One Year = One Lifetime

A lot can happen in a year. Just ask me. But if you would like to know more, ask someone else. Many more have suffered beyond what I have ever experienced. I am lucky. I wrote a lot about being lucky last year. One year ago today [link], I wrote with almost a humorous spirit. For the next month, there was no laughter coming from me. Why do we look back and smile, even when the memories are bad? This is not the case for me. I don't think a day has gone by in the past 365 days where I haven't thought about that whore Katrina and what she took from me. I'm glad God's in control because I would lose my mind if He wasn't. I still hurt and cry, and I didn't lose one thing. Think about those who lost some, or all. I am only concerned because I was affected and effected (one of the only times I can be both I suppose). Instances like hurricanes teach me to hurt and mourn with others; to get beyond my feeble attempts at being self-centered. This is it. I don't know what this next year holds for me. But I sure hope is resembles very little of last year.

The South Will Rise Again In 2010

Many things cause me to be emotional and nostalgic...

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
And miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong, the feeling's getting stronger
The longer I stay away

Miss the moss-covered vines, tall sugar pines
Where mockingbirds used to sing
I'd love to see that old lazy Mississippi
Hurrying into Spring

The moonlight on the bayou
A Creole tune that fills the air
I dream about magnolias in bloom
And I'm wishing I was there

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's one thing more, I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans

"Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans"
Written by Louis Alter & Eddie DeLange

For the first time in a year, I have participated in some typical New Orleanian activities. Last night I ate naked chicken strips and tonight I had a shrimp po-boy for dinner. I have driven on Magazine, Gentilly, Carrollton, St. Charles, etc. I watched oak trees cover the streets. I ran a stop sign and went through red lights. If you don't know what this means, than you don't know what it means to miss New Orleans.

I'm sorry for when I forgot you, pied-à-terre.

Anthropological Conversations

You asked me to come upstairs
Only to make me take a seat in a chair
As I walked through the door
You’re already done with the discussion

I sit down, pen in hand
Ready to catch any lingering thoughts
You come up with more theories
Than a physicist has pages to jot notes

I'm panicking with caution; almost despair
'Cause I can't seem to find enough spare change
To donate to your cause
Nor do I have the time to wait around until you find the time to spare

So, I wait, and rest upon these thoughts
Of songs about airplanes and the reptiles of the world that are around
But now I have leave and go up town
I just thought you should know how I felt about this afternoon

New Orleans, LA 70126

Well, I am back in NOLA, again a full time student at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I have been in town for one week. Right now, I'm sitting at a table in the Hardin Student Center, near the Cafe. The muffled sounds of laughter and conversation are only mildly overshadowed by the stressed-filled sighs that are echoing in my mind. It's surreal. Here I am. In the place I was only one year ago (possibly in the same chair). But again, here I am, in a much different place and with a much different attitude than just twelve months prior. It feels different now. Everyday life--for me and the city--is not the same as it was one year ago. I'm getting by, making due, living well, etc. I realize that the only person who can make things different this time around is me. I have a second chance to accomplish my tasks, get closer to God, grow friendships into lifelong relationships and help people cope with their devastated lives. Or, I could just as easily repeat what I've already done. The choice of what to do is an easy one to make. The action I choose to take is the much more difficult decision As silly as sounds, we can learn a lot from an accused child molester:

"That's why I want you to know I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer. If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself and then make a change" ("Man In The Mirror" by Michael Jackson).

Leaving, Again...

I'm looking forward to everything about moving except for leaving...

Records (33's) and Singles (45's) For Sale

I have brought my peddling ways to To Whom. I have all of these albums and singles and wish to get rid of all of them (don't worry, I still have plenty more). I may add a few more soon, but this is it for now. The conditions very, if you have a question, email me about one.

Here's how this works. I have a few friends with interests in vinyl. This is on a first come, first serve basis. Email me with your choices. I will do my best to take off already sold records once somebody requests them. If you buy one, it'll be about a $.50 cents plus shipping. (Obviously more valuable ones are worth a bit more.) If you buy more than one, I'll make them cheaper, that way you get a deal. I just want to get rid of them. I will make you a Pay Pal invoice and that way you can pay with Debit or Credit Cards. You can also transfer money straight out of your checking account and it's perfectly secure and safe. Let the mayhem begin! Email me at jeffyjeff[at]gmail[dot]com with your choices.

