Sunday, October 30, 2011

I can't even paraphrase this cuz it's so true.

So I was searching the interwebz for some inspirational thing that would spark my chain reaction of thoughts which would lead to blogging.

This is what I found.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2bshVL/pete.com/view/quote-vs-reality

It is truth.

That is all.

Later Internet.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

And in the Daylight I don't pick up my phone, 'cause in the Daylight anywhere feels like home.

So as I was walking home from my super gross and boring evening class, I noticed that the stars were super clear and super pretty.

I literally stopped dead in my tracks and just stared at the sky for a solid 5 minutes.

It was especially awesome because a really serene, peaceful song had just started playing on my iPod.

Anyways, I was standing there looking at the stars and I thought to myself "Man, I wonder how many people have the opportunity to see this right now but are in too much of a rush to actually notice it?"

It seems sad to me how God can put something so incredibly beautiful right next to us and we will ignore it. I mean the night sky on a clear night is breathtaking. Yet most people that read this post probably didn't notice it tonight.

I don't really know where I'm going with this.

I guess what I kinda want to say is that people need to slow down.

I don't mean stop everything you're doing. No, that would be incredibly counter productive.

What I mean is that we should take some time to just enjoy life and enjoy the beauty of nature.

This past summer I went camping with my family in Whitefish, Montana. Our campsite was a 2 minute walk from the lake. I remember waking up in the morning and walking down to the dock. I would sit on the dock and just stare out at the water. It was perfectly still. Every morning. I would just sit there and stare at the beauty of the lake and the mountains and the forest. It was breathtaking.

Thinking back on the trip, I really wish that one of those mornings I had the common sense to grab my parents camera and take a couple pictures of the scene. I guess I didn't care as much about photography as I do now.

Which BTW I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY! I kinda know what I'm doing now and it's just so much fun. If you ever need pictures taken I'm your man!

Anyways, back to beautiful nature and all its beautiful beauty. I can't wait for winter. I know that sounds crazy but there are certain things I absolutely love about Canadian winters. Obviously there are things I hate. The -40 temperatures, the super awful wind (which is always awful unless you're flying a kite or sailing) and the terrible Calgary drivers becoming even more useless behind the wheel at the first thought of snow. All those things suck.

But winter is a really beautiful time of the year. The snow covers all the dirt and garbage of the city in this beautiful, pure, white blanket. Unfortunately, within 6 hours, so much gravel has been laid down that most of the snow in the city is caked a dull grey or yucky brown.

Which is why I love living in Calgary.We live only a couple of hours away from Banff. I think that Calgarians get so used to the proximity of Banff that we forget how awesome it really is.

I mean at my old house I could walk out onto my back deck, look to the west and see the Rocky Mountains.

We forget that we are incredibly lucky to be leaving so close to somewhere that beautiful.

I guess what I wanna say is that we need to slow ourselves down and look around every once in awhile. There is so much beauty that we miss in our world because we are so focused on one thing that we don't acknowledge anything else.

I think it's kinda sad.

But that could just be me.

Later Internet.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Metaphor for life

A good metaphor for life is a man trying to eat soup out of a spaghetti strainer.

He goes super fast because he's trying to get the good stuff, but no matter how much he gets, he just ends up with a bunch of soup all over his pants. And then he eventually dies of old age.

I am not good at metaphors.

Later Internet

Sunday, October 16, 2011

My friends say I should act my age. What's my age again? What's my age again?

I've only been alive for 18 years. I still have a lot to learn from life, but I also think that I have learned some pretty important things in life. Here's 18 things I have learned so far. I know that I will be updating this list as I grow up.


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
It isn’t.
Deal with it.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
If you want to change something you can’t be afraid of moving forward.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Because I love love and I hate hate.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

There’s billions of people in the world... You’re not as important as you think you are.
5. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
He created the universe. I don’t think you’re temper tantrum is gonna phase him.

6. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
You don’t know what other people have gone through. 

7. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

You shouldn’t be embarrassed to be with that person.

8. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

It’s why I’m not stressin’

9. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

It’s good to be expressive.

10. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

Don’t let other people influence the way you think or feel.

11. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
If you truly love something or someone then you won’t be able to take no for an answer.

12. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

Pretty much describes me.

13. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

If you’re not in charge of your happiness then are you really happy?

14. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
People overreact. The biggest, most dramatic, devastating moment in your teenage life is so incredibly small and insignificant in the overall plot of your life. Chill.

15. Always choose life.

I think this one’s fairly straightforward.

16. Forgive everyone everything.
Holding grudges suck. And they’re dumb. Just like the people that hold grudges.

17. God loves you because of who He is. Not because of something you did or didn’t do.
There is nothing that you can do that will make God love you any more or any less than he already does.

18. Believe in miracles.
If you don’t then there will be times in your life when you have no hope. Believe in miracles and you will always have hope.

I think i’ve written enough today.
Later Internet

Monday, October 10, 2011

Control yourself, take only what you need from it.

If I decided to join an internet dating site I would probably fill out my bio or whatever it is like this:

I enjoy ice cream, an insightful cartoon, and long walks on the playground.

I think that as we get older we almost forget to have fun with things. Everything becomes more complicated, and people withdraw more and more.

Remember as a kid, playing on the playground how easy it was to just pretend and play for hours? For me lunchtime was always too short.

I also wish it was as easy to make friends as it was as a kid. When you're a kid you don't judge people, everyone is WAY more innocent.

I don't get why as we get older making friends has to be so complicated. It's stupid. Why should I have to live up to your expectations to be your friend?

It's the same with romantic relationships. Think back to your very first crush. It was awesome! To you, that person was the greatest person ever.

And then came "The Note"

Do you like me?
Check yes [] or no []

I think that is still the best way to ask someone if they like you. Just be straight up and blunt. Quit playing those stupid games. They're way too confusing. And they're not fun!

Games are supposed to be fun....

So I guess my point is that even though growing up is inevitable and really important I think that we should also ensure that we don't lose our childlike wonder and childlike simplicity.

Later Internet

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Shoutout to Nora

I told you I would blog about how you have given me first dibs to date your daughter when she turns 16.

that is all.

Later Internet

Keegan Olson's Tips for Having Fun at the Dentist.

So I just got home from my dentist appointment and I would like to share with you guys how I make it funner. Also I think that funner should be a real word so I'm gonna use it.

Haters gonna hate.

Okay back to the dentist and fun thing.

Tip #1: Always get your entire mouth frozen.

No matter what you are going to the dentist for, try and get your mouth frozen.

You may be thinking "What???? That's dumb. Getting your mouth frozen is awful!"

False.

When your mouth is frozen it's so much fun to try and communicate with other people. Example: The receptionist gave me my receipt and I attempted to say "Thank You." Instead it came out as "Thaaaaannnnn Ooooo."I thought it was hilarious and I sang along with every song on the drive home.

Also eating and drinking with a frozen mouth is the coolest thing ever! You don't feel the food or drink but you taste it.... It's really weird.

Tip #2: If you have to get a filling, or they're drilling or something like that, stay up all night beforehand and sleep at the dentist.

Dentist chairs are a surprisingly good place to take a nap. There's good neck support, the back angle is terrific, and you can watch T.V. until you fall asleep.

Also the sounds of the drill make your dreams epic.

Today I dreamt that I was a racecar driver and the sounds from the drill were the sounds of my engine. It was awesome!

Tip #3: Be friendly and have a conversation before they stick their fingers in your mouth.

When you're interacting with other human beings it makes any situation much more enjoyable. For instance, today when the dental assistant came in she asked me how I was doing. I said that I was doing quite well, except I was chapped because I was missing waffle wednesday. (Waffle wednesday is exactly what it sounds like, every wednesday me and my cousins/roommates ingest as many waffles as we can before heading to class. It's great) I explained waffle wednesday to her and we started talking about food. We talked about chicken and waffles, and whether you put the chicken on the waffles or if you eat them separately, then she told me to try chicken nuggets dipped in honey sauce. Sounds pretty good. Then I told her about dipping fries in frosty and how that is actually the most delicious, yet unexpected, combos in the world.

