I would like to say that for once, I am going to be serious. I spend so much of my time being cynical and judgemental of the things that I think are stupid in this world. So, mixed in with the seriousness of the subject matter (how I think people can be happier in this world) is the number one love of my existence, music - to the tune of some of my favourite songs. (Ok, number one thing,not person or persons). Music is very important to me, as anyone that knows me will agree but so is being happy. You get one life. Make the most of it. And don't worry, be happy.....(I couldn't resist).
“I hate everything about you, why do I love you”. ~ I Hate Everything About You – Three Days Grace
Typical love-hate relationship. Anyone been in one of those?? Hard to know what to do in this situation, isn't it. Remember, you must really LIKE the people in your life. Love is often not enough.
“History please let me go, let me be, leave me alone”. ~ There’s a Light – Jay Malinowski
It saddens me that so much of our self is rooted in our past. No matter how wonderful or how sad our past was, we tend to live there, thus ignoring our present. We dwell on past hurts, broken hearts, the cruel and the nasty. Or we wish again for a time that we were happier, richer or whatever it is we feel we are missing out on. I love this line because it’s so true and basic.
“Time is contagious, everybody’s getting old”. ~ Coconut Skins – Damien Rice
Getting old doesn’t have to be a bad thing but for so many of us, it is. Some of us try to put a halt to it by subjecting ourselves to plastic surgery. Some, like me, like to dye the gray out of our hair. I rue the day when I will be too old to wear my hair long and will be forced to wear an old lady style (curly frizzy short hair). I don’t want to get old but it’s happening. The trick I guess is to do it gracefully. There’s nothing wrong with aging. It’s normal, natural and it does happen to everyone (unless you’re one of the “Only the Good Die Young” ilk ~ Billy Joel circa 1977). Sadly, I remember that song when it was first played on the radio….. On a positive note, the older you get, the smarter you get. (I am not saying that I am smart. I know I am an immature idiot). But, at least now I have some sense. Until I reached the age of 35, I don't think I had any.
“While we’re on the subject, can we change the subject now?” ~ Missed the Boat – Modest Mouse
It’s hard to hear things we don’t want to hear or discuss things we’d rather not. I am probably the best at avoidance so this song is very close to my heart….I know I am flawed. At least I can admit it.
“One love, we get to share it, leaves you baby if you don’t care for it”. One – U2
Yep, it’s the old “you never know what you have til it’s gone” and I am sure most people have been guilty of this at some point in their adult lives. All I can say is appreciate what you have. Love and relationships don’t have to be hard but we tend to make them that way. I think if people listened more and talked less, things would be a lot easier.
“Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be…” ~ All You Need is Love – The Beatles (and)
“I’m always where I need to be”. ~ Always Where I Need to Be – The Kooks
There have been times in my life when I felt that a particular period of my existence had been a total waste of time. But I know now that it’s not true. True, "All You Need Is Love" is just an old pop-rock song by a bunch of Englishmen that were probably drunk from a few too many pints and/or smoked a bit of the wacky stuff before they wrote this song. But it makes sense. We are the architects of our own lives, for the most part. And if I spent four miserable years in a situation I didn’t like, well, maybe that’s what I needed to do to figure out what it was I didn’t want out of life. Or maybe I myself have had a few too many pints and have no clue what I am talking about…..
“Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones, And I will try to fix you “ ~ Fix You - Coldplay
Yeah, right…..You can’t change people. You can’t fix them either. Only the person needing changing or fixing can do that for themselves. I like the song, but it's not very reasonable. True, Chris Martin wrote it for his wife Gwyneth Paltrow when her father passed away, so it was probably written out of love for her. It probably killed him to see her so sad. But, just like everyone else, we need to grieve. Or we need to be angry. Or be sad. Whatever the issue, the person needs to go through it and move on. They’ll fix themselves, thank you. Good song though…..and I know, it's just a SONG! Jeeze....
"I just want to be there, When we're caught in the rain, I just want to see you laugh not cry
I just want to feel you, When the night puts on its cloak
I'm lost for words don't tell me, All I can say
I love you 'till the end" ~ Love You Till The End - The Pogues
The freaky Irish band seemed to get it so right with this song. What woman (or man for that matter) wouldn't love to hear those words spoken by the love of their life? My heart melts whenever I hear this song. I don't think of myself as a romantic but this song does it for me.
"I thought you were my friend". ~ Jesus Stole My Girlfriend - Violent Soho
I just think the line is funny given the song title.
