I listen to a lot of music. Instead of writing something down, which takes quite a bit of effort and I'm not sure it actually accomplishes anything, I decided to share a few songs that I've enjoyed recently. Music communicates much better than words, and possibly one of the reasons why I love music is that I am a terrible communicator.

The first number I want to share has to do with the experience of living in a different state as Emily for 5 months. It was a difficult experience, but we're not people to simply follow the path of least resistance, and you always become better a better person when you go through difficulties and I'm grateful that we did what we did. 

It still freaking sucked though.

Andrew Jackson Jihad - Distance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLmkK6tEups
The first month after you left I drank and [ate food] till I slept. I went to work when I had to then came home.I fed the dog when I had to. I fed myself when I had to. I went out of town when I had to. And then came home. 

And I know this won't last forever but it feels like forever since we've been together, till we'll be together again. 

Second month after you left I still felt real depressed but I've got plenty of other things to spend my time on. I hate whiny songs like this but I can't afford a therapist.Sorry guys, here's a solo. 

And it's harder to be yourself than it is to be anybody else. I wish that I was someone closer to you.

And I know this won't last forever but it feels like forever since we've been together, till we'll be together again. 

 I love punk rock, and I hate convention. I HATE convention. I HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE convention.

In this spirit, here is one of my favorite punk rock songs:\

The Descendents - Suburban Home 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aArkf4fnPko

I want to be stereotyped

I want to be classified

I want to be a clone

I want a suburban home

I want to be masochistic

I want to be a statistic

I want to be a clone

I want a suburban home

I don't want no hippie pad 

I want a house just like mom and dad

Well that was quick, wasn't it. Punk rock likes to keep it short and snappy.

The next number was always a fun song to listen to while I was stuck in school.

Lars Fredericksen and the Bastards - To Have and to Have Not 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qeAnOX-UCk

Up in the morning and out to school

Mother says there be no work next year

Qualifications once the Golden Rule are now just pieces of paper 

Just because you're better than me doesn't mean I'm lazy.

Just because you're going forwards doesn't mean I'm going backwards.

Well if you look the part well then you'll get the job 

in last year's trousers and your oldschool shoes

The truth is son it's a buyer's market they can afford to pick and choose 

Just because you're better than me doesn't mean I'm lazy

Just because I dress like this doesn't mean I'm a Communist. 

Well the factory's are closing and the army's full

I don't know what I'm going to do

But I've come to see

There's only room for a chosen few 

Just because you're better than me doesn't mean I'm lazy

Just because you're going forwards doesn't mean I'm going backwards

I always think about what the best way would be to help out homeless people. It's a difficult problem, and like any social problem, there's no easy answer.


        Andrew Jackson Jihad - Zombie by the Cranberries by Andrew Jackson Jihad 
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DLr9h5OqeQ

If I had a cigarette every time a perfect stranger asked me for a cigarette 

Then I'd have enough cigarettes to get me through the day.

And if I had some spare change every time a perfect stranger asked me for some spare change 

Then I'd have enough spare change to take care of these bills I have to pay. 

I know that times are tough but that does not mean that you can have my stuff. 

So how 'bout a ride? I can drive you to the shelter. 

We can eat dinner at the Andre house and you can even take a shower 

'cause I think you deserve much more than a smoke and 50 cents. 

You deserve to be self sufficient and buy your own cigarettes.

Oh, when the saints. Oh, when the saints go marching in. 

They will feed you so much pizza that you'll forget about the rut that you are in. 

Oh, when the saints. Oh, when the saints, oh when the saints come marching in. 

Well I'm sure they'll feel so much better with the illusion 

that they are helping out those sinners 

when all they really do is buy those so called sinners crappy dinners. 

Five dollar Hot and Ready pizzas and high fructose corn syrup punch. 

Leaving you diabetic and apathetic, wondering when they will bring you lunch to the park 

they keep you in, when the saints go marching in. 

So I wish I had a cigarette for every time a perfect stranger asked me for a cigarette 

but I wonder what a cigarette will really do to help that person out. 

I wish to God I had some spare change for every time a perfect stranger asked me for some spare change 

but there's not enough spare change in the world to make such an empty gesture count.

I've always loved this song. In punk rock it's common to be extremely honest about deep down feelings, and some of my favorite songs follow this pattern. Sometimes it's nice to know how other people are actually feeling and that their feelings often coincide with your own.

        Touche Amore - Home Away From Home 
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6rGV5p8A2c

I’m coming to terms that I’m not concerned

With planting my feet but moving onward

I’m growing older but I can't get over

The need of colder skin when I know that home is warmer 

It's just that I have this problem

Where I want to be everywhere I’m not

But I’m thankful for what I’ve got

A room in a house where my bed may stay

But the feel of another’s sheets help keep my demons away 

It’s become clear that what keeps me here

Is that sense of failure and other nightmares

I’ve become jaded and I can’t escape it

The thought of settling when I know it's what I hated 

It's just I have this problem

Where I want to be everywhere I’m not

It's just I know myself and I’ll sacrifice everything I’ve got 

Though I can’t afford to eat as much as I would like to be

And my bills won’t pay themselves so I’ll come up with another scheme

This place looks better from a passenger window

Or when stared at from up above

But when you’re chasing brightness

You'll lose concern with the damage done 

It's not my fault

I’ll try to call

No ties no roots I'm fine.

And I'll wrap it up with the final number. This is a song that captures fairly well how I feel about people who aren't following their dreams.

        Dillenger Four - Who Didn't Kill Bambi? 
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAt68BxoGxA

You know your eyes say it's dead inside of you

Just and empty shell with faded tattoos

And everything's just a memory

And every day is just a passing of time

You used to be a time bomb

Did you notice when the lights started to go out

Welcome it with a smile and your arms out

And now it's all so much easier

Bury yourself in banality and comfort

Never waking for a moment

We are alive

And just like the sun will kill the night

We bring the change to something new

Cause we know change threatens you

And there's nothing left of you to save

And each step forward that you take

Is just one closer to the grave

You let the years go by, an endless parade

As meaningless as the promises you've made

And you'll wonder where it all went

When the last of your effort is spent

And you're still left hollow

Will you watch all your life from the outside

Will you march to then end placid and paralyzed

Or will you take it in one shot without a chaser

And let go

Well, that was fun. Hopefully you think I'm crazy now.