http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:TheVizzi&section=today deviantART RSS for by:TheVizzi en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:13:03 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/20400031/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/20400031/ Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:55:42 PDT
]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/16892313/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/16892313/ Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:51:51 PST
Not a bad way to spend the hours following a day I'm none too fond of.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/16746842/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/16746842/ Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:13:50 PST To be deaf to a stranger’s cry
As he lies bleeding in the road
And you will try to justify
The things that you and I both know are wrong
Your stuttered laughter tells me more
Than you’d have ever wanted me to know

Praying to an anthem on a rock o’er the water
Turn your head indifferently
At our your own people’s slaughter
And empathy, humanity,
Are those four-letter words inside your shell?
And I don’t know how you were raised
But I was taught to curb that evil spell

Are you human?

The hole in your chest where hearts may often rest
As empty on the vows
You make about your emptiness
We gave our all as you recall
The stonewall selfishness that is your name
But you don’t mind that label
For selfish is the gospel you proclaim

There is a girl with a name I do not know
And though we never spoke
I’m glad he left and left you with your soul
And someday soon the harvest moon
Will loom above for all of us to see
And we will stare into the sky
And understand though you’ll still disagree

Are you human?

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/16483323/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/16483323/ Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:48:45 PST
Tomorrow is a new day.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/16051127/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/16051127/ Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:57:20 PST
OK. I was supposed to have a date tonight. Since at college I don't have access to a car, this was gonna be our first real date, had everything planned out. However, on the way I made a wrong turn, and I ended up in car accident. I freaked out. I was scared out of my mind. My car was really damaged, I'm okay, though (albeit shaken up). Thing is though, I was pretty far away from my house. I called up my parents, and they were on their way, but it would be a while before they got there. I called Ann Marie up, and her dad volunteered to pick me up and let me stay at their house for a while until my parents got there, but as it turns out, I was on the wrong road (route 25 instead of 25A), and by the time we figured this out and Ann Marie and her dad found me, my parents (who had gone the right way) were closer to Ann Marie's house than I was. I was so relieved to see Ann Marie, a familiar (and very pretty) face in the midst of a sea of craziness and hysteria. By the time we got to her house, her mom had already let my parents in, and, long story short, we all ended up ordering pizza and eating dinner together. Fortunately, her family was great, and her parents and mine got along really well. I ended up meeting her whole family (and playing Smash Bros. 64 with Ann Marie and her younger brother and sister).

So yeah...in one night, I got into my first car accident and met my girlfriend's family (and had her meet mine). It's all been a bit surreal. I'm half expecting for this whole night to have been a crazy dream and that I'll wake up any minute now. Not quite how I planned on spending my night, but, well, it was kind of nice. I'm still kind of frazzled by the whole experience, but things are going to be fine, I think.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/15938678/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/15938678/ Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:33:35 PST
Life is good. Things do work out for the best. I realize now that being obsessed with your unhappiness only makes it worse. Sounds obvious, but what can I say, I'm an idiot. Either way, life is good. I won't forget that.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/15597112/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/15597112/ Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:13:40 PST
That is all.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/15251464/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/15251464/ Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:45:41 PDT
I also learned a bit about disappointment.

Interesting night.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/15150568/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/15150568/ Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:21:20 PDT Another desperately wants to break up with his but won't.
And two other friends want to be together but are too afraid.

Hooray for the witness.

At least I'm good at giving advice. I hope.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/14624270/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/14624270/ Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:21:55 PDT
Fuck.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/14388316/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/14388316/ Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:50:33 PDT
First Craig left, then Nick, and now I'm leaving and I won't see most of my friends at least until thanksgiving break, if not longer. I have no idea how I'm supposed to survive without them. I mean, I see them almost every day. They're a part of who I am. Not that I even know who I am anymore. But whatever it is, they're a part of it.

I really have no idea what I'm doing with my life right now. Who the hell am I going to be in college? I have to make new friends, from scratch. God knows it took me long enough to get close to the friends I have now. And without them, I have no source of confidence. Or something like that. I'm about to be put into a social situation that's totally unlike anything I've ever experienced before. What kind of decisions am I going to make? I've never drank or anything in the past, ever, but who knows what I'm going to do, I mean, it's a whole new ballgame. Hell, I've never done a lot of things. No chances taken. Never had a real girlfriend. Never fought for something I believe in. But then, I'm not even sure what I believe in anymore.

