The Flow

Can you just go with the flow?

When there are things you want, things you'd like to accomplish how will you get them? Remember there are forces around you that you cannot control (ie: people and their actions). This flow is a stream that deviates many times and there is a point where you will have to ask yourself if you trust things enough to just go with them.

The Flow, when you go with it be knowledgeable and trust the steadiness and destination. 

Sex, Lies, No Videotape

This is funny.

I love when mistresses come out and plead "Confused as Hell." I think this is a good example of playing stupid and dumbing things down to a level of a 2nd grader.

Thank you USATODAY, sorry TIGER WOODS

Thursday Peace

Just turned on Fox News:

(Imagine this in a completely annoying voice) "Now how about the Democrats actually wanting Bush back in office! Look at Barack Obama's numbers, everyone is opposed to health care! The Democrats are out of their minds."

Switched to MSNBC:

(Imagine this in a completely annoying voice) "Barack Obama is great, his speech was great he speaks for the majority! These republican's can't seem to understand what life is like without war!"

Eh. Really? So we are all aware of the fact that one station leans to the right, the other to the left. I hear CNN is right down the middle with their reporting but, come on.

I feel as though we all know both sides are exaggerating claims. Maybe the biggest issue is that human's lack acceptance, and the process of moving forward. We can't grasp what is happening so we just yell and fight it.

Look around, accept what you can't change...and if you can change it, do it.

Aliens...What's the Deal!

In the past few days this is what has happened: Obama received his Nobel Peace Prize, we have a new Health Care proposal that most likely will go nowhere, more troops are being deployed, Tiger Woods blah blah blah... OH and yesterday the Spiraling ring that was lingering in the Norway skies.

Yes you read that correctly, the spiraling ring in the Norway sky which is being dubbed the "Norway Spiral."

So let me clear about something, I love Sci Fi. Many people love Sci Fi and the question I ask is why do we love it so much? Is it because it expands our imagination? A look into the unknown? What makes us so intrigued with the concept of Alien's and mystery?

There are many arguments to why the simple mystery and possible mythology of Alien's intrigue us, but I can't get into that right now. What I want to know is Why don't we spend more time covering mystery (like the Norwegian Spiral) on the news. We are so consumed with our pop culture we are missing out on some random light event.

I wish I turned on the news and instead of seeing the same old story about this week's Biggest Loser I'd like to see something on anomalies in the sky. News stories could even be incorporated on Facebook or Twitter or any other social network to get people talking about this stuff. We have things happening above us on our planet.... WAIT. I'm about to go on a Sci Fi rant right now, I just caught myself.

Just check out the video:  Sci Fi Style

Black Friday... Adventure

It's only 7:30pm and I am officially saying Black Friday is over. For those unfamiliar with today, it is the shopping day that the stores drop the prices. Some stores open as early as 4am and let the deals rip right in time for Christmas. It's called "Black" Friday because it is the day the proverbial arrow leaves the red and heads North to the Black. I guess the arrow is not completely proverbial, it was and maybe still is an actual arrow used at staff meetings.

Having said that...

I walked to Target today. I'm not a fan of shopping by the way, at all. The reason I went to Target is because my girlfriend and I live close, we got out of the house and took a walk. We went to the "West Hollywood" Target located on Santa Monica Blvd. While walking I reminded myself I am person whose claustrophobic around too many people. It's similar to being in a elevator that just decided to stop out of the blue which has 43 people trapped inside. Heading into Target I prepped myself and dove in headfirst.

We walked in... Dirty....Coughing People...Kids.... Strollers...Mindless Individuals....People just "roaming" with no purpose. Misery. At one point I felt as if I was going run out of the store, but I didn't. I focused, I focused hard and I willingly became engulfed from the sea of bodies.

Walking around was a miserable experience, I just kept thinking that the majority of the people didn't know what they were doing. As soon as my girlfriend turned her head I walked away and had to find solitude in the halls of Target.

My main thought: How can I turn this into a positive? Maybe I can't turn this shopping into a positive but how could I make the store better?

Then it hit me! Greeters at the door. I thought a Greeter at the door would have made me enter a little more delighted, they needed to loosen the mood. Then I ran to my girlfriend to explain the thought of Greeters. From there on the Greeter is optional, if you want the help you can get greeter help around the entire store and answer all questions. However if you don't want the help a universal sign of "no thanks" should be accessible. I think this alone would make someone appreciate the store, and maybe make it a little lighter.

