Thursday, December 31, 2009

This Year

I've done a lot this year. I finished my first year of college. I worked on two majors. I worked a lot at The Post. I got addicted to Gilmore Girls. I watched TV in The Post's lobby. I photographed a lot of stuff. I made a lot of new friends. I watched old ones fade away, move away, change a little. I read books. I saw movies. I went to plays. I saw David Sedaris and got him to sign all of his books that I own. My camera broke. My camera got fixed. I had a snow day. I ate a lot of wonderful food. I sustained my vegetarianism. I had a wonderful summer. I went to Pittsburgh. I went to Chicago. I saw a bunch of bands at Lollapalooza. I played video games. I took an acting class, and was complimented on my ability. I started copy editing. I got addicted to NPR and This American Life. I watched a lot of series online. I expanded my musical tastes. I wrote a Between the Lines that got rave reviews. I took an epic photograph of President McDavis. I was held, kissed and loved. I held, kissed, and loved. I laughed. I cried. I smiled. I had my heart broken a little, but it healed quite nicely. I forgave. I pined. I pondered. I pleaded. I plotted. I fantasized. I dreamed. I sang. I danced. I ran. I blogged. I made mistakes. I had triumphs. I lived my life for another year. Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Make the best of another year, and keep reading!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

I'd Like to Thank...

All of you! My wonderful readers! What for? For reading this narcissist's bland portrait of course! As this blog is now over a year and a half old, I'd like to thank those of you who've been reading from the beginning, those that came along the way, and those who just might be starting to read it. As a present, I was wondering if you would like me to make a favorite posts list. Would you? If so, put your favorite posts in the comments and I'll make one. Stay tuned for my Year in Review post on the 31st. It'll be retrospectacular!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Melts in Your Mouth

Yesterday was my fantastic friend Simone's birthday, so several of us went to Melt to celebrate. We waited a good hour and a half just to be seated, and then about 40 minutes to get our food, but Melt is worth the wait. Its menu is just a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches to delight the eyes and mouth. I got the Roasted Vegetable for the second time and my god was it delicious! I was made fun of for being a fatty and finishing the first half of my sandwich before anyone was finished with half of the first half. I take big bites and let the deliciousness invade my mouth and dominate my taste buds, so sue me! Meanies! Actually, I find it quite comical myself. Simone also caught me foodgasming. Good food just makes me feel so good inside! At least I'm not like this lady.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Happy Christmas!

In the spirit of the holiday, and of Harry Potter, Happy Christmas everyone! We're all getting invisibility cloaks from an unknown person who was borrowing from our dead father. We'll find everything out when we've saved the world. Happy Christmas!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

A Christmas Story

Don't you just love watching the 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story every year on TBS? Well I do! Remember kids, drink more Ovaltine and don't shoot your eye out! Beware the dare! Someone could skip straight to a triple dog dare and you'll end up with your tongue stuck to a pole! Here's to a great movie set in Cleveland!

Fresh Air

Since I can't fall asleep, I've decided to catch up on the large amount of Fresh Air podcasts that I haven't had a chance to listen to. I've fallen in love with NPR. I love getting the 7am News podcast. I listened to it every morning, if it downloaded like it was supposed to, while walking to class along with the Story of the Day podcast which picks the most interesting story from all the NPR news programs. I also listen to Fresh Air. Terry Gross is just a genius interviewer. I also love All Songs Considered and it's partner podcast, the Tiny Desk Concert series. It's introduced me to some great music. NPR just seems to match my personality. It is also the only broadcast news I can listen to. I hate broadcast news. They rarely do any actual journalism and just beat pointless things to death because they're what get the ratings. It's sad. But let's not harp on the horrendous shape of the media. Instead let's talk about how much I love This American Life! It's the only public radio show not distributed by NPR that I listen to. I'm not much of a fan of Prairie Home Companion. I just find it boring. But This American Life is just wonderful. I've actually been contemplating approaching ACRN down at OU to think about a show called This Athens Life. If that doesn't work out, I'll try and get involved in a music radio show so I can start getting better acquainted with music.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Cedar Lee Movie Monday?

I've been home for 4 weeks or so and have not gone to Cedar Lee on a Monday night yet. That is, I hope, to be remedied tonight. Fingers crossed! I love me some Cedar Lee Movie Mondays. They're just wonderful, not as much as they used to be though. It used to be $5 and a free 32oz popcorn, costing only a dollar to upgrade. Free popcorn night was moved to Tuesday, but Monday still remains $5. It's just something about seeing a good movie, or an okay movie, for a low price that feels so good. If it doesn't happen tonight, there's always the new Student Night on Thursday. Only $6 with a valid student ID. Here's hoping!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

SNOW!

Demand and you shall receive! I demanded snow, so I got snow! I can't wait to go play in it, take a walk in it, and sit and watch it fall while drinking hot chocolate, maybe be even get to kiss John Cusack in it! Just kidding! I can't wait till this light white blanket becomes rolling hills covered in soft powdery white substance! Hoorah!

Please Vote For Me! Democracy in Action

Since I can't seem to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning, I decided to watch an hour long documentary called Please Vote For Me. It follows the election of the class monitor of a third grade class. The catch? It is an exercise in democracy taking place in a Chinese elementary school. The interesting thing about it was that these children knew nothing about democracy, what it meant to vote, campaigns, and other election related things. The funny thing is that they perpetuated many of the same things we see here in elections. There were three candidates. The one little boy, Cheng Cheng really wanted to win, so from the beginning he was being underhanded, organizing the students to boo his opponent Xiaofei after she finished playing the flute for the talent portion of their little election. The other boy, Luo Lei, used gimmicks. His father arranged for the class to take a trip on the monorail and gave them what looked like tickets for the mid-autumn festival. All three thought of quitting at points when it looked like they had completely lost the class' votes. But their parents were right there to ensure their child won, acting as a sort of puppet master. The parents were very active in their children's campaign, writing their speeches, telling them how to present themselves, helping them sway their classmates. It was very similar to U.S. politics, how candidates appear prepackaged and often attack their opponents, something each child did during the debate portion. It was also similar on the voting end. There were undecided, abstainers, gender-line voters, party-line voters (in this case, the candidates' friends). In the end Luo Lei won, most likely because he had just given them the tickets, overshadowing his constantly strict behaviour as the present class monitor that was often brought up by his opponents.

Let it Snow!!!!!! NOW!

I want it to snow!!!!!! I love the snow!!!!!! It wraps the world in a pure white blanket. It's almost the official beginning of winter! I really hope it snows by or on the solstice! I can't have a snowless winter break! It just can't happen! I need this to happen!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Some Holiday Cheer

Because I started out celebrated Chirstmas, it will always be near and dear to my heart during the winter holidays. Here's some festive music.

Blue Christmas performed by First Aid Kit



Always in the Season performed by Pomplamoose and friends.



Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Running Out of Time

I've only got half a month left to do 10 more post worthy things, and then a year-in-review post! If only I celebrated Hanukkah, then I would have 8 days of posts, maybe. I'm not sure how Hanukkah is celebrated other than the fact that they receive gifts everyday. Maybe next year I'll have a series of holiday related posts exploring the different winter holidays, they're origins, and how they're celebrated today. That's a good idea! In fact, I should explore holidays throughout the year. Put holidays I should learn about/celebrate next year in a comment! Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Boring Break So Far

Well, that's not entirely true. I've had some fun nights. I saw The Big Lebowski at Cedar Lee with my friends. It was great! There were plenty of people dressed in robes, looking like the Dude. I never realized how much I love that movie. It's so funny and just plain awesome. I also went Black Friday shopping with my mother yet again. The one time a year I have any interest in shopping, mainly because it's the rare time of year where things are really cheap and I can convince my mom to buy me plenty of things, like the awesome peacoat I got at Old Navy, and the many books I picked out at Half-Price Books. I guess it hasn't been all that boring.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Waiting For the Snow

I really want it to snow. It's almost December. It snowed a little on Black Friday, but it wasn't much and it wasn't really around Euclid. But guess what tomorrow is! Monday! That means...CEDAR LEE MOVIE MONDAY! I can't wait! I haven't gone in awhile!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Tofurkey-less Thanksgiving, Yet Again

My Thanksgiving wish was not granted this year, but it was a fine "holiday." I'll try not to be a Debbie Downer and explain the quotes. I tend to just have fun with what I see as the pointlessness of some holidays. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays to ponder why we celebrate it and the false reasons I was taught in elementary school. Oh elementary school! To be naive again! To believe in Santa Claus and pilgrims sharing meals with the indians instead of raping and pillaging their lands essentially. Whoops! There I go with my ideals again. I've discovered I'm very much a foisting person. I definitely try to persuade people to my point of view, but only on things I believe I am right about, or things I think would help the foistee become a better person, a more intelligent, cultured, and open-minded person. I'm making the world a better place, one person at a time. Don't get me wrong. I don't think I'm the perfect person and everyone should be like me, I'm just letting you think I'm thinking it.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Back in the Euclid-SR

No, I do not think my home feels like an oppressive communist regime. But to the point, I'm back home for a little less than six weeks. Thanksgiving is in two days, and Black Friday is in three. Thanksgiving will be fun seeing as I'm still a vegetarian. But I'm really looking forward to Black Friday if my mom wants to go. Half-Price Books is having a special 20% off the alright slashed prices. And if we're in the first 100 customers we get a free tote bag and $5 gift card. I'm really excited. Happy beginning of the holidays, or as Cake Wrecks says, winter.

