MCR Lyrics of the Day

Considering that this blog is partly inspired by My Chemical Romance (see my first blog post ever here - lame!), I do get the occasional, irresistible urge to spurt out some random reference to them. I've been listening to MCR for 3 solid days now, every moment I get, and so I am just bursting with the urge to spurt, and thought I'd begin this "MCR Lyric of the Day" tradition, for times like these. 


So I'm beginning with a track off their more recent album, "Danger Days" a song quite simply called "Na Na Na". I'm not sure how many "Na's" there are supposed to technically be in there, but you'll know the song if you're a fan. 

This song in it's entirety is not meant to be understood... It's way 'out there', and totally abstract, and I don't know if anyone except Gerard Way truly knows what it's about, although I've heard it speculated that it's about corrupt society, commercialism and greed. Pretty deep stuff for a rock band.

Gerard Way being out there and abstract

But for all the bizarre lyrics, this one excerpt is so plain, and so cutting, it catches me mid-thought every time.

Excerpt from "Na Na Na" - My Chemical Romance

Everybody wants to change the world

Everybody wants to change the world

But no one..

No one wants to Die

Wanna try, wanna try,

Wanna try, wanna try, 

Wanna try now..

How true, that we as humanity are so very quick to verbalize our opinions on what would make this world a better place, but as soon as that requires some self-sacrifice or discomfort... well, that's a different story. Thought-provoking stuff. For a rock band.


Listen to "Na-Na-Na" here - it's a censored version, so feel free to crank it up! It flipping rocks.

Get Your Motor Runnin', Head Out On the Highway!

Wednesday 21st March, Human Rights Day in South Africa - we had the pleasure of attending a race day at one of our local race tracks. It's always such a good time, and I find it hard to understand people who are not petrolheads. Granted, being married to a petrolhead of such proportions - it is nearly an illness for some - I didn't have much choice but to fall in love with motorsport, but still... how can you not at least "appreciate" cars?


I won't pretend to know a great deal. I don't know how many horses they've put into a Mustang, or how many kilowatts power a BMW. I can't tell you much about a turbo or suspension, although I'm learning that cars with more valves have a lower torque, but a better overall performance. I do know what torque is, and how to spell it. Damn, I'm good.


There are various aspects that would entice someone like myself into the world of motorsports...


Food, for instance. There is some kind of scientific law of nature that guarantees that car people are also naturally food people. And as such, one is always guaranteed that car exhibitions, shows and races will likely have the best in burgers, chip 'n dips... and mini doughnuts. Yes... *dramatic pause*... Mini doughnuts. Crispy and sugary on the outside, and soft and warm inside... drenched in hot chocolate and caramel sauce. Yes! I admit that perhaps 50% of my enthusiasm for motoring events may stem from my deep-found appreciation and passion for mini doughnuts, but the other 50% should hopefully count for something.


And part of that 50% is the element of surprise that makes race days just... delightful! For instance, look at this....

This is Mark du Toit's 1969 Ford Mustang. It looks pretty quick, right?
Wrong. It's just pretty. 
With all due respect to the Du Toit family, whose collection of beautiful cars possibly outnumbers my collection of favourite songs (which is impressive), the Mustang is a bit of a boat on the track. And that's ok. If it's primary role is to evoke sighs of desire and gasps of awe, as a ballerina would as she pirouettes across a stage... well, the Mustang does a darn good job of it. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. The Mustang makes losing a race look graceful and timelessly wonderful. 


Then there's this....

...Racing against this...

...Neck in neck, lap after lap... how is that possible?? The VW Golf belongs to Mr. George Economides who is admittedly a legendary driver, and who had the honour of taking on the Nissan Skyline GTR in an epic battle who was owned by... well, someone with a great deal of money, and possibly a less legendary driver. We were all on the edge of our seats, watching these two take each other on, right until the end. Incredible entertainment! 


And then who wouldn't love seeing two little Lotus's...

... WIN - take first and second place consecutively - in the "Ultimate Street car" category. Not a BMW M3. Not a Honda Civic. Not a Mustang (obviously). The sweet, little, heartwarming, "cuddle-me-please" Lotus. First and Second place. 


