That's Just How I Roll

Hey, might you wonder what my New Year's resolution this year will be? It is, to not make any more New Year's resolutions.

I think I can keep this one.

Have a Happy New Year!

I'm Sorry, This Isn't A New Year's Post

My my, sometimes, oh... sometimes my friends' friends just piss the crap out of me

Happy Xmas (war is over)

Well, it's the eve of Christmas. If you don't have anything better to do, go rent one of these holiday classics. They are sure to put you into the Christmassy mood or atleast, make you laugh. Here are my top five favorite Christmas movies:

5. I'll Be Home For Christmas



Don't laugh. This movie is a classic. I don't why I watched it the first time, but I got hooked. The kid from Home Improvement does his best work and the girl from 7th Heaven isn't horrible either. I consider this movie a pleasurable vice. Try it. It's got the rich nostalgic feeling people need this time of year.

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation



I used to think this movie was the funniest thing around. But now it doesn't seem so. Although year after year, I still watch it and year after year, it just gets stupider. However, this year I watched it and there are still parts that crack me up. Part of the humorous elements of the movie is the dialogue. Chevy Chase is the real deal and this movie is surely going to lighten the holiday stress.

3. A Christmas Story



The hilarious tale of a young boy and his dream to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Chaos ensues for this family and this movie is truly a classic. When I saw this movie as a kid, I thought because it took place in the 40's it was made that long ago, but I was wrong. Released in 1983, this movie depicts the antics of a typical family during the winter season. Maybe it reminds us all of our own childhood Christmas wishes and that's why it's so addicting.

2. The Grinch



I never thought it could have been done. Making a classic book and wonderful animated special into a live-action, full length film, but it happened and the Christmas season is better for it. Ron Howard adapts this short cartoon into a compelling and heartfelt movie. Jim Carey owns this role and I'm pretty sure that no one else could have played the Grinch besides him. Plus, the little girl that plays Cindy Lou Who is adorable.

1. The Santa Clause



Probably my favorite Christmas movie ever. I have loved this new twist on the Christmas tradition of Santa since it was released. It didn't need a sequel, but that's another story all together. Like I said, this film expounds upon the traditional holiday story with a new twist: how they get a new Santa every year. Tim Allen is fantastic as Santa and I enjoy this movie because of his excellent acting.

Because I'm Too Lazy or Busy

I leave you with another Christmas thought not my own today. It is a poem that I love and is best enjoyed when done by Pedro The Lion:

Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Another Word About Nostalgia

I don't even know any of the details (which is so unlike me), but this song was a favorite of mine prior to me moving to New Orleans. Now having lived there and forcefully made to move, it is one of my all time favorites. As I indicated above, I don't know who wrote it or even sung it originally, but in my opinion, it is best enjoyed when Louis Armstrong is doing the singing.

Christmas in New Orleans

Magnolia trees at night
Sparkling bright
Fields of cotton look
Wintry white
When it's Christmas time in New Orleans

A barefoot choir in prayer fills the air
Mississippi folks gathering there
Cause it's Christmas time in New Orleans

You'll see a Dixieland
Santa Claus
Leading the band to a good old
Creole beat
Golly what a spirit, you can only hear it
Down on Basin Street
Your cares will disappear,
When you hear, Hallelujah, St. Nicholas is here
When it's Christmas time in New Orleans

Magnolia trees at night
Sparkling bright
Fields of cotton look
Wintry white
When it's Christmas time in New Orleans

A barefoot choir in prayer fills the air
Mississippi folks gathering there
Cause it's Christmas time in New Orleans

One Year Ago

Sometimes I enjoy reminding myself of the old days. Nostalgia is one of my favorite human moments. Today, one year ago, marks the day I quit Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center. I still can't express just how glad I was to be done there. Look, the first sentence of my post about the last night of work summarizes the thoughts I was thinking as soon as I left the place:

As I write, I am sitting on the floor in my living room, trying to get my life in order.

"Trying to get my life in order?" Was it really in disarray? I was going home to my folks' house for a month, going back to Graceville for a week, going to Tennessee for Chase and Donna's wedding, then moving to New Orleans. How was it out-of-wack? I knew it exactly where my life was going. Perhaps feeling anxiety about my career choice for the previous 365 days was indicating something to me. As mentioned previously, leaving there was a sigh of relief. No more would I have to put up with those particular "crazy kids." I'm sure then, and even now, I realize that I will probably forever have to put up with crazy kids. But, leaving there was a rite of passage, sort of; it was a transitional period. I like transitional periods, for the most part.

