Lucid Waking

Archive for the ‘Nonfiction’ Category

Happy Birthday, Lucid Waking

It’s hard to imagine that I started writing my first post on LucidWaking.com 4 years ago. The very next post was a republished one from my first Lucid Waking blog that was hosted on blog.com. Since then, I have published 386 poetry and prose works. Some were long, others short, some took several days to write and many newer ones only ten minutes, but I have learned a lot along the way and continue to hone my craft.

Those of you who have been paying attention will notice that I did something different for LW’s birthday this year. Usually I have worked on a different template for my blog (for you luddites, this means its appearance, including pictures and colors) and unveiled it on June 17. This year, I felt uninspired. I had no other ideas for the layout than what had been done. So, I made a banner and plan on keeping the current template for another year. Next year will be year 5, so I should have something special for that occasion.

For now, let’s celebrate another fruitful year of writing and reading.

1949 and Chillin’(for lack of better titles)

Sketching practice.

Larger size/more information –> click on picture

Updates and Reassessments

I decided to practice drawing by doing a sketch every other day, which means:

1. There is a new page specifically for sketches since they won’t be finished enough to be put up in “Paintings and Drawings” page.
2. These will be given their own posts when I can get to it.

Also, I’ve been practicing my writing on the days I am not drawing. Unfortunately, sometimes the work I write is unfinished or not of sufficient quality (in my opinion) to be published. That’s why it has been quiet around here. I hope to have something up this week, but I might just succeed in getting the sketches posted.

Thank you for your patience. I wore out my muse in March by doing different stories every day and I’m trying my best. Hopefully the artwork will tide you over until I get a written post done.

Newsflash: Oh My…

Tired of sitting around and waiting for your prince charming to come and present himself from where he’s lurking in the shadows? Well, have no fear, another distraction is here! Ladies and gentlemen of darkness we present to you more Twilight merchandise because what you have simply isn’t enough! For your enjoyment, and your enjoyment only (because we really aren’t making money off of this) we present to you: Twilight the video game!

All right, all sarcasm aside, I’m amazed. Amazed at the notion that economists and video game developers think that they can get a 7-figure profit margin from making a video game based off of the Twilight saga. I’ve never read Twilight, so I probably shouldn’t talk, but I have read numerous reviews and  parodies as well as word of mouth reviews from people who’ve read it. I’m not going to be mean and say that, as a real writer, I can legitimately say it’s bull pucky, but knowing what I do about Twilight, I can say that there is way too much hype about a story that is illogical, unrealistic, and has sparked a new trope in the fictions "don’ts."

Why would people buy this stuff? I don’t understand some people’s obsessions. Though this could be true about anything. The biggest thing with something that gets popular, is how it is a model in how we live. I’m not saying that we should revere everything we read or everything that’s popular. I’m saying, if you’re not going to take it with a grain of salt, you might want to check out exactly what you’re getting. Specifically: relationship advice. I’m not so sure how we could take any good relationship advice from Twilight, but some people seem to think so. The author’s claims seem accurate, in a sense, but I have some problems with his arguments; mainly I dislike sweeping generalizations. The more I’m around the more I learn that an individual is and individual and to try and understand a person based on their gender will end up mostly wrong. Seems to me, this article is more accurate. There’s more wrong with their abusive, stalker relationship as well and even though I’m an egalitarian and not a feminist, I’m siding with their take on the issue.

My main point is this: since Twilight is so popular (enough at least to even consider making a video game out of it) then young people are getting the wrong message. It’s not a good work of fiction and it’s most definately not "a perfect relationship." Ugh.

Hopefully these children will grow up to be rational, intellegent adults. And that’s a genuine hope, not sarcasm. I really do hope the world is not as stupid as it seems to be. Or at least, we can be open minded enough to be smarter.

B’s Review (No. 3)

This week’s "How To Fix Your Blues" is dedicated to the reason why I won’t be staying home. This past week the words "final four" have been everywhere; people are talking about it, thinking about it, and generally obsessed with it. I don’t blame them; I’ve been getting caught up in it, too. Butler University is not only the smallest school in the Final Four, but also the only school to have the event in their home town. It’s easy to see how we can get overly excited.

I’m not going to the game, but I’m probably going to watch it. I’m nervous as a cat around water about it, but I’m going to be glued to the television anyway, like everyone else around campus. People have considered it blasphemy not to. So, if you’re bored tonight, I suggest you take a seat and watch the game with us. Don’t tell me if you’re rooting for the other team, just don’t send bad vibes our way. There’s sure to be a riot no matter what.

You can watch the game streaming live here once it starts at 6:07. Go Dawgs!

B’s Review (No. 2)

Most people I know probably won’t be staying at home tonight because my college basketball team is rocking the world! Everyone and their mother is watching the game, but provided your not, I have something to recommend.

