The Carnage and The Carnal

Today while I was attempting to pay attention to a dull lecture on the various conditions that are satisfied through majority rule concepts my thoughts wandered to sex*.  I was also thinking about the explication I have to write on a poem about a naked chick walking down stairs.  Then the lecturer mentioned something about war and I started thinking about both, sex and war.  And you know what?  They have a lot in common!  Let's explore!

1.  You must be mentally prepared for it.  Whether you're a wuss that doesn't like to kill people or you've got insecurities about your penis/vagina/butt/breast size, you've gotta be mentally prepared and committed to go.

2.  You need to be equipped.  Penis/vagina = guns/bullets or sticks and stones(William Wallace style).  With the dawn of modern technologies there are nearly an infinite number of combinations.  examples: plastic female recreational intercourse devices + belly button**, nuclear weapons pointed at small insignificant countries of no discernible value (to America at least) + big red button, nunchucks + Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, etc.

3.  Protection.  Self explanatory but some examples:  Condoms, birth control, bullet proof vests, trash bags***, etc...

4.  Hair.  This is more about the "hair on your chest" figure of speech in regards to war.  You should be old enough to grow hair down there in order to participate in sexual activity, even then it may be against the law(check ID's).  Though personal choices to shave/wax/manscape is fine, just as long as you're able to grow it.  If you're in the military and you're waxing your chest, you still can't tell anyone about it****.

5.  A withdrawal plan.  When you get in there it might get a little too hot to handle so you gotta be able to pull out at the appropriate time.

6.  Treaties.  You go in on their territory and violate their way of life with horrific methods, the least you can do is buy them breakfast.  Oh yeah, for war, kinda the same thing.  We screwed you in the ass, so here's some ass cream.

Ok, that's all I got.  Love(making) and war have a few things in common, but despite their similarities if I had a choice I know it would be an easy decision despite the messy, violent affair that it can be*****.

*this was between the normal thoughts of sex that occur every 8 seconds
**The belly button thing is weird, but along with technologies fetishes are also adding more combinations.  Seriously though, belly buttons?  While you were in the womb, your mother fed you through that hole...if it even really constitutes as a hole anymore.
***Don't ask, shit happens.
****today the senate failed to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"  
*****If it wasn't clear, I was talking about sex.

Losing Lost, Gaining Hope

The show Lost has finally ended.  Judging by the internet chatter it seems everyone has varying degrees of satisfaction on how it ended.  And despite the fact that my biggest question about the show wasn't fully answered, I am pretty satisfied. 

I am not a complete "Lostie", but during the week leading up to the finale I found myself with a bit of angst about what I will watch after it's over.  And now that it's over I feel, in a word, lost.  This show had many messages, but the biggest one that stands out for me is that no life is ever beyond redemption and no life, no matter where it has led, is without purpose and meaning.  Though I might be feeling a little "lost" I'm also feeling very much inspired and hopeful.  So what's next? 

Summer is upon us and I'm going through a lot of changes(no, it's not puberty).  After much deliberation, my store is closing.  Currently we have a sale going on to get rid of as much inventory as possible.  So if you happen to need sunglasses or eyeglasses let me know.  After that, a possible trip to Korea to visit family and friends again and once I return from that I'll go on a missions trip to Paraguay.  Then I'll be moving east to go back to school and that's about as far as I've gotten planned, but world domination is still one of the goals. 

There was a time in my life when I hardly watched any television.  I read newspapers on a regular basis.  Reading lists would actually shrink rather than growing to an insurmountable size.  I'd discover new music by actually going to see unknown bands and my knowledge of art grew from going to museums.  It would be nice to get back to that.  TV is great, but many nights I feel that I'm watching it because I have nothing better to do.  I want my life to have better things to do. 

Though the feeling of being lost can be very frightening, no one can find themselves, or anything for that matter, if you weren't lost first. 

Tea Parties

When I hear the term "Tea Party" I usually think of two things.  An event that took place in Boston hundreds of years ago by American revolutionaries that was essentially a big "F*#k You" to the English monarchy and children, along with stuffed animals, wearing their grandparents' clothes emulating adult behavior. 

I find it depressing to think that some grandchildren of this generation might someday dig through a trunk of old things and put on an Ed Hardy shirt or Juicy Couture track suit and sit around drinking over caffeinated, sugar packed blended drinks and feel "adult".  I hope this possibility is as unlikely as I think it is.  Sure, there are classy tea rooms around.  It seems to be a trendy thing for women to spend afternoons together at such places.  My sister attended a get together not long ago for a friend's bridal event.  What bothers me is that some women go to a "classy" type of event wearing halter tops, booty shorts and sandals. 

I get it.  Fashion changes.  Traditions evolve.  But we will always pay taxes.   So on this tax day I'd like to encourage you not to look at the ungodly amount of money deducted from your paycheck but the environment that you live in, which is supported by the government that you support.  Sure, it's not without it's flaws.  Unemployment is stubbornly high, teachers are getting laid off left and right, and the state you reside in is probably going through a budget crisis...  nevermind...

So last year I recall receiving my tax return and pretty much taking it to vegas and burning it.  This year I shall not.  It's only 400 bucks, but I am going to put it into a savings account, because that is what adults do.  Am I an adult or a child in a vintage suit with sneakers(which is considered fashionable btw)? 

