Time to check this place in.

Right around the end of December I usually do a wrap-up post for the year that's about to end. I'm sitting here typing 2009's entry right now, and I'm baffled to see that this site hasn't been updated in two solid months; that's never happened before.

I feel guilty because it's like I'm neglecting my firstborn child; this blog has served me well since I decided to get into this weird world of writing almost four years ago. However, that analogy explains why I shouldn't feel guilty all the same: Crave Thought's grown up, and I've got to turn my attention towards its younger siblings.

In reality, I started this blog because I didn't have anywhere else to publish my work. It's been here for me through thick and thin, and if there's a piece I don't feel I can publish anywhere else, I know I can always put it here. However, that's happening less and less now that I've got other places that accept whatever my cynicism-addled brain can church out. I'm content to just let Crave Thought enter the twilight of its life, rocking back and forth on a chair at the blog retirement home, jumping back in the saddle for a blaze of glory whenever the ratings need it.

I'd be nowhere close to where I am right now without this place. As I type I'm putting together a portfolio site that just uses my name as its brand instead of this site. I need to start moving forward towards bigger and better things, and 2010's the year to do that.

So rest in peace, Crave Thought. So long, and thanks for all the posts.

What being a Tetris block for Halloween taught me; fitting in with the world.

Yes, I'm partially making this post to show off my Halloween (and future comic book convention) costume, which took me a couple days to build. The ingredients to this marvel were three office chair boxes, a roll of black duct tape and a whole lot of red spray paint; I'd say it turned out pretty well, don't you?

Alright, so I wouldn't say this Halloween was a complete and total drunkfest; along the way I learned a couple things about myself and basically Toronto in general.

1) Always make it yourself. I had been throwing around the Tetris block idea for a couple months, harkening back to my foray into Nerd Convention-ing for Fanexpo 09. However, this Halloween marked the perfect occasion to throw my love of sorting blocks into horizontal lines out into the world. Making the costume took 3 days, but was possibly one of the most rewarding builds I've ever taken part in. From discovering that I could use my deck floorboards as a cutting guide, to adding a final "I <3 TETRIS" sign onto the front flap (see below), nothing really went wrong (which was nice), and in the end it withstood the onslaught that was the Church Street street party.

2) People want to take your picture - let them. I had a lot of friends complaining about Church Street (Toronto's resident gay village) denizens wanting to take their picture. The logic follows thus: if you're dressed up, you want people to look at you. Indulge your inner attention whore and satisfy a fan. However, if they get creepy (like that one guy who fondled my.. er.. block), don't hesitate to tell them to fuck off. You have that right.

3) Give things a chance. Coming from a self-proclaimed king of pessimism, I usually hate Halloween; this year, however, I decided to say "fuck it" and actually try something new. It worked out well, and I had a blast. I drank way too many beers and decided to mix it with gin. This did not end well. However, I achieved my goal, and found somewhere to fit in that night.

Matt vs. H1N1

I had swine flu.

I had the dreaded disease of today's media, and lived to tell the tale about it; a tale I'm now imparting to you, faithful reader of my blog. This pandemic is a strain of the "common" influenza virus that plagues us (oh I'm full of the good ones, today!) every year, and in order to describe how it feels, I've concocted an elaborate metaphor. Stay awhile, and listen, if you will.

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Imagine being hit with a cement truck out of nowhere. Every muscle in your body just doesn't want to move, and your higher brain functions are slowly shutting off, one by one. What's left of your aching self just wants to slip into a cold world where you cannot feel anything anymore, and stay there for eternity.

Now imagine you were Wolverine when this happened, and your healing factor fixed you right up. The last bones were just snapping back into place, when another cement truck hits you, this time harder than the first. And it was carrying nitroglycerin, a compound which explodes on shock.

Being Wolverine, who lately has been written like a complete ass, you eventually regenerate from this crash, too. Only now there's one nagging bone that won't grow back into place properly. You're forced to re-break that bone over and over, hoping that each time you to, it'll fit back together the right way, letting you get on with your day, which consists of keying Scott Summers' car and banging his hot redhead wife.
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That's basically my experience with H1N1. It comes out of nowhere, hits you hard, then fades away for a little bit (to give you hope) before coming back harder than ever, crushing your spirits and making you forget how it ever was to be well. However, treatment is basically the same as any flu, and really, for all intents and purposes, that's all H1N1 is: a flu that's looking to prove itself among the common colds and SARS of this world. It just wants to feel loved/feared.

Anyways, some interesting stuff happened as result of this.

1. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, thinks you will be dying in the next 24 hours. Friends, family, and (perhaps the best of all) teachers think that they are one day away from throwing all your possessions on eBay to make back all the cash they spent on you. This tends to get you a lot of leeway with things like assignments and the sympathy actually does do wonders for recovery.

2. Wearing an "isolation mask" in public is embarrassing, and no one should ever do it for longer than necessary. The amount of weird looks you get from people (some assholes downright laughed at me) is staggering, and really, it's just doctor's orders. I'm not wearing it for kicks, you dolts; I'm trying to extend some courtesy and keep you from getting sick.

3. Rooming with theater school kids who pass around bugs like this is to be avoided in the future.

4. A nagging sore throat that basically feels like acid cannot be fixed by anything other than drinking something in large quantities. Next time I shall invest in a camel back water backpack. Money well spent.

To all you sick people out there, my best advice is to just sleep. It's the best time to actually get a semblance of a sleep schedule back in order since your body wants you in bed early and up early as well; I actually saw what before noon on a Saturday looks like.

It's glorious.

Year Two

So, I'll dispense with the usual "been a long time" bullcrap, as it's very much old by now.

Some thing that've developed in the last little while:

Moved into my new house in Toronto. It's a kind of humbling experience, but the freedom is nice. It's going to be interesting balancing free time with the writing projects I've got on the go, but since when has that ever stopped me from trying? Got stuff to deal with like rent cheques and balancing a budget. It's a bit daunting, to be honest.

Nerd Girl Pinups finally launched, and our opening weekend (so to speak) at FanExpo 2009 went off without any (major) hitches. Got to see a lot of cool costumes, met some new people, and bought The Art of Reboot; this was my major "vacation" for the summer, and damnit, I was going to enjoy it.

It's weird; I've never considered this blog to have a niche, but when it comes to small things, like a funny video, I don't feel like they deserve a minute spot on here. I feel like I kind of have an obligation to post something mildly mentally-stimulating, at least. I think that's where my posts at W0rd.ca come into play. They kind of give me the freedom to just throw out whatever I want and see what other people think; huh, I think I just reiterated the reason why I started this blog.

As always, check out my Facebook page for all my work consolodated at one place; now it's linked to my Twitter, so anything posted on Facebook will be posted there, as well. Pseudo-simplicity!

Drums in the dark

Couple new projects I thought you guys should be aware of. I've been hella busy with those, so while Crave Thought's posts are getting fewer and fewer, you can find most of my other stuff posted on my Facebook fan page; there's a new widget there to the right.

w0rd.ca - Got word of this site from Jeff, a friend of mine. It's very Boing Boingish in the sense that there's a lot of interesting things without a clear, set niche. If you're bored and looking for something to do, you can find my posts, along with my fellow contributors, there.

Matt's iPod - This is a long-term concept I'm challenging myself to stick with for the next little while. In short, I'll be reviewing all the albums on my iPod in alphabetical order, by artist; for example, Beastie Boys - Ill Communication would come before Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik. For the long version, check out the intro post here. Not much work put into the layout yet, but that'll change soon.

Nerd Girl Pinups - Been working on this project for about a year now and at the end of the month it's about to bear fruit. I'm managing editing the blog for this site, which essentially does what it says on the label. The blog, however, is going to be 100% nerd-related content, regardless of good-looking ladies involved. No link yet, but I'll keep you updated.

To those reading it, be sure to comment on whatever you can; I love hearing from you guys, and it helps me grow better as a writer. On Facebook, PLEASE click "View Original Post" to comment and view in any case, because it gives the traffic to the site that deserves it, not Facebook.

Thuganomics

Is it weird that watching this video on thug economics is so damned interesting?



Click "View Original Post" from Facebook to see the video.

Takin' care of business

So I'm on the hunt for new writing work again.

It's always harrowing when I'm looking through "cold" projects because I don't always have that "in" that I'm looking for. However, it's kind of exciting to test my skills without any outside help, you know? Instead of getting by on freebies and handouts, it's cool to earn a columnist job or a guest post

I have a feeling I need to get my expertise on a few things up, though. This blog's gone without a niche for a long time because frankly I don't think it needs one: I use it for my musings and rants, and it serves that purpose just fine. However, when it comes to writing on other sites there's a need to kind of devote yourself to that topic; sometimes it's harder to put down other things and just throw yourself headlong into it.

I've applied to a couple sites that I really admire because they put out quality stuff, and frankly, it sounds a lot like my writing here. I don't mind not getting paid because I genuinely love to write and see my name up there on the byline; nothing's cooler than that.

But anyways, I'm business will pick up soon; anyone got any leads?