Hello TOLers!

I've been MIA for some time now. My apologies. Life, school, friends, and work have all cauht up with me.

However,  I haven't stopped writing!

Ben Romans was my hero at the end of last semester and offered me a chance to interview him for my final paper in Writing on the Performing Arts. He's an incredibly fascinating person to hear talk, especially when it comes to music. So thanks, Ben! I owe a lot... including my glorious A+ I received on the feature story!

So here it is if you're interested. It talks about the ups and the downs, and the hopes for more Click in the near future.

Not Your Average Boy Band: Click Five reclaims music identity

Crash Kings-- They were an unexpected treat when I went to the Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, Mass. last December. I went for Rooney and Rooney alone. I knew nothing about the opening acts, who were Tally Hall and the Crash Kings. While Tally Hall came out with kazoos and xylophones, Crash Kings came out on the stage rocking shaggy hair, Converse, and subtle confidence. They did not have any kind of gimmick. They just had some great tunes that totally blew me away. They gave Rooney a run for their money.

I've always been a major guitar enthusiast. If there isn't a lead guitar in the band, I'm always a bit skeptical as to whether they will truly capture my heart. Crash Kings successfully trumped my no-guitar policy. A 3 man band, the Crash Kings feature 2 brothers, Tony (keyboard and vocals) and Mike (bass) Beliveau. Lastly, there is Jason Morris on the drums.

Again, I think, how can you possibly play rock and roll without a guitar? Their answer was the clavinet. A clavinet is a keyboard with guitar strings. His clavinet is equipped with a whammy bar, which allows him to bend notes like a guitar would.

I was a skeptic, but after seeing these guys live and then hearing their full album, they've won me over in their guitarless ways. They've developed a solid harmony that makes their rock almost operatic. The lead singer's voice is rough and strong, but manages to reach a falsetto that's clean and still so powerful.

The bass is completely amped out creating a thick, heavy sound. And the drums, well Keith Moon once said, "To get your playing more forceful, hit the drums harder." I think Morris takes a cue from this-- as most drummers should.

Each song features an amazing rhythm section that just makes you want to nod your head and move your hips.

So with that, my Saturday pick is Crash Kings' song "Mountain Man."

I highly recommend you see these gentlemen live. I also recommend taking a listen to their songs "14 Arms," "You Got Me," and "Raincoat."

Check them out here.

Marvelous 3. They are pop, they are punk, they are rock… They are fantastic. The song above, “Freak of the Week,” is probably their most well-known singles off the “Hey! Album” and it’s my pick for this Saturday.

There are songs that are just meant to be personal anthems. There are those times when you just feel like you aren’t worthy, and no matter how hard you try, you’re just not good enough.

“I spend all my money on the clothes that I got
Cuz all the geeks that I meet, they all look cooler then me
But what to do when they’re all lookin’ at you
Cuz you’re the freak of the week”

But then you play that song and somewhere in that overanalyzing, jam packed mind of yours, you flip that switch. The song helps you send a subliminal finger to whoever may be “The Man” of the moment. Don’t let them put you down because you could put a stop to it if you try.

“Can you make me a promise
Stop it before we begin
Will you hold onto my head
If I ever lose it again”

I’d say this song fits that category quite nicely.

Sadly, this band never got enough backing from their record label. This is a story often told. However, this band took matters into their own hands. Instead of waiting around for the label to drop them after months and months of neglect, Marvelous 3 gave Elektra Records the boot in 2001.

Butch Walker, the band’s lead singer and guitarist wrote this shortly after the separation on the band’s website:

“There has been an incredible amount of “lack of interest” for the band over at Elektra (‘cough, ahem, Neglectra, cough, cough’) Records lately, and that comes as no surprise, seeing that every record they put out most recently, sinks like a dead, anchored body in the Hudson River…Well, the time has come. We are free from Elektra. I asked them to let us go, and they did. WE DID NOT GET DROPPED.. I ASKED TO LEAVE.”

Chutzpah. I admire that.

The band didn’t last much longer, but they put out three marvelous albums, “Math and Other Problems,” “Hey! Album,” and “ReadySexGo”. How ironic.

Butch Walker, the lead singer and guitarist, has since gone on to write and produce for the likes of FOB, Family Force 5,The Donnas, All Time Low, and Lit. He’s a musical genius in my opinion. Rumor has it, he also puts on an awesome show of his own.

+A

They do not write songs like these anymore...

