Exciting times.

I have been very busy this weekend, on Friday, I went to Oxford, yesterday, I went bowling for a friend's birthday. More about those when I get pictures through.

No, this blog post speaks of very exciting times, because the Scott Pilgrim teaser trailer is finally out! More details below.

Giving

On Tuesday, I gave blood That's pretty much all I have to say to be honest.

Oh, and yesterday I went to bed at 5pm.


. . . 10 points for post content!

Hmm

My blog is one year old on April 15th. It sounds sad, but it's a massive landmark for me. I don't know, sticking to something for a year is quite daunting for someone like myself. I also have my traditional Mayday picnic on May 3rd, which is ages away, but I'm still ridiculously excited.

But that's weeks away, let's talk about the present.

There are a lot of things that have been chewing away at the edges of my subconscious for a while now. Like, I STILL haven't got a job. It's not that I don't have any cash, I've got more than I know what to do with, about £130. You see, I'm not too much of a material person, I like not having money because then I know I wont waste it. This is why I've set myself a target of not going below the £100 mark, which I've only done once. It only goes on books and things anyway...

I want a job just for the experience. I don't even know why I'm talking about it, because that's all I'm going to do. I've been talking about it for quite a long time now, I just don't do. It's harder knowing that there's the possibility that your friends are gonna flip when you explain your problem to them. They've all been there, still doing that, and that makes it okay, because they're all doing fantastically well and that means everyone else should be too. As you can see, I've been told the same thing a few times, from lots of people. It doesn't really help.

Enough of that, it's not the only thing that's been on my mind. Surprisingly, my social life isn't one of those things. It probably should be, I only go out something stupid like once every three weeks. Truth be told I've become very cynical about social arrangements, lots of things are "arranged", but on the day I'm quite happy to sit around doing whatever half-waiting for the go-ahead text that I know isn't coming. I just don't really care anymore.

The thing I do care about is the constant stream of people asking me about relationship related things lately. I don't mind if it's about other people's relationships because I'm happy to help people out with whatever they need, but it's not been that. I've been approached by complete strangers about my ex, keeping in mind that she has been my ex for well over a year now. It's stupid, I mean I'm happy being single, of course it bothers me every now and then but isn't that the same with everyone? It doesn't help that my ex is around (never date people in the same work environment as you, it will only end in awkwardness) giving me stares whenever she thinks I'm not looking. I admit, it's starting to bother me, and not in an "I miss you" sense, in a "go away" sense.

Conversation with a stranger this week (she started it):
"Do you still love her?"
"No, why should I?"
"Because she still loves you."

It hurt. Partly because we all know that love was no part of the equation, I'm far too young for that, whatever "that" is. But mostly because you just want people to leave it alone. Personally, I'm sick of reading blogs about exes, so I'm ending this here.

If you read any more about relationships from me, please hit me...hard.

Oh...my...god.

Looks like I've chosen the right week to talk about Scott Pilgrim, both the movie poster AND the last book's cover have been released since I wrote my last post. I'm a generous guy, so I've done the work, all you have to do is gawp.

July 20th.

August 6th.

Now, I was asked an interesting question about Scott Pilgrim the night I wrote my last post. I was asked if I'd be unhappy if the film made Scott Pilgrim popular. I'm not going to mock this question, because it's actually very good. My answer is that it would bother me a little yes, but I have massively promoted it to everyone I know, and if it got popular and I was unhappy, that would mean I'd effectively made myself unhappy. I love Scott Pilgrim books, because Scott reminds me of me, time and time again. I have no reason to hold it back, I want Bryan Lee O'Malley to succeed.

I mean, this doesn't apply to all of my favourite things. Take Tat for example, I have a MASSIVE crush on Tatiana, if everyone else did, I wouldn't really know what to do with myself.

I repeat, a MASSIVE crush.

In other news, I have been listening to Nat and her friend Owen natter on (no pun intended) about a web comic called Gunnerkrigg Court for...well, it's been on and off since I've known them. Two nights ago I was talking to Owen about it, and after doing so I finally decided to check it out. Earlier, I bought the first book. 'Nuff said.

Breaking the silence.

Okay, a lot's happened over the past week and a bit, most of it's been rather unfortunate. I messed up on four out of five of my AS exams, here's what I got:

Media: U
English: E
Biology: E
Maths: D
Further Maths: B

As per usual, my highest grade was from the exam I put the least effort in to, and I got the highest in the school for it (there were only three of us).

Swiftly moving on, I've decided to break the silence over something I've mentioned on my blog only once. It's not so much of a like, more of an obsession. Those who know me well enough already know that I'm about to say "today, I'm going to talk about Scott Pilgrim"

Today, I'm going to talk about Scott Pilgrim.
I'll try and give you an insight to the story line of the comic book series by quoting the synopsis of the first book.

"Scott Pilgrim's life is so awesome. He's 23 years old, in a rock band, "between jobs," and dating a cute high school girl. Everything's fantastic until a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties. But the path to Ms. Flowers isn't covered in rose petals. Romona's seven evil ex-boyfriends stand in the way between Scott and true happiness. Can Scott beat the bad guys and get the girl without turning his precious little life upside-down? "

From reading that, I was already drawn in and NOTHING anybody said or will ever say has or will drag me away from these books. Ever.


