Week 12

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedules to comment on each others' posts despite all of the work that you have (original piece etc!)
Anything that you post between now and Jan 4th will count towards that week's blogs!

Have wonderful holiday from blogger!

It's Cool, We Can Still be Friends

I've expressed my love for Bright Eyes star Conor Oberst before, and I'm going to do it again.
Today while I was cleaning my house, I was listening to my iPod when a familiar song came on, "It's Cool, We Can Still be Friends" This is one of my favourite songs of all time, but I only listen to it occasionally because it makes me sad, so I save it for those times where I'm full of pity and angst. Today I was listening to the song, and I was really listening to it, and I heard one line that made me go 'wow'. For those of you interested in hearing the song, i'll embed here.

The line that caught my attention was " And you say that I hurt you, in a voice like a prayer

Yeah, you say that I've hurt you, and your voice is like a prayer
Yeah, well maybe I hurt you sometimes, but let's contrast and compare
Lift up your shirt, the wound isn't there "

I love this line, because it's so powerful in how he delivers it and also in what he's saying. I love when he says 'lets contrast and compare' i'm can't articulate why, but I just do. I'm amazed at Conor's ability to write with such emotion.
His ability to project so much emotion with an acoustic guitar and his voice is simply astonishing!

Crap it's Christmas

Hey guys, so I'm definitely not the first person the realize this but its Christmas!
yay snow, Santa, Christmas cookies, spending time with family. All the things we love about this time of year, but the one thing i keep forgetting is that... its Christmas!

It feels like the semester just started and that Christmas is months away, that we have plenty of time left. We have had so much fun this semester already in writers craft that i don't want it to end, blogging and writing, and i keep forgetting that we have exams coming up soon.

Last Friday marks the last lesson all Data classes have this semester, the only thing they have left to do is the their ISU presentations. They will not be learning anything more about math for the rest of the year. To me this is a powerful message saying that we have finished half of our final year at Sinclair.

People have already started to apply to universities and congratulations to those very responsible individuals, I'm and not that organised and will have to do that very soon, but i can't believe this year is almost finished.

What happened to the year 2009? It went by so fast and so has our semester. For those of you in Grade 12 English, you probable can't wait for this semester to be over, and i applaud you for all your hard work this year, but I'm still sad to see this year and writers craft go.

I don't want to put a damper on any ones Christmas, and of coarse I'm happy its Christmas time because it is such a wonderful time of year, but i can't help feeling sad to see the end of this coarse.

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS, and good luck on exams to everyone.

Foolish You

So around this time last year, i started to teach myself how to play guitar, for about the first 3 months i was awful, but over the summer I managed to get much better, and finally I can now sing and play (quite the feat for me), so I decided to write a song and tab it out sorta. So here it is. It's called Foolish You.

Verse 1

[C] [Am]
We’d cross paths, crash hard
[Em] [G]
You turn there, and I’ll turn here
[C] [Am]
Steer clear, no fear
[Em] [G]
I’ll jump, and you can crawl
[C] [Am]
Don’t fall, too late
[Em] [G]
Where you headed, in this state
[C] [Am]
Fool me, fool you
[Em] [G]
You gotta way with words, yes you do

Chorus

[F]
And you’ll crush my suspense
[F#]
And you’ll destroy with intent
[A7]
To break all my rules
[Cadd9]
There’s nothing you won’t do

[F]
You’ll push me to the edge
[F#]
You’ll push me right off
[A7]
And laugh as I fall
[Cadd9]
you’re such a doll

Verse 2

[C] [Am]
I say no, you say please
[Em] [G]
Quit begging, get off your knees
[C] [Am]
I’m tired, I’m through
[Em] [G]
I’ve had enough of you
[C] [Am]
Chin up, look here
[Em] [G]
Please know, I don’t hate you dear
[C] [Am]
You’re blind, I’m deaf
[Em] [G]
What’re we going to do about this mess

Chorus

[F]
And you’ll crush my suspense
[F#]
And you’ll destroy with intent
[A7]
To break all my rules
[Cadd9]
There’s nothing you won’t do

[F]
You’ll push me to the edge
[F#]
You’ll push me right off
[A7]
And laugh as I fall
[Cadd9]
you’re such a doll

-end on [C]-

It's about 2:30 seconds long, and it's really simple, but I really enjoy playing it.

The random letters in brackets are chords! So any guitar players out there know what they mean :)

Dear Mom & Dad

Of the favorite memories of our family,

Mom and Dad ,

Christmas rekindles all the best we've ever had~

The wonderful traditions you taught us,

And we kept from year to year

Added to each Holiday

To make it's meaning clear.

Your warmth, smiles and laughter

Kept us eager to believe

In the magic and wonder

That was part of Christmas Eve,

And though Christmas

Have come and gone,

It seems that wishes did come true,

In the lasting love our family shares

Because of the caring by both of you.

spirit's hard to come by; why not stir some up yourself?

This much-anticipated Christmas season will be joined with more than holiday spirit, iPods, Macbooks and the latest edition of Guitar Hero as 2009 draws to a close. However, it is inevitable that after each celebration parents and students alike wearily face the numbers in their dwindling bank accounts (that is, if they have managed to avoid debt) as they return to their lives in the New Year. The piles of presents having been opened, the money already spent, people can't help but give a sigh of relief that the worst is over. Christmas 2009 has so far painted a picture that has left Canadians with strained smiles at the mere mention of the phrase 'stocking stuffers'; the global recession of 2008 is still taking its toll, as unemployment rates hang precariously in the balance.


Families will be searching for ways to make the most of this tough holiday season - and the answer is both more enjoyable and less costly than you think!


Step 1. Regifting is never (NEVER!) a good idea when it comes to family members (you've been warned!) but that isn't to say that a gift for one can't turn into a gift for all! Buy a friend or family member a favourite Christmas Classic (It's a Wonderful Life, The Santa Clause, Elf or a newer family drama The Christmas Cottage). Wrap it up and place it under the tree - and don't forget a name tag!


Step 2. Make sure you're stocked up on a container of hot chocolate mix or eggnog - the essentials, of course. These can be used throughout the holiday break and makes for a lovely excuse to get together with old (and new) friends! Who needs to spend cash on a daily Starbucks fix when you've got your own stock of tasty, festive goodness available at home?

Step 3. Once the gift-giving has been brought to a close on Christmas Day, why not suggest a family movie after your turkey feast? Sit down in your TV room complete with blankets, Santa Hats and perhaps a working fireplace; put in the DVD, press play, pass the warm beverages and enjoy the film.

For a low-budget way to take the most out of the holidays, festive, family movies are the perfect remedy. Now all you need is a consensus on which movies to enjoy!

Found poetry

So I remembered Rebeccas challenge a long time ago to write a story based on the first line of a song, or a good song lyric.
Then I also remembered the 'Found Poetry' we did during one of our free writes.
So, what I did was put my ipod on shuffle and took the first lines from the songs that came up.
I then reorganized every word into a poem.

This actually took me much longer than intended, but I believe the result is pretty okay, I sculpted them fully into my own creation.

Here are the lines I used:

Here, a little sympathy for you to waste on me

I want to be rich and I want lots of money

Oh what a noble distinguished collection of fine little friends that you've made

I'm in chains, you're in chains too

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house

My friend has problems with winter and autumn

Daintier, smarter, better-dressed; antique high-heel red doll shoes

Turn your ugly face, are you so surprised to see me?

Willow weep for me, bow your tallest tree

I'm sitting in a room made up of only big white walls

I can't help myself; I'm addicted to a life of material

No walls can keep me protected

I’m standing on the bridge, I’m waiting in the dark

Turn around, every now and then

Do you recognize any of these one-liners? :P

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love and Longing in the Winter Rain

Here in this winter rain
I'm sitting in a Willow tree
I bow to my chains
and weep for autumn’s sympathy

(Fine chains round every room)

I’m standing in the dark on the tallest friend I have
the only noble friend,
waiting to be rich.
I collect red high-heel shoes
For the dolls in your empty house
made up of big white antique walls.
See me?
I’m on the roof,
in a life of material.
(you've made lots of ugly money to waste on me.)

