Realistic Melodrama

Another geolical age has passed, so I'll update

2006-07-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

Work and vegetation (the state of, not the flora) has dominated my time recently. I've been working around 40 hours a week the past couple months (excluding my vacation in Puerto Rico, which was glorious) and my shift tends to be either from 2 to 10 or from 3 to 11, i.e. primetime for socializing. Oh well, I'm making good money, and being at work also means I'm not spending money. It was kind of an awkward shift--going from being a bum to working 40 hours a week is pretty crazy.

Bianca had her puppies the other day. They're cute but they'll be cuter when the do more than just nurse, sleep, and poop, which is what they're doing now.

This is the only politically-themed post I will ever have (probably)

2006-06-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

Like, well, apparently everybody in the country at the moment, it seems I'm required to have an opinion on Gay Marriage (capitalized for its significance.) Since that's apparently the most important issue in the country right now when we've been occupying an unstable country for years, AIDS is fucking over Africa, and several different nations are arming themselves with nuclear weapons. While I'm glad that the Federal Marriage Amendment predictably failed in the US Sentate (but not in the PA House, but that still needs a bunch of procedural crap to get it going) I do have a very specific opinion in the issue.

This must be the stupidest fucking issue in the country right now. I've lost all ability to really care about it. The contraversy about it has been going on for so long that nobody even cares about what the issue is supposed to be about. The conservatives have no valid argument that doesn't have a religious basis (i.e. marriage is between a man and a woman). Rather than use this against them, the liberals allowed the conservatives to completely change the context of the issue. Rather than having anything to do with rights or protecting gay families, Gay Marriage is now a semantic issue about the word "marriage." The conservatives essentially won already because they've completely distracted everyone from what the issue is realy about. And, because the word "marriage" has become everything the issue is about now, the liberals blew their chance for the more reasonable compromise of civil unions; that way the fundies supporting the conservatives could have their precious word, and the homosexuals that the liberals decided to champion would have the assosiated rights.

A few years ago I would have pushed out the "separate is not equal" rebuttal to civil unions, but that was foolish politiking. Both sides had a chance for compromise, and they blew it because the conservatives can make everybody thinking that legitimizing homosexual couples is an attack on marriage, the word moreso than the institution. So, in essence, I don't care about Gay Marriage because it isn't about anything real anymore. It's about words.

What dreams may come?

2006-05-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

I had a really weird dream about an old flame last night. It started off relatively normal, I suppose. He came up from behind me and gave me a kiss, then he asked if I could do something. I said no, but I'd be around later. Then came the weird part. I, erm, threw a Pokeball at him and caught him and took him around with me in the Pokeball. o_O

I guess one "interpretation" would be that the time and place were wrong for us when I was seeing him, but I'm still "carrying him around" so to speak. Or it could mean I'm a huge dork.

This is what I get for having freinds with photoshop skills...

2006-05-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Random note.

2006-05-13T00:38:00.000-07:00

I should probably see a doctor about my big toe.

Here we go again...

2006-05-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

Well, another semester come and gone. I'm staying in Bloomsburg till Friday even though my last final was yesterday and I handed in my last paper this morning. It was a gorgeous day today. I was walking to sell my books back and hand in my paper and I noticed that the sky was REALLY blue. I dunno, maybe it was that this huge burden of school has disappeared and I can appreciate the little things now. I dunno. Bloomsburg has a collective seasonal affective disorder. Since it's rainy and cold for about 80% of the school year, everyone's always depressed and gloomy for that portion of the school year. Then when the sun comes out and the boys start playing football shirtless on the lawn outside my dorm, everything's fine again, except this semester I've been too stressed over personal stuff and too worried / stressed about getting my school stuff back on track to really appreciate it. Ironic that this semester I was doing the least amount of extracurricular stuff ever yet I had the hardest time getting my act together. I guess it's the sophomore slump. Either way, it's over now.

I need to scramble to find a job as soon as I get back in New Hope. I hate looking for jobs, but I really need money right now.

Jordan and Jill are graduating. I really just can't fathom it. It's weird. It reminds me that graduating is coming closer. Blech. I don't want to be an adult.

Wonder Woman roxxors

2006-04-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

As you all SHOULD know, I've become a big Wonder Woman fan in the last year, but I signed on right about when Diana started having a pretty rough time. First off, right before I started reading, she was attacked by the Gorgon Medousa at the behest of the witch Circe. In this process, Diana was forced to blind herself in order to avoid getting turned to stone. An unfortunate casualty (one of many) in this battle was the son of one of the men who works at her embassy. This battle was also part of a coup organized by Athena, Diana's patron goddess, to take the throne of Olympus from her father Zeus. Diana was pressed into further conflicts among the gods, including descending to Tartarus to rescue Hermes from Hades, which subsequently put Ares, Wonder Woman's old foe, in charge of the Underworld. On the bright side, in this process, Diana regained both her sight and the life of the boy Medousa turned to stone.

Shortly after this is where things get even stickier. Wonder Woman was attacked by a mind controlled Superman, and was forced to kill the villian responsible, which was then broadcast to the entire world, making it appear as if Wonder Woman killed a civillian in cold blood. The responsible heroine she is, Diana answered for her crimes, submitting herself to incarceration and trial at the Hague. Before her trial, a legion of killer Cyborgs attacked her home island, Themyscira, in an attempt to get to her. The Amazons responded by unleashing a death ray against the attackers, killing the innocent hosts inside the cybernetic shells. Diana then told the amazons that they must again withdraw from Man's world, and the island was hidden from the world again, leaving Diana alone to face her attackers. Without a country, she was now a fugitive, and her embassy closed, and her gods abandoned the world. And then she faced her greatest foe ever...

Cancellation.

I was a little bummed, since the only other DC book I read (Flash) was canceled as well. New volumes of each start in the summer, but they'll probably be drastically changed in DC's new "shake up the status quo to sell more comics" crossover. Diana's come along way from her bondage queen sex kitten origins, and I'd be upset if she's not represented well. We'll see, I suppose.

I like this monologue

2006-04-05T23:04:00.000-07:00

From John Webster's "The White Devil."

MONTICELSO:
Shall I expound whore to you? Sure I shall;
I'll give their perfect character. The are, first
Sweetmeats which rot the eater; in man's nostril,
Poisoned perfumes. They are coz'ning alchemy,
Shipwrecks in calmest weather. What are whores?
Cold Russian winters, that appear so barren
As if that nature had forgot the spring.
They are the true material fire of hell,
Worse than those tributes i'th'Low countries paid,
Exactions upon meat, drink, garments, sleep--
Ay, even on man's perdition, his sin.
They are those brittle evidences of law
Which forfeit all a wretched man's estate
For leaving out one syllable. What are whores?
They are those flattering bells have all one tune
At weddings and at funerals. Your rich whores
Are only treasuries by extortion filled,
And emptied by cursed riot. They are worse,
Worse than dead bodies which are begged at gallows
And wrought upon by surgeons to teach man
Wherein he is imperfect. What's a whore?
She's like the guilty counterfeited coin
Which, whose'er stamps it, brings in trouble
All that receive it.

One other thing...

2006-04-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

If you're going to be around New Hope most of the Summer and are interested in playing Exalted, please send me an email or AIM. I'd like to get things set up in the future, so we can actually do more than two or three sessions, preferably we could set up a regular time when we play, since "whenever we get together" tends to lead us to have three sessions than forget about it.

I'm pretty sure none of you who actually apply are reading this (except maybe Allison. Hi Allison!) but I'll post guidelines here anyway just because they're on my mind now and having them down for a reference would be handy.

Anyway, I'm interested in running a game for 3-6 people. I have the core book and pdfs of a bunch of other books *hides eye patch and parrot* and can burn books to CDs and/or print out relevent sections to those who need them. Based on interest, there's a few different "game types" we can run. As those familiar with Exalted are aware, there's Five different "types" of Exalted (actually six, but I have no knowledge and little interest in Alchemicals, and they're not supposed to be in Creation anyway, so we're pretending they're not there) and I'm willing to run several different "types" of games depending on which Exalted type people want to play.

You should play a Solar Exalted if:
--You want the most freedom in your character's background. Solar Exalted come from all walks of life, and don't have any sort of society like any of the other Exalted types.
--You want to be the most powerful overall. Other Exalt types have their own specialties and can meet or surpass Solars in certain areas, but the Solars are the most powerful in general.
--You don't know much about or don't have time/energy to learn about the setting.
--Castes are:
-----Dawn (Warrior types)
-----Zenith (Priests)
-----Twilight (Savants/Sorcerers)
-----Night (Rogues)
-----Eclipse (Diplomats)

You should play a Lunar Exalted if:
--You like animals/nature/barbarians.
--You like shapeshifting and stuff
--You like lycanthropes/werecreatures
--You don't mind having somewhat less material to work with than other Exalt types
--You like ritual tattoing and scarring
--Castes are:
-----Full Moon (Warriors)
-----Changing Moon (Tricksters)
-----No Moon (Wise Men)

You should play a Dragon-Blooded (Terrestrial Exalted) if:
--You like having easy access to lots of pretty toys (Artifacts)
--You don't mind being mechanically weaker than the other Exalt types. DBs have a few advantages mechanically, particularly free use of Reflexive Charms, which means you can generally use an offensive and defensive Charm in the same turn without using a combo.
--You don't want people to run and scream "Anathema!" whenever you use your powers
--You like politics/backstabbing/incest
--Aspects (as opposed to Castes) are:
-----Air (Thought)
-----Earth (Integrity)
-----Fire (Passion)
-----Water (Adaptability)
-----Wood (Nurturing/Celebrating)

You should play a Sidereal Exalted if:
--You like martial arts
--You like being mysterious and enigmatic
--You're willing to learn how to use their complex-as-hell special fate-warping Astrology (trust me, it's confusing as fuck at first)
--You like spirits/gods/heaven
--You like having orders to follow (sometimes)
--Castes are:
-----Chosen of Mercury (Journeys)
-----Chosen of Venus (Serenity)
-----Chosen of Mars (Battles)
-----Chosen of Jupiter (Secrets)
-----Chosen of Saturn (Endings)

You should play an Abyssal Exalted if:
--You like being angsty and dark
--You like being totally batshit
--You want to be really ugly
--You want to be very frighteningly pretty
--You like necromancy
--You like necrophilia (just kidding)
--You like having easy access to lots of cool toys (artifacts) and spells
--You like sucking blood/eating flesh/breathing in souls
--You like beings who exist to bring the world into Oblivion and being their bitch.
--You like killing things
--You like ostentatious flowery titles instead of names. You can call yourself shit like "Witness to the Baleful Silence," "Virgin Hidden Behind an Infinitely Black Veil" or "She Who Never Got a Pony."
--Casts are:
-----Dusk (Warriors)
-----Midnight (Priests)
-----Daybreak (Savants/Necromancers)
-----Day (Rogues)
-----Moonshadow (Diplomats)
-----(Golly, these are familiar...)

To people who read books that I don't really care to read and find out about God-Blooded/Demon-Blooded/Dragon Kings/Half-Caste/Alchemical Exalted/Infernal Exalted/Excremental Exalted, I'm going to be premptive and say "NO."

A Solar Game is pretty much the default. Playing a Solar Game, the majority of the players should be Solars, but other types are allowed with restriction. I'll allow 2-3 "exceptions" depending on how many people are playing.
--Heroic mortals are unrestricted, as long as you're aware there'll be a significant power difference.
--Dragon-Blooded are allowed as Outcastes only, unless you give me a really good reason for why your Dynast is hanging around a bunch of Anathema.
--Sidereal Exalted are allowed, but only one at most, and only from the Gold Faction (Sidereals that support the return of the Solars)
--Lunar Exalted are unrestricted.
--Abyssal Exalted are restricted. If you can give me a good plot hook, I'll let you play one. If not...sorry.

A Lunar game will focus on Lunars fighting against civilization/the Realm, earning their esteem in the Silver Pact, and basically being awesome. Animal lovers will dig this. Due to the very specific flavor of a Lunar-based game, I'm going to restrict all other Exalt types. Give me a plot hook and you're golden, otherwise, no. Bronze Faction Sidereals and Dynasts are denied outright unless you're awesome.

A Dragon-Blooded game will focus probably on politics/backstabbing/being corrupt and decadent, or fighting against the enemies of the Realm, yadda yadda, etc.
--Outcastes or Dynasts are both welcome
--A maximum of ONE Bronze-Faction Sidereal will be allowed.
--Solars, Lunars, and Abyssals are restricted. Again, give me a hook, and you're good.

A Sidereal game will focus on warping Fate to suit their purposes, furthering the goals of their faction. All non-Sidereal types are restricted (again, give me a good hook and I'll consider it.) I'm not going to enforce faction on the group, a mixed circle is fine. However, if we have five players, I will STRONGLY encourage a Full Circle (one Sidereal of each Maiden) because that's just special.

An Abyssal game is focused on furthering the Deathlords' aims in Creation and the Underworld. I'll allow a maximum of TWO Solars and/or Lunars. No DBs or Sidereals.

A mixed game is just that. A mixed game will NOT be like our mixed In Nomine games, which basically pits the PCs against each other. Your evil Deathknight Most Sickly Yellow Rose of the Contagion Spreading Pollen WILL coexist with the happy-go-lucky Chosen of Venus even if I have to pull teeth.

So yeah. If you're gonna be around New Hope and wanna play, let me know.

After forever in a day...

2006-04-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

Does anybody read this anymore? Haha. I should but the link back in my profile or something.

Anyway.

Not working on a show has shown me how badly I am at using my time well. I'll have to try to get better at that. Hopefully I'll get a good part in Lysistrata next semester, if we do that, I know Karen's been itching to do it for forever and a day, we're doing a classical piece regardless. Assuming the theater department doesn't crumble to shit, which it looks like what's going to happen as a result of Ross's retirement.

I've been having mixed luck in the boy department lately. For a while I was seeing/interested in this nice guy who sits in on my Rennaissance Drama class, but now I've barely spoken to him for a week and a half, and I haven't the slightest idea as to why. On the flipside, an underclassman is interested in me, and while he's a nice guy, he's definitly not the type I usually go for...I tend to go for more intellectual/career driven guys. Not that he's dumb--he's not, in any sense of the word--I just tend to go for pretentious asshole elitists, haha. Plus he's blonde, and dating aryans induces holocaust survivor guilt for me. Maybe I'll just go and become a monk. Or a prostitute.

