Thanks for Being (Dis)Courteous!

Anyone who knows me fairly well (or, at least, anyone who has added me on Facebook) knows that I have a soft spot for movies. When me and my sister were living together (July 2011 to November 2012) we frequented the cinema no more than 20 times. We know its absurd, but we love it. (And we looove some freshly popped, buttery popcorn.) 

Aside from the movie theaters though, I've also developed a sort of addiction to Redbox. Who honestly hasn't been sucked into renting a movie through them? At $1.20 per night, it's a ridiculously cheap option, especially when compared ALONE to the price of movie tickets. 

My problem though? I never return them the next day! 

I don't know why, honestly; it's not a particularly hard thing to do. I just... Forget.

And so we segue into my story: 

Here I was, with 3 DVDs being rented out more than 2 days ago, driving to the nearest Redbox kiosk to return them.  When I arrive there is a mother and son in front of the machine. Not wanting to crowd the sidewalk -- we were outside a CVS -- I turned off my car and waited for them to finish. Let me repeat that: waited for them to finish. 

Approximately 12.75 seconds later, a larger man, clutching 3 DVDs in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other, comes around the corner and stands behind them. 

From my car, with the driver side window down, I made several observations about this particular individual. 

A.) He was standing very close to this woman and child. 

Now he wasn't grinding up on them or checking their heads for lice, mind you. But this presumable stranger was definitely within touching distance and invading their personal space. 

B.) He was growing visibly pissed off with every passing second. 

I'm talking toe-tapping, exasperated sighs, pacing, excessive wristwatch checking and tongue clicking!

C.) He kept blowing his smoke in their direction, like by doing so  they would leave quicker. 

Who does that?!

When the mother/son duo leave, he angrily deposits his videos and storms off in a huff. 

I checked my dashboard clock: No more than 3 minutes had gone by since he first got in line. 

Now, dear reader, I must ask you: Was that not possibly the most discourteous thing imaginable? 

The world is full of rude individuals. Everyday you see fewer people holding doors open or tipping waiters and help staff. How often do you hear strangers exchange hellos or good-mornings anymore? Some individuals get so caught up in themselves that they forget that there's 7 billion other humans on this planet and each of them deserve the same universal respect and courtesy. 

Be kind and considerate to each other. 

And maybe, just maybe, we'll make the world a better place. One act at a time. 

Thanks for reading. Remember to subscribe to my blog and LIKE it on Facebook!

LIKE Me On Facebook!

Psst!

Hey you!

Yeah, you. On the computer. Reading this blog post.

You should like me on Facebook.

Yeah, you should definitely do that.
See, I might post things on there.

Fun things. Like links and articles and music and YouTube videos.

(Probably a lot of YouTube videos, if I'm being honest.)

Again, you're gonna wanna LIKE this:

And while you're at it, add me as a friend and subscribe to my blog!

Who knows? I might be famous one day and you're gonna wish you were on the bandwagon before now :)

Song of the Day: I'll Be There for You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRpqS9d2f74&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The Fair-Weather Friendship

Have you ever contemplated the friendships you have forged in life? Those special connections you've made with others, regardless of time and location, that never seem to cease from existence? Have you ever stopped for a second and contemplated how those ties came to be? 

In preparation for this post, I made a list of some of the different ways and circumstances I have forged friendships in my life. 

• We went to Church together and therefore spent at least twice a week hanging out at religious functions

• We had similar teachers in school and college and fate brought us together. 

• We were dysfunctional roommates that, for whatever reason, really liked pretending to hate each other in public and yet would spend hours of the night talking about life, our purpose in it and our dreams and aspirations for the future. 

• We were in Band Class and therefore a musical family for life. 

• You took pity on me and my lack of social interactions at Boys State of Virginia.

• None of us knew how to speak Spanish so we formed a study group. 

• We met in a Remedial Algebra Class and connected over our mutual dislike for math. 

• We formed a go-to squad for projects and assignments at Governors School that will forever be known as the "Dream Team". 

• We worked together and spent a portion of the day shooting the breeze, talking about everyone and everything you could possibly talk about while simultaneously keeping up with work demand. 

• We all went to a Halloween Party, spent the better part of an hour taking pictures all around Campus in our costumes, discovered we all had an appreciation for Harry Potter and Snuggies and spent 2 hours bumming WiFi off the freshman dining hall watching half of A Very Potter Musical. 

