A Trick of the Tail

Phil Collins is one of my favorite singers, along with his at one time band, Genesis. I like him for his use of clean lyrics. (at least in the songs I listen to, I might be mistaken) At the beginning of 8th grade I couldn't go to sleep without Ripples by Genesis playing in the background. Ripples isn't exactly what people nowadays would call entertaining (being 8 minutes long with only about 3 minutes actually being lyrics), but I liked it. Another one of my favorites by Genesis is A Trick of the Tale, a story of a beast that could talk and lived in a city of gold but left its home for our world, however humans imprisoned it and eventually it broke free and offered to show its captors the city of gold. The conclusion is my "lyrics quote" at the bottom.

"And so we set out with the beast and his horns and his crazy description of home after many days journey we came to a peak where the beast gazed abroad and cried out we followed his gaze and we thought that maybe a spire of gold, no a trick of the eye thats all but the beast was gone and a voice was heard. They got no horns and they got no tails they don't even know of our existence am I wrong to believe in the city of gold that lies in the deep distance"-A Trick of the Tail by Genesis

Hero

Today Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 crashed 2 miles from its destination airport in Amsterdam. Now for those that don't know it, I'm a huge fan of airplanes. (but not a fan of flying in them) It seems strange to me that recently there have been airplane accidents seemingly at least once a month. In December there was the flight that crashed on takeoff in Denver. In January Captain "Sully" was in the news about his daring landing in the Hudson. Then earlier this month a plane crashed killing about 50 people. Today as stated above the airplane that crashed in Amsterdam. The story didn't really catch my eye or attention until I heard that 9 people died, including the Pilot and Co-Pilot. Now a big reason I don't want to be a pilot is because I have the lives of other people in my hands. Its one thing if I get myself killed but its not fair to those other people on the flight. However I really got to thinking when I heard this. Even though 7 others died besides them, are the pilots of that plane proud that they were able to bring that plane down without a lot more fatalities? I think they should be. It could have been a lot worse. Those pilots should be honored just as much as Chelsey Sullenberger. They died trying to save others' lives. Thats all anyone could ever ask of them as pilots...or as ordinary people.

"And they say that a hero can save us I'm not gonna stand here and wait I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles watch as we all fly away"-Hero by Nickelback

Lighted Up

Two years ago I started on a road that millions of other have gone down...The road of making videos (with the intent of uploading it to youtube) For a year I spent time making videos, 12 I think. Yet I knew that I couldn't upload them. I still don't know why. However when I got my own computer in December in 2007 nothing stopped me from finally bringing my dream to fruitition. March 17, 2008 my first video was uploaded. 8 out of 13 of my videos are done to music sung by Brad Paisley. (in my opinion the greatest country singer, with Tim McGraw in a close second) However my very first videos were done with sample music that was already on the computer. This is one of those songs, I never knew who sang the song or what the name of the song was but less than a month ago I was able to find it and add it to my list of favorite songs on playlist.com. 2 years after I heard this song I was able to find it and still love it, I'd say thats pretty devoted.

"But I believe theres a need for separation and I can't see I need to find another way to keep me lighted up"-Lighted Up by Gabriel Mann

One Week

One trait of my personality is that I watch people to see what really upsets them. Then when the time is right, I do that thing that upsets them to set them off. Its pretty bad to do and some of my friends get mad at me but I get kicks from it. Whenever I do it though I always tell them that I'm just joking but sometimes they take it personally and don't talk to me for a while. As for me I'm usually (USUALLY!!! not always) slow to anger and don't take things personally. Even when I am angry its not even something that was said or done to me, but another. So sometimes I don't know where to draw the line and get people very mad at me...but sometimes its those people that take one little thing to set them off that makes it fun. Although working to upset someone also has about the same level of fun to it.

