"Building A Better Me"

By Dogwood
From Building A Better Me

Superficial nature wearing thin.
I can't seem to begin.
What really do I see when I stare back at me?
As crushing time reveals my foe,
Inheriting all woe.
Solutions in the past,
Conditioned not to ask.
It's what you're meant to be,
Your name and number.
Be all that you should be.
You will recover things you haven't lost,
Because they don't see you like you think they do.
Please just become you.
"Release your fear" is what he said.
This all came to a head.
Feel cheated out of you,
Tradition follows through.
Though I can't see how this will end,
I know that you will always pull me through.
My soul went searching for a cause
But came back empty-handed.
The emptiness you see...
Building a better me.

Summer's Possibilities

Summer's Possibilities

Why is summer such an anomaly? It's the time of year that causes humans to reflect on life and become nostalgic. But summer is also a period of time that people bitterly live through only hoping for the cooler weather of fall. Summer grabs you in, and never lets you go. Once summer takes hold, you'll forget all your worries. One day, plans are made for work, school and social functions. Then another day comes with lots of laughter from children playing in the heat of the day, and it makes you think about going outside and climbing trees. Summer turns us all into children again. No other season has that effect. Summer grants us time. More time for daylight. More time for everything else. Summer lets us free ourselves from the burden of staying warm. Fewer clothes are not just mandatory; they're necessary. Summer has a way of making everything seem all right. Summer reassures us that life is meant for living. Summer has so many opportunities for improvement and growth. There's nothing like summer.

Now if I could just feel like this about every other season.

Your Questions, My Answers

Many moons ago, you all asked some questions of me. I'm ready to answer. Perhaps this summer will find some more blogging. Who knows?

Michelle said...
"So...what do you think about all these people protesting the Olympics that will be held in China?"

I sort of agree with you Michelle. When you said, "If all these people have such a problem with it, why didn't they protest it back like 8 years ago" I can agree. I find overnight activism annoying. People find things to pick on and then people jump on the bandwagon. I don't agree with how the Chinese government is treating their own people. I just find it odd that so many people are involved now. Perhaps the attention those protesters brought to the issue will help spark some change in the Communist country of China.


Jennifer said...
"What is your dream job and why?"

At this point, getting my Ph.D. and teaching would be my dream job. I would still love to be a frontman of a indie rock band. Or own a music (CD, LP, Tape) store.


Crystal said...
"Why is the word 'fart' still funny to me?"

Crystal, do I know you? If I did, I might be able to answer this question. I guess fart is funny to you because you are still somewhat easily entertained by immature humor like all of us.


auntie-ann-nola said...
"If you could change three things in your life, past or present, what would they be?"

Auntie Ann, I, like you, try not to have regrets. But I suppose three things I would change would be:

1. Got better grades in high school
2. Never have done drugs
3. Tell those whom I care about that I love them more often


linseymari said...
"Okay, how long can you hold your breath? Quick, 1-2-3 GO!!" AND "How many episodes of Saved by the Bell can you watch in one sitting?"

I'm sick. I can hold it bout 20 seconds. I could watch about 2 or 3 episodes of Saved By the Bell. Now, I could watch an entire season of Scrubs in a day. See you at the wedding this weekend.


Debbie said...
"What moves you? What depth? What drive?"

By far the toughest question to answer. God moves me, but apparently, I'm shallow waters. What drives me? I don't know. Goals I've set for myself. To please my parents. To please others. At the end of the day, though, I just want to be proud of myself. God's approval should be the first thing I seek. Sadly, I usually consider it last.

Thanks for this guys. I appreciate the participation.

Sad

Yesterday, only a couple blocks from where I was volunteering at the Carver Baptist Center Uptown in the Garden District, Guy McEwan was shot and killed around 5:00 PM. The newly-turned twenty-year-old was a victim of a senseless shooting. Supposedly, the shooting is linked to his participation and cooperation in testifying in another murder trial earlier in the week. While I'd only met Guy once or twice, it saddens me to know that this reality exists where I live. While I'm conscious of the issues on a daily basis, I can sometimes easily ignore it because I'm not affected. Well, I am now. Please, pray for families involved, and the 12th ward community. Someone mentioned to me that Guy was worried about this earlier in the week. When I was 20, I worried about not pissing my Dad off, or getting caught drinking. Seriously, how do you not worry about getting shot? What is that?

WWL has the whole story here

I'm Done Quoting Song Lyrics

I'm ready to start writing again. I cannot help feel a bit uninformed though. I have a lot to say, just don't know what to write about. So, this is where you will come in. Faithful readers, in the comments below, ask me random questions you want to know. Anything. Simple or complicated. Or ask me to write about something specific. Ask me what my favorite cereal is or who I will vote for in the upcoming election? Of course these are examples and I have already dedicated space on this blog for that, so please come up with new questions. This is up to you, the reader, however many of you are left. Thanks!

i wrote it down, and i remember

"How I Remember"
by David Bazan
Fewer Moving Parts EP

I go out in public now
More than you might think
But only after several drinks
That's how I remember
And if I see any girl
Ive ever met before
I run like Hell for the door
That's how I remember
Memory records
Selected shorts
And interpretations
Then later plays them back
As gospel fact
That's how I remember

Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest

Life is an impetuous adventure. Sometimes it is a winsome event. Other times, it is filled with nothing but sorrow. I oft find myself walking a fine line between the two. I tend to quote cliches to folk who think my life is a gem. The grass is always greener on the other side, so I say to them. I look at friends who sides are opposite of mine, and tend to think the issues I deal with are less tumultuous than the ones they are dealing with. These past few weeks have taught me a great deal about myself. I wonder if I'll remember the lessons learned. Stick to your guns, so they also say. I'm pretty sure I'm out of ammo at this point. Freeze. Bang, bang. Dead.

"Rejoice"

Wouldn't it be so wonderful if everything were meaningless
But everything is so meaningful
And most everything turns to shit
Rejoice

by Pedro the Lion from the album Control

Spam

I am no fan of spam. Not at all. Neither the supposed meat product nor the kind you get in your inbox. I don't want to be one of these johnny-come-lately bloggers who unleash their thoughts about the trivial, but this concerns all of you, as well as me. Today I was sifting through my spam folder in Gmail when something caught my eye. Sometimes miscellaneous newsletters or emails get stuck there simply because they happen to be in the form of a mass message. Well, one specific message caught my attention. The subject read: "Funky date rape trick." How is that supposed to entice anyone? Is that not an audacious attempt at either humor or shock, but still all mixed in with a dose of trickery? I did not open the email because I thought that we would please the sender too much. Seriously though, and this is really what chaps my hide. Who says funky anymore?