"Ready to Run"

I guess it has been too long since I have written an essay. I'm sitting here, needing to get this piece of crap done and finished and I'm drawing a huge blank. I cannot get past the first sentence. I type something. It's shit. I delete it. I type something else. No better than before. Delete, delete, delete. I don't know what the hell's the matter with me (and trust me, there is something wrong). I just can't get over this hump that has been hanging over my head for so long. It's been months, and I am getting no where. I need to get this essay done. Have to. Need to get going. Need to produce something good. No. Not something good. Just words. I need to produce words.

Anxiety.

"I Saw Her Again Last Night"

When you are making an attempt to get yourself back on a decent sleeping schedule (as I almost always seem to be) you wind up with a lot of excess time on your hands. Now, the smart side of me would use this time to finish the work that has been and which will continue to pile up over the next two weeks. In doing this, I would assure less stress on my life, a more cohesive body clock and well, probably happiness in general would fall upon me.

So, it should come as no surprise to anyone that instead of using my time for what is ultimately, happiness, I am instead using it to diddle around on the life-stealer that is the internet.

Today I have been awake since 3:30 am. In that time, I have actually done a couple of productive things. Most notably, I was able to get a mountain of dishes washed and put away. I also took in some delicious McDonald's breakfast for the first time since the beginning of the semester which was nice to be awake for. Other than that though, I have spent to good portion of my "awakeness" on youtube watching bad movies and checking out old movie trailers. I have watched a couple episodes of "Scrubs" and "Friends". I went downstairs and paid some of my rent. Basically, very little to write home about.

Something that I did come across today though was a little piece of nostalgia that I had to watch a couple of times over. It came in the form of Mickey Rooney, singing/raving about seeing a dragon in the Disney movie Pete's Dragon. It never really dawned on me how fond of this film I used to be as a child. I mean, when I think back now, I always recall my love for the fully animated Disney films that filled a lot of my time when I was in front of a TV. But, after watching this song (check it out below this post...because it is wonderful) I realized that I love this song. And quite few other songs from this movie. And the more I searched the more I came to the conclusion that I remember it quite thoroughly.

So I may be in the red as far as school work goes, but I am for damn sure in the black when it comes to my monthly nostalgia quota. So thank you Mickey Rooney and Helen Reddy. I adore you both in this clip.

"What's in it for me in your murky treasury??"

Not sure why I'm starting to see this every where I go, but I have been finding pretension in everyone I am around lately. Save for my family, arrogance in a condescending manner just seeths from the personalities of every person I come into contact with. Close friends, acquaintances, friends of friends, stories about friends of friends. Everybody. And it makes me sick. Not sick in a disgusted type of way, but sick in a disappointed one. It makes me irritated to know that this is all happening right in front of my face and they aren't realizing that it is happening.

And the worst part is that I find myself instituting the same illness. I will replay a conversation in my head, minutes after it was over, cursing myself for coming off as a know-it-all-holier-than-thou pretentious jackass, when it was never ever called for. And that infuriates me. To know that at some point in time I acted as though I knew my opinion was worth more than the person I was speaking to. I don't care if I, or anyone else, actually thinks that to themselves, that's fine. And hell, there are even moments in real life when expressing your "expertise" is called for. But honestly, an un-instigated outpouring of downright arrogance just doesn't sit right with me, especially when I come to the realization that I have commit exactly that act. 

I just don't know why I recognize it now more than ever in every person I meet. I don't know if I'm misinterpreting or there really is a pretension epidemic taking place, but I do know I want to be away from it for awhile. I just wish I knew how to accomplish that.

Playlists: Spring and Sprung

If there is one thing that I freely admit above all else, it's that I don't really know my music. I mean, I know what kind of music I like, but really, it's on a song to song basis, and rarely do I like an artist enough to listen to their entire discography. However, like I said, I know what I like, and I like it. So, I thought this would be a fun idea that might become a running thing (and would fill up time, which is the real benefit) by listing my "BEGINNING OF SPRING PLAYLIST", going through what songs have been placed into constant repeating over the past few weeks. No, I don't know as much about music as you do, but if you really do consider yourself a "music connoisseur", then maybe taking a gander at some of these tunes will help to broaden that pallet.

Let's begin.

