The Sound of Music

Let’s talk music. One of my true passions in life. Brings happiness to my heart. I cannot go without it. And I have a pretty extensive catalog. You could say that I collect it. Not one genre for me, I enjoy just about all music. (Excluding most mainstream country, hip-hop, rap, & techno). My parents gifted me at an early age with good music in the house. My father was a real music lover and his styles were all over the place. He liked classical, new age, rock, modern & folk. I miss making him copies of albums that I enjoyed. He would call me and we would talk about the music. He passed onto me a love for music and I can’t thank him enough for it. And I can’t ignore the influence my mom had on me. We would watch MTV & VH1 together. I absolutely loved music videos growing up. And while my dad wasn’t into pop music, my mom was. Some of the music from the 80’s I think isn’t very good. But I still get nostalgic over some of those silly tunes. So growing up, we had a lot of music in our house.

I also write & record my own music. When I was young my uncle gave my father a guitar. He taught me some chords to play. It was a fun “toy” at the time, but as children tend to do I eventually grew bored and moved on to other activities. I ignored the instrument for years, and then in my mid-twenties I reconnected with it. I found playing guitar to be very therapeutic. I started out recording only multi-tracked instrumentals. When I was taking a poetry class in college it seemed that many of the poems I wrote could also accompany the music I wrote. It became a relaxing hobby. And I’ve recorded a good deal of songs. I still enjoy it to this day, though I don’t play as often as I’d like. But the songs I have recorded are windows to my past that if ever desired I can revisit. All thanks to music.

Sharing music with friends is also such a joy. To relate with someone over song. And what about that feeling when one of your favorite artist releases new material. The anticipation leading up to the release. The excitement when you are first able to give it a spin. To soak it in. The different textures you notice on subsequent listens. Or when you hear a song that’s evaded you for years. The memories that surge forward in that moment. The emotions that it evokes. Goosebumps! It’s a powerful thing, music.

Let me step back a bit. Not all music is equal, at least to me. The so called “music” my dear wife plays in the mornings makes me want to cry. I’ve never been a morning person. The morning alarm is my enemy. Always has been. The struggle I undergo just to pull myself out of bed. The tremendous effort it takes for me to make it to the coffee. And once the caffeine begins to bring a little spark to my mind, the realization that I’m only up so I can go to work and spend 8 or so hours listening to a mad Llama speak nonstop hits me like a brick to the head. It’s heartbreaking. I sulk on the couch. Then I hear the beats coming from down the hallway. Snoop Dog, Drake, 2Pac, NWA, Ice Cube, Nikki Minaj, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Deadmaus, & lots of techno… Those are only the ones I recognize. What is already a rather torturous moment has now just become nearly unbearable. I wince to myself and proceed with my day all the while loathing the song that will be stuck with me for hours. What a way to start the day.

It’s not fair of me to say that her morning music makes my ears bleed. Music is subjective. What sounds like pots & pans banging together to me might sound like Mozart to someone else. And while she does listen to abominable music to my morning ears, she does share a lot of the same taste as I do. I might not like her “let’s get amped!” music, but it’s another thing that makes Bekah, Bekah. And I wouldn’t ask for anything else. Besides, maybe it’s my ears that are not as refined because I don’t like rap in the morning? I mean, Kanye West sales millions of records. Millions of people can’t be wrong, can they?

When we began dating I would make her mix CDs, some of which have still survived to this day. Music was something that we bonded over. We still have music nights at the house where we don’t have the TV on and we just jam out. Love those nights. We play the music that we both like. The music that brings us together. That’s one of the fantastic things about music. Music is for everyone. And different styles are there for your different moods & settings. Had a long day at work and want to relax while I cook, let’s hear some piano and strings. Experiencing road rage because some a** just pulled out in front of me, how about some punk music with heavy distortion. Feel like punishing myself for past indiscretions, let’s put on some hip-hop. There is never a moment that I can’t find the right music for my mood. And if all else fails I can always rely on the Sirius reggae station to never let me down.

What would the world be like without music, I ask? How would you feel without it? Think of the times in history where music played an important role. It’s been a rallying call for soldiers on the battlefields for centuries. It brought people together in times of trouble. Stories have been passed down generations through song. Without it the world would be a different place. A boring place. So go listen to some music. Please play a song that makes you happy. Because that’s what it’s all about, happiness.

Hazel and her funny ears.
Red Nose Day
Does this tree resemble something?

Jalapeño

Grilled chicken with country gravy topped with my favorite pepper. I know most people would think this meal should feature fried chicken. I don’t really care for fried foods. This is a light alternative. And really, to my taste, the better way to serve this meal.

Tikka Masala. I don’t know why I don’t make this more often. It’s so easy to prepare and it taste so good. One of two of the Indian cuisines that I know how to prepare. Maybe I should venture out.

Spaghetti squash w/ spicy meat sauce. I was going to originally make meatballs but got lazy. Had my sister-in-law over for dinner. She seemed really impressed. I worried that the massive jalapeños I put in the sauce would have been too hot for her. Does anyone else put jalapeño in spaghetti sauce?

Chicken Yakitori, which translates to chicken on a stick. This is the only meal I use chicken thighs with. I just don’t care for them. They are too greasy. This meal is the only exception. A very good Japanese dish. I let the chicken marinate in a soy, hoisin, sriracha, ginger mix for 48 hours. Delicious! And I’m kind of stuck on roast broccoli.