God bless the Internet. I've made my way through half of the newest season of Law & Order: SVU via a site that has every episode ever aired on television available for free online viewing. You can imagine how I spent my first three days of Christmas break.
During the first week of Christmas break, I've had the opportunity to do the following:
- reunite with my best friend after five months of non-negotiable isolation
- catch a stomach flu bug from my family's Christmas Eve party, which spared no victims
- watch The Prince of Egypt twice
- retrieve every one of my Enya cds, which pleased me more than anything should
- take enough Photobooth pictures to remind me of how much I love my sister, cousin, and best friend
- stock up on Axe products that were given to me as Christmas gifts
Despite being sick on Christmas, I enjoyed being back home more than I anticipated. It was the first time I'd been back to my home town since August, which seems like an eternity. In reality, though, the moment I got back, it was like I never even left. My best friend and I have this unique relationship which allows us to go for long periods of time without communication and still pick up where we left off. I meant to visit a bunch of other people I hadn't seen since August as well, but that never happened, unless it was one of my high school classmates working at Wal-Mart on the day after Christmas when I went through the checkout line. I wanted to see a few of my high school teachers as well as everyone at my church, but again... that never happened. I feel kind of bad for that, because I feel like I have an obligation to visit and catch up with everyone back home whenever I get the chance, which is infrequent.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed Hooker and all it has to offer me: family, friends, and tumbleweeds. Now, I'm in Kansas City staying with my cousin Keith until school starts up again. The snow here makes me want to go to Colorado and ski.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Indecisiveness
My goal over Christmas break is to decide whether or not to get a tattoo when I get back to school. If I do get one, I want it to be meaningful. Also, the question is WHAT to get and WHERE to get it. I've seen people get tattoos for a number of different reasons. My mom got my former step-dad's name tattooed on her upper arm, which was obviously a mistake, seeing how they're not together anymore. That reminds of me of something Angelina Jolie would do. I don't want to be Angelina Jolie.
Tattoos are permanent, and that, to me, is daunting. I'm not the type of person who is typically comfortable with huge permanent changes made to my body, but I feel like if I actually took that bold step and got a tattoo, it would be a giant leap of progress for my personality. I'm not sure how to explain that, but the "hit" part of this "hit-or-miss" decision thrills me. Maybe being forced to live with something that I liked deep down but regretted on certain days would be good for me.
I've always toyed with the thought of getting a colorful tattoo across one side of my chest and up my neck. That's me, though. Go big or go home. Naturally, my first thoughts about getting a tattoo were to get a BIG one and one that would stand out. Nothing small, because in my mind, a small one would be a waste of time and money.
I'm slowly working up the courage to consider this decision as a Yes. I'm waiting to see if I really want this or if it's just another passing obsession that I'll forget about in two weeks and wonder why I ever wanted to do such a thing. Recently, I've been taking huge steps towards understanding my personality better and exploring all the facets of it, and I want something that reflects those revelations, or better yet, exemplifies and symbolizes them.
I wish there were some way to have a trial period with tattoos, but I think that would take away most of the thrill of getting one.
Tattoos are permanent, and that, to me, is daunting. I'm not the type of person who is typically comfortable with huge permanent changes made to my body, but I feel like if I actually took that bold step and got a tattoo, it would be a giant leap of progress for my personality. I'm not sure how to explain that, but the "hit" part of this "hit-or-miss" decision thrills me. Maybe being forced to live with something that I liked deep down but regretted on certain days would be good for me.
I've always toyed with the thought of getting a colorful tattoo across one side of my chest and up my neck. That's me, though. Go big or go home. Naturally, my first thoughts about getting a tattoo were to get a BIG one and one that would stand out. Nothing small, because in my mind, a small one would be a waste of time and money.
I'm slowly working up the courage to consider this decision as a Yes. I'm waiting to see if I really want this or if it's just another passing obsession that I'll forget about in two weeks and wonder why I ever wanted to do such a thing. Recently, I've been taking huge steps towards understanding my personality better and exploring all the facets of it, and I want something that reflects those revelations, or better yet, exemplifies and symbolizes them.
I wish there were some way to have a trial period with tattoos, but I think that would take away most of the thrill of getting one.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Addressing The Issue
Last night I watched "What Dreams May Come," with Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding, Jr. I like that movie because it explores death and the afterlife and all the unknown aspects of it in an impressionistic way. I think that's what death is like--impressionistic. I like thinking about the journey of a soul from one world to another, transcending reality. Reality to me has always seemed like a subjective matter. A good majority of the time, I feel like I'm living in a dream. Movies like "What Dreams May Come," "The Science of Sleep," and "The Fountain" address my feelings toward mixed reality, surrealism, and death.
I'm not afraid of death. I think of it as just another extension of my existence. I think that when I die, everything will seem no less real than it already does.
I feel like the bonds between human beings never really die, especially the ones forged out of love. I say that based on what I felt when my dad died, and what I still feel today, a year later. I can still feel him and every ounce of selfless love he had for me and my siblings. My sister called me today. She told me that she's been having an especially difficult time handling my dad's death, even after how much time has passed since. When my sister gets emotional, she starts slurring her words, and it's hard for me to make out what she's saying through her crying, but all I found myself telling her was that she needed to keep talking about it. Which is true. She hasn't been addressing the issue, and therefore it keeps popping up like a recurring nightmare. The more she talks to me about it, the better she feels. She has a heart of gold, just like our dad, and I love her so much.
This blog is considerably more serious than previous entries. That's okay, in my opinion. I'm generally a serious person who fights against too much seriousness in his life, but sometimes it's good to express the seriousness when it needs expressing.
I'm not afraid of death. I think of it as just another extension of my existence. I think that when I die, everything will seem no less real than it already does.
