"Flashback Vengeance"

This weekend I wandered into the streets of Normal Height’s ritual event called the Adam’s Ave Unplugged. The event featured 170 live musical performances staged inside or around, more than 30 restaurants and bars that lined the neighborhood. By the time I found parking, I was too hungry to be walking 2 miles worth my curiosity.

Altogether, it was a really fun experience [once I fed myself]. Vic and I walked in and out of some interesting stores. We eventually found ourselves drawn by the sound of this girl with a soothing, but deep voice coming out of Lestat’s so we went in, sat down through majority of her set and to my surprise, I REALLY enjoyed it! Jessica Bell is the name [sorry I can’t provide any videos or songs for you. She’s really underground material]. Her lyrics were like Jason Maraz met Ingrid Michaelson- very melodic and relatable all in one. One of her songs was talking about “Memories.” The ones that you remember but they don’t have any significant meaning other than the fact that they were experiences you had and will continue to do so throughout time. I woke up to that thought this morning after doing my devotions and I read Proverbs 24: 17-18 “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath.” And the first person I thought of after reading this was [the name(s) that shall not be named]. And I thought about how I really felt about these….people. And let’s be honest. I’m not their biggest fan. [Shrug]. It happens. [Please hold the stones till after the blog]. But the feelings or thoughts I have towards them cannot and will never justify me as a person. I’m not going to say, “I’m better than that..” cause honestly, I’m not…..hell, YOU’RE NOT! (yeah, I threw that one in there to make myself feel less of a horrible person. Thanks). But if I read the verse right, its basically saying that wishing vengeance upon a person just displaces God’s wrath upon them and probably onto you. “Let not thine heart be glad when he [she] stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath.” Here we are in situational drama where someone has hurt us, and they hurt us bad. Maybe to them, they don’t give a rat’s ass, but to you, it was the world. Maybe it still is. Over time they become this “memory” that Jessica speaks of. But the thing is, wishing or glorying in other people’s discomfort does not and will not make your life any better than theirs. Shoot if anything, the more we wish someone negativity, the higher and higher the chances are that it’s just ricocheting of their shiny, bright, lives and back onto us; we just shoot ourselves in the foot. God says, bless them that curse you, love them that hate you-forgive 70x70 [somehow this equals eternity. I don’t get that math equation]. But live truthfully; allow yourself to recognize the pain and hurt you have, but don’t project onto others. Live your live well, live it right, and live it for others. Before you know it, you won’t even notice the other person that took up the enormous amount of mental space you had reserved for them. Yes, a happy life is a person’s greatest revenge, but a TRULY, HAPPY life needs no revenge at all. Think about that…. -Tin

COACHELLA!!!

Waddup guys, it’s been way too long since I’ve last spilt my heart out. It’s been a crazy few weeks. I feel like things are starting to blend together, and that’s never a good thing in my book. It’s times like these I can truly appreciate the solitude I’m imprisoned in for the next few hours. It can be calming…currently, it’s not. Lol! One can only hope for so much. I’m just looking forward to this weekend. It’s my mini vacation from reality. LITERALLY. I have the privilege to attend America’s BIGGEST musical festivial!! COACHELLA!!!!

For those who don’t know what Coachella is, it is a “multi-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice (a subsidiary of AEG Live) and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley. The event features many genres of music including rock, indie, Hip Hop and electronic music as well as large sculptural art. The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the grounds, each playing live music continuously.” Its two weeks long, but I’m only going for the first weekend. I do have obligations for those who suspect I just play and Facebook all day [WAIT. actually…that IS all I do all day. *shrug*] Nonetheless, it pays the bills, I shall not complain (unless a professor keeps me here for over an hour and a half after I clock out, then you will not hear the end of it. That’s a promise. [A thousand apologize to Dan who has to listen to my petty bullshit all day]. Getting back on track, COACHELLA!!! I feel honored that I get to go. I’ve been planning on going for the last three years, but… let’s be honest, I’m a little bitch. It is what it is.I didn’t have the balls to roll up to this festival by myself, UNTIL NOW! Yeee. That’s right. I’M ROLLIN SOLO [YOLO!] Stag; uno mas, by my lonesome and IDGAF how it looks. Life waits for no man (or woman). “Am I scared?!” Hell effing yes! I ain’t no Sasha Fierce, but I’ll make sure I drink enough 5 hour energy to hype myself up and throw myself into a crowd of new-aged hippies and do questionable things (one of which is not showering for a day or so) in order to gain some fair-weather friends for a weekend. Hey, who knows! Maybe they’ll stand beside me at my wedding some 50 years down the road. Tickets originally sell at $335. 0_o But it’s worth every penny. Think of Woodstock, or Burning man…BUT BIGGER! I’m roughin it out hipster style. Got my backpacking gear ready, tent, mobile shower, and groovy accessories! I even made fairy wings and I’m dying my hair red for a whole weekend! [Stand by for pictures.]

But the point in all this isn’t to make a statement, it’s for my self-liberation. We all somehow end up in this rut after a high point in life and it can get pretty obfuscating. Once in a while, it’s permissible to allow ourselves to break out of our shells and let loose. So here’s to self-expression. May we all learn to love ourselves, daily and never forget how awesome life is, especially if we have something and someone to live for. And there you have it... Till next month home skillets. DUECES! -Tin