Are you still paying attention? We've gotten through the first, second and third parts of this extremely long questionnaire. If you've stuck it out all week, bless you. Let's keep it going...
61. Predict what your life will look like a year from now. I imagine that my life will look extremely similar to what it looks like now. Except that I'll be a lot closer to being licensed to teach in the state of Virginia. But chances are I'll still be in the position I'm in as a counselor and I'll be spending the summer doing the same thing I'm doing now. But I'm hoping that I'll be teaching somewhere when the following school year begins. Wish me luck!
62. Often, people will ask how your last relationship ended. I want to know how it began. Well, that's hard to say. Since I've never been in a relationship. Cue the Price Is Right "you lost" noise.
63. Where is your favorite place to go out and eat? Macado's. I know the service can be spotty, especially at certain locations. Yes, I'm looking at you, Bluefield. But I just love it. Have you seen their menu? There are about 800 different sandwiches you can choose from. And I get the same one every time.
64. What is something you want to change about your current situation? I'd like to not have to worry about money anymore. And I'd like to not have to deal with paying off my student loans anymore. So I guess... more money, but not have to work an extra job to earn it.
65. Early bird or night owl? Depends on the day of the week and who I'm with. More often than not, early bird.
66. Are there any childhood possessions you still hold on to? I believe I mentioned somewhere in the earlier questions that I've been accused of lacking a "sentimental bone" in my body. So no, I don't have any childhood possessions. I held on to my He-Man action figures for the longest time. But last year, before moving back from North Carolina, I gave them to the children of the Most Awesome Person I Know. Apparently the youngest had a blast with them for a while. I assume she still does. Who wouldn't have a blast playing with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe?
67. Give me an unpopular opinion you have. I think that Twilight kinda sucks.
68. What was the last song that was stuck in your head? "Jenny from the Block." Thanks a lot, Supervisor who sings it every time she sees one of the kids in my classroom. Take a wild guess what the kid's name is.
69. Where do you live? Be as general or as specific as you want. Radford, VA
70. Do you believe in giving kids medals and trophies for participation? No, I don't. I believe that giving out trophies for 9th place is just a symptom of what's wrong with our society and only serves to make things worse for future generations. We are so obsessed with making everyone feel good about themselves that we just have to reward mediocrity. I see it all the time in my job, and am even guilty of it myself. But there's really no way around it. Kids that I work with have so much difficulty just conforming to expected classroom behaviors that they are required to be rewarded any time they behave just as well as any of the other kids. Meanwhile, some of the best-behaved kids in school go ignored because they're already doing what they're supposed to do. It's kind of irritating knowing that I just keep that system going.
71. What was the longest car ride you've ever taken? Drove all night to get to Boston in time to try out for season 5 of American Idol. Alone. Long road trips are so much more fun when someone else is in the car. But that time it was just me.
72. Have you ever taken part in a protest? Nope
73. Would you ever use an online dating service? If I felt like paying $30 a month for a computer to find me a date, sure. I argue that guys should be able to join those sites for free though. I mean, we are expcted to pay for dinner, right? Dating gets expensive if you have to pay a digital pimp to meet the girl too. Just sayin'.
74. What is your ethnic heritage? Thanks to the genealogy that my uncle put together around the time my Dad passed away, I know that the majority of my heritage comes from German ancestry.
75. Describe a person that inspires you. I don't think I'm someone who is easily inspired. Though, when I think about it, some of the simplest things have the ability to inspire me. Someone who has had a difficult life, but is able to pick themselves back up to keep fighting the good fight. That's inspiring. Someone who tries to do what's right without giving up, no matter the personal cost. That's inspiring, too.
76. If you earn minimum wage doing what you love, would you keep doing it? Absolutely. Money comes and goes far too quickly for it to be the end all and be all of why someone does what they do for a living. If I was making six figures in a job I despised, it just wouldn't be worth it. The job that I perform now is definitely one that people don't do because of the pay. But it's a job that I love. And I love the feeling I have at the end of the day. Even the feeling I have at the end of my worst days as a counselor is far better than the feeling I had at the end of my best days as a bank teller.
77. Do you believe in luck? No
78. Describe the last time you were very angry at someone. I get irritated all the time. But that sort of anger is never really directed at anyone in particular. The last time I was truly angry at an individual was a couple years ago when someone I hardly know told me he believed that my father (a man this guy never met) would be disappointed in me. I'm getting angry just thinking about it right now.
79. Do you want to live until you're 100? Not if it means aging and losing control of my body and mind. Or if it means outliving all my friends. Not worth it.
80. Do people change? If so, how do you keep a relationship together when both of you start to change? I do believe that people are capable of change. However, I also believe that, at their core, people remain basically the same. I'm pretty sure I remember learning in one of my psych classes that our personalities finish forming by the time we're toddlers. I could be wrong about that one. Any other psych majors out there, feel free to correct me. Relationships are tough whether the parties change or not. You often hear about relationships falling apart because one person felt they could change the other, but couldn't. You hear about relationships falling apart because both people changed and grew apart. The important thing to realize that people are people. If you want something to work, you have to work at it. Whether you've chosen to change or not, you have to make the choice to stay in the relationship or let it go. Either way, it's up to you.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
So Many Questions, Part III
Welcome to the third of a five part series of questions. Thanks again to Elizabeth at best.day.ever. for posting all 100 questions in one place and for not complaining too much when I said I was going to steal them for my own blog. If you missed the first parts, 1-20 are here and 21-40 are here. Enjoy!
41. Write the first sentence of your obituary. Aaron Lee Peck, bestselling author and inventor of the thing that changed the face of western civilization, died at the age of 97 due to complications from being too awesome.
42. What is the best TV theme song ever? Might have to go with Growing Pains. Classic.
43. When you were young, what would you dream you would be when you grew up? Teacher
44. When you're alone in your own home, do you walk around naked? When I lived alone, yes. These days, I have a roommate. So the nudity only occurs within the confines of my own room.
