Have you ever found yourself digging into your parents past belongs only to find something that screams "perfect" for you??
I've been doing some treasure hunting myself for such items. You don't have to pay for these objects and they have a bit of related history woven into them. Win-win am I right?
In my findings, I came across an awesome coat. It's a bit of a fixer upper with some missing buttons and accessories but it is do-able. It is my size and is exactly what I've been looking for to keep me snug and suave against the chilly city air I will be encountering on New Years Eve (That's right I'll be partying it up in NYC this year!). "Cheers big ears!" As my old friend Nick would say. So now, I'm prepared to be stranded somewhere at an odd hour clenching a hidden champagne glass close while being as toasty as a sheep in a microwave-oven.
It's funny how much thought and consideration goes into one night of partying. Least for me, I don't get out much. I'm bound to a keyboard, guitar, or my pillow. Who needs friends right?
I do...
Going back to my new discovery, I wonder why my parents are not wearing such awesome looking coats and garments anymore? Is this a phase that they went through at my age? The age of expedition to find a voice and to dress to swoon the audience? Well, I hope a volcano rockets me into space before I become old and attain a lackluster appeal towards my own appearance.
But it makes me think, if this coat fits me so well now as it did for my father; what happened when he got older? And will I progress in a similar way? DADS SHOULD NOT WEAR TENNIS SHOES TO THE BEACH —I'M SORRY.
To the future me:
If you are reading this reminiscing on how awesome you are. Please tell me that you are not wearing tennis shoes to such areas. If you are, this is obviously a parallel timeline in-which i grew up to be a shoobie.
Regards,
Past-Joe
Oh, and here is a video of my brother making "jack'd frost" the athletically built snowman after his daily run. Watch till the end for pictures of the end result!
12.19.2013
12.12.2013
The Personality of Cities
I was strolling along Manhattan the other day in the wrong direction, as usual. The snow was beating against my sad, limp excuse for an umbrella as i used it to shield my face from the headwind. I got lost in China town again, and I managed to use the most unnecessarily expensive route via the subway because every time I thought I was close to my destination I got off only to realize that I was far as fuck.
But like any city I'm not accustomed to, the transportation becomes muscle memory with routine use. This is assuming I have muscles (I hardly believe it myself, but I do!). During my stay in Tokyo, I noticed the city was planned out with various side streets that led to more side streets on the sides of streets. You can gain your bearings pretty easily for routes you frequent. But— that is only a select few areas. I've wandered over 4 hours through Tokyo suburbs at night following the wrong set of train tracks with a beer and cigarette to light my way. I considered sleeping in a playground and feared i would startle locals in the area. Luckily, I scrounged up some broken Japanese to ask a police officer standing outside his outpost how to get home. He put his guard up when I approached him initially until he realized I was lost and trying to get home. He proceeded to happily pull out a map and gave me directions (THAT I UNDERSTOOD!). And the second time, well, I don't know why I thought I knew where I was going after my first journey. This was the flaw of going out in a city that shuts down their trains in the early hours of the next day.
There is also another thing that brews in highly populated areas, and that is the strange. Maybe not necessarily strange —more different. It seems that it is in human nature to try and prove one's unique ability; ranging from, the ostentatious fashion to the projecting personality. Some people seem to dislike being categorized as ants buzzing around doing ant things.
Or cat things
That being said, I am one of those people (not a master cat trainer unfortunately). I desperately try to stand out otherwise I have this gut feeling of being lost inside humanity. I don't want to be a grain of sand in the hourglass, I want to be the one staring at it from the outside. This is why i love to create. It is an ability to say "Hey i'm something" and even if it is a small something... it's better than nothing.
However, not everyone wants to show off. Introverts exist in the background of all our lives. They peacefully try to co-exist in-between the big acts. Carefully crafting their own little worlds for themselves to live in.
Do I think everyone needs to prove something? No, not unless they want to prove something. I have my own reasons for doing what I do. Don't you?
It is up to all of us to lead our own lives. I think the biggest thing I've learned by living is that...you should be living for whatever it is you enjoy. Not what someone else enjoys, not what you "should" enjoy, but what makes your face flicker in content and passion. Even if that means letting cats perch upon your head in public.
