22.2.09

Life has a funny way...

When I think back on 2008 the last few lines of Alanis Morissette's "Ironic" come to mind. 

Life has a funny way, of sneaking up on you...
Life has a funny, funny way.. Of helping you out.

Why those lines? Because, in retrospect they describe last year coming into this one. There were a lot of things I wanted to do, but was never able to due to different situations. Then, one by one things that I'd always wanted started happening hand in hand with things I hoped never would. 

The experience of 2008 and subsequently, life here after created a sort of bitter sweet dichotomy. And I'm starting to realize that, that dichotomy is the very definition of life. 

20.2.09

Academic Crush

I realized today that I have one. An academic crush that is. Now I'm sure the first question on the tip of your tongue is.... 'What exactly do you mean by that?'

Well, give me a moment, because it took me two weeks to classify. See, it's all about my Coms Professor. She's rather brilliant and she fascinates me. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but every class my mind is dually tracked. One side avidly paying attention, taking notes and participating in whatever discussion we would be currently having in class. And through all of this, my mind will be trying to deconstruct her [my professor].

Through this process I've thoroughly convinced myself that she's a lesbian, because of a few different tells that I've noticed she has. Unfortunately this realization has only lead to even MORE quiet interest on my part. Now I find myself wondering what her partner is like. Because, I want to know what kind of woman would capture and keep her attention. Not because I'm secretly hoping to mold myself into whatever she wants... No no. I simply want to know.

And after I know all there is to know, I want to have discussions with her. About everything and nothing. I want to get her opinions on different things, maybe even argue on certain topics.

It's odd. I'm not sure if this uncalled for interest says something negative about my character or not. All I know is, it's there and I look forward to the class three days a week.\\

In other news - I'm now a firm believer in the Americano as the supreme king of coffee and espresso

18.2.09

Body Modification

It's culture.

Some would say that body mod/manip, or however else people would like to label it as, is nothing more then people doing disgusting things with their body. 

The bible thumper would say that we're desecrating our; ahem, excuse me, the LORDS temple.

The business oriented cooperate climbers would give us a glance and then assure us we'd never get a job worth anything

While the common everyday passerby would find themselves glancing our way with out a seconds thought. That is until, that thought caught up with them and they realized exactly what it was they were seeing.

Society dictates that to be acceptable is to be clean shaven, clean skinned and with as little unnatural holes and scars as possible. 

That's why to see someone walking down the street with two inch holes in their ears, creates the immediate sympathy twinge. Because of course, that HAD to hurt. And after the sympathy comes the annoyance. 'What was the POINT of that?' 'Must people always work so hard to be different?' 'Don't they realize that by their very modified nature they now create unrest wherever they go?' 'Don't they realize that anything out of the accepted social norms for our society is a threat?'

Of course not. And why would we? When it's perfectly acceptable to pierce your infants ears, why is not then acceptable for that infant to grow up and take it a step further?

When we live in a society that actually finds grounds to debate whether woman have a right to do what they will with their body, it should come as no surprise that people can't help the disgust they feel when looking at our modified bodies.

They look at us and see vehicles for unrest. People that defy social norms for no other reason, than because they can. And of course, in every culture there are those that turn it into a 'scene' a fad, if you will. 

But that over simplified view of things completely ignores the dedication, pain and money involved. 

Often times you hear stories of the kid in High School that got shit from his follow students for looking different. And upon taking it to the principle, got dressed down for bringing it upon himself by being different, before being told to take out the piercing/cover up that tattoo/hide those scars.

Does it matter that it took you 8 months and however much money, to get to where you are? Does it matter that that tattoo was painstakingly designed by hand before an artist of the craft painted it on your skin?

No. Because society will resist change for as long as it exists. However, as long as it exists, there will be change. 

Because the two are mutually exclusive. One can not exist with out the other.

It's beginning to look a lot like...


Waiting for Arcade Fire, originally uploaded by nicolemonet2002.

So I've been in Sacramento since August now and I spent the first...4 months utterly hating it here! Well not really. I spent the first 4 months in shock. This... cold, randomly cut off, insanely small and culturally bereft [in comparison to LA ] place is in California? These months of depression filled shock were made of the same rutine. School. Home. School. Home. Sleep for a few hours. School.

Oh right. Did I mention I was maxing about 10 hours a week of sleep?

It was an ugly, ugly time.

HOWEVER!! [cues trumpets and gorgeous angels playing the harp while singing] This semester seems to be looking up in a big way. I mean if you ignore the fact that my brain has decided to live in the constant state of migraine... Or you know, the sinus cold trying to kick my ass.... [Which we are.] I've got great classes, great teachers and most importantly [drum roll] I'm meeting cool people. Even if it's just fellow students that I'll talk to for 5 or so minutes as we leave class.... It's nice.

Or maybe, this sudden change in thought is due to the very near prospect of Spring. Which of course, brings with it the beginning of FESTIVAL SEASON!

I feel like I might have underplayed this very lovely time of the year. So let me paint the picture... [Now we're going to ignore the fact that it just rained for a week and a half straight with the highest median tempurture being somewhere around 55F] ... Flowers are starting to bloom; trees are starting to flirt with the color green; while the weather is still cold, the sun is starting to shine a little brighter on the freshly cleaned sidewalks; and with each day you can almost feel the sweat soaked shirt and the insanely wide grin you'll be wearing as your new favorite band plays your new favorite song.

Now yes, I realize this could all just be in my head [not in a crazy, i'm really in a straight jacket imagining everything kind of way], but in a 'No longer frighteningly depressed' kind of way. Either way... it's nice.

And to top the "Reasons why we love the coming of Spring" list is.... Well, the Music Festivals of course.  Spring is the season that officially kicks of the season of festivals.

I read an article yesterday that said the Sasquatch Music Festival taking place May 23rd - 25th in the Washington Gorge, kicked off the Festival season. Unfortunately that article was written by a journalist who never quite got a handle on the order of the months. For the first festival [here in the US, I haven't made it over seas yet] is the California king, Coachella Music and Arts Festival that will take place April 17 - 19th. Or if you're a die hard Coachella Experience fan and camper, April 16th - 20th. THEN comes Sasquatch, which admittedly has a pretty great line-up [so great in fact that if I can muster up a job between now and then I maybe heading to Washington that weekend]. And following quickly on the heals of Sasquatch will be BONNAROO Music and Arts Festival, which will be June 11-14 in Manchester, TN. Bonnaroo's line-up of course is the reason why, Sasquatch, though infinitely closer, will most likely not be happening for me this year.

There are quite a few other festivals going on this summer of course, but the above mentioned are the ones I'm most excited about. Mainly, because I've got tickets to two of them and if there's a way, the third will follow.

Now for an abrupt scene change

I applied for a camp councilor position about four weeks ago now.  However, while I've now had a phone interview and spoken with the guy in charge of hiring a few times [good conversations I might add; laughter was involved.] I  STILL haven't heard whether or not I've gotten the camp counicilor position. At this point, a simple yay or nay would suffice, because the SUSPENSE is annoying. Not killing me, just annoying.