As you may or may not have noticed, I've been posting links to various articles around myspace and facebook. I hope you've been reading them... especially since I wrote them, haha.
That's right! I have been writing articles for a website. It's really more of an online portfolio than a blog or anything like that, but the point of the website is to attract attention to my work (perhaps even from publishers and potential employers!). That's what people around the site are saying. One guy even said that he got a job offer because of the work he had in his online portfolio. Thus, I have begun to write.
If you think you'd be interested in doing it too, let me know and I'll send you an invite link!
Oh yeah, and I do get paid, but it's not that much money. I pretty much just get some ad revenue. Nothing big. So far I've earned $0.01! Hahaha. So you should go read my articles and maybe click on links to make them think you're interested... that way I can get more money, haha.
And if you know anyone who needs some writing done... maybe direct them to my stuff! :)
Thanks and enjoy!
My 'About Me' page
1) The Island on the TV series Lost
2) Songs that pump you up in the gym
3) TV series with the best finales
4) Guide to the characters of The Office
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Worlds of Others
There's nothing more enjoyable to me than being able to lose myself in a narrative, whether in print or film. I love meeting characters and learning their troubles and being with them as they try to find their way out. Now, I've seen countless movies and television shows. Some are better at creating an escape for me than others, but there's nothing like realizing you're having a physical reaction to something someone else has created.
I've mentioned this kind of empathy before, but there is something astonishing about someone creating a fictional character who experiences something that instills you in the same emotion, albeit perhaps a little diluted, they are feeling.
This is nothing knew. We've all seen sad movies that make us cry, horror films that make us scared, and comedies that make us laugh. But I saw a movie last night that had a scene that renewed my faith in screenwriters and made me realize film writing is a fucking art form.
If you have never seen The Last King of Scotland, you should really consider renting it. It's an entertaining story of a young Scotsman who leaves his home to lend his medical help to the a small village in Uganda. While there he "saves" the new President's life and is hired as his personal physician. For some strange reason, the fact that he is his doctor automatically makes him his "closest advisor" as well. 
Anyway, long story short (and to maybe ruin the ending... about which I'm sorry)... things don't quite work out the way the Scotsman had planned, and he has to flee the country. For the last 20-30ish minutes, he tries to escape death and the scary scary President Amin (a.k.a. Forrest "I Never Wanna Get On His Bad Side Either" Whitaker).
Watching this scene, my heart was racing. Was he going to get away? What if they find out he escaped? What if they kill more people? What if they catch him and try to kill him (again)? WTF am I going to do if that happens?
I know that it is just a movie and nothing was going to happen to me for watching it, but that scene creates such great tension, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't breathe; I was on the verge of panic. Those final flashback moments of the movie were when I could finally breathe again and everything was OK. Before that, I was being held prisoner just like the doctor. The story, the writer made me part of it. The writing for that scene had been intense. THAT is the kind of writing that makes me forget about my own life and become trapped in the world of others.
Whether fiction or not, being able to feel the same emotion is the only way to truly understand someone else. And the writers who can successfully pull this off are masters of character, of people. And these scenes should be noted by us all. Because knowing people is the best way, the only way to really exist (and maybe make a difference) in this world.
Sorry if this was kind of heavy, but you know how it is sometimes...
I've mentioned this kind of empathy before, but there is something astonishing about someone creating a fictional character who experiences something that instills you in the same emotion, albeit perhaps a little diluted, they are feeling.
This is nothing knew. We've all seen sad movies that make us cry, horror films that make us scared, and comedies that make us laugh. But I saw a movie last night that had a scene that renewed my faith in screenwriters and made me realize film writing is a fucking art form.
If you have never seen The Last King of Scotland, you should really consider renting it. It's an entertaining story of a young Scotsman who leaves his home to lend his medical help to the a small village in Uganda. While there he "saves" the new President's life and is hired as his personal physician. For some strange reason, the fact that he is his doctor automatically makes him his "closest advisor" as well. 
Anyway, long story short (and to maybe ruin the ending... about which I'm sorry)... things don't quite work out the way the Scotsman had planned, and he has to flee the country. For the last 20-30ish minutes, he tries to escape death and the scary scary President Amin (a.k.a. Forrest "I Never Wanna Get On His Bad Side Either" Whitaker).Watching this scene, my heart was racing. Was he going to get away? What if they find out he escaped? What if they kill more people? What if they catch him and try to kill him (again)? WTF am I going to do if that happens?
I know that it is just a movie and nothing was going to happen to me for watching it, but that scene creates such great tension, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't breathe; I was on the verge of panic. Those final flashback moments of the movie were when I could finally breathe again and everything was OK. Before that, I was being held prisoner just like the doctor. The story, the writer made me part of it. The writing for that scene had been intense. THAT is the kind of writing that makes me forget about my own life and become trapped in the world of others.
Whether fiction or not, being able to feel the same emotion is the only way to truly understand someone else. And the writers who can successfully pull this off are masters of character, of people. And these scenes should be noted by us all. Because knowing people is the best way, the only way to really exist (and maybe make a difference) in this world.
Sorry if this was kind of heavy, but you know how it is sometimes...
Friday, March 07, 2008
Will Work for Food... and a Reasonable Salary
Damn, it has been so long since I've written anything here. The last thing I wrote wasn't even a real post. It was a post telling you to check out another post on another blog. I guess I haven't really been taking time to stop and think about my life. At least not long enough or in convenient enough places to put any words down into this word document.
I'm about to turn into an unemployed twenty-something college graduate, and I have no idea what I'm going to do. Unfortunately, the procrastinator in me is telling me that it's fine... I'll be able to find something... don't worry so much. But then the anal-retentive worrier in me is panicking. I, of course, have been siding mostly with the procrastinator. It's what I do best.
I have to find a job. I have been looking, but I haven't really applied anywhere. In my industry, I can pretty much work from anywhere. This means that I can pretty much take any job I find or am offered. Problem is, I'm afraid to apply to just any job because I'm afraid of where I will be living. I don't want to live in fucking Idaho. I don't really want to live in the Midwest. I've been considering this, and I think that if I lived in the middle of the country I would go crazy. The only logical explanation I can think of is that I would fee claustrophobic.
I know what you're thinking. How is that logical? Well, if I live on a coast, East or West, then at least I have the ocean to escape to. If I lived in a landlocked state, then I'd have only more land to escape to. I know that sounds kind of silly, but it's significant to me. I want to stay on the East coast, but if I find a good job that's going to pay me an assload of money, then I will move to the West. I don't know. I'd rather stay over here.
But still, where will I live. I suppose I should have a job before I get an apartment as the little money I have will probably go fast. But what job am I going to have? Where is my job going to be? Should I move to a place I want to live, or try to find a job somewhere first? There are so many opportunities in NYC, but it's so expensive to live around here. I would be so comfortable living in Charlotte, but where would I work? Hell, I'll move to Georgia... but what will I do?
Sometimes the amount of logistics I have to contemplate make me crazy. I don't know what to do with myself anymore.
Any suggestions?
I'm about to turn into an unemployed twenty-something college graduate, and I have no idea what I'm going to do. Unfortunately, the procrastinator in me is telling me that it's fine... I'll be able to find something... don't worry so much. But then the anal-retentive worrier in me is panicking. I, of course, have been siding mostly with the procrastinator. It's what I do best.
I have to find a job. I have been looking, but I haven't really applied anywhere. In my industry, I can pretty much work from anywhere. This means that I can pretty much take any job I find or am offered. Problem is, I'm afraid to apply to just any job because I'm afraid of where I will be living. I don't want to live in fucking Idaho. I don't really want to live in the Midwest. I've been considering this, and I think that if I lived in the middle of the country I would go crazy. The only logical explanation I can think of is that I would fee claustrophobic.
I know what you're thinking. How is that logical? Well, if I live on a coast, East or West, then at least I have the ocean to escape to. If I lived in a landlocked state, then I'd have only more land to escape to. I know that sounds kind of silly, but it's significant to me. I want to stay on the East coast, but if I find a good job that's going to pay me an assload of money, then I will move to the West. I don't know. I'd rather stay over here.
But still, where will I live. I suppose I should have a job before I get an apartment as the little money I have will probably go fast. But what job am I going to have? Where is my job going to be? Should I move to a place I want to live, or try to find a job somewhere first? There are so many opportunities in NYC, but it's so expensive to live around here. I would be so comfortable living in Charlotte, but where would I work? Hell, I'll move to Georgia... but what will I do?
Sometimes the amount of logistics I have to contemplate make me crazy. I don't know what to do with myself anymore.
Any suggestions?
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Top 10 Albums Posted!
Dear Faithful Readers,
Every year I compile my list of the top 10 albums I have purchased or otherwise aquired over the past year. And it is my pleasure to announce that my Top 10 (Purchased or Otherwise Acquired) Albums of 2007 is up on Play Your Stereo Loud.
I'm sorry it's long, but hopefully you'll read it, agree/disagree with it and maybe discuss it there. And maybe, just maybe you'll be enticed to try out some music for yourself.
Happy reading!
Love,
Christina
Every year I compile my list of the top 10 albums I have purchased or otherwise aquired over the past year. And it is my pleasure to announce that my Top 10 (Purchased or Otherwise Acquired) Albums of 2007 is up on Play Your Stereo Loud.
I'm sorry it's long, but hopefully you'll read it, agree/disagree with it and maybe discuss it there. And maybe, just maybe you'll be enticed to try out some music for yourself.
Happy reading!
Love,
Christina
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Secrets of Others...
I know I haven't updated in a long time, and I know I'm due for one (and it may be long), but I don't feel like writing one. Instead I share with you a postcard I just saw on PostSecret.com. Occasionally I'll find one that I identify with, or one that just has so much emotion I feel like crying. But I just found one so much more emotional than any other secret I remember seeing on this site or in the books. It's beautiful and devestating, and almost made me vomit with dispair. I want to cry:
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
I need a song, stat!
You ever have those days when something just doesn't seem to fit correctly? I'm not talking about clothes or anything like that. I'm talking about things that you love, but for some reason, on any particular day, just don't seem to fit mentally.
Perhaps you are a little lost. I will explain: I listen to music everyday. I have it. It's almost a biological need... like food or water or shelter. I need it, in some form, to survive. Today, I especially needed it. No real reason in particular... it just felt like my brain needed it. This sounds weird, but that's what it feels like.
However, my dilemma is that no matter what music I tried, nothing seemed to fit. Nothing satiated my desire for musical sounds and rhythms. I scrolled through all the music on my iPod, desperately trying different things, hoping one of them would stick. Coldplay. Damien Rice. Dead or Alive. Death Cab for Cutie. Duncan Sheik. Elton John. Genesis. Jane's Addiction. Madness. Mazzy Star. Modest Mouse. New Order. Ok Go. I tried them all. Even Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" gave me no relief. I thought Plain White T's "Hey There, Delilah" was going to work, but it didn't.
My God, what was I going to do?? Then, for shits and giggled, I put on a song I don't listen to often. It's a fun song, and I enjoy it... I just don't typically choose to listen to it that often. But of course, this is the song that finally worked. This is the song that finally released the anxiety and pressure building up in my head.
What was that song you ask?
You asked for it (I dare you not to smile):
What's wrong with me? Hahaha...
Perhaps you are a little lost. I will explain: I listen to music everyday. I have it. It's almost a biological need... like food or water or shelter. I need it, in some form, to survive. Today, I especially needed it. No real reason in particular... it just felt like my brain needed it. This sounds weird, but that's what it feels like.
However, my dilemma is that no matter what music I tried, nothing seemed to fit. Nothing satiated my desire for musical sounds and rhythms. I scrolled through all the music on my iPod, desperately trying different things, hoping one of them would stick. Coldplay. Damien Rice. Dead or Alive. Death Cab for Cutie. Duncan Sheik. Elton John. Genesis. Jane's Addiction. Madness. Mazzy Star. Modest Mouse. New Order. Ok Go. I tried them all. Even Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" gave me no relief. I thought Plain White T's "Hey There, Delilah" was going to work, but it didn't.
My God, what was I going to do?? Then, for shits and giggled, I put on a song I don't listen to often. It's a fun song, and I enjoy it... I just don't typically choose to listen to it that often. But of course, this is the song that finally worked. This is the song that finally released the anxiety and pressure building up in my head.
What was that song you ask?
You asked for it (I dare you not to smile):
What's wrong with me? Hahaha...
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Where is Kyle?
Dear Faithful Readers,
Hello! And Welcome back to my blog. I haven't updated in a few weeks, but rest assured, I am still here. Unfortunately, I only seem to be able to stop by periodically.
This semester has been pretty crazy. Lots of crap going on. Lots of papers getting written. Mid-terms and such. Luckily there are only a few weeks left of the semester, which is actually pretty scary. That means there are only a couple more months before I have to get started on my life in the "real world."
But until then, I just have to sit back, relax, and remember that I'm still in college. That said, I've been doing a lot of procrastinating. Two weeks ago I became obsessed with missing 24-year-old Kyle Fleischmann. He went missing Nov. 9, 2007 around 2 or 3 am from the Buckhead Saloon in uptown Charlotte, NC. Police and volunteers have been searching the area since then, but there has been no sign of him (that I'm aware of). I've slacked off a little in my following of the story, but there haven't really been any new developments. But if you have any information please contact Crime Stoppers at 704.334.1600.
I feel strangely drawn to the whole case, as if I feel some responsibility to help find him. When they had the sweep a couple weekends ago, I was sad that I wasn't going to be in Charlotte to help. I don't know why, but I feel like I need to help. But I don't know how I can do that from here other than to let my readers (all 2 of them) know.
I don't know. In other news, I went shopping on Black Friday. It was kinda cool. There were so many people there. Kinda like this:
Only there were many, many more people, and we were organized into a line. There had to be like 1,000 people in front of me, and I got there at 4:15am! And the store opened at 5am! I still got what I wanted though.
The Office, Season 1: $8.99
The Office, Season 2: $12.99
and a few other movies. It's all pretty sweet, haha. They're my Christmas present to myself. I think I'll like them.
Other than that, there's not much going on in my world. How was your day?
Hello! And Welcome back to my blog. I haven't updated in a few weeks, but rest assured, I am still here. Unfortunately, I only seem to be able to stop by periodically.
This semester has been pretty crazy. Lots of crap going on. Lots of papers getting written. Mid-terms and such. Luckily there are only a few weeks left of the semester, which is actually pretty scary. That means there are only a couple more months before I have to get started on my life in the "real world."
But until then, I just have to sit back, relax, and remember that I'm still in college. That said, I've been doing a lot of procrastinating. Two weeks ago I became obsessed with missing 24-year-old Kyle Fleischmann. He went missing Nov. 9, 2007 around 2 or 3 am from the Buckhead Saloon in uptown Charlotte, NC. Police and volunteers have been searching the area since then, but there has been no sign of him (that I'm aware of). I've slacked off a little in my following of the story, but there haven't really been any new developments. But if you have any information please contact Crime Stoppers at 704.334.1600.
I feel strangely drawn to the whole case, as if I feel some responsibility to help find him. When they had the sweep a couple weekends ago, I was sad that I wasn't going to be in Charlotte to help. I don't know why, but I feel like I need to help. But I don't know how I can do that from here other than to let my readers (all 2 of them) know.
I don't know. In other news, I went shopping on Black Friday. It was kinda cool. There were so many people there. Kinda like this:
Only there were many, many more people, and we were organized into a line. There had to be like 1,000 people in front of me, and I got there at 4:15am! And the store opened at 5am! I still got what I wanted though.The Office, Season 1: $8.99
The Office, Season 2: $12.99
and a few other movies. It's all pretty sweet, haha. They're my Christmas present to myself. I think I'll like them.
Other than that, there's not much going on in my world. How was your day?
Friday, November 09, 2007
Song Headache (a real one this time, haha)
The mind is amazing thing. One of the wonders of the mind is the random appearance of a song.
Why does a song, a song we haven't thought of in years, a song we learned the words to years ago, suddenly pop into our heads, unannounced?
Why, when I was doing laundry earlier, did a song we used to sing in elementary school suddenly spring into my head? When I was in second grade or something like that, we used to have assemblies about imagination and I don't even remember what. It was held in the gym/multi-purpose room. We would "fly" on our "magic carpets" (a.k.a. sitting on a carpet square) to far off lands and learn valuable cultural and imaginative lessons. Our gym teacher (Ms. Clarkson?) and our art teacher (Mrs. Rutherford?) would lead us in a song before every "flight."
I was 7 years old. And I still remember all of the words.
Come take a ride on the magic carpet
Come exploring with me
We'll see the sights from the highest mountains
To the lowest depths of the sea
So many miracles
So much to learn
So many things to see and to do
I don't think that anything could be more fun
Than seeing them and doing them with you!
So come take a ride on the magic carpet
A truly miraculous, magic carpet!
