On Weather

     It's a nasty one out tonight. I like storms though. Unbridled, uncontrollable, incomprehensible power, and yet the ability to soothe the mind. So soothing, I'm falling asleep.
     Put your boots on, and have a nice day.

On Drinking

     Drinking is something I will never do (and I am talking about alcohol). It bewilders me beyond comprehension that anyone would think that having large gaps in their memories, not remembering a party, being extravagantly sick, and making a fool of themselves would constitute a "good time". Whenever I say I had a good time with my friends, I have a story to tell that I know I'll never forget. It's not ruined by the awkward moment when someone goes too far because they're not in their right state of mind, or when people change personalities because they've lost control.
     Have you noticed how all euphemisms for getting drunk are negative? Wasted, hammered, slaughtered, loaded, slammed, smashed, and blasted. It sounds like you're reading a novel where the bad guy gets the crap kicked out of him. How is that fun?
     People raise the argument that drinking is an "escape from reality" but surely there are better, more fun, and even constructive ways to forget your worries without turning to drug use. Yes, alcohol is a drug. It's the most widely recognized and yet socially acceptable drug in the world.
     My suggestion, and in fact, my wish, is that instead of drinking, people would find hobbies that they love in order to pass the time and forget their worries for a while.
     Put down the bottle, and have a nice day.

On Time Management

Time management has never been one of my strong suits. As I said in an earlier rantry, I tend towards procrastination, but that isn't all I'm talking about now. I mean the effective scheduling of your day so that all your tasks are completed with enough time for you not to be exhausted and grumpy. I deal with deadlines as an artist, but without a schedule given to me, I'm hopeless at planning how to best tackle a task. I will follow a set of instructions to the letter, and I can come up with creative, doable projects, but the in-between phases are beyond me.
     When I owe someone a piece of art, I tend to only remember the last day it's due, do it the day before (often using my entire day) and turn it in, tired and grumpy. The problem with this is that I look back on the experience with two feelings; resentment and relief. It makes me never want to do it again.
     My mom always seems to have time for everything. I know she manages time very well, and she's tried to explain it to me. I guess I just don't have the brain type for it. I see work as something to be done when it absolutely has to be and not a moment before. Old habits die hard, and procrastination and fun have always been my standards.
     Don't forget to wind your watch, and have a nice day.

On Sleeping in

     Something about sleeping in late is so amazing. At least, it is when you're young. Today I decided not to wake up until I wasn't tired. Eventually, I arose and found that it was 3 pm. Pretty much my whole day gone. Funnily enough though, I got a lot of drawing done and hung out with my friends for a while. All in all a good day. I suggest sleeping in next time you can.
     Hit the snooze and have a nice day.

On Travel

     One of my very favorite things to do in life is go to new places, and to a lesser extent, meet new people. I've been thinking a lot today about how I haven't been anywhere in a long time and this made me reminisce about the places I've been. Canada, Japan, and most of the continental United States. My favorite has been Japan, hands down, and if you know me, you're tired of hearing me talk about it. I do realize that I can ramble a bit when I start off on the 6 months I spent in Tokyo.
     I think travelling makes us better people. Not just because we have more stories, but because we have a wider perspective.  We have a broader filter for people's mannerisms, beliefs, and heritage. I think everyone should go to a foreign country and stock up on perspective. See how polite and respectful they are. Observe their customs and learn as much as we can.
     I know that my time travelling has not only given me fond memories, but a greater love for my fellow man. I adore other people's culture. A lot has to do with the fact that it's new and exciting, but also because I picture what it would have been like if my life were like that. In a way, immersing yourself in another way of life is a way to live more fully and a way to become more understanding and accepting.
     I hope to travel all over the world some day, and when I do, I'll be ready to open up my mind and dive in.
Have your boarding passes ready for inspection, and have a nice day.

On Guilt

     Today, I accidentally injured a friend of mine while playing volleyball. We both went up at the net at the same time, and then it became a physics problem. She's very small (maybe 4'10", 80 lbs) while I am very large (5'11 250lbs). We collided and she hit the ground hard, dislocating her shoulder. Needless to say, I felt (and feel) terrible. Even after people say it's not my fault and that it was an accident, I feel like I am the cause of her pain. Truth be told, I am aren't I?
     The fact is, I'm the reason she got hurt, accident or not and that really gets under my skin. I hate knowing that I still have the capacity to injure people. I say still because I used to on a regular basis. I wasn't a bully, I fought bullies, but I still don't like that part of me.
     I think guilt, however painful or uncomfortable it might make us, is a necessary emotion because it keeps us in check and wards (most of) us from doing whatever we want whenever we want. My friend has already forgiven me, but I don't know how long it'll be until I forgive myself.
     Be careful and have a nice day.

