My Own Bunny, Bob Dylan, and Coke Utopia

AWWWW!!

I just spent over an hour sitting in the kitchen with the bunny, listening to Bob Dylan, reading his memoir that I just bought (amazing!), and drinking a coke. My life was MADE for me!

(Also, when I'm in my room and I get sudden inspiration to chill with the bunny, in my head I shout "PEANUT BUTTER BUNNY TIME!"

... I don't know why...)

Kitty the Bunny

Sonya got a BUNNY!!! Her name is Kitty (it already had the name)!!! I'll put up pictures when I get home. I was hesitant to write it on this blog because we're not really supposed to have animals in the apartments... but a) I HIGHLY doubt that anyone from housing is going to see this... and b) if any future employers read my blog (which I also highly HIGHLY doubt), then this particular activity doesn't defame my character. 

I'm super pleased though because bunnies are WAY COOLER than the fish I flirted with getting. Although I haven't held the bunny yet because we're still letting it get used to the place. Although she's not that afraid of people... as far as bunnies go. 

On another note, I'm officially REALLY nervous about my video production story!! It's going to be about 15 minutes long (which is LONG), AAAAAAAAAAND we're hiring REAL ACTORS!! Like... STRANGERS! Like... adult characters will be played by ACTUAL adults! They work for free so hey can have stuff on their resume. And III'M directing!! I'M bossing around said adults!!! Isn't that INSANE?? AAAAAND we might decide to do it in the studio... which means we will be building SETS!! For something that someone is going to put on their ACTING RESUME!!! And IIII'M WRITING AND DIRECTING IT!!!

School Update and Words on Creative Writing

First of all, impossible to say how I did on the Chinese exam. I'm not going to freak out though, because it is only 15% of our grade... which is VERY nice of him. Plus, at the very least... IIII feel like I understand what happened in China and Taiwan between 1949 and ... 1987 ish. AND it's very interesting and, I think, important stuff to know in regards to our own political system ... and the choices our country makes in manipulating other countries' systems. Now... whether I gave my professor what he wanted is completely up in the air... but at least it's not like my food anthro class where I got it... but I really didn't care or find it relevant to anything (not to say that it WASN'T relevant to anything... but if it was, I didn't get it).

Second of all, I don't know why I had a heart attack about that screenplay. Of COURSE it wasn't due today... but I was all discombobulated by the C+ thing. Which, by the way, I don't think she's even seeing! Today she said that the grade he gave us doesn't count unless we DON'T turn in the final draft... it was just to tell us what grade we would get if we turned the paper in right then. Plus, I didn't even ask... someone else from my group did, which tells me that she didn't do too well either. I gotta say... even though my TA is really cute... I'm finding him increasingly less attractive... making us freak out like that AND making us stay late every day... and one day we literally stayed a HALF HOUR late!!... which is just rude. But I feel better at least.

So even though it SEEMS like creative writing is the easiest kind of writing... I might have to disagree. Certainly it is the most FUN writing... and it's the easiest if you have a story in mind... but coming up with a story is hard. PLUS, it could take ANY amount of time. Like... you could come up with a story in a few minutes... or it could take you days. And sometimes it doesn't come until you're about to have a heartattack from not having an idea yet.

SO, I have to come up with a children's program tonight. I pretty much already have an idea so it should be easy. No problem.

I have to flesh out an idea for video production for tomorrow. TOUGH because even though I CAN change it as I'm writing... I still have to have an idea of what I want to do for tomorrow. And chances are... I'm PROBABLY going to stick with whatever I come up with. Also, lot's of pressure because it's going to be produced... so I have to make sure I write it within the bounds of something we can shoot. AND I can't change my idea because it was voted on. So the premise has to be the same. I'll just say that it's about someone on an acid trip (and I've never done acid)... so it's going to be a little tricky writing something that I can shoot. But the group liked the story... and I guess they had faith in me... so whatever.

Also, I have to rework my screenplay for Friday... which will be fine... but it's going to take some extensive fine-tuning.

I think the most difficult thing is going to be coming up with THREE separate ideas for a 15 minute screenplay. I need to write a half page summary for each idea... which doesn't SEEM like a huge deal... but is actually going to be super hard, I would say. She made this assignment today. I would complain about the lack of time... but I secretly (/openly with the entire blogosphere) like when the Professor only gives us a few days to do something. Then, by default, I didn't procrastinate.

So there you have it. All of my homework is creative writing. I am a pretty lucky devil!

ALSO, I need to write a resume... which believe it or not, I have never done before. I shall definitely be seeking help.

School Crazy and Jon Stewart/ I Really Only Talk about a Few Things EVER

OK... the first thing I'm thinking about is my Chinese anthro midterm tomorrow. I've gone to all but one lecture, which I have notes for, but I haven't studied them. I've read 65/333 pages of one book, 96/285 pages of another book, and 0/133 pages of the last one. And it's 10:52pm... which is rough. Plus I'm writing in this. Actually, that writing made me MORE nervous. 

