Every day for the past few weeks, I've been stuck in an office for eight hours a day, forced to listen to a somewhat limited variety of continuous Christmas music. A 'Soft Rock' station plays Christmas music 24/7 from Thanksgiving all the way through December 25th (Heaven help me if it plays through the New Year!) and it's the only time we can have music playing in our office throughout the whole year. Seems rather hypocritical, but I'm not even going to get started on that!
While trying not to puncture my ear drums throughout the day, it got me thinking about my favorite "original" Christmas songs over the past 40 years. Christmas music, in my honest opinion, can be separated into three catagories: Carols, Traditional, and Pop/Modern; but one can only be subjected to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Silent Night," "Little Drummer Boy," and "Winter Wonderland" among many others, before you end up in the psychiatric ward no matter which Christmas song I hear.
Thankfully, there are several songs, that no matter how many times I hear them, I never grow tired of them. And what I have listed below are those songs. These songs are in no particular order of preference.
Celebrate Me Home
By Kenny Loggins
Written by Bob James and Kenny Loggins in 1976, 'Celebrate Me Home' radiates great warmth and a nostalgic feeling every time I hear it. It’s very much in the same vein of ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’, with the core message of the song hinging on memories of home “whenever I find myself too all alone, I can sing me home.” It’s conveys the perfect emotional tone of the arrival home and a loving family's embrace.
All I Want for Christmas Is You
By Mariah Carey
Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff in 1994, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ perfectly embodies the bubble gum pop of the 1960s while still staying fresh fifteen years later. It’s a great saccharin sweet love long that conveys the message that material gifts come in a distant second compared to spending Christmas with the one you love.
Christmastime
By Michael W. Smith
Written by Joanna Carlson and Michael W. Smith in 1998, 'Christmastime' sounds more like a modern day carol than a pop song. It encompasses the lyrical and melodic beauty of heaven and earth rejoicing the arrival of the Son of God. I could listen to this song a dozen times a day and never grow weary of hearing it. ‘Welcome to Our World’ and the instrumental ‘Hope of Israel’ are two additional Christmas gems, all located on the same album.
Tennessee Christmas
By Amy Grant
Amy Grant and her then husband Gary Chapman wrote this Christmas staple back in 1983. The album was a constant in our Christmas record rotation soon after its release, but only after moving to Tennessee and getting married here did it begin to hold a special place in my heart. Certain outdoor elements of Christmas may be appealing for some, but being surrounded by family and friends back home “is the only Christmas for me.”
Alfie the Christmas Tree/Carol for a Christmas Tree
By John Denver & the Muppets
John Denver & the Muppets released my all-time favorite Christmas album, ‘A Christmas Together’, back in 1979. It blended traditional carols, contemporary favorites, and new material with the crazy and joyful bliss that only Kermit and his pals could successfully deliver. Written by Lee Elwood Holdridge and John Denver, they bring to life a simple, yet charmingly sweet story of Alfie, a Christmas tree who doesn’t want to leave the forest until it realizes that there are children who still don't know the joys Christmas.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A Whole Lotta Thankfulness
Every year at around this time, I send out a fairly thoughtful and retrospective post that would reflect on the things that have occurred in my life over the past 12 months. This year won’t be any different. However, my goal is that the tone will be a little different; I plan to express my thankfulness for several events that have taken place over the course of 2009… that and the fact that I’m posting it about 30 days early.
The month of January brought my recent tumultuous employment career to a head. My current employer at that time was Circuit City. On November 3, 2008, Circuit City announced the closure of 155 stores and to lay off 17% of its workforce in attempts to regain their footing of their fledgling financial woes. Unfortunately, only seven days later, on November 10, they filed for bankruptcy. Now I don’t know about you, but that's like being told you’re going to have to have your toe amputated in order to stop the spread of gangrene, only to come in a week later for a check-up and your doctor cuts off your entire leg, and then tells you that the test results (which they had had the entire time) stated it had spread throughout the entire appendage. In hindsight, it was completely pointless.
Now I know I’m not the first individual to work through the entire holiday season wondering if I’ll have a job come January 1st. However, I think the hardest part was accepting the fact that our jobs would soon be gone, even though all of our managers kept trying to put on the positive spin that a buy-out was going to happen, saying ”we’ve been in business for far too long for us to just close the doors” or "remember that K-mart filed for bankruptcy and they're still around." With a lengthy background in retail, I should have seen the rats scurrying off of the sinking ship. So when they announced that Circuit City would be liquidating all of their assets and closing their doors in February, it really came as no big surprise to me.
I think the hardest part was trying to put forth the amount of effort to coming in day after day, with a smile on my face. As the days grew closer and closer to February 16th, the more difficult it was. Do you know how hard it is to swallow your pride and attempt to be as courteous as possible to customers who get pissed off at you, I might add, as to why the clearance prices aren’t cheaper than during Christmas? Eventually you let these emotions slide, and sometimes you blow up at the customer, but all you really want, is just five minutes alone with all of the goons up in corporate. Unfortunately, they’d been let go right after the announcement, so there were a few things to be thankful for those last two months.
For some amusing personal anecdotes related to the liquidation, please click here.
When something bad comes your way, like being passed over for promotion, getting laid-off or even fired, the most you can do is make the best of your situation. Only do you discover that as much as you are in control of your own life, you can always see the hand of God gently (or sometimes not so gently) guide you down a different path. My wife always says that when God closes one door, He often opens up a window. I’ve started believing that when God closes a window, He redirects your sights on the doggy door. How you get through it, however, is entirely up to you.
February… March… April… and then May came and went. I rediscovered that I am my own worst boss when that job is searching for employment while unemployed. As grateful as I am for unemployment benefits, all they do is reinforce an apathetic attitude towards finding a job. Hey, if I can’t find anything that’s going to pay more than what I’m pulling down weekly with the State of Tennessee, then why should I even try? Unemployment benefits are a blessing and a curse and I wouldn’t wish them upon my worst enemy. This is the biggest reason why I don't support goverment programs to the likes of Welfare and Food Stamps. A nation of entitlement creates a nation of apathy--and that's not good for anyone. Alright, I'll get off my soap box now.
Then the month of June arrived; and with it, sheer unadulterated panic and desperation. My unemployment benefits were quickly evaporating and if I hadn’t landed some kind of job, even part time, they’d be dry as a bone by mid-July. More and more applications and submissions of resumes went out and by the second week of June I had received three callbacks within 48 hours. (Ironically, 2 of the 3 had nothing to do with the added volume of applications I was sending out.)
One was for a very large retail establishment that wanted to pay me twenty-five cents over minimum wage (with my 12 years retail experience, mind you) slinging boxes and stocking shelves at three o’clock in the morning. The second was for a warehouse supervisor position that called me back almost two months after I had submitted my resume I the first place. The third was from a temp agency that had seen my resume online and wanted me to come in and take some tests for a customer service representative position for a logistics warehouse.
Now I was desperate mind you, and $7.50 an hour, as much as it was an insult to my ego, was better than nothing and that is exactly what was biting out there on my job search fishing line. I went down to the store, signed some documents and waited for my background check to come through. At the very same time, I was trying to acquire employment through the other two job opportunities, because both of them paid more than minimum wage. To make a (what could very well be a) long story short, I politely turned down the retail box-slingin’ job and landed the customer service spot via the temp agency instead. The warehouse supervisor position, even though it was a well-paying job, that required working overnights four days a week and in a freezer, turned out to be a dead end; and although I was brought back for an unexpected impromptu second interview (apparently being one of their four finalists), I wasn’t truly satisfied with how the interview went anyway.
So, after free falling for several months out of the unemployment airplane, I discovered that a parachute was attached to my person and then--YANK! I slowly and tenderly float back down to the earth’s surface. I sighed in relief and I began my first full work week, not realizing how agonizing it is to work until six o’clock in the evening for someone like myself. For close to a decade I’ve continuously worked early morning shifts. When 3:30 PM made itself known every day, I was almost always headed out to my car or already on my way home. I never realized, until now, how two and a half hours can literally drag on into eternity. I’m still not under the umbrella of permanent employment, and it's definately not my dream job, but I haven’t been without a weekly paycheck since June 19th and I’m pretty thankful for that.
At around the same time, I reconnected with a very good friend and that good friend brought with him a short film script that he had recently written. James and I, for the better part of a decade, had long desired to make a movie--or rather, a short film. As you know from previous posts of mine, filmmaking has been a dream of mine since I graduated high school. There was a short stint somewhere in there where I wanted to be an accountant, but that didn’t last very long.
James and I spent the next two months writing and re-writing his very thin 12 page script into a very dialogue-heavy 33 page script. By the end of the day, we were pretty happy with what the final product turned out to be. Now the question was: How in the world are we going to get the money to shoot this? Thankfully, James was the money guy. Not in the sense that he was funding this project, but he knew of individuals who would be able to put up the funds in order for us to shoot this project. Even better.
Thanks to the ever-resourceful Craigslist.org, and the all-consuming filtering process one goes through when trying to find cast and crew for a film shoot, the next two months were spent with cast and potentional crew interviews and auditions—all of this while we were still working our 9 to 5 jobs (or in my case, 9 to 6). When the dust had finally settled during our Pre-production phase, we had acquired a full cast and crew. And while everyone we brought aboard really liked the script and had a passion to make the film, most worked for either peanuts or a deli and fruit tray provided by the local grocery store during our three-day shoot. James and I are forever in their debt for the time and dedication they put forth in trying to make our film the best it could possibly be. I thank James Falcon and his ever-faithful friendship. Thanks for your faith in me, your determination, and your never-ending flow of ideas while giving me the power to veto 95% of them.
Only time will tell, as well as the resourcefulness of our other editor (Andrew Hobbs, you're a lifesaver; thank you for your dedication to this project), whether what we have will be of the likeness of film festival material. This will be a topic that will be address at an undisclosed future date next year. I'll keep you all posted on how our short film, PUNCHBUG, is progressing.
So, suffice it to say, 2009 has been quite the eventful year. It was a rollercoaster, full of life’s ups and downs, but in the end, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. And none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my amazing, wonderful and beautiful wife.
And that, dear readers, is how you end on a high note.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The month of January brought my recent tumultuous employment career to a head. My current employer at that time was Circuit City. On November 3, 2008, Circuit City announced the closure of 155 stores and to lay off 17% of its workforce in attempts to regain their footing of their fledgling financial woes. Unfortunately, only seven days later, on November 10, they filed for bankruptcy. Now I don’t know about you, but that's like being told you’re going to have to have your toe amputated in order to stop the spread of gangrene, only to come in a week later for a check-up and your doctor cuts off your entire leg, and then tells you that the test results (which they had had the entire time) stated it had spread throughout the entire appendage. In hindsight, it was completely pointless.
Now I know I’m not the first individual to work through the entire holiday season wondering if I’ll have a job come January 1st. However, I think the hardest part was accepting the fact that our jobs would soon be gone, even though all of our managers kept trying to put on the positive spin that a buy-out was going to happen, saying ”we’ve been in business for far too long for us to just close the doors” or "remember that K-mart filed for bankruptcy and they're still around." With a lengthy background in retail, I should have seen the rats scurrying off of the sinking ship. So when they announced that Circuit City would be liquidating all of their assets and closing their doors in February, it really came as no big surprise to me.
