http://youtube.com/watch?v=33w6R85eKzs
Dusk and Summer by Dashboard Confessional.
It has been a pretty nice Sunday summer day today, though it has gotten rather windy and cloudy in the last hour. The wind gusts are over 30 km/hr. There is that constant flapping and clicking sound associated with wind. I have been spending time with my niece Amalea and it is fascinating how children love you unconditionally, as I suppose we do them. There is no thought process in it, it just is. She is 9 and a pleasure to be around. We all; my parents, Amalea and I, had a great dinner of breaded Chicken, green beans, potatoes with sour cream and brown rice with a side of garden salad, it was really good. Though I think I ate too much.
Today I finally finished reading Snow by Orhan Pamuk, it was okay, I had trouble getting through parts of it. With it finished I started reading The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence, a book I had to read in high school, and liked it, but think I will like it more now that I am older.
"In beds, in little rooms, in buildings, in the middle of these lives which are completely meaningless..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gGWJ0TIEN40
Perfect Blue Buildings by Counting Crows (live Oxegen Festival, Ireland, July 12, 2008)
I spent the early part of last night drinking tea in a cafe and trying to piece together a poem that was formulating itself in my head. The results are below. It is about a lot of things, the least of which being summer, though summer did find its way into the title. It is more about the natural growing apart of friends and how it is nothing to worrying about, it is a chance to find people with more common interests. Of course, it is not to diminish any current friendships, it is just realizing that we aren't the same people we were 1 year, 5 years, 10 years ago and so naturally we would want to find people more similar to who we are now.
Summer Is The Season Of Our Redemption
A feeling of separation
Has imbedded itself in me
The distance is growing
Between casualness and awkwardness
There have been too few conversations
For us to pick up like old friends
Saturdays have become Mondays
Silence strangely surrounds everyone
The normalcy of it equally strange
Have we all accepted this new reality
Where close friends are strangers
I believe it is part of our evolution
There should be no struggle
Memories are created and lost
Faces remain and in their faces
We too easily see our forgotten past
Those days have run their course
Our sun rose and our sun set
Often appearing brighter or warmer
The failures inevitably make it colder
Winter is the season of our defeat
Summer is the season of our redemption
Nourished by rainfall through spring
We are greener and more lush
Waiting for new songs and lovers
Hours to ponder a future of happiness
Separating ourselves from ourselves
The person we were is longer viable
Change means making difficult choices
Abandoning our protective and restrictive layers
Finding new friends with similar interests
Since we all do not grow the same
Throughout this life and its many challenges
Humanity forces loyalty upon us naturally
Until we realize separating is necessary
A snowflake from a cloud at a certain altitude
The conditions of its formation completely random
Much like our own individualized genetics
We could very easily have been anybody else
Fortunately there is only one of us
With our idiosyncrasies and our stubbornness’s
Defining another person is never fair
There is no way we can every know everything
Humanity is too complex and simple
When we think the answer is easy, it is hard
The opposite is completely true as well
A feeling of isolation
Can only last as long as you let it
Separating ourselves from others is hard
Though at times it necessary
So we can once again form bonds.
07/12/08
"You can't ask what you're asking me to do and I hope you understand when I refuse, I'm going North with my point of view and I'm never gonna think the same as you and I'm where I can't be found and I won't be coming 'round, no, I'm an American on the Canadian Shield and I'm putting down roots in your frozen fields, it gets cold but you feel so good to be a stranger in a town and you're understood..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cm21sjHvi40
An American Draft Dodger In Thunder Bay by Sam Roberts.
Below is an interesting article from the NY Times about how Canada isn't as welcoming to American war deserters of the Iraqi war as we were during Vietnam. I feel if a soldier signed up for the army before the Iraqi war than I would welcome him or her into Canada. But if the soldier signed up for the army after the war had begun in Iraq then I would want them sent back to America. They made their choice and unlike Vietnam, they have a choice. This would explain the relatively low number of Iraq deserters in Canada, as outlined in the article. It is definitely an area that our Conservative government is trying to stay out, by making our courts decide for them. The opposite parties have tabled legislation to allow these deserters a safe haven in Canada. Stephen Harper would never want to do that, he is ideologically too close to America. Liberals like me, and like past governments of Trudeau and Chretien would welcome any American opposed to the war in Iraq. This is because we believe it is an illegal war, according to International Law, and obliging by International Law is what Liberal Canadians believe in.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/world/americas/13canada.html?ref=americas
The Blue Jays finished the "first half" of the season on a winning note, beating the Yankees 4-1, highlighted by strong pitching from A.J. (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) Burnett. The Jays are now 47-48 heading into the All-Star break, 12-9 under new manager Cito Gaston, they are still 9 games out of the division lead, but they aren't dead, yet. A great second half, 47-20 or better, could get them into the playoffs. It is a longshot but once in a while longshots hit the board. Though they are much more exciting to watch now and it doesn't feel like time wasted watching them.