I'm addicted.
to your face.
are you so surprised?
you're daintier, better dressed.
-
But I'm smarter.

No walls can help,
I can't take care of myself –
Keep me protected
I have problems and…
I want.
(a lot)

Oh turn me around,
And bridge now and then
Distinguish what can and can’t be.
-
I want you.
(a little)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So as you see I added my own punctuation in the style of found poetry...
Do you like it? :o
it may be a little forced / cheesy but you can only do so much with set words.

There were 4 words left over that I didnt use...
'of that with and'
and thats it!

So I challenge you guys to do the same cause this was actually really fun!
Like a big scramble game! :)

So while searching for inspiration for this blog post I began looking through pieces of my work that have amassed in my hard drive over the years. While I was reading through pieces, some fairly interesting, some absolutely terrible and angst ridden I noticed a few very strong and re-occurring themes throughout my writing. I'm not sure if these are all subconscious things, or just aesthetic fascinations of mine, but I figured it might be interesting to explore them!

One rather morbid thing I noticed is my obsession with death through freezing. I don't know why, but in a lot of my poetry and short stories that I wrote when I was much younger, there seems to be some sort fascination with ice.

"Locked behind a sky of glass
She lays there in an icy womb
Smiling, still, forevermore
The frozen lake is now her tomb"

"Her lips had already tinted blue around the edges and she looked as pale as the snow surrounding her. Before she knew it, she had slipped inside herself, and fallen into a dark sleep. The last thought she had was “Keep… running.”"

I'm guessing the death in these pieces can be attributed to the fact that I was an angst-ridden black-clad middle school child. The ice and the cold, however, still really do strike a chord with me. I just think there’s something so powerful about the image of snow and ice. Numbness; sharp, biting, bitter cold... something about the parallel between the beauty of snow and glistening ice and the simultaneous danger. It's like a sub-zero seductress!

Speaking of seductress… another theme is that a vast majority of my characters are females. I like to write about females. I like to read about females. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I just relate better to female characters. Guys to me are perpetually boring and idiotic. I don’t know. I also find it easier to picture female characters in my mind as well. If there are a bunch of different guy characters in a story my mind blurs them all together.

Through-out most of my poetry and writing I also found a theme of memories. I guess this ties in with my living in the past that I have blogged about before, but memories, hindsight, regrets, forgetting… these are all scattered throughout my work. I can’t tell you how many pieces of poetry or songs are based around these concepts and often use these words. Going hand in hand with this is Karma. Retribution. ‘We all get what we deserve (in the end)’. Countless pieces of my writing are inspired by karma.

Perhaps I should challenge myself more and attempt to break free from these categories I seem to be placing myself into.
The next piece I write will be different!

Are there any themes that you guys can notice throughout work of yours?

Christmas on the brain

The holidays are coming! And I, for one am incredibly excited. However, unlike when I was little and still believed in Santa Claus, I am excited for entirely different reasons. When I was young, I was captivated by the pure wonder of it all: the magical tale of Santa, the anticipation, and of course, the presents. But now, the holidays have taken on an entirely different meaning as I learn to appreciate what is really important.

First of all, the holiday is now about giving. Now that I have a job, I have more money to spare and I like to give to charitable causes. I know its cliche, but the act of giving truly does feel better than receiving. I have never been a material person and every year when I am asked what I want for Christmas I give the same answer: 'I don't know.' So although I appreciate the gifts I do receive, for me it feels better to see a face light up when I give them the perfect gift.

Secondly, I love the atmosphere. It still maintains a sense of wonder, although the believing part has been eliminated. There is something enchanting about walking down the street at night, the cold biting at my nose as I admire the houses illuminated in lights. And it always seems to lift my spirits whenever I hear holiday music playing; whether I'm at work, home or shopping at the mall. And accompanying this joyous music, the decorations seem to spread the holiday cheer. (And personally, I think my tree looks perfect this year after I hid all the ugly ornaments and spaced them out evenly. Some say I'm a perfectionist when it comes to tree decorating). It also always seems to help when we actually do have a white Christmas. There is something about the pure white, glistening blanket that completes that holiday atmosphere.

The third thing I love about the holidays is getting together with family. I spend a lot of time with my family, but I rarely see my extended family. And of course, nothing brings a family together better than delicious food. My mom has been hosting Christmas for many years now, and I always look forward to the turkey feast. And if the homemade stuffing and mashed potatoes covered in gravy isn't enough to make your mouth water, then there is always desert. (Cookies and squares that are only ever made for the occasion!)

The final thing I love about the holiday is the break that comes with it. Now that the break inches closer, I find my attention drifting in class. With all the stress that has come with this year, I can't wait to relax, sleep in and appreciate all the things I listed above.

So whatever it is you love most about the holidays, I hope you make the most of it.

Seasons Greetings.

Half is Whole

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: Movie Review

Ah, the Harry Potter series. A now literary classic that is treasured by children, teens and adults alike. But many years ago, a director took a great risk and decided to adapt this favourite into a movie. And now, all these many years later it seems clear that the movie franchise only added fuel to the every growing Harry Potter fire.

The sixth installment of the film (there are 7 books in the series, and reportedly the final is going to be broken into two films) was recently released on DVD, and being such a Harry fan, I was sure to purchase it. And being such a fan of the franchise, I had my hopes high for this installment.

And it did not disappoint.

The story surrounds Harry as he faces the ever-present threat of Lord Voldemort now that he has fully returned. Harry and his headmaster, Dumbledore, begin on a quest together with the hope of bringing forth Voldemort's demise once and for all. And if the struggle of defeating the Dark Lord isn't enough, Harry faces typical teenage angst and romance.

The film follows the book fairly closely, considering it has to cram all those pages into a few short hours. This is an aspect I personally look for most when watching film adaptations of beloved novels. There is nothing worse than seeing an adaptation that destroys what you loved most about the novel. Aside from one unnecessary scene (Harry aimlessly runs through a field after the sudden appearance of Voldemort's Death Eaters, a scene clearly not in the novel) the film is completely satisfactory.

And to those of us who knew the story, before the film was released, it was well known that the story was laced with a darkness rarely seen in the previous novels. However, the movie does a brilliant job adding humor to lighten the mood. It has its fair share of laugh out loud moments.

So if your a fan of the novels, you will without a doubt enjoy seeing the beloved tale brought to life. And, if you are not a fan of the series, there is still room for this movie to be loved on its own. In summary, it is quite simply great fun. It applies good special effects, humor, and the pure joy of watching the characters we've grown to love as they face their latest adventure, for one of the most riveting Potter films yet.

The Harry Potter franchise is one that will never die. It has a magical way of uniting young and old with the pure love of such a brilliant and imaginative story.

My Ode to Cheese

Ode To Cheese,
Which Makes Us Smile,
When Camera's go Clack.

Ode To Cheese,
Which make us taste,
The greatest of flavors,
the wackiest of whack.

Ode To Cheese,
Blue, Gorgonzola,
American and Cheddar.

Ode To Cheese,
Beja and Feta,
In all types of weather.

Ode To Cheese,
For those on a diet,
or trying to get fatter.

Ode To Cheese,
with crackers and wine,
with grapes can flatter.

Ode To Cheese,
when you're sad and happy,
Cheese just fits.

Ode To Cheese,
Mountains and Mountains,
or bits and bits.

Ode to the Cheese,
To appreciate, eat, and take pictures.

behind the curtain

what don't i matter?
don't you care?
i don't flatter,
so i'm not there.

you left me behind
you let me go
let's rewind
back to hello

i was there
i brought you to life
now your over there
and now i face the strife?

