Friday, December 26, 2008

The life I love is makin' music with my friends....

So, I'm a huge Dylan fan, and if anyone else is, you'd know that from the title of my blog. I've also always been a fan of the Beatles, and Tom Petty too. (I secretly think he's pretty sexy, haha) but I have to say I was really taken aback when I watched a DVD my mom had received for Christmas.

I've always liked the music of the Traveling Wilburys, but I didn't really realize what they were all about and how cool they actually were. They were a bunch of famous guys who got together to just jam. Amazing music came out of it, and it wasn't ever really meant to be like a huge thing, and to tell you the truth it probably wasn't as big as it should have been.



These guys got together and made music for fun. There was a part of the documentary that talked about how they played ukuleles until three in the morning, just laughing and having fun.

Who does this remind me of. I am in NO way trying talent on this level to anything I've ever done, but honestly, I just found so much joy in the fact that these rich, famous and powerful men found true joy and made beautiful art just sittin' around being silly with their friends. It made me happy, because I could relate to being the happiest when making music with those that I love. <3




And even though they did alot of really meaningful and beautiful stuff, it all came from being silly, like this:



Folk my Life needs to do some music videos, hahaha. <3

Thursday, December 25, 2008

And so this is Christmas....

Happy Holiday to you, whether it be Christmas, Family Day, or as my jew crew likes to call it, "Chinese Food and Movie Day." If you celebrate a different holiday around this time of year, Happy Hanukkah, and lots of wishes for blessed Imani in the new year!

This has to have been one of the best Christmases I can remember in a long, LONG time.

My family is not one that constantly showers each other with love. We know it's there, we know we love each other, but it's hard for alot of the people in my family to show it, I think. At any rate, this was the first Christmas in a long time that we actually spent time with each other. We hung out and ate, opened presents, played games and cards all night, and pretty much laughed until we exploded.



I got so many beautiful things for Christmas, but my favorites thus far have to be the body pillow that I really wanted, a bottle of Goddess, some cute clothes and cozies, KUNG FU PANDA, and the book that Norman got me called "101 Things You—and John McCain—Didn't Know about Sarah Palin."



I can't even write the funniest happening of the night in here, because it's god AWFUL. I guess I can write a bit of it. I got my dad the game, "Are you smarter than a Fifth Grader" as a gift and we decided we were gonna play. I was quizzing him and Norman, and as one of his English questions, he got, "In the rhyme Eeeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo" which animal do you catch by it's toe?"



Now, something you might want to know about my Dad as you read this is that he's a really funny guy. But he's not all that talkative most of the time, and he's pretty conservative in the things he says and does. He's really a riot and a half, and I just have to say that he's one of the sweetest and kindest men on the planet. He is an no way racist or prejudiced at ALL. This is what makes this SO FUNNY.

Apparently, when my father grew up in River Rouge, "back in the day" as they say, the lyrics to that little rhyme were a little different. You didn't catch a tiger by the toe in those days, it was something else that started with an N...nice huh? My Dad is almost 60 years old, so as you can see, those were much different times.

So, I ask my Dad this question and he BURSTS out laughing. He can't even handle it. He's had like three or four drinks at this point, and he's laughing so hard that he's red in the face and crying and none of us know why. When Norman and I ask him what the hell he's laughing about, he can hardle muster up the composure to tell us what the answer to that riddle would have been when he was growing up. All he could say was, "I'M SO SORRY" in between choking back tears of laughter. This will probably remain one of my favorite memories of my father for my entire life. It was so fricking HILARIOUS.

So, the night goes on, we play some cards, and we're all laughing like mad at the silliest little things. It was such a good time. I was feelin' it too. I couldn't even shuffle the cards or put them back in the box by the time the mad rounds of crazy eights were over.