"Its been one week since you looked at me cocked your head to the side and said I'm angry...How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad tryin hard not to smile though I feel bad I'm the kind of guy that laughs at a funeral can't understand what I mean you soon will I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve I have a history of taking off my shirt"-One Week by Bare Naked Ladies

Why Can't We Be Friends

Today I got an e-mail from a girl in South Africa named Zandria. The story of how I met her goes back to 6th grade when I went on a trip to Washington D.C. on a program with an organization called People To People that was created by President Eisenhower (one of my heroes) I was put into a group of kids, their names ( if I remember) and their states (if I remember again) are as follows: Keegan (MA), Grace (NV), Kaitlyn (AZ), Jeremy (TN), Malia (HI *still in touch with her*), Joshua (SC or NC), a boy and girl from MA who were schoolmates of Keegan *I will put in their names if I ever remember them*, Briana (NY), one other girl I think who I have forgotten the name of, Shawn (or possibly Sean) (VT *he was not in my group but while we were out there we were basically inseperable, sadly though I didn't get his e-mail*), and last but not least Zandria (South Africa). I think that really the first time I talked to her was on the bus we traveled on to get around in D.C. if I remember right she was sick and no one was sitting next to her so I went over and sat with her. (As nice as this makes me look I really didn't want to sit next to her, just to be honest) We got to talking and became friends. She soon went to sleep. (and nearly or did sleep on my shoulder O_o) I used to get e-mails from here at least once a week, but lately e-mails have become a rare occurance. At one point months ago she hadn't replied in months, this got me worried about her. However when she did reply I was overjoyed, this taught me not to take things for granted, and especially today when I saw I had an e-mail from her I was glad. This is the last line of the e-mail from her: Well i hope to hear from u soooooon......................................................just rememba, u will always be my fwend!!! I sent my reply after reading her e-mail and I hope she responds soon, I hope that she too will always be my...fwend...

"Sometimes I don't speak right but yet I know what I'm talking about Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends?"-Why Can't We Be Friends? by War

Ana Ng

On Coach Hawley's blog for the past couple of days his posts have all been about "The One" which is based off of John asking Jesus if he was "The One." But in this format the question is: is there only one person for us? Now for me I would have to say yes, one would be great seeing as how no girls like me. Ha did you like that?! (inside joke with Jonathan) In all seriousness though, I'm not sure whether to believe that there is one person for us or anyone. I'm a very superstitious person but this is one that I just can't place my finger on. *the song (by one of my favorite bands!!!) is about two people who have never met and live on opposite sides of the world, but yet are perfect soul mates*

"Ana Ng and I are getting old and we still haven't walked in the glow of each others' majestic presence Listen Ana hear my words they're the ones you would think I would say if there was a me for you"-Ana Ng by They Might Be Giants

My List

Right now my life as it is isn't balanced. My basic day starts with going to school, coming home, doing homework, maybe sleep somewhere in there, and then I jump on the computer, or some sort of gaming system. I think I need to do something to change. Tomorrow I will write a list of things I want to get accomplished in that week. *the song I'm going to put up is a tribute to firefighters or the heroes during 9/11, if you watch the music video, you understand*

"Wouldn't change the course of fate but cuttin' the grass just had to wait 'Cause I've got more important things like pushin' my kid on the backyard swing I won't break my back for a million bucks I can't take to my grave So why put off for tomorrow what I could get done today...Under an old brass paperweight Is my list of things to do today"-My List by Toby Keith

The Invisible Man

Scatman John is someone I hope that I can be like. I don't think many have heard of Scatman John but he was born John Paul Larkin on March 13, 1942. This is his life story:

Born in El Monte, California, he suffered from a severe stutter "since [he] started talking", which led to an emotionally traumatic childhood. Even at the peak of his success in 1995, journalists reported that during interviews he "hardly finishes a sentence without repeating the phrase at least six or seven times". At age 12 he began to learn piano, and was introduced to the art of scat singing at 14 through records by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, amongst others. The piano provided him with a means of artistic expression to compensate for his speech difficulties. He remarked in a 1996 interview that "playing piano gave me a way to speak... I hid behind the piano because I was scared of talking."

