So, I must say I'm not their biggest fan, but I do hold a deep respect for this band. Here's why.
-1- It makes my relationship with my dad so much better.
In 1994, my dad bought "Automatic for the People" and has since then ceased to play anything else but R.E.M. Sometimes it is annoying... well, maybe all the time. But we always have something to talk about now, and we've stopped fighting over what to play in the car. He always wins, there's no use in fighting anymore.
-2- I have learned what the crap it stands for.
I've finally learned R.E.M. stands for rapid eye movement. Yes, its stupid knowlege, but I like knowing stuff. If there wasn't a band, I may never have googled it for understanding.
-3-Now I can love and enjoy the 'best song ever written.'
Yes, I've decided that Christ Marin from Coldplay might be a douchebag... especially since, in his opinon, Coldplay has topped U2 as the world's greatest rock band... Humble much?--and since he is the person who in fact dubbed "In The Sun" (Michael Stipe's Hurricane Katrina Tribute song) the best song ever written, the label probably doesn't hold much weight. But at least Stipe got Martin to praise someone other than himself, and that, I think, is the true accomplishment her. Plus this is a good song... its on like 3 of my mixed cd's right now.
-4- "Saved!" has been a blessing in my life.
Stipe was one of the producers of this critically-acclaimed (at least, it was acclaimed by me, the only critic who matters in this entry) film that looks at all the ways Christians suck sometimes. I'm sure this film stemmed from Stipes' lifestlye choices that, if he had grown up in a Christian home, would have gotten himself sent of to that place that cures gay kids. Seriously, where is the love? Apparently Stipe doesn't have very much for the church. And sometimes I think we deserve it, just maybe.
-5- They make a lot of funny movies funnier.
Case in point-- "Night at the Roxbury." When Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan get into their little tift, you get really sad. Until "Everybody Hurts" starts to play, and then the situation just gets freakin' hilarious.
-6- Man on the Moon and the late, great Andy K.
Andy Kaufman is my favorite comedian, and he died before I was even born. I got to know this great man because of R.E.M.'s "Man on the Moon" a song that talks about how people don't think Kaufman's really dead, that it is just the greatest of all the great pranks he played on us (Cliff, anyone?). I asked my dad a few questions, and I received a full-blown education. Then the movie came out, appriopriately named for the song, and a lot more people my age got to know the best Elvis impersonator of all time.
-7- I always have something to buy my dad.
From concert tickets, tee shirts, albums, posters, concer dvd's... I can do no wrong on holidays. He's an obsessed man, hungry for more R.E.M, and that hunger must get fed somehow. Luckily, I get all the credit for this.
-8- The make-up tricks.
My sisters and I have never actually practiced any of Michael Stipe's make-up techniques that we see over and over when Dad's watching concerts and music videos, but we love that the option is out there. I don't think that I'll ever be daring enough to go for the red eye shadow like he does, though.
-9- I get to see/listen to even more Chris Caraba.
A few summers ago, MTV2 had this special on called Covers. One of the episodes had Dashboard Confessional covering R.E.M.'s "Automatic For the People." Michael Stipe even came out and sang "Hands Down" with the band... oh so great. It was on over and over for a month, and my dad let us, and sometimes forced us to watch it practically every time it was on. And Chris was pretty, he really was. We even have the blessed event on tape. I have bought the songs off iTunes, too, to add a little variety when I am riding in the car with the old man.
-10- Gosh with the Pacers already.
My dad also happens to be a sports freak. I like 'em too, kind of a lot for a girl actually. The R.E.M. obsession gives us a break from having to watch/read/listen to/discuss sports every second of the day. Now its only every other second. I must say, I'm pretty grateful.
(Editor's Note: The reasons I love R.E.M. are not limited to this list. Ten is just a nice, round number. They really are a pretty awesome band, glad to know them.)
Friday, April 28, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The idiocies of my suitemate
There are too many stories to share in this post, but I really wanted to let you in on the amazing-ness that is my suitemate B. B is what I'm going to call her, but if you know me from scho0l (like anyone EVER reads this) than I guess you know who I'm talking about and you can damn me to hell later, I'm too tired right now.
