Today I decided I was going to be a completely negative person. I'm usually neither really positive nor negative, so I thought this was going to be interesting to everyone that is around me. I woke up, and said good morning to my roommate. We usually eat breakfast together and talk about our daily events. She had told me she was starting her first day at a flower shop that afternoon. My response was 'that sucks.' she kind of just looked at me and didn't say anything. She kept talking and then asked me what my plan was. I gave her a list of my errands for the day, and said them in a very monotone way, as if I didn't care either way. She raised her eyebrows and said 'sounds like fun' and I gave a sarcastic reply and went into my room. I immediately felt like an asshole, but tried to brush it off.
I went to my first errand, the bank. The teller was being unusually slow and I was getting irritated so after I made my deposit, I said thanks hastily with a dirty look and walked away. I could feel people looking at me as I turned so I ran out as much as possible. The rest of the day went about just like that. The fun comes around 5 when I met up with friends for dinner. Usually when we have our monthly outings, we all dress up for an excuse to dress up. I decided to wear ripped jeans and a T-shirt. My friend Randi looked at me and asked if I had been working on an art project before I arrived. I made an offended face and asked her what the point was of dressing up. She just looked at me shocked and didn't talk to me for the rest of dinner. As everyone shared stories about their week, I just kept looking off, not saying anything, or being completely negative. I could feel that all of my friends were getting really irritated with me. I found that it was easier to be negative this time because my mood had taken a dive from being rude all day and getting looked at funny.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday Walk 5/31/2011 - I walk in your name
2 Februaries ago, My friend of only 25, died of cancer. It started out in her ovaries and traveled to her lungs. I remember when I first heard about the cancer, they thought it was just a cyst of some sort, she had let the tumor grow into a basketball shape in her body before she realized something horrible was going on, and she wasn't pregnant. It was summer when she first went in to the doctor and they told her that she had cancer. Month after month, it was a constant see-saw. One minute, the chemo seemed to be working, and she was able to get up and move, the next minute, she was in bed for days unable to even eat by herself. Watching her waste away to 85 pounds was the most horrible thing I'd ever have to witness.
I knew I had to do this walk (or in this case run) for her, whether anyone had asked me to or not. Being out of shape, I decided to run as fast as I could in order to feel that instant pain and struggle and forcing myself to get through it. I found a really hilly area that i try to ignore usually, but I thought it was perfect because it represented the see-saw her body went through. (Uphill/Downhill days)
As I started my run, I thought of how much I had ahead of me, and I became mentally exhausted. I had to keep telling myself to keep going and be strong, that I'd make it. I had a steep hill up first, and my pace immediately slowed down while going up it. At first I was doing okay, but by the time I made it up, I could feel my legs start to ache a bit. The downhill was a nice easy recovery, but mentally I was strained because I knew I was heading back up again. By the time i ended my run, I had to lay on the ground because of exhaustion. I could feel my heart pulsing through my body, I thought it was going to explode. I was exhausted but happy that I had done it. I pushed through when I was about to seriously give up, physically and mentally.
I knew I had to do this walk (or in this case run) for her, whether anyone had asked me to or not. Being out of shape, I decided to run as fast as I could in order to feel that instant pain and struggle and forcing myself to get through it. I found a really hilly area that i try to ignore usually, but I thought it was perfect because it represented the see-saw her body went through. (Uphill/Downhill days)
As I started my run, I thought of how much I had ahead of me, and I became mentally exhausted. I had to keep telling myself to keep going and be strong, that I'd make it. I had a steep hill up first, and my pace immediately slowed down while going up it. At first I was doing okay, but by the time I made it up, I could feel my legs start to ache a bit. The downhill was a nice easy recovery, but mentally I was strained because I knew I was heading back up again. By the time i ended my run, I had to lay on the ground because of exhaustion. I could feel my heart pulsing through my body, I thought it was going to explode. I was exhausted but happy that I had done it. I pushed through when I was about to seriously give up, physically and mentally.
Thursday Walk 5/26/2011 - Cocooned VS Engaged
I took a walk today and I had both an Ipod and sunglasses on. As I started my walk, I almost felt like I was in my own bubble. A song that I liked was on and my sunglasses shielded me from anything except for my walking path. I almost felt like I was in control and owned the area, like I was an important person and nothing/no one else mattered.
