In my life, I have found that, as the title of my blog states, "in the end, it'll all work out." And so it has. Money woes be gone. Stress gone. For now, anyway.
I'm doing alright in my life. Not much has changed and those things that have, have done so in subtle ways. I feel as though I am an improved human being after this past summer and I feel like a lot of people are as well. Can we just all improve as a human species? Its been a long time since I've found faith in humanity but here it is again. Love is real and will always, always find a way to get you through.
All you need is love. Maybe, maybe there are other things but love is a damn good start.
Third Eye Blind's new album "Ursa Major" has come out. I love every single track on it and I believe it is their second greatest album (the first being their self-titled, freshmen release).
This is the final verse/chorus of track 9 "Water Landing":
"Put on your life vest only if told to do so
Well I'm telling you now
Strap it across your chest
Prepare yourself for impending death
You and me are nose-diving
At the speed of whiplash, life passes by
In an endless plane crash
Muffled I love you through an oxygen mask
On my face, brace, brace
And the cabin erupts with religious conversions
God's sick joke as we lose the engines
Some people scream and some people are gracious
And the reason's the same
Cause the sky outside is so spacious
Its so spacious
So if its a water landing
Then its a water landing
And its coming inside."
This summarizes so many things. Because if its a water landing, then its a water landing. I only wish that I could have had this song playing in my head every time I flew. Oh well. Better now than not at all. Love.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
So this is where I am...
It's about 1 AM Saturday. I am well awake and listening to oldies (songs from the 50's and 60's). Currently playing is "Ain't Too Proud To Beg."
My thoughts were so strongly focused on "House On Hickory Hill" for so long but now my mind has wandered over to "Skin and Bone." This back and forth is quite common. However, I started re-reading what I wrote of SB and I'm astounded. I don't have the same problems in this one as I do in HHH (such as several big holes that need filling, a huge revision of chapters and/or sections). No, the biggest problem I had with this novel was double spaces after a period. I've fixed that all in the first section of the book. That was step one. I need to add a scene at the end of this one chapter then after that I can go back, fix all the god damn adverbs I've used, and then delete a few things (there are several parts where I say the same thing but in three different ways. As a reader I am annoyed). The writing, though, is fantastic. My style, as far as mechanics go, is pretty steady from when I started writing this (freshmen year of college). I've got good sentence variation, good flow. Sure, I've learned stuff since then but I'm still impressed with myself.
Now this book is divided into three sections, each section representing a different key location. I've actually modeled these three distinct locations after my trip to and from school and home. Basically the story starts out at "home" and my protagonist ends up going to a mid-point town in part two, called "Frankton," which is a real town. My friends and I have nick named it the "Zombietown," because often when you drive through there, you never see anyone around. It's eerie but cool in a way. The third and final location is a mixture of my college and college town. I haven't actually written part three. Part 1 is essentially finished (just needs some mop-up) and part two has a good leg up, but part 3 is just in my mind for now. I know some things though that I will share with you:
In this third part, my protagonist, James, has finally arrived at his university. This was his ultimate goal because he knew that his school had some really advanced bio-labs, top scientists/professors, and such. He hoped against hope that it would still be standing and that people would still be there, working hard on a cure. At the end of part 1, we hear a radio broadcast affirming that this place is a refuge and that it is, indeed, still standing. James is hoping to help find a cure. That is about all I can tell you. Oh, and of course, when he gets there...it isn't at all what he expects. Cliche in a way but also, true in life as well as fiction.
Now "Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer)."
My thoughts were so strongly focused on "House On Hickory Hill" for so long but now my mind has wandered over to "Skin and Bone." This back and forth is quite common. However, I started re-reading what I wrote of SB and I'm astounded. I don't have the same problems in this one as I do in HHH (such as several big holes that need filling, a huge revision of chapters and/or sections). No, the biggest problem I had with this novel was double spaces after a period. I've fixed that all in the first section of the book. That was step one. I need to add a scene at the end of this one chapter then after that I can go back, fix all the god damn adverbs I've used, and then delete a few things (there are several parts where I say the same thing but in three different ways. As a reader I am annoyed). The writing, though, is fantastic. My style, as far as mechanics go, is pretty steady from when I started writing this (freshmen year of college). I've got good sentence variation, good flow. Sure, I've learned stuff since then but I'm still impressed with myself.
Now this book is divided into three sections, each section representing a different key location. I've actually modeled these three distinct locations after my trip to and from school and home. Basically the story starts out at "home" and my protagonist ends up going to a mid-point town in part two, called "Frankton," which is a real town. My friends and I have nick named it the "Zombietown," because often when you drive through there, you never see anyone around. It's eerie but cool in a way. The third and final location is a mixture of my college and college town. I haven't actually written part three. Part 1 is essentially finished (just needs some mop-up) and part two has a good leg up, but part 3 is just in my mind for now. I know some things though that I will share with you:
In this third part, my protagonist, James, has finally arrived at his university. This was his ultimate goal because he knew that his school had some really advanced bio-labs, top scientists/professors, and such. He hoped against hope that it would still be standing and that people would still be there, working hard on a cure. At the end of part 1, we hear a radio broadcast affirming that this place is a refuge and that it is, indeed, still standing. James is hoping to help find a cure. That is about all I can tell you. Oh, and of course, when he gets there...it isn't at all what he expects. Cliche in a way but also, true in life as well as fiction.
Now "Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer)."
Friday, July 24, 2009
Why I love Okkervil River so much and other things of interest...
Why? Why, why, why?
Here's something I think is amazingly awesome. To promote their newest album, Okkervil River had a Stand-Ins project (the album being named The Stand-Ins). Aptly named because they had fellow indie musicians cover their songs and they taped it and put it on youtube (thus these artists Stood-In for Okkervil River).
Here's a breakdown of the tracks with the artists who covered them in case you recognize one or some of them:
"Lost Costlines" - A.C. Newman of The New Pornographers
"Singer Songwriter" - David Vandervelde (accompanied by Will Sheff of Okkervil River)
"Starry Stairs" - Jack Ladder
"Blue Tulip" - Bon Iver
"Pop Lie" - Bird of Youth
"On Tour With Zykos" - Zykos
"Calling and Not Calling My Ex" - Ola Podrido
"Bruce Wayne Campbell" - one cover by Crooked Fingers, another by Jordan Geiger of Hospital Ships
Now I can't say I recognize all of these musicians but the fact that this assortment of different indie musicians are covering Okkervil River's songs from their new album is very awesome. What a sweet idea, in my book.
This is one reason why I love them so much. But there are others.
