The Worst Ever?

So, it’s the last day of 2007. For me this may have been the horriblest year of my life so far; nothing changed at all. I suppose the few good things—and I seriously mean few fucking things that made this year at least ok. Here we go, my first top ten ever (I’m totally stealing this concept, but it aptly displays the info in the way I want):

The Good of 2007

Ten: Graduating high school. I had a shit time, in general, and it finally ended. The whole high school experience wasn’t anything I imagined or planned it would be. First off there were no romantic occurrences at all. I always envisioned I’d be involved with someone by the time I got to high school, but all the good ones were gone and the ones left were less than satisfactory and I’m a relatively quiet person so I guess nothing worked out for me.

Nine: Getting a sense of what I am. You know when you’re young and you try to follow all the current shit that everyone is even if you don’t like it? I tried to steer clear of those situations and I’m kinda glad with whatever the hell I’m rocking now. I think that sounds lame. Lame. I don’t think I have any identity, but the eclecticness I encompass works for now.

Eight: Getting a car…that I can’t drive because I gots no insurance.

Seven: Attempting to continue my education post HS. I plan to make bank sooner or later, preferably sooner and with my smarts it won’t take that long.

Six: MythBusters. Just can’t get enough of that Grant Imahara!! Oh my gosh—the episode with him in the tight jeans…hmm, muffin topped and yet still acceptable. And of course the intriguing ways those guys test out myths…you know..questions people send in..

Five: Scarves. I never really took these accessories seriously. I used to wear them because it was cold back in Chi-town, but there was no need for them, really, when I moved. They’re so versatile and can be coordinated by color and pattern to what you’re wearing. Ohh.

Four: Books. I read all kinds of shit this year. Most of it required readings for school which I obediently read albeit the majority of my classmates ignored these books. I also read much on my own, especially Kurt Vonnegut stuff and James Joyce and that danged Harry Potter, and kinda expanding my vocabulary and literary sense. I was real big on reading books back in the day and that stint returned in a way this time round.

Three: Hot guys. Well, maybe not smoking hot, but definitely considerably to commit naughty acts with. Oh my…major hot guys were, for me, Bruce Campbell, Gerard Butler, Paul Rudd, the Schwartzman brothers, and Alex Turner. ….mmm, yeah, especially that last one there. From the Chow King guy to the Matt Sharp/Graham Coxon look-a-like bus guy—these people were the reason I got up in the morning and stepped outside or turned on the computer. It’s what I’m on the look out for wherever I am…after admitting that I feel self-pity. Shit.

Two: Chicago & Family. This is where the good times originated and where there’ll always be. I had quite the awesome time this past summer, despite missing KLAXONS and THE WOMBATS, and I hope to have more experiences like it. The humid, thick Illinois summers are always best remembered with BBQs and staying up late sipping margaritas while watching ghost videos on youtube.

One: What could this possibly be? Is there something that beats out everything on the list? You better fucking believe it. This provided some cushion to the toilet seat 2007 shat on my lonely being: Music. There was just a plethora of old and new and now tunes that totally got me through the bad times (which were seemingly never ending). I know, regrettably cliché, but all the stuff I found—Motown to Post-Punk, Britpop to Electro-Dance, Anti-Folk to Rockabilly, Shoegaze, and of course Twee—was just absolutely amazing. All the artists (ie: Arctic Monkeys, Flight of the Conchords, Good Shoes, Jamie T, The Libertines—yeah, I’m a few years late…—Sam Cook , N.W.A., Beulah, Los Campesinos! Oh, it goes on and on) were just..I mean I knew some of them, but not all the goodness their songs had and others I had never known shit about. It made my days a little better (and my nights more dance-worthy). I guess I have lastfm and the hype machine(see the things on the side there...)and various music blogs to thank for most of this.

There you go.
The ten things that made existence in 2007 tolerable for me. God, I need to have a much better time next year.

Jovial Festivity Time!

Not even comparable to the one last year…Christmas ’07 is in the gutter. I don’t think anything can lift my spirits up—I guess some biological factors are adding to my shitty sentiments right now. Nothing else, then. Hope you’re having fun this holiday season.

Old News: Dystopia in 2012, tonite @ 7:00

Did I happen to mention I was scared thrice by Arctic Monkeys? Well, not like absurdly terrified, but in a pleasantly shocked or surprised manner. My holiday thus far has been extremely shitty. I was expecting good travels (maybe Europe or at least Chi-Town again..ridiculousness). I had so much to say before, but now there is nothing worth a word. I think I’ve finally decided what to do. Shit. I don’t think some people are gonna be happy—I just need to move on, do things the way I want, have no regrets, and hopefully I’ll be better off. My last year to live like I don’t have to give a fuck and I need to start being a human about this.
And everything I've watched, read, listened to about the future, I've noticed, is the dire destruction of the greatness we once had. So, uh, I'm gonna try to live in the present and not give a shit about what happened or will happen. Fluctuations.

Decisions, decisions

I am at odds with what to do. I just have no idea if I should continue the way I’m going or try something else that might lead to being truly happy, which I guess I haven’t experienced since I was in fourth grade back in that forest park school and that Coughlin boy gave me a drawing (of his future/current muscled self?) with his number all saying, “Call me when you get to California.” I didn’t. I’ve also lost the picture. Shit.
I need a sign—something to help me make a final decision. I don’t know anything anymore.

