My review of "Heavier Things"

Let me preface this with the fact that I refuse to pay money for music by certain people that I enjoy listening to. (Recently one of these people was removed from the list, but that's beside the point) I don't mean I steal the music (well.. I admit to burning a few songs once or twice) just that I don't buy the CDs myself. I gladly accept them as gifts, and I appreciate such gifts. John Mayer is one of those people. I have two John Mayer CDs, both gifts from my brother, who is a huge fan. I didn't want Heavier Things, so I asked him not to buy it for me, and so he didn't. A week ago, I finally gave in to curiousity, and put it on hold at the library. I picked it up last night. Listened for the first time this afternoon. And overall, I like the sound of the album.

Clarity: 4/5
I love the sound of this song. The tempo is good, the percussion is cool and I love those trumpets. Lyrics are good, and I feel like I understand what he's talking about without fully getting all of it. His falsetto, however, gets annoying, so I docked one point.

Bigger than My Body: 4/5
Fun song. Not much more than that to say. Lyrics are pretty much typical John Mayer to me. He seems to be expecting to be better when the situation makes it easier. Sounds like bull to me, but that's just my opinion. (Personally I believe you should be better despite the situation, and once I master that I'll write a best selling book about how... /sarcasm)

Something's Missing: 3/5
Not being able to relate to feeling like something is missing from my life, I didn't get into this song. The music doesn't interest me, either. I did however like the end.
"Friends
(Check)
Money
(Check)"
And so on, cute.

New Deep: 2.5/5
Frankly, if I were to take a line from this song to name the CD, I'd have taken "Numb is the New Deep" instead of Heavier Things. Frankly, I'm being petty by taking a whole point off for four lines; "Is there a God?/ Why is he waiting/ Don't you think of it odd/ When he knows my address?" It's my review, I can do that. Otherwise, This song is cool. Like the music, like (most of) the lyrics. And tempo, too.

Come Back to Bed: 1/5
I don't like this song. I haven't listened to it all the way through because I couldn't stand it after about a minute. And is it just me, or is the intro really country?

Home Life: 4.5/5
I like this song. The lyrics are a little weird, but yeah, some people just crave the basic homelife. I love the chorus "I want to live in the center of a circle" and such. Plus the music is good.

Split Screen Sadness: 3/5
All right, we've got stalker tendencies here. I've frankly forgotten my impression of this song, and I'm listening to it as I write this. I think I liked it pretty well. Sad songs don't do it for me, really.

Daughters: 4/5
The first song on this CD that I was acquainted with. Last Christmas my brother played a clip of this on I-tunes for me to hear. I thought it sounded ok. It does, all the way through it's ok. Good message, except for the boys part, I don't think you can just ignore boys emotionally. Sure, they better handle things, but still, they can be damaged, and repeat the cycle of a bad life. But it's a pretty cool song.

Only Heart: 5/5
This song is fiendishly romantic and fun to listen to. Being the guitar solo junkie that I am, I love this song. If I were to ever spend money on John Mayer, I'd head to I-tunes and buy this song right here. Then I'd play it to death, and potentially hate it for the rest of my life. Or it could turn into one of those songs that I don't get tired of listening to no matter how much I hear it. I just love this song.

Wheel: 4/5
I remember I liked this song. I don't remember why. It's a slower tempo, basic lyrics, and just fine. I do like the lyrics, they seem a little hopeful, yet sad.

So the overall album would seem to get a 3/5. Definitely not enough to take John off of my "No $" list. But now, I wouldn't mind getting this CD. I won't be disappointed if I never get it, though. I'll end up rating the good songs on Launch cast radio and listen to them there whenever the program decides to play them for me.

Till next I write.

