Remaining Anonymous and Disconnected

Abandoning my blogs is like dumping a child along a deserted stretch of highway.  It pains me to just leave it sitting idle for any length of time, but it annoys me to just hurriedly post something in order to keep the blood flowing.

I am oblivious to what's going on in the world most of the time.  I learned that there was some sort of missing jetliner debacle when the wife & I went to dinner at one of our favorite Thai places, and CNN happened to be on the television.  I learned that Mick Jagger's long time girlfriend hung herself in a bizarre fashion through conversation with a friend.  Oh and who can forget....the death of Fred Phelps.  Kevin Smith received more than the standard amount of attention from the Phelps crew through his film Red State, which I highly recommend. During and after the premier, he and his crew received a substantial amount of flack from the Phelp's clan because of the similarities between the Team God Hates Fags and the fundamentalist cult depicted in the film.  This was taken during one of the protest, and I must say is one of my favorite 'sign' shots with none other than Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes.  Check out the film.  I digress...

I no longer to subscribe to any printed media nor do I have cable.  I have the internet - the most resourceful tool in the universe.  It provides unlimited access to all or most things information, and I use it in abundance virtually every single day of every week...of every year.  However, it is all in how one utilizes such a vast resource.

I am bad about using it for current events or keeping up with the breakneck pace of the world.  This is due to a number of factors - some legitimate and others out of sheer laziness.  Let's be clear, though.  I am not a lazy person.  I am, however, overwhelmed by it all and choose to stay somewhat disconnected in fear of my head exploding.

I get tired of social networking - the drama, the self-absorbed rants, and those god damn game requests.  It's saturated with repetitive garbage.  One person picks up on a clever article, picture, meme, whatever and suddenly its being regurgitated again and again and again.  Social networking lacks originality for the most part.

Perhaps part of my lack of desire to read, research, and learn about current events is because I am on some sort of computer device nearly eighty percent of the day and at least seventy-five percent of the week.  When it's beautiful outside, sitting at a desk staring blankly at a screen is the absolute last place I want to be.  Sometimes it is inevitable.  Keeping up with the Benja-blogs requires inside/alone time at the computer that usually has to be done during non-peak hours (i.e. hours dedicated to work and life).  This is the dilemma I face....balancing work, life, responsibilities, and happy fun drinky times.

Regardless of how long my dearly beloved blog spawns sit idle or how low the visitor counts are - I refuse to pull the plug.  I need to do better at continuous learning via reading, staying in tune with current events, and not settling to ride the wave out like a mushroom.  I wish I had more time to do it all, but you can't create time nor can you get it back.  Take advantage of the time you have and do something positive and refreshing with it.  Wasting it away in a cube, on a computer, or sitting in front of a TV is not what we were put here to do.




 

For Those About to Rock - We Salute You

In honor of the whole Throwback Thursday movement that has taken hold of social networking, I decided to load up one of my infamous Pandora stations and blast hair band metal for the duration of the day.  Now let's be upfront in saying - yes, I am aware of the stigmas and bad reputation hair bands have. I have also endured a fair share of ribbing and slighting for having a special place in my heart for hair bands.  In my defense....hey, at least I don't fucking listen to Journey.  In fact, I despise Journey.  After all, I do 

have some standards.  

That being said - the appreciation for hair metal is more of a nostalgic thing.  If memory serves, it started around 5th or 6th grade when Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet and Poison's Look What the Cat Dragged albums gained popularity.  There was a shift in the airwaves as well as MTV if anyone can remember back to when they actually played more videos than shite reality shows.  Rikki Rachtman hosted MTV's Headbanger's Ball on Saturday night, which gave homage to all things heavy metal.   

