Thought Chowder

Valentines Day... The True Story

2010-01-24T03:51:00.004-06:00

I have a wonderful story to share with you. This story chronicles the events leading up to the creation of the holiday we call Valentines Day. You know the drill, after you finish reading the story, leave me a comment! Here it goes…

Many years ago, on the evening of February 14th a representative from Hershey’s and a representative from Hallmark were both on a business trip at the same hotel. Each was seated alone at separate stools at the hotel lounge, single, lonely and despite. Their eyes met across the lounge, instant attraction. Hershey guy gets off his stool and walks over to Hallmark girl, hands her a chocolate. She looks at him, looks at the delicious candy in his hand, and decides that she needs listen to her therapist, stop hating men and take a risk. So she takes a bite and the luscious caramel center harmonizing with the sweetness of the milk chocolate rushes through her, filling her with a wonderful sensation leaving her speechless. She looks up at Hershey guy and thinks to herself, could this be the one? Hershey guy, not hearing her say anything back (she was speechless remember?) starts to walk away in disappointment thinking that this was yet another failed attempt at finding love. He is surprised to feel a hand on his shoulder, turns around and finds Hallmark girl standing before him, in her outstretched, slightly chubby hand she was holding a card. He timidly takes the card, opens the envelope giving him a paper cut in the process, but he was too rapt in the moment to feel pain. He reads the front of the card, then the inside. His eyes begin to fill with tears as he reads the content of the card. As he finishes reading, he wipes the lachrymal fluid from his eyes, looks at Hallmark girl and smiles. Hallmark girl, pleased with his reaction, smiles back. At that very moment a representative from a flower shop walks by. Being the klutz he is, he trips over Hallmark girl’s giant purse spilling at least a dozen roses on the floor right at the feet of our couple. Both kneel down to help flower dude pick up his roses. Hallmark girl and Hershey guy look up at the same time, their faces only inches apart. Ignoring his bad breath Hallmark girl makes the move and leans in, planting her chapped lips Hershey guys. Surprised, he starts to pull away, then decides to go with it. At that moment the bartender changes song in the lounge loud speaker to “I Will Always Love You”, sung by the talented, drug filled Whitney Houston. The music, smell of the flowers and taste of the chocolate created a kiss between the two that can only be described as miraculous. The kiss ended and both people stood, wiped rose pedals off their cheap business suits, and looked deep into each others eyes. Never diverting his eyes from hers, Hershey guy reaches for a napkin and pen on the bar counter to write down his number, (he forgot his business cards at home). He scribbles his digits on the napkin and hands it to Hallmark girl. She takes it from him and reaches into her oversized, fake designer purse and pulls out a business card (different from Hershey guy, she NEVER forgets her business cards). She hands him her card and leans in for another kiss. After they finished their second kiss, Hershey guy takes her now even chubbier hand (that chocolate moved fast), and they walk hand in hand to the hotel lobby and sit down in front of the water fountain and talk into the early morning, growing more in love with each other. However what they didn’t know was that a representative from a cell phone company was seated at a table near them in the lounge and had recorded the whole thing on his Blackberry. He then uploaded the video to YouTube and people around the world watched the romantic encounter. Because of that video, (no longer available on YouTube so don’t try to find it) February 14th has become a day where lovebirds all over use chocolate, flowers, and sappy music sung by drug filled singers to declare their love for each other.

But what happened to our couple? Well six months later, Hallmark girl was over at Hershey guy’s apartment for a dinner date and while hanging up her coat in his closet, spots a box on the shelf. Being a rather snoopy girl she looks in the box and realizes Hershey guy has a perfectly organized collection of… beanie babies! After confronting Hershey guy, he finally breaks down in tears, (he cries a lot!) and explains that he has a special place in his heart for all the lost beanie babies of the world and could never ever part with them. Hallmark girl, realizing this relationship is over dumps him and leave his apartment for the last time. After weeks of wallowing and consuming giant buckets of rocky road ice cream, (she was chubby remember?) Hallmark girl finally leaves her condo and starts to date again. On February 14th two years later she married the flower dude and is living a very happy life. Hershey guy however, is still alone. Every Valentines Day he sits in his apartment surrounded by beanie babies thinking of what might have been with the lovely girl from hallmark…

The End.

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT!

I'm Still Here...

2010-01-18T22:59:00.004-06:00

Ok, so I promise I haven't died or anything, (well, not yet at least) I just have been really busy! As you know our universe is being taken over by flying toasters and it is my duty as a superhero to save us! So I promise that I haven't forsaken this blog or you, my faithful readers, however I must obliterate all the remaining toasters and return our beautiful mother earth to her peaceful rotation amongst the other planets. So with that, I bid all you farewell as I sweep the crumbs off my cape, (residue from the last battle) and head out to annihilate the last of the toasters.

Wood Chucks

2009-10-06T11:15:00.003-05:00

Really, how much wood can a wood chuck chuck? Do wood chucks actually chuck, and if they do, do they chuck more than wood? What does chuck mean? Seriously, I am extremely curious about this. Does anybody have the answers?

Fun with Oxymoron's!

2009-09-29T23:58:00.006-05:00

Since you obviously have nothing better to do, (why else would you be reading this blog?) here is a list of oxymoron's that may tease your brain a bit. What do you think of these? Please leave a comment with some ideas!

A Fine Mess
A just war
A little big
a little pregnant
A new classic
absolutely unsure
abundant poverty
academic fraternity
Academic sorority
Accidentally on Purpose
accurate estimate
accurate horoscope
accurate rumors
accurate stereotype
acrophobic mountain climber
Act Naturally
active retirement
actual reenactment
acute apathy
acute dullness
adult children
advanced BASIC
advanced beginner
Affirmative action
affordable housing
aging yuppie
agree to disagree
Airline Food
airline schedules
all alone
All natural artificial flavor
alltogether separate
alone in a crowd
almost candid
Almost done
almost exactly
almost pregnant
Almost Ready
almost safe
almost suddenly
almost surprised
almost totally
alone together
amateur expert
American culture
American education
American English
amicable divorce
among the first
Amtrak schedule
Anarchy Rules!
anonymous colleague

So... what do you think?

Apocalypse Now! -and other stuff

2009-09-27T23:32:00.006-05:00

I’m Still Alive! (Insert sigh of relief here) I know you were concerned, when you didn’t see any activity on this blog for quite a while you were getting anxious about my well being, well I promise you, I AM STILL ALIVE AND WELL! From the depths of my chowder bowl I sincerely apologize for my lethargy and have made a renewed commitment to not let my blog get to far behind my footsteps.

Now that I’ve gotten that unpleasant affair out of the way, here’s what’s been in my chowder brain lately. A few weeks ago, a highly esteemed co-worker and I were engaged in a rather witty repartee, (which is always a welcome diversion to the ever-mounting workload my career demands of me) and she brought up a very interesting idea that has intrigued me ever since. It this theory of ‘who do I want in my bunker'. Let me explain. Close your eye for one moment and imagine that we were living in a pre-apocalyptic world and at any moment the apocalypse would be upon us. However, there is a bunker nearby where you can take refuge while the disaster rages outside; the predicament is that you can only have a select number of people occupy the bunker with you. Who do you chose? Chew on that for a moment… now swallow. As I have been pondering this exceedingly enthralling theory it has led me to take mental account of all the people in my life; family, friends, acquaintances, and to consider how much I really know about them. Because if I was going to choose any one of them to inhabit the bunker with me, I want to make sure that they have talents and gifts that are useful, but different from mine.

For your mental clarity, let me provide an example. I am someone who has never been or ever will be good at survival skills; so i would choose someone who was. Because without this wonderful individual, I would die very quickly. I can barely light a candle with a match let alone a fire with twigs! And if you asked me to pack a suitcase for a wilderness excursion, I would pack my iPod (duh), lots of rugged but fashionable outfits complete with plenty of tidy whitys, my Garmin GPS system, the complete 7th season of “The King of Queens” on DVD, several cans of delicious Chef Boyardee products (yum!), keychain flashlight and a TV guide. (I’m not missing my ABC shows, I don’t care how far away we get from civilization, I’m watching extreme home-makeover!). Oh yeah, and my electric blanket for those chilly wilderness nights. Get the picture? I need someone who knows how to rainproof a tent, craft baskets out of reeds, build water rafts out of firewood, catch and clean fish (ick), and navigate the perils of the fire swamp all while battling rodents of unusual size. What? Where did that last one come from? (Oops! That wasn’t part of my theory… that was from the critically acclaimed 1987 blockbuster hit, “The Princess Bride!” Sorry!!)

Also I would require someone with an optimistic personality; because lets face it, I am a worry wart! The instant the apocalypse begins to descend upon the earth I would commence a freak-out that would put all the crazy people of the world collectively to shame! I would require the assistance of someone who keeps a clear head in the onslaught of danger, and can think strategically during the most traumatic situations. Also among the bunker inhabitants, would be my cute and adorable childfriend Pippi Longstocking. Being able to lift an immense quadruped above your head with super strength is always a handy skill during any ordeal!

