Ordinary Diamonds

Song list for today:
* The Bird And The Worm - The Used
* Ordinary - Train
* Run - Rosie Thomas
* We Did Nothing Wrong - Royal Bliss
* We Cry - The Script
* Her Diamonds - Rob Thomas
* All In All - Lifehouse
* The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson
* The Motions - Matthew West
* Johnny And June - Heidi Newfield

Call Me Happy Endings, but This Ain't Goodbye...

I honestly don't know how he does it. His birthday is in 3 days, and I will most likely wish him a happy one.  There will be things that will forever and ever remind me of him, and they will probably always make me smile. I've tried hating him. I've tried being apathetic towards him. I've tried erasing, ignoring, avoiding, and forgetting. It just doesn't work. I don't know how he does it, but I can't. I will forever think of and consider him a friend. I've forgiven the pain, and mistreatment. I forgave that a long time ago. I don't understand how he seems able to simply displace, and brush off the years, time, and experiences we went through together, but I can't. And I no longer want to. I have just accepted I will always love him as a friend, and as a part of my past. He will and should do as he pleases, but as for me... this is where I stand. This, it seems, is what my heart wants.



Call Me - Shinedown

Happy Endings - Mika

This Ain't Goodbye - Train

Adele - 21

I know the Adele album isn't supposed to be out in the US, but I managed to get the UK release, which was released in January. It has 5 more songs than the US version will initially release, who is to say they won't release them later, but why wait...

I fell head over heels in love with this album. There are 3 songs I have kept on repeat for the past week that I've had it. Tracks 1 - Rolling In The Deep, 11(recorded)/17(acoustic) - Someone Like You, 14 - I Found A Boy. I don't know, it's... well, to be perfectly honest, this album really struck a chord with  me. I could connect with nearly every lyric in these songs. I am willing to bet it's because Adele is my age. She was born in May of 1988. She is experiencing a lot of the same things I am and have, at the same ages. That is what makes an album great, isn't it? When you can connect with a song so entirely. . . Sunnie and I had a long conversation today about it all. How funny it is that these ages the 3 of us are at really are a time for growth, love, loss, and just learning who we are. It's the same with Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson who were both born in 1979. Their music and lyrics are incredibly simliar, but they still manage to resonate with people 10 years their junior... It's just the way of life I suppose. Emotions are the same no matter what age, race, or gender. Music is a way to release those emotions.

Track by track interview by Adele

Rolling The Deep

Someone Like You

P.S. On the UK Album Adele sings a Brandi Carlile cover. Hiding My Heart. May I just tell you I about peed my pants when this song came on. It is an acoustic recording, the original song. I had a mini freak out in my car, so much so I am pretty sure I freaked out the people driving next to me. My arms waving, mouth wide open as I screamed. . . I immediately sent Sunnie a text message, as I knew she would be able to fully  understand and appreciate the magic and wonder that is ADELE singing BRANDI... Oh. My. Holy. Goodness!!!

The Rose

The Rose - LeAnn Rimes with the Gay Men's Choir of Los Angeles



Yes, I am LDS, and yes I am a Christian, and yes, I understand the views of both on the topic of gays... but I also believe God loves all his children, without condition. I will keep my full views to myself for now, but know that I love my gay friends/family, and though I may differ in beliefs, and opinions from them I refuse to judge and exhile someone because of the way they choose to live their life. It is not our place to judge, it is our requirement to love.

Nobody Is Going To Give You Freedom, You Just Have To Take It.

Day 10 (10/26/10) - Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Hyped, Bored, Mad

Songs I listen to when I am happy: The upbeat kind...? Nah, I have so many songs I listen to when I am happy. I love music. What can I say!?

Songs I listen to when I am sad: Erm... Bad Day - Daniel Powter...? Haha, seriously though it depends on what upset me at the time. More often than not, Train, Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, or classical.

Songs I listen to when I am Hyped: HA! Venga boys was on that list for a long time, thanks to Brooke for that... For some reason I love listening to R&B when I am super hyper.

Songs I listen to when I am bored: I will typically put my ipod on shuffle and let it play whatever. Like now for example... this is what came up...


Songs I listen to when I am mad: Honestly, Beth Hart has the best angry lady voice I have ever heard! I love listening to her gravel voice. It's amazing. Brandi Carlile of course! Then you also have Skillet, Shinedown, Seether, you know the harder edge Rock stuff. Though, if it's boy related it has to be Lover Lover by Jerrod Niemann!

Somewhere Only We'd Go

Oh simple thing where have you gone

I'm getting old and I need something to rely on

So tell me when you're gonna let me in

I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

So if you have a minute why don't we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know?

This could be the end of everything

So why don't we go

So why don't we go

This could be the end of everything

So why don't we go

Somewhere only we know?

Deciphering Right And Wrong Has Never Felt So Empty...

Dear Mr.

There's a drumming noise inside my head
That starts when you're around
I swear that you could hear it
It makes such an all mighty sound

Louder than sirens
Louder than bells
Sweeter than heaven
And hotter than hell



Dear You.

My Dog Days Are Over
The. End.

I Get Lost Inside The Sound...