Again, a year later, I find myself caught in a transitional time again. Although, this one has to last for another six to eight months. Although today I took my last final and my last day of work for two and a half weeks, I still know I have to go back. Although, some days I miss Laurel Oaks and wonder if it was really that bad? Although, I still hurt and think, "Man, this has been a crazy four months." Although I am still far from where I want to be.

I find myself looking forward to the next transitional period. The Christmas seasons causes you to be reflective. I hope I do something with my reflection and remember it my next transitional time.

Finish reading my thoughts from a year ago, here

My Heart's Desire

I've seen it online before and now I've seen it up close, and I think I've fallen in figurative 'love' with the Nikon Coolpix 5600. Weighing in at one pound, this sleek camera offers a lot of cool features. The most famous of these features is Nikon's pattoned Red-Eye Reduction, but there are other ones cooler than this.


As the model number indicates, this camera boasts a 5.0 Megapixal capability on a 1.8 inch LCD display. It's optical zoom is 3x and has some really cool shooting modes. It also has an A/V out, so you can do slide shows and review pictures on your TV instantly without having to be near a PC. The A/V out is a personal favorite of mine.



Thanks for all your suggestions. I've informed my folks that I wanted this one and I believe that's what I am getting from my parents, though one can never tell.

This is the last week of work and online classes. Oh God, how I wish it would all end! Now, Lord, now...

If You Were Me

I am asking for a digital camera for Christmas from my parents. While this will be my first digital, it is not my first camera. I am looking to spend between $200 - $300. I am looking at Nikon, Cannon, HP, and Kodak. Any personal recommendations?

Well, Joe...

This is in reference to Joe's comment.

Sometimes, when I write, I can say things like this means this or that means that. I can say, for instance, that I had a terrible day. Or, on the flip side, if I like a girl, I can write about how her qualities are endearing to me. You see. I can always write things that make sense and I'm comfortable admitting (the latter being the far more important security issue).

Then, there are times, like yesterday, when I cannot write the things I am thinking or I haven't any substantial thoughts that particular day, so I write vague and cryptic passages. The reason these feelings can't be expressed is because they are too personal or they are about somebody who too many people that read this will know about. That's the reasoning behind the cryptic post(s).

I suppose a third option would be that when I write cryptically, part of me is just trying to work through the thoughts, while doing it outside of my head. This is helpful, as I'm sure you know.

So, what does yesterday's post mean? Guess! Your choices include:

A). Girls
B). Spirituality
C). Job and work situations
D). The economic failure and middle-class status of life in Singapore

Good luck. When you finish, put your pencils down and sit quietly.

On Zip Codes and Telescopes

In my chance to procrastinate some tonight, I come to a blank space with a cursor blinking in a time signature of 2/4. How relevant is this to my life? Much more than I can anticipate. My gaze focuses in and out like a telescope lens--just waiting to capture something not within the eyes view. How parallel is my life to that objective? Far more obvious than one would expect it to be. Distance measured in space and time is far more confusing than physics honors final exam essay questions. Yet, they are usually the same thing. Sensibility is measured. The rule, being without the answer key, is just another typed page in a printer tray. How does one go about measuring these quandaries contained within a self-limited container (such as a letter, test, or hand written note offering an apology)? Is it because it's me? Wait... too many questions don't offer enough answers or resolutions. To be the epitome of something more than the worst is oft the driving point is sales. To live without worrying about zip codes is err. If coerced to think that, without already knowing the summation of the story, one might go along in life unconcerned with anything less than previous intentions, one might just be way too foolish. Also, that one might die alone. Don't let me die alone. For living alone is hard enough.

Don't Tell Me What You Care About, For I Know The Real Reasons Behind Your Treason, or: Why Can't I Stop Lying To Myself

So, here's the plan. I started out a semester in August. Then, I had said semester put on hold. Then, the first week of October, I started a reformatted version of that semester, with only a 10 week base. Now, with a week in a half left within current semester, I have to do the prior 8 weeks of work that I have put off until this moment. Now, this is my current distraction, thus the reason for nothing being written except this stupid explanation, which is just wasting more of my time. I digress...

i'm a moron

Okay, so I've had comment verification on, but I didn't put an email address, so I had no idea anyone was commenting. I'm sorry to the eleven of you who said something these past 2 weeks or so and it wouldn't publish your comment. Please, now, all who see this... comment away!

Four Tickets To Christmas

If you are in Brevard County this weekend, you should come out to a Christmas musical, Four Tickets To Christmas. It will be held at Eau Gallie First Baptist Church (on Eau Gallie Boulevard, diagonal from Eau Gallie High School). If for any other reason, you get to see me singing in the chorus line. Show times are as follows:

Friday ......... 12/2 - 7:00 PM
Saturday ....... 12/3 - 7:00 PM
Sunday ......... 12/4 - 3:00 PM

Admission Is Free!