April 19, 2008

I am an Absentee Blogger

So, not actually dead.

Just, exams and things, y'know.

But, alas, there is much news on all fronts:

Knitting Knews:

It's amazing, it's absolutely unbelievable: I only have two squares left to knit for my Stupidly Large Afghan before I get to the fun fun fun of blocking all 64 squares. UGH.

I have half a sweater sleeve. Woo!

I designed and knitted a pair of mittens for my amiga's birthday using the leftovers from my failed attempt at a mohawk hat for my brother. They are red and black and have a fair-isle design of the Mighty Boosh monkey on them. Each mitt has half a face so that when you put them together they make the whole face! I forgot to take pics but hopefully I can do that, and then I will post them as well as the pattern.

I finished my Ravenclaw guitar strap but...I didn't really turn out. So I stole my brothers. Some habits never die.

Next: To find some Eskimo, for a second (third?) attempt at the mohawk hat.

Writing News:

I am in the process of putting together my application for Film School. Unfortunately, I won't actually get to go until August of '09. Another long year of slogging through academia.

Wrock News:

The Violent Puffskiens have an amp! Songs are in production.

I have a new side-project! The first song up I did entirely on music software, and it is kind of electro-pop-y, but I intend to do all sorts of genres. I am particularly proud of the song though. It's called 'Tickle the Pear.'

In Other News, I have discovered that I really like the new Britney Spears song 'Piece of Me.' I cannot explain it. Sometimes, that is just life.

April 8, 2008

Confession

Dear University,

I have something to confess to you. It is something that I have kept inside of me now for the better part of two years' time, and it is this:

I am not an anthropologist. I am not, in this life or any other, going to seek work in the field of anthropology. I do not plan to apply for a Masters degree, nor do I plan to continue any study in the field of Anthropology after my bachelor's.

Do not get me wrong, I am very deeply interested in Anthropology. Well, physical anyways, and archaeology. Cultural anthropology can very politely go assess it's post-modern holistic views somewhere very far away from me, for all I care. But I do love human evolution, the archaeological record, the evolution of civilization, and everything that the fair faculty has taught me.

But I know that I must now get these feelings out in the open, because it is important to be honest, especially if one is to call oneself an 'adult.'*

So if you've been wondering why I haven't been coming to class, and why my assignments have...lacked lustre, it's for this reason:

While I find the study of Anthropology very interesting, I don't want to do it for a living.

I want to be a writer. I want to write.

And I don't much care for citations.

Sincerely,
Alison.

*I am by no means actually attempting to call myself an adult.




Man, it feels good to get that off my chest.
Now I return to writing a take-home exam on the cultural aspects of technology.

April 1, 2008

My New Pal Teddy

Furthermore, sailors, I have decided to that now is the right time to discuss my new aquisition.

Cats and kittens, Alex and I are now one-half of a step further towards actually writing/recording anything for The Violent Puffskeins, because...

...

I bought my very first electric guitar!



His name is Teddy. Strat-style, three single coil pick-ups, lime and seafoam. Very classy. My mom made that quilt.

Unfortunately: Still lacking amplification. However, this should be remedied shortly. And once we are amped and ready to go, The Violent Puffskeins will be pumping out punk Wrock anthems for wizards and muggles alike!

Erm. That is, if anyone can teach me how to play Ramones-style punk guitar. Because yes, I am probably so inept that I will have great difficulty figuring it out myself. I am, after all, striving for adequacy.

So, there you have it folks. I am very nearly electric, and ready to Wrock.

(and yes, my new guitar is named Teddy, and yes, my acoustic guitar is named James, and yes, they may or may not be the names of next-gen characters. SO WHAT OKAY.)

The bird! The bird! The bird is on fire!

Hello again, blogbuddies.

My writing class CD-Swap was a riotous success! Seriously, there was rioting. And now that it's over I am going to post my cover art/track listings. (Bonus: GoonMix)

I know, I know, not as cool as Meg's, but I had a lot of fun making them.

