In or out! In or out!

When did childhood change so much?  What happened and when did it happen to make kids want to stay indoors during warm days which didn't include school?

I had an option each day during summer vacation.  My grandma would ask:  "Are you staying in or out today?"  There wasn't running in and out of the house.  If we - my brother and two boy cousins - ran in and out too many times letting out the "bought air" the storm door was locked and we had to knock to get inside.   We'd knock for Gatorade or a Fla-Vor-Ice, then we'd run off to play again.

We'd stay gone for hours upon hours.  No Amber Alerts.  Our "Amber Alert" was my grandma standing on the front porch yelling for us.   We'd stay gone all day and come in after dark, get asked if we were in for the night, only to respond "no" while waving a flashlight in our hands.  

We rode in the back of the truck on rode trips.  That's the truck bed.  Not the plush seats of the SUV.  We sat on the wheel humps and with every bump our heads would hit the "topper".  Air conditioning was a luxury item we only got to see on the hottest of hot days after we broke the slip n' slide or the two foot high, plastic walls to the K-mart pool.  

My Summer vacations for 5 years was a rotation of 2 weeks camping at Summersville Lake, one week home, then repeat.  We had a trailer.  My dad would pull it up and commute to our business daily.  We showered in the bath house.  I got chased by mean ass geese and skunks.  Rode my bike down a hill for 40 yards - while missing the geese or there nasty droppings - before careening into the lake.  Or just endo-ing once we hit the lip of the shore.  

The four of us - me, my bro, and two cousins - got skateboards when Tony Hawk was buying his first house.  We built our own ramps to jump our bikes or skateboards off of, no helmets, no pads.  I still have scars from my most horrendous wreck on my bike.  We were racing down a hill, BMX style, and at the first turn I got pushed into a telephone pole and flipped over the handle bars.  My mom cleaned my wounds and sent me back out to play.  Kids today get nursed for 3 weeks and carted off to the hospital to make sure the scarring won't be permanent.  

I got chased by a green snake and my family just laughed at me.  Today that snake would have pest control after it.

I just don't understand what has caused this.  We had video games.  The classics:  Atari, Clecovision,  Nintendo, Super NES, and Sega Genesis.  So all of the blame cannot be laid upon video games.  Maybe the computer and internet hold the answer or the cause.  But what parents are that uninvolved not to push their kids to have fun?  Why can't parents be parents?  

What has happened in our society to make us so selfish and inconsiderate?  And I say inconsiderate because that's what the kids are today.   I hope I have the answer or the solution in my own life before I get married and have kids.

So through all of this layout craziness, I've had a few dating/relationship thoughts.

There is this boy in my life.  He's been in my life for 14 yrs.  He's held a piece of my heart for about 9 of those years.  We reconnected after two years and he's all I can think about.  Well not all obviously, I still fantasize about Paul Walker, Kevin Costner, and Travis Pastrana.  

Anyway.  We text because, well, I hate talking on the phone.  So I haven't "talked" to him for a few days.  Like since Tuesday morning at 2AM.  I'm not up on etiquette for how long one must wait to receive a reply before making contact again.  

Yet, when I think about it, maybe it's a good thing that after two weeks of endless contact, that he and I aren't talking all the time.  It's healthy.  

But still the question is:  What is a proper - and not crazy - time period before you try to contact the opposite sex?   As I type that sentence a scene from "He's Just Not That Into You" with Jennifer Goodwin keeps replaying in my mind.

Speaking of that movie, maybe I should re-read the book.  But I have loads of other books I need to read.  Or maybe I should stop waiting around for a guy whom I've put loads of time into to come around and want to date me.  He hasn't wanted to before, what makes now different.  We're older.  We're wiser.  We aren't so immature, but we weren't back then either.  We - ok I'm not so naive.  Who knows.  In this situation, only he knows.  And all he's said is "never say never."  If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that, then I'd surely have the MacBook Pro of my dreams.

