Pedestrian Prose

I’ve been studying the writing process for a while now. One of the things I’ve been interested in is blogging and the very public nature of private thoughts. What is the rhetorical situation like? I, the author, am very aware of the possibility of anyone and everyone reading this diary, so how does that knowledge affect what I write, or what I share? This has been of great concern to me lately, especially since the life I’ve been living could be considered by some to be quite scandalous. Yet the very real passion and emotion that I’ve experienced could be the source of some really great writing…the story must be told one day.

I lost a very dear friend recently, someone whom I had grown to love very much, and who I’m sure loved me. He’s not actually dead, just dead to me (not my choice). I guess this is the censored part, but the hows and whys aren’t important in this blog entry—but the notion of loss is.

This is hardest for my closest friends to digest. They all get hung up on how or why it all happened. I’m telling you now that nothing can be done to change the situation, so I’d rather not discuss how or why. If someone looses a loved one, don’t ask them how it happened (that’s just nosy), just say “I’m sorry.”

I’m still so very sad and that is all anyone needs to know. I have no other way to explain what I’m feeling except that it feels like death—I’ve lost a loved one; I will never see him again. So I’ve been listening to the Duruflé requiem nonstop. In addition to my prayers for rest right now are prayers of thanks for the gift of love. It’s funny how complete our love felt, even if short lived. And though we may never be able to communicate it again, the memory will remain forever.

So since this journal is the attempt to share my complicated thoughts and quirky notions: here’s a few significant (albeit cheesy) song lyrics and playlist combination suggestions that only few will know what to do with. An EP even. Maybe one day I’ll be able to share the whole story.

The Owls	Air “no hand to put my handshake in”
Rilo Kiley	A Man/Me/Then Jim “it’s your gradual descent into a life you never meant”
Stereolab	Need to Be “il est comme ma vie des fois morose d’autres fois haut en couleurs”
Alexi Murdoch	Song For You “listen to my hands…I will move you”

So goodbye Mary, you’ve helped me in a number of ways; more than you’ll ever know. You will sing forever like an angel who flew away.

Maybe one day we’ll be able to share the whole story.

I just met who I consider the most brilliant modern choral composer of our generation, Eric Whitacre.

He’s speaking at Arkansas Governor’s School tomorrow, and my brother-in-law picked him up from the airport tonight. We had some drinks at the Flying Saucer and I was just in awe the entire time. It was better than meeting a movie star; I’m glad I brought my copy of “Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine” for him to sign (I’m such a nerd)!

Seriously, download that piece of music and you’ll know what I mean. My other favorite is “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening,” a now forbidden setting of Robert Frost’s poem (long story).

The best part is that he is the nicest guy ever, totally handsome, and down-to-earth. I can’t wait to see his latest work, an opera, Paradise Lost (which he tells me that is being reworked for *hopefully* broadway).

If I make it to conway tomorrow, I’ll post a picture.

O.k. This game defines fun. We play it nearly twice a week, sometimes more. Saturday’s in Little Rock have always been kinda lame, so now it’s apples night. During the week we sometimes set up in the back of Easy Street (on 7th and Center, downtown). Except now that high summer holds the Earth we wait till it gets pretty late.

The game is incredibly easy, and doesn’t require trivia or skill. At it’s best, it is a true indicator of personality and humor. If you’re not good at this game, it means your friends don’t think you’re funny.

How it works
Apples to Apples is a word association game, usually for 4-10 players (any more and it just gets out of hand). Although there are many rule variations, generally everyone gets a hand of 5 noun cards (red apples) with words like ‘Crazy Horse,’ ‘Sushi,’ ‘A Car Crash,’ ‘The Industrial Revolution,’ and ‘Plastic.’

During each hand, players make a quick (hopefully hilarious) association with the adjective card (green apples). When it is your turn to play the adjective, you judge that hand (and don’t get to play a noun).

The rhetorical situation comes into play when you start to pick the noun that your friend the judge will find funniest. For example, because I know Davis quite well, I know to play ‘The Industrial Revolution’ for his adjective ‘Cuddly,’ because he usually picks more political or historical cards. ‘Eleanor Roosevelt ‘ is his favorite noun card I think.

As for me: the sicker you are, the better. I get really twisted when I judge adjectives. ‘Helen Keller,’ ‘Schindler’s List,’ and ‘Hiroshima - 1945′ are some of my favorites (btw, the adjectives were ‘Animated,’ ‘Quiet,’ and ‘Squeaky Clean’ respectively).

Currently listening to:

Thought for Food
Artist: Books
Rating: 0