"With friends like you, who needs enemies
You ain’t right, you ain’t ever gonna be
Your soul is toxic, you ain’t no friend of mine" ~ Far Behind - Social Distortion
I think we have all had a "friend" whose idea of friendship was much different from our own. It leaves you thinking that you're a horrible judge of character and unfortunately, can prevent you from trusting anyone in the future. There have been a few of those in my life, from the time I was a child to fairly recently. It's helpful for me to remember that not everyone is a lying sack of shit. Some people really value your friendship and want you in their lives. The trick is to weed out the lying sacks of shit before you're too emotionally involved. It's often hard to do that, however (especially if you're like me - I always tended to believe that people were inherently good). Talk about a flaw! Not anymore. I trust only the people that have been in my life for years and who demonstate that they're not in it to get something from me. I have good friends now.
"So give me something to believe, Cause I am living just to breathe
And I need something more, To keep on breathing for
So give me something to believe" ~ Believe - The Bravery
Not quite sure how to take this song. At first, I thought it was talking about having something in your life that was important to you. Or maybe it means having faith in whatever entity you believe in. Not sure, but I like the song because there were times in my life that I often wondered what the point was. Either way, it's important to feel that you have a purpose. Whether it's taking care of your children or saving the world from bad music, if it's important to you, then it's worth it.
"And to be yourself is all that you can do" ~ Be Yourself - Audioslave
How important is this one? Being yourself and true to yourself is probably the ONLY thing that will ensure you're happy in life. How hard would it be to go through life, even one day of pretending you're something you're not? Or trying to force yourself to be happy in a situation where you're miserable? There are phony people everywhere. There are people that pretend their lives are the absolute best and wouldn't you love to be just like them? No, I wouldn't. Shakespeare's character Polonius told his son "This above all: to thine own self be true". Probably the most important quote ever....
"Get on, come on, why you scared, you’ll never change what’s been and gone
Cos all of the stars are fading away, Just try not to worry you'll see them someday
Take what you need and be on your way
And stop crying your heart out" ~ Stop Crying Your Heart Out - Oasis
Is there anyone out there who hasn't had their heart broken so badly, you thought you'd die from the anguish of it? Or anyone lost someone to death and felt that it was too painful to go on? This song talks about the aftermath. How we try to carry on but we can't because the pain is just too much to bear. Good advice though - you CAN'T change what's been and gone and no amount of wishing that you did things differently is going to change it. Time to wipe those weepy eyes, get in the shower and carry on. Life's too short for regrets.
"I'd rather die for love than die for the want of it" ~ With a Bullet - Sam Roberts
Alfred Lord Tennyson said 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all'. Everyone needs to love and to be loved. I know that there are people that give up on it for fear they will be hurt. Or fear that it won't work out. You never know til you try. And you won't spend your life wondering "What if?"
"So many times I'd planned, to be much more than who I am" ~ Shine On - Jet
I am not sure how common a problem this is. I myself sometimes suffer from thoughts like this. When I was a teenager and even into my early adulthood, I had so many plans, dreams, ideas. In the normal course of life, however, things happen. Plans get put on hold, ideas seem too far-fetched and there is never enough time or money. I am now in my mid-forties and I have done none of the things that I had so desperately wanted to do. I wanted to travel Europe. I wanted to move from Ontario and live in Vancouver, or the Keys or England. I wanted a fulfilling job. None of that has happened and I know now that it probably never will. But, I try to stay happy and positive. Because, as John Lennon said "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans". And I am not too old to keep hoping that one day, I will board that plane for Heathrow and have a dream come true.
I know....easier said that done...And by no means am I saying that I live my life perfectly. But in a perfect world with perfect people, everyone would be happy.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
All my People Right Here, Right Now, Do You Know What I Mean....
I like lists. I think it's part of my obsessive-compulsive disorder (which isn't as bad as it used to be). I used to be a chronic hand washer. It would cause dry skin the likes that have never been seen. Germs were a bit of a problem for me. I still wouldn't lick a door handle but I have come to understand that not everything is going to kill me.
What might kill me however, or at the very least drive me nuts, is the constant pondering of the things that make me shake my head. Sure, wars bother me. Needless animal cruelty and death bring tears to my eyes. (In a world full of hate and pain, I think animals should be the true inspiration to people). You'll never see animals needlessly kill their young or another animal. They kill for a reason - their survival. But the beauty and understanding shown by animals amazes me and even if it's just for a while, it makes me appreciate what is beautiful in this world. My dogs, for instance, will never hurt my feelings. They will never say anything cruel to me or each other. They will never move out and not call for months. They will never not show up for a dinner date. They love me and that love is unconditional.
