Frank Turner Will Save Yr Life

Not everyone grows up to be an astronaut
Not everyone was born to be a king
Not everyone can be Freddie Mercury
Everyone can raise a glass and sing
Well I haven't always been a perfect person
And I haven't done what mom and dad had dreamed
But on the day I die, I'll say at least I fucking tried
That's the only eulogy I need

9.1% of all abled-body Americans were unemployed as of June 4th, 2011.

Detroit, Michigan, once the home of both the American automobile as well millions hard-working, blue-collar citizens, is now the home of hopelessness, poverty, despair, and just over 700,000 people.

As of June 30th, a combined 50% of funding will be cut from both Pennsylvania's public schools as well as universities of higher education. Similar cuts have been made all over the country, most notably New Jersey and California.

And about a month and a half ago, Donald Trump was the Republican front runner for the President of the United States of America.

We are a country in trouble.

We are becoming one of the world's underdogs.

Luckily, Frank Turner can empathize with such plights.

I first discovered Frank Turner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 1st, 2009. At the very last minute, I decided to make the five hour trek to see Pearl Jam close the Philadelphia Spectrum on Halloween. I won't get into the reasons why I made the trip, but lets just say I wasn't feeling connected with the world and needed about three hours and forty-five minutes of PJ tearing down the an arena to tie myself back together. What I didn't need was the radiator-shattering car accident I got into in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art the next day. Needless to say, I ended up spending yet another night in the City of Brotherly Love, patiently waiting for my Monday morning's flight out of Philly and into Pittsburgh. Friends from college, Trista and Mark, graciously put me up for the night on their couch and even fed me some really good vegan pasta with white beans. Now, Mark and Trista are, hands down, two of raddest, most genuine people you'll ever meet. We all worked at our campus's radio station, WSRU, and the three of us became connected because of our love for music. And they truly love music, maybe more so than me. And because of their good fortune of living in Philly, they are privy to being on the ground-level for a lot of up-and-coming bands. They go to a lot of house shows, basement clubs, shows that cost less than a number one at McDonalds, and anywhere someone with a guitar and something to say can perform. While talking shop and catching up and being harassed for liking Pearl jam, Trista told me of this English guy named Frank something or another who performed at the Titan House, a punk club that should more appropriately be called a basement, a few weeks back. She said Frank came in, took his shirt off exposing his pale, 150 pound lanky frame, picked up a ragged acoustic guitar, took a swig from a bottle of beer, and, without the fortune of anything resembling a stage or a microphone, played one of the best shows she'd ever seen. Trista, knowing that I hate almost everything and am one of southwestern Pennsylvania's foremost music elitists, still insisted that I listen, and she played me this:



And I liked it.

And I went home to Pittsburgh the next day, went to Paul's Music Mine on the South Side a few days later, and bought Turner's album "Love Ire & Song," and I loved it.

And I listened to that album incessantly over the course of my hour and forty minute round-trip car ride to work each day over the past two-and-a-half years.

And I bought "Poetry of the Deed" and the "Rock and Roll" e.p. and listened to those as well, again, giving both relentless listens.

And not only did I listen to his lyrics, but I thought about them, carefully, and took them to heart.

See, Turner's take on the singer-songwriter is a lot different than almost all of his peers and contemporaries. A good songwriter will pen and perform what he or she knows; they'll tell a story of the world around them, and that's all well and good. It's effective and will draw some emotion and some attention. However, Frank Turner's greatest assets as a musician are his spirit, his empathy, and his ability to compel an audience.

His heart is in all of his songs, and you feel it when you listen; and his heart is a mighty big place with lots of room. Whether he's referring to lost love in songs such as "St. Christopher is Coming" and "Substitute," or being in love ("The Fastest Way Back Home"), Turner's audience can feel sincerity and authenticity in his lyrics. Hell, I've never been to England but know both how stunning and alluring it is ("To Take You Home" and "Rivers") as well as some of its history ("Sons of Liberty") because of the pride his lyrics reflect. He has this way of taking what's on his mind and transplating it to his audience-we understand him.

