This commercial has been on for awhile but I thought I'd post it as a testament that I think their commercials are genius.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
I've Fallen Asleep
It wouldn't surprise me if many of you have thought that something was wrong with me since I haven't written a blog in so long. Nothing has been wrong. I just think that sometimes, I tend to fall asleep.
I'm not sure why but sometimes, I ignore what I'd rather be doing (writing) and just focus on what I have to do (work). I have been in such a mode since my last blog. I have switched departments at my work within the last month and have been working hard so that they will keep me rather than passing me along. This is the fifth department I've worked in at Lovelace, and the fourth just this year. I'm like the orphan child who wanders from place to place without a home.
I think part of me felt a bit letdown as well since my last blog because my last blog was an attempt at finally getting a real writing job. I didn't get it, and although I knew I wouldn't get it, I think a part of me wanted to quit for awhile. At this point, I don't think I'll ever try getting another writing job. I'm just tired of trying at it.
Right now, I'm living just to live, which is the first time in a long time that I think I've done such a thing. I have nothing in particular I want except to just get through the day so I can go home and spend time with my wife doing things I want to do. Despite how it sounds though, I am not sad or depressed. I am actually quite happy and I try to enjoy all that I can with the time I have to myself. I am a bit worried however at where my life is headed, in a career sense. It is often said that if you don't know where you want to go, you end up where you don't want to be. And I have no idea where I want to go.
Anyway, I'll end this update with the hope that I'll continue to write more and to get back on track. I hope you are all doing well.
I'm not sure why but sometimes, I ignore what I'd rather be doing (writing) and just focus on what I have to do (work). I have been in such a mode since my last blog. I have switched departments at my work within the last month and have been working hard so that they will keep me rather than passing me along. This is the fifth department I've worked in at Lovelace, and the fourth just this year. I'm like the orphan child who wanders from place to place without a home.
I think part of me felt a bit letdown as well since my last blog because my last blog was an attempt at finally getting a real writing job. I didn't get it, and although I knew I wouldn't get it, I think a part of me wanted to quit for awhile. At this point, I don't think I'll ever try getting another writing job. I'm just tired of trying at it.
Right now, I'm living just to live, which is the first time in a long time that I think I've done such a thing. I have nothing in particular I want except to just get through the day so I can go home and spend time with my wife doing things I want to do. Despite how it sounds though, I am not sad or depressed. I am actually quite happy and I try to enjoy all that I can with the time I have to myself. I am a bit worried however at where my life is headed, in a career sense. It is often said that if you don't know where you want to go, you end up where you don't want to be. And I have no idea where I want to go.
Anyway, I'll end this update with the hope that I'll continue to write more and to get back on track. I hope you are all doing well.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Singles Review
I thought it was time for some single's reviews. This is from a piece I wrote for Randomville that will be published soon. Enjoy!
Big Boi-Shutterbugg
After being in Outkast, one of the greatest rap groups of all-time, there wasn’t anywhere Big Boi could go but down because after all, Andre 3000 was the mastermind of the group, wasn’t he? After listening to this track, the answer is apparently not. Shutterbugg is pure radio fodder and is sure to light up dance floors this summer and for years to come. The keyboards and guitar with its talk-box infused beat sound both danceable and sexy, much like Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” and showcases a side of Big Boi none of us knew existed. The only downfall of the song is Big Boi’s lyrics, which never seem to show how clever he can be. Frankly, he’s better than this. But, with a beat as awesome as this and a hook this catchy, who can complain? 4.5/5
Foals-Miami
The opening line of the Foals’ song “Miami” sung with style by lead singer Yannis Philippakis says, “I promised you an ocean of mother of pearl, gold and indigo.” A fitting statement, as the band quickly delivers on their promise by offering this song which plays with colors of tone-sometimes dark with themes of betrayal, sometimes light with themes of redemption and yet it always feels cohesive by being so damn danceable. With a discography of only two albums, the Foals prove that they are masters of the dance rock genre no matter how new they are to the scene. This is the kind of song Franz Ferdinand has been trying to write since their first album with little success. 4/5