"Toes" by THE ZACK BROWN BAND

It should indeed be mentioned that this song isn't specifically a "Springtime" song, because, as it turns out, it helped me get through the winter as well. And I'll put money down it will still deliver during the summer as well. But Zac Brown and is band have provided what is unquestionably the best country tune I have heard in the last year. Whenever it comes on my iPod I can't help but listen to it two times over, and attempt to refrain from singing along as to abolish any chance I have of embarrassing myself in a public place. A few times, I have definitely caught myself mouthing the words, and yet, I don't even care. It's awesome enough that I don't find myself minding the embarrassment.

After listening to the song, it might become apparent to you that it is all about going to Mexico and doing nothing but getting drunk and forgetting the hustle and bussell of the rat race back home. And then you will ask yourself, "why in the world do YOU like this Gray?? You don't get drunk or dream of that situation." Well, this is true. But it's more the imagery of it all. The ability to stop what I'm doing right then and there and go away to take it easy. Spend my time on a beach with a cold drink and beautiful girls. I don't actually want that but it sure as hell makes for a nice day dream, doesn't it. I actually start to feel more relaxed when this song begins to play. It's in the same vain as Jimmy Buffett for me. I don't want to be in Margaritaville, but I do long for something easier than this. And that's how Zack Brown helps.

So good.

"Broken" by TIFT MERRITT

There is something about Tift Merritt's vocals in this song that just makes me fall in love with her. I can't even really explain it, but all I know is that when I hear "Broken" I just want to hug something. It's soft and sweet, like the way a warm cookie tastes straight out of the oven. I don't have much more to say about this song, except that I adore it. And Tift Merritt. And I also love that name. Tift Merritt. Gorgeous.

"Brothers" by DEAN BRODY

You need a song to make you sad on your playlist too, don't you?? I think that's the rule, anyway. In that case, "Brothers" is that song. I actually came across this song by an accident. After I fell in love last summer with Dean Brody's "Dirst Road Scholar" I tried to access whatever else I could from his repertoire and this song is the only other one that really took. It's just one of those really touching country tunes that is meant for nothing else than to break your heart a little inside all the while making you feel a whole lot more complete. I know a few of you are thinking that "country song?? Supposed to be good?? HA!!" And it might not be your cup of tea. That's fine. But I find it hard to believe that you won't be at least a little bit moved by it, especially if you have a brother of your own.

I'm also just realizing now that all these songs so far have one word titles... time to change that.

"Sloop John B" by THE BEACH BOYS

This song actually came on the radio (I know, I almost forgot those existed) the other day, and it triggered my Beach Boys phase that I go through every once in a while. I didn't wanna put all of their songs on this list, so I've just opted to put the one that inspired me to start listening to them again.

"Sloop John B" works perfectly because to me, it feels as though this song should be played while someone pulls back a curtain on the winter weather, to reveal a bright and sunny re-birth of everything green and beautiful. That's what Spring is. And this song helps me anticipate all of that. It also helps me to want summer, so I have that going for me as well.

"This Must Be The Place" by MILES FISHER

I'm actually at nearing the end of my phase that included this song, but I figured it still comes on my iTunes enough, and I listen to it, that it still deserves a spot on this list. We'll call it a transition song, from the Winter to the Summer.

There might be a few of you who have either never heard of this song, or recognize it from a facebook post I included it on during last summer where it was featured for having an incredible video that is based around American Psycho. Miles Fisher is actually damn talented. He seems kind of douchy in real life, but I rather enjoy his music. And that's saying something, because it's very techno heavy, and that's not up my alley chico. I think the real appeal of the song to me comes from it's "walkability". Very few songs work as well as this one when walking anywhere, with my earphones in, stepping to the beat. Especially when you walk at quick pace as I tend to. Oh and for those of you wondering, "walkability" was not underlines with a red squiggly from spell check. Does that mean it's an actual word?? Really?? Weird.

"Gunpowder and Lead" by MIRANDA LAMBERT

My apologies for going so country heavy on this list, but I didn't realize until right now that that's actually where my music-heart has been as of late. I mean, is there really a better genre of music to spark the beginning of outdoors and sunshine and warm weather?? Oh, there is?? Well then... keep it to yourself!!