THEN:

The man or woman who is checking out should be required to make conversation and jokes with the individuals checking out. It's called CAJ (Conversation and Jokes). No matter what, make observations and jokes. Even if the customer is angry, permission to joke with the customer is available. This would always keep the store LIGHT and EASY and EASYGOING.

Shopping must be a easygoing experience. Black Friday has a rough connotation, it's hell in Major Stores.

BUT, maybe people are inspired by the Black Friday challenge, Personally I'm not, I need light shopping.

Moral of Black Friday... I want to own a superstore to test these things.

In with fear Out with fear.

Remember Y2K? Let me refresh your memory. It was described as event horizon. It was billed as a time when all machines weren't going to be able to rollover to the year 2000 from 1999, it was called a computer crisis. Absolute shock and horror was buzzing in the United States, and what happened...Ah... The computers easily rotated to the year 2000.

Now it's 2009, we have roughly 30 days left until 2010. I'm not too sure if you've read the news but fear is floating in the air. Fear of another economic collapse, fear that the government will "change" health care and fear that our president will continue to fight a un-winable war.

Although these are actual things and yes of course they are things to be concerned with because it directly affects us. Or does it directly affect us? Isn't there something else to think of? Does anyone else get the feeling that our TV's, magazines, and most importantly our minds get flooded with the problems that surround us.

Why is this? Why does fear push us the way it does. And in America who is creating this fear? Are we comfortable with problems? When things start moving in a direction of comfort do the powers that be step in and shake things up. I think so. I don't think we can live as a society with out complaint about something.

As we depart a decade that began with a fictitious computer bug lets not take a second and admire the positives that may actually be happening. Take a moment and ask why we are presented the platter of fear to dictate our day.

Happy Turkey Day!

The Internet removing the moviestar.

What happened to our movie stars? Do we still have them? Why is this really even important? What we're witnessing now in the ever accessible time that we live in is diminishing allure of the entertainment industry. The allure is being brought down but also restructured because of the internet.

"Brought down" may not be the perfect word usage but what I mean is the over saturation of our "movie stars." The people who were draws for the entertainment business have now because run of the mills everyday entertainment figures. When I say the allure is being brought down it is because at one time the ever elusive actor is nothing more than a regular.

Let's take Youtube for instance, it was the game changer. It's in the top 5 of most viewed sites on the internet (In the mix with Google, Yahoo, msn, Facebook). On youtube we have a selection of anything we want to watch. You can watch a cat falling asleep on a snake, you can watch your next door neighbor singing his favorite cover song, and you can watch Jessica Alba desperately promoting her husband's website. What youtube did is bring down the level of who we hold "special." In our minds the people who were on the silver screen were somebody different than us and they did something we didn't do. Now, not so much, now I could be posting a video and on the same site a movie star is doing the same thing.

The internet has killed the "movie star" but it has promoted so many other "stars." It has created a world of people that we never knew about, and these people are damn talented...Uh oh, so if their are talented people on the internet, and the internet is filled with people like me....! I'm talented, that's what this all means it means I am a star, I'm no different than any of these people I see...Or so we subconsciously think. Is this a good thing or bad thing? Both, it just depends how you look at it. I'm currently looking at it from the movie star stand point. So first off who are the CURRENT Movie Stars? Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Maybe George Clooney or Damon or Jack Nicholson. What do people in this category have in common? Well you don't typically see them showing up in mindless internet commercials. Maybe someone will show up in a funnyordie ad but nothing too serious.

So what does this tell me? Over Saturation can dumb down a "star" in Hollywood. Will we ever see people who aren't in the lime lite twenty four hours a day. The internet is rapid and it's growing, I wonder if anyone will be able to keep off it. It's a catch because it is a a amazing resource to promote your work and reach a mass appeal, I mean I am currently using it.

In a matter of years what we know now as a Hollywood Movie Star will be gone. Since the internet is ever growing we'll have no choice but to utilize it. The next generation is already here and it works in the social networking galaxy. The "movie star" you are fading, soon you will be gone. It's unfortunate.

