ARGH!

TOO MUCH TO DO!

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The ironic thing is that in the last ten minutes that it took me to type all of this up, I could have done aforementioned homework... I should check Facebook...

Flashback

Two things this weekend have reminded me of past years.

First, on a more serious note, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving and Christmas, more than any other holidays, always seem to remind me of old times with family celebrating these wonderful times together. This Thanksgiving was different than any other Thanksgiving. It was the first ever I've spent in Utah, not Texas. It was strange and forced me to think about what has changed in the last several years. So much has.

I love Christmas, and I honestly cannot wait. The morning after Thanksgiving I was blasting Christmas music in my room and it made me smile :). I love the traditions of Christmas and the whole month leading up to it! This year, all I can think of is last Christmas season and its wonderful memories. My anticipation for Christmas and the flashback to last year is reflected in part of my musical choice, if you noticed. Last Christmas season, I listened frequently to the Relient K Christmas CD (hence that song) and Taylor Swift has a song called "Last Christmas" so how could I possibly resist that??

If you're wondering about the remainder of my peculiar music choice, the second flashback-inducing experience explains those!

Several days ago, someone I hadn't seen in ten years found me on Facebook! Isn't Facebook wonderful? His name is Amir and he was one of my best friends in second grade.

I'm sure several of those reading recall the infamous "Boy Band Picture" taken last school year of a rather studly quartet: Bradley Marshall, Albert Cui, Takami Kowalski, and myself, Blake Ellison.

Rewind this picture ten years and you get SilverStreak! It was pretty much a Backstreet Boys tribute band but it was composed of equally studly men... in second grade: Amir Nazari, Tom Lechtinberg (I still have no idea how to spell it...), and, once again, Bradley Marshall and myself, Blake Ellison.

The boy band SilverStreak roamed the halls and playground of Peruvian Park singing favorites such as "As Long As You Love Me" and "I Want It That Way". We were well-known throughout the class for our vocal talents. One of our members (not the right one *cough cough*) even won an award at the end of the year for "Best Voice!"

Good times in 2nd grade... I'm feelin' SilverStreak Reunion Tour, any takers?

Taylor Swift

I've decided to devote a blog post to Taylor Swift and it is quite frankly overdue. For those who know me, you understand this and are quite possibly wondering why it took me so long!

We were both young when I heard her... I close my eyes and the flashback starts...

I was first introduced to Taylor when I was in ninth grade. I noticed that a friend of mine was listening to "Teardrops on My Guitar" on IM (back in the day, obviously) and decided to take a gander and listen to the song! Soon, I was entranced and purchased the song! Quickly, "Teardrops" made it to one of my most played songs - I was a dramatic little ninth grader! You know, 'cause when I was fifteen, I was feelin' like there's nothin' to figure out, but I counted to ten and took it all in...

Unfortunately, it was another two years before I would truly appreciate all of Taylor's repertoire. One dark night in... November, I believe, of my junior year, I was listening to the only song I had of hers, and I decided it was time for me to branch out and get her other songs, for after all, I loved this one so much. I took a chance, I took a shot: I bought her two albums: her self-titled one and Fearless, a new release.

Best two musical purchases I have ever made.

Her songs are fantastic and her voice... melodic. I must confess, I developed quite a soft spot for the nice young lady. Maybe I should've said no, but it was a moment of weakness, and I said yes!

Initially, she was my guilty listening pleasure - imagine, a sixteen-going-on-seventeen year old boy in high school listening to Taylor Swift! Soon, however, I learned to proudly display my newest and greatest musical interest.

Since that fateful November night, many things have happened in my life and Taylor's music has been there. On the year's anniversary of the commencement of my complete Taylor listening experience, her songs have taken on an entirely different meaning.

The memories I have of her songs vary wildly. There were happy times and sad times, funny times, and emotional times. When I hear Taylor Swift's songs, I recall driving with buddies across the valley, trekking at Philmont singing my renditions of her songs, and amazed glances I receive when someone learns that I know every word to every song of Taylor's.

When I think Taylor Swift, I think fireworks, literal and emotional, beneath the stars, in the field behind your yard. I think of summer, the best I've ever had. I think of my favorite song, the one we danced to all night long.

It's hard not to find it all a little bittersweet.

:)

Winter

Winter has come to Salt Lake City