• You added me on Facebook and we chatted about Random Acts of Kindness, schoolwork and my laundry basket, which you then insisted on seeing in person and we spent another 3 hours just talking about our First Year Worries and Expectations. 

• We would go to Denny's (or IHOP) for a gathering of food, gossip, an account of our life the previous week and our plans, hopes and fears for the future. 

As I looked at this list, I began classify those friends and friendships into a pretty definitive list. Some of my classifications included: 

Millennial Friends: A friend that you may be separated from either, be it time or location, but when you are together it's as if your life was just merely paused while apart and resuming where it left off. 

Facebook Friends: People you know in real life that you can hang out with or speak to on a regular basis but for whatever reason choose to communicate more often via Facebook (through posts, messages, chat, etc.) and never in reality. 

School Mates: The friends you were always connected with in school but, now that you've graduated and moved on in your lives, you hardly hang out or make time to talk. 

For the most part, my classification system only has positive labels. 

But there is one taxonomical category that I reserve for special circumstances. 

Fair-Weather Friend: A friend that only speaks to you when they want something or when it's convenient for them. 

As you read this, you've probably had a few names come to mind for different terms. You may have even started mentally labeling your own relationships! 

I need you to stop that. 

Empty your brain, take out all the preconceived thoughts you've had within the last few moments. Completely drain your mind of bias and get ready for some brutual honesty and truthfulness. 

Because this isn't a post about the friends in your life. 

This is the post where you decide which label you've earned by your friends. 

Think about it: 

• Do you treat your friendships like one-way alleys or two-way streets? 

• Do you think you're dependable and responsible enough to be called upon by some of your friends? Or are you never considered because you're flakier than Kellogg's cereal? 

• Do you ever think to yourself, "I could probably call so-and-so today..." but always cast the thought aside because you can never make the time to do so?

• When was the last time you reconnected -- and I mean really reconnected -- with an old classmate?

• How many of those cyber friends do you see in reality and how often do you actually strike up casual conversation with them? 

• In short, would you want to be friends with yourself? Because as I'm writing this, I can't help but think I'd hate being my friend!

Our lives are short and relatively unknown. Death comes unannounced and Life has some pretty wicked ways of knocking us around. We constantly find ourselves shuffling between moments of clarity and periods of turmoil. 

But when we have people stand with us in those moments of uncertainty, to help stabilize our resolve and foundations, sometimes that makes all the difference. 

So, what's the lesson of the day? Be the friend you want to have. Because when you need someone to support you in times of trouble, you're gonna want to have a group to call upon and not be left to your own devices. 

Song of the Day: Gold

Listen to the song here!

Thoughts on Legacy

"If tonight was your last night on Earth, what would you do?" 

This question kept sneaking into my mind during work and Church today and I thought to myself, "HEY! Take a break from editing that novel of yours and write a post about this!"

So I started writing. 

During my little brainstorm of how to address this topic,  a parade of similar questions came to mind:

• If I kicked the bucket, what would I be remembered for?

• Would it be good, bad or indifferent?

• Who would mourn my passing and who would celebrate?

• Would people actually come to my funeral?

• Ten years after my death, would I still be remembered? 

And as I let these questions bubble inside, I realized that the if I died right now, I wouldn't have much to applaud about; my legacy, so to speak, isn't very grand. 

I feel as though I have lived a life of adequate importance. There were moments where I felt like I've been instrumental in helping individuals and there were times when I definitely obstructed the progression of others. Some opportunities that were given to me I squandered; others I never received, though I certainly felt entitled to them. So if the good Lord decided it was time for me to return home, I hope and pray that He's as infinitely merciful as Christianity makes Him out to be and, like Santa Claus, He overlooks my shortcomings and still gives me great presents. 

But, despite all of that, I have to remind myself that I am HUMAN! By definition: a mortal and finite body of flesh and bones that, by some miraculous event of creation (whether you believe it to be science-based or by the Grace of God) has gained life and can breathe and walk around and think on its own. 

That's pretty amazing! 

But the greatest thing about being human: there is only one of me. In all the 7 billion current inhabitants of Planet Earth and the innumerable ones of the past, there is only ONE person that looks, acts, and feels the same way I feel and there will never be another "me" after I'm gone. 

So if I never publish a book, or record an award-winning song, or go back to college, or have a family, I still have the legacy of being the only Michael Tracy Armstrong in the universe. It may not be a Guinness World Record or a honorable mention in a history or text book, but it's good enough for me and certainly makes my life feel worth it. 

So the next time you're feeling down on yourself, stop for a moment, close your eyes, and remind your brain that you are the only "you" there has been and will ever be. 

You are a legacy unto yourself, so make the most of it. 

Song of the Day: Wake Me Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_KJAg8bHI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This is the main song I listened to while writing While I Was Sleeping. Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do!

Post NaNoWriMo Report

The fading of July into August not only heralded the birthday of my favorite author (J.K. Rowling) but also signified the end of my time at Camp NaNoWriMo! 

(For those of you who are not sure what NanNoWriMo is I advise you to see my previous blog post and that will explain it a little bit further.)

So after 31 days of grueling typing and writing and typing and energy drinks and more typing, I have the final report:

Word Count Goal: 25,000

Total Word Count: 32,306

Pages: 58 (single-spaced)

Chapters: at least 15

To save some time answering everyone's questions about my story, I've prepared a little Q&A.  

Q: What is your novel called?

A: While I Was Sleeping

Q: What's it about? 

A: Ever wonder what happens when someone's in a coma? This is my take on that scenario. It's an adventure in the mind of one person who wakes up outside his body. It was so much fun writing it and I'm glad to finally share that with more than my family. 

Q: Is your novel finished?

A: No it is not. Although I have the final 3ish chapters written, I currently feel as though I rushed to the end because I saw the "The End" so close and just threw something together. Lots of revisions and plot thickening will ensue in the next few weeks. 

Q: How can you have "at least" 15 chapters?

A: Confession: I wrote my novel out of order. The ending came first, then the beginning, and then I wrote up a lot of scenes in the middle and kinda sequenced them where I felt they needed to happen. 

I literally copied and pasted sections of writing together into the single document I used to keep my word count.  So when I say approximately 15, it should really say 15 complete chapters and an undetermined amount of half chapters. 

Q: Will you let people read it? 

A: ... Umm, would somebody actually want to read it?

I've actually been giving it a lot of thought and I think I've come up with an idea: 

3 lucky individuals will receive a PDF with the first 4-5 chapters of WIWS after I complete some revisions. After which, when I get general feedback and tips, I will post the file on here so the rest of you may read and enjoy as well. 

Q: How will you pick 3 winners?

A: Good question... Contest ideas anyone? Send me a message, leave a note in the comments, something! I'll look them over and pick one to try out. 

Until that time, it will probably be quiet on the blog. But worry not! I'll be back soon with more rants and random thoughts. 

Song of the Day: Unwritten

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7k0a5hYnSI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

(Not Another Confessions Post!) and Some Minor News

Confession Post #3: I want to write/publish a book at some point in my life. 

Something big is happening this July for me...

Every year, during the month of November, I've attempted to compete in NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. You sign up at their website and for the 30 days of November you attempt to write 50,000+ words towards your novel, logging in your word count every day. 

Well this year, I've decided to compete in Camp NaNoWriMo and do the same thing but for the whole month of July! Exciting, right?  

So... 

Where do you guys fit into this? 

I need cheerleaders/support to make it through the 31 days! I want you guys to be on me, asking me if I've written anything yet, and just general "how's it going?" because its a month and a lot of crazy things can happen in a four/five week time period. 

What will I be writing about you may ask? I cannot say too much on it (I have a tendency to do a lot of talk and not a lot of writing when I discuss projects) but I will say it is NOT a paranormal romance and it DOES NOT involve wizards or a magic school. Aside from that, I cannot confirm or deny the existence  of some sci-fi material. My lips are sealed! 

But who knows? Maybe I'll let a few of you guys read it and give feedback! ;) 

Thanks everyone in advance and have a good day! 

Song of the Day: Hard to Say I'm Sorry

Watch Here

ANOTHER Apology...

Sorry for the radio silence everybody! Things have been getting kinda busy here and I've been dealing with some personal drama for a bit. 

But, never fear! I'm back and hopefully this will become a bit more consistent. Apologies again for the delay in everything! 

Posting Thoughts

I have always had one rule with this blog: Never set a goal with posting!

In the beginning, I appeared to post something up every other day. In actuality, all of my ideas just happened to form back to back in that time!

Now that isn't to say I'm not always THINKING of ideas to share here! In fact, I have about 3 drafts saved of blog posts that ARE written, just not quite ready for the final publishing. This process can take a bit of time (my last post on nicknames has been floating in my brain since February 18th) but I feel a lot better knowing I'm putting up something I thoroughly believe in instead of piecing together something that appears half-baked and not fully developed.

