As I look back at the year, I’m always reminded of how big of impact music has on my life. This year at first glance I think there weren’t nearly as many new artists I discovered or new albums I listened to, but after making a list well I was right for the most part. 2010 was full of catching up on a lot of great stuff from 2009 for some reason. A lot of bands and albums that for some reason I put on the back burner and really didn’t listen to until some point this year. I’m still going to include them in my list tho because I can.
Albums of 2010
Neon Trees - Habits
I saw these guys open up for a local band in Rexburg in early 2009 and though they were pretty nifty, but it wasn’t until I saw them open up for 30 Seconds to Mars that I got hooked on them. While short, their debut album is rich in energetic happy-ish music that just makes you want to dance. And that’s really all I can ask for from anybody.
Scott Pilgrim Soundtrack
The movie was epic and the soundtrack was just as fantastic. For a show about music I’m sure it was pretty difficult to select a soundtrack that would reflect the odd world that the characters lived in. What we got was an indie world of unknown stuff, but that’s ok because it was all good unknown stuff at least to me anyway. The 8-bit soundtrack to the game was just as good however and that little something something to make you smile and remember the good ole days.
Preston Pugmire EP
Preston is not a signed artist nor known by anybody outside the immediate Idaho/Utah area, but he should be. He’s a one man band that I’ve seen perform numerous times over the years either as a solo act or in other bands. Apparently he’s made the jump to full time musician and taking his solo act on the road. This was a small free 5 track EP that was released on his website and its just that sort of sweet melodies and looping that he’s well known for that makes you think a little.
The Left Rights - Bad Choices Made Easy
The side project of Jimmie Urine and Steve Righ? Of MSI, The Left Rights are just a huge collection of stupid 1-2min songs that really have no relevance to anything whatsoever. But they are hilarious and that’s all I need to know.
3oh3! - Streets of Gold
While I’m still having a hard time listening to all of it, much like their previous release, Streets of Gold is everything you’d expect from 3oh3. It’s a bunch of energetic rap/pop songs that just make you want to move and dance, only this time with a lot less “gangsta”
persona going on.
I Fight Dragons EP
I saw these guys open up for Cobra Starship this past summer and while I don’t listen to it quite as much anymore, it did introduce me to the world of chiptuning, or in otherwords using an old NES or gameboy motherboard to create 8-bit sounds to go along with your music. Very cool and very fun.
The Throbbing Testicles EP
Absolutely tooting my own horn here, but we also released a new album this year and yes I listened to it quite a bit for awhile. While it was not really anything new, but just a compilation of some of our best songs, it was recorded in a studio for the first time as well as putting keys/synth on a lot of songs for the first time as well. It solidified the idea that in a good setting we could make this work and that’s all I need. Plus its funny.
Birds of New York EP
Ryan White of the band Resident Hero recently created this little side project that is a more power pop feel than heavy rock, but his sweet voice excels just as much here as it does in the former rock trio. I’m not even sure if this EP is available anywhere, but I managed to harass him into emailing it to me. Its that sort of good feeling space out music that takes you on a little trip, not the drug kind but the life experience kind, before dropping you off back where you were at the last few notes.
The rest of the albums that I listened to a bunch this year didn’t come out in 2010, but rather in 2009. I only just now got around to listening to them.
LMFAO - Party Rock
Flyleaf - Memento Mori
AFI - Crash Love
30 Seconds To Mars - This is War
(I did listen to this in 09, but I didn’t like it very much. It wasn’t until I saw them perform again in January that it became a staple cd in my car)
Electric Valentine - Automatic
Stephen Lynch - 3 Balloons
Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
There’s more to be said, but I’ll save it for the next one.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Polar Bears In The Jungle
Back in 2007 I formed The Throbbing Testicles with my friend Mike. It was originally just a joke, poking fun at some of our favorite bands and the current status of the music world and how we couldn't believe that some people were getting paid to put out what they call "music". Our way of thinking was if they can do it why can't we? Well it was a two man show for a bit before it evolved over time and adding more people with real talent became a real band that has grown and thrived over the last near four years now.
Over time I've managed to divide my writing into two different places. One specifically for T3 and the other for my own whatever. During this time I've been teaching myself to play guitar and a few other instruments and when I get the chance I let those other songs breathe a little. Only recently did I decide to really do something with it. While writing for T3 is coming along nicely, sometimes I write things that don't really fit well with the theme of it all or perhaps are just a placeholder to get through certain things in my own life through music, who knows. But the point is that I'm planning on recording the songs on my own with help on occasion when I need it. Its not for anything important, just something fun that I'm really enjoying doing. You can find the songs as I upload them on the myspace here. There are some super old cruddy recordings on there that I'm trying to replace, but there are two new ones as well.
Lucky for me I've got some brand new toys to play with to help me along in the process:
Over time I've managed to divide my writing into two different places. One specifically for T3 and the other for my own whatever. During this time I've been teaching myself to play guitar and a few other instruments and when I get the chance I let those other songs breathe a little. Only recently did I decide to really do something with it. While writing for T3 is coming along nicely, sometimes I write things that don't really fit well with the theme of it all or perhaps are just a placeholder to get through certain things in my own life through music, who knows. But the point is that I'm planning on recording the songs on my own with help on occasion when I need it. Its not for anything important, just something fun that I'm really enjoying doing. You can find the songs as I upload them on the myspace here. There are some super old cruddy recordings on there that I'm trying to replace, but there are two new ones as well.
Lucky for me I've got some brand new toys to play with to help me along in the process:
Friday, December 24, 2010
the last christmas
This is the first year in a long long time that it really hasn't felt like Christmas. I did my shopping quite early this year and got it all taken care of weeks ago. I've kept myself busy as much as possible as my only goal over the last month has been to not stop even for a second if possible. Its not, and when I do then I start to remember things, but that's beside the point.
There are things I'd like to distract my brain from like how I'm only three hours away from someone currently and how if all was back to normal I'd see them in two days, lest we mention that I was geared up to this being the last christmas on my own, but oh well.
The point is, I'm technically 16 minutes away from Christmas as I type this and it doesn't feel that way. Its the same scenario as always: family in town, decorations, games together, etc. But all in all, it feels empty as it has been and as it will for awhile.
When I wake up tomorrow morning sure I'll put on a smile and I'm sure I will enjoy the gifts that I receive, but honestly there is only one thing I want for Christmas and its something that I'm never going to get.
There are things I'd like to distract my brain from like how I'm only three hours away from someone currently and how if all was back to normal I'd see them in two days, lest we mention that I was geared up to this being the last christmas on my own, but oh well.
The point is, I'm technically 16 minutes away from Christmas as I type this and it doesn't feel that way. Its the same scenario as always: family in town, decorations, games together, etc. But all in all, it feels empty as it has been and as it will for awhile.
When I wake up tomorrow morning sure I'll put on a smile and I'm sure I will enjoy the gifts that I receive, but honestly there is only one thing I want for Christmas and its something that I'm never going to get.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
2010 In Review
At first glance 2010 was really shaping up to be the best year of my life. Well maybe not best, but certainly the most life changing and in many ways that’s very true. I’ll try to not dwell on the present with a lot of these events, but lets take a look back anyway. January started out wonderfully. For about a month in the previous year Virginia and I had “broken up” for a bit. We still talked and were close, but weren’t technically dating due to lots of little insecurities on my part, but when I figured myself out it got hairy and we talked it out and after a few days in early December we had gotten back together. She had come to visit the week after Christmas and we spent New Year’s together. On January 2nd we were in the car and en route back up to Rexburg for the final two semesters of school, for me at least. Things clicked back like they usually do at school. Having to freeze to death for awhile as I got adjusted to the horrible snow and freezing cold. The only difference this time around was that I was moving in with two of my previous roommates and good friends as well as starting out the year with a wonderful girl in tow right from the start. Good deal.
Not much happened for a few months to be honest. At the end of January we drove to Park City to see a free impromptu performance by 30 Seconds To Mars and I got my second taste of driving in a blizzard. The first being on the drive to Rexburg previously in the month. My days were so busy, they consisted of class, homework, spending time with Virginia, and just trying to get things figured out and straightened out with my classes so I could graduate in the spring. I got in a huge fight with one of my roommates who really didn’t care for me that much. That’s ok, because I didn’t really like the guy either, but I never bothered him. Apparently not being his friend was a problem, but whatever. I took classes that were more suited to my major and I did well in school, again with Virginia’s help and ever diligent eye for design. Got stuck in another blizzard on the way back from seeing Muse in Salt Lake in early April. That one freaked me out as the normal 4 hour drive took close to 7 to get back home in time to take a Spanish final a few hours later.
Between semesters I spent a week at home as well as two days of that week in a real recording studio to record the T3 S/T EP and that was a super fun experience. Tensions were high by the second day, but everyone had fun and it was interesting to say the least. The final semester started off frighteningly but mostly to a good start. A majority of my time was now all homework with me doing homework at Virginia’s apartment while she just hung out, now that she was out of school for the year. At some point in April or May her sister moved to Rexburg, so she spent a lot of time with her instead. I met a lot of new friends in my broadcasting classes and learned a great deal of things towards what I want to do with my life and had a fun time building up a portfolio. I nervously bought an engagement ring in late April and held onto it until the end of June. Her parents were visiting in early June and I swallowed my fear and approached them with the idea and with their consent I proposed on a Saturday on a picnic/hike outside of town. Life was pretty sweet.
The rest of the school year until July was very hectic and stressful with school kicking the crap out of me and being so tired all the time. Not to mention allergies beating me shitless. There was also the wonder that I was engaged, but the fear that I wouldn’t be spending time with her except for a few visits until the marriage next year. Not fun, but we soldiered on. July came with a visit to bear world, graduation, Disney Land, and a horrible goodbye in a hotel in Salt Lake.
Back at home in August I immediately started back at the bookstore until mid September. Then I spent a good month at home splitting time between being depressed, laying around, and job hunting. I made extensive plans for travel around to different cities for job opportunities and visiting family. I started out with a trip to Il. to visit my oldest sister and her family for about a week. It was the most relaxing and peaceful I had felt in months. From there I drove to middle of nowhere Missouri to visit my friend’s brother to start a business venture with his local access cable show. After another week I flew to Washington DC to spend a week with my middle sister Pam and relax a little bit, with some advice and job things mingled in. From there it was the reward trip of flying out to Salt Lake for a weekend with Virginia. It didn’t get off to a great start, but it was well worth the wait and wonderful to see her again face to face and not on skype. Sadly this was the last time I ever did so.
Flying back home was depressing as now I had no job, no leads, and now no money. I spent a good time searching and searching for a job but coming up with nothing. Eventually resorting to going back to the bookstore in the meantime so I could pay my bills. Over the course of a few months starting in September or so, Virginia began to fight a lot. Usually about little things that got blown out of proportion that eventually led to her dumping me at the end of November. I still don’t have a complete reason as to why, but my suspicions lie in a few things from the time we started fighting. There were no problems while I was out there or even leading up to then anyway. But that’s not important here.
A few weeks ago I started back up at the bookstore where I’ll be until mid January or so. So now I sit here, virtually no money, a not super effort job, and nothing left to shoot for. The question I ask myself here is with a year so full of promise how did it end up this way? And what do I do now? I literally have nothing left other than debt and bills. Not a happy ending to the year, but optimistically I suppose I can say that 2011 can’t possibly be any worse. It will just be interesting to see how it goes and where I’ll be this time next year.
Not much happened for a few months to be honest. At the end of January we drove to Park City to see a free impromptu performance by 30 Seconds To Mars and I got my second taste of driving in a blizzard. The first being on the drive to Rexburg previously in the month. My days were so busy, they consisted of class, homework, spending time with Virginia, and just trying to get things figured out and straightened out with my classes so I could graduate in the spring. I got in a huge fight with one of my roommates who really didn’t care for me that much. That’s ok, because I didn’t really like the guy either, but I never bothered him. Apparently not being his friend was a problem, but whatever. I took classes that were more suited to my major and I did well in school, again with Virginia’s help and ever diligent eye for design. Got stuck in another blizzard on the way back from seeing Muse in Salt Lake in early April. That one freaked me out as the normal 4 hour drive took close to 7 to get back home in time to take a Spanish final a few hours later.
Between semesters I spent a week at home as well as two days of that week in a real recording studio to record the T3 S/T EP and that was a super fun experience. Tensions were high by the second day, but everyone had fun and it was interesting to say the least. The final semester started off frighteningly but mostly to a good start. A majority of my time was now all homework with me doing homework at Virginia’s apartment while she just hung out, now that she was out of school for the year. At some point in April or May her sister moved to Rexburg, so she spent a lot of time with her instead. I met a lot of new friends in my broadcasting classes and learned a great deal of things towards what I want to do with my life and had a fun time building up a portfolio. I nervously bought an engagement ring in late April and held onto it until the end of June. Her parents were visiting in early June and I swallowed my fear and approached them with the idea and with their consent I proposed on a Saturday on a picnic/hike outside of town. Life was pretty sweet.