Miranda Lambert is one of the few female country stars I actually seem to like. I mean music wise. She doesn't have that "pop" that Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood has. It's replaced by the real Nashville twang, which, I adore. She has a number of good songs, and is very consistent with her music, but "Gunpowder and Lead" is just so intoxicating that I'm always so pumped right after I listen to it. This is kind of weird because the whole song is about a girl waiting to get revenge on the man who used to beat her. Hell, the actually lyrics are "I'm going to show him what little girls are made of, Gunpowder and Lead!!". Still though, despite not being a girl, my intensity levels shoot through the roof after hearing this song, and I love it. A little bit of me wants to go out and fight douche bags after it's over.

"I should have learned to rope and ride."

I am sick, a rare occurrence in my life. Some time yesterday, my head became full and my nose began to run. Progressively since then, I have become weakened. It has not turned on me at this point yet, so my own diagnosis is that it's a simple cold...for right now.

What I blame this whole thing on is one solid night of not being able to get to sleep. I laid in my bed, tossing and turning all night, unable to stop thinking about being called a "racist" the previous day. That's right. I was up until 4am being bugged by some anonymous internet hacks calling me "socially intolerant" for a graphic that I did in the newspaper. How I actually allowed this kind of thing to get under my skin I have zero idea, but it did, and I was up until 4am because of it.

Then, at 6:30 I was woken up to the sounds of angry banter from the neighbors next to my apartment. Something was going down, and the couple did not care who heard. The guy was pissed at something, and eventually threw something against the wall that we share. It was a full on scream fest. Such a shitty way to start your day. Oh, and something happened with the dog that they have too. I heard the dog begin to bark, then a smack, then the dog retaliating and then another thump, and no more dog.

So, I awoke to the thought that the people living next door to me had become so enraged with one another that their dog was killed in the process. I have no idea if that's what happened, and I do not intend to find out, but that is how my day started. 2 1/2 hours of sleep. Yelling. Dead dog. Class at 10 that I had to show up to ask a question in. All of this adds up to me, sitting here, right now, unable to stop sniffling and feeling as though my head is a hundred pounds.

In a valiant attempt to try and not to think about being sick though, I am opting to fill some time by being here on my blog, which I have somehow managed to neglect over the course of the last month. I know that no one really cares that I haven't been on, but, I still feel some ill-will towards myself for not being on here and pumping out some drivel. As you may have noticed from my last post, the last little bit has been filled with quite a bit of non-motivation.

What I wanted to write about though, I don't think fits in with the beginning of this blog, as I seemed to have turned it into an explanation as to why I've been absent/sick. Okay, I'll start a new one then. Stay tuned.

Oh, I would leave you with the graphic I was called racist for, except it isn't letting me post it for some reason. Says "internal error". I'll post it eventually, or, in the mean time, you can see it on my most recent note on facebook about "My End of the Year in Film".

I had absolutely no intention of it coming off that way. I was literally working with the colour scheme and nothing else. I hope I won't have to deal with this crap as graphics editor for the newspaper next year if I get the position.

P.S. I applied for graphics editor at the newspaper next year.

"I got a plan to get us out of here..."

"I am the master of my fate.

I am the captain of my soul."

I happened to watch Invictus the other night. It was good for what it was. The tale of greatness personified and how Nelson Mandela was able to bring a country together through the inspiration of sport. I enjoyed it. I didn't love it. But, if you were unaware, the title "Invictus" is taken from a poem by William Ernest Henley. In the film, it is used as a plot device to help connect the rugby captain (Matt Damon) with Mandela's (Morgan Freeman) time in prison, demonstrating the words that can help "set you free" and whatnot. Those two lines above are the poem's concluding two remarks. While watching the movie, I could not control the chill that went up and down my spine when Morgan Freeman's voice-over emits those final words. And I thought about how beautiful those two lines are, and how undeniably true they ring. I adored this little moment in the movie, and then the week that proceeded was just abysmal. And no, I don't mean that in the Joey Tribianni definition. I went from being moved and inspired by this poem, to not wanting to leave the comfort of my bed the entire week, in literally one night. It took a single sleep for me to admit the wall that I'd hit, and since then, I haven't been able to climb over it.

