Double Feature: "The Color Purple" Soundtrack and Billy Joel's "Storm Front"

I need to get better at this. Really I do. It's annoying how inconsistent I can be about things that interest me the most. Moreover, it's actually rather sad that I can't find a shred of energy to devote to things I love. This particular day finds me at the end of a day that was not meant to be. A woman, a veterinarian, from one of the groups we service at work berated and belittled me in the midst of me trying to help her and her employee because she "doesn't have time for this. It's your screw-up. Fix it." You know what, lady? I really don't have time for this, either. I understand...you can't POSSIBLY pull yourself away from saving the lives of animals, but understand this, you vile representation of the soft-hearted female that you're supposed to be...I didn't want to put up with your sad excuse of the fact that you can't possibly be bothered to pay for a service we render you. They don't pay me enough to sift through your poor exhibition of humanity to come on my hands and knees begging you to forgive me for something that happened before I even started working there that YOU were too lazy to check for yourself. No...I AM WOMAN, TOO, YOU SELFISH BRAZEN HUSSY!!

It's at times like these I miss my last job that allowed me to listen to music while I worked. I have found that music is a key ingredient to my vitality; it reminds me in its subtle way that I am still alive and full of creativity. I'm hoping that when I move to part-time status at work come August that I will have a job that allows me to do this once more. Until then, I take what I can get as far as times to listen. Well, it's been a while since I have been able to, but before that happened I was able to stumble through to very different representations of music, which is why I am commenting on two albums this evening.

The first up to the plate is the soundtrack from Oprah Winfrey’s “The Color Purple” (why Oprah’s name is attached to this is beyond me, but far be it from me to announce or label the album/show other than what it has been). I actually bought the album before I saw the show (as is the case with most of the musical soundtracks I own), and I knew that eventually I wanted to see how the show played out along with the music. Preston and I finally had the opportunity in January 2009 as a belated Christmas present to ourselves. Believe me, it was an investment well spent. The story is a somber one, but it has its humorous moments, which make the musical very endearing and memorable. I think now of all times the plight of Celie that's played out in the show rings true to me. She spends most of her life separated from her only sister and the children she gave birth to and constantly asks God, "Why?" She almost gives up on God until she realizes that sometimes it just takes a while for things to come full. It spoke to me of trust and living life as much as you can with what you have. The song "I'm Here" expounds on this. In it, Celie states that she may not have those things she wants close to her, but in the same way she does. "Most of all I'm thankful for lovin' who I really am. I'm beautiful, and I'm here," she ends the song. It really does take coming to a point where we sees in us what God sees in us and becoming comfortable enough to say that same mantra--I'm beautiful, and I'm here.

The other feature on this post I happened to find for a whopping 97 cents at Hastings one day. As we all know...I can't pass up Billy Joel, especially when it comes cheap, so yet another album from the Piano Man made its way into my collection (though as of this post, not yet onto my iPod--I fudged a little). I liked the first song, "That's Not Her Style" the first time I listened to it. As I made my way through the rest of the album, however, I found it to be a prime example of what made 80's music so cheesy and odd. Even so, it has quite a few songs that I have always enjoyed, such as "We Didn't Start the Fire" (and yes, I can actually sing the whole song...when the song's playing), "Downeaster Alexa" (my dad's ringtone on my phone, family inside joke) and "Leningrad" ("blast those yellow Reds to hell"...probably the wittiest and silliest line of its time from a poignant lyric). In the end, I believe that it was a 97 cents well spent.

After writing this, I feel a little better after such a heinous day. I feel accomplished, which is always a good thing concerning things that matter to you. The only place I need to work on accomplishment is my stomach that is currently growling on account that we haven't had dinner yet because a splendid evening cut short. Preston's Home Depot job somehow said he was scheduled to work tonight, though he took down his schedule himself and didn't see himself on for tonight. Both of us were frustrated, but as of now, there's little we can do. So...I wait to obtain foodage.

Here's hoping life is treating you well, wherever you are. Good night.

