*cue the harmonica* the blues, man..

In the Smart City Memphis blog, there is mentioned an International Blues Challenge festival this weekend, and that got me thinking. Our city is known as the home of the blues, yet the blues were first actually played in New Orleans. Before instruments were added, it was all vocal. The blues were adapted from the songs and hymns that the slaves sang in the fields as they worked. It's kind of like the city is stealing the title from New Orleans a bit, isn't it? Granite, that jazz is from New Orleans, and the Blues were also based off of jazz, but still. Chicago is also known for it's blues music, but is not the original home of it. Although Memphis does have a strong tradition of the blues, as well as many talented blues singers, Memphis is more known as the birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll.

Anyway, all this talk about blues music makes me think of the movies The Blues Brothers and The Blues Brothers 2000. Those are some great movies! The music and cast in each one are phenominal. I actually prefer the second one, because of the songs and because I'm not a John Belushi fan. Having Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin in them, as well as many other famous soul singers, made the movies even greater. The car chases and humor didnt hurt, either. I know, not a real big connection to the original blog, but music in the movies is.

friday

ok, im going to make this quick so i can get it in. i'm sorry that this will be short. i was at work all day and forgot to do this before i left. i saw macon tonight when leaving work. she and i had no idea that we each worked in the mall. that was interesting. i work at the limited in the wolfchase mall. i like it for the most part. our jeans are really nice, so getting a discount for those just themelves is worth it. beh! 1152! i cant type much faster, my laptop is not connecting online, and im using the desk top computer at home, and it's loud, well ,the keyboard is. that's why i hate using the computers at school, cuz they're loud. everyone else is asleep, so i have the tv on for noise to kinda drown out the typing, but it's not too loud. after this, im going to get food, since i havent really had any meals today, but only snacks. that's not gonna work for me. ok, i must go so i can get this in. love, peace, and chicken grease!!!

thursday night

well, I'm sitting here watching M*A*S*H and eating chips and chocolate. Yeah, i know, nothing but junk food, right?? anyways, i know that i need to write more in my blogs, and it usually doesn't occur until i just get the sudden urge to write, or if i'm having a problem, like my latest blog. (thanks, by the way, to y'all for commenting on my thing and letting me know that i'm not the only one that has troubles.) but i was having a "painting" mood earlier, but i need to finish this stuff. I believe that i'll paint tomorrow before work or something. hrm.....lol, i know this is random, but my dog is sitting here staring at me wanting some chips. he's giving me this "please give me a chip. you love me and i'm cute. please??" look. i cant refuse, he's just too cute and he knows it! so, i feel much better from the other day when i posted that thing about my mood. I'm happy to be home right now. i get a bit loney at the dorm all by my self. that, and i like the food my mom makes more than the stuff there. i really want a new cell phone. (yes, that's random, but i just saw a cell phone commercial. i like my phone, but it's starting to wear down, like, the buttons are sticking, but otherwise its good. course,that would mean that i'd have to get more ringtones, i dont want to do that. my dad is paying for my cell phone bill while im in college, so that i can concentrate on school work instead of having to work all the time, too. ok, i really need to post this. time's running low

winter blues

I hate winter. I get too fucking easily depressed in the winter. Otherwise, i'd love it. i love the holidays and such, and snow whenever we might actually get it. I just cant stand getting depressed so easily. I refuse to take depression meds, cuz a) i used to take them, and the often made it worse and b) there is no reason to only take them about 3 months out of the year. i was having a rather fine day, i was hyper and everything. i called my fiance to make sure he was still coming over to help me move furniture, and he said something, completely playing around, that hurt my feelings. i told him that what he said bothered me, and told him not to say it again, he said he was really sorry, didnt know it would bother me, and that it wont happen again. normally, that wouldnt bring me down so much.. i thought that i was over it, and went on my way, well, when he got to the dorm, we were talking and such and he was wanting to, you know, mess around. earlier that day, i would have gone with it in less than a second, but for some reason, i just didnt want to anymore. i told him that i didnt want to at the moment, and maybe after we moved the furniture that i'd feel better. well, we rearranged my room, and yet i still was down and shit. i was kinda pissed, mostly just cuz i was in a bad mood then, but i had no reason to be. he asked if i was ok, cuz i wasnt "being ashley." i dont know what happened. i didnt want to do anything, but just lay on my bed and listen to music. he was hugging me and still trying to get me to do something, but i (this is really strange for me) just flat out told him that i really didnt want to and maybe this weekend.........I really hate how the winter makes it easier for me to get depressed. i went thru this shit for two and a half years straight, i dont want to put up with it again. i know that i kinda disappointed him, and i hate that feeling. i told him that i get depressed easy in the winter, and that the smallest thing will set it off. he told me that he understood and that it's ok.....its not ok. getting depressed like this makes me feel like shit. i used to cut, and i was actually really addicted to it. i stopped completely over a year ago, and for a year before that it was only when i was REALLY upset (like a bad break up or something). When i get depressed like this, it makes my arms ad wrists tingle, just making me have the urge to just at least scratch it really hard just to feel some of that old familiar sting. I wont let myself do it again. i refuse. none of my friends REALLY understand this kind of shit, except for my (for the most part) best friend, but she's done a bunch of crazy shit lately, so i dont trust her any more. (read the earlier bulletins for more info on that). my mom would over react about all this if she found out about it, and i dont want my other family members to worry or anything. like i said, no one else really gets it, so i just have to either keep it bottled up (which can actually be deadly, by the amount of stress it puts on the body), or tell my fiance, who is the only other one who would understand, but i dont want him to feel like it's his fault or anything. i explained what was going on to him earlier ,and he seemed to understand. it's just that everytime i get upset about something, or wind up crying about something, he's usually the one i go to first, so i'm sure he's tired of hearing me cry.

