Monday, September 15, 2008

The Forlorn Maiden

(Picture taken @ Mt. Olivet Cemetary by D. Hanton)

I am reminded of Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee" when I look at this picture. I've been soaking up the creativity lately and it's fantastic. Now if I can keep that pesky muse around a bit longer, I can transcribe the dream I had the other night into a short story/dark fairy tale.


Saturday, September 13, 2008

Entropy

(Picture taken @ Mt. Olivet Cemetary, D. Hanton)

"A kindest heart which always made me ashamed of my own.
She walks alone but not without her name.

Eva flies away
, dreams the world far away.
In this cruel children's game
, there's no friend to call her name.

Eva sails away
, dreams the world far away
The Good in her will be my sunflower field."
-T. Holopainen, Nightwish, "Eva"


Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Meme Goodness

I don't like to clutter my blogs with memes but this one was just too fun to pass up. I borrowed it from the ever insightful, wise, and awesome K over at KFarmer. No, I've never personally conversed with her but I'm so lamely shy anyway, I just heap much deserved praise on her short stories. The meme works like this:

Answer these questions using a song title from a single artist…

My Artist: Nightwish

1. Are you a male or female?
The Siren

2. Describe yourself:
Dark Chest of Wonders

3. How do you feel about yourself?
Dead To The World


4. Describe where you currently are:
Meadows of Heaven

5. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Sahara


6. Your best friend is:
Wishmaster


7. Your favorite color is:
White Night Fantasy

8. You know that:
Cadence of Her Last Breath

9. What’s the weather like?
Sleeping Sun

10. If your life was a television show, what would it be called?
Seven Days To The Wolves

11. What is life to you?
Everdream

12. What is the best advice you have to give?
Live To Tell The Tale

13. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Amaranth

Thursday, September 4, 2008

For Whom The Bell Tolls

I read something extraordinary today. And though I find F. Scott Fitzgerald to be a little too preachy and self righteous when it comes to the themes of his books, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a glorious yet tragic tale. It presents life as we know it but aging in reverse and the ripple effect that has on the world around Benjamin. It showcases perfectly the difficulties one has at the beginning and end of life. It seems that neither one is really different; and it’s the adventures you have in between that make you feel like you’re apart of the cosmic scheme of life. It is the only time where you seem to be in step with everybody else, no matter how monotonous or incredible the path is.

As the tale is spun, you’re lead through all of Benjamin’s triumphs and failures. Somehow he managed to not think himself above everybody else with his peculiar condition, rather it made him uncomfortable to get younger while everybody around him got older. For example, he was truly distressed when he noticed his wife was nearly forty and he a man no older then twenty. His curious condition not only effected him physically but it also shaped him psychologically to have the temperament of a flirtatious young man despite the fact he was nearing forty years old, for example. Naturally he fell out of love with his wife and grew tired of the complacent life people of her age liked to enjoy when you’re at the cusp of your autumn years.

It also gave the reader a bird's eye view of just how cruel the ones who are supposed to love you can be.  Be it out of fear, spite, or complete ignorance, it was still unacceptable in my eyes.  It wasn't Benjamin's decision to be born a decrepit man of seventy and march backwards in time.  Yet his father, son, and wife eventually would accuse him of intentionally existing that way just because he wanted to be different or stubborn.  Someone would say he lead a grand existence when he finally hit the young, virile period of his life for instance, as he enlisted into the army and participated in the Spanish American War.  However with each passing year, he'd lose as much as he had gained.  As an "older" man, he was a business genius who become very wealthy and quickly made the family business a success.  All he accomplished when he was the wizened young man of forty of fifty waned as he morphed into an ancient youngster and drifted to the shadows of his mind till the very end.