I can't help but feel that who I've been until now has been some kind of facade, some fake confidence I've built up to keep my emotions from getting out. And now, after all this time, I've finally become comfortable with a small group of people that I trust a lot, and, just like that, it's gone. It's weird, in a lot of ways I feel closer to them than I do to my own family lately. But that might be the fact that I've been ditching my family a lot lately. I know they love me a lot, but I don't think they really understand me, or how I feel about things. They have faith in me. So do my friends. And I'm grateful for that, on both counts.

Up until the last week or so I've been so excited for college and the new things it would bring. But with my closest friends leaving, and me leaving them, I've been thinking.

I guess I'm worried about what kind of affect distance from everybody who cares about me is going to have on my life. How much of who I am is determined by their presence? How much is me? And who am I, really? What do I believe in? Why?

I guess I'll find out soon. For better or for worse.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/13478197/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/13478197/ Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:25:47 PDT
A huge section of my life is over. Am I excited that something new is coming? Definitely. I still have a lot of regrets, though. Time wasted. Meeting most of my current friends only three years ago. Screwing up every opportunity I've had with every girl I've ever met (ever). Procrastinating to the point where Comedy Troupe couldn't even have a show due to my negligence.

I'm finally genuinely happy with the friends I have now. It's weird that soon I'll be gone from most of them. Craig I'll still see, Brian too probably (their school is 20 minutes from mine). But, Nick's going to Binghamton, Ben to Hofstra, and so on; we're all setting off in different directions. That's not even taking into account all of my friends a year or a few younger than me. I'm going to miss my friends so badly. I need to spend as much time as possible with them this summer. I know I'll make new friends in college, but it's really hard for me to get close to people, and I'm really comfortable with the people I consider myself close with right now. It's going to be weird not seeing these people every day. I'm even gonna miss some of my teachers; Mrs. Hershkowitz I've worked with since I was a freshman. Mr. Costanzo, Christ, he was getting married today; he's a good guy, I wish him nothing but the best, I just wish he had come to Commack a few years earlier. Desmond and Silva, too.

I've let fear define my life up until this point. I can admit that. I'd like to say I'll learn from my mistakes, but I can't be sure. College had better be great.

My friends, my friends, what am I going to do without them? I hate who I used to be. I used to be such an idiot. I still am, probably.

I was so frustrated with Commack life recently. Suddenly, though, I can't help thinking about all the things I'm going to miss.

Everything's done. No more calc. No more forensics. No more IB. No more classes. I can't believe this year is over. I can't believe that everything's going to change. I mean, life's far from perfect, but I don't want to lose my friends.

Graduation was an interesting experience. For the large majority of it, I sat their bored, and though I paid attention to the messages in the speeches given, I couldn't help but fixate on my own discomfort under the hot sun, but when I got up there to receive my diploma, everything changed. I heard my name called and suddenly, my family, my friends' families, and my chamber choir were cheering for me. In that moment suddenly the event had meaning. I wasn't just dressing up in a silly outfit and sitting in the sun; I was passing into a completely different part of my life. And then when I was walking to my car on the other side of the school and I stopped to talk to Hershk, and she said how she was very proud of me, and I remembered how she's been one of very few people (certainly the only teacher) I've worked with closely and consistently for the past four years; she's watched me grow up, from the little pissant I was in ninth grade, to the man I am today. And of course I've got my flaws, I've got a ton. But I've changed. Definitely for the better. And I thank God (literally) for the friends and family (and even teachers) I've been fortunate enough to be able to call my own. The people who have made the last couple of years worthwhile. And I regret that I have limited time to spend with them before I leave. Everyone says how great college is, but I really don't want to leave what I have here. I mean, tonight, I had a bacon cheeseburger in the park and talked to my friends in depth about life and all that jazz; it's almost like I don't want college to be better, because I value what I have so much.

I didn't go to Steph's grad party. I just...I haven't gotten over the way she acted about the whole prom thing. I mean, her making everything about herself and getting royally pissed at me even though I've helped her through every personal crisis she's come to me with; I wasn't exactly eager to hang out with her. I hope I'll be able to make peace with her before the summer's gone. I may have missed my chance. Assuming she comes to my party, I'll talk to her about it. I don't want to leave on a sour note, regardless of what she's done.

I can't believe everything's over. Everything I've known. I mean, it's just not registering properly in my mind; the concept of the forthcoming change in my life, it just seems totally unreal. But, it's coming. I have to take everything the people who have cared about me have taught me, and put it to use.

