OK, it's 1:30 AM and I'm still awake and unable to sleep -- which is unfortunate because Friday is supposed to be a long day involving getting up for work at 5:30 AM, going out to dinner with friends after work, seeing a movie in cold dark theater (which always makes me sleepy anyway), and whatever else... I'm definitely going to need a nap between getting out of work and going out to dinner. For serious.
But, onto other things: No, this is not another rant about Comcast... my apologies, by the way, to anyone who actually read that. I'm no less angry than I was when I wrote it, truth be told, but I realize how silly it is to be so upset about something you can't control -- especially something that doesn't matter all that much in the Big Picture.
And speaking of the Big Picture, I've made an important decision: no matter what promises I make to myself that I don't follow through on (and hopefully that list is relatively short), I will be volunteering overseas this year. My preference is Africa, either South or West. Saying "I want to make a difference" seems like such a cliche, but it's a true one -- though more importantly after reading a lot about the atrocities going on over there and watching various documentaries and talking to people who have done volunteer work already, I've decided it's time I stop talking about *wanting* to do something and actually *do* something. There are a few opportunities I'm looking into through AU's Amnesty International branch, but there are a few other organizations I'm looking into. I really want to volunteer in Sudan or Kenya, either with HIV/AIDS relief or volunteer in an orphanage or in some teaching/civil service position. I want to go as early as August or sometime in early fall. I'm really excited about it but there's so much to look into -- immunizations, updating my passport, saving up the money, figuring out what organization I want to work with and which opportunity is the best for me. I know that I'm still young, but I'm really not THAT young anymore and I keep feeling like I only have so many years that I'll be able to go out and do something like this. The older I become, the more obligations I'll have. After I graduate, especially, that will be the perfect window: I'll finally be able to do the things I have always wanted to do without too much holding me back -- no kids, no husband, no school. I don't want this to be one of those things I say I'll do one day and then look back years later and regret not making more of a contribution.
Anyway, that's what's on my mind. And that's what I'm putting my energy into -- at least, whatever energy is leftover from school kicking my ass. Wish me luck.
About Me
- Natacia K
- “It isn't enough for your heart to break because everybody's heart is broken now.” -Allen Ginsberg
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Comcast: The Soul-Suckers
I don't know why I hate Comcast as much as I do... oh, wait, yes I do:
They never do what I need them to do.
Now, the old Natacia would have gone on a pages long rant about everything they have done to wrong me lately... but not this new optimistic Natacia. All I will say is this: I do not understand why they make everything so damn hard. I have a new TV (yes, it's HD, even though I told myself I would never fall into that fad -- but to be fair, it's pretty clear at this point that it's not so much a fad and more of a electronic way of life) and as such I decided to upgrade to HD cable. Seems simple enough, right? I mean, I told them that I am UPGRADING and giving them MORE MONEY so why wouldn't they bend over backwards to give me what I want? First they tell me they don't have any HD boxes and then magically they had a bunch more the next day. Fine. They tell me I have to return my regular box to them and switch it out for the new one. Fine. They tell me I have to go to the center at Michigan Avenue to get said box (or it'll be delivered in like a week or something crazy like that). Fine. So I do all this (though my landlord David was nice enough to make the trip to Michigan Ave since it's closer to his job than mine) and I recieve the HD box tonight.... but that's all it is -- just the box. Nothing else. No cables or wires except for one. Nothing to connect it to the TV. No HDMI cable... NOTHING. All the shit I got from the original cable box, I sent back -- and even if I hadn't, the other box didn't come with any HDMI CABLES!!!! So what the crap am I supposed to do? Buy my own??? I'm pretty sure Comcast is supposed to provide that sort of shit. I mean, they did with the regular cable box, why would this be any different? Especially since this damn box was like a $100 deposit. This is ridiculous. And now it's too late to call Comcast since their office is closed and it's almost the weekend AND SINCE MONDAY AND TUESDAY ARE GOVERNMENT HOLIDAYS I WOULD BET ANYTHING THEIR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED TILL WEDNESDAY! And I swear on all that is holy that if this shit is not fixed by Wednesday, for the premiere of Lost, I will start chopping mother fucking heads like Lucy Liu in the first Kill Bill movie!!!
