30 Day Challenge Series (11 of 30)

10. Your top 3 favorite bands/ artists

Lil Wayne. Eagles. John Mayer. Not much else to say. I have listed the self-proclaimed best rapper alive who can drop albums and top 10 singles from a prison cell. A 70’s rock band with a twist of country/folk who said they wouldn’t reunite until Hell Freezes Over which happened in 94. A guitarist who seems to play with his own chords and tends to drop albums that parallel with his current life. His music has matured from the No Such Thing days to the present day Assassin. I’ve had the privilege to see each of these artists at least twice in concert. 

Since the theme is 3, I’ll also include my top 3 songs for each:

Lil Wayne – I’m me, Got Money, Best Rapper Alive

Eagles – Hotel California, Take It Easy, Desperado

John Mayer – No Such Thing, Slow Dancing In A Burning Room, In Repair

Honorable mentions: Chicago, Michael Buble, Beach Boys, Colbie Caillat, Linkin Park, and Justin Timberlake

30 Day Challenge Series (10 of 30)

10. Talk about your pets or the pets you would like to have.

My two dogs are all I seem to have at times. Charlie and Kobe the canine dynamic duo of the Nguyen household. They share the same breed but they are completely two different Yorkies. Charlie is older with a spoiled/ high maintenance mentality. On the outside, he's tall and skinny with great posture. Something I'm sure he inherits from his champion bloodline. He seems to have anxiety issues. He has a 6th sense when it comes to knowing when someone is about to leave the house. A simple handshake can trigger the 'please don't go' type of bark. Kobe is something else, he doesn't know if he's coming or going. Lazy ears that never stand straight up. Fat and short and without a care in the world. He's mischievous and plays the trouble maker role. They compliment each other, there's never a dull moment as they hangout all day and night. I've been on the road a lot these past few months and I'm glad that they have each other. 

30 Day Challenge Series (9 of 30)

9. Favorite meme at the moment.

I'm not sure what a meme is but I heard that it could be a fad or a trend. In general, I think Twitter is probably my favorite just because not everyone is on it but it's starting to catch on. I get to use it differently than how I use my Facebook statuses. No lyrics or anything. Just me bitching about random things throughout the day. I haven't been on either lately. My mind has been either really blank or just too cluttered because when I open Echofon to say something, nothing comes out. 

30 Day Challenge Series (8 of 30)

8. Are you a fitness guru or a coach potato? Talk about your exercise habits. 

I’m a lazy ass but I stay busy. I guess I’m an in between but when it really comes to fitness, I tip the scale more towards being a couch potato which leads to tipping it to being overweight. The only workouts I do is jogging the lake with a 15 lb resistance vest, play basketball twice a week, and pushups every day. If I’m unable to do any of those on a particular day, I just don’t eat. Haha. I could have another entry on my poor eating habits or lack thereof.

30 Day Challenge Series (7 of 30)

7. How you came across Blogspot and how your life has changed since joining?

I first came across Blogspot because I wanted to see Trang’s new creations on Behind The Seams. It was just a weekly thing that’d I’d do while I browse the internet. I never really had the notion to have my own until I started to follow Tuvy’s then called “Life’s My Muse” and thought I could start sorting everything out that was on the dome by blogging. It was 2010. New beginnings from forced endings. Moving forward when I wasn’t ready. As each entry came, I got stronger, even a bit smarter. I found that I can express who I was and who I know myself to be without having to say much. I remember for Thanksgiving, I randomly tweeted that I was thankful for my blog because it was my everyday escape, my thought process defined and refined.

Inner-FOB

I can never get enough of this song.