"Enter the Danger Brigade" Calibretto 13

One thing that I've come to realize about this blog is this: I have no real idea who is reading this. For all I know, Cid, it could be just you. I doubt that my blog has been around long for StumbleUpon to throw into the mix for some unsuspecting person to find. I say this because what I'm about to do is expound on the wonderful impact Miss Cidly has had on my musical influences since I've known her. While I don't listen to everything she does, I can for certain say that the influence her musical tastes had on me has changed me for the better.

This album is one of them. I first became introduced to the musical stylings of Calibretto 13 in the front passenger side seat of her Ford station wagon. At first, I wasn't sure what to think of the lead singer's rather unique voice quality or the fact that it sounded like the song was going into convulsive spasms, but by the end of the first song she played for me, I found myself highly fascinated and intrigued. I felt the faint pangs of yearning for more. And of course, who wouldn't find it endearing when a song entitled "The Proposal" starts out something like this?

Now love is one thing and sex is another
But they got together like bread and butter
People think they know it all but they are confused
That's why so many people get hurt and used
Now I'm waiting for you and you're waiting for me
So believe it or not I think we're meant to be
We've been through the smiles and we've been through the tears
We've been though hell and heaven in the last four years
Let me tell you something cos I think you're ready
I'm your boy and you're my honey
So open your ears and close your eyes
And baby get ready for a big surprise

Hey, you're the one who makes me happy
You're the one I want to marry
You're the one I want to be with oh oh oh
So please don't tell me no
I don't want you to go
You're the one I want to wake up with

I was freaking hooked. I always enjoyed when she played them, and after a point in time, I asked her for a copy of one of their CD's. Just fyi, this particular album doesn't contain the aforementioned song, which is what I wanted, but I have enjoyed this album nonetheless. "Ballroom Blitz" and "High 5" are fun and funky songs that get the blood pumping and make you want to have fun. They're personally my favorites to listen to on the album. The others also have their fun, funky, and yet very poignant points to them, which has made the album so endearing to me. I may not listen to it that often, but when I do, it always puts a smile on my face. It makes me want to get sno-cones and sit out by the lake or just drive with the windows rolled down and the music blaring. This album is full of life, and it's high time I remember I have one.

So, thank you, Cid. Thank you for making me listen to this. I honestly was missing out until then.

Now, I'm off to save the world...or something of that nature...like burn a mixed CD for a kid and go to bed. I think those are good contributions to the world. At least for now.

"Next to Normal" The Original Broadway Soundtrack

It took me about three days to get through this album going to and from work in my car. I have found that I actually focus on the music better while driving in my car. Perhaps it is contributed to the fact that I can't escape the music...or something like that. Anyways...

First off, let me say that the music is satisfactory. The style reminded me of a Jason-Robert-Brown-meets-Rodgers-and-Hammerstein-meets-Rent vibe, if that's even possible. The one thing that surprising within the first 30 seconds of the album was the presence of explicatives. There was no explicit lyrics content sticker on the album, so I found that rather surprising and odd. Some of the songs were satisfactory, and it will probably take another listen-through to figure out how much I really like the show (and whether or not I will actually want to see it), but for now these are my thoughts on the music.

The story itself very much reminds me of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House if you think of the role of Nora being played out as a bipolar woman who is trying to figure out why her memories are gone and how she has this unnerving feeling that she has another child that her family isn't reminding her about. It plays out very much like that, and it is from that fact I find my hesitation to even see the show. Doll's House was rather depressing and dumb, in my opinion. However, I suppose that it is a good exploration of our society's obsession with calling every manic-depressive outburst a chemical imbalance and to fix it accordingly with meds.

It's definitely something to think about. Until then, I go to work and try to motivate myself to things I want to do instead of being tired all the time.

"Streetlife Serenade" Billy Joel

This past week has been crazy. I have really meant to write more consistently and more often, but then Associate's Convention at work happened--and I had to help with corporate tours. Longest week of my life. All I can say is that I'm so glad it's over. Granted, I have to start it all over again come Monday, but for now, I have my peace and quiet as I wait for my latest venture in baking--a sour cream bundt cake--to reach optimal consumption status.

