A Little Hope for the Hopeless Romantic...?

and i find it hilarious. some of my oldest friends are coming up to me after listening to the CD and asking, "so who was that playing the piano?"

i tell them that every track on the album is me. first they don't believe me. and then they stare at me wide-eyed for a tick. and some go, "i didn't know you had a piano." i simply tell them, "i don't", and leave them feeling utterly cofused. it's kind of funny. in fact, it amuses me like you wouldn't believe. i turn my back and walk across the room to someone else, all the while a wry smile on my face.

i was entirely unaware that it was in any way impressive.

people are strange, don't you agree? :)


PS- if you want to hear a few tracks from my EP, check out my music myspace @ www.myspace.com/musicmidas. ♥

PPS- i beg to differ with the majority of my friends. THE NEW FOB CD IS THEIR BEST WORK AND MUSICALLY EXCELLENT (and well thought out).

If you haven't checked them out, there are 4 tracks up from my new album "Every Second Lost". Give 'em a listen, and don't hesitate to tell me what you think! www.myspace.com/musicmidas

Plus don't miss my CD release party on January 19th. Show starts at 7 and goes to 11pm. Cover is $5, and that gets you FREE snacks and desserts as well as FREE pizza at 8pm. Plus you'll see acoustic acts from:


James Brown (Citizen Smile)
Tommy Giorlando (Opus Podunk)
Pete (Silent for Kyle)
Andrew Schloss (Jones Street Boys)
Safer Than Sleep
and of course, Me!

So stop by and be sure to pick up a copy of the CD for $5!

♥♪ Brent

Well guys, the holidays have been BUSY but very fun here. I'm finally able to settle down and do some things I've been meaning to do, and I have some great news! I finished my work on the EP in the studio today, and Mike is mixing and mastering as we speak. I'll have it in my hot little hands tomorrow afternoon at 2:00!

I got a little more ambitious than I thought I would, and since I extended my time in the studio I have a total of 8 tracks on the EP. Not only that, we made a real effort to focus on quality. Expect to see some of the new tracks up on my music myspace tomorrow evening (www.myspace.com/musicmidas). Don't forget to friend me there if you haven't already!

And last, but not least, make sure to come to my CD release party on Jan. 19! Come out, buy a CD, and enjoy Lenny's drinks and loads of free food provided by (ta da!) me!!

Hope you're all having a happy new year! How were your holidays?
♥♪ Brent

For those of you who have facebook accounts, I now have one too.

This morning I went with Tommy Giorlando to see a production of Romeo and Juliet at the Hilsbery Theatre (Wayne State). It was actually one of the better productions of it that I've seen. The actor who played Mercucio was simply brilliant!!!

Tomorrow I'm going to see Sara!!! I'm so exited. I spent the weekend with her and Lisa up at MSU. It was such a blast- as always!

The holidays are finally here!!! I can't wait for tomorrow to come. It seems it can't come fast enough. As if time were moving "slower than molasses rolling uphill in January", as my Nana used to say.

That's about all that's new. I love you all. Goodnight.

Ok, so it's no secret that I'm a huge Fall Out Boy fan. Sell-outs or not, whether their ealier indie work was WAY better, even though it seems to me Pete Wentz is a dick (partly for showing his) and Patrick is a bloated idiot- they are still enormously talented song writers and have a load of staying power. I have to resepct that.

So the point is, I searched for the "new" FOB song that has been out for like two months now because I somehow hadn't heard it yet. Two things occured. One is that I found the track (This Isn't a Scene, It's an Arms Race) and I'm absolutely in love with it. The other is that I stumbled across a whole bunch of their recordings that I didn't know existed. I even found a cover of the Police's "Roxanne". lol, I have to laugh at that one, but I love it. And I found a track called "The Music or the Misery" that only appeared on the "Sugar We're Going Down" Single. Fantastic.

Plus, the cut on my left hand has healed enough that I was able to play guitar today for the first time in weeks.

