Being home is a beautiful thing.
Dorothy had it right....
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Turkey Time
We're getting ready to go to Turkey soon! I'm busy packing and repacking, trying to figure out the most economical way to fit everything I need into one pack. After the repacking, I've been deciding whether my belongings should be in the needs or wants category. Then it's time for another reshuffle.
Or so it would be in theory. In reality, I'm just going to wait until the night before we leave (tomorrow), throw all my stuff into a nice pack, and then be on my way. The whole process shouldn't take more than a few minutes. It's so great to be a dude...not having to worry about all the makeup and shoes and female stuff. Clothes and a toothbrush are really the only necessities. I mean, Turkey is the final destination, which sort of eliminates the need for deodorant too, right?
It's so great that we're finally set to embark. We are going to stay with my exchange student's family for a few nights, in someone's rented apartment for two more nights, and then find a hostel near the airport for the remainder. Other than that we have no plans. We're going to walk around the bazaar, hang out on the streets, go running around the city's perimeter, and just generally act like college kids who don't have a care in the world.
I think this trip represents a bit of nostalgia for the old days. On this date two years ago, a group of 15 of us in 3 vehicles were making our way back from Big Bend National Park in Texas, where we had spent a few days swimming to Mexico, exploring, participating in hooliganism, and bro talking. We were young. Now we're old. We have jobs and responsibilities and bills. Back then, our only requirements were to run hard and study harder. Now? Pay this, do that, go there, etc. We're pining for a return to the simpler times. At least I am...sometimes. The old times were incredible. Turkey is going to be one brief respite from real life. A chance to relive the glory days. It's going to be a blast!
Or so it would be in theory. In reality, I'm just going to wait until the night before we leave (tomorrow), throw all my stuff into a nice pack, and then be on my way. The whole process shouldn't take more than a few minutes. It's so great to be a dude...not having to worry about all the makeup and shoes and female stuff. Clothes and a toothbrush are really the only necessities. I mean, Turkey is the final destination, which sort of eliminates the need for deodorant too, right?
It's so great that we're finally set to embark. We are going to stay with my exchange student's family for a few nights, in someone's rented apartment for two more nights, and then find a hostel near the airport for the remainder. Other than that we have no plans. We're going to walk around the bazaar, hang out on the streets, go running around the city's perimeter, and just generally act like college kids who don't have a care in the world.
I think this trip represents a bit of nostalgia for the old days. On this date two years ago, a group of 15 of us in 3 vehicles were making our way back from Big Bend National Park in Texas, where we had spent a few days swimming to Mexico, exploring, participating in hooliganism, and bro talking. We were young. Now we're old. We have jobs and responsibilities and bills. Back then, our only requirements were to run hard and study harder. Now? Pay this, do that, go there, etc. We're pining for a return to the simpler times. At least I am...sometimes. The old times were incredible. Turkey is going to be one brief respite from real life. A chance to relive the glory days. It's going to be a blast!
Christmas Break!
We finally made it! The last day of school for calendar year 2012 has come and gone. It's now time for 16 days of rest, relaxation, and recharging with family and friends. It couldn't be more welcome. I know it's going to be a chore returning to the grind in January, but that's not remotely important right now. It's time to celebrate the end!
Also, it's nearly time for our Turkey departure!!! Stoked beyond belief...
Also, it's nearly time for our Turkey departure!!! Stoked beyond belief...
Thursday, December 20, 2012
WooHoo!!
So I've got to say that racquetball is one of the coolest sports ever made! It's a total blast to run and jump and dive all over the room! The ball is bouncing in every direction and I'm left to deftly maneuver my way over, under, and around other people and rackets in hot pursuit. It's fast-paced and intense! I'm starting to think that it is encroaching on my holy grail of sports! Ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, and baseball had better take heed! Here comes racquetball!!!
Go play!
Go play!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Far Behind (A Lesson In Humility)
"Subtle voices in the wind
And the truth they're telling.
The world begins where the road ends.
Watch me leave it all behind."
- Eddie Vedder, "Far Behind"
I got a pretty interesting phone call last night from one of my colleagues at Madison. She's been with the district for more than a score and has been around the block and through the wringer a few times too many. As such, she is both wizened up to the nuances of the public education system, especially in our district, and extremely cynical when it comes to the inner workings of the school and its administrators. She has burned a few bridges in her day and can come off as alternately abrasive and exceedingly kind in one fell swoop. It's a dichotomy that is seldom seen and rarely embraced. She reminds me a bit of Professor Slughorn from the Harry Potter series. Since she has ended up on the bad side of so many higher-ups, it sort of seems like she "collects" new teachers to be on her side and agree with her sentiments. I don't know what it is she hopes to accomplish through this exercise, but it seems to please her just fine.
Anyway, she called to tell me that I was a great teacher and that I shouldn't be so down on myself. Even though I may have received a less than sterling evaluation, it doesn't mean that I'm a poor teacher. She said that the ratings systems were flawed and that anytime she talks to students (and she's a talker all right) about what they've learned in my classes, they always have an answer ready to go. That, she said, is the real key to discovering if a teacher is effective. It's not found in the brief observations of an administrator who has been out of the game for several years and is under the thumb of the state government trying to prove that the district is worth the money that it receives. She said that I was going to change the world someday, and that it wouldn't be at Madison. I'm worldly and won't rest until I can reach my calling. Then she told me that her daughters made me cookies because I seemed so down for the first time. And that was it.
I didn't know how to respond. Even if she were trying to "collect" me to be on her side, those words carried some weight. They can be true if I choose to believe them. And I do. There are people on my side who are willing to go to battle with me and for me. They trust me to be the best that I can be. Myriad parents are counting on me. The school board and administration is counting on me. The students themselves are counting on me. I can't let them down. My colleague's words were incredibly humbling. I know that I can succeed in this field, or whatever field I choose down the road.
Often I have been consumed by the transcendental concept of leaving the world behind and exploring at my own pace, if only for a short while. I wanted to be alone and live how I wanted to live, unrestrained by societal constructs, unfettered by mortgages and careers. I wanted to break away. That fire has not burned out. In fact, it's been doused with lighter fluid...but with a catch. While I'm away, I can change the world. People believe in me. And even if I don't leave, even if I choose to stay at Madison, or stay in the teaching fold, or wherever I may be, there will be people who believe in me.
How humbling...
And the truth they're telling.
The world begins where the road ends.
Watch me leave it all behind."
- Eddie Vedder, "Far Behind"
I got a pretty interesting phone call last night from one of my colleagues at Madison. She's been with the district for more than a score and has been around the block and through the wringer a few times too many. As such, she is both wizened up to the nuances of the public education system, especially in our district, and extremely cynical when it comes to the inner workings of the school and its administrators. She has burned a few bridges in her day and can come off as alternately abrasive and exceedingly kind in one fell swoop. It's a dichotomy that is seldom seen and rarely embraced. She reminds me a bit of Professor Slughorn from the Harry Potter series. Since she has ended up on the bad side of so many higher-ups, it sort of seems like she "collects" new teachers to be on her side and agree with her sentiments. I don't know what it is she hopes to accomplish through this exercise, but it seems to please her just fine.
Anyway, she called to tell me that I was a great teacher and that I shouldn't be so down on myself. Even though I may have received a less than sterling evaluation, it doesn't mean that I'm a poor teacher. She said that the ratings systems were flawed and that anytime she talks to students (and she's a talker all right) about what they've learned in my classes, they always have an answer ready to go. That, she said, is the real key to discovering if a teacher is effective. It's not found in the brief observations of an administrator who has been out of the game for several years and is under the thumb of the state government trying to prove that the district is worth the money that it receives. She said that I was going to change the world someday, and that it wouldn't be at Madison. I'm worldly and won't rest until I can reach my calling. Then she told me that her daughters made me cookies because I seemed so down for the first time. And that was it.
I didn't know how to respond. Even if she were trying to "collect" me to be on her side, those words carried some weight. They can be true if I choose to believe them. And I do. There are people on my side who are willing to go to battle with me and for me. They trust me to be the best that I can be. Myriad parents are counting on me. The school board and administration is counting on me. The students themselves are counting on me. I can't let them down. My colleague's words were incredibly humbling. I know that I can succeed in this field, or whatever field I choose down the road.
Often I have been consumed by the transcendental concept of leaving the world behind and exploring at my own pace, if only for a short while. I wanted to be alone and live how I wanted to live, unrestrained by societal constructs, unfettered by mortgages and careers. I wanted to break away. That fire has not burned out. In fact, it's been doused with lighter fluid...but with a catch. While I'm away, I can change the world. People believe in me. And even if I don't leave, even if I choose to stay at Madison, or stay in the teaching fold, or wherever I may be, there will be people who believe in me.
How humbling...
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Over It (Again)
"I'm over it,
Yeah behind me now,
I'm just over it."
We come to the next song on Forget And Not Slow Down. To the most ardent readers, you will perhaps remember that I already wrote about this song. It was a few months ago, and yet it feels like a few years ago. It's odd how time works. Anyhow, back then I was commenting on the fact that people can say they are over things but really be kidding themselves. They've been swayed by the predilictions of others, especially those who may have not been remotely involved in the situation and still believe that their opinion is of value. Alas, it is taken as such.
Instead of rehashing my old thoughts, I think it's a good time to talk about how we become fully "over it." It's a gradual process. But we eventually reach that point where we realize that it's done. There's nothing left. All the feelings and emotions have finally become (re)purified. We're ready to face the challenge again. While it may have felt like a long time coming, take a second to look back and see what we have lain roughshod to. We've defeated the sad thoughts and triumphed. We can keep going...
Yeah behind me now,
I'm just over it."
We come to the next song on Forget And Not Slow Down. To the most ardent readers, you will perhaps remember that I already wrote about this song. It was a few months ago, and yet it feels like a few years ago. It's odd how time works. Anyhow, back then I was commenting on the fact that people can say they are over things but really be kidding themselves. They've been swayed by the predilictions of others, especially those who may have not been remotely involved in the situation and still believe that their opinion is of value. Alas, it is taken as such.
Instead of rehashing my old thoughts, I think it's a good time to talk about how we become fully "over it." It's a gradual process. But we eventually reach that point where we realize that it's done. There's nothing left. All the feelings and emotions have finally become (re)purified. We're ready to face the challenge again. While it may have felt like a long time coming, take a second to look back and see what we have lain roughshod to. We've defeated the sad thoughts and triumphed. We can keep going...
The Beatles
I was thinking about The Beatles the other day. Actually I was thinking about them right now. I can't seem to focus. I was brought back to Lennon's classic "I'm so tired." How much more accurate could the title of the song be? I'm beat. But here's the cool thing...only three more sleeps until Christmas break! That's all I really need to say about that...
Sunday, December 16, 2012
What To Expect
There are a bunch of ideas percolating just beneath the surface, all bubbling around waiting to be plucked and shined for the whold virtual world to see. Mixed metaphors aside, I wanted to talk a bit about what might be coming up in the next few weeks in this space.
- Istanbul! A Turkish Christmas!
- Freewill (Not the Rush version)
- Anibal Sanchez - Friend or Foe
- Torii Hunter - Friend or Foe II
- Standard New Year Goals and Expectations
- Amy Adams!!!
- Point Break - The Underrated Masterpiece
- Unions? And Other Social/Political Commentary
- Teaching Stories
- The Continuing Forget And Not Slow Down Series
- And Many More (Hopefully!)
Have a nice night!
- Istanbul! A Turkish Christmas!
- Freewill (Not the Rush version)
- Anibal Sanchez - Friend or Foe
- Torii Hunter - Friend or Foe II
- Standard New Year Goals and Expectations
- Amy Adams!!!
- Point Break - The Underrated Masterpiece
- Unions? And Other Social/Political Commentary
- Teaching Stories
- The Continuing Forget And Not Slow Down Series
- And Many More (Hopefully!)
Have a nice night!
Therapy
Continuing on with the Forget And Not Slow Down run-through...
"I never thought I'd be
Driving through the country just to drive,
With only music and the clothes that I woke up in."
I had some pretty interesting experiences this summer. My emotions were running haywire. One day I felt on top of the world, and the next I was pondering the apparent meaninglessness of llife. I got a job in Kansas (and subsequently resigned), traveled the country, reconnected with old friends, ended relationships, (re)built new ones, and celebrated true love. I was happy, sad, angry, depressed, elated, confused, and surprised, sometimes in the span of a few hours. I walked the streets of Las Vegas, climbed to the top of Yosemite Falls, ruined my car, ran along the Irish Sea with the standard Ireland mist clouding my vision, shed a few tears at Juliet's balcony, and got a brand new teaching job just miles away from my residence. It was, as Chuck Dickens wrote in a succinct summation of my life, "the best of times and the worst of times."
It was those times, driving through the desert in Arizona, or through the mountains in Colorado, or at the top of a roadside rockpile in Utah, that made me feel truly alive and aware. I was alone in the social sense of the word. But I wasn't truly alone. I was swimming in a pool of thoughts and feelings. I was reestablishing my identity. I was changing, for better and for worse. The moral of the story here, though, is that it is a personal process. Oftentimes we forget to be who we ourselves want to be. We become consumed with fulfilling expectations and fitting into that box that somebody else crafted for us. But where are our own boxes?
It's taken me a long time. Too long, or so it feels. But that's not really the case. It would be so much worse if I had never figured out that I must answer to myself. The protagonist was once me. It could be me again. But, as so often happens, it's up to my personal perspectives.
"This is my therapy,
Because you won't take my calls
And that makes God the only one that's listening
To me."
We are not alone. We can call it God, we can call it a caring friend, we can call it anything, but we're never alone. I wholeheartedly believe this. We will always be cared for, even when our circumstances spiral out of control. Sometimes we need that reminder.
This is all so familiar to me. I went through all of this during the summer. The ups, the downs, the ins, and the outs. But it was my therapy. Being alone allowed me to synthesize my thoughts into one coherent life statement. Of course, I didn't realize it at the time. It's been a recent development, but I attribute it to my personal reflection periods. Being alone, being shut down, not being answered...I was, over time, able to channel those initial feelings of abandonment and self-resentment into something much more powerful and contributory. It sucks, but it's worth it. Hard to believe I know...
