Flatlining

Because I can't do anything else backstage. Everyone else is excited and jolly and running around and stuff, but I'm just sitting, flatlining. Doing a really good Keanu Reeves impression, but without the shades.

Anyways, all the excitement's kinda back as soon as I get on stage... Our audience the first night was amazing, they were absolutely canning themselves at everything, it was really great to be up there, trying to keep a straight face. Desperately. God! It's really cool to be acting again, I can't wait 'til Bishops finally realizes I actually have talent...

Opening night, our picture falls off the chair, and so I'm walking around, acting subconsciously, and my entire attention was focused on choosing the right moment to pick it up. Apparently I did it beautifully :) Epic win! And I could tell you all what the play is about and what my scene is about and everything, but I'll leave it as a surprise because we're going to get it filmed on the last night and then I'll post links. And besides, it'll spoil the surprise!

For now, here are some photos.

Halloween Fun!

As a celebration of Halloween 4 days early (?), everyone got to wear their costumes to school yesterday! Some trendy, some revealing, most very very uncomfortable... a day full of laughs all the way! :D

Those aren't the real ninjas. You cannot see the real ninjas.

Control your world! Live your dream in virtual reality!

Classic Ayoub

Now that's a smart costume. Coz it's stupid. But it's smart.

Ooh I got me a big one! It's the son of a multimillion CEO!! :D

This was kind of expected... pink and fluffy yayz!!!

Well, back in my day...



And I dunno, I guess I do look sexy in glasses...

BackFeed

Because I've gotten a lot of constructive comments (ie the most ever), I thought I'd respond to them quickly. And also this might, hopefully, maybe, encourage all you Anonymouses out there to, you know, maybe get a bit more vocal. Or maybe I should write more controversial and interesting stuff. Might help, you think?

Okay, waaay back someone asked why the doggie was sideways. I don't know, I uploaded it straight up, and Blogger does weird things sometimes. It's a cool doggie though. And I only have one cool doggie left at home. :(

"Forceful parents syndrome". Well, I didn't actually suffer from that. I lie, I suffered from forceful self syndrome. But I got over that, thanks in part to Joe and Guy, and, as said, I actually enjoy the discipline required to be good. Remember, I get bored too sometimes.

Books Top 10.... I don't know, soon, wait and see. I think it'll be even more skewed then the movies, because I can tell you that Yann Martel and JD Salinger are most definitely not going on that list. See how you like that :D Still want my Top 10?

I'm wallowing in the positive response and agreements on the Lybia/UBL post, great to see that my writing, if not thrilling and "ooh/aah" vibes, is at the very least agreeable with. Or disagreeable with. Whatever, I LIKE HAVING READERS! I'M NOT COMPLAINING! I mean, wait, what? Indeed, it was a gold Desert Eagle, thank you Ismail. I think I did say that. Well, I definitely did on my Twitter feed. I'm disappointed that my keyphrase #GoldDesertEagle wasn't immediately in the trends list, but there is a giant difference between creating popular memes on memegenerator.com and creating globally popular Twitter phrases. Not that I can do either at the moment, but that's a story for another time.

Wait, I have a great idea! Maybe if I start a worldwide communist insurgency that might get me hits on Twitter! Hey, popularity isn't so hard after all... or is it notoriety? Aw man, I thought I was onto something!

Re: movies, note how I did say that it was partly based on "what I wanted to watch right now" so it's a bit of a personal choice. I lie, it's all personal choice. Besides, I guess you're right about movies like Unknown coming and going, but some are noticeably better than others. Also, I have not seen LotR, or any Tarantino movies, but I will soon. Very soon. Then we'll update the list again, and see what happens... And Crystal Skull I thought was very fun if you were taking a trip down memory lane. As a stand-alone, you're probably right, it's not as amazing as everyone makes it out to be, but it has a catch: Indiana Jones. And it's not just squeezing money out of a franchise like Shrek or, hell, even Temple of Doom, because the idea was actually coined for the Young Indy TV series, but they decided it was too good to waste on a 1-hour episode. So they filed it away, and someone at LucasArts found it in a cabinet somewhere and decided to make an epic last final super uber nostalgic Indy movie. And I think they did it so well. I think I nearly cried during the final scene, I was so overcome with pure classic nostalgia and raw unadulterated epicness. For gods' sakes, man, if you're not a diehard Indy fan, then yes, it's a lank average movie.

And it's not up to me as to whether you need a Google account or not to follow my blog, but I think that you can follow it by email, all the way at the bottom. I'm not too sure how this funky stuff works, honestly, I'll ask Guy who knows a bit more about html scripting.

And it's almost (hahaaa!) time to perform! Opening night is on Friday, and we are super-super-ready! It will be intense to say the least. Well, my scene will be at any rate...