Immaculata is coming up this weekend, looking forward to missing a day of class to hang with the Huskies, then get drunk as hell and watch straight guys try to get laid. The following weekend is a four day weekend, during which I'm going home then going to Rhode Island to see Jill perform in Top Girls.

Anyway, this is probably the big news here. I'm sorta changing my major/concentration. Shocking, yes. I'm dropping my Education major, just going for English now. I still want to be a teacher, but I'd prefer to have a better mastery of my subject than take a bunch of annoying education courses at the expense of being able to take courses that interest me and will increase my knowledge in my subject. I can get my certification easily enough in grad school, and have to deal with less buerocratic BS during undergrad. Stephen said I should be able to get a fellowship if I want to do my grad school here, so paying for it might not be as much of an issue as I thought. It'll probably be made official tomorrow when I see my advisor.

So, erm, keep reading and I might actually post. That'd be cool, right?

Joey's theme song

2006-02-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

We are what we're supposed to be - illusions of your fantasy
All dots and lines that speak and say - what we do - is what you wish
to do
We are the color symphony – we do the things you want to see
Frame by frame - to the extreme

Our friends are so unreasonable – they do the unpredictable
All dots and lines that speak and say - what we do - is what you wish
to do
It's all an orchestra of strings – doing unbelievable things
Frame by frame - to the extreme – one by one we're making it fun

We are the cartoon heroes – oh – we are the ones who are gonna last
forever
We came out of a crazy mind – oh – and walked out on a piece of paper

Here comes Spiderman – arachnophobian – welcome to the toon town party
Here comes Superman – from never never land – welcome to the toon town
party

We learn to run at speed of light – and to fall down from any height
It's true but just remember that - what we do – is what you just can't
do
An opera of craziness - a bunch of dots that's chasing us
Frame by frame - to the extreme – one by one we're making it fun

We are the cartoon heroes – oh – we are the ones who are gonna last
forever
We came out of a crazy mind – oh – and walked out on a piece of paper

Here comes Spiderman – arachnophobian – welcome to the toon town party
Here comes Superman – from never never land – welcome to the toon town
party

You think we're so mysterious – don't take us all too serious
Be original and remember that – what we do – is what you just can't do

What we do – is what you just can't do - What we do – is what you just
can't
do
What we do – is what you just can't do - What we do – is what you just
can't
do

We are the cartoon heroes – oh – we are the ones who are gonna last
forever
We came out of a crazy mind – oh – and walked out on a piece of paper

There's still more to come – and everyone will be - welcomed at the
toon
town party

"I Worship Your Nose!"

2006-02-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

Ten minute plays go up next week. Have tech tomorrow. w00t. Please come see them if you are anywhere near Bloomsburg University.

It seems I'm all about Freud lately.

2006-02-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

Odd encounter with theatrically induced male Elektra complex. Or something. I know this sounds really pervy, but it's not.

The student-written 10 minute plays are going well. For those who don't know, I'm currently in rehearsals for a short play I wrote, Tanrum, as well as a play I'm performing in written by another student, titled A Secret Between Us. I play an eleven-year-old who finds mutated grasshoppers and aliens on his farm. The guy playing my dad is an attractive (heterosexual) senior named Dan. Tonight in rehearsal, Tanya (the director) asked me to latch onto him (in the manner of a young child) during the end. Initially I was a little excited and a little awkward, which was only made worse when she told me to more or less bury my face in his chest. I was really trying to lose the awkwardness. We ran that beat several times, and I was just getting comfortable with it, really getting into the character at the moment, when I started thinking "Damn. He smells good."

Weeeeiiiiiird.

More psychoanalysis

2006-02-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

Deferred gratification makes me horny.

WWFS? (What Would Freud Say?)

2006-01-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

Class went by quickly on Friday, with little incident, save a major Freudian slip in my Renaissance Drama class. This is a class I took not only because the subject matter is intersting to me, but also because it's only offered once every five years and my favorite professor was teaching it. Said professor also tends to give me As, and it never hurts to improve my GPA. This professor is Dr. Stephen Whitworth, Stephen to those who like him. Stephen is quite gay, very intelligent, and I would sleep with him only because in some twisted sense I think that the process would bestow some of his intelligence on me. Anyway. We had started on a play by Thomas Kid entitled The Spanish Tragedy about a woman named Bel-Imperia, the daughter of a Spanish Duke, who seeks revenge for her murdered lover.

The play opens with her lover's ghost describing his death and how he was unable to cross the River Styx to pass into the afterlife until his friend performed his funeral rites three days after his death, and the judges of the Underworld sent him back with a mysterious presence referred to simply as "Revenge" to watch the events of the play unfold. Stephen asked me to read the ghost's opening monologue, as "he so enjoys hearing me read." This was based on probably one or both of two things: in Approaches to Literary Study, a class I took with him last semester, he asked me to read a passage of The Turn of the Screw "with hysteria," which he enjoyed. He could also have said this because of my initiation to Sigma Tau Delta, the National Honors Fraternity for English, which he is an advisor for. All the new initiates were asked to read a piece of poetry or prose; most people read horrible pretentious intellectual material that they probably just had from the class they were currently taking--Emmerson, Frost, and *shudder* Ayn Rand. Instead, I read a short story written by contemporary a humorist named David Sedaris (I highly recommend him) entitled "The Learning Curve," which is about his experiences teaching a college writing workshop that he was in now way qualified to teach. This class was filled with both students who very transparently put no effort into their work and students who cosntantly complained that they weren't learning. I had to stop every 30 seconds or so to allow laughing. After the initiation, Stephen said "Good reading, Joe. Very funny, and very accurate."

Anyway, I began to read the ghost's monologue. This being a play from the English Renaissance, the language was of course overly flowery with lots of metaphors garnishing it. The gist of what he's trying to say is "I was fucking this high-class chick in secret, but then I was killed in battle, and I went to hell, then came back here." The monologue is over two pages long. One such metaphor goes something like "But in the harvest of my summer joys / Death's winter nipped the blossoms of my bliss / Forcing divorce betwixt my love and me." I read the line (or at least I thought I did), but then noticed Stephen laughung, and the rest of the class following suit. Apparently, I had said "Death's winter nippled the blossoms of my bliss." Oy. I can just tell he's going to ask me to read again more than once over the course of the semester.

A Belated Resolution

2006-01-05T00:47:00.000-08:00

It's been forever since I've updated, but here goes.

This is not a belated New Years resolution; this is a belated life resolution, because this is something that needs to be carried out over the course of my lifetime, not simply the next year. I admit that this can't happen instantly, but I'm sure as hell going to give it a shot, so here goes.

I have a new mantra/philososphy / what have you, simple in thought but difficult to carry out. I do not make apologies for who I am. This isn't "I'm here, I'm queer, get used to it." This isn't about an identity I accept and vowing to live it despite criticisms. This is about the person I am, in my entirety, and that it's my right to simply be. By "not making apologies," I mean I don't need to justify my tastes; I don't need to justify the actions I take that lead me toward happiness. I don't reserve my emotions if responding to them may be difficult for you; it's my right to be honest towards who I am. I will no longer hold myself in check because it makes life a little less rough. I reject an external locus of control; I am the only one responsible for the choices I make, and I do not apologize for my decisions, only for negative effects that I did not anticipate. I will make my choices as I see fit, and only as I see fit; I do not need to saccrifice my own happiness to avoid conflict.

Like any resolution, this is a process. I don't expect it to happen over night, I'll be making steps. Continually, making steps. Hopefully 2006 is just the beginning in no longer compromising what I want and who I am for the sake of not stirring the waters.

A long overdue update.

2005-12-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

Tom & Huck was fantastic, loved every minute of it, sorry it's over. I miss it already.

Class done. Now I just have one final, a speech, a project, and a research paper to worry about. Someone shoot me now.
Almost my birthday. Yay for being 20. Or something.

A play I wrote in Scriptwriting class is getting produced as part of a student-written 10 minute play festival. Auditions were Wednesday, and they;re cast. Rehearsals start when I get back.

Now for the big news. Turns out I got nominated for an Irene Ryan award! For the uninformed, that's an acting award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. I was an alternate for a show or two, but a few people were nominated twice, so I got bumped up. Crazy huh? So I'm going to ACTF in New Paltz this January. I need to prepare two scenes and a monologue, so I'm kinda freaking out now. I need to ask my professors for suggestions and find a good scene partner before I go home next week.

That's about it. See you New Hope suckers in a week or so.

Moments in Nostalga

2005-11-30T10:21:00.000-08:00

Rita Repulsa makes my monster grow.

The Fish of the Day: Role Models

2005-11-21T10:43:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking about my various role models; Ms. Pitner, Mrs. Dettra, Dr. Whitworth, Greg (my director for Tom & Huck / scriptwriting teacher), etc. They all seem to have something in common, in that I feel completely dwarfed by them in the respect to which I admire them; I'll never be as charismatic, dedicated, or intelligent as Ms. Pitner, I'll never be as brilliant as Dr. Whitworth, and I'll never be as creative and insightful as Greg. I suppose that's sort of the point, they're my role models because they have qualities I desire, and it wouldn't make sense to want to emulate qualities I already had, but I guess I just feel like there's some fundamental distinction between the people in my life that inspire me and myself; some insurmountable gap that just creates a division.

Am I unrealistic in my choice in role models because of this? Is this perceived distinction real, or imaginary? Am I just not confident in my own abilities? No, I know I'll never be as good a teacher as Ms. Pitner; well, maybe 'know' isn't the worth I'm looking for, but I just feel there's something more than training and experience that separates me from my role models. I just can't seem to put my finger on what exactly it is. I know I'm still young, but I see my youth vanishing a lot quicker than I thought it would. I have about two and a half years of undergrad left. What happens after that? I feel now more than ever that I need to do as much as I can in the short time that's available to me. I don't want my growth and education to slip away from me. It just seems like now more than ever I need to take it firmly by the hand, and become the best person I can be. The problem is I don't think I personally have the drive to do it.

I should start writing short stories again, or just write more plays. I need to do more things to better myself. I don't know. Maybe I should start working out or eating better. Maybe I should try new things, like cross stitching or playing squash. I don't know what I need to do. Maybe I never will.

When the past comes back...

2005-11-14T20:32:00.000-08:00

This weekend "The Pride and Prejudice Project," the other mainstage production for this semester, was playing. I went to see it Saturday evening. It was...um. They made a lot of really strong choices; all the actors were wearing white, except for a colored underlayer that some of the women had. Instead of performing it on the stage, they made a disc-shaped platform over a section of the seating, and had seeting on all for sides of it. There were these drape things that were hanging from the balcony, and actors sometimes played with them, other times they were made into swings. As you can see, there was a lot going on, and in the end, I thought the show lacked focus. There were many sections where multiple conversations were going on at once, and since the play relied on dialogue so much to tell the story, it was hard to follow. The individual actors and designers all did wonderful, it just seemed like a mess when it came together, which, IMHO, ultimately falls on the director. Not to badmouth our faculty (well, she's an assosiate professor, but still...) but that's really where the source of all the chaos seems to be. Oh, did I mention the strike on Sunday took until 3:30 AM Monday morning?

Anyway, here comes the part that this entry that is intersting to me. When I was seeing the show, I ran into my friend/classmate/castemate Kate, who was there with her friend Margarite. It turned out that I had taken American Lit I with Margarite my first semester, and she remembered me. Later Kate told me that when Margarite saw me, she and Kate had a conversation with me. Kate (who I currently am taking Approaches to Lit study with) said that I was smart, and Margarite agreed, saying that she felt bad for me in American Lit, because apparently some of the people in the class had made fun of me when I spoke up. Now, I did not notice this at all (possibly because I sat in the front row.) Fuck anyone who made fun of my for speaking my mind in that class, the professor had told me I was the most active participant in the class and gave me an A for participation. Screw whoever things I'm a pretentious moron. I'm in the fucking class/major because I like talking about literature. Everyone has there chance to speak. Not my fault you don't take it and I do.

Anyway, now that I've vented, I will let you be. Ciao,

What's this? A real post?

2005-11-09T15:07:00.000-08:00

Two posts in one day after not posting for almost two weeks. Wow.

Anyway, Tom & Huck has raped my Thanksgiving Break. My last day of classes before break is Tuesday the 22nd. I also have rehearsal until 11:00 that night, which pretty much rules out going home on Tuesday. So, unless one of my parents wants to schlep up to Bloomsburg to get me, I'll be taking the bus, which puts me home at about 8:00 PM on Wednesday. Then is Thanksgiving, whee. Anyway, Friday I have as a "free" day, but I need to be back at school at 7:00 PM on Saturday (yes, a Saturday) for, guess what, another rehearsal. So essentially I'm home for three days, two if I have to take the bus home. Sigh.

In other news, scheduling was a pain. I couldn't schedule any of the gen eds I need except for a math class. Bleh. The good news is that I was able to schedule a class with Steven that I'm really looking forward to (Renaissance Drama) and he agreed to pink slip me into a class that was full (Europeon Lit) and I was finally able to schedule Intro to Theater after the third semester I tried to schedule it. So, my schedule next semester looks something like this:

Renaissance Drama
Europeon Lit I
Intermediate Acting
Intro to Theater Arts
Finite Mathematics
Husky Singers (of course.)

As far as theater stuff, Greg, my director for Tom & Huck, is directing another one of his shows, called "The Riddle of the Sphinx." I'm not sure I'm going to audtion, because of how busy I was this semester. There's also going to be a performance of student-written 10 minute plays, and I'm planning on submitting at least one of the ones I wrote for Scriptwriting this semester, possibly two. It'd be nifty to get one of them produced. One is about the 5 year old anti-christ having a temper tantrum, the other is about gay pengiuns.

That's about it for now. I have rehearsal tonight (of course.) Ciao folks.

I love Henry James.

2005-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

An assortment of lines from chapter 17 of Henry James's novel "The Turn of the Screw."

"I say you there -- come in!" --Miles ten years old, to his governess who is standing outside his bedroom.

"What is it," I [the governess] asked, "that you think of?"
"What in the world, my dear, but you?"

"Well, I think also, you know, of this queer business of ours." -- Miles

I could say nothing for a minute, thought I feld as I held his hand and our eyes continue to meet in silence...nothing in the whole world of reality was perhaps at that moment so fabulous as our actual relation.

