Music Monday: Classical Music and Benjamin Zander

Several months ago, my English Professor showed me this video from the TED Conferences. Benjamin Zander talks about classical music. He talks about how people say they don't like classical music, but most people don't know what classical music is.

I've always loved classical music. I love being able to turn it on in the background and having it transport me to a new place and time. Classical music has a magic that no other has. I've loved the simple complexity that comes with a beautifully written piece of music. There is a magic in having a great song pouring through your speakers and into not just your ears, but into you. And it really saddens me that most people do not even give classical music a chance.

I know most of you aren't going to want to spend twenty minutes watching this video, but I would highly recommend it. Zander not only talks about classical music, but he also talks about the fact that no one is tone deaf, an interesting topic in itself. How many times have you ever said that you can't sing because you're tone deaf? What most people don't realize is that people have more than five senses, a sense of tone is one of these little known senses. Zander does tie this talk into business and whatnot, something that I don't really care too much about.

We all have a tendency to listen to a certain kind of music and never really step outside of what we like. We also never really think about why we listen to what we listen to. Maybe it's time we not only expand what we listen to, but it might be time for us to start thinking about why we like it.

Pointe Shoes and Recitals

On my way to ballet, I decided to talk about getting ready to start taking pointe and the upcoming recital. Also, it's not the easiest thing to try and vlog while driving. Not impossible, but not the easiest thing to do.

Happy birthday, little brother!!

Today is my little brother's birthday. He's turning 18 today!! While this is great for him, it makes me feel incredibly old. I know I'm not the only one that will always think of their younger siblings as that annoying little brat that would follow them around and bother them all day, right? I will always think of him like this. Now that he's officially and adult, I know that I'm supposed to be an adult and I'm getting old.

Anyways, enough of me complaining about being old... I really just wanted to take a moment to wish my baby brother a happy birthday! I wont share any of his embarrassing stories because I'm such a nice older sister, but I am looking forward to reliving some of these when I go up to see him graduate high school in May. I'm proud of how far he's come and I know he's going to do big things with his life!

I love you, baby brother. Just remember, you're in all senses of the law, an adult. It will take you several years to actually feel like an adult. Actually, I don't know if you ever really feel like an adult, I know I don't.

Music Monday: Ben Kweller at the Granada

Friday, Austin and I went to see one of our favorite artists perform at one of our favorite venues. If you haven’t figured it out by the title of this post, we saw Ben Kweller at the Granada.

The Granada has been one of my favorite venues since I moved to Dallas. Since it used to be an actual theatre, it has not only character but also has amazing sound. It’s a mid-size venue, so you also don’t have to worry about ever having a bad seat. Although, you don’t have any seats… But that’s a bit beside the point. The point here is that I love the Granada. I’ve seen Mates of State, Ben Kweller, Jones Street Station, Black Kids, Girl Talk, Pete Yorn, and many others all at the Granada and each show has been amazing.

Saturday, the opening act was The Orbans. Even though we came in about halfway through the set, I was still impressed. As the opening act, they weren’t quite as good as the show we were there to see, it was easy to see that they had serious talent. My biggest pet peeve throughout the entire set was that their intros were waaay too long. I’m not a fan of huge of those long, spiraling intros into a song. When it is coming from a band that is the opening act, I don’t  like it at all. I also never understood why you would play a six minute intro for a three and a half minute song (and not even for the case that you’re trying to introduce your band). But really, they were a talented band and didn’t need to have such in order to prove they knew how to play!

Next up was Sleeper Agent. I honestly thought they were a lot like every other indie rock band out there. It seemed a lot of people had come to the show purely for Sleeper Agent, and this surprised me a bit. Sleeper Agent was good, but I just wasn’t as impressed as I thought I would be. Especially having several people tell me while they were setting up just how great and how amazing and how deep they were. Maybe I was just expecting something… more?  They were good, but I’m pretty sure I have about six other artists in my Google Play library that they sound a lot like. If I were to be given their music or if I had extra money in my Google Play account that I didn’t realize I had, I would by an album or two. I wouldn’t go out of my way to go to a concert just for them. If you’re a fan of the indie scene and you can’t get enough of the indie/hipster music scene, I would highly recommend them.

