Today's blog is about theories. Now hang in there, don't click away. I got thinking yesterday, as I watched Supernatural Saturday, that maybe there can be a lot to tell about a man when he admits his favourite comic book hero. That's the one thing all my love interests, exes and crushes alike, have had in common; A love of comic books. It might not be all of them, it might just be DC Comics or Marvel but there is a clear winner in their minds. I'd really like to figure this out.
So, my first boyfriend (from the summer going into my high school freshman year) was a big fan of Iron Man. In fact, the second time we dated he had gone out to Phoenix and claimed to have started up a project with some buddies where they were trying to recreate the Iron Man suit(from the first movie). Nerds, nerds with computer science. What are Iron Man's qualities? Well, the Avengers movie dubbed them quite well: billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. He's quite invested in technology which has made him quite a lot of money. He has been known to have many women, until he starts to settle down for Pepper Potts. Did my ex share these qualities with Iron Man? Yes and no. He was no billionaire, but he dreamed of working for Google...and running his own computer firm..and this job and that job. So rather than develop and enhance humanity, he would rather get ahead in life for himself. Like Tony Stark, he shared a large ego and practiced his "charm" with many women. This desire, combined with many other things, led to us dating and breaking up three times. Besides, I am no Pepper Potts. And they don't even end up together in the comics.
Let's flash forward to college, when I started to have a sense of what I wanted in a boyfriend. My first college boyfriend loved Captain America. Oddly enough, the man I dated after him(and consequentally my last college boyfriend) also had Captain America as his favourite. Captain America in the film that came out, from what I can tell, is the same in the comics. The origin of Captain America is that he has a love of his country but is not viewed as the right kind of soldier for the Army. Not giving up on his drive, he descovers the Super Soldier initiative and thus becomes the Cap we know today. So what does that have to do with my college exes? Well the first ex was studying to be a history teacher and decided that he was going to do whatever it took to get there: even if it meant moving out of state and not starting a family anytime soon. We broke up after a few months, as his graduation date was coming up and mine was not for another two and a half years. Looking back as a five year older version of myself, I can respect that drive as I myself am going to graduate school to pursue my passion for the library.
The last guy I dated in college, I think, wantedd to aspire to be Captain America. He was the first in his family, for some time, to go to college. But what did he want to do? He began college before I got there, left before we met. When we started dating, a few months in he came back and tried again. Alas, what he wanted to do for a career was a taboo topic and I had to simply watch as he was forced to leave college a second time. He stayed in our college town and watched many of our friends graduate, which tested our relationship more than once. As I was about to graduate, looking to move in with a man I could see a future with, he proposed a new solution: a break-up. He was moving out of state and our two and a half years were finished. While he looked to Captain America as an idol, it was not because he saw himself behind Cap's shield, but because he wanted to see himself there but couldn't figure out the how.
These sorts of observations have led me to believe that there is much comic books can tell us about ourselves. They are suppose to resonate with us on some level, intended for alluring many kinds of people, and that's why there are so many different ones. While I don't know what my love of Spiderman says about me, I can't help but wonder what Green Arrow says about my new crush. At this point I know barely anything about the Green Arrow but I can promise you one thing: I am going to be doing my research. This includes Smallville, the CW show Arrow, and multiple pages of reading.
And this is what happens when you have English as your undergraduate.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Thrift Shopping!
Nah, just kidding! I haven't been to a thrift shop in months! Not for lack of trying but for a lack of location! The nearest thrift shop is Savers in West Warwick and I don't exactly visit there everyday. I use to have to go there for shared branching, but now I have direct deposit. I do miss the lovely Canadian teller there, she was really nice and we swapped stories while she put my money in the bank. Anyways, now I just rap in my car to Macklemore's jams.
In other news, I just have to say that being the Social Media Coordinator for the Student ALA at URI is awesome. I was doing a live Facebook feed from our first conference(we are a newer chapter and haven't hosted a conference in a long time. And by long time that probably really means before I started school this year, but the way our president has explained it to me it might really be ages.) I quoted speakers during their slideshows(yes I was still paying attention). I quoted fabulous people, such as Barbara Kenney and Peter Bromberg. My next part of this project is to collect some narrations of the days events- you know, thoughts and opinions- and then post them to our blog. We're all busy so that part might take awhile.
