it's that time again...

It's that time...the time where i look back on the past year and reflect on things, and usually end up with a stupid long post and some revelation i didn't know i could have.

This year was interesting to say the least. Not a lot of huge things happened, but enough occurred for me to look back and wonder where i would be if things changed. I guess one of the major things that happened in 2009 for me was leaving my job. For those of you who didn't know, i worked as a customs broker for about 5 years. It began as a quick thing to just get me out of the job i was at, which was working at the XS family fun centre...which made me want to kill myself. I got into it, and well, it stuck. I left my first job as a broker to go to a better broker, and for the first little while, it was actually a good job. It paid well, and it offered me new knowledge, and a feeling of professionalism. That is, until shit hit the fan, and the company started driving itself into the ground. Combining the mounting stress and anxiety of a workplace i hated with an extremely demanding and stressful school schedule was enough to make grown men snap, so i realized this past summer that i had to leave. Fortunately, I had been working on designing a position at a local bar which i frequented, and well, let's just say it worked out for the best...kind of. What i gained in stress-relief and no anxiety, i lost in pay.

Was it the right move? Yes i believe it was. If i stayed at my other company, i would have surely snapped and went on a shooting spree in a local wal mart. I couldn't handle it, and needed to leave. I was grumpy and hated life 24/7. Now, I am a manager/bartender/musician/student, and while the bills are getting paid (barely) and i have maybe $2 breathing room, i am SO much happier, and my anxiety attacks are few and very far between, as opposed to being 4 times a week. So yeah, i'd say it was the right choice.

what else happened this year...well, i suppose i have really fallen into, and taking a huge love to my course. I truly love graphic design, and while i still have much to learn, i like to think i have grasped on to it quite well. There are certain areas i am not the strongest in, but there are other areas i excel in, so i will take the good with the bad. i have always been the artistic kid, and now knowing how to do things properly, i have produced some of the best work i ever have, and it's nice to truly be proud of work you do.

Again, as in every year past, i have shed my skin of certain friends, and discovered new ones along the way. Friends i was glued to last year, i now no longer even say hello to. Not by my doing might i add, but simply because the personalities these friends chose to develop just didn't mix with me. Why did they develop such personalities? Who knows. Did i change? I don't think so....but regardless, nothing can be done now. As always, i prefer the company of myself over constant friends being around, so i guess this doesn't phase me much anymore.

in other 2009 news, i have found my comfort zone in my relationship. not simply with my girlfriend, but with her family. This year has shown me what it is like to actually be comfortable with your loved one's family, and has shown me a lot of different things i never noticed until i was in this relationship.

other things of 2009 -

I have developed a hardcore love of sushi
I fell in love with Nick drake, deathcab for cutie, and other various wacky artists
I still hate sports
I developed a love of Gin as my drink of choice


Anyways, 2009 wasn't as interesting as other years, simply because i am happy. I am not depressed, stressed and there is NO drama in my life, so 2009 was pretty damn good!


happy new year friends!
Justin

Few things make me more creative and inspired than the weather. The weather has a severe impact on my mood and my inspiration, and always has. Today is one of those days that call for a hot cup of gourmet coffee, a blanket and a book or a movie. The snow is falling, the temp is cold, and there is no better place to be than inside, relaxing and reflecting. Tonight i'm thinking a glass or 2 of wine, and some designing while some nice chill music plays in the background. But hey, that's just me...

It's on days like today though, that i really begin to think about things on a deeper level. Those of you who are familiar with my posts, or who know me quite well know that my life has been a constant revolving door of friends. Almost as if i continually rotate my roster until the perfect team has been built. Friends like richard and kaycee have been around for years, while friends like Fab and Eric are relatively new to the scene...either i just get bored with people, or i realize that a lot of people simply aren't as compatible as i thought they were with my friendship. Maturity is usually the main cause for this.

There is one friend though, I have realized that is really no longer a friend at all...rather more of an acquaintance. Which hurts me to say. This friend will not be named, nor will it be revealed if this friend is male or female, since i don't desire to make a huge deal out of it. This friend though, has gone from someone whom i told everything to, to someone who I rarely ever speak to. And when we DO speak, it's forced small talk at best. I miss this person a LOT, but i don't really feel that they miss me as much as i had hoped.

Now i will mention that this person withdrew from our friendship when they found a significant other. I will be the first to say that of course when you find someone, you don't hang out with your friends as much. That's understandable. But to completely cut yourself off is not cool. Especially considering how close we were. I suppose i am letting all this out now because i have never really voiced or even acknowledged how hurt I am. And since it is almost that time of year where i do my annual reflection blog, i guess it's hitting closer to home than i expected.

Every year i go through the same thing. I find new friends, and i shed the old ones. I know shed is a pretty harsh word to use, but those who know me know that i keep people close only if they deserve to be kept that way. If you're a douchebag or not a good friend, you will be removed. As was the case of another person i used to be quite close with and now don't even speak a word to.

Maybe i'm getting old. Maybe i am realizing that in life people come and go, and only the best of the best survive. Is that cruel of me? I don't think so...i think it's only fair to want the best people surrounding you at all times, no?

So, i sit here. A pug resting in my lap, a cup of Cafe Verona steaming by my side and a relentlessly wandering mind wondering what the next year will hold for me. As for my friend above, well...despite missing them, I wish them nothing but the best. They deserve the best, and I am happy they are happy. I mean that.

Keep checking back for the New Year's Blog
:)

it's christmas. It's 4:09 in the morning. I sit here tired and weary from a long night at work, munching on a luke warm bowl of pasta and wondering why the hell there hasn't been a christmas special on since 10:00. But even more than that, I am thinking about how different my life is now than it was a year ago. I should be going to sleep, but my goodnight kiss with my girlfriend sparked something in me that i HAVE to blog about.

Christmas has always been a very important occasion for me. Not for religious reasons...or for the gifts. Although i don't complain about that part...It's always been just the feeling of the season. The christmas songs, the baking, the decorations, the smell in the air of a crisp cold christmas morning. All the little things that just made it so special. As i grew older, i noticed that christmas came a lot quicker, and as i got busier in life, it seemed to just pop up out of nowhere, without even a chance for me to find my christmas spirit. I hated it.

Then i met my girlfriend. At this time last year, we had basically just begun officially dating, and things weren't really serious enough for our christmas to be amazing...although it was very cool...but this year is completely different. This year, i feel it. I feel more into the season than i have in a very long time. I didn't realize the reason why until just a few moments ago: I have found my place.

I am no longer lost in any aspect of my life. I'm not seeking out anything anymore, because i have everything i need. My girlfriend is amazing. My girlfriend's family is amazing. I mean it. They are some of the most giving, generous and warm people i have ever met. It used to be, in my main past relationship, that i would arrive at christmas, and be uncomfortable for the entire time. I would sit there as the multiple cousins dicussed sports or sport related things, and really just felt intimidated the entire time. I hated it. I would get very nice gestures of gifts from her parents, and even her brother, and aunt and uncle, which was very thoughtful and very sincere, although i never felt as if there was anything really personal about it. The gifts, although very appreciated, were somewhat impersonal. In my current relationship, i have become so close with her family, that i cannot even begin to explain. Her sister treats me very well, like family, making dinners, and opening her doors to me on a regular basis. I have always wanted a sister, and i have found one in her. Despite our sarcastic love/hate relationship, i know she adores me ;) Her brother in law does the same, and in him, i have found a very close friend and almost brother figure with whom i can talk about a lot of different things, and whom i learn from on a daily basis. What i know about today's rock and music industry, he matches in his knowledge of older varieties of music. He's one of the coolest cats i have ever met, and he's always got a beer or scotch on hand :)

Her parents are fantastic and have welcomed me since day 1. Always open and generous, they have treated me with fairness and respect, which i absolutely love. Her mother is a doll and i enjoy talking to her about lots of different things, and i love her outspoken opinons (most of the time lol), and her father is a dude i could talk to for hours. He is knowledgable and loves learning as i do, so we hit it off quite well.

So where was i...oh yes. As i sat there at their family dinner this evening, i realized something i have never felt. I was comfortable. I spoke freely. I was at ease. The gifts i got her family were very appreciated, and to my relief, loved. The gifts her family got me were among some of the most thoughtful and unneccesary gifts i've ever received. Unneccesary in a very good way. I will not go into detail as to what they were, but they are very appreciated.

So i sit here. Alone next to my christmas tree, finally realizing that this christmas is different. This christmas, although having barely any money to spend is already better than many i've had. I am rambling. I don't even know where this train of thought is heading, but i don't care. I'm happy. I am happy that this christmas has finally arrived.

I cannot wait for my first taste of egg nog when i wake up...in 3 hours...and as a final note to this very unorganized but inspired blog:

Even if you don't totally dig a present you get, keep your mouth shut about it. There is nothing ruder in my opinion than bitching about a gift to the person. Keep your thoughts to yourself, or at the very least, blog about them 5 years later lol.

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals.

It's christmas time. There are officially 4 days left until Christmas, which is a day that a lot of people consider to be one of the happiest occasions of the year. It's a time that I personally find myself in a much better mood as soon as snow hits the ground. I tend to let things slide easier, and just go with the flow. A notice a lot of people are this way as well.

However, i noticed, as I braved my way into the mall today that there are 2 very distinct and very different personalities that arise in this season: The joyous festive people, and the bitter, resentful assholes.

The first people, we've already touched upon. The people that are happy, festive, and easy going. The ones who don't mind if you cut in line, or say go ahead, take that parking spot. They tip extra, say hello and smile to you on your way by....we love these people, and I am happy to say I am one of them.

