I have spent much of my young adult life (all few years of it) pining for an unmistakable, generation-encapsulating, historic event that I could one day proudly discuss with my children as my parents did with me, and I truly feel I have finally gotten my wish. President Barack Obama...has a nice ring to it, huh? I know, I know, I might sound like I'm gloating, but I am finally experiencing confidence in our government and that never gets old. I feel like, considering the current environment we're in, we've all gotten the greatest gift possible: hope. Yes, it sounds hokie when read on a poster or bumper sticker, but it is in the air and I am ready to breath it in. I know it's a long road, I know it's a lot to ask, and I know that there is no guarantee at all that Obama will be able to fix anything, but we are moving full speed in the right direction, and that's really all we can ask for right now.
I've always wished I could have lived in the '60s, through revolutions in music, thought, and politics, and while I am still a bit of a wanna-be hippie, I now feel like we have something revolutionary of our own. There is brilliant growth and change happening everywhere, and I can't help but get excited just like all the other shmucks. For once I can talk about peace and love, music and individuality without it being an homage to the decade I've always pined for. I used to think I was like the last Mohican for the hippie movement, but I finally get to see that we aren't all following the rich white guys from Texas blindly. There are so many more out there just like me who care about the environment and education, who don't like war and want nothing but peace and mutual respect. The day that Obama won was a call to all of us out there who thought the country had gone to nothing. Yes, we did, and we can finally work on all the things that didn't make it into the last President's to-do list. All the things we need to make this world better for everyone. A week ago I went to a concert at the Lincoln Memorial in honor of President Barack Obama and stood in a huge crowd of people just breathing in all the excitement, all the hope, and together we all knew we were on the cusp of our own great mark on history. My gut tells me we were right, and I can't wait to see what happens.
Peace
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Oh, that's just my other life
I live a double life. Much like others my age I have a college life and a home life, and while I guess the primary one exists at La Salle University, I am also back home enough that that one counts too. See, I am definitely myself at school, but I think people have to see where I grew up to really understand me fully, and every time I go home I realize there's a reason why I call it that. I still love my house, I still love my home friends, and I still love spending time with my parents and siblings. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to be here all the time, but I really do love being home. And when I go back to school I remember it's hard (people can be frustrating, and I miss good food) but I love my friends there too, and I have a gosh-darn-fantastic time. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love both of these lives very much, and I know things at school keep growing and things at home keep sort of fading, but some things surprisingly thrive and prove to be more and more worth while-and for that I am grateful.
So I lay here in the bedroom that has been mine since I was ten years old, after 5 weeks of a blend of great times, growing up, boredom, and nostalgia, and I wonder how I can blend these two lives to create the perfect singular one. I want to communicate with people from home more so I can incorporate those relationships into my school life and I want to learn to distance myself from some problems that seem to be La Salle centered. I really love this element of control I kept at home and I want to make sure it carries over the Mason Dixon line. There is just too much beauty to get caught up in stupid problems, and I wish I understood that as well in school as I do at home.
Perhaps this life merger will be my New Years resolution: keeping the best of both my worlds and weeding out that which only causes problems. I look forward to interesting classes, good times with friends, hopefully getting a job, and staying positive. Check that out, I'm already doing great! Only 347 days to go!
So I lay here in the bedroom that has been mine since I was ten years old, after 5 weeks of a blend of great times, growing up, boredom, and nostalgia, and I wonder how I can blend these two lives to create the perfect singular one. I want to communicate with people from home more so I can incorporate those relationships into my school life and I want to learn to distance myself from some problems that seem to be La Salle centered. I really love this element of control I kept at home and I want to make sure it carries over the Mason Dixon line. There is just too much beauty to get caught up in stupid problems, and I wish I understood that as well in school as I do at home.
Perhaps this life merger will be my New Years resolution: keeping the best of both my worlds and weeding out that which only causes problems. I look forward to interesting classes, good times with friends, hopefully getting a job, and staying positive. Check that out, I'm already doing great! Only 347 days to go!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Fool Me Once....