We're so accustomed to living through individuals as a society that instead of living through a select few we'll live through more and more, because we'll all be the same. We'll all be the stars in our own regard. How is this important? Maybe the boxoffice will be affected by it, maybe not. Or maybe the internet will fade...but we know that's not happening. Keep a open mind about who is a movie star, maybe they'll fade. The world of gossip, youtube, twitter, and facebook will evolve into something else, new exploits await and the stars will find it.

Some kind of problem... US WEEKLY

When I ordered a US WEEKLY subscription for my girlfriend I knew that I would be saving money. What I didn’t know is that it was going to be a week late consistently when receiving the weekly magazine. Let me be clear and say I feel having this subscription is somewhat laughable. The reality is, the magazine is a gossip nonsense publication that displays pictures of celebrities filling up gas. However, it was a good gift to my girlfriend who likes to read it. Every week when I walk in the grocery store I see an updated US WEEKLY, I look in my mailbox… nothing…. a day goes by… nothing… another day… another… then HEY THERE IT IS, a few days later in the mailbox! Don’t worry though because my girlfriend has already seen it in the past four days. US WEEKLY how are you so consistently late!? Someone should have told me this little stipulation before ordering. I understand I’m saving money but I’d rather spend a little extra if it will ensure a timely delivery. Oh, and there is no number to get in contact with, just e-mail, so who can I complain to? I must complain. I take that back, I don’t need to complain I just need answers. I need an explanation. I want my girlfriend to be on top of all celebrity gossip. What the hell am I talking about? But seriously, I want it on time. I need a solution.

Yahoo.. How dare you!

Retro this and retro that. Yes we're in a time of retro and retro is fashionable. The 80's have made a comeback. If I wanted to get a new (old) pair of Jordans, uh, excuse me AIR Jordans I could if I wanted, and I have. Go into any shoe store and check out the “old school” because it’s back and trendier than ever.

Places like American Apparel and Urban Outfitters accentuate the fact and open the availability of fashion from past generations. In clothing this is fine and all, but never did I think I’d see the day that Advertisements took a step backwards. I’m not talking about let’s poke fun at ourselves advertisements, I’m talking real life try to appeal to people advertisements.

When I say take a step back I mean it is difficult to make certain styles appealing again. I have yet too see a certain style make it’s return, that style is the style of the 90’s. Yes you know the style. It was a colorful time, a time Spud McKenzie and Saved by the Bell. Think about those old 90’s ads with kids and the high tops wearing bright buttoned up shirts.

NOW-

Who did this… YAHOO! Yahoo, how dare you? Their new and current ads look like something out of 1992 when I watched Saturday morning cartoons.

If you answer yes to 3 or more of these then it is from

the 90’s. Big Sunglasses, Bright Colors, Bubbles, Big Dogs, Bad Font.

You know what… just take a look for yourself. OH, and also their new slogan is about making the Internet YOURS. Just look… (these are actually from 2009).

Does anyone else see this!? I feel like I'm taking Crazy

Pills and the doctor is Yahoo. A shiny guy with high tops skateboarding with his shirt off... really? Who does Yahoo think they are? Who ever gave the OKAY with these ads should look around at life.

Just because...

INVICTUS

Invictus. Sure it is now the title of a movie and also holds some recognition because Timothy McVeigh murmured it as his last words. However... this is great. British Poet William Ernest Henley's poem Invictus was first published in 1875. This was written over 100 years ago and it could stand as though it were written yesterday. Once again, proof that the times changes but the mentality stays the same. Invictus is Latin for unconquered. OUT of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

Stay At home Dad without kids.

Today I helped my girlfriend down to her car, I carried her heavy purple bag filled with God knows what, took it down the elevator through our apartment complex, and then I loaded the trunk. I told her to have a good day and to drive safe. I walked down wearing mesh sports shorts and a T-shirt, she on the other hand was dressed business casual.

Yesterday I did laundry during the day, and it wasn’t the weekend. In fact, it was Thursday. My girlfriend and I met at the door I was carrying a large laundry basket she was carrying bags to work. I gave her a kiss and told her to have a good day. I walked East to the laundry room and she headed west to take the elevator to the car.

I was doing many loads, our laundry has been building for some time, and as a matter of fact I occupied 3 washers and 3 dryers. When the cycles were finished a realization set over me—I am some sort of stay at home dad without the children. Today my feelings were amplified even more after I loaded the trunk of her car.

