The musical rut
I am in one, and it’s lasted longer than usual. I’m not the type who can’t live without it–MUSIC IZ MY LYF–no, no. But I miss finding shiny new gems of song, I miss floating through the day on a single melody. The siblings make up for the background noise, however. It’s been snatches of Stereo Hearts and Oh Land and Ellie Goulding. I was telling Jessica about the evolution of Abigail’s musical taste–how I’d “raised” her (influenced her, rather) to match my own indie-pop/electronica/non-mainstream preferences, only to have her veer away into Katy Perry, Usher, Taylor Swift, etc. I don’t mind at all, really. It’s just surprising that Pat’s the one picking up on the doe-eyed floaty-voiced female vocalists (Oh Land and Ellie, and Florence) despite having rued my music in general (she found a lot of it weird–I have Laura Veirs to blame for that).
I am perfectly content with waiting for the fruit to fall, though.
The scholarly life
Has been enjoyable to a degree, has been driving me mad, but still, it is an enjoyable drive. One class has turned me into this grade-conscious creature, but only because I know I can ace it, but fall short somewhere, somehow. Let’s see.
As expected, some classes capture my full attention, others don’t, although I am blessed with incredibly considerate and loving teachers for the latter sort. Forever grateful. If anything, the Anglo-Am survey courses serve to quicken the mind and raise the blood pressure levels: both classes are highly entertaining, surprise graded recitation and excessive moodswings provide a dose of unwanted drama and classroom strife from time to time.
Writing classes are fairly productive, although cramming has proven itself to be a hardy habit. Still, I feel I’ve had enough drive in me to carry on through the semester with pretty good results so far. The Lev Lochan story is an uncertain creature, although thankfully non-corrosive. The yet-to-be-written Two Bowls story remains a germ, but we’ll see where the next few days take it, idea-wise.
Idle moments and strolling through glass
I have at least two books to read at the moment: one is for class, called The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst, and the other is the third volume in A Song of Ice and Fire, A Storm of Swords. I’ve barely started Hollinghurst’s, but I’ve been on a three-week ASoIaF streak, with one book a week. Tomorrow is the one week mark for Storm of Swords, and I’m only halfway through. This, and the continuing search for Batgirl #1 and fairly decent food is what preoccupies me.
And writing, of course. I killed the excitement-wave for the McDo vs. Jollibee stories, but maybe I’ll take them up again sometime soon. Too many characters are in it, the novelty’s worn off, at least for me.
Things that are awesome
Food-wise, it is Lord Stow’s iced tea, Sonja’s cupcakes and still the tre formaggi from Friuli. Of course, there is mint Kitkat, raspberry ice cream from SC’s own version of Fruits in Ice Cream, and isaw from Mang Larry’s.
People-wise, they are my classmates. From barely-met people, they’ve grown into friends with secret sniggers and jabs. They ask opinions, share snippets, complain, walk, text, talk. They laugh, most of all, about a lot of things: nicknames, all things phallic, all things gay, awkwardness, teachers, other classmates and the noises that happen while a lecture goes on. They fangirl with you about Game of Thrones and try to loop you into Doctor Who, they offer to cover your books in plastic and hang out after class, even if it is raining.
So far, I feel I am in a good place. I am thankful.