I think the hardest part was trying to put forth the amount of effort to coming in day after day, with a smile on my face. As the days grew closer and closer to February 16th, the more difficult it was. Do you know how hard it is to swallow your pride and attempt to be as courteous as possible to customers who get pissed off at you, I might add, as to why the clearance prices aren’t cheaper than during Christmas? Eventually you let these emotions slide, and sometimes you blow up at the customer, but all you really want, is just five minutes alone with all of the goons up in corporate. Unfortunately, they’d been let go right after the announcement, so there were a few things to be thankful for those last two months.
For some amusing personal anecdotes related to the liquidation, please click here.
When something bad comes your way, like being passed over for promotion, getting laid-off or even fired, the most you can do is make the best of your situation. Only do you discover that as much as you are in control of your own life, you can always see the hand of God gently (or sometimes not so gently) guide you down a different path. My wife always says that when God closes one door, He often opens up a window. I’ve started believing that when God closes a window, He redirects your sights on the doggy door. How you get through it, however, is entirely up to you.
February… March… April… and then May came and went. I rediscovered that I am my own worst boss when that job is searching for employment while unemployed. As grateful as I am for unemployment benefits, all they do is reinforce an apathetic attitude towards finding a job. Hey, if I can’t find anything that’s going to pay more than what I’m pulling down weekly with the State of Tennessee, then why should I even try? Unemployment benefits are a blessing and a curse and I wouldn’t wish them upon my worst enemy. This is the biggest reason why I don't support goverment programs to the likes of Welfare and Food Stamps. A nation of entitlement creates a nation of apathy--and that's not good for anyone. Alright, I'll get off my soap box now.
Then the month of June arrived; and with it, sheer unadulterated panic and desperation. My unemployment benefits were quickly evaporating and if I hadn’t landed some kind of job, even part time, they’d be dry as a bone by mid-July. More and more applications and submissions of resumes went out and by the second week of June I had received three callbacks within 48 hours. (Ironically, 2 of the 3 had nothing to do with the added volume of applications I was sending out.)
One was for a very large retail establishment that wanted to pay me twenty-five cents over minimum wage (with my 12 years retail experience, mind you) slinging boxes and stocking shelves at three o’clock in the morning. The second was for a warehouse supervisor position that called me back almost two months after I had submitted my resume I the first place. The third was from a temp agency that had seen my resume online and wanted me to come in and take some tests for a customer service representative position for a logistics warehouse.
Now I was desperate mind you, and $7.50 an hour, as much as it was an insult to my ego, was better than nothing and that is exactly what was biting out there on my job search fishing line. I went down to the store, signed some documents and waited for my background check to come through. At the very same time, I was trying to acquire employment through the other two job opportunities, because both of them paid more than minimum wage. To make a (what could very well be a) long story short, I politely turned down the retail box-slingin’ job and landed the customer service spot via the temp agency instead. The warehouse supervisor position, even though it was a well-paying job, that required working overnights four days a week and in a freezer, turned out to be a dead end; and although I was brought back for an unexpected impromptu second interview (apparently being one of their four finalists), I wasn’t truly satisfied with how the interview went anyway.
So, after free falling for several months out of the unemployment airplane, I discovered that a parachute was attached to my person and then--YANK! I slowly and tenderly float back down to the earth’s surface. I sighed in relief and I began my first full work week, not realizing how agonizing it is to work until six o’clock in the evening for someone like myself. For close to a decade I’ve continuously worked early morning shifts. When 3:30 PM made itself known every day, I was almost always headed out to my car or already on my way home. I never realized, until now, how two and a half hours can literally drag on into eternity. I’m still not under the umbrella of permanent employment, and it's definately not my dream job, but I haven’t been without a weekly paycheck since June 19th and I’m pretty thankful for that.
At around the same time, I reconnected with a very good friend and that good friend brought with him a short film script that he had recently written. James and I, for the better part of a decade, had long desired to make a movie--or rather, a short film. As you know from previous posts of mine, filmmaking has been a dream of mine since I graduated high school. There was a short stint somewhere in there where I wanted to be an accountant, but that didn’t last very long.
James and I spent the next two months writing and re-writing his very thin 12 page script into a very dialogue-heavy 33 page script. By the end of the day, we were pretty happy with what the final product turned out to be. Now the question was: How in the world are we going to get the money to shoot this? Thankfully, James was the money guy. Not in the sense that he was funding this project, but he knew of individuals who would be able to put up the funds in order for us to shoot this project. Even better.
Thanks to the ever-resourceful Craigslist.org, and the all-consuming filtering process one goes through when trying to find cast and crew for a film shoot, the next two months were spent with cast and potentional crew interviews and auditions—all of this while we were still working our 9 to 5 jobs (or in my case, 9 to 6). When the dust had finally settled during our Pre-production phase, we had acquired a full cast and crew. And while everyone we brought aboard really liked the script and had a passion to make the film, most worked for either peanuts or a deli and fruit tray provided by the local grocery store during our three-day shoot. James and I are forever in their debt for the time and dedication they put forth in trying to make our film the best it could possibly be. I thank James Falcon and his ever-faithful friendship. Thanks for your faith in me, your determination, and your never-ending flow of ideas while giving me the power to veto 95% of them.
Only time will tell, as well as the resourcefulness of our other editor (Andrew Hobbs, you're a lifesaver; thank you for your dedication to this project), whether what we have will be of the likeness of film festival material. This will be a topic that will be address at an undisclosed future date next year. I'll keep you all posted on how our short film, PUNCHBUG, is progressing.
So, suffice it to say, 2009 has been quite the eventful year. It was a rollercoaster, full of life’s ups and downs, but in the end, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. And none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my amazing, wonderful and beautiful wife.
Lisa,
Thank you for always being there. I know things haven’t been the easiest this year for us financially or emotionally. We both held on to things a little too long before placing them on the table for open discussion. And I know it was hard for both of us to admit where our faults were and how we could overcome them. But I thank God everyday for putting you in my life and being the wind in my sails, but also my anchor to keep me from drifting out to sea. Thank you for believing in me and helping me accomplish my dreams. None of it would have been possible without you.
And that, dear readers, is how you end on a high note.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
October 13, 2007
It was a beautiful partly cloudy day, with the temperature barely scooting past the 70 degree mark on the thermostat. I awoke several times throughout the night but finally dragged myself out of bed at half past eight, just barely missing the obnoxious alarm clock. I didn’t think I would have a problem waking up, but I wasn’t taking any chances today.
I hopped into the shower, just like my normal routine, except a few hours later in the day than normal. Usually I’m out in less than ten minutes (five if I’m running late) but today I take my time. I tinker with the new gadget that I’ve recently installed: a fog-free mirror that attaches to the shower head. I adjust the lever and water flows through the mirror, keeping it at the same temperature as the shower. Low and behold… no fogging!
I slowly emerge from the shower thirty minutes later, slightly pruned yet refreshed for the day ahead of me. After throwing on some shorts and a t-shirt, I walk into the guest room and grab a hold of Ryan's foot that's sticking out from under his blanket. Then, just like my dad did to me a thousands times, I gently shake it, pulling him out from his quiet slumber.
After a few minutes, Ryan jumps in the shower as I sit down in the living room and go over my “honey do” list that needs to be taken care of before heading out to the reception cite and then the church. As I looked over the list, I hoped that I would receive a text message in time from my soon-to-be wife, so we wouldn't need to go through with the U-haul rental for storage of the tables and chairs once the festivities were over for the evening. No such luck just yet.
As Ryan flopped onto the chair next to me, I expressed to him that I really didn't have much of an appetite but I knew I needed to eat something. I really didn't know where I was going to go for breakfast, but there wasn't much in the alternative compared to the heavy and greasy southern-fried restaurants. However, after a few moments, I came to the conclusion of Donut Country (a must for any donut connoisseur well past the newness and “not really that special“ Krispy Kreme). Nothing too heavy there, unless you considered eating your weight in glazed and jelly-filled donuts.
We were off to Donut Country shortly after my revelation, sinking our teeth into the best apple fritter this side of the Mississippi. Even the apple fritter had a hard time seducing me with its perfectly glazed crunchy exterior and soft and doughy apple-filled interior. I couldn't finish it. However, the upcoming events outweighed the delicious donut, so I tossed the remaining carcass in the garbage and headed out to run some errands.
As I stopped by the bank to make a withdrawal, I receive a text message that a U-haul truck will not be needed. I practically shout for joy, quickly headed to the rental office to cancel our reservation. Walking into the office, I see a line of at least a dozen people, all waiting to get their truck on a Saturday morning around nine thirty in the morning. I didn't have another hour to waste, so I opted for the less painful route: calling them from home to cancel the reservation.
Ryan and I took our time relaxing around the house until it was time adorn our penguin suits and head up to the church. We picked up the two cakes and ever-so-gently placed them in the back the SUV we borrowed from Lisa's uncle and darted off to our last detour -- Cedars of Lebanon National Park. Trying to avoiding visual contact from of my bride-to-be, we passed each other on the road and dropped off the cakes and a dozen cases of bottled water. As I drove off, I couldn't wait to go back there, knowing that all the pressure would soon melt away coming back to where our reception was being held.
Time started to quickly blur past me soon after I arrived at the church. Ryan and I paced every square inch of the establishment before being summoned to the sactuary for pictures. After several family photos, I waited patiently as Lisa entered into my sights. She was the most stunning and beautiful woman I had ever known and she was now walking down the aisle towards me. It was hard to hold back the tears. Pictures were snapped, and we were rushed out of the sactuary in order to start ushering in our guests waiting outside.
Once the butterflies had passed, I suddenly had gained the will to eat again and found myself down in the church kitchen, with my bride, cramming a couple of ham sandwiches into my face. Thankfully, no mustard was spilled and I was eventually escorted to a hallway behind the sactuary; waiting to be given the signal to enter. I waited patiently, for what seemed like an eternity. I was told several stories by our minister as we waited; one involving a very nervous groom who at the very last moment, proceded to decorate Fred's dress robs with his recently consumed lunch. I nervously swallowed and then entered the sactuary.
Now as far as I can recall, and as well as you can read, I had no problem remembering everything that lead up to the cerimony. In fact, I remember most of what happened afterwards. The problem I have, and I know I'm not the only one, is that I can't really remember the cerimony. There are FLASHES, but that's it. FLASH: Lisa walking down the aisle. FLASH: We light our candle. FLASH: I place the ring on her finger. FLASH: We kiss. FLASH: "I would like to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Lisa Eddy."
I remember wanting to get to the reception more than anything in the world. However, before we could get there, I had to make a Coke run for my wife at a gas station en route. And there are pictures to prove it, when half of people attending your wedding are following like a caravan right behind you.
The rest of the evening was a little less of a blur as we went from table-to-table-to-table chatting and catching up. I could almost recall what the food had tasted like, if I hadn't eaten it so quickly. I hadn't been that hungry in the first place, so it wasn't that much of a loss. Once we got to the toasts, I was ready to crash. Giving a best man speech isn't easy. Trust me, I know from personal experience. Ryan succeeded in many ways... and then he told everyone there that we had met on eHarmony - in which I responded sarcastically with, "we're shooting the commerical next week!"
After Ryan came Tanya, who proceeded to give her speech over the course of the next ten minutes. Our photographer, who will be remain nameless, and who couldn't seem to take much of anything of value, snapped away while she babbled on and on. Ryan refilled his drink at least twice during her speech, parched from being so nervous only moments before.
