update special

Yeah,
I said mama don't you worry now.
Yeah
I guess I had it coming anyhow.
Yes I did.

Ray Lamontagne

Why more people don't talk about ray Lamontagne I don't know. Probably because he can't put together a complete album and really doesn't have any big hits. So then why am I speaking about him. Because he does have a few really good songs worth listening to. I think his biggest song would be trouble. It's the one that plays in the travelers insurance commercial where the dog can't seem to hide his bone in the right spot. Sweet commercial. Well I would say that is his biggest song. But off that album he has two really good songs. One you may have heard of its called hold you in my arms. It is a song that played in the she's the man movie with amanda bynes. After the soccer game the two are heartbroken. It's actually an alright movie don't hate. Either way the song is good. I don't know what is with the strawberries in the video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=406Se3xPTqQ
I like the passion, of course. The lyric starting the second verse is sweet "When you kissed my lips, with my mouth so full of questions. A worried mind that you quiet." Man that is a good line.

The second song is also from the trouble album. Its called hannah. The beginning is better then the end but it's still a good song. Same thing with this video it's like a city shot from the sky. O.K
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKTRUpa0zU4
Good chords on this one. Best lyric: it's in the first verse: "I never knew a man could fall so far until I landed here." I still don't know but I guess I have landed there yet. Either way it's a good lyric.
So check the dude out.

Sure plans

I just read this and I love it because it is the truth. Good luck with your relationships when both people aren't pointing in the right direction:

"Each of us is tempted to make relationships the end rather than the means."

"When we reflect on Genesis 1-3, it becomes clear that the primary relationship Adam and Eve were intended to enjoy was their relationship with God. This vertical communion with God would provide the foundation for the horizontal community they were to have with each other. Everything God made pointed Adam and Eve to the primacy of their relationship with him. All of creation was to function as an arrow pointing to God. But in our sin we tend to treat people and creation as more important. The very things God created to reveal his glory become instead the glory we desire. We settle for the satisfaction of human relationships when they were meant to point us to the perfect relational satisfaction found only with God. The irony is that when we reverse the order like this and elevate creation above Creator, we destroy the relationships God intended – and would have enabled – us to enjoy."

And this one is for me not in love relationships well because, haha yeah but in relationships in general and probably a lot of you out there:

"What happens in the messiness of relationships is that our hearts are revealed, our weaknesses are exposed, and we start coming to the end of ourselves. Only when this happens do we reach out for the help God alone can provide."

Now I am finally reaching, and I pray he allows me not only to work on the weaknesses without arrogance and pride, and make each relationship I have in my life work, but also that he opens up the heart of the people of whom I have messed up that relationship in the past, so that I may show them the love and glory and patience I am slowly starting to understand, that I made wrong choices but it has helped me become a better person, but if they won't open their heart again to me, then I can't dwell on it but just continue to pray for their happiness and good luck on their own journey and that maybe one day when they are so over-joyed with the love of God they finally will open their hearts back up if even for a moment. Maybe I am just a dreamer.

Thanks though to who ever is reading this that you at least care enough to hear my words because this is my heart in a letter that I am pouring out. I am in a vulnerable place but I think that is where God wants me to be, because in this place I have finally said to him "I can't do it by myself, my way, I mess everything up on my own and I am only lucky enough to be in this place right now because of your blessing. Where really I have no big worries in my life. Nothing in my life is going how I want it, but I am still happy for some reason. I don't get depressed or sad or lonely and I know that is because of you lord. But even with that, I still don't feel complete and I need you now to show me your way for me."

Process Who

I just updated my queue at netflix. I think I got a pretty good queue going now. So tonight I am going to watch the movie: Cloudy With a chance of meatballs. I loved that freaking book as a kid so I am hoping the movie does it justice but they always say that books are better then the movies. Does that mean books that are only like 10 pages long and written for kids? We shall see. So coming tomorrow is Veronica Mars. I killed the first season on netflix but then got away from it but I really like the show. I don't know anyone else who watched it so it's one of those things where I just tell people it's good and no one ever goes out and checks it out. But from that show I love on Kristen Bell. Because of her and my love of romantic comedies I will probably go see her newest movie. I will I am sure be the only straight single guy in the theater but I don't care about that. Maybe I can pay a girl to go see it with me, would that be less lame? Haha yeah. Anyway here is my queue that I just hooked up. I should have already seen some of these but I didn't go to the movies much over the summer. Here it is:
1.Star Trek- the newest one
2. Moon- sundance type movie
3. (500) Days of summer
4. Public Enemies
5. Julie & Julia
6. The Invention of Lying
7. Monsters & Aliens