He seemed to wonder; he smiled with the same loveliness. But he clearly gained time; he waited, he called for guidance.

"Oh you know what a boy wants!" --Miles

"Ah, you can't get off with that!" --Miles
"My dear, I don't want to get off!" --The governess

...it made me drop on my knees beside the bed and seize once more the chance of posessing him. "My dear little Miles, dear little Miles, if you knew how I want to help you!"

...I brought it out now even if I should go too far--

And the last line of the chapter...

"It was I who blew it, my dear!" said Miles.

I knew I saw Sulu checking out Chekov's ass...

2005-10-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Oh Mr. Sulu...

goes berskerk and runs into the kitchen

2005-10-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Fish of the Day:

Acting is hard.

Don't get me wrong, it's fun, but it's hard. The first few rehearsals for Tom and Huck have gone excellently, but...it's a lot of work. Not just putting out effort and being an active participant, which is pretty much all that's really been required of me in most of the acting I've done so far. This is actual work. And I'm only talking about the first three rehearsals. I feel like there are more expectations on me than precedented, and that's probably because there are.

It's not to say I'm not up to the task. It's just a little more daunting than I originally imagined. I was doubting myself at first when I thought I just wasn't getting it, but when I saw how much progress we made in just one rehearsal, I started feeling better. Not to get cocky. I just think it has the potential to turn out really well. And I am having fun. It's just the kind of fun that involves work. I think that's how it's supposed to be. Right? <_<

The Soup of the Day (a cup.)

2005-10-13T21:26:00.000-07:00

Does anyone anyone even remember when I used to do the fish of the day? When I had some sort of revelation or observation or a tidbit of wisdom, I'd call it that? Anyway, I'm now separating it into three categories.

The Fish of the Day is a revelation that merits a full entry of itself.

The Soup of the Day (a bowl) is a revelation that I can go on for a pargraph or so.

The Soup of the Day (a cup) is a one liner. Today's post is a cup.

When someone electronically informs you that they're going to masterbate, awkward conversations and/or social situations usually ensue.

My posts are only interesting when I steal from Jill.

2005-10-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Search google to find what you need.

Joey needs time
Joey needs a spanking!
Joey needs a sidekick
Joey needs home
Joey needs to quit his job
Joey needs a family that could provide consistent structure for him
Joey needs to practice kissing...guys. (I didn't edit this one at all. Seriously.)
Joey needs money for new headshots.
Joey needs good structure with daily routines he can count on.
Joey needs a life.
Joey needs someone who can help her relax and Pacey is the perfect one.
Joey Needs a New Program Distributor
All Joey needs to really prove himself is a really shaky line to play behind.

Thank you Jill.

2005-10-09T11:27:00.000-07:00

Joey took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test!

"Seeks success, stimulation, and a life full of exp..."

Click here to read the rest of the results.

What? A real update?

2005-10-08T23:22:00.000-07:00

Crazy.

So. Let's see what orders of business we have.

This semester feels weird. I feel less motivated than usual in all of my classes except Approaches to Lit Study and Scriptwriting. I don't know why. I don't think it's gotten to the point where it'll effect my GPA much (I'm still hoping for As in most of my classes) but it still feels odd. It just doesn't feel like me, I guess. I don't know. There's something afoul in the air, maybe.

Speaking of the air, it's been raining since Friday and will probably rain all of Sunday too. Yuck.

This weekend has been fun. Adam's girlfriend Jule and his friend Joe came to visit, which is nice because them and Al have been around all weekend, and usually I don't have so many people to hang out with on weekends, especially now that I'm not hanging out with the theater people as much, which was a little disconcerting at most, but I think it could be for the best. I feel a lot better now that every waking moment isn't devoted to impressing the Bloomsburg Players (hyperbole people, hyperbole). Plus it means I'll never volunteer to house manage a show as long as I live. Muahaha. On a related note, rehearsals for Tom & Huck start a week from Monday. I'm really looking forward to that. Professor Fletcher, my scriptwriting teacher, is directing it (he also wrote it) and he's a really cool guy. Should be a gas to work with. Plus I get to act alongside Morris, who is crazy talented, as well as Kate who's hella fun, plus a couple Freshman. And Tkach and A-Hoe of course.

A week from Sunday is my Sigma Tau Delta initiation. Yes folks, I'm joining a frat. But it's the English honors frat and thus not a real frat. While other people are paying $200 a year for their friends and going through a month or two of hell, all I have to do is pay a one time $45 fee and read something in front of a bunch of people for something to put on my resume. Plus Dr. Whitworth is one of the advisors, so that's all cool.

I saw Serenity today with Adam, Jule, Joe, Jordan, Caitlyn, and Al. It was quite good. I liked it very much. For a while during the end I thought they were going to overdo the whole character death thing, but fortunately that didn't happen. Effects and such were nice too.

Oh, I'm probably going to get an upper campus apartment next year with Adam, Al, and maybe Gary. Since Al's doing his co-op Spring Semester next year and may have to leave, we may get Mike, one of our new Freshman buddies (or 'noobs' as we call them) to fill in if he has to live somewhere else.

So, that's about it for now. Ciao people.

Silo is a cheating bastard.

2005-10-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/09/25/2003273141

Ok, screw you Bendis.

2005-10-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

You get points for giving Emma Frost more panel time in the last two issues of "New Avengers" than all of the Avengers except Sentry, but you lose all of them for one line of dialouge.

The elegant, intelligent, classy Emma Frost does not use the phrase "took the biggest dump." Ever.

I'm not a slut, I'm just easy.

2005-09-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

	You are a Slutcom 2, also known as the a lil' sleazy level of slutcom. You hook up with people on a semi-regular basis. You may hook up with random people sometimes, especially in a drunken stupor. How far you go will vary widely, but the options are more open and based on the heat of the moment. You hook up more than average, but that's OK.
Take the slutcom litmus test! The slutcom litmus test originated in A Word of Advice.

Dear diary:

2005-09-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

Today I cuddled with a straight guy who is in the army (in some capacity) but if his sergeant asks, you didn't hear it from me. He also said he'd do me if he was gay. But he isn't. Apparently.

"Bread is a staff, whereas bread is also a staff, and an oak springs from an oak every morning at dawn."

2005-09-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

Rehearsal for "The Bald Soprano" came and went faster than I could have imagined. The last month or so seems like such a blur. It's kind of scary. In any case, last night's opening night went well. All errors were easily compensated for without losing energy or pacing. I'm pleased with my performance, but I still think I could be doing better. Still, I can always use the common excuse for mediocrity, "It's only a showcase." After this is done I have about three weeks before rehearsals for "Tom & Huck" start, which should be fun. I like working with small casts. (This has a cast of...seven?) I was looking over the rehearsal schedule and realized I was basically one of the few people who is needed at every rehearsal, which I guess is simultaniously a good and bad thing. I dunno. I'm looking forward to it, but this is probably the biggest part I've had since "Little Shop" in the 10th grade, so I'm a little scared. Most of the other actors haven't had many gigantic roles either, except for the lead, so I shouldn't be too intimidated.

I'm wondering whether or not I should buy X-Men Legends 2 now or wait until the price goes down a bit. One of my neighbors has it, so I could theoretically borrow it until then, but it's annoying borrowing addictive media, and if it's anything like the first game, the price will stay high for several months, probably until after Christmas. So I'll probably give in and get it soon. The curse of being a complusive gamer.

Classes are going pretty well. The only ones I'm really liking a lot are fundies of design, scriptwriting, and approaches to lit study. Public speaking is so-so, and Non-Western lit is annoying. Plus the second week the teacher made me feel a little uncomfortable since I picked up a little anti-Zionist sentiment from him. I'm not a Zionist, but the way he portrayed Israel still irked me a little bit.

"In the room women come and go / Talking of Michaelangelo."

2005-09-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

Considering I'm not even 20 yet, it really scares me how much I identify with T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

Look it up if you're curious.

Minor update

2005-09-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

I got the part in "Tom and Huck." I get to crossdress (twice) and go on a rampage in the kitchen. As much as I love doing hammy parts, I'd like to do a semi-serious part at least once before I die. Let's take a look at what I've done since the 7th grade...

7th grade:
--Freddy Hill, "The Pygmalian." Cute dorky role. (mostly comedic)
--The Burglar, "The Virtuous Buglar." Hammy role. (completely comedic)
--The Whetherman and Dr. Kakaphonas A. Discord, "The Phantom Tollbooth." (Roles with funny voices.

8th Grade:
--Professor Kokintz, "The Mouse That Roared." Hamish excentric role. (Basically completely comedic.)

9th Grade
--Um...

10th Grade
--Professor Mentz, "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Minor silly role. (Yeah, comedic.)
--The Steward, "Into the Woods." Minor silly role. (Although I do get to freak out after I kill someone. Come to think of it, that's probably the closest thing I've done to a serious role ever.)
--Seymour, "Little Shop of Horros." Atypical leading man. (Um, actually, I did have a few serious moments here, but I don't think I used them as well as I could.)

11th Grade
--Melchior, "On the Razzle." Supporting silly role. (Comedic. One of my favorites too.)
--Henry Ford, "Ragtime." Featured singer. (Kind of a serious subtext, but not really.)

12th Grade
--Squire Alworthy, "Tom Jones." Supporting comedic role. (Fun one.)
--Rocky, "Damn Yankees." Featured comedic role. (Comedic songs.)

Freshman year
--Jack, "2004 Performance Showcase." Featured silly role. (I talked about half an octave higher than I normally do for the entire performance.)
--The Superhero and The Wealthy Husband, "Choice." Walk-on comedic roles. (Once again, there was a serious subtext, but it was reached via silliness.)

So yeah, I'd like to be a little more versatile, but I can't help but feel I've been locked into this archetype. Maybe for my next audition I'll do a completely unfunny monologue, or something.

First week of college almost done (two more hours of class.)

2005-09-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

So far, kick ass.

First off, classes.

Public speaking should be an alright class. The professor reminds me of my friend Jen, in hear appearance, attitude, and inflection. Kinda weird but cool at the same time. On Wednesday I have to deliver an ungraded speech about an item that represents me. I'm going to use an issue of Wonder Woman, and use one particular page as a focus. If that scares you, good.

Approaches to Literary Study with Dr. Steven Whitworth, my favorite professor. Totally kick ass. Jordan (my roommate) is in the class with me, as is my friend Kate. Any class with Steven is automatically kickass. On Wednesday he told us that he set fire to his parents' bathroom when he was a kid because they deserve it and he'd punch them. He's also the only professor I'd ever sleep with, and he's not even physically attractive.

Non-Western Lit is...meh. It's not a bad class, per se, but it seems a little unfocused, and the students don't seem to be as eager to participate as I'd like. It also seems...partially guilt driven. The professor is pretty cool though, and I should be able to get an A in the class, God willing.

Scriptwriting kicks ass. It's taught by an assosiate professor who's a playwrite from New York. Lots of cool assignments and such, plus he wrote and is directing the play I'm hoping to get cast in (more on that later.) Lots of people I know in that class, mostly theater majors.

Intro to Stat is math. Ew. But the professor is a really nice guy, and is ridiculously enthusiastic about everything, and my grade in any given class is usually directly proportional to how much I want the professor to like me, so I may do well.

Fundamentals of Design is awesome. Again, lots of people I know in the class. It's taught by Karen. For a better understanding of who Karen is, there are four regular theater professors. Bruce, the stage / lighting / tech teacher, is the dad of this big family, because he's a hard-ass and is really annoying and likes to have everything his way. Ross, a performance teacher, is the mom because he wants everybody to like him even though he's a giant dork, and lets you get away with crap Bruce won't. Michael, the other performance / directing teacher, is the dirty old uncle, because he has a kinda perverted sense of humor and is probably an alchoholic. Karen, however, is the aunt who gives you too much candy. 'Nuff said.

Husky Singers is cool, always, plus there's a hot British guy in it now.

Those are my classes. Kickass.

I had a wonderful audition last night. Did my monologue without any difficulty, although I think I could have done it better. I was auditioning for two shows, an adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (a Jane Austen novel) and an original play written by my scriptwriting professor called "Tom and Huck--The Love Story." I read the script before I auditioned, and it is possibly one of the queerest things I have ever read. The first three scenes are basically fifteen pages of double entendres. It could be really kickass or ridiculously campy depending on how it's done. There's also a really hammy part I'd like to play. So, when I go back to the second round of auditions, I get pulled into the Tom and Huck group. Then, the next round of good news, I get to read for that hammy part I wanted. Then, there's only one other guy reading it. So, I think I have a really good chance at getting this part I want. Not to brag or anything, but I think I might have it down because the other guy reading the part doesn't have as much experience as me. Not getting my hopes up too high though, but it's hard when you have a 50/50 shot. If I get cast, everybody has to come see it. Oh, the part also involves crossdressing. Twice.

I may go to a party at Cookie and Moris's tonight. Should be fun. Long weekend coming up which may suck a little bit because most of my friends will probably be going home for the weekend.

Peace out yo.

Yet another list.

2005-08-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

I actually like this one. Kudos to Joanna.

1. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (Name of your favorite snack food / Grandfather's first name): Bugles Malcolm

2. YOUR FASHION DESIGNER NAME: (First word you see on your left / Favorite restaurant): Forest Lulus

3. EXOTIC FOREIGNER ALIAS: (Favorite Spice / Last Foreign Vacation Spot): Thyme London

4. "FLY GIRL/BOY" ALIAS (a la J. Lo): (First Initial / First Two or Three Letters of your Last Name): J. Ble

5. ICON ALIAS: (Something Sweet Within Sight / Any Liquid in Your Kitchen): Coffee Olive Oil

6. DETECTIVE ALIAS: (Favorite Baby Animal / Where You Went to High School): Kitten New Hope (same as Joanna's, incidently)

7. BARFLY ALIAS: (Your Favorite Alcoholic Drink / Last Snack Food You Ate): Margarita Cookie

8. SOAP OPERA ALIAS: (Middle Name / Street Where You First Lived): Henry Shakespeare

9. ROCK STAR ALIAS: (Favorite Candy / Last Name Of Favorite Musician): Twix Merchant

10. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (First 2 letters of your first name and the first 3 Letters from your last name makes your first name. Take the first 2 letters of your mother's maiden name and the first 3 letters of the city you were born in): Joins Muoln

11. SOCIALITE ALIAS: (Silliest Childhood Nickname / Town Where You First Partied): JoJo Bloomsburg

Another list question thing.