Ben Kweller… Oh what can I say about Ben? This isn’t the first time I’ve seen him so I thought I knew what to expect. I thought that it would be quite similar to his set that I saw last year with songs from his newest album Go Fly a Kite thrown in. I would have been completely happy if that was the case since that really was a great show. From the moment he came on stage, I knew this would be different from last time. His last album had a lot more slower, moody songs (and wanting to feature these songs more) so the show featured more of his slower songs. This show was a rock show. He drew the crowd in and the atmosphere was just as important as the actual music.

All in all, BK put on yet another fabulous show. Also, if you've yet to go to a show at the Granada, do yourself a favor and go. It is always money well spent. (Unless you were dumb enough to go see the Ting Tings, I don't think even the Granada could help them sound decent)

NHL Playoffs: Round One

Complacency and Breaking the Cycle

I feel terrible that it's been three weeks since my last video! I've really been slacking!! I started this whole project with the thought that I would do one every week. When I decided to start, one a week seemed like a very manageable number and I thought it would be very easy to handle. I didn't really think about the fact that some of the things I wanted to talk about just wouldn't translate as well into a video. I didn't think about the fact that, as a perfectionist, I would complete a video, edit said video, and then be very unhappy with the final project. I didn't think about the fact that it was just easier for me to write. I didn't think about the fact that making a video is more of a challenge.

Well, no more!

As of today, I'm promising to put out a video every week. I actually do enjoy making these videos and I like the challenge of trying to do something that I'm not used to. Even though I did have the major setback of having my computer crash a few months ago and lose a lot of footage, I'm going to just pick back up and continue working on making new videos. I was a bit upset when I lost a lot of footage and videos and a lot of software that I used to edit videos .when my computer crashed. When I lost all of this, I just took a break and never really got back from this break. I'll be working on a new videos tonight and have it posted by tomorrow. I think what I need more than anything is to just jump back in and start making new videos. I can't wait around for something to happen and for me to feel it worthy of vlogging about, I just need to get my act together and get back to it. And, since the main thing in my life right now is the NHL Playoffs and my final few weeks of this semester, that's probably what I'll talk about.

Also, just as a little side note, I'm going to start uploading some artwork that I've completed. Art is a big part of my life and a great way for me to epress myself. It's also just something that I enjoy doing. So, I think I'll start to post a bit of that every now and then. I feel like I've gotten complacent in just writing a few things and posting them each week. And I'm sure you would all like a bit of variety... I've gotten complacent and comfortable and I need to break this pattern of writing and not working on other things. I need to expand myself as well as the contents of this site!

I'm looking forward to these new changes and I hope you are as well!

Don't tell me to "Cheer Up"

I don't understand why people feel the need to constantly try to tell me to "cheer up" or "look on the bright side" or "you just need to stay positive." I'm sorry, but do people think I enjoy the endless worrying that I do? Do people think I enjoy being unhappy? Telling someone to be happy or not to worry is one of the dumbest things you can do. Do people assume that if someone is depressed or anxious it's because they enjoy feeling like that?

I've been pretty emotional and worried lately. I don't enjoy feeling like this all the time, but it happens. Dealing with an anxiety disorder will usually make a person worry more than the average person on a day to day basis. When you're dealing with as much stuff as I am, being stressed and upset and even depressed happens. When you're dealing with the looming thought of cancer on a day to day basis and trying to put up the front that you're perfectly fine and you're handling it very well, you get even more stressed. In my mind, I figure I worry enough about what might happen, I don't want to burden other people with these thoughts. I know that people want to be there for me, but this is just how I handle things and this is how I process. I deal with it (or try to) and put up a facade that everything is A-OK. 

