Stomp That Bus

Where’s Z Devil?

Everyday I’m Devilin

Being an Arizona State University (ASU) alum and football fan is a thrilling experience. From the adrenaline-pumping games to the electric atmosphere of the stadium, every moment is a memory I wouldn’t trade for anything. I am extremely grateful for the chance to cheer on the team with my dad through nail-biting home victories. We have had two last-minute wins and a couple of hangers-on. For the third time in the last 8 years, I stormed the field with a win over highly touted Utah and have a photo with Coach Dillingham on the field to prove it.

I may have scared the neighborhood with my loud screaming cheers during our majestic win over Kansas University this past weekend. My favorite football memory was beating our rival, the University of Arizona (UofA) 70-7 a few years ago. And since our seats were on the 50-yard line and the visitors’ side of the field I was able to see the tears of Tucson up close and personal. There have also been heartbreaking losses to our rivals, and the games where you know we could have won if we didn’t make so many knucklehead mistakes.

I am proud to say I have met tremendous players like Eno Benjamin, Branden Aiyuk, Jack Jones, Coaches Dillingham and Herm Edwards, and so many more. I will even be able to meet the leading all-purpose player in the nation this year in Cam Skataboo this  Sunday at a meet and greet.

Jack Jones and I celebrating a win over Oregon Duckies

Football is more than just watching college kids use their athleticism for good entertainment, it is also about remembering the value of time and the importance of traditions. There are times I think, we have 2 minutes left in the game, and a field goal could give us a W, but is that possible? Every time, I am reminded that it is. A game can be made or broken within 7 seconds if a team is hungry enough. Football teaches me never to give up.

Football has also taught me to not believe stats will define a season. Every game is a new game. ASU was predicted to finish last in the Big 12 and would be lucky if they won 3 games. With two games left in the season, I am proud to say they are in contention for the
Big Twelve championship if we beat Brigham Young University this Saturday. I am excited to be part of the rowdiest crowd at the first sold-out game in 10 years. It will be amazing to be with my fellow Sun Devils screaming and yelling at the refs for the bad calls and hugging strangers when we get touchdowns. People have been asking left and right why I am not selling my tickets when I can make $1,000 a ticket, but I say there is something more precious than money. The memories I am making with my dad are worth more than that. Being able to support my team through the ups and downs is what being a fan is all about!

My friend… Coach Dilly

Whether it’s game day at Sun Devil Stadium or watching from home, being an ASU football fan is an unforgettable experience that brings joy and excitement and sometimes heartbreak with every game.

Moral: 1.) “Never give up, never surrender.” 2.) A lot can happen in 30 seconds. 3) Memories are priceless.

Dia De Los Muertes Extravaganza

“To Live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die.” – Unknown

Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a holiday that reminds us that even though our loved ones may have physically died, they are still with us as we choose to remember them. It is usually celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. The Spanish Conquistadores brought the Spanish tradition to Mexico in the early 1500s. It is not the Mexican tradition of Halloween although both involve costumes and parades.

Ways to celebrate are by putting a picture of loved ones on an altar (Offerendas) decorated with their favorite food, drinks, and Marigolds. Candles can be lit at the gravesite where some may picnic with their loved ones. Some clean headstones and listen to music. Others might pray, but the important thing is everyone remembers it is not a day to mourn their passing but to embrace death as a natural part of life. It is a time for the spirit of the deceased to rejoin the living, as they are celebrated. It is a day for them, not us.

Dia De Los Muertos festivities are community events that bring people together to honor all those we loved and lost. It is a time to bring awareness of the holiday to others. Vendors sell local products, food, face painting, hand out balloon animals, and share stories of those they love.

Moral: Those we love are never lost.

Feliz Dia De Los Muertos (Happy Day of the Dead.

Sun Devil for Life

Stay Calm and Fork On!

Anyone who knows me would say I am an ASU (Arizona State University) Sun Devil through and through. Some may even say that being a Sun Devil is part of my religion and that I bleed Maroon and Gold. I was born a Sun Devil and am proud of it. I went to the Rose Bowl in my mother’s belly in 1987; it has been all Sun Devils ever since.

My newest Sun Devil memory was on 8/31/24, when I got to go on the field to be recognized as a critical Alumni fan. I have been on the field because I was one of the many fans storming it after a big win, but never because I was being honored.

It has always been a dream of mine to be recognized on the field and wave the big ASU flag before the start of the game. On this particular game day, both my dreams came true. The best part… I got to share it with my dad, Dennis.

