Project 365 New Things: Day 28

Today, Young Company was cancelled because of the shootings at the Capitol. I'm just sort of tired of humans being awful, and that's all that I have to say about it right now.

In happier news, my new thing today was that I participated in a role-playing game of the dice and character-sheet variety. I don't know if I've extensively mentioned my literature group on this blog, but here's a sketch of them just for background. The group consists of six of my friends and me, and every Thursday we meet and discuss a work of literature. I love all of these people. We drink a lot of tea. We have deep discussions about characters. We talk about a lot of fandoms. We call ourselves "hermits united."

Anyway, today we brought a Doctor Who RP game to play after the discussion. It went quite well. Before we even began, we lost the dice (I think Ellen had been sitting on them). Kaila and I had an argument over whose character was more attractive, and Elizabeth lamented the fact that Martha Jones didn't get a special object whenever Rose Tyler was in the game. We all discussed the metaphorical resonance of this rule. Then we realized that Elizabeth didn't have a discernible pulse, and was probably dead. She thought this was amusing. Then, Elena, Kaila, and Missy and I began checking for our own pulses, and after some initial fear, finally found them.

I suppose we sort of deviated from the direction of the game when our characters stole a shop full of unattended candy, all donned bikinis (especially Captain Jack), and they all boarded a pirate ship on which they found the body of Jay Gatsby, covered in shirts. At this point, Joseph, our game master, claimed that there weren't any rules in the game book that pertained to this scenario. I remain skeptical on this point.

I don't think we're ever going to get invited to D&D meets. Maybe we'll become writers for SNL or something instead.

~Maddie

Project 365 New Things: Day 10

Today I gave a flower to a stranger, and it's safe to say that I've never done that before. I was at church, and I picked a flower from my family's plot at our community garden. I gave it to an older lady I didn't know. It was just a very simple way to make someone else happy.

In other news: I spent the day with Elizabeth watching Galaxy Quest and discussing fanfiction, Doctor Who, and Welcome to Night Vale (since yesterday, I'm now on episode 10 and harboring a strong desire to move to the small, desert hamlet in which the podcast takes place, not least because I want to see Carlos's perfect hair for myself). I read several of Shakespeare's sonnets this morning. I cleaned my room. Yes, you read that right.  I actually cleaned it. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. I, Maddie, cleaned. My. Room. Young Company starts tomorrow. If, wherever you are, you hear a faint, high-pitched squeal, I assure you that it is not because your computer or any of your other electronic devices are malfunctioning. What you are hearing is pure excitement leaking out of my ears in a highly-concentrated, gaseous state. It's a bit loud. I will put on earmuffs if it is bothering you.

And that, friends, is basically what's going on with me right now. I hope your weekend was, if not altogether enjoyable, at least somewhat satisfying.

Until tomorrow!

~Maddie

Project 365 New Things: Day 9

Today, at the urge of Elena and Elizabeth, two of my favorite humans and both good friends of mine, I listened to the first episode of a new podcast that I had never heard before. It's called "Welcome to Night Vale."

The words that come to mind as I try to describe this podcast are as follows: Weird. Random. Dark. Hilarious. Slightly creepy. Wonderful. Basically, the premise is that it's a newscast for a small town in the middle of a desert. It is very hard to predict what the narrator will announce next in his deadpan, calm radio voice. He will announce the discovery of a house that, contrary to all appearances, does not exist in the same tone of voice that a man would use to ask his wife to buy milk at the store. These "news bulletins" will start out very normally, say, with the announcement of a new dog park. And then the newscaster will inform us that there is a "no dogs allowed" rule in said dog park, and that in fact, no people are allowed either, due to the presence of several hooded figures whose origin is as yet unknown, because no one has the courage to come close enough to do much investigating. We are not to look at, go to, or even think about the dog park for this reason.

Basically, it's dark and hilarious and I am absolutely in love with it.

~Maddie