But there are still imponderables and those really make me stop and think....
1. General Motors, God love them, (because I don’t think anyone else does), needs a reality check. I saw a car yesterday on the road, bearing that known-the-world over Chevrolet insignia. You know the one. It was on a car that I don't think I have seen before (and hope I never do again). It was sort of a pick-up truck front but was a convertible. I don’t know what to call it. It was ugly. It was frankly, one of the stupidest vehicles I have ever seen. But I thought "That explains everything. The Board of Directors at GM actually approved that thing for production. No wonder the company's in a hole". Way to pay back that government bail out. Losers. Given a choice between that and a Smart car, I would have to take the Smart car (which is saying a lot as I deplore Smart Cars).
2. To a subject close to my very opinionated heart, music. I don't like a lot of different music. I have tried listening to country, dance and opera. Country is boring and that twangy accent drives me nuts. I don't like dance music because frankly, unless you're in a club in downtown Toronto wearing your $200 jeans and you're under 25, what's the point? It unimaginative and boring. I can't stand the drum machine THUMP THUMP (for God sakes, try a human drummer). Opera is just annoying. I don't mind classical music if I am in the mood. I love acoustic guitar so I could pretty much listen to that 24/7. I love Brit Pop and the new alternative rock. It's diverse, they have drummers and a lot of the time, the lyrics are interesting and well thought out. But something I can not stand and doubt I ever will is rap. What is so musical about a guy rhyming to a drum machine, talking about how he popped a cap in someone's ass and blew some smack? I mean hey, to each his own, but that's not music. That's just spoken word to a boring drum beat. I really really don't get it.
3. People that continually shoot off their mouth without thinking…..elected members of government at all levels, government employees, men, women, you name it, they're everywhere. I can only suggest that people take the time to think out what they want to say and try to imagine how other people might take it. Seriously.
4. Pit bull type dogs - I can understand that each breed has it's fanciers. I get that. I don't get the little mops of hair that people call dogs either. But I understand that the toy and mini-poodles, the Maltese, the Havanese, they have their place. Older people may find walking a hyper Retriever a bit of a challenge, not to mention a threat to their bone health. But the pit bull's place in history are as fighting dogs. It's bred in them. I read a stat in the Toronto Sun recently that stated "one study found pit bulls and part-pit-bulls accounted for 1,618 of 2,815 serious attacks on humans in North America since 1982". I actually found the study online. That being said, I wouldn't trust one around my children, or my friends children. Personally, I am afraid of them.
5. I don't get the whole fundamentalist religious fanatics. What ever happened to live and let live? Does it matter that Christians believe in Jesus, Muslims believe in Muhammad, Hindus Karma? Really, does it? Personally, I could care less what religion someone is. Instead I look at other things: unbelievably, how nice someone is. How truthful. How caring they are of their fellow humans. This and this alone is a testament to someone's goodness, not how they worship, what building they do it in or what God they pray to.
6. Back to music for a minute. One of my big un-important imponderables is Oasis. They are one of my favourite bands. I love Noel's guitar playing and his songs make the whole world sing. They are undeniably the wonder of Manchester to many a music fan. They are filthy rich, have millions of fans and have sold out football stadiums through out Europe. But, given an opportunity to one day speak with Noel and Liam, the first question I would ask is "Why are you two the biggest assholes in the music world?" They give Billy Corgan a run for his money. The problem is, there are two Gallagher brothers and a more miserable musical pair I dare you to find. It confounds me why these two people, who have the world at their disposal, are working at something they supposedly love to do can be so bloody unhappy and nasty. They make nasty comments about EVERYONE including each other. They seem to not give a damn about their fans, the very people that made them filthy rich. Their concerts are notoriously short (I personally attended one that was about forty minutes long all for the bargain price of close to $60 a ticket. Not to mention, the concert had been postponed three months earlier). They start bar room brawls. They get drunk on airplanes. They act like they hate each other and it's no surprise they broke up. Which for their fans, is too bad. (I love them so much, I titled this entry after one of their songs....) It would be nice if they weren't such jerks....