So I'll watch "Rumor Has It" and take in the moral of the story which is 'the grass ain't always greener.'

Work in progress...

Trying to figure out what script needs to be placed for linkability (yeah i know it's not a word) of my post headers and for a comment link and such to be clickable.  Work in progress for this HTML Dummy.  HELP!!!

Nowhere...

Nowhere is an excuse for not knowing or not wanting to tell where something/someone was, is, or has been.

Everyone used it as a kid when questioned by a parent.  Most of the time you were up to no good or someplace you weren't allowed to go.  As adults, we use it to shortly explain that we have been at home or work doing absolutely nothing of a productive or exciting nature.  But we are always some where, never nowhere.

"She came out of nowhere."  - No.  She came from somewhere, you just didn't see where she came from.

"Came from nowhere to win." - Not even close.  The pronoun in question came from their seed in the bracket, or from behind to win.

"Nowhere to be found."  - Nope, its just in the place you forgot to look.

"Lead to nowhere." - Egh! Wrong again.  It leads to the middle of a field, forest, desert.  I'm sure it has a name, you just don't know it.

"Miles from nowhere." - You are always miles from somewhere.  I'm 13 miles from Uptown Charlotte.  I'm a mile from Lake Norman.  I'm 246 miles from my home city of Charleston, WV.

"Nowhere near enough."  Sorry, but not close/near enough would work.  You can't be 'nowhere' near enough.  You always have something towards enough, even when you have nothing.

"Where have you been?" "Nowhere." - What?  You were somewhere, work, apartment, pool, in bed, in the bathroom, on the couch, at Starbucks/Ben & Jerry's/Harris Teeter/bar.  You are always somewhere!

Even when you say you are in the middle of Nowhere, you are in the middle of what ever region you are exploring.  If you go into the woods in West Virginia, you are in the middle of the woods in WV, not nowhere.

Again, I state, nowhere is an excuse for not knowing or wanting to tell. 

Why is it reverse-discrimination?

Reverse-discrimination would imply, by definition of the two words, 

opposite or contrary in position to treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction infavor 

of or against, a person or thing based on the group,

class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than 

on individual merit.

That would mean you were favorable to people because of their race, meaning it's not discrimination at all its a bias.

The case the Supreme Court heard today was called reverse-discrimination. BUT! It's simply a town being to afraid of an affirmative action law suit that got hit with a law suit anyway.  Why is it ok to discriminate against whites, but not other races?

I'm a person who thinks being PC - politically correct - is for the birds.  I'm blunt and have no problem telling the truth.  I went to a high school which was above the curve when it comes to public education.  Everyone had the chance to excel if they WANTED too, not just whites.  I believe diversity is a great thing, but it shouldn't rule our lives.  If 14 whites and 1 hispanic had what it took to pass the officer test, then by God let them be officers!  

I would never use the 'N' word but I've been called a 'cracker', yet that's supposed to be ok.  I don't get offended.  I enjoy salty, thin biscuits.  If someone was arrested by a white police officer and then called the officer a cracker, nothing would be said of it.  Yet, reverse the situation.  Black officer, and the dreaded 'N' word which is used within the black community as a common term, and it's a whole new ball game.

And to make things even more politically correct for all of you PC loving idiots, I'm no longer just American.  I'm European-American.  I'm the most discriminated against.  I'm blamed for everything.  I'm a white, middle-class, intelligent, educated, well-spoken, second rate citizen.  I didn't get help other than loans for college.  I don't qualify for any free tuition programs.  How is it that those people who have college money on a silver platter have a hard time going to college?  Undergrad degrees are a dime a dozen.  It doesn't matter where you went anymore, it's where you got your Masters!  If you can go to college for free and don't go, that isn't my fault!  Take responsibility for your own actions!  Put your big girl/boy britches on and grow up.  Stop making excuses and blaming everyone else for where you are, you have the ability to make the changes to put yourself in a better place.  No one else can do it for you.

