Here is my latest song...I was sick and stuck in my apartment today, yet the juices were flowing in my brain, so I started writing and this is what I've got! I am bad at titles...I'll take suggestions, if you please! What does it make you think of?
February 25, 2011
February 24, 2011
What I SHOULD Do
My last post was a long rant about all the things that I have been keeping suppressed inside me for 3 years. And that's all it was. A rant. I just had to let it out so that I could begin to see clearly again. And I am seeing clearly again.
Everything I said in my last post is something that I have legitimately been feeling. But its the bad half. The good feelings have been kept out because the bad ones have been clouding my judgment for so long. I needed to expose myself...and release all of my weakest, childish emotions so that I can start acting like an adult and taking responsibility.
I have seen that over just the last 24 hours, 60 people have read my blog, but I only had one response. And thank God for that response. Nikki sorta slapped me in the face in a long reply, basically telling me to quit wallowing in self-pity, start trusting God, and get to work.
Well, Nikki, you're right. I do need to stop wallowing, start trusting, and get busy. It really is simple, easy advice, but sometimes the only time real progress can be made is if you rip out all the stuff that is in the way of progress, just like the only way the Holy Spirit can enter your heart is after you clear yourself of sins in baptism. I think that is what needed to be done in my case. Yes, I've complained before. I complain a lot. But I never truly explained what was on my heart. People ask, "how are you doing?" but they don't really care. Honestly. How many of you who read the last post started mentally rebuking me? How many of you would have wanted me to say all that in response to a friendly "How are you?" Not very many, I can guess.
So anyway, I know what I did and said was childish and immature. I recognize that I have a lot of growing up to do. A LOT. I do need to stop looking at the past and start looking to the future. And I need to start looking to the future with hope-filled glasses, not terror-filled glasses.
I guess part of my problem is that I feel like many of my friends at OC have abandoned me. My fault, no doubt. I used to hang out with lots of great people, but they hardly look my way anymore. It hurts every day to see them but to realize that they don't really want to talk to me. But thanks to Nikki and a few others who really care, I realize that there are still a few who are willing to stick by me through times like this when I've been going through some personal issues.
I guess the point of me writing is to let everyone know that I'm really trying to make some progress in my grades AND maturity. I'm working on my pride and depression. I really do miss my friends, though. Those who don't consider themselves my friends can say and think whatever they want about me, but to those of you who do care, I'd really appreciate the opportunity to talk, hang out, and have fun. I miss doing that.
And meanwhile, I am definitely going to try my hardest to keep up with my grades and everything else that I need to improve on. I have my moments of weakness. Lots of them. Now let's see how much strength I've got.
Everything I said in my last post is something that I have legitimately been feeling. But its the bad half. The good feelings have been kept out because the bad ones have been clouding my judgment for so long. I needed to expose myself...and release all of my weakest, childish emotions so that I can start acting like an adult and taking responsibility.
I have seen that over just the last 24 hours, 60 people have read my blog, but I only had one response. And thank God for that response. Nikki sorta slapped me in the face in a long reply, basically telling me to quit wallowing in self-pity, start trusting God, and get to work.
Well, Nikki, you're right. I do need to stop wallowing, start trusting, and get busy. It really is simple, easy advice, but sometimes the only time real progress can be made is if you rip out all the stuff that is in the way of progress, just like the only way the Holy Spirit can enter your heart is after you clear yourself of sins in baptism. I think that is what needed to be done in my case. Yes, I've complained before. I complain a lot. But I never truly explained what was on my heart. People ask, "how are you doing?" but they don't really care. Honestly. How many of you who read the last post started mentally rebuking me? How many of you would have wanted me to say all that in response to a friendly "How are you?" Not very many, I can guess.
So anyway, I know what I did and said was childish and immature. I recognize that I have a lot of growing up to do. A LOT. I do need to stop looking at the past and start looking to the future. And I need to start looking to the future with hope-filled glasses, not terror-filled glasses.
I guess part of my problem is that I feel like many of my friends at OC have abandoned me. My fault, no doubt. I used to hang out with lots of great people, but they hardly look my way anymore. It hurts every day to see them but to realize that they don't really want to talk to me. But thanks to Nikki and a few others who really care, I realize that there are still a few who are willing to stick by me through times like this when I've been going through some personal issues.