"Smile" was originally composed by the silent film genius, Charlie Chaplin and lyrics were later written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. It was written for Chaplin's 1936 silent movie, "Modern Times." Nat King Cole's "Smile" is the most famous version and, in my opinion, one of my favorite songs ever.

There's something about this song that is incredibly melancholy, yet it inspires emotions that are far from that. It musters up feelings of hope, promise, even faith in one's self.

Smile, though your heart is aching, 

Smile, even though it's breaking. 

When there are clouds in the sky- You'll get by.

With a lot of today's songs, love, sex, and life are so co mplicated. This song steps back. It's not all about t he love lost. So maybe your heart is not set right, maybe you're scared, maybe you're sad-- Maybe, you need to let love go and live life for you. Maybe you just need to smile.

Light up your face with gladness, 

Hide ev'ry trace of sadness. 

Although a tear may be ever so near, 

That's the time you must keep on trying

Although a tear may be ever so near, that's the time you must keep on trying. It's so basic. In times of hardship, everything is so complex. Life is stressful and the world is weighing on your shoulders. When things are this hard, sometimes you just need a quick fix-- simplic ity. There's nothing more simple than smiling. 

You'll find that life is still worthwhile, If you just smile.

And if that's not simple enough for you... it's just a great song!

+A

The semester is over, but my desire to write about music and the performing arts is still strong. Because of this, I decided to attempt to keep this blog going. My first idea for the new year is a "New Song Saturdays." Every Saturday, I will post a song that I love, or possibly, a song that I just can't stand.

New Song Saturday:

Train- "Hey, Soul Sister"

The song is the first single of the band Train's fifth studio album, "Save Me San Francisco." Though it was released in the fall, it's a perfect tune for a summer joy ride. I can picture the opening ukulele strumming as I sit on the beach, Corona in hand.

It's not a pop tune made for the clubs. It does not inspire grinding, nor does it inspire Jersey Shore fist pumping. However, it's a guaranteed toe-tapping, head nodding, hip swaying single that will put you in a happy place. Patrick Monahan's lead vocals evoke a feeling of sitting on the beach, guitar in hand, singing with a group of friends.

My only qualm with the song is the band's attempt to add the "thug life." They, in no way at all, have an ounce of street in them. So when the bridge comes in with: "The way you can't cut a rug, watching you's the only drug I need. You're so gangsta, I'm so thug, you're the only one I'm dreaming of," I can't help but laugh. For starters, they sing about cutting the rug, just as my grandfather would, and yet, they are gangster and so thug. I'd disagree. I'll let it slide though. It flows nicely and not much rhymes with rug. This is apparent by the next line. Rug rhymes with Thug which does not rhyme with Of. It'd bet even Fitty (50) Cent knows that.

It's about that  girl you just can't forget. It's about that girl you don't want to forget. It's about that girl and that guy, and that perfect night together.

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains

I knew I wouldn't forget you, and so I went and let you blow my mind

Your sweet moonbeam, the smell of you in every single dream I dream

I knew when we collided, you're the one I have decided who's one of my kind

It's catchy and I can never get it out of my head. Enjoy.

Oh and Happy New Year. Let us celebrate the day of the palindrome: 01.02.2010

 + A

I woke up today and had that feeling... it was going to be a good day.

This feeling was enhanced only about an hour later. I walked down to my dorm's lobby, grabbed today's issue of The Daily Collegian, and turned the pages to the Arts & Living section. What did I see? Oh ya know, just my byline, my feature story, and Jesse Ruben's picture taking up half of the entire section. Score!

I did the interview with Jesse a couple weeks ago. He was a dream interview with anecdotes, quotes, and good laughs galore. :) I've been in the process of writing profiles for various artists and Jesse was my first.

Here it is: 

Jesse Ruben: Bringing acoustic back to pop

There's nothing to lose and there's nothing to prove.

I'm dancing with myself.

So here's the thing, I got caught dancing around my room all by myself. While I should probably be embarrassed, I'm not. (Well, maybe a little... but that's natural hah!)

It's one of those things that while you look completely ridiculous and downright silly, it makes you feel so good. Why should I be embarrassed when something is that fun? If it's so wrong, I never want to be right ;)

And then there's the part that makes it even better, the person who caught me JOINED me.

A good song is contagious. Put one on... do you feel it? Do you feel the urge to tap your feet? Nod your head? Do you get the chills when that killer solo vibrates through your bones? It takes over your body, doesn't it? That's my favorite feeling in the world.