30 Day Challenge Series (6 of 30)

6. Your favorite season and why?

Winter is a little too cold for my linking both inside and out. Spring is ok because my birthday is in it but I was never fond of my birthday. Good things happen in the summer which sets up an awesome Fall season. So, Fall is definitely my favorite season. It’s when seven Saturdays are chosen to supersede any other event. That's right, Louisiana Saturday nights on LSU campus. As the last second ticks away in Death Valley, it's time to change from purple and gold to black and gold and join along with the rest of the Who Dat Nation for a football environment where every Sunday feels like a Super Sunday. Lakers and Pandas come back into full swing just before the winter and time to start attending Hornets games. If you haven't caught on to my drift yet, this is probably my favorite time of the year. Time spent with family and friends is always time well spent. It's my reward for surviving a summer with no sports (with the exception of Vayla) and long office hours. My summer has been quite an adventure with lessons learned and a changing of ways. No clouds are in my vision and I’m usually undoubtedly happy.

30 Day Challenge Series (5 of 30)

5. Tell us your three favorite colors and why?

Purple because of Lakers and LSU. I find that it's the color I see the most of when I go through my closet other than Black which is another favorite of mine. Black is slimming which is probably why I tend to favor it. It portrays a very clean look. Blue was my high school's color and defines my early transition to becoming an adult. It gives me a sense of pride of all the things that help mold my personality and beliefs.

Self-Improvement [repost]

This blog is really here for the time being to help keep me focused on righting my wrongs. Also, I'm always in search to find lyrics to make parallels to the things that are going on with me whether they be big or small. I titled this blog 'The Top Gets Higher' because to me it means that there's not a day where we should stop trying to improve ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. With the top getting higher as we climb our list of goals in life, there should never be a point where there isn't room for improvement. I hear from 9 out of 10 people I know that I'm a great guy, but it's what that 1 last person has to say and makes me realize that I can be better than great, especially if that one person is the one who matters most. To start my way back to the top, I'm going to start with strength. It's a pretty broad and heavy load but it has to be done eventually. To be strong for me can be hard at times, but to be strong for a friend, a girlfriend, a family member and whoever else makes it a little tougher. I have to fight my urges and put my wall back up. Whether we go with the cliche 'out of sight. out of mind.' or accept things for the way they are and not dwell on the past... something must be done. I'm tired of reliving the past.

30 Day Challenge Series (4 of 30)

4. Write about your closest friend(s)

These people all have a friendship with me that are beyond words. Their understanding of my extreme habits and our mutual appreciation for each other makes everything worth it. Each of them know what they mean to me and in honor of our friendships I will keep it between us where it's safe. 

Myron and Brian, there is no better dynamic duo than you two unless it were TuVy and Thuy. The four of you are great together as my partners in crime for the club and for our concert adventures. Spending Jay-Z, John Mayer, and my birthday in two cities was the best thing that I could hope for to help start turn things around. 13 years of friendship between the Ho Bros and I certainly speaks for itself.

Thinh and Sumit know me for who I am that others can relate to. Mr. Nice Guy Thinh can relate with me alot. Sumit lives the baller lifestyle.

Lynn, Julieann, and Pamela are pretty much the same but cover different regions. Our friendships all started off the same which was randomly and things clicked within an instant.

Phi and BaoNgoc are two that I can always depend on no matter what it is. They were what brought me to Nola in the first place and look how everything is now.

Julie has been my cornerstone for almost half a year. Whether she's a boo friend or just a friend, her support for all of my goals and intentions have allowed me to become a do-er rather than just a dreamer. I've blogged about her enough to define who she is to me.

30 Day Challenge Series (3 of 30)

3. Write about your favorite TV programs

Oh shiiiiiit. I don't even know where to begin or  how to start breaking this down. I live for retro and I keep past shows present. If you don't know by now, my ideal time of relaxation is laying in bed and watching old tv shows that I grew up watching. It takes me back to a time where the drama and hurt never existed. I'm very simple minded and stuck in the past. It's my inner child that will absolutely never go away. Let's try to keep it short...

Thank you Peter Engel for providing me with Saved By the Bell and California Dreams. Pretending to be a student of Bayside High is something we all did growing up. California Dreams didn't get the publicity as SBTB but its release to DVD in the past few years has brought back some memories along with a few catchy tunes.

