Lyrics: "Sparkle" by Phish
The pressure builds, you buy a gift
You're hoping that your dread will lift
It glitters on her like a glass
You shudder as it comes to pass
Apologize to Luce and Lil'
Converse with Ed, a drive with Jill
Your friends confine you in their worlds
One by one, a string of pearls
Confuse you say, this isn't me
You hover in their unity
Ashamed, you slowly lose your grasp
Release the links, undo the clasp
The skin that drips down from the tree
And peels back slowly from your knee
Erupts into your lung and heart
You laugh and laughing, fall apart
You're hoping that your dread will lift
It glitters on her like a glass
You shudder as it comes to pass
Apologize to Luce and Lil'
Converse with Ed, a drive with Jill
Your friends confine you in their worlds
One by one, a string of pearls
Confuse you say, this isn't me
You hover in their unity
Ashamed, you slowly lose your grasp
Release the links, undo the clasp
The skin that drips down from the tree
And peels back slowly from your knee
Erupts into your lung and heart
You laugh and laughing, fall apart
Affirmation
I am a passionate, productive, and proficient embodiment of an inifinite reality where anything is possible.
All things are displays of awakened nature.
My music is Instrumental.
All things are displays of awakened nature.
My music is Instrumental.
Umphrey's McGee - Wizard Burial Ground
It's time to take another visit...to the.....WIZARD BURIAL GROUND!!
Rachmaninoff plays Chopin Nocturne op.9 no.2
I have never heard Chopin Nocturne opus 9 no.2 played so beautifully as this version by Rachmaninoff
Fall 2010 Update
I'm not fantastically talented, I'm not as intelligent or as productive as I would like to be, I've done some bad things...
but my interests are awesome and my intentions are habitually high-quality. If an award existed for being unique and personable, I'd be a fine candidate.
Point is, I realize how special I am. This isn't necessarily in the typical egoistic sense, that is comparing my self to those around me, but in a similar sense I simply see how unique I am and how much my life has come close to what I could ever want, and I am full of adoration for every thing that I encounter for it is as my reflection a piece of me.
Something as simple as walking into my room and seeing my Classical Fake Book sitting on my music stand: I elate as I'm reminded that this book changed my world, and it is here to stay, a part of my every day life.
I consider how wonderful it could be to be classically trained since the age of three, or maybe more reasonably, spend those dark years in strict musical practice instead of engaging in depressing thought patterns. I consider how little I am compared to how I would like to be.
But these days I have a great drive for pursuing all those important things. It's more than that: I'm also powerful; I have this great potential to be anything I want to be. It's not easy to do, but I'm alive and it's available to me. Now I'm doing it, experiencing it first-hand, and it's just more development in my world and view of things.
The biggest obstacle in my life is physical, my present bodily incapabilities and malfunctioning in what I stress to do. If I can get half of what I want, physically speaking, I'd be soaring fine. A habit of mindfulness is important here, and it's very difficult to maintain.
An example: I need to relax my hands. It has become harder than ever, but it is still possible. I need to spend time with them without stressing them, and increase the frequency and quality of my awareness in this respect.
but my interests are awesome and my intentions are habitually high-quality. If an award existed for being unique and personable, I'd be a fine candidate.
Point is, I realize how special I am. This isn't necessarily in the typical egoistic sense, that is comparing my self to those around me, but in a similar sense I simply see how unique I am and how much my life has come close to what I could ever want, and I am full of adoration for every thing that I encounter for it is as my reflection a piece of me.
Something as simple as walking into my room and seeing my Classical Fake Book sitting on my music stand: I elate as I'm reminded that this book changed my world, and it is here to stay, a part of my every day life.
I consider how wonderful it could be to be classically trained since the age of three, or maybe more reasonably, spend those dark years in strict musical practice instead of engaging in depressing thought patterns. I consider how little I am compared to how I would like to be.
But these days I have a great drive for pursuing all those important things. It's more than that: I'm also powerful; I have this great potential to be anything I want to be. It's not easy to do, but I'm alive and it's available to me. Now I'm doing it, experiencing it first-hand, and it's just more development in my world and view of things.
The biggest obstacle in my life is physical, my present bodily incapabilities and malfunctioning in what I stress to do. If I can get half of what I want, physically speaking, I'd be soaring fine. A habit of mindfulness is important here, and it's very difficult to maintain.
An example: I need to relax my hands. It has become harder than ever, but it is still possible. I need to spend time with them without stressing them, and increase the frequency and quality of my awareness in this respect.
If all we had was taken
Happiness, they say, is not permanent. Temporary is the nature of the world, and attachment to these things cause suffering.
I have desirous pursuits every day, time-consuming projects that are temporary and engaging. I have good karma that has built up over time.
If what I have was taken, at least I got to taste it. Always, tastes carry on.
If my band disbands, if my music-making stops, if a loved one dies, or if I'm caught by cops, if my entire life changes and "I"'m suddenly freezing, hurting, torn up and lonely, with nothing, I'm still something and I am still here. My pursuits will change accordingly, even if my memory disappears and everything that was loses its reality and even substantiality as food for dreams.
