Three Words Back...

The Same, But Older

Back in 2004 or so I bought a compilation cd from Starbucks on a lark.  The disc introduced me to artists I still listen to today, but it's the last song that continues to resonate deep within whenever I hear it again.

Moving Pictures Silent Films by Great Lake Swimmers

Oh wake me please when this is over
Oh when the ice has melted away
and the hunger returns
I will be the same but older
and maybe twice the man
that I thought I was

Where have you been?
and what have you done?

I've been under the ground
reading prayers from this old book I found
under the ground
saving it up
and spending it all
on moving pictures
silent films
moving pictures
silent films

Oh is this the dream I've been saving?
Oh where the heart beats slower and slower
to almost nothing
almost nothing
almost nothing

I took it for love
or at least something beautiful
out there in the spotlight
but I turned around suddenly
turned around squinting
and saw
that it was headlights
and then the truth, the truth was unbearable
oh, and imminent
bearing down on these two shadow animals

caught painting a dotted line
caught painting a dotted line
caught painting a dotted line

Where have you been?
and what have you done?
I've been under the ground
reading prayers from this old book I've found
under the ground
saving it up
and spending it all
on moving pictures
silent films
moving pictures
silent films

Something's Always Wrong

I've been writing this post in my head for a few days now.  For a few years, really.  Depends on how you look at it, I guess.

I can't think of a single thing I'm looking forward to.  Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month.  There is nothing on the horizon at all.  And what is the horizon, exactly?  It's the imaginary place where the sky and the land meet somewhere off in the distance.  But it stays way out there and it never gets any closer.  At any rate, there's nothing in front of me and nothing waiting out there.

"Today was just a day fading into another, and that can't be what a life is for."

Tomorrow I'll go to work and it will either be a good day or a bad day.  Then I'll go back on Friday and again on Saturday.  And on Sunday I'll have a day off, much like the one I'm wrapping up now.  I'll watch some movies and browse the internet.  Then I'll go back to work on Monday, etc.

Favorite Movies of the 2000's

Curt and I were killing time in Shiner, Texas, a few weeks ago and the conversation turned to our favorite films of this, the first decade of the 21st century.  Below are mine, you can share your own in the comments if you like.  In no particular order:

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
• No Country For Old Men (2007)
• Almost Famous (2000)
• Adaptation (2002)
• Juno (2007)
• O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
• High Fidelity (2000)
• Traffic (2000)
• Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
• Love Actually (2003)

At least three other films almost made my top 10....what were yall's?

Letters

Dear Paste Magazine,

Thanks for finally sending me the print magazine issues again, and not just the electronic ones.  And, of course, for being awesome.

Dear Houston weather,

Can we keep it like this for the next 6 months?  Check on that and let me know...

Dear Blip.fm,

At some point I may ask for all those hours of my life back, but for now I'm content to internet dj for the masses.

Dear Refrigerator,

I know.  You're bored.  I'll bring food home tonight.  And no, I won't forget the milk this time.

Dear Mental Floss,

Thanks for being the highlight of my Google Reader updates!

Why'd You Sing Hallelujah?

So why'd you fill my sorrows
with the words you've borrowed
from the only place you've known
And why'd you sing Hallelujah
if it means nothing to you
Why'd you sing with me at all?
~ Delicate, Damien Rice

I'm going to update the blog when I get home.
I'm going to update the blog after dinner.
I'm going to update the blog...soon.

I'd like to say that I tried
It fits in with all the suggestions and lies
And empty tables with food untouched
I couldn't see the future
I liked the past too much

I've been goin' door to door
Like I got something to sell
Wanderin' like a fool
Through the halls of a blue hotel
~ Blue Hotel, Ryan Adams

"Hey David, what's up?"
I don't have a good answer for that right now.

Oh, the band marched on in formation
The brass was phasing tunes I couldn't place
Windows open and raining in
Maroon, yellow, blue, gold and gray...

With a sky blue sky
This rotten time
Wouldn't seem so bad to me now
Oh, if I didn't die
I should be satisfied
I survived
That's good enough for now...
~ Sky Blue Sky, Wilco

Not Gonna Write You A New Blog

Like half of the "good" blog entries I've ever posted, this one was inspired by Vanilla Dr. Pepper (thanks, Sonic!) and a to-go order of chinese food.  Or rather, the wait for the Vanilla DP, since a certain song was on Sonic Radio while I waited.  This one's also especially for Curt, who is the only person on the planet foolish enough to bookmark this site on his iPhone's main menu.  It will make a little more sense (and be marginally more interesting) if sung/read along with to the tune of Sara Bareilles's "Love Song" (click here to play the video in another window if you need the tune):

(impossibly catchy piano plunking...)

Hands on my laptop
And you tell me that the net's been missing me
posting gets harder, even I know that
You made bookmarks for me but it's too soon to see
If I can be wordy and on time

I'm usually hard to catch on to
Blank stares at blank pages
No new way to say this
You mean well, but you make this hard on me
I'm not gonna write you a new blog
'cause you're bored for it
'cause you need one, you see

I'm not gonna write you a new blog
'cause you tell me it
Makes or breaks your day
Or you're clicking away
I'm not gonna write you to stay
If all you are is lurking I am not the kind of blogger
to write you a new blog today

I learned the hard way
That they all leave comments they wanna read
And my moody heart sinks deep down under them and
Five hundred posts,
Edit til it hurts
They have not been here since "paperclips"
Hello to no new news
Convinced me to post this
Made me think that I need this too
I'm trying to let you read me as I am

I'm not gonna write you a new blog
'cause you asked for it
'cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a new blog
'cause you tell me it
Make or breaks your day
If you're clicking  away
I'm not gonna write you to stay
If all you want is reading I'm asking you to take a seat
and wait for a good blog someday

Promise me that you'll leave Google Reader on
To let you see when updates and news breaks
'cause I believe there's a way you can love me
Because I say
I won't write you a new blog
'cause you asked for it
'cause you need one, you see

I'm not gonna put up a new blog
'cause you tell me it's been a couple a days
Is that why you wanted a new blog
'cause you asked for it
'cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a new blog
'cause you tell me it's make or breaking this
If you're on your way
I'm not gonna write you to stay
If my heart is nowhere in it
I won't type it for a minute
Babe, I'll write you War and Peace when I believe that
There's a reason to
Write you a new blog today