With all of that in mind I must note that I do in fact work however my job doesn’t start until late in the afternoon, it leaves me with a lot of time to myself at home, which I love. I get to take care of things that I actually like to do (so I tell myself) but still I get intruded with the 50’s stay at home mom feeling.

I took a step back at all of the remedial things I have done while at home… dishes… dusted… cleaned… fluffed a pillow… Oh my God what has happened to me? Somehow I have flipped my duties as man. I’m supposed to be bringing home food and working hard till my fingers bleed…Right? I can’t live like this, but I am. I wonder how long this will last, and how in the hell have I become programmed to do these things? I like to tell myself that I’m a neat freak and I must do it but I don’t know if that’s the case.

So here I’m wondering about all of this and it is more clear than ever the change in times. I bet many years ago I would not be doing this, I think men back in the day would have rather been single than to feel like this. Maybe, that is still true and I feel differently. Who knows?

I did decide too look at some stats of how many men are staying home and the woman is going out to work, I’m talking about Men who take care of children without a job, they are essentially Mr. Mom. The number has gone up by about 30% in the last 30 years or so…

Let me be clear when I say I do not have kids, not now or anytime soon, I have a job, and I don’t like to look at myself as Mr. Mom. However, I definitely feel like her sometimes.

I brought this up to my girlfriend…. All of my stay at home issues. In a matter of moments it was pointed out to me that I am being insecure with myself.

Wow, well she’s right… And that was simple.

Insecure or not, I don’t like doing laundry during the day and I look forward to the moment my lady stays home and complains of this.

Scooter Rules

There are many things I know and few things I am certain of, one of my certainties is one specific thing. If you ride a scooter or motorcycle: You can't hold grudges. Grudges on the road that is. I am certain the car will win most of the time. The car can go over any terrain and if you start attacking a car mid drive who knows what could happen.

The "Like" Test

I just went to the grocery store and was standing next to a loud conversationalist, she was on the cell phone and of course talking about herself. I hoped I didn't sound like her when I'm on the cell but something tells me I do. Regardless, she kept saying "Like" and it got me thinking. A man that I hold in a high regard once challenged myself and a handful of other people. He challenged us not to use the word "Like" It seems simple enough...no. In our highly self involved world we use the word Like for a handful of common conversation. I was like... Then he was like... I was like....then they were like.... Well, he's kind of like.... It's like... It's possible to get around using this word, I have become very aware of the use of the word yet I still manage to use it. It's the Like Challenge, I don't know the benefits of cutting this word out - however, if you do manage to chop this word down in your daily use at least you'll sound smarter.

Tarentino

This was originally post at theblogford.blogspot.com I find it to be extremely cool, considering I love the last movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz4K-Rxx2Bk

Airplane follow up

On my most recent flight I found myself reading a Michael Crichton book that ottford (from theblogford.blogspot.com) lent to me. He told me I had to read it, this book is "TRAVELS" which by the way is amazing. Well, I found myself in the upright position for the majority of my flight, engulfed in this book. Soon I realized "Hey I can recline!" Then I realized that I may not want to recline. Who says reclining is so much better, and why did I all of a sudden think it was better when I realized it existed. I found that the reclining chair in the airplane is another example of not really knowing what you don't know but when you do know you always wonder when you don't have it. And that is a crux of life.

Air-pains

Row 14 B, middle seat. The speaker is loud and clear, the stewardess goes through that same old talk about if the plane is going down. Then, she talks about the bathrooms. She mentioned that on my Northwest Airline flight we have a total of 3 bathrooms, 2 in back and 1 in the front. We're then instructed not to use the front bathroom because they don't want us disturbing the first class passengers, all 8 of them. Shortly after the do not disturb notice a half size cloth is placed to section off the 80 people in "coach" from the first class. Interesting I thought... After all this time of segregation and talk of being on the same playing field shouldn't airplanes be more aware of their divide? Can't we change up this terminology a bit? What is this the Titanic? Are we now the bottom dwellers? Us, non first classers, it's first class and then there is everyone else. We're still living in a class system in so many ways, how come they don't change this? We have so much trouble in airports and flying yet we decide to lay a cloth on a puddle for those in first class. Even the demeanor of flight attendants change when the elusive first class is around. You know when you go to the zoo and you see a caged bird from a distance and you know, no harm can be done so you talk to it...some kid throws food at it... people laugh and take pictures. THEN... you head to the Lions and people stare in awe, they marvel when a Lion licks it's paws as if it's some cute rarity. Well, the first class is the lion and our society allows the groveling. What a concept.... treat someone you don't know better because of the money they may or may not have. And unfortunately this runs through all of society...I too am at fault for it. Moving on: AIRPLANE SUGGESTION TIME! I think their should be cubby holes for the designated seats so there isn't so much fussing about whose bags go where. I personally think it would eliminate much stress in the flying world. FLYING, what a concept.