Monday morning, comes a crawling in
From another weekend choked with cigarettes and sin
I've been busy, so much lately
That every time I get some time to spend
I end up drunk or sleeping in
And I miss you, you're busy too
We call each other up, when we're messed up
And say we'll meet in the New Year
But it's perfectly clear we'll do no such thing
Come the spring

Turner writes each song's protagonist as an everyman: someone that the audience can identify with no matter the circumstance. Anthems such as "Photosynthesis," "Live Fast Die Old," "Try This at Home," and "Love Ire & Song" reflect a social rebellion and an upbeat uncertainty: the world may be changing around us and it's okay to feel scared, insecure, and alone, but God damn it, man, your voice better be heard or what's the point?

'Cos love is free and life is cheap
As long as I've got me a place to sleep
Clothes on my back and some food to eat
I can't ask for anything more

And his live shows speak for themselves. If you've never had the good fortune, I'll paint this basic picture: it doesn't matter if he's playing a room of fifty at the Brillobox in Bloomfield or opening for Green Day in front of 50,000 at Wimbley Stadium in his motherland England; by the end of his set he'll have everyone on their feet, singing along, questioning themselves as to why they've yet to hear about this Frank something-or-another and how soon they can hear him again. Oh, and he likes whiskey and PBR and won't hesitate to ask you to go buy him one in between songs.

I just got Turner's latest album, "England, Keep My Bones," and it is standard FTHC: accomplished, exceptional, excellent. I haven't even gotten through my second listen and I've already caught myself taping my foot and humming along, trying to figure out his lyrics; or, rather, how his lyrics are trying to figure me out. Maybe he'll try to figure you out as well.

Frank Turner and his band, The Sleeping Souls, will be supporting this album with a full U.S. tour this fall, and they'll be visiting Mr. Small's Theatre on Thursday, September 22nd.

Below is a full-album stream of "England, Keep My Bones." Enjoy and happy summer.

Top Five Albums of 2010

Let me start this post by commenting on the year in music: 2009. It seems that every year I come up with a respectable yet righteously opinionated list that seems perfect; however, and this happens every year, I always seem to miss the memo on a few bands and then receive the message later on down the road. Case in point: Mumford and Sons, Florence + the Machine, and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. All three bands released better than mediocre albums in 2009 that could have drastically altered last years list, but alas, I did not discover them until this year, 2010. In particular, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's "Home" is a slightly better than incredible song that I have not gotten tired of (it was even the theme song to Emily and me's road trip).

This years' list was the toughest in years. Solid albums by Bad Religion, Broken Social Scene, Tame Impala, Murder by Death, The Walkmen, Josh Ritter, and my beloved Neil Young are not even in the five honorable mentions let alone albums of the year. Also, for your consideration, I chose to include the rankings from other music publications such as Rolling Stone, Pitchford and Spin as well as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Scott Mervis's list.

Anyways, Happy New Year to all of you. May the year bring good health and good fortunes to you and all of your families.

And on to the music...



5. The Gaslight Anthem American Slang
Released 15 June 2010 (Side One Dummy)



A little more polished, a lot less punk, but still packing that crucial mixture of heart+soul that has been constant for these Jersey boys for three full-lengths and one e.p. They're doing Godfather Springsteen proud.

Other Rankings: Spin (36/40)

Key Tracks: "American Slang," "Bring it On," "The Spirit of Jazz"




4. Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Released 3 August 2010 (Merge Records)



I'm going to get a lot of shit for this album being this high on my list, but let me explain...

I've been an Arcade Fire fan not since the very beginning, but since Funeral was about a year old. The first song I ever heard was "Rebellion (Lies)" on MTVU my freshman (or sophomore...I can't remember) year in college. I went out and bought the album and thought it was good but not great (with the exception of "Wake Up" which, in my opinion, is the perfect song). In 2007 I got an advance copy of Neon Bible from my college radio station, 88.1 WRSK. This was the album that hooked me, and as a result, I went back and listened to Funeral a lot more,and, as a result, better understood what the band was trying to accomplish both musically and, more importantly, emotionally with its auidence. If you've ever seen the Arcade Fire live or have seen live footage you'll understand this: they put it all on the line each time they pick up their instruments. I felt connected and held this band in such a high regard.