When a song came on that I didn't really care for, my first immediate response was to shut it off. Instead though, I walked through it. I noticed that I started walking faster and kept thinking about when the song would end rather than let my own mind wander. Some songs that came on that had some sort of sentimental memory with it completely took my brain away from where I was walking, and back to that memory. My mind got lost in it and when I turned around, I noticed how much walking space I had covered even though it didnt seem like I had walked for very long.
When I took my glasses and Ipod off, I immediately got bored. I forced myself to engage into my surroundings. I think my unconscious paranoia came out. Suddenly I felt like everyone I walked past was staring at me, which is a very common thing for me. I started feeling anxious and walking faster, to make myself a blur to others and to reach home faster. The walk wasn't as desirable without music, which kind of made me upset when I really thought about it. The fact that I needed something to keep me entertained even though a walk outside somewhere new should be entertaining enough.
When a song came on that I didn't really care for, my first immediate response was to shut it off. Instead though, I walked through it. I noticed that I started walking faster and kept thinking about when the song would end rather than let my own mind wander. Some songs that came on that had some sort of sentimental memory with it completely took my brain away from where I was walking, and back to that memory. My mind got lost in it and when I turned around, I noticed how much walking space I had covered even though it didnt seem like I had walked for very long.
When I took my glasses and Ipod off, I immediately got bored. I forced myself to engage into my surroundings. I think my unconscious paranoia came out. Suddenly I felt like everyone I walked past was staring at me, which is a very common thing for me. I started feeling anxious and walking faster, to make myself a blur to others and to reach home faster. The walk wasn't as desirable without music, which kind of made me upset when I really thought about it. The fact that I needed something to keep me entertained even though a walk outside somewhere new should be entertaining enough.
Tuesday Walk 5/24/2011 - Mapping Territory
In terms of environment, Hart, Michigan is very different. In Arizona, I expect to see cactus everywhere, dead plants, thin trees, and lots of dirt and rock. The first thing I noticed when stepping off of the plane at Grand Rapids was GREEN. Everywhere I looked it was green and lush and full and the air smelled different. It was heavy and humid, but it smelled fresh.
The house I was staying at was right in the middle of the country. Acres and Acres of land, a neighbor not to be found. I decided to map the 'Country' while walking around and exploring. As i walked, I realized how self-sustaining the people of this town were. With only 2 grocery stores in the entire city, it was almost expected that you grow your own crop. Gardens frequent the area. I saw a greenhouse, also a gardening method. There was a line where clothes could be dried outside. My first thought was, many people in Arizona just put their clothes in a dryer... Though it would make sense if they hung their clothes outside because of how hot it is.
Many people owned Chickens, of course to lay eggs and own those. My friends that I stayed with had their own bee hive to have their own fresh organic honey. At first I thought to myself, WHEN do these people have time to do all of this? Then I remembered, they are not city folk. Internet, nightlife, CITYLIFE in general did not exist to them. If I took the 5+ hours a day I spent on a computer, and put it towards something non-electronic, I could definitely have my own prospering garden.
The house I was staying at was right in the middle of the country. Acres and Acres of land, a neighbor not to be found. I decided to map the 'Country' while walking around and exploring. As i walked, I realized how self-sustaining the people of this town were. With only 2 grocery stores in the entire city, it was almost expected that you grow your own crop. Gardens frequent the area. I saw a greenhouse, also a gardening method. There was a line where clothes could be dried outside. My first thought was, many people in Arizona just put their clothes in a dryer... Though it would make sense if they hung their clothes outside because of how hot it is.
Many people owned Chickens, of course to lay eggs and own those. My friends that I stayed with had their own bee hive to have their own fresh organic honey. At first I thought to myself, WHEN do these people have time to do all of this? Then I remembered, they are not city folk. Internet, nightlife, CITYLIFE in general did not exist to them. If I took the 5+ hours a day I spent on a computer, and put it towards something non-electronic, I could definitely have my own prospering garden.
