I must first apologize for my hiatus. I have been busy with the start of school (it's been crazy this year!) and settling back into the rhythm of college life. I will try and be better about it in the future.
I have also noticed a grievous wrong I have done by you all (the six or so people who actually bother to look at this from time to time), and that is with the music playlist I have claimed to be the best music ever. It should, in fact be around five songs longer and include no less than two songs by the band I have so raved about in the past, Fair to Midland. They're that good.
As nothing else interesting has happened lately, I'll leave it at that. Expect more detailed postings as a slew of games come out over the next few months, along with a trip to good ol' Detroit for what will be assuredly a great time for Youmacon.
Until next time~
The lazy guy who's words you read.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Complete.
Shes back, and there is no other term for it.
Similar to a puzzle that is missing a single piece, or a quality dish missing a key ingredient, her absence had left me short of myself, lacking in substance. That piece has fallen back into place with her return. The puzzle is complete, the dish is worthy of a meal. I am whole again.
Similar to a puzzle that is missing a single piece, or a quality dish missing a key ingredient, her absence had left me short of myself, lacking in substance. That piece has fallen back into place with her return. The puzzle is complete, the dish is worthy of a meal. I am whole again.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Graven.
Though undoubtedly inspired by experiencing the movie-finale of the epic of a generation, a series that has redefined both literature and movie-making, impossibly written by a homeless woman in Britain, that makes my reflections none the less true.
There are certain things that will become engraved into you. These things latch on to your person, ever there, and evermore a part of you.
I first began to understand this while developing a habit. For years now, any time I read a series that pulls me in, that provides me a total escape, I am rendered helpless by it upon its completion. Provided a high quality of writing, and a story that deserves it, by a series' end I find that it has stealthily made its way beneath my skin, has taken hold of my attention and will not relinquish it even once finished. Personally, this is not always a pleasant thing, as I've frequently found. This often multi-day stupor of reflection leaves me distracted, avoidant, and subsequently (more) introverted. And I wouldn't trade them for anything. There's a solace to be found in the silent reflections of art often graven into our souls. As easily as it can disturb and upset, it calms and quiets.
As it has inspired this odd mood, it is only fair to acknowledge the epic that is Harry Potter, as referenced above. Having read through the series more than twice, and single books within it far more than that, the same stupor invades me every time I complete the series. The characters, their developement, and the scope, even knowing the plot, all its major twists and turns, they wrestle your attention, they wrap their tendrils around your mind and demand the same intimate relationship read after read. Not bad for woman who started with silly names on a napkin.
Alternately, experiences can have a similar effect. Perhaps even more lasting.
A year ago now, after flying to Wyoming for a week visit with my mom, me and my girlfriend undertook the longest travel of my life. Driving alone on the highway, or late into the night, I still sense her ghost in the passenger seat next to me. I can still see the lightning stretching for miles in every direction as the rain thunders against the roof. I can see the silhouettes of the fields of wind-turbines glowing red in their rows as far as the eye can see.
That trip, similar to books such as the Harry Potter series, has left in me an unmistakable wound. A beautiful scar that I will likely remember for the rest of my years. I miss those hours on the road, much as finishing a good series is like leaving a friend behind. Books may be re-read, and the memories are always there to look back upon. But in the retrospect of the moment, there is alway a sad nostalgia that accompanies them. Their moment has passed, and the world moves on, only leaving behind their marks in their influence over us.
There are certain things that will become engraved into you. These things latch on to your person, ever there, and evermore a part of you.
I first began to understand this while developing a habit. For years now, any time I read a series that pulls me in, that provides me a total escape, I am rendered helpless by it upon its completion. Provided a high quality of writing, and a story that deserves it, by a series' end I find that it has stealthily made its way beneath my skin, has taken hold of my attention and will not relinquish it even once finished. Personally, this is not always a pleasant thing, as I've frequently found. This often multi-day stupor of reflection leaves me distracted, avoidant, and subsequently (more) introverted. And I wouldn't trade them for anything. There's a solace to be found in the silent reflections of art often graven into our souls. As easily as it can disturb and upset, it calms and quiets.
As it has inspired this odd mood, it is only fair to acknowledge the epic that is Harry Potter, as referenced above. Having read through the series more than twice, and single books within it far more than that, the same stupor invades me every time I complete the series. The characters, their developement, and the scope, even knowing the plot, all its major twists and turns, they wrestle your attention, they wrap their tendrils around your mind and demand the same intimate relationship read after read. Not bad for woman who started with silly names on a napkin.
Alternately, experiences can have a similar effect. Perhaps even more lasting.
A year ago now, after flying to Wyoming for a week visit with my mom, me and my girlfriend undertook the longest travel of my life. Driving alone on the highway, or late into the night, I still sense her ghost in the passenger seat next to me. I can still see the lightning stretching for miles in every direction as the rain thunders against the roof. I can see the silhouettes of the fields of wind-turbines glowing red in their rows as far as the eye can see.
That trip, similar to books such as the Harry Potter series, has left in me an unmistakable wound. A beautiful scar that I will likely remember for the rest of my years. I miss those hours on the road, much as finishing a good series is like leaving a friend behind. Books may be re-read, and the memories are always there to look back upon. But in the retrospect of the moment, there is alway a sad nostalgia that accompanies them. Their moment has passed, and the world moves on, only leaving behind their marks in their influence over us.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Written.
It has been far too long since my last post, but as I have been busy with a new job working in hell, and it takes me long into the night only to collapse onto my bed and sleep till noon the next day, waking only to spend an hour or two before going back into the fiery furnace, I have had little energy for a blog. During this brief and much too short span of my day, I eat, shower, and mill around on my computer.
And I read.
Have I been given a satchel of books to be read by summer's end by my girlfriend? Well, yes. Does this mean I would not be reading otherwise? Of course not. It's merely a matter of what I am reading that has been determined by her curiosity of how I would enjoy her most favorite of literature.
