The Prodigal Poet

11 May 2008 @ 08:23 pm

442: In Which Andy Feeds Some Hobos...

*ahem* I believe the term Laura used was "feed the homeless", but that's what we went off to do Friday evening, down to Skid Row. I was a bit frightened at first because Laura made those hobos sound craaaazy ghetto, but it was actually really fun. Well, maybe "fun" is the wrong word, but it was definitely very worth going.

I find it interesting--and I feel a little guilty for noting this--that other than some of the homeless, me and Laura were the only white people; that is, the sociology professor whose class Laura is in who got some students to do this is Asian, all the church members and pastor were black, and at least two thirds of the homeless were black and hispanic. Not that I was particularly conscious of that, but it just seems interesting, now that I come to think of it...

Laura is so impatient though! Pushing and pushing those plates of stew before I'm ready to hand them off to people! Well, at least everyone who got in line got fed, which is the point, right?

And then, afterwards, we decided to stick around for the apparently customary post-feeding prayer-circle. Y'know, I've realized that I'm one of those people that can be moved by the emotion of religion, but I just can't make that personal connection with God. I'm just too individualistic... Like, maybe it's my trust issues that make me depend so much on myself, and maybe that's not healthy? God help the first person who gets into a real relationship with me...

Speaking of comparing God to relationships, this band, Flyleaf, is rumored to be Christian, but even if these songs are about God, their pure rock awesomeness makes up for it (but then again, I have a great respect for the right kind of Christians, and you can't deny they're interesting). Though I must admit, the lead singer *does* look a little crazy when she's performing. I guess she's getting transported? Aaaaanyways...

Their videos have pretty good production values... Or maybe you think they're cheesy:
"I Am So Sick" is a fairly typical rock video, but "All Around Me" has walls that bleed paint, and "Fully Alive" has cemetery statues breaking apart into sunlight. Take a gander... or if you don't, I'm sure I'll continue to do so...;P

Tags: christianity, music, religion, socioeconomic

Moodswing flavor:

accomplished

Listening to: see above

6 comments | Love me

09 May 2008 @ 03:56 pm

441: *collapses*

Can I just say how relieved I am to have finally gotten this out? I think I was just stressing out too much about it being perfect, because I know for a fact no one has ever written an academic essay on Garth Nix, at least, not to this extent. I'm very proud, no matter how rough it is, and hope to continue to write about his work. (That is, it's good for an English class, but I want to become an actual literary scholar here... I'm just not there yet...:-/)

***

( entire unedited essay behind the cut... )

***

Tags: college, garth nix, literary criticism, literature, school

4 comments | Love me

08 May 2008 @ 02:39 pm

440: Don't Ever Said I Taught Ya Nothin', Neither...

Because I am becoming ever more interested in linguistics, I am trying to learn simple phrases in as many different languages as possible, and bulletining them here in the language lab. Here's what I've got so far:

How to Say 'Hello' and 'Goodbye' in Ten Tongues

ENGLISH	Hello	Goodbye
FRENCH	Bonjour	Au revoir
ITALIAN	Buon giorno	Arrivederchi
SPANISH	Buenas dìas	Adìos
GERMAN	Guten tag	Auf wiedersehen!
CZECH	Dobrý den	Na schledanou!
HUNGARIAN	Jó napot	Viszlát
RUSSIAN	Zdravstvuyte	Do svidaniya
JAPANESE	Konnichiwa	Sayonara
CHINESE	Ni hao	Zaì jiàn

Notes:
1. The 'j' in 'bonjour' sounds like 'sh'; 'au revoir' is often pronounced as one word: "are-voir'.
2. Italian is a phonetic language: "bwOn-gyore-no"; "ah-rive-ah-dere-chee'.
3. If you live in California, you've used these Spanish phrases already. (Hint: the 'i's are stressed.)
4. Fairly phonetic in the German, I think...
5. For the Czech, I'm guessing stress on the 'y', and "na schledanou' is pronounced similarly to the russian 'da svidaniya'.
6. Like many Slavic languages, in Hungarian 'j' sounds like 'y'; otherwise, pretty phonetic.
7. Transliterated from the cyrillic alphabet, "Zdravstvuyte' sounds like "strass-veet-yuh"; you've heard 'do svidaniya' in the movies before...
8. Do I even need to bother with an explanation for the Japanese?
9. 'Ni hao' is pretty phonetic; 'zai jian' is like "sai-shin".