The evening winded down as my friends floated the keg. I held Lisa close as we danced to our song, probably putting my hands in inappropriate places -- but I didn't care. The remainder of the night was spent on the dance floor dancing in groups to songs we all loved. We laughed, we cheered and we cut-up with each other until it was time to go.
As we said our goodbyes, hugs and kisses were given around the room. As I watched our family and friends break down the tables and chairs, we strolled out to the car. I'm not sure how many people actually witnessed us leaving. It didn't matter. All we wanted to do was get to the hotel room and crash.
After ordering room service, which arrived to our room cold, all we really wanted to do was sleep. We had a long day ahead of us: cleaning laundry and packing and two sit-down meals with both sides of the family. I laid my head down on the pill and thought: "I'm going to wake up happy and to the most beautiful woman for the rest of my life and can't imagine anything better."
I hopped into the shower, just like my normal routine, except a few hours later in the day than normal. Usually I’m out in less than ten minutes (five if I’m running late) but today I take my time. I tinker with the new gadget that I’ve recently installed: a fog-free mirror that attaches to the shower head. I adjust the lever and water flows through the mirror, keeping it at the same temperature as the shower. Low and behold… no fogging!
I slowly emerge from the shower thirty minutes later, slightly pruned yet refreshed for the day ahead of me. After throwing on some shorts and a t-shirt, I walk into the guest room and grab a hold of Ryan's foot that's sticking out from under his blanket. Then, just like my dad did to me a thousands times, I gently shake it, pulling him out from his quiet slumber.
After a few minutes, Ryan jumps in the shower as I sit down in the living room and go over my “honey do” list that needs to be taken care of before heading out to the reception cite and then the church. As I looked over the list, I hoped that I would receive a text message in time from my soon-to-be wife, so we wouldn't need to go through with the U-haul rental for storage of the tables and chairs once the festivities were over for the evening. No such luck just yet.
As Ryan flopped onto the chair next to me, I expressed to him that I really didn't have much of an appetite but I knew I needed to eat something. I really didn't know where I was going to go for breakfast, but there wasn't much in the alternative compared to the heavy and greasy southern-fried restaurants. However, after a few moments, I came to the conclusion of Donut Country (a must for any donut connoisseur well past the newness and “not really that special“ Krispy Kreme). Nothing too heavy there, unless you considered eating your weight in glazed and jelly-filled donuts.
We were off to Donut Country shortly after my revelation, sinking our teeth into the best apple fritter this side of the Mississippi. Even the apple fritter had a hard time seducing me with its perfectly glazed crunchy exterior and soft and doughy apple-filled interior. I couldn't finish it. However, the upcoming events outweighed the delicious donut, so I tossed the remaining carcass in the garbage and headed out to run some errands.
As I stopped by the bank to make a withdrawal, I receive a text message that a U-haul truck will not be needed. I practically shout for joy, quickly headed to the rental office to cancel our reservation. Walking into the office, I see a line of at least a dozen people, all waiting to get their truck on a Saturday morning around nine thirty in the morning. I didn't have another hour to waste, so I opted for the less painful route: calling them from home to cancel the reservation.
Ryan and I took our time relaxing around the house until it was time adorn our penguin suits and head up to the church. We picked up the two cakes and ever-so-gently placed them in the back the SUV we borrowed from Lisa's uncle and darted off to our last detour -- Cedars of Lebanon National Park. Trying to avoiding visual contact from of my bride-to-be, we passed each other on the road and dropped off the cakes and a dozen cases of bottled water. As I drove off, I couldn't wait to go back there, knowing that all the pressure would soon melt away coming back to where our reception was being held.
Time started to quickly blur past me soon after I arrived at the church. Ryan and I paced every square inch of the establishment before being summoned to the sactuary for pictures. After several family photos, I waited patiently as Lisa entered into my sights. She was the most stunning and beautiful woman I had ever known and she was now walking down the aisle towards me. It was hard to hold back the tears. Pictures were snapped, and we were rushed out of the sactuary in order to start ushering in our guests waiting outside.
Once the butterflies had passed, I suddenly had gained the will to eat again and found myself down in the church kitchen, with my bride, cramming a couple of ham sandwiches into my face. Thankfully, no mustard was spilled and I was eventually escorted to a hallway behind the sactuary; waiting to be given the signal to enter. I waited patiently, for what seemed like an eternity. I was told several stories by our minister as we waited; one involving a very nervous groom who at the very last moment, proceded to decorate Fred's dress robs with his recently consumed lunch. I nervously swallowed and then entered the sactuary.
Now as far as I can recall, and as well as you can read, I had no problem remembering everything that lead up to the cerimony. In fact, I remember most of what happened afterwards. The problem I have, and I know I'm not the only one, is that I can't really remember the cerimony. There are FLASHES, but that's it. FLASH: Lisa walking down the aisle. FLASH: We light our candle. FLASH: I place the ring on her finger. FLASH: We kiss. FLASH: "I would like to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Lisa Eddy."
I remember wanting to get to the reception more than anything in the world. However, before we could get there, I had to make a Coke run for my wife at a gas station en route. And there are pictures to prove it, when half of people attending your wedding are following like a caravan right behind you.
The rest of the evening was a little less of a blur as we went from table-to-table-to-table chatting and catching up. I could almost recall what the food had tasted like, if I hadn't eaten it so quickly. I hadn't been that hungry in the first place, so it wasn't that much of a loss. Once we got to the toasts, I was ready to crash. Giving a best man speech isn't easy. Trust me, I know from personal experience. Ryan succeeded in many ways... and then he told everyone there that we had met on eHarmony - in which I responded sarcastically with, "we're shooting the commerical next week!"
After Ryan came Tanya, who proceeded to give her speech over the course of the next ten minutes. Our photographer, who will be remain nameless, and who couldn't seem to take much of anything of value, snapped away while she babbled on and on. Ryan refilled his drink at least twice during her speech, parched from being so nervous only moments before.
The evening winded down as my friends floated the keg. I held Lisa close as we danced to our song, probably putting my hands in inappropriate places -- but I didn't care. The remainder of the night was spent on the dance floor dancing in groups to songs we all loved. We laughed, we cheered and we cut-up with each other until it was time to go.
As we said our goodbyes, hugs and kisses were given around the room. As I watched our family and friends break down the tables and chairs, we strolled out to the car. I'm not sure how many people actually witnessed us leaving. It didn't matter. All we wanted to do was get to the hotel room and crash.
After ordering room service, which arrived to our room cold, all we really wanted to do was sleep. We had a long day ahead of us: cleaning laundry and packing and two sit-down meals with both sides of the family. I laid my head down on the pill and thought: "I'm going to wake up happy and to the most beautiful woman for the rest of my life and can't imagine anything better."
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Top 20 Soundtrack Moments
You know when you're listening to the radio, or watching television and a song starts to play and that song instantly makes you think of a specific movie?
Well, I've created a list of my Top 20 most memorable soundtrack moments. This list is dedicated to the songs, that when heard, instantly pop an image into my brain of a specific movie. Additionally, my only intention was to mention songs that had already been recorded, before they were placed in the movie (and on the accompanying Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Outside of number 20, I believe I achieved that goal.
--#20--
THE SONG: "King of Wishful Thinking"
THE FILM: Pretty Woman (1990)
THE ARTIST: Go West
Directed by Gary Marshall
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Credits - Edward (Richard Gere) gets lost driving his friend's Lotus Esprit through Hollywood and runs into Vivian (Julia Roberts), a prostitute. (I know, I know... you're thinking "this doesn't fit his profile about being a film snob", but honestly, I really like this movie.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch the horribly dated music video.
--#19--
THE SONG: "It's Your Thing"
THE FILM: Out of Sight (1998)
THE ARTIST: The Isley Brothers
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening/Closing Credits - The song bookends the film, perfectly reflecting the spirit and attitude of the main protagonist, Jack Foley (George Clooney).
Click here to hear the song.
--#18--
THE SONG: "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
THE FILM: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
THE ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
Directed by Stephen Herek
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Glen Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) attempts to teach one of his students (then unknown Terrance Howard) how to keep rhythm.
Click here to hear the song.
--#17--
THE SONG: "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)"
THE FILM: Wall Street (1987)
THE ARTIST: Talking Heads
Directed by Oliver Stone
SCENE DESCRIPTION: End Credits (It's such and odd little number, but for some reason the song just stuck with me after all of these years.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch the Talking Heads live in concert.
--#16--
THE SONG: "Lust For Life"
THE FILM: Trainspotting (1996)
THE ARTIST: Iggy Pop
Directed by Danny Boyle
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Scene - Renton (Ewan McGregor) and Spud being chased down the street by the police. (A brilliant introduction of the four main characters.)
Click here to see the opening scene.
--#15--
THE SONG: "Sister Christian"
THE FILM: Boogie Nights (1997)
THE ARTIST: Night Ranger
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Dirk Diggler (Mark Walberg) sits with his buddies through a very nerve-racking drug deal, while Rahad (Alfred Molina) talks about how he makes his own mixed tapes and a young Asian male randomly sets off firecrackers. (It's one of the most silly-yet-tense scenes I've ever witnessed on film.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch the horribly dated music video.
--#14--
THE SONG: "Your Nobody Till Somebody Loves You"
THE FILM: Swingers (1996)
THE ARTIST: Dean Martin
Directed by Doug Liman
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Credits - Montage of still photographs of people enjoying the nightlife in Los Angeles. (This was the only song that I couldn't find on youtube.com as the right version played in the film.)
--#13--
THE SONG: "Where Is My Mind?"
THE FILM: Fight Club (1999)
THE ARTIST: The Pixies
Directed by David Fincher
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Final Scene/Ending Credits - As Tyler Durden expresses to Marla that she's met him during a "very strange time in my life," buildings off in the distance detonate one-by-one.
Click here to hear the song.
--#12--
THE SONG: "Fortunate Son"
THE FILM: Forrest Gump (1994)
THE ARTIST: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) and Bubba are dropped somewhere in the middle of South Vietnam by a UH-1 Huey helicopter. (The 32 song double-disc soundtrack is just fantastic.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch some disturbing videos of H-bomb detonations.
--#11--
THE SONG: "Blinded By The Light"
THE FILM: Blow (2001)
THE ARTIST: Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Directed by Ted Demme
SCENE DESCRIPTION: After sealing the deal with Pablo Escobar, a photo slideshow flashes across the screen of George Jung (Johnny Depp) and the thousands upon thousands of drug deals that take place afterwards. (I honestly can't go more than a week to ten days before I end up hearing this on the radio.)
Click here to view the scene.
--#10--
THE SONG: "Six Blade Knife"
THE FILM: Desperado (1995)
THE ARTIST: Dire Straits
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Scene - Steve Buscemi enters a bar, drinks "piss warm" beer and proceeds to tell the the bartender, along with all the patrons about the mysterious Mariachi. (This mostly unknown Dire Straits song sets the mood perfectly for this scene.)
Click here to view the scene. -NSFW
--#9--
THE SONG: "In Your Eyes"
THE FILM: Say Anything... (1989)
THE ARTIST: Peter Gabriel
Directed by Cameron Crowe
SCENE DESCRIPTION: "In Your Eyes" plays on the radio after Lloyd (John Cusack) and Diane have sex in the back of his car; Lloyd plays this song again, standing outside of Diane's house, holding a boom box over his head, trying to change her mind about their relationship.
