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I’m trying to dwindle my iTunes current overload of music. So far I’ve reduced it from 3300 songs to 2800. I’ve listened to clips of nearly every single song I have. That’s an accomplishment. But my brain is fried. Scrambled is the truth.

Thus began my last day in Lynchburg in the year 2003. I will be spending New Year’s Eve+ in VABeach with Abigail and Co. before heading over to help my brother and sister-in-law move in. So naturally, I’ve spent much of my day packing and preparing myself to get excited. GET EXCITED!!!

Monday I spent almost entirely with Jeremiah. He worked on getting his past blogs into his new script/code/whatever while I started tearing apart my extra music in iTunes. We finished up The Four Feathers also. Good, simple movie. Good times.

And, equally, I finished up Animal Farm on Monday as well. I really enjoyed that one. It was direct and a quaint. I don’t have much to comment on it besides liking it. Maybe short books are just right for me. Also, while talking to Karl I realized I hadn’t actually finished Brave New World but somehow had unconsciously skipped over the last paragraph. Just the last paragraph. Not that it was on another page or chapter or anything, but somehow my brain registered that selection of text as non-existent. That was strange. So then I finished the book. The last paragraph makes the book a little better. It does. In my humble opinion.

Yeah. I need to finish packing. *begin* packing.

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” - Animal Farm

Now back from yet another MD trip.

I finished Brave New World on the trip and I feel very compelled to blog about it. Let this be a warning to you, that I will contain spoilers. Ok, so Huxley is writing about the dysfunctions of society on an individual level, in general. He wants everyone to know how blind and accepting we are of our reality around us. Huxley prompts us to look inward to see the true source of our superfluous, materialistic culture rather than blame the media or government. The idea he tries to get across: we accept what we are given rather than fight for a better ideal. Of course, I left out parts in my quick rehash of the novel, but those are the main parts of the theme etc.

I began reading this book hearing it was a good read and quite worth my time. Although I won’t argue the latter, I wasn’t very impressed with the book itself. The book argues that individualism is lost in such a massively connected society. True. But the way in which the book describes that scenario is flawed. The organization of society (Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons) is the big flaw. The book says that all castes are created and manipulated throughout childhood and adolescence with ’sleep-learning’ methods that regulate their moral behavoir and judgment. The lower castes are manipulated to enjoy their inferior positions and lifestyles, while the upper castes are unconsciously learning to look down on their lessers. Now here is the flaw. If the lower castes, that are given no choice in their lifestyle or in the fact that they are even in a lower caste, know nothing of a better life, how can they be seen as choosing the flawed society in lieu of something better? That is all they know! Indeed, they would know of no other better feelings of freedom and pleasure than those that are given to them systematically. Thus, how could they desire any more? Huxley does mention that the Alphas receive some level of choice in their life, although the book suggests that it is so maintained that they truly have little to decide besides what type of sport to entertain themselves with. So my point is that Huxley is calling society superficial on a false pretense.

Obviously, I am not the most fluent person in my explanations, but I think that pretty well summarized my feelings about the book and why I didn’t totally enjoy it. Again, I was glad I read the book; I saw it as no waste of time, but I just wasn’t enthralled.

So now I am on to Animal Farm.

The weekend went well. Good food etc etc.

I am back now and tired. But wanting some Starbucks. Really bad.

Having an iPod is totally amazing. exo2 here I come.

Virginia Beach here I come

Yes. Absolutely. Merry Christmas. A day of great hope for all.

It has been a continuous day. Post-morning ceremonies I tried to read some of Brave New World but started to get tired, so I gave up and went back to messing around with my new toy. *yay*

We will all switch one day, and I don’t want to be the one left behind

My sister and brother-in-law were able to join us for the morning traditions. Very nice. And then us three went to see Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King. My third time; their first. They had plenty to say following it; I just enjoyed it once more. But I think I’m through with LOTR for a while. I’ve had plenty of dosages lately that I think a holiday is in store. A nice holiday.

So much more left to do during break. Great excitement.

Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Enjoy all. Enjoy.

So yes. Now I have short hair and “hott” glasses. What more could the world want? How about a few updates in the Photographs section…

I’ve been spending my time at home doing something foreign and Greek to me…something Greek and foreign…something Greek…anyways. I started reading Brave New World by Huxley. I had wanted to read this book for some time since Jeremiah first mentioned it to me a few years back. And then with the looming month period of break drawing closer I wanted to spend my time doing something ‘intellectually productive.’ So, after further motivation from Abigail, I went ahead and started this apparent classic. So far so good. Books aren’t as bad as the media makes them out to be.

Since J is in town, I’ve been hanging out with him plenty. Adam also is in town, but was unable to join us last night for a Tuesday night extravaganza. Although, early January is the time for our roadtrip to H-burg for some further excitement.

And also…my brother and sister-in-law got for themselves a boxer pup for Christmas. My brother brought her, Hollie (I believe that was the decided name), over after picking her up. She is the most adorable thing ever. My appreciation for boxers is even greater, but don’t think I would want to take care of an animal anytime soon.

Regardless, Merry Christmas Eve to all and ‘what you talkin’ bout, everyone.’

My mind has utterly lost all sense of what day it is. It’s gotten to the point where I’m about three days off. Really bad. I need some kind of surgery or something.

So Sunday night I met up with Rianna for some old-fashioned chats and sneaking-in of foods to see LOTR: The Return of the King again. It’s great catching up with people. Some time I think I enjoy it that way more than I enjoy constant conversation, but the absense of friends is never a pleasant thing. This was Rianna’s first viewing of the movie, so there were plenty of good laughs and weeping tears on her part ::adorable :: Anyways so it was some good times.

Today has been crazy hectic madness. I had an opthamologist appointment to get an eyeglasses prescription. Due to my eyes getting less able to stand contacts for extended periods of time, I am going to try to switch off between glasses and contacts. However, my current glasses are not strong enough for me to drive with, so I decided to get a new pair. So post the appointment I went to the mall and with the help of my dad I picked out a fashionable pair and they had them made in an hour according to my new prescription. Thus now I have hip new eye threads. You could call it…eye candy. Or just call it hip new threads. Four-eyes. Whatever.

Tonight was a reunion again with Jeremiah. We talked for about 2.5 hours at Drowsy over coffee and blueberry muffin. The store peoples made us leave because they were trying to close. It was some good talks. So much to find out about Emerson life and such. Hopefully we’ll take full advantage of the time home together over break. Sweeet.

And as well, I got word of New Year’s plans. Looks like I will be spending New Year’s Eve at an opera house (hause) with Abigail. This shall be fabulous. Also, if it pleases the fates, I will cruise to H-Vegas to hang out with Adam & Co. for a weekend.

So good. Almost Christmas too. Oh yeeeaaah. My life is crazier than River Ridge Mall. But…now they have a rock climbing wall. Serious busines.

Ah. It’s too late to think. Clearly. I think it’s these glasses…