At the time there were still plenty of limitations associated with living in a very rural area, and radio and television were two key media sources.  There was no Internet - no iTunes - no applications you could download to expand your media horizon.  The next best option was the record store, and goodness knows how many hours I spent browsing through the cassette, vinyl, compact disc selections. I also raided the magazine rack...I know...what in the fuck is a magazine rack?  There was an arsenal of magazines that revolved around music and more specifically hair metal.  Circus - Spin - Rolling Stone even.  They often featured lyrics and centerfolds, and my bedroom walls were absolutely covered with my favorite bands.  My bedroom decor (if you will) went from bands like the Cure, Pet Shop Boys, Echo and the Bunnymen, and A-ha to Slaughter, Poison, and Cinderella.  

I started learning how to play guitar  around the same time so naturally I made every attempt to learn how to play along with my favorite bands and songs.  In my mind, I was a rock star...just like the hairy boys in these bands.  I played almost every single day for hours it seemed.  I don't know how my parents ever put up with the high decibel levels, but they did.  

As a subscriber to Sirius XM - I have the luxury of dialing into the Hair Nation channel whenever I am in the car.  Every once in a while, they will play a song that I haven't heard in years - generally one that evokes nostalgia.  I have such vivid memories of those times - good, bad, and bizarre.  At the time, the songs and/or albums I listened to were burning a permanent image or reminder in my memory banks that would forever remind me of that period in my life.  It also fucks with me a little because it makes me realize how quickly time passes.  After all - it has been nearly twenty-five years since the great heavy metal/hair band invasion.  I think of my original group of friends that I grew up with.  I think of those that were not fortunate enough to live to see today, and mostly I think of the person I was then in compared to the person I am now.  

So here's to you, hair bands.  I thank you for the bad hair, over usage of power chords, and sad song ballads. If you are so inclined, check out my Pandora profile that comes equipped with twenty unique and fun channels.  You can get your hair band/heavy metal thrills through my channel entitled Hairy Balls to the Walls. Check it out at Diddy's Pandora Box.

To Migrate or Not to Migrate

After the first official WordPress post, I found myself in a bit of a blog quandary.  I've maintained my three blogs via Blogger for damn near a decade now.  Maintain might be a strong word for the first blog, which has not been touched in quite some time.  However as I grow older, the time and desire to maintain such things seems to disappear more and more with each new year.

It is not that I do not wish to continue writing and sharing my thoughts, but I can tell just by viewing my past posts all the way back to the origin of my blog career that I am not as tuned in and driven as I once was.  I used to write about music, current affairs, upcoming events - usually related to music.

There was something else very different about me back then - especially in the very early ramblings.  I was single and still very much trying to figuring who the hell I was.  Fearful of growing old yet uncertain about taking the next step forward.  My blog children are much like a journal or vivid reminder of a specific period in my past but from my own weird and random point of view.  Some of these reminders are still fresh and perhaps not ready to be parted with.  At any rate, I am still left with the same quandary.

I want to say a bit about the recent passing of an amazing actor I admired and greatly appreciated.  I get those 'breaking news' alerts from NPR, which almost always make me stop to view no matter where I am.  As my wife and I headed out Sunday to basically do something other than sit around the house, my NPR email alert went off.  I opened it to read that Philip Seymour Hoffman had died and felt a bit of a kick to the ol' heart.

I couldn't exactly decide on any one segment, clip, or sound byte that forever reminds me of this extremely gifted and inspiring actor.  He portrayed many unique characters during his career and in a fantastic and memorable way.  I did find this beautiful montage, which helps put this immensely talented human being into perspective.  His passing has created a great void in the world of film and theater.  Rest in peace, man.

Better Days Ahead

I am feeling pretty frapping good about the future starting with this year. Those reasonable and tangible resolutions are still going strong.  Some do consist of the stereotypical resolution subject matter, but it's all about the approach, folks.  Why set unattainable goals right?  I realize we are only at the halfway mark of the first month, but the desire to improve as a whole still burns.  I am really excited to start the ol' bike training soon despite the agony and pain that will follow it....at least for the first week or so.  That's the bummer of not riding consistently.  You lose it - the stamina and strength to go the distance.

