Nasty Little Thoughts

Born to Die; Rant/Review

2012-02-01T00:34:00.000-08:00

Lana Del Rey as gotten a lot of shit for what she is. I honestly didn't know who she was until a few months ago. My fiance sent me a song called "Video Games." She was and still is really into this song. This I cannot deny, is a fantastic little song that came out of nowhere and hits pretty hard when really listened to. It's a sexy, yet heartbreaking song. It has a certain sensuality to it. One cannot deny that the video clip that accompanies this song is equally as sexy and heartbreaking. It's cinematic and beautiful. Flash-forward 3 months (give or take a month) and we have her full length album. I've had a good chunk of time to check it out, listen to it, let it absorb. So now I'm on my 4th listen and I'm sitting on the internet doing my research, wanting to see what others say about her album, maybe justifying my own feelings for it, and here is what I see: A huge backlash from a community of rumor-mongers and haters. Is that all the internet has become? A rumor mill? Seriously folks, we can't just sit back and take something as it is. We have to sit here and say that just because this girl is on a major label but has pumped out a new sound resembling "indie," that we have to then tear this girl down and start making up lies about her past... It's actually such a shame more people out there can't trust that something is as seen. There are so many people out there who will buy a product from Wal-Mart because it has an "As Seen On TV" label stickered to it... Whatever. I think many critics or just plain music lovers out there should be just a tiny bit more trusting. Can you seriously listen to this album and hear it as something that is not from the heart of a girl? At least she is honest on her tracks, she's not talking about some shit that doesn't matter. She's made an album about exactly what she wants in life. Hey, if she wants a bad boy, but struggles with being a bad girl vs good girl, hell I'll talk that instead of talking about "Dancing till the world Ends" or that we only have "4 Minutes" left to live... although I cannot lie, those last two songs are fun to listen to, they aren't real. When I listen to Lana Del Rey's Born to Die, I feel something more from the songs then just something to dance to, although it may be hard to dance to these songs, unless... you are doing the horizontal... lets just stop there. So Anyway, maybe this was more a rant than a review, but hell, it's how I feel when I think or listen to this album. It's erotic, sensual, titilating. I guess I could care less about the critics reviewing this album and care more about how I feel. As I grow older I'm getting past that elitist feeling of superiority when it comes to the music I love. That was meant for my younger days. Those days when I felt that if I was listening to a band that no one knew, it was awesome and when they were found, they sold out. Screw those days... Although Fall Out Boy, you did just that when you were found, Sold Out. So anyway, if you want to listen to a good, soulful album. One that is different from most things that I've heard lately in the pop genre, check out Born to Die.
I give it 8.5/10. And yes Mrs. Del Rey, I am right there with you, a Pabst Blue Ribbon on ice would be nice.

-Daniel

Random Sex Thought

2011-01-23T00:24:00.001-08:00

This is a random post but I'm thinking about a certain subject and had to just get it off my chest.

So, today my friend and I are talking as we are walking. I'm on a new continent for me. I'm in South Korea. This is all brand new to me. Now I know about the world. I don't live in a bubble. I know how non-Christians are. I'm not lumping them in one group, not at all, but I know that it's not like sex is the biggest deal. There are a lot of people out there who are just like, "I need to get laid" and they don't care who it's with as long as they are good looking and good in the sack I guess. Well, my friend says that she knows that she won't go the whole year without getting laid cuz she couldn't handle that. I felt that kinda insane. I mean, whats with our population. Sex should be something that is special. It shouldn't be thrown around. There are times when I feel like I don't know if I think that sex before marriage is bad, and there are times when I feel it's bad, but for me (I've had sex), I want to wait til marriage before I have it again. This is just my thoughts and feelings and I don't expect anyone to do the exact thing as me. If that's not for you, it's not for you.

So anyway, my rant really just ends up with me thinking it's insane that there are people who would go to bed with someone is not your boyfriend/girlfriend/wife/husband/relationship or who is not going to end up that way. I wouldn't wanna have sex with some random just for a night, just to get my jollies off.

I'm not on a soap box or high horse, I'm just writing about the oddity of how our world works, but I guess not everyone thinks like me. Rarely anyone does.

If you read this, don't think that I judge either, I don't. I just had to write down what I was feeling at the moment.

Laters.

Always Love - Nada Surf

2010-07-12T10:49:00.001-07:00

To make a mountain of your life
Is just a choice
But I never learned enough
To listen to the voice that told me
Always love, Hate will get you every time
Always love, Don't wait til the finish line

Slow demands come 'round
Squeeze the air and keep the rest out
It helps to write it down
Even when you then cross it out

But Always Love, Hate will get you every time
Always Love even when you want to fight

Self-directed lives
I want to know what it'd be like to
Aim so high above
Any card that has been dealt you

Always Love
Hate will get you every time
Always love
Hate will get you

I've been held back by something
Yeah. You said to me quietly on the stairs,
I've been held back by something
Yeah. You said to me quietly on the stairs.
You said
Hey, you good ones.
Hey, you good ones.

