midterms

All right people.  I decided I was going to get back on this whole blog thing once midterms were over, surprise, they're never over.  Ha ha, just after a shotgun blast of tests in a week there is always one lingering around the corner...or a project.....or both.  I mean seriously, it never ends.  Or so it seems.

From the age...0 until about 6 or 7 my siblings could convince me to do just about anything.  Which is pretty much why we have about half of theses stories to tell.  "Hey, let's get Dan to do (insert dangerous activity)".  This experience followed that same blueprint, oh what humble beginnings.

I spent countless blissful summers on a lake near my hometown, and to this day it remains my favorite location on the planet.  Like most days, I would swim and fish, swim, and swim some more.  My brothers, sister and I would take rides on the boat, and try and get as close to death as possible being whipped around on an inflatable tube with the force of about 12 g's (to experience similar force, take a max speed banked turn in a fighter jet).  Invariably the day would come to a close and we would adorn our conglomeration of assorted sweatshirts, all of which were far to big, and would often cover us down to our knees.  Waiting for dinner to be ready, us boys would wander around looking for new adventures.  We, and by we I mean my two older brothers coerced me into, playing a classic game of Dan Go Stand on The Dock and See if We Can Hit Him.  (I say classic because this game happened more often than I would like to admit.)  And so it begun, I would walk back and forth like the little ducks you see at a carnival midway with a target painted right on the flank.  Rocks would rain down from the sky, seldom ever hitting the dock on which I was standing.  I was in more danger of getting splashed than getting hit thanks to both of my brothers being little sissies :)  But as the age old saying goes, "even a blind squirrel can find a nut..."  In came a comet, but WAY to high to hit me.  It banged against the tin roof of the cabin and I made a taunting gesture towards my assailants on the shore sticking my tongue out "Nah nah, can't hit me!"  Little did I know how close my life would come to that of the great physicist Newton, for I would also discover the power of gravity, hands on.  The rock took its course, rolling down the slanted roof until it took off like a ski jump and SMACK!  Right on the top of my head.  "AHHH!" I yelped, almost losing my balance into the water.  All I heard was an eruption of laughter echo across the water from the shore.  Boys will be boys, and that for sure was not the last of our shenanigans!

Self empowerment

That's to the "Challenge" that was made to me in an earlier post.  Pshhh I mean come on, why wouldn't you take a bet that is a guaranteed win.

On my first day of kindergarten I walked to school, since it was only a bloc and a half away from the first house of my childhood.  Since I was in the afternoon session, I came in about lunchtime for my brothers (both of them attending the same Lena Whitmore Elementary School.  I was excited to explore this great new world (I remember being twice as excited since I got out of school at the same time as my older brothers).  Was I out of my comfort zone?  Sure thing.  Did I LOVE my time there?  I look back at my years walking those halls and running on that playground fondly.  What am I getting at here?  People, I know for a fact I had some rough days, I remember getting sent to the principle's office on several occasions, walking home, hands shaking with fear because I KNEW I was in so much trouble with every adult in my life.  BUT that's not what matters most.  What matters most is what we've accomplished in our lives.

Why not be positive?  You've done so much already.  If you're reading this you have access to the internet, and the world is yours.  Feel empowered, because you have the ability to do great things.  From kindergarten to now, look at what you've done.  Leave a comment about something you did in your life.  From overcoming your fear and sharing something for show and tell in the first grade.  Or mustering the courage to raise your hand for the first time in class.  It's all about the little things here, and they all count.  Why am I so positive....why not?

The Soundtrack To Our Lives

I have always really enjoyed the idea of the "soundtrack to your life" - there is always a group of songs that seamlessly meshes with your current circumstances and can relate really well with your life at the time.  The soundtrack changes as we grow, gain new experiences, and shift from different life stages.  For example, when I was in high school playing basketball the soundtrack consisted mostly of Metallica songs (because that is what always got me pumped up for basketball), but when track season rolled around the soundtrack featured "Rebel Rouser" by Duane Eddy because, thanks to Forrest Gump, that is the song that gets me the most pumped up for running.

