NYE .

Friends, readers, family, whether I know you personally or not, whether we've chatted, corresponded via mail, or simply commented on each others' posts, I wish you the absolute best New Years you can have. Start the year off on a good note, be joyful and may you be in good company find you to bring it in with you. May success and happiness come your way in the New Year, and while you may not get everything you want in 2013, I sincerely hope that you receive everything that you need.

Happy New Year! Goodbye 2012, welcome 2013.

Bose QC-15 Headphones .

Today I just want to talk a little bit about the Bose QC-15 around-ear noise-canceling headphones. I'm not normally one for product reviews, but I just got these for Christmas (I've been asking for them forever and a day, because they have always been way out of my poor college-kid budget) and they are truly incredible. Please note: As much as I wish Bose was paying me to endorse their product, I'm not getting anything out of gushing over their headphones. (haha)

Meshing Lives .

For those couples who are often future-looking and have a tendency to think about what things might be like in five, ten and fifteen years, it's often hard to think about how you will make all of both of your dreams come true. When you sit down as a single person, you have tons of personal dreams and goals, and naturally you want the ability to meet all of them. But when someone who eventually means a lot to you enters your life, things change and you truly have to take into account another set of dreams and goals. Somehow, the goal is to make all of these things come to fruition and still end up as happy campers on both ends. My question to the world and those who have conquered that, how did you do it?

Hallmark Hogwash .

One of my favorite movies is 500 Days of Summer and I love the parts where Tom talks about how stupid writing cards is. The best thing you can take away from those scenes is when he says that cards are there so that we don't have to express ourselves. They can put words into our mouths, conveying to people a feeling that may not be there. Now, I can't say that this is entirely true, because I have found some truly amazing cards and I've underlined those sections that really hit me and ring true with my being. But I think that a lot of people, while looking for cards for people, get something they think just sounds nice, that says something along the lines of what they are "supposed" to say.

Unexpected Happiness .

It's late and I don't want to write too much here because I'm trying my best to get back onto a good schedule... But I just wanted to take a moment to say that it's often the little unexpected things that give the most joy. Whether it's calling someone up and inviting them over on a moment's notice or sending some snail mail you didn't tell the recipient about, the happiness it brings them well outweighs anything you could have planned. And it's pretty cool, because you can really see it in a person, how they smile bigger, hug tighter, they just really appreciate it. Always seems to boil down to those little things... but they're always worth it. And seeing other people happy, makes me happy too.

Generosity .

It's no secret that some people in more life are just more blessed. Whether it's through luck, perseverance, inheritance, or hard work, there will always be someone better off than you. On the other end of the spectrum there will always be someone worse off too. It's important to remember both: Aspire to reach towards those who are better off, and remember and be thankful for those that are worse off. The cliché saying "could be worse" could apply.

Merry Christmas .

Christmas went swimmingly. Gave some cool stuff, got some cool stuff, drank some 'nog, drank some Bailey's, ate desserts and had a wonderful dinner. Had the girlfriend over, enjoyed the tree, relaxed all day and watched movies. Here's to hoping all of your days went great as well! Happy Christmas!

The Eve of Christmas .

It's the night before Christmas (though as I write this it's actually, technically Christmas, but that's okay) and some traditions that go on in this household will never change. I figured it might be nice to share a little bit with you all of what we do here in this little ranch in New Jersey. Mom woke up early and made us a special breakfast (french toast, as per the norm) and made sure that we all had a nice start to their morning.

Introduction .

When you first start dating someone whose company you truly enjoy and with whom you really enjoy spending time with, one of the largest worries is often what your parents will think. At the base level, will they approve? Will they support you in your decisions? Will they open your hearts as wide and as often as you have to this person? Will they welcome them into your family and your home as another soul to enjoy and spend time with? Will they see them in the same light that you do, in all their wonder, sparkling against the night sky? Or will they be cold, unaccepting and distant?

What It's All About .

In this day and age, with so many hateful and hurtful and painful things in life, the holiday season is a great way to bring some joy into your life. A smile, happiness, love, joy. It's not often that word joy is used. The first thing that comes to mind for me upon hearing it? The song "Joy to the World" -- often sung at the Christmas Eve mass that we go to each year. But that's what it's really all about right? As the song goes: "Joy the world, the Lord is come".

The Unexpected .

Today in the post I received a parcel from a dear friend of mine, Angie, author of The Best Part of My Day. Though we've never met, over the two years or so I've been writing this blog Angie has become a dear friend of mine and I really enjoy the time she takes out of her life to just be a friend. It really is a testament to the fact that we don't just read the stories from each others' lives here on Blogspot, but we become involved in it, a part of it. Angie and I have exchanged snail mail before and to receive a gift and a Christmas card from her this year was truly awesome.

I've decided to the save the gift for Christmas Day, as I feel that's most appropriate.. but Angie, know that my appreciation runs deep, and I can't wait for the day when I get a tour of Toronto from my favourite (note the spelling!) local!

May your holiday season progress wonderfully and create some amazing memories. This one goes out to you!

The Comforts of Home .

Well, the semester is over, the exams all taken, and I did quite well for the semester; we already got all our grades back. I'm happy, and though the drive home took us longer than anticipated (we wanted to take some time on the drive up to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway) we made it all the way in one day. We, meaning my brother and I, because he is now in college, going to Virginia Tech, and thus the exit off of I-81 for his school is literally on my way home. It's not a short drive, 750 miles if you take all highways. Since we meandered around a bit, probably was more like 8 or 900.

I'm Back !

Hey everyone, I'd like to welcome you back to "Simply, Life." I was forced to take a hiatus because, well, life, is 'simply, life' (ha ha) and sometimes you just have too much on your plate to handle. I've been gone over the past month or two to finish up a trying semester of schoolwork combined with my portfolio and lots of work to be done for graduate school applications. I even stopped my almost daily workouts due to the amount of work -- but in the end, it paid off. My first application is due Saturday, and I'm almost done with it. I created a portfolio I'm relatively happy with, and the semester has ended with hopefully a rather promising GPA. I also was chosen as 1 of 3 students in my studio to be financially backed by my university in an international skyscraper competition! Pretty exciting; we've been working on the project all semester, so that really validates all the hours I put in. (Competition website can be found here). For those of you interested in my portfolio as it currently stands, here it is:

Open publication - Free publishing - More adobe

Needless to say, there is more work to be done and it can always be edited to be made better and more clear. If you know of any architects, feel free to send the link their way!

Hiatus .

Well, I never wanted to do this. I thought that I could keep up with everything. But right now, there are just too many things going on. My studio project. My job. Getting grad school applications ready. Working on a portfolio. Studying for tests. Eventually studying for finals. Financial project. Working out. Going to football games.

There are simply too many things on my plate right now, and as important as blogging is to me (and as important as all of you are to me, my dear friends!) I believe that it's time that I take a short hiatus from writing here. It will only be until the end of the semester, which is mid-Decemeber or so. Do you think you can last that long? :) I'll still be reading about all of your adventures as much as I can, and I promise even if I don't comment I do actually ready every post you all write. There's a reason why I don't follow 300+ blogs; it's so I can keep up with them all!

I can't wait to get back to this full time, but for now, I just have to put forth all my efforts into those things that really need to get done! I appreciate your understanding and support, and can't wait to be back with more stories in a few months!

why the future is scary .

