I'm a geek. If I could find a mountaintop to shout out to the world that I am a geek, I totally would in a heartbeat. I can argue that Picard is better than Kirk, and I swear upon my life that 2nd edition Dungeon and Dragon rules were just fine and 3.5 rules ruined everything. Without going into too much detail, I can say that one thing geeks like to do is take a pilgrimage to a hotel for one weekend and interact with fellow geeks (these are called conventions). One such convention that I wish I started going to sooner is Dragon*Con, a wondrous land of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. There's so many things to do at Dragon*Con that it would be impossible to go to all the events unless you cloned yourself at least ten times.
...I hate timed writing. I got stuck right here due to my severely crappy attention span when it comes to writing about multiple things at once.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Memoir Topic Sketch #2 - Anime Weekend Atlanta
If you're into that whole "Japanese cartoons" thing, then you might have heard about the anime convention down in Atlanta, Anime Weekend Atlanta. AWA, as it's abbreviated to, is a rather large con that occurs every year during a September weekend. I'll mention my first AWA, since your first time is always special.
To go back in time for a bit, I was part of a group of friends that wanted to do something special. Aaron, one of the guys, had it in his head to host a ball centered around the beginning plot point of the video game Final Fantasy 8. He intended for all of us to be cast as the character, to roleplay and interact with other people as if we were really the character. He even got permission from the convention events director to host it! I was excited, but a bit saddened that all the main female roles were taken, even the villains! I was stuck picking the most feminine looking guy: Laguna Loire. In a way, this was to my advantage: I didn't know how to dance, period, and I figured it would be best to pretend to be the so-called village idiot of the story. One of the girls even got to play the part of my character's wife, so hilarity was destined to ensue. Everyone got their costumes made and practiced the Moon Waltz that was in the game as best as they could for the six months prior to the convention. Needless to say, I slept very little as the awaited date drew closer.
Flash forward to September, after large bits of traffic (thanks, construction zone!) and a few stops for food, I finally arrived at the Sheraton. The hotel was big, and there were tons of people there on Friday. Everyone met up at the room the ball was going to be held in and figured out where we were going to be during the two big scenes, and what was going to happen after. We all met up in Aaron's hotel room to get ready. My nervousness shot through the roof when we were told that the ball had sold all of its tickets! That's at least one thousand other people that we were going to candidly interact with. Needless to say, my heart was racing.
Timer ended.
To go back in time for a bit, I was part of a group of friends that wanted to do something special. Aaron, one of the guys, had it in his head to host a ball centered around the beginning plot point of the video game Final Fantasy 8. He intended for all of us to be cast as the character, to roleplay and interact with other people as if we were really the character. He even got permission from the convention events director to host it! I was excited, but a bit saddened that all the main female roles were taken, even the villains! I was stuck picking the most feminine looking guy: Laguna Loire. In a way, this was to my advantage: I didn't know how to dance, period, and I figured it would be best to pretend to be the so-called village idiot of the story. One of the girls even got to play the part of my character's wife, so hilarity was destined to ensue. Everyone got their costumes made and practiced the Moon Waltz that was in the game as best as they could for the six months prior to the convention. Needless to say, I slept very little as the awaited date drew closer.
Flash forward to September, after large bits of traffic (thanks, construction zone!) and a few stops for food, I finally arrived at the Sheraton. The hotel was big, and there were tons of people there on Friday. Everyone met up at the room the ball was going to be held in and figured out where we were going to be during the two big scenes, and what was going to happen after. We all met up in Aaron's hotel room to get ready. My nervousness shot through the roof when we were told that the ball had sold all of its tickets! That's at least one thousand other people that we were going to candidly interact with. Needless to say, my heart was racing.
Timer ended.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Memoir Topic Sketch #1 - Wedding Anniversary
I used to be a water phobic, which always confuses people when I tell them I lived in Hawaii for twelve years. When I got together with my husband/then-boyfriend, Kenny, he was shocked and wouldn't have any of that. Being a water person, he just couldn't understand how anyone could be afraid of water. As we approached our first wedding anniversary, he would recall the time he lived in Florida. He would wax poetic about how much he loved the ocean, how he wanted to show it to me. I then decided that, sure, the ocean sounds nice; but there was that pesky phobia. We decided to try and cure me. First we got me over being scared in a bathtub, then it progressed into pools. Soon, I got over much of my terrible fear and promised Kenny that we could go to Florida for our first anniversary. We decided on the Gulf Side in Ft. Meyers, which has a more gentler shore. After we flew on an afternoon flight for about an hour (which is a different phobia for a different story), we made it to Florida safe and sound.
