I have a blog? I have a blog!

I just re-realized I have a blog- how fun!  I only just realized how long it’s been since I wrote anything here, and while I admit it has something to do with neglect it is not only that which has kept me from writing.  From where I’m sitting, I’m leaving for a foreign country in two weeks from today.  Not just to visit, but going there to live.  Oh yeah, that’s right- I’m moving to France.

Paris, France, to be exact.  I’d like to assert it’s all the things that have lead up to this move that have kept me away from writing more than anything else.  They’re not all quite fun enough to write about right here, right now, but over the next few months as the shock of Paris inevitably hits me then slowly subsides, I look forward to sharing more about what has been at times an excruciatingly boring but also incredibly exciting moment in my life.

I also must admit that I’m leaving myself an out- I am about 50% convinced that even though everything’s done and in-place the whole thing could easily implode (“the whole thing” as stated here includes many things- including my sanity which is being chipped away at daily by the stress of this ordeal).  If, in two weeks, I’m back here writing about life in Midlothian then it’s gotten the best of me and I’m staying behind.  If, however, you see me posting pictures of me base-jumping off Le Tour Eiffel, then I guess things have gone to plan (not really, but) and hopefully there’ll be plenty to say from there.

In the meantime I’d like to post a song, it’s new (to me) and have enjoyed listening to it as I’ve prematurely begun packing my life away into 2 suitcases.  Until next time, enjoy the rest of your summer and talk to you soon!

February funk

It’s more than half-way through the month now; a fact for which I’m so very very thankful!  That said, it’s been a really strange February for me… an oddly emotional and difficult month.  For the first time in my life I’m only doing 1 thing right now; working.  I thought that having such limited responsibilities would be a breath of fresh air, but frankly it’s left me with way more down time than I’ve had since high school and that I’m weirdly uncomfortable with.  I’m feeling guilty that I haven’t used this downtime in more effective ways; I mean, hell I think I’ve posted here maybe twice in a month where I’ve had almost nothing else on my plate!

I finished all my grad school apps before the first of the month, and with everything else done my “to do” list is at zero.  So with all this free time I’ve watched a bunch of news, finally finished a book I’ve been trying to finish for a year and went to New York (where I saw the Spider-Man musical which was so bad I started to write a post about it, but it was turning into lengthy rant, so I quit);  no major personal accomplishments to speak of.

Why do some of us feel this incessant need to always be doing something and accomplishing something?  I assume it’s a result of upbringing, throw in a little genetics and BAM you’ve got an impossible to please over-achiever.  Starting today I’m trying to change my perspective about this downtime.  I should really be using it as a time to recuperate before whatever is next starts, not tire myself with unnecessary self criticism.  Besides, there are 2 really awesome things that either have happened or are happening soon; 1st Radiohead released their new album (or at least part of it) yesterday and it’s f&^%ing mind-blowing, and 2nd I leave for Paris in less than 3 weeks!!  So this weary traveler is going to try and take a load off and let it be; if you’re struggling with things right now I hope they get better for you too:)  Lots of love, and I’ll be writing soon.  Joe

ps.  this song, “Codex”, is off Radiohead’s new album… hope you enjoy!

Top 5: Day 5

Alas, the number 1 top-played song of all time (of all my time anyway) IS *drumroll* a song from the composer Yann Tiersen called “Comptine d’un autre ete” (sans les accents ici, desole).  Yann Tiersen is without a doubt my favorite contemporary film score composer, and this piece in particular is one of my most favorites from his score for “Amelie”.  Much of the music in my “Top 5″ has been what I consider emotive music, and this song is perhaps the most of any of the songs I’ve listed.  It’s strange because I don’t consider myself a particularly emotional person- there’s likely some long winded generalization I could make about my personality based on that, but we’ll save the unnecessary introspection for another day.

At the end of the day the lasting allure of this song is its simple beauty, and almost everything in Yann Tiersen’s catalog shares that characteristic.  If you enjoy the song and haven’t seen the movie I hope that changes soon:)  And if you really like the song you should watch another film that Tiersen did the score for called “Goodbye Lenin”; my single favorite movie moment is in that film compliments of another song of his.

On that note I’m out.  Thanks so much for reading- my little blog is humble but has been something I’ve loved doing over the past year and hope to continue for another.  Have a beautiful weekend, lots of love! Joe

Top 5: Day 4

Down to #2 in the top 5 most played, and today’s entry is a song called “Family Romance” from Department of Eagles (the first incarnation of the now more-popular Grizzly Bear).  I believe I first heard it in 2003 or 2004 and have been listening to it/other stuff from the band ever since.  This song has a really pedantic nature, kinda like you’re taking a walk with it or something.  Also the song’s chord progressions (to me, anyway) seem unusual but entirely realistic/not at all trite… there are no tricks here, which is probably why it’s a song and a band that is easy to come back to time and time again.  DoE has made a number of really wonderful albums over the years- “In Ear Park”, their latest release in 2008, is one of my favorites of all time.  Hope you like it, and I’ll be back in a day or so with # 1!

Other than the song, pray with me (wherever you are) that the snow is over for the winter!  Also on an unrelated note I want to send out my own hope for a peaceful conclusion to the situation in Egypt, and that those who’ve been forced to live under despotic rule for so long will ultimately have their day.  I wish you good music and good feelings in the coming week, lots of love! Joe