Removable Things

I've really gotten into Jack Johnson music over this past year. I think he's a great songwriter...this is just my opinion of course, but being as involved in music as I've been over the past couple decades, I feel that's saying a lot.

It's just so very positive. I think in the early part of this past year I was in about as deep a depression as I've ever been for various reasons....without this music I may have had a much harder time climbing out. I've never done this before, but for 2 months I listened to nothing else but Jack Johnson. I didn't watch any TV, I didn't put on any of my other thousands of CDs....just his music on permanent loop from morning till night. Wacky huh? Even I thought it was bizarre at the time but it was the only thing that made me feel good. Better then drowning myself in drugs or alcohol I guess.

I've kind of kept part of that habit up for positive spirits. For the past year I've almost completely rid myself of watching or reading the news. News isn't positive at all. What do you watch but stories of people dying, politicians spouting bullshit, disease, war, etc etc. Why do I need that in my life? Screw it I say. I don't know what's going on beyond my own life and I've been much happier about it.

Look at this lyric from JJ's song "Gone"
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And cars and phones and diamond rings
Bling, bling
Those are only removable things
And what about your mind
Does it shine or
Are there things that concern you more
Than your time

Gone going
Gone everything
Gone give a damn
Gone be the birds when they don’t want to sing
Gone people
All awkward with their things
Gone
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How good is that? It just grounds me. When I look around me....what do I care about this stupid iPod, PSP, TV, Stereo, cell phone, etc etc. When it comes down to it, what really matters is family & friends. My new business isn't here to enable me to get rich. It's here to enable me to enjoy more time with friends and build a family of my own.

I think.... If my girl Christy turns out to be the "one" someday, all this material stuff I would gladly give up in a second. Sell it all, pick up roots, plant myself in a new life full of new experiences. I guess only time will tell if I feel as strongly about this in the time to come. It's exciting daydreaming about it for sure.

Look at JJ for instance. He's gone from pro surfer, to successful filmmaker, and now to celebrity songwriter. Would he be where he is without having taken chances and stumbled around in life?

Christy sent me an e-card yesterday...it had a cartoon of a guy holding a whiteboard in front of him. In the back it said "All I want for Christmas is.....". Then the guy draws a big red "U" on the board. Hehehe. Awwww. High school stuff I know but still brings a smile to my face regardless. Gone everything, Gone give a damn

I highly recommend the 2 Jack Johnson DVDs if you like the music at all. One was filmed at the Greek Theatre over in CA. My brother actually went to that show. The other was filmed in Japan. Damn solid DVD this Greek show. Just like being there.

A few months earlier I had gone to JJ's concert over here at the Waikiki Shell. He had G.Love, Ozomatli, John Cruz, and Jackson Browne here with him. Memory might have faded from me but I must count that as one of the top live concerts I've ever been to...and I've been to a lot. The encore to the night was a 3 way harmony with JJ, JBrowne, and John Cruz. The heavens opened up I swear.