I think that is a good list counting what I have at the house now with Veronica Mars and Cloudy. I like to vary the list up, so see I have a romantic comedy- kinda. A few action movies, a comedy, 2 animated movies, an indie movie, and a TV show. I have gotten away from watching movies so I will stay up late now and take care of business. I don't really need as much sleep as I have been getting. As long as my other priorities are taken care of then who cares right? Exactly.

Tarheels

What the f Carolina. I knew you would struggle a bit this year but not like this. 3 game losing streak, out of the top 25. Zeller out for 6 weeks. Man. Lets hope you can get it together by March. Though you did play Kentucky close and they are by far the best team in the country. But you made the big run when Wall was out and they were up by at least 20 at one point so maybe they let off the gas a little. Just don't be one and done please.

Hold my hand, hold my heart

Song of the week- 1/17- 1/23
Hold my hand, hold my heart by the The Chantrellines.
I love the movie That thing you do. It's one of those movies for me where everytime I see it on, I have to stop and check what part it's on. I really like the title track but everyone knows that song. It is extremely catchy but so is this song: hold my hand, hold my heart. I would imagine the chantrellines are a made up group like everyone else in the movie (the wonders), but they sound real. I am a big fan of early 60's girl bands like the ronettes and the crystals. I like that phil spector sound alot and this song has it. Not as layered maybe as a phil spector song but the drums and strings sound pretty close. I don't know actually, as I am listening to it, it could say a phil spector song and I would believe it. Here is the youtube clip of it. Let me warn you now though, for some reason they used to have a clip of the song with just the movie picture on it but now that is taken down so all they have is the song with grey's anatomy playing. I am not a grey's anatomy fan so I don't actually watch the video but it is the only way to hear it for me since I don't download songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22crNOqVoww
I assume it works. If it doesnt just type in hold my hand, hold my heart and it's the first clip that comes up. It say's song from that thing you do soundtrack. The lyrics aren't much but who cares with a song like this, it's supposed to be catchy not deep. Listen to the song, especially if you like the early sixties girl group stuff. Hope you like it.

808's

I know I am a year and a few months late on doing my review of 808's and Heartbreak but for some reason lately I have been on a Kanye kick and this is the album. This album definetly has a either you love it or hate it type of feel because it is so different from what he was doing before. I don't think he raps on it at all. I thought at first listen it was alright, but the more you listen to it the better it seems to get. I think he needed to expand the songs a bit, some of the parts are a bit repetitive but I think he felt that is what a pop album is. This is his attempt at making a pop album but putting his spin on it. No other rap artist in my opinion other then Andre 3000 could pull this off. As good as I think Jay Z and Eminem are, they are stuck in what they do, which is what they do best, but I don't think they think this way creatively. The problem with the album to me is it is to front heavy. The back part of the album can't touch the first part. Here are some of the albums highlights for me:

1. Say you will: sick opener, as soon as the piano kicks I'm loving it with just those two chords. It keeps bringing you up and down like things are not doing so well and then the piano kicks in and you think no things are gonna be alright then back down again. Best lyric: "Why would she make calls out of the blue, now I'm awake sleepless in noon."

2. Welcome to Heartbreak: He sounds desperate to me on this song, like he knows he is missing out on something. He knows he has to fight, to get it, he just doesnt know how to go about getting what he wants, but he is gonna fight till he does. Lyric: "I chased the good-life my whole life long, look back on my life, my whole life gone, where did I go wrong?"

3. Heartless: Best song on the album, in my opinion the best song he has ever done. Perfect blend of rap style beat with his singing he does on this album. The beginning of the third verse, I can't get enough of that, cause you know the beat is about to drop and the build up is perfect. Best lyric: "You wait a couple months then you gon' see, you'll never find nobody better then me."

4. So amazing: The tribal beats at the beginning are nice. I am not as much into the auto-tuner, he should have done it without it but this song is good anyway. I definetly nod my head to it, but I could have done without jeezy on it. Lyric: "I'm exhausted, barely breathing, holding onto what I believe in."

