Life and money.

Thought I'd get a start on this mini-series on measuring a life. This first one is looking at this response: "Buy the money iv earnt in the last 11 years". No, I'm not planning to rage quit because of his English. :P I'm calling this the "Economic" view. Yes, they're all going to begin with E. :P

As many have said, money makes the world go round. You grow up, learning the skills you need to get a job, you get a job, you pay the bills, kaput. That's it, not anything more. Well, not quite, but that's the general idea.

In the economic view, more money is good. Not because money in itself is a good thing; I mean, sure, if you can show off a packet of $500 bills that would impress a few people, but that's not so much the point of money. More money is good because it buys more. More food, more car, more TV, more beer, more clothes, more shoes, ,more holiday, more house, and - if you're really rolling in it - maybe more boat, or more plane. More, more, more.

Now, more in itself isn't a bad thing. You may think that a bit surprising, coming from a Christian. I mean, aren't we supposed to be cutting back or something? "I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." Those were the words of Jesus. Not kinda or sorta have it. But really have it. And often the Bible talks about God wanting to really bless us with so much - "our cup runneth over" sort of thing.

The problem is more when the "more" is all that you want, rather than the God that gives you "more", or the situations in which "more" is abundant. That's where the "Economic" view falls down, in my opinion.

Next up, the Epicurean view. It might be Greek to you, but that's because...well...it's Greek. :P

Measuring a life's worth.

Recently, I put this post up on Facebook: "When you look back on your life, how do you measure its worth?" I got three replies. Here they are, exactly as written:


"Buy the money iv earnt in the last 11 years"
"You don't."
"In living faithfully to the Lord Jesus."


Each of these, obviously, represents a very different worldview. And I intend to respond to each of them in turn with subsequent posts, but firstly; a bit on measuring a life's worth, both historically and from my own head.


The idea is fairly old. The Ancient Egyptians thought that when you died, your soul/heart/actions in life would be weighed up against the feather of Ma'at - that being the Egyptian concept of truth, justice, etc etc, you get it. Apparently, as a random aside, it was an ostrich feather.


The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible (commonly thought to have been written by King Solomon) also goes a bit into this, mentioning that at the end of it all, people really only want to create some sort of legacy for themselves, something that lives on after them. I believe it also mentions that it is next to impossible, and most things you do are meaningless. Just once or twice.


And in this day and age, many people strive to get more out of their lives - they don't want to get to the end and have all their achievements just be a portfolio. People, places, events experienced and shared - this is what people are going towards now. But more than that, I reckon it's one word off that Tears for Fears song.  I reckon everybody wants to change the world. It's just what they want to change it to - or how much they want to change - that really defines them, I suppose. And I'm certainly no exception. And I'll add my two cents at the end of this mini-series of posts. I may add a couple more, if I get some more comments either here or on FB. But that's it for now.

Peace and goodwill?

This Christmas, we had an extra family come to share with us, who had been staying with my cousins. Two daughters and a son. This is where I should probably give you a very quick background on a couple of characters before launching into my story.

My cousin is very, very different to me. Just straight up. He's got a very mathematical manner to him (he does economics :P) and though I've got that too, mine's balanced out by the more "feely" side from my mum. He also likes to be very...independent. I'm being slightly picky with my word choice here as there's every chance he'll read this at some point in the future. Basically, though - yeah, independent. Sticks to his own way of doing things. I'm a bit like that too, but...well, you'll see.

My aunt (my cousin's mum) is where he gets the numbers from. They're quite similar, in a lot of ways. But she's the mum. Which can lead to a bit of friction, as I'll describe momentarily...

OK. Background out. So, essentially, this is what happened; the son of the family that came to stay with us got my cousin a bit riled, so he was already in a bad mood. The other son's attitude got my aunt a bit annoyed as well. A fraction too much friction, and, sparks flew. That's what tends to happen. Shout, shout, storm off. And my cousin going, but, it was all fine? I don't get why we can't just do it this way.. [his way]. He then decided to go out for a golf on the oval (5 minutes walk). He managed to get out without anybody seeing. Trouble was, he was rostered on for lunch (yes, we have a roster while we're here) and so my aunt got more annoyed. WHERE IS HE?! She was not happy. Very not happy. She went to take a walk with her dog to try and calm down a bit. Meanwhile, we'd decided that I'd just swap around with Tim (I was on for dinner) for now, because stuff had to get done. When she got back, she wouldn't have a bar of it. "No! Not on your life! If he's going to do that, he can just not come to the next Christmas or Easter or whatever it is, as far as I'm concerned!" She was then asking what his punishment was going to be. The scene, unfortunately, reminded me somewhat of Argus Filch after finding Harry Potter next to the petrified Mrs Norris. "I want to see some punishment!" It was decided that he would do all the work after lunch. Packing up, washing up, drying up, etc.

So much for grace.

She did eventually calm down, and it's all good now. I think it did end up getting shared around  little. But...yeah.

Let's all say together...like robots...

Something I've noticed, being a bit of a church-goer. Every now and then the preacher or person up the front will ask the congregation to read something out loud together. It happens at a few other occasions as well every now and again. And, inevitably, the result is a monotone. Robot voice ftw. So much for we are all individual, different parts of the one body and such. You can say things together while maintaining your own inflection, you know. It is actually possible.

In other news, I've written my first Christmas song. It starts off as Jingle Bells and spins off into something else. I still need to check to make sure it's not the same as something else I did, because the chords seem similar. But think it's pretty good, liking. Hope everyone else is having a good Christmas too.

My kind of Christmas.

Christmas. A time for snow, or a time for sun, depending on which side of the world you're in. The classic "white" Christmas, or the Aussie summer Christmas. Just wanted to have a bit of a look at two other sorts of Christmas, in a more symbolic kind of sense.

On the one hand, we have consumerism rampant. Oh, so much consumerism. Christmas blasted at you everywhere, shops, streets, TV, radio, cars, friends....the list continues. The "perfect" Christmas is showcased regularly, ala Away In A Manger. 10 points if you can tell me what's not quite right with it. And churches struggle madly against it all, attempting to get Jesus to win over Santa.

On the other hand, we have a time of fellowship, of unity, of coming together. Sharing with each other, friends and family, and just having a good time. Promoting kindness, joy, and peace.

And the latter one isn't restricted to Christians. Heck no. That'd just spoil it. Everyone should be free to have a good time on Christmas - to just relax a bit, not worry so much about the cares of the world.

As such, I'm going to take a leaf out of a friend's book and do a song for today. It's called "White Wine In The Sun", by Tim Minchin, and I think, personally, that it represents the latter situation I've described. Just look it up on Youtube or something. Tis good.

Anyway.

Merry Christmas. :)

Choral Carol Coral....Carl?

That was just me being silly with the words. Anyway.

Carols seem to be a very persistent - and repetitive - part of Christmas. Even if you don't watch the ones in the Domain, there will probably be ones at church if you go there, or playing in the shops, or sung in the streets.

Often, these carols have been sung a fair few times. Just once or twice, y'know. It's cool. And you tend to have a million and one remakes of them, that may be more or less worthy of the term "remake", as the case may be. Most of them fairly meh-worthy, ala TWBMJs recent review of Michael Buble's Christmas.

But what's the point of the carols? Most of them seem to be very repetitive musically, and often telling a story of some description. (Though that can be a trend with music in general, it's even more so in this case.) And many people that I know (mostly of my generation) don't have much of a fondness for the carolling.

So why do we still do them, if they're repetitive, and starting to be not-so-loved by this newer generation emerging, more apathetic to the old customs? Must new carols be made, or will carolling just fade away?

Personally, I think both will occur in part. But I think that we'll still be hearing Away In A Manger and I Saw My Mum Kissing Santa Claus right next to each other in a hundred years' time.

Breakin' it down.

