One of the unfortunate parts of depression is not knowing when it's going to hit. It can sneak up on you and let the wind out of your sails before you're even aware it's happening. No amount of reason can chase it away, logic does nothing to fight it. At the same time, the depression sets in almost like a blanket, creating something both sad and comforting. It can cause you to crawl inside your shell and hide from the world for a while, but at the same time, calm the anxiety that exists below the surface. Like the mental equivalent of a cigarette. Or at least, what I imagine the effect of a cigarette is. It'll drift away as stealthily as it arrived, leaving things mostly the way they were. It's easier to wax poetic than to fight it. Rising like a phoenix back out of the embers when it has had time to pass.
This too shall pass. I find comfort in those words. It's enough.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Workout Journal (1)
(I'm experimenting with keeping a journal of my effort to get back into shape. If this helps I may do it more, if not, it'll disappear)
Today was day five of my foray into the P90X workout. I've tried twice before but both attempts floundered after a couple days. Sadly, this is the farthest I've made it into the 90 day intensive workout. Obviously it's too early to be seeing weight change or any substantial muscle gain, but I already have an increased stamina and increased energy just from the five days I've done so far. The Ab Ripper is done 3 times a week (mon, wed, fri) and today I was able to do more than either mon or wed. Also I'm not as winded after warmups and moving into the workout proper.
A couple times now my adrenaline has kicked in and I've almost felt like I did back in high school (I was super fit, played baseball for nine years, worked out 5 days a week, had 6-pack (I know, where'd it go, right?)).
One big change this time around is my motivation to actually work out. Being unemployed (happily at the moment) has its advantages, one of which being the open schedule that really allows me to spend quality time on an assortment of activities.
This added ability to focus has me actually looking forward to my daily workout.
The next big step is the nutrition part. I'm working on putting this in motion, but it can get pretty expensive buying all sorts of different meats, ingredients, vegetables, etc. Also, I've (sadly) eaten like a middle schooler whose parents are out of town for the last few years now.
Changes!
I'm now getting to where I'll be counting reps during the workouts and weighing in every week to start measuring results. I don't expect weight loss too quickly, but I'll be honest, I can't wait to see the first marked drop.
Anyhoo, stay tuned for what will hopefully be a great life change.
Today was day five of my foray into the P90X workout. I've tried twice before but both attempts floundered after a couple days. Sadly, this is the farthest I've made it into the 90 day intensive workout. Obviously it's too early to be seeing weight change or any substantial muscle gain, but I already have an increased stamina and increased energy just from the five days I've done so far. The Ab Ripper is done 3 times a week (mon, wed, fri) and today I was able to do more than either mon or wed. Also I'm not as winded after warmups and moving into the workout proper.
A couple times now my adrenaline has kicked in and I've almost felt like I did back in high school (I was super fit, played baseball for nine years, worked out 5 days a week, had 6-pack (I know, where'd it go, right?)).
One big change this time around is my motivation to actually work out. Being unemployed (happily at the moment) has its advantages, one of which being the open schedule that really allows me to spend quality time on an assortment of activities.
This added ability to focus has me actually looking forward to my daily workout.
The next big step is the nutrition part. I'm working on putting this in motion, but it can get pretty expensive buying all sorts of different meats, ingredients, vegetables, etc. Also, I've (sadly) eaten like a middle schooler whose parents are out of town for the last few years now.
Changes!
I'm now getting to where I'll be counting reps during the workouts and weighing in every week to start measuring results. I don't expect weight loss too quickly, but I'll be honest, I can't wait to see the first marked drop.
Anyhoo, stay tuned for what will hopefully be a great life change.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Round and Round we go
Just a small update today, something of a journal entry I suppose. I read a fantastic article/interview by Neil Gaiman about Stephen King. It's a great read, and I highly suggest reading it if you are a fan of either author, or just of writing in general. I always find it fascinating to get a glimpse into the methods of the people I admire. Another example would be the 4th Panel videos that Penny Arcade puts up about their comic-writing process. Another would be the oft rambling but always amusing blog of Patrick Rothfuss (author of The Name of the Wind, and all around wonderful geeky human being).
It was during the reading of the Stephen King piece that I found the tiniest of morsels. This morsel contained a whisper of inspiration, advising me to write again. I've mentioned before a story that I have made a number of attempts to write. I think you'll find it not in the least bit surprising that I yet again lost steam and let the story sit unfinished.