I have long been one of the most avid readers known to myself. Meeting a couple similar book-goers in college was a nice change of pace. Sometimes I question my career choice of delving into the medical field and wish that I would have instead become an author, or an editor, or some such thing. I reason with myself that once it had become a job, however, any fun I had at one time gained through it would be lost. I have too few escapes to risk losing them.
As hinted by the comment of pipe-dreaming as an author, I also write.
I have a series (since everyone knows that a series is superior to a single novel when it comes to sci-fi/fantasy, my genre of choice) that I have somewhat laid out, and will in theory one day complete. I've restarted it more times than I care to count as my ideas shift ever so slightly from one thing to the next, and as a result it has not seen much distance. But nevertheless it is a work in progress.
My junior year of highschool I took a short story and poetry class. Surprisingly, the poetry section did much more for me than the short story aspect. I don't believe in short stories. If it's worth telling, make it longer. Poetry can be beautiful. Now I don't consider myself a poet, far from it. But what I have picked up is a habit of writing songs. Are they worthy of blaring over the radio to thousands of listeners nationwide? Not likely, but who am I to judge my own work? I'm hardly a professional at such things. Besides, I don't write them for aspirations of being the next Lisa Mikovsky and writing songs for the big names of the industry (That's where her career started, for those who don't know, now she sings her own music, and I quite like it). Rather, much like reading or playing video games or watching re-runs of Top Gear on the BBC America, I write because I enjoy it. It has helped me through what I consider to be one of my blackest of nights.
Does everything I write dive into darkness and despair as that piece did? Of course not. I generally enjoy the occasional mushy-stupid song about a little-defined woman. I enjoy cliches. More often though, my words are less happy. With the creative variation of a chipmunk, most of them focus instead on a similarly-defined woman that has left the singer behind to drown in his sorrow. See? More cliches. The walls are covered with them, and I couldn't think of a better way to decorate.
Maybe someday I will post an exercept from my story onto this blog, or some newly inspired song. Until that day, however, I shall have to make due by keeping you all gripped by my intriguing and riveting narratives. Who knows what the future may hold.
And I read.
Have I been given a satchel of books to be read by summer's end by my girlfriend? Well, yes. Does this mean I would not be reading otherwise? Of course not. It's merely a matter of what I am reading that has been determined by her curiosity of how I would enjoy her most favorite of literature.
I have long been one of the most avid readers known to myself. Meeting a couple similar book-goers in college was a nice change of pace. Sometimes I question my career choice of delving into the medical field and wish that I would have instead become an author, or an editor, or some such thing. I reason with myself that once it had become a job, however, any fun I had at one time gained through it would be lost. I have too few escapes to risk losing them.
As hinted by the comment of pipe-dreaming as an author, I also write.
I have a series (since everyone knows that a series is superior to a single novel when it comes to sci-fi/fantasy, my genre of choice) that I have somewhat laid out, and will in theory one day complete. I've restarted it more times than I care to count as my ideas shift ever so slightly from one thing to the next, and as a result it has not seen much distance. But nevertheless it is a work in progress.
My junior year of highschool I took a short story and poetry class. Surprisingly, the poetry section did much more for me than the short story aspect. I don't believe in short stories. If it's worth telling, make it longer. Poetry can be beautiful. Now I don't consider myself a poet, far from it. But what I have picked up is a habit of writing songs. Are they worthy of blaring over the radio to thousands of listeners nationwide? Not likely, but who am I to judge my own work? I'm hardly a professional at such things. Besides, I don't write them for aspirations of being the next Lisa Mikovsky and writing songs for the big names of the industry (That's where her career started, for those who don't know, now she sings her own music, and I quite like it). Rather, much like reading or playing video games or watching re-runs of Top Gear on the BBC America, I write because I enjoy it. It has helped me through what I consider to be one of my blackest of nights.
Does everything I write dive into darkness and despair as that piece did? Of course not. I generally enjoy the occasional mushy-stupid song about a little-defined woman. I enjoy cliches. More often though, my words are less happy. With the creative variation of a chipmunk, most of them focus instead on a similarly-defined woman that has left the singer behind to drown in his sorrow. See? More cliches. The walls are covered with them, and I couldn't think of a better way to decorate.
Maybe someday I will post an exercept from my story onto this blog, or some newly inspired song. Until that day, however, I shall have to make due by keeping you all gripped by my intriguing and riveting narratives. Who knows what the future may hold.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Observations.
This truely has been a year of the strange.
From the rampant earthquakes and near-disasterous nuclear leaks in Japan to the frequent and deadly storms still rolling across the American Midwest, from the political unrest in Libya (I suppose not all that surprising) to the sickening celebrations of a nation over a man's death (yes, I mean Bin Laden...I could have written an entire post about America's barbaric reactions to his demise, but alas, the time has passed). And then there was the rapture of the world....or lack of it.
(The rest of this will be about sports so feel free to avoid it)
I say this not only from the broader view of the world, however, but from other, smaller aspects as well. Exhibit "A": Sports. Green Bay won the super bowl after their playoff run being decided in the final season game. A team with 9 wins made it in while other teams with 10 wins on the season found themselves out. Long-time staples of the NBA were ousted early in the playoffs of that sport as well, with the Lakers being swept, and severely outplayed, by the Mavericks in round two shortly after the West's top team lost to the bottom seed from that side when the Spurs were ousted round one. Hockey has seen nearly two more down 3-0 comebacks since its post-season has begun.