The rest of the school year until July was very hectic and stressful with school kicking the crap out of me and being so tired all the time. Not to mention allergies beating me shitless. There was also the wonder that I was engaged, but the fear that I wouldn’t be spending time with her except for a few visits until the marriage next year. Not fun, but we soldiered on. July came with a visit to bear world, graduation, Disney Land, and a horrible goodbye in a hotel in Salt Lake.
Back at home in August I immediately started back at the bookstore until mid September. Then I spent a good month at home splitting time between being depressed, laying around, and job hunting. I made extensive plans for travel around to different cities for job opportunities and visiting family. I started out with a trip to Il. to visit my oldest sister and her family for about a week. It was the most relaxing and peaceful I had felt in months. From there I drove to middle of nowhere Missouri to visit my friend’s brother to start a business venture with his local access cable show. After another week I flew to Washington DC to spend a week with my middle sister Pam and relax a little bit, with some advice and job things mingled in. From there it was the reward trip of flying out to Salt Lake for a weekend with Virginia. It didn’t get off to a great start, but it was well worth the wait and wonderful to see her again face to face and not on skype. Sadly this was the last time I ever did so.
Flying back home was depressing as now I had no job, no leads, and now no money. I spent a good time searching and searching for a job but coming up with nothing. Eventually resorting to going back to the bookstore in the meantime so I could pay my bills. Over the course of a few months starting in September or so, Virginia began to fight a lot. Usually about little things that got blown out of proportion that eventually led to her dumping me at the end of November. I still don’t have a complete reason as to why, but my suspicions lie in a few things from the time we started fighting. There were no problems while I was out there or even leading up to then anyway. But that’s not important here.
A few weeks ago I started back up at the bookstore where I’ll be until mid January or so. So now I sit here, virtually no money, a not super effort job, and nothing left to shoot for. The question I ask myself here is with a year so full of promise how did it end up this way? And what do I do now? I literally have nothing left other than debt and bills. Not a happy ending to the year, but optimistically I suppose I can say that 2011 can’t possibly be any worse. It will just be interesting to see how it goes and where I’ll be this time next year.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Living Quaters Conundrum
Among many other things I’ve had to re-think about my near future in life, one of them is where I’m going to live. Yes yes currently at 26 I live with my mom and that’s very sad but there was a point to it. Living at home with all its downsides does have many upsides including no rent or paying for food for the most part. I decided to return home after school to be saving up money until I got a job, hopefully in some other state or at least a well enough paying one and then get an apartment in the next few months to await other changes. Well finding a job has been a bit harder than I thought so I was probably going to end up living here until just before that day anyway, but still no worries. Aside from the fact that pretty much all job hunting came to a screeching halt due to unforeseen recent events and the feeling of “why bother” set in, I’m still thinking about all this tho. My current plan, unless I get a job out of state somewhere, is to still none the less find an apartment somewhere in town when I can afford it next year. It just seems like the logical good idea.
I was talking about it with a friend of mine the other day and it got me seriously thinking about how I would achieve such a thing. Obviously unless I made quite enough or lived in a rat hole I would have to have roommates and luckily I have friends who are interested in rooming with me and it wouldn’t be too big of a deal right? Well, that is until I thought about it. Honestly, I’ve always been a generally private person. I probably always will be. When it comes to living with other people its been either family or usually 5 other guys most of the time I have no idea who they are. Random roommates. This would shape up to be a much better situation with living people I already know, the problem is my brain is now set to not want random roommates or good friends to live with. I kinda want to live alone. It among many other things was convinced in my mind that the next place I’d live; I’d be with someone very close and personal to me in a very caring kind of way. Now when I think about living with just friends it doesn’t appeal to me and makes me think I’d rather be alone. And I don’t want to live alone, let me stress that. Sure I love my privacy and I love to be left alone quite a bit. I get much more done that way, but really when I’m totally and completely alone in a house for more than a few days I tend to get a bit anxious and lonely. It even makes me feel better if I know someone is in the house at all. I’m not afraid of being alone or anything, in that sense, but I just don’t feel comfortable with it. However right now I prefer it over friends, even really close and good ones that I’ve been talking to. I dunno what it is and I’m hoping that I’ll feel differently in a few months when I actually start looking around because I doubt I can afford an apartment by myself. Its just one of those things I suppose a concern.
I wonder why that is? Is it a result from what recently happened to me or is this something I’ve always felt really? I mean in general I wouldn’t mind living by myself, but I know it would take some getting used to and I wouldn’t be completely happy. Decisions decisions.
I was talking about it with a friend of mine the other day and it got me seriously thinking about how I would achieve such a thing. Obviously unless I made quite enough or lived in a rat hole I would have to have roommates and luckily I have friends who are interested in rooming with me and it wouldn’t be too big of a deal right? Well, that is until I thought about it. Honestly, I’ve always been a generally private person. I probably always will be. When it comes to living with other people its been either family or usually 5 other guys most of the time I have no idea who they are. Random roommates. This would shape up to be a much better situation with living people I already know, the problem is my brain is now set to not want random roommates or good friends to live with. I kinda want to live alone. It among many other things was convinced in my mind that the next place I’d live; I’d be with someone very close and personal to me in a very caring kind of way. Now when I think about living with just friends it doesn’t appeal to me and makes me think I’d rather be alone. And I don’t want to live alone, let me stress that. Sure I love my privacy and I love to be left alone quite a bit. I get much more done that way, but really when I’m totally and completely alone in a house for more than a few days I tend to get a bit anxious and lonely. It even makes me feel better if I know someone is in the house at all. I’m not afraid of being alone or anything, in that sense, but I just don’t feel comfortable with it. However right now I prefer it over friends, even really close and good ones that I’ve been talking to. I dunno what it is and I’m hoping that I’ll feel differently in a few months when I actually start looking around because I doubt I can afford an apartment by myself. Its just one of those things I suppose a concern.
I wonder why that is? Is it a result from what recently happened to me or is this something I’ve always felt really? I mean in general I wouldn’t mind living by myself, but I know it would take some getting used to and I wouldn’t be completely happy. Decisions decisions.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
in Old long syne
Winter is here as well as winter in Arkansas can be. The leaves are dying and falling off the trees and the air turns from crisp to sharp and hard. The daylight erodes away sooner leaving the world in a thick silence in a way that only this time of year can be. This is the time of year that I enjoy taking walks at night around my neighborhood sometime after eight or nine when there is nobody out. It is very peaceful and allows for plenty of time to think. Often on these walks this time of year I reflect on the previous year, as I always do towards the end of December, to evaluate where I am, where I’ve been, and where I plan to go from here. This year is the strangest place I’ve ever been in. This will make for the first year in my entire life that when the new one comes around I have no idea what to do next. I have a mild plan sure, but I have no where to be, nothing in particular to do and nowhere to go. I’m just here. Usually this time around its time to get ready to go back to school or some other thing that has gone on that carries over from one year to the next. 2007 to 2008 is close, but there I knew at least a goal that I was headed to. Currently there is none.
No having to say it the plan I had is no longer an option and now I’m left to wonder what to do with myself now. The only immediate thing I can and need to do is earn enough money to pay my bills and start paying my student loans sometime in the next few months. Aside from that I’ve got nothing really. I can get a new job in my field or I can just work at Target. I can move somewhere far away or I can stay put here in Conway either in my mom’s place or a new apartment. The only tentative plan that I have come up with is work my current job until it runs its seasonal course and in the meantime keep applying for jobs wherever. Then as time gets closer get another job around town and just save money. I’m still going to move out at some point because that would just be too pathetic to be living with my mom at 27, even tho it’s a little awkward at 26 but that’s no the point.
All personal things aside what is it about the new year that gives us such hope and such a fresh start? Other than the calendar changing, what really changes and makes it something new for us? Honestly nothing. It’s a self implied feeling caused by time and our social idea of it. If we didn’t have clocks or calendars then everyday would be just the same as the last. Days would begin and end without much notice other than thinking I’ll finish this tomorrow or I did such and such yesterday. I’m not advocating a removal from the system of time or anything I’m just noticing things. Maybe its that promise of something new is why we always do it. Why we make a New Year’s Resolution. Why we make a goal at the beginning of a new year to do something different in the next. To make ourselves better, or accomplish something, but always try again. Its kind of a lesson in hope and faith I suppose or on the other hand one of procrastination to say I’ll fix that next year.
No having to say it the plan I had is no longer an option and now I’m left to wonder what to do with myself now. The only immediate thing I can and need to do is earn enough money to pay my bills and start paying my student loans sometime in the next few months. Aside from that I’ve got nothing really. I can get a new job in my field or I can just work at Target. I can move somewhere far away or I can stay put here in Conway either in my mom’s place or a new apartment. The only tentative plan that I have come up with is work my current job until it runs its seasonal course and in the meantime keep applying for jobs wherever. Then as time gets closer get another job around town and just save money. I’m still going to move out at some point because that would just be too pathetic to be living with my mom at 27, even tho it’s a little awkward at 26 but that’s no the point.
All personal things aside what is it about the new year that gives us such hope and such a fresh start? Other than the calendar changing, what really changes and makes it something new for us? Honestly nothing. It’s a self implied feeling caused by time and our social idea of it. If we didn’t have clocks or calendars then everyday would be just the same as the last. Days would begin and end without much notice other than thinking I’ll finish this tomorrow or I did such and such yesterday. I’m not advocating a removal from the system of time or anything I’m just noticing things. Maybe its that promise of something new is why we always do it. Why we make a New Year’s Resolution. Why we make a goal at the beginning of a new year to do something different in the next. To make ourselves better, or accomplish something, but always try again. Its kind of a lesson in hope and faith I suppose or on the other hand one of procrastination to say I’ll fix that next year.
Midnight Thought
Who's to say when things begin and end, for all we know we're right in the middle of something far greater than we could realize. All of us individually are part of something bigger, yet individually we're all connected into smaller things that are just as important to each and every one of us. Its fascinating.
I thought I had life figured out then I figured wrong. Now I wonder at which point of it I belong? We'll find out soon enough I suppose.
I thought I had life figured out then I figured wrong. Now I wonder at which point of it I belong? We'll find out soon enough I suppose.
Friday, December 3, 2010
A Question To Us All
There have been many questions on my mind in the past few months revolving around life, how to get through it, as well as many other personal things of which a lot of people now know about. The latter has caused me to reflect a question I heard a lot during this time and one I too began to ask myself: “what is love?” A lot of people have answers for this and a lot of people have experiences in this. There are so many definitions and so many ways to talk about it, experience it, as well as feel it, but what is it? It’s a strong emotional attachment to someone or something that affects just about every aspect of your life. That alone sounds like mind control or some disease, but I guess its kind of true. Love is a disease, but I don’t mean that in a negative way, but more like a biological one. When you are “infected” by a disease it multiplies and spreads throughout your body and depending on what its particular course is it takes effect on that part of the body whether it is your sinuses with a cold or perhaps your stomach when you have the flu. Love affects every part of your body however and once you latch onto it, its all round about inside you.
There are many kinds of love: paternal love, platonic love, love of something in particular like an activity of some sort, and of course romantic love. The question begs to differ of what is the definition of real love? Can one be made? I have no idea as everyone seems to have a different opinion. Lately it’s what has been on my mind and reflection on the past and the present as well as the future to determine that for myself. So here’s what it means to me.
In my life I’m pretty sure I’ve only been in love once. Once upon a time I thought I was in love, but in the end it was a really strong feeling, but only later on did I realize that it was not love. That being said I have been in love, you could say I still am, but that’s a whole other topic that I don’t need to rehash or harass anyone with right now until I set myself straight on it anyway, but I have felt it before. Before I did, I felt what I thought was love, it was the strongest I had ever felt such a feeling for another human being other than in a completely platonic or family sort of love. It was a genuine feeling of wanting to be with another person, one in particular, and spend time with them. We’ve all felt that and we have many words for it, but we all get that way from time to time when we draw close to someone special. The thing is, while there was strong feelings and the desire to do everything possible and be a part of every aspect, the drive and execution was not there. It could have been, but it wasn’t and that’s ok. We all have to start somewhere and build into things at our own pace. It wasn’t until my most recent relationship that I learned, in my opinion, what true love really is.
