Here goes nuthin'

Today, I leave the happy confines of my parent's place
just south of the Berkshires.
No more home-cooked meals
or morning runs with pops.
No more relaxing.
Time to do the work again.
Time unsheathe my weapon of choice,
my pen.
Time to shine.
Today, I leave for Chicago.
And I'm looking forward to it.

CHARLES SCHULTZ PHILOSOPHY

I read about this on some blog somewhere and thought it was interesting.
It kind of keeps things in perspective. Ya know, just life in general.

Just read straight through, and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

(Charles Schultz)

--Happy Creating

This commercial I dedicate to me.

Damn the writer who did these.
Bless the writer for inspiring me.

I wrote and shared this in class today.

Sometimes the candy-coating tastes better
By Kris Kennedy

There he is
Candy-coated Kris
With his candy-coated shell,
Such a sweet guy
Sweet like candy
Pay him no mind.
He’s just a treat
A sweet treat
Just a buck deep
He doesn’t mind.
He’s nice
So nice
Easy and free.
I can see him going far in life,
He’s just so charismatic.
He's gonna be somebody.

Please pardon me, but fuck that.
Please don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.
Politeness as invitation to speak your mind
And not expect anything in return.
Don’t mistake my nonchalant-ness for some silly snot-nosed kid
Who doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about
Or takes things lightly
Or breathes in good air
And breathes out sprinkles.

Inside is reds, oranges and then some.
Flames, tears and then some.
Bruises, scars and then some.
One big middle finger
And then some
And then some.

Do you know what it’s like to go hungry for weeks
Living in a one room motel for years.
Me, mom, dad and baby brother.
Or having both sets of neighbors taste
Gunpowder-laced homicides
Or gun shots
Or tears
Or screams
And then some
And then some.

So, Please pardon me.
Pardon me
For the always being the new kid
And so on and so forth
The always having to change to fit in
And so on and so forth
For the smiling to make the pain go away
And so on and so forth
For the broken spirit and bones
And so on and so forth
The trampling, the fears, the being left to blame
And so on and so forth
The words left unsaid, the shame and handcuffs
And so on and so forth
The emptiness found in the words “I love you”
And so on and so forth
The lies and STDs
And so on and so forth
The being told with fists and bats that I’m nothing but a nigger
And so on and so forth

The drugs ripping family, from the seems
And so on and so forth
Having no place to call home
And so on and so forth
Staring at death’s face in the shape of a gun barrel
And so on and so forth
Asking why little brother has to die
And so on and so forth
All the times I cried to myself on bathroom floors
And so on and so forth
The me trying too hard and still failing every time
And still carrying everyone’s
Burdens on my back
Like a rock
And then some,
Do you know what’s it like?

So, Please Pardon me
For all that I am
And all you don’t know.
I smile
So you don’t have to see
what I have to.
Because no one deserves that.

Maybe a writer just made me jealous

I saw this commercial for the
first time today.
As bad as bad advertising can be
(please refer to Wendy's campaigns,
Matthew Lesko commercials, and any
Head-On product promotions),
It is the good ones that make it worth it.
It is the good ones no one can deny is good.
It is the good ones that I want to make someday.

Lemme know what you think of this commercial.

I wrote in my thought book

I had a random thought yesterday.
Something I thought was interesting.
It came out of nowhere.
Which made it all that much more powerful
to me.
I'm not saying I live by this.
I just want to.

"Writing doesn't mean anything if you don't mean it."

Lemme know what you think of that thought.
Lord knows I'm still trying to figure it out.

Later days.

Here's to the alma mater

I spent five fruitful years at a school that gets little credit.
I cried there, died there, and gave that school every single drippy
drop of me. I have the hardware and scars that say so.

So here's to my old alma mater.
Here's to the 4am late nights in the library.
To the blistering early morning presentations.
To the learning what love is.
And the learning what a broken heart is.
Here's to the music. The late night convos.
The learning what it is to be a man.
Here's to my heart.

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk. Go KU.

Congrats on the National Championship.