7. There are people that read the new websites and feel that they must, no matter what, comment on whatever news story they read. Which is perfectly fine…..if they have something of value to add. Most don't, however. Last week, I read a story about the new Apple iPad. I read the article because I am interested in the product and if I had $600 I didn't need to pay bills or buy groceries with, I would definitely buy one. As it stands, I will have to make due with my laptop. But, I am interested in Apple products so the article was worth reading. I decided to read the comments section, which I usually don't because I really don't care what other people think. One of the first comments, by a man, was how he was tired of Steve Jobs dictating what programs his computers could use, how Macs are overpriced, how his Netbook does everything better except for battery life and how he would NEVER buy an iPad. How is this valuable information? Really? Think about it. Any Mac users I know wouldn't waste their money buying another PC. How does he know his Netbook is 'better' if he's never used an iPad and lastly, do we care that Joe Blow Nobody would never buy an iPad? I don't. My question is, however, why did he read the article if he hated everything Apple? If I am skimming through a newspaper and there's a big article about GM, or Harley or Miley Cyrus, do you think I am going to read it? No, because I DON'T CARE about those things. I have no interest in GM because I don't like their cars or their business practises. I don't like Harleys and would never consider buying one. And we all know what I think of Mily Cyrus. So why would this guy waste the time reading an article about an item he didn't want, by a company he hates? Then to take the time to comment on it? I don't get it.
8. Finally, I must comment on people. We all know how intolerant I can be of the bull-crap which life entails. My friend Victoria and I laugh at our assertion that neither of us will ever amount to anything more important in our jobs because we just can't be bothered playing the game. She says it's that we aren't ambitious. I agree to a point. For me and probably for her, it's the phoniness required to play the game that we can't stand. We watch, on a daily basis, the worker bees walking around the office, hanging on their bosses every word, saying "Yes, sir" and "Yes, boss" and "Whatever you say" as if the person they are cow towing too has the power to turn off the sun with a snap of their fingers.
So yes, she's right. I am not ambitious. I go to work, try to do the job that I am permitted to do, then I come home and enjoy the rest of my day. That's the way it is for me. I don't live for my job. I never will. At least, I won't unless I get a job that is fulfilling and has some meaning for me. What that is, I have no idea right now. But I think I better figure that out soon.
And I know, these aren't the most important things in the world. (Other than the "live and let live" philosophy people should take when it comes to religion) but it's fun to rant. Really….it is……Right D? Do you know what I mean?
What might kill me however, or at the very least drive me nuts, is the constant pondering of the things that make me shake my head. Sure, wars bother me. Needless animal cruelty and death bring tears to my eyes. (In a world full of hate and pain, I think animals should be the true inspiration to people). You'll never see animals needlessly kill their young or another animal. They kill for a reason - their survival. But the beauty and understanding shown by animals amazes me and even if it's just for a while, it makes me appreciate what is beautiful in this world. My dogs, for instance, will never hurt my feelings. They will never say anything cruel to me or each other. They will never move out and not call for months. They will never not show up for a dinner date. They love me and that love is unconditional.
But there are still imponderables and those really make me stop and think....
1. General Motors, God love them, (because I don’t think anyone else does), needs a reality check. I saw a car yesterday on the road, bearing that known-the-world over Chevrolet insignia. You know the one. It was on a car that I don't think I have seen before (and hope I never do again). It was sort of a pick-up truck front but was a convertible. I don’t know what to call it. It was ugly. It was frankly, one of the stupidest vehicles I have ever seen. But I thought "That explains everything. The Board of Directors at GM actually approved that thing for production. No wonder the company's in a hole". Way to pay back that government bail out. Losers. Given a choice between that and a Smart car, I would have to take the Smart car (which is saying a lot as I deplore Smart Cars).
2. To a subject close to my very opinionated heart, music. I don't like a lot of different music. I have tried listening to country, dance and opera. Country is boring and that twangy accent drives me nuts. I don't like dance music because frankly, unless you're in a club in downtown Toronto wearing your $200 jeans and you're under 25, what's the point? It unimaginative and boring. I can't stand the drum machine THUMP THUMP (for God sakes, try a human drummer). Opera is just annoying. I don't mind classical music if I am in the mood. I love acoustic guitar so I could pretty much listen to that 24/7. I love Brit Pop and the new alternative rock. It's diverse, they have drummers and a lot of the time, the lyrics are interesting and well thought out. But something I can not stand and doubt I ever will is rap. What is so musical about a guy rhyming to a drum machine, talking about how he popped a cap in someone's ass and blew some smack? I mean hey, to each his own, but that's not music. That's just spoken word to a boring drum beat. I really really don't get it.
3. People that continually shoot off their mouth without thinking…..elected members of government at all levels, government employees, men, women, you name it, they're everywhere. I can only suggest that people take the time to think out what they want to say and try to imagine how other people might take it. Seriously.
