Thursday, December 31, 2009
A Christmas Story
This Christmas I had got everything I wanted. I got a wah pedal and a loop pedal for my guitar. A wah pedal increase the sound and actually portrays a WAH sound to the guitar when the pedal is activated. A loop pedal records whatever i play and then plays it back through my amp and allows me to play over top of the track and make music with myself as rythm guitar and as lead guitar. This opened up several doors to my musicianship in the combination of these two pedals. A wah pedal allows for a more soulful blues sound and a loop pedal allows me to be able to customize more of my solos without having to focus on maintaining the chorus of a song. I also recieved more vests and fedora's for christmas whic was exactly what I wanted, as I am trying to bring back the fedora. Also I obtained some sleep pants and shirts form a store that is new to me, Banana republic. I was unaware of this stores existance and thus I didn't know whether to act suprised because it was expensive or act like I needed it because it was cheap. Later I found out that Banana Republic is a preppy store like American Eagle. All in all I had an amazing CHRISTmas got all the gifts I wanted and had an amazing time with my family.
The Blues
Why aren't we singing the blues? The economy is supposed to be in the toilet, and though that may stink it is usually does great things for the creative juices. However, this time around the blues have not made a rebound. I, personally, happen to be a connoisseur of the blues - most especially if it is played on a guitar - but I have heard much in the way of blues. Everyone we needs to grad their guitars and dig deep and really "feel" the emotions that come from a cruddy economy. We need to start singing the blues.
Text and Driving
In my last blog I mentioned Chris Hixson (Jumper) and Melissa Shaw. As you may already know, the wreck they were in was due to texting while driving. If we learn nothing from this terrible accident, then Melissa's death and Jumper's paralysis meant nothing. However, if we learn to ignore our cell phones and stop texting while we are driving and we save a life - then we have honored both of them.
jumper
A few months ago, as we know there was a car crash with Melissa Shaw and Christopher Hixon. Melissa's life was taken but Chris (Jumper) survived; though paralyzed form the neck down. Some would say his life is not worth living because he cannot enjoy anything anymore, however he has given me and all those around him a new meaning to the word determination. Doctors have said that if he continues therapy that by this time next year he should be able to have the full use of his arms. This is great news, but as the doctor says he has to work at it. As of now, he gets up everyday at about ten in the morning to start therapy and is not done until about one in the afternoon. While we are not told the exact stress that these therapy sessions have on Jumper, we do know that he does work diligently to regain the use of his arms. He is a real inspiration to me and all our friends. As we are working to graduate from high school, he is working to get back the basic things we take for granted - use of his arms. He stays upbeat, in a good mood and hopeful about a future. At times when I feel sorry for myself I think about all Jumper has been through and continues to go through and realize that I have nothing to complain about.
Hippie
It seems the Hippie movement is making a comeback. That is something that has never left my house.
For those who have not met my mom, she is a hippie. She even looks the part. She often wears long patchwork skirts, has a peace sign tattooed on her ankle; she loves the Grateful Dead and she can tell you the date that Jerry Garcia and John Lennon died. She tells stories about when she was little that my grandparents used to take her to a commune in Tennessee call "The Farm."
I think most teens believe that being a hippie means smoking pot and getting high. However, my mom does not do drugs or drink alcohol. I would think that a woman who spent time at a commune might know a little more about being a hippie then the teens at school. Mom said that being a hippie can be many different things. For some people it is just a love of a certain type of music that gets them labeled as a hippie. Some people show an abundance of respect for the earth and choose to recycle, reuse and compose and become labeled as a hippie. Others, show an abundance of care and acceptance of others and chose to share what they have...and become labeled as a hippie.
I mean if you think you have to get high to be a hippie, you can think what you want. Just sayin, a lady who has lived doesn't do drugs and doesn't drink no more, but she is still a hippie. So, you don't have to do that stuff to be a hippie.
For those who have not met my mom, she is a hippie. She even looks the part. She often wears long patchwork skirts, has a peace sign tattooed on her ankle; she loves the Grateful Dead and she can tell you the date that Jerry Garcia and John Lennon died. She tells stories about when she was little that my grandparents used to take her to a commune in Tennessee call "The Farm."
I think most teens believe that being a hippie means smoking pot and getting high. However, my mom does not do drugs or drink alcohol. I would think that a woman who spent time at a commune might know a little more about being a hippie then the teens at school. Mom said that being a hippie can be many different things. For some people it is just a love of a certain type of music that gets them labeled as a hippie. Some people show an abundance of respect for the earth and choose to recycle, reuse and compose and become labeled as a hippie. Others, show an abundance of care and acceptance of others and chose to share what they have...and become labeled as a hippie.
I mean if you think you have to get high to be a hippie, you can think what you want. Just sayin, a lady who has lived doesn't do drugs and doesn't drink no more, but she is still a hippie. So, you don't have to do that stuff to be a hippie.