Warner Bros is one hell of a company. Full House, Fresh Prince, Friends. All three speak for themselves. I can still beat anyone head to head on Friends trivia. Scene it? Not so much.

Will&Grace is one of the recent series that I love to watch. The humor, allusions to current news, and cameos made it enjoyable. Patrick Dempsey's role in season 3 was what made him my favorite actor and had me follow Grey's Anatomy since day 1. Grey's is probably the only show currently running that I watch that isn't on Food Network or ESPN.

Quick shout out to Bill Cosby for the Cosby Show and A Different World, Home Improvement, Roseanne, and The King of Queens.

Boy Meets World probably rounds off my list of sitcoms. TGIF on tv in 5th grade was something I always looked forward to when getting home. Corey and Topanga was like the next Zack and Kelly... always wondering if they'll ever get back together. The show started to take a different path in the later seasons which gave it more of a serious twist but thankfully Eric and Mr. Feeny made a good duo to bring some comic relief.

Cartoons... Way to many to explain so I'll just list the ones that I can never part with. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Woody Woodpecker. Alvin and the Chipmunks. Chip and Dale. Chip N Dale's Rescue Rangers. Flinstones and Jetsons. Gummi Bears. Real Ghostbusters. Doug... to name a few.

Completely forgot about this song

Cyndi Thomson - What I Really Meant To Say

30 Day Challenge Series (2 of 30)

Day 2: Talk about your piercings or tattoos if you have any

I don't have any piercings and I don't ever intend to get any but I wouldn't mind getting a tattoo. For religious/spiritual purposes, I'd like to get 'Nam mo quan the am bo tat' tattooed on my ribs with an image possibly. It's something I know I want but too chicken to get. The pain will be no joke with the shading etc but it'll be worth it. I honestly would have to shed a few pounds before I get it and that's more of the issue with being hesitant to get it. The message roughly translates to asking the Gentle Mother, Guan Yin, for healing. I like my clean image but this is something I know that I would love have inked on me for the rest of my life.

30 Day Challenge Series (1 of 30)

In a chain letter type reaction, I'm following what TuVy is doing by posting a list with a different, personal topic to discuss every day. For the past few months my blog had hit a dry spell due to lack of confidence and interest to be able post a few times a week like I used to. Hopefully completing this list in the a month will have you know me more than the average person. Check back daily and try doing the same for your blog.

1. My middle name and how I feel about it

Daniel H. Nguyen is what I go by and the H is for Huu. It's my dad's middle name and he wanted me to have it as well. It's not my Vietnamese name like most people seem to think when a person has an American first name with a Vietnamese middle name. I actually don't have a Vietnamese name  for those of you who didn't know. During school, people would always phonetically pronounce my name as Daniel Who Win. So I'd often hear in class, "Daniel who? Daniel Nguyen. Who? Win? Daniel Nguyen." And random shit like that. I wish I had a better middle name but I make the most out of it. I include the initial everywhere and even like to use the H for other significant meanings like my first series of blogs about what the H stood for. As much as I want this awesome name of mine to live on, I have a feeling my mini-me won't have the same name.

Time is up

142. To have another part of me die.

You have found peace.

Giving and Receiving [repost]

My favorite holidays are Valentine's Day, Christmas, and a great friend's birthday. My least favorite holiday, my own birthday. This mainly has to do with my personality and the willingness to give and be extravagant yet deeply thoughtful for others but unable to take the spotlight on my own special day. Hopefully this entry can give my readers an insight of why I do the things I do and have these beliefs.

Giving and receiving go hand in hand. It's a rule that most people follow and with the people I know, they love to receive more than they give. Who wouldn't right? If they do go hand in hand, which one is better? We always hear that it's better to give than receive. Giving does give good fortune and brings a heightened sense of satisfaction but we need to come to the realization that receiving is a very important part of giving. With no receiving, there is no giving. Not true? Take a look at other things that we can consider: Is it better to exhale than to inhale? Or be awake or be asleep? Or better to talk or listen? Which is more favorable or commendable? Think about that for a moment before reading on. So, how can one be "better" than the other? How can one exist without the other? How can we exhale if we don't inhale, and vice versa? My point exactly, or is it?