As an unashamedly passionate fan of anything auto-racing, it's more in my interests when I say that that world has been no different. Just earlier today an Indy Series rookie was poised to take it all in the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis when he saw his race fall apart after smacking the wall in the final corner, coasting to a second place finish on three wheels. Similarly, Kevin Harvick led only two laps on route to his Coca Cola 600 win, essentially handed down to him after nearly half of the top 10 ran short of fuel just after the final restart. Earlier races in the season have seen a rookie win the Daytona 500, the series' biggest race, won by a driver in his first start at the track, and second start in the series. They've seen a first time winner in Regan Smith at one of the series' hardest tracks at Darlington. It seems every week holds a new twist or surprise that no one had seen coming. One pleasant surprise (for me at least) was the introduction of previous F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen into the NASCAR ranks, starting a Camping World Truck, then Nationwide race in sequential weeks. Across the ocean, the F1 circuit has seen two winners in 6 races, after Vettel won his fifth of the season earlier today at Monaco. This is slightly less surprising, as he did win the driver's championship last season, but I sincerely doubt anyone had expected him to run so dominantly so far this year.
I neither pretend to subscribe to doomsday predictions or anything of the sort, nor do I believe it is anything ochestrated or planned. It is simply a string of very strange coincidences that lead to an overly odd year. Enjoy.
From the rampant earthquakes and near-disasterous nuclear leaks in Japan to the frequent and deadly storms still rolling across the American Midwest, from the political unrest in Libya (I suppose not all that surprising) to the sickening celebrations of a nation over a man's death (yes, I mean Bin Laden...I could have written an entire post about America's barbaric reactions to his demise, but alas, the time has passed). And then there was the rapture of the world....or lack of it.
(The rest of this will be about sports so feel free to avoid it)
I say this not only from the broader view of the world, however, but from other, smaller aspects as well. Exhibit "A": Sports. Green Bay won the super bowl after their playoff run being decided in the final season game. A team with 9 wins made it in while other teams with 10 wins on the season found themselves out. Long-time staples of the NBA were ousted early in the playoffs of that sport as well, with the Lakers being swept, and severely outplayed, by the Mavericks in round two shortly after the West's top team lost to the bottom seed from that side when the Spurs were ousted round one. Hockey has seen nearly two more down 3-0 comebacks since its post-season has begun.
As an unashamedly passionate fan of anything auto-racing, it's more in my interests when I say that that world has been no different. Just earlier today an Indy Series rookie was poised to take it all in the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis when he saw his race fall apart after smacking the wall in the final corner, coasting to a second place finish on three wheels. Similarly, Kevin Harvick led only two laps on route to his Coca Cola 600 win, essentially handed down to him after nearly half of the top 10 ran short of fuel just after the final restart. Earlier races in the season have seen a rookie win the Daytona 500, the series' biggest race, won by a driver in his first start at the track, and second start in the series. They've seen a first time winner in Regan Smith at one of the series' hardest tracks at Darlington. It seems every week holds a new twist or surprise that no one had seen coming. One pleasant surprise (for me at least) was the introduction of previous F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen into the NASCAR ranks, starting a Camping World Truck, then Nationwide race in sequential weeks. Across the ocean, the F1 circuit has seen two winners in 6 races, after Vettel won his fifth of the season earlier today at Monaco. This is slightly less surprising, as he did win the driver's championship last season, but I sincerely doubt anyone had expected him to run so dominantly so far this year.
I neither pretend to subscribe to doomsday predictions or anything of the sort, nor do I believe it is anything ochestrated or planned. It is simply a string of very strange coincidences that lead to an overly odd year. Enjoy.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
[ ].
Perhaps it is the lack of sleep, or perhaps it is the result of being much too alone over the course of what seemed like an extremely long weekend. Perhaps it is the (already) increasingly difficult struggle of having the person that means the most to me overseas for the summer. Perhaps it is because of the beautifully crafted, yet psychologically twisted manga I am currently reading (Yubisaki Milk Tea), or perhaps it is simply because my last few posts have been personal opinions or reviews on random media-related topics. Whatever the cause, I feel strangely compelled to be brutally honest about myself, and what I have been dealing with lately.
To start, because I know she will read this at some point, I am doing fine girl. I miss you and cannot wait for you to get home, but I will. I guess I just have alot on my mind today. As you know, I have my moody days, and I love you all the more for putting up with them.
I feel like I have out-grown my hometown.
To someone who has grown up in a large bustling city, this may not make alot of sense, but I assure you it is entirely truthful. Cedar Springs has grown beyond recognition since my days as a childhood. I would give a fuller layout of this town if I felt it were necessary, but as the town itself is not the point, I shall refrain. Where there used to be a couple fast food joints and a gas station now stand, among other things, no less than 6 fast food restaraunts of nearly any choice, and three gas stations right off of the highway. A Meijer has been added, and most recently, a Goodwill. Now these additions are all well and good, but there's more to it than that. My hometown, the only one I can remember, seems alien.
I lay most of the blame on being gone to East Lansing most of the year where I attend MSU during the school season, but it feels alien all the same. Being here for the summer, and more still, since the summer is just beginning, it's almost as if I were starting all over again. I have friends here, sure. I hang out with them when I'm home on weekends to do laundry and see the family. I have fun, don't get me wrong, but there is a distance between us. Now I would not be at all surprised if 99% of this was in my head, I have never been a socialite, and am actually quite adept at being socially awkward. But as it is, I feel stranded. It's as if I were Tom Hanks and I've been denied my Wilson. My best friend has stayed in town since high school working for his mom's diner, and the more power to him for it, but the distance is between us as well. We don't talk nearly as much as we used to, and he has (reasonably, I might add) increased his portfolio of frequent friends, often resulting in little time to hang out.
It's really quite the confusing mental struggle when it comes to him, actually. Sometimes I feel as if he is years behind me, putting off college to work for a couple years. Other times, however, I feel horribly inadequate. He has a stable job, pays his own insurance (something my mother still covers for me), and has an idea of how he plans to move ahead in life. When I think about it in these respects, I find myself lightyears behind.
