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.
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