I thought we were friends
but i was wrong
so this is how it ends
we've been together so long

how could this happen?
only yesterday
we were rappin'
and now we've go astray

you may have left
but i'm still there
you committed the theft
and yet i still care

nik to the beat

Pumping, bleeding, breathing, pounding, footsteps mimicking what should be the racing of our hearts egged on by your fucking passive natures.
But you’ve shed our crimson skins,
reduced us crawling along abandoned streets at dusk; lipstick and beer cans, smoke and silhouettes the only company of the coming night.
The comrades of a masquerade, of gasoline trailing along discoloured curbs, and rest our heads along the plank, line up for your kick at the can.
Fingernails separating from the skin, from hands clasped in iron shackles, a monotonous routine like fucking halos, hanging over our heads as if some in incentive to believe in the proclaimed existence of a higher power, to believe in the fucking good over evil, the devilish glares and smiles of rotting flesh;
oh, the transparency of faith to which we cling,
cling to like mattresses stained with lust and greed, of money laundering, blazing in front of the television, nine bullet holes decorating the walls, only the slightest hint of slaughter, sex becoming prostitution behind what should be closed doors, but instead lay wide open, torn from their rusted hinges. Broken springs hiding beneath the fabric slick with medication, pools of sweat, rivers along the contours of our bodies, moving, halting, heating up slowing down. Don’t pretend your virgin eyes haven’t seen the tragedy of trash-piles becoming igloos of the south. Turn your backs, a blind eye for the blind, cowards of your own society; the acid rain will hunt you first, singe you with pollution courtesy of the ones you’ve neglected, despised and reprimanded – oh but only if you’d give enough of a shit to knock on our doors; but first peel back the paint. Watch for the caution tape we strung ourselves. The curtains drawn back, infected hands drag along wall-papered walls yellowed with age, of tobacco smoke and the loss of sight.
Our swigs against your uniform, your guns against our glass bottles; this river’s meant to be crossed, to define enemy lines by the railroad tracks and the dead bouquets that lay there. Unmarked graves on the side of the road, burned to ashes returning to the dust so you can wash your hands and move on. Angels can’t hear our cries, our less-than-silent pleas, gravel digging into our knees, our lips can’t find a prayer anymore. The hungry go hungrier, the dying die, the living are dead; we are all skeletons in a world that God and His Angels have forgotten to care about. You’ve taken up your post, ignoring the network of strings attached. Palms outstretch, the mark of victimization clear upon our wrists, our calloused hands. The possibility of a great meaning, existence, of a purpose to the fighting – its all in your minds. Look around! This world isn’t getting any bigger! The food can’t spread like viruses do, they don’t adhere to the snakelike borders, waiting to change direction, to screw up His plan. And there never was a God damn plan.
We’ve been left to ourselves in this shithole of a universe – we can’t even prove our worthiness of living to each other! Man to man, on-terrain combat. The air holds nothing but toxins and oxygen, ever depleting, running on a timer counting down the years, days, seconds we have left. Is that why you’ve given up?
We’ll all be nameless in Hitler’s mass graves come judgment.
But until then, we’re pumping, bleeding, breathing, pounding like mindless machines working to an end.


*****
this doesn't really make much sense on its own. but it's a rant based on the idea that the perfect world doesn't exist. our governments are knowingly passive and fail to aid those who need it most in society - those who are often frowned upon, such as addicts or criminals or even simply those struggling to provide for their families living in poverty.

Splinter

Ok, so this post is a poem I've written, but it's very odd, and I'm not sure you'll get the meaning of it so i'll briefly explain. It's about a wooden man who is escaping society, but society doesn't want him to escape and they eventually burn him!
This is poem is going to be my guideline for the film i'm going to make for my portfolio for Ryerson :D

I use odd mechanics, and some weird phrases, but I really enjoy this piece, I'm not sure if you guys will though.

----

A splinter for you, A splinter for all
I shall splint, in spite.
You curse me, and damn me,
I cower, and shiver.
My stiff framework will not rest,
As I flee this nation of disdain
A stain on my heart, that creeks and wreaks,
Of sadness and worry.
Hurry I must,
Before my bolts, they rust!
Gears in motion,
That spark commotion.
My feet they bleed-
All I need
Shoes I must wear-
To hold my care
Escaping is surviving,
Cast your judgmental looks to the side.
Pride is lost with dignity.
Stripped of all significance.
As I thrust my feet forward,
Left and right,
By night, I’ll be out of sight.
Delve deep into my own world,
Dodging the flaming burn of words,
That hope to yield a scorned corpse,
That lay on the ground in a heap.
A black sheep they must get rid of,
A lack of conformity that stiffens their backhands.
I shall splint! I shall splint! I shall splint!
At light speed, a deed you cannot match!
That cannot be lit, even with the finest of lighters!
Your hands are greased for I am too slick-
To get caught in your trap!
Aha I laugh at the masses!
As time passes, I escape your sad attempts.
Silence me you shall not, you’ll rot in your own regrets!
Forget my rebellion,even your own bed hates you!
But I can only flee for so long until I find wrong....
And it’s only a matter of time before I turn to ash.......
Your rash will fade, as I burn down, and all that will remain......
Is pain, and a really bad memory of what it’s like to be free.....

Under the Snowflakes

What is this madness?
No snow?
It doesn't feel like Christmas - AT ALL!
Regardless, I have started playing Christmas music in the hopes of getting myself in the Christmas mood. Here's to hoping!

Silent Night - Sixpence None The Richer
Here, the bands signature mellow pop/indie-rock sound mixed with Leigh Nash's quirky voice makes for a beautiful and haunting spin on 'Silent Night'. What makes this song stand out from the rest of the spectacular songs on Sixpence NTR's Christmas album 'Dawn Of Grace' is it's call and answer verses between Leigh and a male vocalist that recreate for us a touching moment.
"Silent Night
I can see you in the snow
Holy Night
And I can tell that you've been crying..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ml_YbgJsQ

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Bif Naked
This song is nothing terribly beautiful or meaningful or well produced... it's just a lot of fun. Bif Naked shows us her 90's punk rock take on this Christmas classic. Her strange voice and stylings are something you'll either love or hate, but you can't deny that this boppy guitar driven song is entertaining!
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/127747_5w8fb/MTV%20TRL%20Xmas-11-I%20Saw%20Mommy%20Kissing%20Santa%20Clau-Bif%20Naked.mp3

Snow Angel - Tori Amos
Tori uses her piano skills and unique voice here to create a beautiful orchestrated original song. It takes you into a dark christmas night with snowflakes falling, outnumbering the stars in the sky, while you lie on your back and enjoy the crisp air. While it isn't a Christmas classic, the content and tone of the piece fits in beautifully with any Christmas CD - this haunting and charming piece isn't just good for Christmas either, but for all winter-round!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS_uaSaVxKk

Christmas Tree - Lady Gaga
This song is not for the faint of heart, as it's all about celebrating Christmas... the way Gaga does it. This song really seems to me to represent the commercialism and self indulgence of Christmas, in an entertaining way. This hilarious euphamism filled song will have you giggling and simultaneously getting ready to 'snuggle' up with a lover over the winter season. This song is a good way to lighten up a heavier Christmas playlist... in the Gaga style.
"Light me up, put me on top
lets fa la la la la la la la la..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cP8RzHHhVI

So for the next few days I'll be listening to these songs on repeating hoping to get into the spirit...

And hoping that it'll snow, god damn it!

Eastdale's due for more than Credit... >_<

Were we meaningless? Did our efforts on stage merely project a feeble fucking attempt at describing humanity's journey through the expression of art?!

I can't say that it was; we must have made some sort of impression upon our audience at the District level of the Ontario SEARS Drama Festival last year - why else would fellow Durham school Eastdale, over half a year later, take our interpretation of a well-celebrated poem and put it on their own stage?!

I guess I should back up for a minute to explain what the hell is going on here. You see, for the SEARS competition each year, Sinclair Theatre has (under Ms. Eales' direction) taken pride in writing our own, unique pieces to present to audiences. Last year, we created a piece called "LOOK", which followed the evolution of art, and therefore, of mankind. We visited the caves at Lasceau, Hiergolyphics, the Spanish uprising against Napoleon's forces, the avant-garde then beatnik era, and so forth through our exploration. Without a doubt, one of the most well-received scenes in this play was what we dubbed "The Hollow Men" scene, in which we recited part of TS Eliot's sullen masterpiece of uncertainty:

We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar - TS Eliot

Of course, we would never pass the words themselves off as our own creation, but our interpretation was what left people cringing in their seats.

