The Jellyfish

A song I wrote that was inspired by Maureen Johnson's novel Girl at Sea which is one of my favorite books ever. I think I've read it about 5 times despite having to read 50 different books this year.

Anyway, I sent the link to Maureen and then she Tweeted it:

I am pleased when I go away for a few hours and return to find that someone has written me a SONG: http://tinyurl.com/qs4ujp

I like writing songs for people. Even if it's a person I don't know but still admire. I think that if someone did that for me, it'd be nice to know that your work is appreciated and that it inspired another person to do something creative. And that's why I like writing songs for other people.

Check out Maureen here: http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/ I especially love her blog posts. She's absolutely hilarious and such a clever writer.

a few things

1) Website = not going so well. Because it's for ME, I keep changing my mind. I think I'll just have to settle on something and then change it by season. That's what I plan on doing with my branding colors. Since I also cannot settle on them.

2) I need to post something on my YouTube channel. I've been neglecting it. But the song I want to do I don't know how to play, exactly. I might just end up doing an a capella self-harmonization version of it instead of trying to learn it on guitar (I can't find the tablature and cannot play a song just by listening to it).

3) I'm back in drawing cycle again. Kind of. Usually it's either music OR drawing. Right now it's both. Because I kind of have time for both. So that's fun. I drew outside today until all the bees, wasps, and other forms of NATURE made me withdraw back into my cave (my room).

4) I'm back in crappy teen romantic dramedy mood again with my movies. How do I know? I just finished watching "A Cinderella Story". That movie with Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray? Yeah. That one. I have a love/hate relationship with this particular mood of mine. I love it because it means I'm happy (because these shitty movies make me happy somehow) and I get to indulge in my oft-neglected super-duper-girly side. I hate it because it's embarassing. Also I feel ashamed to be watching such superficial films instead of artsy smart ones (like my film buff-self would) or wicked-cool actions or sci-fictions (like my visual effects geeky-self would).
HOWEVER. All will be returned on Friday when...

5) STAR TREK COMES OUT!!! I honestly can't wait. I'm not even a Star Trek fan. I don't think I've even watched a single episode. But Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are in it, so that's a draw right there. But I won't pretend that they're the only reason. I was watching the trailer one day and there's this part where THE WORLD IMPLODES and as it did MY MIND EXPLODED. The effects are so beautiful I want to cry. And that's why I want to see this movie. The boy eye-candy for the girly-girl and the effects eye-candy for the visual effects geek.

Ok that's it for now.

DFTBA!

a few of my favorite things...

Stereophonics
and the Jonas Brothers
Taylor Kitsch shirtless
and How I Met Your Mother
Wall-E and Harry
and Zac when he sings
These are few of my favorite things!

Things found in this picture:

• Paper Towns by John Green
• Stereophonics
• How I Met Your Mother
• Kenneth the Page (30 Rock)
• YouTube
• Jonas Brothers
• New York City
• Harry Potter
• Spring Awakening
• Robert Pattison
• Ukulele
• Star Wars
• Ryan Reynolds
• Zac Efron
• Taylor Kitsch (shirtless)
• Wall-E
• Daniel Radcliffe
• DFTBA Radio Hour
• 1950s Coke Ad
• Sketches

PS: I'M 21 TODAY MUTHERTRUCKERS!!!

connectivity

Something that I really enjoy about the internet is the various ways in which you can connect with a wide range of people and the different social networking platforms you can use.

Personally, I use several of these. Among them: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube.

Facebook, some say, is a waste of time. And I'll admit that most of my time spent on Facebook is time spent procrastinating on something else. However, I have found this to be a handy way of keeping in touch with family in other parts of the world as well as friends that I knew in high school and don't see anymore. It's fun to just see what people that I when I was 5 are up to. Social networking with other people-wise, it's not so great. I don't want strangers seeing my personal photos, particularly, or having complete access to my contact information, but it's a good way to keep in touch with people you know. Or knew.

