What's the best thing going for you right now?
Dang...what's not going for me right now? As evidenced by the above title, I will just make a list. Let's say, oh, twenty-seven things that I have "going for me right now"
1. I have an awesome wife who takes care of me.
2. I have an awesome kid who makes me laugh daily.
3. I have a house that I love, not to mention that is centrally located within a convenient distance of everything I need.
4. I see family every day.
5. Both of our cars work just fine at the moment.
6. I have a good job that I've held for a long time.
7. My current bosses are great, flexible, and fun.
8. I will soon have new bosses, and I'm excited about the potential growth of the business (well, like 65 percent excited, 35 percent worried).
9. All of our Christmas decorations are already up.
10. I see most of my friends on a regular basis.
11. I'm in a band that is still fun to play in.
12. As a result of playing in this band and being challenged to learn very difficult songs, I am an exponentially better musician than I used to be. I feel like I would be comfortable taking on just about any project that came my way (not that any are, but still...). I like that I'm still loose and not rusty at playing my instrument.
13. I play weekly pick-up hockey with my buddies, which is great fun.
14. My mom is so awesome that she watches Cohen and Martha every day.
15. My dad always has the exact advice I need, be it about car maintenance, home upkeep, or anything else.
16. I have great relationships with my brother (who I laugh with every time I see him) and my sister (who stays in constant contact with me, basically throughout every day).
17. The Falcons are 9-2.
18. The Braves just signed Dan Uggla.
19. While Kimberly and I are not wealthy by any means, we make enough to pay our bills, which can sometimes be overwhelming.
20. I'm making positive strides in becoming healthier.
21. Um, it sounds pretty cheesy, but I feel that Cohen has a really cool dad, and Kimberly has a really cool husband. Some of Kimberly's teacher friends and their kids can't necessarily say that about their husbands/fathers, who may or may not be rednecks or dorks.
22. I have a ton of customers who insist on dealing exclusively with me because they like my work, which is always nice for the ol' self esteem.
23. I live a 97 percent drama-free life.
24. I live literally 3.5 miles from the stadium of a minor league baseball team, which happens to be a farm team for my favorite major league team (I also get to make player locker nameplates for some of the players who will eventually be Cohen's sports heroes).
25. I have a gym membership that only costs $5 a month...I get waaaaay more than my money's worth on that one.
26. I'm pretty sure Cohen's favorite word is "Daddy"
27. Last but certainly not least, I get to see Kimberly naked on a daily basis. Living. The. Dream.
Wow...it really wasn't nearly as hard to come up with this list as I thought it would be. When it comes down to it, I guess I really can't complain about much of anything. I'm incredibly happy. I have everything I need (tangible and intangible) plus a ton of stuff that I don't necessarily need, but want.
And yesterday's question was asking me about giving up on life!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Twenty-Six*
Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
I think about it yearly...when baseball season comes to an end. I just can't handle the despair that comes along with knowing that I'm going to have to wait another six months for the next season to begin.
Seriously, though...I never have. I cannot think of a scenario outside of a 100% terminal illness that would make me want to give up on life. And even then, that would only be if I have progressed to the point where there is ABSOLUTELY no chance left, and the pain is ABSOLUTELY unbearable.
I've always been a "glass is half full" kind of guy.
*I am unable to come up with any kind of pop culture reference having to do with the number twenty-six. If you think of one I missed, please plug it in and pretend that it's the title of this blog post.
I think about it yearly...when baseball season comes to an end. I just can't handle the despair that comes along with knowing that I'm going to have to wait another six months for the next season to begin.
Seriously, though...I never have. I cannot think of a scenario outside of a 100% terminal illness that would make me want to give up on life. And even then, that would only be if I have progressed to the point where there is ABSOLUTELY no chance left, and the pain is ABSOLUTELY unbearable.
I've always been a "glass is half full" kind of guy.
*I am unable to come up with any kind of pop culture reference having to do with the number twenty-six. If you think of one I missed, please plug it in and pretend that it's the title of this blog post.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
In The Year Twenty-Five Twenty-Five
The reason you believe you're still alive today.
I used to hang out at this river which sprung from a lake. I knew this river. I knew the lake. I was used to the river and lake. One day, I started at the lake and went down the river...farther than I had ever been before. The rapids became a little rougher than I liked, but I kept going. After a while, I saw in the distance what appeared to be the river simply disappearing in a cloud of mist. As I got closer, I realized that I was approaching a pretty significant waterfall. I went close to the edge. I wanted to go over the waterfall. I thought of the thrill of falling into the unknown. How far was the drop? How deep was the water at the bottom? I wanted so badly to do it. I was about to do it. I wanted to have it my way...or nothing at all. Right before I chased that waterfall to my certain death, I remembered the wise words of T-Boz, Chili, and Left Eye. I realized that I was moving too fast, so I turned back and stuck to the river. And the lake. That I'm used to.
I used to hang out at this river which sprung from a lake. I knew this river. I knew the lake. I was used to the river and lake. One day, I started at the lake and went down the river...farther than I had ever been before. The rapids became a little rougher than I liked, but I kept going. After a while, I saw in the distance what appeared to be the river simply disappearing in a cloud of mist. As I got closer, I realized that I was approaching a pretty significant waterfall. I went close to the edge. I wanted to go over the waterfall. I thought of the thrill of falling into the unknown. How far was the drop? How deep was the water at the bottom? I wanted so badly to do it. I was about to do it. I wanted to have it my way...or nothing at all. Right before I chased that waterfall to my certain death, I remembered the wise words of T-Boz, Chili, and Left Eye. I realized that I was moving too fast, so I turned back and stuck to the river. And the lake. That I'm used to.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Quick break from answering questions...
