You Aren't Talent-less, Just Good At Worthless Things.

I was trying to think of the talents that I possess in this life. My list was inevitably short. I think that I am okay at things, but a master of none. Well, with a few exceptions. I think that I am pretty good at getting frustrated. I can get real mad about basically nothing. I am also really good at over analyzing any situation that is handed to me. I can seriously take what one person says or does, and make it out to be this big conspiracy that they hate me, and are planning on hiring a hit man to kill me. That hit man also happens to be my best friend who is their best friend, and he also wants me dead. So they made a plan that I was going to be killed one week from tomorrow (Which is actually sincerely my birthday) So I will die at exactly 22 years old. Which if you look in Greek mythology anyone that dies at the very age of 22, burns in hell forever. All this is because they decided to not text me back. Call it a wild imagination if you will, I call it a damn nightmare. Because it seriously keeps me up at night. The other talent I have is obsessing over things. I can sit in my room and brood over something for hours. That directly ties into my last thought of over thinking. But, also with that in the light of obsessing, I can seriously never settle for anything less when I get into something. I started collecting vinyl records back in December, and in a little over two months, I have easily dropped $400 dollars into my collection that grows bi-weekly. Some of my things are pretty gosh darn exclusive also. This is probably one of my biggest faults also. Cause I do it with people. I will find someone that I like, and I will invest alot into them. Making them out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. More often than not, it will blow up in my face too. But, when it doesn't its usually pretty great. I think what I am getting at, is that there is a different way to look at personality flaws. Lets say someone is really annoying to you. You could say that they are really annoying, or you could say that they are really talented at saying the worlds dumbest things. There are all kinds of things people would then be good at. Some people are good at being ugly, talking alot, chewing food loudly, not telling the truth, hurting your feelings, ditching you for other friends, being stupid, driving poorly, one-upping your stories, talking down towards you, the possibilities are endless. Literally. I think that this could be a key opportunity for people to start building each other up, as opposed to tearing them down. I am not really for all that love everyone kind of thing, I view it more of a way to insult someone without having alot of the violent repercussions. I have a hard time telling people off, but if I can sugar coat it enough to where it almost sounds like a compliment, I think it will be easier for me. But, the truth of it all, is I have no intentions of any of this. I just got to thinking to myself about what I am good at. I have concluded that I am not good at basketball, bowling, and most sports for that matter, regardless of my continuous attempts. I also can't play musical instruments worth a damn. So, in a fervent attempt to regain any sort of self esteem, I decided to name my personality flaws as talents. A way to bring this darker side of me to light. Not to say that I could put them on a resume. But, at least I feel a little better about myself. Try it. It might work for you.

Jobs By The People, For The People.

Okay, I'm gonna be completely honest. If I wasn't such a wiener and scared of the unknown, I would love to be out on a crab ship, or logging trees in Montana instead of working part time and going to school. For whatever reason, I don't have it in me to up and leave everything I have ever known to venture off somewhere where I have no friends or family. Call me crazy, but if I ever ended up sleeping in some park somewhere, I don't know how long I would last. First of all, I can't bring myself to eat out of dumpsters. Second, I can't ask strangers for anything. Especially food or money. I think that is a huge pride issue. I don't even know if it's an issue. I think it's good that I have that so it keeps me off the streets. Anyway, if I ever got to that point where I was out of luck and didn't have money, I would starve to death. I don't think the elements would get to me, cause I have adjusted myself to the cold by wearing shorts all winter. Who's stupid now? I think that is probably a stretch of my imagination. In the worst case scenario, I don't get a job wherever I gallivant off to, and end up homeless. Fighting in underground venues for snacks and vodka. In the best case scenario I get a well paying job and am able to buy a house, a nice car, a boat, new shoes, every band shirt my heart can desire, and anything my woman would want. In the real life scenario, I end up getting a job and scraping by with decent enough money. But, I would at least be happy. That's not to say that I am not happy with going to school and working where I am. I just constantly feel like I am going no where. Especially when it comes to school. You dump a bunch of money into this thing, and you may not even get a job somewhere. I might as well go bet my money on horse races, and dog fights. Cause then at least there would be instant return, if there is return at all. Yet, here we are. I am probably gonna keep going to school in hopes of one day having it all pay off. Who knows? Maybe I will be rich as hell one day and it was all because of those years I spent doing garbage math homework and writing monotonous papers. But on the other hand, maybe I will end up writing for GQ or People magazine about hilarious things, and I will curse those years at school. Either way, school is going to be at fault for my success or failure. I'm planning on failure. In my mind, I think we should just rewind the clock a few hundred years. This day and age, we are almost required to have higher education. Back in the day, you were lucky if you could read. I think that would be such a great place to turn back to. Our economy is in such a shitting mess, I have a hard time believing that it would be a bad thing. Just to think about having your own land. You are entirely self sustainable, and what you grow, is what you eat. You have to put in all of your work throughout the whole summer in order to be able to survive the winter. If you wanted more money, you could sell your crops for some extra cash to buy whatever thing you deemed necessary. In my mind, this was a good day and age to be alive. There was no lack of jobs, no crashing economy, no wars over oil. Just, farmers. I would be so happy to get up at five o'clock every morning and work until the sun went down, if that was all I had to do. If that's what my well being relied on. I dream of a day when my biggest concern is if my horse is going to plow the fields or not. Maybe this is juvenile of me. But, there are so many jobs, and things that aren't vital to our well being. I think we could do without and eventually turn ourselves back onto the right track. No more fast food, no more game consoles and phones to keep us locked inside. Everyone has to work in order to survive. I just feel like it's the essence of American culture and we have lost it. I don't think this silly blog is going to change anything. It's just a dream of mine. An idea of mine. And maybe it sounds super Amish. But, maybe with those people is where I belong. I can grow the beard for it anyways.