Twitter is my ultimate waste of time, but it's sometimes useful. Lots of people have asked me what the point is of updating what you're doing every minute of day. And I tell them that it's just a fun exercise in consciseness and also - if you're following other people in the same industry as you - what's happening/new in the industry. I've gained followers by mentioning what I'm doing on motion graphics work and progress that I'm making, for example.
(My Twitter feed)

I am relatively new to MySpace. I had one when I was a teenager and the internet was still relatively new to me. I deleted the account a while ago. I signed up for it again today as a MySpace Musician so that I can get some more of my music out in the world because that seems to be working for people. I'll have to update this later when I find that there's a point to having a MySpace.
(My MySpace)

Finally, YouTube. It's no secret that this is my favorite networking site of all. And you wouldn't think that a site with videos of laughing babies with gas and skateboarding dogs would have much to offer except a fun way to procrastinate. But I've met several fantastic people through YouTube who I consider friends and it's a really fun - and rewarding way of sharing yourself and what you do with the world. I love getting comments on my videos - good or bad (preferrably good) and I love making comments on other people's videos and getting responses that stem a conversation.
(My personal channel)
(My collaboration channel)

Anyway, those are my thoughts on my biggest "time wasters". What are yours?

project for awesome 2008

Here's what the official website has to say about the Project for Awesome:

Every year, YouTube's Community takes over YouTube for a day...and instead of being stupid or funny or informative...we promote charities. Just one day a year...we'll get back to being silly tomorrow.

The Project for Awesome really is like a youtube-wide party. People are all over the place, commenting on videos, uploading, watching, hanging out, helping out and generally being mischievous. I honestly can’t wait, and I hope you’ll be a part of it with us.

But seriously. It's such a fun YouTube event that everyone can get behind since it's all about supporting your favorite charity.

I didn't get to participate last year because I wasn't a NerdFighter back then, but I get to participate this year. I made a video in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and made a donation of $55 dollars to my province's chapter.

You can watch my video where I've embedded it below.

Also check out the following link to a playlist of videos that we're trying to support first so that they get onto the Most Viewed and Most Discussed lists:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2EA839A2D727F335

So if you see any videos with the following screen shot today:
Make sure that you RATE, FAVORITE and COMMENT the HECK out of it so you can help take over YouTube for today and tomorrow.

DFTBA, NerdFighters! And have a happy P4A day!!!!

paper towns in my pants collab album

This song I wrote called "Up Here, Looking Down" was picked for the Paper Towns collab music album which is really super cool. Except that when you listen to my song, it's the ONLY ONE THAT FUGS UP. Like, there's this one part that goes SUPER off key. I don't go that off key in real life or the recording that I originally did.
I'm hoping it's just the download that I have, and that everyone's isn't like that. Because that would SUPER DUPER SUCK.
Anyway, here's a link to my MySpace so you can listen to it:
http://www.myspace.com/lanicolemusic
Hope you enjoy it!
<3 Laura

part 1: the sisterhood of awesome; part 2: tina and laura do TIFF

First things first:

The first week of Sisterhood of Awesome is almost complete with Grace doing her video tomorrow. I can't wait to watch it, but I just hope that she gets it up early-ish because I'm going downtown tomorrow (more on that later).

It's been an awesome week meeting the girls and it's so exciting that I'm going to get to know these awesome people and have friends in different parts of the continent and on a different continent.

I've posted a link to the channel as well as all the videos that have been uploaded so far.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO SISTERHOOD OF AWESOME CHANNEL!

Monday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo1SFDkQpr8
Tuesday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Ivxs6XM2E
Wednesday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp8hsQxPn3s
Thursday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaeDTknonrM
Friday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE0uMy7TC3I

Next topic.

Tina and Laura do TIFF.

For those of you who don't know, TIFF is the Toronto International Film Festival and it's pretty much the most exciting celebrity event to happen in Toronto all year.

Actually, I'm pretty sure it's just The Most Exciting Event To Happen In Toronto All Year.

We're going to watch Burn After Reading, that new film with George Clooney and (OMG!) Brad Pitt.

