Maudlin

Today is bringing with it a crisis of feelings.  I don't really need to bore you with all the details and dilemmas of my post-collegiate existence, but suffice it to say, I haven't really contributed much to either my own enrichment or society at large.  I wanted to take it easy after school for a couple months but all I've been successful at so far is stagnation.

So... today's question, as I've paced around the room drinking my french pressed coffee (made only on indulgent days, which are alarmingly more frequent) is how I can start merging the experiences I'd like to have with the existence I currently am gripped by.  At the moment they seem extremely far apart.

I'll tell you what I'm going to start with.  Re-reading some Kerouac.  We cleaned out some boxes yesterday and I found the copy I gave to Will years ago.   Only a few days earlier I was thinking I might need to glance through the tome again, in hopes of rewarding myself with some much needed passion and madness.  The universe might be telling me something by thrusting the book in front of me.

The things I hope to embrace in my life - the accomplishment, the experiences and adventures certainly don't favor the docile and unfortunately, that is exactly what I am right now.  Docile with a complete lack of tenacity.  Perhaps the most frightening thing about all of this is how boring of a person I feel I'm becoming.  Rather, how boring I am allowing myself to become.  

This does not bode well.

I feel like I've slowed my intake of art and culture, given up on intellectualism of any kind.  The only breather I take from such dulling is when surrounded by my friends, who are infinitely more creative, complex, insightful and enjoyable than I deserve to have.  Why can't I take their influences as catalysts?  Why do I move at such a snail's pace?

Okay, this is the very definition of maudlin.  And isn't a blog supposed to airy, light and fun?  Apologies will be handed out (much like my High School diploma) at the concession stand after the service.

UP NEXT:  Something more light and fun.  Maybe with a dash of cuteness.  Kittens perhaps?  We'll see what a google search reveals:

Yes, a stuffed turtle in ugly colors that projects a fake nighttime sky on your ceiling in various shades of illumination.  Perhaps I should've been a little more specific that I wasn't looking for an actual light, so here's a second option:

 

Admittedly I went with this only because I like snow leopards.  They're pretty much my favorite animal. Also, should you ever bring them up in my presence I will inform you that they can jump 40 feet from a standing position.  40 #*$%ing feet!  Anyway, here's a snow leopard cub.  It's cute, it has light colored fur, but it's probably only fun if you're not being viciously attacked by it's defensive mother.  I wonder how many random girls that sentence might also describe?

Now that I've made pseudo-good on my posting promises, I do hope your day is filled with projected stars and dangerous endangered animals.

Caulk Your Wagons...

I know people are worried about all the raping of their childhood memories (stay tuned for... The Smurfs), but this...  Can we say awesome?

There is Only War

So... A small group of friends decided to give Dark Heresy a try. For
those who probably don't know, DH is a tabletop rpg set in the dark
and grim future of the 41st millenium.
It was everyone's first pen and paper style rpg and I was pseudo-
nominated as the GM. Overall I'd say it was a shit-ton of work to prep
for (since the players ran amok causing all sorts of problems and
situations for me to respond too) bu that's also because I had to
comprehend the rules as much as possible. And in the end (a good five
hours later) we more or less understand how to get through a game.
And I have to say, while I was hesitant and a bit nervous about my
exacting role within the scenario, it turned out to be a great deal of
fun. The players fell into their parts and some (Ishmael) created
havoc everwhere they went... Nearly blowing up other characters or
collapsing mine shafts for no apparent purpose. In the end he got his
own, mutated by chaotic power and gunned down by two other players. It
was highly entertaining.

In fact I was surprised how fun it was despite the stop-and-go nature
of our first attempt. But it was successful nevertheless and I hope
everyone else liked it as much as I did. Because I'm hoping for many
more campaigns in the future... Which for the record is filled with
war and only war.  And heretics.  Maybe some Xenos here and there.
But those all lead to war anyway. So... war.


Addendum:  I also wanted to add that the creatures,  the players and the sad lost soul known as "Rat" were all represented on our map by sprinkles in the shapes of dinosaurs and people.  It was kinda awesome.

Dark Ambience

So... I know this has nothing to do with anything, but in my search for interesting music of a atmospheric and dark nature, I stumbled upon this man. He mostly composes and licenses for films, doesn't look as though he releases any kind of albums or tracks. Still, the languid feel of this music and imagery really took me for a ride. So I figured I'd share the wealth. And if you're looking for some interesting ambient music for your feature, take a look.

Dark Ambient Space Music: Through The Ergosphere: Film Composer Simon Wilkinson from Simon Wilkinson on Vimeo.

Excitement is Coming...

Let's be honest, this doesn't show you anything, but it does makes me seriously excited.  Julie, this is probably mostly for you.  :)

Winter Is Coming

Costuming the Carmelites

A few quick pics from Dialogues of the Carmelites.  It was actually a really enjoyable (if at times incredibly stressful) show to do.  Such are the breaks when you're working on an immense show, double cast, with absolutely no support, help and a miniscule budget.  Despite all that, I feel it turned out rather well.  But as promised, here's a quick photographic journey through this depressing (as evidenced by the all the ominous guillotine shots) show.   Enjoy.

Another Open Letter

Dear George R.R. Martin-

I appreciate that you have created an extremely successful franchise in A Song of Fire and Ice. I appreciate that it is now on its way to HBO syndication and that it has inspired graphic novels, board games, card games, figures, armor and so much more. I really do. I love these books, and rightly so. They are a fantastic read. But I would greatly appreciate it if you would stop writing other random collaborations, cease reveling in the glory of your creations (now you can buy a reproduction of your favorite character's weapon!) and take some time to perhaps finish the series. Seriously. I started reading these books in 1998. 1998! In all that time there's only been four of them, and I'm starting to be concerned that if you continue at your current pace you'll either end up:

A) Like Robert Jordan (as an example; I don't care for his books) with some "hot new author" finishing out your series because you're dead.

or

B) With an HBO series that dies off because no end to the story has been written. Even if they were successful enough to flesh out the current plan of one book per season, that's seven seasons (a lot to hope for) and frankly that leaves you with only seven years to finish three books. Your current model for publishing won't support that and I'm slightly dubious since your website continues to purport that you'll have it done any time now... dated 2008.

The other option is that you'll outlive me and I'll be dead before I ever have a satisfying conclusion to this series.

Mr. Martin, take this as a compliment about your writing - its among the best stuff I've read. And I know that quality takes time. But throw your loyal readers a bone, if you would. It's been a feast of crows for all your readers for far too long.

Sincerely,
P-yo