I love their songs at the most basic level. Their chord structures, though most of them are simple, are unique to each and every song. No two songs even sound the same musically. Nor do they lyrically, which is one of the biggest reasons I love Okkervil River. Each album has a running theme that shows up in their songs.
Here are a couple of my favorite Okkervil River songs, complete with album and track name, as well as an example of the lyrics I love so much from each particular song.
"And when I killed her, it was so easy
That I wanted to kill her again.
I got down on both of my knees and
She ain't coming back again."
-"Westfall" from the album "Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See"
"He says, 'I am waiting on hoof and on hand.
I'm waiting, all hated and damned.
I'm waiting - I snort and I stamp.
I'm waiting, you know that I am,
calmly waiting to make you my lamb.'"
-"So Come Back, I'm Waiting" from the album "Black Sheep Boy"
"It's a gray day in the fall
And the radio's singing down the hall
And I rise to turn it off cause all I'm seeing is her face
Age 8
8"
-"Savannah Smiles" from the album "The Stage Names"
These lyrics, coupled with the music, form some really intense songs that really capture the scenes Will Sheff has created. The music in each song fits so well with the lyrics that it just really takes me away. I absolutely love this band.
So yes, I'm still working on "House on Hickory Hill." My immediate goal as of this moment is to really hammer that first goddamn chapter down to something I can feel comfortable showing a publisher. I want to do this before school starts up at the end of August. The first chapter has about 8 parts. The first part is finished and I'm quite happy with it. Just 7 more to go. Several of these should be easy to go through but the end needs tweaking. Fortunately its mostly all written, just some scenes need to be re-written and revised because they have the right idea but the wrong wording. Easy, right?
That being said, I hope to have my novel ready to be submitted by the time I graduate in two years.
Also, I'm having a hell of a time getting my student loan for this year. Before it was pretty easy, I just log onto Sallie Mae, submit my info, and voila, loan completed. Now they're asking for credit checks because of our shitty economy and because they have a new loan type in place. I can't pass a credit check because I don't really have credit and I haven't had time to get a job. So I'm trying to get a co-signer but so far no one in my family has been able to pass because apparently their credit isn't perfect enough.
Fuck this. But it's all I got.
Maybe I'll just drop out and get a shitty full-time job. I don't have a lot of options.
On a much happier note, I'm going on a camping trip next week with some friends. But damn, its really hard to get my mind away from this money sitaution. I hadn't really felt the economic crunch until now. Awesome. Great fucking timing.
Here's something I think is amazingly awesome. To promote their newest album, Okkervil River had a Stand-Ins project (the album being named The Stand-Ins). Aptly named because they had fellow indie musicians cover their songs and they taped it and put it on youtube (thus these artists Stood-In for Okkervil River).
Here's a breakdown of the tracks with the artists who covered them in case you recognize one or some of them:
"Lost Costlines" - A.C. Newman of The New Pornographers
"Singer Songwriter" - David Vandervelde (accompanied by Will Sheff of Okkervil River)
"Starry Stairs" - Jack Ladder
"Blue Tulip" - Bon Iver
"Pop Lie" - Bird of Youth
"On Tour With Zykos" - Zykos
"Calling and Not Calling My Ex" - Ola Podrido
"Bruce Wayne Campbell" - one cover by Crooked Fingers, another by Jordan Geiger of Hospital Ships
Now I can't say I recognize all of these musicians but the fact that this assortment of different indie musicians are covering Okkervil River's songs from their new album is very awesome. What a sweet idea, in my book.
This is one reason why I love them so much. But there are others.
I love their songs at the most basic level. Their chord structures, though most of them are simple, are unique to each and every song. No two songs even sound the same musically. Nor do they lyrically, which is one of the biggest reasons I love Okkervil River. Each album has a running theme that shows up in their songs.
Here are a couple of my favorite Okkervil River songs, complete with album and track name, as well as an example of the lyrics I love so much from each particular song.
"And when I killed her, it was so easy
That I wanted to kill her again.
I got down on both of my knees and
She ain't coming back again."
-"Westfall" from the album "Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See"
"He says, 'I am waiting on hoof and on hand.
I'm waiting, all hated and damned.
I'm waiting - I snort and I stamp.
I'm waiting, you know that I am,
calmly waiting to make you my lamb.'"
-"So Come Back, I'm Waiting" from the album "Black Sheep Boy"
"It's a gray day in the fall
And the radio's singing down the hall
And I rise to turn it off cause all I'm seeing is her face
Age 8
8"
-"Savannah Smiles" from the album "The Stage Names"
These lyrics, coupled with the music, form some really intense songs that really capture the scenes Will Sheff has created. The music in each song fits so well with the lyrics that it just really takes me away. I absolutely love this band.
So yes, I'm still working on "House on Hickory Hill." My immediate goal as of this moment is to really hammer that first goddamn chapter down to something I can feel comfortable showing a publisher. I want to do this before school starts up at the end of August. The first chapter has about 8 parts. The first part is finished and I'm quite happy with it. Just 7 more to go. Several of these should be easy to go through but the end needs tweaking. Fortunately its mostly all written, just some scenes need to be re-written and revised because they have the right idea but the wrong wording. Easy, right?
That being said, I hope to have my novel ready to be submitted by the time I graduate in two years.
Also, I'm having a hell of a time getting my student loan for this year. Before it was pretty easy, I just log onto Sallie Mae, submit my info, and voila, loan completed. Now they're asking for credit checks because of our shitty economy and because they have a new loan type in place. I can't pass a credit check because I don't really have credit and I haven't had time to get a job. So I'm trying to get a co-signer but so far no one in my family has been able to pass because apparently their credit isn't perfect enough.
Fuck this. But it's all I got.
Maybe I'll just drop out and get a shitty full-time job. I don't have a lot of options.
On a much happier note, I'm going on a camping trip next week with some friends. But damn, its really hard to get my mind away from this money sitaution. I hadn't really felt the economic crunch until now. Awesome. Great fucking timing.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
"Westfall"
As you can see, my new blog quote is from Okkervil River's "Westfall." As much as I loved that band before...
I've had to opportunity to listen to their older stuff and I've been loving the shit out of it. Westfall, in particular, is among my favorites. Anyways, that song, as well as Okkervil River itself, reflects my new blog layout. The picture above is from "Bloody" Charles Mackenzie's mausoleum. It is among my more supernatural experiences (not encounters, though) from Europe. You can read more about this all my adventures in my other blog (linked from here) as well as see every picture I took over there on my flickr page.
That's mostly all for now. I am hopefully going to see The Decemberists live in a couple weeks and I am also going on a camping trip or two in the next month or so. Then school starts up again.
