Friday, November 26, 2010

Day 1 of 30: My Favorite Song

Now, this one is a bit tough. I have a number of songs I like, and right many that I love. I'll narrow it down to six, and give you the reasons why they are my favorites:
  1. "Above All" by Michael W. Smith: I've heard dozens of worship tunes in my time, but none has ever affected me in the way "Above All" did when I first heard it. I can still remember hearing it for the first time at a youth rally back in 2003, and feeling so moved, almost to tears. If you've heard it, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about.
  2. "Can't Back Down" by Demi Lovato and the cast of Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam: This song is a protest anthem, in the vein of the 80's Twisted Sister hit "We're Not Gonna Take It." I've always liked protest anthems--I've even written some--and "Can't Back Down" also talks about standing up for what you believe in.
  3. "Got My Mind Set On You" by George Harrison: Okay, so, this song might be lyrically rubbish, but the music is so catchy. Every time I hear it, I can just imagine people dancing all around me, no matter where I am or what I'm doing.
  4. "The Imposter" by Kevin Max: This song has been the top played track on my iTunes since 2006. I think getting it around the same time I got my first iPod helped it gain that status. Anyway, it sounds great, and I haven't even gotten burned out on it, though I don't listen to it near as much as I used to.
  5. "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" by Selena Gomez: The movie Another Cinderella Story may have been dreck, but this song from the soundtrack is amazing. I just can't stop listening to it.
  6. Track One from Top Gear (yes, the Super NES game): I don't play video games anymore, but this track just makes me want to dance. I added to my iPod this past weekend, and it's been played on there at least once every day since.
Okay, that's it for now. Later!

30 Days of Me: The List

I stumbled on this delightful blogging activity while looking for a quotation. I think it'll be a fun thing to do, since I've (sort of) hit a wall with what to talk about on this blog. So, here's the list:

Day 1: Your favorite song
Day 2: Your favorite movie
Day 3: Your favorite television program
Day 4: Your favorite book
Day 5: Your favorite quote
Day 6: Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 7: A photo that makes you happy
Day 8: A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9: A photo you took
Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11: A photo of you taken recently
Day 12: Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13: A fictional book
Day 14: A non-fictional book
Day 15: A fanfic
Day 16: A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17: An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18: Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19: A talent of yours
Day 20: A hobby of yours
Day 21: A recipe
Day 22: A website
Day 23: A YouTube video
Day 24: Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25: Your day, in great detail
Day 26: Your week, in great detail
Day 27: This month, in great detail
Day 28: This year, in great detail
Day 29: Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30: Whatever tickles your fancy

I will start with Day One...in the next post. :)

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Who's in the Wrong?

DISCLAIMER: I know my "parody"'s title is stupid, but I really couldn't think of anything better. If you can, tell me somehow and I'll edit it. Also, I know the song starts off a bit negatively, but keep reading and you'll see why. If you have something to say about this, please comment. Enjoy!

WHO'S IN THE WRONG?
To the tune of "Self-Esteem" by the Offspring

La, la, la, la...

I killed you off for the tenth time today
I still remember how you attacked my ways
I envisioned myself saying ugly words
I thought you should have been nicer to nerds

Now, I know; that's middle school
Everyone there was so immature
That even applies to me
Back then, I did numerous sinful things!

CHORUS:
Ohhh, yeah...

Fantasy plans to hurt you aren't right
Especially for a Child of the Light
Those thoughts have just got to go!
And, I know that, because God's Word says so!

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE:
That standard I used on you also applied to me!
And, I sit there saying you shouldn't harass a disabled kid
But, you will always be less guilty of that than me
Because, I did just that and then some to my own sister!
That's the past, so it doesn't really matter!
We're all sinners; that's in the book of Romans!
So, in the end, I'm the one that is being unfair!
Right? Yeah!

I've said I'm guilty of sin
And, I'm more so than I'd like to admit
But, Jesus has given me a perfect score
My sins are remembered no more!

I don't know where you will go, but
When you die, but you do not have to suffer
There's the Good Book; give it a read!
Follow His teachings and you won't be suffering!

