A Posting Inspired by Photo #8

    Cigarettes.  They really aren't that bad.  I can now admit in front of friends, family, and teachers alike that I am a smoker.  I am 18 years old; so it's legal for me.  Or at least, now it is.  Sometimes when I light one up, I'll get a dirty look from someone.  Every once in a while, said person will take it as far as saying "Hey, you know that's bad for you, right?"  Well, person whom I do not know, your infinite wisdom has just changed my life and my habits.  Thank you.  Of course I know it's bad for me, I mean, I've only been brainwashed to hate cigarettes since I was five.  Many times, this person is of a heftier variety (with us being in America and all).  So a lot of times I think to myself, "Wow, really? You are judging my habits?  Go unclog your arteries then you can (maybe) judge my lungs."  People should keep their own arrogance in check before getting onto me for mine.  To conclude, I'm probably going to keep smoking cigarettes whether you grace me with your disapproval or not.

Cigarettes.
They really aren't that bad.
I can now admit
in front of friends, family, and teachers
alike that I am a smoker.

I am 18 years old; so
it's legal for me. Or at least,
now it is.
Sometimes, when I light one up,
I'll get a dirty look from someone.

Every once in a while, said person will take it as far as saying
"Hey, you know that's bad for you, right?"
Well, person whom I do not know,
your infinite wisdom has just changed
my life and my habits. Thank you.

Of course I know it's bad for me, I mean,
I've only been brainwashed to hate cigarettes
since I was five.
Many times, this person is of a heftier variety
(with us being in America and all).

So a lot of times I think to myself,
"Wow, really? You are judging my habits?
Go unclog your arteries, then you can (maybe)
judge my lungs."  People should keep
their own arrogance in check before

Getting onto me for mine. 
To conclude, I'm probably
going to keep smoking my
cigarettes.  Whether you grace
me with your disapproval or not.

Out the Window

Snow. Snow snow and more snow.  SNOW!!!

Straight ahead I see
An apartment complex, past the grass.
Seems lonesome, dreary, in need of...something

Left there lies a grass field,
blanketed in white.
A few curious blades poke through the sheet

The silver car, usually residing in the parking lot
is no longer there.  Must be off
helping its owner arrive somewhere.

The scene is ever changing, sometimes.
Other times, it is ever still.
It must go with the mood of the City.

Looking straight again, I noticed
the snow. Reflecting the light,
causing a slight pain to my retinas.

Looking further, I see the treeline of outer Battlefield.  I
also see the faint outline of
the oh-so-familiar power plant. 

Clarity (The Color of the Flower)

     The post said that blue was a color of peace, openness, and serenity.  My shade of blue was lighter, however, so I decided that my shade ment something different.  My shade represented to me clarity.  So, here's a poem titled Clarity.

A sense of relief fills me

as I wipe away the grime

That has been coating my eyes

 Seeing the world yet again

through the freshly polished glass

It makes me think of all

The hues, shades, tints, and

the truths, lies, statements

All have a purpose

This means that there is one

question waiting to be answered

When?

for time eternal (A Work Inspired by E.E. Cummings)

i love you for time eternal (yes, also those

instances when you think not so)

for you see i have no choice (when i

look into your eyes) i see halcyon

when you walk (outside that is) the

sun stars clouds and moon

all line up to grin (at you)

how could not they (i ask

myself)  for even things without

their own way know that

you are the (lustrous) gem

of this macrocosm

and the curious fact i tell myself (you

and i) are the offspring of ancient

lore.

before, we may meet (somewhere

else) in this cosmos

And the Teacher Vote is in for Best Music Choice...

     And the results are quite mixed.

     Well, I'll start off by saying (typing) that I was very surprised with some of these answers.  I asked several different teachers some of the questions on the handout.  I found out that Mr. Moore is into Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and (oddly enough) the Black Eyed Peas.  He said that the last concert he went to was a piano playing family called the "Five Somebodies".  He also stated that his most memorable concert was a Willie Nelson concert he saw back in college, while the admission for such things was two beers.  Interesting.  Mr. Moore left us off with a pretty great quote, with a lot of truth to it;  "Music is a part of your identity" 
     Mrs. Stewart was less cooperative.  She gave short, one-word answers.  "Eagles," she responded with, when asked what kind of music reminds her of someone she loves.  When asked what kind of music, if any, she finds offensive, she said "Nasty rappers calling women bitches."  Thank you, Mrs. Stewart, you have really opened my eyes to the musical possibilities.
    Our very own Mrs. Fraser was my next teacher to question.  She stated that the song Sweet Child O' Mine reminds her of her childhood.  She told me that she definitely sings to the radio while in the car, mostly jamming out to stations such as 96.5 and 95.5.  She really dislikes ZZ Top and Sledgehammer.  I've never heard of Sledgehammer, but they already sound bad to me.  As for ZZ Top...I couldn't agree with you more.

    

A Writing on the Topic of Music

     When I listen to music, the emotions evoked by it differ depending on what sort of music it is that I am listening to.  For instance, if I'm listening to some crazy hardcore gangsta-rap then I'm going to feel quite thug.  Or, if I am listening to Frank Sinatra or something of the like, then I'll feel pretty classy.  I listen to music in order to put me into a certain mood, or emphasize the one I am already in.
     My friends definitely do not listen to the same music I do.  Most of what I listen to is really chilled-out, easy listening type-stuff.  Most of what my friends listen to, however, is really obnoxious rap and/or death metal.  I think this means that I'm very different than my friends, and that shows in more ways than just music taste.
     Music does for me what other things in life cannot.  Music helps me get through what-would-be boring car rides.  Music drowns out the noise around me so that I may read a book in peace.  Music gets me pumped up for something I know I need to do.  Music keeps me motivated to clean my house, do the dishes, etc.  There's a lot of things that I use music for, that was just a few.  Without music I would be an insane, barbarian-esque person.
     I wouldn't ever want to be a professional musician.  Not only do I fail at producing music, but I also fail at being onstage.  Music is one of those things that I can enjoy greatly, but I'm so musically untalented it isn't even funny.  I took guitar lessons for about three years.  My parents pulled me out of it and stopped paying eventually, but they wouldn't tell me why until I was older.  When they finally did tell me, I wasn't very shocked.  My guitar instructor had pulled them aside one day to tell them that I had made very little, if any, progress.  He said that in the nicest way possible.  I knew I was good at other stuff, like reading, so this really didn't bother me.  Anyway, they agreed to stop with the lessons.  If I learned anything from the whole experience, it's that we are all good at different things.

The heartbreak of not being musically inclined. (lol)