On Religion

     I believe anyone can believe whatever they want as long as they're nice to everyone else. Why can't that be the standard of religion? By all means, share notes and compare beliefs, but why cause a huge fuss over differences in tenants and spiritual meaning? Some people won't take no for an answer, and some refuse to agree to disagree. I personally cannot believe the amount of religious discrimination in our country which is supposedly based on the right of freedom of religion. Who are we to say we disapprove of someone's beliefs because they don't match up with ours? I'm ashamed to say I'm proud of my country because right now, I feel like the US is a child throwing a tantrum or a teenager rebelling. I'm not angry, just disappointed.

On Hobbies

     Hobbies are what you like to do at any time, no matter the day. Something that keeps us all busy. I hate it when a hobby starts to feel like an obligation, or when a friend starts to tell you what career your hobby could develop into. It reaches a point where it stops being a hobby and starts being an interest. That's where things get dangerous.
     Being interested in something leads you to research it, which lets you see how many people are interested in it and therefore, how many people are pros. Professionals ruin hobbies for amateurs because it shows the "mild enthusiast" how wildly outclassed they are, which leads to depression and loss of interest in a lot of cases. The point is: as soon as you start comparing yourself to others, your hobby is no longer just for you, and it stops being relaxing or fun. At least, it'll never be as fun as it once was.
     My advice is this: keep your hobbies to yourself, and for yourself. It will give you a needed escape from an already judgmental world, and relax you when you need it most. Find joy in your passions and don't let anyone tell you what you could be doing if you're already happy.
     Have fun, and have a nice day.

On Money

Recently, I've been looking back on the spending habits in my past and I've found a flaw. I've never been able to stick to a budget. Money burns a hole through my pocket faster than thermite. I like being the one who does the providing. Buying gifts, food, etc; is what I feel like doing when I'm in a good mood. Of course, this makes it nearly impossible for me to save money over any extended period of time. Add to this the futile search for work in my state, and what it adds up to is: I am a slave to money. I feel obligated to get as much as I can (though I really have no pressing reason to) and since I can't, I feel unimportant. 

     However, only a few days ago, I worked and earned a considerable sum of money (at least for me), and I'm now sitting down and budgeting for the first time in my life. My girlfriend, R. is really helping since we have plans for the money. I find I need to resist the urge to buy whatever I can afford though. It's difficult for me to show restraint when tempted with that big ticket item, so easily within my price range, but so far from being necessary.

     I see that money really runs all of our lives to a certain point. I can understand that money is needed for vital supplies, but I wonder why we as a people find the need for compensation. If only we had no greed. No driving desire to have more than someone else. We could freely give and borrow from one another, but any chance of this happening was destroyed when the monetary system came into existence. Something sparked in the human mind at that moment that those who have more are better than those who have less. Money divides people more than it brings them together, and when it comes to money, we seem to be oddly reluctant to part with it, as if it will damage us physically. 

     Money is here to stay, and people will always demand payment for their goods and services. I can only hope that we use our own funds for good. Don't forget your wallet, and have a nice day.

On Keeping Busy

It's said that idle hands are the devil's workshop. I always took this to mean that if you weren't doing anything, you were being bad. Throughout my relatively short life however, I've grown to understand it's true meaning, which is the subject of today's rantry. The old adage quite simply translates to this: If you're not doing anything, you could be doing something good. Time spent doing nothing is time wasted, and we'll never get it back. I remember all the times in school when I procrastinated doing large projects and then realized how daunting a task it would be to finish on time later. I'm sure many of you have had the same experience. Why? Why do we insist on inflicting ourselves with massive amounts of work after being reminded time after time that it'll be easier to do it sooner? I have a theory that seems to prove itself time and time again.
     My theory is that people... are stupid. It's true and if you think about it, you know it's true. I of course, include myself with this blanket statement, but the one catch to all this is that people are stupid, sometimes. I think I can say with confidence that I have a moderate amount of intelligence, but that's not what being stupid is about. It's when you're looking for the remote and it's in your hand. When I can't find my phone and end up texting someone that fact... on my phone. Everyone has moments of stupidity in their lives when, no matter what they do, they can't do it a smart way.
     Of course this brings me back to my point. How would it be if in these periods of stupidity we, instead of giving in to the urge to do nothing or wait for a time when we're feeling up to it, we do something to jog our brains back into working gear. Look up something we didn't know on wikipedia, cook a new recipe, or write down exactly what's on our minds (cough). This I think, will get us out of the "devil's workshop" of idleness and into something we can reflect on and be proud of. I think we should make a sign to stick on the fridge, at the computer desk, or above the bed that says: "Feeling stupid? You know what to do"
     To all of you, keep your hands busy, and have a nice day.