I feel like the bonds between human beings never really die, especially the ones forged out of love. I say that based on what I felt when my dad died, and what I still feel today, a year later. I can still feel him and every ounce of selfless love he had for me and my siblings. My sister called me today. She told me that she's been having an especially difficult time handling my dad's death, even after how much time has passed since. When my sister gets emotional, she starts slurring her words, and it's hard for me to make out what she's saying through her crying, but all I found myself telling her was that she needed to keep talking about it. Which is true. She hasn't been addressing the issue, and therefore it keeps popping up like a recurring nightmare. The more she talks to me about it, the better she feels. She has a heart of gold, just like our dad, and I love her so much.
This blog is considerably more serious than previous entries. That's okay, in my opinion. I'm generally a serious person who fights against too much seriousness in his life, but sometimes it's good to express the seriousness when it needs expressing.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Tacky Christmas Sweater Is Unnecessary But Oh So Desirable
Tonight we had a "dress" rehearsal for our Christmas vespers concert, which meant showing up in any type of clothes you wanted, just as long as you wore soft-soled shoes. The choirs sounded beautiful, in my opinion. No matter how much I may criticize or nit-pick either my choir or any of the others at the university, when it comes down to it, we all sound amazing. Especially in the chapel. My favorite part of the vespers service is when the chamber choir sings Lux Aurumque.
Cast lists for the spring stripped musicals have been formulated, but they won't be posted until tomorrow, since someone suggested all casting decisions should be approved by the voice faculty. That only lengthens the dreadful waiting period for the people who got callbacks. I swear, if one more person asks me to leak casting information, I'm going to shoot them with a rifle, which, by the way, I can legally purchase in the state of Oklahoma. But all murdering gestures aside, I'm really excited to play for another stripped show. Only this time, I'm the actual music director instead of the assistant music director, which means I'll get to do more than just accompany. I feel like I'm taking baby steps toward exploring music as opposed to just performing it.
Everyone keeps talking about Glee, and I feel out of the loop because I never watch it. It's not that I'm trying to be counterculture... I don't watch t.v. that often, and when I do, it's usually Bravo or the Food Network. I'm not a big fan of popular television series, except for Law & Order: SVU, and I haven't even been keeping up with that as much as I'd like to. No big loss, really. I'm not as dedicated a t.v. fan as most marketing directors would like.
I wish I had more sweaters for winter. I need to take a Wednesday off and make a trip to the Salvation Army. Wednesdays are half-price days, so says my aunt.
Cast lists for the spring stripped musicals have been formulated, but they won't be posted until tomorrow, since someone suggested all casting decisions should be approved by the voice faculty. That only lengthens the dreadful waiting period for the people who got callbacks. I swear, if one more person asks me to leak casting information, I'm going to shoot them with a rifle, which, by the way, I can legally purchase in the state of Oklahoma. But all murdering gestures aside, I'm really excited to play for another stripped show. Only this time, I'm the actual music director instead of the assistant music director, which means I'll get to do more than just accompany. I feel like I'm taking baby steps toward exploring music as opposed to just performing it.
Everyone keeps talking about Glee, and I feel out of the loop because I never watch it. It's not that I'm trying to be counterculture... I don't watch t.v. that often, and when I do, it's usually Bravo or the Food Network. I'm not a big fan of popular television series, except for Law & Order: SVU, and I haven't even been keeping up with that as much as I'd like to. No big loss, really. I'm not as dedicated a t.v. fan as most marketing directors would like.
I wish I had more sweaters for winter. I need to take a Wednesday off and make a trip to the Salvation Army. Wednesdays are half-price days, so says my aunt.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Thrill of Movies and Holiday Music
Last night, I dreamt I was Icarus. Well, more or less. I was still me, but I had wings attached to my arms.
Thanksgiving was a bore through and through. Granted, I didn't expect it to be too thrilling. I spent most of it eating cereal and trying to connect to spotty wifi. I must've sent four hundred text messages and slept a total of thirty hours in the time span of three days. I was with family, and that was nice. But family gets old real quick. For some reason, I always expect my family to be drilling me with questions over what I've been doing with my life for the time they haven't seen me, a.k.a. the past three or four months. In reality, they didn't really seem concerned. The only question everyone asked me was, "How's school?" I just answered, "Good." I didn't get a chance to see the three people I really would've liked to see--my mom, my sister, and my cousin Rachel. They live three hours away and all had to work.
Yesterday my aunt and I went to the Salvation Army in search of cheap clothes. I bought two sweaters and two flannel shirts, all of which I could've gone without and saved ten dollars. I also spent too much on sleepwear at Ross. I have this habit of spending money on things I don't need. It's almost like an addiction. If I have money, I'm compelled to spend it. It's a habit I'm trying to break.
I forgot how much I like Christmas. I used to hate Christmas music, but now I find myself buying Josh Groban's Christmas CD and ripping my aunt's copy of Celine Dion's Christmas album onto my computuer. I watched "The Santa Clause" (the one with Tim Allen) over Thanksgiving. Then I watched part of the sequel last night.
Thank goodness for Turner Classic Movies. Something about watching black and white movies makes me feel more intellectual. Last night, I fell asleep to "The Picture of Dorian Gray." How that prompted a dream about Icarus is beyond me.
Thanksgiving was a bore through and through. Granted, I didn't expect it to be too thrilling. I spent most of it eating cereal and trying to connect to spotty wifi. I must've sent four hundred text messages and slept a total of thirty hours in the time span of three days. I was with family, and that was nice. But family gets old real quick. For some reason, I always expect my family to be drilling me with questions over what I've been doing with my life for the time they haven't seen me, a.k.a. the past three or four months. In reality, they didn't really seem concerned. The only question everyone asked me was, "How's school?" I just answered, "Good." I didn't get a chance to see the three people I really would've liked to see--my mom, my sister, and my cousin Rachel. They live three hours away and all had to work.