Allen Ginsburg & Alan Greenspan

I’m glad to say finals are over and I survived my first quarter of college with little or no consequence (except the freak and bathroom incidents, but I won’t get into any of that).
Is there any need to be candid? I think so…here goes then—I think that I am totally smitten and awestruck with all the things overseas…particularly in Europe and maybe in other places of the globe like also, um..Canada or… actually it’s almost exclusively in Europe (Yes, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, and Luxemburg—I have feelings for you despite my overall love for the English speaking countries over there). Oh, I’m being too specific about all this, aren’t I?

superfluous musings: I’m going to refer to this person as mike bailey and in extremely abbreviated situations, MB. I don’t fully know the connection, if any, that we share, but it is of an eclectic sort. Well, that’s all I really want to say about this person for now.
The funny thing about the Allen/Alan reference there is—I thought they were the same person. I mean, I was reading all about this Allen Ginsburg person who was a peacenik/part of the beat generation and it was such a stark contrast to that economic guy who was all into governmental topics. But they’re not the same person because—it just wouldn’t make sense.
I’m happy about the new single for Arctic Monkeys. From what I’ve listened to thus far it reminds me of some dark—like, spooky kinda house. I just get that kind of aura from the music.
Yeah. This is a little outdated in relation to events. I suppose I’ll be listening to teddy picker all the time now and thinking about Paolo Nutini. Ah, the affinity we all share.

Pre-made Holiday Line-up(excluding Christmas)

I’m thinking about whether I should get those tickets for the HARD NYE thing in L.A. There’s one factor that would really push me to make the purchase…
So, I guess I’m gonna try to go. Terrible scheming must be done, but I know that it’ll all be worth it—if anyone wants to hang with me over there gimme a holla. I don’t know...yeah?
I’m really looking forward to the end of this quarter of school. I’m so sick of the mandatory core thing, but I’m upset that I might never see some of those people (um, guys, rather) from my lit class. They were the primary reason I got up and dragged my tired ass to lecture…especially on Fridays. Well, hopefully there are other nice things I’ve yet to discover and I’m excited about that. I guess.
Lazy days. And The handmaid’s tale presents a horrible perspective on the future of women. I am terrified and disgusted.
It's also the first day of December. I still think it's way early to be promoting Christmas stuff, just like last year when I heard all those x-mas songs everywhere and thinking, ""What the fuck? It's not even the right time of the year or Decemb--oh yeah, it is December, but still--waaayy too early for this stuff." Oh joy, the upcoming month of unnecessary spending—I’m gonna get me some work.

The Cold War is over; Kids made a profit

Oh, fucking shit. I was amazed and awed to a degree of utter madness.

So I went to a concert today featuring Cold War Kids. I wasn't really expecting much; maybe some mediocre show...I was kinda worried that the songs would come out sounding whiny and shrill because of how their songs are sung and such (catchy and sometimes dancey as they are). The opening band, We Are Barbarians, was all right. A little...meh. I wasn't entirely impressed although I was mildly entertained. And then the kids came on. Oh man. I was blown away by Nathan's voice--it was so accurate and relatively on pitch and, while listening carefully, really beautiful. I mean, it just hit all these high notes and fit in harmony to all the songs and--it was absolutely capital. It was so funny, but at the same time mesmerizing, to watch the other guitar guy (my sources indicate his name be Jonnie)dance around while shredding boss melodies. I ended up liking it a whole bunch...as well as the band. Not obsessed with them, but more of an appreciation of their music and the people in general in the band.

I think the best part was the rock out sessions--you know, the parts where they all just do their musical things and you listen (sometimes I would close my eyes, just concentrating on hearing various individual parts) thinking, "Wow. How do they come up with this?" Most of the songs I listen to these days have long interludes of rocking out that I dance to, respectively.
OH YEAH--!
Cop-out endings everywhere, too. Fucking everywhere.
And I have, like one uploadable picture (perhaps add later?) 'cuz my new camera is ridiculously unreliable...some vids, tho'.

Against Definite Articles! Yet, who knew Belgium rocks?

I’m not going to work on my essay because it’s on some shit subject that I have no fucking care for. I have other, better, extremely more fascinating things to write about.

Soooo, retracting back to 9^th grade English class, I am against definite articles. Not like I’m ardently against aspects of grammar (I try to follow it to a degree), but, at the time, I was just really tired of bands that started with “the”. The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Beatles, The Doors, The Zombies, The Starting Line, The Back Horn, The Decembrists, The Pillows, The Streets, The Stills, etc. You get the idea. So many “The”s. It was pissing me off so bad, it still does; so annoying and shit. I try to avoid bands with such monikers, but it’s fairly difficult (for example The Wombats, The Rakes, The Pigeon Detectives, and Los Campesinos! --yes, even "the" from other languages that use it). There are some bands that I am totally into that lack the hackneyed “THE”: Arctic Monkeys, Good Shoes, Art Brut, 1990s, Cold War Kids, Vampire Weekend, and the like (mostly foreign from, like, Europe, which brings me to--).
One thing I was happy to discover yesterday was this Belgian band called The Tellers, but they sound more like some English kids. I suppose they speak French as well?


They're the exception to the whole ADA thing right now. I would say their music reminds me of some kinda crossover of Bob Dylan (especially the incorporation of the harmonica) and indie acousticals. I highly recommend ‘em to anyone who even glances at this insignificant, little post.