AAAAAALSO, I'm not sure if we are supposed to turn in a draft of our screenplays tomorrow in screenwriting. I haven't missed a class and she USUALLY tells us what we're supposed to do for the next week. So she didn't tell us last week, and I looked on the syllabus and we're a week ahead... so we've already done the reading for this week. And NEXT week has no reading assignment. AAAAND the screenplays are ALLEGEDLY due on Friday. So... what I'm saying is that after my shows, when I'm crying because I didn't prepare enough for my exam... I don't want to also worry about revising (/rewriting because of the new computer) my screenplay. That will take a long time for nothing. BUUUUT if for some reason our screenplay is due tomorrow (which it REALLY SHOULDN'T BE because we SAID it was due Friday but it ISN'T IN THE SYLLABUS!!! ) I'm going to bawl my eyes out!! Oh god. Maybe I'll just KIND OF do it, and then PRAY that it wasn't necessary. 

In other news, I went to the internship lady, prepared to be scolded for being late about applying for internships. Well that did NOT happen. In fact, she told me to make sure I come back to her before summer starts. I was like... yeah... I hope to come back in a few weeks!! (in my head)! ANYWAY, she gave me this big book of reviews of internships by former students separated into categories of TV in Boston, TV in NYC, Film in Boston, and Film in NYC. I was like "HELL YEAH!" (in my head). So it was basically like the students name, the company, the name, email address, and phone number of the supervisor, a sentence of what they did, and a rating of the internship on a scale of 1-5. Well, as I was skimming through, I came across someone who interned at The Daily Show! I'm not gonna lie... I jizzed in my pants a smidge. Because now I have their phone number! 

Really though, I can either get basic experience in Boston, and stay with my friends or work for a really awesome show in NYC all alone. I think I'm going to apply everywhere first and then go from there. But if I get to do The Daily Show... well then I HAVE to do it (even though it would be a little scary to work for someone I love so much!!!!!)!!! But I think any opportunity is going to be SUPER fun! 

ALSO, Elena is going to be my roommate next year! Hellz yeah!

AAAAND I'm getting more netflix tomorrow!! So while I'm weeping with exhaustion tomorrow, I can consider watching Bob Dylan: No Direction Home pt. 2 OR some episodes of David Cross' (and some other guy's) The Mr. Show. That sounded sarcastic... but I'm not. Except I'll ACTUALLY be watching Important Things with Demetri Martin, who graduated from Yale, dropped out of NYU law school, and is like... 36 years old!! He looks 26 for REAL!  Plus he was sort of a correspondent on The Daily Show. AND Jon Stewart produces the show. So done.

Although I'll actually have to do an outline of my OTHER screenplay for video production. 

Film, Writing, School, Bob Dylan-- The Usual

So I've had Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back with me for I believe a couple of weeks now because I haven't been able to bear sending it back. So this morning, they didn't need me at work (I'm supposed to be typing up inventory but the computer is still out doing... something), but I was already awake, so I decided to watch Don't Look Back again. I really just love it so much! So I decided that it has crossed a threshold and that I should just buy it. Which I did. I don't feel guilty (except I obviously do, or else I wouldn't be writing about it), because I haven't bought a movie in a LONG TIME!! And if you don't count Colorado... a SUPER long time!

So this week is going to be big for me!!

1. I have a Chinese anthro midterm on Wednesday. I REEEEAAAAAAAAALLLY need to do some reading for that. It's a priority except that I haven't been wise about it so far. For instance, I SHOULD be reading right now!!

2. My first piece for screenwriting is due on Friday. We've been doing the same thing for weeks... but last week my group decided I needed to change quite a bit (which really pissed me off... because my story has been the same exact thing for WEEKS. Whatever.)! And actually, I can't let this go, but we got graded on our draft by our TA on Friday... and I was REALLY angry because I had no idea we were going to get graded-- like... they actually didn't tell us, because I asked two other people and they both didn't know, and were pissed as well. I've brought in about 3 drafts so far and every time they look the same... I haven't put page numbers on it, or made a cover page. No one has said anything about it. But he ended up grading this one, and he gave me a C+ which... I honestly don't see at ALL as far as my story goes... and if that WAS the case with my story... then they should have been having me fix it! But I THINK it either has to do with format... or the fact that he's a grad student and doesn't want to seem soft. Now... the grade ALLEGEDLY doesn't count for anything... or he doesn't think it does, but I don't want my teacher to think that my TA thought I deserved a C+. Screenwriting is so subjective that I think it could really influence the grade SHE gives me! Also, even though I GUESS it's irrelevant to me, there are 6 people in our discussion and only 3 of us show up every Friday. One kid has only shown up for 2 classes and one girl has only showed up for 1!!! I should be doing at LEAST as well as them. I just can't BELIEVE he gave me a C+!! The draft before this last one he actually said that he didn't have too much to say about my piece because it had good pacing and good story!!! I'm really not exaggerating here! 

But whatever... let's move on.

3. In my video production class (6 people, all grad students but me), we had to pitch our ideas for our final project... which is HUGE because this is supposed to be the movie that we can use for a resume or something. Anyway, my class picked mine and another kids!! Which is SUPER flattering! BUUUT now I have to actually write the script and it's not a completely clear story to me yet... but I have to have some sort of outline by Thursday. Also, this means that I'm going to be the director... which is pretty intense! Last time I was a director... I lost a little sleep from it! But I'm also really excited!