The Twain of Mark

I love reading quotes, I love to read what somebody went out of their way to write. Some profound comment that the person themselves may have written or someone caught wind of it. And in this case Mark Twain the master of the American Novel did not disappoint. "A classic is something that everybody wants to have and nobody wants to read." "Actions speak louder than words, but not nearly as often." These quotes were said in the year 1900 hundred. What does this mean? It is a constant reminder to me that the psyche of man has not changed over time but rather our surroundings. We continue to evolve but still think the same way in many basic levels. Will this ever change? When it comes down to it we are still primal, we are still emotions we are still the insecure group that dissects things to nausea. Now the question is, with our ever changing evolution and us becoming closer to the machine world taking over will we still feel the insecurities? Will things still matter to us? Either way, Mark Twain was ahead of his game, I mean, look at his picture... That's a man ahead of his time.

Mom Talk.

My mom just told me that I needed to get my teeth cleaned. “Mom, I don’t need my teeth cleaned, I’m fine.” “Honey, you probably haven’t had your teeth cleaned in 100 years.” Well it has been about 5 years, which is a pretty long time in teeth years, but still I feel pretty content with the place my teeth are in. Then I dropped the financial issue. The issue being, 1) I don’t have money, and 2) I think it’s wrong for my mom to spend money on my teeth when in all seriousness I would feel better just taking the money. Sure it may be selfish but it’s true. And she replied with a typical mom response: “You can die from not cleaning your teeth, there was a girl who had a decayed tooth and it went to the cavity of her heart, she now has heart problems.” The funny thing is I don’t doubt that my mom actually heard this or maybe it is true in the Physician world. However, in my world it sounds absurd yet I wouldn’t expect anything less from the mom.

Monday: Religion Edition

The random thought came when I started to think of beliefs and how many of us carry some form of belief. More times than not that form of belief translates into a religion and that belief turns into believing in GOD. Whether your GOD is tree outside, Jesus, Buddha, your mom... whatever, faith is at the end of the religion and faith a lot of times is believing. So I got to wonder and I look around at depressed people or angry men and women who are not happy in their day to day. For argument sake lets say the not so happy day to day-ers are Catholic. Jesus is their savor and without question there is a GOD. Then I ask you why are you not happy? Why don't people actually believe their beliefs. If you have a strong belief than go with it and do not carry doubt, because you are living a greater plan. See where I am going with this? And also let me say I am just as much at fault as anyone, I need to remind myself that in my mind there is something greater. Who knows, maybe it's for comfort, maybe it's for fear... Maybe I'm wrong. I may never know, but I am sure I will some day. However if I can offer some form of personal advice, it's that stressing about things that cannot be controlled is to obvious it is impossible not too.

The Random cool link

This is really cool

Tuesday: Brett Favre

TRAITOR

Brett Favre the damage has been done. I cannot stand you! I never thought this day would come but the fact of the matter is: you have turned your back on so many of us. The fact that you would even consider going to the Minnesota Vikings after your career is absurd. Don't you realize that the people in Wisconsin love sports more than they love their parents? Don't you understand what loyalty is? Don't you understand that you are a past your prime? From the great movie Pineapple Express "You sewed your own poison man" You asked for all of this and what will you get in return? A tarnished legacy.

