Spicy Song of the Week

My room is a mess. Like REALLY bad. I feel like a girl it's so bad. Clothes strewn on my desk, papers in the laundry hamper. Hangers hanging on clothes. Pens in the random cup, coffee in the pen cup. No wait...THAT one is the coffee cup...i don't even know.



Starting tomorrow (yes...it's always "starting tomorrow") I'm gonna have to clean up my act. Eat better, sleep better, clean better, and pay my bills better. Time to get back in to shape. Time to write more, time to spend time with people who have time to spend time with me. onetwothree go!


This song/band is critically acclaimed. In fact, Darcy just texted me his opinion, saying "I think Angus and Julia Stone are my new favourite band." THAT'S how good they are.  So let me share with you a song of theirs, and explain the significance of it to you.

Big Jet Plane

Angus & Julia Stone

Down The Way

Ok everyone knows i'm a critical guy. If a movie has a flaw, I will find it. Whether it's the acting, the script, the plot, the photography, the lighting, the settings, the music--I will find it. If a book has a flaw, I shall point it out. If a live show is lacking, you'll know. If I have a flaw, it's all I can see/ If you have a flaw, leave it up to me.

But early one morning, as I was driving with Nichola, this song came on, and I went quiet. I had heard it several times before on a CD she had burned for me, but with the night lights flickering in the cool air and not another car in sight as ours wound down the hill, something clicked, and suddenly i was holding back tears.
This song was perfect. Every single note and word and simple melody and rhythm had been done exactly the way it was meant to be done. They had created exactly what they had set out to create, and this song had such a crushingly real identity. It knew precisely who it was and the impact it could have. This song is perfect.

And then I got to Thinking. I've been terribly critical of things and people and ideas. I can't let anyone see things the way they see them or be the way they want to be because there's a better way, and they need to find it. Nobody can relax around me, because they know i'm watching. and judging. Then I noticed that the people who don't point out everyone's flaws tend to be more enjoyable to be around, thus having more friends who call to hang out. I don't have those because I push people away with my criticism.

And then I realised there's a difference between listening to a song for ways it could be done better... and dismissing the song as imperfect and continuing to search for better songs that i can identify with. Every song has something to offer, just as every person does. Cue emotional piano music as we sum this up.

I've been harsh on people, and I feel bad for it. When a song plays, we should listen, and when people are around us, we should also listen. There's something worth hearing, and hitting 'skip' on a friendship will leave you alone. Yes, I'll have victoriously pointed out a flaw that everyone else saw as just being human, and yes, the truth will be heard by them either to their face or behind their back, but who am I of all people to skip anyone? I am so flawed.

I found a song that is exactly what is was supposed to be--not entirely because of the song, but because I listened patiently and intently enough to understand it.

You probably won't think this is a perfect song. But that's not the point, nor do I care. Just celebrate the fact that a song has triggered such an overdue realization and desperate resolution in me.

Worst Buy

I used to work at Best Buy. I sold computers, laptops, printers, and my soul for a few extra bucks when i got back from traveling the world. I was good at it too. I was honest, I listened, I didn't pressure, and I didn't upsell or add on crappy extra service packages that were a total scam.

And none of the staff liked me. 

I had nearly daily run-ins with one of the supervisors who held the keys to the cages in the back where all the laptops were stored. every time i sold a laptop, i would have to go track her down (she never answered the pages over the intercom) and ask for the keys. I would usually sell 6-8 laptops a day, and she got extremely frustrated every time, to the point where she would take the keys and throw them across the backroom. I wanted to throw HER across the room, but she was MUCH MUCH too heavy for that--years of built up anger and depression in the form of pounds.  But instead I did nothing and just kept selling laptops. I would quit/be let go three weeks later.

Today I went back. Everyone remembered me, which I find impressive, since my three weeks of employment was over two years ago. I took in my laptop so they could tell me why it wasn't working, and had a nice conversation with one of the staff.

J: Hello.

Best Buy Dude: Hey, it's been a while!

J: Yeah I'm just tryin to figure out why my laptop isn't turning on, can you help me?

BBD: Sure. *Fiddles with power button, and the power cord and the escape key, only to realise i was telling the truth and that it won't turn on.* Well, looks like we'll have to send it away for an expensive repair. Would you like to buy a new laptop instead? 

J:uhhh..noo...and i believe it's still under your 3 year protection plan, so i shouldn't have to pay.

BBD: Oh. Fine. Well, before we send it off, you should get your data backed up.

J: good idea, thanks.

BBD: It'll cost ya.

J: Oh then i'll just do it myself at home.

BBD: (speaking slowly) Hmm...I'm not really sure how you're going to be able to do that...

J: (mocking him) hmmm..then i'm not really sure i trust you to work on my computer if you don't know how to do that. *Walks out*


Best Buy, you suck. You try and take my money, you try and take my happiness, and you try and take my computer. NO. I will not let you.

I have taken my computer home, and FIXED IT MYSELF. How do I know this? Because i'm typing right now. How did I do this? I don't have a clue..