My [Top 5] 2013 New Year's Resolutions

It's no secret that 2012 has sucked a lot of flying squirrel balls for the vast majority of us. The economy is still in the shithole, politicians can't make up their minds, and nobody got me an African penguin for Christmas. 

So, in spite of that I decided to have a little fun on Facebook & Twitter today:

And I realize that change doesn't happen without first sitting down and setting some goals. Here's my short list of 2013 New Year's resolutions.

1) Finish the first book in my long Sci-Fi/Fantasy series: Realms of Angelus. If I can get 10 pages done five times a week, I can have the first draft finished before school starts up again. I'll also have a draft to present to Professor Hanifan who runs our Writing Center at SUNY Albz. I also hope to publish it.

2) Publish some short fiction. I have several short story ideas laying around gathering dust. I'm going to submit one of my stories to Offcourse, SUNY's literary journal and go from there.

3) Spend less money. I've dug myself into a ton of debt this year, due to unfortunate circumstances with unstable housing, lack of work, etc. I'd like to get used to living a little more simply so I can save money and do some traveling outside of the country.

4) Get my passport. With the money I'll save from using my crock-pot more often and working out of libraries instead of coffee shops, I should have just enough to get my passport which will last me for ten years . It's my golden ticket.

5) Start applying for teaching jobs overseas or in other states. I'll be a senior in the fall and I don't wanna graduate jobless so that means getting a six month head-start -- at least. Some of my friends have had very positive experiences teaching in places like South Korea and Western Europe. SUNY also has a Study Abroad department which could help me out.

Well, that's my top five! Stay with this World Class Adventurer through the New Year for the latest commentary, travel info, creative writing, and general nonsense. Peace!

Just Started Reading Game of Thrones

I'm a Super Fan of the Game of Thrones series on HBO. I got lazy about reading the books up until about two weeks ago when I went to my friend Felicia's little cousin's Christmas recital and ran into a woman with hungry eyes fixed on her shiny new e-Reader. She wiped an escaping tear away from one eye, pushing up her glasses as she did. Yet, when her hand disappeared they fell back into place ever-so-quickly. I had to ask what she was reading. Turned out, she found herself in the middle of the A Song of Ice & Fire series by George R.R. Martin after watching Game of Thrones on TV. I mentioned how I loved the show and couldn't wait until season 3. She practically pleaded for me to read the books.

So, I'm beginning with the first book and watching parodies on YouTube. Yep, that's how Winter Break is going so far.



(And no, I did not forget about my Winter Writing Challenge. I'll be reporting about that on the 22nd of next month with little video updates here and there along the way.)

Sandy Hook Shooting Sparks the “Violent Video Game” Debate (Again)

The tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut shook the foundations of our prior thoughts about gun control as a nation. Earlier this year, I wrote about the censorship debate surrounding the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Every time some lunatic massacres innocent people, everyone blames the same culprits.

“It’s the NRA’s fault, goddammit!” Someone will say.

“No, its violent video games! We should ban those!” Some other idiot will proclaim as they stereotypically wrap themselves in their faux enlightenment.

New submitter seepho [from Slashdot] writes:

"Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has introduced a bill directing the National Academy of Sciences to lead an investigation to determine what impact violent video games have on children. Senator Rockefeller commented, 'Recent court decisions demonstrate that some people still do not get it. They believe that violent video games are no more dangerous to young minds than classic literature or Saturday morning cartoons. Parents, pediatricians, and psychologists know better. These court decisions show we need to do more and explore ways Congress can lay additional groundwork on this issue. This report will be a critical resource in this process.'"This legislation was prompted by reports that Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza was a gamer. A draft of the bill is available online. (Slashdot)

Of course, this is only a first step in the restriction of video game sales which will supply yet another crushing blow to creative expression and free thought. The fact is, that video games are a form of entertainment just like literature and Saturday morning cartoons. I play FPS (First Person Shooter) games as well as platformers and other types. I have never, ever thought about shooting anyone in real life. I’ve never held a gun, either and have no intentions of owning one. There are millions of other gamers, just like me, who know how to flip the IRL switch when console time’s up. In fact, most gamers possess enough human decency not to commit horrendous murders.

Of course, mainstreamers hold on to the stupid idea that banning and/or censoring video games is somehow going to reduce gun violence. But it’s really just a myth. You know what will really reduce gun violence? Looking at the real life merchants of death selling ordinary citizens unnecessarily powerful, military-grade assault weapons.

