Odetooverstreet - Ode To Overstreet

Daily Routine (9/14/17) - Coffee Break

I went to a local coffee shop called The Lab at Alchemy (Alchemy Coffee for short). You will probably see me post about this place often, as it is one of my favorite coffee shops in Richmond. Today’s experience at The Lab wasn’t really any different from any other day (except for the barista thinking I ordered a mocha instead of a normal coffee - only mildly infuriating). I ordered my coffee and muffin and sat down to be productive. 

Productive in a sense at least. 

I usually go to coffee shops to do homework, usually reading from my various textbooks or writing a paper on my laptop. Alchemy is different though. For some reason I can’t do anything academic while sitting in this quaint college student hangout spot. I’m not sure if it’s the people coming in and out, the buzz of drinks being made, or just being so close in proximity to people (if it’s crowded, space to breath can be pretty tight). It may be that I always have associated the place with de-stressing, but I add in stressors that prevent me from working. So now Alchemy is no longer a place where I can do “work” in an academic manner. I now see at as a place to unwind, and let my creativity sprawl in a different way

Creative writing.

I have determined that Alchemy is now my go to place when I want to write. Poetry, short stories, journal entries, and other forms of short prose - I feel safe and comfortable writing it there. Which leads me to this picture I’ve included. It’s an off kilter shot of my coffee mug and personal journal where I write all of my ideas for everything. I try and write in it at least once a day, whether it be a journal entry or something creative. Shown above is a series of short poems I came up with while listening to the song “Visiting Friends” by Animal Collective. In short, it’s a hypnotic, ambient, and drawn out acoustic guitar track with odd voices and sounds sampled into the background. While repetitive and long, the song is able to put me into an odd feeling where I make can write these unique dialogue poems that I’ve never been able to do unless I’m listening to this song. I now have 4 full pages of content while listening to this song. I’ll post them separately someday, probably with edits and rewrites in order for them to flow better. I also transcribed a short story that I wrote in my journal into a word document. It’s currently a mess, but I’m happy that I did it. I’ll post that story someday too when it’s ready.

It was quite a time at The Lab today filled with lots of creative energy and much needed de-stressing. I hope to be able to find a lot of other places in Richmond that have the same effect, hopefully free, as money can be tight for a college student. Honestly, any place that can get the creative juices flowing is fine by me. If you’re an RVA native and you write, please comment/PM with your go to places (oddly specific and far reaching I know, but one can hope). 

These guys are amazing. Deserves so much more attention. 

Look em up

Holly | STRFKR

Weak

I am feeble to the winds of your words and the gaze of your azure orbs 

Whatever life throws at you, just be happy you're alive on this beautiful planet. When life gives you challenge, come at it with a smile. You might just realize how beautiful life is. Belle Isle, Richmond

ART.

Indie Favorites (x)

1)Barely Legal//The Strokes 2)The World at Large//Modest Mouse 3)Settle Down//The 1975 4)Cousins//Vampire Weekend 5)Shiver Shiver//Walk the Moon 6)Whistle for the Choir//The Fratellis 7)Good ol’ Fashion Nightmare//Matt and Kim 8)Salt//Bad Suns 9)Day Off//Freelance Whales 10)The Chief//Wildcat! Wildcat! 11)Bones//Ms Mr 12)Down to the Market//The Kooks 13)The Mowgli’s//The Mowgli’s 14)Seven Nation Army//The White Stripes 15)Bad Kids//The Black Lips 16)Miniature Tiger//Cannibal Queen 17)Navajo (Single)//Island Cassettes 18)Gold Guns Girls//Metric 19)Maps//Yeah Yeah Yeahs 20)Reckless//San Cisco 21)Saint Motel//Saint Motel 22)Block After Block//Matt and Kim 23)Pickpocket//Kate Nash 24)Colours//Grouplove 25)Hold On We’re Going Home(Drake cover)//Arctic Monkeys 26)Sovereign Light Cafe//Keane 27)Misery Company//Kaiser Chiefs 28)Timeless//The Airborne Toxic Event 29)Featherstone//The Paper Kites 30)The Sea//Swim Deep