I actually have something to talk about without being prompted by a list of questions today!
The Last Chucks are in the studio this weekend. A real-live, big boy studio, with soundproofing, a control room, and everything. Despite having recorded maybe about 45-50 songs in my life, this is my first time doing anything in a real, professional studio. This is also our first time recording anything since May of 2008, when we recorded three songs over the course of a weekend. We're doing three days (Saturday, Sunday, Monday), and trying to get seven songs done. If you know how recording works (and if you know Mike), this would sound very daunting, and possibly undoable. This is a quick run-down of how recording works...or at least how we do it.
Day 1: (After a few hours of setting up, getting levels right, getting bass sound right, etc.)Drums are priority number one. All three of us play together, and all three of us are recording what we play. The guitar is basically just a scratch track, used for reference later, when the guitar is actually tracked. The bass can go either way. If a take is good on drums, we keep it. If a take is good on drums and bass, well, that's just a bonus. With our time limitations, we have to finish all the drums in one day, so they take precedence. If I mess up on bass, but the drums are good, we move on, and I re-track the bass later.
Day 2: Guitars are king. Goose and I actually won't be in the studio at all today. Today is all Mike. He's starting around noon and basically playing guitar all day. This will kill his fingers. I know this because after 6 hours of bass last night, it hurts to type right now. I washed my hands with warm water today, and my left index finger stung at the warmth of the water. And don't even get me started about the blister on my right thumb!
Day 3: Vocals, remaining bass, extras. While day two will have killed Mike's fingers, day three will kill his voice. He will be singing basically all day. I will be doing a lot of backup vocals, totalling maybe 1/3 of what Mike will be doing. In addition, what bass I didn't finish on Day 1, I will do this day. Lastly, we will be throwing in a lot of percussion type stuff and finishing touches: piano, sleigh bells, tambourine, hand claps, etc.
HOW WE'RE DOING SO FAR
Day one was a smashing success in my opinion. We were planning on being in the studio at 3:00. Because the people before us were running late, we didn't get in until just after 5:00 (you find that EVERY aspect of recording utilizes one virtue: patience). We were planning on being done by midnight. Actually, our time estimation was pretty dead on. We ended up finishing for the night around 2:00. Given that we started 2 hours late and ended exactly 2 hours late, I have to say it was a pretty good guess as to how long it would take to do what we needed to do.
Drums were great. Goose never ceases to amaze me. Seriously, these are some complicated songs...especially where the drums are concerned. That was no problem for Goose, though. Dude knocked it out of the park.
Our hope was to do 7 songs. We really only needed to do 5, and we had two extra songs that we'd get done if time allowed. We actually got the drums down (and nearly flawless) for all 7 songs. As an added bonus, the bass was good for 5 of the 7, meaning that I will only have to play bass for two more songs on Monday. Granted, they are the two hardest songs of the seven, but I didn't really expect to have them down the first night anyway.
Despite a few frustrating moments and a couple of times I had to bite my tongue, I drove home feeling really good about our progress.
So that's where we are now. Day two will be starting for Mike any minute now. He will likely go late into tonight, and hopefully when I arrive tomorrow for the final day, all the guitars will be done and we'll still be on schedule.
By the way...Matt, our engineer, is awesome. He is really easy-going, and really seems to know his stuff. With him recording, and Jason mixing for us, we're bound to have some really good, professional-sounding stuff when this is all said and done.
The Last Chucks are in the studio this weekend. A real-live, big boy studio, with soundproofing, a control room, and everything. Despite having recorded maybe about 45-50 songs in my life, this is my first time doing anything in a real, professional studio. This is also our first time recording anything since May of 2008, when we recorded three songs over the course of a weekend. We're doing three days (Saturday, Sunday, Monday), and trying to get seven songs done. If you know how recording works (and if you know Mike), this would sound very daunting, and possibly undoable. This is a quick run-down of how recording works...or at least how we do it.
Day 1: (After a few hours of setting up, getting levels right, getting bass sound right, etc.)Drums are priority number one. All three of us play together, and all three of us are recording what we play. The guitar is basically just a scratch track, used for reference later, when the guitar is actually tracked. The bass can go either way. If a take is good on drums, we keep it. If a take is good on drums and bass, well, that's just a bonus. With our time limitations, we have to finish all the drums in one day, so they take precedence. If I mess up on bass, but the drums are good, we move on, and I re-track the bass later.
Day 2: Guitars are king. Goose and I actually won't be in the studio at all today. Today is all Mike. He's starting around noon and basically playing guitar all day. This will kill his fingers. I know this because after 6 hours of bass last night, it hurts to type right now. I washed my hands with warm water today, and my left index finger stung at the warmth of the water. And don't even get me started about the blister on my right thumb!
Day 3: Vocals, remaining bass, extras. While day two will have killed Mike's fingers, day three will kill his voice. He will be singing basically all day. I will be doing a lot of backup vocals, totalling maybe 1/3 of what Mike will be doing. In addition, what bass I didn't finish on Day 1, I will do this day. Lastly, we will be throwing in a lot of percussion type stuff and finishing touches: piano, sleigh bells, tambourine, hand claps, etc.
HOW WE'RE DOING SO FAR
Day one was a smashing success in my opinion. We were planning on being in the studio at 3:00. Because the people before us were running late, we didn't get in until just after 5:00 (you find that EVERY aspect of recording utilizes one virtue: patience). We were planning on being done by midnight. Actually, our time estimation was pretty dead on. We ended up finishing for the night around 2:00. Given that we started 2 hours late and ended exactly 2 hours late, I have to say it was a pretty good guess as to how long it would take to do what we needed to do.