Sometimes I wonder how B ever got into college. But thenI remember that I go to Huntington. It took me a total of five minutes to fill out my application. I think they would accept my black lab Madeline if they thought she could fit the tuition bill. There really are a lot of idiots that go here.
The first week of school, I realized that B is one of those people who talks as a rule. You know, a small talker. I just don't really enjoy small talk. Forced interaction makes me uncomfortable. Now I'm going to get a little logical with you right now. If the average college student attends the exact same classes on Mon., Wed. and Fri., and another set of classes on Tues. and Thurs., it is quite sensible to assume that a student going to an 8 a.m. class on Mon. is going to that same 8 a.m. class on Wed. You would think... but no, I got asked, "What class do you have this morning?" every day. EVERY DAY for an ENTIRE semester. If I was a morning person, this would not have been a problem, but I'm pretty much the equivalent of a 80 year-old man when I first roll out of bed--contankerous.
Then there's the story of the mousse, the hermit crabs and the Jew. Actually, these are three different stories, but it kind of sounds like a good joke. Too bad this isn't funny, because B is so dumb.
The first week of school, I was doing my hair. Because in that first week you get up in the morning and do your hair, I'm not sure why. But I guess that day I was wearing my hair curly, which means that I put a gallon of product in my hair. B seems pretty interesting in what I'm doing. I look at her and smile a little uncomfortably, and then she begins telling me about the bottle of Dove mousse that she bought. B had never bought mousse before, I guess she just got a hankering to have sticky hair, because that is the only result I ever seem to get when i use it. Anyway, B start relating to me how her mousse only comes out as soupy liquid when she presses the bottle, when in fact she would like it to come out as actual mousse. Now, though I was screaming "YOU ARE SUCH A FREAKING IDIOT!" in my head, I just calmly looked at her and said, "Well, I think the directions on the bottle say to shake it up." Now, the story wouldn't be that good if that is all it was, if she had taken my advice and shook the bottle up. But no, she just put the bottle down and the next morning I heard her complaing to my roomie about the same problem. From then all, during the first month of classes, I snuck into the bathroom and shook up B's bottle of mousse, simply to avoid the inevitable conversation and questioning...
And now the hermit crabs... B's roommate AG received a gift from her boyfriend that consisted of two hermit crabs from Florida. AG got them, and called me into her room to see them. A little while later, I was sitting in my room watching the Gilmore Girls (I don't remember exactly what I was watching, this is just a pretty good guess) when B came in to tell me about the hermit crabs. Since then, they have been the subject of about 100 conversations between me and B. And I promise that I was not the one initiating the crab talk. In fact, with B, its usually always a one-sided conversation. She talks, or drones, and you half listen and nod. Then, last night, she called me into her room again (every time I have to pee, I get pulled in there--I should quit liquids for awhile) and yesterday she was a little frantic. Something smelled in her room, she said, and she wanted me to sniff around and see if one of the crabs were dead. Come to find out, the crabs were alive, and the smell was coming from dirty dishes. *sigh* is the year almost over yet?
And now... my favorite B story. This is not a first-hand account. It was related to me by my roomie, God bless her. Of course, Skeyse was in the bathroom and B pounced on her for some conversation. I'm not quite sure what B was talking about but the conversation led her to talk about high school. "I'm not even sure if my parents knew this," B said gravely. At this point, I'm sure Skeyse was scared to death of what was going to be coming out of this girl's mouth. But she never could have guessed what was coming. "I'm not even sure if my parents knew this, but my principal was a Jew." Yes, she said it like she didn't think God's chosen people could function at that level of education, that all Jews are like the one's from "The Fiddler on the Roof." She's not hateful or racist or anything, she's just ignorant. In the funniest way there is to be ignorant.
I'm only feeling slightly mean for this post. Mostly though, it makes me smile. haha.
Sometimes I wonder how B ever got into college. But thenI remember that I go to Huntington. It took me a total of five minutes to fill out my application. I think they would accept my black lab Madeline if they thought she could fit the tuition bill. There really are a lot of idiots that go here.