The last big hurrah of the night was my Dad deciding we should all text message everyone we knew "Merry Christmas" and, as I've said before, he's pushin' 60 so his texting skills aren't exactly swift. He finally types in all of these number he wants to send his message too, begins to type in his message "M-e-r-r-y space..." and accidentally hits send. He sent "Merry" to everyone he knew at 12 am. My father was drunk texting. We laughed so hard, we cried again and we called all of our cousins in Arizona and got them in on the fun. We've spent the day texting each other "merry" and "Christmas" separately. :)


This year has been such a busy whirlwind of happiness and joy, business and fun, craziness and healing, and this Christmas was a perfect start to the end of a year. I am so blessed to have such a great "family." I put that in quotes because beyond my blood relatives, I am blessed with amazing people who've become my blood. Thanks to everyone I know for being such beacons of light and joy in my life.

And, Happy Birthday to Jesus, the ultimate rebel, the zombie prince, and a man who simply had a beautiful message. Lovelovelove each other. No matter what you define yourself as, and I don't define myself as a follower of Christ, you have to give it to him - he had the right idea. <3 Hank, of the vlogbrothers (my favorite youtube thing ever) wrote a lovely song for the occasion. :)

I love EMILY K

My roommate is one of the most beautiful, talented, loving and just simply amazing people to ever walk this earth. She wrote this beautiful note and I wanted to remember it forever.

Emily K, God sent people like you to this world to prove that love is real.

____________________________________________________________________________________
I hope everyone has a magical night tonight!
whether it be spent with your family... your friends... whomever you choose!

I want to take a couple minutes to tell each and every one of you how thankful I am for you, and how blessed I am to know you. I wish I could send everyone personal messages expressing my thanks and love, but that's not possible.
I have an intense traditional game of monopoly just waiting to be won! With that, I just have a few things I want to say to you wonderful peoples:

I know the past few years have been tough for all of us, whether we are burned with financial issues, schooling, work, deaths, location changes, growth, change, change change, ect. But I hope you find peace and comfort in today and tomorrow. I'm not usually one to only practice things on certain days, but there is something about Christmas Eve and Christmas that is so magical, so different. It's awesome to see so many people reaching out to those less fortunate. I think selflessness is one of the most attractive qualities in a person. To see so many people loving on eachother and putting differences aside is just incredible. I feel really positive about this season and this upcoming year. It's going to be an exciting one for all of us! Marriages, children, graduations, grad school, REAL JOBS... ahhhh it's crazy how time flies after you graduate high school, isn't it? I have learned so much about myself and the world within the past few years it's insane. The most important thing I have learned is that we should never hold back how we feel. We should never be afraid to tell someone if they hurt our feelings, or if we are worried or concerned for them. That's love. Sometimes it's tough love, but still love altogether. I know sometimes things are taken out of context, but believe me, honesty is the key to healthy and successful relationships. Also, do not ever be afraid to tell someone how much they mean to you. Words can do so much for a person. You never know, you could turn someone's life upside down with a simple "hello" or by saying "you mean so much to me." It's so nice to know that you are loved and appreciated, so make sure you do your best to express that to those around you. Rekindle old friendships over coffee or hot chocolate, spend some quality time with your family. Tis the season! And another thing, if someone compliments you, PLEASE ACCEPT IT! Don't shoot it down or shrug it off. You are so worth praise. You are making an impact in someone's life and they are taking the time to show admiration and appreciation for you. Just deal with the fact that you are awesome in the sight of someone else! I owe so much of myself to so many of you, and you know who you are. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. Thank you for having patience with me and MOST importantly for loving me. I consider myself the luckiest girl on the planet. You are all incredible.


Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season!
You are all incredible blessings and I love you all very much.

STAY WARM!
Emily

And now i leave you with a clip from one of the best Christmas movies ever.

Monday, December 22, 2008

This has me miffed.

Why don't we stop worrying about race, gender, party affiliation or what-the-eff-ever and worry about the frickin' ISSUES. Why can't we look at the great ideas these people have; we could look at what they've done and will do. I'm so sick of "I'm with him cuz he's black, or she's a woman, or he's a veteren."

Sheesh and a half, people. This world needs to grow up a bit and stop acting like high school cliques. By the way, it's women like these that make us look bad.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/22/women.cabinet/index.html

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- What's made up of five women, four African-Americans, three Latinos, two Republicans and two Asians, including a Nobel Prize winner?

A poll shows 71 percent of Americans approve of Barack Obama picking Hillary Clinton for secretary of state.