Monday: The good, the bad, and the complacent

I heard a comment today from someone who works in pharmaceutical sales, she said to me: "Working with so many drugs makes me feel like I had a problem sometimes." This specific someone lives in Colorado and worked in a bikeshop for many years, after that comment she said: "When I worked in bikes I was surrounded by people who were quirky as hell, now it's people who talk about pointless s**t." Those comments made me think, and eventually I came to a conclusion that as we get older we become more robotic and in our flow around us. As we are younger in certain jobs people live much more free, as we take on more common life tasks while getting older the majority of us become something that we may not want. We become a product of whatever we are in, it's our surroundings and it's inevitable. Earlier today I realized how I work in a system of complacence and sadly I am apart of it as well. The reason? I need to survive, and I like my job. It's unfortunate that we must mold into certain things that initially we are not. My justification and my flip side is that it is truly just a job, what I do is not a profession for me. However, like I just said... It's just my justification I can't see the future I just know what I want. For all I know I could be back in Wisconsin tomorrow working as a garbage man....But seriously that will never happen. However what comes with this common day that us human's walk, is the outlet of art and entertainment. Maybe complacence is a good thing? Maybe it allows others to relate to others and it is the fuel that runs everyone's inner artist. Regardless, the more one thinks about this the more the brain goes in circles. I will leave this specific thought to be worked out over time. But, How many of us are complacent? Are we really? And if so...Why? SIDE NOTE: The other day I went to the local grocery store where I sat down to do some people watching. A homeless lady with a US WEEKLY approached and asked to sit and talk, of course she can sit with me, so she does. She proceeded to talk to me about Ricky Martin and how he once was gay but is not anymore. From there she went on to say that she knew first hand that Ricky Martin had kids which "meant he couldn't be gay." I asked why that meant he couldn't be gay, and she believed with all of her heart that a gay man couldn't have children. I asked her, well how then did he have the kids. She responded to tell me that she knew first had he had "straight" blood pumped into his penis, which allowed him to be straight and procreate. I love people.

Random Expectation Thought of the Day.

Generally if you carry expectations on someone or something, you will be wrong 87.2 % of the time. The more you expect, the less you gain.

Life and Stories

Act 1: You get to know the protagonist and their qualities. Who they are, where they are from, what they do, and most importantly what they think they are going for. Act 2: The second act brings us into a B story which is most commonly a love interest. This is where things in a story start taking off and fun ensues. Otherwise this could be summed up as your twenties. The time in your life when you are going through your experiences and relationships to let you know what you want in your future. And around age thirty (sometimes) you find the (b story) thing you want. Your job takes you to new places and your life shows you around. The second act can at times be pretty long and it sometimes will have compartment acts along the way. Meaning other happenings and new smaller things. However this takes us into the midpoint of the movie and also into the midpoint crisis of life which is around 55 minutes into a movie. THE DREADED MIDLIFE CRISIS: Whats it going to be? What's happening right now? And with this Midlife Midpoint we enter into Act 3: The wrap up, the conclusion the answers to so many questions. Just when you start to figure it out things start coming to a end for you. Your journey and your life lesson is about to take form and hit it's stride. Death occurs, love ones move on, and what you were living for and those questions you walked with start to unravel and sort themselves out. The sorting out can be long and overdue but it's there. And just when all seems to be okay and all seems to be making sense.... We have our final image of the life and story and another blip in time has passed. And with that sometimes stories end a little early and inevitably leave us unsatisfied.

Hello Alcohol, I'm Josh.

Alcohol is poison. I’m done with it. Those words have been thought or spoken by man for many years and something tells me they are not going away. It gets me thinking about why, why do we do it? Why do we pump ourselves with a liquid that is absorbed into our body and makes us feel bad? Why do casually accept hangovers and sometimes gloat about how bad we feel? It is like an excuse to eat greasy food and lay in bed for a day. Hey man do you want to drink this? Oh yeah… “You’re going to wake up with a headache that doesn’t allow you to move, then you may throw up, you will feel like garbage, you have basically lost a day, oh and you are going to say some things you will either regret or forget. “ If you are a girl you can throw in being bloated too, if you care about such things. So this brings me to the why… Why do we do such things? OH WAIT. DUH- Alcohol is a miracle fluid, it allows you to say what you really feel, talk to whomever you want, let loose, and for a few hours actually feel more important than you did earlier. How in gods name do we contain the happenings of alcohol to put it in anything I have. It’s such a funny thing this whole alcohol craze, and it is not even close to ever thinking about going away. We need this, we have been conditioned to love alcohol. It’s kind of scary if you think about it, how people have the liquid courage to do whatever but not the sober courage. And what does all this mean what is this rambling? It’s nothing it’s nonsense and it’s preaching to the choir, so what am I writing this? Why does it seem like not one of these sentences makes any sense? Why I have had a little red line pop up under some of the most common words because I initially misspelled it? Cause I’m hungover and never want to drink again. See you soon old friend.