AND, I talked to Sara today for the first time two days which was wonderful as always. ♥

Long story short, I'm happy as a pig in muck and feeling a very little bit better every day. I give it a week until I ought to be able to eat and speak perfectly fine again. Hopefully. Keep your fingers crossed and thanks for the prayers.

♪♪♫♪ ♥ ♪♫♪♪

So yesterday didn't prove quiet and uneventful afterall. I woke up at 7AM to find that I was spewing out pure blood in mouthfuls and mom had to rush me to the hospital in the rain. I got there only to be delayed half an hour in the waiting room while the woman who was working on my paperwork occasionally excused herself from me and my blood-filled bucket to get up and answer the phone. I was beyond pissed. Furthermore, mom was still in the car trying desparately to park and they were expecting me to talk to them (and answer the same questions 3 or 4 times) as I was spitting blood everywhere.

Finally I'm seen by a doctor, who in turn calls the doctor who performed my surgery, who tells him to have him come to his office (at 19 Mile Road and Garfield!!!!) and he'll take a look. For those of you who don't know, that's like 20 miles away through rain and rush hour traffic. This is the point were I thank God that my mom is a stubborn and forceful woman (to say the least). She got up and demanded for them to get my doctor back on the phone immediately. Once she spoke to him she realized that they had not impressed on him the severity of the situation and that I was losing blood so quickly. He then paged his colleagues who were down from the OR to look at me in a matter of minutes. With much effort they removed huge clots from the back of my throat. The silver nitrate would not cause the hemorrhage to clot again so I went back up to the OR where they put me to sleep and proceeded to cauterize me a second time. Thankfully, this doctor deemed it alright for me to be given morphine for a short while afterward and once I woke up the rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully.

I spent the evening in the hospital recovering and I'm glad to say that I'm doing much better. In fact I'm more worried about the people I love right now than I am about myself. Keep praying for me and my quick recovery if you would, please. I have Christmas to look forward to now!!!

Well, I’m back at home alive and well. Sort of well. After all I’ve just had my throat cut and sewn shut. I can actually feel the sutures on the back of my tongue. Kind of a funny sensation. Surgery went well I guess. Contrary to popular belief I can talk, and furthermore my doctor encourages quiet conversation so work some of the muscles used in swallowing. Still I’m doing it sparingly. Honestly, I’m not sure all of this is so bad in comparison to the pain and frustration of not being able to swallow/move my jaw at all. I taking a liquid form of Vikadin that really helps dull the pain (and produce quite a feeling of euphoria). In my opinion, it is among the most wonderful of substances known to man. 

Anyhow, long story short, I’m fine and I’ll be recovered in about ten days or so. Until then I’m curling up with a good book and riding out the pain. Thanks for all the prayers, and pray a little more while I recover please.

lol, yep they're coming out in just 3 1/2 hours. Leaving for the hospital soon. I'm nervous, of course, so pray for me and my speedy recovery please. Love you all, and I'll talk to you as soon as I'm able! Until then, adieu.

Finally scheduling surgery for those pesky tonsils!!! This calls for a celebration!

As soon as I'm better, of course.


One other thing... I was actually bothered in person about those stupid Kerry posts and all of the resulting hysteria. Please that was two weeks ago, and you all know that I'm a little right of moderate. And you should all understand how I was slightly insulted by the original remarks due to my recent enlistment and experiences. Furthermore I was sick and frustrated to begin with. So please don't hold it against me and I won't hold your opinions against you. Btw, I'm not apologizing for anything I said though. Let's move on with our lives and find new drama please! lol.

I love you all, especially if you bother to read this.

I'm just biding my time until Mom get's home and we can leave. Found this slightly ammusing...




I have a funeral to attend. I don't know how I'm going to get through this one.

I can try to be bold, I can try to be daring, I can try to keep it together, and I can try to be more of a man... but in the end I am just a silly boy after all.

Jealousy is a useless emotion, I've always said so, but that doesn't mean I can put it out of my mind.