But, every so often, that mask does slip. When that happens, people have a glimpse of how distraught and worried and stressed this entire situation makes me. These people don't seem to understand that right now, in order to avoid chemo, I'm on a smattering of pharmaceuticals in order to just try to get through this. Doctors are hopeful, but they can't be certain that these pills will even do anything. I am only certain of a few things from these pills:

1. These pills greatly disrupt my sleep
2. Lack of sleep makes me irritable (like most people)
3. These pills make me nauseus constantly so I have less of an appetite than usual
4. I refuse to do chemo so these things had better work
5. I wont know anything for sure about their effectiveness until June

I do try to think positively and stay happy and not let things bother me too much, but I can't keep it up 24/7. This is apparently a fact many people don't understand. The moment I even look sad or angry or pessimistic or negative in any way, I get these comments about "just stay positive!" as if I'm the most negative person in the world. And you know what, even if I was negative, I'd like to see how these people respond to something this traumatic at 21. I try to be happy and positive, but I cant' keep it up all the time. It honestly wouldn't be healthy if I was like that constantly! People would assume that I don't understand or haven't' accepted what is really going on.

So, please, unless you have some sort of idea what anyone is going through, don't say something as dickish as "Just cheer up." You really have no idea what is going on in someone's life. People don't enjoy being sad. But it happens. Stop with the ridiculous comments about "being positive."

I guess I'm old fashioned

In this age of Facebook and Twitter most people don't bother to really keep up with anyone's birthday. Most people rely on those little notifications that let you know that your friend's birthday is coming up. People very rarely have to do more than write out the generic "Happy birthday" on their friend's wall and that's it. Unless it's a family member or a very close friend, most people wont even both with a text message let alone a phone call. All of the social niceties and etiquette seem to be falling away and long forgotten.

Maybe I'm alone in this thought, but I think there is something special about receiving snail mail. I know that I very rarely receive anything in the mail that I actually want. It's mostly bills, advertisements, and junk catalogs. But, occasionally, I'll get a card min the mail and they always bring a smile. I noticed this most recently right after I found out about the whole cancer debacle when someone sent me a card just with their general well wishes and letting me know they were there if I needed them. It was just a few days prior to my first procedure and I was terrified. When I received that card, it was just a nice reminder that no matter what, people are there for me and worried and they care. It was exactly what I needed.

Ever since then, I've made it a point to send cards more often. I've found that I really love to send out birthday cards for people. Most people don't ever actually expect to get one in the mail any more, except maybe from your mother or grandmother, and I think it's just a nice little touch to show people you care. Especially after planning a wedding when your head is filled with all of the proper ways to handle social situations so all family members are happy, I've noticed that I want to do my part to bring back all of these little social niceties. After sending out over 300 hand written thank you notes, I don't mind sending out the occasional thank you card when someone hosts a dinner party (or poker night). If I know a friend is going through a tough time, I'll send them a card or small gift to let them know I'm thinking of them. And after a wedding, I've realized it really is quite easy to send these little cards since I have so many people's addresses.

I don't know, people seem a bit surprised that someone as young as I am likes to follow such etiquette rules, but I really do like to do little things like that for people. I even have a planner where I write everything down and keep track of upcoming occasions in my friends and family members lives so I can be sure to acknowledge it. And since I don't have Facebook to keep me up to date with birthdays, this is my responsibility to take care of and keep updated. I think thank you cards and birthday cards and get well cards and such things should make a comeback. At the very least, I'm doing my part to assist the US Postal Service and card companies everywhere.

I hope I can keep my sanity through the next several weeks

I'm really hoping that I don't lose what little is left of my sanity in the next several weeks. My spring semester is going to be ending in three weeks, finals will be in two weeks, more hours in the studio for the upcoming recital, more responsibilities for the recital, my little brother is graduating high school in a little over a month, registration for my summer semesters are soon, planning the next several months of classes... The list can go on. I know it might not seem like much to some of you, but this is just going to be a lot of added stress for me on top of work and all of my doctor's appointments.

With my spring semester drawing to a close, I've got to be ready to register for my two summer semesters as well as the fall semester. Hopefully I'll know exactly which classes I will be taking and my class schedule so that this is one less thing I will have to worry about until December. I'm actually not too stressed about my finals this semester, I know English wont be a problem and there really isn't a final in my French course. History is the only course that I'm a bit worried about because not only do I have to worry about the final, but also the Departmental Development Exam which will be an exam set by... someone important I guess. I don't know why this test is worrying me more than the final other than the fact that History (especially US History) is not my strong subject. Not only do I have to make sure I pick classes I know I'll still like at the end of December, but I need to make sure I have the funds for these classes and the books. I was a bit shocked to learn how expensive textbooks are... I don't really like that I've had to pay four times more for a book than I did for the entire course. Something about that seems a bit wrong. But alas, there isn't anything I can do about that aside from try to find books from other people. 

