Are we having fun yet? NOW you have two reasons to come visit my blog. I am updating my playlist to reflect everything I'm writing about. You'll see that today I added "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". Fiddles rule! Eventually I'd like to have a separate playlist for each new blog. trust me, unless you idolize the Barney Song, there is something for everyone. And, if you don't like my writing, you can just hang with me a bit and listen to music. Hmmm....... I might try another embedding service if I can't get this one to fit on the screen!
There is no better way to find my friendship than to spend an evening drinking wine or Southern Comfort with me and playing me your entire collection of music. Hopefully, you'll be so excited, that by the end of the night, all of your records and cd's will be strewn about the room and you'll have to spend the entire next day reorganizing your collection. This is one major drawback to digital music: no mess!
I have two music buddies currently. This is not the only way I define my friends, but it is an honored little label that should be worn with pride. Its sort of like saying Ken Griffey Jr. is a baseball player, but he's ALSO an all-star. They are my advisers and co-conspirators on all things music.
Brandon is not really Brandon. I'll not use real names, not because I am about to disclose any sordid details, but simply because one's name belongs to oneself. One day, if I'm still blogging, I'm sure i will be providing a link to his website, where you can learn about his magic and hear his great passion for music and songwriting. I met him only recently, but it would be best to say that he would be a fine character to add to ANY chapter of my book of life. He is a student trying to become a teacher of music, but I consider him to be a teacher who is honing his art. He confirmed my undying love for the Killers. His most amazing ability, however, is this uncanny way of quoting U2 songs or telling a U2 story no matter the conversation. Love? Here comes a U2 thought. Talking about regret? There's a U2 story. The difference in coffee between Starbuck's and the Coffee Beanery? High gas prices? Foreclosures? Concerts? Spaghetti? Synthesizers? Yup, here comes Bono again. Seriously, you should try it sometime. I often throw things randomly into the air and ask for U2 commentary. I've never been let down.
Brandon shares my values and passions and my inquisitiveness for life. I love people who challenge my brain. They help keep me pointed in the right direction. Musically, we have reached a point where we can truly appreciate the other's passion. In every musical relationship, there is an awkward, competitive beginning. Joe plays a song, and you're thinking, well that's alright, but lets see if you can top this! The primal urge is to pull out your most obscure, odd tracks to prove your musical superiority. I am sorry, but this is the way of men (smile). After awhile, you necessarily reach a musical peace. You start listening, alone in your car or headphones, and you gain an appreciation and trust otherwise impossible. Now Brandon is simply the brilliant music guy. Haha, and thanks for Flight of the Concords!
Angie is the finest music girl I've ever met. She's a chick with a guitar (always a good thing), but she doesn't own a guitar, if you get my drift. While she is extremely outspoken about what she loves musically, she keeps it still in a very private place in her heart. She is mostly responsible for putting together the playlist on my blog. I share with her my longing for what is to be. She is one of the most determined people I've ever met. And trust me, if she cares for you, you will truly know what that means. She has a unique way of thinking, self-taught through the ability to maintain mental fortitude in the face of adversity. What an honor to know her. I admit to being jealous, however, of her fine music collection. It's probably just chauvinism haha. but i know I really have no argument. I just have to grin and accept graciously the access she gives me to her music knowledge and library!
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A Close Call
I have spent far too many hours today trying to find a new template for my blog. This...is...so....addicting. I found a couple that would be good enough to get me started (and make it a pleasant multimedia experience for you, a reader), but as my luck would have it, I copied the code into my layout and a whole lotta nothin' happened. I got an error. I didn't even bother writing down the error code at the moment. I decided I had spent enough time on it already. But the music is up! And the controls are working fine, so if my exquisite tastes in music aren't your cup of tea, you are welcome to pause it. I only wish I could find a way to put a soundtrack on each post, so that it would kind of keep with the theme. And it would be cool to have a separate play list for each genre, so you can decide for yourselves what music goes well with me. And for you wise-asses out there, I'm NOT putting "Loser" by Beck or "Creep" by Radiohead on here. Ummmm, well........... maybe.