Come exploring with me!
Hahaha, some of the things I remember are so bizarre. :)
Why does a song, a song we haven't thought of in years, a song we learned the words to years ago, suddenly pop into our heads, unannounced?
Why, when I was doing laundry earlier, did a song we used to sing in elementary school suddenly spring into my head? When I was in second grade or something like that, we used to have assemblies about imagination and I don't even remember what. It was held in the gym/multi-purpose room. We would "fly" on our "magic carpets" (a.k.a. sitting on a carpet square) to far off lands and learn valuable cultural and imaginative lessons. Our gym teacher (Ms. Clarkson?) and our art teacher (Mrs. Rutherford?) would lead us in a song before every "flight."
I was 7 years old. And I still remember all of the words.
Come take a ride on the magic carpet
Come exploring with me
We'll see the sights from the highest mountains
To the lowest depths of the sea
So many miracles
So much to learn
So many things to see and to do
I don't think that anything could be more fun
Than seeing them and doing them with you!
So come take a ride on the magic carpet
A truly miraculous, magic carpet!
Come exploring with me!
Hahaha, some of the things I remember are so bizarre. :)
Thursday, November 08, 2007
November Blues
So, I realize that it's been like a month. I'm really bad at updating this thing. It's really a shame. I could update this more frequently, but this semester has been a total energy and time eater. I have no idea how it's already November. October came and went, and I barely remember it. And where the hell did September go? I've been trying to take like one day at a time, but they're still slipping away. I'm not an alcoholic or anything, but I figured if I can go one day without breaking down (which doesn't happen that often), then I can get through this stress and I can make it out alive.
I've realized that's what I really want. I just want to make it out of college alive.
It's my last year. This should be fun, but all I feel is depressed and stressed out. There are a million things I have to do before I go. Also, I have recently realized (and blogged about over the summer), I don't think I'm ready to enter the real world. The prospect of having to get an apartment and get a job and pay for my own health insurance and bills scares me to freaking death. I've desperately wanted all this for the past four years, but now that it's imminent, I don't know what I'm going to do with myself.
Also, I think my parents may move. This is a BIG deal. No, it's not really that big a deal, but my parents have lived in the same house since I was 4 (minus the year or so we lived in the apartment). We lived there when I started school, and it's always been the home I've gone to when on break from college. I'd say like 90% of my childhood memories are at that house, and now they may be moving.
View Larger Map
My dad may be getting a job in Raleigh. We have to wait and see, but if he does, that's a 3 hour commute, and that ain't happening. So they'd have to move. Which means that my permanent address is going to change (though i'm going to have to get one of my own soon anyway). So now when I go "home" I'm going to be 3 hours from my friends and my memories. And it's funny that in the midst of being afraid of being away from friends and memories... my brain also found it necessary to note how far I'd be from Manifest... I <3 Manifest...
I've realized that's what I really want. I just want to make it out of college alive.
It's my last year. This should be fun, but all I feel is depressed and stressed out. There are a million things I have to do before I go. Also, I have recently realized (and blogged about over the summer), I don't think I'm ready to enter the real world. The prospect of having to get an apartment and get a job and pay for my own health insurance and bills scares me to freaking death. I've desperately wanted all this for the past four years, but now that it's imminent, I don't know what I'm going to do with myself.
Also, I think my parents may move. This is a BIG deal. No, it's not really that big a deal, but my parents have lived in the same house since I was 4 (minus the year or so we lived in the apartment). We lived there when I started school, and it's always been the home I've gone to when on break from college. I'd say like 90% of my childhood memories are at that house, and now they may be moving.
View Larger Map
My dad may be getting a job in Raleigh. We have to wait and see, but if he does, that's a 3 hour commute, and that ain't happening. So they'd have to move. Which means that my permanent address is going to change (though i'm going to have to get one of my own soon anyway). So now when I go "home" I'm going to be 3 hours from my friends and my memories. And it's funny that in the midst of being afraid of being away from friends and memories... my brain also found it necessary to note how far I'd be from Manifest... I <3 Manifest...
There's something wrong with me... 
Monday, October 08, 2007
An Update? For Realz? For Realz.
I know I haven't really been writing about me in the past few weeks. I haven't really had any thing to write about. I mean, I always have something I can write about, but there were no complete or coherent thoughts. There was nothing that I could sit still long enough to write about.
Something reminded me of the blog I used to have a long time ago over at LiveJournal. So I read through some of the most recent entries (and when I say recent, I mean like Fall of 2005). Some of them were pretty interesting. Back then I was less concerned with brevity and impressing people than I feel I am now. I mean, if you look at some of the entries on this blog, I'm not too damn interested in being brief either, but it almost feels like I was so free back then.
I don't know why I've stopped. I guess I'm afraid of being candid again. As some of you may know (though most of you probably don't) I found me a new boyfriend. That's right. I have a boyfriend again for the first time in 5 years. His name is Chad and he's good people. He's smart and caring and makes me smile. Like I said, he's good people. That's really all the information I'm going to reveal at this time, but that should suffice, haha.
Besides that, I've got school going for me. Got the Senior Seminar paper that I have to start researching and writing soon. On top of a paper for my Contemporary Fiction class. On top of a paper for my Music of America class. I feel pretty optimistic, though. I can swing it.
Though, I really should be doing reading for Senior Seminar instead of updating, but whatever.
Other than that, there's really not a whole lot going on. I mean, it's day-to-day, pretty action-packed. I don't really have a lot of free time. I really, honestly just want to graduate and get a job, but who knows. Grad school still looms over my head. I haven't decided what to do with that one yet.
I'll figure something out.
Until next time,
Christina<3
Something reminded me of the blog I used to have a long time ago over at LiveJournal. So I read through some of the most recent entries (and when I say recent, I mean like Fall of 2005). Some of them were pretty interesting. Back then I was less concerned with brevity and impressing people than I feel I am now. I mean, if you look at some of the entries on this blog, I'm not too damn interested in being brief either, but it almost feels like I was so free back then.
I don't know why I've stopped. I guess I'm afraid of being candid again. As some of you may know (though most of you probably don't) I found me a new boyfriend. That's right. I have a boyfriend again for the first time in 5 years. His name is Chad and he's good people. He's smart and caring and makes me smile. Like I said, he's good people. That's really all the information I'm going to reveal at this time, but that should suffice, haha.
Besides that, I've got school going for me. Got the Senior Seminar paper that I have to start researching and writing soon. On top of a paper for my Contemporary Fiction class. On top of a paper for my Music of America class. I feel pretty optimistic, though. I can swing it.
Though, I really should be doing reading for Senior Seminar instead of updating, but whatever.
Other than that, there's really not a whole lot going on. I mean, it's day-to-day, pretty action-packed. I don't really have a lot of free time. I really, honestly just want to graduate and get a job, but who knows. Grad school still looms over my head. I haven't decided what to do with that one yet.
I'll figure something out.
Until next time,
Christina<3
Monday, September 24, 2007
Part 2: God Gets a Lawyer
Wow, I didn't think this would happen. But there have been developments in the lawsuit against God.
Looks like God found Himself a lawyer who has responded in His defense. The problems He was accused of, God's lawyer says, is the fault of the people for not acknowledging signs of impending doom. I wonder what's going to happen next...
Click here for the whole story.
Looks like God found Himself a lawyer who has responded in His defense. The problems He was accused of, God's lawyer says, is the fault of the people for not acknowledging signs of impending doom. I wonder what's going to happen next...
Click here for the whole story.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Most Amusing
Okay, I know it's kind of boring when I just post news stories, but this has got to be one of the most amusing stories I've read in a really really really long time.
A Nebraska state senator sued God last week. Yes, that's right: he sued God. Sen. Ernie Chambers has accused God of causing "widespread death, destruction, and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants." The Almighty is also alliterationally accused of causing "fearsome floods... horrendous hurricanes, [and] terrifying tornadoes."
The senator, apparently, was trying to prove his point that anyone can bring a lawsuit against anyone, and that the whole thing is getting a little out of hand, as we now have to deal with frivolous lawsuits left and right. Awesome idea. Really.
Click here for the whole ridiculous story. (note: the picture is especially ironic. I love it.)
A Nebraska state senator sued God last week. Yes, that's right: he sued God. Sen. Ernie Chambers has accused God of causing "widespread death, destruction, and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants." The Almighty is also alliterationally accused of causing "fearsome floods... horrendous hurricanes, [and] terrifying tornadoes."
The senator, apparently, was trying to prove his point that anyone can bring a lawsuit against anyone, and that the whole thing is getting a little out of hand, as we now have to deal with frivolous lawsuits left and right. Awesome idea. Really.
Click here for the whole ridiculous story. (note: the picture is especially ironic. I love it.)
Friday, September 14, 2007
Amusing News #2
Okay so here are a couple more news stories that I found amusing in some way or another. Honestly, I think I just like trying to come up with clever tag-lines, haha. Enjoy!
O.J. Simpson a suspect... maybe this time...
One sausage is enough
An Un-sticky situation ... har har... this is actually pretty cool.
O.J. Simpson a suspect... maybe this time...
One sausage is enough
An Un-sticky situation ... har har... this is actually pretty cool.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Amusing News #1
Hello everyone!
I apologize for the long post last time. I know that I ramble on for too long, but sometimes that's how long it takes for me to fully explain the thoughts going through my head. Sometimes there's just too many, but whatever.
I'm not going to do that here though. Not a lot has been going on lately. I moved back to Jersey for my senior year of college! Woo hoo! Celebrate good times, come on! Heck yes. Kinda excited, but also kinda sad that it's all going to be over in a few months' time. But prospects on the horizon are pretty exciting. We shall see.
But since I don't really have much to talk about, I thought I'd share a few things that were amusing me today (in true blog fashion):
National Let's Make a Baby Day!
Creepy Attempt to Make Blood Run as One
Lonely Ex-Con a Con Again
I apologize for the long post last time. I know that I ramble on for too long, but sometimes that's how long it takes for me to fully explain the thoughts going through my head. Sometimes there's just too many, but whatever.
I'm not going to do that here though. Not a lot has been going on lately. I moved back to Jersey for my senior year of college! Woo hoo! Celebrate good times, come on! Heck yes. Kinda excited, but also kinda sad that it's all going to be over in a few months' time. But prospects on the horizon are pretty exciting. We shall see.
But since I don't really have much to talk about, I thought I'd share a few things that were amusing me today (in true blog fashion):
National Let's Make a Baby Day!
Creepy Attempt to Make Blood Run as One
Lonely Ex-Con a Con Again
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Meanings of Sounds
(I apologize in advance for the heaviness of this post.)
Isn't it funny how our brains assign meanings to sounds and smells and sights, how we can condition our brains to assign these meanings, how external forces make us assign these meanings?
When we are younger, all the sounds of the world are new to us. Slowly we learn to associate noises with sources and eventually they become second nature. Oh, that soft pattering? That's just the rain. That click and subsequent rush of air? Oh, that's just the air conditioner. It must be hot in here.
Eventually these noises that may startle us the first time we hear them will drift into our subconscious and we hardly notice them when we hear them again, right? Usually.
There is one sound that will always haunt me though. The first time I remember hearing it is a day that we all remember.
In a couple of weeks, it will be the six year anniversary of the day that will forever be known as September 11th. It needs no context year. The anniversary will also be on a Tuesday, just like it was. I remember most of that morning pretty clearly. It was so beautiful outside that morning. I was in NC, but the weather was still stunning. The sky was blue and there were hardly any clouds at all, if there were any. As I walked to my 2nd block class (it was an A day, for all you South Meckers. So it was 3rd period, haha), I remember looking up at the sky and thinking to myself "gosh, it's such a beautiful day!"
Little did I know that approximately 2-4 minutes before the bell rang, an airplane had struck that first tower. I went about my day.
I don't actually know when we finally found out. Sometime after the plane hit the pentagon, that I know. My teacher's wife had called him and told him, and he told us. Both the towers had been hit, and so had the pentagon. We didn't believe him. A few people giggled nervously. "Psssh, what are you talking about, Coach Bagwell?" But his face showed no signs of of a joke. Someone got up and turned on the TV. Sure enough, it was not a sick joke. The rest of the day was filled with news and discussion, pure denial and fear.
Some of the details of my awareness are garbled, a fact I struggle with often. But one thing I do know is that I'm not sure I grasped the gravity of what had just transpired. I knew what had happened, but I wasn't sure of what I had seen.
People were dead. Thousands of them. I only vaguely remember crying. But I do remember being scared. And I remember watching hours and hours of news for the following few days. One day they aired a video that a doctor had shot. He had had to hide behind a parked car to avoid being knocked over and asphyxiated by the smoke and dust. The camera shook Blair-Witch Style, he ducked behind the car, and then the screen went black. A few seconds later it got lighter and the man stood up. Everything was gray. The car, the buildings, the people, even the air. I thought I was going to vomit. And to make things worse, I could hear that sound. That sound that has come to define fear for me. That sound that when I hear it, even now, I am immediately back 6 years watching the dazed faces stumble through the ash-filled streets.
The incessant beeping coming from the fire fighters filled my ears. Every day for hours on end. It was meant to signal "hey, I'm over here," but to me signaled "I'm nowhere to be seen," and I feared the worst. That sound, to this day, haunts me. I heard it on the news a few months ago, and I was brought back instantly. My mind was in a panic once again. Almost immediately I saw the ash and the broken windows and the personal affects. I saw the sun straining to stream down through the cloud of smoke and ash and dust. The important documents floating delicately down through the early September breeze. That video shot by the documentary team with the fire fighters. You know the one. They heard a horrible noise and looked up as an enormous passenger jet barreled into one of the buildings that once made the New York skyline so recognizable.
That one day, and all its events, have imprinted on my mind a terrible, frightful meaning for that arbitrary sound. It's just a beep after all. It means something to those of certain professions, but mean nothing to me personally. But that one day, the meaning became personal. I understood what it was. The meaning stuck in my brain and subsequently conjures up unwanted images every time I hear it.
Eventually, maybe, that sound will just be added to the list of noises I recognize without fear: the air conditioner kicking on, sirens in the distance, the crow of a rooster, a hair dryer, the whirring of a laptop fan straining to cool the hard drive. These are all things that I hear and think nothing of. Maybe one day the beeping coming from the uniforms of fire fighters, the beep that is so useful in saving their lives, will drop from my consciousness.
Maybe, but I seriously doubt it.
Isn't it funny how our brains assign meanings to sounds and smells and sights, how we can condition our brains to assign these meanings, how external forces make us assign these meanings?
When we are younger, all the sounds of the world are new to us. Slowly we learn to associate noises with sources and eventually they become second nature. Oh, that soft pattering? That's just the rain. That click and subsequent rush of air? Oh, that's just the air conditioner. It must be hot in here.
Eventually these noises that may startle us the first time we hear them will drift into our subconscious and we hardly notice them when we hear them again, right? Usually.
There is one sound that will always haunt me though. The first time I remember hearing it is a day that we all remember.
In a couple of weeks, it will be the six year anniversary of the day that will forever be known as September 11th. It needs no context year. The anniversary will also be on a Tuesday, just like it was. I remember most of that morning pretty clearly. It was so beautiful outside that morning. I was in NC, but the weather was still stunning. The sky was blue and there were hardly any clouds at all, if there were any. As I walked to my 2nd block class (it was an A day, for all you South Meckers. So it was 3rd period, haha), I remember looking up at the sky and thinking to myself "gosh, it's such a beautiful day!"
Little did I know that approximately 2-4 minutes before the bell rang, an airplane had struck that first tower. I went about my day.
I don't actually know when we finally found out. Sometime after the plane hit the pentagon, that I know. My teacher's wife had called him and told him, and he told us. Both the towers had been hit, and so had the pentagon. We didn't believe him. A few people giggled nervously. "Psssh, what are you talking about, Coach Bagwell?" But his face showed no signs of of a joke. Someone got up and turned on the TV. Sure enough, it was not a sick joke. The rest of the day was filled with news and discussion, pure denial and fear.
Some of the details of my awareness are garbled, a fact I struggle with often. But one thing I do know is that I'm not sure I grasped the gravity of what had just transpired. I knew what had happened, but I wasn't sure of what I had seen.
People were dead. Thousands of them. I only vaguely remember crying. But I do remember being scared. And I remember watching hours and hours of news for the following few days. One day they aired a video that a doctor had shot. He had had to hide behind a parked car to avoid being knocked over and asphyxiated by the smoke and dust. The camera shook Blair-Witch Style, he ducked behind the car, and then the screen went black. A few seconds later it got lighter and the man stood up. Everything was gray. The car, the buildings, the people, even the air. I thought I was going to vomit. And to make things worse, I could hear that sound. That sound that has come to define fear for me. That sound that when I hear it, even now, I am immediately back 6 years watching the dazed faces stumble through the ash-filled streets.
