Perhaps I should talk about the awesome day. Of course, I can't go into too many details and there are several things I would like to keep to myself. Both because of the treacherous footing to be had from such subjects and the fact I'm not even sure what happened. Really.

Yes. I should read my comments and the deviations of others and the journals. I will. Promise. Just not tonight. Tonight, I'm being selfish.

Enter the best week ever that starts not quite so "best-week-ever-ish", but starts nonetheless. So I rented five movies over the weekend of the 17th-22nd. I watched Foolproof first, which was absolute garbage. Then Bourne Ultimatum, which was, as Hot Fuzz would put it "a no-holds-barred-thrill ride, but..." (exactly as expected). After that followed Brick. And God-Almighty-Wasn't-That-Just-An-Awesome-Movie! And I want it. Really. Then I watched Thief Lord, which was a Peter Pan minus the Peter Pan, but overall okay. Really stupid morals. I mean "grown ups get what they want because they're grown ups" is stupid. Stupid. And the idea that all your sins as a kid will be forgotten the moment you turn 18 or something may be right by the law, but your friends will NEVER let you forget your gaffs. 'Cause they love you.

Saturday was game. Not "game night", but GAME. Like VtM game. I realise I'm being very, VERY geeky. Being part of the Toreador Clan and an OCD writer, it was expected that I publish something. So, during downtime, I set up publication. Our organizer must like me, 'cause he rolls nothing but perfects for me. Wang-bang. Book "published".

Now if only it were so simple in real life.

So, to prove to my clan that I had written something, I brought some poetry to game. And somehow (I let it happen) got pressed into reading some. I brought 5 poems. I read 4 'cause "Shrine" is 2001 material and garbage. Anyways. To a room of less-than-a-dozen, I read my poetry. Wow.

I have a completely irrational case of stage fright. Think how afraid you are (if you are afraid - if you aren't, then think about how much you're not afraid and invert it) and multiply it by ten. Then send me up there. Yeah. Stage fright. And I think my clan expects me to bring something to read every game. Oh, boy. Won't that be fun...

I didn't get to watch Ark because Tuesday mauled me. Something was supposed to happen, and it didn't. But it was still a great day. REALLY.

Anyways. Wednesday, as my poem says, was a bore. OKAY! I LIED! I LOVED WEDNESDAY!

I've been trying to reconnect with "old friends" and it's taken me a few months to see some. But I called a friend I used to work with. He goes to Magic the Gathering on Wednesdays and Fridays. So I called him on Wednesday and we went to a draft. And it was awesome. I can't wait for this Wednesday. I've got some awesome decks ready. Although the Cat/Equipment deck is obviously more effective than the Cleric deck. I can't wait to see my Card-kill deck. I wonder if it'll work...

I'm getting off track.

Ah. Thursday. Yay. Yeah. So an email goes out on the listserv to MacEwan students. "We're looking for volunteers to read their stuff. Student Mingler. Etc. Etc." And I, crazy bloke that I am, fire out an "I wanna do it". So Thursday was the day.

I spend half the day practicing the item I decided to read. Out to a MINGLER I go. Holy crap. That's so far out of my element. Anyways. I try to mingle. And mingle I do, as far as I'm able. I've never really been taught how to do this "socializing" thing. And I suppose I'm a little rusty at it. Rusty... Yes. That's an understatement.

Time's up. The stage is there. Go. Two years ago, I might have run away screaming. I might have a year ago. Ugh.

Before leaving home, my mom told me that I shone. Shone as in light. Everywhere. All I have to do is pull that Terra thing and go WOOWOOWOOWOO. Or something. Well. I got up on stage and I took the mic and...

I shone. I did what they call "a damn good job". I even stepped out in front of the instruments that were in my way. Holy crap.

I doubt that anyone remembers. I am my own worst critic, after all. My tongue tripped over itself in the middle of the action sequence. I mean, like, God d*** and s*** and stuff. To have never made a mistake while practicing, I had to goof in front of something like a hundred people. I'm not sure there were a hundred there. Doesn't matter. They multiplied.

I also ignored the right side of my audience.

But I was awesome! And I have to rejoice in that. And I decided I would.

I need to more practice, is all.

Two things happened that day that went beyond anything else. Even shining. Even though I wasn't shining. The first is a documentary student. Of course the following is not canon to life, it's paraphrased.

"Hey. I'm a documentary student. What would you say to a film crew following you around?"

"Only that that is the greatest compliment ever."

He wondered if I had any more readings signed up. I took that to mean "Why don't you do more readings?" So I'm going to ask people if there are more public readings available. And I will be reading. Oh boy. Won't that be fun?

!

And after the mingler, I spent 3 hours. Doing something I have never done before. Ever. And that's not something for the public domain. Ha.

Clannad After Story is confusing, but awesome. Drama, but sweet. Dennou Coil had a pretty epic ending for a kid's show. Even if it didn't make much sense.