As for visiting home, my family has never been the ideal 50's family. I can honestly say that I am not nearly attached to virtually anyone in it as I feel I should be. My mother moved out my junior year of high school, and I have never blamed her for it. Additionally, I do not ever go home to see the rest of them, I go home to save money on laundry. Similar to my best friend, I find myself greatly distanced from my brother who is rarely at home. He was my other best friend through all of elementary school, and while I get to hang out with him more than others merely because he lives at the same house, our similar interests and priorities have waivered somewhat. Sometimes my apathy towards relatives truely scares me. But that is largely what I am towards them. Apathetic. And I'm not really confident that will change.
I am told that I am smart.
I have been my whole life. It was never my goal, my desire. It simply was. All through elementary school my laziness was honed with years of practice in doing homework last second and taking very near literally every test without an ounce of study. It was expected of me to do well, and so I did. Nothing in my childhood strikes me as particularly important. There is nothing there that I am overly proud of. Now that I am in college, the field has changed somewhat, but my habits have not, and my grades show it. The worst part? I'm not bothered by it. At all. Sure, I do not enjoy scraping by when I in theory have the potential to be somewhere near the top. I just do not care enough to work at it. There is not, and has never been, any type of ambition in me to excel. I have no reasonable goal or passion in life that gets me motivated towards an end. Instead, I take a page out of Nike's slogan history and "just do it." I float through life doing what I need to to get by. Sometimes I hate myself for it, but I do nothing to change it either. I just keep hoping that one day I will find that "thing," that proverbial "thing" that every person is supposed to find in their life. The thing that they excel at, that they decide they could do their entire life, and always enjoy it. A university counselor once asked me what job, out of any in the world, I would choose if given the choice. I honestly answered "none." I have yet to find something I would truely enjoy doing. But I've settled for things my entire life, why stop now?
This brings up another character flaw I have found in myself. I am selfish. I have just complained about being distanced from my friends, but I will readily admit that I am rarely inspired to go out of my way to see them. I assume it all goes along with the socially awkwardness, but I'm also sure that the apathy plays a role here as well.
As you may have noticed, I have neglected to title this post, as I feel that there is not really a word to describe its contents. I considered things such as "Stripped." or "Me, Raw." but they don't quite fit the bill. My fears (and that is largely what these are) are more complex than a title, but the empty space, shackled by brackets, seems to be a fitting bit of imagery. The future is unknown, and has no words, while at the same time I am bound by my past, as empty as it may seem. It has shaped me to be what I am today. Similarily, I always follow my titles with a period. I like to think the period signifies the finality of my posts. It's my way of saying "this is me. this is my opinion, and im not holding anything back."
Even if it is about my fears.
I realize I may seem disjointed at times, and that I do not always paint the prettiest pictures (though I like to think that I am quite good at it when I try). I will not try and defend either of these, as that is me, and as I warned at the start of this blog, I am what you are going to get.
Let's just say that I'm a work in progress.
To start, because I know she will read this at some point, I am doing fine girl. I miss you and cannot wait for you to get home, but I will. I guess I just have alot on my mind today. As you know, I have my moody days, and I love you all the more for putting up with them.
I feel like I have out-grown my hometown.
To someone who has grown up in a large bustling city, this may not make alot of sense, but I assure you it is entirely truthful. Cedar Springs has grown beyond recognition since my days as a childhood. I would give a fuller layout of this town if I felt it were necessary, but as the town itself is not the point, I shall refrain. Where there used to be a couple fast food joints and a gas station now stand, among other things, no less than 6 fast food restaraunts of nearly any choice, and three gas stations right off of the highway. A Meijer has been added, and most recently, a Goodwill. Now these additions are all well and good, but there's more to it than that. My hometown, the only one I can remember, seems alien.
I lay most of the blame on being gone to East Lansing most of the year where I attend MSU during the school season, but it feels alien all the same. Being here for the summer, and more still, since the summer is just beginning, it's almost as if I were starting all over again. I have friends here, sure. I hang out with them when I'm home on weekends to do laundry and see the family. I have fun, don't get me wrong, but there is a distance between us. Now I would not be at all surprised if 99% of this was in my head, I have never been a socialite, and am actually quite adept at being socially awkward. But as it is, I feel stranded. It's as if I were Tom Hanks and I've been denied my Wilson. My best friend has stayed in town since high school working for his mom's diner, and the more power to him for it, but the distance is between us as well. We don't talk nearly as much as we used to, and he has (reasonably, I might add) increased his portfolio of frequent friends, often resulting in little time to hang out.
It's really quite the confusing mental struggle when it comes to him, actually. Sometimes I feel as if he is years behind me, putting off college to work for a couple years. Other times, however, I feel horribly inadequate. He has a stable job, pays his own insurance (something my mother still covers for me), and has an idea of how he plans to move ahead in life. When I think about it in these respects, I find myself lightyears behind.
As for visiting home, my family has never been the ideal 50's family. I can honestly say that I am not nearly attached to virtually anyone in it as I feel I should be. My mother moved out my junior year of high school, and I have never blamed her for it. Additionally, I do not ever go home to see the rest of them, I go home to save money on laundry. Similar to my best friend, I find myself greatly distanced from my brother who is rarely at home. He was my other best friend through all of elementary school, and while I get to hang out with him more than others merely because he lives at the same house, our similar interests and priorities have waivered somewhat. Sometimes my apathy towards relatives truely scares me. But that is largely what I am towards them. Apathetic. And I'm not really confident that will change.
I am told that I am smart.