It’s fairly short and very fast to get through, but this week’s edition of "How To Fix Your Blues" is dedicated to a YouTube web original called "Trenches." The premise is promising enough; the world of the future is locked in this brutal war over a rather desolate planet. When one side gets stranded from their rescue ship on the battle field, they are forced to pool their resources to survive. But their enemies are also on the planet and it becomes a competition as to whom will gain power, gain the upper hand and get off the planet. Mix in the fact that they only have a few hours to call a ship back, the main character is the only pilot who can fly the ship that comes to rescue them, and that there is something far worse than each other and you have a compelling war saga that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It might be just another testosterone-filled shooting sequence at the beginning but the story gets much better by the end.

I’m not sure whether or not whoever has filmed the series so far will continue, but I think the story leaves you on an interesting note even if they don’t. Questions will arise with no answers, but that’s the fun of it: imagining what is really going on and finding events much more complicated than they really are. I suggest you start with the first episode, but I will also say that there is a lot of violence (being war, that’s a given) and the beginning can be disorienting. But it’s worth it. Trust me.

B’s Review (No. 1)

Now that the Oscars are long over and Sandra Bullock won "Best Actress," it seems like The Blindside is old news. But for those of you who haven’t seen this movie, there’s something to be said about all the hullabaloo.

I just saw this film and I have to say: it was fantastic. Sandra Bullock did an amazing performance as did all the other actors and actresses in the cast. Even though it was a drama and there were some nail-biting parts, there were parts that got me to laugh. All of the characters were well developed, the dialogue was well-written, and–so what it if was predictable–the story was well-told. It’s the tale of a boy who was given a chance–two actually–by a few people who believed in him. Take away whatever you will about humanity and courage, but this movie gives everything to the viewers. Most importantly, it talks about family.

So if you’re bored on a Saturday night with nowhere to go and nothing to do, I recommend renting The Blindside because you won’t regret any minute of it.

Reorganizing a Bit

I just thought I would draw your attention to some changes I’m administering to make Lucid Waking more visitor-friendly. Expect some organization issues to be fixed and some content to be edited.

Or, just focus on the fiction and don’t worry about what’s happening on the sidebar.

Reflections on a Girl

        Exactly a year ago, I had been sitting in my high school’s student commons when heard the news that a good friend of mine had passed away. She was seventeen years old and died from an ordinary flu. I was numb, although I didn’t know it. We had to perform—by obligation and personal necessity—at a vocal jazz festival in a city several hours south of us the next morning. I pushed away my tears to be stronger for the group, though I felt that I was the only one making a concerted effort to put forth as much positive energy to the audience. It’s hard to make an audience want to get up and dance when you’re noticing that hole in your heart and your midst.
        At the funeral, I cried. I didn’t want to cry as much as I did, but everything came tumbling out from places in my soul I didn’t know existed. Afterwards, I felt numb again. I don’t think this was all acceptance, a part of me still tears up when I think about all her opportunities lost. Occasionally I’ll find myself thinking existentially about life and death and whether or not I am doing justice in how I remember her.
        Today, I needed a moment of reflection. I cut a long piece of blue ribbon and set out for the gardens on campus. I reached the carillon and started down the hill behind it; I picked a tree that felt like the right one, and tied the ribbon around it. Then I slowly walked back to campus, in a roundabout fashion. My path took me down the canal in the back of campus and then up a set of stairs to where the academic buildings sat stoically. I watched the reflection in the canal and the sun between the trees. Part of me wished she could have the opportunity to enjoy her own experience in college—probably that same part that wondered whether or not I was doing enough to preserve the sanctity of her memory. As I watched the geese fly noisily from their perch on the water, past the bridge and into the sky, I resolved that it didn’t matter what I did as long as I was satisfied. She no longer cared and even if she did, would never know my thoughts. For however long that ribbon stays tied to the tree, I’ll be happy. Thinking back, I shouldn’t have tied it in a knot before the bow, so that the birds could easily untie it and use it in their nests, but letting go is really what this whole day is about.
        I don’t think we—myself and her other friends—could possibly forget what a beautiful, unique person she was, but I only let her guide me to do my best and to live each of my days up to my full potential instead of dwelling on the tragedy of her death. We never know what the future brings, but we can make the best of the present while we can. Even though I know she’ll never read this I have to say: Rest in peace, Marie. We all miss you.

Author’s comments on post 352: Obviously, self-explanatory since it is biographical. Originally I was going to write an ode, but I only got so far before I had to give up. This came out much more freely. I wish she could have gotten her wish of being an opera singer, but I suppose my bass and I will just have to do that for her. I have something more hopeful and interesting planned for tomorrow, but today, I had to get this off my chest.

Best of the Blog 2009: Contest Winners

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to a new year, new decade, and end of another Best of the Blog contest. I’ve been doing this since 2005 and finally refined the system so it works fairly well. Thank you to everyone who voted, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Without further ado, the winners of the Best of the Blog 2009 are:

• Reach
• The House of Animalia
• Report on Artidae Totalus

See you next year and thanks for reading!