It has been a while since I've posted in my beloved blog. Since I last wrote in here I've seen rather a lot of the English country side as I've been travelling around to see friends and my beloved Rebecca (it feels odd to say Rebecca but I like it). At this very moment I am sitting on Rebecca's (hehe) bed. Recently I've been trying to vary my music preference and start listening to new bands which I have been doing pretty well with and one song I have been listening to is a song I haven't been able to get out of my head in days. The song is called "Let Go" by Frou Frou and it appeared in one of my favourite films "Garden State", which I strongly suggest you watch it if you have not seen it before. However, I warn you it is a very "marmite" film. You either love it of you hate it. I have never came across anyone who is in the "middle", if you like, of the film but if you are in the "middle" please let me know as I would like you to be the first person I know to ever be in the "middle". Anyway the song is a really nice song that I really enjoy listening to.
Right enough about the "middle", since I've been travelling rather a bit over the last few weeks it has given my time to catch up on my writing. Yes I right who would have guessed? I am currently writing a sci-fi book (a star wars book to be precise and yes I am a HUGE nerd) and I've managed to work on a book that I started writing when I was 15 years old! So i've been going over the story and replacing words and sentences which made sense back then but don't now. The story I'm writing is called Edge 2 Edge and is based around a character I always wished I could be during my early teens. The character, John, Lives in the USA and is basically a "dude" considered cool and all that who plays in a band and is a good skater. The story is based on his life as he and his mother move around the country trying to find peace and tranquility after his parents divorce. Maybe one day soon I will put extracts on here and you can laugh at my feeble 15 year old atempt to write a book. But more of that later...
Anyway, the world is now officially "different" as Obama is in the White House, what a speech eh?, and he was sworn in twice? Wow he is popular. Anyway the next few weeks and months should be very interesting and even if you are not as politically minded as me I strongly suggest you keep an ear glued to the news to see what is going on in the world. The world is going through a very rocky time at the moment with the credit crunch and of course the "trouble" in Israel, but I hope people can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Things will change and hopefully sooner rather than later. But in the mean time watch Garden State to make you happy as it truly is a brilliant film and I have learnt some important lessons from it. One of which is my advice for the day:
Do something completely original like a movement or odd sound, something that has never been done before or will be done again. "How is that possible?!?!?!" I hear you cry. Well if you think about it if you do something really odd on a certain spot chances are no one has done that exact movement or has made that exact sound on that exact spot before and no one ever will do it exactly the same again. mind boggling huh?
anyway after a rather LONG post riddled with spelling mistakes I give you my love.
Peace, Love and respect as always
-- Tom RDD
p.s. I have purchased a new bass guitar today! HOORA! It's probably pretty crap but I'm going to make it better by customising it and such. oh and it's pink!
Monday 26 January 2009
Tuesday 20 January 2009
Obama sworn in as the 44th US president
I assuume most of the world is gripped by Obama's inauguration, me included. I find it interesting how most people around my age (late teens and early twenties) are more interested in US politics than their own politics. It's crazy but I can understand why. For some reason just listening to Obama's speech even though as a non-American I cannot relate fully I cannot help but feel a sense of hope and trust. Maybe it is misplaced but I cannot express how deeply I believe in what he addressed in his speech about unity and peace.
peace, love and respect. as always.
-- Tom RDD
peace, love and respect. as always.
-- Tom RDD
Monday 19 January 2009
Piece of this place...
I find it increasingly surprising how much a place (in this case a city) can mean so much. I am currently in Canterbury where I ventured for the first time on the University adventure. The city holds so many good memories for me and I was surprised that I found myself with a knot in my stomach when I arrived here. It was very hard for me emotionally to see the place where I had lived and spent so many good times. I'm sure the level of emotion I felt was also helped by the consuming of alcohol and the memories I hold of that place, the friends I gained and lost and the people who I regarded as my family. To loose your family, even if that family is just a way you view some very good friends, is a hard thing. I still keep in contact with many of them but some others have shattered the bridge between us and it pains me to say I don't think I will see those people again. I've tried very hard to get in contact with certain people but to no avail. When I leave this place I always take with me a sense of hope, happiness and sadness. In my heart Canterbury will always be my home away from home, but I'm looking to the future to right the wrongs that happened and make sure those "wrongs" do not repeat themselves in my new home away from home, Worcester where the rest of my family live.
It's hard having people you love all over the country because it makes it so difficult to see them at times. But if you really love them you will go through just about anything to be with them.
