Carta abierta al Departamento de Hacienda

“A reclamar los intereses.”

Eso es lo que dice el artículo de El Nuevo Día en torno al millar de personas que entienden que se le deben unos chavitos debido a que recibieron cheques emitidos luego del 31 de julio por la misma cantidad que le indicaba su planilla… y para la mayoría no va a cambiar. Aunque la reputación de vagos y quedados es popular el describir a los puertorriqueños, por cuan cierta o falsa sea, la reacción de apatía en torno a los ingresos no se debe a falta de deseo por reclamar lo nuestro. Esto no es una lucha de estatus, una pelea por los derechos humanos ni el reclamo por la vida; es simplemente evidencia adicional que el gobierno de Puerto Rico y sus agencias utilizan los medios para su propio bien, manipulan información y suben esperanzas para apaciguar la ira de tener que esperar de sobra por el dinero que se nos debe.

Aún hoy 4 de septiembre se andan procesando planillas y por cuánto insistan que son sólo aquellas que tienen problemas matemáticos, no queda duda alguna de que hay varias personas que entregaron su planilla a tiempo y andan pillados porque como muchos, cometieron el error de contar con ese dinero. El problema de esta situación y la razón por la cual muchas personas no van a “reclamar lo suyo” es que los intereses que en algún momento fueron el 6% de la planilla, que para muchos pudiese sobrepasar los $100 (y en estos tiempos sí que vale el refrán redundante de “100 pesos son 100 pesos”), terminaron siendo un doceavo de esa cantidad ya que el 6% es lo que uno puede recibir si pasa un año. Para ponerlo más en arroz y habichuelas, lo que iba ser una ayudita terminó siendo una cantidad que no da ni para llenar la mitad del tanque de gasolina.

Es simplemente otro caso del asterisco. Si no leíste los legales, pues mala tuya. El problema es que se nos vendieron villas y castillos, se explicaron las cosas superficialmente y una vez más, anota el gobierno, porque por veinte trapos de pesos, muchas personas no van a salir a la calle a gastar su hora de almuerzo o pasar el mal rato de bregar con una agencia de gobierno, ya que por lo general, estas se nutren de energía y tiempo, consumiendo ambos y dejando sólo un bagazo de mal humor y el semblante pelado de un chinche. No son faltas de ganas, es decir que no vale la pena y dejar que el gobierno se embolsille nuestro dinero, porque de $20 en $20, se llegan a miles y millones, que en vez de emplearse para pagar las agencias del gobierno antes de que tengan que cerrar operaciones nuevamente por falta de capital para pagar nómina, primero se usarán para pagar la dieta de un senador goloso o a remodelar el próximo Capitoilet.

Pero pues, probablemente es que no entiendo el proceso, las cosas no son tan simples como uno se piensa y aún estamos sufriendo las consecuencias de gobiernos anteriores. En otras palabras, el mismo cuento de siempre y como buen puertorriqueños, responderemos con un “pues, que se va a hacer”.

Existential Rant #1

Morning commutes are truly the purgatory between freedom and salaried slavery. It is the time when your thoughts are truly your own and interruptions are limited to subway stops, lane changes or any particular activity related to your preferred method of transportation. Images and words simmer in your still loading mind and things become clearer while at the same time confusing. Mental chatter phases in and out and you realize so many things that you’ll forget in the coming minutes. Universal epiphanies abound but you have no way of recording it and it’s sobering in the sense that while prepping up to enter the routine, your mind revel s in the river of thought that soon will be honed into a stream. Thought after thought churns and you don’t care about opinions or hearsays or anything. You just are, the world is, the universe will be. Anything is possible and the only thing sacred is this revelatory moment where you grasp the aether, drink of life and acquiesce to the mores of the mundane.

Love becomes even more abstract but strangely tangible, as does happiness, dejectedness, frustration or despair. You realize your happy or not and you can kind of figure things out because you’re still half asleep and your defenses are down. It’s too hard to face yourself when you’ve had your morning coffee and your shot of adrenaline from the first phone call, email or job scheduled for the morning. It is your job to not look past any of these obstacles but to rummage in the unconscious that you’re so eager to leave behind so you can snuggle in the cozy repose of the familiar.

Before you are bombarded by adverts and messages, appreciate the lucid brutality of your unawakened self. Swill the sour taste out of your mind and disorganize your life to the point where you really grasp what matters in your life. Only in chaos can some things really become clear, and though frightening, it is liberating.

It’s ok to hate yourself a little, just don’t forget to also love yourself. The point being that you need to appreciate your virtues while willing yourself to remedy the things that bring you down a level in the evolutionary staircase. So take a step in the right direction, whatever that may be for you, and forget to think to truly come in contact with brilliance.

Resolution Report!

Fifth installment in the Resolution Reports. Am I behind? You bet your ass, but these will come out as they have to come out. Period. It’s been a while and a lot of numbers have changed but cans till make further progress, let’s see if I can keep it up til year’s end.

PHYSICAL

Bicep Curls
2,330 / 5,000


Butterfly curls
2,330 / 5,000


Pushups
2,330 / 5,000


Sit-ups
5,200 / 10,000


Jumping Jacks
6,700 / 10,000


Squats
3,975 / 10,000


Miles run/walked
3 / 100

Definitely low on this, but hoping to pick it up for the last four months of the year.

Yoga classes
N/A


Meditation/Reflection/Goal setting hours
4 / 100

Incredible but true, but I’m only in my third hour of this. But will try and put some hours up for this month. Let’s see if I don’t forget as has happened in other occasions.

PROFESSIONAL


Freelance jobs
6 of 10. Might just make the quota, but damn is it going to be a close call.

Work proposals
2 of 10 approved

8 more in the pipeline

Small ideas approved, the other 8 I’d mentioned before are still in the pipeline.

Work on portfolio
N/A If this becomes a priority, it will be treated as such, for now, no luck.





ACTIVITIES:


Surf Sessions
23 / 50

Picked it up a bit but still need to get some help from Papa Poseidon. Here’s hoping for some better luck surfwise


Swim / bodysurf / water activities
3 / 10

Have had a few fun times but it’s been some time since I did exclusive water activities.

Local tourism
N/A

No plans yet, but actually have info to remedy this. Let’s see if I stop dicking around.

Concerts
0 / 5

Even if I only have one this year, it’s Pearl Jam, so I’m good. And I actually found about some other concerts I might be able to go if I’m lucky… let’s hope for the best.


Trips
0 / 2

Actually going to Philly to watch Pearl Jam… talk about killing two birds with one stone. Can’t waittttttttttt

Writing with Pen & Paper
The book is coming along and I’m penning countless other ideas on a small notebook so I’m doing pretty good on this front, but wish I were doing better, because that would mean my book would be near complete.


Movies
18 / 40


Disctrict 9 – Odd, different, weird, intense, stimulating. Best movie ever? No. But I’m extremely happy I saw it.

Brüno - If there’s such a thing as TMI, then there has to be a TMG. Gayness takes front and center in this movie that will have you in stitches from so many things that you really shouldn’t be laughing about.

Harry potter and the Half Blood Prince – Slow paced… visually amazing but much more than a movie, it’s a visual companion to the books. Fans will love, casual fans will be confused, haters will keep hating.

Transformers 2 – Rise of the Fallen: WOW… this movie was all over the place and I can’t help but think they wanted to condense three movies into one… and it didn’t work.

Public Enemies – My expectations were so ridiculously high that it’s natural that I felt the movie blew… It’s not a terrible flick… but it just didn’t click with me on any levels and by the end, I was thinking how to pull off a Dillinger Escape while maintaining my dignity intact.

The Hangover – Pure solid screwed up gold. I laughed from start to finish and loved every second of this new reason for not wanting a Bachelor Party.

The Proposal – I was actually surprised I laughed so much in this over par chick flick. Don’t let the nature of the movie fool you, it’s funny, interesting, random and actually quite a lot of fun.

Land of the Lost – Ok so I was the only one in the theater having a super blast… sue me, but I loved this flick for it’s B movie goodness.

Up – Just the movie I wanted to see… very fun, and very beautiful visually and let me soar up as high as five million helium balloons would allow.

Paul Blart

Angels and Demons

The Wrestler

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Coraline

Slumdog Millionaire

Watchmen

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Star Trek




Watch DVD’s I’ve bought

Broken Saints – Simply put, one of the most important things I’ll ever watch in my life. Amazing and soon should be coming the live action version… let’s hope it does the animated version justice.

Lost Seasons 1-4 (Already on Season 5) – Deliciously addictive.

Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life – A true comedy classic showing just how smart stupid can be.

Twin Peaks series (both seasons+pilot) – Weird, campy, odd, interesting and definitely worth a second watch, if only to transcribe the log lady intros.

Pi – So real and weird it’s scary. Aronofsky in Black and white. Brilliant.

Escape from New York – Kurt Russell and John Carpenter can do no wrong… well in the 80’s at least.

Inland Empire – If you don’t like Lynch, there is nothing here for your enjoyment. Turn on the weird and tune out the world.

Growing Up – Concert by Peter Gabriel… simply amazing… as usual. Great music, hell of a stage, wonderful show. Nuff said.

Soda Stereo Unplugged – Hell of a concert movie… Two thumbs wayyyy up

Videogames finished
10 / 20


Zakk and Wikki – Quest for Barbaro’s Treasure – Wii – One of the most enjoyable videogaming experiences in my life. Odd, quirky and one of the games that best makes use of the Wiimote.

Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes – Game Cube – Great game, classic storyline, steep learning curve and just plain fun.

Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty – PS2 – Weirder storyline than the first game but better controls overall.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater – PS2 – Best MGS I’ve played and I one of my 3 favorite boss fights ever in gaming. Memorable characters, great score, revamped controls, added features and more MGS fun than you can shake your silenced stick at.

Kingdom Hearts – It took me two years to finally decide to finish this game. Not bad at all, but for some reason I just found it hard to even want to finish the damn thing.

Final Fantasy 1 – Throwback RPG that will try your patience regarding redundant battles and possibly the weakest game ending I’ve ever been exposed to.

Jak and Daxter The Precursor Legacy – Great platforming is not easy to do and standing out is even harder but Jak’s first installment made an excellent impression on me. Fun gameplay, great graphics and just fun to play through.

Jak 2 – huge world but lack of direction takes away from this title. Much more engrossing and much more serious storyline but still very solid. My main problem was the whole hovercraft torture of the game.

Jak 3 – Takes all the problems from Jak 2 and SOLVES them. Rarely have I seen a sequel be THAT responsible in addressing all issues regarding a previous installment. The best, funniest, tightest and more entertaining Jak in the series.

Final Fantasy IV – CLASSIC RPG that truly made my day to joy. THAT was the throwback RPG I needed to play to get me in the mood of loving games again.

Currently on – Final Fantasy VI

Books read
8/20 – Read some random books, all over the place, but enjoying the reads.


2nd book of The Bartimeus Trilogy – The Golem’s Eye – Good continuation to the story but not as good as the first one.

3rd book of the Bartimeus Trilogy – Ptolemy’s Gate – A hell of an ending and the no holds barred installment of the story. Great character development, interesting twists and an ending that will have you nodding in approval, even if it is anything but Hollywood.

The Wind in the Willows – A book most people should read for the exercise of character development especially in the characters of Badger, Mole and of course, that crazy Toad. Not to forget the Water Rat, but the other characters were very complete and it was amazing to read since this is a kid’s story with all the limitations seen in most children’s book (mainly skipping months in three lines and not having a good grasp on timing).

Fahrenheit 451 – Scary how this reads like it was written yesterday. Brilliant book though the ending drags a bit. One of those books whose brilliance stems from the development much more than the ending.

Angels and Demons – Better movie than Da Vinci, but lesser a book. Some lines and scenes read like something a teenager would write to be honest. If you hate me for saying that, by all means defend the Helicopter jump scene or the last line of the book. I dare you.

Nightwatch – Excellent sci-fi fantasy read. Very different narrative and very fresh ideas from a brilliant mind from Russia.

Joker’s Asylum – Great compilation of tales of the Joker. More fuel to my crazed love for this delightful villain.

Hardy Boys – I needed to finally understand all the jokes I hear from the Hardy Boys. To put it lightly, these books are Scooby-Doo sans dog, munchie desiring hippie, hottie and lesbian. I swear I felt dumber once I read this train wreck.

Currently on – Thus Spake Zarathustra – Nietzche… yeah I’m weird like that. Going from a graphic novel, to Hardy Boys, to Nietzche. This book is brilliant by the way.



Playing guitar

Actually been playing guitar a lot more recently and I’m really happy about that.


ACQUISITIVE:


Get new computer

My comp is up and running, and I’m a cheery bugger. New antivirus and a cleanup means being connected to the world without a super inversion.


Net connection

Loving the DSL, it’s so fast, and sexy. I’d have its children.


Digital recorder

No news on this, might wait to buy a comp for that, but still on my mind. Let’s see what I do.

Digital Camera

Still haven’t bought a cam.. I suck…


MONETARY


Save Money

Baby stepping savings continues. Got some more cash flow and for next year, I’m going to need it.


Payments
Still everything’s on time, but working to further promote that.


Mom’s cakes
Officially need to reestablish my relationship with this project.



Donations
A few bucks here and there but no new contribution. Still up $200 and looking to offer some extra cash to another cause… will keep posted if there’s news on this.


KNOWLEDGE:

Learn / record songs
Have continued writing songs, but haven’t recorded anything… dang…


Learn Random Info
I’d forgotten about this and maybe I’ll use it to reach my quota. I’d said I’d look for random info and make random posts that probably no one will read, but will be a fun write for me.


Read the news
Still reading, learning, and living large.


Retake French
July ended and still no French book.. to be honest, this has definitely taken a back seat… let’s see if I can get my poo poo together.



Dance classes
Still haven’t look into that info… have to see what I do with this.



WRITING:


WAS posts
111 / 200 (as of august 30th)

Have 4 months to go, which averages to less than 25 posts a month, this is pretty much in the bag, but let’s not get too cocky.


Posts in other blogs
23 +9 / 100

Keeping quite busy in the blog writing sense of the word. This is one of three blogs, the others being Why Advertising Sucks and Laser Eater. I’m always writing on WAS but Laser Eater I have it a bit forgotten, have to change that ASAP but since I can’t write at work, then it becomes a bit harder because I don’t always get home with the urge to rant.

Finish book
Finished chapter 38. Very interesting the twists the book demands from my brain and how I just go along with it. Halfway through Chapter 39, let’s see if we can’t finish up that puppy this week. Having said that now, I probably jinxed myself.


Write short stories
0 / 10
Still at zero… have to switch tactics on myself… any suggestions… oh wait, I forgot that pretty much no one reads this blog lol. Oh well. I like being schizo like this.

Essay project
0 / 20
Zero for 20… nice… sometimes it’s impressive how much I suck.



Draft story arcs
0 / 3
I will quit dicking around with this and will organize myself during the month of August… that is an additional resolution.


Movie Script
Still pending
Let’s baby step this one ok? There’s just a lot of stuff I really have to focus on.

Progress reports
5/ 12
Because of connection and comp issues, I’ve lazed off quite a bit so I will have to make mid month reports just to be able to accomplish this goal.


Standup piece
N/A – Still haven’t found a place to put this in agenda. Actually want to re-read what I wrote and see if I can’t get inspired and rant a little more and finish the damn thing.


Be more positive
Glimpses of the old self have come around, but for the most part staying positive and making lemonade as often as possible. Some days it gets to be too much and my patience wears thin, but I guess that’s just me being intolerant to an otherwise kick-ass existence.



Forgive people
Actually got to speaking terms with one of the people that had won my scorn. Interesting interaction to be honest, let’s see how long it lasts.


Negative energy
Work has been kind of crazy and the corporate BS has gotten to me on more than one occasion, but with a change of outlook and a little prescription strength fukitol, anything is possible.


Loving my fiancée

I work hard to make her smile and enjoy life. She’s one of the greatest inspirations in my life and I can’t help but be thankful I’m marrying my muse. Love you darling.

Live Alive: Pearl Jam

While some bands quickly become one-trick ponies, incapable of altering the formula that brought them initial success, Pearl Jam has given the finger and shown that their fans deserve more than just the same old approach. Each and every album within the Pearl Jam catalogue has its own distinct flavor and amazingly, not one of them taints a musical reputation, any other 80’s or 90’s band has been able to achieve.

I don’t care if Papa Roach and Linkin Park sold a gazillion albums, and neither do they nor their fans. They have always walked to the beat of their drum and have often treaded in dangerous waters simply for the sake of honesty and artistic integrity. You simply don’t take on Ticket Master if you want people to see you. Well that’s exactly what they did. After this band found out that the monopolizing giant had added service charges to their show tickets, they canceled the summer tour and boycotted the company in protest.

That’s because this band comes alive when they’re live. They look up to the Who and Led Zeppelin who knew what it meant to deliver live. They are known for giving two encores and for some of those encores to be longer than some concerts from the likes of mega stars that didn’t have enough Fiji Water to feed their egos.

I’ve been to three Pearl Jam shows and though that may not seem like a lot, please take into account that I’m not filthy rich, that I live in Puerto Rico and that I need to invest some serious cash each and every time I’ve seen them live. By the way, each experience has not only been worth every penny; they have EACH succeeded in exceeding my expectations and have humbled me as a fan and more than once I’ve found myself torn between doing a Garth and shrieking I’m not worthy and just crying out of sheer joy.


When you think of Pearl Jam live, you need to take into account that they have what they call “two shirt nights”, where so much sweat has bled on stage that they need to change outfits just to not risk electrocution. Hell, when they have back to back nights, it’s a wonder they shower at all.

That’s why they’re my favorite band in the world. They know what they mean to their fans and they always strive to go further. They are not complacent in their relationship and constantly do things that in the short and long run will reward fans of all ages for decades to come. When you look to comparisons, you just need to look back and see the following for bands like The Who or The Grateful Dead. If you’ve ever heard the stories, you know that those fans can get a bit raucous to say the least, which is funny because being one of the Ten Clan, I can tell you that it’s an experience worth living to be in the crowd when the band is blazing through “Do the Evolution” and suddenly all lights come on and the entire crowd chants hallelujah in the über cynical ode to our wanting evolutionary cycle.

You see while religious types have church to go to, real fans have a travelling church, and in the case of Pearl Jam, it’s almost a circus. Plus, make sure to get there early because surprises tend to happen at Pearl Jam shows. Eddie comes out to play a three song acoustic set or he jams with the opening band or special guests make a special appearance truly making the word special mean something for a change. You are the fan and they are playing for you. Not twelve songs. Not Fifteen. Normally sets range upwards of 26 songs and you can bet your butt that they’re exhausted, but that doesn’t mean they won’t finish a concert with Baba O’Reilly, Porch, or Rocking in the Free World.

