So This is the New Year

Since I haven’t written in awhile I thought I would take the chance to comment on the upcoming holiday, New Years. I guess I really was wondering why this holiday was such a big deal (so much that it warrants a day off work, not that I’m complaining.) I really don’t think that it has as much to do with New Year resolutions, especially since most people fail at them. I did find an interesting bit of information that relates resolutions to one of my favorite church holidays… lent… on Wikipedia. (I hope you can sense me sarcasim.)

“More socio-centric examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more economically or environmentally responsible. People may act similarly during the Christian fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind that holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility.”

I guess as I think about it, I really think that the New Year is celebrated with out us feeling older. So many people don’t want to grow old so their birthdays come with a black mark of shame. At least with the New Year we are all in it together… and I think it is an unspoken rule that you can’t really talk about how old everyone is getting.
(Heading lyrics – The New Year, by Death Cab for Cutie)

We Are, We Are, the Youth of the Nation

Ah youth…

This past weekend I went back to Stout (my Alma Mater) to visit friends and take in the Graphic Design Senior show. On a whole I had a great time, but something really caught me as I navigated my way through all of the pieces on display… “What happened to my youth?”

There most likely have been a number of contributing factors, but I am not as young as I used to be. To be completely honest this doesn’t bother me nearly as much as my loss of optimism. It seems that between living on my own paying bills and working in the real world I have pretty much lost most of the excitement that I had as a graduating student of Graphic Design. Don’t get me wrong I do LOVE doing graphic design, how ever as I looked around at the fresh class of graduates I couldn’t help but notice how each of them were ready to take the world by storm. Maybe this will lead them to great things, but in my case that optimism was lost when it took me 15 months to find a job. Yep it’s hard to change the world of design when no one sees your work.

I guess this really has turned into a depressing entry, for that I apologize. I must admit that I am happy to have a job in which I use my graphic design skills. For that I am VERY thankful. I guess I just hope that I haven’t lost all of the optimism I once had for this exciting profession.

(Heading lyrics – Youth of the Nation by POD)

Pre-Ex-Girlfriend… That girl is just to fine, Pre-Ex-Girlfriend… make me loose my mind

I don’t know if this has ever happened to either of the people that read my BLog, but I wanted to let you in on a little experience I had last weekend.

A friend of mine threw a little holiday party with her roommates and a few of my friends and I were invited. It was kind of like a “nice” house party. Sure there was drinking, but no Keg and on the whole most of the attendees were at least 21 years old. It was a great mix of people and I was happy to see that I only knew a few people. (I have come to enjoy knowing few from time to time when attending parties.)

A little while into the evening I was beginning to scan the crowd to see who to go talk to when I noticed a guy and girl stilling at the table in the dinning room. I worked my way over to them and started talking with them. I could tell from far away that he was into her, but that she “just wanted to be friends” (oh yes, I am a pro at seeing that one.) Just to have some fun I started flirting with her to see if it would piss him off… which it did. To his credit he was the standard “nice guy” and said nothing. After I while I found out he was 18 and she was 19. After a little while she went to the restroom and I took the opportunity to lay it on the line for this poor clueless college freshman.

I basically said, “You’re into her aren’t you?” and he replied, “um… well… yeah.”
I then proceeded to tell him to MOVE ON. Yep, I was trying to do him a favor. I told him after YEARS and YEARS of being in his shoes, I had the experience needed to tell him to move on.

It felt sooooo good to give back to other hopeless cases out there. (I just wish someone had done that for me long ago.) As for this young man… I did see him talking with another young lady later in the evening… “Yep. My work here is done.”

(Heading lyrics – Pre-Ex-Girlfriend by Five Iron Frenzy)

You May Say I'm a Dreamer

After recently reading a friends blog I thought I would drop in the text from a forward I recently received. I think it is appropriate considering the topic he discussed.

The Sad Passing of Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion, aspirin or a sticky plaster to a student; but, could not -inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

(Heading lyrics – Imagine by John Lennon)
Editor’s note, I also chose to include these lyrics partially in remembrance of the Anniversary of John Lennon’s death (yesterday). As one of the most influential artists of all time, Lennon has been greatly missed.