Interesting thoughts go through my head sometimes. I guess it comes from having a lot of time to myself to think. However, two longer monologues, edited for clarity, are as follows.
“Being in the background can be one of the most rewarding positions in existence, but it requires you to create your own gratification. No one is going to reward you, give you a raise and a fancy title for being the person to quietly go and work on something or help someone out without a big show. If you require public displays of appreciation, you may want to find something else to do. But for those of us who live in the shadows of public presentations, knowing that you were an integral part and that other people are deriving enjoyment from your labor, despite no one paying attention to the fact you even existed, that’s our gratification. That’s what makes our jobs, be it chef, programmer, printer, etc., rewarding. We’re impacting people, without them even realizing it.”
“Common wisdom has it that a picture’s worth a thousand words. So, by extension, a bunch of pictures at 30 frames a second, in other words, moving pictures, are worth even more. While in many cases, that’s true, you as the filmmaker are in some ways imposing your perspective on others. So, while a movie is a large cluster of your thousand words, a picture, presented without commentary, is a million different thousand words, because every person brings their own experiences, their own background, their own ideas to create their individual interpretations of the picture.”
Tonight was my school’s award ceremony. I got a perfect attendance award. Personally, it’s garbage, in league with the awards you get in elementary school soccer. “Thanks for coming! Here’s an award.” Not to diminish one of my friends, as 8 years straight is a feat. But, coming in everyday for 4 years doesn’t take any effort. The academic awards take effort, an outpouring of time and energy. Mine, not so much.
There’s something you don’t see everyday, especially in my inbox.
Doctor Elizabeth Darling:
Rex, are you doing OK after that EMP surge?
Rex Power Colt:
Good as new, doc. There's no challenge I can't beat.
Doc:
I don't know, Rex. I'm pretty unstoppable in The Bishop of Battle.
Rex:
Doc, you play video games?
Doc:
Yes, Rex, video games are a proven coping mechanism, like any hobby. They've been shown to improve hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, social interaction and self-confidence. And no studies have managed to prove a correlation between video games and violence. Frankly, anyone who thinks games are bad for you is a *.*.*.*.ing idiot.
Rex:
Hey, whoa, whoa, Doc.
Doc:
No, Rex, *.*.*.*. stands for 'failing to understand our capacity for kindness.' It's an acronym. Though I suppose this isn't a game anymore. Is it?
In economics, fluidity is used to describe the usability of assets. In chemistry, fluidity is used typically in conjunction with viscosity, to describe how liquids are subject to motion. I’ve learned this past week how well life fits into that second description. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotion. My heart had been set on RPI (and RPI I will be attending eventually), after the heartbreak of Marist’s aid. However, my safest bet ends up being a school I had been planning on attending since I was a wee lad, Siena College, about 15 minutes from my house. On foot. And while I won’t be able to continue my musical endeavors to the level that I could at Marist or even RPI, it’s probably better that way, as computer science and music, while both things that I love, would not mesh well for employers.
But change is part of life. And while it might not be the dream college of 18 year old JD, it’s one where I’ll get a decent education. And that’s all that matters.
Anywho. I had planned a song for my school’s male a-capella group’s seniors to sing. However, it took me FOREVER to find the music, and therefore I chose to instead do only the first and last verse. However, the rest of my seniors had… other plans. They chose to instead do rounds, and just drag me along with them. Not only am I the only senior planning on even having a minor in music, the person in charge isn’t the greatest at leading. Not that I am either, seeing as I got mutinied. But, life isn’t fair. So, instead, I’m getting the gift and card and reluctantly following along.
