I ask only for the strength to defend my people.

Roots in the Family Tree
( 2005-07-12 @ 11:22 p.m. )

Anwen

I survived the hurricane!

Yay! It was a close call, but it managed to avoid my area. Now I can just worry about Emily instead. Huzzah!

Meeting with the Senators was great, tons of fun. Senator Obama is a fucking rock star! Enough said.

So yes, I managed to survive. Am now deeply entrenched in World War three AKA The battle for the Supreme Court.

Not fun stuff, somewhere between that and Karl Rove being el supremo asshat numero uno. FIRE HIM PLEASE!

So yes, busy as ever with politics, nevermind my local congressional hopeful's campaign. We have a uphill battle, we live in a "stacked district". This is a little game where peopel try to stack the congressional districts with voters of one party and then draw the district lines to fit that party. That's how it is here with Feeney. He has been "Drawn" into his district and getting him out NOT so much fun. But I will be DAMNED if he will stay another term.

NOT ON MY WATCH.

Rachel is here and I am glad to have Rachel here. We mesh well, we get along well and are good for eachother. She gives me ideas I did not previously have and also she points out stuff that I may otherwise miss. I appreciate that, and besides, she is after all my best friend.

Ha, a yankee and a confederate living together. Funny that.

Speaking about Civil war type stuff I just learned the coolest thing EVER...

I have, within my family tree an actual CIVIL WAR GENERAL|!

A ACTUAL GENERAL! SQUEEEEEEEEEE! That's the coolest thing EVER, EVER EVER!

A FRIGGING GENERAL!

Ok, sorry, I JUST found out this evening and for a complete civil war geek like me it doesn't get any better!

So I am thrilled.

Also, countdown to Harry Potetr and Wilyl Wonka! SQUEEEE! Rachel and I will be attending the midnight magic party at Barnes and Nobels Friday, and before that we will be off to see Willy Wonka!

Anyways, back to my civil war thing. It's funny, when you look at it respectivley what you had was two different wars. Truly, in essence the actual meanings have been convoluted over time.

I am NOT biased, yes I have strong Southern Heritage but in no way shape or form do I defend, condone or believe in slavery or racism.

Also however I don't believe that is all there was to the Civil War. It also had to do with trade and commerce, and yes secession. Now both South and North had slaves, the North fought to end slavery whilst they themselves maintained slaves, I believe however they were right and their cause was more than just.

The South owever did not fight to PRESERVE slavery. As stated in Gettysburg the film when asked what they are fighting for a Confederate POW responds "Our Rights" which distinctly sounds more like "Our Rats" because of the crazy accent.

So what you really had is the fact that the South desperatley wanted to live differently than their Northern Brethren. Now some of the people on the South were bigoted, asshole slave owners who couldnt have cared two shits less. Not all of them though. Not most of them actually. So the South's main cause was secession and for a multitude of reasons the North was loathe to let that happen.

Nobody however was "right" or "wrong" in general. Both sides had flaws, I mean I am a born Southerner and I am not a racist asshole thank you so much. I am more open-minded than anyone I know.

Now, on to a random thingie. Thor and Clarice asked me to do this so here we go, but since I was asked by TWO people I am going to damn well cheat and do ten songs!

You have to name 5 songs and explain why you pick these 5 songs. Elaborate on how you relate to each song. After you're done, pick 5 other victims to do the same.

Now here goes. Only I am doing ten, because I LIKE breaking rules.

1.Ok I am going to start off with "A Decade Under The Influence" by Taking Back Sunday. Only Rachel is going to get this one I am afraid. Stupid, warped Tour inside joke...and the lyrics go

Well I got a bad feeling about this,
I got a bad feeling about this (to hell with you and all your friends, it's on).
I'm coming over but it never was enough
I thought it through and my worst brings out the best in you
Well I got a bad feeling about this
I got a bad feeling about this (to hell with you and all your friends, it's on)

As I said only Rachel will get that.

2. Modest Mouse "World at Large". To say this song means osmething to me is a stupid understatement. It saved my life and then some, plus everytime I listen to it I feel like smiling because it makes me feel like I know a secret no one else does. It describes my tendecy to roam so well, and well....the song itself is a secret, you just have to listen. Some lyrics for you.

Ice-age heat wave, can't complain.
If the world's at large, why should I remain?
Walked away to another plan.
Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand.
I move on to another day,
to a whole new town with a whole new way.
Went to the porch to have a thought.
Got to the door and again, I couldn't stop.
You don't know where and you don't know when.
But you still got your words and you got your friends.
Walk along to another day.
Work a little harder, work another way.

3. Modest Mouse "Trailer Trash" This is a song of theirs that just hit me, literally like a brick to the head. The lyrics are so severe and the song itself is so beautiful in this bizzare, Isaac Brock sort of way. It always makes me smile, and the first time I listened to it, I listened to it on repeat for HOURS on end. I'm not kidding, THIS is one of my songs, will always be in my heart. Here's a lyrics excerpt.

Taking heartache with hard work
Goddamn I am such a jerk
I can't do anything
And I shout that you're all fakes
And you should have seen the look on your face
And I guess that's what it takes
When comparing your bellyaches
And it's been a long time
Which agrees with this watch of mine
And I know that I miss you
And I'm sorry that I dissed you

4. Modest Mouse "Edit The Sad Parts" Well how to put it? It's a random piece of absolute genius, of course you have to be insane to get it. It also hit me like a brick.......and this lyrics excerpt is my life.