We should have patented that shit.

Apparently, donning masks while twitching to choreography and falling into audiences laps off of the stage while reciting The Hollow Men is nothing special, because if our idea was so original, WHY THE HELL WAS IT ON EASTDALE'S STAGE???

I admit that I am jumping to conclusions here (my conclusions being that a) Eastdale liked what they saw b) decided to use it on their stage and c) probably didn't give us one speck of credit for stealing our scene in their programs), but I feel that it is entirely within my right to freak out. We worked too long and too hard to be swept under the fucking rug.
I'm not upset with Eastdale for performing the scene - after all, it was pretty freaky and damn good! - but what PISSES ME OFF is if (that) they didn't give Sinclair Theatre credit for anything.

It's cool, Eastdale. We'll see you at Districts.



**
Sorry about the rant! it needed to be said...

Bleh.

I love the whole concept of using a blog in our class, and being put in these groups, and I feel that it has so far been a lot of fun, and also been a great tool and way of getting criticism, but sometimes I really do hate this damned thing. I dread it sometimes.....GAH.

Right now, I really can't think of anything to write about it. I feel like I need write something beautiful, thats going to garner excellent criticism and some bullshit like that. I feel to need to appeal to you guys, as if the only reason I'm writing an entry is to impress/entertain our tiny group.

This frustrates me because by doing so, i completely miss the point of this whole blog....but seriously, I'm sure you guys can relate at least a little bit. Sometimes it's so difficult to figure out something to write about, especially if you live a boring life like myself. It's like, come the end of the week, it's time to force some creative topic and put it on display for criticism YAY. There are times where I just don't want to do it at all, and I seriously get angry, no joke, it's funny to watch. I mutter random vulgarities and type something up.

This is actually so boring right now, I hate writing this post, I can tell you right now that what you're reading is unbelievably forced, it's torturous. At least i'm being honest.

I don't mean to seem so negative. I'll make this lighter by telling you guys I've had a great weekend so far! You want to know why? Well Tom, my computer, his hard drive was quite full, but I've freed up about 100 gigs of space on Tom. Tom's a lot happier now, I can tell, he's not as loud, and runs smoother.


Way to be Tom!

Limp

Hello everyone, i trust you are having an enjoyable week end, this was my original beat poem, it isn't long enough to be the piece i hand in. Keep in mind that this is unchanged from when i wrote it and it should not be left on any kitchen table.
So i hope you don't enjoy it, because this is a very angry, discriminator piece.
I apologize to the people who have already read it. Sorry.

Collapsed in a pool of spit and blood
bags of coke scatter
molded floors of crack dens
to get the next fix
half the body limp
of suffocation and self incrimination

Willing to sleep anywhere to escape
frozen nights on cement floors and broken windows
scattered minds and needles
Loneliness
Heartache

Murderous vision
Capital punishment
Voodoo craving
Loathing
Withdrawal
Poverty

fags in drags
fuck to the beat of self deprivation
fiends
kicked out by the men
of cars and masturbation
improvement of the same
fucking low some creature
We all are.

If tomorrow were my last day.
what would you tell me today?
Would you tell me you weren't lying,
When you said you loved me, all those times?
Or would you tell me it was all lies.

Your soft kisses, you gentle hugs.
Are you a lie?
If I died tomorrow, would you regret all our fights?
Would you even care?
Or would you think it was just another suicide?

That it didn't matter.
What would you do?
If I came back to you in a dream.
And said it was your fault.
You drove me to it.
What would you do then?
Feel guilty?
Or just shrug it off, like you have so many times before.
Are you a lie?
Or am I just scaring myself?
If I died tomorrow, would you tell me today?

My Ode

Alright, so here is my problem with my ode!
I really like the first stanza and the second stanza... but the 3rd is just complete shit.
How can I change it up to make the third... better? I just need a stronger ending that sounds less forced (IN PARTICULAR the last 2 lines are dreadful!!!)
so I figured I'd turn to you guys for help!

Here is my ode:

Locked inside the human heart; it’s there,
In the darkness seeds of evil lie;
Sinful; Vain, Sloth, Envy, Avarice
Wrath, Lust, Gluttony implant
The desire of a beauty fair
Contempt oozing from each tired sigh
Desiring to abolish peace
Captured in each lingering glance

Envy fuels a motivation strong
Lust invokes a passion burning bright
Wrath a viewpoint reinforces well
Sloth it’s entertainment full adores
Vain; respect and beauty come along
Gluttony indulges in delights
Avarice success’s, they do swell
Intriguing, even if some do abhor

Enrapturing, these tools are nestled deep
If mastered, advantageous they can be
The greed, sloth, envy, vanity
The lazy, gluttonous and mad
This corruption dost our lives keep
Sinful people rule the world, you see
The darker side of humanity
can do you good, if you do some bad.

________________________________

So can you guys help me with the ending?

warning

OK, i started out with a clear vision of what i wanted this piece to sound like but it got lost along the way, i think somewhere in the middle of the third stanza, and i think the end shout have a bigger punch to it. tell me what you think

you will never wash away
a guilt that runs so deep
that gnawing,
aching,
knowing.


It feeds on your bones
and slashes you inside
leaving you hollow,
empty,
nothing.


the blood inches further up
your crimson hands a blaze
deprivation and guilt
will follow you great lady


wash and wash
as much as you please
but the mess will still be there
because blood never fades

its obvs. friday...

hey beloved blog group!

would one of you be so kind as to write out the requirements for the ode?!
or, you know, you could all do it..
thank youuuuu!


notes for me to remember about the summary, just ignore! :P

-why this piece
tryign to accomplish
the requirements:
theme, syntax, punctuation/mechanics rhyme scheme

I think I can...I think I can

"I think I can. I think I can."

Ah, "the Little Engine that Could". A children's story that I'm sure most of us know fairly well. When I was little, and reading all these stories, I never would have thought that I'd be able to apply them to my life now.

It looks as though that positive and optimistic attitude in which you believe in yourself has come in to play this year, more substantially than I would have thought.

We all know that grade 12 is stressful. We've had our rants and our complaints, even in this very blog. But while I've struggled through my endeavors it seems as though that little engine has had a presence in my mind, encouraging me on the way.

It seems that I, too, have chugged my way up a mountain and overcome obstacles. I set on a course believing in myself and that I could succeed this year. And I think that it is actually working. With the dreaded Social Issues Report (place dun dun dun music here) finally completed, I feel as though the worst is over. That I have made it to the peak of my mountain, and can begin the less stressful decline.

That does not mean that I don't have any major assignments anymore, but I do feel as though a major weight has been lifted off my shoulders. After all I dreaded and stressed over it is apparent that 'things are never really as bad as they seem' reigns true .

I hate it when cliches are right. Nonetheless, the things I stressed over weren't nearly as frightening when I got around to them. Just like the mountain. It looks ominous from the base of it, but once you begin the climb, its not nearly as bad as it looked. Each step you take brings you closer to that peak.

Anyways, sorry for the rant. But my point is that you have to set goals for yourself, and most importantly believe that you can achieve them. So hang in there everyone. We're nearly half way there.

:)

freeeeeeeee falling form

attempt numero uno:

The world is a blanket,
The roads and streetlights, manicured lawns –
The blades of grass, and dew and raindrops –
Threads that remain undiscovered;
twiddling thumbs can’t wait forever.

A rush of wind, streetcar passers-by,
Beneath the lifelike machinery, twinkling.
Blinking heartbeat, weave in and out of the city
Past reflective walls, mirrors to the soul -
Pathways to no way home.