The first week of school, I realized that B is one of those people who talks as a rule. You know, a small talker. I just don't really enjoy small talk. Forced interaction makes me uncomfortable. Now I'm going to get a little logical with you right now. If the average college student attends the exact same classes on Mon., Wed. and Fri., and another set of classes on Tues. and Thurs., it is quite sensible to assume that a student going to an 8 a.m. class on Mon. is going to that same 8 a.m. class on Wed. You would think... but no, I got asked, "What class do you have this morning?" every day. EVERY DAY for an ENTIRE semester. If I was a morning person, this would not have been a problem, but I'm pretty much the equivalent of a 80 year-old man when I first roll out of bed--contankerous.
Then there's the story of the mousse, the hermit crabs and the Jew. Actually, these are three different stories, but it kind of sounds like a good joke. Too bad this isn't funny, because B is so dumb.
The first week of school, I was doing my hair. Because in that first week you get up in the morning and do your hair, I'm not sure why. But I guess that day I was wearing my hair curly, which means that I put a gallon of product in my hair. B seems pretty interesting in what I'm doing. I look at her and smile a little uncomfortably, and then she begins telling me about the bottle of Dove mousse that she bought. B had never bought mousse before, I guess she just got a hankering to have sticky hair, because that is the only result I ever seem to get when i use it. Anyway, B start relating to me how her mousse only comes out as soupy liquid when she presses the bottle, when in fact she would like it to come out as actual mousse. Now, though I was screaming "YOU ARE SUCH A FREAKING IDIOT!" in my head, I just calmly looked at her and said, "Well, I think the directions on the bottle say to shake it up." Now, the story wouldn't be that good if that is all it was, if she had taken my advice and shook the bottle up. But no, she just put the bottle down and the next morning I heard her complaing to my roomie about the same problem. From then all, during the first month of classes, I snuck into the bathroom and shook up B's bottle of mousse, simply to avoid the inevitable conversation and questioning...
And now the hermit crabs... B's roommate AG received a gift from her boyfriend that consisted of two hermit crabs from Florida. AG got them, and called me into her room to see them. A little while later, I was sitting in my room watching the Gilmore Girls (I don't remember exactly what I was watching, this is just a pretty good guess) when B came in to tell me about the hermit crabs. Since then, they have been the subject of about 100 conversations between me and B. And I promise that I was not the one initiating the crab talk. In fact, with B, its usually always a one-sided conversation. She talks, or drones, and you half listen and nod. Then, last night, she called me into her room again (every time I have to pee, I get pulled in there--I should quit liquids for awhile) and yesterday she was a little frantic. Something smelled in her room, she said, and she wanted me to sniff around and see if one of the crabs were dead. Come to find out, the crabs were alive, and the smell was coming from dirty dishes. *sigh* is the year almost over yet?
And now... my favorite B story. This is not a first-hand account. It was related to me by my roomie, God bless her. Of course, Skeyse was in the bathroom and B pounced on her for some conversation. I'm not quite sure what B was talking about but the conversation led her to talk about high school. "I'm not even sure if my parents knew this," B said gravely. At this point, I'm sure Skeyse was scared to death of what was going to be coming out of this girl's mouth. But she never could have guessed what was coming. "I'm not even sure if my parents knew this, but my principal was a Jew." Yes, she said it like she didn't think God's chosen people could function at that level of education, that all Jews are like the one's from "The Fiddler on the Roof." She's not hateful or racist or anything, she's just ignorant. In the funniest way there is to be ignorant.
I'm only feeling slightly mean for this post. Mostly though, it makes me smile. haha.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Tonight is the first time in a long while where I feel like something might be missing. But what? I guess that is for me to discover and the Lord to lead me to...
I'm ready to stop thinking about myself, caring about my notoriety and reputation in my sphere of influence.When did I turn into the person with a need to feel clever, pretty, funny? I'm sick of worrying about the way I look and feel, and comparing it to the way I've looked and felt in the past. The present is never good enough that way, I'm always looking ahead or behind.
I feel like I've become a judgemental person. Someone who is immune to the people around me who need the most compassion. My empathy for people is gone. Well, I feel very strongly for people suffering in the world, but I ignore my neighbor--someone who I could take the time to love and don't.
