What REALLY happens at school

Today for my writer's craft class we did something unexpected. For about half an hour of class we spent it outside the classroom.

No we were NOT skipping.

We were NOT released early.

We were not headed to the library, nor was there a special guest speaker or presentation.

The goal of the class was to go anywhere BUT class.

The goal of class was to capture our surroundings with our senses.

We had to walk in and out of the school, anywhere on school property from the "Smokers Pit" to the cafeteria and record what we observe with ALL of our senses.

As I went from the empty hallways to the crowded cafeteria I experienced many different sensations, which were mainly sight and sound.

As soon as I walked in the first thing I noticed were the social groups.

Everyone was together, but at the same time everyone was separated in their own distinct group of friends. The sounds I heard were of loud shouting and talking; all were inaudible and confusing. In contrast however I also heard whispers, and rumors as people walked past me. People talking behind metaphorical "closed doors" where those they talk about can not hear them. It was an interesting thing to experience as I had not recognized these sounds as in detail despite being surrounded with them every school day.

It just goes to show what a writer can point out with their mind and senses when they see things from a poetic analytic point of view.

- Francis Frustration

Why I write ?

I write to express emotion

And feeling

To talk about what I believe in

What I stand by

I write about topics and themes

That not only impact me personally

But those close to me

As well as a general statement about

Society as a whole

One of my favorite

Literary devices in writing

Is an "Oxymoron"

A statement that is contradictory

To itself

An example is a Cold Fire.

I write not only as an outlet

But as a form of addressing issues

And relating to them personally

- Francis Frustration

A Feast For The Creative Mind

Last week in Writer's Craft, We had classes that revolved around each human sense: Sight, Sound, Touch, and Taste. For each day, we experimented with our senses and wrote about each sense and how they made us feel. We would then be given different stimulants to each sense and we would write on the spot about how each one was different and how each one made us feel.

Each day for each sense brought a new and fun classroom experience. However, the one class that stands out in my mind was the day we experimented our taste. Each student brought in certain food for the rest of the class to share and eat. The food that people brought in not only described their taste in food, but also said something about their personality and who they were.

I had personally brought sausages and rice, which spoke of my asian heritage as well as the influence North American society has had on my character.

I quite enjoyed eating the food as well experiencing the different feelings that each food brought. It was also fun watching everyone reacting to me standing up for the dozenth time to go for more food. Even my teacher halfway through talking stopped to comment on my continuous eating.

Overall, it was a good day as I not only got to eat in class but I also got to develop my creative writing as I got to practice giving inanimate objects.

Ending this very short post off, I am very pleased with how the month has gone. Another month, another doorway for potential and success. I can't wait for my potential march break plans. That'll be explained in another post.

Until then.

- Francis Frustration

Say Hello to Goodbye

Hello
One word
Endless possibilities
Hello Stranger
Countless days spend together
Hello Stranger becomes
Hello Friend
Countless more
as we become closer
our bonds strengthens
It's been a month
Now Hello Friend
Becomes
Hello Love
And our hours spent together
Feel like forever
Yet at the end of the day
It's never enough

Goodbye

There's never anything "Good"

About having to say "Bye"

It's this word

That separates us

At the end of our days

As inevitable as it is

We lay in denial

Delaying its arrival

But we know

It will show its ugly face

We refuse to use such a horrible word

Goodbye

Instead

I say to you

Until next time

That's much happier

It provides us with hope

That we will be together again

So for the time being

I say take care

Until next time my Love

My OWN Avatar

Magic is Music and Love

Magic doesn't have to be something performed by a magician. It doesn't have to be show that can be physically viewed by all to see. It's something pure that cannot be interrupted by any man made invention. Magic is something divine and I do not believe in what "David Blaine" considers to be magic. I call that an illusion made for entertainment.

I am not here to BASH what he calls magic. I simply do not believe in THAT magic and to say I was against it would be hypocritical as I find the illusions that he performs are quite entertaining.

Magic is defined by the one who beholds it. In my perspective, I see magic portrayed in only two things.

1. Music. I consider Musicians to be Magicians. They have the amazing ability to utilize sounds and instruments to create a beautiful symphony for whoever is willing to lend their ears. They create songs based on a huge compilation of sounds. Each song tells a different story, and has a powerful message behind it. That, to me is one of the greatest forms of pure magic out there. Music cannot be corrupted as it is what the musician makes of it. What makes music even more amazing is the fact that one can teleport their listeners into a mood from simply listening to a song. They are able to connect with the listener on another level and the listener is then able to connect the song with their own life. This is how I feel, and this explains the reason for my seemingly strong obsession with music by Angels & Airwaves. Their strong messages and lyrics as well as beautifully laid out instrumentals sync in so well, and I feel connected at such an intimate level I feel as though the songs were made for me and me alone. Sometimes I feel as though music is the only thing that can understand me when the world seemingly turns it's back on me. That to me is the greatest magic and is worth more than all of the world's wealth.
2. Love. In it's raw and misunderstood state, it is the most pure feeling in the world. Despite the fact that it will never be truly understood, it will always remain the most profound feeling we have ever felt. It makes people do extraordinary and seemingly illogical things we wonder why people bother with it at all. Especially when people are so hurt by the end of love or fake love. Breakups are such hurtful things to see, it makes us question why we keep such a strong faith to a word that is used to loosely. Even if it's not a breakup, the simple act of seeing the one you love with someone else breaks hearts and questions faith. I believe in love as I believe it is magic. This magic is one of humans strongest faiths in the universe. A faith even the weakest of us follow through to our grave. Is "Love" worth the seemingly unavoidable pain? I believe so. I believe love provides us with a part of us we cannot find in anything else. Love is irreplaceable. It provides us with someone we can hold and cherish forever, knowing that they'll only stay as long as you want them there. Someone who will always be there no matter how far you are physically. Knowing that your hearts are closer than your bodies is all you need to breathe with a purpose. It's all I need.

