All Things That Are Good · November 2008

These Things Go

Sunday, November 30, 2008 | No comments

Thanksgiving recess is over today and I fly back to my now-official home in Seattle. It’s been an absolutely wonderful break; I would like to thank my friends for making it fun and my mother for making it delicious.

It’s been a really exciting five days. A lot of people I know from back home are talking about visiting me and this is extremely happy for me because I’m thrilled about the prospect of finally showing everyone I know that Seattle really is a super fun place to be.

When I get back, however, I have a daunting amount of school work to do. I will get through it, no doubt, but I’m apathetic: I’d rather not have to. All the work I’ll have over the next two weeks, however, is overshadowed by the fact that after winter quarter I will have a mere twenty-five credits left before I finish my degree. That’s five courses. Which means a full three-class quarter in the spring and a slightly lighter two-class fall quarter and I’m completely finished. My education will be finished the way I never imagined it would be.

In celebration of this approaching-but-not-actually-that-close ending of my undergraduate education, here’s two untitled instrumentals that I recorded three years ago which I just discovered still exist on my parents’ desktop computer:

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Sorry For Not Blogging

Friday, November 28, 2008 | No comments

via.

Cotton Candy Cadillac

Saturday, November 22, 2008 | 2 comments

I’m on the side of Payable on this one. Jennifer Aniston really is like a cotton candy Cadillac driven by Abraham Lincoln with a beard made out of diamonds.

Fuck My Life

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | No comments

That’s all.

It’s So Weird

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 | No comments

To have a President who speaks in cogent complete sentences. A President who isn’t snide and condescending. A President who doesn’t resort to posturing. A President who has favorite philosophers and poets.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s totally refreshing. It’s just a brand new feeling in my adult life.

I Am On Seattlest Today!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 | No comments

Look! There I am!

Light Reading

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 | No comments

In honor of Veterans’ Day, I suggest you read two things from The Atlantic. The first is from this month’s issue, an article that explains how beefing up the Transportation Safety Administration is “security theater“ and how afraid it should make you feel, especially when you’re standing in the queue.

The second is from the issue last November, in which The Atlantic asked a bunch of people to define their perception of the future of the “American idea.” For this issue, David Foster Wallace submits an essay in which he asks this:

Are some things still worth dying for? Is the American idea one such thing? Are you up for a thought experiment? What if we chose to regard the 2,973 innocents killed in the atrocities of 9/11 not as victims but as democratic martyrs, “sacrifices on the altar of freedom”?

Read it.

Dear Veterans,

Monday, November 10, 2008 | No comments

It is due to your selfless service and commitment to this country that I am able to sit around and mindlessly play Gears of War 2 for hours on end tomorrow. And for that, I thank you.

Love,
Keith

Welcome to Your New Government

Friday, November 7, 2008 | No comments

Your new, transparent government that is truly, finally by the people and for the people.

In case you’re not sure what I am talking about, the soon-to-be Obama administration has created a new government level website called Change dot gov. There are news updates, info about the President- and vice-President-elect as well as their families, and there is also a section in which you can send in your story or your vision for the future of the United States.

How much do you need to know before you finally accept that this man is the shit?

The One (and Only)

Thursday, November 6, 2008 | 2 comments

My friend forwarded me an email with this image linked in it:

Thank you, Patrick Moberg. Whoever you are, you’re amazing.

Dept. of Formerly Funny, Now Tear-Jerking Sites

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 | No comments

Palin as President deserves one final look before we close the door on the possibility of that crazy power-hungry anti-woman becoming anything close to President.

Also, just in case you weren’t sure, Is Obama President dot com.

Woke Up New

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 | 2 comments

This morning I woke up and it was sunny out. It was clear enough that I could see the Olympic mountains out my skylight, framed by the Seattle skyline and the Space Needle. It was a beautiful new day, and the world just seemed better, as if a huge grey cloud had been lifted from everything.

