Wednesday, December 28, 2005

An icon has fallen

Sleepy-Eyed Dunkin' Donuts Actor Vale Dies - Yahoo! News

And another small part of the American pop culture we were raised on dies with him. Rest in peace, Fred the Baker. Now the angels will get first crack at the fresh Boston Creams...

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Holly jollies

Last night some of my old high school friends were able to spend a few hours together, sharing old stories and hearing some new ones. We're usually able to see each other around the Christmas holiday, if not some other time during the year. We have our 15 year reunion coming up next year, so we'll get to see even more of our old class (well, maybe old is a little much...more like we've lived the first third of our lives). Those out-of-towners are always welcome to having some of us visit their area of the country, which is great for me, since I like to drive just about anywhere. Unfortunately, with the current gas price uncertainty, I've had to curtail my excursions quite a lot. Hopefully things will change for the better...our troops will come home, sooner rather than later, and we'll still manage to maintain a steady supply of oil for our own needs. As some would say, it's all the fault of gas-guzzling, fuel-inefficient SUVs like my Jeep Cherokee.

Song of the Week

This week's entry is "Dreamline" by Rush. This is the opening track on the Roll The Bones album. I finally bought this one last week. With each Rush CD I buy, it reinforces my belief that they are one of the best bands ever. I like the whole album, but this song is the one I keep repeating. A song about being young and wanting to explore life. The music is just exciting, and it sounds great live, too...

Rush Lyrics :: Dreamline

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Song of the week

This week I have the song "Going The Distance" by Cake stuck in my head. Cake is one of those weird, somewhat goofy bands I could never really get into, except for this song. Short and weird, with some trumpet to go along with the funky mood of it. Give it a listen just once to see what I mean.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Song of the week

Never Enough

by Dream Theater

This song is a bitter statement from drummer Mike Portnoy to the "1% of our fans who are never happy with anything we've done since Images and Words or Awake". And he's the most fan-friendly guy in the band! Must've taken a lot for him to have to write something like this. As I like my music dramatic, this song stood out immediately, because the lyrics are intense and the music follows suit.


Cut myself open wide
Reach inside
Help yourself
To all I have to give
And then you help yourself again
And then complain that
You didn't like the way
I put the knife in wrong
You didn't like the way
My blood spilled on your brand new floor

What would you say
If I walked away
Would you appreciate
But then it'd be too late
Because I can only take so much of your ungrateful ways
Everything is never enough

Sacrifice my life
Neglect my kids and wife
All for you to be happy
All those sleepless nights
And countless fights to give you more
And then you say how dare that
I didn't write you back
I must be too good for you
I only care about myself

What would you say
If I walked away
Would you appreciate
But then it'd be too late
Because I can only take so much of your ungrateful ways
Everything is never enough

The life and times of...

Well, fall semester is now over. I finished Biology with a strong A and a look towards next term. I'll be taking a history course and something as an elective (not sure yet what I'll choose). For now, I have time to finish my gift shopping, maybe send out cards for the first time in 10 years or whatever, and play a video game or two. The Berks Countians are still freaking out every time there's a prediction of snowfall greater than an inch...our business always increases this time of year, and it's not just because of the holidays. But the less of them that are on the road, the more fun I can have driving in the snow and avoiding the screwballs in the city who park at the oddest angles when dealing with snow. Hopefully I don't have to listen to too many Christmas carols by Jessica Simpson at work (well, one Christmas carol by Jessica is too many, but I have no say in the matter). Dream Theater rocks!