Enjoy what is left of your Sunday.
jr.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
"It's all here for you as long as you choose to stay, it's all here for you as long as you don't fly away..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TIIXXTqGCpg
Talking Bird by Death Cab For Cutie.
A pretty nice day today, with enough sun and with enough breeze. I was having a conversation with someone today and they got to showing me these weird animated birds. Ever since I have had birds on my mind, it didn't help that I heard Death Cab For Cutie's Talking Bird earlier. The song is really growing on me.
I suppose it had some influence on the piece of writing below, considering its title is Wounded Bird.
Wounded Bird
I have fallen from a tree
My wings would not fly
They only spread like rumours
My mother could not catch me
I heard her screams from above
The ground was hard and broke me
I am now a wounded bird
Can you come and rescue me
There is not much I can do
Without your love and presence
My wings need fixing by your hands
I saw you in a dream with caring eyes
Your soft skin was a nest to sleep on
My body needs healing and loving
Can you come and save me
The world is a lonely spinning place
From where I am lying now
Barely able to move my head
I am only a wounded bird
My songs will come back to me
They live in my heart and mind
Your voice came to me in a dream
The sweetness of it reminded me of candy
Hours of pleasure without sickness
Just a constant sugar rush of adrenaline
Can you please come and love me
I will not ask more than you can give
You might find me useful enough
For long conversations about this and that
I am a wounded bird
Nothing would fix me better than you
Rise out of your ocean of blue water
Dry off under my wings and sleep
Soon enough we will both fly
Away from pain and towards blissfulness
I cannot say it will be easy
There is much healing needed on my part
You might be in the same frame of mind
Together we can learn to live right
Without much of our current stresses
Can you please just give it some thought
I am tired of being and thinking alone
Lying here without a tree to call home.
07/10/08
Below are some recent Counting Crows live clips.
"Run past the heather and down to the old road..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9PyZI8ncMg4
Omaha (live in Liverpool July 7, well almost all of the song)
"It does not bother me to say this isn't love because if you don't want to talk about it then it isn't love.."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9PyZI8ncMg4
Anna Begins (live in Belgium July 2)
"There are bodies on the ceiling and they are fluttering their wings..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9PyZI8ncMg4
When I Dream Of Michelangelo (live in Liverpool July 7)
Well tonight was an impressive victory by the Blue Jays, they actually swept the Orioles but are still so far behind. Now I am watching the Seinfeld episode about the Kenny Rogers Roaster and its glowing red sign. This might just be the funniest of all their episodes. Good way to end the night.
jr.
Talking Bird by Death Cab For Cutie.
A pretty nice day today, with enough sun and with enough breeze. I was having a conversation with someone today and they got to showing me these weird animated birds. Ever since I have had birds on my mind, it didn't help that I heard Death Cab For Cutie's Talking Bird earlier. The song is really growing on me.
I suppose it had some influence on the piece of writing below, considering its title is Wounded Bird.
Wounded Bird
I have fallen from a tree
My wings would not fly
They only spread like rumours
My mother could not catch me
I heard her screams from above
The ground was hard and broke me
I am now a wounded bird
Can you come and rescue me
There is not much I can do
Without your love and presence
My wings need fixing by your hands
I saw you in a dream with caring eyes
Your soft skin was a nest to sleep on
My body needs healing and loving
Can you come and save me
The world is a lonely spinning place
From where I am lying now
Barely able to move my head
I am only a wounded bird
My songs will come back to me
They live in my heart and mind
Your voice came to me in a dream
The sweetness of it reminded me of candy
Hours of pleasure without sickness
Just a constant sugar rush of adrenaline
Can you please come and love me
I will not ask more than you can give
You might find me useful enough
For long conversations about this and that
I am a wounded bird
Nothing would fix me better than you
Rise out of your ocean of blue water
Dry off under my wings and sleep
Soon enough we will both fly
Away from pain and towards blissfulness
I cannot say it will be easy
There is much healing needed on my part
You might be in the same frame of mind
Together we can learn to live right
Without much of our current stresses
Can you please just give it some thought
I am tired of being and thinking alone
Lying here without a tree to call home.
07/10/08
Below are some recent Counting Crows live clips.
"Run past the heather and down to the old road..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9PyZI8ncMg4
Omaha (live in Liverpool July 7, well almost all of the song)
"It does not bother me to say this isn't love because if you don't want to talk about it then it isn't love.."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9PyZI8ncMg4
Anna Begins (live in Belgium July 2)
"There are bodies on the ceiling and they are fluttering their wings..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9PyZI8ncMg4
When I Dream Of Michelangelo (live in Liverpool July 7)
Well tonight was an impressive victory by the Blue Jays, they actually swept the Orioles but are still so far behind. Now I am watching the Seinfeld episode about the Kenny Rogers Roaster and its glowing red sign. This might just be the funniest of all their episodes. Good way to end the night.
jr.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
"And so it is, just like you said it should be, we'll both forget the breeze, most of the time...."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8xdO44DJQAQ
The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice.
