Do Something With Yourself for Christ Sake

Holy crap, I forgot about this blog...my apologies, it's been a while. I promise I won't disappear like that again.

So I have some new ideas, plans, things I want to do, make, see and so on. I guess its kind of like a bucket list but not really. It's more like "do something with yourself for christ sake" list. So moving forward the plan for this blog is to get my ideas out there, my work out there and get feedback. Things are going to change here people and I'm f*cking excited.

One is a new and unexpected thought. I'm thinking about getting a tattoo. My entire life I have been so against it, I love it on other people, I actually think a tattoo with a story or a true meaning behind it and it being in the right spot is sexy. Anyways, I've always said that it's too permanent and I wouldn't be able to do it...that is until recently. I don't know what it is but I got the bug and I want one, I want one real bad. Again a tattoo is permanent but if it's of something that is a passion, a huge part of your life, a huge part of who you are then I say go for it. Plus, as cliche as this sounds, you only live once. So I'm told.

My plan for a tat would be one of these...thinner outlines though and the placement is TBD. It's simple.



Photography is one thing in life that I couldn't live without, it's who I am. Am I great at it? Depends on who you ask but it is by far one of my favorite things in life.

Tattoos are permanent and that's basically how I feel about photography. It's permanently apart of my life. So why not, right?

Jury is still out on whether or not I'll actually do it, my mom will most likely kill me even if I am 28 years old. As for placement, I would love it to be on my wrist or forearm but I'm not sure I want it to be that visible or perhaps on my side in the rib cage area.

I'll keep you updated on that.

Other things on my mind include, music, movies, photography, writing and possibly take a class. There is so much I want to do and I plan on doing everything in my power to do them...I need new challenges, I need new inspiration...I'm ready for it.

Something to Think About

THE SITUATION - In a Washington D.C. Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.
About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:
In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? If so, do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made; how many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

Took a little trip to Jackson Hole...

and I have video to prove it.



Links to this post

Hey, Soul Sister

Natural Talent

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

National MS Society - Bike Event:

National MS Society - Bike Event:

My brother and his friends are doing it again...help out of you can or spread the word!!

"As many of you know, a great friend of mine from college, Liam Kennedy, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in March 2008. After learning of his diagnoses a group of us decided we wanted to do something to show Liam our support. We learned of the MS Cape Cod Getaway and decided to form a team, Liam’s Lucky Charms or LLC. The Cape Cod Getaway is the largest MS ride in New England. Beginning on the morning of Saturday June 26, over 2000 riders will pedal from Boston, Massachusetts through the coastal towns of Massachusetts' South Shore to Cape Cod. Early Sunday morning, the riders cross the Bourne Bridge and ride through picturesque Cape Cod as they make their way to Provincetown.

In 2008, Liam’s Lucky Charms consisted of 12 riders and through the support of friends & family we were able to raise just over $28,000. That was good for 7th best team overall, despite being one of the smallest teams to participate. Team LLC was back at it in 2009 with 25 riders and raised over $60,000 which earned us 3rd overall and a fundraising award, see attached. That brings us to 2010 and after some heavy recruiting; team LLC currently has 56 riders registered for this year’s ride.

I'm hoping to raise about $1,000 and I’ve got about two months to do it. Obviously, I'd like to raise more but I thought this would be a nice goal to start with. I also realize that times are tough for everyone and I completely understand if you can't make a donation. Click here to get to my personal page and make a secure, online donation.
Or, why not join me on the day of the event? "

Donate if you can!!!!

These guys are insane

This is your decision point

At the end of this past March I was fortunate enough to make a trip out to Jackson Hole, WY for some skiing with my brother in laws family. The last time I was out west was when I was about 13 or 14 and my parents took my sister and I to Snowbird, Utah (1996 to be exact, Yikes that's a long time ago). It was awesome, I loved it and to be honest I am so surprised that I never went back out there till now. Growing up in a family where everyone skis, it blows my mind that this was the first time back. That will change now after this trip.

So if you're a skier and are looking to make a trip out west, I highly recommend Jackson Hole. The mountain was one of the steepest and the most challenging, I have never experienced anything like it. To put that into perspective, the mountains in Vermont are the equivalent of the "easier" side of the mountain at Jackson.



I have been a skier my entire life and I have never been as challenged as much as I was out there, it was incredible. A few scary moments here and there but more breath taking moments than anything. I am absolutely going back next year.

Below are a few photographs from the base of the mountain. The final morning we were there, there was this incredible fog hovering over surrounding mountains which looked awesome. You can see some more photographs here

Golden Grahams sharing the graham for a job interview story

Wow, I grew up eating this stuff and still love it. How do they cram all that Graham?
Golden Grahams is looking for people who have weird, funny and interesting stories about job interviews you've been on. If they like your story, they animate it and you get 12 boxes of Golden Grahams shipped to you!!
It's called the Golden Grant and some of these stories are pretty f*ing funny...check out some example videos below and more details from the website.

You and Your Heart - Jack Johnson

Hair and all, Jack Johnson performs a new song off of his upcoming album out in June.
It's Jack, of course I love it.
Can't wait for the album

A Wednesday Mixtape

Versus (The White Panda Mixtape) by whitepandamusic

Compliments of The White Panda



Tracklist


1. Intro
2. What You Know About Little Secrets (T.I. // Passion Pit)
3. Sweetest Fascination (Wyclef Jean // Alphabeat)
4. Eminem Front (Eminem // Clipse // The Who)
5. Lean Back Wit It (Fat Joe // Will Smith)
6. Button Showers (M.I.A. // Sia)
7. Hypnotic Echo (Plies // Akon // Cyndi Lauper)
8. Throw Some Tik On That Tok (Rich Boy // Ke$ha)
9. Golden Encore (Jay-Z // One Republic // The Whitest Boy Alive)
10. Forgot About September (Dr. Dre // Earth, Wind & Fire)
11. Bizarre Flirt (R. Kelly // Rick James // OMC)
12. Dancefloor Sex (Jeremih // Cascada)
13. Drugs In My Rocketship (AZ // Thieves Like Us)
14. Stand Up (Like A Pimp) (Ludacris // Phonat)
15. Like This Ghetto (MIMS // Phonat)
16. Ice Chrome Paint Job (Dorrough // Chromeo)
17. Badd Fire (Mike Jones // Young Punx)
18. I’m A Gangsta (Yes You Are) (Bun B // Bob Sinclair // Mylo)
19. Picture The Donque (Will.I.Am // Sneaky Sound System)
20. Shake Drop On Video (Pitbull // Timbaland // Trans X)
21. We Made Ghosts N Stuff (Eminem // Deadmau5)
22. When The Lights Calle Ocho (Pitbull // David Guetta)
23. Party Where Your Head’s At (Basement Jaxx // Tonite Only)
24. Hustlin’ Pirates (Lil Mama // Rick Ross // Klaus Badelt)
25. Stay Fly Every Day (Three Six Mafia // Benassi Bros)
26. Army of Yeah (Wiz Khalifa // Usher // Umek & Beltek)
27. Touch 3 Skies (Kanye West // Britney Spears)
28. What Lonely Girls Do (Lil’ Jon // Ocean Lab)
29. Smack You Forever (Akon // September)
30. My Life Would Suck Without A Milli (Lil’ Wayne // Kelly Clarkson)
31. Hot N Cold Rain (Katy Perry // Fat Joe)
32. Stuntin’ Like My Energy (Lil’ Wayne // Keri Hilson)
33. Pop, Lock & Grizzly (Huey // Grizzly Bear // Fred Falke)