In my macroeconomics class yesterday we were talking about the national debt and how the government attempts to fix it. The economy scares the shit out of me; it's like there is no safe place to keep your money. Keep it in a bank, and it doesn't really officially exist. It's just a number. Interest never really accumulates in the bank anyways. Put it in stocks, and the market will crash. Put it in bonds, and the government can't afford to pay you back. Put it under your mattress and inflation will decrease its value anyways. Spend it and then you have none. Put it in real estate and the housing market crashes. Why is there no easy answer?

advice for the LDR enthusiast .

Long distance relationships are not easy. But there are things you can do to make them easier... much easier. And so, given that I've been experiencing these things firsthand, I thought it would be nice to share them.

Music Monday #89

This week's song is Together by Michelle Branch.

church, southern eating & table rock .

Sunday was a fun-filled day for the two of us. We started off with an early mass at St. Andrew Catholic Church in downtown Clemson on Sloan Street. It's where I usually go on my own at 8am on Sundays. I was thrilled that Courtney not only decided to come with me, but wanted to; she is Jewish and I am Catholic, so it meant a lot.

Greenville and a lunch .

So I'm behind on writing these, but it matters not. On Saturday Courtney and I made our way to Greer to visit my boss, Carl T. Smith. Carl actually is an author, and I do some marketing and PR work for him. I knew he'd been wanting to get together, so this was a perfect opportunity for him to not only meet my woman, but to go into downtown Greenville and visit Falls Park. It just so happened Greenville was having their Fall Festival that day, so Main St. was closed and there were people a-plenty.

old ladies & wine .

So funny anecdote from the other day. I went into Food Lion to grab a bottle of wine with Courtney, in addition to some things we wanted to make a nicer dinner. Upon checking out, the cashier asked to check my ID, and then asked for hers. We weren't checking out together really, as we were buying different things (and she's 20 so she is not of legal age). The lady wouldn't let me buy the wine. Apparently this is a statewide (maybe even national?) rule and she just wouldn't let us do it.

2 month success !

On Thursday, Courtney came down! It's the first time that we had seen each other in two months. It was truly incredible that the time felt like it took forever, but at the same time that it went very quickly. It's great that we were able to make it this far and I'm really proud of us! Each day may have been a challenge, but we were able to get through it and not worry about anything. The most amazing part? We haven't really fought about anything. One of her major concerns was that if we fought about things we would give up valuable time to talk or what have you. But we've been able to always keep a cool head and just calmly talk about it until we've worked everything out. Yes, some disagreements carried more weight, but that's to be expected.

midterm review .

Well I suppose the technical name is not so much a midterm review, but perhaps more of a mid-project review. We're only doing one in studio, but we've had two formal reviews thus far. It's always very important to me to do well on these, not just because they are graded, but because they are also usually a reflection on who I am and the type of work that I produce. I want to do well and work hard to impress the grad schools that I am applying to.

cuddling .

It's the best thing ever. Truly. It was one of the things that I truly missed when I didn't have a girlfriend. There's something about the human touch of another that is very comforting. Hugs, kisses, holding hands, holding each other; I don't think it would be possible to live without it (though some find the same comfort in their pets).

Music Monday #88

This week's song is I Just Want You to Know by Relient K.

more humourous nonsense .

So, a comical post? Don't mind if I do!

This first popped into my head after what goes on on Twitter on the regs. I love those people that go out there and post vague shit on Twitter. For example... "Well seems like SOMEONE is in a good mood today..."

Dude, unless you name names you're just like those little trolls on Youtube who talk shit about everything and back up nothing. (We'll address them later). I think we all can agree that social media is probably THE WORST place you can spew your issues. Find a close friend to talk about that stuff with, and if you don't have any, well then you're on your own pal. And no, since you're thinking it and going to rag on me about it, Blogger is definitely NOT that sort of social media outlet. We're family here -- vent away :)

Ask me shit .

Well, after Sarah's post seemed to be wildly successful, I decided I was going to literally copy exactly what she did and seeeeee what happens. I've written a fair amount on this blog, and though I have an "ask questions" tab, no one ever actually asks any questions in that (I promise it does work, and it gets sent to me...) So with that being said, here's where you get to have some fun.

I FINALLY set up an email for this blog. Yes, an official email where you can ask me stuff, or email me random shit if you feel so inclined. Just don't spam me or I'll send you angry emails back. Kay? Kay.

So here it is! --> asmallpieceofgodsplan@gmail.com

Send me things you'd like to know. Questions can be about anything, regarding anything. I'm happy to oblige! If I get a good number of responses.... Maybe just maybe I'll try to shoot a video for it like Sarah.

Oh, and final words -- Go check out her bloggity. It's fucking awesome. http://www.radiowaltz.blogspot.com.

outside the comfort zone .

More and more as the years go by I realize that I have a huge problem stepping outside my comfort zone. I'm a worrier and a planner -- when I traveled in Europe, I made myself itineraries every time I went somewhere on my own. I had bus routes, plane tickets, places to go and ways to get there, emails and phone numbers; literally a place by place list of where I was going each day. Sometimes I had even written down places to eat. I hate not knowing what I'm doing or where I'm going. This neurotic sense is only cured by the comfort of things that I know that are "safe."

losing a phone .

My girlfriend had her phone stolen today. I think that until such a thing happens, we don't realize how much we not only depend on our cell phones, but pour our life into them. Saved texts, pictures, videos, notes, calendar events, alarms; it would be safe to say we use our phone for everything. Luckily she had an iPhone and was able to get stuff off the internet (pictures and contacts anyways), but still, the thought of losing a phone is pretty upsetting. It's like when the power goes out, and you realize that you can't do anything without the internet; you feel handicapped.

While it's pretty likely that she'll never get her phone back, and unfortunately will have to find a way to get another, I'm hoping things look up. Send up some prayers for me!

kids .

I'm no expert on parenting, but I saw this video today and it stuck with me:

Can you say, coolest fucking parent ever? I wish my parents let me do stuff like that when I was that little. One of my goals as a parent is not only to watch out for my kids, instill good morals, etc., but also to be able to take a little risk sometimes and do fun things together. The pride you'll have at the end will outweigh the risk I think. It's a way to share what you love with your kids -- I love riding on both my bikes, road or mountain, and it's important to share that with the kids. I love snowboarding, and I'd like to share that too. Plus, the only way they'll find out what they like and don't like is to try it; so why not think outside the box a bit and do something other than the usual stuff?!

Also, on a side note... I still haven't found a mountain close to me where I can take my bike up on a lift and do this. Sad face.

bullying & being overweight .

Several things were brought to my attention today; the first being a news woman who received a dose of cyberbullying, and the second that October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Bullying is a strange subject to talk about and as social media options increase and the percentage of population that has a social media outlet increases, bullying seems to be positively related. One of my favourite rappers, Macklemore, retweeted this video:

Music Monday #87

This week's song is Language by Porter Robinson.

what love is, 2012 edition .

I've learned some new things since the last time I posted about love. I'd like to share those here:

Love never gives up. It doesn't come and go like the wind. Love gives you the strength to work things out, and the courage to hold on tight when the going gets tough. Love can be harsh, but it will only make you a better person in the end. It will constructively criticize, but proudly empower. It will fill your heart and then some, and your heart will begin to beat out of your chest daily. Love will make you feel higher than the sky, and will pull you out of the holes you fall into. It will be there cheering you on in your greatest moments, but it will also be by your side during your darkest days.

Once you find it, don't let it go. Because it only comes once in a blue moon.

life for our kids .

On the LeLove blog today, there was a great post about the way life has changed over the past few generations. It brought up some really strikingly true observations, like how in marriage it really did used to mean 'til death do us part' and not 'as long as we may love each other.' Why is it now that relationships come and go like the wind, and that engagement is something that you need extra fingers and toes to count? And what about divorce rates? Aren't they through the roof too?

NYC is home .

I sat down last night to watch some TV shows on Netflix, and after finishing the first season of Workaholics, happened to stumble upon Heroes. I was really psyched for the initial season opener, and watched a few sporadic episodes over the course of that first season. However, I never really got the chance to seriously get into it. I really like being able to watch stuff while I work, and this is awesome! Now while Netflix and the opportunities there are awesome, this post was supposeddd to be about NYC. And I'm getting to that.

***It's Finally Here***

SO remember last week I posted about bring a new blog to fruition? Well it is here! I put up the first post last night. The new blog will be related to architecture, but you can check it out if you want when you head over there. I invite you to follow if you're interested in what I do during school and my thoughts on all things architectural. If you know of others who may be interested, spread the word!

Here's the link: http://www.theabsentmindedarchitect.blogspot.com

swinging .

When was the last time you went on a swing? I don't know about you, but one of the most joyous things you could do on a playground was go on the swings. The longer the ropes, the better, because you could get so high. Jumping off mid-swing gave you that feeling that you could fly, if only for a split second. It's been almost a year since I've been on a swing myself, unfortunately. I came upon a song recently, and honestly I can't even remember how; but that song just reminded me of what I might feel like if I closed my eyes and pretended I was swinging through the air. Maybe it's the rhythmic notes or the ambient sounds. Whatever the case, it's definitely one of those that you just want to close your eyes and completely focus on. The song is called Mono No Aware by Hammock.

spin class .

Recently I've been taking advantage of some of the free classes that are offered at the gym on campus and I have found a love in spin class. When it comes to spinning, it first sort of piqued my interest because it was related to cycling. It's a great and easy opportunity to do when you don't have the energy to get out there on a ride or if it's raining. And the best part is that you blow an incredibly amount of calories!

I've been trying to go two times a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, and it's been really awesome. Every single time, you leave absolutely drained and literally dripping in sweat. So if you've tried exercising and can never find something that you like, I'd highly recommend spin! Even if you don't like cycling you may still enjoy spin. You can go as hard or as easy as you want to, you can challenge yourself, and the music is always really good to work out with. Happy exercising!

brotherly connections .

Before my brother started college, we would talk to each other pretty rarely. He had high school to deal with, and I had my classes. I had extracurriculars and so did he, but our schedules just didn't seem to mesh up. Despite all of that we always knew that we had each others' backs, would chat if the other needed it, and were supportive through all the challenges that life might bring. Unfortunately, I don't think that we really talked as much as either of us would have wanted to during that time. But it has started to change.

Music Monday #86

This week's song (after missing last week) is Some Nights by Fun.

why autumn is the best .

The way it seems to work in South Carolina is that it randomly just starts being Fall. A week and a half ago, we had a big storm and it poured and after that the temperature has just sort of settled. It's 50's and 60's in the morning, and heats up to around 85. Oddly enough, the humidity makes all the difference. When it's 85 and humid, it feels awful. But it's quite temperate when the humidity hides its face.

My brother texted me the other morning with the news that it was 37 degrees in the morning when he was walking to his 8am in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech. Yet later in the day, it warms up almost 30 degrees! The huge swing in temperatures throughout the day is nuts.

cheating .

I feel like cheating is something that has unfortunately now surrounded us in society. It's everywhere -- and you can't escape it. Given success rates of relationships, and more importantly of marriages, some may be so far pessimistic as to say, what's the point of relationships when the odds are against us?

It's true I think. The odds are against us. The important thing to remember is that even if they're against you, they're beatable. But not if you cheat. I had a conversation about this recently, and it just really was bugging me and on my mind. So here goes.

what is enough ?

I've been a follower of the leLove blog for quite some time now, and am always thrilled at the things that are posted there. There are some really good stories and really interesting things that somehow always seem to weave their way into my life in an uncanny way. This particular post caught my eye; and it poses the question, about what is enough. Read it first, then continue.

what would you give ?

I've always wanted to take some sort of long nature trip somewhere, sometime. I'm not sure how to do it or when, but I think it would be awesome to just be able to go out and just live. All I'm saying is that it'd be pretty awesome.

dogs & puppies and stuff .

So the other day, one of my roommates texted me with the information that his boss was looking to give up a 7 month old Husky puppy for free. The dog was up to date with all its shots and vaccinations, and had already been spayed/neutered (to be honest I forget whether the dog was male or female). I have always wanted a dog, and the guys and I had been planning on getting one when we moved into our house -- only problem is the house that we ended up signing the lease for is not pet-friendly. And so we couldn't get anything.

stupid complaints / excuses / nonsense that rich people spew .

In high school I once knew a girl who had it made; had a humongous house in a ritzy neighborhood, her Dad owned franchises (plural) and individual stores, they had gratuitous amounts of property, and when we would tell her she was rich, she would deny it. And this beings about the topic of this blog -- rich people are dumb. So I have this article  that explains why they are dumb in a much funnier and entertaining way (with much more factual evidence than I care to gather), and therefore I will leave you with that to read. The best part is that it provides actual quotes from the various rich idiots that exist.

Let it be known that this article was found on the blog of Mr. Andrew Hales, of LAHWF, in one of his old blogs that I just found today.

What I would like to do though, is go ahead and bring in the 6 points that they make and make my own comedy to that tune. But you should go check out the article first. Seriously. Don't fucking spoil it for yourself. You can read the rest of this afterwards!

upcoming additions to the blogosphere .

So tonight I don't really have any humourous stories, I don't have any crazy nonsense, I just have a bit of an announcement. Ever since I started back at Clemson last Spring after being abroad, it dawned on me just how much stuff there was in architecture to talk about. And since then, I've always wanted to start an architectural blog. This blog is more random, hence the name "Simply, Life", because it encompasses all kinds of topics all over the wide spectrum of life. An architecture blog will be my first attempt at a blog that is strictly topic-oriented, and I'm excited for it. I already have 8000 things on my plate, but you know what? I really wanna do it, so I'm going to. I'm not going to post daily like I do on this blog, and I'm excited at the possibilities that lie ahead. It may even be cool to have it for grad school applications, as something that will set me apart if only slightly from the mass number of people applying.

To be perfectly honest, I haven't even set up anything up yet or even started the design of it, but when I do, I will certainly let you all know, and if you're interested in following, you can go right ahead! Hope you all are having a great Monday.

one size fits all .

The pastor today began by talking about a hypothetical world where all of our wishes were granted, we never went hungry, all opportunities worked out in our favor, everything we needed was there when we needed it. In essence, this is a utopia, the perfect world. But following Jesus is not about getting everything that we need and want. It is about picking up our cross and keeping it with us at all times, just as Jesus did. Needless to say, this is not a literal cross, but a hypothetical one. God does not come and go when the going gets tough, but rather stays with us in our time of need, anger, hope, sadness, grief, joy, happiness, contentment, love. The cross is not tailored to any one individual, and this is where my favorite part of the sermon comes in:

football & flags .

Ladies and gentlemen, in South Carolina during the fall there is only one thing that truly matters to the population on Saturdays, and that thing is football. Being that I am part of Central Spirit, which is one of the biggest organizations on campus, I signed up to run flags for this game against Furman. What is running flags? Well, at the beginning of the game, when our team runs down the hill into the stadium, we run across the field with these giant flags that spell out Clemson. Need a visual? I got you.

if you're bored at school .

This goes out to all the kids who hate their classes, are bored at school, and just dread going to class. These are not just the ancient tactics of watching the clock hands (who has analog clocks in school still anyways!?) or doodling and scribbling all over your notes. We're talking about those hour and a half long lectures that put you to sleep; we're talking about the "I can't possibly stay awake in this class anymore" moments and the "Please, help, someone save me!" times. And since I seem to love lists so much, what better format to put this in than a list!?

women like double-standards, those sly dogs .

There are a lot of women out there who claim that they want things to be equal, and that women are always under-appreciated, under-employed, and discriminated against. They argue that things are never fair and never have been between the sexes. Never fair eh? Well, here's my take on it. First, we are just different. You can't compare apples and oranges, and you can't really compare men and women because we are different -- in physical appearance, in emotion, in natural ability and skill; there's a reason that women don't compete against men in the Olympics. It just doesn't work like that, you know? That wouldn't be fair. If women want complete equality, then we should have complete equality in everything, right? Men will do the laundry and women can mow the grass. Women can kill the bugs in the house, and men can cook dinners.

parents & kids at church .

Now, understandably I probably know next to nothing about parenting because I'm not at that stage of my life. But, I do know a thing or two about what kind of parent I'd like to be like, and I will NEVER be that parent that brings their 2 and 3 year old children to church with me. Now, I understand that church, if anywhere, is the one place where you should be most understanding and forgiving, but I'm gonna be real I hate when people bug the crap out of me while I'm trying to pay attention. Allow me to elaborate.

year 11 .

11 years ago was September 11th, 2001. Each year, new things are uncovered and the wounds sort of reopen for me as it is just so hard to relive through that experience. Now last year, I gave my story of exactly what I was doing that day. But every year, new things happen that just touch me. This year, as I was sitting in one of the student centers on campus, even ESPN was playing things to remember that day. I learned of the story of Welles Crowther, who was a 24 year old volunteer firefighter working in one of the buildings when the attacks happened.

Music Monday #85

This week's song is The End by Macklemore.

sunday sermon .

Today, the gospel story was about a man who was deaf and dumb, who was miraculously cured by Jesus. Jesus implored them not to tell anyone about it, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the word.

One thing the priest said in his homily resonated with me: Living as Christian means living in faith. It is important to perceive the great things that we have been given, and it is just as important to perceive when other people need help.

gameday .

Today was the second football game of this fall season for the Clemson Tigers. It was the first home game of the season, against Ball State. But today was not going to be like a normal day for me. It started out as usual, with Central Spirit getting all the balloons ready. If you're not sure what I mean by balloons... well, allow me to enlighten you:

why we work .

whether miles away, or minutes close
and in the future distance, who knows
despite the challenges we face daily
we survive for sure, not maybe

cathartic outlets .

There are two options; one of two paths that someone can choose if they get upset. The first is to hold it in and just try to deal with it internally. The other is to just open up, speak it, find some sort of outlet. I think we all can more or less agree that the former is just a suicide attempt. Eventually, you'll blow and when you do, it won't be pretty. But there are lots of different ways that people attempt to deal with their internal struggles.

the greek life decision .

My housemate and I were talking about Greek life last night, as Rush Blowout was last night in addition to the First Friday parade and all the sorority floats etc. There are some people that we are friends with involved in greek life, though I don't know as many as my housemate. We do know some incoming freshmen in Central Spirit that just recently were officially inducted into the whole greek life scene.

why people want to be rich .

One of the most common either/or questions that people ask is if something would rather have lots of money or have true love. Most people I know would undoubtedly answer with love -- just because you can't put a price tag on that. But sometimes I wonder why people have this goal of being rich. After all, what constitutes being 'rich'? Does it mean having everything you want, and then more? Or just being comfortable? Does it mean you can afford lavish things and upscale restaurants and designer clothes? Or does it just mean that you have lots of money and are considered a part of the 1%?

Music Monday #84

This week's song is Wide Awake by Katy Perry.

never-ending work .

Both in microeconomics last semester and macroeconomics this semester, we touch on human behavior in terms of employment and why people make various business decisions. This stuff is extremely interesting to me, because it's sort of things that you would never normally think about. It's in the same realm as analysing body language; the stuff is just interesting and really different stuff. Last semester we discussed how paying people more money only makes them work harder up until a certain point. Allow me to explain.

mind-blown .

If you are on Twitter, then you should seriously check out this account called Mind Blown @urmindblown. If you aren't on Twitter, then what the fuck are you doing with your life? Okay okay, I understand if you already have Facebook then you don't feel the need to have a Twitter. Some have both, some connect them, and me? Well I just have a Twitter because I'm anti-Facebook.

That being said, many of the accounts on Twitter are stupid, shoot out tons of spam, or are just plain idiotic. Some are very humourous, but get old quickly. But in this case, I was pleasantly surprised and certainly have been enjoying the tweets that come out of it.

things i will never understand .

I haven't written something in a humourous light in quite some time. And therefore, today, you all have a treat (especially given that I am 6 bloody days behind where I'm supposed to be). And so, another list of entertaining nonsense. These are all things that I will never understand.

living at a lake .

One of the great benefits of having a house on the lake is well, you have the lake right there. The other day I came home just hating that I had had such a long a tiring day of class and when I rolled in the driveway there was an extra car there and I could see some people hanging out down by the dock (Josh had decided to have some people over. After walking down the to water and briefly saying hello, I ran back inside and threw on my swimsuit, walked back down to the dock, then ran and dove into the water.

architorture already !?

So when we arrived last week at the first day of studio for architecture we have a surprised waiting for us. We were assigned a project on Day 1. Literally, on the day when every class is supposed to just be going ahead and having a free-day and a free pass to enjoy college a bit, the day when all you have to do is listen to your teacher blab about the syllabus, well, we were handed a project. Of course, we did go over the syllabus too, but that just added to the pain.

back in the swing of things .

School has started, and we're on the second week of class, and things are good! Of course, the days are busy, but I'm definitely okay with that. Busy makes the time go by quickly (at a blistering pace, to be honest actually). But so far I'm keeping up with things more or less, still with enough time to get on the bike or work out. The weather has been insanely humid, literally to the point where you walk outside and your hands instantly feel sticky, but that is just a part of life here in South Carolina. I think it's safe to say that I'm finally settled in and back in the swing of things.

The best part? the beautiful orange and purple sunsets we get every night:

[via]

Music Monday #83

This week's song (albeit being very late) is Tokyo Drift by the Teriyaki Boyz.

walk with a focus .

The priest's homily today at mass was pretty good. Today's gospel story took place recently after Jesus fed the crowds of 5000 with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. At this point in time, he had a bunch of people following him around all over the place. But the priest explained that many of these people were following in hopes that their mouths would continue to get fed. But Jesus explained that it was important to follow for the right reasons. He even lost some disciples because of it; they just decided that they were following for the wrong reasons I guess.

the best talks happen at 4am .

Last night we had a few friends over to our lakehouse and we ended up having drinks and just sitting and chatting. After a few decided to call it a night and go to sleep, the remaining three of us just sat and chatted. When you've got some alcohol in you, it seems that those are some of the best conversations you'll ever have. There's no bullshit, no hiding anything; everything is out there and honest and very real.

goals for the semester .

I think it's always important to make a list of goals and things you kinda want to figure out or have done by the end of the semester. And so here's mine, just off the top of my head real quick.

1. Be independent. Try not to ask for money, deal with things on my own, whether that be figuring out trips or financial issues or making sure I get all my requirements done to get myself to grad school next year.

2. Get my list of grad schools ready to go. Figure out what I need to apply, and start putting those things together. I don't want to take a year off from school, so this is very important.

3. Work out and really get fit. Eat well, cut down BFP and really work on both size and definition. I weigh a good 185 or so right now, so maybe bump that up 5 or 10 pounds.

4. Keep up with the biking regimen. Ride every other day for a few hours. It's amazing how much you lose when you don't ride often. Luckily I have a friend who always lets me know about rides that are happening, which really helps keep me on pace.

5. Get all A's. This may be tougher than I think, because senior studio probably won't be easy, nor will some of the classes I'm taking for my minor. But this just means more studying and really buckling down when I need to.

6. Stay on top of things. Work on projects regularly so I'm not stuck doing all nighters last minute. Do good work and take pride in the things that I create for class. I wouldn't want the embarrassment of presenting a project that I'm not satisfied with.

7. Leave time to have some fun. Play some guitar, hang out with friends, lounge out by the lake, play some golf. Everybody needs some me-time.

how to handle the heat of the south .

As you all know, I live in the lovely state of South Carolina, and to be perfectly frank, it's fucking hot. It's humid, it's sticky, it downpours pretty regularly, and it is like sitting in an oven. BUT. The best thing is, it's beatable. I would know; I've been doing it for almost four years. Here are my tips to you on how to beat the sticky humid heat of the south.

first day of class .

This week marked the first day of class of my senior year of college. I can't believe that I'm already in my senior year! It truly blows my mind. Looking around in some of the classes for my minor, it's always interesting to see the people who are still sophomores, freshmen, juniors... basically anyone who has not yet lived the years that I have. And every year, it blows my mind more to think about all these people that are here, and all the different life stories they have to tell. And yet, here, in this particular class, our paths cross.

back on the bike .

The last few weeks of summer I've been a lazy bum when it comes to riding. I haven't been out on the bike for quite some time and I finally had the chance to. Let me just say I felt so out of shape. Biking is not one of those things that you can drop and just pick right back up again. Maybe riding a bike in general, but certainly not riding at a competitive pace where you can push yourself. I about died. But it's time to focus and get back into it.

Music Monday #82

This week's song is Gold by Owl City.

manna from heaven .

Today was the first Sunday back at St. Andrews, which is the Catholic church I attend in Clemson. It was nice to be welcomed back into a place where everyone sings loud and proud, prays all together and just rejoices in general. Even at the 8am mass, which is what I usually like to go to, things were lively.

welcome home .

Now THIS. Is what I call home. Looking forward to this season... Last one! This is Clemson, ladies and gents, and football is our religion.

how to pay for college .

So for those of you entering college life (which admittedly, many of my readers are not) it is incredibly daunting to look at the amount of money you'll be spending over the next four years. Ideally you'd want to be thinking about this way before college even begins, so you can plan accordingly (ahh parenthood, it's great until you realize you'll be spending around 200 g's to put a kid through college). But if you're the upcoming student, here are some things that will help you out.

the drive to Clemson .

As per the usual plan, I began my drive down to Clemson around midnight. I slept from 5pm to 11pm or so, and finished up the last few items to pack and toss in my truck (more like carefully play Tetris with my luggage and numerous boxes). I was ready for the long haul. The day started well, with a Wawa hoagie to put in a little cooler and a quart of iced tea lemonade. I was making great time, flying through Pennsylvania on the PA Turnpike. The funny thing about the trip is that you think you're making lots of progress because you pass through a good number of states in a relatively short amount of time (You hit the NJ border, then through PA, then Maryland, West Virginia and into Virginia). Despite the fact that I consider Virginia to be the border of the south, what most don't realize is that once you hit that border, you are in Virginia for FOREVER. You go through the widest part, and so it takes forever and a day to get to North Carolina.

saying goodbye .

Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things to do. When you meet someone you really click with, and that you really enjoy spending time with, it's even harder. It's easy to say that you'll be okay and all will be well when you meet again. But it is easier said than done. That last hug, that final kiss... it's so hard knowing that this is the last time you'll have that luxury for several months.

driving woes .

Yes, it has been a week since I posted. For those of you who thought I had forever disappeared, you are sorely mistaken. In fact, I just was packing, getting ready for the trip down to school, and still don't have internet at my house in SC. It's supposed to be ready tomorrow, if AT&T feels like getting their shit together. However, I'm now sitting on campus and I have campus interwebs, so I will post the things that I already had written in preparation for when I did finally have the opportunity! And so without further ado, some serious catch-up:

Prior to any long drive there are things that you will almost always worry about. Being that I am leaving for school in a few days, I took some precautions, like getting my oil changed and fluids topped off, making sure my tires were inflated and rotated. But there are some things that are always sorta in the back of your head when you have a lot of miles to put under your belt.

Music Monday #81

This week's song is Wait and See by Brandon Heath.

last day of work .

Sunday was my last day of work. I think that no matter how hard you have to work, or how many people you like or dislike there, or how many hours you work per week, you will always miss something about it. I have some pretty good friends I've made at Trump over the years, and it's unfortunate that I won't be seeing them all the time during the week. Even if my last year of school means leaving behind a lot of nonsense, there is always a bit of sadness in my heart when it comes to my last day.

covered in ink .

As tattoos gain more popularity and acceptance in today's society, I often go back and revisit my list of tattoos to get. It's always so hard to decide which I'm going to get next because there is such a big list. Personally, I don't have a problem with people with tattoos, and I enjoy hearing the stories behind them (though, admittedly, I know what it's like to be exhausted of telling the same story to everyone; sometimes I just have to be in the right mood to share). Some of my tattoos have a deeper meaning too, so much so that I'd just rather not share the story with people who are curious. Regardless, I appreciate the curiosity from people.

i've been slackin' .

Friends, I just want to say I'm sorry for slacking lately. Earlier in the summer I was really on top of my writing -- blogging daily, interesting topics etc. But lately I've let the days slip by without writing, and then catching up on random days where I write four blogs in a row. Maybe I've just been busy, maybe I've been lacking with things to write about, maybe I've just been lazy. But I'm ready to get back on track, and with school right around the corner, I think that's definitely possible. Having work to do motivates me in a weird sort of way.

But here is where I challenge you, my readers. What do you want to hear about? What things are you interested in? I'd love to hear your druthers.

grease monkey dreams .

Currently, I'm sitting watching a show called Xtreme 4x4. Now, despite the fact I have a truck, I most certainly don't really know how to do any sort of work on cars. There's something a little funny about guys who work at auto body shops -- they're usually a little crass, don't like chit chat, and when they write emails to you, it's in all lowercase with poor grammar. But you can't fault them on one thing, and that's their knowledge of cars. It's truly unbelievable all the stuff that they know how to do. Granted, some are more specialized in specific things and don't know as much how to do other things. But me? Well put me on a creeper under the car and I'm virtually useless.

the philosophy of greg plitt .