I'm feeling my muse so I think I may finally, finally, finally tackle that first chapter of my camp novel and get it down, for good. I could really use that kind of writing win.
More to come, stay tuned. I am alive.
I've had to opportunity to listen to their older stuff and I've been loving the shit out of it. Westfall, in particular, is among my favorites. Anyways, that song, as well as Okkervil River itself, reflects my new blog layout. The picture above is from "Bloody" Charles Mackenzie's mausoleum. It is among my more supernatural experiences (not encounters, though) from Europe. You can read more about this all my adventures in my other blog (linked from here) as well as see every picture I took over there on my flickr page.
That's mostly all for now. I am hopefully going to see The Decemberists live in a couple weeks and I am also going on a camping trip or two in the next month or so. Then school starts up again.
I'm feeling my muse so I think I may finally, finally, finally tackle that first chapter of my camp novel and get it down, for good. I could really use that kind of writing win.
More to come, stay tuned. I am alive.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Brand New Day
So my PC contracted a virus. All in all, I had to reinstall Windows after tirelessly trying to eradicate the pest from my machine. All is well, though. Everything important was saved to my external hard drive, nothing but time and my Internet bookmarks were lost.
I'm half-glad actually. I love new beginnings. I like starting fresh and anew. Hallejulah.
Also, I'm madly in love with the band Okkervil River. The song "So Come Back, I'm Waiting" has been haunting me. I've learned to play it on guitar, as well.
I am on book 4 of Harry Potter, The Goblet of Fire, and have two weeks to go until I leave. I feel however, that I can both study for finals, take finals, and finish the series before I head home on Friday.
Only time, that fickle bitch, can tell.
I'm half-glad actually. I love new beginnings. I like starting fresh and anew. Hallejulah.
Also, I'm madly in love with the band Okkervil River. The song "So Come Back, I'm Waiting" has been haunting me. I've learned to play it on guitar, as well.
I am on book 4 of Harry Potter, The Goblet of Fire, and have two weeks to go until I leave. I feel however, that I can both study for finals, take finals, and finish the series before I head home on Friday.
Only time, that fickle bitch, can tell.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
“Old emotions are coming back to me.”
Thanks Third Eye Blind, you said it.
I have so much on my mind. It’s making me anxious and restless. I don’t like this feeling but sometimes I do experience it. I’m drinking some Woodchuck and about to play my guitar and hopefully that will calm my nerves. That’s pushing my luck, though.
I leave too soon. This semester can’t end soon enough. Time is a wicked, filthy slut. I can’t go slowly when I want. I can’t speed up when I want, either. I can’t fucking have what I want.
Please…Please let it all work out in the end.
I need a hug from a certain someone.
In other news, I'm trying to both read through all 7 Harry Potter books and refurbish my first chapter of House on Hickory Hill before I leave. Good luck to me, indeed.
I have so much on my mind. It’s making me anxious and restless. I don’t like this feeling but sometimes I do experience it. I’m drinking some Woodchuck and about to play my guitar and hopefully that will calm my nerves. That’s pushing my luck, though.
I leave too soon. This semester can’t end soon enough. Time is a wicked, filthy slut. I can’t go slowly when I want. I can’t speed up when I want, either. I can’t fucking have what I want.
Please…Please let it all work out in the end.
I need a hug from a certain someone.
In other news, I'm trying to both read through all 7 Harry Potter books and refurbish my first chapter of House on Hickory Hill before I leave. Good luck to me, indeed.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sometimes...
Sometimes I want to forsake everything for something simpler. Not boring, just simple. All this man needs is a pad of paper, a pen, and a multitude of environments. That's it.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Sleep paralysis
I experienced it for the first time last night. I was lying on my side, facing the wall. There is a spaced between my bed and the wall, enough to walk through (though its a tight confinement). Near the end of the bed, along the wall, is a window. I was looking at this window, lying on my side, when this black mass appeared. It was a black cloud darker than darkness of night that pervaded my room. There was a very minute amount of light pooling in from the window but this cloud covered it and it grew. I felt as though there was something in the mass that was slowly approaching me, to attack or do God knows what. I couldn't move. I wanted to so badly but I just could not. I could see myself, in my mind's eye, reaching my hands out to push the thing away but I could not actually move anything. I just lay there in distress.
This was both a dream and not a dream. It was a dream in the sense that I "woke up" from something but I lay exactly as I had in the dream, the only difference was that I was finally able to roll over, away from the window. The terror was real. My heart pounded and I breathed heavily upon "waking." So much so that I felt as though I had just gone running.
One effect of sleep paralysis (other than the obvious which is you cannot move) is hallucinations. I've heard a couple other stories but had never experienced something quite like this. The black cloud was the hallucination but everything else was incredibly real, because it was real. When you sleep, your brain releases this chemical that temporarily paralyzes you so that you don't act out your dreams and injure yourself. With sleep paralysis, you wake up but your brain thinks your still dreaming so this is why you cannot move and why you can hallucinate.
Scary. Incredible.
The scariest or most interesting thing to note is that I was talking with someone about this very thing only a few days ago and I deduced that this is what they were experiencing but I told them I've never experienced it before. Perhaps I was meant to experience this then, or maybe it was a weird self-fulfilling prophecy type of thing.
This was both a dream and not a dream. It was a dream in the sense that I "woke up" from something but I lay exactly as I had in the dream, the only difference was that I was finally able to roll over, away from the window. The terror was real. My heart pounded and I breathed heavily upon "waking." So much so that I felt as though I had just gone running.
One effect of sleep paralysis (other than the obvious which is you cannot move) is hallucinations. I've heard a couple other stories but had never experienced something quite like this. The black cloud was the hallucination but everything else was incredibly real, because it was real. When you sleep, your brain releases this chemical that temporarily paralyzes you so that you don't act out your dreams and injure yourself. With sleep paralysis, you wake up but your brain thinks your still dreaming so this is why you cannot move and why you can hallucinate.
Scary. Incredible.
The scariest or most interesting thing to note is that I was talking with someone about this very thing only a few days ago and I deduced that this is what they were experiencing but I told them I've never experienced it before. Perhaps I was meant to experience this then, or maybe it was a weird self-fulfilling prophecy type of thing.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Let's talk about camp some more...
The opening of a story or, in this case, a novel is one of the most important parts. When an agent or editor goes to read it, the first page needs to knock them out.
I'm working on House on Hickory Hill yet again. I feel as though if I can just get this chapter down solid, it'll help with the rest. The first step in doing so is having a truly incredibly opening, one that summarizes it all. But I'm lost. I don't know how to do it. The opening I have now...it isn't weak but it's not what I want. It's not powerful enough.