I hope I can make them proud.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/13323216/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/13323216/ Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:57:04 PDT
It's been an interesting year. I've really tested some of my friendships, and I can genuinely see who my true friends are. Some people who I didn't expect to have really pulled through for me when I've needed it. Others have disappointed me. I've also learned that it's not necessarily always going to be the people who have known you the longest who are going to stick by you. I mean, certainly, I have a few friends I've had for a considerable amount of time who I can definitely count on, but one of the people I currently consider myself closest to I only began talking to a few months ago. It's weird.

I think I've gotten better at understanding people this year. I psychoanalyze everybody in my life, and I'm usually right. Maybe I should look into psychology as a career option.

Sidebar: apparently it's two in the morning. To quote Streetlight Manifesto: "I don't sleep anymore, I gave it up."

It's weird; Comedy Troupe has not gone as planned. I made some serious mistakes with that. Yet, for the first time that I can perceive, I have people who look up to me. It's so weird being a roll model for some of the younger members of the club. I'm not sure if I like it or not. I mean, I've certainly done some admirable things, but on the whole I consider myself fairly average.

I can't believe I used to be so anti-social. I mean, when I was a freshman, I barely ever hung out with people unless someone else took the initiative. Now, I can barely go a day without hanging out with my friends. I guess I've got a newfound appreciation for them, since I'll be leaving shortly.

I'm ready for something new. I'm ready for college. I'm sick and tired of my life here. I mean, I love my friends and all, but I don't like the image that some other people have of me. It's unrealistic. College also offers me a fresh slate. My procrastination throughout high school has no effect on the things I'll be working on in college. Also, I've blown every chance with every girl I've met here in Commack; up at Marist, nobody knows me, so I have a chance not to repeat the mistakes of the past. I'm tired of being a whiny, paranoid, desperate kid, too.

I wish I'd gotten involved in playing music sooner. Music's always been part of my life, but only in the past two years or so have I actually been in bands. I've recently started developing a lot as a songwriter, and I just wish that I could have made more music in this phase of my life that I can genuinely call my own.

So here I am, end of my high school career, with no direction in life. I don't want to be a lawyer anymore, even though that's what I've always said I want to be. I'd like to go into music, but I'm not stupid enough to believe that I'm talented enough to make any kind of reasonable living with that. And I don't have the self-discipline to be a creative writer.

The exchange of yearbooks is always interesting. Seeing what people write, figuring out how much of it they actually mean. I try to be honest in mine; though, it's hard to be serious in my signings, since I'm never quite comfortable writing meaningful things with other people around, so I usually end up just writing something semi-funny. Oh well. The people who know me know how I feel about them, and that transcends anything a yearbook can say.

I'm not going to prom. Yeah. I've already gotten yelled at for it. But does it really matter? I mean, I didn't want to go in the first place, and I didn't even have a date, there's no good reason for me to go. So what if I can only do it once; there are a LOT of things that I can only do once and yet choose not to. "It's a part of the senior experience." You know what my senior experience was? Apathy. Tons and tons of apathy. And I'm done with that. I'm done with high school.

I can only hope that this will be a most excellent summer.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/13134546/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/13134546/ Tue, 29 May 2007 06:25:35 PDT
Yeah.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/13079627/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/13079627/ Thu, 24 May 2007 18:00:55 PDT
Craig has been no help to Comedy Troupe. At all. This past year, every little roadblock that's come up, he's been ready to throw in the towel. But every time I persevere without his support and every time I turn out to be right. Co-President? Bullshit. I'm the only thing keeping the club together. I don't want to be that guy, but nobody else seems to care enough to take up one iota of responsibility. If I want anything to get done I have to do it myself. I was the one who got a new advisor. I was the one who recruited all the new members. I was the one who tracked down Mr. Vale to get his help to get us a room for the show. And today, when Craig found out that our request for a venue fell through, what does he do? He decides to spend the fucking day in Huntington. I get to Comedy Troupe and I call him up, wondering where he is, and he's all "well, I'm in Huntington today, not like it matters, we don't have a place for the show." So I track down Vale again and surprise, he's going to try to help us out. Is it really that hard? No. You just need to put in a tiny amount of effort. Craig doesn't seem to realize that. And he has no idea how to run the show, yet he thinks he's somehow superior to me in the direction aspect of the show. But surprise surprise, it turned out I was right again, when I convinced people to go up without scripts. I talked to him on the phone after I talked to Vale again, and he asked if I wanted him to come back for the second half of the meeting. Fuck that, he's not going to help anyway. And this guy's supposed to be one of my best friends. But he doesn't respect me or anything I stand for or anything I try to do. So he's been under a lot of stress, so have I, and you don't see me being a shitty friend or abdicating my responsibilities.

