There was a moment, not too long ago, when I sat in a room full of very important people that were having a meeting. Of course, I was not a direct participant in this meeting, because frankly, I’m not that important. No, I sat in the back with a couple of other people that I knew through work. As the important people, whom numbered around sixty, carried on with their important meeting, I watched my friend walk back to his seat next to me with a cup full of pretzels, which he then proceed to drop on the floor.
I’ve always tried to conduct myself in a professional manner, and I’ve also always tried to act appropriate for any situation that I find myself in. Even so, sometimes I lose control. There was something about the way those pretzels flew onto the ground that sent me into a fit. I launched into a full laugh attack, and I laughed and laughed to no end. The people around me noticed the pretzels first, and then they noticed me laughing. Tears fell from my eyes. I couldn’t breathe. I tried my best to cover my mouth and crouch over to keep any noise from coming out, and I was able to partially manage, except for a few squeaks that escaped. I couldn’t keep up the secret though, and when I glanced up to see if anybody was watching, I did see some curious onlookers giggling quietly at me. This of course sent me back into my laugh attack.
The solution in a delicate case like this is only to cover my face, pretend I had an important phone call, and leave the room immediately, which I did. I proceeded outside, and unleashed the full fury of my laugh, which without doubt gathered me some curious onlookers from outside too, but I didn’t care about them. I was lucky to be in the back of the room during the meeting, and as I had found out later, the important meeting participants had not noticed me at all.
The laugh attack is something special that happens to me every here and there. I remember that the previous one before that happened to me about six months earlier while watching a movie at the drive in. There was no need to hide that one, of course. My wife has them too. When I told her about my episode at the meeting, she laughed of course, and then proceeded to tell me about hers which had happened while she had been reading a blog with pictures of awkward pregnancy outfits and poses.
I’m not sure if everyone has laugh attacks, but some people like us sure do. I decided to do some research one day, and I found a lot of interesting information on the subject, including the link below, which depicts a televised laugh attack for an on-air announcer during a game. Obviously, the announcer tried his best to remain professional as well, denoted by the period of silence and short, subtle squeaks. Anyhow, for anyone out there that hasn’t experience a laugh attack, I sure hope that you get the chance to, and if you do, I hope that it’s when you are free to laugh out loud.
http://blog.masslive.com/redsoxmonster/2011/07/red_sox_announcers_laugh_like_1.html
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Refusing to Break
It was during the week between Christmas and New Year that I found myself at a gas station, dropping some serious coin on fuel. As I was pumping, I leaned back against my car as usual to check out the scene. It was empty, in the middle the afternoon, except for one other person. As I watched the slovenly beast, I looked closer, and noticed that he was not the usual slovenly beast that I’ve been used to. He was middle-aged, maybe close to fifty years old, and very overweight. His shoes were worn badly on the outside edges from years of walking bow-legged, and his jeans and t-shirt were worn out and too tight.
He didn’t seem to notice much of anything going on outside of his personal area. His small pick-up truck was full of lawn mowing equipment, which was a rare sight these days as most of the landscapers around these parts are Latinos. The thing with this guy was that he was alone, and he looked very sad and downtrodden. I couldn’t help feeling bad for him in that moment.
The thing with me is that I have unfortunately been born with a soft heart. It has always been my weakness, but it doesn’t mean that I am weak. Even when I was a kid in school, I often found myself sticking up for the weak when they were being picked on. I have compassion for those that lack the strength and courage to stand up to bullies or to persevere over the hardships that life deals out. On the flip side, I find comfort in watching justice prevail, and watching the bullies, liars, and cheaters of the world receive their sentences from life.
I’m not a complete fool, of course. This man appeared to be sad, and I really knew nothing about him. He appeared to be a nice man, and even though he was cutting lawns and looked to be very poor, the situation in reality could have been the opposite. He could have been rich, and retired, and the lawn cutting was merely something he did to keep busy. Maybe he had been an asshole all of his life, and was indeed a liar and a cheat, and this was life’s karma coming back around to him. I don’t really know, but my tendency to assume that he was a victim of life’s harsh reality always wins the battle in my heart. It is something I know all too well about myself.