I don't get much nowadays when it comes to receiving gifts. People say one of a few things: I'm too hard to shop for. I have everything already. I buy what I want for myself before anyone has the chance. While most of that holds true, I had to wonder what it was about my personality that made it that difficult for others. I give and I give. I think outside the box. I love to give because as a child, I was given a lot by my wonderful family. I'm not talking about just material things, but also core values and beliefs that help make me a better person. I worked hard through school and playing by the rules to turn into the person I've become. I take these values and make them my own. If you're someone of importance to me, I put the responsibility on myself to turn your rainy days into sunny ones. Give birthdays and Christmas' that they've never seen before just to show that we all need a break in life once in awhile. This doesn't mean bags full of gifts. This just means that I'll think outside the box and try to do something that the average person hasn't thought of. If someone likes handmade gifts, I'll make a card or paint pottery and use art to express my appreciation. I know sometimes I go overboard, but it's part of my character. Once I have ideas, I feel like they're too good to pass up so I do them all. It's something I do regret because these special occasions are supposed to be a pleasure and going overboard tends to take the special away from it. It's not the dollar spent, it's just the thought that's involved.

Back to my point, I have a fear that people might not make the effort in tapping into the things I truly want. I rush to buy my own things not only because of my independence, but I fear that if I don't get it, no one will. Sad huh? I'm sure there's some things that are false about it but it is a fear nonetheless.

My next question is, if I don't receive, why do I continue to give? Earlier I stated that they both go hand in hand and that there would be no giving if there weren't receiving. I honestly like to see people happy. It really does give me a higher level of satisfaction and knowing that I can I can make someone's holiday a bit more special. As long as that feeling for me is fulfilled, I won't stop giving. Another reason I just realized is that maybe I give in bulk to have more than enough fulfillment that I won't have to think about my end of receiving. Just something else to ponder...

Who are we?

Who are we? And why won't we go away? Call us what you want: Cheaters. All black. Cop. Old... Pick your poison. Bottom line is that we are who we are, people we've always been. We don't fly high. We aren't nasty. And we obviously aren't all Asian. We break racial barriers. We put chemistry and sportsmanship before everything else. In our winning formula, we have no black starters. We have more Asians than your team. We are a fusion of races. We're the shortest but fastest team in our league. We are aso the most humble. We have star players on the court and in the classroom. We're students, married, and single just like the rest of you. We win because we know what it's like to lose. Like our mascot we are rare, black/ white with an Asian twist, and far from ferocious. We're Pandas.

Somewhere a clock is ticking

There are no words. No emotions. Just a stoic face standing still and looking 'pretty'. I've always been a numbers kind of guy. There are 365 days in a year. 69 days of misery. 122 to turn 24. 200 days to get back on track and I haven't looked back. 31 days remain. Ready to get it over. I've endured, longed, embraced and all things in between. Waiting to see what happens isn't enough. Doing something is doing one step too much. I've grabbed life by the horns. I messed with Texas (figuratively). Take every single Facebook status, tweet, and blogspot entry of mine and it will lead you to a silhouette of me. More like a shadow that follows me as I wander in my open field of opportunity. It's a part of me that won't go away. It's behind me like my past but it's close enough to remind me of who I once was or have become. I've had so many chances to turn my year around. Pretty soon I get to answer the question I've asked myself for 334 days... If I had to start the year off again, how would I do it differently? As the 8,760th hour comes to an end and a new one begins for 2011, it'll be just a matter of time.

Giving thanks.

As Thanksgiving brought the 3 F's [Friends, Family, and Food], I took the time to make sure I gave thanks to everything and everyone that's helped shape my restless nights into peaceful ones to say the least.

