February 02, 2006

5 Weird Things

February 02, 2006/ Andrew Liptak

Five Weird Habits
I stole this from Walter Jon Willams, In which I reveal five allegedly weird habits that I possess, and then tag five other folks with the same meme.

1. Like WJW, I've never actually sat down and watched the Super Bowl. Not once, never, ever. It's just never interested me. WJW mentioned that: For a few years, on Super Bowl Sunday, Kathy and I made a point of attending the ballet as a form of cultural protest against this annual rite of drunkenness and spouse abuse. It was easy to get to the auditorium because the roads were empty, and the theater was always filled with mothers and their daughters, all of whom seemed very happy to be there.

2. I like the cold. Here in London, it's hovering around 0 C. That = 32 degrees F, and it can get 60 degrees colder back at home, and I don't mind that. I'm actually missing the snow a bit.

3. I go out of my way to look up very odd things, which comes with being a History major and Geology major. Currently on the desk in front of me is a print out of the following subjects: William Smith, Charles Lyell, Arthur Holmes, James Hutton and Quantum Mechanics. The men are all geologists who really started the field in it's modern sense.

4. I don't watch TV, despite being a huge fan of a number of TV shows. Where I live, I don't get TV, so I'll get a show on DVD and watch the entire season within a week or two. I'll probably watch an episode premire once a week, if that.

5. I love and hate heights. With ropes or something of that nature, I'll do anything. On ladders, especially unstable ones, I get nervous.

Tag: Nathan, Andrea, Rachel, Jim, and Zach.

December 11, 2005

End of the Year reflections

December 11, 2005/ Andrew Liptak

End-of-year meme from Mastadge
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Worked as a Village director. Kissed someone for the first time. Visited Utah and Nevada.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
One of them, another no. And maybe.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I know of, although my Aunt had a baby towards the end of last year.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, although I know someone who was in a bad car accident.
5. What countries did you visit?
None this year, although next year, January - London, England, and hopefully a whole lot of other ones.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Hm, a couple things.
7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
End of June, saving several campers from getting crushed by a runaway wagon. Couple of random things from camp. Getting stuck in Burlington Airport after finding that our tickets weren't there, and then driving down to New York City that night. Seeing my brother play in Carnagie Hall in New York City - Twice. Waiting in line for Star Wars in Armor. Meeting Matthew Stover, Timothy Zahn, Karen Traviss, Troy Dennings and a ton of other people at Celebration 3. Seeing Carbon Leaf in concert.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not messing up too much as a Village Director.
9. What was your biggest failure?
A couple select moments over the summer as Village Director.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Twisted my knee pretty badly this fall, but nothing more than that.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPod. Best investment that I've ever made.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Hm.. Quite a few people over the year.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Several people over the summer - complete failures as counselors at times.
14. Where did most of your money go?
That is the question isn't it? Books, movies, comics, food. Too much on things that I probably shouldn't have.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Serenity coming out. Hanging out with a couple certain people.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
A couple- Life Less Ordinary, by Carbon Leaf. Burning in the Sun, Blue Merle. Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight, Amos Lee and Best of You, The Foo Fighters.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? A mix of both. It's been a rough semester at times, but I'm looking forwards London.
b) thinner or fatter? Probably a little heavier. I haven't gotten out to exercise (Rock Climb) in a long time.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish that I was more realistic. Maybe a little less worrisome and paranoid.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Too much.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With family.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Probably Rachel or Eric.
22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Yes.
23. How many one-night stands?
None
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Battlestar Galactica. Stargate and Arrested Developement as well.
New program?
Also Battlestar Galactica.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No one that I can think of.
26. What was the best book you read?
Hm, there's been several. When Egypt Ruled the East, by George Steindorff and Keith Seele, a definitive history of Ancient Egypt. The World Before by Karen Traviss. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis, Travels with Charley, by John Steinbeck, Americana by Hampton Sides, America: A Narrative History, most likely a couple others.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oh boy. Quite a few new artists and CDs. CARBON LEAF, John Butler Trio, Blue Merle, Mike Doughty, Amos Lee, Great Big Sea, Nickel Creek, Zero 7, Foo Fighters. Carbon Leaf was the greatest though.
28. What did you want and get?
My jobs at Abnaki and KAS.
29. What did you want and not get?
A girlfriend.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
SERENITY!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 20, didn't do anything.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
NOT having a string of bad luck with women.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
My coat, cargo pants, boots, a couple of button down shirts.
34. What kept you sane?
Hm. My friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jewel Straite, Kate from LOST.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Probably the recent news on regarding the secret prisons in Europe used by the US. FEMA's response to Katrina. Various other things that the Bush Administration has done.
37. Who did you miss?
Rachel, Sarah, Sam.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Hm. Probably Naomi at Climbing the other day.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Probably to relax.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me
Live a life less sedentary
Live a life evolutionary with me
Well I hate to be a bother,
But it's you and there's no other, I do believe
You can call me naive but...
I know me very well (at least as far as I can tell)
And I know what I need
The night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me, took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me, shook the bones of me
By the way, I do know why you stayed away...
I will keep tongue-tied next time

Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me
My face had said too much
Before our hands could even touch
To greet a 'hello'
(So much for going slow...)
A little later on that year
I told you that I loved you dear
What do you know?
This you weren't prepared to hear
I'm a saddened man, I'm a broken boy
I'm a toddler with a complex toy
I've fallen apart, since the ambush of your heart

The night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me, took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me, shook the bones of me.
By the way, I do know why you stayed away
I will keep tongue-tied but...

Honey understand, honey understand
I won't make demands
Honey understand, honey understand
We could walk without a plan.
Honey understand (honey), honey understand
I won't rest in stone all alone
Honey understand, honey understand
I'm all ready to go
But you already know...

Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me.
If I could name you in this song
Would it make you smile and sing along?
This is the goal: to get into your soul
If I could make you dance for joy
Could that be the second-chance decoy?
The bird-in-hand I would need
To help you understand?

The night you came into my life
well it took the bones of me, took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me, shook the bones of me
By the way, I do know why you stayed away
I will keep tongue-tied next time

November 30, 2005

Liar!

November 30, 2005/ Andrew Liptak

From Mastadge:

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don't speak often) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me. It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.

November 14, 2005

Music Meme

November 14, 2005/ Andrew Liptak

Whip out your music program, click the random button, and pick out 10 songs. Alter the name by turning it into a convoluted, wordy synonym. For example: Silent Night = Nocturnal Time Completely Lacking Noise

1- Movement from a shoreline in a large body of water.
2- A query as to the nature of live on a nearby planetary body.
3- A single luminecent bulb on the front of an automobile.
4- Multiple persons moving to music by the light of earth's only natural satellite.
5- A causeway with multiple turns.
6- A story from a beacon placed at the edge of a Lacustrine body as a warning to mariners.
7- Minute, wooden infantry men designed for a child's imaginary battles.
8- Ocean body that no one has the slightest interest in.
9- A complete halt of movement in a bipolar molecule.
10- Lack of orientation, coordinates and direction in a black vacuum.

November 04, 2005 November 04, 2005/ Andrew Liptak

I took this from Sarah- Take your music list - put random on and write down the first line of the next 20 songs.. then leave it up to the people who read your LJ (if they can be bothered) to guess them. If not - just have 20 songs stuck in your head at once and implode. 1- Every day, every day with you, every letter, every way you do. 2- I ain’t no wide eyed rebel, Oh, but I ain’t no preacher’s son 3- The wind blew and her hair stood still 4- An address to the golden door, I was strumming on a stone again 5- Last night I dreamed, while I was walking that I died looking up... 6- Don't call me hippy cause the way that I look 7- Where can a sick man go, when he can't choke down the medicine, the old Doc knows... 8- Up and Down, puppy's hair, fleas and ticks jump everywhere... 9- I am driving, 85 and the kind of morning that lasts all afternoon... 10- Load up on guns, Bring your friends, It’s fun to lose, 11- It's 9 oclock on a saturday, the regular crowd shuffles in... 12- That Cuban Girl, that brought me low... 13- Live a life less ordinary, life a life extrordinary with me. 14- I am thinking it's a sign, 15- There was a decorated General with a heart of gold... 16- Fine, I understand, Okay with me, if that's the plan... 17- So long ago, I don't remember when 18- The evening was long, my guesses were true... 19- Waiting for the break of day 20- Lights go out in a carry safe, tides that I tried to swim against.

August 28, 2005

Car Maintainence

August 28, 2005/ Andrew Liptak

So when I was out driving my car the other day, the brakes starting making funny noises. Finished what I was doing, then my dad took the tire off and we found that the brake pads had worn down to nothing, leaving me with a loud grinding noise. So while we were fixing that, we found that a couple of other random things were wrong. The rotors had to be taken off, and we ended up bending a socket wrench trying to get one bolt off. So my car's out of commission for a little while. Joy.

Classes start tomorrow, and I'm still only signed up for two out of the six or so that I need. Grr... Most of my friends are in though, hung out with them for a little while tonight. It was good to reconnect.

