A Tough Week

     We're about a third of the way through this semester. That's plenty enough to be exhausted. The second verse's line "and lately I've been too confused to think" from Collin Raye's "I Can Still Feel You" has been stuck in my head all week, which certainly qualifies as a Song of the Day. I found this picture of Snoopy Monday night while replying to one of Susan's tweets, but it also applied well to the way this week has gone.

     The psychology test Monday afternoon went about how I expected - I scored an 83. That's not great, but considering it was mostly identifying parts of the brain and what side effects behaviorally would occur when sections were injured, it's probably better than I should have scored. But the really strange part - that was tied for fourth place out of about twenty students, the high was 90, followed by an 85 and 84. About half the class scored 70 or lower, someone managed a 36. How do I know these scores? Wednesday the professor created a PowerPoint comparing our scores to the previous class, since it was the same test. Part of the slides were scoreboards of totals recorded, so that Dr. Marrero can keep accurate statistics. He then proceeded to give a wonderful reminder that tests don't matter in the long run, and that he only gives them because the school requires it. "It's what you do, who you are, that matters. Not what your grades were." That's about as close to preaching as you can expect in a college classroom, and it isn't the first time he's come close to that boundary, dropping hints here and there that he probably sees the world from a Christian perspective.
     We then watched a clip of an interview James Dobson had with serial killer Ted Bundy the day before he was executed. It was interesting to see Dobson the psychologist at work, as compared to the author, counselor or radio host. Bundy seemed incredibly manipulative, which fit what we've studied so far about psychopaths (the course is Psychology of the Criminal Mind).

     It's been a long week. Besides Agents, the TV's been on hockey and Thunder basketball for background noise, but none of those are exactly non-stressful forms of relaxation, as I noted in a post three years ago. The Daytona 500 is next Sunday, which is exciting, but also adrenaline-filled, too.

     Valentine's Day was a regular Tuesday, which was fine with me. It was filled with homework in Pop Market, like crafting a character description and recording our impressions to the (largely terrible) thriller flashfiction written last week. Dr. Dial-Driver ranted about the state of public education, so I got yelled at a bit for disagreeing with her too vehemently, but that was mainly for starting a debate over Steve Rogers and the degradation of values and morals in American society since World War II.
     In Gothic Film and Lit that afternoon, neither me or McKenzie understood very well what was going on in Henry James's ghost story The Turn of the Screw, and Dr. Mackie didn't have many answers, either. It's that kind of book.
     Dropped by the Chi Alpha meeting, which was fine. Kept tripping over the trash can while playing ping pong on the Centennial Center rec room's hideously-warped table, which played a big part in why I kept losing repeatedly.
     Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. overdid the pop-cultural references this week, and when I say that.... the episode ended on a terrifying cliffhanger which will be interesting to follow - FitzSimmons is trapped yet again, is all I'll say for now.

     Finished the Nicholas Sparks (The Longest Ride) I found for a dollar last week, it wasn't A Walk to Remember or The Notebook, but the ending was well done. Dialogue was strong throughout, and that indefinable caring-about-these-characters that all great authors have was there again. He used an intertwined structure throughout, switching from a delirious 91-year-old WWII veteran remembering his life and marriage in first-person to a third-person romance between a professional bull rider and a Wake Forest art history major, bouncing between their perspectives before going back to the old man. The way he brought those storylines together was really inventive.
     Also reread through J.D. Vance's memoir Hillbilly Elegy for school, which is wonderfully written and extremely painful to read through. I'm not quite sure how I can work his insights into my capstone paper, but I'm sure there is a way, because the people he writes about are most of the main audience of country music.
     This week's Gothic Film and Literature reading is called Rosemary's Baby, by a guy named Ira Levin. This stood out because the old guy in The Longest Ride was named Ira Levinson. Anyway, after a quick internet research, this book is apparently to blame for all the vampire-and-goodness-knows-what-all other crap that's been published since, which was exactly the opposite of what the author wanted, since he was trying to prove that all that stuff was stupid. (It's a horror story about a group of Satanist witches kidnapping a newborn. Besides that awful plot, it was poorly written.) Anyway, this guy Ira Levin also wrote the play No Time for Sergeants, which started Andy Griffith's career, and a novel called The Stepford Wives, which William Goldman (yep, the thriller author best known for The Princess Bride) wrote the screenplay for during the movie adaptation. (There is a large chunk of Goldman's nonfiction Adventures in the Screen Trade dedicated to the lessons learned from this experience.)