I was so excited about the music thing I almost didn't go to the gym tonight. ALMOST. I could hear that little voice in my head telling me how much easier it would be to hang out with the tunes and write. But then one of the other voices in my head piped in, "What the hell are you going to write about if all you're doing is sitting at the computer all day, dumb-ass?" So off I went.
I could really get used to this routine of gymming late night, followed by iced mocha, a quick bite, shower-bath, and blog. Although there's this guy there all the time that, for some reason, always has to go on the treadmill next to mine (again...... warped minds.......NOOO! It's not like that). He puts his Discover Magazine on the treadmill and proceeds to not read any of it. Instead he's tuned into Leno or whatever's on the gym's tv. Which is all fine and good, except that there are about 5 people in a gym that holds 150! WTF! I mean really, people, I love talking to you, but not when I'm grunting and sweaty. I don't even talk to people when I'm playing soccer.
So anyways, sorry to change the topic so abruptly, but here it goes. I don't want to talk about specific circumstances, but there was a guy a few weeks ago, in the midst of a family crises, who, being frustrated with his lack of knowledge of Detroit-area roads, said he would kill himself if he had a gun. Newsflash, idiot: No one is going to feel sorry for a drama queen. I CANNOT stand people who throw things in the air as if they were confetti, while at the same time knowing very well they've just thrown a bomb. I wanted to tell him that you don't need a gun to off yourself. You could drive off a bridge. You could stop your car, roll your windows up, and go to sleep. You could tie a rope to the transmission stick, lie down in front of your car, and pull...... presto! you've done the trick!
But no, panic set in instead and for about 30 seconds I was trying to talk him into stopping his car before he did anything stupid. Then he has the nerve to say, "Oh, I'm not really going to kill myself........haha........ but I really hate your roads in this city!" (deep sigh)..... like I said.
Look, I've kind of been there myself, in a galaxy far far away. But the bottom line is this: if you are seriously planning on committing suicide, you are an ASSHOLE. No joke. Your one major responsibility in this world is staying alive. Think about the people who care about you (and yes, there are people who care). they should be thinking about important stuff, like cooking dinner, or planning a vacation or something. You know, living out their hopes and dreams in relative happiness. You, then, go and pop a bottle of pills, because you couldn't think of any other way to ask for help, and you've just rocked somebody's world. Even if you don't ruin their life, you have just changed it irrevocably. Shame, shame, shame: to value the people who love you so little.
What I've learned is that we can do something every single day of our lives to make it memorable, to do something, anything, we haven't done before. Believe me, it's not hard to do and it doesn't cost a dime. We can love a little better than we ever did before. We can work a little smarter. We can walk to work backwards, or everyone can drive their cars in reverse for a day. It could be anything, really. And I know I sound like Tony Robbins here, but it's true! Life is too short, too beautiful, and too damn funny not to live it the best we can! Even now, at this moment, I am laughing my ass off because reading it again, I realize I sound like an aerobics instructor. Well, maybe I can work on becoming more eloquent and lyrical on this topic. But, as always, I reserve the right to change my mind.
Don's Hope of the Day, for his Reader: May you find find a crescent moon tonight to rest your weary shoulders against, and dangle your feet from its perch. Goodnight!
I was so excited about the music thing I almost didn't go to the gym tonight. ALMOST. I could hear that little voice in my head telling me how much easier it would be to hang out with the tunes and write. But then one of the other voices in my head piped in, "What the hell are you going to write about if all you're doing is sitting at the computer all day, dumb-ass?" So off I went.
I could really get used to this routine of gymming late night, followed by iced mocha, a quick bite, shower-bath, and blog. Although there's this guy there all the time that, for some reason, always has to go on the treadmill next to mine (again...... warped minds.......NOOO! It's not like that). He puts his Discover Magazine on the treadmill and proceeds to not read any of it. Instead he's tuned into Leno or whatever's on the gym's tv. Which is all fine and good, except that there are about 5 people in a gym that holds 150! WTF! I mean really, people, I love talking to you, but not when I'm grunting and sweaty. I don't even talk to people when I'm playing soccer.