I follow a workout inspiration blog (aptly named Workout Inspiration) and they often have posts about a guy named Greg Plitt, who I suppose is some sort of fitness guru who is really all about giving your all, all the time. One of the things that he said in the latest post was "The pain you feel today becomes the peace you feel tomorrow." The blog certainly lives up to its name -- inspirational.

golf is mental .

If you're from the UK, you'll read the title as the equivalent of "golf is crazy." And yes, perhaps sometimes it is. The past two days, I've played two 18-hole rounds; one each day. Golf is definitely a mental game. So mental, in fact, that I wonder how the small portion of physicality that is required seems so difficult. On paper it looks easy: look at this giant expanse of fairway in front of you, no bunkers in your face, no water directly in front, the flag in sight, and wonder how things could possibly go wrong. Oh, but they can go wrong. And sometimes, very wrong.

Music Monday #80

This week's song is Firedance by Bellevue Rendezvous.

LAHWF .

On Youtube I follow a channel called LAHWF, which stands for Losing All Hope Was Freedom. It's run by a guy named Andrew Hales who I believe lives out in Utah. The line "Losing All Hope Was Freedom" is, to quote from the website, "a line from the movie/novel Fight Club and is derived from Buddhist wisdom meaning to just be content with life and not "hope" or worry about material things, other people's approval, etc."

how men should treat women .

In recent weeks I've been able to have some life talks and it's interesting the things you start hearing about people's pasts. The thing that appalls me the most is the stories I hear from girls about ex boyfriends and the way they were treated by them. Why does it seem like some guys are never satisfied? They will complain about what you wear (can't be slutty, but can't be dress-down but can't be this and has to be that...), how you act, going out with friends, and of course, what you guys do together sexually. I never want to be that person, that practically ruins a person.

tickets & the po-po .

A few days ago I was stopped by the police on my 3 minute ride home from work (which is probably all of about 2 miles long). There was a long line at the light, and I knew I was turning left, so I just went by the other cars to go make my left turn, even though it was partially going over a yellow hashed area before the turn lane. I didn't think it was a big deal, as I've seen tons of people do it, when I passed by 2 cop cars on the way through the turn lane. I saw them immediately pull out behind me as I was turning, and knew it was just a matter of time before I'd be "that guy" on the side of the road.

wherever the wind takes me .

So I was sitting here watching TV, wondering what to blog about. A Subaru commercial came on with a hot air balloon, and upon being asked where he was going, his answer was "wherever the wind takes me." I think there are two types of people in life. There are those who go with the flow and let the wind blow them where it may. And then there are those that constantly try to control every moment and situation. Is there a middleground? Maybe. Some float in between, some float back and forth. But I think that the best things happen to us when we least expect them, when we are floating.

beginning of the end .

And so it's August. This is the time when everyone starts shitting their pants because they realize that the return of class, homework and projects is just around the corner. And yet, while there are certainly some bittersweet moments, I'm excited for the final year of school. Endings are tough, but always yield new beginnings. The most exciting thing I'm excited for is to really begin polishing my skills as a future architect. Hopefully these future skills will be able to get me a real job for next summer, something that will continue to help me learn architecture!

addressing porn .

This is one of the hardest topics to talk about for most people, because it's just awkward and most of the time embarrassing. But I really want to set some things straight after reading Jacy's post the other day. There are tons of women out there whose men are addicted to porn, or struggling to overcome it in some way, and it's greatly affecting their families and their marriage. I get that it hurts to an incredible degree, and there's nothing you can do about it. It also breaks trust, and trust is one of those things that takes a long long time to get back, if it ever even fully comes back at all.

Music Monday #79

This week's song is Bangarang by Skrillex.

Liebster Award #2 .

Recently I was tagged for another Liebster award from Sarah at Dancing in the Dark! So before you read this, go check out her blog. I'll wait right here for a moment...

Done? Okay then.

Just to reiterate the rules for those of you who are nominated below:
1. Write 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions from the blogger you were tagged by!
3. Choose some other bloggers with <200 followers and tag them (make sure you give 11 questions for them to answer!)

So here we go, part 2, as I add another Liebster Award to my trophy shelf!

parental influence .

While I was in church this morning my mind began to wander and I couldn't seem to focus on what was going on. I began to ask myself why I was even there in the first place. My initial thought was that I wanted to be, until I realized that I really didn't. And so then it was clear I went out of obligation, but to what? Or who? At that point, I then realized one of the main reasons I go to church all the time is because I always went with my parents when I was little. I have been groomed to go to church on Sunday mornings, and I almost feel bad or guilty when I don't.

power outage .

Last night we had a wicked storm that rolled through, and around 10:30 or so we lost power. It's the weirdest thing when you lose power, because you realize just how much you take everything for granted. Everything that you think of doing at home pretty much requires power -- TV, anything on the computer, Playstation, even reading a book because you need to turn a light on (though my mother was determined and proceeded to keep reading with a flashlight). It humbles you to a point where you regress to a time when there were no lights, no electricity. When it got dark outside, you either stayed up by candlelight or just went to bed until it was light outside again. We now have much more freedom in terms of what we want to do, assuming the power is on.

nighttime thinking .

Isn't it funny how it always seems that the best thoughts come to you right before you're about to go to sleep? It's like all of a sudden you can't turn your mind off and it refuses to just shut down and let you est. I remember before I started blogging this would happen to me all the time, and I wouldn't even be able to sleep well at night. When I woke up the next morning my thoughts were gone. Since then, I usually blog right before I go to bed, which certainly sort of clears your head a little bit.

deadmau5: the man behind the mau5 .

I have been a fan of Deadmau5 since I first heard one of his songs, both as an artist and as a person. I read stuff on his blog occasionally, which is always well-written, thought out, and cuts the bullshit. With Joel, there's no beating around the bush and he's not afraid to speak up and speak out if it's what he believes. Quite honestly, it's something that we should all be comfortable doing. Joel has not only changed the idea of a stereotypical DJ (by explaining that he is NOT in fact, a DJ but a producer) and pushed the limits and boundaries of electronic music. His style can go from soft and mellow to hard and driving, and still have the same sweet chord progressions and beats.

sports & doping .

In recent years, and even in maybe the past 10 years, sports committees are cracking down on the dopers. Cheaters, liars, deceivers. They seem like heroes, but they got there by cheating. There will always be large controversies and outrages, removals from the Hall of Fame and records torn down because they wanted to win by drugs. I understand the drive to win, and I understand how incredibly powerful it can be. But I would never let myself take drugs to win. Losing is the motivation that fuels you to be better, to train harder, and to eventually succeed. There is no feeling like coming in first place, knowing that you and you alone were the one that made it happen.

Music Monday #78

This week's song is actually a trio of songs; Trois Gymnopédies by Erik Satie.

red bank .

Tonight's destination was to lovely Red Bank, New Jersey. I haven't been in such a long time, and it was great to get back there and re-live it a bit. Red Bank is that sort of place that has a perfect little downtown, bars, eateries, not to mention some truly awesome waterfront housing on the Navesink.

tdf - the finish .

The Tour de France ended on Sunday, and that means that a champion for 2012 has been crowned in the GC -- and this year, it goes out to Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky. Absolutely unbelievable what Team Sky has accomplished as a team this year -- putting a man on top in the GC along with Chris Froome in second. Two members on the podium and Cavendish adds a handful of more stage wins to his increasingly impressive repertoire of accomplishments.

golf mondays .

