Sweet Catastrophe

We have really thin walls, and currently there’s some sort of clog in our downstairs plumbing. What this means–we know when the neighbors flush. So yesterday when someone came to visit and this neighbor didn’t answer, they made the joke that he was probably on the toilet reading. I came inside and ten minutes later I was in the kitchen and heard the familiar sound the clog causes when you flush, so I poked my head out and said that he would probably be out soon—as he walks out the door.

Maybe you don’t find that funny, but I sure as hell do.

I saw today where someone was talking about how they don’t really understand why Facebook is so popular. I had to think about it, but really, it made more sense back when it was just for college students. In comparison to other networking sites, Facebook is much better for finding fellow students. It’s a great way to find people and keep up with anything you’re missing in classes, or set up study groups, or even extend the acquaintance-ship you’ve established within the class. Add to that some random fun as well.

Now that it’s open to all, I think it’s retained its popularity because at first, there was the appeal of being able to be a part of something you once were excluded from. Now I think it’s just one of those things where everyone else is involved, so why not?

I truly wish it were still a college-only thing. I think if they’d take it back to that, and just make it a little easier to set up an account even if you’re from a smaller school, it would be pretty perfect then. Not discriminating against people who aren’t in college, but I can stalk them through myspace

These make me laugh so much. The person who did it before me was only $28. That’s my total in the subject. What do you think I’ve done? haha

Here’s the deal. You look it over the following list and see how many of these things you have done. BUT you have to ADD up the money amount along the way. Then, post the amount that you are as the title of the bulletin.

1. Had sex: $10.00

2. Smoked: $3.00

3. Got drunk: $7.00

4. Went skinny dipping: $5.00

5. Kissed someone of the opposite sex: $5.00

6. Kissed someone of the same sex: $5.00

7. Cheated on a test: $2.00

8. Fell asleep in class: $0.50

9. Been expelled: $5.00

10. Been in a fist fight: $10.00

11. Given oral: $10.00

12. Got oral: $10.00

13. Prank called the cops: $3.00

14. Stole something: $2.00

15. Done drugs: $5.00

16.Dyed your hair: $0.50

17. Done something with someone older (like a few years): $3.00

18. Went out with someone OVER 18 (if your under 18): $4.00

19. Ate a whole thing of oreos: $0.50

20. Cried yourself to sleep: $1.00

21. Said you love someone but didnt mean it: $1.00

22. Been in love: $4.00

23. Got caught doing something that you shouldn’t have been doing: $1.00

24. Went streaking: $4.00

25. Got arrested: $5.00

26. Made out with someone: $2.00

27. Peed in the pool: $0.50

28. Played spin the bottle: $1.00

29. Done something you regret: $3.00

I’m basically drowning right now, and I really don’t know what to do. It’s not really something I can ask for help with, nor is it anything I care to discuss, but all the same, I needed to release it a little.

I don’t understand how I got here. I mean, I know the basics, but I don’t understand how it made it to this point. Hell, I don’t even exactly know what ‘this point’ is yet, so I guess I don’t really know just how bad it is yet…and I’m terrified to find out. There are really only two ways I can think to fix it and well, they both pretty much fall into the ‘miracle’ category, so I really don’t know what to do. Every other option I’ve looked at just falls short.

For the record and to reduce speculation among my concerned friends, no, I don’t have a drug problem or anything like that, and no, my relationship is not falling apart. I’d also appreciate if no one threw out their guesses as to what I’m stressing over. In fact, no need to comment at all. I just needed to release a little of the tension.

Lifehouse–Who We Are was released today!! Have you bought it yet? No? Why? We’re not friends anymore. Seriously, go out and support my favorite band if you love me! And if you can’t find it in your heart to go out and buy it, just open up iTunes and get it there! Support my loves!

Seriously, this is an awesome album, even all the bonus songs for different stores are amazing. My only complaint is Storm, which, for the casual fan will still sound like an amazing song, but for me, well, let’s just say I need to gripe some now.

Gosh, where to begin. Alright, the thing is, it kept being said that Storm was included because it fit with the rest of the album so well. I just couldn’t disagree more. Again, to the casual fan, it may seem to, but speaking as someone who’s been there since the beginning, it doesn’t have the same feel as the newer stuff. It’s not the same lyric style either.

Let’s add to this that awkward a capella intro. They kept talking about how the song had been re-worked to fit the album…I dunno, I think that intro totally ruined it for me. There’s really just not enough music to the song at all. It’s like Jason’s vocals with some light noise in the background. I think there are definitely things they could’ve done with the music to at least make the music/feel of the song fit the rest of the album, but outside of that, I much prefer the original. This new version just doesn’t have that ethereal feeling the original has. The original fully pulls me into its core and I’m totally immersed in the song, but this new version just does nothing for me.

Of course, I’m also a little biased because Storm is special to me. I heard Storm before No Name Face was even out here, well before I even heard Hanging By A Moment so it sucks to see a song like that changed in a way that just really doesn’t seem to be for the better.

Maybe I could accept this, IF we hadn’t gotten all these great bonus songs. I can’t get over Signs of Life and what a great song that would’ve been for the album’s ending. It’s so calm, and beautiful and at 5:18 it would seem that would’ve been the natural choice to end the album. I love how it has this great ending where the tempo changes, but still really fits the song. To me, the song screams “The End.” Then the fade out the end just completes it. I could so totally see curtains closing to this and hi, that’s totally the album art theme, so what gives? Why couldn’t we have had Storm as a bonus song and Signs of Life as the album finale? *sigh* Oh well; I adore the album, regardless.

