Thursday, August 28, 2003

It's the day of the show, y'all...

So it is. To all my beloved friends raising the curtain on W;t tonight, break a leg. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow, hopefully.

Monday, August 25, 2003

But let's not stop there!!!

In addition to my college soundtrack, I include below the soundtrack to "Adulthood: Year One"(double-disc).

(Note: I could list Counting Crows' entire library of music, but I'll refrain. Just understand that they are my absolute favorites, and they go without saying.)

In no order, with less explanation:

DISC ONE

1. "This is Your Life" by Switchfoot--"...are you who you want to be?"

2. "A Blank Page Empire" by Further Seems Forever

3. "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan--"...how does it feel..."

4. "The Scientist" by Coldplay--"Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard..."

5. "At Least I Got a Car" by Waterdeep--you're right, Manders, this one rocks.

6. "Don't Dream It's Over" by Sixpence None the Richer--originally by Crowded House, kids, let's not forget... and still a great song.

7. "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley--one of the saddest, most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

8. "A Good Year for the Roses" by Elvis Costello--almost too country but still so good... (Honestly, I'm partial to the Counting Crows' cover of this tune, but you have to give credit where it's due.)

9. "Richard Manuel is Dead" by Counting Crows--okay, I'll list a few of theirs. This is my current favorite from Hard Candy.

10-11. "Get Down" and "The Good Life" by Audio Adrenaline--I rediscovered the Underdog album recently. These songs are so great.

DISC TWO

12. "You Know You're Right" by Nirvana--from uplifting to nihilistic depression. Nirvana rocks. I'm sorry, but they did. And this song is one of my favorites.

13-15. Ben Folds Five medley: "Missing the War", "Evaporated", "The Last Polka"-- You figure it out.

16. "Mr. Jones" by Counting Crows--the acoustic version from the live album is so perfect and sad. Lucas said once that it embodies the feeling of disappointed dreams. Yeah. I get that too.

17-18. "Silver Street" and "Steven's Last Night in Town" by Ben Folds Five--snuck two more in. These are the "return to OBU" songs. They're right, kids, you can never go back. It's always a weird feeling when I go back there. But I keep going. I think because I have no other friends.

19. "October" by Seth Woods--just a great song. The links somewhere on the right, check him out, he's awesome.

20. "Perfect Blue Buildings" by Counting Crows--"gotta get me a little oblivion baby, to keep myself away from myself and me..." Right on, Adam. I'm totally on that page sometimes.
My College Soundtrack

(Dedicated to Manders)

This isn't necessarily the music I listened to in college (some of it, decidedly not), but more what music sums up my memories of the college experience. As such, this will really matter to only one of you.

(in no order)

1. "Beautiful Disaster" by 311--sung by Aaron Willis at an official OBU function, which makes me laugh every time. And it summed up my feelings about life sometimes...a lot of times. "Beautiful Disaster/flying down the street again..."

2. "White Wedding" by Billy Idol--my shining karaoke moment; I sang this to Toni and Jill two weeks before their weddings, and had several half-drunk barflies screaming for me toward the end there. You don't feel sexy until barflies are cheering... um, yeah.

3. "Goodbye" by Plankeye--the exact details of this memory include Trev, Tiffany, Shannon and I in Trev's jeep. Trevor sang this so loud and off key we all couldn't help laughing. But as graduation grew nearer, this song became more important, and I would love to hear Trev sing it again. Maybe I'll ask him while I'm there.

(The Roommate Anthems:)

4. "To Hell with the Devil" by Stryper--I haven't met a Stryper fan like Trev-dawg, and don't think I ever will. And he will break out in a Stryper song at the drop of a hat. It's frightening.

5. "Hit Me Baby (One more time)" by Britney Spears--I heard more of this song than I ever wanted to, when I lived with Daryl. Obsessed doesn't even begin to describe it.

6. "(Dirty) Pop" by N'Sync--Of course it's not as bad as living with a future boy band member. (If anyone could make it, Josh could.) So yeah, I had to learn to at least tolerate N'Sync and their Christian counterparts.

(Anyways...)

7. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zepplin--I sat alone in a friend's apartment, listening to this classic on vinyl album, in a darkened room lit by a single blue candle. No I wasn't smoking out, but the experience was a bit trippy, even without stimulants.

8. "Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon" from the Pulp Fiction soundtrack--if I'm not mistaken, I got my first kiss during this song at the Dorland Awards After-party. A moment I won't forget, even if I'm fuzzy on what exactly was playing.

9. "What's My Age Again?" by Blink-182--this song will forever remind me of the Theatre guys (Mike, Lucas, Brandon, and Bree). I heard this song almost every time I was working on sets in the shop (along with their other song by Blink, which i can't write out here).