REPEAT CHORUS

REPEAT BRIDGE

Christmas Fantasy

DISCLAIMER: Okay, first off, although part of the story this ballad tells is rooted in reality, most of it isn't. I'm sure you can guess which parts are true and which aren't. This is an attempt at making my friends laugh, so I hope no one is offended. Anyway, enjoy!

CHRISTMAS FANTASY
To the tune of "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses and Miranda Cosgrove

"Bah, humbug!" That's way too strong
This is my favorite holiday
But I've never been less happier
Then I have been the past few days

I've spent this year not doing much
Thanks to this recession
Where is the job meant for me?
Come on, I'll take anything!

This year's fun stuff:
Music, movies and TV.
Idol this season was sublime.
Who was your favorite? Siobhan M. was mine!

So, I traveled miles just to see
Miss Magnus, and I did cheer!
Still, I have to lament
That I did not get to meet her.

Got her picture on my desktop.
Her songs have earned many plays.
She's coming out with an album.
When will I hear it?!!

Now it's Christmas time, yeah, once again.
We usually don't travel much,
But friends we're going to see
All the way up in New York.

I've spent way too much time
Preparing to go on this trip
And really worrying
'Cause I'm not used to traveling.

The New York trip starts today
And I'm just not excited.
Got many things for the long ride
Like books, snacks, and my gray iPod.

Merry Christmas?
Not sure if I'll have one this year!
(REPEAT 4x)

Now, we're traveling through tons of snow!
Mapquest's directions were so not right!
Now, we're in Massachusetts
And this car will not go?
Guess it's just them and me
At the closest hotel we could find.
It's Christmas Eve, time to relax.
Although what happened really stinks!

That night, I had some time to myself.
Trying to sleep, but there's some party
Going on in the lobby below.
Maybe down there I should go!

My parents said, "Yeah, it's okay;
You deserve to celebrate!"
So, made my way down to find
People dancing all around.

There's some girl I see
With sunglasses; she's dancing
Hey, I think that's Christian rock!
Let's jam to some dc Talk!

So, me and that girl, dancing we did go
To that band from the nineties!
And, when she takes her shades off, it appears
That she's Siobhan Magnus, my new crush this year!

"I'm spending this one alone," she said.
"My heart's broke; my boyfriend just dumped me."
I said, "Well, can I spend it with you?
I've got nowhere else to go, too!"

So, those holidays, we talked and laughed!
We had quite a lot in common!
I thought this year was an epic fail,
But it isn't with this ending!

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
I'll probably never beat this year's!
(REPEAT UNTIL END)



[For Siobhan. May you and I meet some day.]