I'm sick of college if it means I'm in the middle of my selfish years.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.<> I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. --Romans 7:17-25 (the Message)
I'm ready to stop thinking about myself, caring about my notoriety and reputation in my sphere of influence.When did I turn into the person with a need to feel clever, pretty, funny? I'm sick of worrying about the way I look and feel, and comparing it to the way I've looked and felt in the past. The present is never good enough that way, I'm always looking ahead or behind.
I feel like I've become a judgemental person. Someone who is immune to the people around me who need the most compassion. My empathy for people is gone. Well, I feel very strongly for people suffering in the world, but I ignore my neighbor--someone who I could take the time to love and don't.
I'm sick of college if it means I'm in the middle of my selfish years.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.<> I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. --Romans 7:17-25 (the Message)
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
I'm in a C.S. Lewis mood... here are some quotes from a pretty terrific man.
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.
C. S. Lewis
With the possible exception of the equator, everything begins somewhere.
C. S. Lewis
What seem our worst prayers may really be, in God's eyes, our best. Those, I mean, which are least supported by devotional feeling. For these may come from a deeper level than feeling. God sometimes seems to speak to us most intimately when he catches us, as it were, off our guard.
C. S. Lewis
We are what we believe we are.
C. S. Lewis
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.
C. S. Lewis
This is one of the miracles of love: It gives a power of seeing through its own enchantments and yet not being disenchanted.
C. S. Lewis
We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.
C. S. Lewis
The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.
C. S. Lewis
The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
C. S. Lewis
Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.
C. S. Lewis
Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ.
C. S. Lewis
Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.
C. S. Lewis
Miracles do not, in fact, break the laws of nature.
C. S. Lewis
Much of the modern resistance to chastity comes from men's belief that they "own" their bodies - those vast and perilous estates, pulsating with the energy that made the worlds, in which they find themselves without their consent and from which they are ejected at the pleasure of Another!
C. S. Lewis
No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.
C. S. Lewis
Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.
C. S. Lewis
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.
C. S. Lewis
With the possible exception of the equator, everything begins somewhere.
C. S. Lewis
What seem our worst prayers may really be, in God's eyes, our best. Those, I mean, which are least supported by devotional feeling. For these may come from a deeper level than feeling. God sometimes seems to speak to us most intimately when he catches us, as it were, off our guard.
C. S. Lewis
We are what we believe we are.
C. S. Lewis
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.
C. S. Lewis
This is one of the miracles of love: It gives a power of seeing through its own enchantments and yet not being disenchanted.
C. S. Lewis
We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.
C. S. Lewis
The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.
C. S. Lewis
The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
C. S. Lewis
Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.
C. S. Lewis
Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ.
C. S. Lewis
Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.
C. S. Lewis
Miracles do not, in fact, break the laws of nature.
C. S. Lewis
Much of the modern resistance to chastity comes from men's belief that they "own" their bodies - those vast and perilous estates, pulsating with the energy that made the worlds, in which they find themselves without their consent and from which they are ejected at the pleasure of Another!
C. S. Lewis
No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.
C. S. Lewis
Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.
C. S. Lewis
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
The Number ONE out of 1 million reasons I suck as a friend... Casey...
The following conversations are from Myspace, and will work as proof that I SUCK.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Casey
Date: Mar 21, 2006 12:18 PM
Hey SARAH!!!!
It was so awesome to see you this weekend. I havn't seen/ talked to you in so long. I miss it!! I am so glad you will be around all summer... We have got to hang out. A lot has been going on.. It's been a little crazy!!
How's school? Hope it's awesome and fun! I'm sure you are loving it. School's not to bad this last semester.. I have real easy classes, and the only class I am sure to get homework in is Math.. Which stinks but yeah!
So I hope everything is awesome for you! I will talk to you later. Love you,
Your Friend,
Case
And this is how I replied....
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Sarah
Date: Apr 4, 2006 6:55 PM
Casey my love,
We are DEFINITELY hanging out this summer. And I want to know what's going on with you. I wish that I could share something from my life, but NOTHING is going on. I live a very boring life. I miss you friend.
Talk to you later,
Sarah
So I felt prett good about myself after I sent that. Then I got this reply...
