Dear friends and any readers left of this blog,
After a lengthy hiatus I have decided to give up this blog. But not for the reasons you may think. I just want to branch out a little, and trivialities were getting kind of boring. But I'll still be blogging. I've developed a new blog with my good friend, Heather, and it's more observational and conceptual, I think. We just launched it today, and you can read it here:
www.wanderinginablur.blogspot.com
I hope any lurkers around here will find it interesting. I know I let this site go by the wayside, and I am sorry. But this is a new beginning.
-Rob (I'll be R.R. over there)
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
28 July 2014
22 November 2013
Audrey Hepburn, JFK, and Benny Goodman
Thanksgiving Break has officially begun. And it couldn't have started at a better time.
I've been sick most of this week (if not the whole month). Since my last blog post, I've gotten sick three times. It's been terrible. I have such a weak immune system, always have. And everything I've had to do as regards to school, activities, religious life, home life, etc. has been taking a toll on my health.
So today I sit before you (well, not really, my words do) and I will say a few words about things on my mind.
First: It's November 22nd, 2013. Fifty years ago, on that afternoon in Dallas...but of course you know the story. It's been referenced everywhere: the media, movies such as Parkland and JFK, countless documentaries, and history and English classes. Obviously I wasn't alive on November 22nd, 1963, so I can't really give an opinion on how extremely devastating it might have been (being, that is, the psychological implications of JFK's assassination) but I knowe ynogh that it was extremely tragic and shattered the idyll of America forever.
As you likely know, I'm obsessed with the period in American history around 1940 to 1965. It was a golden age in American history- the Second World War had just ended, Wall Street and the economy were back in business, everyone was happy and relieved, rock and roll reached its height, and fedoras. I love most everything from that era - the clothing, the music, the slang...
Of course there were some not-so-great things, such as the USSR and the Cold War. The devastation in Europe, Japan and elsewhere after the War was horrifying. As stated above, America's innocence and idyll was shattered. Camelot will never come again. There was still racism, sexism, and chauvinism (those last two are superfluous) in America at that time.
But not every age is perfect. Today's society is better than most ages in history, but it's not perfect either. We are besieged by an barrage of horror stories: crises in the Mid East, genocide in the Sudan, the unrelenting recession that's been going on for the better part of a decade, the terrible music (I'm so facetious here)...
But the 40's through the early 60's (after which hippies, drug culture, and platform shoes came on the scene, ruining everything) were a very awesome time. It started by dancing to the tune of jazz numbers by some of the greats (Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller, to name a few) and ended with The Twist, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly. (I owe quite a bit to Buddy Holly - my glasses, hair, etc are a homage to him.)
And then movies! Movies weren't silent any more, hadn't been for a decade or so. But now some really amazing movies came out, the "Golden Age of Hollywood". Casablanca, Rebecca, Cyrano de Bergerac, pretty much any Marilyn Monroe movie (I kid, I kid...or am I?)...and of course, a true classic: Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's.
I'm a fan of Truman Capote: In Cold Blood is one of my favorite novels and the movie that came out some years ago was very good. But Breakfast at Tiffany's is just amazing. It is one of the most unequivocal ironies of my life that I have not once read the original novella that Truman Capote wrote. But he did write the screenplay of the movie, and that was amazing. I can just picture myself being "Fred". :) it is a must see movie.
“I’ll never get used to anything. Anybody that does, they might as well be dead.”
-Rob
I've been sick most of this week (if not the whole month). Since my last blog post, I've gotten sick three times. It's been terrible. I have such a weak immune system, always have. And everything I've had to do as regards to school, activities, religious life, home life, etc. has been taking a toll on my health.
So today I sit before you (well, not really, my words do) and I will say a few words about things on my mind.
First: It's November 22nd, 2013. Fifty years ago, on that afternoon in Dallas...but of course you know the story. It's been referenced everywhere: the media, movies such as Parkland and JFK, countless documentaries, and history and English classes. Obviously I wasn't alive on November 22nd, 1963, so I can't really give an opinion on how extremely devastating it might have been (being, that is, the psychological implications of JFK's assassination) but I knowe ynogh that it was extremely tragic and shattered the idyll of America forever.
As you likely know, I'm obsessed with the period in American history around 1940 to 1965. It was a golden age in American history- the Second World War had just ended, Wall Street and the economy were back in business, everyone was happy and relieved, rock and roll reached its height, and fedoras. I love most everything from that era - the clothing, the music, the slang...
Of course there were some not-so-great things, such as the USSR and the Cold War. The devastation in Europe, Japan and elsewhere after the War was horrifying. As stated above, America's innocence and idyll was shattered. Camelot will never come again. There was still racism, sexism, and chauvinism (those last two are superfluous) in America at that time.
But not every age is perfect. Today's society is better than most ages in history, but it's not perfect either. We are besieged by an barrage of horror stories: crises in the Mid East, genocide in the Sudan, the unrelenting recession that's been going on for the better part of a decade, the terrible music (I'm so facetious here)...
But the 40's through the early 60's (after which hippies, drug culture, and platform shoes came on the scene, ruining everything) were a very awesome time. It started by dancing to the tune of jazz numbers by some of the greats (Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller, to name a few) and ended with The Twist, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly. (I owe quite a bit to Buddy Holly - my glasses, hair, etc are a homage to him.)
And then movies! Movies weren't silent any more, hadn't been for a decade or so. But now some really amazing movies came out, the "Golden Age of Hollywood". Casablanca, Rebecca, Cyrano de Bergerac, pretty much any Marilyn Monroe movie (I kid, I kid...or am I?)...and of course, a true classic: Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's.
I'm a fan of Truman Capote: In Cold Blood is one of my favorite novels and the movie that came out some years ago was very good. But Breakfast at Tiffany's is just amazing. It is one of the most unequivocal ironies of my life that I have not once read the original novella that Truman Capote wrote. But he did write the screenplay of the movie, and that was amazing. I can just picture myself being "Fred". :) it is a must see movie.
“I’ll never get used to anything. Anybody that does, they might as well be dead.”
-Rob
27 October 2013
My Right Arm Is Complete Again!
I've just finished designing and fixing my Hallowe'en costume. It's gonna be epic.
I was originally going to be a mime, but the costumes were all sad and disappointing. I've had the idea since about fifth grade, when a family friend dressed up as a mime, and it was a really cool costume. However, she had made it herself and we just didn't have the time this year to do so.
So then I got to thinking. And so, lo and behold, for the fourth year in a row, I picked my costume from the Victorian/British Imperialism era. Behold...Sweeney Todd!
It's going to be a very interesting costume. The last three years (four, if you count the Phantom of the Opera in 6th grade) I was the Mad Hatter, an Indian maharajah (think the evil character in Moulin Rouge), and a Victorian gentleman vampire. My favorite of these was the Mad Hatter. It was brilliant, elegant, powerful, and got lots of compliments. I don't think I've taken so many pictures with random strangers who were amazed.
So this year I'm a demon barber. Sweeney Todd, for all the sadly uninitiated, is the legend of a barber on Fleet Street who kills his customers maniacally. He arranges a deal with the pie maker downstairs, Mrs. Lovett, who sadly doesn't have enough money for meat. Suffice it to say that Sweeney need not worry about where to hide his bodies, and Mrs. Lovett didn't need to pay for meat anymore.
It's a gothically twisted story, and was a fixture in Victorian melodramas. Because, you know, Punch and Judy wasn't enough. (Once day I'll discuss Punch and Judy, the most amazing show in the world.) But then, as the Victorian age died out, in the Gay Nineties, so did Sweeney.
In the 70's, however, playright Christopher Bond rewrote the story into a play. Now Sweeney had a wife and daughter. A licentious judge lusted after the wife, imprisoned Sweeney in Australia, and kept the daughter while the wife killed herself. Spoiler alert: Sweeney returns, he kills the judge, his wife (who somehow survived, and he didn't know until afterwards), the judge's Beadle, Mrs. Lovett, and his daughter (no, the daughter survives.)
In 1979, the venerable Stephen Sondheim, who also made the amazing gem "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" made the play into a Tony-winning musical. The rest is history. In 2007,Captain Jack Sparrow Johnny Depp, Bellatrix Lestrange Helena Bonham Carter appeared in the film version, which was delightfully amazing.
But you probably knew all that anyway. :) But I do hope this year will be an epic year, on par with the Mad Hatter. But here, until the next post, I leave you with a playlist: the film's soundtrack, which has the songs from the original musical, a bit modified:
-Rob
I was originally going to be a mime, but the costumes were all sad and disappointing. I've had the idea since about fifth grade, when a family friend dressed up as a mime, and it was a really cool costume. However, she had made it herself and we just didn't have the time this year to do so.
So then I got to thinking. And so, lo and behold, for the fourth year in a row, I picked my costume from the Victorian/British Imperialism era. Behold...Sweeney Todd!
 |
| Photo Credit: impawards.com |
So this year I'm a demon barber. Sweeney Todd, for all the sadly uninitiated, is the legend of a barber on Fleet Street who kills his customers maniacally. He arranges a deal with the pie maker downstairs, Mrs. Lovett, who sadly doesn't have enough money for meat. Suffice it to say that Sweeney need not worry about where to hide his bodies, and Mrs. Lovett didn't need to pay for meat anymore.