And...this is where my timer ends. I got hit with a bad writer's block on all three of my topics (which were all written in Notepad, first), but hopefully as I have more time to focus on just one topic I can be able to wax poetic more.
And...this is where my timer ends. I got hit with a bad writer's block on all three of my topics (which were all written in Notepad, first), but hopefully as I have more time to focus on just one topic I can be able to wax poetic more.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
In which I talk about some homework! Because I couldn't think of an intro post first.
RE: “Us and Them”, by David Sedaris
I have to admit, I inwardly yay'd in excitement when I was assigned to read this memoir. If nobody knew before reading the blurb about the author before the story, Sedaris penned the book Me Talk Pretty One Day. It's an awesome read that almost became a movie! However, this little reaction of mine isn't about that. This is about Us and Them.
The tale begins with Sedaris taking us back to the third grade, and moving to North Carolina. I believe his mother may have been emotionally cautious about encouraging him to not make many friends due to time restraints, but I suppose a lack of email at the time might validate that sort of thinking. He briefly jumps from that point to comparing this to his previous place of residence, New York. I simply cannot imagine New York ever being “out in the country” with how it is today. The story then jumps to, what I assume is, the main focus of the story: the Tomkeys.
It starts out innocently enough. The Tomkeys don't believe in television, which is to say they don't own one. Now, I hate television. I believe most of what television spews out destroys whatever intelligence people have these days, save for a few pearls such as Discovery, TLC, SciFi, and the like (movies are a different story, however). So when I read up to that point, I didn't really notice anything amiss, much like his mother. They had to have been doing something else, right? Right? Why do I hear crickets?
Young Sedaris had it in his head to spy on the Tomkeys. First he notices that they actually sit down and talk during dinner (for shame!), and later the children don't react like the rest when the teacher imitates a character in a popular show. How barbaric! They must be saved from their lack of understand of the wonders of civilization! Or...maybe not. We continue with Young Sedaris to Halloween, where we get a taste of typical children behavior about being told what to do with candy you don't even want. I shamefully admit that I've behaved this way in my younger years, especially when a few adults thought they were oh-so-clever with their tiny tubes of toothpaste. Yes, I said toothpaste. What is up with that? I can't imagine why the Tomkeys couldn't just appease their children and buy them candy from the store (heck, a boat ride would have sounded way more exciting), but they wound up showing up at his door the night after. With much heartbreak on the boy's part, his mother insisted that the children give their hard earned candy to the Tomkeys. How dare she! And how could you figure out what candy you could possibly give away in such short notice? Sedaris didn't know the answer, either, and so proceeded to devour as much candy as he possibly could before his mother could step in. Despite his valiant attempt, he managed to lose a bit of candy to the enemy. The story ends with the children returning to watching the TV with their parents, the lesson in greed and gluttony quickly forgotten in front of the glowing box.
I had to laugh. This story is so amazingly like how a child would recall this unfortunate event that I had to wonder if Sedaris truly has a photographic memory. It shows, within myself, how much I have really changed as I recall my own tales of childhood. How I'd treat the foil-wrapped chocolate coins like they were real gold, or hated anyone that took a red piece of candy when they asked if they could have one (red was always the best flavor). These days, I'd rather hoard fruit than candy, although dark chocolate still has a special place in my heart right next to pastries. And I still don't understand why his mother insisted on being polite to the Tomkeys if they weren't even going to be staying very long before moving on to the next home. I guess it's just how I was raised, but I would have given some apology for not having anything and then banishing them from my doorstep with a half-hearted “Have a good night” and that would be that. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, it really took me back to my own silly memories.
RE: “Mick Jagger Wants Me”, by Sarah Jane Gilman
Before I begin my reaction to this little number, I have to say that I love the Rolling Stones and have listened to them since I was a child (my parents had wonderful taste, bless them). Sympathy For the Devil is still one of my favorite songs, especially when they performed it during their Bridges to Babylon tour that I got to see when I lived in Hawaii.
I would practically kill to go meet the Stones in person, so I had a faint feeling of jealousy toward the author as I read the story. Thankfully, I never had the lack of sense to do anything these girls did. I was never into drugs, or boys (until I was almost 20, anyway), or making out for whatever reason. Call me old fashioned, I'll gracefully accept the title.
I found it hilarious that the author would freeze up the way she did, the second thoughts that filled her head and insisted that the fantasy not be broken. If I had to choose who to be behind in a situation like this, it would have to be Michelle. Some things only come at a once-in-a-lifetime package deal, whether you want it to be so or not. I have met a few celebrities, but only within the safe confines of a convention. I never met anyone out on the street or stalked them until I could pounce. I wouldn't know what to say, even if I did randomly meet someone I admired. Probably much like Susie, I'd curse myself for not looking more “proper” and freezing like a deer in the headlights.