Blitzen Trapper-Evening Star
Blitzen Trapper has been fighting comparisons to Wilco for some time and not without reason. Evening Star is no different. However, being compared to one of the best bands of the last decade is not a bad thing and Blitzen Trapper prove that they are capable of standing on their own. Evening Star is the kind of song that you ache for when you feel alone on a summer night and you find yourself driving aimlessly around the city. Eric Earley evokes that same seen-it-all feeling through his vocals and the acoustic guitar, bass and killer harmonies provides the comfort one searches for on those lonely nights when driving aimlessly around the city seems necessary. 3.5/5
Janelle Monae ft. Big Boi-Tightrope
Is this funk? Is this soul? Is this World music? It’s a bit of all three and yet the song always remains cohesive even when featured artist Big Boi comes in with a few lines of rap. Monae’s vocals are extremely impressive and even with a great horn section, a killer bass line and all manners of percussion, the focus is never taken off of her. Even Big Boi looks like an afterthought in the song compared to Monae’s vocal power. This song is sure to light up some dance floors. 3.5/5
Big Boi-Shutterbugg
After being in Outkast, one of the greatest rap groups of all-time, there wasn’t anywhere Big Boi could go but down because after all, Andre 3000 was the mastermind of the group, wasn’t he? After listening to this track, the answer is apparently not. Shutterbugg is pure radio fodder and is sure to light up dance floors this summer and for years to come. The keyboards and guitar with its talk-box infused beat sound both danceable and sexy, much like Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” and showcases a side of Big Boi none of us knew existed. The only downfall of the song is Big Boi’s lyrics, which never seem to show how clever he can be. Frankly, he’s better than this. But, with a beat as awesome as this and a hook this catchy, who can complain? 4.5/5
Foals-Miami
The opening line of the Foals’ song “Miami” sung with style by lead singer Yannis Philippakis says, “I promised you an ocean of mother of pearl, gold and indigo.” A fitting statement, as the band quickly delivers on their promise by offering this song which plays with colors of tone-sometimes dark with themes of betrayal, sometimes light with themes of redemption and yet it always feels cohesive by being so damn danceable. With a discography of only two albums, the Foals prove that they are masters of the dance rock genre no matter how new they are to the scene. This is the kind of song Franz Ferdinand has been trying to write since their first album with little success. 4/5
Blitzen Trapper-Evening Star
Blitzen Trapper has been fighting comparisons to Wilco for some time and not without reason. Evening Star is no different. However, being compared to one of the best bands of the last decade is not a bad thing and Blitzen Trapper prove that they are capable of standing on their own. Evening Star is the kind of song that you ache for when you feel alone on a summer night and you find yourself driving aimlessly around the city. Eric Earley evokes that same seen-it-all feeling through his vocals and the acoustic guitar, bass and killer harmonies provides the comfort one searches for on those lonely nights when driving aimlessly around the city seems necessary. 3.5/5
Janelle Monae ft. Big Boi-Tightrope
Is this funk? Is this soul? Is this World music? It’s a bit of all three and yet the song always remains cohesive even when featured artist Big Boi comes in with a few lines of rap. Monae’s vocals are extremely impressive and even with a great horn section, a killer bass line and all manners of percussion, the focus is never taken off of her. Even Big Boi looks like an afterthought in the song compared to Monae’s vocal power. This song is sure to light up some dance floors. 3.5/5
Friday, June 11, 2010
More Pearl Jam Cuz I'm In A Pearl Jam Mood
Here's another song from Pearl Jam. This one is called "Just Breathe" and it's off their newest record. The lyrics are underneath if you would like to read them. Hope you enjoy.
Yes, I understand that every life must end, aw-huh,..
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, aw-huh,..
Oh I'm a lucky man, to count on both hands
the ones I love,..
Some folks just have one,
yeah, others, they've got none, huh-uh
Stay with me,..
Let's just breathe.
Practiced are my sins,
never gonna let me win, aw-huh,..
Under everything, just another human being, aw-huh,..
Yeah, I don't wanna hurt, there's so much in this world
to make me bleed.
Stay with me,..
You're all I see.
Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see,..
No one knows this more than me.
As I come clean.
I wonder everyday
as I look upon your face, aw-huh,..
Everything you gave
And nothing you would take, aw huh,..