Thursday Walk 5/19/2011 - Desire Lines
I recently went to Michigan, and decided that would be a great place for this walk. Within the Woods, there were many 'desire lines' to follow rather than follow a paved path. I took one out, a hiking trail, and noticed that it went around a river. Finding this line was easy and evidence was also simple to find. Most of the leaves had been cleared out, as if stomped on. You could see the dirt underneath clearly and sometimes, there were animal tracks. It was interesting that I found a desire line that animals also use. It almost makes me wonder whether humans made this desire line, or just found it and decided to follow it, hoping it would lead them to food or just following to see where it took them.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Infernal Noise Brigade
Never hearing of the Infernal Noise Brigade, I was very interested in hearing what type of ‘music’ this band played and that they are using themselves more as a device for art performance and political rallying. The fact that they stepped out of the norm and played all kinds of music rather than just typical band songs was great to me. After more research, I found that the Infernal Noise Brigade is notorious for rallies and uplifting spirits when you could typically expect a tense atmosphere. I think this is very important because good moods tend to allow people to open up and be more thoughtful or open-minded. It can also allow for a more cohesive protest.
The Infernal Noise Brigade is such an interesting concept that I don’t think anyone that has seen them would forget about them, even if the memory was positive or not. I know of many people, at times myself included that would find them annoying in certain circumstances though. While I do believe that the band should exercise their art to the world, I think the Infernal Noise Brigade works because they seek out public rallies where there are many people involved. If it were to be at a more intimate setting they would definitely be inappropriate. During events such as the New Year parade in New York, marching bands are important because they direct attention and call for a celebration. During a school football game they are appropriate for the same reason. If they were in a conference hall, that would be too close and loud for comfort.
When I read that they entered a Starbucks I was shocked. I frequent the coffee shop often and always notice the quiet atmosphere they try to keep. Most people go in to enjoy coffee, meet up with others, read, do work on laptops, etc. It is not the correct vibe for a coffee shop. It is great that they play for a cause and not necessarily to get feedback but I still think there is a time and place for that and a quiet coffee shop is not the right location.
One thing that is really inspirational about the Infernal Noise Brigade, as well as other marching bands is their unity. They are not about having a standout performer but standing out as a whole. After watching the videos about the band, you can tell that they really wanted to work together to be a strong team to inspire and not one of them was trying to get a solo on their own. Their main goal was to be creative and show the world what they can do. The fact that they do not play on stages is very important. They need to interact and be close to their audience so that the audience can feel like they are a part of them and be equally inspired.
Something I enjoyed learning about them is the fact that they aren’t a band that sells tickets at arenas to get people to go. They surprise people by unexpectedly showing up. I think this element is important and allows the audience to wonder when they are going to come back and sometimes, feel as though it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. They do not segregate themselves into a particular venue or area but go everywhere allowing people of all demographics to come and enjoy the show.
The Infernal Noise Brigade is such an interesting concept that I don’t think anyone that has seen them would forget about them, even if the memory was positive or not. I know of many people, at times myself included that would find them annoying in certain circumstances though. While I do believe that the band should exercise their art to the world, I think the Infernal Noise Brigade works because they seek out public rallies where there are many people involved. If it were to be at a more intimate setting they would definitely be inappropriate. During events such as the New Year parade in New York, marching bands are important because they direct attention and call for a celebration. During a school football game they are appropriate for the same reason. If they were in a conference hall, that would be too close and loud for comfort.
When I read that they entered a Starbucks I was shocked. I frequent the coffee shop often and always notice the quiet atmosphere they try to keep. Most people go in to enjoy coffee, meet up with others, read, do work on laptops, etc. It is not the correct vibe for a coffee shop. It is great that they play for a cause and not necessarily to get feedback but I still think there is a time and place for that and a quiet coffee shop is not the right location.
One thing that is really inspirational about the Infernal Noise Brigade, as well as other marching bands is their unity. They are not about having a standout performer but standing out as a whole. After watching the videos about the band, you can tell that they really wanted to work together to be a strong team to inspire and not one of them was trying to get a solo on their own. Their main goal was to be creative and show the world what they can do. The fact that they do not play on stages is very important. They need to interact and be close to their audience so that the audience can feel like they are a part of them and be equally inspired.
Something I enjoyed learning about them is the fact that they aren’t a band that sells tickets at arenas to get people to go. They surprise people by unexpectedly showing up. I think this element is important and allows the audience to wonder when they are going to come back and sometimes, feel as though it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. They do not segregate themselves into a particular venue or area but go everywhere allowing people of all demographics to come and enjoy the show.
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