Don't let me do this

This song is cool, but don't let me act it out. Especially the following the news thing, that and the telling someone how I feel thing. I don't want to start the new year by scaring some poor, innocent guy to death. Next Year, by Jamie Cullum
On the Album Twentysomething

Next year, things are gonna change
Gonna drink less beer, and start all over again
Gonna read more books, gonna keep up with the news
Gonna learn how to cook, spend less money on shoes
I’ll pay my bills on time,and file my mail away, everyday
Only drink the finest wine,and call my Gran every Sunday
Resolutions, baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things?
The answer's probably no
If there’s one thing I must do, despite my greatest fears
I’m gonna say to you, how I felt all of these years
Next Year
Next Year
I’m gonna tell you how I feel
I‘m gonna tell you how I feel
Resolutions, baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things? The answer's probably no
If there’s one thing I must do, despite my greatest fears
I’m gonna say to you, I felt all of these years
Next Year
Next Year

(Oh, and the Beer thing, yeah, that would mean I only have one sip for the whole year, as opposed to the two I had this year... and spend less on shoes, HA!)

Here I sit

I was going to go to the young adults Bible study, but that didn't work out. It's the last time they meet until January, and I haven't been for a month. Oh well, doubt they'll miss me.

I've seriously got to tell more people about this blog... it's dead around here. I think it's the fact that "Hey, why don't you go to my blog" doesn't really come up in conversation much. I also think that e-mailing someone with "Hey, read my blog, I'm boring, but hey, you might have some time to kill." would be right up there with "sign this petition!!!!!!11" forwards.

Ok, something I just came across while surfing reminds me; since when is insulting someone's clothing considered "flirty banter"? I had that question a long time ago, while watching Radio Free Roscoe (the only show on The N that I can stand) (and only because of the characters of Ray/Pronto and Robbie/Question Mark) when Lily, trying to flirt with Ray had a sorry little attempt at saying his shirt was "out". Yeah, Lily, insulting the guy is just the way to his heart. Then, as he ignores you and walks away, say something self-centered like "Hello, hot girl making flirty banter with you!" Oh wait, that's exactly what she did.

I get way too involved with TV shows. Tomorrow, I'm going to try to get back the social life I was beginning to have, and attempt to talk to some students at lunch time. Had the chance today, but didn't take it. I don't know why not, I miss talking to that guy, and I guess that girl was busy, at least she didn't seem to see me. I'm being vague again, I apologize.

Did a lot of Christmas shopping this weekend. But I still don't have presents for the hardest people to buy for. I have one plan, but it won't be done in time for Christmas, and I think I'll want to keep it for myself. If I ever finish it (or start it for that matter) I'll scan it onto here. It's gonna be cool.

I think I'm done. Gotta be at work in the morning and still want to do some stuff while online.

Merry Christmas!
Till next I write.

Feel like talking

I'm in a talky sort of mood. Just watched Lost and was creeped out by it. That dream of Claire's was just freaky, and I pray that I don't think of Locke's eyes just as I turn out my light to go to sleep. *Shudders* That alone is enough to cause a nightmare, without them throwing "Ethan" in at the last minute. Then everything in the middle. I'm a wimp. Yup, Lost freaks me out. Do not, repeat, do not let me watch horror movies.

I'm counting the number of times I hear Christmas songs on the radio. At work, our station is set to the only one playing Carols and things 24/7. I heard Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer four times today. I heard the Christmas song 6 times yesterday. It was a little hard to do today, since I was in and out of the room all morning, and a "serious" theological discussion made someone turn down the radio in the afternoon. That's ok, who wants to hear Rudolph more than four times in one day? I'll add it all up on Dec 31, I think, and see just how much Christmas music I hear in a month.

I do that sort of thing a lot. I count things. One time I counted how many times Emeril used his "phrases" in a week. I lost the results paper from that "study". I'm a geek, with weird interests and a desire to count things, what can I say?

Since work is moving to the new building at the end of this week, it's been crazy. I miss the students. They moved on Monday. Work seems all quiet without them. Besides, I've been wanting to ask someone in school a question. I suppose I could e-mail them, but I don't e-mail much and I don't want to seem nosy, or whatever. I'll probably end up not asking... oh well.

For the first time in a long time, it really feels like Christmas to me. We don't even have any decorations up yet, but I'm humming carols all over the place. I've bought one present that isn't even wrapped yet, but I'm in the Holiday mood. Weirdness of me.