"Loneliness and solitude are two things not to get confused."
I've addressed this before so I won't spend too much time rehashing it here. It all comes down, once more, to perspective. If we feel abandoned by a former loved one, it can be so simple for the Loneliness monster to set up camp in our heads and hearts. His friends Depression and Regret will inevitably set up shop as well, rendering us incapacited until we, at long last, decide to break off the shackles of emotional repression and leap into the next season of our lives. That's where Solitude comes in. Being consciously aware of our plight and yet still yearning to reflect and achieve more is what can set us apart. It is a true pathway to success and eternal happiness.
"I never thought I'd be
Driving through the country just to drive,
With only music and the clothes that I woke up in."
I had some pretty interesting experiences this summer. My emotions were running haywire. One day I felt on top of the world, and the next I was pondering the apparent meaninglessness of llife. I got a job in Kansas (and subsequently resigned), traveled the country, reconnected with old friends, ended relationships, (re)built new ones, and celebrated true love. I was happy, sad, angry, depressed, elated, confused, and surprised, sometimes in the span of a few hours. I walked the streets of Las Vegas, climbed to the top of Yosemite Falls, ruined my car, ran along the Irish Sea with the standard Ireland mist clouding my vision, shed a few tears at Juliet's balcony, and got a brand new teaching job just miles away from my residence. It was, as Chuck Dickens wrote in a succinct summation of my life, "the best of times and the worst of times."
It was those times, driving through the desert in Arizona, or through the mountains in Colorado, or at the top of a roadside rockpile in Utah, that made me feel truly alive and aware. I was alone in the social sense of the word. But I wasn't truly alone. I was swimming in a pool of thoughts and feelings. I was reestablishing my identity. I was changing, for better and for worse. The moral of the story here, though, is that it is a personal process. Oftentimes we forget to be who we ourselves want to be. We become consumed with fulfilling expectations and fitting into that box that somebody else crafted for us. But where are our own boxes?
It's taken me a long time. Too long, or so it feels. But that's not really the case. It would be so much worse if I had never figured out that I must answer to myself. The protagonist was once me. It could be me again. But, as so often happens, it's up to my personal perspectives.
"This is my therapy,
Because you won't take my calls
And that makes God the only one that's listening
To me."
We are not alone. We can call it God, we can call it a caring friend, we can call it anything, but we're never alone. I wholeheartedly believe this. We will always be cared for, even when our circumstances spiral out of control. Sometimes we need that reminder.
This is all so familiar to me. I went through all of this during the summer. The ups, the downs, the ins, and the outs. But it was my therapy. Being alone allowed me to synthesize my thoughts into one coherent life statement. Of course, I didn't realize it at the time. It's been a recent development, but I attribute it to my personal reflection periods. Being alone, being shut down, not being answered...I was, over time, able to channel those initial feelings of abandonment and self-resentment into something much more powerful and contributory. It sucks, but it's worth it. Hard to believe I know...
"Loneliness and solitude are two things not to get confused."
I've addressed this before so I won't spend too much time rehashing it here. It all comes down, once more, to perspective. If we feel abandoned by a former loved one, it can be so simple for the Loneliness monster to set up camp in our heads and hearts. His friends Depression and Regret will inevitably set up shop as well, rendering us incapacited until we, at long last, decide to break off the shackles of emotional repression and leap into the next season of our lives. That's where Solitude comes in. Being consciously aware of our plight and yet still yearning to reflect and achieve more is what can set us apart. It is a true pathway to success and eternal happiness.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Good Days!
These students of mine aren't the worst thing in the world. Not even close. When we can discuss heavy duty subjects (today's special: Is it better to have "fake" friends or no friends at all) with candor and openness, I feel like I have been successful. And the beauty part is that it's not me that's involved; it's the students who are taking their learning to the next step. I'm merely a bystander in the whole situation. Witnessing their minds working and their brains thinking, all the while being respectful and honest, fills me with pride. I'm happy for them.
Today came out of the blue. I'd been feeling a bit down on teaching this week, but the kids were ready to go. We got some good discussions going my first two classes, but then came the last class of the day. According to the curriculum, I was supposed to bring them down to the computer lab so they can do research for an expository essay about gaining and maintaining jobs. Unfortunately, Madison isn't blessed with the gift of technology and I was left scrambling. I came up with a rough outline for an alternative assignment but had no idea how well it would go. And wouldn't you know it...it went swimmingly! I was blown away. They did everything right. They worked in groups effectively, they followed instructions, they were respectful when it was my turn to talk, and they completed the assignment exactly the way I wanted it. They proved their learning. Needless to say, I was pretty pumped. I'd say it's a good way to end a week and prepare for the last week before Christmas break!
Today came out of the blue. I'd been feeling a bit down on teaching this week, but the kids were ready to go. We got some good discussions going my first two classes, but then came the last class of the day. According to the curriculum, I was supposed to bring them down to the computer lab so they can do research for an expository essay about gaining and maintaining jobs. Unfortunately, Madison isn't blessed with the gift of technology and I was left scrambling. I came up with a rough outline for an alternative assignment but had no idea how well it would go. And wouldn't you know it...it went swimmingly! I was blown away. They did everything right. They worked in groups effectively, they followed instructions, they were respectful when it was my turn to talk, and they completed the assignment exactly the way I wanted it. They proved their learning. Needless to say, I was pretty pumped. I'd say it's a good way to end a week and prepare for the last week before Christmas break!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Pick Me Up
I've got a lot to say, but it might be more appropriate to cool the jets and let the movies do the talking.
Smile!!
Smile!!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Choices
Life is a series of choices. We never know which ones will pan out and which will not. All we have are our prior experiences to lead us on the "correct" path, but we never really know if that's going to lead us to fulfillment. What works for Charlie may not work for us. In fact, I'd wager that it won't work at all. Every person is unique, just as every situation is fraught with diversity. There is no manual to describe how to handle every situation. All we can do, as Austin Powers' stallmate once said, is to "close your eyes, grab hold of something, and give it hell!" How is it that an obscure movie line from 1997 can be wrought with so much meaning? It's all a matter of choices and perspective...
I, for one, am at the mercy of my choices. I make decisions based on...what exactly? Projections for future success? The past? What others say? What others do? A Supreme Being? The luck of a dice roll? None of them may work, and yet all of them could work. There is no prescription for correct decisions. The key is to be able to adapt. In biology, the most important aspect of a species' survival is its adaptability. We all need to be willing to change in accordance with the scenarios that we have (perhaps inadvertantly) set up for ourselves. The mark of a successful person is to be able to rise up in the face of trials as a result of any situation. It can be done. Again, it's perspective. Like we found out yesterday, it's "a lovely hand to hold."
All we can do is to keep going. Even though I've had more allusions than original words in here, I'm going to spit in the face of plagiarism and add one more. We need to channel our inner Dory. When life gets us down, what should we do? "Just keep swimming!" It's a most simple concept but, then again, aren't those the most difficult to master? Oh well...Just keep swimming!!
I, for one, am at the mercy of my choices. I make decisions based on...what exactly? Projections for future success? The past? What others say? What others do? A Supreme Being? The luck of a dice roll? None of them may work, and yet all of them could work. There is no prescription for correct decisions. The key is to be able to adapt. In biology, the most important aspect of a species' survival is its adaptability. We all need to be willing to change in accordance with the scenarios that we have (perhaps inadvertantly) set up for ourselves. The mark of a successful person is to be able to rise up in the face of trials as a result of any situation. It can be done. Again, it's perspective. Like we found out yesterday, it's "a lovely hand to hold."
All we can do is to keep going. Even though I've had more allusions than original words in here, I'm going to spit in the face of plagiarism and add one more. We need to channel our inner Dory. When life gets us down, what should we do? "Just keep swimming!" It's a most simple concept but, then again, aren't those the most difficult to master? Oh well...Just keep swimming!!
Monday, December 10, 2012
And Now Onto Something Completely Different...
I watched The Muppets this weekend for the first time and came to the most startling and exciting realization of my life. Have you ever had that feeling when everything just clicked into place and you know exactly what it is that you're looking for? Or have you ever been asked a question and didn't know the answer until - poof! - it suddenly shows up in the forefront of your consciousness? It's an amazing feeling...
One of my students asked me which actresses I find attractive and I failed spectacularly at coming up with an honest answer. But watching that movie, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Amy Adams has to be the most beautiful lady in history. I don't care that she's 38. 38 is the new 24 anyway. If I were going to rename this blog, you'd better believe it would have something to do with Amy. There's now a laundry list of films that I need to see, and I don't want to wait any more! I'm jonesing for some Amy! Watch The Muppets and you'll know what I'm talking about. Trust me.
And I'm really happy to finally have an answer to that most important of queries. The children will certainly be thrilled!
One of my students asked me which actresses I find attractive and I failed spectacularly at coming up with an honest answer. But watching that movie, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Amy Adams has to be the most beautiful lady in history. I don't care that she's 38. 38 is the new 24 anyway. If I were going to rename this blog, you'd better believe it would have something to do with Amy. There's now a laundry list of films that I need to see, and I don't want to wait any more! I'm jonesing for some Amy! Watch The Muppets and you'll know what I'm talking about. Trust me.
And I'm really happy to finally have an answer to that most important of queries. The children will certainly be thrilled!
Part Of It
We now return to our regularly scheduled Relient K album breakdown!
"It's not the end of the world,
Just you and me.
We're a part of it everyone,
We're a part of it everything.
And when the nightmare ever does unfold,
Perspective is a lovely hand to hold."
I've been working with brevity lately and I'm afraid that today is not going to be any different. One of my most developed character traits is longwindedness, which, in addition to being a word that I just made up, is not always the best way to approach situations. I mean, it gets the job done of course, but there's nothing wrong with a brief word here and there. But it already seems like that train has sailed...
I've got some homework for the readers. I'm only going to post these lyrics. I might post the video. But I only want to work with the chorus here. There're obviously some verses, but they will not contribute to my new desire to be brief. If you really want to do some further exploration (and you do), listen to the song on your own. It's a quality piece of music...
Sometimes we try to take the world and shrink it until it fits into the palm of our hand. That way, we feel, we've got everything under our own control. We can spin it until we find the proper trajectory and axis, thereby assuring us of the life we planned for. But the earth is not made of Shrinkydinks. It's full of confusion and the unknown. We really never know what's going to befall us next, as much as we might prepare for it. We can walk around and be absolutely convinced that we're going to marry that special friend of ours, or that we're going to get that promotion, or that we're going to change somebody's life, but it seems that that life we're trying to change may very well conspire against us. Now this is not some sort of warning post or anything like that. I'm simply pointing out the fallacy in putting so much stock into planning. We don't know the whims of the world. We are but pawns in a giant game of chess, only able to see a few spaces ahead and unable to jump over other pieces until the way has been cleared. It may not be the best metaphor in history, but I believe it works for our purposes...
I do have a point here. The world doesn't end when calamity strikes. It's up to us to realize this. Life goes on, perhaps bigger and grander if we allow it to be. It will suck for awhile. Change is not the easiest thing to get through. But with the proper perspective, we can make it through.
Notice that I said "we." I didn't think anything of it until 30 seconds ago. But it's true. When you awake from that nightmare, you're not going to be alone. It may be the end of a relationship (or any other important status symbol in life), but it's certainly not the end of everything. The world goes on. People still love and care about you. You are worth it. Perspective is the key. Hold fast and keep on going.
There seems to be a general trend to this album...
"It's not the end of the world,
Just you and me.
We're a part of it everyone,
We're a part of it everything.
And when the nightmare ever does unfold,
Perspective is a lovely hand to hold."
I've been working with brevity lately and I'm afraid that today is not going to be any different. One of my most developed character traits is longwindedness, which, in addition to being a word that I just made up, is not always the best way to approach situations. I mean, it gets the job done of course, but there's nothing wrong with a brief word here and there. But it already seems like that train has sailed...
I've got some homework for the readers. I'm only going to post these lyrics. I might post the video. But I only want to work with the chorus here. There're obviously some verses, but they will not contribute to my new desire to be brief. If you really want to do some further exploration (and you do), listen to the song on your own. It's a quality piece of music...
Sometimes we try to take the world and shrink it until it fits into the palm of our hand. That way, we feel, we've got everything under our own control. We can spin it until we find the proper trajectory and axis, thereby assuring us of the life we planned for. But the earth is not made of Shrinkydinks. It's full of confusion and the unknown. We really never know what's going to befall us next, as much as we might prepare for it. We can walk around and be absolutely convinced that we're going to marry that special friend of ours, or that we're going to get that promotion, or that we're going to change somebody's life, but it seems that that life we're trying to change may very well conspire against us. Now this is not some sort of warning post or anything like that. I'm simply pointing out the fallacy in putting so much stock into planning. We don't know the whims of the world. We are but pawns in a giant game of chess, only able to see a few spaces ahead and unable to jump over other pieces until the way has been cleared. It may not be the best metaphor in history, but I believe it works for our purposes...
I do have a point here. The world doesn't end when calamity strikes. It's up to us to realize this. Life goes on, perhaps bigger and grander if we allow it to be. It will suck for awhile. Change is not the easiest thing to get through. But with the proper perspective, we can make it through.
Notice that I said "we." I didn't think anything of it until 30 seconds ago. But it's true. When you awake from that nightmare, you're not going to be alone. It may be the end of a relationship (or any other important status symbol in life), but it's certainly not the end of everything. The world goes on. People still love and care about you. You are worth it. Perspective is the key. Hold fast and keep on going.
There seems to be a general trend to this album...
Sunday, December 9, 2012
We're Going To Canada!
It's silly how much we make fun of our northern brethren. We belittle them for their goofy words and funny stores. We chirp them for their unique holidays and endlessly upbeat personalities. We refer to the country as a whole as "America's Hat." It would seem that we're not very fond of them. And those Canadians just play right along, laughing good-naturedly but refusing to get even the most remotely angry. What an interesting country...
I spent yesterday in Canada. It's so bizarre to think that I live nine miles away from an entirely different country. A completely unique and independent and self-contained COUNTRY! We have to present proper documentation and observe new rules and the whole production. It's always a little off-putting to cross the border in less than two minutes. I mean, it's not like crossing state borders. There are so many different rules and customs that take effect immediately upon paying the entry fee. It gives me a most unbelievable feeling, as if I'm skirting the law or something. It shouldn't be so easy! I'm awestruck...