How the heart does ache!
(its elegance tempered by pain);
Breath turns cold
(oh, but you want it to);
the sidewalk cracks
(don’t fall…)

don't surrender to dust and ashes, nor
fall prey to the 'what could have been's.

because freedom,
Well,
It can call, and it does
It can speak, dream, (dis or) satisfy –
And yet you enclose yourself,
Flee within yourself,
Close your eyes
And hold your breath...

Hiding beneath the folds.
Your casket is waiting.




***
So this is something i've never really done before - and i'm as mesmerized by it as i am uncertain. I feel like the theme needs to be more clear (which i will revise if i end up trying to hand this in for the protfolio.. but i still have three other poems to write! :P). maybe the subject matter is too vague as well?
if you have any suggestions about where to be more clear or where i could change punctuation (which i played around with a lot) that would be great!

Ode to the first snowfall.

Ode to the first snowfall

New fallen snow, a beauty scarce appreciated.
A white so pure it shines brighter than the sun.
A pristine blanket preserving the earth below.
The wonder of a million snowflakes becoming one.

A picture perfect landscape in immaculate white.
Its glistening rays of light illuminate the gray winter sky.
Left undisturbed, it engulfs all in a diamond-laden sheath.
A seamless bed where crystals lie.

The world embraced by calm serenity.
Tranquility only nature can achieve.
The triumph of the winter skies rests upon the earth.
A majestic harmony that reminds you to believe.

-------------------------------------------------------
So here is my ode for writers craft. Clearly, I decided to write it on the beauty of fresh snow. I had a lot of difficulty writing this. I think snow is absolutely beautiful but I had struggles immersing myself in it and writing an entire poem solely on how I think it is beautiful. Do you think that this ode is effective? Did I portray the snows beauty adequately?

Also, I had some difficulty comprehending the structure of the meditative ode. I tried to base the first stanza on the description Then the second was the extended meditation. This is the part I had the most difficulty with, did I convey this part properly? Lastly, the final stanza was supposed to be a realization or insight but I don't think I was able to fully achieve this.

So what are your suggestions? How can I improve on the 'Ode' structure? Is the theme clear? Any other likes or dislikes or improvements?

Also I think it needs a better title. One that connects to the theme and has meaning. Any ideas?

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Week 10

Lost of great variety everyone! Just a reminder that as of this week, posting both posts on Sunday will lose you marks. (Remember it's harder for others to comment!)

V for Vendetta film review (grade 11 ENG)

Turn out your pockets for the old guy – V for Vendetta is veritably vindictive

By Diana Hall

“Artists use lies to tell the truth”. It is for this reason that the futuristic and political thriller V for Vendetta provokes quite the controversy not only among the characters within its story, but amid viewers at home as well. Cinematography is, after all, a form of art, and thus begs a question; what truth lies within the artistic production of the compelling 2005 film? It is this enthralling provocation that lingers over audience members as they watch the masterpiece of accompanying music and James McTeigue’s directing compliment the gracefully powerful acting of Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman as V and Evey Hammond.

Set in a futuristic, totalitarian Great Britain, there are a few primary locations that allow for intriguing plot and character development. This includes the mysterious home of V and the memory of the Larkhill Detention Center. After Evey saves V’s life, she wakes up in his secluded and extravagant home: floors are covered proudly in red carpet, and stone walls provide a sense of grandeur along with the vast array of valuable, stolen props and pieces of art.

It is in this inviting and mysterious atmosphere that Evey evolves into an unlikely ally in V’s mission to bring justice back to Britain. It is also in this atmosphere that Evey and V begin a surprising and uncertain friendship, a relationship that changes Evey’s life forever and provides V with a freedom and love he has long forgotten.

Viewers are taken into the memory of V as they are thrust into a world of torture and injustice at the Larkhill Detention Centre, the prison that held V captive for so many years for government benefit and human experimentation. V’s experience in Larkhill serves as the reason for V’s outrage and his plans for revenge against Britain. The white walls, bright lights and seemingly sterile facilities offer the illusion of a medical centre, as the structured, secretive penitentiary is overlooked by the eyes of the law. The centre represents the hopelessness, fear and sadness that V endured in his past life, and is clearly recognized by the audience.

Before V, Evey Hammond worked for a government sanctioned television station. However, once she witnessed the demolition of the Old Bailey, Evey was forever changed. An attractively slim and tall woman with dark blonde curly hair and warm, knowing brown eyes, Evey was forced to face injustice in her own life. V’s vision brought with it painful memories of her parents’ imprisonment. The struggle that Evey faces, however, does not revolve around her past; it is rather the recognition of good and evil, and the shades of grey that lie in between, unnoticed. Actress Natalie Portman delivers a passionately riveting performance as she portrays the development of a curious and torn Evey. Despite the difficulty of truly understanding Evey’s mood and reason due to repetitive facial expressions, this sense of lost desperation also fit the character’s changes quite well. Portman’s soft and yet eloquent speech accompany an accent that rarely falters, and her emotions on-screen provide a realistic, captivating and powerful presence.

V, played by Hugo Weaving, is a man of mystery, known only to Evey by the Roman numeral that marked his cell number at the detention center. The mask he wears, however, does not disguise V, but rather presents his true character – the character frighteningly similar to Guy Fawkes, the man whose gunpowder plot to destroy the Parliament buildings failed in 1606. Throughout the film, V is not seen without his smiling, rosy-cheeked Guy Fawkes mask or his elegant black cloak and gloves. Weaving’s swift, strong and purposeful movements perfectly portray the insightful and driven character of V, whose only form of expression has been limited to his voice and his actions. It is for this reason that the deep, eloquent and intellectual voice of V is so riveting. What lacked a bit in V’s character was that change he felt when he met Evey, and later when he told her that he fell in love with her. There is no emotion, no true expression or variation in V’s speech and it is for this reason that a connection with V is so difficult to make by viewers.

The main themes of control and authority, injustice, persecution and the fight for freedom provide the idyllic opportunity to introduce controversial and dangerous subjects such as terrorism, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and homosexuality. As is demonstrated in the futuristic society depicted in V for Vendetta, the control and authority that the government and secretive corporations have over society has corrupted its people. The “Finger-Men” patrol the streets, enforcing their rules and breaking others, as they monitor and contemplate the proceedings in society. The “Finger-Men”, a dangerous, government organized corporation, represent the overlooked and misguided control that has dictated the lives of Great Britain’s people. This immense level of power and authority has greatly diminished the freedom of others.

Injustice is primarily introduced to the viewer through learning of V’s past life in the detention center. Viewers learn about V’s torture, the deaths of Evey’s parents and the troubled life of a woman known to Evey as Valerie. Each of these occurrences were brought on by the government; people were forced to become scientific guinea pigs and most lost their lives in the process; acceptance of those who were deemed “different”, such as Valerie and her female partner, was not only absent but also not tolerated. It was for these reasons that V decided to fight for the rights of Britain’s people.

V for Vendetta’s main conflict is realized by the audience as Evey Hammond struggles to gain a perspective of what is right and what is wrong. She watches, at first reluctantly and in shock, while V takes over the city himself. The primary conflict within the film lies with the victims of V’s vengeful and planned murders of well-known and respected people in the city. He continues to thrust the city into chaos and blood. As viewers follow the story of V, they begin to learn the reason behind V’s actions as well as the internal battle that Evey struggles to overcome. It is for this reason that the fate of the Parliament buildings lingered in minds of the audience throughout the film, as viewers were forced to reflect upon their own perspectives of right and wrong just like the innocent civilians in Britain.

The mesmerizing climax ends the tale quite brilliantly, accompanied by a frightening and familiar Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and fireworks in the late night skies. This scene generates a sense of awe and disbelief from the audience, as well as a strange and unlikely sense of acceptance. While the music in the demolition scenes provokes a mood of dread, horror and captivation with its upbeat melody of mainly brass and percussion, the music in other scenes is also of a classical, instrumental style. The use of crescendos is especially important in V for Vendetta, as they are used to emphasize major events in the plot and to give viewers a hint about what is soon to greet them on-screen. This choice of music is very effective for quite a few reasons, one of the most important and clever being that V’s mission in Britain had to do with the past. His mission revolved around the wrong doings of the past that have led to the disguised corruption of society today. It seems, therefore, only fitting that the accompanying music also be a homage to great and classical music of the past that has not, like the torture V endured, been swept under the rug.

