Who could ask for anything more?

- Ella Fitzgerald

Tonight's blog will be slightly random again; just getting out some thoughts. I am also somewhat hyper as you'll probably be able to tell from my writing. So here goes...


How not to be a loser

I have the most awesome family, awesome friends, an awesome boyfriend and pretty awesome roommates too. I mean, I got lucky with the types of people that influence my life. I just don't hang out with losers. It's pretty sweet, if you ask me. I mean... I couldn't ask for anything more. I can honestly say that I hang out with these people because I'm just naturally attracted to awesome people. And no, you won't convince me it's the other way around.

Racism

I realized today that I had no idea what racism was or that it even existed before being told that it was wrong. Do you see a problem with this? I do. You know what it is about racism that makes it even more apparent? It's the fact that we so often point out and discuss discrimination. The thing is that it shouldn't even be about discrimination, but rather distinction. The fact is, we make a distinction between different ethnic groups, genders and ages. WHY? I just don't get this.

Shouldn't a person's worth lie in what they're good at, what they can do? Or even just in the fact that everyone is human, everyone trips up, we are all the same. Distinctions should be made based on what a person is good at. And even then, we should recognize that every individual has potential in their lives. If you want my advice on stopping racism - and some people might chew me out for this - we should just stop discussing it, and start learning how to act like decent human beings who have respect for every person on God's Earth.

Showers

Do you ever have one of those moments in the shower where it's just so good to stand in the flowing hot water, and you never want to get out because you know then you'll have to face reality? Yeah? I'd say "join the club," but eventually someone will figure out we're the ones hogging all the hot water.

Essaying

My theory on essaying is that you should treat it like something fantastic - like an online flash game. Oh, we've all got our favourites. And I'm sure we could all agree that the best part of a flash game is seeing how high you can get your score. That's how it should be when writing an essay. Do the very best you can, try to get the highest score imaginable - and beat your friend's while you at it.

Learn to love it. Like you love flash games. Soon, you might find writing essays enjoyable and playing flash games a chore... Yeah, that sounded stupid in my head, too.


Hope you enjoyed tonight's random bloggage (to the extreme!). Have a nice night everyone and happy studying! (Just like a flash game, just like a flash game...)


I've got rhythm, I've got music. I've got my man...

So she sang

- Tasjie

I have probably never had more of a desire to be mainstream than I do at this moment. I guess I should start at the beginning...

See, I love music, it really is my passion. My favourite thing ever to just sing, and it makes me so happy to do so. So keep that in mind with what's going on in this blog.

I like to write music. I have a lot of songs now, kinda. And yeah, they sound kinda depressing at times. I don't know what it is, I just can't seem to write songs that sound more upbeat. Maybe it's a combination of the way my voice sounds, the chords I chose, the content. They are always meant to be uplifting, and in a way they are. (Or so I've been told. I mean, that's the way I intended them to be.)

But I'll be the first to admit that some of them don't really have replay value and wouldn't be that popular. Others, though, people really seem to like. The new one I wrote last month "Love for the End is Near" people seemed to like, and even seemed a little surprised that I wrote it. But that makes me happy.

The thing is, I'm not really that great a performer, at least not solo. Maybe I was just way too nervous. Forgetting lyrics, chords, even sometimes from my own songs... Granted, this is the first time I've done something like this on my own. But I can't help feeling disappointed in myself for not just... being better I guess.

Which brings me back to the whole mainstream thing. Maybe if my songs were more of a mainstream value, then they might be better-liked, and I would have more confidence in playing and singing them. Or maybe it's just me being me, and there's no way I could improve it. I mean, when I play alone, not gonna lie, I sound amazing at times. I know I'm talented, and that I can put a song together (even if it sounds kinda sad), but when it's for other people it just all falls apart.

Like, when I'm performing with my family, it's different. We all work with each other so well, and even if one messes up, it's generally easily covered by someone else. And we sound so good together, because we're just a mass of talent. And I definitely feel ten times more confident being with them.

I guess what I would need to "get more experience." But honestly, half of me just wants to give up. Because sometimes I just feel like my songs are really worth it, and since I'm not even that great in concert, then why bother right? But the other half of me just loves music so much that I know I could never ever give it up. But for the moment, I feel like I might be done sharing, at least for a while.

At least I know I can always trust a Shure mic...


She may not be a superstar, she just be another girl. But she's still got that voice inside, the one that shows itself when she sings.

And the love profusion you make me feel, you make me know

- Madonna


So I guess I haven't been around lately. In truth, I was in France from early September to Christmas, and at that time I wrote on my other blog, Travel 101. I'm not actually done with that one yet because a) I haven't really shared all the experiences I had in Europe, and b) I'm not quite done traveling. But for now, I'm back here, talking about who knows what, and saying whatever I like because, hey, it's my blog.

Today's blog will be kinda random because I just want to briefly share some things I've been thinking lately...

Sounds
Do you realize how much the voice is attached to identity? When you think of someone you're close to, you imagine their face, perhaps the way they are around you, and... you guessed it! Their voice. When I think of the friends I made in Europe, each one comes attached with their voice; its register, its timbre, its tone, its accent, and even the things the person would say. Auditory perception is so strong, yet subtle so we don't even realize it's happening.

For that matter, some sounds can be so familiar to us, they remind of us things we know or knew, places we love or don't. If you've ever been in the kitchen and all of a sudden the fridge stops buzzing, you'll know what I mean. How about the sound of swings in a playground? (This really takes me back, because I grew up with a schoolyard behind my backyard and I spent a lot of time there. I also happen to know that those swings produced a pitch that, as I swung forward, would slide from a Bb to an Ab.) Sounds - those sneaky little things that we didn't realize were even ingrained in our memories. It's so cool.

History
What's even the point of learning about it, if we just repeat it over and over?

Music
You all know how much I love music. I do. My favourite thing about it though is that there is something for everyone. Really. I'm not a fan of rap, you'll know this if you know me even a little. But apparently there are actually people who like it, and you know what? I'm cool with that. It really doesn't bother me, as long as you don't force it down my throat.

Everyone's tastes are different and everyone's styles are different. Justin Bieber. Yeah, he's 15 years old, he sings songs that are way too old for him, his voice will change one day, and he's currently a huge icon in the teeny-bopper culture. So what? Give the kid a break and let him have his 15 minutes, k?

Spring
I'd like to believe in the most magical, beautiful thing in the entire world, but come on. This is Southern Ontario. Spring means melting snow, which ultimately leads to slush, puddles, mud, muddy grass, and dead-looking lawns. Not to mention how much salt, cigarette butts and general garbage you can see left behind during the winter months. Thank goodness it eventually rains and washes all that crap away.

And then, there's the cold. Ah yes, flu season always seems to strike those enjoying the beautiful, ten-degree weather without checking to see that there wasn't a blizzard coming the next day. And then they're stuck in bed for a week. Which is awesome when you're a kid and it's ok if you miss class. Not so awesome when you're trying to graduate from university.

Seriously, the only good thing about Spring is... No, can't think of one single thing. Except maybe the end.


My lovely, faithful readers, thank you for stopping by once again.

I've got you under my skin, I've got you under my skin.