2005-08-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

These are convenient for lazy bloggers like me.

RANDOM THINGS I WISH WOULD SUDDENLY HAPPEN (in no particular order):
1. My advisor would have office hours at times other than the crack of dawn on Thursday mornings and would say to me "Oh, don't worry about having too many credits to fit into our silly regulations, you can take all the Education classes you want!"
2. I'd land a work-study with flexible hours that wasn't completely mind-numbing. Tutoring would be preferable.
3. Getting a decent role in Lesistrada. And learning how to spell it.

RANDOM THINGS I LIKE TO EAT:
1. Anything tempura
2. Hormel canned chilli.
3. Most forms of shrimp
4. Chicken wings

RANDOM MOVIES I'VE WATCHED THIS PAST WEEK:
The only thing I've watched this past week were Will&Grace DVDs.

RANDOM CELEBRITIES I FIND EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL:
1. Colin Farrel
2. Catherine Zeta Jones
3.Seth Green, only because people say I look like him and I'd like to look beautiful
4. Ewan McGreggor. Have to agree with the sis
5. Hugh Jackman

RANDOM THINGS I DON'T LIKE DOING IN PUBLIC:
1. Asking for favors. I prefer to do that in private
2. Be berated or scolded.
3. Being sick

RANDOM THINGS I DO LIKE DOING IN PUBLIC:
1. Acting.
2. Being a spaz. Yay.
3. Reading something I've written and actually like
4. Singing.

RANDOM THINGS THAT CREEP ME OUT:
1. Anything that flies and has a stinger
2. Fantasy football, probably because it's not too far removed from the roleplaying games I play.
3. Stomach stapling

RANDOM PEOPLE I WISH WEREN'T WORSHIPPED:
1. Wolverine. He counts, right?
2. George Lucas.
3. Terry Goodkind
4. Terry Goodkind
5. Terry Goodkind
6. Ryan Seacrest

hides behind hair Eleven Days...

2005-08-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

Going back to Bloom soon, and I'm quite looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to having a semi-regular sleep schedule again (thanks to a 9AM class MWF) and to actually having productive things to acomplish, and seeing friends and such, and frankly, not living with my mother for a few months. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom, but it's often better between us when we don't have to spend a lot of time together. Just good for us that way. We both tend to set each other off and neither of us are good at defusing the situation, so it just escalated and gets out of hand. That's why we always argue over really petty things, since neither of us are willing to backdown from each other. We're a lot alike, and I think that's why we fight. Nothing against her, it's just the way we operate together.

...all I had to eat today was a hot pocket and a bowl of tuna fish. Having all you can eat food available to me that I don't ahve to prepare myself. That's another thing I miss about Bloom, despite the mostly crappy food.

I get to have class with Dr. Whitworth again this semester. Yay for me. Class with Karen is another yay. Um. Lemme think what else. Um. Friends in my dorm / Willa / Garza / Fullmore / Jen, yay. Um. Java City, yay. Um, not getting sucked into my mom's Soap Operas. Those things are like LSD. Yeah. I miss Bloom.

In other news, I'm going to need to shell out sixty bucks or ask for this for my birthday this year:

It's sexay, ain't it? My dorm friends and my home friends will prolly both be into it. If not, then Dustin will play it with me...

A question I probably don't want to know the answer to.

2005-08-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

Just what the heck do you have to do to a sugar to make it "crystaline fructose," and why did I drink a tea full of it this morning?

World's Finest

2005-07-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

My superpower is to make an infinite number of typos, while involved in an in-depth study of the English language. Don't I rock?

Anyway, I decided it's time to plug the comics I'm currently reading, cuz I'm like that. I'll also tell you about a couple comics that didn't make the cut into my bank account. So, without further adieu...

My rating scale:
Excellent
Fine
Great
Good
Fair
Sub-Par
Crappy

The categories:
Writing: Quality of dialogue and story.
Art: Visuals
Characters: The cast and their dynamics
Accessability: How hard or easy it is for a new reader to pick up the book and go with it.
"Fun:" The overal enjoyability of reading the book.

NEW AVENGERS
Writing:Good
Art:Fine
Characters: Great
Acessability: Good
Fun: Good

Summary: After the events of "Avengers Disassembled" (basically all that happened there is a bunch of Avengers died for no reason, making way for this summer's universe shaking" stupid crossover event that I'm not going to bother to read) Captain America and Iron Man recruit a new team of Avengers after a supervillain prison break--Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, and the Sentry. While it might seem that Marvel is simply pimping out their biggest cash cows, the character dynamics are actually quite nice. Spider-Man has no shortage of witty banter with his teammates, while Luke Cage has evolved from the "funky / angry black man" stereotype he used to have. Spider-Woman brings an extra X chromosome to the otherwise sausage-fest, and Wolverine and Captain America have a nice contrast. I thought I'd hate it, simply because of the aforementioned pimping out of cash cows, but I quite like it. My biggest complaint so far is their delays in shipping, and the fact that the first story arc really shouldn't have required six issues to complete based on what happened.

YOUNG AVENGERS
Writing: Fine
Art: Fine
Characters: Excellent
Accessability: Excellent
Fun: Fine

Summary: One of the three titles fighting for my favorite book. Appearing after the events of "Avengers Disassembled" (see above), Iron Lad, Asgardian, Hulkling, and Patriot, are four teenage superheroes modeling themselves as teenage sidekicks to Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America. Iron Lad assembled them from a contingency program found in the Vision's database, as the "next generation" of Avengers (the book takes place about six months before before New Avengers #1.) They're soon joined by Cassie Lang, AKA Giant-Girl, the daughter of the second Ant-Man, and Kate Bishop, a resourceful young girl who purloins a bunch of weapons from the wreckage of the Avenger's Mansion. The premisce seems dumb--teenage versions of the Avengers--but the book is actually really, really fun. New Characters always seem to have trouble establishing themselves in either of the two comics heavyweights (Marvel or DC) but the Young Avengers have pulled it off nicely. It's truly a fun book.

EXILES
Writing: Fine
Art: Great
Characters Excellent
Acessability Excellent
Fun Excellent

Summary: Summoned from alternate realities, the Exiles are ordered by the mysterious Timebroker to "fix" realities that have been damaged. Averting crisis in "damaged" with stop the echoes that will damage their own. The cast changes as Exiles are injured or killed in combat, replaced by new ones. The current cast has been mostly stabilized--Blink, Mimic, Morph, Sasquatch (who has lost her powers), Sabertooth, and Beak. The book is great because the story arcs are usually two or three issues long, as opposed to the six issue story arcs that most comics have these days. Plus, it's often shipped bimonthly, so you don't have to wait half a year for a story to finish. The book has taken a major change lately, so I'm not exactly sure what to expect from it--but the stories they've printed so far are pure gold. Pure gold. One of the titles fighting to be my favorite book.

FLASH
Writing: Fine
Art: Great
Characters: Fine
Accessability: Fair
Fun: Excellent

You know the drill. Wally West is the fastest man alive. What most don't know about Flash (I didn't until I started reading the book) is that Flash has one of the greatest Rogues Galleries in all of comics. Many of the issues I've read actually focus more on the bad guys than the Flash himself--several issues are dedicated to telling his enemies' backstories, the Flash himself appearing in a panel or two of flashback (no pun intended.) Also, most of his rogues are "unionized" in a group that calls itself simply "The Rogues," so you see them interact a lot. In one issue, they have a funeral to mourn one of their fallen, before ravaging Keystone City with his weapons. In another, one of them beats the other senseless "discourage" his drug habit. Wally himself has a lot of great adventures though--it seems like it would be difficult to consistantly challenge a hero that can run to the store to get you milk, change the oil in his car, and clean the gutters in an eyeblink, but they manage to do it. Also fighting for my favorite book.

RUNAWAYS
Writing: Fine
Art: Great
Characters: Fine
Accessability: Fine
Fun: Excellent

Summary: Nico Minoru, Gert Yorkes, Chase Stein, Karolina Dean, and Molly Hayes are the children of the Pride--a secretive group of LA Supervillains. They teens found out about their parents secrets, and ran away (hence the title.) In the first volume of their exploits, they ended up killing their parents (or so they thought.) In the second volume of their adventures, they find their parents deaths created a power vacuum, which has caused Supervillains to flock to LA by the dozen.In addition, the new superhero team "Excelsior," founded by former teenage superhoes, is intent on keeping the teens off the streets and back in foster care. It's a really fun book. The characters are interesting, and their powers all have interesting limitations. For example, the witch Nico can only summon her spellcasting staff while she's bleeding, and she can only cast any spell once, whereas Molly is a super-strong mutant, but using her strength tires her quickly. Like I said, a fun book.

NEW THUNDERBOLTS
Writing: Good
Art: Fair
Characters: Good
Accessability: Good
Fun: Good

Summary: Former supervillains turned heroes, the Thunderbolts are a rag-tag band of heroes intent on redeeming themselves. The cast included Mock IV (formerly known as the Beetle), Songbird (Screaming Mimi), Atlas (Power Man I / The Smuggler / Goliath II), The Blizzard, Speed Demon, Joystick, Radioactive Man, and Photon (Captain Marvel III). The book is...ok. A diverse cast of characters keeps it interesting, but for the first few issues there were far too many guest-stars. Plus I'd like to see an issue go by without someone reminding us they used to be supervillains. Just one. This one's teetering on the edge of abandonment, unfortunately.

WONDER WOMAN
Writing: Fine
Art: Fine
Characters: Great
Accessability: Good
Fun: Great

Summary: Amazon warrior, powers of the Greek Gods, yadda yadda, you know who Wonder Woman is, even if she has evolved quite a bit from her original B&D-based origins. Wonder Woman and her sidekick, Wonder Girl, end up doing a lot of Olympus's dirty work, especially now that Athena is in charge. The first story arc I read involved her traveling through the Underworld to rescue Hermes. It a nicely-put together book. Diana's a great character, even though she was a bondage-queen sex kitten when she was first introduced.

ASTONISHING X-MEN
Writing: Great
Art: Excellent
Characters: Excellent
Accessability: Good
Fun: Good

Summary: Blah blah, born with abilities far beyond those of normal humans, etc etc. The Astonishing X-Men are the X-Men's attempt to be a "legitimate" superteam in the eyes of the public. This actually has little to do with the story for some reason. Nonetheless, the creative team is doing a great job. The best part of this book is the character interaction--Emma Frost is constantly at odds with Shadowcat, the entire team is reacting strongly to Colossus's ressurection, which is refreshing since when comic characters are ressurected, people rarely pay much attention. However, the most recent arc is weird and has been moving slowly. Plus the creative team's comittment to the book seems to be wavering--considering they both have a lot on their table (Joss Whedon and John Cassady) that's understandable. Worth reading.

Now...for the ones that didn't make the cut...

Uncanny X-Men: Chris Claremont was one of the greatest writers in comic books in the late 70s and early 80s. Now, he's either lazy or senile. The dialogue is forced and unrealistic, the characters are not put together well, the art is kind of cartoony, in a mostly bad way...just not a good book.

X-Men: AKA Adjectiveless X-Men. I bought two issues, then the book got a new writer. I read it for one six issue story arc. This is what happened for all six issues: Havok is jealous of Iceman and Polaris's relationship. Polaris is insane. Rogue and Gambit angst over their inability to touch each other. Emma and Wolverine remind Havok that he's not Scott. That's all that happened. For six. Whole. Issues. Oh, and the X-Men fought a giant alien fungus that makes people insane. Or something. That wasn't important. What's important is that the characters keep bitching about the same stuff, issue after issue. I persued the next issue in a drug store. Here's what happens: Havok is jealous of Iceman and Polaris's relationship. Polaris is insane. Rogue and Gambit angst over their inability to touch each other. Emma and Wolverine remind Havok that he's not Scott. Oh, and a new student flirts with Gambit. But that's not important.

"That was unexpected...and...weird."

2005-07-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Can people please, please, please teach their children to shut the fuck up during a movie? If your child is older than four, they can keep quiet during a movie. That's all their is too it.

That said, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a pretty nice movie, but I'd think I'd enjoy seeing the "Making of" special features on the DVD more than the rest. It was a little too much of a one-man show with some funny faces to be really entertaining. The rest of the characters seemed more like anecdotes in an attempt to display Johnny Depp being silly. The little kid from Finding Neverland who plaid Charlie was really...unremarkable. Like he was basically Johnny Depp's straight man throughout the movie. I dunno. It was weird.

Blah

2005-07-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

I'm jealous of asexuals. They have it easy. Nobody should have to deal with the crap that's assosiated with forming a romantic bond with another person.

Feminism at its best.

2005-07-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

William Marston, creator of the comic book character Wonder Woman, had the goal of creating a superhero who was a role model to girls, posessing what he viewed as "the best female attributes."

Riiiight.

Stuff. And things.

2005-06-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Bianca gave birth via c-section. Seven adorably cute, constantly nursing / urinating & defacating / sleeping puppies. I believe their names are Dr. J, Bubba, Willis, Miss P, Polly, Tula, and Cecila, although Tula or Cecilia may be changed to Miranda (since I suggested it post-naming and mom said she liked it.) Come over and see the puppies if it's convenient for you. :-p

Everything else seems to be in order, although I've been somewhat melancholy today for whatever reason. And I started playing City of Heroes frequently when less than a week ago I was set on canceling my subscription. I guess I find it entertaining enough to justify the monthly billing. I've decided I want to see if I can get a job tutoring upon getting back to school, which would be nice. Not looking forward to taking the PRAXIS in the fall, but it's supposedly mostly like the SAT so I'm not worried.

Peace folks.

Anotther quiz

2005-06-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

~*~Result nr 3~*~

src="http://live.quizilla.com/user_images/P/PainfulBliss/1117238538_Power_Fly.JPG">
Your power is: The ability to fly

Explanation: This powers speaks pretty
much for itself. Though you don't need wings
for this power,you can fly anyway. Some people
may consider it as telekinesis since they can
also fly, but you can't make material things
move like they can. This ability could be a
relaxing activity when you want to get away
from everyday troubles. Also it is good when
sneaking upon an enemy since it makes no sound.
When going over to the "dark side"
the power could be used to harrass and break
into building through windows etc.
You are quite similar to this power since you
like to have your head in the clouds.
Supernatural things amuse while ordinary life
does not. If your daydreaming has gotten a
little too far you might be zooned out all the
time, even when you are having a conversation.
Your desires and/or goals tend to be
unrealistic even if you know those would
probably never happen. Travelling is something
you would be interested in doing since seeing
exotic scenery fits with your fantasies of
escaping your plain life. You can also have
some creative ability (writer, playing an
instrumen etc) that interests you.
Negative aspects: The whole reason you
may be escaping life could be fear of being let
down by it. So if that would come to happen,
and an important dream had been crushed you
could get depressed.

