The Ramblings Of Undependable Drunk.

I finished reading Fury by Salman Rushdie (just before my birthday, the 21st… natch) and it was brilliant. The language and some of the references a bit out of my league (I think if I was to read Gulliver’s Travels and then re-read Fury I would sit back astonished at the genius in the Rushdie’s narrative minutiae). It was a bit of a step up from Bukowski’s Women and really dark to boot. Some of the twists literally (or should I say “literary” and see if anyone notices the pun?) knock me back, aghast at what could possibly happen next. I reccomend it. I might try and read his more acclaimed book Midnight’s Children soon.

I didn’t have quite the same Problem with Fury as I did with the previous book (the Not Putting It Down) because it took a little longer to get into (I quite like the colloquialism of Bukowski) but once I did, the Problem kicked in and there I was – a junky awaiting a fix. To be fair to him, though, Rushdie is a thoroughly engaging author it is probably just my impatience that made me suffer out of the blocks.

On my birthday I got really pissed. It was fun, even though I have come to hate the hassle that attaches itself to the dreaded day. Seriously, “What do you want to do today, we don’t mind” is a great statement to hear, if only I didn’t hear the very same voices in my head simultaneously complaining before other people’s previous birthdays at which they had to do something reluctantly. Oh well, I had fun. Fuck everyone else (this is the sort of nihilistic attitude piloting my darkside in the battle of good/evil).

My sister got me Yes Man by Danny Wallace. I absolutely overdosed on it and the stash was depleted by the end of the 23rd of the month of August (two days after the receiving of the gift) – it was a very easy ready but totally engaging and full of useful ideas and insights.

I’m currently trying to put off my newly inspired ideas of ‘man projects’ (cheers Wallace, cunt). I will lose this battle unless I forget. Unless it escapes my mind I think at some point I may try and go a month without shaving (I’m sure I’ve done it before, and during/post puberty, too before you say anything) and blog an image every day to show growth and give general insight. Then the next month clean-shave every day and do the same.

Or maybe the other way round. I don’t know. Ideas, anyone? I bet not.

Touch Down

I wrote this on the eight of August, but my Internet crashed as I clicked publish and it got lost forever. I started it again but didn’t quite finish it. So here it is:

I touched down (in a way..) in Benfleet, Essex, on Wednesday afternoon. My first contact with the three swords since Easter and so far nothing has changed, at all. Since then I have spent my time catching up with friends long not seen and reading, in equal amounts. I have plans to very, very, soon continue on this continuing work placement work that is starting to resemble something like the finished tutorial we envisaged at the beginning.

As it is, working in Flash, and learning Actionscript 3, isn’t a wholly rewarding experience. Sure I like noticing my own improvement and seeing my capabilities furthered but when progress can be so slow and painstaking (often spending a whole day trying to defeat the most minute of tasks within the scope of the project) it can get frustrating. Still, looking on the brightside I won’t ALWAYS find Flash painstaking as long as I persevere!

Reading and thinking, has made me want to write things more. I think I could write quite extensively on the subject of The Feeling of Terror at Being Overtaken By An Articulated Lorry Whilst Cycling Along The Road. You could probably replace the lorry with any long and wide vehicle. See also: how one might ascertain the workings of someone’s personality by the car they drive (if they drive), or at least, my theories on the matter.

The other day I finished reading a book. It was a really good book, and I found it hard to put it down. This is something that happens when I find a book That Dan Finds Interesting. The day before I finished the book I trotted over to my local library (Rayleigh) and explained that although I don’t have a card, and neither have I been in a little while, that I am indeed (or at least should be) a member. Turns out I hadn’t gone in over 9 years, their new cards look pretty good though. I took out a book in anticipation of finishing the current one.

So, here I am, stuck in a bind. A limbo, if you will. A limbo in between books and a limbo where I know there can only be one outcome and it is both heaven and hell. Its hard to explain but when I get into a book I really get into it; the characters’ problems and insights stay with me once I have put the book down and tried to get on with doing other things. I can be standing watching a band thinking “I know what Henry Chinaski would make of this” or simply “I can’t wait to get home to find out what happens when…”. Its like the book has a hold on me and only once I turn the final page does it really let go, but then I am quick to try and hunt down a new fix.

I know how junkies must feel now. They (probably) really, really, love the hit; the rush becomes them. But once its over they know, they know, deep down, that another hit is probably not the wisest of ideas but it just feels so.. for lack of a better word… right.