It's a gothically twisted story, and was a fixture in Victorian melodramas. Because, you know, Punch and Judy wasn't enough. (Once day I'll discuss Punch and Judy, the most amazing show in the world.) But then, as the Victorian age died out, in the Gay Nineties, so did Sweeney.
In the 70's, however, playright Christopher Bond rewrote the story into a play. Now Sweeney had a wife and daughter. A licentious judge lusted after the wife, imprisoned Sweeney in Australia, and kept the daughter while the wife killed herself. Spoiler alert: Sweeney returns, he kills the judge, his wife (who somehow survived, and he didn't know until afterwards), the judge's Beadle, Mrs. Lovett, and his daughter (no, the daughter survives.)
In 1979, the venerable Stephen Sondheim, who also made the amazing gem "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" made the play into a Tony-winning musical. The rest is history. In 2007,
But you probably knew all that anyway. :) But I do hope this year will be an epic year, on par with the Mad Hatter. But here, until the next post, I leave you with a playlist: the film's soundtrack, which has the songs from the original musical, a bit modified:
-Rob
16 October 2013
Hanged for Theft
We decorated our house yesterday. My mother, a great fan of all things Hallowe'en, was extremely enthusiastic, but I guess we all were. It's Hallowe'en, man! *shrugs*
We have about four or five skeletons. Not that big, and obviously not real, just about 30-inch plastic skeletons. Last year my brother had the bright idea to tie a string to one's neck and hang it off the tree closest to the sidewalk. I don't know if people noticed, but they likely did.
This year, however, he took things to an even more grim, darkly humoristic sense.
He did the sign in all of five minutes, while the rest of us were tying cobwebs to palm trees and much else. I suggested he redo the sign to say something more poetic and archaic, like:
He wasn't up for it, though, he said he had no more cardboard or paint. Oh well. But it still would have been nice. If people could understand it. Maybe "Hanged 4 Theft" is a good sign, then. People can understand it.
What do you think?
-Rob
We have about four or five skeletons. Not that big, and obviously not real, just about 30-inch plastic skeletons. Last year my brother had the bright idea to tie a string to one's neck and hang it off the tree closest to the sidewalk. I don't know if people noticed, but they likely did.
This year, however, he took things to an even more grim, darkly humoristic sense.
 |
| "I'm becoming more like you, Rob, I swear." "It's a good thing." "Not really." |
He did the sign in all of five minutes, while the rest of us were tying cobwebs to palm trees and much else. I suggested he redo the sign to say something more poetic and archaic, like:
Let it be Known that this Day,
October 15th, the Year of our Lord 2013
A shameless Prisoner hath been Hanged from this Tree
For the unpardonable Vices of Theft, Larceny and Treason.
Let his merciless Ending serve as a Justly Warning
To any who would attempt such a treacherous Deed.
He wasn't up for it, though, he said he had no more cardboard or paint. Oh well. But it still would have been nice. If people could understand it. Maybe "Hanged 4 Theft" is a good sign, then. People can understand it.
What do you think?
-Rob
16 September 2013
On Knowledge
"The whole universe interests me." ~George Brecht
Today's topic is knowledge, whether it's gained for the sake of gaining, or worth pursuing.
I use the phrase "an infinite mind" a lot. Not simply related to the title of this blog, but in conversation I might use it. I use it to describe myself, to describe people who lived their lives out in pursuit of knowledge. da Vinci had an infinite mind. Albert Einstein had an infinite mind. John Dalton had an infinite mind. There are many others. I revere these people simply because they went and discovered more. All discovery is not good - Robert Oppenheimer comes to mind. But yet it made the world a more curious, smarter place.
In case you haven't read the nineteen columns I've posted since January on topics, I enjoy knowledge. Sure, I go and trivialize it and call it "trivia". It might be. It isn't exactly relevant to your life the way, say, how iOS works for your iPad or whatever. But I enjoy studying about this stuff.
Knowledge is important because I've always wanted to learn, stretch out my arms farther and reach the next level in education, in self-advancement. At age 3 I knew to read. By 4 I knew all the US Presidents, their VPs and terms. By 5 I knew the countries of the world. Don't call me a prodigy. What I was was merely curious.
People need to go out and discover things. Not simply because it'll be relevant to your life. Many people say that everything is relevant to life. The Amber Room, the VOC, Gorm the Old, Captain Cook aren't always relevant to life. But yet you'll be a bit smarter. You'll be aware of the amazing diversity and aptitude the world has in terms of knowledge. "Ipsa scientia potestas est"- knowledge itself is power. ~Francis Bacon
My ideal life is as such: study all the available branches of knowledge in university, in particular world literature, psychology, art fundamentals, philosophy and calculus. Learn 5 additional languages. Travel to every single country in the world. Partake in a ritual for each religion. Learn to play 2 musical instruments. Read classical literature. There is much, much more.
Of course, I will never accomplish all of the above. It is very possible. But it is also very nearly impossible.
What, then, is there to do? Learn. There is the Internet. There are books and print media. There are many resources out there. We simply don't know how to use them. Modern society likes lolcats and duck faces more than self-improvement. "Thank God for books and music and things I can think about!" ~Charlie Gordon
I am horrible at math. Equations make sense to me, yet when I sit down to work on my pre-calc homework, my mind is more often than not a blank. (OK, not that often, but there are many times.) Yet I opted to take Precalculus/Calculus 1 this year instead of Trig/Precalculus. Why? Why would I go to a harder math class when I struggle? For the challenge. Calculus fascinates me. Calculus makes our cars run, our aeroplanes fly, our bank accounts work, our computers process. I wish to learn how exactly calculus ties all the branches of mathematics together. It will be a struggle, mostly uphill. Yet I wish to learn.
As TE White says in his book The Sword in the Stone,
Today's topic is knowledge, whether it's gained for the sake of gaining, or worth pursuing.
I use the phrase "an infinite mind" a lot. Not simply related to the title of this blog, but in conversation I might use it. I use it to describe myself, to describe people who lived their lives out in pursuit of knowledge. da Vinci had an infinite mind. Albert Einstein had an infinite mind. John Dalton had an infinite mind. There are many others. I revere these people simply because they went and discovered more. All discovery is not good - Robert Oppenheimer comes to mind. But yet it made the world a more curious, smarter place.
In case you haven't read the nineteen columns I've posted since January on topics, I enjoy knowledge. Sure, I go and trivialize it and call it "trivia". It might be. It isn't exactly relevant to your life the way, say, how iOS works for your iPad or whatever. But I enjoy studying about this stuff.
Knowledge is important because I've always wanted to learn, stretch out my arms farther and reach the next level in education, in self-advancement. At age 3 I knew to read. By 4 I knew all the US Presidents, their VPs and terms. By 5 I knew the countries of the world. Don't call me a prodigy. What I was was merely curious.
People need to go out and discover things. Not simply because it'll be relevant to your life. Many people say that everything is relevant to life. The Amber Room, the VOC, Gorm the Old, Captain Cook aren't always relevant to life. But yet you'll be a bit smarter. You'll be aware of the amazing diversity and aptitude the world has in terms of knowledge. "Ipsa scientia potestas est"- knowledge itself is power. ~Francis Bacon
My ideal life is as such: study all the available branches of knowledge in university, in particular world literature, psychology, art fundamentals, philosophy and calculus. Learn 5 additional languages. Travel to every single country in the world. Partake in a ritual for each religion. Learn to play 2 musical instruments. Read classical literature. There is much, much more.
Of course, I will never accomplish all of the above. It is very possible. But it is also very nearly impossible.
What, then, is there to do? Learn. There is the Internet. There are books and print media. There are many resources out there. We simply don't know how to use them. Modern society likes lolcats and duck faces more than self-improvement. "Thank God for books and music and things I can think about!" ~Charlie Gordon
I am horrible at math. Equations make sense to me, yet when I sit down to work on my pre-calc homework, my mind is more often than not a blank. (OK, not that often, but there are many times.) Yet I opted to take Precalculus/Calculus 1 this year instead of Trig/Precalculus. Why? Why would I go to a harder math class when I struggle? For the challenge. Calculus fascinates me. Calculus makes our cars run, our aeroplanes fly, our bank accounts work, our computers process. I wish to learn how exactly calculus ties all the branches of mathematics together. It will be a struggle, mostly uphill. Yet I wish to learn.
As TE White says in his book The Sword in the Stone,
“The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”
I think we should all live by those words, don't you think? There is so much out there. "There are so many doors to open. I am impatient to begin."
-Rob
28 August 2013
500 Days of Summer (or more like 70)
Today is the last day of summer vacation for me (and many others).
The first post I made this summer was the classical music one where I enumerated some of my favorite classical pieces. I still remember that morning, getting up and banging out the words since I was in a daze, that summer was at last here. I'd had lots of stress since April and at last I could relax. (From May, where I only posted 3 times, one of them as a freakin' blog note, to July, where I posted 13 times, which sounds normal to you but unbelievable to me, shows how much I love summer.) Note: I did say once that when school started I'd be at Triviality 20. I'm at 18, which isn't bad, but 20 is actually impossible. I could have gotten up to 19, but not 20. If that makes any sense.