The other people however are thorns in my fucking side, and i can't stand looking at them. You know who i am talking about. The tense and over angry mother with 3 kids hanging off her...the kids that scream and yell at everything. The dude who just wants to get in and get out asap with no one talking to him, the "guy" that thinks shopping is gay and just wants to buy his wife a fucking toaster and get on with life...and then there are just those people that don't like christmas, so they take that out on the people that do. Seriously, fuck off already.

I don't really have much more to say than just lighten up. Even if you don't celebrate christmas, at least take the chance to be happy and festive with everyone else. And hey, that goes for the rest of the year too. Stop being an uptight asshole, and just go with it.

That is all.

PS - I read the best quote today, one that i have lived by most of my life, and never put it into words: "A gentleman should not dress well. He should dress with character. "

Merry Christmas! (not happy holidays)

If you're going to be a poser, at least do it well.

Ok, so there are lots of things in this world to know a lot about, right? I mean some people know a lot about cars, some people know a lot about sports, or music or art...but even deeper below these very vague things, are smaller nuances of what people know a lot about. The car guy might know a lot about specific models or engines over others. The art person might really know a lot about the renaissance over other periods, etc. Everyone has their thing, and we should all be humble enough to admit that while we know a lot about certain things, there are other things we know nothing about. For example, I know a lot about music, colognes, and a fair bit about alcohol, but i know nothing about cars or sports. But that's the point. I don't PRETEND to. When someone asks me about cars, i simply tell them "you're asking the wrong dude". It's simple. there is nothing shameful about it, you just simply don't know a lot in that category.

But then you have the people that THINK they know a lot about something, because they've heard it somewhere, but can't back it up. I'm talking about the people that pretend they know everything about everything just to make themselves look good. This happens all the time, more often than i can explain. Listen up people, if you don't know a lot about something, be honest and humble, and admit it. Chances are, whoever you are talking to will be MORE than happy to teach you a few things. I simply cannot stand people who talk out their asses just to make themselves look cool...odds are there is someone around them who DOES know what they're talking about, and they're laughing their ass off at you.

Case in point: Thursday night a guy comes up to the bar, and takes a few seconds to look at our selection. He made it well known he was doing so, since he announced "Let's see what you have..." now, first of all, you're in a bar. Not a fancy wine place, or a high end cigar bar, just a bar. We have the same shit that the other bars have, maybe with a few differences. So please don't act like you have some snooty palette, and just pick a drink.

He looks a few seconds and then says "I'll have a double-short CC 12 year on the rocks please". Behold! i actually had a glimmer of hope for this poor lad, as he ordered the booze by name, chose the higher brand of it, and is drinking it on the rocks. but something didn't seem right. Someone who drinks rye, DRINKS rye. They know what they like and what they don't like. And if they're going to drink a step above the bottom, they generally look at the TOP shelf, where the high end booze is. He did not. Which told me this dude had $20 to spend, and wanted to look as cool as possible with it. I also noticed the 2 girls next to him that he was trying oh so hard to impress...So was he a real rye drinker? I doubt it....it was his next move that confirmed to me that he was a massive poser:

"Can i get that with coke?"... you're fucking joking with me right? Here i was, giving him my subtle respect, giving him a GLASS Canadian club glass, not our normal plastic rocks glasses, I served it to him the way RYE drinkers do it; 2 ice cubes, no garnish... And he has the balls to mix it with COKE. What a slap in the fucking face.

WHY would you go to the trouble of ordering a rye that is a step above the basic, if you're just going to mix it with coke? To me, that basically told me his story: "I am too much of a pussy to drink rye on the rocks, so i order higher stuff to make me look cool, when really i have to cover the taste with coke" What a fucking douchebag.

Anyone reading this who has done the same thing, end yourself. If you're going to drink rye, and especially if you're going to drink a HIGH END rye Whiskey, man up, grow some balls and drink it the way it is meant to be drank. Otherwise, if you're going to mix it with coke, ginger, 7up, or ANYTHING besides a couple ice cubes and MAYBE a splash of water, order the bottom rung rye, and hang your head in shame. But bottom line, STOP BEING A FUCKING POSER. Drink what you like, not what you think will make you look cool. Be a leader, and not a follower.

This goes for all of you retards who wear cologne the complete wrong way. Listen, if you're going to spend $80 on a cologne because you think it will impress people, find another hobby. Colognes are meant to be worn the way the designer intended. Much like food is meant to be enjoyed the way the chef intended. It's not meant to be poured or sprayed on so people 23 miles away can smell you. It is also not meant to be worn whenever you feel like it. Colognes are designed with certain scents and ingredients to compliment and enhance certain moods, weathers, occasions, even times of the day. Do some research, find out what ingredients are in it, and figure out how the designer wants you to wear it.... ie/ I use Burberry Brit for times when i am a bit dressed up, specifically in winter times, at night, since the scent is a darker, heavier and more formal scent. Whereas i use Lacoste Essential for spring and summer days. There are a lot of things that go into the design of a cologne, you should respect that.

And please, if you're going to wear cologne and want people to notice, skip the wal mart section, stop looking for the $12 knockoff shit, and buy a good, solid cologne that YOU like, and that smells good on YOU. Don't buy P diddy's cologne for the name. Make sure you like it.

Stop being posers, assholes.

skinny jeans and no talent.

So this weekend my band played at a record showcase in Toronto. We knew we were going into a show where there would be a lot of younger bands, but nothing could have prepared me for what we walked into.

A sea of skinny-jeaned punk kids with belts tied around their thighs, walking around like they're hot shit...wait, i guess i was prepared for that. Everywhere i looked were these overly skinny kids who thought they were rock stars. It was pretty sickening, since i think i was the only dude walking up to other bands introducing myself. The rest of the bands really couldn't have given a shit. One band was 5th up, but were already putting their gear on stage because "We have pretty big gear so we're getting it up here now...you know?" Turns out their pretty big gear was a marshall stack, and an ampeg 4x10...oooooh, snazzy, look out, HUGE gear coming through.

I got the feeling that we were looked at strangely because we were the only band that was above the age of 18, and we were the only band that wore real human clothing, and didn't try to look like travis barker on Ecstasy all the time.

So the first act gets up...a solo rap artist. Not bad, but needs work. Second band gets up...needs a LOT of work....what do these 2 bands have in common? Both of them decided to break out a song they JUST wrote last week. At a record showcase. Are you fucking joking? Not only did the second band JUST write the song, but they screwed up the intro and had to start over. Fail.

Then we go on. I think it's fair to say that no one in there except our fans were expecting anything much from us. They assumed we'd be just another band...until the lights went out, and we kicked them all in the face with...gasp...MUSIC.

Not senseless riffing and endless whining...MUSIC. We weren't up there trying to be the next punk emo band, we were ourselves, and guess what? It was good. Our light show was custom, our stage show blew every other band out of the water...why? Because we've played a LOT of shows, and actually take time to study our performance. We don't just walk around bumping into each other while focusing on our own egos.

we got off stage to an awesome crowd. they asked us to sign things. the other bands congratulated us. They asked our light tech to do their lights....oh, and they bugged us for monster energy drink when our new shipment came. People told us our songs were in their heads. The record guys loved us...and guess what. We weren't wearing skinny jeans.

The majority of the rest of the bands all looked the same...all sounded the same...and all had zero talent. I'm sorry but it's true. Anyone can get on stage and slam on their guitar, and throw their bodies around like they're having a fucking seizure. All you're doing is copying off the countless bands that have done that before you. They have no personality. No charisma...nothing that sets them apart from the other bands. They all think they have something special, when in reality they're all fucking identical.

No hooks. No melody. just a bunch of endless whining and screaming, and random noises.

And skinny jeans.

So yeah, we were the old guys. Yeah we were wearing actual clothing.

And yeah, you remember who we are.

Oh...a few more things...

Well, in addition to the things that piss me off below, I have a few more things to add to this list...
well maybe not ADD, but elaborate on.

The facebook group thing...really, why do people feel that facebook groups will change the world? This drives me insane. It's like there is no middle ground. Either people are making a group that is completely pointless and stupid, or they are making a group in some attempt to change the world. Today i was fortunate enough to open a group invitation to a facebook group titled "Petition to end all wars"...yes, ALL WARS. i managed to glimpse quickly at the description of the group long enough to gather that whoever the brainiac was behind this group had the goal to gather as many members as possible, then send this group to all the leaders of the world to tell them to stop making war....

Um...do you actually think this will work!? Like this entire time, the answer to stopping World War was....FACEBOOK! Duh! why didn't we think of this!? This whole time, hundreds of years of war, billions of dollars spent, and countless lives lost, and all we had to do was say "Umm, hey guys, lots of people want you to stop...it says so on this facebook group" and the war makers would just say "Oh shit...we didn't know our wars had THIS kind of effect!! We'll stop immediately! Thanks facebook for shedding light on this!"

Seriously!? SERIOUSLY!? pull your heads out of your asses people...like a fucking facebook is going to stop WARS!? for real...? wouldn't you have to ADD the world leaders to facebook first? what if they deny you? What if Bin laden just wants to creep your drunk bikini pics? These are things you gotta think of guys.

How about this...guys that think hunting is manly. let's first clear up the fact that hunting has changed significantly since the dawn of man. It used to be that you went out in your loincloth with a spear and only your courage to back you up. You chased down whatever you were hungry for, and battled it to the death, eating it's carcass as not only a meal, but as a trophy, and a feast of pride....

Times have changed though. Now, self proclaimed "manly men" sit in a tree decked out in weather resistant clothing, designed to withstand any and every element that mother nature can throw at them. Hundreds of feet away, in the unsuspecting distance, a deer, or whatever animal they are hunting is completely unaware, and is walking, eating, chillin out...no clue it's about to die...the "hunter" lifts his technologically enhanced rifle to his face, uses the super powered long distance scope to take aim, and fires, killing the deer instantly. No battle. No hunt. no running, no challenge. So please tell me how "hunting" makes you a fucking man? Oooh, you wear a camoflauge hat. I am sooooo intimidated by your unrelenting masculinity. Please, oh master of the woods, take mercy on my unmanly soul for not murdering innocent animals from a retarded distance.

