My dad is a genius. A saw his father one month out of the year till he was 20, asked to go to the bathroom at school when he was 6 so he could wander around the playground, moved out of the country at 22, bootstrapped his way through raising five kids with my mom, surrounded himself with people who were "better" and "smarter" than he was because he knew it was best for him kind of genius.
Of course, he's also a knows which buttons to push to drive you absolutely batshit up a wall crazy kind of genius... but I digress...
Throughout my 30 or so odd years on this planet, my dad has gifted me many nuggets of wisdom, sage words of advice, sly bits of info, tips of the trade that are meant to make life... bearable. GFMisms I'm going to call them. My dad is GFM. Glorificador Fernandez Montemayor. GFMisms has a nice ring to it.
This is the first of many GFMisms I'm going to impart to the world through this sometimes entertaining, oftentimes rambling, alltimes digital blog. The smirk on my face right now contains only a small bit of the excitement, enthusiasm, and pride I will have in doing so.
I was raised Catholic. My mom was raised Catholic in the Philippines, my dad was raised... some denomination of Christianity that I don't really recall... so by default my family was Catholic. Went to Catholic grade schools. Catholic high schools (2 of my sisters went to an all girl school, and I attended a Jesuit Prep School [even as I type and proofread that sentence, it sounds much more glamorous, elitist, pretentious than it actually was]).
We went to Mass on Sundays.
Like a lot of other kids who are raised Catholic (raised in any religion, really), the mandatory customs and traditions of Catholicism weren't necessarily what we looked forward to every week, month, season, year. Giving up things for Lent wasn't at the top of anyone's "Favorite Things to Do" list. Nor was Ash Wednesday, yearly confessions, prayer groups... you get the idea (I did like going to Soup Wednesdays at Dolan Hall and Fish Fridays at the O'Callaghan Center during Lent, but that's just because I got to play with other kids).
Mass on Sundays was no different. Yes, we had to go. No, it wasn't particularly enjoyable.
Did I mention my dad is a genius? Because he is, as evidenced by his explanation for why we need to go to Mass on Sundays.
Not because it's the Lord's Day. Not because it's a sin if we don't. We go to Mass on Sundays...
... to slow down.
Because our lives are always moving so fast, endlessly fast, never a moment to enjoy it fast, drive for an hour in traffic on the 60 then the 10 then exit Vermont and head north to Venice where you make a left to make it to school by 8:10 so you won't get detention fast, 9 to 5 and collect that paycheck so you can pay the bills fast, wake the baby and get him dressed before feeding him breakfast so you can rush him to the car and drop him off at Kindercare fast, rush to the A or C or E and get off on 42nd and 8th so you can put your name in at the Newsies lottery and get those $30 tickets fast... It's really, really, really, unfortunately, forgettably, regrettably... fast.
But Mass on Sundays helps you slow down. It's 2 hours of ritual. Stand, sit, stand, sit, stand, sit, stand, kneel, stand, kneel, walk, kneel, sit, stand (and, yes, that's an accurate recap of an actual Mass). Say hi to your friends afterwards, how was your week, how are the kids, what have you got going on...
You slow down. And hopefully reflect on how your life is going. And throw in some thankful for how great you've got it. And possibly some this is what I've got to work on.
Slow. Down.
And I don't think that it has to be Mass or it has to be Sunday or it has to be Catholic or it has to be anything but your own... and we could all use some time in our lives to slow down.
Did I mention my dad is a genius?
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Playing the Lottery
... is like going to the beach, picking up a grain of sand, and hoping that your grain of sand is the one that gets picked.
One of my dad's mentors told him that. You were a wise, wise man, Chat.
I played the lottery tonight. Along with millions of other people. The jackpot was $640 million, which is a mind-blowing, outrageous, unthinkably obnoxious amount of money. $640 million doesn't just change your life. It changes the course of your entire bloodline. Every single branch on your family tree is affected for generations to come. And from what? Hard work? Blood, sweat, tears, effort, and the will to get ahead? Nope... You picked a grain of sand and got lucky.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Another wise man (or woman) said that. I don't know who, but they knew what they were talking about. Just take a look at this article from the Huffington Post. Suffering "social ostracization, destitution, suicide and other tragic outcomes..."? I'll stick to working for a paycheck...
Of course, I didn't win, so maybe this is all just sour grapes...
One of my dad's mentors told him that. You were a wise, wise man, Chat.
I played the lottery tonight. Along with millions of other people. The jackpot was $640 million, which is a mind-blowing, outrageous, unthinkably obnoxious amount of money. $640 million doesn't just change your life. It changes the course of your entire bloodline. Every single branch on your family tree is affected for generations to come. And from what? Hard work? Blood, sweat, tears, effort, and the will to get ahead? Nope... You picked a grain of sand and got lucky.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Another wise man (or woman) said that. I don't know who, but they knew what they were talking about. Just take a look at this article from the Huffington Post. Suffering "social ostracization, destitution, suicide and other tragic outcomes..."? I'll stick to working for a paycheck...
Of course, I didn't win, so maybe this is all just sour grapes...
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Like a Moth to a Flame
I remember the first time I realistically and actually and wholeheartedly and emotionally felt drawn to start or join a band.
June 8, 2001. Chain Reaction in Anaheim. I was at a bonfire in Laguna Beach with my UCI hallmates from Cumbre, and a couple friends mentioned they were going to see Ozma. I was first introduced to Ozma earlier that year when I saw them open up for Weezer down in La Jolla.
So, I hopped in the car with my friends, and we took a super circuitous route to get to Anaheim from Laguna Beach. 73 North to the 55 North to the 91 West to the 57 South to the 5 North. We were outside of the venue about 45 minutes after we left Laguna. When I think about it, it’s kinda weird the things you remember… (like freeways taken to a concert…)
I was already messing around with some buddies, playing guitar, writing songs, but now the vision was crystallized into a vision. Get up on that stage and make other people sweaty through the power of your music and your energy and your presence...
God, what a great night...
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Rhythm
There's a rhythm to New York City. And, no, I'm not talking about the Barry Manilow song...
I mean that there's a cadence to how the people walk the streets, how the subway comes and goes through each station, how the rickshas and horse drawn carriages travel through Central Park, how the Broadway patrons flood out into the streets after each show, how the taxi cabs weave in and out of traffic, how the street vendors call out to you and move on to the next passerby once you've snubbed them, how the locals acknowledge you as a tourist because you're out of rhythm...
And, yes. Tourists are out of rhythm... not just in Times Square or SoHo or Central Park. Tourists everywhere are out of rhythm. Tourists at Disneyland. At the beach. In Hollywood. And it's a beautiful thing because being out of rhythm is being out of your comfort zone and the only way you can truly grow is to be outside of your comfort zone.
That's the beauty of traveling. You learn so much (if you're actually paying attention) when you travel. You step outside your bubble, you expose yourself to different customs and traditions and rhythms of life, and you can't help but become a different version of yourself through this exposure.
I wish I could travel more. And benefit from experiencing life beyond my own apartment, neighborhood, town, city, county, state, country... Because I want to learn and I want to be shaped by those experiences.
Thank you for a beautiful first anniversary trip, New York City. I hope I see you again very soon...
I mean that there's a cadence to how the people walk the streets, how the subway comes and goes through each station, how the rickshas and horse drawn carriages travel through Central Park, how the Broadway patrons flood out into the streets after each show, how the taxi cabs weave in and out of traffic, how the street vendors call out to you and move on to the next passerby once you've snubbed them, how the locals acknowledge you as a tourist because you're out of rhythm...
And, yes. Tourists are out of rhythm... not just in Times Square or SoHo or Central Park. Tourists everywhere are out of rhythm. Tourists at Disneyland. At the beach. In Hollywood. And it's a beautiful thing because being out of rhythm is being out of your comfort zone and the only way you can truly grow is to be outside of your comfort zone.
That's the beauty of traveling. You learn so much (if you're actually paying attention) when you travel. You step outside your bubble, you expose yourself to different customs and traditions and rhythms of life, and you can't help but become a different version of yourself through this exposure.
I wish I could travel more. And benefit from experiencing life beyond my own apartment, neighborhood, town, city, county, state, country... Because I want to learn and I want to be shaped by those experiences.
Thank you for a beautiful first anniversary trip, New York City. I hope I see you again very soon...
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tired in the morning...
... and wide awake at night.
Why is the grass always greener? Why do opposites attract? Why are you tired when work needs to get done and energetic when there's nothing to do?
More NYC shenanigans today. Great brunch at Barrio Chino with Emily and Nate. We missed out on two lotteries (Newsies and Book of Mormon), but it was nice to be able to come back to the hotel and rest after dinner. And what a dinner! The View at the Marquis Marriott. Rotating restaurant!! Gnocchi, rib eye, potatoes, cheesecake... awesome. And filling. And I needed the walk to the subway station afterwards...
Tomorrow: sleeping in, Central Park lunch, MoMA, and Newsies. New York is beautiful...
Oh, yeah. Another iPhone post. And I need to keep doing push ups. And do I really want room service...?
Why is the grass always greener? Why do opposites attract? Why are you tired when work needs to get done and energetic when there's nothing to do?
More NYC shenanigans today. Great brunch at Barrio Chino with Emily and Nate. We missed out on two lotteries (Newsies and Book of Mormon), but it was nice to be able to come back to the hotel and rest after dinner. And what a dinner! The View at the Marquis Marriott. Rotating restaurant!! Gnocchi, rib eye, potatoes, cheesecake... awesome. And filling. And I needed the walk to the subway station afterwards...
Tomorrow: sleeping in, Central Park lunch, MoMA, and Newsies. New York is beautiful...
Oh, yeah. Another iPhone post. And I need to keep doing push ups. And do I really want room service...?
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Yes, I said I never would, but...
... I'm updating from my iPhone again.
So, sue me. I'm in New York, and I'm one of the seventy-three people age 30 or younger in America without a laptop. So, I'm updating from my iPhone.
Wow, I'm in New York. For my first anniversary. With the love of my life. And it's been a really amazing trip so far. Our first in over 4 years, which is all at once amazing and unbelievable and depressing and completely exhilarating!
Red eye flight was quick but uncomfy. Always woke up with a sore neck; could never get in a good sleeping position; slept for over 3/4 of the flight, but didn't really get any rest.
Landed at 5:40am. Took a cab to 60 Thompson, our swanky hotel in SoHo. This place is rad and hipster-y and totally way too cool for Rachel and I. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy the hell out of this amazingly comfortable king bed with its feathery pillows and sleep inducing sheets...
Slept in a bit, then woke up and hustled down to the Seaport TKTS. Navigating the subway system is like trying to learn a new language. I wish SoCal had a subway system, but it's way too spread out. It is very liberating to walk and take trains everywhere though. I'd probably be way more healthy, too. We decided to get Jesus Christ Superstar tickets even though it's still in previews.
Train back to SoHo. Picked up pizza and garlic knots for lunch and took it back to our room. Greasy, but serviceable. Watched TV and rested till we walked to Dylan Prime for dinner. It's a steakhouse in TriBeCa, and Rachel and I ate there 5 years ago, but it feels like it could have happened months ago...
Oh yeah. Collateral is a bomb movie, and Jamie Foxx is really good. What happened to that guy?
Train to JCS. Amazing show. Really liked Jesus and Judas killed it even though he was an understudy. I loved seeing how proud of Judas the rest of the cast was during bows. They were all congratulating him, and you got the feeling that he was a great young actor that paid his dues and was finally getting his big chance. And he did so well, you couldn't help but be happy for him.
Long day planned tomorrow. Newsies lottery, brunch with Emily and Nate, a matinee?, a night show?, dinner at the View rotating restaurant in Times Square, drinks with a good friend of Rachel's that she hasn't seen in years. Long day, can't wait!!
So, sue me. I'm in New York, and I'm one of the seventy-three people age 30 or younger in America without a laptop. So, I'm updating from my iPhone.
Wow, I'm in New York. For my first anniversary. With the love of my life. And it's been a really amazing trip so far. Our first in over 4 years, which is all at once amazing and unbelievable and depressing and completely exhilarating!
Red eye flight was quick but uncomfy. Always woke up with a sore neck; could never get in a good sleeping position; slept for over 3/4 of the flight, but didn't really get any rest.
Landed at 5:40am. Took a cab to 60 Thompson, our swanky hotel in SoHo. This place is rad and hipster-y and totally way too cool for Rachel and I. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy the hell out of this amazingly comfortable king bed with its feathery pillows and sleep inducing sheets...
Slept in a bit, then woke up and hustled down to the Seaport TKTS. Navigating the subway system is like trying to learn a new language. I wish SoCal had a subway system, but it's way too spread out. It is very liberating to walk and take trains everywhere though. I'd probably be way more healthy, too. We decided to get Jesus Christ Superstar tickets even though it's still in previews.
Train back to SoHo. Picked up pizza and garlic knots for lunch and took it back to our room. Greasy, but serviceable. Watched TV and rested till we walked to Dylan Prime for dinner. It's a steakhouse in TriBeCa, and Rachel and I ate there 5 years ago, but it feels like it could have happened months ago...
Oh yeah. Collateral is a bomb movie, and Jamie Foxx is really good. What happened to that guy?
Train to JCS. Amazing show. Really liked Jesus and Judas killed it even though he was an understudy. I loved seeing how proud of Judas the rest of the cast was during bows. They were all congratulating him, and you got the feeling that he was a great young actor that paid his dues and was finally getting his big chance. And he did so well, you couldn't help but be happy for him.
Long day planned tomorrow. Newsies lottery, brunch with Emily and Nate, a matinee?, a night show?, dinner at the View rotating restaurant in Times Square, drinks with a good friend of Rachel's that she hasn't seen in years. Long day, can't wait!!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Leaving on a jet plane...
... and I know exactly when I'll be back again.
Leave for NYC with Rachel tomorrow night. I like that phrase "leave for...". It makes us sound like we're going to Oregon Trail it across the country and face the perils of the open wilderness and dodge herds of bison and escape the clutches of dysentery... Can you believe I've never actually played Oregon Trail?
I love New York. I love Rachel and I in New York. Times Square. The Subway (and subsequently, getting lost on the subway...). Broadway shows. Amazing restaurants. Such a different pace from California. People move with purpose, which is interpreted as "people are rude." No, bro. They just know what they need to do and would rather not have your tourist ass in the way...
It's our one year anniversary on March 27th, next Tuesday. It doesn't feel like a year. It feels longer. It feels shorter. It hasn't been perfect, but it has been amazing, and I am the luckiest man in the world (cue cheesy music and doves being released and running towards each other on the beach...)
Time to sleep. Then... NYC tomorrow night!!!
Leave for NYC with Rachel tomorrow night. I like that phrase "leave for...". It makes us sound like we're going to Oregon Trail it across the country and face the perils of the open wilderness and dodge herds of bison and escape the clutches of dysentery... Can you believe I've never actually played Oregon Trail?
I love New York. I love Rachel and I in New York. Times Square. The Subway (and subsequently, getting lost on the subway...). Broadway shows. Amazing restaurants. Such a different pace from California. People move with purpose, which is interpreted as "people are rude." No, bro. They just know what they need to do and would rather not have your tourist ass in the way...
It's our one year anniversary on March 27th, next Tuesday. It doesn't feel like a year. It feels longer. It feels shorter. It hasn't been perfect, but it has been amazing, and I am the luckiest man in the world (cue cheesy music and doves being released and running towards each other on the beach...)
Time to sleep. Then... NYC tomorrow night!!!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Is Mediocre Enough?
This post is going to be mediocre. Yes, I have set the bar low enough to be vaulted with little to no effort. Already, I have exceeded expectations...
Maybe we expect too much? Maybe our goals are too lofty, our standards are too high, our scorecards are too strict...
Or maybe we just want spectacular. We want to feel the backs of our necks tingle, the hairs on our arms stand up... we want to feel goosebumps and have trouble catching our breath because what we've witnessed is so amazing, beautiful, life-changing...
It starts with aiming high on paper, hitting low in reality, and eventually matching paper to reality.
Mediocre now becomes amazing later... but only if you push yourself through the times you feel mediocre. Only if you learn from your mistakes. Attempt, evaluate, adjust, rinse, repeat.
But even mediocre is better than nothing. Nothing might as well be... well, it really isn't anything so nothing can go fuck itself...
Maybe we expect too much? Maybe our goals are too lofty, our standards are too high, our scorecards are too strict...
Or maybe we just want spectacular. We want to feel the backs of our necks tingle, the hairs on our arms stand up... we want to feel goosebumps and have trouble catching our breath because what we've witnessed is so amazing, beautiful, life-changing...
It starts with aiming high on paper, hitting low in reality, and eventually matching paper to reality.
Mediocre now becomes amazing later... but only if you push yourself through the times you feel mediocre. Only if you learn from your mistakes. Attempt, evaluate, adjust, rinse, repeat.
But even mediocre is better than nothing. Nothing might as well be... well, it really isn't anything so nothing can go fuck itself...
Monday, March 19, 2012
Tribes
Village. Community. In crowd. Movement. Tribe.
If you get it, you get it. The unspoken rules, niche references, common language, dos and don’ts…
You need to earn your place amongst the tribe. It takes effort and time and shared experiences to truly belong. And even though each person’s experiences are singularly their own, as a part of a tribe, each personal experience is framed within a common experience…
I enjoy (most of the time) membership in the following tribes:
- Parent- Husband
- Musician
- Golfer
- Theater Kid
- Runner
- iPhone User
- Youngest Kid in the Family
- Laid Off at the End of 2008
Seth Godin has written a book about tribes. I haven't read it. Womp womp womp...
But inherently we all know about the importance of tribes and their subconscious effects on our behavior.
Doesn't mean I shouldn't read the book, though...
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Why am I so awake at 12:24am...
And not just tonight.
Every night.
Every single night.
Dead tired when I wake up. Tired at work. Tired on the drive home. Tired hanging out with Rachel and Chase after work. Tired during Chase's bath time. (Sidenote: If you're reading this, Rachel, I am sorry for so often being a downer when I get home from work. I'm also sorry for writing this in a blog instead of just telling you in person... [note to self: Tell Rachel you're sorry in person.])
Then, 10pm hits, and I'm awake. Super awake. Energetic want to accomplish things, write songs, play guitar, sing lyrics, delve into the pantheon of the world's music, do things to change the world awake...
Maybe after 10pm downstairs in my living room is my equivalent of this...
Every night.
Every single night.
Dead tired when I wake up. Tired at work. Tired on the drive home. Tired hanging out with Rachel and Chase after work. Tired during Chase's bath time. (Sidenote: If you're reading this, Rachel, I am sorry for so often being a downer when I get home from work. I'm also sorry for writing this in a blog instead of just telling you in person... [note to self: Tell Rachel you're sorry in person.])
Then, 10pm hits, and I'm awake. Super awake. Energetic want to accomplish things, write songs, play guitar, sing lyrics, delve into the pantheon of the world's music, do things to change the world awake...
Maybe after 10pm downstairs in my living room is my equivalent of this...
Fuck Rules
Self-imposed or otherwise.
I apologize for the vulgarity.
I'm not sorry at all for the vulgarity.
Just have fun. Yes, there are lines, but a lot of times you don't know where they are until you've crossed them. It should be any artist's hope to set out to cross lines, push boundaries, elicit emotional responses, extract polar opposite opinions.
"I hate it" is better than "meh..."...
So yeah. Fuck rules and thinking you have to be a certain way or play a certain song or write a certain lyric to be accepted or popular or successful. Define your own acceptance, popularity, success. Just do you...
If it sounds like I'm trying to inspire myself... well, gosh... isn't that one of the points of writing a blog...?
I apologize for the vulgarity.
I'm not sorry at all for the vulgarity.
Just have fun. Yes, there are lines, but a lot of times you don't know where they are until you've crossed them. It should be any artist's hope to set out to cross lines, push boundaries, elicit emotional responses, extract polar opposite opinions.
"I hate it" is better than "meh..."...
So yeah. Fuck rules and thinking you have to be a certain way or play a certain song or write a certain lyric to be accepted or popular or successful. Define your own acceptance, popularity, success. Just do you...
If it sounds like I'm trying to inspire myself... well, gosh... isn't that one of the points of writing a blog...?
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Patience and/ or Attention Span
Lacking in both nowadays.
Rachel loves herself some Downton Abbey.
I had playtime with Chase for about an hour before his bedtime tonight. He's getting so big and is progressing so quickly everyday. He noticed that his Thomas the Train bridge was made up of shapes. "Ah an gul." Yeah, bud, it's a triangle. Good job!
Patience, Glynn. Focus. Played guitar for a bit tonight. Tried to work on a song that I had recorded bits and pieces of a long time ago. Couldn't figure out what the song should be about. It's difficult trying to write a song about writer's block. Sometimes songs just don't happen. Inspiration isn't there. I'm focused on something else. Or I just plain don't have it. Funny how my best songs normally happen when I'm not even trying to write a song. Except for the hitRECord creative explosion of 2011. Hahahaha...
Attention spans shrinking. Twitter. Status updates. Tumblr. Everything is now, now, now, yesterday, two weeks ago... It's getting harder and harder to keep up, and I have a feeling that pretty soon, I just won't...
Man, I don't even have the patience or attention span to properly finish this blog post. I blame it on 2Pacalypse Now. Thanks, Spotify...
Rachel loves herself some Downton Abbey.
I had playtime with Chase for about an hour before his bedtime tonight. He's getting so big and is progressing so quickly everyday. He noticed that his Thomas the Train bridge was made up of shapes. "Ah an gul." Yeah, bud, it's a triangle. Good job!
Patience, Glynn. Focus. Played guitar for a bit tonight. Tried to work on a song that I had recorded bits and pieces of a long time ago. Couldn't figure out what the song should be about. It's difficult trying to write a song about writer's block. Sometimes songs just don't happen. Inspiration isn't there. I'm focused on something else. Or I just plain don't have it. Funny how my best songs normally happen when I'm not even trying to write a song. Except for the hitRECord creative explosion of 2011. Hahahaha...
Attention spans shrinking. Twitter. Status updates. Tumblr. Everything is now, now, now, yesterday, two weeks ago... It's getting harder and harder to keep up, and I have a feeling that pretty soon, I just won't...
Man, I don't even have the patience or attention span to properly finish this blog post. I blame it on 2Pacalypse Now. Thanks, Spotify...
I Don't Want to Use Someone Else's Words
I want to use mine.
Maybe I'm selfish or naive or think really, really highly of myself.
But I've also learned that I am the only person that has seen the world with my eyes (scroll down to number 9). Glynn is the only person that has seen the world through Glynn's eyes, and Glynn has something to say about the human experience.
It's easy to share a someone else's video or picture or blog post or meme or screencap or song or idea... This act is what drives so much of the internet today.
But I want to have my own idea. And I want to share it with the world. And I want it to last forever.
I want to touch people's lives. I want to sit in a coffee house or a club or a bar or a theater or a concert hall and play and sing and tell stories so that when people leave they go, "Wow. I'm going to remember this moment in time for the rest of my life."
I want to be this motivated and excited and inspired and aligned every moment of everyday.
Keep going, Glynn. Keep going...
Maybe I'm selfish or naive or think really, really highly of myself.
But I've also learned that I am the only person that has seen the world with my eyes (scroll down to number 9). Glynn is the only person that has seen the world through Glynn's eyes, and Glynn has something to say about the human experience.
It's easy to share a someone else's video or picture or blog post or meme or screencap or song or idea... This act is what drives so much of the internet today.
But I want to have my own idea. And I want to share it with the world. And I want it to last forever.
I want to touch people's lives. I want to sit in a coffee house or a club or a bar or a theater or a concert hall and play and sing and tell stories so that when people leave they go, "Wow. I'm going to remember this moment in time for the rest of my life."
I want to be this motivated and excited and inspired and aligned every moment of everyday.
Keep going, Glynn. Keep going...
Leaders
TED talks rock my socks.
And this one is really good.
It's not about "what" you do. It's about "why" you do it. People identify with "why" not "what". It's the reason some companies, ideas, brands, public figures, entrepreneurs, musicians, human beings succeed and others fall by the wayside.
Great stuff.
And this one is really good.
It's not about "what" you do. It's about "why" you do it. People identify with "why" not "what". It's the reason some companies, ideas, brands, public figures, entrepreneurs, musicians, human beings succeed and others fall by the wayside.
Great stuff.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I promised myself...
That I'd never update from my iPhonr eer again. I'm leavin all the typos so I'll never forget why I despise posting from my phone. auto correct is saving a lot of mistakes, but they're still there...
Monday's go by quickly.
Ugh... I'm going to hate re-reading his post.
I'll finish with histories thought... "Ehat? Histories thought?"
Never again iPhone. Neve again...
Monday's go by quickly.
Ugh... I'm going to hate re-reading his post.
I'll finish with histories thought... "Ehat? Histories thought?"
Never again iPhone. Neve again...