10. "Almost Home" by Chris Currier and yours truly--only publicly performed twice, to modest applause from close and too-kind friends. But definitely a memory for me--the first song I co-wrote. And the last, in all likelihood.

11. "Consuming Fire" by Third Day--the most spiritual experience I've ever had at a rock show. Third Day rocked this one out at OBU, and I was caught up in rapturous praise. Amazing. I was three feet from the wall of speakers, so it was easy to ignore the world for four minutes.

12. "Theme from Our Town" by Will Ledesma and myself--the only way to stay sane when the theme song to your show is uber-repetitive? Make up your own words. "Welcome to Our Town/It is not your town/It's so boring/We're all snoring/Welcome to Our Town."

13. "Round Here" by Counting Crows--my favorite musical memory of OBU. Ira Wilson was playing at Oregano's, and Marty gets up on the "stage" and talks for a minute or two about how you can't put your trust in an institution, because they will always turn on you and let you down (read: Boo OBU.). Then he starts singing "Round Here." Now, Marty doesn't have what you would call a pretty voice. But his honesty and emotion turn it into one of the most memorable performances in my lifetime.

14. "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds--Riss.

Every day I write the book...

Hmm... Guess it's time for my almost monthly blog-a-thon.

Well, kids, since I haven't heard a word from Zondervan, I'm not holding my breath for that job. I say we boycott. Screw Zondervan.

I am in the interview process for a better job, closer to home, but a bit farther from my dream profession. Who cares, at this point. There is the looming possibility for residential independence. Yeehah!

I'm going up to Shawnee this weekend. Twila Johnson's starring in "Wit" and I have a ticket reserved. I'm very excited.

I have nothing profound to say tonight. Though that frustrated me immensely last time, it doesn't so much now. Anyways, this post is born more out of a feeling of responsibility to the few of you that still read it. I appreciate you all. And I figure I owe you an update once in a while.

More coming, of a less newsworthy nature.

Thursday, August 14, 2003

You know you're one of the hip kids...

...when your first response to the word "emo" is not "Phillips?" Actually, you might still be hip, but a different kind of hip.

That's right, friends, I'm an emo kid too. Actually, not really an "emo kid" persay, but an appreciator of the genre.

For example, and as proof of my straining clutch on every last shred of youth, I purchased How to Start a Fire by Further Seems Forever, at my local music distribution center (Best Buy, it was on sale).

I would have argued for a while now that I was past the "emo" stage of my life, but as recent posts indicate, that's not entirely accurate. I think yesterday was my "Counting Crows day".

So I'm back now, in some sense. But I have been delving periodically back into the emo vault.

My current emo favorite is "A Blank Page Empire" by FSF.

"I'd blow this whole world to pieces to not be alone." Extreme, but extremely honest. A lifetime of desperation distilled into one passionate line.

I would be lying if I said that it doesn't resonate with me right now.

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

What's my age again?

You know, looking back over the last few posts, I've realized that the only thing that seperates my humble bloggadelphia from the average sixteen-year-old's is better spelling and a few big words.

Why can't I be more intellectual? More literary? More mature? I don't know.

I think part of the reason is that we talk all the time, with family and friends, about every stupid thing that crosses our minds. Some bloggers turn to the computer when they feel inspired, when they feel like they have something important to say. They create compelling, profound prose. They actually sound like college students and graduates.

I'm different, because when I blog, it's more out of loneliness than profundity. I don't have enough common conversation. Take the last post, for example. What a waste of electrons. If I had someone to share my useless opinions with on a regular basis, I promise, dear and gentle reader, I'd write something worth reading once in a while.

In fact, do yourself a favor and go read someone else's blog. Manders has a great list of blogs. May I recommend "A Cold and Broken Hallelujah", I've enjoyed that one recently. Or Sarah Hatter's site. I've been reading her voraciously for three days. It's almost like making a new friend, without the risk.

The depressing part is that I've learned more about Sarah than I have about most of the people I speak to on a daily basis.

Something's wrong.
"I've been dreaming/Of the things I learned about a boy..."

You know what's a great movie? About A Boy.

I like it. And you should too. It makes me feel good. And any movie that rocks out to "Killing Me Softly" by Roberta Fleck, is okay by me.
My Lucky Day, it seems

I came into possession of a used, but still ostensibly functioning Polaroid flip-top camera, thanks to the kind folks at Tide-Air. It's the same kind of camera my grandfather still uses. Fun times. I think I may bite the bullet (Polaroid film costing approximately the same as a VW Bus) and use this gem to document my imminent return to Bison Hill.

