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I finished The Canterbury Tales this afternoon. A task that was forcefully begun in high school was willfully completed. From the books I’ve read over the past year, the classic literature among them has staked its claim as the pinnacle, in my opinion. Les Miserables is unmatched, but The Canterbury Tales simply fights just as fervently for a top spot.

I don’t dismiss the fact that much of The Canterbury Tales’ effect comes through during the translation, so in this case I must argue my appreciation for Nevill Coghill’s translation. However, this translator had many afternotes and thoughts that were also included appropriately annotated; he clearly intended to remain to the original connotations of each tale and
-logue portion. Anyways, I've been wanting to finish that work since I first began it in high school; it intrigued me then, and now I, thankfully, have an experienced love for the Tales.

Hmm. I smell something like soup. Now I want soup. ::gets soup::

A further note: I am employed Monday and Tuesday. Purrrrrfect timing. I will be helping out Mark with some of the cabinet-making jobs he’s acquired around town. Good times ahead.   

Today, I helped set up a home theater system. I really enjoy the entire component audio/video production (as opposed to the home theater in-a-box alternative) so, naturally, it was a blast for me. Hopefully, I will also reap visual and auditory benefits from the endeavor. Let me just say that !JBL is so amazing.

After today, tonight came along. And tonight I saw Ray. Oh, what a good movie. Jamie Foxx was incredible. Incredible I say! The choice to over saturate select scenes with color gave those pieces of the film a certain fantasy-like quality to them - a wonderful directorial maneuver. But again: Jamie Foxx was fantastic! His performance alone is worth seeing the film. I was surprised that I was the only person in the theater who sat through the full credits, as I usually do. Come on!, this movie was about music! Why leave after the passive, visual portion is done? There was so much more to enjoy while those credits scrolled. Oh well. What else could I expect from a Lynchburg audience?

I must say, without a doubt, never a waiver, not a hesitant thought in me: I’ve been rollercoastering the past week. Exams are stressing but life is pressing and I believe life just took over at some undetermined point.

It would be foolish of us as weak, fragile human beings, ever to refuse the comradery and care of another person just as breakable as ourselves. One of my favorite films has, and will be, About A Boy starring such marvelous beings as Hugh Grant, Rachel Weisz and Toni Collette. I recommend you view it yourself. I’m not one to oversensationalize a film - clearly, they are weak interpretations of life from other weak individuals - but this movie clarifies something I just haven’t witnessed more cleverly grasped by other theatrical works. Each of us is in need of the help of others; it is by nature that we are brought together in communities and groups and clubs and societies and, sadly, but true, fraternities and sororities. Even isolationism is usually something done in groups (think Switzerland pre-new-millennium).

But anyways, it has been a long week and leaving Blacksburg for so long will be straining. Especially since I will be missing the non-football charged semester.

Like I mentioned, exams are done. Woah : : what were many of my professors thinking? I was delightfully surprised at the Differential Equations final that included one-quarter of its material on topics that were not covered in our curriculum. Mind you, the math department’s “common time” finals are not written by the professors of those classes but rather by higher up, more “divine” math prefects among the VT faculty. Some unknown figure is to blame; he/she remains anonymous.

On a completely unrelated topic, my love for TDI Jettas has been rejuvenated. I was allowed quite an experience being the passenger in one of those fine, still-Alemanically-produced machines. Handles well, accelerates well, fuel economizes well, and “poots” well. The perfect package, I must say. Can anyone say “ultimate Christmas”? Hmm…?

I intended to post this last night, as would have been appropriate, however, circumstances led for an unexpectedly long evening of study. This evening of study, as mentioned, came after a brutal beating of C++’s fists on my face.

Yet, it wasn’t an impossible exam at all; thirty-five logic-based, gonna-try-and-trick-the-students questions certainly are not infeasible, but tiresome nonetheless. I think the most fantastic portion of that evening was rather my return across the drill field.

Mind you, this is Blacksburg, and this is the advent of winter, but I had forgotten the intensity of the wind across that vast valley when Mother Nature grants it leave. I literally was “ushered” across the drill field. as the wind pummeled by back with spontaneous blows and kicks. Oh! And the snow! It was fantastic to see snow rise from its resting place on the ground to come spit in my face most randomly. All said, the exam and my humiliating rush back across campus were about as fun as Boxing Day customer service.

On another note (and I must be quick with my notes because I should be studying at this point), I’ve said goodbye to two [2] people thus far: #1 was Katie, who watches McComas on the days I workout and we also went to JF together; and #2 the guy who faithfully guards the McComas door from non-Tech students or employees. ::wipes tears:: …this is going to be a long last three days…

[recalling] I almost forgot. ::shame:: I am now Google-famous! It didn’t last very long, but I was proud of this accomplishment. Too bad “scarves” is misspelled.
:)

What is fabulous? A golden goose laying golden eggs is fabulous. But what is fabulous? …

Walking to Bollo’s for the final Saturday-time until next Fall’s semester with the snow starting to carefully hiccup from the ‘bove is fabulous. Granted, I was just going there to do some studying and torturous physics, but nevertheless, a pleasant walk in the bitter cold is great right before break. Trees that creak and feign in the frigid winds are perfect accompaniment to the symphonic silences uncommon to Blacksburg’s Saturday nights.

I will miss Tech. The past two weeks have given me even more reason to miss it while I am away at the co-op. But I will manage; I’m sure I’ll have my healthy share of Spring semester weekend visits to hold me off until the Fall returns.

Exams are close, very close, too close. I have been progressively making headway through the books and papers and myriad online documents. A fantastic voyage, no less. What else should I say? Finals are finals.

Despite Depp, I’m sticking with Wilder. I am a traditionalist when it comes to my pure imagination. I was weary about a revised edition of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and after viewing the sad, sad trailer I have ample reason to remain so. ::sigh:: Hollywood ruins another good thing.

Let’s hope Homestar stays off the big screen.

The Apple Product Showcase: the best way to spend a day without classes. Nice, gracious and patient representatives from Apple were on hand to demonstrate all of the software that is available for Macs. All of the software. As the term “showcase” implies a greater level of sophisticated appeal, so this event dwelled in that tier of divinity.

Watching a pro audio consultant mess around with Logic Pro is…breath-taking. Imagine watching Mozart voraciously attack a blank sheet of steadily lined paper. Or Van Gogh, eyeing himself in the mirror, moments after removing his ear; he picks up a brush and *BAM* …history and genius in one.

I also was astounded with Maya (known for intensive graphics rendering; let’s just say LOTR used it…a lot), Shake (oh my, this is good stuff), and Motion. Not to forget the machines these were all run on: dual-processor PowerMac G5s more or less. They also had a full line of PowerBooks and iMac G5s on hand to flaunt their stylish figures. I also ogled over a new iPod photo; that was exciting.

Ironically, among the majestic devices found in that room today, I found the most pleasure and excitement over the minutest item. Being honest, prior to today, I simply had never used an iPod mini; I’ve held one for a few seconds, but nothing more. Holding a mini today and using it for a couple minutes consummately changed my view on iPods (and especially competing products that claim superiority over the iPod and its interface). The iPod mini is weightless; being attuned to the exact measures of my 20GB 3G iPod, I was shocked at the refined, petite nature of the mini. Shocked and loving it. It simply blows my mind that all of the usability of the iPod could be crammed into something so small. The iPod mini could possibly be the most amazing product of 2004. It has my vote.

::sigh:: Attending that event, for me, was like Tiny Tim watching a college football championship.