My life, at this current stage in time, seems a roller-coaster ride of jubilant, potentially drug induced (in some cases) highs, and moments of banging my head against the wall and querying "WHY? WHY? WHHHHHHHHHY?". [Note: these are rhetorical questions, please do not feel that you have to answer them]

While there is, of course, the immense relief that, after 13 years, my schooling is finally complete (hurrah, hurroo), there is of course the ever looming prospect of exams that, despite the insistence of everyone, have great and far-reaching consequences for the rest of my life, and are rapidly approaching like a train speeding down a tunnel. That, my friends, is what is causing the light.

Additionally, my overly active psyche, combined with the stress of impending doom, has rebelled against me, and left me with a psychosomatic illness. Hilariously, the disease IS in my head. Un-hilariously it has left me with a cough that rattles windows, causes passers-by to ask "is there an earthquake?", and has me in genuine fear that, if I am not careful I will cough out my lungs. Tragically ironic for one who has never even considered "taking a quick puff".

I also fluctuate rapidly between "deathly ill" and "drunkenly happy".

Still, I have at least the satisfaction of having seen Thor take a sip of red-wine. The gag reflex and expression of suffering that came ever so quickly to his face was pure gold. It is the little things that make us the most happy sometimes.

Au Revoir.

How are you...?

As with every other day, mine began with the question "How are you?"

Unlike every other day, today I actually thought about it.

Is it that by asking this question we are seeking to become more connected with others? To feel as they feel, think as they think? Two bodies, sharing the one mind...Is it that really the human soul is a beautiful thing, and that we seek to better understand and love one another? Is it a quest for some intimate understanding? Are we searching for someone to say "it's alright. Your life my seem terrible, but everything is okay. I love you"?

Or is it merely just a shallow social requirement that absolves us of actually caring? Do we really seek, by asking others about themselves, to know less about them, maybe even nothing? Are we attempting an ignorance? Are we really viscous, shallow creatures that feign concern because of the positive repercussions for ourselves?

I answered, as I do every day, that I was fine.

Au Revoir.

Nick Jones, Internet Celebrity...

Hey, it's better than Nick Jones, Child Molester.

Anywho, over the last few days I've created a couple of videos for Youtube, and I CERTAINLY intend to do more. Too much fun. Seriously.

It gives me an opportunity to vent my estranged opinions upon an unsuspecting world (like the super-villain I've always wanted to be) and it's really nice to get positive feedback, you know?

So check out my vids (you can find them by searching "Nick Jones" or videos by user nicko236. The latest one is about my hatred of Bagpipes), leave a comment, become a subscriber, and lets make this happen.

Au Revoir.

I've Never Been To Me (male version)

Hey mister, hey mister
I just want a dime
‘Cause I need a cup of coffee and a moment of your time
I can tell your raising hell the way I used to do
But I wish someone woulda’ talked to me
Like I wanna talk to you

I’ve been to Georgia and California
Anywhere I could run
I stole a woman in Tennessee
and we made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces
Because I had to be free
I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me

Thanks mister, thanks mister
But please don’t walk away
‘Cause I have this need to tell you
Why I’m all alone today
I can see so much of me still living in your eyes
Won’t you share a part of an old mans heart
On the day before he dies

I’ve been to China & Asia Minor
On any ship that would sail
I made some noise with some good old boys
We wrecked a southern jail

I’ve seen the best men crawl and some teardrops fall
There ain’t nothing I ain’t seen
I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me

I’ve even been to marriage
Where children cry for someone they couldn’t find
Never knowing that I was searching
For things I left behind

I thought my heart could wait
but I learned too late
Only love can make people free
I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me

School, The Tenth Layer of Hell...

Yes, that's a reference to Dante's Inferno. That's just how I roll. Literature style!

House Dinner and Chapel this evening which was an exercise in both futility and intense boredom. Thank you DR-P for keeping me company through the four plus hours of excruciating fun. And yes, it was excruciating.

My mother always told me to think positive. "What have you got out of this evening?" she asked. Well, what did I get? A rather nice tie, praise for my comedic ability from a mother ("You should be at Edinburgh", which was, actually, quite nice) and several free drinks. Actually, scratch that. Considering the amount of money I've given the school over the years, it's more accurate to say I bought the entire school, and parents and round. Of rather inferior quality, naturally. Please, in future, could you at least foot the bill for a decent Sauvignon Blanc? Signed Nick Jones, Student and Wine Connoisseur.