Oh Will Smith, why must we remain in a constant state of star-crossed....ness? Each time we try to work it out it ends in failure-me being moderately underwhelmed and you getting right back up and trying again...only to miss another mark. Here's the deal, I like Will Smith-he seems intelligent, talented, and hard working- but I am constantly let down by the movies he is in. I think it's because after Ali (which everyone said was amazing, but I thought was "aight") he's been trying to maintain this serious big screen actor rep he's got going. He kept up that momentum with The Pursuit of Happyiness, which I really wanted to like, but in my heart of hearts only tolerated. I respect his valient effort at a return to the good 'ole Will from the MIB days with I, Robot, but I have to say it paled in comparison. Then there was I Am Legend and Hancock,which were both actually pretty good at first (the former much more so than the latter), but both had weird and abrupt endings that killed them for me.
Alas, this brings me to my final experience with this twisted, deja vu cycle of me yelling out "Damn you, Will. You got me again!"- Seven Pounds. I actually heard a lot of good things about this movie, and I do think that Smith did a very good job, but the movie didn't really unfold until the last 20 minutes, leaving the audience bored and confused for the vast majority. It was moving, and it certainly wasn't a total waste of a Monday night, but when it all comes down to it, it was just short of being good. Minute details, like so many of Will Smith's dramatic films, were the Achilles heel of this one.
And one would think I would just accept this as true and move on from my undying optimism for Will Smith movies, but I just can't seem to do it. Like a sordid love affair, a drug addiction, or reese's cups, I just can't stop! Maybe it's because I think he's a good actor and a nice guy, maybe it's because each movie just barely misses the mark in the most devastating way, but I want Will Smith to be for me what he is for so many others: a high profile, consistent block buster star who always delivers. I heard that the last 5 movies (+/-) he's been in went to number one, so he definitely brings attention to movies, but I think he (or his manager, or whoever) is just picking bad ones. It's like they think the American public wants loud noises and sob stories, but other details are irrelevent. And, honestly, that might be the general truth, but for the sake of film, talent, or simply thespian street cred, he should really invest some time in fully reading a script and going for a solidly written, undoubtably good movie next time. I say this because I don't want to be duped any longer. I want to leave his next movie with a sigh of relief, not just a flutter in my heart. I know he can do it, it just has to happen. Until then, I will continue to watch The Fresh Prince of Bel Air with a nostalgic tear in my eye.
Alas, this brings me to my final experience with this twisted, deja vu cycle of me yelling out "Damn you, Will. You got me again!"- Seven Pounds. I actually heard a lot of good things about this movie, and I do think that Smith did a very good job, but the movie didn't really unfold until the last 20 minutes, leaving the audience bored and confused for the vast majority. It was moving, and it certainly wasn't a total waste of a Monday night, but when it all comes down to it, it was just short of being good. Minute details, like so many of Will Smith's dramatic films, were the Achilles heel of this one.
And one would think I would just accept this as true and move on from my undying optimism for Will Smith movies, but I just can't seem to do it. Like a sordid love affair, a drug addiction, or reese's cups, I just can't stop! Maybe it's because I think he's a good actor and a nice guy, maybe it's because each movie just barely misses the mark in the most devastating way, but I want Will Smith to be for me what he is for so many others: a high profile, consistent block buster star who always delivers. I heard that the last 5 movies (+/-) he's been in went to number one, so he definitely brings attention to movies, but I think he (or his manager, or whoever) is just picking bad ones. It's like they think the American public wants loud noises and sob stories, but other details are irrelevent. And, honestly, that might be the general truth, but for the sake of film, talent, or simply thespian street cred, he should really invest some time in fully reading a script and going for a solidly written, undoubtably good movie next time. I say this because I don't want to be duped any longer. I want to leave his next movie with a sigh of relief, not just a flutter in my heart. I know he can do it, it just has to happen. Until then, I will continue to watch The Fresh Prince of Bel Air with a nostalgic tear in my eye.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Here's to Second Chances
I'm learning more and more not to judge a book by its cover, particularly in my music interests. I often find that someone will recommend some band to me and if I don't like it right away I assume that's just a miss and make a clean break from the love affair the band and I could have shared but, alas, will never be. Unfortunately, I let some second listen loves slip through my fingers that way because I'm apparently too shallow to really give some great bands a shot. How cold. But this story ends in self-reflection and correction! Happily, I am learning from my mistakes and have already discovered some bands I really love because I gave them another shot.