That night I saw the summer solstice for the first time. I discussed that as well, the only time I've ever had two posts in one day (though the blog won't show that, due to my editing tricks with dates) and so on.
Usually when this time comes I forget most of my vacation and things I did. Not so this time. Partly because of this blog, I'm able to remember topics I was studying. Usually I only remember the week-long vacations I take abroad or a pool or a chat with friends or something. If it hadn't been for Infinite Mind, I'd have forgotten I had an obsession with Nikola Tesla, I was bored (well, maybe not forgotten that), or that I discussed pictures.
I've done a lot this summer, possibly more than other summers. Though it wasn't as great as the summer of my 7th grade (two years ago), this one was a lot of fun. I went up north, I did 3 summer assignments (including 100 chemistry problems and an essay that was challenging because I wrote 650 words when I needed only 500 at the most), and blogged on here. I read a 1000-page book, something I don't think I've done since 2009, and 8 other books in less than 15 days. I went through 5 decades of the 1900s in six weeks (I was obsessed with the twenties, watched silent movies, listened to big bands, studied WWII on my own, did a makeshift sock hop in my room, wrote a '50s story, and beyond.)
This year will be much more challenging. I will take 2 AP classes as a sophomore, and 2 honors classes. I'll be in a journalism-cum-yearbook program full time, head a grade level in a club, and go through confirmation. It will all be hell at certain points.
But at the same time I need to relax. I'm notorious for stressing out over things that I needn't worry about. Which is why I am going to say, here, right now: I will try not to let this blog die, at least 4 posts per month at the least, and attempt to make myself less nervous and stressed out. Will it be hard? Definitely. Will it all be worth it in the end? Perhaps.
But I can keep on going. There's only 295 days till summer vacation rolls around again. 293 until my birthday. It may seem impossibly long, but when I think back and feel that 2011 was just yesterday, when in reality it was two years ago, then I know it's possible to wait.
Smile on. Summer vacation will come around again. All we have to do is wait.
-Rob
The first post I made this summer was the classical music one where I enumerated some of my favorite classical pieces. I still remember that morning, getting up and banging out the words since I was in a daze, that summer was at last here. I'd had lots of stress since April and at last I could relax. (From May, where I only posted 3 times, one of them as a freakin' blog note, to July, where I posted 13 times, which sounds normal to you but unbelievable to me, shows how much I love summer.) Note: I did say once that when school started I'd be at Triviality 20. I'm at 18, which isn't bad, but 20 is actually impossible. I could have gotten up to 19, but not 20. If that makes any sense.
That night I saw the summer solstice for the first time. I discussed that as well, the only time I've ever had two posts in one day (though the blog won't show that, due to my editing tricks with dates) and so on.
Usually when this time comes I forget most of my vacation and things I did. Not so this time. Partly because of this blog, I'm able to remember topics I was studying. Usually I only remember the week-long vacations I take abroad or a pool or a chat with friends or something. If it hadn't been for Infinite Mind, I'd have forgotten I had an obsession with Nikola Tesla, I was bored (well, maybe not forgotten that), or that I discussed pictures.
I've done a lot this summer, possibly more than other summers. Though it wasn't as great as the summer of my 7th grade (two years ago), this one was a lot of fun. I went up north, I did 3 summer assignments (including 100 chemistry problems and an essay that was challenging because I wrote 650 words when I needed only 500 at the most), and blogged on here. I read a 1000-page book, something I don't think I've done since 2009, and 8 other books in less than 15 days. I went through 5 decades of the 1900s in six weeks (I was obsessed with the twenties, watched silent movies, listened to big bands, studied WWII on my own, did a makeshift sock hop in my room, wrote a '50s story, and beyond.)
This year will be much more challenging. I will take 2 AP classes as a sophomore, and 2 honors classes. I'll be in a journalism-cum-yearbook program full time, head a grade level in a club, and go through confirmation. It will all be hell at certain points.
But at the same time I need to relax. I'm notorious for stressing out over things that I needn't worry about. Which is why I am going to say, here, right now: I will try not to let this blog die, at least 4 posts per month at the least, and attempt to make myself less nervous and stressed out. Will it be hard? Definitely. Will it all be worth it in the end? Perhaps.
But I can keep on going. There's only 295 days till summer vacation rolls around again. 293 until my birthday. It may seem impossibly long, but when I think back and feel that 2011 was just yesterday, when in reality it was two years ago, then I know it's possible to wait.
Smile on. Summer vacation will come around again. All we have to do is wait.
-Rob
27 July 2013
The North: An Epistolary
[Copied from Robert Miranda's Journal, Sunday]
The Eisenhower Interstate Highway System requires that one mile in every five must be straight, to be usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.
I was thinking about this over and over again while looking out at the pristine Californian coast on the way to Santa Barbara this morning, wondering if there would be any truth to it. I'd known about this little gem for a while already, but, like most everything else that's found on the Internet, there's no way of proving if it was truth. Didn't seem to be true, though. We have a tendency to have very weird freeways. But that's part of the state's charm. [Edit on Tuesday 23rd: Just drove through the PCH. Yeah, it's not true.]
As someone who rarely leaves the Southern California enclave made up of my hometown and the bordering cities I've grown up in and patronized the last 15 years, not 10 minutes from LA's downtown, the fact of seeing towns with less than 10,000 people was disturbing. I have been to Hawai'i twice: it was overpopulated but they were islands. To see towns devoid of people, to see paths empty of cars and any pollution that is a hallmark of Los Angeles - was interesting, and a little disturbing, as I've mentioned. Once one passes Santa Barbara, there is nothing but empty fields, the beginning of wine country.
Welcome to Central California. Population? Looks to be zero.
[Excerpt from Robert Miranda's Phonograph Diary, Monday]
Solvang was extremely interesting. Unfortunately it's really hot and that's a bit annoying. I liked the town, we've been here for, like, about fifteen hours.
There is no nightlife. At all. Not that that's a bad thing, but it's kind of depressing to walk through the streets at dusk and yet there's no one in the streets besides the entourage. There was light still, it's summer, of course, but to see everything closed? Thank goodness we found a restaurant.
It's really quaint. Really. I wouldn't live here, though. I do wish we had gone to a bakery, there's one across the street! But it doesn't look like we're going...Well most everyone's had enough. To the north!
[Excerpt from Robert Miranda's Journal, Monday]
The drive up toCambria San Simeon was really cool. Enjoyed the view. We didn't get as much sea in the view as we did yesterday. But apparently going up to Monterey we'll get a better view.
There's golf here. We're in a lodge kind of place. Nothing much going on the rest of the day. Everyone's relaxing...I'm going to sit in the patio on the back of our room and read Monte Cristo. There's six chapters left.
[Excerpt from Robert Miranda's Journal, Tuesday]
It's really hard to write in the Hummer, but since I can't talk into my recording device to make a voice journal I'm using this. Hearst Castle was awesome. Alex Trebek was the tour guide! Well he was the voice on the tour bus. AWESOME. But the house was awesome. Very Gothic. I need to look into studying architecture when I get home. Going up to Monterey, should be there in 3 hours.
[Excerpt from Robert Miranda's Phonograph Diary, Wednesday]
It's me again. Where to begin? I was on Cannery Row just now. I can't find my journal anywhere. If I lost it, oh well. I'm going to record my terrible voice for the entire remainder of the journey. It's easier that way. [Edit on Friday: Found in my suitcase.]
Monterey highway...oh, I'm not even going to describe it. It was fun but terrifying at the same time. I don't scare easily but some of those drops...it took an hour to drive eight miles. And I thought that only happened in LA. Then again they were curves.
We drove past Carmel. Bohemian town! Ah, La Boheme...but we're in Pacific Grove so that's slightly depressing. But Monterey's not ten minutes away so we went to the Bay Aquarium (the Aquarium of the Pacific is better, in my opinion.) We went out to Cannery Row where I bought the Steinbeck book, Cannery Row. I bought Cannery Row at Cannery Row! That's awesome! We saw a Steinbeck wax museum which was interesting. And then there was more but I won't go into that.
[Excerpt from a hotel notepad. Thursday]
So far this journey has been great. I wanted to go to Frisco, though, today when we went to San Jose but could not because we have to head home because Sunday my uncle works. Went to the Winchester Mansion and had a weird tour guide. He reminded me of someone...
We toured Seaside and the rest of Monterey, namely the wharf and the marina. We saw seals. To be honest I'm not a fan of nature, one of the reasons I didn't like the beach at San Simeon. Everyone else did. I like the stuff no one else likes. No one liked the Winchester Mansion but me. That shows I'm clearly an eccentric. The Hearst Castle was another perfect example. The Roman pool. But I won't get into that.
[Transcribed from both sides of a business card. Friday]
Going home. Travelled total: 900 miles. Wish it was longer. Can't have everything. -RM
Licence Plates seen: California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Ohio, Illinois, Wyoming, and Quebec. No Hawaii.
-Rob
The Eisenhower Interstate Highway System requires that one mile in every five must be straight, to be usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.
I was thinking about this over and over again while looking out at the pristine Californian coast on the way to Santa Barbara this morning, wondering if there would be any truth to it. I'd known about this little gem for a while already, but, like most everything else that's found on the Internet, there's no way of proving if it was truth. Didn't seem to be true, though. We have a tendency to have very weird freeways. But that's part of the state's charm. [Edit on Tuesday 23rd: Just drove through the PCH. Yeah, it's not true.]