10 Bands You Should Know

This is highly unconventional of me. But, I recently went to one of the concerts that will forever set the standards of concerts for me. I have done little else but think of music for the past few days. Which is far from abnormal for me, but I am going to let you in on my mind in music. This day and age where hip hop, pop, and other terrible music rules the airwaves, it is hard to be a silent bystander. I don't have a superiority complex, nor do I intend for this to seem that I am looking down on people. You like the music you like, and there is nothing that I, or anyone for that matter, can say to change that. I do think that some people listen to the music on the radio, or whatever, because they aren't sure where else to look. That, is precisely what this is aimed to fix. I am going to recommend some of my favorite artists, and hope that you will take the time to at least listen to one or two songs. Who knows, you may find your new favorite jams in this list.

First, I can't bring myself to add these folks on my top recommendations, but you should at least give them a listen.
Honorable mentions:
Cinematic Sunrise- A upbeat piano infused pop band. Featuring one of my favorite vocalists. Anyone and everyone can dig these fellas.
Anthony Green- A side project from the lead singer of Circa Survive. His CD Avalon is brilliant. Get it.
Isles & Glaciers- These guys are what is called a "Super-group" basically, a bunch of embers from different bands coming together and making magic. These guys are so great.
Front Porch Step- A one man acoustic band. He writes some of the most honest lyrics I have ever heard. Straight Edge Acoustic is what he is called. Don't pass him by!


10. Bayside.
While these guys have been around for years, alot of people have yet to listen to them. While I must admit that I haven't really kept up with them in recent years, Their album The Walking Wounded really shaped my music taste for the years to come. A solid rock quartet, Bayside doesn't fear telling you exactly what they are thinking. Catchy chorus' will keep you singing with lyrics enough to make you ponder. Don't pass these guys by.
Check out: Carry On, Devotion & Desire, and Thankfully

9. Anberlin
While I feel like these guys are well known as is, and that you can find their albums at your local Wal Mart, they still deserve a shout out. Anberlin has been a band that you will always find on my iPod. While I am partial to their older, somewhat heavier albums, their newer stuff is just as well to listen to. Their 3rd full length Cities is easily in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. You will find yourself crushed with emotional breakup songs, as well as happy songs about a significant other. Regardless of your mood, Anberlin has a song to fit it.
Check out: Adelaide, Never Take Friendship Personal, and Readyfuels