There's a bit of a saying: if something's hard, break it down into smaller, manageable pieces. One step at a time sort of thing, doing it bit by bit. Makes sense. Logical. And that kind of thing.

It's like if you go to climb Mt Everest. You can't do it all at once. You go to base camp, then camp 1. Back to base camp, camp 1, camp 2, camp 1, base camp. Etc etc. It's a very long process, that takes a couple of months (I think) to do properly. And if you don't your body doesn't cope.

Though it is always important to keep the big picture in mind as well. Otherwise, though you may do a task well, it may not fit in with the overarching scheme of things. So it's good to be able to both focus in on the details and see the bigger picture.

This can also help a lot if you have no idea how to do something - just breaking it down into its smaller parts. And keep breaking it down, breakin it down - until it's at the simplest level it can be, pretty much. And then, not a problem.

Honesty + Hope(lessness)

I did my green Ps driving test today. It's a Hazard Perception Test - a sort of touchscreen computer thingy that you have to react to at the right times and such.
I didn't pass. But there was really only one that I got wrong. Others I could've done better, but I think would've been alright if I hadn't done this one. It was on turning right, so you just had to tap it when you would turn. At the lights, rainy afternoon. Completely overcast, wipers on full. A truck wanting to turn right from the other direction is partially blocking the view of oncoming traffic, but you can sort of see it before it disappears behind the truck.

I saw one car coming up, so I waited for that one and then touched the screen. A second afterwards, a motorbike whizzed on through. Now, the test does this recognition thing. It asks you whether you touched the screen or not. So I could've just said that I didn't touch the screen. But if I had been caught, I would've been fined and had to wait for a while before I can retake the test. I was honest. Not so much because of that - I more thought of that afterwards - but just because I wanted to be honest. I'm trying to be more so. It's hard. But good.

On another note, completely unrelated apart from the fact that it also happened today. Was looking at a piece - specifically, Prelude No. 6 in B minor by Chopin - with my piano teacher. And we were trying to figure out the emotion of it, as such. And we quickly realised that it was a very frightening piece, in a sense. Extreme melancholia. Because every time you had this little major figure - it was snuffed out. Quick. A quite slow, soft piece. But very mournful. And by the end, it's basically mocking. It's almost comical - in a black humour kind of way - with how much it is dreary and without hope.

Boy, am I glad it's not like that.

Yes! But, no...

OK. This is going to be a long post. Just giving you a heads-up.

Tim Minchin (comedian, songwriter, and pianist extraordinaire, for those of you unfamiliar) recently put up these series of posts via Twitter:

'Yay! The PM wants a return to Christian values! Canaanites, sodomites & sluts watch out... I'm dusting off my stoning stones.' 

'Oh, so the Old Testament is not Christian? Perhaps those books just come together as a pre-christmas 2-1 offer...' 

'Or... 'Christian values' means nothing, cos Christians choose which bits of the bible to ignore. Thus they are not God's, but OUR values.' 

'the 10 commandments aren't Christian?' 

'RT @rhysmorgan Jesus said "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law... I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." ' 

'Twitter dictates I follow up flippant comments with less flippant clarification. Then peeps don't like my "preaching". Ah well. All fun.' 

'So, I shall preach more. David Cameron appealing for Christian values is noxious because: (several tweets to come. Forgive me.)' 

'1. They don't exist. Religious folk (generally) have modern values which they reverse engineer to suit the bits of the bible that match.' 

'2. It implies that all other value systems & religions generate less good moral values. This is demonstrably untrue and basically racist.' 

'3. A supernatural source of morality implies that we would all rape, murder & steal were it not for a punishing God. This idea upsets me.' 

'4. It fails to recognise that morality is an ongoing discussion. Human values change & improve with time & are nuanced, not simplistic.' 

'5. If you believe a probably fictional 2000-yr-dead bronze-aged preacher was magic & morally perfect you shouldn't be running a country.' 

'I could go on and on (!), but I'll leave y'all alone for now. My boy has a trouser full of his own faeces. Love, peace, all that.' 

'Oh, one more thing. I gather that I'm not taking into account all Cameron said. I hate stuff taken out of context so I apologise for that...' 

'... But any appeal to Christian values in modern politics is incredibly stupid, in my opinion.'

My first reaction to this was Yes! But no... I tend to get that a lot, when hearing atheists - or just non-Christians - talk about Christians. They'll get some things right (often, more than some Christians will admit), but it can often seem like the Christians they know are living in yesterday's age. I should probably point out here; not trying to shame Mr Minchin at all here. A lot of Christians do live in yesterday's age. As always, there's a reason for the cliche. But we'd appreciate not being all heaped into the one basket.

I could do a blow-by-blow run through and critique of the above statements. But that won't achieve anything. I've found that debates and such very rarely do. Because people - on both sides - are more than often convinced that they're right, and won't yield an inch.

What I will do, however, is just put up a couple of quick points about us Christians and what we believe, that isn't so much the cliche.

1. Non-Christians can be just as moral as Christians. I know some that are more so. Saying that they "can't be moral" just because they don't believe in God is just silly. 

2. The words of the Bible are not the be all and end all. God is. The Bible is God's Word, yes. And should be respected as such. But here are some words from it: “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?” Luke Chapter 12, verse 57. There are some things that go deeper than just the words of the Bible; the values represented in it. Those of love, and compassion, among others. They've been unfortunately absent from many people's experience of Christianity, many a time. But these values are why we don't have slavery, why women are now treated as equals, and why many are so divided on the point of homosexuals, among many others. 

3. We're all different. I know that there are a fair few Christians out there - probably many that I know - that would disagree vehemently with some of the points I've made. So please, before you say "All Christians are..." think a moment.

This isn't an argument, and I hope you don't see it that way. This is just an attempt to bridge the gap a bit between what we are, and what people think we are.

"Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth."

Little Language Habits + Christmas.

I've picked up a few bits of language from various people here and there. Some of them are more sayings, some more ways of saying things. For example, I've picked up "I'm OK with this. *grin*" from one friend. Slipping a bit of German in and "Annoyink" from another. And from another, speaking in a weird roundabout way the entire, along with menergy. :P Don't use it that much, don't worry.

But I find it interesting how I'll adopt some of these habits into my own speech - and not just when I'm with them (though it's certainly more frequent on that occasion). It does seem quite strange, but there you go.


On another note, Christmas is nearly here. A week and a day, my goodness... and still so much Christmas shopping to do. With the absence of money that I have. :P

People often mention that Christmas seems to "sneak up" on them. I think part of the reason for that may be because the shops get us into holiday mode so early. They start doing it in November, for goodness sake. Funnily enough, I saw a bus with tinsel and a Christmas hatted driver the other week. You do wonder how extensive these decorations and things are going to get...

Waiting, waiting...

I've always been a fairly patient person. I'll tend to wait until someone else has finished a conversation before trying to speak. Even if my parents are trying to hurry out the door. :P But that doesn't mean that I find it particularly fun. I'm just a bit better at occupying my mind in the meantime, I guess.

But one thing that is annoying is when you've been waiting for something for a fair while. A couple of months. And you've kind of let yourself forget about it a bit, so you don't get too worked up. But then you check the day, and it's tomorrow. You get all excited. Tomorrow comes. You get a little email. It's from them. You open it up...and it says "Thank you for your patience. Due to unforseen circumstances it's going to take a little longer. We know we said it would happen today, but oh well." :P Tis annoyink.

And so now, the waiting game once more. Thumb twiddling, anyone?

When things just... work.

There was a car ad out at one point that featured what's called a Rube Goldberg. Basically, a set of chain reactions set up in an overly complicated manner to achieve a comparatively simple task. And the tag line was, "Isn't it nice when things just... work?" Partly because it took them so many tries to get it right.