Click here to hear the song... and watch the vintage "80s" video.
--#8--
THE SONG: "I'm Shipping Up To Boston"
THE FILM: The Departed (2006)
THE ARTIST: Dropkick Murphys
Directed by Martin Scorsese
SCENE DESCRIPTION: This song over-powers your senses as we watch Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) transform into an undercover Massachusetts State Police Officer while in a state prison. (After I heard this song I had to go out and buy the Dropkick Murphys CD that had this song... and I then proceded to play it about a dozen times on my way home from work.)
Click here to hear the song.
--#7--
THE SONG: "Oh Yeah"
THE FILM: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
THE ARTIST: Yello
Directed by John Hughes
SCENE DESCRIPTION: End Credits - Principal Rooney gets a ride back to his office on a crowded school bus, after his unsuccessful attempt at catching Ferris Beuller all day. (Honestly, who doesn't think of this film when they hear this song?)
Click here to hear the song... and see the rather twisted music video.
--#6--
THE SONG: "Tiny Dancer"
THE FILM: Almost Famous (2000)
THE ARTIST: Elton John
Directed by Cameron Crowe
SCENE DESCRIPTION: After a tumultuous night, band members from Stillwater, along with their traveling companions, sing along to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" while riding on the bus en route to their next destination.
Click here to watch the scene.
--#5--
THE SONG: "Bohemian Rhapsody"
THE FILM: Wayne's World (1992)
THE ARTIST: Queen
Directed by Penelope Spheeris
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Wayne (Mike Meyers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) head-bang to this Queen tune while driving with some of their buddies in the back seat of Garth's AMC Pacer. (One of my favorite rock songs of all time.)
Click here to view the scene.
--#4--
THE SONG: "Jungle Boogie"
THE FILM: Pulp Fiction (1994)
THE ARTIST: Kool & the Gang
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Credits which lead into the second scene - "Jungle Boogie" oozes from the car radio as Vincent (John Travolta) discuss with Jules (Samuel L. Jackson)legalities the of marijuana in Amsterdam, frequenting a McDonald's while there, and the metric system. (This was a hard choice to make, since every song on this soundtrack makes me think of this film.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch Kool & the Gang's performance on Soul Train.
--#3--
THE SONG: "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"
THE FILM: The Big Lebowski (1998)
THE ARTIST: Kenny Rogers & the First Edition
Directed by Joel Coen
SCENE DESCRIPTION: The Dude (Jeff Bridges), after being drugged, succumbs to quite an elaborate dream sequence, where he's starring in his own porno entitled "Gutterballs." (The perfect blend of 1920s spectacle, neo-noir and bowling.)
Click here to view the scene.
--#2--
THE SONG: "Stuck In the Middle With You"
THE FILM: Reservoir Dogs (1992)
THE ARTIST: Stealers Wheel
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
SCENE DESCRIPTION: The sadistic Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) tortures a captured police officer while dancing a little jig. He then proceeds to cuts off his ear with a straight razor. (This scene haunted me for quite some time. Now I really enjoy the brilliance of Tarantino's direction.)
Click here to view the scene. -NSFW
--#1--
THE SONG: "Layla"
THE FILM: Goodfellas (1990)
THE ARTIST: Derek and the Dominos
Directed by Martin Scorsese
SCENE DESCRIPTION: The bodies start to pile up when Jimmy (Robert De Niro) doesn't want to share any the money from the Lufthansa robbery with gangsters who help him do the job. (You almost forget that there's two parts to Clapton's masterpiece; it's almost as if they're two completely different songs.)
Click here to view the scene (approx. 2:40 in). -NSFW
Please feel free to reply and post your favorites as well... or if you think that I might have forgotten one.
Well, I've created a list of my Top 20 most memorable soundtrack moments. This list is dedicated to the songs, that when heard, instantly pop an image into my brain of a specific movie. Additionally, my only intention was to mention songs that had already been recorded, before they were placed in the movie (and on the accompanying Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Outside of number 20, I believe I achieved that goal.
--#20--
THE SONG: "King of Wishful Thinking"
THE FILM: Pretty Woman (1990)
THE ARTIST: Go West
Directed by Gary Marshall
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Credits - Edward (Richard Gere) gets lost driving his friend's Lotus Esprit through Hollywood and runs into Vivian (Julia Roberts), a prostitute. (I know, I know... you're thinking "this doesn't fit his profile about being a film snob", but honestly, I really like this movie.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch the horribly dated music video.
--#19--
THE SONG: "It's Your Thing"
THE FILM: Out of Sight (1998)
THE ARTIST: The Isley Brothers
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening/Closing Credits - The song bookends the film, perfectly reflecting the spirit and attitude of the main protagonist, Jack Foley (George Clooney).
Click here to hear the song.
--#18--
THE SONG: "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
THE FILM: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
THE ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
Directed by Stephen Herek
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Glen Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) attempts to teach one of his students (then unknown Terrance Howard) how to keep rhythm.
Click here to hear the song.
--#17--
THE SONG: "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)"
THE FILM: Wall Street (1987)
THE ARTIST: Talking Heads
Directed by Oliver Stone
SCENE DESCRIPTION: End Credits (It's such and odd little number, but for some reason the song just stuck with me after all of these years.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch the Talking Heads live in concert.
--#16--
THE SONG: "Lust For Life"
THE FILM: Trainspotting (1996)
THE ARTIST: Iggy Pop
Directed by Danny Boyle
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Scene - Renton (Ewan McGregor) and Spud being chased down the street by the police. (A brilliant introduction of the four main characters.)
Click here to see the opening scene.
--#15--
THE SONG: "Sister Christian"
THE FILM: Boogie Nights (1997)
THE ARTIST: Night Ranger
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Dirk Diggler (Mark Walberg) sits with his buddies through a very nerve-racking drug deal, while Rahad (Alfred Molina) talks about how he makes his own mixed tapes and a young Asian male randomly sets off firecrackers. (It's one of the most silly-yet-tense scenes I've ever witnessed on film.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch the horribly dated music video.
--#14--
THE SONG: "Your Nobody Till Somebody Loves You"
THE FILM: Swingers (1996)
THE ARTIST: Dean Martin
Directed by Doug Liman
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Credits - Montage of still photographs of people enjoying the nightlife in Los Angeles. (This was the only song that I couldn't find on youtube.com as the right version played in the film.)
--#13--
THE SONG: "Where Is My Mind?"
THE FILM: Fight Club (1999)
THE ARTIST: The Pixies
Directed by David Fincher
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Final Scene/Ending Credits - As Tyler Durden expresses to Marla that she's met him during a "very strange time in my life," buildings off in the distance detonate one-by-one.
Click here to hear the song.
--#12--
THE SONG: "Fortunate Son"
THE FILM: Forrest Gump (1994)
THE ARTIST: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) and Bubba are dropped somewhere in the middle of South Vietnam by a UH-1 Huey helicopter. (The 32 song double-disc soundtrack is just fantastic.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch some disturbing videos of H-bomb detonations.
--#11--
THE SONG: "Blinded By The Light"
THE FILM: Blow (2001)
THE ARTIST: Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Directed by Ted Demme
SCENE DESCRIPTION: After sealing the deal with Pablo Escobar, a photo slideshow flashes across the screen of George Jung (Johnny Depp) and the thousands upon thousands of drug deals that take place afterwards. (I honestly can't go more than a week to ten days before I end up hearing this on the radio.)
Click here to view the scene.
--#10--
THE SONG: "Six Blade Knife"
THE FILM: Desperado (1995)
THE ARTIST: Dire Straits
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Scene - Steve Buscemi enters a bar, drinks "piss warm" beer and proceeds to tell the the bartender, along with all the patrons about the mysterious Mariachi. (This mostly unknown Dire Straits song sets the mood perfectly for this scene.)
Click here to view the scene. -NSFW
--#9--
THE SONG: "In Your Eyes"
THE FILM: Say Anything... (1989)
THE ARTIST: Peter Gabriel
Directed by Cameron Crowe
SCENE DESCRIPTION: "In Your Eyes" plays on the radio after Lloyd (John Cusack) and Diane have sex in the back of his car; Lloyd plays this song again, standing outside of Diane's house, holding a boom box over his head, trying to change her mind about their relationship.
Click here to hear the song... and watch the vintage "80s" video.
--#8--
THE SONG: "I'm Shipping Up To Boston"
THE FILM: The Departed (2006)
THE ARTIST: Dropkick Murphys
Directed by Martin Scorsese
SCENE DESCRIPTION: This song over-powers your senses as we watch Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) transform into an undercover Massachusetts State Police Officer while in a state prison. (After I heard this song I had to go out and buy the Dropkick Murphys CD that had this song... and I then proceded to play it about a dozen times on my way home from work.)
Click here to hear the song.
--#7--
THE SONG: "Oh Yeah"
THE FILM: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
THE ARTIST: Yello
Directed by John Hughes
SCENE DESCRIPTION: End Credits - Principal Rooney gets a ride back to his office on a crowded school bus, after his unsuccessful attempt at catching Ferris Beuller all day. (Honestly, who doesn't think of this film when they hear this song?)
Click here to hear the song... and see the rather twisted music video.
--#6--
THE SONG: "Tiny Dancer"
THE FILM: Almost Famous (2000)
THE ARTIST: Elton John
Directed by Cameron Crowe
SCENE DESCRIPTION: After a tumultuous night, band members from Stillwater, along with their traveling companions, sing along to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" while riding on the bus en route to their next destination.
Click here to watch the scene.
--#5--
THE SONG: "Bohemian Rhapsody"
THE FILM: Wayne's World (1992)
THE ARTIST: Queen
Directed by Penelope Spheeris
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Wayne (Mike Meyers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) head-bang to this Queen tune while driving with some of their buddies in the back seat of Garth's AMC Pacer. (One of my favorite rock songs of all time.)
Click here to view the scene.
--#4--
THE SONG: "Jungle Boogie"
THE FILM: Pulp Fiction (1994)
THE ARTIST: Kool & the Gang
SCENE DESCRIPTION: Opening Credits which lead into the second scene - "Jungle Boogie" oozes from the car radio as Vincent (John Travolta) discuss with Jules (Samuel L. Jackson)legalities the of marijuana in Amsterdam, frequenting a McDonald's while there, and the metric system. (This was a hard choice to make, since every song on this soundtrack makes me think of this film.)
Click here to hear the song... and watch Kool & the Gang's performance on Soul Train.
--#3--
THE SONG: "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"
THE FILM: The Big Lebowski (1998)
THE ARTIST: Kenny Rogers & the First Edition
Directed by Joel Coen
SCENE DESCRIPTION: The Dude (Jeff Bridges), after being drugged, succumbs to quite an elaborate dream sequence, where he's starring in his own porno entitled "Gutterballs." (The perfect blend of 1920s spectacle, neo-noir and bowling.)
Click here to view the scene.
--#2--
THE SONG: "Stuck In the Middle With You"
THE FILM: Reservoir Dogs (1992)
THE ARTIST: Stealers Wheel
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
SCENE DESCRIPTION: The sadistic Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) tortures a captured police officer while dancing a little jig. He then proceeds to cuts off his ear with a straight razor. (This scene haunted me for quite some time. Now I really enjoy the brilliance of Tarantino's direction.)
