Clear vision, shaky lens
Have you ever heard of the venue House of Blues? Odds are you have since they have 10+ locations in major cities across the United States that range from Dallas to, of course, Boston. The success of the chain should tell all consumers that the brand is good and worth checking out but how can you... Continue Reading →
'Gofobo' set to Arcade Fire's 'Rococo' Let's go downtown and watch the modern flicks Let's go downtown and talk to the modern flicks They will give prices right into your hand Using promotions that they don't understand They say Gofobo, gofobo, gofobo, gofobo Gofobo, gofobo, gofobo, gofobo They build it up just to burn it... Continue Reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVmu6yttiw
You're tired, you're not feeling well and you lack motivation. Eat some food, drink coffee, exercise or take a short nap and wake up! If all else fails, you need only try one one - TECHNO! Whether you like it or not, your senses will be rocked and more awake you shall be. No one can top DeadMau5 but if anyone comes close, it is definitely Skrillex. So, if you're having a lazy Sunday and you need a jump start - just watch the Bangarang!
...are unexpected. As kittens, toddlers or inebriated college kids will often demonstrate , you never know when or what will inspire curiosity. It is the fun of the unexpected that can bring true, unadulterated joy. Think about it. The pressure of gift-buying is alleviated once the packaging becomes the object of interest. When was the... Continue Reading →
I first met her years ago when I was fresh out of college. I had just moved to Boston and I didn't know many people and I didn't know how to get around. Lucky for me, there was Charlie. She gave me a card that gave me access to an entire city. Better yet, she... Continue Reading →
As an ever-growing fan of Liverpool, it was exciting to discover an amazing venue where I will be able to watch every single Liverpool game in a throng of cheering, vocal and passionate supporters of the legendary club. The venue is a self-described 'alternative Irish bar called 'The Phoenix Landing,' located in Cambridge, MA. But,... Continue Reading →
Meet Revere, the new kitten that my wife Alana and I adopted yesterday (as a 3-year anniversary gift) during the MSPCA's Kitten Happy Hour. We named her Revere after, you guessed it, Boston icon Paul Revere, who rode bravely through the night with his message. Now, how we got her... We took a long, public... Continue Reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky4CdN0x58A
"It is a lovely thing, the animal, the animal instinct..." that is inherent in all of us. As 'The Cranberries,' knew many years ago, and of course gifted us a song to about, animal instincts are indeed a lovely yet dangerous thing. All living organisms are predispositioned to behave a particular way in certain situations; call it the base form. This reactionary core serves as a situationally dependent natural instinct that comes from the gut. As living things, this feeling, this impulse is both innate and individually exclusive. That said, why does it seem that humans use the term 'animal instinct' when referring to a reaction that is, in some manner, negative? Blaming or defining one's "uncontrollable" actions as simply your animal instinct is a massive cop out. It wasn't you, it was your DNA; it was how you were born and raised; it wasn't REALLY you. This is a load of animal you know what. Instinct is defined as the 'the inherent inclination of a living organism toward a particular behavior:" sounds about right doesn't it? The problem arises by adding the wild term that is 'animal' to it. Attaching such a word allows for blame directed away from oneself. The truth is, how you react to stimulus is a choice. Sure you might have an inclination one way or the other but to be human is to have the ability to choose how you let stimulus impact you. The next time you feel the 'natural' urge to claw, bark, urinate, imitate or attack an undesirable situation - don't! It's the animal instinct yes but you are a human so act like one. Exercise log: 11am: Insanity Lifting
"All things truly wicked start from innocence." Ernest Hemingway
Innocence is a precious commodity. Innocence is a gift you receive when you are young. Innocence, once lost, is irreplaceable. It cannot be replaced. It cannot be bought. It cannot be bartered for. It is the most wonderful thing in the world that you cannot fully appreciate until it is gone...
How did you lose your innocence? Perhaps the question assumes to much in very it's asking but perhaps not. How you lost your innocence is full dependent on your definition since there are many ways to 'lose it.' A few examples include being sexually active for the first time, the loss of a loved one, the failed realization of a life's dream, getting older and discovering how jaded and imperfect our elders were are, broken promises or that moment when you learn that you aren't indestructible, invincible or untouchable---based on your definition, can you pinpoint yours?
My proverbial 'cherry' was popped a few years ago when I was mugged in the Baltimore projects on a Sunday, yes Sunday, morning. My wallet was emptied, my phone stolen and face punched multiple times but all that still pales in comparison to what I actually lost--my innocence.
By nature, I am very trusting and I have always tended to expect the best out of people which, yes, is quite naive but that is the beauty and gift of innocence. Like a child, I was innocent, naive and trusting because I had no reason not to be. Having lived all over the world, including east coast cities like Atlanta, I never thought anything 'terrible' could happen to me.
Anxiety is the beginning of conscience, which is the parent of the soul but is not compatible with innocence. - Angela Carter
At least for me, the loss of innocence has been replaced by the naughty charcoal that is anxiety. Once you are less trusting and naive, you begin to expect 'bad' or undesirable things to happen (to you) and you might feel anxious in new situations. Sadly, losing innocence in any capacity seems to require it to be filled by something else. Like Rand Robert R. Jordan's Eye of the World series, you are tainted. Agony and ecstasy become more interchangeable. Life, as you knew it, has been ever-so-slighlty tilted.
Thankfully, there is hope in the perpetual healer that is 'time.' Past woes diminish in importance and future happiness is there for the taking. With age comes the loss of youthful innocence but it brings with it wisdom and understanding. If you think I am just waxing poetic, don't. Last week I moved to inner city Boston to being graduate school and I am willing, and excited, to live in a city. I'm sure to have anxious moments here and there, both for myself and my wife, but, as Kurt Vonnegut says, "so it goes."
Exercise log:
Time? - 3 mile run (with A.R.M.)
Mikethatmiller 