On Working

     Today I spent about 3-4 hours digging up a massive amount of weeds, cutting back trees, and basically everything that can be done in order to gain control in an out of control environment, in this case, someone's front yard. It left me sweaty, tired, aching, and oddly satisfied. I've done manual labor before, and I've never enjoyed it. I am not one for getting dirty or being sore, but as I stood there today, having fought back the jungle of undergrowth and shoots, I wanted to give myself a pat on the back (and might have if I could lift my arms). It wasn't a perfect job but it was the best I could manage, they were happy, and that made me happy.
     The subject of my rantry today is self-confidence and self-worth. I think it's important to do something difficult every once in a while to prove to yourself it can be done and that you can do it. If people took pride (not selfish pride, but a satisfaction kind of pride) in what they did, I believe the world would be a more enlightened place. I used to write and draw a web comic that ran for 2 or more years, 5 times a week,  beginning when I was 14 and going until I was 17. I had a satisfaction in what I did because people liked it and they were my loyal fans. They were happy and that made me happy.
     In my opinion there isn't enough positive empathy in our world. We tend to envy happiness instead of unselfishly being glad that someone else has worked to gain a sense of achievement. Or course envy does nothing but dig us into a deeper pit of hopelessness. Feeling inferior to other people is like a broken crane in a sink hole. It's not doing anything constructive and it'll only bring you down.
     I would urge everyone to focus on their own lives and happiness and develop a sense of love for others, especially those you may not get along with. Be happy for those who have earned happiness and have a nice day.

On First Impressions..

     I believe a first impression is often how people tend to think of us, even after we've gone out of our way to prove we're not boorish, loud, incompetent, unfriendly, snobbish, or rude. It's unfair to judge someone based on first impressions, but you know as well as I, everyone does it. And I'm not just saying "everyone" in the sense that most people you know do it, or that you've had it happen to you where you've been judged prematurely. Everyone does it. The human animal is a complex miracle of evolution and social learning that somehow has managed to take one of the oldest common courtesies, not judging a book by its cover, and completely throwing it out the window in exchange for a moment of complete awareness when confronted with a new acquaintance. They will remember everything about you, from the way you talk, laugh, and dress, to what car you drive, what job you have, and what your posture is like. Don't get me wrong, I do it too. I could tell you which of an hundred strangers I would rather spend time with after meeting them all for just long enough to shake their hand and attempt to learn their first name.
     I don't mean to say that no matter what, people's opinions about you will never change. I am saying however, for better or worse, they will never forget what you were like when you first met. The up-side of that being, if you had a shaky start and your friendship improves with someone, the contrast makes you look like a great person, adapting and improving yourself for the good of all those around you. On the other side of this hypothetical and rather judgmental coin, if your relationship starts to go to pieces, the difference will make you look that much worse, even if you're just being yourself.
     What can be done you ask? Well... nothing. Not really. People are animals, it's true. No matter what, they will have instincts to drive them to do stupid or wonderful things against their better judgement. Profiling a new acquaintance, whether they be a potential mate, a potential ally, or potential enemy, is ingrained in to each and every one of us. We can act like their first go at introducing themselves went better than it did, but when it goes wrong, it goes wrong.
     My point of this rant is this: Don't try and make your first impression more impressive. Try to make yourself better. Hold yourself to a higher standard. Don't compare yourself to others, but act on your own common sense and build yourself up. This will leave a positive mental note in every new person you meet's mind. Like I said, if you fake a strong first impression, you'll lose out later, and if you make a bad one, they'll never forget it.
     Now along these lines, seeing as this is my first entry rant or "rantry", I will introduce myself. I am a 19 year-old young man, I live in my parents' home and basically bum off of them since I'm out of work (though not for lack of trying to find it). I am an artist at heart and in hand. My hobbies are drawing, cooking, writing, singing, reading, and playing games. I have been in a relationship for over 2 and a half years with my wonderful girlfriend R. (initials to maintain privacy). I'm a bit of a know it all, a bit of a joker, and a bit of a fighter (though those days are behind me). My main focus of this blog is to provide my own perspectives on things happening around me. They might be interesting and I'll let you decide whether or not they are. I'll be writing every day in the form of an open ended journal, and I would love to hear what you have to say. Any discussion, comments, or points of view (intelligent discussion is something that is fading in our world, but that's a rantry for another time) are more than welcome.
     Well, I hope I've left a good impression and I look forward to writing again tomorrow. Until then, have a nice day.