As someone who rarely leaves the Southern California enclave made up of my hometown and the bordering cities I've grown up in and patronized the last 15 years, not 10 minutes from LA's downtown, the fact of seeing towns with less than 10,000 people was disturbing. I have been to Hawai'i twice: it was overpopulated but they were islands. To see towns devoid of people, to see paths empty of cars and any pollution that is a hallmark of Los Angeles - was interesting, and a little disturbing, as I've mentioned. Once one passes Santa Barbara, there is nothing but empty fields, the beginning of wine country.
Welcome to Central California. Population? Looks to be zero.
[Excerpt from Robert Miranda's Phonograph Diary, Monday]
Solvang was extremely interesting. Unfortunately it's really hot and that's a bit annoying. I liked the town, we've been here for, like, about fifteen hours.
There is no nightlife. At all. Not that that's a bad thing, but it's kind of depressing to walk through the streets at dusk and yet there's no one in the streets besides the entourage. There was light still, it's summer, of course, but to see everything closed? Thank goodness we found a restaurant.
It's really quaint. Really. I wouldn't live here, though. I do wish we had gone to a bakery, there's one across the street! But it doesn't look like we're going...Well most everyone's had enough. To the north!
[Excerpt from Robert Miranda's Journal, Monday]
The drive up to
There's golf here. We're in a lodge kind of place. Nothing much going on the rest of the day. Everyone's relaxing...I'm going to sit in the patio on the back of our room and read Monte Cristo. There's six chapters left.
It's really hard to write in the Hummer, but since I can't talk into my recording device to make a voice journal I'm using this. Hearst Castle was awesome. Alex Trebek was the tour guide! Well he was the voice on the tour bus. AWESOME. But the house was awesome. Very Gothic. I need to look into studying architecture when I get home. Going up to Monterey, should be there in 3 hours.
[Excerpt from Robert Miranda's Phonograph Diary, Wednesday]
It's me again. Where to begin? I was on Cannery Row just now. I can't find my journal anywhere. If I lost it, oh well. I'm going to record my terrible voice for the entire remainder of the journey. It's easier that way. [Edit on Friday: Found in my suitcase.]
Monterey highway...oh, I'm not even going to describe it. It was fun but terrifying at the same time. I don't scare easily but some of those drops...it took an hour to drive eight miles. And I thought that only happened in LA. Then again they were curves.
We drove past Carmel. Bohemian town! Ah, La Boheme...but we're in Pacific Grove so that's slightly depressing. But Monterey's not ten minutes away so we went to the Bay Aquarium (the Aquarium of the Pacific is better, in my opinion.) We went out to Cannery Row where I bought the Steinbeck book, Cannery Row. I bought Cannery Row at Cannery Row! That's awesome! We saw a Steinbeck wax museum which was interesting. And then there was more but I won't go into that.
[Excerpt from a hotel notepad. Thursday]
So far this journey has been great. I wanted to go to Frisco, though, today when we went to San Jose but could not because we have to head home because Sunday my uncle works. Went to the Winchester Mansion and had a weird tour guide. He reminded me of someone...
We toured Seaside and the rest of Monterey, namely the wharf and the marina. We saw seals. To be honest I'm not a fan of nature, one of the reasons I didn't like the beach at San Simeon. Everyone else did. I like the stuff no one else likes. No one liked the Winchester Mansion but me. That shows I'm clearly an eccentric. The Hearst Castle was another perfect example. The Roman pool. But I won't get into that.
[Transcribed from both sides of a business card. Friday]
Going home. Travelled total: 900 miles. Wish it was longer. Can't have everything. -RM
Licence Plates seen: California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Ohio, Illinois, Wyoming, and Quebec. No Hawaii.
-Rob
27 June 2013
Life Itself
Let's face it: for the past year or so I've been obsessed with philosophy. Because, you know, I don't lead a normal teenage life (Facebook, gaming, etc) and it's interesting to me (but then again so is the evolution of English, economic theory, medieval mapmakers, and political instability in the 1730s.) Just kidding about the last one. It's political instability in the 1790s. But all jokes aside, I was randomly contemplating matters some weeks ago, when these two words popped into my head:
Of course, it could just mean, "life itself". Life being something. Simple as that. But I read way too much into things...
My first thought was to look it up. Whenever something just pops into my head, I've usually heard it before. So I thought that I had heard it somewhere so I looked it up, but the only things that showed up were a song/band, and a biography by the late and great Roger Ebert. Then I tried looking it up in this one book about philosophy I had, but nothing on that quote.
Two months later and I still don't get it. But it's a great way to mindblow and confuse your family. That's all philosophy is. Come up with random quotes and put meaning into them. (Actually philosophy involves a bunch of thought and stuff but I'll talk about it some other time.)
(For the record: if anyone out there comes up with an interesting meaning for the quote, please tell me!) What do you think it means? Sign off in the comments.
-Rob
Life itself.First off, what does that even mean? Life itself? It doesn't sound right, but it doesn't sound wrong, either. It just doesn't make sense. Life isn't a thing, a person, but is it right to call it an 'it'? Is life even tangible?
Of course, it could just mean, "life itself". Life being something. Simple as that. But I read way too much into things...
My first thought was to look it up. Whenever something just pops into my head, I've usually heard it before. So I thought that I had heard it somewhere so I looked it up, but the only things that showed up were a song/band, and a biography by the late and great Roger Ebert. Then I tried looking it up in this one book about philosophy I had, but nothing on that quote.
Two months later and I still don't get it. But it's a great way to mindblow and confuse your family. That's all philosophy is. Come up with random quotes and put meaning into them. (Actually philosophy involves a bunch of thought and stuff but I'll talk about it some other time.)
(For the record: if anyone out there comes up with an interesting meaning for the quote, please tell me!) What do you think it means? Sign off in the comments.
-Rob
01 June 2013
Some Thoughts On Varying Topics
It's June at last! Huzzah!
My birthday is in two-and-a-half weeks, and school lets out in three. All wholly good, commendable, honest reasons to venerate June as the best month of the year. (It really is, you know -- perfect weather, the promise of vacation and rest, and school letting out.)
And with the induction of June, I start to wonder about what the summer will have. Homework, of course, and summer assignments, for the advanced classes I'm taking next year. Maybe a vacation up North to San Francisco. (Personally I'd like to go to New Orleans, for beignets, and to see where the Anne Rice books took place.)
The Anne Rice books are really great. I've read the first 3, and part of Merrick. I recommend them for anyone who enjoys history (sort of), action, Gothic horror, and traces of erotic romance. (But nowhere near the level of that immoral Fifty Shades book series. Immoral, I say!) But I digress, back to summer.
The best summer I've had, up to date, was two years ago, in 2011. My godfather came to visit, as did my grandmother (even though she visited this past winter, it wasn't fun, and it was the first time I went to Hawai'i. Oahu.) Oh, and there was all this other cool stuff that I look back fondly upon, such as spending nights creating games, chatting with friends, listening to epic music, and much much more.) It was also when I was obsessed with anime for a while (a very short while, thank goodness. What happened to me then?)
I kid, of course. Anime is wholly commendable, and comically exaggerated. But I'm not an expert on it, for that I direct you to my brother and 95% of my friends/acquaintances at school and on the interweb. But I digress again.
Oh, and I got my second Moleskine. I finished the first last week, and I was so proud. I ended up keeping that promise that I made Christmas, sort of. I need to post pictures.
I've also been having an irrational obsession with musicals. Last year for my birthday I saw the Addams Family Musical, a brilliant one, and Mary Poppins, when I went to Washington. I'd love to see Sweeney Todd ("My right arm is complete AGAIN!") and perhaps Phantom of the Opera. Not to mention Anything Goes, and many more.
I have a love-hate relationship with musicals. They're hard to catch and understand (partly because I'm so used to subtitles on everything I view), and they're so SPONTANEOUS. Singing happens at the most inopportune and randomest of moments. Yet they're the American version of opera, of commedia, and everything else, and they can't be unnoticed/irrationally disparaged. So that's my take on musicals. (Plus, Moulin Rouge, one of the best movies out there, was a jukebox musical, and it was really well done. But that's just my Romantic Bohemianism going through.)
That's my random thoughts for today.
-Rob Miranda
My birthday is in two-and-a-half weeks, and school lets out in three. All wholly good, commendable, honest reasons to venerate June as the best month of the year. (It really is, you know -- perfect weather, the promise of vacation and rest, and school letting out.)
And with the induction of June, I start to wonder about what the summer will have. Homework, of course, and summer assignments, for the advanced classes I'm taking next year. Maybe a vacation up North to San Francisco. (Personally I'd like to go to New Orleans, for beignets, and to see where the Anne Rice books took place.)
The Anne Rice books are really great. I've read the first 3, and part of Merrick. I recommend them for anyone who enjoys history (sort of), action, Gothic horror, and traces of erotic romance. (But nowhere near the level of that immoral Fifty Shades book series. Immoral, I say!) But I digress, back to summer.
