30 Days of Insight: Day 30

Day 30- Ways you believe you have grown over the past thirty days:

Well, since I had a birthday this month I’ll say I’ve grown older…that’s about it.

30 Days of Insight: Day 29

Day 29 - What you live for:





30 Days of Insight: Day 28

Day 28- A moment you remember being completely happy in and a description of why you believe you were. What is your definition of happiness?

Blah, seriously tired of the “what is your definition” questions… I don’t feel like playing this game today.

 
 

30 Days of Insight: Day 27

Day 27- Your definition of the meaning of life:

You know I have no idea how to answer this question. It may be from all the barfing but I really don’t want to figure it out at the moment.

30 Days of Insight: Day 26

Day 26- Your definition of love:


How do you define something like love? 


There are many different kinds of love.  The love you have for your family.  The love you have for your friends.  The love you have for your pets.  The love you have for your favorite movie/actor.  The love you have for say...music.  The love you have for food or your favorite shirt or color. 


There are different ways to love.  I think there is a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone.  There's a different between the way you love your family members and the way you love your significant other. The way you love something is different than the way you love someone.  They way you love & cherrish your pet is different than the way you love & cherrish the people in your life. 


Love has many different meanings and definitions...

Love can mean growing old together

Love is beautiful

Love means sharing things with eachother

30 Days of Insight: Day 25

Day 25- Something you would do if no one stopped you or if you knew you wouldn’t fail:

This seems like a dangerous question to me…

I’d rescue all the homeless cats & kitties and find homes for all of them.

I’d finish one of my novels and get it published.

I figured I’d come up with more but I’m having a problem coming up with something now that I’m on the spot.  Two answers is better than none so at least I have an answer.

30 Days of Insight: Day 24

Day 24- Something you did as a child that other people remember you for:

Off the top of my head I can’t think of anything. That’s not to say there isn’t something waiting to haunt me the next time I’m around someone who has known me since childhood. If fact, should such a something exist it will most likely pop up on my trip to Vegas the weekend after next when half of my family meet to celebrate one of my nephew’s turing 21 (FINALLY!). At the most inoppertune and most embarrising time I’m sure.

 
 

30 Days of Insight: Day 23

Day 23- Most awkward first impression you feel you’ve ever given:

Ha! Have you met me?! Awkward first impressions are my specialty.

So are awkward second impressions and don't even get me started on awkward dates. 

I always thought you were supposed to grow out of being awkward and maybe most people do but me not so much.

 

30 Days of Insight: Day 22

Day 22- Someone you would give your life up for without question:

The first thing that came to mind was my nieces and nephews (Iot that they are things). That thought lead to my siblings. Which lead to the friends that I consider family. So my answer is not a someone but a collective of people who are in my heart and that make up my family.

I think my neices and nephews came to mind first because a few of them are too young to defend themselves…and all of my great nieces and great nephews are definitely too young to defend themselves. Kids have a way of bringing out the protectiveness in people. At least, most people…the ones who are right in the brainpan at least.

30 Days of Insight: Day 21

Day 21- Your favorite medium of art:

I think it’s been well documented that I love me some music. Great music stays with you, haunts you and makes you feel.

The same can be said for photography.

There’s no greater photographer for me that does all the same things that music can than Ansel Adams. His photo’s are so haunting. I’ve been in love with is work since the first print I saw of his back in junior high. After going to an exibit on him last year I respect and appreciate his work & legecy even more now.

30 Days of Insight: Day 20

Day 20- A band that you immediately liked and the song that made you like them:

Fun. “Walking the Dog” I do believe. It was whatever song they played first when opening up for Something Corporate. It was love at first sight. Well, really it was love as soon as I found out that Nate Ruess from the Format had a new band. He’s a genius! Fun. exceded my expectations and then some.

30 Days of Insight: Day 19

Day 19- A passage from a book that has touched you:

Questions like this always make me panic a little and then may brain freezes. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t read really in depth books. I’m geared more towards smutty books…mostly romance/suspense and you’re not going to get any touching passages out of those books. Heh, well the kind of touching the questions is actually calling for. Ahem…anyway.