Click here to view the scene. -NSFW
--#1--
THE SONG: "Layla"
THE FILM: Goodfellas (1990)
THE ARTIST: Derek and the Dominos
Directed by Martin Scorsese
SCENE DESCRIPTION: The bodies start to pile up when Jimmy (Robert De Niro) doesn't want to share any the money from the Lufthansa robbery with gangsters who help him do the job. (You almost forget that there's two parts to Clapton's masterpiece; it's almost as if they're two completely different songs.)
Click here to view the scene (approx. 2:40 in). -NSFW
Please feel free to reply and post your favorites as well... or if you think that I might have forgotten one.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
MJV - A Life in Videos
Since Michael's passing, I've come across several sites that are listing his best music videos. For those reading this that grew up watching MTV when they actually played music videos for more than 45 minutes a day, then you'll understand the importance of them and how they revolutionized the music industry.
With that being said, Michael Jackson's videos were about 12 levels above almost anyone elses, since a majority of them were mini-movies, or better stated, short films. MTV wasn't really tolerated in my house (and for a very good reason). But that didn't mean I wouldn't watch it when my parents weren't around.
Whenever Michael Jackson premiered a new music video, the broadcast always became a major event. In the 1980s, the world stopped what they were doing, gathered around the television, and waited to see what wonderful sights and sounds Michael was going to present to them.
So, in honor of the "King of Pop" passing, I'm going to share with you my favorite Michael Jackson music videos.
One additional note before I proceed: I have only selected a few to show you. The reasoning behind this is that as much as I am a fan of his early material, some of his videos, as spectacular as they may be, felt too corny upon revisiting them.
Smooth Criminal was Michael Jackson's seventh single release from his album Bad (1987). It was watching this video that I realized how brilliant a physical performer Michael Jackson could be. Everyone was amazed when they first saw him "moonwalk" on stage for the first time, but this video transended his physical abilities way beyond what I could comprehend. This was, however, where I first started to notice the the downward slide in quality performances by Michael (screaming while firing a tommy gun, for example), as well as any other big celebrity name they got to star along side him.
Bad was Michael Jackson's first single release from his 1987 album of the same name. An 18 minute short film written by Richard Price (Clockers) and directed by Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas) that stars Michael portraying a androgynous-looking (which was kind of a new image for him, and something that he unfortunately never got away from after this video) high school-aged kid returning home to the projects after completing a semester at a private school. He comes to discover that his old "gang" of friends have turned to a life of crime. Almost every Michael Jackson video features an entire section dedicated to his dance choreography, and this one isn't any different. It's too bad Scorsese wasn't as good with the whole music part of the music video, since it's really difficult to see Michael Jackson as anything but bad.
Billie Jean was the second single released off of Jackson's 1982 Thriller album. Considered by many as the video that brought MTV, an unknown music channel, into mainstream attention. It was also the first video by a black artist to be aired by the channel, as they felt that most "black music" wasn't "rock" enough. It's probably one of Jackson's shortest music videos, where he didn't get the taste of lengthy musical celluloid until the release of his single, Thriller, at the end of 1983. What fascinated me most about this video was how they illuminated almost everything that came into contact with Michael, especially the concrete beneath his feet. Simple by today's standards, but still rather effective.
Thriller was the sixth single release off of Jackson's 1982 album release of the same name. A true masterpeice in it's own right and considered by many as the greatest music video ever made. Directed by John Landis, Thriller follows Michael and his date, Ola Ray, at the movie theater. His date isn't thrilled at all with the horror movie their watching, so she storms out. As Michael chases her down, and begins to tease her with the opening verses of the song. I don't really remember catching the "World Premiere" of this video, but I sure do remember seeing it dozens upon dozens of times as it played on MTV endlessly, eventually being reduced to under a running time of 5 minutes.
In closing, I've selected the words of one of my close personal friends who said it best:
"Michael Jackson, no matter your feelings on the mans private life and legal troubles, was an amazing man. His music, charity and presence touched millions and millions of people all over the world. He adored children, which in case caused some of the trouble he ran into. He felt the pain and did millions of things to end suffering and starvation of people and children all over this world. From his appearance and the first time he did the moonwalk on stage to his last appearance and plans for a new tour, the man defined the Motown experience and defined pop music."
With that being said, Michael Jackson's videos were about 12 levels above almost anyone elses, since a majority of them were mini-movies, or better stated, short films. MTV wasn't really tolerated in my house (and for a very good reason). But that didn't mean I wouldn't watch it when my parents weren't around.
Whenever Michael Jackson premiered a new music video, the broadcast always became a major event. In the 1980s, the world stopped what they were doing, gathered around the television, and waited to see what wonderful sights and sounds Michael was going to present to them.
So, in honor of the "King of Pop" passing, I'm going to share with you my favorite Michael Jackson music videos.
One additional note before I proceed: I have only selected a few to show you. The reasoning behind this is that as much as I am a fan of his early material, some of his videos, as spectacular as they may be, felt too corny upon revisiting them.
Smooth Criminal was Michael Jackson's seventh single release from his album Bad (1987). It was watching this video that I realized how brilliant a physical performer Michael Jackson could be. Everyone was amazed when they first saw him "moonwalk" on stage for the first time, but this video transended his physical abilities way beyond what I could comprehend. This was, however, where I first started to notice the the downward slide in quality performances by Michael (screaming while firing a tommy gun, for example), as well as any other big celebrity name they got to star along side him.
Bad was Michael Jackson's first single release from his 1987 album of the same name. An 18 minute short film written by Richard Price (Clockers) and directed by Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas) that stars Michael portraying a androgynous-looking (which was kind of a new image for him, and something that he unfortunately never got away from after this video) high school-aged kid returning home to the projects after completing a semester at a private school. He comes to discover that his old "gang" of friends have turned to a life of crime. Almost every Michael Jackson video features an entire section dedicated to his dance choreography, and this one isn't any different. It's too bad Scorsese wasn't as good with the whole music part of the music video, since it's really difficult to see Michael Jackson as anything but bad.
Billie Jean was the second single released off of Jackson's 1982 Thriller album. Considered by many as the video that brought MTV, an unknown music channel, into mainstream attention. It was also the first video by a black artist to be aired by the channel, as they felt that most "black music" wasn't "rock" enough. It's probably one of Jackson's shortest music videos, where he didn't get the taste of lengthy musical celluloid until the release of his single, Thriller, at the end of 1983. What fascinated me most about this video was how they illuminated almost everything that came into contact with Michael, especially the concrete beneath his feet. Simple by today's standards, but still rather effective.
Thriller was the sixth single release off of Jackson's 1982 album release of the same name. A true masterpeice in it's own right and considered by many as the greatest music video ever made. Directed by John Landis, Thriller follows Michael and his date, Ola Ray, at the movie theater. His date isn't thrilled at all with the horror movie their watching, so she storms out. As Michael chases her down, and begins to tease her with the opening verses of the song. I don't really remember catching the "World Premiere" of this video, but I sure do remember seeing it dozens upon dozens of times as it played on MTV endlessly, eventually being reduced to under a running time of 5 minutes.
In closing, I've selected the words of one of my close personal friends who said it best:
"Michael Jackson, no matter your feelings on the mans private life and legal troubles, was an amazing man. His music, charity and presence touched millions and millions of people all over the world. He adored children, which in case caused some of the trouble he ran into. He felt the pain and did millions of things to end suffering and starvation of people and children all over this world. From his appearance and the first time he did the moonwalk on stage to his last appearance and plans for a new tour, the man defined the Motown experience and defined pop music."
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Flea Market Photo Safari
My apologies for not staying updated on my current review series. I've recently tripped over a rather large writer's block that had been sitting right in the middle of the living room, so I'm tending to my wounds as we speak.
My wife coined the phrase of this blog title when she shared some of the same pictures on her FaceBook page. Lisa, Christina (my sister for those of you who are not aware) and I went to the Nashville Flea Market that takes place once a month at the Tennessee State Fair Grounds.
We brought our camera along with twenty bucks to see exactly what we could find. Outside of obtaining a cheap, "Made in China" camo bucket hat, a DVD that I had been searching years for, and some tube socks, the three-hour-trek produced several pictures that I wish to share with you.
My wife coined the phrase of this blog title when she shared some of the same pictures on her FaceBook page. Lisa, Christina (my sister for those of you who are not aware) and I went to the Nashville Flea Market that takes place once a month at the Tennessee State Fair Grounds.
We brought our camera along with twenty bucks to see exactly what we could find. Outside of obtaining a cheap, "Made in China" camo bucket hat, a DVD that I had been searching years for, and some tube socks, the three-hour-trek produced several pictures that I wish to share with you.
Today's flea market is brought to you by the letter "A." (Photo by Lisa)
(Photo by The Dude)
(Photo by The Dude)
(Photo by The Dude)
(Photo by Lisa)
(Photo by The Dude)
(Photo by Lisa)
(Photo by The Dude)
(Photo by Lisa)
(Photo by Lisa)
(Photo by The Dude)
My original intentions were to comment on each photograph, but then decided to let them speak for themselves. Hope you all enjoyed them as much as we did taking them.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday Fiction: Note
A character discovers a note in an antique book. What does the note say?
Grant Shepherd stood idle as his eyes scanned the bookshelf. The store had labeled the section where he browsed, "Slightly Used." As his fingers gently brushed the spines of several quite tattered novels, Grant suddenly came across a title that caught his attention, "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas.
As he carefully pulled the book from the third shelf down, a small yellow piece of paper softly fell to the floor. Rather than examining the book further, Grant placed the well-worn volume back upon the shelf and squatted down to retrieve the slip of paper.
The piece of paper, which had turned yellowed due to age, was folded in half. Inside the note, written with a thick felt-tip pen was "This isn't the book you're looking for."
Grant, suddenly overwhelmed with fear and paranoia, promptly put the note back into the novel, placing it right where it sat before he had moved it. Grant quickly made his way to the front of the store, exiting out onto the busy street.
Grant Shepherd stood idle as his eyes scanned the bookshelf. The store had labeled the section where he browsed, "Slightly Used." As his fingers gently brushed the spines of several quite tattered novels, Grant suddenly came across a title that caught his attention, "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas.
As he carefully pulled the book from the third shelf down, a small yellow piece of paper softly fell to the floor. Rather than examining the book further, Grant placed the well-worn volume back upon the shelf and squatted down to retrieve the slip of paper.
The piece of paper, which had turned yellowed due to age, was folded in half. Inside the note, written with a thick felt-tip pen was "This isn't the book you're looking for."
Grant, suddenly overwhelmed with fear and paranoia, promptly put the note back into the novel, placing it right where it sat before he had moved it. Grant quickly made his way to the front of the store, exiting out onto the busy street.
Friday, February 20, 2009
5 Reasons Why The Liquidation Didn't Suck
#5 - MAKING YOUR OWN SCHEDULE / DRESS CODE
When the final weeks had arrived, several supervisors had been stripped of their title, their register and time card overriding abilities and had their keys taken away. Most of them, along with every other associate, decided that they didn't care what they wore, as long as they still wore their Circuit City shirt. For at least one former supervisor, he came in everyday in jeans, tennis shoes and a ball cap. He was so fed up with everything that by the time the last day came, he walked in, realized that he couldn't take it anymore, shook my hand and walked out.
