"Have I told you about the tension of opposites?" he says.
The tension of opposites?
"Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.
"A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle."
Sounds like a wrestling match, I say.
"A wrestling match." He laughs. "Yes, you could describe life that way."
So which side wins, I ask?
"Which side wins?"
He smiles at me, the crinkled eyes, the crooked teeth.
"Love wins. Love always wins."
-Tuesdays with Morrie [Mitch Albom]
Monday, April 21, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
realization
I find something to be both fascinating and incredibly frustrating.
Those who we love so much...
have the power to hurt us so much more.
Those who we love so much...
have the power to hurt us so much more.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
surprise! (we the living at purdue)
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Not much...why?”
“We’re chillin’ in West Lafayette.”
“......Hah, nice. Where exactly are you?”
“Driving by the graveyard? Are you at home?”
“Graveya... oh, I know where you are. Yeah, I’m home.”
“Are you busy tonight?”
“Not anymore.”
And thus began the total destruction of my plans to spend all of Sunday evening studying, as We The Living decided to drop by Purdue that night to play an impromptu show (after another show got canceled.) When I got the phone call, they still didn’t know where they were playing, but managed to get something set up with ATO about a half hour later. Normally I’m pretty wary of fraternities, especially after our last WTL/Purdue frat experience, but I know several guys in that one and it’s definitely one of the more respectable ones. They said I should come over early, so I had Laura drop me off over there around 7:30. I was greeted by the welcome sight of all their gear in the living room of the house, my bewildered friend Matt from ATO talking to the guys, and a scream of “MEEEEESH!” from Ben. (He’s obsessed with my nickname now and enjoys hollering it across a room at random.) Several hugs later, I plunked down on a couch to start calling friends about the show while general goofiness ensued. Meanwhile, JP was out at some of the sororities to play them a song and ask them to come check out the band.
[Fun with equipment...]
As time went on and the guys started soundchecking, some of my friends began to call back and said they’d be able to come. Also, some of the guys from the house started appearing to check out the band. JP let me pick which cover (of their 4 options) they were going to play, so we decided on “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, since it was the only one I hadn’t heard yet. When they were done setting up, we just sat around and chatted. I claimed a spot on one of the super-comfy couches near the front, and saved a spot for my friend Katie. People started showing up at that point, and then to my happiness, they kept...showing...up. By the time the show started, the room was packed. I was absolutely thrilled. I’ve been trying for so long to get people here to realize how awesome they are, and now a ton of people were finally going to see it. My friends Chris, Ed, and Danielle also came and sat by us.
At around 9:30, they started the show. I don’t know what it was about this one, but I’m fairly positive it was one of the best WTL shows I’ve ever been to. I was comfortable on the couch, I was surrounded by friends, I was at my own school, the sound was good, and the guys just sounded absolutely amazing. I wasn’t really distracted by anything, so I could just focus on the music and really appreciate how good they are and how amazing JP’s voice really is.
The Chicago cover was fantastic, I should request it again next time I see them. Also, JP looked much more comfortable singing Half the Girl without the guitar this time. He still didn’t move away from the keyboard though, maybe he feels safe there. I still think a lesson from the Scott Salmon School of Onstage Body Movement wouldn’t hurt, but to his credit, it was much better. In the middle of the set, Matt came and got my camera and they took a picture of the crowd. It was really pretty impressive.
[Note excellent location on the awesome couch.]
From what I could tell, people really enjoyed the show. Some people were talking at the beginning, but as the show went on, they got quieter and more attentive. By the time they got to History to close the show, it was dead silent, most likely due to awe. That is a truly amazing song, and I feel it’s meant to played in a room where you could hear a pin drop. Thankfully it worked out that way this time, and I think they guys said it was the quietest it’s been for that song in awhile. When they finished the song, the room went pretty crazy, and I could not stop smiling like an idiot at the crowd’s reaction.
After the show, it seemed that just about everyone wanted to meet them, talk to them, and buy a CD. I talked to my friends for a little bit, but I noticed the guys looked kind of swamped. I headed back to the merch to see if I could help, and Matt handed me a crumpled wad of cash to put in the box. I started organizing the bills when someone behind me asked if she could buy a CD. I said “of course” as a little lightbulb went off over my head, and proceeded to become assistant merch girl for the rest of the night. I was in heaven. Selling CDs, taking the credit card slips, organizing the money, making change, digging around the tubs for the correct size of t-shirts, answering questions about the band, all while joking around with the guys... it was an absolute blast. I really felt in my element. I mean, I guess I wasn’t doing that much, but it still made me so happy. I think I was a merch girl in a past life. I need to convince them to let me do that more often, it was a good time for sure.
