The Twelfth Practice

Alright, I am pleased to write that I am on the last practice in my book, "The Art of Possibility". I must say that I absolutely love this book, despite how wordy it is. The book that I read before it, "Daring Greatly", was basically a research with a little bit of heart and a lot of words I wasn't sure I understood. Although it had some very great messages packed into it, I believe that "the Art of Possibility" has much more meaning and better examples since the writing is much more straightforward and the examples are from the personal lives of the two authors who wrote the book.

But I am not writing this blog to compare and contrast my two most recent reads; I'm writing this blog to share the twelfth practice of creating the Art of Possibility. Although the other practices are just as important and as riveting as this practice, I believe any of the practices should be shared and this practice is much more fresh in my mind. Here is a good quote from the book summing up the twelfth practice:
"The WE story defines a human being in a specific way: It says we are our central selves seeking to contribute, naturally engaged, forever in a dance with each other."

You are probably wondering to yourself what on earth could this mean? How can this outlook apply to anything? Well, if you look around you you'll see that not everyone gets along as well as they could or should. There are spouses fighting, politicians pointing fingers, and wars raging out there. The twelfth practice is the practice of replacing the sense of "us versus them" with the concept of "we". It can be difficult to see that some people are not "monsters" or foes or competition, but people or love and are loved and are human. By applying the concept of "we", we acknowledge that the people we have turned on may not share our values, but they are "central selves" that want to have healthy relationships and contribute to society in their own way. By applying this practice, we can all stop posing ourselves against each other and become a part of the same side.

It really is practice worth practicing!

Loving That Which Should be Hated

I love my job. I make sure every table is clean, run food, polish the silverware and glassware, fill the water bottles, bring ice to the bar and do anything else nobody else wants to do. I am the only busboy and I make sure the servers do the least amount of "my job" as possible. According to the servers, my job is demeaning and they are better than to have to do it themselves. When I am not present the servers have to do "my job," so when I am present they immediately remind me how desperately I need to bus and clean the tables.

I also do the dishwasher's job because he doesn't know how to do his own job properly. After he washes the dishes he is supposed to put them away, but he can't even organize coffee saucers from side plates, so he obviously doesn't have the know-how to put them away. Because of his incompetence, he complains to me through the night about how the plates are stacking up, even though he is sitting on his ass waiting for me to half-fill the dish racks so he can waste time and space by running every rack at the same time, instead of waiting for each rack to get full and running them one at a time.

I work hard because I take pride in what I do. I want people to look at me and know that when I say I will do my job that I will do it. The amount I get paid at the end of the night doesn't change the approach I take to my work. I don't enjoy doing everything required of me and certainly don't enjoy doing everybody else's work as well, but the challenge drives me, fuels me. My job is hard, fast and both mentally and physically exhausting, but the sense of self-reward makes it all worth it; so much so, that I love my job.

Condesational

Snow. Rain. Hail. Heat. Wind. Clouds. Sleet. Wow. So many types of weather on one planet, does that ever amaze you? For me, to really step back and think about how all these conditions are formed, blows my mind! If you've ever caught a well-formed snowflake in your hand, you can see the detail and artistry found in the frozen crystals. And every single one is different! I love the weather and what it brings to the world. Weather is what gives towering, snowy mountains majesty, warm and sunny tropics relaxation, and deep, tranquil forests life.

One of my favorite things to do is to drive in my car. I love to see every building and tree go by in a blur, I love to look at the other people driving, wondering where they are headed to or coming back from. I love getting from one place to another so quickly. I love the escape from the world my car gives, as you can sit quietly with your thoughts, with your friends, or with your favorite song.

Now imagine driving in a big, blustery snow storm. This has been my life lately, and those of lives of New Englanders all over. Although for most, these are not ideal driving conditions. Most are afraid and worried about driving, and rightly so! It is a dangerous world when there is six to twelve inches of snow falling from the sky, tires with poor traction, and delayed snowplows. But this never feels dangerous for me. I thrive in the amazing bask of weather; rain or shine, snow or sleet. So these last couple days have been very snowy for New Hampshire residents and those surrounding areas, and for me, I've had the time of my life enjoying the sweet ride of downy flakes and cool air, enjoying winter from a different perspective.