Even so, this week has had a pleasant alleviation to the pains of work, and that is found in the album known as "Streetlife Serenade" by Billy Joel. This is indeed one of the new albums I mentioned in the previous post, and after listening to it, I have found it to be one of the most welcome additions to my music collection. This album by far is the most instrumentally driven of Billy Joel's discography by far (and I would know...I own almost all of them). It contains two instrumental-only pieces: "Root Beer Rag", which has become one of my favorites of its kind, and "Mexican Connection." Overall, the album has a pleasant feeling to it, much like the feeling of sitting on the front porch watching the general neighborhood spectacle. It's a somewhat content feeling, in spite of the yearn for something more on the horizon. Two of my favorite songs from this album are "The Great Suburban Showdown" and "Weekend Song", both aptly named and well written lyrically.

WEEKEND SONG

This back-breakin', bone-shakin', belly-achin', hard-workin'
Two more hours to go
Yes, it's keeping me alive doin' nine to five
And I ain't got nothin to show
Pretty soon I'll be leavin'
With the wages I'm receivin'
But I know it's gonna be all right
Come on, babe, and take me away
We got some money to spend tonight

Pick me up at the station
Meet me at the train
Have a meal and a shower and a change of clothes
I can't afford a vacation
But I can take the strain
Long as I can be with you
Find a way to burn it as quickly as I earn it

Yes, it's back-breakin', bone-shakin', belly-achin', hard-workin'
Two more hours to go
Seven long years for the same corporation
And I ain't got nothin' to show
And tonight when I'm leavin' I'll be just breakin' even
But I know it's gonna be all right
I shake off my blues when you put on your shoes
We got some money to spend tonight

Oh, I don't wanna stand here and sound accusin'
Everybody does their share of losin'
If I'm gonna lose it I might as well be doin' it right

Pick me up at the station
Meet me at the train
Have a meal and a shower and a change of clothes
I can't afford a vacation
But I can take the strain
Long as I can be with you
Find a way to burn it as quickly as I earn it

Yes, it's back-breakin', bone-shakin', belly-achin', hard-workin'
Two more hours to go
Yes, it's keepin' me alive doin' nine to five
And I ain't got nothin' to show
And tonight when I'm leavin' I'll be just breakin' even
But I know it's gonna be all right
Come on, babe, and take me away
We got some money to spend tonight
Come on, babe, take me away
We got some money to spend tonight

Good Stuff, eh? Anyways, that's all I have for now, besides a silly headache and a yearn to watch Sleepless in Seattle now that I own it (much to my husband's chagrin). Hopefully, it won't be over a week till the next posting. Of course, the next post has to do with a Broadway musical soundtrack that I have yet to listen to, so it may be a while as I must devote myself to listening.

Ah well, until next time...whenever next time happens to be...

"The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek" Relient K

OMG OMG OMFG!!!!!! Have you seen how green it is outside?!?!?!?!?! It's like, freaking Ireland out there!!!! I had today off and was able to go visit my grandparents' farm. When we got out of town, it just hit me like a brick wall how green it was. It made my heart happy.

Well, Happy Good Friday, everyone. I have to say that, out of all the holidays of the year, Easter season is by far my favorite. The earth is waking up to its beautiful self, Easter music is in my heart, and true to its tradition, it has been shown favor to have good memories abound during this time of year in the form of a rather sizable tax refund. And a lot of the happiness that I find during this season has to do with the music. Have you ever listened to Easter music when it pertains to the Resurrection? It's vigorous and exciting and...well, full of life. I have nothing against Christmas music; it heralds the majestic royal nature of Christ. But there's something about Easter music that speaks of the true nature of Christ. As C.S. Lewis says of Aslan, "He's not a very tame lion." It is for that reason that I love Him so and the life He brings. Easter music seems only fitting in this sense.

Anyways, enough of my Easter-music-gasm....

I do apologize for the delay in posts. With this new job I have, I find the life sucked out of me by the end of the day. Only when I am about to retire for the evening do I vaguely remember this blog, and by that time, I'm just ready to sleep. It's not that I haven't been thinking about this blog post; it's just that it escapes my need for obligation to complete. But here I am, delivering you my lyrical thoughts once again.