#4 - FRUIT LOOP
Three days before close, an irate customer came in claiming that he had spoken to our corporate offices and said he was allowed to return his Circuit City Advantage Plan (extended warranty). Our store director was brought in, who then quickly shouted, "This is private property, sir and I want you to GET THE HELL OUT OF MY STORE!" and then proceeded to escort him to the door. He said he wasn't going to leave, but was going to stand right outside the store and call our corporate offices again.
A few minutes later my store director contacted me on our two-way radios and asked, "Nathan, has that fruit loop left yet? Cause I've printed out all the documentation about our return policies during liquidation." I jokingly replied, "Yeah, he left. Once he got off the phone, he came in and asked which car he could key and I pointed him in the direction of yours." We all had a nice laugh.
#3 - READING WHILE WORKING
Getting stuck up at the receipt-stamping table stunk if you were there most of your shift. The days began to drag horribly because you had nothing to do but answer the most retarded and mundane questions from every customer that walked into the store. What was worse than all of it, was having apathetic sales employees who were standing at my table who weren't willing to assist the continual flood of customers who kept asking for help out on the sales floor. Once I had to endure one 8 hour shift, I decided to bring in my book and read it in between stamping receipts. It probably cut down on the stupid questions by a good 20% and I finished my book with two days to spare.
#2 - CUSTOMERS CALL THE POLICE
Three days before closing, a couple came in and purchased a $330 monitor for approximately $50. It was an open item, possibly a display. They returned to the store soon after the purchase, as they had discovered it wasn't working. They paraded up and down the entire store, trying to get someone "in charge" to process a return for them. When they discovered that little stunt wouldn't work, they tried another one: calling the police.
When the police arrived, the customers accosted the poor officer, who had to stand there and listen to them bitch for what seemed like 15 minutes. They tried to convince the officer that they had been a victim of "theft by deception." The officer politely, but blatantly, pointed to the sign outside and said, "Look. Right there. The sign reads 'GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE.' There are signs posted throughout the store, as well as stamped on your receipt, 'ALL SALES FINAL. NO RETURNS.' What part of that do you not understand?"
#1 – THE BEST LUNCH BREAK EVER
As the days wore on, it became increasingly difficult to find things to do if you weren't scheduled in the morning. If you weren't assigned to either a register (which was hard enough to get customer service to stay put), or stuck at the receipt-stamping table, you either got stuck walking the sales floor "assisting customers," hiding in the back while surfing on the Internet, or most associates ended up standing around the receipt-stamping table bulls***ing with everyone else.
Not wanting to waste the entire day doing nothing while getting paid (I know it sounds like a dream job, but knowing what the end result will be, it got to you after a while if you're generally a productive person), so I decided to do what any other bright-minded individual would do with an afternoon to spare: Go to the movies!
At approximately 12:40 pm, I left the store, swung by Wendy's and wolfed down three burgers, on the way to the multiplex. As I sat in the darkened theater waiting for The Wrestler to start, I was half expecting to get at least one phone call or text message from a manager asking me where I was. Thankfully that never happened. What was even more amusing was that the film started 10 minutes late and had at least 20+ minutes of trailers before the feature even started. I didn't stroll back into the store until a quarter past three. Not one question was asked to where I had been. It was like I had never left in the first place.
Honorable Mentions: Telling customers that we couldn't return their product, which for some reason, they couldn't seem to comprehend; Stashing product in the warehouse until the sales dropped to 70% off; Playing Liquidation BINGO.
When the final weeks had arrived, several supervisors had been stripped of their title, their register and time card overriding abilities and had their keys taken away. Most of them, along with every other associate, decided that they didn't care what they wore, as long as they still wore their Circuit City shirt. For at least one former supervisor, he came in everyday in jeans, tennis shoes and a ball cap. He was so fed up with everything that by the time the last day came, he walked in, realized that he couldn't take it anymore, shook my hand and walked out.
#4 - FRUIT LOOP
Three days before close, an irate customer came in claiming that he had spoken to our corporate offices and said he was allowed to return his Circuit City Advantage Plan (extended warranty). Our store director was brought in, who then quickly shouted, "This is private property, sir and I want you to GET THE HELL OUT OF MY STORE!" and then proceeded to escort him to the door. He said he wasn't going to leave, but was going to stand right outside the store and call our corporate offices again.
A few minutes later my store director contacted me on our two-way radios and asked, "Nathan, has that fruit loop left yet? Cause I've printed out all the documentation about our return policies during liquidation." I jokingly replied, "Yeah, he left. Once he got off the phone, he came in and asked which car he could key and I pointed him in the direction of yours." We all had a nice laugh.
#3 - READING WHILE WORKING
Getting stuck up at the receipt-stamping table stunk if you were there most of your shift. The days began to drag horribly because you had nothing to do but answer the most retarded and mundane questions from every customer that walked into the store. What was worse than all of it, was having apathetic sales employees who were standing at my table who weren't willing to assist the continual flood of customers who kept asking for help out on the sales floor. Once I had to endure one 8 hour shift, I decided to bring in my book and read it in between stamping receipts. It probably cut down on the stupid questions by a good 20% and I finished my book with two days to spare.
#2 - CUSTOMERS CALL THE POLICE
Three days before closing, a couple came in and purchased a $330 monitor for approximately $50. It was an open item, possibly a display. They returned to the store soon after the purchase, as they had discovered it wasn't working. They paraded up and down the entire store, trying to get someone "in charge" to process a return for them. When they discovered that little stunt wouldn't work, they tried another one: calling the police.
When the police arrived, the customers accosted the poor officer, who had to stand there and listen to them bitch for what seemed like 15 minutes. They tried to convince the officer that they had been a victim of "theft by deception." The officer politely, but blatantly, pointed to the sign outside and said, "Look. Right there. The sign reads 'GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE.' There are signs posted throughout the store, as well as stamped on your receipt, 'ALL SALES FINAL. NO RETURNS.' What part of that do you not understand?"
#1 – THE BEST LUNCH BREAK EVER
As the days wore on, it became increasingly difficult to find things to do if you weren't scheduled in the morning. If you weren't assigned to either a register (which was hard enough to get customer service to stay put), or stuck at the receipt-stamping table, you either got stuck walking the sales floor "assisting customers," hiding in the back while surfing on the Internet, or most associates ended up standing around the receipt-stamping table bulls***ing with everyone else.
Not wanting to waste the entire day doing nothing while getting paid (I know it sounds like a dream job, but knowing what the end result will be, it got to you after a while if you're generally a productive person), so I decided to do what any other bright-minded individual would do with an afternoon to spare: Go to the movies!
At approximately 12:40 pm, I left the store, swung by Wendy's and wolfed down three burgers, on the way to the multiplex. As I sat in the darkened theater waiting for The Wrestler to start, I was half expecting to get at least one phone call or text message from a manager asking me where I was. Thankfully that never happened. What was even more amusing was that the film started 10 minutes late and had at least 20+ minutes of trailers before the feature even started. I didn't stroll back into the store until a quarter past three. Not one question was asked to where I had been. It was like I had never left in the first place.
Honorable Mentions: Telling customers that we couldn't return their product, which for some reason, they couldn't seem to comprehend; Stashing product in the warehouse until the sales dropped to 70% off; Playing Liquidation BINGO.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Top 15 Albums
I was recently challenged to name my Top 15 Albums of all time. Something like this is much harder for me to put into place than films. The reasoning behind it is that there are certain albums that are so personal that it's hard to even describe how they've affectived your life emotionally. Also, it's pretty hard for me just to give a list without some kind of explanation or personal insight for each one.
So, without further adu, my Top 15 Albums:
1. Ten : Pearl Jam
The quintessential album of the 1990s. I can't even remember the first time I heard this album, but it soon embodied what everything was about high school and how this specific genre of music, known as grunge, seemed to speak to my generation. Pearl Jam has yet to ever trap lightening in a bottle again as they did with this recording, although their sophmore follow-up, Vs. was pretty close.
2. OK Computer : Radiohead
I didn't really care for Radiohead when they first hit the music scene with their single "Creep." It wasn't until about three years after this album released that I was re-introduced to them by my new co-worker and friend Dave Nelson. I bought the CD, popped it into my deck as I drove home and didn't really care for it. But then something happened. I kept listening to it over and over again. Before I knew it, I had to force myself to listen to something else. This was, in my honest opinion, the perfect example of Alternative Rock.
3. In Loving Memory Of... : Big Wreck
Sometimes the best finds are the ones you get for free. My friend Brandon gave me a copy of this CD when I was working with him several years ago. He told me it was one of the best produced albums he had heard recently (like I really knew or understood what that meant at the time). Since it's introduction to my collection (with a legitimate copy, I might add), I still find the album thoroughly refreshing. Too bad the Canadian band didn't get much air play down here in the states before they broke up.
4. Achtung Baby : U2
This was, if memory serves me correctly, the first Compact Disc I ever bought. It was when they were still packaging them in the long cardboard covers used as some kind of theft deterrent. U2 seemed to be one of only a few music artists of their time that were capable of reinventing themselves, and they did just that with album. It was such a diversion from what they had done in the past, it was nothing that I had ever heard before. I was taken by it almost immediately.
5. Train of Thought : Dream Theater
Dream Theater was another band that took some time before I actually enjoyed listening to them. I recognized their talent almost immediately, but wasn't familiar nor comfortable with their style just yet. It took several years and many re-visits to certain CDs to appreciate them. This album, however, spoke to me immediately and I feel it is their most accomplished set.
6. Crash : Dave Matthews Band
I was never on the inside track when indie and college campus artists were starting to hit the scene. I knew a few friends who enjoyed Dave Matthews Band who loved them before they were all over mainstream radio. However, once they broke through, I couldn't get enough and this, to me, is their best recording, while Under the Table and Dreaming is a close second. I also gained a new admiration of this album when I started dating my wife.
7. The Bends : Radiohead
I purchased this album along with OK Computer. Both albums had the same affect upon their first playing. I didn't like it. But it eventually grew on me and now I can't imagine ever being without this CD in my collection. Either Radiohead was ahead of it's time musically or it took some time before I matured in my musical appreciation.
8. American Idiot : Green Day
Political themes aside, I was blown away the first time I listened to this album from beginning to end. I had been a Green Day fan for close to a decade when they release this back in 2004. It made me realize how much Billie Joe Armstrong had matured as lyricist as well as a musician. While most believe that Dookie is their unsung masterpiece, I will always point to this album first.
9. The Dark Side Of The Moon : Pink Floyd
My best friend Ryan started listening to Pink Floyd soon after high school, but I wasn't having any part of it. It wouldn't be until much later that I learned to appreciate the brilliance of David Gilmour and Roger Waters. I still have a hard time connecting with anything involving Syd Barrett. I am sorry to admit, however, that I have yet to play this album simultaneously while watching The Wizard Of Oz.
10. Abby Road : The Beatles
My good buddy Travis turned me on to listening to The Beatles, and while I greatly enjoyed the brilliance of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, I really connected with Abby Road. Each song plays like a mini masterpiece, showing how much depth and range each member had and what they brought to the table contributed to the uniqueness of each track.
11. Third Eye Blind : Third Eye Blind
I almost gave this CD away upon it's first listening to a co-worker. Fortunately for me, I never got around to bringing it in to work and it eventually found it's way back into my CD player a few years later. I was never an angst-ridden teen, but if I had been at that time, this album would have spoken to me in so many ways. Instead I just appreciated the way Stephan Jenkins could take themes like teen suicide made them so personal without sounding heavy-handed.