BARRA TAAL

The show Burn Notice was an action packed tv show that was about an ex spy. Michael Weston the main character was burned without any procedure. Being burned basically means that all his bank accounts were frozen and he had nothing. It was not his fault though  He was burned unfairly.  Since he was burned he has made it his life mission since then was to find the person who burned him  Helping him with this was his friend Fiona, his ex girlfriend  Sam, an ex FBI agent and Jesse who he met along the way.  He lived in a small apartment in Miami near where his mother lives.Along the way he and his friends help out local people who have problems from a stalker to owing money to a notorious drug dealers. I was very sad to see Burn Notice come too an end. I did not like how they killed Michael's mother at the end.  In the end the FBi thinks Michael and Fiona where dead. They ended up getting back together and escaping the blast. I think they could have continued the show by making it so they got away and started a new life.  Instead Michael and Fiona started a new life and they ended the show.

American Horror Story: Coven

Recently one of my favorite television shows had finished its third season. American Horror Story has had three fairly successful seasons so far. It will be having a fourth and is in the process of production. This third season is being argued as the best of the two before it. Now, this season of American Horror Story or "AHS" for short, was based in todays New Orleans, Louisiana and follows the superstition of witch craft. But in Louisiana, voodoo is another craft that is highly influential among the population of African Americans. The witches and the voodoo queen along with her followers clash throughout the season in an attempt to rid each other out and be all ruling. The first season of AHS was based in California's famous "Murder House". It created a storyline around events and crimes that were supposedly committed in the house. The main characters move into the house unknowingly aware of its history. They encounter people that just appear in the house and we later find that if you die in the house, you become apart of it and are doomed to inhabit it for eternity. Therefore, all the previous owners are either the murderers or have been murdered and this causes for concern because everyone who lives in the house, falls under the same fate. Season number two of AHS takes place in Briarcliff Mental institution in Massachusetts. This season had a large amount of story lines due to the fact that the show follows dozens of characters such as the doctors, nuns and patients at the institution. The devil haunts the institution and conflicts the beliefs of the employees along with the patients, who already are doomed by their own flaws, urges, mental instabilities and handicaps. The doctors and nuns are also highly infiltrated by evil and make Briarcliff a place of fear and one massive moral dilema for everyone. American Horror Story is a phenomenal show that goes above and beyond the dynamics of other television programs because it is in its own genre of television.    

The Olympics

My blog is about the olympic games in Sochi, Russia and the success the United States had in the skating pairs competition. Personally, the most noticeable achievement or gold was the ice skating pairs competition. Meryl Davis and Charlie White, have just won gold for the U.S. and that is the first time the United States have ever gotten gold in this competition. As well, they won with the highest point total ever recorded in this event. This is incredible and is a great story, because these to competitors have been working together and ice skating in pairs with each other since the age of 3. This is unheard of, and it is more incredible because of the story behind it. It was history in the making and it made a huge mark into the olympic games history books.

Michael Sam Comes Out

Last week Michael Sam, a former Missouri Tigers linebacker, came out and said that he was gay. This takes guts to do for anyone, especially one who is under the national spotlight as the Defensive Player of the year. He has announced this before the draft and has been gaining a lot of support from fellow players and important figures in the United States. I think that what he has done is great and should be recognized as a brave thing to do. I wish him the best of luck with his career in the NFL because there will always be those people that critique his every move due to his sexual orientation. I think that people should look up the Michael as a hero in a way. He is one of the first openly gay football players to come out before the draft. People that are afraid to come out about their sexuality will look up to him as a role model and possibly gain the courage to come out. The scrutiny that he could come under alone would must likely make anyone who wanted to come out not want to, so, as I have said so many times, he is a hero, role model, and is one of the most brave players in sports history. To open back up the idea of the scrutiny that he will come across, I feel as though that people should be more supportive of the idea of a homosexual male. They are people too, they just happen to love the same sex. I know that this is a touchy topic and that I have to stay away from the more offensive side of this argument, so I will leave it with this; I believe that a man or woman that loves the same sex should not be looked at differently whether or not you are just not comfortable with the idea or if the Bible says its not holy. Remember the fact that they are humans too and outlined in the Bible and our constitution they deserve the same rights as a person that likes the opposite sex.