I'm not asking for help I guess. Just words of encouragement? Maybe a muse. Maybe I need to track the muse down and beat him with a bat. How's that for being proactive? Hell, yeah.
I'm working on House on Hickory Hill yet again. I feel as though if I can just get this chapter down solid, it'll help with the rest. The first step in doing so is having a truly incredibly opening, one that summarizes it all. But I'm lost. I don't know how to do it. The opening I have now...it isn't weak but it's not what I want. It's not powerful enough.
I'm not asking for help I guess. Just words of encouragement? Maybe a muse. Maybe I need to track the muse down and beat him with a bat. How's that for being proactive? Hell, yeah.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Mitch
I don't know why I've never written about this before or why I haven't recalled it until now but here it is. I believe I remember the kid's name and that it does start with the letter 'M' but for anonymity, I will call him Mitch.
Yes, this is a camp story.
Summer of 2006. I worked at a summer camp down in Brown County for the whole summer. I can't remember which week this but I believe it was sometime in mid- to late-July. This particular week there were less campers and there was also a simulataneous, specialized camp going on called Hang Out Work N Stuff where older teens went out with our counselors to build houses in the community. So, there were only a handful of cabins this particular week. I believe I had five campers. One of them was Mitch.
He quickly became a problem. He'd disappear on us all the time. He would not get along with the other campers in our cabin. Every activity and every person was "gay" or "stupid." It was frustrating to say the least. I believe he was 9 or 10 but I can't remember exactly. So Mitch was the one problem kid I had that week. My co-counsloer David and I struggled in vain to get him interested and to keep him with the group.
Well, we found a few things out a day or two later. Mitch was a foster child. Looking back, I should've talked my parents into adopting him, he would have been a great little brother. Anways. Not only that but his brother, who was also a foster child, was at camp. Apparently they lived, for whatever reason, in seperate foster homes and so never saw each other. That is until camp.
So now I understood. But it still posed a problem. David and I both had seperate talks with Mitch but nothing changed. That is, until the overnight, which was Wednesday night. Our adventure group (a boy and a girl cabin together form an adventure group) hiked out and went to our camping spot, away from all the other cabins. I think by now Mitch and I were starting to form a bond of some kind. Whenever we did activities, he wanted to be on my team. He wanted me to be his canoing partner in the lake, etc. I obliged because I knew it would help him enjoy himiself.
On the overnight, we had a mini game of capture the flag. Mitch was on my team of course. I inadvertantly knocked another of my campers down while chasing him, but that's another story. He also helped us cook dinner, gather wood, etc. Overall, he started to be more a part of the team. I think it was a combination of all of us accepting him and allowing him to particiapte, as well as David and I setting stern ground rules (but also allowing him time to visit his brother) that helpped Mitch.
Over the course of the rest of week, he stayed more with our group, interacted more and got along with the other boys in my cabin, and did what David and I asked of him. It was great.
On the last day of camp, as his foster parents' car pulled away, he shouted out the window at me, "See ya Will!" I could hear the week's enjoyment emanating in his voice.
"Have a great summer, buddy!" I shouted back.
Yes, this is a camp story.
Summer of 2006. I worked at a summer camp down in Brown County for the whole summer. I can't remember which week this but I believe it was sometime in mid- to late-July. This particular week there were less campers and there was also a simulataneous, specialized camp going on called Hang Out Work N Stuff where older teens went out with our counselors to build houses in the community. So, there were only a handful of cabins this particular week. I believe I had five campers. One of them was Mitch.
He quickly became a problem. He'd disappear on us all the time. He would not get along with the other campers in our cabin. Every activity and every person was "gay" or "stupid." It was frustrating to say the least. I believe he was 9 or 10 but I can't remember exactly. So Mitch was the one problem kid I had that week. My co-counsloer David and I struggled in vain to get him interested and to keep him with the group.
Well, we found a few things out a day or two later. Mitch was a foster child. Looking back, I should've talked my parents into adopting him, he would have been a great little brother. Anways. Not only that but his brother, who was also a foster child, was at camp. Apparently they lived, for whatever reason, in seperate foster homes and so never saw each other. That is until camp.
So now I understood. But it still posed a problem. David and I both had seperate talks with Mitch but nothing changed. That is, until the overnight, which was Wednesday night. Our adventure group (a boy and a girl cabin together form an adventure group) hiked out and went to our camping spot, away from all the other cabins. I think by now Mitch and I were starting to form a bond of some kind. Whenever we did activities, he wanted to be on my team. He wanted me to be his canoing partner in the lake, etc. I obliged because I knew it would help him enjoy himiself.
On the overnight, we had a mini game of capture the flag. Mitch was on my team of course. I inadvertantly knocked another of my campers down while chasing him, but that's another story. He also helped us cook dinner, gather wood, etc. Overall, he started to be more a part of the team. I think it was a combination of all of us accepting him and allowing him to particiapte, as well as David and I setting stern ground rules (but also allowing him time to visit his brother) that helpped Mitch.
Over the course of the rest of week, he stayed more with our group, interacted more and got along with the other boys in my cabin, and did what David and I asked of him. It was great.
On the last day of camp, as his foster parents' car pulled away, he shouted out the window at me, "See ya Will!" I could hear the week's enjoyment emanating in his voice.
"Have a great summer, buddy!" I shouted back.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
There is something to be said...
Okay, three posts in one day. It's a new record. But that isn't the point. I have had three, seperate but equal) points to make.
This one?
We could all take a lesson from tea. It's subtle, warm (or iced), and good for you.
This one?
We could all take a lesson from tea. It's subtle, warm (or iced), and good for you.
A Leaf By Any Other Name...
So this leaf is (still) on a tree right outside my house. It has survived the winter and I think this says something about how determination is more powerful than sheer strength.
We were perfect when we started, I've been wondering where we've gone.
-"A Murder of One" by Counting Crows
"The world is a playground. We knew that as a kid. But somewhere along the line we forgot that."
-Zooey Deschannel in "Yes Man"
"When we were kids
We hated things our parents did
We listened low
To Casey Kasem's radio show
That's when friends were nice
To think of them just makes you feel nice
The smell of grass in spring
And October leaves cover everything"
"When we were kids
We hated things our sisters did
Backyard summer pools
And Christmases were beautiful
And the sentiment
Of colored mirrored ornaments
And the open drapes
Look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes"
-"Have You Forgotten" by The Red House Painters
All of these quotations capture it perfectly, beautifully. Poetically. Sorry for the adverbs but its true.