Drums were great. Goose never ceases to amaze me. Seriously, these are some complicated songs...especially where the drums are concerned. That was no problem for Goose, though. Dude knocked it out of the park.
Our hope was to do 7 songs. We really only needed to do 5, and we had two extra songs that we'd get done if time allowed. We actually got the drums down (and nearly flawless) for all 7 songs. As an added bonus, the bass was good for 5 of the 7, meaning that I will only have to play bass for two more songs on Monday. Granted, they are the two hardest songs of the seven, but I didn't really expect to have them down the first night anyway.
Despite a few frustrating moments and a couple of times I had to bite my tongue, I drove home feeling really good about our progress.
So that's where we are now. Day two will be starting for Mike any minute now. He will likely go late into tonight, and hopefully when I arrive tomorrow for the final day, all the guitars will be done and we'll still be on schedule.
By the way...Matt, our engineer, is awesome. He is really easy-going, and really seems to know his stuff. With him recording, and Jason mixing for us, we're bound to have some really good, professional-sounding stuff when this is all said and done.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Twenty-Four*
Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you shoce all the songs.
At first I thought this one was pretty lame. Then, after I thought about it, I realized the direction popular music is (and has been) headed. Therefore, not only do I think it's not a terrible idea, but it may actually be beneficial in the long run.
This playlist is dedicated to Cohen. The reason isn't all mushy and lovey-dovey. It's so by the time he's a teenager, he'll know what good music is (was). Admittedly, some of the songs may be inappropriate for a kid, so maybe I won't play him some of this stuff until he's older. Also, note that this isn't in any particular order. I just don't have time for that.
1. Guns N Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
This is my hands-down favorite song of all time. Awesome lead guitars, good vocals, nice aesthetics. It's an all around good song. There are a ton of little things going on through the song that the average person wouldn't catch, but a musician (or a fan of writing/arranging/the recording process) is more likely to hear and appreciate these things.
2. Buckcherry - Time Bomb
Sure, the chorus states "Life ain't nothin' but bitches and money", but I put this song on the list for a couple of reasons: (A) Man, it's just a good song, regardless of the appropriateness of the lyrics. It's catchy as all get out, plus it features Josh Todd, a vocalist who is very distinct. Maybe he doesn't have the best voice in the world, but what he has fits perfectly with the music he's playing, and (B) I think a lesson can be learned that sometimes you listen to good music for the simple fact that it's good music. Even if the content isn't ideal, sometimes there's just no mistaking a good rock and roll band. I can also point out to Cohen that Josh Todd, while he sings about drugs and sex, is actually married, has kids, and is completely sober (which is the truth). Sometimes entertainers "play a part". The public persona isn't always what is real (read: don't judge a book by its cover).
3. The Darkness - I Believe In a Thing Called Love
Sometimes songs are serious, sometimes they're fun, and sometimes they're just silly. This one falls in that last category. It's a hard rock song sung in all falsetto. Despite its being silly, somehow, it's really good, too.
4. Dwight Yoakam - Guitars, Cadillacs
While rock and roll is my music of choice, that doesn't mean all other genres are bad. I have 35 Dwight Yoakam songs on my iPod, and I had a hard time picking one because I think they're all great.
5. The Last Chucks - Bluebird Revisited
Of course Cohen would need to hear his daddy play! This is the first of two Chucks song I'm putting on the list. I chose this one because it's catchy and fun. It's very technical, too. The bass (what I play on it) is extremely fast, involved, and difficult to play, but the average person would never catch that.
6. The Last Chucks - Homeless Romantic
While I picked the last one because of its catchiness, I picked this one because of the weirdness. The time changes constantly. It fits absolutely no song-writing formula. Maybe Cohen will be a musician when he's older. If this is the case, he will appreciate the crap out of the technicalities of this song.
7. Five Iron Frenzy - Every New Day
While some (most) of the music I listen to is for fun, sometimes lyrics can be so meaningful, it will make a man cry. That's all I have to say about this song.
8. In Stereo - Waking Up
Not all the best bands become nationally famous. This is the case with this band. You've never heard of them. I've barely heard of them. They are (were, actually...they are no more as far as I know) a local Atlanta band that released one EP, and that's it. This song is on all my "fun songs" playlists, though.
9. John Mayer Trio - Everyday I Have the Blues
I'm pretty sure this was originally done by BB King, but the JMT version is pretty great. Once in a while, you just want to hear some good blues.
10. Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Going in the Right Direction
Is it Funk? Is it rock and roll? I don't know. What I do know, though, is that it has lots of soul, and it will make anyone want to dance. Lead singer plays a lap steel, which doesn't really fit either of the genres I mentioned. It sounds so good, though. I fell in love with this band the first time I ever heard them. They played on some awards show back in 2004 with Earth, Wind, and Fire. RR&TFB were better.
I'm sure I could come up with more, but I think ten is sufficient for now. This is probably a pretty long post as it is already.
*As in the Fox hit series, 24
At first I thought this one was pretty lame. Then, after I thought about it, I realized the direction popular music is (and has been) headed. Therefore, not only do I think it's not a terrible idea, but it may actually be beneficial in the long run.
This playlist is dedicated to Cohen. The reason isn't all mushy and lovey-dovey. It's so by the time he's a teenager, he'll know what good music is (was). Admittedly, some of the songs may be inappropriate for a kid, so maybe I won't play him some of this stuff until he's older. Also, note that this isn't in any particular order. I just don't have time for that.
