Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts

1.) I went to Provincetown for Mother's Day and had so much fun; we had brunch at The Red Inn and then hung out on the beach for awhile. I got some great pictures and video that I'll work on editing when I have the time.

2.) Speaking of video editing, I got the 30 day trial of Final Cut Pro. I swear to God man, this program. It's wondrous. It brings tears to my eyes. I mean I have no idea how to use it, but still. The only problem is that it costs $300, so I'm savoring my time with it right now.

3.) I watched the pilot for the new TV series Fargo and I actually really love it? I feel a little bad watching it because I haven't seen the movie, so I'll get on that stat. But like, I usually hate Martin Freeman yet here he's perfect, and Billy Bob Thornton's character is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters of all time. Moral ambiguity and philosophizing and sass and nice coats oh my oh my. Good artistic direction too. We'll see where this goes.

4.) Speaking of TV shows, should I watch Firefly? It seems to be one of those shows that has a cult following and it has Casey from Chuck soooooo. If you've watched it comment below!

5.) I actually finished my homework tonight. *Pause for gasps* So I set up a sister Tumblr for this blog called Salt Skin Vagabond. It's nice having my photos large format and I like how much easier it is to get content out there on Tumblr. Follow me if you wish ;)

6.) Now to books: I recently read Junichiro Tanizaki's short essay on Japanese aesthetic and beauty and the effects Westernization has had titled In Praise of Shadows, and it was amazing and really eye-opening about a lot of things. His writing style is very stream of consciousness; it's not a typically structured essay, but he writes elegantly and concisely. It's only forty pages so I would recommend picking it up and taking a quick read: it's worth it. I'll probably write a little thoughts/review piece later this week.

7.) It just so happens that I had another Tanizaki book on my bookshelf (I'm the youngest in the family so literature tends to get mysteriously handed down) titled Seven Japanese Tales. I'm not quite finished yet, but it's a collection of seven short stories of varying lengths that Tanizaki wrote throughout his career. They're a little bit...disorienting, a little bit obscene, and a little bit beautiful all at once. I'll write a review when I'm done but reading Japanese literature has really started to get me thinking about the differences between Eastern and Western writing, and more broadly culture and philosophy. It's definitely something I would take a class in at some point, and maybe even pursue on my own- I've always been interested in the topic.

8.) I've become a bit obsessed with reading Wikipedia bios of famous directors, and I've noticed a common thread: they all seem to live before they start getting into film. And what I mean by that is that they haven't necessarily been making films since a young age: most I've seen didn't even go to film school until an older age, if at all. As a group, they have the most interesting adventures and life stories of any other people I've heard about, and I find this extremely encouraging. I feel like there's this constant pressure to be the best and youngest, but in film it seems people don't rush it. They live a little first. I guess it's hard to make films from a very young age, like some people are ballerinas or singers, so it gives you time. It got me thinking about how I want to live and learn from my experiences, and develop, what kind of adventures I want to have. I think I'll probably take a gap year, and hopefully spend it abroad (I'm thinking England). I need to do more research, and I still have two years, so I'll check back with that.

9.) My new makeup obsession is copper eyeliner on the lower lash line, if anyone cares. It's subtle but makes you look a lot more awake (especially when you were up until one writing an essay) and if you have green eyes it really brings out the color.

10.) meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow 

Christine at Bookishly Boisterous hosts this meme, so go check her out and write your own 10 thoughts, then link up with her!

Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts

10 Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts is a weekly meme run by Christine @ Bookishly Boisterous! Go check her out and write your own list, then link up!

1.) I just had to steal the above picture from Tumblr because it provides me with endless amounts of amusement for some reason and it's also basically my attitude right now.