8. Emarosa
Emarosa started out as a post hardcore band. They wrote songs to inspire chaos, and fear in the hearts of people. That is where I first found them. After a few lineup changes, the band inherited the uncanny talent of Jonny Craig. The man with the personality of a jackass, but the voice of an absolute angel. Their CD releases with Craig are absolutely incredible. While the music style represents that of what could be a continuation of a post-hardcore unit, Craig brings an added measure that makes it something that everyone can love. While they are no longer with Craig, their CD's Relativity, and Self-Titled are still a wonder, and something we can all love.
Check out: What's A Clock Without The Batteries?, Set It Off Like Napalm, Heads Or Tails? Real Or Not, and A Toast! To The Future Kids

7. Pierce The Veil
While these wonderful Mexican men have taken the post-hardcore world by storm as is, they continually impress me as an avid metal lover. With their self titled genre Mexi-core, it leaves so many questions as to what the bands style really is. A post hardcore unit with plenty of Spanish influence, is the only real explanation. The band has alot of heavy in their music. So, if that's not what you are into, that is fine. These men have a few songs even the littlest of babies can love. You won't be disappointed if you invest some time in these guys.
Check out: Caraphenila, King For A Day, and Yeah Boy And Doll Face
Not Into Hardcore? Check out: Stay Away From My Friends, A Cheap Bouquet, Million Dollar Houses (The Painter), and Hold On Til May

6. The Story So Far
Okay, I am extremely cautious when putting these guys up here. It would break my heart if they got exploited by tweenagers, because I hold them in such high regard. Probably one of the most honest and true pop punk bands left in the world, The Story So Far is capable of bringing the ruckus. With songs so honest it will hit home for just about anyone. With enough punk influence to stir you up when needed, these guys can rise to your favorite with ease.
Check out: Placeholder, Roam, Mt. Diablo, and Daughters.

5. Between The Buried And Me
If you don't like musicianship at its finest, beautiful concepts, or all genre encompassing songs, you wont like BTBAM. The talent that lies in this lineup, is uncomparable to anything else in the music industry. While their songs are long, and somewhat obscure, they are absolutely mind blowing. A band that can write a song that is 17 minutes long, and not leave you feeling bored, or like they are repeating themselves, is incredible. Some songs possess Polka breakdowns, and other will tear your face off with pure metal. I will level with you, they are hard to get into because they are so heavy for the most part. But, I can't find it in myself to pass them by. These guys deserve to be heralded for years to come.
Check out: Selkies: An Endless Obsession, White Walls, Fossil Genera- A Feed From Cloud Mountain, and Ants Of The Sky

4. Emery
This band has held such great footholds in my heart for the longest time. Their concept album The Question is easily number 2 on my top ten albums of all time. The band has a talent for burning the house down with metal, and softly sinking back into melodic solstice in the same song. While they are classified as a Post Hardcore band, Emery has the ability to not make you feel overwhelmed by the heavy-ness of it. Their music can and should be loved by all.
Check out: The Weakest, Playing With Fire, World Away, The Ponytail Parades, and The Cheval Glass.

3. We Came As Romans
I will admit it, I am completely biased when it comes to these guys. I have been following them before they signed to a label, and released a full length album. In my eyes, they have, and will never do wrong. They are pretty brutally hardcore, and probably wont be loved by someone who shy's away from screamed lyrics. However, if you can put that to rest, you will find the most positive messages in music today. Songs about brotherhood, helping out one another, and having hope. These guys can bring the heat, and the heart. They have my highest recommendations to anyone who can appreciate solid musicianship.
Check out: Dreams, Intentions, A War Inside Me, Stay Inspired, and Hope.

2. Circa Survive
These guys have been a long time favorite. I bought their album On Letting Go when I was a sophomore in high school and not knowing anything about them. I was far from disappointed. While their first two releases are... strange. They are much easier to listen to on the second, third, fourth and millionth time around. This indie rock band is something you can seriously sink your teeth into. Anthony Green writes relatable lyrics, and the band produces great music to accompany. Don't miss out.
Check out: Get Out, I Felt Free, Spirit Of The Stairwell, All Your Friends Are Gone, We're All Thieves, Stop The Car, Everyway, Lazarus, and The Only Difference Between Poison And Medicine Is In The Dose

