Natural Tranquility

It's disheartening to spend your time reverencing nature and watching the Earth suffocating under tons of concrete while nobody seems to care. - Scott Cunningham

Eleven positions, ninety minutes, minimum protection

Of course I'm talking about soccer ;)

The sport has been a big part of my life. I played for twelve years, eight of those being in a league. So of course the FIFA World Cup, which started today, is kind of a big deal. You know how numerous American families are during the Superbowl? That's mine during the World Cup. We sport our favorite jerseys, gather in the living room, and shout at the referees and opposing team members.Yeah. We get really into it.

And of course having good-looking men to watch is a bonus.

Yoann Gourcuff: French Midfielder

 David Villa: Spain Forward

Arne Friedrich: German Defender

Of course I will be cheering for the USA team, but honestly they are not my favorite. No offense to anyone, but our men's soccer team is weak. Which I guess is to be expected from a country that really isn't into soccer; compared to the rest of the world, anyway.

So instead, the main team I will be rooting for is Germany. They work well together, executing excellent plays, and show no mercy. I love an aggressive match because, to me, that's how the game should be played. Just mow the opposing player over, don't rely on fancy footwork to break the defense. Will you be watching any of the World Cup? If so, who are you cheering for?

Not goo-goo for Gaga

I don't mind Lady Gaga, really I don't. Sure her videos kinda frighten me, but I will admit that she does have some catchy songs. My problem doesn't lie with Gaga. Not entirely. My problem is with her die-hard fans, aka The Gaga Police. Every time a female artist does something weird, they spam the comment area, exclaiming that she copied Lady Gaga. This is particularly true for Christina's new video, Not Myself Tonight. 

If you scan through the comments, you will see one of two replies made by a Gaga fan. One is along the lines of "OMG! She is a total copy cat! Why can't she get her own style?!?" The other common reply is "Gaga is Queen of Pop!" I didn't want to say anything to this, but damn it, I have to write it somewhere.

First of all, female artists have been doing weird long before Stefani Germanotta became Lady Gaga, including Christina Aguilera. Secondly, Christina reinvents herself so that no two albums sound the same. Can you say that about Gaga? Nope, didn't think so. Also, I have to say that "copy" is a bit harsh, regardless of who you're speaking of, for few artists actually copy someone else. Instead they pull inspirations from other artists to try to make something that is their own. That's just how pop music works.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it takes more than two CDs to be deemed the Queen of Pop. That title still belongs to the one, the only, Madonna. Who, I might add, "inspired" Lady Gaga's newest video/song, Alejandro.

So please, Gaga Police, take your artist off the pedestal already.

You're just yesterday's prize

There was a time when I wanted you, a time that lasted a lot longer than it should have. A time that should have ceased before now.

I must say that it is quite liberating to have you free from my thoughts, to see your name on my news feed and feel nothing. Not anger, not happiness, not love or hate. Just, nothing. As much as I would have liked another chapter in our book, the tale ends here. That’s the way you wanted it, so that is the way it will be. Maybe someday there will be a sequel, one with a better ending, but I am done entertaining that idea.

I do not miss us. Not anymore. My eyes are on the future now.

The mistakes I've made in this life, I can't say why or when. But the thing that's strange is you only live once, I'll never look back again.

Bloggerstock: What is your theme song?

Bloggerstock was formed by a small group of bloggers who connected on 20SB. Participants are given a single topic to write about and post on another's blog. The blogs are linked together, essentially forming a blog-ring of related posts.

About our guest blogger, Ella Unread: "Pedestrian between teen years and adulthood... Terribly random and never afraid of showing the way I feel... Willing to be considered the modern Joseph Conrad one day. Not an easy goal, I must admit."

What is your theme song?

I'd have to go and check my iPod in order to answer that question, but first you should know I am one of those freaks that only have like 300 songs...why, you'd ask, if you have so much space? Well, the fact that I have more space left doesn't mean I want to fill it, you packrats!

I don't have a song. There. I said it.
 I beat around the bush because I really don't have a particular song that would be mine, that, except for a song that was written for me...I guess that would be my theme song, literally. But let's not get into those dark waters...

I like different songs on different days, though I am always listening to the same playlist over and over again, till I can't stand Basket Case anymore, that's how creepy I am.

There is a song, however, that reminds me of a hard time in my life i.e. last year, it was one of the best years of my life, but I needed some musical therapy in order to put up with it. That's when The All American Rejects came to save me. (I am saying this with all the pain I can find, for I am a Blink 182 + Green Day fan and I should stab myself and practice a harakiri as you read this for being such a traitor).

Anyway, this song lifted me up when I truly though I had run out of strength.

It's so cheesy but effective that it reminds me of myself listening to it, walking at night, trying to pretend everything was OK, trying to hold on...I can still feel the Summer heat become Autumn's breeze through my hair...I can still remember the chills of the end of Autumn and packing my belongings...I remember holding on to the small things and I see myself now... I moved along.


 
Want to know what my theme song is? Check it out at Just The Ashes.

Lessons from an all-nighter

Birds start chirping at 3:30AM. Yup. It's true. Those little son-of-a-guns made the night feel that much longer.

More people are on Facebook between 1:00 and 3:00AM. Really? I mean, really? Well now I feel incredibly lame for always being in bed by one o'clock.

If I were to take a taxi from my place to my aunt's, it would cost about thirty bucks.

The site from which I got the above information also gave me three wrong numbers for taxi cab companies.

Abdominal swelling could be a sign of many things including pregnancy, gallbladder disease, hernia, food allergies, gas, as well as about 500 other possibilities.

There are no 24-hour clinics in this city. If I were an animal, that would be a different story. Three 24-hour animal clinics and none for humans... am I the only one who sees something wrong with this?

Pizza fries are a terrible idea. Though I am not one hundred percent sure, there is a good chance that this is what kept me up all night. Next time I go out for half-price, I'm buying dessert.

I hate to say "I told you so."

Actually, few things are more enjoyable than saying "I told you so" to a wrong individual. This time, however, I'm not too happy that I am right. That my prediction is coming true.

One lazy afternoon a couple years ago, Hannah Montana was on my aunt's TV. I was 19 at the time and wishing that she would stop turning it to Disney Channel every time I walked into the room. But she did (in fact, she still does) and I ended up watching 30 minutes of Miley dragging her friends into trouble as she struggled to maintain her secret identity. At some point during the episode, I had concluded that she would soon ditch the Disneyfied sweet-girl act and for a more mature look. And by "mature" I mean promiscuous. Or, as some would say, Britney-esque.

It seems as though that day has come for Miley. If you haven't seen it yet, here is her new music video.



Sort of says "Eff you, Disney" doesn't it? Welcome, Miley, to the ranks of Britney Spears.  Although... the worse that Britney did at your age was bare her midriff. It took Miss Spears 2-3 years before she reached your maturity level, Miley.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on Miley's new single/video?