im sorry for that rant, but i actually feel a lot better now, just getting all of that out. thanks for listening/reading.......

peace

my manifesto

Being as a manifesto, by definition, is a public declaration of principles and intentions, I believe the best way to begin this manifesto for myself would be to state my beliefs and my intentions for this course and for life in general. The Declaration Of Independence set up by our forefathers over two centuries ago is, after all, a manifesto for the new country that they were forming and states their (generally) shared beliefs on matters as to how the new country should be run and clarifies their intentions for the goals set for the country’s rights. Some of these beliefs outlined in the Declaration of Independence are either the same or very similar to my own. The main one of which would be that “all men are created equal.” Well, back when that was written, not everyone was treated equal. The only ones treated equal were white men with enough property to meet their standards. I don’t quite feel that way. I believe that no matter sex, color, age, or wealth, everyone should be treated fairly. People should be judged by their character, not the color of their skin, or what shape their body is in. Women, contrary to how most have felt throughout the years, can do almost anything a man can do. Quite often, we can do things better than men. For instance, we are usually the one who are more thorough in what we do, therefore we usually get things done properly on the first attempt. Also, no man can ever master the art of putting a little girl’s hair up whichever way she likes it, and getting it right the first time. Don’t get me wrong. Guys are great, but I am a firm believer in the statement that a woman does not need a man to survive. My great grandmother raised eight kids by herself, while her husband was sick in the hospital with tuberculosis. And each of her children turned out just fine. Only a really strong woman could raise that many children by themselves. This example brings me to my point. Those who are stronger emotionally, and mentally should be the ones running the country, not those that are elected because of the ivy-leagued school that they went to for a year or two, solely because it was tradition. The “fairness” scale is one that is still unevenly weighted, with the benefits being given to the side that has the white male or the stereotypical person of power. This is not what I think of when I hear “ all men are created equal.” I think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s beautiful “I have a Dream” speech, in which people are “not judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Using Dr. King’s beliefs as an example brings me to my next belief. I do not agree with wars of any form. I do not condone killing of any innocent human, or for any reason other than as a last resort of self defense. Those are my main two beliefs. The others are a little less important. However, the goals that I have set for myself in life are important. For this course, I would like to end this semester being able to type an in-depth paper on anything in less than a day, and it not endanger my health at staying up all hours of the night. I would also like to be able to read a story, narrative, or anything, and understand most, if not all of it’s deeper meanings. As for life in general, my intentions are a bit more extreme. I am planning to become an interior designer, and either own my own business, or be in a partnership with another designer or on a design team. I plan to specialize in designing children’s and teenager’s rooms, since I love kids. That brings me to another goal. I will not be truly happy in life until I have children. I’m not talking about one or two. I’m wanting more around four or five. There is nothing in this corrupt world more innocent or joyous than a young child’s laughter. Very young children don’t know why something is funny besides the fact that it just fascinates them. They do not know what the harsh world has in store for them, they just know what is happening at that exact moment. Life should be to where we do not always concentrate on what’s wrong with the world. We should enjoy every moment that we can, and not let life pass us by, because when it’s through, there’s no going back. The phrase “you’re only young once” will only become more and more apparent as we age. My ultimate intention, goal, whichever you wish to call it, is to just “grab life by the horns” and hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

my

people from engl. 1020, please take a look

HEY EVERYONE!! I JUST WANTED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE USE OF THESE BLOGS!! I HAD WENDY LAST SEMESTER, AND SHE'S RIGHT, YOU WILL WANT TO KEEP USING THEM AFTER THE SEMESTER. LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT SEMESTER!!! PEACE