The incessant beeping coming from the fire fighters filled my ears. Every day for hours on end. It was meant to signal "hey, I'm over here," but to me signaled "I'm nowhere to be seen," and I feared the worst. That sound, to this day, haunts me. I heard it on the news a few months ago, and I was brought back instantly. My mind was in a panic once again. Almost immediately I saw the ash and the broken windows and the personal affects. I saw the sun straining to stream down through the cloud of smoke and ash and dust. The important documents floating delicately down through the early September breeze. That video shot by the documentary team with the fire fighters. You know the one. They heard a horrible noise and looked up as an enormous passenger jet barreled into one of the buildings that once made the New York skyline so recognizable.
That one day, and all its events, have imprinted on my mind a terrible, frightful meaning for that arbitrary sound. It's just a beep after all. It means something to those of certain professions, but mean nothing to me personally. But that one day, the meaning became personal. I understood what it was. The meaning stuck in my brain and subsequently conjures up unwanted images every time I hear it.
Eventually, maybe, that sound will just be added to the list of noises I recognize without fear: the air conditioner kicking on, sirens in the distance, the crow of a rooster, a hair dryer, the whirring of a laptop fan straining to cool the hard drive. These are all things that I hear and think nothing of. Maybe one day the beeping coming from the uniforms of fire fighters, the beep that is so useful in saving their lives, will drop from my consciousness.
Maybe, but I seriously doubt it.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Virtual Barbershop
This doesn't really pertain to me, but I found it really cool and I wanted to share. This is called the "Virtual Barbershop." Here you will hear sounds that make you think you're actually in a barbershop and a man is actually demonstrating things for you. It's really crazy how this works. The human brain never ceases to amaze me.
For best results, you need to listen to it with headphone with your eyes closed. It helps with the virtual feel.
For best results, you need to listen to it with headphone with your eyes closed. It helps with the virtual feel.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Recent Developments
Well, not a whole lot has happened to me in the past 10 or so days that I last posted something. I've been reading a lot of comics online (Toothpaste For Dinner and Natalie Dee mostly). My friend TJ also told me about this site called McSweeney's lists. It's just lists about random things that people do, think, or observe or whatever. Some of them are pretty funny. Some of them, not so, but that's life. But TJ had the idea to start our own lists blog when we start working again. There's nothing else to do really when there's down time at work, so why not make some random lists. When I know more, I'll let all of you loyal readers know.
Besides that I've been spending a lot of time talking to people from that dating site I talked about last post. Some of them interesting, some of them not. One of them very interesting, haha. Perhaps more on that later as well.
What's more impending is the doom of a new semester. I finally purchased my parking pass which cost me $250. I still need to register for one more class and buy my textbooks. Hooray for having to borrow money from relatives because I was too stupid to be able to land a job this summer! Hopefully this year will be great, seeing as it's probably my last. Grad school may still be an option, but I don't know. I'll have to wait and see. I wish the secretary of my department would finally email me my password so I can register. I mean, seriously, it's been like 2 weeks. Email me already! Grr. Infuriating.
Though, I am going to see Editors on September 7. That's exciting!
Until next time...
Besides that I've been spending a lot of time talking to people from that dating site I talked about last post. Some of them interesting, some of them not. One of them very interesting, haha. Perhaps more on that later as well.
What's more impending is the doom of a new semester. I finally purchased my parking pass which cost me $250. I still need to register for one more class and buy my textbooks. Hooray for having to borrow money from relatives because I was too stupid to be able to land a job this summer! Hopefully this year will be great, seeing as it's probably my last. Grad school may still be an option, but I don't know. I'll have to wait and see. I wish the secretary of my department would finally email me my password so I can register. I mean, seriously, it's been like 2 weeks. Email me already! Grr. Infuriating.
Though, I am going to see Editors on September 7. That's exciting!
Until next time...
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Public groping? Yeah, sure, why not?
Alright, so I'm going to be upfront. I joined this dating site called OkCupid earlier this week. It's pretty fun. It doesn't have any of the stipulations like paying, and it's not at all snobby like eHarmony. This site specifically says that it gives you a "compatibility" score, but that you are the only one who can really figure that out for sure.
They also have a really great sense of humor over there. While filling out some personality quiz or something, one of the questions said "If you have STDs, go here." The word "here" was a link that took you to Match.com. There are also all sorts of surveys and quizzes and stuff to help you judge who you're compatible with.
And it was while answering some of these questions that I stumbled upon this question:
Then you had to choose Yes, No, or I Don't Know. Then you have to choose what your "ideal match" would answer and how important that is. But, really, that's a question that can influence who I'm compatible with?
That's awesome!
I sat and thought about it for a second. Then I determined, that yes, I would totally do it. I've always wanted to goose someone, so why not on a crowded subway train when no one could tell either way? But then again, if they were cute, I might want them to know they were actually groped. And if they showed any sign of possibly being interested in me, then I'd want them to know it was me.
So that question is kind of loaded then, I guess. Haha. Either way, I'd totally do it.
And yes, I said that my ideal match would do it as well. How important is it that they answer it that way? Somewhat, haha.
So I guess if I groped and was groped simultaneously? Damn. A match made in naughty heaven.
Not that I like being groped in public by random people or make a habit of groping strangers, but it could be fun...
They also have a really great sense of humor over there. While filling out some personality quiz or something, one of the questions said "If you have STDs, go here." The word "here" was a link that took you to Match.com. There are also all sorts of surveys and quizzes and stuff to help you judge who you're compatible with.
And it was while answering some of these questions that I stumbled upon this question:
"If the subway was crowded and you were packed against several people just to fit in the car, would you grope the cutest one next to you?... they would never know it was you, much less that they were groped."
Then you had to choose Yes, No, or I Don't Know. Then you have to choose what your "ideal match" would answer and how important that is. But, really, that's a question that can influence who I'm compatible with?
That's awesome!
I sat and thought about it for a second. Then I determined, that yes, I would totally do it. I've always wanted to goose someone, so why not on a crowded subway train when no one could tell either way? But then again, if they were cute, I might want them to know they were actually groped. And if they showed any sign of possibly being interested in me, then I'd want them to know it was me.
So that question is kind of loaded then, I guess. Haha. Either way, I'd totally do it.
And yes, I said that my ideal match would do it as well. How important is it that they answer it that way? Somewhat, haha.
So I guess if I groped and was groped simultaneously? Damn. A match made in naughty heaven.
Not that I like being groped in public by random people or make a habit of groping strangers, but it could be fun...
Thursday, July 19, 2007
I Can Still Remember...
I wonder if this applies to anyone else:
I've always known, and yet just recently realized that my memory is, for the most part, spatially oriented. This means that I can remember certain details, certain conversations, based on my physical location at the time the conversation or event occurred. I can also recall facts based on their physical location on a page.
As far as I can remember, I've always done this. When we would have tests in school, I'd be able to remember answers to the questions based on where physically the answer or topic was in my notes or in the textbook. Was it on the back of the page at the top? Was there a doodle on the page? Maybe it was on the front of a page, but somewhere in the middle. Or if it was in a textbook, was there a picture on the page, and how did the text wrap around it? If I could remember the layout of the text, then chances were I could remember the answer, or at least remember enough information to make an educated guess.
I didn't think this was a photographic memory, but is it?
It's not just with academic stuff. I once wanted to test my new memory theory, an idea I had while studying for the AP European History test my senior year of high school. I was thinking about it as I walked into the kitchen to get a drink. I decided to try something. I opened the refrigerator door and thought to myself, "I will remember this moment for the rest of my life." And so far I have. It's an utterly meaningless moment, and yet I willed myself to remember it.
This kind of applies to my skill at memory games like "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing..." type games. I once played a version of this game with my friend Mary Ann (about a year ago) and I still remember that "crotchless panties" were mentioned near the gas station across from my favorite record store. A pack of batteries was listed at a traffic light, and a certain friend's crooked tooth was mentioned near, if not in, MA's neighborhood.
There's a spot at the start of an on-ramp for the Garden State Pkwy in Jersey on the way to the airport that reminds me of a conversation I had in which I mentioned "High and Dry" by Radiohead. A little further down the Pkwy in the same direction is a sign that will cue me to say "monkey" as I said it now would upon revealing my skill to my friend TJ who was driving the car.
Whenever I mention this ability to someone, they seem pretty amazed by it. Am I the only one who can do this? Or just the only who does it consciously?
I've always known, and yet just recently realized that my memory is, for the most part, spatially oriented. This means that I can remember certain details, certain conversations, based on my physical location at the time the conversation or event occurred. I can also recall facts based on their physical location on a page.
As far as I can remember, I've always done this. When we would have tests in school, I'd be able to remember answers to the questions based on where physically the answer or topic was in my notes or in the textbook. Was it on the back of the page at the top? Was there a doodle on the page? Maybe it was on the front of a page, but somewhere in the middle. Or if it was in a textbook, was there a picture on the page, and how did the text wrap around it? If I could remember the layout of the text, then chances were I could remember the answer, or at least remember enough information to make an educated guess.
I didn't think this was a photographic memory, but is it?
It's not just with academic stuff. I once wanted to test my new memory theory, an idea I had while studying for the AP European History test my senior year of high school. I was thinking about it as I walked into the kitchen to get a drink. I decided to try something. I opened the refrigerator door and thought to myself, "I will remember this moment for the rest of my life." And so far I have. It's an utterly meaningless moment, and yet I willed myself to remember it.
This kind of applies to my skill at memory games like "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing..." type games. I once played a version of this game with my friend Mary Ann (about a year ago) and I still remember that "crotchless panties" were mentioned near the gas station across from my favorite record store. A pack of batteries was listed at a traffic light, and a certain friend's crooked tooth was mentioned near, if not in, MA's neighborhood.
There's a spot at the start of an on-ramp for the Garden State Pkwy in Jersey on the way to the airport that reminds me of a conversation I had in which I mentioned "High and Dry" by Radiohead. A little further down the Pkwy in the same direction is a sign that will cue me to say "monkey" as I said it now would upon revealing my skill to my friend TJ who was driving the car.
Whenever I mention this ability to someone, they seem pretty amazed by it. Am I the only one who can do this? Or just the only who does it consciously?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
School: Preparing Us For More School
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I've come to the conclusion that I have always been prepared for the pretend world -- that is, school and school-like situations. I've always received good grades. I think I've had like 1 or 2 B's, like 3 or 4 A-'s and the rest A's my entire college career. I'm well adjusted to the learning environment, and all that crap.
But, as we journalism majors seem to be reminded somewhat often, this really does not matter at all. What really matters is experience. A newspaper isn't going to care that you got an A in every reporting class you took. What they're going to care about is whether you can write. Which I suppose makes sense. Problem is, I think I'm more prepared for taking the class.
I'm not ready to be released into the "Real World" (and not just because working at a newspaper isn't my ideal job). I don't think school has prepared me for the "Real World." I know how to do work and answer questions to the satisfaction of my professors and teachers. I'm pretty good at reading them and being able to tell what level of bullshit is going to get me an A. But surely, real life can't be so easy.
Case in point: I took this one class last semester. I'm not going to reveal the name just in case any professors or fellow students or deans or whatever happen to stumble upon this. It was a journalism class, but it wasn't a writing intensive class. Now, I had this professor before, and overall I think he is a good professor. I learn a lot from him, and he's actually interesting to listen to. However, having had him a semester previous, I knew just want I had to do in this class. I knew exactly how hard I had to work, how much I had to pay attention. We had to write 3 papers in that class. I wrote every single one of them the night before they were due. In my opinion, only one of them was good. The other were complete crap. I made up theses and tried to make the research fit what I was trying to prove. I didn't make up the research, I just chose to omit what would be detrimental to my case (Note: the theses weren't complete crap, but they perhaps were full of holes, and I just plain didn't care about them).
I guess everyone does this, but the point here is that I worked only hard enough to get by (albeit, with an A... though somehow I DID manage to pull out a 100 on that final exam. I'm not quite sure how that happened, haha). But what I'm saying here is that I know how to excel at school. But I have this fear that the real world is not going to be like this. I get into classes because I register on time. I get into Honour Societies because I do well in my classes. I get all these privileges and awards for little effort, it feels. And yet, I can't find a job to save my life.
By the time I graduate, I will have somewhere close to $70,000 in loans to pay off. Probably a little more. How am I going to pay those off with no job? After 16 (17 after this year) years of schooling, I don't think I'm prepared at all to live on my own like a normal citizen.
[Though, what little hope I still have left in my being able to create a future for myself is making me seriously consider moving to Georgia when I graduate. I think there are a few career/job opportunities I can work my way through there. And can you believe I'm even thinking about going to grad school? Me -- Ms. Anti-Grad School!... heh... maybe it's so that I can keep going to school and I won't have to worry about this scary place called the "Real World".]
But, as we journalism majors seem to be reminded somewhat often, this really does not matter at all. What really matters is experience. A newspaper isn't going to care that you got an A in every reporting class you took. What they're going to care about is whether you can write. Which I suppose makes sense. Problem is, I think I'm more prepared for taking the class.
I'm not ready to be released into the "Real World" (and not just because working at a newspaper isn't my ideal job). I don't think school has prepared me for the "Real World." I know how to do work and answer questions to the satisfaction of my professors and teachers. I'm pretty good at reading them and being able to tell what level of bullshit is going to get me an A. But surely, real life can't be so easy.
Case in point: I took this one class last semester. I'm not going to reveal the name just in case any professors or fellow students or deans or whatever happen to stumble upon this. It was a journalism class, but it wasn't a writing intensive class. Now, I had this professor before, and overall I think he is a good professor. I learn a lot from him, and he's actually interesting to listen to. However, having had him a semester previous, I knew just want I had to do in this class. I knew exactly how hard I had to work, how much I had to pay attention. We had to write 3 papers in that class. I wrote every single one of them the night before they were due. In my opinion, only one of them was good. The other were complete crap. I made up theses and tried to make the research fit what I was trying to prove. I didn't make up the research, I just chose to omit what would be detrimental to my case (Note: the theses weren't complete crap, but they perhaps were full of holes, and I just plain didn't care about them).
I guess everyone does this, but the point here is that I worked only hard enough to get by (albeit, with an A... though somehow I DID manage to pull out a 100 on that final exam. I'm not quite sure how that happened, haha). But what I'm saying here is that I know how to excel at school. But I have this fear that the real world is not going to be like this. I get into classes because I register on time. I get into Honour Societies because I do well in my classes. I get all these privileges and awards for little effort, it feels. And yet, I can't find a job to save my life.
By the time I graduate, I will have somewhere close to $70,000 in loans to pay off. Probably a little more. How am I going to pay those off with no job? After 16 (17 after this year) years of schooling, I don't think I'm prepared at all to live on my own like a normal citizen.
[Though, what little hope I still have left in my being able to create a future for myself is making me seriously consider moving to Georgia when I graduate. I think there are a few career/job opportunities I can work my way through there. And can you believe I'm even thinking about going to grad school? Me -- Ms. Anti-Grad School!... heh... maybe it's so that I can keep going to school and I won't have to worry about this scary place called the "Real World".]
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Achievements In Insomnia
For most of the summer, since I've been back in Charlotte, I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping. I don't know if it's the overwhelming sense of not having to do anything, or what. I don't mean to, but I stay up later and later every night, and wake up later and later every day. I have no idea what's wrong, and it seems that no matter what I do, I can't stop it.
It honestly started at the beginning of May when I made my "big" return. At school, the latest I went to sleep was probably around 2am. Lately, it hasn't been unusual for me to not fall asleep until 3:30 or 4. One day I was supposed to drive up to Greensboro with my friend. I had to be up at 8 that morning, but I hadn't gone to sleep but 4 hours before. I try to make myself tired by watching shows online, but I have an alarming attention span. I spent many of that day's wee hours watching old episodes of Ugly Betty on ABC.com.
But that's not the worst. It's gotten progressively more inconvenient since then. I've spent a few sleepless nights lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling. Maybe getting up to try to read or watch more shows, or play my piano. Nothing works definitively, but I end up drifting to sleep around 6am. A couple days last week, I didn't go to sleep until after the sun was rising and I heard the alarm clock in my parents' room.
But Monday/Tuesday, was my crowning achievement in insomnia. Monday was a typical day for me. I managed to drag my lazy ass out of bed around 1:30pm. I went through the day without much excitement. But then it came time to sleep. Unfortunately, I got distracted by some episodes of Dead Like Me on a website that has a bunch of links to television shows, cartoons, movies, documentaries, and other cool things. Starting around 1am (just under 12 hours of being awake), I found one of my favorite tv shows about grim reapers, and started watching. Before I knew it, it was 4am. I thought, "I should probably try to get some sleep." So I minimized my windows so I could watch later and went and lay in my bed.
