Thanksgiving Related Text

So I'm home for Thanksgiving, playing a loaned-out Guitar Hero 3 with my younger brother, and looking at old family photographicals.

First off, the drive was OK. Zak (my younger brother) and I got out of Des Moines before it snowed and, although it did snow here a bit today (it has all melted, for the most part) before it snowed here, too. I hate snow. I hate most weather, though, so this is to be expected for the most part.

Second, while I said I wouldn't own Guitar Hero 3 while I was in school, that shouldn't stop me from borrowing it. So I did. I played Even Flow, which was awesome, but Cliffs of Dover on Expert is killing me. Like, literally. Killing me to death with its hardness.

Third, food. While our Thanksgiving dinner isn't until Saturday (on account of my lame old Dr. brother, Pete not getting home until Friday evening), I have eaten so much food that I am about to burst. String cheese, chocolates, brownies, chili, pumpkin rolls, crackers, cookies, more brownies, and more Dr Pepper than you can shake a stick at... Its the good life.

4th (still can't spell that), I finally saw Live Free or Die Hard and it was great and had lots of explosions and, if I could, I would trade my family for explosions. So... it was awesome.

5th, last night I looked at a bunch of old family photographs we have in photo albums and, you know what? I looked like a goon when I was a young lad, too.

I will return again shortly with another post. But I may be giving this up after the new year.... I'm just not very good at keeping up with it anymore...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We're Living in a Computerless World...

...and I am a computerless girl... what?

So, I have my computer working again. I got a processor fan in the post and replaced my old, janky one (it was making a lot of clicking noises and/or not spinning at all) and it runs smooth and silent and it works again. And its like a dream.

But for the three short days in which I had no computer and had to live in the library, here at Drake, I felt disconnected from the world.

In my first year at Drake I felt I had spent too much time on the Internet and not enough time on studies, so I removed my Ethernet cord and lived a disconnected life for a week. It was torture and I got less done because I simply played computer solitaire instead of reading and studying.

But, that's because I had a computer. While I wasn't connected to the world through the Internet, I could be connected to Midgar in Final Fantasy VII or my imagination through MSWord.

But those three days where I had no computer, I couldn't help the characters in the first Final Fantasy save their world, I couldn't talk to my girlfriend online until 2AM, I couldn't catch up on webcomics, I couldn't write homework or fiction, and I couldn't even browse through my folders.

Some people are big on cars, others on sports teams or just the sport itself. My computer is like an extension of my being, like another limb. Without it, I feel like I've lost an arm or a leg, and I stop functioning altogether.

I'm glad I have it back.

Stranded here on planet Earth

".....its not much, but it could be worse."

My computer - which I built sophomore year, here at Drake - is non-operational. The processor fan is either burned out or burning out and so I can't really use it. I mean, it will run, but eventually the processor itself will die and the rest of the parts with it and... well...

Back in high school I helped - along with a few other students - build all the computers in the building. By the time I'd graduated, I'd probably put together more than three dozen computer towers. Way more than that. I knew how to do it and I was good at it.

But then I stopped doing it and then I got parts from my parents to put my own together and, well... There is a difference when you are putting a computer together for a school and putting a computer together for yourself. If you really mess up at school, the school will frown upon it, sure, but they need those computers and so they will buy another one. If you screw up with your own, well.... You have to hope you had warranties on the parts and you have to hope that you backed up your hard drive onto some other form of information holding device.

Regardless, I took a lot more care in the construction of my own computer, whose name is Amalgamar because he is combined from parts of about three computers, now. And anytime there is a flaw or a strange noise or something is slow... I always flash back to that evening in my dorm room in GK, first floor... Lying on the carpet in barely any clothes (static free environment!) and putting those things together, and wondering what I'd done wrong.

The answer is probably nothing. The fan could have simply run its course (I've basically had my computer on non-stop since I got it up and running, back in 2005) and I have already ordered a replacement part. So, everything will be back to normal.

But the worst part is I'm stuck, here, now. In the library on campus, cut off from the E-LEC-TRONIC world (no idea why I broke it up like that, don't ask). I struggle without a constant online presence.

It will be an interesting 3-7 days...

Prior Restraint

Yesterday I got a phone call while at work at the Help Desk, here on campus. It was from my friend Aaron Jaco. What did he want? Well, he wanted to tell me about how he purchased a copy of Guitar Hero III and how he wanted me to drop by his place last night and join in on the fun and merriment.

So I did.

And it was awesome; The new tracks are difficult and a real chore to get through with decent scores. Once you get past the first few sets? Its like murder. Of course, we were playing for a bunch of hours in a row, so the fact that my hands stopped working around 10:30pm isn't say that much, considering they'd been strummin' for nearly four hours by that point.

We had wraps (turkey and cheese!) and Cheetos and I brought my own soda and we played and played and played some more, and I never got tired.

Until One by Metallica came on and glitched up a bit.

After trying to figure out why it was glitching on us so frequently failed to yield any positive results, Aaron and I darted over to the 24-Hour Wal-Mart (I drove, because Aaron had imbibed some choice alcohol) to attempt to make an exchange, but the customer service desk closed around 11pm so there was nothing that could be done. We had to call it a night.

Which was cool, because I can't imagine how tired I would be today if I had been up another few hours. Real tired. Yeah, I think that's how tired I would be. Real tired. Uh huh.

I consider it a sign from on high, though, that I had to quit that game last night. I had played enough, or so the fates decided (I don't believe in fate, by the way. I also don't believe in choice. Yeah. It is confusing, I know) that it was time for me to drop it. And then I played a few more songs and the fates were like "OK, time to shut this sucker down." And thus...

Aaron is inviting me to rejoin our powerhouse duo this evening, post night-class, for some more rollicking good times... but not only am I real tired, but I also don't want to jinx it anymore than I already have. Maybe this weekend sometime, or Thursday night perhaps. But not when I have classes in the AM on Thursday.

So... while I indulged somewhat, I'm still going to show all the correct forms of restraint I placed upon myself. I really, really want to buy that game. But I know better. I don't want it. Not in my dorm room. Not yet, anyhow.

Hope everyone had a great October, and I'll post tomorrow and next month? Yeah, I'm going to be better at posting than I am now (I think I say this at the end of every month, but... yeah). So, yeah. Check for that.

AIGHT!

Restraint

Guitar Hero 3 just came. I didn't really pay attention to the tracks that would be on it because I wanted to be surprised when I put the game in my Playstation and booted up the playlist. But today I found out that Cliffs of Dover, by the one and only Eric Johnson, is on it and... Well... It made me want to go out and buy it right away.

But I won't.

Turns out I blame most of my semester-long apathy toward school on Guitar Hero 2 and the countless hours I played that stupid game to death. I wasted so much time doing that instead of studying or participating in social activity (unless there was Guitar Hero involved. Then, of course, I was there). Why? Why would I do this?

It was easy? That's a solid answer. It was easy. In the same way playing World of Warcraft during every waking hour was easy. WAY easier than going to class or doing homework or talking to people in real life. Leveling up or beating songs was instant gratification. I longed for it. I always will. I shy away from real challenges most of the time because I don't like to risk failure or defeat or - heaven forbid! - embarrassment.

But grades are kinda like instant gratification. I was instantly aware of NOT getting good grades, so I'm pretty sure that I would be aware of getting them, instead.