Yesterday my aunt and I went to the Salvation Army in search of cheap clothes. I bought two sweaters and two flannel shirts, all of which I could've gone without and saved ten dollars. I also spent too much on sleepwear at Ross. I have this habit of spending money on things I don't need. It's almost like an addiction. If I have money, I'm compelled to spend it. It's a habit I'm trying to break.
I forgot how much I like Christmas. I used to hate Christmas music, but now I find myself buying Josh Groban's Christmas CD and ripping my aunt's copy of Celine Dion's Christmas album onto my computuer. I watched "The Santa Clause" (the one with Tim Allen) over Thanksgiving. Then I watched part of the sequel last night.
Thank goodness for Turner Classic Movies. Something about watching black and white movies makes me feel more intellectual. Last night, I fell asleep to "The Picture of Dorian Gray." How that prompted a dream about Icarus is beyond me.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
That Time Of Year When It's Acceptable To Be An Unproductive Cow
I'm going home tomorrow. And by home, I mean Enid. My family is celebrating Thanksgiving at my aunt's, and I couldn't be more excited to see them.
It seems everyone else has left campus to go back home for the break, but I'm still here! Me and my friend Brett. We still have obligations--I, piano at five o'clock; he, a voice lesson at four-thirty. There's a mellow atmosphere hanging around in his room right now, where I'm typing this. Usually there's at least four to twelve people in here at any given moment. But not now. Now, everyone is making the arduous journey back home for the remainder of the week to eat and be lazy. How beautiful.
I went to my friend Hannah's family reunion on Saturday, and I loved it. Her family reminds me of my own--loud, unreserved, and country to the max. The ride to the house alone required a bumpy fifteen-minute trek across a dirt road littered with pot holes and jagged rocks in Hannah's tiny red sedan. But it was worth it. Home cooked food and a three-hour nap make the trip worth it. Plus, I got a picture with a horse.
More importantly, though... I was a gazelle on Friday!!! My wish finally came true, thanks to some $10 Halloween makeup, brown and white pipe cleaners, and a little creativity. I felt accomplished.
I've made such close friends in the past month. I like having real bonds with people I can really trust. It takes some weeding through, like always, but when you find those select few people who just GET you, there's really no comparison.
I just ate half a bag of lime-flavored tortilla chips.
It seems everyone else has left campus to go back home for the break, but I'm still here! Me and my friend Brett. We still have obligations--I, piano at five o'clock; he, a voice lesson at four-thirty. There's a mellow atmosphere hanging around in his room right now, where I'm typing this. Usually there's at least four to twelve people in here at any given moment. But not now. Now, everyone is making the arduous journey back home for the remainder of the week to eat and be lazy. How beautiful.
I went to my friend Hannah's family reunion on Saturday, and I loved it. Her family reminds me of my own--loud, unreserved, and country to the max. The ride to the house alone required a bumpy fifteen-minute trek across a dirt road littered with pot holes and jagged rocks in Hannah's tiny red sedan. But it was worth it. Home cooked food and a three-hour nap make the trip worth it. Plus, I got a picture with a horse.
More importantly, though... I was a gazelle on Friday!!! My wish finally came true, thanks to some $10 Halloween makeup, brown and white pipe cleaners, and a little creativity. I felt accomplished.
I've made such close friends in the past month. I like having real bonds with people I can really trust. It takes some weeding through, like always, but when you find those select few people who just GET you, there's really no comparison.
I just ate half a bag of lime-flavored tortilla chips.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Papa-, Papa-, Paparazzi...
I'm so behind on schoolwork! My life is in slow-motion right now. Lately I've been caring less and less about homework and more and more about hanging out with my friends. Shouldn't it be the other way around? I haven't gone to bed before 2 a.m. in... a week? It's been so long, I don't even remember. Last night instead of doing homework like I'd originally planned, I watched YouTube videos of Lady Gaga and a reporter getting caught on fire.
The truth is, I'm not really behind on schoolwork. I'm just lagging. I'll get it all done, that's for sure. I just won't get it all done in advance like I usually do. I'm learning to deal with not having everything planned out and scheduled ahead of time. It all seems to work out in the end.
Someone set up a hammock outside. I'm tempted to take a nap in it, but I don't know how comfortable I'd be sleeping in a public place. That worries me, and I'm not sure why.
The truth is, I'm not really behind on schoolwork. I'm just lagging. I'll get it all done, that's for sure. I just won't get it all done in advance like I usually do. I'm learning to deal with not having everything planned out and scheduled ahead of time. It all seems to work out in the end.
Someone set up a hammock outside. I'm tempted to take a nap in it, but I don't know how comfortable I'd be sleeping in a public place. That worries me, and I'm not sure why.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Barbed Wire Circled My Right Arm For Three Days
It's ironic that my last blog entry was titled "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas," because they've started putting up Christmas decorations around campus, which feels ridiculous right now considering Thanksgiving is still two weeks away and it's seventy degrees outside.
I sure hope it snows sometime soon. The thing about winter in Oklahoma is that it's windy 85% of the time, so when it does snow, the wind whips the snow around like a blizzard and makes it feel colder than it really is. I remember one day in high school when the wind was practically nonexistent and the snow just fell from the sky, silently and peacefully. It felt like a scene from The Chronicles of Narnia. I wish there were more days like that.
Church choir is like going to the gym (I say that as if I actually GO to the gym): It sucks, but you know that the benefits are well worth the suffering. Yesterday we were called to both services--morning and afternoon. That meant I had to wake up at seven to get to the church at seven-thirty to sing with fifteen other equally-tired-yet-still-willing-to-scream-at-the-top-of-their-lungs-despite-not-having-warmed-up voices. It's all one big shouting match. My voice felt like someone had slit it with razor blades. But hey, at least I'm getting paid. Afterwards, I hung out with my friends Kat, Alex, and Katie for three hours straight. We did nothing but sit in talk, which is the best form of hanging out, in my opinion.