Half an hour of staring sleeplessly at the ceiling, and I decided to give the show another try. I watched for a few more hours. I tried going to sleep again at 6am, but that didn't work either. I went for a couple more episodes. At 8:20, still having not slept since the day before, I emerged from my room to make myself some scrambled eggs. They were delicious.
So now it's 9am. I'm a little tired, but I can't fall asleep. I decided to try an experiment. I decided that maybe if I hold on for 24 hours of consciousness, then maybe I could take a nap in the afternoon and then be able to sleep at night. Well, after watching the last 3 or 4 episodes of Season 2 of Dead Like Me (I watched practically the entire second season that night), I decided to try my nap. At 1:30 or 2pm on Tuesday, I napped on the couch. I slept for 5.5 hours. I got up, ate a bit of dinner, watched some more TV and I thought I was set. I was in bed by 1 or 1:30am last night, and I thought, "eggs would be nice again at 8:30," and resolved to make it an early morning to get my rhythm back to sleeping and waking at decent hours.
The trouble is, I didn't wake up today until 2pm. I slept for over 12 straight hours. Fuck me. I guess my experiment didn't work out so well.
I'm going to try again for breakfast tomorrow (this) morning. I hope to be awake in 6.5 hours. Then maybe my whole day won't be a waste. We'll see, though...
(Sorry I write so much. I'll try to cut back.)
It honestly started at the beginning of May when I made my "big" return. At school, the latest I went to sleep was probably around 2am. Lately, it hasn't been unusual for me to not fall asleep until 3:30 or 4. One day I was supposed to drive up to Greensboro with my friend. I had to be up at 8 that morning, but I hadn't gone to sleep but 4 hours before. I try to make myself tired by watching shows online, but I have an alarming attention span. I spent many of that day's wee hours watching old episodes of Ugly Betty on ABC.com.
But that's not the worst. It's gotten progressively more inconvenient since then. I've spent a few sleepless nights lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling. Maybe getting up to try to read or watch more shows, or play my piano. Nothing works definitively, but I end up drifting to sleep around 6am. A couple days last week, I didn't go to sleep until after the sun was rising and I heard the alarm clock in my parents' room.
But Monday/Tuesday, was my crowning achievement in insomnia. Monday was a typical day for me. I managed to drag my lazy ass out of bed around 1:30pm. I went through the day without much excitement. But then it came time to sleep. Unfortunately, I got distracted by some episodes of Dead Like Me on a website that has a bunch of links to television shows, cartoons, movies, documentaries, and other cool things. Starting around 1am (just under 12 hours of being awake), I found one of my favorite tv shows about grim reapers, and started watching. Before I knew it, it was 4am. I thought, "I should probably try to get some sleep." So I minimized my windows so I could watch later and went and lay in my bed.
Half an hour of staring sleeplessly at the ceiling, and I decided to give the show another try. I watched for a few more hours. I tried going to sleep again at 6am, but that didn't work either. I went for a couple more episodes. At 8:20, still having not slept since the day before, I emerged from my room to make myself some scrambled eggs. They were delicious.
So now it's 9am. I'm a little tired, but I can't fall asleep. I decided to try an experiment. I decided that maybe if I hold on for 24 hours of consciousness, then maybe I could take a nap in the afternoon and then be able to sleep at night. Well, after watching the last 3 or 4 episodes of Season 2 of Dead Like Me (I watched practically the entire second season that night), I decided to try my nap. At 1:30 or 2pm on Tuesday, I napped on the couch. I slept for 5.5 hours. I got up, ate a bit of dinner, watched some more TV and I thought I was set. I was in bed by 1 or 1:30am last night, and I thought, "eggs would be nice again at 8:30," and resolved to make it an early morning to get my rhythm back to sleeping and waking at decent hours.
The trouble is, I didn't wake up today until 2pm. I slept for over 12 straight hours. Fuck me. I guess my experiment didn't work out so well.
I'm going to try again for breakfast tomorrow (this) morning. I hope to be awake in 6.5 hours. Then maybe my whole day won't be a waste. We'll see, though...
(Sorry I write so much. I'll try to cut back.)
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Stressful Dream #2
I had a dream last night that my mom hid my piano from me. I don't know why she would have done that, but she did, as sort of a practical joke, I guess. When I realized that it was gone, I flipped out. I went crazy. On the verge of tears, I set out to find it, but I didn't get very far. I walked down the main road outside my neighborhood for a while, but nothing. I didn't get very far though; I didn't have a lot of time.
We had to go somewhere. Like an orientation or something. We were in this house, and there were lots and lots of people there. I think Ultimate Fighter Nigel Hudson was there, but I don't remember what purpose he served. But it was sort of a sleep-away orientation, like when you're a freshman in college, I guess. But I was in a room, and it was nighttime, and I happened to look out the window, and there was my piano, leaning against a tree. It looked like it had branches leaned against it, an apparent attempt at camouflage.
Again, I kind of freaked out. I ran outside and tried to get it, but someone was standing in my way. This is where it gets hazy. I can't remember exactly the sequence of events, but at one point I'm getting sprayed in the face with a hose. A high pressure hose, I might add. It was drowning me. I can't remember if I actually get the piano.
But then suddenly I'm Trey Parker. Or I'm watching Trey Parker tell the story of how he got sprayed in the face with hose. He was telling my story. To his daughter. Who was this like two- or three-year-old blond girl. And then I think a magazine wrote a story about it, but I really don't remember much after that.
But what's up with being drown for trying to retrieve my piano? Does this go along with my other recent dreams of being smothered? What exactly is going on? Do I need to brace myself for something, here?
Even though these dreams are somewhat amusing when I think about them after I'm already awake, I really just wish I could have a happy, non-stressful dream for once.
We had to go somewhere. Like an orientation or something. We were in this house, and there were lots and lots of people there. I think Ultimate Fighter Nigel Hudson was there, but I don't remember what purpose he served. But it was sort of a sleep-away orientation, like when you're a freshman in college, I guess. But I was in a room, and it was nighttime, and I happened to look out the window, and there was my piano, leaning against a tree. It looked like it had branches leaned against it, an apparent attempt at camouflage.
Again, I kind of freaked out. I ran outside and tried to get it, but someone was standing in my way. This is where it gets hazy. I can't remember exactly the sequence of events, but at one point I'm getting sprayed in the face with a hose. A high pressure hose, I might add. It was drowning me. I can't remember if I actually get the piano.
But then suddenly I'm Trey Parker. Or I'm watching Trey Parker tell the story of how he got sprayed in the face with hose. He was telling my story. To his daughter. Who was this like two- or three-year-old blond girl. And then I think a magazine wrote a story about it, but I really don't remember much after that.
But what's up with being drown for trying to retrieve my piano? Does this go along with my other recent dreams of being smothered? What exactly is going on? Do I need to brace myself for something, here?
Even though these dreams are somewhat amusing when I think about them after I'm already awake, I really just wish I could have a happy, non-stressful dream for once.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Modern Day Balladeers
I had this strange realization a few months ago. As far as I know, no one else seems to see this or think this, but every time I think about it, it makes me giggle. No one can really deny that the music industry is run by men. Now, before you zone out, thinking I'm this ultra femme, relax. I'd much rather be a housewife than work in an office as the CEO of some company (of course, I am extremely lazy), but that's sort of beside the point.
But, so everyone knows that men sort of run the whole music thing. Men make up the majority of singers (I'm mostly talking about the pop/rock genre, here). Yes, there have been a few female singers like Mariah Carey or, God help me, Britney Spears or whatever. But I honestly just had to sit here trying to think of their names. This is opposed to the likes of Bryan Adams, Sting, R.E.M., Radiohead, Counting Crows, Hootie & the Blowfish, Edwin McCain, Collective Soul, Live... hell, even Eminem. I could go on. Men are more widely known and accepted (and those names were just the first few that came to mind). How many female rockers can you name that have had long, fulfilling careers? Or hell, even if their careers weren't that long and fulfilling, how many of them do we still remember (and we're ignoring one-hit wonders from both sexes)?
I'm sure they do exist, but I cannot think of any of them right now. So, considering that, in our culture, men are the singers. So, what is singing? I'd define it as an emotional expression of feelings and thoughts through a tonal and lyrical medium. But wait, aren't those typically "female characteristics"? Aren't women the ones who are typically stuck with the trait of being sensitive and caring and emotional and whatever? And yet, here are all these men making a living being just that.
I'm not saying that men can't be emotional or sensitive. I'm just saying that they are traits that are associated with women, and yet are clearly visible in every single male musician. And we accept that as fact. Does anyone else see this as ironic? I'm not saying it's bad, it's just interesting. And it has been going on for centuries. Just think of the wandering balladeers. As far as I know, none of them were female. Who was more sensitive and charming and emotional than the balladeers?
And so, after coming to that conclusion, every time I really think about a guy being a singer, it brings a smile to my lips and a giggle to my throat. Singing just feels like such a female quality, that it makes me laugh whenever I think of a man doing it. (It's really the same concept as poetry being female, though there are arguably more examples of successful female poets than there are successful female rockers).
Perhaps the deeper issue I'm getting at here is this: there is a societal double standard on men, saying that they cannot be sensitive or emotional or express their feelings without being labeled "gay." UNLESS they're a singer. Then it's okay.
And it's this double standard that is ironic and amusing. It's the reason society both fascinates and irks me. Guys can be phenomenal singers. I'll take a male voice over a female voice any day (depending, of course, on whose voice, haha). But singing just seems like such a female thing. Maybe it comes from other genres of entertainment where females are more dominant. Like musical cartoon fairy tales. Growing up, I used to watch that old Cinderella movie almost daily. Ol' Cindy sang while doing chores, to the mice, to herself, whatever. In fairy tale movies, most of the singing is done by women. Maybe that's why, when I move to another genre like more popular music, the fact that most of the singers are guys is a little... off.
I don't know. I don't know how to explain it any better. It's just something that amused me. And as I'm listening to a guy I know sing in a register he's perhaps not that comfortable singing in, the irony really makes me giggle... (I still love his songs and his voice though).
Just thought I'd share.
(Here's another interesting thought: why is it that when guys are singers, they are labeled sensitive and slightly less masculine than a fireman [though still acceptable], but when women attempt to be singers in the same genre, they have to "butch" up, they have to be tough and kind of bitchy, like Avril Lavigne, or Meredith Brooks [remember that song "Bitch"? That's what I'm talking about]? Singers, it seems, can bring in both sides of sexuality to create entities that are both gender-bending and socially acceptable. Hmm...)
But, so everyone knows that men sort of run the whole music thing. Men make up the majority of singers (I'm mostly talking about the pop/rock genre, here). Yes, there have been a few female singers like Mariah Carey or, God help me, Britney Spears or whatever. But I honestly just had to sit here trying to think of their names. This is opposed to the likes of Bryan Adams, Sting, R.E.M., Radiohead, Counting Crows, Hootie & the Blowfish, Edwin McCain, Collective Soul, Live... hell, even Eminem. I could go on. Men are more widely known and accepted (and those names were just the first few that came to mind). How many female rockers can you name that have had long, fulfilling careers? Or hell, even if their careers weren't that long and fulfilling, how many of them do we still remember (and we're ignoring one-hit wonders from both sexes)?
I'm sure they do exist, but I cannot think of any of them right now. So, considering that, in our culture, men are the singers. So, what is singing? I'd define it as an emotional expression of feelings and thoughts through a tonal and lyrical medium. But wait, aren't those typically "female characteristics"? Aren't women the ones who are typically stuck with the trait of being sensitive and caring and emotional and whatever? And yet, here are all these men making a living being just that.
I'm not saying that men can't be emotional or sensitive. I'm just saying that they are traits that are associated with women, and yet are clearly visible in every single male musician. And we accept that as fact. Does anyone else see this as ironic? I'm not saying it's bad, it's just interesting. And it has been going on for centuries. Just think of the wandering balladeers. As far as I know, none of them were female. Who was more sensitive and charming and emotional than the balladeers?
And so, after coming to that conclusion, every time I really think about a guy being a singer, it brings a smile to my lips and a giggle to my throat. Singing just feels like such a female quality, that it makes me laugh whenever I think of a man doing it. (It's really the same concept as poetry being female, though there are arguably more examples of successful female poets than there are successful female rockers).
Perhaps the deeper issue I'm getting at here is this: there is a societal double standard on men, saying that they cannot be sensitive or emotional or express their feelings without being labeled "gay." UNLESS they're a singer. Then it's okay.
And it's this double standard that is ironic and amusing. It's the reason society both fascinates and irks me. Guys can be phenomenal singers. I'll take a male voice over a female voice any day (depending, of course, on whose voice, haha). But singing just seems like such a female thing. Maybe it comes from other genres of entertainment where females are more dominant. Like musical cartoon fairy tales. Growing up, I used to watch that old Cinderella movie almost daily. Ol' Cindy sang while doing chores, to the mice, to herself, whatever. In fairy tale movies, most of the singing is done by women. Maybe that's why, when I move to another genre like more popular music, the fact that most of the singers are guys is a little... off.
I don't know. I don't know how to explain it any better. It's just something that amused me. And as I'm listening to a guy I know sing in a register he's perhaps not that comfortable singing in, the irony really makes me giggle... (I still love his songs and his voice though).
Just thought I'd share.
(Here's another interesting thought: why is it that when guys are singers, they are labeled sensitive and slightly less masculine than a fireman [though still acceptable], but when women attempt to be singers in the same genre, they have to "butch" up, they have to be tough and kind of bitchy, like Avril Lavigne, or Meredith Brooks [remember that song "Bitch"? That's what I'm talking about]? Singers, it seems, can bring in both sides of sexuality to create entities that are both gender-bending and socially acceptable. Hmm...)
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Death of a ThinkPad
My laptop died today (or yesterday, as it is almost 2am). It seemed to be working fine earlier today. I glanced at it/checked the time probably around 5:45 this evening, and when I came back to check my email about about quarter to 8, there was a black screen and a tiny whiter cursor blinking in the top left corner. I don't know if this could be considered "blue screening" as the screen was not blue. Then again, it may have been blue when it started its death throws, but alas, I was not here to witness it.
So, here I am, typing away on my parents' computer. Man, this thing is old. I used this thing to write my Senior Exit Paper. Talk about memories. I was on this computer about 3.5 years ago when I smelled toast even though no one had been cooking, prompting me to wonder if I had a brain tumor. It was also here, sitting at this computer, that I had a breakdown whilst doing pre-calculus homework in 11th grade. I threw my book and my notebook across the room. I still remember the ripping of paper, and how much I didn't care. But this is also the computer where I attempted my first musical mix. I recorded myself playing "Mad World" on the piano in one file, and recorded myself singing it in another, and then spliced to two together. Now, I'm not a phenomenal singer, but the end result was pretty snazzy, especially since it was the end result of Windows standard Sound Recorder and a shitty monitor microphone (and also perhaps my first experience in something that I may want to continue pursuing).
But fond or not-so-fond memories aside, it really pisses me off that my laptop died. I'm not really sure what happened. I think the fan stopped working, causing it to overheat. This happens a lot though, but the tech guy at my school (who issued me the laptop) said that my computer must have been in pretty bad shape. But, he also said that there was a really good chance at getting all my files back. Which is a good thing. Almost all my recent writing is on that computer, along with some digital songs files -- all files I've been meaning to backup on disk, but haven't gotten around to doing yet. Also, my password for online registration is on there, and as one of my classes got cancelled and I now have to register for another one, I'm going to be needing that soon. But the tech guy also said that I could send the computer to them and they would fix it, and restore all my files (hopefully), so I guess I'm alright.
I'm still pretty bummed though.
Oh, and I still don't have a job.
But, on the brighter side, I am going to see Editors in NYC in September. Heck yes!
Much love,
Christina
So, here I am, typing away on my parents' computer. Man, this thing is old. I used this thing to write my Senior Exit Paper. Talk about memories. I was on this computer about 3.5 years ago when I smelled toast even though no one had been cooking, prompting me to wonder if I had a brain tumor. It was also here, sitting at this computer, that I had a breakdown whilst doing pre-calculus homework in 11th grade. I threw my book and my notebook across the room. I still remember the ripping of paper, and how much I didn't care. But this is also the computer where I attempted my first musical mix. I recorded myself playing "Mad World" on the piano in one file, and recorded myself singing it in another, and then spliced to two together. Now, I'm not a phenomenal singer, but the end result was pretty snazzy, especially since it was the end result of Windows standard Sound Recorder and a shitty monitor microphone (and also perhaps my first experience in something that I may want to continue pursuing).
But fond or not-so-fond memories aside, it really pisses me off that my laptop died. I'm not really sure what happened. I think the fan stopped working, causing it to overheat. This happens a lot though, but the tech guy at my school (who issued me the laptop) said that my computer must have been in pretty bad shape. But, he also said that there was a really good chance at getting all my files back. Which is a good thing. Almost all my recent writing is on that computer, along with some digital songs files -- all files I've been meaning to backup on disk, but haven't gotten around to doing yet. Also, my password for online registration is on there, and as one of my classes got cancelled and I now have to register for another one, I'm going to be needing that soon. But the tech guy also said that I could send the computer to them and they would fix it, and restore all my files (hopefully), so I guess I'm alright.