Either way, I am proud of this man. He is hanging on to life by a string. He is refusing to break, as am I. That day, we were in it together, even if he didn’t realize it. This economy has been tough, and life is not easy, but we are not giving up. We are working hard. We are both probably better than what we are getting paid to do everyday, but that doesn’t matter, because we keep moving forward no matter what life creates for us. Maybe he will rest in the shade, on a grassy knoll someday, rich with love and happiness. Maybe I will too. I hope so. I hope we all do, except for the assholes, of course.
He didn’t seem to notice much of anything going on outside of his personal area. His small pick-up truck was full of lawn mowing equipment, which was a rare sight these days as most of the landscapers around these parts are Latinos. The thing with this guy was that he was alone, and he looked very sad and downtrodden. I couldn’t help feeling bad for him in that moment.
The thing with me is that I have unfortunately been born with a soft heart. It has always been my weakness, but it doesn’t mean that I am weak. Even when I was a kid in school, I often found myself sticking up for the weak when they were being picked on. I have compassion for those that lack the strength and courage to stand up to bullies or to persevere over the hardships that life deals out. On the flip side, I find comfort in watching justice prevail, and watching the bullies, liars, and cheaters of the world receive their sentences from life.
I’m not a complete fool, of course. This man appeared to be sad, and I really knew nothing about him. He appeared to be a nice man, and even though he was cutting lawns and looked to be very poor, the situation in reality could have been the opposite. He could have been rich, and retired, and the lawn cutting was merely something he did to keep busy. Maybe he had been an asshole all of his life, and was indeed a liar and a cheat, and this was life’s karma coming back around to him. I don’t really know, but my tendency to assume that he was a victim of life’s harsh reality always wins the battle in my heart. It is something I know all too well about myself.
Either way, I am proud of this man. He is hanging on to life by a string. He is refusing to break, as am I. That day, we were in it together, even if he didn’t realize it. This economy has been tough, and life is not easy, but we are not giving up. We are working hard. We are both probably better than what we are getting paid to do everyday, but that doesn’t matter, because we keep moving forward no matter what life creates for us. Maybe he will rest in the shade, on a grassy knoll someday, rich with love and happiness. Maybe I will too. I hope so. I hope we all do, except for the assholes, of course.
Blackball Kia Motors
I never wanted to use this forum as an outlet to vent out about businesses that I didn’t like, or others that have otherwise treated me bad. However, the most recent events in my dealings at Kia Motors here in San Diego have caused me to change my mind about that.
Long story short, my wife and I tried to go down and lease a Kia Sorento, because we need to trade in her sports car for something more useful for her and the baby. Of course, being a struggling writer slash starving artist and all, my credit is not good, which I knew going in. However, my dear uncle, bless his heart, agreed to co-sign with us. We were assured that this would “close the deal”. Keep in mind, I wouldn’t be writing this if things had worked out.
We were able to sign the papers and roll off the lot in the new Kia, with signed lease documents in hand. We had thought that we scored a new, safe SUV for Mom and Baby Peanut. One week later to the day, we got a call from the finance director at FULLER KIA/FORD in Chula Vista, California, telling us that we “had to come and sign documents because our loan was approved”. I asked this gentleman, Telly Gomez, is his name, what he was talking about, but he would not elaborate, and in fact, he became annoyed that I even asked.
So we went down there to find out that our lease was denied and that they wanted to make us “purchase” the vehicle to keep it. This of course would bump up the payments by about 80$ per month, pushing this struggling writer out of the market for it. Our only other option was to return the car. As anyone can see from my previous posts, I love my wife very much, and making her return that car has broken my heart. Seeing her confused and disappointed face, is what I live to avoid. Just thinking about it now vexes me, but I am helpless to do anything about it.
As it turns out, for various reasons, Kia can break a contract like that. It is unlawful to do so, but then I’d have to retain counsel (get a lawyer) to fight it, which of course I also cannot afford. So here I am, back at square one with my old car back. I suppose that watching my wife completely ream the finance manager was a bit of sweet poetic justice. She is amazing. I absolutely can not argue the way she can, and it is as poetic as it is brutal, and they deserved every bit of it. Side note, we tried to record this part of the conversation, which I was planning to youtube, but alas in our frustration in the heat of the moment, we didn’t hit the “record” button on time.