Movies: Top 10 and Watchlist

These are kind of based on movie quality, kind of based on awesomeness, and kind of based on what I want to watch like right now...

10. Avatar
Okes were complaining that it's weird, but it's actually a freaking epic movie if you let the surrealism take you away. Flawlessly made, reasonably deep storyline, lots of action, aliens, and big guns. Really, what are you complaining about?
Watch for: Amazing visual effects, the final epic battle
[80]

9. Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of The Sith
They saved the best for last, and you really don't have to be a fanboy to enjoy this movie. By far the most visually spectacular title in the Star Wars series, and also the biggest plot lynchpin (closely followed by the "I am your father" line). If you don't really like Star Wars, this will convert you. It has lightsabres and insane lava battles, I mean come on!
Watch for: Bombshells within the big story, the epic final battle, momentous "Darth Vader" moments
[84]

8. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Because you can't keep a classic storyline down, this is the movie that defined science-fiction and spawned generation after generation of followers. If you're looking for a deep storyline, great drama, well-shaped characters, and a distinct lack of video quality (unless of course you have the remake or something) set in an alternate universe, this one is for you.
Watch for: The aerial combat above the Death Star
[85]

7. Black Hawk Down
I don't know why, but I have a fondness for war movies that aren't too brutal. Okay fine, maybe BHD is pretty brutal. But there's something appealing about guns and heroism and camaraderie, and this one's got a lot of it. It's a pretty mature movie, and it's got a lot of the "reality of war" situations.
Watch for: That moment when everything goes wrong
[86]

6. Enemy at the Gates
This one's probably not as brutal as BHD, but it's still a pretty violent war movie, but this time, it's about snipers. In Soviet Russia! I wasn't really paying attention to the acting and storyline and stuff, but the environment the movie creates is freaking good, and obviously what distracts from everything else is the epic sniping sequences.
Watch for: The warehouse standoff, all the other sniping scenes actually
[90]

5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
I think you'd have to be a bit of a fanboy to watch this one... the nostalgia is just sickening, when watching, prepare to die of "oh my god it's Indiana freaking Jones!" and all that other stuff. Some okes say the aliens made it surreal and really bring it down, but, hey, Indy's been dealing with supernatural stuff in every movie.
Watch for: The jungle chase
[94]

4. The Matrix
You cannot be told what the matrix is; you have to see it for yourself.
Watch for: Neo's run from the agents
[96]

3. Unknown
Jeez, I thought I'd never get to like these kinds of movies, but I'm really starting to get addicted to Liam Neeson now, although I do feel Taken was a little unnecessary at times. Anyways, I love how this movie actually kept me excited and engaged the entire time, and it's freaking cool actually.
Watch for: Not knowing what is cracking at the beginning
[97]

2. Sherlock Holmes
Gods, this is literally one of the greatest movies ever made. Ritchie does a crazy job, especially with the classic fight scenes, and the plotline is actually really thick and fun to discover the first time. I re-watched it on a long flight for the first time, and in fact I loved it so much I re-watched it like 3 times that same flight, just to make sure I had all the mystery details ironed out. I can't wait 'til part 2 comes out!
Watch for: The back and forths between Holmes and Watson. They just make the movie.
"Get that out of my face"
"It's not in your face, it's in my hand"
"Get what's in your hand out of my face"
[98]

1. Scott Pilgrim vs The World
And it's just absolute coincidence that I'm pretty much in Toronto, Canada, right now. Literally the best movie. Ever. Because it's just that epic, well written, well filmed, and of course the fact that it deals with tough love doesn't abet it.
Watch for: The absolute randomness. The quotable quotes
"YOU COCKY COCK!"
"Bread makes you fat?"
"So, can this like not be a one-night stand? For one thing, I didn't even get any. That was a joke."
[99]


WATCHLIST!!!!

Sherlock Holmes 2 (Just because.)
Moneyball (Sounds like an interesting storyline, like 21 or something)
In Time (Because I think I'd like this as an action flick)
The Adventures of Tintin (For classics' sake)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (I confess ulterior motives on this one)

Just watched The Three Musketeers today. Pretty cool, exciting, a bit fast, but well made. I dunno, I liked it. Also, it was in 3D :D

Breaking News

==WARNING: This post contains strong political opinions and some hectic philosophy==

Sometimes I find that the world is just full of bullroar… #GoldDesertEagle

So, Gaddafi's dead, after an age of oppression, "terrorism", exile, hiding, and the Easiest-To-Draw-Flag-Of-All-Time title. After numerous confusing reports, he was eventually confirmed dead after a saga of rebel capture and torture, being shot in the abdomen and dragged through the streets behind a car, having his Desert Eagle confiscated, etc.

