No joke...I Really Can Feel It!

So, I've been in this major Michael Jackson mood for almost a full week now.
Prior to this past week, my Michael Jackson music exposure had really only consisted of a song or two and snippets of others.
Heck, prior to June 25th, I honestly didn't really care about the guy.
I mean, I would never deny that he was great in the '80s, I'm not an idiot, but his recent tabloid appearances was pretty much all I knew about him.
And to be honest, I probably still wouldn't care about him if I had been at home, in crappy Parksville, when he died.
But I wasn't at home.
I was in Florida with 3 other music fans.
It really touched me when i saw Johnny's reaction.
I had never really known anyone that had shed a tear over a celebrity before.
Being around a Michael Jackson fan, while processing the fact that a huge star had just passed away, kind of put the whole thing into perspective.
So, on the last night I was in Florida, while we were all trading music, when Johnny asked me if I wanted "History" loaded onto my flash drive, I of course said yes.
Why wouldn't I?
I'm open to all sorts of music, and I was curious about the music of an artist I barely knew.
Except for a couple Jackson 5 songs I had, and "Will You Be There" (Thank you, "Free Willy".)
But I didn't listen to the songs until a week or so ago. I mean, not really.

When Johnny started talking about his tribute, when it was in the beginning stages, I was really interested. I knew it would be awesome, because everything Johnny does is off the hook! :D
And when he created the event, which would turn this small tribute into a huge project, of course I joined, sent in a picture, and spread the word.
I still didn't really consider myself an MJ fan, just a music fan who respected Michael Jackson and what he did for music and pop culture.
But then I decided to listen to "History".

Immediately, I fell in love with the music!!!!
His songs are so heartfelt and honest.
If you don't feel moved after listening to "Heal The World" or "Man In The Mirror", you're dead inside.
And then Melissa, my Hanson fan friend/Tulsa buddy, e-mailed me "Will You Be There".
I was hooked on MJ.

Just the other day I went to add the only 2 Jackson 5 songs I thought I had to my MJ playlist on itunes: "I Want You Back" and "I'll Be There"....both from my "Now & Then" soundtrack.
I had just typed "Jackson" into the search bar and "Can You feel It" came up.
Johnny had loaded that song onto my flash drive, too!
I was ecstatic!!!!
I no longer had to watch the youtube video to listen to the song!!!!

I haven't been on a non-Hanson music phase since Bon Jovi in the spring, and George Michael last summer.
But I'm now in a complete Michael Jackson phase.
I'm even finding myself defending him!
I'm trying to tell people to think of him for the music he made, not the personal live that was splashed across greasy tabloids.

And just today, I really noticed that his music has inspired me to become a better human being.
I mean, I don't even want to hate my boss any longer. O.O
Now that's big!
Sure, she'll still frustrate me and piss me off, but why hate her?
What good is that gonna do me?
Why should I dislike anyone?

I don't know what type of magic Michael Jackson wove into his lyrics, but it's really powerful stuff if you can leave yourself open to hearing it.

I do want to make the world a better place.
Between Hanson's TakeTheWalk.net campaign and Michael Jackson's words, I truly do feel changed.
And oddly, more so now.
Like, inwardly.
I feel different.
Comfortable.
Content.

Again...what is this powerful magic that Michael Jackson wove into his lyrics?
And how can we get the rest of the world to hear and feel it?

Tinted Windows

Have you heard the news?
You haven't?
Okay, I'll tell you.
You may want to sit down for this one.
Brace yourself.
Deep breaths.
Are you ready for it?
Okay.
Here it comes.......

.....TAYLOR HANSON HAS JOINED ANOTHER BAND!!!!!

Okay, I will wait while you recover from that shocking blow.

Have you picked yourself off the floor yet?

No?

Okay, I'll wait.

Oh...you're good now?
Want some more info?

Okay, well, I could explain this new development myself, but I think it would be better if I let Taylor tell you himself.
So, here is what he wrote on hanson.net, after word had broke and half the fan base was literally freaking out.

Hey to all out there! A lot of you guys have prolly heard murmurs-and as of tonight a bit more than that- about a side project I have been working on called Tinted Windows.let us give you the basic low down.

First off, we hoped to be the first to officially tell you guys about it on hnet, but there was a mixup...anyways. Over the last couple years, Adam Schlesinger from fountains of Wayne and James Iha have been working on this project – We first met Adam years ago when we were making Middle Of Nowhere. So the deal is a band that I am mostly taking the vocals on, with James and Adam on bass and guitar, as well as the legendary drummer Bun E Carlos of cheap trick. All of us have just sort of made time for the creation of the album when we could over the last couple years, and now it is going to be coming out, with all the trimmings.

It is a fun thing that is musically different but i think (hope) you will dig. We will premier it at sxsw this year, and we will be telling you guys more about what will be happening with it as it rolls out.

For me and the other guys in the group this is a great project that is an addition to who we are in our core bands.

For instance, as we have said we are working on tunes for the new record ---Hanson I mean, not to be confusing --- and that is going great... Over the next couple months the roll out for Tinted Windows project will happen in between the writing and recording sessions we have planned for the new H record. lot's going on in our world, but as much as we could we wanted you to be among the first to get the real word on this.

We look forward to telling you more about TW and keeping you posted on all things Hanson and, OOOh All This Love Crap too.