What Power is Compatible With You?
brought to you by Quizilla

REPRODUCTION!

2005-06-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

So, my dog will be having seven puppies in the near future, possibly this week. Kinda scary when you think about it. She's such a little girl and she has so many...things growing inside her ready to come out. Ew, I'm grossing myself out. Anyway, my house will probably smell like puppy poop for the rest of the summer, which I am not cleaning up.

Earlier today I was thinking about Bloomsburg Players. They're great people, but there's something about the group as a whole that makes me uncomfortable. It's not that I dislike anyone there, but I feel that some of them are kind of...insular, in a lot of ways. I make it a point never to limit myself to a single social group, as I feel that's unhealthy. I avoided doing this in high school by having a close friendship with my sister and friendly relations with some of her friends, and I certainly do not limit my social interactions to Players now. However, sometimes I get paranoid feelings that it's an "in or out" circle. I guess this makes sense since, as a collective, they value dedication to the group, since we are in this to put on shows, not just to be a Best Friends Charm Bracelet Club. I do work hard for Players, not as hard as some, but aside from occasionally being irresponsible I do do my share of work. Whenever people are bitching about someone in the group, nine times out of ten it's about somebody slacking off, not chipping in, or being unprofessional. I understand this is an aggravation in a small department where everyone needs to be well-rounded and do their part, but it makes me uncomfortable somehow. Like an unconcious feeling that someone's saying the same thing about me behind my back.

In any case, my constant desire to be involved with multiple social circles tends to make me feel like an outcast in all of them. For example, I feel disconnected from my friends in my dorm when I have to be at rehearsals all the time, and I feel disconnected from Players when I'd rather just bum around with my friends in the dorm than go to their parties, or even when I'm at the commons with them instead of Willa, Jen, Garza, Nate, etc.

I dunno. I guess it's another aspergers symptom to feel disconnected from people socially and the paranoia that causes me to question my role in the group. I'll get over it eventually.

Do you care? I doubt it.

2005-06-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

Name 20 people you know: (No Special Order)
1. Evan
2. Mulcahay
3. Adam
4. Britt
5. Kirby
6. Willa
7. Erica
8. Garza
9. Moriah
10. Jill
11. Allison
12. Clint
13. Jordan
14. Dent
15. Jo
16. Mike
17. Howard
18. Griffin
19. Colin
20. Nate

Who is #8 going out with? Uh, nobody that I know of.
Is #9 a boy or a girl?: Girl
Would #11 and #2 make a good couple?: ...weird. Erm. I dunno. I don't think so.
How about #18 and #4?: ...no.
What grade is #17 in?: Sophomore in college.
When was the last time you talked to #12?: The day I left Bloom. Or was it the night before? Erm. Either way it was finals week.
What is #6's favorite band?: Don't know. I'm just going to say Kristen Chenowith, even though she's not a band.
Does #1 have any siblings?: Christian
Would you ever date #3?: Hah, yeah <_<
Would you ever date #7?: I went to prom with her, does that count?
Is #16 single?: Nope.
What's #15's last name?: Cretella
What's #5's middle name?: Louise
What's #10's fantasy?: Dann wearing a sarong?
Would #14 and #19 make a good couple?: No...
What school does #20 go to?: Bloomsburg mofo.
And #1: Erm, he's graduating NHS soon.
Tell me a random fact about #11: She has a very vivid imagination.
And #3: He has very large breasts.
Have you ever had a crush on #16?: Not that I recall.
Where does #9 live?: New Hope
What's #4's favorite color?: ERm...Blue? Black?
Would you makeout with #14?: Duh
Are #5 & #6 best friends?: They don't even know each other
Does #7 like #20?: Ditto. He probably wouldn't get along with her either.
Does #8 like #19?: Once again, don't know each other
How did you meet #15?: She was friends with Kirby and Griffin etc.
Does #10 have any pets?: Yes, the same pets as myself. Seeing as we currently live in the same house.
Is #12 older than you?: I can't remember.
Have you ever given #13 a hug?: ...you know, I think he's the only one on this list I haven't hugged. Might be a little weird, seeing that he's my roommate.
Is #17 the sexiest person alive?: Damn straight he is.

I'm only mean to you in my dreams

2005-05-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

So over the past week I've had two distinct dreams where I've been mean to Allison. Well, not mean as much as insensitive. I think this is important because I rarely remember my dreams in the first place, and if it's a pattern I'm trying to figure it out. The other pattern was there was always someone else present who didn't really do anything.

Ok, anyway, in the first dream Allison, Steph B and I were at a Planned Parenthood clinic and Allison was upset about something. I don't know what, but there are pleanty of things someone seeing a doctor at a PP clinic would be upset about. Anywayz, Allison was waiting for the doctor to come in, and I wasn't paying attention to her despite her being upset because I wanted to find out where I could get some birth control gum (yes, it's as ridiculous as it sounds) not because I wanted it for any sort of birth control, but because it was really good gum. Anyway, the doctor came in to talk to Allison, but I interrupted and asked where I could get some birth control gum, and he gave me a plastic bag full of it. Later Allison, Steph and I were in the parking lot, and I was chewing the birth control gum, which was delicious.

Weird? Yes.

Anyway, last night it was me and Heather in a hotel, I think in Vegas. We were talking about something foolish, then I noticed that there was pizza sauce and cheese all over my duffel bag. Like someone had dropped a pizza on it. I rambled on about that for a while. Then Allison came in, upset because of a misunderstanding with her mother. I, again, ignored her and continued rambling about the pizza on my luggage.

Why am I mean to Allison in my dreams?

To-Do list for the rest of the summer:

2005-05-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

1. Stop waking up after 10:30 everyday. I feel like I'm wasting the entire day.
2. Be more proactive when it comes to hanging out with people and such. I feel like I'm wasting my time.
3. GET A JOB.
4. Start brainstorming how I'm going to get a bunch of elementary school kids to pull off a performance of "The Phantom Tollbooth" in two weeks while keeping my sanity in tact.
5. Read more. I never finished "American Gods" since I forgot to take it with me to school.
6. Get games started. (glares at Griffin, Evan etc)

That doesn't seem like too much to pull off, but I'm really good at being a bum when I'm given the opportunity. But then again, opportunity is not a lengthly visiter. (Name the quote and get a cookie.)

This is mostly inaccurate.

2005-05-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

What You Really Think Of Your Friends

Willa is your soulmate.

You truly love Joanna.

You consider Garza your true friend.

You know that Moriah is always thinking of you.

You'll remember Dent for the rest of your life.

You secretly think Colin is creative, charming, and a bit too dramatic at times.

You secretly think that Stephanie is colorful, impulsive, and a total risk taker.

You secretly think that Nate is loyal and trustworthy to you. And that Nate changes lovers faster than underwear.

You secretly think Trevor is shy and nonconfrontational. And that Trevor has a hidden internet romance.

What Do You Think of Your Friends?

Stephanie = To a point yes.
Willa = At times, yes. <3 you.
Trevor = Trevor. Shy? No.
Joanna = I do truly love you, but do I truly, truly love you?
Moriah = Erm. I do?
Colin = Charming, yes, dramatic, erm, not really.
Dent = Of course.
Nate = Erm. Dunno about that last part.
Garza = Duh, but I'd say that about most of my friends. I have good taste in friends, methinks.

I like bananas.

2005-05-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

It took me about half an hour to find the comic book store today since they moved it to another street. (Shakes fist furiously.) Dunno why. After spending 20 dollars on gas, like almost two dollars for a tea, and $33 on comics / dice / counters etc I was ready to call it a day. <_<

...erm. Yeah. I like bananas.

I was told to update more.

2005-05-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

So I am.

Anyway, trip to Philly was fun. Jo owes me a dollar. (You're welcome Colin.)

Mom is yelling at me to get a job. I want to, but it may be a little hard since I'll need to be gone for two weeks to direct this children's theater workshop at my aunt's community. Right now I want to do "The Phantom Tollbooth." Let's see if I can pull it off without killing myself or the kids.

That's all for today. Muahaha.

"Except for death and paying taxes, everything in life is only for now."

2005-05-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

Back at home. I can't believe my freshman year went by so quickly. The rush to leave right after my last final rendered my unable to say goodbye to some people, which was made even worse by my travel arrangements preventing me from attending the Players banquet. S'okay though, the day after I got back I went to this awesome cabaret at the school. They brought some professionals from Odette's to sing along with a bunch of the students, and everyone was frickin amazing. ^.^ Got to see my ungraduated friends too (and Colin >_>) which was very nice. Saturday I hear my brother's band play and had the HS film festival later.

Today Dad and I fought tooth and nail to get my damn computer working. More nonsense with my video card and the moniter. A quick and efficient safe mode + system restore made everything alright again, which is nice.

Note to Allison, Griffin, Austin, Evan, Mike and / or anyone who is reading this and interested in games this summer:

In the near / immediate future, we need to get ready to play Exalted. Awesome system and setting, but a little complicated. I can provide *achem* versions of the core rules, as well as some other stuff for you guys to look over, but our first session will just be character building and prelude stuff, probably. ALthough I think the only people on the list I provided who read this are Allison and maybe Mike...>_>

Anywayz, yay, summer!

The secret word is "catharsis." So everytime someone says "catharsis," scream out loud!

2005-04-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

Catharsis is vastly underrated in the modern age. Think about it. Everyone wants comedy in small, bite sized doses. People want to laugh and feel good. After the masks are off, the lists of ex-girlfriends is discovered, or the turkey burns in the oven, everyone is able to laugh about it like it's a good old time. Why isn't art allowed to make you feel bad anymore?

I shouldn't say that. I just got back from the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble's production of "The Women of Lockerbie." Powerful play about grief and not turning into hate. I teared up a few times. Afterwards I felt great. An aquaintance of my friend who saw it said afterwards, "Yeah, now I need to go watch a comedy or something."

In the olden days, art was supposed to mkae you feel that ourburst of emotion. It was praised and desired. Popular culture doesn't want to make people confront those feelings though. They're supposed to be tossed aside while you worry about your cable internet bill, or the down payment on your new six bedroom house. Comedy has its place, certainly, but catharsis is slowly losing its way to laugh tracks.

Quantity is better than quality. Everybody knows that.

2005-04-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

I might as well take you what classes I'm taking next semester...

Non-Western Lit I
Approaches to Literary Study (with my favorite teacher)
Fundamentals of Theater Design
Intro to Statistics
Public Speaking
Husky Singers

I wanted to take European Lit I and Intro to Theater Arts, but I unfortunately couldn't schedule either of them.

Why do a real update while I can just be lazy?

2005-04-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

You Know You're Addicted to Caffeine When...

You haven't slept since the Clinton Administration.
Your next-door neighbors often call to complain about the sound of your chattering teeth.
Instead of Tic Tacs, you suck on Vivarin.
You plan to name your twins "Cappuccino" and "Espresso."
On the way to work you get pulled over for speeding and you don't even have your car.
You kill a guy for trying to switch your regular coffee to decaffeinated Folgers.
You wake up in the middle of the night screaming "Pepsi! For the love of God, I need Pepsi!"
When a Maxwell House commercial comes on, you actually lick the TV screen.
You drink so much coffee it starts shooting out your ears.
You're shaking like Michael Jackson on his wedding night.
You think sleep is for the weak.
You've just had your 20th cup of coffee within 20 minutes on a Friday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, just so "the milk doesn't go bad over the weekend"
You believe that the coffee bean is a vegetable.
You know from experience caffeine tablets don't dissolve in cola.
You wake up to Mountain Dew, before switching to JOLT.
You can name five flavors of JOLT.
You have a mini-fridge under your desk... and a catheter.
You drink decaf by accident and slip into a coma.
Mountain Dew is the stuff great decisions are made of.
You regard the fact that your hands are shaking as a good sign.
You have tattooed across the knuckles of your hands "JOLT" and "COLA"
Your birthday is a national holiday in Colombia.
You go to sleep just to wake up and smell the coffee.
Your coffee pot is next to your bed and your alarm clock is in the kitchen.
You've ever an airplane's call button just to get a coffee refill.
You've knelt and prayed before a Starbuck's logo.
Your web page has the Mountain Dew color scheme.
You have distilled Jolt Cola to make it more potent.
The dishes in your house are all coffee cups.
You see nothing wrong with using water joe (caffeinated water) to make the coffee you use to take your no-doze.
You believe that sleep is simply a poor substitute for sleep
It's 6:09 AM and you're on your 2nd 20oz. cup of coffee.
You have to drink some form of caffeinated beverage just to sleep.
You'd rather be beaten over the head with a sledgehammer than give up that first cup of coffee in the morning.
You've given up sex, TV, or all forms of meat for Lent before, but can't make it 40 days without caffeine.
You suck on a used coffee filter (full of coffee grounds) whenever the can runs out of coffee.
You dip espresso beans.
You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends who are addicted to caffeine.

Get Your Own Addicted Meme Here

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The Fish of the Day returns!

2005-04-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

I'm catching things rarely these days, but I think this is a good one.

I think I just realized that I am happy. I'm a happy person. I have good friends, a family who loves me, I'm enthusastic about the career I'm preparing myself for, for the most part I like the education I'm receiving, I keep a mostly healthy variety of interests and hobbies, I try my best to be a good person, and when I fail I learn from it. I'm happy.

One of the worst things a person can do, in my opinion, is not take responsibility for their own happiness. For a long time I didn't, and still got mad at those who didn't either. I've been stressed and melancholy the past several weeks, but now that I think about it, I am happy. There's nothing to stop me from being happy--and I'll work my way through anything that does. The most important thing to me, to sound a little too much like Anne Frank, is to hold onto my ideals without losing my perspective on the world around me, and I think in a large way I've succeeded. I wholeheartedly admit that I'm an idealistic person, but I don't see that as a weakness. It's what makes me who I am. And in an imperfect world, I can be idealistic without feeling what the Germans call weltshcmertz (or something)--sadness when one compares the way the world should be to the way the world is.