Monday, November 23, 2009

I "Like" This

Lately, I feel I am slowly going insane. One of the key reasons I feel this oncoming insanity is my constant thought of, "If this were on Facebook, I would 'like' this." I'm afraid I have become a "like"-button-happy person. I do like to "like" things on Facebook, though sometimes I don't like the notifications I get when I like someone's status and someone else commented on that status, yet it is irrelevant to me. But I digress. I also narrated my life for a short two minutes; a short two minutes that I spent walking to the bathroom, going to the bathroom, and returning to my room. I have also increased the amount of times I talk to myself in the mirror, making funny faces at myself, and then finding myself ridiculously insane, which makes me laugh at myself, furthering my insanity. Harrumph. Le sigh. Oh woe. Deep intake of breath...exhale sound effect.

Yes, you did just read that, meaning yes I did type it. Weeooweeoo sound effect. You're thinking, "My god! He has lost it!"

Maybe I have...maybe I have.

^_^

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Synecdoche, New York

I was originally going to title this, "I Lost My Synecdoche, New York," and make it seem like I lost the key to the place I share with New York. No, not the STD-ridden reality star New York, just New York the city. Anyway, to the point of this post. I just watched the film Synecdoche, New York. It was strange, hard to follow, and sad. It follows Caden Cotard, played by the talented Phillip Seymour Hoffman, as his life slowly spirals. After his wife leaves him to work in Berlin, he receives a MacArthur Grant with which he builds a model of his world, hiring actors to play the people in his life, including a guy who followed him for 20 years to play himself. The time span is non-linear, yet at the same time linear. The film is ripe with odd occurrences such as him reading the diary his daughter left though it is filled with events from her life in Germany, things she could not possibly have written in it. Its central theme seems to be death, but it could also be the complexity and oddness of life, or even the wish to observe our lives as though it were a show. It obviously brings to mind Shakespeare's quote of, "All the world's a stage, and all its men and women merely players." Indeed, this film tries to portray that. The ending is unexpected and confusing, yet anticipation ending and engaging. It leaves the mind to wonder. Was it all a dream? A show? Unreal?

Finals Funtime

Since I do not have classes during finals, I end up having a lot of free time. Usually I watch stuff or rekindle my passion for video games. So far I've rewatched Wolf's Rain, seen Firefly with Bob, started Clone High with Bob, restarted Arrested Development with Bob, restarted Avatar: The Last Airbender by myself, and started playing Final Fantasy XII again. I've decided to finally finish the game after pretty much getting to the end long ago. The game is like three years old. I miss my Kingdom Hearts games. I need to get those back from my brother Jeff. I know you read this Jeff! You've been holding those games hostage for like two years now. I would like you to return them as soon as possible please. But I digress. I've also been catching up on all the Fresh Air podcasts I haven't had a chance to listen to, along with all the All Songs Considered podcasts I have taking up space on my computer. There's a lot of good music I need to get over winter break.

Friday, November 20, 2009

1000 Awesome Things

I would like to thank the awesome person that sent this as a reply to a PostSecret. 1000 Awesome Things is a blog chronicling 1000 awesome things. What makes these 1000 things so awesome? They are the little things that bring joy into people's lives. Today's post is waking up from a nightmare to realize it was only a dream. Other posts include finding money you didn't even know you lost, locking people out of the car and pretending to drive away, picking your nose, eating the last piece of dessert someone left at your house, real-bearded Santas, illegal naps, rain hair, sneezing three or more times in a row, your pillow, and over 300 more. The blog was started last year, and so far, has reached number 630 counting down from 1000. So here's to 1000 Awesome Things! It's one of my 1000 awesome things.

Link is in the list of Fun Blogs --------->

Fall Finals

I just finished my second final out of four for this quarter. I'm so glad this quarter is almost over. It's been almost stressful. I wonder if I'll ever actually feel stressed... Anyway, it's been pretty crazy also. I felt very lonely this quarter, and that led to thinking about my future, and consequently death. I had several near breakdowns because of my fear of the unknown. It's probably what caused my slight lack of motivation this quarter. But I did have my acting class to cheer me up and distract me. I'm going to miss that class. I hope Nicole will teach Acting Fundamentals II because then I would take it with her. I'll miss all my cool acting classmates. I've also decided, for now, that I'm going to be more of a masochist and try adding Acting or Performing, or whatever they call it here, as a minor. That way I can try out for the School of Theater's productions. I would love to be in one of its shows. We'll see next quarter. My last two tests are on Tuesday, and then I'm on my way home. Hurray!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

A New Improved Post. Now With Extra Ranting

So I've been watching the show Firefly, and then subsequently the movie that follows the one season series, with my awesome friend Bob. We had several Firefly nights within the past two weeks. The series is a space western, one of my favorite genres. It was a really sad ending. I wish it didn't end though. It was a really good show. Why do most of the good shows get cancelled before their time? It's just not right! Well, at least they make movies to wrap everything up. I'm anxiously awaiting the Arrested Development movie. Such a great television show, and at least it had a somewhat good run. I wonder if they'll ever make a The 4400 movie. That would be awesome if they did because that show was so under-appreciated. It had four seasons, and then it got cancelled and ended on a huge cliff hanger because they didn't know they were going to get cancelled, so they couldn't wrap everything up in a nice little package. And The Riches! Don't get me started on that wonderful show! I'm so angry! That show was genius! Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, fantastic chemistry! The actors playing the kids were brilliant! Only two seasons! URGH! WHY?!?!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Leggo My Eggo

Oh noes! Eggo waffles will be in short supply until mid-next year. What will all the hungry dads do without Eggo waffles to steal from their adorable daughters?



The world may never know...

(What's that? Two dated pop culture references in one blog post? Zoinks! (That makes three!))

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Playtime With Puppies!

I just played with three adorable puppies and two dogs that were possibly just older puppies. It was awesome! I played for three hours and became an unofficial helper, making sure the one puppy didn't escape, the big dogs didn't fight, and that the puppies were spread out among the people. I also gave a two dollar donation, but I feel I should have given more. I'll give more next quarter, when they have the next Playtime With Puppies!

Monday, November 16, 2009

The Book of Love

I watched the supposed to be series finale of Scrubs a few weeks ago. It was absolutely beautiful, and it made me bawl my eyes out. The reason I am bringing this up now is because Nataly Dawn, adorable member of Pomplamoose, did a cover of the song, originally by The Magnetic fields, that plays during the final minutes of the finale. The song is called The Book of Love.

Here is the Scrubs finale with Peter Gabriel performing the song.



Here is Nataly Dawn's cover.

And...Scene!