I entered a photo contest to show off my ASU fandom and won. The prize: At the first game of the session, I went on the field and waved the ASU flag for 15 minutes with about 100 other fans before the players ran onto the field. The younger children were waving the flag so hard it almost took my arm off. Then the music started, the fireworks went off, Sparky stomped the bus in the entrance video, and the team ran out and knelt around us. Then, on the first time out, they brought me, my dad, and three other fans out on the field, said our names, and thanked us for our support. When I walked up to my seat, a fan in the audience stopped me and let me know I had done a great job on the field. It was one of the best days. To top it off, ASU beat Wyoming 48-7.

Moral: 1) Be bold and enter contests. 2) Dreams do come, too, and they are best experienced with those you love around you. 3) Forks Up, Go Devils!

Santorini: The Lady in Blue

What we want is clothing we think we can fly in. That is why I opened the show with flying dresses. – Alber Elbaz

Santorini, also known as Thira, is one of the largest small Greek islands surrounding Delos, the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. It was once known as Kalliste, “The Most Beautiful One,” and Strongyle, “The Circular One.” About 3,600 years ago, it was the site of one of the most significant volcanic eruptions, the Minoan Eruption. It is now the largest water-filled caldera with the most active volcanic center in the South Aegean Volcanic Arch. Santorini is about 11 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is known for its breathtaking sunsets and a place to feel like one can fly.

Santorini is the first place to introduce Flying Dress photoshoots. Lady Gaga was the first to introduce the flying dress at a press conference in Brooklyn. Flying Dresses are made from satin, which reflects well under natural light, allowing the wearer to show up for the photo and know they will look good. A Flying dress that defies gravity and gives the wearer a sense of weightlessness and grace.

I was one of those lucky tourists who got the unique experience of wearing a dress with a 25-foot train. I learned that trains are easy to carry. Fold them over your arm, and you have no issues moving from place to place. I took pictures in 3 different locations to capture Santorini’s beauty. When the photographer, Chris Giantsis, from Santorini Dress Experience, takes the photos, his assistant throws the dress up in the air right when Chris takes the picture. I could not have been more pleased with the care and results I received. I didn’t have to worry about getting myself to the photo shoot or makeup as that was all arranged for me. All I had to do was show up and enjoy the moment.

Morals: 1) Take advantage of unique experiences. 2) If you get a chance to fly, do it. 

Delos, Greece: Island Like No Other

“I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.” – The Criminologist, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975

 Dear Diary,
On June 5, 2024, I went to Delos, Greece, with a good group I had just met a few days earlier. We had a great time learning about the history of the Greek island, such as no one was allowed to be born or die there as the rulers did not want anyone to be a citizen. The Island was made up of homes and shops, but it also had a center block where slaves would stand to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. At that time in Greece, being a slave meant anyone who was captured could be sold for compensation. It didn’t matter the ethnicity or financial stability; if you could be caught, you could be a slave and, thus, sold. 

I remember pondering the importance of not allowing anyone to be a citizen and having
to be shipped to another island to give birth or pass away. They received minor health
accommodations in Delos, but anything outside needing a band-aid you were shipped
elsewhere. The idea was challenging to comprehend as we were in Delos, Greece’s
most important mythological, historical, and archaeological site. It was used as a
sanctuary for centuries before being deemed the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, the
Twin Gods. 


Apollo is the God of music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and disease, and so
much more. He is the son of Zeus: his twin brother, Artemis, the God of the Hunt. Apollo
may be the God of Health, but he is a God that can also cause deadly plagues with his
arrows. An island surrounded by so much history and warmth was also where great
pain and suffering occurred. It was a place where people were sold as slaves and could
not show appreciation for their homeland because the land was not their home, but
instead only to Apollo as it was his birthplace. 

One exciting thing we did while there was go to the top of Mount Cynthis, crowned with
a Sanctuary of Zeus. From there, one can see all the other islands, as Delos is at the center of it all. My fellow explorers enjoyed doing the Rocky reenactment when we reached the top. I didn’t realize how tall the Greek Gods must have been to climb to the top of the mountain. The steps were 18 inches high, and I had to jump from step to step. When I got to the top, I just imagined Zeus and Apollo standing next to each other, looking over the islands and thinking we did this; this is ours, and screaming out as they, too, did the Rocky reenactment with pride and laughter. 