I find myself having an abundance of free time these days (thank you job market) and with this little inspiration stuck in my brain, have decided that I will finish my story before going off to Eastern Washington University in the fall. I plan to write (at least) a single page every day, whether it's good writing or the antithesis thereof, and seeing as how I've roughly 4.5 months until I leave, that gives me ample time to write approximately 135 manuscript pages, more than enough for a short story. I am excited to try and finally get this story out of my head where it's been residing for a couple years now. I'm excited to share the place and people with you and others. I hope that I won't find myself writing yet again about how I let the story dissipate, because I feel that if I don't get it out somehow, it might disappear altogether.
It was during the reading of the Stephen King piece that I found the tiniest of morsels. This morsel contained a whisper of inspiration, advising me to write again. I've mentioned before a story that I have made a number of attempts to write. I think you'll find it not in the least bit surprising that I yet again lost steam and let the story sit unfinished.
I find myself having an abundance of free time these days (thank you job market) and with this little inspiration stuck in my brain, have decided that I will finish my story before going off to Eastern Washington University in the fall. I plan to write (at least) a single page every day, whether it's good writing or the antithesis thereof, and seeing as how I've roughly 4.5 months until I leave, that gives me ample time to write approximately 135 manuscript pages, more than enough for a short story. I am excited to try and finally get this story out of my head where it's been residing for a couple years now. I'm excited to share the place and people with you and others. I hope that I won't find myself writing yet again about how I let the story dissipate, because I feel that if I don't get it out somehow, it might disappear altogether.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A couple of Recommendations
I have been rather busy the last few weeks so the blog has been painfully neglected. I do have a bit to relay about my future plans, but that's for a later post. Tonight I decided to share some "stuff" that's making me happy at the moment.
I don't listen to the radio. I don't watch MTV. The way I acquire music is this: I look up a band on amazon that I am currently fond of, then I scroll down to the "people who bought this also bought-" section and I listen to samples of different albums until I find something I like. Using Modest Mouse as a template, I came upon Foster the People. I honestly have no idea whether or not they are popular or respected. All I do know, is I have been listening to track # 1 (Helena Beat) on repeat more than I have for any song since "Bleed" by Animal Collective. The structure of the song just gets me every time. I've heard it so many times now and yet it still manages to surprise me, if that makes any sense. I also dig the song "Pumped Up Kids" which, after doing some youtubing, I am assuming is one of the singles from this album. It's kind of an experimental album, but it almost sounds like somebody put words to dance music from a nightclub. I mean that in a good way.
I love discovering a group of work of which I had previously been unaware. One good example is the song of ice and fire series. I read the books before the HBO show was announced, but my roommate introduced me to it when there were already four books out for it. Getting to read those back to back with no idea what was going to happen was so enjoyable. Neil Gaiman has now fallen squarely into this same category. My first introduction to Gaiman was an offshoot of being a fan of Terry Pratchett. I picked up Good Omens because I love discworld, and I was excited to see what else pratchett could do. I honestly couldn't tell who wrote which parts of the book, but I enjoyed it all so I decided to give this Gaiman fella a chance and picked up "American Gods." It got off to a slow start for me, but I grew to love it. I loved the story, the setting, the characters, the voice, everything. The next on my list is Neverwhere. I just started reading it and already I'm enraptured by it. I read the first 70 pages in a sitting and I love where the story is going, every moment has been perfect. If somehow you, like me, have been in the dark about Gaiman, this is a good one to pick up.
Hugo is a movie for people who love movies. I don't want to take away any of the surprises so I'll leave it at that.
I'm sorry. I feel like a total bandwagoner, but my God Draw Something has its claws in me deep. I eagerly refresh my screen over and over waiting for it to be my turn again. I love it. My name is Dav3r5 if you want to add me and start a game.
Do it.
There's more, but I think that'll do for now. A more solid update is forthcoming.
I love discovering a group of work of which I had previously been unaware. One good example is the song of ice and fire series. I read the books before the HBO show was announced, but my roommate introduced me to it when there were already four books out for it. Getting to read those back to back with no idea what was going to happen was so enjoyable. Neil Gaiman has now fallen squarely into this same category. My first introduction to Gaiman was an offshoot of being a fan of Terry Pratchett. I picked up Good Omens because I love discworld, and I was excited to see what else pratchett could do. I honestly couldn't tell who wrote which parts of the book, but I enjoyed it all so I decided to give this Gaiman fella a chance and picked up "American Gods." It got off to a slow start for me, but I grew to love it. I loved the story, the setting, the characters, the voice, everything. The next on my list is Neverwhere. I just started reading it and already I'm enraptured by it. I read the first 70 pages in a sitting and I love where the story is going, every moment has been perfect. If somehow you, like me, have been in the dark about Gaiman, this is a good one to pick up.
