music > tv

Any time I sit to think how I've lived without cable for so long, music reminds me how much better it is. It's such an experience--much more than television. You live the music, and you only watch the tv. The Civil Wars has released their new album, and it's pretty awesome. One of the singers said how the songs are just vague enough to relate to. Two of my favorites on the CD are listed below--one that people will be talking about.

School stars next week, so I'm trying to enjoy my last week off in any way that I can. However, sometimes things don't always go as planned. Long story short: we were watching mom's fourteen-year-old dog while she went away, dog got sick, dog had many seizures, took dog to rescue ER at midnight, nothing could be done.

It's been a long week to say the least.

There are other things to celebrate, though. For instance, J helped me pick out a sweat-dripping workout to do in my own living room. I don't even have to run! I will, and I can, but I don't have to. I'm going to see results. I never sweat, but I sweat like heck with this one. Another thing to celebrate is Phil's recent visit. We went to the Wolverine movie, and we had fun otherwise. We even had some wine together the last night he was here. Laurie will be visiting this week! We're going to one of our favorite stores (annual trip), and we'll probably find a great restaurant. We're having lunch with my aunt in the city, which is going to be great. I'm just really looking forward to some fun, positive activities.

Before all this, however, we went to the upstate to hang. We visited a wicked-cool castle, took a boat tour, went to Canada (technically), visited a mountainous, water-filled dreamland. We also spent lots of time with our wonderful family members. I miss them so much already. Once each year is just not enough.

We also took another trip this summer, but it was a small beach trip. We camped! It was awesome. We used electricity, thanks to a tip from a friend, so I had a fan at night (thank goodness), and we had a coffee pot in the tent! I'm telling you: best camping ever. It was only two miles from the beach, so we just drove to the free parking when we went. It was SO easy! This trip was definitely a highlight of the summer. OH, and we ran into some friends at the end, so we were able to visit with them and have a campfire. Wowza. Good times were had!

Here are some photos from the trips. The lyrics I love are below.

"The One That Got Away"

I never meant to get us in this deep
I never meant for this to mean a thing
Oh, I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

I got caught up by the chase
And you got high on every little game
I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

Oh, if I could go back in time
When you only held me in my mind
Just a longing gone without a trace
Oh, I wish I'd never ever seen your face
I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

I miss the way you wanted me
When I was staying just out of your reach
Begging for the slightest touch
Ooh, you couldn't get enough, mmm

Oh, if I could go back in time
When you only held me in my mind
Just a longing gone without a trace
Oh, I wish I'd never ever seen your face
I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

Got away from me
Got away from me
Before anybody has to bleed

Oh, if I could go back in time
When you only held me in my mind
Just a longing gone without a trace
Oh, I wish I'd never ever seen your face
I wish you were the one
I wish you were the one
Oh, I wish you were the one
I wish you were the one that got away

"Eavesdrop"

I don’t want to talk right now
I just want your arms wrapped around
Me in this moment
Before it runs out

Oh don’t say that it’s over
Oh no say it ain’t so
Let’s let the stars watch 
Let them stare
Let the wind eavesdrop
I don’t care
For all that we’ve got, don’t let go
Just hold me

I can’t pull you closer than this
It’s just you and the moon on my skin
Oh who says it ever has to end
Oh don’t say that it’s over
Oh no say it ain’t so

Let’s let the stars watch 
Let them stare
Let the wind eavesdrop
I don’t care
For all that we’ve got, don’t let go 
Just hold me

Let’s let the stars watch 
Let them stare
Let the wind eavesdrop
I don’t care
For all that we’ve got, don’t let go

Just hold me
Just hold me
Just hold me
Just hold me
Just hold me

manual mode, thank you very much

I need to make it known that I have officially switched to the world of manual on my DSLR. It is a beautiful, wonderful, detail-oriented world. Sure, it takes much more work, but the outcome is totally worth it.

I'm already noticing a difference in my photos. You may not notice, but I do!

[I admit being crazy for not learning the mode sooner. Teaching just gets in the way, so now I finally have a little (yes, a little) time on my hands to work with my hobbies.]

summer school Monday

The Fault in Our Stars

Reading this book angered me and upset me, quite frankly. It is such a change from the suspense of the first book of the summer, and to be honest, summer is not a time to read about cancer and blindness and cancer and dying and cancer.

I'm not trying to be cold-hearted. I have a big heart, which is why a book like this affects me. I knew it would, so I basically scanned the last twenty pages. Is that wrong?

I will give it this: it was a realistic (or at least what I can imagine) exemplification of cancer and what it's like to deal with disease. It shows a love story between two young kids, and they seem to have that kid-like affection that is interrupted by disease.

However, it didn't have the affection that loses me in feeling, and that's what I want from a book. It was very easy to read, which I also don't particularly like, and some of the circumstances between the characters wasn't necessarily believable.

I read this book because it was on a list of "Books to Read Before They Become Movies," and I definitely see why it is a fad book already. It's sad, so of course everyone decides it's a great book. Sad books need to make you fall in love with all of the characters, believe their story and relationship, feel connected to all the outside parts (the connection with that author didn't really keep my attention), and leave you not wanting to finish it.

Unfortunately, I read a fad book that I was ready to leave on the bookshelf when done. After reading real-life blog entries from a woman's perspective of her husband dying with cancer just last year, this book just irritates me. Maybe it irritates me because if it were true, it would be such a sad, sad story, and I would never want it to happen to me. (?)

I do, however, understand why it would become a movie (it's a quirky, untold love story), and I'm sure it will be good.