And earlier this year, the world was rejoicing at the death of another of the world's horrors, none other than UBL himself after a tactical strike operation by US Marines in a Pakistani compound. And for some strange reason, I feel like it's all wrong.

And in no way am I talking about the legitimacy of punishment, or the death of these mad extremists. And I don't even have a problem with them doing it the badayss Americayn way like in Call o' Doodey (gawd bless!), because in my opinion, that was by far the best way of doing it, and a very effective step to ending the "War on Terror" which may or may not exist depending on how Mexican you are. No retaliation as of yet (unless of course you believe epic conspiracies about Occupy), and there's not much left of A-Q, especially considering their old habit of world-headline-topping.

No, what I have a problem with is the way in which everyone (barring of course Julius, who didn't comment) had positive things to say about UBL's death. And of course it was positive, but it certainly wasn't a great step for humanity! In fact, this i starting to sound like we'll end up in an Asimov-esque world because we see morality degrading and the devaluation of human life. I mean, we see it every day anyway, but when something big like that happens, it's totally inappropriate to take to the streets in revelry!

For those of you cheering citizens, if you'd actually done your research, you'd realize that despite UBL being a massive figurehead, his FBI Most Wanted poster is nowhere near as impressive as everyone hypes it up to be. Because for some strange reason, everyone thinks that when he's gone, it's an excuse for a big party. Check the comments on that video is all I'm saying. It shames me to think that people can do that.

It's not like a repeat of WW2. That was a far more drastic and immediately threatening situation. Besides, the Holocaust was only discovered long after the war was over.

And there's no reason for the Libyans to not celebrate. Because they've been released from a reign of oppression and fear that I cannot even comment on because there's no way I've experienced anything close to it. But what gets under my skin is when they celebrate the wrong things, because you should never be happy at the death of another human. And this is coming from someone who's very cold and calculating about life and society, those who know me well will know that I have some strong opinions on improving society. Some things just have to be done. These deaths were things that needed to be done.

Freedom is the reason to celebrate. Freedom to live, freedom to buy and sell, freedom to blog, freedom to do what one wants to do. Within the confines of a socialist framework, of course ;)


100 POSTS w00t!

Eat Ayout

Kalei asked for a mention. Here it is. Happy 18th!

So, yesterday evening I went fine dining for the first time since Mauritius, which was aaaaaaages ago. So it was obviously the aforementioned event, and to celebrate, we decided (well, not me, but you know what I mean. Us as a family...) to go over the border into New York state where there is an exit mall owned by one guy. Epic restaurant called Salvatore's resides there, and that's where we went.

But before that, US cold shoulder at the border. Canadian niceties go out the window as the United States of America (gawd bless!) set up a giant vacuum-lock-passport-transporting border post with real men armed with real guns prancing around taking fingerprints. Hell, if you're not from Canada, you're from Mexico. So don't give me that Mexicanese nonsense 'round here, son, this is the United States! Once again I was prejudiced for being Mexican, and we had to wait in line for about half an hour before they got to my passport. Then they charged us six bucks for processing.

The irony is sickening, especially as on the way back, the Canadian border control were like old friends to us. I love Canada! Like, urban legend has it that Canadians are the nicest people in the world, and so far, it's certainly true!

Anyway, border hiccups aside, I remembered my drum teachers words when he said, "R3000 isn't that much for a drum kit. I mean, people spend that kind of money out at dinner on one night!". I mean, we didn't spend that much, but that's not the point. It's back to the McDonalds cost/sale argument. The food itself probably costs about 10% of what you're paying for it (less in a fast food outlet) but you're paying for availability and service. And you know what, if one has money to spare, it's not that big a deal to be treated like a king once in a while. Hell, the waiter forgot to bring a shrimp cocktail, so he got us one on the house, that's how fancy-shmancy it was! (I still can't believe a Big Mac costs two cents...) Where is that New Era Socialist Manifesto which solves all these dilemmas!?

The food was absolutely epic, the dècor insane, the waiters super-professional, and it was generally an excellent dining experience. I should know, eating is one of my prime hobbies :D as most of you know! I could totally work as a waiter in one a restaurant like that, except I'm not sure if I'd survive carrying all those expensive plates. Oh yeah, I actually had my first smashing in the dining hall today! I was getting ready to akimbo whip out some glasses off the holder, and one of them slips, spins, bounces once, and goes SMASH! on the floor... everyone started clapping, and I turned around and bowed. Good show, what! Well, at least I hadn't managed to fill it up with sticky liquid yet, or else it would have been a mess!