Should every American have the right to own a weapon for self-defense? Yes. Should an ordinary citizen possess a gun more deadly than the ones carried by local police? No. Should a single family own a freaking arsenal in their house? Hell no.

President Obama has been largely silent on the issue of gun control, which is highly unfortunate. In the words of my adoptive mother, “he certainly isn’t like other Democrats”. All this “middle of the road” pandering is simply a load of bullshit. In times like this, we need a leader with balls; someone unafraid of the rabid right. Yet, no real change actually happens because we, as Americans, have become complacent about the qualities of the people who represent us. I believe that Obama has a moral responsibility to take the issue of gun control seriously, especially after the laundry list of random massacres which happened underneath his presidency. Of course, after a shooting this devastating, Obama is talking. Why did it take so long?

Tragedies bring out the nature of us which seeks to find someone or something to blame. We have to find a solution, somehow, someway. The solution isn’t always clear. But in this case, its staring us right in the face. Too bad some people can’t distinguish reality from video games and feel the need to blame a form of entertainment rather than the people responsible for this shit.

If you’re a gamer and you oppose violence in real life, I want to hear from you. The more gamers we can get to speak up, the better.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #gamers4peace

Also, don't forget to check out Demand a Plan.

Chinese Colgate Bottle?

So, my bf noticed this morning that we have a Chinese Colgate tube. o.O;

For the life of me, I can't remember where we got it. I just know I only buy toothpaste like once a year 'cause I stockpile that shit.

Anyone from outside of China seen these before in regular grocery marts?

The 10-Pages-a-Day Winter Writing Challenge

As those of you who know me know, I have been working on a really special story for over ten years. At first, it was a graphic novel. Then when I realized I was more blessed with words than with visual art, I decided to turn it into a novel earlier this year. So far, I have 30 pages and 6 short chapters finished.

You may be wondering why this project is taking me so long. The simple answer is the life happens and sometimes it kicks you in the lady nuts until you're keeled over on the ground and literally can't get up. The details of everything that has happened within the past decade to delay this project (getting married and divorced to a psychopath who I didn't know at the time was crazy all before age 18, running away to live with my drug addicted best friend, losing all my friends over and over again due to constant moves across the country, the loss of my grandmother, the estrangement from my adoptive and biological parents, lack of employment opportunities, stupid legal issues, additional schooling requirements for my career path, and shitty landlords) are far too complex to get into at length. In fact, I'm sure I could probably write a book about how crappy my life has been from the time I was born to right here at the ripe age of 22. But I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna be defined for the shit that's happened to me but the work I've done in spite of all that nonsense.

My boyfriend is the only person who knows how to keep me out of the doldrums. In many ways, he's gone through a lot of the same shit and understands what it's like to be left out on your own without even so much as an explanation. We've always been there for each other. I'm glad he had the courage and patience to push me to continue my fiction writing. This winter break, with Dan's help, I'm going to be writing 10 pages a day of my fiction novel so that I can finally finish it.

I hope that some of you will take this challenge with me. It doesn't have to be fiction and it doesn't have to be 10 pages. But challenge yourself to do whatever it is that you love each day for the next month. What better New Year's resolution is there? Call me crazy, but I don't think the world is gonna end on Friday (though I do want to go to some sick parties).

Wish me luck publishing in 2013!

World Class Adventurer

 

 

What is a World Class Adventurer?

This is Why I Love Vegans

I’m not a vegan. I’m not even a vegetarian. My mother is but I’ve never found the idea of dietary restrictions very appealing, especially because I’m a poor college student and fiction author. Hey, I’ve gotta take what I can get. However, I have a lot of friends who have recently gone vegan and they have shared delicious meals with me…and a riding crop.

You see, every Tuesday, I go to my friend Claresse’s house to do laundry so we can chill out. It beats going to alumni quad and dealing with picky chicken heads who don’t think their clothing is dry even if it’s brittle as hell from being dried too long or shelling out $5 per load at the laundry mat. Being in the company of friends is always, always better.