• Special shout outs to Lynn, Myron, Julie, BaoNgoc, Brian, TuVy, Thuy, Mai, Thinh, Viet, Sumit, Tim, Julieann, and Phi for everythinggggg. The fact that you guys like having me around surprises me but to step in and being a friend means so much more.
• In the last month, I've driven 4,000 miles. Since Vayla, I've driven 10,000. Imagine all of the speed traps and cops between BR and New Orleans east. I guarantee that the Valentine radar is one of the best out there.
• Pandas have become a brand name in about a year and a half. What started out as a basketball team has now grown to sponsor a football and volleyball team. Giving people an opportunity to play a sport they have a passion for is something that I'm always up for. It gave me the final push to start my own company. Once everything goes through, I have my first project lined up to get this business started.
• Free music will always put a smile on my face. I take it for granted and use it to my advantage because of the quantity of genres that I listen to. I use concerts to support my favorite artists.
• Words With Friends has been the best thing ever to help me get through the long days at work.
• Lastly, I'm thankful for what started off as 'The Top Gets Higher' my blogspot was an everyday escape. My thoughts put into words and for anyone to see. My thought process defined and refined.

Not one spoken word or emotion can describe what kind of year it's been like. In the end, I want to thank those who've been here since the beginning, just joined me along the way, and even those who have decided to part ways. 2010 was supposed to and eventually turned out to be the year of the happy. 2011 will be the year of adventures. Get set and let's go.

Oh, It's not 2006 anymore...whoops

Which is it?

Happiness. Is it a mood or is it a destination? I've been told it was one but never the other. Why can't it be both? I blog as if it is a destination. Somewhere that I've been and trying to get back to. A place where smiles can come even when I try to hide it. Peace will exist between my body, mind, and soul. All I know is that I can use some of it to get through the rest of the year.

Game of the season

Epic win for Mr. 8-1

The fear in me

being last. slapped in the face. past being present. open wounds. patterns in life. eyes wide shut. stop the fear. let the best of today be the worst of tomorrow. close the wounds. break the habit. realize.

Pandas: The Final Chapter

Pandas throughout the years. Losing. Winning. Full roster. No roster. Age limit. Race limit. High-Flyers. Versai Dipsets. 4 seconds. Rebels. Part Tymers. YMCA. BREC. VAYLA. If you're a Panda then you know what I'm talking about. It's been a nice run but all good things really do come to an end. Time to defend.

YMCA

VAYLA IV

BREC First Half

BREC Break

BREC Champions

VAYLA Back in Black

VAYLA V Champs

You decide.

So what do you want to be? A 'balla'? Before you make the decision let me explain to you the difference between ballas and ballers. A balla is star in the play yard, but not the class.  They can't make the team and is a legend in their own mind. They dream and pretend, but never make it, never win. A baller makes the grade, makes the team, can play anywhere, especially under the lights, always a winner, competes with the best, and knows they'll make it in life with or without the ball. Sadly to say I'm neither. For me it's more like being A boss on the streets or being THE boss of your company. Funny how one word makes a difference.

Basketball season has returned...

It's the eve of a new NBA season. Shit talking. Media bashing. Lakers. Celtics. Miami. Who's better? Lebron or Kobe? Will Kobe get 6? Carmello on the move? Lots of questions waiting to be answered. Sit back and hold on because it's going to be an exciting 8 months of basketball. Baseball Tonight slide over because the NBA on TNT is back. To help lighten the mood from recent entries of losing the race and finding happiness, I've added two video clips featuring the same song, Roundball Rock. The first video is of John Tesh,the original composer of the song. I got the privilege to see him in concert two summers ago and he explained how the song came to be for NBA on NBC. The second video is of Mike Song from Kaba Modern doing a dance to it with a little basketball flare. Enjoy!

New swag. New day.