I guess the point of me writing is to let everyone know that I'm really trying to make some progress in my grades AND maturity. I'm working on my pride and depression. I really do miss my friends, though. Those who don't consider themselves my friends can say and think whatever they want about me, but to those of you who do care, I'd really appreciate the opportunity to talk, hang out, and have fun. I miss doing that.
And meanwhile, I am definitely going to try my hardest to keep up with my grades and everything else that I need to improve on. I have my moments of weakness. Lots of them. Now let's see how much strength I've got.
February 23, 2011
Tell Me What To Do
I HATE MONEY.
I HATE MONEY.
I HATE THAT THE WORLD RUNS ON MONEY.
I HATE THAT IN ORDER TO DO THINGS TO MAKE MORE MONEY YOU HAVE TO SPEND LOTS OF MONEY.
Seriously. The economy is messed up...more than it has been in forever...and right now, all my energy is devoted to succeeding in an institution that was founded to give me a piece of paper that says that I deserve to make more money. Thus America goes. "If you don't have a college degree, you're a failure," people try to make you believe. If you don't have a college degree, it's only because you are lazy, a bad person who spends their study time partying, or just plain stupid. Or because you're too poor to afford a good college education. Lots of people make the bucks just by convincing you that you need their help to afford college.
A university education is an important and usually profitable investment. I don't deny that. And where else will one learn the proper techniques of conducting or history or theory of music? Books and videos could probably do the trick, but only teachers can sign that all-important document that confirms that you have actually learned what you set out to learn. Signatures and legal documents. Ugh.
If not college, then what else is one to do with their life other than work at McDonalds? I wish I knew. Believe me. I don't know what to do if I am unable to return to school except to let luck lead me. And I have spent most of my semesters here at OC in terror of failing out. Well, not necessarily FAILING out. If it was just a matter of academic standing, I'd be totally in the clear. Unfortunately, I need lots of money to stay, and the requirement for keeping a large scholarship is a really good GPA. I have never had a GPA over 3.0 since I've been here. There are so many reasons I could point to that could explain why this is, but in the end, it always comes down to MYSELF.
Ok, my projection of this blog post as I envision it in my head is starting to worry me, because I see myself having to reveal weakness in me. Nevertheless, I feel like I must continue.
As I was saying, there is nothing to blame but myself for the constant threat of having to withdraw from school because of money. Funny thing...I was checking my projected GPA for this semester, and in order to get it up to where it needs to be to keep my big scholarship, I'd need to get all A's. No biggie. So what if I am taking a music history class by Dr. Harold Fletcher? So what if I have NEVER in my life EVER been a STRAIGHT A STUDENT? That's what they expect. Other people can do it. Why not me? Sure, I can take the semester off from shows and try to focus on my grades. Midterms come around and what do I have? I am FAILING 2 classes. At least. They're not all in yet.
I have heard this SO many times! Has it ever crossed their minds that maybe I do my best to apply myself to everything? And that maybe the things I like are the things that I like because I can actually succeed at them? Thus, Success = THINGS THAT I LIKE, and Failure = THINGS THAT I DON'T LIKE BECAUSE I AM A FAILURE AT THEM.
Do people think that I ENJOY failing classes? Do people think that I am so caught up in myself that I don't think that I need to try? Do people think that I am so conceited that I expect everything to just work out for me? I know better than that. I am in my sixth semester. Third time's the charm, right? Ok, let's say that the fourth time is the charm. No? Fifth time. Hmm. SIXTH time. Let's just keep trying. Keep lying to myself and make myself think that I can find a way out. Only one semester ever at OC have I not outright FAILED a class.
Even now, I am trying to console a person close to me because they have an F at midterms. They are failing a class that they have spent so much time working at. I got an A in the same class with the same teacher, book, assignments...yet now when I check over the worksheets, I feel like I am failing all over again, because grades are coming back at 45%, 22%, 17%...
What does it mean? First of all, I take it to mean that a grade means nothing. I got an A, but now I guess that even though it doesn't feel like it to me, I have forgotten almost everything. Second, it does make me feel a bit better to know that I am not the only one who is failing at things that we are doing our best to pass. Screw the GPA. My friend and I just want to PASS!
