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Swimmers

I went back to Charlottesville yesterday to see a second film at the Virginia Film Festival--Swimmers. It was the one April and I were going to see before traffic interceded. I found a repeat showing yesterday, so I decided to go. (The picture is of Tara Devon Gallagher, who played Emma--from the movie website)

Lollypops And Shotguns

At the Virginia Film Festival last night, April and I saw the documentary, Based On A True Story (with the sound on to this site, the title of this post should be better understood), about Walter Stokman's attempts to document a guy who wants to have total control of his documentation. The guy, John Wojtowicz, is the one portrayed by Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon. At first, Stokman, who directed the movie, wanted to get behind the scenes of the original movie, but instead ends up making the movie about Wojtowicz and the two's negotiations.

Surrendering: The Music Version

I was thinking about the previous Surrendering post, and I'm working out a way to downsize my music collection. One, that means getting an iPod. Two, it means taking what I like out of my CD collection and putting it in one place--the iPod. Three, it means recycling all those plastic jewel cases I have. I'm stumped on number four, though: how to digitalize my tape collection (at least the parts I want to keep) and then dispose of those.

I've gotten a start on paring down some of my other things, going through my book collection and stacking the non-essentials to donate/sell/give away somewhere (not sure where yet but I have a few ideas). I've also got some clothes set aside for the Goodwill store just down the street from me. I have a lot of newspapers I'm planning to take to be recycled. I'm still a newspaper junkie after all these years. Even though the news is all online, I still like holding a newspaper in my hand and reading it.

The idea is to simplify and make my life easier. It doesn't necessarily mean being cheap. I'm still planning on an iPod and a new iBook, and my family's (mom, dad and sister) insisting I get new furniture since what I have is quite uncomfortable (that could explain the lack of visits!).

I just want to consolidate (I have multiple CPUs thanks to the office closing) and make sure the things I do choose to keep actually work. Plus, when I move someplace, I want to be able to do it without needing an army to help in the process. I still plan to have a book collection, and I still plan to be a consumer, but for whatever I bring in, I need to be eliminating something (or a few things) as well, so as not to add to the excess I do have.

I'm still planning to do the things I need to take care of myself too. I've gotten health insurance (I have to adjust the policy because it's a lot more expensive than what I planned, or what I thought it was going to be when I signed on), and I'm realizing with some of my aches and pains, and with how I feel in general, that I need to take better care of myself. Backtracking is hard, and comes at a price.

I'm also planning to get out more--do some things with myself, with friends and perhaps a date every now and then wouldn't hurt either. There's still plenty of time in there for myself.

Nickel Creek: Why Should the Fire Die?

I really love the new Nickel Creek CD, Why Should The Fire Die?, and a few of the tracks in particular have grabbed my attention via many repeat listens: Doubting Thomas, Best Of Luck, Can't Complain.

I'm not selling the other songs short, though. If you're familiar with their sound, you'll find plenty of that, but you'll also find new directions on this too.

A Doubting Thomas lyrical excerpt:

can i be used to help others find truth
when i'm scared i'll find proof that it's a lie
can i be led down a trail dropping bread crumbs
that prove i'm not ready to die

please give me time to decipher the signs
please forgive me for time that i've wasted

i'm a doubting thomas
i'll take your promise
though i know nothing's safe
oh me of little faith

Old Tapes

While my parents were away on their recent trip to my sister's rental beach house, I did some housesitting, went into my old bedroom (actually, all the bedrooms--save my parents' room--were once my bedrooms) in the basement and packed away a lot of the tapes I had collected over the years. I still have things there I never moved with me, and they've never trashed, amazingly enough.

I brought back over 50 of those tapes. I'm listening to one of them now: Mike & The Mechanics: Living Years. Here's what else I brought back.

trying...

Summing up how I am right now, Lifehouse's Trying...

...well let me be the first to say that I don't have a clue
I don't have all the answers
ain't gonna pretend like I do

just trying
to find my way
trying
to find my way the best that I know how...

Rock Star INXS

Just flipped on CBS and found the Rock Star: INXS reality show. It's actually pretty good. INXS, minus the deceased Michael Hutchence, is looking for a new lead singer to tour with them and put out a new CD.

Where You End

I love the new Moby song, Where You End. Just heard it for the first time a few minutes ago on the radio.

Lyrics after the jump.

Musical Faith

Something I'd be interested in taking more time to study, and perhaps write about, is how different musical genres handle faith issues in their songs--topics, presentation, audience reception, etc., and whether it's easier for music with faith themes to get on various formats now than previously. For instance, I've heard Ryan Cabrera say his song, On The Way Down, referenced his own faith, but the video doesn't give you that impression, and the lyrics are vague enough to suggest multiple meanings.

I read the book, Faith, God And Rock & Roll last year, which is the genesis of the idea for me.

Boy George

There was something oddly relaxing and reassuring about hearing the Boy George song Karma Chameleon.

It's been a loooong day.