Dear Sophy,

I tried calling you a few times this morning, but there was no answer. At first I was saddened by this, but suddenly I know there was something right about that disconnect. It's a morning for solitude and a particular running of words turned by Bradbury comes to me.
 

"…Beware the autumn people... For some, autumn comes early, stays late, through life, where October follows September and November touches October and then instead of December and Christ’s birth there is no Bethlehem Star, no rejoicing, but September comes again and old October and so on down the years, with no winter, spring or revivifying summer.
For these beings, fall is the only normal season, the only weather, there be no choice beyond."
From Something Wicked This Way Comes

From my vantage point, belly down on the back porch with a ginger ale and coconut donut waiting for my full attention, I can watch the autumn dying. The colors that lit the sky are now painting the ground and the deceitful warmth of the day is accompanied by a warning chill of wind. These are winter winds, blue and sullen that dry my hair. They have none of the defiant vitality of the fall. It's nearly noon but it could be any time of the day. And I am full of a strange longing.

It's time for me to go back to my roots, Sophy. Find a pen. Open up Archimedes (an ancient laptop for those who aren't familiar with him). Read a book. Eat a coconut donut. Turn off my cell phone. Be younger than forty because frankly? I'm not forty and I've been looking at the world as if I was. So I lift to you a wine glass full of ginger ale and maybe a prompt to swing by later on. I have a story to tell you and I think you'll agree that it's high time I hush the voices of my generation and listen to those of a youth that only I can create on paper.

Sincerely,
The One You Are Friends With
 

Dear Sophy (and in this one, Neneve),

I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about passing out at chorus yesterday evening. In retrospect, it's not a huge deal and I should be back to school tomorrow. Oh yay. But staying home today was secretly good for me, even though I might be missing out on multiplying matrices and learning about the revelation of Jacksonian democracy. A day away from the people and the faces and well, everything. I have taken the day to lift up a pen and pursue some writing. Well, you know, more than usual. I also worked a bit on the BIGSECRETPROJECT, but you didn't hear that from me. So this is some reassurance. I'm fine, don't worry at all.

With love,
Hanz

August is Over: The Playlistpalooza

It looks as if this will end up being a post on the Carpe. That might be the better way to do this from now on. I am writing this on the 16^th, but can already feel that slight bite of fall in the air and the heaviness of the fact that school is starting once more (or maybe that’s just the humidity) seems to be everywhere. But autumn is a good time. It’s a time for personal revolutions and it sets a pattern for the year that follows. Because everyone knows that kids in school don’t measure the New Year by January 1^st. This playlist is to usher us into that great possibility and beauty that the fall holds (especially in New England). Analysis begins... *slight hesitation over keyboard* now.

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On the Radio ~–Regina Spektor

                This song is more the feeling of a summer ending. It has that forlorn quality, but is layered by energy for what is to come and the youthful vibe of the season past. Miss Spektor tells us a story of friendship and aging and discovery. And that is what summer is all about, is it not? This is a lovely segue into the autumn.

Hold It In ~ Jukebox the Ghost

                More of that energy layer. Mmmm... Jukebox the Ghost = a little known love. “Life is ohmygodifItellhimthenhewilltellherandshewillknowIlikeher.” Isn’t that true? Even if it’s not that particular wording, the feeling is the same. Anxiety. And here it comes again with the school year. Out, Spot!

Memory Lane ~ Elliot Smith

                This is a fairly obvious selection. Still in the folk-ish rut, we look back on all the fun that we did manage to have this summer. And there was so much. No complaints in Hanz-ville. I figure memory lane gets longer with each year that passes us by. But it’s not a loss, it simply means it’s a nicer walk.

Colorful ~ Rocco Deluca

     Ahem. LEAVES! That will be all.

Tiny Vessels ~ Death Cab For Cutie

                Something about this song has the feeling of the sad end of summer. Recalling it will make it easier to let go of the sunlight.