Today was my last acting class of this quarter. I'm really going to miss it. I had so much fun and met so many cool people in it. I really enjoyed learning how to better my acting. I really have improved. But according to my classmates, I was always fantastic. Now, I know I wasn't great before, but I'm flattered that they think I'm really good. At the end of class today, we talked about the class overall. I'm not sure exactly what was said, but I think it was along the lines of none of us was going to become famous. Then Jenny said that I would, and several other classmates agreed. I was very happy I decided to take this class, and I'm really happy I took it when I did with the people I did. It was exactly what I needed after this summer. And those this class has ended, the curtain drawn, the lights faded, I hope to continue to act in someway, whether I add an Acting minor if possible, or I try and work the student theater group into my already busy schedule. I guess I'll have to sacrifice my super lazy Saturdays.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Missing the Play

So I'm missing my high school's Fall Play. It sucks, but I filled the theatrical hole with some plays at OU. The first was a second viewing of The Wonderful World of Dissocia. I never got to writing a post about it after I saw it the first time, so I'll write about it now. The Wonderful World of Dissocia follows Lisa Montgomery Jones as she takes a trip into the world of Dissocia in order to find her lost hour. She calls a number her watch repairer gave her, and suddenly her flat turns into an elevator that goes up, down, and sideways. She comes across a pair of Insecurity Guards, must take an oath with the Oathtaker who constantly spits oatmeal cookies, plays in a field of light circles that make sounds, is almost raped by a Scapegoat, fights the Black Dog King's supporters using bombs that leave animal shapes, meets a cavalcade of characters at a hot dog stand that doubles as a lost & found office, finds out she is the lost queen of Dissocia and her hour actually created the world, and encounters the Black Dog King. That was the first act. The second act brings Lisa back to the real world. After her episode, she spends the rest of the play in a hospital room. Nurses funnel in and out, making sure she takes her pills. Relatives visit. She has a tense visit from her boyfriend Vince. The play ends with her looking out the window. It's very sad, and yet it's also a little hopeful. Even though she lost her crazy, lewd, fantasy world, there is an implication that things will get better.

The second play I saw was a student's one-act adaption of Hemingway's short story, "Hills Like White Elephants." If you do not know or have not read the short story, then I suggest you acquaint yourself with it. It's a fantastically simple look at a relationship where the persons involved don't communicate. The student took an interpretative approach, making gestures important. I applaud him, but I found the gestures very random and distracting. In the beginning, a song played and the three actors entered the stage area by following the beats of the music. It was very strange. I found it slightly unnecessary and rather boring to watch, even when the couple did a sort of dance with each other. I love the shorty story, I liked the play. I would have loved it had the gestures emphasis not been there. The actor and two actresses did a superb job. They really brought the story to life. However, I just can't get over those gestures. At times they were very robotic, and other times they were just flailing about. The gestures were supposed to say what the couple could not say to each other. The only thing it communicated to me was a pointless attempt at trying to make something better by making it different. Once again, I applaud the student for trying, but I encourage him to rethink the necessity of the gestures. I do recommend that he spearhead a transformation of Hemingway short stories into a skit-play.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Loneliness

I'm lonely. You won't talk to me anymore, and it's only making my loneliness worse. I just want my friend back! I just want the person that I made funny comments during movies with, watched TV with, heard funny stories from, went to free screenings with, tasted extra sugary lemonade with, and found the remote for. I want my friend back!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Primer

I just traveled back in time to let you all know about the five-year-old movie Primer. It's insane. I definitely needed to read the Wikipedia page to fully understand it. It's all about Abe and Aaron who stumble upon a way to travel back in time. They build these time boxes, and at first they only travel back in time to make money on the stock market and other gambling games. But then they set out to stop anyone from getting hurt at this party. I felt like a lot was left out. The ending felt rushed to me, and though I enjoyed it, I felt like I should have gone back in time and not watched it. Instead, I've gone back in time to warn you all! Causality!!! Beware!!! Ethical repercussions!!!

How Horrible!

So yesterday, I finally watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog! I've been trying to watch it since shortly after it was made, but my internet connection was too slow to watch it on its original site. Then it sort of faded from my mind until I started watching Firefly with my friend Bob on Saturday. The lead in Firefly, Nathan Fillion, plays the antagonist in Dr. Horrible. Dr. Horrible creator Joss Whedon also created Firefly. Since Bob is just awesome, he let me borrow his DVD of Dr. Horrible! It is 42 minutes of musical awesomeness. Neil Patrick Harris shines as Dr. Horrible, Felicia Day sparkles as Penny, and Nathan Fillion blazes as Captain Hammer. On top of the 42 minutes, there is a 42 minute commentary know as Commmentary: The Musical! Hurrah! So wonderful! I really enjoyed it, and I recommend it to everyone who has any sense.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Let's Take the Day Off

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. That means I do not have class! So tonight, I'm going to party like it's 2009! It is 2009? I can still party like is, right? Anyways, I only have the three more days of classes and then a week of finals before I return home for six weeks! I'll make sure I'm super busy during my break. That way, I ensure that I get to 200 posts by New Years Eve. I've always wondered if it's New Year's Eve or New Years Eve. Is it the eve of a new year? Or is it the eve of new years? I just checked Wikipedia. It's New Year's Eve, not anyone else's eve. Hmmm, then why is it not Christmas' Eve? Hmmmm...answer that grammar Nazis!

A Lover's Lament

Once, there were two lovers. They had met by pure chance, but it was as if they already knew each other. They were often together. Quickly and deeply, they fell in love. Everything was perfect. Until that fateful day...

It had come time for the one lover to return home. The summer was over, and so was the romance. The lovers said goodbye, but not without regret and sadness.

So the one lover returned home, only to find his heart was not with him. He thought he had brought it, but it seems his lover had stolen it. "Why did you do this? Why did you have to steal my heart?" he pleaded, but the lover responded with nothing but silence.

Having lost his heart, the one lover wandered aimlessly through his home, the anticipation of a return eating away at his mind. He slowly descended into madness and isolation.

One day, he had a chance to return to his lover-thief. It was a treacherous journey, filled with joy and tears at the prospect of seeing the one he loved once more.

His return was not as joyous as he hoped, but a spark of hope lit a candle of anxiety. "What if I only imagined the glances, the love-filled eyes?" he thought to himself.

He returned home, bringing with him an aura of anxious feelings. As his second return drew closer, the feelings worsened.

The day finally came. He shed his anxiety and held hope. It was true! Hurrah! The love was still there. They held each other close, their love-filled eyes connected. "I love you, and I have from the moment I met you," the lover said.

Alas it was but a dream. He awoke to his empty bed, his face soaked with tears, his heart pounding in his chest trying to escape.

A dream is such a beautiful thing, as beautiful as love. Unfortunately, both are just as destructive as they are beautiful.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Possiblity of Failure

I don't know if I can make it to 200 posts by the end of this year everyone. I'm going to see a supposedly crazy play tonight, so I hope that will fuel a post. Plus I'm sure I'll write something about my uncertain future soon. That's been occupying a huge chunk of my thoughts lately.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Ingird Michaelson

So instead of staying at OU for Halloween this year, I decided to go home to see Ingrid Michaelson and then the play Franklyn Stein's Project at CSU. It was the right choice in my opinion. I had a wonderful time. I saw Ingrid by myself at the Beachland Ballroom. It was so much fun. I made friends with the two girls in front of me while we waited for like 20 minutes in the cold for the doors to open. The opening act, Matthew Perryman Jones, was amazing. And then came Ingrid and her adorable band. They were all in quickly thrown together costumes that they bought at the vintage shop below the Ballroom. She was a cowgirl. She is amazing live, and a very funny person. She threw out candy, made several sexual jokes, and was just simply wonderful. Then my mom was kind enough to drive me to CSU for the midnight showing of Franklyn Stein's Project. I was supposed to see it with Ben and Kristen, but Ben forgot to inform me that he decided to work on Saturday night. So I reserved four tickets and only used one (thank goodness I didn't have to pay for them all). The play was fantastic. It was dark, dramatic, frantic, frightening, and comically gory, perfect for midnight on Halloween. It was student writ and directed perfectly if I may say so. I absolutely enjoyed it. Afterward, I got to see my friend Chad who made the air cannons that blew up the frog and shot guts and gore everywhere. Then my mom picked me up, I ate some candy, and then fell asleep. I hope your adorably awkward handshake was a sign that we're friends again.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Together

We are all in this together.

Neverending Blog Post

I just watched The Neverending Story for like the third time in my life. How are wonderfully cheesy movies like this not still made? I would hate for there to be a remake where they have good actors and a much more constructed plot. It would just be horrible if they had wonderful environments, and great CGI instead of their awesome puppets. Screaming "ARTACKS" just wouldn't be the same if a remake was made. People would think I was quoting the new hip movie when I was obviously mocking the sheer cheese of the wonderful classic. But speaking of movies, I really want to see Where the Wild Things Are despite not having read the ten-sentence book. It just looks visually fantastic and fun. Now all I need to do is get that song out of my head. No not the Story's theme song, the Robot Chicken parody of it. Haven't heard it? Well, check it out!



