The (happy) English Major (part 2of 2)

Part 1 of 2 within:
One of the amazing benefits of being an English major is the fact that I am given opportunities to meet authors. Yesterday, my scifi literature class played host to best selling author Robert Charles Wilson. His name might not ring a bell, but he's a really well-known author both to scifi fans and non scifi fans (Stephen King for example). Anyway, he came to talk about his novel The Chronoliths. I must admit, for the record, that I have and never have been a huge follower of scifi (novel, tv series, etc); I am more inclined to read fantasy. As a result, I didn't really enjoy a bulk of the course readings for this particular class.

Here comes the exception: Wilson's book doesn't read like a science fiction book. It doesn't load you with nonsensical bits about how the ripping of the space-time continuum was caused by some stray ion that disturbed the whole balance and as a result, all humans turned into several canine species. It's not anything like that (thankfully). It was more about the journey of the protagonist Scotty and how he reacts to the arrival of these chronoliths from a mysterious entity named Kuin. It's not scifi, it's human interest.

Well, to close this section off, I'd like to say that he was nice enough to stay awhile after class and sign books and answer questions. I figured that I have a question stupid enough to need an answer and proceeded to ask him if the Chronoliths were a malevolent version of the monoliths in 2001: A Space Odyssey. He said that in scifi, there's a thing called "big dumb object" that authors use as a focus and thus, they were similar. And he said that it's hard not to be influenced by such a big movie. After that, I made up my mind and decided that I really am going to write the story floating around my crowded head.

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Part 2 of 2 within:
This is another perk of being an English major: getting to read some pretty nice poems.
This one here is for Raissa. For no particular reason but for her appreciation of poetry.

Though I am Young and Cannot Tell (by Ben Jonson, friend and rival to Shakespeare)

Though I am young and cannot tell

Either what Death or Love is well,

Yet I have heard they both bear darts,

And both do aim at human hearts.

And then again, I have been told

Love wounds with heat, as Death with cold;

So that I fear they do but bring

Extremes to touch, and mean one thing.

As in a ruin we it call

One thing to be blown up, or fall;

Or to our end like way may have

By a flash of lightning, or a wave;

So Love's inflamed shaft or brand

May kill as soon as Death's cold hand;

Except Love's fires the virtue have

To fright the frost out of the grave.

Sad (part 1 of 2)

I was being hasty when I said I was going to the concert. Turns out, I'm not. Isn't that just sad? It's mainly because the start time's too late. (It starts at 8pm). I can't get a ride when it finishes at around 10. Serves me right for waiting to get a license. I really don't want to use public transportation at night, especially in the downtown "club district". I don't want to risk it. So I guess that's that for the concert. I'll have to wait for another one.

I'm excited!

Well, lots of things happening lately: travel plans for the summer (which I won't divulge for fear of getting them jinxed), better marks in school, planning on going to a concert....

I'm excited. So excited I could jump out of my seat and run around the whole neighborhood block screaming my tonsils out. My travel plans are nothing short of amazing, really. But as I've said before, I won't say them just yet because I believe that this will jinx it.

But the concert - the concert is something else. I know that if I say "James Morrison" you'll just say "Who?" I'm telling you, this guy is going international. He's already big in the UK where he's from and he's starting to come out here in North America (I think I may have been English in another life, just saying). His music is just breathtaking. It's like hearing a mix of rock, pop, blues, R&B and soul coming out of a single voice. I've already posted a video before (I think it was "Wonderful World" if I'm not mistaken). I've seen a listing for his concert downtown on Ticketmaster and I'm saying right now that I'm gonna go!!!

Technically, I haven't got the ticket or the money for the ticket yet. (It's only $20, but I'm saving for the summer trip) Technicalities aside, I'm as good as there. I just have to convince one of my friends here to come with. It's an opportunity, right? I'm not going to let this window close on me (because who knows, maybe the next concert he has, he'll charge $80 a pop like John Mayer). I've told myself this before when I missed three great concerts in a row just because I hesitated.

So, that's what's got me all wound up and excited despite my head spinning like crazy from sleeping late again.

Cheers, mate!