I'm still pretty bummed though.
Oh, and I still don't have a job.
But, on the brighter side, I am going to see Editors in NYC in September. Heck yes!
Much love,
Christina
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Cold Feet
I had a couple of dreams that I was being smothered last night.
In the first one, I was in bed with John Krasinski (Jim from The Office). It wasn't like that -- not really, anyway. We were lying kind of perpendicular to each other. For some reason he had one of his legs on top of me, just laying there. It was kind of holding me down. I have no idea what that was. I woke up, but decided that I really didn't want to be up yet, so I went back to sleep.
Eventually I had another dream. I was sitting in my house and Zach Braff was dating this girl I went to high school with. But he was actually interested in me. I was watching them through my living room window, and when they were done talking, she walked away and he came in my house. We promptly started making out, haha. I felt bad though; I don't want to be a homewrecker. The girl from high school came back and she was mad at me and probably calling me names. I really, honestly felt guilty about the whole thing. But according to Zach, it was all going to be okay. And then we made out more. But then suddenly there were feet in my face. I think they were Zach's, but I can't be sure. And they wouldn't go away. It was probably one of the strangest dreams I've ever had.
By themselves, they're just weird dreams. But together, they make me wonder why the hell I feel like I'm being smothered. I have no job (though hopefully that'll change soon). So there's no responsibility there. And that's really it. I have nothing pressing to do on a daily basis. But then again, maybe that's what's smothering me: the hopeless, useless feeling. I've started having headaches almost daily, something that I haven't experienced since my senior year in high school. But they're not just regular headaches. They're like pinching, throbbing pains almost constantly.
Still doesn't explain why I had feet in my face, though...
In the first one, I was in bed with John Krasinski (Jim from The Office). It wasn't like that -- not really, anyway. We were lying kind of perpendicular to each other. For some reason he had one of his legs on top of me, just laying there. It was kind of holding me down. I have no idea what that was. I woke up, but decided that I really didn't want to be up yet, so I went back to sleep.
Eventually I had another dream. I was sitting in my house and Zach Braff was dating this girl I went to high school with. But he was actually interested in me. I was watching them through my living room window, and when they were done talking, she walked away and he came in my house. We promptly started making out, haha. I felt bad though; I don't want to be a homewrecker. The girl from high school came back and she was mad at me and probably calling me names. I really, honestly felt guilty about the whole thing. But according to Zach, it was all going to be okay. And then we made out more. But then suddenly there were feet in my face. I think they were Zach's, but I can't be sure. And they wouldn't go away. It was probably one of the strangest dreams I've ever had.
By themselves, they're just weird dreams. But together, they make me wonder why the hell I feel like I'm being smothered. I have no job (though hopefully that'll change soon). So there's no responsibility there. And that's really it. I have nothing pressing to do on a daily basis. But then again, maybe that's what's smothering me: the hopeless, useless feeling. I've started having headaches almost daily, something that I haven't experienced since my senior year in high school. But they're not just regular headaches. They're like pinching, throbbing pains almost constantly.
Still doesn't explain why I had feet in my face, though...
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Actual Events That Make Me Die a Little Inside: Part 1
Friend: Yeah, I went to whatever show at whatever venue at some date in the past.
Internal-AssOfMyself-Preventer: Oh yeah, I think I saw a picture of that. But I shouldn't have necessarily seen it. Don't mention the picture. Don't mention the picture. Don't mention the picture.
Me: Wait, isn't there a picture or something of you [at the show]...?
I-A-P: I hate you.
Internal-AssOfMyself-Preventer: Oh yeah, I think I saw a picture of that. But I shouldn't have necessarily seen it. Don't mention the picture. Don't mention the picture. Don't mention the picture.
Me: Wait, isn't there a picture or something of you [at the show]...?
I-A-P: I hate you.
10 Hours of My Life, Gone
Yeah, I've definitely spent the last 10 hours on my computer. Isn't my life sad? In my defense, I've been working on various projects, but everytime I get up, I wonder why my ass hurts, and I think sitting on the couch since around 3pm yesterday may be the cause.
I've been compiling a list of CDs for a little "project" I'm working on with the help of friends, haha. After about 3 hours of that, I started going through my music collection with my mom to find out what she wants to put on her iPod (which she still isn't entirely comfortable with using yet). After about 2 hours of that, I started searching for this comic I remember seeing a few years ago. I know it had something to do with Pearl Jam and how hard it is to understand what he's saying in the song "Evenflow," but I cannot, for the life of me, find it anywhere! And it is driving me mad! (And now I realize that this last part wasn't so much a "project" as a pathetic excuse for a Friday night.)
And now, after giving up, I've realized that I've spent the last 5 hours looking for that damn fucking comic. 5 hours. I'm not sure you read that correctly.... I said 5, as in one-two-three-four-five fucking hours. Jesus, I didn't even realize until I started writing this paragraph. My God, I need a life.
On the upside, it gave me something to write about, so that's cool I guess.
I'm going to try my hand at keeping this blog semi-regular. Maybe someone will be interested in reading the thoughts of an extremely imaginative, unemployed twenty-something preparing for her last year of college. You never know who may be reading, I guess...
I've been compiling a list of CDs for a little "project" I'm working on with the help of friends, haha. After about 3 hours of that, I started going through my music collection with my mom to find out what she wants to put on her iPod (which she still isn't entirely comfortable with using yet). After about 2 hours of that, I started searching for this comic I remember seeing a few years ago. I know it had something to do with Pearl Jam and how hard it is to understand what he's saying in the song "Evenflow," but I cannot, for the life of me, find it anywhere! And it is driving me mad! (And now I realize that this last part wasn't so much a "project" as a pathetic excuse for a Friday night.)
And now, after giving up, I've realized that I've spent the last 5 hours looking for that damn fucking comic. 5 hours. I'm not sure you read that correctly.... I said 5, as in one-two-three-four-five fucking hours. Jesus, I didn't even realize until I started writing this paragraph. My God, I need a life.
On the upside, it gave me something to write about, so that's cool I guess.
I'm going to try my hand at keeping this blog semi-regular. Maybe someone will be interested in reading the thoughts of an extremely imaginative, unemployed twenty-something preparing for her last year of college. You never know who may be reading, I guess...
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Long Overdue
Wow, I haven't blogged in a long time. Since like the very very beginning of the year. I've written a few drafts, but I never published them on here. I've really wanted to write something, but I kind of got away from the whole blog thing. But I'd like to start again. So here goes:
I have decided that I must be terminally unemployable. Either that or I'm terminally lazy. I've applied to a few places, but none of them have every offered me positions, and when I mean to go out and apply to new places, I have panic attacks outside of the establishments. I went to find out about jobs at the library today, and I couldn't pull into the parking lot. I had to double back and go in like 20 mins later. I don't know what's wrong with me. Something, though.
But so because I don't have a job, I don't have any income, which is very sad for my bank account. And for my shopping addiction. I've only bought 4 CDs, 3 shirts, 0 pairs of shoes, and 0 purses. That's amazing for me! Unfortunately I have buyer's remorse about two of the CDs, but you win some, you lose some, I guess.
I did win with one recent CD though: Neon Bible by Arcade Fire. I must admit that I'm a little late on getting it as it was released a while ago. I wasn't originally going to get it. I tried to get into Arcade Fire last year, listening to their album Funeral, but I couldn't get into it enough to buy it. But then I heard a couple songs off this new album and figured I'd give it a try. And you know what? It's pretty good. I'd recommend it. Maybe I'll give a more cohesive review on my other blog (the link is to the right) when I get the time or if I feel like it, haha. We'll see.
That's really all for now. Real exciting, right?
P.S. - The first season of Psych is out on DVD, and that makes me happy.
Haikus for Amanda
I can't write at will
Or else my haikus are crap
See, what'd I tell you?
(hahaha how was that?)
I have decided that I must be terminally unemployable. Either that or I'm terminally lazy. I've applied to a few places, but none of them have every offered me positions, and when I mean to go out and apply to new places, I have panic attacks outside of the establishments. I went to find out about jobs at the library today, and I couldn't pull into the parking lot. I had to double back and go in like 20 mins later. I don't know what's wrong with me. Something, though.
But so because I don't have a job, I don't have any income, which is very sad for my bank account. And for my shopping addiction. I've only bought 4 CDs, 3 shirts, 0 pairs of shoes, and 0 purses. That's amazing for me! Unfortunately I have buyer's remorse about two of the CDs, but you win some, you lose some, I guess.
I did win with one recent CD though: Neon Bible by Arcade Fire. I must admit that I'm a little late on getting it as it was released a while ago. I wasn't originally going to get it. I tried to get into Arcade Fire last year, listening to their album Funeral, but I couldn't get into it enough to buy it. But then I heard a couple songs off this new album and figured I'd give it a try. And you know what? It's pretty good. I'd recommend it. Maybe I'll give a more cohesive review on my other blog (the link is to the right) when I get the time or if I feel like it, haha. We'll see.
That's really all for now. Real exciting, right?
P.S. - The first season of Psych is out on DVD, and that makes me happy.
Haikus for Amanda
I can't write at will
Or else my haikus are crap
See, what'd I tell you?
(hahaha how was that?)
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Top 10 (Purchased or Otherwise Acquired) Albums of 2006
Hey there Kiddies,
I hope that everyone's year has gotten off to a great start. I konw mine hasn't. Haha. Eh, it's so-so. Anyway, I know I haven't posted anything in over a month, but I've been busy with finals and whatnot. But I did manage to do something that I'm actually pretty proud of. I compiled another top 10 list, this time of the best purchased or otherwise acquired albums of 2006. So, why don't you mozy on over to my other blog, "Play Your Stereo Loud" (the link is just there to the right), and read my work. Yeah, it's pretty cool. And hopefully insightful and/or helpful for your next trip to the record store.
Enjoy!
Christina
I hope that everyone's year has gotten off to a great start. I konw mine hasn't. Haha. Eh, it's so-so. Anyway, I know I haven't posted anything in over a month, but I've been busy with finals and whatnot. But I did manage to do something that I'm actually pretty proud of. I compiled another top 10 list, this time of the best purchased or otherwise acquired albums of 2006. So, why don't you mozy on over to my other blog, "Play Your Stereo Loud" (the link is just there to the right), and read my work. Yeah, it's pretty cool. And hopefully insightful and/or helpful for your next trip to the record store.
Enjoy!
Christina
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Camera and NaNo News!!!
Hey faithful readers (however many there may be),
A lot has happened. I went home for Thanksgiving Break. Got to spend three days in Charlotte just bumming around town. Bought a kick ass digital camera. It's a FujiFilm S6000 fd. It's really cool. It has a pretty kickin' zoom and 6 megapixels. And all the cool ass manual settings too. And I took these totally awesome pics:
They're pretty awesome.
Also, in other news. I won NaNoWriMo 2006! That's right, I wrote over 50,000 words in a month! That means that now I can finish my novel, edit it, and then look into finding an agent and a publisher. That's so exicting! Something I've wanted for so long may actually become a reality! Can you believe this???
Because I can't. This is insane. Welp, off to do more writing instead of homework or something else I should be doing... until then...
<3 Christina
A lot has happened. I went home for Thanksgiving Break. Got to spend three days in Charlotte just bumming around town. Bought a kick ass digital camera. It's a FujiFilm S6000 fd. It's really cool. It has a pretty kickin' zoom and 6 megapixels. And all the cool ass manual settings too. And I took these totally awesome pics:
They're pretty awesome.
Also, in other news. I won NaNoWriMo 2006! That's right, I wrote over 50,000 words in a month! That means that now I can finish my novel, edit it, and then look into finding an agent and a publisher. That's so exicting! Something I've wanted for so long may actually become a reality! Can you believe this???
Because I can't. This is insane. Welp, off to do more writing instead of homework or something else I should be doing... until then...
<3 Christina
Monday, October 30, 2006
Massive Update
I really hate that it takes me so long to update this thing. I've kinda started a regular schedule over on "Play Your Stereo Loud," so hopefully that'll help me update here. Though I don't know how many of you still read this, if you ever did. I promise I'll try to do better.
Not a whole lot has happened over on the Christina Front. Christina gets paid on Friday. That makes her very happy. You know what else makes Christina happy? Cary Brothers :)
On Saturday, my friend Kaitlin and I went to see this little thingy called the Hotel Cafe Tour at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. It's sponsored by myspace.com and (RED)TM, that little campaign that raises money for, I think, AIDS research. I should be more with it, haha. Anyway, so the whole little tour thing was kinda conceived by Mr. Brothers. It featured Joshua Radin, Jim Bianco, Kevin Devine and Schuyler Fisk (the girlfriend in Orange County with Colin Hanks!). Oh, and Cary too. But, I mean, seriously. All that great music in one room?!? Are you kidding me? Best $17 plus train&subway tickets I've ever spent! (Musical review to be on "Play Your Stereo Loud" later in the week). Plus we got to meet some of them. Kaitlin is in love with Joshua Radin so we talked to him for a bit and got autographs and then she talked to Schuyler Fisk for a few minutes. I stood next to Schuyler but didn't say anything because I didn't know what to say, haha. But it was cool.
After the talking, we went back upstairs to watch some more and got to see Cary sing "Blue Eyes," the song that appears on the Garden State soundtrack. Oh man, it was a crowd sing along. It was fantastic. After his set ended, we watched a few more songs, but then decided that we had to go in order to catch the very last train out of NYC (1:34am!). We went downstairs where I spotted Cary by the bar. This was my opportunity to tap him on the shoulder, say hi and get him to sign the poster I had Kaitlin rip off the wall for me, haha. So I did. He looks different close up, but he's still super gorgeous :). I told him that it was a great show and I wished I could watch more, but we had to leave. Then I asked him to sign it. He goes to a table to sign it and then turns back to me and extends his hand "Hi, I'm Cary." "Hi, Christina," I smiled. He signed it: "To Christina, Love Cary Brothers." It was really cute:). Then he was like "It was nice to meet you," and I said the same, and then he said "Don't worry. We'll see each other again." I smiled at him and was like "what?" He then explained that he was sure he was going to be in the area again at some point and that he was releasing an album in February so he'd probably be back. "That's great!" I said "So I can come to another show or something." He says, "Yeah, we'll see each other again." Hahaha... oh man, I <3 Cary Brothers.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention that I got my first over-21 wrist band that night, and celebrated by buying a giant cup of Budweiser for $5. Beer has never tasted so sweet, hahaha. Oh, and I also got beer spilled on my knee by some random person. My knee. I don't know how that happens, but that was pretty awesome too...
All in all, it was a pretty groovy night. And and and... I got two Cary Brother's EPs for $10 total. And they are AMAZING. Saturday was a great day :)
Not a whole lot has happened over on the Christina Front. Christina gets paid on Friday. That makes her very happy. You know what else makes Christina happy? Cary Brothers :)
On Saturday, my friend Kaitlin and I went to see this little thingy called the Hotel Cafe Tour at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. It's sponsored by myspace.com and (RED)TM, that little campaign that raises money for, I think, AIDS research. I should be more with it, haha. Anyway, so the whole little tour thing was kinda conceived by Mr. Brothers. It featured Joshua Radin, Jim Bianco, Kevin Devine and Schuyler Fisk (the girlfriend in Orange County with Colin Hanks!). Oh, and Cary too. But, I mean, seriously. All that great music in one room?!? Are you kidding me? Best $17 plus train&subway tickets I've ever spent! (Musical review to be on "Play Your Stereo Loud" later in the week). Plus we got to meet some of them. Kaitlin is in love with Joshua Radin so we talked to him for a bit and got autographs and then she talked to Schuyler Fisk for a few minutes. I stood next to Schuyler but didn't say anything because I didn't know what to say, haha. But it was cool.
After the talking, we went back upstairs to watch some more and got to see Cary sing "Blue Eyes," the song that appears on the Garden State soundtrack. Oh man, it was a crowd sing along. It was fantastic. After his set ended, we watched a few more songs, but then decided that we had to go in order to catch the very last train out of NYC (1:34am!). We went downstairs where I spotted Cary by the bar. This was my opportunity to tap him on the shoulder, say hi and get him to sign the poster I had Kaitlin rip off the wall for me, haha. So I did. He looks different close up, but he's still super gorgeous :). I told him that it was a great show and I wished I could watch more, but we had to leave. Then I asked him to sign it. He goes to a table to sign it and then turns back to me and extends his hand "Hi, I'm Cary." "Hi, Christina," I smiled. He signed it: "To Christina, Love Cary Brothers." It was really cute:). Then he was like "It was nice to meet you," and I said the same, and then he said "Don't worry. We'll see each other again." I smiled at him and was like "what?" He then explained that he was sure he was going to be in the area again at some point and that he was releasing an album in February so he'd probably be back. "That's great!" I said "So I can come to another show or something." He says, "Yeah, we'll see each other again." Hahaha... oh man, I <3 Cary Brothers.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention that I got my first over-21 wrist band that night, and celebrated by buying a giant cup of Budweiser for $5. Beer has never tasted so sweet, hahaha. Oh, and I also got beer spilled on my knee by some random person. My knee. I don't know how that happens, but that was pretty awesome too...