To make a mountain of your life
Is just a choice
But I never learned enough
To listen to the voice that told me
Always love hate will get you every time
Always love hate will get you

I've been held back by something
Yeah, You said to me quietly on the stairs,
I've been held back by something
Yeah, You said to me quietly on the stairs
You said..
Hey, you good ones
Hey, you good ones
Hey, you good ones

Spiritual

2010-04-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

I was taking a walk tonight. I don't do that much but I think I just might. Well, at night, your mind plays tricks on you, right? I'm taking this amazing walk listening to music I haven't listened to in a while and I see this man. He's dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans. He has from what I can tell, blonde hair and an average looking face. He is skinny. He's in this wooded area near my house, just a strange little area. He looks to be leaning on the tree. I thought he might be on his cell phone, but it was a pretty weird time of night to just be chillin on a tree talking on the phone. So I wave to him. He head nods back to me and gives me a smile. I, being the clumsy person I am, trip and almost fall. I look back up to see if he is laugh. Nope, he's totally gone. Disappeared within seconds of me first seeing him. There is literally nowhere he could have run to or walked off to, I check the area. It was the strangest thing. Normally, being alone, I'd be kinda freaked out by this, especially since I read on the internets that this area was supposedly where someone died and you can see them walking the lake (but from what I read, this is the wrong lake to have that happen... see we have like 3 or 4 lakes in my neighborhood and the one I think they are talking about is in the other direction). So, normally, I'd be freaked out. I was not. I was left with this peaceful feeling. Like it's all okay. Now I'm thinking, okay, this guy isn't a ghost, but what if he's an angel. You may laugh at this, but here is what happened to me when my walk started.

*Earlier: I was walking the other direction towards the "haunted" lake when as I got through the wooded area near there I started seeing these super odd light bursts. When I say light bursts, I mean almost blinding light bursts that I could not begin to explain. They were right near me too. I started walking towards the bursts to figure out what they were when I started walking into stray spider webs. If you know me, I HATE stray spider webs, but at least they weren't full spider webs that have actual spiders in them. So I start getting that annoyed feeling of, "No ways am I going to keep going if I hit more spider webs"... I do. So I turn around. The light bursts fade off as I walk off.

So this brings me to the conclusion that I was not supposed to find out what these light bursts were and that someone was looking out for me. So that man angel might have been telling me that it was good that I turned around and he was happy that I did so and wanted to have me feel that way, cuz I felt pretty good that he was there.

So thank you God in anyway for that and just for everything.

Take this story as you will.

-Danny

Your Legs Grow by Nada Surf

2010-04-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

If you were here
Baby we'd increase the dose
There was no fear in my room
When we got close

Call me anytime
You've got a ghost
And you're the only person in the world
I feel that way about
And if you move off to the side
I'll get swept back out

Where it's cold but not that deep
'Cause your legs grow
Cold but not that deep
'Cause your legs grow

There's a light that rises up
From the bottom of the lake
And its beam has hit me hard
Now I'm wide awake

Where it's cold but not that deep
'Cause your legs grow
Cold but not that deep
'Cause your legs grow

If you were here
Baby we'd increase the dose
There was no fear in my room
When we got close

Call me anytime
You've got a ghost

James Cameron's AVATAR

2009-12-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

Epic. Legendary. Pure stroke of brilliance. Beautiful. Strong.

Words that I can use to describe James Cameron's epic film, AVATAR.

Like some sci-fi films that have come before this, it takes place on a gorgeous new planet called Pandora. Humans want to mine it's core because it has a special kind of metallic rock called "unobtanium" (my only problem with the film is that freakin name). The problem for the humans, Pandora is already taken by a race called the Na'vi. They are blue and tall and have tails. A man named Jake Sully comes into play as he is the only man who can "pilot" one of the Avatars that is already growing. An Avatar is one of the Na'vi mixed with blood of the human and made so that our mind and possibly soul can be placed inside the body of the Na'vi. So Jake takes to stage and ends up falling in love with EVERYTHING, not just a girl, but EVERYTHING. And seriously, whats not to love. That is all I will tell you of the plot, cuz it's not giving away anything.

So the adventure begins and you get to see the most beautiful thing film has ever brought us. Remember seeing WHAT DREAMS MY COME and thinking that when Robin Williams goes to Heaven, it's super amazing. Well, this is kinda like that, but 100x better. Visuals that will bring tears to your eyes (ei: a lizard that can then start flying with colors all around it). Pandora lights up with every step of the Na'vi, a spiritual people who believe in the nature and their deity Eywa.

If you don't respect this films story, at least respect what it took to make this possible. How about a brand new language? Remind you of The Wrath of Kahn and how Klingon was made just for that film? Or how about a brand new religion that takes from Christianity and Buddhism and many others (of which I can't remember now). That remind you of something? Scientology HAHAHAHA, sorry, that was wrong.

And well, if you don't like the visuals or the story then you're not alive. Let's also look at the soundtrack. James Horner. He did the soundtrack and did an amazing job. I can listen to this score for hours on end. It just reminds me of how beautiful the film was. I want to experience every little bit I can.

Oh, and Cameron found a song that rivals to My Heart Will Go On. It's called I SEE YOU by Leona Lewis and it's just emotional and beautiful and wow.

I recommend this movie to any person with a heart beat. With any sort of emotion, it's fantastical beyond belief.

Please see James Cameron's Avatar as soon as possible!

-Danny

Why should I Listen?