The best summer I've had, up to date, was two years ago, in 2011. My godfather came to visit, as did my grandmother (even though she visited this past winter, it wasn't fun, and it was the first time I went to Hawai'i. Oahu.) Oh, and there was all this other cool stuff that I look back fondly upon, such as spending nights creating games, chatting with friends, listening to epic music, and much much more.) It was also when I was obsessed with anime for a while (a very short while, thank goodness. What happened to me then?)
I kid, of course. Anime is wholly commendable, and comically exaggerated. But I'm not an expert on it, for that I direct you to my brother and 95% of my friends/acquaintances at school and on the interweb. But I digress again.
Oh, and I got my second Moleskine. I finished the first last week, and I was so proud. I ended up keeping that promise that I made Christmas, sort of. I need to post pictures.
I've also been having an irrational obsession with musicals. Last year for my birthday I saw the Addams Family Musical, a brilliant one, and Mary Poppins, when I went to Washington. I'd love to see Sweeney Todd ("My right arm is complete AGAIN!") and perhaps Phantom of the Opera. Not to mention Anything Goes, and many more.
I have a love-hate relationship with musicals. They're hard to catch and understand (partly because I'm so used to subtitles on everything I view), and they're so SPONTANEOUS. Singing happens at the most inopportune and randomest of moments. Yet they're the American version of opera, of commedia, and everything else, and they can't be unnoticed/irrationally disparaged. So that's my take on musicals. (Plus, Moulin Rouge, one of the best movies out there, was a jukebox musical, and it was really well done. But that's just my Romantic Bohemianism going through.)
That's my random thoughts for today.
-Rob Miranda
13 April 2013
Come One, Come All, It's The Renaissance Faire!
Edit 8/3/13: For some reason I'm having real trouble with this post. For example if you got here through LinkWithin, I can't get the picture of Cory launching his marshmallow thrower. It disappeared. Other pictures may disappear as well, or otherwise the text becomes really big. I'm trying to solve it but we'll see what happens. I may have to uninstall LinkWithin.
HUZZAH! (for the generous tipper, may I add)
Today I was at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, a truly fun and memorable experience if you care about history, art, jousts, knights, people speaking Olde English, queens, clowns, mazes, and extra credit!
I can't really explain it because it was just so epic, so instead I shall make a Ye Olde Merrye Montage of Portraits (not photos!) of today's highlights, starring (in alphabetical order) Allison, Arturo, Cory, Judy, Kerry, Lauren, Matt and yours truly, Lord Robert Cyrano Hercule de-Savinien de BERGERAC! >:D
Captions are either real things said by those in it, or my imagination.
To the next.
-Rob (Hercule-Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac Miranda)
HUZZAH! (for the generous tipper, may I add)
Today I was at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, a truly fun and memorable experience if you care about history, art, jousts, knights, people speaking Olde English, queens, clowns, mazes, and extra credit!
I can't really explain it because it was just so epic, so instead I shall make a Ye Olde Merrye Montage of Portraits (not photos!) of today's highlights, starring (in alphabetical order) Allison, Arturo, Cory, Judy, Kerry, Lauren, Matt and yours truly, Lord Robert Cyrano Hercule de-Savinien de BERGERAC! >:D
Captions are either real things said by those in it, or my imagination.
Assassin: Should I kill him? ...or just get a quick bite before I go...
 |
Rob: Matt, you look more like a drunkard than I do
Matt: Nope...your expression's just creepy, man...
|
A courageous plot to assault The Queen...who of us 8 is courageous to do it?
Allison: ME!!!
Drunk: Fair Maiden, you shall lead us!
Rob: Everyone, there you go: Perfect person to blame. >:D
Me: I'm thirsty, mind sharing some of that?
Guy: Hahahahah no.
Kerry: If you do not share it with us I will cut off your head. Now. >:D
Judy: Yeah, just listen to her...
Guy: Hahahahah - *dies*
Guy: Call me Sir Walter Raleigh
Rob: Aren't you supposed to be in the Tower or in prison?
Guy: Speak a little louder, would you? The Queen's like, right *over there*...
Arturo (thinking): Please hurry up with the picture before the Queens cut off my head
Rob: Is this a dagger I see before me?
Matt: RUN!!!
Rob: Nope, just a plastic sword...
Guy: That's what *you* think...
Lauren: Give me a go with the catapult!
Allison: Hahaha I've stolen Matt's >:D
Arturo: Guys...I'm trying to hit Cory's head without him looking...Oh, hi, Cory!
Matt: Guys, I swear this picture is staring at me o.o
Judy: Just smile...Allison, what are you doing?
Allison: Oh, look, it's a sword fight
Kerry: No, it's just Rob waving his hat back and forth
Lauren: I am so pro at this!
Kerry: I'm sort of concerned about your aim...Don't go trying to hit me
Lauren: Oops >:D
Allison (thinking): And THAT is what happens to my sworn enemies.
 The man of the hour, finally found - The Elusive William Shakespeare! Of course, I just naturally had to take the plume and use it as a quill to get his signature. Goal of the Day: Completed. Like a boss. Or a sir. Or...a Bard. |
To the next.
-Rob (Hercule-Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac Miranda)
06 April 2013
Alphabetical Advancements and an Adventuristic Announcement
Prepare for a rather boring blogpost, but I feel like mentioning it, so what the hell. :)
I've been mostly avoiding the Interweb this week, and I'll continue to do so at least until May, because of large project I'm spearheading at school. Nothing to worry about. I'll still be on InfiniteMind, with new Trivialities and stuff I'm hoping will be at least a bit more creative than what I've done the past two months.
So why have I been busy? Besides the above project, I mean. Because...
I'm organizing my extensive book collection with a filing system! Yay!
I know, it's lame. I get it. But this is good. I don't believe I mentioned but last week I was in my garage, living there, pretty much, with the family. We were getting hardwood floors put in and all this stuff. And Thursday my bookcases just went in. So I've been deciding a new order for my books, since they're all in the garage.
It'll be mainly alphabetical, but as for my many (unfinished) notebooks and documents, I will put them in a "mind palace" sort of setting/ordering on shelves A1-A2. (Yes, I label my shelves.)
This is good because I usually put my books depending on favoritism or whatever. But I have too many favorite books. And it's confusing and most books end up on my desk than the shelves, etc.
So I'll be doing that this weekend. Tuesday I begin my new Triviality project, and then it'll continue on from there.
Just one last thing (that I think you'll all enjoy): I'm gonna write a Sherlock Holmes-esque story. Strictly for the blog. How does that sound? I was rereading all my Sherlock Holmes books and short stories over the break last week, and I am just interested in writing one. Plus watching all 6 episodes of Sherlock in a row (again) didn't help. So I'll work on that, and hopefully I get all of this done! InfiniteMind will be a very fun place to visit in the next few weeks... :)
To keep you busy, I'm titling the mystery The Adventure of the Broken Candle, and will feature a sort of Sherlock Holmes character who isn't exactly Sherlock Holmes-esque. It involves a broken candle (obviously), binary code, a journalist, an encyclopedia book, a camera obscura, and a spyglass. (This sounds so Lemony Snicket, but oh well.) It'll be in maybe 3 or 4 parts, to be released weekly. That's it.
TTN! (To the next!)
-Rob
I've been mostly avoiding the Interweb this week, and I'll continue to do so at least until May, because of large project I'm spearheading at school. Nothing to worry about. I'll still be on InfiniteMind, with new Trivialities and stuff I'm hoping will be at least a bit more creative than what I've done the past two months.
So why have I been busy? Besides the above project, I mean. Because...
I'm organizing my extensive book collection with a filing system! Yay!
I know, it's lame. I get it. But this is good. I don't believe I mentioned but last week I was in my garage, living there, pretty much, with the family. We were getting hardwood floors put in and all this stuff. And Thursday my bookcases just went in. So I've been deciding a new order for my books, since they're all in the garage.
It'll be mainly alphabetical, but as for my many (unfinished) notebooks and documents, I will put them in a "mind palace" sort of setting/ordering on shelves A1-A2. (Yes, I label my shelves.)
This is good because I usually put my books depending on favoritism or whatever. But I have too many favorite books. And it's confusing and most books end up on my desk than the shelves, etc.
So I'll be doing that this weekend. Tuesday I begin my new Triviality project, and then it'll continue on from there.
Just one last thing (that I think you'll all enjoy): I'm gonna write a Sherlock Holmes-esque story. Strictly for the blog. How does that sound? I was rereading all my Sherlock Holmes books and short stories over the break last week, and I am just interested in writing one. Plus watching all 6 episodes of Sherlock in a row (again) didn't help. So I'll work on that, and hopefully I get all of this done! InfiniteMind will be a very fun place to visit in the next few weeks... :)
To keep you busy, I'm titling the mystery The Adventure of the Broken Candle, and will feature a sort of Sherlock Holmes character who isn't exactly Sherlock Holmes-esque. It involves a broken candle (obviously), binary code, a journalist, an encyclopedia book, a camera obscura, and a spyglass. (This sounds so Lemony Snicket, but oh well.) It'll be in maybe 3 or 4 parts, to be released weekly. That's it.
TTN! (To the next!)
-Rob
23 March 2013
I lie awake and miss you...pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere...
Apologies for the abrupt and random title. I'm still recuperating from the past couple of days.