1. Guns N Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
This is my hands-down favorite song of all time. Awesome lead guitars, good vocals, nice aesthetics. It's an all around good song. There are a ton of little things going on through the song that the average person wouldn't catch, but a musician (or a fan of writing/arranging/the recording process) is more likely to hear and appreciate these things.
2. Buckcherry - Time Bomb
Sure, the chorus states "Life ain't nothin' but bitches and money", but I put this song on the list for a couple of reasons: (A) Man, it's just a good song, regardless of the appropriateness of the lyrics. It's catchy as all get out, plus it features Josh Todd, a vocalist who is very distinct. Maybe he doesn't have the best voice in the world, but what he has fits perfectly with the music he's playing, and (B) I think a lesson can be learned that sometimes you listen to good music for the simple fact that it's good music. Even if the content isn't ideal, sometimes there's just no mistaking a good rock and roll band. I can also point out to Cohen that Josh Todd, while he sings about drugs and sex, is actually married, has kids, and is completely sober (which is the truth). Sometimes entertainers "play a part". The public persona isn't always what is real (read: don't judge a book by its cover).
3. The Darkness - I Believe In a Thing Called Love
Sometimes songs are serious, sometimes they're fun, and sometimes they're just silly. This one falls in that last category. It's a hard rock song sung in all falsetto. Despite its being silly, somehow, it's really good, too.
4. Dwight Yoakam - Guitars, Cadillacs
While rock and roll is my music of choice, that doesn't mean all other genres are bad. I have 35 Dwight Yoakam songs on my iPod, and I had a hard time picking one because I think they're all great.
5. The Last Chucks - Bluebird Revisited
Of course Cohen would need to hear his daddy play! This is the first of two Chucks song I'm putting on the list. I chose this one because it's catchy and fun. It's very technical, too. The bass (what I play on it) is extremely fast, involved, and difficult to play, but the average person would never catch that.
6. The Last Chucks - Homeless Romantic
While I picked the last one because of its catchiness, I picked this one because of the weirdness. The time changes constantly. It fits absolutely no song-writing formula. Maybe Cohen will be a musician when he's older. If this is the case, he will appreciate the crap out of the technicalities of this song.
7. Five Iron Frenzy - Every New Day
While some (most) of the music I listen to is for fun, sometimes lyrics can be so meaningful, it will make a man cry. That's all I have to say about this song.
8. In Stereo - Waking Up
Not all the best bands become nationally famous. This is the case with this band. You've never heard of them. I've barely heard of them. They are (were, actually...they are no more as far as I know) a local Atlanta band that released one EP, and that's it. This song is on all my "fun songs" playlists, though.
9. John Mayer Trio - Everyday I Have the Blues
I'm pretty sure this was originally done by BB King, but the JMT version is pretty great. Once in a while, you just want to hear some good blues.
10. Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Going in the Right Direction
Is it Funk? Is it rock and roll? I don't know. What I do know, though, is that it has lots of soul, and it will make anyone want to dance. Lead singer plays a lap steel, which doesn't really fit either of the genres I mentioned. It sounds so good, though. I fell in love with this band the first time I ever heard them. They played on some awards show back in 2004 with Earth, Wind, and Fire. RR&TFB were better.
I'm sure I could come up with more, but I think ten is sufficient for now. This is probably a pretty long post as it is already.
*As in the Fox hit series, 24
Friday, November 19, 2010
Nobody Likes You When You're Twenty-Three
Something you wish you had done in your life.
Didn't I answer this on day four? That question was, "Something you hope to do in your life". Similar question, but not exactly the same, I guess. My answer then was a short tour with a band. I guess since I said that already, I'll have to think of something else.
I guess there are a ton of things I wish I had done...chances I could have taken.
The first one that comes to mind is that I wish I would have pushed more with Anthem. While that sounds good on the surface, I know there is no way we would have actually made a real career out of it. We just would have lasted longer and ended later. Brent, Jason, and Carrie may not have moved to Orlando...which would have changed a lot of things. Brent and Cyndi probably wouldn't have gotten married (Brent has told me that the year in FL away from Cyndi was what made him sure she was the one for him). Jason and Carrie might not have gotten married, either (who knows, right?). Had they not gone to Orlando, Jason wouldn't have gone to Full Sail, and may not have the sweet freelance gig he has now. A lot of people would be in different places right now, and this is likely a bad thing.
So strike that first answer.
Another thing would be my track record with girls back when I was a teenager. There were opportunities to date certain girls that I didn't take. This was mostly a result of my shyness and insecurities. Had I dated (or made a move on) some (or even one) of those girls that I totally had a chance with, my entire "romantic history" could have changed. If I was dating Girl A, then maybe I wouldn't have dated Girl B. If I had kissed [name withheld] back, when she kissed me that one night, then things would have been different and I wouldn't have started dating Kimberly a couple of weeks later. Therfore, I likely wouldn't be where I am today.
So strike that second answer.
OH! I've got it! Here's an opportunity I wish I would have handled differently that wouldn't have had a lasting impact on where I am today.
When I was 12 years old, I played in the youth church basketball league. We weren't really that good. If there were 12 games in a season, I bet we lost 10 of them. However, on one (nearly) glorious Saturday morning, we were playing Donelson First Baptist, who was in first place in the league. We were down 28-27, with less than a minute left in the game. They took a shot and missed. I got the rebound with less than ten seconds left. I dribbled downcourt and at (what I thought was) the last opportunity, I hurled the ball toward our goal. It fell short. Really short. Like, 8 feet short.