So, yesterday night, Claresse and her roommate, Abe, tirelessly baked gluten-free vegan pizza and macaroni and cheese. It was so good that if I didn’t know the food was vegan, I’d have thought it was real cheese. When she was done with her portion and Abe was finishing up in the kitchen, we decided to pass the time by reading an issue of Stockroom, a full-fledged BDSM catalog. Her roommate came out into the living room to let us know that dinner was ready.

He walked over to us to glance a peek at the magazine then asked if I wanted a riding crop, noting that as a vegan, he really didn’t feel comfortable owning anything made out of leather. Since my old riding crop was most likely stolen by a former roommate, I ecstatically agreed.

At the table, we continued reading the male chastity belt section while munching on vegan pizza. Her roommate, Abe, shuttered upon viewing the metal monstrosity known only as “The Gates of Hell”. I’ll let you Google that, if you want.

Support Legalization in Your State

I created an info-graphic that I hope will spread awareness about the consequences of the “War on Drugs”.

 

Mommy Writers

I’ve been asked what I think about the so-called “mommy bloggers”. This is a group of women who primarily publish online articles about the cutesy things their kids do then subsequently go on forums to discuss the difficulties of raising children while being a writer. Many of these women are middle class or upper middle class, stay-at-home moms with husbands who blissfully allow them to want for nothing. Huh.

 

Well, as a childless, unmarried woman with no intention of popping one out anytime soon, I can’t really relate. It’s certainly no secret that “anyone can be a writer” is the mantra propagated by online content mills making bank off of the naivety and desperation of those wishing to write for a living. However, the culture surrounding the mommy blogger movement can be described as pathetic at best and toxic at worst.

 

Despite what American culture wants women to believe, the ability to pop out a kid or two is not a professional achievement. It isn’t something you will win a medal for or be able to put on your resume. Having a child is a sacred responsibility, one that is not for everyone. It is something that should have a lot of thought behind it. After all, we are talking about a human life. Shouldn’t that human life remain ever more precious if it’s yours?

 

Celebrity culture has pumped up the idea of motherhood, shaming all who do not wish to participate and pitting those who do against each other. From what I’ve seen, these women are either constantly consoling each other about stupid things. “It’s okay if your little Tommy got a ‘D’ on his assignment. Just be positive with him and he’ll do better next time.” Worse, if they aren’t consoling each other, they are always trying to one-up each other. It’s like a vicious, terrible cycle of consoling, one-upping, then consoling again. Yikes.

 

Please note that I am not saying that successful female authors who have children are somehow any less worthy. In fact, I have a great deal more respect for women like J.K. Rowling than I do for half these middle-aged chicken heads roaming Internet forums, writing $5 parenting articles for coffee money while their husbands buy them a Buick.

Gotta Love Albany

Ah, Albany. A great deal of our population is occupied by douchebag “bros”, Ugg-wearing chicken heads, and hipster trust fund rejects. But all this makes Albany a potential gold mine for comedic material, especially since I’m not originally from here and hence, do not fall into any of the above categories. Yet, part of what makes us great is our ability to laugh at ourselves.

 

Last week, Stephen Colbert did a segment on Nite Moves - the strip club in Latham, a trailer trash dump bordering Albany. The owner owes something like millions of dollars in back taxes and was trying to write it off as “art”. Apparently, the “ght” was also too costly for Stephen “Dick” Junior whose middle name essentially sums up the category most of the men in neighboring towns like Colonie, Delmar, and Latham fall under.

 

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

 

This is pretty much why everyone in NYC (and now the entire country) thinks we’re a joke. It’s not because Albany has a small population of just under 100,000 people nor the fact that much of upstate is rural, vastly different from the thumping, collective heartbeat of the City. It’s because we have leprechaun strip club owners trying to avoid paying taxes on their “artistic endeavors”.

 

It’s also because most of the young adults from the bordering suburbs dress exactly the same. I’m not even kidding. For girls, the clone uniform is UGG boots and Love Pink sweatshirts or sweatpants. For guy clones, it’s Aeropostale hoodies and sweatpants coupled with fresh-out-the-90s fitted hats spun backwards. Yikes.