I've been listening to Imogen Heap's new album, and the more I listen to it, the more I'm reminded of why I love her so much as an artist. Her music is great, but the lyrics are what make the music. She's an amazing writer. I thought of a line from one of her old songs that I really love--"You sleep here, I sleep there... But then the heating may be down again." Her words are all about love and relationships, which by all means is the biggest cliche in the realm of popular music. It's tragically over-fantasized and painstakingly inflated so much so that it overshadows so many other amazing categories of human emotion. But I respect her poems not only because the music they're set to has merit and weight but also because of the delicately way in which they're written. Imogen Heap is skillful in creating the right balance of personal insight and relatable self-indulgence. It takes thought to decipher her words, but they're not so cloudy as to confuse the listener, like, say, 'I Am The Walrus' or something by outlandish lyricists such as Bjork or Juana Molina. On the other hand, they're not so blatantly obvious that one's intelligence is insulted just by listening to them.
Wow, I just went on a really long rant about Imogen Heap...
Meanwhile, I've been thinking about scents that I don't like. The one that sticks out in my mind right now: the cafeteria. I hate smelling like it after I've eaten there. Once you've been in the caf for more than thirty minutes, that stench is gonna stay with you. Odors are like that, though; they just don't go away. They're like bad dreams.
This weekend, I went to a Maury-themed party dressed as white trash. My two girlfriends were named Bambie and Nikkie. I had both of their names tattooed on my chest. In Sharpie, of course.
I sure hope it snows sometime soon. The thing about winter in Oklahoma is that it's windy 85% of the time, so when it does snow, the wind whips the snow around like a blizzard and makes it feel colder than it really is. I remember one day in high school when the wind was practically nonexistent and the snow just fell from the sky, silently and peacefully. It felt like a scene from The Chronicles of Narnia. I wish there were more days like that.
Church choir is like going to the gym (I say that as if I actually GO to the gym): It sucks, but you know that the benefits are well worth the suffering. Yesterday we were called to both services--morning and afternoon. That meant I had to wake up at seven to get to the church at seven-thirty to sing with fifteen other equally-tired-yet-still-willing-to-scream-at-the-top-of-their-lungs-despite-not-having-warmed-up voices. It's all one big shouting match. My voice felt like someone had slit it with razor blades. But hey, at least I'm getting paid. Afterwards, I hung out with my friends Kat, Alex, and Katie for three hours straight. We did nothing but sit in talk, which is the best form of hanging out, in my opinion.
I've been listening to Imogen Heap's new album, and the more I listen to it, the more I'm reminded of why I love her so much as an artist. Her music is great, but the lyrics are what make the music. She's an amazing writer. I thought of a line from one of her old songs that I really love--"You sleep here, I sleep there... But then the heating may be down again." Her words are all about love and relationships, which by all means is the biggest cliche in the realm of popular music. It's tragically over-fantasized and painstakingly inflated so much so that it overshadows so many other amazing categories of human emotion. But I respect her poems not only because the music they're set to has merit and weight but also because of the delicately way in which they're written. Imogen Heap is skillful in creating the right balance of personal insight and relatable self-indulgence. It takes thought to decipher her words, but they're not so cloudy as to confuse the listener, like, say, 'I Am The Walrus' or something by outlandish lyricists such as Bjork or Juana Molina. On the other hand, they're not so blatantly obvious that one's intelligence is insulted just by listening to them.
Wow, I just went on a really long rant about Imogen Heap...
Meanwhile, I've been thinking about scents that I don't like. The one that sticks out in my mind right now: the cafeteria. I hate smelling like it after I've eaten there. Once you've been in the caf for more than thirty minutes, that stench is gonna stay with you. Odors are like that, though; they just don't go away. They're like bad dreams.
This weekend, I went to a Maury-themed party dressed as white trash. My two girlfriends were named Bambie and Nikkie. I had both of their names tattooed on my chest. In Sharpie, of course.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. Or Is It?
It's sad to think that people just skip over Thanksgiving and automatically go into Christmas mode after Halloween. I mean, what does Thanksgiving have that trumps Christmas? The Macy's parade? Come on... We all know who wins this battle. I've been thinking about movies that I'd like to watch for the Christmas season. "The Nightmare Before Christmas" has been on my mind lately for some reason, probably because I haven't seen it in a long time. I even dreamt about it last night. This topic was discussed at the dinner table this evening. Some titles that were brought up: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," both new and old versions (I prefer the newer one), "A Christmas Story," "It's A Wonderful Life," and "Christmas With the Kranks" (one of my favorites).
Lately, I've been feeling nostalgic. I was writing a letter to my friend yesterday, and I rambled on and on for a good full page about scents and how much I appreciate the memories they can evoke. I've also been thinking about my family a lot. At dinner, my friends and I were discussing the issue of homesickness. One of my friends said she cries every day because of it. Literally. I guess homesickness entails more than just missing your home; I think it means missing everything that's familiar to you, like friends, family, or just the things you grew up seeing (or smelling) on a regular basis. It's interesting to think about what comforts us. I, for one, miss staying up til one in the morning during the summer watching "Obsessed" on A&E with my best friend. I used to read my Bible every night when I lived at home, mainly because I was alone most of the time and it was easy for me to concentrate. I don't do that anymore simply because I'm around people ALL the time, and I honestly have no idea where my Message Remix Bible is. I'm thankful that I'm okay with being away from my family for long periods of time, no matter how much I really miss them.
Does anyone else get addicted to YouTube videos? I have two that I've been watching over and over for days now. They're both music videos. One is the song "Carousel" by Iron & Wine; the other is a video of Missy Higgins singing "Sugarcane" live at a benefit. They just put me in a good mood, which is what all good music is supposed to do, I guess.
Songs and scents: Two things I could never live without.