I ate my last dessert in the house last night. Maybe I can search the cupboards for something to snack on. I should bake this weekend.

Till next I write!

Mood matches hair

Dyed my hair black on Thursday. It was supposed to be dark brown, like my natural hair color and I got this raven black that makes me look pale. Oh well. It's ok.
The only problem is that this weekend sucked. My parents had a fight that I wasn't even around to witness, but knew about. It has blown over remarkably fast, as fights about my brother often do, but I'm so stinking paranoid that I expect flare-ups at each and every turn. I'm working on my "family-state-paranoia", but it's just the way I'm wired. It takes a lot of skill and knowledge to re-wire correctly, so you don't blow all the power and start fires, ya' know? Weird analogy, that.
I read my own blog through a site that turned it all "cockney" sounding. It was hilarious. I'll put up the link later. I found it through bored.com, so look for it, if you have the time. You're reading my boring blog, you ought to have time to browse bored.com.
William Joseph's piano playing makes me happy. John Steven's adorable, red-headedness makes me smile (as does that fact that he has a CD coming out next year, called Red). Fuzzy cats that stand in front of the computer screen while I try to type make me laugh. Ok, so I guess I'm not in so much of a "black" mood now.
Went to a hockey game last night. Cool sport, but really, whoever made it up must have been crazy and drunk. Not crazy or drunk, but the combination of the two.
Gotta work full time this coming week. Extra money, just in time for Christmas.
I'm starting to hate holidays. They never live up to your expectations. Neither do birthdays. I love Christmas and all, but I hate "Christmas". Does that make sense? I dunno, maybe it's just that this coming Christmas has such potential to suck.
Anyway... ought to head to bed... or at least start getting ready to head to bed. Have to actually wake up before noon tomorrow, you know?

Till next I write. If you stick around until then. Sorry I complain so much.

First November post

Just writing since I haven't in awhile.

The other day, I saw an Audi TT with a pizza sign on the hood. That's right, an Audi TT delivering pizza. If you can afford that car when delivering pizza, then I want that job.

Speaking of cars, what is with the designs for new cars lately? They're so dang ugly! Who came up with the Honda Element? Or the Nissan 360 Z? Cars are supposed to look cool, not boxy (the Element) or sinister (the 360 Z). Let's not even get into my hatred for the Ford Focus. I know I'm way to opinionated about the appearance of cars, especially when I know nothing about how they run... But come on, these newer cars are getting uglier!

Shoes are getting uglier too. I saw an article in today's paper about rain boots becoming trendy. That's just stupid. And I still think Ugg boots, or whatever the heck they were, are ugly. And then there's pointy-toed, high-heeled boots. Not only are they scary, they look uncomfortable as heck. Though I suppose that if you had to kick someone in the shins they'd come in handy.

Now that I've exhausted my thoughts on that topic... I'm dyeing my hair back to it's original color in about a week. I hate seeing the roots growing in darker than the rest of my hair. I don't mind it on other people, but seeing it in the mirror everyday is driving me a little nuts. I actually wonder if anyone will notice. Fewer people than I expected noticed when I got contacts. But I guess hair color changes are a little more noteworthy.

I think I'm getting to be obsessed with music. I'm on Launch nearly every time I'm on the computer. My launch station is just bizarre: Josh Groban, BBMak, Jeremy Camp, Newsboys, John Mayer, William Joseph, Out of Eden... Other random things. When you can possibly hear Josh Groban followed by Relient K, it's just a little off-putting. But I love it.

I suppose I'm done rambling now. Stop by again, maybe I'll be more positive next time.

Till next I write!

Being sick really sucks

Being sick especially sucks when you're supposed to go into work early and get a big project done before your friday deadline. If I hadn't been awake at 2 am throwing up, and still up (not up again, but still up) at 6 am I would have been at work.

I'm such a baby, too. I cried that I couldn't go to work today. Twice. I wasn't crying that I was in extreme pain and discomfort, I was crying that I couldn't assemble and pack products for a conference.

