Now, before anyone starts ragging on me for not blogging: It's not my fault. I've written something every day but every time i finish writing my connection to blogger dies so i can't post or log out or anything, which has peeved me greatly. So, in summary, the last week has been relatively packed. On Tuesday, I had my first homeschool drama class of the year. We're starting with "The Odd Couple", and we've been having fun with that. There was also a dessert function at the seminary to welcome the incoming class that was pretty fun. Wednesday was mostly work, in the form of office work, homework, blocking lines, and composing more lyrics and music (finished one song and another on the way), topped off with a late night game party next door. Thursday I worked some more in various ways, watched "Barbershop" again, went to a service at the seminary, and went down to choir. Friday: Even more work *gasp* along with going out with the usual suspects to see The Four Feathers, which was fabulous, and ending the night over at Tim's house.And today I hung out with Tim for most of the morning then came back home to play The Sims and beat my Dad at Star Wars: Podracer. OK, in all fairness he DID give me a run for my money, but I did triumph in the end.

Tunes: "A Praise Chorus", Jimmy Eat World; "Wide, Wide River", The Fugs; "Rock Star", N*E*R*D

There are times when I feel like Rob in Nick Hornsby's High Fidelity, minus most of the girl trouble. I realize that detracts a lot from Rob's character, but the point I'm trying to make is that I have almost an obsession with music, I am opinionated about bands/genres/sounds, what I listen to affects how I feel immensely... In short, music is a very major part of my life. And so, in an effort to put some more quality music out into the world (and a drive to fulfill a childhood dream), I have started writing songs. Using an old electric keyboard (My brother left behind three composition programs on the computer that would work extremely well but I have no clue how to use them), I've managed to crank out some lyrics and hopefully will have some instrumentation soon. Finding people to actually perform my work is a definite problem, but I'll burn that bridge when I get to it.

Tunes: "Girl", The Beatles; "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", Barenaked Ladies; "I'm On My Way", The Proclaimers; "When It's Over", Sugar Ray

Last night I watched Aliens, with mixd reactions. While my friend Tim, who lent ot to me, assured me that it was the best of the series, I just didn't connect with it as much as Alien. I think part of my complaint is that in Aliens, they change the image of the alien from a solitary, cold, calculating hunter to an extension of a hive mind ( which seemed to seriously limit its intelligence). Also, it was hard to tell what sort of movie James Cameron was aiming for. The aliens aren't scary and creepy enough for a horror/thriller type sci-fi, and the explosions and violence aren't satisfying enough for a good action/adventure sci-fi flick. All that aside, it is a fun and enjoyable sequel; but in my mind, in falls into the pit where most sequels fall: good, but awkwardly worse than the original.

Tunes: "Closing Time", Semisonic; "In The End", Linkin Park; "Tiny Dancer", Elton John.

I just got back from watching Barbershop with the usual suspects. And it was really well done. There's a great balance of one-liners and running gags, the plot and characters develop well, and you know that every time Cedric the Entertainer opens his mouth you're going to bust a gut laughing. And I had to sit and think a moment or two to come up with these cons, but... It IS relatively predictable, and some of the jokes just fall flat on their face. But definetely a $6.50 and two hours well spent.

Tunes: "Barroom Heroes", Dropkick Murphys; "It's Alright", Big Head Todd and the Monsters; "Get Over It", OK Go

Today I was pulled in at the last minute to mind my friend Tim's house while he and his family were at a service for his recently departed grandfather, which aroused mixed feelings in me. I'm supposed to recieve people. How should I emote? Am I heavily grieving, lightly grieving, quietly sad, neutral, cheery, what? And all for a guy I haven't met and know virtually nothing about? Fortunately for me, the atmosphere was light, and the only real signs that it wasn't simply a family get-together were the muted colors and the Frank Sinatra LP playing in the background. There was much light-hearted fun and laughter. It also helped Tim and me to inspire an unrealistic idea for a reality TV show, but I'll save that for a later date. :-P

Tunes: "Absolutely Fabulous", Pet Shop Boys; "Get This Party Started", Pink; "The Megaman Song", Unknown; and "Gangster Tripping", Fatboy Slim.

Today was a very good, very busy day. I spent the morning (or however much of it I was awake for) cleaning out my brother's room (a frightening task). The afternoon was spent at work rebuilding the Seabury site and playing several rigorous ping-pong with my boss and a mutual friend, and finishing up with a sit out on the lawn with lemon water (on my part) and gin & tonics and cigars (on theirs). And this evening I was babysitting the next door neighbors, which consists of sitting around and watching them play on their ps2.

Tunes: "Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous", Good Charlotte; "Mrs. Robinson", Paul Simon; and "H-A-T-R-E-D", Tonio K.

Well, the school year has started for me, making my schedule more of a burden than it's been for several months. I have a report on early American history due Wednesday, I'm reading The Art of War, and I don't know how I'm going to balance work work and goofing off with my friends. I spent the late afternoon down at church, hanging out with my choirgirl friends, which is so refreshing. I get to lose sight of the scary big picture and have simple, pure, hilarity. On a different note, SOMEone promised she'd put me back on her blogroll if I started up again... (coughHalleycough)

Tunes: "One Song Glory", "Light My Candle", RENT soundtrack

Today was very very long. I woke up before 7 (WAY early for me), and promptly spent 6 hours at church. I arrived an hour early for the first service, waited through the first service, started choir practice, sang the second service, following which was a brunch during which my mother was to outline plans for the upcoming England choir tour. While the food was good, most of the conversation was either stuff I already knew or stuff that didn't pertain to me. S by the time we piled the four or five trays of Mom's food into the car and get home, it was already around 2:00. and to be quite honest, I don't remember too much of what happened after that. It's a sort of blur that runs from the tme I got home to now. Must've been something in those Krispy Kremes...