Hugo is a movie for people who love movies. I don't want to take away any of the surprises so I'll leave it at that.
I'm sorry. I feel like a total bandwagoner, but my God Draw Something has its claws in me deep. I eagerly refresh my screen over and over waiting for it to be my turn again. I love it. My name is Dav3r5 if you want to add me and start a game.
Do it.
There's more, but I think that'll do for now. A more solid update is forthcoming.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Voices that Effect Us
One of my favorite things to do during a movie, tv show, or game, is it identify actors that I recognize and try to remember what other things I have seen them in. I'm working on my second playthrough of Mass Effect 3 and thought it might be fun to put together a little piece featuring the (mostly) awesome voice work that this series has brought us (To avoid a 30 page blog, I'm just focusing on the two voices of Shepard and more recognizable members of the cast) So without further ado, I bring you the Voices and Faces of Mass Effect 3:
The male version of Commander Shepard is voiced by Actor/Writer Mark Meer. While his live-action credits are mostly unknown to me, he is no stranger to Bioware games having voiced characters from Dragon Age I & II, Jade Empire, Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur's Gate II. I'll be honest, I prefer the voice acting of FemShep, so I haven't heard his voice as much, but I think he's at his best when Shepard is mad, as ridiculous as that may sound.
The Female version of Commander Shepard is voiced by Jennifer Hale, also not widely known for live-action roles, but a pretty big name in the voice acting community. Her work over the years includes Naomi Hunter in the Metal Gear Solid series, Samus Aran in Metroid Prime, Bastila Shan in Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic, and literally hundreds of assorted roles across video games and animated movies and tv shows. It's not surprising that her voice work is my preferred vehicle for Shepard.
Admiral Anderson is probably the first really recognizable voice in Mass Effect 3. He is voiced by Keith David, a long-career actor known for roles in Platoon, Crash, Pitch Black, and The Thing. I recognized his voice right off the bat, but I had to take to the internet before I placed it perfectly.
Now this voice I would know anywhere. Captain Bailey is voiced by the prolific Michael Hogan, better known to sci-fi enthusiasts as Saul Tigh from the epic series Battlestar Galactica. He is without question my favorite character in BSG, and because of that I always get excited when I see or hear him in another piece of media. He also voiced the leader of the Imperial Army in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Here we have another role furnished by talent from Battlestar Galactica, as EDI was voiced by Tricia Helfer. She is well known for playing the iconic Cylon from BSG, and her voice fits perfectly in the role of EDI.
Here we have another role filled by a sci-fi great as Admiral Steven Hackett was voice by Lance Henriksen. Henriksen is well known for his role as Bishop in Aliens and Alien 3, as well as roles in Terminator, Millenium and various other acting roles since the seventies.
Here we have possibly my favorite character in Mass Effect lore, the Illusive Man and who better to voice him than acting legend Martin Sheen. Unless you've been living without electricity for years, you should be well aware of who Martin Sheen is, though I will say my favorite roles of his are in The Departed and West Wing. He is also partially to blame for bringing Charlie Sheen into the world which could be a good or bad thing depending on your opinion.
The beautiful Miranda Lawson is voiced by the equally beautiful Yvonne Strahovski. I always like when video game characters are made to look like their real-life counterparts which you can see is the case here. Strahovski is best known for playing Sarah Walker on the TV series "Chuck."
Ah Joker, the Dolorous Edd of Mass Effect. Regardless of the severity of the mission you just finished, Joker always has a great pun or piece of dry humor to lighten the mood. So naturally Seth Green was a great choice to play him. You should know who this is, but just in case, you would know him from playing Scott Evil in Austin Powers, the voice of Chris in Family Guy, or a number of comedies from the 90s, especially Can't Hardly Wait.
Resident bad-ass Aria T'Loak is voiced by resident bad-ass Carrie-Anne Moss. Moss is most recognizable from playing Trinity in The Matrix series, but also had great roles in Memento, Suspect Zero and Chocolat. I loved this character and thought it would have been awesome to have her as a party member, but alas it just wasn't to be. Maybe in the DLC? C'mon Bioware.
This one surprised me the most out of the whole cast, as the 'roided out super soldier James Vega was played by 90's heartthrob Freddie Prinze jr. I've never been a big fan of his work but I enjoyed his character in this. You would recognize him from She's All that, I Know what you Did Last Summer, and the award winning murder-mystery classic, Scooby Doo.
While decidedly not a big role, I thought this was a very cool thing for Bioware to do. The bit part of Stargazer was voiced by Buzz Adlrin. If you don't know who that is, you should probably enroll in a couple general-knowledge classes, as he was the second man to walk on the moon in the Apollo 11 program. It's a great nod for a sci-f epic to make, and I liked it.