But alas, I can't say I felt this same connection with The Suburbs. And I honestly don't know why, and that bothers me. The album is solid all around; great songs, great music, great tracking from song to song, but there is nothing that grabs me like their first two albums did. The more I think of it, the more I reason that at eighteen and twenty-one, I needed to feel part of something bigger like the Arcade Fire; but at twenty-five I've already found enough of that in music, writing and film-I need that same connection in the relationships I make with others. That may not make sense to any of you, but I dont' need music to save me anymore and maybe, just maybe, that's why I'm not as connected to this band as I once was.

Other Rankings: NME (2/75), NPR (Top 50 of 2010), Paste (7/50), Pitchfork (11/50), Rolling Stone (4/20), Spin (3/40), Spinner (5/30)

Key Tracks: "The Suburbs," "Ready to Start," "Half Light II,"
"The Sprawl II"





3. Titus Andronicus Monitor
Released 9 March 2010 (XL Recordings)



This album is just strong all around. It's filled with fun and hate and keys and it's really hard to stop listening.

Other Rankings: NPR (Top 50 of 2010), Paste (5/50), Pitchfork (10/50), Spin (15/40), Spinner (12/30)

Key Tracks: "Richard II or Extraordinary Popular Dimensions and the Madness of the Crowds (Responsible Hate Anthem),"Four Score and Seven," "Theme from 'Cheers,'" "And Ever"





2. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Beat the Devil's Tattoo
Released 9 March 2010 (Vagrant Records)



Most people don't know this because I've never told them, but B.R.M.C. put on a show at Slippery Rock University in the winter of 2006. They were supporting their almost-entirely acoustic album, Howl. Hardly anybody came but it made no difference to the band-they killed! What I remember most, aside from the show being the moment that made me into the fan I am today, was this obsession they had with distortion; they tried bending notes and sound in such a way that it completely filled every spare inch of the room but it didn't come off as too loud or excessive (although, in truth, they are the loudest band I have ever seen). Beat the Devil's Tattoo is the band's first studio album, in my opinion, to capture this live feel.

It took me a good while to get into this album; the songs just didn't immediately grab me as past releases did; however, I think the constant and consistent listening made me appreciate singers Robert Levon Been and Peter Hayes more as lyricists and songwriters. It seems with this release that although their songs feature the same themes as albums past (addiction, war, struggle, love), the message seems to be more upfront and direct.

Other Rankings: none.

Key Tracks: "Beat the Devil's Tattoo," "Bad Blood," "Evol," "River Styx," "Long Way Down"





1. The Black Keys Brothers
Released 18 May 2010 (Nonesuch)



This is probably the first time I've been left speechless; I can't say enough or make a single comment that will do this album any justice. It's raw, sexy, honest, catchy, and the great thing about it is that the Black Keys know they're writing better music than what almost all of their peers are coming out with.

Other Rankings: NPR (Top 50 of 2010), Paste (46/50),
Rolling Stone (2/20), Spin (30/40), Spinner (11/30)

Key Tracks: "Everlasting Light," "Howlin' for You,"
"Tighten Up," "The Only One," "Ten Cent Pistol," "Sinister Kid,"
"Unknown Brother," "Never Gonna' Give you Up"




Honorable Mentions


Band of Horses Infinite Arms
Released 18 May 2010 (Columbia)
Key Track: "Northwest Apartment"
Other Rankings: Paste (14/50), Spinner (30/30)



The Head and the Heart The Head and the Heart
Released 29 June 2010 (CD Baby.com/INDYS)
Key Track: "Ghosts"
Other Rankings: none.




Pete Yorn Pete Yorn
Released 28 September 2010 (Vagrant Records)
Key Track: "The Chase"
Other Rankings: none.




Ted Leo + the Pharmacists The Brutalist Brick
Released 9 March 2010 (Matador Records)
Key Track: "The Mighty Sparrow"
Other Rankings: Spin (33/40)




Vampire Weekend Contra
Released 12 January 2010 (XL Recordings)
Key Track: "Giving up the Gun"
Other Rankings: Paste (27/50), Mervis (6/10), NME (24/75), Pitchfork (6/50), Rolling Stone (6/20), Spin (11/40)


Looking forward to 2011...

