Men VS Women

Yeah, I know...interesting title right? I was watching a show today on VH1 called "undatable" - basically a show where women talk about things that men do to make themselves more unappealing. It's kinda funny in that many of the things they mention are things I've heard of guys doing, and getting dumped over, etc. But there was one little phase of the show that really hit me in a weird way.

This one phase of the show the women were talking about men that don't pay for the dates. My life, growing up, I was taught that there was a specific way that guys were supposed to treat women no matter what: women are to be treated like ladies, you never hit them, open doors, pay for their food, get ready to pay for everything else they need/want one day in the near future. But that set of rules "generally" (<----look up the definition for "generally" before commenting, ladies) came with another set of rules that said that for one respect given, there was to be respect received. For instance, some guys expect that because they make money, and they work, and they're the "head of the household", they do the outside chores, actually remember oil changes, carry heavy stuff, unload way more groceries than ever needed...I could keep going for a few days...but they sometimes feel that in exchange for having that responsibility the house should be kept clean, the clothes done, and the dinner cooked.

But then we had to have that little movement in the 20's and now women can make as much, and more money than men. And now there's not as much time for "household" chores to get done. Men are expected to help with all those once considered "womanly" chores because after all, we ARE equals - and if they work for the same bills the men do - it's only fair. BUT! I can count on probably two fingers the number of times I've driven past a yard being cut by a woman. And don't get me wrong, when I do drive past - I say, "hell, yeah - that's what I'm talking about". If you want to be equal - BE EQUAL. Take that hard earned cash and pay for a damn date yourself! Go see how it feels to be the one that pays, the one that opens the door, the one that gets asked to move every damn heavy box, and every other "manly" feat. - and then tell me you wouldn't rather cook and clean.

It's the "having your cake, and eating it too" syndrome. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with a woman being either way: either just being traditional, or being modern and doing more - being your own woman - or whatever. Be either way - just don't complain about your man not wanting to spend all his cash on you, and expecting you to spend some of your cash - when your excuse for not cleaning his house is the time you spend contributing to the cash flow.

bwahahaha - you guys are gonna have fun commenting on this one I know!

To reach deeper...

I've played music as long as I can remember. Ever since the first time my parents allowed me to sit in front of a piano and I discovered where those sounds came from, I've been obsessed with music. A very wise man once told me that bands come and go - but the music lasts forever. I have learned that the hard way. I have learned more about people from playing music with other people than I have from any other walk of life; probably because that's what 90% of my social life consists of. None-the-less it is true.
So what of the title? To reach deeper than before. To find meaning in things. These are good ideas, but what's the real focus? Truth is, there isn't one. Music, like any other art form will mean certain things to certain people, and to others it will mean nothing. Thus it's meaning is totally relative to the listener. But what I want to talk about, it what it means to the writer.
This is where I feel that much of modern music falls short. So many people out to make money, or become famous, or whatever - but they're not really musicians...and the musicians that are putting the stuff out there - rich as hell they may be - they're expressionless. The "point" of the music is to make money, not to inspire - not to convey a feeling across to others. I've fallen victim to this ideology of writing in some aspects. I've let "what's good" get confused with "what might sell" - etc.
The honest truth with me is that I get a sense of accomplishment just from completing a song when it has true meaning to me. An even bigger sense of accomplishment comes when someone else appreciates the work - whether or not they understand it or not. Maybe by reaching deeper into the unknown so that I can write solely from inspiration may mean a different reaction than hoped for...maybe it will take me further than ever before...the point is, it's not about where I'm going when I write a song - it's about the inspiration from the song itself...it's about where I've been.