A little cooler today with a very nice breeze. I got to see one of my nieces and my nephew. Noah who is four had just been to the doctor's and they think he has been having seizures, so he needs to undergo some more tests. Poor little guy.
"It's a small crime and I've got no excuse..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aHW3BTF5pWY
9 Crimes by Damien Rice with Lisa Hannigan.
A quick comment on the recently completed G8 summit, it is irrelevant, a waste of money and I am embarrassed Canada continues to be a part of this massive waste of money. The G8 countries are never able to reach agreements with definite targets, especially on the environment and anything they tell us is just smoke coming out of their asses. Canada's Environment minister John Baird is the worst thing to happen to this country and its chances to improve its environment. Actually he is a product of Stephen Harper, so Harper is the worse. The G8 leaders spend more time having their pictures taken and shouting "Yo's" at each other rather than changing the world.
I wrote something today and it is below.
Our Magical Lives
The disappointment does not always dissipate
When a new day begins with birdsongs and sunlight
I know it should but emotional magic is not my forte
There are no wands to wave and make feelings disappear
Time is our only magician with absolute illusionary power
We are but its puppets living tied to shortening strings
The length of the world is presented to us as a child
Only to be choked away from us as we enter adulthood
Mistakes are made and friendships are formed
Some are repeated until those friendships fade
Leaving us with lessons learned and hearts broken
The real trick to our magical lives is to understand why
Once we are able to identify why we are a certain way
Life becomes a little more simple and manageable
Happiness can grow among the weeds of loneliness
The breeze can easily find us on the hottest of summer’s day
When the July sun tests our patience and our resolve
A quiet room is not a sad room but a reflective room
The disappointment can always be dealt with
Once we are able to understand its origins
None of us are complete failures but imperfect people
Such is the nature of humankind and always will be
Long after we have destroyed our planet and ourselves
There will be no magic to stop this and time will go on
Only it will go on without us like it always has
I cannot measure it and I do not think you can either
Together we must make peace with it or die with it
None of us might ever be touched by a greater force
Though we can always reach out and touch each other
Whether it is with a singular hello or a long conversation
There will always be enough time left as long as we live
For a few words to fall where they have not in a long time
Those mistakes were made and will never change
Those friendships were broken but can form again
Nothing is as it was or as it could ever have been
The simple reality is of what it is and can be
Disappointment might win its share of days
Though as long as we know where to find the breeze
We will never be burnt by things we cannot understand
In each movement of wind there is a voice being carried
Should we become better listeners its message might be heard.
07/09/08
I got a couple of nice emails today which is like getting real mail in the "old" days.
Peace.
jr.
The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice.
A little cooler today with a very nice breeze. I got to see one of my nieces and my nephew. Noah who is four had just been to the doctor's and they think he has been having seizures, so he needs to undergo some more tests. Poor little guy.
"It's a small crime and I've got no excuse..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aHW3BTF5pWY
9 Crimes by Damien Rice with Lisa Hannigan.
A quick comment on the recently completed G8 summit, it is irrelevant, a waste of money and I am embarrassed Canada continues to be a part of this massive waste of money. The G8 countries are never able to reach agreements with definite targets, especially on the environment and anything they tell us is just smoke coming out of their asses. Canada's Environment minister John Baird is the worst thing to happen to this country and its chances to improve its environment. Actually he is a product of Stephen Harper, so Harper is the worse. The G8 leaders spend more time having their pictures taken and shouting "Yo's" at each other rather than changing the world.
I wrote something today and it is below.
Our Magical Lives
The disappointment does not always dissipate
When a new day begins with birdsongs and sunlight
I know it should but emotional magic is not my forte
There are no wands to wave and make feelings disappear
Time is our only magician with absolute illusionary power
We are but its puppets living tied to shortening strings
The length of the world is presented to us as a child
Only to be choked away from us as we enter adulthood
Mistakes are made and friendships are formed
Some are repeated until those friendships fade
Leaving us with lessons learned and hearts broken
The real trick to our magical lives is to understand why
Once we are able to identify why we are a certain way
Life becomes a little more simple and manageable
Happiness can grow among the weeds of loneliness
The breeze can easily find us on the hottest of summer’s day
When the July sun tests our patience and our resolve
A quiet room is not a sad room but a reflective room
The disappointment can always be dealt with
Once we are able to understand its origins
None of us are complete failures but imperfect people
Such is the nature of humankind and always will be
Long after we have destroyed our planet and ourselves
There will be no magic to stop this and time will go on
Only it will go on without us like it always has
I cannot measure it and I do not think you can either
Together we must make peace with it or die with it
None of us might ever be touched by a greater force
Though we can always reach out and touch each other
Whether it is with a singular hello or a long conversation
There will always be enough time left as long as we live
For a few words to fall where they have not in a long time
Those mistakes were made and will never change
Those friendships were broken but can form again
Nothing is as it was or as it could ever have been
The simple reality is of what it is and can be
Disappointment might win its share of days
Though as long as we know where to find the breeze
We will never be burnt by things we cannot understand
In each movement of wind there is a voice being carried
Should we become better listeners its message might be heard.