That’s another thing. Covers played by artists are rarely as special as the original, but with Pearl Jam, you have versions of Baba, Reign O’er Me, Crazy Mary, Masters of War, Rocking in the Free world and countless others that truly give the original a run for their money, live. You could say that such a feat says something about a band, but I disagree… I think it says everything about a band.

Live Alive: an introduction

Some bands excel at producing studio gems that will grace your collection for years and years to come. Real bands however, sweat their way to success and leave it all on the stage. They play with passion, heart, desire and energy that defy explanation.

Think Meatloaf; think Bruce Springsteen; think The Who, artists and bands that look at hour-long shows as a joke or merely a warm up. Artists that know no better way to convince you of their greatness than rewarding your hard earned, well spent money. These are the artists that inspire me the most because they aren’t just as good live, they’re better.

This occasional series will serve to highlight bands that know the true meaning of a live show.

We may live, we may die, but only a band that gives it all, can help me Live Alive.

Resolution Report! 4th installment

Number 4 in my resolution reports. Am I behind? You bet your ass, but these will come out as they have to come out. Period. It’s been a while and a lot of numbers have changed but cans till make further progress, let’s see if I can keep it up til year’s end. Will probably post midway through the month since it's my birth month and want to do this more than once.

PHYSICAL

Bicep Curls
2,010 / 5,000


Butterfly curls
2,010 / 5,000


Pushups
2,010 / 5,000


Sit-ups
4,400 / 10,000


Jumping Jacks
5,900 / 10,000


Squats
3,375 / 10,000


Miles run/walked
3 / 100

Ran two miles on Monday and basically passed out Tuesday night. Gonna try to run/walk again tomorrow. See if I can’t make a habit out of this.

Yoga classes
N/A


Meditation/Reflection/Goal setting hours
3 / 100

Incredible but true, but I’m only in my third hour of this. But will try and put some hours up for this month. Let’s see if I don’t forget as has happened in other occasions.

PROFESSIONAL


Freelance jobs
5 of 10. It’s been kind of slow to say the least. Kinda sucks for me because I could really use the extra cash, but hey, at least I’m getting time to do my own stuff right? Ummm… yeah… I didn’t think so.


Work proposals
2 of 10 approved

8 more in the pipeline

Small ideas approved, the other 8 I’d mentioned before are still in the pipeline.

Work on portfolio
N/A

Haven’t done anything particular for my portfolio and can’t say I’m yearning to do so either. If it happens, great. If not, no skin off my B-hind.

RECAP:
Freelance has been dead for three months, which sucks. Work proposals just aren’t going through because we’ve been so ridiculously swamped with work. Have to make the best out of the next couple that maybe aren’t as insane.


ACTIVITIES:


Surf Sessions
18 / 50

Had a decent surf Sunday, glad for it because I felt lost without a good session under my wing and the one before was pathetic at best.


Swim / bodysurf / water activities
3 / 10

Still at 3, but I can fix this with a couple of weekends of water activities, or that’s what I keep telling myself.

Local tourism
N/A

No plans yet, but actually have info to remedy this. Let’s see if I stop dicking around.

Concerts
0 / 5

Even if I only have one this year, it’s Pearl Jam, so I’m good. And I actually found about some other concerts I might be able to go if I’m lucky… let’s hope for the best.


Trips
0 / 2

Actually going to Philly to watch Pearl Jam… talk about killing two birds with one stone. Can’t waittttttttttt

Writing with Pen & Paper
The book is coming along and I’m penning countless other ideas on a small notebook so I’m doing pretty good on this front, but wish I were doing better, because that would mean my book would be near complete.


Movies
16 / 40


Paul Blart: Mall Cop – I thought this was going to be a gut busting good time. All that ended up getting busted was my wallet from this middle of the road ho hum movie.

Angels and Demons – I still have a review pending on this one on my other blog, I will sum it up by saying that if you’re looking for a faithful book adaptation, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.

The Wrestler – Aronofsky brilliance strikes again. He has a talent to leave your gut wrenched after the final scene of everyone of his movies, but great storytelling is something he’s REALLY strong at.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Just in case, THIS should have been the movie of the year at the Academy Awards. Yes I enjoyed Slumdog, but it’s no Ben Button. Sorry.

Coraline – One of the most gratifying cinematographic experiences in my life. Words can’t begin to describe how much I absolutely adored this movie and as an animation feature it stands tall and proud among the elite, often times surpassing movies that made five times as much money.

Slumdog Millionaire – Great movie. Predictable at times, but great. Good music (good not great). Interesting cinematography, feel good story. Bollywood has never had such a Hollywood ending or Hollywood has never had such a Bollywood feel. I’m still debating which way is right.

Watchmen – A big blue penis could not take away from the fabulous acting of some of the most memorable comic book characters never to have been to an mutant academy.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine – THE definition of a Popcorn movie. Fast pace, rushed storyline, great special effects, good fights, and some plot holes thrown in for good measure. All in all, a good two and half star movie.

Star Trek – holy mama… let’s just sum this up by asking why wasn’t JJ Abrams hired to film the Last 3 Star Wars.

Harry potter and the Half Blood Prince – Slow paced… visually amazing but much more than a movie, it’s a visual companion to the books. Fans will love, casual fans will be confused, haters will keep hating.

Transformers 2 – Rise of the Fallen: WOW… this movie was all over the place and I can’t help but think they wanted to condense three movies into one… and it didn’t work.

Public Enemies – My expectations were so ridiculously high that it’s natural that I felt the movie blew… It’s not a terrible flick… but it just didn’t click with me on any levels and by the end, I was thinking how to pull off a Dillinger Escape while maintaining my dignity intact.

The Hangover – Pure solid screwed up gold. I laughed from start to finish and loved every second of this new reason for not wanting a Bachelor Party.

The Proposal – I was actually surprised I laughed so much in this over par chick flick. Don’t let the nature of the movie fool you, it’s funny, interesting, random and actually quite a lot of fun.

Land of the Lost – Ok so I was the only one in the theater having a super blast… sue me, but I loved this flick for it’s B movie goodness.

Up – Just the movie I wanted to see… very fun, and very beautiful visually and let me soar up as high as five million helium balloons would allow.

Watch DVD’s I’ve bought

Lost Seasons 1-4 (Already on Season 5) – Deliciously addictive.

Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life – A true comedy classic showing just how smart stupid can be.

Twin Peaks series (both seasons+pilot) – Weird, campy, odd, interesting and definitely worth a second watch, if only to transcribe the log lady intros.

Pi – So real and weird it’s scary. Aronofsky in Black and white. Brilliant.

Escape from New York – Kurt Russell and John Carpenter can do no wrong… well in the 80’s at least.

Inland Empire – If you don’t like Lynch, there is nothing here for your enjoyment. Turn on the weird and tune out the world.

Growing Up – Concert by Peter Gabriel… simply amazing… as usual. Great music, hell of a stage, wonderful show. Nuff said.

Soda Stereo Unplugged – Hell of a concert movie… Two thumbs wayyyy up

Videogames finished
10 / 20


Zakk and Wikki – Quest for Barbaro’s Treasure – Wii – One of the most enjoyable videogaming experiences in my life. Odd, quirky and one of the games that best makes use of the Wiimote.

Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes – Game Cube – Great game, classic storyline, steep learning curve and just plain fun.

Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty – PS2 – Weirder storyline than the first game but better controls overall.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater – PS2 – Best MGS I’ve played and I one of my 3 favorite boss fights ever in gaming. Memorable characters, great score, revamped controls, added features and more MGS fun than you can shake your silenced stick at.

Kingdom Hearts – It took me two years to finally decide to finish this game. Not bad at all, but for some reason I just found it hard to even want to finish the damn thing.

Final Fantasy 1 – Throwback RPG that will try your patience regarding redundant battles and possibly the weakest game ending I’ve ever been exposed to.

Jak and Daxter The Precursor Legacy – Great platforming is not easy to do and standing out is even harder but Jak’s first installment made an excellent impression on me. Fun gameplay, great graphics and just fun to play through.

Jak 2 – huge world but lack of direction takes away from this title. Much more engrossing and much more serious storyline but still very solid. My main problem was the whole hovercraft torture of the game.

Jak 3 – Takes all the problems from Jak 2 and SOLVES them. Rarely have I seen a sequel be THAT responsible in addressing all issues regarding a previous installment. The best, funniest, tightest and more entertaining Jak in the series.

Final Fantasy IV – CLASSIC RPG that truly made my day to joy. THAT was the throwback RPG I needed to play to get me in the mood of loving games again.

Currently on – Final Fantasy VI

Books read
8/20 – Read some random books, all over the place, but enjoying the reads.


2nd book of The Bartimeus Trilogy – The Golem’s Eye – Good continuation to the story but not as good as the first one.

3rd book of the Bartimeus Trilogy – Ptolemy’s Gate – A hell of an ending and the no holds barred installment of the story. Great character development, interesting twists and an ending that will have you nodding in approval, even if it is anything but Hollywood.

The Wind in the Willows – A book most people should read for the exercise of character development especially in the characters of Badger, Mole and of course, that crazy Toad. Not to forget the Water Rat, but the other characters were very complete and it was amazing to read since this is a kid’s story with all the limitations seen in most children’s book (mainly skipping months in three lines and not having a good grasp on timing).

Fahrenheit 451 – Scary how this reads like it was written yesterday. Brilliant book though the ending drags a bit. One of those books whose brilliance stems from the development much more than the ending.

Angels and Demons – Better movie than Da Vinci, but lesser a book. Some lines and scenes read like something a teenager would write to be honest. If you hate me for saying that, by all means defend the Helicopter jump scene or the last line of the book. I dare you.