Eventually the crowd started to dissipate, so the guys began tearing down. I returned to my couch and became a temporary guitar stand until the case was found.
[Who needs a guitar stand when you have a Meesh?]
A few people were still hanging out, including a few guys from the house and the guys who opened for them when they were here for the Invisible Children show, so WTL shared the story of their business philosophy and such while they worked. Once they were packed up, we all helped carry things outside so they could load up the trailer. I’m not sure what all happened while we were outside, but there were lots of inappropriate remarks, spontaneous dancing and singing, and intense questions from Ben which are highly important to life, such as what it’s like to be a foghorn. (Note: The answer to that question, which he also answered, was “I guess you’d just be like, BBBAAAAHHHHHHHH sometimes".) After everything was packed, I hitched a ride to my apartment to get my car, and we finished the night at Steak ‘n’ Shake for about a half hour. I was almost positive we were going to get kicked out from the way they were acting, but the late-night staff seemed indifferent. I’m not even sure what set the guys off, but something reminded them of something else and they burst into hysterical laughter for about 5 minutes straight. I can’t even describe it, all the laughing sounded fake, but some of it was real for sure. I was laughing so hard at their laughs that I was basically crying and thought I was going to hurl. Laughing til you almost puke = awesome. Once they calmed down, they all got set off again when JP played the “Zombie Kid Likes Turtles” video from YouTube on his iPhone.
Things were more or less when downhill from there, between more laughter, Jasper and Matt oozing milkshake like cave creatures, and Ben dumping salt all over the table.
[Ben enjoys his strawberry shakes.]
[Jasper imitates the horrific cave creature. I stole this picture from JP.]
Once the carnage calmed down, I paid for the shakes and we hugged it out in the parking lot, and I drove home while they headed for Milwaukee.
[JP’s idea of a tip. I ran a couple bucks back to the table.]
All in all, it was a lovely surprise and a great night.
I still felt sick from laughing an hour later.
Wouldn’t change that for anything.
_____
It’s been a rough week since that night. I need to recover, and music is the drug of choice. Cavashawn in Urbana, IL on Sunday night is looking likely.
“Not much...why?”
“We’re chillin’ in West Lafayette.”
“......Hah, nice. Where exactly are you?”
“Driving by the graveyard? Are you at home?”
“Graveya... oh, I know where you are. Yeah, I’m home.”
“Are you busy tonight?”
“Not anymore.”
And thus began the total destruction of my plans to spend all of Sunday evening studying, as We The Living decided to drop by Purdue that night to play an impromptu show (after another show got canceled.) When I got the phone call, they still didn’t know where they were playing, but managed to get something set up with ATO about a half hour later. Normally I’m pretty wary of fraternities, especially after our last WTL/Purdue frat experience, but I know several guys in that one and it’s definitely one of the more respectable ones. They said I should come over early, so I had Laura drop me off over there around 7:30. I was greeted by the welcome sight of all their gear in the living room of the house, my bewildered friend Matt from ATO talking to the guys, and a scream of “MEEEEESH!” from Ben. (He’s obsessed with my nickname now and enjoys hollering it across a room at random.) Several hugs later, I plunked down on a couch to start calling friends about the show while general goofiness ensued. Meanwhile, JP was out at some of the sororities to play them a song and ask them to come check out the band.
[Fun with equipment...]As time went on and the guys started soundchecking, some of my friends began to call back and said they’d be able to come. Also, some of the guys from the house started appearing to check out the band. JP let me pick which cover (of their 4 options) they were going to play, so we decided on “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, since it was the only one I hadn’t heard yet. When they were done setting up, we just sat around and chatted. I claimed a spot on one of the super-comfy couches near the front, and saved a spot for my friend Katie. People started showing up at that point, and then to my happiness, they kept...showing...up. By the time the show started, the room was packed. I was absolutely thrilled. I’ve been trying for so long to get people here to realize how awesome they are, and now a ton of people were finally going to see it. My friends Chris, Ed, and Danielle also came and sat by us.
