Weekly Update
Jul. 9th, 2004 09:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jackofallgeeksSo right...
I find I'm starting a lot of posts with those words, the important posts anyways. Maybe it's just me. This week's been OK. So much to say, where do I start?
Ambrosia
There's a series of talks being put on by the Young Adult group of DC called "Theology on Tap." Clever, seeing as it takes place in a pub and they talk about Theology. This series is, appropriately enough for me, on Relationships; I always seem to find such talks, though not for trying. This is part of my most recent attempt to get back into my faith -- though I have a reputation in my circle of friends for being rather convicted religiously, I feel I make a rather poor showing of it all. At the very least, I feel I've slipped these last few years, and I want to halt and maybe reverse that.
The talk itself was pretty good -- an overview of what the next five talks will be about, generally -- but it wasn't anything I didn't already know; no new insight or enlightenment, which is as once encouraging and disheartening. I am sure of what I'm looking, but I'm no nearer to getting there, nor do I have a better plan than what I've had myself already.
It was also a lot 'bigger' than I'd expected -- the pub was a full-out restaurant, not like the nook-and-cranny bar I'd been to a week ago. It was also filled with young adults, rather than an intimate group in the back somewhere; contrary to what seems to be popular opinion, I get pretty shy rather easily, and large groups intimidate me. Rather, I get along easily and naturally on a personal level and in intimate groups, but when things get bigger and less personal, I lose my footing. I would have felt better if I'd had a friend with me, rather than sitting by myself.
Even given that, I'll probably keep going. I rather like such talks, even if none of it is anything novel, and it'll help me get my religious footing back, I hope.
Search for More Books
I ordered more books. I'm such a bibliophile, sometimes. Not much of a bibliophage, though; it takes me forever to get through a book. I'm currently reading one that I'm just trying to finish up; it was a nice idea in theory, but it seems the story is rather weak, and I get the feeling they're referring to Other Things that happened in some slightly-related series. The book is supposed to stand on it's own, and it does, but it gives me the feeling that it belongs on the "Young Adult" shelf at Barnes & Nobel. I need something with more meat to it.
I've been looking for sometime for fiction I can sink my teeth into. I tried some cyberpunk, reading all on Neuromancer and the beginning of Cryptonomicon. Neuromancer left me with a feeling of "and...?", and Cryptonomicon seemed to be getting nowhere fast, and very verbosely so, but I may yet try re-reading that one.
Some have suggested that I might be interested in Romantic-era or Gothic-style literature, and from what I've been told I would agree. However, just knowing the genre I'm looking for doesn't give me much help in finding actual books -- what stories ARE Romantic, or Gothic, anyways? I'm seriously asking a question, here, and any help would be appreciated.
There's a certain style I can describe that I'd be interested in reading, but I'm not sure if it exists as a genre -- something dark in a modern setting with more than a touch of the supernatural. It's the setting I'd like to write in, and part of the reason I like the World of Darkness games as much as I do. Maizie suggested I might look into H.P. Lovecraft and his Cthulhu mythos -- she isn't the first to suggest Lovecraft, and from what I heard I think I'd like him. I borrowed a book of his from the library last summer (At The Mountains of Madness), but wasn't able to read much of it because of work. I just ordered The Call of Cthulhu, along with a couple books of short stories based in the World of Darkness.
My Doppleganger
Back in Highschool, an ex-girlfriend of mine dated a guy who she claimed was my exact twin, even down to mannerisms and speech patterns. If that was the case, one wonders why she would dump me, only to move on to him, but that's a conundrum for another time. In any case, I called him "Mr Doppleganger," but he isn't who I mean in this section.
Since I was an adolescent, I've been compared to my Uncle George. My family has always said that I look like him -- we're both rather tall and thin, though I've put on weight these last couple years. We also both laugh easily and loudly, and more often than most. He even used to say "Good Morning" as a young man regardless of the time of day, a fact I learned after I'd developed the same habit.
I'm living with George right now, during the week, to cut down on commuting time to and from work, and we had an opportunity to talk at length tonight. Did I mention we're both Computer sorts? George is a 'true Renaissance man,' though -- he's an engineer, plays the piano, guitar, and a couple wood-wind and brass instruments, he paints wonderfully, speaks well, did theatre in highschool and college, is very intelligent in a general way; I may be a Jack of All Geeks, but where I am merely conversant, he has actual aptitude. Perhapse I sell myself short; I've had some exposure to the same sorts of things, I just haven't ever really applied myself to them.