Breaking Bad's Series Finale

When the very last episode of the hit series Breaking Bad was about to air, all the viewers, including myself, were on the edge of their seats. Not knowing if this show could possibly end with the same intensity that the show maintained through out its entirety. Well, I personally found that the show's final episode was very well done. Everything the viewer had hoped for was achieved.

The writers of the show, came to the realization that many shows seemed to fail to acknowledge; that the show does not have to end with some kind of surprise that will shock the viewer, or having something unrealistic take place. The writers simply showed that Breaking Bad can end with something that is very predictable but at the same time, enjoyable and amazing to watch. That is what the show was able to finish so perfectly. By no means was I surprised; but the show had successfully showed the viewer on its final air date, a character that for the entire show, that you were meant to root for, finish his businessmen, and those around him, got what they deserved one way or another.

Throughout the show, myself as a viewer, I was constantly on the edge of my seat, always admiring the acting and how great the writers were. For most shows, it would appear, that as they become bigger and bigger, they lose sight of what they were attempting to create. Due to the fact that because many shows become huge, and their budgets grow tremendously, they feel the need to implement bigger, massive, and huge explosions and high special affects. It comes to no surprise why a lot of people would lose interest in a show that becomes to concerned with making the special affects a larger priority than the story line.  Breaking Bad, although the fan base was increasing at a very fast rate and yet, they never lost sight of what they were hoping to achieve, a simple individual that rose to his peak in a underground crime industry and came burning down. But at the same time being very realistic.

Nothing fancy, nothing over the top, a believable story, that had great acting, great music, and incredible writers. When those group of people come together, it shows. It showed me as a viewer, that these people may have been able to take part of a film or TV show individually, and made it some what better, but when you take people of their caliber, put them together, they create something that will be remembered for years to come. Over all, I believe that the show had a amazing life, and at the same time, a sad, but powerful ending. Something that I will most defiantly remember for the rest of my life, and I am sure that others will feel the same.

Winter In New Hampshire

Growing up in California, where it is 55-95 at the two extremes of winter and summer, the brutal Northeast winter's are not being as fruitful and beautiful as I had been told they would be. IT IS SO COLD! I want to go somewhere warm, where the water is nice, the sun is shining, and where I can go to the beach whenever I want. In the past month we have had 4 snow affected days, this is causing problems for my school and my education. Not to mention that it is so dangerous to drive in this weather. Even while following the law, I personally know 6 kids who have been in snow related accidents and I have witnessed countless other accidents or near accidents. As I write this I am witnessing another 5-8 inches fall and ruin a day that could be spent on the beach in 80 degree weather. People tell me all the time how "winter in the Northeast isn't that bad," "As long as you dress appropriately you will be fine." Okay, timeout, I call BS. Where do these people live, and how is their mental state of mind? I live in the Northeast and my mental health is great as far as I know and I am freezing my arse off. To be blunt, I am over it. Mother Nature is a cruel woman to those in the North and I as well as all of those around me can agree, we need at least a few more degrees and A LOT LESS SNOW! In all seriousness the Northeast winter's are brutal and no one should have to deal with them, (except all of the people who say "oh I love seasons, I love seasons too much.) Oh please, do me a favor and shut up because I have a plane to catch, where am I going? Somewhere WARM!