There are more characters and actors of course but this already took about three hours to complete so I'll stop here. Let me know if this is something you liked and maybe I can do it again with a little more depth and structure.
Commander Shepard (Male)
The male version of Commander Shepard is voiced by Actor/Writer Mark Meer. While his live-action credits are mostly unknown to me, he is no stranger to Bioware games having voiced characters from Dragon Age I & II, Jade Empire, Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur's Gate II. I'll be honest, I prefer the voice acting of FemShep, so I haven't heard his voice as much, but I think he's at his best when Shepard is mad, as ridiculous as that may sound.
Commander Shepherd (Female)
Admiral Anderson
Captain Bailey
EDI
Here we have another role furnished by talent from Battlestar Galactica, as EDI was voiced by Tricia Helfer. She is well known for playing the iconic Cylon from BSG, and her voice fits perfectly in the role of EDI.
Admiral Hackett
Illusive Man
Miranda Lawson
The beautiful Miranda Lawson is voiced by the equally beautiful Yvonne Strahovski. I always like when video game characters are made to look like their real-life counterparts which you can see is the case here. Strahovski is best known for playing Sarah Walker on the TV series "Chuck."
Jeff "Joker" Moreau
Aria T'Loak
Resident bad-ass Aria T'Loak is voiced by resident bad-ass Carrie-Anne Moss. Moss is most recognizable from playing Trinity in The Matrix series, but also had great roles in Memento, Suspect Zero and Chocolat. I loved this character and thought it would have been awesome to have her as a party member, but alas it just wasn't to be. Maybe in the DLC? C'mon Bioware.
James Vega
This one surprised me the most out of the whole cast, as the 'roided out super soldier James Vega was played by 90's heartthrob Freddie Prinze jr. I've never been a big fan of his work but I enjoyed his character in this. You would recognize him from She's All that, I Know what you Did Last Summer, and the award winning murder-mystery classic, Scooby Doo.
Stargazer
While decidedly not a big role, I thought this was a very cool thing for Bioware to do. The bit part of Stargazer was voiced by Buzz Adlrin. If you don't know who that is, you should probably enroll in a couple general-knowledge classes, as he was the second man to walk on the moon in the Apollo 11 program. It's a great nod for a sci-f epic to make, and I liked it.
There are more characters and actors of course but this already took about three hours to complete so I'll stop here. Let me know if this is something you liked and maybe I can do it again with a little more depth and structure.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
It doesn't matter *when* the last horse crosses the line
It's a strange feeling to experience an epiphany. You stroll along through life thinking or acting in a specific way, and then WHAM! Out of nowhere, the littlest thing can turn a little switch in your brain and your entire perspective can be altered.
I am very much of the opinion that we are shaped by the things we go through and how we react to them. It is odd then, that when looking back on past relationships I seem to just shrug them off with a "thank God I got out of that." But there is a flaw to that. Yes those relationships ended for good reasons, but to just act like they were a waste of time is silly. I had some genuinely great times with those girls and I want to start remembering them that way. Recognize them as being a part of who I am, and not a regretted time and place.
Already this slightly shifted perspective has been fairly cathartic. I'm focusing on realigning myself at the moment, and this has been a positive result of some of that effort. Being unemployed sucks, but at the same time it's giving me a chance to get to know myself and spend a little more time with friends. And hey, it doesn't matter *when* the last horse crosses the line, as long as the last horse *does* cross the line.
I am very much of the opinion that we are shaped by the things we go through and how we react to them. It is odd then, that when looking back on past relationships I seem to just shrug them off with a "thank God I got out of that." But there is a flaw to that. Yes those relationships ended for good reasons, but to just act like they were a waste of time is silly. I had some genuinely great times with those girls and I want to start remembering them that way. Recognize them as being a part of who I am, and not a regretted time and place.
Already this slightly shifted perspective has been fairly cathartic. I'm focusing on realigning myself at the moment, and this has been a positive result of some of that effort. Being unemployed sucks, but at the same time it's giving me a chance to get to know myself and spend a little more time with friends. And hey, it doesn't matter *when* the last horse crosses the line, as long as the last horse *does* cross the line.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
A Victory Nonetheless
I finally hit a stride with my writing. I haven't moved forward on my story yet but I've found a way to get the words flowing.
I heard about a situation an acquaintance went through, and after looking at it from different sides I decided it might make an interesting short narrative. So I sat down with no real structure in mind and started a guided free-write. I used the bare bones of the story and fleshed out the details and thoughts with my own personal ideas. I hit a good rhythm and before stopping to fix a spelling error, I had three solid pages of text.