It’s been a while since I’ve had my nose in the Bible and I’ve never been one to remember which passage is from where so I can’t even recall something from there. Really, if my brain was working better than it has been lately I’d pick something from The Bible.

30 Days of Insight: Day 18

Day 18- A picture that makes you feel:

I’m sure I’m supposed to pick something more…thought enducing but personally I find Ryan Reynolds pretty damn thought enducing.






30 Days of Insight: Day 17

Day 17- What you want to be remembered for:

Nothing too lofty, how about just being a good person.

 
 
 
 

30 Days of Insight: Day 16

Day 16- Something that you want to do within the next five years:

Honestly, I’d like to have a kid or two within the next five years. Not sure it’ll happen but I guess we’ll see.

30 Days of Insight: Day 15

Day 15- A moment, phrase, or song that has changed your life the most:

Moment(s):
When my grandparents took me in when I was 6 & took over raising me (full time).

The first day of 5th grade when I met one Karie Rae Hill. She’s been my best friends ever since…well, minus 6th grade but we don’t talk about that.

Phrase:
“Not in my name, you don't speak for me
I am my voice, and I want to scream
You want my air, you want my life
I act as one, but I'm not alone.”
From the song "Electable (Give It Up)" by Jimmy Eat World

For whatever reason this verse of song has stuck with me. I want to get the part “I act as one, but I’m not alone” as a tattoo.

Song:
“Fall Down” by Toad the Wet Sprocket

My life, especially musically, was never the same again after hearing that song. Toad lead the way to The Lemonheads and many many more great bands & artests that were not boy bands and all popped out. Toad was my first “grown up” music love. They got me through all the emotional ups and downs of a high school girl. I would listen to Fall Down over and over some nights. Dramatic but true.

30 Days of Insight: Day 14

Day 14- Best mashup you’ve ever heard:

I’m not really a big fan of mashup’s. In fact, if it weren’t for Glee I’m not sure I’d even know what one was off hand. Having said that, I love all the mash up’s Glee’s done. Some were better than others but in all they have all been good.

The only one that comes to mind right away is Umbrella/Singing In the Rain from the episode Gwyneth Paltrow was on. It could have more to do with the preformance than the actual song but I’m going with it.


 

30 Days of Insight: Day 13

Day 13- A memory that never fails to make you laugh:

Um… I went to the movies with my sister, niece’s Beth & Natalie & nephew Dylan to see Horton Hears A Who and after the movie Georgie said “Lets go eat!” and Natalie replied “Yeah, lets go eat rainbows!” then Dylan chimed in “and poop Butterflies!!”. Now every time I hear the word rainbow(s) I think of that day.

Just about any memory that never fails to make me laugh involves my nieces & nephews. Kids are crazy!

30 Days of Insight: Day 12

Day 12- Your favorite musical artist’s life story:

Andrew Ross McMahon (born September 3, 1982) is a singer/songwriter. He is the vocalist, pianist and primary songwriter for the bands Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin; McMahon also performs solo.

Early life

McMahon was born in Lexington, Massachusetts. He briefly lived in New Jersey. In 1991, when McMachon was 9 years old, the family moved to Bexley, Ohio where he attended Cassingham Elementary School. His family relocated frequently due to his father's occupation in retail. McMachon recalls that while he was in fourth grade, they briefly stayed in California to support his mother's family after the loss of her brother. The death had a large impact on the family, and Andrew has a tattoo on his forearm in memory of his uncle.

McMachon's family decided to settle in California shortly before he entered eighth grade. He would later describe himself as "a pudgy, outgoing, artist little kid who never quite fit into the California scene". He graduated from the public Dana Hills High School in 2000.

Career

Early work

He started playing the piano at age 8. The following year, he began performing piano solos before he could even read music.

McMachon started his first band Left Here with his high school friends and future Something Corporate bandmates Kevin "Clutch" Page on bass and Brian Ireland on drums in 1997.