Anyways, I always contemplate capitalism and economic theories after seeing something that a lot of money gets sloshed around in. I mean, I used to have a very antagonistic view of fine dining/cars/Swiss watches etc. but I've slowly been convinced that sometimes it's actually worth it once in a while. I mean, obviously within limits as determined by one's income, which reminds me, I still need to get a pair of two-buck fake Aviators! Yep, that's my splashout... although let's be perfectly honest, I play Warhammer. 'nuff said.

My dog Butch died today, of cancer, aged 8. He is succeeded by his twin sister Sunny. I don't know what she's gonna do without him, they haven't been separated since birth. I've had a lot of good times with that dog... almost choking on a 2kg slab of meat once, eating squirrels multiple times,running on the beach with him, barking at seagulls and suspicious-looking sticks in the water, stopping him from eating Rory and Owen and Guy and Chloe... he was a good dog. I think I'll cry proper when I get back home and only one comes running out to meet me. I'll miss you, buddy.

Back to the rythm of life

I went erging this morning, it was super-legit because everyone else was sleeping seeing as it was 6am and class didn't start until 9.30. And then I went and had a solid hours or so practice on the Baldwin until some hater told me to shut up because they were trying to study for a test. Well, excuse me, missy, if you had done your studying during the TWO HOUR LONG STUDY PERIOD then you wouldn't have a problem now, would you? Jeez.

Before I forget, happy 1 year birthday to EPICMEALTIME!

Haterz 'round these parts stay up late, doing homework past lights-out. Not that I mind in any way, but I don't understand why one would do such a thing. I mean, excepting grade 12s who are also prefects or team captains or something like that who honestly just have too much... Well, maybe it's just me, I'm an early morning person and not really a late-night person. Although I've handled Call of Duty so late at night it's actually considered early in the morning, that's just how badass I am actually :D Besides, I love starting every new day off with something fun and constructive, sometimes two fun and constructive things in one morning. I'm not saying how everyone else does it is bad, it's just that I get more sleep.

Hate the player, why don't you?

Also, for the first time ever, I am in the annual White Notice, and all I have to go off is what other people tell me because none of the haters have actually bothered sending me a link along with their spam hate mail. Please, please do, I want to see it!!!! I think it's really funny actually, kudos to whatever sensible person put it there. So, seriously, someone please leave a comment with the online link, because I know no-one's going to be man enough to pull a TvZ and group mail the entire school with a rash message, but hey, that's a story for another time. But it's a very exciting one nonetheless.

Anyway, I wanted to say something deep and meaningful about the rowing. Oh yeah, I'd really want to be a pro rower, people say they can't handle it because the erging is boring, and the schedule sucks up your life. I have to agree with the latter, but I'm sorry, the former just works for some people and doesn't for others. Besides, I have waaaaaay too much going on in my life that I happen to be pretty good at, so yeah.

There's a certain beauty about the rhythm you get into, especially if you're alone and there's no other sound save the steady zip of the chain, the swish of the seat, and the occasional gasps of air and creaks of your joints as you realize you're slowly approaching the age of sixty-nine. After the first five minutes, everything loses focus. Strokes blend together. The numbers on the readout seem to go slower and slower, and then suddenly jerk when you mis-stroke. You can feel every bead of sweat on your face and your arms... Rocking, backwards, forwards, pull, push. The pain in your gluteus maximus becomes more and more prominent, and then dies down, like you're trying to hold in a major dump. Hiss... hiss... hiss. You're completely alone, and there's no one around but your own thoughts. The room is deadly still...

The worst is getting that feeling of futility, when it creeps over you like the gloom of night, because you want to stop, you want to let your tired body rest (is it really tired? It doesn't feel like it, but every new stroke is a nightmare!) but you somehow have to man up, and reach inside your deep dark well of determination for enough resolve to go on. Somehow. Because it's not easy, especially when your 500 average doesn't move for minutes on end. You want to go faster, but you have to stop yourself. You want to go slower, but you don't want your average to drop... bleh. But it's really really satisfying to say, even to yourself, that you just rowed for x minutes straight.

In terms of fitness and stuff, I much prefer it to cycling. Cycling is far cooler to do, like as a social activity with friends, and push yourself a little even then, but I can't stay undistracted of my environment for long enough to keep going at the same pace and adjust it accordingly.

This is the real me, trying new things whenever the opportunity pops up :D

Tonight I'm going to have dinner over the border because it's my sister's birthday, and we're going to celebrate. Woo! Although it means I'm missing the play cast dinner :(, but you can't eat all the cakes in life. Ah well.

And then this weekend we lock ourselves in the theatre and fast until we have an epiphany about our scenes. It'll be sick. Except that we're not Mormons, so I doubt it'll help.

Sam out.