OK, I lied. I ranted. So what! I'm pissed! FUCK YOU, COMCAST!!!!
I would also like to add that the internet connection has been shaky at best with these assholes and everytime they send some idiot tech over here, the guy always seems totally baffled and/or annoyed that he's being forced to do his job. It's fucking ridiculous!
When the fuck is Verizon Fios coming to my neighborhood? Sweet Jesus.
And....... now I'm done. Serenity now.
PS: If Comcast isn't bending over backwards to help me when I call tomorrow, expect another rant. I'm serious.
They never do what I need them to do.
Now, the old Natacia would have gone on a pages long rant about everything they have done to wrong me lately... but not this new optimistic Natacia. All I will say is this: I do not understand why they make everything so damn hard. I have a new TV (yes, it's HD, even though I told myself I would never fall into that fad -- but to be fair, it's pretty clear at this point that it's not so much a fad and more of a electronic way of life) and as such I decided to upgrade to HD cable. Seems simple enough, right? I mean, I told them that I am UPGRADING and giving them MORE MONEY so why wouldn't they bend over backwards to give me what I want? First they tell me they don't have any HD boxes and then magically they had a bunch more the next day. Fine. They tell me I have to return my regular box to them and switch it out for the new one. Fine. They tell me I have to go to the center at Michigan Avenue to get said box (or it'll be delivered in like a week or something crazy like that). Fine. So I do all this (though my landlord David was nice enough to make the trip to Michigan Ave since it's closer to his job than mine) and I recieve the HD box tonight.... but that's all it is -- just the box. Nothing else. No cables or wires except for one. Nothing to connect it to the TV. No HDMI cable... NOTHING. All the shit I got from the original cable box, I sent back -- and even if I hadn't, the other box didn't come with any HDMI CABLES!!!! So what the crap am I supposed to do? Buy my own??? I'm pretty sure Comcast is supposed to provide that sort of shit. I mean, they did with the regular cable box, why would this be any different? Especially since this damn box was like a $100 deposit. This is ridiculous. And now it's too late to call Comcast since their office is closed and it's almost the weekend AND SINCE MONDAY AND TUESDAY ARE GOVERNMENT HOLIDAYS I WOULD BET ANYTHING THEIR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED TILL WEDNESDAY! And I swear on all that is holy that if this shit is not fixed by Wednesday, for the premiere of Lost, I will start chopping mother fucking heads like Lucy Liu in the first Kill Bill movie!!!
OK, I lied. I ranted. So what! I'm pissed! FUCK YOU, COMCAST!!!!
I would also like to add that the internet connection has been shaky at best with these assholes and everytime they send some idiot tech over here, the guy always seems totally baffled and/or annoyed that he's being forced to do his job. It's fucking ridiculous!
When the fuck is Verizon Fios coming to my neighborhood? Sweet Jesus.
And....... now I'm done. Serenity now.
PS: If Comcast isn't bending over backwards to help me when I call tomorrow, expect another rant. I'm serious.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
It's been a while... again
OK, so I really suck at updating this damn thing, I know. But in my defense, I haven't really had a consistent connection to the internet at home until fairly recently. And I can't exactly do this at work and I'm not making a special trip to the library for it. So there you have it.
Now that we have my lame excuses out of the way, an update! Huzzah!
So I recently returned from a trip to Italy, where I was vacationing with various family members. I could go over the details, but words cannot express the joy I've been feeling. I love my family, I truly do. They are eccentric and loud and sometimes drive me out of my mind but I love them just the same. On this particular trip, I spent a good portion of my time at my great aunt Mimi's house, which is less of a house and more of an estate with huge gardens (that she still tends to all by herself even though she's in her 90s). It's a beautiful place, but still needs to be fixed up. The front gates have rusted a little, the front porch has a marble sized hole that I caught my pants on more than once, and most of the windows look like they haven't been cleaned in a spell. It's kind of sad in a way because you can see what the house used to be. But Mimi is old and lives alone (except for a nurse who visits a couple times a day) and in a weird way, the house sort of matches her -- on its last legs, but still standing firm somehow. I love this woman so much. She lived through devastating wars and social upheaval time and time again and has an endless supply of stories. She loves opera and we listened to Don Carlos, and it was absolutely beautiful. The only opera I've ever seen is La Boheme, which she balked at immediately, and insisted that we go to the opera together sometime. I agreed, and even though I was sure this would never happen because I didn't know when I would be able to return to Italy and God only knows how much time she actually has left, and I prayed that I would be able to make it happen.