I was homeschooled. I hate to say this, but I believe that is at least 50 percent of the problem, and that is being nice. When I was homeschooled, I had very little responsibility. My parents were the kind you would call "overprotective" (the politician in my keeps me from expressing my own opinions). I was kept at arm's length at all times. Being at home all the time, there was almost no opportunity to truly learn personal responsibility while growing up. It's not that hard to express in theory, but everyone will admit that it is difficult to practice in real life, especially in a busy, technologically-driven society.
Today, for a normal person who grew up having to go to a normal school and develop normal social habits, it is difficult to practice good study habits and to be responsible. For a homeschooler, life becomes even more difficult. For me, who fought and hated being confined at home all the time, I couldn't learn (or refused to learn) time-management, good study habits, or a sense of responsibility.
Then I was thrown into college to pursue one of the top 2 hardest degrees at Oklahoma Christian University (next to nursing). I wasn't just expected to pass. I was expected to pass with an excellent GPA. If I have any worse than a B, people back home scold me...and what is the thing I hear most when getting in trouble for getting C's, D's, and F's?
Well I'M SORRY if I'm not as good a child as he is! I'm sorry if I didn't have my OWN older brother to look up to and learn what not to do! I'm SORRY if you value success monetarily, thus I'm not successful in your eyes! I'm SORRY that I never became a people person, thus I couldn't become Chick-Fil-A's favorite guy dressed in a cow costume! I know what has been said to my younger siblings while I've been away! "Don't turn out like Ryan. Don't do what Ryan does." WHAT do I do, exactly? Am I an investment to you? An investment that was unable to turn a profit? Because that's what I feel like. And I'm SORRY if that doesn't make me want to work harder for you.
For YOU? Who's future is at stake here?
This has gone on for way too long. I really need to wrap up, so I will. I love to learn what I am learning. Music history is, by far, one of the most fascinating things about music I have ever encountered. But alas, I don't think I'm cut out to finish my education here. If I do, then it will be a miracle. Literally. Because I do not have it in me to succeed academically. That's where God is supposed to come in. Well, he can answer my prayers any time now. Any time. Because I'd like to develop myself as a person, as a boyfriend, and as a Christian while I can, without spending every sweat-filled minute of my collegiate career focusing on staying as far away from an F as possible.
I HATE MONEY.
I HATE THAT THE WORLD RUNS ON MONEY.
I HATE THAT IN ORDER TO DO THINGS TO MAKE MORE MONEY YOU HAVE TO SPEND LOTS OF MONEY.
Seriously. The economy is messed up...more than it has been in forever...and right now, all my energy is devoted to succeeding in an institution that was founded to give me a piece of paper that says that I deserve to make more money. Thus America goes. "If you don't have a college degree, you're a failure," people try to make you believe. If you don't have a college degree, it's only because you are lazy, a bad person who spends their study time partying, or just plain stupid. Or because you're too poor to afford a good college education. Lots of people make the bucks just by convincing you that you need their help to afford college.
A university education is an important and usually profitable investment. I don't deny that. And where else will one learn the proper techniques of conducting or history or theory of music? Books and videos could probably do the trick, but only teachers can sign that all-important document that confirms that you have actually learned what you set out to learn. Signatures and legal documents. Ugh.
If not college, then what else is one to do with their life other than work at McDonalds? I wish I knew. Believe me. I don't know what to do if I am unable to return to school except to let luck lead me. And I have spent most of my semesters here at OC in terror of failing out. Well, not necessarily FAILING out. If it was just a matter of academic standing, I'd be totally in the clear. Unfortunately, I need lots of money to stay, and the requirement for keeping a large scholarship is a really good GPA. I have never had a GPA over 3.0 since I've been here. There are so many reasons I could point to that could explain why this is, but in the end, it always comes down to MYSELF.
Ok, my projection of this blog post as I envision it in my head is starting to worry me, because I see myself having to reveal weakness in me. Nevertheless, I feel like I must continue.