All in all, it was a pretty groovy night. And and and... I got two Cary Brother's EPs for $10 total. And they are AMAZING. Saturday was a great day :)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Hey You!
Yeah, that's right, you! Have you been reading "Play Your Stereo Loud"? No?!?!? What the heck is wrong with you?!?!? Go read it. Right now.
It is now going to be the site of my new semi-weekly, -monthly, daily, -lifetimey column called "Why I <3 Rock Stars" and features funny news stories or quotes or whatever I can find about rock stars and why I <3 them. You should read it. The first one is pretty funny. And they're not that long either.
Oh, and while you're there... read the reviews, leave comments, go to the bathroom, eat a slice of pizza, whatever you want. Just read it, yo :)
<3 Christina
It is now going to be the site of my new semi-weekly, -monthly, daily, -lifetimey column called "Why I <3 Rock Stars" and features funny news stories or quotes or whatever I can find about rock stars and why I <3 them. You should read it. The first one is pretty funny. And they're not that long either.
Oh, and while you're there... read the reviews, leave comments, go to the bathroom, eat a slice of pizza, whatever you want. Just read it, yo :)
<3 Christina
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Update on My Life
Hey all, not a whole lot going on here. I'm full blown into NaNoWriMo now, with outline and characters and all. Actually I'm finding new characters all the time, and I'm only like 25% of the way through my outline. I def need it if I want any chance of making it through this coming month... especially if I want to come out anywhere near the top. It's actually kind of stressful, but this should be fun. It really pisses me off that I also have to deal with this little thing called "school." What a bitch.
Also, Breanne and I went to Fright Fest last night. Wow. Let me tell you... $45 well spent on waiting in line for 2 hours for a 10 minute "scary" hay ride. Though, in its defense, it was kinda creepy b/c it takes you in the woods in the dark and people jump on the wagon and out of trees. It was... cute... it was fun. Waaaay too many people for my likes though... but whatever.
Also, in other bloggy news. You should really check out "Play Your Stereo Loud." The link is just over there to the right ---->
It's good. Read it. :D
Also, Breanne and I went to Fright Fest last night. Wow. Let me tell you... $45 well spent on waiting in line for 2 hours for a 10 minute "scary" hay ride. Though, in its defense, it was kinda creepy b/c it takes you in the woods in the dark and people jump on the wagon and out of trees. It was... cute... it was fun. Waaaay too many people for my likes though... but whatever.
Also, in other bloggy news. You should really check out "Play Your Stereo Loud." The link is just over there to the right ---->
It's good. Read it. :D
Sunday, October 01, 2006
PostSecret and NaNoWriMo
So yesterday Breanne, her sister and I went to the PostSecret exhibit in Reading, PA. It was really cool. Pretty inspirational i think. I wish i had more art supplies here. Like card stock. I wrote somewhere around 26 secrets last night after I got back to my room, and I want to send some of them in, but I need to find something to make them out of. I also purchased the book. It's really amazing. I love PostSecret so much
Also, I may have talked about this before, but I'm going to join this thing called NaNoWriMo, which is a group of people around the world (though mostly in the US) that join together for the month of November to write crappy novels. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. They don't have to be good and they don't really have to be coherent. Plot holes are allowed. The only stipulation is that you have to start from scratch at 0:00 (or 12:00am) on November 1, and you have until midnight or 11:59pm on November 30 to submit your story. This is going to be awesome! www.nanowrimo.org.
That's really all for now... (oh, and I didn't get to meet Alessandro Nivola on Friday:(...sadness) Oh well, maybe some other time, haha.
Christina :)
Also, I may have talked about this before, but I'm going to join this thing called NaNoWriMo, which is a group of people around the world (though mostly in the US) that join together for the month of November to write crappy novels. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. They don't have to be good and they don't really have to be coherent. Plot holes are allowed. The only stipulation is that you have to start from scratch at 0:00 (or 12:00am) on November 1, and you have until midnight or 11:59pm on November 30 to submit your story. This is going to be awesome! www.nanowrimo.org.
That's really all for now... (oh, and I didn't get to meet Alessandro Nivola on Friday:(...sadness) Oh well, maybe some other time, haha.
Christina :)
Friday, September 29, 2006
MIA
Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since the last time I posted on this. I finally got my little music blog off the ground and into the web, so you should go check it out. The link is over there to the right ---->.
It's called "Play Your Stereo Loud." You should check it out, and if you like what you read you should sent other people there to read. Right now the updating is going a little slow and classwork and clubs and all the shit going down on the homefront is distracting me, but I'll try to post something at least once a week. The new post from this week is up. It's a review of Josh Rouse's Nashville. On of my favorite songs of all time is on that album. It's the song I got the title for the blog from. It's a good song, you should try to find it and listen to it. Do it.
Do it.
In other news, I haven't been doing a whole whole lot. Went to the Lactose Tolerance Campaign last weekend in NYC. Signed a petition to make June 1 National Lactose Tolerance Day. That would be awesome, haha. I love milk. Got some cool posters, stickers and a shirt.
Oh good! It doesn't look like rain anymore, which is good b/c i was planning on going into the city later today to "have lunch" with my cousin. Which means that i want to go to his work to meet an actor... under the guise of wanting to go to lunch with my cousin, haha. Oh, me. I'm so clever. Haha.
Anyway, that's all for now. Until next time...
- Christina :)
It's called "Play Your Stereo Loud." You should check it out, and if you like what you read you should sent other people there to read. Right now the updating is going a little slow and classwork and clubs and all the shit going down on the homefront is distracting me, but I'll try to post something at least once a week. The new post from this week is up. It's a review of Josh Rouse's Nashville. On of my favorite songs of all time is on that album. It's the song I got the title for the blog from. It's a good song, you should try to find it and listen to it. Do it.
Do it.
In other news, I haven't been doing a whole whole lot. Went to the Lactose Tolerance Campaign last weekend in NYC. Signed a petition to make June 1 National Lactose Tolerance Day. That would be awesome, haha. I love milk. Got some cool posters, stickers and a shirt.
Oh good! It doesn't look like rain anymore, which is good b/c i was planning on going into the city later today to "have lunch" with my cousin. Which means that i want to go to his work to meet an actor... under the guise of wanting to go to lunch with my cousin, haha. Oh, me. I'm so clever. Haha.
Anyway, that's all for now. Until next time...
- Christina :)
Sunday, September 17, 2006
woot.
Wee hoo... i finally uploaded me a picture... after having this thing for almost a year, haha. You've probably seen this pic before... man, i really need a new one, haha. maybe someday...
Anyway, not a whole lot has been happening. I still have work to do, but I'm procrastinating. NJ Transit free week is this week. I really want to take advantage of that, but damn my work schedule! Damn it to hell... maybe on friday I'll go into the city and have dinner with my cousin or something. We'll see...
Also, I'm thinking of starting another blog. So if I do you have to go read it. It's going to be all music oriented (which this one was supposed to be, but i'm so damned open that i felt like sharing everything with the world here, haha). But this new one, should I decide to make it, will seriously just be about music. I don't know what I'll call it yet. Or what will go on it. We'll figure something out (we being me haha). So like all those "In Music News" things I put on here sometimes will be on the other one. I'll let you know when I make it, so that you can read it and tell all your friends to read it and so i will become a music blogging goddess! heh....
Whatever... catch ya later,
Christina
Anyway, not a whole lot has been happening. I still have work to do, but I'm procrastinating. NJ Transit free week is this week. I really want to take advantage of that, but damn my work schedule! Damn it to hell... maybe on friday I'll go into the city and have dinner with my cousin or something. We'll see...
Also, I'm thinking of starting another blog. So if I do you have to go read it. It's going to be all music oriented (which this one was supposed to be, but i'm so damned open that i felt like sharing everything with the world here, haha). But this new one, should I decide to make it, will seriously just be about music. I don't know what I'll call it yet. Or what will go on it. We'll figure something out (we being me haha). So like all those "In Music News" things I put on here sometimes will be on the other one. I'll let you know when I make it, so that you can read it and tell all your friends to read it and so i will become a music blogging goddess! heh....
Whatever... catch ya later,
Christina
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Afterthought...
Okay, so I meant to post this about two weeks ago.
When Amy, her boyfriend Jay and I went to the Counting Crows concert on August 29th, we took separate cars. Thus I had to walk from the parking lot by myeslf. But it was cool because i heard one of the funniest things I've ever heard in my life. Some of you may have heard of the veyr funny site OverheardInNewYork.com. For those who have not, you should check it out. New York is filled with people, and you'd be amazed at the percentage of people are are just retarded. People send the website stupid/silly conversations they overheard. It's actually very amusing. Check it out.
Anyway, I think there should be one for Charlotte. What I heard that night of the concert would definitely make it.
Guy in Orange Shirt: Man, I remember the last time we were here... like 2003. Phish, man. That was an awesome night!
Guy's Friend: You haven't been to a concert since 2003?
Guy in Orange: Nah, man. Remember? 2004-2005 I was in prison.
Guy's Friend: Oh yeah.
Something I heard in the Arbo Walmart would also make it I think.
Little boy: Look, mom! Fun-ton!
Mom: Baby, that says futon...
Maybe not the funniest things ever (though I think the first quote is hilarious), but I still think they're amusing. Someone should start and Overheard in Charlotte site. It'd have like 3 visitors a week. And two of them would probably be me... whatever...
Just a random thought,
Christina
When Amy, her boyfriend Jay and I went to the Counting Crows concert on August 29th, we took separate cars. Thus I had to walk from the parking lot by myeslf. But it was cool because i heard one of the funniest things I've ever heard in my life. Some of you may have heard of the veyr funny site OverheardInNewYork.com. For those who have not, you should check it out. New York is filled with people, and you'd be amazed at the percentage of people are are just retarded. People send the website stupid/silly conversations they overheard. It's actually very amusing. Check it out.
Anyway, I think there should be one for Charlotte. What I heard that night of the concert would definitely make it.
Guy in Orange Shirt: Man, I remember the last time we were here... like 2003. Phish, man. That was an awesome night!
Guy's Friend: You haven't been to a concert since 2003?
Guy in Orange: Nah, man. Remember? 2004-2005 I was in prison.
Guy's Friend: Oh yeah.
Something I heard in the Arbo Walmart would also make it I think.
Little boy: Look, mom! Fun-ton!
Mom: Baby, that says futon...
Maybe not the funniest things ever (though I think the first quote is hilarious), but I still think they're amusing. Someone should start and Overheard in Charlotte site. It'd have like 3 visitors a week. And two of them would probably be me... whatever...
Just a random thought,
Christina
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Back in Joysey
Yo yo yo. I is officially back in Jersey. It was a mother of a move in day though. I woke up at 4am and made it to NJ around 9:30. Breanne picked me up from the airport and we mosied on over to the SHU. After checking in Bre and I went to Bunny's. Uh! Come visit me in Jersey. We will eat fantastic pizza at Bunny's! It was wonderful... unfortunately the rest of the day was spent in SAB training, but it's all good, met a few new fun people. More of the same, blah blah blah...
Then Tues. was the first day of classes. They were alright. Nothing seems too too difficult... but i haven't been to all my classes yet. I had to skip American History II, but no biggie. This is all extremely exciting to you, I'm sure.
What the hell is up with the prices of text books? It's fucking insane. It's such a scam. By the time I've finished getting everything I need I will have spent over $300. When I sell them all back I'll probably get like $25 tops. I wish someone would buy my German book, haha. Damn, i want to get rid of that. Maybe I'll post my history book too... i think i'll do that when i'm done here.
Which I am. There's really nothing much to say; I just felt like I needed to post something.
Oh, in Music News: I kinda found this guy by accident. Actually i was sitting in the SAB office and he imed me, haha. His name is Jim Gaven www.myspace.com/jimgaven He's pretty good actually. He graduated from SHU last year I think. He plays around jersey a lot, and if you get a chance i think you should check him out if you haven't already. I hope we get him to play here again... i wanna see him. check him out.
Peace out:P
Christina
Then Tues. was the first day of classes. They were alright. Nothing seems too too difficult... but i haven't been to all my classes yet. I had to skip American History II, but no biggie. This is all extremely exciting to you, I'm sure.
What the hell is up with the prices of text books? It's fucking insane. It's such a scam. By the time I've finished getting everything I need I will have spent over $300. When I sell them all back I'll probably get like $25 tops. I wish someone would buy my German book, haha. Damn, i want to get rid of that. Maybe I'll post my history book too... i think i'll do that when i'm done here.
Which I am. There's really nothing much to say; I just felt like I needed to post something.
Oh, in Music News: I kinda found this guy by accident. Actually i was sitting in the SAB office and he imed me, haha. His name is Jim Gaven www.myspace.com/jimgaven He's pretty good actually. He graduated from SHU last year I think. He plays around jersey a lot, and if you get a chance i think you should check him out if you haven't already. I hope we get him to play here again... i wanna see him. check him out.
Peace out:P
Christina
Sunday, August 27, 2006
More Haiku news
Don't worry, I won't talk about the Psy-kus anymore, haha.
However, I do have some other of my haikus featured on another blog. It's still up and coming, but it's a brilliant concept that I think could catch on. It's called the Free Time Masons. Basically it showcases art/literature/whatever that people do when they're supposed to be doing something else. Little creative outlets. Anyway, I recommend you check it out, and perhaps think about showcasing your doodles/creative output too!
Love,
Christina:)
However, I do have some other of my haikus featured on another blog. It's still up and coming, but it's a brilliant concept that I think could catch on. It's called the Free Time Masons. Basically it showcases art/literature/whatever that people do when they're supposed to be doing something else. Little creative outlets. Anyway, I recommend you check it out, and perhaps think about showcasing your doodles/creative output too!
Love,
Christina:)
Friday, August 25, 2006
Hahahahahah Holy Crap!!!
I did it! I did it! I won! I won! Oh yeah, that's right.
Remember that little haiku writing contest I told you about last post? Well... it's not really a contest in that I win anything... unless you count getting to bask in the glory of my genius and Psych devotion. To recap, a mission was given to write haikus about the new hit USA show called "Psych." You could basically write as many as you wanted, but only a few would be selected and featured on the Production Blog "Fly On the Wall." Hell yes, this is like a small self-esteem victory! I, Christina a.k.a. Psyched4Psych, was given special thanks. That's right, I said "special thanks" for giving a shout out to my half soul-mate Gus, the buddy in this buddy-cop/psychic show. You all know how much I hate bad grammar, and I could tell there was something special about this particular haiku when I wrote it, even though it wasn't particularly my favorite. Hahahaha, I didn't even win anything, but I am so excited. Hahahaha:D.
This is like small personal victory for Christina. My haiku is being read all over the world. Oh yeah. That's right. :) x 1000
Remember that little haiku writing contest I told you about last post? Well... it's not really a contest in that I win anything... unless you count getting to bask in the glory of my genius and Psych devotion. To recap, a mission was given to write haikus about the new hit USA show called "Psych." You could basically write as many as you wanted, but only a few would be selected and featured on the Production Blog "Fly On the Wall." Hell yes, this is like a small self-esteem victory! I, Christina a.k.a. Psyched4Psych, was given special thanks. That's right, I said "special thanks" for giving a shout out to my half soul-mate Gus, the buddy in this buddy-cop/psychic show. You all know how much I hate bad grammar, and I could tell there was something special about this particular haiku when I wrote it, even though it wasn't particularly my favorite. Hahahaha, I didn't even win anything, but I am so excited. Hahahaha:D.
This is like small personal victory for Christina. My haiku is being read all over the world. Oh yeah. That's right. :) x 1000
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Greetings, Gang! I changed the layout of my site, hope you like it. I was getting bored of the dots. I like this... so this it shall be... at least for a while, haha.
Anyway, ain't much been happening here. Went to Myrtle Beach for like a day with my dad. It was kinda boring except for the 20 mins we were at the beach to see the sunrise, haha. Perhaps this tentative trip to LA should be a tentative trip to Myrtle Beach... or at least include a trip to a beach. Haha. I've been working on next year's line of Valentine's Day cards. I've got about 7... i need about 13 more. More info on that later.
