There's a reason why my soul's on sound...

So, I know my last post was in memory of a great musician, 

but you know what, this one is going to be too.   

Happy Birthday 

Bradley Nowell

(February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996)

A music legend, music mastermind, who was the lead singer and guitarist for one of the greatest bands of all time, Sublime. His love for reggae came into play the summer of 1979, when he and his father took a sailing trip through the Virgin Islands. Although he had a little bit of trouble trying to get the other 6th graders to seem to want to enjoy his new found love.

Random facts about Bradley Nowell and/or Sublime

• Nowell grew up in Long Beach, California with his parents and sister.
• His dad played the guitar. Mother played the piano and flute. Both helped teach Bradley how to play the guitar.
• His love for reggae came into play the summer of 1979, when he and his father took a sailing trip through the Virgin Islands.
• The bassist, Eric Wilson, was in Bradley's first band, Hogan Heroes
• Sublime became popular in SoCal by being known for their rowdy behavior at gigs. Things would get so out of control, the cops would be called and they'd be forced to leave. Keep in mind these were small gigs such as house parties, barbecues, etc.
• So it'd be easier for Sublime to get gigs, Nowell and Wilson created their own music label known as Skunk Records. They told venues they were "Skunk Records recording artists" which made them seem more legit.
• The band recorded Jah won't pay the bills by trespassing on a school a friend of theirs attended after hours.
• 40ozs to Freedom was recorded pretty much the same way. Sneaking into the studios at California State University between 9:30pm-5am.
• Bradley used to sell cassettes from the trunk of his car after shows. In 1992 over 60,000 copies of 40ozs to Freedom were sold this way.
• Sublime and Gwen Stefani recorded the song "Saw Red" together.
• Bradley died of a heroin overdose 7 days after he married Troy Dendekker.
• A few weeks after Nowell's death, No Doubt headlined a "cautionary" benefit concert in tribute to Nowell. Nowell's widow and the various bands who performed wanted to make it clear that they were not glamorizing the way that Nowell died, but that they wanted to celebrate his life as well as establish a college fund for his son, Jakob.

"Obviously, it's going to be very emotional because you're there playing a show to commemorate a good friend who died and died for very wrong reasons. But you're also there to change things for the future and prevent stuff like that from ever happening again. A lot of times we hear about musicians using drugs and it's so blasé and cliched. You just kind of say, 'Oh, he'll be fine. Somebody will take care of him.' But that's not true. It's important for every single one of us to stand up and say, 'Enough of this shit.' It's time to make a difference"-Tony Kanal (No Doubt bassist)

•  Nowell adopted an abused dalmatian puppy from a shelter and named him "Louie" after his grandfather.
• Lou Dog became somewhat of a mascot for Sublime.

"We took this trip to Graden Grove, it smelled like Lou Dog inside the van." - "Livin' with Louie Dog's the only way to stay sane." - "I got a Dalmatian, and I can still get high" - "I don't cry when my dog runs away" - "Me and Louie, run to the party..."

My all time favorite tribute to Sublime. Jack Johnson doing a cover of "Badfish"

"When you grab a hold of me 
Tell me that I'll never be set free" 

"She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls,
I knew right away she was not like other girls."

If it's illegal to rock & roll, throw my ass in jail!

46 years ago today, was the birth of a music legend, Kurt Donald Cobain, lead frontman for the band we all know as NIRVANA (always spelled in CAPS). Unfortunately, the band was only together for 7 years, 1987-1994, when Cobain took his own life. While NIRVANA may have only had a mere 3 albums that were recorded, they've sold over 75 millions records worldwide, with 25 million of those being in the United States. Whether everyone wants to admit it or not, the band was incredible and who knows where they could have ended up if they were still together today.

As we all know, I could sit here and ramble on about music for days, weeks even, because it's one of the things I adore, and one of the ways I express myself. My good friend Dave Waller could actually attest to that, being we sat up til nearly 6am a few nights listening to 90's rock on youtube and giving our opinions on bands and songs. Not going to lie, I was talking til I fell asleep, pretty sure Dave sat up and continued to jam out by himself because I had a dream or two about being at shows.

So below, I'm going to post a few photos, quotes and a video or two in honor of Cobain and NIRVANA.

 

"Things have never been so swell, I have never failed to fail" -NIRVANA

"I'm so happy cuz today I found my friends, they're in my head"

-NIRVANA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KURT COBAIN

Happiness hit her, like a train on track

"Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most." -Buddha

(This is what I have the pleasure of waking up to for the next week.)

So let me catch you up on the past couple days here in Puerto Rico... not through words, instead photographs (ignore the quality, taken with my iPhone)

My first night in town we started off with a few drinks at Calypso and then headed down to The Bohio where our good friend Ry Mac, who on the island is known as the "Drum Bum", was playing. Had the pleasure of seeing a bunch of the OC guys, Mac, Sonny, Dietrich, Nick Longenbach, and met some new ones!

Here's a video of the Drum Bum himself!

Later that night Diana and I went to dinner and had my personal favorite, SUSHI, at the pool bar!

The picture on the right is a picture of the beach that is known as The Marina, that we went to yesterday. It was a bit cloudy, so we only spent about an hour there but either way it was relaxing and like Zac Efron, easy on the eyes.

