Non-fiction for the win...

You know what's fun? Non-fiction reading.

Seriously.

Recently, I've been working on a short story that has required some research on my part and I've been browsing sections of the library that I never had before. And, on a whim, I picked up some non-fiction at random off the shelves and took them home.

It's actually a blast! Right now I'm reading Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America and actually seriously enjoying it. Sure, I'd read bits of Moby Dick and such writers as Jack London and loved the idea of "iron men in wooden boats", but actually reading a history of the whaling industry is interesting. It's amazing how much one seemingly small thing can affect the entirety of an economy.

Also read The Science of Sherlock Holmes (ZOMG! 19th century forensic science!), a book on first-aid care for birds (I don't even have a bird) and have a history of the China's Forbidden City next on the list.

Seriously, such research, when it is not required of me and is simply done for my own entertainment, is fun stuff.

So it's Lent now...

... and I gave up movies/television/internet videos. And yes, I've been whining about it occasionally.

The thing is, it scares me how much shying away from them makes me realize how addicted I was. And I don't even have television per se, which means I'm not chillin' in front of the tube all the time. Mostly it's movies and shows on the internet that I watch. And I miss them.

But it feels good to give them up. It feels good to give up their brain-cell-eating, time-wasting influences and instead focus on a little suffering.

And yet... it feels like I'm making up for it by spending more time on teh interwebz... More time to review on YWS?

Why so serious?

I've been reading Atlas Shrugged lately, and have also been running across several other works that just seem to evoke the same feeling: passionate, intellectual seriousness.

Seriously, what is wrong with levity occasionally? Is it okay to just be silly sometimes and not care what others think? Isn't it okay to get something completely wrong and not have people look down on you for it? Isn't it okay to have something that is light for the sole purpose of levity?

In Atlas Shrugged especially is this feeling. It's like no one can lighten up, even when they are happy. They are all so intensely serious about everything they are doing. There is no happy nonsense of a happy couple whispering fluff to each other during a movie. It is all very. serious. business. It is only ever about the other person's intellectual worth and heavy sexual tension that borders on master/slave roles. Seriously, people, lighten up.

Does there have to be a hidden meaning to everything? Can't I just enjoy something for the sake of enjoying it? The composer guy in Atlas Shrugged (his name escapes me), says that he likes Dagny and appreciates her love for his music because it is intellectual. She likes it with her head, not her heart. What's wrong with liking something with your heart? Why do things need to be intellectual all the time?

I'm not saying that we should through intellectualism out the window, but is it so necessary to have in every aspect of your life? Can't you just love someone and do something for them just to do it, rather than having to put heavy. psychological. meaning. into everything? Dagny makes dinner for Galt and makes a huge deal out of it. Why doesn't she just make the meal and be done with it? I like it when people like the food I make, but I don't meditate on my role as provider.

Am I thinking about this too much? I think that they are thinking about it too much. Isn't it okay to not think sometimes, just do?

Lemme just say that when I find the right guy for me, we will both be okay with silliness once in a while, with holding hands and singing undignified songs, with watching stupid videos and laughing at them, with making the wrong decisions sometimes and not being condemned for 'not thinking'.

Nights are right...

If it was feasible to become completely nocturnal, I think I would do it.

Aaaand... That's really all I have to say beyond the fact that I'm still snowed in and it is still snowing outside. Now, if it were snowing inside, I would have more to say.

I'm blind... I'm blind...

Oh Em Friggin' Gee. Seriously, I'm watching Chronicles of Riddick right now (after having been slightly obsessed with Pitch Black a few weeks ago) and the first invasion scene is seriously attempting to give me a seizure. What is with the flashing lights? I'm not photosensitive, but omirah, that is some annoying flashing. Can't we maintain a constant light source for more than three seconds?

Sure, in the first movie there was a lot of dark and moving lights and whatnot, but at least it was fairly constant and not trying to watch a shadow puppet show in front of a strobe light. Geez, people...

Rest in peace, Dr. Larzelere...

My grandfather passed away last Tuesday and his funeral was today. He was 94 and had been ill, so his passing wasn't a surprise and all of his family was able to see him before he died. I think he was at peace, as was his family. He was a pretty awesome guy and the more I find out about him, the more I wish I could have known him even more. You rocked, Grandpa.

Feeling loved on my birthday...

Today is my birthday and while it's not a bad day exactly, circumstances are not going exactly the way I would have picked if I had the choice (ex. my mom's out of town with my sickly grandfather, my dad's working, my siblings are all shipped off to school or friends' houses and I'm in class from 9-7 today). And yet... I feel so loved today.

Seriously, this day that I started out feeling rather whiny and sorry for myself since things were seeming to be turning out so lonely today. And then the flood of calls came in from my friend (who called me like five times when normally we talk about once a week or so over the phone) and my aunt invited me to dinner later tonight. Then I happen to go on my Facebook for the first time in months and there's a slew of people wishing me a happy birthday on there. I even got a text from a friend I hadn't talked to in a long time wishing me a happy birthday. I feel just so loved today!

I'm sorry that I started the day feeling lonely. Turns out that people really care about me. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy. *snugs the world*