Post Seven: Self Evaluation

One thing that intrigues me as I get older is how much I recognize about myself. I wonder how much of the way I act and the things I like have changed over the years and how much of it has always been there I just never thought about it or recognized it. I am becoming more comfortable with the quirks of my personality and understanding that there are some things that are just the way they are. That’s not to say that I can’t change or am unwilling to change, but some things people are going to have to just accept about me. If you take those things that people will make fun of me to my face and double it to include things laughed at behind my back, then you have quite a collection of idiosyncrasies that make up who I am. Two of those things I accept are time and money and my relationship with both.

If you know me then you know I hate to be late. To me “on time” is 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time. Time is valuable to me and I believe other people’s time is valuable to them. When you tell someone that you will be there at a certain time then when you are late you are wasting their time. It’s disrespectful to make someone wait. Now I understand that sometimes circumstances cause people to be late. I’m not suggesting that I am never late, but chronic tardiness is selfish. You are saying that your time is more important than someone else’s. If we are to truly live a life of servitude then we should be more considerate of other people’s time.

I have often been accused of being “tight.” When I win the lottery, or change jobs so I can actually get rich, then I’ll loosen up the spending reigns. Otherwise, I plan to be frugal with what little bit I do have. Supporting a family and providing opportunities, some of the same opportunities I was given, requires financial commitment. I have not always been responsible with money and the lesson learned is that I need to be.

So make fun of me if you must, but I have accepted the fact that of the things that make up Sonny, these two ain’t changing anytime soon.

More songs you need to listen to…

Slave to the Grind

Skid Row

The noose gets tighter around my throat
But I ain't at the end of my rope 'cause
I won't be the one left behind
Can't be king of the world
If you're slave to the grind

What a Shame

Shinedown

There's a hard life for every silver spoon
There's a touch of grey for every shade of blue
That's the way that I see life
If there was nothing wrong,
Then there'd be nothing right

Somewhere in Time

Savatage

So what can I tell you
If life's the length of this play
Perhaps God gave the answers
To those with nothing to say

Post Six: Lyrics

I have always maintained that when it comes to songs I like it’s not about the words, it’s about the music.  If you think about it I think you will agree.  How many times have you sung the words to a song you like on the radio only to find out later that you were singing the wrong words?  Being a heavy metal fan I have often been asked, “Why do you like that song, you can’t even understand what they are saying?”  My reply is, “It’s not about the words, it’s about the music.”  There is something special about a song that just sounds good, regardless of what the song is actually about.  Many great musical arrangements don’t even have lyrics.  However, having said that there are many songs out there that do have moving lyrics, funny lyrics, or even negative lyrics.  I have decided to share some of the songs I like and a line or two of them that have thought provoking lyrics.  For most, if not all, of the songs I put on here for this and subsequent posts I enjoy the music.  Some of them I actually enjoy the whole theme of the song or several lines of the lyrics.  But they are on here because there is something I like about the line or two I have included.  I will refrain from sharing why the lines have meaning or why I like and appreciate them in the hope that you may find something about them meaningful, funny, maddening, or simply sad.  Silent Lucidity is listed first simply because in college it was the first song that someone actually pointed out to me the lyric as one that was thought provoking beyond your standard love, sex, drugs and alcohol line.  From then on I have always had my radar active for interesting lyrics.  After that they are in no particular order.  There will be plenty to follow.  Enjoy…

Silent Lucidity

Queensryche

If you open your mind for me
You won't rely on open eyes to see

Drops of Jupiter

Train

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong

New York City Don’t Mean Nothing

Savatage

Never take a ride to the edge of your mind

Unless you have a ticket back…

And if you're running blind
On a refueled mind
Better watch the time
And careful you don't go too far