As I was saying, there is nothing to blame but myself for the constant threat of having to withdraw from school because of money. Funny thing...I was checking my projected GPA for this semester, and in order to get it up to where it needs to be to keep my big scholarship, I'd need to get all A's. No biggie. So what if I am taking a music history class by Dr. Harold Fletcher? So what if I have NEVER in my life EVER been a STRAIGHT A STUDENT? That's what they expect. Other people can do it. Why not me? Sure, I can take the semester off from shows and try to focus on my grades. Midterms come around and what do I have? I am FAILING 2 classes. At least. They're not all in yet.
"Oh, you've got so much talent and potential. You'd be fine if you'd only apply yourself. You apply yourself at the things you like but not the things that you don't like."
I have heard this SO many times! Has it ever crossed their minds that maybe I do my best to apply myself to everything? And that maybe the things I like are the things that I like because I can actually succeed at them? Thus, Success = THINGS THAT I LIKE, and Failure = THINGS THAT I DON'T LIKE BECAUSE I AM A FAILURE AT THEM.
Do people think that I ENJOY failing classes? Do people think that I am so caught up in myself that I don't think that I need to try? Do people think that I am so conceited that I expect everything to just work out for me? I know better than that. I am in my sixth semester. Third time's the charm, right? Ok, let's say that the fourth time is the charm. No? Fifth time. Hmm. SIXTH time. Let's just keep trying. Keep lying to myself and make myself think that I can find a way out. Only one semester ever at OC have I not outright FAILED a class.
Even now, I am trying to console a person close to me because they have an F at midterms. They are failing a class that they have spent so much time working at. I got an A in the same class with the same teacher, book, assignments...yet now when I check over the worksheets, I feel like I am failing all over again, because grades are coming back at 45%, 22%, 17%...
What does it mean? First of all, I take it to mean that a grade means nothing. I got an A, but now I guess that even though it doesn't feel like it to me, I have forgotten almost everything. Second, it does make me feel a bit better to know that I am not the only one who is failing at things that we are doing our best to pass. Screw the GPA. My friend and I just want to PASS!
I was homeschooled. I hate to say this, but I believe that is at least 50 percent of the problem, and that is being nice. When I was homeschooled, I had very little responsibility. My parents were the kind you would call "overprotective" (the politician in my keeps me from expressing my own opinions). I was kept at arm's length at all times. Being at home all the time, there was almost no opportunity to truly learn personal responsibility while growing up. It's not that hard to express in theory, but everyone will admit that it is difficult to practice in real life, especially in a busy, technologically-driven society.
Today, for a normal person who grew up having to go to a normal school and develop normal social habits, it is difficult to practice good study habits and to be responsible. For a homeschooler, life becomes even more difficult. For me, who fought and hated being confined at home all the time, I couldn't learn (or refused to learn) time-management, good study habits, or a sense of responsibility.
Then I was thrown into college to pursue one of the top 2 hardest degrees at Oklahoma Christian University (next to nursing). I wasn't just expected to pass. I was expected to pass with an excellent GPA. If I have any worse than a B, people back home scold me...and what is the thing I hear most when getting in trouble for getting C's, D's, and F's?
"You're wasting our money! Get a job and pay to fail school on your own!"
"No, you can't buy a car. You need to pay for your schooling. You need to bring up your GPA."
"Why can't you pay for your cell phone, driver's insurance, and other things like your brother does? He has a job and does his schoolwork!"
Well I'M SORRY if I'm not as good a child as he is! I'm sorry if I didn't have my OWN older brother to look up to and learn what not to do! I'm SORRY if you value success monetarily, thus I'm not successful in your eyes! I'm SORRY that I never became a people person, thus I couldn't become Chick-Fil-A's favorite guy dressed in a cow costume! I know what has been said to my younger siblings while I've been away! "Don't turn out like Ryan. Don't do what Ryan does." WHAT do I do, exactly? Am I an investment to you? An investment that was unable to turn a profit? Because that's what I feel like. And I'm SORRY if that doesn't make me want to work harder for you.
For YOU? Who's future is at stake here?