Another answer could be that I was just not interested in school. High levels of apathy and what not.

Bottom line, though... Guitar Hero 3 would be a terrible idea. I wouldn't do anything. I'd just sit around and play that. And I need to graduate instead of.... not.... graduate. So, yeah. Guitar Hero 3 for Christmas baby, oh yeah 2007 live!

Hope all is well out there in where ever you are. Dorm rooms or houses in Arkansas. Schools places. I don't know. I'm still kinda sick and I am tired and going to sleep.

October Should be OctOVER

This has been a long month.

Yesterday my friend Aaron and I went to Iowa City to collect a bass guitar from my older brother, Pete, who is a Dr. in those parts. World famous, too. Well, not really. But it is fun to pretend.

We went to the new Saw film and it was OK. I'm not a huge fan of the series, but the last two (3 and 4) have taken the series in a different direction and really change the flow of the entire franchise, in my opinion. If you're a fan of them, there's no reason to not see the new one.

Then we (we being Aaron and I) went out to a pre-Halloween party at Tim Schmitt's place, Tim being this awesome guy that I technically work for here at this blogging thing I'm doing. His band played and sounded pretty-OK but it was the first time I'd heard them, so I have nothing to compare it to.

I got this album the other day, Journey's greatest hits album, just for one track: Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) and it is great. Great band. Yeah... yeah...

Then we (we being Aaron and I) went to TKE's Halloween party, Washing Machine. Good place to get drunk if you're into that kind of thing. We didn't wear costumes or anything and...

...the whole point of this post is I'm sick. I have this terrible cold and its making me all crazy and I can't imagine life being any more cruel to me. I want October to end but I don't want November to start.

I'm scared of December.

I'll explain later.

Road Trips

I have seen quite a bit of road in the past week, and will continue to see some more.

I don't typically consider going home to be a "road trip" but it does take nearly five hours and that's a lot of time on the road, so I'll start with Fall Break.
A good chunk of break was spent in Des Moines, all of Saturday being spent touring downtown a bit with my girlfriend. Otherwise, it was to home and to meatloaf for Skyler. And lord on high was there meatloaf! Oh boy, it was great.

Then this past weekend my younger brother and I got up on Saturday and drove to Peoria and Pekin, Illinois to see the legendary comedian Emo Philips. It was another five-ish hour drive and we listened to some great music and had good conversation and everything was pretty much awesome. We stayed overnight with my aunt and uncle in Peoria and that was cool, too. The comedy was fantastic! I recommend checking some of Emo's stuff out on Youtube if you get the chance, otherwise here is a joke I loved from his show:
"I don't like it when people insult Bush's intelligence, because he's pretty crafty. He got that bill passed to make cloning illegal, so now we can never find out how many of him it would take to screw in a lightbulb."

Classic.

Otherwise, on Wednesday, my good friend Aaron and I are going to Kansas City to see Porcupine Tree play live and... rest assured... that will be probably the coolest thing that has ever happened to me in regards to Kansas City. Oh yeah.

Otherwise, after that I'm hoping to get some rest from driving. Too much excitement in cars the past few weeks and maybe, after we get back on Thursday, all of us - the people and the cars - can get some much needed rest (never gonna happen).

The Best Days of my Half-Life

In... 1998-9ish... I don't remember, my friend Steven Samson introduced me to a video game called Half-Life. It was the first REAL PC game I'd ever purchased and the kickstart to my gaming life. I'd bought it for our first computer capable of running "high-spec" games, the family's old Dell desktop. I played the ever living hell out of that game.

I loved that game. I loved the two expansions. And I loved Gordon Freeman.

Then I had to wait. Forever. For Half-Life 2.

I remember not knowing what was going to happen, forever. It would be years before something did happen. But I remember clearly seeing the image of a crowbar making a shadow on the ground, a clear representation of the number 2. It was my junior year of high school. And I was in love all again.

HL2 was a waiting game for me. It was coming out, so they said, on September 30th, 2003. I had no money. So, I had to get a job that summer and earn the money to buy a computer that would run the game. And I got that job and I got that money and I got that computer. And then September 30th, 2003 came and went. And there was no Half-Life 2.

Nearly a year later and I was walking out of a Best Buy here in Des Moines with my copy of Half-Life 2 (which was on store shelves even though it wasn't supposed to be out for a couple more days) and then I did the unthinkable.

I'd waited for games before. Metroid Prime on the Nintendo Gamecube was a chore to wait for. But I managed. Warcraft III was also a long wait. But I got those games and I played and beat them in standard amounts of time. Half-LIfe 2 would be different.

Having the game installed before I could play it (you had to wait and activate the game through the internet. It was a painful process that the game company still makes its customers do for its new games) meant I could do all my homework in advance. It also meant I could stockpile food and drinks. It also meant I wasn't leaving my room for any reason at all.

And so, under my lofted bed, with my blanket covering my gaming space, my cream soda ready to fuel my way through the game (I'd started drinking cream soda to play games around the time I got Final Fantasy IX)... I played Half-Life 2 in one long, two-day sitting.

It was glorious. And then it was done.

A few years later and an expansion came out and it was awesome. And then the new expansion just came out, now. And they have been great (he who says video games aren't art is an idiot). But not the same, just as the expansions to the original weren't the same.

There is one final expansion that will come out, most likely, near this time next year. And I'll play it and beat it and love it. And then I'll wait for four-five years for Half-Life 3.

I don't know what any of this means, however. I'm just sharing that I'm a huge nerd.

POST PENDING

I'm going to have a massive and huge post here tomorrow about something.

And then the next day about something else.

I'd do it now, but I'm tired and this way I will have to make these posts here on time.

Because otherwise I'll look like a liar.

No Stalgia

I'm dealing with the fact that I'm nostalgic for so many thing, these days. I... I'm finding out so much right now that I want to go back in time and either redo or relive so many different times and experiences. Many people wish this, but most of the time it is understood that people want to go back in time and relive things with what they know now, so they can change things or alter the course of their history.

I just want to relive them the way I did.

I'm finding things from my first year here at Drake. I'm thinking about things I did in the summer between educational aspects of my life. I'm remembering events from high school. I'm viewing things from my childhood.

I was in a car with two of my friends talking about the old Nintendo game, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! and wishing I was playing it. Why? I would get bored with it in a few seconds, or I would beat my old records to a pulp. Chances are good that one or the other would happen. But I want to cling to the past so much anymore that the present merely seems to be a blur of the now mixed with desires for the then.

I'm watching these old Sonic the Hedgehog cartoons on DVD, borrowed from one of the friends mentioned above. These used to run on ABC on Saturday mornings and were darker in themes and tone and content. There was talk of people dying and things were not ever so great for the characters.

I remember watching that show, watching it every morning. I remember a "thrilling" two-part episode where the characters went back in time and how I'd taped the first one and watched it with my father and then had to wait to see the second half with him because he was excited for it as well (although, looking back, it could have merely been because he just wanted to spend the time with me, not so much for the story... but as a child, it was great knowing he was as invested as I was). Then I remember the final episode and how much of a cliffhanger it was and how much more I wanted.

Then I remember waiting and waiting for the new episodes. Eventually, the waiting became growing up, and the show was gone.

