Repeat the Sounding Joy

I know this is probably really old news for some people, but I have fallen in love with something I thought I never would.

That’s right: a video game.

Beautiful Katamari for the 36o.

Basically, you are the Prince, this tiny little guy who rolls up balls of stuff to recreate celestial bodies that have been destroyed by a black hole. The black hole was created by a particularly strong tennis serve by the King of All Cosmos that ripped space a new one.

As you go along, picking up small items, such as candy and matchsticks, your katamari gets larger, it’s gravitational force increasing, allowing you to roll up larger items. Eventually you’re rolling up thermoses, gorillas, sumo wrestlers, buses, high rises, giant squid, islands, continents and the world!

Why I like it: It’s easy. Most video games I have tried out require a lot more button mashing, whereas this one is like driving a tank. You have two toggle bars and you direct them where you want to go. Also, it’s colorful. Like 60’s-acid-trip colorful. But it’s that dash of whimsy randomness that I’ve fallen in love with. You’re a little tiny prince rolling up whatever you come across: pieces of sushi, fires, cows. The King of All Cosmos says funny things.

I’ve heard say that it’s Sony predecessors may be of a slightly higher quality in the areas of attention to detail and quality of environment. Anybody have any thoughts?

I just thought I should say, if you haven’t tried it, it’s a lot of fun. I’m not much of one for video games, but I’ve become a little addicted.

How big of a katamari can you roll?

I’m back! As of today, I have finished classes and exams for this semester.

Well, kind of…

All but one of my exams has been written. That exam was scheduled for the 15th, but by some kind of fluke, this University student can’t seem to read a simple chart properly.

Being as much of a keen student as I tend to be, I had checked the exam schedule somewhat obsessively. It was written down in my day planner, on the calendar in the kitchen, and on the back of my hand. Organic Chemistry - April 15th 1330.

I got to campus early, the plan being to meet some friends who’d be writing with me for the frantic last minute studying that always seems to precede difficult exams. I got to our regular meeting place, took a seat on a comfy couch, and cracked my books. It was odd though, time being 1100, that I was still alone.

I sent out a mass text message, asking if people were going to come up to the student lounge to study.

No replies.

I started to get that funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was up. Trying to put my mind off of it, I got out my laptop and went to the obsessively checked bookmark that was the exam schedule. I wanted to make sure I knew the seat numbers we would be sitting in at the hall.

1-95. And then I saw it, one column over: April 15, 0900. <Insert heart attack here>

My cell phone buzzed, my lab partner replied: Grace, we just wrote the exam. What are you talking about?

I booked it to the examination hall, the writing period already almost over. My prof looked surprised to see someone entering the room. We went out to the hallway, and I explained my critical mistake.

My hands were shaking, my breathing was fast. If I didn’t write this exam, I wouldn’t finish with the mark I needed to use it as a prerequisite. If I didn’t write this exam, my GPA would be effected. It was a great big circle of panicked thoughts running through my head.

The professor, very much the eccentric, frizzy haired chemist, said, It’s almost noon. People have already left the hall. I can’t let you write this exam.

<Insert second heart attack here>

I’ll just write you a note to go to the Faculty and get on the list for the deferral. You really need to be more careful about these things.

So now, by a fluke misreading of the chart, I have another whole month to study for this exam. In one light, this is great, the extra study time is much appreciated, but in another, this is going to be looming for another whole month, when it could be off my back already.

C’est la vie.

Today is the three month anniversary here at Repeat the Sounding Joy!

So far, we’ve had a total of 1697 views, and 62 posts (not including this one).

So sorry for not posting anything lately, finals are impending and all of my time has been going to studying. I’ll be back to regular posting within the next week or so, but I’ll still be around checking in and maybe dropping a post or two.

Hope all is well in your corners of the world!

The Advertising Slogan Generator - 10 0z sent me this link today.

What you do: Type your name or another word in, press the sloganize button, and get your own personal slogan.

Here are some of the ones I thought were interesting:

Nobody Better Lay a Finger on My Grace - This one made me think of the boys. They’re so protective, and I’ve been present in more than one instance to witness conversations including the phrases What are your intentions with our Grace? and You better treat her right or you’ll have us to contend with.

Kids Will Do Anything for Grace - Only because in day to day life, it is not unusual to end up with children I’ve never met before approaching me to play or ask a question. There are some people out there that kids are just magnetized to, and I suppose I’m one of them.