3b. Irrelevant... but I also had to shoot some stuff for our Twilight Zone project on Saturday evening and it was lame because I had to miss a really neat mascarade marti gras party. BUUUT I felt good because shooting things takes so much time that I at least feel like I had a good weekend, as far as school goes (I would say a "productive" weekend.... but I really hate that word now that people use it as though life without "productivity" is meaningless. I'm tired of that thinking... and I think it makes people's lives seem completely useless and trivial).

ALSO, I'm talking to the internship lady TOMORROW. AND I need to call the other lady about the w2 situation. 

Also, even though I'm doing all of that stuff... tonight I'm STILL going to make time for Letterman (if I have a lot to do, I usually only watch Stewart and Colbert) because I think Kate Winslet is on!!!! Hellz yeah!!!

Someday I'm going to decide if I'm going to go home for spring break. 

Some Oscar Reflection-- YEEEAH SLUMDOG!!

Well... I got 11/24 for the Oscars... but the ones I REALLY cared about (Kate Winslet for Best Actress and Slumdog Millionaire for Best Picture) won!!!

Plus!! Slumdog won 8/10 that it was nominated for... which is WAY better than I thought... although I certainly HOPED because I thought the movie was SO brilliant!!!! AAAAAND Benjamin Button only got 3/13, which was good because I didn't really love that movie. 

BUUUT Stephen Colbert and I were both wrong about Best Actor which went to Sean Penn instead of Mickey Rourke. I'm not complaining though, because Sean Penn was VERY good! Also, his speech was nice when he told people against gay marriage to reflect on the shame of their grand children... which is a great way to put it! Although Milk ALSO won best original screenplay, and I have to say I REALLY disagree. I LOVED the acting, and I loved the message of that movie... but I thought the writing was kind of poor. It just wasn't going anywhere... which I understand is hard when you're trying to be factual about the real situation, but WALL-E was amazing! And so was Happy-Go-Lucky. I think that's the only one that I thought did NOT deserve the Oscar... at least for that category. 

New Computer and Words from Obama

GOT MY NEW COMPUTER! (how guilty do I feel after my last post? enough.)

BUUUT before it's really any use to me, I have to figure out if I can download celtx for screenwriting because otherwise I'm going to have to buy a screenwriting program. They are like... a hundred dollars. Also, I had trouble downloading a free version of finale notepad when I was at home.. but I really need that so I can arrange the Britney medley. Also, my ethernet cord kind of broke so it keeps slipping out of the computer (it broke like.. 2 days ago). 

Buuuuut I DO have all of my pictures and music on the computer. 

It is KIND of frustrating having a new computer. I'm not TRYING to complain and I'm sure I'll be really happy... and really, the other one is dead... but I miss it. Sometimes I say mantras to myself to give myself a more clear idea of how I want to react to situations (whatever.. I do) and on the one hand, I never want to be archaic because... rejecting something because it's new or goes against what you previously believed without giving it a go is, in my opinion, foolish and stubborn. On the other hand, you should also respect and appreciate what you have. I think these are great mantras... but they are also the reason why I'm a little mournful about my new computer... and I can't bring myself to get new shoes... and yet I feel guilty for both of these things!

(I really AM glad I have a new computer. It IS exciting. I'm sorry I'm whining.)

In other news though!! I was at work today and:

1. My boss handed me like a JILLION papers, which I assumed I would have to organize or something... but ACTUALLY I got to SHRED THEM!!! That's like... the most fun you can ever have with paper!!

2. This old guy that works there (School of Education), who I THINK is pretty fun (probably because he has EINSTEIN HAIR), saw me wearing my super-'bama t-shirt and told me that he worked for this guy (who he never actually saw) and he ended up calling the guy about something and another guy picked up and told him that said guy had been appointed as something something whatever official white house something. So this Einstein guy was like "that's great." And the man on the phone goes "you might be interested in the note Obama wrote him."

THESE ARE THE EXACT WORDS THE EINSTEIN MAN TOLD ME:

"Your portfolio says hope and change. Those are the ideas I ran on. Don't fuck up."

I LOVE OBAMA!

My Easy Plan

Do you know how PISSED we're going to be in the future (economy-wise)!? Every day I watch Jon Stewart's "Clusterfuck to the Poorhouse" segment, but for whatever reason, today I got a renewed sense of pissed when I watched Letterman interview Donald Trump and they talked about the economy.

I just think we should be like "you're done" to all of these people in charge. Like how when I was little, and maybe I was helping to make dinner but I fooled around a little too much. Then my parents would just say "you're done!" and I would have to let someone else take charge while I considered what I would do differently if I got another chance in the future. Why can't we just clear out all of the people who have been in the government long enough to have seen the corruption and let it happen. Easy. I'm just not going to be shocked when the senior citizens are being bitch-slapped daily to relieve the tension of the people trying to hurry up and find new fuel, invent 2000 spf sunblock, and repay China at the same time. No more tax cuts EVER for all former government officials unless we vote that they tried. No tax cuts and multiple daily bitch slaps. We'll keep Obama though. King Obama and the people he likes. We'll keep them.

We'll just get some younger people who have no patriotism. Then we'll negotiate really well because we won't have self interest... we'll have global interest. And we'll feel enough social responsibility to pay 67% income tax so that we can have guarenteed free education, free public transportation with a new efficient system, free health care, free reasonable sized, carbon neutral housing (bigger houses cost more), free food in a reasonable amount... for EVERYONE! And maybe we can invest in sustainable agriculture in OUR country!! And THEN, after we are sustainable on our own... and we aren't obsessed with THINGS anymore... THEN we'll help everyone who asks for help. OOO and maybe after school, everyone has to do one of the designated jobs that isn't that fun for a year... so then people aren't stuck in those jobs!

What a great plan! I'll email this to Obama and we'll fix everything up!

Mostly My Least Favorite Demographic...

Let's see...

1. I literally did NOTHING over the weekend. I don't really care though because Saturday was Valentines day so... there wasn't really much TO do.... and then I extended the sloth to Sunday. I DID watch Some Kind of Wonderful which is EXACTLY like Pretty in Pink except that John Hughes is more sensitive to the female Duckie. Also, that guy is REALLY attractive... but if I saw him at BU, I would assume he was gay. AAAALSO it was nice because I got a wee cold so I was able to really relax. Although to be honest, it wasn't (/ is not) really bad at all... although it SOUNDED (/soundS) like death with the scratchy voice. AAAnd there was (/is) a lot of nose dripping (I didn't want to use anymore precious toilet paper on my nose, so I started using this bandana and I gotta say... it's DISGUSTING! But also I felt good about being both economic and environmentally friendly).

2. I have a list of things I HAVE to do!! One of them is to MAKE SURE I work on getting an internship THIS WEEK!!! I talked to my mom over the weekend and she made me really nervous about it. I have to say, it's definitely a CONFIRMED weakness of mine. It's perfectly easy living life day to day. But thinking really far ahead... making decisions that affect more than a few days of your future... HARD. So I went to the office today and they told me to get in touch with this lady, but the earliest I can do it is Thursday. I just can't be THAT late. Like... I'll definitely get SOMETHING, right? Even if I don't, I'll work with OCS and then I'll have to reconfigure my plans for next year. For instance, maybe I WILL go "abroad" to LA, get an internship there, and see if it turns into a job. And that will involve DEFINITELY getting my license next winter break. So that is my definitive plan B.

3. I had to get the money from my account balance so that I can make my housing deposit THIS WEEK! Plus, I'll probably be getting my new computer this week. I KIND OF want to do it tomorrow, but I can't go until like... 7pm and I don't really want to take the subway with a new computer after dark. Plus I should probably go with someone else, because I am so easily manipulated that I might accidently buy more than I need. But I guess I AM getting a mac. Maybe I'll try to go on Thursday.

3b. Middle-aged white women are my least favorite demographic. I can't help it... they are always the most annoying people I encounter. The other day (like... 2 weeks ago) I was in line at Subway and this middle-aged white woman was in front of me. Now, the people there are really nice college students and it is a SUPER CROWDED place at lunch time because you can use points for the food and it's in the center of campus... and it's quick. So this is how the conversation goes:

Old Woman: Can I have a large Pepsi with ice?
(The worker brings out the large cup)
Old Woman (cont'd): Actually can I have a small?

Worker: Pepsi?

Old Woman: With ICE.
(aside to me, with a look)
Old Woman: I thought that's what I said.

In my head I was like "are you KIDDING me? In what universe are you the victim here?"

I'm also biased from working in a grocery store for three years... where food shopping is the most INTENSE MOMENT OF THEIR LIVES!
Also, I remember reflecting this time when the fire alarm went off in the movie theater I worked at last year. It was Saturday at like... 9pm and it was REALLY raining! So like... 5,000 people filed out and then they all went right back in... and they were MOSTLY not that pissed at all. Do you know why? No middle-aged white women. They were all college students and some black families. I'm not TRYING to be biased (except I obviously am), but you have to admit if a fire alarm went off in a theater full of middle-aged white women, you'd NEVER hear the end of it!

The reason I bring this up is because I a) wanted to after the subway incident but forgot, and b) because today I went to the financial office to get my account balance. I go up to the middle-aged white woman at the counter and I say "Hello. I have a balance on my account and.. uh... I would like to withdraw it?" And the lady goes "Yeah, this isn't like a bank. If you're an undergraduate you have to go to the fourth floor and get a withdrawl slip." She said it in this really snotty way that made me feel REALLY guilty even though.. it's my money! Plus, it's not like it's a routine thing. How else was I supposed to address the issue. And how much different is it REALLY from a bank? How insulting could that statement honestly be? Instead of working with a variety of people, she works with the money of college students.

I have more examples... but they're a little more insulting to some ladies a little closer to home. I'm just saying... this isn't an issue I take lightly. AND I'm sad that I will become a middle-aged white woman. I just hope that it's a product of like.. the time they were raised... OR maybe it's just that they are menopausal... because the monthlies certainly aren't a laughing matter... so I guess menopause could be a ... crying matter... Although I honestly think that at least BLACK women are a lot more understanding... and at least WISER than some of this entitled white women bitches! BUUUUUUT luckily, OLD white woman are kind and wise too... so there's hope.