Watching these DVDs, though, I'm sensing small parts of myself and my love for these characters. Sure, now the animation is pretty crummy and the writing is lackluster ("How fast were we going, Sonic?" "We were rootin' and scootin!" "Really? Rootin' and scootin'?") but the themes are still there. The sense of urgency and survival paired with mild frivolity. I miss that.

I never know what I want. I never know whats going on (anymore). All I really know is that some days... being in the present only makes me yearn for the past.

Yeah.

5 of 5 of 5

So here we are, at the finale to this little event, eh? What do I have left to say to you? I've given you movies and books and video games and songs. What could be left?!

5 Random Things About My Month

1) Eastern Promises
I saw this movie and it was made by the same team that made A History of Violence, which also featured Viggo Mortensen playing some guy that could kill a room full of men with his bare hands. This one was about a Russian mob, however, and since I had a Russian present with me, I learned way more about things in that movie than I figure they wanted to share with me in the movie.

It is violent and it is awesome. Acting is solid and the ending is so unfulfilling you will feel cheated at first, but then, later, you'll be excited about it.

2) Openings to the Simpsons
The new season of the Simpsons is pretty good, but the new openings are amazing. The first one was an epilogue like thing based on the aftermath of the recent movie. Tonight's was an evolution of Homer from single-celled organism all the way to now. It took about three minutes and was hilarious the entire time.

The highlight, though, was when Homer was a caveman and ran into caveman Moe, who then evolved back down into a rat for no reason. Fantastic! These are funnier than the episodes, themselves.

3) New Hooverphonic
The band has a new album coming out in the second week of October. And they have the full album up to listen to on the main website. And it has no buffer time. And its all good music. And I love Hooverphonic.

4)Anti-Puns
Puns are great. But what I like better is to have a group of people taking part in a pun fest, in which everyone makes puns on the same word. And then... here's an example, based on the not-actual death of the main character in the Disney film, Cars:
Me: He died of car-ncer
Someone else: He inhaled too many car-cinogens
Me: He died in a CAR accident!

Yeah, its better in person.

5) Watchin' LOST
My friend Daryl and I are running through the show LOST on D V D and its awesome.

.....
That's it. 5 posts about random things to end out the month.

See you guys next month! Tomorrow!

4 of 5 of 5

Well... I am sorry I didn't post like I was supposed to. My week got crazy-go-crazy.

Today, I'm going to simply keep on going as if nothing happened, though. So...

5 Bands You Should Listen To And Love

1) Hooverphonic:
http://www.hooverphonic.com/
Hooverphonic is a trio from Belgium that plays a very different kind of music. Its not really "pop" but more... "awesome."

The main site's front page currently features three tracks off their upcoming album, The President of the LSD Golf Club. It's a drastic shift from their previous sound, moving into an almost 60s-esque psychedelia-inspired sound. I don't care, however, because - as always - they can do no wrong.

The first single off the album, Expedition Impossible can be viewed on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNOZa_VcDeI
And I recommend it. Otherwise, here's two other links to two other great tracks from Hooverphonic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVsqRM-LBP8 -The World is Mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_8BfVJFL6g - Day After Day (Live)

Otherwise, if you like what you hear I recommend starting with The Magnificent Tree as an album, otherwise some tracks I'd suggest for download are:
-Green
-Mad About You
-Out of Sight
-Battersea

2) Porcupine Tree
http://myspace.com/porcupinetree
The band is awesome. Check the track "Blackest Eyes" for a wonderful example. Then listen to Trains. Then buy a bunch of their albums.
This video, Piano Lessons, isn't the best song they've ever done, but its a good starter track to listen to if you're a YouTube fan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CvxoeasJ2E -Piano Lessons

Give 'em a try. DO IT.

3) Minibosses
http://myspace.com/minibossess
The Minibosses play video game music, but they do it with enough flair that you won't.... (God, here it comes...) ....care.

Here is a video of them playing the Contra theme live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsNngmdPiCI -Contra (live)

If you're a nerd and played any NES back in the day... you'll understand why this is awesome.

ADDED BONUS!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDXLmNLMGuw -SUPER MARIO BROS. 2 (ignore the guy in the blue shirt...)

4) VAST
http://myspace.com/vast
I saw VAST live awhile back, if you remember (or even read this at all) ... gosh I'm hungry right now... anyhow. Its really one guy named Jon Crosby and he's awesome.

He's so obscure that there's really no "music videos" so I'll just suggest downloading the following:
-A Better Place
-Turqoise
-Here
-Lost

5) Hooverphonic (again)
http://myspace.com/hooverphonic
I love this band. I will never stop pushing them.

.........
Sorry for the really lame post this time. I'm tired and hungry and having a really good weekend.

That is all (tune in tomorrow for 5 of 5 of 5 and the end of the month!)

3 of 5 of 5

Keep this sucker goin', eh? This time I'll do video games. Keeping in mind that some of these aren't going to be huge titles that you'll have heard from, rest assured I play enough Half-Lifes and Final Fantasy games. I just figured I'd try to tell you about some games you maybe haven't heard of. So:

5 Video Games You Should Probably Own

1) Parasite Eve

Squaresoft (before they became SquareEnix) put out this game, which was supposed to be the "cinematic RPG" and... well, it was. It featured plenty of CG and a film-like plot that made it feel like a big-budget science fiction/horror film, which rocked.

Dealing with enough medical mumbo-jumbo to make people's heads hurt, PE's plot involved mitochondria, tiny organisms that live inside each and every one of the cells in our body. And they're under the power of an evil woman.

It mixed RPG elements with horror scenes much akin to the Resident Evil series. Also, as you can see in the video below... mutated rats and creepy women! Speaking of that video, its the intro to the game and I used to watch it over-and-over when I first got this game... Yeah, I had no semblance of a sane childhood.

(sorry, video ain't workin' right. here's the link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=M-Tcl6qvfy4)

People on fire, people melting, explosions, and giant freaky baby monsters with wings. Its a sure-fire winner.

2) Beyond Good & Evil

This is not a game about Nietzsche philosophy. Instead, its a game about a girl with a big stick and a camera.

Dealing with propaganda, journalism, and... well, aliens, BG&E is a very underrated Zelda-esque adventure game with enough heart and plot to win awards. Of course, no one played it and it died quickly and silently... but! It has a space whale! A SPACE WHALE!

Its short but sweet. And has really good animation. I'd give it a shot. You can get it for real cheap.

3) Silent Hill 2

This is one that maybe you've heard of, if not simply because there was a Silent Hill film a few years back that you may have seen.

This game will scare the poo out of you, no doubt. It is all about atmosphere and ambiance. Sound effects such as metal clangs and radio static will never be the same after you play this frightening and psychologically terrifying game.

Its long, its dark, and its got Pyramid Heads. You'll know what I mean when you see them (or if you saw the movie... Yes, THOSE things!)

Without a doubt, this is the scariest story told in film or video game format that I've ever experienced. ...'cept for maybe 28 Weeks Later, but that was less 'scary' and more 'really bad.'

4) Shadow of the Colossus

Basically you go around and fight things that are THIS BIG:

5) Xenosaga series

There are three games in this series, each one more crazy than the last. Its an RPG about space-faring humans trying to solve the riddles of the universe. And also about strange lesbian relationships between an android woman and her designer. And life and death. But mostly about the lesbianism.