Today I found time to actually go golfing (for only the third time this season unfortunately). I went with Tom from work, and must say it is always a pleasure to go golfing with him. We created what we call the Triple H, which is Hominy Hill and Huddy's. I rarely ever go to bars, so it's always great to get a chance to just go grab a couple beers (BOGO at Huddy's with a golf card, which is great) and just talk about everything.

damn near perfect .

Some great quotes I'd like to share I received from a special lady (hope she doesn't mind!)

"I'm ready for it all! The ups and downs and everything in between but I know WE are worth it all!"

"It's not going out of my way if I know how happy it makes you. It's just living life with you in mind."

"It's going to be hard but just remember when I see you... It will be that much better! It is going to work, I don't think twice about that!"

at the edge .

And yet here we stand together at the edge,
and maybe the horizon doesn't look as bright as we want it to.
But that doesn't mean it won't work; that doesn't mean it can't.
I've never felt more alive and that's not something I found one day;
It's from you.
It's like being able to lie down in the back of the old pickup and gaze up at the stars.
And seeing them, knowing I'll never have to wonder where you are.
Because no matter the distance, near or far, I'll always have the memory of you in my arms.
Whatever we decide, we decide together.
Two paths hath come together, and maybe someday soon will become one;
a single stripe left on the face of society. A single, brilliant stripe,
dazzling in the way it sparkles and shines, polished like gold, yet strong like our
metaphorical rocks that hold it together.
Slowly we build a foundation, that will one day hold a great house.
We carefully pour the mortar and take our time with the masonry,
so that it can withstand any sort of calamity the heavens throw at us.
This is not a broken cold-hearted world. This is one with warmth,
and most of all, togetherness.

the BSA and homosexuality .

Well, I've been mulling the idea of writing about this topic over in my mind and after putting it off yesterday and sleeping on it I decided to go ahead and do it anyways. I want to preface this whole post with the fact that I have done little to no research on this topic, and so it's just the few bits and pieces of articles that have slipped through the cracks into my head. The Boy Scouts of America (referenced from now on as the BSA) reaffirmed their decision to ban gays from entering their organization. There are a lot of people that are angry about this, and can't seem to understand why. Well, I'm going to attempt to explore both sides of the argument -- despite the fact I'll probably catch a lot of flack for anything I write.

Music Monday #77

This week's song is Loca People by Sak Noel.

Ted .

So, this post is going to be about the movie that just came out, "Ted". So just so you know, don't read this if you haven't seen the movie yet and are planning to go! I'll most likely spoil the movie for you and honestly, who would want the movie to be spoiled? Of course if you're not planning on seeing it, read away. But you've been warned...

the Liebster Award .

So one of my new followers recently nominated me for the Liebster award, and now I'm going to pass the torch. What is it you ask? Well, here's how the Liebster award works:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves. 
2. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you, plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer. 
3. Choose up to 11 people and link them in your post. 
4. Go to their page and tell them. 
5. No tag backs!
6. Remember to tag blogs with less than 200 followers 

growing up in the 21st century .

When I first entered high school, the problems began. I wanted more independence, and my parents were not so keen to give it. I wanted desperately to be able to explore the world on my own. I wanted to be able to make my own mistakes and then learn from them. I wanted to be able to loosen the leash, to let me fail sometimes. The last thing I wanted, and the last I needed were overprotective parents. At least, that's the way I saw it. The first day freshman year started, I was a changed person. Throughout my four years of high school, I grew farther and farther away from my parents. Since I am still young and my viewpoints have yet to be altered by the chains of parenthood, let me explain something to the mothers, fathers, guardians etc. out there. When your kid begins to push the boundaries, breaking the barrier is inevitable. The thing is, some people will open the gate, and others will wait until their kids break through the fence.

we are all salt .

Today's post is inspired by a writing by Max Dubinsky, which I received in my email this morning. Entitled "What I Learned About the Church While Seeking God Outside of It (Part I)" it hits on some of the major things that have always caused some controversy in the church. One of the most mentioned things in the church today is the argument about tithing. Some say, if you're not giving 10%, you're robbing God of what is rightfully His. But I've always preferred the argument that you should give what you can give, when you can give it -- it's as simple as that. God is no mob boss that will hunt you down and whack you if you can't come up with your 10%.

in good company .

I've had the pleasure of spending time with this wonderful lady lately, and upon my posing the question, she said it was fine if she was included on the blog.

It's been nice to have some good quality company to just do everything and nothing. We seem to agree on lots of things and enjoy doing a lot of the same things. Tonight she invited me over for dinner (knowing that my parents were out and I would be dining alone) and though it took me awhile to do my workout, shower, wash the dishes and finally get my butt over there, I arrived to hamburgers, fries, salad, and a nice meal outside on the patio out back.

in the buff .

This week my brother is down at Virginia Tech getting orientated with my parental units and I've had the house to myself. It's been interesting -- and as always, a little bit strange. When I'm home alone, I enjoy it, but sometimes it's a bit lonely, and sometimes a bit unsettling or unnerving. I think it has something to do with the fact that you're so used to always having people there all the time and it's just strange to have such a large area devoid of any sort of life. All of a sudden the general maintenance responsibilities of the house are put upon you: water the flowers in the morning, get the mail, take out the trash, wash the dishes, empty the dehumidifier, turn on the house lights at night and turn them off in the morning. It kinda makes you realize that there's a lot of shit to be done all the time.

Music Monday #76

This week's song is Coloured Souls by Natty.

secrets to being a good kisser .

So how in the world am I going to type this post without coming off sounding like a total pompous arrogant ass? Good question. But allow me to try... I've been told by several of the people I've dated in the past (and some that I haven't) that I'm a very good kisser (nope, still sounds pompous). And I've never really tried to do anything super spectacular, and it's not like I have some sort of Superman drug-infused tongue that makes people think that I am a good kisser. Maybe it just comes naturally? (yep, very pompous indeed...).

reply girl nonsense .

If you've ever spent any time at all on Youtube, you know who these people are. These are the nonsensical hoes who pride themselves on replying to every single viral video that exists. And then they make stupid nonsensical videos about videos that aren't even viral. They're attention whores who don't put out ANY good content and simply want views. And the reason they get views is because they showcase their tits. I mean seriously, watch one of these things. There is nothing interesting about it and it doesn't do anything but waste your time. So on second thought, don't watch it.

beginnings and endings .

For many summer time is one of the greatest times of the year. For me, it's an odd part of the year, because it's simply the few months that bridge the gap from one year to the next. School year, that is. As much as I like not having to go to class and all the other nonsense and stress that takes place during school, I must admit that sometimes being around all the people my age is preferable to living under someone else's roof. Things are just different at college, as my brother will soon find out when he starts VT.

simple words of wisdom .

There are two quotes I want to talk about today. The first is from one of the daily devotionals I get in my email. The other is from something I saw on a friend's blog. They're simple, yet profound, as is often the case.

heart to hearts .

Heart to hearts are the best. It doesn't matter who you have them with. It could be a friend, a sibling, a love interest, or (while never in my case) a parent. It lets you find out who people really are. It opens your eyes, and brings you closer together. Strands of friendship weave themselves together into a tight knit blanket of looking out for each other, and being there for one another. Relationships improve and you understand more. Asking questions provokes thoughtful answers, and ignorance soon yields knowledge. Some people just get it. These are necessary -- these are one of the best things about life. Sharing, is trusting, is knowing. Sharing with someone, a special someone; sharing a part of yourself that quite possibly no one ever knew before. And that, friends, is something truly special.

atlantic highlands, nj .