Want to be a real man? Challenge a bear to a fist fight in the dead of winter wearing only fur underwear and take him down. THEN you can call yourself a fucking hunter. Otherwise you're just a fucktard with a gun.

This topic goes hand in hand with the "men" who think you're only a man if you drink beer...yet they drink coors light. Drink a real beer you fucking pansies.

Things that drive me insane II

Well, it's time for the second installment of Things that drive me insane. Usually, i let these things build up until the point i am going to break, and then release them. It's now pretty much been long enough for me to do this, so here we go:

The Swine Flu:

Ok...i get that this is a big deal, and people are scared. But seriously, SHUT THE FUCK UP about it already. "Did you get your shot?" "I am not getting mine" "but you HAVE to!!" seriously, this is making me snap. If someone doesn't want to get the shot, let it be. If you're enough of a sheep to go and get the shot because you believe everything you're told, then go do it. But stop talking about it. Every day there is a new development. Today the shot it safe, tomorrow it's dangerous, blah blah blah. Shut up, and deal with it.

People who use the handicap button to open doors when they don't need to:

This is seriously PURE laziness. These people are NOT handicapped, and they don't have their arms full of ridiculously awkward or heavy things....they are just so lazy, they would rather press a button than push it open themselves. The best part of this is that the button actually takes like 6 seconds longer than opening the door themselves, and they have to actually STOP their forward momentum to stand and wait for the door to be opened. Seriously makes someone wonder just how insanely lazy these people are.

People who make facebook groups/fan pages for absolutely nothing:

Oh, look! one of my friends just became a "fan" of "not panicking over the swine flu"...not only does this lend itself to my topic above, but for someone to actually be stupid enough or waste enough of their time to become a "fan" of this is ridiculous. People make groups for EVERYTHING, and it's so stupid. Why do you people have so much time on your hands? Isn't there SOMETHING you can be doing with your time other than inviting people to join your pointless groups?

People who make facebook groups/fan pages and then NEVER update them:

Ok, so 165 people have joined your page...now what? you have no news updates, no discussion boards, no pictures, no videos, no status updates...so WHAT THE FUCK IS THE POINT OF YOUR PAGE??

Fat bitches who wear tight pants:

I don't even need to elaborate on this, do i? I am not saying everyone should be skinny. I am saying that if you can't fit flatteringly into a pair of lulu lemons, don't fucking wear them.

People who bitch that they "have no time" to do things:

Chances are, these people actually have the time...but they don't use it. These people are commonly the people that don't have the time, because they choose not to sacrifice the time. They don't want to go to bed a couple of hours later than normal, they don't want to miss grey's fucking anatomy, they don't want to do things they normally wouldn't do. Therefore, school work, or whatever else that needs to be done, doesn't get done because they "had no time". Which is fine. if your work doesn't get done, then just say you didn't do it. But DO NOT say you didn't have time, because I, or someone else that manages their lack of time very well will politely put you in your fucking place.

People who take offense to everything:

Fuck off, and stop reading this.

People who spend $90 on a new video game, and then use cheats to beat it immediately:

Seriously? have you never heard of a challenge? these games are designed to test your abilities and your skills...yet you put on your invincibility and your all weapons codes, and run through the game. Wow. Big man. do you feel accomplished now? Good purchase. Maybe next time you can spend the money on building that girlfriend you've always wanted.

That's all for now...i'm sure there will be more but for now, i should get back to class work.

out.

How things have changed.

When I started my first band and first got into the local music scene, I never thought I would have a mohawk and be applying eyeliner in a sticker-covered mirror in the dirty bathroom of a divey rock bar in Windsor's downtown district. I never envisioned myself wearing what i wear, singing what i sing, or being in this position that I am right now. But, as with everything else, this changed over time.

I've now been performing for the better part of a decade, and I've gone from a person who didn't even know what an XLR cable was to someone who has learned the ins and outs of the scene, the industry, and the stage. I've learned over time about what to expect, and most importantly, to take everything with a grain of salt.

The most valuable thing i have learned however, is the 'unwritten' rules of being a band in a local market. If you're a musician and don't know what I am talking about, you may want to read and understand these things for future reference. Trust me, it will be very important.

First, and most importantly is respect. It doesn't matter if you don't know the bands you're on a bill with, you don't sit in a corner and act like you're untouchable. Go talk to the bands. Introduce yourself. Let them know who you, and your band is. Once you've done this, if they don't talk to you or hang out or have beers, or whatever, then at least you tried.

While on stage, if you're one of the opening acts, you should ALWAYS mention the name(s) of the other opening bands, and of course, pump up the headliner. Bands who don't do this are perceived as completely disrespectful and arrogant by the other bands, and even some of the audience. If you ARE the headlining band, then it is incredibly important to give shout outs to the opening bands. If your band has a frontman that doesn't speak well on stage, and is either too shy or too stupid to do these simple tasks, then you need to beat him/her into shape. These are insanely important things to do.

While off stage, before your time slot, you should, if at all possible, watch the other bands, and be sure they know you're watching. This assists in building a good respect and relationships with the other acts. BUT more importantly, AFTER your show, you should at all costs stay to watch the bands after you. If you play your show, load up your gear and leave right away, you look like a complete asshole to the other bands, specifically the headlining band. If you NEED to leave, at least let the headliner know in advance...this is common courtesy. At the very least, stay for a few songs, and then signal to them that you're leaving....again, just common respects that go a LONG way in building a good reputation for yourself.

These are just a few of the unwritten laws that should be followed...or at least were followed when i began in the industry...NOW though, things have changed. Now, bands don't give a shit. I have played over the past several years, and have found that although each band is different, the majority of the younger bands completely disregard any of these respect procedures, and literally just look out for themselves. I've seen it on a constant basis, and have to admit, it's sickening. Gone are the days of a 5 band bill where all the fans of every band stay to support each other...it hasn't been that way in years. Now, each band has their crowd, and that crowd leaves when the band does....the band doesn't tell their fans to stay, and the band leaves right away.

if this industry and this local scene will ever reach its full potential, things have to get back to the way they were years ago; when bands helped each other, and didn't fight each other. So if you're in a band, you may want to brush up on these rules. They will go a long, long way.

been a while...

So , it's been a while since my last post, and well, i've been busy!! School started and i LOVE it, like i thought i would. It's a lot of work, but nothing i am stranger to, or scared of. I have been doing a lot of work both with the school, and for the bar, and i am learning new things every day. One thing i have been doing a lot of lately is people watching...more than i used to. I have begun to fully realize and fully embrace my gift for reading and profiling people with the speed and accuracy that i am able to...and the one thing that i am just completely shocked with is just how many people not only THINK they are better than other people, but how vocally they proclaim it. It blows my mind. Seriously.


There are some people whom i come into contact with on a daily, weekly or monthly basis that project such an air of arrogance it takes everything in me to keep my disgust from leaking out of every last pore in my body. People who think they can do no wrong, make no mistakes, and can never err. If they are told they are wrong or imperfect, they will fight every step of the way to make sure they are perceived as perfect. In some ways this is a ridiculous display of narcissism and ignorance, but on the deeper level, it's an outstanding vocal display of complete insecurity.


What is it that makes someone have the amount of arrogance that they have? Is it their parental upbringing? their childhood? i honestly would love to know. I have a firm belief that complete arrogance and disrespect for others and insecurity go hand in hand, and i believe it's deeply rooted in one's childhood or family life.

Now i know my opinioins on things such as religion can seem to be very narrow minded at times, but i never forget or disrespect the fact that people have their own opinions and views on things, and that means that my views or opinions are not specifically right, or better than anyone else's. But WHY can't other people see that with other things in life? Why do some things always have to be a competition or a contest to some people? That's what i would like to know.

The best part of watching someone like this is that they eventually fade away. Eventually, once everyone notices the ego, and everyone notices how cocky this person is, they tune them out and once the attention is gone the person crawls back into the little insecure hole they came out of and sulks to themselves.

Moral of the story? Ignore egotistical assholes.

Raised in a barn? Yep!

So here i sit in the school pub/lounge area yet again...i just finished an over priced turkey baguette, which was a steal since the overpriced fruit salad just wasn't very fulfilling yesterday. I sit down, grab my computer, and start to do a little work...to my left is a table of a couple students who are talking to each other, and to my right is a table of 4 students, all talking at an overly loud volume. Neither of these things really bothered me, until the table to my left began blasting rap on their laptop, and the table to my right began matching them, listening to the same song and commenting on how awesome Eminiem is.

OK, first, Eminem is a has been. No one gives a shit anymore, because his lame immature pop-rap bullshit is a thing of the past, and frankly no one cares anymore...but anyways, so here i am stuck in the middle of this rap fest, that of which i am growing sick of very, VERY quickly. So i put my headphones on, and listen to actual music....

Shortly after that, the table to my right got up to leave. I was happy about this because they were sitting at the ONLY table with access to an outlet for my laptop (nice going, school. You can get away with charging $5.75 for a fruit salad but you can't put in a couple plugs!?) So i begin to gather my stuff so i can switch tables....only to watch in COMPLETE disgust as all 4 of these students walked away, and left the table COVERED in their garbage.

Now, as i have mentioned before, i was raised well. I was raised with manners, and i was raised with knowing what is proper, what is rude, and what is just plain courteous...and in my books, leaving a table full of your shit is NOT courteous, OR respectful. These students were not the typical 18 year old chumps who just have a lack of respect for everyone, these students were at least 21, and SHOULD know better. They just up and walked away.