So that's my logic on posting :)

Song of the Day : Wonderful

Watch "Gary Go - Wonderful" on YouTube

The Etymological Inquiry: An Onion Approach

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." - William Shakespeare.

I've been pondering this quote in the back of my mind for some time now. What's in a name?

Names define things. They give individuals purpose and meaning. My parents once told me they named me Michael because of the legacy of past Michaels and their contributions to society, hoping they would inspire me to do great things as well.

Family names serve as reminders of the past, like a piece of history that pervades the passage of time. If my significant other allows me, I would like to name my firstborn son Kenton, an amalgam of Kent Christensen and Tony Armstrong, who were my uncles before they passed on from this life at young ages.

We use nicknames to identify particular individuals when other distinguishing features seem to fall short. When I was at Boys State of Virginia I was known as "Faren" because I was afflicted with pharyngitis at the time. 5 years later, the nickname still prevails with some individuals (shout out to Josh Rivers. Miss you man!)

And then there are the cruel names we use for the despicable honor of offending others:

Retard. Fag. Slut. And those are just characteristic names. We have derogatory expressions for whole races, religious groups, even occupations! The list grows exponentially as time goes on.

It's pretty sad that most of these words have a home in each of our lexicons, finding their way out into the world by our verbal actions and insults. I myself never realized how casually I threw around some of these terms until a friend pointed it out recently.

Why?

We can list several reasons for it, but at the end of the day, do any of them matter? Do they ever make it right or okay to use?

I'm reminded of an analogy a co-worker once told me:

Imagine if a person were an onion. The layers of their skin is their defense against the world, sheltering it from harm and danger. Now imagine that with every hurtful action caused against them, a layer of skin sheds off. An onion has many layers, but eventually it will run out of protection and be left with the core; their very soul, if you will. And once you strike the core, you destroy the plant.

Ask yourself: Am I actively seeking to destroy someone? Or do I occasional stab them just because I can?

Song of the Day: When I See You Smile

Watch "Bad English - When I See You Smile" on YouTube

Song of the Day: Not Now But Soon

Watch "Imogen Heap - Not Now But Soon (With Lyrics)" on YouTube

CTS - Choosing to Smile

There's something to be said about those select individuals who choose to be happy.

You see them all the time:

The woman who always waves to you as you walk into work.

The guy that allows you to cut in front of him in the grocery line even though he has less items to scan.

The countless people that hold the door for you or "bless you" when you sneeze.

Today, I salute you and your longstanding fight against unhappiness.

Too often we let ourselves live in a world of checklists and routines, saying "These are the things that need to get done today," and everything else we push to the side thinking we will get to them eventually. But then life comes by unannounced and makes us add even more to our list and our "eventuals" become "nevers" because we can't make the time or effort to let them occur, causing disappointment and sadness.

I think we need to be more like our aforementioned friends and crusade against those natural feelings. They say happiness is a choice. So I challenge you to a day of CTS (Choosing to Smile)!

Think about it: If one smile can change your mood, what can it do to others? If you smiled to 3 people and they smiled to 3 people, who's to say we can't start a chain reaction of happiness that spans worldwide?

So be the spark that lights the fire! Choose to smile! :)

An Apology is In Order

So it's officially been over 2 weeks since my last post...

In my defense: My birthday photos keep crashing the Blogger app I use for my blog, so that has frustrated me to no end. And this past weekend I was in the wedding party for my older sister and, as you know, weddings bring out the stress in people.

So please take my most humble of apologies and forgive me of my absence. Hopefully I can make posts more regularly from now on.

PS. I have postponed my 22 Acts of Service Recap post for the time being. It will happen eventually; not now, but soon.

Almost Done Everyone!

My extreme blogging will commence at midnight but until then I can't seem to upload any of my pics on here :(
If you are friends with me on Facebook you can see my actions so far but until then please be patient with me as I try to sort it out.

Song of the Day: It's Time

Watch "Imagine Dragons - It's Time" on YouTube

Game Day Everybody!

It's almost 5am and my right arm is pulsing with caffeine and pain from writing my address a bajillion times but I am ready for today.

It's time.

Pre-Game Thoughts: Why a Day of Service?

Ladies and gentlemen, we are so close I can taste it. :)

But in all seriousness I am a bundle of nerves today. I've got about 3 more cards to finish, some bird feeders to create, and finish the final touches on my artpiece. (Who knew melting crayons would be so fun?)

But as my birthday comes closer I can't help but wonder to myself: why am I doing this? And the more I've pondered about it the more I've realized the reason.

-cue the violins-

My mother is possibly the most blessed women in the world, and not because she has me as a son.

In the early fall of 2011, my mother was admitted to Winchester Medical Center due to complications with her breathing/oxygenation. She was put under almost immediately upon arrival  and spent 5 days on a ventilator and another 10 days staying in the ICU.

After 17 total days in the hospital she returned home, spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with our family.

On New Years Eve she was admitted again and spent 19 days in the hospital.

(You see where this is going, right?)

So when my birthday came around a month later, the last thing on anyone's mind was celebrating.

You would think that after enduring that I would be more grateful for my mother and care less about my birthday, but sadly that was not the case.

I distinctly remember being really angry and hateful. This was MY birthday after all. Why couldn't it be normal?

Its amazing how much we can grow up in a year.

So, this year I figured I would do penitent service to offset my terrible mood last year.

Is that a good enough reason?

Quick Service Update!

Thought I'd share some of my progress with you all so far. 2/5 of the handmade cards are complete and I have one work of art done as well. Moving along quite nicely if I do say so myself. One week left till my birthday. Will I make it?

The Official "22 Acts of Service" List

It's the moment you've all been waiting for! Here is the official list:

1. Leave quarters at a laundromat - For the first year I lived in Winchester I had to depend on the laundromat to get my clothes clean. And you can easily drop about $15 - 20 to finish every load. So just a few dollars in quarters taped to a machine can help offset some of that burden.
2. Donate used books to a library - I actually have a stack of books on the corner of my room that have only been read once and will probably never be opened again. So this way I can give them a chance at being read more than once.
3. Pay the tab for someone behind me - A lot of the sites I looked at for ideas had this one. And how awesome would it be to pull up to the cashier in a McDonalds drive-thru and be told that your meal was covered?
4. Feed parking meters - The Parking Authority in Winchester is notorious for giving tickets due to "hungry" meters so I figured another little bag of coins to be spread out throughout the day would be a fun idea.
5. Leave pennies on a playground/anywhere for children/adults to find - As a child, finding a penny was the equivalent to being a millionaire! So I'm gonna spread some of that wealth around as well. And you know what they say: "Find a penny, pick it up / And all day long you'll have good luck"
6. Donate to a local food pantry - This one is a service classic but what are the classics for if they aren't enjoyed once in a while?
7. Write a thank-you letter to someone who inspires you - A letter may be heading your way!
8. Return shopping carts from the parking lot to the cart corral - This is actually a pet peeve of mine. Nothing worse then a cart left 3 feet from the corral or a couple yards from the entrance.
9. Send flowers anonymously to someone in the hospital - Another given, but I thought it would be really sweet. Especially if they haven't received visitors for a while.
10. Compose a poem for someone and share it with them - I'll actually be randomly choosing one of my Facebook friends to be the recipient of said poem.
11. Make a bird feeder to be hung in the park - Relatively easy project that I thought would add a lot of character to the local park.
12. Bring in a special treat for my co-workers - Though I have scheduled to have February 11th off, I will be working that morning because I work night shift that month. So to my co-workers reading this -- You have also been warned!
13. Draw/Paint/Color a picture for someone - Another randomly chosen Facebook friend will receive a art piece signed my moi.
14. Tweet 5 individuals who are having a #badday and send them a "hope your day gets better" message - I actually took this idea from UK YouTube-Star Carrie Hope Fletcher (itswaypastmybedtime).
15. Hide $10 in the dollar store - I just like the idea of someone stumbling upon money in the dollar store!
16. Leave change for the vending machine - Another typical service idea but worth having on here anyway.
17. Make/Send handmade cards - I actually have people in mind for this one but either way it will be fun to hear from them anyway.
18. Leave a gift for the Mail Carrier - Even the heroes of all things postal deserve a treat once in a while!
19. Hand out gum to strangers - I saw a picture someone posted of them randomly taping packs of gum to people's cars so I thought it would be a cool thing to also reciprocate.
20. Visit a graveyard - I like the symbolism of this more than anything. Looking back at the past while striving towards the future. Maybe I'll bring some flowers as well.
21. Call up someone you haven't talked to in a while - I'm going to attempt to reconnect with an old friend. Will keep you posted on that!
22. Post pictures and blog about it - Yes folks, there will be pictures and documentation of all 21 aforementioned service projects to be posted at the end of the day.

So do you guys think I can complete all of these in 24 hours? Leave your comments below. And, last but not least, have a great day!