~ Bright Eyes The People's Key 15 February 2011
~ Death Cab for Cutie Keys and Codes (spring)
~ The Decemberists The King is Dead 18 January 2011
~ Drive-By Truckers Go-Go Boots 15 February 2011
~ Fiona Apple
~ Flogging Molly (May)
~ Foo Fighters (spring)
~ Frank Turner (spring)
~ Iron and Wine Kiss Each Other Clean 25 January 2011
~ The Pains of being Pure at Heart (March)
~ P.J. Harvey Let England Shake 14 February 2011
~ R.E.M. Collapse into Now 8 March 2011
~ Red Hot Chili Peppers
~ Snow Patrol
~ Social Distortion Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes 18 January 2011
~ Thurston Moore
~ Wilco

Modest Mouse and Queens of the Stone Age owe us one...just saying.

My Top Albums of 2009 (a little late, though...)

Between teaching, coaching, St. Patrick's Day/The Second Annual Legend's Charity Breakfast, and a new, special lady friend (special both mentally and in my heart), the first quarter of my 2010 has been jam-packed. I'm going to keep this a lot shorter than normal because I want to catch the end of the Penguino's game, plut I'm going to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club tomorrow and want to get a full night's rest before I rock out (getting old-rocking out past my bedtime takes effort). This is going to look barbaric... My Top Albums of 2009 5. Heartless Bastards The Mountain Released 3 February 2009 (Fat Possum) My musical kick over the last few years has been a lot like Walter Sobchak's ringer in The Big Lebowski: dirty laundry. No, my music hasn't been clean and fresh; it's been filthy. I need distortion, fuzzy guitars, loud drums, and a frontman (or in the case of Hearless Bastards...a frontwoman) who can belt-it-out. Key Tracks: "The Mountain," "Hold Your Head High," and "Out at Sea" 4. Pearl Jam Backspacer Released 22 September 2009 (Monkeywrench) Took a huge gamble by self-releasing this album only through Target and independent record stores, but they have nothing to prove. A solid album, but comes nowhere close to 2006's self-titled effort. The overall tone of the album is cohesive, however, the quality of the songs as a whole is way off. Still, hats off to my boys for making music that is both much better than the music being released today, and for still bringing it twenty years into an amazing career. Key Tracks: "The Fixer," "Johnny Guitar," and "Unthought Known" 3. The Avett Brothers I and Love and You Released 29 September 2009 (Sony/American Recordings) This album was one of those pieces of art that just finds you at the right (or wrong depending on how you look at it) time. Made me understand love a little bit better than I did before. "I and Love and You" is one of the most beautiful and heart-felt songs I've heard in a good number of years. The whole album is amazing; great indie-folk. Key Tracks: "I and Love and You," "And It Spread," "Kick Drum Heart" 2. Wilco (The Album) Released 30 June 2009 (Nonesuch Records) Wilco can't fail. Umm, yeah...I don't think I can say it any better than they just can't fail. Or maybe they won't fail? I havn't decided on that one yet. Hmm. Whatever...you know your band is better than the rest when they release a song that rest-assures its listeners that the world will turn out just right because Wilco will be there in the end ("Wilco (The Song)"). This album didn't get a lot of press or attention (for a new Wilco release), but I think it's their best since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Key Tracks: "Wilco (The Song)," "You Never Know," "I'll Fight" 1. Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything to Nothing Released 21 April 2009 (Favorite Gentlemen Records) I saw these guys two weeks ago at Mr. Small's Theater in Millvale and they absolutely blew me away. So much raw energy and a genuine stage pressence/command of the crowd. And their music is so complex and full of life. And so dynamic. And meaningful. And-I'm-spent. Oh, and much like Heartless Bastards, they had me at distortion. Key Tracks: "The Only One," "Pride," "I Can Feel a Hot One" Honorable Mentions Chuck Ragan Gold Country Released 1 September 2009 (Side One Dummy Records) Key Track: "Done and Done" Dinosaur Jr. Farm Released 23 June 2009 (Jagjaguwar) Key Track: "See You" Fanfarlo Reservoir Released 13 October 2009 (Wea/Atlantic) Key Track: "Comets" Neko Case Middle Cyclone Released 3 March 2009 (Anti-) Key Track: "This Tornado Loves You" U2 No Line on the Horizon Released 3 March 2009 (Interscope Records) Key Track: "Unknown Caller" Looking forward to 2010... ~Apples in Stereo Travellers in Space and Time 20 April 2010 ~ Arcade Fire ~ Bad Religion ~ Band of Horses Infinite Arms 18 May 2010 ~ Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 ~ Black Keys Brothers 18 May 2010 ~ Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Beat the Devil's Tattoo 9 March 2010 ~ Broken Social Scene Forgiveness Rock Record 4 May 2010 ~ Fleet Foxes ~ Interpol ~ Kaki King Junior 13 April 2010 ~ Matt Pond PA The Dark Leaves 13 April 2010 ~ LCD Soundsystem This is Happening 18 May 2010 ~ MGMT Congratulations 13 April 2010 ~ Minus the Bear Omni 4 May 2010 ~ Murder by Death Good Morning, Magpie 6 April 2010 ~ The National High Violet 11 May 2010 ~ New Pornographers Together 4 May 2010 ~ Of Montreal False Priest ~ Social Distortion ~ Stereophonics Keep Calm and Carry On 11 May 2010 ~ Stone Temple Pilots self-titled 25 May 2010 ~ Ted Leo + the Pharmacists Brutalists Bricks 9 March 2010 ~ The Constellations Southern Gothic ~ The Gaslight Anthem American Slang 18 June 2010 ~ Rogue Wave Permalight 2 March 2010 ~ The Roots How I Got Over 8 June 2010 ~ The Strokes ~ The Walkmen ~ Titus Andronicus Monitor 9 March 2010 ~ Tokyo Police Club Champ 11 May 2010 ~ Vampire Weekend Contra 12 January 2010

