take this sinking boat/and point it home

There is something that I've noticed over the past several years with my experiences in making music that I've never really expressed for fear that it would make me seem kind of crazy. For me, making music is an extremely emotional experience, as I'm sure it is for most people. And when I write a piece of music or a song with a person of the opposite sex, its like I sort of--for lack of a more accurate term--fall in love with that person a little. Even if its just for that week, or night, or even that hour. But I almost always feel a very strong attachment to whoever that guy is. It doesn't mean that I want to marry him, or date him, or even sleep with him, but something happens that I can't quite explain.

I thought that this sentiment was just me being really weird, but I saw the movie Once tonight. And if you've never had the experience that I just described firsthand, please watch Once and live it vicariously. Because its a pretty spectacular feeling.

say ap again

today

On the way to work today, I was behind a Toyota Prius waiting on the drawbridge to just draw already. It had a bunch of bumper stickers on it, and as I read them I experienced that taken-aback feeling that you get when you expect one thing and are delivered something completely different. All of the stickers read things like "Say no to socialism", "Drill here. Drill now. Pay less.", and "NO-bama." On top of which, the car had a Texas license plate.
Normally, I'll just roll my eyes and say "geezus" to myself under my breath when I see cars like this. But I was ok with this person. Because they were driving a hybrid car. Even though this person's reasons for buying a car like this were almost certainly more financial than environmental. Even though brazen bumper sticker politics irritate me no matter what the party affiliation. I think that no matter how staunchly, Bushly republican this person was, the fact that they elected to buy a Prius puts us on the same side, in a small way. Its a very bipartisan car.

there's no mercy in a live wire/ no rest at all in freedom

Some songs are only great when sung by the original songwriter. I don't know why. Maybe the original songwriter is the only one who understands the emotional origin of the song, and is therefore the only one who can render it the way it was intended. I say this because I am a huge fan of both the Dixie Chicks (most retarded name for one of the best bands ever, if I may say so) and Patty Griffin. The Dixie Chicks are also fans of Patty Griffin, because they have covered two of her songs on past albums. But for me, both times the experience has been the same; the Dixie Chicks cover is very good, but the Patty Griffin version speaks to me and leaves me floored. Check out both versions of these songs on youtube and let me know if I'm alone:

Let Him Fly*
Dixie Chicks
Patty Griffin

Top of the World
Dixie Chicks
Patty Griffin

*Jessica Simpson also covers this song, and for the love of god don't listen to it first, it is fucking terrible. Also, don't listen to either of these if you are in a fragile state of mind, they make me boohoo even when I am feeling great.

...

Oh me, oh life of the question of these recurring. Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish. What good amid these? Oh me, oh life.