Thinking it through

I was watching "Little House on the Prairie", the episode where they're snowed in at Christmas and Charles has to climb out of the loft window, walk over the three-metres high snow to the barn with his snow shoes on and get the presents. When he is back, Caroline and him are sitting by the open window, talking and in no hurry to close the window while downstairs, the fire is glowing.

And I thought about this (pleasant) carelessness and that we might never have it again, in any field. I can't turn on the heating as much as I'd really want to (I wouldn't mind 24°C in winter), let alone have it on while the window is open. We can't even just make a fire outside without thinking about it where ever it pleases us because wood/coal/fuel has become precious.

This led to more thinking: Whatever you do, if you think about the consequences, you can't do it. You (I) can't eat meat because animal farming is the main factor contributing to climate changes and global warming. Can't eat fish either because to "catch" the kind that you'd like on your plate, dozens of others are being killed.

So everything we do and the way we do it is determined by one of two factors: money and conscience. That sucks!

The way we are

...actually the way I am but the "we" kind of sounds better.. now where did I steal that title...?

This is how my posts come to life: An idea comes to my mind, I think on it and then decide to write about it. While writing, I feel that I should add this or without that, it wouldn't be complete or this part should definitely be analysed. And then it goes way beyond that idea I first had in my mind. I reckon that 12 years of school and n years of university have spoilt me, have corrupted my way of briefly expressing my thoughts. You got graded better if you elaborately rolled out your ideas and chewed on them for pages and pages instead of just saying what you wanted to say and be done with it. Oh and a conclusion of course.. So there, blame it on education!

Romance - not quite a music review

Some three years ago, we - a group of more or less musically challenged people - used to sing a lot and dedicate songs to one another. In the same vein, I once mentioned to S. that who ever would dedicate a certain song (you'll know later) to me and mean it, could be sure of my love (or something to that effect) forever. That brings me to another question: Do we love or like who loves us? I mean can you imagine someone telling you that they like you and you reply: 'Yea, but you suck.' Hardly..

But what I was actually getting at was this: A top ten list of the subjectively most romantic songs.

So here we go, in order of "romanticness":

1. I Walk Beside You - Dream Theater

“Let me know what plagues your mind

Let me be the one to know you best

Be the one to hold you up

When you feel like you’re sinking”

2. Time In A Bottle - Jim Croce

“If I could save time in a bottle

The first thing that I’d like to do

Is to save every day

Till eternity passes away

Just to spend them with you”

3. Für Immer Und Dich - Rio Reiser

“Ich lache für Dich, wein für Dich
Ich regne und ich schein für Dich
Versetz die ganze Welt für Dich
Für Dich und immer für Dich
Für immer und Dich“

(I’ll laugh for you, cry for you/ I’ll rain and I will shine for you/ Move the entire world for you// For you and always for you/ Forever and you)

4. Anyone Else But You - Moldy Peaches

"I'll kiss you on the brain in the shadow of the train
I'll kiss you all starry eyed my body swingin' from side to side
I don't see what anyone can see
In anyone else but you"

5. I'll Be There For You - Bon Jovi

"I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you"

6. Show Me Your Soul - Red Hot Chili Peppers

“Into my life you were injected
Not something that I expected
Now I smile from your affection
We have made a soul connection”

7. This One - Paul McCartney

"Did I ever take you in my arms,
look you in the eye, tell you that I do?
Did I ever open up my heart,
Let you look inside?"

8. Wie vor Jahr und Tag - Reinhard Mey

"Wie vor Jahr und Tag ist noch immerfort
Das Glück und dein Name dasselbe Wort
Allein, was sich geändert haben mag:
Ich lieb' dich noch mehr als vor Jahr und Tag"

(Just like days and years ago, the word for happiness rhymes with your name.
The only thing that might have changed is that my love's grown stronger yet than back that day)

9. Sunny - Paul Carrack

"Sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet.
Sunny, thank you for the love you brought my way.
You gave to me your all and all.
Now I feel ten feet tall.
Sunny one so true, I love you."

10. Une histoire d'amour - Mireille Mathieu

"Une histoire d'amour
C'est la chanson de l'océan, les nuits d'été
Un souvenir qui va durer l'éternité
Pour moi ce soir la vie s'en va mais notre amour
Ne finit pas"

(A love story, it is the song of the ocean, it's summer nights, a memory that's gonna last eternally.
The life is leaving me tonight but our love will never end)

So this is my personal little list, feel free to add your own favourites to it.

PS: The hyperlinks in the song titles take you to the songs, obviously.

PPS: The translation of the French and German songs are by me if you like them, and if you don’t, I found them somewhere on the net ;-)