I'm gonna be a Modernist and include random song lyrics in the middle of this post like a stream-of-consciousness novel. And I HATE stream-of-consciousness. With a burning passion. But it's late, today was particularly trying, and so have the past days. So let's go over them, shall we?
Ready for a long-winded life story for the past two weeks? :)
First off, Spring Break is here. HUZZAH. Praise the Lord. 10 days for peace, joy, sadness, Easter, Friday, and lots of other stuff besides.
Today I was at the ELA-JEA Write Off. (ELA JEA, for all the uninitiated, is the Eastern Los Angeles County Journalism Education Association Write Off competition. There.)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly...
I was in the Novice News group, where we had to hear my journalism teacher and some people give forth statements about a case that's currently going on. As a mark of respect, I won't talk about it. Suffice it to say it was very interesting and fun to write.
Bad part? I wrote in PENCIL. Graphite. Particles of a carbon allotrope. And I was supposed to write in pen.
I'm just beginning to see...that I'm on my way!
So that went well. For the last 10 minutes of the hour period I was sitting there in ennui, waiting for time to run out. Then as I turn it in I realise I have written in the entirely wrong media possible. *facepalm*
I'm glad I got the experience, at least. Most people went for extra credit. I just went for the fun and games, and to see what it would look like.
Then today was also my brother's birthday! Congratulazione, Richard, if you read this. But I've told you that five times today. As of present he and his friends are in the other wing of the house, in his room. So hurray for that.
As to Catechism, I should have gone today, but I didn't for the second week in a row, because I assumed I was going to be at the write-offs for the awards. But then at home I got a horrible headache and slept for 3 hours, missing the awards. Oh well. And then I have to go to a Renaissance Faire on the penultimate meeting. I feel horribly guilty. But then again, the class has been watching The Passion, which is not the nicest movie to watch. So I don't feel I've missed much.
(As to the Renaissance Faire, I will totally take pictures, and it'll be my first opportunity to use pictures as a media here on InfiniteMind. Be happy. It's a milestone. I'm getting there, to be adept at technology.)
Did you write the Book of Love and do you have faith in God above? (If the Bible tells you so) Do you believe in rock n' roll? Can music save your mortal soul?
Now, to the vacation. I get the lovely days of March 23rd (today!), 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, and the 1st of April off. Technically I go back on the First, but I have a physical that day. First in like 3 years. Hopefully nothing's wrong, so there is that. Extra day.
Pretend you're not alone...like you are centre stage on Broadway...'Cause when you're on your own, a little opera goes a long way...
During the break, we're getting the floors fixed. You see, when we bought our loverly home 3 years ago, it was all carpeted. Even the kitchen, which was just AWFUL.
Which of course we removed immediately, but the bedrooms kept their carpets, even though I've hated them. But now we're getting them removed from the rooms. Long job, which means we're moving everything into the garage. It'll take two days. Originally it was gonna be Monday-Tuesday, but the guy changed his mind and is gonna do it Wednesday-Thursday. Either way, we're camping out in the garage!
I'm getting a new desk. It's epic! MICKE, from IKEA. How I love the Swedish and their made-in-China products. (I'm so unfair. It's made-in-Vietnam, too. I'm so mean and Chinacentric.)
Last night it was so good, I felt like crying, felt like crying...
Now for some rather academic stuff.
I got programmed for next year, sophomore year. 2 APs, 1 honors class, 1 extracurricular activity, and yeah. After the disappointment that is my third through sixth period classes, I'm excited for these classes.
AP Chemistry, AP World (by the way, I'm planning to challenge the AP Euro exam. Wish me luck.) Honors English 3-4, French, Journalism 1-2, Trig/Precalculus (I'd discuss that but it's too painful and boring), and PE.
The class I'm easily looking forward to the most is Honors English 3-4, or British Literature! :)
It was fiddle-de-dum and fiddle-de-dee and the Dancing Bear ran away with me...
I LOVE British Literature. Give me Dante, Hemingway, and Jonathan Swift - and you can keep Dante and Hemingway. (To be sure, Irish authors are also good, and Swift was technically Irish. Fine. British-Irish literature is awesome.)
I haven't read any of the female writers besides like Elizabeth Browning and one of Bronte's books, because I'm a sexist b-----d. No, actually, to be honest, they all feel like they have the same plot. And the titles are REPETITIVE. Sense and Sensibility. Pride and Prejudice. I like alliteration, but that's a little killing it.
Now, let's discuss tests.
I've come to realise that high school is nothing more than a myriad of tests, more or less 4 a week, in all classes. So last week, for example, I had a Health test Monday, Chemistry on Tuesday (which I'll touch on,) Mythology on Wednesday, Algebra II yesterday.
Then I discovered that my castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand...
Chemistry didn't turn out so good. A C+. Still, that is more than can be said for some people. But of course, my brilliant friend Gabriel (and some other people) got perfect papers, or just about. Maths is just not my strong suit. It was stoichiometry. Fun to spell, NOT FUN to do.
Incidentally, I'm not sure why I'm taking AP Chemistry, or any AP science down the line. I'm gonna major in comparative literature, so...well, at least it'll get me in Columbia or Berkeley. :) With the responsibility of freshman rep for CSF (I know. Freshman rep. So big and important.) hopefully I'll get there!
As to mythology (aka Honors English) that was EASY. It was open-notes, I only used them once. (Damn you, Epimetheus!)
The years go by, as quickly as a wink! Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think!
We're working on a "commercial" for English. Turn a modern-day product into a commercial with a Greek spiel. Think Percy Jackson. So we have SOBESSEUS (pun on Sobe Energy Drink and Odysseus). It's gonna be so much fun. Hopefully.
I think that's it, really. As you can see, a lot going on. Very busy. So, until next time, I'll leave you with this to chew on:
Is this the ROB life? Is this MIRANDAsy? Caught in a landslide...no escape from reality...
To the next!
-Rob
I'm gonna be a Modernist and include random song lyrics in the middle of this post like a stream-of-consciousness novel. And I HATE stream-of-consciousness. With a burning passion. But it's late, today was particularly trying, and so have the past days. So let's go over them, shall we?
Ready for a long-winded life story for the past two weeks? :)
First off, Spring Break is here. HUZZAH. Praise the Lord. 10 days for peace, joy, sadness, Easter, Friday, and lots of other stuff besides.
Today I was at the ELA-JEA Write Off. (ELA JEA, for all the uninitiated, is the Eastern Los Angeles County Journalism Education Association Write Off competition. There.)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly...
I was in the Novice News group, where we had to hear my journalism teacher and some people give forth statements about a case that's currently going on. As a mark of respect, I won't talk about it. Suffice it to say it was very interesting and fun to write.
Bad part? I wrote in PENCIL. Graphite. Particles of a carbon allotrope. And I was supposed to write in pen.
I'm just beginning to see...that I'm on my way!
So that went well. For the last 10 minutes of the hour period I was sitting there in ennui, waiting for time to run out. Then as I turn it in I realise I have written in the entirely wrong media possible. *facepalm*
I'm glad I got the experience, at least. Most people went for extra credit. I just went for the fun and games, and to see what it would look like.
Then today was also my brother's birthday! Congratulazione, Richard, if you read this. But I've told you that five times today. As of present he and his friends are in the other wing of the house, in his room. So hurray for that.
As to Catechism, I should have gone today, but I didn't for the second week in a row, because I assumed I was going to be at the write-offs for the awards. But then at home I got a horrible headache and slept for 3 hours, missing the awards. Oh well. And then I have to go to a Renaissance Faire on the penultimate meeting. I feel horribly guilty. But then again, the class has been watching The Passion, which is not the nicest movie to watch. So I don't feel I've missed much.
(As to the Renaissance Faire, I will totally take pictures, and it'll be my first opportunity to use pictures as a media here on InfiniteMind. Be happy. It's a milestone. I'm getting there, to be adept at technology.)
Did you write the Book of Love and do you have faith in God above? (If the Bible tells you so) Do you believe in rock n' roll? Can music save your mortal soul?
Now, to the vacation. I get the lovely days of March 23rd (today!), 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, and the 1st of April off. Technically I go back on the First, but I have a physical that day. First in like 3 years. Hopefully nothing's wrong, so there is that. Extra day.
Pretend you're not alone...like you are centre stage on Broadway...'Cause when you're on your own, a little opera goes a long way...
During the break, we're getting the floors fixed. You see, when we bought our loverly home 3 years ago, it was all carpeted. Even the kitchen, which was just AWFUL.
Which of course we removed immediately, but the bedrooms kept their carpets, even though I've hated them. But now we're getting them removed from the rooms. Long job, which means we're moving everything into the garage. It'll take two days. Originally it was gonna be Monday-Tuesday, but the guy changed his mind and is gonna do it Wednesday-Thursday. Either way, we're camping out in the garage!
I'm getting a new desk. It's epic! MICKE, from IKEA. How I love the Swedish and their made-in-China products. (I'm so unfair. It's made-in-Vietnam, too. I'm so mean and Chinacentric.)
Last night it was so good, I felt like crying, felt like crying...
Now for some rather academic stuff.
I got programmed for next year, sophomore year. 2 APs, 1 honors class, 1 extracurricular activity, and yeah. After the disappointment that is my third through sixth period classes, I'm excited for these classes.
