Traces

I remember footprints in the snow
as you walked away
peering in the window
hoping you'd stay
just to turn around
and show me love
love me a little
and that'd be enough
your tracks kept going
away from me
around the corner
where I couldn't see
emotions ran high
our love was low
fell in love with someone else
and I didn't know

Lasting Past

Systematic approaches
as to how my thoughts churn
hesitant to light the candle
yet I need to feel the burn
penchant for pain
in pursuit of pleasure
there is no gain
when we aren't together
feelings of haste
have come and gone
I can't help but wonder
if my heart steers me wrong
this bitter taste
I can't help but swallow
no definitive answer
if you'll be here tomorrow

Transient Lives

As we journey through life we will come to many forks in the road where we will have to choose one path or the other. Never knowing where each path will take us, we should be certain that it will lead us to a transition. Transitions through life are usually anything BUT easy, be them work, school, family or collegiate to adult life. How are you supposed to make these decisions having never been in such a predicament?

We'll never know how to live our lives until we've actually done it. While it is possible to learn from the mistakes of others, it is doubtful that you will be in the exact situation as one's counterpart. Things that I'm trying to avoid in my own transition are putting all my eggs in one basket. Living, working and partying with a significant other can bring one to a crash landing. If the relationship ends, you're now out of a comfortable place to live, work and social life to experience.

We mustn't look for harm in the beginning of a relationship, but be aware that mishaps can and will happen. We have to be prepared. Going into any situation with an optimistic view can only make the outcome a bit more positive. So before you put all your eggs in one basket, at least get a hearty omelet out of them.

Planting The Seed

These days if you aren't changing, evolving into a newer, better, more polished you, then there's something wrong. I've noticed in others and even myself that even in these past few months I've grown tremendously as a person. It makes me wonder are we consciously trying to become new people or is it just happening?... Remember the time at the end of the year right before everyone goes out and gets drunk for New Year's Eve?.. We all make these absurd New Year's Resolutions. Why do we only do that once a year? (and usually don't follow through with them) I've decided to start making monthly resolutions. Nothing huge or ridiculous like learning French or learning to play the piano, but smaller things that can actually improve my quality of life. Just at the beginning of the month and adhering to them. So here goes.

For the month of September:

1) No more red meat - this shouldn't be too hard because I rarely eat red meat besides the occasional hangover burger. Not only will this help me drop a couple lbs (not that I really need to) but it's going to make me healthier. Who knows, maybe I'll even become a vegetarian afterward.

2) Take up a new hobby - if I'm not working hard, I'm playing hard. That usually involves a few or eight tequila gimlets. By using my time more productively, my skill set will be sharpened even more than it is now.

3) Do something I've never done before - just what it says. Life is full of new experiences, have one.

Viva la Vida

I had kind of an epiphany today. Being that I'm a fresh 24, it's weird to look back at my life and analyze how much I've grown. I actually took just the last 6 months and it was a bit overwhelming to see how far I've come into adulthood. Waking up in the morning going to a job that requires a few more hours than 9-5 is very demanding. Where do I have time for a sig other?.... My frenz, or even to party?...

That's when I realized even though it's totally an oxymoron, life is legit short (even though it's the longest thing you'll ever do) it goes by VERY quickly. That's why you have to make sure you enjoy every second of it. Don't get bogged down by stupid people or meaningless happenstances. You're better than that. Live. Laugh. Love.

I love the sound the rain makes as it pitter-patters on my windowsill. The randomness of each drop closing in on the beauty of intermittent selection. Each single droplet comes together as it reaches it's final destination, blending with its droplet neighbor. Though rain may be salty and bitter, it forges on with the most bountiful of symbiotic relationships, nourishing plants, trees and other beauties of the world, never asking for anything in return. 

Pudding: Proof Not Included

It has come to my attention that some people (mainly women) feel as though not telling them EVERYTHING is considered lying or telling false truths. I completely disagree. When it comes to sleeping with your best friend and not telling you about it or accidentally pissing on your toothbrush and not bringing it up in random conversation, sure, those things warrant a screamfest of emotion from your significant other. Some things are on a need to know basis though, I'm not going to tell you what I had for lunch every day or what time I evacuated my bowels, is that keeping secrets from you?... Probably not.

What needs to happen is that there is a flow of information that needs to be established. Are you a person who wants to know the truth regardless if it hurts, or is ignorance bliss? We also need to realize that chances are, when we go snooping, digging and looking for trouble, we are going to find it. Save yourself the trouble, date someone you can trust.