4. Pit bull type dogs - I can understand that each breed has it's fanciers. I get that. I don't get the little mops of hair that people call dogs either. But I understand that the toy and mini-poodles, the Maltese, the Havanese, they have their place. Older people may find walking a hyper Retriever a bit of a challenge, not to mention a threat to their bone health. But the pit bull's place in history are as fighting dogs. It's bred in them. I read a stat in the Toronto Sun recently that stated "one study found pit bulls and part-pit-bulls accounted for 1,618 of 2,815 serious attacks on humans in North America since 1982". I actually found the study online. That being said, I wouldn't trust one around my children, or my friends children. Personally, I am afraid of them.
5. I don't get the whole fundamentalist religious fanatics. What ever happened to live and let live? Does it matter that Christians believe in Jesus, Muslims believe in Muhammad, Hindus Karma? Really, does it? Personally, I could care less what religion someone is. Instead I look at other things: unbelievably, how nice someone is. How truthful. How caring they are of their fellow humans. This and this alone is a testament to someone's goodness, not how they worship, what building they do it in or what God they pray to.
6. Back to music for a minute. One of my big un-important imponderables is Oasis. They are one of my favourite bands. I love Noel's guitar playing and his songs make the whole world sing. They are undeniably the wonder of Manchester to many a music fan. They are filthy rich, have millions of fans and have sold out football stadiums through out Europe. But, given an opportunity to one day speak with Noel and Liam, the first question I would ask is "Why are you two the biggest assholes in the music world?" They give Billy Corgan a run for his money. The problem is, there are two Gallagher brothers and a more miserable musical pair I dare you to find. It confounds me why these two people, who have the world at their disposal, are working at something they supposedly love to do can be so bloody unhappy and nasty. They make nasty comments about EVERYONE including each other. They seem to not give a damn about their fans, the very people that made them filthy rich. Their concerts are notoriously short (I personally attended one that was about forty minutes long all for the bargain price of close to $60 a ticket. Not to mention, the concert had been postponed three months earlier). They start bar room brawls. They get drunk on airplanes. They act like they hate each other and it's no surprise they broke up. Which for their fans, is too bad. (I love them so much, I titled this entry after one of their songs....) It would be nice if they weren't such jerks....
7. There are people that read the new websites and feel that they must, no matter what, comment on whatever news story they read. Which is perfectly fine…..if they have something of value to add. Most don't, however. Last week, I read a story about the new Apple iPad. I read the article because I am interested in the product and if I had $600 I didn't need to pay bills or buy groceries with, I would definitely buy one. As it stands, I will have to make due with my laptop. But, I am interested in Apple products so the article was worth reading. I decided to read the comments section, which I usually don't because I really don't care what other people think. One of the first comments, by a man, was how he was tired of Steve Jobs dictating what programs his computers could use, how Macs are overpriced, how his Netbook does everything better except for battery life and how he would NEVER buy an iPad. How is this valuable information? Really? Think about it. Any Mac users I know wouldn't waste their money buying another PC. How does he know his Netbook is 'better' if he's never used an iPad and lastly, do we care that Joe Blow Nobody would never buy an iPad? I don't. My question is, however, why did he read the article if he hated everything Apple? If I am skimming through a newspaper and there's a big article about GM, or Harley or Miley Cyrus, do you think I am going to read it? No, because I DON'T CARE about those things. I have no interest in GM because I don't like their cars or their business practises. I don't like Harleys and would never consider buying one. And we all know what I think of Mily Cyrus. So why would this guy waste the time reading an article about an item he didn't want, by a company he hates? Then to take the time to comment on it? I don't get it.
8. Finally, I must comment on people. We all know how intolerant I can be of the bull-crap which life entails. My friend Victoria and I laugh at our assertion that neither of us will ever amount to anything more important in our jobs because we just can't be bothered playing the game. She says it's that we aren't ambitious. I agree to a point. For me and probably for her, it's the phoniness required to play the game that we can't stand. We watch, on a daily basis, the worker bees walking around the office, hanging on their bosses every word, saying "Yes, sir" and "Yes, boss" and "Whatever you say" as if the person they are cow towing too has the power to turn off the sun with a snap of their fingers.
So yes, she's right. I am not ambitious. I go to work, try to do the job that I am permitted to do, then I come home and enjoy the rest of my day. That's the way it is for me. I don't live for my job. I never will. At least, I won't unless I get a job that is fulfilling and has some meaning for me. What that is, I have no idea right now. But I think I better figure that out soon.
And I know, these aren't the most important things in the world. (Other than the "live and let live" philosophy people should take when it comes to religion) but it's fun to rant. Really….it is……Right D? Do you know what I mean?
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