It took me just under 5 hours to drive from Cedar City Utah, to Logan Utah. In those 5 hours I was able to accept, move past, understand, and reach an important decision.

I drove to Cedar City friday morning with my dear friend Marisa. She graduated from Southern Utah University, and I am so happy I was able to watch her participate in the graduation ceremony! I stopped to visit my twinbrotherIneverwantedbutloveanyway Chris. I met his fantastic girlfriend Stephy! I spent Friday night and Saturday morning with my darling Jo, where we talked till we couldn't speak anymore! I love her so much and I am extremely grateful we are family! After the graduation ceremony I went back to help Jo pack some of her things into my car. I had volunteered my boat sized lumina to her, and offered to drive her stuff to her home in 'K-Town.' I was headed in that direction anyway. During my solitary drive to Kaysville I was able to think about everything that was going on in my life, from my dad and his current state of being as well as my current family situation, to my school and what I want out of life, etc. I finished the night by driving to Logan to visit with a friend. The next morning I left around 7am; it was snowing in Logan (go figure... Ha!) but I found I didn't mind it. That funny little town has a comforting feel, and a gorgeous scenery. Driving back through the canyon was somewhat of a surreal experience. Logan was very green, the colors of every thing around held such depth! Suddenly the world turned into a gray scale, it was sort of like walking into a black and white film after passing through one of Disneys Remastered films. It was so unique, and oddly pointed. I felt like I was watching Nature paint out my life. As the canyon walls picked up color again I finally reached a few conclusions, and made an important decision that will be seen within the next few months. I didn't go straight home. I stopped at the Jordan River Parkway, and took a little walk. I took a few pictures and let my ipod play on shuffle for a bit, while I enjoyed the color depth the rain had left.

On the drive home from the parkway this song (Melody - Kate Earl) came on. I really resonated with what she is saying, and cannot stop listening to it. I know I say this all the time, but this really fits me in this moment. I love that music is always there as an escape, and there is always, and will always be a song that sings out what my heart cannot, or will not display. I may not have my dad's ability to pull out the music in my head for everyone to share, but I at the very least am able to lose myself in the sound of my own melody. 

No matter what has ever come to me
I got my own brand of company
I got da da da inside my head
And i play songs back to back until i got to bed

Wake up by myself inside an empty room
There's no body next to mine to oooh
But my skin is warm and my heart is full
It's the do do do do do do

Walking waking on a crowded street
With my headphones loud
So my hips can swing, so my head can nod
To the rock and roll to the boom boom beat

and i find that i'm never alone
and i find that my heart is my home
and the music within makes me whole
A world that i built on my own

and i know that i'm never alone
and i know that my heart is my home
Every missing piece of me
I can find in a melody

No matter what has ever come to me
I got my own kind of company
I got ba ba ba inside my head
And i sing songs back to back until i go to bed

There's a river in my mind that's never still
Swirling, soothing all the time gives me a thrill
Swimming in the notes that go
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

Wandering, waking in an empty wood
It is quiet here, i am powerful
I look down below serenade the world
From inside my soul

and i find that i'm never alone
and i find that my heart is my home
and the music within makes me whole
A world that i built on my own

and i know that i'm never alone
and i know that my heart is my home
Every missing piece of me
I can find in a melody
I can find in a melody

When the walls begin to creep in
And the sky is fallin down
When i'm swallowed up in feelings
I get lost inside the sound...

and i find that i'm never alone

and i find that my heart is my home
and the music within makes me whole
A world that i built on my own

and i know that i'm never alone
and i know that my heart is my home
Every missing piece of me
I can find in a melody
I can find in a melody

Carpe Diem - Seize The Day

Carpe diem quam minime credula postero – "Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future"





Carpe Diem: Seize the day 


We always put off being happy, convincing ourselves that after this one last obstacle we will find happiness. The truth is, there is no better time than right now to stop and create happiness for ourselves! Because if not now ... When? Life will always be filled with challenges and excuses. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy and satisfied with how things are anyway! 


Alfred D. Souza said: 
" For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." 


Crystal Boyd wrote:
"So stop waiting until you finish school... until you go back to school... until you lost ten pounds... until you have kids... until your kids leave the house... until you start work... until you retire... until you get married... until you get divorced... until Friday night... until Sunday morning... until you get a new car or home... until your car or home is paid off... until spring, until summer... until fall... until winter... until you are off welfare... until the first or fifteenth... until your song comes on... until you've had a drink... until you've sobered up... until you die... until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy... 


Happiness is a journey ... not a destination!!


Thought for the day: 
Work like you don't need money, Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching."


Time after time we sit and wait for happiness to come to us, to find us. When we should be giving our hesitations a seat in the back and move forward towards those goals and dreams that make us happy! Rather than focus on why we can't be happy right now, or what more we have to do until we can be happy... let us focus on what we are doing to be happy! When we are actively pursuing that which makes us happy, we find that we already are. 

