Perhaps You'd Better Start From The Beginning

When I discover a book series, television show, comic book, and musical act that's new to me but has been around for a while, I like to start from the beginning.

This goes back to when I was a child and loved to read but I wouldn't buy X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman or Superman comic books because their story was already in progress. When Marvel started the New Universe I collected several of the title since I could start at the first issue.

When I hear a song from a band or artist, I check their discography and start from their first album. Thankfully streaming services let me listen to the album in full before I decide to buy. For my birthday and Christmas, I ask for iTunes gift cards to expand my collection. It's frustrating when I hear an awesome song then discover it's on the artist/band second or third album. Even more so when I listen to the first album and don't like any of the songs on it.

Books are forgiving because most of the authors I like rarely do sequels or trilogies. When I was a younger geek and a Dragonlance fan, two bookshelves were dedicated to the world of Krynn.

All I Needed Was My Bike And Walkman

One thing I miss from my youth is riding my ten speed around Galloway Lane & Foxhill Road, especially at night since the neighborhood would “shut down” after 6pm.

Best was when I bought a new cassette of a favorite band or singer and could listen to both sides without being interrupted until it was time to flip the tape to Side 2. I remember how awesome it was owning a Walkman that had Auto Reverse. For the younger generation, that meant I could listen to one side and the Walkman would switch over to the other side.

One night I was listening to The Sugarcubes ‘Life’s Too Good’ for the first time when 'Take Some Petrol Darling' started and scared me enough where I almost fell off my bike.

Recently I purchased Transvision Vamp ‘Pop Art’ and while listening to ‘Wild Star’ it brought back the memory of riding on the down slope of Fox Hill Lane and swerving from one side of the street to the other.

The downside to a Walkman was the wire for the headphones also acted as the antenna so I’d get interference from the power lines that were around the block. When I rode on top of the Kensico Dam on my way to the Central Avenue Toys R Us, that problem went away.

Not Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places

A recent posting on a friends timeline made me think of why I’m single.

I haven’t been looking for love on a dating website or in social gatherings. The one woman I was interested in didn’t seem to share that feeling.

Does it take both parties to be looking? Is she out there looking for me? Why hasn’t she found me yet? (see above)

Is it possible I met my soul mate and ruined the chance? Wouldn’t a soul mate accept me as I am and vice versa?

Will I keep asking questions?

I’m honestly jaded after my last two relationships because one woman was mean and the other would say one thing then do another. I did go on a date after breaking up with the second girlfriend but because of her actions I was  (over?) observant and critical.

I met this woman on Match.com and after several email exchanges, we went to a coffee shop. The conversation felt forced at times but I wasn’t going to let that be a final reason. It was when she wanted to go to lunch that I was cautious because I wasn’t going to pay for both us and didn’t know how to express that, eventually we agreed to go dutch.

Afterwards we were walking around Pleasantville and heard the music festival, again she wanted to go but tickets were pricey. I was more hesitant this time because I was beginning to feel that she was trying to take advantage of me. We bought our own tickets which resolved that. The festival was enjoyable but our conversations still didn’t have a natural flow to them. Maybe we were nervous, maybe we didn’t click.

It was when we decided to go to dinner and movie later that week when I knew that she wasn’t right for me. During dinner she wasn’t observant of the fact I had gotten my hair cut. We went to see ‘Beasts of The Southern Wild’ and afterwards we discussed it a bit. I won’t spoil the movie for you but my date seemed to want to argue about a fact in the movie. Even when I countered with all the examples given that were strong proof, she disagreed. This is when I thought to myself ‘Are you arguing just to argue?’ and felt that if I continued to date this woman it would have been more of this evening. When we got to her car I explained that I wasn’t interested and wished her the best.

I know that that shouldn’t be the reason for me to remain single but considering what I’ve dealt with over the years doesn’t make me want to try anytime soon.

Let Me Pop In This 8 Track

For as long as I can remember I’ve liked soundtracks to movies and television shows. Whether they’re original songs written for the movie or existing ones used to amplify a scene. One of my earliest memories of a soundtrack was finding a cassette of when I was a geekling singing ‘Day By Day’ from Godspell.

The second I can remember is the record album of The Black Hole, not only did it have the score from the movie but dialog from the movie was included.

