I Know, Right?

I’ve been gone for a while, maybe too long. It was needed and I’m not even quite sure why. At this point I’d love to say that I accomplished some great things in the world since I last posted but mainly I’ve bolstered my skills in selling sweaters to mostly foreign customers in the mall. I also am not gonna apologize for neglecting those few out there who actually will still read this, even though I’m really happy you decided to stick around.

Anyway, things are changing. I can’t say life is totally on track but at least I feel like there’s a little more direction than before. The best way to describe it is using my favorite TV show, “How I Met Your Mother.”

In the first season, Ted finds an old shirt that he never wore but, magically, when he puts it on it fits perfect and looks amazing. This leads to him going back out with a girl whose heart he broke and ultimately leads to him doing the same thing again, all because of a shirt.

So here’s my disclaimer. No I didn’t start calling up all the girls I used to date just because I finally fit into this totally awesome shirt that never looked good before, its blue by the way. I did start trying some things that I used to not like very much though.

First example of many, sushi. My last big experience with sushi that was memorable was with my friend Anna. She was having a bad day and wanted company at the sushi bar. So there we sat in Nakato’s, me eating my bowl of rice after gagging on what I think was a fish that was just pulled out of some river and her enjoying those little rolls that always look so elegant in movies.

Fast forward to last night in a little sushi restaurant outside of downtown. I decided earlier that day that I was gonna be open to whatever came along and to throw out all my preconceived notions of food, life, and other things. Yes it was a date, and yes I agreed to try sushi again. I wasn’t in any way dragged there, I just needed a change. So the little plates started appearing in front of us and to my surprise, it was amazing. I really, honestly liked it. Salmon, Yellow Tail, Shrimp, I had them all and it was glorious. I must say the company didn’t hurt the situation at all.

So there’s my first example and I promise many more will come. In the words of Jean Paul Sarte “Au Revoir, Good Friend.”

What I Saw

I saw Paris in my dreams tonight. Little shadows colliding with bits of paper stuck underneath my feet. Visions of cemeteries and long steps down to the water. Cold days and warm nights. Walking through alleyways to nowhere just to say I did. I remember living with passion. Never missing a moment. Standing with my head up high, like a taller version of Napoleon with no hat. Gently cascading waterfalls and rooftop views. Having conversations with people who’ll never remember my name. The feel of the rain on my head walking down Rue de Versaille. Looking for the Tower light to know I’m not far from home. I’m so far from home.

Little Thoughts

Here’s my little thought of the day.

It’s way to easily to type the word “hoe” instead of “how” when using your iPhone. I’ll give you an example; “Hey, hoe about getting some lunch today?” This was the text that was very nearly sent to my father. You should never send the word “hoe” in a text message to your father, not even if your talking about a genuine lady of the night or someone with rather loose morals. It just shouldn’t happen. Thank you iPhone for making the best out of awkward and random moments. Now if the comma would have been one word over, a lot of explaining would have had to be done.

Standing Up

Have you ever had so many ideas running through your head that you just don’t know what to do with them all?

This is my life right now. With way too much free time comes way too much time for thought and introspection, two things that I happen to very good at. So as I find myself passing the time my mind wanders to many different topics. I started off the month of August by volunteering at a Maternity Home here in Houston. As I was working there, mostly cleaning up the yard and area, it dawned on me just how much work can be accomplished when someone puts their mind to something. We had just a handful of people and yet we did in a couple hours what would have taken weeks for the staff. Sure it was hard, uncomfortable and hot, but it needed to be done.

Fast forward a couple weeks. I was able to meet a man who decided to start his own organization that builds orphanages and feeding centers for children in third world countries. Just hearing the stories of how lives had been changed just because this guy, a former career missionary, decided that something needed to be done. That’s the kind of ideas that really change the world. Standing up and making a difference doesn’t have to be the sole platform of politicians and activists, but of regular people like you and I. Matter of fact, I would even go as far as saying that we are the ones that can really make a difference.

So what kind of ideas do you have? How would you stand up and make a difference?

It’s Hard To Be A Yank

It’s that time again. Tomorrow morning, for us in the States, the first round of the 09/10 Barclays English Premier League begins at 6:45 c.s.t. That means I will be up at around 6:30 since the first game of the season has Hull City visiting Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.  Then on to watch Blackburn vs. Manchester City, Aston Villa vs. Wigan and then cap it off with Arsenal visiting Everton at Goodison Park.

Honestly, I can’t remember the exact time that I fell in love with football. The World Cup in 1998 was the first time I can recall watching a lot of matches. Growing up in South Texas where Baseball and American Football are king it was hard to get accustomed to anything else, especially when you were the odd one out in the family. So I guess you could call me a closet fan up until the time around the 2006 World Cup. me and my roommates at the time had invested in a really good cable package which included the Fox Soccer Channel. This allowed me to watch games other than the MLS and if I had to guess, this would be the time when I really got to be a true fan. Sure I loved it before then, but I had to keep up with internet scores and read about how the games went. Now I could see my favorite players in color. It was almost like seeing a movie for the first time. I had read about ho inventive Joe Cole was when speeding down the flanks, but to see it with my own eyes was magical.