SORRY IF I INSULTED YOUR MOM! I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HER (...)

AAAANYWAY, as far as school goes, I have to:
1. Come up with a children's program idea for TOMORROW. I only have to give like... a half a page fact sheet... but it's hard. It has to be somewhat educational. If I come up with a good one, I'll write about it tomorrow.
2. Come up with an idea for a 15-minute movie idea for Thursday. I really want to come up with a good one! It has to be SHOOTABLE though... which is key. Not too many actors and not too complex of a location!
3. I have to read a Twilight Zone script and think about which part I want to do.
4. I have to finish writing my draft of my short script (not a big deal unless it's not long enough) by tomorrow
5. Read. A lot. Some by tomorrow. Some not.
6. Chinese anthro exam next Wednesday. Next Tuesday is going to be a HUUUUUGE bitch! Wednesdays are alREADY rough!

That being said.. my life is PRETTY COOL. To reinerate, I'm super-excited about my future!! Even if I get the SHITTIEST job in television, it'll still be awesome, I'm pretty sure!

By the way, I just finished watching season 5-10 of Friends... and that show IIIIIS awesome! It is STILL my favorite show! I honestly think it was brilliant from beginning to end... and I don't think I've EVER seen a show as captivating and witty... and after watching them, I have to officially withdraw my love of The Office... I know this seems sudden... and I DO really love the earlier seasons... but this season is ridiculous. I can't keep recommending crap. Although I obviously won't stop watching... because I can't.

Also, today I was supposed to get my new Bob Dylan documentary (the first disk, anyway) called No Direction Home. I didn't get it and I WAS pretty upset... but now I think it was lucky because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to resist and I would watch it tonight... and NOT do my work. So thank you, netflix. You know me so well!

Also, even though I DO really like Bill Mahr... I like Colbert and Stewart better. Bill is a little holier-than-thou... And Stewart and Colbert are more sensible.

My Brother

My brother's youtube account profile! (he's 10)

Horsecrap5
im a cool stay at home guy

Country: United States
Interests and Hobbies: Sports, canoing
Movies and Shows: Juno, simpsons
Music: John Lennon
Books: Trumpet of the Swan

HAAAA!!

http://wimp.com/kittensbook/

I'm Not There

I watched the Bob Dylan movie I'm Not There and I was SOOOOO glad that I have already been reading about him and I watched that documentary. Otherwise I would be pissed off... but as it was, I REALLY liked it! AAAAALSO I'm glad I already am REALLY fascinated by him, because otherwise I wouldn't have taken the time to read about the actual movie and watch the DVD extras.... which I think is pretty important. Usually I wouldn't condone needing supplimental material for a movie-- that would be standardly poor filmmaking-- but as my video production professor always says "you need to know the rules so that you can break them."

ANYWAY the movie is the writer's interpritation of Bob Dylan's many lives... so it's like.. the different stages of Bob Dylan as different people. A lot of the dialogue was actual stuff he said... but within this kind of alternate reality. That's pretty much the coolest thing I've ever heard!! And... it takes SERIOUS dedication. And he wrote a one page summary for Bob Dylan to approve and this is part of what he wrote, which I thought was awesome.

"If a film were to exist in which the breadth and flux of a creative life could be experienced, a film that could open up as oppose to consolidating what we think we already know walking in, it could never be within the tidy arc of a master narrative. The structure of such a film would have to be a fractured one, with numerous openings and a multitude of voices, with its prime strategy being one of refraction, not condensation. Imagine a film splintered between seven separate faces — old men, young men, women, children — each standing in for spaces in a single life."

I'm just so impressed!

What I REALLY want to know is what Bob Dylan THOUGHT of the movie... but I can't find anything!! I guess I shouldn't be shocked though.. I mean, I have been reading about him for days and... he's not about that kind of stuff. I'm amazed he even let the movie be made.

Also, Cate Blanchett was INCREDIBLE. I mean... her performance was really flawless!! Just as it was in The Aviator. DAMNIT Blanchett... it makes me want Benjamin Button to win more Oscars than I REALLY want it to win.

Also, I VERY MISTAKENLY returned I'm Not There last night... when now I realize I definitely want to watch it again. I'll have to RE-netflix it. If Obama wasn't in office, I would wonder what the government thought of my movie decisions (like I used to think about the library-- I used to check out The Perfect Pancake constantly in middle and highschool (for real) and I always thought the government would be like "What the hell is in that book?? Bomb recipes?").

PSA: Back Up Your Work

Greatestjournal officially went under and my five years of blogs are no longer online. Fortunately, all of mine are on a disk!! WHOOO for thinking ahead. 

BACK UP YOUR WORK, YA'LL!

My Dad's Facebook...