And sometimes you get some moments when things just seem to work out for you. Just every now and then. At the moment, for me, that's not really one of those times. Though neither is it one of the times when things are failing tragically. It's more like a time between times, when not a lot is happening. And, of course, hoping that the next lot of times will be a winstreak and not a failstreak. Because winstreaks are cool and epicsome and stuff. But that's something that time will tell.

But if you're having more of a failstreak at the moment, or if you're feeling like you're forever doing no streaks at all, then don't fret too much about it. Things don't always stay the same, one day they'll change. Sometimes it can help to get a bit proactive, as well. I tend to fail the epic at that, and so just wait for different times to roll around. But tis cool.

Promises.

Promises are one of the harder things to keep; up there with a butterfly in your hand, an ice cube on a hot day, and your sanity. EEEAAGGGHHH! Kidding.

But they are something that we seem to make a lot of. And break a lot of. And consequently, promises don't seem to be worth as much. Some people go the route of never making promises. Other people say to never make a promise you can't keep. The problem is, of course, that there are many promises that you can keep that you won't. It's a thorny problem.

I've fallen down on my fair share of promises in my lifetime. Quite a lot of them. Partly because I regard me saying I'll do X as a promise in itself. But I haven't got a fantastic track record, you could say. So I do the best I can to keep them. Because trust - as I believe I've mentioned in one of these posts around here somewhere - is very important to me. And you're not going to gain any by breaking promises. Even if you happen to be good at saying sorry. That might just gain you a bit of goodwill, but not trust. That's going to require a bit more work.

And don't be too hard on yourself if you can't keep all of your promises all the time. You're human. We tend to stuff things up a fair bit.

Killing yourself.

Not literally, before anyone wonders if I've become suicidal.

Saw a movie last night called The Prestige. Don't know if anyone's seen/heard of it. Basically, it's about a couple of magicians who aren't too happy with each other, in the time of Edison. There's one bit that's a bit strange - one of the magicians goes to Tesla (Edison's opponent, who favours AC current) to make a machine for him, for a specific trick called "The Transported Man". Sounds like it is. Flash, bang, magician goes from A to B in an instant. Except this machine didn't do that; it actually replicated what was at A, and placed it at B. So you had object X at both A and B, identical. And so, of course, when magician stepped into it, there were two magicians. So he shot himself. And when he did the trick onstage, he actually had a trapdoor under point A going into a locked water tank, to drown the extra one. Killing himself each time he did the trick.

My question is this: how much do you have to change, before you are no longer you? Or are you always you? The magician was replicated perfectly each time; but each time, it was the copy that lived on. And so by the end, you had a copy of a copy of a copy..........of a copy, etc, etc. So was that person you ended up with really the same one you had at the beginning?

There's a test called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI. It's one of the more well-known and -used ones around. It works pretty simply; there are four axis's, each of which has two opposites. So you're either closer to one or the other. They are Introversion - Extraversion, Intuition - Sensing, Feeling - Thinking, and Judging - Perceiving. And I haven't randomly bolded the n rather than the I in Intuition - they thought we can't have two Is in a row, so just do that instead. :P Basically, whichever you're closer to, you get that letter. So if you get Extraversion, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging, you'd be an ESFJ.

Now, I've done this test a fair bit, but recently, I hadn't done it for a while. And I'd always gotten very Introverted, very Intuition, split right down the middle on Thinking/Feeling, and very Perceiving. I did it just the other day, and I got some different results. I got reasonably Introverted, still very Intuition, very Feeling, and only just Perceiving. And then when I did the multiple intelligences test, Intrapersonal - which has always been my very top - is now at number 5! Interpersonal is still the last, but it's getting a lot better.

And it made me wonder. Is this still me? Or am I someone else now? Would the me of a few years ago recognise this one? Have I even managed to kill myself, like the magician? It's a difficult question, and I probably won't figure out the question today. Whatever it is, though, I'm glad I've changed, even if it's just a bit.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

A poem I've done, based off the song. But in a more modern, honest style.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
Take a walk through the Woolies shop
Carols jingling as you bop
With plastic canes, look at the reindeer go

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Santas in every store
But the strangest sight to see
People not younger than me
Asking him for more

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Though it's only November
They always like to get in quick
So it gets a chance to stick
So all the sales you'll remember

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will toll
Nativity round every bend
It's becoming quite a trend
Dulling your mind to steal your soul

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
It's that time again
One more Carols by Candlelight
Maybe your brain will last the night
And then you've reached the end...

Just kidding! Now it IS Christmas!

CC.

This be-eth mine two hundredth posting on this here blog, aye. Hence the Roman numbers, not acronym.

A fair bit's happened in that time. I've actually been doing it for a week and a year now. 372 days, 200 posts. Not bad. I've been pretty lazy at times with the posting, and I still haven't gotten around to getting those last A to Zs up on YouTube. It will happen, it will happen...

And hopefully, since I have nothing else to do this holidays, I'll be able to really get this up and going. That is, if sloth doesn't overtake me. For a very slow animal, it seems to do a good job of overtaking you. I guess the thing is that I let it. :P

Narratives from NTE.

Continuing on from yesterday, writing about the conference today.

The main focus of it was about being "In Christ", and what that meant. It was a phrase used a fair bit by Paul to describe his fellow Christians, and it pops up reasonably frequently.

The basic explanation of it was this: imagine you went to go to Melbourne on a plane. You get to the airport, you can see the terminal from the airport. Now, would it help your goal to get to Melbourne if you decide to submit yourself to the plane, and put yourself under the plane's authority? Would it perhaps help if you become inspired by the plane, looking out of the terminal and thinking, "If only." Or would it help to follow the plane - to see which direction it goes, and start walking in that general direction?

Not particularly. No, you get in the plane. That's what helps. And then, the question of "Did you get to Melbourne?" is actually part of the larger question of "Did the plane get to Melbourne?" If you are inside the plane, the answer to both is going to be the same. It's the same for us as we're in Christ.

Also, a bit of an extension of the metaphor; imagine now that there are two people boarding the plane. One has done it a million times before for business, doesn't think anything of it, probably pops in a sleeping pill and wakes up when they get there. The other has never been in a plane before, and was given this as a holiday by their children. They've been looking it up on Wikipedia and Encylopaedia Britannica beforehand, making sure that these things actually stay up. And when they're on the plane, they're constantly asking the hostesses to make sure that everything's OK.

Which gets to Melbourne? The question is redundant. As long as the plane got to Melbourne, both of them did. It didn't matter that one had complete faith and one had barely any; what mattered was that they were in the plane. And that's the same with us, for being in Christ.

After that particular talk, by the way, I came up with a couple of things: firstly, "Christian person" is, fittingly, an anagram of "A person in Christ". Also, see if you can get this related word puzzle: ADNOTAM - CHRIBUTST. If no luck, try this: ADNOTAM - CHRIBUTST. It means "Not in Adam, but in Christ."

So yeah, the conference was good. Had some interesting discussions, met some interesting people. Twas good.

Why you trollin' me?

If you're not familiar with the concept of "trolling", look it up. The internet one. Basically, I reckon God's done it a fair bit to me. In a good way. Akin to God's speech to Job in Job 37. Basically saying, can you do this? Can you do this? Can you do this? No. Because you're not God. I'm God.

He's done something pretty similar with me a fair few times. I'll look for something everywhere, and then I give up, and it's suddenly right in front of me. It's like he's saying, "You could've just asked..." Anyway.

Recently, I missed an exam. My final exam for a unit. It was worth 60%. Thought it was a different day. Was under the impression that I'd have to do summer school or repeat the unit. Then I got this message today:

Dear Brendan,

I am aware that you had emailed Melissa relating to the process you needed to follow and unfortunately that email was missed with it being such a busy time for us.

Due to this I am prepared to offer you a deferred exam for the unit Psychology: Behavioural Science. I will get back to you this week with a specific date and time but can let you know that all deferred exams for Psychology will be held on the 19^th, 20^th & 21^st December.