This has gone on for way too long. I really need to wrap up, so I will. I love to learn what I am learning. Music history is, by far, one of the most fascinating things about music I have ever encountered. But alas, I don't think I'm cut out to finish my education here. If I do, then it will be a miracle. Literally. Because I do not have it in me to succeed academically. That's where God is supposed to come in. Well, he can answer my prayers any time now. Any time. Because I'd like to develop myself as a person, as a boyfriend, and as a Christian while I can, without spending every sweat-filled minute of my collegiate career focusing on staying as far away from an F as possible.
February 15, 2011
A Beautiful Girl
So...Valentine's Day...
As a man in a relationship, the first Valentine's Day with a certain girl can make you work. Especially if your girlfriend deserves more than you feel you can give her!
Becca and I have been dating for 3 months and 15 days now. That is the second longest relationship I have ever been in, but it feels different from all the others.
I probably sound cliché saying that, but I'm just being perfectly honest. It FEELS different from all my other relationships. Why? I do not know. Maybe because our personalities mesh so well. We certainly are both "divas!" Maybe because she is able to forgive my many faults so often. Maybe because it was just "meant to be"?...
There I go, sounding cliché again.
I love my girlfriend. That I know for sure. She has so many quirks that make me giggle! For example, she has this ADDICTION to sweet tea/Dr. Pepper. Sweet tea from Chicken Express (or McDonalds if there is no CE around), and she must have it every day, it seems! I keep telling her she can save 365 dollars per year if she stopped going to buy sweet tea every day, but to no avail.
Anyway, Valentine's Day became a big worry for me, because I have literally NO money...and she kept on telling me that she ALWAYS gets flowers for Valentine's Day.
...
I guess I go and pick some by the freeway?
...
After a couple of SNOW STORMS?
...
And she kept dropping flower hints.
So I racked my brain for clever first-Valentine's-Day ideas that involved no money and no flowers...I guess I could write her a song again...but that was too predictable! And it goes to show that I have no imagination, either. There's some irony for you. Writing a song shows that you have no imagination.
Finally, a few days before the most important day of the year, I was told by someone wise (Lavon Wheeler) to go online to get ideas!
Well, DUH! Why didn't I do that before? And then I got the idea to MAKE roses. Wonderful! Origami roses will not ever die! I can use colored paper, put a stick in the bottom for a stem, and voilá! She gets her Valentine's Day roses.
I used those roses as a springboard to make her a card. I took a picture of them, put it on the cover of the card, and wrote a poem on the inside of the card about roses on Valentine's Day. The whole thing took a while, and I made sure she understood that her present was keeping me up till 4 in the morning as I worked on it (completely true...). I told her that she needed to stay off of my computer (where I had her card and poem saved). She was soon convinced that I had written her another song! Heehee... :)
She was expecting a song. I gave her a card. I pointed out the roses on the cover. She thought that the picture on the front WAS her flowers! Then I pulled out the bouquet of three paper origami roses and presented them to her. She was baffled (I think!).
I feel like this was a successful Valentine's Day for me. I know there are a lot of haters out there, but I personally like taking a day to do something extra special for my girl, and for her to do the same for me. I loved her personalized coupon book, card, and the huge box of Hershey's Kisses in milk chocolate and Cookies and Cream (my favorite ice cream flavor)!
I love holidays. Take away Valentine's Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Martin Luthor King, Jr.'s birthday, and where does that leave you?
A Muslim.
Becca is a beautiful girl who deserves the best. This Valentine's Day, I believe that I gave her my best. :)
 |
| Her Roses. |
Darling, you have taken my heart for a ride
Down country lanes of love
In the warm summer sunshine
And on our journey through
Through this particularly fine day
I stop and pick three roses to present to you
A Valentine Bouquet
Darling, each rose is a special part of you
The first one, a sketch of your face
So beautiful
I wish I found a rose
That could truly play
Your Sistine-perfect face, and add it to
Your Valentine Bouquet
Darling, the second rose grew not by earth and sun
It heard you singing in the fields
And, like mine, its heart you won
It grew to the sound of your song
Each and every day
It grew inside my heart, and now it’s part
Of your Valentine Bouquet
Darling, this final rose is most beautiful of all
It is your heart; your deepest love for others
Who mean all the world to you
Nothing is more lovely than a girl
Who loves that way
And with roses three, I give love back to thee
With this Valentine Bouquet
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