Even though they won a local battle of the bands competition, they soon broke up. McMahon went on to record the self-released eponymous four-track demo CD Andrew McMahon with the aid of several friends of his, including guitarist Josh Partington, whom he had met his sophomore year in high school. Joined by rhythm guitarist Reuben Hernandez (who was later replaced by William Tell), the quintet formed the piano rock band Something Corporate in 1998.

Something Corporate

Main article: Something Corporate

Fronted by McMahon, Something Corporate recorded their self-released ten-song demo album Ready... Break in 2000, which led to a record deal with the indie record label Drive-Thru Records. Drive-Thru released the band's nationwide distributed debut EP Audioboxer the following year. McMahon's vocals, songwriting skills and especially the incorporation of the piano earned the CD rave reviews and caught the attention of Drive-Thru's distributor MCA (now Geffen). Due to the labels' distribution deal, MCA was able to sign over Something Corporate and released their major label debut Leaving Through the Window in May 2002.

The band promoted the album by playing concerts across the United States (including the main stage at Vans Warped Tour) and supporting New Found Glory (whose vocalist Jordan Pundik used to be McMahon's roommate) on their European tour. Something Corporate released their second full-length album North on Geffen Records in late 2003 and toured with 311, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard, and Jimmy Eat World. As of 2004 (and the signing of Jack's Mannequin to Maverick Records), the band is no longer under contract to any label. However, on December 4, 2009, Something Corporate announced one reunion show at Bamboozle Left 2010. An additional show was later added at Bamboozle Chicago 2010. After Bamboozle the band has announced their reunion tour which will take place in August 2010.

Jack's Mannequin

Main article: Jack's Mannequin

The initial impulse behind McMahon's solo project Jack's Mannequin was "Locked Doors", a song he recorded in December 2003, which he felt was too different from previous Something Corporate material to be one of their songs. He realized that, if he would ever decide to release it, it would be on a solo album rather than a Something Corporate record. The idea seemed to be off the table, until in late summer 2004 both McMahon and his bandmates were exhausted from months of touring. They decided to take a temporary break. During his time off, McMahon laid down piano and vocal tracks for a song on Hidden in Plain View's Life in Dreaming and two songs on Tommy Lee's Tommyland: The Ride.

While Something Corporate's other songwriter and lead guitarist Partington created a side project of his own called Firescape, McMahon started writing songs, knowing they would not see the light of day as Something Corporate songs. After Something Corporate dissolved, McMahon started working on his solo project, Jack's Mannequin, as an outlet for these songs. McMahon took a more therapeutic approach in writing these songs, resulting in a more personal and intimate testament of his songwriting. They dealt with "coming home, and having home be way different than I had remembered it [...], abandoning a lot of people, and things, that I had normally been so attached to [...], exploring and being okay with myself, and not having to make excuses for who I am, and accepting who I am", McMahon stated in an interview.

Over the next couple of months, McMahon began recording the newly written songs with producer Jim Wirt, who would play guitar and bass over sampled drum tracks, while McMahon contributed vocals and piano. They later brought in additional musicians such as Bobby "Raw" Anderson (formerly of River City High) and Tommy Lee to add to the mix. In an eerily foreshadowing moment, the project's name, Jack's Mannequin, came from a friend of his whose brother was diagnosed with childhood leukemia. McMahon was soon diagnosed with leukemia himself, and later went on to write the song "Dear Jack" in tribute to the original Jack. In March 2005, Jack's Mannequin — now consisting of McMahon on vocals and piano, Jon Sullivan on bass, Anderson on guitar, and Jay McMillan (ex-River City High) on drums — played their first live show at Molly Malone's Irish pub in Los Angeles, California.

He then proceeded to compose his second Jack's Mannequin album, The Glass Passenger. The first single, "The Resolution", is the band's highest-charting song to date.