Lately, I've been feeling nostalgic. I was writing a letter to my friend yesterday, and I rambled on and on for a good full page about scents and how much I appreciate the memories they can evoke. I've also been thinking about my family a lot. At dinner, my friends and I were discussing the issue of homesickness. One of my friends said she cries every day because of it. Literally. I guess homesickness entails more than just missing your home; I think it means missing everything that's familiar to you, like friends, family, or just the things you grew up seeing (or smelling) on a regular basis. It's interesting to think about what comforts us. I, for one, miss staying up til one in the morning during the summer watching "Obsessed" on A&E with my best friend. I used to read my Bible every night when I lived at home, mainly because I was alone most of the time and it was easy for me to concentrate. I don't do that anymore simply because I'm around people ALL the time, and I honestly have no idea where my Message Remix Bible is. I'm thankful that I'm okay with being away from my family for long periods of time, no matter how much I really miss them.
Does anyone else get addicted to YouTube videos? I have two that I've been watching over and over for days now. They're both music videos. One is the song "Carousel" by Iron & Wine; the other is a video of Missy Higgins singing "Sugarcane" live at a benefit. They just put me in a good mood, which is what all good music is supposed to do, I guess.
Songs and scents: Two things I could never live without.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Seasonal Changes
I woke up two hours early for church on Sunday. Not on purpose, though. I didn't realize that daylight saving time ended at two a.m. that morning. I don't like this time change. It gets dark around six, which is preposterous, in my opinion. It makes me think there's less time in the day to get things done. I love winter, but I also love daylight saving time. Some things were just never meant to coexist. Like brown and navy blue.
Apparently they turn off the hot water in Banning at eight in the morning. It comes back on sometime in the afternoon, at least by twelve, because that's when I had to take my shower today. It's inconvenient to say the least. The worst part is that they didn't tell any of the students that they're doing this. We just kinda found out on our own. Good thing I usually shower before eight in the mornings.
But the bigger issue is... Why is it 70 degrees outside?? I'm from Oklahoma, and I guess I've never noticed how schizophrenic my state's weather is until everyone from out-of-state started complaining about it. Last week I swear the temperature never rose above fifty. Now, it's sunny and feels like April. And I know for a FACT that it isn't April, because that's when my birthday is.
Apparently they turn off the hot water in Banning at eight in the morning. It comes back on sometime in the afternoon, at least by twelve, because that's when I had to take my shower today. It's inconvenient to say the least. The worst part is that they didn't tell any of the students that they're doing this. We just kinda found out on our own. Good thing I usually shower before eight in the mornings.
But the bigger issue is... Why is it 70 degrees outside?? I'm from Oklahoma, and I guess I've never noticed how schizophrenic my state's weather is until everyone from out-of-state started complaining about it. Last week I swear the temperature never rose above fifty. Now, it's sunny and feels like April. And I know for a FACT that it isn't April, because that's when my birthday is.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Blood, Blood, And More Blood
There are earthworms everywhere! I guess the rain washes them out of their hiding places and onto the sidewalks in droves. Last time it rained like this, I counted something like fifteen earthworms outside the northeast entrance of Banning alone.
At breakfast this morning, I was chastised for not mentioning that my friend Alyssa got an "A" on her piano project with which I helped her and faithfully wrote about in one of my earlier blogs. Well... There you go, Alyssa. All eight people who read this blog now know that you succeeded on your piano quiz.
They've decorated the cafeteria for Halloween. It's all really cutesy and fun except for one thing--this enormous twelve-foot creature of death that looms between the salad bar and the silverware. It's terrifying. I think their intentions were to make it look ghostlike, but it really just looks like a gigantic version of Death from A Christmas Carol. I'm not excited about seeing that thing every time I go to eat.
Everything is so morbid nowadays. Batboy: The Musical is opening this weekend, as well as Frankenstein. There's also a blood drive this afternoon which I signed up for. I've never given blood before. Even though the thought of someone sticking a needle in my forearm and sucking the blood out through a tube is kind of unsettling to me, I hope I'm qualified. I've always wanted to donate. I figure, if my body can generate perfectly healthy blood naturally, why not give it to someone whose body can't?
I've noticed that if you walk into the atrium of the music building at 2:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday, you'll encounter the largest group of students hugging on campus.
At breakfast this morning, I was chastised for not mentioning that my friend Alyssa got an "A" on her piano project with which I helped her and faithfully wrote about in one of my earlier blogs. Well... There you go, Alyssa. All eight people who read this blog now know that you succeeded on your piano quiz.
They've decorated the cafeteria for Halloween. It's all really cutesy and fun except for one thing--this enormous twelve-foot creature of death that looms between the salad bar and the silverware. It's terrifying. I think their intentions were to make it look ghostlike, but it really just looks like a gigantic version of Death from A Christmas Carol. I'm not excited about seeing that thing every time I go to eat.
Everything is so morbid nowadays. Batboy: The Musical is opening this weekend, as well as Frankenstein. There's also a blood drive this afternoon which I signed up for. I've never given blood before. Even though the thought of someone sticking a needle in my forearm and sucking the blood out through a tube is kind of unsettling to me, I hope I'm qualified. I've always wanted to donate. I figure, if my body can generate perfectly healthy blood naturally, why not give it to someone whose body can't?
I've noticed that if you walk into the atrium of the music building at 2:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday, you'll encounter the largest group of students hugging on campus.
Monday, October 26, 2009
"What's That Ahead? A Diaphragm? Screw It."
Can anyone tell me what the point of leaf blowers is? I saw a man using one outside the cafeteria this morning, and I couldn't help wondering why he was getting paid to scatter leaves across the sidewalk.
I think I'm going to be a vampire for Halloween this year, partly because I can pull off the look, and partly because the costume is cheap and easy. Since I'm going to be working the dreaded haunted house, my plan is to do my makeup there and keep it on the rest of the night. I'm being frugal out of necessity, not principle. Someone told me that Hot Topic sells individual fangs with adhesive for a more realistic look for the low low price of $16. That's outrageous. Who has money like that to spend on looking like a monster? I retract that question, because I know there are people who go all out when it comes to Halloween, like my friend who's dressing up like Richard Simmons, complete with homemade bedazzled booty shorts. People are so creative.