I'm also trying to make sure that I have time and resources available to watch my little brother graduate in mid-May. I honestly can't believe that he's already a senior and turning 18 (on the 25th of this month no less!). It seems like only yesterday he was a little boy that wouldn't seem to ever leave me alone. That little brat would follow me everywhere and I never could seem to get rid of him... I just can't believe he's not a little child anymore! The last time I saw him was three years ago and he was already taller than I am. I'm sure he's only gotten taller...

With ballet, the studio is now in the midst of perfecting our dances. This means several more hours spent at the studio, hours spent at home working on not only moves and parts of the routine, but also working on exercises that increase flexibility. Not only will I be part of the recital, but backstage I'll be a "ballet mom" meaning it will be my job to help all the younger girls get dressed, hair done, makeup done, and soothe nerves. I don't know if I'm up to the job but my dance instructor seems to think I am. I'm just trying not to think about what happens if I do something wrong backstage with the younger girls... 

With work, it seems to just get more and more stressful in the summer months. Several construction projects have been started which means that everyone here is on edge. Construction in the building is always going to have problems and issues and contractors not doing things properly and people not following the rules. Lately, some companies have been causing a lot of trouble and stressing the entire office out. I will never understand why people that have worked here before still seem to have such a hard time following the building rules! I guess that's just part of dealing with contractors..

Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can manage to stay sane through all of this madness. I'm also still working on a big something that I'll know how it's going to turn out by the end of the summer. I don't want to say too much about this for fear of jinxing myself or something, but I'm not going to let it fall to the back-burner even with everything else in life.

Music Monday: Ed Sheeran's + (Plus)

Several of my friends from across the pound have been telling me about the greatness that is Ed Sheeran. Recently, I made the very wise decision to download his entire discography. Ed Sheeran’s latest album + is a brilliant work of art.

Ed Sheeran is well known for his take-all lyrics. In his previous albums, he has made it quite clear that he feels that he can make it as a musician without succumbing to the major labels. He went so far as to say he doesn’t need someone else to write his lyrics for him because his lyrics are great in one of his previous songs. Sheeran knows that he has built up his fan base on his own with the help of social networking and Youtube. If he built up all of his fans as much as he has without the help of a major record label, he knows that he will not have to make major secessions to a record label and compromise who he is.

In his latest album +(Plus), Ed Sheeran continues to show off his superior song writing capabilities and his amazing story telling abilities. In “Small Bump” he gives you the heartbreaking story of an expectant father looking forward to the times to be had with his future child that is soon crushed when he finds out that the woman has miscarried. “A-Team” is a tragic tale about a young girl that has to prostitute for drugs and that is her only escape. “Drunk” is Ed’s heartbroken story that each of us have been through, a bad breakup. In his breakup, he is left behind and turns to alcohol for comfort. The story of “UNI” is about how he broke up with a girl he he truly loved and a girl that loved him because he chose to continue on with his life as a musician and she went to university.

Ed Sheeran’s latest album is touching and full of wonderfully written songs. He is one of the few people in history that has the ability of transforming his pain and anguish in life into something beautiful. Not only is Ed Sheeran a wonderful musician, but he has an amazing voice that is paired beautifully. 

Some say that this is just the latest pretty-boy-Brit that is gaining popularity with no real talent. All it takes is one listen of half of the songs on this album and you will see that this misconception couldn't be more wrong. 

And the End has Come

Well, a few days have passed since it was official that the Stars would not be making it into the playoffs yet again this year and I now feel like I can talk about this with a (fairly) clear head. I've heard several people talk about the fact that they're disappointed in the team because they didn't make the playoffs, but I'm of a different mind. I'm very proud of this team.