Last night, I came home just before the election was called, so Rachel and I celebrated alone with a toast and a glass of wine. After the commotion had settled, I started trying to do homework. I could hear the helicopters following the celebrations. Firecrackers were going off on my block. I read the news. Then, when I was in it with my homework, my friend Catherine texted me. “hey, are you on pike and broadway by any chance?” No. But she convinced me to go party. I got Rachel out of bed (she couldn’t sleep anyway) and we walked to the intersection of Pike Street and Broadway avenue. What we saw…

Read the rest of this entry »

Mr. President

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 | 4 comments

Endgame

Monday, November 3, 2008 | No comments

It’s a rainy night and I am home alone. I just finished what I think is a particularly good five-page paper on William Wordsworth’s Resolution and Independence. I am going to go get a snack, play some Xbox, start working on my other papers that are due this week, pass in my Wordsworth paper tomorrow, go vote, then go get a free coffee and a free sex toy. Hah.

(The latter I wasn’t being competely serious about, just for the record)

On Writing

Sunday, November 2, 2008 | 2 comments

I’ve been taking this nonfiction course over the past few weeks. I took the class because prior to I had not been writing much, and I thought it would spur some creative writing in me (it is my major, after all). I also took it because nonfiction has interested me of late; I’m eagerly awaiting having the time to read some of DFW’s nonfiction and I’ve become particularly into new journalism, as well as how nonfiction relates to blogs.

It’s been plodding along; I’ve been given these prompts and I’ve been writing my experiences and it’s all been fine and dandy. However, when I get to writing these things, I get that familiar self-consciousness. I should explain: I have this weird nervous tic about creative things. When I’m aware I’m not doing my best work, I get these blocks where it’s hard to write or play music or do whatever. Then I just get totally skittish and I’m just embarrassed by everything I’m doing and become very discouraged.

So I get this feeling writing these papers that I’m writing this drivel (which it may or may not be—by now it’s obvious that I’m not the best judge of my own creations). Basically, what it feels like is that I’m writing these “creative” nonfiction pieces about my experience and my perspective out of necessity. These works feel like nothing more than a philosophy or literature paper that I’m turning in for a grade. Which I suppose I am.

I guess my real question here is, does life ever stop feeling like school?

The Loss of Life

Saturday, November 1, 2008 | 6 comments

Last night, as Rachel and I were getting ready for the night, I was in the bathroom and heard a series of deep, resonant popping sounds through the window. I was immediately convinced they were gunshots. Turns out, it was a drive by shooting just a few blocks from my apartment in which a 15-year-old and 16-year-old were struck, and one was killed. I realize I should not be any more frightened than I usually am (I’ve heard shootings even closer than that when I lived in the dorms), but living on my own just makes it feel much more… vulnerable. I don’t know. It’s silly.

In other depressing news, I have a story for non-fiction due Monday, a poetry close-reading due for english on Tuesday, my non-fiction writer’s journal (which I have not been keeping up on) due Wednesday, and a philosophy paper due on Thursday. Also, I have a presentation to do on the 13th. Also, I have to do the dishes. I have to find time to vote in there, too.

Hallow’s Eve

Saturday, November 1, 2008 | No comments

Tonight was Halloween. I was Waldo. I went to three parties. They really kind of sucked, as house parties usually do. The first was too small and I didn’t really know many people. Too, I felt kind of sick. The second was a big party that was cramped and hot and I also didn’t know anyone. Lots of girls I did not know wanted to take their photos with me because I was Waldo. It was weird. The third party was at my friend Wilfred’s house. It was a nice party; I knew some people. I danced a little. My friend’s friend’s house was the house next door so we drank there and then went to Wilfred’s. Before I left, I fawned a little over a girl that I know because she is a talented musician and I have seen her perform before. She had no idea who I was, but was flattered. The music at the party was loud, and my ears are ringing because of it, which scares me because my ears always ring so I am wary of damaging them further.

Today I wrote a short song without a title, lyrics, or anything. It is two tracks sloppily recorded into GarageBand. I don’t know what to do with it next, but I like it a lot. It reminds me of Bibio. It is below.