So it occurred to me today that few people care to further their knowledge. I, personally, don't have a TV and I could care less from what country Brad and Angelina are adopting from this month. I love reading. Yes I admit, not all the books I read are by Dostoevsky or the like, some of the books I read are just books. Things that are quick reads, the kind that get you through a flight or a wait at a doctors office. What I really love though are the books that you can read only a chapter at a time just to work through the words and the plot. Sometimes I even have to chart out the books and keep my laptop near by so I can look words I don't know up.
It saddens me that people no longer read. They just want to sit and watch TV or play games on the Internet. Don't get me wrong, I love watching movies and am addicted to the computer, but I can't imagine a life without books. I'm constantly reading, even if it's just one page before I go to bed. With technology advancing as it is I think that reading will become less and less, and it's already almost non-existent. I thrive to extend my vocabulary one word each day. I honestly don't know half of the 'slang' terms out there. A friend called me over the weekend and asked me 'what's good?'. I'm assuming it's some sort of greeting like the ever popular what's goin' on, but at the time I was completely stumped. I don't want to sound pompous or arrogant but today's culture may know what 'what's good' means but understand what someone means when they say they are 'scrupulous about the way our culture is headed.' I'm baffled by it!!
Maybe it is just a part of the culture of the south or something... I know that our current education systems are lacking throughout, but I can't imagine not wanting to learn as much as you can about everything. I know that is in part due to the fact that I have a father who is a career student, I swear was in school more often than I was as a child. I know that improper grammar is a regional recognition of the south. I try my best not to correct people when they are speaking. I grew up with an English major, improper grammar was CONSTANTLY corrected, as a result I know how to speak properly and feel awkward when I don't.
My advice this evening is to read a book this month. If you 'don't have time' MAKE the time. You're knowledge and ultimately you're mind ('exercising' your brain regularly has been show to reduce chances of Alzheimer's) depend on it!!! Encourage those around you to turn off the TV and read. ANYTHING is better than switching into neutral and allowing your brain to melt away.
embrace.
26.8.08
25.8.08
Wandering...
Wandering through the masses
faceless as they are
Traveling in circles
I don't know how far
Away from present nightmares
towards future ones I drive
Looking through the window
all I see is wide...
Wide open spaces
where one can roam freely
Wide open spaces
nowhere to hide.
I'm wishing for the answer
to this endless journey
Confused and bewildered
I see everything as blurry
Shapes and shadows
all the same
Nothing but grayness
in that picture frame.
I don't see people.
I don't see places.
I don't waste time searching for faces.
I'm fine with the commotion
of everyday life.
Watching from the window
at a very great height.
God is amused
with our daily pandering.
Leaving behind
lonesome meanderings.
The world is full
of mediocre people.
I want to see more
than a person
being true.
Ringing the doorbell
answering the call
We're back
where we started,
but we
never
left at all.
embrace.
faceless as they are
Traveling in circles
I don't know how far
Away from present nightmares
towards future ones I drive
Looking through the window
all I see is wide...
Wide open spaces
where one can roam freely
Wide open spaces
nowhere to hide.
I'm wishing for the answer
to this endless journey
Confused and bewildered
I see everything as blurry
Shapes and shadows
all the same
Nothing but grayness
in that picture frame.
I don't see people.
I don't see places.
I don't waste time searching for faces.
I'm fine with the commotion
of everyday life.
Watching from the window
at a very great height.
God is amused
with our daily pandering.
Leaving behind
lonesome meanderings.
The world is full
of mediocre people.
I want to see more
than a person
being true.
Ringing the doorbell
answering the call
We're back
where we started,
but we
never
left at all.
embrace.
24.8.08
Nostalgia and Racism
Racism... oh man. I could talk for hours on it. Does it still exists? Of course... but now more so against Middle Easterners and Hispanics. Are there still white supremacists out there? Oh God yes, much to the embarrassment of the nation. Here is my thing... we've had equal rights and all that fun stuff for how many years now? Yes, we are still 'weeding out' the last of the generations that remember racism at it's truest most hostile form, and by weeding out I mean waiting for them to die. What I don't understand is that there are people from MY generation that think we owe them something. They have no idea what it's like to protest and be sprayed down by a fire hose. They have no idea what it is like to have separate water fountains, bathrooms, and restaurants. Yet the 'white man' has still got them 'down'. I don't get it!!!