I was upset, of course. What was more embarrassing that losing the game, though, was my terrible time-management skills. There were a full 5 seconds left on the clock when I made that shot. In reality, I had time to run all the way down and drop in a layup. Instead, the ball went out of bounds, and DFB had the opportunity to inbound it and hold on to it for the remaining few seconds. Had I not gotten caught up in the moment, I could live my life today knowing that I was a hero that one day in 1990.
That's something I wish I had done.
Didn't I answer this on day four? That question was, "Something you hope to do in your life". Similar question, but not exactly the same, I guess. My answer then was a short tour with a band. I guess since I said that already, I'll have to think of something else.
I guess there are a ton of things I wish I had done...chances I could have taken.
The first one that comes to mind is that I wish I would have pushed more with Anthem. While that sounds good on the surface, I know there is no way we would have actually made a real career out of it. We just would have lasted longer and ended later. Brent, Jason, and Carrie may not have moved to Orlando...which would have changed a lot of things. Brent and Cyndi probably wouldn't have gotten married (Brent has told me that the year in FL away from Cyndi was what made him sure she was the one for him). Jason and Carrie might not have gotten married, either (who knows, right?). Had they not gone to Orlando, Jason wouldn't have gone to Full Sail, and may not have the sweet freelance gig he has now. A lot of people would be in different places right now, and this is likely a bad thing.
So strike that first answer.
Another thing would be my track record with girls back when I was a teenager. There were opportunities to date certain girls that I didn't take. This was mostly a result of my shyness and insecurities. Had I dated (or made a move on) some (or even one) of those girls that I totally had a chance with, my entire "romantic history" could have changed. If I was dating Girl A, then maybe I wouldn't have dated Girl B. If I had kissed [name withheld] back, when she kissed me that one night, then things would have been different and I wouldn't have started dating Kimberly a couple of weeks later. Therfore, I likely wouldn't be where I am today.
So strike that second answer.
OH! I've got it! Here's an opportunity I wish I would have handled differently that wouldn't have had a lasting impact on where I am today.
When I was 12 years old, I played in the youth church basketball league. We weren't really that good. If there were 12 games in a season, I bet we lost 10 of them. However, on one (nearly) glorious Saturday morning, we were playing Donelson First Baptist, who was in first place in the league. We were down 28-27, with less than a minute left in the game. They took a shot and missed. I got the rebound with less than ten seconds left. I dribbled downcourt and at (what I thought was) the last opportunity, I hurled the ball toward our goal. It fell short. Really short. Like, 8 feet short.
I was upset, of course. What was more embarrassing that losing the game, though, was my terrible time-management skills. There were a full 5 seconds left on the clock when I made that shot. In reality, I had time to run all the way down and drop in a layup. Instead, the ball went out of bounds, and DFB had the opportunity to inbound it and hold on to it for the remaining few seconds. Had I not gotten caught up in the moment, I could live my life today knowing that I was a hero that one day in 1990.
That's something I wish I had done.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Catch Twenty-Two
Something you wish you hadn't done in your life.
Started smoking. Some would call it peer pressure. I don't think I would...not direct peer pressure, anyway. None of my friends actively asked me to smoke, or tried to persuade me in any way. I just tried it one day. I didn't like it. That should have been the end of the story, but it wasn't. I decided to make myself like it. I was 21 years old when I started smoking. I figured it'd probably be a phase, and I'd be done within a year or so. Obviously, that wasn't the case. I'm 31 now, and despite my wanting to quit (and having actually tried numerous times), I still haven't been mentally able to shake it. To top it off, some of the friends that I hung out with during the time I started have now quit. Not me, though.
If you don't smoke (or haven't smoked), you won't understand this, but it's just not as easy as setting it down and not picking it back up. If it were, I would have quit on the day of my wedding (the first time I "quit"...that actually lasted an entire week). I would have quit on the day Cohen was born (that time lasted about a day). I would have quit 6 months ago (I made it 36 hours that time).
So...yeah. That's it. I want to quit. I have no plan of action at the present moment. And here we are.
Started smoking. Some would call it peer pressure. I don't think I would...not direct peer pressure, anyway. None of my friends actively asked me to smoke, or tried to persuade me in any way. I just tried it one day. I didn't like it. That should have been the end of the story, but it wasn't. I decided to make myself like it. I was 21 years old when I started smoking. I figured it'd probably be a phase, and I'd be done within a year or so. Obviously, that wasn't the case. I'm 31 now, and despite my wanting to quit (and having actually tried numerous times), I still haven't been mentally able to shake it. To top it off, some of the friends that I hung out with during the time I started have now quit. Not me, though.
If you don't smoke (or haven't smoked), you won't understand this, but it's just not as easy as setting it down and not picking it back up. If it were, I would have quit on the day of my wedding (the first time I "quit"...that actually lasted an entire week). I would have quit on the day Cohen was born (that time lasted about a day). I would have quit 6 months ago (I made it 36 hours that time).
So...yeah. That's it. I want to quit. I have no plan of action at the present moment. And here we are.
Twenty-One Guns*
Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Wouldn't happen.
First off, all of my friends are excellent drivers. Next, a friend and I would never get in a fight, because I am awesome, and I only surround myself with other awesome people.
Mostly, though. It's because I never let a grudge go. If, in the seemingly impossible scenario, a friend and I did get into a fight, that jerkface would obviously not be worthy of being a friend of mine and therfore, from that moment on, would no longer be my friend. Using this logic, it is impossible for my best friend to be in a car accident an hour after having a fight with me.
*Alternate title: 21 Jump Street
Wouldn't happen.
First off, all of my friends are excellent drivers. Next, a friend and I would never get in a fight, because I am awesome, and I only surround myself with other awesome people.