It's interesting to note the similarities in step with the differences. American stores lumped together with the Canadian corporations. Funny money abounding. Poutines. Interprovincial highways providing high speed transit...
But amid all the zaniness, the people are still people. At the end of the day, no matter how odd they may seem, they are just like me. People. Humans. Families that live and love. This is a prevailing idea no matter the background. I've been to a few places around the world, and I've discovered that the ability to love and be loved is not unique to the American experience or to all English speakers or to all white people. It's a natural HUMAN instinct. The people in Mexico love just as much as those in Italy. Families thrive in Canada and Kenya. I'm sure I'm going to come to the same conclusion in a few weeks in Turkey, just as I did this summer in Germany...
We are all so different. But we are so very much alike, when we get down to the basics. Shouldn't it all be basics?
I spent yesterday in Canada. It's so bizarre to think that I live nine miles away from an entirely different country. A completely unique and independent and self-contained COUNTRY! We have to present proper documentation and observe new rules and the whole production. It's always a little off-putting to cross the border in less than two minutes. I mean, it's not like crossing state borders. There are so many different rules and customs that take effect immediately upon paying the entry fee. It gives me a most unbelievable feeling, as if I'm skirting the law or something. It shouldn't be so easy! I'm awestruck...
It's interesting to note the similarities in step with the differences. American stores lumped together with the Canadian corporations. Funny money abounding. Poutines. Interprovincial highways providing high speed transit...
But amid all the zaniness, the people are still people. At the end of the day, no matter how odd they may seem, they are just like me. People. Humans. Families that live and love. This is a prevailing idea no matter the background. I've been to a few places around the world, and I've discovered that the ability to love and be loved is not unique to the American experience or to all English speakers or to all white people. It's a natural HUMAN instinct. The people in Mexico love just as much as those in Italy. Families thrive in Canada and Kenya. I'm sure I'm going to come to the same conclusion in a few weeks in Turkey, just as I did this summer in Germany...
We are all so different. But we are so very much alike, when we get down to the basics. Shouldn't it all be basics?
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Triumph
"Hold on. Hold on to your dreams."
Is this idealistic? Does there come a time when it's foolish to hold fast to our dreams? At what point does it become counterproductive? Do our dreams get in the way of our realities?
Heady stuff.
Is this idealistic? Does there come a time when it's foolish to hold fast to our dreams? At what point does it become counterproductive? Do our dreams get in the way of our realities?
Heady stuff.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Days
Check me out! I've got some time to just relax! I'm at school with 20 minutes before class starts and nothing pressing to do! This is a monumental day, one that I had better cherish, since progress reports are coming due again in the next few weeks. It's a never-ending cycle. The days blend together like a symphony. It becomes difficult to distinguish one from the other. Instead, my weeks are split into week and weekend, then week again. The days...I don't really have anything to write about. Just that the days go by rapidly. I don't know what to make of it.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Questions
I spent my entire run this evening thinking about how to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning and school life as a whole. For too long students have been simply passed along without real signs of achievement. They've been told that they're good, even though some may not be, and are advancing even though they are not ready. And when I try to challenge them, they revolt and choose to do shoddy work (or nothing at all) because, in their experience, they'll pass anyway.
So my question is this: How do we teach responsibility? How do we show students that life doesn't hand us things whenever we want them? How do we show students that they need to work to be successful? How do we teach them self-sufficiency? It's tough.
So my question is this: How do we teach responsibility? How do we show students that life doesn't hand us things whenever we want them? How do we show students that they need to work to be successful? How do we teach them self-sufficiency? It's tough.
Hockey
I've been thinking a bit about hockey, particularly the NHL. What a bunch of lunkheads. I don't really understand the rationale here. I mean, the league just canceled an entire season seven years ago, and yet feels the need to toy with the consumers and threaten another league cancellation. There are many problems with this type of thinking. While the last lockout was over the inequity in salaries and compensation (among other things, but those were the main problems), this lockout seems to be over nothing. There is not the same type of urgency as there was last time. Sure the owners and players will both tell us that there is something fundamentally wrong with the NHL's salary structure, but I think that's just a cover-up for the league's main problems, problems that were swept under the rug during negotiations seven years ago in favor of a short-term stopgap. Instead of worrying about the financial situation, there are two other things of utmost importance that I believe the NHL needs to address before it can return to the competition.
The first thing the NHL needs to realize is that it is not the only professional hockey league. There are hockey leagues up and down Canada and Europe that pay their players very good money and treat them well to boot. Of course the NHL typically hands out the largest contracts, but many hockey players play because they love the game. A lockout, it seems to me, doesn't make the players hate the owners. Rather, I believe it forces the players to resent the union for refusing to cut a deal. A fair number of players have defected to other leagues overseas to satiate their hunger for hockey. They don't seem to be worried about the salary structure. They merely want to play hockey. I may be way off on this one, and all of the players are actually super greedy, but I doubt it. Still, it's one opinion in a field of many.
The NHL needs to recognize that it is not the only choice. This is a capitalist society and the NHL is a business just like any other. If people choose not to work for the NHL, it will dissolve. There are other options out there for players. For the NHL to sit there and think that all of its players (not to mention its fans) will return is a fool's errand.
The other problem that I see in the NHL is the over-expansion that took place in the 1990's. There were a bunch of teams added in some of the country's least likely hotspots. Miami, Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina, and Tampa Bay all got teams in a span of ten years. These locations are hardly hockey hotbeds, as evidenced by the fact that the stadiums rarely sell out save for playoff runs and discount ticket days. The brand has become diluted. Markets are having trouble supporting teams, thereby limiting the budget available to signing good players, discouraging and alienating fans even more. But during the last round of negotiations, the Commissioner and owners vehemently rejected any proposal having to do with contraction, even though it would seem to be in the best interest of the sport. Imagine a league of 16-20 teams, each with top-flight stars in viable hockey markets that can support them. More teams could be put in Canada - there's no team in Hamilton? Quebec City? C'mon! I believe that through contraction, the talent disparity would be lessened and all teams would be put on a more even playing field. Also, with less teams there would be less revenue sharing, increasing profits for the teams that can already make money. What owner would not be happy with this? Of course, I'm not an economics expert, but I feel like this would totally work.
Ok, now I know that I'm not the best person to be listening to in this type of situation, so please take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. But I still think that the NHL has other problems on its plate that need to be addressed. If they focus on only one issue (finances), the league will end up in the exact same place it is now. It's a cycle.
The definition of insanity: "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
The first thing the NHL needs to realize is that it is not the only professional hockey league. There are hockey leagues up and down Canada and Europe that pay their players very good money and treat them well to boot. Of course the NHL typically hands out the largest contracts, but many hockey players play because they love the game. A lockout, it seems to me, doesn't make the players hate the owners. Rather, I believe it forces the players to resent the union for refusing to cut a deal. A fair number of players have defected to other leagues overseas to satiate their hunger for hockey. They don't seem to be worried about the salary structure. They merely want to play hockey. I may be way off on this one, and all of the players are actually super greedy, but I doubt it. Still, it's one opinion in a field of many.
The NHL needs to recognize that it is not the only choice. This is a capitalist society and the NHL is a business just like any other. If people choose not to work for the NHL, it will dissolve. There are other options out there for players. For the NHL to sit there and think that all of its players (not to mention its fans) will return is a fool's errand.
The other problem that I see in the NHL is the over-expansion that took place in the 1990's. There were a bunch of teams added in some of the country's least likely hotspots. Miami, Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina, and Tampa Bay all got teams in a span of ten years. These locations are hardly hockey hotbeds, as evidenced by the fact that the stadiums rarely sell out save for playoff runs and discount ticket days. The brand has become diluted. Markets are having trouble supporting teams, thereby limiting the budget available to signing good players, discouraging and alienating fans even more. But during the last round of negotiations, the Commissioner and owners vehemently rejected any proposal having to do with contraction, even though it would seem to be in the best interest of the sport. Imagine a league of 16-20 teams, each with top-flight stars in viable hockey markets that can support them. More teams could be put in Canada - there's no team in Hamilton? Quebec City? C'mon! I believe that through contraction, the talent disparity would be lessened and all teams would be put on a more even playing field. Also, with less teams there would be less revenue sharing, increasing profits for the teams that can already make money. What owner would not be happy with this? Of course, I'm not an economics expert, but I feel like this would totally work.
Ok, now I know that I'm not the best person to be listening to in this type of situation, so please take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. But I still think that the NHL has other problems on its plate that need to be addressed. If they focus on only one issue (finances), the league will end up in the exact same place it is now. It's a cycle.
The definition of insanity: "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A Crisis Of Confidence
I showed snippets of this speech to my students. Insane. Mr. Carter was not a very good president, but he sure was honest and I have to give props for that. He had the audacity to call out the American people and tell them things they didn't want to hear. It took guts to do what he did. It also may have cost him reelection after Reagan came along telling Americans they can have whatever they want. Carter was an idealist, but didn't have any qualms about admitting. I love it.
"We are no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns."
Crazy stuff.
"We are no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns."
Crazy stuff.
Motivational Missteps; Or, How The Tigers Lost The World Series
Man I've been behind a bit. I've had some pretty good topics but just haven't had the time to put them all down on here. Trust me, I'm still moving ahead with this project. While I know that chronologically I should be on the fourth song of the Relient K album, I'm going to take a little break and write a bit about sports, sandwiching a few words about my favorite speech of all time. Without further ado...
Baseball is a game that is meant to be played every day. During a 162 game season, the typical MLB team has 21 off days a year. This includes the three (or four) days during the All-Star Break. It's extremely normal for a player or team to get on a hot streak and start tearing the cover off of the ball. It's not uncommon for players to hit .400 or .500 over a few games, even though that kind of pace is almost impossible to sustain over a full season. The reason is because of momentum. When we play a game day in and day out, it becomes second nature. When we're locked in and playing the best ball of our careers, we are almost unstoppable. Days off or rain delays, while restful to pitchers, may only serve to break hitters out of their insanity. Baseball is a game meant to thrive off players' muscle memory and fast-twitch fibers, which are carefully refined with constant stimulation. It should be played every day until the end of the season.
The Detroit Tigers swept the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Because of the way that the postseason schedule was set up, they had to wait six days for their next game. While this may have felt like much needed rest for Justin Verlander, the rest of the team, while not exactly hitting like the Murderer's Row Yankees of the '20's, was certainly hitting its stride offensively. They were collecting timely hits and chasing certain starters early in the game. Things, it seemed, could only get better. It didn't matter who the National League threw out there...The Tigers were going to win. There was no doubt. But that's when that pesky she-devil "momentum" comes into the picture.
The Giants ended up playing a full 7-game series against the Cardinals, only receiving one off day before beginning the Fall Classic. The Giants were ready to play ball. They weren't "relaxing" in the bitter October cold. They were playing baseball, just like they had been for the previous seven months. They were prepared to play the most important games of the season. The Tigers...were not. Sure, the pundits will say, look how rested they were. They were able to give baseball's best pitcher ample time to recover from a tremendous Game 3 start more than a week before. The batters were all able to refine their batting eye and get rid of any tics that may have been harboring themselves. The team as a whole got a whole week to think about how to attack the National League entrants right where they were most vulnerable and could avenge the 2006 loss at the same time.
But this is where the talking heads get everything wrong. Verlander had been performing every fifth day all year. Why now, days before his last start (or two starts, if necessary) would he change his regimen? Baseball players are notoriously superstitious and messing with that mojo is almost asking for trouble. The hitters were doing the same thing they had been doing all season. Why mess with that days before the last and most crucial series of the year? And all that extra time to think only served to remind them that were heavily favored and had the hopes of an entire city riding on their shoulders. It was, retrospectively, a recipe for disaster.
This is not the first time that it's happened. In 2007, the Colorado Rockies breezed through the postseason (not to mention the last few days of the regular season) by winning 21 of 22 games, one of the hottest streaks in baseball history. After sweeping the NLCS and waiting 8 days, they were swept in four by the Red Sox. In fact, these very same Detroit Tigers in 2006 endured a similar fate. They swept the ALCS and had to wait another week before the next game, losing spectacularly (4-1) to a Cardinals team that had a regular season record of 83-78. It should be noted here that the 2008 Phillies easily dispatched the Rays in the World Series after a weeklong layoff, but that seems to be the exception here rather than the norm.
The problem lies in profit potential. Television networks have become consumed with making money (as they should, of course, this being a capitalist society) and will pull out all the stops to do so. If this means dragging out the postseason as long as possible to add more teams or increase weekend/night games for owners to pocket more cash, then so be it. But it's the teams that are doing well that are suffering. Why should a team that has done what it is supposed to do as fast as possible be punished? They were the best and had proved it, only to be beaten by the cruel vagaries of tempting game and a silly playoff setup. The Tigers deserved more than that....
Baseball is a game that is meant to be played every day. During a 162 game season, the typical MLB team has 21 off days a year. This includes the three (or four) days during the All-Star Break. It's extremely normal for a player or team to get on a hot streak and start tearing the cover off of the ball. It's not uncommon for players to hit .400 or .500 over a few games, even though that kind of pace is almost impossible to sustain over a full season. The reason is because of momentum. When we play a game day in and day out, it becomes second nature. When we're locked in and playing the best ball of our careers, we are almost unstoppable. Days off or rain delays, while restful to pitchers, may only serve to break hitters out of their insanity. Baseball is a game meant to thrive off players' muscle memory and fast-twitch fibers, which are carefully refined with constant stimulation. It should be played every day until the end of the season.
The Detroit Tigers swept the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Because of the way that the postseason schedule was set up, they had to wait six days for their next game. While this may have felt like much needed rest for Justin Verlander, the rest of the team, while not exactly hitting like the Murderer's Row Yankees of the '20's, was certainly hitting its stride offensively. They were collecting timely hits and chasing certain starters early in the game. Things, it seemed, could only get better. It didn't matter who the National League threw out there...The Tigers were going to win. There was no doubt. But that's when that pesky she-devil "momentum" comes into the picture.