Its similar to anyone that blames lack of money/insurance/education for them having children when they aren't financially, mentally, and/or able to care for them.  There are free programs in every community where any male or female can get tested for STDs and receive free or discounted (depending on income) birth control options.  

So really this has turned into a "take responsibility for you" and double standards post .  And it's the mature and adult thing to do.  No one else is responsible for your actions - unless of course you are skitzophrenic and the voices are telling you to do or not do something.  Again, completely difference ball game.  

And this is not a racial statement.  My 23-yr-old brother likes to blame everyone else for his problems.  Not so.  Once you can take responsibility for your own actions, doors will open.  Don't be negative.  Be Optimistic.  When you think negatively, then only negative things will occur.  Think positively and positive things will happen!  And if you want to think positive and negative people bring you down, cut them out!  Main reason I don't talk to the majority of my family. 

If you think I'm not being fair, or being rude, tell me.  Let's talk this out.  Well type it out, but same thing.  I'm completely open-minded and love listening to other points of view.  But if you are close-minded, well I don't want to get yelled at by someone that only sees one side of everything and is not swayed at all.

Happy Earth Day!!

So today is Earth Day!  What are you doing to make the Earth better?

One of my friends is doing a little more than most.  Heather has started a yearly show called "Bella Blu".  It's a hair show hosted by her work Bella Lago Spa and Salon in Mooresville, NC.  

The show was hosted at NV Lounge in Cornelius, NC and the theme was "Save the Earth for Tomorrows Angels"

There were 10 models and she was in charge of styling 5 of the models. Her fiance made signs that looked almost exactly like the signs seen at The Whisky, The Roxy, The Troubadour, and a Hollywood & Vine street sign.  As well as a HUGE LAX sign.  

Most people don't see how hair shows and Earth Day go together, but for Heather it fits.  She wants her future kids to grow up with out the burden we have placed upon the land.  And she's the best stylist on Lake Norman.

So I ask again, What are you doing to make the Earth a better place for the kids of tomorrow?  Reusable grocery bags, recycling, taking the bus/train/carpooling, switching from bottled water to a filtration system, rechargable batteries, CFL lights?

There are a few inexpensive ways to Go Green!  I use reusable grocery bags.  They only cost 99 cents and they are way easier to carry if you live in a walk up apartment building.  I have a Brita Water Pitcher.  Plastic not only contains chemicals known to cause cancer, but it takes over 10 years to break down in land fills.  Same goes for those plastic bags you bring home from the grocery store.  Compact Florescent Lights.  They last WAY LONGER than regular light bulbs and they use 85% less energy.  That not only helps save energy, but it keeps money in your wallet!   Funny story.  During a storm I came home and turned on the lights.  I didn't know my power was getting ready to go out until I tried to turn on the TV and computer.  The CFL bulbs were still at high power when there wasn't enough to power my electronics.

Recycle aluminum and paper.  Use power strips for electronics and turn them off when not using them.  Unplug your TV when you go on a trip, it still uses about 10% of the power needed to power it when its off and plugged in!  Use washable cloths to clean  with instead of paper towels.  

My mom and my North Carolina mom didn't believe me when I said it would take me 6 months to go through a pack of  8 rolls of Bounty paper towels.  Well I gave my NC mom Linda two rolls and I just had to buy a new pack of 8 in March.  My mom purchased the first pack in August.  I made it 7 months on 6 rolls of paper towels.  How you may ask?  I only use them when necessary.  I live alone, so its kinda easy.  If you can, use cloth napkins or like me when I have something hot, I just use the dish towel then wash it.

Wait until you have a large load to do laundry, if possible.  And make sure you check the size of the load on the machine.  If its just one or two items, don't use a extra large load preset.  That's a lot more water than needed.  

Going Green and trying to eat Organic makes me feel better.  Everyone says it's in my mind when I eat Organic, but without the toxins you feel amazing after you've detoxed.  