I Come From The Other Land Down Under

[This is the other article I wrote for the Hank Magazine, just a little bit about Ridley and South Africa I think. Well, that's kinda what Maddie wanted me to write anyway. I'm not truly satisfied with it, and this is actually the second attempt and not true raw, but deadlines are deadlines are deadlines, also word counts. I don't know, I just like this guy's style! On the life front, it's basically reruns of new experiences, new friends, music, and burning rings of fire...]

(No, not Australia, dammit! The other one!) And something immediately struck me as odd… Canadians don’t say “aboot”, or “oot”, or anything like that, it’s just sort of like a States accent but not quite. And I haven’t yet but really want to see a Mountie and a moose, so if anyone has one in his or her garage, let me know. Or a grizzly bear, in fact. Anything. A wild Nova Scotian in a kilt, whatever…

The school I come from is called Bishops, in Cape Town. It’s also a “posh” affluent private school, and so I completely understand the apparent disdain St Caths (what a beautiful town! I love it!) has towards us… Apparently I shouldn’t walk around with my favourite Ridley baseball cap. Aww man! I’ll say, I think the Ridley merch store is very creative, what with all their creative merch and stuff; I will literally buy it out before I leave… Anyways, Bishops is big on rugby, tradition, and men being men, because it’s not a boys’ school but a man’s school. So I’m told… And we have 6 periods a day and sports aren’t every day of the week. And chapel every morning except Tuesdays. But that’s all minor details.

Ridley doesn’t have that sort of one-mindedness, and it’s a very good thing because it means it can sustain a plethora of differing personalities, and here I can actually be accepted, whether I’m perceived “cool” or “smart” or even “over-freaking-confident”. It’s a lot harder to break into friend circles where I come from, but I guess that’s just due to the international-ness and variety that Ridley has. Also, the fact that 40% of the school is new this year. I’m getting a lot of culture shock, but more than that, I’m liking the mindset people have. I mean, at Bishops, our equivalents of prefects are all 1st team rugby jocks. Here, there are like five in the play! Unheard of, I tell you… People still have a “meh” attitude to homework, class, and generally also feel contained by the confines of school, but it’s done in a fun way here in Canada.

Ridley is often the exact opposite in many aspects, because here, me living at school is not unusual, whereas at Bishops, camping in the music department until 9.30pm is considered weird. Here it’s just asocial, thank god! Mixing dayboys and boarders within the same house is a novel approach as far as I’m concerned, and along with the fact that we have our own rooms and desk area. This means even dayboys can enjoy the pleasures of throwing clothes everywhere and blasting bass from speaker systems taking up more shelf space than all the books combined, because ordinarily we don’t really have personal space like that at school. Or speakers that big, for that matter.

I love how easily I’ve integrated into Ridley society, and it’s really not difficult. Hell, on orientation week, I ended up telling 20+ new people where their classrooms were! I’ve also joined lots of activities ranging from Ridley Radio to the Cadet Band Drum Corps, as well as somehow finding myself, thanks to Mr Sweeney, in the most raunchy piece of acting I have done in a while (stay tuned!)… I think the music department has taken a very stimulating approach in terms of letting people sign out instruments and forcing them to practice at least an hour a week, but for some reason it’s still super-underground.

I love the dining hall, because I’ve never had something like that before. I enjoy eating lunch with my friends, throwing virtual tomahawks, cursing the chicken, clapping during drops, and just generally having a good time trying to figure out how best to fill up three cups at once. Oh, the social drama of figuring out who to sit next to so as not to cause conversational awkwardness or hint at wheeling or anything like that… ah, the perks of going to school with girls!

Hell, I’m going to miss Ridley…

PIck up a new one!

[I've forgotten how good it feels to write again. Because writing is one of the things I'm best at, and I feel like the words let so much flow. So much better than a picture thing like flickr or tumblr, but hey, haters gonna hate. I'm just not a picture person! Anyway, this is an article I wrote for the school's alternative student magazine, Hank. This is only the raw draft, so the editors might still cut it and stuff, but this is my blog, so stuff that. Here, we get raw, unrefined language, savants! It's basically for the music section, about picking up a new instrument. It's short, I know, our deadlines are tight. Hope you like it!]

Do you find yourself bored with life? The epitome of a roid-pumped super-jock stereotype? Lamentingly lacking in lovely ladies? Too much time spent playing Call of Duty? Then I have the perfect solution for you… pick up a new musical instrument, and that goes for both the already-talented and the musically-illiterate out there.

I did it while I’m here, and music was already my first language. At Ridley, we have most amazing of underground music departments (yes, it indeed exists beneath the floors of 2CB) which lets you simply sign out instruments to take home with you, be it a trumpet or a clarinet or French horn or whatever. And you don’t need to learn a classical instrument either, you can pick up, as I did, a guitar or a bass or even stuff around on the drum kit!