At around 9:30, they started the show. I don’t know what it was about this one, but I’m fairly positive it was one of the best WTL shows I’ve ever been to. I was comfortable on the couch, I was surrounded by friends, I was at my own school, the sound was good, and the guys just sounded absolutely amazing. I wasn’t really distracted by anything, so I could just focus on the music and really appreciate how good they are and how amazing JP’s voice really is.
The Chicago cover was fantastic, I should request it again next time I see them. Also, JP looked much more comfortable singing Half the Girl without the guitar this time. He still didn’t move away from the keyboard though, maybe he feels safe there. I still think a lesson from the Scott Salmon School of Onstage Body Movement wouldn’t hurt, but to his credit, it was much better. In the middle of the set, Matt came and got my camera and they took a picture of the crowd. It was really pretty impressive.
[Note excellent location on the awesome couch.]From what I could tell, people really enjoyed the show. Some people were talking at the beginning, but as the show went on, they got quieter and more attentive. By the time they got to History to close the show, it was dead silent, most likely due to awe. That is a truly amazing song, and I feel it’s meant to played in a room where you could hear a pin drop. Thankfully it worked out that way this time, and I think they guys said it was the quietest it’s been for that song in awhile. When they finished the song, the room went pretty crazy, and I could not stop smiling like an idiot at the crowd’s reaction.
After the show, it seemed that just about everyone wanted to meet them, talk to them, and buy a CD. I talked to my friends for a little bit, but I noticed the guys looked kind of swamped. I headed back to the merch to see if I could help, and Matt handed me a crumpled wad of cash to put in the box. I started organizing the bills when someone behind me asked if she could buy a CD. I said “of course” as a little lightbulb went off over my head, and proceeded to become assistant merch girl for the rest of the night. I was in heaven. Selling CDs, taking the credit card slips, organizing the money, making change, digging around the tubs for the correct size of t-shirts, answering questions about the band, all while joking around with the guys... it was an absolute blast. I really felt in my element. I mean, I guess I wasn’t doing that much, but it still made me so happy. I think I was a merch girl in a past life. I need to convince them to let me do that more often, it was a good time for sure.
Eventually the crowd started to dissipate, so the guys began tearing down. I returned to my couch and became a temporary guitar stand until the case was found.
[Who needs a guitar stand when you have a Meesh?]A few people were still hanging out, including a few guys from the house and the guys who opened for them when they were here for the Invisible Children show, so WTL shared the story of their business philosophy and such while they worked. Once they were packed up, we all helped carry things outside so they could load up the trailer. I’m not sure what all happened while we were outside, but there were lots of inappropriate remarks, spontaneous dancing and singing, and intense questions from Ben which are highly important to life, such as what it’s like to be a foghorn. (Note: The answer to that question, which he also answered, was “I guess you’d just be like, BBBAAAAHHHHHHHH sometimes".) After everything was packed, I hitched a ride to my apartment to get my car, and we finished the night at Steak ‘n’ Shake for about a half hour. I was almost positive we were going to get kicked out from the way they were acting, but the late-night staff seemed indifferent. I’m not even sure what set the guys off, but something reminded them of something else and they burst into hysterical laughter for about 5 minutes straight. I can’t even describe it, all the laughing sounded fake, but some of it was real for sure. I was laughing so hard at their laughs that I was basically crying and thought I was going to hurl. Laughing til you almost puke = awesome. Once they calmed down, they all got set off again when JP played the “Zombie Kid Likes Turtles” video from YouTube on his iPhone.
Things were more or less when downhill from there, between more laughter, Jasper and Matt oozing milkshake like cave creatures, and Ben dumping salt all over the table.
[Ben enjoys his strawberry shakes.][Jasper imitates the horrific cave creature. I stole this picture from JP.]Once the carnage calmed down, I paid for the shakes and we hugged it out in the parking lot, and I drove home while they headed for Milwaukee.
[JP’s idea of a tip. I ran a couple bucks back to the table.]All in all, it was a lovely surprise and a great night.
I still felt sick from laughing an hour later.
Wouldn’t change that for anything.
_____
It’s been a rough week since that night. I need to recover, and music is the drug of choice. Cavashawn in Urbana, IL on Sunday night is looking likely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