- Francis Frustration

Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce

Translated from Latin this phrase means "He Leads The World With Light".

A very fitting way to describe Tom Delonge as he has been for many years my musical inspiration and my source of lyrical inspiration.

"Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce" is also the opening instrumental track to the latest Angels & Airwaves album "LOVE". What is a perfect opening track that perfectly sets the listener up for total music bliss.

As fitting as the title is, "LOVE" was released on Valentines Day of the new decade 2010. A decade I can say that will belong to Tom Delonge if he is successful with his plans not only with the every growing power of Angels & Airwaves, but also the renewed power that is Blink-182.

One of Tom's goals after releasing their second album "I-Empire" was to release music that was more "radio-friendly". This was not necessarily due to the theme of songs as Tom had only continued his epic portrayal of human potential and love and his vision of the world, but due to the style of songs he had orchestrated in the past. In the past, he had produced more anthem type songs that were not suited for radio waves due to the long instrumental intros and the length of the songs reaching five minutes.

However, with his third effort he was able to maintain the anthem type sound that is Angels & Airwaves while allowing an album that was more "radio" and "Single" friendly. Although the longest song goes as long as 6 minutes and 35 seconds (The song "Shove"), majority of the songs sound like songs on the radio without losing creditability.

The WHOLE "LOVE" album is a brand new Angels & Airwaves experience taking tricks of the trade from only the best of the proven best (U2, Radiohead and Pink Floyd). However, as always Tom sticks to his roots and recycles many of the riffs that made him so popular. One will be able to pick up many similar riffs mixed together from the "I-Empire" album such as riffs from "Call To Arms", "Secret Crowds" and even from their previous work such as "The War" and "The Adventure". Although this is a great way to create new and exciting riffs, many would criticize Tom for lack of creativity stating that he simply uses old riffs and recycles them to make new riffs.

When all the dust settles however no one can deny that Angels & Airwaves went out on ALL cylinders and made ALL the right stops to make this their BEST work yet.

This album will DEFINITELY be one to look out for this year!

You can find this album on www.fuel.tv

It can be found in the recent news section and can be downloaded for FREE. This album is also made available on Itunes as well.

Despite LOVING the ENITRE album I must admit to having a FEW favorites and if you wish to hear a sample first you can actually find TWO songs from the album on my blog (Epic Holiday & Young London)

Other songs I recommend: Some Origins Of Fire, Soul Survivor, Letters to God: Part Two, Hallucinations, and Clever Love.

Until NEXT TIME!

KEEP ON BLOGGING!

- Francis Frustration

Something From The Past

I firmly believe that it is both the past and current events of your life that make you the person that you will become in the future. With that being said I believe that every aspect of your past is just as important as any aspect of your life you may deem important in your present. There are certain things that you may of experienced in the past that will influence not only the present, but how your attitude and approach will be in the future. Whether our experience be through meeting someone special, taking part in a momentous event, or even seeing an event happen on live TV, this experience can have a huge impact on the people we are and will be in the future. We are constantly changing as we are exposed to new things every day and experience something different all the time.

As an assignment, I was told to write about one childhood memory of our choosing. I shall choose to write about one that is important and significant to me personally.

One of the biggest influential experiences came in two forms. In the form of a trio, and in the form of music.

From the soundtrack of the movie "Charlies' Angels" I first heard their song. I was however, not good at naming bands our hearing music as the time that I had first heard it I was not a music fan. I was more into sports and less about music. However, when I heard THAT particular song, I thought it was one of the greatest songs I had ever heard with a singer whose voice was like no other. I would later discover this band would be known as "Blink-182" and their lead singer of that song was "Tom Delonge". The trio however had another lead vocalist who splits vocals with Tom on some songs and even taking other songs over while Tom sings backup. Their bassist and second vocalist is Mark Hoppus, as they are both backed up by their talented drummer Travis Barker. I would also discover that the song that I heard on the movie soundtrack was one of their biggest hit singles called "All The Small Things". It was from this moment and on that I had discovered an interest in music and I continued it through following "Blink 182". Therefore, this made "Blink 182" the VERY first band that I listened to and became a fan of.