I am grounded enough in life to know that even hoping for a new car, of any make, means I am fortunate. I can accept that I currently don’t have the means to buy a new Kia right now. Still, that doesn’t give the slime ball finance director and his clones the right to treat me like a dirtbag. Telly Gomez and his crew treated me like I stole something from them, and they tried to lie about everything, which is something I will call you out on. I may be poor, but I am proud, and I don’t take no s*%t.
Long story short, my wife and I tried to go down and lease a Kia Sorento, because we need to trade in her sports car for something more useful for her and the baby. Of course, being a struggling writer slash starving artist and all, my credit is not good, which I knew going in. However, my dear uncle, bless his heart, agreed to co-sign with us. We were assured that this would “close the deal”. Keep in mind, I wouldn’t be writing this if things had worked out.
We were able to sign the papers and roll off the lot in the new Kia, with signed lease documents in hand. We had thought that we scored a new, safe SUV for Mom and Baby Peanut. One week later to the day, we got a call from the finance director at FULLER KIA/FORD in Chula Vista, California, telling us that we “had to come and sign documents because our loan was approved”. I asked this gentleman, Telly Gomez, is his name, what he was talking about, but he would not elaborate, and in fact, he became annoyed that I even asked.
So we went down there to find out that our lease was denied and that they wanted to make us “purchase” the vehicle to keep it. This of course would bump up the payments by about 80$ per month, pushing this struggling writer out of the market for it. Our only other option was to return the car. As anyone can see from my previous posts, I love my wife very much, and making her return that car has broken my heart. Seeing her confused and disappointed face, is what I live to avoid. Just thinking about it now vexes me, but I am helpless to do anything about it.
As it turns out, for various reasons, Kia can break a contract like that. It is unlawful to do so, but then I’d have to retain counsel (get a lawyer) to fight it, which of course I also cannot afford. So here I am, back at square one with my old car back. I suppose that watching my wife completely ream the finance manager was a bit of sweet poetic justice. She is amazing. I absolutely can not argue the way she can, and it is as poetic as it is brutal, and they deserved every bit of it. Side note, we tried to record this part of the conversation, which I was planning to youtube, but alas in our frustration in the heat of the moment, we didn’t hit the “record” button on time.
I am grounded enough in life to know that even hoping for a new car, of any make, means I am fortunate. I can accept that I currently don’t have the means to buy a new Kia right now. Still, that doesn’t give the slime ball finance director and his clones the right to treat me like a dirtbag. Telly Gomez and his crew treated me like I stole something from them, and they tried to lie about everything, which is something I will call you out on. I may be poor, but I am proud, and I don’t take no s*%t.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Daddy-O Daddy-O, Wherefore Art Thou, Daddy-O?
While going through some old pictures during the Christmas break, I fell into a surprisingly deep reflection of my dear old dad. I’ve always had this pretty cool picture of him where he’s in a jungle somewhere, dressed as a Marine, kneeling down while smoking a cigarette. A picture of a pint-sized five-year old version of myself is superimposed on the very same picture. It’s a pretty snazzy setup when considering the era in which it was created. I don’t know where I got the picture, or who made it, but I’m thankful for it.
I do wonder from time to time, what my dad might be up to, and what his life is like. I met him only once, when I was twelve years old. I got to spend about two months with him in his home town of Sacramento, California, and it was an amazing time for me. He liked Gumby, he told me a bad joke about Rambo, and he laughed a lot. He seemed like such a nice guy, and he went out of his way at the time to impress me and befriend me. It is a bit sad to me now as I’m writing about it in this moment. I never really knew at the time what I could have been missing there, in a possible life with him. It’s not like I ever had a choice in the matter either. Maybe there was a lot that he could have taught me, maybe not, but I will most likely never know.
I’d rather not get into the parties that had been in my life instead. That subject would just depress and anger me, but suffice it to say that I’ve turned out alright, even without my dad being in my life. I have only heard bits and pieces of the story surrounding the reasons that he wasn’t in my life. This is information that I have only come to learn recently too, and it seems like he tried to make things work at the time. Anyways, I was never mad at him for not being there. I am still not. I supposed it’s been a situation where I simply didn’t know what I was missing, except for that one glimpse when I was twelve. Even in my thirties now, I wish I knew him.