When we got back to the ship, I was grateful to have a group of people that became
good friends around me to push me, to help me jump from step to step without getting
hurt, as no one could die there, so we all had to take extra precautions to continue that
tradition. We had an hour to run to the top and make it back. We were not a group of
mountaineers, so it was extraordinary to see a group come together to help each other reach our mountain climbing goals and see what made Delos the center of the Aegean islands.

Moral: 1) Don’t be afraid to take chances because you might miss out on something
beautiful if you don’t. 2) History may not always be beautiful, but there is something
beautiful in history.

The Godess of Dance

“Life is better with friends and a good dance floor.”

– Unknown

Gods played a central role in daily life and culture in ancient Greek society. They had a healthy belief that many Gods could live in unison, as they each had their own specialty. There was the God of Dreams, Morpheus; the God of Ecstasy and Wine, Dionysus; the God of the Underworld, Hades; the God of War, Ares; the God of the Sea, Poseidon; the God of Music and poetry, Art, and even the Plague, Apollo; and then there was the God of Thunder, Lighting, the Sky, and most important Law and Order, Zeus. The gods were not just distant deities but were considered the primary facilitators of daily life.

Like Costa Ricans, the Greeks believe in the importance of living the purest life. Many buildings in Delos have male genitals carved into them as a symbol of Good Fortune, and it is said that many men would wear filicide Jewelry around their necks as a homage to this belief. To this day, the Greeks, like the Costa Ricans, embody what it means to live the purest life and embrace Good Fortune. Everywhere one goes in Greece, the people are kind and welcoming. They make one feel part of a close-knit circle of friends with their laughter, generosity, and dancing. I had the privilege of learning the simple 7 steps to their native dance and getting others excited to join us as we went around in a circle, kicking our heels up and shouting, “Opa.”

On my last day in Santorini, I took that joyful spirit on a sunset catamaran ride. The group of Americans that I went to Greece with was booked for the catamaran tour with a large group of Korean tourists who spoke very little English. They probably had no idea that the peaceful evening they had set aside to swim in the sea and sightsee would turn into a night of conga lines, 90s hip hop, Latin dancing, and so much more. Once the crew turned on some tunes, we could customize the music they played, and of course, my group wanted it to feel like we were at Studio 54, which just happened to be floating out at sea.

I lugged around my Greek Goddess Toga and headdress for 9 days. Since it was our last night, I felt there was no better time to embrace the original Greek fashion statement. That night, I became the Goddess of what I do best, Dance. I was told as we disembarked that I should work in a club as I was good at interacting with strangers and getting them to dance even if we didn’t speak the same language. I had a good time getting everyone involved. At first, the Korean travelers were not keen on getting up and dancing. They would rather observe, but after some coaxing, they did the conga line, laughed, videotaped, and took photos with me. I felt like a mini-celebrity and proud to represent the real Goddess of Dance, Terpsichore.

Moral: 1) Dance is a universal language. 2) The Greeks sure know how to dance.

Zoey’s Big Adventure

“When I am feeling low all I have to do is look at my cat and my courage returns.” – Charles Bukowski

It was a day like any other. I had just woken up from my 10-hour nap; my master was looking for my favorite toy that I hid under the sofa for safekeeping. I sat beside her, meowing with laughter as she spent 10 minutes trying to “rescue it.” I then went to the food bowl and waited for her to give me my calming treats, like giving Ritalin to a normal child; it made me want to race around the house even more throughout the day. I was excited to see all the new climbing material around the home, big stepping blocks with nice cozy sleeping bags all around it. It wasn’t until I started to sniff around that I noticed my pink bubble of doom was placed next to it all.

I tried to find a hiding spot because I knew what that pink bubble signified. I was going in it and would be taken to other realms, some realms made me pretty, had good treats and smells, while others gave me the shakes because of uncomfortable inspections and shots. I never knew whether I was going to cat heaven or hell.

I attempted to hide, but all doors were closed. My master cornered me and gave me extra treats, which I happily enjoyed. Then, just like that, I was in the pink bubble of doom with no escape.

I meowed and meowed to no avail. I eventually sat on my master’s lap with half my body in the pink bubble of doom and the other in her lap while she petted me and said things in a language I did not understand.

After a while, I wondered if I was in a nightmare as the ride to the other realm took almost a cat day. I looked out the window and wondered where I was, as I had never seen so much green dirt before. After what seemed like forever, the car stopped, and I was put back into the pink bubble of doom and carried out into a place with giant trees, bigger than I have ever seen out my home’s windows, and a steady breeze that fluffed my tail and gave me a little chill. My master took me down to blue water that stretched as far as I could see. I was intrigued.