I had a lot of aunts and uncles and counsins to meet on Christmas Eve and Christmas (we all went to Midnight Mass together and I felt like such a tourist, more interested in the architecture of the church than the service itself even though the service was rather moving).
I did some bike riding and sight seeing and spent New Year's in Rome (which was only a 2 hour train ride!) and I had maybe the best trip of my life. I definitely plan on returning, perhaps in the fall. I want to spend more time in Rome and possibly visit Greece again. There's so much I want to do! One of my cousins, Marta, lives in London and is living The Dream: working as a journalist and travelling to so many places all over the word. She was a nice reminder that I need to keep moving my life towards a certain directon and give up a lot of old vices: second-guessing myself, settling with less than what I want, getting trapped in a spiral of negativity. I need to stop blaming others for what happens in my own life. I need to stop being so pessimistic about my work load. I need to change my life. That, of course, will take baby steps.
Step 1: Take more time to be there for my friends. I love them. They support me. And even when I don't deserve it. They're my family now; it's time I started acting like it.
Step 2: Make a serious effort to find a new job in my field. I've cooled off on that, mostly because of how busy I've been and how focused on school I've been. But that doesn't mean I should stop looking altogether. Life is hard, I'll never make it if I settle for a job that is, at best, "adequate" -- and also not what I want to do with me life in the least.
Step 3: Be more honest with people about what I want and what I think about them. And be more forgiving. I've decided to take any resentment I was feeling in '08 and expelling it. I don't need it anymore. I don't need to upset myself over petty nonsense anymore. I don't need to get so involved with drama -- be it in the workplace or in my circle of friends -- that I let it consume my life. I'm an adult and I'm determined to act like one now, despite how others around me may act.
Step 4: Try something new all the time. Get involved in the world. Donate my time to worthy causes. Try out new restaurants that I normally wouldn't. Explore more parts of the city. Make more trips to NYC -- and possibly Boston, finally. Maybe even travel to Chicago or Philly for the weekend -- for no other reason than to just GO SOMEWHERE. Open myself to new music. Go to the theater. Visit more museums. Read more books for pleasure. Go out dancing! Find new exciting recipes to try out. Be more physically active. Don't be opposed to new people entering my life.
Step 5: Appreciate the small pleasures in life -- a really funny inside joke between friends, jumping in puddles on rainy days, cupcakes, my favorite shows (lost, the office, 30 rock, 24), a clean apartment, messing around with my pup, sushi, chai tea, tina fey (who is my hero, along with her character, liz lemon, on 30 rock), cheesecake, the fact I now live in the same city as Barack Obama, she & him, my comfy couch, any song by nick drake, cheap delicious hot beverages from dunkin donuts.......... and sleeping in on saturday mornings.
Most of these are not overnight changes. These are progressions I plan on working on from here on out, which is why I don't want to call these "resolutions." Because that's putting a time stamp on them, and by doing this it will fail under the heavy weight of pressure. Not this time.
But I guess most importantly, I'm realizing what means most. And I'm moving in the right direction, even if I'm not quite there yet. And even if I won't be there for a while, I guess it's the journey I'm looking forward to the most!
So here I come, life.... this is going to be a kickass year! :)
Now that we have my lame excuses out of the way, an update! Huzzah!
So I recently returned from a trip to Italy, where I was vacationing with various family members. I could go over the details, but words cannot express the joy I've been feeling. I love my family, I truly do. They are eccentric and loud and sometimes drive me out of my mind but I love them just the same. On this particular trip, I spent a good portion of my time at my great aunt Mimi's house, which is less of a house and more of an estate with huge gardens (that she still tends to all by herself even though she's in her 90s). It's a beautiful place, but still needs to be fixed up. The front gates have rusted a little, the front porch has a marble sized hole that I caught my pants on more than once, and most of the windows look like they haven't been cleaned in a spell. It's kind of sad in a way because you can see what the house used to be. But Mimi is old and lives alone (except for a nurse who visits a couple times a day) and in a weird way, the house sort of matches her -- on its last legs, but still standing firm somehow. I love this woman so much. She lived through devastating wars and social upheaval time and time again and has an endless supply of stories. She loves opera and we listened to Don Carlos, and it was absolutely beautiful. The only opera I've ever seen is La Boheme, which she balked at immediately, and insisted that we go to the opera together sometime. I agreed, and even though I was sure this would never happen because I didn't know when I would be able to return to Italy and God only knows how much time she actually has left, and I prayed that I would be able to make it happen.