Song of the Day - Relax, Take It Easy

Watch "MIKA - Relax, Take It Easy" on YouTube

Mental Health Day

So about this time I would normally be into my 2nd hour of work but today I'm lounging about in my BYU Snuggie watching endless hours of Netflix.

I put in a vacation day at work, hoping to get some things done and go back home and see my folks.

Then came the flurries...

The snow falling outside has really put a damper on my plans for a vacation day but as I'm popping another bag of popcorn and enjoying myself for the first time in a while, I can't really argue a better way to spend an afternoon.

Somedays we just get caught up in life. We are constantly striving towards that next pay check or that next quiz, slaving away at work or school, feeling like every part of our being is constantly in motion and if we stop, even for a moment, the balance of the universe will be disrupted.

Breathe for a moment.

Maybe you need to look back on your Brainflix and playback some positive memories.

Or maybe you just need to ask yourself permission -- just for one day -- to not be the responsible person and enjoy yourself.

Tomorrow the roads will be clearer and I can safely navigate my way back home and finish everything i intended. And come Monday I will resume my usual work schedule of 3pm to 11pm.

But today, for just today, I will take a mental health break. And love every second of it.

Song of the Day: Something's Coming

Watch "Something's coming - Glee [HD Full Studio]" on YouTube

QUICK UPDATE!

Haven't posted in a while so I figured I'd just write a quick update.

Right now I'm still finalizing my 22 acts of service. I'll post my official list on the first of February for all to see.

In other news, I've reached over a thousand page views! Whoo! Not quite sure how to celebrate that but if you guys have any suggestions feel free to leave them in the comments!

Thanks again and I'll talk to you all later!

ISO Service Ideas

My 22nd birthday will be here in less than a month and I haven't got the slightest idea how to celebrate it.
I kid you not, I actually Googled "birthday ideas" and allow sorts of randomness came up... you try it; I dare you.
But the one idea I liked the most was the "(insert your age here) acts of kindness." Throughout your birthday day, you would complete the acts of kindness, ending the day one year older and on a service high.
The only problem with this is: I need to come up with 22 different acts of kindness to do!
This is where you, my dear readers, come in.
Help me have the best birthday EVAH by giving me ideas and suggestions! Send them via Facebook or email and I will happily compile it together and give everyone a preview of the list before my birthday.
Let's do this!

Song of the Day: Feeling Good

Watch "Michael Buble - Feeling Good" on YouTube

Results and Perspective

So I actually completed my assignment yesterday and I have to say: it was AMAZING!

You know how some days things just seem to fit in place all nice and perfect? That's what yesterday was like, only it was real. 'Twas incredible.

So this whole exercise made me think about my perspective over the last few days in a whole new light and I realized something: your outlook going into situations  really can influence you for good or for worse.

After the events of Wednesday evening, I had already gone to that place of anger.  No amount of Brainflix could've salvaged that because I had already chosen to be angry. And, as a result, the rest of my  Wednesday grew terrible as well.

Last time I let that happen!

In the great words of Professor Dumbledore from A Very Potter Musical, "The audience will be cheering for you or the dragon, but either way they'll be making some noise."

Perspective is key.

Have a good day everyone!

Song of the Day: Bad Day

Watch "Daniel Powter - Bad Day (The Best Video)" on YouTube

Oy Vey...

So I promised you guys a report on my day of challenges yesterday and I'm sorry to say it went terribly.

Remember how I said that everyone is statistically going to have at least one bad day? Yesterday I confirmed it.

It all started in the car...

It's always the car ride to work, never the ride back. Why is that?

It's 2:30, school is being let out and cars are everywhere filled with people trying to get home it seems. (Am I the only crazy person who's traveling to work at this time?)

When all of a sudden someone pulls out in front of me!

Grr...

I honestly thought to myself "I won't let this person ruin my day." but it became a chain reaction of events from there.

The exact details of the reaction are unimportant but I think it's safe to say that I did not make or take sincere compliments yesterday.

So what is the lesson? 

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

So I had a bad day... it happens. I'm human and I'm bound to screw up sometimes and let my anger get the best of me. And just because i do leave my anger unchecked doesn't necessarily mean I need to continue screwing up though, right?

So let's pretend yesterday never happened and today's a new day, okay? :)

I'll post my results tomorrow! Have a great day!

A Challenge of WILL and WON'T

As much as I love to dwell in reality, sometimes I fantasize that I'm a drifter -- untamed and unbound by emotions or human ties. I like to think that I'm unpredictable and mysterious.