Right, then. Back to working on homework and the like. Dreadful, absolutely dreadful. =(

King Edward VI Aston School for Boys

I feel kinda bad again, yet at the same time I’m quite happy as fuck. So. The issue of conflict today involves ditching, in a way, and I’ll be missing a class that I particularly enjoy (Oh, interesting people to look at…namely some of the grizzled guys..hm). Of course there is a reason for my absence—a mission that I must attempt, but there is always the factor of it being done in vain. Hmm. Whatever, I’m having a good time so far. In the downtime between this top secret task here are some nice little songs that sorta sum up the situation and such :

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers – I’m not a Juvenile Delinquent ‘Rock, rock, rock’
The Rakes - Trouble

No. I don’t think this transform into some music blog. I’ve already got some out of date web thing that deals with all that sort of musical shit. Well then, back to conspiring and homework. And that whole boys school thing--um, I stumbled upon it on facebook through some group that I chose not to join and those kids....boys..uhhh, yeah.

..Goes "Ahhh."

My mistake. It's Armistice Day from WWI. I knew that one of the World Wars ended on 11.11 at 11 but I couldn't remember which one. I think I recall reading about it, too, in Mother Night. So much for honors and AP history classes. So, for the veterans out there who read this--YAY FOR YOU GUYS!! GREAT JOB PROTECTING THE ASSETS AND IDEALS OF THIS COUNTRY IN WARS THAT WERE ACTUALLY RATHER IMPORTANT! (I'm sorry, but I feel that the people involved in the War in Iraq don't necessarily count. I sympathize with them, though.) Moving on, then.

What a lazy day it's been. I did a helluva lot of reading for classes I have in the upcoming week. Need to get that shit out the way so I can work on other crucial things (essays, preparing to seek out some Yorkshire-ness, being happy, if possible). And my musical tastes have shifted slightly; so into Motown and jazz and some old rockabilly. I mean, Astrud Gilberto (hence the title)? Dave Brubeck? Martha & the Vandellas? And Sam Cooke! Oh, the memories these people bring.

In Kafka's World

I am very, very disturbed over the news I received in one of my classes today: A 15 year-old French boy, Alexandre Robert, got raped by two men in Dubai. And one of the rapists could have AIDS. And the doctor examining Alex after the attack said that the boy was a homosexual because there weren’t any visible signs of rape. Catch up on the story here. That is really shocking. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this, but I guess that’s mostly due to the fact that I haven’t been watching any news and I haven’t read any of those weekly news magazines, like time and newsweek, since I started school here. I need to work some worldly information into my schedule.

I’m not looking forward to this upcoming holiday, not because I don’t care about V-E Day (11/12/45 at the twelfth hour, if I remember from Honors World History) and the brave veterans who fought in WWII, but because I’m going to be stuck at school and there isn’t going to be anyone here, for the most part, and it’s so unfortunate to be in this situation. Of course I would like to go home, but I have no good mode of transportation (train/plane= too much $, bus=too long…and I presume uncomfortable, car=too long, don’t have one, don’t know anyone here who has one and is going down). No ways.
Something more exciting! I will be going home next week, the weekend before Thanksgiving, on Thursday so I can devote myself to an event occurring on Friday. I’ll be missing one class, but—you know what—fuck it. I went to every damn lecture and discussion and I want a break from education…here. Besides, just a glimpse would make me happy. Oh so happy. Three days of school next week! Exciting.
Then back home for the real Thanksgiving. Yes.
Gosh, I’m hungry.

Miser Musings on Music & Miscellaneousness

I suppose I'm content academically for the most part. Besides that I don't feel particularly jubilant over anything. Except maybe the 23^rd when I'll be back in L.A. and going to see Cold War Kids. Mediocre retribution; quite droll. The future makes me a little bit pleasant because there's some leeway in deciding what will happen. Oh ho.

Well, I have recently discovered some interesting musical things. The first being The Rapture. I had heard of them before, even contemplated purchasing there album sometime last October, but I had never actually listened to them. Unaware of the strange genre these kids belonged to (from my browsing around: Dance-Disco-Punk...?), I ventured to some site and watched a vid of 'Pieces of the People We Love' (on the website under "media") and--hooo shizznits--I was intrigued with wonder...The vibe I got from it was, like, late 50's early 60's kinda old school swingers/sexual hype. I think it was the dancing that made me reminisce about that time. Mm, yes. I found the song to be relatively catchy as well.

Here is the time for picture posting. OHHHhh~! I'm so excited.


Yes. Arctic Monkeys. I've been interested in their music for a while, but I hadn't given any second thoughts to them personally so I decided to investigate a bit. After listening to "Who the Fuck are Arctic Monkeys?" I commenced an image search and I was intrigued yet again. And I have the utmost feelings for Yorkshire things (people in general, men in a subcategory). Perusing the internets I discovered this whole unknown cove with awesome Arctic Monkeyness and I'm basically...enamored.
Of course I looked around some more and found this short film thing based on "When the Son Goes Down" called Scummy Man (pt 1, pt 2). It may be a few years old, but I found it to be a little disturbing. Yep.

Other music things include Art Brut, Babyshambles (Peter Doherty is interesting, reminds of a kid), and others..

HO-HUM halloween

So much for the idea of a Halloween post. This year I haven't seen anything particularly scary in a botched hollywood film attempt, but there have been some people that just look so questionable (are they monsters? ghosts? serial killers? Oh, I shudder at the idea).

I've decided to dress up as well. On Halloween. I'm not about to go trick-or-treating; I'm channeling the days when I used to go and the prospect of receiving candy supposing that people know what the fuck I'm dressed up as. Ah yes, I have neglected thus far to mention who I'm decked out as: Han Solo!!
I don't think that I'm a "closet" Star Wars fan, as my cousin aptly put it, because I will ardently admit my unrequited admiration of the primary trilogy. The original three. Yeah.
I don't think any of the people who saw me knew who I was, besides the few that I decided to tell. How uneventful.