Mostly, though. It's because I never let a grudge go. If, in the seemingly impossible scenario, a friend and I did get into a fight, that jerkface would obviously not be worthy of being a friend of mine and therfore, from that moment on, would no longer be my friend. Using this logic, it is impossible for my best friend to be in a car accident an hour after having a fight with me.
*Alternate title: 21 Jump Street
Monday, November 15, 2010
Matchbox Twenty*
Your views on drugs and alcohol.
(when I mention "drugs", I will be referring only to illegal drugs...duh)
There are a couple of different ways of looking at it. There's the legal standpoint and the responsibility standpoint.
First off is the legal standpoint: Well, we all know what the laws are concerning both of these things. Alcohol is legal, so long as the drinker is old enough, does not drive intoxicated, and is not drunk in public (which, I guess is up to interpretation...I mean, there are bars). Drugs are obviously illegal.
From a responsibility standpoint:
Drugs: I guess there's a time and a place for everything. Of course, some drugs are very addictive and can ruin one's life, should the person allow them to take control. I can never see a right time or place to smoke crack or shoot heroin. Pot, I guess, can be different. I personally will never do it (again...I did it once about ten years ago, so I'm all set). Honestly, I think it's kind of stupid. I don't necessarily think it's wrong (outside of the obvious issue of it being illegal), but I just don't see the appeal.
I actually had an opportunity to smoke pot very recently. I was at a friend's house a couple of weeks ago. Three of us were standing outside talking about music or movies or something, and one of the guys said (in a stoner-sounding voice), "So, you guys wanna smoke some weed?" The other guy and I just kind of chuckled and said, "Nah, I'm all good". He replied, "Okay, I'm gonna go inside and smoke some weed". I decided about ten minutes later that it was time for me to leave.
I didn't necessarily have a problem with a bunch of people sitting around in a house smoking some pot. It didn't affect me or anyone else other than the people that chose to do it. I just didn't want to be a part of it. I mean, I'm a grown up, right?
Alcohol: I've had my indulgences just like most everyone else. I actually don't really like alcohol for the most part. Occasionally (rarely...like 3-4 times a year), though, I will drink some. Most times it goes well. Occasionally it does not. I guess there's not much of a fundamental difference (from a responsibility standpoint) between acting stupidly as a result of alcohol versus acting stupidly as a result of weed (again, outside of the obvious issue of legality). I guess that doing either responsibly is okay. I just don't like one and don't mind the other.
I guess it boils down to the first point. One is legal (with conditions) and the other is not. That's all there is to it, really. Do what you want, but be prepared to deal with the consequences (legal or otherwise).
*Getting into these higher numbers, it's hard to find interesting pop culture references for titles
(when I mention "drugs", I will be referring only to illegal drugs...duh)
There are a couple of different ways of looking at it. There's the legal standpoint and the responsibility standpoint.
First off is the legal standpoint: Well, we all know what the laws are concerning both of these things. Alcohol is legal, so long as the drinker is old enough, does not drive intoxicated, and is not drunk in public (which, I guess is up to interpretation...I mean, there are bars). Drugs are obviously illegal.
From a responsibility standpoint:
Drugs: I guess there's a time and a place for everything. Of course, some drugs are very addictive and can ruin one's life, should the person allow them to take control. I can never see a right time or place to smoke crack or shoot heroin. Pot, I guess, can be different. I personally will never do it (again...I did it once about ten years ago, so I'm all set). Honestly, I think it's kind of stupid. I don't necessarily think it's wrong (outside of the obvious issue of it being illegal), but I just don't see the appeal.
I actually had an opportunity to smoke pot very recently. I was at a friend's house a couple of weeks ago. Three of us were standing outside talking about music or movies or something, and one of the guys said (in a stoner-sounding voice), "So, you guys wanna smoke some weed?" The other guy and I just kind of chuckled and said, "Nah, I'm all good". He replied, "Okay, I'm gonna go inside and smoke some weed". I decided about ten minutes later that it was time for me to leave.
I didn't necessarily have a problem with a bunch of people sitting around in a house smoking some pot. It didn't affect me or anyone else other than the people that chose to do it. I just didn't want to be a part of it. I mean, I'm a grown up, right?
Alcohol: I've had my indulgences just like most everyone else. I actually don't really like alcohol for the most part. Occasionally (rarely...like 3-4 times a year), though, I will drink some. Most times it goes well. Occasionally it does not. I guess there's not much of a fundamental difference (from a responsibility standpoint) between acting stupidly as a result of alcohol versus acting stupidly as a result of weed (again, outside of the obvious issue of legality). I guess that doing either responsibly is okay. I just don't like one and don't mind the other.
I guess it boils down to the first point. One is legal (with conditions) and the other is not. That's all there is to it, really. Do what you want, but be prepared to deal with the consequences (legal or otherwise).
*Getting into these higher numbers, it's hard to find interesting pop culture references for titles
Friday, November 12, 2010
Party like it's NINETEEN ninety-nine
What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
My facebook profile information says it all:
Religious Views: Yeah, I got 'em.
Political Views: Got those too.
My facebook profile information says it all:
Religious Views: Yeah, I got 'em.
Political Views: Got those too.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Eighteen and Life*
Your views on gay marriage
I would have to agree with my sister on this one. Yes, it may be biblically wrong (actually, if I understand correctly, the act of gay sex is biblically wrong...I do not know if there's a specific mention of gay marriage...but, I would understand the argument...six of one, half a dozen of the other). Regardless, it is not my place to judge anyone. Who am I to say that the law should prevent someone from doing something just because it is not what I personally would want to do? It has absolutely no effect on me or my day-to-day life, and I am yet to see a reason it should or would. It does absolutely nothing to the "sanctity" of the union I have with my own wife (which is about the dumbest argument I've heard against gay marriage to date).