5. Love Lockdown: First single, tribal beats again. Very different song but again his build up is perfect. The classic slow and dark on the verse then blow it up on the chorus. I like the piano flowing through it the whole time, its such a calm melody line but the drums are bumping, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Best written song on the album as far as a pop song goes. Best lyric:I can't keep my cool, so I keep it true, I got something to lose, so I gotta move.

So the best songs on the album are the first five. Not to say the rest of the album isnt good it's just to me he should have spread it out a bit more. All in all a very good album. I think if he can some how mix this style with his style from the other albums he may be able to make a real classic album. I think that is where he needs to be at, in the middle of pop and rap with some synth, some heavy beats and some r and b mixed in like no one else out there can do. He has something that will seperate him, he just has to really find it and make something "amazing."

Modern Family and some water

I feel I'm looking now for a place that I'm insisting.

Modern Family is must watch tv for everyone. It is the most consistent sitcom on basic cable by far. Yeah there are other funny sitcoms like the office and the middle is pretty funny but modern family beats them all and I don't think I have walked away from one of the shows yet saying hmmm that was just alright. I am not really a basic cable sitcom guy, most of them are just corny so I really don't ever watch many of them on a regular basis but I would always give something a shot. I can see why modern family is getting all this hype for the golden globes and by the critics. I actually laughed out loud the other day and kept rewinding one part and it kept making me laugh. That's when you know its good. They weave all three families into the story line but nothing seems forced and you get just the right mix of each family. Plus Julie Bowen is hot. I like her more then the other girl on there, Sofia Vergara. Most guys would probably disagree, but I guess I got something for girl next door blonde's. Anyway, if your gonna watch only one sitcom on basic cable make sure this is the one. Don't waste your time with the dumb junk like how I met your mother or two and a half men. They just don't compare.

My cousin, who works at gnc told me that you are supposed to get 2/3 of your body weight in water a day. You always hear 8- 8oz cups of water a day is good, which I am sure it is good but she said ideally you should try to get 2/3. So I tried it today. It is tough and I am light so I can't imagine a heavier person because that would be a lot of water. I didn't work out today so it probably would have been easier to get the water down. I was not like fighting it, just to force it in but you have to definitely stay on top of it. I am not a huge water guy, but actually I could see myself doing it daily because I am sure it's healthier then soda. The only thing is going to the bathroom. As I am writing this I am wiggling back in forth trying to hold it in. I think I drank like 96 oz of water. I just filled this huge cup which was like 24 oz and drank that four times. I heard this one weightlifter Ronnie Coleman, who is huge, drinks around 2 gallons everyday. One gallon is 128 oz and I couldn't even get one down and this dude is drinking two. That would be to much for me anyway, I am sure he weighs like 150lbs more then me. Alright I can't take it I got to go pee. But if your reading this you should try and see if you can get 2/3 of your weight in water. Just make sure your always within running distance of a toilet or you could be in trouble.

Montag

What the F Heidi Montag? You were not hot to begin with so I can see doing a bit of plastic surgery to change some things, but 10 surgeries in one day and you come out looking like a slut. And that is fine if it's a hot slut, I can roll with that, but your not hot at all now. Before you looked average and wholesome now, below average and slutty. "Dr. this is what I am going for, a real slutty look, make sure my breast don't look real at all cause I hate that natural look, who ever says I want my boobs to look natural- exactly sir, no one. The natural look is so 1950's right? Just don't make me hot whatever you do that is all I care about." One look in the mirror after surgery- "Dr. your a genius, you did all I asked and then some. I never thought to ask for the high, fake looking cheekbones, good improvising sir. I love it!" At least she is polite always saying sir. And while she was in the room getting torn apart like the turkey in scary movie 2, what was Spencer doing. He definitely had time to shot into the other room for some surgery of his own and we all know he needs it. He looks a bit like skeletor to me. No wonder Heidi wanted the high cheekbones. So she could be twins with her creepy husband. Soon she is going to be rocking a flesh colored beard just like him to. Those two really deserve each other.