If you haven't checked it out, I have a new YouTube video. It's a little dated(there are now 5 weeks left to the semester) but still pretty much the same is going on, minus the conference.
I don't have anything to review at the moment. Well, okay that's not exactly true. I watched Timeline last night, not the best trailer but it came out ten years ago. Woah, that's a thought. Gerard Butler has the great abs today that he did then...mmm. Oh well anyways, it's this lovely little science fiction film that I feel no one has seen. A few months ago, I caught part of it on tv. Just this epic fight scene with French speaking and subtitles. I watched most of the rest of it, but had to continue on-slash-I missed the beginning and that really bugs me about movies. So, finally, Netflix got it and then I had been in line for at least a year at that point- but I got it this week. I recently read an article, which I cite in my YouTube video. It was about the influence of technology in science fiction films and it's ratio to technology designers. It's a neat article, it references Star Trek: The Next Generation a lot. So, since it doesn't seem to have been viewed a lot, it's not wonder we haven't created worm-hole finding, particle accelorating time machines. I wouldn't mind Castlegard, France, I would just have to remember that I cannot utter a word of French...dommage.
Also, I have been dying waiting for Game of Thrones Season 3. While The Walking Dead is at the peak for this season(it ends next week!)I am ready for the mother of dragons. (Team Danaerys!) Also, Doctor Who begins soon.
I am looking into watching Arrow. I downloaded a comic book app onto my iPad(oh yes, I am a librarian and I bought a iPad. "Why?" you ask. Simple. Three reasons and they all lead to England. 1) Textbooks are way cheaper, as well as weightless, on an e-reader. 2) Skype is free, and as well as instant, when talking to my parents and friends back home. 3) Google Docs has made it easy for me to type an assignment and open it in another location. Why not use my ASUS that I spent money on (and still own) from June? Because it is not safe for travel. At all. One tiny bump and the drivers can derail and slowly my 17.1" laptop will fade. Anyways, I really thought about it and only used part of my school loan return.) But paying for some comic books costs. So, I'd like to watch Arrow(if I can ever find it online) and get to learn this super hero, whom is a favourite of a new friend of mine.
And that is where I leave you. Almost 11pm and curious. But there's so much time and so little to do....wait a minute, strike that..reverse it. Oh yes, the last few weeks of my first year of graduate school are here. It's time to get serious. So, goodnight!
In other news, I just have to say that being the Social Media Coordinator for the Student ALA at URI is awesome. I was doing a live Facebook feed from our first conference(we are a newer chapter and haven't hosted a conference in a long time. And by long time that probably really means before I started school this year, but the way our president has explained it to me it might really be ages.) I quoted speakers during their slideshows(yes I was still paying attention). I quoted fabulous people, such as Barbara Kenney and Peter Bromberg. My next part of this project is to collect some narrations of the days events- you know, thoughts and opinions- and then post them to our blog. We're all busy so that part might take awhile.
If you haven't checked it out, I have a new YouTube video. It's a little dated(there are now 5 weeks left to the semester) but still pretty much the same is going on, minus the conference.
I don't have anything to review at the moment. Well, okay that's not exactly true. I watched Timeline last night, not the best trailer but it came out ten years ago. Woah, that's a thought. Gerard Butler has the great abs today that he did then...mmm. Oh well anyways, it's this lovely little science fiction film that I feel no one has seen. A few months ago, I caught part of it on tv. Just this epic fight scene with French speaking and subtitles. I watched most of the rest of it, but had to continue on-slash-I missed the beginning and that really bugs me about movies. So, finally, Netflix got it and then I had been in line for at least a year at that point- but I got it this week. I recently read an article, which I cite in my YouTube video. It was about the influence of technology in science fiction films and it's ratio to technology designers. It's a neat article, it references Star Trek: The Next Generation a lot. So, since it doesn't seem to have been viewed a lot, it's not wonder we haven't created worm-hole finding, particle accelorating time machines. I wouldn't mind Castlegard, France, I would just have to remember that I cannot utter a word of French...dommage.
Also, I have been dying waiting for Game of Thrones Season 3. While The Walking Dead is at the peak for this season(it ends next week!)I am ready for the mother of dragons. (Team Danaerys!) Also, Doctor Who begins soon.