Go be silly. Dance with yourself. Find someone to dance with. Put on that song that just makes you want to move.

If anything, it'll make you smile. Smiling is my favorite.

If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance.

+A

I absolutely love Halloween.

It's every child's excuse to get copious amounts of candy, be with their best friends, and dress up. On Halloween, you can be something scary, something beautiful, something you've always wanted to be, or even something you'll never be in real life.

Halloween is the perfect escape into your imagination.

I'm 100% for anything that let's a person be creative and transform themselves into whatever they wish to be, even if it's just for one night.

Tonight, I'm Charlie Conway, captain of the Mighty Ducks. The Hawks and Iceland team better watch it! Minnesota Miracle man in the house! :) I'll be rocking that for the UMass Amherst v. Providence hockey game. You better believe I'm entering the Mullins Center in flying V formation! After that, I'll be rocking Little Red Riding Hood. :)

Happy Halloween!!!

^ Is what I should be studying. Personality Psychology.

Let's Be Friends. < This is what I'm actually doing.

Ahhhh, the life of this college student. When I should be studying, I find ridiculousness like this.

and that > Masterpiece. 

oh and hey, don't forget this > 8 Minutes

Enjoy.

+A

I feel pretty accomplished!

My second feature story was published today! That's 2 offically published stories in less than a month! woot woot! :)

I realize it's only a college newspaper, but it's a major start for me. Plus, University of Massachusetts Amherst's Daily Collegian is the largest daily college newspaper in New England, and one of the largest daily college newspapers in the country. Yessss!

• Rascal Flatts Soars
• Dance Takes UMass By Storm

I'm especially proud of the second one because I did this while horribly sick. Monday, I spent almost 5 hours in Univeristy Health Services. They took a whopping 4 vials of blood, did 2 x-rays (I know know what my spine looks like. Coooool!), gave me 1 shot, and I saw 2 lovely doctors. And you know what they discovered after all that and 5 hours? I'm sick and they THINK I might have a bad case of bronchitis. They think.

Needless to say, that drip to the doctors was a complete failure. To top it off, the medication they gave me for my cough makes me ridiculously dizzy. Word has it, if I take enough of it, I'll start to hallucinate. Sweet. :/

But anywhooo... I may feel like crap-olaaa, but I'm a published journalist that feels like crap-ola. haha

+A

Ahhh! How could I!? I am a day late, but....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO THE ONE LOVE!

I'm so honored to be a part of this wonderful blog. Let's keep this magic rockin' for another beautiful year, my friends. :)

+A

It's amazing the things you do to procrastinate on your homework...

So far:
• An hour and a half long lunch/brunch.
• Patriots v. Jets football.
---- GO PATS!!!!!!
• Vote on a poll of the best Kanye West insults: Click Here
• The homework is to blog... so instead of actually blogging, I change the theme/colors/fonts/links/username/anything and everything.
• Facebook it. Duh.
• Myspace it. Because I hadn't checked it in about 3 years.
• Livejournal it. Because I suck at updating that.
• Update my The One Love Blog.
• Paint my nails.
• Eat Pez.
• Eat Reese's pieces.
• About 6 bathroom breaks.
• Scream at aforementioned football game.
• Search for an online version of Supernatural because I missed last week's episode.
• Search for a new AIM buddy icon.
• Go across the hall to my friends dorm room.
• Twitter.
• Texts from Last Night

And this is just the beginning. I'm a procrastination PRO.

In other news:
• I'm totally in love with the new show Glee! It's fantastic.
• Tom Brady needs to step it up. If the Jets win, I will have a shoe in my TV screen.
• I've started my junior year in college and am actually loving all of my classes.
• Have been published in the college newspaper, which is the largest college daily publication in New England. Success.

 +A

update: The Patriots game was so disgusting that I literally had to start my homework to keep me from punching the television. Horrible.

Genius Loves Company

Puts me in such a great mood!

9-11-01

Lest we forget.

Today is September 11th.

Eight years ago today, I was 12, sitting in Ms. Washington's 7th grade social studies class. Mrs. Allard ran into the room with a radio and we listened to the panicked voices of the radio disc jockeys. The next thing I know, Ms. Washington is rolling in the television cart and the only channel we can get clearly that morning is a spanish channel. The spanish anchorman was talking a mile a minute. The fear, the concern, the worry, the confusion... it didn't matter that I couldn't understand him. I could read his face. The rise and fall of his voice were enough. That day, the future of so many changed. The future of a country changed.