Everything, everything, everything I have ever thought or written about stems from this. Childhood is beautiful and magical. I understand that this isn't true for all, but for me and many others it is.
I remember everything. I remember when Christmas parties meant getting treats and gifts, playing with my cousins, singing carols and seeing Santa Claus. I remember how summers never seemed to end but August always came a little too soon. I remember getting up with the sun and playing until after it went away.
I remember. The good and the bad. And I feel nostalgia for everything.
Here's honesty: I feel like I don't have direction. It's easy when you're a kid because adults tell you what to do. You go to school, you play with your friends and family, you have fun. Sometimes you have to do chores and homework but its always worth it.
Then you grow up and you get a part time job, and that's when things start to set in. Money is great to have and all but its not everything, and a lot of the time its not worth what you have to sacrifice to get it. Then you go to college which comes with all sorts of learning experiences, good and bad. Its good to have bad learning experiences to, to make mistakes, because this is what learning is.
But you learn a lot about yourself. Stuff you never knew and stuff you never wanted to face. It changes you, sometimes for better but a lot of times for worse. You realize you are no longer the carefree little child you used to be. You worry, you hate, you limit yourself. You try desperately to hold onto old things and resist, terribly so, the new. But you can't hold on forever, and the more you resist the harder things become.
I write and I play guitar not too escape but to ascend. I'm trying to find not a balance but a new level. I want those feelings, those memories...all of them, the sights and smells and feelings of childhood but on an adult level. I want to live, damn it. And I don't mean necessarily going bungee jumping or anything of the sort. I want to be happy all the time. I want to sometimes just be carefree. But I also want to be responsible.
I don't know how close I am or how much further I have to go.
All you need is a sharp knife.
"The world is a playground. We knew that as a kid. But somewhere along the line we forgot that."
-Zooey Deschannel in "Yes Man"
"When we were kids
We hated things our parents did
We listened low
To Casey Kasem's radio show
That's when friends were nice
To think of them just makes you feel nice
The smell of grass in spring
And October leaves cover everything"
"When we were kids
We hated things our sisters did
Backyard summer pools
And Christmases were beautiful
And the sentiment
Of colored mirrored ornaments
And the open drapes
Look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes"
-"Have You Forgotten" by The Red House Painters
All of these quotations capture it perfectly, beautifully. Poetically. Sorry for the adverbs but its true.
Everything, everything, everything I have ever thought or written about stems from this. Childhood is beautiful and magical. I understand that this isn't true for all, but for me and many others it is.
I remember everything. I remember when Christmas parties meant getting treats and gifts, playing with my cousins, singing carols and seeing Santa Claus. I remember how summers never seemed to end but August always came a little too soon. I remember getting up with the sun and playing until after it went away.
I remember. The good and the bad. And I feel nostalgia for everything.
Here's honesty: I feel like I don't have direction. It's easy when you're a kid because adults tell you what to do. You go to school, you play with your friends and family, you have fun. Sometimes you have to do chores and homework but its always worth it.
Then you grow up and you get a part time job, and that's when things start to set in. Money is great to have and all but its not everything, and a lot of the time its not worth what you have to sacrifice to get it. Then you go to college which comes with all sorts of learning experiences, good and bad. Its good to have bad learning experiences to, to make mistakes, because this is what learning is.
But you learn a lot about yourself. Stuff you never knew and stuff you never wanted to face. It changes you, sometimes for better but a lot of times for worse. You realize you are no longer the carefree little child you used to be. You worry, you hate, you limit yourself. You try desperately to hold onto old things and resist, terribly so, the new. But you can't hold on forever, and the more you resist the harder things become.
I write and I play guitar not too escape but to ascend. I'm trying to find not a balance but a new level. I want those feelings, those memories...all of them, the sights and smells and feelings of childhood but on an adult level. I want to live, damn it. And I don't mean necessarily going bungee jumping or anything of the sort. I want to be happy all the time. I want to sometimes just be carefree. But I also want to be responsible.
I don't know how close I am or how much further I have to go.
All you need is a sharp knife.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
One last post of reviews
At least for awhile.
Here's the three for this one: "Doubt," "Gran Torino," and "Wall-E."
"Gran Torino"
Yeah Clint Eastwood is close to 80. And yeah he's still badass, especially in this role. I can't think of one thing I didn't like about this movie. It says so much about a lot of different things. From most people, the thing they dislike most (or the only thing they dislike) is what happens at the end but honestly I thought that things happened as they should have. Eastwood's character made the right decision: He set out to do exactly what he aimed to do which is to give those kids a future while protecting their physical and mental wellbeing.
9/10
"Doubt"
This movie was astounding. Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman put on a hell of a show, let me tell you. These actors were freakin' wonderful in the film. I saw them, yes, but it was like their faces were on someone else's bodies the acting was so well done and so believable. On top of that, this story, and this theme, was phenomenal. Yes it isn't a perfect film, it was a little lacking in some parts but overall it was just amazing. I mean the atmosphere, the way they juxtaposed the priests and the nuns, old ways and new. Awesome.
8/10
"Wall-E"
Okay so it's not big news that Pixar/Disney can make one hell of an animated flick. Wall-E is no exception. Great visuals, great story, great message. Its shorter than these other two films and very kid-friendly so if you have some young'uns, I recommend renting this flick for the family and the other two for yourself and your significant other.
8/10
Here's the three for this one: "Doubt," "Gran Torino," and "Wall-E."
"Gran Torino"
Yeah Clint Eastwood is close to 80. And yeah he's still badass, especially in this role. I can't think of one thing I didn't like about this movie. It says so much about a lot of different things. From most people, the thing they dislike most (or the only thing they dislike) is what happens at the end but honestly I thought that things happened as they should have. Eastwood's character made the right decision: He set out to do exactly what he aimed to do which is to give those kids a future while protecting their physical and mental wellbeing.
9/10
"Doubt"
This movie was astounding. Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman put on a hell of a show, let me tell you. These actors were freakin' wonderful in the film. I saw them, yes, but it was like their faces were on someone else's bodies the acting was so well done and so believable. On top of that, this story, and this theme, was phenomenal. Yes it isn't a perfect film, it was a little lacking in some parts but overall it was just amazing. I mean the atmosphere, the way they juxtaposed the priests and the nuns, old ways and new. Awesome.
8/10
"Wall-E"
Okay so it's not big news that Pixar/Disney can make one hell of an animated flick. Wall-E is no exception. Great visuals, great story, great message. Its shorter than these other two films and very kid-friendly so if you have some young'uns, I recommend renting this flick for the family and the other two for yourself and your significant other.