And can everybody just shut up about prom already? I know I need to find a date. But I have no options that don't suck. My Italian teacher's trying to set me up for prom with this weird cliche preppy girl in our Italian class who I find annoying (future soccer moms of America, anyone?), and I've asked my teacher to stop, I don't want her help in this, but she hasn't stopped. And Steph won't leave me alone about it either. Guess what? Shut up. I don't want to listen to you tell me things I already know.

And sidebar, to everybody who smokes: you're an idiot. In this day in age, to do such a thing is just stupidity. You deserve all the negative reprecussions it will have.

Today on the surface should have been a good day. I left school for an hour and a half to play video games and eat pizza with my friends. I had amazing waffles at the diner. Why do people have to be such a pain? I just want the next month to be over. I need summer so badly, you have no idea. I need to relax. I need all this pointless shit to be behind me. I'm done.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/12622267/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/12622267/ Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:13:38 PDT
I barely sleep at night anymore. I'm always tired the next day, but when night comes I just don't give a shit. And my schoolwork has been steadily slipping all year. I can't focus on anything anymore. My best friend seems unable to respect the beliefs of others (or any beliefs at all). I have to put out 120 dollars for stupid prom shit and I don't even have a date yet (and that's making the dubious assumption that I will). Craig's forcing me to get set up with some random girl I don't know and who I probably won't even like that way. And my band barely exists. We couldn't find Joe today, and Jared had work to do, so me and Craig, after some futile attempts at music, ended up just talking about how much life sucks for a while. I'm starting to think, maybe the world doesn't suck, maybe it's me. I do nothing with my life and I have no way of changing it because it's too late to fix my subpar schoolwork, my pitiful status with women, anything. I'm just so thoroughly exhausted right now.

After the amazing chamber choir trip this weekend, I felt like I was invincible. And the trip really was amazing. I feel like the group grew into a sort of clichéd family in that short timespan, and musically we kicked ass more than ever. I felt great. Now I feel like shit. I just wish I knew the reason why. Or if there even is one.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/12530320/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/12530320/ Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:14:52 PDT
Also good news: I'm going to see Lynyrd Skynyrd at Westbury Music Fair (awesome venue for live shows) in June, which I'm super-psyched about.

I haven't updated my DA in a while. I don't know why. Maybe I will again in the near future, maybe not. I can't say for sure.

Bad news: my computer has once again started freezing. I need to bring it back to Best Buy (it's a good thing I work there...).

So yeah, life seems pretty good. Too bad I'm going to go crazy in the near future. Why? The Comedy Troupe show is coming up, and I need to make it happen. Of course I've got my excellent co-officers to make this work, but it's gonna be crazy, especially since they won't let us use the cafeteria for the show (apparently they decided to stop letting clubs use it and not tell us, thanks a lot Mr. Vale). Add to that the fact that I have to miraculously make Warped happen, my upcoming IB exams, add to that two college-level classes I'm bearly getting by in, plus the realization that my life is drastically changing in a few months what with college and all, and the weight of the future suddenly bearing down on me, and you get a Mike Vizzi who is about to be very stressed out.

But not right now. Not yet. I've got a car, and, by association, freedom. So, until everything else comes crashing down, life is good.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11819824/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11819824/ Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:57:01 PST
Of course I got nothing done in any of my classes. Two-hour delays are stupid because none of the students or teachers really want to be there, so most classes do nothing, and those that do just have to repeat everything the next day because half the school's population is skipping school for the day. Bored out of my mind. Didn't even have my iPod with me to keep me occupied. In gym I was able to play guitar, so I guess that was entertaining, for me at least. And let's not forget, today was Valentine's Day, lord and ruler of all stupid commercial holidays. Or, as Adam so elequently puts it "singles awareness day." So, I get constant reminders all day of the fact that, a) I don't have a girlfriend, and b) that I live in a superficial and completely commercial society. Every year it's the same stupid shit.

Of course, due to the weather, all after school activities were cancelled for the day, and we weren't allowed to stay in the school after hours like my friends and I tend to do. But oh no, my friends who drive had early release, and, having not taken the regular bus home at all this year, I had no idea what bus number mine was. I ended up having to beg Mark to have his mom drive me home. I get to my house, and I see my sister standing outside telling me she can't get in because the keypad to open up the garage is frozen over. Naturally, she was not resourceful enough to realize that a pen easily doubles as a chisle. I had the door open in three seconds. "Oh look at me, I cry if I get below a 95 on a test, but oh no, a practical situation! What ever shall I do?" Pathetic.

