So...college.

I started classes at Queensborough Community College this past week. And I have to say, I think it's amazing. I lucked out and got good professors; I'm taking classes that genuinely interest me; I have long breaks between classes, during which I can relax and play guitar on the Quad (or do work, if need be); and the greater majority of people I've met on campus are mature and intelligent.
It's encouraging to be here. (My only complaint is that the books are back-breakingly expensive.)

A Blues Kind of Mood (A Song In The Night)

I trust my soul to these strings
And they give it wings;
I trust what's left of my heart
To this sweet guitar
And though she may love me back
It's not quite what we had
And I'm left wond'ring:
Where are you?

'Cause I have these moments in the early morning
When I haven't gotten sleep all night
And I'm losing my will and my way
And I'm sinking and losing my fight with that feeling
Since you've been gone.

One More Song [Firework Over the Freeway]

Hanging out on those old wooden bleachers
We all sang the farewells to our youth
And the fireworks lifted us up above our blues

We finish a song and raise our bottles
Start another and kick them back again
And that's when I call a toast for all my closest friends:

Here's to infinity
Here's to the life we lead
Here's to these nights I never want to put behind me

As the sun sets on today
And sets our sky aflame
We know that come tomorrow, we will never be the same

But I don't want these carefree days to go away

So we'll put on one more song
'Cause we're 18 and the night's still young
We'll keep this town awake until we're done
Sing it out:

Here's to infinity
Here's to the life we lead
Here's to these nights I never want to put behind me

As the sun sets on today
And sets our sky aflame
We know that come tomorrow, we will never be the same

But I don't want these carefree days to go away

Do you remember that old abandoned pier
Where we used to hang at night?
The sound of water and the distant Midtown lights

We'd swap bittersweet nostalgia
Wondering what might lay ahead
And that's when I'd call the toast for all my closest friends:

Here's to infinity
Here's to the life we lead
Here's to these nights I never want to put behind me

As we look out on the waterway
We feel this moment slip away
And we know that come tomorrow, we may never be the same

No, we can't let the memory fade --

Let's put on one more song
'Cause we're 18 and the night's still young
And we'll keep this tired town awake until that song is sung!

Here's to infinity
Here's to the life we lead
Here's to these nights I never want to put behind me

As we look out on the waterway
And the sun sets on today
We know that come tomorrow, we may never be the same
No, we may never be the same

So let us wish these carefree days won't go away
Let us wish these carefree days won't go away

A Painting Awaiting Completion

As I write this, I'm on the wooden bench in my backyard, waiting for the sun to rise. Lit citronella candles are all around me; I'm wearing comfortable pajamas and draped in a blanket, sipping from a steaming cup of strong coffee.
This is one of those moments when all the world seems to be put on hold: no worries, no problems -- I'm almost tempted to hum 'Hakuna Matata' -- and life actually takes on a feeling of peace. It's a painting awaiting completion, however; the icing on the cake would be having someone to share it with (remember that weekend?) -- but! -- this is one of those moments where I can smile and whisper to the stillness of dawn, "Life is good," and all is well. And even if it isn't, it will be some time soon.

A few songs that come to mind, that this moment really deserves:

"Come Away With Me" -- Norah Jones
Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song

Come away with me on a bus
Come away with me where they can't tempt us
With their lies

And I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won't you try to come?

Come away with me and we'll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me
And I'll never stop loving you

And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me

"Dogs" -- Damien Rice
She lives with an orange tree
The girl that does yoga
She picks the dead ones from the ground
When we come over

And she gives
I get
Without giving anything to me

Like a morning sun
Like a morning
Like a morning sun
Good good morning sun
The girl that does yoga
When we come over
Girl that does yoga

He lives in a little house
On the side of a little hill
Picks the litter from the ground
Litter little brother spills

He gives
I get
Without giving anything to me

And the dogs they run
And the dogs they
And the dogs they run
In the good good morning sun

Side of a little hill
Litter little brother spills
Side of a little hill

Oh and she's always dressed in white
She's like an angel, man
She burns my eyes
Oh, and she turns
She pulls a smile
We drive her round
And she drives us wild
Oh and she moves like a little girl
I become a child, man
She moves my world
And she gets splashed in rain
And turns away
And leaves me standing