Don't get me wrong, i KNOW that it's the job of the employee to clean the tables. I get that, but frankly i am SICK of hearing people say that...YES it's their job, but who are YOU to make their job harder? Who are YOU to leave your shit around? Did your parents not teach you manners? And i am not talking about a couple napkins or an empty pop can, i am talking about plates, wrappers, apple cores, half full pop cans, the works. It was disgusting. Like, it's a school, and there are 2 ladies working in the pub... one of them is a sweet little italian woman named Vivian...she works her ass off serving your fat asses all the pizza and hot dogs you can eat, she deals with your attitude, and then you slap her in the face by leaving your shit there for her to clean up? I mean, she's already in a thankless job, why not show just a LITTLE bit of human decency and just throw your shit out...it's not hard!! Walk a few steps, put your garbage in the garbage pail, and you're done!!

It is beyond me how many people just have a COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT for other people. I ALWAYS say thank you, even when i don't need to. I say sorry even when i don't need to...i am always trying to ensure that people are having the best time possible, if i am at all able to. There is no reason why these 4 trailer trash, sideways hat wearing assholes couldn't just throw their shit in the garbage.

That's my rant for the day...seriously. I don't care if you're at taco bell, or at school, just throw your shit out. Seriously.

The Error in design.

Ok, first and foremost i want to say that i have just discovered a very cool new search engine type thingy. It's called Swagbucks, and it's sick. Basically, you register for free, and you use their search engine instead of google or whatever...periodically they award you e-dollars, that you spend at their store. But it's COOL shit. Like ipods and stuff. And here's the best part. You refer your friends. For every friend you refer that signs up, every time they earn a dollar, YOU earn double! and on and on...so please check it out, and register with THIS link!

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/CitizenThirteen

Now on to today's rant!

As a long time enthusiast in design, I have learned a lot in my life, and am very eager to learn much more. But what really bothers me is when people call themselves "designers" or think they are good at what they do, when in reality they really aren't. For example. We got some posters printed for the bar for some upcoming events. Sure, they look decent at first glance, but upon closer inspection, i realized a lot of things. The person that 'designed' these things is just as clueless as most other 'designers' when it comes to the power of simplicity, and the ultimate power of type. Sure the posters are pretty and flowy and blah blah blah, but really, does anyone notice them? No. they SEE them, they LOOK at them, but in the end maybe 50% of people actually READ them, or catch their meaning. Why? Because they look like just a piece of cluttered artwork on the wall. The 'designer' has concerned themselves more with the overall look of the poster, as opposed to focusing on the purpose at hand, which is informing people of an upcoming event or promotion. The typefaces chosen are awful, and blend in with the rest of the design, and the whole vehicle just doesn't work.

Then, as you walk closer to it, you see that the picture this person chose to use was just a very small, low resolution picture, that they decided to blow up. So sure, from a distance it looks fine, but if you look at it from 3 feet away, it's blurry, fuzzy and pixelated...what 'designer' does that!? I mean, being oblivious to what typefaces convey which emotions is ONE thing, but not even taking the time to use a proper photo? That's just purely unprofessional and lazy.

Now, i am NOT saying that I am the world's best designer. I do not have my diploma yet. I am still a student. BUT i can, and will say that I recognize what good design is, and am quite adept at creating good design, specifically at using typography in my designs. for example. I designed 2 posters whose purpose was to simply sell drinks. What did i do? I didn't take a stock photo picture of some slutty broad and throw "Try a whiskey bomb" in the corner somewhere....why? because drunk dudes would have just stared at her tits and moved on, and chicks wouldn't have even acknowledged it. What did i do instead? I made it a purely Typographical poster that simply said "Try a Whiskey Bomb RIGHT NOW" I used a typeface that caught peoples' attention, and made them want to buy it. And guess what. It worked. I made another poster with 10 different types of shots on it....i gave each shot it's own personal attitude and personality using type, and made the layout very VERY simple. And guess what. It worked.

Now how is it that a design student can make posters that WORK, and someone that is a professional Designer can make such travesties like they have been? I mean, if you're putting a poster up INSIDE the bar, why are you making the name of the bar the main focus? You take a GIANT picture of a slutty broad, a couple big stock photo guitars, and make the title HUGE, then in little letters mixed in with everything else, you put "$3 whiskey, $13 pitchers"...the main focus of the poster gets completely lost in the mix, and nobody notices. it just becomes background noise, and that's it. It's very obvious to me that this person takes the "Sex sells" concept way too literally. it's very simple. Say what you want to say. Say it clearly, say it creatively, say it in a good looking way. Done. Everything else is just noise.

I guess that's my rant for the day. Oh, one more thing. if anyone reading this does any, ANY sort of work with typefaces or 'fonts', please...PLEASE stop using Comic Sans font. Have some respect for yourselves ;)

Enough Already.

Seriously, enough. I am so beyond sick and tired of everything. I am sick of people...no. Not people in general, but people that have absolutely ZERO capacity for thinking for themselves. It has just become so ridiculous I can't take it anymore. There are so many examples i can list that i don't even know where to begin. It's as if people literally cannot think for themselves anymore...everyone is just so bombarded with what society wants them to think and feel that they just go with it, and it makes me fucking sick. Let's see. where should i begin...

Twilight
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Ok, you know what? shut the fuck up already. i am So sick of hearing women yap about this fucking series. OMG IT'S SOOOO GOOOOOOD. They read it, and then talk to each other about it, and they all fall in love with Edward. and they all daydream about him, and they all wish their man was just like him. Seriously? Fucking drop it already. First of all, the author needs to off themselves for making a BLATANT MOCKERY OF VAMPIRES. Centuries of folklore, legend and myth and mystery have now become nothing but a fucking pre-teen trend because of this bitch. Vampires don't fucking sparkle, bitch. They don't daywalk, and they don't engage in sappy tween love stories. Second of all, all you ladies who melt over this Edward...maybe you should realize that A) he's FICTIONAL, and B) he's nothing but a creation from a FEMALE MIND. Yet another female setting an impossible hurdle for males to jump...yet we get blasted if we wish our women were like kate Beckinsale in Underworld. Shut it. How about you go read about real vampires, and learn what the legend was based on...because it definitely wasn't some teenage character who was ultimately played by a fucked up asshole who looks like an ogre.

"AT LEAST WE HAVE A JOB"
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If i hear this ONE MORE TIME, i am going to snap. Everywhere around me, there are paycuts happening. Lay offs. Firing. Downsizing. Employees in all sorts of companies are being stepped on by their higher-ups. a temporary 10% paycut turns out to not be temporary, and while people like myself stand up, and do something about it, other people are content to just sit there and say "well, at least we have a job"....WHAT!? Stand up for yourselves! YOU'RE the reason they get away with this shit. Because people like you just sit there and take it. You don't go out to get a second job, you don't find ways to make yourself more money, you don't complain, you just sit there and take it like a pathetic weakling. What happens when another 10% gets cut? Still going to be happy you have a job? And you know, when you DO bitch about how tight your money is, i DON'T want to hear it. Because you haven't adjusted your lifestyle AT ALL. Grow a pair. Seriously.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE MUSIC "FOR THE BEAT"
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You know what? Go buy a drum and make your own fucking beat. Because it's people like you that make a no-talent whore like Lady Gaga popular.


"I HEARD THAT MOVIE WAS SHIT"
--------------------------------

really? well how about you go and watch it and make your own fucking decision instead of just taking other peoples' word for it. Because i guarantee the people saying the movie was shit haven't even seen it either. They just HEARD it was shit.

"YOU LOOK GAY"
--------------------

no, it doesn't look gay, it looks good. If you could for once just step outside of your homophobic existence and, oh, i don't know, look at what the world looks like today, you'd realize that my dress shirt, skinny tie and slim bomber coat is very much in style, and your haircut you've had since grade 10, your backwards hat and your dress shirt make you look like a slacker who forgot to look into the mirror. And i'm sorry, you can call me gay all you want, but truth be told, although i'm straight as an arrow, i'll take the compliment, since gay guys are very well known for having fantastic style. You on the other hand, need to learn a lesson in security.

"DID YOU HEAR ABOUT BRAD AND ANGELINA?"
-----------------------------------------

No, i didn't. Why? because i don't immerse myself in hours upon hours of pointless fucking entertainment. I don't watch reality tv, i barely watch tv to begin with. I don't read US weekly, or Star, or people, or any of the other gossip bullshit. I don't care who jen anniston is dating or not dating right now, i don't give a shit what john and kate are saying about each other, and i sure as fuck don't care about madonna's problems adopting a foreign kid. I DON'T FUCKING CARE. And for that matter, i don't understand how people can literally watch that much television. I don't know, maybe it's just me but what do you really get out of it, other than a head full of garbage, and a curiosity as to where the last 3 hours of your life went.


I'm sure there's a lot more, but it seems as if my venting mood has dissipated a little bit, so i will leave it for now. until next time lol

Arguing on the internet...

Sigh...the endless cycle of an argument based on the internet. We've all witnessed at least one...we've all rolled our eyes as one comment leads to 2...which leads to an insanely long thread that lost its point a very long time ago. Does anyone else find this completely pointless besides me? I mean, it's like literally beating your head against a wall...i mean you can't see, hear or even slap the person you're "arguing" with, so what is the point...do you really think they perceive the exact attitude you're typing at them? Do you think they can hear just how hard you're typing your keys as you mash out your masterpiece of a rebute? No. they can't. yet time and time again, we're witness to these incredible displays of complete stupidity.

here's a few examples. Today, a choreographer from "So you think you can dance" was charged with Rape. RAPE. Apparently this dude has been under suspicion of rape at least 4 times before, but charges were never laid...he sexually assaulted his students by luring them to his house, and tricking them into his bedroom where he raped them. Now, of course none of this has been proved yet. He is indeed innocent until proven guilty...but now the most recent victim has come forth, and her story matches the cases that were brought out 4 years ago, and well, he's in jail on a 3.8 million dollar bail...

