Video Break #4

Just stumbled across this video entitled "I Met the Walrus" by account imetthewalrus...and had to link it immediately. 

The bio for it read: "In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it. Using the original interview recording as the soundtrack, director Josh Raskin has woven a visual narrative which tenderly romances Lennon's every word in a cascading flood of multipronged animation. Raskin marries the terrifyingly genius pen work of James Braithwaite with masterful digital illustration by Alex Kurina, resulting in a spell-binding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit, and timeless message."

Daily headphones: "Better in Time" by Leona Lewis, "Addicted" by Saving Abel, and for some related Christmas cheer John Lennon's version of "So This is Christmas"

(note: see below post for weekend events)

Rounds

I might be late for something not scheduled - cause everyone else knows the rules. 

I might have writer's block thick as mortar, and not enough time to call out sick. My ballot might be getting a few poor reviews.

And you can tell me what it's like to be something else, to be something mathematical and ordinary....cause that's when I might listen and forget.

But then the next ticket gets punched --- nod to the teller, walk through the turntable and keep up the motion. It's another round to risk. 

I spent the painfully crisp weekend judging 10 rounds worth of young high schoolers anxiously trying to make something of themselves. They gathered in the hallways talking as if future execs/actors...in slightly off-fitted and ironed business suits. 

(I was a hired judge @ the annual George Mason Univ High School Forensics Tournament. click title for video) Ballots. Placing. Time signals. Dropping rounds. Awards. Coaches. DI, PRO, EXT, DEC, ST, IMPR, POE, DUO, etc..

There were minutes spent hiding in the judge's lounge (with panera food!), breakfast with YouTube videos, careful runs across the snowy campus to a round, covert phone calls to and from my brother in the tab room, ...and all around people that knew where they were going, without advance notice. 

                                And of course that infamous piece or two that makes the tournament. 

For 3 days I went MIA from the bullshit and commentaries in Towson, and from my own obligations, traffic lights, and job. 

At 6:30 in the morning on the 2nd day of the tournament my brother and his 3 friends bolted across dicy sidewalks in suit&tie and wool trenchcoats, (with me in tow)

...and long after I zoomed the Capitol Beltway for Baltimore, they're there; with their team. Picking out ties, making "noods in the Tdome" and traveling around the country improving their craft. They've decided something, and skipped some of the nonsense.

                              They say "gentleman is coming back". 

Hey, who cares that the voice escapes and cracks, the labels aren't labeled, the feet tired from speeding to the next temporary place, the finals looming treacherously. 

Who cares what they're saying out there, its all subjective. 

It may just all be rounds of motion, and I'm glad I didn't hide. 

I'm glad we burrowed under blankets.

The semester is ending, and I can't tell where it's going. 

But regardless, I'm ready to watch the snow fall and forget to count calories. I'm ready to finish unpacking the thousands of boxes worth of Christmas decorations in the other room, light the last Advent candle, and check out the new "French Press" coffee shop by the library (link)

I'm ready for laziness and eggnog, lasagna and holly branches, party dresses and wrapping paper, and time to indulge in my own art (without time constraints). Cause long ago I decided something.

Daily headphones: Keane's "Spiralling", and Blue October's "Do You Ever Wonder?"

This weekend (sorry been slacking on sharing ahead of time):

• Thurs. Dec 11th - Center Stage College Night - "Caroline or Change" musical, discounted tickets and free food @ reception
• Fri. Dec 12th - Halfway to the Moon, Apathy Eulogy, Fairgreen, and Oh! the Story, play @ Recher Theatre. 
• Sat Dec 13th - All Time Low, Cities, and Brighter Shades @ St Johns Hamilton. Tickets at door only. 
• Sat Dec 13th - 98 ROCK presents Saving Abel @ the Recher. 
• Sun Dec 14th - Holiday Concert @ the Walters (FREE admission)