It wasn't great work, and it may not have even been good. However, it helped forge a connection between my brain and the page. I'm going to make some other situational narratives and see if I can build some momentum, or even just get used to writing every day.
So far it's strictly recreational, and I have no desire to show them to anyone, but I do still think my story has an interesting setup, and maybe with some work it can be something I'm really proud of. I haven't been writing much in the way of music lately, so it's nice to have another vent with which to clear my head.
It's a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Chapter 2 could be right around the corner.
I heard about a situation an acquaintance went through, and after looking at it from different sides I decided it might make an interesting short narrative. So I sat down with no real structure in mind and started a guided free-write. I used the bare bones of the story and fleshed out the details and thoughts with my own personal ideas. I hit a good rhythm and before stopping to fix a spelling error, I had three solid pages of text.
It wasn't great work, and it may not have even been good. However, it helped forge a connection between my brain and the page. I'm going to make some other situational narratives and see if I can build some momentum, or even just get used to writing every day.
So far it's strictly recreational, and I have no desire to show them to anyone, but I do still think my story has an interesting setup, and maybe with some work it can be something I'm really proud of. I haven't been writing much in the way of music lately, so it's nice to have another vent with which to clear my head.
It's a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Chapter 2 could be right around the corner.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Nothing if Not Persistant
Well here I am. My head feels like it's got a case of Alien-Stomach (you know, Alien waiting to pop out, as seen in ....well...Alien...) and my throat has decided it's now sandpaper. Handy for those splintered wood shelves, not so good for anything else.
I'm surrounded by piles of different media. Star Wars and Evil Dead 2 in one pile, Wil Wheaton's book and an issue of Empire magazine in another, and Mass Effect 3 leering at me from in front of the tv. I've got indecision, and I've got it bad. I reach for the Empire magazine. I open to a page with a preview for the Clash of the Titans sequel. I throw the Empire magazine. I walk back over to it, pick it up, and throw it again.
I read a section from Wil Wheaton's book. It's about Star Wars. So I get distracted and start feeling the urge to watch Star Wars. I realize that I haven't retained the last two paragraphs I read. I sigh.
I read the two paragraphs again, and then finish the story. It's a great book, and so far it's winning in this battle of distractions. (Or is Star Wars winning? Since it distracted me from the book?....wait...what was I writing?...hm)
I bring in another option from outside the original choices. I open the story I'm working on. I change a few phrases. Satisfied, I try to pick up the feeling I was going with last time I wrote. I fail pretty badly. Seeing that what I just wrote is about to be erased, I push it and make it even worse and more ridiculous. I laugh and consider keeping it to show to people and act like I honestly think it's good. I "save as" under a different title and tuck the joke away for later use.
I hear the cat running across the upstairs rooms, from one end to the other and back again. I wonder if she's acting out what my brain is doing. Smug feline. "Just because you can run doesn't mean...uh...shut up" I yell to/at the cat. Yeah. That'll get her.
I've irreparably lost my train of thought and mutter cat insults while closing the Word document.
I look back at my book. I could swear Wil is now giving me a reproachful look from the cover. "You lost to the cat man. It can't even understand you." Shut up, Wesley.
I immediately apologize to the book. Then feel stupid for apologizing to a book.
I'm going to watch Star Wars. Life is weird.
I'm surrounded by piles of different media. Star Wars and Evil Dead 2 in one pile, Wil Wheaton's book and an issue of Empire magazine in another, and Mass Effect 3 leering at me from in front of the tv. I've got indecision, and I've got it bad. I reach for the Empire magazine. I open to a page with a preview for the Clash of the Titans sequel. I throw the Empire magazine. I walk back over to it, pick it up, and throw it again.
I read a section from Wil Wheaton's book. It's about Star Wars. So I get distracted and start feeling the urge to watch Star Wars. I realize that I haven't retained the last two paragraphs I read. I sigh.
I read the two paragraphs again, and then finish the story. It's a great book, and so far it's winning in this battle of distractions. (Or is Star Wars winning? Since it distracted me from the book?....wait...what was I writing?...hm)
I bring in another option from outside the original choices. I open the story I'm working on. I change a few phrases. Satisfied, I try to pick up the feeling I was going with last time I wrote. I fail pretty badly. Seeing that what I just wrote is about to be erased, I push it and make it even worse and more ridiculous. I laugh and consider keeping it to show to people and act like I honestly think it's good. I "save as" under a different title and tuck the joke away for later use.
