Eyes like the ocean
Hair like the sun
I have one best friend
And she’s the one
She likes to ride horses
She’s super cool
I’d jump in and save her
If she was drowning in a pool
She’s one of a kind
She’s real and smart
And when she’s hungry
I give her a pop-tart
I’ll love her forever
Or till I’m old and crazy
Cause by that time
Not even she could save me
-Kendra Edmonds
A blue eyed blonde with a heart of gold, an incredible body and an even better voice.. can you say American Dream? She’s country to her core and as an HTVer in the middle of Springfield Missouri, I’m a huge fan. She’s the girl you blare in your car when some boy breaks your heart and all you wanna do is dig your keys into the side of his pretty little suped up four wheel drive and scream “it ain’t the christian thing, to do they say, but SOMEONE SOMEWHERES GOTTA PAAAAAYYY!” She’s also the girl you play nice and low on a sunny day when you’re feeling completely in love and all you can do is smile to her sweet voice that seems to know exactly how you want to feel at that moment. Carrie Underwood, every guy’s fantasy and every girl’s idol.
As i previously stated being HTVer means you must LOVE Carrie Underwood. I’m sure a lot of you think I’m exaggerating on this fact. I’m not. Coach Davis (aka: D Squared, Father of HTV (and I’m beginning to think father of time), our fearless leader, and our toughest critic) is completely in love with Carrie Underwood. He adores this woman he’s never met before in his life. He has pictures of her on our HTV walls where previous deadline schedules once hung. He watches her music videos daily, including random Sesame Street videos featuring Carrie Underwood as a felt worm. He allows us to randomly dance to and scream her top hits in the middle of class merely because he enjoys anything that is in relation to this blonde bombshell. If we were to attempt to do the same with any other artists hit, I would not be suprised if he failed us all right then and there.
I’ve said all of this to simply explain why if you are on HTV and you don’t love Carrie Underwood, you shouldn’t be on HTV. Because if you so happen to be on the staff of HTV you also understand how much Coach’s opinion means around these halls. Put aside the fact that he recently won teacher of the year, and you still have a man you would not want to disappoint. He gives his heart and soul to this broadcast program for the sheer love of it. But it’s not just disappointing this leader that would be a not so bright idea. Coach Davis also has a way of making any student he feels is a tad bit unacceptable at the moment, feeling like they might want to just go to bed and try again tomorrow. I mentioned a little bit of this a previous blog of mine (Cause Coach Cares) explaining how much we value exactly what Coach thinks about us HTVers.
So once again, if you don’t love Carrie Underwood, you shouldn’t be on this staff. And as all true lovers of Carrie Underwood (some out of fear and fear alone) were all looking forward to Carrie coming to town in June. Thank you John Q. Hammons for providing a more than exceptable place for Carrie to want to come and hang.
And Carrie, if you by chance read this and you see a balding, white haired, but handsome gentleman running at you with a video camera and a fragile old lady in his arms… its Coach Dave Davis with his whole life in his arms. Give him the time of day. Because he’d be happy till we graduate. And when coach is happy.. we’re all happy.
For years and years I have been THAT girl, you know the one. The girl that no matter what song comes on the radio or just happens to be playing in my head, I can’t help but sing along. I walk into rooms singing for no reason. I hum in public and bust my lungs in the shower. Coach Davis (or D squared as the HTV allum now refer to him) has predicted my future as a Showboat Branson Bell star, while my brother is convinced my only fame will be as a YouTube sensation.. and not the good kind. My friends all get annoyed beyond belief at my constant singing and make fun of me for it on a daily basis.. But look whose laughing now!
I officially have my first solo gig! A three hour set at Bair’s All American Bar and Grill this Thursday, be there or be.. not there. No promo intended, I just thought I’d get off my chest the relief/fear I’ve been feeling ever since Tim Bair the owner of Bair’s asked me if I’d be interested in playing live on Thursday nights.
As soon as he asked, my head screamed a profane yes, but I sucked that down and said calmly.. “Why not?” with a shrug and a ginormous smile. That was last month and now the week has come and I’m about to lose my mind.
Now I know a 5 foot 3 inch 18 year old playing with a cheap acoustic in a sketchy bar in the middle of Republic “Misery” isn’t exactly Carrie at the Opry, but I can’t help dreaming that it’s stunningly close.
I’m getting there. Slowly but surely. I’ve got callouses and a Facebook Event to prove it. Better check “attending”. Cause one day, Lord I hope, you’ll have to pay to attend :)
Here it is. The first blog from Kendra Edmonds of the year. Everyone is doing it!!! (excited face!) And we all know if everyone jumped off a cliff Kendra would figure there was a legitimate reason and join in a heart beat.