Of course, there are also the ageless sounds of a race-day. The constant background sound of motors being tested to their limits on the dyno. Commentators yammering away, and cheesy old music blaring from crackly old speakerphones. Revving V8's and rotary engines that can only be described by saying that they sound like pure.... testosterone. Which would usually be extremely annoying and gross, except that at the race track it becomes extremely cool. 


So, sure, I don't know much about cars, except that I do love them. I shall thus end with a particularly fitting, cheesy music track - yes, there is always a song. And when it comes to tyres on tarmac, there is only one: Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild".


Turn it up, Fellow Inhabitants of this Planet, and let's cruise.

Open Heart Surgery

Dear Lord, 


I've been asking You to change me, from the inside, and make me into the person that You created me to be. I've been asking You to use me, to make a difference in my little world. 


Last night when I was praying, You laid on my heart to contact someone that I haven't spoken to in a long time. Someone that hurt me, and ultimately, someone that I also hurt in return. You laid on my heart to apologize for my part of the heartache, and to make things right. 


So I did just that, I contacted them, and You gave me the words when I didn't know what to say. Papa, I didn't expect a warm reception of my apology, but I had hoped that my words would fall on a softer heart. Instead, the response was cutting. 


Father, was I not being obedient to You? Did I hear You right? Did You really want me to dredge up the past and really deal with it - I thought we were doing quite well, just burying it until it didn't ache anymore. Deep down, I know it was the right thing. Sometimes, doing the right thing is painful. It can be humbling. Sometimes it even seems to backfire at the time.


My only reward, I guess, is in knowing that I've done everything that You wanted of me. Wow, it was more than a bit uncomfortable, and so humbling that it hurt. But We did it, and I'm glad. That's more than enough reward for me. 


Lord, this is one burnt bridge that may never be re-built. It is my heartfelt cry to You that You will build ten bridges for every broken one, and that someone, somewhere, will be there for this person where I failed them so long ago. 




Matt 5.46 "If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that."

Translation: If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?

As it turns out, being changed from the inside requires some open-heart surgery... but it sure does feel good. 

The Thing About Being an Aunty

So it's not really "news", especially for those that know me personally, but I am about to become an Aunt. My beloved big brother and his beautiful wife will be welcoming their firstborn into this enormous world in just two short weeks. Or sooner, if baby has anything to say about it. What a silly comment, considering that newborns (unborns, especially) don't say much in the first place. Never mind, you know what I mean. 


In any case, I am about to become a very proud, glowing Aunt of a perfect little boy. Of course, I've had a good seven-or-so months to ponder this new phase of life, and am pleased to announce that not only am I going to glow and be proud, but I am also going to be the very best Aunt that this world has to offer. 


The thing about being an Aunt is that, much like the child's grandparents, you get to indulge the child without the drag of being a disciplinarian. The difference is that while Grandparents are utterly and endlessly lovable to their grandchildren, Aunties and Uncles are ultra-cool and super-awesome... up until the child reaches about twelve years old. At which point he discovers a mind of his own, and at which point he will begin to disown his family one by one. (Except the Grandparents, of course) 


And so, I've been working on my game plan, on how I'm going to be the best Aunt on the planet, and hopefully prolong my state of awesomeness by a few years perhaps. 


For example, Grandparents give their grandchildren cake and marshmallows and Smarties, which is all very well as far as good old-fashioned sugar highs go. However, I plan on giving him Dracula-teeth-sweets and sour worms. Not only that, but I will ensure that I, too, have some vampire-teeth of my very own, and together we will wreak havoc and terror on the world with our terrifying terribleness. 

I am also not only going to give him his favourite cookies, but we will actually make his favourite cookies, in my very own kitchen. I will ensure that by the end of the exercise, he is covered head to toe with flour and sugar, and giggling like a girl at the silliness of it all. 


I then plan on carrying this giggling sack of potatoes over my shoulder and tossing him into a warm bath filled with bubbles, rubber ducks, and action men, and letting him play until his hands and feet are pruned beyond recognition. We will make soap-bubbles the way my Nana used to make for me. Bath times will be... Epic. 


Judging by the sweets and cookies, you may think I'm going to fatten this child up good and proper, right? No, no, of course not. I'm also going to set him free in our garden. I'll be the Aunt that kicks off my shoes and runs with him. We won't run anywhere in particular, we'll just run and run, until the great, big imagination in that adorable little head of his comes up with some kind of game to be incorporated into our run. And we'll dig up worms, lots of them, into wriggling piles of fun and awfulness. 

And so it goes on... All I want to do is give this little boy as many reasons as possible to love living in this great big world. In light of all that parents do to nurture, protect and love their children, it's the very least that any Aunt can do. 


So, yes. It is possible that I will indeed be the best Aunt ever. Or come darn close in trying. 

Shut Up Little Voice, I'm Human!

Psalm 32v10: He that trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him…

At this point in my life, there are some things that hurt. Some things that I can’t make happen by myself, and things that I have no choice but to trust the Almighty with. And I do, I really do. I’m not obsessing over these things, and I’m doing my utmost with the wonderful life that I have before me right now.

But I can’t help it if sometimes life gets me down. I’m feeling low this morning. I’m all too aware today of the things I can’t control, things that I’m praying for breakthrough on, things that I know only God Himself can do. My breakthrough isn’t here yet, and I keep hoping it will be soon. I just keep hoping, trusting. Still, my heart is sad.

Why is it then that I have this mean little voice in the back of my head telling me that I’m never going to succeed, because I’m not trusting the Lord. Telling me that I should be displaying my trust in a show of continual happiness and peace. If I were truly placing my trust in the Lord, I would not be feeling this way, right?

I’m not happy right at this moment!

And there are things that I don’t have peace about within my heart!

But I DO trust my Father to care for me. You stupid little voice, how dare you tell me how to feel!?

Man I am so tired of feeling bad for not fitting the mould. I’m breaking free of this. I’m going to have bad days, world, so just deal with it. Being God’s child doesn’t make me impermeable to pain, it doesn’t make me a doormat to be walked over, and it doesn’t give me a happy mask to wear every day.

Jesus wept.

Jesus challenged people over things that were worth the argument.

Jesus pushed tables over, with a whip in his Hand, in an outrage over something that He was righteously indignant over. How I’d love to see His face, red with anger, eyes glittering with passion!

So if I’m not feeling 100% today, I know my Papa in heaven doesn’t mind. He knows I’m human, and that I can’t see the bigger picture, and He understands that it’s frustrating to wait around, blindfolded about the future and hurting about the present.

He’s more Gracious than you, little voice, so take your guilt trip somewhere else.

Steve Turner (who may or may not have been stoned) #2

I think we're long overdue for a Steve Turner poem, it's been many months since I shared with you the literary genius that is White With Two Sugars (Please).


It's hard for me to choose one piece to share, being the Steve Turner fan that I am, but in the spirit of February, Valentines, and all that is 'the month of love', I have chosen two slightly twisted poems on love. 


Enjoy :-)


Ambush - by Steve Turner


I'm never
falling
tumbling
slipping
or tripping
in love again
I had said,
closing my heart
until further notice.
Little did I consider
that even Love had fallen
foul of technological progress.
Unknown to me, Cupid had
long since traded in
his futile wooden bow
for a bright metal machine gun.


I'm back again.
Being very good friends.
Trying hard not to notice
the row of holes
currently appearing
across my chest.




And if your Valentines this year is a little less quirky...


Jilted - by Steve Turner


The first time
you are caught loving
in a just-friendly zone
they fine you
two eyes washed in tears
and a letter of appeal.
The next time it's three unpublished poems,
a few pounds in weight,
and an hour long discussion.
If it should happen
a third time
they have to withhold your feelings
so that your will learn
how to use them properly.




Happy Valentine's Fellow Inhabitants of this Planet - may Love, unconditional, plutonic and romantic, bestow it's wonderful glow on you today!

a most random thought

I wonder if anyone has ever scrolled to the very bottom of this page to feed my fishies.