***

Feel free to offer any corrections...

Tags: education, linguistics

2 comments | Love me

07 May 2008 @ 05:43 pm

439: PURPLE...!

So, even if you miss tonight's show, hey, you can still hear what I sound like, and even see this time! I now present you my first video in well over a year; thanks to my Lesbian husband for directing and editing, and Amy, my beloved purple dildo (obviously NOT safe for work, but soooo worth it!):

Tags: awesome, cinema, purple

Moodswing flavor: sexy

4 comments | Love me

07 May 2008 @ 01:57 pm

438: Whoops...!!

So, buried underneath my papers, I forgot about the Mann Show. So, even though it's only five hours before, I post the link for any diehards (jeremytblack) who might wanna listen in:
http://www. live365. com/stations/kpoet?site=pro

(Mostly, though, I will sing and cry...)

Tags: busy-ness, the mann show, update

Moodswing flavor:

busy

Love me

06 May 2008 @ 02:05 pm

437: Epiphany in Literary Analysis...

"...what is a recurring theme in his [Garth Nix's] work—namely, the constant tension between naïveté and experiential knowledge, as seen through the psychological development of his characters, as they are forced to sacrifice their personal desires for the overall good of the society."

If you've read Sabriel or its sequels, Lirael and Abhorsen, you know exactly what I'm talking about... (And it's forming in the Keys to the Kingdom...)

Unfortunately, this may not be relevant to the argument of my current paper, but it's good to save for whenever I do the bigger one on Sabriel...

Tags: garth nix, literature, school, writing

3 comments | Love me

05 May 2008 @ 08:38 am

436: -_-

I've restarted my essay twice and lost it as many times. I don't know how much I'm gonna have to show Geiger today, if it is in fact due... Whatev. I still need to do my lab for French, and pull something together for Philosophy, and many other school-related errands to run, besides...

Blech! I'd say I should've actually gone to sleep tonight, except I did get the thesis a lot better on the paper... It'll be good; I guess I'll just work on it... tomorrow most like, as I'll be crashing later in the day, I can just tell...

*crashes*

Tags: college, school, update

Moodswing flavor:

tired

2 comments | Love me

04 May 2008 @ 10:14 pm

435: Everyone's Going to See "Ironman"...

Or so it seems to me. I wanna see more movies with Cat when I get back home, and she loves those kinds of movies, so... We're going to an Art-House movie theater! Something downtown, obviously, like the Crest, or even Tower Theaters! ^_^ You can't beat those old-style multiplexes...;P

Anywho, in order to distract myself momentarily from the sudden bevy of final papers due this week, I post an unorganized list of movies I want to see this summer:
1. Juno
2. Me and You and Everyone We Know
3. The Savages
4. The Squid and the Whale
5. Boys Don't Cry
6. Transamerica
7. Crash

And watch some more "Queer as Folk" (otherwise known as 'Gay as Fuck') and the L Word...

Okay, gotta go and pontificate on stuff now; have a swell day!

Tags: cinema, update

Love me

03 May 2008 @ 01:18 pm

434: Huh.

The funniest thing happened to me as I went into the C.I. for Brunch... I give my card to the lady, she might be 40 or 50, and she stops, holding my card, and says, "I really liked your article." And it takes me a moment to remember what she's talking about. "I just read it this morning. I really liked it." I said "thank you", still a bit shocked--but in a good way--she slides my card and I get my tray...