Attention Catholics: Step It Up This Lent!

I hate regret.

Why hold back, ya' know?

I've always tried being a good person and leading a good life and speaking both my mind and my heart.

Now those of you that somewhat know me will tell others that I do one of these a whole lot better than I do the other.

And those of you that truly know me, that truly are my people, will tell the rest of you to fuck off because women, swearing and beer have never really hurt anybody all that bad.

Have they?

Anyways, my point is that I lead life to the fullest and regret nothing (Well...almost nothing. Lord knows I'm no perfectionist nor do I try to be (rolls eyes).). We're on this earth for far too short of a time to have coulda-woulda-shoulda's running through our pretty little heads, right?

Which leads me to this point: what is up with people sacrificing the most absurd and insignificant things for Lent. In my eyes, someone giving up, for instance, ice cream for forty days shows me one of two things: 1.) They regret the fact that they eat ice cream in whichever quantity they eat it in, and 2.) They are morally and emotionally flawless and giving up ice cream is a way for them not to feel so left out at Easter time.

Now if you fit into category one, I have a word of advice for you: RELAX! The Ben and Jerry's will not harm you if you eat it in moderation. In fact...this is bullshit. Unless you sit at home everyday and practically choke yourselves into a whole-milk coma eating Funky Monkey and Half Baked, then you probably should give up ice cream for Lent; however, I don't think this is the case.

In fact, I think that category one should only be applied to substance abusers. So if this applies to you, lay off the meth, put down the crack, and take a forty day vacation from the blow. Enjoy!

If, however, you fit into category two, well...(trying to put this delicately) YOU ARE FULL OF SHIT! I think every single one of you has something morally and/or emotionally destructive you could give up instead Pepsi or Snickers or pizza. Self-loathing? Hate? Holding on to unrequited love? Lust? Immaturity? Racism? Neglect? Narcissism?

I think these are all good starts, don't you?

So I close by challenging you, my Catholic and Christian friends who believe in challenging yourselves in order to fulfill your Godly duties, to give up something on more of a larger and more meaningful scale this Lent. If not eating Frosted Flakes is your grand and meaningful idea of giving up something for God, then so be it. But I know that if you thought about the idea of sacrifice along with yourselves, you would be able to come up with something a little bit more profound, don't you? Spread those wings and fly for greatness. Shoot for the moon; if you fail then you'll be amongst the stars. And all sorts of crap like that!