I hear the cat running across the upstairs rooms, from one end to the other and back again. I wonder if she's acting out what my brain is doing. Smug feline. "Just because you can run doesn't mean...uh...shut up" I yell to/at the cat. Yeah. That'll get her.
I've irreparably lost my train of thought and mutter cat insults while closing the Word document.
I look back at my book. I could swear Wil is now giving me a reproachful look from the cover. "You lost to the cat man. It can't even understand you." Shut up, Wesley.
I immediately apologize to the book. Then feel stupid for apologizing to a book.
I'm going to watch Star Wars. Life is weird.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
In Which Our Hero Attempts to Write!
I have always been a fan of stories. Early on in my life, the stories I was obsessed with, began with "Star" and ended with "Wars."
I won a copy of the novelization of the Star Wars trilogy in the completion of a ridiculous dare to run up to a stranger, yell "hi mom!!" and hit myself with a water balloon. It's not the dumbest thing I've done on a dare, nor the worst prize I've been awarded for doing something stupid. I read the 600 page tome in about two weeks. I remember the next time I watched "a new hope" with someone I casually pointed out that the stormtrooper Leia shoots near the beginning of the movie got himself killed because he was smiling to himself and thinking of how he would be rewarded for capturing the princess. I knew this because I read the book. I felt smug and superior. I was not. I was closer to this.
My excitement and love for the book grew and I decided I would write my own story, using my favorite characters from Star Wars. How could it fail? I envisioned a bright future of fame, awards, and hot star wars girls. I was going places. The only thing I needed to do was write.
"The Jawa yelled 'help!' and ran away. Boba Fett shot him and looked angry." This is removed verbatim (not verbatim) from my story.
Ok it's been a long time and I don't know that that was exactly what I wrote, but I remember writing it, and saving it to a 3.5" disk that I very proudly labelled "star wars stories by David Logghe."
Good sense prevailed and I did not ever finish that story. I went on to start a number of different stories, some about star wars, some early attempts at a detective story (without having a real clue at what detectives do apart from sit at a desk and talk to themselves), and stupid little narratives to vent my annoyances (such as: The Cat who was also the devil).
Sadly this is a trend that has happened numerous times throughout my life. I no longer attempt to write Star Wars fanfiction, but I do find myself constantly under the binds of writer's block. Though I don't know that I can consider myself a writer when I've got a number of word documents starting with "Chapter 1" and none with "Chapter 2."
I have started another story, based on an idea I've been kicking around for a year or two. It's a simple little fantasy/sci-fi story that would probably work well as a short story but lacks the arc and polish needed for a true novel. I started working on it again a couple days ago, and found myself quickly in a spot where I didn't know how to proceed. I'm going to try to write a little bit every day, and even if it's trash maybe I can finally finish a story. That feeling alone would be pretty good I imagine.
Until then, I'm working on a new story:
My Novel: The butthead meanie that won't finish itself. Writing is dumb. The story.
by Dave Logghe.
I won a copy of the novelization of the Star Wars trilogy in the completion of a ridiculous dare to run up to a stranger, yell "hi mom!!" and hit myself with a water balloon. It's not the dumbest thing I've done on a dare, nor the worst prize I've been awarded for doing something stupid. I read the 600 page tome in about two weeks. I remember the next time I watched "a new hope" with someone I casually pointed out that the stormtrooper Leia shoots near the beginning of the movie got himself killed because he was smiling to himself and thinking of how he would be rewarded for capturing the princess. I knew this because I read the book. I felt smug and superior. I was not. I was closer to this.
My excitement and love for the book grew and I decided I would write my own story, using my favorite characters from Star Wars. How could it fail? I envisioned a bright future of fame, awards, and hot star wars girls. I was going places. The only thing I needed to do was write.
"The Jawa yelled 'help!' and ran away. Boba Fett shot him and looked angry." This is removed verbatim (not verbatim) from my story.
Ok it's been a long time and I don't know that that was exactly what I wrote, but I remember writing it, and saving it to a 3.5" disk that I very proudly labelled "star wars stories by David Logghe."
Good sense prevailed and I did not ever finish that story. I went on to start a number of different stories, some about star wars, some early attempts at a detective story (without having a real clue at what detectives do apart from sit at a desk and talk to themselves), and stupid little narratives to vent my annoyances (such as: The Cat who was also the devil).
Sadly this is a trend that has happened numerous times throughout my life. I no longer attempt to write Star Wars fanfiction, but I do find myself constantly under the binds of writer's block. Though I don't know that I can consider myself a writer when I've got a number of word documents starting with "Chapter 1" and none with "Chapter 2."