07/09/08
I got a couple of nice emails today which is like getting real mail in the "old" days.
Peace.
jr.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
"I want to live and breathe, I want to be part of the human race..."
Close to 40 Celsius today with the humidity. It was nice to get my haircut, not that it is every that long, but short is nice for summer. It finally rained around 7, as it tends to do when it is this humid. The rain has helped slightly as it is 32 now with the humidity.
I am still struggling through Snow by Orhan Pumak and was reading it today while having an Iced Green Tea drink, when a girl was staring at me and came up to say that she had just read the book. I often have the same reaction when I see someone reading a book that I have read, so I found it funny. The following is from it.
"It may not happen in the first instant, but within ten minutes of meeting a man, a woman has a clear idea of who he is, or at least who he might be for her, and her heart of hearts has already told her whether or not she's going to fall in love with him. But her head needs time to understand what her heart has decided. If you ask me, there's very little a man can do at this point except wait for time to take its course. If you really love her, all you have to do is tell her all the beautiful things you feel about her: why you love her, why you want to marry her."
It is still Tuesday, so the countdown is below. The top 100 songs out of 1291 (1 less than last week, I guess I will have to search for new music this week). Radiohead 1 and 2, very early songs in their career, perhaps I am trying to return to my youth. 28 clips below should you want to check out any.
jr.
Top 100 Songs Played This Year On My iTunes Player
1. The Bends by Radiohead (4)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jaA4lXiqClI
2. Creep by Radiohead (5)
3. You Can't Count On Me by Counting Crows (3)
4. Wonderwall by Oasis (13)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FAPtTS0TYtU
5. Thinking About You by Norah Jones (3)
6. Boy With A Coin by Iron and Wine (2)
7. Say It To Me Now by Glen Hansard (6)
8. Guaranteed by Eddie Vedder (7)
9. The One I Love by David Gray (8)
10. When I Dream Of Michelangelo by Counting Crows (9)
11. Waiting by City and Colour (10)
12. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? by C.C.R. (11)
13. Supernatural Superserious by R.E.M. (16)
14. Empty by Ray LaMontagne (17)
15. One by U2 (12)
16. Always by Neverending White Lights (15)
17. Love Hurts by Incubus (19)
18. Long Road To Ruin by Foo Figthers (14)
19. Cowboys by Counting Crows (21)
20. Blanket Of Ghosts by Dustin Kensrue (26)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aKLPhhGfRew
21. Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder (20)
22. Falling Slowly by The Frames (25)
23. Sunday Morning Coming Down (Live) by Johnny Cash (22)
24. Hannah by Ray LaMontagne (18)
25. Calling All Friends by Low Stars (24)
26. When You Were Young by The Killers (23)
27. Everybody Knows by Ryan Adams (34)
28. All The Trees Are Hers by Hawksley Workman (30)
29. Oceanside by The Decemberists (27)
30. Southern Girl by Amos Lee (28)
31. Baby I Love Your Way by Bob Marley (46)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BvtYZCFy7UE
32. A Long December by Counting Crows (42)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IZJiqiV-gWo
33. Your Heart Is An Empty Room by Death Cab For Cutie (41)
34. Society by Eddie Vedder (29)
35. NYC by Interpol (31)
36. If I Had Eyes by Jack Johnson (32)
37. Gotta Be Somebody's Blues by Jimmy Eat World (39)
38. Everything by Michael Buble (37)
39. Let It Ride by Ryan Adams (33)
40. Where The Streets Have No Name by U2 (35)
41. You Are My Face by Wilco (55)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1j2k47bXrgs
42. Hard Candy by Counting Crows (49)
43. Impossible Germany by Wilco (58)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=97IT0-EDTtw
44. Lemon Parade by Tonic (54)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hK--wLV-RlM
45. The Con by Tegan and Sara (36)
46. My List by The Killers (38)
47. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature by The Guess Who (40)
48. Your Song by Elton John (65)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=buzVBu0bR-w
49. O Valencia by The Decemberists (66)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kVv8BBt_32M
50. The Hardest Part by Coldplay (48)
51. Hospital Beds by Cold War Kids (43)
52. Diamonds On The Inside by Ben Harper (44)
53. Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles (56)
54. No One's Gonna Love You by Band Of Horses (69)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nBDAZ3lVqVk
55. Michelle by The Beatles (45)
56. Some Surprise by The Cake Sale (Lisa Hannigan + Gary Lightbody) (47)
57. 1492 by Counting Crows (57)
58. The Crane Wife 3 by The Decemberists (70)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R0J1LumnNlI
59. If You're Gonna Leave by Emerson Hart (50)
60. Mind Games by John Lennon (63)
61. Girl In The War by Josh Ritter (51)
62. You're Always Going Too Soon by Matthew Jay (52)
63. Imitation Of Life by R.E.M. (53)
64. Sing by Travis (84)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G1f2M5G9KG8
65. Please Be Patient With Me by Wilco (59)
66. Los Angeles by Counting Crows (71)
67. Club Thing by Yoav (87)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=v_GbUWnx7Lk
68. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison (60)
69. You Don't Know How It Feels by Tom Petty (61)
70. Off He Goes by Pearl Jam (81)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WuJlbRRwzhQ