Sometimes all I really want to feel is love
Sometimes I'm angry that I feel so angry
Sometimes my feelings get in the way
Of what I really feel I needed to say
If you stand in a circle
Then you'll all have a back to bite
Back logged voices on the 7 wonders
We're all so funny but he's lost his joke now
A communication from the one lined joke
A stand up comic and a rock musician
Making so much noise you don't know when to listen
Why are you judging people so damn hard
You're taking your point of views a bit too far

5. Rancid "Avenues and Alleyways" This always has been, and always will be my battle anthem. One of my favorite Rancid songs if not the very top though that is hard to say. They are my favorite band, I mean fer fuck's sake I have them tattooed on my back. This is definitley one of my favorites though. It always gets me exactly where I need to be.

times are gonna change, change or step aside it's my point of view that took you by surprise the sun's comin up yea the new dawn arrives a new generation standing stand with anger in their eyes no love in the city because there's no connection been stricken with disease a racial infection i'm a battering ram comin' through to you in every alleyway on every avenue

6. Rancid "Arrested in Shanghai" This song is me in a million and oen ways. After starting on my new path in life I listened to it again and was stunned to realize "Fuck! That's ME!" and it really is. This one gets me stired up and kind of takes me off to someplace else. It keeps me motivated, reminds me just what the hell I am doing.

Yeah?
They were sure I was guilty, but I committed no crime
They said: confessions bring lenience, so that put me on the line
So I, protest the massacres at the Tiannamen Square
My friends say yo, stay away man, you better not go fucking back there
Oh.
Watch this
One night I might write about my opinions about the state
And the freedom of expression they would never tolerate
And the, military secrets that I never did steal
I didn’t start no violence, no, and there was nobody that I killed
No.
So I had a clear account of all abusers of power
And the memories of homeland all gone sour
And I only got one weapon, it’s so plain for me to see
My only weapon I call, poetry

7. Rancid "Lady Liberty" The lyrics say it all. This one expresses all of my fucking outrage at the preesent Administration if you can call it that.

Lady Liberty, come down and bleed to me
I want nothing to do with your crazy world
Broken promises, those poor noises
Are bringin' it by the time for all the famine and the law
From the contras to the upstarts to shouted Sandanistas

8. John Cougar Mellencamp "Small Town" This song made me not so ashamed of not coming from a big city, it also made me realize I dont need big cities and that I am damn lucky to have what I have. I smile everytime I hear it.

No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be
Got nothing against a big town
Still hayseed enough to say
Look who's in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and that's good enough for me
Well I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in this small town
And that's prob'ly where they'll bury me

9. John Cougar Mellencamp "Your Life is Now" This is my number one inspirational song of last year. It related back to meeting John Edwards and all of the great, inspiring, forever-life-altering events that came with it. Seriously I LOVE this song, absolutley amazing and more inspiring than you could believe.

See the moon roll across the stars
See the seasons turn like a heart
Your father's days are lost to you
This is your time here to do what you will do
Your life is now your life is now your life is now
In this undiscovered moment
Lift your head up above the crowd
We could shake this world
If you would only show us how
Your life is now

10. John Cougar Mellencamp "Walk Tall" This song is another battle song of mine. It calmly reminds me that not everyoen is blind, but to walk tall around those that are. It's a very political song and the lyrics give me goosebumps. I usually listen to it at least once a day. I have taken the following lyrics as my fucking mantra.

The simple minded
And the uninformed
Can be easily led astray
And those that cannot connect the dots
Hey look the other way
People believe what they want to believe
When it makes no sense at all
So be careful of those killing in Jesus's name (1)
He don't believe in killing at all (1)

And I wish you a long sight line (2)
And the strength to walk tall (2)
Walk tall
Yeah walk on
Through this world
Walk tall

And my two honorable mentions.

Social Distortion "Story of my life" This song will forever remind me of Rachel, and it kind of binds us together. I know, that sounds silly, but seriously it does.

Life goes by so fast, you only want to do what you think is right.
Close your eyes and then it's past - story of my life.
Story of my life.
Story of my life.
Story of my life.

Good times come and good times go,
I only wish the good times would last a little longer.
I think about the good times we had and why they had to end.

So I sit at the edge of my bed,
I strum my guitar and I sing an Outlaw love song.
Thinkin' bout what you're doin' now and when you're comin' back.

Life goes by so fast, you only want to do what you think is right.
Close your eyes and then it's past - story of my life.

Story of my life.
Story of my life.
Story of my life.
Story of my life.
Story of my life.

Green Day "Holiday" This song IS my theme song, no seriously. I am NOT kidding. It's everything I stand for.....

Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (Hey!)
The shame
The ones who died without a name

Hear the dogs howling out of key
To a hymn called "Faith and Misery" (Hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday

Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protestor has crossed the line (Hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side

Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (Hey!)
A gag, a plastic bag on a monument

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday

(Hey!)
(Say, Hey!)

"The representative from California has the floor"

Zieg Heil to the president gasman
Bombs away is your PUNISHMENT
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your GOVERMENT
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that DON'T AGREE
Trials by fire setting fire
Is not a way that's MEANT FOR ME
Just cause, just cause, because we're outlaws yeah!

Last but NOT least James Horner's end credits to "Glory" this IS THE MOST HAUNTING, BEAUTIFUL piece of instrumental music EVER WRITTEN...truly.

So now I pick five people to do this myself eh?

Ok fine

xradiox {Rachel}

elnara

rockchild16 {Beckers}

my-solitaire {Sommer}

and moonsphinx

Now I am off, night to you all!

Home Is Behind // The World Ahead