The problem with music these days is that people think the only way to do it is the classical way with private lessons and an hour’s practice a day. That’s the way I do it in part, and it certainly helps if you’re looking at a career or by-career or potential university major in music as I am. You get a solid foundation in theory, discipline, technical drilling and stuff like that. And I’ve gotta tell you, that’s a good way of doing it, but it’s hard, and you don’t need all of those things when you’re just looking for something new.

So, don’t suffer from forceful parents syndrome like I did, instead, play for fun, like I did and do now. Because that’s what music should be about, actually, fun, and all the structure and rigour and classical-ness take away from that sometimes. Look at me, I’m an epically solid pianist, but I play bass and guitar for pure fun, and a little bit of cross-training too actually.

You don’t need private lessons, you don’t even need to be taught by anyone, you can do it yourself. Even if you are super-tone-deaf, believe you me! And if you’re having trouble with something, ask a friend, because I guarantee you that us music students are very amiable and more than willing to help. Oh yeah, there are also lots of technical benefits to music and stuff like psychological effects, but that’s not important here…

What you actually want to do is jam all those popular songs at awesome times around campfires and when chilling with friends. It’s all you need to do just that, so go out there, and pick up a new instrument. Who knows, it might be something you learn to love more than you originally thought!

Thanksgiving!

LONG WEEKEND AWAY FROM SCHOOL!!!

Manhandle old cars on farm: check
Cycling: check
Longboarding: check
Knee kills: check
Homework: check (believe it or not)
Turkey: check
Feed kittehs: check
Practice drums & piano: check
Watch human self-repair real-time: check
Uptime: check
Downtime: negative
Call of Duty: check
Bacon strips: check

In a word, an awesome awesome weekend.

EpicPostTime

Because you all deserve it, you crazy-ass ^kraaaw!^!!! I haven't posted for a while because I've been too busy learning bass, staying up late, going running, procrastinating, eating, watching EpicMealTime, and ^kraaaaw!^ ^kraaaw!^ So I guarantee, you are reading possibly the ^kraaaaw!^ biggest post since this ^kraaaw!^ blog was started! With bacon! Because I know just how much you guys love big posts! And bacon! (except Ismail, obviously) So sorry if the pictures use up all your ^kraaaw!^ internetz limitz cap vibes and cause this post to take longer than average to load up on your personalized telescreens, that's just tough ^kraaaw!^ bacon strips, because there is no ^kraaaw!^ way in burning hell I am making this any shorter than absolutely necessary! You ^kraaaw!^ asked for it!

So, in no particular order, avec beacoup des photographes, je presente...

--------------------------------------------

Last weekend, we went to Grand Bend on Lake Huron, which is a huge tourist destination in summer and just a cold small empty beach town in winter.I met much of Jonny's extended family, and had a lovely Jewish followed by an epic hangout until like 4am, which was intense. Got some music chat in with one of the uncles who was a studio guitarist, and really got to know Jonny's family a lot better. And, if I may say so myself, I managed to stay completely sober again! I'm not sure if certain okes and/or okettes consider that an achievement, but what the hell...

This is what the "cabins" look like. Susan put it well herself when she said they're not actual cottages or cabins, just more like beach houses. Most of which are, unlike South Africa, not on the beachfront itself. The best thing is, seeing as it's a freshwater lake, you don't get yechy fish smell like rolling thunder twice a day. I mean, some people like it, bu I guess it's an acquired taste ;) Anyway, it's still just a short walk to the beach, and boy was that nice! I didn't manage to get any pictures in the evening :( because my camera was stuck under about 20 bil tons of clothes, which is a pity because there was a lovely quiet little harbour area with lots of piers and lots of little sailing boats chilling in the moonlight. Windy as hell, I went down there to chill for a bit when the other guys were trying to start a fire in crazy wind. It was peaceful and quiet, managed to fall in love again while I was out there...

Back to the future, we went and chilled in the cabin and everyone got drunk except me, and then we just sorta chilled, you know? It's a little bit of a new experience for me, because I always find stuff to do during the day... Well, to be perfectly honest, we did do something directly constructive, ie go illicit late-night longboarding down the main street, which looks like this in the daytime

and is not any busier or brighter at night. The hill is apparently perfect,a gentle slope with lots of side thingies for potential tricks. Hey, this reminds me of the WC champs in Heidelberg, what a smalltown town.... good times, eh? Oh my god, I'm such a Canadian already :D

The beach is also very sick, I loved how everyone camped out at the little booth and pavement, while I was an absolute rebel and walked onto the sand! The wind was pumping so damn hard, but I managed to go and touch the water (didn't get a chance to swim, unfortunately), an it was a really cold yet enjoyable outing. (Spot Kalei hiding from the wind :D she really didn't want her picture taken!)