Also, to amuse myself in my spare time I've entered a Haiku writing "contest." These haikus (or Psy-kus) have to be about the new USA show called "Psych." It's an extremely hilarious cop comedy-drama about a guy who's actually a good detective, but tells the local police department that he's a psychic. He has nothing better to do. But so, all the haikus have to be "Psych" related. I wrote ten. They can be found here. My handle is Psyched4Psych, haha. Enjoy.
Catch ya later,
Christina
P.S. - I've been meaning to share this song with you. It's called "Business Time" and it's by these New Zealanders called The Flight of the Conchords. You should listen to it. Good stuff, hahaha.
"Makin' love.... makin' love for twwooo... makin' love for twooo minutes!" :D
Anyway, ain't much been happening here. Went to Myrtle Beach for like a day with my dad. It was kinda boring except for the 20 mins we were at the beach to see the sunrise, haha. Perhaps this tentative trip to LA should be a tentative trip to Myrtle Beach... or at least include a trip to a beach. Haha. I've been working on next year's line of Valentine's Day cards. I've got about 7... i need about 13 more. More info on that later.
Also, to amuse myself in my spare time I've entered a Haiku writing "contest." These haikus (or Psy-kus) have to be about the new USA show called "Psych." It's an extremely hilarious cop comedy-drama about a guy who's actually a good detective, but tells the local police department that he's a psychic. He has nothing better to do. But so, all the haikus have to be "Psych" related. I wrote ten. They can be found here. My handle is Psyched4Psych, haha. Enjoy.
Catch ya later,
Christina
P.S. - I've been meaning to share this song with you. It's called "Business Time" and it's by these New Zealanders called The Flight of the Conchords. You should listen to it. Good stuff, hahaha.
"Makin' love.... makin' love for twwooo... makin' love for twooo minutes!" :D
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Long, but perhaps useful...:)
I haven't blogged in a long time, so I thought up a topic and was going to write about it here. It was kinda depressing, but what did I care; I'm depressed about 20-50% of the time anyway. But the topic wasn't really going to be about depression, but more about how I cure my depression. And now after thinking about and actually taking in my cure, I'm no longer depressed, so I don't even want to talk about being depressed. Heh. Go figure. My cure worked once again.
But now you might be wondering what my cure is, so I guess I'll indulge. What I use to cure depression is an everyday item. I'm sure all of you have some of it in your your house right now. I'm sure that all of you have purchased some at some point in your life. *Shifty eyes* And I bet you've stolen some too. Go on, admit it. You have. I have. So what? Wanna make something of it? Come on! Let's take this outside! Sometimes I even buy it, use what I need, and return it. Heh. I got $4.80 of store credit the last time I did that. And then I bought more of my cure (but that cure ended up being rotten and cut to pieces, and really wasn't that enjoyable, but I still think I'm going to keep it...). So what is my cure, you ask? Come on, this is me we're talking about....
Turns out my depression cure-all is music. Turns out I've been using it for this purpose for years, but didn't realize it until Sunday. I suppose I always did know about it, but not in the way that I realized I do. You see, the whole story begins about 5 years ago. I was about to be a sophomore in a new high school because the school board is retarded and decided to bus kids all over town so they could go to their "home" schools, so I was about to leave a bunch of new friends, teachers and clubs behind to start anew. Mind you, this new school was in the ghetto, and despite the reassuring fact that my friend told me I could "pass for Mexican," I did not want to subject myself to the perils of life in the ghetto.
And to top it all off, I was 15. And I'm sure most, if not all, of you reading this remember what it was like to be 15. Puberty and hormones are the devil. Anyway, I was chronically depressed. Every single day of my miserable little life was like awakening to a dark cloud filled with acid rain. Undiluted. I didn't know what the hell I was going to do with my life. I didn't really even want it anymore. And I was seriously contemplating giving it back. One fateful day I bought a CD with a song that changed my life. Listening to "Drive" by Incubus (on Make Yourself) over and over again made me realize that maybe if I WAS the one behind the wheel of my life then maybe I could make it find direction. Maybe I could take control of my life instead of waiting for it to take control of me. I had never really looked for messages in music before. Or at least I had never found any like this.
And you know what? 2 months later I had my first boyfriend. I was down a pants size. And I was actually happy. Ever since that day music has been my saving grace. I never realized what a good friend it could actually be. If that summer had turned out differently, I would never have known Josh Rouse, who made me realize all this in the first place (and who i've decided is going to have at least one of my babies, haha). I would never have known Bain Mattox or my musician friend, both of whom also mean A LOT to me. I would never have met some of my best friends in the world, and the one I already knew, I wouldn't have known as well. I'm not claiming to be free of depression. God knows I have my days. But without having music that affects me, that speaks to me (like Josh's or Bain's), I dont' know what I would do. To quote something I wrote on Sunday on the topic: "We all have problems, every day of our lives. But without a special friend, who sometimes empowers or inspires or depresses or makes you have these sorts of epiphanies, life would be a lot worse."
That's why I'll always hold a special place in my heart for Brandon Boyd of Incubus (for saving my life Summer '01), Bain Mattox (for saving my sanity in November '05), and Red Perspective (for saving my life and sanity after the death of my dorm neighbor March '05). And of course Josh Rouse (for making me realize how much I appreciate my life).
Music is my cure-all. A good melody and some good lyrics are all I need....
(sorry, it's a lot longer and slightly more depressing than I had anticipated. And perhaps a little hard to follow. But if you're reading this blog, you should know and love Christina logic by now, haha :P ).
But now you might be wondering what my cure is, so I guess I'll indulge. What I use to cure depression is an everyday item. I'm sure all of you have some of it in your your house right now. I'm sure that all of you have purchased some at some point in your life. *Shifty eyes* And I bet you've stolen some too. Go on, admit it. You have. I have. So what? Wanna make something of it? Come on! Let's take this outside! Sometimes I even buy it, use what I need, and return it. Heh. I got $4.80 of store credit the last time I did that. And then I bought more of my cure (but that cure ended up being rotten and cut to pieces, and really wasn't that enjoyable, but I still think I'm going to keep it...). So what is my cure, you ask? Come on, this is me we're talking about....
Turns out my depression cure-all is music. Turns out I've been using it for this purpose for years, but didn't realize it until Sunday. I suppose I always did know about it, but not in the way that I realized I do. You see, the whole story begins about 5 years ago. I was about to be a sophomore in a new high school because the school board is retarded and decided to bus kids all over town so they could go to their "home" schools, so I was about to leave a bunch of new friends, teachers and clubs behind to start anew. Mind you, this new school was in the ghetto, and despite the reassuring fact that my friend told me I could "pass for Mexican," I did not want to subject myself to the perils of life in the ghetto.
And to top it all off, I was 15. And I'm sure most, if not all, of you reading this remember what it was like to be 15. Puberty and hormones are the devil. Anyway, I was chronically depressed. Every single day of my miserable little life was like awakening to a dark cloud filled with acid rain. Undiluted. I didn't know what the hell I was going to do with my life. I didn't really even want it anymore. And I was seriously contemplating giving it back. One fateful day I bought a CD with a song that changed my life. Listening to "Drive" by Incubus (on Make Yourself) over and over again made me realize that maybe if I WAS the one behind the wheel of my life then maybe I could make it find direction. Maybe I could take control of my life instead of waiting for it to take control of me. I had never really looked for messages in music before. Or at least I had never found any like this.
And you know what? 2 months later I had my first boyfriend. I was down a pants size. And I was actually happy. Ever since that day music has been my saving grace. I never realized what a good friend it could actually be. If that summer had turned out differently, I would never have known Josh Rouse, who made me realize all this in the first place (and who i've decided is going to have at least one of my babies, haha). I would never have known Bain Mattox or my musician friend, both of whom also mean A LOT to me. I would never have met some of my best friends in the world, and the one I already knew, I wouldn't have known as well. I'm not claiming to be free of depression. God knows I have my days. But without having music that affects me, that speaks to me (like Josh's or Bain's), I dont' know what I would do. To quote something I wrote on Sunday on the topic: "We all have problems, every day of our lives. But without a special friend, who sometimes empowers or inspires or depresses or makes you have these sorts of epiphanies, life would be a lot worse."
That's why I'll always hold a special place in my heart for Brandon Boyd of Incubus (for saving my life Summer '01), Bain Mattox (for saving my sanity in November '05), and Red Perspective (for saving my life and sanity after the death of my dorm neighbor March '05). And of course Josh Rouse (for making me realize how much I appreciate my life).
Music is my cure-all. A good melody and some good lyrics are all I need....
(sorry, it's a lot longer and slightly more depressing than I had anticipated. And perhaps a little hard to follow. But if you're reading this blog, you should know and love Christina logic by now, haha :P ).
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Photoshop is fun
Found photoshop on my computer. Decided to swap heads. These are the results.
Baby Spears. Oh I crack myself up..... 
I'll keep practicing, hahah....
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
I just felt like bloggin'.....
That title is funniest when said in a Forrest Gump voice, hehe.
But seriously, I did. It's approximately 1:14am and I'm not tired at all. Maybe because I woke up at like 11:30. I try not to wake up that late, but I can't help it. But I feel like my entire day is gone if I wake up after noon. It really sucks. Haven't been up to much. On Friday, Alison, Mary Ann and I went to see my musician friend play at this wine shop in the university area. He was pretty good. I told him to play Josh Rouse and he played my favorite song. That made me extremely happy. I told him to play more Josh Rouse when I talked to him between sets, but he forgot. It was okay though because he played my other requests: Damien Rice, The Fray, and an original song called "Grace" that I am absolutely in love with. It's sad and heartfelt. It's wonderful to see/hear performed. Unfortunately it was hard to enjoy it because I could tell my friends were getting antsy and wanted to leave; we had been there for over 4 hours already, hahaha. Plus the rest of the crowd was getting loud and drunk and annoying (stupid whores, hahah). Also, for reasons unknown, we plunked down at a table kinda far away from him. So that kinda sucked. I promised him next time we'd sit closer; he wants our applause to spread to the rest of the crowd so that they pay attention to him, hahaha. Or at least more attention. Oh well. Next time I'll sit closer.
Saturday was Alison's surprise birthday party. Her birthday isn't until today (Tuesday), but it was the weekend, so we had it. It was kinda cool. I'd never been to a surprise party before. Her parents planned it; but my job was to get a group of friends there. Mary Ann helped, haha. It was really cute. Alison was really surprised; she had no idea. The beginning of the party was kind of emotional, haha. It was sweet and fun. Afterwards a few of us ventured on to the movies where we saw You, Me & Dupree. It was kind of a feel good movie, haha. It was cute actually. Is it just me, or does Owen Wilson play fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants characters every time? Oh well, he's good at it, heh. It really was a cute movie. Kate Hudson is my girl crush. I love her. Hahaha. I want to be her when I grow up :P
Also, I finally found a creative outlet. I could feel this need for creativity building up for a couple weeks now. I try to write more to my story when I feel that, but it didn't work this time.
I bought a sketchbook and some very nice color (or "colour" according to the box) pencils and started to draw. So far it's just a couple pics of Chris Martin of Coldplay. The first one I did was pretty good, if I may say so myself. But the second one is not so good. The black charcoal pencil smeared a little more than I anticipated so now his face is gray-peach, haha. It's not that great; I didn't even really finish it because I couldn't get rid of the gray. His mustache is not done, his nose looks funny, and he looks bald, haha. Oh well. The first one is pretty life like though, I guess. I'll continue to attempt to master my nonskills. Doesn't really matter though; it's only for entertainment.... and cheap gifts, haha....
But seriously, I did. It's approximately 1:14am and I'm not tired at all. Maybe because I woke up at like 11:30. I try not to wake up that late, but I can't help it. But I feel like my entire day is gone if I wake up after noon. It really sucks. Haven't been up to much. On Friday, Alison, Mary Ann and I went to see my musician friend play at this wine shop in the university area. He was pretty good. I told him to play Josh Rouse and he played my favorite song. That made me extremely happy. I told him to play more Josh Rouse when I talked to him between sets, but he forgot. It was okay though because he played my other requests: Damien Rice, The Fray, and an original song called "Grace" that I am absolutely in love with. It's sad and heartfelt. It's wonderful to see/hear performed. Unfortunately it was hard to enjoy it because I could tell my friends were getting antsy and wanted to leave; we had been there for over 4 hours already, hahaha. Plus the rest of the crowd was getting loud and drunk and annoying (stupid whores, hahah). Also, for reasons unknown, we plunked down at a table kinda far away from him. So that kinda sucked. I promised him next time we'd sit closer; he wants our applause to spread to the rest of the crowd so that they pay attention to him, hahaha. Or at least more attention. Oh well. Next time I'll sit closer.
Saturday was Alison's surprise birthday party. Her birthday isn't until today (Tuesday), but it was the weekend, so we had it. It was kinda cool. I'd never been to a surprise party before. Her parents planned it; but my job was to get a group of friends there. Mary Ann helped, haha. It was really cute. Alison was really surprised; she had no idea. The beginning of the party was kind of emotional, haha. It was sweet and fun. Afterwards a few of us ventured on to the movies where we saw You, Me & Dupree. It was kind of a feel good movie, haha. It was cute actually. Is it just me, or does Owen Wilson play fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants characters every time? Oh well, he's good at it, heh. It really was a cute movie. Kate Hudson is my girl crush. I love her. Hahaha. I want to be her when I grow up :P
Also, I finally found a creative outlet. I could feel this need for creativity building up for a couple weeks now. I try to write more to my story when I feel that, but it didn't work this time.
I bought a sketchbook and some very nice color (or "colour" according to the box) pencils and started to draw. So far it's just a couple pics of Chris Martin of Coldplay. The first one I did was pretty good, if I may say so myself. But the second one is not so good. The black charcoal pencil smeared a little more than I anticipated so now his face is gray-peach, haha. It's not that great; I didn't even really finish it because I couldn't get rid of the gray. His mustache is not done, his nose looks funny, and he looks bald, haha. Oh well. The first one is pretty life like though, I guess. I'll continue to attempt to master my nonskills. Doesn't really matter though; it's only for entertainment.... and cheap gifts, haha....
Monday, July 10, 2006
Six-pack o' Nothin'
Not a whole lot to report over here. Still not being honest (see previous entry) about certain things, haha. Maybe at some point this summer. We'll see. *Sigh* Heh.
I've been having these weird dreams lately. They're not really weird in that the plot of the dream is weird; just that each one involves a different guy, and heavy flirting. One of them was about Josh Meyers, the dude from MadTV. Just a lot of flirting... I don't remember much else. Another one was about this kid Greg who lived on my floor freshman year, dubbed "The Most Gorgeous Boy in the World" by yours truly. Just a lot of hugging, cuddling and flirting. Mary Ann woke me up from that dream. Dammit. Then there was one about my German teacher from high school, Mr. Land. Oh, Mr. Land.... *drools*. More flirting, talking. He was hot. It was nice, haha. And then I think there was one about he-who-shall-not-be-named, hahah :). More of the same. Then last night I had this weird dream about this other kid Marko who used to go to school with me. This one had a heavier mood than the others; he was meaner to me, and there was really no flirting... though he let me stay at his place while he was gone (haha?). I think I'm over-sexed. Or under-sexed. One of them. Hahaha... but ooh... those were some gorgeous men in my dreams, hahaha.
In Music News: I'm still obsessed with Josh Rouse. He's virtually all I've listened to for 3 weeks. The compilation CD my friend made me has been spinning almost constantly in my car. The only time it's not in there is when another Josh Rouse cd (1972) is playing. Or when my friend is in fact playing, haha. But seriously, I wish I had known about this guy sooner. I don't use this phrase often, but I think his music is potentially life changing. Seriously. I can't even count how many times I've listened to "Comeback" these past few weeks. And now I've discovered a new song. It's called "Its the Nighttime." I haven't even formulated words for it yet. But let me put it this way. I wish that someone would sing it to me. Perhaps even he-who-shall-not-be-named, hehehe. :D
I've been having these weird dreams lately. They're not really weird in that the plot of the dream is weird; just that each one involves a different guy, and heavy flirting. One of them was about Josh Meyers, the dude from MadTV. Just a lot of flirting... I don't remember much else. Another one was about this kid Greg who lived on my floor freshman year, dubbed "The Most Gorgeous Boy in the World" by yours truly. Just a lot of hugging, cuddling and flirting. Mary Ann woke me up from that dream. Dammit. Then there was one about my German teacher from high school, Mr. Land. Oh, Mr. Land.... *drools*. More flirting, talking. He was hot. It was nice, haha. And then I think there was one about he-who-shall-not-be-named, hahah :). More of the same. Then last night I had this weird dream about this other kid Marko who used to go to school with me. This one had a heavier mood than the others; he was meaner to me, and there was really no flirting... though he let me stay at his place while he was gone (haha?). I think I'm over-sexed. Or under-sexed. One of them. Hahaha... but ooh... those were some gorgeous men in my dreams, hahaha.