I have to admit, I inwardly yay'd in excitement when I was assigned to read this memoir. If nobody knew before reading the blurb about the author before the story, Sedaris penned the book Me Talk Pretty One Day. It's an awesome read that almost became a movie! However, this little reaction of mine isn't about that. This is about Us and Them.
The tale begins with Sedaris taking us back to the third grade, and moving to North Carolina. I believe his mother may have been emotionally cautious about encouraging him to not make many friends due to time restraints, but I suppose a lack of email at the time might validate that sort of thinking. He briefly jumps from that point to comparing this to his previous place of residence, New York. I simply cannot imagine New York ever being “out in the country” with how it is today. The story then jumps to, what I assume is, the main focus of the story: the Tomkeys.
It starts out innocently enough. The Tomkeys don't believe in television, which is to say they don't own one. Now, I hate television. I believe most of what television spews out destroys whatever intelligence people have these days, save for a few pearls such as Discovery, TLC, SciFi, and the like (movies are a different story, however). So when I read up to that point, I didn't really notice anything amiss, much like his mother. They had to have been doing something else, right? Right? Why do I hear crickets?
Young Sedaris had it in his head to spy on the Tomkeys. First he notices that they actually sit down and talk during dinner (for shame!), and later the children don't react like the rest when the teacher imitates a character in a popular show. How barbaric! They must be saved from their lack of understand of the wonders of civilization! Or...maybe not. We continue with Young Sedaris to Halloween, where we get a taste of typical children behavior about being told what to do with candy you don't even want. I shamefully admit that I've behaved this way in my younger years, especially when a few adults thought they were oh-so-clever with their tiny tubes of toothpaste. Yes, I said toothpaste. What is up with that? I can't imagine why the Tomkeys couldn't just appease their children and buy them candy from the store (heck, a boat ride would have sounded way more exciting), but they wound up showing up at his door the night after. With much heartbreak on the boy's part, his mother insisted that the children give their hard earned candy to the Tomkeys. How dare she! And how could you figure out what candy you could possibly give away in such short notice? Sedaris didn't know the answer, either, and so proceeded to devour as much candy as he possibly could before his mother could step in. Despite his valiant attempt, he managed to lose a bit of candy to the enemy. The story ends with the children returning to watching the TV with their parents, the lesson in greed and gluttony quickly forgotten in front of the glowing box.
I had to laugh. This story is so amazingly like how a child would recall this unfortunate event that I had to wonder if Sedaris truly has a photographic memory. It shows, within myself, how much I have really changed as I recall my own tales of childhood. How I'd treat the foil-wrapped chocolate coins like they were real gold, or hated anyone that took a red piece of candy when they asked if they could have one (red was always the best flavor). These days, I'd rather hoard fruit than candy, although dark chocolate still has a special place in my heart right next to pastries. And I still don't understand why his mother insisted on being polite to the Tomkeys if they weren't even going to be staying very long before moving on to the next home. I guess it's just how I was raised, but I would have given some apology for not having anything and then banishing them from my doorstep with a half-hearted “Have a good night” and that would be that. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, it really took me back to my own silly memories.
RE: “Mick Jagger Wants Me”, by Sarah Jane Gilman
Before I begin my reaction to this little number, I have to say that I love the Rolling Stones and have listened to them since I was a child (my parents had wonderful taste, bless them). Sympathy For the Devil is still one of my favorite songs, especially when they performed it during their Bridges to Babylon tour that I got to see when I lived in Hawaii.
I would practically kill to go meet the Stones in person, so I had a faint feeling of jealousy toward the author as I read the story. Thankfully, I never had the lack of sense to do anything these girls did. I was never into drugs, or boys (until I was almost 20, anyway), or making out for whatever reason. Call me old fashioned, I'll gracefully accept the title.
I found it hilarious that the author would freeze up the way she did, the second thoughts that filled her head and insisted that the fantasy not be broken. If I had to choose who to be behind in a situation like this, it would have to be Michelle. Some things only come at a once-in-a-lifetime package deal, whether you want it to be so or not. I have met a few celebrities, but only within the safe confines of a convention. I never met anyone out on the street or stalked them until I could pounce. I wouldn't know what to say, even if I did randomly meet someone I admired. Probably much like Susie, I'd curse myself for not looking more “proper” and freezing like a deer in the headlights.
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