Avatar
If you have not seen the movie Avatar you need to go out and see it. Go see it now. Stop reading this blog and go see the movie. If you can see it at IMAX, all the better. By the end of the movie you will want to paint yourself blue and grow a tail.
The story line is not original, it will remind you of several other movies you have seen. However, the scenery is exquisite. You will want to reach out and touch these plants and animals. The imagery and technology used in the making of this movie is amazing. This is the best CG (computer generated) movie I have seen. The transition from person to CG is virtually seamless. There are only a few times that you can see that it is CG animation. I could only tell it was CG animation on two occasions and it was made apparent in human faces. It was never apparent to me in the landscape or the alien species.
Again, if you have not had the opportunity to see the movie. Go see the movie while it is still in the theaters.
The story line is not original, it will remind you of several other movies you have seen. However, the scenery is exquisite. You will want to reach out and touch these plants and animals. The imagery and technology used in the making of this movie is amazing. This is the best CG (computer generated) movie I have seen. The transition from person to CG is virtually seamless. There are only a few times that you can see that it is CG animation. I could only tell it was CG animation on two occasions and it was made apparent in human faces. It was never apparent to me in the landscape or the alien species.
Again, if you have not had the opportunity to see the movie. Go see the movie while it is still in the theaters.
King Procrastinator
My mom tells me I could procrastinate about anything. She is probably right. I put off everything until the last minute. For instance, I knew I needed to pack to go to my Dad's house. When he showed up at the door to pick me up I was still throwing stuff in a duffel bag. I knew for 365 days when Christmas would be here and I still waited until 5 days before Christmas to buy my Mom's gift. I waited until the day of my Mom's birthday to buy her birthday present. Fortunately, she accepts my procrastination as one of those frustrating, but cute little quirk.
I am not really sure why I do this. It isn't that I think that these things are not important or do not need to be done. Perhaps it goes back to my previous post of everyone wanting a piece of me so for the few moments that I am not being drug off here and there I don't want to have to pre-plan and just want to be in the "now."
I am not really sure why I do this. It isn't that I think that these things are not important or do not need to be done. Perhaps it goes back to my previous post of everyone wanting a piece of me so for the few moments that I am not being drug off here and there I don't want to have to pre-plan and just want to be in the "now."
Dogs and Men
There is a reason that dogs are man's best friend, because dogs and men are much alike. Dogs are basically four legged men only hairier. Dogs remind us of the freedoms we wish we had. Dogs scratch, sniff, burp and make all other bodily functions without remorse or embarrassment. They stay up howling at passersby or the moon - or both. They have no bed time and no curfew. In fact they have no real schedule to keep. They have virtual freedom! Dogs remind men of what it was like to be a child and give children a companion that is faithful, loyal and true. Dogs are the definition of manhood.
Unless, of course, we are talking about those little foo-foo dogs. Those types of dogs may not define manhood as much as others. I suppose that would depend on the man, but that would be a different post entirely.
Unless, of course, we are talking about those little foo-foo dogs. Those types of dogs may not define manhood as much as others. I suppose that would depend on the man, but that would be a different post entirely.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Pieces
Does it ever seem to you like everyone just wants a piece of you during Christmas break? It is supposed to be a time to just lay back, hang out with the family and play guitar. But no. I have to spend "X" amount of time with grand parents, "X" amount of time with my dad in Louisville. Everything is so scheduled and regimented it is no longer as fun as it could be. I understand that everyone has things going on and schedules have to be synchronized. Seriously people, lighten up a little, enjoy the season.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
'Tis The Season for Rude People
What has happened to the Christmas Spirit? I thought the "Christmas Spirit" enbodied love, generousity, peace and joy. Apparently the people shopping on Black Friday did not get the memo. Black Friday was so bad last year that some guy brought a gun to Toys R Us in Californiaand started shooting. In New York a worker at a Wal-Mart was trampled by a mob trying to get into the store. Though I have not heard stories that bad this year, my mother did witness a pregnant woman pass out in a lengthy check-out line and some people just stepped over the woman so they could check out.
It seems this "Grinch Spirit" is not reserved for only Black Friday. Just take a trip to the mall and watch for a while and you will see that most adults are not enjoying themselves. They are rushing around with frowns or angry faces. They yell at each other or look mad.
Maybe we have no one to blame but ourselves. We allowed retailers to turn a Christian celebration into a retail extravaganza and it is no wonder we no longer experience the "Christmas Spirit."
It seems this "Grinch Spirit" is not reserved for only Black Friday. Just take a trip to the mall and watch for a while and you will see that most adults are not enjoying themselves. They are rushing around with frowns or angry faces. They yell at each other or look mad.
Maybe we have no one to blame but ourselves. We allowed retailers to turn a Christian celebration into a retail extravaganza and it is no wonder we no longer experience the "Christmas Spirit."
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