Last Wednesday, I saw the movie "Paranormal Activity" with my friend Michael and his friend Emily. And let me just say, as a general rule of thumb, I don't get scared very often by movies. Especially mainstream ones. I go to the movies in hopes of finding a genuinely good horror film, but more often than not they turn out to be blatant and predictable, or bloody and full of sex, neither of which I find terrifying. But this one was different. Quite possibly, it was the scariest movie I've ever seen. Definitely one of the scariest. I read a bad review of it in the New York Times that criticized its thin plot line and lack of complexity, but that was what I found to be most effective--the simplicity of it all. It was believable to the extent that a horror movie can be believable without bringing in any unnecessary special effects or cliche scare tactics.
Speaking of phantoms... BREAKING NEWS: The identity of the Facebook Phantom has at last been revealed. Yesterday a source who shall remain nameless told me the name of the culprit behind all this anonymous sex talk, and though I had the strong urge to do so at first, I'm not going to give away the phantom's name on my blog, as that would be unethical. All I have to say it that it's all pretty funny, in a sad way. I think he's probably garnered his fair share of unwanted attention as it is. That's punishment enough, I'd say.
I had a dream about my best friend last night. I haven't seen her since the beginning of August, which sounds like a short period of time, but in best friend years, it's like an eternity. She's at a ministry training program in Minnesota that involves an intense first year boot camp-style experience, so she's not allowed to make contact with anyone who isn't immediate family until she comes home for Christmas. I think everyone has one other person in life who they just naturally connect with. Mine just happens to be isolated in Minnesota right now.
Quirky random fact of the day: Did you know that a diaphragm is also a form of contraception?
I think I'm going to be a vampire for Halloween this year, partly because I can pull off the look, and partly because the costume is cheap and easy. Since I'm going to be working the dreaded haunted house, my plan is to do my makeup there and keep it on the rest of the night. I'm being frugal out of necessity, not principle. Someone told me that Hot Topic sells individual fangs with adhesive for a more realistic look for the low low price of $16. That's outrageous. Who has money like that to spend on looking like a monster? I retract that question, because I know there are people who go all out when it comes to Halloween, like my friend who's dressing up like Richard Simmons, complete with homemade bedazzled booty shorts. People are so creative.
Last Wednesday, I saw the movie "Paranormal Activity" with my friend Michael and his friend Emily. And let me just say, as a general rule of thumb, I don't get scared very often by movies. Especially mainstream ones. I go to the movies in hopes of finding a genuinely good horror film, but more often than not they turn out to be blatant and predictable, or bloody and full of sex, neither of which I find terrifying. But this one was different. Quite possibly, it was the scariest movie I've ever seen. Definitely one of the scariest. I read a bad review of it in the New York Times that criticized its thin plot line and lack of complexity, but that was what I found to be most effective--the simplicity of it all. It was believable to the extent that a horror movie can be believable without bringing in any unnecessary special effects or cliche scare tactics.
Speaking of phantoms... BREAKING NEWS: The identity of the Facebook Phantom has at last been revealed. Yesterday a source who shall remain nameless told me the name of the culprit behind all this anonymous sex talk, and though I had the strong urge to do so at first, I'm not going to give away the phantom's name on my blog, as that would be unethical. All I have to say it that it's all pretty funny, in a sad way. I think he's probably garnered his fair share of unwanted attention as it is. That's punishment enough, I'd say.
I had a dream about my best friend last night. I haven't seen her since the beginning of August, which sounds like a short period of time, but in best friend years, it's like an eternity. She's at a ministry training program in Minnesota that involves an intense first year boot camp-style experience, so she's not allowed to make contact with anyone who isn't immediate family until she comes home for Christmas. I think everyone has one other person in life who they just naturally connect with. Mine just happens to be isolated in Minnesota right now.
Quirky random fact of the day: Did you know that a diaphragm is also a form of contraception?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Cinematic Leaves & The Facebook Phantom
So the most magical thing happened to me today. I was casually strolling down the sidewalk that I always stroll down en route to the lounge in the music building where I'm currently sitting, and a gust of wind blew dozens of leaves around me. It sounds rather blase, but it was actually quite amazing, like something out of a movie. Do you ever watch a movie and think, "Wow... I wish my life were like that." I feel that way about "You've Got Mail," the one with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Nonetheless, just the fact that the weather was cloudy and not too cold and that fall is making itself evident around campus was enough to make me happy. I hope everyone appreciates this weather.
On a similar note, I got a present today! My friend Kat painted me the most magical picture while she was in Frisco over fall break. It's a blue background with a sparkly silver crescent moon and my name in cursive script. I feel like I should frame it and hang it in my dorm, but that might prove to be problematic because my walls are basically cinder blocks. I'm not a fan of nailing things into cinder blocks...
There seems to be an Honesty Box phantom lurking around campus. A gay phantom at that. An alarming number of guys are getting mysterious and overtly sexual Honesty Box messages on their Facebook profiles. One can only wonder what would possess a person to do such a thing. I mean, not that Honesty Box has a reputation for being the classiest Facebook application; most of the messages in them are either rude and catty or unabashedly sexual. Apparently, people think it's okay to expose their deepest, darkest feelings toward another person under the guise of anonymity. But let's be real. Facebook is ANYTHING but anonymous. There are already rumors circulating about who this mystery person could be. And it has to be one person, because all the messages are word-for-word identical. I mean, he could've at least tried to be creative. It was like one of those mass text messages people send out. Really impersonal and really sad.