The reason for this blogging season… one jolly fella with a beard like snow.. no no not THAT wonderful man. Coach Davis! Our leader extraordinaire! We follow you to the edge of the media world and back! We heart you, Coach. And it’s because of us (disregarding the newbies.. you guys still aren’t officially on staff) that you won that beautiful Teacher of The Year award.. today we pat our own backs.. cause we sure as Hates know you won’t do it for us.
And it’s because of this solidarity that we care so dang much about your opinion! We crave your approval like a child craving pride from a father. I, myself, Kendra Edmonds, the girl who never gives a hoot what anyone thinks about her (hence the past 5 months of my teenage life being spent single) find myself waking every morning stressing about what to wear. Not because I long for the approval of my peers.. Nay, readers.. My desire to look fabulous comes from the fear of walking into the HTV room and hearing the dreaded phrase in that sarcastic disapproving tone: ”Well someone put effort into getting ready this morning”.
If Davis has ever mumbled anything remotly close to this at you, you can relate to the empty pit you instantly feel in your stomach no matter what you had for breakfast that morning. Of course we all just roll our eyes and act like the year of broadcast one melted us into rubber and every rude insult that comes from Coach’s mouth bounces right off our shoulders.. but who are we kidding.. we are glue! Those words stick to our souls and the ring in our ears for days to come causing us to go home and burn every pair of sweat pants we own, wake up 30 min earlier to curl our hair, and walk in like it was completely unintentional. Oh Coach.. How you effect us.
So here ya go, Yoda. My first blog. I know you’ll secretly love it but never give me the satisfaction of knowing that. So I’ll just dream on.. And hope that one day, when I’ve reached Carrie’s status.. then you’ll be proud of me. Until then..
Kendra Edmonds, signing out.
Just one “puke” of many.
… Which could quite possibly be back in New York City. Turn around, Eli.
Sure I miss my Chihuahua, Rory Esteban. And the thought of my own mattress, shower, and Jeep Liberty seem heavenly. But pulling into quiet Springfield Missouri after being in the most glamerous, lively, and historical places in this nation just seems a bit depressing. Yes, it is the place I was born and raised. Yes, it holds all of my memories, most of the people I love, and the life that has made me who I am. But isn’t the whole point of growing up to form you into someone who could be something much bigger than you ever dreamed?
After walking down the noisy, dirty, beautiful streets of huge cities full of life and oppertunity, I have realized I was born for the fast paced life outside of midwest walls. I have never been so ready for college and the fresh breath of freedom that will bring. Up until this trip I always viewed myself as a “homebody”. A girl that loved to be at her roots where it’s safe and comfortable. But now I can’t wait to “spread my wings” (how more cliche could I possibly get?”) and get out of “Misery”.
I’m sure one day I’ll sing a different tune and long for the boring town I’ve lived in for the past 17 years. But until then, home is definitely where my heart is…
And I’m pretty sure I left that back at time square.
… I’d never take my girlfriend to Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant.
Today I woke up, in a pretty good mood. We got on the bus and headed towards Virginia Beach. I surprisingly slept the entire way there. And I guess while I was sleeping, Eli (our amazing bus driver) avoided hitting a dog only to realize that the semi behind us wasn’t so kind. I however slept through all of this.
When I finally woke up, the scenery outside was beautiful. A ton of adorable surf shops and boutiques with a horizon of beach peeking over them. The sun was shining and I couldn’t wait to get off the bus. Except for the second I stepped off the bus… I froze. It was 40 degrees! I, being in my basketball shorts, had never been more depressed. Guess there was no swimming for me… unlike Michael who has decided he is invincible. We’ll see how he’s feeling tomorrow when that pneumonia sets in.
After unloading and completely destroying our hotel room with clothes in the first 10 min of being here (which we have become pros at) we went to the mall for a little bit. Me and Fatty shot our second package and then shopped where I bought another spring dress that I won’t be able to wear for about another month. Go me.
After the mall we all went to Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant. An all you can eat, decent, seafood joint with surprisingly good mac and cheese. Was it worth $40 dollars… “Debatable”.
Once returning to our hotel room for the night we began our nightly routine. Stripping down to pj’s or simply t-shirts and underwear, dancing to crappy music, blogging, picking up all our clothes and sorting them out to who they actually belong to as opposed to who tried them on randomly, speaking and laughing in stupid foreign accents, prank calling and gossiping.
…The life of a 17 year old girl is so glamorous :)
My camera memory card for some reason is “no longer formatted”. My options? Delete them all to format it… or not take anymore pictures the rest of the trip.
I’m not a happy camper. Or blogger. Or journalist.
The End. Deal with it Coach.