*Sigh* New dates are being added for The Police. Pre-sale starts today for an Atlanta date in November. The absolute cheapest tickets are $52 though and that’s before Ticketmaster ‘convenience’ fees. God I hate them…I was hoping it would be a little while longer before Atlanta tickets went up (Ben tipped me off that they would be back in Atlanta later) I really want to go, but I just can’t afford that right now. Darn James’ wedding! If the trip to Oklahoma wasn’t gonna be so expensive, I bet I could get my mom to get us some tickets for my Birthday. Darn weddings…

I completely forgot to mention this, but I think everyone knows that I was feeling like my car just wasn’t gonna make it much longer. It wasn’t really that there was anything obviously wrong with it, but after 5+ years, you get a good feel for your car. I just knew something was gonna happen to it. Not only that, but I could tell it would be something big, and something random. I’ve told everyone this when discussing Tryxie. Well, not even a week after switching cars with Daddy, guess what happens? The engine is shite! Daddy said I was completely right. Everything was cool for a few days then one day the engine starting knocking and shortly after, it was toast. He ran out and spent some money he didn’t have on an engine (for a pretty dumb reason…and now that it’s all said and done I’m pretty sure he feels not-so-smart….) but now Tryx is revived (again)! I’m just really glad it didn’t happen while I was still relying on the Camry. There’s no way I’d have been able to do anything about it, and it’s a lot easier for Dad to work something out when he’s got the car with him rather than it being here, an hour away.

Well, before yesterday, Koen had decided this was our track list since Geffen didn’t want to show any sign of the actual one:

Lifehouse - Who We Are (Geffen)

1. Left In The Dark
2. Mysterious
3. Behind Closed Doors
4. Conspiracy Theory
5. The Story of the Cricket & the Missing Tracklisting
6. The Yellow Teint
7. ProNOtion
8. The Album In The Making
9. No One Has Heard
10. Hidden
11. Where Are We?
12. The Damage of the Music Industry

Which I thought was quite fitting. But now, as you all know, we’ve heard the new album So here it is, complete with my short thoughts.

Who We Are
1. Disarray — rockin’ from the very beginning, this will definitely be one to do some serious rocking out toward the end during concerts.
2. First Time — Great summer song. I think they picked a good single.
3. Whatever It Takes — I really love the chorus here, it fits right in with some of my favorite songs.
4. Who We Are — Definitely a favorite, in lyrics and overall sound. This one is meant to be sung at the top of your lungs, I believe. I find myself anticipating the absolutely rockin’ ending, Jason sounds almost desperate; gives me chills.
5. Broken — What to say about Broken? Already been in love with it because of Meesh’s concert video; we were all concerned though as we didn’t know what the studio recording was going to sound like. I’m not disappointed at all; def can’t wait to hear it live though!
6. The Joke — Holy cow this one blows me away. It feels totally new from Lifehouse. It has such a sad background (read here about the suicide) but it’s so amazing, and upbeat!
7. Easier To Be — This one is still growing on me so I don’t really have any comments at this time…
8. Make Me Over — I actually like this one a lot. It doesn’t jump out at you, but it’s a gem. I love the lyrics.
9. Mesmerized — I like the tone of this one. I really like how it all flows.I think they’d have done better to spread out these softer songs though.
10. Bridges — This one totally brings me back to the Lifehouse vibe.
11. Learn You Inside Out — Jasons voice in the opening–OMG! It’s so great! I love this song! It’s so sweet!!
12. Storm — Well, I was dreading having this on the album…I’m probably biased against it, but I know I don’t like the a capella beginning for sure. The rest of it sounds fine, and maybe if that awkward beginning wasn’t there, it would flow well with the rest of the album, but with the a capella beginning, I think I’ll stick with the original.

Don Herbert, better known as Mr. Wizard lost his battle with cancer yesterday, just a month short of his 90th Birthday. His was always one of those shows that I didn’t love nor hate, it was just there. I have vivid memories of watching Mr. Wizard in the early hours, while it was still dark out–waiting on the bus. I was always annoyed when the bus would come because it never failed, I always missed the end.

The icons of my childhood are slowly fading. It’s hard to think that one day, people like The Wiggles will be ‘old’ childhood icons. Children today are seriously missing out on the good stuff.

Man, I was all prepared today to write about my love for Lifehouse, the album release next week, and bitch about Geffen’s lack of promotion…but yeah, VH1 just put up the listening party which is basically the whole album (minus the last track, Storm, though I’m sure that’ll be fixed later) and it has little voice overs from the guys so people won’t just steal the songs lol but omg…I never listen to leaks. I always try to limit myself to what I hear before the album hits, but I was under the impression that these were just clips, but they’re really not but of course now I can’t stop listening. No joke, I’m almost in tears now over how amazing this sounds. ‘Broken’ just got to me. I’ve got chills for real. Geffen better pimp the hell out of this album because it’s SO amazing. This album could easily be huge.

K, go listen now!

Catie, I apologize now, as you’ll be forced to listen this weekend, complete with band voice overs but it’s okay, ’cause you’ll love it or I’ll eat your elbows!