Halloween this year isn't great. I can't exactly say why, but it just feels as if something is missing or--I don't know. I've also got all this shit to do (ie: reading and essay typing. DROLL). I need me some Bruce Campbell.

A Celebration, Retrocized

A monumental feat has been accomplished (aside from sticking to this for over year)—50^th post! Yay! Where’s the confetti and fireworks? Well, I guess that would be a waste of festivity products since this is an unknown project being conducted by a daft creature. Oh, woe to the troubles that inflict my life.
I have been experiencing a longing of home—my real home, not L.A., not anywhere in California, but back in the good ol’ city, usually under the radar of hipness (…there’s just not that much hype connected to it as, say, NYC or, indeed, the one-dimensional LA or, dare I mention another thing in CA…SF), Chicago. My god. I wish I had explored the crevices and bowels of the city…the knowledge I would have gained if I had never arrived in this land of fire and fakery. So many things that I’ve been missing…if only I was more of a diligent, enthusiastic kid back in my high school days.

DETOUR!!
I affirmed my thing for Grant Imahara of MythBusters last weekend.


OH. no idealism, please. There have been a few 'Grants' I've been intrigued by in the last couple of weeks...

More retrospecting: I am currently reading The Phantom Tollbooth, a reminder of fourth grade. I was just thinking about what went on in the book so I decided to reread it among all the other texts I’ve gotta read for schools (Oh, Père Goriot, you unfortunate coot). TPT is utterly clever. There are so many puns and interesting uses of metaphors and plays on words & ideas. Me and Milo, folks, we have the same ideals...although I don't think mine will change at the end of the book as I speculate his will.

All right.

I'm off to wallow in freakish misery. forever.
i'm no humperdinck, though.

RASH YOUTH![if you ever fall in love, don't show it]

That title there is from Père Goriot. Balzac uses so much imagery to exemplify the realism that should be apparent in a novel. It's quite insane-like, yet also amusing when it's something humorous or pertaining to yourself. That's not relating to me at the moment, though.
Something quite strange today (other than realizing I had a creepy dream last night), most of the conversations I've had have pertained to something that's occurred in my life...to a degree. Or perhaps some issue that has surfaced at some point or another during my existence. I found that rather freaky.


Ok, so in my dream there were these truly strange umbrella plants that actually looked like fucking umbrellas that are open and laid on their sides. like that. I don't understand the environment that I was wallowing through.

A Midsummer Night's Cream

Please, please tell me that the title there sounds like a porno. Seriously. Shakespearean porno--the Bottom guy with the donkey head and all those fairies and the rest there (Hermia, Lysander, Helena, Demetrius)--I think it's probably been done. If not someone should definitely do it. If I have time I'll try to work on that.

It's not like I was thinking about porn...I just saw that it was an episode title for New Scandinavian Cooking. An ANDREAS VIESTAD episode!! Mmm, I remember the first time I was watching the Scand Cook show and he was on it and he ate the food he cooked on a fjord.

That's really funny, though, the show title. Oh, those Northern Europeans..

I don't know. I finished all the "sides" and it looks quite nice on my wall here. And I watched the wombats in a lift which I thought was strange, yet intriguing. Other than that, I have nothing else to record. I really want to cook. I just want to.

& if there was Ever reason to believe otherwise...!!

Yeah. I have been reliving the nights of karaoke in the semi-slums of Usuki. Those were relatively great times and now it hasn't been that great. I am not significantly tipsy at all. I could really go for a bit of the whiskeys and the ume wine and the...regrettably warm light beer. Like...a lot of a bit. On the other hand, there was someone in the local area of this occurrence that apparently can't hold the liquor. AHEM-HEM. I guess that it takes a bit of time..I can't exactly recollect the first time I did it, but I took it all like a, um..."man", so to say, I guess. God. I fuckin' wish for the good times with Mac and Addy...that was the awesomest shit ever.

I wonder if she'll remember all the things tomorrow. There's this list--actually tangible evidence!!--of most of the weirdest quotes she's said and done. I can't wait...and I really wish that there were other cool people like the 'shroom and beast to hang avec...singing some queen (BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, bitches!!11) and dancing.

I don't really feel like ending this right now so maybe I'll just mouth off some mores..I'm listen to Led Zepp and thinking of all the awesome things. Shit, it's crazy good right now. Which reminds me of Brock Samson. And I consequently think of Patrick Warburton and then family guy and then Seth MacFarland and then Robot Chicken and Star Wars. There's some nice linkage in there, I hope. Yeah, now I kinda feel like ending soon.

Oh shit. I forgot to mention the hot guy today!! He was coming out of the lecture hall where I have my one lecture and--just fucking amazing. He was sooooo ridiculously stunning. Then I lived through the rest of the day up until now. I didn't mean for this to be so long, but there are just some things that I kinda need to say before I explode. I've said most of what I want. HMMM. Here's some Syd Barrett. He was quite an awesome thing back in the day. This is a demi-tribute, I guess.

It came true--Something other than a birthday wish?

YAY! Another fucking year older. My last year as a teen--jeez, that's absolutely lovely. I FEEL OLD!!
Digress, digress.
What I mean to say is during the last post there was an event that actually related to the title of the whole thing--naked run! Not nearly, it was Yeah, I didn't do it, but maybe next time.
Digress, digress, again.
Yes. My birthday. Nothing too totally awesome today. Maybe tomorrow. And...still into klaxons, like, preposterously. Hoorah.