Deep rooted in philosophy (enough to make up for Beyond Good & Evil's distinct lack of it), psychology, science fiction, and... well... Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalen... these games are beautifully organized and fun to play, so long as you've got money for all three and don't mind some serious religious overtones from time to time.

.........
Two more days of this then I'm done. WOO-HOO!
See you tomorrow!

2 of 5 of 5

To continue the trend (why I can't I be this productive when its not 'down to the wire'?) I have selected five books to talk at you about. I will also tell you that you should buy them all based on the covers I will provide you with. Get your debit cards ready (and hold on to them, for the love of God. I've either lost or destroyed enough of my own in the past month to know to KEEP. AN. EYE. ON. THEM.), and here we go:

5 Books You Should Buy and Read Because I Said So

1) "The Time Traveler's Wife"

Audrey Niffenegger

This is a romance story. I'm ok sharing this with you. This is because this is a lovely tale of love lost to time (literally). The author weaves an elaborate tale of multiple versions of the main two characters (the lovers) as the male lead goes back and forth through time. It kind of sounds confusing, but let me break it down.

The male lead, Henry, can't control when he'll go back or where he'll go back to, just that it will connect, somehow, to his wife Clare's past. He will never go in any kind of chronological order and will only ever be confused as he tries to piece his own past with his wife together.

It is split up with time stamps so you know when in the timeline of the story it is taking place, and lets you know from whose perspective you are reading at all times. It is fascinating and fun to read this, because you are thrown about time nonstop yet have markers to help you find your place in the characters' history. The only downside is it takes a long while to get through. But you won't care.

There are few books about time travel and love that make me cry at the conclusion, but this one did. The ending had everything it needed and just a bit more. Read it because you like time travel. You know you do.

2) "Syrup"

Max(x) Barry

If I was going to die and I had to take one work of "slick fiction" with me to Hell... It would be Syrup. This book alone got me interested in writing, marketing, and being awesome. It is also a back stab story and has tons of cool word choice, and the way the book is split up into mini-sections within chapters (which makes it feel like you're reading real fast), so you know I'd love it.

The story is about Scat and 6 (yes, a woman named 6. Read to find out!) trying to sell ads (and more!) to Coca Cola. Yes, this book is also why I selected to be a Coke fan over a Pepsi fan.

Despite what Rachel Samson thinks (you'll never really know who that is, so don't pay attention to it), Max Barry is a brilliant writer and his wit is sharp. Pick this up if you like comedy. Or books. Or things that are good.

3) "Shadows of the Empire"

Steve Perry

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is the rare example of a multi-medium media onslaught in the market of the same exact story. This was a book, a video game, an action figure line, and a graphic novel all at the same time. It was brilliantly done, and for once, all the parts were pretty cool as stand-alone entries into the Star Wars saga.

This book takes place between Empire and Jedi and has Dash Rendar to take the place of a frozen Han Solo. It features some other new characters and mentions Boba Fett at least twice, so it passes my standards test.

Its a quick read, as well, and worthy of a place among Star Wars fiction (haha! The thought of that just killed me... "Star Wars fiction"...).

4) "The Looking Glass Wars"

Frank Beddor

I read an article about a comic book featuring a character named Hatter M on ign. com one day and the concept of a reimagined take on Alice in Wonderland sounded so great I picked up the first issue of the comic. Turns out, the character was based on a book that dealt with the same topic, but was only released in the UK. So I ordered it. And read it. And loved it.

As stated, the book series (yes, series. The new one just came out!) takes place in Wonderland but is far more dark and sinister than the Disney version. Or the original version, actually. Its graphic, steam-punkish, and brutal. And sometimes, just plain mean.

Also, there's the character of Hatter Madigan, or "The Mad Hatter" who follows a lost Alyss to Earth to find, protect, and bring her home. He's got a hat that turns into knives, knives in his coat, knives in his wrists, knives on his belt, in his backpack, probably has knives for eyes. Who knows. He's awesome, so that's all you need to.

5) "Apathy (And Other Small Victories)"
Paul Neilan

You will hate yourself for laughing at this book. The main character should simply be described by the word "apathetic" in the dictionary from now on.

Entire pages of this book are quotable. The characters are stupid and funny and unsympathetic. You will wonder why you're reading the book after you get halfway through because you will realize there is nothing to gain from this book, aside from an ache in your stomach from laughing too much.

Of all the books I've listed, this is the only one that has the word "Apathy" in the title. So... I don't know... What I'm trying to say... Read these books! That's what!

.......
I'll be back again, tomorrow!

1 of 5 of 5

So, in order to meet the required number of posts this month (hey, I had a real slow month. What can I do?) I've decided to make a post every day this week that will give a short review/rundown of five things in five different categories that I really enjoy that you probably don't but should. So, today, to make it simple, I'll start with movies (why not, huh?).

So, without further ado:
5 Movies That You Should Love Because I Said So

1) The Fifth Element:

Luc Besson, who always writes the same movies time-after-time (for examples, check out The Professional and then watch his latest film, Unleashed, both of which star incredible killing machines who end up finding out life is about 'so much more'), did this movie called The Fifth Element to show people what life would be like in a future that was so awesome it hurt.

Visually this movie is stunning. You can't lose. Colorful hair, clothes, architecture, aliens, transportation, locations, geography.... You can go on and on. There are few scenes as iconic as the shot of Leeloo jumping off that building and falling into traffic in recent movie history.

The story is simple, the characters are archetypal, and the script is tight. But there is something about the entire structure of the film that is so perfect that, well... it really can't be described. Trust me. Watch the film. From the elaborate and fantastical reconstruction of Leeloo's physical body to the shot of Bruce Willis getting cold-cocked with a trophy to the robot bartender... You can't fail.

2) Mulholland Drive:

I can't talk about this movie. Not because I don't want to ruin it, but because I can't. So rarely is there a movie so confusing... so astoundingly complex and needlessly so... that I not only find I can stand to watch it more than once, but that I end up owning, loving, and watching as many times as I can find people who haven't seen it.

What starts out as an amnesia movie about two women in Hollywood ends up as so much more (in more ways than one) and has some great moments of humor, musical use, and human clarity that you will think it can't possibly be contained within one movie. But David Lynch did it. I don't know how.
Come for the lesbians, stay for the lesbians. And... the complicated and fun deconstruction and rebuilding of the movie you will find yourself forced to do at the film's conclusion. Forced by yourself.

3) The Lost Skeleton of Cadavera:

So you get tired of all the big budget horror movies that are out there and you want to stay in and watch something a little more 'in depth' with the human side of horror. Well, forget that rubbish and check this movie, instead. Its about martians, scientists, evil scientists, living skeletons, mutants, and women made of five different forest animals.

Its not a serious movie and will do its best to show you that its not serious. But you will not want to stop watching it because it is that stupid and silly. For an example, take the following line spoken by one of the film's main antagonists:
"I've always been hated by skeletons, even as a child!"

Yeah.

4) Disclosure:

He who says Demi Moore isn't hot back in her prime is a liar. And this movie is great because not only is she hot, but she is also SUPER-hot for a majority of the film.

I love revenge and back stab movies, and this one is one of my all time favorites. Michael Douglas and Demi Moore go round and round (in more ways than one) in a corporate thriller that has everything the doctor ordered. So long as the doctor ordered copious amounts of intolerable subterfuge!!!!!!