Nightwatch – Excellent sci-fi fantasy read. Very different narrative and very fresh ideas from a brilliant mind from Russia.

Joker’s Asylum – Great compilation of tales of the Joker. More fuel to my crazed love for this delightful villain.

Hardy Boys – I needed to finally understand all the jokes I hear from the Hardy Boys. To put it lightly, these books are Scooby-Doo sans dog, munchie desiring hippie, hottie and lesbian. I swear I felt dumber once I read this train wreck.

Currently on – Thus Spake Zarathustra – Nietzche… yeah I’m weird like that. Going from a graphic novel, to Hardy Boys, to Nietzche. This book is brilliant by the way.



Playing guitar

Actually been playing guitar a lot more recently and I’m really happy about that.


ACQUISITIVE:


Get new computer

My comp is up and running, and I’m a cheery bugger. New antivirus and a cleanup means being connected to the world without a super inversion.


Net connection

Loving the DSL, it’s so fast, and sexy. I’d have its children.


Digital recorder

No news on this, might wait to buy a comp for that, but still on my mind. Let’s see what I do.

Digital Camera

Still haven’t bought a cam.. I suck…


MONETARY


Save Money

On my way to my bank account to siphon money into my savings account. Baby steps… baby steps


Payments
Still everything’s on time, but working to further promote that.


Mom’s cakes
Officially need to reestablish my relationship with this project.



Donations
A few bucks here and there but no new contribution. Still up $200 and looking to offer some extra cash to another cause… will keep posted if there’s news on this.


KNOWLEDGE:

Learn / record songs
Have continued writing songs, but haven’t recorded anything… dang…


Learn Random Info
I’d forgotten about this and maybe I’ll use it to reach my quota. I’d said I’d look for random info and make random posts that probably no one will read, but will be a fun write for me.


Read the news
Still reading, learning, and living large.


Retake French
July ended and still no French book.. to be honest, this has definitely taken a back seat… let’s see if I can get my poo poo together.



Dance classes
Still haven’t look into that info… have to see what I do with this.



WRITING:


WAS posts
103 / 200

Past the 100 mark, which is a good sign even if there are only 5 months to go in the year. But hey, I’m sure I can pull it off.


Posts in other blogs
21 +8 / 100

Keeping quite busy in the blog writing sense of the word. This is one of three blogs, the others being Why Advertising Sucks and Laser Eater. I’m always writing on WAS but Laser Eater I have it a bit forgotten, have to change that ASAP but since I can’t write at work, then it becomes a bit harder because I don’t always get home with the urge to rant.

Finish book
Finished chapter 38. Very interesting the twists the book demands from my brain and how I just go along with it. Halfway through Chapter 39, let’s see if we can’t finish up that puppy this week. Having said that now, I probably jinxed myself.


Write short stories
0 / 10
Still at zero… have to switch tactics on myself… any suggestions… oh wait, I forgot that pretty much no one reads this blog lol. Oh well. I like being schizo like this.

Essay project
0 / 20
Zero for 20… nice… sometimes it’s impressive how much I suck.



Draft story arcs
0 / 3
I will quit dicking around with this and will organize myself during the month of August… that is an additional resolution.


WAS Movie
Still pending
Let’s baby step this one ok? There’s just a lot of stuff I really have to focus on.

Progress reports
4/ 12
Because of connection and comp issues, I’ve lazed off quite a bit so I will have to make mid month reports just to be able to accomplish this goal.


Standup piece
N/A – Still haven’t found a place to put this in agenda. Actually want to re-read what I wrote and see if I can’t get inspired and rant a little more and finish the damn thing.


Be more positive
Glimpses of the old self have come around, but for the most part staying positive and making lemonade as often as possible. Some days it gets to be too much and my patience wears thin, but I guess that’s just me being intolerant to an otherwise kick-ass existence.



Forgive people
Actually got to speaking terms with one of the people that had won my scorn. Interesting interaction to be honest, let’s see how long it lasts.


Negative energy
Work has been kind of crazy and the corporate BS has gotten to me on more than one occasion, but with a change of outlook and a little prescription strength fukitol, anything is possible.


Loving my fiancée

I work hard to make her smile and enjoy life. She’s one of the greatest inspirations in my life and I can’t help but be thankful I’m marrying my muse. Love you darling.

Antimotivationally Speaking

Go into any bookstore and you will see at least ten new self motivational books, or self help books. The rate at which this category grows on a daily basis pretty much inspires me to puke since people got motivated, wrote a motivational book and are raking in the millions.

So what if I can justify the existence of a self help book even if someone uses it as a literary crutch to replace a bible with. People seem to overlook the fact that motivation comes from inspiration and that changes from one person to the next. I say unmotivate yourself into spending money on a motivation book. Go to Barnes and Noble, browse the title, get the jist of it, take notes if you want and get on cracking with your life. I know you're also extremely busy because you have work to do, stuff to by and children to leave at a day care, but seriously, take two minutes from your oh so busy life, analyze yourself and know that in less than one minute you already know five things you want to change about yourself.

Often I've been recommended by Kool aid chugging people to read, listen to or watch the Secret. It'll change my outlook on life, it'll help me achieve all that I want to achieve and be all I can be (Yo Joe). To these people who have recommended this piece of motivationess I have one thing I'd like to clear up for you:

Thinking positively will not do anything for you. Nothing. Absolute zero Kelvin nothing in the spectrum of life. It's the same as attributing someone getting better from health due EXCLUSIVELY to the power of prayer.

Now that you have been able to read that and formulate your opinion of how much of a Debbie Downer I am, let me offer you the second half of that thought.

Thinking positively will do nothing for you, but ACTING positively will yield results faster than a speeding bullet. Help an old lady cross the street and you've instantaneously made someone's day a little brighter. Say good morning, good afternoon, good evening or just a cheery hello with a smile, and I guarantee your odds will be better to obtain a positive client employee interaction because it applies both ways. Hold a door, call a friend, tell your mom you love her, slap your dad's hand away and give him a hug, do something for Christ's Sake. But J, a positive mindset will allow you to do so much more... Well not if you don't do anything.

You want a key to happinness, it's actually very simple but it'll take some getting used to... do something without expecting something for that action because once you beging expecting, waiting for, desiring or wanting to force a reaction, you are lost onto the world.

But no. People need to read books, take yoga classes, eat yogurt that regulates their digestive system and need a crutch, an external push or an incentive to do something that should be done for their own benefit and for their own evolution as a human being. So by all means, unmotivate yourself if it'll help you hit rock bottom, ground your feet and start doing things and making decisions without depending on feedback or approval to do so.

Algunos padres están de madre

Sólo hay que caminar por plaza, un cine o un parquecito para rascarte la cabeza en torno a la supuesta crianza que ofrecen algunos padres de este país. Yo sé que no siendo padre hiere mis derecho de expresar mi opinión sobre esto, pero siendo tío a la tercera potencia y viendo lo que logró mi madre con sus tres criaturas, no puedo dejar de cosas que hacen otros padres y mirar al suelo con vergüenza ajena.

Es triste que el único requisito para ser un padre es la habilidad de fecundar un óvulo porque verdaderamente hay momentos en donde quisiera que hiciera falta una licencia para el embarazo. Cursos preparatorios que instruyen sobre la crianza al igual que los ejercicios de respiración que no se sentirán como si ayudaran mucho cuando defecas un coco. El desbalance es increíble y veo como padres se vuelven en déspotas de la crianza o en víctimas de la furia de las perretas. O resuelven todo con un manoplazo o dependen de los time outs y en darle lo que pida el niño sin aportar nada a su carácter. Cierto, más fácil dicho que hecho, ¿pero en serio que la única respuesta que voy a recibir es que no entiendo porque no soy padre? Sí, reconozco que hay chiquillos que son difíciles, pero tienen que haber mejores maneras de educar a éstos chicos.

Por un lado, los padres reposteros que reparten más galleta que un enano de Keebler. Perdóname, pero una galleta a tiempo sí puede salvar a un niño de malos pasos, pero una sobredosis le enseña que violencia física tiene efectos y rinde resultados. Las relaciones se cortan y en donde se supone haber amor, hay resentimiento y odio.

En la otra tangente están los padres tan pendangos que dejan que un hijo le grite en público y hacen suficientes cosas para demostrar por qué no es buena idea dejar un hijo más tiempo en una égida infantil que con su familia. Después en el cine haciendo alboroto y no tienes ninguna crítica constructiva como por ejemplo que se calle la dichosa boca y se comporte? ¿No? ¿Nada? Qué bonitoo.... Así cualquiera es padre o madre. Si el único requisito es cargar la bola de bowling y luego depositar la criatura al mundo para lloverle con juguetes, dinero, dulces y lo que pida contar de que se calle, pues no le va a ir muy bien en la vida y peor aún, yo me lo tendré que calar en un cine cercano o en un avión en donde demuestra que las regulaciones de los aviones no le aplican a mascotas infantiles, porque así mismo los tratan sus amos/padres.

Simplemente pienso que tienen que haber mejores maneras de criar, pero con el calibre de egoísta que rige las tierras del área metropolitana, no me debería sorprender... y en realidad no me sorprende... pero si me decepciona.

En última instancia, creo que mi sentimiento se puede resumir haciendo una adaptación de un lema pasado de la Universidad del Sagrado Corazón:

Padres defectuosos, hijos defectuosos.

Ojalá se ponga de moda romper este ciclo.

