Ok, maybe she didn't take it physically, but I think the power spikes in my building may have damaged it. It has basically been off since the hurricane came through. So, I have not been blogging like I wanted to.
I have been writing some new musical ideas, but that's all they are because none of them are finished. One of my main tools for my music is my computer. The computer is literally telling me that an imminent crash coming and that I need to back up my data. So, before I commit any more music to my hard drive I need to figure out how to get the 30+ gigabytes of music I have written off of it in the first place. Stress.
I am feverishly looking for another place to live and some of you know I am looking for a new job. There is some hope out there on the horizon, but I am in the waiting game. It's pretty crazy how insane it can make you. More stress.
There have been good things happening. Everything is not all bad. I have been reunited with a dear friend I have known as long as I can remember knowing anyone. We only seem to get in contact with each other once decade, but every time it's like we have only been on vacation. We seem to pick up right where we left off. No stress.
My sister has taken herself to Europe for vacation. Vacations are usually fun. I hope she enjoys herself. I believe she will be traveling through Italy and Greece. No stress.
My son is doing great in school. He is on his third book and he tells me he is doing well in his swim lessons. He is losing teeth left and right, too. It is really fantastic to watch him grow-up. I look forward to what he will say next. No stress.
No stress. That's the ticket. Oh, excuse me, someone's yelling for me. I guess I will write more later I have to go now. Someone is stressing me out about getting back to work.
Vice
Have you ever seen someone go out of their way not to offend. They usually start off by saying, “I’m not trying to offend, but…” or “…that’s how they are, but not you, of course, you are different”. That makes me sick. People just say what you have to say. Yes, you might hurt someone’s feelings. However, you apparently don’t care. It’s driving you insane enough to the point that you feel you must tell me. So, go ahead and get it off your chest. I can take it as along as you can take a punch in the nose. Oops! I guess that is an emotional response. Something that Momma Vice told me years ago was that I should try to live off principle rather than emotions. Of course, I didn’t start using that little nugget of advice until I was grown up. But, it works. Apply it to your financial life and watch your bank account grow. Apply it to your relationships (business and personal) and you will start to see positive changes there as well.
Here is something else I have learned over the last couple of decades. I am still trying to get better at applying this more in my life. I encourage you to try it and see if it works. Before you say something to someone run your thoughts through this test first. It's an easy test. I have found it could save you a headache or two.
1. Is it true?
2. Is it necessary?
3. Is it nice?
If you can answer yes to at least two of these questions then go ahead and say what's on your mind. If not, then, keep it to yourself. It will not do you or the other party any good by telling them.
I was going to expand on that thought, but I think I will leave it at that. You guys go ahead and try it out. Let me know if it works.
Vice
"Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment."
Relationships can be hard, do you know why? Ok people, I am going to clue you in on a few things that you might not know. Actually, you may know (who am I to assume, right?), but I am not sure you understand. That's ok, what I am about to impart to you is not necessarily knowledge you are born with, it is not even something your parents might have explained to you. Men and women are different. Now, that's earth shattering isn't? Ok, I know you are reading this and thinking that you already knew that. Well, congratulations! You are part of the select happy few people in a relationship who has everything figured out. Heck, if you are so smart why didn’t you tell me? Why haven’t you told your friends, co-workers and/or children? I guess you were waiting on me to figure it out and tell everyone else, eh? That’s why I am here. Guess what, people? I am going to tell you what I have learned.
People simply assume too much.
Huh?
We can sometimes take situations for granted. We do not respect each other. We assume that whatever we are feeling our other half knows it. We assume that what we want is what the other wants. We also assume (many times to our own detriment) that since the other loves us they won't mind when we walk over there feelings and push them to the limits of their resolve. I know some of us have been down this road before.
I don't believe that anyone can read minds, especially the mind of the opposite sex. Don't even try it. I mean it. It hurts. It hurts the head and the heart. Trust me. Some people are really intuitive. I think they are great. (I wish I had their gift or something close. You know something like the confidence to act on some of my thoughts). Things seem to a bit easier for them from my vantage point.
I tend to believe women are more intuitive than men. Women are complex creatures who seem to change like the days on the calendar - everyday is different. Women plan things out as they happen. I believe God instilled beauty in women. They look, sound, and smell nice. They even walk pretty. I was watching something on the Discovery Channel or The Learning Channel I can't remember which one, but they had a series on what beauty was to the human eye. It was fairly interesting. They had the ratios mapped out indicating where the eyes should be in relationship to the nose and mouth on a beautiful person. It was all very scientific. Um, whatever! We don't need science to tell us what looks good. Advertising in America has done that for us just watch some TV. Not now, wait until after you finished reading this. You will see that no matter what the product an attractive lady will be selling it. Sadly, advertising in Europe is another story. But as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Anyway, I think God purposely made it so that beauty would occur naturally. That explains why there are more females on the planet than males.