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Infatuation Vs. Real Love

During my eighth grade year, from September 2001 to June 2002, there was something that, despite being insanely popular with most if not all of my classmates, I openly mocked. It wasn't a movie, a video game, a TV show, a book, a musical act, or anything like that. What was it? Infatuation, also known as puppy love. It was quite commonplace for kids at my middle school to claim to be "in love" with someone and then say the same thing about someone else two weeks later. I repeatedly talked about how stupid it was; I said that it was not real love, because real love is what 1 Corinthians 13 describes. Of course, I was just as guilty of it as they were; my infatuation just had a different target: a celebrity who I will not name. Naturally, that trend continued for many years, and it brought huge Hollywood crushes such as Hilary Duff, Christy (Carlson) Romano, Anne Hathaway, and, yes, even Siobhan Magnus.
That last part is kind of funny when you think about it. If you look at my Facebook friends list, you'll see that a pretty large percentage of my friends around my age have been in long-lasting relationships; quite a few of them are even currently engaged or married. They love they've found is real; I, however, am still stuck in puppy love mode, and it doesn't seem like I can get out of it.
I've talked a lot about crushes on this blog and in my Facebook notes. I've talked about the celebrities, yes; however, I've also talked about failed attempts at romance, like "Rewind" and "Lois," as well as the three people (who will remain nameless) that "Love and Rejection" were addressed to. Even songs on my iPod--besides ones I've parodied--remind me of former or current crushes. Just look at my playlist: "Total Eclipse of the Heart," "I'll Stand By You," "White Flag," "In the End," "Please Don't Leave Me," "Take It on the Run," "Steel Bars," "Listen to Your Heart," "It Must Have Been Love"...and it doesn't stop there!
People might wonder: Why do I have such a focus on the topic of romantic love? Well, honestly, I don't think I'd really be able to escape it if I tried! If I were to get rid of every single song, book, or DVD that had any sort of romantic elements in it, I'd have barely anything to watch, read or listen to! I would even have to get rid of my entire Star Wars collection! Even doing that and leaving Facebook again wouldn't keep me from being bombarded by references to romance, though. I see it while I'm just out places, like the library or Wal-Mart. It's even on commercials and all over all news sources (TV, newspaper, websites, etc.)
Even beyond that, I think--and this is just my opinion--that part of my focus on romance (and members of the opposite gender, for that matter) is based on a long-time quest for love. I've had girls completely break my heart, and there was not one thing I could do about it. In some cases, it was my fault; I had a female BFF for over 3.5 years, and we're not even friends any longer, because I fell in love with her and couldn't stand the sight of her with any other guy. I could blame her for starting the friendship, since, IMO, she did; however, neither of us had any idea what that was going to cause, for good or ill. It's my fault, anyway; I couldn't just be that good of friends with a girl around my age and not start to have romantic feelings. Many have said that's normal for people my age, but that doesn't make it any less painful.
Now, I'm going to finish this post with a statement that is only for the females on my friends list: I know, sometimes, I've come on too strong in my interactions with you. There have been cases where someone said something, but sometimes it doesn't even need to be said; I can just tell. I will admit that there are right many girls/women I know--and I will NOT name any names, nor will I tell you if I do if you ask me--that I have a slight crush on. However, I promise you that it is completely good-natured. I do not want to be even partly responsible for ending any romantic relationship you are in; I'd imagine that, if I were, you probably wouldn't even want to be my friend anymore. Frankly, I still see myself as a kid in some ways, and sometimes, I forget that I'm 22 years old and could possibly be a threat to an adult romantic relationship. Oftentimes, while interacting with female friends, I feel like a fifth grader with a crush on his teacher, not someone who is technically an adult interacting with another adult. Maybe I'm not using the right words to express my feelings here, but I hope you get the gist of what I'm saying. If at any point I'm making you, your significant other, or anyone else uncomfortable, you've got to tell me. One final thing: If you are a married female friend of mine, and I tend to hang around you a lot, I know quite well that you and I are just friends. Can we be good friends? Of course we can! However, it'll only be a friendship, and I've accepted that.
Okay, I'm done. If you want to talk to me about what I've said, IM, message or e-mail me.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

What I'm All About

DISCLAIMER: I'll do this ApologetiX-booklet style and give you footnotes so you'll know what I'm referring to. Enjoy!

WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT

To the tune of "What We're All About" by Sum 41 (from the Spider-Man soundtrack)

Nobody else spends any time reading?
Well, I don't really care; more books I'm getting!
Get the best ones I see, I just can't resist them!
I read one every day, they're like a little vacation!
I read about disasters
And Anne's dragon masters*
And planetary battles with lightsabers and blasters
I've read LaHaye's version of the end of the world**
And Peretti's fight between angels and a demon horde***
You sit around watching every single football game?
Sorry, but I find the NFL completely lame!
Hated P.E., but loved to sit down
At school and read about whatever I want!
There's so many at my library!
I read so much, some think it's scary!
I'll enjoy a book while my pizza is bakin'
Then, after I eat, I go right back to readin'

CHORUS 1:
Books! They're what I'm all about!
They're all that and more!
You should check 'em out!
(REPEAT 3x)

"Have you seen the newest film?" That's what people love to say!
Now, you can watch them in more than one way!
I love films that have action and/or are funny
And, I'm also a little bit DCOM* crazy!
Yes, I admit it; I'm a big movie fan!
Love ones like Daddy Day Care or X-Men!
But sometimes I like childhood throwbacks!
It's my personal way to bring the '90's back!
Superhero films are a great feast for the eyes!
Other great films can make you laugh and then cry!
When they animate completely with CG,
The entire film can keep me engaged!
Yes, I do always use some self-control
When I see the rating, I know when to say no!
Still, often to the library or MovieStop I go!
I say, "Hey, that came out? I didn't even know!"

