Harmony

I love the discovery of new music. I'm pretty sure most people do. But, there's something about it that makes me so happy and excited, like I want to tell everyone I know about what I just found out regardless if they would like that type of music or not because deep down I really and truly want them to like it too. It would make it just that much better. I guess music has that kind of power. It does that to you sometimes.

And it's not just that. I realized that there's different levels, I guess you can say, of excitement according to how the music moves me. Okay okay let me explain. I think I can, for simplicity sake, divide it into three different "levels." So here goes.

The first one, in no necessary order, is the cleverness of the lyrics. If it's something that hits you, or makes you think. GAH. Something that makes you say "Damn, I wish I wrote that" or "how the hell did this artist just sum up all my feelings in one line?" Wordplay included, but not even just that. Simplicity can be amazing when its honest. I don't really have a specific rubric, but it's kinda like when you hear it, you just know. And when a song has compelling lyrics like that, I just have to tell someone about it.

Then, there's the harmony that's included in the music. When it's this "level" that catches me, I'm not even paying attention to the lyrics at this point. Something that has good harmony behind it makes me think, "Hmmm, I wonder if my sister and I could learn this song?" I want to learn the harmony even if it's a boy part because I like it that much. There's true genius that goes behind creating harmony and I love that. If there's great harmony behind a song, I definitely get excited.

The last level, I think, is somewhat of a cop out level because it's not really a specific thing. This is more like an overall type level. Like, what mood does this song give off, or how do I feel just listening to this song. It doesn't even have to have lyrics, for example, the song Your Hand in Mine by Explosions in the Sky. Or it could be acapella with no music. It just has to give off a feeling. I think I subconciously made this the last level because a song has to be DAMN good to give off a feeling. To me, at least. And if a song is THAT amazing, I'm definitely getting excited.

I don't even know if this blog has substance. I only chose to write this because I started thinking about this and was inspired by Mandy Moore's song Merrimack River. It's weird, but so good. And I like when a song can be weird, but still be good. I think it's the mood level. However, it also has unbelievable harmony. I love it!! You should take a listen.

Anyway, I have to go back to watching So You Think You Can Dance. (fave show!) Then, continue our Harry Potter Movie Marathon pt 2!!! :)

That is all.

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current read: revolutionary road (still)
current music: Mandy Moore - Pocket Philiosopher

3...2...1..

And, we're back!

Hello blog, how have you been? You missed me? I sure missed you. I debated coming back to you, and was so close to abandoning you altogether, but something inspired me to write again. Like I've said a thousand times before, that happens every once in a while. :)

These past few days finally being on vacation and off school has felt like so much longer than just 4 days. Right after my last day of school, people were sleeping over for my sister's graduation. That night was such a long night. We had like 11 people sleeping in our cute little Moraga condo and that made it hard to sleep early as planned. Instead, James and I had to finish my sister's slideshow and Danelle and Michelle hella turned LI and we could not stop laughing! Ended up getting hella little sleep that whole week with that sleepover and finals combined. That was SO NOT gail. You know me. I NEED my sleep! Anyway, the graduation was probably the one of the proudest moments of my life! My sister deserves so much recognition for her accomplishment. It sucks because in my family, we're just expected to graduate college. It's like a given. Therefore, it sometimes feels like it's not that big of a deal. However, the way my parents HELLA decorated the house, got hella cute giveaways, invited hella people, etc almost made me all teary eyed because my sister so deserves it! She went through hella shit during these past four years, so I was a damn proud sister that night.

At the same time, I could not stop thinking about myself graduating and my future. After all the stress I went through these past few months working so much shit out with my advisor, I finally made it happen! Because I have extra credits from AP tests and what not, I am officially graduating early! After this next semester, I'll be outta SMC and Samuel Merrit University bound for Nursing school there. January 2012, I'll officially be a Registered Nurse with my B.S. Then 2 years after that I'll have my Master's as a Nurse Practitioner! Wooot! 24 years old and I'll be able to start the rest of my life, making goood money, and living on my own and able to start my family with my teaching husband! <3 God, I can't wait.

I'm usually not one to think about my future in this way, but once SMC approved my appeal to get out early, my whole life literally flashed before my eyes, and in a good way!

Anyway, I hope to keep writing more regularly again. I know I always say that and knowing me, I probably won't follow through with it. I get too busy living my life than finding time to write about it. But, in the end, I'll try my hardest, because writing in this thing will only be better for me. :)

That is all.

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Current Music : Incubus -Are You In (PERFECT summer jam :])
Current Read : Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates

I'm Sorryy...

Journal, for I have no more time for you.
Hopefully, in the near future, we shall spend much more quality time together.
As for now, you will have to hang in there while I neglect for a little while longer.

Again, I am terribly sorrry.

My apologies,
Gail

It's been a year now...

It's almost my birthday, in 5 days to be exact.
Now, I should be excited, but I'm not.

Last year was one of the best birthdays ever. My cotillion was unbelievable and probably my best birthday ever. I don't expect this year's birthday to be anywhere near that, but I don't even have anything planned at all for it. Sad, huh?