I had a lot of aunts and uncles and counsins to meet on Christmas Eve and Christmas (we all went to Midnight Mass together and I felt like such a tourist, more interested in the architecture of the church than the service itself even though the service was rather moving).
I did some bike riding and sight seeing and spent New Year's in Rome (which was only a 2 hour train ride!) and I had maybe the best trip of my life. I definitely plan on returning, perhaps in the fall. I want to spend more time in Rome and possibly visit Greece again. There's so much I want to do! One of my cousins, Marta, lives in London and is living The Dream: working as a journalist and travelling to so many places all over the word. She was a nice reminder that I need to keep moving my life towards a certain directon and give up a lot of old vices: second-guessing myself, settling with less than what I want, getting trapped in a spiral of negativity. I need to stop blaming others for what happens in my own life. I need to stop being so pessimistic about my work load. I need to change my life. That, of course, will take baby steps.
Step 1: Take more time to be there for my friends. I love them. They support me. And even when I don't deserve it. They're my family now; it's time I started acting like it.
Step 2: Make a serious effort to find a new job in my field. I've cooled off on that, mostly because of how busy I've been and how focused on school I've been. But that doesn't mean I should stop looking altogether. Life is hard, I'll never make it if I settle for a job that is, at best, "adequate" -- and also not what I want to do with me life in the least.
Step 3: Be more honest with people about what I want and what I think about them. And be more forgiving. I've decided to take any resentment I was feeling in '08 and expelling it. I don't need it anymore. I don't need to upset myself over petty nonsense anymore. I don't need to get so involved with drama -- be it in the workplace or in my circle of friends -- that I let it consume my life. I'm an adult and I'm determined to act like one now, despite how others around me may act.
Step 4: Try something new all the time. Get involved in the world. Donate my time to worthy causes. Try out new restaurants that I normally wouldn't. Explore more parts of the city. Make more trips to NYC -- and possibly Boston, finally. Maybe even travel to Chicago or Philly for the weekend -- for no other reason than to just GO SOMEWHERE. Open myself to new music. Go to the theater. Visit more museums. Read more books for pleasure. Go out dancing! Find new exciting recipes to try out. Be more physically active. Don't be opposed to new people entering my life.
Step 5: Appreciate the small pleasures in life -- a really funny inside joke between friends, jumping in puddles on rainy days, cupcakes, my favorite shows (lost, the office, 30 rock, 24), a clean apartment, messing around with my pup, sushi, chai tea, tina fey (who is my hero, along with her character, liz lemon, on 30 rock), cheesecake, the fact I now live in the same city as Barack Obama, she & him, my comfy couch, any song by nick drake, cheap delicious hot beverages from dunkin donuts.......... and sleeping in on saturday mornings.
Most of these are not overnight changes. These are progressions I plan on working on from here on out, which is why I don't want to call these "resolutions." Because that's putting a time stamp on them, and by doing this it will fail under the heavy weight of pressure. Not this time.
But I guess most importantly, I'm realizing what means most. And I'm moving in the right direction, even if I'm not quite there yet. And even if I won't be there for a while, I guess it's the journey I'm looking forward to the most!
So here I come, life.... this is going to be a kickass year! :)
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Lately
So I've gotten to a point where I am getting burned out and I'm not sure what to do about it. I think the biggest issue is, while I have been in between apartments, I've been living with my brother in Woodbridge.... which is a good hour and 15 min commute to work & school. Which makes for very long, exhausting days. But even without that, the combination of school, work, and the internship is starting to pile up more everyday. I know I'll get through it -- I've done it before -- but I'm just so tired all the time. At least I have weekends off now (finally) and next weekend I'm moving into my new place (which is right down the street from both AU and the hospital) so things will be a lot lighter I hope. This research project I'm working on is also taking much of my time, but it's also been keeping me centered.