And then watch this, because I kept thinking of it at the end of the movie.

Humans v. Zombies

It's Humans Vs. Zombies time again here in good ol' Athens, which means crazy kids running around with Nerf guns and bandannas. It seems like so much fun, but I do not have the time. I do like to play along, throwing in a funny quip, such as saying, "There's zombies in them thar hills," or rooting on the doomed human army. Ah to be young and killing zombies... Alas I must watch, playing the playful spectator and nothing else. The only gripe I have with the phenomenon is the yelling at one in the morning. Yesterday, I heard a girl scream, "I'm a human, I'm a human!" Shortly after that I heard a guy groaning as if zombies were actually eating his brains. Where's the video cameras when you need them? Maybe I could use that for my video for my news writing class.

Friday, October 23, 2009

The Hostage

I went and saw The Hostage tonight with my friend Lisa. It's a really crazy play, set in the 50s, and revolving around a whorehouse where an English soldier is held captive by Irish nationalists in order to win the release of an IRA soldier. It was a fascinating play, absolutely captivating (wink). At times it was very busy with many things going on. The set was amazing. There were two floors, and it was so richly detailed. There were some hit or miss actors, but overall the cast was fantastic with familiar faces from the shows I saw last year. I had to see it for class, but I would have gone anyways. I do love the theater. The best part was that they all had accents (some better than others), and because I found the British chap to have the best accent, I started speaking with a little accent after the second intermission. It was a long play, but it definitely held my attention. The weirdest part though, was every now and then they had a song. They were all pretty good singers, but the songs were odd, and I found them distracting. A few here and there for comical effect would have been grand, but the constant song breaks started to get on my nerves. Then the play ended on a song which really annoyed me. It wasn't a musical. At least I don't think it was...I'll check wikipedia.

Goodness No!

The end of the year is fast approaching! October is almost over, November is soon to move to December! Oh and long gone is September. Remember September! That's a Fantasticks reference! But I digress. I have to post 38 more times before this year ends! Clap your hands if you believe! Clap! Clap harder! Oh no! I won't make it! Not enough people are clapping! Post "CLAP" or something similar if you believe in me! Why you ask? Just humour me, okay?

Books Are Fun

I love books! I especially love buying old books and good-condition used books. Alden Library, the 7-floor library at OU, had its opening night for its semi-annual book sale (I think it's semi-annual). I bought eight books for the mere price of $16. What a steal! My book drawer is filling up super fast. The worst part of it all, though, is that I'm missing the library book sale going on back home! I have to give my mother a list of authors to look for! This is important people!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

A Dream

I just finished watching a documentary called "Ballerina." It was charming. It was also captivating. I fell in love with ballet over and over again while watching. The focus was on five ballerinas in the company of the Kirov Ballet, one of the most famous Russian companies. It was wonderful, absolutely enchanting. The one looked as if she were floating. Their movements were so fluid, their bodies like liquid. It was spectacular. I now want to see a performance of any ballet, but it must be danced by the Kirov. I will go to Russia and see them perform one day. Another day, another dream I add to my endless list. Sigh...someday.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Avetts, Appear!

So, originally I was going to see The Avett Brothers with my friend Caitlin in a town two hours away from Athens/OU. This was going to be October 29. After having missed them when they were in Akron at the start of the summer, I intended not to miss them again the next chance I had. But then, lo and behold, an e-mail is sent out. In this e-mail, it says The Avett Brothers are coming to OU on the 24th of February. AAAAAAAHHHH! I practically peed my pants, almost couldn't breathe, and then let out a squeal. Then I went to The Post, and Caitlin was there. We both were like, AAAAHHHH, OMG! THE AVETT BROTHERS ARE COMING! I am so happy! I may even try to go catch them in Cleveland three days later. I love them that much! I and Love and You, Avett Brothers!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fantastick Trip Home

My weekend home was wonderful, or to be silly, it was fantastic! I went to breakfast with my family Saturday. Then we visited relatives. Next, I persuaded my mother to let us go to Half-Price Books. It was wonderful! I got Franny and Zoe, The Stranger, the Bronte sisters' books, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a different copy of Brave New World and Tortilla Flat, Robinson Crusoe, A Clockwork Orange, and Barbary Shore by Norman Mailer. After Half-Price, we went to Gabriel Brothers where I got some button-ups and a new vest. Then it was time for friends. David picked me up, and we went to Ben & Kristen's apartment. We ate at Scorcher's, the restaurant in their building, and walked to the Factory Theater for CSU's production of The Fantasticks. It was wonderful, it was fantastic. Then we walked back to the apartment and stayed for an hour. I left in the afternoon today, returning to Athens shortly before five. Now I must do the rest of my homework.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Are You Homing For the Weekned?

Why yes I am homing for the weekend. I'm going home for the weekend. So far, I plan on seeing The Fantasticks at CSU, but I haven't decided if I want to go tonight or tomorrow. I should probably figure that out on the ride home. If you're going to be in the 'Clid (is that how it's spelled, or is it just clid?) this weekend, hit me up!

Acting 101

I'm the most amazing actor ever! Well that's the vibe I'm getting from my acting classmates. It's soo much fun! We're doing A/B scenes where A talks then B talks, and so on. My partner Patrick is awesome! He was so happy that I was his partner. Everyone keeps asking me for feedback on their scenes. I feel so awesome. I can't wait for Monday when we do the final performance! Then we move into monologues!! I'm doing a really dramatic, high-energy, emotional monologue from All My Sons by Arthur Miller! So excited! Super happy face!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

I Was Right There All That Time

And now I'm not. So goodbye first chance at happiness, I look forward to encountering my second one.

Internet Silence

I will be maintaining internet silence for a week. Only school related e-mails will be replied to. Facebook is off limits. I will not write on here unless it is absolutely necessary. That being said, after this next post I may not write until next Sunday.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Adieu

For now, I'll say goodbye. But instead of letting that candle go out, I'm putting it away. I'll let Connie Francis say it beautifully through song.



If it takes forever I will wait for you
For a thousand summers I will wait for you
Till you're back beside me, till I'm holding you
Till I hear you sigh here in my arms

Anywhere you wander, anywhere you go
Every day remember how I love you so
In your heart believe what in my heart I know
That forevermore I'll wait for you

The clock will tick away the hours one by one
Then the time will come when all the waiting's done
The time when you return and find me here and run
Straight to my waiting arms

If it takes forever I will wait for you
For a thousand summers I will wait for you
Till you're here beside me, till I'm touching you
And forevermore sharing your love

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Dancin' in the Street

So Friday afternoon, I had to run to my room to get a charged battery for my camera. Since I'm not normal whatsoever, I decided to listen to MGMT on my way back to my room. I also decided to dance to the music. I was complimented many times. I was also told to keep dancing by this group of guys when I stopped to unlock the door to my building. It was very fun, and also a great cardio workout. I also have my camera back, so I can have plenty of fun taking pictures and photos! Yay! And on Oct. 9th, I'm heading home to see The Fantasticks at CSU. I would have liked to go the 16th, so I could also see Dr. Dog, but I would have no ride and I'm not paying for a $120 bus ticket.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Hello Stranger!

So I was walking back to my room after class today, and I decided to say hello to people who I did not know. So I said, "Hello Stranger!" to several people, some smiled, others laughed, and a few looked at me strangely. It was fun. I plan on doing it tomorrow and possibly Monday depending on how many strangers I greet tomorrow.

More Signs?

So your date was kind of creepy? I'm sorry, sort of. And the guy your friend tried to hook you up with wasn't your type? Well, I know I was your type because I read it on that one post you put up. I don't think you know that. But are these more signs? I don't know. The weirdest part is that after I called you last night and found all this out, it finally rained today. It's been muggy and uncomfortable down here for the past couple of days that I've been worrying and torturing myself over you. Is that a sign too? I want to stand out in the rain right now, feel its cleansing drops on my skin where once your hands caressed me and your lips burned me with ecstasy. I miss you very much, and like I told you, these weeks away from you have only made my feelings stronger. You're the most beautiful thing I've seen in my 19 years, and maybe that's a little melodramatic, a little too early to think, but I want to tell you that in person. For once my words aren't just hollow beautiful thoughts. When I say them to you, I really mean them.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Camera, Come Back!