Top picture is a view from Shannon's house, which is where I'm staying. Pretty spoiled, it's like The Ritz of Rincon, and when I say The Ritz I am not referring to the strip club in Fells Point. The bottom right is a mini waterfall in Rincon that Jay says is a well kept secret, not many know about it. Beyond excited to jump off the big one in a few days. And then of course, there's my new friend on the bottom right, who thinks I remind him of his daughter. Pretty sure I will post something later this week in honor of him. I told him him we were from Maryland and he somehow knew where Princess Anne and Salisbury are and went on to tell me he stayed in Princess Anne for two weeks and "never saw a white person." Very entertaining, and lots of great stories from this man!

Made a little collage between two photos, the ocean and me at the famous "413 Road to Happiness" bus stop. I wanted to take a picture drinking out of a bottle of booze with a few local Puerto Rican men but Diana wouldn't take the picture. Don't worry, I'll get it before I leave!

Signing off for now, headed to hike around the island with Shannon, hopefully get rid of this pasty skin.

"Happiness hit her, like a train on a track..."

 

Be careful with a gypsy, she'll steal your heart... unless you steal hers first

Currently sitting on a plane to a new destination. I promised myself I’d visit new places this year, not only for pleasure but places that’d send me in the right direction towards my career and what I want in life. Hence the reason I spent most of my winter in Baltimore as opposed to some warm city in the south. For the first time in years being set on being settled aka living somewhere for longer than a 3 month period and going back to school. My NYE resolution was actually, “Settle down but never settle.” My life was turned for a complete loop last week when I received my acceptance letter into The University of Texas at Austin. You mean to tell me I have the opportunity to fulfill my dreams by living in my favorite city in the US, while working towards a degree that’ll push me closer to the career and life I want, do I stay, do I go?!? Of course I’d regret not going, and those that know me know that regrets aren’t an option with me. Leaving everything and taking a job opportunity that will help take me where I want to go in life. Booking a last minute flight. Am I crazy? 

With an abrupt departure, I sit and ponder more so on not what I’ve left behind, but who. Is it possible, I mean, is it really possible, to know someone for such a short period of time but actually feel this indescribable connection where everything flows so naturally when the two of you are together? Seriously, who are you? and where the hell did you come from? Luckily, I have quite an extensive music collection consisting of over 50,000 songs, combine that with a little vodka, and my journal and I'll be able to evaluate the situation a little better. Otherwise, I’m going to go with there’s about a 95% chance without that combo I’d be the crazy drunk girl in the airport pacing back and forth, talking out loud to myself... recipe for insanity? Possibly, but at least I’ll be wearing red lipstick. 

So on one shoulder, I have Victoria, this sassy little thing who is always chomping on bubblegum in my right ear while occasionally twirling it around her finger saying, “Who cares, he’s lucky you even told him you were leaving. One word responses deserve no response. Ignore, it’s one of the things you do best.” (Yeah, I know, I know, she’s a bit of a bitch at times and trust me, it really sucks when the gum gets stuck in my hair.) On my left shoulder there’s Isabella, the little hopeless romantic girl screaming, “Tell him how you feel! What do you have to lose? If he thinks you’re crazy, who the hell cares! Like Marilyn once said, ‘it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” (Isabella still believes that somewhere in this crazy, fucked up world we live in that she’s going to find Prince Charming and that chivalry is indeed still alive.) I mean let’s be serious, who the hell is she kidding? I can barely get a guy to take out my trash, let alone sweep me off my feet. Then there’s all the voices in my head that are saying, “You don’t like anyone for longer than a week, 2 max, are you feeling okay? You just met him, what’s wrong with you?” And my photographic memory keeps replaying the other night over and over in my head. The night I insisted on dancing the night away and he actually put up with my shenanigans the entire time because at that moment dancing made me happy and that’s all he seemed to want to make me. For those of you who watch The Vampire Diaries, you know there’s this memorable clip between Elena and Damon dancing to “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris. Elena is having the time of her life, Damon gives her this look from across the room and then proceeds to go over and dance with her.

It’s my favorite scene from all the seasons and continues to send chills up my spine every single time I watch it - that’s the feeling I got the other night, but don’t worry there was no blood involved. That smirk and look in his eyes, even if it was only for 20 seconds, it really felt like an hour, an hour that I'd like to play in my mind over and over again.

Despite what everyone says, the person I see, the person he is with me, isn’t the animal most have made him out to be. He’s a gentleman, intriguing, intelligent and with me he pulls down the guard he seems to hold up for the rest of the world.

The conversation later in the night flowed so naturally, sharing life experiences that have formed us into who we are today, and actually being understood - rare commodity that's for damn sure. There was a connection full of passion, truth, excitement, laughs, clarity and 90’s rock, what more could you possibly ask for? And I ask myself, “Does he feel the same way? Did I just leave him as mind fucked as I am right now? Or am I just over-thinking and reading too far into things?” Right now, I couldn’t give you an answer, but as I sit here listening to the same two songs on repeat for going on what, 6 hours now, I can’t help to think about how much I’d rather the person next to me on this plane be him. Instead of falling asleep in this uncomfortable seat, how much I’d rather fall asleep in his bed while he reads me pieces of his heart that he’s poured onto paper over time. 

Given I’m a firm believer in what’s meant to be will eventually find it’s way, I almost feel as though I should leave it up to chance on whether he stumbles upon this. And then on the other hand, I’ve learned the hard way not to do anything you’d regret and not expressing myself could potentially turn into one of those. 

In the midst of confusion, I’ll sign off with one of my favorite Pearl Jam lyrics...

“We’re all allowed to dream of the next time we touch.”