You can't take the sky from me...

Happy Serenity Day!

Hurrah! The Firefly movie is now out in theatres. It got just about as good reviews as one could hope for (ie. those movie critics who want high-falutin' acadmic angst with their popcorn didn't like it) and lots of people I know will be going to see it. This makes me happy.

I'm a little worried about what goes on in the movie -- Joss Whedon's not known to be good to his characters -- but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now I'm just happy that it wasn't panned.

Now comes the really hard waiting period -- the time between when I technically could see the movie and when I will see the movie. But there's no one I'd rather see it with than Biku, so I can wait a week. At least, I think I can...

Distilling the Essence of Life into an MSN Screen Name

I don't use instant messenger programs very much. I'm not sure quite why, seeing as I now have quite a few friends scattered around Canada and the world that I'd like to be able to talk to. Obviously, an IM program is much more like a real conversation than email. But I just don't like it. Perhaps because it takes up so much time, which grates against my attempts at efficiency. Perhaps because I can't restrain myself from writing long paragraphs instead of the short sentances everyone else prefers. Perhaps it's just because I can't stand the sight of things like 'LOL' and 'im hear 4 u!!!' In any case, I generally avoid IM's.

But one trend I can't avoid is hearing a phrase in my day to day life more and more "Oh, that quote's so becoming my new MSN screen name!"

I don't know why, but this disturbs me immensely. I'm fine with using screen names as a way to convey quick information about one's mood/location/busyness (ie. Bento -- overrun with work, have a headache. blarg.). But when you start defining yourself (and every instant message you send) by some randomly funny comment you heard that day, it gets a little weird.

Bento - 'take your blah-blah to the blahblah-ologist' says:

Bento - 'some days I just think I'm a chicken' says:

Bento - 'Wait, you really have a salami in your pants?' says:

It all seems so reductionist to me -- everything you say is filtered (at least to me -- other people seem able to ignore them) through this bizarre, cryptic little screen name. You become defined, at least for a day or a few hours, by this quote which may or may not have any bearing on your life. Most people seem to choose them for sheer hilarity, but I just can't wrap my head around why you'd want to do such a thing.

I like words because they're ephemeral, because if I say something stupid I can redeem myself in the next second or so by saying something that's less stupid. But saddling yourself with a screen name seems to me like putting the albatross around your own neck, padlocking it, and throwing away the key. You're now doomed (for however long you have that screen name) for these words follow your every comment around, for better or for worse, shifting every meaning and emotion you try to convey.

Leaping Gazelle-like.

Bento's taking ballet! While most of you will know me as, well, not exactly a picture of grace and lightness, I've decided to take a beginner's ballet class this year. My friend Katie took it last year (as a way to improve her hockey skills, interestingly enough) and I decided to join her this year. Having realized that I'm a co-dependant exerciser -- I wimp out early if it's just me on a treadmill, but give me a frisbee to chase after or an instructor to keep up with and I'll work until I drop -- I thought a directed class would be good for me. It's no Thai Kickboxing, to be sure, but after having taken the trial class last night, I think I'll enjoy it. The hour-long class flew by, it wasn't bewilderingly hard, and my muscles are pleasantly tingly (not outright sore) this morning.

I may never leap gazelle-like, but at least I can try.

Making Sense of The Proverb

1. The Dark Cloud

I haven't done it yet, but I will very soon be dropping one of my English courses. Not because of the professor (although he's kind of poncy) or because of the material (sounds pretty confusing) or even because of the room (a six by eight foot hole they're trying to cram 25 people in) but because of a student. One single student, and I'm dropping the class.

You may remember me ranting about 'John' last year. Even if you don't remember (I barely remember what I wrote), suffice it to say that he's just about the most socially inept individual I've ever met. He doesn't know when to stop talking about his pet topics (fantasy and the fact that he's an Author), he always has an opinion which he states in a voice that makes it clear All Must Agree With Him, he makes bad jokes, he has an ego the size of Texas, and he hits on every female in sight. While I'm somewhat fine talking to him one-on-one, I spent my single one-and-a-half hour stint in this tiny classroom unable to look up because I could literally feel the frustration of others and this man's desperation for companionship. The room pulsed with discomfort.

I vacillate between feeling sorry for him (only someone truly desperate for a girlfriend and for others would break so many social conventions in order to just get people to talk to him or laugh at his jokes) and being angry at him (30 year old men should be aware that asking a casual acquaintance whom they haven't talked to in months is as they rush out the door is not appropriate). But needless to say, taking that course would have meant I spent two days out of every incapacitated by feelings of intense embarrassment.