Have You Forgotten How Grace Tastes? - Right… that’s just weird. How do I taste? lol

Happiness is Grace-Shaped - This one was my favorite. A person will have a hell of a time being happy unless they are alright with themselves being happy. You can have a life with all of the ingredients for happiness, but unless you’ll allow yourself to be, that happiness will elude. Your happiness is shaped like you. Even if I’m wrong, which I am liable to be, it would still be cool to be the shape of happiness, don’t you think?

If you were a commodity, what would your slogan be?
Song of the Day: Building a Religion - Cake

My Zen V ate my playlists.

Right before a 6 mile run.

Grace is not a happy camper.

It’s a great little mp3 player, I’m very happy with it. It is easy to use, has lots of functions, and doesn’t chew too hard on the wallet.

But it ate my playlists.

Can anyone think of why something like that would happen?

Gotta get back to resetting them.

Song of the Day: Technologic - Daft Punk

March, at least on my agenda, is birthday month.

Last week alone, there were five birthdays to celebrate. That’s Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and two on Friday for those who are counting. This week, we already had a St. Patty’s birthday. I’m soon to depart for festivities for today’s birthday boy.

I do know a lot of people, the network is spread and rather spider web like, but nothing points it out like this stretch of March. Fortunately, it is also conveniently tucked between midterms and finals, so people can be celebrated.

Birthdays are so much fun because you get to party and you have another obvious chance to be with the people you love and show your appreciation of them.

I just find it kind of weird that so many people fall into this couple of weeks in the spring. Then again, looking back 9 months I guess it makes sense.  Some people must have busy summers…

Song of the Day: Summer Romance (Antigravity) - Incubus

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

Hope you remembered to wear green, or you might just get pinched.

I had a post ready, but am running late to festivities.

Let the luck o’ the Irish rain over you until this time next year.

A round of Guinness on the house from me!

Song of the Day: Drunken Lullabies - Flogging Molly

As you may have noticed, there have been some changes around Repeat the Sounding Joy.

People’s names have been changed from their first initial to a new personalized pseudonym. I ran into issues with people having the same first initial. I’m liking this set up as well because its a little more interesting than referring to people by letters. I think I’ve got everyone from past posts updated, but if you spot something I’ve missed, let me know and I’ll fix it.

Song of the Day: Changes - David Bowie

Earlier this weekend I found myself in a dimly lit room. On a worn seat at a heavily beer stained table. Fearless brought me along with some friends of his from work. I sat at that table and drank my beer, surrounded by fit young men with high and tights. As the alcohol flowed more freely, jokes got a lot more work-based and little bit raunchier (okay, a lot-a-bit). Apparently some people figure they’ve spent far too much of their lives on certain bases, and are tired of fighting over plastic covered mattresses so’s to not attract ‘critters’. Ew…

Eventually the conversation turned to the way a person in uniform sometimes gets treated by the general public. I heard a lot about the ‘friggin civvies,’ and didn’t get to contribute too much to the conversation. Not being a civilian of that particular disrespectful disposition, but still being non-military, I got to see and experience something I wouldn’t normally be expected to have, but didn’t get to contribute too much.

Being that female friend who gets invited to many boy’s nights, that one who the majority of the time is ‘one of the guys,’ I tend to see and experience things that the girls normally aren’t exposed to. I hear the tales and escapades that normally get toned down when other people are around. I see some of that male mischief that they get into sometimes. Ever wondered how much air you can get on an old couch your parents were going to throw out? With the right conditions and combustibles, its pretty impressive.

All through school, I got put ahead a year in certain classes. Some years, there would be other ‘jump ahead-ers’ my age, and some years I was the only one. There was a boy named Cody from my grade, who ended up in some of my year ahead courses. He was loud, and seemed to think he was funny, but really was mostly just annoying. In those classes we would hear a lot of jokes and complaints about those annoying little grade x-ers invading the class. Those in class who knew me well enough to know I was one of those would look over knowingly but not say anything. Teachers didn’t point me out either. I was pretty quiet throughout grade school, so I mostly flew under the radar. I got to experience all the hoopla about graduating and standardized testing before I was allowed to experience it.

I’ve just been feeling I’ve got a little James Bond in me lately. The secret agent in the room who sees things I’m not meant to, and stays stum to not give myself away.

Secret Agent man, Secret Agent man
They’ve given you a number and taken away your name.

Song of the Day: Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers