#19 Thing I Love: Happier by A Fine Frenzy

So I love everything by A Fine Frenzy. Her first album was phenomenal. Her next album "Bomb in a Birdcage" is just as good, but with more variety.
She rightly picked the first single to be "Happier". What I love about this song is that it is not what you expect at first glance. When you listen to it you can't help but be in a "happy" mood. After all the song is called "happier". The tune is just catchy. However, then you look at the lyrics...and it's not really all that happy. I love it. Obviously, A Fine Frenzy wasn't the first to use this little switch, but it still cracks me up. My emotions get so confused when I listen to this song hahah.

"Quick kid quick, so harsh and cynical
Touches stricken, cold and clinical
What a transformation to behold
But I don't like this new, I want the old

It's not the words that make it final
You've said such things such things before to rival them
But it's how you say 'em now that's changed
Cold but sympathetic all the same

Lie to convince me that I'll be better off
Oh, you go on and I'll be happier, I'll be happier
You go on, yeah, you go on
You'll be gone and I'll be happier

Shoot me with your rubber bullets
Your finger's on the trigger, pull it
I know you want this suffering to end
So it is forgivable my friend

It's all to convince me that I'll be better off
So you go on and I'll be happier,
You go on and I'll be happier
You go on, yeah, you go on
You'll be gone and I'll be happier

Bo-bo-ba-do-bo
Bo-bo-ba-do-bo-da-da-da

Say what you mean, what you mean
Cause you'll be happier without me, without me, without me, oh

You won't convince me, that I'll be better off
So you go on and I'll be happier, I'll be happier
You go on, you go
You'll be gone, and I'll be gone
You go on and I'll be happier, you go on and I'll be happier
You go on, you go on, you go on and I'll go on and I'll be happier
You on and I'll be happier, you go on and I'll be happier

You go on, and I'll be happier"

#20 Thing I Love: Dance Movies

There's something about a movie where people have more talent than I do. I can't dance for my life. I could probably fake it if I tried, but let's be serious, I will never be like Baby from Dirty Dancing. I mean maybe if Patrick Swayze was around to step in and save my moves there might be hope. I normally awkwardly stand in the corner doing the head nod, or even the Jersey fist pump.
However, whenever I watch movies revolving around dance...I get happy. I get a little bit jealous, but for that hour and a half or so I'm transplanted to a new place where I'm a fabulous dancer. I can bust moves, break dance, and not embarrass myself while doing so.

Oh...
And I'm dating Channing Tatum in this dream world.

#21 Thing I Love: September by Daughtry

this song is defining my life currently, especially this summer.
pathetic yet true...


Half the time passed away
All the trouble that we gave
And all those day we spent out by the lake
Has it all gone to waste?
All the promises we made
One by one they vanished just the same

All the things I still remember
Summers never look the same
Years go by and time just seems to fly
But the memories remain
In the middle of the September
We still play out in the rain
Nothing to lose but everything to gain
Reflecting on how things could've been
It was worth it in the end

Now it all seems so clear
There's nothing left to fear
So we made our way by finding what was real
Now the days are so long
That summer's moving on
Reach for something that's already gone

All the things I still remember
Summers never look the same
Years go by and time just seems to fly
But the memories remain
In the middle of the September
We still play out in the rain
Nothing to lose but everything to gain
Reflecting on how things could've been
It was worth it in the end

Yeah, We knew we had to leave this town
But we never knew when and we never knew how
We would up here the way we are

We knew we had to leave this town
But we never knew when and we never knew how

All the things I still remember
Summers never look the same
Years go by and time just seems to fly
But the memories remain
In the middle of the September
We still play out in the rain
Nothing to lose but everything to gain
Reflecting on how things could've been
It was worth it in the end

#22 Thing I Love: Short Hair

So I just got my haircut super short. I just love short hair...it's so easy to deal with...and just always refreshing when you get it cut. It's like a huge weight is just gone...one less thing to stress about.