Wisconsin: Xmas 08 style

Wisconsin

I'm sitting in Wisconsin at this moment in time there is a winter wonderland outside, oh it's Christmas by the way. Merry Christmas. I'm originally from a place called "GREENDALE" now I live in LA. There is much to love about the midwest, but I think like wine it is an acquired taste. People are great, very friendly, they carry old school traditions, and most offer the helping hand. The negative side of Wisconsin: The massive amounts of drinking, the immediate fighting nature at bars, the segregation (believe it or not) and the narrow mindedness (of some). I have some of my greatest here so I'm not knocking things, but damn people can be extremely rude. How are some so helpful yet others are not? Is this how every place is? A friend once made a comment to me about Ohio and said "Oh there's good people everywhere" I truly believe that. And in Wisconsin's case, there are plenty of good people. My ramble and the point I am getting to here is I think the Mid(ish) area of Wisconsin is on the brink of either going one way or another, it is 2008(9) and people are not accepting various ways in life, life changes and I think now more than ever it is clear. Or maybe I am just 25 and nieve to the situation, one day I am going to be bitter and I am going to hate the change that is around me, I'll just keep it old school. Ahhh, I'm a walking contradiction. ANYWAY.... What is better than movies? I am willing to have the debate that movies are the coolest thing around town. Any town that is. There are a few things that could pop up and I could see them being a valid argument. Sex, Sports.... well that's pretty much it. And here is the difference, Sports are amazing but not always guaranteed to be there, also you many times need another person to play sports with. Sex you definitely need another person to play with. Sex is great, but it's not the variation of movies. If you can tell me you can have sex with more people in a day than movies you can see....maybe. I love movies, that have the ability to be watched at anytime, they have people that common day society admires, you make your own judgments, opinions, generate feelings, imitate life, and contribute to ideas. For me personally they are the perfect escape. And since it is my personal escape... come on now.

Common Law, Man's first 7

Common law among straight men: 1) You're out at a bar one drink leads to two, two leads to four, four leads to eight. You're drunk, walking around bumping into random people. Well you bump into the wrong guy. You bump into the guy who gets infuriated, he's upset you even brushed his shoulder. Fight time "What up bitch" "What up" And so it begins somehow your liquid courage has you jabbering back and forth like a NBA game. You two want to murder each other, you are one step from killing this guy. He has talked about your family, friends, and how badly he is going to kick your ass. BOOM A woman walks by. A really hot woman, a woman that makes you turn your head. And then it happens, the guy you want to kill murmurs some disgusting sexual term towards the girl. "Man I wanna .......... That girl" Before you know it you are shaking hands and slapping high fives with this guy you wanted to kill. All cause your distraction was turned and you two related on the most primal level. All of the fluff is gone and soon you guys are drinking together. Common Law 1- The Law of relating to trashy girls. And also a reason for women to dress like skanks. 2) Don't actually talk about sleeping with your friends mom. A few jokes here and there but you can't keep going with it. 3) Just like 2... Don't sleep with friends mom's. 4) You can't rat out some random guy if he is up to no good with a woman. If you see some guy with a girl and you know you've seen with with another girl at some point. All of a sudden you're jealous cause you want the girl so you blurt out some comment spoiling this guys night and you end up not getting the girl... Most of the time. 5) Can't steal friends jokes in front of them. Just not cool. 6) Can't comment on the small penis size of a guy in front of a girl... Again, not cool. 7) Can't out your friends about lack of money. .....