Some of you that really know me have come to realize the significance of Relient K in my life. Some of you were actually there when they sparked my creativity and provoked me to find a way to draw out a story from their discography, placing them into a musical fit for Broadway. Some of you may have noticed how I pandered on the issue ever since then and have taken a long journey to bring myself back to it. Within the past week or so, I have finally had the gentle but firm motivation (via my God-given husband) to finally place pencil to paper and really do this. As a result, I have spent much time recently listening to their albums, including this one, and I have had time to remember the memories tied to it.

Although this is not their first released album, this is the first album that I obtained of theirs. I remember the day I received it, too--it was my first year of college at SAGU, and I was just finishing up New Student Orientation week. I had been with my family very little that day as they were unable to make it in time to a financial aid meeting with me. I remember how very cross they were that I wasn't able to see them that much before they left to make the then 13-hour trip home, but nothing could be done about it. They were leaving, and I was staying, alone and unfamiliar with my surroundings. Before they left, however, they gave me two 'housewarming' gifts to usher in this new era of dorm life. One was a VHS copy of Legally Blonde (which I still own and occasionally watch to this day), and the other (per the request of Casey) was "The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek" by Relient K. We had come to know their songs from that album in the first full year we lived in New Mexico, so it was like she was sharing with me a part of her that became the first of many. My sister is kick-butt like that, one of my closest companions since as long as I've known her, and I completely blame her for aiding and abetting God on my path to His purpose. Thanks, Case.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Or in this case, history in the making. One can only hope.

That's all for now. I bought two new albums today! I plan to make them the next two topics of discussion. Until then, it's off to try the Wingin' It place in town and see if their chicken wings are as amazing as they make them out to be.

Happy Easter, all!

“Happy” Matthew West

Well, it would seem that Spring has sprung, and Daylight Savings Time is almost upon us. With that also comes the awful stormy March Oklahoma weather—wet, dreary, and just plain blah. They're the kind of days that you wish you could spend curled up at home with a hot cup of tea and a good book or movie (or in my case, time for writing) but instead you find yourself with cold, wet feet at a job that you find frustrating and slightly mind-numbing. The sun does come out, but only a day or so at a time—taunting you into believing it's April.

That's what I find surrounding me these days, both figuratively and literally.

It seems like a never-ending battle for me. I'm sure for most of you as well. You have some dream that God has placed in you. You have the passion to do it. Your heart is burdened with the mission of that dream. You begin strong, ecstatic that that you've finally figured out what it is that you're supposed to do with your life—at least, some faint semblance of what you're supposed to. Then…life happens. Bills accumulate. Passion is replaced by duty, and the dream that you had is merely a vague shadow somewhere in the back of your mind. You begin to lose parts of your vitality and proceed to merely exist. Doubts begin to arise as to whether you heard the call to that dream correctly, or if that's all it merely was—a dream. Before too long, you find yourself sitting at home, completely robbed of your creativity, willpower and confidence.

It would seem as though God had led you into this valley to die a slow, painfully emo death.

Then…at just the right time…He finds a way to always remind you of His presence and the fact that He's not through with you yet.

That's what amazed me when Preston drew out this selection at this time of all times. I literally started laughing and crying at the same time the moment he gave it to me, which puzzled him immensely. What he and undoubtedly you don't know is that this album is one of those that, when I go through a tough time, somehow it creeps its way back into my life and reminds me that God is still beside me, persuading me to choose joy instead of sorrow. It's cheesy, and I don't listen to it that often because of that fact; but when push comes to shove, it resonates within my soul and renews my resolve to go on a little longer and not give up. One of the songs, "Out of My Hands", talks of those times when things overwhelm, brings us to our knees, and of the need to trust the situation to God:

"It's out of my hands
It's out of my reach
It's over my head
It's out of my league
There's too many things
That I don't understand
So it's into Your will
And it's out of my hands"

I know it's silly, but with that and a few other things that have occurred recently, I know that God was speaking to me and reminding me of His promises to me. It's still difficult, and this work week is testament to that fact. But now, I don't feel so much that I was led here to die. I was led here to live.