Exhibit A: Stars.
I've actually heard them distantly several times because that one song, Ageless Beauty, finds its way onto several soundtracks of shows like The Hills and what not (not that I watch that show or anything...) and they're pretty well known within their ilk of the indie breed. When I actually got the CD, however, I was pretty ambivalent about them. They definitely had most of the ingredients it takes for me to like a band, but it didn't sound like anything all that special. I went a couple of weeks without giving them any listening time and then all of a sudden today I got an urge to hear Your Ex-Lover is Dead again, and boy did my opinion change! Okay, they're still not especially outside the box, but they happen to also be really, really good. I still haven't decided how much I like all the sound-effects-y stuff they do on some songs but it is definitely interesting. I'm most sold by the way they mix male and female vocals (which I'm usually a sucker for anyway) as well as the contrasting classic romantic sounds (prompted by violins and such) mixed with pretty harsh lyrics. If you just let it play in the background it sounds like sweet, dear melodies, but when you actually listen you catch phrases like "I hope your daughters are all drunken sluts" (or something along those lines). It's great. The point is, I'm growing more and more in love with Stars and it's a beautiful thing.
Exhibit B was going to be The National but I spent way too long on Stars. So I'll just say they are also freaking amazing (and, likely, even better). The Boxer and Alligator are really rad, though I'm not super fond of Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (for now.....).
Peace
Exhibit A: Stars.
I've actually heard them distantly several times because that one song, Ageless Beauty, finds its way onto several soundtracks of shows like The Hills and what not (not that I watch that show or anything...) and they're pretty well known within their ilk of the indie breed. When I actually got the CD, however, I was pretty ambivalent about them. They definitely had most of the ingredients it takes for me to like a band, but it didn't sound like anything all that special. I went a couple of weeks without giving them any listening time and then all of a sudden today I got an urge to hear Your Ex-Lover is Dead again, and boy did my opinion change! Okay, they're still not especially outside the box, but they happen to also be really, really good. I still haven't decided how much I like all the sound-effects-y stuff they do on some songs but it is definitely interesting. I'm most sold by the way they mix male and female vocals (which I'm usually a sucker for anyway) as well as the contrasting classic romantic sounds (prompted by violins and such) mixed with pretty harsh lyrics. If you just let it play in the background it sounds like sweet, dear melodies, but when you actually listen you catch phrases like "I hope your daughters are all drunken sluts" (or something along those lines). It's great. The point is, I'm growing more and more in love with Stars and it's a beautiful thing.
Exhibit B was going to be The National but I spent way too long on Stars. So I'll just say they are also freaking amazing (and, likely, even better). The Boxer and Alligator are really rad, though I'm not super fond of Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (for now.....).
Peace
Friday, January 9, 2009
"Write in it and Pass it On"
I have finally experienced one of those really cool twist of fate type things where you are on the short list of people that get to be part of something really awesome! Let me explain: my dear pal, Aili, came to my house the other day and handed me a journal that said "write in it and pass it on." Apparently some random guy on a train from Connecticut gave it to her, and he got it from a lady named Sam in NY. The idea is that when you get it, you take up a few pages to write, doodle, etc... (whatever you want) and then pass it on to a stranger or friend, or just leave it in a public place. I was only the third person to write in it thus far, but it was still one of the coolest things I've ever taken part of.
