Meditation

I've picked up Meditation for Dummies at the library, because I've always been curious about it, and, as of April 9, I've started meditating.

I know it's pretty soon to report results, but I already feel calmer and more in control of myself. I've wanted to stop swearing and getting angry when I drive, and it is already much easier to just breathe and relax. I'm looking forward to the peace and contentment in store as I continue to just meditate 5-15 minutes at the start of my day, after I pray, before I eat.

And don't worry. I won't be shaving my head and going to live in Tibet anytime soon. Well, I might shave my head, (getting balder and balder anyway) but the furthest I'll be moving is American Fork.

Once again, I realize it perhaps a bit silly and definitely premature, but this is also a journal, and it's as much for me as it is for you. I'll report more on it as time progresses. I also admit it a bit silly that I'm learning from a "For Dummies" book, but as Socrates would say, the first step is to admit you know nothing. You big dummy.

One principle I love and hope to take to heart is happiness: Being happy with what I have and not wishing for what I don't.

Ah-HA!

This picture c r a c k e d me up! It reminds me of a youth activity I did when I was 12. We went to a mall and there were a bunch of members dressed as weirdos and we had to find them. And yes, my friend's 6'9" dad was dressed as Waldo.

Another funny moment at that activity was there was some old guy dressed like a pirate (who was NOT a part of the scavenger hunt) and kids wanted him to sign their papers, but he got offended and took their checklists away. It's like, if you're over 60 and dressing like a pirate, you better expect attention.

But I digress. I love Waldo. I wish they still made Where's Waldo books. I had the one where you had to find Waldo among the hundreds of other Waldos. Once I found him, I circled him so I'd never lose him again. You may think that's ruining the fun, but I disagree. It was much more fun for me knowing where he was. That way I never lost him, so the little creep could wander all he wanted and I'd just look and BAM! There he is.

A Rose is like a Train

Is a rose a rose a rose? Hi. I'm Austin McClure. You may remember me from such movies as "Christmas Ape", and "Christmas Ape goes to summer camp." No? How about such educational films as "Lead Paint: Delicious, But Deadly", and "Bovine University: Where your Hamburgers come From." Still a no? How about Hi. I'm Austin DM. You may remember me from such Blog Entries as "Do you REALLY want to know?" And "Taking a Whack at It: Me, in Pictures." There we go. What's up? How've you been? I've been better, been worse. Let's see what's new. School, writing, and et cetera.


School:
As the semester winds down to a halt, I can look back on my two classes and say I gave my all, and I was rewarded for it. Art History has one more class and then the final. The class will be about contemporary art, which to them will be 1940-the present. The final will be about art from 1900-now, and we have an in class essay on "The Seven Wonders of Art: Renaissance-Now" which I'm excited about, I think it's a great idea, much better than the other 2 essays. (Which I got an A on both, btw). In case you're wondering, and even if you're not, here's what I have for my Seven Wonders so far. (subject to change)

Renaissance: Michelangelo's David
Baroque: Something by Caravaggio or Rembrandt, most likely. Not sure yet.
Rococo, Enlightenment, Neoclassicism: Unsure, probably Versailles.
Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism: Luncheon on the Grass (Dejeuner sur L'Herbe) by Manet
1900-1945: Duchamp's Fountain
1945-now: I don't know. Possibly something by Andy Warhol, I'll have to see what she talks about in class, since it has to be something we talk about.

English has 5 classes left, then the final. Most of those classes we'll be reviewing for the final. I'm nervous, but not too much. Just enough. We also have an in-class essay on an unknown subject tomorrow, which I'm also anxious about. And, though I don't remember talking about it, the group paper I worked on, thanks mostly to the efforts of my sexy editor, Tracie, got a 99! Yahoo! Thanks, Tracie! I'm sad this class will be over, as I really like the teacher and am tight with the class, but I'm taking Ethics from him in the Fall, so that's good.

For next semester, I wanted to take 3 courses so I can get a degree this century, but since it's a summer term class periods are longer and interfere too much with school, so I'm taking 2 classes again. I'll be taking American Civilization on Saturdays on campus for 4 hours (!) and 2-D design in Spanish Fork on Tues & Thurs evenings. I'm excited to be taking an art class, and even tho it's in SF, that just means I'll be able to visit with family down there more often! Whether they like it or not!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! And I'm getting the History class out of the way by only taking it for 2 months. It might be hard, but it'll be worth it to get it over with. Big fan of History, just not American History. Yeah, I'm weird. I guess it’s from learning about our nation for 10 years as a kid that did it to me.