Personal life

On May 27, 2005 (three months before the release of Jack's Mannequin's debut album Everything in Transit), McMahon was forced to cancel all of his upcoming concerts. After a medical examination in connection with a relentless case of laryngitis, McMahon was admitted to a hospital in New York City, where he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on June 1, 2005. Since the illness was diagnosed in its early stages, McMahon's doctors had high hopes for a full recovery. Over the following couple of months, McMahon received various types of treatment, all the while updating his blog to keep his fans informed on the progress of his condition. August 23, 2005 marked a very significant date for him for two reasons: Firstly, it was the day his album Everything in Transit was released, debuting at #37 of the Billboard 200 with over 22,000 copies scanned within its first week. Secondly, it was the day he received a stem cell transplant, with his sister Katie McMahon serving as the donor. As a thank-you, he wrote and recorded a song called "There, There, Katie" for her. The song finally was played live at a Jack's Mannequin concert on 7/11/2006 in Cleveland, Ohio. Katie was in attendance for the performance. In October 2005, McMahon recorded a Christmas song titled "The Lights and Buzz", which was released via the iTunes Music Store a month later.

On December 2, 2005, McMahon celebrated the 100-day anniversary of his
stem cell transplant by playing his first concert in six months – a private invite-only show in a small venue in Los Angeles, California. His first public appearance followed ten days later at "Gimme Shelter '05", an acoustic cancer benefit concert at the Roxy in Los Angeles, California. Following these shows, Maverick Records finally started a promotion campaign for Everything in Transit, including TV appearances by McMahon on Jimmy Kimmel Live, One Tree Hill (in the episode "Just Watch the Fireworks"), Last Call with Carson Daly, Steven's Untitled Rock Show, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, as well as a second music video for "The Mixed Tape", which hit #1 on VH1's VSpot Top 20 Countdown on June 9, 2006. Simultaneously, Jack's Mannequin embarked on a two-month tour across the United States supporting Of A Revolution.

In July 2006, McMahon founded a non-profit charity, The Dear Jack Foundation, to raise funds for cancer research. The organization's primary beneficiaries are the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the regents of the University of California, Los Angeles.

On July 9, 2006, McMahon announced at his Summerfest Jack's Mannequin concert that that night would be the last night he would have to take medication for his cancer treatment. Soon after, the second single from Everything in Transit, "Dark Blue", was released. It was followed by an opening slot on Panic! at the Disco's "Nothing Rhymes With Circus Tour" throughout the United States and Canada, starting November 7, 2006 in Florida and ending December 12, 2006 in New Mexico.

A documentary entitled "Dear Jack" was released on November 3, 2009 on DVD by Warner Bros, and was shown at theatrical screenings in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The film, which chronicles McMahon's struggle with leukemia, features self-recorded footage in the hospital. It is narrated by his friend, Tommy Lee. The documentary was directed by Corey Moss and Josh Morrisroe, two former MTV News producers who covered McMahon's story for the channel, although much of the intensely personal footage was shot by Andrew himself. Along with the "Dear Jack" DVD Jack's Mannequin also digitally released the Dear Jack EP, with a recorded version of the song "There, There, Katie" Andrew wrote for his sister, along with three other tracks, titled "Diane, The Skyscraper," "Dear Jack" and a music box version on the pre-released song, "Swim."

Thanks to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_McMahon

30 Days of Insight: Day 11

Day 11- Favorite picture ever taken of yourself.

Ever may be a strong word, especially since my selection of photo’s is a bit limited since I cannot scan photo’s that I don’t have a digital copy of. Of the photo’s I have access to I guess I have to go with…

Halloween Oct. 2005

Laughlin March 2005

Okay, so that’s two photo’s but really it’s a toss up. I think the memories behind the photos may have more to do with it than anything else.

Of course, my partner in crime would be in any photo that I chose.

30 Days of Insight: Day 10

Day 10- A dream you had this past week described in detail:

I had a dream about my grandparents & mom. While my mom was my mom, she was actually the little orange & white stray cat that I’ve been petting at the apartment complex. I don’t really remember what was going on but I kept pointing at my mom (the cat) and talking about her. It was more like a nightmare than a dream. I think we were arguing over rent & I didn’t want my grandparents to give any money to my mom because she didn’t deserve it. I have no idea what was really going on. Dreams rarely make sense.