I have been my whole life. It was never my goal, my desire. It simply was. All through elementary school my laziness was honed with years of practice in doing homework last second and taking very near literally every test without an ounce of study. It was expected of me to do well, and so I did. Nothing in my childhood strikes me as particularly important. There is nothing there that I am overly proud of. Now that I am in college, the field has changed somewhat, but my habits have not, and my grades show it. The worst part? I'm not bothered by it. At all. Sure, I do not enjoy scraping by when I in theory have the potential to be somewhere near the top. I just do not care enough to work at it. There is not, and has never been, any type of ambition in me to excel. I have no reasonable goal or passion in life that gets me motivated towards an end. Instead, I take a page out of Nike's slogan history and "just do it." I float through life doing what I need to to get by. Sometimes I hate myself for it, but I do nothing to change it either. I just keep hoping that one day I will find that "thing," that proverbial "thing" that every person is supposed to find in their life. The thing that they excel at, that they decide they could do their entire life, and always enjoy it. A university counselor once asked me what job, out of any in the world, I would choose if given the choice. I honestly answered "none." I have yet to find something I would truely enjoy doing. But I've settled for things my entire life, why stop now?
This brings up another character flaw I have found in myself. I am selfish. I have just complained about being distanced from my friends, but I will readily admit that I am rarely inspired to go out of my way to see them. I assume it all goes along with the socially awkwardness, but I'm also sure that the apathy plays a role here as well.
As you may have noticed, I have neglected to title this post, as I feel that there is not really a word to describe its contents. I considered things such as "Stripped." or "Me, Raw." but they don't quite fit the bill. My fears (and that is largely what these are) are more complex than a title, but the empty space, shackled by brackets, seems to be a fitting bit of imagery. The future is unknown, and has no words, while at the same time I am bound by my past, as empty as it may seem. It has shaped me to be what I am today. Similarily, I always follow my titles with a period. I like to think the period signifies the finality of my posts. It's my way of saying "this is me. this is my opinion, and im not holding anything back."
Even if it is about my fears.
I realize I may seem disjointed at times, and that I do not always paint the prettiest pictures (though I like to think that I am quite good at it when I try). I will not try and defend either of these, as that is me, and as I warned at the start of this blog, I am what you are going to get.
Let's just say that I'm a work in progress.
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Best CD of 2011.
Now, if you are like the majority of the drones out there, you have likely never heard the band Fair to Midland. This is wrong. I have never found a band with such a mixture of (for lack of a different word) strange lyrics, ultra-catchy melodies, and a lead singer that can literally sing at any end of the vocal-spectrum in any given moment. His range is incredible and lilts around in his songs in the most ear-engagingly delicious ways. Looking the band up, their genre is often condered to be "Folk-Metal." Now if you like heavier music or not, this should peak some level of interest at least. Is it weird? A little. It's also brilliantly done. Now the only legit CD that this band has released was back in 2007 called "Fables from the Mayfly." There are other previous works, but those are for the people whose intrest ascends beyond merely "passing" and are able to be found with some looking.
The catch? The have a CD due out July 11th. I can't wait.
Arrows & Anchors (the CD in question) is beyond my most-looked-forward-to album to be released this year, and that is saying something with Seether and Hurt releasing their new albums here soon, as well as the new Red CD that came out back in Jan/Feb (I don't remember which it was, but I believe Feb..). Anyone that knows me will attest that these are all easily within my top 10 bands, if not all withink the top five. Why am I so excited for an unreleased album? For once, Youtube. There are four demo-recordings easily found with a simple search on there that have been listed as appearing on the upcoming Arrows & Anchors (a name I enjoy, by the way). These demo-versions have been capturing and enslaving my eardrums for the greater part of a week now, and I cannot get enough of them. It is a bonus that the lyrics of this album have plunged themselves somewhere dark and dreary after the usually-light-hearted whimsey of its counterparts, a change that I will always personally embrace.
I was head-over-heels for the 2007 album, when I first heard it too, but that was after the fact, after it was out. I didn't discover the band (and sadly, I may add) until somewhere in 2008. A little song called "Dance of the Manatee" caught a tight hold on me and never let go, merely trading grips with other tracks such as "Tall Tales Taste Like Sour Grapes" and then "Kyla Cries Cologne." As you're likely realizing at this point, this band is fun. Those song titles are a small bundle of enjoyment in themselves. So far I've found that "A Loophole in Limbo" is my favorite, of the four demos available, but if history shows any prevalence, it will likely change with time. Or a first listen for that matter, I've only heard four of the songs after all. But listening to all four of them daily, and usually multiple times per day, solely because I can't get enough? That has greatness written all over it. And that's what this CD will be. Great.
Here is the afore-mentioned demo, my favorite so far.:
The catch? The have a CD due out July 11th. I can't wait.
Arrows & Anchors (the CD in question) is beyond my most-looked-forward-to album to be released this year, and that is saying something with Seether and Hurt releasing their new albums here soon, as well as the new Red CD that came out back in Jan/Feb (I don't remember which it was, but I believe Feb..). Anyone that knows me will attest that these are all easily within my top 10 bands, if not all withink the top five. Why am I so excited for an unreleased album? For once, Youtube. There are four demo-recordings easily found with a simple search on there that have been listed as appearing on the upcoming Arrows & Anchors (a name I enjoy, by the way). These demo-versions have been capturing and enslaving my eardrums for the greater part of a week now, and I cannot get enough of them. It is a bonus that the lyrics of this album have plunged themselves somewhere dark and dreary after the usually-light-hearted whimsey of its counterparts, a change that I will always personally embrace.
I was head-over-heels for the 2007 album, when I first heard it too, but that was after the fact, after it was out. I didn't discover the band (and sadly, I may add) until somewhere in 2008. A little song called "Dance of the Manatee" caught a tight hold on me and never let go, merely trading grips with other tracks such as "Tall Tales Taste Like Sour Grapes" and then "Kyla Cries Cologne." As you're likely realizing at this point, this band is fun. Those song titles are a small bundle of enjoyment in themselves. So far I've found that "A Loophole in Limbo" is my favorite, of the four demos available, but if history shows any prevalence, it will likely change with time. Or a first listen for that matter, I've only heard four of the songs after all. But listening to all four of them daily, and usually multiple times per day, solely because I can't get enough? That has greatness written all over it. And that's what this CD will be. Great.