2009-10-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

So I have a little bit a speal. I have a lot of friends who don't like bands with a female singer. That confuses me a bit, cuz doesn't that have a bit of sexuality to it? I mean, are you to tell me that you don't like sexuality in your songs? Cuz I'd much rather have a girl singing to me about wanting me then a guy singing about sex or whatever. Right? Am I wrong to assume this? Like Paramore, would those songs be better with a guy singing? No ways! NO freakin Way! That would be terrible. Pretty much the saving grace of Paramore is Haley's voice. And she's beautiful. Without female singers we'd be stuck in a bunch of testosterone fueled songs. Yeah, we have guys out there who are willing to sing about love and what not, but yet again, I would rather have a female telling me that.
Let me go a bit farther, I'm not saying singers like Britney Spears or Mandy Moore need to be singing, I'm saying actual bands. One's that write their own music. ie: Paramore, The Veronicas, Flyleaf, even freakin' Katy Perry writes her own songs.
It's cool to hear what the female perspective is on things. I mean, when do we get to hear that, except when we are with a girlfriend... poke poke, wink wink.
Anyway, that's my random thought of the day.
Listen to Paramore's new album by the way. It's magical.
-Danny

The Rocketboys and their 20,000 Ghosts

2009-10-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

I've known the Rocketboys for quite some time now. I had been in classes with their guitarist Mitch Holt and had art with Josh Campbell, their bassist, and they are both great guys, as are all the Rocketboys. I remember hanging out with my friend Scott and he was starting this band and he showed me a video tape with him and this guy I'd never met (Brandon Kinder). They were playing this beautiful song and that was the start of Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys. They suddenly were a full fledged band and everyone in Abilene was hearing about them. They played every ACU JamFest and were at the local coffee shop all the time. This band was going places. Their sound was a sound heard before, but they improved upon it. I remember thinking at the time that they were a cross between Coldplay and Death Cab for Cutie. I thought how cool this could be. At this point, the line up was 2 guitarists, a bassist, a celloist and a drummer. They brought out their first EP, recorded outside of Lubbock, TX and it was nothing short of fantastic. It captured Brandon's unique voice and the sound of the band. As college life became more serious and it was coming to an end, Scott, the celloist had to leave the band to pursue his own careers. So the band then started to change their sound. Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys became a whole different beast and were paving the way to what they sound like today. I lost contact with some of the guys for a while and didn't pay attention, not because I didn't like them, but I used to love the cello. They then changed their name to just, The Rocketboys; Easy enough and label friendly. Then from what I've heard, their drummer Phillip went to pursue his own interests and left the band during some of that time. They then gained Justin on keys and from what I've seen, they have changed 2 drummers since Phillip left. Right now on tour they have Alex from the New Frontiers, who is fantastic; I wouldn't mind seeing him as a full time member, he seems to fit the group. Enough about where the band has been in my eyes, let me explain to you why "20,000 Ghosts" is one of the better independant albums out this year.
Brandon Kinder has an interesting set of pipes on him. He is able to go from a bass to a falseto so easily it puts Chris Martin (Coldplay) to shame. This album only further proves it. His vocals have gotten so much better, he's been working on them for sure. The boys know what they are doing musically. This album is friendly to any listener. I think it would be hard for someone to hate this unless they just weren't open to new music. This album will complement any music collector's collection.
The Rocketboys start the album off with "We are a Lighthouse." It's a great song to begin with. It sets the mood of the record. Very piano heavy and lots of fun. It's also their single. We then shift into "All The Western Winds." It sounds like he's talking to a friend and wanting to help them. It's a good paced song and shows off Brandon's vocals very well. Moving forward, we have one of my favorite songs "Sights and Sounds." I'm not sure why it's my favorite, it might be because of the great piano in the forefront or happiness it brings to me. Like I said, not sure why. It's a contradicting kinda song, happy and melancholic all in one. So the first 3 tracks are well done and nothing like each other, which is good. It then goes into "Like Ice in Water", a great track that makes you feel the needs that he's singing about. "Take it From Me" starts in softly and grows a bit. It's guitar and piano heavy, with Brandon's falsetto singing his advice. Next, the vocals are almost missing and we have "Entr'acte (parts I and III)." This is a beautiful song. I only wish it could be longer. I understand though, the fans want Brandon's vocals and we only get a couple of lyrics here. After that minute and a half, we come to "Islands." I really love this song. The lyrics are great. It seems like he is defending himself. "I'm trying most times, for lack of a better word, I'm not an Island." Those are great lyrics. Does this mean he's not a loner, he doesn't want to be the offset person, the one that is just left there? I think it might. "Nineteen Twenty Nine" is the 8th track and it comes in with just guitar and Brandon singing. This is where their Christian roots set in. "Did you hear gospel songs?" Brandon is giving us his love for God in this song and it's beautiful. Next is "Endings." "Their are 20,000 ghosts along my side and I warned them to stay away, but they keep on coming back." This is about history repeating itself. It's a great fast song and it's a warning to us. Coming to the last two songs, first, "Rare Triumphs of Love and Fortune." It's a pretty, guitar driven track with a nice piano in the background. I like it, but I think it's the weakest track. Then, "I Saw a Stone." The last track, how does this album fare in the ending? It's a great ending. It's slow and pretty and just leaves you with a good feeling, but what it also does is makes you want to restart the album over again and relisten right after it's done.
I bought this album last night after the show, which was their best performance I've seen them do, and can't stop listening to the album. I recommend everyone to check this album out. It's worth it. Amazon has it on special download for $7.99 and iTunes has it for $9.99 or you can do the awesome route and get the actual cd with some nice artwork for $12 at the shows, which you should see. Brandon's voice is gold. Mitch's guitar is solid, so is Daniel's and Justin does a mean keyboard and Josh is great on bass and don't forget Alex on drums.
Can you tell I feel pretty good about The Rocketboys?
-Danny

The Resistance that Muse brings to us!