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave...
Did I say that I need you?
Oh, did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see,..
No one knows this more than me.
As I come clean, ah-ah...
Nothing you would take,..
Everything you gave.
Hold me till I die,..
Meet you on the other side.
Yes, I understand that every life must end, aw-huh,..
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, aw-huh,..
Oh I'm a lucky man, to count on both hands
the ones I love,..
Some folks just have one,
yeah, others, they've got none, huh-uh
Stay with me,..
Let's just breathe.
Practiced are my sins,
never gonna let me win, aw-huh,..
Under everything, just another human being, aw-huh,..
Yeah, I don't wanna hurt, there's so much in this world
to make me bleed.
Stay with me,..
You're all I see.
Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see,..
No one knows this more than me.
As I come clean.
I wonder everyday
as I look upon your face, aw-huh,..
Everything you gave
And nothing you would take, aw huh,..
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave...
Did I say that I need you?
Oh, did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see,..
No one knows this more than me.
As I come clean, ah-ah...
Nothing you would take,..
Everything you gave.
Hold me till I die,..
Meet you on the other side.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Yellow Ledbetter
This song has been in my head a lot lately, mostly because I've been trying to learn it on the guitar. It is by Pearl Jam and was a released as a b-side that was so good that it still found it's way onto the radio. The lyrics are pretty indecipherable as it seems Eddie Vedder is kind of mumbling the whole time (when they wrote the song, he just started mumbling to try to figure out a melody and it just stayed that way). However, there is a story behind it.
Eddie Vedder had a friend who received a yellow letter in the mail, informing him that his brother was killed in the Gulf War. They decided to take a walk together to clear his head when they passed by someone's house who was very patriotic, displaying flags all around the outside of their house. This patriotic person happened to be sitting on their porch and since the grunge phase was the kind of style for most teenagers at the time, this patriotic person looked at them very disapprovingly. So there was this kind of anger and irony they were dealing with, that if only this patriotic person had known the reason they were on a walk in the first place, they would have looked at them completely different.
I'm not telling this story because I'm trying to make a political statement or anything, but I'm just trying to relate the sadness and loss that is in the song. The guitar playing is very reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix's style and the solo in the middle of the song is still one of my all-time favorite guitar solos. It's not flashy at all but it just perfectly emotes the whole feeling of loss and enduring that the song is trying to evoke. It's such a beautiful song. Hope you enjoy.
Eddie Vedder had a friend who received a yellow letter in the mail, informing him that his brother was killed in the Gulf War. They decided to take a walk together to clear his head when they passed by someone's house who was very patriotic, displaying flags all around the outside of their house. This patriotic person happened to be sitting on their porch and since the grunge phase was the kind of style for most teenagers at the time, this patriotic person looked at them very disapprovingly. So there was this kind of anger and irony they were dealing with, that if only this patriotic person had known the reason they were on a walk in the first place, they would have looked at them completely different.
I'm not telling this story because I'm trying to make a political statement or anything, but I'm just trying to relate the sadness and loss that is in the song. The guitar playing is very reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix's style and the solo in the middle of the song is still one of my all-time favorite guitar solos. It's not flashy at all but it just perfectly emotes the whole feeling of loss and enduring that the song is trying to evoke. It's such a beautiful song. Hope you enjoy.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
George Carlin's "Modern Man"
George Carlin is widely considered one of the greatest comics of all-time and this speech proves why. I have the video with the text underneath if you prefer to read it.
Hope you enjoy.
I'm a modern man,
A man for the millennium,
Digital and smoke free.
A diversified multicultural postmodern deconstructionist,
Politically anatomically and ecologically incorrect.
I've been uplinked and downloaded.
I've been inputted and outsourced.
I know the upside of downsizing.
I know the downside of upgrading.
I'm a high tech lowlife.
A cutting edge state-of-the-art bicoastal multitasker,
And I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond.
I'm new wave but I'm old school,
And my inner child is outward bound.
I'm a hot wired heat seeking warm hearted cool customer,
Voice activated and biodegradable.
I interface from a database,
And my database is in cyberspace,
So I'm interactive,
I'm hyperactive,
And from time-to-time,
I'm radioactive.