LP’s (33's)

A-ha – Hunting High and Low (features “Take On Me”)
Bryan Adams – Reckless (features “Summer of ‘69”)
The Beatles - The Beatles – no case
The Beatles – The Beatles [White Album] – no case – 2 LPs
The Beatles – The Beatles ‘65 – no case
The Beatles – Rubber Soul – no case
The Beatles – Help – no case
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band – no case
Blue Oyster Cult – Agents of Fortune (features “Don’t Fear The Reaper”)
Jimmy Buffett – Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (features “Margaritaville”)
Captain and Tennile – Love Will Keep Us Together (features self-titled hit)
Chicago – 16
Charlie Daniels – A Decade of Hits (features “Devil Went Down To Georgia”)
Cheap Trick – Cheap Trick At Budokan (live)
Sam Cooke - The Best of Sam Cooke
Doris Day with Andre Previn - Duet
The Eloise Trio – Self-Titled
Foreigner – Feels Like The First Time (features self-titled single)
Merle Haggard - HAG
Hello Dolly – Original Soundtrack (features “Louis Armstrong doing “Hello Dolly”)
INXS – Kick (features “New Sensation”)
Billy Joel – Glass House (features “You May Be Right,” “Don’t Ask Me Why,” Etc)
Kansas – Point of No Return (features “Dust In The Wind”)
Kid and Play – Funhouse (unopened)
Carol King - Tapestry ("It's Too Late")
The Kinks – Give The People What They Want
The Kinks – Misfits
Phil Keggy – What A Day
John Lennon/The Plastic Ono Band – Live Peace In Toronto 1969 – no case
Henry Mancini – The Pink Panther
The Music Man – Original Broadway Cast
The Music Man – Original Soundtrack
New Kids on the Block – Hangin’ Tough
Our Best To You – (compilation featuring The Byrds, Aretha Franklin, Simon & Garfunkel, The Yardbirds)
Boots Randolph – The Yakin’ Sax Man
The Young Rascals – Groovin’ (features “Groovin’”)
The [young] Rascals – The Rascals’ Greatest Hits - no case
The Righteous Brothers - Greatest Hits
The Righteous Brothers – Just Once In My Life…
The Righteous Brothers – Soul and Inspiration (2 copies available)
Renaissance - Prologue
Kenny Rogers – The Gambler (features “The Gambler”)
Arthur Rubinstien – Moonlight Sonata (Three Beethoven Sonatas)
Roxy Music - Avalon
The Persuaders – Surfer’s Nightmare
Cole Porter/Fred Waring – Fred Waring Music/Cole Porter Songs
Psychedelic Lollipops - Blues Magoos (VG+ copy of this rare album. Price is $5)
Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends (no case)
Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA
U2 – The Unforgettable Fire (features “Pride (in the name of love))
Van Halen - Halen II
Van Halen – 1984 (features “Jump” & “Hot For Teacher”)
Bobby Vinton – All Time Greatest Hits (features “Roses Are Red”) – Double LP
Wham – Make It Big (featues “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”)
Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ First Finale
X – Ain’t Love Grand
Neil Young - Trans

Singles (45’s)

… Ascend To The Stars (a 4-band hardcore compilation 7 inch; original case)
Booker T & The MG’s – Mrs. Robinson b/w Soul Cap ‘69
Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful b/w It’s A Sin When YOU Love Somebody
Alice Cooper – I Never Cry b/w Goto Hell
Chris DeBurgh – The Lady In Red b/w The Vision
Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes - I Should be Your Lover
Harry Farmer’s – Dance Date (“Tip-Toe Through The Tulips”) (original case)
The Foundations – Build Me Up Buttercup b/w New Direction
Boy George and Culture Club – Do You Really Want To Hurt Me b/w You Know I’m…
George Harrison – Apple Scruffs b/w What Is Life
Billy Idol – Rebel Yell b/w Crank Call
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean b/w Can’t Get Outta Rain
Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual b/w To Wait For Love
The Kinks – Who’ll Be The Next In Line b/w Everybody’s Gonna Be Happy
Madonna – Papa Don’t Preach b/w The Pretender
Paul McCartney and Wings – Live and Let Die b/w I Lie Around
Paul McCartney and Wings – Silly Love Songs b/w Cook of the House
The Monkees – A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You b/w The Girl I Knew Somehwere
The Monkees – Daydream Believer b/w Goin’ Down
Peter, Paul, & Mary – Leaving On A Jet Plane b/w The House Song
Prince – When Doves Cry b/w 17 Days
The Rolling Stones – 19th Nervous Breakdown b/w Sad Day
Diana Ross – Reach Out I’ll Be There b/w (They Long To Be) Close To You
Pat Suzuki – Pat Suzuki on Broadway (from 1959 with original case)
Wellington/Noothgrush – (hardcore/punk split 7inch; original case included)
Vision – One and The Same (7inch EP; original case included)

Yeah

I move one week from tomorrow and I have nothing done in preparation for it. This is my life...

In My Life

I would sell myself on eBay if I could. Here's the rest of the stuff I'm trying to get rid of. Bid away!