I am looking into watching Arrow. I downloaded a comic book app onto my iPad(oh yes, I am a librarian and I bought a iPad. "Why?" you ask. Simple. Three reasons and they all lead to England. 1) Textbooks are way cheaper, as well as weightless, on an e-reader. 2) Skype is free, and as well as instant, when talking to my parents and friends back home. 3) Google Docs has made it easy for me to type an assignment and open it in another location. Why not use my ASUS that I spent money on (and still own) from June? Because it is not safe for travel. At all. One tiny bump and the drivers can derail and slowly my 17.1" laptop will fade. Anyways, I really thought about it and only used part of my school loan return.) But paying for some comic books costs. So, I'd like to watch Arrow(if I can ever find it online) and get to learn this super hero, whom is a favourite of a new friend of mine.
And that is where I leave you. Almost 11pm and curious. But there's so much time and so little to do....wait a minute, strike that..reverse it. Oh yes, the last few weeks of my first year of graduate school are here. It's time to get serious. So, goodnight!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
What Can I Add?
Soooo...originally this was going to be a blog post about how funny I thought the Oscars were but..people have kind of beat that subject over the head with a ridiculously large sized hammer. While myself and the three ladies I watched the Oscars with thought Seth MacFarlane was hilarious, handsome, and found ourselves pleasantly surprised that he can sing, I have read much that does not comment on any of our findings. I have lost count of the articles I have read about "boobs", stemming from the now notorious Seth MacFarlane spoof at the Oscars, and many more that attack his jokes as "sexist."
I will note that, as a host, I had really only known Seth MacFarlane from Family Guy and Ted. I loved Ted and I'm not so sure about Family Guy. But, watching the Oscars in Rhode Island, which showed a New interview with him after, I discovered that Seth went to RISd for College. It explains a lot when the campus burger joint, Albie's, has RI's own "The Drunken Clam" and his show's characters in an ocean mural on their wall. Doing some research after watching the News segment, I learned that he's a native New Englander and it's pretty cool that he spent college time here too. I also discovered a duet with Sara Barellis that I really like.
No, instead I will not spend this blog commenting on any of the massive cycling sexist/feminist/breastist articles, and instead comment on the finer moments of the evening. For example, the Sound of Music joke was hilarious. If you didn't watch the Oscars, you can see what I am talking about here. I apologize for the jauntiness of the video.
I rather liked the nominees. I found myself pleasantly predicting the Argo wins(really really loved this movie) and then discovered that there were still many movies that I had not seen. I never got to see Lincoln(I don't like Daniel Day-Lewis(no I'm not proud he beat Hugh Jackman for Best Actor)) or Zero Dark Thirty, for instance, but in those two instances I don't feel that I am missing anything. I do feel a missing piece from not seeing Django Unchained- while graphic, I do love me some Quentin Tarantino.
Jennifer Lawrence was stunning.
The performance from the Les Miserables took me right back to the moments I loved in the film. Chicago was fun too, but the stage was tres bon pour Les Miserables.
Overall, it was a great evening. A little clogged with commercials, but that was fine because my viewing party(as mentioned, four women) turned the event into a game. An adult game. The rules? If you predicted wrong, if someone bawls their eyes out, and when the "cut-your-speech" music starts up. Just to keep it simple. Can I just say that using the Jaws theme was brilliant? It was funny because we found ourselves cheering for the music, wondering what would surprise us next! We almost played by BuzzFeed's suggested rules, but we would have been on our bums after Seth MacFarlane's intro!
So, that's my review for the week. If you've been wondering where I have been, you can see a few videos on my YouTube page, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTKxQJ11LsE , but I hope to begin posting regularly now that my schedule has gone back to normal. Have a lovely rainy day!
I will note that, as a host, I had really only known Seth MacFarlane from Family Guy and Ted. I loved Ted and I'm not so sure about Family Guy. But, watching the Oscars in Rhode Island, which showed a New interview with him after, I discovered that Seth went to RISd for College. It explains a lot when the campus burger joint, Albie's, has RI's own "The Drunken Clam" and his show's characters in an ocean mural on their wall. Doing some research after watching the News segment, I learned that he's a native New Englander and it's pretty cool that he spent college time here too. I also discovered a duet with Sara Barellis that I really like.