Anyways, though, we were talking tonight, and we're more alike even than that. Neither of us can really study the way it seems most do -- if we don't know a thing after the lecture, reading through notes and the like isn't going to help us any. Note refresh what we already know. Neither of us particularly likes eggs, unless deviled. We both like being up early in the morning (in practice, if not in theory) and up late at night. The phone intimidates us both, and we both hate having to leave voice messages on machines. We both get very verbose, digitally as well as in person -- he writes pages in response to a short email, too.
It was really cool getting to talk to him. I think, if I do my math correctly, I'm about 23 years his junior.
Wounded Dove
Gene gave me a call tonight, saying that a bunch of those out in Front Royal wanted to get a group together to come visit Ms. Suzannah as she nurses her injured arm. However, they no longer have much transportation; it seems Gene's car was more useful out there than one might at first guess. But he figured I would probably be up for getting them all out here to see her, and he figured correctly -- though I'd be doing it more for her sake (to have friends come visit her) than for theirs. He didn't have many details, but he's supposed to get back to me, and soon, as they hope to visit this weekend.
I'm afraid Anastasiya is going to hate me, especially if this prevents me from visiting her this weekend, and I don't know that she'd be wholly without cause. I promise, though, we will get together and hand out before long.
I find I'm starting a lot of posts with those words, the important posts anyways. Maybe it's just me. This week's been OK. So much to say, where do I start?
There's a series of talks being put on by the Young Adult group of DC called "Theology on Tap." Clever, seeing as it takes place in a pub and they talk about Theology. This series is, appropriately enough for me, on Relationships; I always seem to find such talks, though not for trying. This is part of my most recent attempt to get back into my faith -- though I have a reputation in my circle of friends for being rather convicted religiously, I feel I make a rather poor showing of it all. At the very least, I feel I've slipped these last few years, and I want to halt and maybe reverse that.
The talk itself was pretty good -- an overview of what the next five talks will be about, generally -- but it wasn't anything I didn't already know; no new insight or enlightenment, which is as once encouraging and disheartening. I am sure of what I'm looking, but I'm no nearer to getting there, nor do I have a better plan than what I've had myself already.
It was also a lot 'bigger' than I'd expected -- the pub was a full-out restaurant, not like the nook-and-cranny bar I'd been to a week ago. It was also filled with young adults, rather than an intimate group in the back somewhere; contrary to what seems to be popular opinion, I get pretty shy rather easily, and large groups intimidate me. Rather, I get along easily and naturally on a personal level and in intimate groups, but when things get bigger and less personal, I lose my footing. I would have felt better if I'd had a friend with me, rather than sitting by myself.
Even given that, I'll probably keep going. I rather like such talks, even if none of it is anything novel, and it'll help me get my religious footing back, I hope.
I ordered more books. I'm such a bibliophile, sometimes. Not much of a bibliophage, though; it takes me forever to get through a book. I'm currently reading one that I'm just trying to finish up; it was a nice idea in theory, but it seems the story is rather weak, and I get the feeling they're referring to Other Things that happened in some slightly-related series. The book is supposed to stand on it's own, and it does, but it gives me the feeling that it belongs on the "Young Adult" shelf at Barnes & Nobel. I need something with more meat to it.
I've been looking for sometime for fiction I can sink my teeth into. I tried some cyberpunk, reading all on Neuromancer and the beginning of Cryptonomicon. Neuromancer left me with a feeling of "and...?", and Cryptonomicon seemed to be getting nowhere fast, and very verbosely so, but I may yet try re-reading that one.
Some have suggested that I might be interested in Romantic-era or Gothic-style literature, and from what I've been told I would agree. However, just knowing the genre I'm looking for doesn't give me much help in finding actual books -- what stories ARE Romantic, or Gothic, anyways? I'm seriously asking a question, here, and any help would be appreciated.
There's a certain style I can describe that I'd be interested in reading, but I'm not sure if it exists as a genre -- something dark in a modern setting with more than a touch of the supernatural. It's the setting I'd like to write in, and part of the reason I like the World of Darkness games as much as I do. Maizie suggested I might look into H.P. Lovecraft and his Cthulhu mythos -- she isn't the first to suggest Lovecraft, and from what I heard I think I'd like him. I borrowed a book of his from the library last summer (At The Mountains of Madness), but wasn't able to read much of it because of work. I just ordered The Call of Cthulhu, along with a couple books of short stories based in the World of Darkness.