Blowout

I am usually pretty private about what is on my mind except to a few people and even with those few people, mostly my family I still like to keep a part of me just in my head. Well I think writing some of my thoughts down will help me because, I don't know its like if I get it out there, maybe I won't feel like my thoughts are wasted. Who am I kidding though, I write as if someone is actually reading this, when I know its just me, but I at least can fake like I am talking to someone. I am not going to share much of me, mostly the surface things but at least putting something out there will be better then nothing right? Maybe. And occasionally I will say something to show I do actually have something going on inside of my head other then sports and music. Now I got you hooked in.

Today I was at borders, reading, when a man comes up and hands me this little card that says "I am a deaf person and am selling these deaf alphabet cards for my living until I can obtain suitable employment. Donate what you can. Thank You. God Bless You." So I reached in my pocket, which I want to give him money but I have no clue how much to give, so I reach in and grab a bunch of ones, I usually don't care how much I give within reason so I give him like 5 bucks but I am fumbling around with it and actually pushed back in a couple of other ones. I know he is like "why doesn't he give me those, what are a few ones to this guy, when I am out killing it trying to get a few bucks just to survive." And I agree with him, he probably signed that on the way out I assume. I should have given him more, I have been blessed to not worry about money really, yet I still cling to a few bucks. That makes me upset that I would do that. Yeah I gave him money but its not all I could do as far as something simple. People may say "oh your being hard on yourself" but don't we have to in order to push ourselves to change. Giving some money comes easy to me, easier then it does to some, but change in ourselves isn't going to come from just doing what it takes to feel good about ourselves. I also hate that my ego is in the way of all of this. That I do feel good after I give, but I don't think I can change without it. I think that comes with giving, but I wish I were truly blessed with just giving so freely and really not caring what I got in return. I didn't get anything tangible in return but I did get a boost of pride and a feeling of "yeah I help out how sweet am I, better then those who didn't."

The last few weeks have been up and down for me, but I think I have grown a lot. I have learned how self indulgent I really am. I hate that trait in other people and when I see it done to the people close to me I am like why can't they put you first and do the things you need and want? Why does it have to be all about them? Haha but I don't practice what I preach and look at me now. Actually don't look at me cause I hate eye contact. I feel misunderstood and have for the most part always felt that way. I constantly try to explain myself and what is going through my head and it only ends up getting me into more trouble. I guess most people may be misunderstood but I don't hang around long enough to listen or I never get the chance I guess to find out. Its always "Chris, your to much. I'm out" Haha it's funny it's such a pattern, there must be something I'm not getting. Haha. But they never understand that I don't care so much if I am liked or disliked, that is why I feel at peace after everything is over. I am so black and white I think I would rather be told "I don't ever want to talk to you again" then to not know what to think because then I can just move along with out actually wondering anymore. I hate the guys that your like that guy is so desperate for a girl look at him, but I think because of my intensity maybe I come off that way when really I am the opposite. I am intense for understanding not intense for companionship or a relationship. Not knowing drives me to ultimately find out good or bad where I am at in all of this and I continue to push it to that point. I know where it will lead but it doesn't really matter and the fact that I am fine with knowing, even when it is usually negative, that is where the real disconnect is. It is funny I try to always ask God for guidance, he tells me loud and clear what I need to do, (sometimes he is loud other times, I am like you need to be louder cause my ego is making a lot of noise) He says here is the opportunity, now do what you want with it and I choose to do what "I" want, no thanks God I appreciate your advice, I know I asked for it and all but once again I don't really think I need it. That has to happen a couple of times a month to me, probably a couple times a day actually, which I am sure it does to everyone but one of these days I may actually listen to him. Will see. I never can really blame others as much as I would like to. I have realized though because of my intensity no matter how much I think I am backing off, its not enough, intensity is not something you can just lower a little bit and then say look I came this far now what are you going to do for me. No its something that has to be taken down until the other person is truly comfortable with it. Again with the self indulgence, I give a little now what are you gonna give me.

