Good, busy weekend

As I sit here this monday morning and think of all the things I did this weekend, while still being able to get a good grasp on the things I needed to accomplish, I'm feeling pretty good. I had a little bit of a melt down yesturday, but my parents were there to see me through it and help me relax.
I just want to say that I love my friends... all of them. We're all at really different places in life and at times it is a struggle to know how it is changing and how to adapt. But, I think if you just keep trying to figure it out and wade through the confusing stuff, it'll figure itself out. The outcomes may be different than you had hoped, or maybe better than you hoped. In the end, you can look back at the journey through and learn from those ups and downs, twists and turns.
Sure, there are the times where those friendships really take a hault, but I do believe very much the saying that goes something like this, "friends come and go, but your true friends will be with you always... no matter the distance or length of time between being in touch" and also that "friends/people are there for certain times in life, and though you may never see them again, it doesn't make that time any less significant"

Anyways.... All that to say... I'm leaving tomorrow for Belize. I'll be gone until July 2nd, I will see you all at that time and have many stories and pictures to share.
Peace be with ya'll until then...
love ya

Unexpected Reactions to X&Y

Okay, this is a quick review, but I didn't want to put it off any longer. I bought the new coldplay cd right away at Target on Tuesday because it was only $10!! That was awesome! So, I was anticipating a great cd from beginning to end and when I popped it in the first time, it totally didn't grab me. I mean, I guess not all cds are like that, but with U2's new album the first song is just rockin' and sweet(now overplayed) and I actually had to take a couple listens to love the whole thing. Getting back to Colplay now, I listened to the first song in my car and like I said, it wasn't what I expected. That was the farthest I got until I pulled into work(it's very close to Target)... so I put it into my co-workers computer because she has louder speakers than mine, and I was really disapointed because the vocals were just nowhere to be heard... well, you could sort of hear them but not well. Since it was not my computer and not my speakers, I wasn't familiar with them and tried all I could to improve, so I was thinking that maybe it was the recording or how they wanted it. I was beginning to really wonder what I bought.
Well, it finally finished on the other computer and I decided to test it out on mine... WOW, what a difference! I could hear the vocals, that really makes all the difference in the world... you're all probably saying "duh.. hello, obviously it was the speakers"... but stranger things have happened, I tell you! Upon the second go through I was much more happy, but it definitely has a different tone. I really like Chris Martin's voice, and that hasn't changed. I think my favorite song so far is "Fix You"... mostly for an awesome instrumental bridge at the mid-end of the song. Calling it an intrumental sounds really boring... but it's awesome! I was never in formal music classes, so I don't remember terminology for what I'm hearing other than it just builds up to a climax and goes off into beautifully rocking guitar riff or sorts. I don't know much more how to explain it, but I really like it!
There's a non deep review of it... have a wonderful night... i'm off to dream-land now...
night all!

Memorial Day

On the evening of memorial day I went to see the fireworks at Harriett Island in St. Paul. I love fireworks, and they were a great start to a season of fireworks to come. The thing I love about those is that K102 puts together a montage of songs(not country!!) and spoken word tributing to veterans and present soldiers, etc. If you haven't noticed already, I am a big music junkie and it just grabs me and speaks in ways that plain words can't. I never quite know how I am going to react, and sometimes I don't understand fully why tears come.
I've never been one to feel like a huge patriotic parader, especially after my first trip to Haiti. I remember hearing the song "God Bless America" I cringed inside as I watched fireworks with a group of friends. I had tears, but not of pride and loyalty to my country, I was angry and didn't understand why America should be so blessed. Why wasn't it Haiti, Belize, India, Uganda, or Kenya that God blessed?
So, again, while watching these fireworks and hearing "I'm Proud to Be An American" the tears come. I try to figure out why because it's not those same feelings I had 6 or so years ago. I think it partly has to do with music just speaking to my soul in a way I don't understand, and also because I (in the case of this song) translate "proud" into thankful. I'm grateful to all of the troops fighting, and for the ones who have fought before them. I still don't understand, but I'm incredibly thankful to God that He has put me in this place of freedom. I'm so thankful, that I want to do everything I can, to serve and honor Him and use what He has given me. And really, to kind of answer that question I pondered years back, it's not that God hasn't blessed them. As wise men have said, this world is filled with good AND evil. The question could really spin off into one of those Sovreignty of God talks... which is more than I want to tackle or start at this point(especially since it's midnight). The point is... I don't know. Only God knows... one day all of the questions will be answered. Until then, I'm not going to make myself crazy trying to figure it out.

the decision

So... my decision about Coldplay...
not gonna do it.... :( to much saddness... but not regret because David had a good point that I'm sure in the next few years they will be here again. I hope this makes me no less of a Coldplay fan though. The reason for my plight is that I didn't really think of the money factor, i was thinking i'd just charge em, but i just can't bring myself to do it... the prices are indeed lower than U2, but not as low as I originally thought. And, right now, I have decided to make some financially smart decisions because as of late I haven't been. I have to start sometime and regretfully it is for this. Sacrifices sometimes have to be made... I feel a bit strange posting this kind of reason... so don't feel bad or anything like that. I'm really feeling okay about it, much worse things could happen(ie. see haiti blog). Maybe I'll win some off the radio... atleast I hadn't asked anyone if they'd want to go, that would really have sucked to tell them I couldn't.
Tha tha tha thaaaat's all folks!

my half birthday

wow... it doesn't seem that long ago that i was celebrating my 24th birthday, and now it's already been 6mos! I'll be old next year... 25, that's really really old! :) haha... just kidding
maybe my car insurance will go down more than a dollar this time! That's what it has been doing every six months lately... I have no idea why... maybe it's from the speeding ticket getting further and further away... think i got that in 01'... anyways...
another random thought from me...

have a happy and hopefully sunny day!