Kind Regards

Danielle

So there you go. That was my big, "God, why you trollin' me?" moment for today. And yes. I'm very happy. :D

Liking.

Thought I'd do a quick post reflecting on my recent Songwriting A to Z (plus 0-3) and see how many of them I'd actually use, or which I actually like.

Here's them all (in reverse order):

The Third Zone.
Two To Tango
1:1
01101101 01100101
Zoolibye Zay.
You Never Know.
Xanadu.
The Way It Goes.
Verily, Verily I Say Unto You.
Under Oath
To Whom It Does Concern.
See It Through.
The Right Rite of Rightie Wrights.
Quickslow.
Past.
One of the Above.
Not Today.
Meet Me Here.
Long Live The Dead
Kill Me Now
Just Another Day.
Instant.
Half-Life
Go For It!
Falling/Flying
Everything Else.
Death-defying
Come In.
Be Heard!
Abacus of Doom

I would play A, C, D, maybe E, G, J, M, N, O, P, Q, maybe R, T, W, Z, 1, 3.

The ones I really like are probably most of those minus a couple of the funny ones. I probably still like Quickslow the most.

Messages from mission.

Continuing along the line of "Stories from the Stump".

I've been away from last Sunday (my birthday) until this Sunday (my mum/brother's birthday) on mission from Sunday to Friday, conference from Friday night to Sunday. The conference is basically heaps of uni students coming from all over Australia to meet up and learn and stuff. The mission is just with your uni group. In a word, it was epic. Thought this might be a bit long for one post, so one post each for conference and mission.

We went out to Nowra for the mission. Working mainly in the schools there. About 20 of us, three high school teams and one primary school/other team. We all stayed with various families from the churches there; most of us with ones from Nowra All Saints, a couple from Nowra Baptist, and a couple from Nowra Church of Christ, always at least in pairs. I got a family from Nowra Church of Christ, and they were amazing. The Dad's a muso, there was a piano in the room we were sleeping in, and they had a massive bookcase. It was a great house, and a great family. Didn't like leaving.

Anyway, I was on high school team #2. Was at Bomaderry High Monday, Shoalhaven High Tuesday/Wednesday, and Nowra High Thursday. In short; Bomaderry's teacher was crazy-scientist type but cool, and the kids were mainly just "whatever"; Shoalhaven's teacher had a bit of a harder time, but the kids were slightly less "whatever"; Nowra's teacher didn't relate to as much, but the kids were a bit more interested.

Couple of quick stories. Firstly, heard a testimony from a guy in year 10 at Bomaderry. And the guy seemed quite similar to what I was like back then. And so was his testimony, in some ways; but more like what mine could've been, if a few things had changed. Struck me a bit. Then, I met this guy at a sort of service + dinner for the "down and out" of Nowra. Blind, but saw with the eyes of God. That's how I'd put it. A man of prayer, and related so well to everyone. He was just an amazing guy, inspiring. Then a couple of guys at Nowra school were really interesting; one asked me, "When people say that God 'revealed' himself to them, what do they mean?" Told him to just ask God to show himself, it's as simple as that. Hopefully he does, and He does. Then another student was very adamant that there was no God. So the teacher said: "So you think that if you read this gospel (think it was Luke) and pray every day for three weeks, nothing will happen?" "Course not!" "Challenge you." "It's on." Love it.

That's about it for mission, I think. Got to do my testimony a couple of times, lead the sessions we did once or twice, was good. Might put my testimony up here at some point. Post for conference probably up at some point tomorrow.

All Good Things...

A quick update, quick because of the time I'm doing this at.

I've been away for this past week on a mission trip over in Nowra. Was good :) I get back Sunday arvo after a short conference as well. I've been staying with a family from the Church of Christ here, and they have been amazing. They're a really great family. (And I'm not just saying that because they have a piano and their Dad is a muso.) And I'm going to miss them a lot - the last time I see them will be tomorrow morning. Sad face.

It's been fun. But, as they say...

Endings and stuff.

Existence.

Thought that today was probably a good day to be contemplating my existence, since today was when I came into it.

Unlike some people, I'm glad for my existence. That may seem like a strange thing to say. I mean, that may seem like an obvious comment to some of you. To others of you, you may be thinking that obviously I haven't had a bad enough time of it to wish I hadn't been born.

I'd say that my reason that I'm grateful that I exist - that I am - is different to many. I'm grateful that I exist, because, hopefully, some other people out there are too. If you're wondering whether I mean that they are grateful for my existence or their existence, yes. ;) That is, the manner in which it is said is mainly mindful of the first, but the second is definitely good too.

I suppose you could say that how I've helped other people and what I mean to them is very important to me. Maybe that's not a great way to live - by what others think of you - but I think it can be just as bad to ignore it all. Best to try and find a hapy medium, as usual. I think I've got that, myself. (I know, just boasting that I've got it right, and everyone else has it wrong, totally. :P Not.) I don't let everything in. Some may very well be under the impression I barely let anything in. I am fairly thick-skinned, but I certainly let a fair bit through. More than most would guess, I wager.

Fail...

Yeah. You might have noticed I've been lagging significantly with the rest of the 0 - 10. That's because I decided to kinda can it, and just stick with the 0 - 3 that I've got. I know, annoying. :P There's a lot of things I've meant to do that didn't really work out. Vlogging was another one. I also was trying to go for a run each morning, that didn't work out. Hopefully, though, can get that back up after I get back. (Going away from tomorrow morning until next Sunday arvo; will probably post about it when I get back.)

And I've seen a lot of other people's plans go down the hole as well. At church, I've seen three different youth-type things start and then kind of fizzle off...
The first one had some pretty big ideas happening. We repainted a whole room for us, were planning to go in the Sydney City2Surf (or one of those big running things), help out in the community, etc etc. Then the person that was kind of head of that group left.
So another group started up, which was even more epicness. We had a camp, an organised structure, and a second camp in the pipelines. The guy that organised that came down with some major health issues. Still being sorted out.
The third one never really left the formative stage, and only existed for a few weeks. Unless I've missed the 8-ball and they've been meeting without me. Possible, but unlikely. Not so much because I'm massively important and they'd never do it without me - more that one of them probably would have let me know.

So yeah. I've seen my fair share of things that have started and gone kaput. I think it can be a tendency of people to have big plans, and often, too many plans. Because there's nothing wrong with big plans; they're great. It's when you also want to do this, and that, and the other as well, that things tend to get a little difficult.

Discrepancies re-reprise.

Today, I performed that song that I admittedly ranted about a little earlier. You know, that one that I said was a mismatch, because it was an angry sort of song, and I'm really not an angry sort of person?

To say it went very well would be an understatement.

It went ridiculously, astronomically well. I loved it. The band was amazing, the crowd loved it, I was moving around and stuff, it was great :D I was really, really happy with how me and the rest of the guys played, my voice didn't play up (which I was worried about, because it doesn't like sitting up on that F), and I managed to hold the long note at the end for as long as I wanted to.

Why the change of heart? Well, it's fairly simple - before, I was focussing on the negative aspects I saw in the song. Anger. Difference. Now, I focus more on the positive - I changed the emphasis a bit, made it so it was more making fun of itself, having a bit of a laugh. Saying something more along the lines of, "Yeah, this is me. Can you deal with that?" rather than "This is me, and I don't %$#^in care what you think."

So yeah, I enjoyed myself a lot. :D Did someone say encore? XD

For those who do know me a bit and saw me today, and are thinking "What the...what the what? WHA? Huh?" Etc ad nauseam, yes, that was me. Why, then, am I more shy and such a lot of the time? Think I've got a few dozen posts on that amidst the clutter in this blog...suffice it to say, I love doing what I did today. Just give me an opportunity, and I'm gunning for it. Problem is, of course, that frequently you have to create your own ones....that's where I'm not so fantastic. So, yeah, that's me.