Project photo blog is off the ground, which is equally as exciting.  I almost contemplated migrating it to Blogger because of the lack of free template designs/customization features on WordPress.  It's even receiving some praise, which is more than I can say for this ol' trusty blog.  Either way - the first few posts will certainly be a learning experience until I get the hang of the new 'digs' - if you will.  If you feel so inclined - check it out @ http://theadventuresofdiddy.wordpress.com/.  There won't be nearly as much jibber jabber apart from a brief summary/explanation of the photos associated with that particular post.  I do have some fairly unique and fun photos to share, though.  All in good time....all in good time.

"Got to rest, Mum. Got to get fit. Otherwise I'm liable to miss a lot more school."

Never Have I Ever.

Caution:  Venting dead ahead.

The more days that pass - the more annoyed I become with the monotony associated with social networking.  By social networking - I am basically talking about Facebook.  There is a very simply reason why I have become more detached from it than ever before.  It's sad because it does actual feature some very useful tools.

For example....birthdays.  I am terrible about remembering birthday unless I jot it down in my annual planner. Facebook kindly reminds me of birthdays - assuming users input their true date of birth within their profiles.  I appreciate that.  Communication is another positive feature.  There are two direct means of communicating - posting directly to another user's page or sending a message through Facebook.  This comes in handy when the usual means of communication are not available.  I am also appreciative of that.

The worst part about Facebook is the regurgitated shite.  

...the endless memes

...the reply to this if you are a true friend posts

...the excessive abuse of the sharing feature
...the goddamn annoying game requests
...spreading badly coined terms..especially when it ends in -pocalypse.

...and everyone's favorite....the drama.  Oh the sweet nectar of drama.

Basically, I see a metric fuck ton of thoughtless, mindless nothing.   It reminds me a bit of a ten track play list on constant repeat.  If I had to apply basic fundamental mathematical skills, I would say that at least seventy-five percent of Facebook posts consist of regurgitated shite.  

I am by no means the Facebook Gestapo.  I am the admin of not one but three Facebook accounts.  That's right - my cat and dog have their own account.  Everyone has their own personal page for a reason whether it be to have a 'voice', connect and communicate with friends, or harass the shit out of one another.  I get the whole concept.  I simply get tired of reading the same thing over and over and over and over again.  Maybe it's convenience and laziness, but I see a sharp decline in free thinking some or most of the time.

That is all.

Another year in the books...

Down goes another year.
Another chapter in the books.
Another chapter begins.

All that's left of 2013 is quickly fading out in the rear view mirror.  As we press forward into 2014, we leave behind the good, the bad, and the ugly of last year.

Every year - resolutions are established and made and forgotten.  Every year seems to have similar results with goals and drive going by the wayside shortly after the ringing in of the new year. It seems to be some sort of bizarre new year's epidemic.

This year -  the urgency seems to be greater for whatever reason.  I have good vibes about this year.  The positive energy has directed me to rethink my resolution strategy - attack those annual aspirations from a different angle.  The upcoming year brings great opportunities.  Big things as they say.  Not big like I am moving to LA and reforming Guns n' Roses.  I haven't got the strength - nor does the majority of the human population.

I am growing older.  The things I keep telling myself I'll do tomorrow can only wait so long.  Eventually - I will run out of time.  The bulb in the hourglass will be empty.  This is the year of eliminating the procrastination.  Getting shit done.  Taking care of business to help 'secure' those better days ahead.  I am certainly not ready to lie down and just take it nor ride it out as is 'til the end.  No sir.  There are still plenty of things I want to do and experience - places I want to go.

2013 wasn't necessarily a bad year by any means.  It was interesting to say the least, but there is room for improvement.  There's always room for progress and improvements whether it be on a small or grand scale.  I am about to sound as cliché as it gets.  I have high hopes for 2014.  Hope.  Change.  Progress.  I am not looking to solve the world's problems or save the whales per say.  My goals are simply to better myself.  Self-improvement.  Self-esteem.  Self-awareness.  Doing things that don't involve just sitting back and watching life and opportunities pass by.  Finish the projects and goals I was so determined to start.  Engage in continuous learning.  Reflect.  Most importantly - learn how to just take it all in and breathe.

Frankie say Relax.