2009-09-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to MUSE's new album, The Resistance. The only way to talk about this album is to tell you, it's a two part cd. The first 3/4's of this fantastical journey into the mind of Matthew Bellamy (Muse lead singer) is a part punk, part space rock, part pop, voyage that will set your brain into musical overdrive. You will rock out to every song from track 1 (the single, Uprising) all the way to track 8. My favorite track on that portion of the album is "Undisclosed Desires" (track #3). Undisclosed Desires if very funky and poppy and just makes me want to get up and dance. All those tracks are amazing.

Let's get to the real meat of this album though. It starts with (track 9) Exogenesis: Symphony 1 (Overture). Heavy strings and brass instruments start this track off. Violins playing heavily and giving you a very ominous feeling. Then it gets into an almost mystical and fantastical spacey sound that you've known and loved from Muse. The drums start to pump, then Matthew Bellamy's haunting voice silently blends in and becomes more noticed. He sounds as if he's in a space opera. He giving us the most passionate delivery off any of their older albums I've ever heard. This is new territory folks. This is Muse at their all time best.

THE WORDS "LEGENDARY" and "EPIC" WERE ONLY THOUGHT UP BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO MADE THEM KNEW THAT MUSE WOULD SOMEDAY BE A BAND AND WRITE THE ALBUM THAT IS "THE RESISTANCE."

As strong and beautiful as track 9 starts, it stops and blends into beautiful piano that starts to go crazy. You then hear the violins tense and the piano plays pretty once more. The track is called Exogenesis: Symphony 2 (Cross-Pollination). This piano heavy track boasts Bellamy's voice in a way that you would want him to swoon you. You want him next to you singing this, you want to be in a dark symphony hall with just soft lighting, blues and reds and greens swimming around you. Then, guitars and drums... you want a lazer light show to blair up. You feel the energy, you feel the need to do what Bellamy says, "You Must Rescue Us All!" I want to. I want to be there, I want to help them! Then again, as it starts, it ends, with the pretty piano. Then it fades. Exogenesis: Symphony 3 (Redemption). It begins with another beautiful piano piece. It gives you hope! It gives you the feeling of true redemption. It's not until 2 minutes into the song that drums and Bellamy even start to come in. "Why can't we start it over again?" We can, because I'm sure that right after this track ends, you'll be ready to replay the whole album once more, if not just the last 3 tracks. I know I put track 9 on at least 3 time while at work today.

This is the sort of album you want as your soundtrack in life. These 11 tracks will inspire and move you. They will do what what every other Muse album may have done to you before, but in a different way. You can tell that as a band, they've matured. I can't wait to see them play this album live, especially the 3 symphonies.

Well guys and gals, that's my take on the new Muse album. If you are a fan at all, I say go buy it on Tuesday or download it. ;) Everyone deserves to hear this new album, it gets a 5 out of 5 from me.

I'll be posting more blogs about all sorts of things soon.

-Danny <3

Put The Pieces Back Together

2009-07-19T08:48:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time since I've blogged. So here we go.

Last night I saw "(500) Days of Summer". What did I think? I think that it is a great indie film with staying power. I think that it will develop a big following. I think that many people will be able to relate to both Tom and Summer in the film.

Love is such a strange emotion we feel. No one can ever quite explain love because it comes in different forms to different people. Some it sneaks up on, some know it's coming. The term "falling for you" is used a lot by many. I personally like when you wake up one day and realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. That moment doesn't get any better. The only thing better is when everyday that feeling of love you have for the person you are in love with gets super strong and you can feel it growing. It's like an extra limb that you get used to coming out of your body. If that limb were to suddenly one day disappear, your life would change forever, just like it did when that limb showed up suddenly.

I mean, do you ever just wake up and realize what a big change your life took? I woke up and my whole career changed in a matter of a week. I woke up and I was in love again. I woke up and I was living in a different city. I woke up and I was sleeping in a different bed. These are all changes that happened so suddenly. No real thought put into it til later. Which is a good thing. I love that about life. It changes so fast. God has this plan for us you know? We don't have to understand, we just have to be okay with it and enjoy the ride. I know I am.

Look at yourself in the mirror. Now think about what you looked like 6 or 7 years ago. Yeah, different huh? I know I look different. I mean, I have a beard. haha. Not like it has staying power, but I'm older and I can tell. I'm a bit more weathered. I've lived for 25 years. I'm a quarter of a century old. Weird. Well, God let me come this far and I hope he lets me go way farther.

I can't wait to see whats next. I'm excited for the future. Excited about marriage, excited about kids, excited about jobs, excited about friends, everything. Well, I can wait, but I'm excited. I want to live life one step at a time.

I guess this post was just about Life, Love, Faith, and a little indie movie that made me think all this.

