No Distance is too Great

As those of you who follow my blog might know, I want to be a writer. So, I'm posting a poem I wrote a few months ago. Please don't expect Whitman or Dickenson but feel free to comment constructive critisism like "This line needs a different word here". If you write something mean like "This poem sucks" that's not helpful to me.
Anyways, hope you enjoy it.

I rarely see the smile in your eyes
and I can count on my hands
How many times we haven’t been apart.
Somehow a bond has been formed,
A long lasting love sown
And you and I are so close.
No matter how many miles between,
No matter how long it’s been
Since the last time I’ve seen your face
Our love still binds our hearts.
No distance is too great
And only serves to make
Each meeting so grand.

An Expansion of your Musical Library- Ludo

For those of you who are looking for new bands and music, I want to recommend a band that I've been listening to for nearly a year now. This band is Ludo. They are from Missouri and have 3 albums out. They are not that new, considering that their first album was released in 2004, but they are relatively unknown. When their name is typed into Pandora, similar bands are All-American Rejects, but don't let that give you any impressions. Ludo's lyrics are a tad bit fantastical, but funny, they usually tell a story and are unique. They are classified as "alternative rock", but that label doesn't mean anything to me. Even their break-up songs are funny like "Goodwill Hunting By Myself". Yes, they are talking about the movie, but the music video has nothing to do with the movie; it has ninjas and stick horses and ice cream. Very random, very fun, very creative lyrics like "Why should I watch Matt Damon cry without her at my side I pined" This song can be found on their album "You're Awful, I Love You". Another unique track on that album is "Love Me Dead"; it's the epitome of a love-hate relationship. My favorite line "You're born of a jackel, you're beautiful". They also have an EP called "Broken Bride" and it is a rock opera. The basic story is the narrator lost his wife in an accident and spent a number of years building a time machine to go back and save her, but first he lands in pre-historic times, then he goes too far into the future and goes to an apocolypse and the only way to stop a take-over by the devil is to sacrifice his machine. As repayment, the angels take him back to the morning his wife died. What does he change? Listen to the song to find out. Even thinking of it brings that sting to the corners of my eyes. You can find the whole album in sections on Youtube. While there are religious references in this album, do not let that turn you off. To counterbalance, Ludo has a song called "Girls on Trampolines". Here's the chorus "They've got more beer than I've ever seen and they've got girls on trampolines. They've tapped 10 kegs since 9:15 and they've got girls on trampolines. WOOOH!"
Check them out and I hope you like them as much as I do.

Keeping up with...who?

I have unfortunately now seen two episodes of that self-indulgent family, the Kardashians' show. Who are these people exactly and who cares about their lives? One of them wears way too much make-up for everyday use. There is a difference between day and night make-up, mainly that one is less heavy than the other. They talk with the speech pattern and tone of a middle schooler. I could understand if this was a scripted soap opera about middle school kids. But it's not. I had hoped that adults, 20-something year olds, did not like talk like this? Quite frankly, who cares about these people? The reason why I've seen the show? Let's just say there's not that much space where I live. I have felt my brain cells dying while watching this show. I want to be a writer, but I don't think I could ever make it because I refuse to dumb myself down. I am aware that I don't have the most life experience, but there's hope and time. I want to write something that has permanence, and relevance, not just for the present, but for the future. I want to write a best-seller that can be read by everyone and studied by individuals and maybe even students. Sadly, many great writers were not recognized during their time. I hope I'm not one of those. What's a girl to do? I feel like Cunegonde from Candide; should I give up my virtue (intelligence) for money? How many authors have chosen writing for the masses over reaching their full potential? How many got lucky and wrote to their full potential and were popular during their time? How many wrote to their full potential and are only recognized now post mortem? Of course, there are so many that have gotten neither recognition nor financial benefits during their time or post-mortem. What is in store for me? Should I come up with a concept as brainless as Keeping Up With the Kardashians, or should I strive for something higher?

Glitter and be gay,
That's the part I play;
Here I am in Paris, France,
Forced to bend my soul
To a sordid role,
Victimized by bitter, bitter circumstance.
Alas for me! Had I remained
Beside my lady mother,
My virtue had remained unstained
Until my maiden hand was gained
By some Grand Duke or other.
Ah, 'twas not to be;
Harsh necessity
Brought me to this gilded cage.
Born to higher things,
Here I droop my wings,
Ah! Singing of a sorrow nothing can assuage.
And yet of course I rather like to revel,
Ha ha!
I have no strong objection to champagne,
Ha ha!
My wardrobe is expensive as the devil,
Ha ha!
Perhaps it is ignoble to complain...
Enough, enough
Of being basely tearful!
I'll show my noble stuff
By being bright and cheerful!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha!
Pearls and ruby rings...
Ah, how can worldly things
Take the place of honor lost?
Can they compensate
For my fallen state,
Purchased as they were at such an awful cost?
Bracelets...lavalieres
Can they dry my tears?
Can they blind my eyes to shame?
Can the brightest brooch
Shield me from reproach?
Can the purest diamond purify my name?
And yet of course these trinkets are endearing,
Ha ha!
I'm oh, so glad my sapphire is a star,
Ha ha!
I rather like a twenty-carat earring,
Ha ha!
If I'm not pure, at least my jewels are!
Enough! Enough!
I'll take their diamond necklace
And show my noble stuff
By being gay and reckless!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha!
Observe how bravely I conceal
The dreadful, dreadful shame I feel.
Ha ha ha ha!
-Candide "Glitter and be Gay" written by by Leonard Bernstein and Richard Wilbur