Day 4: FRUSTRATION.

Ferris and my computer aren’t talking to each other; this has been true… pretty much ever since you left.

I have footage from my mom’s choir concert, Lauren’s birthday party, Will’s birthday party, the senior prank AND my cabaret… and I can’t upload or back up any of it.

I hate this.

IhateitIhateitIhateit.

I have no idea what changed… and it’s not like the cable isn’t working, because the computer is showing that it sees an extra piece of hardware when I plug Ferris in. But the actual software I need to use to extract the files refuses to acknowledge that there is a camera connected to my computer.

Whyyyyyyyyyyy?!

Oh, ANOTHER thing I have? Video of this kid Tyler that Will knows through acting. He looks like… well, when I first saw him I was like “HOLY SHIT DAVID” but he actually looks like… David Goldstein and Evan Kjos’ lovechild. Which is, you know, totally possible.

Remind me to show you a picture (or, hopefully, video!) of him when you’re back.

…

Also my Half still hasn’t come. Rawr.

Day 4: I Like Harry Potterrrrrr!

So it occurs to me that you left the day before they released what Jo wrote as the Potter Prequel- the little charity auction notecard madoodle.

You can read that here: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/navigate.do?pPageID=200000681

And I feel like a failure for having had as much difficulty as I did with Jo’s handwriting, but… auuuuuuugh.

James… and Sirius… and… and…

*whimper*

I like Harry Potter.

Day 3: Technically, Early Day 4

So I’m reading this book “Free Play,” which is a sort of dissertationy thing about the existence/value/art of creative improvisation, which was a senior gift from Mr. Bathke, my Speech and Debate coach. There are all sorts of keen passages I’ve been dog-earing to talk to you about at some point, but this one couldn’t wait:

“…it can be debilitating to depend on the creativity of others. When this creative power that depends on no one else is aroused, there is a release of energy, simplicity, enthusiasm. The word enthusiasm is Greek for ‘filled with theos’–filled with God.”

Which is cool on its own, but then it had me thinking about the word “enthusiasm” and how really, it could be stripped and recompiled as a different kind of noun entirely: as in, rather than having an orgasm, one could have an enthusiasm–to be so enthused as to reach a state of… I dunno, hysteria?

In any case, the very notion had my brain SCREAMING about Laine Melani.

Vivify, indeed.

EDIT:
I’ve been rereading the ScoNoWriMay chat history, and you alluded several times to Laine being the worst parts of yourself parodied, her being the hate to love/love to hate character, etc. And I just… is she really that bad? I mean, she ain’t the model of benign, and the whole wanting to ruin Roxanne’s life thing isn’t exactly a mitzvah, but she still comes off as mostly harmless to me. Am I missing something?

Day 3: More on Romance Novels

Unrelated, to start: Just watched your Apple Store vlog and it made me happy because more or less there’s been a daily update (well, granted Thursday’s was prerecorded) and I’m hoping the trend continues. Also you basically completely manhandle Alex and Charlie and drag them around by their shirts and it amuses me mightily.

ANYWAY. On topic.

I just finished Pride and Prejudice (yaysocute!) but then, like the geek I am, I went back and read the lit. analysis foreward by SomeAuthor which I always skip in case it spoils (like I wasn’t already spoiled.)

Both it and the Afterword brought up some points about literature in general and the romance genre in particular that you and I have discussed. Like…

Witty domesticity was not poetic, but I loved it. I didn’t care about peace (I grew up in an anti-Vietnam War household), or deep ethical thought, or the beauty of Minnesota cranes flying over lakes at night. I wanted to read about men and women. Talking. Flirting. I would welcomed anything more explicit, but that really wasn’t available in a house full of poetry…
       — Eloisa James

That was the Afterword. But it was the end of the introduction, really, that had me thinking of you:

Many have echoed [Charlotte Bronte's] complaints, but more (including myself) have endorsed the general view that this novel is one of the great original works of fiction. Reginald Farrar, in the Quarterly Review of 1917, called it “the greatest miracle of English Literature.” One recalls Annabella Milbanke’s praise of it as the “most probable” novel she had ever read. What kind of genius is it that can produce a probable miracle? The originality and brilliance of this performance–at such an age, at any age–go beyond the probable, and do indeed partake of the miraculous.
       – Margaret Drabble

You’re gonna be the next Jane Austen.