I took the bus home and when I walked in the door my dad, mom, and brother were huddled together in our living room watching CNN. I ran to my dad, sat in his lap, and the room was silent. All we could do was watch and pray.

It's a moment I will never forget. Like many, I had family in New York City that day. I couldn't reach my uncle and the terror and hysteria ran through every fiber of my being. Fortunately, I was one of the lucky ones and my uncle was ok. Sadly, many were not.

Where were you? What's your story? Like the generation before us, September 11th marks a day in history that we can never and will never forget.

I ask you to remember those that are gone, but never forgotten.

Heroes.

They, and their families, are in my thoughts and my prayers.

I find it really sad when money tears people apart. It does it if you have too much or too little. Whatever happened to: All you need is love?

The scary thing about money is that it's a necessary evil. Unfortunately, money is now so much apart of our lives that it ranks as high as the food we eat and the water we drink.

Trust can be built around money. Money will make people honest.

It's frightening to think that though money does not buy you happiness, it sure as hell makes it easier to be happy.

A piece of paper with a dead man.

A piece of metal with a dead man.

That's all it is and it fuels wars. It fuels greed. It drives people everyday of their lives. Nine to five. We work hard for money. We die for money. 

But when you really come down to it, to the bare bones of why we push to breathe another day, is it really that important?

When did it become more important than the love you give and the love you take?

My charity is the American Diabetes Association and it really means a lot to me.

Here's a little video to show you all of the things that go through their minds...

Find more videos like this on TuDiabetes - A Community for People Touched by Diabetes

That's beautiful in the geekiest way possible.

It has been far too long since I last updated. For that, I apologize. This summer has been absolutely insane in every good way and bad way possible.

• My last post was in May (again, way too long ago)... but since then I have done quite a bit of spring cleaning around my house. Here's a gem I found buried deep within my closet.

My first grade Sony Walkman that was still rocking my Michael Jackson "Thriller" cassette. Classic. 

• My summer job fell through, which in turn led me to a summer of ___(fill in the blank)___-sitting. I've sat for cats, dogs, houses, and babies. Though house/dog-sitting is actually pretty nice for the wallet, it requires little to no brain activity. So I found myself doing arts and crafts like I was in summer camp. Future dorm art in the making...

This is Roma. She was a nice chunk of my summer income. Is it silly that she reminds me of Dobby in HP? haha

• August 1st was the one year anniversary of my dad's passing. That was pretty horrendous. It has been a crazy, messed up year and I've had to grow up pretty fast. But to be honest... my mind still thinks this way.

• Concerts have been a lovely this summer. I've had the pleasure of seeing Cage the Elephant, who are insanely good live. I've also seen The Fray who put on  great show. The only down side to seeing them was the fact that it was down pouring the whole time. If you live in Mass. that probably does not shock you in the slightest. It has been a summer of non-stop rain. I was sooooooo incredibly pumped to see Jack's Mannequin. It was utterly amazing. I was also fortunate enough to see The Click a couple times as well. September 12th, my roomie and I will be seeing Rascal Flatts. They put on a wicked awesome show.

Live music is my one true love.

I hope you have all had a lovely summer!

Oh, and expect updates to come more frequently :)

Something about the summer calms me down.

Maybe it’s the idea that at any time I can hop in my car, roll the windows down, crank up the tunes, and just go...

There’s nothing better than the wind blowing your hair around, your shades on, and the music blaring as you laugh with your friends on the way to the beach. Priceless.

Summer is also the perfect time for concerts. Outdoor concerts are amazing. Sure the sound isn’t always great... but when you can lay back and listen to tunes under a starry summer sky, who really cares? It just feels good.

Sometimes you don’t even need a band. The crickets, the birds, and nature makes enough sounds to soothe you. Add the crackle of a bonfire and my life is complete.

In reality, I’ll be working a boring 9-5 Monday through Friday, so the rolling down of windows and cranking of music will be happening at the ass crack of dawn. 

As a college student who’s classes began no earlier than 11:15am for the past two semester, I was not aware that life began before 10:30am.

----

The summer also has me rediscovering my love for Josh Ritter.

He has some perfect summer tunage...

August 1, 2008 will forever be marked as the worst day of my young life. I lost the most important man in my life. I lost my father; my best friend.