On a more serious note, I would need someone who is never failing in their devotion to Christ. During hard times, I try my very best to hear Gods voice through the storm, but often I fail. I need someone who can help keep me on the correct course and make sure that my faith doesn’t waiver.

So in summery, my bunker theory may be a bit far fetched, and to some extent asinine, nevertheless I think that it is at least something that I am going to keep in mind while pursuing future friends, and that one extraordinary somebody who will hopefully become my wife. I need people in my life whose talents and abilities enrich mine, and make me a better person. When the tough times come, I desire to have a group of people around me who can help distinguish my strengths as well as my weaknesses, and be there for me as I would for them. Overall, I need people who aren’t precisely like me, but who complete me.

So now it's your turn!!! What do you think of this theory? Who would you have in your bunker? PLEASE COMMENT!

Until your comment, happy life-living!

Oscar Wilde and I had a conversation last night...

2009-08-22T21:49:00.003-05:00

Yesterday evening I went on a shopping spree, which I don’t often do. I have been stressed out lately and I just wanted to go throw some money around! (Yes I know it’s not responsible, however it is quite fun!) I stormed into Wall Mart, with $300.00 burning a hole in my pocket and walked out of there $250 later with a brand new Sony Reader! The first thing I read on it was the essay ‘The Soul of Man under Socialism’ by Oscar Wilde. As I read it, I found myself completely enthralled with what Oscar was telling me! It challenged my ideas about socialism in America, and taught me that even though socialism may be a speedy fix to a number of of our problems, in the long run, it will have immense negative ramifications. Its clever words and poignant phrases held me captive until late into the night, and when I was done, I felt so much smarter! I now have an extremely authoritative stance on socialism, so strong in fact that if Barack Obama and I were engaged in a heated debate about socialism, (like that would happen) I am absolutely certain I would win! I robustly recommend you read this essay. It will plant ideas into your brain about socialism that you have by no means thought of before, and will rouse you to share your learning’s with others. If you have read this essay, or have ideas on socialism in America, comment to this post and share your thoughts! I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!!!

Muffin Dreams...

2009-08-06T22:52:00.003-05:00

The other night I had a dream that I woke up and found that I was baked in the middle of a giant muffin! I am not sure what the flavor of the muffin was, I only know that I had no choice but to eat my way out. So I’m curious, what do you think this dream means? Please comment!!! (Yes I realize that this post was ridiculous, and a waste of time. But please, just go with it!)

The Mozart Effect

2009-08-01T21:46:00.003-05:00

So, since a new version of Microsoft word has come into my life, (love at last) I have been going through archives of my past writing endeavors. I stumbled across an essay report I wrote in college, highlighting my learning's from a book I read called "The Mozart Effect", By Don Campbell. This book talks a lot about what you read in my previous post, A Breakthrough in Modern Medicine, the significant and sometimes not so obvious effects music has on our lives. If you have the time, read the essay through and comment about what you think. Also if you have more time, (yeah right) I suggest you read this book. It will challenge your thoughts about music and introduce you to a very wonderful world, where the music never stops. But if you have only a few minutes of free time left after you read my essay, please PLEASE comment!!! I want to know what you think and your ideas on this very dear to my heart topic. So here it is, THE MOZART EFFECT.

The Mozart Effect

April 30, 2006

Why is it that teenagers form mosh pits at concerts? Why do hymns make the toughest people cry? Why do certain songs seem to make people momentarily leave this world and enter another? All these questions are just more pieces to the giant jigsaw puzzle known as the science of music. Music can unlock a part of our brain that nothing else can. It has the power to change our lives without us even knowing it.

In his book, Don Campbell says, "Sound has many mysterious properties. It can, for example, create physical forms and shapes that influence our day-to-day health, consciousness, and behavior." (33) There are many things that our bodies need to stay healthy and fully functioning. When a baby is born, it is almost immediately put into his or her mother's arms. Various studies have been conducted finding out that without the touch from the mother, the babies will grow up underdeveloped or even die at a very young age. The human touch is a necessary part of our existence just as music is.

"For centuries, men have used music to help them at work. In ancient Babylon, a musician played the horn while slaves dragged huge statues into place. In Russia, men chanted as they hauled barges on the Volga. In Africa today, a drummer accompanies every kind of labor – in the village, on the docks, in the fields." (Siegmiester 3) One of the effects of listening to music is that it helps people do things with more enjoyment. Think about it. Why do people buying a car make sure that the vehicle is supplied with a high quality cd player? And if it isn't, why do they put one in right away. Because listening to music while driving makes a potentially boring task of driving fun and actually exiting. Whenever you walk into construction site of some kind, there will be at least one radio or CD player blaring. Why? Because listening to the music has the effect that the work really isn't so bad. Music can do that!