Nearly nude and On fire

Now, I just happened to watch this on my computer this evening. I wasn't expecting anything specific, I at least hoped it wouldn't be like the 'magick' music video, and the beginning of 'golden skans' totally blew me into the nether regions of the universe. That was just so--at the time & in my case--awesomely surprising. I really thought they were naked until i watched (that specific) part over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again (In all actuality not that many times). After that it wasn't that great...kinda weird with the ribbons and them cutting into some tablet holding light. It was captivating, but not even nearly as good as that part in the beginning after "...there will be nothing...only light". That was truly, truly some good stuff.

shit days.

To Understand an Epic

“She spread out her robe and he lay upon her, she performed for the primitive the task of womankind. His lust groaned over her; for six days and seven nights Enkidu stayed aroused,and had intercourse with the harlot until he was sated with her charms.”

Gilgamesh. Too difficult and strange to know what the hell's going on. He's some sort of 2/3 of a god king who does...stuff? I haven't any clue and..yes. There wasn't anything nice today, really, except a brown ,sticky surprise in the toilet. It was a horrifying experience. One of the most terrible things I've ever experienced. Ever. Don't feel like rambling. The end.

Randomizing the Modernation of Translation

I guess life here has been fine so far. Not so much stress yet (maybe come Thursday it might start). It's been relatively fun. There are some [new] sounds that I am totally into right now:

PAVEMENT! like, holy fucking shit. I love the "spit on a stranger" song. As well as a plethora of other songs (shady lane, gold soundz, my old fave~cut your hair). It's a good hunk of amazing for me at the moment.

RAZORLIGHT! I'm just listening to them now. So, I was originally hooked to the "who needs love" and now this other stuff has got me. For cereal, I'm smitten.

ART-SCHOOL! OK, okay, I already loved them to bits (oh RIKI KINOSHITA!!), but there was a moment of rekindling love this week. I can't pinpoint where exactly, but GOD, I listened to that "chloe", "evil", "skirt", "sharin no shita" and I was all, "LOB".

Yeah. Rereading 'The Odyssey' for, like, the fourth or fifth time ain't so great. Yet I am entranced by the gore.










This post has been so compartmentalized. And look at all that wasted space.

Better times back then

So today I had a ton of time to do stuff (ie: watch that office episode I never watched. It was quite funny/interesting, I guess) and the majority of that time was spent looking at images of some people. Here are some of the blog worthy results:


Bruce Campbell. Army of Darkness. Ohhh.


The young Marlon Brando. I really love this picture. It's just, like, something a little artsy and indifferent--he just looks like a regular-kinda guy that one might see on the street looking over somewhere.


Remember in December I posted about 'Cool Hand Luke'? More Paul Newman.


Oh. My. Gosh. Harrison Ford in a Speedo. Kinda funny.
Yeah. I stared at some of those pictures for a while, just thinking. That Harrison Ford one made me laugh so hard. Like, seriously, it's so damn funny. SPEEDO!! Um.


This is such a cute little picture. Little Will Wheaton and River Phoenix in the 'Stand By Me' movie. Now I really wanna watch it. This is--just so adorable.
I can't believe Jerry O'Connell was the portly kid. He changed much.

I forget the rest.

Remorse over nothing

I feel kinda bad. I don't know; it's just a weird, maybe guilty feeling. But what can one do when there is really nothing there? It'd so difficult to elaborate...

Well. That's about it. I miss my little pals from home. I feel like I neglected them. What sadness is induced on this day. Hum.
Why can't there be more funny people like Addy? He was frickin' crazy good at making me genuinely laugh.

Owls know oh so much

...about physical assault. Supposedly. They're the spokesanimals pictured on some kinda pamphlet/booklet about the whole deal.

Anyways, what I am currently doing here..right now...at this place over up here...now. Nothing, really. Halfway chillin' and I'm mostly tired. Sleeping over here hasn't been great. Like, at all. I haven't had trouble sleeping like this maybe ever. I don't understand it. Therefore the results of this has made me ridiculously, unbearably, uncontrollably, insanely, queerly, understandably, horrendously, crazily, madly, annoyingly T-I-R-E-Ds. Another strange occurrence taking place as of now: no real, like really real, appetite. That's weird.

I'll go ask the owls later. I speculate some of them live in a nearby tree. Around here. Like this guy--


Yeah, I bet he knows all sorts of stuff. Look at him..yelling out information if you ask him nicely.

Revival of Westerns: Yee-Haw, Roy Rogers

In all accuality, I haven't seen any western films recently, but I suspect they are on the rise yet again. I guess that people want to escape to times of vigilantes and showdowns at dusk. It certainly sounds cool and rowdy and bad asssssssss. I also just heard some ruckus with that whole "yee-haw" business. How wild and primitive., but genuinely appealing.

Not much happening lately. I'm kinda waiting for my fuckin' school to start, but it's decided to be a bitch and hasn't returned my calls. I feel so appreciated.

R.O.U.S.s cause R.L.S. so R.I.P.

The wilderness isn't such a great place to be without the right equipment and such. It can lead to a miserable experience, my friends (if any at the moment). Suffocating cigarette smoke in the air and pictures of wanton women on the sidewalk. Oh hell yes, these are good times. This is the first ever post for the month of September EVAR! What a feat to accomplish; I guess the last time that I started this I was extremely busy with school shit (advanced placement biology is oh so time consuming). It's a relieving experience to not have to worry about that just yet. What's so great about this month anyway?

I am somewhat pleased to mention that there is vindication for me: klaxons back in LA and San Francisco! Oh, the choice (I'm leaning towards the SF one cuz it'll be closer). The planning and devising shall take place over the days/week ahead. Complacency is upon me and it "feels so good".

Niggardly! It's a Word! Truly.