12. Rage Against The Machine : Rage Against The Machine
When I was driving to work back in 1992, "Killing In The Name" played on the radio and suddenly rock music never sounded the same again. This was the first CD I had ever purchased that had the "Parental Advisory" sticker on the front (this was also before they forced retailers to check IDs). As if the album cover wasn't shocking enough (click here if I've peaked your interest) the pure and unfiltered rawness of Tom Morello's guitar mixed with Zack de la Rocha's vocals was something I had never heard before. It changed how I looked at life and my country (to a degree). The album isn't vulgar, but be aware of the "Explicit Content" as Zack drops the f-bomb throughout the entire album, except for the last track, which is rather odd.
13. Empire : Queensrÿche
I think I wore the tape out on this album, only skipping past the overplayed "Silent Lucidity" that plagued MTV in 1990 (when MTV used to play music videos). Queensrÿche had the ability to walk the the thin line between rock and heavy metal, making Empire very accessible to the general public without bashing your head into the wall. They also seemed like the first "hair metal band" that had a leader singer who actually had a decent voice and knew how to use it.
14. The Joshua Tree : U2
I was familiar with U2 for several years. My sister had followed them throughout most of the 1980s, but I never really dug into their back catalog until after graduating high school and came across this gem. Everyone had said it was a fantastic album, probably their best, but as much as I enjoyed the singles from that record, I never learned to appreciate it until much later.
15. Mer de Noms : A Perfect Circle
What do you get when you remove the wierd tendancies from Tool, but keep the haunting vocals of Maynard James Keenan and add their former guitar tech into the mix? A Perfect Circle. When I first heard the single "Judith" on the radio, I was wondering when the new Tool CD was going to be released. Maynard's voice is unmistakable, but the sound was rather different. Once I discovered the album, I couldn't stop playing it. It's production value was so clean and crisp without the strange eight-minute sound effect tracks that usually came with most Tool releases.
So, without further adu, my Top 15 Albums:
1. Ten : Pearl Jam
The quintessential album of the 1990s. I can't even remember the first time I heard this album, but it soon embodied what everything was about high school and how this specific genre of music, known as grunge, seemed to speak to my generation. Pearl Jam has yet to ever trap lightening in a bottle again as they did with this recording, although their sophmore follow-up, Vs. was pretty close.
2. OK Computer : Radiohead
I didn't really care for Radiohead when they first hit the music scene with their single "Creep." It wasn't until about three years after this album released that I was re-introduced to them by my new co-worker and friend Dave Nelson. I bought the CD, popped it into my deck as I drove home and didn't really care for it. But then something happened. I kept listening to it over and over again. Before I knew it, I had to force myself to listen to something else. This was, in my honest opinion, the perfect example of Alternative Rock.
3. In Loving Memory Of... : Big Wreck
Sometimes the best finds are the ones you get for free. My friend Brandon gave me a copy of this CD when I was working with him several years ago. He told me it was one of the best produced albums he had heard recently (like I really knew or understood what that meant at the time). Since it's introduction to my collection (with a legitimate copy, I might add), I still find the album thoroughly refreshing. Too bad the Canadian band didn't get much air play down here in the states before they broke up.
4. Achtung Baby : U2
This was, if memory serves me correctly, the first Compact Disc I ever bought. It was when they were still packaging them in the long cardboard covers used as some kind of theft deterrent. U2 seemed to be one of only a few music artists of their time that were capable of reinventing themselves, and they did just that with album. It was such a diversion from what they had done in the past, it was nothing that I had ever heard before. I was taken by it almost immediately.
5. Train of Thought : Dream Theater
Dream Theater was another band that took some time before I actually enjoyed listening to them. I recognized their talent almost immediately, but wasn't familiar nor comfortable with their style just yet. It took several years and many re-visits to certain CDs to appreciate them. This album, however, spoke to me immediately and I feel it is their most accomplished set.
6. Crash : Dave Matthews Band
I was never on the inside track when indie and college campus artists were starting to hit the scene. I knew a few friends who enjoyed Dave Matthews Band who loved them before they were all over mainstream radio. However, once they broke through, I couldn't get enough and this, to me, is their best recording, while Under the Table and Dreaming is a close second. I also gained a new admiration of this album when I started dating my wife.
7. The Bends : Radiohead
I purchased this album along with OK Computer. Both albums had the same affect upon their first playing. I didn't like it. But it eventually grew on me and now I can't imagine ever being without this CD in my collection. Either Radiohead was ahead of it's time musically or it took some time before I matured in my musical appreciation.
8. American Idiot : Green Day
Political themes aside, I was blown away the first time I listened to this album from beginning to end. I had been a Green Day fan for close to a decade when they release this back in 2004. It made me realize how much Billie Joe Armstrong had matured as lyricist as well as a musician. While most believe that Dookie is their unsung masterpiece, I will always point to this album first.
9. The Dark Side Of The Moon : Pink Floyd
My best friend Ryan started listening to Pink Floyd soon after high school, but I wasn't having any part of it. It wouldn't be until much later that I learned to appreciate the brilliance of David Gilmour and Roger Waters. I still have a hard time connecting with anything involving Syd Barrett. I am sorry to admit, however, that I have yet to play this album simultaneously while watching The Wizard Of Oz.
10. Abby Road : The Beatles
My good buddy Travis turned me on to listening to The Beatles, and while I greatly enjoyed the brilliance of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, I really connected with Abby Road. Each song plays like a mini masterpiece, showing how much depth and range each member had and what they brought to the table contributed to the uniqueness of each track.
11. Third Eye Blind : Third Eye Blind
I almost gave this CD away upon it's first listening to a co-worker. Fortunately for me, I never got around to bringing it in to work and it eventually found it's way back into my CD player a few years later. I was never an angst-ridden teen, but if I had been at that time, this album would have spoken to me in so many ways. Instead I just appreciated the way Stephan Jenkins could take themes like teen suicide made them so personal without sounding heavy-handed.
12. Rage Against The Machine : Rage Against The Machine
When I was driving to work back in 1992, "Killing In The Name" played on the radio and suddenly rock music never sounded the same again. This was the first CD I had ever purchased that had the "Parental Advisory" sticker on the front (this was also before they forced retailers to check IDs). As if the album cover wasn't shocking enough (click here if I've peaked your interest) the pure and unfiltered rawness of Tom Morello's guitar mixed with Zack de la Rocha's vocals was something I had never heard before. It changed how I looked at life and my country (to a degree). The album isn't vulgar, but be aware of the "Explicit Content" as Zack drops the f-bomb throughout the entire album, except for the last track, which is rather odd.
13. Empire : Queensrÿche
I think I wore the tape out on this album, only skipping past the overplayed "Silent Lucidity" that plagued MTV in 1990 (when MTV used to play music videos). Queensrÿche had the ability to walk the the thin line between rock and heavy metal, making Empire very accessible to the general public without bashing your head into the wall. They also seemed like the first "hair metal band" that had a leader singer who actually had a decent voice and knew how to use it.
14. The Joshua Tree : U2
I was familiar with U2 for several years. My sister had followed them throughout most of the 1980s, but I never really dug into their back catalog until after graduating high school and came across this gem. Everyone had said it was a fantastic album, probably their best, but as much as I enjoyed the singles from that record, I never learned to appreciate it until much later.
15. Mer de Noms : A Perfect Circle
What do you get when you remove the wierd tendancies from Tool, but keep the haunting vocals of Maynard James Keenan and add their former guitar tech into the mix? A Perfect Circle. When I first heard the single "Judith" on the radio, I was wondering when the new Tool CD was going to be released. Maynard's voice is unmistakable, but the sound was rather different. Once I discovered the album, I couldn't stop playing it. It's production value was so clean and crisp without the strange eight-minute sound effect tracks that usually came with most Tool releases.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Next
What do you hope is around the next bend in the road?
I hope for a new job that I can thoroughly enjoy that will work with the family schedule I seriously desire. I hope for fulfillment with that job and it brings peace to my soul. I'm not overly concerned with how much I make, but that it will provide for my family.
I also hope for a chain link fence soon, too. Where our pooch can freely roam in her own backyard rather than being stuck to a 30-foot lead. Maybe then, in the not too distant future, she might get a new friend.
I hope for a new job that I can thoroughly enjoy that will work with the family schedule I seriously desire. I hope for fulfillment with that job and it brings peace to my soul. I'm not overly concerned with how much I make, but that it will provide for my family.
I also hope for a chain link fence soon, too. Where our pooch can freely roam in her own backyard rather than being stuck to a 30-foot lead. Maybe then, in the not too distant future, she might get a new friend.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Castaway
You have been stuck on a desert island, alone, for 30 days. Write a diary entry.
Well, it's now day number thirty and thank goodness I saw the movie "Cast Away." I've learned how to survive on coconuts and spearing fish, but unfortunately, I didn't crash into the ocean with a plethora of FedEx shipments that aren't going to reach their destination. I have no Wilson to talk to, no ice skates to perform dental surgery, and I don't have the partial outside shell to a port-a-potty to replicate as sails on a raft. So, needless to say, I'm pretty much screwed!
Well, it's now day number thirty and thank goodness I saw the movie "Cast Away." I've learned how to survive on coconuts and spearing fish, but unfortunately, I didn't crash into the ocean with a plethora of FedEx shipments that aren't going to reach their destination. I have no Wilson to talk to, no ice skates to perform dental surgery, and I don't have the partial outside shell to a port-a-potty to replicate as sails on a raft. So, needless to say, I'm pretty much screwed!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
You know what's jacked?
As I returned to the customer for a third time, I told him, "It's sixty-one dollars and change, thirty percent off compared to it's original price of eighty-seven."
"That's still jacked," was the gentleman's response to the price not being as low as he was truly wanting. I handed him the hundred-foot spool of high-end home theater speaker wire all the while biting my tongue.
The response that had been stewing in my head was somewhere along the lines of: "You know what's really jacked, sir? The fact that you're more concerned about being forced to spend a hundred dollar gift card before you really wanted to, on speaker wire that you don't believe is cheap enough, while there are forty plus employees that work here who will be out of a job in less than six weeks. Friends and co-workers alike who, unlike you, have to worry about how they're going to provide for themselves as well as their families. People that I care about who have to put food on the table every night. Instead you choose to ramble on about your discontent and how you have to spend a gift card on merchandise that is not pleasing enough to your pocket book."
Over the course the past week, I've had to repeat the same story about the company's collapse, why things aren't cheaper right now, or why we can't accept returns past a certain date so much, that my jaw has had signs of fatigue. My mouth dries and my brain begins to throb when someone, who was apparently reluctant to shop here during the holidays, but is more than inclined to buy more crap they don't need at 10% off, asks the question: "So, when does the store close?"
I reply with, "March 17th, if we still have product to sell. It's all dependant upon that one factor."
"Oh, okay. Cool!" is their response as they waltz out the front door with their small bag filled with hideously bad movies that they were able to get at a stellar 20% off the sticker price.
Now I know that they don't necessarily mean that it's "cool" that approximately 34,000 people will be losing their jobs by the end of March, but could their responses be anymore insincere? I understand that the slang that they spoke was really meant as an "okay, thanks for letting me know" but it sure doesn't feel like it. Instead, everytime I hear that one specific acknowlegement, it's grates on my nerves like fingernails to a chalkboard.
"That's still jacked," was the gentleman's response to the price not being as low as he was truly wanting. I handed him the hundred-foot spool of high-end home theater speaker wire all the while biting my tongue.