71. The Great Escape by Patrick Watson (62)
72. Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Neil Young (95)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dEOnocP-A-0
73. Nuclear Daydream by Joseph Arthur (100)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FvTP6Rsy5Qw
74. Naked As We Came by Iron and Wine (78)
75. A Time To Be So Small by Interpol (77)
76. Anna Molly by Incubus (76)
77. Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy (75)
78. The Water by Feist (64)
79. Lying Eyes by The Eagles (74)
80. Catapult (Acoustic) by Counting Crows (67)
81. Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sUS49XSN6Zs
82. Have You Seen Me Lately? (Acoustic) by Counting Crows (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UrayFUXg6i8
83. Let It Be by The Beatles (68)
84. Antichrist Television Blues by The Arcade Fire (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=olk8feBYHeg
85. Is There A Ghost? by Band Of Horses (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tLMTtSfYSm8
86. Miller's Angels by Counting Crows (72)
87. Sleep Don't Weep by Damien Rice (73)
88. So Long, So Long by Dashboard Confessional with Adam Duritz (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ja6m-zgBorU
89. Talk Shows On Mute by Incubus (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z2hHRqF5zRM
90. You're Beautiful (Acoustic) by Incubus (79)
91. Chase This Light by Jimmy Eat World (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nf2S-KeRVJ4
92. Kathleen by Josh Ritter (99)
93. Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sHQ_aTjXObs
94. My Rights Versus Yours by The New Pornographers (94)
95. Million Faces by Paolo Nutini (80)
96. Alright by Pilot Speed (82)
97. All I Need by Radiohead (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cdrCalO5BDs
98. Only The Lonely by Roy Orbison (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YFxbIYF6cmw
99. La Ciegena Just Smiled by Ryan Adams (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XoLAEHJ___0
100. Elevator Love Letter by Stars (83)
I am still struggling through Snow by Orhan Pumak and was reading it today while having an Iced Green Tea drink, when a girl was staring at me and came up to say that she had just read the book. I often have the same reaction when I see someone reading a book that I have read, so I found it funny. The following is from it.
"It may not happen in the first instant, but within ten minutes of meeting a man, a woman has a clear idea of who he is, or at least who he might be for her, and her heart of hearts has already told her whether or not she's going to fall in love with him. But her head needs time to understand what her heart has decided. If you ask me, there's very little a man can do at this point except wait for time to take its course. If you really love her, all you have to do is tell her all the beautiful things you feel about her: why you love her, why you want to marry her."
It is still Tuesday, so the countdown is below. The top 100 songs out of 1291 (1 less than last week, I guess I will have to search for new music this week). Radiohead 1 and 2, very early songs in their career, perhaps I am trying to return to my youth. 28 clips below should you want to check out any.
jr.
Top 100 Songs Played This Year On My iTunes Player
1. The Bends by Radiohead (4)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jaA4lXiqClI
2. Creep by Radiohead (5)
3. You Can't Count On Me by Counting Crows (3)
4. Wonderwall by Oasis (13)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FAPtTS0TYtU
5. Thinking About You by Norah Jones (3)
6. Boy With A Coin by Iron and Wine (2)
7. Say It To Me Now by Glen Hansard (6)
8. Guaranteed by Eddie Vedder (7)
9. The One I Love by David Gray (8)
10. When I Dream Of Michelangelo by Counting Crows (9)
11. Waiting by City and Colour (10)
12. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? by C.C.R. (11)
13. Supernatural Superserious by R.E.M. (16)
14. Empty by Ray LaMontagne (17)
15. One by U2 (12)
16. Always by Neverending White Lights (15)
17. Love Hurts by Incubus (19)
18. Long Road To Ruin by Foo Figthers (14)
19. Cowboys by Counting Crows (21)
20. Blanket Of Ghosts by Dustin Kensrue (26)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aKLPhhGfRew
21. Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder (20)
22. Falling Slowly by The Frames (25)
23. Sunday Morning Coming Down (Live) by Johnny Cash (22)
24. Hannah by Ray LaMontagne (18)
25. Calling All Friends by Low Stars (24)
26. When You Were Young by The Killers (23)
27. Everybody Knows by Ryan Adams (34)
28. All The Trees Are Hers by Hawksley Workman (30)
29. Oceanside by The Decemberists (27)
30. Southern Girl by Amos Lee (28)
31. Baby I Love Your Way by Bob Marley (46)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BvtYZCFy7UE
32. A Long December by Counting Crows (42)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IZJiqiV-gWo
33. Your Heart Is An Empty Room by Death Cab For Cutie (41)
34. Society by Eddie Vedder (29)
35. NYC by Interpol (31)
36. If I Had Eyes by Jack Johnson (32)
37. Gotta Be Somebody's Blues by Jimmy Eat World (39)
38. Everything by Michael Buble (37)
39. Let It Ride by Ryan Adams (33)
40. Where The Streets Have No Name by U2 (35)
41. You Are My Face by Wilco (55)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1j2k47bXrgs
42. Hard Candy by Counting Crows (49)
43. Impossible Germany by Wilco (58)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=97IT0-EDTtw