So do what you can, even if its just using reusable bags and CFLs.  That little bit can go a long way in reducing your Carbon Footprint.

Peace, Love, and Happiness!

GO TO LKNFUN.COM FOR MORE PICS!!!

Why be so exclusive?

Ok so the buzz is still high over Miss California's reply to Perez Hilton's question during the Miss USA Comp.  Perez has been nonstop tweeting about it on his official Twitter.  If you live under a rock and are unaware of the situation here's what went down.

Perez was a judge on the beauty-I mean-scholarship competition.  His question was "Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same sex marriage, do you think more states should follow suit? Why or why not?"

Now she took the road "marriage should be between a man and a woman."  I have to say her honesty is endearing, but you just opened up a feud with Perez.  

Yes, free speech is a cornerstone of the American Constitution.  But, the aftermath of all the "religious" people and the Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered community feeling they need to voice their opinions is a little much.  

There are a few reasons why this gets me going.  1)  I hate anything that preaches equality and inclusion but turns around to be ultra-exclusive.  2)  The whole sanctity of marriage BS.

I have been witness to more heterosexual marriages ending in divorce than I have seen same-sex life partnerships end in break up.  Sanctity of marriage my ass!  Is the sanctity of marriage when a husband beats his wife?  Or how about when one or the other cheats over the entire course of the marriage then after 21 years of yelling and mental abuse one leaves the other and fights in court for their rights to the marital assets?  If that is the sanctity of marriage then count me out.  

My mom left my father 8 years ago after 21 years of mental abuse.  She has been with the man I call my step dad for 7 years.  They aren't married.  They talk about it, but it would be his 4th and her 2nd.  They are perfect together.  High school sweethearts that reconnected after 24 years.  The same injustices that the homosexual community faces, they are actually facing.  My mom can't even be added to his insurance because they aren't married.  And yes, I know it's not the same, but it holds similarities.

Now onto the religious aspect.  Look here you hypocritical fuckers!  If God loves everyone and Jesus saves, then why the fuck would they not accept everyone!  Religion is about love and acceptance, not being in an exclusive club.  And as far as the quote "but the Bible says."  If the Bible said to have a relationship with God you have to cut off all pleasurable habits would you fucking do it?  That means if you find pleasure in coffee, bubble baths, YouTube, card games, and/or any other fetish you find release in, would you stop?  No you wouldn't you would say that it's open to interpretation and that some things are a sign of the times.  Same way people look at the "wives must submit to their husbands".  People find that outdated and stupid.  Huh?  We interpret what we see fit for ourselves.

I have an open relationship with God.  I don't go to church, but I know he's open and accepting of sinners, saints, drunks, druggies, whores, and gluttons.  Why can't he accept homosexuals?  Answer:  HE DOES!  Who are we to judge anyone?  Judging people isn't the job of a mortal.  Judging isn't the job of a sinner.  And we are all sinners!  That's why I have faith in God, not religion.  He listens to me even though I don't go to church.  He loves me even though I don't claim a religion.  He loves us all!  So who are the religious, Bible beating, hypocritical Christians to judge, hate, and cast stones?    Go read your Bible you inconsiderate, selfish, hypocrites.  Open your heart and mind for that is when God touches you the most!

Faith, hope, and love are just a few things he gave us.  And the greatest is LOVE!

Forgot about this one...

So this morning, most mornings, I sat down to drink my coffee and catch some of today's headlines via a cable news outlet.  Well, I was jolted out of my sleepy state not by the wonderful Columbian brew, but by the 911 tape of a man who was delivering a baby when his wife was "unaware" she was pregnant.

REALLY?!

You didn't know when you missed your monthly gift 9 months in a row, when your boobies were really sore, your lower back hurt, you gained 20+ pounds, and threw up for three months?  Did you drink so much every day to think it was just a hangover?  And did you not notice the baby kicking?  

