Ура! for Spilled Pants

Looks like you're talking to a college dropout. (Yeah -- another one.)

Last week, I dropped the Russian Culture class (en anglais) I was taking at CCSF; I had missed two weeks in a row due to some work commitments and just wasn't interested enough in the subject to bust my ass to catch up. I mean, the class -- while taught by an awesome teacher -- was always just a stand-in for my desire to take a Russian *language* class this semester (i.e. one that was, sadly, not offered on the night school schedule).

In any case, I made a deal with myself to spend this newly-freed time in the week studying Russian again. So, I've been going back to my old Russian textbooks (with online videos), my ripped Russian CDs on the ol' iPod, my memories of Чебурашка, and otherwise trying to surround myself with the language.

Beyond those more, um, scholarly methods, I lucked out this past week and happened across a music blog written in both English and Russian; so, I can study *while* still deep in the blogosphere, searching for new shizz:

Spilled Pants.
http://myspilledpants.blogspot.com/

Even if you have no interest in the русский язык, this site posts some great (dancey) stuff on a fairly regular basis; and his Blogroll is handy: see the latest updates from Discobelle, Trash Menagerie, and other like-minded blogs, all in one place.

Ура!

Can I be a pleasure (to read)?

It's January, just past the holidays (and some buffer), and minds-in-the-(want-to)-know turn towards another season of school; for these folks, seasons are measured in neatly-packaged semesters. And, for me, that means CCSF is back in session - this week, in fact - and tonight I've begun a new little branch of academic endeavors. You see, I've started a weekly Short Story class, which makes me - officially - something of a writer. Well, at least, that's what I'll tell chicks at parties (and we'll keep the part about it being a night class at CCSF our little secret). ;)

Actually, I *am* excited to see how things work out at school.. on several levels. Remember that I have no formal English education beyond high school - writing or literature or otherwise - so I'm first looking to baseline my current level of comprehension and aptitude for the discipline. That is, can I write something that other people find stimulating and/or entertaining; can I be a pleasure (to read)? Beyond that sort of raw feedback, it is good to know that I have time set aside each week for writing (not to mention for doing background reading assignments). One of the main benefits of paying for a class such as this is that you have submitted yourself to a structure of discipline.. and you don't want to waste your money. Here, now, there are appointments to keep and concrete assignments to deliver. Yes, sir! Yes, ma'am! And all of that.

I'll be posting everything I'm up to for this class here on the blog, and comments are welcome; comments are always welcome, in fact. I won't be offended if you think something "isn't working". Well, I'll, at least, *act* like I'm not offended and listen intently as you apply your harsh worldview to my work. Oh, I thank you; I thank you for your valuable opinion! Deep in my heart, however, I know that Morrissey understands me and my artistic vision; he understands me, complete and whole. (So screw you.) haha.

In any case, the short version of why I'm taking the class is that I'm hoping to be inspired - in a get-off-my-ass sort of way (versus a hippy-dippy, great idea from heaven sort of way) - to develop of few nascent writing projects rolling around in my head (details to follow; stay tuned). So, when such a project, however small, gets going - and you have a critical audience in the mix - the desire to NOT FAIL in front of your peers (whatever that means in this case) is strong. At the least, I know I can apply some of the writing/brainstorming/organizing techniques to some of my deliverables at work (training presentations, application notes, and so forth).. although, really, what fun is that when, there, I'm writing about computer chips?

Hey, but if this class-as-inspiration thing works out, maybe I'll sign up for an art course next semester. You see, I also need a kick in the butt to get my mind wrapped around that amorphous tattoo that I keep talking and talking about (yet, somehow, never actually get); it's been years since I first had an, um, inkling of this (permanently) marked desire.

Still, I need to be focused on the present: I have an short story assignment due this coming week and, besides, tomorrow I make the journey back to the CCSF Noe Valley campus for my other linguistic love: Русский язык. In Russian class, my goals are much lower (with respect to effecting nuances of communication), but no less noble. I want to know how *you're* doing all over the world (and we'll start with those of you in Russia and its sphere of influence). Пока!

A return to posting breeds three

It seems that the Thanksgiving holiday last week (and it's attendant travel) took me out of the this blogging game for a bit longer than expected. While I've got a few little ditties in the works, let me drop some random notes right now:

1a. I registered for more CCSF classes earlier this week, so my (ahem) studies will continue into 2008 (2008, yo!). The only bummer is that they aren't offering the next Russian class in the series (i.e. Russian 2A) this semester, so I signed up for the one after that (i.e. Russian 2B); Mой преподавателъ said it was cool to do so (and that I'd have to study my ass off to catch up on what I would have learned in 2A). I'm ready to work; I can't NOT keep up this new linguistic pastime; Москва awaits another visit! Not to mention Эльбрус..

1b. I've also decided to put some structure around my, um, ramblings (the written kind, anyway; don't worry - I'll still let my drunk, verbal ramblings continue unfettered by any such structure). You see, I also registered for a creative writing class, focused on the short story.. which is a length of activity that fits well with my short attention, uh, something. What? In any case, I'm looking forward to it, but unsure how I'll stack up, academically, that is, given that I took one English(-for-engineers) class in college and that's about the extent of my native-language training. But it's cool; at the least, I hope everyone in the class - including the teacher - has a sense of humor (because I plan to use the word "balls" in every delightful permutation of its meaning) and capacity for suspension of disbelief (because I find it enjoyable to keep the logic of a story secondary to its overall lyrical flow and "texture"; they be meant for verbal delivery, for performance even). Maybe those ideas will get smacked down; who knows? (again, I have no reference); I'll let you know.

2. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Ghostland Observatory rocks live! I saw them for the second time last night at Mezzanine - a great place to see a show, by the way - with a friend and fully appreciate their "electro-dance soul rock". What really brings it all together is their frontman's full on swagger-fest and preacherman banter; the whole package (music and stage presence) makes for an eminently danceable and fistpump-able evening (sweaty too, if you let it). So, strike a pose, Mr. Behrens; strike a pose.. show us what you're workin' wit!

3. Finally, I *still* cannot get enough of Starship! It's a good thing I work from home, because I've been belting out "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (or, at least, a mangled version of it) all day long this past week..

In any case, it's Friday (after a long, but solid, week), the weather is beautiful here in SF (if a little chilly), and the weekend is upon us. I'm ready to enjoy it; please do so yourselves! Word.