No, instead I will not spend this blog commenting on any of the massive cycling sexist/feminist/breastist articles, and instead comment on the finer moments of the evening. For example, the Sound of Music joke was hilarious. If you didn't watch the Oscars, you can see what I am talking about here. I apologize for the jauntiness of the video.
I rather liked the nominees. I found myself pleasantly predicting the Argo wins(really really loved this movie) and then discovered that there were still many movies that I had not seen. I never got to see Lincoln(I don't like Daniel Day-Lewis(no I'm not proud he beat Hugh Jackman for Best Actor)) or Zero Dark Thirty, for instance, but in those two instances I don't feel that I am missing anything. I do feel a missing piece from not seeing Django Unchained- while graphic, I do love me some Quentin Tarantino.
Jennifer Lawrence was stunning.
The performance from the Les Miserables took me right back to the moments I loved in the film. Chicago was fun too, but the stage was tres bon pour Les Miserables.
Overall, it was a great evening. A little clogged with commercials, but that was fine because my viewing party(as mentioned, four women) turned the event into a game. An adult game. The rules? If you predicted wrong, if someone bawls their eyes out, and when the "cut-your-speech" music starts up. Just to keep it simple. Can I just say that using the Jaws theme was brilliant? It was funny because we found ourselves cheering for the music, wondering what would surprise us next! We almost played by BuzzFeed's suggested rules, but we would have been on our bums after Seth MacFarlane's intro!
So, that's my review for the week. If you've been wondering where I have been, you can see a few videos on my YouTube page, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTKxQJ11LsE , but I hope to begin posting regularly now that my schedule has gone back to normal. Have a lovely rainy day!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Happy Valentine's Day!
Hey everybody! So, it has been awhile and while I haven't necessarily been posting to my blog, I have been uploading to YouTube. Recently I made this , which was a video where I was asking Chris Kendall to be my Valentine. That didn't necessarily elicit a response as much as it ended in getting called a fangirl... So, I said eff him and moved onto making a different kind of Valentine video, which you can find here , for my friends and family back home. I talk about my experience during Nemo and how, in a weird twist of chance, I couldn't get to a PostOffice in time for Valentine's cards to be sent home!
I plan on finishing final edits for another video soon. Sort of chronicling my faces that I make in an average day. I do want to write blogs again for movie/TV reviews, but I haven't been able to watch any movies while at the Inn. I had no power Friday-Sunday and when I moved into the Inn Sunday-Today(Wednesday) I had some massive homework to catch up on. I do recommend watching recent episodes of HIMYM and catch yourself up on Castle because hot DAMN next week's two parter is going to KILL ME! Seriously, go watch a trailer!
Anyways, its back to work for me! Ttfn!
I plan on finishing final edits for another video soon. Sort of chronicling my faces that I make in an average day. I do want to write blogs again for movie/TV reviews, but I haven't been able to watch any movies while at the Inn. I had no power Friday-Sunday and when I moved into the Inn Sunday-Today(Wednesday) I had some massive homework to catch up on. I do recommend watching recent episodes of HIMYM and catch yourself up on Castle because hot DAMN next week's two parter is going to KILL ME! Seriously, go watch a trailer!
Anyways, its back to work for me! Ttfn!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
What I Have Been Watching
If you've been following along with my blog, then you know I am one busy graduate student. So, what does a 23 year old grad student do when they have time off? Let me try to answer that by telling you what I did this weekend.
Friday. After a long work week- 8hrs at Dunkin' and 13 at the CML- and a week of classes- three to be exact- I wanted nothing more than to chillax. Alas, the Student ALA was having their Welcome Back! party and, as the social media coordinator, I wanted to be there. We had pizza and Doritos and plenty of people came. I stayed until about 9-9:30, then I went home and read a bit of Cosmopolitan before I went to bed. A light read and a guilty pleasure.
Saturday I couldn't help but celebrate Groundhog's Day. After singing this a few times, I spent the entire day(9-4ish) doing homework. Okay, so that isn't free time. Free time happened at lunch, when I watched and episode of Chuck(my favorite show right now) and then began again when I played a few hours of Dragon Age. When my roommate got home, we settled in to watch Seven Psychopaths, which was freaking hilarious!, and, of course, Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. In between, we watched a few YouTube skits, including Chris Kendall and ZeFrank . Overall, comedy night was a grand success. I polished the night off by reading a few pages of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, which I am avidly trying to finish before it's due date at the library...
