Blank. Blank. Blank. Blank.

So I was channel surfing and there was an advertisement for Twilight followed by American Horror Story. How appropriate. This got me thinking about how the media (especially television and Twilight) sets bad examples for learning about love, romance, courtship, and healthy relationships.

Ways to Avoid Conversation in a Crowded Area

Be glued to your phone (possibly literally because it may drive people away).
Hide out in the bathroom or in another room.
Pile a mountain food onto your plate. Can't chew and talk at the same time.
Listen to your iPod.
Pretend you have a disease that prevents you from listening to one person for too long.
Talk about yourself. All the time. People will leave you alone. Unless you're awesome and people love to hear about you. Hey, that must make you a celebrity.
Give one word answers. Be as simple, uninterested, and monotonous as possible.
Don't ask questions. Ever.
Don't make eye contact.
Read a book/Kindle/Nook.
Whip out your laptop/iPad. Don't forget earphones!
If you can plan ahead, dress eccentrically.
Be drunk. I'll let your imagination play with that one.
Bring up uncomfortable topics to drive people away.

When I Get Where I'm Going

Writers. Actors. Singers. Dancers. Painters.

Artists are known for their creativity, freedom, and thought-provoking pieces. With art, there are no rules (maybe a few, but no major ones other than don't plagarize). Things are clear-cut and uncut and people shout "Cut!" And they can do it all at once (must drive those who live by logic bonkers).

Art throughout the USA is suffering great cuts in the school system. Physical Education is getting hit as well, which is silly as well because studies have shown the enourmous benefits from daily exercise. I saw a post that once read "'I so regretted that work out.'" -said no one". Plus everyone could use some extra dopamine, energy, and weight-loss these days. When I was in high school, I didn't mind that art was being cut. I never could draw anyways and it didn't affect me any. The only art I took was Choir from grades 7-9 and Drama in 8th grade. It's a shame I didn't reach enlightenment earlier as well as a shame that my school had a poor arts program to begin with. It was as though I was taught the unimportance of art in society through my teachers. And now it's all but gone. A mere memory in this time-centered rush-rush world.

Where would the world be without art?

• Alan Alda described it as a gray place.
• Electric Company Theatre (ECT) posed this question to me via an online article. The author never penned out the question; it was more like ECT's statement or goal/purpose of their theatre. They put on plays that exhibit the artist's role in society. Reading about it blew my mind for some reason. I suddenly understood that artists were in every nook and cranny of the world and that we cannot forget them, we just forget to look for them. Artists have played a role in shaping humanity and promoting us to higher forms of thinking. Without them, the world the stage is empty. Life is not a stage, but a dull, monotonous robot.

Truth is, we need art like we need air. Pretty much everyone is in possession of a television. And what's on television? Actors! Ideas! And a little bit of news and weather. The occasional channel might play music. People would be lost without their precious sitcoms or reality shows to entertain them. Technology is taken for granted that if we were to lose power, the world would be lost. They'd actually have to amuse themselves and think for themselves. Maybe they'd have to go outside or be a productive member of society. What they fail to realize is that art helps to challenge us and bring outside our comfort zone.
Through movies especially, it gives the viewers a chance to explore and experience something they never will be able to in reality. And hopefully learn a lesson along the way. One can never really forget that moment in your history class when you see footage of protestors being beaten and shot point-blank or emerging literally bone-thin Holocaust victims who barely look human because of their received inhumane treatment or terrorists burrowing inside and bringing down the World Trade Center in an avalanche of dark gray smoke. That shock can rock one to the core and the images cannot be unseen or shaken off. They remain with a hard-learned lesson that hopefully history never repeats.

The artist and his/her art is underappreciated. If we're not part of their world, then we--the artists--don't exist or aren't important. Some people don't dabble with the arts because it's not all sunshine and daisies. People don't read certain books because they don't believe in the matter the story may focus on. Or they believe they're smart enough and don't need to read or perhaps they prefer a physical work-out instead of a mental one. If non-artists/non-art-appreciators happened to go to a play that made them uncomfortable, chances are that they won't ever return because they'll associate going to the theatre with an unpleasant emotion. Dealing with music requires unheard of--except by those who study it--extraordinary elements. There are so many layers and rules for all types of music. By studying them, musicians learn the do's and don'ts and the don'ts are the ones that sometimes have to be broken to stand out. Dancing is tough work and it takes more time and dedication and discipline than most have the patience or strength to endure. Weeks of prepartion for a some nights of near-perfection. I've heard from many people that the ones who can draw are talented but that their work wouldn't ever make them money. Money shouldn't determine happiness. Look at the artists who sculpt, paint, build sets, create book covers, illustrate, or work on animation for films and television.
Apologies for the cynicism, but people are pompous because they refuse to broaden their world-view and remain open-minded.