 T.I. - Yeah you know (live)

2 weeks.... in 2 weeks it'll be November 1, thus October will finally be put behind me. It hasn't been the worst month but it'll bring an end to all of the thoughts and confusion that's been eating me alive. The feeling of neglect. Being 2nd place or more like feeling like number 1 and being last in line. The past still being present. Feeling like a coat only to be hung on a rack to be worn whenever it was desired. Questioning myself. All of this will be officially gone. Though I've expressed myself and elaborated enough already, it'll just feel better when that Monday morning hits. It's like believing by seeing. What better way to celebrate a new month than a busy schedule? Let's start with Maroon 5/OneRepublic. Kobe and the Lake show accepting their rings for the second year in a row to start off opening night. An all hallows eve that I've set a low standard for. Wiz Khalifia and second hand weed at House of Blues. Pandas kicking off their title defense. Hornets game. LSU-Alabama. Wow, all that in one breath, let's get it. Let's go. 2010 has still been better than how it started. Thank you and you and you and everyone else for being here, staying out my way, and coming along for the adventure. It's been one hell of a year. Let's gooooo.

Don't give up.

It's been awhile and as much as I feel like quitting I know that I can't. The thought of giving up runs through my mind more often than it should. It's like I can't compete. It's like Jordan in 93. 808 and heartbreak. Staring down from the top but then itching to come back for one last stand like Favre in 09 and seeing if I still got it. Though I'm tired of the game because it's not what it was when I first started.  Times aren't the same but I like the chase and hoping this last time will be different. Even though I'm in the lead, it's like I'm the underdog. I'm the home team and the fans are cheering for my opponent. It's THAT feeling. A sense of 'I don't belong' mixed in with a bit of 'who are you kidding'? Maybe I should accept my Cinderella team role and embrace getting this far. But when you can see the end in the beginning, why even try? Why should I race to the finish line when I can just take my time? Why rush? Maybe delaying the finish allows me to soak up the moment. Stare into the bright lights and know that for this moment in time. I'm the man. The one they came to see. The prize is worth more in the end but will I ever get there? Let me live up to my potential and give all that I have. Win, lose. Go hard or go home. A win is a win. There's no point in winning if you can't win big. Which ever philosophy I decide to choose, I'll give it my all. No regrets and no looking back.

I apologize for the randomness.

Something to think about

Hmm, perhaps I should sleep more

Misunderstood

If you haven't walked a mile in my shoes or lived a day in my life. If you haven't survived the shit I survived or deal with the stuff that I've dealt with then you cant judge me.

Appreciate

The only thing that seems to be certain is that nothing is ever certain. Don't take things for granted because things can be gone as quickly as they came. Take it from me, realize the things right in front of you.

I like the way you move

My world is all over the place but I'm not much of anything when you break down who I am and the things that I have to offer. Take away Pandas, basketball, concerts and Masquerade and what's left? What makes me so interesting? My brain is the most gifted thing about me and to be honest that's not saying much. No good looks, no athletic ability, or musical hobby to get me by in life. Instead, I'm left having to envy those who can do things I've never been able to do well or at all. I'm always there to support these friends if it's a game or a performance. It's something that I take pride in to be able to be a fan of those who work hard to do what they love. So much respect and even a bit of jealousy goes out to the boo-friend with all that she has to offer to me, the people in her world, and those she's yet to meet. Motivation. Drive. Passion. Confidence. All of these are needed to do the things she's able to do. Self-criticism to be less sloppy and go a bit harder helps separate her above others from being just good to simply amazing. She's more than a dancer. Behind those sexy dance moves is a pianist, artist, writer, adventurer... she's down for new things and setting new or better goals as each one is achieved. This is what I like about her. She's moving at the speed of light and I'm just trying to keep up.

The road you leave behind

At least once in our lives, we're told that there are two paths that we can go by. The road less traveled.... call it whatever. Sure we can take this road that others seem to steer away from or we can make our own road to success with the steps that we take. My advice: be a wanderer and not a follower. A wanderer moves in no specific direction. They just go where their free spirit takes them and after awhile sense the accomplishment by looking behind and seeing the path that they've made. These steps won't be repeated again but it paves the ways for others. Not knowing where you're going will get you somewhere.

Picture it

Picture it. Biloxi 2010. Music blasting from floor to ceiling speakers. The dark room filled with the bright flashing lights of the stage. Everyone is swaying in rhythm and singing at the top of their lungs. The lead singer controls the crowd with his raspy voice as he comes to the end of the verse as the fans quiet down anxiously waiting to assist with the chorus. It's a feel good time in Biloxi with the only person who matters at the moment. The dancing. The soft pecks on the cheek. They never seem to be enough. They all contribute to being at a great show. An experience if you would. And when she leans back to say something in my ear, time suddenly starts to move in slow motion as if it were a movie. Things start to drown out one by one. The crowd starts to blur. The music from the band fades into the distance. It's only me and her and then I hear her whisper, "I'm glad I met you." That one sentence in that one moment made time stand still.

Where shifting of powers happens

The only thing Lebron and DWade they have in common with Kobe is that they have all been a sidekick for Shaq. It will indeed be an interesting NBA season and although I'm not a fan of the new big three in Miami, I will try and go see them when they come into town and play the Hornets. It's good basketball and I respect the game enough to acknowledge it. This will be one time where I cheer for the home team. Geaux Bees!

Lakers' Coach, Phil Jackson, on the new-look Miami Heat: 

 "It's not always scorers and talent that wins it. But it's teamwork that does it."

"I always refer to when Wilt Chamberlain was traded from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and that put [Elgin] Baylor, [Jerry] West and Chamberlain together -- three of the top scorers in NBA history -- and they never won a championship together the four years they were together," Jackson said.

Somewhere I belong

A few more things before I go on my sabbatical...

Thank you to my friends and readers who've given me input, hope, and encouragement throughout 2010. It's been an incredible journey of finding what it means to be happy and it's only getting more clear as the fall season approaches.  I will continue to blog when things come to me but will just save it as a draft instead of posting. I just have this feeling of low esteem that needs to go away and find a way to have more confidence and be inspired. Maybe it's me needing to find somewhere I belong because I don't feel like I can hang with all of those around me. People who have creativity and can write beautifully beyond belief. I know that I'm just me and I know I need to be myself because there's no one like me. All of this will be kept in mind as I take this time to get my swagga back. Thank you again.

Daniel

Linkin Park - Somewhere I Belong

I'll be back, I hope

After long consideration, I've decided to temporarily stop posting to my blog. I'm not sure for how long but I know it's for the better. At least I hope so. I've gotten to the point to where I've exhausted myself to over thinking my posts and subject matter. I turned to blogging months ago to help bring out thoughts that I was previously unable to express. Back then, I was able to spit out topics effortlessly while these days I'm hardly able to get past a simple song lyric or quote. Blame it on lack of motivation, inspiration, or possibly a mixture of both. Either way the moment has passed for me. I know I'm not the best writer or even a good one in fact but please remember my words came from the heart. No matter how well a person writes, it can't surpass the amount of heart we use from our very own souls to bring a new blog entry to our readers. It's gotten to the point to where I can't keep posting just to post. I know that the internet is big enough to to house all of us who like to blog but I often feel like I'm over-stepping into other people's boundaries by blogging and trying not to be too much like them. Hopefully my time away from blogspot can allow me to get back on the right track rather than have irrelevant things affect my thinking. Please don''t take this as a goodbye, but view it more like a see you later...

Music saves lives

"There's not a song in the world that won't be there for you on your best or worst day."

A walk to remember

2010 Walk/Run to Remember
October 9, 2010
LSU "Old Front Nine

Registration 8:00 am
Race 9:00 am
Walk 9:10 am
Memory Market Exhibitors 8:00 am

It's a 5K Walk/Run or a 1 mile Fun Walk. There will be live entertainment, jambalaya, beverages, memory market, and children's activities.

Don't forget the register yourself or a team early at BRhope.com. See you there!

Will you still care?

