Emotional Intelligence

Why do people act like Emotional Intelligence is a new concept?  Have they never heard “Man in the Mirror?”  RIP MJ – you had it right all along.

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Word,

Jess

Bass Players

Today's rant (it's a love rant) is dedicated to all the bass players in my life but mostly Nick Harmer.


When I started dating Trav, he taught me how to listen to music in layers. Previously I focused on the guitar hooks and lyrics. I didn't realize how much actually music I was missing out on. I also realized that it is difficult for me to hear the bass most of the time. I am not sure if this is a common problem or my ears are broke. Thus, it became my mission to focus more on the bass. 


As I began the journey of bass discovery, I have noticed one common thing among all bassist. They do not give a shit what they look like when they are playing. I am not talking clothing or appearance, I am referring to their "dancing." Let's use Nick Harmer to solidify this point. No matter what Benjamin is singing about - the ocean, a glove compartment, some stupid girl he married - Nick literally has the same moves for every song. And I absolutely love this! He seems to say "Fuck it, I am going to do this head bob no matter what we play." I think everyone on stage could be slitting their wrists (this would have been lead by Chris Walla of course) and Nick would still be what I would call groovin. 


So here's to you liberated bassists out there, keep slappin da bass. 


Jess

DCFC

They played "We Laugh Indoors." Twenty something hipster behind me says "I wish they would play something good." A part of me died just then.

Jess

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IT Dudes (Ugh)

Today's post is in honor of all the IT dudes out there making my life a living hell.

IT dudes is defined as the guys that show up to "fix" my computer issues while creating about a million other issues in the process.

Do they teach cause and effect at IT school?

Point in Case: Last Friday (why do they always come on Fridays? Weekend Killer is their second job?), IT dude shows up because the scanner is not communicating with my computer. Long story short, my IP address was not fixed and was changing causing my computer to be invisible on the network. Dude fixed this issue and BAM scanner fixed. Oh hay, IT dude what you failed to tell me is that you changed my IP address causing all the websites authorized for my machine to go dead, my VPN to do dead, and I am guessing other issues that I have yet to discover in the last week. Thanks for stopping by!

This Friday, email IT dude shows up to convert us to their new system. Convert to new system = your life will change forever and not in a good way. He converts all the computers but this is 2011. Hey IT dude have you ever heard of a smart phone or an Ipad? Those have email too. CRAZY!! Good thing you acted irritated because you had to sync these machines as well. Thats right, I am stupid and don't know what my new domain is.

So here's to you IT dude and your complete lack of personality and ability to brush your teeth.

Jess

PS. If I misspoke on a technical issue above, I don't give a shit.

25

I am 25 now. Man, that's old and man, that's still pretty young.

I am 25 now. I am still struggling with things I struggled with when I was 12.5. My guess is I will continue to struggle with these things when I am 50.

So here's the deal. Lately, I have felt super unappreciated. Stop right there. I know in my sane mind that people appreciate me. It just so happens the crazy has taken over for the time being so I cannot seem to see clearly (I wish the rain was gone).

Tonight I found some clarity. A tiny amount of clarity but clarity none the less. I am in a volunteer position and feeling under appreciated (ground breaking). Instead of getting on my soap box and sending an email I would FOR SURE regret whenever the crazy passes, I decided instead to appreciate another volunteer who from what I can tell is giving as much as I am. It really didn't feel that good like I was hoping but I do feel that it was the right thing to do.

I don't write this so that you will think highly of me. Shit, I already told you I am a crazy. I write this to encourage you to find someone to appreciate the next time life hands you a bag of crap.

I am 25 now. And I still holding out for that teenage feeling.

Jess

PS. Todd says "MEOW" Thank goodness for Todd. Whenever I feel real down, he just gives me a big ole bite on the arm to remind me that it could be a lot worse.

Forgiveness

I really need to learn how to forgive. Like really forgive. This could be a rough year as I tackle this one.

I fear the one thing I cannot forgive is stupidity so I need to change my definition of stupidity. Crap. This is not going to be easy either.

I forgive Todd of everything he does even when he bites me so hard it breaks my skin and makes me bleed. I get over this in less than a minute. What is wrong with me?

Forgiveness...here we go!


Jess

Neko Case = Love of my life (Sorry Trav)

AND NOTHING COMFORTS ME THE SAME
AS MY BRAVE FRIEND WHO SAYS,
"I DON'T CARE IF FOREVER NEVER COMES
CAUSE I'M HOLDING OUT FOR THAT TEENAGE FEELING"

Oh hay blog! I forgot about you. I do sincerely apologize and will try to make this one good to make up for my absence.

I love Neko Case. Nothing new if you have talked to me for more than 5 minutes. So today's rant is a rant about how much I love Neko. If you are not a fan, leave. There is no hope for us getting along.

MOCKING BIRD SINGS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
ALL HIS SONGS ARE STOLEN SO HE HIDES
HE STOLE THEM OUT FROM WHIPPOORWILLS
AND SCREAMING CAR ALARMS
HE SINGS THEM FOR YOU SPECIAL
HE KNOWS YOU'RE AFRAID OF THE DARK

COME ON SORROW
TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE
HIDE UNDER THE BED
TURN OUT THE LIGHT
THE STARS THIS NGHT IN THE SKY ARE RINGING OUT
YOU CAN ALMOST HEAR THEM SAYING
"CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW KID"
"CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW KID"
"MORNINGS TEETH ARE LIT"
THEY ARE WAITING


Sigh....

I am finding myself at a loss of words to describe how much I love her and her music. The songs remind me of being an anxious 11 year old, a Salvador Dali painting, a square dance,  raw real love, the Dust Bowl, sobbing, aging ungracefully, and just being alive in a moment in time. Like watching fire works.

I am wishing I was a skilled writer so that I could express this feeling inside of me as I devour album after album of my love. But then I think maybe this adoration isn't meant to be explained and copied. Its mine. All mine.

MAYBE SPARROW YOU SHOULD WAIT
THE HAWKS ALIGHT TILL' MORNING
YOU'LL NEVER PASS BEYOND THE GATE
IF YOU DON'T HEAR MY WARNING

NOTES ARE HUNG SO EFFORTLESS
WITH THE RISE AND FALL OF SPARROW'S BREAST
IT'S A DROWNING DIVE AND BACK TO THE CHORUS
LA DE DA DE DA DE DA

OH MY SPARROW IT'S TOO LATE
YOUR BODY LIMP BENEATH MY FEET
YOUR DUSTY EYES COLD AS CLAY
YOU DIDN'T HEAR MY WARNING

MAYBE SPARROW IT'S TOO LATE
MOONLIGHT GLANCED OFF METAL WINGS
IN A THUNDERSTORM ABOVE THE CLOUDS
THE ENGINE HUMS A SPARROWS PHRASE
FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT HEAR THE WORDS
FOR THOSE WHO WILL NOT HEAR THE WORDS
LA DE DA DE DA DE DA

MAYBE SPARROW


Jess