Then Sunday. In the morning, I caught up on The Big Bang Theory, which was probably the funniest it has been in a few weeks, and a show on the CW which I won't name ^_^ I worked at Newport today, which went smoothly, and came home to watch Dark Shadows, which I hadn't seen since it was released this past summer. Director Tim Burton and Timbur Bekmambetov and script by one of my favorite authors, Seth Grahame-Smith. I think this Burton film is one of the best he has done in a few years.(I can really only think of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and Corpse Bride here, i.e. post 2000s.) While it does contain a lot of his usual traits, and by that I mean casting and music choice( on that, see this,) it's genuinely funny and it has a balance of quirky and cheezy, which is me all over. I'm a fan of vampires, I like the TV shows that came out of the 60s-70s for their strange content, and, oh yeah, I'm from Maine. While I haven't been to Colinsport, ME I take pride in its' usage just like I do in Storybrooke and Murder She Wrote. You should probably read this article if you have no idea what I am talking about or if you are asking yourself where/when these Maine references occur. Because they do.
On a separate note, I want to get more into the groove of blogging(working up to vlogging again) and, or that reason, I think I am going to do one weekly blog about a movie and/or TV show I watch during the week. In the rare occasion I finish a book that is not a textbook, I will post a review here as well. To start off this week, I have a hard choice between three movies I loved this weekend. Instead, what I will do is compare three elements that all worked for the way the film was shaped.
1) Comedic Timing. This is the first thing I think of when I look back at these films. Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Johhny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Bill Murray and on and on. I think I've been quoting Seven Psychopaths since yesterday and I always try to do Bill Murray faces. If you share my sense of humor or have done acting/improv, I think you'll find something offered in all of these.
2) Musical arrangement. In Seven Psychopaths there was usage of French music and I am always looking to expand in contemporary french music. In Groundhog Day there was, of course, Sunny and Cher with Babe and the Pennsylvania Polka- which I really want to find out if that exists at the celebration because I would spend a Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA just to dance to it. For Dark Shadows, Danny Elfman is back. His arrangement of 70s music has inspired me to research music from1972-1973 on my own. I took his choices and found some of my own; this is one of those times that it is okay to answer a reference question using Wikipedia. Someone, god love them, they spent time organizing the largest events in music history for 1972(as well as many other years and decades) for people to view. Which I did. I read all of it. My final list had Blue Oyster Cult, The Doors, Elton John, and waaay too many others to list. Thank you Spotify. And, when it comes to original composition, I was also impressed.
3) The landscape shot. These moments really make or break a film. In Seven Psychopaths, the town and the desert shots gave me a sense of where these guys were. In Groundhog Day I really did feel like Phil was in the middle of nowhere. With Dark Shadows I could feel the train-ride in and settle into the small coastal town that Maine is so full of. The color/contrast was nice too for most of these.
3a) What did these films not do? Seven Psychopaths did not close all the loops- i.e. Colin Farrell and his girlfriend's relationship really- and that was okay. The sum of its whole was much better. Groundhog Day didn't ever tell us how much time Phil spent in PA, and that's okay too. And in Dark Shadows did tease us with a sequel, but Burton and Grahame-Smith didn't establish their world's vampire enough, and that's...well...as a vampire enthusiast I keep dwelling on it. HBC had vampire teeth before she died and the way in which vampirism occurs in DS is wicked vague. One time its witch curse and the next it is by the bite itself. Not blood sharing necessarily. Weeeellll.....see what I mean?
And that's what I've got for this week! Stay tuned for the next thing!
Friday. After a long work week- 8hrs at Dunkin' and 13 at the CML- and a week of classes- three to be exact- I wanted nothing more than to chillax. Alas, the Student ALA was having their Welcome Back! party and, as the social media coordinator, I wanted to be there. We had pizza and Doritos and plenty of people came. I stayed until about 9-9:30, then I went home and read a bit of Cosmopolitan before I went to bed. A light read and a guilty pleasure.
