Week 13: Learn to Drive a Manual Transmission & Memorize and Recite "The Raven"

So here we are at lucky week 13, having successfully knocked out 2 last week, we have 2 more this week, the ol' manual transmission, and a return to form, with the delightful "memorize and recite the raven".

Which was drawn today but newcomer to the drawing scene, Mr. Ravi.

He actually just wanted to buy the hat

The result, as mentioned in the title, and at the top of this page of course:

So this one probably is a little strange, but for some back story, I have wanted to memorize this poem for a very long time, and the recital part should be interesting, with some help and some friends this could make for a memorable evening crashing an open mike night.

Anyway more to follow, watch this space, drink ovaltine etc ...

Learn to Drive a Manual Transmission

Seriously screw manual transmissions.

Lesson 1 

Like a wayward teenager, I set off in a parking lot with a kind friend who donated their car and clutch for me to break, wherein I proceeded to jerk and crawl through the parking lot, like an epileptic 5 legged spider.

Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, no video or photographic evidence of this event took place.  Though a lovely lady waiting for the bus was there to laugh at my misfortune, so at least someone had a good day.

What I've learned so far:

• I am not good working two legs independently
• Clutch pedals are heavy.

And some inspiration:

Richard: Is it an automatic or a manual?
Jeremy: It's witchcraft! That's what it is.
-Top Gear


Memorize and Recite "The Raven"

The Why

I've pondered a good 5 minutes how to answer the inevitable question for this challenge.  "Why?"  Followed most certainly by "Why the Raven?".  

So to put these questions to rest here are 3 reasons.

• Public speaking is a pretty big fear, doubly so when you are doing something ridiculous

It still works you just have to project more

• The Raven kick's ass as a poem, even the Simpsons agree, and they never spoof anything that's not great.

They may have taken some artistic liberties

• Uh, I already have part of it memorized, and I'm pretty lazy.

 The What

So what exactly is the raven about, a dude in need of a 24 hour pest control service obviously, but maybe there's more.  Maybe it's about mortality and regret, and my personal favorite hopelessness.

I'm sure if you look you can find a detailed analysis of the meaning, and its not exactly subtle with its symbolism, but I'll leave it to you, dear reader, to come up with your own conclusions.

The Raven
The Raven 

The How

Finally how will this happen?  I know of an open mic night at a bar in the city.  Its usually filled with aspiring singer songwriters hoping to attract women with their oh so sensitive lyrics, and the occasional terrible stand up comic.  So what better place to start.

Now, I could just go up there and mumble my way through it, awash in flop sweat, or I could double down on the stupidity and recruit another party to play the part of the raven.

Of course I will choose the latter.  Not much longer now.

And we did it, on Wednesday, after 4 hours of very painful open mic watching it was finally my turn:

The person to my right is the Raven, sitting lonely

Nerve wracking and terrible, but I survived, with only one 40 second gap where my mind went completely blank.

Pictured:  Panic

Special thanks on this one to everyone who held me to this insane proposition, those who showed up to see the train wreck, and all the poor open mic participants who I think were quite befuddled at the whole experience.

I do have a video, but this site does not seem to like it, so its available on demand if anyone would like to see it, though I don't know why anyone would.  Just let me know.