Words

Hey guys! This is more of a response blog than anything else, seeing as Lexa over at Cardiac Outbursts removed her comment function. The blog I'm responding to can be found under the title "You're the one I have decided who's one of my kind...". Note to Lexa: you still haven't changed the link on your blog to my new url. Just saying. Anywho, you can read the whole post over there, but I'm specifically responding to these few lines:

"Why do we all hide behind cryptic lyrics, quoting them to people, enamored with how they sound?/ Songs are so powerful, words are powerful, we are powerful. We hold all this power and so few of us learn how to use it to our advantage. Too few of us speak our minds and stand up for ourselves./ I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and stop hiding behind your words!"

Now, while there's nothing wrong with these words (they're pretty spot on about most people, actually), they do create a small issue in my mind. The problem is that not all of us hide. True, I used to hide behind those cryptic phrases, and sometimes I feel like using them time and again just for kicks, but most of the time I wield my words. They have become a sword, shield, and sanctuary. They can express what I think, defend what I believe, and create imaginary worlds of bliss.  For those of us that, as mentioned, actually learn to speak our minds, words become a powerful tool, and are no longer something we fear and avoid, quoting our interpretations of another persons phrases to make our point. In this way we do "hide" behind words, but can we truly hide behind words when we choose not to wield them? Just something to think about.

Tired

Wow. Long time no post. Sorry. At least it's not as bad as my other blog... I've gotta start posting for that. Anywho, I started work today. Summer job you see. I'm tired. Haven't had work in a while. Well, not much else to say. As I said, I'm tired. G'night. Oh! I got a new laptop and 360. Sweet.

Dysfunction

So my bloody birthday is tomorrow. I'm sure I'll have some fun with my friends at my party, but the rest of my day is gonna be how all my birthday's since I turned eleven were: one huge cluster(word that rhymes with "truck"). My Dad wants to see me, which is understandable seeing as my parents are divorced and he hasn't seen me for even one minute since September or October 2009. He said he'll bring me back by 6, and I said I'll check with my Mom. So I come home to tell her, she says I need to be home by 4 because I need to help set up for my party, cleaning and stuff. I say fine, but there's nothing to clean. I've dusted and vacuumed already, and who sets the table for a party? I don't care. Throw it down and people will grab. It's an informal 19 year-old's party, not a buffet line. But not my Mom. She gets angry at me, probably because she's throwing me a party and my dad hasn't done (word that sounds like skit) for us, according to her. And yet, I want to be with him. I understand her point of view, but I'm not sure she understands mine. So my Dad wasn't there when I grew up. So my golden hours with him were sitting in his room, in the basement, watching Star Trek an 10 P.M. because I couldn't see him any other time. You know what that made me? Grateful for any attention from a Father figure that I could get. My Mom is always there for me. My Dad... I need to get in all the time I can. Maybe I've got it wrong, maybe because I can't count on him I shouldn't bother. But I do. I've told this to a lot of people in private, but not in public, so I'll say it now. When my parents divorced and I heard I had visiting days every other Friday with my Dad, court-appointed, you know what I thought? It wasn't sadness if that's what you're expecting. Nope, it was joy. I was happy that I had guaranteed time with my Dad. It saved me a lot of pain. Sad that it went down that way, but whatever. It's done. Anyways, she gets really angry and decides to go for a walk. In the rain. But as a parting jab, she says I can come home at 6, when I would've come at 4 like she said to anyways. Didn't ask, by the way. Demanded. Maybe she'd get better results by being polite. Maybe I'm being hard on her because she's doing the best she can, but she should know that talking badly about my Father won't "make me understand" and see the way she does. I understand all right, but he's still my Dad, court mandate be damned. Her saying be home at 6 guaranteed I'd be home at 4 anyways, she knows when she does crap like that that I do what she said at first. If I don't, she gets angry. If I do, She gets angry. I can't win. And it happens every year. So, as always, happy birthday to me and my truckin' family. Let's hear it for dysfunction. See you on the other side.

Blues

So I finished the lyrics to that song, but I don't have chords yet. I've been practicing my blues scales for it though. I'm waiting to put chords to it until I solder up my pedal, which I ordered the other day. I did design the pedal though. It's gonna be a deep blue with white lettering done in some gothic font, with some clear coat over the top. It's gonna sound (and look) sweet. Other than that, I haven't done anything for this Arts Friday, sorry. Keep an eye out, I'll make it up to you.

Effects

Hey guys. I came across this site for kits to build your own effects pedals for guitars and stuff, and I so totally want one now. There's a Blues Overdrive meant to emulate the Blues Breaker, a really popular (and awesome sounding) pedal by the British company Marshall, and it's only $70! (Plus shipping, and any paint or labels you might want to put on, solder, soldering iron, all that jazz. but right now I'm set.) I'm really hoping to buy one soon, for two reasons (1) geek cred. I mean, soldering together your own effects pedal? Awesome. (2) The guitarist in me wants a bluesy overdrive pedal YESTERDAY, and for only $70 this is a really great deal (that is, a great deal for people who don't mind soldering. See #1.). Jonathan wantz, NAO. The link to the pedal follows: http://www.buildyourownclone.com/bbod.html