Today is Floreta‘s birthday.
If you don’t know Floreta — the Solitary Panda — she’s one of my many geeky online friends (actually, she’s probably even a bit dorky, and if you don’t believe me, just wait until you watch her video blog). She’s a poet and photographer, and likes to while away the hours by putting on dark, pensive make-up and pondering existential conundrums.
Anyway, I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, and here’s what she said:
“Seb, that gentle, melodic, breathy British voice of yours really gets me hot under the collar. In fact, when I’m listening to your podcasts, I sometimes have to press pause and… well, take a break, you know? Anyway, it would be totally awesome if you recorded a reading of my poems. It would make my day! And night…”
Who am I to deny a cute Asian girl such a great birthday request? So I recorded two poems, one where I play a gay teenage boy circle-jerking with some other boys (…) and the other is far more serious, about love and fear.
But then, things got interesting. She remembered that I’d asked her to write me a poem, about, er, me. Not only did she want to write me a poem, in return for my dramatic readings, she also wanted to perform the poem. Dramatic-like.
Trust me when I say it’s an experience that you don’t want to miss. She even shimmies. In a gamer geek t-shirt. And gets a little too excited when she says ‘Seb’.
Follow this link for Floreta’s video guest blog and follow this link for my readings of her poems.
Chase
Apr 29, 2009
Oh boy! my friend floreta. she’s ridiculous…
pinkjellybaby
Apr 29, 2009
Mr Seb, you sound like you have a big tongue. Which can only be a good thing really.
Amy
Apr 29, 2009
Having now heard that ‘breathy British voice’ of yours, I agree wholeheartedly with Floreta. Nothing beats a well-modulated, good British accent (and you’re a prime example).
sebastian
Apr 29, 2009
Floreta is certainly cut from different woodstock than the rest of us, Chase… Very bendy, pretty woodstock, but different nonetheless!
My tongue is certainly not small, but I can only just lick my nose. If I try really hard.
I keep getting told I ‘don’t sound very English’, Amy, so it warms my heart when you say that
Hannah
Apr 29, 2009
you should totally perform poems more! Like something by Poe…or Wilfred Owen…
floreta
Apr 29, 2009
oooh poe is one of my all-time favorites!!
Hannah
Apr 29, 2009
I know! Poe is awesome! When I was in high school I was practically *obsessed* with him….but in a healthy way of course
sebastian
Apr 29, 2009
I can try something by Poe!
I’d rather read out a book or something though… obviously, one of my own would be good, but… I haven’t written one yet…
Also, with poems I don’t have to do the voices of different characters!
Pick a poem…
Hannah
Apr 29, 2009
I like Annabel Lee, The Bridal Ballad, and The Raven (who doesn’t like that one?)….ooo ooo ooo!!! you could totally do a reading of one of his short stories!!! you know, until you have your own work to read…or do a reading of that short story you’ve been working on…oh and if you wanted to do Owen you should do Dulce Et Decorum Est
The Demigoddess
Apr 29, 2009
I have a crush on you..your voice, I mean.
I really liked your rendition/reading of Floreta’s poems.
You guys should do this more often.
sebastian
Apr 29, 2009
That’s a bit… cosmetic. Can’t you have a crush on my… personality too or something? I don’t want JUST my voice to be loved…
But I guess, I’d rather my voice was loved than not at all!
We should do this more often
the girl in stiletto
Apr 29, 2009
who said your accent does not sound english? it totally does! your poem reading sounds like all my lecturers voices on podcast. (yes… we get lecture notes on medicine on podcast) lol. wait, that’s just the voice…. but the quality of the reading…. better than all those jane austen’s books-based movies. but somewhat, your voice doesn’t seem to match your… erm…. pirate-y look @,@ your voice is too……….. smooth? ahah
the girl in stiletto
Apr 29, 2009
btw, i’d love to see italy from your eyes. maybe you saw more than i did. i saw lots of men. & architectures & history & beautiful scenery of course, but still.
sebastian
Apr 29, 2009
I think the people that have only heard the ‘stereotypical’ English accents complain. The ones that think we all sound like a) Paul McCartney, b) someone from Lock Stock n’ Two Smoking Barrels or c) the Queen.
But, I actually sound REALLY English. In fact, this is really as close to ‘proper English’ as you get (without sounding very posh, but I can turn the poshness ‘up’ if people want that…)
Italy was a lot about food for me, but it normally is when I travel alone. And a lot of walking around the backstreets of Venice, Florence and Rome. And… of course… CHURCHES!
the girl in stiletto
Apr 29, 2009
now that you remind me. the food oh the food. i went to those three places too! i simply love those places (even though not as much as i love greece, but still). i personally think those backstreets were the best, esp those in venice. but i went there during summer time – too many tourists. i hope to go there again during off season. i simply hate the fact that there’s no good enough italian restaurant to beat the risotto in milan, pizza in rome, etc. (i didnt know you’re a food person ahaha) you should go to greece – greek food is heaven on earth, no kidding. (very unlike fish & chips
JK!)
sebastian
Apr 29, 2009
Fish and chips has its place… once a month or so! It’s just right for comfort eating, or if you’re REALLY hungry — it REALLY fills you up… uncomfortably so…
I spent a week in Rome trying to find the best pizza in the world. I think I discovered it, down a tiny little backstreet. There was just me, a dog, and the chef in the restaurant.
But I won’t tell any more of THAT story… I will tell it properly, on my blog.
I was there in October, so most of the crowds had gone, and Venice smelt OK
Lisa
Apr 30, 2009
Great to discover your blog, and Floreta’s. Great reading too. Glad to see there are other geeker gamers proving that its doesn’t make you a loser
floreta
Apr 30, 2009
i can hear your voice as i read this entry !!
i like it.
Jossie Posie
May 1, 2009
Ok so its official, you need to read stuff for me and record your voice so I can listen to it whenever I like. Your voice would be perfect to listen to as I fell asleep, and I don’t mean its boring just soothing.
sebastian
May 1, 2009
Just tell me what you want read. It’s a lot easier to read than to write, so I’m more than happy to waffle on a bit, just for you…
Thanks, Cari!
cari
May 1, 2009
you DO have a wonderful voice…
Jossie Posie
May 1, 2009
Oh Seb darling, you could read the dictionary and it would be fabulous.