keyboard – Shaunanagins

I wrote a song.

This is a first, really. I have written songs before, but never on my own. This one just kinda…happened. It was initially a poem, but left alone with my keyboard and a head full of things I’m thankful for, I decided expand it and put it to music. Be forgiving, of course, as I really just picked up this instrument a good few weeks ago and recorded the video after I finished songwriting/tour guiding all day. My voice was unbelievably tired.

But what it comes down to are the words. Yes, someday I hope to work up enough talent to bring the music part up to par (or just get of my jam buddies to fill in the blanks!). I like that there’s music, but it isn’t meant to be anything more than simple. I’m hoping that if people follow the words they will know how it is meant to be taken, and smile in spite of my tired vocal chords. Because, hey, imperfection is okay. Music is okay. Words can be very, very okay.

(Also, God can be so poetically compared to a washing machine that even my Minister digs the lyrics…at least, that’s what his “like” on Facebook says. Take that, conventionality!)

You called me on the phone
And I cried across the line
Cuz the wounds that you were nursing
They sound a lot like mine

And there’s a map in my head
It’s got a marker in your place
I’ve walked that same long road
And I’ve seen those same long days

Let’s run away
Or just talk for 5 hours
Exchange the words “It’s gonna be alright.”

Cuz these bruises give us colour, baby
Our scars keep us in line
We get our strength from fist fighting
With the hands of time
All the bittersweetness
All the shots we miss
They tie us to each other
And our bruises give us colour

So your heart spilled on your sleeve
Well there’s nothing wrong with that
I’ve heard that with a little change
God can be a laundromat

And if winter turns to summer
And your heart still feels the burn
Let that fire keep you moving
Cuz there’s still a lot to learn

Life takes turns
So we better learn to dance
If we fall along the way, it’s a story

I’ve got a million cliches
They could tide you over for days
But I know 2 am is still a bitch

So maybe can just cry together
Or shoot the shit till it feels better
And stop treating our pain like it’s a glitch

I know you know I know just how it is.

How these bruises give us colour
And our scars keep us in line
And we get our strength from fist fighting
With the hands of time
All the bittersweetness
All the shots we miss
All the prayers we say
All the gifts of today
They tie us to each other
Our bruises give us colour

I want my home to be fun.

What a crowd-pleaser statement, I know. Of course I want my home to be fun. Of course you want your home to be fun. I also want my home to be cosy and open and bright and quirky and welcoming and [insert unarguable “home” attribute here], but that’s besides the point.

“Fun” was front and centre in my mind when I reorganized the apartment this summer. I was set on having a specified area in the open concept living space that was fun–specifically, fun in a music-y way. Music has always been important to me, and I knew my roommate-to-be was no different, so the apartment had to encourage tunes. I wanted the keyboard to get played. I wanted our CD collections to get played. Basically, I wanted a space where we could “play,” period. That space, naturally, needed to be as open to creativity as possible.

The blackboard wall was inspired by a suggestion from good ol’ Josh, and solidified thanks to some fond childhood memories (growing up, our playroom in the basement had featured some cute little blackboards…these were mainly used to to torture my younger brothers with endless games of “school”; I know I had a good time).

All it took was two coats of blackboard paint, purchased at the local Canadian Tire, to turn my previously-dull keyboard corner into a canvas. I have never seen anything so effective in making a home more fun.

Here’s a picture from the “cloffice” post last week. You’ll see the blackboard wall in the background:

Disclaimer: If you venture to read the wall, I would like to note that Jesus/Jagger/Gambino may not have used those EXACT words. Paraphrasing.

It’s super helpful for making notes to self/one another, as well as for writing down ideas, encouragement, Pokemon doodles…the usual. I would like to note, however, that the wall was visited last weekend by two monumental artists. This was a gamechanger.

I rest my case. Actually, I should probably rest my case with a picture of the wall in its current state. If this isn’t fun, I don’t know what is!

IMG_0279(2)_edited-2 — I personally love the “surf borad” which defies all laws of physics, courtesy of my two favourite artistic geniuses.

Since the wall has become such a hit, I decided it would be worth it to take this chalk action to the next level in a couple subtle/clever ways around the apartment. It’s happening. It’s happening as you read this, in fact. Lloyd’s response earlier today as I set to work on this latest project: “You said you were going to do it, and now you’re doing it. I don’t know why I’m still surprised anymore.”

Translation: Autumn apartment part two and Chalking it up part two are very ready to make their relationship official. Can’t wait for what next Friday has in store!