Chick Flick Depression and Joaquin is High

Today Rachael and I spontaneously decided to go and see He's Just Not That into You. Let me just say, I almost shot myself in the face! It was SO DEPRESSING!! Now... I'm having the monthlies (it's MY BLOG! I'll say what I WANT)... so I was a little more susceptible to strong emotions... I'll be the first to admit that... but I hated ALMOST the whole thing... until it got better at the end. But I'll tell you what, I don't want to live in a world where JENNIFER CONNELLY gets cheated on (and can I just say... it's not the first time for her (Little Children!))!! AND where Justin Long can be a little pimp (not that he isn't really cute... because he is)!! NAY! Plus the audience kept laughing at things that made me want to die! And I kept thinking that all of these actors and actresses were socializing women to become completely obsessed with marriage and whatever and men to be COMPLETE assholes! But actually in the end, it kind of made me feel good. Not only because it obviously ends the way romantic comedies tend to (hope I didn't give anything away), but because it made me feel good about the way III approach men (or.. I mean... DON'T approach them, as the case may be...). Anyway, it took a LONG-ASS time for me to not be depressed during the movie. Like... maybe the last 7 minutes I felt okay.
I thought I was going into a light-hearted film... wah-wah.
Although, on a side note, Scarlett Johanson had AMAZING hair!!

Also, I'm watching Letterman right now... and Joaquin Phoenix is
a) REALLY REALLY REALLY HIGH!! Like... possibly not even pot-high. It might be a very SERIOUS high!! Letterman just finished his interview with "Well, Joaquin, I'm sorry you couldn't be here tonight..." It was funny AND depressing. If he dies soon though, they are going to play this interview over and over again to show us the signs! What did I learn from Heath Ledger?
(That was like... the most unsensative thing ever! I won't erase it, but I'll acknowledge its rudeness.)
b) not going to act anymore, allegedly. THAT sucks.
(I call him Leaf in my head... and outloud to my TV when I simultaneously laugh at him and feel sorry for him...)

Look Who Graduated from BU

Bill O'Reilly graduated from BU!!!! I did NOT know that! I do NOT think BU is terribly proud!!

Bill O'Reilly, Martin Luther King Jr., and Howard Stern ALL graduated from the same university!

(And Jason Alexander and Gena Davis... although they aren't as funny)

Cute Chords

Even though we lost ICCAs... we're still SUPER CUTE!

Sorry... But More Bob Dylan

He's just so CAPTIVATING!! Like... just honestly... you watch him on screen and you just CAN'T stop looking at him... And he has this really lovely speaking voice that is in such contrast to his singing voice. And he dresses like a little hipster... but it's great. He's 5'7"!!

Also, I know I'm only focusing on him in like '64 and '65... but that's because that's all I've seen...

Also... he makes me want to smoke. Whatever!

Also... his hair is amazing!

How can you NOT be obsessed?!

So Regular

Today was a little boring. Not in a bad way at ALL though. I woke up early to go to work at 9:30am. When I got to work the lady wasn't there... so I basically sat around PRETENDING to be doing stuff for an hour and a half (rewriting things I already wrote and listening to Bob Dylan...). But... it wasn't really a treat because what I ACTUALLY do at work when I AM working is very similar to that... except that I'm not pretending. But it is equally un-strenuous, and I would be equally able to listen to the songs (Bob Dylan) of my choice.

Then I went to the editing room and captured all of my chords documentary footage. Now... that seems like it COULD be fun... watching interviews that I already did and watching us learning choreography for an hour, which I'd never seen before. Turns out... not THAT fun. But not NOT fun.... But you know... sometimes I think to myself (because I am so arrogant!) "wouldn't it be fun to have some of my life recorded... because funny things happen all the time!!" (I'd feel more guilty but I KNOW I'm not the only one on this). But I think if you can't re-tell it as a story... or you don't remember to... then it was only funny that ONE time.

Anyway, I finished and went straight to Chinese anthro class from 2-3pm, my only class on Mondays. It was just lecture (which happens to be my prefered way to learn)... so it was neither very fun... nor particularly unfun. Again... middle of the line on the fun.

Then I had some lunch and listened to Bob Dylan (ummm... can't stop...). Then I went BACK to the editing room and broke up all of my footage into small, managable pieces. Then I put some interviews in a row in the way I might want them to be. Around 7:15pm I got tired of it and left. I got some subway, went home and watched some Friends (yeah... I'm watching them again), set my alarm for 10:45pm for the Daily Show, and then fell asleep. At 10:45pm I woke up to my alarm and laid half asleep, probably thinking about Bob Dylan. When I finally sat up it was 11:44pm!!! And I had MISSED the Daily Show and HALF of Colbert!! I was like "REALLY BLYTHE??" But it's ok because I'll watch it when it comes around again. Stewart and Colbert are the reason why I look forward to Mondays! I'm lucky that I do.

So you see.... it was a very boring day. But it was not bad. Proved it! You're welcome!

A few more things:

1. Grammys are boring for me.

2. Bob Dylan is a vegetarian... and so III want to be a vegetarian (I probably won't... but isn't that funny when that happens?).

3. I'm pretty sure John Krasinski is the voice of a blackberry commercial (either that or it's CRRRAAAZY similar). Everytime I hear the commercial I am simultaneously pleasured and annoyed. Pleasured because I love him and thus love his voice, and annoyed because... blackberry commercials are NOT what I want to watch...