Also, my 18th birthday was also my last birthday in high school with all my friends and what not. One of the things I enjoyed about having my birthday during the school year is that every year on my birthday, I felt so special at school. You know, with the balloons you get to carry around and all the presents. I mean, that's a little materialistic, I know, but everyone deserves to feel special on their birthday right?

The good thing about having my birthday away from home, though is being able to party hard the night of with my friends of here! That's the ONLY thing I'm looking forward to. But, I have absolutely nothing to look forward to for spending my birthday with the family and my friends back home. :(

Anyway, enough of my ranting. That is all.

Current Music : JOHN MAYER -- all day, everyday
Current Read : Black Elk Speaks

The Age-Old debate...

Do you think God created evil?

So normally, when we discuss religion during seminar, I take everything in with a grain of salt. I don't expect everyone to be believers, and as much as I'd like them to be, I would never force anything down anyone's throats. However, today really got me thinking. I've questioned this before and I thought I knew the answer, but during our discussion I found myself going around in circles.

The question, in essence, is do you think God created evil?

Now, someone said yes but the class refuted that by saying, well, if God is supposed to be supreme good then he couldn't have created evil because that would mean that he is not all entirely good.

Then, some of the other people in the class said that God did not create evil, but because he created free will, HUMANS created evil. I, myself used to believe this. Especially because the whole Adam and Eve story. Everyone, including my teacher, was beginning to believe this idea, however, the class started trying to disprove this. Because if humans were powerful enough to create evil, and if God didn't create everything, following that logic would assume that we are just as powerful as God and that God isn't almighty because something else is just as powerful enough to create something like evil. Someone in class, at this point, quoted Genesis 1:31 and said that it only says that "God looked at everything he created and he found it very good." meaning that if taken literally, it doesnt say that he created everything, but only that what he did create was good. But then, that brings us back to that if something else is powerful enough to create evil, then God is not the almighty most powerful.

Then, one idea was maybe God didn't create evil, but he created the capacity to do evil. In other words, he didn't create evil in and of itself, but didn't prevent it from happening because he gave us the ability to choose evil. However, that was refuted because if that were the case, he would have had to create evil otherwise there would be nothing to distinguish good from evil as a choice.

Then there's the idea that maybe God just created free will and that's it. But then, if he only created free will, then how is it he can judge us for doing good or bad, if there is nothing distinguished as bad. AND if there is something distinguishable as bad, then God had to have created the bad, once again meaning that he is not all good.

Someone brought up the devil. Saying that maybe the devil created evil. But then, God created the devil right? Someone refuted that saying, no he created the angel which is good, but the angel turned away from god. So did that create evil? But then AGAIN what distinguishes that as evil? If going against God is evil because it makes him angry, then is God evil or not all good because he gets angry?

Do you see how this is confusing already? And how it got me thinking in crazy circles?

Now, this whole discussion started because we were reading St Augustine Confessions which is about a young man and his quest of conversion. This book questions everything including this very topic: the origin of evil. In his conclusion, he finalizes this debate by saying that evil just doesn't exist at all. To God, everything is good. As in everything singularly is good, just when there is a conflict of interest so things only SEEM evil. I almost bought that explanation. However, I get thrown off because if evil does not exist then and there is no evil, how does that explain all the bad in the world. How are we to justify the bad that does happen in the world? That is is actually not evil? So then why does God punish us?

In the end, I sort of found myself at the beginning. I still can't really come to a conclusion.
Any explanations? I'm free to discussion.

That is all.

It's been a while..

but, trust me, I have a lot to say. I've been inspired, so to speak. Just busy.
I will be back.

Stay tuned. :)

You love me, I love you harder

With the help of my friends Irene and Terrance, I discovered a new like: Beard Papa's cream puffs. I know, I know, I might be a little late, but whatever. I really like it. And today, I discovered that I like them a lot better frozen. :)

Today I also discovered that I am totally and completely in love with almost every single thing in the store Urban Outfitters. I mean, I've always liked the store and would purchase things here and there. But today, I realized that if I could, I would purchase almost 90% of what is there. All the way down to the witty books they have. Call me a bandwagon jumper, but I love all the 48/58 dollar shirts and blouses available there. What's worse is that I realized this today because my sister and I realized that we actually DO have an Urban Outfitters in Walnut Creek. Ack!

Whilst on our mini adventure to Walnut Creek, I also almost got my helia pierced! The line at Zebra's was wayyyyy too long though. So I shall proceed to get that piercing on its original scheduled date, March 31st. Also known as my 19th birthday! Weee!

One last thing I discovered today: my new favorite song is 6 Months by Hey Monday. Talk about love at first LISTEN! Gahhh! It's so dreamy (if you can even attribute that to a song!). Anyway, that is my current new obsession.

Today was just full of discoveries.

That is all.
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PS I also discovered that I got a 96 on my Micro midterm! Yayyy me!
PPS Happy 4 and 4 Babe!

Current Read: The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell
Current Listen: 6 months - Hey Monday