I’m not sure what I’m trying to say here, but this sure can be a lonely life sometimes. If I didn’t have a partner to share it with, and now, my soon to be daughter, I’d have almost nobody. Maybe it would be nice to have a good relationship with a father, even if he were just my friend. He wouldn’t even have to be that amazing at all. I would just hope that he had a good heart. This is certainly wishful thinking, but hey, that’s what I’m all about. I’m a total dreamer. Hey, if you are reading this, and you happen to actually be my dad, shoot me an email, bro! I’d love to talk to ya and catch up. lol-ing !
I do wonder from time to time, what my dad might be up to, and what his life is like. I met him only once, when I was twelve years old. I got to spend about two months with him in his home town of Sacramento, California, and it was an amazing time for me. He liked Gumby, he told me a bad joke about Rambo, and he laughed a lot. He seemed like such a nice guy, and he went out of his way at the time to impress me and befriend me. It is a bit sad to me now as I’m writing about it in this moment. I never really knew at the time what I could have been missing there, in a possible life with him. It’s not like I ever had a choice in the matter either. Maybe there was a lot that he could have taught me, maybe not, but I will most likely never know.
I’d rather not get into the parties that had been in my life instead. That subject would just depress and anger me, but suffice it to say that I’ve turned out alright, even without my dad being in my life. I have only heard bits and pieces of the story surrounding the reasons that he wasn’t in my life. This is information that I have only come to learn recently too, and it seems like he tried to make things work at the time. Anyways, I was never mad at him for not being there. I am still not. I supposed it’s been a situation where I simply didn’t know what I was missing, except for that one glimpse when I was twelve. Even in my thirties now, I wish I knew him.
I’m not sure what I’m trying to say here, but this sure can be a lonely life sometimes. If I didn’t have a partner to share it with, and now, my soon to be daughter, I’d have almost nobody. Maybe it would be nice to have a good relationship with a father, even if he were just my friend. He wouldn’t even have to be that amazing at all. I would just hope that he had a good heart. This is certainly wishful thinking, but hey, that’s what I’m all about. I’m a total dreamer. Hey, if you are reading this, and you happen to actually be my dad, shoot me an email, bro! I’d love to talk to ya and catch up. lol-ing !
Monday, December 19, 2011
Pitch for Grooveshark
I have to start off by saying that music has had a deep and profound effect on my life for as long as I can remember. My mother once told me that she listened to a lot of R&B and soul music when she was pregnant with me, which certainly explains my adoration for Marvin Gaye and the Stylistics, in particular. As it turns out though, that was only the beginning.
I know that a lot of people claim to listen to a lot of different music. I often hear people say to me, “I listen to everything”, which may very well be true for them. Indeed, I too claim to listen to “a lot” of music as well. (For the list of what that means to me, please see my list of favorite music blog entry.) My mental music database, as anyone can see, is certainly not as expansive as many others out there, but I still like to think that I listen to a lot of music. I suppose it’s a lot like being a fish in the ocean; there’s always a bigger fish out there.
Anyhow, I bring this all up because I want to express my gratitude to the Grooveshark application. Since I’ve been on Grooveshark, I have listened to and bought more music than ever before. I did Pandora for awhile, We Are Hunted, and countless other “streaming” music types of sites, and I suppose that it’s a case of “to each his own”, but I have to say that Grooveshark is by far my favorite and has stood the test of time. I attribute my deep appreciation to its simplicity and accessibility. I can think of a song and literally pull it and add it to a playlist. I do this same thing with my music at home or on my iPods. I build playlists and then constantly delete or add to them. In the case of Grooveshark, whenever I find new music, I pull it, check it out, and then invariably, I buy the CD on Amazon. This has worked most recently with Widowspeak. I heard a song from them on a TV show one night (American Horror Stories), and then I ran to Grooveshark and listened to their latest. They had me at hello.
I love buying music, supporting artists, and holding a real CD in my hands, but that is a topic for another blog. If you love music too, I recommend Grooveshark, and no, I don’t work for them. I simply throw props and shout-outs to companies that still have good service and do good business. Does my music list stack up? Let me know what you think.