Behind the eight ball,
Ahead of the curve,
Riding the wave,
Dodging a bullet,
Pushing the envelope.
I'm on point,
On task,
On message,
And off drugs.
I got no need for coke and speed,
I got no urge to binge and purge.
I'm in the moment,
On the edge,
Over the top,
But under the radar.
A high concept,
Low profile,
Medium range ballistic missionary.
A street-wise smart bomb.
A top gun bottom feeder.
I wear power ties,
I tell power lies,
I take power naps,
I run victory laps.
I'm a totally ongoing bigfoot slam dunk rainmaker with a proactive outreach.
A raging workaholic.
A working ragaholic.
Out of rehab,
And in denial.
I got a personal trainer,
A personal shopper,
A personal assistant,
And a personal agenda.
You can't shut me up,
You can't dumb me down.
'Cause I'm tireless,
And I'm wireless.
I'm an alpha male on beta blockers.
I'm a non-believer and an over-achiever.
Laid back but fashion forward.
Up front,
Down home,
Low rent,
High maintenance.
Super size,
Long lasting,
High definition,
Fast acting,
Oven ready,
And built to last.
I'm a hands on,
Foot loose,
Knee jerk,
Head case.
Prematurely post traumatic,
And I have a love child who sends me hate mail.
But I'm feeling,
I'm caring,
I'm healing,
I'm sharing.
A supportive bonding nurturing primary care giver.
My output is down,
But my income is up.
I take a short position on the long bond,
And my revenue stream has its own cash flow.
I read junk mail,
I eat junk food,
I buy junk bonds,
I watch trash sports.
I'm gender specific,
Capital intensive,
User friendly,
And lactose intolerant.
I like rough sex.
I like tough love.
I use the f word in my email,
And the software on my hard drive is hard core, no soft porn.
I bought a microwave at a mini mall.
I bought a mini van in a mega store.
I eat fast food in the slow lane.
I'm toll free,
Bite sized,
Ready to wear,
And I come in all sizes.
A fully equipped,
Factory authorized,
Hospital tested,
Clinically proven,
Scientifically formulated medical miracle.
I've been pre-washed,
Pre-cooked,
Pre-heated,
Pre-screened,
Pre-approved,
Pre-packaged,
Post-dated,
Freeze-dried,
Double-wrapped,
Vacuum-packed,
And I have an unlimited broadband capacity.
I'm a rude dude,
But I'm the real deal.
Lean and mean.
Cocked, locked and ready to rock.
Rough tough and hard to bluff.
I take it slow.
I go with the flow.
I ride with the tide.
I got glide in my stride.
Drivin' and movin',
Sailin' and spinnin',
Jivin' and groovin',
Wailin' and winnin'.
I don't snooze,
So I don't lose.
I keep the pedal to the metal,
And the rubber on the road.
I party hearty,
And lunch time is crunch time.
I'm hanging in,
There ain't no doubt.
And I'm hanging tough,
Over and out.
Hope you enjoy.
I'm a modern man,
A man for the millennium,
Digital and smoke free.
A diversified multicultural postmodern deconstructionist,
Politically anatomically and ecologically incorrect.
I've been uplinked and downloaded.
I've been inputted and outsourced.
I know the upside of downsizing.
I know the downside of upgrading.
I'm a high tech lowlife.
A cutting edge state-of-the-art bicoastal multitasker,
And I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond.
I'm new wave but I'm old school,
And my inner child is outward bound.
I'm a hot wired heat seeking warm hearted cool customer,
Voice activated and biodegradable.
I interface from a database,
And my database is in cyberspace,
So I'm interactive,
I'm hyperactive,
And from time-to-time,
I'm radioactive.
Behind the eight ball,
Ahead of the curve,
Riding the wave,
Dodging a bullet,
Pushing the envelope.
I'm on point,
On task,
On message,
And off drugs.
I got no need for coke and speed,
I got no urge to binge and purge.
I'm in the moment,
On the edge,
Over the top,
But under the radar.
A high concept,
Low profile,
Medium range ballistic missionary.
A street-wise smart bomb.
A top gun bottom feeder.
I wear power ties,
I tell power lies,
I take power naps,
I run victory laps.
I'm a totally ongoing bigfoot slam dunk rainmaker with a proactive outreach.
A raging workaholic.
A working ragaholic.
Out of rehab,
And in denial.
I got a personal trainer,
A personal shopper,
A personal assistant,
And a personal agenda.
You can't shut me up,
You can't dumb me down.
'Cause I'm tireless,
And I'm wireless.
I'm an alpha male on beta blockers.
I'm a non-believer and an over-achiever.
Laid back but fashion forward.
Up front,
Down home,
Low rent,
High maintenance.
Super size,
Long lasting,
High definition,
Fast acting,
Oven ready,
And built to last.
I'm a hands on,
Foot loose,
Knee jerk,
Head case.
Prematurely post traumatic,
And I have a love child who sends me hate mail.
But I'm feeling,
I'm caring,
I'm healing,
I'm sharing.
A supportive bonding nurturing primary care giver.
My output is down,
But my income is up.
I take a short position on the long bond,
And my revenue stream has its own cash flow.
I read junk mail,
I eat junk food,
I buy junk bonds,
I watch trash sports.
I'm gender specific,
Capital intensive,
User friendly,
And lactose intolerant.
I like rough sex.
I like tough love.
I use the f word in my email,
And the software on my hard drive is hard core, no soft porn.
I bought a microwave at a mini mall.
I bought a mini van in a mega store.
I eat fast food in the slow lane.
I'm toll free,
Bite sized,
Ready to wear,
And I come in all sizes.
A fully equipped,
Factory authorized,
Hospital tested,
Clinically proven,
Scientifically formulated medical miracle.
I've been pre-washed,
Pre-cooked,
Pre-heated,
Pre-screened,
Pre-approved,
Pre-packaged,
Post-dated,
Freeze-dried,
Double-wrapped,
Vacuum-packed,
And I have an unlimited broadband capacity.
I'm a rude dude,
But I'm the real deal.
Lean and mean.
Cocked, locked and ready to rock.
Rough tough and hard to bluff.
I take it slow.
I go with the flow.
I ride with the tide.
I got glide in my stride.
Drivin' and movin',
Sailin' and spinnin',
Jivin' and groovin',
Wailin' and winnin'.
I don't snooze,
So I don't lose.
I keep the pedal to the metal,
And the rubber on the road.
I party hearty,
And lunch time is crunch time.
I'm hanging in,
There ain't no doubt.
And I'm hanging tough,
Over and out.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Random Crap and a Song
I haven't posted in a long time because I've had a hell of a month.
Stace-Ghost and I are finally in our house and we love it. We still need to put some stuff away and hang up some pictures but everything is mostly in its right place. It still doesn't seem real. I still feel like I'm going to wake up one day and the dream will be over and we will have to leave. I bought an electric lawnmower today and mowed the lawn with it. It actually worked surprisingly good except for the fact that it felt like I was vacuuming the lawn, since I constantly had to lift the power cord out of the way like you do with a vacuum cleaner. I still have to fix the shower knob in our master bathroom. We managed to break it on the first night in the house. It'll be easy to fix it though. The hardest part will be finding a knob that fits it.
I kind of lost my job on the same day we were moving into our house. I am a temp for Lovelace so I still have work but I was unfairly reassigned. The day when it happened, I was told that the assignment was coming to an end and that's all, despite the fact that my manager had told me that they wanted to make it into a permanent position. Later on, I was texting a co-worker just trying to find out if there was another reason I was let go, because I always felt like my boss never really liked me (although there was no reason for him not to, I think it was just because I didn't suck up to him like everyone else did). My co-worker then started telling me that she was the reason I was let go. She didn't feel like I was the right fit for the job, that I was lazy, that I wasn't detail-oriented and since she was sort of like my supervisor, she told my boss all of these things and he let me go without even letting me defend myself against her very untrue allegations. The following Tuesday, I sat down with my HR rep and discussed it with her. I seriously thought of little else the entire weekend since I was so angry about it, which was a real downer since I should have been really happy to finally get into our house. However, when I talked with my HR rep, I finally got closure on it. I told her about everything and all of my suspicions about why I was let go and told her that I really didn't want my job back and I didn't want revenge (although I guess I did a little bit) but was there to defend my reputation as I thought that there were things said about me that were untrue. She assured me that there were no allegations against me, that the assignment had just come to an end, and that she was trying to find me more work. I really felt better after that meeting and I could finally stop thinking about it.