I might die- the ultimate liberation, for when you realize we are temporary, our life suddenly comes to light. There is no fear; every thing is right here, all there ever is or was- our only connection to anything. If you can still remember "such a time", be appreciative in the here and now. You might remember a past life: Appreciate it.
Why do I, self-proclaimed Buddhist, pursue a daily life full of musical stimulation, friends, good health habits, romance, and other personal projects? Because that is what I do; I may not some day; I'm here now and I do the best I can with what I have. I must. It's the only way. There is one life worth living, and I am living it. Simple as that.
I'm not perfect; I know for a fact I'm not actively, perfectly appreciative of what I have now. But I really try to put my best attitude towards it, knowing deeply what is right...because I know: I have the confidence that lets me see clearly and it's what holds my entire life together. Wisdom, love, and dedication to music. I know the things that hold me back are just things that guide me. Everything's a contribution, a source to my pursuits.
Things will inevitably change, maybe become worse, but so long as we are living there is a possibility for the best. The answer to what is worthwhile remains in how you're actively engaged in the here and now. If everything falls apart you still have compassion. You do. The proof is that you're here, I assure you.
I have desirous pursuits every day, time-consuming projects that are temporary and engaging. I have good karma that has built up over time.
If what I have was taken, at least I got to taste it. Always, tastes carry on.
If my band disbands, if my music-making stops, if a loved one dies, or if I'm caught by cops, if my entire life changes and "I"'m suddenly freezing, hurting, torn up and lonely, with nothing, I'm still something and I am still here. My pursuits will change accordingly, even if my memory disappears and everything that was loses its reality and even substantiality as food for dreams.
I might die- the ultimate liberation, for when you realize we are temporary, our life suddenly comes to light. There is no fear; every thing is right here, all there ever is or was- our only connection to anything. If you can still remember "such a time", be appreciative in the here and now. You might remember a past life: Appreciate it.
Why do I, self-proclaimed Buddhist, pursue a daily life full of musical stimulation, friends, good health habits, romance, and other personal projects? Because that is what I do; I may not some day; I'm here now and I do the best I can with what I have. I must. It's the only way. There is one life worth living, and I am living it. Simple as that.
I'm not perfect; I know for a fact I'm not actively, perfectly appreciative of what I have now. But I really try to put my best attitude towards it, knowing deeply what is right...because I know: I have the confidence that lets me see clearly and it's what holds my entire life together. Wisdom, love, and dedication to music. I know the things that hold me back are just things that guide me. Everything's a contribution, a source to my pursuits.
Things will inevitably change, maybe become worse, but so long as we are living there is a possibility for the best. The answer to what is worthwhile remains in how you're actively engaged in the here and now. If everything falls apart you still have compassion. You do. The proof is that you're here, I assure you.
Octopus on Reddit!
So I recently joined Reddit, since I guess Digg sucks now...
and look what's posted there today! Skip to 4:20 in this video if you cannot watch the whole thing...or actually, just skip to 4:20 and then rewind if you do decide to watch it. You won't regret it! This is really incredible; you probably have never seen anything like this before.
and look what's posted there today! Skip to 4:20 in this video if you cannot watch the whole thing...or actually, just skip to 4:20 and then rewind if you do decide to watch it. You won't regret it! This is really incredible; you probably have never seen anything like this before.
Libertango
Jay, listen to this.
Beauty and the Beast
I just watched Beauty and the Beast on VHS with my Disney Fakebook next to me, checking out the music on paper as it played through my ear-phones. What an amazing movie; what amazing music. In case you didn't know, the composer of this film's music (and Little Mirmaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Mulan, Pocahontas) is Alan Menkin, and he is one of my all time favorite composers. He's just utterly amazing.
And another amazing thing about Beauty and the Beast is how the music is synched so masterfully with the animation. It really blows my mind to imagine the work involved in going from ideas, sketches and plot diagrams, to adding voice and timing and music. How is music so perfectly composed to fit the film? I wonder how much the film revolves around the music. Certainly some spots are not so music-focused, letting it simply fill the background; and then other times they are full-fledged musicals. But there's also all this gray area where the plot progresses and the music reflects the animation with good time and I wonder how it is done so precisely and how the music still flows without having abrupt and awkward moments.
Anyway, this is what I do for fun, obviously. I have to admit I am a total "classic" Disney fan, especially of the music, but also the movies, meaning I watched Beauty in the Beast with a gleam in my eye and love in my heart. I want an enchanted first-hand love story experience. I want my life to be full of this and the correspesonding music.
And another amazing thing about Beauty and the Beast is how the music is synched so masterfully with the animation. It really blows my mind to imagine the work involved in going from ideas, sketches and plot diagrams, to adding voice and timing and music. How is music so perfectly composed to fit the film? I wonder how much the film revolves around the music. Certainly some spots are not so music-focused, letting it simply fill the background; and then other times they are full-fledged musicals. But there's also all this gray area where the plot progresses and the music reflects the animation with good time and I wonder how it is done so precisely and how the music still flows without having abrupt and awkward moments.
Anyway, this is what I do for fun, obviously. I have to admit I am a total "classic" Disney fan, especially of the music, but also the movies, meaning I watched Beauty in the Beast with a gleam in my eye and love in my heart. I want an enchanted first-hand love story experience. I want my life to be full of this and the correspesonding music.