AP Chemistry, AP World (by the way, I'm planning to challenge the AP Euro exam. Wish me luck.) Honors English 3-4, French, Journalism 1-2, Trig/Precalculus (I'd discuss that but it's too painful and boring), and PE.
The class I'm easily looking forward to the most is Honors English 3-4, or British Literature! :)
It was fiddle-de-dum and fiddle-de-dee and the Dancing Bear ran away with me...
I LOVE British Literature. Give me Dante, Hemingway, and Jonathan Swift - and you can keep Dante and Hemingway. (To be sure, Irish authors are also good, and Swift was technically Irish. Fine. British-Irish literature is awesome.)
I haven't read any of the female writers besides like Elizabeth Browning and one of Bronte's books, because I'm a sexist b-----d. No, actually, to be honest, they all feel like they have the same plot. And the titles are REPETITIVE. Sense and Sensibility. Pride and Prejudice. I like alliteration, but that's a little killing it.
Now, let's discuss tests.
I've come to realise that high school is nothing more than a myriad of tests, more or less 4 a week, in all classes. So last week, for example, I had a Health test Monday, Chemistry on Tuesday (which I'll touch on,) Mythology on Wednesday, Algebra II yesterday.
Then I discovered that my castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand...
Chemistry didn't turn out so good. A C+. Still, that is more than can be said for some people. But of course, my brilliant friend Gabriel (and some other people) got perfect papers, or just about. Maths is just not my strong suit. It was stoichiometry. Fun to spell, NOT FUN to do.
Incidentally, I'm not sure why I'm taking AP Chemistry, or any AP science down the line. I'm gonna major in comparative literature, so...well, at least it'll get me in Columbia or Berkeley. :) With the responsibility of freshman rep for CSF (I know. Freshman rep. So big and important.) hopefully I'll get there!
As to mythology (aka Honors English) that was EASY. It was open-notes, I only used them once. (Damn you, Epimetheus!)
The years go by, as quickly as a wink! Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think!
We're working on a "commercial" for English. Turn a modern-day product into a commercial with a Greek spiel. Think Percy Jackson. So we have SOBESSEUS (pun on Sobe Energy Drink and Odysseus). It's gonna be so much fun. Hopefully.
I think that's it, really. As you can see, a lot going on. Very busy. So, until next time, I'll leave you with this to chew on:
Is this the ROB life? Is this MIRANDAsy? Caught in a landslide...no escape from reality...
To the next!
-Rob
28 February 2013
Ballads, Block Dude and Bainting! (and Boetry, too!)
Today's been rather a tumult for me.
I've been rather taciturn the last couple days. First off, I've found a new album, by Natalie Merchant, called Leave Your Sleep. It's pretty epic. Natalie Merchant took 26 children's rhymes or just random poems and turned them into song form.
There's The Blind Men and the Elephant, by John Godfrey Saxe (one of my favorites, in Lemony Snicket), The Adventures of Isabel (which is so Chuck-Norris-boss-like, it's not even funny. Well, actually, it is), Bleezer's Ice Cream, which I remember reading as a kid by the epic Jack Prelutsky. Prelutsky is a genius.
So I've been devoting the latter days listening to this album. It's really rather interesting.
Next is my good friend Cesar's graphing calculator. I consider myself a nerd in that which I compare my graphing calculator to my friends'. Mine is a TI-89 Titanium, one of the best on the market. Most people I know use the piddly TI-83s. *scoff* But some have TI-84s, silver edition, nonetheless. And it is there I discovered Block Dude, by Brandon Sterner.
My friend and I scoffed at it. Block Dude? The very name had implications of a Mario-like-two pixel early '80s game. It sounded pathetic. How wrong we were.
For the past week or so my friend has been attempting to pass Block Dude's various interesting and tititllating levels. I myself only got the hang of the game yesterday, and today we reached Level 5. A neat thing about the game is each level has a password and so if you lose you can punch in the password and get the level you were at. It's brilliant. Which leads us to...
My "Immortal Last Words" quote book which came in the mail yesterday. It's by Terry Breverton, one of my favorite authors, even though including this book, the only other book I have by him is "Immortal Words", which I got at Borders when it was still around.
My only regret with this wonderful book is that many of the quotes and epitaphs can be found in the latter book. For example it has Benjamin Franklin's epitaph, Hilaire Belloc, Thomas Jefferson, etc...However it still has interesting anecdotes and quotes which make Breverton an amazing scholar.
"I hate bainting, and boetry too! Neither one nor the other ever did any good," said George II, responding in fury to a painter.
'George II spoke notoriously poor English and wasn't the most cultured of individuals', says Breverton. I'll say. His father wasn't so bright either. Both were born in Hanover and spoke at least 10 times more German and English. And both these Georges were kings of England. Such is the way the monarchy works. The whole "oh you're a Catholic we have to kill you and we're just Protestant." Oh, Henry VIII...
Well, that's my musings for today. There's plenty more going on, which I may or may not elaborate on tomorrow or sooner.
To the next!
-Rob
I've been rather taciturn the last couple days. First off, I've found a new album, by Natalie Merchant, called Leave Your Sleep. It's pretty epic. Natalie Merchant took 26 children's rhymes or just random poems and turned them into song form.
There's The Blind Men and the Elephant, by John Godfrey Saxe (one of my favorites, in Lemony Snicket), The Adventures of Isabel (which is so Chuck-Norris-boss-like, it's not even funny. Well, actually, it is), Bleezer's Ice Cream, which I remember reading as a kid by the epic Jack Prelutsky. Prelutsky is a genius.
So I've been devoting the latter days listening to this album. It's really rather interesting.
Next is my good friend Cesar's graphing calculator. I consider myself a nerd in that which I compare my graphing calculator to my friends'. Mine is a TI-89 Titanium, one of the best on the market. Most people I know use the piddly TI-83s. *scoff* But some have TI-84s, silver edition, nonetheless. And it is there I discovered Block Dude, by Brandon Sterner.
My friend and I scoffed at it. Block Dude? The very name had implications of a Mario-like-two pixel early '80s game. It sounded pathetic. How wrong we were.
For the past week or so my friend has been attempting to pass Block Dude's various interesting and tititllating levels. I myself only got the hang of the game yesterday, and today we reached Level 5. A neat thing about the game is each level has a password and so if you lose you can punch in the password and get the level you were at. It's brilliant. Which leads us to...
My "Immortal Last Words" quote book which came in the mail yesterday. It's by Terry Breverton, one of my favorite authors, even though including this book, the only other book I have by him is "Immortal Words", which I got at Borders when it was still around.
My only regret with this wonderful book is that many of the quotes and epitaphs can be found in the latter book. For example it has Benjamin Franklin's epitaph, Hilaire Belloc, Thomas Jefferson, etc...However it still has interesting anecdotes and quotes which make Breverton an amazing scholar.
"I hate bainting, and boetry too! Neither one nor the other ever did any good," said George II, responding in fury to a painter.
'George II spoke notoriously poor English and wasn't the most cultured of individuals', says Breverton. I'll say. His father wasn't so bright either. Both were born in Hanover and spoke at least 10 times more German and English. And both these Georges were kings of England. Such is the way the monarchy works. The whole "oh you're a Catholic we have to kill you and we're just Protestant." Oh, Henry VIII...
Well, that's my musings for today. There's plenty more going on, which I may or may not elaborate on tomorrow or sooner.
To the next!
-Rob
09 February 2013
Symphonic Soundtracks
First off, I've noticed via my sources that there's over 700 pageviews to this blog, not counting me. Of course, that could mean many things, but if you choose to stop by, of course, always say hello, I suppose. That being said...
I was off the Internet most of the week, eating at food trucks at my school, walking briefly in the park, or selling Poetry Grams. Mon Dieu. But I mostly watched Seasons 1-3 of Fringe, which was interesting. I haven't really seen those awesome seasons excepting the odd episode when I'm bored. But seeing everything again and enjoying the ride was amazing. I think the series will end there for me, and I'll consider 4-5 a spinoff. I liked Season 4 but it was mostly filler. And 5 was amazing, a true serial. But I can't help thinking they made too much out of everything. Many things were missed or aborted opportunities.
But I digress. I have 7 soundtrack pieces to share from Fringe OSTs, composed by the brilliant Chris Tilton, who really should get lauded for everything he does. These pieces are amazing, perfectly capture the "love conquers all" and the "scientific" aspects of the show. Truly amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbq6ExWIkvM ~Together Again For the Very First Time, Season 4 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceHi2smV33I ~Henrietta, Season 4 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM4n29JQ-A0 ~Love in the Time of Crossing Over, Season 2 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPkNgAtxW24 ~Newton's Last Mission/Fauxlivia's Theme, Season 3 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UZAL8_w_uc ~A New Day In The Old Town, Season 2 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-3-WFEOoag ~Brown Betty Suite, Season 2 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbpfKwJRVVo ~Slow Motion Sickness, Season 3 OST
Together Again,... is mostly if you're in the mood for something Fringian and also Lostian.
Henrietta is for sad, sentimental moments of love and family.
Love...Over is for a sad prelude, and then an action-packed second half.
Old Town is short and quick, something espionage-like.
Brown Betty is the longest, over nine minutes, but very professional and detective-aura of quality around it.