Did he do it? Who knows. Unless YOU were raped by him, or you were the one doing the raping, you will never know. Yet hordes of people commented on the story...the first few people agreeing that he should be in jail, or announcing their shock...but then, you have the naive outspoken person who always comes along and this person was no different. They began talking about how much of an excellent person this man is, and is always respectful and stand up on tv, and is a very nice guy, and blah blah blah...to which i respond...DO YOU KNOW HIM? No. you don't. You know what you see on television. That's all. Your argument holds about as much water as saying that Keanu Reeves really CAN dodge bullets, or that Shia Laboeuf really IS dating Meghan fox...two things we know will NEVER happen.

Bottom line here, NO ONE knows the truth, and maybe never will. his defenders don't know him, so he COULD be a sick ravaging rapist...likewise, his trash talkers don't know him either, so he COULD be innocent. The point is, whether or not he did or didn't do it, get a fucking life and stop typing words really angrily at each other. Don't you have anything better to fucking do? Knit a quilt for fuck's sakes!

Another example. Usain Bolt just set a new world record, Shattering his previous one by .11 seconds. OMG that's fucking amazing...seriously, this man is a prodigy...but of course, on the message boards you have the people that defy all laws of stupidity by saying shit like "He's on steroids" or "i could run that fast if i juiced too"...well...no you can't. And for that matter, he isn't on steroids you assholes, since he has to, and had to pass insane numbers of drug tests before and after he races. He's clean. He's obviously a very naturally gifted athlete...but there are those people (namely arrogant cocky americans) who want to take his glory away from him. They're upset that the fastest man in the world doesn't live in the fattest continent of the world (gasp! shocking!)...then, you have my favourite comment..."yeah he's fast...but can he catch? Can he take a hit!?"....well, probably not, since he's a fucking TRACK ATHLETE, not a fucking football player. This comment was obviously from a fat assed cocky ex-football player who thinks that because he's 350 lbs and it takes 5 guys to tackle him, then he must be an amazing athlete. Wrong answer asshole, you're just a massive fatass. And, gasp! newsflash, football isn't the ONLY sport on the planet! Can Bolt catch? probably. can he take a hit? probably not....so...that....means...what....your argument...or rather pointless question holds absolutely ZERO water. Then, in response to that comment, someone else said something stupid like "well usain bolt didn't run with a torn acl or a groin pull or aching muscles...makes me respect football players even more"...Wait, when did this become part of the conversation!? So because Bolt ran 9.58 in the hundred meter dash without an injury means that football players are faster because they're injured or sore!? What the fuck kind of point are you trying to make!? Bottom line, they're two different sports, and like it or not, Bolt is one fast motherfucker.

Obviously the people that made the last 2 comments are either meatheads or former meatheads. By that i mean guys whose lives are completely devoted to sports, and always have been. Guys that don't think soccer is a sport, or that hockey is as physical as GRRR FOOTBALLLLLLL!!!! They are most likely sitting at their computers, have FOX Sports as their home page, and type their ill-thought and pointeless comments with their 2 index fingers while wearing a 3XL t shirt stained with motor oil and beer. Guys who can only say negative things because their sports career peaked in grade 10 before they got cut from the junior team, and are forever going to feel they were cheated. Most likely the same guys that submit their tapes to Pros vs. Joes...ugh...i'm getting sick just thinking about them.

So maybe...when you decide to comment on a message board...you should focus on conversation, as opposed to starting an argument just because you don't agree with someone...or whatever your reason is. Because arguing on the internet, truly is like winning a gold in the special olympics; even if you "win", you're still retarded.

E-tards

When i was 6 or 7 years old, i woke up one christmas morning, excited as to what Santa had brought me. and behold, as my brothers and i tore open the final present, addressed to all three of us, my life, as i knew it at the time would be changed forever. There in front of me was a Nintendo Entertainment System...or NES as it was so beautifully dubbed. Sitting there in all its glory was a small grey and black box, a mess of cables, and two rectangle controllers with corners capable of gouging out someone's eye if the other player just so happened to use it as a shuriken. And next to it, packaged in styrofoam was a small dark grey cartridge, with Super Mario Bros, and Duck hunt...i was so excited...and i will now admit to the world, that although i was retardedly excited, I had NO FUCKING CLUE what it actually was. Up until that point, i don't think i even knew what Nintendo was, nor did i care. I was content with Atari, and i really didn't even know a new "entertainment system" had been developed. Why did i care? I spent most of my time playing with GI Joe figures or drawing vastly intricate fantasies of super heroes and knights at arthur's round table....so this whole Video Game thing was a new experience for me.

Now, needless to say, being a high strung 7 year old (i'm still high strung, but now i'm 26) i can make the obvious statement that i was immediately hooked. There i was, christmas afternoon, kneeling in front of the TV, trying to shoot the hell out of those little ducks, and getting pissed whenever that fucking dog laughed at me...but i was hooked. It wasn't long until i was rushing home after school to play mario bros...which steadily turned into any number of games we ended up purchasing...captain skyhawk, mario 2, rolling thunder, etc, etc... i became addicted...and much like other children, NES became SNES, which became SEGA, which eventually, for a brief period turned into SEGA SATURN, which inevitably turned into Nintendo 64...but that, my friends, is where the train pretty much ended.

See, as the other early teens such as myself were frantically spending their, or their parents' hard earned dollars on whatever new system happened to be in fashion that week, I just...lost interest. As Playstation became popular, my interest purely faded...PS turned into PS2 which eventually turned into PS3...i saw sega put out the dreamcast, and then fall off the face of the planet...Nintendo put out the Gamecube, which my little brother purchased, and we still have to this day...Then came XBOX...then XBOX 360, and countless other mods or whatever gaming nerds call them...progressively the systems got more realistic, more fancy, more futuristic...and ultimately more fucking expensive...eventually plateauing at the nintendo Wii.. All around me my friends became completely addicted. Now, that's not to say i didn't dabble. I took a couple hits of Playstation here and there...i did a line or 2 of XBOX....i had a brief love affair with a little bit of Wii bowling running through my veins..but i was never addicted. It was a social thing...it was a a once in a while thing...

Now, being the age i am at, i can safely say that there is really no urge in me to ever play video games. I don't know, call it...ADULT. call it growing up...call it maturity. Sure, i still take the occasional pleasure in playing NHL Hitz 2003, or creating my own riciculous wrestlers on WWF Day of Reckoning...but that's pretty much the jist of it. My interest fades fast and i quite honestly don't give a shit about it. But that doesn't stop me from noticing other people my age just completely absorbed in these ultimate wastes of time. Take guitar hero and Rock band for example. Genius? yes...innovative for sure, and entertaining as hell....for the first couple times you play. after that, it becomes a monotonous display of stupidity. What does one really accomplish by beating tom morello or slash in a guitar battle? What do you really acheive if you can play that rush song on expert on drums? Nothing. You literally walk away with nothing but a ridiculous sense of "pride" that you just "beat" a computer. When in reality, you just wasted about 49 hours pressing buttons in front of a tv screen when you could have been doing literally ANYTHING else.

everywhere i look, i get constantly sickened by seeing grown mens' eyes light up at a commercial for a new videogame...OMG NHL 10 is coming out!!? i HAVE TO GET IT!! but do you? I mean, ok, go spend $70 on a game to play on your $300 system which will literally give you ZERO amount of tangible return. Yet you run out and buy it anyway...why? who fucking knows...to satisfy some craving inside of you for some form of goals or acheivements you could never accomplish in real life...goals you probably COULD have acheived if you had gotten your ass off the fucking couch and actually DONE something with your life. But no, you just had to find the princess, or win the cup, or whatever...and when it's all done...when you beat the game...when you have finished your victory dance...you're still there in your bedroom, or your basement or your man cave with no girlfriend, and hundreds of dollars worth of games you don't want to play anymore, because they have no "replay value"...

All around you, while the world is working, spinning, passing you by, you live in your head, inside a screen where you can be anything you want, but you're really nothing at all. You wear your little headsets and talk to your team mates, but in reality, you can't even fire a gun, let alone be a part of an elite military force. Yet you all just sit there on your couches taking pride and glory in...GAMES. they're games. they are glorified versions of army men, or scrabble or fucking Shoots and ladders. And you think people should bow down to you because you can play Dragonforce on expert. Wow. Braa-fucking-vo. Congrats. you spent hours of your life you will never get back just so you could train your hands to press buttons really fast in a proper sequence. Oh you hold the heavyweight title on Fight night round 3? Awesome! congrats! now let's see if you can take a real hit...OOh, you have the high score on halo? How many gunshots do you think you can take in real life before your health bar runs out? yeah. live in reality please.

Now am i totally against video games? Hell no! I totally enjoy them from time to time. If i am bored, or home sick, or recovering from a hangover, i love putting in a game and just having a little bit of mindless fun. Prince of persia games are sick and i love every one of them...there is nothing wrong with a little bit of fun. But it's when it becomes a fucking addiction or a habit that you need to get help. When you tell me you have no time in a day, or that you're too busy to do something, only to find out you're too busy because you factored your 7 hours of World of Warcraft into your schedule, THEN there's a problem. When you say you had no time to get something done last night, and really you were just playing metal gear solid for 4 hours, THAT'S a problem.

So i guess the only thing i can really say, it just grow up. Seriously. now i know you hardcore gamers are going to say "well they're using videogames to train military now, and train pilots, and blah blah blahhhh"...well, that may very well be true....but let me just ask how many of you fat lazy sons of bitches plan on joining the military any time soon....