Love is an infinite amount of patience no matter what. Love is respect and consideration for someone else’s feelings. Love is willing to do virtually anything for them at any given moment no matter what your current physical or mental state is. Love is the feeling of just sitting together for hours not moving or speaking and still having a wonderful time. Love is seeing that person and getting a warm feeling in your heart to know that they are something special. Love is sacrifice of letting go of things that don’t help you move along and be closer to that person and Love is getting acquainted to what they like and want to do and attempt to not become a copy of them, but attempt to make it your own because it is important to them. Love is understanding why it is important to them and willingly wanting to be a part of it. Love is taking time out of your day to plan out things to surprise someone at any given time with something that reminds them of how special they are to you. Love is waking up and saying hello and good morning. Love is saying goodnight and I love you before going to sleep. Love is having that person on your mind when you wake up and the last thing on your mind when you fall asleep. Love is being genuinely worried about their problems over your own. Love is a series of tight hugs that last just a few seconds longer than you thought, but appreciate it for the extra moments. Love is never letting your eyes wander to someone else even for a minute. Love is singular to that special someone. Love is wanting to be a better person. Love is wanting to share as well as listen to everything they have to say. Love is no expectations, only understandings. Love is being sneaky and finding out what they want and getting it for them without notice. Love is smiles. Love is never wanting to be apart. Love is wanting to share and experience life together. Love is not changing your life for theirs, but reshaping your own to include them and their dreams. Love is always sharing your dreams. Love is apologizing when you are wrong. Love is strength beyond your own. Love is hope. Love is faith. Love is determination to provide. Love is holding it in your heart even if it finds itself lost. Love is all of these things together, not just a few but all of them and probably a lot more.
Love is everything.
Perhaps we have all felt love at some point or another and lost it. That’s also another part of love. I believe that once we feel love, not just partial love, but full and true love, it never dies within us. No matter how a relationship ends, or perhaps a loved one passes away, or love is lost in a bitter and loveless fight. Love is still there. You cannot get rid of it no matter what. It might not be as strong anymore or you might not act on it quite as well. The name of that person might grind your gears and cause other emotions, but there is a part of you somewhere that still feels that love burn. Love is an eternal flame and it never dies.
This is the lesson that I’ve learned about what love is. This is what I have felt and maybe it’s different for you, but for the first time in my life I can say without hesitation that I have felt love and it feels good, wonderful even. Anyone who hasn’t experienced love, well, just hang in there. I believe that we will all feel love, true love, in this life at least once. Maybe it will work out for us and maybe it won’t. After having felt love and knowing it I guess the old saying is true “Tis better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all.” Which brings me to one of mine: Love is hope. For me, love is still there and I still believe that love never dies. It will always be there until the end of time. Maybe I’ll just sit and wait for a little bit to think on it all. Maybe I’ll just let it dim down over time and never put any more logs on that fire for as long as I live, life is not definite and you can’t tell the future. But one this is for certain, that love will always be there for as long as I live and while its there, there is always hope.
There are many kinds of love: paternal love, platonic love, love of something in particular like an activity of some sort, and of course romantic love. The question begs to differ of what is the definition of real love? Can one be made? I have no idea as everyone seems to have a different opinion. Lately it’s what has been on my mind and reflection on the past and the present as well as the future to determine that for myself. So here’s what it means to me.
In my life I’m pretty sure I’ve only been in love once. Once upon a time I thought I was in love, but in the end it was a really strong feeling, but only later on did I realize that it was not love. That being said I have been in love, you could say I still am, but that’s a whole other topic that I don’t need to rehash or harass anyone with right now until I set myself straight on it anyway, but I have felt it before. Before I did, I felt what I thought was love, it was the strongest I had ever felt such a feeling for another human being other than in a completely platonic or family sort of love. It was a genuine feeling of wanting to be with another person, one in particular, and spend time with them. We’ve all felt that and we have many words for it, but we all get that way from time to time when we draw close to someone special. The thing is, while there was strong feelings and the desire to do everything possible and be a part of every aspect, the drive and execution was not there. It could have been, but it wasn’t and that’s ok. We all have to start somewhere and build into things at our own pace. It wasn’t until my most recent relationship that I learned, in my opinion, what true love really is.
Love is an infinite amount of patience no matter what. Love is respect and consideration for someone else’s feelings. Love is willing to do virtually anything for them at any given moment no matter what your current physical or mental state is. Love is the feeling of just sitting together for hours not moving or speaking and still having a wonderful time. Love is seeing that person and getting a warm feeling in your heart to know that they are something special. Love is sacrifice of letting go of things that don’t help you move along and be closer to that person and Love is getting acquainted to what they like and want to do and attempt to not become a copy of them, but attempt to make it your own because it is important to them. Love is understanding why it is important to them and willingly wanting to be a part of it. Love is taking time out of your day to plan out things to surprise someone at any given time with something that reminds them of how special they are to you. Love is waking up and saying hello and good morning. Love is saying goodnight and I love you before going to sleep. Love is having that person on your mind when you wake up and the last thing on your mind when you fall asleep. Love is being genuinely worried about their problems over your own. Love is a series of tight hugs that last just a few seconds longer than you thought, but appreciate it for the extra moments. Love is never letting your eyes wander to someone else even for a minute. Love is singular to that special someone. Love is wanting to be a better person. Love is wanting to share as well as listen to everything they have to say. Love is no expectations, only understandings. Love is being sneaky and finding out what they want and getting it for them without notice. Love is smiles. Love is never wanting to be apart. Love is wanting to share and experience life together. Love is not changing your life for theirs, but reshaping your own to include them and their dreams. Love is always sharing your dreams. Love is apologizing when you are wrong. Love is strength beyond your own. Love is hope. Love is faith. Love is determination to provide. Love is holding it in your heart even if it finds itself lost. Love is all of these things together, not just a few but all of them and probably a lot more.
Love is everything.
Perhaps we have all felt love at some point or another and lost it. That’s also another part of love. I believe that once we feel love, not just partial love, but full and true love, it never dies within us. No matter how a relationship ends, or perhaps a loved one passes away, or love is lost in a bitter and loveless fight. Love is still there. You cannot get rid of it no matter what. It might not be as strong anymore or you might not act on it quite as well. The name of that person might grind your gears and cause other emotions, but there is a part of you somewhere that still feels that love burn. Love is an eternal flame and it never dies.
This is the lesson that I’ve learned about what love is. This is what I have felt and maybe it’s different for you, but for the first time in my life I can say without hesitation that I have felt love and it feels good, wonderful even. Anyone who hasn’t experienced love, well, just hang in there. I believe that we will all feel love, true love, in this life at least once. Maybe it will work out for us and maybe it won’t. After having felt love and knowing it I guess the old saying is true “Tis better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all.” Which brings me to one of mine: Love is hope. For me, love is still there and I still believe that love never dies. It will always be there until the end of time. Maybe I’ll just sit and wait for a little bit to think on it all. Maybe I’ll just let it dim down over time and never put any more logs on that fire for as long as I live, life is not definite and you can’t tell the future. But one this is for certain, that love will always be there for as long as I live and while its there, there is always hope.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
and in other news
Stay tuned kiddos its about to be a bumpy ride. Thankfully I have a list prepared of other things to talk about to keep my brain busy. Expect more junk to distract myself while I figure myself out soon.
What happened to this?
This is super personal, but on a night like tonight I'm so angry I don't care anymore. So I ask myself and anyone else out there who might stumble upon this. What happened to this?
"First of all, I’m incredibly sorry for all that was said tonight. It was quite rough, but it had to be said in order for you to understand me a bit better. Tonight, like most nights, I was thinking as I was typing the ideas; so these thoughts really were something sort of new to me. I’ve known for a couple of weeks that I’m scared, as you know; but I haven’t been able to understand why. I am very relieved to have finally pin-pointed it so that I could think it out in my head and make a decision, which I have.
As you know so well, I am a very independent person. I like to be able to take care of myself and I like to say that I’ve accomplished things completely independently. Since I’ve met you, I’ve learned how to stretch a little and let you help me out when I’ve screwed myself over for the hundredth time instead of just struggling, crying, and eventually—painfully—figuring it out myself. Your coming into my life has made my life that much easier and that much more logical.
I have always dreamed of going off and seeing big concerts with bands I actually like; but that dream didn’t come true until I met you. You get me off my ass and help me accomplish things I never thought I could—and all through a little pushing and persuasion (and sometimes bribery). I have gone miles, personality wise, since I have met you. I used to be so bored and boring. I wasn’t creative in my recreation at all.
The most important part of all of this, however, is the love I’ve felt and the love I’ve been willing to share. Robert, you’ve opened me up and shown me that guys aren’t all dicks and testosterone. Through you, I’ve come to know myself much better because you’re a reflection of me. You’re the person I never thought I would find: the man who is caring, sweet, creative, loving, sarcastic, and cynical all rolled up into an unbelievably cute package of man meat (that’s right, I said it ;)). And on top of all that, you love me with all your heart for who I am. You make me feel beautiful and wanted and useful even when I feel like shit.
What I’m trying to get at, Robert, is that I thought about everything that was discussed tonight and started crying at the thought that you may be crying right now. I hate hurting you, but most of all I can’t imagine living my life without you. Sure, getting married will strip me from a certain amount of independence; but I’m willing to make that sacrifice in order to be with the man I love and who loves me for the rest of eternity. Plus, I would imagine that just living with Robert Shepherd will be an adventure all in and of itself.
So, yes, this will happen. And yes, it is permanent. I’m yours forever, Robert, and it won’t be questioned again.
As always—you are my rock, my best friend, and my love. I’m silly to ever consider denying those facts.
I hope this eases your mind as it has mine. I love you always—"
The worst part is that yeah I'm pissed off, but while going through things to get rid of on my computer I can't help but regret, feel bad, and have a wave of sorrow come back. Why is that? Because no matter how mad I get, no matter how frustrated I am I still love her. LOVE. I've never quite known what it truly was before I found her and even after all the shit she's pulled on me, I love her still. Even after all this shit she just pulled on me and doesn't seem to give a fuck. I love her still. That doesn't just "go away" or "fade out". Not like that anyway. So I'm still left wondering what happened to this? And honestly I know I'll never find out.
"First of all, I’m incredibly sorry for all that was said tonight. It was quite rough, but it had to be said in order for you to understand me a bit better. Tonight, like most nights, I was thinking as I was typing the ideas; so these thoughts really were something sort of new to me. I’ve known for a couple of weeks that I’m scared, as you know; but I haven’t been able to understand why. I am very relieved to have finally pin-pointed it so that I could think it out in my head and make a decision, which I have.
As you know so well, I am a very independent person. I like to be able to take care of myself and I like to say that I’ve accomplished things completely independently. Since I’ve met you, I’ve learned how to stretch a little and let you help me out when I’ve screwed myself over for the hundredth time instead of just struggling, crying, and eventually—painfully—figuring it out myself. Your coming into my life has made my life that much easier and that much more logical.
I have always dreamed of going off and seeing big concerts with bands I actually like; but that dream didn’t come true until I met you. You get me off my ass and help me accomplish things I never thought I could—and all through a little pushing and persuasion (and sometimes bribery). I have gone miles, personality wise, since I have met you. I used to be so bored and boring. I wasn’t creative in my recreation at all.
The most important part of all of this, however, is the love I’ve felt and the love I’ve been willing to share. Robert, you’ve opened me up and shown me that guys aren’t all dicks and testosterone. Through you, I’ve come to know myself much better because you’re a reflection of me. You’re the person I never thought I would find: the man who is caring, sweet, creative, loving, sarcastic, and cynical all rolled up into an unbelievably cute package of man meat (that’s right, I said it ;)). And on top of all that, you love me with all your heart for who I am. You make me feel beautiful and wanted and useful even when I feel like shit.
What I’m trying to get at, Robert, is that I thought about everything that was discussed tonight and started crying at the thought that you may be crying right now. I hate hurting you, but most of all I can’t imagine living my life without you. Sure, getting married will strip me from a certain amount of independence; but I’m willing to make that sacrifice in order to be with the man I love and who loves me for the rest of eternity. Plus, I would imagine that just living with Robert Shepherd will be an adventure all in and of itself.
So, yes, this will happen. And yes, it is permanent. I’m yours forever, Robert, and it won’t be questioned again.
As always—you are my rock, my best friend, and my love. I’m silly to ever consider denying those facts.
I hope this eases your mind as it has mine. I love you always—"
The worst part is that yeah I'm pissed off, but while going through things to get rid of on my computer I can't help but regret, feel bad, and have a wave of sorrow come back. Why is that? Because no matter how mad I get, no matter how frustrated I am I still love her. LOVE. I've never quite known what it truly was before I found her and even after all the shit she's pulled on me, I love her still. Even after all this shit she just pulled on me and doesn't seem to give a fuck. I love her still. That doesn't just "go away" or "fade out". Not like that anyway. So I'm still left wondering what happened to this? And honestly I know I'll never find out.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
What a wild world
Sometime when I was in middle school the crazy world of Pokemon hit america by storm. At the beginning of the wave there was only the game and shortly after the cartoon, toys, comics, card games, blah blah blah. But in the beginning it was a game and just a game. The mechanics are still the same however.