Here is the afore-mentioned demo, my favorite so far.:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
People Watching.
It happens to be one of my favorite past-times. Everyone has done it. As you're sitting at a table in the corner of some food court, or in my more usual case: the nearest cafeteria on campus, you let your eyes wander around the room and look for the more entertaining individuals present. This sometimes fruitless waste of time can also yield some very entertaining results, however.
A while back, Katie (my girl) and I were sitting having an early dinner in the caf (Sny-Phi for those MSU-goers to whom it makes a difference) when she suddenly pointed out that there was a guy a ways across the room who looked suspiciously like Robert Pattinson. Now for the people who have been hiding under a rock, or a multitude of rocks over the past few years, Robert Pattinson is the ever-cocky looking actor who plays the part of Edward in the awful movie renditions of the infinately-overrated Twilight book series (I refuse to honor it with the term "saga"). This guy was almost an identical sibling, and had the mannerisms to fit. It was quite the entertainment.
Fast forwards a week or so, and we found ourselves once again in the caf we so often frequent for dinner. This time we were rewarded with something a little more exciting, and a little stranger. This time there was a girl who looked eerily like a Prisoner of Azkaban-esque Emma Watson. It was weird for a college age student, but we have seen her many times since and the resemblance remains. Around the same time, we were lucky enough to find a guy who made me realize something: given a slight range for differences, Jake Gyllenhaal and Brad Garrett (Robert from Everybody Loves Raymond) actually look alot alike. In any case, this guy was the perfect middle ground between the two, looking more like Gyllenhaal, but having the hair style of Garrett...it was awesome.
My personal favorite to date, though, would have to be a guy we refer to as "Ben Affleck," for the obvious reason that he looks uncannily like the actor of that name. Having missed him the first few times Katie saw him in the caf, I was of course eager to see this acclaimed look-alike. As she spied him out and pointed me in the right direction, I watched his progress as he returned to his table. Amazingly, another "Ben Affleck" awaited at that very table! The two, likely twins though I would feel like a creep to ask, both bear striking resemblances to the actor/director, and it gives me no end of enjoyment.
Now I write all of this with the assumption that since no one actually reads it, it will go unnoticed by anyone who may care that I am referring to them. Should that not be the case, I apologize, though I expect it will. That's all for my creeping for now, tune in again for future updates. :P
A while back, Katie (my girl) and I were sitting having an early dinner in the caf (Sny-Phi for those MSU-goers to whom it makes a difference) when she suddenly pointed out that there was a guy a ways across the room who looked suspiciously like Robert Pattinson. Now for the people who have been hiding under a rock, or a multitude of rocks over the past few years, Robert Pattinson is the ever-cocky looking actor who plays the part of Edward in the awful movie renditions of the infinately-overrated Twilight book series (I refuse to honor it with the term "saga"). This guy was almost an identical sibling, and had the mannerisms to fit. It was quite the entertainment.
Fast forwards a week or so, and we found ourselves once again in the caf we so often frequent for dinner. This time we were rewarded with something a little more exciting, and a little stranger. This time there was a girl who looked eerily like a Prisoner of Azkaban-esque Emma Watson. It was weird for a college age student, but we have seen her many times since and the resemblance remains. Around the same time, we were lucky enough to find a guy who made me realize something: given a slight range for differences, Jake Gyllenhaal and Brad Garrett (Robert from Everybody Loves Raymond) actually look alot alike. In any case, this guy was the perfect middle ground between the two, looking more like Gyllenhaal, but having the hair style of Garrett...it was awesome.
My personal favorite to date, though, would have to be a guy we refer to as "Ben Affleck," for the obvious reason that he looks uncannily like the actor of that name. Having missed him the first few times Katie saw him in the caf, I was of course eager to see this acclaimed look-alike. As she spied him out and pointed me in the right direction, I watched his progress as he returned to his table. Amazingly, another "Ben Affleck" awaited at that very table! The two, likely twins though I would feel like a creep to ask, both bear striking resemblances to the actor/director, and it gives me no end of enjoyment.
Now I write all of this with the assumption that since no one actually reads it, it will go unnoticed by anyone who may care that I am referring to them. Should that not be the case, I apologize, though I expect it will. That's all for my creeping for now, tune in again for future updates. :P
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Bethesda: About to Pass the Torch.
Considering the time I've once again put into Oblivion recently, I figured I should ramble on about my techno-geek love for the series...as it is the best game series ever.
As I've said before, the Elder Scrolls is an entirely unique experience. Playing through it for the second time recently, there have been as many new subtle differences as there have friendly reminiscences. The underlaying story remains the same, as does my preferred character class (a tough combination of sword-skill and fiery magic and conjuration), yet things are undeniably different. Some characters remain alive due to my increased vigilance over them in their respective quest (son of the count of Cheydenhal) where others have perished (Burd in the Great Sigil Stone mission outside of Bruma), both differences from my original playthough. The kicker? It makes little difference to anyone but me. the AI doesn't recognize my realization of the difference, it hardly even notices the difference at all, aside from the Thornblade I was awarded for having saved the son. Yet, the difference is still there, to me at least. I feel triumph at the rescue and failure at the loss: maybe there was something more I could have done?
The Elder Scrolls series has, since I ventured upon Morrowind back in 2004 after getting my Xbox, sent me on more than a couple adventures, each its own story. These past few weeks have been no different. With the upcoming release of the fifth installment in the series, Skyrim, due out on 11.11.11, I can only believe that even more of these fantastical and engrossing ventures into a fictional world of limitless possibilities await me; and though I preferred the many-faceted class system of the older Morrowind, I am jumping at the bit for the beauty that will be Skyrim, homeland of the Nords. I have faith in Bethesda, through all their changes, and will undoubtedly be buying their product again this fall. I can't wait.
