[mood]: dandy.
[music]: Great Big Sea: Turn
[msn]: Pirate: Entering monkhood January 3

(more of me preparing my mother for my BALDNESS!)

...I got my grad photos today... they did that retouch thing where they remove acne and etc... ...I feel like I'm looking at someone else.  It's weird.  I look like a doll.  I mean, I look good, and it's not as though acne = great, but... it's just... it's like, if I had lost an arm, and someone drew a portrait of me, with my arm back.  That missing arm is something that defines my character.  When people look back on that photo they're going to see someone different than who I am.  It's bothering me.  Otherwise the photos are nice though.  Here's another analogy which I used to explain the feeling to Erica and Justin:
... it's like, if you visited France, and it was a terrible day, and you took a picture of yourself outside or something, and then you brought it back and someone fixed it so that it looked nice outside.  Sure, it makes for a better photo, but the memory's gone.  It's just a piece of art.  It has no sentimental value.  The photo means nothing to me.  It preserves nothing.  It lies.

Speaking of photography, one of the plays we saw during the dramafest was really awesome... It was called "Cameras".  They did a really amazing job.  At most times the stage was occupied by these photographers, spinning circles around random people who would come on (dancers, stripper, person carrying roses) and telling us how they liked to take photos (the lighting, the lenses, the movement, etc).  A guy then came on with a white shirt and laid out a white blanket.  He sat down and pulled out a gun, then put it in his mouth.  The photographers were all ready, but then the stage darkened, and a girl in a dress came on the opposite side.  She said this really amazing monologue (personal congrats from the Madison), telling us about this car accident she'd seen.  "There were dozens of us, trying with our hands in the mud and rain to pry this person out of their car.  I looked back over my shoulder just as we got the door off to see a man standing about a thirty meters away, taking pictures."
There was a bit more of the monologue about how we should stop just watching things (thou shalt not stand idly by) and try helping people, and then she exitted.  There was a gunshot; the guy in the white shirt had shot himself.  The photographers were in a frenzy, and there was another blackout.  To top it off; a camera flash.  It was a brilliant piece of work, and they did a fantastic job.

So... today in English and Physics, I actually accomplished something - A DRAWING!!  OMFG!  So here is the piece in all its magnificence; click the thumnail (which likely shows little to no detail) to view a bigger version (ooh, aah!):

Aaaanyway.  I finished it at home, but started it in English and worked through Physics.  Actually, Physics drawing was interesting.  Graeme was watching over my shoulder the whole time, making comments.  Normally I hate that.  I hate when people watch me do anything... draw, write... anything.  It makes me feel like I need to be working to their standards or something... definitely "or something".  Anyway... it didn't bug me too much when Graeme did it, because he was more like my brother.  "Well that sucks" rather than "Wow Madi that's so good!"... can't stand the latter comment.  Anyway... it was funny, because he looked away for a bit, then looked back and completely changed his tone... apparently my drawing became "great" in those last few seconds before the bell rang.  Anyway.  Funny stuff.

Someone brought up the word "clipper" today... interesting word.  I like it.  It's piratey.  Also, I was thinking about "amen" recently... turns out it means, "so be it"... not sure why I was thinking about it.

Anyway, all I got for now.

/mads