The Giants ended up playing a full 7-game series against the Cardinals, only receiving one off day before beginning the Fall Classic. The Giants were ready to play ball. They weren't "relaxing" in the bitter October cold. They were playing baseball, just like they had been for the previous seven months. They were prepared to play the most important games of the season. The Tigers...were not. Sure, the pundits will say, look how rested they were. They were able to give baseball's best pitcher ample time to recover from a tremendous Game 3 start more than a week before. The batters were all able to refine their batting eye and get rid of any tics that may have been harboring themselves. The team as a whole got a whole week to think about how to attack the National League entrants right where they were most vulnerable and could avenge the 2006 loss at the same time.
But this is where the talking heads get everything wrong. Verlander had been performing every fifth day all year. Why now, days before his last start (or two starts, if necessary) would he change his regimen? Baseball players are notoriously superstitious and messing with that mojo is almost asking for trouble. The hitters were doing the same thing they had been doing all season. Why mess with that days before the last and most crucial series of the year? And all that extra time to think only served to remind them that were heavily favored and had the hopes of an entire city riding on their shoulders. It was, retrospectively, a recipe for disaster.
This is not the first time that it's happened. In 2007, the Colorado Rockies breezed through the postseason (not to mention the last few days of the regular season) by winning 21 of 22 games, one of the hottest streaks in baseball history. After sweeping the NLCS and waiting 8 days, they were swept in four by the Red Sox. In fact, these very same Detroit Tigers in 2006 endured a similar fate. They swept the ALCS and had to wait another week before the next game, losing spectacularly (4-1) to a Cardinals team that had a regular season record of 83-78. It should be noted here that the 2008 Phillies easily dispatched the Rays in the World Series after a weeklong layoff, but that seems to be the exception here rather than the norm.
The problem lies in profit potential. Television networks have become consumed with making money (as they should, of course, this being a capitalist society) and will pull out all the stops to do so. If this means dragging out the postseason as long as possible to add more teams or increase weekend/night games for owners to pocket more cash, then so be it. But it's the teams that are doing well that are suffering. Why should a team that has done what it is supposed to do as fast as possible be punished? They were the best and had proved it, only to be beaten by the cruel vagaries of tempting game and a silly playoff setup. The Tigers deserved more than that....
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Candlelight
This third song on Forget And Not Slow Down could, on first glance, be seen as a notable departure from the tone of the previous two songs, not to mention the album as a whole. But after listening to the song again, I've realized that there are a few ways we can look at it. I should warn you, however, that I may end up being a bit oversentimental and idealistic here, even more than usual. Enter if you dare...
"To know her is to love her.
I'm going undercover,
To catch a glimpse,
But not get caught.
But to see her,
Could be worse,
If I don't get my head straight first.
On second thought I guess I'll not."
One way to look at this song is as an extension of the first two. Obviously the lead singer has been going through some rough stuff, presumably with a special girl who is no longer a part of his life. The trouble is that he doesn't want to rescind his feelings. This collapse of the relational bond is, I believe, in spite of his protestations. He did not bring this upon himself. He's trying to forget and not slow down out of necessity, not by choice. He is presciently aware that he had himself a catch. He was wild about this individual and doesn't exactly want to toss it out. He wants to experience the beauty and joy once more, but only if his head is right. He knows that it's never going to happen longterm, as much as he may want it to. Ultimately he decides against another sighting, lest he abandon all the progress he made in moving on in life.
This, of course, brings me to my first existential quandry. Is it better to break things off completely, just like ripping off a bandage, or should it be a gradual dissipation? What is the best way so as to minimize the hurt of the associated parties? If seeing someone is going to reignite strong feelings, whether they be of love or hatred or something in between, perhaps it's best to avoid the situation. But how silly is it to amend our lives in accordance with the daily walkabouts of others? That's kind of tough for me, mostly because those lyrics sound so pained. This is a guy who thought that he had it all figured out, just like so many of us who make plans and feel prepared, only to witness them all go awry. He's been singing about getting back on the horse and riding off on a new trail, but there're branches that lead right back to where he came from. Is it some form of comfort? Or is it something that we subconsciously do because we still have genuine feelings?
At the end, the singer made a decision to not get involved again. He thought of the memories, both the good times, especially present in this song, and the not so good ones. But then there's another way to look at things...
"She's almost brighter than the sun,
Seems to me to be unfair
When you consider everyone
Who pales when they compare
Can't hold a candle to her
Cause all the moths get in the way.
And they'll begin to chew her
Entire attire until it frays.
For she outshines anyone
Who may dare to bask in the same candlelight.
She's like an ancient artifact
Something you're lucky to have found.
She'll pinch the nerves in all the necks
As she turns those heads around."
Here's the romantic everpresent in all of us (and hopefully not just me). Wouldn't it be awesome to write a letter to our future partner? It would be full of joy and positivity. We'd be writing about how lucky we are to have finally found the one who's worth living for. We fill gaps. We make each other happy and we're happy to serve. It could go on and on. It should go on and on. There are so many things to say to that one, the "one," that a simple letter would never suffice. But we could at least try. It'd be amazing. Once we meet that one who fulfills all the prophecies set forth in the letter, we will know.
That's what the singer could have been doing here. He was burned in his previous relationship, which was the impetus for this entire album that I'm reviewing. Once he came to grips with the sobering truth that he was wrong all along, he may have reassessed his priorities and gone back to the drawing board. After a few moments of sketching, he came back with something wholly new and wonderful. He's had experiences, chosen to learn from them, and reemerged more sure of his future partner than ever before.
Stay tuned for more!
"To know her is to love her.
I'm going undercover,
To catch a glimpse,
But not get caught.
But to see her,
Could be worse,
If I don't get my head straight first.
On second thought I guess I'll not."
One way to look at this song is as an extension of the first two. Obviously the lead singer has been going through some rough stuff, presumably with a special girl who is no longer a part of his life. The trouble is that he doesn't want to rescind his feelings. This collapse of the relational bond is, I believe, in spite of his protestations. He did not bring this upon himself. He's trying to forget and not slow down out of necessity, not by choice. He is presciently aware that he had himself a catch. He was wild about this individual and doesn't exactly want to toss it out. He wants to experience the beauty and joy once more, but only if his head is right. He knows that it's never going to happen longterm, as much as he may want it to. Ultimately he decides against another sighting, lest he abandon all the progress he made in moving on in life.
This, of course, brings me to my first existential quandry. Is it better to break things off completely, just like ripping off a bandage, or should it be a gradual dissipation? What is the best way so as to minimize the hurt of the associated parties? If seeing someone is going to reignite strong feelings, whether they be of love or hatred or something in between, perhaps it's best to avoid the situation. But how silly is it to amend our lives in accordance with the daily walkabouts of others? That's kind of tough for me, mostly because those lyrics sound so pained. This is a guy who thought that he had it all figured out, just like so many of us who make plans and feel prepared, only to witness them all go awry. He's been singing about getting back on the horse and riding off on a new trail, but there're branches that lead right back to where he came from. Is it some form of comfort? Or is it something that we subconsciously do because we still have genuine feelings?
At the end, the singer made a decision to not get involved again. He thought of the memories, both the good times, especially present in this song, and the not so good ones. But then there's another way to look at things...
"She's almost brighter than the sun,
Seems to me to be unfair
When you consider everyone
Who pales when they compare
Can't hold a candle to her
Cause all the moths get in the way.
And they'll begin to chew her
Entire attire until it frays.
For she outshines anyone
Who may dare to bask in the same candlelight.
She's like an ancient artifact
Something you're lucky to have found.
She'll pinch the nerves in all the necks
As she turns those heads around."
Here's the romantic everpresent in all of us (and hopefully not just me). Wouldn't it be awesome to write a letter to our future partner? It would be full of joy and positivity. We'd be writing about how lucky we are to have finally found the one who's worth living for. We fill gaps. We make each other happy and we're happy to serve. It could go on and on. It should go on and on. There are so many things to say to that one, the "one," that a simple letter would never suffice. But we could at least try. It'd be amazing. Once we meet that one who fulfills all the prophecies set forth in the letter, we will know.
That's what the singer could have been doing here. He was burned in his previous relationship, which was the impetus for this entire album that I'm reviewing. Once he came to grips with the sobering truth that he was wrong all along, he may have reassessed his priorities and gone back to the drawing board. After a few moments of sketching, he came back with something wholly new and wonderful. He's had experiences, chosen to learn from them, and reemerged more sure of his future partner than ever before.
Stay tuned for more!
Unexpectedly Inspirational
I'm going to take a brief respite from the Relient K breakdown to talk about something that made me happy. It's so awesome to hear words of wisdom from those whom you least expect them. It's a reminder that we can develop wisdom at any time in any situation, as long as we are open to it. Who would have thought that a short dinnertime conversation could become something so powerfully thought provoking? As long as we keep our mind open and grasp that which is good, we can continually learn. We can grow and change and become someone to be pursued, cherished, and admired. It can all start with one word. That one word can inspire us to reach new heights that once seemed unattainable.
It's also pretty awesome to have people to share these moments of discovery with for they are, I believe, the lifeblood of existence.
It's also pretty awesome to have people to share these moments of discovery with for they are, I believe, the lifeblood of existence.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
I Don't Need A Soul
This is the second song on Forget And Not Slow Down. I really dig the Relient K sound on this record. It was probably the most guitar-driven album they've released. I love the way that the beats come straight at me, enveloping me in sonic joy. And that's before I even listen to the lyrics...
"It feels like everything is dying at the pivot point of me;
I listen to the sirens tell me things could still be worse."
One of the enduring themes of the album is that life doesn't end when seemingly monumental happenstances seek to bring us down. Our lives are so much bigger than one person or one event. We play a pivotal role in the lives of many people. They rely on us to bring joy or to be a crying shoulder or to just be someone to talk to. In the same way, we need others to do the same for us. But that's the thing - it's "others," as in the plural version. One individual, while having an extremely impactful influence on our lives, is not the only one who cares. We have others. And life is not over. There are so many terrible things going on in the world, and the sirens in the song are a way to keep us grounded. I think this is one of the most important ideas to remember. There are people worse off. If we don't pick up our compartively amazing lives, then we are insulting those who actually have it bad. It's a sucky thought to be sure, but, as Jimmy Carter would say, "it is the truth and it is a warning."
"'Cause if you close your eyes and listen close,
You can hear the chapter close...
'Cause if this was our destiny I'd treasure the fact
And I'd give you what's left of me if I'd held back"
Sometimes things end. The chapter closes. But the amazing thing about a chapter book is that there's another chapter that picks up right where the previous one left off. The story doesn't end. Even though we may seem like the book is done and there's no more left to write, it's an incomplete story. There's no denoument, no conclusion, no resolution. It reminds me of Doc Brown's final words in Back to the Future Part III: "Your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make of it. So make it a good one." We can't see ahead. We don't know what's going to happen. Our lives are up to us. Where we go, how we react, what we do are the product of our own decisions. We can accept the fact that the chapter is complete and start the next one, or we can mope and lament and stop reading. Hopefully the best decision is clear.
"But I don't need a soul
No, I don't need a soul to hold.
Without you I'm still whole,
You and life remain beautiful."
When things seem rough, we are still whole. When we lose those close, we still grasp our souls. This is the most crucial part. Perhaps we have spent a large amount of time relying on others and have almost forgotten how to help ourselves. But the fact still remains: we are still wholly complete inside. We only need to reach in and seek what was lost within. Life is still beautiful. People are still beautiful. We are still beautiful. But there comes a time when we need to be self-sufficient. That doesn't mean we need to shut out the world. We just need to love ourselves for who we are.
Of course, these are merely my own observations. I'm sure everyone else has a completely different interpretation...
"It feels like everything is dying at the pivot point of me;
I listen to the sirens tell me things could still be worse."
One of the enduring themes of the album is that life doesn't end when seemingly monumental happenstances seek to bring us down. Our lives are so much bigger than one person or one event. We play a pivotal role in the lives of many people. They rely on us to bring joy or to be a crying shoulder or to just be someone to talk to. In the same way, we need others to do the same for us. But that's the thing - it's "others," as in the plural version. One individual, while having an extremely impactful influence on our lives, is not the only one who cares. We have others. And life is not over. There are so many terrible things going on in the world, and the sirens in the song are a way to keep us grounded. I think this is one of the most important ideas to remember. There are people worse off. If we don't pick up our compartively amazing lives, then we are insulting those who actually have it bad. It's a sucky thought to be sure, but, as Jimmy Carter would say, "it is the truth and it is a warning."
"'Cause if you close your eyes and listen close,
You can hear the chapter close...
'Cause if this was our destiny I'd treasure the fact
And I'd give you what's left of me if I'd held back"
Sometimes things end. The chapter closes. But the amazing thing about a chapter book is that there's another chapter that picks up right where the previous one left off. The story doesn't end. Even though we may seem like the book is done and there's no more left to write, it's an incomplete story. There's no denoument, no conclusion, no resolution. It reminds me of Doc Brown's final words in Back to the Future Part III: "Your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make of it. So make it a good one." We can't see ahead. We don't know what's going to happen. Our lives are up to us. Where we go, how we react, what we do are the product of our own decisions. We can accept the fact that the chapter is complete and start the next one, or we can mope and lament and stop reading. Hopefully the best decision is clear.
"But I don't need a soul
No, I don't need a soul to hold.
Without you I'm still whole,
You and life remain beautiful."
When things seem rough, we are still whole. When we lose those close, we still grasp our souls. This is the most crucial part. Perhaps we have spent a large amount of time relying on others and have almost forgotten how to help ourselves. But the fact still remains: we are still wholly complete inside. We only need to reach in and seek what was lost within. Life is still beautiful. People are still beautiful. We are still beautiful. But there comes a time when we need to be self-sufficient. That doesn't mean we need to shut out the world. We just need to love ourselves for who we are.
Of course, these are merely my own observations. I'm sure everyone else has a completely different interpretation...
Forget And Not Slow Down
"I'd rather forget and not slow down
Than gather regret for the things I can't change now."