Saturday I couldn't help but celebrate Groundhog's Day. After singing this a few times, I spent the entire day(9-4ish) doing homework. Okay, so that isn't free time. Free time happened at lunch, when I watched and episode of Chuck(my favorite show right now) and then began again when I played a few hours of Dragon Age. When my roommate got home, we settled in to watch Seven Psychopaths, which was freaking hilarious!, and, of course, Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. In between, we watched a few YouTube skits, including Chris Kendall and ZeFrank . Overall, comedy night was a grand success. I polished the night off by reading a few pages of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, which I am avidly trying to finish before it's due date at the library...
Then Sunday. In the morning, I caught up on The Big Bang Theory, which was probably the funniest it has been in a few weeks, and a show on the CW which I won't name ^_^ I worked at Newport today, which went smoothly, and came home to watch Dark Shadows, which I hadn't seen since it was released this past summer. Director Tim Burton and Timbur Bekmambetov and script by one of my favorite authors, Seth Grahame-Smith. I think this Burton film is one of the best he has done in a few years.(I can really only think of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and Corpse Bride here, i.e. post 2000s.) While it does contain a lot of his usual traits, and by that I mean casting and music choice( on that, see this,) it's genuinely funny and it has a balance of quirky and cheezy, which is me all over. I'm a fan of vampires, I like the TV shows that came out of the 60s-70s for their strange content, and, oh yeah, I'm from Maine. While I haven't been to Colinsport, ME I take pride in its' usage just like I do in Storybrooke and Murder She Wrote. You should probably read this article if you have no idea what I am talking about or if you are asking yourself where/when these Maine references occur. Because they do.
On a separate note, I want to get more into the groove of blogging(working up to vlogging again) and, or that reason, I think I am going to do one weekly blog about a movie and/or TV show I watch during the week. In the rare occasion I finish a book that is not a textbook, I will post a review here as well. To start off this week, I have a hard choice between three movies I loved this weekend. Instead, what I will do is compare three elements that all worked for the way the film was shaped.
1) Comedic Timing. This is the first thing I think of when I look back at these films. Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Johhny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Bill Murray and on and on. I think I've been quoting Seven Psychopaths since yesterday and I always try to do Bill Murray faces. If you share my sense of humor or have done acting/improv, I think you'll find something offered in all of these.
2) Musical arrangement. In Seven Psychopaths there was usage of French music and I am always looking to expand in contemporary french music. In Groundhog Day there was, of course, Sunny and Cher with Babe and the Pennsylvania Polka- which I really want to find out if that exists at the celebration because I would spend a Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA just to dance to it. For Dark Shadows, Danny Elfman is back. His arrangement of 70s music has inspired me to research music from1972-1973 on my own. I took his choices and found some of my own; this is one of those times that it is okay to answer a reference question using Wikipedia. Someone, god love them, they spent time organizing the largest events in music history for 1972(as well as many other years and decades) for people to view. Which I did. I read all of it. My final list had Blue Oyster Cult, The Doors, Elton John, and waaay too many others to list. Thank you Spotify. And, when it comes to original composition, I was also impressed.
3) The landscape shot. These moments really make or break a film. In Seven Psychopaths, the town and the desert shots gave me a sense of where these guys were. In Groundhog Day I really did feel like Phil was in the middle of nowhere. With Dark Shadows I could feel the train-ride in and settle into the small coastal town that Maine is so full of. The color/contrast was nice too for most of these.
3a) What did these films not do? Seven Psychopaths did not close all the loops- i.e. Colin Farrell and his girlfriend's relationship really- and that was okay. The sum of its whole was much better. Groundhog Day didn't ever tell us how much time Phil spent in PA, and that's okay too. And in Dark Shadows did tease us with a sequel, but Burton and Grahame-Smith didn't establish their world's vampire enough, and that's...well...as a vampire enthusiast I keep dwelling on it. HBC had vampire teeth before she died and the way in which vampirism occurs in DS is wicked vague. One time its witch curse and the next it is by the bite itself. Not blood sharing necessarily. Weeeellll.....see what I mean?