All very strange and curious indeed.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Fantastic Voyage

I had a fantastic weekend leading up to Labor Day. Andy and I went to Philadelphia courtesy of my discount skillz at the Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown. I've been counting down to this weekend because I was in such a need of a refresh after July. I left work early Friday morning, stressing out immensely because I hadn't even packed yet and we were on a slightly tight schedule to see a concert that very evening in the city. After my initial spazzfest of tossing crap into the bag, we finally departed. Of course, traffic got sluggish near the Delaware border. My goal was for us to arrive at the hotel around for so we'd have enough time to grab proper dinner before heading to see Nightwish at our favorite Philly venue The Trocadero Theater.

The venue was SWAMPED with people too! The line was relatively long by the time we got there and we still had an hour before the doors opened. It was insane. The funny thing is we managed to sit near the SAME married couple we met at their previous show at The Troc last October. (And that lady can still screech like a banshee, wow.) The show this year was a supreme improvement. (Not that last year's was awful but, their new vocalist was still a bit insecure about filling such big shoes of the former diva from the pit of Hades that used to sing for the band. And the Opening band left something to be desired.) Sonata Arctica opened for them and immediately they set the mood for an awesome night.

Hoarse and tired, we managed to make it back to the hotel in one piece. On Saturday, we slept in and hauled ourselves out of bed to hit The Philadelphia Museum of Art. I was amazed by all the wonderful exihibits they had and on such a scale. In my opinion, it puts the Smithsonian brands to shame when it comes to the content and display. I believe Andy really enjoyed seeing their wing of European Art from 1100 - 1500. It was a bit macabre with so many religious portraits bearing Christ's crucifixtion but I suppose a devout Catholic would have been right at home. Though there was this one pair of portraits that struck our fancy more then the others. This was a pair of paintings. On the right, painting lovingly and with excruciating emotion was Jesus Christ hanging upon his wooden cross. Instead of the usual complacent, creepy android expression most artists give him, he bore a sorrowful and pained countenance. His eyes were clenched shut, his head bowed slightly as the life ebbed from his limbs. The portrait on the left, bore Mary and Joseph. Mary wasn't reflected as some immaculate, all knowing mother of inhuman serenity like she is depicted in a lot of imagery. Rather she was prostrate with grief on one knee with her pale robes billowing around her as she clasped her hands in desperate prayer. The expression on her olive face was one of helplessness and an agony of a mother watching her son die. Trying to cradle and console her from behind, was Joseph. His face was turned toward his struggling wife but you could see that he was weary himself.

I was awed by all the Monet paintings and incredible asian art galleries myself. I highly recommend it to anybody whom will be in the area or is planning to visit. After the afternoon there, my super husband took us to see Spamalot at the Academy of Music. This was our first time at a Broadway styled musical/play with professional thespians. It was the North American Tour and coincedentally it was closing in Philly this past weekend so I'm glad Andy is so brilliant. And the show was as funny and as fantastic as the reviews suggest. It takes the funniest bits of the film then its stirred up with some absurd songs and equally absurd humor.

Finally on Sunday, we attended the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ. Eh, that was one of the more blah aquariums I've ever been too. Even the one in Tampa, FL was superior. (I will always heart the National Aquarium in Baltimore above all else though.) While Adventure did have hippos, most of the exihibits felt like filler. There was no spirit of conservation. It seemed to be all about making you spend lots of money at the gift shop and their huge cafeteria. Oh and did I mention this fairly new and nice aquarium is in the ghetto? Seriously, you drive a couple of blocks and suddenly you are surrounded by boarded up, spray painted projects and vacant lots. And why is there always a liqour store on the corner in ghettos??

All in all, it was great. I definitely would like to go back to Philly though in the future. Maybe next time we could actually visit Dan and his adorable family. And hey, I finished the rest of Eclipse on the road trip and sleepless nights in the hotel room. So this weekend was full of win.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Birthday

It's not a happy birthday today for someone I loved. It's just another cold reminder that he's gone. My grandfather would have been 75 years old. Part me wishes he would still be here for some more birthdays yet I don't think I could bear to see him suffer anymore. The emptiness and guilt do not go away so easily, you know?

Happy Birthday, Pap.
Sept. 1, 1933 - Aug. 4, 2008