Oh yeah, Gateworld just opened up a new Serenity site!: http://www.gateworld.net/firefly/index.shtml

And, because I'm bored:

The Meme - WITHOUT LOOKING PAST THIS FIRST LIST, choose 12 characters from fandoms you know and love. (Taken from James)

1- Mal Reynolds (Firefly)
2- Lee Apollo Adama (Battlestar Galactica)
3- Hellboy (Hellboy Comics)
4- Spiderman (Spiderman Comics)
5- Han Solo (Star Wars)
6- Kaylee (Firefly)
7- Jayne (Firefly)
8- Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings)
9- Lyra (His Dark Materials)
10- Robert E. Lee (Coyote)
11- Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
12- Kara Starbuck Thraice (Battlestar Galactica)

May 03, 2005

Music & Celebration 3 Pictures

May 03, 2005/ Andrew Liptak

Something that I picked up from a friend's weblog: 01) Total volume of music files on my computer? Currently: 1539 Songs, 4.4 Days at 5.73 gigs. And growing. At a quick pace. Currently, I have 372 songs that I have not yet listened to, although in some, if not most cases, I listened to most of it then passed over to the next one just before it ended. In any case, that's 24% of all the music that I have that I really haven't listened to. 1.1 days. Yikes. More statistics:

Albums: 197Artists: 219 Genres: [Genre, (Song Count)] 33: Acoustic (1), Alternative (50), Alternative & Punk (47), Bluegrass (1), Blues (2), Classic Rock (13), Classical (2), Country (11), Electronic (2), Electronica (2), Film Soundtrack (3), Folk (21), General Rock (1), Hard Rock (27), Humor (26), Jazz (75), Jazz/R&B (20), Light Rock (41), Metal (10), New Age (31), Other (6), Podcast (5), Pop (50), Rock (548), Rock/Pop (11), Salsa (1), Soundtrack (495), Spoken Word (2), Techno (2), Unclassifiable (2), Vocal (1) and World (1). Now, I don't know why some of these are here, like Electronic, Electronica and Techno, aren't they the same thing? Ditto for soundtracks. A couple others, I think that I'd reclassify, because iTunes tells me what everything is, including the genre.

02) The last CD I bought was...The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy soundtrack. Really enjoyed the music set to this, having fun listening to it, listened to that a couple times. I think that my favorites thus far are So Long and Thanks for all the Fish, and Journey of the Sorcerer, which is a weird title.

03a) The last song I listened to before writing this was... Life Less Ordinary, by Carbon Leaf. Outstanding band from Virginia, have some great CDs.

03b) Song playing right now is... Stay (Wasting Time), Dave Matthew's Band. That's really just a coincidence.

04) Five albums I listen to a lot or that mean a lot to me...This is going to be difficult: a) Indian Summer, Carbon Leaf. Even though I just found these guys, I must say that their music is very relatable to many things in my life. Life Less Ordinary, This is My Song, Changeless and What About Everything are my favorites off of that album. b) Garden State Soundtrack, Various. This is an incredible CD with a really cool mix of music from a really good movie. Favorite tracks off of there is the Winding Road, Don't Panic, Caring is Creepy, New Sland and Let Go. c) Moonlight Dancers, Sara Wheeler. New England singer, I don't think that I've ever gotten tired of her music. d) Yourself or Someone Like You, Matchbox 20. I think that this was one of the first rock CDs that I got. Love every song on that one. e) Under the Table and Dreaming, Dave Matthew's Band. First CD from these guys, probably their best CD and one that I constently listen to. Runners up: Rush of Blood to the Head, (Coldplay), One, (Beatles) Crash (Dave Matthew's Band), Silent Steeples (Dispatch), Cracked Rearview (Hootie and the Blowfish), Room for Squares (John Mayer), Inarticulate Nature Boy (Josh Clayton-Felt), Ex-Girlfriends (Low Millions), Star Wars (A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi- John Williams), The Italian Job/Bourne Supremacy Soundtracks (John Powell)

5) 5 People to pass the baton to and why: Anyone really. It's always interesting to see what other people like for music.

My cold's almost gone. I just love how something can make you completely miserable for a straight week then just up and vanish. I've spend the last two days going through about two boxes of kleenex and now hoping that whenever I blow my nose, I'm not also going to make it start gushing blood.

Alrighty, start the countdown. 10 more days until exams are over. 16 more days until Revenge of the Sith is out in theaters. I should look into getting advance tickets. You know something, I've never, ever been to a Star Wars movie on opening night. Never. When Attack of the Clones was released, I was working that night as was Eric, so we went the next day, and when the Phantom Menace was out, I can't remember why I didn't go the opening night, but just that I was annoyed that some people that I knew had. And the special editions, it was some time after they had been released.

And finally, I've gotten my Celebration 3 pictures up online!

Here's some highlights:

Me