Then guess what? I had to work. This weather, and Best Buy was still making me come out to work. It only took them an hour and a half to realize that they didn't need me in on a day when the store was so obviously dead. More time wasted. I picked up some CD's so that I wouldn't feel like today was a total failure. And while I'm enjoying "OK Go" a lot, it doesn't make this stupid day any more worthwhile. Hours upon hours of wasted time, constant reminders that I still don't fucking have a girlfriend, listening to my stupid sister's crap, too much boredom to measure...

Great bloody day.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11778174/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11778174/ Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:31:44 PST
The other bands were good, too. Well, JWM kind of sucked, but that's why they went on first. D Minor changed its name to "Benny Fabulous" at the last minute, and they rocked the house with their predominately instrumental ska, they put on an excellent show. Inside Joke was amazing, they let me and Craig do guest vocals on "Beer" (my favorite Reel Big Fish song), which was great fun, I loved it. They also did a really kickass rendition of the Tetris theme song.

If all goes well, we've got at least one other show lined up for late May, but I'd like to do at least one or two in between. Rock and roll is addicting. I love it.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11603034/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11603034/ Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:02:20 PST
Oh my God. I've had five bacon cheeseburgers in the last six days. I honestly don't think my heart can take another. I need to seriously detox from burgers for like...a month.

I finally got my Wii! My God, it is Wiimazing. I love it so much. Thanks to the amazing Nick (not his alter-ego who we discovered at Josh's house) who works at Target, I was able to snag one when they had 'em in stock. Score! Zelda is making me very, very happy.

Saw "Smokin' Aces" yesterday with Josh, Nick, Jenny, and some of Josh and Jenny's friends. It was an alright movie, though there were were some parts I'm pretty sure they stole right out of "The Usual Suspects." It was basically The Usual Suspects meets The Godfather meets Law and Order. It was entertaining, though. More worthwhile than the last piece of shit movie I saw there.

Dude. The new band started. Well, really it's most of the old band, but we're different. Our approach to songwriting is different than the old one (as in, it's actually fun and not ripping off other songs and making them boring, thanks to one specific person...), and we already wrote a new song even though we've only actually had one practice. I'm rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Craig's on drums and vox, Jared's on lead guitar, and this guy Joe (a fairly cool fellow) is playing bass. Joe's the only non-former-Syntax, and he's amazing, he was the missing element that we needed. We've got a show coming up on the 11th, send me a message if you want more info.

Gah! I completely missed the boat for "Heaven & Hell," the long-awaited reuinion of Ronnie James Dio with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice! Tickets went on sale Friday and I totally spaced it out until it was too late. And the only tickets left for any of the Allman Brothers shows at the Beacon suck, not worth the price, so that's two shows I really wanted to see that I'm missing out on. Well, Heaven & Hell's coming back in August, I might be able to see them then...blargh.

I want my computer back. I want close proximity between my computer and my TV and my Wii and my bag of pretzel nuggets and my various water bottles. Stupid freezing up.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11508442/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11508442/ Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:27:43 PST
That night, though, was Westock '07. Basically, this girl Jenny from Hills West convinced Craig and Jared to "band" together (oh I'm so clever) to perform under the name "I Have Stratego", for this benefit concert for the Darfur genocide. Of course the event was at the afforementioned Hills West. So, me and Nick get there, and who do I see? This guy Keith who I was friends with years ago back at The Y's theater camp. As it turns out, he was doing lead vocals for "I Have Stratego". Small world, neh?

Anyway, the show was decent. Brian came too, as did Craig's girlfriend (Shannon) and her friend (Kate). "I Have Stratego" was better than most of the bands that played (not that that's saying much, but still). There were only two other really notable bands, one of which I can't remember the name of and the other being "No Rights Reserved", a ska punk band that my old band played two shows with. They might be the best local band I've ever seen (with the possible exception of "Houdini? Like Wow!"). I was tempted to buy a t-shirt (proceeds were going to the Darfur cause, and plus I wanted the NRR shirt), but I needed money for a burger afterwards, so I told Aaron (bass/lead vocals) that I would next time (He also promised to play their harmonic minor song, Frost Goblins, next time). So, it was a good show, and I hope it raised some awareness about the situation in Darfur (though how effective the money donated will be spent I question somewhat, these organizations tend to be somewhat ineffective, though awareness is crucial). Afterwards, Me, Nick, Craig, Shannon, and Kate went to this diner in Huntington where somehow I ended up having to eat my bacon cheeseburger upside-down. No matter, the burger was a good one. The ride home proved that me, Nick, and to a lesser degree Craig all have terrible senses of direction (we were following Craig home and he was slightly unsure). But, we made it home fine, but I was pretty tired, I fell asleep pretty quickly once I got home (though I had a meeting this morning...so, little sleep). I think one of these days the three of us are just gonna sit down with a map and just...memorize Long Island. Completely.