Anyway, I'm starting to go off on a tangent. The point is, I'm happy. Everyone should acknowledge that they're happy every chance they get, and of course, give your love daily.

Signing off!

Summary: Drive drive, sing sing, drive drive, sing sing, drive, sing, party, get screwed over.

2005-04-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

This Friday was the Husky Singers trip, which basically consisted of putting a bunch of crazy college males in cars, while they sing and try to get laid.

We spend the first part of the day going to three high schools in the area. We were received very well, especially at the second one (as one of my more eloquent choirmates put it, "those bitches wanted to suck us off.") During car rides in between schools, I was exposed to some of my comerades more...interesting conversational topics, many of which revolving around a disturbing sexual act called a blumpkin, the details of which are far too disturbing for this blog, and if you know what it is, I feel your pain. Our final destination was Immaculata College, a Catholic all girls school. The majority of the choir was counting on the alleged easiness of girls who aren't around testosterone a lot, although from their standpoint most of them were unattractive, although many were said to be in the "attractive after a few beers" category, which would happen later when a bunch of them came to party at the hotel. A good time was had.

Now for the last part of the summary. I woke up around 9:15, showered and dressed, and took a nap till about 10:00. Then I went to the lobby, just as one of the vans was leaving. They said their van was full, so I waited in the lobby and read, waiting to catch up with someone who was leaving. About an hour or so later, the guy I was sharing a room with (the other two left with Dr. Baker early in the morning) comes down and asks if everyone else has left. I said I wasn't sure. He goes out and checks, all the vehicles we came down with were gone. We go to the front desk, everyone else has checked out. I am livid. Luckily his parents lived fairly close, so they picked us up and we drove his car back to school, but I'm still really ticked. All the vehicles were full going up, so someone left without a full car, knowing that meant someone would be left behind. I was ticked. Veeeeery ticked. Still, overall the weekend was fun.

I had tech rehearsal for Choice today, which went smoothely. Dress rehearsal is tomorrow. Hopefully everyone on stage will still maintain character when they see me in my superhero costume. The music alone made Megan (who plays the lead) crack up during my entrance at tech today. I hope I don't make everyone stop rehearsal. Show opens on Wednesday, parents are coming up Saturday. Fun will be had.

Song Lyric Time! With a twist!

2005-03-30T19:52:00.000-08:00

There was an old farmer who lived on a rock,
He'd sit in the meadow just shaking his
Fist at some boys who were down by the crick,
Their feet in the water their hands on their
Marbles and playthings, at half past four
There came a young lady, she looked like a
Pretty young creature, she sat on the grass
She lifted her dress and she showed them her
Ruffles and laces and white fluffy duck
She said she was learning a new way to
Bring up her children so they wouldn't spit
While the boys in the meadow were shoveling
Refuse and litter from yesterday's hunt
While the girl in the meadow was rubbing her
Eyes at the man down by the dock
He looked like a fellow with a sizable
House in the country with a garden out front
And if he asked her politely she'd show him her
Little pet dog who was given to fits
And maybe she'd let him take hold of her
Tender small hands with a movement so quick
And then she'd bend over and suck on his
Candy, so tastey, made of butterscotch
And then he spread whip cream all over her
Cookies she left out on the shelf
If you think this is dirty you can go **** yourself.

"Everybody's Got The Right To Some Sunshine"

2005-03-19T18:43:00.000-08:00

Been a while since I've updated. Spring break came and went without incidcent, with the exception of getting sick at my brother's Bar Mitzvah and missing all but the beginning of the service, which made me feel awful. Alas. My mom thought something was wrong with me because I really didn't do anything, except go to the rehearsal for Footloose a couple times, which was nice. Speaking of which, congratulations to all who were involved, I wanted to see it, but the play I needed to see for my Acting class was only playing this week and I couldn't see it earlier in the week because of rehearsals.

Oh jeez, one thing keeps leading to another. Yeah, I'm in a play, a student written one-act called "Choice." It's about abortion. I play manifestations of the main character's sub concious. One role is a superhero and is a symbol for her boyfriend's maturity (or lack thereof) or something. It's quite fun. Anyway, it should be interesting, since I'm also assistant props designer for a series of three 10 minute one-acts. I have no clue what the fuck I'm doing because the lead props designer hasn't asked me to help her with anything yet. This was the project that was supposed to be "No Exit," which I was doing dramaturgy for, but that got canceled. Also coming up are auditions for the one acts the directing class is doing. They say they need 30 or 40 people (to which I have a hearty O_O) so yeah.

Anyway, about the play I saw tonight it was...weird. It was called "If At All," and it felt more like performance art than a play. I didn't really like it. I can get abstract stuff, but when it's on stage, it needs something substantial, something concrete to connect to. In this case, that connection was flimsy at best, or not there at all. I wish I didn't have to miss "Footloose" for it. But such is life. Another huge congrats to all my un-graduated friends who participated.

In other news, Trevor is going to be a senior in a few months. I must not think about this to prevent a nervous break down.

Late night revelation

2005-03-03T21:29:00.000-08:00

A quick google image search shows that far too many people participate in Jem and the Holograms cosplay.

...wow. Was anyone surprised when I told them I was gay?

Lists of stuff nobody wants to know but will possibly end up reading anyway

2005-02-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

Seven things that scare you:
1. Heights
2. Rejection
3. Scorpions
4. Wasps
5. Sharp things
6. Hot stoves
7. Marion Petriollo, my American Lit 2 teacher

Seven things you love:
1. British Lit class
2. Comic books
3. Being a geek
4. My family
5. My friends
6. Theater
7. Tom Stoppard

Seven things you hate:
1. Marion Petrillo, my American Lit 2 teacher
2. June Gomez, my 11th grade English teacher
3. Green beans
4. People who use other people (and one in particular)
6. Rev. Jerry Falwel
7. Stupid people

Seven things in your room:
1. Cocoa mug from winterfest
2. A hampster
3. Lots of comic books
4. My old red sneakers
5. A purple stapler
6. The script to Measure For Measure which I never gave back to Michael.
7. A playbill to Rent, signed by Kelly Karbacz. Don't know who she is? Yeah.

Seven random facts about you:
1. I'm a complete nerd
2. I spend usually over $18 a month on comic books
3. I'm obsessed with showtunes
4. My favorite color is currently green
5. I'm planning on being a teacher
6. When I was little I wanted to by Cyclops from X-Men
7. I like Neil Gaiman a lot.

Seven things you plan to do before you die:
1. Fall in love
2. Spend a summer in London
3. Get my Master's degree
4. Publish a short story or comic book
5. Visit some place tropical
6. Do sixteen cartwheels in a row
7. Stop depending on this damn blog for my sanity

Seven things you can do:
1. Write a decently (fuck you Marion Petrillo)
2. Look cute and innocent
3. Be completely perverse
4. Spend far too much time on the internet, playing video games, or reading comic books
5. Memorize a monologue in about two hours
6. Sing (a little)
7. Think up rhymes for stuff. Or make them up if I can't.

Seven things you can't do:
1. Ride a motorcycle
2. Bungee jump
3. Cook
4. Shots
5. Girls
6. Write poetry when I try
7. Draw

Seven songs people should listen to:
1. What a Good Boy--Barenaked Ladies
2. Because the Night--Patty Smythe
3. Schadenfreude--Avenue Q Soundtrack
4. Dreams--The Cranberries
5. Poison Ivy--The Coasters
6. Mass Pike--The Get Up Kids
7. These Are Days--Natalie Merchant

Seven things that attract you to the opposite sex / same sex:
1. Good communication skills
2. Being a cuddler
3. Not intimidating me
4. Sense of humor
5. Kindness
6. Muscles on occasion
7. Giving me space when I need it

Seven favorite movies:
1. Dogma
2. Death to Smoochie
3. The Incredibles
4. X-2
5. Waiting for Gauffman
6. Chasing Amy
7. Better Than Chocolate

Seven things you say the most:
1. Everything is copescetic.
2. Gimme a hug!
3. I love you dearly
4. Why do I choose to hang out with these people?
5. That's what she said
6. I heart (insert upperclassman here) a lot!
7. It's all good

Ponderings in the wee hours

2005-02-26T22:49:00.000-08:00

I'm pondering why Garza didn't get my voicemail so I could go to Bushinger's party with her. I'm pondering how much fun everyone is having without me, since I really wanted to go tonight since it'll probably be the last party before Spring break. Plus he'll probably be there.

I'm pondering whether "sure" means "sure, I agree that would be nice," or "sure, because I don't want to say no to your face." I'm pondering whether requesting such an answer was wise in the first place.

I'm pondering how long strike is going to be. "Too long" is the only answer that comes to mind. More moving heavy things. Or carrying things from one place to another.

I'm pondering how someone can be so selfish when it comes to his actions hurting people. I'm pondering how much longer he'll be able to find people to use. And I'm pondering how to make myself stronger.

In Which a Pretentious Blogger Doesn't Know What To Title His Entry

2005-02-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

First BUSTED of the season last night. Went pretty well if I do say so myself. It's a ridiculously large cast, but it didn't turn out too cluttered. My only concern is that we won't be able to fully develop all the plotlines. But whatever. For the rest of the week I'm house managing Measure For Measure, which is a good means of having an excuse to see the show five times, while simultaniously gaining a few points with the department. "Hey! Look at me, I'm an underclassman who wants to be involved! Love me please!"

Anywayz, life is ok otherwise. Nothing toooooo noteworthy. Spring Break is in a couple weeks, that makes me happy. Erm...peace everyone.

Curse you Joanna...

2005-02-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

Instructions:
Write one statement to each about 15 people, in a random order. Never tell which one is for who.

1. Hey. Talk to me. There's something I want to say.

2. Please don't pretend to be my friend to my face while you're being a judgemental prick 'behind my back.' I don't know why you presume you can keep up this charade when you criticize me on the internet for all to see.

3. Good luck making mom cry! You're easily one of the most important people in my life. I miss you.

4. I don't know what to say to you. You've taken advantage of my non-judgemental and forgiving nature not once, but twice. You can't have possibly thought I wouldn't see through you eventually--you said it yourself. People talk. I respect your right to make your own decisions, but it's very cruel of you to involve me in decisions you know I wouldn't approve of. I can tell what your real opinion is of me now, clear as day. I hope that you can continue to find people who aren't aware how selfish you are.

5. Heyyyyy my boy. Our band will never happen, but it's fun to pretend it will. Keep up with the spooning!

6. My fellow hopeless romantic. You're a beautiful girl. Just make sure you only make out with me or your other gay lover when you're drunk, k?

7. I'm sorry we haven't been real friendly lately. Too much has happened. I don't blame you as much as I blame myself for doing something my gut said was wrong just because I thought it would make us happy.

8. You need to relaaaaaaax when you're in charge. I can tell how stressed you get when you're responsible. I know you like to take a leading role, and you're good at it, it'd just seem better for me if you didn't get so wound up about it.

9. Keep up with the dreaming lady. It's what makes you beautiful.

10. Skinny computer nerds roxxor. Winter break was a blast.

11. Not-skinny computer nerds also roxxor. Winter break was also a blast.

12. Good luck with your show and all...unless it's already happened? Ack! Where are you going to school next year again? Meep.

13. She loves you, and you know it. You can work through the rough spots.

14. You're smart not to lead him on, but it's good of you to be friends with him, 'cause he's a cool guy when he's not trying to get in your pants.

15. Don't worry, I won't hold assosiating with him against you.

"...to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back."

2005-02-14T09:53:00.000-08:00

The decision I reached this morning can only be expressed through the words of Mr. Billy Joel.

"I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad
I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time."

In over my head or just plain insane?

2005-02-13T10:40:00.000-08:00

So today / yesterday / the wee hours of this morning our hero learns the differnece between your garden variety whimsical crush, and head-over-your-heels-can't-get-out-of-my-head infatuation. The difference is one makes you feel good and the other makes you feel like shit, especially when there's a nice heaping pile of guilt built into it.

My love / hate relationship with Marvel Comics...

2005-02-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

List of Marvels Mitzvot and Sins:

Sin: Ended "Avengers" in a really confusing storyline that was...guess what? Caused by the biggest Deus ex Machina in comics, the Scarlet Witch.

Mitzvah: Started a really good new Avengers title...

Sin: ...but put Wolverine on it.

Mitzvah: Ressurected one of the coolest dead characters, Colossus, in a really shocking, emotional storyline.

Sin: Ressurected one of the most overrated dead characters, Psylocke, in a really bad storyline.
"Hey! Here I am! Right where I died. Weird huh?"
"Yeah. Weird. Uh oh, Wolverine's doing something interesting!"

Mitzvah: Started an all new, really good X-Book, "Astonishing X-Men"

Sin: Put a senile writer who was good in the 70s, but is obviously off his gourd now, on their flagship book, "Uncanny X-Men"

Mitzvah: Ressurected a really awesome title, "Thunderbolts"

Sin: Draws one of the cooler female characters in said title really ugly

Mitzvah: Making a really fun title, "Exiles."

Sin: Cancelling it.

Mitzvah: Making the Marvel vs. Capcom game series

Sin: Suing the makers of City of Heroes

Mitzvah: My sexy best friend, Emma Frost.

Sin: X-23. ANOTHER Wolverine clone. Except this one has boobs.

Mitzvah: Having the best known openly gay character in comics, Northstar.

Sin: Killing him.

Another Fish of the Day

2005-02-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

People look at you differently when you wear a t-shirt that has the word "Vagina" on it.

A mini-revelation (Didn't I used to call these The Fish of the Day?)

2005-02-02T21:07:00.000-08:00

Anyway, it just occured to me that the Rainbow Room was probably the most damaging experience I had throughout high school. Let me go into some detail. The people I met there were basically the only people I didn't meet through school (or friends from school) or through Jill. There were basically three people that I can remember consistantly being cool to me there: Kyle, Talia, and Marlene (and Marlene and Talia are incapable of being uncool to people.) Everyone else just gave me the impression that they didn't want me around (which was probably true in most but not all of those cases.) Now that I'm in college and am meeting new people through things unrelated to high school or an older sister, I often get the feeling that people don't want me around because that's how I was trained to think. I hate constantly feeling that someone doesn't like me and is just being too fake to say it to my face. Pisses me off all because of a bunch of homos who wouldn't give me the time of day. I try not to care about what other people think of me, but for some reason that's not possible for me. I hate it. I really do.