I have started another story, based on an idea I've been kicking around for a year or two. It's a simple little fantasy/sci-fi story that would probably work well as a short story but lacks the arc and polish needed for a true novel. I started working on it again a couple days ago, and found myself quickly in a spot where I didn't know how to proceed. I'm going to try to write a little bit every day, and even if it's trash maybe I can finally finish a story. That feeling alone would be pretty good I imagine.
Until then, I'm working on a new story:
My Novel: The butthead meanie that won't finish itself. Writing is dumb. The story.
by Dave Logghe.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
An Ode to the Running Joke
I've done shows in every genre out there, be they drama, horror, even an educational film about teachers who make prejudiced preconceptions. I could probably argue, however, that I'm most in my element with comedy. Apart from prat falls, my favorite element of comedy is the running joke.
I believe that repetition can be an ingredient for a huge number of laughs. The old formula I remember was:
1. Do it until somebody laughs
2. Keep doing it
3. Do it until it's funny again
It has to be the right kind of joke or else it just falls flat and becomes annoying. I was thinking about the topic during my rehearsal tonight and I came up with a list of my top five running jokes, so here they are. Feel free to disagree and state your case in the comments.
5. The knee Clutch - Family Guy
Seth McFarlane does not always make me laugh, especially as Family Guy grows older and seems to spiral further and further away from any type of sense, but the first time I saw this gag I laughed for a long time. I stopped watching around season six, but I saw it revisited a number of times, and I believe they hit the peak of this joke in the second star wars spoof they made, in which an Imperial Walker acts out the knee clutch.
4. Tobias' Sexual Orientation - Arrested Development
Arrested Development is possibly the funniest tv show ever made, and it is a damn travesty that it ever went off the air. One of the jokes that didn't stop being funny for the entire run, was Tobias trying to fight off everyone's suspicion of his true sexual orientation. The peak for this joke for me, is the episode when Michael tells him to take a tape recorder around and listen to the things he's saying and we got a load of out of context snippets that even make Tobias cringe. I know it has staying power, because every time I post about it on facebook, there will end up being 20 comments of A.D. quotes, usually from Tobias.
3. The Broken Step - Modern Family
Phil is my favorite character on Modern Family. He nails comedic timing and because of his ability, he lands some of the funniest physical comedy gags I've ever seen. My favorite involves the broken step on the family stairway that he continually trips on and then comments under his breath that he needs to fix it. It gets a laugh out of me every time, especially when I can see it coming.
2. The Slap Bet - How I Met Your Mother
In one of the first seasons of How I met Your Mother, they set up a slap bet between Barney and Marshall. (Spoiler Alert) Marshall wins, and is rewarded 5 slaps to be given out at any time. The first two were used up pretty quickly, but since then, the shows writers have rewarded faithful viewers with a slap at different times throughout the run, seemingly out of nowhere. My personal favorite (spoiler alert) was the episode when Barney put on his horrible one man show, and right when you can't take it any longer, Marshall walks up and slaps him, declaring another of his slaps to be complete. Top notch.
1. Has anyone in this family ever seen a chicken - Arrested Development
If you watch this show, you probably agree with me. The portrayal of chickens by this family is a sin against chickens, and it makes me laugh every single time. It is such a ridiculous joke on paper: no one in their family does a good chicken impression, but they all think they do. Make it funny. Do a dance. By God, they made it funny. This particular joke had one of the best final payoffs, in which everyone (except Job) does their horrible chicken impression at the same time, creating an amazing tableau of physical comedy that every aspiring comedic actor should be forced to study.
I believe that repetition can be an ingredient for a huge number of laughs. The old formula I remember was:
1. Do it until somebody laughs
2. Keep doing it
3. Do it until it's funny again
It has to be the right kind of joke or else it just falls flat and becomes annoying. I was thinking about the topic during my rehearsal tonight and I came up with a list of my top five running jokes, so here they are. Feel free to disagree and state your case in the comments.
Seth McFarlane does not always make me laugh, especially as Family Guy grows older and seems to spiral further and further away from any type of sense, but the first time I saw this gag I laughed for a long time. I stopped watching around season six, but I saw it revisited a number of times, and I believe they hit the peak of this joke in the second star wars spoof they made, in which an Imperial Walker acts out the knee clutch.
Arrested Development is possibly the funniest tv show ever made, and it is a damn travesty that it ever went off the air. One of the jokes that didn't stop being funny for the entire run, was Tobias trying to fight off everyone's suspicion of his true sexual orientation. The peak for this joke for me, is the episode when Michael tells him to take a tape recorder around and listen to the things he's saying and we got a load of out of context snippets that even make Tobias cringe. I know it has staying power, because every time I post about it on facebook, there will end up being 20 comments of A.D. quotes, usually from Tobias.