 

But there is hope. I’ve met some awesome, interesting people since I’ve lived up here the past two years. Unfortunately, many of them are moving and I can’t say I blame them. There isn’t much here during the winter unless you have family nearby, which I don’t. I’m just here for school. I still have over a year before I graduate from SUNY. When I do, I’m definitely getting my ESL license and possibly heading to Vermont. But there will always be a special place in my heart for Albany – the first place I actually got to live like someone my age, which I didn’t have an opportunity to do in Florida. Albany, keep on being as newsworthy as Lindsay Lohan. Mwah. <3

Why the 2012 Election Matters

 

A casual conversation with a friend at my campus center’s Wendy’s began with our mutual laughter about what an idiot clown Mitt Romney is and how if we voted for him, we might as well be holding the scissors that cut our education. Then I asked “Who are you voting for?” and he said “To be honest, neither. I mean, Romney is pretty terrible but Obama hasn’t really done much lately to mobilize the left. It’s like he’s always playing the defense but nothing really ever gets done because the democrats are so busy trying to stop Republicans from passing stupid laws.” This led me to ponder the wisdom of this statement. Well, can we really fault Obama?

 

I don’t believe this is a cut a dry question. On the one hand, Obama didn’t live up to his 2008 campaign promises. But who does? No politician ever has, last I checked. On the other, it seems like the Republicans have been blocking every attempt any Democrat or Independent has made at meaningful reforms with deafening cries of “we can’t afford that”. Yet, for some silly reason, we can afford to be in wars all over the world while our own people get shafted by giant corporations who exploit domestic and foreign labor. Whenever a war is mentioned, no matter how useless or pointless it is, you will never hear the Republicans say “we can’t afford that”.

 

The “we can’t afford that” excuse is convenient for Republicans because it makes them look less like assholes and more like everyday people who have to actually budget their household expenses. However, the “we can’t afford that” line is merely smoke and mirrors to mask the fact that these people plan on turning us into a third world country. Think about it. According to them, we can’t afford:

 

1. Universal healthcare - Never mind the fact that this would actually save the country millions, if not billions of dollars that is currently going into giant health insurance monopolies who are actually committing fraud while millions die of preventable illnesses.

2. Planned Parenthood – Only 2% of their services are for abortion. You can thank them for keeping preventable STDs from spreading and for making hormonal birth control affordable to poor women who otherwise might be forced into unplanned pregnancies, which would simply cost the taxpayers more money.

3. Affordable higher education – During a time when people need college degrees to work at Subway, Republicans think it’s a good idea to cut Pell Grants, further disenfranchising those who are struggling to meet the Private Sector’s ridiculous educational requirements for even the most basic of jobs.

4. Food Stamps – Though food prices are skyrocketing and food insecurity is at an all-time high.

 

Yet, at the same time we could afford the above if we:

 

1. Raised taxes on multinational corporations (who are quickly becoming the death of this nation)

2. Cut the overinflated war budget

 

On a similar note, I think this country is in a sad state of affairs when stupid hipster trolls blow up your Facebook page and threaten you for daring to declare autonomy of your own body.

 

 

 

Do you seen the underlying thuggery behind the “pro-life” movement?

 

And finally, even more thuggery:

 

 

Personally, I’m not going to stop having sex just because of John O’Neil’s religious beliefs. Hopefully, you don’t either. XD

A Very Harley Halloween

This past weekend, my boyfriend and I got to dress up like Harley Quinn and Joker from the Batman series. I absolutely loved it! We walked all over Manhattan in full costume Saturday and Sunday. Although our trip was cut a bit short due to hurricane Sandy, it was still the best Halloween weekend ever!

 

        

 

Happy Halloween!

 

P.S. If you’re on the East Coast like us, stay safe!

Birthday Wishes

It's hard to believe that my birthday is in just a week and a half. So many people have been asking me what I want. Honestly, I just want things to get better. My bf's laptop had a hard drive failure and he needs to do manager training online. I need mine for school and freelance work so I can't share it with him. On top of that, my printer died on me the same week and I ended up having to shell out $75 for a new one.

I hope I just get to have some good times with my friends for my birthday. Any modest gifts I receive this year will mean a lot, especially considering the sort of year it's been. It's almost time to be 22. It's a little scary but at least I know I've got awesome friends to help me figure it all out a long the way. Thanks, you guys. I know our futures will be bright.

Wanna wish me a happy birthday?

GAH! SCHOOL!