For once, I enjoyed sitting in the pink bubble of doom, smelling all the new smells and taking in all the new surroundings. I saw several large fish jumping out of the nearby blue water. It reminded me of my favorite toy, Happy Fish, which I play with every day and sometimes give a bath in my drinking fountain’s blue water. I watched the birds flying around and other people walking by. Happy day, happy cat.

I was surprised when my master caught one of the big fish and delighted, too, knowing that my dinner bowl would be filled with fresh and yummy fish. As the day wore on, I was comfortable enough to take a nap and dream of tall trees and the soothing breeze.

I awakened with a jolt as I was swinging onto my master’s shoulders and sad when I could see we were walking back to the car. Oh Lordy, where to now. As all good stories have a happy ending, after a long and bumpy ride, mine was being carried into the fragrant and familiar smells of my home, a place where I knew I could relax. I headed straight to my bed, where I passed out for two days straight. Somewhere in the twilight, I enjoyed my tasty fish and dreamed of new adventures on the road. I do hope that the next time we go to new places with new smells and things I have never seen before, my master brings a few more treats.

Moral: 1) Even cats can enjoy some adventure time. 2) One can never have enough treats.

Blown Away: Z Style

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

Pablo Picasso

Picture this: Phoenix, Arizona, November 30, 2023, and a young lady was going off to accomplish a goal of being the #1 glass blower in the state or at least having a chance to learn the craft. She was excited, yet nervous, when she stepped into the glass-blowing shop surrounded by a few professionals, but mainly amateurs like herself. She was wearing her blue jean overalls, hoping it would make it look like she was at least somewhat skilled in the Arts, even if it was just card making.

She dipped the stick in glass goo and twirled it around the colors she had picked out previously and thought, “This is easy.” Next, she was told to place the ‘goo’ into what is called the Glory Hole, a hot furnace with a hole in the front for the stick of ‘goo’ to go through to heat it up to make it more flexible and easier to mold into whatever shape one wants. However, it became evident that it would not go as smoothly as hoped. The young lady was left-handed and needed to find a way to turn around, so the stick was in the other hand. The instructor laughed, and a plan was put in place that involved everyone getting out of the way while a hot flaming stick was twirled around.

Eventually, everything was set to move forward, but being left-handed, nothing would shield the inexperienced artist from the hot breeze and blinding light coming out of the glory hole.

Being an amateur, the young lady did not realize this was not the norm. She figured incorrectly that the instructor was holding up a piece of paper to test her skills of rotating the stick without setting the paper on fire. However, the paper was an impromptu way of shielding her from the heat and light she was unnecessarily battling with the Glory Hole. After thoroughly heating the stick, it was twisted and heated some more. Then, the instructor started to bring the glass to life by pumping air into it and allowing the young lady to blow

through a tube at various pressures to allow the glass to expand and come to life. After the pupil and the instructor were satisfied with the shape and size of the glass, she took special scissors and cut the tip of the glass ‘goo’ off, allowing the glass globe to be free. Lastly, a stamp of approval was pushed into the bottom to allow the glass globe to freely stand. It had to be left for a few days to cool off. She was excited yet disappointed once the process ended because she could not bring her creation home that day. After a few days of anxiously waiting, she was amazed and delighted with her creation and can’t wait for another opportunity to put her new-found skills to the test. 

Moral: 1.) Glass Blowing teaches patience. 2.) Being left-handed does have its challenges, even with glass blowing. 3.) Allow yourself to try new things because you might enjoy them.

Born to be a Sun Devil

“To boldy go where no cat has ever gone before.”

Annoymous

The first sounds I heard were A S U, A S U, ASU (Arizona State University) while nestled snuggly in my mother’s belly. It was January 1987, 3 months before I was born, and we were at the Rose Bowl. ASU played the Michigan Wolverines and won 22-15. The roar of 103,000 people as they cheered ASU to victory was something to behold. They were loud, they were proud, they were electric. The Sun Devil Spirit was contagious, and I was born with ASU fever. I was inside my mom’s belly, making the forks up sign and jumping up and down because I, too, was excited about the big win. Since that day, it has been a dream of mine to go to the Rose Bowl wearing the same ASU/Rose Bowl sweatshirt my mother wore to keep us both warm. I am pleased to report that 36 years later, my silly little dream came true.