So anyways, sorry to change the topic so abruptly, but here it goes. I don't want to talk about specific circumstances, but there was a guy a few weeks ago, in the midst of a family crises, who, being frustrated with his lack of knowledge of Detroit-area roads, said he would kill himself if he had a gun. Newsflash, idiot: No one is going to feel sorry for a drama queen. I CANNOT stand people who throw things in the air as if they were confetti, while at the same time knowing very well they've just thrown a bomb. I wanted to tell him that you don't need a gun to off yourself. You could drive off a bridge. You could stop your car, roll your windows up, and go to sleep. You could tie a rope to the transmission stick, lie down in front of your car, and pull...... presto! you've done the trick!
But no, panic set in instead and for about 30 seconds I was trying to talk him into stopping his car before he did anything stupid. Then he has the nerve to say, "Oh, I'm not really going to kill myself........haha........ but I really hate your roads in this city!" (deep sigh)..... like I said.
Look, I've kind of been there myself, in a galaxy far far away. But the bottom line is this: if you are seriously planning on committing suicide, you are an ASSHOLE. No joke. Your one major responsibility in this world is staying alive. Think about the people who care about you (and yes, there are people who care). they should be thinking about important stuff, like cooking dinner, or planning a vacation or something. You know, living out their hopes and dreams in relative happiness. You, then, go and pop a bottle of pills, because you couldn't think of any other way to ask for help, and you've just rocked somebody's world. Even if you don't ruin their life, you have just changed it irrevocably. Shame, shame, shame: to value the people who love you so little.
What I've learned is that we can do something every single day of our lives to make it memorable, to do something, anything, we haven't done before. Believe me, it's not hard to do and it doesn't cost a dime. We can love a little better than we ever did before. We can work a little smarter. We can walk to work backwards, or everyone can drive their cars in reverse for a day. It could be anything, really. And I know I sound like Tony Robbins here, but it's true! Life is too short, too beautiful, and too damn funny not to live it the best we can! Even now, at this moment, I am laughing my ass off because reading it again, I realize I sound like an aerobics instructor. Well, maybe I can work on becoming more eloquent and lyrical on this topic. But, as always, I reserve the right to change my mind.
Don's Hope of the Day, for his Reader: May you find find a crescent moon tonight to rest your weary shoulders against, and dangle your feet from its perch. Goodnight!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Smile Like You Mean It
Aaaaaahhhhhh! That's better. Today actually turned out better than I could have hoped. First, I received a call from my car dealership saying that my Jeep is ready to go, at no cost to me. Yes, I LOVE that phrase! Today, I also managed to eat a healthy meal and not spill anything on myself.
I just got back from the gym a while ago. I had been invited to a party, and I wanted to say yes, because it doesn't happen often, and I am afraid I won't be invited next time if my reputation becomes affixed to the word "no." But I knew that if anyone placed a drink in front of me, my workout would be shot to hell (no pun intended). Have you ever tried to work out while hammered (WOWH, for the acronym inclined)? I don't think I have ever tried it, but it does present an interesting scenario.
I can see myself there on the treadmill, hanging desperately to the handlebars as my feet continually find themselves precariously close to the Point of No Return. My face is blush red, my mouth is hanging open and my eyes are lolling about. The dude next to me probably thinks I'm on acid. In the meantime, since i didn't have the presence of mind to bring a water bottle, I am constantly licking my lips trying to find some remote drop of saliva. I'm parched. Next thing I know, I'm over there trying to lift weights. I don't recognize myself in the gym's mirror, so I think it's really funny to see the fat guy with a five pound dumbbell in one hand and a fifty-pounder in the other. What IS he thinking? I ask this out loud. I realize my doom only as the fifty-pounder come crashing down on my toe. I look at it for about 30 seconds, not quite comprehending, before leaping about like a crazed madman. I am then kicked out of the gym and told never to come back.