I'm starting my junior year of college. It will be INSANE...INSANELY AWESOME! A lot of my friends are jealous because they don't have such a convenient schedule. My major is English and my minor is in Philosophy. I only have class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My earliest class is at 9:30AM once per week on Wednesday for 8 weeks. My latest class is at 5:15PM twice per week on Monday and Wednesday. I don't have to get up until 10:30AM on Mondays and Fridays. I love it!<3333

Summer went out with a bang. I went to a concert to see a Ugandan singer at the Holiday Inn near Latham. A family from Uganda sponsored the event through their East African organization. I can't remember the woman's name but she was incredibly talented. Her voice was stunning, especially when soulfully singing her heart's desires in multiple African languages despite a microphone that was hell bent on fading in and out.

And we even had the joy of meeting some outstanding old friends while making new ones in the process.

Work it! Ugandans are excellent dancers! <3

A circle of people gather around the electric goddess of song that was summoning the---Oh, I mean the singer.

Look how down to earth she is. She made this charity fundraiser one of my best nights of the summer.

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnndddd, I also obtained a new social media lead to follow up on this week. -sigh- Welcome, fall. :)

A Razor's Caress (Poem)

Dear Lei,
Your woven heart
was pulled asunder
Your sugary tears
Fed your father's lust for power

His dominion over
you, sweet child
was too great
for even your iron
soul to bear

Many nights spent
bleeding out from
thin, frail arms
Blood redder than
the skies of Mars

O, tormented soul
My dear sister
If not by blood,
than certainly by faith
If even unwittingly
Mother Goddess draws
On your heart with
runes of silver and sapphire

Gallant Sagittarius
Your sturdy bow was knocked
from your arms before
you could even string
first arrow

Curses upon all of
the men who used you
They thrived upon your subtle
weaknesses; curse them all!

Innocent and free
You intended no
harm to your sisters

Dear Lei,
Wherever you may be
Rise up against the darkness and
embrace yourself
As you were meant to be
A true Princess of Darkness

The Traveler's Diary (Poem)

Bones slouching
washed ashore
Unforgiving island
Death to a maiden
Purple knapsack
nearby on the ground
Inside is a soul
Burned into leather-bound
books with pages half
empty, shouting of
a life free from the
mundane, yet bound
By the chains of lonely
nights and breathless days

An Adventurous Review of Blogger for Android

I can't help it. I love Android. No, I'm beyond in love with Android. It is the best mobile operating system ever, no matter what those Apple fan boys in the back of the Starbucks would have you believe. I'm still on my very first smart phone -- a MyTouch 3G Slide from T-Mobile. It does everything I need it to do and then some. 

I decided to revamp my blog in June. The summer allowed me the opportunity I needed to take a break from school and work on my own creative projects. I am very pleased with how far my blogs have come. However, as any creative writer can tell you; it's impossible to force creativity. 

Sometimes, you're out at the bar with your roommate's friends and a spark of inspiration hits you as a glittery bartender slams a foamy Newcastle down on the bar in front of you and asks for $5.50. She's tall, brunette, and has a down-to-earth quality that's evident in the way she looks at you with her grass green eyes and her loosely tied back hair. She's stunning, you're feeling creatively buzzed and you just have to blog about this fabulous little bar! But --

Uh oh. Your laptop is locked away in your ghostly, quiet apartment somewhere across town. You either have to write it down on a napkin with a blotchy pen borrowed from the greasy fat guy next to you eating mediocre chicken wings or...

Blogger for Android gets a 4 out of 5.

You could simply download Blogger for Android. It's incredibly fast, simple to use, and free. It doesn't look like much on first launch but the sleek simplicity of the design makes it perfect for those who are constantly mobile. You can manage multiple blogger blogs from your Android device with just a few taps. Additionally, the app's style options give you the ability to bold, italicize, and link to make your posts look professional and flawless even if your surroundings aren't. Ready for your photo op?  Post pics from your gallery or a pic you just took of your drunken roommate falling off the bar stool for the 5th time that night. It even includes a labels feature so that your post can still get noticed long after sexy bartender girl has forgotten all about that embarrassingly raucous evening.

As wonderful as this app is, there are still some minor caveats. You can't edit your blog's settings from the Blogger for Android app. Viewing your blog statistics like page views, ad revenue, and where in the world the traffic to your blog comes from is also not an option. If you want to see new posts from the blogs your follow on your dashboard, you're also out of luck.  

Blogger for Android receives a 4 out of 5 stars for it's simplicity and user-friendliness but loses one star for it's lack of features. I'd definitely recommend it for any bloggers who find themselves constantly on the go.