Pearl Jam is not "Returning to Form"

You see to return to form, you have to lose it. You have to slip up. You have to do something wrong. Pearl Jam has done neither. True, they may have avoided writing another Ten, but for someone who has been a fan for seventeen years, I know I'm biased, but I also know I'm honest, and there is nothing Perl Jam has done wrong... well maybe "Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me", but that's besides the point. No other band could make me prouder to be a fan, a biased, unruly no nonsense tolerating fan. People say everything has sucked since Ten, and I kindly refer them to their cd collection including Limp Bizkit, Good Charlotte, Story of the Year, and the Now music series.

Seriously, if you're not a fan, that's kosher, just don't go trying to rain on my parade because you can and will be ignored, but the memory of you will stick out like some ungodly dump that had me crawling on the floor while wiping.

Are some albums better than others... well there's actually no answer to this question. You can say some albums were more accesible, poppier, harder or mellower... but better? Well no. Music wise they always deliver and they go through different phases, liking to play different things. This isn't Metallica cutting their hair and playing something that sounds like what's out there. They've NEVER played like what's out there and they've always played what they've wanted to play.

You could maybe say they're a little too political for you but I can't help but want music with a message in my collection. People often scoff at some of their titles and to me, every album has meant something to me in different points in my life. Ten was my first rock album and I was beginning a long and gratifying relationship. Vs has the edge and anger that was coming to in me at my early teens yet had beautiful tracks that to this day make me breathe deep and just reflect on my life. Vitalogy sounded like it came from the 70's rock and 80's punk era respectively and during the only time I've ever contemplated suicide, their music didn't pull me out of the gutter, but it did help me piece shit in my head that wasn't making sense. No Code I didn't even know it was coming out and I stumbled on it on its release day at Spec's and I've never had a more randomly pleasant surprise than having an album from my favorite band just pop up in front of me. From this album I have special love from In My Tree, Off he Goes and Present Tense... not to mention that when I die I want Around the Bend to be playing. Then I fizzled slightly on Pearl Jam for some reason and I still listened to them, but something had skipped at beat.... then came yield... and that fire that burned so fiercely in me erupted like some dormant volcano that woke from a Coma. I'd never been that amped to have Pearl Jam in my life and I found myself backtracking to buy all the singles and have PJ binges that would last weeks. I played yield so much I thought it was going to burn right through, but it didn't. I felt inspired, energized and I was given to fly. Then came Binaural... an album I initially didn't totally get. I enjoyed it don't get me wrong... but it didn't click with me until about a year later when I found myself writing and listening to the album... then I hit repeat all and after five listens I realized that it clicked and that though a bit of a test, it finally settled into my soul with all my Pearl Jam memories. Then came Riot Act, an album that isn't my favorite through and through, but that has enough jems for me to enjoy. What was different for me on this album though, was that I finally realized that the album was just the beginning and that these songs demanded to be listened to live... which I did, and I found great appreciating for the live demos found on the album, and the scorching numbers that were kind enough to explode my head. Then came the Avocado and I was amped again... I'd been amped since Yield and it's gotten more intense as time has passed. i played World Wide Suicide to no end but found great satisfaction in Big Wave, Inside Job and Come Back. The whole album is solid through and through... but those foud tracks begged me to hit replay. Then we have present day. I heard Got Some, DVR'd the performance and have listened to that song well past 50 times. I've heard the fixer on their site and was amazed at how happy Ed sounded... damn... I don't think I could remember when Ed sounded that happy in a song and I not only don't mind, but happilly jump on the wagon and smile as I jump up and down like some ridiculous teenager who wears clothes that fit him poorly and who is battling pubescent acne. Now comes Speed of Sound... This song seems like a song that will resonate with me for years to come... It is in the vein of the Into the Wild soundtrack, whic means mellow, folksy, and a song to enjoy over a cup of coffee if you're alone.

That's not counting the side projects, soundtrack appearances, and collaborations all members of the band have done throughout the years. For my part, this relationship keeps getting better and I can't help but send good thoughts on a wave to my unknown friends. I'd write something like keep true to yourselves, but you don't need a random blogger fan saying this and the genuine fire that is your integrity burns bright. So I finish this post with well wishes of great waves and great times.

Cheers

Pearl Jam - Speed of Sound Scavenger fun

So i was a bit late into getting my first listen of Pearl Jam's new track titled Speed of Sound. Now before anyone goes thinking I have education problem, no I did not take four days to find all the images to unlock the downloadable track... oh wait, I get ahead of myself. If you didn't know, Pearl Jam is releasing an album. If you didn't know about that then you might not know that they debuted one of the tracks on their album on Conan Obrien's debut on the Tonight Show. The audio was weird but the song insisted on being awesome, and it succeeded. If you didn't know that, then you probably didn't know that they released a new single on their website and that is already on pre sale as well as the album. And if you didn't know any of that, you probably had no idea that they had a scavenger hunt where your reward for finding all nine pictures of the cover art is a music download.

If you didn't know any of this and are still reading, then I'm impressed because I wouldn't believe you were interested in this band if you didn't know all of that. For your info, Pearl Jam hid nine images from their album throughout the web. I could give all the links to all the pictures, but I seriously think that defeat the purpose and takes away half the fun. Is this an innovative, crazy out there idea... not really. It turns out that Muse did it and you could win a free Dr. Pepper... but since Pearl Jam does not have a bar code on their taint, your reward should you choose to finish the hunt is a download of the demo version of a great song.

I for one am happy with the hunt, with the song and with this band. I proudly proclaim they are my favorite band, I'm going to watch them live for the fourth time and I can't help but smile with every memory that has anything to do with these guys. I've read some people think the hunt was lame, that they didn't like the song and yadda yadda and bull crap. The tendency of people just wanting to be haters and being major douche debbie downers is just insulting to someone who is trying to become more optimistic and for the most part is happy to let people enjoy their cup of tea, especially when it's not mine.

There are so many people that insist that Pearl Jam hasn't put out a great album since Ten that I just have to scratch my head everytime I see their Creed rocks T-shirts. For my part, I'm passing on the hating and am just smiling at the speed of sound... and I suggest you get cracking on that scavenger hunt so you can do the same.

cheers

I close my eyes and hear thunder

A while back I wrote this in my other blog, but I felt the need to post it here for memento sake.

____________________________________________________________________________________

In the world of boxing, becoming a belt holder has quickly become immaterial to a certain degree. Sanctioning bodies have done their best to work against a sport I love but in the last year and a half, catch weights and fighters deciding to fight the best and only the best have returned to the scene. Fighters like Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are fighting the best of the best and beating them. Titles are being ignored and immortality is the gold on everyone's mind.

In a sport that is beautiful in its brutality though, few people made me love boxing more than Arturo 'Thunder' Gatti. He showed the value of resolve, courage, and sheer heart. His defense? Forgettable. His offense? Anything but. Proclaimed as the Blood and Guts champion, Gatti did things almost alien to many of the flashier fighters of the sport: He spoke with his fists much more than he did with his mouth. His idea of showboating was taking brutal punishment only to flash out a perfect left hook that had his opponent wondering who the current president was. He was the type of boxer that makes you appreciate the sweet science just as much as his fights showed what mountains could be climbed out of sheer will.

Was Gatti the greatest boxer in the world? No. Of course not. He was simply one of the greatest boxers to watch. Plain and simple. Hittable, vulnerable and brave to a fault. If ever there was a boxer to always go out on his shield and never on his stool, look no further. He was the guy with the lacking skillset but the tenacity to take five shots to give you one of those perfect left hooks.

In a career that transitioned from the 90's to the 2000's, Gatti fought like it was 1950 and looked the part, having slick hair, suits and a face that wouldn't have been out of place next to the likes of Al Capone.

On May 2002, I was fortunate enough to have my tv on HBO and saw that the card would have a guy named Arturo Gatti face off another guy named Micky Ward. The names were familiar since Micky had already been in fight of the year winners or candidates. SO I thought I was going to see a great fight. I simply had no pre-conception that I was about to watch history in the making and a fight I'd be telling my grand children about. If I had to pick my top five fights in my life off the top of my head, you'd see: Leonard VS Hagler, Marquez VS Pacquiao 1, Trinidad VS Vargas, Marquez VS Diaz, and Gatti VS Ward 1. After I start thinking I remember Foreman VS Ali, Ali VS Frazier 1, Barrera VS Morales 1 and 3, Morales VS Pacquiao 1, Judah VS Cotto, Argueyo VS Pryor, Chavez VS Taylor, Hagler VS Hearns, and countless others. But off the top of my head, those five fights jump out because it was anyone's match until they ended.

Gatti VS Ward 1 has the distinction of being considered fight of the century simply because it was a power punch bonanza and the fact that neither man got knocked out in ANY of the three fights is beyond comprehension, but that first fight... it was something special, and in my room, thousands of miles away, I was a part of that... and I felt special for it.

I've watched the fight in its entirety nine times, the most I've ever watched any fight and I'm still amazed. Much credit also has to go to Frank Cappucino for letting history be made. When people thought the fight had been stopped, you could clearly hear Frank Cappucino say "The fight ain't over". But the sheer grit of both Ward and Gatti are something to behold. In round 4, Gatti connected a low blow that would have made Andrew Golotta proud. After miscommunication, Ward did not get the five minutes a boxer is allowed to recover, the bell rings, he goes to the corner and when asked what to do, he replies by saying, I'm good to go. Gatti for his part took Ward's signature left hook about twenty times too often and finally took a knee. He didn't crumble, he didn't wilt, he just took a knee, beat the 8 count and proceeded to offer up more punishment. I have truly NEVER seen a tug of war battle as fierce as this fight and momentum changed at a dizzying pace.

