Finally.

Alright. OK. I haven't blogged in awhile, that is true. I'm not sure why it has become increasingly difficult for me to write about all the myriad things floating about my cerebellum. However, since I am awake at 1:37am the morning before Father's Day my brain has decided that it needs to expel some of its junk in order for me to get some R&R.

I recently went on a literary tirade exploring the works of Vonnegut, Tim Burton, Edward Gorey, and Paulo Coelho. Why I didn't take the time to blog about each of them, I shall never understand. I suppose now is the best time to explore what I gathered from these marvels of literature.

1. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut:

I read Breakfast of Champions awhile back when Julie and I had one of our very first (if not the first) adventures at Bookman's. I purchased the aforementioned books and read Breakfast of Champions shortly after. I loved it. I can't remember how the timeline went but Julie read Cat's Cradle before I did and loved it as well. I had then much more recently been told by someone else that Cat's Cradle is the best Vonnegut book out there. I finally decided to read it and was not disappointed.

Although I am more inclined to regard Breakfast of Champions as my favorite Vonnegut book thus far, Cat's Cradle was also very entertaining. The story confused me at the very beginning for some reason. After about 20 or so pages I wasn't really sure of what I was reading. I started getting into it soon after that, though, and loved every word to the very end. I loved the fake religion of Bokonon! So hilarious! In fact, pictured to the left is an example of a common practice in Bokononism: boko-maru.




Vonnegut's writing style is witty, sarcastic, and straightforward. His characters are well-formed which makes it easy to picture each one in detail. They are also each very unique and have their own little quirks. For example, in one moment in the book Angela Hoenikker, a seemingly simple woman with not much depth or beauty, plays the clarinet along with a jazz record and everyone is completely taken aback at how beautifully she can play. Similarly, Newt Hoenikker, Angela's younger brother (who also happens to be a midget) loves to paint and Frank, the eldest Hoenniker sibling, loves to build miniature towns.

Oh, and I loved this quote: "So, some people got free furniture, and some people got bubonic plague."

Overall, a great read.

(Alright, kind of a side note but still related: I wanted to read my old blog post about Breakfast of Champions from last summer so I just clicked on it a moment ago and started reading. One of the first things I said was something I just said: "Kurt Vonnegut's writing style is so witty, sarcastic, and to-the-point" Almost word for word. I am consistent at least...)


Alright, now that I have typed my eyeballs and my brain into a paste I think I should probably retire for the night. It only took me an hour and a half to write this... I hope people actually read this crap.

Happy Father's Day!

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy

This, my friends, is the beauty of my life... and it's all thanks to Julie that it is now in my possession (which, I just discussed with Julie, is an awfully-spelled word).

See, I make illogical decisions sometimes. In fact, my life is hardly ever what one would consider "logical". I get by, however, so it is not top banana, I mean priority, for me to fix this. Every once in awhile my friends or family will let me know that what I am doing is (how shall I put this...) stupid.

This was the case tonight at Bookman's, the greatest bookstore I have ever entered the pearly gates of. Seriously, this place makes Border's look like a giant-corporate-monster-overpriced-jerk-face. Which, it kind of is. If you want the children of America to become more literate then stop selling Captain Underpants for $15 a pop. Beside the point I guess...

I had two books I only semi-cared about but thought that I cared more about and struck Tim Burton gold and thought, "Aww... I can't afford all of these.... So I'm not going to dig up this gigantic piece of solid gold that is just sitting here in this gigantic hole that would be so easy to pick up my 10 month old nephew could do it with his pinky." Then Julie came along and in her infinite wisdom suggested I put back the semi-cared about books and purchas just the Tim Burton one. Wow, what an idea!!!! It was like Julie had to point out that the sky was blue to someone who already knew that the sky was blue but forgot in a moment of idiocy.

Needless to say, I took her advice and couldn't be happier. Except I'm pissed off about something else now.

I am not a shallow idiot. I just want you all to know that.

I am pissed off about something that others would just blow off and have blown off but I can't seem to. You know how people make assumptions about you and you just shrug it off as no big deal but then it happens over and over and over again and even when it's not necessarily a personal observation, when it is made even generally about you it pisses you off? Yeah, me either. That's a lie. I totally know what I mean.

Alright, to be completely honest, I'm pulling a James Frey right now. He made up a bunch of stuff to make his memoir more exciting. I exaggerate my pissed-off-ness and self-loathing to make my blog more entertaining. I hope my "Million Little Lies" didn't put you off too much. I'm feeling kinda saucy at the moment.

Oh, and this:

Creativity/Productivity

I'm never quite sure, exactly, why it becomes difficult for me to blog when there is so much time left open in my day. Granted, I've been trying to fill each day with at least one task that keeps me occupied or gets me out of the house for a little while. Yesterday, I did some chores around the house.

Today, I ventured over to the post office. I had a funny thought while I was walking up to the door, actually. I'm wearing a semi-adorable outfit today that I put together this morning. I thought to myself, Man, I really wish these packages had vintage clothing, art, some crafty piece, a photograph, SOMETHING interesting enclosed within them. I mean, I am a creative person. I don't have a job. I need to start filling my days with artsy projects and selling them in my own store on ebay! Julie and I have had this idea in the past but it never really panned out. I mean, how perfectly great would that be for me? I may not make enough to pay all my bills but it would be more change in my pocket than I have now! I can still look for a normal job while working on projects and I'd be using my creativity in a productive way for once.

I'm going to need some time to plan this out more, I only just came up with this today. I haven't even thought of what I'll do, exactly. However, it gives me some kind of excitement and hope.

If you have any ideas as to what I can make, let me know. I'd really appreciate it!

Do the truffle shuffle

As always, as I listened to my iPod in my car today I became particularly bored with my overplayed playlists so I decided to put it on shuffle.

What came forth from the depths of my iPod's soul chilled me and thrilled me to my very core...

The following is the best shuffle mix I have ever heard:

1. Coal to Diamonds- The Gossip
2. Rise Up- Diane Birch
3. Amish Paradise- Weird Al
4. Algo Esta Cambiando- Julieta Venegas
5. Headlock- Imogen Heap
6. Semi-Charmed Life- Third Eye Blind
7. Natalie Marie and 1cc- Spill Canvas
8. Play for Today- The Cure
9. Mind's Eye- dc Talk
10. Siamese Twins- The Cure
11. Skeleton Key- Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
12. Landslide- Smashing Pumpkins
13. Burritos- Sublime
14. Know Your Onion!- The Shins
15. Subbcultcha- Pixies
16. I Just Can't Wait to be King- The Lion King (YES! hahaha)
17. Dutch Courage- Spill Canvas
18. No Good Deed- Idina Menzel, Wicked Soundtrack

Throw in about three skips over some Doors music (I really should just take them off...) and there you have it!

See, for me, what makes a shuffle mix great is when it is made up of songs that I know the words to. If I know the words to a song, no matter how terrible it is or how much I hate it, I will sing along and have a good time. I LOVE singing along to songs more than just about anything musical. I can't play an instrument, I can't read music, and I can't actually sing but when I am singing along to a good song, I feel like Pavarotti!

Oh, and the other thing that makes the shuffle feature great is that when you have an experience like mine, it makes you feel like your iPod is giving you a mix tape... Awww!

Tell me about a great shuffle/mix that you love!

P.S.
Picture courtesy of Me. That's right, I am an artist.