Musical Ambitions

Feb-18-14

Acting is one thing that I can do, and enjoy doing very much. Movies, plays, joke telling, if it involves having a different persona or pretending to be something else I love it! But, one thing I never felt comfortable with is singing! Enter Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, this musical is my all time favorite (Phantom of the Opera is a close second). I've sung along with the production but never put in my all because I didn't think my singing was worthy of their caliber, though my mother told me to swallow my pride and try. She found an advertisement for rehearsals for a teen production of Sweeney Todd. I had from Thursday to Sunday to practice my singing, still something I am not comfortable with. After constantly listening to the 1982 production of the musical and attempting to create my singing voice I went to my mother and told her that I wanted her opinion. After 20 minutes of coercion I sang and we both were expecting some atrocity to emit from my lungs, but, she said she was surprised by my voice. My efforts seemed to have really payed off when I sang for my friends and girlfriend, they all told me I had a good chance. I was feeling pretty good about myself, though I was still reserved about how good my singing actually was.

Sunday came very quickly and I was sitting in the rehearsal room with nine other people before I knew it. I was seventh to sing (I went eighth due to a faulty CD) and I knew that I knocked it out of the park! The directors for the production have very good poker faces but they forgot to cut me off when I came to a pause in the song (time constraints) which lead me to believe that they were surprised by what I brought fourth. We then went over lines and that was it. I went home feeling proud and excited for call backs on Friday.

The very next day, right when school got out I received a call from the directors, they wanted me to go back that night and have a second rehearsal with them! I was nervous and excited yet again. I showed up at the exact time they asked me to (have to be punctual). We went over more lines and I did my best to show them my range of emotion with the character, from lamentation to blind fury, though I feel my nerves got the better of me and I didn't do as well as I know I can. Then they wanted me to practice singing a song by the lead role! The catch was that this song has the highest note that the character hits, I'm still not 100% comfortable with my singing, and I could not hit it for the life of me! They said that I hit the note Sunday when I rehearsed and we did a range of my singing voice, but my nerves and discomfort prevented me from getting there!

Now I'm spending my nights practicing to hit that note over and over until I get it down. It's only Tuesday, I have no idea if I got the part, but I am committed to perfecting this role! So, Sweeney or bust!

Feb-20-14

 So, Tuesday right after school I received another call from Majestic Theater... I got Sweeney Todd! The lead role on my first musical I've ever auditioned for! I was exhilarated, nervous, and proud once again! I told my family and friends and even made it Facebook official. Xavier Christensen is the new face of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street!

Man Camp- February Post

I recently discovered a hidden talent of mine that just so happens to not really need much talent but I like to pride myself in thinking it does.  Snowmobiling anyone?  As of last weekend, I drove the three hours to Chesterville Maine with my best friend and her dad.  I had heard many stories that she told me, about their lake house in Chesterville known as "Man Camp."  As we arrived in the middle of nowhere, I knew it was going to be a fun weekend.  Saturday morning, after watching a beautiful sunrise above the lake, I might add, we took off for breakfast at the Harvest Breakfast House.  And did we drive? No, we snowmobiled the 48 miles it took to get there, going through fields, and over trails and down roads.  Not only was it total fun, but it was my first time as well.  And I was a beast at it, let me just say.  Not once did I crash, though I did have a slight mishap with some pavement and a snow bank.  But it was all good.  Throughout the entire weekend, we rode our sleds everywhere, and I had one of the best weekends of my life up at Man Camp.  Sometimes it's really nice to get away from everything and everyone. 

Everyday before school I get my Medium Iced Caramel Swirl Coffee from Dunkin Donuts. It's a morning routine that I've been doing for quite some time. The workers at Dunkin Donuts even know me pretty well by now. Especially because I have the same raspy voice and my loud engine of my diesel car that they can never seem to hear over. I used to have to scream over my car, but now they just know it's me.

I have so many different hand bangs I use in a day for school, work, going out, and the gym. This morning I left my house with my wallet still in my work bag. But, I did not realize this until I had already made my order at DD and drove up to the window. I looked around everywhere in my school bag and couldn't find it anywhere. I knew it was going to be a terrible day. I drove up to the window and said, "Sorry I forgot my wallet", I started to drive away. But then, she said wait. I waited anxiously to see if she was still just going to give me the coffee, for some miracle. 