Two quick sides: firstly, thought of possibly doing my own sort of "I Am" song. Very different style, OK, perhaps a bit more laid-back. We'll see how that goes.
And for those who are more regularly looking at this blog and are wondering where yesterday and today's songs are in the series - I've got the ideas, I just need to get them down. If you don't believe me, they're "Four Squared" and "Fiver".

The Third Zone.

A bit of a reference to the place we were lasertagging it up at last night, Zone 3. See it as a bit of an electronic/techno piece.


The Third Zone

/ Am / C / G / F /

V1:
I go there every Thursday night,
It's never bright
They turn those lights down low
And the music's always pumpin
Lotsa dancin and jumpin
To the best of thumpin on the radio

Chorus:
The third zone
We're gonna light it up,
Gonna break it down
Spin it around
The third zone
We're gonna run like we're tryin
Breathe like we're dyin
Forget like we're cryin
At the third zone

V1

Chorus

Instrumental

Chorus x2

Working out.

I've found in a couple of instances in my life, that things seem to just work out, and I didn't need to worry so much about it.

For example, with my birthday party that I've just had tonight. Which was good :D There were two things I was worried about; numbers, and money.

If we had less than ten people, the price went up a bit. Not a lot, fair enough, but a bit. Though that was a bit silly anyway - because having another person still would've been more expensive. Actually, having 9 people or 10 people would have cost exactly the same amount. But there you go. I had originally invited 15 people. I expected that three wouldn't be able to come. I got word shortly afterward that another two couldn't. Then another two couldn't. Then another two couldn't. That brought it down to six. I panicked; I invited two extra people, and said that people could bring plus ones if they wanted. At the beginning of today, I still had only eight coming. So I asked my sister if she and her boyfriend would like to come. She said she'd love to, but he was out on schoolies as of a couple of days ago. However, she said she'd send a text past another friend. This afternoon, I hear that two people who weren't coming are, bumping it up to eleven already. Then Rosie's friend calls back and says he'd love to come. And another guy that was coming said he was bringing someone along as well, so we ended up with thirteen. So numbers weren't a problem.

I was worried about money because I'd just had to pay for a conference I was going on, and I had a few other things coming up that money would be needed for. I had asked people to just bring along $20 or something and not worry about a present and such, but wasn't sure who would've gotten the message. So I didn't know whether I would have enough to pay for everyone + dinner + stuff. Then I remembered I still hadn't collected my final pay from catalogue distribution. Thought it wouldn't be much, but worth a look. Turned out to be more than I thought, was very helpful indeed. And half the people did bring money; one gave me more than he needed to. Yes, he did realise how much he gave me. He works at the Tax Office, so he's not going to make that mistake. Don't worry, he jokes about his job too. So money turned out to not be an issue either.

So, to me, that's something to thank God for :)

Two To Tango

Ideally, this one is sung by two different people for V1 + 2, joining in final chorus, bridge sung alternately. You get the idea.

Two To Tango

V1: / Am // F //
I know that there's more than this
But I don't know where to find it
Don't want it to be just hit and miss
Want it to be a choice, a battle of the mind, but it

Chorus: / G / Am / F //
Takes two to tango
I can't do this alone
I need an extra pair of hands
So I can't be overthrown
Yeah, it takes two to dance
To this strange melody
Make this harmony

V2:
Why can I not make this work?
It shouldn't be this hard
I tend to miss, in life, the perks
The things that I hold in most regard, but it

Chorus

Bridge: / Am // F //
Maybe we could help each other
I'm sure we could work something out
With the help of one another
I have no doubt

Chorus

Starting yesterday.

I've realised recently that there are a lot of things in various areas of my life that I don't particularly like. And up til now, generally speaking, I haven't done a lot about them. Maybe had a half-attempt.

That's going to change.

And, taking a leaf out of a good friend's book, I'm going to start yesterday. Not tomorrow, because tomorrow never comes. And not today, because it goes faster than you know. Yesterday.

I'm going to be making a fair few changes. Some more practical, or physical; some more mental, emotional or spiritual. I know I'm going to trip up along the way. A heck of a lot. But hey, I've got my friends to help me out. I've got God to help me out. I'll keep going. And one day, maybe, I'll be able to look back and be happy with how far I've come. And people will notice a difference.

1:1

Thought this might be an interesting one to write. Think duel. Think Western.


1:1


V1: / Dm / G / Dm / C / Dm / G / Dm / C / Bb / C /
You can stare me down all you like, but you won't get anywhere
Your hand hovers at your hip, but my hand will be first there
You circle to the right, trying to distract me
But I just smile
It's not me who's going to be dead tonight

Chorus: / Dm C / G Bb /
It's just me, and you
Nowhere to run
Nothing you can do
Two men, two bullets, two guns
One on one

V2:
You can stare me down all you like, but you won't get anywhere
Your mind searches for a rebuttal, but mine will be first there
You throw up excuses, trying to distract me
But I just smile
It's not me who's going to lose this fight

Chorus 2:
....... Two men, two sides, one won
One one one

Bridge: / Dm / Bb / Dm / C /
Not all grudges are solved with guns
Not all arguments with words
Sometimes silence is the best path
Before something comes undone

Chorus 3: (x2)
And it's just you, and me
Double or nothing, all or none
What are you going to do
Two men, one choice, just one

It's one on one

01101101 01100101

If you didn't guess, this one is about binary. So there's a lot of zeroes and ones happening. And it's quite possible I'll get some of it wrong in the video. This is the right version, hence.


01101101 01100101


V1: Riff: Eb D Db C
This world has a lot of information
Buzzing through its cyberbrains
So many different words and symbols
That we create
And we try to get it down
To something our computers understand
So we hit upon this
Our master plan

Chorus: / C // F C / G /
01101101, 01100101, 01101001 01101110
01100010 01101001, 01101110 01100001, 01110010 01111001

V2:
Now the cyberworld is constructed
Entirely of zeroes and ones
If someone attempts to peruse it
They don't have a lot of fun
Thank goodness
That they know how to turn it back
Or else, though they got it,
Understanding we would certainly lack
It's just

Chorus:
Me, in binary x4

Instrumental (verse chords)

Zoolibye Zay.

This is just a nonsense one, to finish off with. Though will probably do 0 - 10 directly after this. All (mostly made-up) words starting with z.


Zoolibye Zay


/ C / Ab / Bb / F /


V1:
Zing zap
Zip zop
Zibbidy zoo
Zib zib za

Chorus:
Zoolibye zay
Zoolibye zah
Zoolibye zoh
Zoolibye zoo

V2:
Zecka zecka zing
Zacka zockie zoo
Zang zing zay
Zub zeb zob

Chorus


Bridge:
Zikkity zakkity
Zekketa zokketo
Zakka zakka zakka zakka
Zah

Chorus x2

Secrets and stuff.

I think everyone has secrets. Maybe not babies, I don't know. Never asked them.

And I think everyone's pretty good at keeping them, when they really want to.

As such, I have a bit of a theory: people only really have a few secrets that they'll actually put in a fair bit of effort into covering up and such. Most other things that people don't know about will be more along the lines of, "Don't ask, don't tell."

As an example, I've only got two real secrets. No, I'm not going to tell you what they are. This is why they are called "secrets". I tend to go by the old maxim that the best secrets are those known only to one person, even if it is a bit incorrect. I reckon a dead person would be even better at keeping a secret, and no persons even more so. But that's just what I think.

Both of those, however, I'd be willing to share with a few people at the right time. I don't think it's good to keep secrets from everybody. Some people have that as their job, unfortunately. I'm very glad that isn't me.

You Never Know.

A song about how things often have a bit of a twist in the tail. Uses two of perhaps the most well known Aussie sporting stories.