Men, well, let's just say men can be just as complex but tend to be a little more straightforward. Men are machines. They know from a very early age where they want to be in life. Men learn very early on that every Monday night from September to January there is comfortable chair with our name on it in front of a television set tuned to Monday Night Football. I told you we were simple. We also know that every August of every year car dealerships start liquidating their inventories to prepare for the next year’s models. We all know what March madness is and we all get it. And for you baseball lovers, the World Series could be the only reason a man lives. A man’s life is based on events like these. None are very important by themselves, but it is what keeps us going from season to season. Where is the complexity in a Football, Basketball or Baseball game? It’s just a game, right? If you don’t think that is complex, go to the bookstore or your local library. And for those that didn't click the link:
li•brar•y
n. pl. li•brar•ies definition: A place in which literary and artistic materials, such as books, periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, prints, records, and tapes, are kept for reading, reference, or lending.
If you are like me you haven’t been to one of those in awhile. Anyway, go to a library and find a sports almanac. Page through it and notice what stats are recorded. Then go to your local sports pub and ask a question like, “Who rushed for 200 or more yards in four games in one season?” I guarantee you will get an answer and possibly an argument will ensue over the answers you get. Guys know stats. Statistics requires a lot of memory power. Statistics are filled with names, places and, um, dates. Yes it is true there really is no excuse for not remembering important dates such as birthdays or anniversaries. Girls, that was a freebie. I’m going to get a wedgie or a swirlie for that one, I know.
Being assuming to the point it hurts another is basically rude. We all do it. I am doing it now. But, hey, this is my blog! Yeah, people are rude, assuming, and we talk too much. Look at how much you have read. You weren’t planning on sticking around this long, I know. I wasn’t planning on writing this much either. I have rudely taken up a lot of your time by assuming that you would want to read all of this. You have wanted to click away from this page (probably have already) which is effectively like hanging up on me at least twice. I can tell by that look on your face. I see the look your face, I see everything. Quit picking your nose, too, that's gross. Well, hanging up on people is rude no matter what the situation. I hear you promising yourself in your mind that you will come back and finish this later. Don’t be rude, tell the truth. You just want to run off and watch commercials or go to the library. That’s ok. I encourage (even if I don’t quite understand) trips to the library, although, you assume a lot when you drive as well. Yes you do. I don’t want hear about how you are such a good driver and how it’s always the other guys fault. No matter how impressed your insurance company is the fact that you haven’t had ticket ever or in the last five years just means the cops have been looking the other way and you haven’t been caught, yet. But, you assume that your lack of being caught gives you the right to wreak havoc all the way down Mainstreet. You know your signal light, well, that light does not grant you the license to cut me off because you turned it on. Changing lanes in the middle of an intersection is dangerous and you are making assumptions that I and others will swerve so that you can continue to impose your will upon traffic. And if you are walking to the library you are just as assuming. Yes, pedestrians have a right to use the road… AT THE CROSSWALK! We have been told since we were we tots that the streets are no place for people unless you safely crossing it at designated areas or you are in a car or on a bike. The street is no place to play stickball, football, or with your life. Use crosswalks people. Don’t assume that I see you, because if you do I might assume that you are trying to fuse metal, skin and bones together and I might aid you in your quest to see if it will work. I think science is neat. You already know I watch the Discovery Channel.
We can disagree. Disagreeing helps keep us in check with reality. I do it all the time at work. I disagree with my paycheck; it’s never what I think it should be. My heart use to break every pay period. I assumed that I my check would be bigger each week. Once I quit assuming that, I was ok. I still disagree with my pay, but I now know that it will not change, just because it is something I want. Relationships are the same way. If you never say anything assuming your partner knows what you are thinking the only thing you can assume is that things will change for the worse. Assumptions are the mother of Misunderstandings. Misunderstanding begets ill-feelings. And, I assume we all know where that can lead.
Vice
"Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment."
Today is the second anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The smoke has cleared and the fires have been put out. Unfortunately, we as a society have not yet healed. From my vantage point we have not even begun to heal. True, we have gone ahead and now live adjusted lives in the shadow of impending threats. Since that time we have waged war with two countries and a third country has been threatening to go nuclear. Our economy has been on this steady downward spiral. Unemployment is nothing to laugh at either. I have been looking for a job for almost two years now. Thankfully, I have a job, so, I am not that bad off, nevertheless, I am still looking. It never really been safe to travel abroad, but now, it's like playing russian roulette.
It's odd that most of the public was of the belief something like 9/11/01 wouldn't ever happen. Now, most of the public are wondering when and where it will happen again. I just hope that at the very least that today we took a moment to reflect on those that lost their lives and those that are standing in their places to protect ours.
Inspiration to write music has been flooding my mind to the point that I don't know what to do with it. I feel as though there aren't enough notes for which I may use to compose with. The bad part of all this is that I really don't have time to be writing music. I am supposed to be studying for one of those certification tests. I just don't seem to be retaining information to well at the moment. I will get back to it as soon as I finish writing this. I have a pretty good reason to want to study. I might want to change my career field one day. I figure I have to do something while I am waiting to be signed by some record label, right?
Speaking of news. I was hanging out with some ViceSounds.com artists last week and we happened to meet this guy named Michael E. He was pretty cool. We found out we work in the same building. The cool part of it was that he is kin to Lizz Wright. We went to go see her in person. What a show! She is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter. You should check her out and pick up her debut CD.