Back in Highschool, an ex-girlfriend of mine dated a guy who she claimed was my exact twin, even down to mannerisms and speech patterns. If that was the case, one wonders why she would dump me, only to move on to him, but that's a conundrum for another time. In any case, I called him "Mr Doppleganger," but he isn't who I mean in this section.
Since I was an adolescent, I've been compared to my Uncle George. My family has always said that I look like him -- we're both rather tall and thin, though I've put on weight these last couple years. We also both laugh easily and loudly, and more often than most. He even used to say "Good Morning" as a young man regardless of the time of day, a fact I learned after I'd developed the same habit.
I'm living with George right now, during the week, to cut down on commuting time to and from work, and we had an opportunity to talk at length tonight. Did I mention we're both Computer sorts? George is a 'true Renaissance man,' though -- he's an engineer, plays the piano, guitar, and a couple wood-wind and brass instruments, he paints wonderfully, speaks well, did theatre in highschool and college, is very intelligent in a general way; I may be a Jack of All Geeks, but where I am merely conversant, he has actual aptitude. Perhapse I sell myself short; I've had some exposure to the same sorts of things, I just haven't ever really applied myself to them.
Anyways, though, we were talking tonight, and we're more alike even than that. Neither of us can really study the way it seems most do -- if we don't know a thing after the lecture, reading through notes and the like isn't going to help us any. Note refresh what we already know. Neither of us particularly likes eggs, unless deviled. We both like being up early in the morning (in practice, if not in theory) and up late at night. The phone intimidates us both, and we both hate having to leave voice messages on machines. We both get very verbose, digitally as well as in person -- he writes pages in response to a short email, too.
It was really cool getting to talk to him. I think, if I do my math correctly, I'm about 23 years his junior.
Gene gave me a call tonight, saying that a bunch of those out in Front Royal wanted to get a group together to come visit Ms. Suzannah as she nurses her injured arm. However, they no longer have much transportation; it seems Gene's car was more useful out there than one might at first guess. But he figured I would probably be up for getting them all out here to see her, and he figured correctly -- though I'd be doing it more for her sake (to have friends come visit her) than for theirs. He didn't have many details, but he's supposed to get back to me, and soon, as they hope to visit this weekend.
I'm afraid Anastasiya is going to hate me, especially if this prevents me from visiting her this weekend, and I don't know that she'd be wholly without cause. I promise, though, we will get together and hand out before long.
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no subject
Date: 2004-07-09 01:57 pm (UTC)In terms of other things you might like, try The Lions of Al-Rassan by G. G. Kay, or Sunshine by Robin McKinley.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-09 02:21 pm (UTC)Anyway, lets see... you could try reading some Edgar Allen Poe, uhm... who else.... I'm liked Thearou (though I havent read him in a while, and from what people said when we were reading him, he said a whole lot of nothing...(granted they were ninthgraders...)) I like Dickens, though I've found I need to push myself through some parts (or else strangle the main charecter... :-p) or if you want to just occupy your time, and work on decription, read shakespear! :-)
As for you being a bibliophile... you aint got NOTHIN on me. We have a room devoted to books and probably sixty percent of them belong to me. I cant go NEAR a bookstore without buying something. I have been known to spend my last $40 on books I dont even need! Oh and did I mention I have about fourty books waiting to be read? Speaking of books that need to be read... I'm in the middle of the Fountain Head by Ann Ryand, that one is pretty good... sort of reminds me of The Great Gadspy (except I like this book so far....) and Lyd is reading Atlas Shruged... Both are LONG, but if you need something to occupy your time with, they might be the ticket.... On the topic of finishing reading books... Hows HP comming? :-p
Ok, I think thats enough of a wordy responce. Chin up kid ^_^
no subject
Date: 2004-07-10 01:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-10 03:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-09 07:41 pm (UTC)I've also been told to read Lovecraft. I recently watched "In the Mouth of Madness", which is supposed to be based on his works...but I'm thinking about picking up one or two of his books. I hear that he's another big thing the creators of Silent Hill ripped off when they were piecing together their masterwork.
As for Gothic...I believe Poe is considered to be a Gothic writer. Don't quote me on that, though. I myself am just one for the classics, and Poe definitely qualifies in that category. That and, y'know, my beloved Nabokov was a big fan of Poe, and alludes to him all over the place in Lolita, so it helps me understand Nabokov's copious literary allusions to keep up on Poe.