In a world parallel to our own, they seem to have a extreme amount of wider technology than we do, well at least when it comes to taming these wild beasts and their care thereof. They also have a form of item transportation and video chatting that honestly we are only just now starting to scratch the surface today. But unlike our world they have no animals. None. Just pokemon. Think of it. I never realized that there are no cats or dogs or birds or anything. Well there are birds, but they are big cartoony birds that are various species of pokemon. All of these animals are tamable and you can have as your very own pet. Very neat. The problem here is the structure in which people go about this sort of thing.
Thinking back on it, when I was a kid I was completely in favor of this. It was neat to be treated like an adult and be independent, roaming around the world going where you please, capturing and taming little friends of all shapes and sizes to help your life be a little better, or just to be a little turd and beat up other kids pets on command. You know, normal kid stuff. However if you really think about it, that's pretty terrifying. All the kids in these stories, and I do really point out they are kids, are never any older than 12 or 13 at most. Think back to when you were 12. Could you just venture out into the world? Not at all. You could barely even leave the street or neighborhood, let alone take off into the world with only a backpack, a sleeping bag, and a pet monster to keep you company. No way. Why aren't these kids in school? Is only a middle school education enough to sustain a skill set for life? Is it like when the jewish community has a barmitzva and a rite of passage to adult hood? Seriously think about it. Perhaps the last day of school in the 6th grade might be like this:
"Well kids, its been fun teaching you this year and with your now six years of elementary knowlege you're ready to travel around the world taming very dangerous creatures at your whim. Or not, its really your choice. Don't forget about people who are out there using their pokemon for evil things who will either rob you or possibly try to kill you, because hey the world is apparently notorious with various teams of super evil people on every continent like a big gang of unruly adults who have nothing better to do then steal some kids pokemon. That and you could possibly die. Have a great summer!" Ludicrous really.
The only reason I'm thinking about this is because I've taken up playing pokemon again after a few months absence. Thanks to the joys of emulators I started playing my childhood fun fest game and used it to relive stress my final few semesters of college and now with nothing better to do at 2am when insomnia among other things keeps me awake I transverse the wide world of pokemon, out to catch em all. Only this time chuckling to myself when I clobber some other unfortunate NPC child's pokemon thinking "yeah bitch yeah. you got served."
I'm really mature and I know it.
In a world parallel to our own, they seem to have a extreme amount of wider technology than we do, well at least when it comes to taming these wild beasts and their care thereof. They also have a form of item transportation and video chatting that honestly we are only just now starting to scratch the surface today. But unlike our world they have no animals. None. Just pokemon. Think of it. I never realized that there are no cats or dogs or birds or anything. Well there are birds, but they are big cartoony birds that are various species of pokemon. All of these animals are tamable and you can have as your very own pet. Very neat. The problem here is the structure in which people go about this sort of thing.
Thinking back on it, when I was a kid I was completely in favor of this. It was neat to be treated like an adult and be independent, roaming around the world going where you please, capturing and taming little friends of all shapes and sizes to help your life be a little better, or just to be a little turd and beat up other kids pets on command. You know, normal kid stuff. However if you really think about it, that's pretty terrifying. All the kids in these stories, and I do really point out they are kids, are never any older than 12 or 13 at most. Think back to when you were 12. Could you just venture out into the world? Not at all. You could barely even leave the street or neighborhood, let alone take off into the world with only a backpack, a sleeping bag, and a pet monster to keep you company. No way. Why aren't these kids in school? Is only a middle school education enough to sustain a skill set for life? Is it like when the jewish community has a barmitzva and a rite of passage to adult hood? Seriously think about it. Perhaps the last day of school in the 6th grade might be like this:
"Well kids, its been fun teaching you this year and with your now six years of elementary knowlege you're ready to travel around the world taming very dangerous creatures at your whim. Or not, its really your choice. Don't forget about people who are out there using their pokemon for evil things who will either rob you or possibly try to kill you, because hey the world is apparently notorious with various teams of super evil people on every continent like a big gang of unruly adults who have nothing better to do then steal some kids pokemon. That and you could possibly die. Have a great summer!" Ludicrous really.
The only reason I'm thinking about this is because I've taken up playing pokemon again after a few months absence. Thanks to the joys of emulators I started playing my childhood fun fest game and used it to relive stress my final few semesters of college and now with nothing better to do at 2am when insomnia among other things keeps me awake I transverse the wide world of pokemon, out to catch em all. Only this time chuckling to myself when I clobber some other unfortunate NPC child's pokemon thinking "yeah bitch yeah. you got served."
I'm really mature and I know it.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Annual Cycle of sick
Every year it seems like clockwork with the changing of the seasons. It doesn’t matter how hard you try or how much you fight it, getting sick just happens. Depending on how well you take care of yourself depends on how bad it happens, but it always will. My whole life it’s been on sort of a cycle of every year something happens at a certain time. For me usually it’s a cold sometime in the fall or early winter with another smaller case to follow in the late winter/early spring. As I got older you add in allergies in the spring that bring all sorts of hell on earth for months at a time as well as what appears to be an annual fever/puking fest on Christmas eve for some reason. Not to mention the flu or something similar in November or early December.
Generally I accredit such ailments to working at the bookstore on campus. That place is a treasure trove of viruses and bacteria from all those kids coming in with who knows what just germing up the place. It seems to waft back into the shipping area where I’m working at and every year for a good three days or so I’m feeling like utter crap and having to call in at least twice.
What is it about the changing of seasons that makes us more prone to getting sick? Is it the drastic change in temperature that causes us to not dress appropriately and on time? Or is it just a build up of neglect when we aren’t washing our hands properly perhaps? I just know that its like clockwork and although fall is my favorite time of the year I get generally annoyed like its something new to me when I get sick. I should just learn to deal with it and prepare for it. Perhaps take precautionary measures and get a shot or something? Yeah no thanks. I’ll just muscle it out. Which is another stupid idea, yet we all feel like we can handle it often enough. Sometimes that’s the truth, but in all honesty its just a dumb idea.
There was a point to this entry but I can’t see straight due to whatever it is bugging me so never mind. Bring on the fever dreams!
Generally I accredit such ailments to working at the bookstore on campus. That place is a treasure trove of viruses and bacteria from all those kids coming in with who knows what just germing up the place. It seems to waft back into the shipping area where I’m working at and every year for a good three days or so I’m feeling like utter crap and having to call in at least twice.
What is it about the changing of seasons that makes us more prone to getting sick? Is it the drastic change in temperature that causes us to not dress appropriately and on time? Or is it just a build up of neglect when we aren’t washing our hands properly perhaps? I just know that its like clockwork and although fall is my favorite time of the year I get generally annoyed like its something new to me when I get sick. I should just learn to deal with it and prepare for it. Perhaps take precautionary measures and get a shot or something? Yeah no thanks. I’ll just muscle it out. Which is another stupid idea, yet we all feel like we can handle it often enough. Sometimes that’s the truth, but in all honesty its just a dumb idea.
There was a point to this entry but I can’t see straight due to whatever it is bugging me so never mind. Bring on the fever dreams!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Life and its tendancies
Ironically I sat down today with an idea in mind of what to write about and its funny how things tie in together on occasion. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m currently engaged to be married next year, but that it’s a long distance engagement. Anyone can also know that it sucks. A lot. As I’m writing this, I’m currently on a flight out of the Salt Lake City airport on route back home. This weekend was the end of my near month long journey around the country on various job hunts, visiting family, and just clearing my head in general. My final stop was to visit my fiancé out here, as she made a trip down from Idaho to visit me this weekend.
Relationships in general are very hard work and it only seems natural that distance makes it even harder. A greater responsibility of trust is placed on your shoulders in order to keep the relationship strong and unwavering. There are many temptations, if you allow them, that happen in long distance relationships but I’m not really writing about that. They can happen to anybody as the thought tends to wander when your significant other isn’t anywhere near you or wont before long amounts of time. That’s where secrets and problems can develop again if you let them, but again I’m not talking about that.
What makes it hard obviously while you are apart is communication or lack there of, physical contact, as well as visual contact. You can re-create the first and third there, but physical contact well, you can’t do anything about that. When I say that however I don’t necessarily mean of an intimate kind, but that is included. Anything from just touching their shoulder, holding their hand, or even a small hug. These things are a pretty important part of any relationship, but thankfully it’s not the most important part. My theory that has been tested and tried throughout the years and various relationships of many kinds is that communication and honesty is the key to making anything work. In long distance relationships the third ingredient: drive or desire. The more you want that relationship to work, the stronger your drive is, the harder you’ll try to keep it together. Lucky for us in this day and age we can communicate long distances with people in a way that is practically the same as being right there with them. You just have to use all the tools at your disposal to communicate and communicate often. Not just on important stuff, but the little things as well. Even just a small note saying hello through a text or a random I love you at some point goes a long way.
The single most difficult part in my opinion is that because you are far away you get lonely. Yes being able to text, chat, call, or video chat makes it like you are there but the sad fact is that you aren’t and life tends to be a little sour. Something that is useful is knowing of or having a date when you’ll be together again in the near or distant future and focusing your attention on it. You can make little in-between goals of dates and times of things to do in between them or even things that mark midway or partial way points to that time. In my case the real issue isn’t so much the countdown of when we’ll see each other again, it’s the countdown of when we’ll see each other again and not part again. Perhaps that’s the worst long distance relationship, being engaged. However as I wait for next April to roll around, with this past weekend, Christmas, and a possible and hopeful date in February to break up the time a little bit I go back to my first comment and that is that I’m on a plane flying from Salt Lake City. A flight roughly half full of missionaries.
It’s not uncommon to see missionaries for the LDS church when you’re either flying to or from Salt Lake. These gentlemen, and sometimes ladies, aren’t doing the weekend mission trip type deal or even the week long summer vacation to fix people’s homes or anything; they go for the long haul of two years. Two years away from their families, homes, friends, tv, music, and just about every convenience that fills our normal lives. They do this to avoid distractions from what they set out to do and to be able to better focus on the task at hand, untainted from the ever changing world around them. Its part focus, part running blind, but really who needs to keep up with pop culture or politics these days? Its honestly a waste of time, especially if you’re headed to another country like these gentlemen are. The funny thing is the major dejavu I’m having at the moment. I’m looking at myself seven long years ago as I sat in their position on my way to Mexico City. A frightened 19 year old with only two months intensive gospel and Spanish training only to be dumped off with other missionaries in a semi structured, semi have at it world of a missionary in a country that I’ve never been to before.
I’ve long since forgotten what its like to have that anxiety to be doing something I believe to be right, yet be quite afraid of the new feeling of it all, not to mention being separated from everyone I know and love for two long years. It was extremely hard to do and extremely difficult on a daily basis and you’d better believe that I kept quite the countdown of the day that I’d get to return. In that mindset of remembering what it’s like to have to wait to see those I love for two years, suddenly six months doesn’t seem so bad.
Relationships in general are very hard work and it only seems natural that distance makes it even harder. A greater responsibility of trust is placed on your shoulders in order to keep the relationship strong and unwavering. There are many temptations, if you allow them, that happen in long distance relationships but I’m not really writing about that. They can happen to anybody as the thought tends to wander when your significant other isn’t anywhere near you or wont before long amounts of time. That’s where secrets and problems can develop again if you let them, but again I’m not talking about that.
What makes it hard obviously while you are apart is communication or lack there of, physical contact, as well as visual contact. You can re-create the first and third there, but physical contact well, you can’t do anything about that. When I say that however I don’t necessarily mean of an intimate kind, but that is included. Anything from just touching their shoulder, holding their hand, or even a small hug. These things are a pretty important part of any relationship, but thankfully it’s not the most important part. My theory that has been tested and tried throughout the years and various relationships of many kinds is that communication and honesty is the key to making anything work. In long distance relationships the third ingredient: drive or desire. The more you want that relationship to work, the stronger your drive is, the harder you’ll try to keep it together. Lucky for us in this day and age we can communicate long distances with people in a way that is practically the same as being right there with them. You just have to use all the tools at your disposal to communicate and communicate often. Not just on important stuff, but the little things as well. Even just a small note saying hello through a text or a random I love you at some point goes a long way.
The single most difficult part in my opinion is that because you are far away you get lonely. Yes being able to text, chat, call, or video chat makes it like you are there but the sad fact is that you aren’t and life tends to be a little sour. Something that is useful is knowing of or having a date when you’ll be together again in the near or distant future and focusing your attention on it. You can make little in-between goals of dates and times of things to do in between them or even things that mark midway or partial way points to that time. In my case the real issue isn’t so much the countdown of when we’ll see each other again, it’s the countdown of when we’ll see each other again and not part again. Perhaps that’s the worst long distance relationship, being engaged. However as I wait for next April to roll around, with this past weekend, Christmas, and a possible and hopeful date in February to break up the time a little bit I go back to my first comment and that is that I’m on a plane flying from Salt Lake City. A flight roughly half full of missionaries.