It's the type of fight I wish I could have shared with my grandfather. In round 9, heralded by many present as the round of the century (although round five is amazing as well), over 100 power punches were connected and how any of the two fighters could continue or even want to continue, is baffling. In a time where some people quit because they broke their hand, or they got hit low, or they're tired, these two men had the audacity to come back for another round and two follow-up fights that cemented their place in boxing history.

Earlier today I found out Arturo Gatti was found dead in brazil.

That sentence alone forced me to almost take a knee. I've felt the urge to cry but haven't. After all, if people could weep over Michael Jackson, I could shed a tear in the name of one of my favorite boxers of all time. But that would be a disservice to one of the fiercest warriors ever to enter a squared circle, so I've held out. I've held out because that's what he would have done. He would have taken it. He would recognize that it hurt. That it hurt a lot and that it could make him go down, but he wouldn't as long as his will and his body could hold out. That's because that's the type of boxer he was. He was a fan favorite because yes he fought for fame and money, but the way he fought was exclusively for the fans and in the world of boxing, we were all champions and had a taste of gold every time he laced his gloves, started to walk to the ring, and we could hear the immortal riff from AC/DC with Brian Johnson calling out his real name. Not the one he was given when he was a baby. Not a nickname from his teens. His real name. His warrior name.

Thunder...

I close my eyes... and in my memories and in my heart, I hear thunder... and I take a knee.

Life is too short to go this fast

If you think about the rate at which we live at, well you'd realize that there are no first or second gears. Everything is third on up, everything is on turbo and life is squandered day by day by being in a constant state of rush. That we survive every day is a miracle in itself, that we do it, living, reacting, acting, deciding and multitasking at the speed we do is just beyond comprehension.

In an average day we see at least 400 attempts at someone selling us something. Think that number is overblown, then just count the outdoor media you come in contact with and realize that the real number is probably twice as much. We get assaulted with messages from all sides, at all times and it won't be long before air conditioners come equipped with discount models that offer adverts while you sleep. From cars to margarine and anything in between, before and after, we are being pitched at non-stop.

Add to that the amount of tasks we accomplish in a week and if you break it down task by task you realize that you're just one little machine pumping instant tasks like some hot dog machine. It gets to a point where we almost seem automated. Before long we start forgetting random things because we're so hellbent on doing things faster and faster that we're not even sure if we registered correctly. Don't quite get where I'm getting at? Well let's have a quiz. Answer the following 20 questions and below you will see a point scale that will correllate to your supposed level of disconnection with your life. Don't look for answers, don't double check, just answer or try to answer the questions. If you can, that's a point in your favor, if you find yourself struggling to answer any of these questions, well you don't earn anything. Give yourself five to ten seconds to answer the question, if you take more, it doesn't count. Let's see how you do.

1. What did you have for lunch?

2. What color socks did you have on during the day?

3. When was the last time you cut your toenails?

4. What's your social security number?

5. Do you question if you closed your house door, garage door or stove on at least three times a week?

6. Have you woken up on, showered, gotten dressed and ready for work only to realize it's Saturday?

7. When was the last time you spoke to your parents?

8. When is your mother's birthday?

9. When is your anniversary?

10. Off the top of your head, what were the last five movies you saw in the theater?

11. What songs have you listened to today?

12. What did you watch on tv last time you sat in front of the tube?

13. Do you watch tv, listen to music, facebook and skype at the same time?

14. When is your own birthday?

15. When was the last time you washed your car?

16. What do you weigh?

17. What size shoe are you?

18. What shampoo do you use?

19. When was the last time you changed your tooth brush?

20. How many times have you dialed your extension or your ATM card number into your microwave?


RESULTS:

20-17 points: You are fairly well grounded. You don't believe in the zodiac horoscope and you're aware of your surroundings.

16-12 points: Might have a little pecadillo regarding multitasking, but you are still functional.

11-7 points: You were an overachieving C student that got B's based on luck, cramming and cosmic energies unknown to you.

6-3 points: You can barely tie your own shoes, your life is the lost remote control in the sofa.

2-1 points: You manage to stay alive because lady luck is generous.

0 points: how did you even get to the end of this post.


So next time someone insists on being in a hurry, let them pass and take the time to realize life can really let you pass it by.

Cheers

Eating Old School: Hostess TMNT Turtle Pies

So the rap sucks. So it was a jingle. So it looked like the aborted fetus of Mrs. Green Giant. That's beyond the point. What IS the point is that if you lived in the 80's and missed out on eating this toxic delight, you missed out. Plain and simple.

There's just something in most Hostess products that just beg the question, is it derivated from heroin. You could easily down these pies in pairs and invite diabetes for dinner, but the sheer gooey delight of biting into one of these pies still brings back memories, because you know that forever fake, synthetic and noxious these things could be for you, you didn't care. Your palette screamed adulation, your taste buds had a luau and your metabolism had better be prepared to take it on.

Delightlyfully delicious? You bet your shell. And that icing? Mondo tubular Cowadelicious. It was so unappealing visually that it made it that more delicious to eat because you saw people gagging while you were in carb & fat bliss. I've been wishing for a return of these pies, even if only riding a nostalgia wave of four months but as of yet, I still haven't gotten my wish. But the inner child in me beats strong, and that's one sugar loaded dream I'm not keen on giving up on.

Longevity has nothing to do with eating healthy

On a day when Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett have passed away, it might be possible that one's mortality comes into question. Exactly how long will we live? When will we die? Why will we die? Is there any hope to extend our lives?

Well exactly how long we live really depends on our lifestyles, if we're healthy and to be bluntly honest, just plain luck. The fact that we're a lane shift, a misstep or a centigrate of body temperature away of expiring might be a little harrowing at first, but that doesn't make it less real. We are truly a stone's throw away from kicking the bucket, and the only guarantee of life is that eventually, even if we become a vampire, we're going to die.

I look back at my relatives, those who still live and those who have passed and I start jotting down just exactly what could be the reason for my demise. Stroke, heart attack, renal failure, diabetes, cancer of various types, accidental deaths etc, and the weird part is that there is no discernible illness. The most is that there have been four people from throughout my family that have died from cancer, but those ranged from pancreatic, to colon, to ovarian to brain.I look at my background and have to accept that it's anyone's guess when and why I'll die.

I look at my ancesters and see that my great grandmother gave birth to eight kids, worked her ass off for lord knows how many years, live through an exile from her home country, saw some of her children pass on, and herself passed away at 94. She happened to have cut back on smoking and occasionnaly had a shot of Cutty Sark or dark rum for good measure and passed away in her sleep.

I then see health nuts, colon cleansing aficionados and tofu scarfing hordes dying before they turn 60 and there's no easily discernible reason for death, except a high level of stress and lack of satisfaction with what they have achieved so far. To be honest, though there are some exceptions, most of the people I know who have died before they reached 60 for whatever reasons they might have passed away, seem to have had some type of conflict in their life they couldn't get over. Actually many advanced age people that are quite fit and die suddenly usually have something that truly affects them emotionally to the point where their health is compromised.

Is it any wonder that cancer patients that are treated with kindness and given entertainment and activities to better their quality of life live longer than those who live in eternal vigil of their passing? Yeah, there might be some Scrooges that make it to old age crabbing about and being overall miserable, but hell, what's the use of longevity if you can't make it count for something other than being a token sour puss?

What I'm getting at is that you can eat as healthy or as poorly as you want. Yes, this will directly affect how well you do in your life, but maybe it won't. Remember that guy from Super Size me who pretty much lives off of Big Macs? Do you also remember Jim Fix? While one died from a heart attack after selling millions of books and eating tofu goodness, the other is still going strong with a normal cholesterol count and the zesto to declare happilly that he spends a third of his salary at McDonald's.

The two most important things that will determine how long you live are your level of satisfaction with life and your genetic makeup. So if you balance the psychological with the most basic physiological components, then you'll get an idea of your expiration date.

One more thing though, while you ponder on the quality of your chromosomes, remember one thing. Be it ten, twenty, fifty or a hundred, it's not how many years you live, it's how worthwhile each of those years was. Remember, it's good to know you're eventually going to die, but it isn't good to only think of that day. It's like only thinking of a goal in a journey. We all begin, we all end. Our beginnings and end are similar, but what we do in the in between, that is where a soul is defined and a life is lived.

Resolution Report!

Ok so this isn’t a new series, but since these posts take up so much space, I had to change it from my other blog to this one. Just in case, I got a little lost to say the very least since I was supposed to make a progress report every month but have managed to have this be my third one only. ARGH. Anyways, now I’m back on track (don’t say Nordictrac please) and I’m updating my resolution progress. True, to make good on one of the resolutions I’m going to have to report twice a month for a couple of months, but hey, I suck for having a crappy computer that doesn’t want to cooperate with me, not to mention the super May writer’s block or my beautiful talent to procrastinate.

So let’s start with the physical aspect of the resolution report. I’ve made some progress but need to stay healthy to make good on my goals. I got a cold not too long ago (IT WASN’T SWINE FLU) and couldn’t do much of anything. Anyways, here’s what I got so far:


PHYSICAL

Bicep Curls
1,300 / 5,000


Butterfly curls
1,300 / 5,000


Pushups
1,300 / 5,000


Sit-ups
2,350 / 10,000


Jumping Jacks
3,850 / 10,000


Squats
2,300 / 10,000


Miles run/walked
1 / 100


Yoga classes
N/A


Meditation/Reflection/Goal setting hours
1 / 100


I finally bought me some real running shoes so I don’t mess up my legs with the crappy sneakers I have. I’m also more aware that I REALLY have to work on meditating but yoga might be a pursuit I either drop or do on my own sans classes because these aren’t the times to be spending money on yoga classes. A note though, it’s a lot harder to find time to meditate than I thought it would be, but finally started doing it. I actually changed it up a bit so I’m able to really make good on the 100 hours since I need more discipline to achieve a goal of pure meditation but instead of scrapping it, I added aspects of reflection and goal setting which I think could be very helpful.