44. Lemon Parade by Tonic (54)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hK--wLV-RlM
45. The Con by Tegan and Sara (36)
46. My List by The Killers (38)
47. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature by The Guess Who (40)
48. Your Song by Elton John (65)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=buzVBu0bR-w
49. O Valencia by The Decemberists (66)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kVv8BBt_32M
50. The Hardest Part by Coldplay (48)
51. Hospital Beds by Cold War Kids (43)
52. Diamonds On The Inside by Ben Harper (44)
53. Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles (56)
54. No One's Gonna Love You by Band Of Horses (69)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nBDAZ3lVqVk
55. Michelle by The Beatles (45)
56. Some Surprise by The Cake Sale (Lisa Hannigan + Gary Lightbody) (47)
57. 1492 by Counting Crows (57)
58. The Crane Wife 3 by The Decemberists (70)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R0J1LumnNlI
59. If You're Gonna Leave by Emerson Hart (50)
60. Mind Games by John Lennon (63)
61. Girl In The War by Josh Ritter (51)
62. You're Always Going Too Soon by Matthew Jay (52)
63. Imitation Of Life by R.E.M. (53)
64. Sing by Travis (84)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G1f2M5G9KG8
65. Please Be Patient With Me by Wilco (59)
66. Los Angeles by Counting Crows (71)
67. Club Thing by Yoav (87)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=v_GbUWnx7Lk
68. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison (60)
69. You Don't Know How It Feels by Tom Petty (61)
70. Off He Goes by Pearl Jam (81)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WuJlbRRwzhQ
71. The Great Escape by Patrick Watson (62)
72. Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Neil Young (95)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dEOnocP-A-0
73. Nuclear Daydream by Joseph Arthur (100)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FvTP6Rsy5Qw
74. Naked As We Came by Iron and Wine (78)
75. A Time To Be So Small by Interpol (77)
76. Anna Molly by Incubus (76)
77. Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy (75)
78. The Water by Feist (64)
79. Lying Eyes by The Eagles (74)
80. Catapult (Acoustic) by Counting Crows (67)
81. Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sUS49XSN6Zs
82. Have You Seen Me Lately? (Acoustic) by Counting Crows (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UrayFUXg6i8
83. Let It Be by The Beatles (68)
84. Antichrist Television Blues by The Arcade Fire (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=olk8feBYHeg
85. Is There A Ghost? by Band Of Horses (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tLMTtSfYSm8
86. Miller's Angels by Counting Crows (72)
87. Sleep Don't Weep by Damien Rice (73)
88. So Long, So Long by Dashboard Confessional with Adam Duritz (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ja6m-zgBorU
89. Talk Shows On Mute by Incubus (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z2hHRqF5zRM
90. You're Beautiful (Acoustic) by Incubus (79)
91. Chase This Light by Jimmy Eat World (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nf2S-KeRVJ4
92. Kathleen by Josh Ritter (99)
93. Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sHQ_aTjXObs
94. My Rights Versus Yours by The New Pornographers (94)
95. Million Faces by Paolo Nutini (80)
96. Alright by Pilot Speed (82)
97. All I Need by Radiohead (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cdrCalO5BDs
98. Only The Lonely by Roy Orbison (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YFxbIYF6cmw
99. La Ciegena Just Smiled by Ryan Adams (NR)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XoLAEHJ___0
100. Elevator Love Letter by Stars (83)
Monday, July 7, 2008
"Lord take me home, to the peaceful valley, down the winding river, to your city, your soul..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=w4iUAniWHsM
Peaceful Valley by Ryan Adams and The Cardinals.
Warm today, a little too warm. Though the wind did come up late in the day. I spent the late afternoon and early evening visiting my grandparents. Tomorrow is my Grandma's birthday, so I took over a card and a cake for dessert. It was a peaceful afternoon as we set out in their backyard, which is very impressively kept up by them. I find it very tranquil and easy to relax in. The meal was fried chicken strips, potato and egg salad, along with an Oriental garden salad and the black forest cake for dessert.
Earlier in the day, I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a couple months, it was nice to see her. It is so easy to lose track of people, even those you consider friends.
Rugby or porn, hmm. In New Zealand they got porn instead of rugby. It is a good thing the ruby match itself didn't turn into a porn. For my eyes, at least.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080706/koddities/oddity_rugby_new_zealand_porn
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z8rjGB3lR7s
Mr. Jones and Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows (O2 Wireless Festival Hyde Park, London, UK July 6, 2008)
"It's a lifetime commitment, recovering the satellites..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5XdSYmycaXA
Recovering The Satellites and (almost all of) Perfect Blue Buildings by Counting Crows (Chorzow, Poland June 26, 2008)
Well that is enough for a Monday evening while the breeze cools me after a warm July day, above me a quarter moon looks like it is waiting for something to jump over it and before me solar charged outdoor lights are flashing, from green to blue to red to purple to yellow.