She gave me the coffee anyways, and said she knew she'd see me tomorrow because I go to this dunkins everyday. Its the little things like that, that just make my day. 

Super Bowl 2014

Rock of the Thunder God

“Twilight of the Thunder God” is Swedish metal band Amon Amarth’s top hitting album and captures the band’s theme of vikings better than a musical Mjölnir ever could. Every song in this album has it’s own melodic earworm qualities. Released autumn 2008, “Twilight of the Thunder God” was the band’s first debut on the top 200 list of the Billboard 200 and rightfully so. The mix of harmonic vocals of featuring artists and heavy guitar riffs allows for a unique example of what the band is capable of. “The Hero” and “The Embrace of the Endless Ocean” both provide beautifully fluxuating guitar riffs that provide the feeling of charging horseback into battle. Every track on the album begins with an equally recognizable and glorious tune that sets the stage, so to speak, for the feel and story of that song. “Varyags Of Miklagaard” opens uniquely with the sound of drums beating like a war tune that opens into an ensemble of guitar. Finally the titled track “Twilight of the Thunder God” starts the entire album with the final battle between Thor and Jörmungandr, beginning Ragnarök, the end of days, and creating a bridge to their next album “Surtur Rising”, the next step in the beginning of the end for vikings. All together this album is an epic masterpiece of modern metal and is not to be passed by any fans of the genre or even those curious to listen to what metal is all about.

One of my favorite artists that isn't that popular in the U.S, is Bliss n Eso. They're from Australia, and they have never toured in the United States. They don't just rap about what everyone else does, they have a very unique style that makes them so catchy and relatable.

Their latest album, Circus in the Sky, starts off with a really famous speech that I love. Its all about the world uniting, hence the song title is called, Unite. I feel like I really love Bliss n eso because there actually real people with real ideas. Their music always talks about real ideas and it has really just been there for me when I'm really in the mood to listen to it.

Unfortunately, I'll never be able to see them in concert unless I go to Australia, or they come to the U.S.A. But if they did, I'd do anything to go to that concert and I encourage anyone with any taste to listen to them. Their music has so much passion and creativity in the sounds and lyrics. I've never loved a band more. They have the most creative ideas about what they talk about. Its hard to describe music in a paragraph to someone who hasn't listened to bliss n eso, but they always put me in a happy mood.

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra's album,"16 Most Requested Songs"(also know as his greatest hits), is the best compilation of his works made because of the heart, voice, and musicality incorporated into the songs "You'll Never Know" and "Five Minutes More". His entire album echos the classy time period in which his music was made and produced. The smooth vocals, and his own, set up the heart of the song "You'll Never Know" by perfectly capturing the emotion and somber tone the song posses, while infusing the melody and tune, creating the musicality found in all his greatest hits. Another song of Sinatra's, "Five Minutes More", displays the ideal example of voice. Some of his songs are mellow and slow, some are romantic and dreamy, while others still are playful and upbeat. "Five Minutes More" drips with the voice of fun and lightheartedness, showed by the humorous lyrics, increase in tempo, and the addition of a smile that can't be seen but can be heard. Frank Sinatra, a timeless vocalist and successful musician for over 50 years, created incredible music, resulting in his album "16 Most Requested Songs"all containing thriving heart, meaningful and varied voice, and strong musicality, making his album one of the greatest hits of all time.

Great Album.