Yesterday, the postmistress asked me if I would like a different box number, one that's higher than my current one and thus more easily accessible for a person as tall as myself. With a smile beaming across my face, I said, "Yes, please." She actually considered my predicament, which was touching. She's right, though: box number 669 is just too low to check with any sort of relative ease. I am now the proud resident of university post office box number 541. Spread the word.
Isn't it funny how a good night's sleep can change your mood? I felt like a disaster when I went to bed last night, and by disaster, I mean worried mess. I guess it was just one of those nights when all of your past actions come into perspective and you begin to analyze them down to the very last detail... Wondering why you said this or what made you do that. None of it matters. I feel great today, especially thanks to this optimum weather, which has an uncanny effect on my mood as well. I just wish I could've gone to sleep earlier and saved myself some trouble.
I mentioned to my friend Hannah at lunch that I feel like college has brought out the stranger side of me.
On a similar note, I got a present today! My friend Kat painted me the most magical picture while she was in Frisco over fall break. It's a blue background with a sparkly silver crescent moon and my name in cursive script. I feel like I should frame it and hang it in my dorm, but that might prove to be problematic because my walls are basically cinder blocks. I'm not a fan of nailing things into cinder blocks...
There seems to be an Honesty Box phantom lurking around campus. A gay phantom at that. An alarming number of guys are getting mysterious and overtly sexual Honesty Box messages on their Facebook profiles. One can only wonder what would possess a person to do such a thing. I mean, not that Honesty Box has a reputation for being the classiest Facebook application; most of the messages in them are either rude and catty or unabashedly sexual. Apparently, people think it's okay to expose their deepest, darkest feelings toward another person under the guise of anonymity. But let's be real. Facebook is ANYTHING but anonymous. There are already rumors circulating about who this mystery person could be. And it has to be one person, because all the messages are word-for-word identical. I mean, he could've at least tried to be creative. It was like one of those mass text messages people send out. Really impersonal and really sad.
Yesterday, the postmistress asked me if I would like a different box number, one that's higher than my current one and thus more easily accessible for a person as tall as myself. With a smile beaming across my face, I said, "Yes, please." She actually considered my predicament, which was touching. She's right, though: box number 669 is just too low to check with any sort of relative ease. I am now the proud resident of university post office box number 541. Spread the word.
Isn't it funny how a good night's sleep can change your mood? I felt like a disaster when I went to bed last night, and by disaster, I mean worried mess. I guess it was just one of those nights when all of your past actions come into perspective and you begin to analyze them down to the very last detail... Wondering why you said this or what made you do that. None of it matters. I feel great today, especially thanks to this optimum weather, which has an uncanny effect on my mood as well. I just wish I could've gone to sleep earlier and saved myself some trouble.
I mentioned to my friend Hannah at lunch that I feel like college has brought out the stranger side of me.
Monday, October 19, 2009
"Excuse Me..." Says the Old Lady to the Woman Unwrapping Her Candy
This afternoon, my friend Hannah and I went to the opera with a group of senior citizens who paid for our tickets. Apparently, they buy four tickets specifically for OCU students for one performance of each of Tulsa Opera's three seasonal shows. This afternoon's production was a stunning rendition of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," starring Oklahoma native and OCU alumna Sarah Coburn. She was really the talk of the town. Everyone loved her, of course. I mean, why wouldn't Oklahomans be proud of such an amazingly talented and charming young singer? Her mad scene was enthralling.
We got back at seven, when I immediately proceeded to my room with the intentions of doing laundry, which, by the way, I had been putting off only because I hadn't retrieved my laundry card from my roommate. I ended up hanging out with my friend Michael instead. I did do laundry in his building, though. The laundry is the same everywhere on campus. We spent most of the night watching t.v. and listening to Imogen Heap and Regina Spektor songs on YouTube. I find both of those activities to be worthy time wasters.
Most of my friends have gone home. Or to Dallas. Or home TO Dallas. But it's halfway through fall break now, and I've accomplished a great many things: met an up-and-coming opera star, noticed the beautiful colors of autumn, eaten four sugar cookies in one hour, stolen a friend's hat, found out that vodka tastes like hydrogen peroxide, and rediscovered my appreciation for The Cranberries.
We got back at seven, when I immediately proceeded to my room with the intentions of doing laundry, which, by the way, I had been putting off only because I hadn't retrieved my laundry card from my roommate. I ended up hanging out with my friend Michael instead. I did do laundry in his building, though. The laundry is the same everywhere on campus. We spent most of the night watching t.v. and listening to Imogen Heap and Regina Spektor songs on YouTube. I find both of those activities to be worthy time wasters.
Most of my friends have gone home. Or to Dallas. Or home TO Dallas. But it's halfway through fall break now, and I've accomplished a great many things: met an up-and-coming opera star, noticed the beautiful colors of autumn, eaten four sugar cookies in one hour, stolen a friend's hat, found out that vodka tastes like hydrogen peroxide, and rediscovered my appreciation for The Cranberries.
Friday, October 16, 2009
A Blue Jay in October
Yesterday I helped my friend Alyssa record her piano project and upload it to Facebook. It literally took us eighteen tries. She wanted it to be perfect, and I was just being impatient. But we finally got it near-perfect, which we were both willing to accept at that point in time. None of this would've ever happened had I not told her that she was playing the song in the wrong meter...
Anyhow, yesterday also felt like Friday, so today feels like Saturday to me. I slept through my 10 o'clock music theory class and barely made it to my 11 o'clock voice lesson. My voice teacher is no fool. Plus, we have a pretty open relationship. I'm pretty comfortable just talking to her. I told her about sleeping through class. She just laughed and made a sarcastic threat to whip me. I love her.
Why am I not doing laundry right now?
The fact is, I love October weather. Scratch that. I love all weather at the end of the year. Lately it's been really cloudy and excessively cold. But today, the sun is out in a way that's not abrasive or threatening. It's one of those days when the sun is just there to keep you cheerful and warm your skin while the wind chills your face. Looking outside my window, I could easily be misled to believe that today is a typically hot and sunny Oklahoma day.
