MONO Lessons (Part XIV: 271- 299)

Meditatively Obtained, Novel, and Observational (MONO) Lessons

271. I think someone has ADD…

272. Almond Breeze is my favorite milk replacement.  Mmmm

273. They make butters other than peanut butter.

274. Oats are a major topic of conversation.  Especially among Celiacs.

275. Immune systems are actually supposed to stop a cold from taking over your body.  Mine did that for the first time in years!  Hooray!

276. The Stanford Prison Experiment.  Ryan and I rocked this thing.

277. Gluten antibodies attack and chop down the villi in my small intestines.  Lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, is created in the tip of the villi.  Hence, I will seem “lactose intolerant” until my villi grow back.

278. “Wheat-free” does NOT infer “gluten-free.”

279. Blogging is like a disease.  A rather contagious disease.

280. I’m a gatekeeper.

281. I live my life as an oxymoron.  I love oxymorons and paradoxes.

282. Mayonnaise is evil.  Of the devil, if you will.

283. I am eternally grateful for my past.  Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

284. I am infinitely relieved to have made it through the reconciliation brawl physically alive, psychologically intact, mentally resilient, and spiritually affirmed.

285. “He’s not cute enough to be gay!” – SH.  I then burst out laughing.

286. Late at night, even regular humans can suddenly become cute, cuddly zombies.

287. I attached to UTemps like it was a person…

288. These tremendously complex bodies are bound to have a few minor errors.

289. Slumdog Millionaire is simply unbelievable and moves me in a way no movie ever has.

290. Really.  It’s not me!  It’s everybody else…. Trust me.

291. It’s not fair.  And that will continue to resonate in my mind.  It’s simply not fair.

292. Outback is a GF Mecca.  P.F. Chang's can be Mecca #2.

293. I think about them every single day…

294. “When in doubt, leave it out.” – Danna Korn from Living Gluten-Free for Dummies

295. Gluten could be the answer behind everything.

296. Some servers can really surprise me with their gluten-free skill and memory.  Really, though, he should have written it all down…I’m complicated.

297. I will meet my soul mate at Whole Foods.  I’m convinced.  See “Aaron the Whole Foods Boy."

298. Windows 7 doesn’t like power outages.

299. That said, F6 is the secret, magical, earth-saving button.

Medium Music + More

Speaking of Medium (see my previous blog), I discovered this amazing song because of that amazing show...which is being cancelled.  Did ya hear?  Anyway, a handful of Medium episodes include a strategic placing of music.

The placement of "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train in an early season 6 episode of Medium was brilliant!  I instantly fell in love with this song before it was even released!  Let it be known that I was WAY ahead of the rest of the world with this song.  By the time it hit the Top 10 list on iTunes, it was old news to me (and my friends, thanks to me).  I mean like 6 month old news...  Way to be behind, world.  You should have watched Medium.  And now it's being cancelled because of you.  Oh, and CBS's idiocy.

Here is the music video for "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train and premiered on Medium.  Lyrics below.

"Hey, Soul Sister" - Train

Heeey heeeey heeeeey

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you
And so I went and let you blow my mind
Your sweet moonbeam
The smell of you in every single dream I dream
I knew when we collided you're the one I have decided
Who's one of my kind

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

Heeey heeeey heeeey

Just in time, I'm so glad you have a one track mind like me
You gave my life direction
A game show love connection, we can't deny
I'm so obsessed
My heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest
I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

The way you can cut a rug
Watching you is the only drug I need
So gangster, I'm so thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of
You see I can be myself now finally
In fact there's nothing I can't be
I want the world to see you'll be with me

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight
Heeey heeeey heeeeey (tonight)
Heeey heeeey heeeeey (tonight)

Next we have "Hands All Over" by Maroon 5.  This song was strategically placed in a fairly early episode of this season of Medium, season 7 (the last season...because it's being cancelled prematurely).  To say the least, the inclusion of this song was hilarious.  In this episode, Allison DuBois had a, let's say, wandering hand...

Here is "Hands All Over" by Maroon 5, the title track for their newest album, and featured on Medium.  Lyrics below.

"Hands All Over" - Maroon 5

Put your hands all over

Put your hands all over me 

Put your hands all over

Put your hands all over me
(Put your hands all over me)

I can't seem to find the pretty little face I left behind
Wandered out on the open road
Looking for a better place to call home
Gave her a place to stay and she got up and ran away
And now I've had enough
Her pretty little face has torn me up

Put your hands all over me please talk to me, talk to me
Tell me everything's gonna be alright
Put your hands all over me
Please walk with me, walk with me now
Love is a game you say
Play me and put me away

(Put your hands all over me) ooh oh!