Here is a little taste, for the poor souls yet to see:
Monday, March 28, 2011
Shuto-con.
This past weekend was a first for Lansing: an anime convention to call its own. Now as any anime/manga fan would be, I was both excited and skeptical for this first-year con, not quite knowing what to expect from a venture that had been as of yet untested.
All in all, I am pleased to report, it was a total success. It of course helped that it had the full support of some high-proflie actors such as Michelle Ruff (Rukia, Yoko, etc) and the nearly immortal Neon-Genesis duo of Spike Spencer and Tiffany Grant (Shinji and Asuka). Now if you are not into anime, for one I suggest you become so, but otherwise this post will mean little to you so feel free to avoid reading it, if you can withstand my immense literary charm. There was a (to me) suprising turnout for an under-the-radar convention just unfolding its wings, and a special pre-screening type look at Evangelion 2.22 was a special treat. There was a considerable amount of cosplay, and while it didn't have quite the flair of some of the bigger cons, it had a unique intimacy with the voice actors. Not being pressed for time signing many hundreds of autographs, each session was full of time to get to know them and opportunities to have some insight into their persons, more than once they even went so far as to offer tales of their exploits, both in acting and otherwise.
As a convention, Shuto-con did exactly what it needed to. It was fun, it was colorful, and it has at least one return visitor in me. Here's hoping that it becomes an annual event in a convention center that has plenty of room to grow into.
All in all, I am pleased to report, it was a total success. It of course helped that it had the full support of some high-proflie actors such as Michelle Ruff (Rukia, Yoko, etc) and the nearly immortal Neon-Genesis duo of Spike Spencer and Tiffany Grant (Shinji and Asuka). Now if you are not into anime, for one I suggest you become so, but otherwise this post will mean little to you so feel free to avoid reading it, if you can withstand my immense literary charm. There was a (to me) suprising turnout for an under-the-radar convention just unfolding its wings, and a special pre-screening type look at Evangelion 2.22 was a special treat. There was a considerable amount of cosplay, and while it didn't have quite the flair of some of the bigger cons, it had a unique intimacy with the voice actors. Not being pressed for time signing many hundreds of autographs, each session was full of time to get to know them and opportunities to have some insight into their persons, more than once they even went so far as to offer tales of their exploits, both in acting and otherwise.
As a convention, Shuto-con did exactly what it needed to. It was fun, it was colorful, and it has at least one return visitor in me. Here's hoping that it becomes an annual event in a convention center that has plenty of room to grow into.
Introductions.
After a more than a week's hiatus, I have returned to the fold! College keeps you busy and all that.
Now, it's been a good number of posts for me not to have introduced myself to any would-be readers. My name is Josh. Hi. I like to follow my name with a period when professionalism doesn't matter, it's my bit of character that I like to add to my signature. I'm 20 years old and a student at Michigan State, and you can get most of this from my profile page, but by all means keep reading. I am avidly into video games and books, and nearly as avidly into anime and manga. The Elder Scrolls series by Bethesda is like a breath of fresh air after a long day of classes or whatever else life has decided to throw at me. The worlds that they manage to create time and time again are such a total experience that I can let it suck me in and just be my character. Similarly, the Forgotten Realms' greatest legend, the epic tale of Drizzt Do'Urden as told by the genius author R.A Salvatore offers me a complete seclusion from the world around me. They are my beloved escapes. Anime and manga are more of an entertainment hobby interest. From the insane battle sequences of Tite Kubo's Bleach to the heart-wrenching tales of Daisuke Moriyama's Chrono Crusade or Key's Clannad, there is an entire world of stories to be told from our creative friends in Japan, and I can get lost in them as easily as any video game. As for music, nearly anything will do, but I'd much rather it is not Country or Rap. Post-grunge is my happy-place, and rock is my comfort zone, but I love a good round of Gaga from time to time as well.
If you're paying attention, I haven't mentioned school since I stated that I am attending MSU, well that would be because I severely dislike anything that includes class. I have been bored in school my whole life, and the added difficulty of college did little to change that fact. School talk done.
I will happily admit that I am a die-hard fan of NASCAR. There is just no other sport that can compare with 43 teams competing every week for 4 hours of mind-bending concentration and steeled-nerves. On that same note, however, I enjoy watching football and have loved "soccer" since I played it as a child (I put "soccer" in quotation marks as it is a silly term, and not its true name: yes, I am one of "those people").
That is really all there is to tell, as of yet. Should questions exist, by all means feel free to comment, and I'll answer what I can. This is, once again, assuming that there is actually a miniscule fraction of the world out there that cares to take the time to read my silly meanderings.
Now, it's been a good number of posts for me not to have introduced myself to any would-be readers. My name is Josh. Hi. I like to follow my name with a period when professionalism doesn't matter, it's my bit of character that I like to add to my signature. I'm 20 years old and a student at Michigan State, and you can get most of this from my profile page, but by all means keep reading. I am avidly into video games and books, and nearly as avidly into anime and manga. The Elder Scrolls series by Bethesda is like a breath of fresh air after a long day of classes or whatever else life has decided to throw at me. The worlds that they manage to create time and time again are such a total experience that I can let it suck me in and just be my character. Similarly, the Forgotten Realms' greatest legend, the epic tale of Drizzt Do'Urden as told by the genius author R.A Salvatore offers me a complete seclusion from the world around me. They are my beloved escapes. Anime and manga are more of an entertainment hobby interest. From the insane battle sequences of Tite Kubo's Bleach to the heart-wrenching tales of Daisuke Moriyama's Chrono Crusade or Key's Clannad, there is an entire world of stories to be told from our creative friends in Japan, and I can get lost in them as easily as any video game. As for music, nearly anything will do, but I'd much rather it is not Country or Rap. Post-grunge is my happy-place, and rock is my comfort zone, but I love a good round of Gaga from time to time as well.