I do have to say it was awesome to read my own part after I finished because it told me things I didn't even know as I wrote it. The general (and unplanned) motif throughout my section was a sense of....how shall I say it? The fact that life is painful, but beautiful and I am very happy, though I understand that there is always going to be some bad. I've been going through a lot of thought changes lately, and I really think I've come to some greater understanding about a lot of things, and I am really happy for that. I'm really proud of myself because I truly did what was right by me and I didn't let some silly boy, a lot of stress, or other dramas bring me down. In fact, I'm so much better for it. It's a weird kind of happiness, but I really am so impressed with all the brilliance I find around me, and I thank anyone who deserves credit for this wonderful place I'm at. I'm really proud of what I put in that book and I'm really happy that it came out just as it did. I hope the girls in Borders who I passed it onto appreciate it just as much as I do, and I really hope that one day I get to see it again.
As I wrote in the journal, I will keep my same wish at 11:11 and I will remain hopeful for the quickly approaching Obama administration; I will keep in mind my favorite quote of all time, and I will hold onto my last line of the last page: "Let's be brilliant. We're naturally good at it and it's all we have."
P.S. I apologize because I really didn't want this to be an emo blog. Please understand that these things do happen and this particular instance was just too great not to write about.
Peace
I do have to say it was awesome to read my own part after I finished because it told me things I didn't even know as I wrote it. The general (and unplanned) motif throughout my section was a sense of....how shall I say it? The fact that life is painful, but beautiful and I am very happy, though I understand that there is always going to be some bad. I've been going through a lot of thought changes lately, and I really think I've come to some greater understanding about a lot of things, and I am really happy for that. I'm really proud of myself because I truly did what was right by me and I didn't let some silly boy, a lot of stress, or other dramas bring me down. In fact, I'm so much better for it. It's a weird kind of happiness, but I really am so impressed with all the brilliance I find around me, and I thank anyone who deserves credit for this wonderful place I'm at. I'm really proud of what I put in that book and I'm really happy that it came out just as it did. I hope the girls in Borders who I passed it onto appreciate it just as much as I do, and I really hope that one day I get to see it again.
As I wrote in the journal, I will keep my same wish at 11:11 and I will remain hopeful for the quickly approaching Obama administration; I will keep in mind my favorite quote of all time, and I will hold onto my last line of the last page: "Let's be brilliant. We're naturally good at it and it's all we have."
P.S. I apologize because I really didn't want this to be an emo blog. Please understand that these things do happen and this particular instance was just too great not to write about.
Peace
Thursday, January 8, 2009
First Blog Post!-Hoorah, Hoorah!
Hello Reader!
Where to begin? Hm....Well, how about the why. Well, I am a big fan of the written word. My lifelong dream until a couple of years ago was to be a columnist (NOT like Carrie Bradshaw, more like Anna Quindlen), but then I decided I could rant in my spare time just as well. Anyway, I digress (and I do that a lot); I want this to be my own personal commentary on that which I perceive. I am pretty aware that the masses aren't particularly concerned with my opinion, but what the hell? Let's give this written commentary thing a shot. My friends are tired enough of my opinions so let's open that darn dam and see what happens. Feel free to disagree or agree, whichever. I don't particularly mind. I just want to know I made my own little blurb on history. Ya dig?
Where to begin? Hm....Well, how about the why. Well, I am a big fan of the written word. My lifelong dream until a couple of years ago was to be a columnist (NOT like Carrie Bradshaw, more like Anna Quindlen), but then I decided I could rant in my spare time just as well. Anyway, I digress (and I do that a lot); I want this to be my own personal commentary on that which I perceive. I am pretty aware that the masses aren't particularly concerned with my opinion, but what the hell? Let's give this written commentary thing a shot. My friends are tired enough of my opinions so let's open that darn dam and see what happens. Feel free to disagree or agree, whichever. I don't particularly mind. I just want to know I made my own little blurb on history. Ya dig?
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