Music for your Midweek: Dismemberment Plan, "This Christmas"

It's everyone's favorite Chris Brown Holiday Hit. I love this version. Your stoner friend hitting on every girl at the Christmas party. AmIright?

Trust me, you'll love it.

Manifestos! A Quarter-Life Crisis! and James Murphy!

"I was really a failure. 

I mean really really really... really really really really a failure... 

I was 26... and that seemed like a little too old to be doing nothing... I was so afraid of failure and looking bad, that I 

just 

didn't 

do 

anything."

If you're like me, and trying to navigate through your quarter-life-crisis, then James Murphy has some words of wisdom for you. Everything he says is spot on; I've felt exactly the same. Watch this, it's cheaper than going to a therapist:

I had no idea that this is where he came from. And it gives me a bit of hope.

Some key points that I thin need to be re-iterated:

"I wasn't trying to be another thing that I thought I was supposed to be... and I was actually rewarded for it, which was remarkable... Now I'm really hardworking effective, reliable... 

Don't worry, 

just make it, 

and put it out. 

When you lack motivation and desire and can't get anything done? Usually it's because you're doing something that's not important to you. You have few options:

1) Keep procrastinating
2) Convince yourself it's something you ultimately want
3) Drop it, and start doing what you really want

I think each of these option are valid at some point in life. It's fine to procrastinate doing the dishes, that's not a harmful thing. It's good to convince yourself that you want to study for finals, because it will ultimately lead to your betterment. But that last one, step 3, that's the scary one. To start doing what you really want. And that's how James Murphy became "hardworking, effective and reliable". He didn't start taking Adderall. He started doing what he really wanted to.

Oh yeah. Those little songs he made? Here they are:

This one is so great and funny and painful.

This one punches me in the gut.

And this one is groovy.

And now to the point. I've chatted with a few of you. We're all friends in different ways and we've accomplished a lot. We've done the right things. We graduated from school. We're working. We're responsible. Some of us are happy, and some of us aren't sure we're happy. And I think all of us feel a bit uncertain.

I've felt that way.
I'm doing good things and good work and it's fine. But frankly, it's not enough.

Last night I was chatting with a friend at our ward christmas party. We were doing "the check in" and asking each other what we were going to do next semester (Note how we have both have been done with school for 2 years, but we still think in semesters. That's part of living in Provo, I guess). She suggested posing this question to yourself:

If you get paid $100,000 a year 

to work 6 hours a day 

doing whatever you wanted, 

what would you want to do?

I'm still figuring out that answer, but I think it looks something like this. Something that combines writing and music. But not a music journalist. Something more nuanced? See, I'm still trying to figure it out. I don't need the title yet. I just need to work. Stop being lazy, which is code for: Stop being afraid.

I'm taking some scary steps. Applying for internships I'm not qualified for. Entering some small-scale writing competitions (even though I haven't really written anything since school). Trying learn more about music and learn how to play the guitar. Julia and I even a recorded a little thing and I'd love to post it for you guys AFTER asking her permission haha.

Consider this post a challenge, if you're up for it. If you could do whatever you wanted (and you can), what would you do? Still need some inspiration? Read one of my favorite Cracked articles. Note: There are some swears if you need to know.

A Family Reunion: Freaks and Geeks

 I've got a tumblr now. I don't even know how to link to it, I'm so new. I mostly follow people who post funny gifs from The Mindy Project and scans from old Delia's catalogs. I'm also inadvertently learning more than I ever wanted to know about One Direction. But every once and a while, I come across a gem, like these pics from a Vanity Fair Photo shoot: 

Look at Sammy Sam all grown up!

Um Jason Schwartzman?!? I totally forgot he was in that show for a second.
But where's Shia Labeouf? And Ben Foster?

I love these people.

If you haven't watched Freaks and Geeks yet, repent now.

It's all on Netflix. 

Just 18 episodes. 

Each one is golden.

Consider is my Christmas gift to you.

Sacred Gifts

For my dad's birthday this month, our family will visit the Sacred Gifts art exhibit at BYU. Here's a little video they put together of some of the art along with music from the BYU Women's Chorus (which I was a part of in my BYU days). It's really lovely.

A Poem for Saturday: Max Ehrmann's Desiderata

Thanks to Ingrid for sharing this with me.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.

Music for your Midweek: Bastille

This is your new favorite Christmas song by Bastille. You're welcome:

A December to Remember

Here it is! DECEMBER

My mom and I were chatting over the holidays, and we both recognize that this Christmas is going to be pretty weepy. So I've tried to jam-pack my month with fun stuff, and make the most of the season. To kick things off, here is a Christmas song with my favorite people. Julian is too cool.

i wish it was christmas today by workprint

and here's the original if you don't get what all the fuss is about:

SNL - I Wish It Was Christmas Today from Don Lumiere on Vimeo.

OMG Jimmy Fallon messing up on the Casio. 

I'm dying. 

He's darling.