Like any other brainwashed teenager in my community, I thought art existed for entertainment or an escape. Fun fact: People went to the movies in the early days to 1) sit in the air-conditioning for several hours 2) get news and 3) to escape the pandemonium of reality. I'm sad to admit that I was always scared to stand up for what I believe in. I was scared of getting my name pinned to something negative if I gave voice to something where it could come back to bite me in the butt. That was high school.

Now that I'm in college, my world has been opened up. I'm involved in Theatre and seeing plays and living the sensation of being challenged and exposed to ideas and issues. I also read like nobody's business. If it's a good read, that is. I enjoy books almost more than I enjoy reality at times. When I'm angry or bored or need to escape from my parents, I still immediately hit the books and dive into a world with a meaning and a message. I immerse myself in the stories just like I immerse myself in movies which is why I get so attached to the characters and storyline and may cry at intensely happy or sad moments.

Artists are quite intelligient. They have their own language and know society's language too. They also understand how greatly appearances matter. Presentation is subconsciously taken into account no matter how unbias people say they are. This feels insufficient as to what could be said about the artist. They matter, just like lawyers, politicians, scientists, service-providers, the common worker. What artists represent, however, is that one never can or will stop learning. That what makes the world complex is not only the people but the intangible ideas and beliefs that no one person knows all of. There's so much knowledge and mystery in the world that it would take several lifetimes to even scratch the surface of comprehending it all. The wonder of the universe and each individual interpretation is what makes life interesting and worth exploring because through that we find purpose, some truth, some peace, and some happiness. Nothing is guaranteed yet expect everything.

Make life beautiful and enjoy every minute.

Sleeping Beauty

Pale. Clammy. Despair. Striking. Lifeless.

Death, though a natural part of life, is many things. Besides taxes, it is the one thing guaranteed in life. It steals unexpectedly. The subject of afterlife is one of the greatest mysteries on earth. Death be not proud. The wages of sin are death. Death has numerous names: the Grim Reaper, the black carriage, etc.

The irony is that death seems insignificant when it's only one person when compared to the whole world. People fail to understand how one person can mean the whole world to others. A death in the family means rearranging your life in its entirety and you never know how much you need that person in order to have stabilization. As humans, we get too comfortable with the status quo and change is difficult. That's what made the transition to college so difficult. What I think graduating will be. Moving to a new house. Having a baby. Death.

We read about death in books, see it in film, and hear about it from others, but, like parenting, we are never taught this in any class and don't need a license for it (though we are issued a death certificate). It, unfortunately, is something that must be experienced. And not everyone grieves the same way.

Death is one of the scariest things to think about. I don't want to lose anyone close to me. I just experienced the most awful, nerve-wracking, adrenaline-pumping week of my life in which four family members were afflicted. I stick to my ideology of no news is good news. The only time you often hear from people is when something goes wrong. Heck, most families are lucky if they ever have a family get-together because they claim they have "no time" in their busy schedules. Yet, familes drop whatever is in their life to attend a funeral and pay their respects and say hi to the family and maybe even provide comfort. I've only attended one funeral in my life and I did not enjoy the experience. I sat with my cousins in the back before and with them during the ceremony in the second or third row.

I want life to stay as it is (stationary) as I move forward. However, you can't always get what you want. Life has to go on. Babies are born as elders die, and the circle of life is complete once again. We never know when our last day is (only God knows). Cherishing and appreciating what you have is difficult when you've had it since you can remember. Let's hope and be thankful for our loved ones everyday. For death, cruel, cruel death, be not proud.

Make life beautiful and enjoy every minute.

Good Luck Will Rub Off When I Shake 'ands With You

Haste. Smoke. Lights. Fire.

A chimney sweep.

The first word that popped into my mind when I saw the chimney inspector at our door was eccentric. He was wearing a black top hat with a peacock feather sticking out. When I answered the door, he gave a little child wave and greeted me as if he knew me. The way he talked with me made me wonder if he was extremely friendly or lonely. He had a large silver ring with something green and green shamrocks on it located on the ring finger of his left hand. He made conversation easily enough whilst he did his work as I was awkwardly stood around. As he left, he shook my hand, reminding me that it's good luck to shake a chimney sweeper's hand. As he left, echoes of Chim Chim Cher-ee played through my head; "Good luck will rub off when I shake 'ands with you."

Let's backtrack.

It most often takes lift-threatening events to initiate change. For me, it was yesterday: the second chimney fire we've encountered. The first was five or six years ago. Mostly I remember tons of smoke as my parents put the fire out themselves. We smelled like smoke for a couple days. Or the other major thing I recall was that I got called into the office near Valentine's Day because the drug dogs sniffed out my Creosote ridden winter jacket. I had a picture of Ryan Ross in my backpack that I was embarrassed about the principal seeing. It wasn't indecent or anything, just a random picture of a guy on computer paper.