We're staying in a hotel over night tomorrow so that we can celebrity hunt at night and be downtown for our festival screening on Saturday.

We've come up with an itinerary that goes something like this:

1. Check into hotel
2. Go to Eaton Center for shopping, go to dinner
3. Go back to hotel to freshen up (tentative)
4. Go celeb hunt at Secret Life of Bees screening (tentative)
5. Celeb hunt at Burn After Reading Gala Screening (MUST)
6. Possible resuscitation of Tina
7. Free game - STALK IT UP!

It goes on from there, but I think you get the picture that we're crazy people.

We've also mapped it all out on Google Maps:

View Larger Map
(if you click the link that says "View Larger Map", above, you can see all the destination pins we've set down)

I'll post pictures of TIFF later. But right now, I need for you to go watch Sisterhood of Awesome immediately.

DFTBA,

Laura

good news for you and some bad news for me

First, the bad news for me: my town just got a little bit crappier than it already was.

"How is that even possible?!" I hear you ask in astonishment.

Very simple. A vast majority of the awesome is leaving to live at university this year. This includes my friend Jenny and her BF Pat, Brandy, Jason and Nick (though, granted, they're not that far and I'll still see them since my school is on the same campus) as well as some of my friends from work including Evelyn, Chloe, Peter, Jen, Andreas, Jared and Gonzalo. And some others that I will probably remember when I'm done typing this and will have to mention in an edit.

The fact that they're all away from home, living on their own makes me very sad and lonely (especially because Joe - my only friend to still be living in my town this school year - is still out of the country and won't be back until next month) and also insanely jealous.

I'm ready to move out of this house, I just can't really afford to right now. I'd need to have a roommate and all the potentials are currently living in residence (BLAST YOU ALL).

Eff. I can feel the crushing weight of this crap hole bearing down on me as I type this.

So on to the GOOD NEWS (for you. And me, actually. HURRAY!)

The good news, is that your week just got a LITTLE more awesome.

"How so, Laura?" I hear you ask in wonder.

Simple: I'm taking part in a YouTube vlog project with 4 other people I met on nerdfighters.com.

And YOU GET TO WATCH! HURRAY!!!

I just gave you something to do this year while you're supposed to be doing homework. You're welcome.

It's kind of like FiveAwesomeGirls and FiveAwesomeGuys - only not because we're called SisterhoodOfAwesome. Though, the concept is the same - 5 people communicating via video blog, and getting to know each other that way.

That's the great thing about this project - I didn't know these girls at all until Kris asked around for people interested in doing a vlog project with her in the forum on the ning.

It's going to be EPIC!

I've posted the teaser trailer video I made below so you have more info, as well as today's vlog that I made.

YOUR WEEK JUST GOT SO MUCH MORE AWESOME!

You're welcome,

- Laura

i was honored on youtube for about 6 hours

and then they took it away from me. Which then proceeded to make me very sad.

I woke up on Saturday morning and went through my usual routine:

1. Roll myself out of bed (sometimes literally)
2. Shuffle to kitchen to make coffee
3. Wait for coffee
4. Pour coffee
5. Go back to room
6. Check email
7. Check Facebook
8. Check YouTube

I did something along the lines of this (see screen capture below) when I was doing number 8:
Then I proceeded to have a mini panic attack and then went to my channel page and was all, HOLY CRAP I'M #70 Most Viewed (Today) - Directors - Canada (!!!!!!)

Then I checked later, and I was #55. See:
And now it says nothing. Because I stopped being number 55 most viewed of Directors channels in Canada.

But whatever. Thank god I got screen captures of it as proof. And even though it doesn't have the little medal thing on my channel anymore, you and I know the truth - that I WAS at some point honored by YouTube. And I was very happy about it.

Need to get ready for work now.

DFTBA,
Laura

i, like, say the word "like", like way too often. like.

such a nerd am i (part 2)

yeah. that should say pretty much everything.
it's a video response to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axrbPNYNxjI so go there if you want to know why on earth I did this. Also check out Andrew's original video about his StarWars nerdiness here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-JgvuFBo6M&feature=user