2.)SPAIN IN T- 4 DAYS!!! I'm incredibly excited, and yet at the same time it all feels so surreal. I mean I signed up for this trip last year and it's here already, which makes me stop and realize how fast time really does fly by: I'm almost at the end of my sophomore year of high school. I just want to pause for a second! Back to Spain though, I've never been out of the country before, so I have ideas of what it will all be like but I really have no way of knowing. It's incredibly myopic, but I really just see the whole world as a variation on America, which just shows how much I need to travel. This will kick off a string of adventures: In June I'm going to Iceland and in July I'm going to France! I bought a new camera for Spain so I'll be taking lots of pictures and making little vlogs and short videos, which is a hobby I'm fast becoming addicted to. Heads up, I won't be posting when I'm in Spain, which will be the 18-27, I apologize, but I'll have lots of goodies to put up when I get back!

3.) Postmodern Jukebox on Youtube is killin' it. Almost all of their covers are ten times better than the original versions. I wish I could go see their tour that they're doing in Europe this summer- I would start crying joyful tears in the middle of the performance. So if you're in Europe this June, go see them for me ok? ok. *Sorry for the accidental TFIOS reference...*

I want to be able to play the sax like that....

Bringing back memories of my times in Fiddler on the Roof pit orchestra.

4.) Speaking of Youtube *drum rolllllllllll* I started up my Youtube channel again! I'm making pretty dumb little short videos right now, not really about anything, but I'm focusing on wrangling my Movie Maker program and etc. video tools. That's where my Spain videos will be in a couple weeks time, though, so you should subscribe!

My Channel

5.)I swear I'll start talking about bookish things in a second, but did you know Sir Anthony Hopkins wrote a waltz fifty years ago? It's uber gorgeous and he'd never had it played because he was too afraid to hear it, but they finally played it for him and it's wonderful.

6.) OKAY NOW FOR BOOKS

Nope sorry wait.

Okay so I just need to share this because I had one of those magical moments that make you believe in fate the other day. So #1- I love Wes Anderson films. And one of the things I love most about Wes Anderson films is Jason Schwartzman. In fact, he's one of my favorite actors. He's like some dopey puppy and he has to take two steps for every one anyone else takes. #2- I love Coconut Records, and I've been listening to them for quite awhile now. And what I found out is that JASON SCHWARTZMAN IS COCONUT RECORDS. After which I provided to roll into a ball and squeal like a piglet for a few hours. I'm still recovering. 

7.) I got this great sketchbook for Christmas that has like 300 pages and is a japanese print on the front, and recently I've decided to convert it into a sort of mixed-media diary: I write down my thoughts, dreams, writing ideas, I make collages of poems I like, and yes, I still draw. It's nice having a place to deposit everything your brain comes up with free of judgement.

8.) I'm reading Candide by Voltaire in the original French and I'm loving it so far. Granted, it's slow going because, well, I've only had four years of French, but as long as I stay focused it's very enjoyable to read and I understand a lot more than I thought I would. And Voltaire Is So Sassy. I mean, probably half of all the sarcasm and witty commentary goes over my head and yet I find myself cracking up in the middle of study hall with my Pocket LaRousse on my lap. I'd like to read an English translation after I finish this, just so I can appreciate the text more and see what I missed, but this is turning out to be a great learning experience.

9.) I just started Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, more because I feel the obligation to read at least one work of Dickens than anything else, but it seems interesting so far. I'm not so crazy about his writing style, but the way he describes people is very powerful.

10.) Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's was last week, and seeing as Ben and Jerry's is about seven doors down from my school it was the event of the season. I think I went four times (our teachers take us in our classes, we go at lunch, and after school too. It's kind of a big deal.) However, I found myself very mildly outraged by the fact that the mint chocolate chunk I ordered was in fact, get this, not radioactive green. It was white. I sort of scowled at it until it knew I disapproved and then continued on to eat it because it was still delicious (and free) ice cream. But it left a feeling of wrongness in my heart, a wrongness that can only be righted by a good helping of neon mint ice cream. I will let you know my progress on acquiring some.

**11** This is more of a question, but I'd like to know your opinions on the matter. I was thinking of starting my own weekly meme, something like Inspired Fridays, where you post an original creation: a short film, a photo, a piece of art, or a piece of writing, something like that. I feel like it would be encouraging for creating more frequently, plus I'd love to see what original work the blogs I follow create. Would you be interested in participating/do you think this is a good idea? Comment below!