The Elderly Like Music Too

I've been watching a lot of MUCH music lately. Mostly because while sick last week I languished on the sofa and discovered that there is nothing on TV in the afternoon. (Oprah, cheesy soaps, and Beverly Hills 90210 reruns are not viable options for me, sorry.) So, I wandered over to MUCH and discovered that I am rather out of touch with what is "cool" these days.

Who is Rihana? Has anyone actually heard the lyrics to that Fall Out Boy song?

"We're going down, down in an earlier round
And Sugar, we're going down swinging
I'll be your number one with a bullet
A loaded God complex, cock it and pull it"

I tried. I made an effort to sing along. I tried to say out loud that "Fall Out Boy is awesome." But the words curdled in my mouth. And My Chemical Romance's lead singer is trying to look like Billy Corrigan. I shouldn't have to like mediocre music to feel young, right?

Although, when I was young I distinctly remember my father telling me that Nirvana and Pearl Jam were mediocre and ripping off 60s artists. So, maybe I am just feeling the musical apathy appropriate for my maturity. And this is not to say that I don't like some new groups...so it's not totally hopeless, right?

Consequently, I have surmised that it's not about being old or young, it's about the ridiculous amount of crappy pop that's out there and it's about how stupendous my musical taste clearly is.

Case Closed.

January 17th, 2007

So, I've been sick the last couple of days. I tried to eat a piece of toast, but couldn't keep it down. My diet is all warm water (not even tea) and broth. But I felt a smidge better today, so L decided I should accompany him and his family for supper this evening. Needless to say, it was sheer torture. Almond chicken. Shrimp fried rice. Crab Rangoon. Sigh. At least they didn't order the Ginger Beef, which is my favorite. I sat and smelled for the entire hour, with only a bit of steamed white rice to console me. To make matters worse, L continually tempted me:

"I'm sure you could try one noodle."

"Just try the onion."

"Have one almond."

But I successfully resisted his evil suggestions, and only feel slightly horrible for the few chopstick-fulls of rice I ate.

But, at the end of the evening, after having survived the whole ordeal I had one rather interesting experience.

My forture cookie (which, of course, I could not eat, but nibbled at simply because I couldn't take it anymore and wanted to taste something...anything) read:

Remember three months from this date. Good things are in store for you.

So, dear readers, on January 17th, 2007, watch for a post detailing the wonderous good luck that will befall me.

I'm not usually superstitious...or at least not too, too often...but I have a feeling that if something good happens on that day, it'll be eerie and exciting. And if nothing good happens on that day, the ensuing cynicism should at least be an interesting read for you.

Message in a Bottle

Help! I am trapped on Sloth Island. I find it impossible to swim across the channel to Thesislandia. Arms feel heavy. Must... play... more... Zelda. Please send help (in the form of a little will power and shame)!


How could they give me a vacation just after finishing a chapter! What cruel creature plotted to upset my rhythm?! Well, whosoever willed my sloth, they have won it.

It's not Oracle, It's Microsoft

In a fit of listless procrastination, I typed into my Microsoft Outlooks' help bar:

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?

To which I received the following responses:

-About flagging for follow up
-About newsreaders
-About Outlook Today
-About Stationary and Themes for Messages
-Rename a Task

Is it just me or do these answers seem eerily appropriate?

Life is about following up on things--not letting the important things fall through the cracks, if you will. Of course, sometimes life is busy and you may give up on today's opportunity to walk through the crunchy fall leaves. But if you flag it, so that you fit it in tomorrow, then you have made time for the important things in life. And in this crazy, mixed-up world that is all we can ask.

Knowledge is one of the most valuable aspects of our lives. Its pursuit, more so than its attainment, is a fulfilling practice that can enlarge our daily lives.

Life is meant to be lived in the present--don't worry about yesterday or tomorrow...what is the outlook for TODAY?

Being stationary is unadvisable, we need a certain degree of movement in life to make it worth while--whether that is a physical change of location or an intellectual progression of thought is up to you. Just don't forget to examine your life for recurrent themes that you should work through--sometimes our actions hold messages from our psyches that we really ought to pay attention to.

And finally, remember that in life you can always rename your task. Change is the essence of living and if something isn't working, do not be ashamed to rename it and move on.



There you go, people. Wisdom from Microsoft Office for the betterment of your lives. And people say Bill Gates is the devil.



**By the way, Microsoft Office and its subsidiaries now own my soul.**