45. What gets you out of bed in the morning? My alarm clock.
46. Do you want to have more friends than you have right now? Not necessarily. I just wish the ones I have were closer.
47. What part of the past year sticks out in your mind? Moving. Twice.
48. You win a scratch-off lottery game that gives you $2000 a week (after taxes) for the rest of your life. Do you keep your job? I'd probably keep doing what I'm doing, but on a voluntary basis. If that's allowed. Why pay me to do something I enjoy if I don't need to be paid for it?
49. Could you be in a long-distance relationship? If you're in one, what makes yours work? I've never attempted a short-distance relationship. I really don't think I could deal with long-distance.
50. What's the best route to your heart? Through the Candy Cane Forest and over Gum Drop Mountain. But you really need to avoid the Chocolate Swamp. That place is just a mess. Especially during rush hour.
51. Have you ever met someone through the internet, and then met them in real life? A couple times. And I'd do it again in the right situations.
52. What is your favorite sport? Baseball
53. What has been troubling you lately? Finances. I mean, I don't worry that much about it. It's just that I do have a few weeks during the summer when I don't work and, therefore, do not get paid for that time. When those weeks come up on the pay schedule, makes it kind of hard to make the ends meet.
54. Did you enjoy your high school prom? If you haven't gotten there yet, do you look forward to it? If you didn't go, why not? I didn't go. And it's because I kind of had a date, but then I got the call a few weeks before the prom and she let me know she wanted to go with someone else who had also asked her. That didn't feel great, but it really wasn't that big a deal. I went to the after party and won a $100 door prize. Not too shabby.
55. What do you use more often: your intuition or logical reasoning? Logical reasoning, without question.
56. Do you know what makes you happy? Not really. Happiness is a fleeting emotion. When I find it, I try to enjoy it for as long as I can, however it may come.
57. Tell me about the last book you read. Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks. Which reminds me, I should probably get around to writing my thoughts about it in a blog post. Anyway, I know I swore off Sparks books after the whole At First Sight fiasco. But then I got into the books on CD while I was driving back and forth from Roanoke to Indian Valley for work. I listened to True Believer, the book that took place before At First Sight. Which reminds me, I should probably write my thoughts about that one in a blog post too. I'm really slacking on the blog, huh?
58. What is the nicest compliment you've ever been given? "You remind me of your father."
59. Who was your first crush? Olivia Newton-John
60. Do you believe that there is life on other planets? If there's not, it just seems like there's an awful lot of space out there for nothing.
41. Write the first sentence of your obituary. Aaron Lee Peck, bestselling author and inventor of the thing that changed the face of western civilization, died at the age of 97 due to complications from being too awesome.
42. What is the best TV theme song ever? Might have to go with Growing Pains. Classic.
43. When you were young, what would you dream you would be when you grew up? Teacher
44. When you're alone in your own home, do you walk around naked? When I lived alone, yes. These days, I have a roommate. So the nudity only occurs within the confines of my own room.
45. What gets you out of bed in the morning? My alarm clock.
46. Do you want to have more friends than you have right now? Not necessarily. I just wish the ones I have were closer.
47. What part of the past year sticks out in your mind? Moving. Twice.
48. You win a scratch-off lottery game that gives you $2000 a week (after taxes) for the rest of your life. Do you keep your job? I'd probably keep doing what I'm doing, but on a voluntary basis. If that's allowed. Why pay me to do something I enjoy if I don't need to be paid for it?
49. Could you be in a long-distance relationship? If you're in one, what makes yours work? I've never attempted a short-distance relationship. I really don't think I could deal with long-distance.
50. What's the best route to your heart? Through the Candy Cane Forest and over Gum Drop Mountain. But you really need to avoid the Chocolate Swamp. That place is just a mess. Especially during rush hour.
51. Have you ever met someone through the internet, and then met them in real life? A couple times. And I'd do it again in the right situations.
52. What is your favorite sport? Baseball
53. What has been troubling you lately? Finances. I mean, I don't worry that much about it. It's just that I do have a few weeks during the summer when I don't work and, therefore, do not get paid for that time. When those weeks come up on the pay schedule, makes it kind of hard to make the ends meet.
54. Did you enjoy your high school prom? If you haven't gotten there yet, do you look forward to it? If you didn't go, why not? I didn't go. And it's because I kind of had a date, but then I got the call a few weeks before the prom and she let me know she wanted to go with someone else who had also asked her. That didn't feel great, but it really wasn't that big a deal. I went to the after party and won a $100 door prize. Not too shabby.
55. What do you use more often: your intuition or logical reasoning? Logical reasoning, without question.
56. Do you know what makes you happy? Not really. Happiness is a fleeting emotion. When I find it, I try to enjoy it for as long as I can, however it may come.
57. Tell me about the last book you read. Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks. Which reminds me, I should probably get around to writing my thoughts about it in a blog post. Anyway, I know I swore off Sparks books after the whole At First Sight fiasco. But then I got into the books on CD while I was driving back and forth from Roanoke to Indian Valley for work. I listened to True Believer, the book that took place before At First Sight. Which reminds me, I should probably write my thoughts about that one in a blog post too. I'm really slacking on the blog, huh?
58. What is the nicest compliment you've ever been given? "You remind me of your father."
59. Who was your first crush? Olivia Newton-John
60. Do you believe that there is life on other planets? If there's not, it just seems like there's an awful lot of space out there for nothing.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
So Many Questions, Part II
In case you missed my post yesterday, you've stumbled into the midst of a week long questionnaire. This list contains 100 questions which I am dividing up throughout the week. Questions 1-20 were dealt with in yesterday's post. Go back if you need to see those answers. And now, we resume the epic answers to the epic questions.
21. Do you enjoy being with only one or two friends or with a large group of people? One or two friends. Large groups make me anxious. I'm not agoraphobic. I just prefer smaller circles.
22. Do you like the type of music your parents listen to? Do your parents like the type of music you listen to? I like pretty much all types of music. And I have no problem listening to the stuff that my parents raised me on. So yes, I do like what Mom still listens to. And I was slightly shocked (though maybe I shouldn't have been) to find out that she likes Adele. I like Adele. So I worried a little. Does that mean Mom is cool? Or does that mean that Adele is lame? Which would, by extension, make me lame... I'm sorry, Adele. I didn't mean to call you lame.
23. Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever bullied anyone else? Yes. Yes. Bullying led to my wonderful experience with anorexia nervosa. And I've never meant to be a bully. But I have an overwhelmingly sarcastic personality. Usually, I can control myself. I can turn it off when I need to. But there are occasions when I cross the line and I do hurt feelings. Again, I don't mean to. It's not like I woke up one morning and said, "I really want to make someone cry today. Who can my victim be?" And I felt really bad about it afterwards. Also, I apologized profusely. Just let it go!
24. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pizza
25. If your partner wanted to wait until marriage before having sex, would you stay in that relationship? Yes. Especially considering I've always figured that I would wait until marriage myself.
26. Do you believe in a god? Just the real one. The one with a capital G.
27. Of all the social networks in the world, why use Twitter? Because it's trendy. And I'm so freakin' cool that I feel that my 52 followers on the Twitter would be devastated if I closed my account.
28. What's your favorite hashtag to track? I don't have one. I follow certain people. I also follow certain celebrities. Sometimes I find their tweets interesting or funny. But I don't really follow particular hashtags.
29. Would you call yourself/your family "middle class?" Yeah. We're not poverty stricken and we're not super rich. For now, we're in between. I'm sure that I'll be middle class for as long as such a creature exists.
30. Name a TV series you didn't enjoy until after it ended. Firefly. It was an awesome show that got a raw deal from Fox.
31. Have you ever bought a product from an infomercial? Nope
32. If you could give up your car and never have to drive again, would you? No. I like driving too much. I wouldn't miss paying to fill my tank with gas every week. But sometimes it's worth it just to be able to drive around and listen to some music.
33. If you go back to one point in time to give advice to yourself, when would you go and what would you say? I'd go back to high school me and say the following: "Past Aaron, I really need to study more. Because if I put forth just a little bit of effort, I'll be able to get a scholarship to help pay for that wicked expensive college I'll end up going to for five years. Also, when I get to that wicked expensive college, stick with the elementary education thing. Trust me, past me, it'll pay off in the long run. Also, when 2004 rolls around, be sure to put a lot of money on the Red Sox to win the World Series. I know, it sounds crazy but, again, trust me. Finally, for the next 15 years or so, it doesn't matter who she is, she's not interested."
34. What's your "quirkiest" habit? I do tend to sing a lot. Randomly. And in inappropriate places and situations. I mean, it's not as if I imagine that my life is an episode of Glee. Or is it?
35. What is "normal?" Are you normal? There is no such thing as normal. That being said, yes, I am extremely normal.
36. Someone close to you is dying. You have the choice to let this person live for 10 more years, but if you do, you cause the deaths of 10 strangers. You don't have to see them die. Do you take the offer? No., The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one. I really hope that doesn't sound heartless. But it worked for Spock.
37. What is one thing you could never forgive? Betrayal. Well, I can't say never. But it would take an awful long time for me to get over a serious case of betrayal and there's a very good chance that trust would never be regained.
38. Would you rather be in a relationship after the honeymoon period ends or be single? I'm curious about what a relationship would be like. But seeing as how I've been single for as long as I have been, I'm content with that. Nothing to compare it to, really.
39. Is it possible for guys and girls to be just friends? Absolutely. I've done it dozens of times. I'll admit, it can be easy for one or the other to develop feelings in a "more than friends" capacity. But it's all about letting your brain win over your heart. People who "follow their heart" are just setting themselves up for a lot of pain. In most cases. The odds aren't good.
40. Where do you and your friends go to hang out? Central Perk. No... MacLaren's. I mean the Peach Pit. Crap! I watch too much TV! My friends don't really have a regular place. And that's mostly because all my friends are so spread out. For a few years, whenever we tried to get together, it was at the house at Smith Mountain Lake. But that house was recently sold, so that's not an option anymore. I've always wondered what it would be like to live near my friends and have a regular place that we could call "our place."
21. Do you enjoy being with only one or two friends or with a large group of people? One or two friends. Large groups make me anxious. I'm not agoraphobic. I just prefer smaller circles.
22. Do you like the type of music your parents listen to? Do your parents like the type of music you listen to? I like pretty much all types of music. And I have no problem listening to the stuff that my parents raised me on. So yes, I do like what Mom still listens to. And I was slightly shocked (though maybe I shouldn't have been) to find out that she likes Adele. I like Adele. So I worried a little. Does that mean Mom is cool? Or does that mean that Adele is lame? Which would, by extension, make me lame... I'm sorry, Adele. I didn't mean to call you lame.
23. Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever bullied anyone else? Yes. Yes. Bullying led to my wonderful experience with anorexia nervosa. And I've never meant to be a bully. But I have an overwhelmingly sarcastic personality. Usually, I can control myself. I can turn it off when I need to. But there are occasions when I cross the line and I do hurt feelings. Again, I don't mean to. It's not like I woke up one morning and said, "I really want to make someone cry today. Who can my victim be?" And I felt really bad about it afterwards. Also, I apologized profusely. Just let it go!
24. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pizza
25. If your partner wanted to wait until marriage before having sex, would you stay in that relationship? Yes. Especially considering I've always figured that I would wait until marriage myself.
26. Do you believe in a god? Just the real one. The one with a capital G.
27. Of all the social networks in the world, why use Twitter? Because it's trendy. And I'm so freakin' cool that I feel that my 52 followers on the Twitter would be devastated if I closed my account.
28. What's your favorite hashtag to track? I don't have one. I follow certain people. I also follow certain celebrities. Sometimes I find their tweets interesting or funny. But I don't really follow particular hashtags.
29. Would you call yourself/your family "middle class?" Yeah. We're not poverty stricken and we're not super rich. For now, we're in between. I'm sure that I'll be middle class for as long as such a creature exists.
30. Name a TV series you didn't enjoy until after it ended. Firefly. It was an awesome show that got a raw deal from Fox.