I miss my camera! I can feel my photojournalistic skills degrading due to prolonged disuse. Can't Canon fix it any faster? It's their fault it needed to be fixed in the first place. Argh! I want to take pictures and photos (yes there is a difference)! In other news, It's already week three of this quarter. This year is already blurring past me. Soon enough, I'll be on the 4 hour trek home for 6 weeks of winter.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Dear Universe...

Dear Universe,

Are you sending me signs? I feel like you are. I'm not one for believing superstitious or supernatural occurrences, but lately things just seem too eerie to just be coincidence. So are you trying to tell me something? Because if it's what I think it is, then this will all be worth it in the end when everything works out, just like in the movies. All this crying, and worrying, and loving, and hating, and general sensitivity will be worth it, right? If you are sending me signs, can you send me one that will convince me for sure that you are? Thanks!

As always, your favourite existentialist,
John

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Melodramatic

To my readers, I'm perfectly fine. I'm sorry for acting so melodramatic. It just comes with my liking of writing, theatre, literature, and good films I guess. I really will get to those posts on Lollapalooza because there are some good stories there.

Friday, September 18, 2009

New Life Experience #1 and #2

You want me to be open to new experiences, so here is new life experience #1:

For the first time in my life, I truly feel shitty enough to say that I feel shitty. I finally want to scream "Fuck!" really loud so everyone can hear me.

New life experience #2:

For the first time in my life, I truly feel jealous of someone, and am most likely breaking the commandment against coveting or whatever because I want you all to myself.

Sorry for ranting to you, my wonderful readers. Have a fantastic day!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

You Have a Date Tomorrow? That's Nice. I'm Going to Go Cry in the Corner.

I hope you have fun on your date tomorrow. I hope you like each other. But I still like you a lot, and here are the many things that will always remind me of you.

When someone tickles me
When people kiss near me or on TV
When people talk about their boyfriend or girlfriend
My house
My street
My bike
My friends
Looking at myself in the mirror
When I laugh
Spanish
Ghostbusters
The Lost Boys
Tommy's
Cedar Lee Theater
Cleveland Heights
Euclid
Cleveland
Going to Simone's house
Going to Sarah's house
Passing your mom's house
Passing your house
Sufjan Stevens
Joanna Newsom
Broken Social Scene
Bon Iver
Chicago
Lollapalooza
Love songs
The Avett Brothers
Elliott Smith
Little Joy
Hellogoodbye
Kevin Devine
Vampire Weekend
Moon
Paper Heart
Humpday
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Animal Collective
Macs
Loud mufflers
Sitting outside my house
My backyard
My room
My bed
My computer
Cleveland State University
Theatre of any kind
Ben's house
Walking in downtown Cleveland
My phone
My clothes
My laugh
My hands
When I take my socks off
When I get dressed
When I drink pop
When I eat French Fries
Chili Peppers
Water
Apple juice
Facebook
My hat
My shoes
My keys
My wallet
My glasses
My couch
My birthday
The word cute
The word beautiful
Burritos from anywhere
When people play with my hair
After taking a shower
Pittsburgh
Lost
The Daily Show
The Colbert Report
Comedy Central Roasts
Michael and Michael Have Issues
South Park
Back massages
Sleeping
My facial hair

I'm sure there is more, but I just don't want to feel anything right now. I hope you find happiness, and something close to what we had. I love you, but I'll never tell you to your face. It would be too hard for me.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Inspiration

I wanted to be a concert pianist, but God didn't give me hands. I wanted to sing, but God didn't give me a voice. I wanted to dance, but God didn't give me feet. So all that was left was to love you, so I'll love you as best as this broken person can.

One of my many random spurts of creative writing. I really should have another blog devoted to my random bursts of creativity. That would be easy to write and maintain because I try to post a creative status on Facebook once a day. Hmmmm......

Backlog!

AGH! I still have to write about Pittsburgh and Chicago! So many backlog posts! Plus I have to write a story about Mr. Penguin and Mr. Zebra, the two animal magnets on my friend, Sarah's refrigerator. So much to look forward to! I'll try and get them in on slow, unexciting days.

Monday, September 14, 2009

The Lost Weekend

I watched Lost all weekend. If I hadn't, I probably would have done something more interesting to post here, but alas I started watching the 1st season Labor Day weekend, so I sort of am on a huge Lost kick and want to watch all that's online through Netflix, which is the seasons 1 through 4. I'll try and get out this upcoming weekend, but I'm not much of a party person. But since my friend Lisa has a house this year, I promised that we would throw theme parties. This way I get out more, have fun, and get used to theme parties. If you have any cool theme party ideas, leave a comment! The winner gets a prize: My everlasting gratitude. It could be worth something down the line if I become a famous journalist/photojournalist, writer, or actor, so you might want to win it. I'm just saying.

I am...an Actor!

Today in my acting fundamentals class, we played several games/exercises that were really fun. First we did Zoom again, which is a fun little game about focusing and eye contact. The first time we just had to receive the zoom from one person and then make eye contact with the person on our other side and pass the zoom by saying, "Zoom." Today we had to point across the circle and pass it, so it wasn't as easy to follow where it was going around the room. Then we played another name game to try and remember people's names better. The first person asks someone to help them, and the person who is helping says "Person, come here." Then the first person would walk toward the second person and the second person would have to get someone to help them before the first person reaches them. We didn't really get the hang of it, but we still had fun. The next exercise we did was this game where we threw our right shoes into a pile in the middle of the circle. One person would be the right shoe and another would be the left shoe. The right person would have to take a shoe from the pile and match it to a person in the circle. The left person would have to ask the people in the circle for their left shoe and match it with one in the pile. Then we ended with a one on one exercise. One person had $20 and the other person had to convince the person to give the money to them. The person with the money couldn't directly say no, or any direct variation. I did this exercise, and I was in the last pair. I had to ask for the $20, so I said I needed it for a flight to Paris, the last one for 3 years, to see my true love who left me for a French guy a year prior. I was really over the top and cheesy, but the girl wouldn't budge. Then our grad student teacher sent another student to be the boarding officer, so he was like, "Last flight to Paris is boarding now," so I had to act frantic, begging and pleading with this girl, but she still refused. Then I topped it off with a super cheesy fall-to-the-floor, "NOOOOOO!" as the boarding officer counted down the last five seconds before the plane left. The class ate it up. They all loved my acting. My terribly cheesy, over-the-top, comedic acting. Smiley face of epic proportions.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Wonderful Torture

Being separated from you sucks a little, but the joy I get from thinking of you crushes the pain into a pulp. You want me to move on. I'll try, I promise I will because you want me to. I don't want to though. I don't want to let your love slip through my hands. I don't want to look back and actually regret something in my life. I've lived so far without regretting anything because it led me to this point, but I don't want to go further if you're not there as more than just a really good friend. I don't know if you read this, but I hope you do. Writing is how I'm able to fully express myself since seeing you smile and staring into those beautiful green eyes make me speechless, unable to form even a coherent sentence. I saw you last a week ago. It's been a hard week trying to see people that can compare to you. I know I shouldn't be one of those people who refuses to get involved with other people because they compare it to their old wonderful relationship, but I can't help it. You changed my life. I'm so glad I found you, and I want to stay glad that I found you. But it's only been a week, so when I see you in 5 weeks I may have moved on. I doubt it, but there is always a possibility. I'll keep telling you about people I find attractive, but it's really just a facade to make you think I'm trying. I'm sorry for deceiving you, but I'm afraid of letting happiness get away. I miss you.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Between the Lines

Read my opinion piece I wrote for The Post yesterday! Here is the link.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

200?

I'm not sure how I'm going to meet that goal by the end of this year. Let's just hope that enough interesting things happen to me. That way I can write all about it for all of you who read this. Does anyone still read this? Comment "Hells yeah I do" if you're still kind enough to read my drivel. Keep reading!

Back to Class

First day back in class and it was the usual: syllabus, some basic introductory material, and then away we went. But a major crime has been committed. Soup at Baker's cafeteria is now $2.75, a quarter more than last year! This has deeply upset me, so I have ferociously written a Between the Lines for the Post to now be featured tomorrow (originally it was supposed to be in Thursday's paper). So I'm off to finish that.