If you're paying attention, I haven't mentioned school since I stated that I am attending MSU, well that would be because I severely dislike anything that includes class. I have been bored in school my whole life, and the added difficulty of college did little to change that fact. School talk done.
I will happily admit that I am a die-hard fan of NASCAR. There is just no other sport that can compare with 43 teams competing every week for 4 hours of mind-bending concentration and steeled-nerves. On that same note, however, I enjoy watching football and have loved "soccer" since I played it as a child (I put "soccer" in quotation marks as it is a silly term, and not its true name: yes, I am one of "those people").
That is really all there is to tell, as of yet. Should questions exist, by all means feel free to comment, and I'll answer what I can. This is, once again, assuming that there is actually a miniscule fraction of the world out there that cares to take the time to read my silly meanderings.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
False King.
Made this story up on the spot to tell to my girl, and she rather liked it. Excuse the broken-ness and the punctuation, it was over a messenger. :P
once upon a time there was a king
now this king wasn't an ordinary king
his father had not been royalty, nor his mother
this king was actually totally unrelated to anything to do with the previous kings and queens
one day he was walking through town, and had been pulled aside by the guard
apparently, this man had looked exactly like the old king who had been assassinated the week before
seeking to avoid a panic, the guard and the kings closest advisors found this man and replaced the old king with him whilst the townsfolk remained none-the-wiser
the queen of course objected to this, as she felt it tarnished the reputation of her late husband. so, with the help of her personal escorts and the guard, she faked her death to escape the constraints of her position and left town
the townsfolk grieved her loss, but the king persevered, and they gazed in awe and respect at the man's inner strength
one day, a sickly man on his deathbed asked the kings presence
when he was denied the wish, he cried out in dismay
where was this king who had seemed so strong to his people only months before?
the king, upon hearing of the situation, decided he should grant this man, one who was of no little importance to the small town, a visit before his death
with the king in audience, the dying man asked how the his majesty had been so strong after the passing of his wife
now the king was at a loss
this man wanted his advice to help his family after he had passed, but the king had never experienced anything like he was going through
the woman had not actually died, and she had not truly been his wife in the first place. taking these into account, there had been nothing to grieve
with regret filling his eyes, told the man that he could not help him, and returned to the castle
after two restless and troubled days, the man posing as king received news that the sickly man had passed
another sleepless week passed the king by, his mind unable to forget the sickly man
with a firm resolve, he decided to create words to comfort the grieving family
upon meeting the family, he told them the story of how his wife had looked truly peaceful after her passing, and how it had let him know beyond doubt that, wherever she was, she was not suffering
his telling lacked conviction, however, and the widowed wife looked at him with skepticism
once again returning to his castle, the king felt a slight better about the ordeal and was able to sleep for the first time in a long while
unfortunately, his sleep was far from restful
waking nightmares were replaced by dreams filled with shadows and voices calling out his deceit
with a tired resignation, he returned to the widow, seeking to remedy his conscience
he explained to her how he had come to the town as a traveler, how the previous queen had not died but rather left the realm under a veil of secrecy, to pursue her own end in life and how upon her husband's deathbed he had been unable to help not out of arrogance or reluctance, but because he truly did not know how to be strong
the woman smiled and told the unfortunate king that he did, in fact, know how to be strong. he had just proven it to her. she also told him that his impressive words did nothing to sooth her aching heart compared to the humble words just spoken to her
in apology for his actions, the king invited the widow and her children to live with him in the castle, to assure them a sturdy household in repayment to the sickly man
after a few years, the talk about town of the favored widow had died down considerably, and the kings daily meals and time with the woman led to a fondness that turned into a smoldering affection
when he finally asked her to be his queen, there was no talk of a woman taking the favor of the king, but rather the romantic gossip of a widowed wife and a grieving king that were to become a proper couple
the end.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Titles.
Now, many of you have asked why I titled this the way I have (not really many, but it sounds better that way, no?), and the answer is quite simple, really: you can change it whenever you want. My lawyers did not, in fact, help me write any of this. I don't even have a lawyer. Unless you count the one provided in the court of law if you do not have your own, but I generally choose not to consider that my own personal lawyer, for obvious reasons. I merely could not come up with a title at the time, and so what comes to mind first? Fall Out Boy, obviously. I'm honestly not sure where lawyers came from, and I almost-promise that sometime in the future I will change it, but for now, it's the best title I've got.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Little Steps.
Not that anyone has paid attention to this since the first post sometime last night/early this morning (I think it was then, but I get my days mixed up), but for those lucky people who are revisiting for a second time (heres hoping third or fourth) there are some new additions to the "room" as it were. I've added a fancy music player, for those of you inclinded to listen while you read, containing the world's greatest music. I've also messed around with the color and even added this post explaining all the additions I've made. It's all quite exciting (sarcasm intended). I have also used many parenthesis in this post, I shall have to work on that. Here's hoping that I get this blogging stuff figured out before investing half a year into a substandard endeavor.
First.
I am being pulled into this blogging thing sheerly though peer pressure. She never even said I should do it. Yes, there's a she. There's always a she. If there weren't ever a she, the world would never have a purpose. Luckily, my "she" is the best.
Now if anyone ever considers following this, I would advise them to reflect carefully on that action before hand. I am generally bad at keeping up with this sort of thing. I can guarantee that my punctuation will slowly degrade and I will eventually stop capitalizing words such as "I." If you find yourself to be okay with those conditions, then by all means enjoy my whimsey.
Now if anyone ever considers following this, I would advise them to reflect carefully on that action before hand. I am generally bad at keeping up with this sort of thing. I can guarantee that my punctuation will slowly degrade and I will eventually stop capitalizing words such as "I." If you find yourself to be okay with those conditions, then by all means enjoy my whimsey.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)