I’m sure we had Star Wars A New Hope on vinyl as well but it was the disco version we listened to more.

Using my letterboxd account I can put in order of a film’ release date and The Breakfast Club soundtrack may have been the first soundtrack I purchased myself.

As I got older my collection of movie soundtracks grew with it. The bonus to liking a song from a movie would generate an interest in the band that contributed their song. Muse’s ‘Take a Bow’ was in the trailer for ‘Watchmen’ movie is a great example.

Sometimes I’d buy a soundtrack for a song and unfortunately the rest didn’t appeal to me. Berry Gordon’s The Last Dragon was that first, I liked 2 out of the 10 songs.

Now with iTunes I can buy the songs I like from a movie or tv show though a single song can cost more than the whole album.

Sing Me To Sleep

I've made several playlist on my iPod Touch that help me get to sleep. The first one starts with Emily Browning doing a cover of Asleep by The Smiths, followed by choice selection of acoustics songs by Foo Fighters.

Another one is made up the quieter songs from the Ink Soundtrack. What I like about this playlist is I rearranged the songs which makes for a better flow.

The last one is also quiet songs, but a mix of artists and bands. It also has the Emily Browning cover, but I fall asleep before the first song, Under Your Spell by Desire finishes.

Other nights I listen to Sigur Ros because their music has an ethereal sound to it. Ágætis Byrjun and ( ) are the two albums I switch between.

Beck's Sea Change is another album I enjoy because it's different from his other works.

Most of the time I can't make through the first song on every playlist/album before I fall asleep.

What's funny about me writing about my Sleep playlists is that past few nights I haven't been listening to any of them when I go to bed.

Sleep Playlist 1

Asleep - Emily Browning - Sucker Punch Soundtrack
Home - Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Still - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor Disc 2
What If I Do? - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor Disc 2
Miracle - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor Disc 2
Another Round - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor Disc 2
Over And Out - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor Disc 2
On The Mend - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor Disc 2
Razor - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor Disc 2

Sleep Playlist 2
Midnight Souls Still Remain - M83 - Saturdays = Youth
The Fort - Jamin Winans - Ink Soundtrack
Between The Light - Jamin Winans - Ink Soundtrack
Alone  - Jamin Winans - Ink Soundtrack
The Journey  - Jamin Winans - Ink Soundtrack
Who You Were  - Jamin Winans - Ink Soundtrack
Remember  - Jamin Winans - Ink Soundtrack
The City Surf  - Jamin Winans - Ink Soundtrack
Monsters In The Field  - Jamin Winans - Ink Soundtrack

Sleep Playlist 3
Under Your Spell - Desire - Under Your Spell
Dance With You - Live - The Distance To Here
Asleep - Emily Browning - Sucker Punch Soundtrack
The Sun Never Stops Setting - Moby - South Side
Guitar Flute And String - Moby - Play

Weird Dream # 637

I was working at MetroPCS, which was in the process of shutting down. There was more people than equipment and furniture which made the office into a first come, first served atmosphere. I had a desk and went to get a drink of water, when I came back someone else was sitting there saying since I didn't sign into the computer it was up for grabs. Finding a new desk, I began working on a spreadsheet.

Fast forward to lunch and I walked out of the office into a mall... which didn't phase my dream self. As I was walking back to the office, I noticed a band playing off to the side of the walkway. It was Stone Temple Pilots, back together!

Each of them didn't look to be happy playing, but they put on a hell of a show. At the end of their show, I was able to shake Scott Weiland's hand.

Then I woke up...

A Silver Lining...

to being unemployed is that New York State offers free classes on Resume Building, Networking, and Stress Management. Each class taught me something new, and using the lessons has made me feel better. During the stress management class, I suggested meetup.com after everyone agreed that they feel isolated due to their situation, present company included.

Another suggestion that the counselor made was one I already read on lifehacker.com, keeping your routine. It's tough to keeping one when I'm unmotivated, but that is a vicious cycle in itself and glad I see when I'm stuck in it.

I can break out of it, by socializing with friends, getting out of the apartment, and treating myself. That doesn't mean I spend a lot of money, an everything bagel with vegetable tofu makes me happy.

Listening to a playlist on iTunes, reading a book of poetry, and of course a walk in the woods are my ways to deal with stress.

Getting back to my Sunday blog too.