Get out of my way...

This is my first personal rant in a long time and my first ever for this blog. I'm really tired of people trying to hold me back or tell me what to do. Yes, I know it's just a matter of life and death; the way it is. But seriously people? What gives you the right to tell me what I can and can't do. I'm an adult. I'm not your child. You have no authority over me.

Yesterday a tractor-trailer driver who almost pushed me off the highway was mad that he couldn't get in my lane and then later decided to take further road rage by forcing me off the road and jamming his brakes so that I almost rear-ended him. There were witnesses. I'm not exaggerating. He wanted what he wanted and when he didn't get it he thought that I should die.

While writing this, an older lady in the library told me that I needed to turn down the music on my iPod because she could hear it. I'm not even on the quiet floor. There are people talking all around me! Really?

I need Winter Break. I need it and now that it's here I walk into it mad? Why?

I'm just tired. Tired of it. I'll make my own decisions. So just get out of my way...

I choose to be happy. I choose it. So people, take two steps back, think before you speak. And look out, because I won't be stomped on. I'll defend myself. I'm not timid. It doesn't matter if you think I'm weak. I have a backbone and I'll stand up for myself.

Headphones On

I can't begin to tell you how much I love the language of music. I could live my entire life with headphones on or in front of an amplifier or singing at the top of my lungs. Not a day goes by that I do not stumble upon a song filled with meaning. It's as is my music library is a patchwork of others' feelings and emotions that are stitched together to form the essence of everything that I am. Music is life for me. Every new track evokes a new sense of emotion. Every album another chapter. Every genre a different book in the library of my life.

Music is literally pulsing through every vein in my body. No, I don't play an instrument, and yet, I hear and feel music wherever I go. As I pound out this reflection on the keyboard, I hear the percussive taps falling in sync with the blaring anthem from Fireflight. The very notion for this blog came from the introspective honesty of Ani DiFranco. Yesterday I used the writing of Sanctus Real for a writing style assignment for my Advanced Composition class. I have seven more of them to do and I immediately was able to line up songs that are perfect examples of unique, albeit awesome, lyricism.

I play the imaginary keyboard on desktops, steering wheels, chair backs, the sides of my legs, wherever my fingers rest when the I feel movement in the song. My feet stomp out the beat, my head bobs. And when I'm really feeling it, I even bust a move. Yeah that's right, I dance. You're jealous; I can tell. Eh, don't worry, I'm still a novice. Seriously, stop laughing. It's not that funny. Well, maybe just a little.

Truthfully though, I feel every song that pulses from my magical iPod through tiny white wires and into my head via those plastic earbuds. There's no denying it. Call me a nerd, a loser, a dork. It doesn't matter. Because I love music. Play some Red Hot Chili Peppers. Play some Josh Turner. Play some Michael Buble. Play some Skillet. Play some Colbie Callait. Play a show tune. Play a hymn. It really makes no difference. Why? Because I can already tell you, I'll love it. It's music. And for me, music is love.

What did technology ever do to you?

It has long been debated: Is man inherently good or inherently bad? Let me assure you that the debate is over. Man is inherently dumb. I'm tired of reading that technology is taking over the world. I'm tired of reading about all the problems that technology has created. Let's remember that technology has saved countless lives. Everything is acceptable in moderation. There needs to be balance. Let's take a quick comical look at 5 small ways technology has saved lives or made life increasingly easier.

1. It is no longer socially acceptable to challenge someone to a dual. No, we don't think that this is a good idea. Instead people take out their aggression and frustration anonymously and digitally, I might add, by playing video games such as Mafia Wars or Call of Duty. People cut ties with others by 'unfriending' them on Facebook or MySpace (for those people that actually still use MySpace).

2. We no longer have to stand in a vertical coffin every time we need to make a phone call when away from home. Phone booths have gone extinct. Cell phones revolutionized communication and introduced us to texting, QWERTY, and apps.

3. Music is portable, accessible. Thanks to the ridiculous innovation of Apple Computers, we are able to take thousands of songs anywhere we go. The fact that it can fit in our pocket is genius. Try doing this 20 years ago. Yeah, have fun rewinding and fast forwarding all those cassettes to the tracks you want to hear. Playlists...well those were something you would expect a band to have.

4. When was the last time you drove a car that didn't have airbags? For many of you, probably never. I haven't, I probably never will. Our very vehicles await that moment when they must save us. While I've never been in a severe accident, I avoided injury of any kind due to the successful deployment of the airbags in my first car.

5. My ability to bring you this message displays the benefits of technology. Only a few select individuals would have had the means of reaching a target audience like this 20 years ago.

Thanks for reading, now stop trash-talking technology!