I can name every character in that picture.

This year is huge for Scott Pilgrim for two reasons. The first is that the final book in the series is out in the summer, the second is that the film is also out this Summer, after the book (This also means a Scott Pilgrim soundtrack and masses of Scott Pilgrim merchandise!).

What else can I say? Scott Pilgrim is my PC wallpaper, wallpaper of my old mobile phone, It's soon to be my steam avatar soon. I follow the blogs of both Bryan Lee O'Malley (creator) and Edgar Wright (director). Which directs me to songs like this:

The Former Fatboys - Seven evil exes


And now that I've gotten this all out, I'm free to post random pictures stolen from Bryan Lee O'Malley's website with no questions asked ^.^ (you'll find the link down the side of my blog)

Top 5 Songs (week starting 01/03)

Aha, didn't see this one coming did we?

Basically, since my Nokia Music account was fixed, I've been listening to a lot more music, and so I'm able to write you one of those lists you love oh so much. I originally had 10 songs this week, but decided that I really can't be bothered to write that much.

It's been a week of mixed emotions, so I've been listening to a lot of acoustic, "meaningful" (emo) music but I became happier and discovered a few new albums throughout the week. So it's all cool.

5. Jamie all over -Mayday parade

This song's been number one on this list in the past, I don't really have to explain it again. Mayday Parade are still one of my favourite bands, they take up my entire "depression" playlist, or at least they did, until the next song came along...

4. Maybe - Secondhand Serenade

I found this on Facebook, and it's a bit emo to say the least. They remind me a lot of Dashboard Confessional (not promising), they caught my attention, and I like them, 'nuff said.

Lyrics that I like:
"Maybe it's just me.
Couldn't you believe that everything I said and did
wasn't just deceiving?
And the tear in your eye,
and your calm, hard face
makes me wish that I was never brought into this place.

And someday, I promise I'll be gone.
And someday, I might even sing this song to you.
I might even sing this song to you.
To you, to you, to you..."

3. Mic check - Hadouken!

I was just planning on browsing youtube one day, and I found this on the homepage. I liked some of Hadouken's stuff so I decided to check it out. This is actually the video that led me to the top 100 youtube videos I posted earlier on this week. It's more of a tuney thing than a lyrical thing, I just really like the beat.

Cool lyrics:
"I wanna take your mind and soul,
right to the core
right to the bone"

Here, have the music video.

2. Baby, you wouldn't last a minute on the creek - Chiodos

If I'd have written this last week, this song would have been number one, and most likely the week before that as well. Their lyrics stand out to me more than other bands, I can't explain why, they just do. I won't post a video because Chiodos have horrible and disturbing videos (but if you want to find them, feel free).

My favourite lyrics from this track:
"Let's just stop,
drop everything,
(forget each other's names) forget each other's names,
And just walk away.

Turn around and head in different directions,
Like we never, it's like we never knew each other at all.
We said what we feel, then we stop ourselves,
And just walk away.
Never looking back,
Loving every second of it,
we just walk away.

This is probably the best,
not to mention the worst idea,
that I have ever had.

Ignoring what we've loved,
Overlooking what we've done,
No awkward silences, no hiding any truths
What do you say?"

1. The great escape - We are Scientists

Probably the liveliest song In my list this week. I got it stuck in my head at some point last week, for no reason at all, even though I hadn't heard it for months on end, strange things. The video is number 58 on my top 100 if you want to go find it (: I love it, I really do, so much I can't explain it.

Lyrics:
"I'm making my escape
Making my escape
Tell myself that everything's in shape
Everything's in shape
But me

How long can this take?
How long can this take?
Tell myself that everything is great
Everything is great
Well, how'm I doin'?

[Chorus]
I got a great idea I'm gonna wait right here I got a great idea I'm gonna wait right here While everything is adding up, up, up Everything is adding up, up, up

Breakin' both my hands
Breakin' both my hands
Tellin' me to take it like a man
Take it like a man
I can't

I don't understand
I don't understand
Please repeat whatever you just said
Nothin's makin' sense
Well, how'm I doin'?

Chorus

They're breakin' both my hands
They're breakin' both my hands
They're tellin' me to take it like a man
Take it like a man
Well fuck that

I don't understand
Said I don't understand
Said please repeat whatever you just said
Cause nothin's makin' sense
Well, how'm I doin'?

Chorus "

...So yeah, don't expect another list for a while because I can't really draw the inspiration to write about half of the songs in them when it finally gets to Friday. More importantly, I can't delve into why I like a lot of songs nowadays more than "good beat" or "lovely bass line".

I come from a poor family, we can't afford musical appreciation.

If you can't say anything good, then don't say anything at all.

. . .

And then you stop

and you think

"what am I doing?

Everyday I spend listening to people telling me that they'll call, or they'll pick up if I call on a certain day because they won't be busy, or that they'll see me soon. I don't believe them. Maybe we're having a conversation about pasts or whatever, I don't care who knows what about my past and yet I still don't believe the pasts of others. I have no trust anymore, no faith in what I'm told.

As a result of this, I don't really feel close to any of my friends, I feel like I don't belong, or I'm not worthy to be around the likes of them. I'm far from alone, but I'm lonely.

It takes only one person to survive, but it takes more to live. I survive, but I don't live."

Or...maybe that's just me.