Remembered that I forgot to post it: http://media.www.quakercampus.org/media/storage/paper1281/news/2008/05/01/Opinion/So.Much.Learned.And.In.Just.One.Little.Year-3360426.shtml (Hee, and they got my name right, this time... ;P)

ETA: Last week I was Adrew... which I could live with. But Leggat?! Uh-uh, no way! I'm suing! *joking, but still urrged*

Tags: the quaker campus, update, writing

Moodswing flavor:

pleased

6 comments | Love me

02 May 2008 @ 10:44 am

433: Blerg.

Sorry about my last post... sometimes I can be a drama queen (which was the point); but I just had to get something out. I just get these overwhelming moments when I want to breakdown, cry, make a scene, and just generally wallow in depression... I think it's that I want to write stories or whatever about shit, but I can't, so it's not really getting the proper outlet it needs... Whatev. I'll find some sort of catharsis.

Tags: self-improvement, update

Love me

30 April 2008 @ 06:23 pm

431: Starting Early!

Half an hour, to be exact:

http://www.live365.com/stations/kpoet?site=pro

Tags: the mann show, update

Moodswing flavor:

excited

Listening to: see above

Love me

29 April 2008 @ 07:35 pm

430: So, You Know the Lead Singer from Keane?

Yeah, he's hawt, and me and

ellizenare pretty sure, judged on the fit of his jeans, that he has a big...

Why hello there! Well, I figured I'd make another update, seeing as once daily updates can't seem to cover the constant flux of college life! Okay, not really, I'm just awful excited by some news I got in between posts...

*Finally* had another meeting for the Gender Club today, by virtue of the fact that another girl (Allison) was able to sit in. Finally found a time that not only works for everyone, but both Branden and Celina will be able to show up next week! (They've both been interested, but couldn't work it in--Branden is my lesbian lover and Celina and I are class chums. Yes, they're both wildly attractive, what of it? ;P)

And I also went to talk to Prof. Furman-Adams, who I'm taking English 220 with next year, and who I've wanted to take a class with for a while now. Apparently she's not the facilitator or whatever of the Gender and Women's Studies department anymore, Switzer is, which works out wonderfully for me, as I'm taking Ethics with her now and Feminist Philosophy in the fall.

Actually, she was still able to give me *lots* of useful and very exciting information. Apparently, they have funds for events they don't end up using, seeing as the Feminist Club was defunct this year. And she talked about them having had the very events before that I was planning in my head. Apparently it just takes someone who's willing to push through a program and they get really excited about putting something on.

And for the sake of posterity, I wanted to just list some of the ideas I had, which are all highly likely to occur, if I want them to:
--getting Johnston (the advisor of the club) and Switzer together for some kind of panel of differing feminist viewpoints of pornography. Furman-Adams says they've had panels like this at the Faculty Master Houses, which is easy to facilitate, and this is something that could be really interesting. Other topics I might think of depends on which professors I want to approach, but at the very least I can get to know the ones all involved in the department. That would be helpful if we want the club to act as some kind of connection between the department and interested students.
--working with Video Production Club on a satiric video about stereotypical perceptions of feminists. Throw out your razors and burn your bras, bitches, because we're marching on the Masonic Lodge! (An actual place a few blocks from here, actually...)
--Furman-Adams also mentioned the possibility of getting a speaker; some feminist or activist I would assume. Not sure who we could get, prolly no one HUGE, but definitely someone interesting. Suggestions?
--There's also still the Gender Circus to plan! This wouldn't be until the Spring, probably, but in the meanwhile, see if we can come up with ideas for attractions! Again, y'all got any suggestions? The more ridiculous the better! ^_^
--And then finally, of course, we should have a table at the Activities Fair in the fall, to attract those impressionable freshmen...*cackles ominously*

Is that entirely too ambitious? And yes, I'll be doing this while working on the QC; while I'm in charge of the BBC (new student magazine); I'll prolly still have "The Mann Show" (though that only takes an hour out of my week); oh, and those things I do called classes? XP

But I'm actually feeling positive about it; I think I can do it. And I'm really excited for next semester. How 'bout you, mm? ;P

P.S. If anyone would like to volunteer to make me a feminism or gender icon, I wouldna say no... *hintnudge*

Tags: academics, activities, college, feminism, school, the gender club

Moodswing flavor:

excited

11 comments | Love me

29 April 2008 @ 03:40 pm

429: Updates of Business!