Hello. I'm just as surprised as you all should be. Go ahead, look it up just like I did.
I also feel a bit prettier today than I have in a while; that has no relation to the above topic of words. But I guess I do and it's awkward because I look nice and I have nowhere to show up looking like I do. No special occasion or whatever.


Romantic! Oh, so interesting to read about lately. Oh, oh wombats. Wombat Harness; any of you will do right now. M'm, m'm.
This just drones on and on without any real purpose then. Going back to niggardly--quite the spectacle of the english language, eh? So many other words to use and then there's this one.

Maybe I have Vowel Cancer, too

English, what a malleable force. What have I been doing since the family good-times? Well, reading and doing stuff that I was doing pre-trip. That means mostly moping over some missed events (such a moper, am I?). I am much fascinated by the words in books, lately. It gives good indication on what to feel when something good happens later on.

Puberty at 25 as well as Tasty Type B Blood

I missed The Wombats indefinately. *tear* *tear*


It's terrible that I need to write like that..and also rather strange, I believe. Well, I have been here in the state of Illinois (aaaagain? Home sweet home) for a long time. Taco Bell at 1:30 A.M. for a feast. Hells yes. There isn't much to say, really, other than that. It's been over a year since my first entry! Ho shit. Long time past since the Japan trip (naru-chan!! ima doko da yo?). Generally fun times had by all. When they were all here about a week ago. Wow. Why have I stayed this long (there is an obvious answer, but let us suppose that this proposed question is rhetorical)? I have fallen asleep listening to my cousin talk to this guy (he has a peculiar laugh; it's strangely adorable and what's up with his squinty eyes and why does he look like this other guy who hangs out with a certain friend of mine?) and we have chatted about how to deal with poop. I guess no more chili for her. I suppose we've also realized how old we are (I mean, we've practically known each other since forevah) and how old we might become (grandparents?). I guess we can look forward to these kind of visits later. We can look back and be all, "Remember that guy with the weird laugh?" and "Oh yeah. I ended up marrying him." Well, it might not be that likely to happen, but how scandalous would that be?

Of no Significance

Here I proclaim to The Wombats: change your schedule in Los Angeles. What's the use of pleading when I neglect to look at plans ahead of time. The horrible, wretched, immoral, unnecessary irony of it all. The speculation and absence of the problem.

Obscenely Abstract; I feel naked

My right wrist is sans the



green yarn of good times. Oh joy. Been a loong frickin' year. What they all be up to?

Time to end this

Recently I have been occupied with doing absolutely nothing. Yeah, been keep busy these days (uh, seriously). I don't feel like reading, drawing, doing internets, even playing any video games. It's a sickly life after Harry Potter; he sucks the life right out of ya and there you are--dead on the cold, stone floors of Hogwarts where you learned all the magics in that helped to get you to where you used to be. But, then again, you end up reanimated for some reason, etc, etc. Much fun, eh? The stuff I am doing now is a result of hours of TV watching beforehand and attempts to be entertained through other methods. Here It shall go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on. Oh sweet Moses. What is the way by which we decide to make sure something goes our way? I've also had horrible problem and I wish to fucking GOD that I didn't have to leave L.A. the first weeks of August. (I never thought I'd ever say that since my arrival.) Goddamn conspiracy, I say. How does something like this happen twice within mere months of each other? I can't conceive the methods by which this atrocity has been committed. What is up with this unjust, improbable happening? I guess that leaves me to describe those last couple of sentences as rants, but other than that, this experience has left me throughly unsatisfied and quite angry since it has started. I can't really explain where this negative feeling stems from; at the moment I think that I've been feeling like this do to the fact that I've literally been rotting indoors for the last 4-7 days. It's not a pretty picture and it does get dreadfully oven-like here. Oh my god, it's been ridiculously boring. What the hell is up with the whole deal here? Fucking shit, mans. It's some horrible version of that show that was about those people who went through those deals that weren't like they were in the right universe. That's how I think I feel at the moment. I am also in need of some sort notebook for a serious task. Now. If there are any people wondering why this particular post is especially long I shall provide an obedient-type answer that I hope will help create a better understanding of how my mind works. Yeah ok.
Just to add a little bit on the end here: I think that there isn't a fair distraction from the world revolving around the Sunday gatherings. There is nowhere to hide anymore, I think, without being exposed and ultimately being questioned by some sort of angry authority. What am I gon' do about that? There is no longer some sort of safe haven!! What will become of the time spent instead of the other time? Oh, the damn conspiracies of the world working against me! Woe, woe to the unprepared and neglected. Seriously, what is going on in here right now? It can't be anything remotely good.
Perhaps I should add a tad more simply because it isn't really long enough for some sort of honest, good writing piece thing about the stupidness faced in this lifetime, but there.

Nymphet & Wiz

Before the 7^th HP book arrived I entertained myself by reading Lolita (yes, the one with the girl and older guy and camp Q). Rereading it; actually, it's been maybe two or three years since I had read the thing, but I generally abandoned the taboo tale for something more enchanting...

Well, I have finished the majority of the last Harry Potter book (sans the epilogue; I really don't want t know what happens to anyone in the future--it's a little strange and I prefer to make my own assumptions). After reading roughly 500 or so pages yesterday, the most shocking death, personally, was Hedgewig. I absolutely refused to believe it, yet it was so. And then today reading about a slew of other deaths (Fred? Honestly?). The story of Snape was rather sad, but the most interesting aspect of this book were the hollows, their history, and the improbable chain of events that ultimately led to, of course, one H.P. The ending was--I don't know. I felt as if I had readThe Importance of Being Earnest all over again, that's how the ending made me feel.
And can you imagine? A Lolita and Harry story--Middle aged wizards hungrily scheming (Voldemort too? Somewhat so in HP & the Chamber of Secrets) to attain young witches and, or dare I mention, muggle girls? Isn't that just a creepy thought, though? Indeed, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, disturbing.

