Born To Sing

Yesterday was a very uplifting day for me. I met up with my friend Josh Murray to record some songs because I want to start getting out there to see what people think. Josh has some really nice recording equipment and we spent about five hours working on songs.

Although at the end of the day, when I heard the tracks played back I wasn't to impressed with what I had done I still had a blast with music. When I sing, everything that's on my mind, all the cares of this life just disappear. I am swallowed in the melodies and harmonies. I can't help but feeling exuberant! Singing gives me a high that nothing else in this world can compare to. I can't really even describe it in words. All I know is that what I want to do; what I was born to do. I want to touch people that hear me in a way that will change them for the better.

I dream all the time about being a recording artist. I can't imagine how amazing it would be to do what you love so much all the time and be loved by others for doing it! Wow, what a thought. Maybe for me that dream will come true one day. I'll leave it in God's hands. But I can still hope...

Technology: Have we taken it too far?

As I'm writing this blog I find myself sitting in a living room with three of my friends. "Everybody's Fine" is playing on a 55" TV with surround sound. While enjoying the movie should be entertaining enough, somehow each of us has placed ourselves behind the display of our laptops, all working on something different. Then there is the occasional glance at the cell phone to check for an incoming text. What has technology done to us?

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love technology. Seriously, I mean, I hope to get a job as a Systems Analyst someday (if the recording artist thing doesn't work out), so I really love technology. Well, I appreciate it too, not just enjoy and love it. I'm glad there are brilliant minds out there that develop this awesome technology that I get to use everyday. I just hope it isn't to our detriment. I mean what happens when the computers go all "Terminator" status on us and become self aware, leaving us to fight for survival like a bunch of wild banshees? I know the idea is far-fetched, but you never know :)

Anyways, I just got a kick out of watching all of us sitting here drowning in technology and loving every minute of it. Although I guess the idea of computers trying to take over and rule the world someday may be plausible to some extent, I'm definitely not going to be putting down any of my technology anytime soon. Too far or not, I'm addicted! :)

Charice: The Voice Of An Angel

Okay, anyone who knows me and my passion for music knows how big a fan I am of Charice. For those of you who don't know who she is, Charice hails from the Philippines and rose to international stardom through YouTube videos. This 17 year-old girl is one of the most amazing female vocalist I have ever had the privilege of listening to.

Today I was listening to her latest single "pyramid" (feat. Iyaz), and I was overwhelmed by how beautiful her voice is. I listen to all types of music all the time, and much of it speaks to me, but when I listen to Charice, it almost like time begins to slow down, and everything around becomes a distant blur. All I can focus on is her amazing voice. She is truly talented and I cannot wait to buy her self-titled album due May 11th.

I have a dream, a very far-fetched one, but I guess it could come true. Before I die, I want to sing a song with Charice. I mean, how incredible would that be. I know I'm not even a recording artist and she's only 17 and already an international superstar, but I'm entitled to hope. So maybe, hopefully, someday I will get to sing with Charice. I probably have as much a chance of singing with her as of winning the lottery, but still, it would be totally incredible.

I love you Charice!!! You're AMAZING!!!

Content with Cleanliness

So today, after a very long morning in bed, Crockett and Jodi decided today would be clean-up day. They are planning on having some friends over Saturday night to watch UFC 111, so we wanted the house to look nice.

We had run into some problems with the clothes dryer so after a quick trip to Lowe's (and stopping for a tasty bite at Subway), we came back to the house and Crockett and I got the dryer back in working condition. Once the dryer was fixed, I decided to tackle my bedroom and get it looking spot on. I then migrated to the living room, where the 1993 comedy "Coneheads" was playing on the television. I found myself quite amused by this very corny movie which in turn continually distracted me from the work at hand. After spending much more time than necessary in the living room (i mean, come on! I had to finish the movie), I turned to the kitchen/dining room, all the while washing my growing pile of dirty laundry which as of late has seemed to get neglected.

Needless to say, I am now laying on my bed amidst a very clean room, satisfied at a day put to good use, and exuberant that almost all of my previously soiled clothes are now fresh, clean, and tucked away in their respective drawers. Now if I could just find a decent job, then life would be perfect. I'm not complaining though. I'm doing just fine, and I know the right job will show up when the time is right.

Well, another good day has gone by, and if tomorrow comes, I know it will be a good one to. I'm going to finish the night off with an iPod, earbuds, and a great playlist of some peaceful favorites to send me off into a tranquil slumber.

Always remember, the best is yet to come.

The Time In Between

The inspiration for the title of my blog is song written by Francesca Battistelli and Clint Lagerberg title "The Time In Between". I wanted to post the lyrics and explain the reasoning behind this title and what it means to me.

The "time in between" for me is somewhat different than the song portrays, although I do consider the song my inspiration. I look at it this way. I grew up as a child, was dependent on my parents, was well provided for, and was never in need of anything. I went through school and graduated, and now that I'm on my own, things have been very shaky and rough starting out. I've dealt with job loss, family issues, discerning God's will for my life, and ultimately trying to find my place in this world. This era of my life as I've become an independent individual is my "time in between". Things were good, then the waters got a little rough, but I know that my best days are ahead of me. So for me, I want to make the most of each day in my "time in between" so that when I reflect on this period of my life, I will truly be thankful and grateful for the events and life lessons I went through and learned. The "time in between" could be the difference in what I am remembered for as a person.

With that, I leave you with the words and a video to Francesca Battistelli's song from her debut album "My Paper Heart". Here is "The Time In Between"

You were there when your Father said
Let there be light
You obeyed when He whispered
Son, You have to leave tonight
To spend nine months in a mothers womb
Three days in a borrowed tomb

But it's the time in between
That brings me to my knees
Knowing you came for me
And all that I can't be
I'm amazed, so amazed
And I thank You for the time in between

Don't take much for this crazy world
To rob me of my peace
And the enemy of my soul
Says You're holding out on me
So I stand here lifting empty hands
For you to fill me up again

But it's the time in between
That I fall down to my knees
Waiting on what You'll bring
And the things that I can't see
I know my song's incomplete
Still I'll sing in the time in between

So many ways
Your love has saved the day
And I'm grateful for them all

But it's the time in between
The middle of two thieves
That says everything
It's the reason I believe
I'm amazed, so amazed
And I thank you for the time in between
Oh Lord, I thank you for the time in between

Always a First

After being inspired by the blogging of my great friend Teri Webb, I decided now was as good a time as any to begin capturing my life in words than can be read by those in the present, become a thing of the past, and hopefully be life-lessons to those in the future.

So here it is, the very first, the beginning of a series in the life and thoughts of Ryan Blake... Granted, my life is definitely not picture perfect, nor does it represent what is considered by some the "american dream" by any stretch of the imagination. Albeit, valuable life lessons can be learned from the unique journey of any individual making their way through this life. For this reason only I have decided to blog about my journey, with some hope (as foolish as it may be) that someone out there in the vastness of the world wide web may be able to uncover through my writing a small golden nugget of wisdom, truth, or advice that can help them in some way.

With that in mind, I hope that each person out there that reads the words of this blog is enlightened, touched, moved, or inspired in some way shape or form. Blogging is a newly added item to my agenda, so I hope to keep up with it and give any followers something to read.

Time to get back to my life...As Ryan Blake