4. My computer has reached a point where I have to restart it an average of 3 times for it to work (but sometimes like... 7 times, which is a smidge annoying...). But, I used to play a game of freecell before I used the internet to allow my computer to warm up before I make it work hard. But now... I still have to play the freecell (it WILL freeze if I don't), but hilariously, I have to NOT finish the game before I start the internet. If I finish the game, it freezes. But I CAN finish the game AFTER the internet is up! That's the funniest thing EVER!! What's ALSO funny... but kind of annoying and sad, is that several times since I've made my discovery, I've gotten so into my freecell game that I FORGET to not win before I open the internet!! And then I win and then I get PISSED because my computer freezes and I have to start the whole thing over again!!! But can I say that I'm honestly a little amused/proud. I love my quirky-ass computer!

Um... Bob Dylan!!

OK... my obsession with the Beatles came too soon... because I am WAY more obsessed with Bob Dylan right now!

1. He makes me want to like poetry WAY more than I do!! I'm so upset with myself!

2. I brought the I'm Not There movie with Cate Blanchett and Heath Ledger and Christian Bale to the top of my netflix queue.

3. After watching the movie and reading a lot of his wikipedia and quotes on imdb.com I can't even decide how I feel about him. Sometimes I can't even stand how amazing he seems and sometimes I think he's just being arrogant and circular. But mostly I find him incredibly interesting! Also... he's been in the public for so long that I have to keep reminding myself that MY mind changes all the time... so I'm sure his does too.

4. This is what he says about Obama.
"Right now, America is in a state of upheaval. Poverty is demoralizing. You can't expect people to have the virtue of purity when they are poor. But we've got this guy there now who is redefining what a politician is, so we'll have to see how things play out. Am I hopeful? Yes, I'm hopeful that things might change. Some things are going to have to."
This makes me love Obama even MORE!!

5. Last night I had a dream about taking a class about Bob Dylan poetry (which actually exists at my school!!!!!!!!!)!!

6. I want a book of Bob Dylan poetry to TRY and get it!! I need to understand poetry more!! (Although from what I DO know... that seems like the opposite way to glean a real understanding of poetry...)

ICCA's, Coraline, and Bob Dylan

ICCA's. Basically an all day extravaganza. By the end I was so crazy nervous!! Usually I don't get TERRIBLY nervous singing, but this time I was sweating INTO MY EYES!! It was unfortunate. Anyway, we didn't place, which is sad but not terribly shocking.

Also, Amanda and I saw Coraline... which was visually stunning! It's in 3D!! I did NOT know that!! BUUUUUUT I was SHOCKED that it was PG!! It was SOOOO SCARY!! (to me!)!! Also, there was a situation with a fat old lady WITH HUGE BOOBS in pasties and a thong!!!! I was like "B'SCUSE ME!??" But it was awesome! I just wouldn't let like... a 6 year old see it.

ALSO, I watched Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back. It was very guerilla style. Bob Dylan is SOOOO captivating. He kind of reminded me of Peter Pan... and he has an AMAZING talking voice!! And also, I just REALLY loved how he lived... I always imagine celebrities as having these really fake friends and grueling lives... but his was like 10 days in London and his friends were really fun! After I watched it, I wanted to watch the commentary immediately afterwards... but I had to stop like 1/3 through the second run of the movie because it was 4:10am.
(Claire, I'm pretty sure you WOULD love it!!)

Director's Cut? No Thanks!

I watched Tropic Thunder and immediately afterwards I decided to watch the commentary with Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. But the dig is, they keep telling me about things that aren't in the theatrical version....

Why do I have no choice but to watch the directors cut? There is a reason that they cut scenes!! But they didn't give me an option!! And I have to say... I WAS thinking that the movie was dragging! Ugh.

ICCA Stuff

A few things:

1. My professor gave us an extension on our documentary since we started a week later. That's nice because I was starting to feel REALLY poor about it. ALSO, I was about to shoot my partner in the face because she keeps nagging me about the firewire drive so we can start editing... which I DEFINITELY understand (I'm worried too!!)... BUT I'M spending over $100 buying it! So she needs to calm the fuck down! Although, I do realize that I volunteered... but only because I couldn't handle asking HER to do it when I have a gift card that I could use. Anyway, it's nice that if we are about to die, we can just turn it in late. 

1b. We were supposed to turn in outline things for our documentary today. Now I've spent about 6 or 7 tangible hours on filming, probably 1.5 hours dragging all that heavy equipment around, and $25 on tapes... so... I've been FEELING like I've got that class homework covered... but I didn't actually look at the syllabus and see. Thus, I did not turn anything in. He didn't care at all but I felt like a fool.

2. JEREMY LLOYD IS COMPETING IN THE ICCAS TOO!! Isn't that WEIRD??! I'm almost never on AIM but I happened to be on last night because I keep trying to catch Julia online so I can have a chat. Anyway... I usually sign on and check, and then sign off immediately, but last night I got to talking to Elena about South and stuff. So, Jeremy Lloyd IMed me to tell me that he's going to be in Boston for a competition called the ICCAs. I think that's hilarious! Although I'm a little more nervous now... even though I don't see why.

