but reasonably enough to make it worth my time. And did I mention I thought I'd be bringing a bit of joy to some kids?

And I'll be honest--I did bring joy to a lot of kids. There was one young boy who was a burned and scarred all over his body whose face just lit up when he saw me and gave Scooby a hug. There were some very nice kids who asked where Shaggy was and wanted to give me a Scooby snack. The majority of these kids were great--just wanting a hug or a high-five or a handshake and then to go about their way.

But there was a minority that, quite frankly, ruined the entire afternoon for me. First of all, I understand that when you wear a costume to make you look like a giant cartoon character there are certain limitations. One is that it will be hotter than you-know-where and the second is that it will narrow your field of vision dramatically. I figured the second one would be OK since I'd have a guide there with me--to help me get around and keep the rowdy ones from getting too out of control. Boy howdy, was I ever wrong there!

Second of all, you have to understand that going into this, not every kid in the world is a good one. I expected quite a few attempts to get me to talk or for some kid to do something like pull on my paw to get it to come off, etc. But I honestly never expected the abuse I took at the hands of some of these kids. Where to start? They hit the nose of Scooby Doo, they walked up behind him and smacked him in the head, they tried to literally pull my arm off, they grabbed Scooby's dog tag and yanked HARD. And the ultimate insult of all--several of them walked up and punched me right in the stomach. And sure, it's padded for Scooby's gut, but that didn't help much. I took several shots to the stomach and was hurt by it. Meanwhile, my "handler" is off day-dreaming or checking out cute girls a few booths over, I don't know what. But after the second punch in the gut, I was almost ready to rip off the head, paws and beat some heads. But I didn't. For one thing, I was kind of shocked by it. Secondly, looking back, I wish I'd ripped off the head, said "Forget this, you aint' payin' me enough!" and walked out then. But I didn't. Again, hindsight is 20/20 and the punching really didn't occur until midway through the time for the Scooby Doo appearances.

I was not alone in the abuse I took. At the GEC, we costumed characters were allowed into the arena to de-costume and cool down a bit. So, we made friends quickly. I spoke to the guy who was inside the Metro Schools outfit for Regular Roger for a good amount of time. Honestly, my first thought was that Roger was getting plenty of bran, but it turns out Regular Roger is there to encourage the kids to have good attendance. He said he almost got kicked in the crotch on several occasions. I'm not sure if any of our other costumed friends took similiar abuse, but I hope not.

And the thing that gets me most--when the kids are up beating on Scooby Doo or punching him out, the parents do NOTHING! They just stand there and watch. Now, I'm not a parent and I have a lot of respect for those of you who are. And I know you can't control everything your kid does. But you'd think that maybe punching a cartoon character might register as something wrong and something about which you might, just might, want to punish the kid for. Or at least take him aside and explain how this is wrong. And how Scooby is about to go Matrix on his ass if he does that again.

But, apparently not.

I got home and reported my fun to the parental units. Mom said she saw on the news they gave away 7500 backpacks in 45 minutes. I am not at all shocked. You'd've thought it was a Predator's Stanely Cup game the way they were lined up when I got there an hour before the doors opened. Reports on the news said that it was mass chaos with the backpack giveaway. Yeah, I know...I was there in it. It's just utterly insane, I tell ya.

So, now, I'm home and I have to admit my stomach hurts from being punched. I fully intend to call both the temp agency and ComCast tomorrow and complain. I complained to my handler but he didn't seem to care much at the time. Also, it was hard to really get my complaint to register with the ComCast supervisor since she was one of several who had her purse stolen during the event. So, I will give them a call tomorrow and see what I can do. I doubt they'll do anything, but they should at least be aware that next time, I ain't walkin' into the combat zone alone. I'm takin' my good buddy, Hong Kong Fuey!


posted by Michael Hickerson at 8/15/2004 07:41:00 PM | |
Comments: Post a Comment


Follow me on Twitter!




    Follow me on Twitter!


    Recent Comments
    Awards


    Web Sites I Visit
    CrossWalk.com
    Daily News Journal
    Doctor Who News
    Go Vols
    Go Titans
    The Tennessean
    The Tennessean's Titans Coverage
    Trek Today
    TV Guide On-Line
    Washington Post Redskins Coverage
    USA Today


    Favorite Authors on the Web
    Orson Scott Card
    Peter David's Blog
    Keith R.A. DeCandido's Blog
    Neil Gaiman
    Elizabeth George
    Philip Gulley
    Stephen King
    Donald Miller
    Lisa Samson's Blog
    Robert Whitlow

    Musical Links
    Carolyn Arends
    Sherrie Austin
    Cherryholmes
    Lee Domann
    Fleming & John
    Sara Groves
    Jennifer Knapp
    Jars of Clay
    Carolyn Dawn Johnson
    Cindy Morgan
    The Monkees
    Nickel Creek
    Nothin' Fancy
    Rebecca St. JamesRay Stevens
    Steep Canyon Rangers
    Williams and Clark Expedition
    Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
    Jaci Velasquez

    Blogging Links

    Powered by Blogger Weblog Commenting and Trackback by HaloScan.com Listed on Blogwise
    << ? Blogaholics Anonymous # >>

    My Blog Chalk

    Michael/Male/31-35. Lives in United States/Tennessee/Smyrna, speaks English. Eye color is brown. I am in shape. I am also creative. My interests are Reading/Swimming laps.
    This is my blogchalk:
    United States, Tennessee, Smyrna, English, Michael, Male, 31-35, Reading, Swimming laps.



    You Are Visitor

    Free Web Counter


    Looking For Something Specific?
    Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind

    Site search Web search


    Blogskins
    Powered by Blogger