The answer: President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet.

Obama is taking the big-tent approach to governing and wanted a Cabinet that stretches the tent wide.

"I think people will feel that we followed through on our commitment to make sure that this is not only an administration that is diverse ethnically, but it's also diverse politically and it's diverse in terms of people's life experience," Obama said December 16.

It might be diverse, but not everyone is happy. Some women's groups are disappointed. Among Obama's strongest backers during the election, they now say they don't have enough seats at the table.

That's because of Obama's 20 announced Cabinet-level posts, five went to women: Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as homeland security secretary, Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Rep. Hilda Solis as labor secretary, Susan Rice as United Nations ambassador and Lisa Jackson as Environmental Protection Agency chief. Watch more on what it takes to get a job with the Obama administration »

"When you are looking at a Cabinet and you have such a small number of women in the room when the big decisions are being made, there need to be a lot more women's voices in this administration," said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women.

Bill Clinton and President Bush each had a comparable number of women in their first Cabinets, but women's groups say they hoped they'd make progress.

Don't Miss
Commentary: Obama picks show merit of diversity
Most approve of Obama's Cabinet picks, poll shows
Obama rolls out national security team
Amy Siskind, co-founder of the nonpartisan group New Agenda, accuses Obama of taking "shocking steps backward" and said "this constituency does not matter to the president-elect."

Obama has said he's picking people for their skills and not pandering to special interests.

"In this case, we have seen Obama emphasize credentials," said Anne Kornblut of The Washington Post. "I think they obviously knew they would get a lot of bang for their buck, so to speak, in appointing Clinton, but at the end of the day, the numbers really aren't any more impressive than any previous president."

But a national poll released December 3 suggests that Americans think Obama's getting it right when it comes to his Cabinet picks, especially in choosing Clinton and keeping Defense Secretary Robert Gates on.

Seventy-five percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey approve of Obama's Cabinet choices, with 22 percent disapproving.

That's 16 points higher than those in favor of President-elect Bush's Cabinet picks eight years ago.

The poll indicates that 71 percent approve of Obama picking Clinton for secretary of state. Democrats overwhelmingly approve of the choice, with two-thirds of independents agreeing and Republicans evenly split on the pick.

But it's not just women who are angry with Obama's choices. Other factions in the Democratic Party are, too.

Many gay and lesbian supporters are irate over Obama choosing Pastor Rick Warren to lead the invocation at the historic January 20 inauguration.

Warren, one of the most influential religious leaders in the nation, has championed issues such as a reducing global poverty, promoting human rights and fighting the AIDS epidemic.

But the founder of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, has also adhered to socially conservative stances -- including his opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights -- that put him at odds with many in the Democratic Party, especially the party's most liberal wing. Watch more about the Warren controversy »

"[It's] shrewd politics, but if anyone is under any illusion that Obama is interested in advancing gay equality, they should probably sober up now," political commentator Andrew Sullivan wrote on the Atlantic Web site last week.

Some progressives, meanwhile, are also disappointed that Obama has tapped moderates for key positions.

People for the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert told CNN that she is "deeply disappointed" about the choice of Warren and said the powerful platform at the inauguration should instead have been given to someone who has "consistent mainstream American values."

Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for Obama, defended the choice of Warren, saying, "This is going to be the most inclusive, open, accessible inauguration in American history." iReport.com: What do you think about Obama's cabinet picks?

"The president-elect certainly disagrees with him on [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] issues," Douglass said. "But it has always been his goal to find common ground with people with whom you may disagree on some issues."

So the questions are: Has he made the tent too big? And does he risk alienating his core supporters before he's even taken office?

Baby, It's Cold Outside!



Here's a little video of us getting ready to record, in my room. Doesn't it look sweet as a recording studio?

Check out our stuff at Http://www.myspace.com/folkmylife

This time, we recorded "Baby it's Cold Outside" and if I could figure out how to get the right html in here, I'd just have it on here. Check it out on the myspace though, add us, and let us know what you think! :)

Zoo Lights!

We had such a blast at the Toledo Zoo's "Lights before Christmas" this year. They were sooo pretty as always, and you know us, we have fun where ever we go. :)



There's us driving down, serenaded by Shane's beautiful voice.