Sexy, sleek, and dynamic, this movie has one weak moment of cybernetic tomfoolery that is mostly worthless but nevertheless furthers the plot. But at the end, when one of the main characters emerges the clear winner over the other... you will be so happy when you find yourself cheering that, well... You won't care if you are wearing your pants on your head the entire time (spoken from experience that will not be detailed in any way/shape/form).

5) The World's Fastest Indian:

I love movies about guys going for their dream. And Anthon... SIR Anthony Hopkins does just that, playing an old guy that just wants to run his motor bike on a speed run to go for the world land speed record.

Full of trials and more trials, this movie shows the power of a dream in ways that make me sad I haven't gotten enough experience to really fulfill any of my own. This movie doesn't really need any further explanation. Its just that good.

........
And with that, I'm done. Check in tomorrow when I'll do the same for books or video games or TV shows or something. I don't know. I haven't decided, yet.

Drake is Home

I love here.

I would simply leave that as my only sentence but I feel I should explain myself.

I'm not going to really explain myself, though. I'm just gonna talk about school and life and stuff.

First off; This week has been tiring to the utmost degree. I haven't slept properly since last Friday night and have had early mornings every day. Today I had an 8AM shift at the Help Desk but - whoops! - I didn't really have an 8AM shift so I woke up for nothing and am REALLY tired today. So tired...

Second off; I am off comic books for the most part. I read a fair number, still. But its gotta be like... half the number of what I used to read at the end of the year last year. This saves me a lot of money and a lot of trips to comic stores. But right now there's this thing where Thor and Iron Man get in a scrap and Thor.... well, I don't want to give away spoilers. Or paint myself to be a huge nerd (or a larger one than I'm already painted to look like). But it's awesome.

Third off; I just saw this movie tonight in class called Good Night and Good Luck and it was really awesome. Its a journalism class that I'm taking because... well... why not? And I'm loving that class. The assignments are great, we watch the films in class, and they are all good films. Its currently my favorite class.

4th off (I can't spell that); I'm really tired and have some homework to do tonight. So, I'm going to get to it.

Drake is awesome, right now. I love it here and can only imagine what I'd be doing now if I wasn't here.
(No, Drake is not paying me to say this)

2 Weeks Down... A Billion Remain...

Oh man... I am tired.

So, we're done with two weeks of school already. How many are there in a semester? Like, 15? So... 15-2= ............. Don't tell me.... hold on.... 1. I have one week left of school?!? Oh my God what will I do! I haven't done anythi... Oh, no I have 13 weeks left... God I'm dumb sometimes.

Classes are great; I'm, again, doing the 18 credit semester and while it is tiring, it is thrilling and wonderful. I don't have one class I hate being in (although its only two weeks in... give me some time) and the course materials and the work loads seem fair so far. The only one I think might be a nightmare is going to be my Monday night class... But it's getting me in to watch some LOST with an FYS so.... you can't lose with that kind of setup.

Work at the Help Desk has been slow. It's mostly my fault for having failed to get up one day during the first week and then having my hours given away. Now I work a majority of my week on Fridays which, while not terrible - since it starts at noon - is still a pain because that's a long time to sit there and fix the same problems over-and-over.

The DLS (Drake Lit Society, or L!T as it was cleverly dubbed) is off to a good start, too. We had our first meeting with an all-girl assembly (plus me...) but it was pretty awesome and actually moved along at a nice clip and stayed on topic most of the time (swaying once or twice into Harry Potter conversation which doesn't belong in ANY literary society because its not literature... its garbage. That is my opinion and the opinion of Drake University [note: not really the opinion of Drake University]).

Dating is awesome.

Otherwise, all I can say at this point is "GO SEE 3:10 TO YUMA BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME" and now I'm going to bed because I'm really tired.

See you on Wednesday when I make another post!
-Skyler

"Homework?!"

In Kingdom Hearts 2, right near the start of the game, a group of kids asks the hero, Sora, if he's done with his summer homework. Sora is seriously taken aback and stammers: "Homework?!"

This is how I feel.

I spent this entire weekend reading, writing, putting together the starts of presentations and papers, and then reading some more, posting on ye olde blackboard about a number of things, etc etc.

Someone invented homework for a reason. I'm trying to think if they did it because they knew people like me would hate it or not. If they did, and they wanted me to hate it, kudos. If they did, and they knew people like me would hate it but reluctantly pressed on... well, kudos again.

And let me be honest with you, here. I don't hate-hate homework. I mean, keeping up-to-date on the readings for classes is an important part of the school process. I just don't like that it takes time.

So, now I'm going to try to build a device similar to the things they use in the Matrix to learn kung-fu and all that. I'm going to jack a giant metal spike into my brain and then hook that device to these terrible books I have to read for Adolescent Lit (a great class, take it if you can) and have them downloaded into my head, rather than doing it manually.

...but I will need test subjects to run the device on a few times, first. No way I'm sticking a metal spike in my brain without testing it, first! I'm not making that mistake twice!

Any volunteers?

So it Begins...

What can be said?

Classes are... a pain. Because of my prior idiocy, I have been forced to take a grand number of courses, half of which are night classes. For the most part they seem like they will be fine and that I will function while taking them, and I'll be able to complete them in a fashion fitting of someone of my intellect (not gloating if its the truth!). But it will be... a challenge.

In other news, the Activities Fair went off very well. I was under the impression that the lit group would only generate about 10 interested people, but we ended up with... 44 I think. It was fun and our table looked incredible and... there was a picture taken of it but I don't have it.

I never have pictures for you guys. I'm lame.

This weekend I have a lot of 'work' to do. Most of it involves reading and then a little bit of it involves non-reading activities. I'm excited to "get to it" but at the same time worried that I'll just grow lazy in two weeks time and then where will I be?

But, the upside is this semester I don't have a brother living with me writing a script for two weeks, keeping me from class, homework, friends, the outdoors, real food, showers, etc. So I should be doing better.

In last bit news, I finally purchased the first two volumes of "Flight", a graphic novel series of short comics that deal with the titular theme of flight. It is done by a bunch of different comic artists all over the world and none of the stories are directly connected. Some are funny, some are kinda lame... but this one in volume 2 about a robot and a bird actually made me tear up at the end. So they are aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalright. I wanted to pick those up a long time ago, but collected the "Universe X" series instead.

I wish I could go back in time...

The End of Summer

And so... We come to the end of another fine summer.

First off, I got over my depression. It was a day-long thing that required copious amounts of Frasier DVDs and ice cream to solve, but I got over it rather quickly.

For my final day of summer, however, I spent a good chunk of time seeing people I needed to see again. First off, my folks were around, moving my younger brother into his new single dorm at Simpson in Indianola (yes, all the Bartels boys are now in Iowa. Me in Des Moines, my younger sib, Zak in Indianola, and my brother, Dr. Pete Bartels is in Iowa City), so I helped them move him in and I also was able to collect my shower shoes, which I'd been going without this past week.

Then I encountered an old friend, Mr. Justin and a friend of mine from high school, Rachel Samson and we all attended a Weird Al concert here in Des Moines, at the Hoyt Sherman Place. It was a ritzy place and really nice. It was a great show, too.

