My intern just sent me a link to this awesome trailer… Toy Story 3: Inception!!!

It is a combination of trailers for both movies.  It’s pretty cool (and slightly freaky) to see how well they fit with each other

Enjoy!

As always, I am deeply moved whenever I am reminded of the sacrifices made for me and my freedoms.  I would never ask for anyone to give up their life for mine, and so I am grateful for those who have and for those who were willing.  This video is more than just touching.  It is beautiful.  Thank you to all of those who have sacrificed for my freedoms.

(You can watch it here, but it will be bigger if you watch it directly on YouTube)

So today I went onto a website to read an article about a new word Sarah Palin said: “refudiate” (should have been refute or repudiate).

The article was not that interesting.  The story has no bearing on anything.  But the hatred and rhetoric in the comments were absolutely ridiculous.

People are so quick to judge others, and they’re even more quick to vilify anyone that doesn’t agree with them or share the same labels.

I wish people would calm down and try to understand each other better.  The majority of people in the USA want the same things.  If we could just have some good honest conversations about what we want and how to get there I think we actually could get there.  Unfortunately, the hate, fear-mongering, contempt, and blindness stifle any kind of productive communication.

So yesterday was indeed my birthday.  Thank you to everyone who helped make it special by sending me birthday wishes on Facebook, via text, over the phone, in person, or in your heart.  I could feel it all and it helped me have a wonderful day.

Also, special thanks to Julie for putting together the dinner and movie plans: California Pizza Kitchen (yum) and Inception (great movie).

Overall, it was an awesome day. 

This was me in the morning… (sorry I look so sad and/or mean lol… I didn’t feel that way).

My 2010 Birthday Morning

And as a birthday bonus to you… this is a funny spoof on the Old Spice commercials from my Alma Mater.  Thanks to Lyle for sending it my way…

Has anyone else noticed how guilt-ridden our world is these days?

Guilt seems to be one of the top driving forces.  I want you to do something, so I guilt you into doing it.  You feel guilty, so you do it, even though you’d rather not.

What a pathetic and pitiful way to live–for both the guilter and the guilty.

The worst part is that so many of us don’t realize it’s happening, but know something is not right when it does.

So I was driving into work this morning and the music on the music stations just wasn’t cutting it.  The same songs as always… boring.

So I switched over to the AM stations (I know I know) and listened to some guy sitting in for Rush Limbaugh (his name was Mark something from Wisconsin I think).  He read an article from Michael G. Franc that has me angry, frustrated, and worried.

I don’t normally talk about politics on this blog (and don’t feel like I’m doing so now), but I do care about the nation I live in.  I also care about the freedom’s I have, and I will speak out when I see my way of life being threatened.

This article (go here to read it… I hope you do, everyone in America should) made me so angry that our politicians and leaders could be so reckless with the power we’ve given them.  Don’t they understand that if they screw up America they screw it up for themselves too?

Well, I finally realized something about myself.  I don’t think working out is fun.

In fact, I’ve found that keeping a consistent workout schedule is hard, especially if I don’t change it up a lot.  (I get bored)  In the last 10 months I’ve changed my workout schedule almost once a month.

Most recently it was P90X… super good workouts, but super boring, especially when done by myself.

So, I’m trying to find something that’s fun and a workout.  My newest idea:  Kung Fu.

This week I covered Closer by Ne-Yo.  I used to hear this song on the radio and I was never sure who sang it but I always loved it.  So, I have decided to do my own acoustic version.  I hope you enjoy

This week I decided to cover Mad World.  This song was originally written and performed by Tears for Fears, and has since been covered by Gary Jules (on the Donnie Darko soundtrack) and Adam Lambert (on American Idol).  Here I give you my acoustic version.

Mad World
Written by Roland Orzabal

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to takeWhen people run in circles it’s a very, very
Mad World, Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it’s a very, very
Mad World
Mad World

Enlarging your world
Mad World

This week I covered a song by George Michael called Careless Whisper.  (I actually never knew that was its name till this week… I always referred to it as Never Gonna Dance Again).  Either way, this song has one of the most memorable saxophone riffs in history, and was super successful.  I read this week that it went #1 in 25 different countries.  It is an excellent song.  I hope you enjoy my version of it.

Careless Whisper
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley

I feel so unsure as I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor.
As the music dies something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen and all its sad goodbyes.

Chorus
I’m never gonna dance again
guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it’s easy to pretend
I know you’re not a fool.
I should have known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I’d been given.
So I’m never gonna dance again
the way I danced with you.

Time can never mend the careless whispers of a good friend.
To the heart and mind ignorance is kind.
There’s no comfort in the truth, pain is all you’ll find.

Chorus

Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd.
Maybe it’s better this way
We’d hurt each other with the things we want to say.
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now who’s gonna dance with me? – Please stay.

Chorus

No dance
no dance
no dance
you’re gone – no dance
you’re gone.
This matter is so wrong
so wrong
that you had lo leave me alone.