A Contrary Fairy Tale (Poem)

Wearing death like a soldier’s cloak

Stomping around in the dreams of the ignorant

Your eyes are sweet, green sponges

Capturing forts, and wayward sojourners

Bright gray ores trap the dreams of your foes

The pitter patter of children’s feet grows faint

The earth tastes like old bread when the seasons cease changing

The pernicious result of your bronze scepter rule

The path to your Tree is paved with stolen ambitions

Fairies glide between woven branches

Unaware of the rocks all humans must chisel

Massacre at the Dark Knight Rises Midnight Showing: The Censorship Debate Redux

So, by now everyone who isn't living under a rock has probably heard about the massacre that happened in Colorado during the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises that left 12 people dead and 58 people seriously injured. The dastardly deed was allegedly committed by this idiot:

James Holmes' mug shot shows that he's not a real Batman fan. 

So many people were anticipating The Dark Knight Rises including my boyfriend, Daniel Verga, an aspiring film director and gifted story-teller who patiently waited for years to watch the final installment of Christopher Nolan's gripping Batman trilogy; trolling IMDB damn near every day for the past six months in order to catch each new trailer for Dark Knight Rises. Thursday night, in fact, he asked me to go see it with him this upcoming Wednesday. Of course, I gladly accepted. Yesterday morning, I awoke to the news that someone had killed a bunch of people in a movie theater in Colorado wearing a gas mask in order to look like the villain, Bane in the Dark Knight Rises.


Personally, neither of us are really worried about getting shot when we go to the theater on Wednesday. Much like any other major disaster, this ugly, awful tragedy is an isolated incident. I'm not going to stop living my life just because there are crazies out there and I'm certainly not going to cancel the plans I've had to see the Dark Knight Rises with my boyfriend for several months in all of it's $25-a-ticket-IMAX-3D glory. 'Nuff said.


But I know that this event is going to re-open the age-old censorship debate that we all thought was dead since the neocon-inspired culture wars of the 1990s. The social conservatives and the rest of the pro-censorship crowd will argue that violent movies and video games are to blame for the shooting. Anti-gun neoliberals will argue that this is more evidence that harsher gun laws are needed in the U.S. Yet, few will address the fact that the real culprit in this situation was the shooter's mental illness and lack of a viable social support system to encourage him to get help which points to the gaping, structural problems in our society and our government. 


Censorship, like prohibition, is a curious beast. It will pretend to comply on the surface, while it eagerly searches elsewhere for it's desires and interests. In an age of free and open internet throughout most of the known world, anyone can watch anything they want from any country they want at any time they desire to watch it; whether it be a French horror film, a Korean drama, or a Hungarian romance. If the U.S. does decide to bring back the 1950s style censorship for films, then we will truly be going down the path of no return. There will be nothing left to inspire the last of the great minds to invent and present anything new or interesting. Don't we have enough apathetic remakes and shitty reality shows? Now is not the time to cut back on creativity simply because some mentally ill guy from Colorado decided to go on a shooting spree. 


The failure of our nation to treat the mentally ill goes back to the Reagan era, when the neocons of the 1980s decided that it was a nice idea to throw mentally ill people onto the streets instead of investing any money in mental health and drug rehabilitation programs. It's not difficult to see the results of this policy in this postmodern Age of Austerity. This answer, however, is not the glamorous one. It is not the easy one. It is one that requires us to break out of our comfort zones and take responsibility for the way that we treat others.

Censorship is not the answer. Kindness is.

What the (Alive @5) Shoe?!

This? What the hell is ZEES?! I must know all about these fun, awesome clogs!

Days Spent at the Daily Grind

Ah, the daily grind. I've spent many contemplative mornings and many quiet afternoons at this very spot. Its the one coffee shop where they don't mind that I mix Jack Daniels into my coffee or spend three hours on just one cup. Their bubbly, receptive staff always knows what I come in to order - the free 16 oz coffee with a sandwich deal that's offered daily. Freshly printed copies of Metroland lie waiting in a stack on a wooden end table right before the entrance door. The final joy is walking up the stairs to the second floor where you can see everyone walking or driving past on lark street, smelling the sweet aroma of glass jars filled with exotic tea leaves from all over the world. There is a marvelous, vine-covered, almost ancient history to this place that provokes the imagination. When you visit here, time stops and no matter how many people are in the coffee shop with you, your solitude is never disturbed.