I consider this to be important about who I am, as it not only set the standards to the rest of the bands that I now listen to, it helped me gain a musical inspiration from Tom Delonge and made me want to get into the expression of emotion that is music. Hearing Tom's lyrics inspired me to start writing poetry and lyrics of my own as I soon feel in love with the beauty of the form of expression. Furthermore, this also somewhat helped shape a bit of my character and who I am as Tom's music and lyrics inspired me to strive to become something bigger than myself and to leave a legacy behind for future generations to look up at.

With that being said, after the Blink 182 breakup years ago I had continually followed and listened to Tom Delonge's work as he formed two more bands: "Box Car Racer" and "Angels & Airwaves". Although "Box Car Racer" is no more, I still consistently follow Angels & Airwaves as they are not only one of my all time favorite bands but one of my biggest musical and lyrical inspirations. When I heard the news last year that Blink 182 had reunited, it brought back hope that I might finally live my dream of seeing them in concert; a dream that was broken by their break up.

Now that they are FINALLY back, not only am I looking forward to new material, I will be looking forward to a chance at seeing them live and I will certainly not miss taking the chance as soon as opportunity strikes.

I'm actually planning on putting together a "Cover Blink 182" band in the summer in honor of their reunion. However those plans are sketchy at the moment due to money, time and university coming up. I'll be sure to keep you bloggers updated though at any hint of new news!

Until then,

Keep on blogging and stay in tune for more from this Asian!

- Francis Frustration

As Early As My Mind Can Remember

Memories. They are our past, and what we can remember from it. We might not be able to remember ALL of our past but one is who they are DUE to their past both in what they remember and what they forget. Sometimes in order to look forward to the future one must understand who they are; in turn they must rely on what they know they've done in the past in order to step forward.

For a journal entry in Writer's Craft we were told to write about the EARLIEST memory we can think of. As I sat in class and thought of what that was, I was unsure. I had MANY memories that I barely remembered and there were certain memories that I personally did not remember but were recalled for me by those close to me. Therefore the memory I recalled was quite recent. Although I am unsure of the EXACT time, it was between grades 3 - 5 as it happened while I was still at my OLD elementary school.

This is what I wrote in class:

The earliest memory that I can recall is almost being expelled at my first elementary school. I remember someone insulting me, my family, and at one point my sister was brought into the fight. At that point all I remember were punches and kicks thrown as well as lots of shouting and bleeding. I remember sitting in the classroom in tears after talking to my teacher about the possibility. All other details are too blurry to remember.

I am always unsure why I had remembered THIS moment over ALL others. I think about it, however my mind fails to reach a conclusion. I have a theory though. I believe the reason that I remembered that moment, because it reminds me of my sister whom was only two months before dying. I guess when I think of my sister (Which is often), thoughts revolving around her also come to mind and that's how that thought reached my mind. The thought of someone insulting someone who I loved and was close to me.

Anyways, that's all for now. Short I know but you'll be hearing more from me later on!

Off to do homework and projects for OTHER classes!

Stay blogging! Till next time!

- Francis Frustration

What To Do

In a multimedia age

We have nothing to do

Cars fill the streets

People fill the sidewalks

But Nothing to do

Stores fill lots

Stores of all kinds

But nothing to do

What to do

We have billions of dollars

Circulating the world

We have millions more

poor and starving

We spend millions on luxuries

When millions cannot afford the basics

What to do

Hundreds of channels

Access to global information online

Dozens of ways to communicate

Yet we find ourselves isolated

We surround ourselves with people

Yet we feel alone and separated

What to do

When free will is longer free

People accepting others opinions

No longer individuals

Simply agreeing and conforming

Never truly understanding

What is around them

What to do

When expression

becomes an income

desensitized by the dollar

Art becomes a business

When casual becomes a suit

What to do

When everything you know

Ceases to exist

When everything that exists

Destroys itself

When we find ourselves

To blame for our downfall

When you look in the mirror

And see the world

What to do ?

Hello "Blogger"! Meet your newest "Member"

Hi there!

This will officially be my FIRST of millions of posts I will surely blog about. One of the reasons I actually started this was due to my English Writer's Craft Class. No names (Privacy reasons, we don't need stalkers now). However, I have ALWAYS thought about starting my own personal blog. I just never got the to get to writing one. That and I always thought my style of writing was bland and unoriginal. However, people ALSO tell me I am the WORST critic when I critique myself and I do not give myself enough credit (Go figure).

I am currently in my FINAL year in high school, so I've kind of been freaking out about acceptance and what I plan on doing after school. There is SO MUCH pressure to get accepted as there are SO MANY occupations out there that require a SOLID education background. I even have extra curricular activities that I am currently handling OUTSIDE school. I am planning on starting a band with close friends of mine, while currently learning acoustic guitar to keep in touch with my musical side. I've also been enjoying writing not only poetry but song lyrics which I will also post on my blog. I invite and encourage that you check those out with an open mind and do not be afraid to criticize my work as I am ALWAYS looking to improve myself, and my writing.

Anyways, I'm sure my other posts will take up pages and pages but seeing as this is my first time doing this I'll end off on a NON awkward note! Keep on blogging, and remember this won't be the last time you hear from this asian!

Yours Truly,

Francis Frustration.