Now you've lost your mind
The pretty little girl I left behind
And now you're getting rough
But everybody knows you're not that tough

Wandered out on the open road
Looking for a place to call your own
You're scared to death of the road ahead
Pretty little thing, don't get upset

Put your hands all over me please talk to me, talk to me
Tell me everything's gonna be alright
Put your hands all over me please walk with me, walk with me now
Love is a game you say play me and put me away
Love is a game you say play me and put me away
Put your hands all over me
Put your hands all over me
Put your hands all over me
All over me

So come down off your cloud
Say it now 'n say it loud
Get up in my face
Pretty little girl come make my day

Put your hands all over me
Please talk to me, talk to me
Put your hands all over me
Gotta walk with me, walk with me now
Put your hands all over me
Gotta talk to me, talk to me
Come on now, babe
Put your hands all over me
Gotta walk with me, walk with me now
Love is a game you say play me and put me away
Love is a game you say play me and put me away
Put your hands all over me
Yeah (All over me)

Put your hands all over
Put your hands all over me

Now I didn't say I was a huge fan of the song "Hands All Over," but hearing it on Medium got me researching Maroon 5's new album by the same name.  Since I'm on a roll here, I have to share my two favorite songs from the album Hands All Over.  They are both exquisite.

First is "How":

"How" - Maroon 5 

Ohhh

I have been searching for your touch
Unlike any touch I've ever known
And I never thought about you much
Till I'm broken down and all alone, ohhh

Though I don't understand the meaning of love
I do not mind if I die trying, ohhh
Took it for granted when you lifted me up

I'm asking for your help
I am going through hell
Afraid nothing can save me but the sound of your voice
You cut out all the noise
And now that I can see mistakes so clearly now
I'd kill if I could take you back

But how?
But how?

I can feel it in my guts
What's going on with him now
Don't patronise me with lies,
I'm a man, be a woman now, ohhh

I have been bound by the shackles of love
And I don't mind if I die tied up, ohhh
Took it for granted when you lifted me up

I'm asking for your help
I am going through hell
Afraid nothing can save me but the sound of your voice
You cut out all the noise
And now that I can see mistakes so clearly now
I'd kill if I could take you back

But how?
But how?
But how?
But how?

Ohh yeah
Why must we be so ugly
And please do not think ill of me
Why does the one you love
Become the one who makes you want to cry
Why?
Why?
Why?

(And how?
How?)

Though I don't understand the meaning of love
I do not mind if I die trying
I do not mind if I die trying
I do not mind if I die trying

And lastly, "Never Gonna Leave This Bed."  Best part?  There's also an acoustic version...with a cello.  Holy crap, right?  Here is the original and acoustic.  What an intense song...

Original

Acoustic

"Never Gonna Leave This Bed" - Maroon 5

You push me
I don't have the strength to
Resist or control you
So take me down, take me down

You hurt me
But do I deserve this?
You make me so nervous
Calm me down, calm me down

Wake you up
In the middle of the night to say
I will never walk away again
I'm never gonna leave this bed, oh

So come here
And never leave this place
Perfection of your face
Slows me down, slows me down

So fall down
I need you to trust me
Go easy, don't rush me
Help me out, why don't you help me out?

Wake you up
In the middle of the night to say
I will never walk away again
I'm never gonna leave this bed, oh

So you say "Go, it isn't working"
And I say "No, it isn't perfect
So I'll stay instead"
I'm never gonna leave this bed

Take it, take it all
Take all that I have
I'd give it all away just to get you back

And fake it, fake it
I'll take what I can get

Knocking so loud
Can you hear me yet
Try to stay away but you can't forget

Wake you up
In the middle of the night to say
I will never walk away again
I'm never gonna leave this bed, oh

So you say "Go, it isn't working"
And I say "No, it isn't perfect
So I'll stay instead"
I'm never gonna leave this bed, ooh

Take it, take it all
Take all that I have
(x7)

Addition made on March 26, 2017 at 7:28 PM:

In Medium's Season 2, Episode 22 episode called "Twice Upon a Time" originally airing May 22, 2006, the Dixie Chicks premiered their song "Lullaby" which was released on their hit record Taking the Long Way the next day, May 23, 2006.

"Lullaby" - Dixie Chicks

They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

So much music!  Hope you enjoyed.

"Any Day Now" by Missy Higgins

Here, Missy performs one of my very favorite songs of hers called "Any Day Now" at the Aquashell in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia.  Lyrics provided below.

"Any Day Now" - Missy Higgins

How long, how long, how long will we take to come undone?
If you know the answer tell me now and I'll write up a calendar for our count down.
'Cos what if what we see is all, is all we've got?

Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night. 
And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day. 
Any day now...

How come, how come, how come I'm now on a road holding out my thumb? 
If you know my destination please buy me the fastest car and throw me the keys. 
'Cos what if what we see is all, is all we've got?

Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night. 
And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day. 

'Cos finger by finger we're losing grasp and
I'm questioning the reasons why nothing beautiful does last...

Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night. 
And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day, 
To me some surprising day...

Any day now...

MONO Lessons (Part XIII: 246-270)

Meditatively Obtained, Novel, and Observational (MONO) Lessons

246. March 1st’s abruptness can actually continue to surprise me, and more so each year.

247. While in the shower, I realized I haven't honestly had the drive to find a companion or a mate since last July (2009).  And the drive continues to be absent.  (Typed in late February / early March 2010.)