It is not 4:30 am on Tuesday but somewhere, something is perfect.
jr.
Peaceful Valley by Ryan Adams and The Cardinals.
Warm today, a little too warm. Though the wind did come up late in the day. I spent the late afternoon and early evening visiting my grandparents. Tomorrow is my Grandma's birthday, so I took over a card and a cake for dessert. It was a peaceful afternoon as we set out in their backyard, which is very impressively kept up by them. I find it very tranquil and easy to relax in. The meal was fried chicken strips, potato and egg salad, along with an Oriental garden salad and the black forest cake for dessert.
Earlier in the day, I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a couple months, it was nice to see her. It is so easy to lose track of people, even those you consider friends.
Rugby or porn, hmm. In New Zealand they got porn instead of rugby. It is a good thing the ruby match itself didn't turn into a porn. For my eyes, at least.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080706/koddities/oddity_rugby_new_zealand_porn
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z8rjGB3lR7s
Mr. Jones and Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows (O2 Wireless Festival Hyde Park, London, UK July 6, 2008)
"It's a lifetime commitment, recovering the satellites..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5XdSYmycaXA
Recovering The Satellites and (almost all of) Perfect Blue Buildings by Counting Crows (Chorzow, Poland June 26, 2008)
Well that is enough for a Monday evening while the breeze cools me after a warm July day, above me a quarter moon looks like it is waiting for something to jump over it and before me solar charged outdoor lights are flashing, from green to blue to red to purple to yellow.
It is not 4:30 am on Tuesday but somewhere, something is perfect.
jr.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Oh, father of the four winds, fill my sails, across the sea of years..."
Kashmir by Led Zeppelin.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tTaOvzZKRxA
I spent much of the afternoon and early evening at sunfest again. I happened to come upon a friend, his wife and their young child, which was nice and we walked together for awhile. After they left, I found my way to where the music was playing. The first band I heard was called Ragleela (http://www.sunfest.on.ca/artists/20-.php) and they were great, their sound was very Middle Eastern with elements of psychedelia. It was tradition India and Pakistan music that I imagined was the type that had an influence on Led Zeppelin. Therefore the link above to their song Kashmir, a very unique part of India and a beautiful valley. Kashmir has its own colourful history (http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/basicfacts/basics.html).
"Walking in the park just the other day, baby, what do you, what do you think I saw? Crowds of people sitting on the grass with flowers in their hair........"
Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zeppelin.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hy0MLU5asxs
The next band to take the Centre Stage was called Le Vent Du Nord (http://www.sunfest.on.ca/artists/16-.php) and the crowd really enjoyed them. Performing their French, Irish, Native Canadian influenced music, with a very Celtic flavour, they had the crowd dancing jigs, joining hands and dancing around in one big group. It was really impressive to watch the crowd get into their music. When they were singing I had no idea what they were saying, I should really learn to speak French, it is a part of my country's uniqueness. But even if I didn't know what they were saying, the music had a feel to it. The crowd that formed for them was big and might have approached 1,000. The park was busier today than it was yesterday and it was warmer today than it was yesterday. I can feel the burn on my face and the back of my neck. It is sunfest after all and could possibly have been their most successful so far. It is among my favourite things to experience each year.
It is the diversity of this festival that always reminds me of my own diversity. The things that make me unique, the things that make this city unique and the things that make this country diverse. Music can unite us, for a few hours and for a few hours, we are all one.
jr.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tTaOvzZKRxA
I spent much of the afternoon and early evening at sunfest again. I happened to come upon a friend, his wife and their young child, which was nice and we walked together for awhile. After they left, I found my way to where the music was playing. The first band I heard was called Ragleela (http://www.sunfest.on.ca/artists/20-.php) and they were great, their sound was very Middle Eastern with elements of psychedelia. It was tradition India and Pakistan music that I imagined was the type that had an influence on Led Zeppelin. Therefore the link above to their song Kashmir, a very unique part of India and a beautiful valley. Kashmir has its own colourful history (http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/basicfacts/basics.html).
"Walking in the park just the other day, baby, what do you, what do you think I saw? Crowds of people sitting on the grass with flowers in their hair........"
Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zeppelin.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hy0MLU5asxs
The next band to take the Centre Stage was called Le Vent Du Nord (http://www.sunfest.on.ca/artists/16-.php) and the crowd really enjoyed them. Performing their French, Irish, Native Canadian influenced music, with a very Celtic flavour, they had the crowd dancing jigs, joining hands and dancing around in one big group. It was really impressive to watch the crowd get into their music. When they were singing I had no idea what they were saying, I should really learn to speak French, it is a part of my country's uniqueness. But even if I didn't know what they were saying, the music had a feel to it. The crowd that formed for them was big and might have approached 1,000. The park was busier today than it was yesterday and it was warmer today than it was yesterday. I can feel the burn on my face and the back of my neck. It is sunfest after all and could possibly have been their most successful so far. It is among my favourite things to experience each year.
