I haven't posted much beyond just stories and poetry lately so I thought I would just generally ramble about my life right now.
Firstly, I seem to always announce my various "phases" and "obsessions" which seem to be constantly changing since I immerse myself in my obsession until I get extremely tired of it. So, now I will announce what I am currently obsessed with.
Website: writerscafe.org
This is a really awesome website where you can post literally any kind of writing and a lot of your stuff will get reviewed. It's really nice if you want feedback. There are also several fun contests and I think even writing classes in which to participate. You can even make your own contest, which is fun if you want to read writing in a specific category. It also makes me feel kind of important, which is great because I have not been feeling important lately.
Here I am: http://www.writerscafe.org/HedonisticHermit
deviantart.com
This is another website I love. You can post literally any kind of writing on there. You can also find art, photography and fiction depicting the strangest things. It's a great place to find fan fiction and fan art, even things that are rather obscure. The quality can range from excessively mediocre to professional. I've found some really amazing pieces of art on there. It also doesn't censor people that much. As long as you are over 18 or something you can see all kinds of lovely naughty images. I've mostly been using it for my poetry and writing and I have been getting some feedback, which is nice.
Here I am: http://hedonistichermit.deviantart.com/
Notice how I am always Hedonistic Hermit? Yup, I planned it that way. Mwahaha!
Music:
Death Cab for Cutie
This is currently my largest obsession. So far I have been replaying "Narrow Stairs" constantly, but I attained "Plans" today and I'm hoping on getting more albums from the library soon.
I specifically love the songs "Cath...", "I Will Possess Your Heart", "Long Division" and "Twin-Sized Bed." Their songs are simultaneously full of beauty and energy. "Cath..." sort of reminds me of Matthew Good. I love to imagine a music video for each song as I listen to it. I get kind of annoyed when I watch a music video that doesn't try to follow the message of the song and they just try to make it look cool instead but I get really excited when they get it right! Of the few videos I've seen of Death Cab I would say that they are talented video-makers.
What got me into this band was my constant debate with my younger brother about whether Owl City is a good band and whether Owl City is copying Ben Gibbard and his various musical projects. For the record I can hear that Adam Young is using a similar singing voice to Gibbard, but their music seems really different.
Death Cab for Cutie is indie pop/rock with some electronics and while Postal Service is more electronic pop/rock which is the same genre as Owl City, I think those two projects are extremely different from each other.
Much of The Postal Service's material is remixes and their music is much more serious and melancholy than Owl City.
Owl City, in contrast, is about as optimistic and cheerful as music can get. And I understand that happy music is not everyone's cup of tea. You need your sad songs for break-ups, lost jobs, deaths, etc. But Owl City, at least to me, is constantly able to cheer me up from whatever depression I am in. It's just so happy, carefree and full of fantasy. The songs are made up of stories of love, friendship, nature, determination, dreams, etc. Whenever I put on Owl City I feel like I have been transported to a different world where there are no problems. A world full of benevolent technology, warm weather, beaches, animals, good company, travelling, etc. A fantasy of the best world ever isn't supposed to make sense, it's just supposed to feel like some kind of amazing acid trip. And in my opinion: Mission accomplished, Mr. Young! Also, Owl City does not do as many remixes and he uses different electronic effects. So that is why I like Owl City and how they are different from the Postal Service.
Here is an Owl City clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_PjqZXKcr0&feature=BFa&list=PL4C8031CE6A158D09&shuffle=413915
It is not a common Owl City track, because he isn't singing but it is my favourite Owl City song right now.
MC Frontalot
Just starting to get into him. Not sure if it will become a full-blown phase. But I just wanted to emphasize the fact that this amazing man has made a career out of being a nerd... wait for it... and open your mind REAL WIDE for this one... THAT RAPS!! That's right, you are hearing me correctly, a nerd that raps. And he raps about nerdy stuff. This just makes the world such an amazing place in my opinion. Also, he wrote a rap based on a famous meme ("First World Problems").
Shad and Dallas Green
Only two songs together but they are both mind-blowingly amazing. Shad's intelligent, poignant lyrics about leaving a legacy and about listening to music combined with Dallas Green's angelic voice and brilliant improvising is basically aural crack. Probably the best Canadian duo since Gord Downie and Dallas Green. Okay there are other great duos, but none are coming to mind right now except Geddy Lee with Bob and Doug McKenzie. Come to think of it, I would love to see RUSH and City and Colour do something together. Hmmm... One can only hope.
Television:
Family Guy
Reasons? It is extremely funny and I have finished all the other shows I like. But I have developed a crush on a couple of the characters (the two Goldmans) on the show, so I hope they will show up in future episodes! I actually really love the new seasons of this show. I have been watching backward and I have reached seasons 1 and 2, but I don't want to watch them because the quality is so old-school compared to 3-10. I'll admit to liking the slicker look. And Meg's early voice really annoys me in those seasons. She doesn't sound nearly psychotic enough.
I'm also following The Office and How I Met Your Mother. The Office is starting to get better, which is exciting!
Summer Courses:
I am done the fourth year of my degree, but I still have another course requirement and I want to get an English minor because I really like english and reading literature as well as writing. Therefore I will be doing a summer semester and a fall semester and then I will graduate. Whenever I tell anyone this they look at me oddly and fake enthusiasm. I don't know why they disapprove of me getting an english minor and spending extra time at university so much. It really annoys me, but I'm trying not to let it bother me. I may be doing a creative writing course in the fall which would be really exciting. I love to write, as you can tell right now.
Right now I am taking two courses in a period called intersession where they jam material into a small period of time that is shorter than a normal semester so I hope I will be able to keep on top of my work. I am taking a course that is a survey of British Literature from the 18th century to 20th century (my first online course) and another course that covers Canadian Literature that is Contemporary (post-1980).
I'll be reading The Underpainter (Jane Urquhart), Three Day Road (Joseph Boyden), Soucouyant (David Chariandy), The Englishman's Boy (Guy Vanderhaeghe), Silas Marner (George Eliot), The Playboy of the Western World (J.M. Synge) and A Passage to India (E.M. Forster). I pray that I survive...
I'm trying to find a job in this university city but so far not too much luck. Once I get into the groove of things I'll probably start getting determined and maybe finding some work.
Wish me luck and I hope this doesn't end up being too stressful!
