So last night was the Pi's date party. I didn't have a date, but that isn't nearly as depressing as it sounds. I did have two semi-dates in Carla and Cindy (my fellow sober bros). All in all I would say the party was a success. Nobody got kicked out of Mi Ranch, everybody looked stunning in their dress clothes, and everybody seemed to be having a good time.
Being a sober bro wasn't nearly as bad as some people make it out to be. The plan is to be on my sober grind every weekend for the rest of the semester. There are plenty of reasons why, but I keep forgetting one of them when people ask.
When you're sober in a room full of drunk people your character is tested. Not in the egotistical sense that you're "too good" to drink, but rather in the sense that you're putting up with all these people who aren't necessarily in the right state of mind. Last night I got to be a wallflower again. I got to sit on my barstool and really take a long look at everything that was happening around me. I watched people dance and sing and I listened to them as they talked. It's shocking how much really goes on in one evening when you bring together fifty or sixty people.
I really didn't do much at the party, but I still enjoyed myself.
I don't mind looking out for everybody. It's kinda something I like doing, truth be told.
After date party was over I hung out with Cindy for a while and we just sat around talking about everything. (We planned to each do our own studying, but studying on a Saturday night after 10 PM is a bit far fetched.)
The more we talked the more I got to thinking about life down the road and about how much our past is present in that.
To really abandon your past you'd have to make some drastic decisions. It isn't likely that you can ever totally escape your past. And why would you? Your past, for the most part, is made up of decisions and actions you consciously made. As cliche as it sounds "Never regret anything because at one point it was exactly what you wanted." And that's true, as all cliches are. Our pasts are our pasts, certainly, but there are parts of our past that will always be with us.
Like the people we've hurt and the people we've loved. They're two opposite ends of the spectrum, but they're things we can't escape. Forgetting about someone you've loved is like forgetting your own name. You can't do it because it's become a part of you over time.
So I guess our past is our past, but to some degree it's also our present and future.
Last night was a reminder of that. A reminder that my past is still a large part of my life.
So, as I write this blog I'm also writing a letter. A letter to send to a part of my past, my present, and possibly my future.
The real problem is what to say and what not to say. Because when people or events overlap your past and your future you might say something but mean something else. As time goes by things change. Even the constants in your life have changed. Which means you have to choose your words carefully.
Oftentimes I say the right thing, at the wrong time, to the right person, and that gets me in trouble.
I'm just working on getting all three to line up.
NP: Say Something- A Great Big World
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
I just wanted to share a few of my favorite quotes from the last season of The Office with you guys. So here they are...
"Dwight, listen, no matter happens, you gotta forget about all the other stuff. You gotta forget about logic and fear and doubt. You just gotta do everything you can do get to the one woman who’s going to make all this worth it. At the end of the day, you gotta jump. You love Angela, Dwight. I think you always have."
"I think an ordinary paper company like Dunder-Mifflin was a great subject for a documentary. There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn't that kind of the point?"
"Love suffers long and is kind — it is not proud. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails and now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
It isn't much to read, I know, but I figured something small was better than nothing at all.
NP: Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not- Thompson Square
"Dwight, listen, no matter happens, you gotta forget about all the other stuff. You gotta forget about logic and fear and doubt. You just gotta do everything you can do get to the one woman who’s going to make all this worth it. At the end of the day, you gotta jump. You love Angela, Dwight. I think you always have."
"I think an ordinary paper company like Dunder-Mifflin was a great subject for a documentary. There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn't that kind of the point?"
"Love suffers long and is kind — it is not proud. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails and now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
It isn't much to read, I know, but I figured something small was better than nothing at all.
NP: Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not- Thompson Square
Thursday, January 9, 2014
The Office
I just finished the series finale of The Office, and it was something special. As much as I loved Scrubs I don't think it can match how much The Office meant to me. Admittedly there were times in seasons 7 and 8 where I felt like giving up on the show, but I am glad I pushed through it.
When I started watching The Office I didn't know what exactly it was about. I knew it was about a paper company in Scranton, but I was unaware it was supposed to be a documentary about the paper company. At first I thought it was just a sitcom like Scrubs. I was wrong.
And it wasn't until the last season that I realized how different The Office was.
There was something so unique about the way it was filmed. Having a TV series culminate with the characters watching a documentary about their own lives? How can you top that?
It was well planned out from the start. And as if the brilliant writing wasn't enough The Office crafted some of the most memorable characters in television history. Pam, Jim, Dwight, Angela, Toby, Kelly, Ryan, Andy, Oscar, Kevin, Phyllis, Stanley, Pete, Erin, Clark, Meredith, Creed, and of course Michael Scott.
Each character represented something totally different but they represented something real. Whether it was the nitwit, the stuck up lady, the drunk, the hopeless romantic, the receptionist, the strange old man, or the lonely boss I fell in love with the TV show.