There are many different ways of looking at the issue (whether one chooses to be gay vs. being born gay, whether the bible is a good basis for lawmaking, etc), but in the long run, I am for personal freedom, so long as it does not affect the freedoms or property of others.
*alternate title: Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses
I would have to agree with my sister on this one. Yes, it may be biblically wrong (actually, if I understand correctly, the act of gay sex is biblically wrong...I do not know if there's a specific mention of gay marriage...but, I would understand the argument...six of one, half a dozen of the other). Regardless, it is not my place to judge anyone. Who am I to say that the law should prevent someone from doing something just because it is not what I personally would want to do? It has absolutely no effect on me or my day-to-day life, and I am yet to see a reason it should or would. It does absolutely nothing to the "sanctity" of the union I have with my own wife (which is about the dumbest argument I've heard against gay marriage to date).
There are many different ways of looking at the issue (whether one chooses to be gay vs. being born gay, whether the bible is a good basis for lawmaking, etc), but in the long run, I am for personal freedom, so long as it does not affect the freedoms or property of others.
*alternate title: Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
She's Only Seventeen
A book you've read that changed your views on something.
Here's the problem. I love to read. I read for entertainment's sake, though. Lately, I have been thinking back over books I have read, and I realized that I haven't really retained much of anything. When I read, it's usually interesting in that moment. When the moment is gone, usually so is what I just read. I mean, I can generally tell you the basic plotline of any novel or the overlying theme of any nonfiction work, but very rarely do I remember specifics. The good thing is that it allows me to go back and read books a second and third time. The bad thing is that what I read usually doesn't really stay with me for long enough to have a lasting effect on me.
It makes no difference...fiction, non fiction, essays, articles, it doesn't matter.
I don't know why this is the case, but it seems that since I've been an adult*, I've just never been able to hold on to most of the information I have taken in via the written word.
I suppose I kind of have an answer to this question, though. I did read The Yankee Years, by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci a year or so ago. As a result, I still hate the New York Yankees, just not with the same fervor as I used to. Why, I couldn't tell you...I don't specifically remember much about the book. I just remember appreciating it. That's a change, right?
*meaning, since I haven't viewed the act of reading as something I am made to do, rather than something I enjoy doing
Here's the problem. I love to read. I read for entertainment's sake, though. Lately, I have been thinking back over books I have read, and I realized that I haven't really retained much of anything. When I read, it's usually interesting in that moment. When the moment is gone, usually so is what I just read. I mean, I can generally tell you the basic plotline of any novel or the overlying theme of any nonfiction work, but very rarely do I remember specifics. The good thing is that it allows me to go back and read books a second and third time. The bad thing is that what I read usually doesn't really stay with me for long enough to have a lasting effect on me.
It makes no difference...fiction, non fiction, essays, articles, it doesn't matter.
I don't know why this is the case, but it seems that since I've been an adult*, I've just never been able to hold on to most of the information I have taken in via the written word.
I suppose I kind of have an answer to this question, though. I did read The Yankee Years, by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci a year or so ago. As a result, I still hate the New York Yankees, just not with the same fervor as I used to. Why, I couldn't tell you...I don't specifically remember much about the book. I just remember appreciating it. That's a change, right?
*meaning, since I haven't viewed the act of reading as something I am made to do, rather than something I enjoy doing
Sweet Sixteen
Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Early in our marriage, Kimberly and I experienced a lot of "drama" within our group of friends. This guy hated that guy... This girl said something about somebody... That guy was a manipulator... This other guy said some things... There was always something going on, and it was never fun. I often felt like a mediator between people, and honestly, very little of the shenanigans actually had anything to do with myself or Kimberly. It took a couple or three years to sort it all out, but finally, six years into our marriage, we are relatively drama free.
Enter the Real Housewives.
There are many fundamental problems I have about this series of shows, the first of which is the aforementioned "drama". Why, after we worked so hard to eliminate all the petty crap out of our social lives, is this show allowed in our household? If you haven't seen this show ("this show" used as a blanket remark...there are multiple incarnations of the show. There are "real housewives" of New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, and some others that don't come to mind right now), let me give you an in-depth analysis, so we're all on the same page:
A bunch of snooty bitches that think they're better than everybody else, also think they're better than each other. As a result, they look at a camera and complain.
The above "drama" statement is only a small part of what I hate about this show. The bigger problem is that of our dumbing-down.
Look, i'm all for mindless television. I have a show or two that fall into that category. Eastbound and Down is one of them. It's a great show, but it takes absolutely no intelligence to watch and be amused by it. Another show that falls into this category is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (although I believe the writing is better and actually does take some level of intellect). Point is, of those two shows, one hour of my life every week is consumed. Real Housewives of... is on for hours each day. And people watch it.
There's a movie called Idiocracy that came out a few years ago. In this movie, the main character (played by Luke Wilson) freezes himself and wakes up 500 years later to find that Americans have become complete idiots. Everyone, from doctors to lawyers, even to the President of The United States, has a very limited vocabulary, eats nothing but this junk-food-type buttery-substance, drinks energy drinks, and watches the number one show in the country: Ow, My Balls, a show featuring nothing but men getting hit in the crotch with various things. There was no plantlife left because people had forgotten that plants need water (they irrigated with the same energy drink they drank) Trash was piled up as high as buildings because no one had figured a way to eliminate (or even conserve) wastes. And nobody cared...Ow, My Balls was on. Luke Wilson's character was proclaimed a genius, despite his having average to below average intelligence in the time from which he came.
