One of Those Odd Brain Projections…

It is rare for anyone to remember what happened in their dreams (well at least it is for me). Considering that we apparently multiple times during our sleep cycles, and considering the possibilities of just super odd dreams, I think it’s good not to remember EVERY single dream. However, there are some dreams that you do manage to remember, and there are some dreams that are too good to pass up. I want to describe one such dream I had last Saturday. I put some notes down about it so I wouldn’t forget. :3

I’ll try to describe the events as they “occurred” in order. First, I ended up being ultra tired. Like so tired, I was barely cognizant. I sat on one of these long, rectangular cushions that you can spread out your legs and have one foot on both sides. I was in that position, with my face in the cushion since I was dead tired. The next thing I know, I’m hearing “Mr. Brightside” by the The Killers (great song btw) playing in the background. The kicker? Someone was playing Rockband to that song! Next thing I know, as the song begins, still in the super tired position, I start air drumming the song. As enthusiatic as I am with Rockband, I air drummed that song like no tomorrow (those hi hats are something to behold in that song).

But wait! It gets more interesting. I hear someone telling me to stop air drumming the song. It wasn’t like a mean “stop that,” it was more of a like “oh you, stop that” playful kind of voice. I look up and there is “M” (I’m calling her that because…well it’s the internet, permission and stuff and, ya know she’s a girl so that’s enough to know). She is actually playing the drums with the drum set that comes with the Rockband games. I think she tried to tell me to stop playing because “I’m too good.”

Then it skips forward to the end of the song, and then I end up air guitar-ing it (rocking it mind you, since I play this game like no tomorrow). And boom! End of the dream. Let’s just say I had to jot some notes about this dream because…it’s just too good to not remember.

Dreams are such an odd phenomenon. There are multiple theories on the purpose of dreams, like they are meant for memory encoding (long-term memory to be precise), or making different “simulations” as to prepare yourself when something like that actually happens. Since there is such a thing called nightmares…well let’s just hope they stay “simulations.” I think we all have dreams we still remember and store in our memories for safekeeping. You don’t know what they exactly mean, but they are a product of your own brain, your imagination, so there is some fascination to them. Of course, there are the types of dreams that you don’t want to end. Those dreams that feel you up with so much happiness, so much ecstasy (don’t use that word often :P) that you wish you could sleep in with those types of dreams, at least for a good day or so.

I wouldn’t say the dream I described is one I would want to live out again. However, if there is one thing this dream has taught me is that the brain remembers the most particular things. From hobbies that you enjoy by yourself and with your friends, to unattainable love interests. I guess in this case, it’s a sort of bittersweet cruelty huh? (or am I just being dramatic? For funsies?…nah thinking too much :D)

Playlists for Your Karaoke Experience

I came up with this idea before I went to sleep about two days ago, and I want to have some fun, so why not? The idea: themed karaoke playlists! I put down a theme, and I make a “playlist” to perform for karaoke. I’ll provide some subtext to each song, so each song can have its own flavor in the theme. These playlists are meant to be performed in a karaoke setting, so keep that in mind. It’s a funny trip to think about it to sing for different groups of people (i.e. friends vs. coworkers, or one certain group of friends vs. another group of friends). I think the minimum per playlist would be about five songs and just so long as it fits in the theme, that is a playlist. I think that’s enough yammering, let’s get vocal!

Straight to the Heart (Love themed playlist) (in parenthesis: artist)
The one that you can belt out: Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (by Journey)
The one that describes your love life: Instant Crush (by Daft Punk ft. Julian Casablancas)
The cheesy one: Can’t Buy Me Love (by The Beatles)
Out of your comfort zone (singing a genre that you don’t usually like): Long Time Gone (by Billie Joe and Norah)
The funny one: What Is Love? (by Haddaway)
The one with angst/The edgy one: My Curse (by Killswitch Engage)
Kata Omoi (Unrequited Love)/ The one-sided one: Mr. Brightside (by The Killers)
The one you hope everyone joins along: Somebody to Love (by Queen)
The upbeat one: Treasure (by Bruno Mars)
The left-fielder (the one that no one expects): When It’s Time (by Green Day)
The showstopper (the one you want to end with): Billie Jean (by Michael Jackson)

Favorite band playlist – Favorite Band: Green Day (in parenthesis: album)
The one that makes you scream your lungs out: She (from Dookie)
The devilishly fun one: Christian’s Inferno (from 21st Century Breakdown)
The one everyone knows: Basket Case (from Dookie)
The one that no one knows: Paper Lanterns (from 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours)
One for the long haul: Homecoming (from American Idiot)
The oddly fun one: King For a Day (from Nimrod)
The slow tempo one: Give Me Novacaine (from American Idiot)
The left-fielder: Makeout Party (from Dos)
Your ohako (signature) song: Before the Lobotomy (from 21st Century Breakdown)
The showstopper (going out with a bang!): Nuclear Family (from Uno)

Good ol’ Disney (because I know lots of people out there want to do this one)
The one that you rediscovered from your youth: Why Should I Worry? (from Oliver and Company)
The one you still need practice on: Son of Man (from Tarzan)
The guilty pleasure: Let It Go (from Frozen)
The heartwarming one: You’ve Got a Friend In Me (from Toy Story)
The one people WILL sing along with: Make a Man Out of You (from Mulan)
The showstopper: I 2 I (from A Goofy Movie)

Speed Demon (songs where the singer sings really fast)
The one that makes you feel like a BAMF: Ryu vs. Ken (by Starbomb)
The fun one: One Week (by Barenaked Ladies)
The cheesy one: U Can’t Touch This (by MC Hammer)
The one that no one will understand you: Chop Suey (by System of a Down)
The showstopper: White & Nerdy (by Weird Al Yankovic)