Numbers 23:19—"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

In spite of the storms…in spite of the valleys…I must always remember that from that springs forth the one of the greenest times of the season. It has always been my favorite part of the season, as a matter of fact. I always love the look of the fields below my grandparents' house after a long bought of rain in the spring. I have a feeling that it's almost as green as Ireland itself at that moment. It's in that lush, green field that I once envisioned myself during a moment of worship dancing with God.

Beauty forged from adversity. Violent beauty.

It seems only fitting.

“With Arrows, With Poise” Myriad

I love oatmeal cookies.

More importantly, I love oatmeal cookies that I have made after a long day's work followed by a lonely night. I put my iPod on its dock and let the current selection play through as I mixed in sugar, eggs, and the all important oatmeal. The music merely fades to the background, becoming ambient noise that helps the loneliness a little bit—but only a little bit.

As I listened to this blog's selection by the Myriad, I couldn't help but notice how terribly emo sounding it was. I'm not saying it was bad, and I'm not saying at some point in my life I would have definitely enjoyed them (probably about the time I started listening to Fall Out Boy and Emery), but I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the album to end. It reminds me of numerous wordy songs that I have been assured have deep meanings but fail to keep my attention on account of how many words they pack into it. That's probably one of the main reasons I have yet to really enjoy listening to Demon Hunter (sorry, Preston, and the rest of the Demon Hunter following). I may be silly for being a sucker for a good, well-placed rhyme, but I just can't help myself.

With all that in mind, I suppose it begs the question of how it ended up on my iPod to begin with. I have to make another confession. I am one of those girls who will listen to anything a guy throws at her, or at least try to. It's true. You wouldn't believe the things I've listened to. I think the most pathetic example of this was in high school when I started listening to P.O.D. just because the cute new guy in the youth group liked them. Of course, this was all a long time ago when I was absurdly boy-crazy. I would like to think I have grown up since then—at least a little. The same is true with this album, but in a little less extreme way. One day, Preston and I decided to go through each other's albums to look for new music or music we had been wanting (that's how I was able to get almost all of the Relient K music). Looking through his stuff, he came to this album and said, "Here. You might like them. I haven't really listened to them and am not sure why I got this, but yeah." I had heard of them before, and so I decided to give it a try.

I have.

I'm so glad it's over. Now, I'm currently listening to my iPod on shuffle and am feeling much better. A clean house and fresh homemade oatmeal cookies don't hurt things, either. The fact I got to see one of my favorite singers last week makes things even better. Now, THAT'S music. The Billy Joel/Elton John show was nothing short of amazing. Billy played songs I knew, and it was confirmed that he is a truly great entertainer. The only real fail things of the evening is that I opted to not bring in my camera to the show and missed so many good shots, as well as only knew about a handful of Elton John's songs. I decided that it is high time I start creating a small repertoire of his music, hopefully soon.

As I lay here on the couch thinking how crappy it's been being tired all the time from work and lonely while Preston is at work, these things remind me that I still have good things happening to me and maybe—just maybe—even more good things will come if I'm just patient.

One can only hope. Until then, there's a random shuffle of songs and oatmeal cookies for all.

“Say I am You” The Weepies

I am so sleepy.

Last night, I made a promise to Preston (my husband) that I would get up with him in the morning, which is earlier than I have usually been getting up. Of course, I make these promises when I'm not really sleepy and trying to fall asleep at night. Needless to say, I'm mildly regretting my words this morning, but for better or for worse, I was actually up well before my birth control alarm went off. I had a pleasant time with Preston before he left for school, drinking coffee and commenting on the fact I have yet to memorize the words to the J-Pop theme song from Great Teacher Onizuka (the live-action version). Now I am left to myself, my coffee and my iPod, which is playing today's current selection for discussion.

OK, I think the coffee is kicking in, but the feeling of awake-ness isn't so harsh anymore. The Weepies has that effect on me, and I am glad for it.