Ever since then I haven’t failed to miss anything. I wake up early on Saturdays to catch the live broadcasts and have even managed to make a couple trips over to Stamford Bridge to see where the Blues play in person. Next step, get to London for a true Matchday experience. I’m really hoping this one doesn’t take too long to accomplish, we may have gone through another 3-4 gaffers by then and the team may be in shambles. So goes the life of a football fan in the U.S. We take what we can get and thank God for Setanta Sports and Fox Soccer Channel every day of the week.

It’s Official

After two weeks of paperwork, essays, and applications, I am officially applied to Grad school. No I haven’t been accepted yet but all the prelim work is done. Now comes the crossing the fingers time.

I once said to myself that I would never go back to school. This was probably muttered after a particularly hard Media Law test that made me wanted to blow my brains out, but nevertheless, here I am again.

The next question is where am I going to end up? I’m gonna do a bit of teasing here and just say that I applied to a pretty diverse set of schools in a pretty diverse set of locations. Some may surprise you, others will just make you wonder what I was thinking.

So for the next couple weeks I may be a bit hopeful, energetic, and upbeat. That just means that I haven’t got any type of answer yet. Once that little letters of acceptance, or rejection, come in I’ll be sure and post what the next step in my life will be.

I’ll just say this, I’m really excited about the chance for one school in particular. Maybe I could say something about how this particular one would help me achieve something that’s been a dream of mine for a really long time, but that would just be cheating. Besides, who knows how well you people out there actually know me. I guess this could be a test. Enjoy.

A Good Start

So I know we are already a couple days into August but man if I’m not behind the 8-ball these days. This time last August I was working at Banana Republic and preparing for my first year after University. It was a strange time in my life, having spent so many years attaining my B.S. and I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. I met some great people at work and then, out of nowhere, decided to move to France for a 5 months. So then my time was occupied with preparing to leave. I’m sensing a trend here. Apparently, I only work at my best when I’m preparing for something. Like some weird disease that holds my life in a constant change limbo just so I can function well. Well this year is gonna be different. I have a decent plan mapped out, with lots of tweaking left to do, and I really think I’m headed in the right direction.

So, to start off the month of August I decided I would get outside of myself and do some good for others around me. In comes LifeHouse Houston, a great non-profit organization here in Houston that provides maternity housing for young women experiencing a crisis pregnancy. They are about to open a new house and desperately needed some help doing clean up from the construction and debris from the last Hurricane. So up came my sleeves and a couple hours later we had their property looking great and ready for it’s debut move in day.

I love a Christian organization that is actually doing something about the problems that most Christians just yell about. To me, if you advocate and vote for Pro-Life policies and then leave it at that, you aren’t doing your duty to these young women who decide to keep their babies. They need help. Most get shunned by families and have trouble making ends meet, let alone finding a place to live. The people at LifeHouse house you through your pregnancy and also offer parental and adoption counseling to help find the best situation for the new child. How can we expect young girls to choose life for their child if we are just gonna forget about them once the baby is born?

That’s what I love about this organization. They take care of and love these girls like they are their own children. We got the chance to hang out with some of the girls at the house and just to see the smile on their face was worth every bit of sweat and a nasty bruise on my left foot. I’m a bit accident prone.

So that’s how my August started off and what a wonderful start it was.

Clean

So I recently returned from a trip to my old college town. It was really great to be able to spend some time with good friends that I love but one thing stood out to me in particular. I’m content with having nowhere to really call home right now. Springfield is the old, Houston is the new, and temporary, and who knows where else I will end up. I’ve been overseas, a couple different states, many houses and apartments, and still no permanent place. Just an ever changing bedroom suite that is pretty much disposable and easy to move.

I know life after college can be a little transient but I’m apparently taking it to another level. The thing is, I’m okay with it. Stability is something that I’m just not craving at this point in life and I kinda like that.

Some people refer to this period as the in-betweens, quarter life crisis, or the doldrums. I’m gonna choose to see it as an opportunity to make something of myself on my own terms. I have nothing holding me back from going anywhere in the world and doing anything I want to do. My life is a literal clean slate and for the first time I am realizing it. Now to just find some chalk.

Here’s to You Walter

Walter Cronkite, 1916-2009

America lost a great newsman today. Quite possibly the best.

We’ll miss you “Uncle Walter” and all of your great insight into life and history.

A Reason To Look Forward To Fall

The trailer for the new film by Danish filmmaker Lone Scherfig, “An Education” is making the rounds on the internet this week. Yeah I know, most of you probably have no clue who Scherfig is but you may recognize the name of the film’s writer, Nick Hornby. Author of such classics as High Fidelity, About A Boy, Fever Pitch and How To Be Good, Hornby is finally bringing his unique style of writing to a story that’s not his own.

I must say that this is probably one of my more anticipated films of the fall since I am a huge and devoted Hornby fan. I’m hoping the media’s claims about Scherfig are true and that she brings consistent depth and emotion to the characters. It should be good.

Plus, who doesn’t love Peter Sarsgaard? Really?