PROFESSIONAL


Freelance jobs
4 of 10 (just finished one two weeks ago and almost snagged a good one but the guy was either flaky, a cheapskate or thinks I'm too much of a kid for his taste. Sincerely, I have better things to do than wait for a flip flopper.)


Work proposals
2 of 10 approved

8 more in the pipeline

The small ideas were adopted while the bigger ones were “left to discuss later”. So that means I have to touch base again to see if I can’t get my stuff done for a change.

Work on portfolio
N/A

Artist friends are too busy to work on their portfolio and I might be forced to do this on my own. Dang. Though to be honest, I’m more worried about my other projects than this particular one.

RECAP:
Almost half way there regarding freelance jobs so I’m happy with that but would definitely like to have a better success rate at proposals at work. Let’s see if I can give better news soon.


ACTIVITIES:


Surf Sessions
17 / 50

Conditions have been subpar and though I’ve had some great sessions this year, the last one I had was just pathetic to watch. Feeling the need to redeem myself next time out whenever Poseidon deems me worthy of good waves.


Swim / bodysurf / water activities
3 / 10

Went paddle boarding with my brother in a lagoon to get the feel of the board and have had two mini bodysurfing sessions. Pretty cool though I’ve yet to have a super bodysurf session, but fifteen waves is a good ballpark even if they are small waves. Want a juicy session to work on those skills though.

Local tourism
N/A

No plans yet. When I get my credit card all paid for I'll start doing a couple of fancy trips with ma Mrs. Who knows, summertime might just be THE time. We’ll see.

Concerts
0 / 5

Wow, no concerts and it’s June. So sad.


Trips
0 / 2

None yet, something about getting H1N1 that makes traveling questionable… though knowing me I might just keel in to the temptation of watching a good live concert and tempt fate.

Writing with Pen & Paper
Could write more but not completely negligent. Let’s see if I can keep working on the book and looking for an excuse to spurt some ink. :)



Movies
9 / 40


Paul Blart: Mall Cop – I thought this was going to be a gut busting good time. All that ended up getting busted was my wallet from this middle of the road ho hum movie.

Angels and Demons – I still have a review pending on this one on my other blog, I will sum it up by saying that if you’re looking for a faithful book adaptation, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.

The Wrestler – Aronofsky brilliance strikes again. He has a talent to leave your gut wrenched after the final scene of everyone of his movies, but great storytelling is something he’s REALLY strong at.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Just in case, THIS should have been the movie of the year at the Academy Awards. Yes I enjoyed Slumdog, but it’s no Ben Button. Sorry.

Coraline – One of the most gratifying cinematographic experiences in my life. Words can’t begin to describe how much I absolutely adored this movie and as an animation feature it stands tall and proud among the elite, often times surpassing movies that made five times as much money.

Slumdog Millionaire – Great movie. Predictable at times, but great. Good music (good not great). Interesting cinematography, feel good story. Bollywood has never had such a Hollywood ending or Hollywood has never had such a Bollywood feel. I’m still debating which way is right.

Watchmen – A big blue penis could not take away from the fabulous acting of some of the most memorable comic book characters never to have been to an mutant academy.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine – THE definition of a Popcorn movie. Fast pace, rushed storyline, great special effects, good fights, and some plot holes thrown in for good measure. All in all, a good two and half star movie.

Star Trek – holy mama… let’s just sum this up by asking why wasn’t JJ Abrams hired to film the Last 3 Star Wars.



Watch DVD’s I’ve bought

Lost Seasons 1-3 (Already on Season 4) – I got bit bad by the Lost bug… and it’s deliciously painful.

Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life – A true comedy classic showing just how smart stupid can be.

Twin Peaks series (both seasons+pilot) – Weird, campy, odd, interesting and definitely worth a second watch, if only to transcribe the log lady intros.

Pi – So real and weird it’s scary. Aronofsky in Black and white. Brilliant.

Escape from New York – Kurt Russell and John Carpenter can do no wrong… well in the 80’s at least.

Inland Empire – If you don’t like Lynch, there is nothing here for your enjoyment. Turn on the weird and tune out the world.

Videogames finished
9 / 20


Zakk and Wikki – Quest for Barbaro’s Treasure – Wii – One of the most enjoyable videogaming experiences in my life. Odd, quirky and one of the games that best makes use of the Wiimote.

Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes – Game Cube – Great game, classic storyline, steep learning curve and just plain fun.

Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty – PS2 – Weirder storyline than the first game but better controls overall.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater – PS2 – Best MGS I’ve played and I one of my 3 favorite boss fights ever in gaming. Memorable characters, great score, revamped controls, added features and more MGS fun than you can shake your silenced stick at.

Kingdom Hearts – It took me two years to finally decide to finish this game. Not bad at all, but for some reason I just found it hard to even want to finish the damn thing.

Final Fantasy 1 – Throwback RPG that will try your patience regarding redundant battles and possibly the weakest game ending I’ve ever been exposed to.

Jak and Daxter The Precursor Legacy – Great platforming is not easy to do and standing out is even harder but Jak’s first installment made an excellent impression on me. Fun gameplay, great graphics and just fun to play through.

Jak 2 – huge world but lack of direction takes away from this title. Much more engrossing and much more serious storyline but still very solid. My main problem was the whole hovercraft torture of the game.

Jak 3 – Takes all the problems from Jak 2 and SOLVES them. Rarely have I seen a sequel be THAT responsible in addressing all issues regarding a previous installment. The best, funniest, tightest and more entertaining Jak in the series.

About to start: Resident Evil 4

Books read
5/20 – I lowered the number to 20 to have a more realistic goal, though now that I’m off and running I might make better progress.


2nd book of The Bartimeus Trilogy – The Golem’s Eye – Good continuation to the story but not as good as the first one.

3rd book of the Bartimeus Trilogy – Ptolemy’s Gate – A hell of an ending and the no holds barred installment of the story. Great character development, interesting twists and an ending that will have you nodding in approval, even if it is anything but Hollywood.

The Wind in the Willows – A book most people should read for the exercise of character development especially in the characters of Badger, Mole and of course, that crazy Toad. Not to forget the Water Rat, but the other characters were very complete and it was amazing to read since this is a kid’s story with all the limitations seen in most children’s book (mainly skipping months in three lines and not having a good grasp on timing).

Fahrenheit 451 – Scary how this reads like it was written yesterday. Brilliant book though the ending drags a bit. One of those books whose brilliance stems from the development much more than the ending.

Angels and Demons – Better movie than Da Vinci, but lesser a book. Some lines and scenes read like something a teenager would write to be honest. If you hate me for saying that, by all means defend the Helicopter jump scene or the last line of the book. I dare you.

Currently on: Nightwatch – Excellent sci fi fantasy read.


Playing guitar

Not playing five times a week necessarily, but doing pretty good and sometimes playing more than an hour to make up for lost time. More than anything I just need to get in the groove but I do miss jamming with friends.


ACQUISITIVE:


Get new computer

Was getting to breaking point. Had a friend check it and after he laughed at my RAM, we sorted out to buy two RAM components for my comp and a new fan while deleting Norton CrappyVirus. Seems there is still salvation for the comp so will hold out until I get my own place.


Net connection

I finally have a real connection. Lord bless DSL and Death to dial up.


Digital recorder

No news on this, might wait to buy a comp for that, but still on my mind. Let’s see what I do.

Digital Camera

I’d made the transaction, I’d sent the money and the cam never arrived. Awesome work by the USPS on trying to rip me off but I got my money back. Now I just have to hope that the economy in turmoil has one upside in lower prices for capricious buys.


MONETARY


Save Money

Well, paying wedding stuff is not letting me save much money, but I do have some in the bank lol.


Payments
Everything’s on time and then some but this entry is a good reminder so I don’t screw up.


Mom’s cakes
Does buying materials and helping with deliveries count? Because though I want to help with some other type of promotion, a crapped up comp has been a pain in the bud to say the least.



Donations
Still up $200 but looking for something else I can donate to, might even donate time for a change since I finally have some to give.


KNOWLEDGE:

Learn / record songs
I remember saying I wouldn’t botch this resolution, working to accomplish just that but not so easy because I’m doing a great job at botching at the moment.


Learn Random Info
Still planning on writing a series about the random stuff I read on a regular basis.



Read the news
I’m up to date baby. Could also do some posts on random news, but prefer to read on Thinking in Vain.


Retake French
Still failing at starting up on this but hey, there are a lot of things on the agenda… wow I’ve started making excuses. Will buy a French book before June is over.



Dance classes
N/A Need to look into info pronto.



WRITING:


WAS posts
76 / 200

Thanks to Fortune Cookies, rants and overall lunacy, I’m able to break out of blocks. I’m pretty sure I can make the number easy. I’m super pacing myself but I’m way on my way to the goal.


Posts in other blogs
13 + 8 / 100

Keeping quite busy in the blog writing sense of the word. This is one of three blogs, the others being Why Advertising Sucks and Laser Eater.

Finish book
Finally finished chapter 37 am working on chapter 38. I’m pretty happy with how it’s coming along but wow it’s a weird process for me to say the least.


Write short stories
0 / 10
I read that zero and get angry at myself and my computer, though mostly at myself. Let’s hope I have better news to report soon.