Last week was Reading Week, and as much as I enjoyed seeing everyone else who was home, and spending some nice quality time in front of the TV watching, and actually being interested in, the Olympics, I just came out of it feeling that I didn't accomplish anything. I started the break hoping and wishing for something to drag me out of the minimal funk that I was already in. And during the actual break, I felt fine, as though I was well on my way to come back to school and chew bubble gum and kick ass. I was relaxed and ready to make up for a below average (for me I mean, so you know how bad THAT had to have been) semester that I was having. Didn't happen. Instead I was tormented with thoughts of having a useless Reading Week. I didn't touch any of the books I had to read. I didn't go to the movies once. I made absolutely no effort to do anything but sleep late and eat junk. I came back to school feeling sluggish, overweight and useless. Not the best state of mind for trying to overcome a semester full of mediocrity.

I think the thing that triggered the start of the shitty week was the realization that I had left the charger for my phone at home. Don't ask me why, but I think subconsciously I felt disconnected from the world around me. How stupid does that sound?? Pretty damn stupid. And yet, I'm quite sure that that's exactly what happened when my phone slowly began to die. The feeling of knowing that I might be missing something. It is one thing to not have a phone at all, but it is something totally different to have one that isn't broken or messed up in any way, but isn't charged. It was a useless object for the whole week, and I genuinely think that's where my crap week started.

The next moment that helped with the downfall was on Monday evening. I had been getting a little bit anxious due to a presentation I had on Tuesday morning which I hadn't even started a little bit on. So I was prepping to do some nice "all-nighter" work with the rest of my group. Once I was basically raring to go ahead with my work, I become informed that this presentation which I had been fretting for more than two weeks, is actually NEXT Tuesday. Relieved?? Yes. Frustrated?? Outweighed the relief. Don't ask me why, but I became pissed more than anything. I can't even explain it really. I just was not happy that I had deceived myself. Cue the darkness.

It was a couple of days later, still in a foul mood, isolated indoors whenever possible, unable to sleep at regular hours (as per usual), when I realized that I had indeed come to some sort of metaphorical road block in my University life. My road had been winding this way for a while, and it was my admission of this fact that really made me see how far down in the hole I had dug myself (that is so many metaphors in one sentence, jeez. It's even affecting my writing). I found myself sitting and "stumbling" on the net, becoming so entranced by some of the sites that I decided not to "favourite", and I actually became a little sad when they I would click away from them, enamored with the thought that they were gone forever. As though I wouldn't see them ever again. It was a little messed up. The entire last semester for me was a major bust, and this new semester, with acts like this pitiful display, seemed to continue the trend. I was not and have not been helping myself. And that led to the really bad week I just came off of.

Luckily, I foresee a way out of this situation. I can see a way around the proverbial wall. I started to take steps tonight to try and get myself around it. A trip to the grocery store to restock my empty shelves with food that is actually GOOD for me, served as both a work-out (you try and carry $100 worth of groceries back home via the bus) and a refreshing interaction with the human public (the first real encounter in a week...I know. So bad). My time tonight has been taken up putting together a graphic for the Oscar feature we'll be doing for the newspaper this week. Despite the fact that this isn't really "school work", I'm hoping that it serves as a bridge between my ability to do something non-essential and my inability to produce good work when it counts. I'm crossing my fingers that one corrects the other.

There have been a few more things that I think are helping me to be put back on the right track. For one, I have begun to listen to my music again. For some reason (I honestly can't even figure why) I just have not been playing music in the background any more. Maybe it was due to my plowing through "The West Wing", or maybe I just needed time away from it, but since I've started again over the last day and a bit, I have been feeling better.

The Olympics is the other thing that I've been able to fall back on. I'm certain that the men's hockey loss to the U.S. on Sunday night didn't help things for me at all, and probably contributed to a lot of my angst and whatnot, but since then, I have been thoroughly enjoying our little winning streak we have been going on. Sure, I took a turn for the worse when Cheryl Bernard missed two chances to win the women's curling Gold last night, but the men's hockey team brought me right back. I don't think it will be good for me if we lose to the U.S. tomorrow, considering how much this game means now. If they win, they will push the Gold Medal count for Canada up to 14, the most ever for a single country. And the fact that we have the opportunity to halt a revenge plot for the U.S. who want to win Gold on OUR home ice against us, like we did to them in 2002. And now I have my own personal dependence on the outcome of the game. If they win it will be glorious. If they lose, it will be Disappointment City. Still though, we have done really well, and I would love the bragging rights to still be on our court. It helps as well that about 95% of our female athletes are quite babeliscious. Seriously, I'm proud of Canada for producing so many good looking people!!