In my darkest hour
And my deepest despair
Will you still care?
Will you be there?
In my trials
And my tribulations
Through our doubts
And frustrations
In my violence
And my turbulence
Through my fears
And my confessions
In my anguish and my pain
Through my joy and my sorrow
Hoping for a better tomorrow
I'll never let this moment part
Forever in my heart

Say that you remember

The best things in life come when you least expect it.  Words simply can't describe our happiest moments. Pictures are taken to help freeze the moments and allow us to hold it since we consider these memories golden.We share smiles and we shed tears to help express ourselves even when the words can't come out. These are the moments that speak for themselves and will hold on to for the as long as we can.

Happy anniversary

This week marks the 4 year anniversary release date of two of my favorite albums, FutureSex/ LoveSounds (September 9) and Continuum (September 12). I've blogged enough about how music can soothe the soul and what it takes to make a song special. These two albums need no further explanation because the songs speak for themselves. It's great to see that John Mayer released 'Battle Studies' which is possibly an even better  follow up to the success of 'Continuum'. But when is JT going to bring sexy back again and release another album? It's been 4 years, time to make music and tour again.

Take me there

To follow up on my recent entry about music and how it can soothe our heart and soul, I thought I'd dig a little deeper and maybe even take the ideas of other entries to link the behaviors and patterns that we go through during certain points of our lives. To be specific, the moment worth discussing is the point in your life when you're fresh out a relationship and ready to move forward... alone. The best thing about moving forward is that you aren't really alone. Friends are always there to keep you busy and distracted and best friends are there to make sure happiness is successfully achieved. As friends, we all play the same roles just at different times. Lynn was going through a tough time in her life a few years ago and found her happiness in music.  It's something we all do from time to time. It's just that I seem to notice the things people listen to and consider it their 'happy songs'. The songs we tend to play over and over don't necessarily have to be songs of hope. They just have to be songs that take us to that place where we can free our mind. Smile for the few minutes that we have and soak in the new memories.  This is for all of you who've had your share of broken hearts and to find the strength to pick yourself up and live your life. These are our songs on a play list. Enjoy.

Lynn. Daniel. Julie. BaoNgoc.

A little bit of Top 30

Jon B f/ Babyface - Someone to Love

I remember the  summer I fell in love with this song. It was 2001 and the most stress-free summer that I've had to date. Spent the summer in Navarre Beach Florida and the entire west coast. My wonderful cousin had this song as her aim profile and I was hooked. As we look back we think of the bits and pieces that we leave in the past or carry with us into the future. This song will forever be by my side.

Free Weezy

So often we find artists getting caught up in the mainstream hoopla of what sells to white America and what doesn't. One person worth mentioning in this conversation is Lil Wayne. It took so many albums for him to win his first grammy for 'Lollipop' pretty much. If you're the self-proclaimed 'best rapper alive', it's good to have your recognition to have Grammy's to define your career but it's almost a slap in the face. The puns and lyrical content for 'Lollipop' ranks probably a 2 on a 10 point scale. Though Wayne makes his music to please the mainstream charts, he still releases music (most of the time free music) to his followers and fellow Wayne-heads. 

Here are my to 3 lyrically enriched songs that he's ever produced. Enjoy!

Lil Wayne - I'm Me

Lil Wayne - Best Rapper Alive

Lil Wayne - Sky's The Limit

Pain.

In a strange strange place, I'm lying on the edge of a star
In these violent days, I only wanna be where you are
Even fools they say... can find a way out of the dark
Help me out of the dark

Desperately wanting

Too often do I hear that I should get rest. Or that sleep is good for the soul. I sometimes find myself staying busy but then losing focus on why it's become an addiction to stay active. Today I tried to do what everyone else says. I stayed in bed and watched old school TV shows which is generally my idea of a relaxing day. Instead my mind wandered to boredom and all I wanted to do was sleep. I thought of measures I once took to sleep only out of curiosity. But then I remembered everything else that came with it. The missed calls. The amber alert. The tears. The bitching. The scars. The pain.. all for sleep. Sleep is something that comes natural to everyone around me. Why can't I have it? Why is it that I need to completely wear myself out to be able to squeeze in a few hours of shut eye?

Linkin Park - Leave Out All The Rest