She lives with an orange tree
The girl that does yoga
Got a wolf to keep her warm
When he comes over

She gives
He gets
Without giving anything to see

And the day it ends
And the day it
And the day it ends
And there's no need for me

The girl that does yoga
When we come over
The girl that does yoga

"You Belong To Me" -- Jason Wade
See the pyramids around the Nile
Watch the sunrise from the tropic isle
Just remember darling, all the while
You belong to me

See the marketplace in old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me

And I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember till you're home again
You belong to me

Oh I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember till you're home again
You belong to me

"Something Fine" -- Jackson Browne
The papers lie there helplessly
In a pile outside the door
I've tried and tried, but I just cant remember what they're for
The world outside is tugging like a beggar at my sleeve
Oh, that's much too old a story to believe

And you know that it's taken its share of me
Even though you take such good care of me
Now you say Morocco and that makes me smile
I haven't seen Morocco in a long, long while
The dreams are rolling down across the places in my mind
And I've just had a taste of something fine

The future hides and the past just slides
England lies between
Floating in a silver mist so cold and so clean
California's shaking like an angry child will
Who has asked for love and is unanswered still

And you know that I'm looking back carefully
'Cause I know that there's still something there for me
But you said Morocco and you made me smile
And it hasn't been that easy for a long, long while
And looking back into your eyes I saw them really shine
Giving me a taste of something fine
Something fine

Now if you see Morocco I know you'll go in style
I may not see Morocco for a little while
But while you're there I was hoping you might keep it in your mind
To save me just a taste of something fine.




P.S.: I hope you find moments like this. I really do. And I hope you'll realize how precious they are. I hope you'll enjoy them like I have, and I hope you know what it would mean to me that you are happy.

I don't know what to say about all of this.
February already seems like it was ages ago -- in terms of school, at least. I graduated last Thursday, and visited Whitestone Academy yesterday to hang out with my Creative Writing teacher for a bit (he awarded me at graduation for being at the top of my class, by the way), and when I saw a couple of my fellow graduates at the school, I felt as if I'd known them my whole life. But I've really only known them since February. And I only started really talking to a lot of them at prom.
It's just that these people are all I really have to remember high school by. These past four years are over. And it's just starting to sink in.
I don't like it. I should have had better times while I was still in high school.

PROM '09!!! (a week late with the pictures -- oh, well.)

Awesome. Freakin'. Night.
Sadly, I didn't have my own camera on me, so I can't provide full photographic coverage, but these are the pictures I've gotten from other people -- and there are a couple more on the way, so hang tight.

Welcome to the Waldorf=Astoria -- where chandeliers and other shiny motifs of high class abound!

Chilling at my post (at which I could easily avoid the dance floor) with occasional company.

With Mr. J's arrival, the party finally began to live up to its name...and I decided, at last, to join in (See? There I am -- in the background, with Dance Partner #1! Let's zoom in...).

My expression = *grumble* "I haven't even started to dance yet, why are you taking pictures?" *grumble*
I learned early, after several awkward moments, that the dance floor could not be avoided forever. (However, I owe the girl in this picture for getting me out there in the first place.)

On the floor with Dance Partner #2!

On the floor with Dance Partner #2 -- as well as Dance Partners #3 and #4, who swept in from across the room.
(I must a better dancer than I once thought.)

Ladies and gentlemen, the Graduation Cake has reached the dance floor!

CLASS OF '09!!!

I got called into the stretch Hummer for a nostalgic ride home in good company.

Don't grow up too fast
And don't embrace the past
This life's too good to last
And I'm too young to care...
-- from "Blackout" by Muse

This was a night I'll never forget.

Miss Communication

It would seem you've been
Reading my words to mean
Things that I never intended to say

(And now I see) When they came across
All that they meant was lost
And all that I wanted was bent out of shape

(All I wanted was) To know I had turned out alright in the end
Not to take steps back or to go there again
(But just) To know if maybe now I'm worth more
Than the fool I was then
And if I even deserve a friend --
I just hope that this miscommunication's at an end