I'll take comfort in knowing that at least I fight it better than most.



Funny how fitting music can be sometimes. This song just came up in my playlist. I've heard it a hundred times, but this is the first time I actually felt it...

Greener
by Tally Hall

Here's that part again where everything's more than it should be
and greener seems to fall beneath your feet
Seconds tick like boulders whenever you don't call
Does it seem like that where you are?
Wherever it is you are?
Does it seem like that where you are?

Time for time together and depending on the weather
We'll either argue in your house or outside

Different I've felt before I got this notch in my belt
Cause in your plans you were all for me
Yeah but now it seems that you'd just rather leave

Wherever you go
Is breaking me slowly
Don't leave it alone
Don't leave it alone
You sound so much further on the phone
You fit just right, right next to me
But there's always a reason why it can't be

Telephones make you seem miles away from home
All alone I get a little meaner
I leave a message at your tone
And miles away from home
You get a little cleaner of me
And I find a little greener shade of envy

Wherever you go is breaking me slowly
Don't leave it alone
Don't leave it alone
You sound so much further on the phone
You fit just right, right next to me
But there's always a reason why it can't be

Tissues get used
Getting rid of you
Don't you see what you do to me
And you just let it be

I wish you'd get used
And then come running back
To the shoulder that's become me
To the shoulder that's me

Wherever you are
Is breaking my heart
Don't leave it alone
Don't leave it alone

You fit just right, right next to me

VERY sick, but getting better fast. Went to see the doctor on Friday. Gave 'em hell and the ladies at the front had sympathy and squeezed me in last minute. I had an absess again (just like I told them I did) and this time it was HORRIBLE. They aspirated it with a needle and made an incision on the swollen surface to drain it. Mind you they did this while I was awake and I have NEVER felt anything so painful in my entire life. I was on the verge of passing out. I told them I don't take well to local anesthetic so they gave me a spray, a swab, AND he poked me 5 times with a needle. Still didn't do much so I was forced to just clutch the chair and tear at my jeans as the pain seared. Thank God it was all over in about three minutes.

Spoke to my recruiter for a good half hour this morning. She asked a question I didn't know how to answer. I said yes because it was tentative and I don't have to come up with a real answer until the opportunity arrises. If the opportunity arrises. I'm tempted though, very tempted.

I miss my kitten. It's been too long. But I'm still so happy knowing things are going to work out.

Ok ok, I know the issue is well worn out. Plus I'm not so sick and grumpy as I was two days ago. Still, I had a good laugh when I saw this. You've got to admit it's pretty funny.





Ok how about a new (and much less controversial) topic for my next entry? Sounds good... Glad you agree!

Ok, so I have seen two sentiments expressed here. One side simply states that this is all just a mistake. The other says they agree wholeheartedly. Some say both (someone get out the iron, here come the waffles).

Well, if it was a mistake why haven't we heard an actual apology at all? Perhaps because he's a pig-headed, flip-flopping, power-hungry man. Just perhaps. Has John Kerry EVER admitted fault for anything? Truthfully, don't you see that?

But this isn't about Senator Kerry and this isn't about the President. Now we've opened up a whole new can of worms. Since recruitment I have met PLENTY of intelligent upstanding Americans in all branches of service. I think a lot of you have a very skewed view of the reasons people volunteer. And remember this my friends (or are you?), these are the proud men and women who are willing to give their lives for their country... for you. Just as you say that they are not too intelligent, they could very well say you are cowardly. But they don't do they? After all, I don't see you out on the front lines, and I don't knock you for it. So let's not insult the intelligent of these proud, courageous individuals please.

Because when it comes right down to it, I'm about to join their ranks.


Sincerely,
Soon to be a Sailor

I do admit that our President is only human. I do admit that he has made decisions I don't agree with. In some ways, I would very much have liked to see someone else in office. But, nonetheless President Bush was to me the lesser of two evils. I would love to see Alan Keys in office, but alas he never makes it past the primaries. Furthermore, John Kerry disgusts me. Constantly. It's not the first time he's made off remarks about the troops.