Video Game Central (because video games have awesome soundtracks too)
The one you always sung to: It Doesn’t Matter (from Sonic Adventure)
The one that should have been it’s own single: Escape from the City (from Sonic Adventure 2)
The one no one knows: Regal Ruin – Back in Time (from Sonic R)
The genre maker (the one that created its own genre): Still Alive (by Lisa Miskovsky, from Mirror’s Edge)
The snarky one/the game you never played: Still Alive (from Portal)
This is from a video game?!?: Dive Into the Mellow (from Sonic Adventure 2)
The showstopper: Snake Eater (from Metal Gear Solid 3)

ROFL (the ones that could possibly make the audience burst with laughter)
The lovable nerd within you: Luigi’s Ballad (by Starbomb)
The cautionary tale: Boombox (by The Lonely Island ft. Julian Casablancas)
The sexual one: 3-Way (The Golden Rule) (by The Lonely Island ft. Justin Timberlake & Lady Gaga)
THAT sexual one: Gay Bar (by Electric Six)
The one that no one knows: Bow Chicka Wow Wow Wow (by Jeff Williams ft. Jason Saldana & Lamar Hall) (from the popular web series Red vs. Blue)
The tragic relationship: Come On Carolina (by Jeff Williams ft. Sean Duggan) (from the popular web series Red vs. Blue)
The wannabe song: Pretty Fly For a White Guy (by The Offspring)
The showstopper: Horse Outside (by The Rubberbandits)

Power Hour (those songs that drive your vocal cords to the ground…and then some)
The one note you wish you could get: Take On Me (by a-ha)
The one you and your friends do anyway: Bohemian Rhapsody (by Queen)
The emotion-fueled one: Helena (by My Chemical Romance)
The one you dream you can sing: Dream On (by Aerosmith)
The showstopper: More Than a Feeling (by Boston)

Thoughts in the Distance, Thoughts in the Past

It’s always that weird moment when you want to talk about something, but you don’t know what you want to say? Well there are lots of things in our minds all the time, but this being the internet, there is always some sort of filter going on before my fingers hit the keys. This is coming from a person who barely has a filter if I can allow it. I know how to act accordingly in most social situations, but me being aware of these boundaries, it’s funny to see how far other people go pushing these boundaries, (or just outright break them down). It’s interesting to look back and compare to what people “expect” or the stereotypes of certain parts of our lives supposed to be. For example, high school conjures up lots of ideas, images, feelings, and of course stereotypes. In high school, it is expected that the students form these “cliques” or groups amongst themselves to find belonging and camaraderie. Some do form close bonds that last a lifetimes, while some friendships that are formed during these times are just as superficial as the faces they put on to show off during school, in front of their peers, up until they shut their doors to block the outside world, hiding their true faces. I fall into the category of having few but very close friends. Of course, my friends and acquaintances list has expanded quite a bit due to college and living abroad, and maintaining these relationships is actually somewhat possible through technology we sometimes take for granted. I was and I am still a giant Pokenerd, and yet I took weight training classes and went to them with gusto. I got mostly A’s throughout my high school career, and yet I was bench pressing almost 200 pounds I believe. Trying to be like dad huh? Heh…what a time it was back then.

Romance in high school doesn’t last. Taken from me, a person who hasn’t even maintained a relationship for longer than half a year. It’s not like I’m a horrible person or such. I don’t have to repeat myself on my hopeless romantic idealistic approach. You can find more about that in past entries. It’s just I feel like I’m not ready. I want something more than just a “girlfriend” but a relationship with another human being that I like spending time with. However, this has led me to have no backbone in the realm of dating and such. I guess that’s one reason high school is there for, to get shot down. To realize that it is too early to make such a lifelong commitment. At that age, you still have the rest of your life ahead of you, you still need time to realize yourself (let alone try to realize and love another). Not saying no one can do it, just saying it’s pretty rare.

And there is the odd drinking all day, party all night long college stereotype. I’ve actually tried drinking and stuff, and the little I had, it wasn’t really as fun as people put it to be. Maybe I’m not doing it right, I don’t know. Having your stomach on fire (I’ve had that feeling even before this happening, good ol’ stomach virus), isn’t what you call fun. Plus, during college, you gotta go to classes. Classes that cost money… A LOT of money. If you miss one class, that’s basically money going down the drain. I’ve met people who realize this. However, I’ve seen others who apparently are just there to socialize…like they wanted to live through high school again and somehow bleed money from every part of their body so they gotta donate it somewhere.

At first I was going to talk about singing, karaoke, and how those activities are significant to me. Of course they are, but I guess my mind had other plans. Maybe from this random thought process, I guess I like to break the preconceived notions of society, break out of those neatly fitted stereotypes, and just live life the way I want to. Choosing my own way, choosing my own heroes, making my own decisions, making my own blunders, getting back up again and again. Isn’t that how we progress and keep going? It’s good to learn from the past, but you can’t improve your way of living if you are stuck in the ways of the past. It is difficult to constantly get out of that comfort zone, to constantly challenge yourself. Hell, I know sometimes that I don’t even know where to begin. It’s like your subconscious wants things to stay the same, stay convenient, save energy by being conservative. However, I know that I don’t like waiting around, I don’t like being stagnant. I know once you go through all the trials and tribulations, you’ll feel better on the other side then when you started. Funny thing though…apparently our minds register our present selves and future selves as different people. Welp, that is the biggest challenge of them all, facing yourself.