It's hard to measure how far we really need to go and what are the things that need to be worked on but if you have honest people in your life and continue to pray for change and actually make some steps it will happen. I think people always take the easy way, me included. I think they are comfortable with saying they need to change, not actually looking back and seeing the things that have haunted them for years are still there, still loud as ever knocking at the door waiting to get over yourself and finally change. Maybe that's just me. Having the people in their lives that they are hoping can somehow help them make the changes they need to make. They take the easy way with the person they are with, well because its easy but can you blame them. They are comfortable with someone who is easy, someone who "they" think they should be with, that pushes them a tiny bit but doesn't expect to much because then that would be asking to much from them. But how often do you see a couple that really grows together, haha not often. And anything less then that I can't or wont be a part of, so if it means being alone and hoping I can find the strength to change on my own, then that is what has to be, because I don't want to be part of a couple that doesn't inspire greatness in each other, even if we never come close to it. I will leave that up to all the rest of you, because you all seem to be doing a good enough job at complacency.

Overrated and Underrated

I like looking at cosmo magazine (gay I know, lets get past that please) but they had an article on what guys find overrated and underrated, I guess in what they would rather in relationships. Now I am probably the least qualified person to comment on this article, but of course that doesn't stop me from doing it.
Here is what the article said that guys think is overrated and underrated: I put each in there column as they are related to the one across from it.
Overrated Underrated
Love Letters Romantic Text
Picnics Cookouts
The smell of your perfume The smell of your hair
Humoring him by watching the game Doing your own thing while he watches the game
Ball Room dancing lessons Surfing Lessons
Valentine's Day Roses Flowers on a random day
Discussing your future house Discussing your future vacation
Double dates Going to parties together

There is the list.
Love letters are way sweeter then text because first off who writes a love letter now, so that shows me they actually spent time writing it, a text is done in seconds big whoop. And second off a good love letter has to have some substance. A good text is at most 160 characters, every one can get lucky and write a good text every now and then. Texting is way overrated, not to say I don't do it but I would rather revolutionary times where we had to send the letters out pony express style . Then when she got the letter I am like oh I don't feel that way anymore that was a month ago when I sent that, I have moved on sorry to tell you but this mailing system takes way to long. Still better then text though.

Cookouts are overrated cause there are too many people there. At least at a picnic its just me and her, I don't feel the need to have to small talk. Well yeah I do but at least there is probably some swings or something to keep up occupied. There is never a swing at a BBQ. Just guys who think they know a lot about sports and then you have to sit there and nod to all there dumb remarks because they watch the redskins games. They know there are 31 other teams in the league to learn about right?

I really don't care about the smell of her hair or perfume as long as its not gross. But I am a new man and I don't really think any guy cares, they just are better at acting like they do, so maybe I should act like I care, like all the douche bag guys do. That seems to be the way to go. How does this sound? "Ohhh I love the way your hair smells, is that peaches and cream." "No? Oh, its suave naturals juicy green apple shampoo haha, I was way off. but I love it either way." Do you see what I did there? I not only gave her a compliment by saying I loved her hair, but I also allowed her to teach me something by playing dumb- like I cant tell the difference between peaches and apples. Because I can. Boom, now I am in right? Right! Douche bag 101- compliment, play dumb, act like you care what she has to say even when I am sure you don't-you will get the girl. Or so I have seen it done many times by real losers. Its amazing, and it happens everyday.

I think I would rather the ball room dancing over the surfing, only because how often are you going to go surfing. And do you really want your girl showing you up on the surfboard. I mean the idea is fine but I would be pretty competitive if she was working the board and I can barely stand. But I don't know how much ball room dancing I would want to do either and if she took lessons that would mean she would want to go ball room dancing so no, each of those choices is overrated.

I hate the valentines rose because its like "here you go, I am putting in minimal effort once a year to make sure you at least don't yell at me." Its fine to get the rose I guess but not if that is the only time you get it during the year. It just seems so uncreative to me but again I guess if you have a girl you got to be doing something right. I can be coming up with all sorts of plans in my head but the numb nut giving the valentines rose is still winning out in the end. Its up to the girl to demand more from the guy but please that is not happening either we all know that. She is just happy the guy at least brought her something. Even if it is a rose. And some baby's breath?

I agree with the vacation being underrated the house being overrated. I would rather talk about the vacation. The house seems too serious, the vacation seems like no commitment, "yeah that is cool we can go to the beach for vacation but I will most likely dump you after that because your insist on discussing floor plans for our future home and I don't like the dining room on the same side as the living room so were through after this and don't bring your surfboard this time you know how I felt about you showing me up last year.