The only bummer is I never see my friends anymore. And I'm starting to realize that even when I move back to the city, I probably still won't because things are so hectic now. That's the price you have to pay, I guess... with this tumbling economy, I need this to get some sense of real job security. Also, this is what I love -- NPR has helped me to not only learn more about new broadcasting, but I've actually been out there, on site, doing it. AU has been amazing for me. However, it looks like I have to make sacrifices. I can't get everything.
I'm looking forward to the holidays and seeing my mom again. I miss her a lot more than I thought I would. She doesn't call me as much and I know that's a good thing, but I really miss her a lot.
Also, this past week, a friend has been going through a real tragedy and it's making me understand the importance of family.
Anyway, I need to get back to work. The clock is ticking and it never stops.
The only bummer is I never see my friends anymore. And I'm starting to realize that even when I move back to the city, I probably still won't because things are so hectic now. That's the price you have to pay, I guess... with this tumbling economy, I need this to get some sense of real job security. Also, this is what I love -- NPR has helped me to not only learn more about new broadcasting, but I've actually been out there, on site, doing it. AU has been amazing for me. However, it looks like I have to make sacrifices. I can't get everything.
I'm looking forward to the holidays and seeing my mom again. I miss her a lot more than I thought I would. She doesn't call me as much and I know that's a good thing, but I really miss her a lot.
Also, this past week, a friend has been going through a real tragedy and it's making me understand the importance of family.
Anyway, I need to get back to work. The clock is ticking and it never stops.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
What you've all been waiting for!
So it's been so long since I've been on Blogger, that I didn't realize they've changed their "dashboard".... I was so confused. I was like, "What happened to my page???".... because change, generally, scares the shit out of me. Which is something I'm probably going to have to get over if I plan to be a serious journalist.
Anyway! I figured I should probably update this thing every once in a while, so here are the basics:
1. School's back in session. My classes are on Tuesdays and Thursday. I also have an internship at NPR, and it rocks.
2. I finally have an iPod, but only because my dad bought me one for my birthday. Otherwise, I would continue to not have one. And I'm pretty sure I NEVER would have owned one.
3. I am homeless! Well, sort of. I'm actually living with my brother in Woodbridge (ugh) until I find a place in DC. I found one place off of Park Road, but I'm not commited to that apartment, and feel as though it might fall through because the management is.... iffy. So the hunt continues. Finding somewhat affordable places that will take dogs in a safe neighborhood? Not easy. Ugh. So this is the "not so awesome" portion of this update, but wait...
4. I'm visiting my mama in Italy over Christmas, it's official!!!!!!! I'm insanely excited. I got the time off work and everything, it's all settled. Life is good. I might be gone for New Year's, too, if I can afford it. :D
5. I'm currently reading two amazing books: Blindness by Jose Saramago and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman. They're both fantastic in very different ways. Also, I'm sort of falling in love with Chuck Klosterman even though he practically compared Billy Joel to the Beatles. Hmm. (Also, I'm rereading the Watchmen graphic novel and loving it all over again. How am I making time for all this pleasure reading? I'm getting it out of my system now before things get too crazy this semester.)
6. I have been opening myself to as much new music as possible. I even went as far as attending an Amnesty International/Darfur-related Afropop concert last week... and it was awesome. Anyone have any suggestions? Right now, I'm listening to a lot of Radiohead (who I have only recently become a fan of), The Decemberists (who I already love, but am now listening to more of their newer stuff), and Portishead (who, despite my "indie cred," I had barely heard of before but adore now). Now that I have this damn iPod, I'm addicted to iTunes... recommendations are needed, people!
7. I found the best sangria in all of D.C. BEST. Contact me if you want details.
8. Lee is doing well. He is crazy as ever, but freakin adorable and I basically love him to death. <3
9. I fiiiiiinally went to a Red Sox/Orioles game. And the Sox won, naturally. :)
10. I still make too many lists.
I think that's all I've got for now. Or that's all I can think of... oh wait! I am in love with The Tudors. Doesn't compare with Lost or the Office, but it's a fucking awesome show. I kind of want to get Showtime in my new apartment.... though, the Anne Boleyn chapter is closed, so I don't know how interesting the show is going to be now. And I saw Pineapple Express and only liked it when I thought I would love it.... And I saw Tropic Thunder when I thought it would be truly unfunny and LOVED it. I have such a crush on Robert Downey Jr, it's ridiculous. He "Tony Starked" his way into my heart.