Monday, March 12, 2012
It's a Big World...
... and, like a dope, I've been ignoring almost 99% of it.
The Kony 2012 video was an eye opener. Not only to Joseph Kony's atrocities but to my own naive outlook on the world.
I didn't even know where Uganda was on a map of Africa. How embarrassing...
So I figured out where Uganda is. Then I realized, "I don't really know much geography beyond the United States. Wait. Beyond California..."
I need to step outside my bubble. Not just regarding social issues, current events, the history of the world, religious conversations... but regarding music, art, theater, poetry... We live during an amazing period in human history where everything you could ever hope to learn is right at your fingertips. And we owe it to ourselves to diversify. Because tomorrow's world will be filled with a generation of informed citizens that has benefited from this instantly accessible wealth of knowledge...
... at least I hope so.
The Kony 2012 video was an eye opener. Not only to Joseph Kony's atrocities but to my own naive outlook on the world.
I didn't even know where Uganda was on a map of Africa. How embarrassing...
So I figured out where Uganda is. Then I realized, "I don't really know much geography beyond the United States. Wait. Beyond California..."
I need to step outside my bubble. Not just regarding social issues, current events, the history of the world, religious conversations... but regarding music, art, theater, poetry... We live during an amazing period in human history where everything you could ever hope to learn is right at your fingertips. And we owe it to ourselves to diversify. Because tomorrow's world will be filled with a generation of informed citizens that has benefited from this instantly accessible wealth of knowledge...
... at least I hope so.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Haters gonna hate...
I posted a song about Kony 2012 on YouTube.
The exchange below took place in the comments...
I'm actually a pretty big fan of my reply.
I'm also proud to have elicited an opinion from someone, even if it was a negative one.
Back to the drawing board I guess. Wait. No. Not back to the drawing board because of the comment. Back to the drawing board because I want to get better for me. Screw what anyone else has to say. Because haters wanna hate... and there's nothing you can do once they get going but make art of which you're proud.
The exchange below took place in the comments...
 | ||
I'm also proud to have elicited an opinion from someone, even if it was a negative one.
Back to the drawing board I guess. Wait. No. Not back to the drawing board because of the comment. Back to the drawing board because I want to get better for me. Screw what anyone else has to say. Because haters wanna hate... and there's nothing you can do once they get going but make art of which you're proud.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Kony 2012- Continued
Whoa. Kony 2012 has opened up a can of worms. I was swept up. Then swept down. But now, having watched the video almost 48 hours ago and read numerous blogs and informational sites on the topic (including Invisible Children’s response to the backlash), I can firmly say that I support the movement. But I also need to take it upon myself to be much more pro-active about becoming educated about the injustices being perpetrated around the world.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/mar/08/kony-2012-what-s-the-story?fb=native
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Kony 2012
My good friend Kris shared a video about Kony 2012 on Facebook, and it changed the course of my night. I was going to listen to the new Andrew Bird on Spotify, play some guitar, watch Sportscenter, and go to sleep.
Now, I've watched the video and can't help but think that I'm about to become a part of something that will change the course of human history.
There's the tease. Now, please, watch the video... Hopefully, it will change the course of your day, night, life...
Kony 2012
Now, I've watched the video and can't help but think that I'm about to become a part of something that will change the course of human history.
There's the tease. Now, please, watch the video... Hopefully, it will change the course of your day, night, life...
Monday, March 5, 2012
... can't be a bad thing, right?
I can already tell this is gonna be a good one...
Good is an entirely subjective term. For example, when I say "good" I mean that I'll probably be ping ponging around from subject to subject to the predicate, you let me go-oo-oh-oo-oh, you're leaving Connecticut first flight tomo-oo-row-oo-oh...
The Impossibles were a good band. Were? Are they still a band? I have no idea.
I ran on a treadmill today. Which was boring, but fun, but functional, but I got to listen to the first Miniature Tigers album in its entirety, which can't be a bad thing, right?
I did a load of Chase's laundry.
Are blogs just supposed to be a way to lay out the minutes of the day? Methinks that's a big fat "NO!"
The play from my last post is Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. I should purchase it and read it soon.
I finished writing a song tonight? Question mark because I'm sure I'll revisit it tomorrow and make some tweaks, which can't be a bad thing, right?
Teams really are as good as their weakest player. Which says a lot about any championship team. Minimizing mistakes. Maximizing strengths. Yes, it's okay that it's simple. Simple is better than complicated sometimes.
I write a lot of songs about Chase, which can't be a bad thing, right?
Throwback bands are good. I don't hate on them for being born in the wrong decade or for standing on the shoulders of giants. Sure, it would be nice to push the limits of music and try something new, but I'm all for rehashing as long as you're good and you can make my head nod and my arms air drum and my foot tap.
Is it a bad thing to be liked?
Sometimes when you want something so badly, it gets in the way, and you'll be better off taking a step back, letting it breathe, being patient, because things take time...
Is it a bad thing to be accessible?
(delete) (delete) (delete)
Band of Skulls must really like Jack White...
Man, when did it become 23:10???