The need to explode is necessary

So, there really isn't much to comment on. I think, though, that no matter where I ended up I would be unhappy (--actually these events bring me to the cliff of horrible, everlasting misery). I keep thinking of how else this tragedy could have turned comedy (The Winter's Tale, anyone?), but it keeps turning into inevitable loathing and doom.

Digression, digression.

I really don't know anything remotely worth a mention. I don't know what I used to elaborate so much on, although at the moment there is some construction-related noise outside that is quite loud and bothersome.

Eewck.

If evil goes down

Friday the 13^th.



What's scary about today? Hardly nothing unless you count some vengeful person killing off people in some summer camp. All I've got to state.

Well, do ya, punk? Do I feel lucky?

Since today's chock full of lucky goodness (that sounds like a lucky charms bit)-- Nothing. Just filler. Thought that I might put this in because there's a significant gap between my last thing. Since then I've watched Fast Times as Ridgemont High and it was killer. And I finally finished reading Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and I read As You Like It by the guy who adores shaking his spear. Also playing video games to pass time. Oh, yes, other films too, yet not as nearly shocking, I guess.

Gots me my diploma

So, by and by, I have graduated secondary education. It wasn't a great big deal; it's over at least and, yeah, there's nothing that I've done that makes me want to relive those days. All night party went down (there was something fishy about the bus ride--namely the fish smell--how did that happen?) at some eatery, on a boat, and at some arcade. Not that particularly great, I suppose. Here's what I won at the arcade place (think Chuck E. Cheese's and there's tickets that come out of whatever game you're playing and you can redeem them for prizes):



Good shit, right? Damn straight. What else am I going to say about that.

Should I become a Cook-Chef

On to les foods: While scuttling around the fantastical asian supermarket found the most surprising snack.



In the native tongue (Koreans) we call it "Dak Dari", but in common people's language y'all can call it "Fried Chicken Snack". It's some pretty good Asian snack and it seriously tastes like fried chicken, which surprised me much. Definitely worth trying, I think, if ever stopping by at some..Korean or, I might even suggest Japanese market (I don't know if other Asian grocery chains carry this snack, it's quite rare and difficult to find, in my opinion).




Something else I've totally discovered to be delicious was Häagen-Dazs pineapple coconut ice cream.



It didn't seem all that appealing at first, but it actually tastes good--there's the coconut churned in with the ice cream itself and then the pieces of pineapple sprinkled about the whole confection. I happened to try the "extra rich light" variation, but I saw there was a regular version (there's just a little bit less calories, then?).

The younger rises as the old doth fall

Things have been rather weird in the past, uh, almost a month a so. The most strangest event involves the photography teacher, my friend, and her new best "acquaintance". God. I was gone for, like, two fucking class periods and now there's this--bond? Super plot to make the teacher exploitable? I don't understand and I've been given minimal information about this whole situation--"alternative lifestyles" of other teachers, including a retired one who I admired with great fervor (that was relatively, uh, devastating), other questions of sexuality and likability, and clubbing. Initially I was rather upset because it just seemed so ridiculous to go to those lengths to delve into the personal life of some guy who you have so many coincidences and who happens to be some thirty years your senior. Yeah. Fucking ridiculous shit, the way I see it. It almost makes it unbearable to face this friends..like really awkward. What the hell? For fuck's sake, how the hell did this shit come together. Pisses me off--fucking extensively.



Well, other accomplishments during this time have been the completion of reading King Lear (Shakespeare!) and Song of Solomon (Toni Morrison!!). Let me be the Cordelia to Milkman and Hagar can envy everything we have. I'll be the Edmund to Guitar and base my motives on the Seven Days.

Other than that I have nothing else to say or do for the time being.

I forgot it was cas fri..damn.

Thinking and even more thinking. Although the week passed by rather quickly, every single day lagged on and on and there were some immoral events that occurred and even more so to come. There need not be any specific mention-ings, but I will hint at the scary, troubled things..ahem, hem. In all honesty I am not really looking forward to the weekend. Maybe just Saturday because I am terribly obliged to take a test--much like the fucking SAT but not nearly as supposedly important. I'm truly upset about that; I would rather sleep in, play video games, or even start being serious about not procrastinating. That damn test totally ruins my weekend, although it was never that great to begin with. I am going to be visiting some university on Sunday. Something I am absolutely looking forward to next week, asides performing a skit based on Molière's Misanthrope and and economics test, is a four-day "vacation" to Boston/Amherst, Massachusetts and the surrounding areas of interests in the east. Buffalo, NY? That brings back memories of some guy.

I've also noticed that my mind has retracted to an elementary state. The majority of my thoughts are very similar to the ones I had back in grade school. I don't know why. It's strange.

Death it.

Officially the worst spring break; everything thing this week terrible--the weather, the studying, the depressing anti-motivational talks--awful, awful deeds. Not fun at all and it's my senior year in school and I was at least expecting some kinda good times. Well, there's that for you. To top it all off: test tomorrow! Awesome.



Oh, check out my easter. This bunny ain't giving out any eggs or candy kids. It's more or less dead like the enthusiasm I have for being at the moment.

When I grow up I'm going to be _________

I don't know. Fucking bullshit.
A commemorative post to those who have to care, but would really rather dismiss the issue. Damn super fucking "geniuses". Damn them all.