*crickets*

Yeah, that's what i thought.
game over.

it's that time again

Yes. It's that time again. School is starting. Where most children and teens dread the ending of summer, and the beginning of another school year, I on the other hand have always loved going back to school with a passion. Something about learning always got me going. The smell of new school supplies, the possibilities of another year ahead of me. Now that I am post secondary (for a second time), I find myself looking forward to this time of year even more. Being in a downtown central spot, I have the option to do pretty much anything i want on my breaks, or before or after class. I love it. I can take my creativity and my ideas anywhere i want, which is usually the Milk Coffee bar.

I love it...it's another season where the air gets crisp, the wind gets cool, the leaves turn colours, and I can strap my sketchbook in with me, hang my camera around my neck and have a world of endless potential at my fingertips. I can and will learn every ounce of information i am able to, and soak it all in like a sponge. Already in my first year of graphic design, i have seen my skills improve tremendously, going from a very linear thinker to someone who can think in all different directions. I learned my fortés, and weaknesses, and i learned that my potential is boundless. I've learned that my skills are greater than i knew, and i only needed a little formal training to really push them...and that was only in 1 year. I have 2 years left, and am SO excited to see what they bring me.

I cannot wait to join the design world as I feel i have much to show. My portfolio is already beginning to bloom, and I am taking as much joy in it, as i would watching my own child grow. I take pride in the fact that I go above and beyond my call of duty, researching on my own, purchasing design books on my own, and learning on my own. I have learned what areas of design strike me, and what areas don't interest me....i know i love typography...the endless ability for a simple typeface to convey an emotion fascinates me to no end....and the fact that a lot of my designs rely heavily on type to begin with, it's only natural that i take a liking to it.

all in all, i am very excited for this year. I can feel that this year has a lot to offer me, and I in turn, have a lot to offer it. Bring on the semester, I'm ready for it.

But first, It's my birthday this month, so let's get ripped and ring out the summer.

YO JOE! (warning, spoiler alert)

Ok, so after MONTHS of anticipation, i finally got to view the new GI JOE movie today, and i must say, despite walking in with skepticism, I was very pleased with the film! Now, just so you know, i am a GI JOE NERD. I grew up with the toys and the cartoons, and I have always maintained a very avid love for them, if not an obsession. I still find myself hypnotized by the old cartoons, and still long for the days where you could find what seemed like several hundred different Joe figures at Toys 'r us, along with all the vehicles. Now granted, as the 80s ended and the 90s came in, the toys and the figures got progressively weirder and cheesier, but the nostalgia of the original GI JOE team stayed with me. (I know the 80s version wasn't the ORIGINAL, but i am referring to the REBIRTH of the name with the cartoon and the cast of military characters each with their own unique trait).

I mean, even when all these new characters were coming out, and cobra commander was going through an endless parade of STUPID mask changes, you still couldn't beat those original characters you loved...duke, snake eyes, lady jaye, scarlet, destro, stormshadow....then guys like beach head, chuckles, zartan, roadblock, alley viper...deep six...the list goes on, and on, and on...

So seeing as my love for the GI JOE crew was so deep, i had very high hopes that the director of this blockbuster would stay TRUE to the storylines, and not try to deck it out like all hollywood assholes tend to do. Case in point, Transformers. I mean, ONLY hollywood could take beloved robots that each were SO distinct and SO memorable, and turn them into giant pieces of CGI bullshit. I mean, in the fight scenes, you really can't tell who is who because they all look identical in their robot form. Whose genius idea was that? Like, Optimus prime is a FUCKING LEGEND, and you turned a simple red, white and blue robot into a complex mass of steel, wires, and....a FLAME PAINT JOB?!

anyways, i was hoping that GI JOE wouldn't be a massacre....and you know what? Besides a few expected hollywood changes...it was actually pretty accurate!

Now, keep in mind Joe fans, that this is a PREQUEL to where the original cartoon started in 1983, so remember that.

Let's start with captain sexy pants, Channing Tatum as the Joe Leader, Duke. At first, like most guys, i was like "Are you kidding me? He's not Duke at ALL". But i was wrong. Very wrong. He played a solid role, and he really suited Duke...marlon Wayans as Ripcord was also very cool, and despite my distaste for wayans in the past, he validated himself with this role. The entire cast brought a youth and energy to the roles, and it was very cool to see.

The first thing i noticed that was NOT true to the storyline was Baroness NOT having a Russian accent. She was VERY well known in the cartoon for her accent, and they took it away from her! The second thing i noticed was that Duke and Baroness were former lovers with a very distinct history...this actually plays a HUGE part in the movie.

Scarlett was AWESOME, and very true to the smart assed original version, and they even equipped her with her trademark crossbow. Hawk was badass, and really played well and Dennis Quaid can really pull off a beret!

Snake Eyes was DEAD ON. I mean, DEAD ON. the costume, the logo on his arm, the swords, everything. Right on the money. Gave me goosebumps to be honest. Likewise, his mortal enemy, stormshadow, was also right on the money...despite the fact that he plays an almost secondary version of himself, always in slick white clothing, as part of the cobra frontline. A weird twist, but one that was suited well.

Now...as i read a lot of the blogs leading up to the movie, there was a lot of speculation about Cobra Commander, and Destro. Up until now, no one had seen cobra commander in any trailers, etc...he's played well throughout the movie, although he is not acknowledged as Commander until the very end, solidifying the fact that this is Indeed a prequel. Also Destro does not become the silver-headed bad guy we all know until the very end either. Up until the very end, cobra commander (who is never called that, but you KNOW it's him)plays his part well. The evil scientist genius who wants to rule the world...he even has the elongated 'S' sounds at the end of his words...his look is not that of the original cartoons, but one that could totally work as a new version...UNTIL the end, when he dons a very brutal looking, fucked up, robot on ectasy type mask that just fucks the whole thing up. Also, he's Baroness' brother whom she thought died in the war, and Duke swore to protect him but shit went down...again, storylines that were NOT part of the original cartoons, but all in all, they aren't too bad...

Let's see, what else...oh yes, Destro is a white dude with an accent...which is odd, but doable...Ummm, Zartan doesn't have long hair, BUT he does a great job...and they even mention Dr. Mindbender! AND THEY SAY KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE! YESSS!!

The one thing i REALLY loved was that the movie stayed true to the fact that GI JOE is NOT ahead of the game. They are not some super soldiers who foil all the bad guys' plans...no. In fact, cobra was one step ahead of the Joes at all times, and the good guys actually were the ones trying their hardest to keep up. Just like the cartoon. They were underdogs, but always came out on top. It was nice to see the movie did the same.

Also, i would like to mention that whether purposely done or not, the movie shows cobra's first attack on the world as Attacking the Eifel Tower...EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE FIRST-EVER EPISODE OF THE CARTOON! sure, it was a different weapon entirely, but who cares?! Well done!

All in all, the movie was really REALLY good. Like, REALLY good. It was exciting, funny, smart and completely full of action. I can deal with the typical hollywood costumes instead of the joes' original costumes, i mean that shit is to be expected, and actually is NEEDED, since if Duke was wearing his yellow shirt and green pants like in the cartoons...well he would have died immediately. It was fantastic to say the least. Now i am not a movie critic, nor do i want to be. I don't expect this movie to win an oscar, and i don't give a shit. It was entertaining, exciting and fun, and that's all us GI JOE fans need....because you know what? The original cartoon wasn't winning any awards either, but it was still badass.

SO. i can safely say that GI JOE has successfully passed my personal approval test, since hollywood didn't fuck too much with the main details (unlike spiderman...seriously? webs from his actual wrist? did you even READ the comic?)...and it was totally worth my money. I can't wait for this to come out on DVD, and I can't wait for the movie-renditions of the toys to stop being made, and the ORIGINAL TOYS to come back. Because now i can finally afford to make an actual army of cobra vipers.

there is NO excuse for stupidity.

Sometimes people ask me how i know about certain things. Maybe we'll be talking about something, and i will chime in with a piece of information that isn't very well known...then people are astounded by my knowledge...it's crazy.

Am i a genius? No. Am i blessed with a mind like a sponge...possibly....Truth be told, i'm not doing anything that ANYONE can't do. I'm simply learning, or rather teaching myself things that i am curious about. How? A little thing called "The Internet". Yes...i know, it sounds so futuristic doesn't it. See, when there is something i am curious about, or something i don't know about, i use this magical device to do something called "research", and i learn about it. Crazy eh? So instead of finding myself among people in a conversation where i just zone out because i am clueless, I can actually enjoy an in depth discussion and maybe even learn something more!

In today's times, there is NO excuse for people to be uneducated on ANYTHING. information is literally right at your fingertips. It honestly blows my mind how some people are still absolutely clueless about basic things. Now, i am not saying you need to research and learn about all the things that i personally would look up, and i'm not saying you have to learn about things you're not interested in...but wouldn't you rather have a basic knowledge of a lot of things rather than just a very deep knowledge of ONE thing? I mean, awesome, you can tell me the entire history of the Miami Dolphins, but you can't give me an opinion on colours for a living room...or you can talk forever about Obama's plans, but you can't tell me shit about world war II....like, at least have SOME knowledge about things...ANYTHING! take your interests, and expand them for fuck's sakes!

For instance, the other day my girlfriend was making chicken parmesan for dinner, and i wanted to pick up some wine for our meal. But what wine goes best with that dish? Hmmmm, instead of wandering aimlessly into the liquor store, and picking the wine that i thought would be good, i decided to take 30 seconds of my time to google it....for those of you that don't know, you CAN type a question into google, and you most likely WILL get what you're looking for. So i asked what wine goes best with chicken parm...pressed search, and BAM! I got my answer! i walked into the LCBO, found the wine, and before i knew it, i was enjoying a fantastic meal with a perfectly matched wine....now was that hard?