-Danny

Elections Day

2008-11-04T12:44:00.001-08:00

So it's the day we pick the President of the United States.
What an interesting day. We have two choices that really matter and one choice that is silly, because we all know we vote libertarian when we can't figure out who else to vote for.
So Barack Obama (interesting enough... in Hungarian, his name is Peach Obama) and John McCain.
Which one is the lesser of two evils? I'm not sure. I voted and I'm still not sure.
On one hand, I have no real reason to hate on McCain, cept he's old and I don't like Palin. On the other hand, Obama wants to have our medical stuff become Socialistic.
Do I want that? Not really, but do I also understand what it means? Not Really.
I would like to see a younger male take us into a different direction as a President.
I would actually like Chuck Norris for president. JUST KIDDING!
As a young person, I honestly don't feel affected by this all yet. I want to be all into this and be gung ho for one candidate or the other, but I'm not.
Sadly I made an uneducated decision on who to vote for... but I feel okay with that. I don't feel like my vote really does count.
I live in Texas, if I don't vote for McCain, my vote is gonna go nowhere anyway.
Our political system sucks anyway. Delegates and Super Delegates and all that shit... our Delegates can vote for who they want, we don't sway their decision.
I would like to think that our votes count as much as we are led to beleive, but I don't think they do.
So here we are... the night we find out who our next President is. I'm excited, but you might not think so. I can't wait to see who our next prez is...
If it's Obama, get ready for some big changes. If it's McCain, I think we'll stay the same for a while at least.
I'm kinda wondering what the hell G.W. Bush is doing right now... I mean, he could start a war with Russia and we might not even know... that sneaky funny little man. Honestly though, I don't mind Bush as much as some people do.
He didn't do anything too bad in office.
I'm just ready to see what someone else can do.
Can I vote for Bruce Wayne for President... Batman as our new president? Anyone? No... Yes?
Well, I hope that you have a wonderful day. Get out and vote. Make your voice heard. Do your thing. And hey, if your candidate wins, pat yourself on the back and know that you were part of something huge. If your candidate does not win... Sorry.
Peace out.
-Danny

I Offer All That I Am...

2008-10-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

Here I am. It's a Sunday morning, almost afternoon. I didn't go to church. I haven't been going and it's not because I don't want to. It's because I know that I am being anti-social. It's hard to go to church by yourself and I know so many people do it. I need to start going again. Right now though, I'm having some God time. I think my morning has been a lot of God time. I love singing to the Lord.

I feel that being a follower of Christ is one of the most amazing things in my life. God has blessed me with so many good things and I can't ever doubt that He is the best and holiest and my father, my creator! I pray to God. He is amazing! He has my life.

It's hard to believe there are people out there who don't believe in God. Honestly though, I know that God is a hard concept to believe out of pure faith. The thing is, I've seen people do it. I've seen people change religions because of God's word. It's so amazing. It's so amazing Praise God!

Wow, I just got a little emotional. God is so good and I don't even know how to fully explain it.

He has blessed me with so much in my life. It's not fair either. I'm a sinner, but he knows that. He knows I falter alot. But I lift myself up to God. I give myself up. I'm a living sacrifice to God and I know He hurts when I fail, but He still loves me.

One day I will meet with God.

Everyone asks, what would you ask God when you meet Him? There are so many things you could ask, but will you?

I'm sure we will be in awe when we meet God. We won't even be able to speak. The moment will be so beautiful. Our hearts will fill and we won't need anything, we will just know.

I'm so happy to know that if I love God and follow His word that I will someday get to meet Him.

Thank you Lord!

Love in Him,

Danny

May Angels Lead You In

2008-10-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

God,

You are so amazing.

You are mysterious.

You are wise.

You are merciful.

You are my God.

The only God.

You are the Truth.

You are the light in the darkness.

You are the One I look too.

You are the fortunate One.

You are the majestic One.

You have the ability to see right through me.

You have the ability to know who I am when I don't know who I am.

You know my fears, my strengths, my talents, my love, my heart, my thoughts, my everythings.

You are the One and Only.

You are my number 1.

You have been and always will be, longer than anything lasts.

You are the creator.

You are my father.

You are the maker of life.

You can take life.

You have sent you son to die for me.

Your son willingly spread your love to everyone!

Your son took our sins!

He then died on the cross for the sins of man that have been and will be.

You were able to do this for us.

You would be the only one who would do this for us.

You will always be the only one who would do this for us.

I am a believer of you and your word.

I am a follower of you Lord.

I put my life to you.

I give my life for you.

I give my life to you.

You are the only one I do that for.

My love for you runs deep.

My trust for you runs deep.

My heart for you runs deep.

I take your love as you give it!

I know your love.

You are love.

Thank you God.

This is my prayer to you.

Amen.

-Danny

If it weren't 9am, I'd have a beer

2008-08-28T06:48:00.001-07:00

Life is ever changing and I should really know this by now.

It scares the shit out of me to know that ties to a place can be cut so fast and then you wonder what you are doing there.

My life has drastically changed. In the last two months:

-I found God. I became a disciple of God.

-Kyna broke up with me. She started dating another guy.

-I met Kearby. I started dating Kearby. I broke up with Kearby.

-Had been talking to another girl (can't say her name right now for readers purposes). Started something with new girl. (It's awesome, but complicated).

-I applied for some new jobs. There is one in Dallas that I would love love love to get.

That is really what just happened in the time span of a couple months. So I should be happy in general. I don't know if I am. I really hurt Kearby's feelings and that sucks so much cuz she means a lot to me in the sense that she is my friend and I don't think she deserved any of what I threw at her.

The whole Kyna thing messed me up because I thought that I would always have her in my life, but I don't now and that kinda sucks. She called me not too long ago and wanted to make sure that I didn't think ill of her. Well, then she goes and takes me off facebook/myspace friends, and I don't even know why, but it fucking hurt my feelings!!! What the hell? Why should I even care if I'm friends with her on Facebook or Myspace...? Anyway, I might be leaving Abilene and if that's the case, I won't have any need to be around her anymore. Oh and by the way, I owe her $115 for a gym membership that we are both on together (that's good, keep the ties)...

This new girl makes my heart flutter. I just thought you might want to know that. She makes me feel good and makes me want to be the guy I know I could always be. Is that cliche' to say? There are definitely problems in the relationship and not between her and I, it's just certain factors... and if you'd like to know, I'll gladly tell you in person or on the phone. And if we haven't hung out in a long time, I think it's about time for a trip to see me. Don't you think so (bill)?