The plan is to spend the next few days running through Forget And Not Slow Down, my favorite Relient K album. It's funny what they say about music helping the soul. The lyrics can describe what we always wanted to say and make us feel that everything is all right. Songs capture moods. They can inspire us to be great amidst turmoil or to relax in times of trouble. They can encourage us to dance gaily during the joyous days and can even make us cry when the time is right. In 2009, this album helped me through some of the toughest times of my young life. I thought my worldview was going to be irrevocably shattered. I didn't think I'd be able to move on, and didn't even know if I wanted to. But some incredible friends, the book of Proverbs, and this album (to name just three things) helped me immensely. I moved on, as I always was going to. But it's the grace and civility with which I was able to advance my life that was so cool. For whatever reason, I'm thinking about the album once more.
"It's time to decide
Which is out of my mind,
Because it'll be me unless I put my thoughts to rest and leave some faults behind."
There's a lot clunking around in the ol' skull. I think this is true of many of us. It's painfully easy to be guilty of overthinking. Maybe we just need to forget. Make that conscious decision to throw out those things that are bogging us down and move on. Life is going to continue coming at us whether we approach it with open arms or try to jump out of the way to avoid it. If these are our two options, wouldn't we at least attempt to make it as easy as we can? Fighting something that we will ultimately lose to everytime seems silly. Embrace the change, the future, and the promise that the next minute, hour, day, and years can bring.
"I can spend my life just trying to sift through
What I could have done better but what good do what ifs do?"
What good is a "what if?" We can't change the past. The only thing we can affect is our future. We should be constantly looking ahead to what's next. Living in the past will only fill us with regret and remorse. Yes, of course it is crucial to learn from past mistakes, but we can only apply what we have learned to future situations. We can't slow down. Moving on and brushing away life's sour patches is an ideal that is rarely achieved but should be endlessly pursued. Think of the joy and encouragement we can bring to ourselves and, by extension, those around us when we choose to not let the past bother us. If we throw away that which can bring us down. A "what if" is just that...a "what if." It's a rhetorical question. It can't be answered with any definitiveness. The only way to atone for past mistakes is to embrace the future.
"If I become what I can't accept,
Resurrect the saint from within the wretch.
Pour over me and wash my hands of this."
Maybe forgiveness is the key here. Perhaps we have devolved into something unacceptable. With forgiveness we can march onward.
Than gather regret for the things I can't change now."
The plan is to spend the next few days running through Forget And Not Slow Down, my favorite Relient K album. It's funny what they say about music helping the soul. The lyrics can describe what we always wanted to say and make us feel that everything is all right. Songs capture moods. They can inspire us to be great amidst turmoil or to relax in times of trouble. They can encourage us to dance gaily during the joyous days and can even make us cry when the time is right. In 2009, this album helped me through some of the toughest times of my young life. I thought my worldview was going to be irrevocably shattered. I didn't think I'd be able to move on, and didn't even know if I wanted to. But some incredible friends, the book of Proverbs, and this album (to name just three things) helped me immensely. I moved on, as I always was going to. But it's the grace and civility with which I was able to advance my life that was so cool. For whatever reason, I'm thinking about the album once more.
"It's time to decide
Which is out of my mind,
Because it'll be me unless I put my thoughts to rest and leave some faults behind."
There's a lot clunking around in the ol' skull. I think this is true of many of us. It's painfully easy to be guilty of overthinking. Maybe we just need to forget. Make that conscious decision to throw out those things that are bogging us down and move on. Life is going to continue coming at us whether we approach it with open arms or try to jump out of the way to avoid it. If these are our two options, wouldn't we at least attempt to make it as easy as we can? Fighting something that we will ultimately lose to everytime seems silly. Embrace the change, the future, and the promise that the next minute, hour, day, and years can bring.
"I can spend my life just trying to sift through
What I could have done better but what good do what ifs do?"
What good is a "what if?" We can't change the past. The only thing we can affect is our future. We should be constantly looking ahead to what's next. Living in the past will only fill us with regret and remorse. Yes, of course it is crucial to learn from past mistakes, but we can only apply what we have learned to future situations. We can't slow down. Moving on and brushing away life's sour patches is an ideal that is rarely achieved but should be endlessly pursued. Think of the joy and encouragement we can bring to ourselves and, by extension, those around us when we choose to not let the past bother us. If we throw away that which can bring us down. A "what if" is just that...a "what if." It's a rhetorical question. It can't be answered with any definitiveness. The only way to atone for past mistakes is to embrace the future.
"If I become what I can't accept,
Resurrect the saint from within the wretch.
Pour over me and wash my hands of this."
Maybe forgiveness is the key here. Perhaps we have devolved into something unacceptable. With forgiveness we can march onward.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
A Small Thought 2: Chivalry
We just finished learning about the Middle Ages in my World History class. The last thing that I wanted to squeeze in was aimed exclusively at the young men in my classroom: chivalry. Too often we, as men, have thrown away manners and common decency in favor of a personal sense of pride or selfishness. Guys, it seems, especially at Madison, don't have as much respect for gals as they should. They call them names and make fun of them. This is, I believe, a product of the culture in which they are growing up. It needs to change. Simply opening the door for a girl or letting a woman in front upon entering a long line - it's the small things that go a long way. It shows that we, as men, care. We are willing to sacrifice our own pleasure for the betterment of others. It used to be like this. Kind of. Perhaps the tales of the chivalrous knights are a little embellished, but it's still an important ideal to embrace. There needs to be a culture change. But I have no idea how to begin it...
Being a positive example is surely a small stepping stone.
Being a positive example is surely a small stepping stone.
A Small Thought
As the great Relient K once reminded me, "Loneliness and Solitude are two things not to get confused."
I think this is the thing that I need to be holding onto now. Loneliness is when you feel like you have no other options. People don't care for you and you are left struggling to pick up the pieces. Solitude is a choice. We seek it out to grow. We can learn tons about ourselves when we choose to be alone. I don't mean alone in the Chris McCandless way, but in the modern way in which we decide to eschew companionship for a short while in exchange for a much fuller understanding further on down the line. It sounds right.
But then there's the allure. How does one turn down the temptation? Especially if we're not sure with what intentions those temptations exist? It shouldn't have to be that difficult, right?
I think this is the thing that I need to be holding onto now. Loneliness is when you feel like you have no other options. People don't care for you and you are left struggling to pick up the pieces. Solitude is a choice. We seek it out to grow. We can learn tons about ourselves when we choose to be alone. I don't mean alone in the Chris McCandless way, but in the modern way in which we decide to eschew companionship for a short while in exchange for a much fuller understanding further on down the line. It sounds right.
But then there's the allure. How does one turn down the temptation? Especially if we're not sure with what intentions those temptations exist? It shouldn't have to be that difficult, right?
Saturday, November 24, 2012
The Vault: Hemingway
During my junior year of college I read some stories that had been submitted for a "Write Like Ernest Hemingway" contest. I was intrigued by the concept and decided to write one for myself. It took me awhile to find it, but here we go!
The trees were tall and the leaves were loud. Most of the leaves were on the ground, in varying degrees of rotting. Rick tiptoed over those damned leaves, bow on his shoulder. It was cold too. He buttoned his flannel jacket to his chin. Beside him walked Fred.
Now Fred Bear was a handsome son of a bitch. And he could charm the dress off any unsuspecting young woman. Or suspecting young woman. She was always young. He didn't take them any other way. He could aim too. Boy could he aim.
"Where the hell are all the deer?"
"They can't be rushed. They will come."
Fred was one of those spiritual hunters. He was out there for the thrill of the hunt, and didn't give a lick about feeding his family. Fred didn't have a family. He chased girls, bedded them, grew beards, and hunted. Rick hid his jealousy in an easy to find place.
"You've got to calm down. Drink this." Fred Bear produced a flask and gave it to Rick.
"We're carrying artillery."
"When the time is right, we will be rewarded."
Rick didn't know what this meant. He usually didn't know what Fred Bear meant. Fred Bear was focused on the flask.
Something flashed in the trees ahead. Rick struggled to get his bow straightened and aimed at the something. Fred Bear dropped the flask, dropped the prey, caught the flask. It was a fluid motion. Rick cursed the son of a bitch.
The trees were tall and the leaves were loud. Most of the leaves were on the ground, in varying degrees of rotting. Rick tiptoed over those damned leaves, bow on his shoulder. It was cold too. He buttoned his flannel jacket to his chin. Beside him walked Fred.
Now Fred Bear was a handsome son of a bitch. And he could charm the dress off any unsuspecting young woman. Or suspecting young woman. She was always young. He didn't take them any other way. He could aim too. Boy could he aim.
"Where the hell are all the deer?"
"They can't be rushed. They will come."
Fred was one of those spiritual hunters. He was out there for the thrill of the hunt, and didn't give a lick about feeding his family. Fred didn't have a family. He chased girls, bedded them, grew beards, and hunted. Rick hid his jealousy in an easy to find place.
"You've got to calm down. Drink this." Fred Bear produced a flask and gave it to Rick.
"We're carrying artillery."
"When the time is right, we will be rewarded."
Rick didn't know what this meant. He usually didn't know what Fred Bear meant. Fred Bear was focused on the flask.
Something flashed in the trees ahead. Rick struggled to get his bow straightened and aimed at the something. Fred Bear dropped the flask, dropped the prey, caught the flask. It was a fluid motion. Rick cursed the son of a bitch.
Friday, November 23, 2012
A Musical Mood: The Return
Have you ever listened to a song a bunch of times but never paid much attention to the lyrics? And then, when you least expect it, the words hit you like a brick wall and you realize that there was something there after all? It's happened to me loads of times, the most recent on the way back to the West Side for Thanksgiving.
As I've stated before, I've been really big on Bishop Allen lately. I'm slowly turning into one of those indie-pop snobs who listens to bands that nobody's ever heard of because nobody's ever heard of them. Anyhow, most of Bishop Allen's songs are thoroughly enjoyable. But they're not perfect. Every now and then, I hear one of the songs and skip it with little hesitation. The lyrics didn't make any sense, the beats were totally off, and the song was a complete waste of my time. Until Wednesday, this was the case with "The Envy of the Bees."
"They've just a single stinger.
To use it costs them life.
They know they better mean it.
They better be precise.
But I can sting again and again.
As often as I like.
I'm dangerous tonight,
The envy of the bees."
At first blush, I thought it was a stupid novelty song. What do I care about bees? Useless little flying animals, or so I surmised. But when I actually comprehended the lyrics, I was blown away.
Bees can only hurt once, and then they perish. But people can hurt again and again and again. We are rarely punished, or at least not to the extent that the bees are. What a sad social commentary. We sting and don't think twice. Why? Disillusionment? Selfishness? I can't quite put my finger on it, but I sure was floored when I got the lyrics. How true they are. Now that I'm aware, it's time to be the difference-maker.
As I've stated before, I've been really big on Bishop Allen lately. I'm slowly turning into one of those indie-pop snobs who listens to bands that nobody's ever heard of because nobody's ever heard of them. Anyhow, most of Bishop Allen's songs are thoroughly enjoyable. But they're not perfect. Every now and then, I hear one of the songs and skip it with little hesitation. The lyrics didn't make any sense, the beats were totally off, and the song was a complete waste of my time. Until Wednesday, this was the case with "The Envy of the Bees."
"They've just a single stinger.
To use it costs them life.
They know they better mean it.
They better be precise.
But I can sting again and again.
As often as I like.
I'm dangerous tonight,
The envy of the bees."
At first blush, I thought it was a stupid novelty song. What do I care about bees? Useless little flying animals, or so I surmised. But when I actually comprehended the lyrics, I was blown away.
Bees can only hurt once, and then they perish. But people can hurt again and again and again. We are rarely punished, or at least not to the extent that the bees are. What a sad social commentary. We sting and don't think twice. Why? Disillusionment? Selfishness? I can't quite put my finger on it, but I sure was floored when I got the lyrics. How true they are. Now that I'm aware, it's time to be the difference-maker.
A Musical Mood
"Pigs on the Wing" by Pink Floyd just so happened to come across my iTunes playlist. It's a two-part song...
Part I:
"If you didn't care what happened to me.
And I didn't care for you.
We would zigzag our way through the boredom and pain.
Occasionally glancing up through the rain.
Wondering which of the buggers to blame.
And watching for pigs on the wing."
And, after 35 minutes of jamming and screaming about Dogs, Pigs, and Sheep, we get Part II:
"You know that I care what happens to you.
And I know that you care for me too.
So I don't feel alone.
Or the weight of the stone.
Now that I found somewhere safe to bury my bone.
Any fool knows a dog needs a home.
A shelter from pigs on the wing."
I think it's the confused wailing between the bookends that really sets the tone. The protagonist is left wondering what would happen if he wasn't cared for. It seems a bit like unrequited love, an unrequited love that eventually dissipates into nothingness. The protagonist is curious as to what would happen if he finally were able to move on. His hypothesis is less than sterling. There would be pain, of course, and boredom, since he's leaving behind the only thing that he thoroughly enjoys, and, we can imagine, he would feel helpless and abandoned. It would be a tough pill to swallow if it were to happen. But all of this is, I believe, just the musings of a man.
After his yelling about the danger of the dogs and the soldier-like solidarity of the sheep, we see that it was all a dream. He does care. And his love cares for him as well. Or at least he believes that he is cared for. As promising as the song may appear - the love is still there and it has survived the complexities of life - there is still a jaded and cynical view that can be taken. Pushing aside all of the schlock and veneer, there may be something less than admirable going on...
The third line of Part II talks about the protagonist's fear of being alone. He also discusses how all dogs need a home, lest they run wild and don't live up to their full potential. If a dog has a home, that means he has shelter, food, people to pick up after him, and people to care for him. It is a desirable situation - all domesticated dogs presumably want a life like this. In the same way, all people want to feel that comfort as well. But perhaps this protagonist is embracing comfort for comfort's sake. I mean, he's no longer alone, right? He's imagined all the horrors that will occur if he's not with her. Wouldn't it make more sense, he reasons, to just stay with the one who has provided that safe place to bury the bone? That place that will be protected and can be returned to whenever it's time to chew on the bone again? I don't know...perhaps the intentions are not as pure as originally thought.