If I Was Afraid Of Flying

There is a place I call my own
Where I can stand by the sea
And look beyond the things I've known
And dream that I might be free

Like a bird above the trees
Gliding gently on the breeze
I wish that all my life I'd be
Without a care and flying free

(Flying Free)

Haynes, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

There are moments in every girls life when she just needs to stop everything and just scream... One loud, high pitched or belted note/sound to express frustration, relief, accomplishment, pain, anger, annoyance, you name it.

Then, there are the moments when we need to blast the music and dance around in our underwear. Be it a fiesta at 2 in the morning, or mid-day -- a loud, stress relieving, Haynes/aerie/V.S. sponsored dance party is a must! 

"I'm afraid to sink, I'm afraid to swim. I'm sad to say I miss my friends I know that I'm supposed to step away but they need me to stay"

Again Today - Brandi Carlile. I woke up this morning with a specific part of this song stuck in my head. It was very ironic, especially as I handn't heard this song in awhile. After the happenings and conversations of last night and the continuation this morning I realize there was a specific meaning for those lyrics being there. "I'm afraid to sink I'm afraid to swim. I'm sad to say I miss my friends. I know that I'm supposed to step away But they need me to stay." 

(Don't forget to turn the music player [at the bottom of the screen] off!)

Broken sticks and broken stones
Will turn to dust just like our bones
It's words that hurt the most now isn't it
Are you sad inside, are you home alone
If I could just pick up the phone
Maybe you could see a better day
And you won't waste away
under my watchful eye
Because I'm your hero and you're my weakness

Who's gonna break my fall
When the spinning starts
The colors bleed together and fade
Was it ever there at all
And have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again today

I'm broken down, not good enough
The broken promises add up
To twice their weight in tears which I have caused

I'm afraid to sink, I'm afraid to swim
I'm sad to say I miss my friends
I know that I'm supposed to step away
But they need me to stay and keep a watchful eye
On all my heroes and all their demons

But who's gonna break my fall
When the spinning starts
The colors bleed together and fade
Was it ever there at all
And have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again today

Not today
Not today

Was it ever there at all
Or have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again today
Broken sticks and broken stones
Will turn to dust just like our bones again today
I'm broken down
Not good enough
The broken promises add up again today

Was it ever there at all
And have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again today
Again today 

Life is not a looking glass, Don't get tangled in your past

I have been an avid lover of Brandi Carlile since the day I first heard her music! I was introduced to Brandi just before her second album (The Story) was released. I sat and waited for The Story (2007), and then again Give Up The Ghost (2009). This latest album of hers has been a really moving one for me. The song Pride and Joy especially. It's one of those songs that will relate to so many different people, and remind you of a different person each time you hear it, but it's always the perfect song. The second chorus... Can you get any more pure than that! So much said with so little!

(Don't forget to turn off the music player [at the bottom of the page] first!)



I believe this to be true
There's nothing sacred, nothing new
No one tells you when its time
There are no warnings, only signs
And you know that you're alone
You're not a child anymore
But you're still scared
All your mountains turn to rocks
All your oceans turn to drops
They are nothing like you thought
Can't be something you are not
Life is not a looking glass
Don't get tangled in your past
Like I am learning not to

Where are you now
Do you let me down
Do you make me grieve for you
Do I make you proud
Do you get me now
Am I your pride and joy


And Then you get live performances like this...





Have I mentioned that I LOVE Brandi Carlile!

Message in a lyric...?

This video reminds me of someone in particular right now. Oddly it  feels more like it is from them to me, and for some reason I feel compelled to put this on my blog. So, here you go... Whatya Want From Me - Adam Lambert

(Don't forget to turn the music player [at the bottom of the screen] off)

Don't ask me what the reason is behind it, because I truly do not know... All I know is every time I have come across this song in the past week I have had an urge to put a video of it on my blog. You would not believe how many times I have heard this song this week purely by chance and at the most random of times... Eerily enough it is almost as if it was intentionally played each time... If ever there was a message in a lyric, here it is. Oh the things that happen in day to day life.

Sunlit Gleam

'Nuf Said...

Oh, and P.S. 



(The only good thing about Break-ups, is it totally justifies Blasting the punk/rock trashy pop music while dancing around the house like an idiot!)

Let Your Soul Shine

Soul Shine by Beth Hart, is truly Amazing.

Inspired:

Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
If the people don't mind,
We all feel this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

Hidden Musician

If I didn't have music, I'm afraid life wouldn't be half as beautiful...

Thank you to K. for bringing to life the image I had in my head (Hidden Musician, the photography immediately above this text...) and for placing it in the perfect setting! I love you! I couldn't have done it better! 

Thanks also to G. for the 'rose' viewing of our sheet music! (We finally found a use for the never-ending viola rests! Yeah for artistic music and photography!)

The Edge Life

...It's the feeling of flying, and absolute freedom even if for just one second. It's the thrill of losing control, the adrenaline of danger involved, and the speed of the colors flying past you...

Uprising by Muse is the perfect background sound for snow drifting, and making snowtire angels, and crashing through the frozen air.

Thank you 80's for Happening...

Here's to the week before Christmas...

May it slow down enough to finish all the shopping!

Merry Christmas!

(Don't forget to pause the music down at the bottom of the screen...)

You know, I'll never truly understand why... but these videos tend to make me happy.