On the drive back, we got a frozen turkey from Hayter's (don't lol. I will kill you.) and free kittehz to catch mice in the barn. Jonny and I called them Ash and Misty, because Kalei couldn't decide.

That turkey was damn tasty :) My only regret is the lack of bacon strips :D

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As of my arrival at Ridley, my musical capacity has gone from strength to strength, as far as (if you measure instrument-wise) increasing by 150%... Believe it or not, they actually let me into the choir, despite the fact that I am completely tone-deaf. Also, I decided I was fed up with not being able to play guitar so I manned up and started. I can only play power chords for now, but I can play 9 of them, which allows me to play a good deal of songs like Holiday, Paper Wings, She Loves You, Blitzkrieg Bop, The Ring of Fire, One Year Six Months, View From Heaven, etc. etc. and I still plan on learning more! And I think I can sing along to them too, but I'm scared to do that in public for now :D

It's really great because the music department runs rather differently. Firstly, it's underground. Not metaphorically, just literally. I'll have a picture by tomorrow. Anyways, it's not super-well-run like Mitchell's in terms of student buy-in and musical ability, but it's still really insane. I mean, we probably have the same amount of pianos, practice rooms, amps, stuff like that, but here, you can just sign out an instrument and take it home. You don't have to be taking lessons or anything, or even have ever been in the music department before! It's all rather cool...

Wait, so where was I ^kraaaw!^ going? Oh yeah, we're sitting in (Grade 10 :[ ) music class playing and ensemble piece, I'm jamming on the aux percs because I want one of the less experienced guys to have a turn on the drums, and Mr Hutton (our teacher) says, "this would sound really good with a bass part. Mr Dawson (the other music teacher), can I steal one of your lower school students..." And I was like, "No, sir, it's lank chilled [direct quote here :D], I'll play bass! [He knows I'm getting rather bored at present] I don't actually know how to play bass, but I'm sure I can learn. I have a week's experience on guitar, it can't be that bad!"

So now I playam learning (love, Jacob) bass guitar too :D What a vaab.

My piano playing has also been going swimmingly. I don't have a private teacher, so I'm free to do whatever I want! That means I'm sticking to my usual practice routine, as usual! The Rachmaninov has been coming along nicely, I'm making steady progress after hitting a stubborn patch last week. It'll definitely be done by the end of exchange, maybe I can put on a massive performance or something, it's a really showy piece, true Chopin/Liszt style. The Revolutionary Etude is next!

OHMIGORSH there is a ^kraaaw!^ epic epic epic grand piano right smack-bang in the foyer of the science/art building. Sometimes people will mess around on it in between class, but no one dares to take off the covers in the middle of the night (fine, 9pm) and open it up for the whole deserted building (along with any zombies or vampires hiding out) to hear. It is SO DAMN FREAKY playing really loud minor chords there. Especially something as eerie as the Prelude #2. But it is truly an amazing piano, by far the best on campus, and even Joey would be jealous.

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The problem with getting a short Thursday, no Friday, no Saturday, and no Monday, is that all the teachers suddenly think you can still do the same amount of work over that time period. I haven't become an epic procrastinator yet, and I'm certainly not going to leave all the work until Monday evening, but I still feel like I've become more chilled about schoolwork. I still do it all, but sometimes I just tend to take a breath and chill, and it's doing me a lot of good. I often have to force myself to do something relaxing and de-stressing, because my life is just so busy sometimes. Sometimes I just have to let the words fly; I love writing posts like this one.

Talking of which, I have to write an article for the alternative student magazine about kinda that, but I'll leave it a surprise. Oh wait, I have to write two articles! Well, at least this is what I'm good at...

I also almost finished my first Ridley Radio episode, and goddammit I had an epiphany at the end of school today. Jasper (the other Polish guy who is my roommate's best friend) was hanging around, saw the mike, inquired further, and as far as things are going, he's going to be my co-presenter in our utterly random and completely spontaneous smash hit wonder radio show "Two Polacks and a Mic". I'll see how this goes, but one thing's for sure: expect lots of spontaneity. Oh my god, impromptu speech...

Also, I think if I end up not using it, I'll post up a link to my first episode attempt, after I clean it up a bit, you guys can most certainly hear my first attempts at radio. But not yet, who knows, I might use it after all!

And then I'm also in tons of music ensembles. You know what, for the sake of my friends back home, and my new friends who wonder what I actually do in my spare time, this is my new schedule:

Chapel on Mon and Tues, Assembly on Thurs
Classes (75 mins each) 8.30 until 3.45
In between classes, I chill in my room and play guitar
Play practice for around two hours afterwards
Dinner (Okes get punched in the face if chicken)
Sometimes chill/go to Walmart/Timmies
Sometimes finish off homework
7.30-10.00 either do homework or practice piano/bass/drums
If I'm staying at home, CoD until like 1am.