Of course it helps that it's about 100 degrees here with humidity and i was dying today with the long locks.

#23 Thing I Love: The Shack

So around Christmas time, I read a book entitled "The Shack". This was when the book first began it's popularity. I had heard about it through Hayley Williams' blog and I was very intrigued by the summary on the back of the book. I must admit, despite finding the topic of faith and religion interesting to discuss, I never seem to like reading about it. I feel that some authors can be a little on the preachy side, but William Paul Young's interpretation of a man who has been through great sadness in his life and his encounter with the three versions of God was one of the greatest books I've ever read.

Here are some quotes:

Papa: “The problem is that many folks try to grasp some sense of who I am by taking the best version of themselves, projecting that to the nth degree, factoring in all the goodness they can perceive, which often isn’t much, and then call that God. And while it may seem like a noble effort, it falls pitifully short of who I really am. I’m not merely the best version of you that you can think of. I am far more than that, above and beyond all that you can ask or think” (98).

Sarayu: “Both evil and darkness can only be understood in relation to Light and Good; they do not have any actual existence. I am Light and I am Good. I am Love and there is no darkness in me. Light and Good actually exist. So, removing yourself from me will plunge you into darkness. Declaring independence will result in evil because apart from me, you can only draw upon yourself. That is death because you have separated from me: Life” (136).

Sarayu: “Mack, if anything matters than everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again” (235)

#24 Thing That I Love: Jerry MaGuire

Alright, let's be serious. What's not to love about a movie with a pre-crazy Scientology and Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise. Cuba Gooding Jr. in let's face it, his probably only good career move. And a younger, more girl next door Renee Zellweger. Add that cute little kid with the glasses who has a froggy voice, and you got movie magic.

When I was younger and saw it for the first time...the only cool thing about it was that it had curse words and I felt bad ass watching it. However, it was on sale for $5 in Wal-Mart, and I couldn't help but buy it...and I basically fell in love with it.
First, you have a guy who is realizing his job is to lie to people, and basically take their money...and he realizes it's wrong...just a good message.
Second, the same guy has never had a true relationship in his life...and he's exposed to the love his client Rod Tidwell shows to his wife and family, and then to this little innocent boy Ray, son of Dorothy (Zellweger). Dorothy happens to be madly in love with him.
Besides having some great lines..."You had me at hello" anyone? The movie is just a feel good show at human nature and this guy finally starting his life over again in his thirties, with a whole new outlook.

Also for years I could always quote that whole "You complete me" part, but I never realized the significance until I rewatched it the other day. In one of the first scenes between Jerry and Dorothy they are in an elevator with a hearing impaired couple, and the guy signs to his girlfriend. When the couple leaves Jerry jokingly goes.."Wonder what he said" (after all the couple was making out so he probably assumed it was something dirty) to which Dorothy replies, "My aunt is hearing impaired...he said 'You complete me'." I never noticed that the line had appeared before.

Finally, what's not to love about a movie that has an amazing Bruce Springsteen song as its theme.

25 Things I Love

So I'm stealing this from Tara-Leigh Cobble, who stole this from somebody. Each blog is a "countdown" of 25 of my favorite things. Nothing is in order, and they're just small things that either we take for granted or little known things that I'd like people know about.

# 25 Thing That I Love:
Found Magazine (http://foundmagazine.com/about)

This site is so much fun. It's actually the site that inspired Frank Warren to start his PostSecret blog. Peopl can send little notes, photographs, drawings, or whatever, that they randomly find. It is then posted on the site and interpreted. Some of the stuff found on there can be as small or insignificant as a drawing a kid drew, or a family photograph that got tossed aside...but to someone it means or meant the world.


Some of my favorite "finds":









These are just 2 that put a smile on my face. Of course, some of them are a lot more serious, but interesting and a great way to spend some time when you're bored!