And that's what I've got for this week! Stay tuned for the next thing!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Kicking off 2013
So, the semester has finally begun. You can tell because I am on campus writing this blog, sitting on a library computer amongst a bunch of faces that I do not know. There was one familiar face, a handsome guy that comes into Dunkin from time to time. I had just gotten to the library, a bit out of breath from my hike up the hill(more on that momentarily) and on my way to a LibGuides training meeting. Between the adrenaline and the jitters, it seemed like a good idea to go introduce myself. Since the last time he came into Dunkin and smiled at me I had been running scenarios in my head as to what to say when next we met. I went with "Hey, you know I realized I have known you for a semester now and I still don't know your name." A little surprised but with a small smile, he told me his name and I reminded him of mine. As if my change to glasses wasn't Clark Kent enough, without my Dunkin visor I look different once more. We exchanged small talk, what he was studying and what I was doing at the library today. I'm not sure when I'll see my crush again, but it is the small things that can make or break your day :]
I like the atmosphere of academic libraries. Especially ones where there is a high student exchange program. I'm being distracted as I type this by two dudes whispering in French. Their volume is too low to hear, but if only...
Sidebar. Mystery man aside, I am on campus. If you arrive on campus any time after 9am or 10am, you can kiss parking nearby goodbye. Instead, since I am a "commuter" and not a real "staff/faculty" memeber, I ended up parking in what URI students call "The Plains." A parking lot much like a Target(I point this out because the other commuter parking on campus is no good. In the "Target"/Plains parking two cars can pass each other, a feat that the other lots don't allow, and there is less fighting there.) and structured much better. However, it's location is placed even further away than the Gym(The Ryan Center) and, to get back to the Library, is something I consider a hike. It's all up hill and at a casual pace takes 15 minutes, I have timed it twice this week. Once on tuesday as I got to my car before driving to Providence for a class(long story) and the second was this morning. Bring an iPod, it's a good investment.
Parking is a problem across most of the state and particularly on the campuses. If you want to consider URI Providence a campus. You park in the Dunkin Donuts Convention Center and then walk a zig-zag of eight blocks to a tall building where my class was. It doesn't stand out and isn't a straight shot to get to- a quality that URI Kingston shares. Anyways, I had to sign up for a scan card that would allow me to park for free as a student(I already bought the commuter one at Kingston for the year, which ran me $250.) Since I am on campus more this semester, it makes sense now, but most of my classes are online and so it is about time it's getting used. But, I am still limited in parking. C'est la vie.
My classes so far are ok. One of them is tricky to follow along with and, this semester in particular, it is quite experimental. My second one is clear cut but I love the professor and wish it was in person. The third, the Providence one, I think I will like and come to appreciate once I get use to the drive. My roommate drove this week and it is my turn next week. Jinkies.
It feels like Spring as Winter continues to allude and surprise Rhode Island. My best advice? Bring a coat, pack a spare pair of shoes, and always have an umbrella in your car. Gloves & hat: optional.
I have to get ready to punch in for work- my third job of which I accepted this semester and already love. I'm still getting use to how things run(Sierra, LibGuides, locations, passwords, procedures) but it will be amazing experience in the long run slash I might do my academic PFE here. Who know! Wish me luck!
I like the atmosphere of academic libraries. Especially ones where there is a high student exchange program. I'm being distracted as I type this by two dudes whispering in French. Their volume is too low to hear, but if only...
Sidebar. Mystery man aside, I am on campus. If you arrive on campus any time after 9am or 10am, you can kiss parking nearby goodbye. Instead, since I am a "commuter" and not a real "staff/faculty" memeber, I ended up parking in what URI students call "The Plains." A parking lot much like a Target(I point this out because the other commuter parking on campus is no good. In the "Target"/Plains parking two cars can pass each other, a feat that the other lots don't allow, and there is less fighting there.) and structured much better. However, it's location is placed even further away than the Gym(The Ryan Center) and, to get back to the Library, is something I consider a hike. It's all up hill and at a casual pace takes 15 minutes, I have timed it twice this week. Once on tuesday as I got to my car before driving to Providence for a class(long story) and the second was this morning. Bring an iPod, it's a good investment.
Parking is a problem across most of the state and particularly on the campuses. If you want to consider URI Providence a campus. You park in the Dunkin Donuts Convention Center and then walk a zig-zag of eight blocks to a tall building where my class was. It doesn't stand out and isn't a straight shot to get to- a quality that URI Kingston shares. Anyways, I had to sign up for a scan card that would allow me to park for free as a student(I already bought the commuter one at Kingston for the year, which ran me $250.) Since I am on campus more this semester, it makes sense now, but most of my classes are online and so it is about time it's getting used. But, I am still limited in parking. C'est la vie.
