My Short Story: A Sense of Normal

My short story: A Sense of Normal is being featured on an online Halloween event on Facebook.

If you can, check it out.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1655642991381785/1663691060576978/

Some other spooky tales, short films, and music is going to be featured too.

Happy Halloween!

-The LMB

Thursday Afternoon Songs: Pretty Please with a bonus for my birthday...

Sixth Installment of Thursday Afternoon Songs: Pretty Please

Pretty Please

Sometimes I just hate the world and all of its ways
We built it up, this wicked kingdom
No remorse and no love

Burn it down
For me
To the ground
Pretty Please

Lying, cheating, murdering
Just what have we become?
I don't care if the sky falls down on me
I don't care at all.

Burn it down
For Me
To the ground
Pretty Please.


And bonus, because it is my birthday and I'm feeling generous.
A YouTube video of my old band playing the song live in our rehearsal room a few years ago.

Five Things Wrong With Social Media

30 Day Writing Challenge Day #1 – Five Things Wrong With Social Media

So, I’m embarking on this 30 day writing challenge with one post a week.

The first topic is: Five Things Wrong with Social Media

Okay, so where to start… I would say that the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this question is:         

1.   It reduces our ability as humans to actually talk to each other.

     I unfortunately was able to be more social through the advent of social media because I was ALWAYS the type of person that got their ideas, feelings, and thoughts out better through writing than I ever did by simply talking to someone. My social anxiety still kicks me in the ass when I try to speak to someone new in person, but through social media…I’m the calmest, least anxiety ridden version of me to the same person. That being said, I do think there is something irreplaceable and so fulfilling about a face-to-face conversation. Sometimes social media can seem fake or not like real life and when you are actually speaking to someone face-to-face, lying and manipulating are not always as easy as they are online. Not to say that real life bullshit artists aren’t still around, it’s just that social media has made them so much braver and seemingly abundant.

2.     What you put up on social media is there forever.

     Every comment, every stupid selfie, every relationship status, etc. is up there forever. Even if you delete it. It opens up an individual to criticism and scrutiny. It is also human to change and sometimes social media does not allow this. This is a bad thing because people do and should change. Change is good. Social media sometimes makes us feel like  we’re not entitled to change our lives because of the idea of self we have created for ourselves online. Also, god forbid you ever get drunk and take a picture of yourself drunk or some other “frowned upon” activity. Employers and other authority figures can use that against you. Your opinions, which are your right to have, become “facts” and tidbits ABOUT you not just something YOU SAID.  Which brings us to…

 3.   It gives racist, sexist, ageist, homophobic, and general assholelic (yes, I made that word up) people a platform to spew hate.

     If I had a dollar for every asshole comment on the internet I would be a damn millionaire. The worst aspect of this is that one asshole finds another asshole and on and on until there is an online community of them. One really does not even have to leave the Facebook website to see many examples of this. The fact that online bullying has spearheaded international and national legislation is proof that it has gone too far.

4.    It has created and spread the stupidest campaigns and trends ever.

     Is the dress gold and white or blue and black? Which promoted pointless arguing amongst friends. The collarbone challenge that promoted body dysmorphia. The fact that snopes.com exists is proof that so much non-truth is spread through social media.

5.    “If there are no pictures of this thing that you said that happened on social media, I do not believe it actually happened”

     This is something that bothers me a lot. Especially at events, namely concerts. Listen, I go to a concert to hear a band, rock out, and, if the concert is really good, possibly have a transcendent experience. I did not pay my $25 or whatever to snap 10,000 pictures or video of the musicians playing, so I can PROVE to my friends that I am there. I would honestly rather my friends come with me and enjoy the concert too with their own senses.

Thursday Afternoon Songs: Triumph to Be Alive

Fifth Installment of Thursday Afternoon Songs: Triumph to Be Alive

Triumph to Be Alive

I don't need you to say
It’s all gonna be ok
Cuz from you it just don't mean a thing
From you it just don't mean a thing

The night comes and I’m afraid
I won't live to see the day
My friend finds it hard to survive
A triumph to be alive

It’s in one ear and out the other

But it's in one ear and out the other

Lacking in confidence
And making no fucking sense
But I’m trying harder than you
To chase away the blue

But it’s in one ear and out the other 

Yeah it's in one ear and out the other

One day it'll be gone
Never say you can't go on

A triumph, to be alive.

30-Day Writing Challenge

I don't believe in #NaNoWriMo.
Because I would be forcing creativity way too heavily. But...
I vow to use each of these suggestions to write a blog post in the coming months. Not one a day like a challenge. But, one a week is definitely a worthwhile goal! I'll start this weekend!

Thursday Afternoon Songs: Always

Fourth Installment of Thursday Afternoon Songs


Always

What a day I had today
More than one drink could make it go away
But I don't think so I said
I just can't get you out of my head

What did you think we would do?
Everyone waited for you

It’s a hard road I know
And the journey's so slow
But the people along the way
Either fail or make you safe

The hardest thing to do
Is sit here waiting for the truth.

And when you're gone
Remember me strong
And where you go
Remember my love
Always

Just what did you think we would do?
Everyone waited for you.

Thursday Afternoon Songs: Epiphany

Third Installment of Thursday Afternoon Songs

Epiphany

It rains on us all

The tongues are knives

And all you saw

You were paralyzed

But now in spite of everything

The pawn has now become the queen

Trees stand when once they leaned

The pawn has now become the queen

Hearts, lungs, and arms

Lie broken on the floor

And you swear to god

This won’t happen anymore

But when it does you’ll be prepared

And now in spite of everything

The pawn has now become the queen

Trees stand when once they leaned

The pawn has now become the queen

But now in spite of everything

The pawn has now become the queen

Trees stand when once they leaned

The pawn has now become the queen

Thursday Afternoon Songs: Bleed Red

Second Installment of Thursday Afternoon Songs

Bleed Red

There’s a message in the heartache.

There’s a message in the pieces.

Gotta’ man up fight your demon.

And break away from all that scheming.

All the wouldn’t and the couldn’t.

All excuses don’t you know that?

All the grudges and the fighting,

Makes peace more elusive.

Our precious hearts, we’re not in need of anymore

Well, I’d rather be dead.

These aching arms, left empty by lovers

Well, we all bleed red.

I don’t want to be afraid now.

I don’t want to wash away now.

You’re in trouble if you’re thinking

You can survive on all that hate

And

All the drugs won’t make your heart grow

All the faith won’t help you to let go.

Our precious hearts, we’re not in need of anymore

Well, I’d rather be dead

These aching arms, left empty by lovers

Well, we all bleed red

And

You can’t take, the world and all its upsets

But

I swear it’s really beautiful.

To give in, to drastic measures

When we all bleed red.

What will you say at the end?

When all the flowers are dead?

When all the tears start to flow

You look

And

See no one you know.

When I live and you just breathe

Yes

I’ll live and you’ll just breathe.