But we need to remember that this is a Pink Floyd song we're looking at here. They're much better at singing about a man's descent into madness than professing any sort of love. Should we just accept the shortcomings evident in the song and embrace it as a valiant attempt at showing genuine human emotions? I don't know. I'm probably looking into the song too much. I mean, it could also be a realization that nobody else is worth a damn to the protagonist. He's seen everything that the world could become with her in it. This is a sign of major props to her - she alone makes his world pure and right and full. If this is the case, the protagonist should be applauded for loving so strongly and passionately.
This leaves us some place in the middle. On the one hand, we have the thinking man's solution, that the protagonist is just looking out for himself and trying to be as happy as he can be, even if it's at the expense of other people. On the other hand, we've got the hopeless romantic, who feels that love is strong enough to overcome the bonds that try to hold it down. The protagonist can't imagine a world without her! Isn't that enough? That's poetry at it's finest!
So where does that leave us? It's up to our own interpretation of course! On any given day we may feel one way about it, and then do a complete about-face the next day. Our circumstances influence our thoughts. The most important thing is that we remain true to those thoughts that define us, those thoughts that cannot be influenced. Perhaps then will we be able to fully understand this love.
One more thing: what exactly are we talking about when we discuss the pigs on the wing? What does that mean? After much consternation and examination, I'm starting to think that it's a metaphor for anything that is difficult to imagine or understand. There are going to be those situations in which we don't know what to do or how to handle it. That's why we have that crutch, as the protagonist so aptly reminds us. The love is the shelter. The pigs serve to make things more difficult, more troublesome. But the love overpowers. One man's interpretation.
Part I:
"If you didn't care what happened to me.
And I didn't care for you.
We would zigzag our way through the boredom and pain.
Occasionally glancing up through the rain.
Wondering which of the buggers to blame.
And watching for pigs on the wing."
And, after 35 minutes of jamming and screaming about Dogs, Pigs, and Sheep, we get Part II:
"You know that I care what happens to you.
And I know that you care for me too.
So I don't feel alone.
Or the weight of the stone.
Now that I found somewhere safe to bury my bone.
Any fool knows a dog needs a home.
A shelter from pigs on the wing."
I think it's the confused wailing between the bookends that really sets the tone. The protagonist is left wondering what would happen if he wasn't cared for. It seems a bit like unrequited love, an unrequited love that eventually dissipates into nothingness. The protagonist is curious as to what would happen if he finally were able to move on. His hypothesis is less than sterling. There would be pain, of course, and boredom, since he's leaving behind the only thing that he thoroughly enjoys, and, we can imagine, he would feel helpless and abandoned. It would be a tough pill to swallow if it were to happen. But all of this is, I believe, just the musings of a man.
After his yelling about the danger of the dogs and the soldier-like solidarity of the sheep, we see that it was all a dream. He does care. And his love cares for him as well. Or at least he believes that he is cared for. As promising as the song may appear - the love is still there and it has survived the complexities of life - there is still a jaded and cynical view that can be taken. Pushing aside all of the schlock and veneer, there may be something less than admirable going on...
The third line of Part II talks about the protagonist's fear of being alone. He also discusses how all dogs need a home, lest they run wild and don't live up to their full potential. If a dog has a home, that means he has shelter, food, people to pick up after him, and people to care for him. It is a desirable situation - all domesticated dogs presumably want a life like this. In the same way, all people want to feel that comfort as well. But perhaps this protagonist is embracing comfort for comfort's sake. I mean, he's no longer alone, right? He's imagined all the horrors that will occur if he's not with her. Wouldn't it make more sense, he reasons, to just stay with the one who has provided that safe place to bury the bone? That place that will be protected and can be returned to whenever it's time to chew on the bone again? I don't know...perhaps the intentions are not as pure as originally thought.
But we need to remember that this is a Pink Floyd song we're looking at here. They're much better at singing about a man's descent into madness than professing any sort of love. Should we just accept the shortcomings evident in the song and embrace it as a valiant attempt at showing genuine human emotions? I don't know. I'm probably looking into the song too much. I mean, it could also be a realization that nobody else is worth a damn to the protagonist. He's seen everything that the world could become with her in it. This is a sign of major props to her - she alone makes his world pure and right and full. If this is the case, the protagonist should be applauded for loving so strongly and passionately.
This leaves us some place in the middle. On the one hand, we have the thinking man's solution, that the protagonist is just looking out for himself and trying to be as happy as he can be, even if it's at the expense of other people. On the other hand, we've got the hopeless romantic, who feels that love is strong enough to overcome the bonds that try to hold it down. The protagonist can't imagine a world without her! Isn't that enough? That's poetry at it's finest!
So where does that leave us? It's up to our own interpretation of course! On any given day we may feel one way about it, and then do a complete about-face the next day. Our circumstances influence our thoughts. The most important thing is that we remain true to those thoughts that define us, those thoughts that cannot be influenced. Perhaps then will we be able to fully understand this love.
One more thing: what exactly are we talking about when we discuss the pigs on the wing? What does that mean? After much consternation and examination, I'm starting to think that it's a metaphor for anything that is difficult to imagine or understand. There are going to be those situations in which we don't know what to do or how to handle it. That's why we have that crutch, as the protagonist so aptly reminds us. The love is the shelter. The pigs serve to make things more difficult, more troublesome. But the love overpowers. One man's interpretation.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The Little Things
It is an absolutely beautiful day outside. I went on an amazing run and spent the entire time marveling at the sun and the leaves and the warmth. In a few minutes I will be going over to my grandparents' house and eating a delicious turkey dinner. I will then reunite with my high school buddies and we'll fulfill every man's dream by going shopping and then dining at the Golden Corral. Family, friends, and food. I'm so pumped. I wish Thanksgiving weekend came more than once a year. But then I wonder if I'd appreciate it as much if it did. I'd hope so. But at any rate, I'm thankful that I have at least one weekend a year where I can return to the days of yore and celebrate together. Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Thanksgiving: Students' Stories
Yesterday was the last day before Thanksgiving break. Boy is this long weekend welcomed with open arms. I'm not really getting burned out. In fact, I'm feeling like I'm firmly in control of my classes and that I can present lessons that are engaging, stimulating, and force the kids to think critically and take control of their own lives, particularly their futures. If nothing else, I want every student who crosses the threshold into E-102 to learn compassion, love, tact, nature, critical thinking, self-sufficiency, and the uniqueness that lies in all of us. Then, and only then, will I consider myself a successful teacher.
Anyway, I asked some of my students what they were thankful for. A few paraphrased samplings.
"I'm thankful that during the time I got suspended I was able to see my uncle. I know that it's a sort of a bad thing because I had to get suspended, but it ended up really good because it's the first time in a long time that we were able to get the whole family together."
"I'm thankful for my brothers because they remind me of my mom."
"I'm thankful for music because a lot of times I don't know how to describe how I'm feeling but the songs describe it perfectly."
"I'm thankful for God. I don't know really where I stand with religion, but the concept of God has given so many people hope and happiness. The God of any religion has provided people with something to hold onto and I'm happy for it."
"I'm thankful for life. Everyday that I wake up."
These are freshmen. They're pretty awesome.
Anyway, I asked some of my students what they were thankful for. A few paraphrased samplings.
"I'm thankful that during the time I got suspended I was able to see my uncle. I know that it's a sort of a bad thing because I had to get suspended, but it ended up really good because it's the first time in a long time that we were able to get the whole family together."
"I'm thankful for my brothers because they remind me of my mom."
"I'm thankful for music because a lot of times I don't know how to describe how I'm feeling but the songs describe it perfectly."
"I'm thankful for God. I don't know really where I stand with religion, but the concept of God has given so many people hope and happiness. The God of any religion has provided people with something to hold onto and I'm happy for it."
"I'm thankful for life. Everyday that I wake up."
These are freshmen. They're pretty awesome.
100
This is my 100th post! I've actually made it through almost a third of the year blogging. It's been a really fun experience. It feels good to hone my craft and thoughtfully flesh out topics that hitherto I would only briefly entertain. I feel that I am growing as a writer (or at least not watching my skills erode) and am coming to grips with the way that life and all of its myriad topics really work. If anybody reads these, thanks. It's a great accountability check. I didn't know, when I first envisioned a year's worth of blogs, if I'd fail miserably or pass with flying colors. I've kind of been that guy who putters out sometimes when things become too difficult or too boring. I've never felt like I had that finishing drive to complete things or follow through on promises and priorities. But even though there have been a few days where I miss a blog and have to make it up, I still feel like I am fulfilling my goal. I know I'm not even 30% there, but it's very encouraging for my psyche.
100 more?!
100 more?!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Thanksgiving: A Primer
I was just thinking about some of the things that I'm thankful for and I figured I'd trumpet one super important one here real quick. I'm really appreciative of my friends and family who have given me words of wisdom and a supportive shoulder to lean on. So many to name, and I love them all. I've been blessed with some of the best people on the planet. Sure we all use that cliche, but it doesn't mean it's any less true. My life has been enhanced immeasurably. It's been lit up. And if I could provide only half of what my loved ones have given me, I'd be happy. Thanks.
Vignettes II
- Be positive. Smile more. Think about the effect that a smile can have on someone. I remember my sophomore year indoor track season. We were running at EMU and I was doing a nice little cooldown around campus. It was a cold Saturday and there weren't very many milling about on campus. I was running around the dormitory area and saw a nice-looking lass with a parka and some books. She was obviously going to be doing some studying. I just happened to run nearby and she took the time to smile. It wasn't enormous or anything, but it struck me. My spirit was lifted. It took me a couple of seconds to register what had happened - I mean, it's such a rare occasion for people to just smile out of the blue like that. I was so affected that, after I had recovered from the initial shock, I ran back to find her and tell her thanks. But she was gone. I was stuck. I hadn't smiled back. Now it's time to avenge my missed opportunity. Smile, be happy, and be positive.
- Don't let negativism interfere. When it's noticeable, it rubs off. Life should be fun. Don't take it too seriously. And don't take yourself too seriously either.
- Sometimes blank pages appear to frightening. It's a daunting task, realizing we have so many pages to fill. Perhaps we subconsciously write larger or somehow subvert our thoughts into more drawn out remonstances. But if you think about it, those blank pages represent opportunity and chance and the unknown. They represent life. We are constantly filling out our hitherto empty journals or notebooks via the actions and thoughts of our everyday lives. Sometimes we write in pencil and other times in permanent ink. The wisest ones can tell the difference and adjust accordingly.
- Don't let negativism interfere. When it's noticeable, it rubs off. Life should be fun. Don't take it too seriously. And don't take yourself too seriously either.
- Sometimes blank pages appear to frightening. It's a daunting task, realizing we have so many pages to fill. Perhaps we subconsciously write larger or somehow subvert our thoughts into more drawn out remonstances. But if you think about it, those blank pages represent opportunity and chance and the unknown. They represent life. We are constantly filling out our hitherto empty journals or notebooks via the actions and thoughts of our everyday lives. Sometimes we write in pencil and other times in permanent ink. The wisest ones can tell the difference and adjust accordingly.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Rain
"Oh let the rain fall down,
And wash this world away.
Oh let the sky be grey.
Because if it's ever gonna get any better,
It's gotta get worse for a day."
- Bishop Allen
I've kind of been on a Bishop Allen kick for a few days now. I've liked them for a number of years, but their lyrical prowess hasn't really registered with me until recently. For some reason they sing about China a lot, but nevertheless their lyrics are definitely resonating with me.
This is sort of a continuation from my previous post, in which I was discussing the way that we grow through trying times as opposed to the easy days. Well, today we're going to go a step further. When things are rough, when we don't feel like we can make it through the week, or the day, or the hour, we need to have a positive outlook. In all of these tribulations, there is a tremendous opportunity for growth. We just need to harness that. There are multiple divergences. Some lead down dark and desolate avenues. Others can lead to success and true growth. It matters what road we take. It is our decision. We alone are, I believe, in charge of our own destiny. And if we decide to take the sucky times and turn them into internal development, then we will be rewarded.
Things can get out of control sometimes. We may not feel like we can handle them. But there is a silver lining. To get better, we need to get past the bad times. As difficult as it sounds, I think we need to accept those bad times with grace and civility. We cannot take life too seriously or we will drown (metaphorically of course). When it rains, it pours. Rain spoils picnics and ballgames, is wet and cold, and makes people feel miserable. But rain also washes away bird poop and makes plants grow. It is essential to life. In the same way, it is essential to our lives. When we allow ourselves to work through the terrible times, our mistakes can be washed away and we can start fresh and new. We can take root in the newly replenished soil and grow to our full potential.
"It's gotta get worse for a day..."
And wash this world away.
Oh let the sky be grey.
Because if it's ever gonna get any better,
It's gotta get worse for a day."
- Bishop Allen
I've kind of been on a Bishop Allen kick for a few days now. I've liked them for a number of years, but their lyrical prowess hasn't really registered with me until recently. For some reason they sing about China a lot, but nevertheless their lyrics are definitely resonating with me.
This is sort of a continuation from my previous post, in which I was discussing the way that we grow through trying times as opposed to the easy days. Well, today we're going to go a step further. When things are rough, when we don't feel like we can make it through the week, or the day, or the hour, we need to have a positive outlook. In all of these tribulations, there is a tremendous opportunity for growth. We just need to harness that. There are multiple divergences. Some lead down dark and desolate avenues. Others can lead to success and true growth. It matters what road we take. It is our decision. We alone are, I believe, in charge of our own destiny. And if we decide to take the sucky times and turn them into internal development, then we will be rewarded.
Things can get out of control sometimes. We may not feel like we can handle them. But there is a silver lining. To get better, we need to get past the bad times. As difficult as it sounds, I think we need to accept those bad times with grace and civility. We cannot take life too seriously or we will drown (metaphorically of course). When it rains, it pours. Rain spoils picnics and ballgames, is wet and cold, and makes people feel miserable. But rain also washes away bird poop and makes plants grow. It is essential to life. In the same way, it is essential to our lives. When we allow ourselves to work through the terrible times, our mistakes can be washed away and we can start fresh and new. We can take root in the newly replenished soil and grow to our full potential.
"It's gotta get worse for a day..."
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Clementines
"We can only come of age in the cold."