I can't explain exactly what it is about the show that makes it so great. I honestly think you need to watch it all yourself. Or watch it with a friend. Or a loved one.
After finishing I stopped for a second and thought to myself, "What if there was a camera crew following me around making a documentary?"
That was a scary but puzzling question.
Would I like what that DVD showed me?
Like The Office it would have its ups and downs. It would have its plot twists and it would have its awkward moments. But at its very core I think it would be optimistic, just like The Office was.
I figure I spent around 90 hours of my life watching The Office. I watched every single episode by myself. And thinking back to the question I asked myself earlier about my life as a documentary I though, "Wasn't that a waste of time? Couldn't you have been reading or watching with someone at the very least?"
And the answer to both those questions is no. Mainly because I wasn't alone.
I had everyone on the show.
Any good show makes you feel like you're a part of that show. So when it ends you feel a little lost and confused. You're left wondering how people you've never met can abandon you.
But the great thing about TV is that at the end of the day it's just make believe. The Office is a scripted TV show.
A scripted TV show that showed everyone that just because you're stuck in one place doesn't mean your life can't be something special.
The show, more than anything, showed me that maybe it isn't about having the most flashy job or flashy title in the world. Maybe, instead, it's about surrounding yourself with the most genuine people you can find. Because if you can find people who express their true self day in and day out you're likely to do the same thing. And in turn you'll live a much happier, richer life.
So maybe a desk at an office in Northeast PA doesn't sound like your cup of tea. But what if I told you that your future wife would be sitting five feet away? Or that your best friend would be your coworker? Or if I told you that your coworkers wouldn't be your coworkers rather they'd be your family? What if I told you that the group of people you worked with would show you every emotion possible?
Would you go then?
I would. Purely based on the fact I'd get to see so much emotion.
The Office was wonderful because you got to watch about a dozen people interact in medium sized office. The people there were all different, were all good, and were all real. In the microcosm that was their office you got to see the idiosyncrasies of normal people. You felt like you were there with Jim when he's staring, enamored at Pam. There for one of Creed's out of left field comments. But even though you were allowed in on this very intimate thing the show did a good job of having boundaries. The best example would be Michael's departure. The moment he and Pam share is one that Jenna Fischer (the actress who plays Pam) said will always be a special moment to her. I know it'll always be special to me.
So now I'll leave you with a quote from Creed that touched me more than anything I've heard in quite some time.
"No matter how you get there or where you end up, human beings have this miraculous gift to make that place home."
NP: The Office Intro
When I started watching The Office I didn't know what exactly it was about. I knew it was about a paper company in Scranton, but I was unaware it was supposed to be a documentary about the paper company. At first I thought it was just a sitcom like Scrubs. I was wrong.
And it wasn't until the last season that I realized how different The Office was.
There was something so unique about the way it was filmed. Having a TV series culminate with the characters watching a documentary about their own lives? How can you top that?
It was well planned out from the start. And as if the brilliant writing wasn't enough The Office crafted some of the most memorable characters in television history. Pam, Jim, Dwight, Angela, Toby, Kelly, Ryan, Andy, Oscar, Kevin, Phyllis, Stanley, Pete, Erin, Clark, Meredith, Creed, and of course Michael Scott.
Each character represented something totally different but they represented something real. Whether it was the nitwit, the stuck up lady, the drunk, the hopeless romantic, the receptionist, the strange old man, or the lonely boss I fell in love with the TV show.
I can't explain exactly what it is about the show that makes it so great. I honestly think you need to watch it all yourself. Or watch it with a friend. Or a loved one.
After finishing I stopped for a second and thought to myself, "What if there was a camera crew following me around making a documentary?"
That was a scary but puzzling question.
Would I like what that DVD showed me?
Like The Office it would have its ups and downs. It would have its plot twists and it would have its awkward moments. But at its very core I think it would be optimistic, just like The Office was.
I figure I spent around 90 hours of my life watching The Office. I watched every single episode by myself. And thinking back to the question I asked myself earlier about my life as a documentary I though, "Wasn't that a waste of time? Couldn't you have been reading or watching with someone at the very least?"
And the answer to both those questions is no. Mainly because I wasn't alone.
I had everyone on the show.
Any good show makes you feel like you're a part of that show. So when it ends you feel a little lost and confused. You're left wondering how people you've never met can abandon you.
But the great thing about TV is that at the end of the day it's just make believe. The Office is a scripted TV show.
A scripted TV show that showed everyone that just because you're stuck in one place doesn't mean your life can't be something special.
The show, more than anything, showed me that maybe it isn't about having the most flashy job or flashy title in the world. Maybe, instead, it's about surrounding yourself with the most genuine people you can find. Because if you can find people who express their true self day in and day out you're likely to do the same thing. And in turn you'll live a much happier, richer life.