It’s not uncommon to see missionaries for the LDS church when you’re either flying to or from Salt Lake. These gentlemen, and sometimes ladies, aren’t doing the weekend mission trip type deal or even the week long summer vacation to fix people’s homes or anything; they go for the long haul of two years. Two years away from their families, homes, friends, tv, music, and just about every convenience that fills our normal lives. They do this to avoid distractions from what they set out to do and to be able to better focus on the task at hand, untainted from the ever changing world around them. Its part focus, part running blind, but really who needs to keep up with pop culture or politics these days? Its honestly a waste of time, especially if you’re headed to another country like these gentlemen are. The funny thing is the major dejavu I’m having at the moment. I’m looking at myself seven long years ago as I sat in their position on my way to Mexico City. A frightened 19 year old with only two months intensive gospel and Spanish training only to be dumped off with other missionaries in a semi structured, semi have at it world of a missionary in a country that I’ve never been to before.
I’ve long since forgotten what its like to have that anxiety to be doing something I believe to be right, yet be quite afraid of the new feeling of it all, not to mention being separated from everyone I know and love for two long years. It was extremely hard to do and extremely difficult on a daily basis and you’d better believe that I kept quite the countdown of the day that I’d get to return. In that mindset of remembering what it’s like to have to wait to see those I love for two years, suddenly six months doesn’t seem so bad.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Everything tends to happen for a reason
Let me lay something all out there I’m not a believer in fate. I don’t believe that there is a destined finale to everything that has been decided since your existence. I believe in a long term plan that has been laid out and that enables one specific end but I don’t believe that everything, every step, every moment, every occurrence has been set from the beginning and that there is no other way around it. To believe in a higher existence that knows what you’re going to do and puts things in your way to mold your life and existence is a whole other story that I’m not going into right now.
I’m just talking about something I base a vast majority of things in my life, that being that I believe that everything happens for a reason. This is a very optimistic sort of view and I agree and while it may not be the right one for everybody but it works for me and I believe it. Perhaps its just a way of validating for both the good and bad that happens in your life but I dunno, it just seems to make sense. For me the whole process from beginning to end of my band The Throbbing Testicles is a prime example to me.
First I look at the very fact that the band shouldn’t have happened. Think about it, why in the right mind would a tiny side project between two completely non-musically inclined people calling themselves The Throbbing Testicles grow to anything at all? It’s funny to see that we created a tiny little amount of crappy music that attracted friends with real talent and eventually started to play live shows and attract an audience out to have a good time. When I started the project things were going pretty good in my life. I had bailed on school sure, but I had a good job with people, who I got along with and eventually became some of my best friends, not long after that I got into a pretty decent relationship and really all was going well for the first time in awhile in my life. The band kept growing and kept getting bigger. It became a sort of escape as well as something to fill the empty space of not knowing what I was going to do with my life.
Eventually all those good times started to plummet as both that job and relationship ended and the decision to go back to school occurred but was still shadowed in caution. T3 became more and more something I fell back onto and the more I did the happier I became and lets get something straight: at that time in my life I was NOT happy, but somehow the band did that. I learned little skills that I have ended up applying to various other things in life as well as boosting my confidence and many other things. When I finally went back to school it was because of this band that I met my future wife. To me however it seems like all of this with the band has run its course. It has been well worth the ride and honestly I have nothing to be disappointed in. Now whether the decision to let it go has come yet or not it feels like it anyway.
So I may not be elegant enough with my words to be able to honestly write out a good enough reason but maybe it’s just a reminder to me at a time when reminders are something I could sure use just a little more often. T3 FTW.
I’m just talking about something I base a vast majority of things in my life, that being that I believe that everything happens for a reason. This is a very optimistic sort of view and I agree and while it may not be the right one for everybody but it works for me and I believe it. Perhaps its just a way of validating for both the good and bad that happens in your life but I dunno, it just seems to make sense. For me the whole process from beginning to end of my band The Throbbing Testicles is a prime example to me.
First I look at the very fact that the band shouldn’t have happened. Think about it, why in the right mind would a tiny side project between two completely non-musically inclined people calling themselves The Throbbing Testicles grow to anything at all? It’s funny to see that we created a tiny little amount of crappy music that attracted friends with real talent and eventually started to play live shows and attract an audience out to have a good time. When I started the project things were going pretty good in my life. I had bailed on school sure, but I had a good job with people, who I got along with and eventually became some of my best friends, not long after that I got into a pretty decent relationship and really all was going well for the first time in awhile in my life. The band kept growing and kept getting bigger. It became a sort of escape as well as something to fill the empty space of not knowing what I was going to do with my life.
Eventually all those good times started to plummet as both that job and relationship ended and the decision to go back to school occurred but was still shadowed in caution. T3 became more and more something I fell back onto and the more I did the happier I became and lets get something straight: at that time in my life I was NOT happy, but somehow the band did that. I learned little skills that I have ended up applying to various other things in life as well as boosting my confidence and many other things. When I finally went back to school it was because of this band that I met my future wife. To me however it seems like all of this with the band has run its course. It has been well worth the ride and honestly I have nothing to be disappointed in. Now whether the decision to let it go has come yet or not it feels like it anyway.
So I may not be elegant enough with my words to be able to honestly write out a good enough reason but maybe it’s just a reminder to me at a time when reminders are something I could sure use just a little more often. T3 FTW.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Its been a long month
I’m not much of a travel person to be honest. I don’t get overwhelmed looking at amazing looking sights be they natural or man made. I’m usually content with looking at them for a second then moving on. I don’t have really great ambitions of traveling far and wide and seeing the world. I enjoy seeing and experiencing new things, but I don’t live for it. That being said, I sure do travel a lot for some reason.
This past month alone I’ve made numerous trips all across the country and am rounding out what will hopefully be my last one for awhile right now. I’m currently sitting in Regan International in DC but that’s only the midst of my travels. I started out by driving close to nine hours heading to my sisters home in southern Illinois. From there I zipped across the middle of Missouri through St. Louis and jumping south of Colombia to head to Osage Beach for some business meeting type things. Then the long drive home for a few days before hopping a flight through Atlanta, GA to get here to DC. And now I’m flying out to Dallas on my way to Salt Lake City. Typing it all out it doesn’t seem like much, but it sure has felt that way. Why the travel? A little bit of job hunting, a little bit of visiting family, a lot of trying to figure a lot of problems out. All in all, not a good selection for getting good sleep that’s for sure.
It does make me think about all the travel in general I’ve done throughout my life and am kind of amazed by it. I’ve been to nearly every state in the United States and while international travel isn’t high on my list I have been out of the country, if only to Mexico. But not tourist resort Mexico, but real life heart of Mexico. I am still amazed to see people having never left their home state. I know for some people it’s a money issue, for others it’s a “I’m ok with just hanging out here” and I get that, because I feel it too sometimes. Its just that we live in a very diverse country here and visiting even other sides of it bring forth new culture, language, and lots of interesting things. We’re a melting pot of race, class, smell, color, and habit. It’s fascinating. Anyone who says America is for Americans is dumb, that’s what I say. If we didn’t have such an amalgamation of culture, we wouldn’t nearly be as interesting. But honestly that’s a topic for another day. In the meantime, go travel somewhere. It’s good for you.
This past month alone I’ve made numerous trips all across the country and am rounding out what will hopefully be my last one for awhile right now. I’m currently sitting in Regan International in DC but that’s only the midst of my travels. I started out by driving close to nine hours heading to my sisters home in southern Illinois. From there I zipped across the middle of Missouri through St. Louis and jumping south of Colombia to head to Osage Beach for some business meeting type things. Then the long drive home for a few days before hopping a flight through Atlanta, GA to get here to DC. And now I’m flying out to Dallas on my way to Salt Lake City. Typing it all out it doesn’t seem like much, but it sure has felt that way. Why the travel? A little bit of job hunting, a little bit of visiting family, a lot of trying to figure a lot of problems out. All in all, not a good selection for getting good sleep that’s for sure.
It does make me think about all the travel in general I’ve done throughout my life and am kind of amazed by it. I’ve been to nearly every state in the United States and while international travel isn’t high on my list I have been out of the country, if only to Mexico. But not tourist resort Mexico, but real life heart of Mexico. I am still amazed to see people having never left their home state. I know for some people it’s a money issue, for others it’s a “I’m ok with just hanging out here” and I get that, because I feel it too sometimes. Its just that we live in a very diverse country here and visiting even other sides of it bring forth new culture, language, and lots of interesting things. We’re a melting pot of race, class, smell, color, and habit. It’s fascinating. Anyone who says America is for Americans is dumb, that’s what I say. If we didn’t have such an amalgamation of culture, we wouldn’t nearly be as interesting. But honestly that’s a topic for another day. In the meantime, go travel somewhere. It’s good for you.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Irony is the least you could say
I follow that last post up with remembering the past few years tonight I met with an old friend from high school for the first time in a number of years. Its interesting to see how things can change for the people around you. He was a good friend in high school but as we all, have our things to grow from and to grow into. I was happy to see that after all of life’s challenges and struggles how far he’s come and how happy he is now, even after only a few years of not seeing him.
On the other hand I also saw an old friend whom I had known a much shorter time with his wife and son a few times this week. It felt like just the opposite sadly. Well, not in terms of success, or probable happiness from the two of them, it just felt differently, almost jerkish. I dunno, I guess its just a matter of character and really who you are. I’ve known the first friend since early on in high school and the latter only about five years or so and its obvious who I’m closer to and respect more even with our far different backgrounds and identities.
I guess there really isn’t much to say on this subject I just wanted to capture the feeling of contrast I’ve felt today and how sometimes in life, the measure of success is different for everyone and when it comes is different for people. Some it comes easy and nothing bad ever seems to happen and as for the rest of us life is hard but it pays off if we just stick with it. Life is complicated like that sometimes.
On the other hand I also saw an old friend whom I had known a much shorter time with his wife and son a few times this week. It felt like just the opposite sadly. Well, not in terms of success, or probable happiness from the two of them, it just felt differently, almost jerkish. I dunno, I guess its just a matter of character and really who you are. I’ve known the first friend since early on in high school and the latter only about five years or so and its obvious who I’m closer to and respect more even with our far different backgrounds and identities.
I guess there really isn’t much to say on this subject I just wanted to capture the feeling of contrast I’ve felt today and how sometimes in life, the measure of success is different for everyone and when it comes is different for people. Some it comes easy and nothing bad ever seems to happen and as for the rest of us life is hard but it pays off if we just stick with it. Life is complicated like that sometimes.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Life is continuous; succes is not
I follow that last post up with remembering the past few years tonight I met with an old friend from high school for the first time in a number of years. Its interesting to see how things can change for the people around you. He was a good friend in high school but as we all, have our things to grow from and to grow into. I was happy to see that after all of life’s challenges and struggles how far he’s come and how happy he is now, even after only a few years of not seeing him.
On the other hand I also saw an old friend whom I had known a much shorter time with his wife and son a few times this week. It felt like just the opposite sadly. Well, not in terms of success, or probable happiness from the two of them, it just felt differently, almost jerkish. I dunno, I guess its just a matter of character and really who you are. I’ve known the first friend since early on in high school and the latter only about five years or so and its obvious who I’m closer to and respect more even with our far different backgrounds and identities.
I guess there really isn’t much to say on this subject I just wanted to capture the feeling of contrast I’ve felt today and how sometimes in life, the measure of success is different for everyone and when it comes is different for people. Some it comes easy and nothing bad ever seems to happen and as for the rest of us life is hard but it pays off if we just stick with it. Life is complicated like that sometimes.
On the other hand I also saw an old friend whom I had known a much shorter time with his wife and son a few times this week. It felt like just the opposite sadly. Well, not in terms of success, or probable happiness from the two of them, it just felt differently, almost jerkish. I dunno, I guess its just a matter of character and really who you are. I’ve known the first friend since early on in high school and the latter only about five years or so and its obvious who I’m closer to and respect more even with our far different backgrounds and identities.