And Slow Motion Sickness is somewhat classical, but somewhat mysterious.
Music is truly a great gift to society...
To the next!
-R
I was off the Internet most of the week, eating at food trucks at my school, walking briefly in the park, or selling Poetry Grams. Mon Dieu. But I mostly watched Seasons 1-3 of Fringe, which was interesting. I haven't really seen those awesome seasons excepting the odd episode when I'm bored. But seeing everything again and enjoying the ride was amazing. I think the series will end there for me, and I'll consider 4-5 a spinoff. I liked Season 4 but it was mostly filler. And 5 was amazing, a true serial. But I can't help thinking they made too much out of everything. Many things were missed or aborted opportunities.
But I digress. I have 7 soundtrack pieces to share from Fringe OSTs, composed by the brilliant Chris Tilton, who really should get lauded for everything he does. These pieces are amazing, perfectly capture the "love conquers all" and the "scientific" aspects of the show. Truly amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbq6ExWIkvM ~Together Again For the Very First Time, Season 4 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceHi2smV33I ~Henrietta, Season 4 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM4n29JQ-A0 ~Love in the Time of Crossing Over, Season 2 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPkNgAtxW24 ~Newton's Last Mission/Fauxlivia's Theme, Season 3 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UZAL8_w_uc ~A New Day In The Old Town, Season 2 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-3-WFEOoag ~Brown Betty Suite, Season 2 OST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbpfKwJRVVo ~Slow Motion Sickness, Season 3 OST
Together Again,... is mostly if you're in the mood for something Fringian and also Lostian.
Henrietta is for sad, sentimental moments of love and family.
Love...Over is for a sad prelude, and then an action-packed second half.
Old Town is short and quick, something espionage-like.
Brown Betty is the longest, over nine minutes, but very professional and detective-aura of quality around it.
And Slow Motion Sickness is somewhat classical, but somewhat mysterious.
Music is truly a great gift to society...
To the next!
-R
02 February 2013
Life, the Universe, and Everything
No, I haven't read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
The past three weeks have been sort of a tumult for me, though I haven't really explained it because I've done Fringe Reviews and Trivialities instead. And as for my blog, I've been trying to do some changes, and unfortunately some comments may have been deleted. (I'm sorry.)
So, here's a short recap of my life since returning to school.
Primo, I was accepted for publication in Creative Communication's Spring Anthology for poetry.
Secundo, I was in Hamlet twice, as a wheedling Italian bartender. Oh yeah - it was Hamlet: The Italian Zombie Slayer of New York. I watched the final two hours of Fringe. I studied for a week on hybridization, molecular geometry, light physics, polynomial functions, symbolism, and much else.
Tertio, I spent my Sunday at an all-day church retreat which was interesting. Then I went through finals.
Oh, finals. You've gotta love them. Especially my cynical Chemistry teacher, Mr. Watanuki.
"I'd tell you all good luck, but luck's not gonna help you."
And then my Lit teacher who gave us a 200 question test and less than 2 hours to finish it. I'm proud to say that I finished it first. 'Twas simple.
And so on and so on and then yesterday, I attended a poetry discussion in my school club yesterday. We all discussed interesting poets. I did Stephen Crane, and then we discussed Faustus by Marlowe.
"Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships?" I love that quote.
As the excellent Jim Loy quips on his website, "Her hips alone could probably launch a hundred."
But I digress. Now, I'd like to show you a special poem: an octave from The Anubis Gates by the fictional "Colin Lepovre", who is really the fantastic author, Tim Powers. Credit goes to him, as always, and his brilliant pen.
These cold and tangled streets that once were gay
With light and drink, now echo to my tread
As I pass by alone. Night breezes thread
Through dusty rooms their solitary way
And carry out, through broken windowpanes
Into the street, old thoughts and memories.
The lad is far away who cherished these,
And nothing of his spirit now remains.
Amazing, isn't it? And on the subject of poetry, here's one of my own stanzas from one of my own poems.
The haze of the future is ever uncertain
Like seeing your face in a frosted glass
We rarely know our rights and bounds
Our limits to the future - as solid as brass.
To the next.
-R
(Also a quick note to anyone who clicks on the music of the week box: That piece I first heard on Fringe, the very early episodes. At least the first 5. Back when everything was confusing. I was barely 10 at the time. Watching the early Fringe cases scared me to death, but I stuck with it. But that piece represents the unknown to me, the mysterious, the imagination that's out there that may be scary but now, years later, is benign and cool. So there's my music shibboleth.)
The past three weeks have been sort of a tumult for me, though I haven't really explained it because I've done Fringe Reviews and Trivialities instead. And as for my blog, I've been trying to do some changes, and unfortunately some comments may have been deleted. (I'm sorry.)
So, here's a short recap of my life since returning to school.
Primo, I was accepted for publication in Creative Communication's Spring Anthology for poetry.
Secundo, I was in Hamlet twice, as a wheedling Italian bartender. Oh yeah - it was Hamlet: The Italian Zombie Slayer of New York. I watched the final two hours of Fringe. I studied for a week on hybridization, molecular geometry, light physics, polynomial functions, symbolism, and much else.
Tertio, I spent my Sunday at an all-day church retreat which was interesting. Then I went through finals.
Oh, finals. You've gotta love them. Especially my cynical Chemistry teacher, Mr. Watanuki.
"I'd tell you all good luck, but luck's not gonna help you."
And then my Lit teacher who gave us a 200 question test and less than 2 hours to finish it. I'm proud to say that I finished it first. 'Twas simple.
And so on and so on and then yesterday, I attended a poetry discussion in my school club yesterday. We all discussed interesting poets. I did Stephen Crane, and then we discussed Faustus by Marlowe.
"Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships?" I love that quote.
As the excellent Jim Loy quips on his website, "Her hips alone could probably launch a hundred."
But I digress. Now, I'd like to show you a special poem: an octave from The Anubis Gates by the fictional "Colin Lepovre", who is really the fantastic author, Tim Powers. Credit goes to him, as always, and his brilliant pen.
These cold and tangled streets that once were gay
With light and drink, now echo to my tread
As I pass by alone. Night breezes thread
Through dusty rooms their solitary way
And carry out, through broken windowpanes
Into the street, old thoughts and memories.
The lad is far away who cherished these,
And nothing of his spirit now remains.
Amazing, isn't it? And on the subject of poetry, here's one of my own stanzas from one of my own poems.
The haze of the future is ever uncertain
Like seeing your face in a frosted glass
We rarely know our rights and bounds
Our limits to the future - as solid as brass.
To the next.
-R
(Also a quick note to anyone who clicks on the music of the week box: That piece I first heard on Fringe, the very early episodes. At least the first 5. Back when everything was confusing. I was barely 10 at the time. Watching the early Fringe cases scared me to death, but I stuck with it. But that piece represents the unknown to me, the mysterious, the imagination that's out there that may be scary but now, years later, is benign and cool. So there's my music shibboleth.)
01 January 2013
Happy New 2013!
Well, it's 2013 now, and it seems that another year's ahead of everybody. By the end of this, I will hopefully still be alive, be a sophomore writing in the newspaper, and 2 AP classes, and have most likely gone to Hawai'i a third time. I'll also hopefully have written my third November NaNo Novel, so that counts as well.
Of course, I don't really know. As to the alive part, it all dates back to my grandmother's morbid accounts "You don't know if you'll even be alive next year!" And then the classes is my neurotic way of keeping that in check, and then we've been to Hawai'i twice, and my mother wants to go again, bless her. Or Cancun, she says. And the Novel is obvious.
My Moleskine still remains empty, and I doubt I'll write anything in it soon. Perhaps I will get the courage to write in it someday, and then I will do something with it. I'm really leaning towards that Victorian epistolary...
My desk calendar still isn't here, and for that I am sad. (Am I?) I am. For the first time in 3 years, not counting vacations away, I have not woken up and taken off a calendar page. :( I'll have to sue the Postal Service or Amazon for false adverts. They said a WEEK. It's been one. But I jest in despair.
I've lately been interested in the science of alchemy, and have found an excellent game that's occupying my time. If anyone needs me, I will be there. It's all due to my chemistry interestings.
Metallious + Sun → Aurum
www.littlealchemy.com
To the next.
-R
Of course, I don't really know. As to the alive part, it all dates back to my grandmother's morbid accounts "You don't know if you'll even be alive next year!" And then the classes is my neurotic way of keeping that in check, and then we've been to Hawai'i twice, and my mother wants to go again, bless her. Or Cancun, she says. And the Novel is obvious.
My Moleskine still remains empty, and I doubt I'll write anything in it soon. Perhaps I will get the courage to write in it someday, and then I will do something with it. I'm really leaning towards that Victorian epistolary...
My desk calendar still isn't here, and for that I am sad. (Am I?) I am. For the first time in 3 years, not counting vacations away, I have not woken up and taken off a calendar page. :( I'll have to sue the Postal Service or Amazon for false adverts. They said a WEEK. It's been one. But I jest in despair.
I've lately been interested in the science of alchemy, and have found an excellent game that's occupying my time. If anyone needs me, I will be there. It's all due to my chemistry interestings.
Metallious + Sun → Aurum
www.littlealchemy.com
To the next.
-R
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