It came out of nowhere. My family and I were on a family vacation in Las Vegas. We were there to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday, visit my uncle, and then take a trip down to the Grand Canyon. The day we were supposed to venture to the Canyon, my dad fell ill. We just thought it was food poisoning. However, not even 24 hours later, he was gone. Just like that. I didn't get to say the three magic words, I didn't get to say good bye. I had no idea that it would be the last time I would see him.

Since that day, everyone in my family has had these dreams of my dad. He's always happy in their dreams and telling them that he is ok. The only dreams I had had of my dad were nightmares. I'd watch him leave all over again. I'd wake up crying and screaming because I'd be reliving that day over and over again. My heart breaking just that much more...

But Saturday, about 9 months since his passing, I finally had a great dream of my dad. He was the laughing, smiling, teasing, most lovable guy I remember. My best friend was back.

For once, when I woke up from a dream with my dad, I was smiling. It was just a dream, but it has completely changed my frame of mind. He said everything I needed and wanted to hear my daddy say.

I know he's looking out for me. I know he's ok. I know he loved me and there is no one I loved or will ever love as much as my dad.

I really don't talk about this stuff with people. I'm a person that internalizes everything. I work everything out in my brain. Just me, myself, and I trying to solve everything and put the pieces back together.

However, I know that a few people who read TOL have lost someone they love as well. I guess this is my strange way of saying that it will and does get better in time. 

It's a real bitch watching the clock tick and waiting for the good. But it does come. It'll hit you when you least expect it. And when it does, it sure as hell feels good.

It all sounds so easy and cliché... but nothing is ever easy. Losing someone you love is the worst. All you can do is remember the amazing times, the happy memories, and that they aren't gone. They are in you and every person they knew.

And sometimes, they'll be there in your dreams to tell you that they are proud. It's all I needed.

In my senior year of high school I had to write a senior will and create the "soundtrack to my life". I needed a few songs for every year that I was in school. As a music lover, it was almost painful picking a mere 12-15 songs to define my life. Twelve songs aren't enough to define my hour car ride from college to my hometown. Somehow, though, I managed to squeeze songs that meant something to me on one mix tape.

It has just struck me that someone had already done some of the work for me: Now That's What I Call Music!

I'd like to reminisce and check out Now! volume 1.

Volume 1:
• I'm pretty sure when I heard Marcy Playground's "Sex & Candy," I felt like such a badass. Keep in mind, that when the first Now! was released in 1998, I was only 9. So singing the word "sex" induced a plethora of giggles.

• Hanson- "MmmBop" - There really are no words for how crazy I was for Hanson. I wanted to marry Zac and have many little drummer babies. I had their faces plastered on my walls. At Christmas, I decided that Sinatra and Bing Crosby weren't cool enough, and only played the Hanson Christmas album. No lie.

• Backstreet Boys- "As Long As You Love Me" - To this day I will always love the Backstreet Boys. ALL of my friends were N*Syncers, but not me. KTBSPA. This was the second CD I ever bought with my OWN money. (Ace of Base was first HAH!)

• Fastball- "The Way"- I loved this song. Little did I know, I was singing about an elderly couple that went on a vacation to never return because their camper went over a cliff. Ahh to be young and naive...

• Aqua- "Barbie Girl"- This was a slumber party anthem. I now play it to annoy people of the male gender, while my girl friends insist on running around singing with their voices an octave higher than normal. However, back in the day, men and women alike rocked out to Ken and Barbie. At least they did in... what, the 3rd grade?

• K-Ci & JoJo- "All My Life"- I'm pretty sure this was playing during my first ever slow dance. Touching right? haha
 
They are up to Now! 30 and I can see that my choice in music is becoming increasingly less mainstream. The songs I now squeal, "YO! THIS IS MY JAM!!!" are not found on the new compilations of what is "cool" today. There are a few exceptions, of course. Now! 30 does have some Jason Mraz and AAR. But, I guess I discovered in the 11 years of Now! that the radio is not what it's all about, and that a lot of good music is hidden away or written before my time...

 
If only I could take over the radio, and have them play the songs that I love.

But man... I sure did love listening to Now That's What I Call Music back then!

Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think that it's treason
So you had better do as you are told
You better listen to the radio

I wanna bite the hand that feeds me
I wanna bite that hand so badly
I want to make them wish they'd never seen me
-Elvis Costello- "Radio Radio"

+A

Woah... what's this? A video blog!?