My classes so far are ok. One of them is tricky to follow along with and, this semester in particular, it is quite experimental. My second one is clear cut but I love the professor and wish it was in person. The third, the Providence one, I think I will like and come to appreciate once I get use to the drive. My roommate drove this week and it is my turn next week. Jinkies.
It feels like Spring as Winter continues to allude and surprise Rhode Island. My best advice? Bring a coat, pack a spare pair of shoes, and always have an umbrella in your car. Gloves & hat: optional.
I have to get ready to punch in for work- my third job of which I accepted this semester and already love. I'm still getting use to how things run(Sierra, LibGuides, locations, passwords, procedures) but it will be amazing experience in the long run slash I might do my academic PFE here. Who know! Wish me luck!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
After through Holidays
I am finally able to write a new blog. My first semester classes did not cease until December 18th. That week was followed by work- early I might add- and then taking the train home. Some Christmas celebrations, my own birthday, and lots of catching up with friends occured. I was home by the New Year(again, work) and then I had a week off Due to shody schedule. Working yesterday and this morning, I won't be working again until Saturday. So, I am Maine bound once more.
It you are wondering how I did this fall, I got two As and a B+. I was expecting an A in my History of Books & Printing course, but, well, it was percentaged oddly. And as far as the ALA homefront goes, I have a meeting with them this Friday to discuss a comittee as well as my Social Media Coordinator duties. So, more on that later.
Today I adventured Boston. I had a few hours between trains and I have been promising my fellow friend(and now former URI classmate(he got into Simmons)), BH, that I would meet up with him and go see Pavement Coffeehouse on Newbury, where he works.(and yes, Newbury Comics originated there) Being Maine grown, Boston is a scary beast. I started to tame it with my Thanksgiving trip when I took the Orange line, successfully, between Back Bay and North Station. And again at Christmas, where I was asked boarding advice from a train newbie. But Pavement Coffeehouse requires a walk as well as a T switch.
Normally,I GPS everything and everywhere new. I asked BH for the address while I was still in Rhode Island and had the intention to map it when I got to Boston. However, when I got there, my location wouldn't lock. Gods love the city. I walked outside and, having heard that Newbury was a fifteen minute walk, I decided walking sounded nice. And then I looked left, straight, and right and realized I had no idea which direction to head. I didn't know which way way North anymore nor what street Back Bay Station is located at. So, I made a new plan, an adventure plan; to take the Orange T, going outbound, and switch to the Green T at Haymarket. This ended up going well and, while I was paranoid at each stop, my new wheeled-suitcase makes it a sinch. From Haymarket, I followed the signs to the outbound Green T, got on, and listened for Hynes Convention Center. Once there, BH told me to continue on Newbury and my location was on the right and below the stairs. I exited Hynes and took a right onto Newbury. Counting the house & store numbers, I could determine I was headed in the correct direction. Feeling assured and more at ease, I saw plenty of stores that were worth noting for a future day. This included Newbury Comics. Lord, imagine the Doctor Who gear!
BH was waiting at the cafe, sharply dressed and, like a proper librarian, book in hand.(The Last Samurai, should you be curious) Since he works there, I asked his recommendation for coffee, which was a apple cinnamon latte(SO yummy!) and grabbed The Awakening( scrambled eggs, feta, spinach, and other stuff I can't remember at the moment). It wad a great visit. We talked about our finals, current reads, and winter break festivities. One cafe and one shoe shop stop later, I was back on the Green line headed to Government Square, Government Square to North Station and am now, snuggly, going home for the week. While home, I want to see Le Miserables, have sleepovers, read along-side my mum, and relax.
Before I leave you, I want to say a few more things 1) I am making progress towards attending King's College this June. B) I am reading The Graveyard Book(Neil Gaiman) as well as Cloud Atlas(Dave...something or other) both are brilliant. And 3 or C) Dragon Age is a wonderful BioWare product. An RPG with greatly written companions, plenty of freedom, and good graphics. I am currently a ginger dwarf named Athos. Betrayed by my brother, I have been stripped of my noble rank and wander towards the path of The Grey Wardens.
And this is where I leave you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)