Monday, September 7, 2009

A Poetic Post

Father's day is when we met.
It's been a wild ride since then.
And if your mind is set,
I shall say farewell when
I've decided myself to let
You go...
We watched guys bust ghosts,
And laughed at boys getting lost.
We both played the hosts.
But I'll pay the painful cost
For getting involved the most.
You know...
You made my birthday wonderful.
You even drove me to the moon.
I saw plays at your school.
But sadly the end came too soon.
Yet I continued to play the fool.
I go...
You rubbed my legs and held my hands
While I held your paper heart.
We kissed goodnight on the lands
In front of the end and start.
I dreamed of laying on the sands.
I know...
We held each other oh so close.
I felt safe in your embrace.
But moving on is what we chose.
I'll miss your beautiful face,
More beautiful than a rose.
We go...
Your eyes so bright and green;
Your lips so sweet to the kiss;
Your hands rough and mean.
All of these I shall miss,
And your wet hair's sheen.
We know...
It will be hard for awhile
To move on and stay friends.
But even if separated by a mile
Or more, this is not the end.
Strong feelings don't go out of style.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Revival!

I promise that I will post more often, especially now that I'm back at school and have more motivation. Since tomorrow is a holiday and I don't have class, I will write the posts I've been meaning to write about my trip to Pittsburgh and Chicago. Stay tuned for more of my life! I want to get to 200 posts by the end of this year!

Mission Accomplished

I arrived in Athens, Ohio, 10 or so minutes after 1 on Saturday, September the 5th, 2009. I proceeded to move my possessions into Shively, room 140. After a successful transfer from car to habitation, the parental units and I headed to the bookstore. There we bought several text books and several novels for my English class. At around 2, we ate lunch at the Chipotle located several yards from the bookstore. Upon finishing our nourishment, the parental units returned me to my new place of residence. I proceeded to read and watch several of my favourite episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist. At around 1am, I was introduced to my roommate's girlfriend whereby we had delightful conversation. After her departure, I continued to read J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories. At around 2am, I retired to my sleeping quarters and snuggled with a Mr. Moose. I awoke today shortly before noon. I have entertained myself by watching Visioneers, several episodes of South Park, and the first episode of Lost. That is all I have to report.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Return to the Fobidden University

Today is my last day in Euclid. Summer's over, so it's time to return to the good old Ohio University. Normally this would be a really happy thing, but I had such a wonderful summer, so it's a little hard to return to having to worry about work and grades. I had a whole week with the house to myself. I went to Pittsburgh to see a concert the day before my birthday. I saw three amazing plays at CSU's Summer Stages. I got to go to Lollapalooza, see a lot of artists I like, and eat at the Chicago Diner. I got to see several wonderful films on $5 Movie Mondays at Cedar Lee. I got to eat a lot of delicious food with Sarah and Simone at Sarah's house. I got to be nerdy many times. I finally beat Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles with my friends. And I met someone. So as you can see, it's going to be a little hard going back to school tomorrow.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Brotherhood

Be aware everyone, here is the Anime nerd coming out in me. I just watched the first two episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the OVA series to one of my all time favourite Anime series. I already see discrepencies, and so far 21 episodes have already aired. The episodes I have watched so far, and the preview of episode 3, all seem to be a retelling of the original series. I'm not sure how I feel about this. But I seem to have some explaining to do. OVA means Original Video Animation, and depending on the series, can be one of several things. There is the manga-faithful OVA, the "not enough source material to make a series" OVA, and the anime series movie OVA. Brotherhood seems to be taking the route of a more manga-faithful OVA series, which I don't think I'm going to like. I'm not much of a manga nerd, but I tried to read some of the later Fullmetal Alchemist mangas, and they just had what seemed to me as pointless characters and filler side plots. I'll continue watching for now, and will most likely finish it even if it irritates me. But for those of you who like Anime and have not watched the original Fullmetal Alchemist series, do so. It is a fantastic series with top quality animation and plot. And after that, watch the film Conqueror of Shamballa. It is the actual end to the series, though still very open-ended.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Pianist

I just finished watching The Pianist for the third time. This film is incredibly sad, but yet incredibly beautiful. I can't stand watching people being shot in films. This summer at a 90s theme party at Kenny's, we were watching Saving Private Ryan, and I just couldn't handle it. The graphic instant death...it just sends chills down my spine. I need a hug after watching it, even though the beautiful piano solo during the end credits calms me down. The worst part of the film though is when he doesn't get to help the German officer who helped him. The poor officer ended up dying in a Soviet labor camp in 1952, while Szpilman lived until the year 2000. War is such a terrible thing. We're told that history is doomed to repeat itself. Then why is nothing ever done to prevent history from repeating itself? It's plain to see the conditions that start wars and genocides. I'm sorry for preaching, but I always wish I could scream loud enough for the people in the film to hear me warning them, thereby saving them. A man can dream...

Friday, July 17, 2009

Apologies All Around

I'm sorry I haven't been posting anything. I've been doing a lot of stuff that is noteworthy, I just haven't had a chance to sit down and write it all. I should be able to write next week seeing as I finished something that was occupying a good chunk of my time. What is that something? Well you'll just have to wait until next week to find out. If I don't post anything by Tuesday night, feel free to yell at me in all-caps comments. It might help me get motivated to tell you all the amazing things I've been doing. If you thought my life was boring before this summer, well wait until you read what I've been doing this summer.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The Aftermath

Hey guys, sorry I haven't written much, but I haven't really been in a writing mood. I've been playing a lot of games with my nerdy circle of friends so I haven't been home a lot to write on this. In fact I'll be going to Tom's house in an hour and a half. Nothing exciting has really happened since getting back from OU, but I still have to give you a guys a school-year-in-review post. Expect that soon.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

First Year Finale

Sorry I haven't written on here in awhile, but this quarter has been pretty hectic. I've been shooting a lot more for the Post, doing a lot more busy working, shooting a lot more for class, and catching up on The Office, 30 Rock, and Arrested Development. I'll change the photo this weekend since I'll finally be done with class and assignments. This weekend's going to be crazy though. Thursday is my last Post All-staff, then Friday is Post Toasties and my boss plans on getting me drunk (she promised me wine), and then Saturday is LobsterFest where I can win tickets to the Avett Brothers concert in Columbus, which would give me a great excuse to come visit my Post friends working at the Columbus Dispatch. And as an ending note, according to the Colbert episode on right now, we now have a Death Star. Congratulations America! We did it! We will now rule the world and make it a better place...for evil!

Monday, May 4, 2009

My First Dictionary

I can no longer keep this blog from the public. My First Dictionary is a hilarious picture blog. Ross Horsley takes pictures and a word from actual children's dictionaries, then he makes his own definitions. They are often morbidly funny. In fact, they are always so. Here is today's.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Britain Belts Beautifully

First Susan Boyle, now this little girl named Hollie Steel. Britain is hiding all these people with beautiful musical theatre voices. They need to move here and be in musicals. Susan Boyle made me want to see Les Miserables, but only if she was in it.

Social Experimentation

Today I'm going to do a little social experiment. While I walk to the library, I am going to sing Avett Brothers songs. I also have thought about starting a blog called Social Experimentality. This blog will be devoted to social experimentation. I will do ones that go against social norms, and I will also experiment with conforming to social norms. Comment "Thumbs Up" if you think this is a good idea.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Wonderful Weather

It's beautiful down here in Athens! Yesterday was such a nice day. After Japanese class, I went to the Starving Artist's Lunch hosted by We Love Vegan Cooking. It was on College Green, and boy was it delicious. It was this delicious rice mix and salad. They also made vegan brownies, and since it was so warm out, the chocolate was all nice and melty. Since I started going to the Vegan Cooking Workshop, I've been eating a lot more salad. Vegans just know how to make a flavorful salad I guess. So I ate and talked with my friends in the shade of the trees. Then I noticed two puppies lying in the grass not far from where I was. I love animals, so I went over to pet them. Apparently they were rescued, and they were free to anyone who could give them a good home. They were brothers, River and Cole. They were a Pit bull-Lab mix. River was brown with a Lab nose, while Cole was black with a Pit bull nose. They both had a patch of white on their head and stomach. They were so mellow. It was sad to see these two puppies so dispirited. When they were first rescued by this girl's mom, they shied away from human touch. Eventually they got used to it, but they still were very dispirited. So when I met them, they were lying in the grass just letting people pet them. I sat for an hour and petted them. It was very nice. Eventually River started to perk up and run around, which was wonderful to see. He wagged his tail and wandered around to other people. Cole didn't perk up until their foster father came. I was glad to see that they weren't completely broken. I hope they find a wonderful home together because it would be terrible if they were broken up since they are so close.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

At Least I Got Something...

