I am extremely bored at work today due to the downpour outside so I have decided to post a random music blog.  I know most of my Twitter followers are significantly younger than me, some even decades younger, and I feel it is my duty to talk about some artists and songs that have been “forgotten” over the years.  If you are younger and you already listen to these artists and songs then you are officially cool in my book.  Here we go…

1.    Aerosmith

If you only know about Aerosmith because of Guitar Hero then you need to check yourself.  Aerosmith is only one of the greatest bands of all time.  I have been hooked on this band since before I can remember.  As a kid I would watch the “Janie’s Got A Gun” video repeatedly.  I was obsessed.  (Yes back in the day MTV actually played music videos.  It was amazing.  Sadly this was ruined by shows like “Jersey Shore.”)  The album “Get A Grip” came out when I was 12 and believe it or not I still have it on cassette.  Every song and every video to that album is epic.  I think my first “girl crush” was on Alicia Silverstone for being such a badass in those videos.  I mean in the “Cryin” video alone she gets a tattoo, punches her cheating boyfriend in the face, gets her belly button pierced, bungee jumps, and manages to do all of those things while wearing high rise jeans.  Total badass, right?!?!  If you don’t know Aerosmith then get to know them now.

2.    Third Eye Blind

What can you possibly say about Third Eye Blind that could even begin to capture their brilliance?  Their self titled album “Third Eye Blind” was my go to album my senior year in high school.  That album saw me through some dark days.  Even now when I hear “Motorcycle Drive By” it takes me back to an entirely different mindset.  I think I know every word to every single song on that album.  “Good For You,” “I Want You,” “The Background,” “God Of Wine,” I LOVE them all.  Just get the entire album PLEASE.  And if you like that album then get the “Blue” album because “Wounded”, “Deep Inside Of You”, and “My Time in Exile” are all just as amazing.  I cannot say enough good things about this band.  I feel sorry for you if you don’t know who they are.

3.    Counting Crows

I still LOVE the album “Films About Ghosts, The Best of Counting Crows” and listen to it on the regular.  I think “Anna Begins” would have to be my favorite song on the album.  You probably randomly hear Counting Crows songs, but maybe you don’t know who they are.  Change that.  If you have ever seen “Cruel Intentions” you know that one of the most vital scenes begins with the Counting Crows song “Colorblind” as Reese Witherspoon is coming up the escalator.  That song makes that scene.  They are also on the “Clueless” soundtrack which is another discussion all in itself.  Check this band out now. 

4.    The Cranberries

“Zombie” will forever be one of my favorite songs of all times.  I used to listen to that song before every single basketball game in high school.  I don’t know why I chose that song but it made me get pumped up and it still does.  Two other amazing songs are “Dreams,” and “Linger” so do yourself a favor and get the “Stars – The Best of 1992 – 2002” album and see for yourself just how amazing this band is.

5.    The Notorious B.I.G.

I have one word for you: “Hypnotize.” I swear if I didn’t have the voice of a 12 year old boy going through puberty I would do a cover of this song so fast your head would spin.  One day I will grow some balls and rock this song on karaoke night.  One day.  This one just had to be mentioned even if it doesn’t belong with the rest.

6.    Sarah Mclachlan

You either love her or you hate her.  I love her.  Her animal commercial sometimes scares the living s*&% out of me, but “Surfacing” is one of those albums that will always be near and dear to my heart.  Another one of those go to albums for me.  I know every word to every song with “I Love You” being my favorite from that album.  Two other songs I love are “Stupid” and “Push” because I can relate to both.  Her lyrics are real and magical and I will forever be a fan.

7.    Fiona Apple

Have you ever had one of those days where anything and everything just pisses you off?  You have two options on a day like that.  The first is “Tidal,” and the second is “When The Pawn…”  This chick is brilliant, amazing, wonderful, and definitely someone you want on your side during a bar fight.  Every song is just perfect.  My favorite is hard to pick but I think I have to go with “Never Is A Promise” because I feel it captures my life in so many ways.  Another one of those you either love or hate, but again I will forever be a fan. 

I think I will stop at 7 for now because I could seriously go on forever.  I love music.  Music is amazing.  Music is powerful.  Music is that one thing you can always count on.  Music makes us laugh.  Music makes us cry.  Music comforts us.  Sometimes on the worst day when I feel like nobody gets me music and lyrics can make me feel like I am not alone.  Music is associated with memories, and music can be like a time machine for some of us.  My taste in music is always changing, but some artists and songs I will never let go of.  These are just a few.  Check them out if you can, and I am sure I will get bored again soon and rant about the thing I love most in the world.  MUSIC!

