Odds and Ends

This blog is going to be full of bits and pieces of things that I think I need to mention from the last few weeks. First thing is I just finished the book "Blink" By Malcolm Gladwell. Though I had so much free time througout this whole last month whilst not studying for exams, I still didn't manage to do as much pleasure reading as I had intended. I read "The Bookseller of Kabul" and now " Blink" and that is about it. Kinda sad really, but what ya gonna do?

"Blink" is not my typical sort of book, in it not carrying any sort of fictional qualities having a plot and characters and all. Gladwell writes this book based around the psychological concept that peoples first impulses in life are often the correct reactions or observations. He discusses through various examples from all walks of life and surveys and studies throughout time and the world why his theory is so important. The power of our unconscious thoughts controls all parts of our lives. Though we may conciously not rascist or judgemental, our unconscious often says otherwise and that can't be covered up. We should learn to trust it more and realize that our very state of mind changes how we percieve the world and nothing can be done to stop it. Pretty cool stuff, and he drew from all areas of human experience: art, relationships, pop music, trombonists, the advertising industry, food products such as the Pepsi Challenge and the Coke wars, and into the mind of a person with autism. Fascinating yet not dull and dry to read, but he writes with lots of color and in a very converstational manner. I'm getting smarter and enjoying it!!
Last week, I can't remember what day anymore as it all blurs together, I went to see the movie "The Fountain". I'm sure you all have seen it advertised and were not sure what to think. I absolutely loved this movie. It definetely is not for everyone, and for that I wouldn't run around convincing my friends to see it. You have to keep an open mind about this one, realize that understanding a solid plot and meaning throughout a movie doesn't always have to come first. If you give it a chance through the moderately slow and confusing first half, and can let them movie take hold of you, it is amazingly powerful and deeply moving movie. It explores some of the deepest topics to our very lives, and what death means for us in a very unconvential way. This was a beautiful movie with a great score performed by Mogwai and the Kronos Quartet. The director Aronofsky has created a movie of such deep beauty that sadly some won't be able to dig deep enough within themselves and open up completely to a movie of this sort to like it. ( I'm not making a cheap shot at you Kevin, it's just that you have no soul... Just kidding dude.) Again...It ain't for everyone!

The weather lately has been more than beautiful!! I'd say the last 5 days or so have been surprisingly warm and staggeringly sunny! Really puts me in higher spirits. Emily had said to Aaron and I on our walk back from the Lion Pub, that finally she felt when walking downtown, completely taken over with happiness to be here. I must agree. I've enjoyed last semester immensely but I haven't had to many moments where I walk along and have those happy feeling of gladness and sheer joy for where I am at. the sort of feeling you get when viewing a beautiful landscape from the top of a mountain or something. Just that joy to be alive. The weather has a lot to do with it, but I also feel as if this past week may have been the turning point from settling in, trying to make sense of our new world and finding our place in it. Now I accept England fully as my new home and can really make something of my "new" life.
For starters on that "new life" I just mentioned, i have been auditioning to get into a play here at the University of Nottingham. they are putting on 8 new plays this semester! All completely run by students, but by no means does that imply a drop in the quality of performance. The competition is steep as there is probably over 150 students vying for these roles. I auditioned for 4 different plays. I really am enjoying just getting back on stage behind a script. I love it so much and really think that is what I have been missing these last months. My chances are slim, but hopes are still high of getting a role somewhere. I made call-backs for two of them and finished my last one earlier this evening. Now everything is left to the directors and I wait til tommorrow when they text us if we got parts! Only the British would use their mobiles as a way of notification. I will be sitting anxiously awaiting some word, and probably recieve nothing. Such a strange way to do things!??

Just had to throw my little bro Kadin in here, for any of you who haven't seen him yet. He just created a Facebook Profile (I did, as did Kevin for his little brother Matthew) so please look him up, see some of the cutest pics of your life and befriend him. How could you not want to be friends with this adorable face?!
Gosh, it feels like I'm advertising for him. He is just too darn cute, and growing so much I'm told. He has quite the attitude of his own, so we'll have to see if he still has any respect for his older brother when I get home this summer. Probably just get tackled when he comes to hug me for the first time, he'll be so big!
Just a random pic from a long time ago. Reminiscing (spl) on old times. This was the weekend with the boys minus Ryan when the girls went to London for the weekend. We brought cigars and climbed through that little window there to smoke cigars in our newly acquired and oh so classy hats. I'm sure I blogged about it then, but it's worth reliving. Good men! I'll never forget you guys!!!