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S3 Scribble #18: Paradise

Sydney Braun Leave a comment

“When she was just a girl, she expected the world,”

When I wrote about it finally feeling like spring in Ann Arbor in last week’s blog post, I spoke too soon. It’s back to being in the 20s – windy, cold, and the forecast calls for snow on Friday! A typical March; is it really Ann Arbor without a springtime snowstorm?

“But it flew away from her reach,”

Despite the dreary weather, I have been in great spirits this week. I’ve also been incredibly busy, but I think that is helping me get back into my routine after a few weeks of traveling. I’m feeling productive, energized, and capable of whatever I set my mind to. I also feel like I would benefit from a few more hours in the day… I have a lot to do and many deadlines to hit that are all approaching very quickly. Even though I have quite a few “have-tos” on my calendar, they are all things I am passionate about, which means motivating myself to work toward these goals is a lot more easy and fun. 

“So she ran away in her sleep,”

Today’s song is “Paradise” by Coldplay. A remix of it has been on my playlist this past week: “Paradise (Tiësto Remix).” It never fails to wake me up and get me excited for the day on my walk to work or class. Coldplay is one of my favorite bands, and especially one of my go-to “happy” artists. Even though the weather may not be warm this week, I can still feel spring in the air, and with spring comes the end of the semester. Last week, I bought my cap and gown, and this week I have been planning out graduation activities and adding various ceremonies to my calendar. What an exciting time!

“And dreamed of paradise,”

As a University of Michigan Tour Guide, I’ve caught myself getting a little bit choked up at some points during my tours this week. Knowing that graduation is approaching so quickly has prompted me to reflect on my time here, and saying goodbye is going to be hard, regardless of how excited I may be for my future. For the time being, though, I’m feeling good. I’m happy and feeling accomplished, and I’m confidently going into the rest of the semester with a positive attitude!

“Every time she closed her eyes.”

Listen to Paradise by Coldplay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6ZWlDks0nQ

Listen to Paradise (Tiësto Remix) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHDqh7PcYiE

Wolverine Stew: Can Someone Please Tell Me When We Get Spring?

clydemg 1 Comment

From the field of mulch and needles

The flowers seem to glow

Icicles sprouting up to

The gray that comes and goes

Patch of frost encircled by deep blue

Still here in the cold

And I miss when I could see the

Moon like a hole punched in

Purple-paper skies  

But it doesn’t feel bad to wait

Because as the night goes on

The stars peer through like

Roots splitting through stone

And the flowers are still here

Daffodils and crocuses and

My realization I need to learn more

About the blooms I still pass by

Because one day we’re going to have a spring

And it is going to stick

But for now, I’ll just wait for

The next sneak preview

aSoSS 19 | Spring

a-spider-on-state-street Leave a comment

That is my biggest pet peeve, dealing with the Sun in my eyes. I can’t do it.

Pierpont Commons, 5:00PM, 2/6/2024

what if the world goes white as it dies? we are taught to fear darkness, undiscernible shapes, figures we cannot recreate. we forget that sight is a blessing, that light is a byproduct of our universal fortune, cast upon by a star too angry to cool, too forgiving to combust. allow yourself to be blinded, like a screen burn-in. the rods and cones permanently fixate on colors that are no longer there. spangles of sun, once streaked with rainbows, now shine mutely. a wavelength of contingencies remain out of sight, but never out of mind.

Ten minutes after I close, I look outside and it’s snowing? Why are people buying ice cream right now??

Couzens Hall, 2:00PM, 3/14/2024

a long time ago i learned to measure the time in increments smaller than seasons. before it was just the summer, a time when i could walk outside and find sweet drops of ice cream dotting the sidewalk. in fall these dots became leaves, and in winter these leaves became snowflakes, which blossomed into sprouts in the spring. there was also a different time of day that the seasons could not measure, an ache that cannot be expressed in words. the sky swirls blue raspberry and the sprouts are strangled by weeds.

i see the clouds fading from vanilla to strawberry to hazelnut to chocolate. tongues do not melt on lips, but i shiver just the same.