Let's talk diabeetusss.

It happens...

I’ve been described as a person who is easy to make smile. However, there’s only a few things that can arouse a genuine, shit-eating grin on my face. I can say that Friday night, my cheek muscles got a work out. 

There is nothing better than when you see one of your favorite bands in an intimate setting, and they put on one hell of a performance. There were slip-ups, forgotten lyrics, but you are so in tuned with the music, with the crowd’s reaction, that it doesn’t matter. If anything it makes it better. Deep down inside you know that there will never be another show like this. Those mess ups make your night a rarity. That’s live music, baby. Perfection in the imperfection. 

There’s no glitz, no glamour. It’s just you, the band, and the music.

I get that genuine smiile when, during a song, my body unconsciously starts to sway. I only notice myself moving to the music when it’s half way through and my friends are laughing at me from behind. The music literally moves me. It has taken over my body.

I get shivers whenever an amazing guitar solo wails its way from the steady fingers of the guitarist to my ears. It vibrates its way through my body and sits in my stomach, growling and grumbling, like I’m hungry for more. When it ends, you still feel the music in your gut; Full from the solo’s deliciousness.

Lost in the music. My eyes are trapped on the way the bands fingers move on the guitars and keys, and the flailing arms of the drummer. I develop musical tunnel vision. I am point A, they are point B. Nothing comes between me and the music. If they look my way, they are one hundred person looking at me. The other gyrating bodies don’t count, they are playing for me.

In the end, you leave the venue with ears ringing and a new found adrenaline rush. The music makes you invincible.

There’s no better feeling.

I got those live music shivers on Friday thanks to The Click Five.

Where will Anshalee be tomorrow night?

a. A ballroom dancing class learning how to tango

b. Helping Jack Bauer save the world

c. At The Space in Hamden, CT getting her socks rocked off by The Click Five

I must say that all 3 options intrigue me greatly. However, as a college student I have learned: when in doubt, choose C. In this case, it works like a charm. Are you going to be at the show? If yes, look for me. I'd love a little chit chat amongst TOLers.

Implicit Association Tests

Check out these tests. I had to do a few for my psychology class, but they are pretty interesting. They are used to test attitudes based off of speedy, unconscious judgments. The results I got surprised me. Some showed that I had biases I never knew I would have. I don't believe these tests are truly accurate, but they get you thinking.

One test I did had this result: Your data suggests a strong automatic preference for Barack Obama over John McCain. 

Read me like a book.

+A

I ask myself

Is all hope lost?

Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,

There's one thing I wanna know:

What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh

What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walked on

Through troubled times

My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes

So where are the strong

And who are the trusted?

And where is the harmony?

Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.

What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh

What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

So where are the strong?

And who are the trusted?

And where is the harmony?

Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.

What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh

What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh

What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

--Nick Lowe- (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding

You know a good song, when decades later, it’s still revelant.

I’m a journalism major. I’ve been spending these past two years in college reading about all of these journalists that broke the mold. Then my professor makes me read their work. 

Just like a good song, their articles are still relevant.

The power of words, whether in the form of a harmony or the black and white print of a newspaper, gives me chills.

Literal literary goosebumps.

Maybe one day TOL will be studied. Arguably, bloggers are the journalists of the next generation. 

Will my words be relevant decades later?

Man, wouldn't that be great?

“. . . I dont listen to the radio just the engine and the road, I wonder if my words are makin' any difference . . .”

--The Click Five

 +A

It’s amazing how one little chromosome can change your life.

Last night I went into Boston to visit a good friend in the hospital. He, like fellow One Lover Bethany, has cystic fibrosis. Fortunately, he will be ok and is getting released today!

It just really baffles me how one minescule piece of a cell can cause someone so much grief. About 30,000 people have cystic fibrosis in the United States, and 1 in every 31 Americans are carriers of the defective gene. 

That’s a good number of people, and if any of these people are like my friend, they’re some of the best friends a person could find.

I really encourage you all to check out the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and consider volunteering. I checked out the walks in the Massachusetts area because I know we have several New England One Lovers. I was thinking maybe we could set up a team for a walk. Most of them are held in mid-May, so us college students should be free. :) If anyone is interested, let me know. Maybe we can make this happen.

If you want more information check out this site: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

And if you want to find a walk in your area, try here: Great Strides

-A

This video has taken over my life.

Why do I find it absolutely hilarious? I'm not sure.