There have been times in our lives when The Baby and I have had similar soundtracks; however, I was thinking about this the other day and I do not think that there has ever been a time when our soundtracks have been as different as they are right now.  A brief overview is in order:  Dan is an early-20's single dude, so his life consists of girls, school, free time, frolicking, girls, free time, a large amount of "do-whatever-you-wantery", and girls.  I am a late-20's married dude with two daughters under the age of 3, so my life consists of school, work, girls (but not in the same way), work, school, cardboard Batman costumes, and poopy diapers.  Now let's consider our different soundtracks (for the sake of length, our soundtracks have been reduced from 15 tracks to 6 tracks each).  My soundtrack is currently called "Tranquility for the Soul" while Dan's is called "Yahoo! That's Right! Blikity-BLAM!"

Track 1

John's Soundtrack: 

"Hey Me, Hey Mama" Ray LaMontagne.  This is a fun little calming song when you are taking a break between writing people up for insubordination and 4.5 hours of upper-level Psychology classes.

Dan's Soundtrack:

"Don't Stop The Sandman" Rock Sugar.  A perfect blend of "Enter Sandman" and "Don't Stop Believin'" This song is fantastic.  Perfect song for someone who is a little bit classy and a little bit rock n' roll.

Track 2

John's Soundtrack:

"The Wheels on the Bus" Various Artists.  My oldest daughter loves this song.  If you sing it once, be prepared to sing it 1,000 times.

Dan's Soundtrack:

"Girls, Girls, Girls" Motley Crue.  "Friday night and I need a fight/ My motorcycle and a switchblade knife/ Handful of grease in my hair feels right/ But what I need to make me tight are/ (chorus) Girls, Girls, Girls/ Long legs and burgundy lips/ Girls, Girls, Girls/ Dancin' down on Sunset Strip/ Girls, Girls, Girls/ Red lips, fingertips."  That seems about right.

Track 3

John's Soundtrack:

"Patty Cake, Patty Cake, Baker's Man" Various Artists/ Versions.  This song is great because it can be tailored to be about anyone.  Simply throw your name in at the end and all of a sudden that baker is making a cake for YOU, my friend.

Dan's Soundtrack:

"Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums" A Perfect Circle.  Hardcore and edgy, this is the song that a Viking warrior listens to before filling his helmet with the blood of a fallen enemy, jamming the helmet on his head, and then charging onto the field of battle on a horse made of lightning.

Track 4

John's Soundtrack:

"I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" Jim Croce.  After a stressful day of jumping through hoops (a.k.a. school) and work this song calms me down more than anything, and it is one of Aimee's favorites.

Dan's Soundtrack:

"Easy Skanking" Bob Marley. Just kidding. :)

"Riding With The King" B.B. King & Eric Clapton.  I imagine Dan taking girls on dates and this phrase inevitably escapes his lips: "Don't you know you're ridin' with The King?" Not as "uppity" as his other songs. This is Dan's "calm down" song... sort of.

Track 5

John's Soundtrack:

"Tootie" Hootie & The Blowfish.  For some inexplicable reason this song has the second-most plays on my itunes right now.  Is it the way Darius Rucker (he's such a nice guy!) often indistinguishably croons, or is it the overwhelmingly calm melody that makes me listen to it over and over?  Maybe we'll never know.  All I know is that this song is fantastic.

Dan's Soundtrack:

"Everyday" Bon Jovi.  Incredibly, this is the only inside joke song on the list.  The very beginning of this song is perfect for Dan.  Just listen to the first 6 seconds.

Track 6

John's Soundtrack:

"Happy Trails" Van Halen.  Don't be fooled by the fact that this song is performed by Van Halen.  This is the best song to listen to right as you are leaving work.  Every day.  For the past two months.

Dan's Soundtrack:

"Shoot To Thrill" AC/DC (on repeat for most of the day).  Maybe it's because of the fact that if Dan were any superhero he would be Tony Stark/ Iron man, or maybe it's just because I picture Dan zipping around campus on his long board with this song blaring from the heavens and Dan screaming "YEEEE-OW!" right in the face of anyone in his proximity.  Take your pick.  This song has Dan's name plastered all over every note.

Most Difficult Omissions:

"Pusher Love Girl" Justin Timberlake

"I think It's Gonna Rain Today" Neil Diamond

"I Don't Want To Live On The Moon" Ernie from Sesame Street

"Shout" Disturbed