A few days back, I was having a total panic-attack about being able to do all the things I'm signing myself up for next year. And now it looks like I may be adding yet another (WAY bigger) obligation, and yet, it's not stressing me. Today, I handled my business much more productively, so I'm feeling positive about it.

That is, registered this morning. By doing my homework very carefully I was able to have no trouble getting into the classes I was aiming at: English 220 (survey course), French 220 (Intermediate), Philosophy 386 (Feminist Philosophy), English 310 (Linguistics), INTD 011 (class for being on QC), and INTD 033 (Teaching Composition).

I'll be part of the QC staff next year, so I figured that would be a good one credit class to take. (In case you haven't figured it out yet, that's the Quaker Campus, student newspaper). The Teaching Composition one has a caveat or three. According to my advisor, it is indeed the class for Peer Mentors, for the Freshmen Writing Composition classes. So I need to talk to Charlie Eastman, because I'm not sure why it would let me sign up for that... but it is right up my alley, so I would be amazingly pleased if I *could* be a Peer Mentor/Tutor/whatever they're calling it this year. That was one of the few saving graces of *my* first semester.

Speaking of which, my second opinion piece for the QC (which I just turned in today) is all about that. I'll be sure to post--and this time, I know how to make all the links work, swearsit! ^_^

Okay, go start reading

jeremytblack's blog and don't forget to listen in tomorrow night!

Tags: activities, college, freshmen, peer, quaker campus, school, the mann show, writing

Moodswing flavor:

content

Love me

28 April 2008 @ 03:48 pm

428: Reminder and a Poll...

See, I'm getting around to reminding you earlier in the week:
http://www. live365. com/stations/kpoet?site=pro

Same time, same place: Wed. at 7p.m.
Actually, my boss informs me there are more spaces in the schedule and that I shoudl take advantage of them while they last... So this is me askin' y'all, what time would *you* like the show to be, and I can most likely swing it.
That is, I'm not replacing my time necessarily, just adding more days... Prolly two more a week, MWF, for the remainder of the semester. So if Wed. is an unusually busy day for you (like most people 'round these here parts), now is your chance to voice the day of your choice! ^_^

Tags: the mann show, update

Listening to: see above (at scheduled time)

10 comments | Love me

27 April 2008 @ 11:29 pm

427: Thank the Virgin for Questionable Content!

qcjeph is so hawt!

*ahem* On to the meme:

1. My username is _____ because ____
andylegget... 'cause that's my name, byotch, don't wear it out!

2. My name is _____ because ______.
Andrew Joseph Leggett... Ironically, the first means 'manly'. My parents were originally going to call me Alexander, but some other story goes my sister named me (the one who later abused me: further irony...). Everyone's always called me Andy 's'long as I can remember though...

My middle name is an inherited thing from my mother's side (her middle name is 'Jack', her father's was 'Joseph', and according to my Aunt, it goes that way with men and women in their family...).

My last name is my father's, and lord-if-he-knows why. There are a lot of Leggetts and variations therof, but I really like the name (though others mispell or mispronounce it sometimes...). People here call me Amy Legit.

3. My journal is titled ____ because ____.

The Prodigal Poet. Figure it out.

4. My friends page is called ____ because ____.
Daily Awesomeness. 'Cause my flist is awesome.

5. My default userpic is ____ because ____.
The Virgin Mary. Because she is my goddes... but I might change it once I get my RenFaire pictures back... Here's hoping! *crosses fingers*

(Still love you, Holy Mother, though!)

Tags: hawtness, lj, meme, random

Love me

27 April 2008 @ 12:14 pm

426: Go. Read. And work that jaw...