31. Have you ever bought a product from an infomercial? Nope
32. If you could give up your car and never have to drive again, would you? No. I like driving too much. I wouldn't miss paying to fill my tank with gas every week. But sometimes it's worth it just to be able to drive around and listen to some music.
33. If you go back to one point in time to give advice to yourself, when would you go and what would you say? I'd go back to high school me and say the following: "Past Aaron, I really need to study more. Because if I put forth just a little bit of effort, I'll be able to get a scholarship to help pay for that wicked expensive college I'll end up going to for five years. Also, when I get to that wicked expensive college, stick with the elementary education thing. Trust me, past me, it'll pay off in the long run. Also, when 2004 rolls around, be sure to put a lot of money on the Red Sox to win the World Series. I know, it sounds crazy but, again, trust me. Finally, for the next 15 years or so, it doesn't matter who she is, she's not interested."
34. What's your "quirkiest" habit? I do tend to sing a lot. Randomly. And in inappropriate places and situations. I mean, it's not as if I imagine that my life is an episode of Glee. Or is it?
35. What is "normal?" Are you normal? There is no such thing as normal. That being said, yes, I am extremely normal.
36. Someone close to you is dying. You have the choice to let this person live for 10 more years, but if you do, you cause the deaths of 10 strangers. You don't have to see them die. Do you take the offer? No., The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one. I really hope that doesn't sound heartless. But it worked for Spock.
37. What is one thing you could never forgive? Betrayal. Well, I can't say never. But it would take an awful long time for me to get over a serious case of betrayal and there's a very good chance that trust would never be regained.
38. Would you rather be in a relationship after the honeymoon period ends or be single? I'm curious about what a relationship would be like. But seeing as how I've been single for as long as I have been, I'm content with that. Nothing to compare it to, really.
39. Is it possible for guys and girls to be just friends? Absolutely. I've done it dozens of times. I'll admit, it can be easy for one or the other to develop feelings in a "more than friends" capacity. But it's all about letting your brain win over your heart. People who "follow their heart" are just setting themselves up for a lot of pain. In most cases. The odds aren't good.
40. Where do you and your friends go to hang out? Central Perk. No... MacLaren's. I mean the Peach Pit. Crap! I watch too much TV! My friends don't really have a regular place. And that's mostly because all my friends are so spread out. For a few years, whenever we tried to get together, it was at the house at Smith Mountain Lake. But that house was recently sold, so that's not an option anymore. I've always wondered what it would be like to live near my friends and have a regular place that we could call "our place."
Monday, June 18, 2012
So Many Questions, Part I
I'm not sure if you've noticed, but my blog posts have been few and far between as of late. I do appreciate how no one has judged me for my lack of creativity. So I'll ask you to hold off on the judging a little while longer. 'Cause I'm totally stealing this post from Elizabeth over at best.day.ever. It's a list of 100 questions. I'm so very tempted to just use these one at at time as future Questions of the Week. I'm getting really close to the end of Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions. But I won't do it one at a time. Instead, I'm breaking it down to 20 at a time. 20 a day for each day this week.
1. Are you young at heart or an old soul? I'm gonna go with young at heart. Not that I'm child-like or overly childish. I just have a difficult time wrapping my brain around the fact that I'm in my 30s now. In fact, I kind of have a tendency to believe I'm still the same age I was in college. I know it's not true, I just don't want to believe it so much.
2. What makes someone a best friend? They listen without judging and tell you what you need to hear, even when it's a difficult truth. They help you laugh when you need to do that, and let you cry when that's needed too.
3. What Christmas present do you remember the most? Okay... Confession time. When I was a kid, I got a Santa Claus statue for Christmas one year. I really don't remember who gave it to me and I don't even know how old I was when I received it. But for some reason, everyone in my family got it into their heads that I really liked collecting these Santa statues. Look, there's a really good chance I was only acting excited about getting these Christmas collectibles because I wanted to seem like I appreciated them. I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Which kind of makes me hope no one in my family reads this part of this post. Mom accuses me of not having a sentimental bone in my body. It's mostly true. My femur might be slightly sentimental. I'll get back to you on that. Eventually I stopped being nice about it though. I got rid of all those Santa statues. Here's a fact about present Aaron: he doesn't like knick-knacks. Things that sit around the house that have no true function, well, he views these things as kind of a waste of space. They just represent something that needs to be dusted once a week. It's tiresome. Oh, and one year I got a Nintendo. It was awesome.
4. Tell me about a movie/song/TV show/play/book that has changed your life. I love movies. I can watch certain TV shows over and over again. I sing in the car like it's my job. I don't often go to plays, but you know, I like them well enough. And when I can find the time, I can devour some books. Generally, I don't think any of these things have changed my life. For me, for the most part, they're all purely entertainment. I'll admit there are certain songs that I'll hear for the rest of my life that will remind me of certain people or moments from my past. But I'm not sure that my life has changed because of those songs. When the hoverboard becomes a real thing, I'll give a lot of credit to Back to the Future Part II.
5. Name one physical feature that you like about yourself and one you dislike. Well, I like my thumbs. Yes, for most of my life, my thumbs have been mocked. But you know what? They're kind of unique. I mean, not unique in the sense that no one on earth has thumbs like mine (unless we're comparing prints). But I can safely say that no one in my family has similar thumbs. I like that small ability to stand out. I dislike the fact that I kind of have too much hair. I'm not complaining about what's on my head. And I'm okay with my ability to grow facial hair. It's the rest of the body that bugs me. This is a genetic trait that I inherited from my Dad. And I don't thank him for it. In my experience, not too many ladies dig the Teen Wolf look outside of the movie Teen Wolf. Sadly, that genetic trait did not come with the sweet basketball moves that you'd think it would.
6. Would you like to reconnect with any friends you've lost contact with? You know, I recently did a blog post about that very subject. Sort of. Really, I was writing about how people come and go in our lives and it's easier than you'd think to lose contact. Sure, I can think of several people from my past that I'd like to see or speak with again. But I'm not going to dwell on the fact that they're not in my life anymore. Life's too short to have those kinds of regrets.
