Every Little Thing....

Its funny how every little thing can matter sometimes. I saw the movie "Garden State" for the first time this past weekend. I believe the movie is a commentary on life and modern day society cleverly wrapped in a dark "dramady". In any case, there is a point when the main character played by Zach Braff (who also wrote and directed the movie and stars on what happens to be my favorite show right now..."Scrubs") mentions how he ended up accidently paralyzing his mother from the waist down. Essentially, it inivolves a push from the 9 year old boy and a little tiny plastic latch on a dishwasher. The little latch was defective so the dishwaher door lay open that day. The mother fell backward and hit the back of her head on the open dishwasher door paralyzing her from the waist down. He goes on later in teh film to say something to the effect of "Its amazing how much of my life was determined by the little latch on thd door". If you see the movie you'll know that he means his life since age 9-10 or so had been grossly effected by the results of his mother being paralyzed and his subsequent psychiatric treatment including drugs that have left him "numb" to the current day. In any case, it is strange to think something seemingly so insignificant as a frustrated little push as a 9 year old combined with a faulty latch on a dishwasher could alther 2 people's lives so profoundly.

So I thought everyday how may seemingly little things have to go a certain way in order for everything to take place they way it eventually does. It just reminds us that all of us are subject to things beyond both our attention and control. These things can be little but have huge consequences that aren't always obvious. While it is humbling, it does teach us to think things through more while at the same time be aware we cannot think of everything, yet reminds us still to pay more attention to details. Kind of a mixed message but the in the end details are important and they often determine life - which as the movie points out might not be ideal and what you thought it'd be, but it is all that we have so that we should live it and cherish it. I think it is sort of a semi-obvious but important message because we can all forget these things sometimes.

Once in a while...

I really get into an new album of music. To be honest, when I first bought this album shortly before Thanksgiving 2004, I was a bit dissapointed. On the first listen or so I felt that it was good, but not as good as I thought it'd be. I put it on the shelf for a few weeks to give it a rest. On my drive down to NJ from MA for Christmas I decided to pop the CD in the car and give in another whirl. It really grew on me on that trip. Over the past month I swear I've probably listened to so;me of the songs over 40 times. Its a CD that gets better each time you listen to it. IT is U2's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb". Though I'm not a huge fan of the first single of the album "Vertigo", it is a great attempt by them to reach a new audience. The high energy upbeat tune takes some chances, but fits right in with the beat of the times yet remains unmistakably U2. The second and third tracks ("Miracle Drug" and "Sometimes You Can't make it Your Own") are true gems, showing off masterful composition, wonderful lyrics and also showcases the talents of the edge, adam clayton and adam mullen beautifully. The latter in my opinion may be one of the great rock ballads of its time. Also, as usual Bono delivers vocals as sincerely and with as much emotion as anyone in the business. On top of it all the lyrics make you want to find out what the song is about and a careful reading of the lyrics will give one clues and insight but as always U2 has left it beautifully vague and up for interpretation. City of Blinding Lights is another highlight on the album chronicling the U2 experience of being the first Band to peform in Madison Square Garden after 911. "Origin of the Species" is another can't miss track and in my opinion really rounds out the album as it is a modern masterpiece of rock music. Make no mistake. Don't miss this album and don't judge it by its first single. It will rank up there with other classics like "War", "Joshua Tree", "Achtung Baby", and of course the previous album, "All that you Can't Leave Behind". Don't cheat yourself. Buy this album, you won't regret it.

An argument for....

Have you ever been in a situation that could totally have went your way, but of course...it didn't? If only you could MORE yourself, and if only you could have done just a LITTLE better, used just a bit better judgement, been a little less of a doofus that you know you aren't etc. There's an infinite number of what I will call "tangible ifs". Things that were SO in your power to do but just didn't or couldn't at the time. Do you ever sit there wondering, even dreaming what would have happened? Sure you do, and what do you feel....sometimes regret right? Now here's the question. Do you ever wonder why you couldn't "pull through"?
My thought is that its not that you just aren't a "pull through" guy becuase if so, these things weren't in your power to do and it'd be outside your realm of possibility to begin with. My thought is that the answer in some cases is very simple, you weren't prepared. Now, I know you are asking to yoruselves what I mean because its not like you can REALLY prepare for all situations and circumstances and somethings by nature oen doesn't prepare for (say, take a conversation a certain way that in retrospect that you would thought you would have normally and should have taken in). So what is the missing ingredient here? Sometimes, I think its just plain old being well rested phsyically, mentally and emotionally. Thus my argument is for sleep. Sleep, we all do it. It keeps us physically rested, mentally sharp and yes sane. Can you imagine if your life wasn't broken up into convenient day long "episodes"? I think the last part is often overlooked. Yes most will admit that insomniacs probably aren't quite themselves and are on edge when they experience insomnia, but I'm willing to made a guess that this happens to on a smaller scale as well Haven't you ever just felt mentally and emotioanlly dull on some groggy days? I assert that this effect goes often unnoticed in smaller doeses until you realize..."crap, why didnt I...???". Often sleep is under-appreciated, often its neglected but I can bet you sure won't do "your best" without it. On that note, I'm going to make it a habit to make sure I get enough of it.

-D