Hell, I'll even join you. I do solemnly swear not to have a single drink, even Guinness and Yeungling, during Lent.

Wait, St. Patrick's Day falls during Lent. I do have the Legends Charity Breakfast to think about. Don't want to disappoint the gang. They're counting on me to make green eggs...and drink all that beer that I often drink around St. Patrick's Day. Arthur Guinness would probably smite me from heaven. And I don't want to sound like a hypocrite with the whole "giving up something more meaningful" schtick

Let's try this again.

I do solemnly swear to not write long-winded diatribes (that most people don't actually read) telling others how to live their lives to the fullest and be more heartfelt and sincere with what they plan to take a break from for any given forty day period.

Damn...I'm no good at this.

A Christmas Story

People can be placed in one of two categories for a lot of things in life.

Democrat or Republican

"Seinfeld" or "Friends"

Chicken or Fish

Now I realize that some people can blur the lines between the two respective categories; yes, there must be a gray area. But over the last few weeks, I've conducted countless hours of research to find that there is only one category where it is one or the other, either/or, black and white...

You're either a fan of A Christmas Story or you're not.

I havn't met anyone who just plain likes the movie. In fact, most people that I know can't stand it. Me, on the other hand...I LOVE IT. It is by far the most perfect Christmas movie ever made. And with each passing twenty-four hour Christmas Eve marathon on TBS, I find something new to appreciate and love. This year I showed the film in length to my classes, and although I have seen it 317 times, and although I will watch it again tonight at 8:00 p.m., I caught myself looking up at the screen several times, my inner child grinning with innocent delight. Yes, the film is funny...hell, it's hilarious at some points. But I, and most of my fellow Christmasholics, find pleasure in it because we can relate; because we knew what it was like being a child and wanting to jump our of our skin right after Thanskgiving. When I was six my grandmother got me a dress coat for Christmas and I hated it. And of course I would hate it. I was six; I wanted toys, damn it! My kid brother is twenty-one and he still hasn't voluntarily eaten fruits or vegetables since Gerber mashed them up into a tiny glass jar. I've had soap put into my mouth for swearing and getting caught. And, like Ralphie, I've gotten the end all and be all of Christmas gifts: the tree fort play set from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (for my Robin Hood action figures). I honestly don't think I'll ever get a gift as cool or exciting as that one (and I'm okay with that).

And I challenge you to not tell me a similar story from one, if not all four, of the examples given above.

The reason these stories do conjure splendid memories of childhood is because of Jean Shepherd, author of "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash," the novel A Christmas Story was based off of. He was, in my opinion, one of the most underrated American writers. If you've never heard of him, you're wrong: he is the narrator of the film. I've never read an author who captures the kindness and innocence of children so well while putting their emotions into a language that only adults can understand-which is why I think it is so poignant and meaningful.

There is one quote from the film, which coincidentally is my favorite quote of all time, that best sums up life for both children and adults:

"Oh, life is like that. Sometimes, at the height of our revelries, when our joy is at it's zenith, when all is most right with the world, the most unthinkable disasters descend upon us."

What Shepherd is trying to say is that life is like a swinging pendulum: in one moment you can be on top of a world that's nothing short of immaculate, but it is only a matter of time for the pendulum to swing back the other way; to a macrocosm marred with abhorrent, dire times.

Karma, perhaps?

A very close friend of mine had a 2009 that saying it wasn't ideal would undercut it significantly, but from what I'm told is ending on a higher note than it began. Her pendulum is veering back to where it needs to be, and I'm elated for her.

I've had a pretty full year where I can honestly say that I count my blessings each and every night. There has been one or two things that, simply put, did not go the way I wanted them to, but that's okay-it's not all wine and roses! I've been teaching in my classroom since I graduated last December (something that can be categorized with Haley's comet and the parting of the Red Sea); I was in a wonderful, albeit short-lived, relationship with a woman who made me realize that there are still women with class, grace, beauty and brains out there-you just have to be willing to find them in the most interesting, creative and circumstantial ways imaginable; only one person close to me passed away, but it was for the best as she lived a hard life these last few years and is now in a better place.

