Songbyrd profile picture

Songbyrd

The moment that after you're different -- Tom Spanbauer

About Me

I am excited about life in general. There is so much to see and so little time to see and absorb the greatness of humanity. I believe that we can make things better if we stretch outside of ourselves and look out instead of in. If more of us strive to think of others first then the world will be a better place for all of us.

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My Interests

Writing, reading, listening to music, live music shows, walking, NFL Football (Congrats to the Giants for kicking Tom Brady's arrogant ass and making Super Bowl 2008 the most exciting game I've seen in ages.) and learning more about negotiating the net and alternate lifestyles in the world around me. I love the ocean and how it continually amazes me in its immenseness and the way it comforts me.

I'd like to meet:

I want to meet people. I've spent so much of my life in a box that I want the walls to collapse around me so I can absorb as much of life as I can in the years I have left. There are so many interesting people and cultures to understand.

Music:

60's and 70's rock in roll, jazz, contemporary grown up music; new age as long as it's good. What I am listening to these days varies drastically by the day; Chris Isaak (I am always listening to Chris), The Derek Trucks Band, Eric Clapton, Finn Brothers, Crowded House, Evanescence, John Mayer, Alan Parsons Project, Ephram Lewis (sad story for that one). I have discovered great music in Australian Jazz. Stu Hunter, Matt Keegan, Carl Dewhurst and a host of others through Jazzgroove Records. Check them out.

Movies:

I guess I'm sort of disgusted with the whole movie thing. I haven't been to the theater in ages. Nothing appeals. That may not be movies, it might very well be me. I still do love good animation and did manage to really dig 'Ratatouille'.

Television:

I feel about TV like I do movies. I did manage to acquire the entire collection of MASH. I think it is the best TV show that ever aired. When I do watch, Numbers and Criminal Minds. Well I will watch them if they ever get some new episodes.

Books:

Books to me are like the ocean. No matter where you are there is always something interesting to be found. I don't have enough time to read though when I do I find I am reading a lot of non-fiction lately,Essay compilations and memoirs mostly. This is just the way things have worked out. I would rather read than watch tv or movies. Some of my favorite fiction novels are 'On Beauty' by Zadie Smith, 'Middlesex'by Jeffrey Eugenides, 'Autobiography of Red' by Anne Carson, and 'Written on the Body' by Jeanette Winterson. When I want to step back from deep fiction I love to read Fannie Flagg. I've just purhcased her latest novel, 'Can't Wait to Get to Heaven' and can't wait to dive in. I think my favorite non-fiction piece is "Letter From Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King. I can't read it without crying from the sheer magnitude of what he was trying to say and said beautifully. Jonathan Kozol's book 'Savage Inequalities' is a must read for any person who thinks that America's public school system is working. His latest book, 'Letters to a Young Teacher' is a masterpiece and is an inspiration in what kind of a writer I strive to be. I read it in four hours from cover to cover. He inspires me. Just finished Vladimir Nabokov's memoir, 'Memory,Speak.' His gift of language is not just to read, but to surround yourself and saturate your soul with. Amazing stuff. Ah, to quote someone somewhere, so many books, so little time.

Heroes:

I guess being a hero means different things to different people. My heros are the people I admire that are willing to take risks to help others even when they might not live to see the fruits of their labors. Martin Luther King & Rosa Parks had the courage to do what no one had dared to do before them (except Charles Chesnutt - he was a civil rights activist way ahead of his time)and they all risked everything, including their own mortality, to fight for what was right; Azar Nafisi survived the revolution in Iran and had the courage to have children there, as well as take a stand for what she believed to be right. Anyone who stands up and says what is right at the risk of something great is a person worth admiring. I will always hold Mother Theresa deep in my respect simply because I long to be that selfless and cannot, That is as close to a hero as I can get.

My Blog

Moving On

Well it is just about done - I've completed the last paper for the last class in the last term in my journey for a BA in English.  I can't believe I'm done.  I don't have my grades yet - but...
Posted by Songbyrd on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:25:00 PST

School and what it all means.

As I embark on this last couple of terms I can't help but wonder about how far I have come.  I remember back to that first term in 2004 when I was so scared about returning to college after an al...
Posted by Songbyrd on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 06:07:00 PST

Time to get up and go, somewhere!

Its interesting how time changes my mood.  I was feeling all antsy and out of sorts.  I wasn't able to write much and my home is an absolute shambles which for me and the holidays is unusual...
Posted by Songbyrd on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:59:00 PST

At Loose Ends

The rain is pounding at my windows.  The wind is howling in the dark.  School is out and I have nothing to do with my time.  It's strange, I do have things that I could be doing. I just...
Posted by Songbyrd on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:35:00 PST

It is Over

I can only speak with a relief that dad has gone on to the place where he has wanted to be for a couple of weeks.  His last hours were of pain and suffering.  I can't say that I will ever un...
Posted by Songbyrd on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:04:00 PST

A Naked Life

A Naked Life            It was only a glance out the train window.  He isn't the kind of man that anyone would choose to notice although when I ...
Posted by Songbyrd on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:54:00 PST

Taking care of oneself?

I have the privilege of friends who say to me - 'make sure you take care of yourself while you're taking care of others'.   I'm not sure what that means.  I am taking today off.&nb...
Posted by Songbyrd on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:54:00 PST

Close to the End

Well, I've come from the hospital and I am amazed at how far down hill one man can go in twenty four hours.  The last time I saw him he was sitting up, eating a bit, smiling and knew I was there....
Posted by Songbyrd on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:12:00 PST

I Know What I Will Lose

I Know What I Will Lose I rarely speak in clichés, but there are some that mean something. I've often heard the line 'you don't know what you have until you lose it.'  For some people this could...
Posted by Songbyrd on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:16:00 PST

Realizations that suck!

Some days are just better than others which is of course is not knew news.  It is Sunday.  We took the folks out to breakfast and it just went downhill from there.  Dad has been de...
Posted by Songbyrd on Sun, 23 Sep 2007 01:25:00 PST