I didn't feel like getting up this morning, but I did. It's a good thing too. I walked around and was lucky enough to find a softball class to shoot for my sports action assignment due today. It wasn't the best I've ever done, but I'm going to have to try and shoot sports as much as possible so I can get a better grade on the reshoot, which isn't due until the end of the quarter. But now I can relax because the event I'm shooting for the next assignment can't possibly be cancelled, and I think dictionaries should have every spelling of a word because Firefox keeps telling me that the British spellings are wrong. I'm not wrong! If you want me to spell cancelled, canceled, then spell it that way in British literature when you sell it in the US! Oh, and I forgot to wish you all a Happy Ides of March, as well as a Happy Earth day, Pi day, and some others.

You've Got to Dance Dance!

I'd like to thank my friend Jane. She posted this on her blog not to long ago. This is something I would love to do, something I plan on doing at least once in my life. This video cheered me up. Today I have my sports action assignment due for VICO 390, and the only two times I could shoot baseball, it rained, causing the games to be cancelled. So right now I have nothing, and I need a minimum of 100 frames and a print by 3pm. It's probably not going to happen, but if I get down because of it, I'll just watch this video and cheer up.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

April Fools!

Not that anyone seemed to care. I am not closing my blog. Either you all knew that, or you just didn't care. Sad face. Anyways, it has been a fun first week, though I hate Monday. I have 7 hours of class almost back to back. There are some short breaks between them, but that time is spent eating a quick lunch or walking back to my room to switch books. I also tried out for Lost Flamingo Company again. I hope I get a callback again, and I'm not sure if I really want to be in Reefer Madness: The Musical. But I'm now a picture editor for the Post and my first late night will be Monday (ugh, but not really because I only have 3 hours of class on Tuesday). I have no knowledge of editing, so this is going to be a learning experience!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Farewell

After 119 posts, I have decided to close my blog. I do not feel a point to maintaining it. I would like to say goodbye to all my readers, if there even are any still left. It's been a fun ride, but it's time to get off the train. So as I take my leave, I wish all good night and good luck.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Vernal Vacation

Winter quarter is officially over as I'm done with all my finals and will be leaving within a few hours. A Happy Vernal Equinox to everyone. It is that special time of year marking the beginning of the spring season. Mine will be spent for four hours in a car, but I will be home for only a week. I hope though, that I will have bought and received all my new camera equipment before I return to OU because I need it for my first day of VICO 390. It's been a fun finals week, much nicer than last quarter where I almost went insane from boredom. I watched the documentary We Are Wizards which takes a look at the subculture created by the Harry Potter series, such as Wizard Rock and fansites. On top of that, this week's episode of 30 Rock was absolutely hilarious. I also don't know what I'll do with myself for a week with no Post to sit in and eat lunch or attend meetings. Well I do have one thing, other than visiting friends. I recently started going back on SpaceBattles. It is an online forum where I participate in story debates. Story debates are essentially roleplaying without stats, damage, HP, pretty much no numbers. It's really fun and gets my creative juices pumping. I'm getting involved in one that is about character-created deities that were overthrown and are trying to regain their power/realm. Another I'm getting involved in is a little like Cowboy Bebop. We're space cowboys/smugglers or a legitimate spaceship service. I went the route of space cowboys. I'm really excited to get involved in it again because the SD I got involved in fell apart after a month. It was really narrative heavy which ruined everything.

Monday, March 16, 2009

103%

Yay! My first day of finals is over and I found out what I got on my philosophy exam. 206 out of 200, which translates to a 103%. WOOOOOOT!! It was a really fun class. I'm going to miss it. So I end philosophy with a 99.3% because I was too lazy to get out of bed to take 2 quizes. I also skipped the class days for review because I didn't have Econ class anymore, so why wake up at 8am for only one hour of class. I'm just glad I didn't have to memorize the fallacies for the test. Well, I'm going to play some video games and listen to the Avett Brothers in celebration!

Finals Week

It's finals week for winter quarter. That means another quarter is at a close. It's going by too fast. I mean, I'm already a sophomore in credit hours. After spring quarter, I'll only be 8 credit hrs away from being a junior. It's going by way too fast. What if don't get to take all the cool liberal arts classes I want to take? Maybe I'm just going crazy from sleep deprivation, or I pulling strings to write something interesting for you all to read. Who knows? My psyche is very strange. I only worry about these things when I take time to think about them. Oh well, I think I'll play some Wild ARMS 2 to distract me. I started a new game during the time most people study. I'll at least try and study for my Econ test that's on Wednesday, but it won't really be studying, just reading the stuff I haven't read yet.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Harry Potter Weekend #8,362

The title might be a little facetious, but it feels like ABC Family has a Harry Potter weekend every month. In fact, I'm pretty sure they do, not that I'm complaining. I love the movies, even though I purport hatred of all those past the second. The first two are my favourite, the Sorcerer's Stone more so, but I do enjoy the other three. I hate that they blatantly disregard things from the books, but I enjoy their visual imagining of the books. I know the first two don't follow the books perfectly, but that is expected of book-based movies. It's just that the 3rd, 4th and 5th movies change the entire storyline, remove characters, ignore Wizarding Law (mainly the beginning of the 3rd movie where Harry is trying to read under his covers using a flickering (??!?!?) lumos spell), create plotholes that aren't in the book, and forget about key plot points from the books. Nevertheless, I continue to watch them. It's kind of like watching a car crash, horrible to watch, but you can't look away. But I'm excited for the 6th movie. The 11-year-old Voldemort actor is perfectly chillingly evil-looking.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Flight of the Red Balloon

All last year my friend Steven kept talking about this horrible French movie called Flight of the Red Balloon. He said it was horrible, especially when the little boy would go, "Balloon! Balloon!" but not really pronounce the "n." For the longest time, that was all I knew about the movie. A little boy says "Balloon!" in a funny French accent to a red balloon. Steven's commentary started when the remake was at the Cleveland International Film Festival. I was going to see it until he told me it was a remake. I decided, someday, I would see the original. Well today, that day came. In VICO 140, we watched Flight of the Red Balloon to examine the design principles of film we had learned about on Tuesday. As soon as the movie started rolling, I knew immediately it was that movie. I was like, "Oh my God! It's Flight of the Red Balloon, I need to call Steven!" Anyways, as the movie played, I sat on the edge of my seat, waiting desperately for the little boy to say his only line. When he finally said it, I laughed so hard. It reminded me of Steven and the hilarious impression he did of the little boy. It was a great class. Flight of the Red Balloon is one of those funny/awful movies that you watch to laugh at more than for story or enjoyment. At the end, when the mean little French children corner the little boy and his red balloon and then throw stones at it, I was like, "No! Balloon! Balloon!" in this sad French accent. The people sitting in my row were laughing. It was so funny. And then the little boy flies away like Curious George with a huge collection of balloons. It was like the movie we watched in AP Spanish last year where the corpse of El Cid just rides away on a horse. Mrs. Petrick was so offended because all six of us were laughing so hard. So for the next week or so, I will connect almost everything to Flight of the Red Balloon. It will most likely be my description of the movie. A red balloon leads a little French boy on a journey of magic and mystery.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Wonderful Weekend

I returned home this weekend to see the play at my high school. It was called Getting Sara Married, and my friend Julie directed. She did a fantastic job, especially with the lack of talent she was given in the two leads. I found that two supporting cast members had more talent and emotion than the two leads. The play aside, I had a nice relaxing weekend. I got my haircut, read Harry Potter, and spent time with my friends. It was a very relaxing weekend. Unfortunately, I missed the last day of dancing, but I did get to dance in Justin's car while we listened to techno.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Swirling Haze