The United States is the new Rome

Paralleling ancient civilizations is our job. So, along with my old series of watching whatever interesting-seeming movie that happens to be on television: The Shape of Things.


I was drawn in by the appearance of Paul Rudd and, later, Rachel Weisz. I just saw the ending parts, learning most/part of the story of transforming this person to look better on the outside and rotten on the inside in the name of art. While Evelyn (Weizs) was presenting her final creation she reveled her method of manipulating Rudd's character (his name departs me at the moment) into an relatively trim, egomaniac. It was rather sad when he found out, especially since he was going to ask her to marry him and such. Cruel educational pursuits.

Anti-Valentine's + Beverly Hills, San Marino & Connecticut

What about it? It's another ..I'm not gonna say "loveless", but ...ehmm it's ridiculously ..something. I was thinking of the trite ideas that have turned this holiday into something quite inflated. Didn't much care, did I?



School occurences: conversations about rich places (see title.. the state is said to have the greatest per capita income. my teacher says. it also sound like it shouldn't belong) and wondering whether some ASB roses were designated to bachelor teachers and Anthony Hopkins getting all crazy as Torvald Helmer.

usually it's clever. not today.

So sad to have the bears lose the Superbowl. As a native Chicagoan (?), my family was intensely watching the game and I think I felt something die a little inside when I speculated the bears had lost. Mhmm. Ok. We digress from this recent travesty.

At this time I should be studying for tests, but I feel an obligation to enlighten my intermediate world with my petty life. First, the change in the blog-like name. 'Verbal Punches' appears to make more sense in a blogical manner--I create catchy titles or whatever and it has a funny family story behind it. I don't want to get into it now. It's quite brief. Um, also relatively new--first semester grades: C,A,A,B. Caab. I made a terrible vow to do better in at least two classes this time around and at the moment I seem to be doing a'ight. My econ teacher, though, is some crazy, old cat lady who seems to know all this stuff about the young people. It really surprised me much. She knew about Coachella, no less...I've never been and there's a desire to go (um, expensive and, uh, yes).

don't Coppola other people's work

First day of my last semester in high school. Really. First period teacher reminded the seniors of the terror post secondary education. It was just a long, long, long day. This underclass girl talked to me for a minute or so in study hall. It was strange.
#2, half study hall, sophomore year teacher almost said something like "Coppola" or "coppo" when trying to say "Don't copy other people's work!" I laughed inside. "Ho, ho, ha" or something like that.

Originally, I was planning to say something after finals, like, "IT"S OVER!" or "I FEEL SO RELIEVED" or "THAT WAS QUITE POSSIBLY THE WORST TEST I'VE TAKEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE THUS FAR" or "I want pancakes". I didn't do anything because I didn't feel like working on anything after studying for various tests.

OK.

ever, never. ever, never.

A few days ago, as I was reading Joyce's The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man I became entranced by the way Hell was described by that one priest or some guy from the church. Eternal fires burning in darkness, never giving off light. That was quite interesting. Skipping ahead, I previewed Stephen's confession session with a priest. Sins of impurity with himself and women. Whoo. So that's what was going on at the end of that last chapter.

Been comparing Cary Grant and Gregory Peck today. I had some difficulty differentiating the two for a time, but now I think I can tell. I think.

come a long way by means of anxiety

Too much thinking about anything these days and it's not as interesting as it should be. I don't know; there's really so little for me to do these days and it's almost as if--________. Something smart would be there had I been concentrating on whatever was going through my brain.



Been watching some of that Apocalypse Now in literature class because we finished reading and taking a test on Heart of Darkness (which I hardy understood until the ending). The movie has made more sense having read about Marlowe and Kurtz. Yes. Uh, just a strange day with a super-hearing & giant footed & telepathically connected teacher.

Damn the concern for higher education.

Life after high school, fucking dead like dinosaurs.

Happy New Year & Chicago!

Hello 2007.



Partied up with some of my penguino friends. Continuing with stuff, I have decided to put up some of the better pictures from my great adventure in the place in America dubbed "The Windy City" (Indeed it was windy even though the temperature was moderate).

The City


Lake Shore Drive


???

From the hancock observatory at nighttime. I notice the bluriness and that was something I couldn't really control on my camera.

Museums and Other Places


OMFGs--cute at the MoS&I.


Was a real living baby at one time? more MoS&I.


Giant spiders feast on grubs at the Field.


Penguins at the shedd. The rockhoppers=funny jumpers.

Where Laura went: Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium. Oh the memories and antique scents.

Food


Went here quite a few times back in the cicero days.


The polish from Lucky Dog (see above). I used to get it plain, but for this occasion it's got everything on it. It tasted different from what I remembered.


Gino's East pizza. This deep dish takes a frickin' long time to bake. There was graffiti and other writings on the walls and seats and under the table. Some pictures exist somewhere.

Other food places: Al's Italian Beef place and some buffet at this casino (the crab legs!). Most other places were in museums or food gained from groceries. The fair share, have thou changed so much?

Ending the Journey


One of the cousins. We planned to party, but cramps ensued. I watched some Hayao Miyazaki instead.


The plane on the way back west (to Las Vegas, actually) showed Little Miss Sunshine again. Multiple little screens show the part in the film where the family is shacking up in some motel for the night.


I had a lot more relatives (even a baby niece) that I don't have pictures of here. Uh, that's mostly because..my camera sucks and there's some pics on the family camera that has yet to be uploaded. Um. Yes. etc.



....the end of my year was fun. I also watched some kid show I had heard of, but didn't really know much about. Here it be: The Wonder Pets



This show...so adorable. Really.