7. What's more important in a relationship: physical attraction or emotional connection? I'm gonna go with emotional connection. But this is coming from a guy who rarely shows emotion. But that's not saying one should negate the importance of physical attraction. I think there has to be some kind of attraction there in order for a pair to make strides toward an emotional connection.
8. Name a movie that you knew would be terrible just from reading the title. Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
9. What holiday do you most look forward to? Christmas
10. How is the relationship between you and your parents? Well, up until the last time I saw Dad, our relationship was great. And Mom and I get along just fine. In fact, I always pretty much got along with both my parents.
11. You've got the TV on, but you're not really watching. What channel is on? I do like to have some background noise. But usually it's the computer playing some random stuff on Pandora. But if the TV happens to be on, it's whatever TV series I'm trying to catch up on through Netflix.
12. Name a song that never fails to make you happy. Generally, the recording of Dad singing "How Great Thou Art."
13. You know at least one person named Michael. Tell me about him. I'd really rather not. The only Michael that comes to mind at the moment is a guy that is the music minister at a church that I once attended. I never cared for him and I have my reason, both personal and theological. But I wont' use my blog as a means of calling the guy out and bashing someone whose name I just blatantly listed.
14. Have you ever read the "missed connections" on Craigslist? Have you ever posted one or wanted to? I have read them before. Simply out of morbid curiosity. Not because I thought the girl I made eye contact with once at the Cameron Village Laundromat might have posted something trying to find me. And no, I certainly have not posted anything there. I just have a bad feeling about that kind of thing.
15. If you could pick anywhere to live the rest of your life, where would it be? Somewhere on the water. Ironic, since I can't swim. I just like the view.
16. Can money buy happiness? I think that money can buy the illusion of happiness. But that sort of happiness is fleeting. And a little shallow.
17. Do you drink? Smoke? Do drugs? Why or why not? Occasionally. No. And no. As for the whys? Well, the drinking happens on the rarest of occasions. I really don't enjoy the taste of alcohol. I've tried beer a few times and I just can't get into it. Mixed drinks are okay, but again, I just can't really get into them on a regular basis. As for smoking, I truly believe it's disgusting. Sorry to my readers who smoke, that's just what I think. In fact, I came across someone smoking one day recently and couldn't help thinking, "People still do that?" And drugs? Please. I don't do that because I'm not stupid. Except for caffeine. Daddy needs his caffeine.
18. Is there anyone close to you that you know you can't trust? You don't have to give names. I try not to associate with people who are not trustworthy. I warn anyone who is close to me, however, that if you have my trust, it only takes a second to lose it forever. No pressure, kids.
19. Where was your favorite place to go when you were a little kid? We didn't go to a lot of places when I was a kid. We didn't have a regular family vacation spot or anything. However, year after year, we loaded up the family car and made the 8 hour drive to Nashville for the Peck family reunion. As a kid, I loved being there. I got to see cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents that I only got to see once a year. Don't get me wrong, I love Mom's family too. But they were all very local. We saw those guys all the time. Nashville isn't exactly exotic, but it was always fun.
20. Have you ever spent the night in the hospital? Does the waiting room count? If so, then yes. What about a psychiatric hospital? If so, then yes. For 7 weeks. It was a hellish nightmare. I wasn't crazy. I was anorexic. Please refer to my Life Story posts for further details. If you're meaning a regular hospital due to illness or surgical procedure, then no.
Friday, June 15, 2012
The Single Guy and the Potbellied Pig
Field trips are nothing new for the Single Guy. Especially not in his new/old career.
Prior to the end of the school year, you may recall, the Single Guy spent time on a couple of the kindergarten field trips. One was a visit to a local greenhouse to show the kids how plants and trees show signs of growing as spring begins. The other took place at the recycling center as an extension of some of the things the children learned about on Earth Day.
Well, not on Earth Day. That was a Sunday this year. School children learn nothing from the public school system on Sundays.
Anyway, the Single Guy is currently working a summer program as a part of his counseling job. Each Friday, the participating children get the chance to go on a fun day trip to exotic locations like the skating rink or a bowling alley. Today's trip took him and his kids to a local petting zoo.
Really, the "zoo" was more of a farm than anything else. Sure, each different type of animal had different pens. So in that sense, it was kind of like a zoo. But it all took place on a vast expanse of farmland.
There were more goats in one place than the Single Guy had ever seen before. But it wouldn't take much to impress the Single Guy, seeing as how he spent his whole life living in the city, away from farms and livestock. There were also a lot of chickens. Many different kinds of chickens. And roosters seemed to crow from every possible direction.
The Single Guy fed a donkey and a miniature horse. The horse's name was Rose, but all he could think about was Lil' Sebastian. That's a Parks & Recreation reference for those of you keeping track.
But let's not lose focus. The Single Guy wasn't there to see these animals for himself. He was there to chaperone a bunch of small children. And they were all enthralled by the many animals spread throughout the property.
The kids fed the goats and made their way to the llamas. Much to the Single Guy's chagrin, the llamas didn't spit on anyone. Not that he wanted the kids to freak out when an animal spit on them, but it would have been kind of awesome to see it happen.
One little girl became somewhat attached to some of the animals. Thankfully, it wasn't like that time the Single Guy took a tour of that chocolate factory where that girl just kept screaming about all the things she wanted to take home with her. But the Single Guy had to admit that he kind of wanted a potbellied pig by the end of the trip.
But no animals would be leaving the farm this day. Which is actually a very sensible ending to this story. Because the Single Guy lives in an apartment that will not allow him to have pets without forcing him to pay a ridiculous fee attached to his rent. The pig will be much happier on the farm.
Prior to the end of the school year, you may recall, the Single Guy spent time on a couple of the kindergarten field trips. One was a visit to a local greenhouse to show the kids how plants and trees show signs of growing as spring begins. The other took place at the recycling center as an extension of some of the things the children learned about on Earth Day.
