No one is watching but me

Thanks for all the story ideas. I was surprised by how many I received and of course promise to get to all of them before the year 2007. Already we’ve seen “Killer Robot Driving Instructor” which I think turned out pretty well. Aside from there being no robots, that is. I feel kind of ripped off about that.

It’s the Superbowl tonight. I don’t really know who’s playing, but, as always, I’ve picked the COWBOYS. There is a party and such, which I’m happy about because I slept through half the weekend due to Jane Austen. (It’s a long and depressing story; don’t ask) Hopefully I will get to make up for some of that lost fun tonight.

Random thoughts? Random thoughts.

Outlook
How healthy can it be to change your outlook on life every week? I feel like I should just get a giant “Price is Right” style wheel that I can spin every Sunday. Wherever it lands, that’s how I’ll feel that week! And if I get a dollar in one spin or the combined total of a dollar in two spins, I get $1000 dollars and a BONUS SPIN. I really think this would help me out.

Unfortunately for me, I do not have the space for a giant wheel. And so it is that I change randomly. One week I’ll be happy to wallow, the next I’ll decide that it’s time to stand up and take charge! Then the week after that I’ll decide to just take it easy and let things flow naturally. Then the week after that I’ll decide that I really just want to grow a moustache, leave the country and travel the world searching for the best strawberry jelly in existence. And I don’t even LIKE strawberry jelly.

I think I’m just constantly enraged by the fact that I’m not stable. I don’t think you ever truly become an adult until you can look at yourself and KNOW who you are and not feel like you’re still learning how to be a friend, a lover, a confidante, and a person. I’m waiting for that sort of glittering moment of truth when life takes shape and you suddenly feel confident, in control and sure of yourself.

Until then I’ll just keep faking it.

Word
On the plus side, I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my life where I’ve been so active creatively. Short story and novel ideas are just flooding in, and I’m doing everything I can to remember them. Of course, I’m still not actually WRITING as much as I would like, but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed by caring less about my classes. We’ll see how it goes. I want to do one more non-sappy one before I revert back to sappy for the February story. All I’ve got is time and fingers.

Weirdly enough, I’ve been thinking lately that maybe I really shouldn’t be an English major. Ignoring the fact that it’s largely a useless degree, I’ve come to actively loathe the one required English course I’m taking this year. That it’s at 10:30 a.m. doesn’t help, but I could probably handle the time if the course wasn’t the dullest and most ineffectual course since the time I was in eighth grade and took a computer course on how to win at SIM TOWER. And, hell, at least Sim Tower was fun for a few days.

So I don’t know. What are some good majors, guys? I was thinking maybe History. I just want something that will get me the silly piece of paper so that I can go off and roam the world with credentials. It’s good to have credentials when you’re searching for jelly and true love.

Excel
Spent last night at THE KEG. It was kind of like looking into my future. I had an expensive and excellent meal, pleasant dinner time conversation and a glass of genuine Port for dessert. This is the kind of thing I want to do when I’m 30 years old. Just eat steak and drink Port. That would be a wonderful life, wouldn’t it? I don’t even really know what Port is but nevertheless I love it.

After that we played Trivial Pursuit: Pop Culture Edition which is actually really fun. Some might complain about the lack of questions relating to History, Science, Geography or, well, anything relevant, but not me. I may not know the difference between Michelangelo and Picasso, but you’re damn right I can tell you the name of the dog on Fraggle Rock or what singer shares a birthday with Ryan Adams.

Access
Short movie reviews are easier to write than long ones!

• Spellbound: Really awesome! This is the documentary about spelling bees. It follows eight kids as they journey to Washington for the ever-important Nationals. I thought they devoted too much time to some of the kids and not enough to others, but that’s really a minor complaint considering just how well done the film is. It has as much tension as any horror film, and by the end you’ll be nearly dying of anxiety.
• Capturing the Friedmans: I didn’t see this before I made my ‘Best of 2003′ list, which is unfortunate because I’d seriously consider giving it a Top 10 spot. In the 1980s, Arnold Friedman and his son Jesse were both arrested for allegedly molesting dozens of minors. The film, through a wealth amateur video shot by the family themselves, takes us through the events of the trial. The subject matter is not easy to take, but the real focus on the film is on the small town hysteria that results from the case, and how that hysteria may have affected the court case. It never gives a satisfying answer as to whether or not the Friedmans were actually guilty, but it paints a fascinating portrait nonetheless. See it.
• Calendar Girls: I am pretty manly, seriously. This is a cute film about middle-aged British women who take their clothes off to raise money for cancer research. There is nothing astounding about it, but it has a wealth of funny moments (Anything with the son, especially) and British women are always good at the whole acting thing. It’s not something I would have set out to see on my own, but it certainly wasn’t boring.

Powerpoint
Your songs of the moment:

• Nick Cave - Babe, I’m On Fire
• The Wrens - She Sends Kisses
• Lisa Loeb - Truthfully
• Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight

How’s THAT for variety?

Matt