Lately, all I've been doing is playing video games in my room. I've not gone to work for two days (my job isn't that important and they don't get mad for not coming in, it's just that I should come in for the money), have neglected going to the gym, and only ate when really hungry. I have fulfilled none of responsibilities. Literally, all those days the only thing I have done besides eat, sleep and go to the bathroom is play games. I've been meaning to go to the store to buy a toe nail clipper to clip my ancient toe nails, but am too lazy for that. It's this summer break. I don't have any more school and I'm all set for college so I guess I feel privleged to this. I'll try to limit my playing hours for now on and do other things. If my toe nail gets amazingly long I'll maybe post a pic of it.

I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist.

Good job for anybody that initially figured out where this reference is from. I recently watched American Psycho for the first time and I thought it was a very good movie. The message was interesting and Christian Bale played an appealing (in an ironic way) and funny character. I found this little speech from him especially funny.

Hold on john, john hold on
It's gonna be alright
You gonna win the fight
Hold on yoko, yoko hold on
It's gonna be alright
You gonna make the flight

When you're by yourself
And there's no-one else
You just have yourself
And you tell yourself
Just to hold on

Cookie!

Hold on world, world hold on
It's gonna be alright
You gonna see the light

When you're one
Really one
Well, you get things done
Like they've never been done
So hold on

John's such a great singer and he really makes these simple lyrics work. Life can be really hard, but it's only your attitude that determines how happy you are. Optimism is usually the best way to keep yourself happy. I think that it's necessary to stretch reality in order to keep youself optimistic, because happiness is the most productive way to keep you out of misery and it's priority. That doesn't mean having it cause you to make poor decisions because you're stretching reality, rather just look at your outcomes and convince yourself that your errors can be fixed. It's not always possible to initially be happy after a tragedy, but you can always learn to adapt.

Well, this is just something I'm pulling together, and hopefully when I become upset again I can look back at this and maybe it will help some how.