Mr. Justin and I played some Guitar Hero before I gave him the boot, now I'm sitting here contemplating my many upcoming "tomorrows". (does the period go inside the quotation marks? I never learned... I'm a terrible Writing Major student...)

I don't have work tomorrow or classes until 2PM. Which was unplanned. Otherwise, I have a meeting to go to at about 3:30 in the Student Life Center for the on-campus organizations and then I will audition for the plays this year (for once!) before my night class.

Then I don't know what's going on. Although, to be fair.... I never do know what's going on.

This past summer was a terrible and long blast of awesomness. I worked and that was stupid, but I got to go swimming and that was great; I had to take an Accounting class and I hated that, but I got to know a really cool girl so that was something I didn't hate; I mowed a lot of yards and that was hot, but I got to see Transformers twice and that was SUPER-hot; I got to do a lot of annoying Facebook notes and they were super-dumb, but I also had fun doing those notes so that was... well, also pretty super-dumb.

Regardless, I'd give the summer a 5/10, an improvement over the past two college-summers I've had. So, best summer in a long while.

Now to make this the best semester in a long while.

D-Pressed

After having only been back a total of two and a half days, I have hit a nasty depression.

I am fully aware of why it happened; yesterday saw fit to bring me roadblocks of many kinds. It was raining all day, I was tired all day, events led me to have no money, I had to cancel the only thing I was looking forward to all day, and then I ended the day questioning my own moral beliefs until I finally went to sleep at about 5AM.

Now I'm sitting here in my dark, silent room... the only sound coming from the low hum of the air conditioner and the clack-clack-clack of this keyboard as I type. I can't even be depressed properly because I don't have any ice cream and I have no money with which to purchase any ice cream.

The worst part about being depressed for me (and maybe for others, too) is that even though you've already got a mountain of things bothering you and eating away at your mind, every little thing from your past and every little thing from your future start to crawl out of the depths of your mind and pile on top of that mountain.

Now I'm worrying about everything at once and I really don't know how to resolve anything.

So, at the current juncture, I'm simply sitting in my dorm room in GK wishing I was back home where at least I wouldn't have to worry about so many things. Everything would be far away and not so scary.

I really don't know how I'm going to pass the time for the next 10-12 hours until I can go to sleep, again.

This is sad and depressing, I know. So I'll end with a joke:

Q: You know what I've really enjoyed about being back at Drake?

A: Nothing

END OF SUMMER BONANZA!!!!

Ok, so I got that car I was looking to get. I'll have pictures of it sometime, maybe, but for now you'll have to settle with knowing its AS AWESOME AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE! It is a 2005 Chevy Cobalt and yellow. And it is my new best friend. So there.

So I have a few dozen things to take care of before I can go back to Drake. The primary concern of mine is that I have to get taxes and insurance stuff done for that new automobile I have sitting in the driveway, here at home. I will be taking care of that bright and early tomorrow morning.

Then I have to do ALL MY LAUNDRY. That's right. I'm going to do all my laundry. Almost every thing I own to wear will be laundered and cleaned and made to look spiffy. This process has already started this evening and will continue long into the next 24 hour period.

I also have to pack all my junk into my new car so that it can go with me to Drake on Tuesday morning/afternoon. I don't really know when I'm heading back. I guess I'd better figure that out, too.

Whenever I DO get back to campus, I have to move myself into my old single dorm for another year of schoolin'. Then I am GOING to see Stardust no matter what. Unless no one else is going with me. I'm too embarrassed to go by myself...

On Wednesday, rain or shine, I'm helping the new little tykes move in. That's right, Skyler C. Bartels is doing volunteer work. But I get a free shirt, the group (L!T)'s name gets out there a bit, and I get to move in early and avoid the hectic craziness that weekend move-ins always seem to become.

On Thursday, I will restart my Help Desk employment by working an 8 hour shift in the dungeon. No, 'dungeon' is too cliche a thing to call it... Uh.... how about.... Help Desk? Same connotations behind each one, I feel. Yes yes. I will also be doing this same shift on Friday, starting at 8am. This is cool because it'll help train me to get up in the mornings again. I haven't seen 8am in... well, a few days, actually. But I'm still staying up until 4-5am every 'night'. I have mental issues.

That weekend I have to take John Flowers to see Last Legion and then I'm going to a Wierd Al concert on Sunday. Otherwise, I'm pretty much free both days.

Otherwise... my first week back will be wet (if the weather reports are correct) and full of packing and moving and lifting and exasperation.

Sounds like the perfect precursor to college.

Episode.... Man, I am done with episode titles

Yeah, shocking... I know. It was a great running gag, but I just no longer feel the need to keep it running.

So, I know you've all been on pins and needles waiting to find out what's going on with "Skyler and the Hunt for a New Car" and your waiting will not go unrewarded... When I actually get the car, you will all be front and center at finding out what the story is. But, well... a few things got in the way the past few days and I wasn't even able to leave the house and look at cars.

Today, however, I actually went to Hastings, NE and took a look at the car of my dreams... And test drove it... to the songs of Stone Temple Pilots ("Interstate Love Song" to be exact) and let me tell you... I will own this car.

But until I do, that's all I want to talk about it.

Otherwise, I'm almost ready to leave home again and head to Drake to move in for my fourth time. I'm not going to have any help moving in, so for the most part I'm going to have to fill my car with essentials (I just mistyped "with" as "whit" and I don't know why I'm sharing that, but.... yeah ok moving on now...) and hope I can survive off of that until my parents can cart the rest of my junk to me.

That's next Tuesday. Then on Wednesday I have to help move in the new students so they can start their new lives as Drake students. Oh joy! I'm sure I will only make one of them regret coming to Drake.

Then I have about a week of nothing before my fourth and final year. I've made mistakes in my schooling in the past, but now I'm going to go forth and correct them in eight-ish months.

Or fail.

Either way, at least I'll be able to say "I tried."

Unless I fail, then my folks will kill me and I'll never say anything again.

Episode 46: Car Talk (or: CAR-LLING ALL CARS!)

I got a lot of puns, and so little time.

After years and years of driving my car and hating it for the trouble its been worth... I'm finally taking it in to trade it in for something else. Something better. Something that won't have transmission problems, will have a working stereo, will not die on me at random in parking lots across America, won't blow hot air at my face that melts my eyes out of their sockets, etc.

I've got my eyes (which haven't melted, yet) on this 2005 Chevy Cobalt. It's yellow. I have been in love with yellow cars for years. Since before I've been driving.

I've never been into cars, I only really feel a need to have one to get me from A to B and back again. But to have a yellow car... and a sporty one at that? I'm close to changing my mind.

Its a bit out of my price range, but I plan on driving it anyhow. I will do just about everything in my power to get the vehicle back here.

Regardless, I will come home with a new car tomorrow and then have a new car for when I go back to Drake. It will rock.

I will be so mad, though, if I come home with my old car. Like you wouldn't believe. This is a two part episode, though... I will post part two after I bring my car home.

It will be awesome (I hope)!

Episode 45: Water (or: Submerged)

I haven't been swimming in over 12 years. After a time, I became self-conscious about my thin torso and stopped going. By the time I got over that, I felt I was too old to go to the child-filled public pool here in Harvard, NE.

Then I went to college and I never really went again.

Today I went to some Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital (where my father works) picnic at a water park and, well... I went swimming.