Well, not on Earth Day. That was a Sunday this year. School children learn nothing from the public school system on Sundays.
Anyway, the Single Guy is currently working a summer program as a part of his counseling job. Each Friday, the participating children get the chance to go on a fun day trip to exotic locations like the skating rink or a bowling alley. Today's trip took him and his kids to a local petting zoo.
Really, the "zoo" was more of a farm than anything else. Sure, each different type of animal had different pens. So in that sense, it was kind of like a zoo. But it all took place on a vast expanse of farmland.
There were more goats in one place than the Single Guy had ever seen before. But it wouldn't take much to impress the Single Guy, seeing as how he spent his whole life living in the city, away from farms and livestock. There were also a lot of chickens. Many different kinds of chickens. And roosters seemed to crow from every possible direction.
The Single Guy fed a donkey and a miniature horse. The horse's name was Rose, but all he could think about was Lil' Sebastian. That's a Parks & Recreation reference for those of you keeping track.
But let's not lose focus. The Single Guy wasn't there to see these animals for himself. He was there to chaperone a bunch of small children. And they were all enthralled by the many animals spread throughout the property.
The kids fed the goats and made their way to the llamas. Much to the Single Guy's chagrin, the llamas didn't spit on anyone. Not that he wanted the kids to freak out when an animal spit on them, but it would have been kind of awesome to see it happen.
One little girl became somewhat attached to some of the animals. Thankfully, it wasn't like that time the Single Guy took a tour of that chocolate factory where that girl just kept screaming about all the things she wanted to take home with her. But the Single Guy had to admit that he kind of wanted a potbellied pig by the end of the trip.
But no animals would be leaving the farm this day. Which is actually a very sensible ending to this story. Because the Single Guy lives in an apartment that will not allow him to have pets without forcing him to pay a ridiculous fee attached to his rent. The pig will be much happier on the farm.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Oasis
I remember what it was like to be a kid running around on the playground at school. It's the middle of the school day and it's time for recess. Monkey bars. Jungle gyms. Swing sets. Balance beams. Even those wicked awesome fireman's poles.
And then there's the return to the indoors. I remember waiting in line to get a drink at the water fountain. The wait was always excruciating. Looking back, I realize that running around outside for 20 minutes was not going to cause me to drop dead of dehydration. But that line never seemed to end. Unless I was lucky enough to be in front.
But when was I ever that lucky? So I stood behind several kids who had the pleasure of enjoying a drink of water before I could. And each of them seemed to take an eternity with their sips.
Working at an elementary school, I've noticed that some teachers like to impose a "count to 5" kind of rule for each kid at the water fountain. That sort of clear-headed thinking would have been nice when I was in 3rd grade.
Finally, my turn would arrive. I approached the fountain and pushed the button. The water sprang forth and I finally had my taste. And somehow, it was the best tasting liquid on the planet. Nothing could have tasted cleaner or fresher than that water at that moment.
But now I know better. I know that the water that comes out of that spout is nothing more than mere tap water. Sure it's attached to a machine that has a cooler inside that kicks on every now and then to keep the water cold. But it's still unfiltered tap water.
In a world filled with bottled water and pitchers with built in filters, tap water seems entirely unacceptable. Also, as an adult, I look at those school based water fountains and can't help wondering, "How many mouths and/or tongues have been on that very spot where the water comes from?" And then I shudder.
Okay, really I try not to think about that kind of thing. I've never considered myself a germophobe. So that kind of thing doesn't typically bother me. And when my bottle of water is empty halfway through the day, I've got to fill it up somewhere. And for some reason, I feel better about filling it up at the fountain than I do in the bathroom sink.
But come on, have you smelled that bathroom? It's really, really foul in there.
And then there's the return to the indoors. I remember waiting in line to get a drink at the water fountain. The wait was always excruciating. Looking back, I realize that running around outside for 20 minutes was not going to cause me to drop dead of dehydration. But that line never seemed to end. Unless I was lucky enough to be in front.
But when was I ever that lucky? So I stood behind several kids who had the pleasure of enjoying a drink of water before I could. And each of them seemed to take an eternity with their sips.
Working at an elementary school, I've noticed that some teachers like to impose a "count to 5" kind of rule for each kid at the water fountain. That sort of clear-headed thinking would have been nice when I was in 3rd grade.
Finally, my turn would arrive. I approached the fountain and pushed the button. The water sprang forth and I finally had my taste. And somehow, it was the best tasting liquid on the planet. Nothing could have tasted cleaner or fresher than that water at that moment.
But now I know better. I know that the water that comes out of that spout is nothing more than mere tap water. Sure it's attached to a machine that has a cooler inside that kicks on every now and then to keep the water cold. But it's still unfiltered tap water.
In a world filled with bottled water and pitchers with built in filters, tap water seems entirely unacceptable. Also, as an adult, I look at those school based water fountains and can't help wondering, "How many mouths and/or tongues have been on that very spot where the water comes from?" And then I shudder.
Okay, really I try not to think about that kind of thing. I've never considered myself a germophobe. So that kind of thing doesn't typically bother me. And when my bottle of water is empty halfway through the day, I've got to fill it up somewhere. And for some reason, I feel better about filling it up at the fountain than I do in the bathroom sink.
But come on, have you smelled that bathroom? It's really, really foul in there.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Changing Seasons
Several years ago, I was told that friends come into our lives for certain seasons. Her meaning behind this? Friends come and go. We cross paths with certain people for certain periods of time and for certain reasons.
It's not as if it's a planned thing. I didn't meet a someone in 2002 and decide we'd only be friends for three years. But sometimes, that's just how it happens.
Think of it like we're leaves that have separated ourselves from the trees on which we grew. We're caught up in a cool, autumn breeze and are blown to wherever our destinies may lead. Sometimes that means we end up in a pile of other leaves. Sometimes we float along on our own for a while. Sometimes we get thrown into some kind of mulching machine. Okay, that one might have been a bad metaphor.