-Joe
But like any city I'm not accustomed to, the transportation becomes muscle memory with routine use. This is assuming I have muscles (I hardly believe it myself, but I do!). During my stay in Tokyo, I noticed the city was planned out with various side streets that led to more side streets on the sides of streets. You can gain your bearings pretty easily for routes you frequent. But— that is only a select few areas. I've wandered over 4 hours through Tokyo suburbs at night following the wrong set of train tracks with a beer and cigarette to light my way. I considered sleeping in a playground and feared i would startle locals in the area. Luckily, I scrounged up some broken Japanese to ask a police officer standing outside his outpost how to get home. He put his guard up when I approached him initially until he realized I was lost and trying to get home. He proceeded to happily pull out a map and gave me directions (THAT I UNDERSTOOD!). And the second time, well, I don't know why I thought I knew where I was going after my first journey. This was the flaw of going out in a city that shuts down their trains in the early hours of the next day.
There is also another thing that brews in highly populated areas, and that is the strange. Maybe not necessarily strange —more different. It seems that it is in human nature to try and prove one's unique ability; ranging from, the ostentatious fashion to the projecting personality. Some people seem to dislike being categorized as ants buzzing around doing ant things.
Or cat things
That being said, I am one of those people (not a master cat trainer unfortunately). I desperately try to stand out otherwise I have this gut feeling of being lost inside humanity. I don't want to be a grain of sand in the hourglass, I want to be the one staring at it from the outside. This is why i love to create. It is an ability to say "Hey i'm something" and even if it is a small something... it's better than nothing.
However, not everyone wants to show off. Introverts exist in the background of all our lives. They peacefully try to co-exist in-between the big acts. Carefully crafting their own little worlds for themselves to live in.
Do I think everyone needs to prove something? No, not unless they want to prove something. I have my own reasons for doing what I do. Don't you?
It is up to all of us to lead our own lives. I think the biggest thing I've learned by living is that...you should be living for whatever it is you enjoy. Not what someone else enjoys, not what you "should" enjoy, but what makes your face flicker in content and passion. Even if that means letting cats perch upon your head in public.
-Joe
12.05.2013
Commuter Daze
The other night I stepped outside to go to work dressed like
I sheared a herd of alpacas and rolled around their fur covered in honey. Only to notice, how astonishingly warm it was
out. IT IS TIME TO BREAK OUT THE JORTS
(which, if you Google, will lead you to a pretty established hate group).
My commute is not grand as others. It is in fact boring and littered with
fond police folk. Yet, on cold days it
seems I have to either bring along my bedding or utilize the hover method to
keep my ass from freezing to the decaying thing, once called a leather seat, beneath me. For those who don’t know
the hover method, think of a dirty public toilet.
My plan was pretty foolproof. Cold days became more of a
routine manner. I wake-up, dress, grab lunch, brew choice of hot beverage and then
go! Sometimes, I’ll also have a hot minute to
evaluate my life in the mirror but then disregard it all because OH MY GOD WHY
THE FUCK AM I STILL GETTING ACNE. And I spite
the little red bastard by shaking my angry fist at it. It responds by throbbing and I lose. Anyway,
the routine was foolproof aside from
the fact that I do not own a travel mug and I rather make my life as difficult
as possible by driving stick shift with a piping hot coffee clenched between my
thighs. Yes, I’ve spilled numerous times on
myself. Only dribbles here and there. It was never as bad as when I dropped an entire cup as I sat down one cold evening and my entire thigh region lit up in
a vapor of steaming hot coffee. I did
not know those tones of pain could be articulated by my mouth, but I continue
to surprise myself.
This brings me to a point of reflection. Am I stupid for repeating this same action
over and over again even though it has literally burnt me enough times that I should spend 2$ for a travel sized mug? Or is this a metaphor for my dream-chaser
attitude in life? Is this why the government can't pass needed laws or amends? Or am I just expanding
this issue so it doesn’t sound like I’m too lazy to buy myself a mug? Maybe mugs will be my priority when I’m 30.
So, my question for you to think about:
Is there something you've always intended to attain, and have the
means of doing so, but never ever
get around to it?
Because if you are lost, those are the best presents (not
that I’m insinuating you to get me a travel mug, but…that would actually be nice!)
-Joe
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