I guess there really isn’t much to say on this subject I just wanted to capture the feeling of contrast I’ve felt today and how sometimes in life, the measure of success is different for everyone and when it comes is different for people. Some it comes easy and nothing bad ever seems to happen and as for the rest of us life is hard but it pays off if we just stick with it. Life is complicated like that sometimes.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Ten years is a long time yet no time at all
I overheard a conversation from somebody the other day about how their ten year high school reunion is next year and they wanted to have something to show for it. They wanted to show up and be able to say “hey ten years have passed and I’ve accomplished this and this”, to be able to show off some sort of accomplishment. This made me sit and reflect on the fact that my ten year reunion is coming up as well in another year (Class of 2002 here) and made me think if I had accomplished anything. Do I measure up to what everyone else deems as important to a symbol of status these days? Am I what people now a days consider successful? I don’t really know what to measure these days, but lets look at what is supposed to happen according to that all knowing, all seeing, status symbol we know as pop culture and television.
The norm of said things is to graduate from high school having had a plethora of your firsts and be ready to descend onto the world of college ready to get drunk every day, party all night, and yet still emerge and adult in four years with a degree that will magically get you some sort of high paying job and provide for a future family. Well lets see here according to my clock that would make that “according to plan” I should have graduated in 2006 and be about four years out in the real world pulling in money and doing whatever it is people consider important for a living. I would own a house by now or at very least a nice apartment in some city where business casual is my normal attire and business being the name of the game I make calls often to do so, well depending on whatever it is my career is I suppose.
Career, now that’s in interesting point in question. By now I should be in a job, either the job or job field, that odds are I’ll be spending the rest of my life doing as well as know automatically what choices to make. Again, this according to what society tells me. Not to mention closing in on thirty I should have indeed have begun to set my sights on “settling down” or in other words have met that girl I’ve settled with being with and begun my decent into living a lackluster life from here on out. Is that everything? Did I leave everything out? If anyone fits that mold well then you probably haven’t really lived at all. That’s all utter crap.
There is no mold, there Is no structure, nor certain path. That’s what I’ve learned in the near ten years since high school. I’m sure most people at this point have so its not news to you, but it makes me think and remember that if I try to compare to anything else which is another lesson all in itself: don’t compare yourself to anybody. Everyone leads their own life and hey what they do may or may not work for you. What works for you, works for you, if that makes sense. I dunno, it sounds good in my head.
After graduation I packed up and moved to Idaho about a month after graduation. I went to school for the rest of the year and moved back home now with roughly 24ish credits under my belt. All of the early to mid part of 2003 I worked in various jobs and saved money. I got my first cell phone, which is funny to me seeing that teenagers are practically born with one these days, but remember we had those free brick sized ones that we thought were practical seeing as we were comparing them to the literal brick sized ones of the late 80s. In November I moved to Provo, UT to live in a dormitory as a missionary to prepare to move to Mexico where I spent January of 2004 until November of 2005. There I learned the culture, the language, the way of life, and did some old fashion learning, growing, teaching, helping, serving, and everything that comes with the life of being a missionary. It was fantastic. It had its ups and downs and so many things learned that I couldn’t even begin to explain here, maybe I will at some point, but to me that experience almost trumps anything else I’ve done in the last ten years hands down on its own.
Returning home was a horrible horrible adjustment trying to get re-acquainted with not only the English language, but American culture, and well my own life. Trying to get used to doing things for myself for once. Not fun at all. I worked petty jobs until summer of 2006 where I went back to school until the end of the year and finding that to be frustrating and hey maybe college isn’t for me moved back home before Christmas and set up shop in Conway once again. There I worked more odd jobs and lived and learned lots of things and grew as an individual. I started a band, it was a fun distraction, I went to school off and on at UCA, and then in January of 2009 I returned to the great white north of Idaho to give it one last shot. Surprisingly all the confusion of what to do, where to go, and what should I do with my life slowly started to make sense. Sure there are times when I wish some of that surety would come floating back in, but in the meantime I’m ok with knowing that at least some point I’ve been on the right track. Case in point that year of school I figured out what direction I want to go to for a career, started taking classes in my major that I started to like, got confidence in my Spanish again from not speaking it in so long, and best of all met the girl whom I’m going to spend the rest of my life in. Life has been going pretty much the same since then with little things here and there, but it’s a start anyway.
This all finally started to come together what? Seven years after high school? Had I been going to the “normal social plan” and gone straight through school I’m pretty sure I’d still be sitting on my butt at home trying to figure out what to do with my life. Well yeah I’m kind of doing that now, but what an experience it’s been since then. I’ve learned, understood, and experienced life and I say that’s quite alright. I don’t really remember the point of what I started writing now, but to me that just feels like a validation to myself and anyone else who didn’t quite “fit the norm” and did it their own way. Life works itself out.
The norm of said things is to graduate from high school having had a plethora of your firsts and be ready to descend onto the world of college ready to get drunk every day, party all night, and yet still emerge and adult in four years with a degree that will magically get you some sort of high paying job and provide for a future family. Well lets see here according to my clock that would make that “according to plan” I should have graduated in 2006 and be about four years out in the real world pulling in money and doing whatever it is people consider important for a living. I would own a house by now or at very least a nice apartment in some city where business casual is my normal attire and business being the name of the game I make calls often to do so, well depending on whatever it is my career is I suppose.
Career, now that’s in interesting point in question. By now I should be in a job, either the job or job field, that odds are I’ll be spending the rest of my life doing as well as know automatically what choices to make. Again, this according to what society tells me. Not to mention closing in on thirty I should have indeed have begun to set my sights on “settling down” or in other words have met that girl I’ve settled with being with and begun my decent into living a lackluster life from here on out. Is that everything? Did I leave everything out? If anyone fits that mold well then you probably haven’t really lived at all. That’s all utter crap.
There is no mold, there Is no structure, nor certain path. That’s what I’ve learned in the near ten years since high school. I’m sure most people at this point have so its not news to you, but it makes me think and remember that if I try to compare to anything else which is another lesson all in itself: don’t compare yourself to anybody. Everyone leads their own life and hey what they do may or may not work for you. What works for you, works for you, if that makes sense. I dunno, it sounds good in my head.
After graduation I packed up and moved to Idaho about a month after graduation. I went to school for the rest of the year and moved back home now with roughly 24ish credits under my belt. All of the early to mid part of 2003 I worked in various jobs and saved money. I got my first cell phone, which is funny to me seeing that teenagers are practically born with one these days, but remember we had those free brick sized ones that we thought were practical seeing as we were comparing them to the literal brick sized ones of the late 80s. In November I moved to Provo, UT to live in a dormitory as a missionary to prepare to move to Mexico where I spent January of 2004 until November of 2005. There I learned the culture, the language, the way of life, and did some old fashion learning, growing, teaching, helping, serving, and everything that comes with the life of being a missionary. It was fantastic. It had its ups and downs and so many things learned that I couldn’t even begin to explain here, maybe I will at some point, but to me that experience almost trumps anything else I’ve done in the last ten years hands down on its own.
Returning home was a horrible horrible adjustment trying to get re-acquainted with not only the English language, but American culture, and well my own life. Trying to get used to doing things for myself for once. Not fun at all. I worked petty jobs until summer of 2006 where I went back to school until the end of the year and finding that to be frustrating and hey maybe college isn’t for me moved back home before Christmas and set up shop in Conway once again. There I worked more odd jobs and lived and learned lots of things and grew as an individual. I started a band, it was a fun distraction, I went to school off and on at UCA, and then in January of 2009 I returned to the great white north of Idaho to give it one last shot. Surprisingly all the confusion of what to do, where to go, and what should I do with my life slowly started to make sense. Sure there are times when I wish some of that surety would come floating back in, but in the meantime I’m ok with knowing that at least some point I’ve been on the right track. Case in point that year of school I figured out what direction I want to go to for a career, started taking classes in my major that I started to like, got confidence in my Spanish again from not speaking it in so long, and best of all met the girl whom I’m going to spend the rest of my life in. Life has been going pretty much the same since then with little things here and there, but it’s a start anyway.
This all finally started to come together what? Seven years after high school? Had I been going to the “normal social plan” and gone straight through school I’m pretty sure I’d still be sitting on my butt at home trying to figure out what to do with my life. Well yeah I’m kind of doing that now, but what an experience it’s been since then. I’ve learned, understood, and experienced life and I say that’s quite alright. I don’t really remember the point of what I started writing now, but to me that just feels like a validation to myself and anyone else who didn’t quite “fit the norm” and did it their own way. Life works itself out.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Where else is it normal to pay ten dollars to sit in a dark room with other people and watch people do things?
As I sat down the other day to think back on the few things I’ve been up to lately I made a startling discovery, at least to me anyway, I’ve seen quite a few movies in theaters this year and a lot of them I didn’t hate. I don’t believe I’ve actually forked out the money to go see this many movies in the theater in a long time and not felt disappointed by it or let alone do it at all. If anyone knows me they know I’m a big fan of movies and editing and the whole big deal. I’m a stickler for things that are different and how I feel, well, worth paying nearly ten dollars to go see it. Now maybe I’ve just become bitter over time or maybe my tastes have matured but I go by a small list of rules before I’ll actually see something in the theater, these include but are not limited to:
- The trailer has to blow me away, make me laugh until I pee or in general impress me.
- Its part of a franchise that I actively follow or keep up with in some medium
- I can’t predict the movie from start to finish just from the prevue’s
-I know its going to be horrible going into and that’s usually the point of me seeing it
-It’s a zombie movie. I’m a sucker for these cookie cutter pieces of crap : /
And some other crap I can’t quite think of at the moment, but these are the big ones
Honestly my biggest gripe in movies these days extend mostly from plot. There have been thousands of movies that have been around since the dawn of cinema and contrary to popular belief they haven’t all been made yet. I don’t honestly see the need to do a bunch of remakes or reboot a franchise or anything like that very often. There are a few exceptions, but not often. Other than that there is no reason not to be original. Don’t follow that same tired old plot: open on a good hearty time with friends, main character leads a certain lifestyle that is either terrible or carefree but life is good. Something is given to main character to “make their life better” and works for a bit but slowly it consumes them to become something unlikable or a jerk to their friends, big fight, then time of reflection, and main character returns to save the day in the end, all is forgiven, happy ending. Give or take a few details here and there adding or subtracting love interests this pretty much sums up nearly all movies out there today. Now don’t get me wrong this CAN be done well, but usually it isn’t. Take Adam Sandler movies for example. I like Adam Sandler and think he can be pretty funny, but that really describes about all of his movies. There has got to be a better way of doing things and throwing special effects in the way of good writing or plot points isn’t an ok substitute (Star Wars, Avatar……)
Being able to predict the ending is always a downer for me too. I always assumed that I was just super astute at being able to do so many times before, but as I grow older I guess its more that these endings to movies are just forced way too many times instead. I do however like to claim some of that astute-ness however, but just because I like to feel proud sometimes. If I go into a movie and a mystery is presented and I can’t figure it out I’m much more prone to enjoy the movie whereas I generally don’t if I have it solved in the first fifteen minutes. This also goes for brainless action movies that replace anything resembling a plot with explosions, sex, and swearing a bunch. Don’t get me wrong, I like a dumb action flick every once in awhile, but they just aren’t my cup of tea to be honest.
Now this year is been interesting to me. I’ve seen at least ten or so movies in theaters this year, some even more than once and I only left the theater feeling disappointed once or twice. That’s remarkable to me. Is it possible that the past few years were just the results of lack of good writing from the writer’s strike a few years back that they had warned about?
Some people might read this and say “Well you’re just being picky and can’t just turn off your brain and enjoy it.” Well yeah that’s the point. I don’t want to turn my brain off most of the time. I want to use it while enjoying a movie. I want to be taken on a journey of sight and sound and be able to suspend my disbelief and be whisked away into a story for an hour or so. If I’m going to pay nine dollars to sit in a chair and watch something that a rather large crew has slaved over for a number of months of production to play for me, shouldn’t I deserve something worthwhile? Or am I just asking for too much?
- The trailer has to blow me away, make me laugh until I pee or in general impress me.
- Its part of a franchise that I actively follow or keep up with in some medium
- I can’t predict the movie from start to finish just from the prevue’s
-I know its going to be horrible going into and that’s usually the point of me seeing it
-It’s a zombie movie. I’m a sucker for these cookie cutter pieces of crap : /
And some other crap I can’t quite think of at the moment, but these are the big ones
Honestly my biggest gripe in movies these days extend mostly from plot. There have been thousands of movies that have been around since the dawn of cinema and contrary to popular belief they haven’t all been made yet. I don’t honestly see the need to do a bunch of remakes or reboot a franchise or anything like that very often. There are a few exceptions, but not often. Other than that there is no reason not to be original. Don’t follow that same tired old plot: open on a good hearty time with friends, main character leads a certain lifestyle that is either terrible or carefree but life is good. Something is given to main character to “make their life better” and works for a bit but slowly it consumes them to become something unlikable or a jerk to their friends, big fight, then time of reflection, and main character returns to save the day in the end, all is forgiven, happy ending. Give or take a few details here and there adding or subtracting love interests this pretty much sums up nearly all movies out there today. Now don’t get me wrong this CAN be done well, but usually it isn’t. Take Adam Sandler movies for example. I like Adam Sandler and think he can be pretty funny, but that really describes about all of his movies. There has got to be a better way of doing things and throwing special effects in the way of good writing or plot points isn’t an ok substitute (Star Wars, Avatar……)
Being able to predict the ending is always a downer for me too. I always assumed that I was just super astute at being able to do so many times before, but as I grow older I guess its more that these endings to movies are just forced way too many times instead. I do however like to claim some of that astute-ness however, but just because I like to feel proud sometimes. If I go into a movie and a mystery is presented and I can’t figure it out I’m much more prone to enjoy the movie whereas I generally don’t if I have it solved in the first fifteen minutes. This also goes for brainless action movies that replace anything resembling a plot with explosions, sex, and swearing a bunch. Don’t get me wrong, I like a dumb action flick every once in awhile, but they just aren’t my cup of tea to be honest.