He became a professional jazz pianist in the 1970s and '80s, playing many gigs in jazz clubs around Los Angeles. In 1986, he released the self-titled album John Larkin on the Transition label, copies of which are now extremely rare. He claimed to have "hundreds of them lying around in [his] closet at home". Around this time, alcoholism and drug addiction were also beginning to take a hold of his life. When fellow musician and friend Joe Farrell, who also had a drug problem, died of bone cancer in 1986, Larkin decided to beat his habits. He eventually did so, largely with the help of his new wife Judy, also a recovering alcoholic. "You have talent", she told him. "I'm going to make something out of you".

Larkin was mainly scared that listeners would realize he stuttered, so Judy suggested that he talk about it directly in his music. He recorded the first single, "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)", a song intended to inspire children who stuttered to overcome adversity. He adopted the new name and persona of Scatman John.

He later went on to release three albums total, the last one he worked on though he had a serious illness. December 3, 1999 Scatman John died in his LA home from lung cancer...sad to think that is 4 days before my birthday.

I love listening to Scatman's music, all of it is clean and most of it has some sort of moral to it. He overcame his stuttering to become one of the greatest muscians (in my book) in the world. So I devoted this post to him. Even though he is not here, his decisions continue to affect people. Rest in peace Scatman John.

"Im the invisible man, Im the invisible man incredible how you can see right through me Im the invisible man Im the invisible man Its criminal how I can see right through you"-The Invisble Man by Scatman John

Some Might Say

All of today I keep getting examples of when only one side of the story is told. This started early this morning in choir when we were watching West Side Story. Everyone was mad at Maria for being in love with Tony, the man who killed her brother, Bernardo (or something like that)...the little interesting side note though is that before that Bernardo had killed Tony's best friend, everyone seems to forget that little detail. Another example is today in Bible when Angelica pointed out Ryan for ignoring her in front of his cousins when he saw her at the movie theater...The behind the scenes with Ryan interview reveals that the day before Ryan had told her when, which movie, and which theater he was going to (she made no reaction that would suggest she was going)...So in fact he was being stalked...She did not reveal this minor detail. The final one is a Pokemon reference...I know what your thinking. Well in this one people were building a dam, but a mole-like pokemon called Diglett kept stopping trucks from getting through, however it is revealed later that the Diglett do this because if the dam is finished not only their homes, but the homes of other pokemon in the area would be destroyed, so that was the other side to that coin. (That was probaly a very true comparison to what humans to do animals sadly, but in the episode they stopped building the dam once this was realized) So I think after the repeated lessons this day on not to judge something by what is heard first, I think I will take the time more often to look at the story from both sides (even though this is what I usually do, and often times pick a neutral state) *One of the only times I will allow the h word in any kind of form, I detest it but I think it fits well for this topic*

"Some might say that sunshine follows thunder Go and tell it to the man who can not shine...Some might say they don't believe in heaven Go and tell it to the man who lives in hell"-Some Might Say by Oasis

Dashboard

Today turned out to be an OK day. Nothing too bad, but nothing terribly good either...other than the fact it was kinda a free day throughout the whole day. I messed up though, I should've been better. Gosh. Tomorrow maybe I can start over.

"Well it would've been could've been worse than you would ever know"-Dashboard by Modest Mouse

Save Tonight

Well my first post in a while due to horrible internet on my computer so I've had to break down and use my mom's computer. I have been watching videos from a website called megavideo for approximately 72 minutes...How do I know this? Because the site has a 72 minute limit and then you have to wait 54 minutes in order to watch another 72 minutes. When you really start to think about it there are a lot of limits in life. No not the impossible ones like, you can't run 100 meters in 2 seconds, or that you can't fly without the aid of something. I'm talking about the simpler ones. The limit of 60 seconds in a minute, or 24 hours in a day, or 120 years in life, although for most its quite shorter. Life is based off of limits. Its also based on knowing when to draw the line and knowing those limits, but thats for another post. On a lighter note (but a sad one fore me) I have no Valentine. I know!! Woe is me. But thats ok I guess yesterday I went to a church dance that was neat. Tomorrow...Ought to be interesting.