Let’s talk social media.  It is pretty mind boggling to think about how “connected” we are to people we know and don’t know, and how open and exposed we REALLY are.  This week has definitely taught me that I am more exposed that I ever really thought I was.  I had blogs I had written dug up from years ago, my Facebook hacked (which I highly recommend NEVER posting your phone number on), and some pretty harsh things thrown my way.  Luckily I am not one to care about what other people think about me, and I am still here.  Lucky you.  But, is social media really worth it?  If we just broadcast all about ourselves for the world to see then it’s fair to assume we will attract some haters, right?  It is definitely a risk you just have to take, and with it comes good and bad.

Let me just let it be known that I am a freaking dinosaur.  I can remember thinking I was hot sh@!& my sophomore year because I got a pager for Christmas.  Yes, a pager.  I am talking numbers and dashes you had to decode instead of texting, saying I love you by throwing in a 143, and even the occasionally calculator trick where you type out “07734” and turn it upside down to see “hello” written.  My junior year I heard my first “You’ve Got Mail” via dial up and was so confused by what the heck the internet was even for.  Then my senior year came the cell phones that were about the size of your average laptop these days.  We are talking at least five each, burning at least 50 calories with each answered call.  Go watch a rerun of “Saved by the Bell” and see how ridiculous Zack Morris looks rockin one of those cell phones.

Needless to say we have come a very long way with technology.  I feel naked when I don’t know my iPhone and I swear I stare at it so much some days I think I am going crossed eyed.  Do you ever wonder when we got to be so technology obsessed?  From Myspace to Facebook to Twitter.  From pagers to gigantuous cell phones to smart phone that do anything and everything except wipe you’re a$$ for you, but I think Verizon might be working on a solution to that.  Maybe.  Kids don’t even play outside anymore and I think they are missing out.  It’s all about video games, or iPods, or iPads or whatever the latest craze is.  I used to come home from school and take off on my bike and not come home until at least 9.  I would put a card in my spokes so it sounded like I had a motorcycle, go look for bugs, whoop all the boys on my street in basketball, play kickball, amongst so many other outside activities and I was in heaven.  MTV actually played music videos then, and let me tell you Alicia Silverstone was a GOD.  But let’s face it, times have changed my friends.  If only we could go back sometimes.

My latest vice would have to be Twitter, although Twitter stressed me the hell out last week.  Do you ever wonder if you are really talking to that quirky pal from another state, or some old bald guy who gropes his balls while he tweets?  I guess we will never really know will we?  The one downfall of social media is you don’t really know who you are talking to, who is bullying you, or whatever.  I am not in high school anymore.  I am 31 years old.  I work full time, I go to school full time, I babysit a ton, and frankly I don’t have time to take offense to anything negative thrown at me on Twitter.  I do however appreciate the suggestions that I need a nose job though.  I slept on it and decided I like my big nose, and I like who I am, but I do appreciate the feedback. Oh and the term “deez nuts” will forever make me laugh on random occasions.  Bravo.

Last week I took a Twitter day off and I stated to think what if I wasn’t 31, and I was my former insecure self in high school.  Would remarks like that put me over the edge?  Absolutely they would.  It is sad that people hide behind fake name, fake pictures (eggs if you will), and fake identities to degrade others.  It is sad that they go to the extreme of finding out every painful memory they can to use as fuel.  It is actually disgusting.  I am a firm believer in the “what goes around comes around” theory, as well as the “you get what you give,” “the truth always comes out in the end,” and so on and so forth.  With that being said I would like to reflect on all the hype that is associated with social media and say who gives a F%#@! what some egg head thinks.  If people are going to sink to pathetic levels, make up crazy stories, and tear down anyone in their path then F#$@! them.  It is sad that these types of people can drive others to feel worthless, alone, and left not knowing what to think or believe about all the madness.

 So why am I still here?  Why social media?  Well again you have to take the good with the bad.  Do you want to be one of those Little Voices?  Do you want to make a difference?  Do you want to “be the change”?  Well guess what, the more you stand out, the more you attract the haters.  I’ve said it before but haters are a compliment to me, and I am not scared of them.  I am not perfect, I don’t have it all together, but my past and my mistakes don’t define me.  They helped mold me into who I am today, but you don’t see me crying myself to sleep because my mom left me or I have a big nose.  Those insults aren’t going to stop me from using my voice to make a difference.  I am not a coward, and I encourage everyone reading this to not be a coward either.  To make a difference you have to shake things up.  Too much good has come from Twitter for me to just walk away from it after a few insults.  Now that the hating has died down I would like it to be known that I am not going anywhere and if any of you are down because of haters then come talk to me.  I will remind you that we are not here to please everyone, because that is an impossible task.  You be you, and I will be me, and if people don’t like it then they can suck it.  I think all the Little Voices are amazing and I can honestly say you all bless my life on the daily, so THANK YOU. 

 That is all for now.  Thanks for reading this random rant, and stay tuned for more if I can find the time, ha! Peace out y’all!!!  