Yesterday I took the time to go out and revisit a part of NJ I haven't been to a long time. Not only was it great to go back and visit and dig up some memories, but I got to take a great girl along with me on a date. First, a little bit about the Highlands area of NJ... It's basically like combining a beach town with California with the NY skyline with woods and cliffs. I mean, seriously, it's a bit of everything. You can't NOT like this place.

Music Monday #75

This week's song is I Think I Like You by The Black Box Revelation.

completing an 'about me' .

Since the time I started this blog almost 2 years ago I have never had an "about me" or an "about the author" section anywhere on my blog. I typed out my little blurb that goes underneath my picture in the sidebar, which I suppose I assumed sufficed for all intensive purposes. At one point (probably over a year after I first started blogging) I changed it around a little bit, as my thoughts on it had changed, as they often do over the years. And yet still, I fail to have an "About Me" tab.

when opportunity knocks .

I used to be a part of a sort of church rock band called Spirit Alive while I was in high school. We would play for masses every month or so and were made up of the music minister and mostly teenagers. I stopped after I graduated high school, but this past month was asked to fill in because the normal drummer couldn't make it and they knew I would be able to pick up the music quickly. One of the guitar players there (a VERY talented guy named Chris) happened to be playing with a group for the annual Colts Neck Fair, and my mom went to see him, since she sort of runs Spirit Alive now.

affection .

I haven't done a quotables post in ages, so that's what this is going to be. George Eliot once said "Affection is the broadest basis of good in life." I feel like whenever I write these quotes, I immediately say afterwards, 'this is so true!'. But affection certainly does allow you a broad basis with which to express it. It can be as simple as a smile and a wave, or endless hugs and kisses all night.

the little things .

When people enter relationships, or even before that, there are some things you can usually tell right off the bat. It's easy to tell when someone is willing to go above and beyond just to put a smile on your face. I call these, 'the little things'. These are the things that you don't expect, the things that catch you off guard, the things that make you instantly grin ear to ear, the things that pop into your head over and over throughout the day and make you think 'I can't believe they are so thoughtful that...'.

love & the internet .

Online dating is an odd concept. Sign up for something, pay some money or don't, be connected with randoms and try to guess who is real, who isn't, and who is just a creep. And there are TONS of sites out there that do this. Take your pick, honestly. But, there is something that I really hate about the online dating world. It seems too easy. Now for those of you who instantly thought, "are you fucking kidding me?!" let me explain what I mean by that.

You don't have to search for anyone. It all comes to you. Some random system matches you up. What do you actually do other than click a button? Granted, not many people find love from these things, but some people do!

friendship & sacrifice .

The other day my parents and I got into an argument about helping my sister move down to DC. She currently lives in Philly, but recently got a new (and better paying) job down there, and thus will need help moving stuff from her Philly apartment down to her new one in DC. My parents suggested that I use both days of one of my "weekends" to do this, or even take off from work to help. I have a huge problem with this, and before you think I'm just a terrible person, let me explain why.

Music Monday #74

This week's song is Song For You by Alexi Murdoch.

dating tips for girls, from a guy .

I feel like there is a lot of material out there that tells girls how they're supposed to act or what they're "supposed" to do in regards to getting a guy to like them, or to make themselves stand out from the others. I also feel like all of these things are written mostly by women in magazines that make you feel like shit, and therefore their advice is pretty much shit too. So I figured I'd take the time to write something up in regards to this topic. I suppose at the end of the day, these are really just my preferences, but I think that it might be at least worth thinking about.

jesus and the alien .

The inspiration for today's blog comes from a little comic I read about in a devotional-esque thing I get in my email.

[via]

attn: cyclists .

When they first get started, people see cycling as maybe a mild hobby, or just something that keeps you sorta kinda in shape. What you eventually realize is that there is a huge community of cyclists out there and that they all are ADDICTED to it. I am one of these people -- and here are some suggestions / guidelines / advice from it all, should you get to that point.

hartshorne in a a heat wave .

Feeling ambitious, yesterday I scheduled a morning ride with a coworker up at Hartshorne Woods. The woods is located in the Highlands area of New Jersey, which is probably one of the coolest areas. Think steep hills, woods, nice houses, and a great cliffside view of the oceanic waterways. Despite the multiple-day heat wave (which honestly is 10x worse because of the feckin' humidity) we decided to go for it. Traffic in the morning was a bitch as it usually is during rush hours, but we made it, and started with a steep, rooty climb up the fire road.

chemistry .

No, I'm not talking about the subject in school -- I'm talking about person-to-person chemistry.

Let me explain a little bit about how I operate when it comes to dating... I'm generally a bit shy and timid person, and the fear of rejection and anticipation of an answer when you ask someone out is very intimidating for me. Therefore, I like to spend lots of time with people before I really ever make a move to make things official -- basically I play it safe so that I know whether or not things are going to work out. It certainly saves the pain of short relationships, because it never was a relationship in the first place.

such great heights .

I just happened to stumble upon this tonight and it sorta blew my mind. I'm not super into the verses on this song, but the chorus was absolutely excellent. It's always interesting to look at covers of songs and see what people have done with them.

Whenever I do covers, I'm always inclined to try to reproduce it as close to the original as possible -- but honestly, what fun is that? Covers are about taking something that you really enjoy already and making it your own. The great thing is that you have that opportunity and freedom to do what you want with it, whether it's turning it around and flipping it upside down, or just getting creative and seeing what happens. Mad respect to those who cover stuff all the time -- and I think that the more covers you do, the more you start to find your own sound and eventually start making your own music! Love supporting the indie / underground music community.

So without further ado, Such Great Heights (originally by The Postal Service), covered by Confide.

**Warning: If you don't like anything heavy, don't watch this. But seriously, the chorus blows my mind.

Music Monday #73

This week's song is All Signs Point to Lauderdale by A Day to Remember.

bullet update .

A few quick things for today:
- I'm looking at grad schools -- can't wait to move and get a new fresh start
- Did some money calculations today -- may not have enough to make it through the school year. In fact, definitely won't.
- As a result of the previous bullet, I'm looking for a third job. Would love to barback somewhere... if anyone hears of openings, let me know.
- I'm rediscovering my love for the drums, and would love to play in a band and get some gigs together. If anyone's interested, let me know.
- A Day to Remember has been playing all day.
- I think that there's something good in the works for me, and I'm really excited to see where it goes.
- My brother's graduating on Wednesday, never to be a high-schooler again.
- The weather has been pristine past few days. I have no issues with it being 50 degrees at night; I leave the windows open.
- Congratulations go out to Orla Gartland whose single came out recently, and has really been making an imprint on the music world
- To Hannah, if you seriously pester me further about including my butt in a post I just might... maybe. Persuade me. Give me all you got!
- Went looking through some posts I wrote while in Germany. I miss it dearly.
- I've been going to bed around 1130 lately, and getting up at 6. I like this schedule so much better.
- June and I have failed miserably on our goal to start 365 days of face photos, so we're going to start in July.
- Congratulations to Steph, who just graduated high school -- big achievement.
- Everyone send a few prayers and such up for Stacia, who's been enduring some rough times.
- And to my dear friend Angie, we haven't chatted in quite some time. I miss it! Will be sending some snail mail your way soon.

Hope everyone's doing well. I know I may not comment much, but believe me, I'm reading your stories and keeping up with all of your lives. Always good to see new things from you all.