Now this year is been interesting to me. I’ve seen at least ten or so movies in theaters this year, some even more than once and I only left the theater feeling disappointed once or twice. That’s remarkable to me. Is it possible that the past few years were just the results of lack of good writing from the writer’s strike a few years back that they had warned about?
Some people might read this and say “Well you’re just being picky and can’t just turn off your brain and enjoy it.” Well yeah that’s the point. I don’t want to turn my brain off most of the time. I want to use it while enjoying a movie. I want to be taken on a journey of sight and sound and be able to suspend my disbelief and be whisked away into a story for an hour or so. If I’m going to pay nine dollars to sit in a chair and watch something that a rather large crew has slaved over for a number of months of production to play for me, shouldn’t I deserve something worthwhile? Or am I just asking for too much?
Monday, October 11, 2010
I didn't learn to read from a rainbow, but it helped
When I was a kid my favorite past time was to read. I love love loved to read all the time all day long. That is, until I was introduced to the original Nintendo, then it wasn’t too long before it was goodbye reading and improving my brain and hello to angry child rage when you play those impossible moving platform stages in Mega Man.
No, the real sad truth is one I’ve only recently come to a conclusion of: that I didn’t mature my books as I got older. When you’re a kid you read kid books. Like those golden books that have a huge picture on them and a sentence or two of text per page. Then you move onto very tiny novels of about a hundred pages or less in them. From there you should be moving onto real books and other stories that don’t involve kid dectives, aliens, or some wacky school that has 13 stories build on top of each other with one room. For the life of me I can’t remember what that book is called, but I want to find it and re-add it to my book collection. Again, guy who didn’t mature his reading here.
My problem is that I simply couldn’t find another series of books that I enjoyed as I got older. When I was a kid, and still can mind you, I had an impressive reading ability and would just demolish those short kids books in hours. I was a big fan of the Goosebumps books as well as the Animorph series when I was in grade and middle school, but the problem was they weren’t long enough. Around that age is when your parents are starting to teach you some responsibility and have you start paying for things on your own. Well to a kid $5 is a lot of money. Waiting a month for the next book to come out to throw your $5 into is a long long time. Especially when you have roughly a quarter of the book read before you even get home from the store. That just sucks. Even then it just didn’t seem worth it to do so. I loved the stories don’t get me wrong, but it was starting to look like a waste of money even for me, and that says a lot. So sadly I wasn’t interested in any of the more mature books that I got my hands on and I didn’t feel like reading these mini-novels were worth my time so reading just took a back burner for the longest time. Sure I’d find a good book every now and again but it just didn’t turn out that much.
About a year or two ago thankfully that started to change and I’ve begun to re-grow a collection of books. Although a little small at the moment, it;s growing and I’m pretty happy about that. Sadly for anyone other than me, my choice of collection of books probably isn’t the greatest or the most appealing. But I don’t really care. I like what I read and I’m ok with that.
So whats in that tiny collection? Well lets see here, two books by Tucker Max, they are semi-autobiographical but mostly about his stories of drinking, debauchery, and random hook ups all well written and although pretty ranchy, very funny. There are three zombie books in there because apparently I’ve become infatuated with zombies over the last few years. If there is one world ending scenario based off of movies and tv that I do not want to happen, its zombie apocalypse. Honestly I could write all day about how much that would suck and I probably will, but let’s just say there is no reason in the world that I would ever condone myself committing suicide EXCEPT for the zombie apocalypse. I’m pretty sure that’s pretty justifiable. There are a small collect of Spanish short stories and poem books and novels that I’ve accumulated in my Spanish literature classes over the years. I’ll be honest, the only reason they’re in there is that once upon a time I enjoyed a story or two that I had to read in class and the bookstore was only going to give me a dollar or two at most for them when I paid ten. Yeah, they’re there for class. But I could still go back and read them one day right? Yeah, probably not.
Then you get to the more realistic books that I’m not so ashamed of. I started reading the Life of Pi, but never finished it. It’s a struggle when the first hundred or so pages of this Robinson Caruso style book with tigers is just mindless filler and backstory that I doubt will be very relevant when the kid is stranded away from his family on an island with a tiger. Honestly, knowing about the guy who taught him how to live life accordingly and how to swim isn’t going to matter much after that. I do have high hopes for one day finishing it tho.
The Time Travelers Wife. Yes it is a chick novel in the most elaborate of ways. It is a tear jerker and it is a very very very sad book, but I like it. I first heard about it from my sister a few years back and when I finally got around to reading it I was enthralled with it. Some parts were hard to wrap my brain around but others were just so fascinating that I couldn’t stop reading it Sadly enough after I finished it and was emotionally drained from a fantastic experience of such a good book, I was left wanting to stab myself in the eye with a toothpick after watching the movie adaptation. Awful crap. If you’ve ever seen the movie but not read the book: pretend you didn’t and read the book. If you’ve read the book and not seen the movie: just don’t. And if you’ve done both like me, well you know which one is good and which one smells like my Armenian friend from a previous flight.
Another good one that you won’t find on any national best sellers list I would imagine, is In The Eye of the Storm by John Groeburg. Yeah it’s a religious kinda book, but its part adventure tale too. It’s the real experiences of the author when in his 20s he ventured to the Tongan islands to serve three years as a missionary. I read this book while serving as a missionary myself in Mexico a number of years back so I had that much in common, but to anyone else its also a pretty good read. It’s a very interesting look at a number of things that aren’t even related to religion. For example, he’s very good at describing Tongan culture and how different things are done down there and how much he had to adapt and adjust to people there just to be accepted. It’s neat to see how differently things are done for missionaries now as opposed to then, especially in countries that weren’t quite as developed at the time. For me, I was watched over, kept in contact with people, and met frequently with leaders and people all the time. While yes a scary new experience in a country that I didn’t speak the language very well at, at least people knew where I was. For John, it was pretty much, take a boat out there and see you in three years. Sure he had communication with people from time to time, but it might as well be months at a time.
On top of all that yes he puts his two cents in quite often about life lessons as well as things he learns from reading scriptures and things that reminded him of why he was there, but it never gets to overly preachy nor conversion based. You could easily read it as a well rounded nice guy, who is learning about himself and the people around and learning to love them. Or if you want to be lazy you could watch the movie version The Other Side of Heaven, but it’s really watered down Hollywood movie stereotypical poop. Well, as compared to the book. Stand alone as a movie it was pretty good.
There are more books in this so called mini collection of mine, but I don’t remember them all right now, nor do I feel like writing about them. That’s the way I am sometimes, passionate about something until I have to write about it, then it becomes a chore and I say nuts to that, which brings me to one quick side note while I’m thinking about it. The only time I really get a lot of reading in these days is while I’m flying, but the crappiest thing about that is that you always finish your book not at the end of your flight, but usually near the beginning. I’m on my second flight of the day with another hour to go and quite a few subsequent flights over the next week and I finished my book while on the runway. I hate you order of liftoff operations.
No, the real sad truth is one I’ve only recently come to a conclusion of: that I didn’t mature my books as I got older. When you’re a kid you read kid books. Like those golden books that have a huge picture on them and a sentence or two of text per page. Then you move onto very tiny novels of about a hundred pages or less in them. From there you should be moving onto real books and other stories that don’t involve kid dectives, aliens, or some wacky school that has 13 stories build on top of each other with one room. For the life of me I can’t remember what that book is called, but I want to find it and re-add it to my book collection. Again, guy who didn’t mature his reading here.
My problem is that I simply couldn’t find another series of books that I enjoyed as I got older. When I was a kid, and still can mind you, I had an impressive reading ability and would just demolish those short kids books in hours. I was a big fan of the Goosebumps books as well as the Animorph series when I was in grade and middle school, but the problem was they weren’t long enough. Around that age is when your parents are starting to teach you some responsibility and have you start paying for things on your own. Well to a kid $5 is a lot of money. Waiting a month for the next book to come out to throw your $5 into is a long long time. Especially when you have roughly a quarter of the book read before you even get home from the store. That just sucks. Even then it just didn’t seem worth it to do so. I loved the stories don’t get me wrong, but it was starting to look like a waste of money even for me, and that says a lot. So sadly I wasn’t interested in any of the more mature books that I got my hands on and I didn’t feel like reading these mini-novels were worth my time so reading just took a back burner for the longest time. Sure I’d find a good book every now and again but it just didn’t turn out that much.
About a year or two ago thankfully that started to change and I’ve begun to re-grow a collection of books. Although a little small at the moment, it;s growing and I’m pretty happy about that. Sadly for anyone other than me, my choice of collection of books probably isn’t the greatest or the most appealing. But I don’t really care. I like what I read and I’m ok with that.
So whats in that tiny collection? Well lets see here, two books by Tucker Max, they are semi-autobiographical but mostly about his stories of drinking, debauchery, and random hook ups all well written and although pretty ranchy, very funny. There are three zombie books in there because apparently I’ve become infatuated with zombies over the last few years. If there is one world ending scenario based off of movies and tv that I do not want to happen, its zombie apocalypse. Honestly I could write all day about how much that would suck and I probably will, but let’s just say there is no reason in the world that I would ever condone myself committing suicide EXCEPT for the zombie apocalypse. I’m pretty sure that’s pretty justifiable. There are a small collect of Spanish short stories and poem books and novels that I’ve accumulated in my Spanish literature classes over the years. I’ll be honest, the only reason they’re in there is that once upon a time I enjoyed a story or two that I had to read in class and the bookstore was only going to give me a dollar or two at most for them when I paid ten. Yeah, they’re there for class. But I could still go back and read them one day right? Yeah, probably not.
Then you get to the more realistic books that I’m not so ashamed of. I started reading the Life of Pi, but never finished it. It’s a struggle when the first hundred or so pages of this Robinson Caruso style book with tigers is just mindless filler and backstory that I doubt will be very relevant when the kid is stranded away from his family on an island with a tiger. Honestly, knowing about the guy who taught him how to live life accordingly and how to swim isn’t going to matter much after that. I do have high hopes for one day finishing it tho.
The Time Travelers Wife. Yes it is a chick novel in the most elaborate of ways. It is a tear jerker and it is a very very very sad book, but I like it. I first heard about it from my sister a few years back and when I finally got around to reading it I was enthralled with it. Some parts were hard to wrap my brain around but others were just so fascinating that I couldn’t stop reading it Sadly enough after I finished it and was emotionally drained from a fantastic experience of such a good book, I was left wanting to stab myself in the eye with a toothpick after watching the movie adaptation. Awful crap. If you’ve ever seen the movie but not read the book: pretend you didn’t and read the book. If you’ve read the book and not seen the movie: just don’t. And if you’ve done both like me, well you know which one is good and which one smells like my Armenian friend from a previous flight.
Another good one that you won’t find on any national best sellers list I would imagine, is In The Eye of the Storm by John Groeburg. Yeah it’s a religious kinda book, but its part adventure tale too. It’s the real experiences of the author when in his 20s he ventured to the Tongan islands to serve three years as a missionary. I read this book while serving as a missionary myself in Mexico a number of years back so I had that much in common, but to anyone else its also a pretty good read. It’s a very interesting look at a number of things that aren’t even related to religion. For example, he’s very good at describing Tongan culture and how different things are done down there and how much he had to adapt and adjust to people there just to be accepted. It’s neat to see how differently things are done for missionaries now as opposed to then, especially in countries that weren’t quite as developed at the time. For me, I was watched over, kept in contact with people, and met frequently with leaders and people all the time. While yes a scary new experience in a country that I didn’t speak the language very well at, at least people knew where I was. For John, it was pretty much, take a boat out there and see you in three years. Sure he had communication with people from time to time, but it might as well be months at a time.