I really want to start playing live shows again. They're so much fun. I swear, the first thing I'm going to do when I get to college is find me a drummer. My guitaring has improved as of late. I'd like to do some more shows before I'm out of high school, though. Hell, I'd love to do a show every week. It's just such a rush to be up on stage playing music. I really wish I'd started doing this when I was a freshman, then by now I might actually be a good guitarist in a stable band. If I may quote Reel Big Fish..."Rock and roll is bitchin'."

Also, I just heard on the radio that Heaven & Hell (the Black Sabbath lineup that featured Dio on vocals, currently under this moniker) is doing a show at Radio City Music Hall on March 30! I need to go to this show, I've been waiting for them announce official dates for a while.

I'm not excited about my upcoming midterms. Granted, most of mine were in class, so I only have Calculus (monday) and Forensics (Tuesday), but I'm not doing well in either of those classes. Studying should help.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11485593/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11485593/ Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:53:51 PST
Before first period, Benessey and Foreman's ska band was playing in the lobby. They played Reel Big Fish's "241," which made me very happy. The day became far more stressful from that point onward. First and second I had my midterm for English, a commentary essay which I wrote about Edmond Rostand's "Cyrano de Bergerac" and George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant." I think I did a pretty good job. Italian was next, but I couldn't finish the essay on time, I have to finish it tomorrow...I might actualy have to completely rewrite it because I'm pretty sure I interpreted the topic incorrectly. Fourth period was the last part of my music theory midterm, which I aced. After school, of course, I had Comedy Troupe, which I left early to go to play rehersal. It seemed to drag on forever, I was exhausted by the end. Since I had Chamber Choir that night and there was only like an hour in between, so we (the mass of us involved in the play and the chamber choir) ordered pizza. And it was pretty damn good pizza.

Before Chamber Choir started though, I recieved some excellent news. My phone rang. It was my mom. She told me that she had just found an envelope from Marist College in the mail. I told her to open it for me...I got accepted, but I expected that much. More important was what followed my acceptance in the letter: the 10,000 dollar scholarship they're offering my for each of the four years I'd go there. I was so excited to hear that. I've been leaning Marist-ish recently, they've been one of my top choices since I visited the school and loved it. This just seems like a great oppurtunity. I see it as very likely I'll end up going there.

It's exciting!

Oh, and apparently me and my ex-girlfriend are talking again. We just started talking randomly during the break in Chamber Choir. It's a good thing, the whole "ignoring each other all the time" thing was just causing unnecessary awkward tension.

The degree to which I was tired by the end of my ferociously long day is unfathomable. However, the good news from Marist completely redeems any of the exhausting things this day has brought on.

*high-fives*

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11465717/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11465717/ Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:35:37 PST
Josh got me to join camera club today. Apparently they don't do much. Whatever, glad to help 'em out whenever needed (after all, I sell cameras, I might as well use 'em).

I've got part two of my Italian midterm tomorrow...I'm really glad this isn't gonna matter at all in the long run (really difficult), since my colleges have already (hopefully) accepted me.

Been working on my scales for guitar a lot more recently. I'm getting a lot better, I'm mucho proud of myself.

My mom finally found the giant bag of styrofoam packing peanuts. Honestly, I'm surprised it took her so long. She yelled at me for wasting my money on it. Whatever. It was totally worth it. Kind of.

Aaaaaaaaand stolen from Jenna:

1) List Four fandoms you have.

-Obscure music
-Youtube Theater (best YouTube series ever)
-That 70s Show
-Apparently Ska now

2.) Have you ever slept in the back of a car?

Of course

3.) Have you recently dyed your hair/cut it?

A couple weeks ago...

4.) List four people that you look up to the most.

-Roger Waters, for his musical genius
-George Orwell, for his writing prowess
-My dad, for being an overall succesful person, and more importantly, a good person
-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for his unsurpassable devotion to his cause

5.) How many pets do you own as of now?

None

6.) Which do you prefer white or black?

Black makes for better band t-shirts

7.) Who is your most player character?

Don't really have any characters to choose from

8.) Choose one or the other, not both:
-Beng stuck on an island with your best friend
-Being stuck on an island with 5 aquaintences

Hmm, I guess I'd prefer best friend to people I'm kinda friendly with.