I would like to say that I discovered The Weepies all by myself, but that would be lying…in a way. When I first became aware of them, I was browsing the Myspace page of a guy I had recently met through Yahoo at the time. Their song "Gotta Have You" happened to be his selection of background music for the page. I was so intrigued by the lyricism and the voice quality of the woman singing it that I could not resist the need to know more about them. After I had placed the song on my Myspace page and exhausted its play-through over and over again, I decided it was high time that I had a copy of the album for my very own. If the rest of their music was as good as this, then surely I would enjoy it just as much or even more. The rest, as they say, is history. As of now, I have all three of their albums, and it is only fitting that my introduction of their music in this blog starts with this album. As for the guy I met from Yahoo, my friendship with him has come and gone, but I will always be eternally grateful for his unknowing influence towards The Weepies.

I love the story behind the group. They were two solo musicians, aware and in awe of each other's music yet unaware that the other felt the same. One night, they get up the nerve to talk to each other, find themselves writing together before the end of the night and have been writing ever since. If any of you have seen the film Once (which is amazing and you should see it, especially after my blog on its soundtrack, which is also amazing), then it will remind of you in a way of that story. The only difference is…well, shucks…I can't tell you if you haven't seen the film yet. It would spoil the story. Just take my word for it that it's similar, ok? OK.

He he, the song "Nobody Knows Me at All" is on at the moment, and I can't help but smile a nice warm lazy smile. It always reminds me of this one time Casey and I were spending time with friends Phiet and April, and this song came on. It's hard to describe that moment, but let me tell you, it was pretty funny and memorable. I do remember it was in the car, and now that I think about it, many of my memories with this particular album occurred in my car, moving along and watching nature pass me by. It gives me that balmy, sleepy cloudy sky, 75-degree warm feeling all over, which was usually the perfect cure for a long day at work or whatever seems to be daunting. It contains a sort of quiet happiness about it that keeps you warm on cold days and allows you to slow down and enjoy life on warm days.

My only question about their music that has never been answered is this: what on earth do they mean when they sing "You know, the way you look makes everyone hungry" in the same song as "Dye your hair suicide blonde"? What color is suicide blonde, anyways?

Any suggestions towards an answer to that question will be gladly accepted. But for now, I'm off to spend one of my last few days of freedom from the work world cleaning, playing Sims 2 and other video games, and getting employee paperwork done, all with a balmy, sleepy cloudy sky, 75-degree warm feeling all over. If it wasn't so chilly outside, I would lay a blanket out in my backyard and watch the clouds.

I guess that will just have to wait until Spring.

“Amusing” Chris Rice

First off, I suppose you're wondering how I determine which album to write over during this project. It truly is rather simple yet time consuming, which is why it took me so long to get it started. I suspect it might have been easier and more 'environmentally friendly' to merely press shuffle and see where it took me. However, I found a huge flaw in this method. I would constantly have to be pausing, reversing and forwarding to hold my place, and who's to know when my husband will want to commandeer my iPod because he has yet to transfer his favorites from my music? (I say this only with heart-felt affection; I take it as a compliment that he likes a lot of the music I have introduced to him.) Needless to say, this had to be remedied. And it was. I actually typed out all the albums/artists, printed them off, cut them into strips, folded them up and placed them all in an old gift bag. Granted, another way would have possibly been easier, but as I have neither Internet at home nor the patience to sit at the school and figure it out, this is the method that made the most sense.

In this fashion, I had my obliging husband draw the first selection, which brought forth the first review you have been—no doubt—anxiously waiting to see.

This journey begins with the more popular Chris Rice album, "Amusing." I say it's popular in the sense that, out of all of his albums, it's the only one that I recollect being played on both Christian and secular radio stations. And when I say play, I mean the one song that everyone knows from that album: "When Did You Fall (in Love)". It was for that very reason that I myself desired and obtained my own copy of the album. Over the years, I have found Chris Rice's music to be one of my favorites. I completely enjoy his kid-like lyricism whose wisdom transcends every age of life. That's just it—he knows how to have fun with music, yet in the middle of that whimsy, deep truths resonate. Pure lyric genius. That's all there is to it. This album is no different.