     Got about five hours of sleep last night, the kind where you wake up every twenty minutes bolt upright on High Alert Mode.
     Sage - she and her husband work as office assistants in the English department - got out of Shakespeare just as I was about to go to Capstone, when she spins around in the hallway. "Can I take your picture, Wes? You are like, THE image of 'A Distraught College Student' right now." She meant it as a joke, and I thought it was a funny quote, because if it wasn't humorous then it would just be way too true. Especially after I looked up the definition of distraught: "Deeply upset and agitated." So I posted it to Facebook, and a lot of people - mainly other students - also thought it was funny/sad/applicable.
     Capstone was difficult because of the material we were reading, mostly centered around the split between how children and adults see the world through Peter Pan and a terrific Robert Louis Stevenson essay I had never heard of called "Child's Play," which seems like it would fit extremely well with G.K. Chesterton's "Ethics of Elfland" and Anthony Esolen's Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child. More than usual had read the novel before seeing the Disney movie, and so found it quite lacking. A discussion of Disney villains commenced here, and I was again chided for not having seen The Lion King in its entirety (but if you know the songs, isn't that enough?). Then the rest of the other readings we were looking at were about caring for the elderly, death and mortality. This led to a lot of discussion about the everyday glory and burden of caring for elderly relatives as they grow frailer, and while it was a great discussion, the material was really painful.
     One interesting fact learned today: Dr. Dial-Driver says that Lady and the Tramp was originally a book! Since her specialty is children's lit, I'll take her word for it. (The novel of Bambi was also mentioned today, which brought to mind that The Fox and the Hound was a novel first, too, but there's no way that I will ever read that - the Wikipedia plot summary is far more depressing that the movie, and the movie is appropriately realistic enough in its open-ended unresolvedness.)  

     I don't think I'm actually sick, but I feel like I've been just dragging through the last couple days. Found a Spotify playlist of classical covers of rock and pop songs, which has been interesting to listen to while writing this post. (Jed and Miss Kathy would approve.)
     Discovered that Screen Rant, a movie-news website I usually find useful, is taking applications for a list writer, so I might apply for that. It would only be part time - all of their content comes from freelancers - but it would be something, and they're a pretty good-sized site in terms of traffic. That would look good in a portfolio of writing samples. And lists are usually easy. And since it's freelance work, I wouldn't have to move to California or anything.

     UPDATE SATURDAY MORNING - Whether because of stress or sickness germs going around, I was up most of Thursday night throwing up. Did nothing all day yesterday, I'll probably be fine in a couple days.

Sunday Night in February

    The Patriots won Super Bowl LI over the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, 34-28. It was the first time the game was tied after regulation, and the best commercial was the preview for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which looks fantastic, but that doesn't say much for the actual ads.
     Bob Costas is being replaced as host of the Olympics, starting in Korea next February. This is extremely saddening.
     Kevin Durant and the Warriors were back in Oklahoma City last night. It was rough to watch. Facebook was full of angry fan posts all day leading up to tipoff. And we lost, but we hung in there for most of the game. But like Russell Westbrook said in an interview, sometimes you just have to move on with life as best you can. A PBS special on Mary Tyler Moore made for a good antidote when I got too frustrated with the game.

     Psychology test tomorrow afternoon, not sure how that will go, so I've been studying most of the night. Capstone is going okay, better than Seminar was, that's for sure. Starting to get a better idea of what Gothic stories aren't, so that's something. Pop Market is going well so far, so far we've written flashfiction romances, Westerns and suspense/thrillers. (Flashfiction is generally capped at a thousand words, so not much room to tell a story, which makes it very difficult, but a fun challenge.)
     In general, things this semester are not good, though not quite as bad as last semester was. I just have to get through to May.

     Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is going well, though the last couple episodes have been a little slow in setting up the next section of the plot. AIDA is a wonderfully-awful character, and there's been lots of interesting multiple roles being played lately with the L.M.D.s.
     Ashland and I have been teasing Mrs. Boyer about her lack of keeping up with MCU news (though that's our job). Guardians Vol. 2 (much-anticipated) comes out on May 5, Spider-Man: Homecoming (also much-anticipated) on July 7, and Thor: Ragnarok (meh) on November 3. They just started production on Avengers: Infinity War, which is exciting. And Doctor Strange (also meh) comes to DVD in a couple weeks, so I can catch up on it, and then I'll be current on all fourteen chapters of the story so far.
     DC, obviously, but The LEGO Batman Movie looks funny. And I'm excited for Cars 3 in July, of course.

     Auditions for the RSU Theater Program's adaptation of Tom Sawyer were the week before last; the cast hasn't been revealed yet. So of course I galloped through the novel, because any excuse to read Mark Twain is a good one. (And besides, a change of pace was needed after depressing/frightening Gothic stories.) The adaptation was written by a lady named Laura Eason, who apparently is a producer or something of the huge Netflix show House of Cards.  (I haven't seen it, though of course I know about it - violent political thrillers aren't my wheelhouse. Robin Wright plays the First Lady.)
     Also reread Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow, which was probably better the second time, because it's one of those kinds of books. There's always more to dig out than can be noticed all at once.
     A Walk to Remember was on TV the other night, and I'd never seen it, so I watched because it was a good time for a break from studying. It stars Mandy Moore, and it worked pretty well, though I liked The Notebook better when it comes to the first two movie adaptations of Nicholas Sparks novels. This sets the tale up in the late 90's, which wouldn't have worked at all in print, but telling the movie version of the story in the 50's would have been equally awful structurally, so I was fine with that change. The Longest Ride, a newish book, sounded like an interesting story when the movie came out about a year ago, and the campus bookstore had it on sale for a dollar, so I scooped it up. A dollar isn't much to waste if it's not worth rereading. And I also got a William Faulkner novel called Light in August, also for a dollar. I've been meaning to read him for a while, because I think I'd really like him if I could slowly explore through Yoknapatawpha County, based on short stories of his that I've read. And Faulkner is like one of the great writers of Southern fiction, inspiring Wendell Berry, Harper Lee, Jan Karon, and I don't know who all else.

Wesley's Favorite TV Couples

     Yeah, so I don't like Valentine's Day all that much. But I can't sleep, because I'm too worried and scattered to work on homework, so I figured it was a good time for a blog post. This won't be ranked numerically, but instead will just be a list of my favorite couples I can remember from TV shows. Since viewers get to understand characters so much more deeply in television compared to movies, that allows for deeper depth to character interactions. And so they work better, when they work.

Jesse Cochran-Katsopolis and Becky Donaldson-Katsopolis, Full House (and Fuller House)

     So, most people know that before Becky was part of the Katsopoli branch of the Tanner clan, she was Rebecca Donaldson, who grew up on a Nebraska farm with three hockey-loving brothers, and was introduced to the show as Danny's cohost on Wake Up, San Franscisco. But in the first season, Jesse's last name wasn't Katsopolis, either - it was Cochran. (So we don't actually know what Pamela's - Danny's wife, the girls' mother, and Jesse's sister - maiden name was.)
     Becky adds a much-need dose of common sense to the household, which balances nicely with Jesse's creativity, irresponsibility and vanity. Their actual kids didn't turn out all that great, their parenting advice was well-intended but sometimes off, and they may not have had a perfect marriage - why did they live in the attic for eight years? - but hey, they care about each other, and they're still together, ready for whatever adventures might come along.

Joe Talbot and Sam Kepler - Wishbone

     The show never made that much of a big deal that Sam was always hanging out with Joe and David, but the books hinted that there might be something between them.

Mal Reynolds and Inara Serra, Firefly (and Serenity)

     Because Serenity was a movie that was a sequel to a TV show, this bends my criteria a little, but it can stay. And technically they weren't ever together, since they loathed each others' careers so much. So that led to tons of insult-hurling matches (because snark is their love language) and cold-shouldering, but over and over they - somewhat unwillingly - showed that they cared about one another deeply. They would just never, NEVER admit that. To anyone. Especially each other.

Clint Cassidy and Nancy Nichols, Doc

     Montana cowboy-doctor and Manhattan nurse. It was just weird enough to work.