Open Mikes in Albany, NY + (My First Experience With One)

Image is from
http://www.layoutsparks.com/pictures/microphone-0 

An open mike is somewhere that musicians/writers/etc. can go to freely express and share their art with an audience. Open mikes are a wonderful gathering place for poets, authors, hip hop artists, singers, comedians, or anyone who has something to share. Albany itself is home to over 17 open mikes that aren't just for poetry. Best of all, open mikes aren't the only way that we support the arts community. Albany is a beautiful little city with the artistic passion of any old metropolis yet it's fraught with all the amiable charms of a small town. In a city that's only about 135K in population, constant festivals, events, and friendly people mean that there's never an excuse to be bored.  The Upstate Artist Guild (UAG) hosts an event on the first Friday of each month on Lark Street. On that same night, there's a Secret Garden Party near Madison Avenue which isn't affiliated with the UAG but still offers a nouveau totemic style gathering for all to enjoy. Each event is free with guest-brought food and wine, great company, and sometimes live music.

The first open mike I attended was at the Social Justice Center in Albany. This humble and life-changing event was originally for a creative writing class I was taking to fulfill my art gen ed and to learn more comprehensive creative writing skills. My professor, Mr. Belflower from SUNY, was giving extra credit to anyone willing to take time out of their Friday to show up and listen to poetry. I went with this guy named Greg, who sat next to me in class Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Greg was a really boring, super conservative person who's only tales revolved around military training exercises and preparing for the end of the world. I like to give everyone a chance, however, and so I took the only person in class who I knew would buy me a beer at Fuzebox after the event.

Rudely, he kept talking to me throughout the entire show and I had to ask him more than once to pay attention. He simply narrowed his eyes and scoffed. "Artists..." he mumbled gruffly under his breath. I could tell he was a Clifton Park kid; boring, not interested in arts and culture, and super absorbed with themselves and the military industrial complex. If it wasn't for the free beer, I'd have certainly moved my seat to the other side of the room as a show of noble protest to his incredibly terrible attitude. The instructor politely waited until Monday morning to scold us for talking. So, thanks to this douche, I ended up with a B+ in a class I should have aced all because I couldn't stand showing up for class most of the time due to having to sit near Greg. Stupid attendance policies!

So, I have decided that it is time for me to truly give open mikes a chance before dismissing them altogether because of one unfortunate event. The next time I go, I'll bring someone interested...and interesting! It will likely be my crazy adventurer boyfriend, Dannibal, who I love for his dedication to the arts.

Golden Fishes (Poem)

Golden Fishes by Dubossarsky Vinogradov. Image courtesy of http://www.dubossarskyvinogradov.com/paintings2/index2006/golden_fishes/

(No, the poem is not about the painting. I actually found this lovely painting AFTER I wrote this poem. Yah, rly. I kno, rite? /endchatspeak)


A demon in your brain
A kitten in the rain
Sunny river days
Lonely morning haze
Smokey, shiny chimneys
Deep and dirty /
Truly noteworthy
Unapologetic
Super Empathetic
Insultingly Energetic
Jolting in the knees
Locks beneath your feet
There's danger in this heat
Reminiscent
Omniscient
Omnivorous
Inefficient
Yet delicious
like golden fishes

Green Angel (Poem)

Photo is from thecelebtattoos.blogger.com

Need some herbal remedy
to melt the chains of my anxiety
Just three hits of a bowl, a dutch,
or a spliff
I'll take silver haze, kush, British Columbia,
or piff
Who says being bored at home has to suck?
After all
there's nothing quite like a lengthy, high fuck

What's With All the Interest in Pinterest?

Apparently, there's a newish social media site that's becoming super popular called Pinterest. It's an online pin board where you can post anything you want and even organize different pin ups by topic such as Books Worth Reading.

Wanna check out my Pinterest? Have a Pinterest experience you want to share? Feel free to post it in the comments!

Blue Balls for the 4th of July

Happy 4th you crazy lovely people! Have some blue balls to celebrate!

Blue Balls (I invented this!)

2 shots Svedka
1 Shot Malibu
Stewart's Blue raspberry lemonade
Shake or Stir

Enjoy!

Yes, I Created a "How People View Me Meme"

Well, its about damn time! Check it out!