Whatchu Talkin' Bout

As we actually approach what feels like spring in Wisconsin, the weather is changing along with lots of attitudes about friendships/relationships. This is the beginning where the jealousy, arguments and breakups start to happen. It is all a precursor for the summer where the clothing is sparse and the hookups are plenty. Lots of significant others are beginning to ask themselves: "Do I want want to be tied down this summer?... will I have more fun if I'm single" which spawns numerous other questions... The thing is, relationships are all about trust, on BOTH ends. You can't ask your sig other to trust you and tell you everything that they're doing if you check up on their Facebook and Foursquare updates every 20 minutes. It's just not fair. It's a give and take situation.

Friendships are also on the chopping block as the weather gets nicer and entourages get bigger. Everyone's drinking, it's a Sunday Funday... where are your friends?... Petty fights are bound to happen but the key to any successful relationship whether you're dating/friends/siblings, etc. is communication. Verbal, visual or data linked, it's your skeleton key. How are YOU connected?

Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends

This weekend was easily one of the best weekends I've had in my entire life. Not because I drove to Vegas, blew copious amounts of money, lost my friend who was supposed to be getting married in three days and got wasted on roofies, no, none of that, in fact, that was the plot from The Hangover. My weekend was amazing because I was surrounded by friends who are so genuine, intelligent and charismatic that you can't help but feel like you're on cloud 9 with them.

It takes a lot to get me in a shitty mood, but alas, I definitely was in one while the evening approached on Saturday night, not even Rebecca Black's Grammy winning single could bring my spirits up. It's unfortunate that sometimes it takes a shitty friend to make you realize how much you should be appreciating your stellar ones. In and of itself, I guess that's what I'm doing, taking the time to tell my friends I appreciate them.

It's the end of spring break and I'm sure tons of people who went on holiday (that's what the Brits and other foreigners call vacation... I'm totally adopting it) met some people and partied with them but will never talk to them again. I'm fortunate enough to have access to my friends whenever I want them and I truly am grateful for that. So friends, cheers to you! Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends!!!

Remember Your Roots

Everyone has heard the saying "You can never know where you're going until you understand where you came from" or some form of the saying. Conversely, you can never really know where you're going if you're stuck in where you are. As of late, I've felt completely and utterly stagnant to the point where ANY vacation would be a good one.

There are times in our lives where we just need to get away from it all, don't we owe ourselves that? Hasn't the monotony of everyday life gotten to be too much to deal with? Certainly a small break is MORE than deserved for a couple of days. Of course it is. Whether it's a spa day, a road trip, or a vacation overseas. We all need those little getaways to keep us sane. As the saying goes, all work and no play makes for a dull boy. No one likes to be dull, it's all about looking sharp and living smart!

Blog Facelift

It's not always about rejuvenation, most times it's about maintenance, however this blog DEFINITELY needed a facelift. So that's what I'm doing, reconstructing it to be able to bring you the best in everything. Keep checking in and hopefully you like what you see.

Diffusion of Responsiblity

(Please watch the video at the bottom first)

I recently came across a link that randomly came up when I searched for a different video on Youtube that completely and utterly disgusted me. It's a video that, being 1:22 in length encompasses the attack of a middle aged white male by two black female youths. In the video (which I've included a link to) he is repeatedly attacked by the two girls with dozens, maybe hundreds of people watching. Not a SINGLE person decided to protest the attack nor did they step in to help him. He CLEARLY asks how these people could just sit here and let this happen, and I couldn't believe no one stepped in to offer assistance.

It brings me to the case of Kitty Genovese who was stabbed to death outside of her home in New York in 1964. She was 100 feet from her door with thirty-eight people hearing her cries, seeing her struggle, yet no one called the police or lifted a finger to help her until well after the attack had occurred, watching her nearly lifeless body attempt to stagger to its feet. They watched, as the attack went on and until it was over.

It's what social psychologists now refer to as "diffusion of responsibility". What ignites my anger is how, as a people in society can we allow this to happen! How does NO ONE feel obligated to step in and save their fellow man? In my opinion, those people who stand around and watch someone commit a crime as grave as the aforementioned should be prosecuted as a party to that crime. In the days of Genovese, people just watched, not helplessly, because there were definite ways of helping, but in the days of Youtube where people shoot videos 1:22 long and longer without helping, yet adding commentary to each visual blow by blow, that is a DEFINITE party to a crime in my book.

It is our social DUTY to correct an injustice in front of us, KNOWINGLY allowing things like that to happen only furthers us from the humane behavior that we should be exhibiting and only diminishes our standings as superior beings to primates and other animals. There's no wonder that shows like Candid Camera and What Would You Do have been so popular, human behavior is at times peculiar, and sometimes sickening.