Because we had a little bit of a "friendship" I felt more comfortable with her putting her fingers in my mouth.

Wait... that sounds really creepy.....

Meh whatever. I slept through it anyways.

SIDENOTE: My jaw and lips feel HUGE! I wonder if this is what it feels like to be obese? Probably not. I really wish that I had a bunch of that freezing stuff and I could just freeze my mouth whenever I wanted.... It's so fun.

I think that's all I want to say for today...

Later Internet.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Yes. Yes I did write an essay about flossing.

        In today’s society if you wish to be successful and get the most out of life you are required to work hard and be diligent. For you to obtain a Masters degree for instance, you must go through years of schooling. You must listen attentively in countless lectures. You must study and prepare while you stress about important tests. You must ensure that every deadline has been met and that the quality of your work is at its best. For you to achieve that goal you must be devoted to the area of study that you are in. It takes a lot of hard work. The same can be said of oral hygiene. I hate flossing with a passion. However, I am a very vain person so therefore I like to look my best. I brush my teeth two times a day, everyday. My dentist tells me I am excellent at brushing my teeth. He also tells me that I need to floss. I hear that every time I go to the dentist. I usually disregard it as nonsense. A way for the toothbrush industry to squeeze a little more cash out of the average person. At my last check up I was informed that I had a cavity. I was shocked. My dentist told me that the cavity was a result of not flossing my teeth. I realized that in order to maintain a healthy mouth I needed to start to floss. The decision  to floss was one that I knew was going to require a lot of hard work, discipline and diligence.
There are many obvious difficulties when it comes to flossing. Flossing is a lot of hard work when you compare it to brushing your teeth. Brushing your teeth is a relatively simple task. You squeeze a little bit of toothpaste onto the bristles of your toothbrush and you gently scrub away the plaque on your teeth. Flossing is a a different story. You must wrap the dental floss around your fingers and force the floss into the nonexistent gaps in between your teeth. Not only does the floss cut off circulation to your fingertips, but it also involves you placing your dirty, well worn fingers in your mouth. To me it seems counter productive. To effectively clean your mouth you must first place something dirty inside of it. 
By avoiding the grueling struggles associated with flossing I am plagued with dental problems. Every time I go to the dentist the dental assistant pokes and pricks the delicate areas of my mouth. She will continue to jab my mouth with her metal instrument all the while saying “Oh my. See how much your gums are bleeding? You need to floss more.” The pain is unbearable. If flossing can result in invulnerability to the crazed dental assistants torture instruments then maybe it could be worthwhile. This past trip to the dentist revealed that I had a cavity from a lack of flossing. Not only did I have to endure the torture at the hands of the dental assistant, but I also have to endure the horrors of getting a filling. My mouth will be frozen rendering it useless, I will be forced to fast for half of the day and worst of all, I will be summoned to the dentist offices at 9:15 in the morning. the news I received at the dentists office that day made me realize that I needed to make some serious changes regarding my oral hygiene.
In order to overcome the dental issues associated with a lack of flossing I have had to work hard and remain diligent in my goal of obtaining perfect oral hygiene. I have had to ensure that I remember to floss at least once a day. The results of my hard work have included a healthier mouth, a brighter smile, better breath and I am no longer tortured by the dental assistant every time I go to the dentist. I actually enjoy going to the dentist now because I receive compliments on my oral health and my already healthy mouth gets a more thorough cleaning. I was able to overcome the struggle of not flossing enough with hard work and diligence.
During my journey towards proper oral hygiene I learned some valuable lessons. I realized that absolutely every goal in life requires hard work. Whether it be becoming a professional athlete, getting a degree or something as simple as flossing everyday, it will take lots of hard work. Some goals may require much more work than others but everything in life requires that you work hard and are diligent. If you have those two virtues, then you will be much more likely to obtain your goals and will likely live a much more fulfilling life.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Music!!

