New Year's Revolutions

According to Wikipedia, the following are characteristics of stable, high-functioning adults:

1. Altruism (constructive service for other people that brings pleasure and satisfaction);
2. Anticipation (realistic planning for future discomfort);
3. Humor (an interesting inclusion. Apparently, the ability to point out absurdity or unpleasantness while causing amusement or pleasure is a mature skill. A good way to deal with situations that would otherwise be too difficult or distressing);
4. Identification (the unconscious modeling of oneself after a role model);
5. Introjection (identifying with some object or idea so strongly that it becomes a part of oneself);
6. Sublimation (we all know this one-- transforming a negative impulse into positive behavior. Turning darkness into light. Alchemy);
7. Thought suppression (not to be confused with repression. The ability to push conscious thoughts or emotions into the pre-conscious in order to better deal with present reality. Delaying dealing with an emotion or need until later, and then processing and accepting it).

Something for me to think heavily about. (These traits are the fourth level of psychic "defense mechanisms", the level being called Mature. The first three levels of d.m.'s-- Pathological, Immature, and Neurotic--are even more interesting, but I'll address those in further blog posts).

Also, if you'd like, you can watch my cover version of Queen's "You Take My Breath Away" which I whipped together after thinking that C minor was such a pretty-sounding chord:

Click Here!

If you think that sucked and need a palette-cleanser, I recommend Morrissey's "Ouija Board, Ouija Board":

The Table is Rumbling

HAIL SANTA

This Seems Somehow Important

In Buddhist cosmology, there is a deity known as Ragaraja, or Aizen Myouou in the Japanese. He is depicted as a red-skinned, scowling man. He represents the point at which sexual agitation becomes enlightenment, and romantic love becomes love for all living creatures.

The first time Pattie Boyd first met George Harrison, she thought he was one of the most beautiful men she'd ever seen. One of the first things he said to her was "Will you marry me?" She laughed, and so he said, "Well, if you won't marry me, how about dinner tonight?" From there, of course, they famously wound up together. (Look at this incredibly beautiful picture):

In one of the most well-known pieces of rock and roll lore, Harrison's friend Eric Clapton fell hard for Boyd not long after. After she rebuffed his advances, Clapton retreated into heroin and isolation. He found an important artistic parallel in a Persian story from the 12th century, called Layla and Majnun. The story was about a moon-princess, Layla, who was carried off by her father to be with someone other than the man who loved her, which resulted in his eventual madness. This struck an obvious chord with Clapton, who went on to write a pretty good song about it.

Eventually, Harrison's interest in spiritual matters and his changing personality alienated Boyd, who divorced him in 1977. She would marry Clapton two years later.

The relationship was stormy. Clapton carried on several affairs and developed an alcohol problem, although there were apparently several wonderful nights, about which Clapton wrote a rather less good song. Clapton and Boyd divorced in 1988.

Strange overtones

In the music you are playing

I'll harmonize

It is strong and you are tough

But a heart is not enough