One of the best parts of the night was getting to see Emily and Mike! Sweet Baby James too! :) You can really see how pretty the lights are in this one.



Shane was trying to go back to the future in this one.



This is my favorite part! I love the dancing lights! Shane was pretty bummed that they didn't play Linus and Lucy. This was also a big shout out to Pooks who had to miss this this year. :(



We tried to find Santa but first we found trains (THOMAS!!!) and dinosaurs. It was warm and toasty in here. :)



We were leaving the very fun time. The very cold time, but fun time. :) We drove home and stopped by my parent's, then the boys went to Zorba's and I chilled for a bit. After that, we watched Eight Crazy Nights and laughed our asses off. Davey and I watched the Critic afterward, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna make him watch the whole series. :)


I love my friends, and I love the Holiday season! :)
I love any excuse to take special trips!!!!







Let it snow? ....not so much.



I made this video the other night for my cousins who live in Arizona. This was post Steak and Shake with Marni and Chris, so obviously I could get out, and to tell you the truth the snow was way worse after it, but I wanted to show them what the snow in Michigan is actually like. I love that people in other states are so excited about seeing snow and we are so bitter towards it. Driving in it is awful and the cold is pretty gross right now, but sometimes I just stop and look and think...wow, how pretty is this. :)

Monday, December 15, 2008

A survey about this year!

Where​ did you begin​ 2008?​
At Jamie and Mike's with good friends in 80's garb.

What was your statu​s by Valen​tine'​s Day?
Single, surprise surprise.

Did you have to go to the hospi​tal?​
Just to see a couple of babies that were born!

Did you have any encou​nters​ with the polic​e?​
On the fourth of July, as always, haha. My first speeding ticket, but I got out of it. :)

Where​ did you go on vacat​ion?​
CHICAGO! CHICAGO! That old toddelin' town. One of the best vacations EVER.

Embar​resse​d yours​elf?​
I embarrass myself constantly.

Did you know anybo​dy who got marri​ed?​
Chris and Laura tied the hell out of that knot. :)

What sport​ing event​s did you atten​d?​
Kickball and Broomball baby!

What conce​rts/​shows​ did you go to?
I cannot remember. Shit. I went and saw Foo Fighters for sure, lots of local stuff, I went and saw Avenue Q? haha...I cannot remember!

Descr​ibe your birth​day:​
HILARITY. My birthday is always the best day of the year. :) We went to Mongo with lots and went on a bar crawl with a few and somehow it ended up as Kareoke (which isn't really my style) but was a blast and a half!

What'​s the one thing​ you thoug​ht you would​ never​ do but did in 2008?​
MOVE OUT!
Well, I knew I'd do it eventually, but not right now.

What have been your favor​ite momen​ts?​
Feeling closer to my family.
Moving into a great place with a great friend.
Spending time with Meagan, Emily Bajorek, and other people I don't get to see very often but love with all of my heart.
Crying in Shannon's car leading to me going to therapy.
CHICAGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Watching people give graciously to a family in need even though the economy blows.

Any new addit​ions to your famil​y?​
Twinsies in Arizona! :) Riley and Brooke, and metaphorically, definitely.

What was your best month​?
I can't really pick one. They all had their ups and downs, but August/September was pretty good. :)

Who has been your best drink​ing buddy​?​
I have many. Jonthan had to be one of my favorites! I had way too much fun at the Gymboree Christmas party too! :)

Made new close​ frien​ds?​
I don't know how I survived this life without people like Courtney Davidson, Katie Linenfelser, Amber Walsh, Emily Porter, Tim Middleton and all of my great Rocky friends, my therapist, Emilee Brewer and just everyone new I've met. It's been a great year for new friends!

Favor​ite night​s out?
Trips to Solero, Pub 13 birthdays, Dancing at McGeady's, MY birthday!

Any regre​ts?​
I try not to regret, but I can think of a few

What do you want to chang​e in 2009?​
Where my priorities lie. I might need to pick up another job, and I'd like to work on me as a physical and mental being.

Over a​ll,​ how would​ you rate this year on a scale​ of 1-5?
We'll call it a 3.9.