Anyhoo, my life is a rollercoaster. Oh, and I decided yesterday, swinging on swings makes me sick! Are you kidding, that was favorite past time!!!! So yea... I'm either getting old or my stomach aint what it used to be. I'd like to discard both, but I know somethings up. hahaha.

Well, I miss all of my readers... or maybe I just have one reader, but in that case, I miss him too.

Talk to you when I talk to you.

-Daniel

R.I.P. Tim Russert

2008-06-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Being in the media business and working at a NBC affiliate station, I feel the need to say that I have felt what it's like to be around the business and how much these figures in NBC mean to everyone here. It's insane. I have heard the name Tim Russert and people were amazed that he died and sadly, until I saw his face I didn't recognize who he was. Now that I know that he is the man from Meet The Press I do feel sadness. I feel for his family and friends and I feel for everyone that had some sort of connection to him. So from a media person to a political person, Tim Russert you will be missed.
-Daniel

Night Diving

2008-05-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

It seems more often then not, that I am thinking in movie or music terms. As to life I look at something and I think, well, that could have been a scene in a movie or wow, that could make a good subject in a song. At the same time, going along with the thinking in movies form, I think in book form too. I've been wanting to write something in book form for so long. I have all these ideas, but I don't want to write it while reading something else, cuz I'm afraid I'll end up accidently stealing an idea. Right now I am reading TWILIGHT. It's a beautiful book about a girl who falls in love with a vampire. I know that that might sounds silly, but it works so well. The way it is written and the way it feels so emotionally real. I recommend reading it if you get a chance. It's a fun read and a great story.

So anyway, I've been thinking in weird ways and dreaming even weirder. I think that I am just bored with what I am doing in life. I don't think that I am bored with TV News or whatever, but just bored of the setting I'm in, either in Abilene or at the station. I still like working at Gamestop, cuz it feels more like a hobby then a job. The station is monotanous and I feel like I'm working toward nothing. There are some opportunities popping up, but nothing is set in stone. I hate that feeling. I hate feeling like I might be traveling something that turns up a dead end. I mean really we can't be too sure what we are traveling towards all the time but still it scares me to think that I could be looking at a light at the end of a tunnel that is really just a light above a sign that says "Sorry. You have reached the end of the tunnel, but this is where we ask you to turn around." I would love to think that it's construction at the end and I just have to wait or even climb around it all. Let's hope that be the case.

I feel very optimistic about the opportunities that are coming my way, I really do. It's just that in the past here at the station, they've come and bit me in the ass before. I lift my spirits only to have them drop down into an eternal abyss.

Again, let's hope all my fears are unjustified!

Sometimes life does this:

When it does, it's just worth it to laugh at things like this:

That is it for now. I'll be on more frequently I'm sure.

Peace out everyone,

Danny.

Just miles apart, but worlds away.

2008-04-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

For the first time in my life, I'm paying for things with my own money and no real help from my parents. What a scary time this is. I just bought a plane ticket to Wisconsin to see my brother and his wife and my niece and nephew/god-son. I'm so excited. Kyna is coming along. I got an awesome price on the tickets. Good ol' searching google for discount codes, hahahaha. Seriously, 12% discount. Awesomeness if you ask me. I'm just growing up and it's crazy, plus I owed the IRS like 400 bucks!!! Geeze. That sucks so much. Money down the drain if you ask me. Why should I be giving the government money out of a paycheck that I earned? Well, I mean, everyone does it and I understand why, but it just sucks that it has to be done. Like, I can't say that they don't do anything for me, lets just go with protection and we'll stick with that for now and I can have peace of mind that I payed them a shit load of my own money.

On to other matters. THRICE - THE ALCHEMY INDEX VOL. III: AIR and VOL. IV: EARTH. This is the second part of THE ALCHEMY INDEX CDs. I have to say that I loved VOL. II: WATER so much, and it's still one of my favorite things THRICE has ever written, but VOL. III: AIR is getting up there in amazingness. VOL. IV: EARTH is also greatness. VOL. I: FIRE is not my favorite but it is listenable. I think that they are just getting better in time. They know what their fans are looking for, but it also feels like this is the most personal and favorite of any cd they have ever been a part of. If you know me well, you know that one of my all time favorite dead bands is FRODUS. Well members of FRODUS left that band and became other bands respectively. I'm not a fan of everything they have done, but I do like THE OUT_CIRCUIT. They are very nice easy music almost like the softer stuff that FRODUS used to do not very oftenly. Well, Dustin Kensrue (from THRICE) sang on a track that is very beautiful on the new THE OUT_CIRCUIT cd and Teppei (also from THRICE) produced that cd. So in turn THRICE covered "THE EARTH ISN'T HUMMING" from FRODUS' last cd AND WE WASHED OUR WEAPONS IN THE SEA. Well, as this song is amazing in itself and really never needed to be covered (I say that, but at the same time, my band EVER/REST covers FRODUS' song 6/99... see my muxtape http://dannylicious.muxtape.com for more details on 6/99), but it's just such a great song and I'm happy to see anyone take a swing at covering a FRODUS song, and I like what Dustin Kensrue has done with it, it still doesn't fit so much with THRICE, but still I like it. Now just like the first ALCHEMY INDEX cd (Fire takes on hard, screamy qualities. Water takes on a more liquid melody and electronics, much like RED SKY from VHEISSU) the songs take on the quality of the elements named on the cds. AIR takes on a more put together quality, feeling light and almost soft at times (like when the air is just nice outside) and sometimes it gets hard and windy and just altogether hard to take lyrically (which is amazing all in itself). All in all I guess it's just a great cd. It has a bit of everything needed to make a great THRICE cd. I'm very happy to have gotten to know this bands music and I guess I have to thank Bo R. for him forcing me to drive to Dallas from Abilene one night to see a couple small bands (THRICE opening for COHEED AND CAMBRIA before anyone knew of them) and getting me into these bands, making for some good times. I think I saw a bunch of bands thanks to him. We saw COHEED and THRICE a couple different times each... plus, who can forget the all so funny comment when seeing a big black guy peeing on my car, "I can see your penis." Probably not the brightest thing to say to a big black man peeing on my car. Thanks Bo.