9.) Name three aspects that tell who you are.

-Sarcastic
-Lazy
-Obsessed with music

10.) If you could have a power what would it be?

The power to phase through walls would easily be the most convenient.

11.) Who was the last person you talked to?

My dad just came in and told me to go to sleep

12.) Who was the last person you said "i love you" to?

My mommy (Awwwww)

13.) Write down the first five words that pop into your head:

-Sleep
-Green
-Window
-Bright
-Pythonesque

14.) What's one thing you wish you could do better?

Play guitar. Or maybe get girls.

15.) Do you like the way you are?

In most aspects

16.) Choose, Summer or Winter:

Summer is easily my favorite.

17.) Choose, Rain or snow:

Snow, rain's just annoying.

18.) Water or ice?

Ice. Cooling mah beverages.

19.) List two odd things about yourself:

-I'm really good at spelling weird last names
-I love bacon cheeseburgers with the fire of a thousand suns


20.) Now list 6 people who should do this quiz!

Yeah, like anyone's actually gonna read this. >_>

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11453239/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11453239/ Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:46:45 PST
Earlier today, Andrew came over to work on our social studies extra-credit project: a symphnonic power metal song about Hitler.

That went just great .

So, yesterday, my ex-girlfriend came into Best Buy while I was working. Let me tell you, the awkward tension: hilarious. This girl I work with (familiar with the situation) kept grinning ear to ear the whole time. We had a good laugh about it afterward. I was kind of surprised to see her, we've done a fairly good job of avoiding each other since we broke up. So, I sold her a camera. With the service plan. The funniest part is, for the service plan, I needed to get her home phone number for Best Buy's records. So, I effectively asked for (and got) my ex-girlfriend's phone number.

Hey, at least my life keeps me entertained, neh?

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11428084/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11428084/ Sat, 13 Jan 2007 21:57:47 PST
Ben had to drive me home, since my parents were out, and we (me, Ben, and Marc) stopped at Burger King on the way home, surprisingly not at my suggestion (I had already had a double bacon cheeseburger at Burger King for dinner). I wasn't all that hungry, so I just got fries and soda.

I picked up Goldfinger's "Hang-Ups" CD today at Best Buy, which was pretty good, like, half of their songs are punk and the other half are third-wave ska. I liked it. Also recently got The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' "Let's Face It" and Adam burnt me Streetlight Manifesto's "Everything Goes Numb" (Ben, why did I let you turn me into a ska kid?).

I really don't have anything insightful to say right now. So, I'll leave you with this completely random thought: if all politics are bullshit, do we only choose sides out of concern that one side isn't spewing enough of said bullshit?

That is all.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11355366/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11355366/ Sun, 07 Jan 2007 20:39:19 PST
Oh, finally set up my printer today. Huzzah.

Got another Reel Big Fish CD yesterday, "Turn the Radio Off." Listened to it about a thousand times. "Beer" is probably my favorite track off of the album. Good stuff. I'm almost worried that I'm gonna turn into a ska kid.

Later, Mike came over to work on some math stuff. It might have helped if we had brought somebody who, I don't know, was actually good at calculus. We got some important calc-related stuff done, though. The rest of the time though, we pretty much spent watching Spider-Man 2, listening to music, and talking about interesting philosophical stuff. For example, Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," which I had never heard of, he had a few pages of in his backpack, which he showed to me. Very interesting. I like to read philosophically based things. I guess that's why most of the books I enjoy tend to have a philosophy-oriented or sociopolitical edge to them. I also remembered how much I like making up arguments and disproving them, then disproving my disproof. I like thinking, and I like making other people think. That's just who I am.

Also, after talking about Pink Floyd's "Hey You," point Mike got me to switch on the immortal "The Wall" album (I'd had my ska mix on shuffle) on my computer. Now, I hadn't listened to Pink Floyd in a while. I used to listen to them a little too compulsively, and so it got boring to listen to again and again, despite how truly great it might be (everything grows monotonous after overexposure). He'd never listened to their "Meddle" album, so I turned that on, and burnt him a copy. Listening to "One of These Days" through "Echoes" reminded me of why I love them so much. They really are my favorite band, their music is just indomitable. It's just such interesting music, so melodic, with a progressive edge to it. I'm glad I had so much downtime since my last major Floyd-listen, I can listen to it with new ears again. I mean, of course I still know all the music, but it's more refreshing to hear it after a while of downtime. So, right now I'm listening to the "Atom Heart Mother" album. A little obscure, but among their top work.

