Reading

A passion I have long held that, after junior high, I failed to pursue. Not to say that I didn't read books in high school, however, most of those books failed to touch me as my own choice of reading did. Consider, however, that my own choice of reading was not a Danielle Steele novel or a sci-fi epic based on the Halo universe, but rather, Sherlock Holmes, Mein Kampf, Cities in Flight, Wraethu.

It hasn't been until recently, and by recent, I mean this past weekend, that I have been able to sit down, or lie down in this case, and really read a book for a good portion of time. I was at the beach, if you must know, lying on a towel with the waves breaking softly against the shore and a cool breeze blowing the heat of the sun away. I also had the good fortune to be one of perhaps a dozen beach goers, which makes for a very peaceful surrounding.

I was at the beach that day for three hours and I luxuriously read six chapters of my book before I decided to leave. But, it wasn't the fact that I read a book that was remarkable; what was remarkable is what that three hours did for me. It made me feel like the weekend had been a week. It made me feel like I had lived a very long time in a very short time. Time passed slower and the world seemed to slow down and linger for a bit so that I may enjoy it.

Back to the grind of work, cell phones, computers, TV, video games, driving, eating, driving, working, a few hours of sleep, and work again. How quick Monday disappeared into Tuesday. And lo, I've left my book in the car; a chapter at lunch might be nice. And here I am, an hour later or is it a day?

I have a clear memory or a clear perception of my childhood being very long and my high school and college years being very short. I would venture to guess this is due to reading. When I was a child, my father read The Hobbit to me. I believe I was four or five. I was transfixed since then, images of dragons and epic battles playing out in my dreams and in my head. I desperatly wanted to learn to read and by the time I was in fifth grade, I was reading Sherlock Holmes and Goosebumps and Mossflower. Reading was my vice and it often came ahead of my studies.

However, as I got older and entered high school, other vices came and more demanding studies. Friends began eating up time, video games, homework, and required reading that was as dull as the book shelf it had come from. Required reading that inspired nothing inside of me and was purely academic. This is what, I believe, ruined reading for me. For now, reading was a chore, a grating task that took my love and turned it into hatred.

I stopped reading for pleasure then and consumed myself with electronic and human vices. And high school passed quickly, and so did college. In my mind, my years in college and high school were very short and my childhood is stretched out and long like a length of taffy. Now again, I have rediscovered a childhood love and all the joy and time bending principles it once brought me.

In consideration of all of this, I have come to the realization that I live so fast with my electronics and my 3g network that the simple stagnant medium of an ink stained piece of paper might slow me up enough to enjoy the moment. While my video games and my TV might provide enjoyment, they are too fast and before you know it, an hour has gone by and I'm still moving at the speed of light.

Dedication

'Twould it be for naught
That I have tattered so
For when my progeny walk free
So it shall be on the ash of my grave
Given freely, freely given
For given free it was not to me
And so remains the gift
Of an epoch discarded

Music: Part 2

It seems to me, personally, that music was a lot better and more original in time gone by than it is now. Unfortunately, with all the different styles of music, it's really impossible to compare apples to apples when doing an in-depth analysis of music. Comparing The Who to NIN is impossible; both have their place in rock history.

So then, how could I think music is becoming diluted and paltry if I can't compare music? Well, that's not entirely the case. We can compare difficulty, playing style, lyrics even. However, a comparison, I realize is impossible, simply because music is based on taste and taste changes with society and people as the wind changes on a winter's day.

Society is fickle and blah blah blah blah. While I still feel music of long ago was better than music of today, I'm unable to tell you why and therefore I'm reduced to feeding you an opinion not based on any fact I am able to substantiate, which is something I abhor.

So for now, I leave this matter as such unable to prove what exactly my opinion and gut feeling is based on.

Music: Part 1

As I sit here listening to the music coursing into my ears, I can't help but contemplate the enormous affect that music plays on our lives.

The modern day and age, in which we live, is chock full of available, on demand music. Cars whiz by at frightening speeds, all while the teenage driver at the wheel bobs their head in time to rap, rock, or whatever they happen to be listening to. Music has always been a part of our culture and always played an important role in our lives, but today, more than ever before, music crashes into our ears from all possible mediums.

I can't help but think of American Idol, America's Got Talent, Britain's Got Talent, Somalia's Got Talent...I mean. So many shows designed to bring new faces, new musicians, and new music into the world and yet, I wonder if that's really a good thing. Kelly Clarkson, Cas Haley, Susan Boyle; three people I can think of, off the top of my head, that, through the use of a "talent" show, were able to launch a career into the musical world. Now, I'm not saying they are bad musicians or anything, but new people and new music flood our ears every moment of every day and I wonder if people's appreciation of music has become as diluted as the industry?

My thoughts and musings on this came to a head when I listened to a selection of songs that my friend had liked and had put together on a CD. All the songs were off the same basic pattern, rhythm, and genre: rock. Yet, I couldn't help but listen in amazement as I heard two completely separate songs, by two completely different artists, using the same chords and same basic chord structure. I even asked him if thought the songs sounded similar. He said no.

Being raised musical and surrounding myself with a few good musical friends, I've been privileged enough to have a great appreciation and a good understanding of music. So much so, that I couldn't over look two songs sounding the same and the artists actually getting away with it.

I had to understand what was going on to music, where it was going, and why people gave me a leery eye when I mentioned Bob and Dylan together?

Days Lost

From a young age, we are taught that, with sleep, we can look forward to a new day. But does anyone ever consider that, with sleep, another day has passed; another day you can't have back; another day closer to the end of new days.

Sleep has never come easy.

I Wonder...

I wonder if I am meant to understand existence or reality or if by attempting so; I am not living the life I have been given.

By contemplating the universe, am I wasting my time that could be better spent performing the trivial and mundane actions that make us human and define our existence?

Perhaps I am over thinking the situation, as I always do. I was often told in school that my first answer or my first intuition was often the correct one, but yet; I persisted in over thinking and over analyzing the situation and second guessing myself.

I wonder if my first intuition, that my own existence will continue, was the correct answer and now I am just second guessing myself. I wonder if I am missing out on the blessing of life by trying to understand my prison.

Faith and Religion

Religion is a curse; Faith, a blessing. To combine the two is the greatest sin of man.