Why do I watch it every free second I have? I'm not sure.

All I know is that it makes me laugh ridiculously hard.

And I love every moment of it.

Also, I'm pretty sure this is me as a child... ok, it's me now.

+A

I've been published again! Woot woot! Yes, it's only my college's online publication, but it's still a pretty huge thing for the beginning of my journalism career.

I did a small piece and a half hour interview with two of the guys from the band quarterlifeCRISiS. Shameless plug. They're good. Go listen.

I won't lie, I'm pretty proud of myself for making this story happen. I guess you could say that I can be all talk. I'm a shy person with great ambition. Often times the two don't work in harmony, leaving me with a great headline, and no story to back it up. But I did it. Excuse me while I pat my own back.

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In other news, I discovered that although I'm a person that wants everyone to like me, and I want to like everyone, it's not always possible. I'm a big believer in the give and take. Karma, if you will. Though, I've seen that not everyone shares that belief. They are always right, and you are always wrong. No exception. Compromise is a word far too low in their vocabulary. It's frustrating. It has me wondering what I did wrong. It has me wanting to apologize for something that I have no recollection of doing. But today I plan to take the words of legendary news anchor Ron Burgundy to heart: "Agree to disagree." My morals will not allow me to give in to your verbal abuse.

So I agree to disagree. I can't change your mind. Let us go, civilly, on our own ways. 

And thanks for being stubborn. You taught me a grander lesson than getting my way or the highway. I hope you can learn something from this too.

+A

Have you ever seen Wayne’s World? Yes? Well then remember that part when Wayne and Garth meet Alice Cooper... “We’re not worthy! We’re scum!” ... Well, that pretty much describes how I feel about blogging on The One Love. I’m not worthy. I’m scum. But boy is it nice to be in the presence of all you awesome bloggers. I’m honored.

I really wanted my first post to be exceedingly witty and epic, but as I am one of the new kids on the block, let me introduce myself first...

My name is Wayne Campbell. I live in Aurora, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago — excellent. I've had plenty of joe-jobs, nothing I'd call a career. Let me put it this way: I have an extensive collection of nametags and hairnets. OK, so I still live with my parents, which I admit is both bogus and sad. However I do have a cable access show — and I still know how to party...

HAH! But really... Hi, I’m Anshalee. 

I am no longer a teenager as of yesterday. There were a whopping 20 candles on my birthday cake. I’ve lived in Massachusetts my entire life. I say I’m from Boston, but really I’ve just loved it with every fiber of my being from approximately 30 minutes away. I can say my R’s, but when I’m tired my R’s do tend to end up as “ahhs”. Wicked is a word that I use a wicked lot. 

I was born into a family that was not musically inclined. My singing voice is similar to a dying goat. However, while my vocal chords fail, my ears were destined to listen. My dad was the man responsible for my overwhelming love of music. He developed synthesizers for Kurzweil, and was a sound engineer for the likes of Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, Van Halen, the Moody Blues, and a few others. I brag about this frequently because I think it’s rather neat. My childhood consisted of long hippie road trips to Vermont with Roy Orbison, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd blaring from our little Honda. As for my taste in music now, well, it’s a melting pot of a ton of random stuff and it grows daily.

This is my bro and I on one of those infamous Vermont trips. :)

I’m your typical college student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where I’m a journalism major. I’d like to cover sports, music, and things that generally just make me go “yeah man!” I write for my school’s online publication, The Amherst Wire. It’s a new site, and I’m thoroughly excited to start my new endeavor, the local music beat. Are you a musician playing the Amherst/Northampton area? Let me know!

Hmmm... what else? I’m Thai and Italian. This tends to stump people. They think I’m everything but Thai and Italian. I’m ridiculously sarcastic and often times confuse the hell out of people that do not share my sarcasm. I love to laugh. I love to dance. I love to yell at the tv during Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics games. Oh, and I’m a big lover of food. The other day my best friend heard a girl say that she could not have a panini for lunch because she had an english muffin for breakfast. That girl was and will never be me. I’m a big concert goer. I love going to shows no matter how big the venue, but small ones are my favorite. If you see me at a Click Five or Atomic Tom show, come say hi. I love meeting new people.

Lastly, thanks to Cassie for asking me to blog! It really is an honor to be a part of this!

And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to Ben Romans. You’re the reason I found The One Love and you’re a big inspiration.

I can’t wait to blog some more :)

+Anshalee