When the Dallas Stars opened the season in October, the team was going through the midst of bankruptcy proceedings and had no owner. The complete future of this team was up in the air. There was even talk about the team leaving Dallas altogether. With all of these doubts about the future of the team, it was pretty much a given that the Stars wouldn't do anything of consequence this season.

And yet, amazingly, the team went into November leading the entire NHL in points. This ragtag bunch of no-names managed to lead the entire NHL in points within the first month of the season! All with no owner and still in the midst of bankruptcy and with no future to speak of! How could any fan doubt this team's heart and drive at this point?! As the season progressed, the captain went out of commission for several months and the team lost several very important games. The team lost all of the footing they gained and greatly looked forward to the All Star Break when they could take some time to recoup. During the All Star Games, the entire NHL network was exposed to one of the team's biggest stars, Jamie Benn. After the All Star Games, the team was amazing, winning game after game and landing themselves a solid place leading the division. It seemed certain that the Stars were finally going to make it into the playoffs.

But, sadly, the Stars also have a habit of breaking down in the final weeks of the playoff push. This habit wasn't ready to be broken yet. And it happened. The team crashed and burned out.

Yet, I've grown quite tired of hearing people criticize the team and calling for the resignation of everyone of consequence for the team. Really? The entire coaching staff should be let go because teams that are better staffed beat the Stars? People honestly feel like the management needs to be cleaned out because the team didn't get to the playoffs? Do people just completely disregard the fact that Ryder and Souray and Benn and Fistric and Nystrom have all had amazing seasons like they've never had before. And really, you're going to continue to bitch and moan about this team when they just played their final game of the season and lost against a team that is one of the best teams in the NHL with 6 players that were called up from the AHL and this was a 2-3 loss? You're disappointed with that loss?

Just looking at all of these amazing things this team did this season, I can only watch and wait impatiently and wait for October to roll around. Big things are in store for this amazing Dallas Stars team in the coming team. With dedicated players, an amazing new owner, brilliant leadership, this team is going to do amazing things.

So all of you nay-sayers out there can just shut it.

Music Monday: Lucero's Women & Work

Lucero's latest album, Women & Work, is the Memphis group's ninth studio album. And what an album it is...

Women & Work is a great follow up to 1372 Overton Park. W&W keeps with the soulful rock vibe that 1372 created. W&W also has a great throwback to some of their earlier albums. Think earlier as in The Attic Tapes and their self-titled Lucero album. Some of the opening riffs just throw me back to their older, and simpler, albums. It also reminds me of the point in life I was at when I first listened to these albums. When you hear the opening riffs that remind you of songs from ten years ago, you can't help but remember where you were the first time you listened to the album. The first time that album was new.


Who but Lucero would be able to have an album described as "like Arcade Fire baptized in Joe Cocker and Leon Russell's Mad Dogs, then warmed with Don Nix's Alabama State Troopers." It only seems fitting that such a complicated band with such a distinct sound can only be described as such. When you learn that W&W is a love letter to the band's hometown of Memphis, you can see the love that these boys have for their hometown. Anyone that has ever spent any time in Memphis can see just how perfectly this cliche fits. Memphis itself is a blend of country, rock, and soul. Who better could have captured everything Memphis is and put it all into an album? From songs like "On my way Downtown" to the title track "Women and Work" to "Go Easy" you can almost see Memphis. The full gospel choir as backup vocals in "Go Easy" only emphasizes the fact that this is all in honor of Memphis.


W&W does return more to their country roots and is not nearly as rock 'n' roll as 1372, but it still rocks. The poetic lyrics that everyone loves from Ben are still there. The substance created by 1372 is still there. This is still the Lucero that we all love. Yet, something here seems to be a bit... Expected. And I don't ever expect Lucero to put out an album that leaves me wanting more, but I did after the closing track. There is something a bit generic that seems to have crept into the sound of W&W. It doesn't make the album bad per se, but I felt like this was a bit of a plateau and the beginning of the end of their more interesting and unique albums. Because that is one of the things I love about Lucero, no two albums are really alike.

I will still listen to this album and I still love it. I think it's an album that many people will love and will be loved for years. If you don't have it, definitely go out and buy it (or download it).