What makes music so great? I mean, it's just sound waves, really. What is it that produces that sense of euphoria? What is it that gives music the power to transend body, mind, and soul, to communicate emotion and truth with such elegance? To revitalize and to energize us? To remind us of our selves, where we are, where we've been, and where we're going. To make us whole. And it doesn't have to be avant-garde or serious to do that. Even the most sacrcastic, upbeat ska music sheds some light. I truly believe that music is one of the few genuinely positive forces in this troubled world. And thank God for that.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11330995/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11330995/ Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:36:05 PST
A lot of ska songs seem to have been engrained in me for ages, long before Ben and Ben (both of 'em) got me into this genre de awesome. Songs like Goldfinger's "Superman", The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' "The Impression that I Get", Less Than Jake's "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads", The Toasters' "Two-Tone Army"...it's different from a lot of stuff I listen to. But then, my tastes are fairly diverse. I mean, few can claim to have Genesis, Metallica, Reel Big Fish, and REM in considerable quantities in their personal music library. I mean, to the average joe, my new Kurt Cobain poster (which just came in yesterday) might look peculiar in between my Beatles and Pink Floyd posters, but really, it's just a display of all the different types of music I love. Ska seems to have suddenly fallen into my audio repetoire. I suppose I was predisposed to ska or something...either way, I'm loving it now.

Well, my IB English World Lit Paper II is finally finished. Trying to find my Paper I from last year proved difficult, and I almost gave up (the results of which could have been disastrous), but I uncovered it eventually. Now that that's done, we'll be reading some nonfiction, starting with some essays by my favorite author, George Orwell. I've never read anything of his aside from his novels, so I'm excited for this unit, as much as a geek as that may make me.

The cast list for Oklahoma went up today. I am...TOM. Simply Tom. Probably moderately insignificant, but hey, I've got a name, which is more than most of the cast has. Should be fun. I think I'm going to refer to myself as Tom from now on.

Bleh, I have work tomorrow. Really don't feel like going. Though, I need to pick up a power strip and a USB cable anyway, so I guess I had to go to Best Buy anyway. Might pick up some CD's. But that's all for tomorrow. For now, I surf my favorite series of tubes, the internet. I should probably go to sleep. But, realistically speaking, I probably won't any time soon. This has caused problems as of late. I actually fell asleep in gym class today (by no means a negligible feat). But, I'll deal with it. I always do, somehow.

...

I AM TOM.

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11306421/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11306421/ Wed, 03 Jan 2007 20:22:57 PST
I finished that story I was working on before. Anybody who catches the not-so-subtle reference in the title and first line gets a cookie. And not like one of those lame store-bought deals, I mean a serious cookie cookie. But I digress. I'm not quite sure if I like what I wrote...I'll have to look back on it in a few days. I'll probably end up editing some. Please, feel free to add whatever comments you'd like to it, I'm always open to criticism.

In other news, callbacks for the play are tomorrow. Exciting stuff. Should be a good time.

Oh, I finally caved and shaved the ol' unibrow. So yeah, another chapter in the story of my life finished.

Marc sent me some more DragonForce today. I've got to say, it's some interesting music. A little different than the metal I'm used to, they've got their own distinct style, which I like.

Getting back to writing was a refreshing change. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it. I get the feeling I'll be writing Part II of my "Creed" story shortly.

Peace

]]> ~TheVizzi http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11292194/ http://TheVizzi.deviantart.com/journal/11292194/ Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:01:17 PST so 2006. I'm through complaining about the problems I cause myself and then doing nothing to change them. That's caput.

School starts again tomorrow, which is weird, yet not entirely unexpected. I guess my free time is gone again, though I'm not working again till Saturday, which is nice.

God, I haven't had a bacon cheeseburger in days. I think I'm starting to suffer from withdrawal. I really need to go to a diner.

Finally got a printer today. My dad got a few free ones because he bought a bunch of computer-related things at his office. I'll be hooking that up in the near future, when I get off my lazy ass and go get a power strip from Best Buy.

I started writing again. Haven't done that in a while. After I decided to host some of my older stories on this account, I thought it'd be fun to flex my writing muscles again, so I've started a new short story. That'll probably be up in the not-so-distant future.

So, it's a new year. A chance to rectify my grades, which I've been letting slip. A chance to stop holding myself back by feeling needlessly sorry for myself. A chance to focus more on everything I've been lazy about. I always thought this New Year's stuff was a load of bullshit, but maybe there's something to it. I don't know.

But whatever it is, I'm looking forward to it.

]]> ~TheVizzi