Oh, and the Presidential election. I won't say much about it at this point, just because there's too much to say and I'm crunched for time (as usual) but I will say this: I am losing whatever little bits of respect I've held on to for John McCain more and more every day. Also, I love the Obama/Biden combination very much. The idealism brings me a certain level of joy, and I feel as though Biden also brings that experience to the ticket that (according to some people) Obama lacks. It's idealism for the modern world. I am too much of a realist, honestly, to believe in ALL of Obama's plans/goals, but I feel confident that he truly wants -- yes, I'm going to say it -- CHANGE. And we really need that right now. So, clearly, he has my vote.
"Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?"
-Barack Obama
Anyway! I figured I should probably update this thing every once in a while, so here are the basics:
1. School's back in session. My classes are on Tuesdays and Thursday. I also have an internship at NPR, and it rocks.
2. I finally have an iPod, but only because my dad bought me one for my birthday. Otherwise, I would continue to not have one. And I'm pretty sure I NEVER would have owned one.
3. I am homeless! Well, sort of. I'm actually living with my brother in Woodbridge (ugh) until I find a place in DC. I found one place off of Park Road, but I'm not commited to that apartment, and feel as though it might fall through because the management is.... iffy. So the hunt continues. Finding somewhat affordable places that will take dogs in a safe neighborhood? Not easy. Ugh. So this is the "not so awesome" portion of this update, but wait...
4. I'm visiting my mama in Italy over Christmas, it's official!!!!!!! I'm insanely excited. I got the time off work and everything, it's all settled. Life is good. I might be gone for New Year's, too, if I can afford it. :D
5. I'm currently reading two amazing books: Blindness by Jose Saramago and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman. They're both fantastic in very different ways. Also, I'm sort of falling in love with Chuck Klosterman even though he practically compared Billy Joel to the Beatles. Hmm. (Also, I'm rereading the Watchmen graphic novel and loving it all over again. How am I making time for all this pleasure reading? I'm getting it out of my system now before things get too crazy this semester.)
6. I have been opening myself to as much new music as possible. I even went as far as attending an Amnesty International/Darfur-related Afropop concert last week... and it was awesome. Anyone have any suggestions? Right now, I'm listening to a lot of Radiohead (who I have only recently become a fan of), The Decemberists (who I already love, but am now listening to more of their newer stuff), and Portishead (who, despite my "indie cred," I had barely heard of before but adore now). Now that I have this damn iPod, I'm addicted to iTunes... recommendations are needed, people!
7. I found the best sangria in all of D.C. BEST. Contact me if you want details.
8. Lee is doing well. He is crazy as ever, but freakin adorable and I basically love him to death. <3
9. I fiiiiiinally went to a Red Sox/Orioles game. And the Sox won, naturally. :)
10. I still make too many lists.
I think that's all I've got for now. Or that's all I can think of... oh wait! I am in love with The Tudors. Doesn't compare with Lost or the Office, but it's a fucking awesome show. I kind of want to get Showtime in my new apartment.... though, the Anne Boleyn chapter is closed, so I don't know how interesting the show is going to be now. And I saw Pineapple Express and only liked it when I thought I would love it.... And I saw Tropic Thunder when I thought it would be truly unfunny and LOVED it. I have such a crush on Robert Downey Jr, it's ridiculous. He "Tony Starked" his way into my heart.
Oh, and the Presidential election. I won't say much about it at this point, just because there's too much to say and I'm crunched for time (as usual) but I will say this: I am losing whatever little bits of respect I've held on to for John McCain more and more every day. Also, I love the Obama/Biden combination very much. The idealism brings me a certain level of joy, and I feel as though Biden also brings that experience to the ticket that (according to some people) Obama lacks. It's idealism for the modern world. I am too much of a realist, honestly, to believe in ALL of Obama's plans/goals, but I feel confident that he truly wants -- yes, I'm going to say it -- CHANGE. And we really need that right now. So, clearly, he has my vote.
"Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?"