Peace, love and respect. as always
-- Tom RDD
It's hard having people you love all over the country because it makes it so difficult to see them at times. But if you really love them you will go through just about anything to be with them.
Peace, love and respect. as always
-- Tom RDD
Saturday 17 January 2009
Music for 2009...
I got this idea from another blogger called Drewvis (who I all suggest you read as he has some very interesting and cool experiences in his blog.
Here is some music I have been listening to rather alot recently and I strongly suggest people check out:
The Bedouin Soundclash - A really nice smooth, chilled out reggae band. Really relaxing sound and I would love to see them live.
The Cat Empire - An Australian band who play some really good music. A blend of ska, reggae, soul and fun. really interesting six piece with no guitars...
Here are some more bands I strongly suggest people check out that have been on my playlists as of late:
Westbound Train, Tim Armstrong, Edna's Goldfish, MGMT, Sundowner, The Lawrence Arms, Jimmy The Squirrel, The Skints, Matisyahu, Whitmore, Home Grown, Uncle Brian and the almighty Bob Marley.
Here are a few musicians and bands I strongly suggest people check out.
peace, love and respect. as always.
-- Tom RDD
Here is some music I have been listening to rather alot recently and I strongly suggest people check out:
The Bedouin Soundclash - A really nice smooth, chilled out reggae band. Really relaxing sound and I would love to see them live.
The Cat Empire - An Australian band who play some really good music. A blend of ska, reggae, soul and fun. really interesting six piece with no guitars...
Here are some more bands I strongly suggest people check out that have been on my playlists as of late:
Westbound Train, Tim Armstrong, Edna's Goldfish, MGMT, Sundowner, The Lawrence Arms, Jimmy The Squirrel, The Skints, Matisyahu, Whitmore, Home Grown, Uncle Brian and the almighty Bob Marley.
Here are a few musicians and bands I strongly suggest people check out.
peace, love and respect. as always.
-- Tom RDD
Friday 16 January 2009
State of mind...
This topic has been on my mind a lot recently. Positivity vs. progression.
Some people say you can get along in life by just being happy. That being positive can and will change your life for the better. Being a positive person can be a good thing but not if it distorts your sense of reality. I've read several sites about how living for now is a better way of living and it is more important to be happy now and than it is to worry about tomorow and I myself am in two minds about this. There is of course an upside and a downside to this way of thinking. It is good to be positive, it makes you feel good and it can have a huge impact on your life. However, if people live in a “fairy tale” where everything is easy and comes cheap and free, they will struggle in the “real” world. I believe you need a mixture of both to be happy and successful in life because unfortunately when we wake up "tomorow" we have to deal with the positive and negative consequences of "today" or infact yesterday (If that makes sense)
I agree living for the now is important, however I feel people should never forget their roots (their past) and never forget where they want to go (their future). The friends, the adventures, the not-so adventures, the times where you sat on the grass and did nothing, that got you to the point in your life where you are now. So many people want to see the world as a challenge and competition with death to see how many things they can do before they die. If you decided to live your life that way then so be it. I am more inclined to appreciate the simple things in life. It is true I have done so much in my short life. I've traveled all over the world from the states, Europe and the Indian Ocean but I have never seen life as a competition to see how much I can get done. I am more inclined to spend time with the people I love than try to prove something. I would rather do something that meant something individual to me than do something thousands of people have already done (not that there is anything wrong with that) that meant as much as a talking point in a conversation in 10 years time.
I am a person who lives in the now but will never forget the past and never dis-regard the future. Because the truth is what we have done in the past got us to the present, and what we do in the present leads to our future.
I am more unsure of my future than ever. But the road to getting there, regardless of how bumpy as I am sure it will be, will be an interesting one with happiness and sadness along the way. Unfortunately consequences exist. But it's how we survive these consequences that make us who we are.
peace, love and respect. as always
-- Tom RDD
Some people say you can get along in life by just being happy. That being positive can and will change your life for the better. Being a positive person can be a good thing but not if it distorts your sense of reality. I've read several sites about how living for now is a better way of living and it is more important to be happy now and than it is to worry about tomorow and I myself am in two minds about this. There is of course an upside and a downside to this way of thinking. It is good to be positive, it makes you feel good and it can have a huge impact on your life. However, if people live in a “fairy tale” where everything is easy and comes cheap and free, they will struggle in the “real” world. I believe you need a mixture of both to be happy and successful in life because unfortunately when we wake up "tomorow" we have to deal with the positive and negative consequences of "today" or infact yesterday (If that makes sense)
I agree living for the now is important, however I feel people should never forget their roots (their past) and never forget where they want to go (their future). The friends, the adventures, the not-so adventures, the times where you sat on the grass and did nothing, that got you to the point in your life where you are now. So many people want to see the world as a challenge and competition with death to see how many things they can do before they die. If you decided to live your life that way then so be it. I am more inclined to appreciate the simple things in life. It is true I have done so much in my short life. I've traveled all over the world from the states, Europe and the Indian Ocean but I have never seen life as a competition to see how much I can get done. I am more inclined to spend time with the people I love than try to prove something. I would rather do something that meant something individual to me than do something thousands of people have already done (not that there is anything wrong with that) that meant as much as a talking point in a conversation in 10 years time.
I am a person who lives in the now but will never forget the past and never dis-regard the future. Because the truth is what we have done in the past got us to the present, and what we do in the present leads to our future.
I am more unsure of my future than ever. But the road to getting there, regardless of how bumpy as I am sure it will be, will be an interesting one with happiness and sadness along the way. Unfortunately consequences exist. But it's how we survive these consequences that make us who we are.
peace, love and respect. as always
-- Tom RDD
Monday 12 January 2009
tom rdd vs. technology
I don't know about anyone elses experiences with technology but mine have not been too great over the last few days! Computers crashing, programs denying me access to my files and general rubbish. it makes me rather angry so I intend to get some sort of fire breathing Dinosaur to do the following:
I will unleash him at microsoft and let him do all my bidding. Meanwhile, back in the real world....
peace, love and respect, as always
-- Tom RDD x
I will unleash him at microsoft and let him do all my bidding. Meanwhile, back in the real world....
peace, love and respect, as always
-- Tom RDD x
Saturday 10 January 2009
resolutions & solutions
Right I've been meaning to do this for a while. Write down all the things I should try to do in 2009. 2008 was a pretty hectic year for me and it opened my eyes to say the least.
January - April 2008 - It is hard to believe that during this time I was in a different place in my life. Although only a year ago I would like to believe I have changed a lot since. In 2008 I was attending the University Of Kent and wasn't happy at all. I was stuck on a course that offered me literally nothing. So I left to seek brighter pastures. Unfortunately my leaving meant I lost some very good friends one or two in particular that meant a lot to me, and due to the circumstance I left under we are no longer friends.
April - Early September 2008 - I realised how full time employment controls your life and not in a good way. Doing the 9 - 5, five days a week. Not something I want to be doing in a hurry. Being tired, bored and wishing to be somewhere else is not how I want to live my life in the future.
Summer 2008 - Although I was in full time employment the summer was a time of happiness and hope. In the summer I got to travel to New York with my girlfriend Becki which was probably the best holiday I have had. Spending a week in an incredible city with an incredible person. I would very much like to live in NY one day. During the summer I also celebrated my 2 year anniversary with Becki. Two years normally seems like a long time to me, however the last two years, although having their ups and down, have been the best of my life so far.
The summer also had some not so pleasant ventures. The summer saw the demise of my semi-successful ska band Run Down Door. RDD meant so much to me and to watch it self destruct, mainly down to my own doing was heart breaking. RDD was everything I had ever wanted in a band. Good friends playing music which I had so much passion for. I had wanted to be apart of a ska band ever since I had seen Brighton legends Ska Gal, Out Of Luck and Once Over play when I was still a young teenager around the age of 14. The summer looked to be a bright one for the band with gigs lined up supporting Skaville UK at a venue which I had always wanted to play (The Concorde 2 in Brighton)and supporting Catch-it Kebabs (also in Brighton). RDD's demise did not come of a surprise to me. I had sensed tension in the band for a long time and tried to ease this tension the best I could but it failed and the band disbanded without anyone saying a word about it. It was a silent agreement that RDD was dead and gone.
September - December 2008 -- A pretty hard time for me personally. Becki had gone off to Uni and I was going somewhere new with so many doubts in my head. Being so far away from someone you love is the hardest thing I have ever experiences. Not being able to talk to them and not knowing how they are is pretty soul crushing. To feel like the person you love is living their life and becoming someone new without you by their side to experience it with them is life changing. But being positive and stubborn me and Becki have got through, what I hope will be the toughest part of it.
I've met some really good people in this time and have re-discovered my passion for acting which I thought had deserted me forever. These people are like my family now and I know life would be very different if they were not there to support me through the good times and bad.