Go to sleep, Glynn, which means lie in bed looking at Facebook and watching Sportscenter and eating Samoas or Caramel Delites or whatever the eff they're called now... which can't be a bad thing, right?
Good is an entirely subjective term. For example, when I say "good" I mean that I'll probably be ping ponging around from subject to subject to the predicate, you let me go-oo-oh-oo-oh, you're leaving Connecticut first flight tomo-oo-row-oo-oh...
The Impossibles were a good band. Were? Are they still a band? I have no idea.
I ran on a treadmill today. Which was boring, but fun, but functional, but I got to listen to the first Miniature Tigers album in its entirety, which can't be a bad thing, right?
I did a load of Chase's laundry.
Are blogs just supposed to be a way to lay out the minutes of the day? Methinks that's a big fat "NO!"
The play from my last post is Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. I should purchase it and read it soon.
I finished writing a song tonight? Question mark because I'm sure I'll revisit it tomorrow and make some tweaks, which can't be a bad thing, right?
Teams really are as good as their weakest player. Which says a lot about any championship team. Minimizing mistakes. Maximizing strengths. Yes, it's okay that it's simple. Simple is better than complicated sometimes.
I write a lot of songs about Chase, which can't be a bad thing, right?
Throwback bands are good. I don't hate on them for being born in the wrong decade or for standing on the shoulders of giants. Sure, it would be nice to push the limits of music and try something new, but I'm all for rehashing as long as you're good and you can make my head nod and my arms air drum and my foot tap.
Is it a bad thing to be liked?
Sometimes when you want something so badly, it gets in the way, and you'll be better off taking a step back, letting it breathe, being patient, because things take time...
Is it a bad thing to be accessible?
(delete) (delete) (delete)
Band of Skulls must really like Jack White...
Man, when did it become 23:10???
Go to sleep, Glynn, which means lie in bed looking at Facebook and watching Sportscenter and eating Samoas or Caramel Delites or whatever the eff they're called now... which can't be a bad thing, right?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Pushing Boundaries
Is what I'm doing, playing, writing, singing... is any of it pushing the boundaries enough?
I took a directing class while I was a third year at UCI. There were several memorable moments throughout the quarter, but one that sticks out most of all is a discussion regarding an excerpt from a play that I've since forgotten. A classmate had been assigned this scene to direct... and there was a line in the script that called for the main character to gaze into some sort of device that contained the universe or some sort of prism with beauty beyond articulation. I really wish I could remember which play/ scene/ character/ plot device was being discussed. Anyways, my classmate had chosen to make the device more believable and not so outlandishly beautiful/ unbelievable. And our professor, the wise sage Keith Fowler, asked, "Why would you want to do that? If given the choice between making something ordinary or making something beyond belief, why would you settle for ordinary?" And that stuck with me... if only subconsciously up until this blog post.
Am I settling for the ordinary? Am I doing work that's just "good enough"? Or am I pushing myself to reach the point where my work/ music/ performance is beautiful beyond articulation...? Or at least memorable so as to force the audience to pick a side of the fence...
It's 22:52. Go work on forcing people to have an opinion about you, Glynn. Go push some boundaries...
I took a directing class while I was a third year at UCI. There were several memorable moments throughout the quarter, but one that sticks out most of all is a discussion regarding an excerpt from a play that I've since forgotten. A classmate had been assigned this scene to direct... and there was a line in the script that called for the main character to gaze into some sort of device that contained the universe or some sort of prism with beauty beyond articulation. I really wish I could remember which play/ scene/ character/ plot device was being discussed. Anyways, my classmate had chosen to make the device more believable and not so outlandishly beautiful/ unbelievable. And our professor, the wise sage Keith Fowler, asked, "Why would you want to do that? If given the choice between making something ordinary or making something beyond belief, why would you settle for ordinary?" And that stuck with me... if only subconsciously up until this blog post.
Am I settling for the ordinary? Am I doing work that's just "good enough"? Or am I pushing myself to reach the point where my work/ music/ performance is beautiful beyond articulation...? Or at least memorable so as to force the audience to pick a side of the fence...
It's 22:52. Go work on forcing people to have an opinion about you, Glynn. Go push some boundaries...
John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Last night, I spent about 15 minutes reading the Wikipedia article on this serial killer. Depressing, astonishing, unbelievable, car crash you can't turn away from. Was he evil? Disturbed? Confused? Evil? Crazy? Created? Remorseful? Aware of anything he'd done? Lonely? Just a man...?
Sufjan Stevens is a genius. The juxtaposition of the horror of the subject matter and the beauty of the music... so good.
Below is a YouTube video of my cover of Sufjan's song about John Wayne Gacy, Jr. It's haunting, and from the moment I heard the studio version of Sufjan's song, I fell in love with it.
Enjoy...
Sufjan Stevens is a genius. The juxtaposition of the horror of the subject matter and the beauty of the music... so good.
Below is a YouTube video of my cover of Sufjan's song about John Wayne Gacy, Jr. It's haunting, and from the moment I heard the studio version of Sufjan's song, I fell in love with it.
Enjoy...
Saturday, March 3, 2012
*sidenote
Winter is winding down.