-Barack Obama
Monday, July 7, 2008
I keep forgetting
...just how much I love Blackstar. Wow. I really don't understand why hip hop can't always be like this. Music should be *about* something, not just getting laid or getting rich -- which, honestly, is like 90% of rap music these days.
Even The Ramones were about something, even if it was social disruption. And Sex Pistols, yes, that's pretty angry stuff, but it wasn't anger for the sake of anger. And it certainly wasn't all, "Fuck bitches" this and " Busting caps" that. Ugh. How is that art?
Random, I know, but there you have it. My $0.02.
Even The Ramones were about something, even if it was social disruption. And Sex Pistols, yes, that's pretty angry stuff, but it wasn't anger for the sake of anger. And it certainly wasn't all, "Fuck bitches" this and " Busting caps" that. Ugh. How is that art?
Random, I know, but there you have it. My $0.02.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Music doesn't lie
I don't post on here nearly as often as I should.... and I feel that when I do, it's all over the place. One day I'm hot, one day I'm cold. One day all is right with the world, and others I want to burn everything to the ground. And see, I suppose the thing is I only post when I'm feeling emotional about things -- never for the little things. And far too often, it's when I'm upset or stressed out. Today I'm neither -- and I'm not particularly elated about anything either. I'm sitting here, slowly but surely downloading my music collection onto iTunes and listening to a few of my favorite songs (such as "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" as sung by Joe Anderson). I'm reminiscing on how certain songs remind me of certain period in my life. Example: Across the Universe (the movie/soundtrack) will always remind of my months in New Mexico. It came at a time when I was lonely and missing the east coast -- and not just for its people, but for its charm. It came at the right time. Across the Universe, for me, was a mini-salvation, an awakening, a celebration. It was a kiss when I had no one to kiss (metaphorically speaking, of course). It opened my eyes to a few things and helped the loneliness weaken its hold on me. Or, right now, "Like A Stone" by Audioslave is playing and that song will always remind me of the jukebox machine at Charlie's Pub in Boston and wailing out the lyrics, while my friends and I were filled with rum and coke (because it was the easiest drink to fool the waitress who was being a stickler about our underaged status), and really believing that we sounded *just* like Chris Cornell... when, sadly, we were butchering the poor song. "Tuesday's Gone" reminds me of being sixteen, sitting in my room after school and lying on my bed while I stared up at the ceiling and dreamed of leaving all this behind and hitchhiking to the West -- a dream that is still there, pushed back to a farther part of my mind... but it's still there nonetheless.
It's funny how music can have such an affect on my mind, my senses, my soul, my heart. It's almost a physical thing. I associate almost everything with music -- I don't even do that with movies and I adore film. If the right song plays when I'm feeling out of sorts, it can help me get through whatever has put me in that state. There are certain songs that have the power to bring me to tears possibly from sadness, from joy or from dispair. Music can heal and it can also destroy. I cannot imagine a life without it.
Where would I be without Bob Dylan? The Beatles? The Velvet Underground? Emmylou Harris? It's crazy to even think about. So I guess I won't.
I guess I have time today to think about these things. Which is nice, since usually I hardly ever have time for this sort of thought process. And sometimes, in an age when the economy is rapidly crashing and ignorance and violence surround us, it's nice to have something to hold on to... and even if music isn't tangible, something doesn't always have to be to be able to touch you.
"You are the music while the music lasts."
-T.S. Eliot
It's funny how music can have such an affect on my mind, my senses, my soul, my heart. It's almost a physical thing. I associate almost everything with music -- I don't even do that with movies and I adore film. If the right song plays when I'm feeling out of sorts, it can help me get through whatever has put me in that state. There are certain songs that have the power to bring me to tears possibly from sadness, from joy or from dispair. Music can heal and it can also destroy. I cannot imagine a life without it.
Where would I be without Bob Dylan? The Beatles? The Velvet Underground? Emmylou Harris? It's crazy to even think about. So I guess I won't.
I guess I have time today to think about these things. Which is nice, since usually I hardly ever have time for this sort of thought process. And sometimes, in an age when the economy is rapidly crashing and ignorance and violence surround us, it's nice to have something to hold on to... and even if music isn't tangible, something doesn't always have to be to be able to touch you.
"You are the music while the music lasts."
-T.S. Eliot
Current Song:
"I Will Go Quietly" - Shivaree
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