a windblown left side

music/noise

So guess where I am? Schaumburg, Illinois, that's where. Oh wait . . . that's not on my schedule. Perhaps I, gasp, changed my schedule? Altered my master plan? Yes, yes I did. You should all be proud of me.

I decided to stay in Schaumburg inititally because I didn't want to drive all the way to Woodruff Wisconsin in one day. This was accomplished. However, as an added bonus, it ended up being a lot of fun becuase I got to see Doc and Shawn, and I hadn't thought I was going to get to hang out with Shawn this summer. They took me to a Schaumburg bar, which, as promised, had character, and it had a very loud singer who did covers of everything from REM to Michael Jackson to Pearl Jam to Counting Crows to A-HA. Fun was had by all, and I got to try a new drink I'd never had before - it involves actual mint leaves, which is tasty, but it also means I had to pick mint leaves outta my mouth a lot.

Overheard:
Shawn [to me]: "I tried to tell my coworker who you were. It's kinda complicated. I told him you were 'my girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, ex-roomate, and high school friend and my younger brother's best friend who has been around my house since he was 13.' I think I'm just going to start saying 'my friend Ben.'"

So I was listening to music in my car the other day, and I realized that I have bought quite a bit of music lately, but I always feel like I'm searching for the really great music, and I haven't found it. I've been looking for music that really affects me like music did in high school - and it just doesn't do that as much anymore. I've been wondering if this is just a tragic result of growing up, because I notice at least with some people that as they grow older they listen to music less and less. But I think it's something else. I think the music I listened to in high school wasn't especially great - no, I think what was great was that me and my three best friends were all into the same kind of music, exploring it and sharing it with each other. There were many albums we all knew and loved, and what made the music great was the feeling of loving it with someone, listening to it together in someone's car, dancing like idiots to it at night. I just don't have that anymore, I listen to almost all my music by myself it seems. So it just doesn't sound as good. I need more punk friends at school. Music is just like seeing some awesome sunset - sure it's cool to see by yourself, but it's so much cooler with someone there so you can experience it together, and remember it together later on. I think that's why I always would rather have music playing out of speakers than listening to it through headphones. Even if no one around me likes my music, it feels more right to let it out for everyone to listen to, it's less secretive and lonely.