30 Days of Insight: Day 9

Day 09- Five things you want to see change:

1- The economy

2- Cyrus & Remington’s relationship

3- The way we all ignore the enviroment & the situation it’s in

4- My adversion to working out

5- The fact that I can’t think of a #5

30 Days of Insight: Day 8

Day 08- Someone you think would make a good president.

Well, I thought Obama would make a good president but most public opinion is he’s not doing that great of a job so what do I know. I try to stay out of politics, which isn’t ideal for most people but it works for me. When something moves me or gets me riled up I stick my toes in but for the most part I keep my head down & don’t complain.

30 Days of Insight: Day 7

Day 07- Favorite cover of your favorite song:

I’m pretty sure no one’s made a cover of my favorite song(s).

I do really like Alien Ant Farms version of MJ’s Smooth Criminal.

30 Days of Insight: Day 6

Day 06- Earliest thing you can remember:

I remember going to Merry Moppets day care, which I guess would have had to before I was in school. I have a hard time remembering how old I was for some stuff I remember if it was before I went to live with my grandparents.

30 Days of Insight: Day 5

Day 05- A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life:

I seriously hate these requests. If I’ve felt I needed to send someone a letter I’ve sent one and I’m not going to share it.

I had an e-mail I sent around a while ago that would satisfy this days request but I never tracked it down & not it’s too late to go and find it. Oh, well.

 
 

30 Days of Insight: Day 4

Day 04- What you imagine paradise to be like:

A place with ALL the shoes & chocolate.

30 Days of Insight: Day 3

Day 03- The five songs you would have with you on a desert island and why:

Swim- Jack’s Mannequin…it has the kind of message you’d need when stuck on a desert island.

Rainbow Connection – Jason Mraz (cover)… who wouldn’t want a little rainbow connection on a desert island

Fire On the Mountain – Rob Thomas… it came to mind, that’s all

All I Want Is You – Tristan Prettyman (cover)… it’s a happy song

Fairfax – William Tell… a little funk & nonsense would be needed

30 Days of Insight: Day 2

Day 02- Something that inspires you:

Jason Mraz’s words…both in song & on his blog.

30 Days of Insight: Day 1

30 Days of Insight

Day 01- Guilty pleasure:

Train wreck TV shows like One Tree Hill or The Practice.

 
 

For those interested...

 

30 Days of Insight

Day 01- Guilty pleasure:

Day 02- Something that inspires you:

Day 03- The five songs you would have with you on a desert island and why.

Day 04- What you imagine paradise to be like:

Day 05- A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life:

Day 06- Earliest thing you can remember:

Day 07- Favorite cover of your favorite song:

Day 08- Someone you think would make a good president.

Day 09- Five things you want to see change:

Day 10- A dream you had this past week described in detail:

Day 11- Favorite picture ever taken of yourself.

Day 12- Your favorite musical artist’s life story:

Day 13- A memory that never fails to make you laugh:

Day 14- Best mashup you’ve ever heard:

Day 15- A moment, phrase, or song that has changed your life the most:

Day 16- Something that you want to do within the next five years:

Day 17- What you want to be remembered for:

Day 18- A picture that makes you feel:

Day 19- A passage from a book that has touched you:

Day 20- A band that you immediately liked and the song that made you like them:

Day 21- Your favorite medium of art:

Day 22- Someone you would give your life up for without question:

Day 23- Most awkward first impression you feel you’ve ever given:

Day 24- Something you did as a child that other people remember you for.

Day 25- Something you would do if no one stopped you or if you knew you wouldn’t fail.

Day 26- Your definition of love.

Day 27- Your definition of the meaning of life.

Day 28- A moment you remember being completely happy in and a description of why you believe you were. What is your definition of happiness?

Day 29- What you live for.

Day 30- Ways you believe you have grown over the past thirty days.