Song of the Day: "California Stars"

"California Stars" was written by Woody Guthrie, but unfortunately, he died before he could actually set music to it. Billy Bragg collaborated with Wilco to find a melody that would suit the song. I'm always impressed when artists write lyrics before coming up with a tune because I find it easier to do the opposite. Whenever I attempt to set poetry to melodies, I usually run into some problem such as not having enough syllables in a line.

My brother and I created a slide show for our sister and brother-in-law's wedding last year and used "California Stars" as one of the background tracks, since our brother-in-law happens to be from California. Plus, we found the lyrics "they hang like grapes on vines that shine" to be more than appropriate because his family owns a Vineyard out in Napa).

Listen to it here.

Random thoughts at 4:52 AM

- "That's not like me." We use this as an excuse whenever our actions fail to reflect our principles, but how much validity is there to that statement? There is a difference between who we aspire to be and who we are. Making mistakes is "like us" - not because we're inherently bad, but because we're human.

- Eight years ago, I imagined that by this point in my life, I would be more certain about my future. Boy was I naive. I'm finding myself more confused than ever - particularly because practicality has to win out over idealism.

- I went to bed at 8:00 PM, and I have a feeling that my sleep schedule is going to be more messed up than it was last time I ventured to England/India.

- So much shit to do when I head back to school on Monday - apartment cleaning, preparing for teaching sessions, and probably getting yelled at by the powers that be for sucking at math (and honestly, I don't need to hear it). I have a feeling that I'm going to be home again by Wednesday.

Stupid things to pass the time

You Are: 60% Dog, 40% Cat

You are a nice blend of cat and dog. You're playful but not too needy. And you're friendly but careful. And while you have your moody moments, you're too happy to stay upset for long.

Are You More Cat or Dog?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

You Are a Cow

You are a kind, nurturing, and caring creature. You are deeply connected to the world around you. You have a good intuition, and you sense what people need from you. You are happy to give as much as you can. You are a very placid creature. Because you remain so calm and cool, people seem to underestimate your mind. You are extremely intelligent and aware, but you don't always show it. You're more likely to reflect on your thoughts than share them with the world.

What Farm Animal Are You?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

You Act Like You Are 27 Years Old

You are a twenty-something at heart. You feel like an adult, and you're optimistic about life. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. You're still figuring out your place in the world and how you want your life to shape up. The world is full of possibilities, and you can't wait to explore many of them.

What Age Do You Act?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

What's Your Ideal Career?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

Your Dominant Thinking Style: Modifying

Super logical and rational, you consider every fact available to you. You don't make rash decisions and are rarely moved by emotion. You prefer what's known and proven - to the new and untested. You tend to ground those around you and add stability.

What's Your Thinking Style?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

You Are an Emo Rocker!

Expressive and deep, lyrics are really your thing. That doesn't mean you don't rock out... You just rock out with meaning. For you, rock is more about connecting than grandstanding.

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet

You Are Electronic Music

You are energetic and expressive. You love feeling alive. You never get sick of your favorite things - they're what makes life special. You don't take tradition or conventions too seriously. You live for the future. You enjoy remixes and re-interpretations of things. Life is about making improvements.

What Kind of Music Are You?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

Your Happy Word is "Hope"

You refuse to give up on anyone, including yourself. You see the best in others. You think happiness should be shared. You spread your message of optimism as much as possible. You will keep believing when everyone else has stopped. You think good will always prevail in the end. You believe if we trusted each other more, the world would be a better place. All we need is a little hope.

What's Your Happy Word?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

Random thoughts at 4:11 AM

- I spent a lot of time driving around my hometown yesterday because the weather was fantastic, and in the process, I discovered how much I like the song "Crowded Room" off The Academy Is...'s Fast Times At Barrington High record. I never really hated it, but I always thought it was the worst track on the album. Yay for a change of heart.

- I feel sort of nostalgic for high school - not in the "I would do it over again" sense. I guess I miss a time when things were simpler - when school was easy, I was involved more in music, I didn't have to know what I wanted to do with my life, and I wasn't complicating things by constantly traveling back and forth between places.

- I refrained from doing something that I wanted to do, and now I'm wondering why I didn't. I think it was because I feared the reaction I would get, and I didn't want to come across as hypocritical or disrespectful.

- I should really start some work today, but I'd rather procrastinate and enjoy one of my last two full days of spring break.