What about a path kind of analogy? We're walking along the path that makes up our lives. Along the way, our paths merge with others. Some follow the same path for a long time. Others for a short time. Either way, it seems that we're in each others lives for these seasons for a reason.
We come alongside some friends because we need them, or they need us. And when that time of need has ended, we move on. Or they move on. Again, it's not as if something like this is planned. People just grow apart after a while. Life gets busy with careers, families, other friends. Slowly but surely, contact begins to cease.
Change is a difficult thing to go through. Most of the time, anyway. Sometimes it can be really hard to let go of the people we've come to love. We go through so much with our friends. We experience joy and sadness together. And then it all goes away.
No, it's not always like this. Always is too big a word and it's way too all-encompassing. Because I know that there are some people who stick around for life. Those are some rare people.
Sadly, and more often, it just gets too difficult to maintain some friendships. And that's when you just have to let go and let the season change. Does that mean those limited time relationships mean any less than they did at the peak of the friendship? Absolutely not. And when you do finally get back in touch with each other, there's a good chance you can find a lot of great things to talk about.
Hang on to what you can. But really, don't be afraid to let go. Embrace the changing seasons.
It's not as if it's a planned thing. I didn't meet a someone in 2002 and decide we'd only be friends for three years. But sometimes, that's just how it happens.
Think of it like we're leaves that have separated ourselves from the trees on which we grew. We're caught up in a cool, autumn breeze and are blown to wherever our destinies may lead. Sometimes that means we end up in a pile of other leaves. Sometimes we float along on our own for a while. Sometimes we get thrown into some kind of mulching machine. Okay, that one might have been a bad metaphor.
What about a path kind of analogy? We're walking along the path that makes up our lives. Along the way, our paths merge with others. Some follow the same path for a long time. Others for a short time. Either way, it seems that we're in each others lives for these seasons for a reason.
We come alongside some friends because we need them, or they need us. And when that time of need has ended, we move on. Or they move on. Again, it's not as if something like this is planned. People just grow apart after a while. Life gets busy with careers, families, other friends. Slowly but surely, contact begins to cease.
Change is a difficult thing to go through. Most of the time, anyway. Sometimes it can be really hard to let go of the people we've come to love. We go through so much with our friends. We experience joy and sadness together. And then it all goes away.
No, it's not always like this. Always is too big a word and it's way too all-encompassing. Because I know that there are some people who stick around for life. Those are some rare people.
Sadly, and more often, it just gets too difficult to maintain some friendships. And that's when you just have to let go and let the season change. Does that mean those limited time relationships mean any less than they did at the peak of the friendship? Absolutely not. And when you do finally get back in touch with each other, there's a good chance you can find a lot of great things to talk about.
Hang on to what you can. But really, don't be afraid to let go. Embrace the changing seasons.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Question of the Week: Gawkers
If you came upon the scene of a terrible highway accident just after
the ambulances arrived, would you stop to watch? Assume that your
presence would neither help nor hinder the rescuers.
Absolutely not. In fact, I'd be the driver who is tailgating the idiot in front of me who is slowing down to see if there's a severed head. I'd be screaming from the safety of my car for the person in front of me to keep moving, that their idiotic need to be nosy is going to cause a second accident. The gawkers are so irritating.
*Question of the week comes from The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D
Absolutely not. In fact, I'd be the driver who is tailgating the idiot in front of me who is slowing down to see if there's a severed head. I'd be screaming from the safety of my car for the person in front of me to keep moving, that their idiotic need to be nosy is going to cause a second accident. The gawkers are so irritating.
*Question of the week comes from The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Fortress
My back was against the wall as I clutched my sword tight to my chest. My eyes were closed as I carefully considered my next move.
I could hear the wretched beast snarling outside the entrance to the fortress. The heavy breathing indicated that it was desperately trying to smell me inside. I dared to take a peek through a small opening in the door. What I saw frightened me to my core.
The beast was covered in dark fur. Its large mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth and it drooled in anticipation of its next meal. I could only assume that it had chosen me for that meal. My eyes strayed toward the ground and saw the beast's massive paws. If the thing's teeth scared me, the claws made me feel worse.
I swallowed hard. I knew I would have to face the creature at some point. And I figured, the sooner the better. I could look forward to one of two outcomes. Either I would vanquish the beast and the fortress would remain secure or my enemy would go to sleep with a full stomach tonight. I certainly didn't like to think about that latter option.
I took a deep breath as I looked at the people around me. They were all cowering in fear, looking to me for support and strength. I never asked to be a leader. But I was the biggest, the strongest. There was no other choice. As afraid as I felt, I couldn't show fear in front of my people.
There was a crash at the entrance. The beast was breaking through. The time to act was at hand. I rushed forward and faced the monster head on. The cape I wore fluttered behind me as I ran to meet the creature.
The beast roared as I tackled it to the ground. Feeling the thickness of the creature's hide, I knew my sword would be useless. I would have to wrestle the thing with my bare hands.
"Jason!" I heard a woman crying out my name in the distance. She didn't sound as if she was in danger, so I chose to ignore her. After all, I couldn't leave the fortress unprotected. I had to stop this monster at all costs.
"Jason!" She called again. This time she sounded more urgent. "Come here, please!"
I made sure the beast was subdued. It lay motionless on the ground, aside from the occasional twitch of its tail. I ran toward the sound of the woman's voice.
Mom stood there with her arms crossed. She didn't look happy. "Jason, I'm trying to get dinner ready before Uncle Hunter and Aunt Kathryn get here. Will you please clean up your blankets and pillows from the living room?"
"But Mom," I began. And I'll admit, my voice sounded incredibly whiny. At seven, it was difficult to not whine when losing my fort. "It's not just blankets! It's my fort!"
"Sweetie, I know it's a fort. But you need to put it away for now. You can pull everything back out tomorrow and protect your stuffed animals then."
I turned back toward the living room. I was disappointed, but I refused to let the tears come. As I walked away, I heard my mother behind me. "And try not to hurt the dog, okay?"
"Okay, Mom!"