I slept most of the day, since I didn't get sleep last night, obviously. I watched "Lost" and am a little confused about it, but it's too interesting a show to give up on. And regarding the preview, did anyone really think Charlie would just give up the drugs since he'd gotten his guitar? Someone's love for music can be really strong, but more than their dependence on drugs? Come on! (Oh, and I somehow knew she could speak English as soon as the episode started. I never thought of it before, but as soon as I saw her at the beginning of the episode, I knew.)

Currently listening to some different Christian music. Was listening to clips from Jeremy Camp's upcoming CD (call me obsessed if you like, I already know it.) Now listening to some group called Seven Places. Never heard of them before, don't know if I like them, and found out that my library doesn't have anything with them on it. Don't know how I'll hear anything of them, since I'm too cheap to buy CDs when I haven't heard at least 5 songs that I like at least three of off a single CD.

Am I trying to fit in with a crowd again? I'm listening to "rock Christian" music. Know what I listen to in secular? Jazz stuff. Or whatever you call Michael Buble' and Peter Cincotti. Or sometimes pop, not much, but some. Am I trying to fit someone else's mold again? That's what I was trying to do when I listened to Gospel music. Sure, it's good music, but I don't listen to it all that much. I don't know, I think I'm some bizarre chameleon or something.

Whatever, I'm just gonna cruise I tunes for awhile. Have some cash to spend .99 at a time.

On a side note, I'm glad I'm not the only person who didn't see a certain event coming, at all. (I'd never have paired those two, but hey, I'm pretty dense about relationship stuff anyway.)

Till next I write.

Ok...............

Couldn't think of a title, sorry. It's been a week since I last wrote, and I'm sure more important stuff has happened to me than what I'll be writing about here, but that sort of thing is why I keep a spiral bound journal on my bedstand.

Started knitting a poncho last night. My friend and I are making the same pattern with different colored yarns. Proud to find that I knit faster than she does. Petty, but true. My friend's mom also showed me how to blanket stitch the "Starry Night" fleece panel I got awhile ago. Van Gogh was weird. But I love impressionist paintings. I plan on having a Monet themed room in a while. Wish I could afford real Monet paintings, but since I'm only working part time on a modest income, I'll head to Hobby Lobby for prints. Yay!

Ick, just saw a picture of the Man-bat from the new show "The Batman". Ugly.
I actually hate "The Batman". I hate the new character designs (look what they did to Catwoman!) and what they did to the Joker. Sure the first glimpse of the Joker was creepy, but after that, he just got stupid. The real Joker isn't stupid, he's smart and funny and evil, all rolled into one purple suit. Not a clown straight jacket. And I want to know why everyone in Gotham suddenly has ninja skill, even the Penguin. It's just... stupid. But that is only my opinion.

Hah! After the Bible study thing I went to on Tue I actually had an interesting conversation with two people about whether Batman of Superman was better. We were getting way too into it, but she said she prefered Superman, I can't let that go unchallenged, now can I? At least he agreed with me.

My use of pronouns could get confusing, since I refuse to use real names online. Especially if I'm ever going to have people I actually know reading this. I'll try to stay clear on who is who.

Ok, more randomness. What's with the relationship shows on cartoons lately. We have Danny Phantom, a show that frankly I don't watch, but happened to see a few times, with an episode where he falls in love with Sam for one episode. Then Kim Possible in an episode where she (and Shego, if you belive it) loses it for Ron (Shego loses it for Drakken, which is more disturbing. I've been compared to Shego, and took it as a compliment, she's let me down, even if she didn't really mean to). Did hyper "shipper fanfic authors" send in these scripts or what?

Way too much TV talk in this entry. I apologize for living my life in front of the idiot box on weekends. Maybe this Wed. I'll write my thoughts on "Lost."
Really being sarcastic today, watch out. (Shego, what have they done to you? Your hair was in a ponytail!)

I can't read that stuff

I hate "net speak" or whatever they call that stuff that people type that isn't realy words. I can take it in small doses, like "cuz" or LOL, but when it's the whole message I can't stand it. I personally don't see why they can't put out the miniscule effort of typing out real words. It seems to me that it takes more effort to come up with that stuff. I don't get it.