On top of all that yes he puts his two cents in quite often about life lessons as well as things he learns from reading scriptures and things that reminded him of why he was there, but it never gets to overly preachy nor conversion based. You could easily read it as a well rounded nice guy, who is learning about himself and the people around and learning to love them. Or if you want to be lazy you could watch the movie version The Other Side of Heaven, but it’s really watered down Hollywood movie stereotypical poop. Well, as compared to the book. Stand alone as a movie it was pretty good.
There are more books in this so called mini collection of mine, but I don’t remember them all right now, nor do I feel like writing about them. That’s the way I am sometimes, passionate about something until I have to write about it, then it becomes a chore and I say nuts to that, which brings me to one quick side note while I’m thinking about it. The only time I really get a lot of reading in these days is while I’m flying, but the crappiest thing about that is that you always finish your book not at the end of your flight, but usually near the beginning. I’m on my second flight of the day with another hour to go and quite a few subsequent flights over the next week and I finished my book while on the runway. I hate you order of liftoff operations.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The dread feeling of flying
I don’t know when this will go up, but I’m penning it from the Atlanta Airport.
There is something to be said about growing older and how things that used to excite you as a kid gradually become more cumbersome and uncomfortable the older you get. One of those things for me as I’ve gotten older is flying. Ironic that this only comes up in my brain when I’m mid flight as much like going to the dentist or to a doctor where you’re forced to get some awful shot, you think to yourself “this time will be better”. For me its not so much the crampt feeling of being inside the plane smashed up between complete strangers for hours at a time, although that is a concern. I often do wonder how the luck of the draw is for me that I’m often in a middle or window seat with people on both sides of me being larger than life passengers who generally take up a seat and a quarter of mine. When I get my boarding pass is there a key on the keyboard that says “skinny dude who would fit between two fatties?” I’m thinking so because it tends to happen every flight. The one I just got off of is a good example. It was however more pleasant than the last flight I was one and was smashed up against the window by a very large and very smelly Armenian gentlemen. The problem wasn’t being Armenian, but the fact that he smelled like eggs and onions and probably hadn’t showered in a good week or so. Let’s just overlook the snoring factor.
No, my real problem with flying these days is heights and shaking. Turbulence. As a kid that’s all fun and games. Kind of like a fun ride on an already awesome plane ride that you don’t get to do every day. You can see the world from a completely new perspective and no matter how many times you see it, its always fascinating to see the world like some small scale model laid out underneath you. For me however, it has become a feeling of pure terror at 10,000 feet. I have age and television to blame for that. Getting older means understanding how the real world works and realizing the frailty of how life really is. For example, unless you see something devastating in person you probably don’t have a real fear of it. Take car wrecks for example. Sure they look pretty terrible on tv and everything but if you haven’t experienced one they may worry you a bit in the back of your mind, but you don’t tend to think about them that much. That is, until you have one. I got in a pretty nasty wreck, all things considered not that bad but worse then anything I’ve ever experienced before, that left me pretty shaken up and to this day still freaks me out sometimes while I’m driving. Even though I was driving that day I have real issues not being in control of the car if I’m not driving. The same goes for planes. I’ve never experienced a problem on a flight, but the older I get the more I realize it could happen. Now how often does it? Not much really, but more often than you’d think. But if I already am afraid of heights and being shaken around makes me want to piss myself, put the two together in a “hey it’s the safest way to travel but if something goes wrong you’re going to die” kinda way, far be it from me to not get a little nervous when the plane starts shaking miles and miles in the air.
The real kicker comes from some of my favorite shows. TV rarely catches my interest these days, but specific shows do. Like a lot of other people I was pretty hooked on LOST, but anyone who knows about that show knows its about a bunch of people stranded on an island. Stranded because their plane went down. Horribly. I’ve never seen something so frightening in my entire life and anytime I get on a plane that’s the first place my brain goes to. Ironically now I’m typing from the plane itself and on this particular flight I’m on the tail end which would mean I’m going to break in half right in front of me and if I’m not immediately sucked out from the hole in the plane, I might drown in the ocean or just be beaten to death by a large African man who doesn’t put up with anybody’s shit, not even polar bears.
Being fearful of airplanes is slowly becoming a trend for me, yet I still travel on them. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. Either that or I just can’t take all that many long road trips like I used to. The only embarrassment is when you are in a dead sleep and due to turbulence you wake up with a start, pulse racing and hands gripped onto the armrests like you own that bitch. The last time I flew on a plane I was sitting between my older sister and my fiancée. They both laughed at me. Damn you Lost. Damn you to hell.
There is something to be said about growing older and how things that used to excite you as a kid gradually become more cumbersome and uncomfortable the older you get. One of those things for me as I’ve gotten older is flying. Ironic that this only comes up in my brain when I’m mid flight as much like going to the dentist or to a doctor where you’re forced to get some awful shot, you think to yourself “this time will be better”. For me its not so much the crampt feeling of being inside the plane smashed up between complete strangers for hours at a time, although that is a concern. I often do wonder how the luck of the draw is for me that I’m often in a middle or window seat with people on both sides of me being larger than life passengers who generally take up a seat and a quarter of mine. When I get my boarding pass is there a key on the keyboard that says “skinny dude who would fit between two fatties?” I’m thinking so because it tends to happen every flight. The one I just got off of is a good example. It was however more pleasant than the last flight I was one and was smashed up against the window by a very large and very smelly Armenian gentlemen. The problem wasn’t being Armenian, but the fact that he smelled like eggs and onions and probably hadn’t showered in a good week or so. Let’s just overlook the snoring factor.
No, my real problem with flying these days is heights and shaking. Turbulence. As a kid that’s all fun and games. Kind of like a fun ride on an already awesome plane ride that you don’t get to do every day. You can see the world from a completely new perspective and no matter how many times you see it, its always fascinating to see the world like some small scale model laid out underneath you. For me however, it has become a feeling of pure terror at 10,000 feet. I have age and television to blame for that. Getting older means understanding how the real world works and realizing the frailty of how life really is. For example, unless you see something devastating in person you probably don’t have a real fear of it. Take car wrecks for example. Sure they look pretty terrible on tv and everything but if you haven’t experienced one they may worry you a bit in the back of your mind, but you don’t tend to think about them that much. That is, until you have one. I got in a pretty nasty wreck, all things considered not that bad but worse then anything I’ve ever experienced before, that left me pretty shaken up and to this day still freaks me out sometimes while I’m driving. Even though I was driving that day I have real issues not being in control of the car if I’m not driving. The same goes for planes. I’ve never experienced a problem on a flight, but the older I get the more I realize it could happen. Now how often does it? Not much really, but more often than you’d think. But if I already am afraid of heights and being shaken around makes me want to piss myself, put the two together in a “hey it’s the safest way to travel but if something goes wrong you’re going to die” kinda way, far be it from me to not get a little nervous when the plane starts shaking miles and miles in the air.
The real kicker comes from some of my favorite shows. TV rarely catches my interest these days, but specific shows do. Like a lot of other people I was pretty hooked on LOST, but anyone who knows about that show knows its about a bunch of people stranded on an island. Stranded because their plane went down. Horribly. I’ve never seen something so frightening in my entire life and anytime I get on a plane that’s the first place my brain goes to. Ironically now I’m typing from the plane itself and on this particular flight I’m on the tail end which would mean I’m going to break in half right in front of me and if I’m not immediately sucked out from the hole in the plane, I might drown in the ocean or just be beaten to death by a large African man who doesn’t put up with anybody’s shit, not even polar bears.
Being fearful of airplanes is slowly becoming a trend for me, yet I still travel on them. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. Either that or I just can’t take all that many long road trips like I used to. The only embarrassment is when you are in a dead sleep and due to turbulence you wake up with a start, pulse racing and hands gripped onto the armrests like you own that bitch. The last time I flew on a plane I was sitting between my older sister and my fiancée. They both laughed at me. Damn you Lost. Damn you to hell.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Ninja Destruction Redux
If doing outdoor activities during the long Rexburg winter isn't you're thing, luckily for you there is a new craze sweeping the underground of fellow students around the Rexburg area. And that craze's name is: Ninja Destruction.
I was first introduced to the game of Ninja Destruction sometime in the early summer of 2009. I was at a social gathering where those in attendance started to get a little anxious while they struggled to find something to do when the traditional outdoor games failed to entertain. All at once someone suggested the game Ninja Destruction and caused a widespread excitement amongst all those in attendance. I only watched but it soon became clear to me that this was not a difficult game to play, but fun to master.
Depending on players skill level games can last anywhere from a minute to ten, but usually not any longer nor less. The game begins with all players forming a circle and facing one another. The head of that round is the one with the first turn of the game and players take turns around the circle in order until it returns to the original player, then repeating. During the game players may only make one of two actions during any one players turn. They may either attack, if it is their turn, or defend if it is not. Both actions are made by one swift motion of the body and then freezing in place. For example, making a chopping motion or taking a step backwards. Players may only move if they are attacking or being attacked and at no other time. The rest of the game is spent in frozen observation of the actions of whomever’s turn it currently is.
The object of the game is to slap, or chop, your opponents hand to eliminate them from the circle. Once tagged the player is out of the game for the round. The real trick is that once a player eliminates another, they too much freeze in that position, allowing the next player an equal opportunity to attack them if they choose and so forth. The game continues until only one player is left in the circle and thus being the sole survivor. Each game passes much more quickly than you can imagine. Only fast reflexes and experience can help one improve, but the learning curve is an easy one, so its fairly simple to join in on the fun. Above all else the game is addicting as its not uncommon to play as many as ten rounds in rapid succession
So the next time there is a dull moment at a party or your group of friends needs to kill some time, Ninja Destruction is the perfect simple game to fill that gap.
If you're still confused there is a video below with some raw footage of a few rounds in their entirety. Its pretty simple to pick up.
I was first introduced to the game of Ninja Destruction sometime in the early summer of 2009. I was at a social gathering where those in attendance started to get a little anxious while they struggled to find something to do when the traditional outdoor games failed to entertain. All at once someone suggested the game Ninja Destruction and caused a widespread excitement amongst all those in attendance. I only watched but it soon became clear to me that this was not a difficult game to play, but fun to master.
Depending on players skill level games can last anywhere from a minute to ten, but usually not any longer nor less. The game begins with all players forming a circle and facing one another. The head of that round is the one with the first turn of the game and players take turns around the circle in order until it returns to the original player, then repeating. During the game players may only make one of two actions during any one players turn. They may either attack, if it is their turn, or defend if it is not. Both actions are made by one swift motion of the body and then freezing in place. For example, making a chopping motion or taking a step backwards. Players may only move if they are attacking or being attacked and at no other time. The rest of the game is spent in frozen observation of the actions of whomever’s turn it currently is.
The object of the game is to slap, or chop, your opponents hand to eliminate them from the circle. Once tagged the player is out of the game for the round. The real trick is that once a player eliminates another, they too much freeze in that position, allowing the next player an equal opportunity to attack them if they choose and so forth. The game continues until only one player is left in the circle and thus being the sole survivor. Each game passes much more quickly than you can imagine. Only fast reflexes and experience can help one improve, but the learning curve is an easy one, so its fairly simple to join in on the fun. Above all else the game is addicting as its not uncommon to play as many as ten rounds in rapid succession
So the next time there is a dull moment at a party or your group of friends needs to kill some time, Ninja Destruction is the perfect simple game to fill that gap.
If you're still confused there is a video below with some raw footage of a few rounds in their entirety. Its pretty simple to pick up.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Library 3rd Floor: Social Awesome spot? or just some place..
The rumors are abound on the BYU Idaho campus of a crazy social hot spot located in the completely un-thoughtful place of the 3rd floor of the library. Is it true? Is it the best of the best? Nobody knows for sure, but I did go and check it out to see what I could dig up....
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Rexburg Integration
To anyone attending BYU Idaho, life is business as usual, but for someone not accustomed to the unique Rexburg lifestyle, it can be a confusing and strange place to be. Andy Thimmig, a transfer student from California, sat down to tell me just how confusing Rexburg can be.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Walking and Texting: Harringer of Doom?
The world is literally in the palm of our hands these days. Cell phones are practically mini computers that can do about anything on them. The problem is, while you're indulging in a cyber world of exploration while you walk around, the real world ventures on whether you're paying attention or not...
Monday, February 22, 2010
Ninja Destruction
If doing outdoor activities during the long Rexburg winter isn't you're thing, luckily for you there is a new craze sweeping the underground of fellow students around the Rexburg area. And that craze's name is: Ninja Destruction.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Interview of the one and only Matt Harris
Meet Matt Harris, super dude extraordinaire! You may think he's just some normal crazy guy that sits in the back of the classroom, but think again, he's full of experience, surprise, and adventure!
EDIT: something funky happend during the compression of this video. So where that awkword still frame is, imagine a super awesome title card that looks like this:
EDIT: something funky happend during the compression of this video. So where that awkword still frame is, imagine a super awesome title card that looks like this:
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