Hey there internet!

I'm in a really good mood today and I thought I might share why with you!!! YAY!

Okay so the first reason is that I finished my super hard, super long essay. So that's a positive.

And secondly I found an awesome super happy song!! It's called sol. by Mausi.

If you haven't heard it you should check it out. I love music so much because of the affect it can have on your day. If you are having an average day and you hear a song that's ridiculously happy then generally you'll be happier. At least that's how it is with me.

It can have the opposite affect as well. When I'm in a bad mood or am upset about something I'll listen to City and Colour. Makes me feel more sad. Sometimes that's a good thing though. I've come to the realization that if you try and act happy all the time and try to bury your actual feelings then terrible things can happen. For me, I know that people view me as that kid that's always happy. And yes generally I am in a good mood. But there was a time not too long ago when I went through a rather difficult time in my life and I was super duper depressed. I would put on my happy face and try to hide how I was really feeling in an attempt to please the people around me. I figured that they wouldn't really enjoy being around a debby downer. AKA me at that point in time. So instead of wearing grey on grey and being a sad panda, I would force myself to be happy and cheerful about everything.

Needless to say, that was a terrible idea. I didn't tell anyone how I really felt and I felt totally alone.

I'm not trying to bash my friends or anything. I'm sure that if I had been unhappy about everything they would have supported me and everything would have been fine. But, I dunno, I guess I was afraid of being that sad kid in the group. You know?

But it's okay because now I can legitimately say that I am happier than I have ever been in my life. And I'm filled with this incredible joy and it's awesome!

So back to my original point about music. I really like music that makes me feel happy because it corresponds with my mood. So if you need a little happy right now try this playlist! =)

sol. - Mausi
Young Blood - Naked and Famous
Daylight - Matt and Kim
High of 75 - Relient K
1901 - Pheonix
This Too Shall Pass - OK GO
Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
Float On - Modest Mouse
Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club
Flux - Bloc Party
Little Secret - Passion Pit

Hopefully one of those songs made you smile =)

Later internet.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Growing up.

Okay so before you read this you have to listen to this song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Yexok3UI8

When I listen to that song it makes me think one thing....

"Dang... I'm lonely!"

Hahahahah I promise this will get happy.

It also makes me think of my parents. They've been married for almost 20 years now. When I look at them I see what I want to have when I get older. And I'm excited about that. My parents were both in their early 20's when they got married. So potentially I could be meeting my future wife... That is one of the most exciting and terrifying things that has been on my mind lately. Exciting because I really wanna be in love. I'm a big ol' softie =). And terrifying because... well... because it's scary to grow up. Think about it... if you were given the choice to stay in the safety and security of your loving home with minimal responsibilities and no fear of the unknown then why would you ever leave? You would be looked after, could play as much Call of Duty as you wanted and would never have to worry about anything.

So why would you ever want to grow up?

Because that is a very unfulfilling life. People aren't meant to be alone. God created us with the need for relationships. That's why Adam was given Eve. I mean he's already living in the Garden of Eden. It's heaven on earth. Yet God still gave him Eve. Humans need that relationship. I know it's something that I really can't wait for.

With that being said... I'm done with settling. I don't know who my future wife will be... but I do know that she will be more amazing than any other girl I've loved. The woman that I'm meant to be with is going to be incredible and I can't wait to meet her.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I've definitely grown up A LOT even since high school. If you asked me what I would have thought about growing up and being independent last year I would have told you that I was terrified. Heck, I still am terrified. But it's an incredible realization when you understand "Hey, I CAN do this. I can totally survive independently."

Funny how this whole rant came from one simple love song... but hey that's how I think I guess. So now I gotta stop using the internet as a blatant distraction from my homework. It's essay time.

Later internet.