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Casey
Date: Apr 4, 2006 7:28 PM
HAHA my life has been pretty boring.. lol.. but it's starting to get a lot better.. lol.. When I say that, I mean in the ways it shouldn't be. If you get what I mean. I havn't been to church for almost 2 or 3 months. Havn't even been to the gathering in I dunno how long. I only talk to Brad once in a while.. And for the longest time I didn't even know Mandy was pregnant! I am so out of touch. But I am still loving life. Ever since my grandma died. I've just tried to experiment with things in my life. Things that I am not proud of. I am pretty much falling apart in the Christian sence but having a good time other than that. Ya know. I feel like I can't sulk and and be all dreary cuz I'm slipping away from God, cuz I understand what I am doing, I just keep running away. I am doing everything mispleasing to Him, yet I still know where I am, know who He is, know what He wants, and I am running and I havn't came back yet! lol wow!!!! Bet you didn't expect to get all of this.. If only you knew all the stuff I have done.. I would be glad to talk to you about it, if you are interested.. I used to talk to Brad about all of this, but I just can't anymore I don't know why. I feel like I have disappointed him... I feel like everytime he is at lunch that he looks at me and thinks I'm stuck up and that I've changed. Which I have changed.. And now you will prolly feel the same way after I send this to you! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I am pouring all of this stuff onto you, I just havn't talked to anyone about it in so long, and I need too!!!! I love you and please don't look at this like I'm never coming back cuz I am hoping that I will! I just feel like I need the time live the so called "other" life! I guess you can say... Thanks for reading this long thing! I love you and I will talk to you later.
Case
I should never be allowed around people... I befriend and then abandon.
The following conversations are from Myspace, and will work as proof that I SUCK.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Casey
Date: Mar 21, 2006 12:18 PM
Hey SARAH!!!!
It was so awesome to see you this weekend. I havn't seen/ talked to you in so long. I miss it!! I am so glad you will be around all summer... We have got to hang out. A lot has been going on.. It's been a little crazy!!
How's school? Hope it's awesome and fun! I'm sure you are loving it. School's not to bad this last semester.. I have real easy classes, and the only class I am sure to get homework in is Math.. Which stinks but yeah!
So I hope everything is awesome for you! I will talk to you later. Love you,
Your Friend,
Case
And this is how I replied....
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Sarah
Date: Apr 4, 2006 6:55 PM
Casey my love,
We are DEFINITELY hanging out this summer. And I want to know what's going on with you. I wish that I could share something from my life, but NOTHING is going on. I live a very boring life. I miss you friend.
Talk to you later,
Sarah
So I felt prett good about myself after I sent that. Then I got this reply...
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Casey
Date: Apr 4, 2006 7:28 PM
HAHA my life has been pretty boring.. lol.. but it's starting to get a lot better.. lol.. When I say that, I mean in the ways it shouldn't be. If you get what I mean. I havn't been to church for almost 2 or 3 months. Havn't even been to the gathering in I dunno how long. I only talk to Brad once in a while.. And for the longest time I didn't even know Mandy was pregnant! I am so out of touch. But I am still loving life. Ever since my grandma died. I've just tried to experiment with things in my life. Things that I am not proud of. I am pretty much falling apart in the Christian sence but having a good time other than that. Ya know. I feel like I can't sulk and and be all dreary cuz I'm slipping away from God, cuz I understand what I am doing, I just keep running away. I am doing everything mispleasing to Him, yet I still know where I am, know who He is, know what He wants, and I am running and I havn't came back yet! lol wow!!!! Bet you didn't expect to get all of this.. If only you knew all the stuff I have done.. I would be glad to talk to you about it, if you are interested.. I used to talk to Brad about all of this, but I just can't anymore I don't know why. I feel like I have disappointed him... I feel like everytime he is at lunch that he looks at me and thinks I'm stuck up and that I've changed. Which I have changed.. And now you will prolly feel the same way after I send this to you! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I am pouring all of this stuff onto you, I just havn't talked to anyone about it in so long, and I need too!!!! I love you and please don't look at this like I'm never coming back cuz I am hoping that I will! I just feel like I need the time live the so called "other" life! I guess you can say... Thanks for reading this long thing! I love you and I will talk to you later.
Case
I should never be allowed around people... I befriend and then abandon.
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