Some of This--Music

How often do we think about the effect that music has on us? I like to listen to music in a wide variety of settings- while getting ready in the morning, on my way to work, at work (provided I'm in the office with my own playlists, not listening to practically endless repetitions of Sesame Street songs (literally endless, I still hear them in my dreams sometimes)), on my way home from work, while cooking dinner/washing dishes/cleaning the apartment, at parties, occasionally at restaurants (usually only italian ones get away with this), if I have to take the train, definitely at church.

I have one playlist in particular that I started using back in the RE/MAX days, putting it at a minimum of two years old. I don't have many playlists. I usually just toss a bunch of songs onto one list and then do a bulk delete of the ones I decide don't fit. I then fine tune it over the next couple of weeks. Over the process of a few months I'll listen to it every day multiple times a day, sometimes adding a new song, other times deleting one that I'm finally sick of. I recently decided, as I have done once or twice in the past, that I'm ready to retire my current playlist. With this in mind, I tossed about 48 songs, some new some not, on to an entirely new list and set it going today. As I wasn't really in the office until I had already been at work for over 9 hours, I was fairly worn out and just couldn't get into about half the songs on my list. I did, however, listen to "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus a handful of times.

This song is striking a chord lately. I've liked it ever since it came out, but it seems to be making itself the theme song for my spot in life right now. So I ask: what's your theme song? It can be something inspiring, something steady, or something completely off the wall (I think I once had "If I had a million dollars" for one of mine :) ). Post if you'd like, but this is an invitation to consider the music you've been listening to, be it on mp3 or in your subconscious, and think about how it's impacting your attitude. I think it's kindof cool what you learn about yourself in the process :)

Some of This--A Song

I wrote this song back in...high school? When we lived up in Washington at least. I tend to go through phases with my poetry, as in I'll spend several months writing and then several years not. This one ended up with a melody of its own, though, and is the only poem of mine I've ever actually memorized. It's gone through a fair number of variations, but this is one of my preferred versions.

I wish I were a flower, so beautiful so fair
I wish I were an eagle, soaring through the air
I wish I were some mistletoe, hung on Christmas Eve
I wish I were an angel, so that you might believe

Flowers come to wilt and then they die
Eagles, they grow old and cease to fly
Mistletoe, it hangs there, but only for a while
Yet Angels, they all go the extra mile

Angels, they were here in ancient times
We've learned of them through stories and through rhymes
And yet, do you believe them, do you truly see
The sacrifice of Jesus, He gave us so freely

Some may not see yet they are not blind
To the one who suffered for mankind
So that they might go live with him through eternity
If they will come unt0 Him, and do so faithfully

I think a couple of things brought my little song into mind. First, the thought of posting poetry on this blog. Second, this weekend saw a huge influx in visitors to Salt Lake City for General Conference. While I didn't watch most of it, a couple of the talks had a good impact on me, and I have been reflecting more lately on spiritual matters. The talks were the one on prayer from President Boyd K. Packer, and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's rousing and fervent testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Some of That--Harry's Future

Those who know me know that I'm a big Harry Potter fan. Those who know me a bit more closely know that I also read Harry Potter fanfic. Not as much as one friend of mine, but she's turned me onto the genre and I confess myself hooked. My most recent story arc find features Harry in the years between the final chapter of book seven and it's final conclusion several years later, with Harry's children boarding the train for Hogwarts. Topics explored include what exactly happens at the school after Voldemort's defeat, how Harry becomes an auror, and so much more. While of course it includes the author's own views on the characters, I've become quite attached to the story--to the point of reading its over 500,000 words within less than 48 hours. For comparison purposes, I give you the word count of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (the longest Harry Potter book) of 257,045 words. Not only that, but I'm re-reading the thing, and it's already been updated 3 times since I found it only a couple of weeks ago. Happy!!! Here's the link to the first chapter, if anyone is interested: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4335716/1/Harrys_Future