Either way though, I will need to get past the thought of winning/losing that hockey game and/or use it to push myself forward. There is just so much that I need to get done and acting the way I have been so far this semester is helping none. I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul. And I will damn sure come out of this downward spiral alive and kicking.

Starting now.

Rant: The Day After...

(I posted this on Facebook, but I wanna remember it, so I'm putting it on here as well)

Even in all of my lividity after the game last night, I surprised myself by actually getting a rather decent sleep, skipping the expected notion of tossing and turning and just getting right down to the slumber that I desperately needed to get the bad taste of that game out of my mouth. But despite the solid 9 hours that I registered last night, I still awoke to the expected praising of the now interested-in-hockey American media and the unbelievable amount of Canadian Brodeur bashers that surfaced upon my daily ritual of surfing.

Now, as I said, I expected all of this, but it was still a little bit more than I can bare. Having serious work that needs to get done, I felt that this was a suitable way for me to get this whole situation off my mind just long enough so I can get more important matters completed. So, just be aware that this note is filled with a lot of complaining and not much more. It is just to help put my mind at ease, and to give me a little closure...well, at least until tomorrow night's game.

And we're off.

Last night's game was not reminiscent of "The Miracle on Ice". Do you hear that American media?? They weren't even close. The 1980 team was made up of a bunch of amateurs who no one believed would be able to MAKE it to the gold medal game, let alone handle themselves against the Soviets who a pretty damn stacked team. Also, in case you didn't catch that, it was a GOLD MEDAL GAME. This years USA team, were in the very least, expected to make it to the semi-finals. Yes, Canada was a favourite to go all the way, and hey, they still have a chance to, but last night's game was NOT a miracle. It was the work of some damn fine American goaltending, and a Canadian team who has not meshed as quickly as we anticipated. I don't wanna go off on this for too long, so just read this article for a better idea of what I'm getting at. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bd-gallof/us-hockey-win-was-no-mira_b_471325.html

So, putting aside the fact that I've now had to deal with the swarms of the American public who, before the win last night, never cared for hockey in their entire lives, I've had to deal with something much more frustrating, and that is the Canadians who are blaming everything last night on the decision to put Brodeur in net over Luongo.

I will say it now, and I will not say it again: STOP. YOU SOUND LIKE AN IDIOT.

Brodeur did not lose that game last night. He did not play his best, but he damn sure didn't lose it for us. The first goal went in off of Crosby's stick. Not much you can do there. The second goal should have been cleared out of the zone by Dan Boyle, but he coughed it up and allowed the scoring chance to happen in the first place. The fourth goal took an unfortunate bounce off of Langenbrunner's skate (which, by the way, Brodeur almost SAVED, despite it's flukiness) and the empty net goal was completely at the mercy of Corey Perry (but I'll get back to that in a second).

So really, Brodeur allowed one goal at the fault of his own. Two, if you want to argue that miscue of batting the puck up the middle after Boyle turned it over. That's two goals. A decent performance. And had the unfortunate circumstances not happened, this would have made the final score, 3-2 Canada. (I know, dealing in hypotheticals is not really valid, but I'm just using it to convey a point. I know it wouldn't have turned out that way, but bare with me).

And don't even try to tell me that you would have pulled him after one of these goals. Again, they were mostly all so unfortunate, that Babcock obviously realized he couldn't be completely blamed for them. And Brody was playing great hockey towards the end of the second period anyway, proving that the man can bounce back pretty quickly from mistakes.

I will reiterate again though, that I do not believe that he had the goaltending game of his life. Absolutely not. Hell, it was one of his weaker performances in recent memories. But he was not downright awful like a lot of people are claiming, and a lot of the onus should be placed on the shoulders of the rest of the team too, and not just Brodeur and "whoever decided to start him."