On September 21, 1991, a band out of Seattle Washington named Nirvana would release "Never mind", the album that would allow the entire world to see,  their true potential as a rock group . The album does not maintain a constant pace, with some songs making the viewer feel as if its essential  to move, and the others making a individual want to sit and think. This album would push the band forward, by showing that they have the creativity to produce music that consists of melody and peace, but at the same time intense, all of which had not been seen on the album previously created, "Bleach". The songs were produced and placed throughout the album so throughout its full duration, the listener goes through many emotions. In the song "Come As You Are", the band would provide the listener with a song that would be considered to be at a moderate pace, and always being very consistent. As if to never allow the listener to stop their train of thought. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" would be changing paces throughout its entirety.  At times it would be would make the listener perceive that the song is slowing down, but then come to the realization, that it just exploded, resulting in those that hear this song, to go through many emotions. The song "Lithium" would push the listener, and at other times through out the song, allow the listener to stop and think. Which would produce many emotions, thoughts, and ideas to form throughout the song.  These three songs would provide those that listened many experiences that they would most likely not have anticipated, surely after hearing the band's previous work on the album "Bleach". The listener would  be greeted by a new style that the band would embrace confidently in "Nevermind" and in album to follow "Utero". Shoving them forward to a great amount of attention and praise from hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

"Trilogy" by The Weeknd

"Trilogy" was the first major appearance from The Weeknd and was what shot him out into the eyes and ears of millions of music lovers. The album is a 30 song album containing 3 of his old albums, but remastered along with the addition of 3 new songs "Twenty Eight", "Valerie", and "Till Dawn". His album was made of psychedelic, outrageous party music, and some relaxing melodies, but mostly consisted of calming and slow R&B. This album was made to showcase all of The Weeknd's older works and get him out and on the top charts, and it worked well for him. "Wicked Games" topped out as number 53 on the billboard top 100 after a week. This album shows a new artist making a killing in the hip hop and r&b world and showing off the skills he clearly has.

"Greatest Hits" -Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Greatest Hits"by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is a album full of classics that will outlast the test of time and remain one of the top albums to ever be created. It brings together the perfect combination of soul filled and upbeat rhythmic songs to portray a many different views that they have. My personal favorite "Under the Bridge"is a sad story of how the original guitarist, a heroin addict, dies due to an overdose. The sadness shown in this song truly brings out Anthony Kiedis's amazing voice as he deals with the death of his close friend. "Scar Tissue" is another truly sad song that Kiedis brings his addiction to drugs out to the stage. Both of these songs are incredibly songs filled with soul and meaning that any music lover could fall in love with. While on the other hand "Give it Away" and "Dani California" both are upbeat and rhythmic songs that show the crazier side of the Red Hot Chili Peppers pulling together a great album and making it my favorite among all albums in history.

"Here's To The Good Times...This Is How We Roll (Deluxe Version)" byFlorida Georgia Line

"Here's To The Good Times...This Is How We Roll (Deluxe Version)" by Florida Georgia Line is the two most successful albums of the young and upcoming band has put together. It consists  of 8 top 100 songs and 3 chart toppers, "Cruise," a summer song that is for hanging out with your friends around a fire just enjoying life, "This Is How We Roll," a song explaining that no matter what happens, no one will be able to take there home out of them, they are country boys and thats the way it's going to stay, and finally "Get Your Shine On," a party song about a young man wishing the girl he has taken out will have a few too many drinks. These young men started with a single hit that they incorporated into this album and by doing so "Cruise" came back from the dead. Some of the songs are fillers and remakes of songs from other artists such as "Black Tears" originally by Jason Aldean and remade by multiple artists including, Florida Georgia Line. Starting to emerge this group will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Overall the the album was a major success and will have songs on the charts for years to come.

Channel Orange - Frank Ocean

Frank Oceans debut "Channel Orange" has been labeled as an influential and rhythmic twist to modern R&B music. Bringing heart felt lyrics while skimming along being publicly recognized of being an artist unshakable by his surroundings. "Channel Orange" is realized as one of the best albums of the year in 2013 and Ocean is seen as the biggest breakout artist with the touching "Thinkin bout you" where he breaks various barriers in the craft of an artist of a very sensual genre. The album, for lovers of rhythm and blues, has relatively no holes that can be up for speculation. Taking a swing to make himself his own artist, tracks such as "Pyramids", "Forrest Gump" and "Super Rich Kids" originates Ocean even further. From the beginning to the end of "Channel Orange"  the basis for authenticity stays veridical. For that reason, Oceans entrance into the industry of not only rhythm and blues but the prevalent music empire around the globe, is treated as a broad achievement.