- Bishop Allen
I remember watching an old 20/20 with my mom about a decade ago. It was all about the new ways that parents "punish" their children. No more do they spank or put them in time out; instead, they give them a sticker of a cactus ("cold prickly") or a teddy bear ("warm fuzzy"). These stickers are intended to be reminders that certain behaviors are supposed to be bad, while others behaviors can be rewarded. But instead of using physical reinforcement, parents are trying to be "nicer" to their kids (or something lame like that) by not showing any tough love. To this day, my mother and I poke fun at the silly "cold prickly" concept. How will these children ever learn the realities of the world?
For some reason, this story sticks out in my mind. What does that have to do with the rest of this post? Maybe nothing. Maybe something. I was thinking, however, about how when times are good, we kind of forget to grow. We casually choose not to remember the hardships that we've overcome to get to that point. Think about the myriad rock star biopics or sports star news stories. They started with humble beginnings, only to ascend to superstardom with a little hard work and chutzpah. Once they got to the top, however, many of them forgot the hurdles they jumped to get there. This concept shines brightest for me when examined through a Christian lens.
A lot of people curse God when things go against them. Others, when life gets them down, pray for God to intercede and take away their pain and woe. When these people get through their trying times, I'm sure they are initially joyous and thankful to God. But that joy and gladness gradually dissipates. At some point, most of us become too proud, too haughty. We put too much stock in our own abilities and begin to think that we no longer need God or any other deity - we alone are enough. We have transcended the bad times and made our lives good again. I'm reminded of that song "God Knows I'm Good" by David Bowie. In the song, an old lady is trying to steal something from the market by concealing it in her handbag. She believes she won't get caught because "God knows I'm good." She thinks He will turn a blind eye since she's so been so pious and ignore the sin. But when she gets caught, she cries out that "God knows I'm good" and wants Him to look upon her again and save her from punishment. How interesting to see her wanting Him when it's convenient for her and dissing Him when it's not. Unfortunately, I believe this situation may be true for many of us.
But here's the main point. When times are good, we are content. We do not seek to grow. We feel no need. We have reached the pinnacle and don't need to climb any higher. Things are incredible. These are the warm times, where it's always sunny with a high of 75. But those cold times, when problems trouble us and we feel so insecure and unloved, is when we can truly grow. We learn how to fight through rough times. We become stronger and self-sufficient. We find transcendence and meaning through ourselves rather than others. We learn about what really makes us, us. We change. We become a more put together being. Once we learn how to handle a broken pride, inward pain, sorrow, or what have you, we become something more. We become closer to reaching our full potential of everything we were meant to be.
Personal growth is an amazing thing. It is essential to life. When issues become overwhelming and we dip into that cold and prickly lifestyle, we can grow. It's a choice, of course, but it is the perfect time to make it.
- Bishop Allen
I remember watching an old 20/20 with my mom about a decade ago. It was all about the new ways that parents "punish" their children. No more do they spank or put them in time out; instead, they give them a sticker of a cactus ("cold prickly") or a teddy bear ("warm fuzzy"). These stickers are intended to be reminders that certain behaviors are supposed to be bad, while others behaviors can be rewarded. But instead of using physical reinforcement, parents are trying to be "nicer" to their kids (or something lame like that) by not showing any tough love. To this day, my mother and I poke fun at the silly "cold prickly" concept. How will these children ever learn the realities of the world?
For some reason, this story sticks out in my mind. What does that have to do with the rest of this post? Maybe nothing. Maybe something. I was thinking, however, about how when times are good, we kind of forget to grow. We casually choose not to remember the hardships that we've overcome to get to that point. Think about the myriad rock star biopics or sports star news stories. They started with humble beginnings, only to ascend to superstardom with a little hard work and chutzpah. Once they got to the top, however, many of them forgot the hurdles they jumped to get there. This concept shines brightest for me when examined through a Christian lens.
A lot of people curse God when things go against them. Others, when life gets them down, pray for God to intercede and take away their pain and woe. When these people get through their trying times, I'm sure they are initially joyous and thankful to God. But that joy and gladness gradually dissipates. At some point, most of us become too proud, too haughty. We put too much stock in our own abilities and begin to think that we no longer need God or any other deity - we alone are enough. We have transcended the bad times and made our lives good again. I'm reminded of that song "God Knows I'm Good" by David Bowie. In the song, an old lady is trying to steal something from the market by concealing it in her handbag. She believes she won't get caught because "God knows I'm good." She thinks He will turn a blind eye since she's so been so pious and ignore the sin. But when she gets caught, she cries out that "God knows I'm good" and wants Him to look upon her again and save her from punishment. How interesting to see her wanting Him when it's convenient for her and dissing Him when it's not. Unfortunately, I believe this situation may be true for many of us.
But here's the main point. When times are good, we are content. We do not seek to grow. We feel no need. We have reached the pinnacle and don't need to climb any higher. Things are incredible. These are the warm times, where it's always sunny with a high of 75. But those cold times, when problems trouble us and we feel so insecure and unloved, is when we can truly grow. We learn how to fight through rough times. We become stronger and self-sufficient. We find transcendence and meaning through ourselves rather than others. We learn about what really makes us, us. We change. We become a more put together being. Once we learn how to handle a broken pride, inward pain, sorrow, or what have you, we become something more. We become closer to reaching our full potential of everything we were meant to be.
Personal growth is an amazing thing. It is essential to life. When issues become overwhelming and we dip into that cold and prickly lifestyle, we can grow. It's a choice, of course, but it is the perfect time to make it.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Vignettes I
- We fear change, don't we? Except for when it's change that we want...
For example, I had no fear at all for my first day on the job at Madison. Actually, I didn't fear my first day at Sterling Heights for student teaching either. Work and interviews have never worried me. Why?
Being alone = fear. Branching out/vulnerability = fear. So that's a form of discomfort, and yet I want to embrace discomfort? How do I do it? How can that be done? So, then, what is it that I want? And, further, what do I need?
- Check it out. Let's assume that I get one year with these kids. And now a quarter of that is gone. I have 75% more of the year. Seems like a lenghty period of time - but I'm already done with a quarter! And what have I done? How have I changed lives? Have I? Can I? Teach the way I want to teach. Teach what I'm most passionate about. Love. Compassion. Transcendentalism. Nature. Exploring. Traveling. People. Society.
- I contemplated the sunrise today. It was absolutely tremendous. The air was still. The trees were stiff and bare. My breath floated away into nothingness. People were moving. Cars were out and about, spoiling the beauty. Or were they? Perhaps the beauty lies in the movement. Every single person in the city was doing something different. They were all interdependent. We were all interdependent - I'm a part of this too. I was moving as well. The gas station attendant is essential in this society. So is the construction worker, the line operator, the repairman, the driving instructor, the electrician, and the police officer. We all play a role. We all affect each other in a unique way, ways that we can't even link together half of the time. The brilliant nectarine color of the sunrise reminded me that I am not the only person in this world. At the same time, the sun was rising in Peru. It was setting in China. It was dark in Kenya. This world is huge. I am so small and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. But I'm going to strive to be of consequence in the small scheme. I can affect one life at a time. Yes, that's 1/7,000,000,000 of the world, but so am I. Each person is important. We are all so different, and yet we share the same sunrise. Different religions, different languages, different desires - and yet we share the same respiratory system, spinal cord, and ventricles. We are all members of the same earth.
For example, I had no fear at all for my first day on the job at Madison. Actually, I didn't fear my first day at Sterling Heights for student teaching either. Work and interviews have never worried me. Why?
Being alone = fear. Branching out/vulnerability = fear. So that's a form of discomfort, and yet I want to embrace discomfort? How do I do it? How can that be done? So, then, what is it that I want? And, further, what do I need?
- Check it out. Let's assume that I get one year with these kids. And now a quarter of that is gone. I have 75% more of the year. Seems like a lenghty period of time - but I'm already done with a quarter! And what have I done? How have I changed lives? Have I? Can I? Teach the way I want to teach. Teach what I'm most passionate about. Love. Compassion. Transcendentalism. Nature. Exploring. Traveling. People. Society.
- I contemplated the sunrise today. It was absolutely tremendous. The air was still. The trees were stiff and bare. My breath floated away into nothingness. People were moving. Cars were out and about, spoiling the beauty. Or were they? Perhaps the beauty lies in the movement. Every single person in the city was doing something different. They were all interdependent. We were all interdependent - I'm a part of this too. I was moving as well. The gas station attendant is essential in this society. So is the construction worker, the line operator, the repairman, the driving instructor, the electrician, and the police officer. We all play a role. We all affect each other in a unique way, ways that we can't even link together half of the time. The brilliant nectarine color of the sunrise reminded me that I am not the only person in this world. At the same time, the sun was rising in Peru. It was setting in China. It was dark in Kenya. This world is huge. I am so small and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. But I'm going to strive to be of consequence in the small scheme. I can affect one life at a time. Yes, that's 1/7,000,000,000 of the world, but so am I. Each person is important. We are all so different, and yet we share the same sunrise. Different religions, different languages, different desires - and yet we share the same respiratory system, spinal cord, and ventricles. We are all members of the same earth.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
59th Street Bridge Song
"Slow down, you move too fast. You've got to make the moment last."
- Simon and Garfunkel
Every moment is worth embracing. It may not seem that way at first blush, but it can be true if we alter our perceptions. We need to slow down. Life is made up of so many avenues for us to follow. We need to be here at this time, and then over there at that time, and then up here before so and so arrives...it can be dizzying. Scheduling every portion of our life can only serve to turn life into something to get through as opposed to something to be savored. Slow down. Relax. Think. Reassess. Think about Socrates: "An unexamined life is not worth living." It's clear as Saran wrap - our lives mustn't get away from us. We need to take our lives into our own hands. Think about the things that we are living for. Examine. Search. Seek. Find.
I laughed today. I spent 15 hours at school. It was excruciating. Grades were due by midnight and I had to make sure that I had everything prepared. I didn't leave the building until 10 p.m. Ordinarily I would be pretty cranky. There's nothing redeeming about coming home just to go to bed. But I laughed. I was listening to "Atlantis" by Donovan and started thinking about my future. I have these grandiose plans (more like ideas, or brainstorms) and I began to get excited. And I realized that my future is whatever I make of it. I can choose to be dull and ordinary. I can choose to follow societal norms. I can choose to be depressed. I can choose to hold on when there's nothing there. I can choose to be full of whimsy and joy. I can choose to walk and seek and love my fellow man. I can choose to explore. I can choose to relax and wait. For a brief few seconds, a blip on the radar screen of my day, it all became clear. Slow down...you move too fast.
We can feel groovy if we decide to. Life is a series of unrelated and yet intertwined events all coming together around us. Each person has his/her own definition of life, as all of these events are perceived in a different way. It's such a miracle! No two lives are exactly the same. Nobody has the exact same thoughts and ideas. This uniqueness is what makes us. I am unique. I will continue to be so. I've got to make this moment last. And I can't let anything stand in the way. Knock down those road blocks. Erase those impediments. It's just me...and that's all it needs to be right now.
- Simon and Garfunkel
Every moment is worth embracing. It may not seem that way at first blush, but it can be true if we alter our perceptions. We need to slow down. Life is made up of so many avenues for us to follow. We need to be here at this time, and then over there at that time, and then up here before so and so arrives...it can be dizzying. Scheduling every portion of our life can only serve to turn life into something to get through as opposed to something to be savored. Slow down. Relax. Think. Reassess. Think about Socrates: "An unexamined life is not worth living." It's clear as Saran wrap - our lives mustn't get away from us. We need to take our lives into our own hands. Think about the things that we are living for. Examine. Search. Seek. Find.
I laughed today. I spent 15 hours at school. It was excruciating. Grades were due by midnight and I had to make sure that I had everything prepared. I didn't leave the building until 10 p.m. Ordinarily I would be pretty cranky. There's nothing redeeming about coming home just to go to bed. But I laughed. I was listening to "Atlantis" by Donovan and started thinking about my future. I have these grandiose plans (more like ideas, or brainstorms) and I began to get excited. And I realized that my future is whatever I make of it. I can choose to be dull and ordinary. I can choose to follow societal norms. I can choose to be depressed. I can choose to hold on when there's nothing there. I can choose to be full of whimsy and joy. I can choose to walk and seek and love my fellow man. I can choose to explore. I can choose to relax and wait. For a brief few seconds, a blip on the radar screen of my day, it all became clear. Slow down...you move too fast.
We can feel groovy if we decide to. Life is a series of unrelated and yet intertwined events all coming together around us. Each person has his/her own definition of life, as all of these events are perceived in a different way. It's such a miracle! No two lives are exactly the same. Nobody has the exact same thoughts and ideas. This uniqueness is what makes us. I am unique. I will continue to be so. I've got to make this moment last. And I can't let anything stand in the way. Knock down those road blocks. Erase those impediments. It's just me...and that's all it needs to be right now.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Filler
I'm kind of at a loss as to what to say right now. Today was an interesting day. My substitute canceled on me and I had to wait around until they could finally find another one. Only then was I allowed to leave for Professional Development, which was a total bore. After that finally got done at 3:30, I headed back to school to do more grading and get lessons ready for tomorrow, since it's the beginning of a new marking period, except I can't do too much because I have more Professional Development on Wednesday, which also happens to be conferences...brutal. But I did get to go to dinner with my grandpa! That was pretty awesome.
But all that is to say that my mind has been running all over the place. I have so many things to do and I feel like I'm being pulled in so many directions. So tonight I decided to just throw some filler out there. Something to get the job done but nothing too exuberant. I don't really have anything thoughtful to toss out there right now. I'm just...blah. I kind of feel like mush. Maybe I should do another of those stream of consciousness posts. I really enjoyed that.
But not today Zurg. Sorry.
But all that is to say that my mind has been running all over the place. I have so many things to do and I feel like I'm being pulled in so many directions. So tonight I decided to just throw some filler out there. Something to get the job done but nothing too exuberant. I don't really have anything thoughtful to toss out there right now. I'm just...blah. I kind of feel like mush. Maybe I should do another of those stream of consciousness posts. I really enjoyed that.