No, it wasn't hard. But in today's age, when so many people are just glued to their PS3s, or Xbox, or Wii, or whatever, everyone is just too fucking lazy to take a LITTLE bit of time to learn a little bit. Think about it. If you took a tiny half hour per day to just LEARN something, imagine how much more you would know in a week...a month...A YEAR! But no, you're all satisfied with your limited knowledge, basing your opinions on whatever you heard on your favourite radio morning show, or whatever the cool people at school were saying. It's actually kind of pathetic people. Start using your noggins. Seriously.

Now if you don't mind, I am going to go learn something.
Good luck beating your high score on whatever latest version of guitar hero you just wasted your money on.

I believe i can see the future...cuz i repeat the same routine...

Oh, trent reznor...you lyrical genius you.
Every summer's end, i get into a slight slump because i am inevitably sick of the routine my life has taken on. Today was a little different...Today i became sick of pretty much everything except my wonderful girlfriend, and my unquenchable thirst for knowledge and music. And i have to say, the only thing that really keeps me going sometimes is the fact that all my low points will eventually lead into lyrics of songs...so i suppose they're doing me well.

Why am i down? I can't really explain it...I am sick of my wardrobe, sick of my clothing, and sick of not being able to dress the way i really want to be dressing. Why am i unable to be doing this? Well, for one, i don't have the money available to really spend what i need...and second, Windsor has one shitty fucking excuse for a shopping mall, if i've ever seen one. I mean, if you're a girl, you have at least SOMEWHAT of a chance finding something to suit your needs...but if you're a guy, SPECIFICALLY a guy like myself, who is not one to follow the typical "guy" clothing fashions, (if you don't understand what i mean, please refer to my earlier posts), then you literally have ZERO chance of finding anything to suit your somewhat, off-axis tastes. I mean, for the most part, every store you go into diplays a wall of cookie cutter jeans, right next to a wall of fucking polo shirts...Polos of all colours! so you basically have to be one of those massive fucking douchebags who wears polos with the collar popped, cargo shorts, and white shoes, in order to get any joy out of shopping at the Devonshire Mall. But wait, what's that? Omg...a shirt i actually like!? Sweet!! as i get closer i see there is NO size for me...however there is a massive amount of Mediums and...XXLs!? Sure, but no larges...oh, and what's this? it's also $98. Yeah, fuck you.

What does a guy have to do in order to look, dress, and feel professional and well groomed? I mean even if you DO find something that suits you, chances are, unless you have the dimensions of a fucking mannequin, you'll have to do some tailoring of your own to get it to fit the way you need...hell, even the clothes on the mannequins are pinned back and form fitted so you THINK they look good, when really, you just bought a fucking tent.

That's just part of the down-syndrome i have at the moment (hahahah play on words)...i guess i just really desire a lifestyle a lot more suitable to me than Windsor offers. All over the place, i see people TRYING to look or play a different part, but when it comes down to it, we're all from the same place, so no matter how hard you try, until you get out, you're just like everyone else. It's sickening to be honest....but what can one really do?

All I can really do is try my best to make the best of everything, as down as it may get me sometimes. I know that before i know it, i will be out on my own, doing my own thing, and i will be able to really piece my lifestyle together the way i envision it. I know i will have my girl with me, and i know we both picture the same thing...we just have to make it there. Before i know it, we'll be sipping a nice pinot grigio on our balcony, finally enjoying the fruits of our labour. But until then, i'm going to have to really work hard at making everything in my life the exact way i want it.

So if you'll excuse me, i'm going to go clean up a bit, light a few candles, and do what i can to make my living space all it needs to be.

OM.....G?

Picture this...a 45 year old woman walks up to you on christmas eve and tells you she can't wait to go to sleep because santa is coming...or how about a 30 year old man excited because the easter bunny left him a bunch of cadbury creme eggs...you'd think they're crazy right? you would think they're childish...immature....or even that they may have a mental illness...you'd look at them in shock that they still believe in such childhood tales as santa and the easter bunny and the tooth fairy...

now picture this...a 40 year old man talks about how God saved him from a car accident. Or a 20 year old woman Thanks God for her digital camera still being at the bar from the night before...you don't look at them like they're crazy. You don't think they're childish or immature...you don't even budge..why?

Why is it that things like santa claus and leprechauns are SO unbelievable, but things like God and Jesus are perfectly acceptable? Can anyone answer that question for me?
At least characters like that have a purpose...they have one or 2 set things they do...santa brings presents and goes down chimneys. The easter bunny brings you eggs and goodies...the leprechaun protects his pot of gold in case you DO make it to the end of the rainbow and the tooth fairy gives you money for your lost teeth..hell, even the fucking boogie man has a purpose; to scare the fuck out of you.

But god...i mean...what is really his purpose? I mean people pray to him, talk to him, and thank him for the craziest things. Your team scores a touchdown? Thank god. The sun came out after a rainstorm? Thank god. It's friday!? Thank god....what the fuck is that?

we're trained as children to "grow out" of things...once you reach a certain age, if you believe in santa, you're told to grow up. If you still play with toys, you're told to grow up...but if you still believe in Jesus, that's perfectly acceptable....so you're telling me it's completely untrue and impossible for a fat man to bring presents to billions of people in one night, but it's TOTALLY POSSIBLE that some bearded dude in a robe can turn water into wine, and can feed 500 people with a couple fish and some stale fuckin bread!? BUT THAT'S OK TO BELIEVE!?

To me, believing in the Bible...jesus..."god"...it's all just a childhood story you never grew out of. See...you chose not to believe in santa because you were old enough to know better...you started making your own opinions and realizing things...but you never grew out of your religious beliefs...you still believe that when you die you're going to enter some majestic palace in the sky...and you're going to float on a cloud with Jimi Hendrix for all eternity...You believe that when you put your hands together and talk to yourself, that some mystical figure in space is listening, and is going to answer all your requests...but SANTA is bullshit.

I for one, am SO SICK of hearing people say things like "they're in a better place now" or "it was their time" or "it was god's will" when someone dies. NO. they died because they're human. We all die at one point or another. If someone you know died in a plane crash, don't blame god, blame whatever the actual reason was for the mishap. It honestly boggles my mind to no end when i hear people talk about religion and praying and god...like, LISTEN TO YOURSELVES. You people will deny every shred of proof given to you to explain that we EVOLVED, in favour of believing that we were created, and everything was the doing of one spiritual being. THINK ABOUT THAT. Some...fucking apparition floating in the depths of space decided to just create shit one day??

"Hey...fuck, i'm bored...just floating out here...i'm gonna build a planet, and i'm going to stock it with people just so i can torture them for eternity! Yep!! and i'm going to give each one of them a special way to talk to me, and now i'll be able to hear everything they say!! I'm gonna create all sorts of shit!! Fuck, i'll even create light and dark! shit!! look at me go!! here's some water bitches!! What's this thing? i don't fuckin know but i'm gonna call it a chicken!"

LIKE, LISTEN TO YOURSELVES!! You're all cowards. You're all too afraid to take blame and to take responsibility for our actions as humans...instead you blame everything on a fucking mythical creature. War? god's fault. Death? God's fault. Disease? God's fault.... Oh shit, you got cancer? Fuck, don't blame all the cigarettes you inhaled for 45 years, blame God! It's his fault!! oh no...you knocked up your white trash girlfriend at 14? Fuck...don't blame your lack of protection or judgment, blame god! you people are ridiculous.

From this day on, if it's ok for you jackasses to believe in God, Jesus, his immaculate birth, and all the other bullshit in the bible, then I'm going to fully believe in Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, Beetlejuice and that dog urine can cure cancer. And if ANY of you say a fucking thing to me, I am going to ask you for just one...tiny..piece of proof that your beliefs are in something even remotely factual.

Things people do that bug the PISS out of me.

Have you ever been somewhere, and you see someone do something that just annoys the shit out of you? I have....it happens all the time....things that make me just say "Seriously?! WTF?"

here's a list of a few of the things that make me have that reaction:

When the traffic lights in an intersection are flashing yellow...and people treat it as a
4 way stop. It's not a 4-way stop people, it means proceed with caution...ANY 16 year old with a driver's handbook will tell you that.

When people pull to the side of the road and wait for a funeral procession to pass. Did i miss something? when and where did this become a rule of the road? I understand that it's out of respect, but there's no need to hold up the traffic on a busy street because you want to wait for a 786 vehicle convoy to pass.

When people say "Bless you" after I sneeze. Newsflash, we're not all religious, so blessing me is kind of ridiculous in my eyes. Not to mention, even if i WAS religious, who gave YOU the power to Bless people? either ignore my sneeze or come up with something athiest to say please.

when people make facebook groups for the DUMBEST shit possible. The worst ones are the ones that say "We need 10,000 people so the government will stop taxes!"...um no they won't! i doubt the government gives a shit about your stupid facebook group. That being said I am also deeply annoyed by the endless amounts of invites i get to join stupid fucking applications like Mafia Wars, or OWNED!! Your friend just bought you! find out how much you're worth!! Umm...no, how about i don't, because i really don't care how much i am "worth" in fake internet money. get a fucking life people.

When people make fun of other people because they aren't good at guitar hero...I would take that as a compliment because it means i actually have A FUCKING LIFE. Wow, you beat tom morello on expert and own the high score!? Omg!! While you were doing that, i was being PRODUCTIVE.

People that constantly talk about calories, without knowing how it all works. They look at the back of pacakges for the calorie content, but compeltely ignore the other content...here's a tip people, find out how many calories you NEED in a day before you start scoffing at anything over 23 calories.

Also on that note, people who preach about eating healthy but still suck on cigarettes all day. I only have 1 thing to say to you. FUCK YOU. Even if you eat the healthiest shit in the world, you're still going to die a seriously fucked up death.

