Look for the Girl in the Turquoise Sombrero

"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me."~The Batman
"What I do is me: for that I came."~Gerard Manley Hopkins
"If you love me, keep my commandments."~Jesus

Greetings. This is what is known, in this crazy world of online internet journals, as an "update." It consists of me writing various amounts of text in an attempt to communicate the important details of my life that have transpired since my last "update." I take this action at the behest of those, specifically my "mom", who are concerned and/or annoyed and/or aggravated and/or cast into a homicidal rage by my recent lack of activity in the online journaling community. Thank you.

Let's see. I...um..got a job this week. I am working part time at switchboard for the rest of the summer, taking some of Amber's hours because she took another job at an adoption agency. I would really rather be slaving away full time somewhere and earning more money for grad school and a car and insurance and a hang-glider and , um, drugs and guns, or whatever else I was going to buy. But I suppose this gives me time to finish my internship, and study, and all of that. But let me tell you, third shift will wreak complete havoc on your life. I may? Thank you. Here I go: "Third shift will wreak complete havoc on your life.

Father's day was this past weekend. Shame on all you people who settle for last minute cards and gas station purchases to celebrate your parents's respective days. There's something in the Bible about that. I'm sure you're all smitten or cast out or something.
Anyway. The tradition at my house, for the past few years, at least, is "King for a Day" (spawned partly because Dad usually refuses to ask for any presents). We always begin with a humorous proclamation and/or skit, usually written by yours truly. This year's involved Dad being a patient on the television medical show "House," with me being Dr. House, hobbling around on a cane and making acerbic remarks, and John and David as the other doctors. Oh, speaking of which...
***Product Placement/Hearty Recommendation/Shameless Plug***
If you have yet to see the show "House," for the love of all that is good and decent repent and live in your ignorance no longer. It is hands down (hands down where? and what hands? what does that even mean? is it like "put your hands down, class" because someone already has the answer?) the best show on television right now, and Hugh Laurie is absolutely brilliant as sarcastic, cynical, misanthropic Dr. Greg House, a sort of medical Sherlock Holmes. Tuesday nights, 9pm, on Fox. Be there or...be somewhere else.
***End all that stuff***
Oh, and I've decided I'm going to go to medical school...and start carrying a cane. See the problem is, you can't get away with carrying a cane unless you actually need one, or you look pretentious and affected (and you know how I always avoid THAT). I don't want to need one, just to have one. Ah well. Maybe I will get hit by a bus or something.
We (by which I mean my immediate family and our significant others. Which means, my immediate family.) also went to go see Batman Begins on Sunday. It is definitely the best Batman film so far, arguably the best superhero movie ever (rivaled only by Spiderman 2, but that one had the advantage of building of the foundation of the first movie), and, more than all that, simply a great film in its own right. My hesitancy about the casting of Christian Bale (Newsies Christian Bale! Go ahead, girls, start singing), somewhat eased by Equilibrium, has now been completely put to rest. The rest of the cast is phenomenal as well, with Oscar winners and nominees all over the place; except, of course, for Katie Holmes, a chunk of floating space debris in a sea of twinkling stars. Even if you don't like Batman, or comic books, you will still see a wonderful adventure film, where the protagonist just happens to dress like a bat from time to time.

Friday (since I may as well just cycle through events) was "Foxfest" in Ionia, a free outdoor concert put on by one of the local classic rock stations. John, Katie, Johanna, Matt and I all went, basking on our blanket in the overcast sun. Deep Purple, Kenny (Kenney?) Wayne Shepherd (Smith?), a local band named Broken Sunday, and Blue Oyster Cult (thought of you, Phil; "I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell") were all performing. I think Deep Purple gave the strongest performance, with their barefoot, frilly white shirt, long grey hair front man reminding the crowd that rock and roll is supposed to be fun, dangit, forget about all this grimacing and posing crap. During one song Matt and I looked at each other for a second, then reached for our lighters and joined the swaying crowd.

Saturday went to see "Crossing Delancy" starring my very own Carleen (well, not just mine. we all share her). I don't know if there is anyone I enjoy seeing on stage more. Sadly, I did learn that she and Aaron are getting ready to move far, far away (this compounded but the fact that I haven't really seen her since I got back). Ah well, there will always be pilgrimages to see her work her way towards Broadway.

I'm...um...writing a short story. Or attempting to write, rather. You know how people always told you not to swallow the watermelon seeds because they will grow in your stomach? Yeah, it's about that; sort of Bradbury-esque. I may post it here, when it's done, or mail it out to people who request it or something. I've been struggling with my own peculiar brand of writer's block (more like paralysis) for a while now, hopefully I can strangle it, kick some dirt over it, and let the ants and worms tear the flesh from its rotting carcass. Or something. I think it mostly feeds off frustration; the idea of unavoidable failure as a produce drafts irks me, for I have this "Young Sherlock Holmes with the violin" attitude towards so many things.

Right. Yes. I think that is enough for now. Wouldn't want anyone to O.D. on my presence or anything. Well, keep those cards and letters coming.

Grace be with you all,
Brian

Been Watching: Batman Begins; Good Company; Twilight Samurai
Been Reading: The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson