Musics!

I'm feeling tired and uninspired (look, a rhyme!), so I shall post some linkage to songs I'm currently enjoying, and think you should too.

Nightbook - Ludovico Einaudi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezSq5Vq8G88&feature=related

Lady Labyrinth - Ludovico Einaudi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1hPXJPtto&feature=related

The Tower - Ludovico Einaudi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsI3X4TdB6U&feature=related

All these are GREAT writing songs - based on a piano lead, instrumental, but The Tower, especially, is intense.

Birthright - Celldweller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmwYcVUMjXw . This is rock/electronic awesomeness. Epic stuff. Celldweller on the whole (disregard the morbid name, it came from one of the artist's friends joking that his studio was like a cell, because he never left it) equals amazing music.

Regret - Blue Stahli - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKlTxJa1HQs . Ear candy. Undeniably ear candy. (Shotgun Senorita and Throw Away by the same artist are good too).

Trailer music from Clash of the Titans trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TdLf2_YA6M&feature=related . One word: EPIC.

Satellites - September http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP7X_7s2aPo&feature=related. Totally Europop dance music. But so fun!

Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4OLQB7ON9w . Part of this song will sound rather familiar. A certain artist *coughcough* Jason DeRulo *coughcough* used part of the song in his current hit. I present the original. Which kicks butt. Because Imogen Heap rocks.

Well, that's all, kids. Sayonara!

No. Life...is not supposed to be a chick flick.

It's not my life I'm talking about. It's someone else's. But really. It just isn't right.

So yes. I have been absent a long time. I want to be better about posting once a week, at least. Even if it's just a little snippet of something interesting.

I have no concerted brain function tonight. So here is my random:

Right now I'm listening to John Mayer. One of my suitemates loves his music. I've never really listened. It's pretty mellow acoustic stuff. I like it, but Five Times August is better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7RL-MYJatk . Let me know what you think of that. (The funny thing is, I know the red-head kid who plays the bully in this video. It's kind of funny. Because in real life, he is a cross-country kid who weighs about 130 pounds, and is so not a bully. He does a good enough job at being obnoxious though... :P)

Boys can be so stupid.

So, so stupid.

Like, I want to slap the whole lot of them multiple times stupid.

I am going to try to graduate a semester early. Yay! Not that I don't like college, I do. But it's a small school, and it's such a big world, and I am ready to not be in school, or at least, doing a more self-guided master's program. Possibly creative writing master's at Seattle Pacific University. :)

My Tired Thoughts on a Few Songs

Beyonce's song has proper grammar and Nickleback's does not. "If I Were A Boy" uses the subjunctive mood. "If Today Was Your Last Day" uses the more popular, but technically incorrect indicative mood. Yes, I think too much.



So What by P!nk is a rough song. This is where you're going to possibly laugh and call me crazy, but I think behind the song is someone who is hurting, but determined not to show it, and have a devil-may-car attitude to disguise pain. She says 'So what', but I feel more behind that. I'm not sure what else to say, but this is what I think every time I hear the song.



And then last night, I was tired physically (aka - got hit by a train or played four hours of Ultimate Frisbee), and emotionally, and this song hit me hard. I've never actually heard the song, but someone recited the lyrics a few weeks ago. The first part I don't care as much for, but the second half...I hide my romantic side behind sarcasm, but this coaxes it out.

Manly Man (By Bradley Hathaway)

I don't want my long hair
pretty green eyes with
no I do not have on mascara
Eyelashes
Skinny figure
Undersized T-shirt
Hip
Shake
Too
Much
when I walk
Confuse anybody...
I am a Manly Man!
Within this sissy frame
obviously rib laden chest
lies a heart
that beats
to the drum of a
Native American ritual dancing
wildness
It pumps an evercascading supply of untamedness
that a herd of wild mustangs have yet to grasp.
If danger lurks about, I will seek it out.
If adventure abounds, there I will be found.
If a damsel be in distress
I will show her who is best.
I am a Manly Man!
Because I don't flush
and I leave the lid up.
I drive a nineteen
eighty-eight
Ford Pick-up truck.
Girls don't break up with me
I break up with them first!
(except the last time, it didn't really work out like that )
I don't shave the hair on my face
(because I still can't grow facial hair yet,but when I can
I won't.)
Because beards are tough.
I fart
burp
spit
when I want
Not caring who's nearby
Disrespect my momma
and I will punch you in the eye!
I am a Manly Man!
Or am I?
I tell my guy friends that I love them.
And sometimes,sometimes, I even hug them.
No because I'm not gay. But because I love em'.
When I watched Bambi
I cried.
When my mema gets mad
I still run and hide.
Like David I want to be a man after God's own heart.
I'm not there yet, but I'm past the start.
And when people talk
I try to listen
a spirit of compassion
That's my vision.
Surely I am a Manly Man
I want to be loved
and have love
and give Love.
(and not just that romantic kind either)
Although I am looking for that beauty
Not helpless
But wants to be rescued. [Best. Line. Ever.]
The Damsel in distress
Man
Woman
Myth
True.
I will fight for her.
Climb the highest tower for her
Love her.
Share with her.
Delight in her.
Be her warrior.
Her protector.
She will be my crown
and I will be hers.
My Masculinity will be passed down
and affirmed to my sons.
Each of my daughters will know they are lovely
and deserving of authentic romance.
Society tells me all day long
That I have defined manhood completely wrong.
But you ask any honest man and he will agree
You ask any honest woman and she too will see
That I am a Manly Man!

Hasta luego...

On da Road and My SECOND Tag...

Ay yi yi. 1700 miles later, I am still alive! We're in PA now, and I still have wi-fi connectivity. (Beautiful thing!) So, during the very last leg of the trip, I drove. Silly me. It poured rain, there was an accident, and it took almost forty-five minutes to cover six miles on the freeway. I can almost (not quite) run six miles that fast. But certainly not after a ten-miler, which I did this morning...tough after sitting and waking up at 4 am a couple days ago...but that's part of the great American road trip.

But we're here, and I'll have Internet until Sunday morning, so get them comments in quickly :-) Outside is a veritable paparazzi of fireflies in the twilight. It's around seventy degrees, and low humidity, so different from Houston, where I walk outside and start sweating.

Okay, onto the tag. I was tagged by Miss Erin a couple days ago, and I'm finally getting to it.

The Rules:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your summer. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.

1. Train by 3 Doors Down
2. Merchant of Death by Ramin Djawadi (Iron Man soundtrack)
3. Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield
4. Not Too Late by Three Days Grace
5. What I Want by Daughtry
6. Bad English by Trevor Rabin (Gone in 60 Seconds soundtrack)
7. I suspect it will be something from Viva La Vida (new Coldplay album), possibly Violet Hill

Bonus 8. Smooth by Santana and Rob Thomas

I tag...hmm. Jamin, Somnite, Paris, Judi, Q, Gretch-a-Sketch, and Anilee. If you've already been tagged, disregard this one - unless, of course, you really want to share more favorite music:-)

Ponderings

Mood: A little impatient but otherwise content
Listening to: Prince Caspian Flees from Prince Caspian

Go David Cook! I'm sure a lot of you know by now that the older David took the title of American Idol last night. Personally, I thought Archuleta (such a cute kid) sang better on the finale night, but Cook has a range of genres. Though I have to say, they sounded great singing "Hero" together. Can't wait until the Davids have albums out (because producers are undoubtedly hovering with contracts for Archuleta).

A short story idea has been knocking around my head. This is rare, so I think I'll write it and try to post it within the next few days.

Speaking of writing: After hours of research and refining, today I send out the first batch of query letters *deep breath*. I have narrowed it to a list of eight agencies. I almost feel I should knock off one more, for the Biblical number of perfection (and my favorite single-digit number). It's one of my quirks. Now I have to not hover around the computer and check my email every fifteen minutes. The usual response times are usually in weeks, not hours.

Let the fun begin. Bring on the agents.

Top Ten List

I have been inspired by Gretchen to compose a list (my favorite of hers, BTW, is one concerning the ten literary characters she would marry without hesitation. See her blog for details and make sure to read all the comments.) So, here it is:

Top Twenty List of Music Pieces I Recommend To Anyone:

1. This is possibly the best soundtrack piece ever created: The Battle from The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Gregson-Williams. Absolutely amazing. Go listen to it on iTunes. And then buy it.

2. Merchant of Death by Ramin Djwadi (mouthful, huh?) from the Iron Man soundtrack. If you like electric guitars at all and are in the mood for a kick-butt song, get it.

3. All Around Me - by Flyleaf. Cool alternative song. Shiver-inducing. It makes me think of The Phantom of the Opera. If you listen to it, it makes sense. (I think).

4. What I Want - by Daughtry. If you like rock, this is a great song. Intense, great message, amazing guitar.

5. Victory - by Yolanda Wilson. If you like gospel. Amazing, amazing.

6. Everything - Michael Buble. If you like Josh Groban. But this guy's voice is incredible. Think David Archuleta's style, but older. Sweet song. Girls' pick.

7. Feeling Good - Michael Buble. Same story, but not a romantic song. It's just FUN.

8. The Last Car - from Gone in 60 Seconds by Trevor Rabin. Great combination of electronic and symphonic. Adrenaline-inducing.

9. Keep Holding On - Avril Lavigne from the Eragon soundtrack. If you're having a rough day, put this on. It helps.

10. Storm - Vanessa-Mae. Fusion of a little electronic and amazing violin. Happy Valley is great too.

11. Collide - Krystal Meyers. Not sure how to describe this one but intense. Just listen to it.

12. Spanish Heist - Michael Giacchino from Alias soundtrack. Cool stuff, Spanish flare.

13. Briony - from the Atonement soundtrack, by Dario Marianelli. Incorporates typewriter into the music. Creative. Will leave you smiling.

14. Sweet Caroline or Love Me Tender - David Archuleta. Enough said.

15. Chevaliers de Sangreal - Hans Zimmer, Da Vinci Code Soundtrack. Breathtaking.

16. Anything from the National Treasure soundtracks by Trevor Rabin. Especially The Chase, Foot Chase, Cibola, So!, Spirit of Paris

17. Eleanor Rigby - David Cook. Enough said. He's gonna win.

18. Life is a Highway - Rascall Flatts. Amaaazing.

19. Flying - James Newton Howard, Peter Pan. The title says it all.

20. Now you tell me what to listen to!

Gotta go - to work. Oops. I should eat lunch too...