I'd purchased a new suit and towel prior at Wal-Mart and then I dove in. I did every stroke I could remember, and it was thrilling.

The difference in gravity, the weightlessness of being underwater, the blue world down below... And going off the boards! Oh my lord, how I'd forgotten! To swim, to dive, to dive down deep down to save my head (Heart lyrics. Oooh, barracuda!)... It all came back to me in an instant.

I at once felt both at peace and nostalgic in the water. I felt like I was ten years younger, at least. Swimming, I remembered how long I used to be able to hold my breath, how fast I could swim, how deep down I could go, and everything... And today I learned that I've become far worse at all these things in the decade+ I haven't been swimming.

So, I'm going to take it up, again. That's right. Not only am I lifting weights now, but I'm also swimming on a regular basis.

Yeah, I'm awesome.

Episode 44: Nostalgia (or: Blogging is Cool?)

Sometimes there is simply no place for me to vent about my extreme issues. This is typically good, though, since... as a worrier of great magnitude, being unable to vent gives me ample time to reflect on my issues and deal with then in a far more normal and healthy manner. This is different than what I almost always like to do, which is to simply call upon my old 'talking diary' (who was actually a good friend of mine over MSN messenger, not one of those prepubescent toy journal things girls used to have, although I'm not sure if they made talking ones or if I'm simply wishing they had) and vent and rant and rant and vent for hours.

These days, my diary... she's gone, has moved on. And while I'm sometimes sad about this fact, it just means that I have to find a new outlet for my pent up frustrations about life, school, girls, friends, trouble, family, school, life, and school.

Back in high school, pre-talking diary, my most often used resource was my old Xanga page. If you could go back and read some of the things I wrote about, you'd probably short circuit. Anything was fair game, back in those days.

Now I not only find myself without my diary, but blogging is - for the most part - simply not about that, anymore. Now I talk about what I've been up to, what movies I've seen, how many brownies I've eaten, etc. I can't share my thoughts on the world at large and all the people and problems within it because those people and those problems and that world has easy access to it, and can judge or mistake or read too much into the things I write.

For instance, I am really dying to talk about a person I know's apparent recent life choice and how funny I think their poor decision making skills and timing are. But I can't. That person could read and might misinterpret it. So, the blog is out.

And I re-learned recently (I keep forgetting this fact, for some reason) that my friends sometimes share things with people, and since ever since high school all my friends have somehow known all my other friends through strange connections, I can't share my thoughts with a new 'talking diary', which is both maddening and comforting, because it'd suck if my thoughts got back to the person in question.

At times like these, when I can't sleep... and I can't think... and I can't focus or concentrate or anything... I'd like to listen to music. Or play through Half-Life 2. Or watch an Indiana Jones movie. Or something... but everyone is sleeping and I've got a haircut in the morning and work tomorrow night and the ever looming stress of people and things and the world hanging above my head at all times.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, this isn't a post about anything in particular. It's a post about how it can't be. And why my blog is usually filled with jokes or non-sequiturs or puns or anecdotes, instead of important life events that happen to me or people I know.

I need to sleep. I need to listen to Hooverphonic. I need to get better at playing guitar. I need to get out of summer and into school, where my life can get back on a track... of any sort.

Sorry for the lengthy, over-worded post about stuff you won't care about.

I just felt the need to vent a little.

Episode 43: Goodbye, July (or: Goodbye, Summer)

So I am almost free.

I have a final to take. Then I have to work. Then, for the most part... summer can begin to end.

The start of this summer was a stress test on me. After my lackluster performance during my second semester last year, I thought for sure things were going to just go downhill until I hit a bottom. I knew they would, actually. Which is sad. And pathetic.

May ended out pretty "OK", I suppose. I was just fearing the months ahead. Pete was home, Zak was home... mom was home... dad was working all the time, still is, actually. We played and wrote music, Pete and I played Mario 64 with near-religious dedication, I saw movies... it was fun.

Then came June. What. A. Sonuvabitch. Long, work-loaded, class-filled, boring-boring-boring, very little fun.... STRESSED-OUT!

July was worse. Mainly because I figured, if fate and destiny were gonna screw me over, they'd wait until the last possible minute. So, every day was a long, drawn out pain in the ass. Work dragged, classes and tests seemed huge and hard, everything seemed to mock me... Even going to Des Moines for the 4th seemed to be a misleading blessing of some kind, because all it really did was add new worries and doubts that weren't there before.

But now that we've reached the month's end, and I've got all my stuff to go back to Drake filled out and sent in, I've just printed off my two-weeks notice for work, my class ends tomorrow, and in one week I'll be coming back from my second summer-trip to Des Moines, this time heading to Iowa City to see a concert. A REVEREND HORNET HEAT CONCERT! It'll be a psychobilly freakout, is what it'll be.

Then I'll head back home and ride the rails into the Fall semester...

Where I can stress out over the little question of:

"OH GOD HOW WILL I MANAGE TO NOT GRADUATE?!

OH BOY!

Episode 42: The Final Countdown (or: El Countdown de la Finale)

No, not the song of the same name by the band Europe, this is the final 31 days of my summer vacation, wrapped up into a nice countdown.

31-22:
-These are the only days left I have in my Accounting class at CCC, in Hastings, NE. I have four tests left, although the final one is a comprehensive exam, and since I'm doing well so far, I assume this means I will do well on this. This is, however, assuming that I know what I'm talking about.

21-20:
-I don't typically work on Wed/Thurs, but the next bit explains what is going on, here.

17-16:
-I will be heading to Des Moines for a little bit of respite, taking the days off from work (more accurately: changing the days I work to the Wed/Thurs prior to the weekend) to enjoy a concert and hopefully some good company before heading back for the final half-month of my summer at home.

15:
-Turning in my 2-Weeks notice at work; This is always fun because, since I've left this job three times already, I simply use the same old resignation letter, change some names and dates, and viola! Instant "Get out of Jail" free card! This time, however, I will be turning it in late, under the pretenses of "I would have turned it in on time, but I was on vacation and forgot!" The oldest trick in the book...

14-5:
-My last days of work forever at Hamilton Telecommunications (I hope and pray). Tearful goodbyes, warm hugs, well-wishes of Godspeed.... None of these things will happen as I leave the building, forever.

4-1:
-My final days of summer, all before I head back to Drake University for some volunteer work (Hey, I get to move in early and help spread the Lit Society's name around a bit? Heck, you don't gotta ask me twice!) and some smooth sailing into the first semester of the end of my college career.

0:
-August 21, 2007: What will the future hold in store for you?

Episode 41: A Terrible Truth (or: How I Spent My Weekend)

So I guess it's time for another one of these, eh? How're you all doing? If you could only answer while I'm writing this post, then we could have a talk. A talk about...

Weekends.

You see, since my work week is a touch more stupid than most people's, my weekends actually take place on Wednesday and Thursday, instead of your average Sat/Sun business, like most people experience.

Since this means I can't hang out with anyone during MY weekends, I have to stay indoors. Also, as a side note, I have to study for tests that I take every three days, so I couldn't go out anyhow.

So, tomorrow, being my last day of the weekend, I figure (after I get back from shopping in the morning) I'll study a whole lot, then actually continue work on my photo project I started. I wanted 15-19 pictures, total. I have 4. And one of them is overly crummy. Then maybe - just maybe - I'll study some more, actually work out (I skipped today... I feel so bad), and maybe watch some of this show called "Home Movies" which is so good I don't feel I can adequately describe it to you.