The reason I'm especially enraged though, is because people have said similar things to me recently.

"Brent, why don't you just stick it out a little longer and try college again? You don't have to do this. You're smarter than this."

Smarter than a Navy Nuclear ET? Oh, I'm sorry that's so demeaning to think that I'll be handling Plutonium while you're sitting at home pushing papers. And college for free. And the GI bill for more schooling afterward. And a salary. And full health benefits. Right, this isn't a good choice for me then as I sit in near poverty, sick as a dog, with no insurance, and no money to take care of myself and those I love. I'd better rethink it immediately.

And what's worse is that a lot of people assume I could care less about my country. I have always thought that military service is one of the most honorable things in the world. I am going not just because it's a good option for me financially but also because I've overcome my fear and I'm ready to stand tall and fight for my country.

So that's where I'm coming from. Don't think that I'm completely ignorant to the short-comings of either party and all candidates. I just happen to be very upset at the moment. John Kerry is a man of harsh attitudes full of sarcasm and extremes who can never quite make up his mind. Although I respect him as a senator (though no more than I respect his GOOD FRIEND Ted Kennedy), I stand by my statements and my sentiments toward this man.


And by the way, this afternoon he's managed to flip-flop again and only confuse the issue. First he claims that nothing was awry and the whole thing was engineered by "right-wing nut jobs", led by a "doughy Rush Limbaugh". Later this afternoon, though, he claimed the problem was a "botched joke" that was simply supposed to be aimed at George Bush. You can't have it both ways sir, so which is it? Or is this your way of apologizing? And why haven't we heard an apology? Even your friend Senator McCain would like to know that.


Anyhow, that said, I stand by my previous entry. I hope you can understand my personal ties to this issue.

For those of you who wonder why I voted for our President, George W. Bush:

Earlier this week John Kerry was speaking to students at Pasadena City College. After making several one liners aimed at President Bush and his cabinet he stated,

"You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

I am personally insulted and outraged.

He has since refused to apologize for his remarks claiming that they were, "a botched joke about the president and the president's people". A joke senator? Surely you don't expect me to believe that. A Freudian slip perhaps, but not a joke. You said what you said because you meant what you said. You're a sick cowardly man who hides behind his own fabricated past claiming heroism where none existed. The moment you threw your medals over the Whitehouse fence- and went running to the comfort of high society with your stupid, crass, uncooth wife- you became nothing more than a lying snake. You will say anything to achieve political popularity. Lucky for the Republican party you're nothing but 6'4" of hot air and absolute idiocy (if you google this word by the way, you will find that the first definition for idiocy is 'extreme mental retardation').

So in conclusion, the choice has always been clear to me. These aren't just the views of Senator Kerry but the views of the better part of his Democratic Party. Kerry just happens to be the only man stupid and arrogant enough to voice them. I chose to vote for our president because he is a proud upstanding American if nothing else. As many of you already know, I will be leaving on March 1, 2007 to proudly serve our country's Navy with courage and commitment. I will always stand by my morals and live for my love of this country, something Senator Kerry can hardly claim himself.


Sincerely, a Proud American,
Brent Grenda

I'm on top of the world. I don't really think I've ever been happier really. It's a good thing.

I found someone who shares my (overly) zealous, crazy love of music band-for-band. Fantastic!!! She's like my new best friend or something. Or something. lol.

"Stop looking at me when I'm talking!!! What are you thinking about?!"

"Nothing."

And this has made me the happiest man alive once again.



But I've never been so scared to do anything in my life... 3 hours and counting...

*sigh*

In case you were wondering, the egg crate part goes beneath your head.



Thank you very much.

So I'm about to get down to business (not to be confused with getting down and busy) with the possible new lead singer of The Falling Life. I'm pretty darn excited. You should be too.

Wish us luck!!!