Now this is a story all about how my Twitter life got flipped, turned upside down, and I’d like to take a minute just sit right there…

I’ll tell you how I became the #BlockButtonBitches princess of a town called Bel-Air…

In West Philadelphia born and raised, on the computer is where I spent most of my days. Chillin out, tweeting, mentioning all cool, following some friends from my school…

When a couple of guys, they were up to no good, started making trouble in my Twitter hood…

I got in one little fight and my mom got scared and said…

“You’re blocking these bitches and moving with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air”…

I whistled for a cab and when it came near the license plate said #KissMyGayAss and it had dice in the mirror…

If anything I could say that this cab was rare but I thought, nah forget it, yo homes to Bel-Air!

I logged into my Twitter around 7 or 8 and I yelled to the haters “yo homes smell you later”…

I looked at my mentions and I was finally there, to tweet on my throne as the #BlockButtonBitches princess of Bel-Air ;)

-That one is for you, Tara!

When you are faced with hate you have one of two options.  You can let the hate dictate your life or you can fight back.  Let me start by saying that I in no way apologize for who I am, or the things I have said to defend others against hate.  I also don’t regret it.  I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.  I try my best to find the good in every situation and the fact that I am hated is actually a compliment to me because it means I must be doing something right.  I am a fighter and I have been my entire life.  Nothing and no one will EVER take away my strength.  You can write me all the posts you want, you can hack into my Facebook, you can call my cell phone all day everyday, you can do WHATEVER it is you think you can do to get me down but you will NOT succeed.  You are not winning and you never will be.  In fact, if bringing my life struggles to light helps someone see that things do get better, and you can pull through tough situations then it is all worth it.  Even if it just helps one person.

I have never been one to be completely open with my life and my struggles, but seeing as I got such positive responses through all this, why not be honest will all of you.  Yes, my mother did abandon me as a child.  So did my father.  My mother liked drinking and drugs more than me, and my father was abusive and angry and he took it out on me.  What’s done is done, I can’t change my past and I don’t expect pity from anyone.  It made me who I am today and I wouldn’t change my circumstances even if I could.  I made the decision a very long time ago to fight, and I haven’t stopped since.  No, it hasn’t always been easy but what are you going to do?  Give up?  Let your past define who you are and throw a life long pity party for yourself, or do something about it in spite of it all?  I don’t want to be that angry, bitter, hateful person who drifts through life expecting everything to be handed to them.  I want to be that fighter who beat the odds and managed to overcome the pain and leave my mark on the world.  FIND THE GOOD IN EVERY SITUATION.  Maybe someone reading this has faced similar circumstances and they don’t know what to do, and my advice to them is to FIGHT, and keep on fighting until you become the person you want to be.  Then, let it all go because bitterness and anger can destroy you if you let it.  The way I see it my parents did me a favor.  I have been so blessed with so many amazing people in my life that I have no room or cause for complaints.  Take it day by day and know that it does get better.

Because I grew up like I did I was a huge dork in school.  I got teased because I was a tom boy, I never wore make up or fixed my hair because no one ever taught me how to, and I couldn’t afford name brand clothes.  I had very crooked teeth and I couldn’t afford braces so that just added to my problems.  I hated going to school everyday, and sometimes I would cry at night just thinking about it.  Kids told me I shopped at garage sales, told me I had ugly teeth, ugly hair, and would pick on me about anything and everything else they could find.  They would trip me, put tampons in my locker, spread rumors about me, you name it and it was probably done to me.  I am all too familiar with bullying and luckily this was before social media so I can only imagine what people are faced with these days.  It is horrible.  It makes me sick to even think back to those days, but it is also a good reminder of how far I have come.  FIND THE GOOD IN EVERY SITUATION.  Again, those bullies did me a favor.  I know how it feels to hate yourself, to be depressed, and to think about suicide but why let people like that win?  The moment you stop caring what other people think about you is the moment you really begin to live.  Take the hurt they caused you and let it make you a better and stronger person.  Let it remind you of how bad cruelty hurts and make sure you NEVER turn into that kind of person.  I know how if felt when my parents were never around, and I know how it felt to be bullied, and I can promise you that will never be me.  I will never, ever make anyone feel like that. 

It amazes me sometimes on how much people underestimate love.  Love is such a powerful thing.  Love can change the world.  All it takes is one person to REALLY love you and it can change your ENTIRE life.  I know this to be true because it happened to me.  Getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy but in the end it has all been worth it.  Maybe somehow or someway my story will reach one person who is on the verge of giving up and give them some hope.  Hope that there is still good left in the world.  Hope that tomorrow can and will be a better day.  Hope to keep on fighting NO MATTER WHAT.

“I’ve made my mistakes
I’ve seen my heart cave in
I got my scars
I’ve been to hell and back again

Born for the blue skies
We’ll survive the rain
Born for the sunrise
We’ll survive the pain

We’re singing…
Hey, you can’t count us out
We’ve been running up against the crowd
Yeah, we are the dark horses
We’re singing…
Wait! It’s not over now
We’ve been down but we’ve NEVER been out
Yeah, we are the dark horses…”

- Switchfoot - “Dark Horses”