Thanks. rocknrooool - TAYLOR

Well, there you have it.
Hanson HAS not broken up.
Taylor is just doing an awesome side project!
I so can't wait to hear what Tinted Windows has to offer!
WHOOOOOOOT!!!!!!

Trips

So, I'm not doing so well with the updates lately.
Just haven't been in a writing mood.
Heck, I wasn't even gonna do a blog now, but I accidentally clicked on google. lol.

I now know the date of the hanson fan club concert in Tulsa.....May 16th. 1 month before my birthday.
Eeeeeeeep!!!!! I am soooo excited!
TULSA! TULSA! TULSA!!!
95 days!
Or 94 since today is pretty much over.

And 32 (or 31) days 'till I leave for Myrtle Beach!
Eeeeeeeeeeeep!

I am loving my life right now!

Anywho, that's pretty much all I want to say.

Been a brief moment.....

Okay, so this is now my permanent blog.
Myspace is okay, but I'm kind of over it....again. lol.

Alright, so updates, updates, updates.....

• purchased Myrtle Beach tickets, just need to let the 'rents know
• saw my best friend, Mark, again on Tuesday. 1st time in 3 and a half years! Boston Pizza and "Benjamin Button". A great night catching up!!!
• I'm going to Tulsa, Oklahoma in May. I'm not sure on the dates, but it will be sometime around May 6th.......Hanson fan club concert. Eeeeee! Soooooooooooo very excited!
• My passport came in the mail....I can leave Canada!!! Eeeee!
  
• My co-workers are now calling me Tulsa because of a)my upcoming Tulsa trip and b)the other Alyssa that just got hired.

Hmmm.
Well, that's pretty sad.
That's pretty much my life right there.
Oh well.

Oh, yes, 47 days 'till I leave for Myrtle Beach.
Eeeeeeeeeep!
Though, I may actually be more excited for Tulsa.
Sorry.
But, I mean, it's TULSA!!!!!!
haha.

Well, anywho, I'll leave you with a picture of me and Mark:

Rockin' Off The Pounds

I need to lose weight.

Yes, I say it every year about this time. But, that's because every year I need to lose weight.
But every year I fail miserably.

But, not this year.
Nope.
I'm gonna do it!
My goal is to be 130lbs by my 23rd birthday.
So, just over 5 months.
I can do it.

Just weighed myself.
ICK!
I weigh 175lbs.
Blegh.
I thought I was still below 170!
Ewwww!

Okay...now I'm motivated.
So...I want to be 145 - 150 by the end of March.

I'm starting by cutting out pop.
I also need to start exercising.
More then just walking, too.

I feel icky!!!!!!!

New year...I've reflected, now, my thoughts....

Okay, so I've done, like, 2 blogs already, but I still have more to say, now that the first day of 2009 is pretty much over.

I printed off every single one of my 2008 entries and but them all together into one book. There are so many of them! I wrote a shit load in 2008! HaHa! About half the notebook is filled up. By the end of 2009, I'm going to have 2 full notebooks! LOL!

Anywho, I've been reading through them. I've grown so much this year, but one thing stands out the most, besides thanking all my new friends like 15 billion times! I complained a lot about my situation. I mean, work is one thing. It's work, and I hate my job. (20 hours next week. Yeah.) But my parents. I sound like a 16 year old complaining. Well, with more bills and stuff to worry about.

I'm going to try and complain less this year.
Try to change my situation.
If I don't move out, then fine...it will be peaceful here. Well, to a point anyway.

I hate fighting
I do, really.
But when I think one thing, and they think another, we get into arguements.
Perhaps I just need to swallow my pride and shut the fuck up.

Oh yes, and stop being so damn lazy.
If my mom asks me to take out strawberries (or some other fruit) to thaw, I'll just go do it right away.

I really am lazy.
I need to would on getting a get up and go.

And if the computer usage is a source of arguements, I'll just cut down.
Not a whole bunch, but cut it down.
I'll get back to walking in the evenings, reading, exercising, watching movies, etc.

I started changing and growing in 2008, and I am a completely different person now, then the person I was on January 1st, 2008. I'm going to continue growing and changing, and figuring out who I really am and where I really want to go in life.

2009 is going to be a great year.
I'm going to make sure of that.

I'm also going to start posting an album of the day (my mp3 player does that!!!), and I will comment on how that album, or songs on it do or do not relate to how my day went.

Album of the day: Take The Walk EP
Well, I suppose in a way this is a good album for January 1st. More so "Hope It Comes Soon" and "Change In My Life", though.

Welcome, 2009!!!!

First blog entry of the new year.

Last song I listened to of 2008: "Time of My Life" by David Cook. Totally random. Itunes was on shuffle. It just popped up, but was so perfect. It so describes the amazing year I had.

I'm ready for 2009.

It's gonna be hard to top 2008, so I'm not even gonna try.

I'm just gonna have a good time, travel, experience new things, grow, mature, and live my life to the fullest!!!!

Oh God.
I turn 23 this year.
TWENTY THREE!!!!
I don't know why that surprises me, but it does.
Granted, so did 20, 21, and 22. Then I get used to it! HaHa!

And if all goes well, I hope to celebrate my b-day in Florida! :D

Anywho...

I'm gonna go pull an all nighter and get this place clean.

Parents coming back for the day tomorrow.
Have to have the traditional New Year's Day BBQ.

Oh....
I had the best time tonight!
I just LOVE all my friends!
They are so craaaaaazy!
Not unlike myself!