1. Coheed And Cambria
If you know me on a personal level, you saw this one coming. I have been an avid listener of these guys since I was 13. The concept of Coheed And Cambria is absolutely fascinating to me. Each of their album releases follows a story line to a series of comic books that is written and released by the bands front man Claudio Sanchez. The lyrics can be taken in the light of that story, but also related to your personal life. In my mind, that is not only unreal, but makes this band above the rest. This is talent, and that is not something that is found in the music industry today. I honestly cant say enough about this band. So, I will close by saying, you are shooting yourself in the foot if you don't give these guys a try.
Check out: Time Consumer, Devil In Jersey City, The Light & The Glass, The Velorium Camper 1: Faint Of Hearts, In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3, Blood Red Summer, Welcome Home, Mother May I, Wake Up, Gravemakers & Gunslingers, The End Complete IV: The Road And The Damned, Here We Are Juggernaut, Made Out Of Nothing (All That I Am), Domino The Destitute, Mothers Of Men, The Hard Sell, Away We Go, and 2's My Favorite 1. (Sorry for the long list. I can't help myself)

So, there you have it. This isn't necessarily my top ten favorite bands, but bands that I feel you might like if you can't seem to branch out any. If you find what you like, I am glad. I hope this helps you see that what is being played on the radio, is not what good music is. It is cheap lyrics, that are easily relatable and music to make your toes tap. We need to retake the music industry by storm.

Valentines Day Drama

I feel like I may be redundant in writing a piece on this holiday. Let's face it, you either love it, or you hate it. Regardless of which side of that fence you sit on, I am confident that you get an earful about it. Because I sure get alot of it. My Facebook and Twitter has been nothing but flowers, roses, rain clouds, frowning faces, hearts, and a whole lot of red. You may wonder which side I sit on this fence. The fact is, I sit on the side that couldn't care any less. The fact that people are celebrating this day with a certain someone doesn't directly affect me in any way shape or form. You know what does affect me? That you post about how great your significant other is all over my news feeds. This isn't really news to me though. You can't seem to shut up about how great they are for the other 364 days of the year either. It also affects me that people are sobbing about how they don't have a valentine. If you were to spend less time at home on your computer, or watching Netflix, you may have a more likely chance of finding this mysterious prince charming. That is one thing that I have never, and will never understand. If you want to find love so damn bad, you ought to go try and find it. Prince charming doesn't go door to door. Not since Cinderella anyway. If you think that someone is going to sweep you off your feet while you are laying around, you are either not familiar with physics, or are inherently stupid. You have to be standing for someone to sweep you, firstly. Secondly, I haven't met one guy that said he found the love of his life after he broke into her house and saw her there watching TV. So, forgive me for being slightly pessimistic from that standpoint. I think that I have always secretly liked Valentines day. They breed it deep into my blood line from elementary school. All I have to do is create some sort of receptacle, and people fill it with candy and stuff. In that way, Valentines day has always been awesome. Free stuff! What they fail to inform you of, is that it isn't always like that. Especially for men as we grow older and get into relationships. You don't get a damn thing. Not a Spiderman valentine card, no sweethearts, just an empty wallet. You grow up and realize it's like every other holiday. It's only good as a kid. The biggest beef I have with Valentines day, is that I am somewhat old fashioned in my thinking. I don't think you should have to wait until Valentines day to show someone that you care about them. That's not to say you have to buy $100 three course meals on an every day basis, by any means. But, if you really cared about them, you would probably go really big on Valentines day, because you spend money, and more importantly time with this person for the rest of the year. Maybe that's childish. Maybe it's something that I am just making out to be that is not. But, I think that it reigns true in my soul. I will keep it at that, and wish all of you a very safe, and happy holiday. I hope that anyone who doesn't have love, finds it. Even if it's only for a night. (I don't fully support prostitution. So try to find it legally) Make good choices, friends. Smooches.

