Bad Ass

Just before leaving for Ireland in August of 2003, my brother and a friend of ours handed over some great music including, but not limited to: Stroke 9, Third Eye Blind's first album, and every CD of Our Lady Peace. I'd been listening to these bands, with the exception of Stroke 9, but never really knew the depth of their appeal until the end of that summer.

In Ireland, Stroke 9 became an immediate favorite of mine, and of Elaine's, as we shared a room. We listented to "Latest Disaster" and "Kick Some Ass" often, I guess I was trying to remind myself that adding one more failed relationship to the growing list in my life wasn't really a big deal. And despite the anger I felt about it, I was confident that if push came to shove, I could kick some ass if I needed to.

My favorite song from the Rip It Off album, however, was "Vacuum Bag". Likening myself to something that retains all the filth from the surrounding environment made sense, as we've discovered this year--my eyes and ears are indeed vacuums. Granted, anyone reading this will realize I had some issues--I have some, since nothing can be resolved so quickly, even though living in Ireland provided the greatest life renewal I'll probably ever experience.

Here are a few of the lyrics from this fabulous song:

I was sitting by myself
And my thoughts started pouring out
Remember that time on our trip
You asked me where we were going
I said Barcelona
You said that's not what I meant
Maybe I'll never get it

I'm like a vacuum bag
That holds all that old dirt
Remember that time we said we'd be together forever?

'Cause it matters to me
Can you hear me?
Everyday I ask the same thing

Will you ever know what happened to me?
It happens everyday
And you wonder what went on
It's there and then it's gone
Maybe I'm sentimental
And I start to reminisce
And every time I do
I still want to tell you this

Don't hate me, don't regret me, don't ever forget me
Wherever you go, whatever you do, don't say I never loved you