This evening I'll be working the Ultimate Terrors Haunted House at Belle Isle. It's a pretty amazing haunted house. It's actually three separate haunted houses. The people who run it really went all out in making it over-the-top terrifying. It's got all the goods--clowns, laser lights, ghosts, zombie brides, corpses hanging in bags, creepy little children, and fog machines galore. Not to mention the massive amount of technical machinery they built specifically for the three houses. There's one spot in the "Code Blue" house where an electronic snake lunges a good foot and a half out of a wooden crate and spits water at the passerby. It's completely terrifying.
The most terrifying part about the haunted house, though, is working it. Fridays and Saturdays it runs from 6 to midnight. That's SIX HOURS of screaming, moaning, sweating, and acting insane. It's definitely a tiring process, especially on the slow nights during the week, like Monday or Thursday. Luckily, the haunted house is only open for FOUR hours those nights.
We're basically being blacklisted by the main director of opera/music theater at the university if we don't work the haunted house, because it's a fundraiser for the highly-revered senior showcase.
One of my friends told me last night that he wanted to watch an old Christmas movie and drink hot cocoa. And as much as I said I hate old Christmas movies, that actually sounds like a good idea. This cold weather is just magical. I can't imagine how obnoxious it must be to other people to have to listen to me prattle about fall and winter weather. It's one of the few overtly simple things in life that make me happy, so I enjoy talking about it.
When I was walking back to my dorm after lunch, I heard this awful squawking noise coming from the tree above me. I looked up and saw a handsome little blue jay perched on a branch. It was he who was making that awful noise. I guess I've never actually heard a blue jay before. I was surprised to even see one on campus.
It's laundry time. For real now.
Anyhow, yesterday also felt like Friday, so today feels like Saturday to me. I slept through my 10 o'clock music theory class and barely made it to my 11 o'clock voice lesson. My voice teacher is no fool. Plus, we have a pretty open relationship. I'm pretty comfortable just talking to her. I told her about sleeping through class. She just laughed and made a sarcastic threat to whip me. I love her.
Why am I not doing laundry right now?
The fact is, I love October weather. Scratch that. I love all weather at the end of the year. Lately it's been really cloudy and excessively cold. But today, the sun is out in a way that's not abrasive or threatening. It's one of those days when the sun is just there to keep you cheerful and warm your skin while the wind chills your face. Looking outside my window, I could easily be misled to believe that today is a typically hot and sunny Oklahoma day.
This evening I'll be working the Ultimate Terrors Haunted House at Belle Isle. It's a pretty amazing haunted house. It's actually three separate haunted houses. The people who run it really went all out in making it over-the-top terrifying. It's got all the goods--clowns, laser lights, ghosts, zombie brides, corpses hanging in bags, creepy little children, and fog machines galore. Not to mention the massive amount of technical machinery they built specifically for the three houses. There's one spot in the "Code Blue" house where an electronic snake lunges a good foot and a half out of a wooden crate and spits water at the passerby. It's completely terrifying.
The most terrifying part about the haunted house, though, is working it. Fridays and Saturdays it runs from 6 to midnight. That's SIX HOURS of screaming, moaning, sweating, and acting insane. It's definitely a tiring process, especially on the slow nights during the week, like Monday or Thursday. Luckily, the haunted house is only open for FOUR hours those nights.
We're basically being blacklisted by the main director of opera/music theater at the university if we don't work the haunted house, because it's a fundraiser for the highly-revered senior showcase.
One of my friends told me last night that he wanted to watch an old Christmas movie and drink hot cocoa. And as much as I said I hate old Christmas movies, that actually sounds like a good idea. This cold weather is just magical. I can't imagine how obnoxious it must be to other people to have to listen to me prattle about fall and winter weather. It's one of the few overtly simple things in life that make me happy, so I enjoy talking about it.
When I was walking back to my dorm after lunch, I heard this awful squawking noise coming from the tree above me. I looked up and saw a handsome little blue jay perched on a branch. It was he who was making that awful noise. I guess I've never actually heard a blue jay before. I was surprised to even see one on campus.
It's laundry time. For real now.
Intro.
I've started this blog for a simple reason: I don't want to use MySpace for blogging anymore.
Also, I see this as a step in the right direction to better develop my voice in writing. Writing is something I love and am passionate about; I just can't ever seem to do it as well as I would like. So here's to my hopes of becoming a more honest, reflective, intellectual, and compelling writer.
I'm going to try not to write about myself as much as I used to. I've found it to be vapid and pointless, for the most part. Maybe I'll stick a few personal things in here and there (in the most subtle ways, of course), but on the whole, I want to write about the world around me. It's so fascinating, and I'm only now beginning to realize this. My goal is to uncover those underlying threads of similarity in life that connect me with every other human being, or perhaps that even larger, incomprehensibly massive common denominator of humanity. Okay, maybe a bit too ambitious, I'll admit. Let's start with the simple things and work our way up from there.
Less excessive, more tactile.
Also, I see this as a step in the right direction to better develop my voice in writing. Writing is something I love and am passionate about; I just can't ever seem to do it as well as I would like. So here's to my hopes of becoming a more honest, reflective, intellectual, and compelling writer.
I'm going to try not to write about myself as much as I used to. I've found it to be vapid and pointless, for the most part. Maybe I'll stick a few personal things in here and there (in the most subtle ways, of course), but on the whole, I want to write about the world around me. It's so fascinating, and I'm only now beginning to realize this. My goal is to uncover those underlying threads of similarity in life that connect me with every other human being, or perhaps that even larger, incomprehensibly massive common denominator of humanity. Okay, maybe a bit too ambitious, I'll admit. Let's start with the simple things and work our way up from there.
Less excessive, more tactile.
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