But with fantasy aside, the truth is I know myself too well.

I know that I will always put off doing laundry until the last minute because I have extra clothes. They may not even fit right or be the nicest looking, but I know I have them and will wear them out before I wash anymore.

I know that I will always put the emergency brake up when I park a car, much to the annoyance of anyone who drives after me.

I know that I will, at some point today, say the phrase "you learn something new every day" because I always do.

And yet, on the flipside, I also know some not-so-great things about myself.

I know I will curse while driving down the road because of something another car/driver did.

I know that I will probably not get out of bed until an hour or so before I leave for work.

I know that I will more than likely doubt myself or my abilities at least once.

You are the world's greatest authority on yourself. After all, who knows your habits or mannerisms better than you? At times it may take others pointing them out before we notice them ourselves, but for the most part you are the only one who truly understands the reasons why you do the things you do.

So today I'm going to try something new. Seeing as I know what I will do, I am going to challenge myself to do things I normally don't do.

Today I will smile more. (Apparently I grimace. A lot.)

Today I will strike up a conversation with someone I have never spoken to. (Most days I keep to myself.)

Today I will make and accept sincere compliments. (A tough one for myself.)

I will report back tomorrow on my success or failure. Until then, have a good day everyone!

Call Your Girlfriend - Our cover

Watch "Call Your Girlfriend" on YouTube

Confession Post #2: The Voice

Hey guys! So I had a friend come up and hang out yesterday. We spent most of Sunday contemplating whether or not to clean out Five Below's entire inventory and recorded some of the most hysterical videos on her Mac webcam.

But the coolest thing we did was an acapella cover of "Call Your Girlfriend" by Robyn.

I've put a link in a separate post. Go there now and watch it!

We're pretty awesome, right?

Confession #2: For a long time, I actually hated listening to myself sing or talk.

Growing up I can remember a lot of times were I was teased by other kids for sounding like a girl when I both spoke and sang.

Can you think of a more brutal way to criticize someone?

I mean, there are lots of little things I can do to change myself over time.

Bad breath? Gum or mouthwash.

Body odor? Shower/bath/deodorant.

Unibrow? Shave/wax it off.

Unsightly mole? Surgically remove it.

The sound of my voice though? Umm... I'm not sure how to remedy that one except by vowing to never speak or sing in public ever again.

Confession #3: Although I've done church choirs pretty much all of my life, when my family moved to Virginia in 2002, I didn't publicly solo or duet for 6 years.

I actually really liked singing and I purposely kept it hidden for that long all because a handful of people didn't likely the way I sounded.

The ONLY reason I finally busted out of that crazy way of thinking was due in part to 2 girls who found out that a.) I could sing and b.) Encouraged/forced/supported me.

So when the school talent show came along my Junior year I found myself on stage singing "A Whole New World."

And believe me, it was definitely a whole new world to me: people actually liked listening to me!

After that, I went on and performed in two musicals and recorded a lot of Brainflix videos that I will cherish forever.

So what about you guys? Is there any part of you that you used to dislike or keep hidden? Share it with me so I don't feel alone!

And who knows? Maybe someone else will benefit from it also!

Song of the Day: Little Wonders

Watch "Rob Thomas Little Wonders Official Music HD Video lyrics + download YouTube" on YouTube

Hi Everyone. My Name Is Michael and I'm an Addict

This is really hard for me to admit to people.

I hate people looking down on me for things I can't control. So this is partly why I've always kept this to myself. The shame of people finding out and mocking me is almost too much. But the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.  So here it goes...

There are only a handful of things in this world that bring me joy: my family, music, my friends, and... Pokèmon

My name is Michael and I'm a recovering Pokèholic.

Whew... that feels better already.

It's true. I like Pokèmon just a little too much to just stop playing. It was cool in elementary school until about 5th grade, when everyone abandoned their virtual teammates for real sports.

But not me.

I continued my obsession into middle and high school. If my dislike for organized sports involving a ball was deemed "ridiculous" by some, I can only imagine what they might've thought about me secretly playing Pokèmon into the dead of night.

Now why do I like a game that is geared towards adolescent pre-teens? For one because the storyline is an awesome/completely crazy concept. How many mothers would let their 10 year old children travel the world accompanied by a team of six monsters summoned by throwing out a mechanical ball? Seriously, it was like my childhood dream to battle adults and bad guys alike for the honor and glory of becoming the greatest Pokèmon Master in the world.