8/10
Friday, March 13, 2009
More Reviews
"Yes Man"
So a new Jim Carrey movie, eh? I feel like the last comedy he was in was Bruce Almighty, which was pretty good. If he's been in any other comedies since then, they probably weren't important because I don't remember them.
However, I really enjoyed this movie. There were several times where I laughed out loud. Sure, it sounds a lot like "Liar, Liar" and it is in some regards but for the most part, this movie was awesome. And the very cute Zooey Deschannel is in it (you'll recall her as the love interest in "Elf" even though she's been in other movies).
You'll also recognize Carrey's characters friends, at least I did. One of them played "Hyde" on "That 70's Show" and the other well I'm sure he's been in a bunch of other movies but I recognize him as "Ben" from "Wet Hot American Summer."
Man, there were some very zany and very funny, and kind of gross and kinky stuff in this movie. Please rent it.
8/10
"Blindness"
All in all, this was a good movie. There was a little too much sex and nudity, though. A couple times very unnecessarily so. But it was a neat concept and neat twists and such. It was artistic in regards to the effects they used.
I didn't like a lot of what the main woman character did (and I forget both the character name and her real name). She didn't do what any person would've obviously done and so it dragged the story along unnecessarily so. Basically, she didn't know how to survive but somehow managed to. It really pissed me off.
I didn't like how the government reacted in this movie, either. It seemed a little unbelievable. They basically did what they did with like TB patients back in the day: put em all together in some isolated location and kept the world away from em and vice versa. Except this wasn't staffed with doctors and nurses, they basically just quarantined these people, gave them a little food, and let them do whatever inside. Sure, everyone thought they were contagious, but come on. I call shenanigans on this film. It was entertaining for the most part but it felt too much like a prison movie in an unbelievable context.
6/10
"Miracle at St. Anna"
Yes, this is a Spike Lee film. And yes, this is the first Spike Lee film I've watched all the way through (almost 3 hours long). I liked it, I really did. It showed the story of four black US soldiers who find this little Italian boy who is...not crazy, just kind of off. Parts of it are magical, surreal, and spiritual. Though it does drag on, it is very interesting, the lives of all the characters in the film.
The ending was kind of lame, though. Very cheesy, hollywood. But all in all it was a good film. It did drag on at times, but I put it up there along the lines of movies like "Saving Private Ryan."
9/10
So a new Jim Carrey movie, eh? I feel like the last comedy he was in was Bruce Almighty, which was pretty good. If he's been in any other comedies since then, they probably weren't important because I don't remember them.
However, I really enjoyed this movie. There were several times where I laughed out loud. Sure, it sounds a lot like "Liar, Liar" and it is in some regards but for the most part, this movie was awesome. And the very cute Zooey Deschannel is in it (you'll recall her as the love interest in "Elf" even though she's been in other movies).
You'll also recognize Carrey's characters friends, at least I did. One of them played "Hyde" on "That 70's Show" and the other well I'm sure he's been in a bunch of other movies but I recognize him as "Ben" from "Wet Hot American Summer."
Man, there were some very zany and very funny, and kind of gross and kinky stuff in this movie. Please rent it.
8/10
"Blindness"
All in all, this was a good movie. There was a little too much sex and nudity, though. A couple times very unnecessarily so. But it was a neat concept and neat twists and such. It was artistic in regards to the effects they used.
I didn't like a lot of what the main woman character did (and I forget both the character name and her real name). She didn't do what any person would've obviously done and so it dragged the story along unnecessarily so. Basically, she didn't know how to survive but somehow managed to. It really pissed me off.
I didn't like how the government reacted in this movie, either. It seemed a little unbelievable. They basically did what they did with like TB patients back in the day: put em all together in some isolated location and kept the world away from em and vice versa. Except this wasn't staffed with doctors and nurses, they basically just quarantined these people, gave them a little food, and let them do whatever inside. Sure, everyone thought they were contagious, but come on. I call shenanigans on this film. It was entertaining for the most part but it felt too much like a prison movie in an unbelievable context.
6/10
"Miracle at St. Anna"
Yes, this is a Spike Lee film. And yes, this is the first Spike Lee film I've watched all the way through (almost 3 hours long). I liked it, I really did. It showed the story of four black US soldiers who find this little Italian boy who is...not crazy, just kind of off. Parts of it are magical, surreal, and spiritual. Though it does drag on, it is very interesting, the lives of all the characters in the film.
The ending was kind of lame, though. Very cheesy, hollywood. But all in all it was a good film. It did drag on at times, but I put it up there along the lines of movies like "Saving Private Ryan."
9/10
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Movie Reviews
I have watched quite a few important movies lately. I am going to post my $0.02 for each here. There are a few more movies I mean to watch and probably will review them. The reason I'm writing about all of these is because they are all pretty much dramas and are more meaningful, in many ways, than just straight up comedy or action flicks.
The three I'm going to review in this post are "Changeling," "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas," and "Watchmen." These may or may not contain spoilers so read at your own risk. Here we go:
"Changeling"
This movie was critically-acclaimed. Directed by The Man With No Name himself, Clint Eastwood. Powerfully acted by Angelina Jolie, John Malkovitch and others. This movie, among other things, paid detailed attention to the time period. There were several stories going on actually, and several themes as well. It's interesting that even in the late 1920's, the LAPD was doing poorly.
Although the story of Christine Collins (Angeline Jolie) was very intriguing, I was more interested in the story of the boy Sanford Clark. They did pretty well following the history of everything that happened (I did my research on it). If interested, look up the Wineville chicken Coop Murders to read about all of the actual history, before or after the movie, either way.
8/10
"The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas"
No I didn't spell it incorrectly, well I did but that's how the title is spelled, for whatever reason. This movie is about an 8 year old boy named Bruno. His father is a Nazi officer and the family move out into the country--about a mile away from a concentration camp. This story is about Bruno learning about the Halocaust and what Jews really are (actual people) and the friendship between him and Schmul (a Jewish boy stuck in a concentration camp). There was a lot to be said in this movie. It's powerful how blatantly black and white things are in it, especially through the viewpoint of a child.
And goddamn the ending. That's all I have to say.
8/10
Before I review "Watchmen," I want to talk a little about the previous two movies. Both involve tragedy and children. I'm with Eastwood on the idea that the worst possible crimes a human can commit is against children. I happened to watch both of the movies (seperate nights) late at night before I went to bed, which I recommended against doing. These movies stick with you and make you think about a lot of things. They also make you want to find the children in your life and hold them close, away from all the goddamn despicable evils out there.
Holy shit.
