My Heart Hearts You

“How do you spell 'love'?" - Piglet
"You don't spell it...you feel it." - Pooh” 
- A.A. Milne

Dear Mommy, Mum, Mother, Mama, Mom;

Happy Mothers Day. I love you. I love you more than words can describe. Not for the big moments, but for all the tiny things that add up. Fixing my water bottle for ballet. Helping me study for countless exams in High School (and probably learning more Chemistry and Physics than you cared to ever know). Driving me to school and dance; everyday. Encouraging my love of reading. and my passion for international politics, television shows, and YouTube. Always being in the audience for my performances. You are so very extraordinary. You amaze me with all you do. You're the best Mum in the world because you've done more for me than that title ever required. You have given me the most precious thing you could offer: your love and time. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (There. I said it three times. Now it's forever.) Without your support, I would not have succeeded academically, nor in ballet nor pursuing my dreams. Knowing that you believe in me is all the encouragement I need. And I can't thank you enough. (Like I said, there are not words for how much I love you.) You are so smart and wise and beautiful. 

"When love is a raging sea, you can hold on to me." - Ocean Wide (The Afters)

Through everything, we will always have each other.  I love you so much. Here's to many more adventures along the PCH, in concerts, at museums, in the depths of libraries, along the streets of history and among pop culture. (I kinda think you're the coolest Mum because you'll watch YouTube videos with me and be a psych-o for Psych with me.) You're the best.

“Some people care too much. I think it's called love.” - A.A. Milne

Love (for Forever and Always),
Laura

Numb

"I'm half a man at best, with half an arrow in my chest. I miss everything we do; I'm half a heart without you." - One Direction (Half a Heart)

My innermost being utterly slain

I swore I wouldn't let you die

I'm riddled with the deepest pain

This instability that I might just feign

to give me some space to cry

My innermost being utterly slain

What is there left in this world to gain,

when everything surrounding me is a lie?

I'm riddled with the deepest pain

Your memory my only sustaining vein

Regret that I never said goodbye

My innermost being utterly slain

My ability to feel is slipping down a drain

I wish it were all a lie

I'm riddled with the deepest pain

Consumed by this torrential reign

I'm standing here alone wondering why

My innermost being utterly slain

I'm riddled with the deepest pain

Well Wishes

"When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water." -Benjamin Franklin

Charity:Water is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for clean water projects in developing nations. I donated my 18th birthday to clean water. This means that instead of gifts, I'm asking anyone and everyone to donate whatever they can to my campaign:  my.charitywater.org/well-wishes. Why? Because nearly 800 million people lack access to clean water. Because more people in India have a cell phone than a toilet. Because more people die every year from a lack of sanitation that through war. Because I want every child to have the opportunity to have an education, to better their own world. Because clean water prevents diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Access to clean water has been declared by the United Nations as a fundamental human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 25. Please help me by donating just $5 (or whatever you can!) by clicking the link above. Thank you so much for your donation and your time. If you do donate, you can track where the money goes. In about 18 months from August 28, the close of my campaign, the money raised will be put to use in a developing nation around the world. 

Thanks again! 
Love,
Everyday Lunatic 

My Love Letter

"What I'm saying is that I think maybe the best things, the richest things aren't supposed to come easily. And that sometimes the moments that make the most sense happen when everything else doesn't." - Juliet O'hara (Maggie Lawson; Psych)

I hate it when people act like watching TV is a passive action. One must be as equally engaged in watching a television show as taking notes in school or watching a football game. I love watching TV and noticing the clever quips and the creative angles and the quick cuts. My junior year in high school, I took a Film as Text class. Each week we had to complete a "film journal" analyzing a particular element of film- sound, editing, lighting, dialogue, character, locations and set- by watching a film or TV episode and writing on the prevalence of said element. For one of the journals, I chose my favorite the best TV show ever, Psych. I chose one of my all-time favorite episodes, This Episode Sucks (6. 03), because I knew that James Roday, the lead actor on the show, had directed and co-written the episode. 

After analyzing the episode, I was blown away. Not only is this show witty and original, but the cast and crew are truly genius. Upon looking further, I noticed that a large part of the episode was shot hand-held. The rawness and shakiness symbolizes vulnerability in the characters. In this particular episode, Lassie's emotions were terribly vulnerable after meeting the breathtaking Marlowe. Roday is pure talent; a triple threat. He can write, direct, and act. He is every filmmaker's dream. However, he alone could not create that which is Psych. The melange that the cast creates is magical to watch unfurl on screen. The natural chemistry between Dule Hill (dancer; The West Wing), Roday, Maggie Lawson (can we just take a moment to appreciate how stunning she is), Timothy Omundson (had no business being in That Guy...Who Was In That Thing as he's obviously a super star from Psych), Kirsten Nelson, Corbin Bernsen, and the regulars- Kurt Fuller and Sage Brocklebank- is evident in every one-twenty-fourth of a second frame of the show. 

A TV show cannot simply rely on an outstanding cast of excellent actors. A good TV show needs good writers, good directors, and good editors. So often the behind the scenes people go unrecognized, but Psych is a case where the behind the scenes talent is just as strong as the cast onscreen. Some of the regular writers include Andy Berman, Anupam Nigam, Steve Franks (creator), Tim Meltreger (producer), Saladin K. Patterson, Todd Harthan, Bill Callahan, Kell Cahoon, and of course James Roday. Some of the recurring directors include Roday, Mel Damski, John Badham, Tim Matheson, Matt Shankman, and John Landis. 