School is stressing me. Thank GOD (and I know for an atheist that's a little hypocritical, but so much easier than saying "Thank random fluctuations in space/time!") there's only about a month until exams are over and I never have to go back. I'm really looking forward to that. Although AP made a really good point, which almost made me feel better about going back - "it's the last first day of school ever".

Like I said, I was stressed yesterday. So I made a stress-cake.



And it was a HUGE SUCCESS. Seriously delicious and moist.

Yes, I listened to Jonathan Coulton while baking, because I'm a nerd.

Au Revoir.

Alaska, eh?

Say what you like about Palin, she does make for good satire. Actually, the entire political process does.



Even Rove's getting in on it. It's just that easy!

Wicked...

So as the more diligent reader (and here I'm humoring myself as I doubt I HAVE at least one diligent reader) will remember, I saw Wicked on Friday night. And I was so impressed, I actually BOUGHT the soundtrack. It's true. And it's on a permanent loop.

Let me start by telling you what Wicked is NOT. It is NOT The Wizard of Oz, although those aware with the work of L. Frank Baum and all the little munchkins will not be too alienated. While Baum's stories are somewhat more trivial, Disney-esque story of a simple farm-girl who goes on a fantastical voyage and learns that her heart's desires lie no further than her own back yard, complete with midgets and magic, Gregory Maguire's revisionist tome (my English teacher would be proud) is a much darker, serious piece.

Let me put it simply: so much happened before Dorothy dropped in.

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the "Wicked Witch of the West", and acts as a sort of precursor to Braum (although we are treated to some of the events of Dorothy's adventure, but rather than the story with which we are familiar, the bits Braum didn't write).

I won't ruin it, because I would urge anyone who hasn't to go and see it, and anyone who has is already contemplating going again, but I will say that it revolves around a brilliant, but different protagonist, who finds herself revolting against an aging tyrant's propaganda war and desperate attempts to cling to power. Along the way she will make friends for life, as well as find love, and sing some incredible musical numbers. Honestly, I am never going to see The Wizard of Oz the same again.

What particularly struck me about Wicked came from the Wizard himself early in Act Two. Some of the lyrics from his song Wonderful are included here:

WIZARD
(spoken) Elphaba, where I'm from, we believe all sorts of
things that aren't true. We call it - "history."

(sung) A man's called a traitor - or liberator
A rich man's a thief - or philanthropist
Is one a crusader - or ruthless invader?
It's all in which label
Is able to persist
There are precious few at ease
With moral ambiguities
So we act as though they don't exist

They call me "Wonderful"
So I am wonderful
In fact - it's so much who I am
It's part of my name
And with my help, you can be the same.

What amazes me is that in a two hour musical is willing to handle that kind of complexity, in fact begin to explore some very Machiavellian concepts, but in a form that audiences can easily understand, and, even more impressively, musically. And that's just touching the surface.

Individual performances: well done to Millsy as Fiyero (who has the somewhat ironic line "hey, this isn't an act. I really am that self-centered"), and the two stars Amanda Harrison as Elphaba and Lucy Durack as Galinda/Glinda. The cast felt alive and enthusiastic, and really got into their roles, although Durack's accent got exceedingly annoying (understandable, however, as her character IS a ditzy blonde...). Anthony Callea as the munchkin Boq, however, fell short (hahaha) of the mark.

It is of course a great tragedy that Rob Guest was missing as the Wizard. It is an immense loss, and I feel privileged to have seen Rob perform, in The Phantom Of The Opera, before he was taken from us.

Music: the songs were fantastic, the harmonies brilliant. I was notably impressed by the actors ability to slip in and out of dialogue and music, and make it seem so fluid and natural. Favorites for me are Wonderful (above) Popular and Defying Gravity. The comic banter in What Is This Feeling? had me in stitches, and Dancing Through Life is oddly poetic and beautiful.

Oh, and you can also get Ozmopolitans in cool green glasses with flashing lights.

All in all, I have to say SEE IT NOW!

Au Revoir.