It may not have been an official New Year’s Day Rose Bowl game between the Pac-12 and Big Ten winners. Still, it would be the last time the Sun Devils play at the Rose Bowl due to the changing of the guards and the slow dissolution of the Pac 12 while most everyone, except Oregon State and Washington State, head towards the Big 10 or Big 12 next year. I was excited to be a part of history when ASU took on UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) one last time, making it officially the last time any of the Pac-12 teams, including our rival  (UofA – University of Arizona), would play at the Rose Bowl representing the Pac-12.

I met many amazing people who were diehard ASU fans, just like my father and me. They understood and appreciated the significance of me being a Sun Devil before I even took my first breaths of outside air. I met people there who had attended the ’87 Rose Bowl and were pictured in the Arizona Republic newspaper after the win, current students, Cheerleaders, and of course… Sparky. I got to cheer, chant, jump up and down in the stands, and show great appreciation for my team when they won 17-7. I got to be surrounded by those who bleed maroon and gold as much as I do, and there was no more incredible feeling.

We were the underdogs, but my new friends and I never gave up. We knew our guys were tenacious and always fought hard. We didn’t have a regular quarterback or many other players, as most players were out for injuries. We played to our strengths no matter how goofy it looked to the outside world. The first time offensively on the field, everyone wondered what we were doing. We had one receiver on the far right side of the field, the center, a running back, and a tight end in the middle of the field, and the other seven players lined up on the far left side of the field. When a penalty was called for an illegal formation, and we lined up in the same position, we were as confused as UCLA. We were playing a swinging gate offense. The running back and the tight end switched now and then to play quarterback. Whatever it was, it worked. It was not surprising when our running back ran for a score, but it was when our tight end threw a bullet through a donut hole for a touchdown. Our defense stopped the Bruins on the one-yard line, not once, but twice. If there was ever a game you had to see to believe, this was it. I have a healthy imagination, but this was better than my dream.

Moral: 1) History will forever be on ASU’s side as we have gone where no Wildcat fan or player has ever gone to play on New Year’s Day….. the Rose Bowl, and where we won every time. 2)

Never let your shortcomings dictate where you can go in life. 3) Never give up on a dream.

Eating at its Finest

“I eat all my junk food in the kitchen in the dark so I don’t have share with my kids.”

Unknown

I recently took myself on a group date and went to a restaurant where you wear a blindfold and eat whatever they serve you. You can only control whether you want seafood, meat, or vegetarian main dishes. Three courses are served, and after each one, they let the participants guess what they ate before they tell you in detail what you may have enjoyed. The group I went with was extremely anxious or starving and needed to arrive before our meals arrived. I could hear fingers tapping on the tabletop to some unfamiliar, restless rhythm. When the food did come, there was no arguing that the seafood had the most prominent smell that made one long to have their feet in the sand.

It was fun to hear everyone guess what they were eating and work together to give each other tips to figure out how to eat some of the food served and know when they were finished. Some decided to forgo the silverware and experience their meal with the authenticity of a prehistoric civilization before tools. The silverware aficionados laughed and lamented that keeping food on a fork is a highly underrated skill.

For me, the biggest foreseen challenge would be using a knife. I’m an unskilled knife handler without a mask. I thought I had taken every precaution to ensure I made it out of this experience alive and unscathed by ordering the vegetarian dish. I should not need to cut my food, just stab it. How wrong was I? When the second dish arrived, the waiter said, “Miss, you will need a knife for this one.” My heart sank, knowing the nightmare I had been trying to avoid all night was about to come true. I sighed, “Here goes nothing. I love you fingers and always will.” I fumbled around but finally found the sharp, pointy end. My mistake for the ensuing bloodbath was that I swooped in for the knife instead of slapping straight down where I would have avoided stabbing myself. Between screeches, I heard, “Should I be worried, sitting next to you?” I laughed and replied, “Yes.”

At this time, another person at the table remarked, “Please, how can you hurt yourself with a butter knife.” All I can do is laugh. “I’m sitting next to Edward Scissorhands, for all I know”. Therefore, I decided to forgo the knife and further self-mutilation by spearing my prey with a fork. I could then gnaw at it like a savage beast. I am proud to announce that no limbs were lost during the experience, nor did I spill any food on myself. Now, I can’t say the same for others. Several looked like they were in a high school food fight.

My main takeaways were that smell is not very predictive of how much you enjoy a dish and that taste and texture are not overrated. I also learned that when a group of people cannot look at one another, we have issues with our hearing and tend to speak louder about the inappropriate topics we discussed.

Moral: 1) Sight is a small part of the eating experience. 2) Not being able to see is a great way to feel less inhibited without much coaxing because the feeling of others judging you tends to disappear.