Hello

Synonyms of pensive include thoughtful, meditative, contemplative, etc. This word is the basis for my intentions of this blog, for that is the purpose of any journal, paper or virtual. I have deeply needed an outlet for my day to day thoughts, ideas, and, of course, frustrations. Do not fret, though. I intend to incorporate some fun into this bad boy as well. With that said, let me introduce myself.

You'll notice that my blogs will be signed Mandrake. For those of you who are unaware, mandrake is a root used as a popular ingredient in many stories of witch craft. However, my particular alter ego was influenced by the well-known Harry Potter series. This series is my favorite of all books. Now, I know that many of you are thinking that there are great works of literature that I should revere before a tale of a boy wizard, but this is my #1, like it or not. The books entertain readers with wizardry and magic, but they also force the readers to face real-life issues, such as discrimination. Lord Voldemort can easily be compared to a ruthless tyrant like Hitler in his endeavor to create a wizarding world of only pure-blood witches and wizards, and that only begins to scratch the surface of real-life comparisons.

Moving on. LSU is my current home. I may not go to the football games (sorry!), but I am a tiger through and through. Louisiana is a large part of my family heritage, so it only seemed reasonable to come here for a time in my life that is meant for growth and self-discovery. I like to think that my time here and my pride towards my Louisiana roots has allowed me to build a deeper, more special bond with my father and grandparents despite the fact that I was not raised here. I may not remain in Louisiana for the rest of my life, but I will make the most of the next 4-5 years I have left at LSU as I wrap up my undergraduate degree and dive into veterinary school (cross your fingers that they accept my application this year). For those of you who have never visited Louisiana, I recommend you make a trip out here at least once in your life just to try the food. It does not get better than Cajun cooking my friends.

Among my passions for Harry Potter and Louisiana, I spend a great deal of time on listening to music. I am a big fan of classic rock like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Queen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie (from the 60's more so than 80's Bowie), Judas Priest, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, etc. I go for classic punk bands such as the Ramones and the Clash. I jam out to 90's bands like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Days of the New, Live, Radiohead, etc. And last, but certainly not least, I always lighten my mood with a little Bob Marley. My love for music from before my time has led to a bit of an analog obsession, which caused me to claim half of my dad's vinyl collection. (I love you Dad!) Now that I have acquired a record player, I spend much of my free time listening to vintage analog music, which gives the albums a nice break from serving as wall art.

I suppose that is a good start. Much more will be revealed with each post, so until next time:



Peace