So I'm dropping it.

2. The Silver Lining

After some intense scrutiny of the English course manual, plus much emailing, I am now taking a half-credit Honours Essay course. This means I get to research and write 10 000 words on comic books. More specifically, the possible reasons why so many contemporary graphic novels are autobiographies which portray their authors in unflattering ways.

Now, this may not tickle your fancy, but for me, it's incredibly exciting. I get to study something that's never been studied before. And not just my specific topic -- there are maybe three english professors who are studying comics in all of Canada. The whole field of comics! All of Canada!

Of course the whole thing could blow up in my face -- I could have a topic which it turns out is unwritable. But on the other hand, I could just open up a whole new field in English Literature studies.

Only time will tell...

The clash of two great religions

[NB -- I understand that the following is an entirely trivial issue which doesn't affect the fact that people die in the world every day in various cruel, unusual, and preventable ways. I understand that I am utterly lame for actually taking up space writing about this, rather than directing my quaint writerly talents to something that actually matters. Nevertheless, this is what passes for a problem in the fairy land world of Bento. Consider yourself fairly warned for the following post.]

The QCF retreat is booked for the weekend of September 30-October 2.
'Serenity' is due out on September 30th.
ARGH!!

The funny thing is, I'm not worried about missing the premiere of this fabulous Firefly movie. I've never been one for getting excited about the seeing the first showing at midnight, and I'm happy to wait an extra week or so to see the movie if I need to.

What makes me mad about this unfortunate situation is that I won't get the fabulous group experience I'd planned. See, Firefly is my one conversion success story. I've spent the last two years diligently proselytizing my faith, patiently watching 'Train Job' and 'Serenity' (the pilot, that is) over and over again as I introduced newcomers to this fabulous show. I'm not normally very good at converting people to my beliefs/opinions (somehow, I think my pathological desire to avoid conflict has something to do with that...), but with Firefly it was easy. A few late nights here, some explanation of the term 'space western' there, and suddenly I had a whole truckload of new acolytes.

When I heard about the movie coming out, I thought "How cool would it be to go see Serenity with all the people I've converted to the only 'cult phenomenon' I've ever been a part of?". Excepting those converts who are now out of province, I could easily have 20 or so people go see one movie. It would be fun, it would be good for my ego, and it would be an Experience.

And now I don't get to have that, due to a scheduling conflict. Even if I didn't go to the QCF retreat so I could see the movie (not likely, since I really enjoy QCF retreats, what with all the late-night talks and delicious food and time spent in nature), many of my converts would. And I can't put the thing off for a week, since next weekend is Thanksgiving, and going during the week is totally out of the question (since Biku, who converted me, couldn't come).

If I didn't know better, I'd swear God was laying the smackdown on all my sacralicious Firefly 'conversion' talk. "It's all tongue-in-cheek," I feel like yelling, while shaking an insolent fist at the sky.

I know, I know. It's a silly thing to be annoyed about. But it still makes me sad.

It must be september...

It's frosh week, and a light day for me means only needing to email professors about course books, getting my internet hooked up, meeting with a friend of mine for a chat about the future, and being involved in a QCF frosh week event at night.

Made dinner for 80 people last night. Unfortunately, only about 30 showed up. But leftovers (especially of lentil bolognese and mushroom alfredo) are always good, and I managed not to get too stressed/freaked out about it. Which is always nice.

Suddenly, Kingston seems tired and old -- the purple engineers are no longer scary or even novel, the courses are much the same as they always were, and the interminable meet'n'greet (What's your name? Where are you staying in residence? What are you studying?) just seems wearying. Certainly, there are things to get excited about -- writing a talk for QCF, studying art history, the imminent return of my housemates -- but it's all been done before.

My week, by the numbers

Beds slept in (Tues. night to Fri. night): 4
Locations visited: Halifax, Toronto, Newmarket, Kingston
Waterslide Visits: 10
Hilarious Log Rides: 2
Scary (but hilarious) Animatronic Beavers on said Log Ride: 1
Transportation methods used: 7 (Ferry, Bus, Plane, Streetcar, Subway, Car, Walking)
Best Friend's Birthdays: 1
Hours spent awake: 23
Fun had: Immeasurable!