I'm going to start doing what Dad's doing and start listing the songs that I listen to while I'm blogging. Just remember, imitation is one of the sincerest forms of flattery.

Si's Tunes: "Someday We'll Know", New Radicals; "What Do You Want From Life?", TheTubes; and "Just Like a Pill", by Pink.

I'm having a minor case of writer's block, so I'm going to post an excerpt from the screenplay I've been writing with my friend Tim.

Tires screech. Cut to a peaceful street. A couple of cars drive along slowly. suddenly, Arsenal’s Caddilac convertible roars by, swerving neatly to avoid the traffic. Start playing “78 rpm” by the Stiff Little Fingers in the background. The other cars pull over on to the sidewalk, braking hard.

Twitch
Yeah, Weej is taking us there now...

Weej
Left at the next light.

Arsenal
Got it.

cut to: the car, looking from the hood. Arsenal is driving. Next to her is Weej, and then Tiffany. Rat, Zero, and Twitch are jammed in the back seat. Twitch is talking on a cell phone.

Twitch
...Not even three yet, so we should have a little time. Uh-huh. OK. I’ll let her know. Thanks, Sin.

Weej
Don;t worry kids. Your mother is a tough la-

Zero
Don’t talk about my mum, you... you treacherous GRIT! She-

Twitch
Zero! Listen up. Message for you. Emma, from your band?

Arsenal pulls the car into a sharp left turn through a red light. The tires screech and a cacophony of horns complain but she pulls through without hitting anyone.

Arsenal
Hold tight, everyone. It’ll be getting a little thrilling in a mo’!

Close up on Arsenal’s foot. it slams the gas pedal to the floor. cut to: a straightaway. loose newspapers litter the road. they zoom by at full speed. Zero and Rat whoop and Tiffany screams lightly.

Twitch
You missed practice-- Bloody hell, Arsenal! You drive like Da!

cut to: back street. orange cones mark off one lane where a large truck is backing up, being guided by a guy in a hardhat waving.

Twitch (V.O.)
Gig tonight at nine?

cut back to the car. Tiffany is panicking and trying to claw her way across Weej, who is somewhat stunned. Arsenal is concentrating on the road, but obviously pissed off.

Tiffany
You crazy bitch! You’re going to get us all killed!

Arsenal (tightly)
Get ‘er off me, Weej. Now.

close up on the steering wheel. Tiffany’s arm shoots across and slams the wheel hard left. cut to: the truck on the back street. the guy in the hardhat dives for safety. cut to: hood. Arsenal nails a well-place punch to Tiffany’s jaw while trying to regain control of the car. Orange cones fly.

Today was a really really good day. I woke up at a reasonable hour, worked the morning away, goofed off for the afternoon, and had my first choir practice of the year, and we didn't sound too bad. Practice was followed by a party at our organist/choirmaster Mr. Webster's house, where the coke flowed like water and the pizza passed around like... something else, I dunno how to fill that one. The only slight offset was that I rode to and from the party with my fellow choristers. They're great guys and really fun to hang out with, but behind the wheel they're like extras from The Fast and the Furious. That, and whenever I'm going fast in a car in an urban area I get hysterical for some wierd reason. So I ride shotgun in an urban rollercoaster, giggling madly while simultaneously feeling terrified and exhilirated. Now I'm too wired to slep, thanks to caffiene, pizza, and adrenaline, so it's back to the arcade game emulators for me!

I feel so much better after a good night's sleep. I heard the occasional memorial service on the radio today, which brought out the thoughts I typically get when I hear more 9/11 melodrama. They run something like: Yes, it's sad. But while I appreciate memorial services and such, I also feel compelled to point out that it's not an excuse to bomb the crap out of the neighbors of various terrorists, and that perpetually licking wounds only builds up more anger and resentment at a vague and indistinct group of "evil" peple who are only doing what they feel pride- and honor-bound to do. Fury and resentment are prime reasons that the U.S. has used for various other acts of violence such as Vietnam, and the firebombing of Dresden. Now I'm not trying to justify Al' Qaida or any other terrorist group or any government for that matter, but to point out that there are better ways to get your point across in the first place, no matter which position you're at. Now, I'd like to apologize to those who may have taken offense at this post; I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. I just wanted to put my two cents in, and so, having done that, I'm going to go stay up late playing video games.

I have loads of excuses for not blogging for a months, but they all sound lame and crappy so I'll spare you. So... Last month I had choir camp up in Wisconsin, which was really awesome. Singing evey day, and being around some really close friends out in the middle of nowhere... So that lasted a week, after which I quickly resumed my normal routine of goofing off and working, in alternating swings. That's when I packed back up and headed out east with three objectives: 1)relax on a Nantucket beach, 2) drop off my brother at college, and 3) rendezvouz with fellow bloggers Halley and Steve Himmer. We (The aforementioned, plus the rest of my family) met in the Boston Common, and had a nice long conversation (during which Halley threatened my life if I didnt whip myself into shape and start blogging again). All objectves were secured and I have since returned home, as of 5:20 CDT. There is an extremely condensed story of Si's August/early September. I'm sorry it's not more edifying, but I spent 12 hours in the car today and I'm not at my brightest. And I will try and keep up regular posts from now on. If not, Halley will be on the next flight to Chicago with an axe.