*sidenote: I live in California, so saying that "winter is winding down" is purely chronological and has nothing to do with the actual season. It's 77 degrees outside and sunny and beautiful and why would anyone want to live anywhere else in the world? Oh... people live in a bubble out here, which can make it difficult to find something "real"? Hmmm... I didn't know you were so pretentiously judgmental, Glynn.
Winter is winding down. We'll be losing an hour in 8 days.
*sidenote: Sure. We lose an hour in the morning, but you gain that hour in the evening because the sun will still be out when you leave work, so if you want to, say, go for a run or walk to the store or cruise to the beach for an hour, you can because there will be glorious daylight until 7:00pm. So quite yer complaining.
Winter is winding down. We'll be losing an hour in 8 days. I can't wait to start a whole bunch of projects.
*sidenote: By "whole bunch" I mean three. 1) Record my acoustic stuff. A split EP with the wonderfully talented Lexy Baeza. A solo album. Literally, cannot wait. 2) Run. 1st 5K of 2012 is in 5 weeks. And running also means I'll shed some poundage, which is always good for the old heart. 3) Blog more regularly. I need to write more. Not just songs or emails to angry customers but creative bursts of intellectually stimulating (or not) prose.
Winter is winding down. We'll be losing an hour in 8 days. I can't wait to start a whole bunch of projects. And now it's time to go play guitar...
*sidenote: Thanks for reading this...
*sidenote: I live in California, so saying that "winter is winding down" is purely chronological and has nothing to do with the actual season. It's 77 degrees outside and sunny and beautiful and why would anyone want to live anywhere else in the world? Oh... people live in a bubble out here, which can make it difficult to find something "real"? Hmmm... I didn't know you were so pretentiously judgmental, Glynn.
Winter is winding down. We'll be losing an hour in 8 days.
*sidenote: Sure. We lose an hour in the morning, but you gain that hour in the evening because the sun will still be out when you leave work, so if you want to, say, go for a run or walk to the store or cruise to the beach for an hour, you can because there will be glorious daylight until 7:00pm. So quite yer complaining.
Winter is winding down. We'll be losing an hour in 8 days. I can't wait to start a whole bunch of projects.
*sidenote: By "whole bunch" I mean three. 1) Record my acoustic stuff. A split EP with the wonderfully talented Lexy Baeza. A solo album. Literally, cannot wait. 2) Run. 1st 5K of 2012 is in 5 weeks. And running also means I'll shed some poundage, which is always good for the old heart. 3) Blog more regularly. I need to write more. Not just songs or emails to angry customers but creative bursts of intellectually stimulating (or not) prose.
Winter is winding down. We'll be losing an hour in 8 days. I can't wait to start a whole bunch of projects. And now it's time to go play guitar...
*sidenote: Thanks for reading this...
Friday, March 2, 2012
Go Do
Seriously... slowly... moving... is this day...
But soon I'll be at a Ducks game, amongst the (semi-)masses, enjoying Bro Hymn (which means we've scored), stomach full of Bruxie (awesome waffle sandwiches), and possibly cheesecake (but only if it's not too expensive)...
Hopefully, some guitar tonight, too. Played last night (review of old stuff, some new stuff, mostly getting ready to record, filtering, picking out songs, second-guessing [which I hate, it's so counterproductive, why must it occur?], perfecting, making mistakes, learning, getting better), but I should always play more... NEED to play more.
Running tomorrow morning. First time since November. 30 minutes at a nice easy pace. 5 weeks away from the first official race of the season, which will be a 5K down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I still want to hit up a triathlon by the end of the year. I just need to start swimming more.
I miss regularly blogging. I guess I have no one to blame but myself.
All it takes is a decision... a firmly made decision. Be a better husband. Be a better dad. Play more guitar. Blog more. Clean. Cook. Run. Be healthy. A firmly made decision. And slipping is okay, as long as you right yourself and keep moving forward. Slipping is okay. We're all human. We all make mistakes. We all lose sight of our goals. But our goals are always there. A firmly made decision.
But soon I'll be at a Ducks game, amongst the (semi-)masses, enjoying Bro Hymn (which means we've scored), stomach full of Bruxie (awesome waffle sandwiches), and possibly cheesecake (but only if it's not too expensive)...
Hopefully, some guitar tonight, too. Played last night (review of old stuff, some new stuff, mostly getting ready to record, filtering, picking out songs, second-guessing [which I hate, it's so counterproductive, why must it occur?], perfecting, making mistakes, learning, getting better), but I should always play more... NEED to play more.
Running tomorrow morning. First time since November. 30 minutes at a nice easy pace. 5 weeks away from the first official race of the season, which will be a 5K down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I still want to hit up a triathlon by the end of the year. I just need to start swimming more.
I miss regularly blogging. I guess I have no one to blame but myself.
All it takes is a decision... a firmly made decision. Be a better husband. Be a better dad. Play more guitar. Blog more. Clean. Cook. Run. Be healthy. A firmly made decision. And slipping is okay, as long as you right yourself and keep moving forward. Slipping is okay. We're all human. We all make mistakes. We all lose sight of our goals. But our goals are always there. A firmly made decision.
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