I'll gloss over the details of that.

Life values.

Something in me handled the situation of fire at our house this year well. When I was informed of the fire, there wasn't much I felt the need to preserve. Sure, I'd like to save everything, but I didn't feel too attached to anything. There'd be items I'd miss, irreplaceable photos, journals, toys, and then, of course, the memories that accompany some of the items. I'm fairly certain everyone has played the "If your house was on fire, what object(s) would you save?" game. I don't have a big list as many items are replaceable. Why worry? You don't need objects to make you happy. People were put on this earth so all would not be lonely.

America has become markedly materialistic. The emphasis we place on having "things" is striking. Elementary through high school is all about image and what you own.

People are clouded by looking to the future instead of focusing on the present. "You never know what you got until it's gone." People are always saying appreciate what you have, and people listen...for the moment. But they have that tendency to forget it after a good night of sleep. Adaptation and advances in technology contribute to us confusing our standard of living and always expecting more. It is good to learn how to live from the past. Time was actually enjoyed and not ultimately dictated by the numbers on a watch or cell-phone.

Make life beautiful and enjoy every minute.

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Horror. Breath. Desperation. Edgy.

Paranoia is fear. Movies of the suspense or horror variety can instill the sense of impending harm. People fear the unknown. They fear failure, rejection, pain, spiders, heights, death, having no control. The craze of our generation is apocalyptic apprehension. We are in the dark when it comes to knowing the future.

Things that go bump in the night:
Cats
Wind
Wind chimes
Creaky house
Charlie Sheen
Stuff falling off dressers
Drunk people
Murderers, assassins, thieves
Doors

A good dose of fear reminds you to stay on your toes. It gives you an adrenaline-rush. Society makes a great use of fear; it's a great motivator to drive certain actions. You never know what could happen.

Fear of monsters, a childish nightmare, has stuck with me even now. When I was young, I sometimes used to sleep with an arm hanging over the edge of the bed. I was cured of this when I saw the episode of Rugrats with the monster under the bed with a deep, threatening voice. I know that there is nothing under my bed now. Quite frankly, it's too compact for anything. Yet, in the back of my head, there's always that "What if?" that rears its ugly, maleficent head. I know no monsters lurk, but the definition of monsters remains ambiguous since I hit puberty. There are others ways to scare and be scared.


But really. Where are you safe? Under the blankets is for children. No sheet of satin can save you. What can a gun do against aliens, the unnatural, or the supernatural? In a room full of other people, you can still be mercilessly picked off. A quick flash in the dark and your friend has disappeared, you're finished. The nooks, crannies, and closets in your house are not enough to hide you, or if they are, you could be easily found out. Not even roller coasters are child-tested, mother approved. There are still incidents of the cars falling off the track, seat belts or harnesses unclasping, and getting stuck in one place. The arms of a lover offer little protection from death. Safety is an illusion.

Sleep well. Make life beautiful and enjoy every minute.

At Three A.M. I Don't Know Where To Begin

Bored. Tired. Famished. Don't want to do homework.

People always make lists of how to avoid procrastination, so here's one to help you to do just that.

1. Find something to eat. You look in the fridge many times hoping to spot something you missed the first ten times searching. You're never too full for a snack.
2. Go clean something. Chances are you've been letting things get a little messy while you've been busy doing homework.
3. Internet (StumbleUpon, Twitter, Facebook, AddictingGames, IMDB, Wikipedia, Blogger, Shopping, Email, YouTube, the Weather, Pintrest). You're here so you've already covered this one.
4. Blog. People love to talk and have attention on them. Why not be one of them?
5. Bake something. See number one.
6. Take a walk. You need to clear your head before you start your homework. And you might bump into someone you know and make plans to go out tonight.
7. Listen to music. Nothing like dancing or singing or listening to energize you!
8. Road trip!
9. Plan a murder. You don't have to follow through, but sometimes it's a nice thought and distraction. Creativity and morbidity is encouraged.
10. Plan out what work you need to get done. This seems productive, but really you're just organizing what you have to do.
11. Work out. It's healthful, and you get an adrenaline boost. And sweaty, which you can either work to your advantage or go shower.
12. Dance party/jam session in the bathroom or hallway. If you go to a school similar to mine, that shouldn't be too difficult.
13. Be a ninja.
14. Call a friend and say you'll do homework together. Because that works every time. Unless you have nerdy friends, you good student, you!
15. Write a letter to one of your friends. College students love getting mail.
16. Watch a movie.
17. Color. Nothing like cracking out the old crayons or Twistables to help give your room that je ne sais quoi.

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment. Make life beautiful and enjoy every minute (even procrastinating).