However, it has been quite some time since I have had any desire to listen to it. As time when on, the songs began to have bittersweet memories attached to them that were rather hard to audibly digest. It reminds me of a cold January afternoon on my driveway, comprehending another relationship gone south—quicker than I had expected it to at the time. It reminds me of a rainy day in July spent in a hospital room, only to find out that we had precious little time with Grandma Gray, a very spirited and strong woman that all of us loved and respected. It reminds me of nights spent alone in my car, driving home from work, wondering what I would do with my life. What follows are the emotions that are typically found in the middle of these sorts of memories—anger, regret, sadness, uncertainty, and loneliness. What do you do with that kind of emotional baggage? Even now, it's hard to let it go. More memories come. A silent yet tear-filled cafeteria meal flickers, along with the memory of how hard it was to eat during that time of emotional pain. Fights, things said, things unsaid…so much overwhelms.

Then, songs like "Sleepyhead Sun" with its bright yet quiet tone reminding me of the goodness of life, "The Final Move" heralding love conquers all when it really matters, and "Amusing" whispering of the ironic way life moves along make their way into the playlist mix. The storm quiets, and the sun warms. I find that a handsome and wonderful man of God is by my side, quietly enjoying a play-through of Fallout 3. The house is in disarray, but the guests that come from time to time pay no mind because of the friendly atmosphere found here. My family is well, though a little worse for wear, and thankful for each other more than ever before.

As the album finishes, these words filter from my iPod dock:

"At least for now, I'm smiling"…"You can't write such a comedy without some conspiracy"…"I find it all so amusing"…

Before I started this post, my husband asked me if I wanted to start out with such a weighty subject. "It'll make you emo," Preston pointed out. "And I don't want you to be emo." It's true that it was emo. But whether or not I wrote it now or later made no difference to emo-ness. "Besides," I reasoned with him, "I have you and a bunch of good other things that make it not-so-emo." And with that explanation, he smiled.

Life goes on. And I'm smiling. Now, to ponder what dinner for one will be tonight. Hopefully something decently yummy. I have yet to cook that split pea soup, but that's hardly appealing. Probably something to do with chicken. Anyways, I'm off. Till next time!

“With a Righteous Invasion of Truth…”

These words were the main theme behind the first album (in CD form) that I ever owned. It was one of many Carman albums that I desired and obtained over the course of my young life. I remember the Christmas I received it with my sister as a gift, back in the day when Christian music was the prevalent musical influence in our household. In a time before mp3 players and iPods, my music selection was rather limited, and I reveled in my musical ignorance.

That was over ten years ago.

Having just recently celebrated my 25^th birthday, I decided to look back on the past quarter century and contemplate upon how much I have grown (as I am sure all of us do in our mid-twenties). Indeed, I have grown in stature and intellectual capacities. I have had many life experiences both joyous and somber that have created a hopefully well-rounded individual. One thing that has also hallmarked my somewhat varied life is the massive amount of music I came to listen to over the years. Now that I have caught up with the times with my own iPod, I find myself listening to a song or a band that I have placed in the back corners of my melodic memory on numerous occasions. Many times over recent months, I have asked myself the question, "What was I thinking when I listened to this band/song/genre/album?" While my musical tastes have held somewhat a basic intrinsic theme of sorts, the variations of each can at times seem to be the extreme of the others. When I listen to my iPod on shuffle, I am amazed at how many times the songs don't make sense next to each other in my repertoire of lyrical gems and "diamonds-in-the-rough."

Then, it occurred to me. I'm a musical hoarder.

It's true, and as they say, admission is the first step to recovery—or in this case, discovery. I have set before myself a journey of sorts for the coming year…or however long it takes to trudge through all the music that finds itself on my iPod. Inspired by a recent film of blogging through food, I have decided to blog through music. More specifically, I have decided to blog of my life through music. Much of the reason I kept all this music is that, at some point, each one of these songs was a part of my life, describing where I was at that time. Everyone has said at some point that they had a grouping of songs that were the 'soundtrack to their life.' This, my fellow travelers, is mine.

I invite you to join me, whoever you may be, on a journey of vulnerability and self-discovery as I recount the good, the bad, and the ugly of my life through 228 of the most poignant moments (or less than poignant, depending on the context) of my life. My one hope is that through this journey I inspire myself—and perhaps even you—to find the unique melody within that God has placed since the beginning of our existence. For among all the songs, one central theme will become clear.

And I intend to find out what that theme is for me.