Anyways, onto...
"Watchmen"
Here are my two complaints, somewhat spoilerific: Ozymandias' character was shown as very shallow in the movie. In the graphic novel, he was revered by everyone and so the ending was so much more shocking. Also, the ending was very hollywood, not too detracting but I liked the conversation between Dr. Manhattan and Ozy at the end of the graphic novel.
Everything else was superb. Yes it's 2 and a half hours long. Did it feel like it? Yes and no. Some people say its too long and slow in parts and others say its not long enough. Yes there was a lot of superfluous material from the graphic novel cut (the thing was loaded with material) but overall, I think it was one of the best, if not THE best comic book adaptation I've ever witnessed. Yes I saw it on opening night and yes I am a fan of the graphic novel. Other than the things I've mentioned, really all the complaints people have against it are ultimately against the graphic novel itself because the movie is very true, shot for shot, to the source material.
9/10
So not too spoiled, I suppose. But anyways, expect more...I plan to watch "Seven Pounds", "Doubt," "Gran Torino" (of course more Eastwood!), and "Blindness."
The three I'm going to review in this post are "Changeling," "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas," and "Watchmen." These may or may not contain spoilers so read at your own risk. Here we go:
"Changeling"
This movie was critically-acclaimed. Directed by The Man With No Name himself, Clint Eastwood. Powerfully acted by Angelina Jolie, John Malkovitch and others. This movie, among other things, paid detailed attention to the time period. There were several stories going on actually, and several themes as well. It's interesting that even in the late 1920's, the LAPD was doing poorly.
Although the story of Christine Collins (Angeline Jolie) was very intriguing, I was more interested in the story of the boy Sanford Clark. They did pretty well following the history of everything that happened (I did my research on it). If interested, look up the Wineville chicken Coop Murders to read about all of the actual history, before or after the movie, either way.
8/10
"The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas"
No I didn't spell it incorrectly, well I did but that's how the title is spelled, for whatever reason. This movie is about an 8 year old boy named Bruno. His father is a Nazi officer and the family move out into the country--about a mile away from a concentration camp. This story is about Bruno learning about the Halocaust and what Jews really are (actual people) and the friendship between him and Schmul (a Jewish boy stuck in a concentration camp). There was a lot to be said in this movie. It's powerful how blatantly black and white things are in it, especially through the viewpoint of a child.
And goddamn the ending. That's all I have to say.
8/10
Before I review "Watchmen," I want to talk a little about the previous two movies. Both involve tragedy and children. I'm with Eastwood on the idea that the worst possible crimes a human can commit is against children. I happened to watch both of the movies (seperate nights) late at night before I went to bed, which I recommended against doing. These movies stick with you and make you think about a lot of things. They also make you want to find the children in your life and hold them close, away from all the goddamn despicable evils out there.
Holy shit.
Anyways, onto...
"Watchmen"
Here are my two complaints, somewhat spoilerific: Ozymandias' character was shown as very shallow in the movie. In the graphic novel, he was revered by everyone and so the ending was so much more shocking. Also, the ending was very hollywood, not too detracting but I liked the conversation between Dr. Manhattan and Ozy at the end of the graphic novel.
Everything else was superb. Yes it's 2 and a half hours long. Did it feel like it? Yes and no. Some people say its too long and slow in parts and others say its not long enough. Yes there was a lot of superfluous material from the graphic novel cut (the thing was loaded with material) but overall, I think it was one of the best, if not THE best comic book adaptation I've ever witnessed. Yes I saw it on opening night and yes I am a fan of the graphic novel. Other than the things I've mentioned, really all the complaints people have against it are ultimately against the graphic novel itself because the movie is very true, shot for shot, to the source material.
9/10
So not too spoiled, I suppose. But anyways, expect more...I plan to watch "Seven Pounds", "Doubt," "Gran Torino" (of course more Eastwood!), and "Blindness."
Friday, February 13, 2009
All Mixed Up
So it's not secret that I'm in love with music. It is my religion. I've felt closer to God or Nirvana or what have you more when listening to music (and particularly when playing my guitar) than at any other time or location in my life. What I'm gonna do is take a break from talking about writing or whatever it is I usually talk about and post several lyrics. These lyrics are some of the most meaningful to me. I will also list the artist and track title in case you are interested in looking them up (youtube is most helpful when it comes to this).
"When we were kids
We hated things our sisters did
Backyard summer pools
And Christmases were beautiful
And the sentiment
Of colored mirrored ornaments
And the open drapes
Look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes"
-"Have You Forgotten" by Red House Painters
"She tricks me into thinking
That I can't believe my eyes
That I wait for her forever
But she never does arrive"
-"All Mixed Up" (Cover) by Red House Painters
"Sorry that
I could never love you back
I could never care enough
In these last days"
-"Carry Me Ohio" by Sun Kil Moon
"And I am a writer, writer of fictions
I am the heart that you call home
And I've written pages upon pages
Trying to rid you from my bones"
-"Engine Driver" by The Decemberists
"So now you're scared of love
I'm here to tell you love's not some blood on the receiver
Love is speaking in code
It's an inside joke
Love is coming home"
-"If Work Permits" by The Format
Okay, it's also no secret that I'm a huge Third Eye Blind fan. I've saved these lyrics for last because I wanted you guys to get a taste of something else that I enjoy. And for that very reason I'm only going to post a select few lyrics from songs that aren't on any official studio album.
"She said
Why can't you be
Like a candle I can snuff
You're still a diamond in the rough
And I swear to god I've had enough
How can I call your bluff?"
-"Why Can't You Be" by Third Eye Blind
"And I will write a new song and I will sing it tonight
No one sings along but Mom it will be all right
And the family will hold even though we've lost the means
And the family will hold in this graceless, sad routine"
-"Second Born" by Third Eye Blind
"Persephone
Can you help me?
I pushed away a summer breeze
I want the promise of a real spring
Free and born again
Help me
Old emotions are coming back to me"
-"Persephone" by Third Eye Blind
When I was little I thought a few was 3 so there ya go. Look them up, try them out. I hope you enjoy them.