I know that a lot of people claim to listen to a lot of different music. I often hear people say to me, “I listen to everything”, which may very well be true for them. Indeed, I too claim to listen to “a lot” of music as well. (For the list of what that means to me, please see my list of favorite music blog entry.) My mental music database, as anyone can see, is certainly not as expansive as many others out there, but I still like to think that I listen to a lot of music. I suppose it’s a lot like being a fish in the ocean; there’s always a bigger fish out there.
Anyhow, I bring this all up because I want to express my gratitude to the Grooveshark application. Since I’ve been on Grooveshark, I have listened to and bought more music than ever before. I did Pandora for awhile, We Are Hunted, and countless other “streaming” music types of sites, and I suppose that it’s a case of “to each his own”, but I have to say that Grooveshark is by far my favorite and has stood the test of time. I attribute my deep appreciation to its simplicity and accessibility. I can think of a song and literally pull it and add it to a playlist. I do this same thing with my music at home or on my iPods. I build playlists and then constantly delete or add to them. In the case of Grooveshark, whenever I find new music, I pull it, check it out, and then invariably, I buy the CD on Amazon. This has worked most recently with Widowspeak. I heard a song from them on a TV show one night (American Horror Stories), and then I ran to Grooveshark and listened to their latest. They had me at hello.
I love buying music, supporting artists, and holding a real CD in my hands, but that is a topic for another blog. If you love music too, I recommend Grooveshark, and no, I don’t work for them. I simply throw props and shout-outs to companies that still have good service and do good business. Does my music list stack up? Let me know what you think.
Favorite Music
Favorite Music: (Note: this list is comprised of groups/artists that I listen to frequently, and is subject to change, as it pretty much came off the top of my head. It does not even come close to being all of the music that I listen to either.)
Classic Soul/RnB:
Stylistics; Marvin Gaye; Delfonics; Persuaders; Bloodstone; Miracles (with Smokey Robinson); El Chicano; James Brown; Chi Lites; Earth Wind and Fire; Brenton Woods; WAR; James Brown; Etta James; the Supremes; Isley Brothers;
Modern Soul/RnB:
Jodeci; Guy; BellBivDevoe; Keith Sweat; Shai; New Edition; Jill Scott; Eryka Badhu; Prince; Al B Sure; Babyface; Silk; Tevin Campbell; R.Kelly; Atlantic Starr; the Jets; Klymaxx; Taylor Dayne; Cover Girls; Jody Watley; Sweet Sensation; Toni Braxton; Michael Jackson; Janet Jackson; Bob Marley; Hall n Oats; Sade
Classic Rock:
Led Zeppelin; Pink Floyd; Santana; Deep Purple; Eric Clapton; Beatles; Jimi Hendrix; Lynyrd Skynyrd; CCR; Eagles; Doors; Steve Miller Band; Aerosmith; Queen
Modern Rock:
Poison; Ratt; Motley Crue; Guns and Roses; Def Leppard; Skid Row; Black Sabbath; Metallica; Megadeth; Deftones; Tool; Blink182; Metric; Creed; Heart; Sex Pistols; Lenny Kravitz; Ozomatli; Bon Jovi; Loverboy; Journey; Pearl Jam; the Killers; Kings of Leon;
Alternative: New Order; the Cure; the Smiths; Depeche Mode; Echo and the Bunnymen; Nirvana; Audioslave; Soundgarden; Smashing Pumpkins; Interpol; Boxer Rebellion; RadioHead; Widowspeak; My Morning Jacket; Temper Trap; Pinback; Editors; Silversun Pickups; Zero7; Doves; the Sundays; Death Cab for Cutie; Band of Horses; Bush; Sneaker Pimps; Weezer; Coldplay; Cranberries; Snow Patrol; the Strokes; Yeah Yeah Yeahs;