So maybe a desk at an office in Northeast PA doesn't sound like your cup of tea. But what if I told you that your future wife would be sitting five feet away? Or that your best friend would be your coworker? Or if I told you that your coworkers wouldn't be your coworkers rather they'd be your family? What if I told you that the group of people you worked with would show you every emotion possible?
Would you go then?
I would. Purely based on the fact I'd get to see so much emotion.
The Office was wonderful because you got to watch about a dozen people interact in medium sized office. The people there were all different, were all good, and were all real. In the microcosm that was their office you got to see the idiosyncrasies of normal people. You felt like you were there with Jim when he's staring, enamored at Pam. There for one of Creed's out of left field comments. But even though you were allowed in on this very intimate thing the show did a good job of having boundaries. The best example would be Michael's departure. The moment he and Pam share is one that Jenna Fischer (the actress who plays Pam) said will always be a special moment to her. I know it'll always be special to me.
So now I'll leave you with a quote from Creed that touched me more than anything I've heard in quite some time.
"No matter how you get there or where you end up, human beings have this miraculous gift to make that place home."
NP: The Office Intro
Second Semester-Second Year
So I am back at Pitt for the second half of my Sophomore year. The semester is young, but I am expecting a lot out of it. I have at least one friend in every class and more than one in most of them. My schedule is tough, but I believe I'm ready for it.
Winter break was much needed. I spent most of my time spent laying around, watching Netflix, or hanging with my friends and family. I got to spend a lot of time with my friends which is always a blast. The other day Cindy asked me, "Do you think you can have a soulmate in a nonromantic way?" And after thinking about it for a while I told her that I suppose you can. My nonromantic soulmates are my six best friends from high school. They're the people I plan on keeping around for the rest of my life.
In addition to those friends I have another one. Greg. Who over break decided he was going to transfer to Penn State.
Losing Greg is a real kick in the gut. It sucks. The kid helped me through a lot, and him and I made some memories I will never forget. Although he's not the most affectionate guy he did admit to me once that I was the best friend he ever had. And he knows he's one of mine. I'm going to miss Greg like crazy. Hell, everyone here at Pitt who knew Greg is going to miss him like crazy. He's just a fun guy to be around. A guy that people tend to feed off of. Despite how much I love the kid when he asked me what I thought he should do (go or stay) I told him he needed to go. And believe me, that sucked. But over time I've learned that you can't hold on to things that believe they should be somewhere else. Greg believed he belonged at State College, and I wasn't about to argue with him. I wanted him to do what was best for him in the long run and I truly think Penn State is what's best for him. Greg wants to make money and petroleum engineers make a lot of money. So I told him he should go.
It's weird you know, telling someone to go, all the while wishing they would stay.
But Greg is gone and Dave is gone (for now). So this semester will be a learning experience. I can tell I'm going to get closer to guys like Jeff, Nick, and Zach. Probably even closer to Jared. Only time will tell I suppose.
(On a side note I'm almost done with the entire series "The Office")
I just finished an episode and this quote was in it. I love it.
"Love suffers long and is kind — it is not proud. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails and now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
NP: Alone Together- Fall Out Boy
Winter break was much needed. I spent most of my time spent laying around, watching Netflix, or hanging with my friends and family. I got to spend a lot of time with my friends which is always a blast. The other day Cindy asked me, "Do you think you can have a soulmate in a nonromantic way?" And after thinking about it for a while I told her that I suppose you can. My nonromantic soulmates are my six best friends from high school. They're the people I plan on keeping around for the rest of my life.
In addition to those friends I have another one. Greg. Who over break decided he was going to transfer to Penn State.
Losing Greg is a real kick in the gut. It sucks. The kid helped me through a lot, and him and I made some memories I will never forget. Although he's not the most affectionate guy he did admit to me once that I was the best friend he ever had. And he knows he's one of mine. I'm going to miss Greg like crazy. Hell, everyone here at Pitt who knew Greg is going to miss him like crazy. He's just a fun guy to be around. A guy that people tend to feed off of. Despite how much I love the kid when he asked me what I thought he should do (go or stay) I told him he needed to go. And believe me, that sucked. But over time I've learned that you can't hold on to things that believe they should be somewhere else. Greg believed he belonged at State College, and I wasn't about to argue with him. I wanted him to do what was best for him in the long run and I truly think Penn State is what's best for him. Greg wants to make money and petroleum engineers make a lot of money. So I told him he should go.
It's weird you know, telling someone to go, all the while wishing they would stay.
But Greg is gone and Dave is gone (for now). So this semester will be a learning experience. I can tell I'm going to get closer to guys like Jeff, Nick, and Zach. Probably even closer to Jared. Only time will tell I suppose.
(On a side note I'm almost done with the entire series "The Office")
I just finished an episode and this quote was in it. I love it.
"Love suffers long and is kind — it is not proud. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails and now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
NP: Alone Together- Fall Out Boy
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