The cast and crew have many inside jokes that their fans, Psych-os, have been included into. Some such jokes include the "Boom from the Bottom" Song, the "Excuse Me, Roday (Jacket On, Jacket Off)" Song, and the "We are Outta Here" Song, never introducing themselves by their own names on the audio commentaries (except Kelly Kulchak, executive producer), Dule Hill eating or taking phone calls during some of the audio commentaries, and the clever one liners from the show. These one-liners include: Wait for iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit, C'mon Son, Suck it, I've Heard it Both Ways, Pineapples, Gus Don't be a [insert random object here], Gus' Nicknames, and more. Both the Pineapples and Gus' Nicknames originated from James Roday's improvisations, which were common especially in the early episodes. 

There is something unique about Psych. For most shows, the atmosphere seems to be just business and drama, but when I watch the audio commentaries and Psych-outs on my DVDs, I sense (no, that pun was not intentional) a familial relationship between the cast and the crew. The show seems to be a perfect model of a group effort- everyone works together and bounces off one another's ideas and energy. It's this element that most draws me to Psych. I understand that claiming Psych is "the best TV show ever" is a hefty statement, but I didn't simply throw it out there. It came after analyzing every episode and watching every audio commentary and interviews of the the cast and producers. After this research, I compared Psych to other "crime dramas"; however, I have yet to find a television show that brings me such absolute joy and utter and complete happiness as Psych does. 

"Please just let me finish stumbling through this. I'm almost done. I promise." 

This show exists because of Steve Franks. He is a very tall man. And he is awesome. He created this amazing show about a fake Psychic who helps the SBPD solve crimes and is chocked full of classic 80s references (now headed into its eighth season), which now airs on USA Network Wednesday nights at 9 central/10 eastern. The newest installment is Psych the Musical, which is set to air in December. 

I know I've mentioned the audio commentaries several times (they're my favorite part of the DVDs), but I must once again bring them up. I discovered Psych through my best friend during my freshman year in high school. During the year after that, I became so in love with this show that I would constantly watch the DVDs of the first three seasons. One day, I was watching the audio commentary for an episode, and Steve Franks made a comment to the effect of "You [audience] should create your own TV show because it's the best job ever." Upon hearing this, it was as if a light bulb went off in my head. In that instant it became clear to me:  My dream was to become a filmmaker and create my own TV show. For this reason, I consider Steve Franks one of my heroes because I want to be like him when I'm older. I want to have as much fun working as he does with Psych. 

I don't know about most people, but the nerdy filmmaker fan-girl inside of me dreams of getting to visit the set in Vancouver (North Shore Studios) and see the magic happen. I'd love to simply observe the people I admire most doing what I love most. Until then, I will continue reading Syd Field's Screenplay and making short films with my friends (written with Celtx and edited with FinalCut Pro).  Starting in August, I will be attending University as a Digital Film-making and International Studies double major. This is in large part due to Steve Franks and everyone involved with Psych. I can't thank them enough for being my inspiration, my drive, and my heroes. 

Love, 
Everyday Lunatic
Laura Craig

Giving Thanks

"There is no place like home."- L. Frank Baum
There is a plethora for which I am thankful. The standard stuff:  family, food, clothes, a home, friends.  The frivolous stuff:  computers, phones, TV, Netflix, iPod.  The unclassifiable stuff: a Saviour, Blood:Water Mission. 
But perhaps the things most taken for granted on this short list fall into the 'standard' category. After all, it's easy to expect your parents' love and support and the camaraderie of your siblings; even if there is family tension, there is still love. We don't get down on our knees and pray because we have a shirt to wear; we worry about being cute and skinny. We are never truly alone. There is always someone that counts as a friend. Someone to rely on. 
The point is, not everyone in the world is this fortunate. Many are homeless. Many have no family- abandoned, orphaned, deserted. People die every day because of starvation and a lack of clean water. There are places in this world where it's not safe to have a friend because there is no one to trust. No one to confide in. 
So as this Thanksgiving comes to a close, I want to try and be more grateful and thankful for the standards.  Because, in truth, they really are not standard at all. 

For S and A.

"There is never a time or a place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment."- Sarah Dessen (The Truth About Forever)

Juxtaposed Romancing

Those gentle dimples

So vastly juxtapose 

his very nature

A killer. 

But perhaps something more meaningful

beneath the surface

of that European accent

and curly locks

A true romantic. 

Stolen by a smart, 

Cunning Girl

Who fell too, 

All the same

But time is short

and Love is sweet

so cherish the moment

As it may be the last

They were intertwined

From the inside out

Running away in the late afternoon sun

racing through Paris

surviving Cuba

Two hearts as one

Suddenly stolen

Cut in half.

A Passion

Her Bright Morning Star

No more. 

A playful dance

As the memories live on

At least they say

That Revenge is Sweet

Love You, Forever.

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." -Dr. Seuss

Y'know those people who say that love never lasts?

They've obviously never met you

With your undying love

And angelic smile

The way that you touch everything with grace

And you're slow to anger

You never walk away

And, Well.

There just aren't words to describe

Your Forever Love.

So maybe I otta say Thanks.