REALLY?!

I have such a hard time believing these "I didn't know I was pregnant" stories.  Your body changes so much, so quickly.  I have a feeling most of these women didn't want to be pregnant and used the "if you don't acknowledge it, it's not there" mentality.  It's a human life people, not a stain on your carpet.  But it will be a stain on your carpet if you don't acknowledge it!  

The kicker, this was the woman's 4th child!  You'd think after the first two she'd know what to expect!   

I just can't believe there were no signs!  What was she taking or on to make pregnancy symptoms disappear or seem "normal"?   Not knowing until 4-5 months with light monthly gifts is believable, but not knowing until labor?  A girl I went to high school used this excuse, I think it was an easy way to keep from getting in trouble with her parents.  It's like "Surprise! You're a grandma!"

I'm so white, it's not funny!

So I've been away from my apartment for 21 of the last 25 days.  Thing that is great about that?  My electric bill is $53 for next month!  Bad thing about that?  Well after leaving again last week, my air conditioner has stopped working.  Its beginning to be very nice weather wise on Lake Norman.  Today the high is 77 degrees, but it's just now 75 so I'm thinking it'll get higher.  Bad news for me, my apartment management can't call maintenance in to fix it until it gets 80 degrees or higher.  I live on the 3rd floor, the top floor.  My apartment stays hot when it's 65 and above.  I had things I needed to do today.  Like go to the Apple store.  Yet, I can't get ready do to it being hot in my apartment.  I can't leave due to having to keep my balcony door open and my dog out of her cage.  Plus I have a thing against maintenance being in my apartment while I'm not there.  But it's kinda weird to be there when they are in my apartment.  Weird.

I'm only going to the Apple store to turn in a iPhone charger that is defective.  But I can see myself lusting over the new MacBook Pro that I want so badly.  Or finding a $40 iPhone cover I want.  Maybe even, finding something I really didn't know I wanted or needed for my iAccessory-itis.  Lord help me.

There is this blog that I enjoy reading called "Stuff White People Like".  It's very popular and comedic.  I have been learning how 'white' I really am.  Things like:  theme or ugly sweater  parties, taking a year off of school or work, promising to learn another language, pea coats, my favorite - self aware hip hop references, bangs on girls - yeah I have them, and expensive sandwhiches.  All of which I love/have done/wear.

Now you may ask what a "self aware hip hop reference" is.  Well, I almost always say "peace out, word to your mother".  A blatant reference to "Ice, Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice.  Sometimes I'll say "holler" to joke about the use of "holla".  Or the use of "wack", "haters", "player" (ie. play hata), " or any "rap" along to the great rappers in perfect English (kinda like Weird Al in a way).

Why is it when we service our vehicles with an oil change, we think they drive different? Not just different, but better. There really isn't any change at all. Now when you get your rotors turned or new breaks you feel the difference when you hit your break pedal. New tires, front end alignment, replacing struts and/or ball joints will improve ride quality. But for some reason we think all we need is an oil change to make our car run better.



College spring games are going on before the draft. Florida has 11 defensive starters returning, and ESPN is hyping them up for a 3rd championship in 4 years. My question is, wouldn't you?

Few Random Things

- Girls hate me because I'm a guys-girl and guys enjoy hanging out with me. You'd think they want to be my friend so that I could persuade a guy to like them. The likelihood I would actually persuade a guy is very unlikely.

- Hayden Christiansen is very attractive and I'm just now figuring it out. He's handsome in a Paul Walker type of way. And I like Paul Walker, a lot.

- Old crushes never die. Not when they run deeper than the skin. It sucks because after not seeing said crush for years, you fall right back into wanting that person.

- We all have one person that could talk us into almost anything. Almost.

- Super natural beings don't live in homes or caves, they are called lairs. With the exception of Batman, he has the Batcave.

- Just because you love your family, doesn't mean you like them. I don't like a few of my family members.