All right, for my Nasty Little Thoughts,

I'm Danny. Goodnight.

Darling Why Do You Leave?

2008-03-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

Emotions are something of a mystery. As human beings we have to suffer through some of the hardest emotions or feelings. As humans we also get to enjoy these emotions. They are though, still a mystery. There are times you just can't help feeling the way you feel. There might not even be something making you feel these emotions. Hell, you might even feel false emotions through listening to a song or watching tv or a movie, etc... I don't know why these things happen, they just do. I feel a bit annoyed as I write this. I can't really tell you why either, cuz I don't know why. I want to just yell at everything and everyone. Everything that has happened this week, every little detail from this afternoon all the way to last Monday. I just want to complain about every little thing. I'm not going to, but it is frustrating.

Also I can't even tell what is going on in my personal life. What is up with that? I don't know what to do. My stomach hurts because of it. It's a scary thought. My life is so upside down in my own mind. What is up with that? Forget it though, it's not like I can just get up and say, this is done, and be okay with everything. Right? I can't and I know it.

sincerely effed up,

Danny

Pudge

2008-01-31T08:57:00.000-08:00

To most, a family dog is part of your family. He's like your little brother or something close to it. So when you're dog dies, it hurts so much, almost like losing your family member, not almost, it is. My brother just called and told me our dog Pudge had been hit by a car this morning and he died. I hate this so much because I love that dog more than a lot of things in this world. It hurts so fucking much. Death is such a bitch and not fair at all. And I just want to see that little dog again. I was gonna go home this weekend and be able to see him and play around like always but no, not this weekend. not ever again, I couldn't even be near him even close today. I can't remember the last time I went home and I feel like I don't even want to go home tomorrow. I just want to lay down and not do anything. I don't want to work, I don't want to play or anything. I just want to stop hurting. I can't even believe this, I haven't cried in so long. It's not fair to have this happen. I really hope that dogs can feel what you feel for them. I hope that Pudge knew how much I loved him. I hope that every time I called his name and held him and loved on him that he knew that my affection for him was great. I just want to have been able to have stopped him from getting out of the fence and running into the street. The biggest thing, I don't want to hate the person who hit him. I don't even know them and I hate them. I feel mad that Pudge, after all these years didn't know better than to run off into the street. I miss him so much.

So these are my feelings on the subject. I love Pudge and I already miss him so much.

I love you Pudge. I hope you knew that.

-Danny

Heath Ledger's Death

2008-01-22T14:32:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to lie... I'm saddened by the death of Heath Ledger. He was a good actor and most likely a good man. The sad things: the death of a person is always sad... also, he was a good actor and was probably going to blow up and be something more with his potrayal as The Dark Knight's arch-nemesis "The Joker." Why death happens? God wills...
I don't know if I come off weird for writing this... I mean, this is the guy who played a gay man in Brokeback Mountain. But really, he's a fine actor. Look at A Knights Tale (that was fun), Lords of Dogtown (he was good).... He's about to be the Joker. Holy Poop! This really sucks.
In a selfish thing, I am glad they finished filming The Dark Knight. Sad that he won't play Joker again...
Anyway, RIP to HEATH LEDGER.
-Danny

Moment of Silence.

Fucking Life.

2008-01-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

Why isn't life fair? I mean, in a job setting, you're company should want you to move up right? And if you don't have experience in something, how the hell are you supposed to get experience without trying it? If someone wants to add more to work to their load, without extra pay mind you, wouldn't you let them instead of giving it to someone who already has a butt load to do?
I have applied to three different jobs at this studio. 2 of which I was qualified to do, but there were betters out there, and one that I thought I was a shoe in for and didn't even ask for more money, just to be able to have the chance to do it. I made a demo tape and everything, yet that wasn't good enough I guess. But really it's also office politics. Those suck. This is enough to make me want to quit my job.
Do they really think I want to be an assistant producer the rest of my life? I need more to my life then a part time minimum wage worker. This job sucks sometimes. The only time I feel let off my leash is when my producer is gone and I get to do most of his job for him. I love that.
I'm ready to leave this place. Maybe it's about that time to start applying for different jobs away from this studio. Maybe it's time to move on. Cuz I'm not about to work 2 minimum wage part time jobs for 2 or 3 more years. Fuck that shit.

For my fucking life,
Daniel.

Casual Gamer?