There were three types of camera shots that greatly added to the personal and frightening mood of the film, one of which was a headsheet. This chin-up shot was reserved mostly for Chancellor Adam Sutler, who appeared only on a large television screen until near the end of the film. This shot was perfect for generating a sense of Sutler’s power, and, therefore, fear of it as well. The most memorable confrontation between the Chancellor and his council took place during his last remaining hours, when he shouted frantically, “I want everyone to remember why they need us!” This was the last time he appeared on the television screen, his power and control over society quickly diminishing. A medium shot was used most memorably to emphasize the demolition of the Old Bailey; this shot was meant to give viewers the vision seen by London that fateful night, a full vision of the destruction and a whole sense of determination and truth. An extraordinarily awe-inspiring camera angle was used at the end of the film, as row upon row of London civilians took off their Guy Fawkes masks to stare in wonder at the terrifying sight before their eyes, the camera moved swiftly through the crowd using a high angle shot, looking down at upturned, open-mouthed faces.

Two recurring symbols within V for Vendetta are extremely important to the personal and historical aspects of the film. The first, of course, is the letter V, otherwise recognized as the Roman numeral for the number 5 that had marked V’s cell door. The letter V reinforced the idea of justice, and rebellion against such brutal and unrighteous power. It stood as a monument of the past, a will to remember not only the fifth of November, but of the terrible crimes against Great Britain that have been so unceremoniously ignored.

Another important symbol that flashed on-screen at every given opportunity was an engraved red cross, the sign of the “Finger-Men” and their so-called government. This, of course, makes reference to the battle between Catholics and Protestants in the time of Guy Fawkes, and the battle for power under these separate churches. Much like the on-going struggle and injustice in the world in Fawkes’ time, torture and betrayals were still happening, reminiscent of the torture and murders in the combat for religious power.

V for Vendetta is a powerful film, whose controversial ideas and events in the plot established a dark and strong foundation for the movie. Its legacy is simply the idea of right and wrong, of good versus evil and fighting back for freedom. The main strengths of the film were engaging the audience in a thought-provoking and brain-activating thriller while audience members developed connections with the main characters of V and Evey. The quality of acting by the entire cast was astounding and believable, as viewers of the film were forced to “Remember, remember the fifth of November…” just as V willed the citizens of London to do. One weakness of the film was that the slow development and change in Evey’s character made it difficult for audience members to adapt to and follow the fast-paced and vocally detailed scenes. The character of Mr. Creedy was also not nearly as developed as it could have been. Although hints were dropped a few times throughout the film, not much was understood about him. His final confrontation with V failed to enlighten audiences about his drive and character. However, this film is a must-see for those to enjoy a more complex plot line and diving for deeper meaning and hidden messages. The few weaknesses of V for Vendetta are but minute blemishes that merely make the film what it is meant to be – an imperfect, intriguing and veracious tale of V’s vendetta.

The Unsolved Myster

ALEXIS WHITAKER: This 25 year old brunette has wavy, long, dark brown hair with dark brown eyes to match. She usually adorns herself with elaborate up-dos and glitzy jewelry and dinner wear. She is doing her best to break into the fashion industry as a model and a fashion designer. However, very two-faced and pretentious, ALEXIS holds herself with great poise to the point of being snooty and condescending to others. She looks down upon all of her younger siblings, having a particularly strong sibling rivalry with MARIA. Overall, ALEXIS embodies vanity and materialism, and puts herself ahead of everyone else.

JOSHUA WHITAKER: JOSHUA is 23 years old with dark eyes and a thin scraggly build. He is never dressed or put together very well, almost always having stubble and unkempt hair. He made it through high school successfully, but never went further than that, deciding to pursue a life as an ‘inventor and entrepreneur’. He always pursues his wealthy father for money to support his crazy and perpetually floundering ideas. He’s always talking like a salesman, trying to lure people into his latest scheme to rope him in some more money. Aside from his ridiculous spending of his father’s money on things like a house with a large pool, he also has a drinking problem. He drinks away half the money to his name, only to return to his father for more. His family see’s him, unsurprisingly, as nothing but a leech, while he only sees them as a means to get what he wants.

MARIA WHITAKER: Acting young for her age, MARIA, although 21 is very moody. Although her personality is often very ‘in-your-face’ obnoxious and sometimes energetic, she has a very catty and underhanded side as well. Her style is bold and bright, and she has black hair that is cut in a short bob. She is heavier than any of her sisters and this is one of the main reasons spurring MARIA’s intense jealousy of ALEXIS. MARIA too desires to go into the industry of fashion as a model, having gone to the same post-secondary school as ALEXIS. However, everyone views ALEXIS as being more successful and MARIA as just being the jealous copy-cat trying desperately to get the same amount of attention – which is partially true.

ELECTRA WHITAKER: ELECTRA is an old soul for her young age of 20, being the youngest sibling. She is reserved and polite, always dressed modestly and is very observant. She has long, incredibly curly red hair, and is very tall and thin. ELECTRA was always teased as a child for being a red-head by all of her siblings, and no one can pull her buttons like they do. While she is reserved and calm, when pushed to the limit her wrath is unmatched. It takes a fair bit to provoke her temper, but once it’s set free she’s a force to be reckoned with. She was always daddy’s girl, the closest to their father in the group, and she is currently in post-secondary school for law.

***************************

These were my character descriptions for my play.
Do you think the characters are vivid enough?
What could I do to make the characters more clear?

The Dark Side of The Fame

During Lady GaGa's first tour around the world - 'The Fame Ball' - GaGa gave us a glimpse into the world of the glitz, the glitter, the glamour and the flashing lights. On her more recent tour 'The Monster Ball' (in which she showcases her newest work 'The Fame Monster') We see that all of these things come at a great cost.

The glitz can ensnare, the glitter can consume, the glamour can decay and the flashing lights may just take your life!

We sit there in the jam-packed ACC with our camera's out and our freshly bought CD's and tour t-shirts in hand, waiting with the hundreds and hundreds of people around us in anticipation. We're all waiting (rather impatiently) for the moment GaGa graces the stage! (Or 'Gay Gay' as the 'I <3 Lady Gay Gay' t-shirts proclaim)

After watching shrieky glam-rock group 'Semi-Precious Weapons' change in the middle of a song and enjoying Kid Cudi's creative electronic set design the moment finally comes...

A video flashes up on a large screen... We see green grid with a figure slowly appearing in the centre. This digital video introduction with images of a dark GaGa in strange positions starts the count down for when she appears. When we hit 0, there she appears behind the screen, as she kicks off the show with a song from her new release entitled 'Dance In The Dark'.

"She looks good but her boyfriend says shes a mess... now the girl is stressed.
Baby likes to dance in the dark, cause when he's looking she falls apart"

This piece has a very heavy, industrial sound with an 80's vibe. The theme of this powerful song is women's rights - it contains shout outs to influential females killed by 'The Fame' such as Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Sylvia Plath and even Princess Diana.

This song launced right into 'Just Dance' and from there we moved into a flurry of costume changes. To keep us entertained when she isn't on stage we see strange but beautiful video and musical accompaniment. Her performances mixed with these videos piece together the story of a tragic sort of fame in a captivating multimedia collage.

The first major highlight of the show was when Lady GaGa came out in a strange feathered outfit and began singing another release off of her new album: 'Monster'. Her large flurry of black feathers was backed by striking images (of black trees, a red sky and smooth silky crow wings) making for an interesting and spooky performance.

"He's a wolf in disguise... but I can't stop staring in those evil eyes!"

My next highlight of the show was when the chanteuse delicately perched herself onto the piano stool, telling the story of how her father refused to get heart surgery. She thought she'd have to stop touring and making music all together... and so she wrote the song 'Speechless' as a means to convince him. This little piece of background information made the song so much more meaningful and emotional for everyone watching, particularly as her father was in the audience that day. Everyone in the ACC sung along to this ballad at her request, fearing she wouldn't be able to get through all the words without breaking into tears.