The first one I made was designed to be far far too upbeat and positive. I may or may not have achieved this, but hopefully it went over well with the recipient.


Overly positive: Hence, Unicorn crapping a rainbow.
1.
Intro - ???
2. Headphone Song - Junior Senior
3. Autoclave - The Mountain Goats
4. I'm a cuckoo - Belle and Sebastian
5. Sunken-Eyed Girl - Mike Doughty
6. Hotel Song - Regina Spektor
7. Sleep On Needles - Sondre Lerche
8. Your Ex-Lover Is Dead - Stars
9. Intermission - Scissor Sisters
10. Photograph - Weezer
11. The Future Is Now - The Solids
12. I Can't Decide - Scissor Sisters
13. Slytherin Don't Dance - The Remus Lupins 14. Holland, 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel
15. Flaming - Pink Floyd
16. Debaser - Rogue Wave
17. Eddie's Ragga - Spoon
18. Wave of Mutilation - The Pixies
19. D.O.A. - Foo Fighters (??)
20. Supersonic - Bad Religion
21. Rockaway Beach - The Ramones
22. Your Honor - Regina Spektor
23. Hot in Here - Jenny Owen Youngs

And my second CD was a sampler of my favorite Wizard Rock, but of course.


1. Wizard Rock Twist - The Remus Lupins
2. My Dad is Rich - Draco and the Malfoys
3. Cornelius Fudge is an Ass - Harry and the Potters
4. It's Not Half Bad - The Parselmouths
5. The Ballad of Neville and Luna - The Remus Lupins
6. Save the Quibbler - Gred and Forge
7. Who is Blaise Zabini - The Parselmouths
8. (not gonna put on) The Monkey Suit - Harry and the Potters
9. Final Breath - The Remus Lupins
10. Flesh, Blood and Bone - Harry and the Potters
11. Potions Yesterday - Draco and the Malfoys
12. Quidditch is my Favorite Sport - The Parselmouths
13. Looking for Trouble - The Remus Lupins
14. Your Family is Poor - Draco and the Malfoys
15. Save Ginny Weasley (From Dean Thomas) - Harry and the Potters
16. The 7th Horcrux - The Remus Lupins
17. Love Song for Professor Lupin - The Parselmouths
18. Slytherin Don't Dance - The Remus Lupins
19. Hermione's Birds and Boys - Harry and the Potters
20. Your Flying Car - Draco and the Malfoys
21. Proud - The Remus Lupins
22. These Days are Dark - Harry and the Potters

Had I heard Dumbledore's "R U down w/OOTP" before I made this CD it TOTALLY would have been on there. It is amazing.


Last we have the mix I've made for the 5th SA Mix-CD Swap. This little baby is going to Tennessee, and I excitedly await my own. And yes, Scooty Puff Jr. is my SA username.

1. Autoclave - The Mountain Goats
2. Small Change - Dispatch
3. I'm a Cuckoo - Belle and Sebastian
4. That Time - Regina Spektor
5. Wizard Rock Twist - The Remus Lupins
6. Debaser - Rogue Wave
7. Holland, 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel
8. Monkey Gone to Heaven - The Pixies
9. Flaming - Pink Floyd
10. John the Revelator - Depeche Mode
11. The KKK Took My Baby Away - Ramones
12. Evangeline - Bad Religion
13. California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys
14. Bone Machine - The Pixies
15. Your Honor - Regina Spektor
16. Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens
17. Devil Town - Bright Eyes
18. Hot in Herre - Jenny Owen Youngs
19. Still Alive - GLaDOS

In other WizRock news, I totally fell for the April Fools Day prank and had to be calmed down. I am also patiently awaiting the first shipment of the EP of the Month Club, and my Gred and Forge CD. Hoo-Ray!


Now I must fiendishly devise my Family Dinner mix-cd.