In wine there is truth, and adventure

Yesterday my chest was hurting for no reason what so ever. So I decided that I need some red wine cause they say all purple things are good for your heart. So I walked down to this place called GreenBlatts Deli. Walked in and said "I just want a glass of wine" they were kind of nice to inform me that of course I could have some wine, I just needed to sit down. So I sit. I gander over the menu for a few minutes until the lovely Emily came up and asked what I wanted... Me: I was kind of thinking of getting a glass of wine, but I notice that the prices for the bottle aren't too different. Waitress: Yeah they are not too far off, but I know that wine is good (points it out on the Menu) I mean hey, it's a adventure. And boom there it was, they key word... Adventure. This waitress had seemingly and unknowingly just tempted and pretty much pushed my buttons. If this were the wild west I would have considered this a complete challenge and I'd be going toe to toe with a gunslinger... So we resume... Me: Oh I didn't want a whole bottle though. Waitress: It's okay you can take it home with you, we will cork it up and send you on your way. Interesting I thought, cool little establishment they had going. So there I was, sitting solo style at GreenBlatts having a glass of wine. I observed the many people around me and started to make some life decisions and conclusions. I dropped in on many conversations to see what people were talking about, watched two girls get drunk and spin there wine like it was being sucked in a vacuum, and I proceeded to drink 75 percent of the bottle. So I haven't had red wine in a moment, and sitting alone I didn't feel too tipsy. At one point in my deep thought of my wine drinking my waitress asked me if I was okay, cause apparently when I think I get this possessed look of disturbance written on my face. I was fine. On several occasions I was passed and shot the looking eye by a few gay men. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I am however straight yet I think I am mistaken for gay more times than not. I made the adult decision and I said- "I'm going to leave" I asked my waitress for the bill, she left to get it. Now lets pause for a second... Remember my contemplation of a glass or a bottle and it was my waitress who told me to go bottle. She told me I could just "Take it Home with me" Well as I was waiting I corked the bottle myself, sat with my cash in hand and waited. She came back with the check and a brown bag for the bottle of wine. I look at the check and see something funny, something unexpected... a weird fee. 10.95- for the bottle 5.95- corkage fee Corkage fee? What the hell? Why am I paying half the price of my bottle of wine to put the hat back on the bottle? What the f? I looked over my bill and the extra fee and a few thoughts and conclusions came to me... 1) was this woman supposed to tell me about the fee. I guess if she mentioned the corkage fee in the beginning I would have either a) acted like it wasn't a big deal and payed it anyway to avoid me looking awkward or b) drank the entire bottle to avoid it 2) this woman who was seemingly very nice and who was obviously busy wasn't nice like I thought- she was nice for the money, she was in it for a extra 6 dollars. 3) Should I say something? 4) Should I uncork and have her do it herself to prove my point. 5) And here is the part that got me. She misled my adventure. My adventure was not supposed to go like this... My adventure wasn't supposed to have a extra 6 dollars attached to it. So I did what I feel anyone would do. I avoided the confrontation (this time) I took out my 20 and payed the 17.81 bill. Took my bottle and walked out very fast, and very upset. I walked past the gay men, the two girls I observed, and the new couple who were waiting for a seat for ten minutes. All of them could see my anger, or was it just that I was now drunk? Red Wine drunk... the worst of all of them. I ended up walking home, I called my mom like a kid and complained. She listened as mom's do, but she lives 2,000 miles away, and I am 25 years old. She can't do anything. I walked, pondering the intention of the girl and how to handle the situation... And all I can conclude that many internal questions I thought were answered were just delayed with the spiderweb of questions spread from just one singular question. Somehow life became a little more confusing yet clearer at the same time. Greenbaltts and wine did it... somehow, some way. It's the fable of the Red Wine Adventure. Josh

NBA SEASON, election, talking to Dogs

THE ELECTION: We have witnessed history no more president Bush in office. It doesn't matter who you are or what you believe the undeniable truth is that if you stayed up and watched- You saw histroy. And if you didn't stay up, you are around for it. I hate when people will talk to me about political beliefs so I leave it at this... But I am pretty happy.

First of all... Allen Iverson was traded to the Detroit Pistons for basically Big Shot Chauncy Billups. Pretty crazy, it is disappointing to see some of the greatest players of all time to be traded or released and end up on a different team. Iverson is one of those guys, honestly I wish he finished in Philly but for some reason I could see him Detroit. It's like Shaq, he is so washed up at this point and he is on the Phoenix Suns...??! And just cause I have to throw this in there... Brett Favre, do you understand how difficult it is to see Brett Favre in a jersey that does not say I'M BRETT FAVRE FOR THE GREENBAY PACKERS. It's horrible. I guess this is just the world of sports as we know it.

TALKING TO DOGS: I hate when people talk to dogs as if they know their inner thoughts. Do people really know what dogs are thinking when they are sitting down? I have fallen victim to this as well, I'm not gonna lie. But I catch myself and settle it down real quick.

But seriously, why assume a animals thoughts?