Music can define so many different things. Cultures, races, genders, personality types, even genders. An elderly person would most likely be listening to something like old time crooners such as Frank Sinatra and Judie Garland; where as middle aged individuals would be listening to the Beatles; Peter, Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan. Thumping beats of hip-hop music from Eminem, P-Diddy and others; as well as the smooth beats from pop stars like Mariah Carey, Rihanna & Jesse McCartney, guitar rifts from rock bands like Reliant K, The Fray or Rooney all define music of today's youth. Classical music usually is associated with the more affluent, educated society and Jazz is usually a sign of the more artsy, bohemian person. While I don't like to put people into stereotypes, it seems to be the reality of today's world.

Listening to music also unites people. Two people never having seen each other before can walk into a party and start grooving to the music together just because they recognize the music. At a game, when the national anthem is sung or played, nobody has to tell anyone what to do; hats come off, everyone is standing, and the song starts working that magic of uniting a nation. At churches, when certain hymns are sung or played, no matter what age, everyone sings their heart out no matter who they are.

"Our Ability to listen can be affected by our day-to-day health and state of mind, and can, in turn, have an effect on those states. Sometimes the mere memory of sound can produce the Mozart Effect. Oliver Sacks, the celebrated neurologist and author, was hospitalized after a climbing accident in Norway with neural damage and partial paralysis. He had "forgotten"how to walk, and was afraid of losing his "motor identity." To speed orthopedic recovery during his weeks of hospitalization, Sacks chose to listen to a violin concerto by Felix Mendelssohn. Awakened by the music one morning, he rose from his bed and walked across the room to turn down the tape. To his amazement, he discovered that the recorder wasn't on. Then he realized that he was walking for the first time since his accident. By listening to the music in his mind he had been transported. The imagined sounds served as a leg for him to stand on. (Siegmiester 45)

Music can also have negative affect if abused. The teenagers that listen to music about sex and drugs are the most likely to act on what they are hearing in the music. People can't understand why teenagers struggle with drugs and premarital sex but do not make the connection that it is the music they are listening to that is inspiring this type of lewd and lascivious behavior.

An elderly woman sits in an old rocking chair that used to be the resting place of her now deceased husband. She pulls up the blanket that he always used to keep him warm and held it up to face and took in a long breath; savoring every moment of his smell as the tears of wonderful memories begin to wash over her thin cheeks. She reached over to the radio situated on the table next to the chair and switches it on. The song that her husband proposed to her so many years ago was playing. A smile comes across her face as the song comforts her. As the ship began to disappear into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean; the band began to play old beloved hymns comforting the doomed passengers of the Titanic. Music is a force of nature. Its powers are unimaginable. Music can take us from the depths of the deepest depression to the heights of joy in a very short amount of time. Music can plummet us into the deep melancholy, or stir us to action. Music can change our lives, even without us knowing it.

Don't forget to comment!!!!!

Works Cited

Campbell, Don. The Mozart Effect.

New York: Avon Books, 1997.

Siegmiester, Elie. Invitation to Music.

New York: Harvey House, Inc, 1961.

Cracker Carnage

2009-07-16T00:28:00.002-05:00

Alright, so I’ll just come right out and ask the question that I have been brooding over for well, hours now. Do vegetarians snack on animal crackers? Really, do they? Because theoretically, they are encouraging violence against furry and cute animals all across our great planet by chomping on the delicious and visually pleasing crackers, don’t you think? I give up. I must ask for your assistance on this one! What do you think????

GRRRRR...

2009-07-14T22:47:00.004-05:00

I am sure that you are getting a little confused... WHY DOES THE NAME OF THIS BLOG KEEP CHANGING???? ARGH!!! Well as any blogger knows, the name of the blog is key. It has to encompass the heart and soul of the blog, plus be totally awesome and original. The previous name 'ETERNALOPUS', was a great name, however it limited the blog to only 1 topic, music. I like music, but that isn't all that rattles around in my brain, plus it doesn't cover my deep love for all chowder based soups. So 'Thought Chowder' should be the last name change that you will see in a while. So sit back, put on your reading glasses, heat up a delicious steaming bowl of chowder and enjoy the posts! See Ya!!!

