A beer with Tom Waits

I'm approaching another birthday in nine days. My hope is that I will learn to enjoy life better that I did. Until then, I'm doing the same things I've always done. What have I learned in those past 25 years? Something, I think. I've learned a few. When I sign now, I feel like I know what it means. It's best done softly, and privately, so as not to stir up the dust of my youthful confidence. I pause now in speaking, talk less in public, trying to convince myself that the next word is worth the effort (of both me and people who have to listen to me). I've learned that communication is still the only way to really communicate. It works sometimes but only if you do it.

I woke up this morning, staring up at the blankness of the ceiling. I don't know when I started doing that, but I don't think it has been long. You die when you go to sleep. Doctors don't tell you this because they don't want to scare you. Sleep equals death. Dreams are the test. If you pass the test, you come back to life and live another day. If you fail, your soul is lost and you morph into an extra in the dream of others. I've taken up this breathing exercise. I started it almost 25 years ago. As long as you do it, you will never die. In and out, in and out. It's easy.

I'm listening to Tom Waits singing "I hope that I don't fall in love with you". I admit he doesn't make a good first impression. The first time I heard his songs through a radio, my feeling was "what kind of voice is this? Is he drunk?". but if you are patient and give him a tiny part of your time, he might win you over. It helps if you are tipsy. Unless, of course, you are a soulless monster. Perhaps you are. I suppose some of you are. Listen to the words, not just the voice. Or don't. Be a monster. You are beyond my help.

Here are his songs:

Today I learned that I can throw my clothes in the dryer for about five minutes to get wrinkles out.

The more I look at the picture, the more amused I feel.

Hello, friends. How old are you?

-k

Comments

[Thanh]

Happy early birthday, Mr Kay! :D

Were you born under the Chinese zodiac of Ox, the Western zodiac of Taurus and on the Labor Day? You should be very laborious. :))

Do you like Guan Yun Chang? :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pluvVeG3Ie8
You like Qin Shi Huang so do you like Jing Ke - tráng sĩ một đi không trở về? :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghcbvhDM__w
I don't understand why the theme song "Riding alone for thousands miles" reminds me of Jing Ke, not Guan Yu.

I'm graduating from college this year, btw. :P

[knguyen]

Hello Thanh,

Your calculation is correct but you seem to imply that I was destined to a life of labor :D.

What are the references to Chinese motion pictures about? You are random :P.

Thank you for the birthday wish :). I hope you are enjoying those last days in college.

-k

[Thanh]

You can say that I'm random when someone used that word for your thing before huh? http://knguyen.typepad.com/knguyen/2009/12/fish.html :P

I wonder why boys often think smart but act stupid while girls (I mean, me) may think stupid but act charmingly. *blush*

"Who are the new friends? What does the new status mean? She is stressed. Is it because of work or because she misses me. She seems happy in the new photos. Does that mean she is over me? Perhaps she is trying to look happy so I think that she is over me when she is actually sitting at home watching Friends in hear sweat pants and hugging the teddy bear I bought?" 8->
http://knguyen.typepad.com/knguyen/2010/03/valentine.html

You may think I'm fantasizing about myself but I like Jing Ke because of his fantasy. :D

[knguyen]

Oh Thanh, I think I start feeling afraid of you... :D

-k