So I was heading out of the city this past Saturday, a little later in the day, and as I drove down Lake Shore Drive I saw quite the sight on Lake Michigan. As I rounded the Oak Street curve, I saw about a hundred boats gathered in a small area on the lake about 20 feet from the shore. They looked as if they were going to be parked there for the remainder of the day.

Is this why people get a boat in Chicago? So they can take it a mile away from their slip to tread water in one spot all day? Why aren’t they cruisin’ the high seas, playing pirate and living the dream?

It seems a total waste of money, time, and resources. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure these boats have a great view of our city and fabulous skyline. But it’s like buying a Mercedes for the sole purpose of gathering with other Mercedes at a country club parking lot.

So I think my envy of the city sailor’s life is done with. I’m more than happy to be a landlubber with a couple extra bucks in my pocket and an ignorance to rust.

Pet Peeve of the Day: When people dot i’s with little circles

Quote of the Day: “Forgive you why, you hung me out to dry / Maybe I’m crazy but laughing out loud makes the pain pass by.” –Dave Matthews

There are many versions of songs that I like the cover of better than the original.  Is this sacriligious?  Or does it have something to do with my absolute love of cover songs?  I mean, I could be at any show in the world, and if any band plays any song that is not originally theirs, I will likely go nuts. 

So here’s a list of covers I like better than the original (also note, you must have heard the original in order to like the cover better.  Obvious right?  Well, when I was out at college in Ithaca some loser at the paper wrote an article about how Rusted Root had covered Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” at a concert on campus the night before.  Needless to say, I raged and wrote a strongly worded letter to the editor.  Which I think is still online if you google my name). 

ANYWAY:

Phish’s “Loving Cup” always beats The Stones version.

Further, Phish’s “Cities” is on my iPod, while the Talking Heads version is not.  Nor will it ever be.

I dig me some John Prine, but “Angel From Montgomery” will always belong to Dave Matthews in my mind.

Now, this might be really bad–I love Joaquin Phoenix’s “Cry, Cry, Cry” way better than J.R. Cash’s.

And some songs whose covers absolutely blow dogs:

“A” for effort Eric Clapton, but “I Shot the Sheriff” belongs not in the hands of a Brit, but in the hands of a black dreadlocked man named Bob Marley

The Counting Crows absolutely ruined Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.”

The Byrd’s “My Back Pages” isn’t really that bad but it’s hard to outdo Bobby D on this one…

Are there any cover songs you like better than the originals?

Pet Peeve of the Day: See paragraph two above.

Quote of the Day: “It took a world of trouble, it took a world of tears, yeah it took a long time to get back here.” –Tom Petty

Bonus quote since we’re talking music: “She comes back to tell me she’s gone,
As if I didn’t know that, as if I didn’t know my own bed, as if I’d never noticed, the way she brushed her hair from her forehead, and she said losing love is like a window in your heart, Everybody sees you’re blown apart, Everybody sees the wind blow.” –Paul Simon

Love:

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I was unable to find the Hyper Hypo kid video from SNL featuring Mike Meyers with an embed code so click the picture to be brought to the awesome video!

Pet Peeve of the Day: The battery life of my mobile

Quote of the Day: “Most convicted felons are just people who were not taken to museums or Broadway musicals as children.” –Libby Gelman-Waxner

(Don’t forget to enter my 1 year Blogoversary giveaway HERE)

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What ever happened to music videos? (Reuben Studdard has a cameo, lol!!)

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Pet Peeve of the Day: How nice weather brings out every shit’s piece driver in the world

Quote of the Day: “I think I thought I saw you try.  But that was just a dream.” –R.E.M.

The constant question of  “can people change” has been predominately taking over my life lately.  I believe that people can, but only if they want to.  Or, if there is a reason they want to change their life, their situation, or whatever.  How can you resist a valid, powerful reason for change that would positively effect your life?

For example, I have surprised myself by changing in these ways:

Last summer I went to U.S. Cellular Field for a White Sox game.  I swore I would never go to that hell hole.  But they were playing the Cubs, the tickets were free, and the company was fun.  Thus, I had a reason to enact that change.

Further, I used to abhor cream cheese.  But as someone who doesn’t eat eggs, I am left with very few breakfast options.  A bagel and cream cheese would seem to be the most ideal on-the-go choice.  And yet, I insisted on butter with my bagel, fearing the consistency and weirdness of cream cheese.  But when I discovered that places such as Dunkin Donuts thought that 2 packets of butter could cover an entire bagel, it was time to reevaluate.  I found out there was something known as garlic-herb cream cheese.  I could eat garlic in an acceptable way in the morning!  What better reason for change?  And so, I now love cream cheese.

I love winter, but have never been a fan of spring.  Well, Chicago springs, which are weird and pretty much non-existent.  So I have always opted for snow throughtout the month of March, and then April to come with lots of sunnieness.  I have no problem with snow through April as well.  May is when it all happens as far as I’m concerned.  So you will not find me cursing the weather gods if white flakes should fall for weeks to come.  Except, this is the first year in my life that I can recall desperately waiting for spring.  I cannot wait for baseball, for drinking outside, for drinking 40′s on porches, for wearing flippies.  I have never been so excited for spring in my life and I didn’t really know why.  But I think it is the sense of possibilities, the sense that spring brings in new things, new loves, new friends, new anything.  And so, since 2010 has been shitty thus far, I eagerly await spring!

The examples could go on, but I think I have scientifically proved that yes, people can change.  It’s just a matter of if they want to or not.  And it’s the saddest, most heartbreaking thing in the world to see someone resist necessary change, especially with regards to relationships.  And especially when you’ve done everything you can yet you’re not getting anything back or even being close to being met halfway.  Not that I’m talking about something personal or anything… 

But perhaps I just need to remind myself of the definition of insanity– “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”  And remind myself of these words from Dave Matthews– “some people change, and some people won’t.”  I’d like to think there is still hope because I mean really, if I can like cream cheese… But insanity cannot prevail.  It will not. 

Things I Live For: Foggy days; dependability

Quote of the Day: “No rest without love– No sleep without dreams of love– Be mad or chill, obsessed with angels or machines– the final wish is love.” –Allen Ginsburg