2007-12-27T21:36:00.000-08:00

I'm such a casual gamer... it's kinda crazy. I work at Gamestop and really... I don't play that many games. I own about 13 next gen console games... 3 of those games are the burger king games and 2 of the other games are wii games that came with the system and the wii zapper (so those 5 games right there don't really count, cuz they are just whatever games...). Then another 3 games are music games (Guitar Hero II and III and Rockband) So those don't really count as hardcore games, cuz they are casual games/party games... Then I have Viva Pinata, which is just a causal play as you go game about raising animals (pinata style).... So that rules out that... Then I have Assassin's Creed and Halo 3 for 360 and I beat Halo 3 and now I only use it for the multiplayer and I haven't really gotten through Assassin's Creed yet... I just don't sit down and play video games enough... Then I have my wii games, being Super Paper Mario (at the last boss, but haven't even tried to beat him), also The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess (took me a few weeks, but I beat it... just 20 more ghosts to go before I'm done with all the side quests), then Avatar The Last Airbender (really haven't gotten too far into it, I have it cuz I love the show), then Zack & Wiki (last level), then Super Mario Galaxy (another one where I haven't gotten far at all cuz I haven't sat down to play it)...

Now here is my theory. I love the story of Assassin's Creed, but i know it's a long game with lots of stuff to do. Super Mario Galaxy is amazing, but the same thing... long. I just don't have a big attention span to video games... some levels are just too massive to want to try and beat it all.

So here I am now, at the pause screen of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. I'm on the 3rd or 4th mission. Way Way farther then I've gotten on Assassin's Creed and I'm only checking it out from Gamestop and I just got it tonight... So here is my thing, all the levels are pretty short... but complicated enough to be fun. The story is just goofy in the way that it's just your team going in to take out terrorists... pretty basic stuff. I also already know that if you play it straight through, it should take you about 6 to 8 (at most) hours to beat it. So with 6-8 hours of single player missions, I know that I can beat this game and then be happy with having done that. Maybe it'll inspire me to beat my other games.
Also, I give CoD4 a solid 5 out of 5 stars. The graphics are fantastic. The missions are fun so far. The story is fun so far. I haven't played multiplayer, but it is supposed to be better then Halo 3 and I loved Halo 3's multiplayer. I am now as converted as I can be for this game. I have had so many people say it's good and I'm like, naw, I love Halo 3. Well my friends, it's so true, CoD4 kicks all kinds of terrorist butt.

So there is my rant on gaming and a fun review about Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
I hope you have a fun morning/afternoon/evening/night.
Peace,
-Danny.

The Cake is a Lie!

2007-12-03T23:06:00.000-08:00

Well...

The cake is really not a lie.

The whole game lies to you.

I just got done playing PORTAL from THE ORANGE BOX on my xbox 360.

I checked it out because I just wanted to play Portal... What a fun game... It took me all of 4 hours at the most to beat it...

The most fun I've had in a long time with a game. They promise cake at the end of the levels. Then you see that the cake may be a lie... it's kinda not a lie. If the game is not worth playing just for the puzzle funness, then its worth it for the ending credits w/ the computer singing to you about how you killed it but it still loves you and how the cake is so delicious and moist.

I now want some cake.

Well, I got what I wanted out of The Orange Box. Just to play Portal, that's all I cared about. I beat Portal and had total massive amounts of fun and stress and loved every second, even when it was kinda creepy, but you knew that nothing was there cuz you are the only but turrets in the level that shoot you. So yea.. fun times.

Plus, today my boss told me that I have an interview with him for the Producer job... so that'll be the sorta second interview about it. To me that means, I am a potential candidate for the job. Let's keep our fingers crossed and prayers up. hahaha.

Well, i started that game at 11:30 I think, and it's now 1am... hmmm... Time went by super fast and that last level was freakin long.

Alright. peace in the hood.

-Danny

What are my Nasty Little Thoughts?

2007-11-25T21:49:00.000-08:00

So maybe I think that my Nasty Little Thoughts are my most private thoughts. The Things I think about the most. My fears. My plans. My life.

Lately, I've been scared. I work for a living. It's not much of a living. I feel like all I do is go to work, come home, watch tv or hang out with my girlfriend and then go to sleep to start the whole routine over again. I have two jobs. I think that's maybe my problem there. I want to have one full time job or a full time job and a fun job... but I have two part time, minimum wage jobs... What the hell? You know, I'd be fine if it were that I was making enough to live at least a somewhat alright life. No... I love off my parents still and make money on the side. That's what the hell it feels like right now. That sucks!

At the same time... I feel like I'm competing with my girlfriends want to just go home and quit grad school. That sucks too! If she quits, she leaves, we might break up cuz I know as well as anyone who has ever been in a long distance relationship, that it is crazy and hurts and I'm afraid that it might just hurt enough for us not to want to be in one again. The MOST HURTFUL thing of all of it is not the fact that she wants to leave, but the fact that I want to ask her to marry me so bad, that I think about it every day of my crappy existence. The thing of it is, I don't think I can do it if I don't have the money. Am I just using a cop out? I don't know. I feel like since my parents control the most of the money that comes in to me, they control a big part of what happens in my life. UGH! I don't want that. I want to be in control of it all. Actually... I want God to have control of my life. I want Him to tell me what I'm supposed to do.

In that though, I feel like I'm not being a good Christian right now. I skip Church and go when it's convenient for me. I hate that. I need to just go. I need to pray more. I need to do a lot.

So much going on inside my head it hurts.

So tired.

You get the bulk of it all now. Sorry.

I'm out.

-Daniel.

These are my hands, these are my faults, these are my plans and these are my nasty little thoughts....

2007-11-25T21:01:00.000-08:00

I wrote em down for you to contemplate... at a later date.

So yea.. Stroke 9 references abound... they are my favorite band.

This is my first entry in my blogspot blog... which I have my myspace and my livejournal, but I never really use LJ and I used my myspace, so there might be some overflow from the myspace... but that's okay, cuz you don't know that. hahaha.

Anyway, stopped by to say hi.

Talk to ya'll soon.

peace,

-Daniel