Nate and Beverly Jackson, Doc

     Clint's landlord and his wife didn't have a huge role on the show, but they played a big part of what we saw of life outside the clinic, eventually adopting Raul. Their marriage was another example of a couple sticking together through whatever rough patches of life inevitably occurred. Plus they were always there to listen if one of their friends needed to talk.

Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence-Matthews, Boy Meets World (and Girl Meets World)

     I never got into BMW, because I was just a little too young generationally, Sabrina and 7th Heaven were more interesting, and Cory drove me nuts, but somehow I got pulled into occasionally watching the sequel series following the adventures of their daughter Riley. But it just seemed like a list like this list wouldn't be complete without Cory and Topanga because of their standing in 90's pop culture. So that's why they are included. Also, it's kind of cool that Cory followed in Mr. Feeny's footsteps to become a teacher, I guess.

Phineas Flynn and Isabella Garcia-Shapiro, Phineas and Ferb

     Until the next-to-last episode of the show (a flashforward to all the gang leaving for college), this was another couple didn't technically exist....but it totally did. (Didn't realize they had this many kissing scenes during the show's run.) Isabella's Jupiter-sized crush (and Phineas's inability to recognize that) were one/two of the many, many running jokes on P&F, and it's just a FANTASTIC show. Maybe Parks and Rec-level, and that's saying something.

Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter, Marvel Cinematic Universe (more specifically Captain America: The First Avenger; Agent Carter, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War)

     Why? Because they're both amazing characters. Because these movies are amazing.  Because the MCU works like a television series, given the enormous scope of the storylines (and Agent Carter was a TV show). And because they were both waiting for the right partner. (This is a fantastic edit.)

Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate-Dwyer, Parks and Recreation

     They're the best. Even stupid BuzzFeed posts about them are sort of not awful. They don't always make sense, but the show would have missed a lot if they hadn't been around. (And who doesn't use Frisbees as plates? C'mon, Ben, get with the program!) And their wedding was one of the highest of many highlights from Pawnee. I mean, the vows - "I guess I kind of seem to hate most things, but I never really seemed to hate you. So I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Is that cool?" "Yes, that's cool! And I am the luckiest man in the galaxy." (See, I knew keeping track of Parks quotes would be useful later on.)

Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt, Parks and Recreation

     Leslie is....she's Leslie Knope. And Ben Wyatt is....really, really boring. But they work really, really, really well together. Like waffles and whipped cream. Have I mentioned before how much I love this show?

Ann Perkins and Chris Traeger, Parks and Recreation

     LITERALLY, one of the BEST couples EVER from Parks and Rec. (Literally.) Dude. Seriously.

Matt Saracen and Julie Taylor, Friday Night Lights

     Matt was just a good guy. Julie was, at least at first, a female version of his best friend Landry - in other words, perfect for him. Plus, her family accepted Matt (sort of) into their lives, giving him that stable structure he didn't have. And sure, she went a little off the deep end, but she was redeemed by the time the show ended.

Eric and Tami Taylor, Friday Night Lights

     I think Coach and Tami have the best marriage that I've seen on TV, ever. They routinely put each others' needs above their own, even to the point where both have sacrificed their jobs when the other had a better career opportunity. They try their best to parent their daughters the right way and steer them in the right direction. They offer advice (and sometimes tough love) to the teenagers in their lives, routinely going well out of their way to improve the kids' lives if they can. Most of all, they're rock-solid loyal, even when opportunities arise to not be that way.

 Leopold Fitz and Jemma Simmons, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  

     FitzSimmons is (almost) inseparable, even if that means being stranded, desparately lonely at the academy; being marooned on different planets due to alien technology, or trapped in a box in the bottom of the ocean thanks to the betrayal of a former friend. They've survived gunshots, undercover assignments, explosions, ghost attacks, killer viruses, and major brain damage, among other things. They've witnessed their makeshift S.H.I.E.L.D. family fall apart and rebuild itself, only to fall apart again, and more than one close friend has died in horrific ways. But they've kept the group together as much as possible, serving as the glue of the team. And they aren't just science lab rats anymore, either - they're full-out field agents who have shot people, which is pretty much all in a day's work when you're part of a television-show spy agency.