I can tell.

Day 3: An Encounter with Ullman

I’m in Statistics for the “final” but Amanda and I already presented our PowerPoint so it’s mostly internet frolicking time.

Matt Ullman just came up to me and Amanda and said, “Hey, I thought of a rhyme for Hayley Hoover.”

“Oh?”

And then he proceeds to half-rap, with accompanying mortifying white-boy hand motions, “Hayley Hoover, I’m gonna give it to ‘er.”

I told him you’d be flattered and impressed. I do so hope you are.

Day 2: Poppa Bartels

I swear to god, you and my dad are going to be BEST FRIENDS if you ever meet.

We had another fun family dinner talking about you and Graham because he brought it up (“Can she REALLY say America is better off now than it was eight years ago?!”) and he wants the two of you to come as soon as possible. And I feel like I keep spinning it like he’s overly critical, but he’s just a huge goofball. Maybe not quite to, y’know, maple syrup levels, but he’s up there.

“When do I meet Graham Bajhaaa?”
“Dunno.”
“Well, when do I meet HooleyGHayver?”
“Dunno.”
“But-”
“Sometime next year.”
*Dad has sadhat face*

Conclusion: get your ass over here.

PS- “Tell her that a good Christian would accept the beliefs of others, and–”
“Jon, are you really going to tell her how to be a good Christian?”
“She’s just kidding around, Dad.”
“Yeah, well.”

Day 2: Fun with Irony!

I got another small solo for the cabaret today– a few lines in “Some Other Time,” from On the Town. This is the one that I told you reminded me of scones.

Which is cool, but not as cool as my line itself:

“Can’t satisfy my craving,
Never have watched you while you’re shaving.
Oh well, we’ll catch up some other time.”

To that, I say a resounding xD

Day 1: Well, this was unexpected…

I, uh, think I may have, um… figured out The Kiss.

 

 

[EDIT]

I’m adding this in here because I… don’t want to make another blog post. It’ll look all cluttered.

So as you saw a bit ago, I found an actress who looks like Faith singing a song that basically summed up Faith’s soul. So I decided to look at the user’s other videos, and there was only one– the Opening to the musical, the song that we’re doing for the cabaret.

And, uh… Faith has my solo.

She has a lot more than my solo, really, because she was in the actual show (which has 4 players) and not for choir, but… still.

Jeeeeeeeez.

Day 1: I’m Finishing Suite Scarlett Tonight

Random thoughts:

[7:06 PM]
There’s an extended Jenga metaphor. Shoot me now… damn it, I WANTED that one! That was original! That was miiiiine. Give it BACK, Maureen!

[7:31 PM]
The fitting-puzzle-pieces bit just took a turn for the cheese, but I forgive it.

That reminds me, actually. David had a minor breakdown on me today when I was walking from the track to chamber choir rehearsal. Details forthcoming once I feel it out more…

[8:08 PM]
Finished! It was cuuuuuute. She does what I do. Want to do. Only better. I want to be her.

And the penultimate line is a twss.

Day 1: A Minor Bipolar Episode

I’m going to explode.

<=[   You didn’t get to see Jerry. 
=D   I graduate a week from today.
<=[   My camera and my computer aren’t talking to each other, which means that I can’t post choir footage for my mom OR my wizrockateers video. 
=D   Our chamber choir cabaret is in a few days and I love the music
<=[   Evan and Graham keep talking about how he may be in Akron in July and A) I was completely unaware that this plan existed and B) they keep telling me I should come and there is no way in hell I could ever pull that off for a great variety of reasons
=D   Suite Scarlett is fugging amazing
<=[   I’m at the panicky, awful, everything’s-going-wrong climax of the book and it’s making me acutely anxious
=D   I’m doing my Drama final tomorrow and I think I may actually pull off my monologue
<=[   I miss you so, so much.

And there’s… probably a lot more. That’s just the stuff bugging me off the top of my head.