But what does that say about this next year? Is my pendulum bound to crash from greatness to unfortunate circumstances? Will I be able to keep a job in such a bitter economic time that our Senate is trying to tax tanning bed usage? Will my family stay healthy, safe, and sound? Will I be fortunate enough to fall in love again? Who knows?!?! Ah, but that is life. We can be skeptical, we can keep our guard up and not venture into the unknown abyss, or, we can keep an open mind and an open heart and hope for our glasses to be half full of cheer, merriment, and good fortune.

A Robin Hood tree fort would definitely help the cause, right?

Merry Christmas and God Bless you and all of your families!

"Billow and Brine"

But I’d rather you’d be The anchor To my ship Than the desolate wind Tapping my sails, Steering me away With finesse. Ships set sail in strong March, Risking their worlds, die to be brave; For summer’s broken hearts and old-soul songs: Which to be passed and which to be saved? They can’t have both, the hearts and souls; One must drown, while one must rise. Rum-drunk before the sailor, all the better, But they know they’ll never make it out alive. The summers always brought ‘em, Those sincere and weathered autumns. Where hardened sailors must turn stone; Haul their anchors and sail to unruffled waters. The seas are too rough for men With a wild desire, and the heart of a boy. The world can’t be merely predicated. Tides wash broken vessels straight to shore. But savage ships need anchors to bind them To the soft and sandy ocean floor. But does there really exist such a thing? Waters bare of ridge and ripple, of billow and Brine Are like the love letters you never got the chance to write: Inhibited anguish with nowhere to go- Nothing but a waste of time.

Let The Wild Rumpus Start!

The older I get (I'll be twenty-four next month), and the more I get into this teaching racket, the more distant and detached I feel I'm becoming from my childhood. Last night I got to see Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved children's' book Where The Wild Things Are. Although this is not a film review, I will say that I did enjoy the film. The sets, art direction, and Max (the perfectly casted Max Records) were all amazing; but I must admit that it was the Wild Things and the actors that lent their voices to the creatures that threw me over the top. Anyways, seeing the movie reminded me a lot of my childhood. As a kid, I remember my parents reading me that book before bed and being both startled yet memorized by the Wild Things. And I also adored Max. He was bold, brave, daring, and wild. But he was also eight and I could identify with what it was like to be eight and scared of the imperfect world around me; to see every angle change and feeling helpless that I couldn't stop it was what Max and the eight year old me had in common.

And all nostalgia aside, seeing Jonze's film made me realize that part of me is still eight...something that, surprisingly enough, I greatly appreciate.

In the film, Max becomes isolated in his own world; a world that has all but collapsed (divorce, his sister growing up and making new friends, a mother's new boyfriend, his igloo...collapsing, THE SUN EXPLODING!!!) In a violent and defiant fit of rage, Max snarls and sinks his fangs into his mother, runs off, and sets sail for the land of the Wild Things to ineviatbly become their king. Of all the creatures, he identifies most with Carol (perfectly voiced by "The Sopranos" James Gandolfini), the leader of the Wild Things. The two connect because, like Max, Carol can't fathom change in a world he deems as perfect. It is at the end of their wild rumpus that both Carol and Max realize that change is a permanent part of life; that you have to take the good with the bad and not get all wild when life doesn't go your way.

This is the point in the film where I realized that Carol, Max and I have a lot more in common than rugged good looks.

Some things have recently happened that I havn't been able to control, and it's been driving me nuts. It's like my igloo is collapsing on me, and, like Carol and Max, my perfect world is falling apart. But.Life.Isn't.Perfect. It just works out right every once in a while so we keep ourselves living for those moments where a smile isn't an option...it's a necessity.

I find it both odd and redeeming that a children's' movie has re-opened my eyes to one of life's biggest problems: a problem that I tend to forget how to solve and need to hit the REFRESH button every once in a while in order to figure things out.

Although Carol and Max have helped me cope with things that have been troubling me lately, they HAVE ALSO helped me come to the conclusion that, like them, I struggle with a changing world that I can do nothing about; that like them I sometimes have a heart as big as a monster's and as pure as a child's and I don't understand the world as I should.

And this doesn't make me feel as old as I once did...