Just in case you didn't notice (I don't know how you would), I managed to fix the links on the previous post, so you should be able to read my piece now... if the text is still too small for you, you can try reading it at the Quaker Campus website (though apparently it is listed as being written by one 'Adrew Leggett'. o.0)

Anywho, just wanted to let you guys know that... and also point you to the article on Performance Artist Pegi Taylor, who did indeed, for her last piece, take off all her clothes barely ten feet in front of me...

Now, I am off to do BBC layout (hopefully we can finish it today...).

Have a nice day! ^_^

Tags: bbc, quaker campus, random, scientology

Listening to: Again and Again, Umbrellas

2 comments | Love me

24 April 2008 @ 08:53 pm

425: As Promised...

This is the most important thing I've yet written--forget the Newsom, this one feels like more of a triumph to me. Not only because it was so hard to write (much pacing and rocking back and forth and shaking fingers), but because of the comments I've gotten from people already. So I know I've been successful in talking about something most people don't talk about in relation to Scientology--what it's really like being inside of it. So I'm happy that I was successful in doing that, as that was my aim.

P.S. Yeah, I know one eye is smaller than the other in that picture, which, along with my really thick make-up, makes me look like a scary Goth. That was also intentional, and also a success! ^_^

ETA: See, I always have *some* kind of problem posting pictures... last time you could click on the picture to enlarge it; I don't know what its problem is now! DX Well, just save it as a picture and you can prolly read it; if not, I'll paste the text in my next post, m'kay? *collapses*

ETA le duexieme: YES! I finally got the links to work, so you *should* be able to read it now... *pumps fist*

Tags: family, quaker campus, scary, scientology, writing

5 comments | Love me

23 April 2008 @ 06:32 pm

424: The Mann Show (encore)!

This is just a quick reminder that I go on in half an hour, so for anyone who can listen, here's the link:
http://www. live365. com/stations/kpoet?site=pro

(Okay, gotta dash--see y'all at 7 (j'espere)!)

Tags: the mann show, update

Lair location: KPoet

Moodswing flavor:

rushed

Listening to: see above

4 comments | Love me

21 April 2008 @ 06:11 pm

423: Crazier Than You...!

So, I was just typing

copperwise's ear off about how busy I am... and how that's absolutely wonderful.

But, basically, I was thinking I should keep y'all up to date on these things, because, after all, what's the point of a livejournal then? (And I know

jeremytblackwill make me swallow my words about me saying "whatever you want it to be"; and to him I will say, "Suck my dick already, Jer!")

But seriously... "What is it--pray tell us, Andy!--that you're so busy doing?!" you may well ask.

And I may well answer (thusly): "Have you seen my little schedule notebook?"

Yes, I now have so many activities each day that I need to list 'em all out and regularly consult said little notebook. It mostly consists of classes, meetings I have to get to, or any other activities--but it is fairly cluttered and a little disorganized, because stuff may change, depending.

And I had started to try and explain everything I've been doing and have to do--but that would come out way too rambly. I don't even know where to start, apart from to say, briefly, what sort of things I've gotten myself involved in this year, and possibly for next year, and go from there:

( This semester... )

Goals for next year, just 'cause I'm crazy:

( future plans... )

All of this, of course, in addition to my English/French double major and Gender and Women Studies minor.

...

Okay, when did I turn around and suddenly become SO crazy?

Well, I didn't get to do any extra-curricular shit in high school (one of the draw backs of Ye Olde Charter), so I guess I'm making up for lost opportunity. And I always had this potential in me... and I've said before I work better when I have more demands on my time. It's when I'm given too much free time that I tend to do poorly...

It just gets me thinking about how much I've changed, but also how it's more like I've finally seized my opportunity, and I'm making the most of it... y'know?*

(More on this topic to come...)

Tags: bbc, college, crazy busy, school, the gender club, the mann show, update

Moodswing flavor:

busy

6 comments | Love me

20 April 2008 @ 01:48 pm

422: Poetry Month, Pt. I...