So a very interesting 2008 which hasn't been the most positive year now I look back on it. But I don't intend to live in the past I intend to live in the now and look forward to the future which I hope will be bright!
here are a few goals I aim to achieve this year:
1)Live Life Like I've Never Lived Before: In the past I have been too cautious and lazy to try new things. I would like to change this straight away and start living so I don't regret anything when I'm older.
2) Stop living in the past: I've pretty much always done this. Always looked back at the "good old days" and this has stopped me realising what is going on here and now. I don't want to miss now because of the past. The past has happened and I can't change a thing about it and I can't go back and relive it.
3) Become more open again: Recently I have become closed off and pretty sceptical. Maybe it has been my experience in full time employment that has made me this way. But I know I don't really like it too much.
4) Manage my money better: Anyone who knows me well will know I'm pretty terrible with money. It burns a hole in my pocket and now I'm buying my own food and funding myself I need to control myself more.
5) Get fit and eat healthier: self explanatory. Started in late 2008 so I just need to keep it up in 2009!
So that is my story and my plan. I hope whatever resolutions you decide to embark upon they bring you happiness.
Peace, love and respect, as always.
-- Tom RDD
January - April 2008 - It is hard to believe that during this time I was in a different place in my life. Although only a year ago I would like to believe I have changed a lot since. In 2008 I was attending the University Of Kent and wasn't happy at all. I was stuck on a course that offered me literally nothing. So I left to seek brighter pastures. Unfortunately my leaving meant I lost some very good friends one or two in particular that meant a lot to me, and due to the circumstance I left under we are no longer friends.
April - Early September 2008 - I realised how full time employment controls your life and not in a good way. Doing the 9 - 5, five days a week. Not something I want to be doing in a hurry. Being tired, bored and wishing to be somewhere else is not how I want to live my life in the future.
Summer 2008 - Although I was in full time employment the summer was a time of happiness and hope. In the summer I got to travel to New York with my girlfriend Becki which was probably the best holiday I have had. Spending a week in an incredible city with an incredible person. I would very much like to live in NY one day. During the summer I also celebrated my 2 year anniversary with Becki. Two years normally seems like a long time to me, however the last two years, although having their ups and down, have been the best of my life so far.
The summer also had some not so pleasant ventures. The summer saw the demise of my semi-successful ska band Run Down Door. RDD meant so much to me and to watch it self destruct, mainly down to my own doing was heart breaking. RDD was everything I had ever wanted in a band. Good friends playing music which I had so much passion for. I had wanted to be apart of a ska band ever since I had seen Brighton legends Ska Gal, Out Of Luck and Once Over play when I was still a young teenager around the age of 14. The summer looked to be a bright one for the band with gigs lined up supporting Skaville UK at a venue which I had always wanted to play (The Concorde 2 in Brighton)and supporting Catch-it Kebabs (also in Brighton). RDD's demise did not come of a surprise to me. I had sensed tension in the band for a long time and tried to ease this tension the best I could but it failed and the band disbanded without anyone saying a word about it. It was a silent agreement that RDD was dead and gone.
September - December 2008 -- A pretty hard time for me personally. Becki had gone off to Uni and I was going somewhere new with so many doubts in my head. Being so far away from someone you love is the hardest thing I have ever experiences. Not being able to talk to them and not knowing how they are is pretty soul crushing. To feel like the person you love is living their life and becoming someone new without you by their side to experience it with them is life changing. But being positive and stubborn me and Becki have got through, what I hope will be the toughest part of it.
I've met some really good people in this time and have re-discovered my passion for acting which I thought had deserted me forever. These people are like my family now and I know life would be very different if they were not there to support me through the good times and bad.
So a very interesting 2008 which hasn't been the most positive year now I look back on it. But I don't intend to live in the past I intend to live in the now and look forward to the future which I hope will be bright!
here are a few goals I aim to achieve this year:
1)Live Life Like I've Never Lived Before: In the past I have been too cautious and lazy to try new things. I would like to change this straight away and start living so I don't regret anything when I'm older.
2) Stop living in the past: I've pretty much always done this. Always looked back at the "good old days" and this has stopped me realising what is going on here and now. I don't want to miss now because of the past. The past has happened and I can't change a thing about it and I can't go back and relive it.
3) Become more open again: Recently I have become closed off and pretty sceptical. Maybe it has been my experience in full time employment that has made me this way. But I know I don't really like it too much.
4) Manage my money better: Anyone who knows me well will know I'm pretty terrible with money. It burns a hole in my pocket and now I'm buying my own food and funding myself I need to control myself more.