Speaking of CDs. Harry Connick Jr. has recently released a new CD entitled "Other Hours". It is excellent! It is a quartet with no vocals. Very relaxing.
Speaking of relaxing. I am going to end this for now and go sit on the couch and relax, er, I mean study. Seriously, I am going to get serious about this. I need to get serious. If I can just get one certification, maybe I will feel a little more motivated about doing something else studious. Who knows?
I have been away from the blog for a couple of days as you can tell. It's not like I have been loafing doing nothing. That's right, loafing is doing something!
Anyway, I wanted to report that my son's first week of school was a success. By the end of the first week he read to me for the first time. Let me tell you I simply amazed! When he first told me he could read I was doubtful at best. I couldn't see it. Then, when he broke out his little book, he knocked my socks off. You can say I am a proud father. At this rate, he should know his multiplication tables by the end of this week and by January 15th next year he will be doing my taxes!
Well, the website is doing alright. I have been quite a few emails and a few phone calls about it. Thank you all for your support. It is truly appreciated. My goal is to try to keep it updated and fresh with new content. A few of you have noticed that Miguel still has nothing in his section. It is coming soon. He is currently out of town. A little more patience is all we need...
I was also surprised at the request from people to post material to the site. That in itself was a very nice surprise. I would like to put as many artists on Vicesounds.com as possible. So, if you are still interested contact me with what you would like to submit. We will try to work something out.
I would really like to spend a bit more time writing, but I have some matters that I must attend to.
Until next time remember, "If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts."
~Albert Einstein
It's the first day of school for my boy. Now that's a milestone. He is starting Kindergarten today. His mother and I saw him off to school. There were no tears or anything like that, we were all calm. I guess because he has been in daycare of some sort for the past few years, we have already gotten over the separation anxiety for the most part. I have always felt the first few years of a child's life is really all you have to get most of your parenting done. I think on this final day when he was truly all mine I might have let my boy down.
When they start school, his friends, teachers and videos take over, all us parents are here for is to provide food and shelter and to come up with enough money to get the latest... whatever (sneakers, jeans you all know the deal, you can fill in what you like). If you haven't given your child the basic tools needed to maneuver through society, you and your child will be in for a rude awakening when he hits school. Playtime is over folks, this is the real deal! This is where society begins. You have to conform to schedules like never before. You will have to go to Parent/Teacher conferences and PTA meetings. Your child will now be herded around thinking he is doing things of his own free will. Not unlike his parents. Stop laughing my fellow sheep; you know I'm speaking the truth. Deadlines, homework, and chores will have to be done according to somebody else’s plan. Soon, guilt-free naps will become a thing of the past for your child. Like daycare and pre-school playtime will have the ulterior motive to actually teach you things. But, the emphasis on teaching will have changed. No longer will you be working on shapes and letters and what rhymes with hot. You will be expected to learn how to relax and leave work in its place. Of course, never once did a teacher (or parent) tell me that when I growing up. They gave us forced recess, then, took it away when I got to junior high school. I guess they were still trying to figure it out themselves. But they knew or at least suspected. No, I know they knew. I now know. I just wish I would have known way back then I would have taken better advantage of my free time.
Everything in life is work, work and more work! Of course, most children don't notice that until they have become adults. When they get older they start wishing they could go back to when they were six. I sure wish I would have learned to relax properly. When I relax nowadays I feel guilty about not doing something else when I am taking a nap. That's not right. That's not right at all. I'm so tired...
Anyway, like most every parent before me and many more after will do, I gave my son the traditional "Have a good day at school and be good" speech. I think I should have told him try and learn how to relax if nothing else. I should have told him it doesn't matter if you can read, write and do 'rithmetic. It doesn't matter what the capital of Rhode Island is either. What does matter (because I don’t play the lottery) is, my son, you will always have to work and hopefully your hard work will grant you reasonable results and take you far in life. And as long as you are working, your body and mind will need to relax. Learn that my boy, and learn it well.
I know what you all are thinking. I'm a monster! Of course, reading, writing, and 'rithmetic are important, however, I do raise questions about the importance of knowing the capital of Rhode Island. (What is it anyway?) Look, I told you he got the standard speech. But, I'm wondering if I was wrong about that. I mean this morning was the last time I would have the opportunity to instill in him the last great truth of life before society grabs him up and he becomes part of the juggernaut of life. This morning could have made a difference in his life. Have I failed my son? I hope not. I mean, my parents didn't tell me the truth. Yet, I think they did a pretty good job. Maybe I will tell him tomorrow. We will see. There is a certain bliss wallowing in ignorance. I should know because I’m a very happy person… Can a kindergartener actually understand the concept of guilt-free naps? Some of them just learned how to share and say their ABC’s. Besides, doesn't a youngster just get tired?
As with all things, time will tell. He will probably turn out okay. He will learn to read, write and to add. I will even make sure he knows the capital of Rhode Island. I am going to make sure I insert myself between the teachers and videos and try to pass on whatever knowledge I can. I guess that’s all I can do.
So, son, have a great first day of school and be good. I will talk to you later.