I hear it over and over again. "This is Sidney Crosby's team." Oh really?? Then how come it took him until the last 5 minutes of this game to actually show up and attempt to start giving a damn?? The right players on the US showed up last night (Rafalski, Drury, Miller), and that's why they won. Where the hell were our leaders?? Crosby has a goal in the entire tournament, one which he waited a damn long time to get last night, and yet he has 42 in the NHL. Yes, you're right, he did score the shoot-out winner against the Swiss, but it took a shoot-out miss before it made him mad enough to actually WANT to tally the game-winner. And what were the veteran defencemen doing last night?? Neidermayer and Boyle were giving pucks away like they were playing for the Americans. Chris Pronger was doing the same thing, all the while backing off from every play, seemingly refusing to use his massive 6' 6" frame to do nothing, except knock the opposing team into his own goalie from time to time.

And can anyone tell me how Patrice Bergeron, Mike Richards, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf have contributed to this team thus far in the tournament?? It seems that Bergeron can only win faceoffs and then skate off the ice. Richards, who was supposed to be the guy who "would get Crosby going" lost that spot rather quickly last night, and Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry continually seem to show that they couldn't care less that they were on this team. They have combined for just two goals in the tourny so far. If I could, I would take Perry's away from him though, after allowing Kesler to reach that puck and secure the win for the US. Like what the hell was he thinking?? HE HAD A STICK LENGTH ON THE GUY!! All he had to do was put his stick ON THE ICE and the puck was his. Nope. Instead he just tried to block the guy from the puck, and a lotta good that did.

These so called "star" players better start to earn their spot on this team, and they better do it quickly.

Anyway, all of that was just to put further emphasis on how last night's game was not Brodeur's fault. Yes, he was to blame to a degree, I will whole-heartedly agree with that, but in retrospect I still think that Babcock made the right decision in starting him. Seriously, think about it. Brodeur played a solid game against the Swiss. Yes, he let in a weak one, but the second goal was just bad luck in the deflection off of Marleau's skate. Not much you can do there. And the very last thing that we saw of Marty was his saving grace during the shoot-out. He had a solid game. Combine that with the fact that he won us a gold medal in 2002, was the ONLY good thing to come out of the 2006 games in Turin, and the fact that Luongo simply wasn't challenged enough in the game against Norway to get a clear sense of how he was playing, and you have your reasoning behind the Brodeur decision. I mean, it's not like either guy is outplaying the other this regular season anyway. So, yes. I would have started Brodeur too. It was the sensible choice.

That being said though, Luongo starts the Germany game. No question. I do love Marty, and he is one of my favourite players of all time, but you have to turn it over to Roberto, and see what he can do now. If we had won last night's game, maybe it would be different, and again, it's not that he played badly, but the fact is, he didn't give us his best, and now we need to see if Luongo can do that. It's a tough call, but that's what I would do.

So that's pretty much it. I hate it as much as anyone that we lost that game last night, and I am going to have to hold my tongue when taunted by the millions of brand new hockey fans who want to gloat that they are now superior to Canada as far as hockey goes, but the bottom line is, not enough people showed up last night. Nash and Doughty had spectacular games. Weber continues to prove himself in this line up. Iginla, despite the shockingly short ice-time he is putting up, is a force (I am still not 100% sure why he has been basically demoted on the team), and the San Jose line is the only one who seems to be able to move the puck. But we need every player to step up to the plate (because they are playing baseball, right guys!?!?).

It's games like last night that make people yearn for the Mike Green's, Shane Doan's, Dion Phaneuf's and Steven Stamkos' who didn't make the roster.

Things That I Love Today: Tom Hanks on Jonathan Ross

This is a little more than awesome.

"She'll have fun, fun, fun 'til her Daddy takes the T-Bird away."

Despite my own reluctance to post something on here, I figured that I should if for no other reason than to just get myself into a "work" mode again.

I'm not even sure what I wanna write about. I don't wanna be negative, so I talking about my lack of productivity over the past week won't work. It wasn't even a "lack of productivity" actually. I think that implies that there has to be some sort of work going on, but alas, there really was nothing. Well, I guess there was SOME, but it has honestly felt very unappreciated. By me, I mean. Jeez, I am less than a paragraph in and I'm already rambling. Normally it takes me a couple paragraphs to get that going.