But not today Zurg. Sorry.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
An Interesting Take
You can check out the whole thing, but 4:50 is where the good stuff is, though it's all good stuff. After everything, it goes on. Whether remaining friends or not, it continues. I don't think any of us are immune to it. Accepting it, though, is an incredible accomplishment.
Be sure to watch the whole movie at some point in your life! Annie Hall. It's all on Youtube!! What a website!
A Brief Continuation
I'll provide some more coherent thoughts tonight, but I've become consumed by wanderlust. The road is an incredible place to be. There is so much to see, so many to meet, so little time.
When most people think of comfort, they think of a steady job with a biweekly paycheck and a mortgage that is the unlucky result of a roof over their heads. They are plugging away at a career, saving up for that retirement bonus and that pension plan. They are calmed by knowing where they're going to sleep every night and where they're going to depart to in the morning. Comfort. Security. Safety.
Do we ever find comfort from discomfort? The illogical allure of chance and fate, providing the backdrop for discovery. That vulnerability, that exposure, brings out the best. Why is it that, sometimes, we feel most comfortable when we don't know what's going to happen next? When we have to rely on our wits and prior knowledge and common sense and spirit? When we decide to embrace adventure and the unknown and run with it?
Are there others out there like that?
When most people think of comfort, they think of a steady job with a biweekly paycheck and a mortgage that is the unlucky result of a roof over their heads. They are plugging away at a career, saving up for that retirement bonus and that pension plan. They are calmed by knowing where they're going to sleep every night and where they're going to depart to in the morning. Comfort. Security. Safety.
Do we ever find comfort from discomfort? The illogical allure of chance and fate, providing the backdrop for discovery. That vulnerability, that exposure, brings out the best. Why is it that, sometimes, we feel most comfortable when we don't know what's going to happen next? When we have to rely on our wits and prior knowledge and common sense and spirit? When we decide to embrace adventure and the unknown and run with it?
Are there others out there like that?
A Fond Memory
Recently I've felt a bit stuck. I'm going a bit stir crazy. Things don't always go the way we want them to, nor do they happen the way we expect them to. I can make plans today and watch them blow away like autumn leaves tomorrow. I once had grandiose ideas for what I wanted my life to become. Even now I have a rough plan, though certainly not as streamlined as they once were...I've got more of a general outline right now as opposed to a firm plan. But the point is that I don't know what will happen in the next 60 seconds, let alone in the coming months and years. The best thing we can do is appreciate what we have right now, learn from what we once had, and love one another. Such an easy concept on paper...
One of my greatest memories took place a little over a year ago. I had just landed in Atlanta for a brief training camp with my Kenya team before departure on a planned 3-month missions journey. Our first assignment was to talk with people in the city. We didn't need to necessarily spread Jesus or anything like that - we were just building relationships. I kind of broke off from the group and was walking around Centennial Park in downtown ATL at 11 p.m. looking for people to talk with. I ended up playing chess with a group of middle-aged black men. I lost twice, talked about truck driving and the WNBA, and kept pinching myself thinking about how awesome this experience was.
Looking back, it's such an insane memory. I don't think I've shared it often, and everytime I do I'm wowed by how bizarre it must sound to those listening. But meeting people...that's the point. There are people with stories. Just as my chessmates had stuff to discuss, just as I have reminscences to share, so too does everyone else. There are so many stories out there, so many people to meet, so many new things to discover. I think I've been too timid for most of my life to really explore all that this world has to offer. I'm working on it. Atlanta was a turning point. Talking to the grandparents in the Bryce Canyon parking lot and eating peanut butter cookies was a turning point. Meeting Melissa at Black Canyon of the Gunnison was a turning point. Madison High School is a turning point if I choose to look at it that way.
I want to explore people. As a byproduct I will be able to see the world, but people are the main thing. I have so many inspirations...and, with the right thinking, I can utilize my next 30 weeks as a school teacher and turn them into the beginning of my exploration journey.
One of my greatest memories took place a little over a year ago. I had just landed in Atlanta for a brief training camp with my Kenya team before departure on a planned 3-month missions journey. Our first assignment was to talk with people in the city. We didn't need to necessarily spread Jesus or anything like that - we were just building relationships. I kind of broke off from the group and was walking around Centennial Park in downtown ATL at 11 p.m. looking for people to talk with. I ended up playing chess with a group of middle-aged black men. I lost twice, talked about truck driving and the WNBA, and kept pinching myself thinking about how awesome this experience was.
Looking back, it's such an insane memory. I don't think I've shared it often, and everytime I do I'm wowed by how bizarre it must sound to those listening. But meeting people...that's the point. There are people with stories. Just as my chessmates had stuff to discuss, just as I have reminscences to share, so too does everyone else. There are so many stories out there, so many people to meet, so many new things to discover. I think I've been too timid for most of my life to really explore all that this world has to offer. I'm working on it. Atlanta was a turning point. Talking to the grandparents in the Bryce Canyon parking lot and eating peanut butter cookies was a turning point. Meeting Melissa at Black Canyon of the Gunnison was a turning point. Madison High School is a turning point if I choose to look at it that way.
I want to explore people. As a byproduct I will be able to see the world, but people are the main thing. I have so many inspirations...and, with the right thinking, I can utilize my next 30 weeks as a school teacher and turn them into the beginning of my exploration journey.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Bond...James Bond
The new James Bond movie, Skyfall, is coming out tomorrow. I'm beyond thrilled. The James Bond movies are absolutely incredible. I remember going to the theater to see Casino Royale, my first Bond film. I was mesmerized. The opening sequence, the theme song, the Bond girl, the storyline, the action, the martinis, the villain...all of it seemed so fresh and new and wonderful to me. I was hooked. I knew that I needed to see more.
I was the luckiest guy ever. It just so happened that I was dating a girl at the time who had access to every single Bond movie that had ever been released. Over the next two months, I consumed the movies as if they were Pop-Tarts. I would go through three a week. I would examine the nuances of the different performances, the exotic locales, the similarities between the other films, the cultural references, and everything else. I loved the fact that there was always a new theme song, a new villain hell-bent on destroying the world, a new honey (sometimes literally - Honey Ryder anyone?), and new gadgets that just so happened to come in extremely handy at the most opportune times. I think one of the most amazing aspects was the sheer predicability of it all. Bond would be in a seemingly inescapable situation and then escape in a blaze of British glory. His villains would have endless chances to kill him and would instead feed him and explain their plan for world domination first. There would be pools of sharks and double agents. Basically it was everything that Austin Powers parodied, but portrayed with a straight face. I loved it. I couldn't get enough.
Many times people go to the movies to see something different. They want to be wowed by the unexpected. They want to be blown away by the unpredictable. But when it came to James Bond, I wanted the same. I was so upset that the last two movies didn't have Q or Moneypenny. I hated that Bond started having feelings and not sleeping with every hot young lady within arm's reach. I didn't like how his tuxedo would sometimes get wrinkled. That kind of stuff didn't happen to Bond. When watching Quantum of Solace, I thought that I had somehow walked into a Jason Bourne movie. The old-fashioned one-liners were gone, to be replaced by brooding and revenge. Not my cup of tea.
I thought that it was so much fun to see the little differences. Where was the action taking place this time? What new gadgets has Q thought up this time around? Who's the hottie that Bond will conquer next? What will be the villains bizarre trait? It created a sort of comfort zone for me. I felt like I was "in the club" or something. I knew what would happen before it happened.
I've had the immense pleasure to write multiple papers about James Bond, both in high school and in college. I talked about how the Bond movies had a pulse on the goings-on in the world - Goldeneye after the fall of Communism being filmed in Russia, A View to a Kill concerning itself with computer warfare when Silicon Valley is just on the cusp of superstardom (for lack of a better term), and Moonraker capitalizing on the Star Wars craze and launching Bond to space. I wrote a paper about Live and Let Die and the blaxploitation effect. I've discussed the all-too-real (in my eyes) possibility of a takeover of Fort Knox. I've talked about how homosexuals were presented onscreen in Diamonds are Forever. Bond movies were always, it seems, breaking walls and maintaining position. Bond wouldn't be able to last 50 years if the movies didn't change with the times, and change they have, at least subtly. But now I'm looking for a return to the good old days. No more of this all action, no tongue-in-cheek humor, emotional Bond. Let's go back to what made him great!
But no matter what happens, I will not abandon him. He's brought me way too much joy. Get ready for Skyfall!
I was the luckiest guy ever. It just so happened that I was dating a girl at the time who had access to every single Bond movie that had ever been released. Over the next two months, I consumed the movies as if they were Pop-Tarts. I would go through three a week. I would examine the nuances of the different performances, the exotic locales, the similarities between the other films, the cultural references, and everything else. I loved the fact that there was always a new theme song, a new villain hell-bent on destroying the world, a new honey (sometimes literally - Honey Ryder anyone?), and new gadgets that just so happened to come in extremely handy at the most opportune times. I think one of the most amazing aspects was the sheer predicability of it all. Bond would be in a seemingly inescapable situation and then escape in a blaze of British glory. His villains would have endless chances to kill him and would instead feed him and explain their plan for world domination first. There would be pools of sharks and double agents. Basically it was everything that Austin Powers parodied, but portrayed with a straight face. I loved it. I couldn't get enough.
Many times people go to the movies to see something different. They want to be wowed by the unexpected. They want to be blown away by the unpredictable. But when it came to James Bond, I wanted the same. I was so upset that the last two movies didn't have Q or Moneypenny. I hated that Bond started having feelings and not sleeping with every hot young lady within arm's reach. I didn't like how his tuxedo would sometimes get wrinkled. That kind of stuff didn't happen to Bond. When watching Quantum of Solace, I thought that I had somehow walked into a Jason Bourne movie. The old-fashioned one-liners were gone, to be replaced by brooding and revenge. Not my cup of tea.
I thought that it was so much fun to see the little differences. Where was the action taking place this time? What new gadgets has Q thought up this time around? Who's the hottie that Bond will conquer next? What will be the villains bizarre trait? It created a sort of comfort zone for me. I felt like I was "in the club" or something. I knew what would happen before it happened.
I've had the immense pleasure to write multiple papers about James Bond, both in high school and in college. I talked about how the Bond movies had a pulse on the goings-on in the world - Goldeneye after the fall of Communism being filmed in Russia, A View to a Kill concerning itself with computer warfare when Silicon Valley is just on the cusp of superstardom (for lack of a better term), and Moonraker capitalizing on the Star Wars craze and launching Bond to space. I wrote a paper about Live and Let Die and the blaxploitation effect. I've discussed the all-too-real (in my eyes) possibility of a takeover of Fort Knox. I've talked about how homosexuals were presented onscreen in Diamonds are Forever. Bond movies were always, it seems, breaking walls and maintaining position. Bond wouldn't be able to last 50 years if the movies didn't change with the times, and change they have, at least subtly. But now I'm looking for a return to the good old days. No more of this all action, no tongue-in-cheek humor, emotional Bond. Let's go back to what made him great!
But no matter what happens, I will not abandon him. He's brought me way too much joy. Get ready for Skyfall!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Forrest
I was thinking the other day, as I will inevitably do, about the power of movies. Films have an incredible impact on our lives, whether it's a direct inspiration or an indirect idea that serves to subconsciously push us toward action. Forrest Gump was on my mind today. Obviously there's tons to glean from the story - rising up out of anonymity to become great, never letting anybody get you down, believing in the power of positive thinking - but I was thinking about one aspect in particular. Forrest was always in love with Jenny. Even when she was off living the hippie lifestyle, shagging every man she could find, and consuming any sort of drug she could lay her fingers on, Forrest hung out and forgave her. I mean, he still lived his awesome life, but he didn't pursue anybody else. Perhaps he didn't know any better. But I think that makes it a whole lot easier sometimes. Overthinking and holding grudges usually doesn't make us happier people.
Forrest deserves admiration. He forgives people. When he is being made fun of or taken advantage of, he remains positive and naive. We always look at naivete as a bad thing, as a sign of innocence or stupidity. But what if it's something greater than that? What if it's exactly what people need to be successful in this world? I mean, our world is filled with hate and anger and an eye for an eye mentality. If you hurt my feelings, for example, then I'd be remiss if I didn't hurt yours. But where does that get us? Two people are sad, instead of just one. I don't need to whip out my utility calculus to know that that doesn't make anybody happier.
So what's wrong with forgiveness? Turning a blind eye to the mistakes of the past? Dwelling not on what we did, but rather what we do? Wouldn't we all be in a better state? Holding grudges and being angry is, I will grant you, an effective defense mechanism. But maybe we have too much pride. What if we didn't need that defense mechanism in the first place? Abandon our pride, throw away our hurt, and just forgive. Forrest forgave. His love lasted beyond whatever Jenny could throw at him. When she finally learned what she needed, Forrest was there. He wasn't cold or admonishing. He was a pillar of steadfastness. An example. He wasn't hurt because he chose not to be. Why can't we all make that choice?
Getting even may make us feel better in the short term. But I think it will screw us up in the long term. It's time to try forgiveness. Things just might get a little brighter.
Forrest deserves admiration. He forgives people. When he is being made fun of or taken advantage of, he remains positive and naive. We always look at naivete as a bad thing, as a sign of innocence or stupidity. But what if it's something greater than that? What if it's exactly what people need to be successful in this world? I mean, our world is filled with hate and anger and an eye for an eye mentality. If you hurt my feelings, for example, then I'd be remiss if I didn't hurt yours. But where does that get us? Two people are sad, instead of just one. I don't need to whip out my utility calculus to know that that doesn't make anybody happier.
So what's wrong with forgiveness? Turning a blind eye to the mistakes of the past? Dwelling not on what we did, but rather what we do? Wouldn't we all be in a better state? Holding grudges and being angry is, I will grant you, an effective defense mechanism. But maybe we have too much pride. What if we didn't need that defense mechanism in the first place? Abandon our pride, throw away our hurt, and just forgive. Forrest forgave. His love lasted beyond whatever Jenny could throw at him. When she finally learned what she needed, Forrest was there. He wasn't cold or admonishing. He was a pillar of steadfastness. An example. He wasn't hurt because he chose not to be. Why can't we all make that choice?
Getting even may make us feel better in the short term. But I think it will screw us up in the long term. It's time to try forgiveness. Things just might get a little brighter.
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