3. I'm REALLY excited because I got Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back (a documentary made in 1967 about him) and Tropic Thunder. I'll be getting them today! WHOOO!!

4. I saw Claire's blog and it was WAY cooler than mine because Corey made it look awesome! SO I changed mine again (because I'm a poser...). But I think it looks pretty cool!

Movies, Wanderlust, Recovery (On Many Levels)

Too much. I'll just make a list and go from there.
1. Saw The Reader, Rory O'Shea Was Here, the new episode of The Office.
2. Long ass documentary days.

3. Jon Stewart and I are still soulmates.

4. Demetri Martin's new show.
5. Cute screenplay.
6. Plant pot adventure.
7. Elena is comin' on down.
8. Whole lotta Chords.

1. So... The Reader. 2/3s of the way into the movie I was like... really? That's all? But then it had a twist at the end and I was like... mmmmm better. And the cool thing is that I went to Kendal Square Cinema by myself. So the theater is pretty far away and I have to take the T and then walk a while. BUT (and I've gone to two movies by myself there), it's really nice walking home because... you can still be a part of the movie kind of. Like... the environment is foreign enough that it can transform with my mood REALLY easily. So on my walk home, I really started to appreciate the movie even more. Just about how it addressed people being trapped by themselves in a variety of ways. Also, Winslet WAS amazing. Also, it started with so much sex that I was like "hell yeah!" I don't mean to be weird ... but I like to have a lot of sex in my films. Although I didn't TOTALLY understand why she took the morally corrupt job...
Basically, I don't think it deserves best picture over Slumdog, but definitely worth seeing.

Rory O'Shea Was Here. Nice but it wasn't an absolute gem. BUT James McAvoy was HOT. I'm attracted to him as a parapalegic. I'm attracted to him as a half-goat. He doesn't make a film for me as far as acting goes... but he's SO attractive!!!

New Office. BEEEEETTTER. Also it was on Monday and I was PISSED because I didn't know. And it was a one hour special! But I am a little upset with the show because I keep telling people how much I love it... and I feel like I'm losing any authority I might have had on good TV shows by still supporting it. They need to step it up.

2. I've been spending a LOT of time lugging around a camera and tripod. It's really snowy and it makes me really cold. AND it's heavy. BUUUUUT I don't care because I secretly love the aesthetic of carrying around a camera. I feel like such a cool film student....

3. Yesterday, Jon Stewart had Dev Patel on the Daily Show... which is special because he doesn't really have actors on his show...but he REALLY loved Slumdog Millionaire. AND he thought Benjamin Button was a little snoozy. I just LOVE Jon Stewart so much!!!

4. I'm really excited for next Wednesday because Demetri Martin starts his new show, Important Things. I love him, and I have high hopes. 10:30pm. Comedy Central.

5. My screenwriting workshop guy is REALLY cute. Like... SUPER cute! The first workshop we had.. I was a little thrown off by his cuteness... and I really felt like I made a TINY fool of myself... just by saying silly answers to his questions... and POSSIBLY grinning while he stared at me (... I don't know that I did that... I just fear that I might have). But, the last one we did, I felt like I made up for the first meeting with him. BUT we were supposed to come up with a little 3-page script and we never got the chance to go over them. I thought mine was cute and I was disappointed. BUT he collected them. Now I'm really excited to see what he thought of it. It was about rolly pollies. Like... you can't get more adorable in my opinion (although it does end a little tragically)!

6. The other day I read Claire's blog about her wanderlust. I was reflecting on it and I felt really bad that I don't do more things when I live in a city. It was such a beautiful day on Monday that I took a trip to Chinatown with a half-intent of getting a new pot for my jade plant. I couldn't feel cuter (sorry to keep calling myself cute... but it's my blog and my intentional cute feeling is what I want to talk about). BUT it felt really nice to walk around. While I didn't find a pot that I thought my jade would thrive in (and also, they were so pretty that I thought the pot would distract from the plant... which would be rude), I did get some rice noodles, chicken, broccoli, and a can of coke for $2.75. I mean... really.

7. ELENA IS COMING TO LIVE IN SOUTH TOO!! I'm not putting this in for her benefit... but there is no way to make it not look that way. But I'm REALLY excited!

8. Our (Chords') ICCA competition is this Saturday. I'm excited... but also kind of glad that it'll be over... we've been having a JILLION practices. Yesterday I left my place at 9:15am and got back MINUTES before 11pm. Then I watched my Stewart and Colbert. Then I decided to sleep from midnight to 1:30am but accidently slept until 4am (I wanted to do some work (I honestly didn't have that much though)). So I decided I might as well sleep until 5:30am. Then I woke up, started reading, was about to pass out and slept for 10 minute intervals from 6am to 7am. Then I woke up again and finished my work. I left around 9am (to print). I didn't get home until minutes before 10pm. AND, unlike Tuesday, I was PACKED busy. I had class from 10am-1pm. Then lunch. Then 2pm to 3pm. Then 3pm to 6pm. Then dinner. Then Chords from 7pm to 10pm (although we left like a half hour early). Long.

Lastly, Recovery.gov. Keep tabs.