Double dates is better then the parties because again- less people you have to talk to as long as you really like the other people. A lot of times it seems like its the two girls that are friends and then you just hope your cool with the other guy. I would think most of the time the guys would just roll with it but there is always a chance but I still think I would take my chances with that rather then a whole party of people, cause you know there is bound to be at least a few people who are annoying at the party.

So in my opinion cosmo missed on almost everyone of the overrated underrated quiz. I doubt they even asked the guys they probably wrote down what they wanted to see happen and then said yeah we asked 250 guys and this is what they said.

Maggot Brain

Song of the week for Jan 10-16:

I just heard this song at the end of the episode of the show House M.D. It is called Maggot Brain by Funkadelic. It's really just a long guitar solo, the song is 10:18, so it definitely is long but its haunting. As soon as I heard it on the show, I was like I got to find out what that song is.

A little background on the song. In the book "1001 albums you must hear before you die", it says George Clinton, the head of the group as well as Parliament, locked guitarist Eddie Hazel in the studio and demanded, "Play like your mother just died." I can totally get that from this song. The book goes on to say "Hazel did just that providing a spectral, plaintive, nine minute guitar solo that eclipsed everything he and the group did, before or after." I think the song lacks a little bit in the middle but it brings it back around in the end to save it. The album is ranked #486 in Rolling Stone magazines list of top 500 albums of all time. I own it but I have yet to listen to it, but I probably will jump on it soon after hearing this.

Idol and Tiger

Alright so this is my first blog so bare with me. It will only get better I promise. So what the f am I supposed to write about. Lets see, what is on my mind? Well american idol is back on tommorow night. Why do I care or even know that? Yes ellen is on it, but that wont help. I hate when she dances by the way. It is always the same couple of moves, you would think after all this time she would have someone teach her a few moves that she can add to her arsenal but no, she keeps trotting out the same weak moves and people keep loving it. We have to demand better dancing from our emmy award winning daytime hosts. Plus the way she dresses, and the fact that she looks way to much like a dude. Yeah your the dude in the relationship we get that but you dont have to play it up that much. We get it that you are the pitcher but dang it roy halladay enough with the vest and the guy haircut already.

Anyway about idol, everyone always says they only like the beginning of idol, where they make fun of the people basically, but I really dont even like that part. Its to mean. Really the best part of the show used to be when seacrest was like "seacrest out." I loved that part. What happened to that? Why would they throw that line away? I mean they are obviously not above riding the show into the ground so why not do that with the line also. I mean Randy keeps trying to push the dog line, but that is not nearly as sweet as the "seacrest out" line. Enough idol talk. I hate that I know the "seacrest out" line.

Did you hear about this: Tiger Woods may be gay. Boom I just hit you with a shocker right? Yeah ok. One of the sluts he banged wants to sell a tell all about how she saw tiger woods having consensual sex with another guy. She is not naming names but my guess is ernie els. I mean he is a top ranked player, I can't see tiger going for someone outside of the top ten. Mickelson and Tiger don't get along, and who would take charge out of the two of them. It would just end up as gay wrestling with the ocassional slip into the hole which neither would really get off on. Els "the big easy" seems perfect. I mean he seems laid back enough to just let the tiger take control. But also he is obviously a competitor or else he would not make it to the top ten. So he can let tiger do his thing but then if tiger gets out of line he is like "hey chompers, I have won 3 majors myself so enough ball play already." I wonder if the caddy is in the room during all of this. "I would recommend taking els from behind now tiger, but its up to you sir." I hope the fans, when tiger does decide to come out of hiding, really give it to him. I love to see tiger get all bitter when someone is taking a picture during his backswing, and it should be even sweeter this year. Does it really matter if Tiger never had sex with a guy, its out there now that he did, so we are going to believe it because that is what we do. So thanks to that slut, now every time I picture tiger woods it will be him gettin it from another dude, most likely ernie els. Thanks for that gross image Loredana Jolie, who is hot by the way. Tiger is like "you know what Loredana you are hot dont get my wrong, but I have had girls like you way to many times now, if you have banged one playboy model you have banged em all, so I think I am going to pass, I got the big easy's butt just waiting for me in the other room. Not every day you get a chance to give it to a u.s. open champ." I wonder if tiger rocked the green jacket during his and els match play. Literally poking fun at him that he has never won the masters. I know that burns els up inside among other things. Ohhhhh