See, if you could talk to me now, I'd ask you how you were going to spend your coming weekend. But we can't have a discussion, can we?

A few last notes:
-I want to trade my car in;
-I'm high off a kind of hot, liquid Jell-O made with about 4 cups of sugar
-Wishing I was done with so many things so I could start so many more
-Drawing more crude stick figure comics at work is great
-Going to bed, now.

G'night.

Episode 40: Joo Lie (or: Watchin' Frasier on DVD)

I haven't been very active this summer. But I'm 22 and getting old, so I suppose this is acceptable.

But I've been writing (still) and I suppose I've just started working out, lifting and doing situps and stuff. And I've been hard at work wi...

Oh, working out? Yeah, I suppose I should share; I've started lifting with my younger brother for the past week. I'm going to keep it up for the rest of the summer and (I hope) into the school year. The reason for doing this? It's far too simple to even explain. I'm really just going through some stuff and figuring out that I'm not an overly healthy individual. So I'm working out, now. I'm also learning how to study again, for the first time, so...

I don't know, I really don't have much to say. I'm excited for summer to be over so I can get out of work and this house. Not that I hate the house, mind you, but I just feel like I'm running in circles doing nothing. And this job, despite the good pay and the fun I have and the friends I make... it always causes me to get at least a little depressed. And that's not cool.

So...

Come one, school. Let's GRADUATE!

Episode 39: The (Temporary) End of Everbody Stills (or: No More Write)

I have been forced to quit writing my current story. By the main character's insecurities, anxieties, and apparent social disorders.

When I left him last, Everbody was on a men's room toilet, attempting to relieve the tension and anxiety he assumed he could rid through his... well, end. But he discovered that there was a problem with this.

Everbody, at this point in the story, has found the object he's been looking for his entire life, the one thing that makes him complete (or so he thinks). He'd thought he'd found it multiple times before, but had failed each and every time.

Now that the real deal is in front of him, within his grasp, he is shut down mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically as a result.

To quote Everbody (and the section's title), he is simply "Not Ready" yet.I hadn't ever anticipated that this would happen to him, at all. I know how the story ends. This CAN'T happen in that ending. But I can't NOT persue it, the concept of his continuing discoveries is too great to pass up. I thought I could make a choice, take time off from the story and examine the pros and cons of each possible answer.

But I was wrong.

It turns out that Everbody can never be the same after this, no matter what. Even if I try to take it out, from this point on in his life, Everbody will be affected by his discovery in the bathroom that day, with his pants down around his ankles. That he is too scared, anxious, and self-concious to simply reach out and grasp what he's always wanted. This holds him there, in that bathroom, until he and I can figure out what his next move should be.

Not WILL be. Should be. I'm not going to ruin this for him.

I've got my own life to ru(i)n.

Episode 38: Summer Daze (or: Vacations!)

So in five days I will turn 22. This is nothing, to me. I seem to no longer really care so much for my own birthdays. It isn't that I'm not excited to continue growing up (note: not so excited, though), but I just don't feel the joy building inside me like I used to when I was a kid, or - to a much lesser extent - even a year ago. Oh well.

I've been working fairly nonstop all summer, and now I'm taking an Acct. course for the credits to help with my Marketing Minor at Drake. This has been eating up a lot of my free time as of late, keeping me fairly busy. Add to that the extensive writing I've been doing, as well as reading the entire Bret Easton Ellis library and watching episodes of Frasier on DVD (with my photo project to boot), and I've been very busy.

This past week at work I nearly shut down; I was bored, I didn't feel it was worth the time, and it was simply a chore to do (which, I'm to understand, is the definition of "work" anyhow). I was tired all the time... I needed a vacation.

Now I'm (sorta) on it.

Last night I attended a Roger Waters concert, which was awesome. If you don't know who that is, chances are you've heard him but didn't realize it. Roger is the bass player for Pink Floyd and has a great solo career. I saw him in Omaha last night and he played the entire length of Dark Side of the Moon (the album) on stage, plus some stuff off The Wall and his own material.

It was amazing.

The seats were awesome, the music was great (Roger's guitar players were awesome, especially the guy that NAILED all of Gilmour's guitar licks), and Roger's voice was on pitch the entire time. Also, he made fun of and bashed Bush quite a bit, which was awesome.

Then, today, I went and saw Knocked Up (4.8 out of 5) and Sicko (4 out of 5) for my older brother, Dr. Pete Bartels' birthday. It was cool.

Now I'm home, ready to go to work for two days, take and Acct test, then continue my vacation with a 4th of July shindig in Des Moines with friends, as well as working on getting the Drake Lit Society up and running to... better standards than before.

Then its back home for work, classes, and less sleep again.

I'm excited.

Episode 37: Fantastic Pictures (or: Photographic Four)

As promised, here are both things I said I'd do yesterday, about fifteen minutes late:

First off, Fantastic Four: The Silver Surfer (he didn't really rise, so to speak) was pretty awesome. The first movie suffered from some... interesting pacing issues as well as a kinda weak script. The lines were cheesy, the acting was kinda bad, and the special effects were only so-so. And Dr. Doom was wasted.

Not so in FF2; First off, the story was just right. It had balance of humor and drama and tied up every loose end it created (unlike two other blockbusters I can think of... Spider Man and Pirates, I'm looking at you guys...). This time, instead of... uh... nothing happening for 90 minutes, the planet is in danger and the FF are there to step up and defend it. Along with Dr. Doom who pretends to be good but, come on, anyone with any comic book knowledge knows better.

Then there's the Silver Surfer. His origin isn't really covered in great detail, but you don't need it. To make him a fully fleshed out character is what ruins movies like this. Davey Jones would have been much better if they'd left him to be just.... Davey Jones. But in Pirates 3 they just tried to hard and, well, that movie sucked. In this movie, though, the "bad guys" (more on Galactus in a second...) are not given the greatest depth; Dr. Doom got his in the first movie, the Surfer is really just a pawn, and Galactus is just a storm cloud (again, more in a bit). This movie needed to be about the Fantastic Four's growth as a team and as individual characters since the first movie decided against this, and this time it worked.

And Galactus; If you're big into comic books, you know Galactus is a giant man in a purple/blue suit with a ridiculous helmet. In this kind of movie, it would only have been made fun of if that is how he appeared. So instead, the writing team for this film decided to make him a storm cloud that kills planets. And it worked. When the thing finally shows up to Earth near the film's climax, you'll be awed.

All in all? Not the best comic book movie made (Spider-Man 2, X2, and Batman Begins are in a constant war for that title), but its the best movie so far out of the summer blockbusters. And that's saying a lot. I give it a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
___________________________________

Now on to the picture show:

This summer I'm doing a little photo project I'm calling... well, I don't know yet. But basically its me taking group photos of myself. Here, have a look at the first batch of them:

This one I'm calling "The Band" for obvious reasons. Its the first one I did and kinda rough.

I'm calling this one "The Selection" because we're trying to figure out what movie to watch.

I'm calling this one "The Game" for, again, obvious reasons.

So there you have it. A movie review and some stupid looking pictures. What more could you ask for?

Enjoy, and see you soon!