An Incridible Breakthrough In Modern Medicine

2009-07-14T21:03:00.006-05:00

Have you ever wondered why you can be feeling one way, but the moment you hear the joyous song of a child, the melodious chirping of a bird, or the first few notes of a song being preformed by your favorite band, your mood instantly changes? This is a conundrum that I have been pondering for many years. I don’t consider myself to be a moody person; however I do find myself changing dispositions from time to time. (I know, imagine that!) What is really interesting is that usually, whatever mood I find myself in, I can change it instantly merely by listening to a song. It’s true! This is the reason that my iPod never leaves my side. For example, when my feelings are generally happy in nature, I enjoy the uplifting and spiritually rousing strains of the David Crowder Band or A. Vivaldi. When I am feeling goofy, a little Reliant K or Mozart is always a treat, and for those times when I am angry, I can usually be found immersed in a song of regret and woe. It’s funny, listening to someone crooning about their own feelings of angst and sorrow makes me feel so much better about my own tribulations. I think that modern medicine should take mind of this. If instead of prescribing people various mood altering pills and chemicals with fatal side effects, we should prescribe music. Let’s say that Betsy Blue walks into her therapist’s office one day, plunks her behind down on the couch and starts complaining about how depressed she is about her middle aged, married, cellulite filled, child rearing life. Instead of the therapist asking her a barrage of questions about her spawn of hell children, small brained husband and ever increasing age & waistline, he simply pulls out a prescription pad. On that pad he writes a musical prescription that looks something like this.

RX#66524 BETSY BLUE
WHILE SEATED TAKE 6 MINUTES OF J.S. BACH BY EAR
TWICE A DAY FOR 10 DAYS

QTY: 60min J.S. Bach 100 WATTS

DISCARD BY: 07/25/2009
NO REFILS. AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED
DR. SMITH M.D.

What do you think? (pause for thought)

Ok, so I realize that this is a little lofty and far fetched, but I believe I’ve made my point. I know that sometimes doctors will suggest that listening to music may help relieve stress and relax certain disorders; however they are failing to unearth the colossal potential of healing that music can bring to the heart and soul. And now, guess what! IT’S YOUR TURN!!!! (I have a thing for audience participation) Leave me a comment to this post with your response. Does music influence you in the way that it does me? Do you believe that modern medicine could improve and benefit by a new way of prescribing music to people, resulting in improved mental health and stability? I want to know what ideas are rattling around in your brains! Until next post, go forth and make a difference in the world, and make music be the rhythm with which your feet walk to. Happy commenting!

Lyrics From The Past

2009-07-13T22:06:00.007-05:00

It was a dark and stormy night on March 15th, 2006. I was sitting on the floor of my house (well, actually it was my parents house… but you get the idea) wrapped in a thick blanket of thought. I had been experimenting around with some lyrics that were forcing their way into my brain after a small group meeting church. These are great lyrics (in my opinion, obviously since I wrote them) however they are in need of a musical melody. I am going to try to come up with a musical key, and notes to go along with these lyrics but if you have any ideas, please don’t hold them captive in your brain. Let me know! The song is called, “Here by Your Side”.

Here by Your Side
Lyrics by THOUGHT CHOWDER
4/15/2006 11:48 PM

There’s So Little I Know
About How Life Should go,
Few Things I See
Only You Can Show Me,
I’ve Always Wanted To See
Everything Around Me,
Please Open My Eyes
And Expose All the Lies
That I’ve Been Believing for Years
With Many Shed Tears,
But I Understand This
That With You I Can’t Miss,
And As Long As I Stay With You…

Here By Your Side
I’m No Longer Blind,
Here At Your Feet
I’ve Got All That I Need,
O’h Lord Please Speak To Me
And Tell Me Who I Should Be.

So here we go, lets try this agian.

2009-07-13T21:12:00.005-05:00

So those of you that knew me in my former life during high school know that I am not new to the wonderful world of blogging. Yes! I once had a blog. A blog that I’ve had open for over 3 years and have only written 3 posts on! Ok, so now that I have done my time and been released from the torment of bloggers prison, I am now on round 2. I am going to once again put fingers to keyboard and attempt to fill the empty pixels of this blog with the (hopefully) interesting and perplexing musings of a young man who in my opinion, is standing on the doormat of sheer brilliance. (Yes, I am talking about myself) I have named this blog, Thought Chowder. Why? Well, because I really enjoy chowder type soups, and also I wanted a place where I could let the thoughts of my mind run wild! So please forgive me, for my past blogging transgressions, and join me through my journey through life. So here is my recommitment from my previous blog to you, the reader.

As a new (oops I mean returning) blogger, I pledge my posts to be spiritually uplifting, interesting, exiting and refreshingly original. I will do my best to make you sit there on pins and needles in your chair waiting for my next post. But most of all, I will try my very best to help you see and experience my one true inspiration, my savior Jesus Christ.

Peace I leave with you my friends!