I suppose I'm a bit of a grammar freak. Not much of one, since I'm quite sure that I make some mistakes pretty often. Mistakes that would make a real grammar nut scream. I do, however, correct people on TV when they use "myself" in all the wrong places. That and when they use "I" when they should say "Me". I think last year at college, one of the speakers made such a mistake and I wrote in code all over my note page how he was wrong. I'm so glad my friend taught me that code, I'll probably use it for the rest of my life. It might come in handy, my mom has been using a code on her Christmas lists for as long as I can remember. That way we don't know what she's bought for us. I may do the same when I have kids.

Speaking of kids, my friends joke that my children will have larger vocabularies than all their friends. I admit, I do use larger than necessary words at times. I've actually stopped a little since I met them. Since I was a hopeless, friendless geek before I met them, I spent my time reading, and when you do that you pick up words that are slightly cumbersome for everyday use. But I do intend on having children who speak well. I think I'm a snob.

Found out a friend of mine likes Gamecube. I've got to get him to play some games with some other friends of mine. We three need another opponent at Smash Bros. and I think he'll fill in nicely. If only all our schedules work out.

But it won't happen today. Today is my recharge day. I've been going non-stop for a month. I'm not doing a dang thing today. All I'm doing this weekend is church tomorrow morning. I think I'm obsessed with our church. I hate missing sundays. I used to hate church. Really hate it. But then I went to Bible college (that was a shock for me, I'm not the "Bible College Type") and found the church we go to now. I really like it.

Wow, did I ever get off topic. From complaining about net speak to saying how much I love my church. Weird me...

Till next I write!

I hate that radio station

At work, we listen to a radio station that plays Contemporary Christian Music. I hate CCM. In a broad sense, that is. I don't know, it's like this station gets all the moronic, mind-numbing CCM that has little to no basis in scripture, sung by the people who can't sing. There are a few good songs, by people I actually like, like Jeremy Camp or some Newsboys songs, but on the whole, it's horrible.
If I hear "Beauty of Simplicity" one more time, I may just growl.
Thankfully, it's now the weekend. I can listen to whatever I want. Currently listening to Jadon Lavik, who ,frankly, is borderline bad. Actually, I don't like most of his songs, but "Saved by Grace" is good.
Thanks to Itunes, I can switch from Christian, to Jazz or Rock or whatever.
I may be a born-again Christian, but that doesn't mean I have to like CCM. It also doesn't mean I need to listen to nothing but Hymns. I do know some people who feel they shouldn't listen to secular. That's fine for them if that's what God wants for them. God hasn't told me to dump all my jazz and pop. If He did, I would. That's what being saved is about, a personal relationship with God, not rules and regulations that encompass an entire body of people. Sure, there are things that aren't ok for anyone to do, like adultery and gossip etc. But secular music, in my mind, isn't one of them.

In other news... I didn't go to youth group last week. A few friends dropped by, so we hung out at my house and played video games. Very cool.

Till next I write.

Hair color and old friends

Saw a friend of mine that I hadn't seen in, oh, probably a few months. She took me by surprise, too. I was just walking down the hallway to work, weaving my way through students finishing for the day, when I look into the 2nd year room and there she is!
For not seeing each other for so long it sure was hard to think of things to talk about... except my new hair color. It's red! I got it dyed last night, and it's much lighter than I expected. Fortunately for my self-esteem, comments were positive.
Some reactions were downright funny, got one "Oh wow!" and a double take. My boss actually said, "This looks cool, did you get it done last night?" I suppose I could have gotten it done the morning before I showed at work, but it still seemed a strange question. She might have just been making small talk.
Apparently my friend and I are going to my church's youth group this saturday. I'm way too old for youth group, and I don't enjoy being in a crowd of strange (as in I don't know them, not as in weird, though as far as I can tell, they aren't exactly normal) teenagers. I didn't like most teenagers when I was one, yet all my current close friends are teenagers. I know a few acquantances who are Twenty-somethings, but somehow on a one-on-one level, I like teens. Just keep me from groups of them.
To be perfectly honest, I don't like groups of any age group. I'm just not one for crowds I guess.
I need to get a car, I also need to start driving. If I drove, my mom wouldn't need to cart me around like a 15 year old anymore.
Just a little more $$$ and I can buy my "dream car"

Soundtrack of my life

I figure it's not fair for movies and TV shows to have soundtracks when normal people don't. I used to pick songs as my theme song, but now, I've decided to use them all in a list that encompasses different aspects of me and my life.

