Why it's fun to be a Pirate

All of my friends are pirates. I found this out while hanging out at a party the other night.

Of all my friends, I have exactly two that don't steal (aka pirate) music in one way or the other.

I still don't know how I feel about pirating music, but I do know that it's a big part of how the band makes money so we can keep making music. Interestingly enough, not a single one of my friends have pirated Watching Judas' music, or the music of any indie band they've seen in concert.

So how about you? Do you burn copies of CD's for your friends? If you do, why do you do it? No judgments here- just would love to understand : )

Random facts you didn't know about (and don't care about either)

1. Christian is responsible for stringing several thousand yards of lights and greenery in downtown St. Charles each christmas. He does it during our christmas break each year.

2. Paul would love to pursue a career in music therapy someday.

3. Dustin Shapiro isn't Italian like most people assume- he's Jewish.

4. Eric has released 2 solo piano christmas albums before he was 17.

Make it a Small

It took me forever to figure out that people almost never remember the biggest things in their lives. I know I don't.

The big deals never seem to impact us proportionally. I guess it's because we're rarely able to connect emotionally to large events in our lives. I can't attach emotionally to hearing about cancer research, but I can when I hear my father has prostate cancer.

Maybe that's why I tend to write about the small things in life; the specifics. They symbolize bigger, more intangible emotions that are too vague to describe in a paragraph.

My hope is that next time you do the mundane, you take time look at the small things as significant.

If you want something over-simplified, you have to do it yourself.

At least, that's the motto of this website. I think I could have skipped philosphy class if I'd just read this:

http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/

Sea Chanties and Stage Dives

I just was given a concertina. It looks a like this:

It's a fascinating little instrument. Somewhere between a harmonica and an accordion. I fell like it's already a fiesty little brother, just begging to be played with. Somehow, I can almost feel the sea breeze streaming through my hair when I pump its bellows.

Here's someone that actually knows what they're doing with one:

Ironic

One word- ironic.

Lyrics to Mood Ring

Here's the lyrics to Mood Ring

Mood Ring

If I was funny

If you were charming

If we lacked nothing but youth and beauty

We're still frail and fleeting

As morning dew

We fell so hard, so don't blame me

I'm just trying to change the color of your mood ring

The summer of 67'

A smokey drag, a voice from heaven

Made me think, that you and me

be alright

Now you protest

my snoring habit

And you swear that the day we got cable was one of your happiest

When your mother calls

You lie and say your just fine

The father, Son, and Holy folks,

The Beatles took their message to their graves

Suburbia takes, Suburbia kills, its name be praised

And I feel so stuck here

When you said that

You'd sold your records

I knew now for sure we had nothing to keep us together

I sat alone

On the basement steps

and cried

With the windows down

And the radio on

The Oldies station's cranking out a stagnant song

The wind keeps rushing through the darkness

as I go numb.

The wind keeps rushing through the blackness

as I go numb.

We fell so hard, so don't blame me

I'm just trying to change the color of your mood ring