"When we were kids
We hated things our sisters did
Backyard summer pools
And Christmases were beautiful
And the sentiment
Of colored mirrored ornaments
And the open drapes
Look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes"
-"Have You Forgotten" by Red House Painters
"She tricks me into thinking
That I can't believe my eyes
That I wait for her forever
But she never does arrive"
-"All Mixed Up" (Cover) by Red House Painters
"Sorry that
I could never love you back
I could never care enough
In these last days"
-"Carry Me Ohio" by Sun Kil Moon
"And I am a writer, writer of fictions
I am the heart that you call home
And I've written pages upon pages
Trying to rid you from my bones"
-"Engine Driver" by The Decemberists
"So now you're scared of love
I'm here to tell you love's not some blood on the receiver
Love is speaking in code
It's an inside joke
Love is coming home"
-"If Work Permits" by The Format
Okay, it's also no secret that I'm a huge Third Eye Blind fan. I've saved these lyrics for last because I wanted you guys to get a taste of something else that I enjoy. And for that very reason I'm only going to post a select few lyrics from songs that aren't on any official studio album.
"She said
Why can't you be
Like a candle I can snuff
You're still a diamond in the rough
And I swear to god I've had enough
How can I call your bluff?"
-"Why Can't You Be" by Third Eye Blind
"And I will write a new song and I will sing it tonight
No one sings along but Mom it will be all right
And the family will hold even though we've lost the means
And the family will hold in this graceless, sad routine"
-"Second Born" by Third Eye Blind
"Persephone
Can you help me?
I pushed away a summer breeze
I want the promise of a real spring
Free and born again
Help me
Old emotions are coming back to me"
-"Persephone" by Third Eye Blind
When I was little I thought a few was 3 so there ya go. Look them up, try them out. I hope you enjoy them.
Monday, January 19, 2009
51 Posts
So apparently my last post was my 50th post and this will be my 51st. Sweet, I guess.
I've been listening to "Dissolved Girl" by Massive Attack a lot lately. The album Mezzanine is not bad but I just really like that song. This particular song was feature in the first Matrix movie during the scene where Keanu Reeves as 'Neo' is asleep at his computer desk and listening to music. This is the song that is playing. It fits in with the themes of the movie but that's not why I like it.
It's chill, that's why.
Going back to my previous, its interesting because that aspect feels totally gone from my dreams. Now they just seem like random, dumb shit. I mean, its possible that they're all occurring in this same world but they're not so much apocalyptic and more so dumb.
I've been writing a bit in my "Skin and Bone" novel and I have a good feeling about it. Its setup kind of similar to the Watch books (Night, Day, Twilight Watch books) in that its three separate parts. The parts are basically novellas but fit together as a whole novel. That is how this story is.
I've got a good chunk of the 2nd part, I'm nearly finished with the 1st, and I've got loads of ideas for the 3rd.
I've also been reading quite a bit. I'm kind of forcing myself to because I enjoy it but also because I have a lot of unread books on my shelves that I want to get to (mostly short story collections). I just finished re-reading The Road (which I admit it also for my fiction writing class but I love this book to death) and I'm in the process of reading the non-fiction book My Custom Van by Michael Ian Black. If you like any of the stuff he's done: Stella, The State, The I Love the...Series on VH1, or just generally find him funny, you will enjoy this book. It is essentially a collection of essays on all kinds of random topics. It's great.
That's about it for now. I figured I hadn't posted in awhile so here ya go. Enjoy.
I've been listening to "Dissolved Girl" by Massive Attack a lot lately. The album Mezzanine is not bad but I just really like that song. This particular song was feature in the first Matrix movie during the scene where Keanu Reeves as 'Neo' is asleep at his computer desk and listening to music. This is the song that is playing. It fits in with the themes of the movie but that's not why I like it.
It's chill, that's why.
Going back to my previous, its interesting because that aspect feels totally gone from my dreams. Now they just seem like random, dumb shit. I mean, its possible that they're all occurring in this same world but they're not so much apocalyptic and more so dumb.
I've been writing a bit in my "Skin and Bone" novel and I have a good feeling about it. Its setup kind of similar to the Watch books (Night, Day, Twilight Watch books) in that its three separate parts. The parts are basically novellas but fit together as a whole novel. That is how this story is.
I've got a good chunk of the 2nd part, I'm nearly finished with the 1st, and I've got loads of ideas for the 3rd.
I've also been reading quite a bit. I'm kind of forcing myself to because I enjoy it but also because I have a lot of unread books on my shelves that I want to get to (mostly short story collections). I just finished re-reading The Road (which I admit it also for my fiction writing class but I love this book to death) and I'm in the process of reading the non-fiction book My Custom Van by Michael Ian Black. If you like any of the stuff he's done: Stella, The State, The I Love the...Series on VH1, or just generally find him funny, you will enjoy this book. It is essentially a collection of essays on all kinds of random topics. It's great.
That's about it for now. I figured I hadn't posted in awhile so here ya go. Enjoy.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Dream World
First, I am becoming increasingly intrigued with the life-after-apocalypse stories. I just bought Fallout 3 which is such a plot. I'm finding it hard to put my thoughts into words but basically...there is just something about an apocalypse that is so profound, so incredible, and so enticing...not just as an author but as a human being. I'm not talking about annihilation or genocide, mind you...just..."a new beginning." I play these games, read these books, but most importantly...have these dreams where an apocalypse is occurring.
So dreams...I always thought that it was just a recurring theme in my dreams, a sort of end of the world scenario I mean. But now it's dawned on me...all my dreams are in the same "world" or "universe." For most people, I think, each dream is a glimpse into some other world...This world may or may not be the complete imagination of each person but for me...I'm very sure its the same place, just different locations. Often times I had dreams in laboratories, schools, office buildings, or rural/secluded locations but there's always the same theme...the world is always on the brink or just past it of destruction.
This may be inconsequential to you, my reader, but to me...it is utterly profound. I just woke up this morning and had this realization. Its astounding. I'm curious if the characters that show up in my dreams recur. And I think they do, at least metaphysically they are the same because physically they often look different. Oftentimes there is a young boy, sometimes many children, in my charge. Also, there are usually fellow survivors. Sometimes a love interest. I'm rambling. Anyways, good night.
So dreams...I always thought that it was just a recurring theme in my dreams, a sort of end of the world scenario I mean. But now it's dawned on me...all my dreams are in the same "world" or "universe." For most people, I think, each dream is a glimpse into some other world...This world may or may not be the complete imagination of each person but for me...I'm very sure its the same place, just different locations. Often times I had dreams in laboratories, schools, office buildings, or rural/secluded locations but there's always the same theme...the world is always on the brink or just past it of destruction.
This may be inconsequential to you, my reader, but to me...it is utterly profound. I just woke up this morning and had this realization. Its astounding. I'm curious if the characters that show up in my dreams recur. And I think they do, at least metaphysically they are the same because physically they often look different. Oftentimes there is a young boy, sometimes many children, in my charge. Also, there are usually fellow survivors. Sometimes a love interest. I'm rambling. Anyways, good night.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