The response that had been stewing in my head was somewhere along the lines of: "You know what's really jacked, sir? The fact that you're more concerned about being forced to spend a hundred dollar gift card before you really wanted to, on speaker wire that you don't believe is cheap enough, while there are forty plus employees that work here who will be out of a job in less than six weeks. Friends and co-workers alike who, unlike you, have to worry about how they're going to provide for themselves as well as their families. People that I care about who have to put food on the table every night. Instead you choose to ramble on about your discontent and how you have to spend a gift card on merchandise that is not pleasing enough to your pocket book."
Over the course the past week, I've had to repeat the same story about the company's collapse, why things aren't cheaper right now, or why we can't accept returns past a certain date so much, that my jaw has had signs of fatigue. My mouth dries and my brain begins to throb when someone, who was apparently reluctant to shop here during the holidays, but is more than inclined to buy more crap they don't need at 10% off, asks the question: "So, when does the store close?"
I reply with, "March 17th, if we still have product to sell. It's all dependant upon that one factor."
"Oh, okay. Cool!" is their response as they waltz out the front door with their small bag filled with hideously bad movies that they were able to get at a stellar 20% off the sticker price.
Now I know that they don't necessarily mean that it's "cool" that approximately 34,000 people will be losing their jobs by the end of March, but could their responses be anymore insincere? I understand that the slang that they spoke was really meant as an "okay, thanks for letting me know" but it sure doesn't feel like it. Instead, everytime I hear that one specific acknowlegement, it's grates on my nerves like fingernails to a chalkboard.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Walls
If your walls could talk, what would they say?
Seriously, can either of you at least make your bed? I understand the clothes on the floor and the failure to vacuum on a consistant basis, but the least you could do is make your bed.
Seriously, can either of you at least make your bed? I understand the clothes on the floor and the failure to vacuum on a consistant basis, but the least you could do is make your bed.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Obama
You find yourself somehow sitting next to Barack Obama on a plane, the day before his inauguration. What do you say to him?
I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal. People know me. I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.
I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal. People know me. I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Love
What human being loves you the most? How do you know?
My wife. I know because she chooses to spend almost every waking hour she has available from work with me. She sleeps with me in the same bed every night, even though I can tend to be a bit of a bed hog (trust me, she has her moments too). She isn't being forced to do these things, she chooses to do them and I see it every day in her eyes and the way she looks at me.
My wife. I know because she chooses to spend almost every waking hour she has available from work with me. She sleeps with me in the same bed every night, even though I can tend to be a bit of a bed hog (trust me, she has her moments too). She isn't being forced to do these things, she chooses to do them and I see it every day in her eyes and the way she looks at me.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Cry
What is the last thing that made you cry?
The last thing that made me cry was watching the end of Love Actually with my wife on Christmas Eve. Such a touching and real portrayal of life and love. Blended with the The Beach Boys "God Only Knows", the beautiful reunion of loved ones just pulled my heart strings perfectly.
The last thing that made me cry was watching the end of Love Actually with my wife on Christmas Eve. Such a touching and real portrayal of life and love. Blended with the The Beach Boys "God Only Knows", the beautiful reunion of loved ones just pulled my heart strings perfectly.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Laugh
What is the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
My wife and I laugh on regular basis. Whether it be a giggle or a full-blown bellowing laugh from the belly. The origin of our laughs is that we are never too serious around each other enough to either lightly make fun of each other or just find general amusement in our surroundings. So, on that point, it's really hard to pin point the last time I laughed out loud since I seem to do it all the time.
My wife and I laugh on regular basis. Whether it be a giggle or a full-blown bellowing laugh from the belly. The origin of our laughs is that we are never too serious around each other enough to either lightly make fun of each other or just find general amusement in our surroundings. So, on that point, it's really hard to pin point the last time I laughed out loud since I seem to do it all the time.
Monday, January 12, 2009
History
If you could live for a year at a different time in history, what time would you choose?
Every once in a while I think about this scenario, and I'm always split between the American Old West and the 1950s suburban America. Both are very intriguing to me as both were of a time frame of change in which either our country was expanding to the west, or living a life during the anti-red, pro-capitalism baby boom. I'd probably lean towards the 1950s cause I'm too much of a pansy and I really like indoor plumbing.
Every once in a while I think about this scenario, and I'm always split between the American Old West and the 1950s suburban America. Both are very intriguing to me as both were of a time frame of change in which either our country was expanding to the west, or living a life during the anti-red, pro-capitalism baby boom. I'd probably lean towards the 1950s cause I'm too much of a pansy and I really like indoor plumbing.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Photo
What one moment in your past do you wish was immortalized in a photograph?
There are several instances where I can think of where I'd would like to change or improve the photograph (my wedding as of recent), but the first thing that came to mind was an incident that occurred back in High School. I was falling behind, chasing my friends that were heading home after class. It had been raining pretty heavily and ended up tripping, slipping and then sliding in front of everyone waiting for the bus. I would just like to see exactly how much air I got before slamming back down onto the concrete.
There are several instances where I can think of where I'd would like to change or improve the photograph (my wedding as of recent), but the first thing that came to mind was an incident that occurred back in High School. I was falling behind, chasing my friends that were heading home after class. It had been raining pretty heavily and ended up tripping, slipping and then sliding in front of everyone waiting for the bus. I would just like to see exactly how much air I got before slamming back down onto the concrete.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Assistant
If you could hire someone full-time to make your life easier, what would their duties be?
This seems like just a cop-out, but I would hire someone full-time to train our dog. There are certain days that she makes wonderful strides in becoming more obedient, but then there are many days that she defies everything and just becomes too frustrating. Maybe these are just the signs that point to the fact that we're not ready for a dog, but I don't want to give up (at least not yet).
This seems like just a cop-out, but I would hire someone full-time to train our dog. There are certain days that she makes wonderful strides in becoming more obedient, but then there are many days that she defies everything and just becomes too frustrating. Maybe these are just the signs that point to the fact that we're not ready for a dog, but I don't want to give up (at least not yet).
Friday, January 9, 2009
Money
Can money buy happiness?
Absolutely not.
However, having some money after you've found your happiness is pretty nice.
Absolutely not.
However, having some money after you've found your happiness is pretty nice.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Nickel
"If I had a nickel for every time (__fill in the blank__), I'd be rich!"
I'm sure I said this phrase hundreds of times (for all sorts of reasons), but the one that first comes to mind is when I worked at Best Buy. "If I had a nickel for every time a customer asked me if this would fit in their car, I'd be rich!" The bad part was that nine times out of ten, whatever it was that purchased wouldn't fit. I think what was worse is that I had to make it fit more often than not.
I'm sure I said this phrase hundreds of times (for all sorts of reasons), but the one that first comes to mind is when I worked at Best Buy. "If I had a nickel for every time a customer asked me if this would fit in their car, I'd be rich!" The bad part was that nine times out of ten, whatever it was that purchased wouldn't fit. I think what was worse is that I had to make it fit more often than not.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Senses
If you had to lose one of your five senses, which would you choose?
If I had to choose immediately, the most annoying sense at this moment is scent. I love my ability to smell (my wife's lotion she uses, how it triggers some of my most vivid memories), but with the whole "house breaking" the puppy and her too frequent accidents, I'm really getting tired of the lingering odor of dog crap and my living room rug still slightly smelling of urine.
If I had to choose immediately, the most annoying sense at this moment is scent. I love my ability to smell (my wife's lotion she uses, how it triggers some of my most vivid memories), but with the whole "house breaking" the puppy and her too frequent accidents, I'm really getting tired of the lingering odor of dog crap and my living room rug still slightly smelling of urine.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Time
What do you need to make more time for?
I need to make more time for my dog. She's having behavior issues that need to be addressed and there are too many times when I get home from work that I don't want deal with her. Sometimes she's just fine with curly up under the table and taking a nap, but sometimes I need to take her out and go for a walk. I think a lot of these issues will start to disappear if she gets the right amount of exercise.
I need to make more time for my dog. She's having behavior issues that need to be addressed and there are too many times when I get home from work that I don't want deal with her. Sometimes she's just fine with curly up under the table and taking a nap, but sometimes I need to take her out and go for a walk. I think a lot of these issues will start to disappear if she gets the right amount of exercise.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Waiting
What are you waiting for?
I'm waiting for my car to warm up.
I'm waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.
I'm waiting for the next opportunity to surprise my wife.
I'm waiting to see what the next chapter in our life brings us.
I'm waiting...
I'm waiting for my car to warm up.
I'm waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.
I'm waiting for the next opportunity to surprise my wife.
I'm waiting to see what the next chapter in our life brings us.
I'm waiting...
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Drive
Write about a memorable drive you've taken (with you or someone else behind the wheel.)
One of my most memorable drives in recent memory was the trek back from North Carolina in May 2007. Lisa and I had just recently been engaged. Even though we were somewhat new to the talk of marriage and family (she would say different, considering I had pressed the issue for the previous three months), we spent the majority of the trip home talking about the future of our family and possible children's names.
One of my most memorable drives in recent memory was the trek back from North Carolina in May 2007. Lisa and I had just recently been engaged. Even though we were somewhat new to the talk of marriage and family (she would say different, considering I had pressed the issue for the previous three months), we spent the majority of the trip home talking about the future of our family and possible children's names.
Friday, January 2, 2009
First Impression
Write what might go through someone's mind--or what you hope goes through their mind--when they first meet you.
At Home:
"Why is his dog attacking me?"
At Work:
"Boy this man seems to be wasting his talents here."
At The Dog Park:
"Why is his dog dominating my dog?"
At The Grocery Store:
"Wow, this guy sure seems to like Cheetos."
In General:
"Such a pleasant demeanor for a large bald-headed man."
At Home:
"Why is his dog attacking me?"
At Work:
"Boy this man seems to be wasting his talents here."
At The Dog Park:
"Why is his dog dominating my dog?"
At The Grocery Store:
"Wow, this guy sure seems to like Cheetos."
In General:
"Such a pleasant demeanor for a large bald-headed man."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Things that shouldn't be done in 60 seconds
After writing my first one minute post, I was inspired to search for other things in the course of 60 seconds. Wading through the bowels of YouTube, I discovered several things that should not be condensed down to 60 seconds.
Enjoy!
The Empire Strikes Back - In 60 Seconds
Alien - In 60 Seconds
Titanic - In 60 Seconds
(I'm sure there are several people who would agree that this version is better.)
Hamlet - In 60 Seconds
Back To The Future - In 60 Seconds
The Matrix - In 60 Seconds
Enjoy!
The Empire Strikes Back - In 60 Seconds
Alien - In 60 Seconds
Titanic - In 60 Seconds
(I'm sure there are several people who would agree that this version is better.)
Hamlet - In 60 Seconds
Back To The Future - In 60 Seconds
The Matrix - In 60 Seconds
Resolutions
What resolution will you not make this year because you know you'd probably break it?
I'm not going to attempt a strategic diet and exercise plan. I know I won't follow through on it, just like I didn't last year. Maybe if I just slowly start to change what I eat and get out more (aka, walk the dog), I think that I can gradually change myself and stay that way.
I'm not going to attempt a strategic diet and exercise plan. I know I won't follow through on it, just like I didn't last year. Maybe if I just slowly start to change what I eat and get out more (aka, walk the dog), I think that I can gradually change myself and stay that way.
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