Have any life chang​es in 2008?​
I moved out for the first time ever, and it felt pretty great, I'd say.

Chang​e your hairs​tyle?​
Yeah I cut it a little shaggier and dyed it like...burgandy hahah

Get a new job?
Yes, I switched the employers but stayed in the same field, haha.

Do you have a New Year'​s resol​ution​?​
dedication!

Get marri​ed or divor​ced?​
No

Be hones​t,​ did you watch​ Ameri​can Idol?​
Nope, but I did watch Reynaldo. He's the man!

Start​ a new hobby​?​
Living on my own has been pretty time consuming, haha. I love it though!

Been snowb​oardi​ng?​
Not this year.

Are you happy​ to see 2008 go?
Mostly only because I'm excited for the future. :)

Been naugh​ty or nice?​
Mostly nice.

What are you wishi​ng for in 2009?​
Inspiration, and some money to pay off debts. (I know that sounds a little greedy, but hey, it's the truth!)

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Here's to Alpha Phi Omega, loyal brothers we...

So, I resigned my position as pledge educator. It's bittersweet, to say the least. I said everything I needed to say to everyone I needed to say it to, I think, and I feel very confident, yet still sad, about my decision.



Sheesh, lots of people left stuff at banquet. :)



Kourtney's phone was held hostage in the hallway!



Someone made a comment on this video saying it's the corniest thing they've ever seen. It bet it might seem corny to someone who's never felt the love in a room like I feel when I am with my brothers. The toast circle always gives me the tinglies, because it's a great big circle of connection to people who share the same ideals and drives in life that I do. Also, I always stand by Meagan and Emily...Meagan so I can hear her lovely singing and Emily so I can get my booty smacked. :)

I guess it might seem corny if you've never been a part of the magic of APO. That's ok. I don't care what people think. The feeling I get when I know that my brothers and I are making a difference in the world is way more important to me than what people think.

I will miss being the PE, but I am so proud of my Fall 2008 babies! Love you all! <3

Deck the Halls with Vampire Santas, fa lalalala lalalala :)



Check out our pretty Christmas decorations! It's beginning to look alot like Christmas around the condo of love. <3

I am super excited for the Gymboree holiday party this weekend and zoo lights NEXT weekend! :)

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Rapper Common: Obama will change hip-hop's attitude

I just thought this was really interesting and cool. I love hip-hop and I love positivity, so let's see what happens. :)

By Eliott C. McLaughlin
CNN

(CNN) -- The rapper Common wants to take hip-hop in a new direction, he says, and he has an unsuspecting ally -- President-elect Barack Obama.
Common says he was looking for a new sound on his eighth album, "Universal Mind Control."

Common says he was looking for a new sound on his eighth album, "Universal Mind Control."

Obama "is going to change hip-hop for the better," predicted the rapper, whose eighth album, "Universal Mind Control" (G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen), hits shelves Tuesday.

"I really do believe we as hip-hop artists pick up what's going on in the world and try to reflect that," he told CNN, outlining his belief that mainstream as well as so-called "conscious" rappers -- the more socially aware -- will pick up on what he sees as the more optimistic prospects of an Obama presidency.

"I think hip-hop artists will have no choice but to talk about different things and more positive things, and try to bring a brighter side to that because, even before Barack, I think people had been tired of hearing the same thing," he said.

Likewise, "Universal Mind Control," with its hook-heavy, synthed-out tracks, represents a "broadening" of hip-hop's audience -- one that demands evolution rather than hackneyed revamps of old beats, rhythms and rhymes, Common said. Listen to clips from the album and Common's interview with CNN.com »

Not that Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., is altogether removed from the temptations of his hip-hop brethren.

He serves as a spokesman for Lincoln Navigator and purports on his new album to "rebel in YSL," a reference to designer Yves Saint Laurent. Money is also a weakness, as Common -- No. 14 on Forbes magazine's 2008 list of richest rappers -- regularly invokes the greenbacks he makes and spends.
iReport.com: Talk Grammy Awards and more showbiz with Todd

Still, Common has come at hip-hop from a different angle from many of his colleagues. He was generally considered "underground" until he linked up with Kanye West, who produced his albums "Be" (2005) and "Finding Forever" (2007).