Essay project
0 / 20
I’m lazing off on this. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH.



Draft story arcs
0 / 3
Haven’t had much time to work on this, but written down some ideas. Want to do it a bit more structured.


WAS Movie
Still pending
Still got good ideas but haven’t organized it all.


Progress reports
3/ 12
Because of connection and comp issues, I’ve lazed off quite a bit so I will have to make mid month reports just to be able to accomplish this goal.


Standup piece
N/A – Still haven’t found a place to put this in agenda.


Be more positive
Being positive and getting frustrated and angry apparently coexist in me. Have had a few days where I just want to send everything to hell, but regarding a lot of things, I’m working on staying as positive as possible.



Forgive people
I don’t have time to waste on being angry at people who did anything to me at any point. I forgave them and put them out of my mind.


Negative energy
Finding some things that get on my nerves from time to time and I’m trying to manage it better. Maybe tensions are building or maybe too many things to fix at the same time but working on working things out with a smile.


Loving my fiancée

Loving her is easy but working on us staying positive and focused on all the things we have pending is something of a challenge, but I know we can do anything if we just stay positive and focused. Love you baby.

Cheers

Eating old School: Mr. T Cereal

If you think about it, there are so many random things you loved eating as a child. Don't fool yourself, you know it's true. From Turtle pies, to disgusting sugar filled cereals to pretty much any carbonated creation this side of reality. So that got me thinking, why not document the random things I miss from my childhood that I'd love to get my teeth on just one more time. First on the list: Mr. T Cereal



I pitty the fool who don't like Mr. T cereal. There was no jibba jabbah when it came to a balanced breakfast and gum raking prowess. You wanted sugar, no problem, you wanted crunch, you got it, you wanted fluffy poop, coming right up. Ahhhh the beauty of nostalgia is that it's just as delicious as it was when you first had it.

Cheers

Your life is one long canvas

If you think about it, that title kind of makes sense. You just need an open mind to grasp it. First off, instead of your traditional canvas, think to cavemen times where people drew on walls. They started telling a story from picture to picture, from wall to wall until an entire saga spread throughout the wall. Now think of a papyrus scroll which was just one long sheet of paper. Now think that your life is one long sprawling papyrus scroll which you draw on.

Ok, so that might be a little weird but think of it in terms of writing from left to right (unless you're from the East, in which you'd go from right to left.

You start as a baby, you draw gibberish, stains, incomprehensible lines and curves that make no sense. You might even tear parts of the paper off or stain it with baby food or cheetos. Slowly you see the drawnings start to take shape, make more sense. Scribbles and doodles, but something more linear, coherent even.

You keep drawing because you don't have a choice. You start to introduce color, things you see influence you but it's still your perspective, your eye and your life that's going on paper. More colors, a specific gammet of color and you start to see real beauty. That's your perception. The more you live, the more complex it is. You see a trail of paint and look back to the beginning and can hardly make it out, and you only remember the really special parts of what you drew. the rest is just emotion, of how it made you feel and the general overall feeling you had way back when. You use crayons, pencils, carbon, stencils, aerosols, oleos and pretty much anything you can use to create or document if you will. The canvas grows, gets smaller, swerves and takes different shapes.

Some days you paint vibrantly, other times minimallistically. Some days you draw landscapes, followed by people, followed by to do lists and numbers. Album covers appear along movie posters, musical notes and song lyrics become headlines and comments. It gets more and more complex and though you are focused on the moment, you know what you've done and you know what you want to do even if it's only partial memory and planning.

Your story can then include a specific topic, a woman, a man, and for a period of time, that's all that is shown there. Add to that a dog or a cat, maybe even a bird. You see circles, bands, flying rice, and cans dragging across rough pavement.

You start seeing flashes of blue or pink, a baby is shown, and smiles and tears, and bottles and rattles, appear..... Then the changes start to get quicker in your artwork. You go from baby, to child, to adolescent, to adult. The woman that was appearing or the man start sprouting spots of grey and it takes more lines to draw them, especially around the eyes. One moment you see a full house, then it gets empty.

Shadows and greys start coming more into focus and the strength in the lines grow softer. Things that used to take three feet to draw are now drawn out for meters. Little details start popping in and repeats of the same images start showing these details missing at times and present others. Colors fade, the lines get softer and it all gets lighter and lighter. Finally the images start getting smaller, and smaller, infinitely smaller. It gets to the point where the naked eye only sees a small line, but that line used to be a full life, full of color and wonder and now to the layman it's just a line, a simple line, a flat line... but that? That will always be a full life.

I wish anyone who reads this a long life, full of color and wonder. Full of changes and styles, full of perspective, of shade, or points of view, of ups and downs, of small details and large ideas.

Cheers

29 tips to happiness

Seeing as I'll be turning 29 in about a month and a half, I wanted to give a shot at trying to sound smart about life and giving 29 tips of how to be happy. Some people might think it's a huge number, some might think it is tiny, but what's definitely for sure is that I'll be twenty nine in august, so here's my 29 tips to live a happy or happier life.

1. Exercise. yes this sounds cliché and like a crappy way to start a list of things to be happy. But facts don't lie, people who exercise are generally happier than people who don't. So find your niche and get them glutes nice and toned.
2. Drink more water. I dunno, something tells me that people might think this sounds stupid. But actually, the more water you drink (reasonably don't go OD'ing on water) the more you eliminate stuff (AKA Toxins that can actually lead to Debbie Downer moments).
3. Eat junk food from time to time. This might seem a contradiction to what I say above but damn, there needs to be some yang for all the healthy stuff you eat. sometimes you need a Twinkie, a Krispy Kreme donut or a huge slurpee. So by all means, indulge from time to time.
4. Don't rush sex. Ok this one seems out of left field, but hell, how many people don't you say that you wish they would just get laid so they'd leave you alone? Well guess what, often times this could actually be true. So please, have sex responsibly and don't rush it because the only benefit of going fast with sex is chafing, premature ejaculation, possible fractures and a disgruntled partner.
5. Be a kid from time to time. I posted about this a while back and insist that people do this. We take ourselves WAYYYYYY to seriously and really need to lighten up.
6. Live AND work, don't work to live or live to work. People's priorities are so messed up in this day and age that it's a miracle ANYTHING gets done with a smile.
7. Look at the big picture AND the small picture. If you focus on the macro aspect of reality, you'll be dwarfed by it and miss out on small moments to treasure a lifetime and if you focus on the micro, you won't see the magic of a well oiled machine.
8. Go to the movies or rent movies. With the variety of entertainment we have at our disposal, we might as well make the most of it and actually learn a few things about movies.... which gets me thinking....
9. Read more. I know you love to twitter and facebook, but rather, grab a real book and read. Read for fun, for education, for curiosity. The more you do, the better off you'll be.
10. Find at least one creative outlet. Lots of people who hate their existence just don't have anything to do with their free time. Us humans have millions of ways to do pretty much anything. Put that freedom to good use.
11. Travel. Be it Disney or Barcelona. Just make sure you travel from time to time. change your surroundings, explore and disregard the temptation of closing yourself off at home so you don't get swine flu.
12. Read news rather than watch it. Pay attention to what interests you and do yourself a favor and at best glance at murder reports. The news is completely depressing and you need to filter out the bad stuff once in a while.
13. Find a job you can at least tolerate. If you're constantly dragging yourself to work you WILL get cancer, even if it's just a benign tumor on your sense of humor.
14. Watch cartoons. Though today's cartoons rather suck, youtube and netflix are your solution. revisit your childhood and giggle at the stuff that made you giggle as a child.
15. Dare to love. Some people get hurt in their lives and then close themselves out to the rest of the world. That makes just about as much sense as taking a sip of water, choking on it and then saying you won't drink water ever again.
16. Drop grudges. They are a waste of time and energy and you won't get much for all the effort you put into hating someone. Trust me.
17. Have nice dinners for no reasons whatsoever. Dining fancy shouldn't be limited to anniversaries or to make up for some screw up.
18. Don't settle. With your job, with whoever you're going out with, with life in general. if you want something work for it but....
19. Know when to cut your losses. Perserverance is admirable but after a while it's just being stubborn. Give it your best shot, try and try again but if conditions don't change one bit, you'd better serve yourself to change focus
20. Get a hobby and meet people who share that hobby. There's nothing better than interacting with your kin :)
21. Do breathing exercises. Sometimes you just need to take a deep breath and think clearly rather than forcing something.
22. Learn from everything and never stop learning. The more you know, the more tools you'll have to be happy because at the very least you'll have something to talk about.
23. Multitask less. Try focusing your energies on one thing and you'll see you'll do it better. Maybe slower yes, but more often than not, MUCH better.
24. Go with the flow. Adaptability is admirable and enjoying the moment, WHATEVER moment comes your way is a one way ticket to being happy with your circumstances.
25. Write old friends, get in touch with them and occassionally stay in touch with them.
26. If you have something on your mind, share it respectfully. Otherwise you'll spend a life asking yourself whatif, and trust me, that drains you more than you know.
27. Listen to all types of music but recognize your favorite albums and learn the lyrics by heart. Singing, even if you're terrible at it is liberating. It uses energy and emotion and clicking with something like a great song is just awesome. So be a Shower Idol, grab that shampoo bottle and let her rip.
28. Laugh at yourself. Do goofy things, have a sense of humor and let yourself enjoy life. After all, it is your right.
29. Look at things from various points of view. Don't be objective... hell it's impossible, but do practice empathy. It'll help you understand where people are coming from.

And remember, if you gotta go... you know the rest.

Cheers