Chick Music: Gwen Stefani; Beyonce; Madonna; Carrie Underwood; Katy Perry; Cindy Lauper; Roxette; Debbie Gibson; Britney Spears; Anita Baker; Alanis Morissette; Cheryl Crow; Adele; Katie Tunstall; Amy Winehouse; BeeGees; James Blunt; Rihanna;
Eighties: Tears for Fears; Flock of Seagulls; Bananarama; Bangles; Go-Gos; Ah Ha; Psychedelic Furs; Wham; Duran Duran; Eurhythmics; Human League; Gloria Estefan; Thompson Twins; Thomas Dolby; INXS; Phil Collins; Missing Persons; Billy Idol
Uncategorized: David Bowie; Elton John; Sia; Portishead; Bjork; Amy Mann; Carey Brothers; Bon Iver; Cocteau Twins; Tom McCrae; Alan Parson Project; Fleetwood Mac; U2; Mazzy Star; Shabba Ranks; Beenie Man; Barrington Levy;
Electronica/House/Dance: DFA; David Guetta; Crystal Waters; Frankie Knuckles; Benny Benassi; Stephen Bodzin; Chemical Brothers; Daft Punk; Flight Facilities; Calvin Harris; Solid Groove; MSTRKRFT; Miike Snow; Moby; Juan McLean; Orbital; 808 State; Vitalic; Richard Vission; Blue6; Fischerspooner;
Hip Hop: Biz Markie; Tupac; Da King and I; RunDMC; Mobb Deep; Biggie Smalls; Wu Tang Clan; Snoop Dog; NWA; Above the Law; Bone; Kausion; E40; Master Ace; Lords of the Underground; L.O.N.S; Pete Rock and CL Smooth; 3xDope; Too Short; Souls of Mischeif; Pharcyde; the Roots; Mos Def; Talib Kweli; Alkaholiks, Cypress Hill; Drake; T.I.; Rick Ross; Fugees; Common; 50Cent; Kanye West; Gang Starr; Grand Puba; Tribe Called Quest; Craig Mack; Keith Murray; Group Home;
Classical: Tchaikovsky; Beethoven; Bach; Claude Debussy; Riri Shimada; Frank Liszt; Vivaldi; Mozart; Bela Bartok; Pavarotti; Puccini; Maria Callas; Brahms;
Jazz: Art Blakey; Miles Davis; John Coltrane; Bilie Holiday; Ella Fitzgerald;
Latin: Celia Cruz; Tito Puente; Marc Anthony; Linda Ronstadt; Ana Gabriel; Vicente Fernandez; Los Tigres del Norte; Banda El Recodo; Oscar D Leon; Ismael Rivera; Shakira; Daddy Yankee; Zion; Johnny Pacheco
Country: (NEW ONLY!): Rascal Flatts; Zac Brown Band; Lady Antebellum; Darius Rucker; Jason Aldean; Billy Currington; Walker Hayes; Keith Urban; Kenny Chesney
Classic Soul/RnB:
Stylistics; Marvin Gaye; Delfonics; Persuaders; Bloodstone; Miracles (with Smokey Robinson); El Chicano; James Brown; Chi Lites; Earth Wind and Fire; Brenton Woods; WAR; James Brown; Etta James; the Supremes; Isley Brothers;
Modern Soul/RnB:
Jodeci; Guy; BellBivDevoe; Keith Sweat; Shai; New Edition; Jill Scott; Eryka Badhu; Prince; Al B Sure; Babyface; Silk; Tevin Campbell; R.Kelly; Atlantic Starr; the Jets; Klymaxx; Taylor Dayne; Cover Girls; Jody Watley; Sweet Sensation; Toni Braxton; Michael Jackson; Janet Jackson; Bob Marley; Hall n Oats; Sade
Classic Rock:
Led Zeppelin; Pink Floyd; Santana; Deep Purple; Eric Clapton; Beatles; Jimi Hendrix; Lynyrd Skynyrd; CCR; Eagles; Doors; Steve Miller Band; Aerosmith; Queen
Modern Rock:
Poison; Ratt; Motley Crue; Guns and Roses; Def Leppard; Skid Row; Black Sabbath; Metallica; Megadeth; Deftones; Tool; Blink182; Metric; Creed; Heart; Sex Pistols; Lenny Kravitz; Ozomatli; Bon Jovi; Loverboy; Journey; Pearl Jam; the Killers; Kings of Leon;
Alternative: New Order; the Cure; the Smiths; Depeche Mode; Echo and the Bunnymen; Nirvana; Audioslave; Soundgarden; Smashing Pumpkins; Interpol; Boxer Rebellion; RadioHead; Widowspeak; My Morning Jacket; Temper Trap; Pinback; Editors; Silversun Pickups; Zero7; Doves; the Sundays; Death Cab for Cutie; Band of Horses; Bush; Sneaker Pimps; Weezer; Coldplay; Cranberries; Snow Patrol; the Strokes; Yeah Yeah Yeahs;