Look really close to see the fine print...

2005-02-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

SURGEON GENERALS WARNING: Any males that Joey may potentially find attractive should behave like assholes to him to avoid risk of infatuation. Men who are or may become heterosexual should not appear attractive around Joey. Exposure to Joey carries risk of excessive hormones.

Nerdy sexual innuendos

2005-01-28T13:23:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Penny Arcade (who provided "Rogues Do It From Behind")

Wizards Do It By the Book

Sorcerers Do It Spontaniously

Barbarians Do It Rough

Fighters Do It With Protection

Clerics Do It On Their Knees

Paladins Do It Religiously

Rangers Do It Outdoors

Druids Do It Like Animals

Running out of song lyrics...

2005-01-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

Updates: Single. Not that I went into what was going on pre-going single, but if anything that's just evidence that I can't maintain a relationship, but that's hardly new news.

Thoughts: I wish I could go more than five minutes without being attracted to someone.

Additional thoughts: Cute dorks are hot.

Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice...

2005-01-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

Oy vey is right...

2005-01-16T11:38:00.000-08:00

There should be some rule that people who date each other aren't allowed to read each other's online journal things.

Mark just gave a nice little rant about how he's not feeling happy with me, then immediately tells me over AIM to disregard all that. *head explodes*

Anyway, long weekend, that's nice. Party at Mergo's last night after watching figure skating nationals with Willa, Jenn, Garza and Fullmore. Michelle Kwan won, of course. (<3s Willa)

In the middle of a long weekend. But I have a couple shifts at the reception desk tomorrow, so my wasting time will be interpersed with work that is surprisingly similar to wasting time.

Class has started again!

2005-01-11T15:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back at Bloom, quite happily. I'll go over individual classes later, but for the most part it seems like it'll be a good semester. My floormates are once again around and making my life wonderful. Gary has a whoopie cushion he is using quite liberally. <3 you all. (Note: No sarcasm was present in that statement.) In other news, I now have a job at the reception desk in my dorm, which basically means I'm getting paid to do my homework, answer phones, and let people in when they forget their ID. And give people packages. I have my first shift tomorrow. Only an hour, but it's nice to start off slow before I start working three hour blocks on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Anyway, on to classes!

Principles of Sociology--Still waiting for the verdict on this one. It's a big lecture class, so it could range from very positive to mildly bad. The professor seems kinda interesting, but there are these...long...pauses in his sentences fairly often. Only a few tests though, so I'd better do well on them...

British Lit I--The top contender for 'favorite class.' The professor is kind of like a queerish Mr. Giorigi. "Beowulf may be influenced from Viking invaders, but it's still a Brittish Poem, dammit!" (Note: His tone may be required to make this funny.) The material looks pretty good too. Two tests, two papers, and a final.

American Lit II--Also waiting for verdict on this one. The material seems kind of nice (right now we're covering the shift from Romanticism to Realism) but the professor...not so sure. She makes us do these idiotic response cards after each reading. Still, this is the only section I could fit in this semester. I'll see how the next couple classes go before I contemplate trying to fit in a different class.

Chem & The Citizen--Non-lab science for non-science majors. Today was basically "This is what matter is. These are the three states of matter you need to know. (What, no Einstein-Bose Condensate? Phooey.) This is what an element is. This is what a compound is." Should be a balance between easy and annoying.

Fundamentals of Acting--I have this with Garza, Jenn, and Nate, so it'll be fun. Lots of different improv work, a monologue, some rehearsed scenes, critiques of plays, etc. Looks nifty.

(Note: I decided to scrap the musical love life diary. Wasn't feeling it. Plus the first song I chose unbearably sucked, and far too many of the other ones I wanted to add were from Songs For A New World.)

"Chamukah oh Chanukah, dreidel and menorah, we celebrate it even though it isn't in the Torah..."

2004-12-30T16:43:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com wish lists are wonderful in that it lets my relatives on my dad's side buy me things I actually want without them having to speak to me on more than one occasion a year, but they're inconvenient in the fact that I have to exchange the 'repeat' gifts. I ended up getting three copies of Neil Gaiman's "Smoke and Mirrors" and two copies of "Good Omens." Good books, but I really only need one copy. I returned them and got some other stuff.

Anywayz, my trip to Maryland was pretty good. It was nice seeing my grandparents and all...but my two aunts I'm less than fond of, but we covered that already.

Anywayz...do you ever just remember really priceless quotes from your friends? Case in point:

Allison: "Are Will and Grace married or just boyfriend and girlfriend?"

From somethingawful.com's "Least Qualified Authors"

2004-12-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

"Go go go Joseph, you know what they say..."

2004-12-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! 3.86 GPA and the Dean's list. Life is good.

I watched Napolean Dynamite with Jill at her friend Laura's. A bunch of people from Solebury School (where I went in the 7th grade) were there that recognized me, and I recognized all but one of them, which was a tad creepy, since he claimed I danced on a table, which I don't remember either. Maybe I just blocked out most of my middle school years, for better or for worse.

Why must you do this to me Joanna...

2004-12-20T14:17:00.000-08:00

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around and look for the "coolest" book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.

"And in the next twenty minutes it would be reduced again, to a jubilant twenty five."

Glean from that what you will.

Oh, most of my grades have been posted (I'm just waiting on American Lit and my choral ensembles) and so far I have a 4.0. Go me!

"One short day..."

2004-12-19T07:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't updated in a while. I've been back from school since Wednesday, woohoo. I kinda miss some people at BU already, but alas that's life. I've been having a nice vacation...been playing lots of World of Wacraft (I WILL catch up with my roommate someday, dammit!)

My party was fun, but not enough people in pajamas. I had a good time tho. Jill's coming home on Tuesday, woohoo. Me happy. I'm kinda not looking forward to going down to Maryland for Christmas, just because I feel really disconnected from my dad's side of the family. I dunno, I think the nail that hit the head on the coffin or (hatever that saying is) was when my Aunt and Uncle sent me a birthday card that contained some article about Anime from the Washington Post. Thanks, my dad's siblings / siblings in law, you still know I watch Japanese cartoons, way to stay involved with my life. My mom told me years ago that my dad's siblings weren't interested in maintaining any relationship us, and I didn't really believe it at first, but now I do, especially when my mom's entire side of the family is really close. I mean, my mom's sister in law would drop everything to help us out if we needed to, the same woman that my mother feuded with about the pettiest crap before she married my uncle and they got closer. Hell, my aunt's niece (i.e. her sister's daughter, not related to me) would probably tag along. I dunno, the constrast just suddenly dawned on me. I don't think I should be bitching about this, just because a lot of people have family situations that suck a lot more, but I dunno. I just can't take the fakeness.

Anyway, toodles, I wubbles you all, hang out with me over break.

Oh, and just for good measure...

2004-12-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

Here are the classes I'm taking next semester!

Brittish Lit I
American Lit II
Fundamentals of Acting
Chemistry and the Citizen (icky geneds...)
Principals of Sociology
Husky Singers
Concert Choir
Theater Practicum

Should be more challenging than last semester...let's see if our boy can do it.

"In the bleak mid winter, frosty wind made moan..."

2004-12-07T11:35:00.000-08:00

Don't ask why I used that for the title, it was the first song lyric that came to mind...after "Poison Ivy," but that has implications of herpes that I'd rather not think about too much. Speaking of which...the song lyrics, not herpes...thank Goddesses that the Holiday Concert is over, I am so sick of Christmas music you would not believe it...not only have I been singing it since homecoming, but it's all they play in the Commons these days, and it's my usual routine to go to the Commons in the morning, buy a cup of coffee from Java City (where they know me by name, plus I got my second free coffee for the semester!) and do some work or something. So basically I've been hearing / singing it far too much.

So yeah, as for callbacks, how about not reading for the part I got called back for? I talked to Willa this morning and apparently she didn't either. I wasn't too happy about that, or my performance in general. It didn't help that I had to leave early (I told the director ahead of time) because I had BUSTED. As much as I like the people in BUSTED, I can't say I'm totally pleased with the group. I think it's trying too hard to be more than it is. It's really fun, but when none of the directorial team has any theater training, you have to concede that it's going to be an ameteur quality show, and I think that has to be our mindset. Plus I'm getting a little sick of ALL our advertisements having something to do with reality TV, when BUSTED itself really has nothing to do with reality TV--it's a Soap Opera. Anyway, back to callbacks. I'm not planning on getting cast, so that means I can be more involved with one of the other 'elements' while getting my practicum hours in. I may try to put in for costuming, since it's something I don't know about, and it means I'll get to spend time with one of the coolest theater professors (Karen) and one of the sexiest design gurus (Josh.) Or I may want to put in for lighting or something...or props...or whatever, I really have no clue, I'll just take whatever they end up placing me in anyway.

So, just checking with one, if you're having second thoughts about declining to date someone, and these second thoughts are based on the fact that no one else seems legitimately interested in you, your self esteem needs work right?

Ok, that's not the only reason, I mean, I care about Mr. X, a lot, and our friendship has been awkward since several spouts of drama that seem to keep popping up...I dunno. The more I think about it, the more I want to give it a chance, but then I start to wonder if it's for the right reasons...and it wouldn't be fair to Mr. X if I wan't. I've fucked with his emotions enough, and I'm still kicking myself for that. Bleh. I should just try to be happy being single, but I wasted the first half of the semester on Chad, and at least another month of it on a crush that made me feel like I was in high school...and the semester went by so fast that I'm just worried that now time's running out.

Weird...

2004-12-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

So, despite having what I thought was the worst audition of my life, I got called back for Measure For Measure. How cool is that? I need to get a copy of the play and be prepared to die, but hey, it's still cool.

Quote of the day:

2004-11-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

"He's not a wuss as much as he's an Emo Kid without the angst, which just leaves you with a guy in glasses who writes poetry and plays the guitar."

"Nothing matters, but knowing nothing matters..."

2004-11-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

To counteract what a whiny bitch I've been lately, I'm going to do a completely positive post. Starting now.

Seeing as my birthday is right before finals week, I won't be doing much with my friends up at Bloom, so I suggest we have a celebration with all my lovely hometown friends at the start of winter break.

And we're going to do this: http://www.cuddleparty.com

I'm dead serious. We are totally having a cuddle party / pajama party. For those who don't want to venture forth, I'll post the rules.

1. Pajamas stay on the whole time.
2. No SEX. (Yep, you read that right.)
3. Ask for permission to kiss or nuzzle anyone. Make sure you can handle getting a no before you invite or request anyone to cuddle or kiss.
4. If you're a yes, say yes. If you're a no, say no.
5. If you're a maybe, say NO.
6. You are encouraged to change your mind from a yes to a no, no to a yes anytime you want.
7. NO DRY HUMPING!
8. Communicate, communicate, communicate.
9. If you're in a relationship, communicate and set your boundaries and agreements BEFORE you go to the Cuddle Party. Don't re-negotiate those agreements/boundaries during the Cuddle Party. (Trust us on this one.)
10. Get your Cuddle Life Guard On Duty or Cuddle Caddy if there's a concern, problem, or question or should you feel unsafe or need assistance with anything during the Cuddle Party. (not sure if we'll actually have one of these...)
11. Crying and giggling are both welcomed and encouraged.
12. Outside of your personal relationships, it's nobody's business who you cuddle, so please be respectful of other people's privacy when sharing with the outside world about Cuddle Parties.
13. Arrive on time.
14. Be hygienically savvy.
15. Clean up after yourself.
16. Always say thank you and practice good Cuddle Manners.

Additional "house rules."

17. You don't have to cuddle if you don't want to--you are encouraged though.
18. Group cuddles, AKA "floorgies" are encouraged.
19. What happens at a cuddle party stays at a cuddle party.
20. No going into the basement (cough cough)
21. For couples, be respectful of the level of PDA. Follow rules 1, 2, 7, and 20. Kissing is perfectly welcome, but full-scale making out can get annoying.
22. Be yourself!

Snacks, pizza, movies, and games will be around, but feel free to bring whatever you want. DDR may be an option, or whatever else you feel like bringing. Games like Taboo or Scategories are great, games like Seven Minutes in Heaven are not. Staying over is perfectly welcome (one person per sleeping bag please.) Date / time will be worked out later. If you think this is a cool idea, leave me a comment, email, or IM. If you think I'm a freak, please do the same.

"Nobody told you the best way to steer when the wind starts to blow"

2004-11-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, my life keeps causing me stress.

On the one hand, I'm still angry over my recent break up. Not sad, not depressed, just angry. At Chad or at myself, I don't know. I just can't seem to let go of that anger. Every time I think it's passed, something reminds me of the past and we're back to square one. I don't like feeling so angry. It's not pleasant for me, and I just can't let it go.

On the other hand, I have a friend I'm very attracted to, but I don't know how to deal with the situation. This is where my inability to read people becomes frustrating. When most people like someone, they are able to test the waters and get some sort of signal back--I don't know how to test another person's reaction or feel their response, so I just tend to be as honest about my feelings as I'm comfortable. The problem is that I can't expect that same courtesy out of others, and far too often I've been hurt by another person who decided to be less than honest with me because they thought they would spare my feelings.

Finally, I have yet another friend who is very attracted to me. I care about him a lot, but for some reason I just can't see myself with him. I don't know why--it's not a physical thing, I just don't see it working for some reason, but the reason eludes me. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings or have my own hurt, but...I don't know. I don't understand my feelings, let alone understand them enough to act on them.

"The film maker cannot see, and the song writer cannot hear..."

2004-11-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I was hanging out with my girls Willa and Becky, who're doing makeup and costumes for A Lie of the Mind. I was planning on seeing the show again, but I ended up going back stage with them before the show while they were setting up, and Becky asked me to help do Novak's hair (since it was supposed to be messed up, and if there's something I'm good at, it's messing things up.) Kinda exciting. I kind of got wrapped up in that, and ended up staying backstage with Willa and Becky for the rest of the show. That was kinda fun. I'm going to see it again tomorrow and then help with set strike, which I might as well get used to, because next semester I'm officially a theater minor, meaning I'll be sticking around here for at least a summer session or two. I talked to Adrian, who's also an education major and theater minor, and says it is doable in four years, as long as you do summers. Besides, I need the related skills if I plan on being a theater coach as well as a teacher. After A Lie of the Mind, I met up with Ashley, Willa, and Becky, and we went to a party. Willa didn't want to stay 'cause she's not the partying type, and Becky had friends with her and wanted to go to another party, so I just hung out with Ashley and other people who were there. Ashley played beer pong and got her ass kicked.