It is the diversity of this festival that always reminds me of my own diversity. The things that make me unique, the things that make this city unique and the things that make this country diverse. Music can unite us, for a few hours and for a few hours, we are all one.
jr.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
"Let's do some living after we die......"
Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7hpAX8Q-MaM
I spent the afternoon at Sunfest ( http://www.sunfest.on.ca/) here in Victoria Park. It was a nearly perfect day, the weather was in the mid-twenties, the sky was perfectly clear and blue. This was until a few green balloons being given out to children escaped from their tiny fingers, though it made for a nice sight. The park was very busy and there seemed to be no shortage of vendors selling their goods and food. I bought a beaded necklace and bracelet, there was no shortage of them to choose from. The best part of Sunfest, aside from the scenery, is the music. I stopped and listened to a band from the Dominican Republic called Puerto Plata (http://www.sunfest.on.ca/artists/9-.php), they had people of every age dancing to their music. It was so pleasing to see so many people having fun listening and dancing to music, without having to pay anything for it.
"There's gold in them hills, so don't lose heart, give the day a chance to start..."
Gold In Them Hills by Ron Sexsmith with Chris Martin.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DncGOPzkAns
Below is today's poem, I didn't write anything yesterday but was easily inspired today for a variety of reasons.
She Danced With Her Father Like A Princess
Vendors crammed Victoria Park
Selling their creations and imitations
The sky was completely clear and blue
Before a few green balloons floated up
Their strings escaping from small fingers
A warm July sun turned trees into Gods
From under one I listened to the band
A sextet representing The Dominican Republic
They easily had the multi-age crowd dancing
Many with their feet bare on the green grass
I noticed her right away like always
There is a palpable attraction to her
Tall and slender, happy and lovely
Curly hair and cute mannerisms
The quietness of knowing she is beautiful
Without the vanity many today exhibit
Classic and wholesome like the music
For the length of an hour it played on
Partners paired and others sashayed
She danced with her father like a princess
Before the last song ended and I left
This poem unwinding itself in my mind
Another moment observed and not lived
Now the sun begins its daily descent
Dark orange against pale blue
A cool breeze blows on my summer skin
The day was better than most lately
Becca’s goodnight kiss warms my heart
There is a lot waiting beyond the horizon
But for now this will have to do
An incomplete description of perfection.
07/05/08
I should have had a camera with me today but my memory is often its own camera. Though you can never really see until you see for yourself. I can only point you in the right direction.
john.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7hpAX8Q-MaM
I spent the afternoon at Sunfest ( http://www.sunfest.on.ca/) here in Victoria Park. It was a nearly perfect day, the weather was in the mid-twenties, the sky was perfectly clear and blue. This was until a few green balloons being given out to children escaped from their tiny fingers, though it made for a nice sight. The park was very busy and there seemed to be no shortage of vendors selling their goods and food. I bought a beaded necklace and bracelet, there was no shortage of them to choose from. The best part of Sunfest, aside from the scenery, is the music. I stopped and listened to a band from the Dominican Republic called Puerto Plata (http://www.sunfest.on.ca/artists/9-.php), they had people of every age dancing to their music. It was so pleasing to see so many people having fun listening and dancing to music, without having to pay anything for it.
"There's gold in them hills, so don't lose heart, give the day a chance to start..."
Gold In Them Hills by Ron Sexsmith with Chris Martin.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DncGOPzkAns
Below is today's poem, I didn't write anything yesterday but was easily inspired today for a variety of reasons.
She Danced With Her Father Like A Princess
Vendors crammed Victoria Park
Selling their creations and imitations
The sky was completely clear and blue
Before a few green balloons floated up
Their strings escaping from small fingers
A warm July sun turned trees into Gods
From under one I listened to the band
A sextet representing The Dominican Republic
They easily had the multi-age crowd dancing
Many with their feet bare on the green grass
I noticed her right away like always
There is a palpable attraction to her
Tall and slender, happy and lovely
Curly hair and cute mannerisms
The quietness of knowing she is beautiful
Without the vanity many today exhibit
Classic and wholesome like the music
For the length of an hour it played on
Partners paired and others sashayed
She danced with her father like a princess
Before the last song ended and I left
This poem unwinding itself in my mind
Another moment observed and not lived
Now the sun begins its daily descent
Dark orange against pale blue
A cool breeze blows on my summer skin
The day was better than most lately
Becca’s goodnight kiss warms my heart
There is a lot waiting beyond the horizon
But for now this will have to do
An incomplete description of perfection.
07/05/08
I should have had a camera with me today but my memory is often its own camera. Though you can never really see until you see for yourself. I can only point you in the right direction.
john.
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