Every month is full of Poetry for me, but I thought I'd share some of my favorite poets with y'all and compile a sort of "best of" list, which will tell you what *my* biggest influences are...

First up, my Great--Poet-in-Law (she taught Sandra McPherson, who taught Eve, who taught me): Elizabeth Bishop!

Here's the poem everyone should read:

*

( One Art... )

*

Actually, every single poem in that collection is absolutely amazing, so you should go and read it anyway--it's very short, but very brilliant. Definitely one of my favorites. (Ploughshares also did an excellent interview with her around this time that's worth reading.)

Here's another fun one, from North and South (1946):

*

( The Man-Moth... )

*

Have fun googling and wiki-ing her--also, amazon informs me that the Library of American is releasing a complete collection of her poetry, prose, and letters. Definitely wanna get my hands on that one! ^_^

Tags: elizabeth bishop, poetry, poetry month

2 comments | Love me

18 April 2008 @ 06:50 pm

421: Commandeering KPoet...

Door was unlocked, so I may be in here until... someone kicks me out. XP No one's around though, so I may be here a good portion of the night, if ya feel like listening...

http://www. live365. com/stations/kpoet?site=pro

And if you have IM, we can engage in some funny back-and-forth (hikari_leo does this with me during almost every show, tippity-typing between songs), my AIM is andyleggett18 and my Yahoo is andyleggett17. (Yeah, I know... very original monikers.)

So, if you're not doin' anything else, give me a listen...^_^

(Oh, and

jeremytblack is still awesome... and yes, I'm still obssessed with him; your point? ;P)

Tags: kpoet, random, the mann show, update

Lair location: KPoet

Moodswing flavor:

bored

Listening to: click the link

2 comments | Love me

18 April 2008 @ 12:43 pm

420: So, Yanno That Thing on my Profile Page?

Got 100 virtual hugs. LJ is officially the Land of Hugs. XP (Okay, it makes me feel all fuzzy, okay? Sheesh!)

Anywho, I'm pretty busy lately; it's kinda snuck up on me, just in general. Any listing of my activities would prolly be infinitely uninteresting... Not that that's ever stopped me before, but I just don't have the energy right now.

So I leave you with mental image of me: on a unicycle, juggling flaming monkeys and balancing a naked, bawling

jeremytblack.

(Who, by the way, despite his claims of saditude, is actually still has an awesome blog; check it out. ;D)

Tags: jer, lj is awesome, random, update

Moodswing flavor: unmotivated

Listening to: The One You Love, Rufus Wainwright

Love me

16 April 2008 @ 09:44 pm

419: Whoops!

So, I forgot that Room Draw was tonight, so if you tuned in at 7... I apologize. (Well, I always apologize, but just in case you were looking forward to it...XP)

Well, at least I got this caricature out of it to show y'all...

( and what with the pigtails coming out again today... )

Tags: random, room draw, roomate, the mann show, update

Moodswing flavor:

tired

Listening to: Apologize/Stop and Stare, One Republic

8 comments | Love me

16 April 2008 @ 04:38 pm

418: For anyone interested...

The Mann Show tonight at 7. I know, I always forget till the last minute...XP

Line to listen is here:
http://www.live365.com/stations/kpoet?site=pro

Playing some Aimee Mann, getting back to eponymous basics and such, and I'll be singing something, though it might be a Regina Spektor song, I'm not sure yet...

Tags: the mann show, update

Lair location: Deihl 117

Moodswing flavor: studious

Listening to: Until I Die, Brandi Carlile

Love me

14 April 2008 @ 10:31 pm

417: Bellah, Black, and Peggy...

Here's the link to my Newsom Award-winning poem, "While You Read".

Actually, looking at the comments, I remembered that this photo by

sweet_beanbag might have been inspired by it, but I'm not entirely sure (?):

( A picture and a few songs... )

Tags: award, music, photography, poetry, writing

Moodswing flavor:

contemplative

Listening to: see above

Love me

Advertisement

Advertisement