In Music News: I'm still obsessed with Josh Rouse. He's virtually all I've listened to for 3 weeks. The compilation CD my friend made me has been spinning almost constantly in my car. The only time it's not in there is when another Josh Rouse cd (1972) is playing. Or when my friend is in fact playing, haha. But seriously, I wish I had known about this guy sooner. I don't use this phrase often, but I think his music is potentially life changing. Seriously. I can't even count how many times I've listened to "Comeback" these past few weeks. And now I've discovered a new song. It's called "Its the Nighttime." I haven't even formulated words for it yet. But let me put it this way. I wish that someone would sing it to me. Perhaps even he-who-shall-not-be-named, hehehe. :D
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Poignant Quotes...
I love to read. And more than anything else, I love to take pieces of philosophy from the books I read and write them down so that I never forget them. I recently found an old notebook I use to write down such quotes and other moving passages (usually song lyrics). I haven't opened it in months, so I started reading some of the quotes I've taken from books that I thought were so insightful. Here are a few:
"And maybe you don't go to hell for the things you do. Maybe you go to hell for the things you don't do." -- Lullaby, Chuck Palahniuk, p. 175.
"Game shows are designed to make us feel better about the random, useless facts that are all we have left of our education." -- Invisible Monsters, Chuck Palahniuk, p. 103
"When we don't know who to hate, we hate ourselves." Invisible Monsters, p. 104
"What you don't understand you can make mean anything." Diary, Chuck Palahniuk, p. 134
"According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind us of what we already know." Diary, p. 188.
"Why is it that you feel like a dope if you laugh alone, but that's usually how you end up crying?" Invisible Monsters, p. 121
Okay, so most of them are from the same author, haha. But I don't think that makes them any less true or even jarring. That last one is especially telling. Why is it that we often just cry by ourselves? Perhaps it's just ingrained in our minds to be strong and not let others see our weaknesses. I never understood that ideal. I think that if everyone was as open with each other as we are with ourselves we'd have a lot more happiness in this world (not to sound all hippie-y or anything). If we could tell each other the truth, the truth of what we are feeling... there'd be less pain. I mean, obviously, yes there would be. But if little Billy could just tell his mommy that he broke the window, he wouldn't have to see her afraid of burglars. Or if Cindy could tell anyone about what Old Man Jenkins does to her behind the barn, she wouldn't hate herself quite as much..... If I only could tell him that I think he's talented, intelligent, kind, attractive, and all-around wonderful, maybe then he could let go and allow himself to open up a little more. And then maybe I wouldn't feel so nervous around him.
*sigh* if only we could be honest, eh? Heh.... ;)
God, I hope he never reads this.... hahahaha.... or figures out I'm talking about him.... *embarrassed* hahaha:)
"And maybe you don't go to hell for the things you do. Maybe you go to hell for the things you don't do." -- Lullaby, Chuck Palahniuk, p. 175.
"Game shows are designed to make us feel better about the random, useless facts that are all we have left of our education." -- Invisible Monsters, Chuck Palahniuk, p. 103
"When we don't know who to hate, we hate ourselves." Invisible Monsters, p. 104
"What you don't understand you can make mean anything." Diary, Chuck Palahniuk, p. 134
"According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind us of what we already know." Diary, p. 188.
"Why is it that you feel like a dope if you laugh alone, but that's usually how you end up crying?" Invisible Monsters, p. 121
Okay, so most of them are from the same author, haha. But I don't think that makes them any less true or even jarring. That last one is especially telling. Why is it that we often just cry by ourselves? Perhaps it's just ingrained in our minds to be strong and not let others see our weaknesses. I never understood that ideal. I think that if everyone was as open with each other as we are with ourselves we'd have a lot more happiness in this world (not to sound all hippie-y or anything). If we could tell each other the truth, the truth of what we are feeling... there'd be less pain. I mean, obviously, yes there would be. But if little Billy could just tell his mommy that he broke the window, he wouldn't have to see her afraid of burglars. Or if Cindy could tell anyone about what Old Man Jenkins does to her behind the barn, she wouldn't hate herself quite as much..... If I only could tell him that I think he's talented, intelligent, kind, attractive, and all-around wonderful, maybe then he could let go and allow himself to open up a little more. And then maybe I wouldn't feel so nervous around him.
*sigh* if only we could be honest, eh? Heh.... ;)
God, I hope he never reads this.... hahahaha.... or figures out I'm talking about him.... *embarrassed* hahaha:)
Monday, June 26, 2006
I Don't Get It...
What is going on with the world? Like two weeks ago a kid I went to elementary school and middle school (i'm not sure where or if he went to high school) died of a brain aneurysm. He was like my age. Then like a week later I found out a friend from school's father died. Then last week one of our soccer players died. She sat next to me in Great Books I spring semester of freshman year. It's almost getting to the point that it's freaking me out.
And to top it all off I had a dream that my friend's car (and house? heh...) was stolen. A few months ago his car was stolen... and that was after my dream that his car BLEW UP. What the hell is going to happen now? I swear to God, if his car blows up..... :( x 1000 Just my mass confusion with the world, I guess.
In lighter news, I'm still in love with the Josh Rouse compilation my friend (the car friend, actually) made me. He also let me borrow his Death Cab dvd "Directions." It's a collection of 13 videos directed by different directors (hence the title) for all the songs on their latest album Plans, plus 2 bonus songs. It was pretty interesting actually. A few of the videos were really weird and I didn't understand at all (and I pretend to be pretty arty). Others were genius, like the ones for "Different Names for the Same Thing" and "Someday You Will Be Loved." And the video for "Crooked Teeth" was histerical.They were amusing, disturbing, depressing and moving (especially "What Sarah Said"... i felt on the verge of tears). It was interesting and worth the watch, but if you can find someone who owns a copy I suggest you borrow it, but I wouldn't necessarily suggest you buy it.
(Please, Friend's Car... don't mess with me....)
And to top it all off I had a dream that my friend's car (and house? heh...) was stolen. A few months ago his car was stolen... and that was after my dream that his car BLEW UP. What the hell is going to happen now? I swear to God, if his car blows up..... :( x 1000 Just my mass confusion with the world, I guess.
In lighter news, I'm still in love with the Josh Rouse compilation my friend (the car friend, actually) made me. He also let me borrow his Death Cab dvd "Directions." It's a collection of 13 videos directed by different directors (hence the title) for all the songs on their latest album Plans, plus 2 bonus songs. It was pretty interesting actually. A few of the videos were really weird and I didn't understand at all (and I pretend to be pretty arty). Others were genius, like the ones for "Different Names for the Same Thing" and "Someday You Will Be Loved." And the video for "Crooked Teeth" was histerical.They were amusing, disturbing, depressing and moving (especially "What Sarah Said"... i felt on the verge of tears). It was interesting and worth the watch, but if you can find someone who owns a copy I suggest you borrow it, but I wouldn't necessarily suggest you buy it.
(Please, Friend's Car... don't mess with me....)
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Jeez, Christina. Take Forever!
Well well well... it's been for-freaking-ever, eh? In the past few weeks, I really haven't done much. I wish I had more to say about my life, but it's kind of hard to put enough words together to make anything remotely coherent and interesting when you don't have a life to begin with. I'm currently self-employed. Unfortunately, I don't ever get paid... my boss is a bit of a bitch... but there is a bit of a cash flow problem within the company, so I guess I can't really complain. I mean, I did agree to work for free for a little while. I should really look for another job though...
I have taken up yoga these past couple weeks. I've only been to a handful of classes, but so far I like it. Hopefully I'll be able to maintain going there, even with my cash flow problem. I'm taking what the studio calls "Hot Flow" which is basically yoga in a 90+ degree (F) room for 60 to 90 mins. Sometimes it can get up to like 110 degrees. It's a killer. But when that first bead of sweat rolls off your face onto your mat, you know it's worth it. It's cleansing, releasing. The instructors always talk about how certain poses and postures are emotional, and how yoga is a very emotional ordeal for some people. I thought that was kind of weird, until last friday when we were quietly meditating at the end of class and I inexplicably wanted to cry. I didn't actually start, but I could feel it building up in my sinuses. It was bizarre... and yet refreshing. I wish I had taken up yoga a long time ago. Sometimes in class I feel like I'm going to vomit and/or pass out. But when I'm done, and I've showered off all my toxins (hehe) I feel great. A bit tired with a bit of a headache... but just great. And it's good for me too... go figure:P
In Music News: So I got my friend to burn me a CD of this guy Josh Rouse he's been telling me to check out. I gots to conserve money, so I made the very difficult decision to not buy CDs right now (even used) if i've never heard the artist before. So I told my friend to burn me copies of the Josh's CDs. He then offered to burn me his Josh Rouse Compilation. So I gladly accepted (b/c hey, it's better than nothing... and it was free... except for the gas I had to use to go get it... both the time i actually picked it up and the time he had forgotten to make it so I stayed to talk for a few mins anyway, haha). ANYWAY, Josh Rouse. Hoh, my God. WHERE THE HELL HAVE I BEEN?!?!?!? This CD is so wonderful. It has songs from a few of Rouse's albums, I guess my friend's favs or something, and it's all I've been listening to since I picked it up yesterday afternoon. At first only a few of the songs were catching me... but then I took a closer listen and I'm addicted to most of them on here now. All of the songs on the burned CD are from albums released within the past decade, but there's an older feeling to Rouse's music. It refreshing when all you hear lately is "Junk" Punk and "Crap" Rap (nicknames mine) like AFI or any of the hacks who think they're rappers. I'm so tired of this craze. Much of Rouse sounds like it's out of the seventies. A couple songs are reminiscent of the disco era (as reminiscent as anything can be to someone who never actually LIVED the disco era). Overall, it's great. I'm in love with the song "Comeback (light therapy)." I've listened to it at least 20 times today. You should check it out.
That's really about it... hopefully the next time I blog won't take 3 weeks, but no guarantees. Until then....
I have taken up yoga these past couple weeks. I've only been to a handful of classes, but so far I like it. Hopefully I'll be able to maintain going there, even with my cash flow problem. I'm taking what the studio calls "Hot Flow" which is basically yoga in a 90+ degree (F) room for 60 to 90 mins. Sometimes it can get up to like 110 degrees. It's a killer. But when that first bead of sweat rolls off your face onto your mat, you know it's worth it. It's cleansing, releasing. The instructors always talk about how certain poses and postures are emotional, and how yoga is a very emotional ordeal for some people. I thought that was kind of weird, until last friday when we were quietly meditating at the end of class and I inexplicably wanted to cry. I didn't actually start, but I could feel it building up in my sinuses. It was bizarre... and yet refreshing. I wish I had taken up yoga a long time ago. Sometimes in class I feel like I'm going to vomit and/or pass out. But when I'm done, and I've showered off all my toxins (hehe) I feel great. A bit tired with a bit of a headache... but just great. And it's good for me too... go figure:P
In Music News: So I got my friend to burn me a CD of this guy Josh Rouse he's been telling me to check out. I gots to conserve money, so I made the very difficult decision to not buy CDs right now (even used) if i've never heard the artist before. So I told my friend to burn me copies of the Josh's CDs. He then offered to burn me his Josh Rouse Compilation. So I gladly accepted (b/c hey, it's better than nothing... and it was free... except for the gas I had to use to go get it... both the time i actually picked it up and the time he had forgotten to make it so I stayed to talk for a few mins anyway, haha). ANYWAY, Josh Rouse. Hoh, my God. WHERE THE HELL HAVE I BEEN?!?!?!? This CD is so wonderful. It has songs from a few of Rouse's albums, I guess my friend's favs or something, and it's all I've been listening to since I picked it up yesterday afternoon. At first only a few of the songs were catching me... but then I took a closer listen and I'm addicted to most of them on here now. All of the songs on the burned CD are from albums released within the past decade, but there's an older feeling to Rouse's music. It refreshing when all you hear lately is "Junk" Punk and "Crap" Rap (nicknames mine) like AFI or any of the hacks who think they're rappers. I'm so tired of this craze. Much of Rouse sounds like it's out of the seventies. A couple songs are reminiscent of the disco era (as reminiscent as anything can be to someone who never actually LIVED the disco era). Overall, it's great. I'm in love with the song "Comeback (light therapy)." I've listened to it at least 20 times today. You should check it out.
That's really about it... hopefully the next time I blog won't take 3 weeks, but no guarantees. Until then....
Friday, June 02, 2006
Song Headaches suck :(
I'm really tired, but I can't sleep. I want to go to sleep. But I can't. I can't explain it either. All I have to do is turn off the light, and lie down quietly, and try to relax. But I know I won't be able to relax. And I'm not even sure what my problem is. It's not like I'm doing anything important. My mind is plagued, I guess.
I can't even tell you by what. I know... but I'm not going to tell you, haha. So I'm going to be cryptic: There's this song that I can't get out of my head. I sing it every day while watching tv, going out around town, whoring around on myspace. Even in weird situations where thinking about the song is not appropriate. I wish that I could get rid of this song-headache, but nothing seems to cure me. Maybe if I find another song, but I don't care about other songs. This song is my favorite. Even when I'm driving, i'm looking around at different cars wondering if they know my song too. If they've heard it before. If they are as obsessed with it as i am. I wish that I wasn't. It pisses me off, quite frankly. I tell myself not to think about the song, but I can't seem to forget it. It just keeps looping and looping in my head. I hear it on my iPod, and on my computer, and I wonder when the next time I'll get to hear it performed in person will be.
And yet, I wish that I could just stop thinking about this freaking song for one minute. For one day, I want to not have to go through the lyrics and the information I'm gleaning about its meaning. I want to be devoid of this song. I constantly tell myself that I'm a fool for thinking about it so much, and there's no reason for me to be, but I never seem to listen. I just laugh it off, and go back to thinking about it, to singing it, to wondering about it. Sometimes I think that I've over-analyzed it, over-analyzed my experiences with it. I'm a fool and I'm making up stories. I have to get a grip and find a new song. A song for my generation, as it were. But I haven't cared for these kinds of songs in so long. I live in the past (and sometimes in a past that I barely remember, if i've lived it at all). This particular song has been around for longer than I have, but I fell in some form of love with it from the first time I heard it about 4 or so years ago.
Slowly, over time and over multiple listens, I think I've fallen in love with it. Or at least with the version I understand. I KNOW there is more to it than I'm gathering, but it's hard to truly and fully understand without an explanation, without a guided tour, if you will. But you know what, dammit? I WANT a guided tour. I do. I want one. I want to be able to understand this song as fully as it's humanly possible to understand. It intrigues me so. And yet I know that I need to let it go.
But I don't want to. In case I DO finally get that guided tour....
And this is why I am left awake at 3am. What the hell is wrong with me??
[I know that was kind of confusing, but I suppose it makes sense to those whom it's supposed to make sense...]
I can't even tell you by what. I know... but I'm not going to tell you, haha. So I'm going to be cryptic: There's this song that I can't get out of my head. I sing it every day while watching tv, going out around town, whoring around on myspace. Even in weird situations where thinking about the song is not appropriate. I wish that I could get rid of this song-headache, but nothing seems to cure me. Maybe if I find another song, but I don't care about other songs. This song is my favorite. Even when I'm driving, i'm looking around at different cars wondering if they know my song too. If they've heard it before. If they are as obsessed with it as i am. I wish that I wasn't. It pisses me off, quite frankly. I tell myself not to think about the song, but I can't seem to forget it. It just keeps looping and looping in my head. I hear it on my iPod, and on my computer, and I wonder when the next time I'll get to hear it performed in person will be.
And yet, I wish that I could just stop thinking about this freaking song for one minute. For one day, I want to not have to go through the lyrics and the information I'm gleaning about its meaning. I want to be devoid of this song. I constantly tell myself that I'm a fool for thinking about it so much, and there's no reason for me to be, but I never seem to listen. I just laugh it off, and go back to thinking about it, to singing it, to wondering about it. Sometimes I think that I've over-analyzed it, over-analyzed my experiences with it. I'm a fool and I'm making up stories. I have to get a grip and find a new song. A song for my generation, as it were. But I haven't cared for these kinds of songs in so long. I live in the past (and sometimes in a past that I barely remember, if i've lived it at all). This particular song has been around for longer than I have, but I fell in some form of love with it from the first time I heard it about 4 or so years ago.
Slowly, over time and over multiple listens, I think I've fallen in love with it. Or at least with the version I understand. I KNOW there is more to it than I'm gathering, but it's hard to truly and fully understand without an explanation, without a guided tour, if you will. But you know what, dammit? I WANT a guided tour. I do. I want one. I want to be able to understand this song as fully as it's humanly possible to understand. It intrigues me so. And yet I know that I need to let it go.
But I don't want to. In case I DO finally get that guided tour....
And this is why I am left awake at 3am. What the hell is wrong with me??
[I know that was kind of confusing, but I suppose it makes sense to those whom it's supposed to make sense...]
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