I am officially done "The West Wing". The Complete Series, a full 7 seasons, is finished. Actually, that is partially a lie. There in an episode that begins the third season which I chose to skip. You see, the third season began right after the 9/11 attacks, so they decided to film an episode pertaining to that, in order to help bring the country together, but they had to run it at the beginning of the season (which would have been really close after the attacks) so it had nothing to do with the series storyline, and was just an extra episode. Either way, I was WAY too in to the happenings of the White House at this time, so I opted to go back and watch that episode once I had finished everything else. So, I still have that to do.

Anyway, my response to finishing the series... well, let me put it this way. I finished the series really, really late last night, and then when I woke up today, I felt relatively sad that I didn't have any new episodes to watch. I just finished this TV Show, and I want there to be more. I wanna watch it all with fresh eyes again. It was amazing. Incredible. Coming from a guy who really couldn't have cared less about American Politics going into the show, I think that it's pretty remarkable that a show can do that. It doesn't require an interesting subject matter to make it interesting. It was one of the most brilliant shows I have experienced.

I did have a couple of complaints though, which, I think is inevitable with anything that you watch. The first thing that I would have to admit about "The West Wing" is that the "Sorkin" seasons are definitely superior to the 3 that he wasn't involved with (he left after Season 4 due to a number of reasons). That is not to say that the remaining 3 seasons are bad. In fact, they are still better than almost anything that I've ever watched. But I there was something noticeably lost in those years, and Sorkin's presence was missed.

Another complaint that I had was that some of the casting just didn't work. I have decided that there are certain people who are perfect for Aaron Sorkin dialogue, and there are certain people who can't pull it off. Originally, I felt that Josh Malina (who replaced Rob Lowe when he left) was one of those people, and I actually quite hated him, but he grew on me and I saw that he was a nice addition to the cast. However, Jimmy Smits and Teri Polo, who joined the show at the end of Season 5, they just didn't have that "something" that was needed to mesh with a show like this. They just never really fell into that "cherished" category that the original cast fit into immediately. And if you've ever seen the show, you know that it's not like their characters are just a couple of people we can ignore. No, they weren't hated by any means either, don't get me wrong. The couple were charming and prominent. But they were both so overshadowed by the actors who REALLY made the material work, and I couldn't help but want Jimmy Smits' character to just leave in favour of Alan Alda's (who was a great addition to the cast... but then again, when is he not??).

But other than small observations like this, that probably only I noticed, I adored the show. It was fantastic. Funny. Intelligent. Phenomenally acted, written and put together. Season 4 is my favourite season I think. It holds my favourite episode of the show, which happens to be the season premiere, and ends with an episode that literally had me yelling at the TV screen, cursing myself with everything that I had because I didn't have the Season 5 DVDs with me to keep on going with the watching. It's an amazing season, and pretty much the pivotal demonstration of what the whole show is about and what it represents.

Man. I just really wanna watch another episode. It is such an inspiring piece of writing and acting and directing and basically everything, that I just want more and more of it. It actually makes me angrier that "Studio 60" didn't make it to a second season. What could have prevailed was most certainly genius, and yet we're stuck here never being able to know. I know it doesn't sound too appealing, but you have, have, HAVE to take my word for it, that it does not let down. Now how exactly to I suffice this "West Wing" fix I have now...

(If you answered "chicken wings", then you are probably closest to the correct answer.)

"I just want to wish you well."

Elevators always smell better in the morning. In the evenings, they endured a host of dirty and disgusting boots and shoes, treading through God only knows, and people have been in and out of these things, coming and going, sweating and smelling and leaving their end of the day body odour like it's their duty to make sure that every person who rides these things know that they have had to make it through a day full of working out and tussling with customers at the office, booking it from meeting to meeting, and spending the last hour and half in traffic, awaiting to come home.

In the mornings, the elevators have had the night to cool off. They have been put under limited stress, helping only the stray drunkard at 4am find their way back up to their abode. Then, after all the hustle and bustle of the previous nights work, they start fresh, and immune of any stink that they had been put through before. Its patrons all enter it for the first time in the day, showered, perfumed, with a vague scent of a spring meadow and the odd scrambled egg with bacon. They start smelling like a morning should.

By the end of the day, they just aren't as pleasant to ride in. I enjoy the smell of faint perfume as I go to class in the morning. It's a tiny reassurance that the morning has the potential to be a good one.