248. “Time just sifts through its sift.”  (from “Buildings” by Regina Spektor)

249. Swallowing pride isn’t all that bad.  And it’s gluten-free!!!

250. Communication is KEY…from every individual involved.

251. Timing is everything…still.

252. Reaching new levels of friendship are the best!

253. Rapture is found in challenging yourself.

254. Once you floss for a while, on a regular basis, that is, your gums eventually stop bleeding!

255. I can’t read your damn mind.

256. A lot of people just don’t understand depression and it’s not worth my time trying to get them to understand.

257. I love my friends to death…but they can sure do some things that really grind my gears.

258. Lack of communication pisses me off.

259. I never thought I could/would talk about poop so freely and easily.

260. Addendum to lesson #205:  Yes, nothing beats IMAX 3D, but nothing is more trippy than IMAX 3D on the front row.  Those numbers at the beginning…they literally hit you in the face.

261. “I have been running, so sweaty my whole life / Urgent for a finish line. / And I have been missing the rapture this whole time of being forever incomplete.” (from “Incomplete” by Alanis Morissette)  Alanis taught me this a while ago, but I thought it was worth adding to my list.

262. I can live without nasal spray finally.  A day for the history books:  Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 11:35PM I threw away my last bottle of nasal spray.  Since I hadn’t used it in a week, it seemed like an appropriate opportunity to get it out of my life.

263. All goat-derived products are absolutely repulsive.

264. Rubio’s is just plain amazing.

265. Giving an honest and positive opinion is really worthwhile.

266. I have absolutely no control over my intense attraction to certain people.

267. The only reason Saturday morning online class tests aren’t all that bad is the fact that I get to watch an episode of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers before driving up to the U.

268. Group work…ugh…it’s obnoxious, really.  Always has been, always will be.

269. When I get extremely angry about my food situation, I go on a gluten-free shopping spree and throw out intolerable food at home.

270. TMI, but I’ve never pooped this regularly before.  A good and healthy diet sure helps a lot.

Ignorant Remarks, Insensitive Timing - Their Injurious Consequences and the Impending Paradigm Shift

1.

"We must understand that any persuasion to enter into any relationship that is not in harmony with the principles of the gospel must be wrong."

A monogamous same-sex relationship in no way deviates from the principles of the gospel.  However, it is interpreted that since both members of the duo are of the same sex, this relationship is "unnatural."  "Unnatural" is a synonym for "wrong" in the LDS Church.  I believe life is too complicated to be described by plug outlets and pipe joints.  Of course a male joint won't attach to another male joint.  But you know what?  I'm not a plug.  I'm a human being.  I believe my biology, psychology, physiology, and spirituality are a bit more intricate than a plug's.  My point is, it's not black and white.  No matter how many times I say that, the people who think it is black and white are too insane (I mean that quite literally) to even consider other thinking.  You only become sane when you realize your own and the world's insanity - and change.

Who are you to define what is "natural" and what is not?  Lack of understanding about something doesn't make it "unnatural."  Take gravity, for instance.  I'm in physics and I know physicists know NOTHING about gravity.  It's the weirdest force.  It hasn't yet been "combined" with all of the other forces.  That's the purpose of the various grand unified theories out there (like String Theory).  Being the physics nerd I am, then, I have to pick at Elder Packer's quote about voting to change the law of gravity.

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"Nightminds" by Missy Higgins

"Nightminds" is my first Missy Higgins experience.  2.5 - 3 years ago, one of my best friends told me to look this song up.  As you guessed or already know, I got hooked.  

Since then, I've followed Missy's musical life, seen her twice in concert, taken a road trip (with said best friend) to see her, met her, and got her autograph.  So I guess this song means even more to me now because, without it, I wouldn't have had some of the most amazing experiences of my life and I would have missed out on some outstanding singer-songwriter lyrics, chords, and vocals.  

Thanks, friend.  This post is for you and our nightminds.  :-)

"Nightminds" - Missy Higgins

Just lay it all down.
Put your face into my neck and let it fall out. 
I know, I know, I know.
I knew before you got home. 
This world you're in now, 
It doesn't have to be alone, 
I'll get there somehow, 'cos
I know, I know, I know,
When even springtime feels cold. 

But I will learn to breathe this ugliness you see, 
So we can both be there and we can both share the dark. 
And in our honesty, together we will rise, 
Out of our nightminds, and into the light
At the end of the fight.

You were blessed by a different kind of inner view: it's all magnified. 
The highs would make you fly, but the lows make you want to die. 
And I was once there, hanging from that very ledge where you are standing. 
So I know, I know, I know, 
That it's easier to let go. 

But I will learn to breathe this ugliness you see, 
So we can both be there and we can both share the dark.
And in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds
And into the light at the end of the fight. 

And in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds
And into the light at the end of the fight.