So I decided against going to the party.
I felt pretty damn good coming out of the gym. As usual, the first 30 minutes on the treadmill were the toughest. I have to conjure up everything motivational I could summon........ everything that annoys me or makes me angry or anything that I love. You have to be quick to the gun with these thoughts. If the motivation from thinking about the asshole who ruined your day at work suddenly wears out, you have to have another one ready to take its place. I wonder what the expressions on my face must look like? All this tribulation and I even had added about 50 new songs to my MP3. I skipped to all the hard songs for the first 30 minutes: Bulls on Parade, Suck My Kiss, What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
but once I got going, I did fairly well. For the first time in my life, I'm hitting the weights seriously. My arms and shoulders feel like rubber at the moment. Walking out to my car, I was hunched over, head down, trembling and shuffling my feet along the ground. This had better be worth it. I've always seen big musclemen and stared in awe....... not at their muscles, but at their stoic, emotionless sense of imperviousness. I wonder if I'll ever feel this way. Already, I can feel my biceps bulging a bit, and yes(!), it does feel a bit like body armor. My fat never felt that way!
The good feelings lasted until I got home. I stopped on the way and picked up a Starbuck's iced mocha, as I usually do after my workouts. I stepped in the bathtub for a nice warm shower-bath to relax a little, and......... then i saw my belly. It STILL looked like something that's served at the dinner table at Thanksgiving. This process of weight loss is painfully slow. Nevertheless, I WILL be back at the gym tomorrow night, all for an hour or so of validation followed by yet another realization of how far I have to go.
Now, I mentioned shower-baths a moment ago. Even if you didn't want to know, this is one of two things that relax me more than anything else. first off, if you are going to try this, I suggest washing yourself completely before putting the stopper in the drain. It's such a wonderful, private place to be: locked in the bathroom, a cauldron of steam rising over the shower curtain, and a tub full of water. It's almost like sitting in a hot spring with a waterfall falling all over you. Odd? I don't know, but I can't seem to kick the habit.
My other guilty pleasure is driving. It's amazing really how alone you can be driving in your car, especially with the music turned up a little. I prefer going on these mini-road trips at night, when I can be even more anonymous. daytime driving is fun too, though. I always seem to notice something different every time I drive through some back-country town: the shadows from the trees, the cars in the yard, the horses out on the pasture. I am a creature of non-habit. I love the unknown variables. I love seeing what is in store for me around the bend. And I love singing in the car! I wonder if anyone ever sees me singing, as loud as I can, "Reeeeeedddddd Raaaiiiinnnn, pouring down, pooouuurrrring down all over me." I don't really pay attention to other drivers. I feel like it's kind of an invasion of privacy. But I am sure I must look awfully funny.
So right now i am listening to You Get What You Give by The New Radicals. "if you feel your dream is dying hold tight, you've got the music in you." Could have been a great band if they stayed together. I REALLY wish I knew how to put little music notes on the computer screen. I will have to find a template that's music-themed and figure out how to put a soundtrack on here. I am soooooo green when it comes to blogging! If anyone with any knowledge of blogging happens across this post, suggestions are welcome!
So, I guess that's all for tonight. There was one other thing I wanted to talk about, but it doesn't really fit the mood at the moment. It's been a fine day, and I wish all of you sweet dreams tonight.
I just got back from the gym a while ago. I had been invited to a party, and I wanted to say yes, because it doesn't happen often, and I am afraid I won't be invited next time if my reputation becomes affixed to the word "no." But I knew that if anyone placed a drink in front of me, my workout would be shot to hell (no pun intended). Have you ever tried to work out while hammered (WOWH, for the acronym inclined)? I don't think I have ever tried it, but it does present an interesting scenario.