I could hear the wretched beast snarling outside the entrance to the fortress. The heavy breathing indicated that it was desperately trying to smell me inside. I dared to take a peek through a small opening in the door. What I saw frightened me to my core.
The beast was covered in dark fur. Its large mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth and it drooled in anticipation of its next meal. I could only assume that it had chosen me for that meal. My eyes strayed toward the ground and saw the beast's massive paws. If the thing's teeth scared me, the claws made me feel worse.
I swallowed hard. I knew I would have to face the creature at some point. And I figured, the sooner the better. I could look forward to one of two outcomes. Either I would vanquish the beast and the fortress would remain secure or my enemy would go to sleep with a full stomach tonight. I certainly didn't like to think about that latter option.
I took a deep breath as I looked at the people around me. They were all cowering in fear, looking to me for support and strength. I never asked to be a leader. But I was the biggest, the strongest. There was no other choice. As afraid as I felt, I couldn't show fear in front of my people.
There was a crash at the entrance. The beast was breaking through. The time to act was at hand. I rushed forward and faced the monster head on. The cape I wore fluttered behind me as I ran to meet the creature.
The beast roared as I tackled it to the ground. Feeling the thickness of the creature's hide, I knew my sword would be useless. I would have to wrestle the thing with my bare hands.
"Jason!" I heard a woman crying out my name in the distance. She didn't sound as if she was in danger, so I chose to ignore her. After all, I couldn't leave the fortress unprotected. I had to stop this monster at all costs.
"Jason!" She called again. This time she sounded more urgent. "Come here, please!"
I made sure the beast was subdued. It lay motionless on the ground, aside from the occasional twitch of its tail. I ran toward the sound of the woman's voice.
Mom stood there with her arms crossed. She didn't look happy. "Jason, I'm trying to get dinner ready before Uncle Hunter and Aunt Kathryn get here. Will you please clean up your blankets and pillows from the living room?"
"But Mom," I began. And I'll admit, my voice sounded incredibly whiny. At seven, it was difficult to not whine when losing my fort. "It's not just blankets! It's my fort!"
"Sweetie, I know it's a fort. But you need to put it away for now. You can pull everything back out tomorrow and protect your stuffed animals then."
I turned back toward the living room. I was disappointed, but I refused to let the tears come. As I walked away, I heard my mother behind me. "And try not to hurt the dog, okay?"
"Okay, Mom!"
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Bucket List
- Drive across the US in a convertible.
- Love and be loved in return.
- Visit Canada.
- Climb the stairs of the Eiffel Tower.
- Sing a duet with Carrie Underwood.
- Visit Australia.
- Arrange for someone to continue updating my Twitter feed after my death.
- Kiss a girl.
- Survive the zombie apocalypse.
- Get wicked good with a bow and arrow.
- Own a house with a large front porch.
- Win the lottery.
- Own an arcade style Ms. Pac-Man video game.
- Discover time travel.
- Visit 1955.
- Become a teacher.
- Live in New York.
- Write a song for a girl.
- Hug a clown.
Watch every Star Wars movie (even the prequels) in one sitting.- Shake hands with the president.
- Try on a suit of armor.
Figure out what the smoke monster from Lost really was.I posted about my findings here...- See the Aurora Borealis.
- Have a front yard with a big freakin' willow tree.
- Write a novel.
- Have it published.
- Watch every Harry Potter movie in a day.
- Watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon.
- Go to the prom.
- Have a pen pal.
- Visit London.
- Fall asleep waiting for Santa.
- Own a recliner.
- Build a sandcastle.
- Live in a home with a secret passage.
- Live in a home with a library.
- Read every book written by Stephen King.
- Attend a game at every Major League ballpark.
- Visit Ground Zero.
- Set up an outdoor movie theater in my back yard.
- Ride the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens 20 consecutive times.
Run a 5k.I ran the Monument Ave. 10k in April of 2013. That counts, right?- Sing the National Anthem at a minor league baseball game.
- Learn to play the piano.
- Adopt a dog.
- Fly in a helicopter.
- Party in Vegas.
- Create a life-size Chutes and Ladders game.
- Visit Rome.
- Go on a cruise.
- Buy a tailored suit.
- Receive a kiss under the mistletoe.
- See Beauty and the Beast performed on stage.
- Visit the Statue of Liberty.
- Be invited to speak at a graduation ceremony.
- Ride in a gondola.
- Learn how to do a cartwheel.
- Visit the Grand Canyon.
- Get drunk.
- Learn to play the ukulele.
- Propose to a woman in epic fashion.
- Go to Hawaii.
- Build a blanket fort.
- Be thrown a surprise birthday party.
- Meet friends that I've only known through blogging.
- Sing a song with my college choir again.
- Tell my high school crush that I had a crush on her once upon a time.
- Participate in a flash mob.
- Go on a picnic with the woman I love.
- See every movie on the American Film Institute's top 100 list.
- Live in the Big Brother house for the summer.
- Play and beat every main series Final Fantasy game.
Go on a date.- Watch the sun rise over the Atlantic and set over the Gulf of Mexico in the same day.
- Ride a camel.
Sing Dream On at karaoke night.Proof.- Make a snow angel.
- Visit Mexico.
- Take a train to New York.
- Watch an Olympic bobsled event in person.
- Recreate the events of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
- Meet Alison Brie.
- Sing a baby to sleep.
- Get out of debt.
- Create a sitcom.
- Spend a day watching animated Disney films.
- Have a sandwich named after me.
- Serenade a girl.
- Eat at a pizza joint in New York City.
- Eat a cheesesteak in Philadelphia.
- Have more than 100 followers on my blog.
Survive 12/21/2012.- Have a secret admirer.
- Catch a foul ball.
- Visit DisneyWorld with my college friends.
- Make a profound speech and then drop the microphone like a badass.
- Watch an entire season of 24 in one day.
- Host SNL.
- Sing all the way through Barenaked Ladies' One Week on tempo without flubbing the lyrics.
As I cross things off the list, I'll make updates. Life from here on should be interesting as I try to do all this stuff. Wish me luck. And again, if you want to help with any of it, let me know!
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