"Would you give it all up if I promise boy to you;
I'll never talk again. I'll never love again.
I'll never write a song, won't even sing along

No, I'll never love again."

After that tender moment however, she got everyone up dancing and singing again with GaGa classics like 'Love Game' and 'Fashion' in which she adorned a particularly magnificent egyptian/Cleopatra-esque outfit.

Although we had to leave a couple of songs early so as to catch the last train back to Whitby, this multimedia extravaganza was more than just a concert; it was an experience. She ended strong with songs Paparazzi and Bad Romance, using her now iconic oribital setpiece and leaving off on a strong note. This electro-pop-opera captivated everyone in the room, and was successful at selling out the entire ACC within the first day of sales. With new songs like 'Bad Romance' and others from 'The Fame Monster' working their way up the charts, GaGa has proven she is here to stay.

But still, her show cautions all her 'little monsters' that danger lurks behind every corner in Hollywood; in money, extravagence and self indulgence.

So don't fall victim to The Fame - it's a monster.

Tha Futuh!

Ah!
It's already almost Christmas, which means it's already almost 2010, which means we're already almost done highschool!AHUNIVERSITY

Isn't it odd how quick things come and go. I swear it feels like yesterday I was walking through Sinclair for the first time, and now we'll be walking through the halls for our last time (hopefully) in a few months. 2009 alone has gone by so fast, it's ridiculous, it's kind of bad, everything sort of seems like a blur. I'm afraid the rest of my life is going to be like this, and before I know it, BAM my youth is gone! :(


As for the near future, I really am quite excited for Christmas, i'm decorating my house tomorrow which for the first time i'll do so willingly. The past two years Christmas has crept up on me, and I haven't quite enjoyed it, I'm hoping that if i get into that Christmas might be more exciting. I really don't care about the gifts, just more so the wonder and tradition of it all.

It was until recently did I actually realize how important tradition is. It gives you something to look forward to, and just get excited about. Without traditions, our society would be very boring!

Anyways, I keep jumping from topic to topic, thats when I know I need to stop writing.

I hope you all are getting excited for the holidays, eggnog/candycanes/nutcrackers/garland ftw. :3

dedication

They say they love you
they say they care
but on your final day
they turn the other way

you give them dedication
you listen to what they say
we wait for them at the door
they walk away when we're on the floor

Little monsters
created by us
ignoring us
forgetting us

they forget we made them
and we Destroy them

I started this piece with clear vision, but it got a little misrepresented somewhere in the middle. if you have any suggestions to improve it, would love to hear them

18 weeks.

Recently I realized how important it is to be proud. To have pride in something is just so healthy for you. I recently realized that I don't have anything I truly am proud of and I'm worried. I want to go to Ryerson for film, statistically speaking I have a 5% chance of getting in. Out of 1700 students, they only accept 65 out of those applicants. When looking back at any artistic attempts in my life, I can only count a few that I truly respect and am proud of...

You see, I know what I want to do in life, but I'm not sure I'm quite there....maturity wise, talent wise, overall. This is frustrating, because ever since I was 12 I knew I wanted to go into film. The problem is I've never created a work ethic strong enough to make me one of those 65 students.

However, as opposed to sitting around and waiting for myself to mature, and become more talented, i'm taking a bit of a different approach. Self discovery is what I'll call it. I'm going to give myself 18 weeks to truly find myself, and develop what needs to be developed. I figure, if every week for 18 weeks, i make a video addressing my obstacles in life, and figuring out ways of overcoming them I can challenge myself by committing and also artistically.

By presenting this challenge, hopefully I can mature, and find my pride. It's very difficult to commit for me, so i'm really hoping I can do so.

what do you guys think? Am I crazy to make a video every week for 18 weeks? Am I just over analyzing myself? Or is it an appropriate experiment? Wish me luck!

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,

I promise you that this year I've been good.
I've been doing my chores and homework, like I should.
I'm hoping that because I've taken extra care,
That you will be the one to answer my prayer.

What I want for Christmas, cannot be bought.
It cannot be packaged, gift wrapped or sought.
I want what is not a material thing.
It is not something that just anyone can bring.

What I want is my father, home from war.
I want peace in Iraq, so I won't worry anymore.
I don't want to wonder if I'll see him again.
I need to know he's safe, and not in pain.

So please, dear Santa, grant me this.
The presents I don't want; my father I miss.
And if you don't want to do this just for me,
Please think of all the children who also want family.

It is hard for us to have them so far away,
So help bring them home for the holiday.
If you can do this for us, we'll be good forevermore,
And if everyone's good, then in the future

there will be no war.

Fruit Salad

I am an apple.
Don't drop me,
or I'll bruise.

I am a pineapple.
My exterior is rough,
but on the inside I'm sweet.

I am a grape.
I am more fun,
when surrounded by others.

I am a watermelon.
Happiest on a summer picnic,
but sometimes you must spit out the seeds.

I am a blueberry.
I can look very tempting,
but sometimes I'm bitter.

I am a pear.
My shape is far from perfect,
but I am always sweet.

I am an orange.
My skin is tough,
so that I won't be damaged.

I am a banana.
I look like I'm all smiles,
but sometimes I'm split.

------------------------------------------------

This poem is about multiple personalities. Sometimes I feel that I could be any one of these 'fruits.'
I think this poem needs a conclusion. Any ideas?
I also think it needs a better flow. Suggestions for improvement?

Marley and Me

“Marley and Me,” based on the popular book by John Grogan, is the story of the miraculous connection between dog and owner. It stole the hearts of dog-lovers everywhere. You not only appreciate your own dog more, but you form a relationship with Marley and John.
The movie brings you through a sea of emotions as you follow John (Owen ­Wilson) through ups and downs in his life, ­including when he finds Marley, and through the adventures of married life (his wife is played by Jennifer Aniston) and parenthood. As his life changes, one thing stays the same, Marley is by his side.As John and his dog become closer, you feel yourself falling in love with Marley. The way the movie presents the bond between a person and a dog will definitely leave you in tears. “Marley and Me” also ­teaches the great lesson of sticking to what is most important to you. As the demands of work and home are compounded by the struggle of keeping up with a hyper dog, John knows he must choose what is most important. This movie allows you to bond with each character as you follow them through life and reminds you to always stay true to what is important to you, even if you’re learning it from a dog.

_________ would like to be your friend!

To be honest, it was overwhelmingly eager to please. Hyper-active. Too happy. All I wanted was for it to bring me some bad news; some big, bold, red letters ranting about how nobody wanted to be its friend. I'd had enough of the exclamation points, the persistent emails that were sent straight to my junk email folder. I couldn't stand it's bubbly personality - I just wanted to be left alone!

Over time, however, I became less hostile. I realized that I actually enjoyed the emails begging me to be it's friend. It put a smile on my face to know that someone wanted to be my friend. I couldn't say no again, after months of shaking my head and refusing...

So, I accepted.

Suddenly, it wanted to know everything I was doing, who I was friends with, what movies I like watching friday nights, what music I listen to. I gladly revealed most everything, knowing that the word would get passed around that I love Tim Burton, going to see plays and Dr. Gregory House. More and more invitations were being emailed to me, and my keyboard-happy fingers were only too glad to oblige.

It's always interested in what's on my mind; I usually say so without hesitation. It likes to follow my conversations with people too, which I would find a bit creepy, if not for the fact that I, too, enjoy following my friends' conversations... It always makes sure to invite me to the next housr party or gig.. and it's pretty thoughtful, too! It doesn't even have to be my birthday, and it will send me surprise gifts that I can open when we next meet. And speaking of birthdays, it never fails to remind me of upcoming birthdays that I otherwise would have certainly forgotten.

I've learned, over time, that it's got my back. Always there for me when I want to do something or make plans... have a conversation... friendly interaction. It stays up with me late at night, distracting me from endless horus of homework that I inevitably have to plough through.