CHORUS 2:
Films! They're what I'm all about!
They're all that and more!
You should check 'em out!
(REPEAT 3x)

(GUITAR SOLO)

Well, I love my music, it feels so good to my ears
There's no better sounds anywhere that I can hear!
And, I've been collecting music for about ten years!
iTunes Music Store has some awesome deals!
Take a look at this disc, this new mix I'm makin'
It's got both TobyMac and Michael Jackson!
Play it loud, and shake my entire bedroom!
Around the neighborhood, you can hear the bass boom!
Don't ask me why I like what I like!
I like various things, entertainment of all types
Whether it's on printed pages or discs!
I don't even care if it was a big hit!
Spider-Man I'm watchin', reading the Thoenes*!
I like it all, books, music and movies!
So, if giving me a gift is what you want
To do, then you need to think of...

Tunes! They're what I'm all about!
They're all that and more!
You should check 'em out!

Books! They're what I'm all about!
They're all that and more!
You should check 'em out!

Films! They're what I'm all about!
They're all that and more!
You should check 'em out!

(REPEAT CHORUSES UNTIL END)

NOTES:
Verse 1 (Books):
* Anne McCaffrey, also known as the "Dragon Lady."
** Left Behind.
*** This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peretti.

Verses 2-3 (Movies and Tunes/Conclusion):
* Disney Channel Original Movies.
** Bodie and Brock Thoene, authors of historical fiction.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

How You Remind Me (That You're Only Human)

DISCLAIMER: If you're not my friend on Facebook, you probably will have no clue as to what or who I'm referring to, so, don't waste your time with this. For those that are, I do want to say that, in this rewrite, I've made brief references to true events involving celebrities I like. If you want to know who/what I'm talking about in those, please let me know and I'll explain. The song parodied is allegedly the most played song of the 2000s, so I'd think most of you friends of mine have heard it. Anyway, enjoy!

HOW YOU REMIND ME (THAT YOU'RE ONLY HUMAN)

To the tune of "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback

For 5.5 years I have been your fan
Despite some people's horrible harassin'
Then, last night, while watching Dancing
What I'd only heard about, I did see first-hand

And, this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me that you're only human (2x)

Yes, I like you; I'm not sorry
And, I understand you're not with Disney
You I'd have forsaken
If I hadn't thought of Hellcats and Alyson
And, you've done wrong, we all have
I'll just continue to pick out what I'm watching
And, as everyone says,
Your career isn't done yet!
Yet, yet, yet, no, no! (2x)

I knew that you'd done things like that
I heard about them when I was in high school
I'd say, "What you did was SO BAD!"
But Paul wrote that all have sinned in Romans 2
And this is how you remind me that you're only human
This is how you remind me that you're only human

You're not perfect; is anybody?
That trailer doesn't make Diaries any less funny
It was just because I'm human
That I let my own heart get broken
And, I won't take your pics down
You're still on there with Luke Skywalker
And, as everyone says,
Your career isn't done yet!
Yet, yet, yet, no, no! (4x)

I really loved Alice in Wonderland
Maybe you could do something like that again
Something like that I would go see
But your current film is not for me

That is how you remind me that you're only human (2x)

I didn't give up on Ashley
Even after that absolutely horrid CD
Let's not forget T, Mike, and Kevin!
That cover was like a tune from a Wal-Mart album!
And, we do wrong; we're human!
That's the problem with us normal people!
And, this needs to be said:
Yes, you can be forgiven!
Yes, yes, you can be forgiven! (REPEAT UNTIL END)