But honestly I think I go back to Pokèmon because it reminds me of simpler times.

When I was carefree and naive...

Before I was expected to work full-time and pay taxes and contribute to society...

It's just a small reminder that even in all the hustle of life, I can still be amazed and filled with childlike wonder when I play a game.

Now that I've confessed to my addiction, what about you? Is there something in your life that some feel you've outgrown but you cling to because it reminds you of your childhood? Respond in the comments!

And until next time, have a good day!

Song of the Day: Keep Your Head Up

Watch "Andy Grammer - Keep Your Head Up" on YouTube

Brainflix to the Rescue!

I love most aspects of my life. I have a great job, a loving and supportive family, some awesome friends/coworkers and a metabolism that still allows me to eat whatever I want and not gain weight. But there is one thing I do not like:

My subconscious inability to let go of the past.

I imagine it like a black storm cloud that hangs above me all the time, like a proverbial sword of Damocles poised to fall and strike.

Which it does occasionally.

I could be reading a book, alone and totally absorbed in the story when it happens. No warning or early detection. Just a thought or a memory of the past that attempts to divert my attention.

Most days they come, irritate me and leave just as quickly as they arrive...

But somedays it feels like a single spot in my head that doesn't allow my brain the authority to call security.

Last night I had one of those instances.

I was working when I was reminded of the time when my family moved to Virginia. I was a shy kid, didn't know a single soul (aside from my little sister) in our new elementary school and everyone in Virginia talked with a funny accent!

Needless to say, I didn't speak much my first day. I ignored direct questions, I kept to myself and when I arrived home that day I realized that I had acted pretty dumb. After all, how was anyone going to get to know me if I didn't speak?

So the next day I decided I was going to be more open and actually hold conversations and answer questions about my previous life before Virginia...

But you only get to make a first impression once and most of the school had written me off as "the silent guy." It took me a few days to have anyone besides a teacher speak to me and it was all my own doing.

This single memory has the most profound effect on me because it very well could have shaped my entire future in that school system. What if I had answered those questions on the first day? What if I chose not to be loner? How different would my life have turned out?

Last night I asked myself those same questions for the millionth time and my response was the same: Time for Brainflix!

Like my own personal Netflix, I have, in my mind, one of the largest collections of on-demand videos ever assembled via memories. It has a little bit of everything: high school coming of age stories, dramas and a large quantity of musicals and comedies.  And without all of my life experiences and crazy misadventures, how could I have ever accumulated such a collection?

Last night, I replayed my high school concerts and performances in band, my stint as an actor in drama, crossing the finish line to my first race in track and my graduation day. No matter how differently my life could've been, I wouldn't trade these memories for all the money in the world.

So my storm cloud disappeared to do battle again another time. And when it does, I will be ready with popcorn.

It is inevitable that everyone will have at least one bad day in their life. And in those instances, when the very forces of karma and nature are attempting to drag you down, what will you battle them with? For myself, I choose Brainflix.

Song of the Day: Do You Hear the People Sing?

Watch "Les Misérables Soundtrack - Do You Hear The People Sing OST- with lyrics" on YouTube

Hello World! Hear My Voice!

Hi everyone. My name is Michael and I'm a 21-going-on-22 year old guy living in Virginia. I work full-time and I have no life outside of it... Sad right?

The main thing I wanted to do with this blog is just express my take on current events, my own life, and just those CRRRAAAAAAAZZYYY thoughts that linger in the back of my mind.

I've never been one to rock the boat, or speak out of turn or do anything out of the social norm. And after twenty-something years of feeling unheard, I figured it was time to start speaking.

I recently saw "Les Miserables" in theater and the concept of this blog started to form in the back of my mind. For those of you unfamiliar with the story I would recommend checking out Wikipedia or Google for synopses on the book and musical . As the movie progressed I was kneen to watch one particular musical number.

Do You Hear the People Sing?

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

As the young revolutionists sang this song, an idea came to me.

One voice.

One voice said they did not want oppression.

One voice spoke when everyone else stood silent.

And from one voice, one idea emerged and a whole nation rebelled.

In this world filled where the people are free but not always heeded, how often do we speak up to state what is wrong?

When you see a fellow co-worker or a classmate or just a passerby on the street being singled out and harassed, which of us stands up for them?

When a tragedy hits do we sit by and watch the media coverage or do we answer the call to arms and help in whatever way we can?

But most importantly: Would we give up our life for speaking up?

Do YOU hear the people sing?

Maybe we should all listen more closely...