Happy New Year and random thoughts . . .

Happy new year to you all. Well, all two of you that may actually read this, at least! Here's to a great year filled with all kinds of great and glorious things.

Do you ever feel like your life is going nowhere fairly fast? I do, particularly lately. Before going deeper, I must make a few qualifying statements. I have a terrific family. Despite the occasions in which we feel the crushing need for mutual strangling, I really love each member of my family. Also, I have a great job that I love. I've really got it going well in these areas, so, you may ask, why am I complaining?

Lately, I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t have much of a life. For most of my life, I’ve defined fulfillment as the ability to do the things that I enjoy doing, like playing video games, reading books, watching movies, and listening to music. Or, I’ve looked forward to certain events like concerts, or scheduled “hang out time” with friends. But, as of late I’ve been finding these activities strangely empty. They’ve always brought me joy and satisfaction, but now they don’t. It’s really weird. I mean, for about as long as I can remember, I’ve found satisfaction in these things and now I don’t. It’s almost like having the flashlight turned out in a dark room, and that flashlight was the one that I always used to find my way around.

Also, I’m part of the weirdest contradiction. When I’m in school, all I want is to be on break so that I have the free time to do these things. But now that I am on break and have the time, I find myself bored. I made the mistake of mentioning this to my Mother, and she had the "terrific" idea of putting me to work around the house. But, here’s the thing, while I want to have something to do, that’s not it. On the other hand, I do think that I’ve been becoming a somewhat more responsible person lately, at least in practical areas. For example, I’ve been making an effort to complete jobs that need doing, even if it’s not really my responsibility to do them. I’ve also tried to do things without grumbling, which I’m not always successful at.

Then, to top it all off, I find myself in a place of uncertainty about where my life is going to end up, and how I'll get there. (wherever there is)

So, forgive me for venting like this in a Happy New Year post and thanks for listening.


P.S. This song really sums up how I feel. http://youtube.com/watch?v=ggMhLmOOc2A

In Memory . . .

Robert Altman died last night. He was only 81. Now, I understand that 81 isn’t usually an age that we say such things about. But Mr. Altman was not a man that did things the way that they were “usually” done. He made a name for himself in the 1970’s, when a director with a camera could make just about any kind of movie that he or she wanted. He did just that, and then some.

I’m rather new to Altman’s work, as I’ve only been a fan for about a year and a half. The first film of his that I ever saw is still my favorite. This film, Gosford Park, has actually become one of my favorite movies of all time. More recently, Altman’s most recent film, A Prairie Home Companion is one of my favorite films of the year. It was a curious thing. When it was over, I couldn’t really tell you exactly what it was about, but I knew that I loved it.

If one thing could be said about Robert Altman, it’s that he wasn’t interested in doing what everyone else was doing. Not only that, but he could take a format like a whodunit or a small town drama that you think you understand and turn it on its head. Despite the fact that he wasn’t getting any younger, he never stopped making films. That’s what’s really so sad about his death for me; I know that his work wasn’t completed. Even though he has left us with so many films, I can’t help thinking that there should have been more. We have lost a great man.

Yes, what you've been hearing is true....

Well, at long last and after many moons, I have returned. I apologize for my long abscence, but hopefully you will be able to appreciate my growing maturity. :-) I hope to make some cosmetic and asthetic changes to this blog's appearance, provided I can figure out how. So, welcome, if you've never been here before, welcome back if you're a previous visitor, and enjoy the unmitigated experience of listening to my thoughts.

Hopefully, this is the start of a beautiful friendship . . .

Almost there...

Well, it's half an hour before Game 4 of the ALDS, and I'm thinking that this might be the end of the road for the Bronx Bombers. It's funny, I usually root for the Yanks (except when they play the Angels) but in this case I hope they go DOWN!!! Heeeeeeeere's hopin'......

October

October is a magical month. Why? Not because the leaves begin to fall from the trees or because college students "enjoy" the privilege of taking mid-terms in this month. No, it's because October is the month of the playoffs and World Series. This year is special, too, because my team, the ANAHEIM Angels have a good shot at going all the way. Personally, I think that we can totally take out our first opponent, the New York Yankees. I'm not sure exactly how long this series will last, but I'm thinking it'll be the Halos in either 4 or 5 games. Anyway, enjoy this special month of comebacks, thrills, and, (hopefully not for me) disappointments. October is a magical month.

http://www.mlb.com
http://www.angelsbaseball.com

Dylan

I am nothing if not passionate about what I like. One of my many loves is music, but not just any music. Because, unlike many people in my generation, I LOVE older music. (you know, stuff from 30-40 years ago that is the foundation of stuff that we enjoy now) So, while people my age are listening to bands that scream unintelligibly against walls of distorted guitars, I'm jamming to Bob Dylan. Some people don't understand my devotion to this man's music, and say things like "He can't even sing" or "I just don't understand the big deal about this guy," so, I'd like to try to explain why I love his music.

1. I think that this guy is a genius. He's written the most amazing lyrics I've ever seen. Seriously, the dude can take anything and put it in a song. Who else could write a song (Desolation Row) with Einstein, Casanova, The Phantom of the Opera, Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, & Cinderella without it seeming stupid? And who else could write so many incredibly good folk songs in only a few short years? If you don't agree, then think about this, Blowin' In the Wind, The Times They Are A-Changin, Chimes of Freedom, & With God On Our Side were all written within about 3 years of each other. Not only that, but Dylan's still kickin' and writing great stuff. Don't believe me? Check out Highlands, from 1997's Time Out Of Mind and you might just change your mind.

2. Dylan is going to do what Dylan wants to do. He's not going to kowtow to what any record exec or fan wants or expects him to do. Back in 1965, everyone was comfortable with Dylan as the generation's greatest protest singer who sang accompanied by his acoustic guitar and harmonica. So, he turned the tables, went electric, and produced some of the absolute greatest rock and roll ever recorded. In only 2 years (1965-1966), he released 3 of rock's greatest albums, Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, & Blonde On Blonde. Even back in 1997, when pop would soon go the way of the boy band and teenage girl diva, Dylan not only had a top ten album with Time Out Of Mind, he also won Album of the Year at the Grammys. When he decided to write an autobiography, Chronicles, Volume 1, in 2004, he didn't even talk about some of the pivotal moments in his life that many expected him to, like his conversion to Christianity or his motorcycle accident in the late 1960's. Instead, 80 of the book's 293 pages are devoted to his 1989 album Oh Mercy.

3. He changed a lot of popular perceptions. Particularly, he changed what it meant to be a popular singer. Lots of people figured (a la Jimi Hendrix) that if he could be a singer then so could they. Also, do you think that we would have some of these unconventional bands if it hadn't been for Dylan? Would Radiohead really write the kinds of songs they do if it wasn't for Dylan?

In conclusion, I enjoy listening to Dylan because his music means something. He's not up on stage singing about how "oops I did it again," or some other such piece of junk. He's singing about things that matter, such as how real people deal with real issues. Yes, he may clothe them with impressionistic lyrics, but the message comes through loud and clear. Even if you don't understand what in the world he's talking about in Ballad of a Thin Man, (which I don't) the feeling of alienation and helplessness that Mr. Jones, the song's main character, feels is communicated easily. I hope that Bob Dylan keeps making music for many more years to come, because I want to keep hearing what this guy's got to say. And, don't even think about trying to convince me that he's not worth listening to. I know better.

Hello

As very few people are likely to read this, I won't say much.

May all who read this blog be blessed and know the true peace that comes from love.

-Adam

...here goes nothing...