Jazz Band on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Cadet Drum Corps practice on Wednesdays, choir on Tuesdays, Debating on Thursdays, Hank magazine, Ridley Radio, Student Life Blog........

You can take the Sam out of a busy environment, but you can't take the... stuff that, I will ^kraaaw!^ make a busy environment for myself!!!!!!

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RISE AGAINST ARE LIKE MY FAVOURITE BAND RIGHT NOW!!! A little bit more and I'll do another Sam's Top Ten Countdown again :)

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Talking of popular culture, I have discovered a new YouTube phenomenon, EPIC MEALTIME!!! I love it. Especially the bacon strips! One of these days, I am going to make myself a EPIC MEAL with lots of bacon strips, and eat it :D

Today was actually bacon strips for breakfast, but the ONE TIME the Ridley kitchens serve it, I don't feel like making a two-foot-high epic bacon strip bagel. Damn.

And I'm also watching The InBetweeners. Pure British class, thanks Maddie :D

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Francois (the second one) was having trouble explaining Cape Coloureds to this one girl, and he asked me for help in desperation... Unfortunately, it's one of those concepts you can't be told, a bit like the Matrix. You have to see it for yourself :D but I did my best by regurgitating what Warwick had taught us in history class... I'm afraid it didn't do them justice though :D

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We managed to get out of school at like 3pm today, on account of it being cut ridiculously short due to Thanksgiving. Yes, all you South Africans, that is indeed the turkey holiday. And yes, turkey does taste incredibly like chicken.

Anyway, we went to one of Bill's farms, the one which is two minutes' drive away from the house. As far as I understand, his real industrial-grade farm is out 3 hours away, and we're actually going to go visit it (my first time) tomorrow morning to heave some furniture, an hopefully not put our backs out in the process....

Last time we were at the farm, we took a poke around the basement of the farmhouse (which Bill had never been in either) and found some really cool stuff, such as what could only be described a torture implements (it was such a Hannibal house it's not even funny!) and old-school (empty) beer bottles. Also lots of useful hardware which Bill claimed. It's a real old wooden house with wooden everything, and I didn't take my camera along then! Wait, that's because I didn't have one then.... anyway, whatever.

Today we visited the kittehz, and I also found some old cars. Like, around 20 old cars, most without engines, but most in reasonably good condition. They're all old-school American either sedan or truck, but mostly truck. There's honestly like a giant treasure trove of them. And they're not all in crappy condition too, Bill has like 3 with running engines and sparkly paintjobs and stuff, but I couldn't get to them today. Ah well.

Spot the doggie! :)

I also used my camera's built-in panorama tool for the first time. It's not half bad, although it does lose a bit of perspective. Ah well, nothing a little 'shop can't fix :D

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I'm also rather glad that my mentality about my love life has been set straight. Now I know for sure that I'm not going to be slaying chicks left/right/centre, but instead I'll play the epic bachelor while here in Canada. Because I can. And because it means I won't get my heart smashèd into nineteen pieces, like it almost was.

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Jonny's offering a screening of Van Helsing, but it looks scary, I think I'll just play Call of Duty instead. :D

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As much as I'm having a good time here, I do miss all my friends back home. And that means everyone, not just certain people. I'm sorry if I haven't asked how it's going on your exchange, I hope you're having as awesome a time as I am. Don't do drugs. Guys at home, enjoy Epic (for those of you who know what I'm talking about), and enjoy life! Those lucky few who happen to miss me back, I'll be back soon! Don't fear!

Man, I've already been here an entire month and 1 day!!!! It's crazy; it hardly started and it's already almost over!!

And all ye Canadians reading my blog, thank you so much!! You guys are great you make my time here absolutely amazing!! I love you all!! Platonically!!!

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So, ^kraaaw!^ ^kraaaw!^ I hope you liked that long-ass ^kraaaw!^ post!!!! Becuase today is Thursday Friday!!! Which means we post like it's Friday Friday, not Thursday Friday!!!! Because I worked two and a half ^kraaaw!^ hours on it!!! And as I'm writing this, it's still in alpha testing!!! So you better like it!!! ^kraaaw!^ And comment, ^kraaaw!^s!!! Because I know you want to, even if it's just to tell me how ^kraaaw!^ my blag is in a very constructive and non-spammy way!!!!! Because THIS IS BACON STRIPS!!! I mean, EPIC POST TIME!!!!!!! ^kraaaw!^ ^kraaaw!^!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So yeah!!!!!!