"Save tonight and fight the break of dawn come tomorrow tomorrow I'll be gone"-Save Tomorrow by Eagle Eye Cherry

Who Can It Be Now?

I forget where I've read this before but someone once wrote, life is a series of rooms. When you meet someone, they just happen to be in the same room. I thought about this for a while. I still think about it everynow and then, thinking how true. Sometimes I think it may have something more to do than just being in the same room, because sometimes some pretty incredible things happen because of people you "just happen to be in the same room with." Right now I'm reading a Pokemon manga (basically a japanese comic book, translated into english of course) and there was a preview of the next volume and there was a girl and the name Blue was mentioned on the page several times so I'm wondering if this Blue person will somehow meet up with Ash (called Red in manga but...I mean really...we all know its Ash!!) Anyway if they do, I just wonder how it will turn out. I don't want her liking him or vice-versa, like I've said before Ash (Red w/e) is meant for Misty (who showed up earlier interestingly enough! but they separated) Its just impossible for me to picture him with anyone besides her!...OR maybe this "Blue" person will be a better match O_o only time will tell. I have a feeling they will converge in the same room.

Is it the man come to take me away? Why do they follow me? Its not the future I can see Just my fantasy Who it can be now?"-Who Can It Be Now? by Men At Work

Moving Along

When I was a lot younger I, like many other American kids, was swept away with Pokemon. Although I no longer watch the show for a couple of reasons (1. No time 2. Pokemon keep getting weirder 3. Don't have the channels required to watch it 4. Misty isn't there, whats the point of Pokemon if Misty and Ash can't get together?!) Well, I've started to watch it online and its actually a lot funnier than when I was young, I understand a lot of the messages better, like puns and times when the characters are lovestruck. Although it may be uncool now to watch Pokemon, I just can't tear myself away from it, I guess its just something that will take some time before I get moving along. (waiting to see hidden Ash and Misty messages >_^)

"When all you got to keep is strong move along move along like I know you do and even when your hope is gone move along move along just to make it through move along"-Move Along by All American Rejects

Grown Men Do Cry

I don't know who coined the phrase "Grown men don't cry" but I know that they do. I hope that I never get so stone hard that I can't cry. Its something we do when we just have unbearable sadness, we were meant to do it. Don't hold it in, let it out, ya know?...I have, I do, and I shall.

"And everything weighin on my mind disappears just like thatWhen she lifts her head off her pillow and says,I love you dad I dont know why they say grown men dont cry"-Grown Men Don't Cry by Tim McGraw

Rising Above This

I was watching tv today when the internet gave out on my computer. The show that was on was iCarly, which comes on Nickolodeon, it has Miranda Cosgrove and Jeanette McCurdy. (who I think is really cute) On the show they do their own webcam show and just do weird and funny things. This one girl claims to be their biggest fan and ends up stalking them. (very creepy in the episode...VERY!) And it just got me thinking...plenty of people will say they are fans of people, or bands, or things, but how many say they are God or Jesus' biggest fan? Its just something for the mind to mull over. In the end though the girl ends up stalking a local band next claiming to be their biggest fan, so she wasnt true to her word. Maybe with a little help she will be able to rise above this, hopefully me too.

"Call your name every day, when i feel so helpless I'm fallin' down, but I'll rise above this, rise above this doubt"-Rise Above This by Seether

Deleted...

Wow...Ok whats really got me down about now is when people you used to talk to a lot just...Delete you I guess...I can think of several of people that have "deleted" me. It just nearly breaks my heart thinking about it. Well this is my first blog, trying out this whole thing. At the end of my blog I'm going to put lyrics to a song, the Artist, and most of the time the song because this is what I do on other websites. Even my blog is named after a song I like, which is called "In the Middle" by Jimmy Eat World.

"I wish you wouldn't worry, let it be Have a little faith and you'll see If I could write a letter to me...To me..."-Letter to Me by Brad Paisley