Where I'm from we don't have any issues with race or color. I have honestly never witnessed any problems with race or gender till I came to the south. Maybe being from the Midwest has something to do with it. I don't know. Now it's oh ... that man looks like he might be from Afghanistan... He's going to blow us all up!!!! Are you fucking kidding me? Just like the youth that walk and talk a certain way and dress a certain way are gang members with guns, people who wear turbans are suicide bombers... Now I live in an area heavily populated with Islamic and Muslim people. My mother was uncomfortable with the idea. I can honestly say these are some of the nicest most courteous people I have ever met.
I could play the 'race crad' and go to school for free, but that would almost feel like lying because I certainly don't look like the 1/8th creek indian that I am. Red hair, pale skin, and green eyes aren't a common trait among 'my people'. Do you honestly think I could walk onto a resevation and say 'how squanto'? You bet your damn ass I could, because I'm part of that. Just like african americans can say the "N"-word I can say, red skin or Apple or Casino-Owner because I'm one of them!!!! Racism is sooooooo 1940's, get with the times!! The world is warming up, the trash is piling higher and you're too busy trying not to be blown up by your next door neighbor. Hey he could be doing you a favor, that way yoyu don't have to be around when the economy crashes and we're all thrown back into the stoneage and the polar ice caps melt and we all die of solar radiation. It'll be a gas!
Ugh
On a lighter note...
My brother used to watch this show called "ReBoot" when we were kids. I totally just had a nostalgic moment thinking about it so I googled it and got this ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeBBzPAqWbM
I just about shit a solid gold brick when I found it. Holy cow. I had such a CRUSH on Enzo. and Frisket was soooooooo adorable. Totally naming my next dog Frisket!! Anyway, thats all for today :)
embrace.
Where I'm from we don't have any issues with race or color. I have honestly never witnessed any problems with race or gender till I came to the south. Maybe being from the Midwest has something to do with it. I don't know. Now it's oh ... that man looks like he might be from Afghanistan... He's going to blow us all up!!!! Are you fucking kidding me? Just like the youth that walk and talk a certain way and dress a certain way are gang members with guns, people who wear turbans are suicide bombers... Now I live in an area heavily populated with Islamic and Muslim people. My mother was uncomfortable with the idea. I can honestly say these are some of the nicest most courteous people I have ever met.
I could play the 'race crad' and go to school for free, but that would almost feel like lying because I certainly don't look like the 1/8th creek indian that I am. Red hair, pale skin, and green eyes aren't a common trait among 'my people'. Do you honestly think I could walk onto a resevation and say 'how squanto'? You bet your damn ass I could, because I'm part of that. Just like african americans can say the "N"-word I can say, red skin or Apple or Casino-Owner because I'm one of them!!!! Racism is sooooooo 1940's, get with the times!! The world is warming up, the trash is piling higher and you're too busy trying not to be blown up by your next door neighbor. Hey he could be doing you a favor, that way yoyu don't have to be around when the economy crashes and we're all thrown back into the stoneage and the polar ice caps melt and we all die of solar radiation. It'll be a gas!
Ugh
On a lighter note...
My brother used to watch this show called "ReBoot" when we were kids. I totally just had a nostalgic moment thinking about it so I googled it and got this ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeBBzPAqWbM
I just about shit a solid gold brick when I found it. Holy cow. I had such a CRUSH on Enzo. and Frisket was soooooooo adorable. Totally naming my next dog Frisket!! Anyway, thats all for today :)
embrace.
22.8.08
Ever
Ever try your hardest only to know it isn't good enough?
Ever spend an eternity trying only to fail?
I am torn.
I know only what is before me,
blinding me.
A symphony falling on deaf ears.
Blinding lights behind me,
emptyness before me.
Running away.
Held back by torn restraints.
Miserable.
Bleeding.
Screaming.
Nothing above a whisper.
Useless.
Where is it that I go from here?
Right choices are far behind.
All that's left are mistakes.
One night, wishing to be forgotten.
Engraved into my soul.
Why would it be?
I wish for lightness,
weighted down by torture.
Lay on my side,
sleep the waste away.
Awake?
Renewed?
Doubtful and unfortunate.
Why is it hurting?
Twice now broken.
Popped for all.
The pain should be gone.
It is too fresh for me.