You Never Know

/ D5 // Bb5 //

V1:
It's a race, you know you want to win
Go for gold, but you're at the back
Then suddenly the skaters are in a spin
You slide on through, complete the track

Chorus:
You never know, what's around the next corner
What may be waiting for you down the line
You never know, but Little Jack Horner
Could just find a plum in his pie

V2:
You're on the bat, here comes the ball
Going to hit it out to the stands
But then it comes and takes it all
It's completely out of your hands

Chorus

Bridge:
You never know when something's gonna come in from left field
You never know when people are gonna fall down before your feet

Chorus x2

Xanadu.

This one will be an instrumental improv one as well. Sorry it wasn't up yesterday, hectic day. I don't know when I'll get around to some of these vids....hopefully soon. But for this one, think bush. Outback. Desert. That's the sort of image I'm going for. Ala Kakadu by Peter Sculthorpe, if anyone knows it; unfortunately I couldn't find audio anywhere.

The Way It Goes.

This one really should've been for J, and called "Just The Way It Goes". But this will work too. Actually based loosely off my memory of an impromptu poem I did on a friend's livestream once. Though that one was about toes. This one has no toes in it, I'm afraid. Sorry to disappoint. The first verse is whatever, and then I'm basically going through the rhymes alphabetically. Off the top of my head.

The Way It Goes

/ F / C   C#dim / Dm / C /


V1:
Whether it hails or it snows
If it rains or it blows
If it both tos and fros
Through all the highs and the lows

Chorus:
That's just the way it goes

V2:
For both the eagles and the crows
The bucks and the does
It ebbs and it flows
The grass it still grows

Chorus

V3:
If you're wearing pantyhose
When it's right in front of your nose
If you're always writing in prose
Trying to stick to those status quos

Chorus

V4:
If you're always standing in rows
Prefer a sunflower to a rose
Like these better than those
Or like standing on your hands more than your toes

Final Chorus:
That's just the way it goes
The way it goes
The way it goes
Just the way it goes


OK, I lied. There were toes. :P Hopefully should be having some vids/chords happening soonish.

Verily, Verily I Say Unto You.

This is one based on that catchphrase of Jesus: "I tell you the truth". Or, as it was written in older versions, "Verily, verily, I say unto you."


Verily, Verily I Say Unto You


All hanging on C5


V1:
I am the way, the truth and the life
There is no other way to heaven, except through me
He who believes my word will live
And forever be free

Chorus:
I tell you the truth
Because I am
The truth
Only the truth
Because I Am

V1 + Chorus

Bridge: (rpt rpt rpt)
I Am
Truth

Chorus

Fairly simple, but that's the idea. Sorry for late post. Did have idea and half-written yesterday, in my defense.

After This.

I realised when I did today's song that today is U. Which means I'm getting very close to the end of the alphabet...I'm thinking about maybe doing 0-10 straight after this one, could work nicely. Otherwise, this series finishes next Monday, presuming I do one each day.

But I thought, after I've gotten this one finished, I could start some of this stuff: http://modnarama.blogspot.com/2011/10/plans.html that I mentioned. Mainly getting other people involved, is what I'm thinking at the moment. And not necessarily just people I know who do blogs, or something similar. (Though that doesn't mean I won't be dropping you guys a line at some time, Mister Mozart and Jessie Jessie. :P ) But even just people who have an opinion. And that's... pretty much anyone and everyone. And I think I know a few people who'd be willing to write a post, or ask some questions, or answer some questions. Or all of the above.

But yeah. That's the plan. Coolness. :D

Under Oath

Title just seemed to work, when I thought of the letter. Another "different persona" one, I think.


Under Oath


V1: / Gm / Eb / Gm / Cm7 / then same but / C / at end
Have you ever tried to work against
What you've done every single day of your life
Have you ever tried to cut the silence
With the edge of a knife
Have you ever tried to keep your promise
To do what you said from the start
Have you ever tried to keep
Two things the same apart

Chorus: / Gm / Bb / F / Eb / (similarly to above, and last time / Eb / D /)
I'm under oath, under creed
Both in mind and deed
Under oath, this bond of mine
Will last until the end of time
I'm under oath, under creed
This message you must heed
Under oath, drawn in blood
You'd better not drag it through the mud

V2:
Have you ever tried walking when
Your feet are chained to the ground
Have you ever tried to look up
When your world's upside down
Have you ever tried to fight
When your arms are cemented together
Have you ever tried to fly
When your wings are clipped of their feathers

Chorus


Bridge: / Gm / Eb / F //
This oath I am under
This oath I hold
Until the end it does unfold
This bond I am under
This bond I hold
Until my tale is told

Chorus


Yeah.

Left Unsaid.

There are a lot of things that I haven't said to a lot of people. Some I've forgotten. Some I constantly think about, wondering whether to tell them. I've usually got a good reason not to. That is, apart from my constant excuse of being terrifically not great at communicating.

But I was thinking. Obviously, if I had wanted to say these things in the first place, there was a good reason for that, as well. Generally I can remember that reason. But then, if I forget these things - or if I die - then a lot of information is lost. A heck of a lot of things unsaid. In some cases, maybe that's a good thing, and they should never be said. In other cases, though, it's more just waiting for the right time; a different set of circumstances, or for a particular event to unfold or take place.

For these words in particular, if I forget them or die, they're lost. And many of them I consider pretty important. Some words are about me; some words are about the people I tell them to.

But I have started to write some of it down. In a sort of story-but-not-quite. It's partly fiction, partly factual - and largely, a compilation of my thoughts and feelings. I don't know if I'll ever finish it, or if it's even possible to do so. But I'll try, for now. I think it's important.

To Whom It Does Concern.

Just realised it was 11:52, and lack of song. Check that, 53, and counting. So this one will technically be late. Idea is from the similar phrase, just expanding on it.


To Whom It Does Concern

V1: / G / D/F# / Bb/F / C/E /
To whom it does concern
I'd like to let you know
You don't always know it all
Sometimes no

V2:
To whom it does concern
Stop thinking so much
Relax your head a bit
Empty your mind, as such

Chorus: / G / D / Bb / F /
Memos to me
Messages to myself
Instructions to I
It's a bit weird, you may say
But the person we talk to the most
Inevitably has our name

V3:
To whom it does concern
Stop and think now and then
You tend to think when you don't need to
And not when you do

Chorus x3


Chords/vids may be a while. We'll see.

See It Through.

Yep, it is. About endurance, that is. Written in about 20 minutes before church. Will hopefully get some chords happening soon-ish. Also, a potential guitar version of Quickslow from a friend of mine at some point :D

See It Through

Tag: / F# Ab / C# /

He’ll give me the strength

To see it through

V1:  / C# / Fm / Ab //

Things don’t always just work out perfectly

Sometimes I need to put in some work

To make sure that it will be… OK

V2:

Sometimes I need a helping hand

I can’t always go it alone

Won’t always go as planned… each day

Chorus:  / C# / Fm / F# / Ab /

But God can help me strive

To always come out at the end

Yes, He’ll give me the strength

To see it through

Bridge:  / Ebm / Fm / F# //

It can seem sometimes like no-one’s there

That He is gone

But He’s not, He never is

Chorus x2

Comments on "Life's Instructions".

This was something that was pointed out to me a while ago; I don't know exactly who wrote it, but I thought that it would be good to share and comment on. Anyway, here are some of my thoughts on it, feel free to comment-back:

Life's Instructions

Have a firm handshake. - Good.

Look people in the eye. - Hard, but good.

Sing in the shower. - Haha. Yes.

Own a great stereo system. - Most absolutely.

If in a fight, hit first and hit hard. - No. Run and run hard.

Keep secrets. - But not from everybody.

Never give up on anybody. - Does not mean you keep hanging around someone who does you more harm than good.

Miracles happen everyday. - You just don't always see them.

Always accept an outstretched hand. - And frequently offer one.

Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference. - Agreed.

Whistle. - Preferably in a key of some description.

Avoid sarcastic remarks. - Difficult.

Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 per cent of all your happiness or misery. - Make it the first one.

Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out. - And who won't try to pay you back.

Lend only those books you never care to see again. - Or you could be a bit more generous/trusting.

Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have. - And that's just mean.

When playing games with children, let them win. - 9 times out of 10 ;)

Give people a second chance, but not a third. - Unless they're really ridiculously worth it.

Be romantic. - Heck yes.

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. - And add in joyful.

Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems. - True.

Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for our convenience, not the caller's. - Indeed.

Be a good loser. - Yes.

Be a good winner. - Yes.

Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret. - They might already have enough on their shoulders.

When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go. - But don't let it get awkward.

Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born. - A *lot*.
Keep it simple. - Stupid.

Beware of the person who has nothing to lose. - Especially when backed into a corner.

Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river. - No kidding.

Live your life so that your epitaph could read, "No Regrets". - Then come up with something more creative.

Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did. - Doesn't apply to stupid things like throwing rocks at a wasps' nest.

Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. - Even if they know it.

Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you. - More so than yourself.

Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you. - Cause you probably won't like it.

Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes. - But staying longer is cool too.

Begin each day with some of your favorite music. - And vary it a bit.

Once in a while, take the scenic route. - Twice in a while.

Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, 'Someone who thinks you're terrific.' - Not to randoms, however. That would be weird.

Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice. - Doesn't mean you do a TV presenter voice.

Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m. - Make that often. Though I've never seen them get to the million dollar stage.

Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job. - Heck yes.

Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later.
- Yes.

Make someone's day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you. - Week, possibly.

Become someone's hero. - Don't ask for anything back.

Marry only for love. - Only.

Count your blessings. - Slowly.

Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home. - Regularly.

Wave at the children on a school bus. - Energetically.

Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people. - Only 80?

Don't expect life to be fair. - Don't expect life anything, simple.

New/different.

A good friend of mine took me out today to get some new clothes. And not so much what I usually wear, the cargo pants + whatever shirt + jumper/jacket thing. (Personally, how I make the distinction is that a jacket has a zipper, a jumper does not. But meh.) But more towards ""style", if you will. Not "trendy", because they go in and out of fashion like a dolphin in the waves. But, as they say, style never goes out of fashion.

I should probably mention here that what we got wasn't so much of a discussion between me and them. It was more of a "Try this. No, go try it. That looks good! Get it. Oh, and if I don't see you wearing it..." Well, somewhat like that. But it was good for me, I think. Kinda what I needed :P

So first we got a couple of shirts. Didn't matter that they had stuff on them, we got them anyway. Generally, I prefer them as plain as I can get them - but they said it's almost definitely going to have something on it these days, so it may as well be something you like. Then we got jeans. Those of you who have known me for a while may recall that they actually don't recall me wearing jeans. That's because I don't. Basically. I've been pretty anti-jeans. I haven't liked denim, and I've always found the buttons annoying to do up. But we got jeans. And the buttons were hard to do up. I hope that they wear in a fair bit, because at the moment, I actually can't get my hands in my pockets. Unless my phone's in there keeping them open.

Then we got some shoes. They somehow managed to grab a pair that were basically a perfect fit, they were pretty surprised by it themselves. Then we looked for a jacket. They were talking about how you don't look for a jacket, you find, your jacket, and how we probably wouldn't find anything today, but I may as well try a few on, how about you try this one, I don't think it'll work bu....Oh. Wow, that looks good. Mirror. Miror! It did look good. But it also looked very different, I have to say. I have no doubt a few people will be fairly surprised. Then I got a haircut. The result...new/different. I'll probably put the necessary Before/After shots on FB. Mozart's probably going to wonder where Brendan vanished off to, and if I'm going to start riding a motorbike and gelling my hair or something... :P In short, no.

But the idea wasn't so much to just get a new set of threads. (Though them's some pretty decent threads.) But it's almost a bit of an attitude thing. It's not that your clothes change your personality; but I guess when you start paying a bit of attention to the way you look - actually wanting to look half-decent, that sort of thing - I guess it brings about a bit of confidence. Which is good. (Generally speaking.)

I would've had this up yesterday (which was when we went) but work happened, and in spades. Five and a half hour shift, no break. Which also meant no dinner. :P Least the first year apprentice gave me a few chips, so I was alright. Just very tired when I got back home. And now I'm on again for lunch today...which is apparently the busiest of the lot. Oh, great. I'm guessing that the song for today will have something to do with endurance... :P

The Right Rite of Rightie Wrights.

Just a little funny one about spelling. On a similar note: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0J-T2lr0Ms
:D


The Right Rite of Rightie Wrights


V1:  / E  G A /    C D /   F G /
They're sealing up their pet seal over there
My hare sitting down on my down pillow doesn't have a lot of hair
The dark and stormy knight rode down the road one dark and stormy night
The right-handed wheelwrights performed the right rite, tonight

Chorus: / E / A / G / F /
Get it right, not left
English is a hard mistress, I know
No, it's not easy to learn
But maybe its difficulty is easier than eating a row of roe

V2:
I'll bowl this bowling pin and throw the saw in the bin
My friend saw his pin in the bowl, he knew how long it had been
This vial of vile liquid is not too great, even in a can
Can you see the two ewes on a grate, floating to the sea with Dan?

Chorus


I now have chords/lyrics up for pretty much all previous songs. Or at least, they'll probably be uploaded by the time peeps read this.

Quickslow.

This one came out of wanting to write something to do with rain, because it was raining today. I like rain. It makes stuff green :) And then I randomly came up with this word - quickslow - which isn't quick then slow, but quickly slowing. So the piano part is also designed to sound a bit like rain, which you'll hopefully see when I plonk the vid up. I really like this one, hope you guys do too :)


Quickslow


V1: / C2 // F2 // C2 //
Rain falling, words catching up today
Old feeling, new beginning yesterday

V2:
Rain falling, no hearing, not much to say
Low places, high faces, OK

Chorus: / G5 F2 / C2 /
Quickslow, don't go today
You know, it's quickslow today
We'll go quickslow today
Quickslow, please show you'll stay

V3:
Rain falling, soft calling, oh hey
I'm found, but just lost my way

Chorus


Chorus / G F(add 2nd) / C /

Past.

With this one, I had the idea of trying to do a minimal amount of words/syllables. So four words to a verse, six for the chorus. But similar length (time-wise) as usual. Also kinda going on the idea that memories are very fragmented - only bits and pieces here and there.

Past


/ Dm / C2 /


V1:  / Dm / Gsus4 / Dm / C2 /
Sun, rise
Star, shine

Chorus: / F G / Dm / C2 /
You, today, now
Me, then, past

V2:
Rain, fall
Rock, roll

Chorus x2


Instrumental (Half-verse chords)

Chorus


I know, I haven't been great with getting some of this up. Hopefully, should be easier now; I've put a lot of work behind me.

Please Explain? + Let's Write A Story...

There seems to be a bit of a trend with "talent" shows and the like that rely solely on audience votes - the "safe" drop-out. The people that everyone thinks is safe, so they don't vote for them. And it happens so often, and people get annoyed when they get voted off - hate to say it, guys, but that was you. Don't point the finger anywhere else, because every person who didn't vote is technically to blame.

As an example; I've been watching X Factor (opportunity to boo/hiss/whatever...), and a few weeks back, my prediction for the top 4 was: Christina Parie, Reece Mastin, Declan Sykes, and Audio Vixen. Audio Vixen went out a few weeks back; Declan was in the bottom two a couple of weeks ago; both Christina and Reece were in the bottom two tonight, and Christina went out. And people were shocked - many thought that these two would've been the top two in the competition.

That's the "safe" phenomenon for you. That happens.


Also, just to save doing two separate posts...I've decided to do this National Novel Writing Month thing. Basically, it means a 50,000 word novel by the end of this month. I figure I'm not doing too much, I reckon I can pull it off. Maybe. We'll see. I'll probably be plonking up some of my ideas/updates here.

