Lyric of the Week

"You don't choose the memories that stay with you all your life
You think you do, but they choose you, and then they hold on tight"

No offense other birthdays, but 29 was pretty great. Despite the sense of dread I felt leading up to entering the last year of my young adult life, things turned out okay.

Never before do I remember Breck planning ahead so far; going to so much effort; and getting so excited to give me a gift. I guess twenty-three was pretty great too -- my 'golden birthday' when I turned 23 on the 23rd -- when Breck gave me 1 gift each day of April (although I don't remember exactly what any of those 23 gifts were).

Yep, I am truly blessed. Even though I'm sure Breck would describe me as her pain-causer, she is my painkiller. 

So I guess being twenty-nine is not so bad after all. It's thirty I have to worry about...  

Artist: Jim Bianco

Song: Painkiller

Album: Sing (2008) 

P.S. I want to learn this song on the piano, but can't find the sheet music. Anyone? 

Lyric of the Week

With my upcoming 29th birthday tomorrow I can feel the big 3-0 looming not too far in the future.

I feel old.

So it brought a smile to my face the other day when this MxPx song came blasting through my ear buds. Admittedly I don't listen to this type of music very often anymore as my musical tastes have mellowed a bit, so I would typically skip to the next track; but for whatever reason I let it play through this time.

I'm glad I did.

This song reminds me of simpler days. Days with few worries. Days when I only cared about listening to music and trying to impress girls. Now that I think about it, maybe things aren't so different today after all (although my target audience of girls has now been reduced to a limited few).

"Can I call you sweetheart, or even baby doll?
If I had your number, you'd be getting a phone call
Can I leave you a message on your machine?
Letting you know that you're the bomb and you blew up on me

Are you anxious to see me after your next class?
Do you care when I tell you; step around that broken glass?

Can I see you after you get out of school?
I won't even mind it if you treat me cruel
Take a ride on my Vespa; I'll take you home
I'll climb up to your window and read you a poem

Are you anxious to see me after your next class?
Do you care when I tell you; step around that broken glass?

I know that you beleive in the one true God above
And that's why you're waiting for your one and only love
Do your feet hurt? Did you fall from heaven?
'Cause you been running through my mind all day
My mind don't mind

I don't know what to say or do
I can't eat when I'm with you
Goodnight sweetheart I gotta go
And you won't come to my next show?"

Artist: MxPx
Song: Do Your Feet Hurt?
Album: Life In General (1996)

Lyric of the Week

Because things have seemed out-of-sorts lately and not what I had anticipated:

"Maybe it's up with the stars

Maybe it's under the sea

Maybe it's not very far

Maybe this is how it's supposed to be

This is how it's supposed to be

Maybe it's trapped in a jar

Something we've already seen

Maybe it's nowhere at all

Maybe this is how it's supposed to be

This is how it's supposed to be

Looking forward as we rewind

Looking back is a trap sometimes

Being here is so easy to do

If you want to"

Artist: Jack Johnson
Song: Supposed To Be
Album: Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies (2006)

From Boy to Man (almost)

As I opened the door and we were walking into the garage our conversation went something like this:

Aiden (age 6): So, this is your garage?

Preston (age 28): Yup

A: So, where's your chainsaw?

P: Um, I don't have one.

A: Well why not?

P: I guess I've never needed one

A: Oh, well I think you need to go buy one.

It became clear to me tonight after spending a few hours with a six-year-old boy that I've forgotten what it's like to be a six-year-old boy.
I've forgotten what it's like to be covered in dirt and not care; to ask questions about guy stuff like "which one's the strongest?"; "who can run the fastest?"; "which color is the best?"; "how much does that weigh?"; "is that the most expensive?"; and "which one is the biggest?"
I've forgotten what it's like to climb on a pile of dirt just because it's there; or to want to "build something" just because it feels like a manly thing to do.
I've forgotten what it's like to have the attention span of, well...a 6-year-old boy.

I don't know how it happened, but it appears that I've officially turned from a boy to a man; if I just get myself a chainsaw, that is.

Lyric of the Week

"If you don't have someone to do it with it's not worth doing"

I've had this simple lyric running through my head the last few weeks as I continue to more fully understand the fact that I wouldn't/couldn't do the things I do daily without the loving support of my beautiful wife (that's supposed to be a compliment, by the way).

Then, earlier this week, I came across some writings by Napoleon Hill that helped me clarify in my mind exactly what I was thinking.  Napoleon Hill, according to Wikipedia "was an American author who was one of the earliest producers of the modern genre of personal-success literature. He is widely considered to be one of the great writers on success. His most famous work, Think and Grow Rich, is one of the best-selling books of all time."  Hill coined the term "Master Mind"  and in his book The Law of Success defines the Master Mind as “a mind that is developed through the harmonious co-operation of two or more people who ally themselves for the purpose of accomplishing any given task.”  Hill argues that a master mind can be formed between any two individuals but it has its greatest power when developed between and man & a woman (particularly if they are married):

"A man and wife may live together, accumulate a fair sized or even greater fortune, rear and educate a family, without the bond of harmony which is essential for the development of a Master Mind. But all of these alliances might be made more powerful and effective if based upon a foundation of perfect harmony, thus permitting the development of a supplemental power known as the Master Mind.
Plain co-operative effort produces power; there can be no doubt about this; but cooperative effort that is based upon complete harmony of purpose develops super-power.”

Admittedly Breck and I don't always exactly see eye-to-eye on things, but ultimately I believe we have "harmony of purpose" in how we run our household and raise our beautiful little girl.

Note to self: I'm so lucky to be where I am doing what I'm doing with the people I love.

The second line of the chorus follows with:           

"To all my friends, it's not the end. The earth has not swallowed me yet"

Artist: 311
Song: Freak Out
Album: Music (1994)

Lyric of the Week

The answer is "no" I couldn't have been anyone other than who I am or, as I posted here, chosen any other career path than I did.

"Could I have been
A parking lot attendant
Could I have been
A millionaire in Bel Air
Could I have been Lost somewhere in Paris
Could I have been
Your little brother
Could I have been
Anyone other than me
Anyone

He stands touching his hair his shoes untied
Tongue gaping stare
Could I have been a magnet for money?
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Twenty [eight] and so tired of life
Such a shame to throw it all away
The images grow darker still
Could I have been anyone other than me? Then I

Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn, turn we almost become dizzy

I am who I am who I am who am I
Requesting some enlightenment
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Sing and dance I'll play for you tonight
And thrill at it all
Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes
But I'll work it out then I

Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn, turn we almost become dizzy

Falling out of a world of lies
Could I have been dancing nancy
Could I have been anyone other than me?"

Artist: Dave Matthews Band
Song: Dancing Nancies
Album: Under the Table and Dreaming (1994)