Tower behind the present.
Ignore the beauty.
There is none.
embrace.
Ever spend an eternity trying only to fail?
I am torn.
I know only what is before me,
blinding me.
A symphony falling on deaf ears.
Blinding lights behind me,
emptyness before me.
Running away.
Held back by torn restraints.
Miserable.
Bleeding.
Screaming.
Nothing above a whisper.
Useless.
Where is it that I go from here?
Right choices are far behind.
All that's left are mistakes.
One night, wishing to be forgotten.
Engraved into my soul.
Why would it be?
I wish for lightness,
weighted down by torture.
Lay on my side,
sleep the waste away.
Awake?
Renewed?
Doubtful and unfortunate.
Why is it hurting?
Twice now broken.
Popped for all.
The pain should be gone.
It is too fresh for me.
Tower behind the present.
Ignore the beauty.
There is none.
embrace.
16.8.08
Modesty... or lack there of
So wow, been a while... yet again. Loving my new city still! Busy as all hell for sure, hot as all hell too, but not as bad as DC last summer. That was waaaaaay worse. I'm beginning to think I can actually survive in a car with no ac. Though I'm told that September here is still pretty hot. They got the first snow of the season back home today. I can't believe it. I wish I was there to enjoy it! Anyway, to the real topic of today's story...
Modesty... is the best policy... ALWAYS! I went to the water park here in town today. It was by far one of the funnest things I have done in several years. It was a great day with new friends to say, "What the hell! Who cares what they all think! I'm having fun acting like a five year old today!" It was great! However, modesty.... yeah. I'm on the fence here, I want to be supportive of people who I see and I think to myself "Wow, I would never be comfortable wearing that." Which is horrible because I find it to be so judgemental which I hate! I can't help it though. I think what it is is that I have always been on the bigger side of the spectrum, and therefore I tend to cover up a lot. When I see people who are bigger than me, but don't follow the same guidelines as I do, I'm floored that they feel so comfortable with themselves to wear it. My whole thing is that even the cute skinny beach babes should be wearing more clothes than they do. Would you walk around in your bra and panties in public? More than likely not, although I'm sure some people would if they could. I'm fine with bikinis but only when they consist of more than scraps of material.
So that is my problem. I strive to be modest and not dress like a complete whore, not to say that I don't dress to impress I just do it without running about in my underwear. I'd love to be confident enough with myself to be able to run about in next to nothing, but even if I was there comes a time when you need to be covered up. I don't know if I am making any sense anymore. I just spent 8 hours at a water park running on about 5 hours of sleep, I'm completely delusional at this point. Although not hallucinating, so that's a plus.
Anyway, my advice to the world is that, you may think you look cute, but just to be sure get a second opinion. Preferably from someone other than your horny boyfriend who would rather you run around naked all the time anyway :)
embrace.
Modesty... is the best policy... ALWAYS! I went to the water park here in town today. It was by far one of the funnest things I have done in several years. It was a great day with new friends to say, "What the hell! Who cares what they all think! I'm having fun acting like a five year old today!" It was great! However, modesty.... yeah. I'm on the fence here, I want to be supportive of people who I see and I think to myself "Wow, I would never be comfortable wearing that." Which is horrible because I find it to be so judgemental which I hate! I can't help it though. I think what it is is that I have always been on the bigger side of the spectrum, and therefore I tend to cover up a lot. When I see people who are bigger than me, but don't follow the same guidelines as I do, I'm floored that they feel so comfortable with themselves to wear it. My whole thing is that even the cute skinny beach babes should be wearing more clothes than they do. Would you walk around in your bra and panties in public? More than likely not, although I'm sure some people would if they could. I'm fine with bikinis but only when they consist of more than scraps of material.
So that is my problem. I strive to be modest and not dress like a complete whore, not to say that I don't dress to impress I just do it without running about in my underwear. I'd love to be confident enough with myself to be able to run about in next to nothing, but even if I was there comes a time when you need to be covered up. I don't know if I am making any sense anymore. I just spent 8 hours at a water park running on about 5 hours of sleep, I'm completely delusional at this point. Although not hallucinating, so that's a plus.
Anyway, my advice to the world is that, you may think you look cute, but just to be sure get a second opinion. Preferably from someone other than your horny boyfriend who would rather you run around naked all the time anyway :)
embrace.
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