This past week has been a little crazy. I have been reading the Harry Potter books, staying up until early in the morning doing homework, trying to budget time for Vico 222 assignments, and dancing everyday that I can. Unfortunately, my sleep schedule has gone a little haywire. I slept through my first two classes on Monday because I couldn't fall asleep until 5 am. And then yesterday, I also slept through Philosophy and Econ because I just couldn't move. Only two more weeks until finals and then this week is over. What sucks though is that next quarter I have to buy a whole new camera body and two expensive lenses for my Photojournalism class. What's even worse is that I'm unsure whether I should continue in VisCom. This quarter, I barely had time to do my Vico 222 shooting assignments because I was in class for 20 hours a week. Very rarely would I be able to apply the assignment's theme to something I would be shooting for the Post, so I would have to shoot on top of all that. I just don't like taking photos for a grade. I feel less creative and more trapped into pleasing the teacher so I get a good grade. When I'm shooting for the Post, and when it's a good assignment, I'm much more relaxed and take much better photos. I also watched way more TV this quarter because I got into shows and started watching Jeopardy again. I only wanted to come to college to enjoy the atmosphere and learn about things I like. Having to worry about grades and what classes I need to take is distracting me from life. I've started to become a little stressed every once in awhile, something I have very rarely felt in my 18.5 years of life. Right now, I just want to live my life sitting around with like-minded people discussing things. I want to read books, watch witty shows, see wonderful movies, learn to play instruments, write music, take photos, write books, write stories, write articles, write reviews, explore the world, and love someone.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Cait-a-day

While walking to my VICO 222 class today, I was passing Alden Library when one of the editors of the Post turned the corner. She said I had perfect timing as she wanted me to shoot something. There were people dancing around the corner in front of Alden. I jumped into photo mode, took some pictures, got some information, and was about to join in when the dance mix ended. I was a little disheartened, but I had found a great idea for my long term project for 222. I'm going to photograph these impromtu dance sessions and possibly join in. To catch me dancing hopefully tomorrow, go to cait-a-day.blogspot.com. Oh, and I am now starting the fifth Harry Potter book and will try and post all the reviews on The Book Shelf throughout the week.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Reading Schedule

So instead of reading the only suggestion I got (Left Hand of Darkness), I decided to read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I finished it for the sixth or seventh time, I don't remember. Now I am going to read the next one, and probably reread the rest of the series in order, and then read Left Hand of Darkness because it is very hard to get through (I tried over the summer). I also wanted to point out The Avett Brothers to my readers. They are a delightful folksy-acoustic-bluegrass band that I was introduced to through CATVision's TV guide channel. The channel streams the WOUB broadcast of NPR along with musical interludes of, often, obscure music. One time they played the Dr. Dog song The Breeze. This solidified my love of the channel and has left me leaving the channel on while I read or work on the computer. The link to their site is under Musical Tastes. I have also added Julia Nunes, who's CDs have entranced me and I thank my friend Justin for introducing me to her music. Enjoy!

Friday, February 6, 2009

New Look

If you're reading this on the main page, then you'll probably see the picture behind the title. I've decided to bring some life into my blog a little, so each month I will change the picture behind my title. I will also try to put up more photos from the stuff I shoot, but not too many because this isn't my photo blog, which I don't have one of. So look forward to the beginning of every month! And happy 110th post! Only 90 more until we celebrate my 2ooth post!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Book Poll #2

It's that time again. I've finished Neverwhere and Ender's Game. It's time to pick my next book to read. Remember, post your choice in a comment and to include any recommendations for next time's list. I can always try to find recommendations at Little Professor or the library. And if a recommendation gets enough votes, I might read that instead. So please vote this time!

Doctor Faustus - Christopher Marlowe
Eyeless in Gaza - Aldous Huxley
The Plague - Albert Camus
The Fall - Albert Camus
Ape and Essence - Aldous Huxley
A Sand County Almanac - Aldo Leopold
The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
Changing Planes - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Telling - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Dispossessed - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C. S. Lewis
Harry Potter, Book 2-7 - J. K. Rowling

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Poetic Piece of Mind

This is a poetic AIM chat that Hope and I had. I started with two lines. Then Hope responded with two lines. It follows a statement-response formula. I've really been inspired lately. Hope deserves partial credit for it. Enjoy our poetic collaboration!

Dead

Let me breathe life into you
To wake you from your eternal slumber

I only wish to live again.
Rejoice in a rebirth.

What dreams will come but few.
You will stay forever somber.

Unite my body with my soul.
Return again to earth.

My soul yearns for yours.
Hear its booming beckoning call.

We shall be joined again my love.
I gain life from your breath.

No more does matter the hours.
Into your arms constantly I fall.

Forever we shall always be
Together, free of death.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Readers, Readers Everywhere

People just keep coming out of the woodwork telling me they read my blog. That makes me very happy because I had thought this blog would go nowhere when I started it. Now, over seven months later, it's going strong. I can't wait for the one year anniversary. I have less than five months to think about what I'm going to do for it. Just letting everybody know how much I appreciate their readership!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Neverwhere

I'm deep into Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, and boy is it good. It's a wonderful fantasy tale that has a similar love story to the movie Stardust, which is based of the Gaiman book of the same name. A new post on The Book Shelf should be up soon. After that, I will begin reading Ender's Game and will make note of the supposed similarities between it and Harry Potter that Orson Scott Card so fervidly claims.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Inspiration...

I felt like writing. Two poems came out. These are those poems.

Deaf

I'm listening for you
As I'm screaming in my room.
I'm stuck in a place
I can't leave.

Can you hear me?
I can't hear you.
I'm lost...
Help me find you.


Blind

I can't see you
When my eyes are open.
I can't see you
When they're closed.

So how am I to know
You're there,
If all I see
Is air?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Smiles and Social Experiments

Today I was walking down Morton hill to my room, and as usual I like to look around at my fellow walkers. Today was a little different though. I was feeling very good, and was therefore smiling. When my eyes connected with this one girl's, she smiled back. That made me feel wonderful. I had recently posted a Facebook status saying how I wanted to spread my smile because the other walkers looked so grumpy. Today it happened, and it stayed with me for the rest of the day. I began to think about other things I could do to make people smile. I thought about saying hello to everyone I pass by tomorrow. I also thought about singing songs from the Sound of Music. So tomorrow I am going to say hello to everyone I come across. On a side note, I have decided to start Neverwhere this weekend, and then, upon finishing, read Ender's Game. Stay tuned for more glimpses into the strange yet awesome world my mind came from!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

What to Read Next?

Here is a list of titles and authors. Pick the one you think I should read and post it in a comment. If you have a recommendation, post that in addition to the one you chose.

Doctor Faustus - Christopher Marlowe
Eyeless in Gaza - Aldous Huxley
The Plague - Albert Camus
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
The Fall - Albert Camus
Ape and Essence - Aldous Huxley
A Sand County Almanac - Aldo Leopold
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
Changing Planes - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Telling - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Dispossessed - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C. S. Lewis
Harry Potter, Book 2-7 - J. K. Rowling

Have fun!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

The Book Shelf

After several thoughts about blogs, and several half-hearted blogs, I deleted The Modern Eclectic and The Course of Communication (my blog for J101) and created The Book Shelf. The Book Shelf will be just that. The pages (posts) will be about literature I am in the process of reading. There will be two lists on the side, along with the archive. One is called Books on the Shelf. This is for books I liked. The other one is called Books in the Bin, which is easy to guess what that's for. The address is thebook-shelf.blogspot.com. I wanted thebookshelf.blogspot.com but some idiot named Jennifer has it. The worst part is there is nothing on her blog, and she's been a member since 2001. She's obviously inactive, and unfortuantely I have no way to contact her in order to get the domain name. Oh well.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Winter Quarter

I'm off to a good start this quarter. I'm taking 20 credit hours this quarter, so it's going to be interesting. I don't have any journalism classes (sad face), but I do have two VisCom courses which should be fun. My friend Kristen is in my Philosophy 120 class, but so is Frank. I thought I might never see Frank again. I thought wrong. My awesome grammer partner is in my Econ 103 class. Hurray! I'm glad I was wrong that I might not see Matt again. I have some familiar faces in my Japanese class, but not my cool ecletic friend Taylor. But I do have fellow Postie, Jessica-san. Speaking of Posties, I ate breakfast this morning with the illustrious Ryan Dunn and City Staff Editor, Brigitta Burks. The weird thing is that we ate breakfast together at the end of fall quarter. I'm really excited for this quarter, so stay tuned for the 2009 edition of the life of John Nero!