5) Get fit and eat healthier: self explanatory. Started in late 2008 so I just need to keep it up in 2009!
So that is my story and my plan. I hope whatever resolutions you decide to embark upon they bring you happiness.
Peace, love and respect, as always.
-- Tom RDD
Thursday 8 January 2009
Note to self....
I must learn how to dance like this. As part of my "live life like I've never lived before" new years resolution, I am going to learn to dance like this...
got to love the swing! :)
peace, love and respect.
-- Tom RDD
got to love the swing! :)
peace, love and respect.
-- Tom RDD
Monday 5 January 2009
Saturday 3 January 2009
First post of 2009
So the Christmas period is effectively at an end now. Christmas and New Year are both behind us and January 2009 is staring us in the face. Firstly I would like to say, I hope everyone had a great Christmas time and enjoyed themselves doing whatever it was they did. I myself had a pretty mediocre Christmas day. To me the feeling of Christmas just wasn’t there this year. Maybe it is because I had spent the last few months away from home and hadn’t really been near anything vaguely Christmassy until the days before the big day. Whatever the reason behind my slightly less that enthusiastic festive cheer it was great to be able to spend time with my family and my amazing girlfriend Becki, who I had been apart from for far too long. So it’s about this time of year people start making their New Years resolution, I’ve heard some pretty good ones in my time but I myself have never really bothered with making one. Maybe I should this year. Maybe I should be more organised? Or control my money better? Or maybe I should work harder (infact as I write this I am putting off working). I’m sure something will come to me in the next few days. In the mean time I leave you with some lyrics from a very good band I happen to like called The Lawrence Arms (see below)
I hope where ever you are, what ever you believe (in the ways of Christmas and all that) you enjoyed your period of festivity and I wish you a very happy 2009.
Peace, love and respect.
Always.
Tom RDD
(The Lawrence Arms – 100 resolutions)
Where have I been all your life?
Sitting on fences-a novocaine for all the senses.
Another year will pass us by.
Making sense of nothing, in defense of something.
I laughed too late and dug myself into a grave.
This year I'll try not to think too much.
This year I'll try to stand up for myself.
This year I'll live like I've never lived before,
This is my year for sure.
Another stupid clumsy story.
More accidental aspirations.
Another explosion of silence.
I think I'm going deaf, or maybe I'm just hearing less.
This year I'll try to only listen to myself.
This year I'll try not to think too much.
This year I'll try to stand up for myself.
This year I'll live like I've never lived before,
This is my year for sure.
I wonder where you'll be bringing in the New Year.
As midnight clocks are singing,
Good chance I'll be slobbering somewhere.
Probably pass out, wasted, and sleeping until the smoke clears.
Vague memories of midnight flash in tune to morning sunlight.
Wake up knowing you'll never be there.
I've got 100 resolutions, but I've got no solutions.
I've got one song I write 100 times.
And only a dozen or so rhymes.
This year I'll try not to drink so much.
This year I'll try to stand up straight.
This year let's live liked we've never lived before,
This is our year for sure.
I hope where ever you are, what ever you believe (in the ways of Christmas and all that) you enjoyed your period of festivity and I wish you a very happy 2009.
Peace, love and respect.
Always.
Tom RDD
(The Lawrence Arms – 100 resolutions)
Where have I been all your life?
Sitting on fences-a novocaine for all the senses.
Another year will pass us by.
Making sense of nothing, in defense of something.
I laughed too late and dug myself into a grave.
This year I'll try not to think too much.
This year I'll try to stand up for myself.
This year I'll live like I've never lived before,
This is my year for sure.
Another stupid clumsy story.
More accidental aspirations.
Another explosion of silence.
I think I'm going deaf, or maybe I'm just hearing less.
This year I'll try to only listen to myself.
This year I'll try not to think too much.
This year I'll try to stand up for myself.
This year I'll live like I've never lived before,
This is my year for sure.
I wonder where you'll be bringing in the New Year.
As midnight clocks are singing,
Good chance I'll be slobbering somewhere.
Probably pass out, wasted, and sleeping until the smoke clears.
Vague memories of midnight flash in tune to morning sunlight.
Wake up knowing you'll never be there.
I've got 100 resolutions, but I've got no solutions.
I've got one song I write 100 times.
And only a dozen or so rhymes.
This year I'll try not to drink so much.
This year I'll try to stand up straight.
This year let's live liked we've never lived before,
This is our year for sure.
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