People that say one or 2 words, or just make a loud sigh so you will eventually ask them what is wrong. FUCKING STOP THAT. chances are, if no one noticed something was wrong, then they don't care enough to ask you. So sitting in the corner of the room making random noises until someone asks you what is wrong is seriously fucking annoying...Also, if someone actually DOES give in and asks you what is wrong, please stop saying "ohhh...nothing, don't worry about it"...my god could you ASK for any more attention??!?

People that don't tip their bartender or waitress. it's primarliy americans....why do you feel you don't have to tip? fuck you. that's bullshit and a half. If your bartender is serving you well, and you're having a good time, drop them a dollar every drink...seriously, it's just pathetic if you don't. and the people that don't tip and say "well after three drinks, i've saved enough for another drink!!" that's just beyond lame. grow up and be an adult.

Furthermore, the people that "tip" their dimes, pennies and nickels...you people need to be fucking shot. A tip of dimes and nickels is just insulting..and if your tip includes even a single penny, you need to go home and end your life. Welcome to the real world. This isn't baghdad.

And finally, (for this post at least) people who talk about things they have absolutely NO clue about...if you know you have no idea what you're talking about, then DON'T talk about it. If you're not in the medical field, then don't talk about shit because you sound like an idiot. If you know nothing about politics, then don't talk about politics...and if you don't know music or art, you had better not open your mouth,...because the people that DO know what they're talking about are listening and you're just making yourself sound like a fucking moron. So do yourself a favour and just stop.

THIS IS WHY RELIGION IS A FUCKING JOKE.

This was in the news today - THIS IS WHY RELIGION IS A FUCKING JOKE.


WAUSAU, Wisc. - The mother of an 11-year-old girl who died of undiagnosed diabetes as the family prayed for her to get better testified Tuesday that she believes sickness is caused by sin and can be cured by God.

Leilani Neumann told the jury in her husband's trial that she thought her daughter's March 2008 illness was a test of her religious faith and she didn't take the girl to a doctor because that would have been "complete disobedience to what we believe."

Dale Neumann, 47, is charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the 2008 death of his daughter Madeline Neumann, called Kara by her parents. His wife was convicted of the same charge this spring and faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced Oct. 6.

Prosecutors contend Dale Neumann recklessly killed the youngest of his four children by ignoring her deteriorating health. They claim Neumann had a legal duty to take her to a doctor.

Leilani Neumann testified for nearly five hours Tuesday, describing the events leading up to her daughter's March 23, 2008, death on a mattress on the floor of the family's rural Weston home as people surrounded her and prayed. Someone called for help when she stopped breathing.

The mother said that she and her husband believed their daughter's deteriorating condition may have been the result of a falling out with another couple, and called them once the girl was unconscious and persuaded them to come pray for the girl.

Illness viewed as 'something spiritual'
The family does not belong to an organized religion, and Leilani Neumann said they have nothing against doctors. But, she said, she believes in spiritual healing and viewed Madeline's March 2008 illness as "something spiritual."

Leilani Neumann also said that she did not realize her daughter was seriously ill until the day before her death, when the girl was weak and pale and had trouble speaking.

"I asked her if she loved Jesus," the mother testified. "She might have said yes. I know for sure she was acknowledging it. What sounds came out, I don't remember. She was making noises. ... My focus definitely was to pray."

She said she never once believed the girl would die.

"We thought even the lifelessness was something that she would come out of," the mother said. "Everything for us is about faith. It is about trusting in God. We either believe in God's word or we don't."

A pediatric expert on diabetes told the jury Monday that even right before her death, doctors might have been able to save the girl's life had she been brought to a hospital.

**********************************

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!? your daughter is DYING on your floor on a mattress, she can't speak, she can barely move, and YOUR FOCUS is to PRAY!!? Seriously?! Like closing your eyes, and talking to the ceiling will cure her!?! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!? You believed it was a test of her faith!!? WHAAAAT!?!? like...what runs through your heads? you actually believe that your daughter will be CURED by praying!?! PRAYING!!?

the best part, "we thought even the lifelessness was something she would come out of"....SERIOUSLY!? you thought your daughter was going to magically COME BACK TO LIFE because you and your fucking crazy friends sat in a circle and talked to a figment of your imaginations!? DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS!?

every time i read this, i just get more and more pissed off with peoples' stupidity. You're all so blinded by your "faith" that you can't see what's really in front of you...i for one, and sick to my fucking stomach by this article, and I have had enough of "God" "jesus" and the whole religious world....

"I asked her if she loved Jesus," the mother testified. "She might have said yes. I know for sure she was acknowledging it. What sounds came out, I don't remember. She was making noises. ... My focus definitely was to pray."

READ THAT....READ THAT STATEMENT. THE GIRL COULDN'T EVEN FUCKING TALK, AND THE MOTHER'S FOCUS WAS TO PRAY! PRAYYYYYY!!!

i can't....i just can't wrap my head around the stupidity of this...i have to go before i really let the flood gates open.

man and manly works!

Ah yes, the mystical, magical world of masculinity...A world full of sweat, beer, odours, sports, red meat and trucks!! Clean nails!? WHAT!? Napkins!? who needs them!? and what is that green shit on my plate? Broccoli!? Get that the fuck outta here!! I am a MAN, and this is MY MANLY WORLD GRRRRRR!!!

...right.....well, I am a man, and i can safely, and proudly say I am not a citizen of the testosterone-fueled country of manliness. I don't even like visiting for a weekend. I very much prefer the much more gentlemanly and open-minded township that I live in...one where you can be a man, but still enjoy and participate in things that may not be considered manly, and no one cares...in fact, a lot of people actually prefer a man that can do un-manly things whil still remaining masucline....did i lose anyone there?

For example....I am not an overly manly person...we've established that in past journals...but does that mean that i don't exhibit manly things? No. I still LOOK like a man, talk like one, dress like one, and so on, but i don't do it in the ridiculously over exaggerated and stereotypical way that inhabitants of Manly World do. Some guys like to sit around and play guitar hero all day, or watch family guy, or whatever...me, i prefer chilling out watching a movie (that ISN'T a road trip type frat boy comedy)while reading or writing, or even just playing on my guitar...is that un-manly? No, just a different type of manly. Some guys drink Blue Light or Coors Light and think they have to because it's manly. I don't always drink beer, but when i do, i prefer Dos Equis (i couldn't resist, but it's actually true in my case), or a martini, or amaretto on the rocks, or something slightly more sophisticated than sucking beer out of such a stereotypical bottle.

My dress is a mix of Musician/rocker attire with a slightly GQ touch (as much as i can afford of course)...a combination many people have commented on, even calling my mix of military cut dress shirts, and skinny ties my "signature" look... but there is always a manly edge to it...so why do i have to wear baggy t-shirts or ball caps to look manly? I don't...

What brought this post on was a recent comment made to me after i mentioned that I had made a stop at Bath and Body works. I mentioned it in passing conversation, and this person, a man of course, stopped me mid sentence to say; "Wait did you say bath and body works?" to which i replied yes....he just looked at me as if i told him i wear high heels on weekends and touch young albino children in their no-no spots. I took immediate interest in his comment asking him why i got the weird look. He replied with "Oh no reason...just wondering if you bought your vagina there too"...

Now, normally i would laugh, which i did a little bit, but it's not like i was watching all my children and flipping through a victoria's secret catalogue. I was at a store purchasing hygiene products to better myself and my lifestyle. Yes, i purchased body wash. yes i purchased hand lotion. Yes, i sampled almost every scent in the store to find the right fragrance for the right room, moment and occasion. And i find absolutely nothing wrong with that...and neither should you.

There is nothing wrong or unmanly about preferring your soap to smell of sweet pea instead of Dial. There is nothing wrong with wanting your bedroom to waft of the scent of fresh bamboo...there is nothing wrong with wanting your hands to have the faint scent of Japanese cherry blossom, or your skin to smell of Sea Island Cotton...it doesn't make you un manly at all. If anything, it makes you MORE manly, and gives you, and people who perceive you the ideal that you actually have some substance, and, dare i say it, some culture!

But no, you run out to your nearest Shoppers Drug mart and buy whatever spike TV tells you to buy...which means you run to the Axe bodywash and body spray section and stock up because you think chicks will fall all over you...but you just end up smelling like a giant douche bag. Although i will admit, the Axe hair products are actually worth the purchase. Here's an idea...get some depth in your life, and start looking at things from different angles...stop buying cologne because it's cheap, and start looking into what smells you enjoy and what smells the best on you...cologne is worth the money spent if you find the one you really enjoy...and don't buy it because of the name...buy it because you LIKE it. Me personally, my fallback scent is Lacoste Essentials...well, for the right occasions of course...i have a very VERY wide selection of colognes for all different things, but that will be another post.

I am a very happily taken man...but i got my lady by just being myself. So for those of you guys reading this that are "manly men" maybe you should realize that the tough guy act isn't what women are always looking for..newsflash, that bad boy thing chicks talk about, yeah that's just a phase...so you might want to reconsider the constant spike tv watching chauvanism.

What i'm getting at is FIND YOURSELF. step out of your head and your ideals of what you think you should be, and just BE. get a manicure if your hands are shot to hell...spend $80on a cologne that makes YOU feel good...try a different type of beer or drink just to see what it's like...buy that shirt you think "isn't me"....wear a fedora...download or buy an album from a band you know NOTHING about. Try cooking yourself dinner...something different...for fuck's sake, LIVE a little bit. Be YOU, stop being what you THINK a man should be!!

Now dammit, GO to Bath and Body works, find 3 smells you like, buy 3 body washes (buy 2 get 1 free!!) and start discovering your hidden self!!