Anyways, today BUSTED performed at an RA Conference, thus I only stayed at the party for an hour an a half. The performance went well, but the changes we made from the first show were a little awkward. It worked out ok though. Heather invited me to another party tonight, which should be fun. Party party. So yeah. It's the weekend. Have a good one people, see all my hometown friends in a couple weeks.

"...And they never knew nothing of love. It was before..."

2004-11-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

Infatuation has caused me more stress than all other emotions combined. I hate it. I know I have family and friends who care about me--why do I feel that I need a significant other feel loved? Why can't I be content to be alone? My current crush has been driving me crazy for days. I can't take it anymore. I don't want to feel attracted to anyone right now. I want to be by myself and be able to be happy by myself, but this stupid need to feel loved , or whatever it is, won't have it. I'm sick and tired of wanting someone else's affection and not doing anything about it. It's like high school all over again.

AUGH!

Oh, just so this doesn't end on a bad note, the best dialogue from a game EVER.

"Jamie thinks you're gay."
"I know."
"So? Do you like guys or girls?"
"That's like asking someone in the Sahara is they like Aquefina or Poland Springs."

"Don't wish, don't start. Wishing only wounds the heart..."

2004-11-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

The best part of a break up is when you realize your ex is really annoying. After you're done feeling stupid for liking them in the first place, you realize you must have grown a few brain cells in the process. This supports my theory that getting drunk after a break up is stupid, because you may kill the brain cells you have just grown, and never make it through this stage of a break up.

Anyway, I find myself with a fairly severe crush shortly after a lousy relationship. I don't like this feeling, especially because I really don't think it's smart of me to start dating right now. I'd like to forget about it, but it's one of those crushes that sticks in your mind and keeps you from thinking about anything else. It's really annoying, but uplifting at the same time. Still, I'm miled away from actually doing anything about it. After all, I'm in Bloomsburg, the land of the single homos (according to my friend...)

I went to Rhode Island this weekend and saw the play Jill directd. Frickin amazing. Really intense. (It was called "The Credeux Canvas" for people who are interested.) It was nice seeing Jill. We talked about stuff. Boys and such, a little. I really miss her and I'm upset that I won't see her over Thanksgiving because she's going to Jamaica.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon in the costume shop with Willa, Ryan, Josh, Kim, Becky, etc. It was quite nice. Chad was there for a little bit (this was the point when I realized how fucking annoying he can be.) Willa and Becky invited me to be on the costume team for an independant production "American Buffalo." Should be interesting, and I'm glad to get some more theater work done, especially since I just decided I'm definitly adding a minor. If nothing else, it's an excuse to get my parents to pay for summer sessions and such. *grin* I might also try to join The Voice next semester, so I'll have English, Theater, and Journalism under my belt, allowing me to be the ultimate Pitner-Giorgi hybrid, muahahahaha!

I talked to Mark after BUSTED rehearsal. It was kinda nice, altho he's still in pain because he passed a kidney stone last weekend. Poor guy. He's a cool guy. My crush on Matt has faded, probably because I think he finds me annoying, probably for good cause. Or maybe just because of this new crush. :-\ I dunno, last night I felt like I had this huge tangle of emotions, and I didn't know what to do because if I pulled on the wrong string, or pull it the wrong way, it could just get all the rest tangled worse. Maybe that's just how life is. I dunno. If I don't get over the whole Chad thing and the whole crush on Mr. X thing, I think I may end up going to campus counseling. I dunno, I just feel like I need a better medium for dealing with my feelings.

"I wasn't quite prepared to choose to take that risk, and maybe lose..."

2004-11-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

I need to find quotes from songs that aren't from Songs For A New World.

Anyway, I've been singlefied. It's actually kind of relieving, but there's definitly still the "hurt" component in there because I'm not sure if he was honest in why he wanted to break up. It's better for me in the long run, as I need to stop dating people with emotional problems. I talked to Josh about it a little, and he welcomed me to Bloomsburg, home of the single homos. Eh, I'll live. Chad told me he wasn't ready for a relationship, and whether or not he was being honest, I think it's true. It could have worked between us, but I think he got scared and stopped trying. I kinda feel bad for him in a way, but at the same time I don't need to deal with other people's emotional junk. I have enough of my own, and I don't have the time or energy to try to figure out what's going on in someone's head if they won't even try to work through it with me.

This week was kind of stressful aside from Chad-related issues--I had three tests, but only two of those actually count because the first one was ridiculously easy. Frickin Teachers Schools and Society--biggest joke of a class ever. It's only two hours of my life a week though, and it's going to help my GPA, so I might as well not complain.

Blech. I need something to cuddle. Preferably something that isn't filled with cotton and preferably something that has a Y chromosome. Sorry ladies, y'know I love you, but cuddling guys is different. I'm sure you understand.

Oh, and just because I still have five minutes before I need to leave for class...

2004-11-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

All around the room your things are placed
And next to you he fills the space
And so it seems your saving grace is only saving face
The pictures of the two of you,
On Holiday, on honeymoon
You thought that he was wanting you
But he was only wanting you
To let him off the hook

He was your imaginary friend
And you were partners till the end
Till something bends, and then it breaks
Your worst mistake, accepting
Enemies on Bended knees,
A litany of tragedies, you're vexed
It seems your hexed
And after sex, he expects you'll let him
Off the hook till
Something that you heard,
While you were sleeping left you
Shaken while he stirred.
When you awaken you will
Make him eat his words
Right off the hook

Hook and line
Every time

The credit card receipts,
The dirty sheets,
The souvenirs of men who cheat
I all makes sense
With each offense you wanted to believe him
He could get away with murder one
And you would clean the smoking gun
With every crime,
You bought each line
But not this time, you'll make him
Eat his words 'cause

Something that you heard
While you were sleeping left you
Shaken while he stirred
When you awaken you will
Make him eat his, eat his words
While he's alone 'cause
You're wont be around and
From now on the phone stays
Off the hook

Hook and line
Every time.

Not to offend my Republican readers (If I have any...)

2004-11-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

...four more fucking years. I am pissed.

I'm going to be irresponsible and skip my French class after my Teachers Schools and Society midterm because I'm angry at everything right now. Not just because of the election but that sure is a goddamn big part of it.

"So I'm stuck in this world of her magic mystique, where I'll never be more than her toy of the week..."

2004-11-02T15:20:00.000-08:00

At times like this, people around me should be glad I don't have pyrokinesis.

"The world was dancing..."

2004-10-31T13:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend was fun. Friday I realized I had nothing to make a costume with, so I went to Salvation Army and bought a choir robe for four bucks. Lo and behold my alter boy costume. I went to this haunted house thingy with theater people. I drove up with Josh and Len. Josh got high in the car on the way up and I learned that marijuana smells really really bad. I was kinda paranoid we'd get pulled over and I wouldn't be able to be certified, but it all turned out nicely. The haunted house was fun, Len clung onto me for a good portion of it, which kinda helped assuage certain lonlinesses. After that I went back to Josh and Len's house and watched Law & Order while they got their costumes ready for the theater party thingy later that night. Josh was an ass and Len was Kerry. Very nice costumes. Josh asked if I wanted to get high with him, I said no and continued watching Law & Order.

The party was very fun, as theater parties are. I ended up getting my picture taken with Renee (a knocked up nun) and Timon (Jesus.) Mark was there, and we talked while I got a lil tipsy. He and Francine got their butts kicked at beer pong. After Mark sobered up he drove me home. Jordan was working the front desk when I walked in, and I was kinda worried because I definitly wasn't walking in a straight line...but I had to pee really bad so I just hurried to the bathroom.

Saturday I ran into Garza when I went to the commons for lunch, and we had lunch together, then we went to the comic book store at the end of main street and bought twelve dollars worth of X-Men comics. Two kinda bad ones, too good ones and a great one. I recommend Astonishing X-Men to anyone who reads comics. The dialouge is flawless, and the characters have interesting dynamics. The cast is Beast, Shadowcat, Wolverine, Cyclops, White Queen (Emma Frost), and the newly ressurected Colossus. My only qualm is Cyclops's extra-ugly costume. Plus Emma Frost is definitly one of the coolest characters in comics.

Emma: (while mind controlling two guards) "Scramblers deactivated then? Well, here's some good news. You feel no pain. You will go straight to a hospital. Remember nothing of this place. And every time you hear the words "parsley," "intractable," or "longitude," you will vomit uncontrollably for forty-eight hours."

Cyclops: "Nice work X-Men. My girlfriend is very weird."

Priceless. Anyways, adjectiveless X-Men was surprisingly good, as it didn't have many characters I have a particular affinity for. The cast is Havok, Iceman, Polaris, Northstar, Rogue, Gambit, Juggernaught, and Wolverine. The writing's pretty good, lotsa action in the issues I picked up, and the characterization is very good. My major qualm is that Iceman's a real bitch now that he's become living ice or some crap. Uncanny X-Men, on the other hand, was very dissapointing. The dialogue is mediocre at best, plots I picked up were kinda lame. Art is real nice. It was a dissapointment, since it has a lot of characters I had previously liked. Cast is Storm, Nightcrawler, Bishop, Sage, Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey) and Wolverine. Storm pulled some pretty ridiculous applications of her powers our of her ass, the "magnetic fields of a hyper-ionized patch of air" or some bull like that. Stupid.

Anyways, after we went to the comic book store, Garza and I went to her room to play Magic for a couple hours. That was fun. She kicked my ass. I tried to do laundry afterwards, but all the machines were full, so I did some homework and messed around for a little bit. Today's been a slow day, but I kinda want it to be.

Anywayz, have a good one all my friends.

"Birds do, it, bees do it..."

2004-10-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

Well, for those playing at home I suppose its obvious where the inspiration for my last posts lyrics were. We've been "on break" for less than a week and I already want Chad back. I miss him, but then again I was missing him before we were on break. I miss him the way it was before--when he was fun to be around, and would talk to me, and just his physical presence. We haven't even cuddled for such a long time. The physical part isn't my top priority, but it might be the most noticable difference. I dunno. Anyway, I am glad we're taking this time off--it gives me time to reflect on what I need to do, and what I need to ask of him.

On the other hand, I heard from a friend that he thinks there's something between me and Mark, which kinda pisses me off because he's pretty much one of two gay guys I've been close friends with without the friendship getting weird because of other feelings (I <3 Mark and Kyle.) Anyway, I dunno. I just have to figure out how to deal with this.

"Heart and music make a song..."

2004-10-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. I'm posting more song lyrics.

MAN 2:
I had a house while you were gone
The week after you left me I found a couple acres
Near Severna Park
I had a house while you were gone
A house with silver shutters
And a driveway laid in marble
And thousands of rooms to fill
And miles of space to fly
And I tried to believe it,
It was better without you
I was safer alone

No, I'd give it all for you
I'd give it all for you by my side once more
Oh, I'd give it all for you
I'd give it all to hold you again
To feel I'm completed
To know there and then
That all that I needed
Was you to fight the fear
And now you're here...

WOMAN 1:
I took a trip while I was gone
I cashed in all my savings
And bought an El Dorado,
Drove to Tennessee.
I took a trip while I was gone
I drove across the country,
And I stopped at lots of diners,
And stared at a million stars
And thought I could touch the sky
And I tried to believe it,
It was better without you
I was finally free

No, I'd give it all for you
I'd give it all for you by my side once more
Oh, I'd give it all for you
I'd give it ‘cause the mountains I climb
Get higher and higher
I'm running from time,
And walking through fire,
And dreams just don't come true
But now there's you...

MAN 2:
God knows it's easy to hide,
Easy to hide from the things that you feel
And harder to blindly trust
What you can't understand

WOMAN 1:
God knows it's easy to run,
Easy to run from the people you love,
And harder to stand and fight
For the things you believe

MAN 2 & WOMAN 1:
Nothing about us was perfect or clear
But when paradise calls me
I'd rather be here
There's something between us
That nobody else needs to see

WOMAN 1:
There were oceans to cross

MAN 2:
There were mountains to conquer

WOMAN 1:
And I stood on the shore

MAN 2:
And I stood on the cliff

MAN 2 & WOMAN 1:
And the second before I jumped
I knew where I needed to be

Oh, I gave it all for you
I gave it all for you by my side once more
Oh, I gave it all for you
I gave it ‘cause it's harder to touch
The things that are dearer
I love you too much
To trust something clearer
I know I fell too far,
But here you are...

"And I tried to believe it...It was better without you...I was safer alone..."

2004-10-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Yes Joanna, I know I stole the way you were titling your posts a while back, but I don't care.

Anyway, today was weird because my uncomfortable routine was disrupted. Usually on Mondays / Wednesdays / Fridays, I sit next to Chad in psych class, walk him to his next class, then meet him again for lunch at 11:00. Today I did none of these things because we're "taking a break." I shouldn't complain because it was my idea, but "taking a break" seems more like a break-up for commitmentphobes like me. We reached the decision due to our inability to solve our problems, but I don't know under what circumstances--if any--we'll be able to start up again. I don't know. When it was good between us, it was really good, but lately...blah.

Anyway, I ran into Renee, who stage managed the showcase, at the commons and we had lunch. That was nice. She's graduating in December, which makes me sad. That's life I suppose. I also have plans to have dinner with Heather tomorrow.

Ooh. Tonight's the "season premier" of BUSTED. Should be interesting to see how it all unfolds. Looking forward to it--and to starting to rehearse the next episode. Mark's gonna see it, as is Tina. Should be nice.

Anyways, life is...going. One day at a time I guess.

"With a gay midgit playing Tevyah...."

2004-10-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to post one "You know you're and X if..." and you, my beloved readers, will add more with comments. Yes, that's an order.

You know you're a theater person when...

...It's more convinient to list your male friends who aren't gay.

...You bitch about having to go to rehearsals, load ins, light hangs, and set strikes, but when you don't have them, you bitch about missing theater stuff.

...You can't go to the movies without analyzing the actors' abilities.

...Whether they're straight girls, straight guys, gay guys, or lesbians, all your friends act like bitchy gay men.

...Your parties are fun even when you're sober.

...People at said parties sometimes can't tell if you're sober or not.

Add more people! It's fun!