They did find me something for these past two weeks, just kind of sending faxes out and making phone calls for a team of nurses but the assignment ends tomorrow and I'm not sure if they have anything else lined up for me. I've started looking for other work, both in Lovelace and other places. I'm tired of being a temp. It's awful work, not because of the work that you do but because you get to know people, start to get comfortable and then are pulled from it suddenly. I hope I find something.
I have to go camping tomorrow, taking the 11 year old scouts on a quick camping trip. I went and got my camping stuff (which is actually my Dad's camping stuff) and realized after pulling it out of the closet that I was ready to go. I didn't have to pack anything. I just had to pull it out of the closet and go.
I've had this song in my head all week so I thought I'd share it with all of you. It's by a new band called The Temper Trap and the song is called Sweet Dispositions. It sounds like a U2 or Arcade Fire song. It's also interesting that their lead singer is from Indonesia. I dig it. I hope you do as well. That's it for me. I'll try not to be such a stranger.
Stace-Ghost and I are finally in our house and we love it. We still need to put some stuff away and hang up some pictures but everything is mostly in its right place. It still doesn't seem real. I still feel like I'm going to wake up one day and the dream will be over and we will have to leave. I bought an electric lawnmower today and mowed the lawn with it. It actually worked surprisingly good except for the fact that it felt like I was vacuuming the lawn, since I constantly had to lift the power cord out of the way like you do with a vacuum cleaner. I still have to fix the shower knob in our master bathroom. We managed to break it on the first night in the house. It'll be easy to fix it though. The hardest part will be finding a knob that fits it.
I kind of lost my job on the same day we were moving into our house. I am a temp for Lovelace so I still have work but I was unfairly reassigned. The day when it happened, I was told that the assignment was coming to an end and that's all, despite the fact that my manager had told me that they wanted to make it into a permanent position. Later on, I was texting a co-worker just trying to find out if there was another reason I was let go, because I always felt like my boss never really liked me (although there was no reason for him not to, I think it was just because I didn't suck up to him like everyone else did). My co-worker then started telling me that she was the reason I was let go. She didn't feel like I was the right fit for the job, that I was lazy, that I wasn't detail-oriented and since she was sort of like my supervisor, she told my boss all of these things and he let me go without even letting me defend myself against her very untrue allegations. The following Tuesday, I sat down with my HR rep and discussed it with her. I seriously thought of little else the entire weekend since I was so angry about it, which was a real downer since I should have been really happy to finally get into our house. However, when I talked with my HR rep, I finally got closure on it. I told her about everything and all of my suspicions about why I was let go and told her that I really didn't want my job back and I didn't want revenge (although I guess I did a little bit) but was there to defend my reputation as I thought that there were things said about me that were untrue. She assured me that there were no allegations against me, that the assignment had just come to an end, and that she was trying to find me more work. I really felt better after that meeting and I could finally stop thinking about it.
They did find me something for these past two weeks, just kind of sending faxes out and making phone calls for a team of nurses but the assignment ends tomorrow and I'm not sure if they have anything else lined up for me. I've started looking for other work, both in Lovelace and other places. I'm tired of being a temp. It's awful work, not because of the work that you do but because you get to know people, start to get comfortable and then are pulled from it suddenly. I hope I find something.
I have to go camping tomorrow, taking the 11 year old scouts on a quick camping trip. I went and got my camping stuff (which is actually my Dad's camping stuff) and realized after pulling it out of the closet that I was ready to go. I didn't have to pack anything. I just had to pull it out of the closet and go.
I've had this song in my head all week so I thought I'd share it with all of you. It's by a new band called The Temper Trap and the song is called Sweet Dispositions. It sounds like a U2 or Arcade Fire song. It's also interesting that their lead singer is from Indonesia. I dig it. I hope you do as well. That's it for me. I'll try not to be such a stranger.
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