I'm Not Dead!
I don't want to go on the cart!
Holy Grail, anyone? It's been a long long while. Over a month! Things have been busy, buddies. I went back to Canada, started school, and I'm writing a lot more regularly than I did this summer, which is good! I do believe if I fill my life with things to do, I'm better at writing since my brain is working. Now, that means that when I have nothing to do...I have to take it into my own hands and find things to do!
Here are some updates on my life:
1) School! It's my last year of undergrad (for sure! I checked with my program yesterday and YES I have all the credits needed to graduate...who says you can't fulfill a Drama Specialist in four years?) so I am focusing on keeping good grades and savouring my time here. Since I overloaded myself with classes and extracurricular last year, I'm taking it easy in comparison. The only extracurricular I'm taking right now is my a cappella group (I will never give them up) and one play. There is another play for next year that I would really like to be in too, but those two would be the only ones. I'm also taking two history courses, History of China (should be writing paper on Han Dynasty right now...) and History of Hong Kong!! If I don't ace that second course it will be a deep personal shame for me.
But speaking of a cappella...
2) OH MAH GOD, THE SING-OFF!!
The first television show, in a long time, that has made me OBSESSED (I literally cannot get any work done on Mondays now, and it's still difficult on Tuesday). The ONLY reality television show I have ever LOVED. Basically, it's American Idol but with a cappella (a.k.a. bona fide talented and skilled musicians) and legitimate judges (a.k.a. they say more than just "oh, I love your spirit!"). The performances are superb and the styles of each group is unique. I think this season has been fascinating to watch since with every episode, the favourites to win have been changing drastically. Still, here are the three I am predicting to make the finals:
AFRO BLUE
Click to viewI've been 100% behind Afro Blue since episode one. They've never had a mediocre performance, ever. Being in the bottom two last episode was total BULL and I suspect the producers were just trying to induce drama. They are the most musically intricate, and you can always count on them to deliver beautifully. Listen to that bass, check out the vocal percussion. Listen to those chords!! So smooth, so controlled, so perfect! Also, I love jazz. It's so sexy and you know people who do jazz need real musical chops. You can tell all the members are always humble and hardworking too. Dude, if they don't at least make the final three Imma slap somebody.
VOCAL POINT
Vocal Point are special to me because they were my introduction to a cappella. I was in high school show choir, and our director asked us to bring in a video we all thought was good. One of my friends brought in VP and I knew it was what I needed to find once I got to uni. My current group, tunes. beats. awesome., is kind of my lifeline. Almost all my best memories in undergrad has to do with these guys. VP is clearly the best all-male collegiate group on the show through all three seasons. They always come in with super high energy but NEVER sacrifices musicality for it.
PENTATONIX
Though I'm not as invested in them as I am with Afro Blue (who I gave my heart to within first listen) and Vocal Point
(my first ever a cappella group), Pentatonix has a very good chance. They win over the audience with their unique electronica & dance style, ability to pull off a satisfying sound with only five (four, really) people, and their BEAST beatboxer. Personally, I adore their countertenor, who sings those descant-esque melodies the group likes to throw in with effortless grace. And they do what I like to call the "trademark Pentatonix bridge break down" where the arrangement, which usually starts off as merely ordinary, turns into a jaw-dropping, rifftastic and perc-crazy counterpoint bonanza. I would definitely buy any CD they put out.
3) Writing! seriously considering looking for an MFA in creative writing. As a result, I have been trying to break out of my comfort zone of silly fluff and romantic fanfic comedy. Either a serious side of story writing, dabbling in some playwriting (not ready yet though, sorry guys) and finally doing what I've really wanted to do: the historical side of Hetalia fanfic. Here is a quick rundown of what I've accomplished and where you can catch it, if you're interested:
Title: An Island With An Expiry Date
Genre: Historical/Drama
Characters: Hong Kong, England, China, America, Japan, Canada
Rating: K+
Notes: Written for aph_historyswap. In two parts because as usual, I get as detailed as possible. A quasi-prototype of sorts for the mega multi-chapter historical HK fic I intend to write.
Summary: The story of Hong Kong's growth as a city and a person.
Title: All The Answers Chapter 9
Genre: Drama/Friendship
Characters: Feliciana, Ludwig, Kiku, Lovina, Antonio, Heracles
Rating: T
Notes: Part of my genderflipped AU. Sequel to World Wide Story
Summary: Feliciana makes a really stupid mistake that plunges her into a horrible nightmare. And this time, her friends refuse to help her out.
Title: Cz-Czech Us Out
Genre: Humour/Friendship
Characters: Francis, Gillian
Rating: T
Notes: Part of my genderflipped AU. Sequel to Somewhere Awesome
Summary: After graduating from high school, two hooligans set off to conquer Europe. Watch as they explore the Golden city of statues, spires, music, and mist. Praguers, look out!
Title: Thicker Than Water
Genre: Family/Friendship
Characters: Maddie, Alfred, HK, Arthur, Francis, Gillian, Antonio
Rating: K+
Notes: Part of my genderflipped AU. Prequel spin-off of World Wide Story
Summary: Maddie's perfectly and almost boringly normal life is shaken up the moment she meets some guy who happens to have the exact same face as she.
Of Lovers and Madmen is still on hiatus :C Right now I have a lot of assignments due this week. I plan to get a few things updated this weekend though, such as Thicker Than Water and getting that back on track.
See you next time!