1. "Let Everything that Has Breath" I prefer Jeremy Camp's version. I'd start with this song to show that God comes first in my life, and I always want to start by praising Him. Sure, sometimes I forget to, I'm still learning. "Praise you when I'm laughing/ Praise you when I'm greiving/Praise you every season of the soul". I praise Him no matter what I'm going through. It's the only way I can get through life.
2. "A Love that will Last" Renee Olstead. Man, do I love this song. It fits me in the sense that I don't want a "complicated past". I don't want to got through a bunch of relationships and come away from each with baggage. (Not that I've had any opporunity to do so, but still) "Don't kiss and hug me/ and then try to run" "I don't want just a memory/ Give me forever/ Don't even think about saying goodbye/ 'Cause I just want one love/ To be enough/ And remain in my heart till I die." Clear enough for you?
3. "Love Song for No One" John Mayer. Well, kind of self-explanatory, there. I'm not in a relationship right now. Actually never have been. "I'm tired of being alone/ So hurry up and get here." Sort of my impatient side, you know. LOL
4. "Love, Peace and Happiness" Out of Eden. Everything I have, God gave me. "You've given me love peace and happiness/ Life and I know I'm blessed/ All that I need and yes/ Lord with everything you've done for me/ Most thankful 'cause you've given me You."
5. "Feelin' the Same Way" Norah Jones. Sometimes you just get in this mood that doesn't seem to go away, not good, not bad, just a little off. "Feelin' the same way all over again/ No matter how much I pretend".
6. "What Am I to You" Norah Jones. Well, anytime I have a crush on someone I just want to know what they think of me. Pretty easy to understand.
7. "All at Sea"Jamie Cullum. Harder to explain. It's one of my "voluntary isolation" songs. "I'm all at sea/ Where no one can bother me"... "Please just leave me right here on my own/ Later on you can spend some time with me/ If you want to/ All at sea." Sort of about not being in a relaionship again. (And no, I don't usually dwell on that fact so often.)
8. "Ain't Misbehavin'" Peter Cincotti's version. Actually on this song I like to change it to "Ain't misbehavin'/ Savin' my love for... who?" LOL
9. "Following You" Jadon Lavik. I bought Jadon's CD for this and a couple other songs. If I'd known better, I'd have just bought the individual songs. Still this is good. "This world has so much clarity/ With you walkin' right in front of me." Just about following God's plan for your life. Something I've been working on lately. Being able to do it with "All my heart/ All my mind/ And all my soul."
10. "On the Moon" Peter Cinotti. Actually, this has nothing to do with my life. At all. I just love this song. Acutally, most songs like this one make me very sarcastic, but I just adore this one beyond reason. "On the Moon/ That's where you'll find me soon/ I'll be alone again/ Well that's ok I must be on my own again/ I'll be waiting on the moon/ For you." Another "voluntary isolation" thing. I suppose I'm guilty of cutting myself off from people at times.
11. "Enough" Jeremy Camp. God certainly is more than enough for me.
12. " Walk by Faith" Jeremy Camp. Perfect. You just have to listen to understand, and I'm not about to type out the whole song here for you, just listen to it. "Help me to rid my endless fears/ You've been so faithful for all my years."
13. "Nothing but the Blood" Jadon Lavik. Another song I bought the CD for. Beautiful rendition.

I know there are more songs I'd put on my soundtrack, but I'll have to do a "Vol. 2" some other day I think. Thanks for reading!
SLS

First blog post

I really should be heading to work, but I just decided to set up a blog. I'll be back with more tonight...