You’re ready for cold and it’s warm, you’re ready for warm and it’s cold…

Traverwood Library, 1:30PM, 3/17/2024

the earth does not pause for a second, a marble scarred with the ironies of man. a sorites paradox on the surface: when does the sun give way to cloud, when does the cloud overflow with rain? a single gust of wind, a splash of heat, and the future is completely changed. how can fates be charted beneath a horse’s hoofbeat or a bison’s breath? one or two gives way to band or herd. at a quantum level, the act of observation changes the result–we are simply grains of sand to be brushed away, discarded, glued to the corner of a different piece of the planet.

A Day in a Week in a Semester – Life Drawing #1

minoyjoy 1 Comment

Hello! My name is Hannah and I’m a sophomore in computer science in LSA. This is my first post to this blog and I’m very excited to start! I guess I should explain the premise behind my posts and also the title I’m using for this series.

The drawings I’ll be showing in these blog posts will depict snapshots of my daily life around campus. These can vary from cartoons of funny things I saw on my commute to class, or life drawings of locations I find visually interesting. I was thinking that it might be fun to see the stress of a CS student’s life through the lens of a cartoon artist.

The above drawing is a life drawing I did in my friend’s apartment on Sunday while we were studying. Or more precisely my friends were studying and I was doing absolutely nothing, basking in the lull between my midterms and my regular school work starting up again. I really liked the cozy feeling we had going on that particular day and I think my friend’s apartment has some really interesting visual elements, so I drew the apartment, hoping to capture the vibe of that moment. I did it all with micron pen on mixed media paper, barely managing to draw straight, coherent lines.

Well, that’s all for this week! I hope to bring some more variety with my other drawings and some more comedy. This drawing is pretty somber compared to what I usually draw! See you next week!

-Hannah

MediaScape Musings # 14 : Catch Me If You Can: A Weekend of Musical Marvel at UM

dsuart Leave a comment

This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Musket’s production of “Catch Me If You Can” at the Power Center. It was my first time experiencing a musical in this venue and only my second musical at the University of Michigan. The audience size was astounding, making the experience feel even more special. Knowing that this turnout was just for one of the three showings filled me with pride for the level of interest in the arts here.

“Catch Me If You Can,” based on the thrilling cat-and-mouse film that a friend had once insisted I watch, claiming it as one of their favorites, did not disappoint. The adaptation captured the essence of the movie perfectly, delivering key plot points with a humorous and entertaining twist. It brought back the excitement I felt watching the film for the first time. The performance of “Fly, Fly Away” by the leading lady was particularly moving, and the closing songs “Goodbye” and “Stuck Together” added a delightful charm to the narrative. Watching the evolution of Frank and Carl’s relationship from tension and pursuit to a surprisingly touching embrace was emotional.

Although the musical didn’t cover Frank’s eventual role in the FBI, the ending felt fitting and left the audience on a high note. Musket, founded in 1908, continues to be an integral part of the University of Michigan experience, offering students various opportunities to engage, whether as actors, crew members, or audience members at the distinguished Power Center. This production of “Catch Me If You Can” was a testament to the vibrant and talented community at UM and a reminder of the power of live theatre to captivate and move us.

Chapter 4

Hannah Park Leave a comment

This week I decided to focus on my opportunity to attend the Orchestre de Paris and Yunchan Lim Concert. It was such a jaw dropping and beautiful concert. I have always wanted to hear Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 live, and I finally heard it. Yunchan Lim is the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. I saw him perform at the Colorado State University School of Music in August of 2022, and I was able to see him again this past Thursday. The Orchestre de Paris also performed The Firebird. The soft and sudden loud sounds were stunning. As a pianist, I can see the technique and musicality that Lim incorporated. This concert was one of the best concerts I have ever been to.