Chick Music: Gwen Stefani; Beyonce; Madonna; Carrie Underwood; Katy Perry; Cindy Lauper; Roxette; Debbie Gibson; Britney Spears; Anita Baker; Alanis Morissette; Cheryl Crow; Adele; Katie Tunstall; Amy Winehouse; BeeGees; James Blunt; Rihanna;
Eighties: Tears for Fears; Flock of Seagulls; Bananarama; Bangles; Go-Gos; Ah Ha; Psychedelic Furs; Wham; Duran Duran; Eurhythmics; Human League; Gloria Estefan; Thompson Twins; Thomas Dolby; INXS; Phil Collins; Missing Persons; Billy Idol
Uncategorized: David Bowie; Elton John; Sia; Portishead; Bjork; Amy Mann; Carey Brothers; Bon Iver; Cocteau Twins; Tom McCrae; Alan Parson Project; Fleetwood Mac; U2; Mazzy Star; Shabba Ranks; Beenie Man; Barrington Levy;
Electronica/House/Dance: DFA; David Guetta; Crystal Waters; Frankie Knuckles; Benny Benassi; Stephen Bodzin; Chemical Brothers; Daft Punk; Flight Facilities; Calvin Harris; Solid Groove; MSTRKRFT; Miike Snow; Moby; Juan McLean; Orbital; 808 State; Vitalic; Richard Vission; Blue6; Fischerspooner;
Hip Hop: Biz Markie; Tupac; Da King and I; RunDMC; Mobb Deep; Biggie Smalls; Wu Tang Clan; Snoop Dog; NWA; Above the Law; Bone; Kausion; E40; Master Ace; Lords of the Underground; L.O.N.S; Pete Rock and CL Smooth; 3xDope; Too Short; Souls of Mischeif; Pharcyde; the Roots; Mos Def; Talib Kweli; Alkaholiks, Cypress Hill; Drake; T.I.; Rick Ross; Fugees; Common; 50Cent; Kanye West; Gang Starr; Grand Puba; Tribe Called Quest; Craig Mack; Keith Murray; Group Home;
Classical: Tchaikovsky; Beethoven; Bach; Claude Debussy; Riri Shimada; Frank Liszt; Vivaldi; Mozart; Bela Bartok; Pavarotti; Puccini; Maria Callas; Brahms;
Jazz: Art Blakey; Miles Davis; John Coltrane; Bilie Holiday; Ella Fitzgerald;
Latin: Celia Cruz; Tito Puente; Marc Anthony; Linda Ronstadt; Ana Gabriel; Vicente Fernandez; Los Tigres del Norte; Banda El Recodo; Oscar D Leon; Ismael Rivera; Shakira; Daddy Yankee; Zion; Johnny Pacheco
Country: (NEW ONLY!): Rascal Flatts; Zac Brown Band; Lady Antebellum; Darius Rucker; Jason Aldean; Billy Currington; Walker Hayes; Keith Urban; Kenny Chesney
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Words to My Baby
After writing my “baby classes” post, I thought it necessary to mention something about becoming a father, as this life event will without doubt be the most significant thing to ever happen to me.
I am having a daughter soon, and she was planned and purposely tried for. Still, even with such planning, the realism as you can imagine, or maybe already know, is sobering and life changing. I could not be happier with the fact that we will be adding a human life, made up from both myself, and my amazing partner in life. Like everyone else, I have so many lofty hopes and dreams for her, but when it comes down to it, I just want her to be happy, and live life to the fullest. I want her to try her best at whatever she does in life, even if those things are not what I planned for her, like being a doctor, lawyer, or astronaut. If she wants to be a truck driver, then she better be the best truck driver this world has ever seen. If she wants to work on an oil rig, then she better be the best damn rigger the oil platforms have ever seen! Of course, I will hope that she will choose something sensible like becoming a nun or America’s top female heart surgeon, but she will find out that I will support her in anything. If she chooses something that is truly harmful or evil, then it will by my failure as a father.