- Reinserting a nose ring after not wearing it for over a year is like having sex for the first time with a rather large partner.

- Samuel L. Jackson plays a really great bad guy.

- All families are dysfunctional, some are just better at hiding it than others.

- Pessimistic people love to live in misery. And misery loves company. I'm just too optimistic and love life for that.

- You'll always love your first love.

- My dog has the worst smelling farts in the WORLD!!

- Kristen Stewart annoys me so much.

FREE MIXTAPE!!

Go to ChesterFrench.com and get their FREE mixtape Jacques Jams Vol. One: Endurance.

You'll thank me later!

Randomness at it's best!

I got my first manicure - not fake nails just the soak and clip kind - a week ago and ever since I've been obsessed with painting my nails.  Since the polish from the manicure started chipping Saturday night.  I ordered two colors of polish from shopessie.com (great polish) and got them today.  I've already played with them after going to AT&T and Starbucks.  Those two places could only be more deadly if an Apple store was in the middle.

Like Pumpkin Spice brings in the Fall at Starbucks, the ability to purchase frappacinos without freezing while drinking it brings in Summer.  If only the lake would warm up and I could find a guy with a boat.

I am a music whore.  I love all types and love discovering new artists and bands.  I'm on an indie music kick as of late.  Favorite band of the moment is by far Kings of Leon followed closely by Blue October.  Yet, I still love my two faves Anberlin and Alkaline Trio.  And I get giddy every time I hear Placebo - weird I know.  Fave new artist has to be Chester French.  

Ok, why are so many celebs on Twitter?  Not that I mind.  Dane Cook, John Mayer, Mark Hoppus, Tony Hawk, Pete Wentz, and Ashton Kutcher keep me entertained, but what's up with this form of communication.  I'm an avid twitterer, but when celebs tweet about breakups (ie. Travis Barker, Shana Moakler, Samantha Ronson) and such, where can you draw the line.  Ben Lyons keeps us posted on movies and sometimes music - he tweeted his love of Chester French which caused me to check them out.  Dr. Drew Pinsky keeps us thinking positively with great quotes and also keeps us updated on our favorite celeb rehabers and much more.  But really why do celebs tweet?  Dane Cook does it for comedy's sake.  So does Robert Kelly - very funny and personable guy.  But why do people like the Kardashians, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Miley Cyrus, Justin Gaston, and Nicole Richie tweet?  Don't get me wrong I don't have anything against those listed with the exception of Spencer and Heidi - but who really likes them?

Yesterday I was reading a blog where someone called Ben Afleck a bad parent because he said a cuss word in German in front of his daughter Violet - cutey pie.  Granted he was honest with her and told her it was a bad word and she shouldn't repeat it.  The tot then repeated him over and over.  How is that a bad parent?  They were out to lunch so he's not starving her.  He doesn't beat her.  He keeps a roof over her head and loves her.  There are worse parents out there than that!  Ben and Jennifer are too cute, and they both love that child more than anything - along with her sis Serafina.  When you want to look at bad parents look toward Courtney "I'm-totally-sober" Love or Ryan O'Neal who was caught with heroine with his and Farrah Fawcett's son Redmond.

So I'm gonna wrap up this post.  Will probably post again today.  I'm full of random thoughts and opinions.  And I'm sure something will set me off on a ramble again.  

Peace out! Word to your mother!

I'm not an American Idol watcher but...

I did catch Adam Lambert's song last night as I waited for Fringe to start.  I was blown away.  Donnie Darko is one of my favorite movies and he sang the song from the movie, "Mad World".  I absolutely LOVE that song and Simon was right for saying great performance and then giving a standing ovation.   Adam did amazingly well.  He is truly talented and has a very unique sound.  He reminded me of another singer, but alas, my ADD has caused a brain malfunction - brain fart - and I can no longer remember who.  

Needless to say, I actually voted for American Idol last night.   I do, however, love Allison too.