Writing:
How do I love writing? Let me count the ways… 42. No, 43. Ehhhhh, 42 1⁄2. So I started the insane goal to write a screenplay this month, and I'm already nearly a week behind. I need to write 18 pages today to be caught up. Not sure I'm gonna make it, but I'm gonna try. After this month, whether I finish it or not, I'm a gonna work on more feasible goals for a little guy like me. Like short stories. Those'll be nice. Very short stories. But, for now, it's scripting time. Yesterday I worked on a bunch of story ideas I have, and plotted them out a bit, mostly because I didn't feel like script writing. But I do now.


Et cetera:
We had a lovely conference weekend; it didn't snow until it was all over. Part of me expected President Monson to look different somehow now that he has the prophet mantle, but he's still Thomas S. Monson. Thank goodness. I enjoyed going to Priesthood session with the McNeil men as is tradition, and I ate way way WAY too much this weekend, as is also tradition. With such good cooks in the family (Kris made most/all the food, so it's her fault) it's a wonder the family does anything besides eat. But we had fun, playing games, visiting, and even watching a little conference.

I'm still addicted to American Idol, though the personalities of most of the contestants are starting to annoy me. I'm known to have said that David Archuleta could sing the "Oscar Mayer Wiener" song and bring me to tears, but then say, "I chose that song because it's so beautiful and has a really great message." Michael Johns is getting much better, and I even hate David Cook a little less. A little. Carly Smithson is getting annoying, I don't know if it's the Irish accent or the disgusting tattoos on her chubby tree trunk arms she NEVER covers up. Brooke White is starting to ramble and blabber so much Paula Abdul is threatening to sue, if Syesha Mercado is a 1 trick pony, Kristy Lee Cook is a 1⁄2 trick pony. Jason Castro may be cute, but his singing is annoying, I'd rather smoke a joint than listen to him on the effect of it. It would make me less stoned. And CUT OFF THOSE DREADS!!! You're not Jamaican, not spiritual, you're like the white rastas in 10 things I hate about you. Sheesh. And yet I love it. I even had a dream last night I was hanging out with the 3 judges from Idol and we all were mocking Ryan Seacrest. Good times.

On a personal note, just wanna let you know, this month is my birthday! Just wanna let you know, I’m not getting you anything. No, I’m turning 26, Tracie will be 24. yay! It’s weird, my 25th birthday I felt so much older, I guess it’ll get bad again when I’m 30. Anyhoo, my wonderful and stubborn and loving wife got me a surprise “present” early! No, not that. Sheesh. Will you people never stop? She got me a real lift for my shoe so I won’t limp as much and so my back will straighten out. It’s nice not limping, though I think it’s actually too tall, as I’m limping a bit the wrong way, which is weird, but nice. It could just be my spine is way out of whack, we’ll see. I feel taller, too. Thanks so much, Tracie. I feel like a bit of a jerk, as the present I let her open early was a season of Friends. We only need two more then we have the whole show!

Go Check out Glass of Random!

You know, just cuz I said I'll be posting less, it doesn't mean don't come over anymore. :( My comments have nearly died since then, and I've decided I'll blog at work, since I can email stuff, I'll email myself my posts of wonder and then post them at home.

But also, to all members of our secret club, go check out Glass of Random, as I've been posting poems and stories I wrote in the past for your viewing and judging pleasure. And to get compliments. So Go check it out!

And once again, if you read Austintatious of the Unadventures of Tracie on at least a semi regular basis and would like to read our take on the world of fiction, let me know you'd like an invite and you'll get one! It's that easy!

OUT OF ORDER? Soap Musings

I just went to the bathroom at work. While washing my hands, I noticed an “Out of Order” sign on the soap dispenser!

Is that really necessary? If I’m in the restroom and go to the soap dispenser, and it’s not working, I’m moving over to one of the other two next to it.

Toilet out of order, I can understand. That’s something nice to know.

But are there really people who go to the bathroom, head over to wash their hands and then stand in front of the soap dispenser for ten minutes, continuously pulling at the tab: “Maybe THIS time! No… THIS time… no…” because in MY mind, those people probably aren’t washing their hands in the first place, or even going to the restroom, at least without assistance.

Work

Hm. It's not working. Better keep trying.

My work has taken away internet use, so there's another reason I'll be blogging less.

Prose Poem by Russell Edson

There was a man who found two leaves and came indoors holding them out saying to his parents that he was a tree.

To which they said then go into the yard and do not grow in the living-room as your roots may ruin the carpet.

He said I was fooling I am not a tree and he dropped his leaves.

But his parents said look it is fall.