I know it's a stretch, but I worry that this is the direction we're headed. So much of television these days is completely mindless, even to the point of not even being written...they just turn on the cameras and watch these annoying people with tiny world-views spend money lavishly and complain about their "friends". A bunch of snooty bitches griping about each other does not constitute good tv. Yet for some reason, people are sucked in. And it bothers me.
Early in our marriage, Kimberly and I experienced a lot of "drama" within our group of friends. This guy hated that guy... This girl said something about somebody... That guy was a manipulator... This other guy said some things... There was always something going on, and it was never fun. I often felt like a mediator between people, and honestly, very little of the shenanigans actually had anything to do with myself or Kimberly. It took a couple or three years to sort it all out, but finally, six years into our marriage, we are relatively drama free.
Enter the Real Housewives.
There are many fundamental problems I have about this series of shows, the first of which is the aforementioned "drama". Why, after we worked so hard to eliminate all the petty crap out of our social lives, is this show allowed in our household? If you haven't seen this show ("this show" used as a blanket remark...there are multiple incarnations of the show. There are "real housewives" of New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, and some others that don't come to mind right now), let me give you an in-depth analysis, so we're all on the same page:
A bunch of snooty bitches that think they're better than everybody else, also think they're better than each other. As a result, they look at a camera and complain.
The above "drama" statement is only a small part of what I hate about this show. The bigger problem is that of our dumbing-down.
Look, i'm all for mindless television. I have a show or two that fall into that category. Eastbound and Down is one of them. It's a great show, but it takes absolutely no intelligence to watch and be amused by it. Another show that falls into this category is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (although I believe the writing is better and actually does take some level of intellect). Point is, of those two shows, one hour of my life every week is consumed. Real Housewives of... is on for hours each day. And people watch it.
There's a movie called Idiocracy that came out a few years ago. In this movie, the main character (played by Luke Wilson) freezes himself and wakes up 500 years later to find that Americans have become complete idiots. Everyone, from doctors to lawyers, even to the President of The United States, has a very limited vocabulary, eats nothing but this junk-food-type buttery-substance, drinks energy drinks, and watches the number one show in the country: Ow, My Balls, a show featuring nothing but men getting hit in the crotch with various things. There was no plantlife left because people had forgotten that plants need water (they irrigated with the same energy drink they drank) Trash was piled up as high as buildings because no one had figured a way to eliminate (or even conserve) wastes. And nobody cared...Ow, My Balls was on. Luke Wilson's character was proclaimed a genius, despite his having average to below average intelligence in the time from which he came.
I know it's a stretch, but I worry that this is the direction we're headed. So much of television these days is completely mindless, even to the point of not even being written...they just turn on the cameras and watch these annoying people with tiny world-views spend money lavishly and complain about their "friends". A bunch of snooty bitches griping about each other does not constitute good tv. Yet for some reason, people are sucked in. And it bothers me.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Fifteen
Something or someone you couldn't live wihout, because you've tried living without it.
As much as I hate to say it...the answer is: playing in a band. With the exception of a couple of months in 1999, and a couple of months in 2005, I have constantly been in some band or another since I was about 17. Granted, I could probably live without it, but I get antsy. If I go a couple of weeks without a band practice*, I get annoyed. It's just something I have to do. I'm not particularly creative, nor to I have any kind of motivation to go out and try to make a career out of music. I just like getting to pick up my bass once a week and pound out some songs for an hour, for no other reason than it's fun.
Sure it'd be nice to play a show every now and then. I think I've just come to peace with the conclusion that it'll never happen, though. I've let myself get bothered by it in the past, but no more. I'm just going to be satisfied with my hobby. If someone (in particular) decides to book us a show, I'll be thrilled. I'm just not going to expect it.
*I use the word "practice" loosely. That word infers that there's something coming up that one would need to prepare for. I suppose I could call it "jam", but that's stupid. Maybe we should call it our weekly band play...or something, I don't know.
As much as I hate to say it...the answer is: playing in a band. With the exception of a couple of months in 1999, and a couple of months in 2005, I have constantly been in some band or another since I was about 17. Granted, I could probably live without it, but I get antsy. If I go a couple of weeks without a band practice*, I get annoyed. It's just something I have to do. I'm not particularly creative, nor to I have any kind of motivation to go out and try to make a career out of music. I just like getting to pick up my bass once a week and pound out some songs for an hour, for no other reason than it's fun.
Sure it'd be nice to play a show every now and then. I think I've just come to peace with the conclusion that it'll never happen, though. I've let myself get bothered by it in the past, but no more. I'm just going to be satisfied with my hobby. If someone (in particular) decides to book us a show, I'll be thrilled. I'm just not going to expect it.
*I use the word "practice" loosely. That word infers that there's something coming up that one would need to prepare for. I suppose I could call it "jam", but that's stupid. Maybe we should call it our weekly band play...or something, I don't know.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Lucky Number Thirteen
A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ... days (write a letter)
I've been touched by a band whose lyrics speak to my very soul. They inspire me. The have shown me the value of finding Something To Believe In. When life gets hard, sometimes I need to just let go and Ride the Wind, or sometimes just Cry Tough. You guys are Fallen Angels, who just want Nothin' But a Good Time. So even though Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Poison, I Won't Forget You. Baby.
I've been touched by a band whose lyrics speak to my very soul. They inspire me. The have shown me the value of finding Something To Believe In. When life gets hard, sometimes I need to just let go and Ride the Wind, or sometimes just Cry Tough. You guys are Fallen Angels, who just want Nothin' But a Good Time. So even though Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Poison, I Won't Forget You. Baby.
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