So, over our three/four year long friendship, I've begun to harbour a soft spot for it;
the ultimate cyborg - a digitalized best friend.
It's Facebook.



i actually am extremely annoyed by facebook and its convenience. damn technology! <_<

Questions

If i were to die tomorrow,
what would you say?
How would you remember me?
Would you care?


If i were to die tomorrow,
could you sleep?
Would you cry?
Did you care about me?


If i were to die tomorrow,
would the world sheed a tear?
Would the world stop for a moment?
Would your world stop?


If were to die tomorrow,
could someone elses life be spared?

*cough*cough*.. I'm sick

"I'm tired and I don't feel well. I don't think I can go to school today."

We've ALL used that line before. Or something like it anyways. But does it ever work is the question.

Here is my answer:

"Good try Taylor, get up you're going to be late for first period. Have a good day."

I'm going to guess to say I am allowed to stay home for about 1 out of every 10 times I try and pull the "sick" or "tired" line with my mom. And the one in ten times it works, I'm only aloud to stay home for the morning. And I have spare in the morning. Lets just say I don't use that line often. I know its not going to work. Who am I kidding, my parents aren't pushovers. And through sports and extra curricular activities, most people, like myself learn to just suck it up and get out of bed in the morning. Muscles sore, headache, cough, or just messy hair, I'll be at school. I only ever miss for sports-tournaments and things like that. I find most people whose parents this does not work on, are the kids who have actual rules and are disciplined by their parents. As much as I can first hand say, sometimes it sucks to be one fo those kids with hard ass parents, I know it will pay off. And it already has. I will be more disciplined in the future because of it, push myself, have better work habits and succeed.

VS.

"I'm tired and I don't feel well. I don't think I can go to school today."

answer...

"I called the school to let them know you won't be there. Remind me tonight to write you a note so you can hand your assignment in late tomorrow."

(Excuse my blunt opinions) These type of parents are not teaching their kids anything. No discipline, no morals, and nothing that will help your kid out in the future. Yes there are kids who don't need strict rules and hard ass parents in order to be motivated and successful. However most kids I know take advantage of their push-over parents and non-schalant lifestyle. When your struggling in university or college becasue you've been skipping and your falling behind, your profs aren't going to accept a note from your mom. Your parents are not going to be there to bail you out of all of your problems for the rest of your life. As much as I would like to swap my parents for easily manipulated ones, I know that won't benefit me. And I know my life would be SO different if I didn't have the type of parents I had. It is so frustrating to see kids-some who are even your friends, who run on their own watch and do essentially whatever they please.


So to the slackers... Your mommy's not always going to be there for you. Some people will just have to learn the hard way!

Week 9

Good responses and posts this week you guys. I like the variety (I don't often bake Lindsay, but I'll keep the recipe just in case!).

The Diary Of Anne Frank

Both Friday and Saturday I had the privilege of seeing Sinclair’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank. Simply put, if you didn’t get to see it, I truly feel sorry for you. In every possible way, it met and surpassed expectations. Technically the show was excellent, performance wise it was phenomenal, and the set and costumes were unbelievable. The Diary of Anne Frank is the story based on the diary Anne Frank kept during her time hiding from Nazis during the second world war. It’s a very emotional story, that has it’s highs and lows, but overall is quite sad.

When I say Sinclair’s production of this story was phenomenal, I mean it completely. I saw it twice, and loved every second of it. I couldn’t get over how natural everything felt, with such a difficult play that required so much talent. I was thoroughly impressed with the acting. Many times throughout the show, only a few characters out of many that were on stage would be talking, and those not, were playing their roles perfectly, not breaking characters once. It was amazing how well rehearsed everything clearly was.

Another thing I adored about this play, was the set and costumes. Eveyrhting seemed so authentic, I couldn’t quite get over how authentic it truly was. The clothes fit perfectly, the characters all seemed to be real. With the pairing of excellent acting, it was hard to distinguish the difference between this school play, and a professional play. The set worked perfectly, and it was obvious how hard they had worked on it, I loved it.

Lastly, the discipline in the acting was truly unique, after seeing it a second time, I noticed where there had been so me errors, some lines missed, or objects knocked over, that sort of thing. Instead of seeing panic, or a stutter on their faces, they simply flowed with it, as if it were natural. It was flawless in the sense that even when they would miss a line, it still flowed perfectly. That takes a lot of chemistry to be able to continue to flawlessly communicate, especially in front of such a large audience.

So, all in all, Sinclair’s The Diary of Anne Frank was a remarkable show that I absolutely adored! Jordan, Diana and Mrs.Hathaway, I understand you were all apart of the show, so just sending my complaints your way, great job!

When Life Hands You Lemons...

I was going to write a crappy poem, but i think i'll take a moment to talk unceremoniously about something else instead...



I guess the cold/flu bug, having finally made its rounds, had a score to settle with me. I'm usually one to get strep throat at least twice before the winter break of each school year, but I am happy to say that I have not yet been graced by its presence. However, with my friends and family members suffering from relentless coughs and exhaustion, it must have been a matter of time until I caught what they had.

And caught it, I did.

It is no surprise, therefore, that this weekend consisted of a few choice hot drinks in order to soothe my throat and headache. I took each one gladly. The first, was Friday afternoon's Hot Water and Lemon order, courtesy of Boston Pizza. It was without a doubt, the best part of my meal.

The next Saturday morning was a bit of a blur. While frantically driving around Whitby in what seemed to me to be the early hours of the morning (but was only, in fact, 12:00 noon), I decided that Maddie and I deserved a nice warm drink for our throats - both of us were, by then, half-heartedly fighting off our colds. We had two shows to do that day, and there was no way we would allow ourselves to fall victim to the dreaded cold. We ventured into starbucks, waited in line and hastily asked the server behind the counter if they had any lemon. They did not. Sigh. Well, it was worth trying. Maddie and I ordered teas instead; I had a Tall Organic Chai Tea, which, until the last 15 minutes before our matinee show, proved to be a wonderful comfort.

It wasn't until 2:45am on Sunday morning that I had my next hot beverage/lemon fix. To say that it was much appreciated would be an understatement. After a long day of emotional performances and a night of tears and celebration, it felt unimaginably relieving to finally curl up on my basement couch - still donning a pair of jeans and a tank top - and sip the ultimate remedy to cold-induced insomnia: NeoCitron.

I sit now at the computer desk feeling exhausted, congested and a little feverish, all too gladly thinking that this was a weekend that I will not soon forget. Thanks to hot drinks and lemon, I was able to not only live through it, but to juice it for all that it was worth (pun completely intended).

Duplicity

We stepped outside ourselves and started looking in.
Your endless stream of counterfeit ideas took me in.
The train has left, your time is up, you know that this was hard...
But don't expect a postcard.

The lies, the lies, you took me by surprise
With your duplicity
The lies, the lies, they all fell for your disguise
But you're no longer fooling me
With your duplicity

I've started liking public places, brushing against strangers
Makes me feel more human though I do realize the dangers
As humanity is the part of me -
The part of me that fell for your duplicity

The lies, the lies, your hands covered my eyes.
You and your duplicity.
The lies, the lies, you think you're very wise...
But you're no longer fooling me;
I've moved your hands and I can see
Your duplicity.

You threw me off course - but you won't win this time
I can see the daggers hiding in your eyes and I'm sorry
that I ever thought you knew me.
I've moved your hands and I can see,
You are no longer fooling me
With your duplicity.

The lies, the lies, these things that you devise...
Oh your duplicity.
The lies, the lies, I've said my last goodbyes
To your duplicity.

**************************

So, I wrote this solely based on the fact that I really like the word duplicity.
I wrote it probably close to a year ago now, and it is a song so it's kind of hard to read it properly without the musical accompaniment - but alas, I am too lazy to record anything. Nor do i have the proper equipment.
So critique based on the lyrical content.
(although some of the flow issues would make more sense if you did hear it with music)