Time.

People often seem to think that Money is the god of the world; what comes numero uno for so many people. I'd actually disagree.

Why do people own cars? They're more expensive than public transport; a heck of a lot more expensive. But they take less time. People prefer to sacrifice their money, rather than sacrificing their time. And if you think about it, we only get money because of time; time worked, invested, spent.

So perhaps, instead of focussing on managing our money, budgeting our cash - we should budget our time; be careful about how we spend it. And many do; for some, they are almost religious about how much they are meticulous about their time.

But I think we should have the same attitude to time as we should towards money - a loose hand. Don't be tight-fisted with the time you have; you've only got so much. Be generous.

One of the Above.

This one was inspired by a particular event on Sunday. I was on the worship team for church, and the guy that was doing the slides for the projector was a bit confused - he couldn't find the last song that had been written down. We called him to bring it over, and we realised he'd been trying to find the song called "One Of The Above". Of course, it simply meant we would play one of the above songs to finish up, but I thought it would be a bit of a laugh to actually write a song called that. So here it is. Also used the opportunity to slip in some food jokes/comments.


One of the Above


V1:   / Bb / Eb / F / Bb /
Would you like a salmon roe, chicken wing or kangaroo toe,
Icy spice or lemon bomb, fishy platter that kinda went wrong
Would you like a nice thick steak, juicy pork and turkey cake,
Vegetable soup, wing of dove, or just one of the above?
"I'll take one of the above, thanks." *spoken*

Chorus:   / Bb / Eb / F //
One of the above, that's a great dish
It's everything that you could ever wish
One of the above, that's the perfect choice
It's why I raise my voice

V2:
Would you like a sardine's head, hump of camel - stomach instead?
Tomata frittata, bland flan, spaghetti made up or straight from the can
Would you like some raw seaweed, bitter lettuce, 'Oh-co-mon-freet',
Chef's surprise, sauteed glove, or just one of the above?
"I'll take one of the above, thanks." *spoken*

Chorus x2




And that's it.

Not Today.

This one's based on something from a TV series called "FlashForward". You may well not have seen it - it kinda flopped out before too long. But basically, there was this club that the main dudes went into, where you had to play a sort of mini-Russian roulette to get in. There was only one bullet in the gun, but it was a dud (from memory). Inscribed on the side were the words: NOT TODAY. You're going to die one day, but not today. That's what this song's about.


Not Today


V1:   / Gm / Bb / F / C /
One day I'm gonna die
One day I'm gonna fall into the sea
One day I'm gonna fly
One day I'll know that you're coming back to me

V2:
One day I'm gonna fall and I know no-one's gonna catch me
No-one's gonna catch me

Chorus:   / Gm / Bb / F / Eb /
But not today because today there is no strife
Not today because today I'm gonna live my life
Not today because today I'm coming home
Not today because today I'm not alone

V3:
One day I know the story will end
No make believe, no fairytale, no pretend

Instrumental  / Gm / Dm / F / C /

Chorus




Tis all. It's quite possible that I've violated Rule #3 by now. I haven't really been keeping track of it, to be honest. :P Oh well.

Meet Me Here.

Haven't done a song in this yet at all relating to Christianity or anything, so thought I might do that, given with this one I reach half-way. This one's challenging the "warm and fuzzy" Jesus/God that some Christians seem to believe in. News flash for you guys: Jesus talked to real sinners, feasted with real prostitutes, healed real lepers.
This one's kinda starting off with a nice-sounding chord sequence, then getting more minor/clashing. That "prosody"/word painting stuff that those music dudes like.


Meet Me Here


V1: / A / D / E / D /
Meet me here
At the place where you are free
And love is all around, just spend some time with me
Let's talk, let's live, let's dance and be amazing
My light will be blazing
Through you

V2:  / A2 / D6 / Em / D6 /
And meet me here
At the place where I see you
And all that you are, the good and the bad too
The great, the poor, the best and the worst
I knew you first
All of you

V3: / Am / D / Em / D /
And meet me here
At the place where you are hurt
Where it's hard, amid the blood, tears and dirt
You give, you help, you try but you can't
You just can't
Because you're you

V4: / Am (add 2,4) / Dm (add 2/4) / Em (add 4th)
And meet me here
At the cross where I died
I was pierced in my hands, my feet, my side
Your sins, my pain, your guilt and my divinity
Complete purity
And love of you

Meet me here


That's it. Will hopefully figure out chords for this one and the previous tomorrow at some point.

Idealist.

I'm a bit of an idealist, I've found. I tend to think and believe the best of people, and of things.

I've often thought, for example, of opening a shop where all the prices are rounded down to the closest $5 mark (up to $50 or something), then to the closest $10, $20 etc. And then halved. Just because I think there should be a shop that does that.

Or a restaurant where you pay what you think the meal is worth. I believe that's actually been done a couple of times; I love the idea.

The problem is, of course, is that rationalism and realism kick in. I know that, generally speaking, people have a lot of bad things about them that I don't know about. And that I probably wouldn't be too fond of said things.

But we're all like that. I'm like that. It'd be silly of me to hate people just for the worst of them. Like I've often said/thought/wrote/whatever: one rotten apple doesn't spoil the bunch.

Long Live The Dead

This started off with just the title, a little idea I came up with. And then I got the idea that it could be a bit of a social commentary, if I could do it right. Don't know quite if I have or not, but I'm OK with it. It's based on the idea that some people will just go back to these historical figures, saying they're the best, and ignoring what great things people say about here and now.



Long Live The Dead


V1: / D / A /
Shakespeare's at the shop door
Selling poems fifty bucks a line
And Bach is in the bar
Writing pieces, twenty dollars for a minute of time
Einstein's in the alleyway
Teaching his ideas to whoever's kids are around
Columbus is on the corner
Telling his stories to those outward-bound

Chorus: / G / D / F#m //
Thanks for their wisdom, many thanks for what they've said
Long live the dead

V2:
People still consult Shakespeare
The old Bard never rests
And very many will tell you
That Bach is always the best
Einstein has his followers
Many in number and type
Even Columbus still has a crew
Can you believe the hype

Chorus:  / G / D / G / D A / G / D / A / G / A /
We lord them for their wisdom, and for their ways
We don't hesitate to lay on them gleaming praise
We don't think to instead turn to those here and now
But instead we always bow
To those gone behind and what they've said
We say; long live the dead

Bridge:  / D / F#m / G / A /
Don't ignore what's now by getting lost in what was then
It's not coming back again
Learn from them, yes, but don't make them kings

Chorus: / G / D / G / D / A /
We can learn from their wisdom, and their ways
And apply it to our own days
For we know the wisdom of what they said
But still we will never say long live the dead

Vids for the past few are up, by the way. Can't be bothered linking them all, but they should be some of the most recent here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ijtro

Motivated....not.

I think - I can't remember, I've done too many posts - that I mentioned up here before about my psych essay. I pulled it off in one afternoon, the day before it was due. I had all the ideas and such in my head already, and I had the sources, so technically it was more than just that afternoon, but all the writing was done then.

I got my results back today. 29.8 out of 35. That's just over 85, which makes it a High Distinction.

......

When I saw that, I was thinking two thoughts more or less simultaneously. The first one was heck yes. I mean, probably the most negative comment I got on the essay was "You can't really do this" in response to me positing that the difference between internal and external self talk would be statistically insignificant. (Which was the actual result of the report; the research was done before the report was written.)

My other thought was oh great. Just what I needed. Another assignment that I did at last minute getting great marks. Problem is, I have one due next Thursday, and the assignment that kinda led up to it I didn't do too well on. And I have no damn idea where to start with this one, it's annoying me. "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start...." Yes, OK, thanks Julie Andrews.

And of course, doing this post is further procrastination...oh, and I've still got L to do today, don't I? :P I'm a damned expert at this...