Even now, while paying homage at mainstream hip-hop's altar, the Chicago-born lyricist also enters parishes where most rappers wouldn't be seen. He's helped front movements for HIV/AIDS awareness and vegetarianism, and he's written two children's books emphasizing the importance of self-esteem.

Lyrically, violence has never been his thing; soft-drug use has been mentioned but rarely glamorized; he removed homophobic references from his lyrics years ago; and while there have been hints of misogyny and the occasional N-word in his verses, neither has been a staple of his rhymes.

"I've always been conscious, honestly," he said. "I made a choice on this album, 'Universal Mind Control,' to really make some music that was bright, that would be a little more lighthearted, just because of what was going on in the world." Read more from the interview

With a few exceptions, his latest lyrics are consummate Common. In his beat poet's cadence, the 36-year-old rhymesmith aggressively courts the ladies, personifies hip-hop, aggrandizes himself and his hometown (lovingly, "the Chi"), and respectfully doles out props to hip-hop's forefathers -- most notably to Afrika Bambaataa on the album's title track. Hear the title track »

The album's sound, however, is atypical, moving -- sometimes jerkily -- from club-banger to anthem to ballad to Top 40. The latter even runs counter to the opening verse of "Everywhere": "No pop, no pop, no pop, no pop/We gonna do this thing till the sky just drop."

But the sound is part of "a whole new sound and a new movement" in hip-hop, something he explored out of disdain for repetition and predictability, he said. That might explain Kanye West's relative absence on "Universal Mind Control."

The Louis Vuitton don appears on only one track, the pop-drenched "Punch Drunk Love." But West has long been credited, even by Common, with bringing his fellow Chicagoan to the mainstream after "Be" and "Finding Forever" went gold and leapt up the Billboard 200.

Of course, it's not all Kanye, said Common.

"I'm a true believer that it all boils down to the music, because Kanye can endorse something, and if people don't like it they ain't gonna get with it -- regardless of whoever endorses it," he said.

He compared his working relationship with West to the collaboration he enjoyed with The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams on "Universal Mind Control." Williams, whom Common casually likened to Quincy Jones, pushed him lyrically, much like West did, he said.

Between Williams and Mr. DJ -- who composed backbeats for some of OutKast's biggest hits -- Common arrived at the evolution he sought, he added.

Common also is plotting a change, or at least a detour, in his career path. Though his past cinematic endeavors have been primarily gangster flicks, Common has landed a role in the upcoming "Terminator Salvation" and could play Green Lantern in "Justice League: Mortal" should the derailed movie get back on track.

"I would truly love to go increasingly in the acting direction," he said. "My goal is to be a movie star. I want to be at Will Smith's level. I want to be co-leading with Leonardo DiCaprio."

Fear not, Common fans. The aspiring thespian is confident he can pull off both, though hip-hop might ride sidecar to the silver screen. Acting, he said, seems to improve his music.

"I don't take as much time overthinking it. Actually, since 'Be' I've been working on films and each album has been expanding and increasing, so I feel like I would still make music, but it wouldn't be the main gig," he said.
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Selling albums, Common said, is about more than good music, and though he stands proudly by the music he made pre-West, he concedes he didn't do enough to claw his way up from the underground.

"After you make good, quality music, then it's your job to go out there and promote it and to market it and to get it out there to the people. I feel like I wasn't doing that early on," he said. "Now I am, and I feel like I'm growing as a songwriter and working with producers that are very incredible, so I feel all that is contributing to me getting the recognition that I'm getting."

Monday, December 8, 2008

You pick and choose, so please choose love instead of hate?



That's rad to me. I dunno...it might sound silly to you, and it seems like alot of people on the Internet think that celebrities are exploitiing their star power when they make their voices heard on the issues, but I think that it's so rad that this is happening right now.

It's like our generation's civil rights movement, and I think we should get involved.

This is my favorite.
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die


I thought this issue was worth remembering. Big things are going to be happening with this soon...I can just feel it.

Please, either way, stand up for what you believe in. <3