3. The Broken Step - Modern Family
Phil is my favorite character on Modern Family. He nails comedic timing and because of his ability, he lands some of the funniest physical comedy gags I've ever seen. My favorite involves the broken step on the family stairway that he continually trips on and then comments under his breath that he needs to fix it. It gets a laugh out of me every time, especially when I can see it coming.
2. The Slap Bet - How I Met Your Mother
In one of the first seasons of How I met Your Mother, they set up a slap bet between Barney and Marshall. (Spoiler Alert) Marshall wins, and is rewarded 5 slaps to be given out at any time. The first two were used up pretty quickly, but since then, the shows writers have rewarded faithful viewers with a slap at different times throughout the run, seemingly out of nowhere. My personal favorite (spoiler alert) was the episode when Barney put on his horrible one man show, and right when you can't take it any longer, Marshall walks up and slaps him, declaring another of his slaps to be complete. Top notch.
1. Has anyone in this family ever seen a chicken - Arrested Development
If you watch this show, you probably agree with me. The portrayal of chickens by this family is a sin against chickens, and it makes me laugh every single time. It is such a ridiculous joke on paper: no one in their family does a good chicken impression, but they all think they do. Make it funny. Do a dance. By God, they made it funny. This particular joke had one of the best final payoffs, in which everyone (except Job) does their horrible chicken impression at the same time, creating an amazing tableau of physical comedy that every aspiring comedic actor should be forced to study.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Joy of Real Back Pain
Instead of explaining why I started this blog, I'm just going to jump on in and begin posting. Hopefully the way the posts weave together will speak for themselves and this blog will not need an explanation.
I recently became unemployed. When I found out it was going to happen, I panicked. Thoughts of "how will I get by, what am I going to do now, I'm kind of hungry I wonder if there's any cheese left" all ran through my brain at a frightening pace.
Then something wonderful happened. A little switch in my brain moved from "panic" to "easy there fella." I calmed down and tried to look at the positive of the situation. Life in essence shook up my etch-a-sketch and handed it back to me. How many chances does one get to reset one's life and maybe take a different path?
One of the things I've picked up to fill my time (and the real focus of this post) is working crew for the Skagit Valley College production of "Into the Woods." For anyone who may not be "theatre savvy," many set pieces you might see during a show are run by a "fly" system. To simplify it, these different pieces are attached to ropes which line up offstage and need to be pulled in and out of different scenes at different times. This is my job for the show. I heave the mighty lines of rope and change the very world in which the production takes place.
Ok that might be over-dramatizing it, but it's an important piece of the theatre formula and one I had up until now had no experience with. Being an actor and taking center stage you sometimes forget the joy of real back pain that comes from a hard job done well. Taking a support role to help make other people shine is good for one's chi. I still feel the ache to walk out onstage because that's where my true passion lies, but I'm glad for this opportunity to play an important support role in the process, and it never would have happened if I had still been employed.
Sometimes I question the universe and its lack of sense (remember the pogo ball?) but for the time being, I'm ok with taking a couple side roads.
I recently became unemployed. When I found out it was going to happen, I panicked. Thoughts of "how will I get by, what am I going to do now, I'm kind of hungry I wonder if there's any cheese left" all ran through my brain at a frightening pace.
Then something wonderful happened. A little switch in my brain moved from "panic" to "easy there fella." I calmed down and tried to look at the positive of the situation. Life in essence shook up my etch-a-sketch and handed it back to me. How many chances does one get to reset one's life and maybe take a different path?
One of the things I've picked up to fill my time (and the real focus of this post) is working crew for the Skagit Valley College production of "Into the Woods." For anyone who may not be "theatre savvy," many set pieces you might see during a show are run by a "fly" system. To simplify it, these different pieces are attached to ropes which line up offstage and need to be pulled in and out of different scenes at different times. This is my job for the show. I heave the mighty lines of rope and change the very world in which the production takes place.
Ok that might be over-dramatizing it, but it's an important piece of the theatre formula and one I had up until now had no experience with. Being an actor and taking center stage you sometimes forget the joy of real back pain that comes from a hard job done well. Taking a support role to help make other people shine is good for one's chi. I still feel the ache to walk out onstage because that's where my true passion lies, but I'm glad for this opportunity to play an important support role in the process, and it never would have happened if I had still been employed.
Sometimes I question the universe and its lack of sense (remember the pogo ball?) but for the time being, I'm ok with taking a couple side roads.
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