Anyways, this is a letter that I wrote in her journal a few months ago, before I knew that she would be a “she”:
Peanut, my dearest baby, hello. I am your father. I write this to you, so that you may know, just how you came to be. By God’s will, and the magical force of cosmic destiny, your mother and I have come together to form the deepest love and passion that I have ever known and felt in this world. It is born from this love and passion that we share, and with all of our hopes and dreams, that we bring you into this world.
I don’t know you yet, and if you are a boy or girl does not matter because you were made out of love, and you will always be my baby, our baby. I promise to take care of you, and teach you to be strong. I promise to love you, and teach you everything that I know. I ask nothing of you, but to always try hard to be the best that you can be. If you do this, then I know you will be happy, and it will be ok, because your happiness already means the world to me.
You will share in our passion for all that is life, the good and bad, to work and to create, and to help make the world a better place. You may be like your mother, the greatest woman that I have ever known, and have great compassion for animals and want to save them. You may have her fierce temper, boisterous laugh, and artistic and creative ability. You may be like me, calm and collected, deep, thoughtful, and intelligent. You may be all of these things, none, or some.
My baby, Peanut, I want you to know that you can be anything in this world, and this I truly believe. I’ve seen the beauty in this world, and the amazing human spirit, where creativity, imagination, work, and perseverance melt into one. You shall never be afraid, because you are part of us, and we will never let you be alone, and together we will always be. Together, we will sing and dance, laugh and play, work and think, and always be one family wherever life takes us. I love you so much already. I can’t wait to meet you. – Love, Daddy.
PS. I hope you like dogs ☺
I am having a daughter soon, and she was planned and purposely tried for. Still, even with such planning, the realism as you can imagine, or maybe already know, is sobering and life changing. I could not be happier with the fact that we will be adding a human life, made up from both myself, and my amazing partner in life. Like everyone else, I have so many lofty hopes and dreams for her, but when it comes down to it, I just want her to be happy, and live life to the fullest. I want her to try her best at whatever she does in life, even if those things are not what I planned for her, like being a doctor, lawyer, or astronaut. If she wants to be a truck driver, then she better be the best truck driver this world has ever seen. If she wants to work on an oil rig, then she better be the best damn rigger the oil platforms have ever seen! Of course, I will hope that she will choose something sensible like becoming a nun or America’s top female heart surgeon, but she will find out that I will support her in anything. If she chooses something that is truly harmful or evil, then it will by my failure as a father.
Anyways, this is a letter that I wrote in her journal a few months ago, before I knew that she would be a “she”:
Peanut, my dearest baby, hello. I am your father. I write this to you, so that you may know, just how you came to be. By God’s will, and the magical force of cosmic destiny, your mother and I have come together to form the deepest love and passion that I have ever known and felt in this world. It is born from this love and passion that we share, and with all of our hopes and dreams, that we bring you into this world.
I don’t know you yet, and if you are a boy or girl does not matter because you were made out of love, and you will always be my baby, our baby. I promise to take care of you, and teach you to be strong. I promise to love you, and teach you everything that I know. I ask nothing of you, but to always try hard to be the best that you can be. If you do this, then I know you will be happy, and it will be ok, because your happiness already means the world to me.
You will share in our passion for all that is life, the good and bad, to work and to create, and to help make the world a better place. You may be like your mother, the greatest woman that I have ever known, and have great compassion for animals and want to save them. You may have her fierce temper, boisterous laugh, and artistic and creative ability. You may be like me, calm and collected, deep, thoughtful, and intelligent. You may be all of these things, none, or some.
My baby, Peanut, I want you to know that you can be anything in this world, and this I truly believe. I’ve seen the beauty in this world, and the amazing human spirit, where creativity, imagination, work, and perseverance melt into one. You shall never be afraid, because you are part of us, and we will never let you be alone, and together we will always be. Together, we will sing and dance, laugh and play, work and think, and always be one family wherever life takes us. I love you so much already. I can’t wait to meet you. – Love, Daddy.
PS. I hope you like dogs ☺
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