That's right, kids. I'm just like Cher. Can't figure out when to stop touring.
YOU MUST BUY THIS ALBUM

You know, if you want to... Doesn't matter, it's cool.

My current CD fave is The Sky is Cyan by Seth Woods. He played at Metro the other week, and was outstanding. CD's awesome too. I may post some lyrics here one of these days. Give ya a little taste.

Kinda has a Adam Duritz-y vibe to him, although if you have to peg him down by genre, it would be folk-rock, Mayer-ish. (Which depresses me, for some reason.) But that's the music I dig these days.

Check him out.
Polka your eyes out...

Yeah. So i'm a HUGE geek.

I finally have to face the facts. I can't deny it any longer. Now the whole world knows.

You see... *sigh*... last night... Mike and I went to a Weird Al concert. And I had a blast.

I know, I know. I'm ashamed of myself, too.
So much to say...

It's only been ten days. Feels like longer. I've been meaning to post for a while. I guess I'm getting back into the daily habit. Sounds odd, after the lapse. Guess my intentions are habitual, at least.

A lot has gone on with me. And nothing. Depends on what level you're asking about.

No one is asking these days. Well, actually that's not true. I will return your email, Baylor-bound fellow blogger. Soon.

What's with me today? Or, as Lucas would say, "what's with today, today?"





Which Empire Records character would YOU be? Hmmm?

This quiz made while Angel was procrastinating her tail off.


So yeah. It's a superb evening. Superb.

Superb.

Sunday, August 03, 2003

Songs of the Week, or "I'm just a girl..."

(for fun and discussion, not deep meaning)

Last week, it was "The Best Thing" by Paige Lewis, and "Act the Scat" by DMHO. (The links are over there -->). I forgot to mention. heh.

This week, two secular songs (sorry) that I'm jamming to:

"Can't Stop" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I know, I know, they're very perverse normally, and no, I don't recommend buying their music, but this song is so infectious and cool that every time I hear it on the radio, I turn it up full and sing at the top of my voice. It's a fun bounce-around song. So sue me.

"Don't Speak" by No Doubt

No, seriously. Has to be one of the most perfect (anti-?)love ballads ever written. The tune is awesome, Gwen Stefani (*swoon*) has a great voice, and the whole vibe of the song is just perfect. Don't believe me? Okay then, I want all of you (you know who you are) who have the song on CD or MP3 to stop and listen to it right now. I dare you. You'll see exactly what I mean. If you can, turn it up kinda loud, so you can hear the richness of the instrumentals. Trust me, you'll thank me later. If not for the new-found appreciation for the song, at least for the wicked-cool mid-90's flashback.


Guess that's it. Party on, Wayne.
"We're all dying, Tracy James"

...is a better song that "At Least I've Got a Car." Or at least just as good.

General news post, commencing...NOW.

I'm working! It's a temp job, but STILL... No, it's for a fun and exciting company called Tide Air, that installs and services air compressors. Which I know nothing about. So that's fun. Really, go to their site and check it out. Hilarity ensues, I assure you.

Does sarcasm translate better over blogs than it does over IM's? Guess we'll find out.

On the "trying to find a real job and get health insurance" front, I applied to Zondervan, for the position of Associate Editor. Dream come true, right? (For those of you unaware, Zondervan publishes the NIV Bible. SO odds are unless you go to my OLD church and still use the King James, you've used a Zondervan product.) I'm praying that I get hired there (pray with me, please). The only downside to the job is that I'd have to move. I'd still be close to family and friends, but I would be in Grand Rapids, MI, my (extended) family would be in Jackson, MI, and my friends would be in Chicago. But still, it'd be a great job. (IF ANYONE FROM THE ZONDERVAN HR DEPARTMENT IS READING THIS, PLEASE HIRE ME. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.)

Actually, I hope no one from Zondervan sees this, it might do more harm than good.

Okay...all right. Moving on.

I gave my two weeks' notice at Papa John's. To quote Mr. Christian fromMutiny on the Bounty, "by God, sir, I'll take no more of your abuse!"

...I seemed to say.

So unless I get the editor job (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE), I need to get another part time job. Any ideas? What's that I can't hear you? Oh, yeah, I don't know how to enable comments. I'll get right on that.

Ummm....

I went to the first half of a ministry thing at church called PLACE. It's an acronym, but I have no idea what it represents. Anywho, it helps you understand your personality and spiritual gifts, then shows you the areas of ministry for which you are suited. Fun times. The personality portion is a condensed version of the "DISC" personality assessment. Turns out I am now more "I" than "S", a change from last time. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, it's too much to explain. Basically, Dave right now=more fun and outgoing than Dave in middle school.

Guess that's all. Bye guys. Be good.