Rockin’ The Suburbs ~ Ben Folds

                Oh Ben Folds. How I adore thee. This track is honest and a half. Stop and listen to the lyrics and you will probably laugh at what the message of this piece actually is. Of course, because it’s Ben Folds, it is brilliant. His defiance is classy and legitimate and reminiscent of that hobo you met in New Jersey, the one who tried to sell you an empty bottle labeled sunshine? This song is going to make you wish you bought it.

Not a Love Song ~ Uh Huh Her

                These ladies are very adamant that this is not a love song, even though it sure as hell sounds like one (if a jilted one). The feeling of this song is great. I dub it winter techno. Not quite techno, definitely not electronic, and the melody progression has too dark a sound to be considered poppish.

Sowing Season ~ Brand New

                We are straying into that territory where I start thinking myself dreadfully clever with titles of songs and how they pertain to the mix. Look! Look! Sowing Season... Harvest Season... get it? Don’t roll your eyes and give the computer that knowing smile. I know you.

September Skyline ~ Single File

                =D

Sadie Hawkins Dance ~ Relient K

                Probably one of their first big hits, Relient K’s Sadie Hawkins Dance is a seasonal favorite. Or at least, now it is. But ‘tis the season for homecomings and paper writing (and note writing) and Sadie Hawkins dances! Relient K appeals to the slowly evaporating teenager, going crazy in the bathroom because their forehead just exploded like Vesuvius on the night where they will be crowded into a very dark room with people of the opposite gender who can’t even see their faces anyway. Let’s just assume everyone is sexy and not possessed like Carrie (maybe that’s proms...)

In Passing (Acoustic) ~ Company of Thieves

                ‘Tis the season for the great segue. Where we step from outdoor summer concerts into the smoke, jazz, and beatnickesque snapping fingers of autumn. There is no better song for this feeling.

Hallelujah ~ Rufus Wainwright

                Don’t raise those hackles at me, I wouldn’t particularly call this a religious piece. It’s just spectacular. Recognize that artist name? Yes ma’am. He sang Complainte De La Butte on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. I love this song. “It goes like this, the fourth the fifth the minor four the major lift, the baffled king composed an Alleluia.”   

Monster ~ Meg and Dia

                For all of the crackle (autumn stereotype word) and soft undertones of autumn skies and trees, there is also the sharp awareness of encroaching winter. That’s right. Here it comes. Rawr. This song is made of rawr.

Loyal to No One ~ Dropkick Murphys

                St. Patrick’s Day is in an autumn month, right?

Brain Stew ~ Green Day

                Feel it? That beat? The weary march of every single adolescent strapped in for the ride of their lives and unable to escape the school system? Tis the mood of da month. Feel it, because you’re about to get another dose with the song...

Teenagers ~ My Chemical Romance

                Godesses. I miss this song.

Lost in Stereo ~ All Time Low

                As you well know, All Time Low is my guilty pleasure over all other alternative modern punk-ish type bands.  We ushered in the summer season with the Beach and now it’s time to usher it out with a fantastic ATL piece from their new album (Which is umuhsweetauntcarlisle phenomenal). I plan on living my life somewhat like the girl in this song this year. Focus. It’s all about the focus. Which might be the opposite of the point of the song? Um. Just listen.

In Too Far ~ Acceptance

So I’ve been thinkin’ that this song is totally true. But like that has ever stopped me. Or you. It’s possible that I prefer it this way.

August Is Over ~ We the Kings

                You made it to the end of the awesome playlist! Look look look! The perfect end song! I didn’t even plan it this way! Much.

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As always, dear Sophy, I love you very very much and I know that the autumn will bring exploration and poetry and stress and boys and love and vitality and mountain dew in wine glasses and many new musical discoveries and much change. Here’s to changing for the better. It all will. I’m determined that it be so.

             To our dear readers who have survived thus far in the reading process? There will be a link post up tomorrow, linking you to perfectly legal (coughcough) places where you can listen to these songs. It will probably end up being it's own playlist on my youtube: username = hanzrunz. Find me!

Oh. Yes. About that empty mailbox.

...

PSYCH! Yes.. psych... I was psyching you out... aka I had no opportunity to get to the mailbox until after work, which I just very recently returned home from. But check it tomorrow and there WILL be something for you. But in the evening. Not at noon.

Apologetic,

Hanz