I can see myself there on the treadmill, hanging desperately to the handlebars as my feet continually find themselves precariously close to the Point of No Return. My face is blush red, my mouth is hanging open and my eyes are lolling about. The dude next to me probably thinks I'm on acid. In the meantime, since i didn't have the presence of mind to bring a water bottle, I am constantly licking my lips trying to find some remote drop of saliva. I'm parched. Next thing I know, I'm over there trying to lift weights. I don't recognize myself in the gym's mirror, so I think it's really funny to see the fat guy with a five pound dumbbell in one hand and a fifty-pounder in the other. What IS he thinking? I ask this out loud. I realize my doom only as the fifty-pounder come crashing down on my toe. I look at it for about 30 seconds, not quite comprehending, before leaping about like a crazed madman. I am then kicked out of the gym and told never to come back.
So I decided against going to the party.
I felt pretty damn good coming out of the gym. As usual, the first 30 minutes on the treadmill were the toughest. I have to conjure up everything motivational I could summon........ everything that annoys me or makes me angry or anything that I love. You have to be quick to the gun with these thoughts. If the motivation from thinking about the asshole who ruined your day at work suddenly wears out, you have to have another one ready to take its place. I wonder what the expressions on my face must look like? All this tribulation and I even had added about 50 new songs to my MP3. I skipped to all the hard songs for the first 30 minutes: Bulls on Parade, Suck My Kiss, What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
but once I got going, I did fairly well. For the first time in my life, I'm hitting the weights seriously. My arms and shoulders feel like rubber at the moment. Walking out to my car, I was hunched over, head down, trembling and shuffling my feet along the ground. This had better be worth it. I've always seen big musclemen and stared in awe....... not at their muscles, but at their stoic, emotionless sense of imperviousness. I wonder if I'll ever feel this way. Already, I can feel my biceps bulging a bit, and yes(!), it does feel a bit like body armor. My fat never felt that way!
The good feelings lasted until I got home. I stopped on the way and picked up a Starbuck's iced mocha, as I usually do after my workouts. I stepped in the bathtub for a nice warm shower-bath to relax a little, and......... then i saw my belly. It STILL looked like something that's served at the dinner table at Thanksgiving. This process of weight loss is painfully slow. Nevertheless, I WILL be back at the gym tomorrow night, all for an hour or so of validation followed by yet another realization of how far I have to go.
Now, I mentioned shower-baths a moment ago. Even if you didn't want to know, this is one of two things that relax me more than anything else. first off, if you are going to try this, I suggest washing yourself completely before putting the stopper in the drain. It's such a wonderful, private place to be: locked in the bathroom, a cauldron of steam rising over the shower curtain, and a tub full of water. It's almost like sitting in a hot spring with a waterfall falling all over you. Odd? I don't know, but I can't seem to kick the habit.
My other guilty pleasure is driving. It's amazing really how alone you can be driving in your car, especially with the music turned up a little. I prefer going on these mini-road trips at night, when I can be even more anonymous. daytime driving is fun too, though. I always seem to notice something different every time I drive through some back-country town: the shadows from the trees, the cars in the yard, the horses out on the pasture. I am a creature of non-habit. I love the unknown variables. I love seeing what is in store for me around the bend. And I love singing in the car! I wonder if anyone ever sees me singing, as loud as I can, "Reeeeeedddddd Raaaiiiinnnn, pouring down, pooouuurrrring down all over me." I don't really pay attention to other drivers. I feel like it's kind of an invasion of privacy. But I am sure I must look awfully funny.
So right now i am listening to You Get What You Give by The New Radicals. "if you feel your dream is dying hold tight, you've got the music in you." Could have been a great band if they stayed together. I REALLY wish I knew how to put little music notes on the computer screen. I will have to find a template that's music-themed and figure out how to put a soundtrack on here. I am soooooo green when it comes to blogging! If anyone with any knowledge of blogging happens across this post, suggestions are welcome!
So, I guess that's all for tonight. There was one other thing I wanted to talk about, but it doesn't really fit the mood at the moment. It's been a fine day, and I wish all of you sweet dreams tonight.
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