Why "Just Friends" Just Doesn't Fly

I approach this topic with the highest of precautions. I realize that things like this change from person to person. However, in the eyes of most women, us men are all chauvinist pigs anyway. So I am going to tell you how it is. So, I don't know how to appropriately start this. So, I'll just start at the top.
So, this is all through my simple mind. Meeting new people is comparable to running races for me. I just don't do it, because I know how much it sucks. You may win a trophy, but the race itself blows. So, I just don't run races or meet new people. So, being the lonesome man that I am, when I meet new people, I either instantly love them or hate them. Not very often will I meet someone and think, yeah, they're okay. I usually walk away from the situation and think "Well, that person sucks." Or "Wow, that person was great." And I will 9 times out of 10 walk away remarking the first. By doing so, when I think a person is way cool, I will usually try and integrate them into my friend group, if they are a man, or try to marry them if they're a woman.  (That sounds super weird, but realize that it's an exaggeration.) Now, that could be the problem. I invest so much into people that I like. However, it is what it is. I will probably always ending jumping in with both feet when I find things/people that I like. So, with guy friends, we know how it goes. They keep coming around, and we play Mario Party and end up hating each other. But with girls, it falls apart much slower. I will usually talk to them on a regular basis, and let my douchebag brain make her out to be greater than she is. He also convinces me that she probably likes me back. My brain is my worst enemy. So, here we are, falling in love at first hangout, and soon enough, she says she just wants to be friends. You know what happens then? I break things. Not like, hearts, or faces. I just go home and turn over the kitchen table and pirate kick the couch. Because at that point, my brain lets me know how insubordinate I am to other men around the campus/world. And so begins my deep depression. My beard grows at twice it's normal rate to help with my manhood, I continuously watch Rambo, Rocky, Terminator, and Tarantino films in an effort to rebuild this manhood. So, the first and foremost reason why men don't want to be "Just Friends" is because you just kicked our hearts, and confidence in the ass. Knowing that we aren't good enough for you, will generally breed hatred. We will talk to our friends about what a stuck up bitch you are, and other malicious things to rebuild our pride from the ground up. So, I want to look at this situation logically, from my point of view. If I am a cool enough guy to be your friend, but for whatever reason I am not good enough to date, that must mean something. Either I am ugly, fat, obnoxious, weird, smell bad, poor, this list could be endless and change from woman to woman. So, if you are that full of yourself, why would I want to be your friend? Maybe that's just me being bitter. But, in my brain, that's how it works. If you tell me we are just friends, you instantly turn into an ignorant, uppity jerk. Call me whatever you will for that. The simple truth is, if you have to tell a man "Let's not be anything more than friends." You will probably never be friends. You should just tell him that he is overweight, has a nappy beard, and should shower more regularly. So, having said that, allow me to move onto more of the reasons why guys and girls are usually not friends.
First and foremost, we are just different. And I want to use some examples, but, I am in no way claiming that they are 100% correct. So, lets just say that there is a guys night. Even though we very rarely call them that. What will usually go on in a guys night, is alot of awesome nothing. It will usually start with everyone stuffing their faces. With whatever food is available. During that time, there is alot of swearing, accusing, discussion of special lady friends, farting, making fun of someone, dirty jokes, filthy conversations, belching, and so on. There is a reason why men are stereotyped as pigs. Because we kind of are. Especially when corralled together. There is absolutely no shame, no barrier for conversations, no one thinking less of each other for their actions. We are at our most comfortable state. Anyone who says they would rather hangout with women (Unless they are dating officially or soon thereto) is a liar, or homosexual. There is no way you can be more comfortable, and at home than with a group of close man friends. I have never been to a girls night, for obvious reasons. But, in my imaginative head, they aren't all that much different. Baking things, painting nails, putting on those horrifying facial mask things that I am convinced do nothing but scare the hell out of me, watch estrogen filled movies, discuss men, have dirty conversations, back talk about their friends and enemies, eat alot, and all other kinds of things. In my mind, it sounds horrible. But, I am sure that women feel like this is the most comfortable place for them to be. They must enjoy these girls nights, as I enjoy guys nights. Now, when we cross breed the two, some things will get eliminated off of both lists, whatever they may be. For men, I feel like a majority of my list will get eliminated. No swearing, dirty jokes, loud laughter, and on and on. Which may not be a bad thing. But, if you want to know how I feel about dates refer to an earlier blog called "First Dates Blow." It makes me uncomfortable thinking about it. I think my biggest problem with hanging out with girls, is that we can very rarely just do nothing. We always have to be doing something. Maybe that's just me. But, in either case, when we are "Just friends" we both have to compromise in some way or another. So, unless you have romantic intentions, it's usually not all that worth it to be friends anyway. (Even though there are exceptions to all these general rules) So the next time you are gonna tell someone "Let's just be friends" Consider saying the following as healthy alternatives; Go to hell. Suck a branch. Kick rocks. Pound salt. Leave me alone forever.