There is a Light (D's Journal)

[Calavera Diablos]

Nothing bad, your intellect basically. For awhile, I thought "Oh christ, if I talk to him, I'm going to look like a chimp playing with a keyboard."

I always found Iggy Pop's voice to be very soulful, I suppose he just struck a certain subconscious nerve in me.

But, according to you, despite Tim Owens' screaming, the back-up vocals are decent and he's quite a powerful song lyrics writer? So, really, both singers had something to contribute?

[D]

Well, Owens only wrote one song on the album...his lyrics are...okay...

The band's guitarist, Jon Schaffer, is actually the mastermind. He does most of the writing because he's a well-known perfectionist, and won't settle for anything he feels is below his standards, which is why other members frequently move in and out. The previous singer, Matt Barlow was quite a poet though, and Jon liked writing with him, so it's a shame that team had to break up. Some fans have grown to despise Jon's perfectionism, but I understand where he's coming from. I mean, if music is your life, doesn't it bother to put out something you feel is lackluster? I'd feel guilty.

Jon decided after 9/11 to step away from fantasy and do an album with more meaning, where he could let out his feelings about the situation, which is why the new album is what it is.

The backing vocals are really good. They bring a classical feel to even some of the heavier songs. I always like it when a band can actually perform backing vocals instead of the lead singer doing it all in the studio. It sounds more natural. Just to let you know though, this band only recently started doing this.

By the way, I've read many of your posts, and I don't see how you could consider yourself a "chimp with a keyboard". I think everyone I've met here is an extremely intelligent parson. Do I really seem that intellectual?

[D]

7/23/2004

This post has nothing to do with the military portion of my journal. I was within seconds of losing my life last night in an accident, and I just have to talk about it. I was using the weedeater to trim around the yard yesterday when I struck some wires hiding beneath a patch of tall grass. To make a long story short, I found myself being electrocuted by at least 220V at who-knows-how-many amps. For about 10-20 seconds, my hands were stuck to the weedeater as the electricity surged through me. I could do nothing as 60 Hz grabs on and won't let go. Every muscle in the body tenses up (I'm quite sore today), so I couldn't release my grip on the machine. Somehow though, despite the agonizing pain (the worst I've ever known), vibration, and involuntary screaming, I kept my wits enough to jerk my arms several times, eventually getting the weedeater to drop. I immediately walked away, despite the tingling and my hands and feet being nearly asleep. Strage thing about electrocution - the pain of the actual injury stops as soon as the electricity is gone - not like a cut or a broken bone that keeps hurting long after. I do have burns now on some of my fingers.

My wife and son happened to be nearby, unable to do anything. My wife was about to call 911 when I shook it loose. My son was screaming because of all the craziness going on around.

I'm extremely lucky. Life is precious. If I didn't know that before, I more than understand it now. I thought for a few moments that I was truly going to die, and my wife did too. We had a rough night dealing with the notion. She was really shaken up. I could never imagine her view of the incident, seeing me go through that, just as she could never imagine mine. All we could do was offer each other comfort. I kept telling her that we have to move on and just be happy that I am still here.

My son knew something bad had happened because right after it occurred, he wanted to stay close to me for a while. I hope he forgets this. He seemed fine soon after though. Kids are so resilient!

Life is truly precious. Live every moment as if it were both the first and last. I will probably find a place to copy this to the TD boards as well. I want everyone I can share this with to understand how valuable each second/minute/hour/day is. It's strange to think of how close I came to never being able to write this.

[Tasia]

Oh, honey, I'm so glad you can come away from that kind of thing with such an excellent perspective. I'm insanely glad you're ok, and that you had the guts to share this with us. You make an excellent role model.

*hugs*

Tasia

[D]

Thanks

I'm always looking for ways to help people through things I go through.

[moira]

geez, that's really lucky. I'm glad you're okay! Isn't it odd how a few seconds or minutes can profoundly effect ones life? Life really is precious. That's something I'm experiencing each day, too. *hugs* I'm really glad you're all right.

[Calavera Diablos]

Jesus... Thank god you're alright. There are moments like those where you'll take a step back, look at the incident and while it was scary, you feel empowered at the same time because you survived. It gives you a whole new perspective on life. I'm sure your family will be stronger after this.

[D]

I am feeling a sense of empowerment, like I'm meant to be here for something more. I feel like I defeated something too - by not giving up and keeping my sanity despite the pain.

[D]

7/27/2004

Things are going pretty well right now. I'm recovering from the electrocution. My body aches are finally fading away, and hopefully my strange bout with nightmares since the incident will soon subside. My medical insurance is about to kick in, so I'll be able to visit the doctor and get everything else checked out soon.

I'm about to inform my wife of a big realization I came to last night about my future. I'm good in my information technology field. I'm good at teaching (which is what I spent my last couple of years in the military doing). And I enjoy both, especially the teaching, but I've decided I want to take that part a step further. I think I should be a counselor. Actually, let me rephrase that - I think I'm supposed to be a counselor. This is a big decision because it would require me to go back to school for quite a while. We'll see what my family thinks though.

[Calavera Diablos]

I think that's a great idea if you feel you could handle it. It requires a great deal of patience and tolerance, plus the skill to remain curious rather than judgemental. The best of luck to you if you feel you would be happiest in that role. I'm sure that you would be able to get through to alot of people thanks to life experience. From what you've shared and gone through, it's easy to connect and understand certain situations and veiwpoints.

[D]

My wife suggested I join the Boys Club of America to test the waters a bit and make sure I really like it before I start spending money on school again. I think it sounds like a good idea.

[Calantha]

That's a great idea, D, and a good way to know if you want to be one! I used to work in an innercity youth center for kids and one of my jobs was to mentor kids and talk to them and everything. Even though the job was great and I had lots of fun and it proved to be one of the deciding factors of me wanting to teach, the kids were always so happy to come and that was really the best thing about it! The center I work at now, I'm more of a supervisor, but the one on one time with the kids is still high in quality!
That's such a lovely idea your wife had!

[D]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it

So, do you have any tips?

[Calantha]

Huh. I guess the major thing that I learned was that I think every kid wants to talk about things, they're just not sure how to, so a lot of times you have to learn to take the first step with it but not in a demanding way, you know?
*shrugs and thinks*
I guess with everything, it's all about baby steps.

[Lianne]

i think that is an awesome idea! to be a counsillor and to be able to help out people. that is a real gift. i wish you all the best!