Totally Random: Golden Shower

So on my way to work today, for no justifiable reason, I was thinking about golden showers.  For those of you who do not know this very crude term UrbanDictionary.com defines it as: The act of urinating on another person, usually for sexual gratification, or as a way of humiliation.  Random blog topic, i know, but I haven't blogged in a while and this is the only thoughts I've had recently that may or may not be of note(probably not).

Anyway, I was thinking about why would anyone want to do this to someone or even have it done to them and find it enjoyable.  It's a fetish I suppose, but one that I find really shocking.  Can you imagine the first Golden Shower ever performed?  What was going through that person's mind before they decided to suggest this act to another person.  "Hey, uh, so we're close, you know?  Uh... and we get along really well and... uh, i was thinking that... uh, well, would you--i mean if you're cool with...hrm... uh, Can i pee on you?"  If I were the recipient of such a request I'd probably run away in horror and avoid that person at all costs.  Or at least stay out of "range".  I'd avoid dark alleys and taking shortcuts across a park at night not afraid of rape or muggings, but of this person who might ambush me with their pee.  Weird...

The most famous golden shower would have to be R. Kelly's.  I don't know much about what happened but that dude is kinda crazy.  Apparently that was enough to inspire Dave Chappelle to parody R. Kelly in this music video appropriately named "Pee on you."  Here's a link: http://www.videovat.com/videos/883/dave-chappelle-peeonyou.aspx 

Hilarious!

Anyway, I hope I haven't offended anyone that has a propensity for this type of thing.  With it being Lent and Easter just around the corner, I couldn't help but wonder if something like this is a sin.  The Bible rarely mentions urine at all and unless it's outside of marriage I'm not really sure if it's definitely "wrong".  

p.s. I promise to write a blog soon on a more appropriate topic. 

A Decade Later

I'm no authority on time but I always considered this year to be the last in the first decade of the new millennium.  When 1999 ended it was the end of that decade and the beginning of a new one.  And now here I am at the end of another.  I've only been around for 2 full decades and I think this one was more fun.  Maybe it's because I became of legal age for alcohol consumption in this decade, or maybe advances in technology has made life more interesting.

NYE of 1999 does not seem like a decade ago.  I remember precisely where I was and who I was with that year.  And after pondering who I was ten years ago, I realized that I'm essentially the same person, just more experienced and wiser.  With that, I will make this last blog of the decade(it's not like there were many anyway) a list of  lessons learned and experiences had in this decade.

1.  Driving across the U.S. is a grueling process but one that can leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.  Memories that you're so fond of that you may do it twice, which I did.

2.  Living with your boyfriend or girlfriend is not a good idea, no matter how practical it may seem.  Cohabitation is reserved for the married and marriage minded couples.  You should be weary about a relationship that needs to move in together to assess compatibility.

3.  The three most important things to take with you when you travel is flexibility, an open mind and a positive attitude.

4.  I've been to Europe twice and for as long as I live I will never get tired of being there or wanting to go there.

5.  I will never regret time spent on my two mission trips to S. America.  And I hope I to spend more time doing positive work such as that. 

6.  After having given a few dollars to a homeless man, a friend asked if I always give them money.  I usually do and my reasoning is that if I don't give it to him, I'm likely to spend it on alcohol, cigarettes or unhealthy food.  The homeless man is saving me.

7.  Do NOT underestimate the power of a Porsche's engine. 

8. Vegas isn't just about drinking and gambling.  There are strippers there as well.  haha.

9.  Upon coming up to a woman in distress to help her I was greeted with a punch in the face.  Sometimes chivalry just doesn't get appreciated, that is probably why it's dying.

10.  Surprisingly, bungee jumping is much more thrilling than sky-diving.

11.  When drunk be cautious about who you ask to make-out.  They may oblige.  Just because you don't remember it, doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Since the advent of the digital camera, it is becoming increasingly likely that there is photographic evidence of your shenanigans.

12.  I'm beginning to suspect that happiness isn't a feeling, it's an outlook.

13.  Be cautious and consider those around you before telling off-color jokes.  You never know who you might offend.

14. Don't fall in love with hot dog vendors on Hollywood Blvd.  Somebody will get hurt...(*sigh...Natalia...)

15.  When you're uncertain about a decision flip a coin.  If you're unsure about the outcome just go with the opposite of what the coin flip told you.  I use the coin flip to expose my true feelings on the indecision.

16.  There's no point in being mean to strangers and don't give mean strangers the satisfaction of knowing they affected you.

Well, that's about all I can think of at the moment.  I'm sure there are plenty more and plenty more to be had.  I hope everyone has a wonderful end to this year and many blessings in the new decade ahead!

A Refreshing Perspective

Thanks to my friend Jeff, last night I discovered a new and very fascinating show.  It's called "Meet the Natives USA" on the Travel Channel.  The basic premise is that a group of natives from the island of Tanna in the south Pacific come to the USA to discover our culture and also deliver a message of peace. 

The people of Tanna are what we'd call primitive.  They have no running water, no electricity, and pretty much no clothes either.  They are traditional Hunter and Gatherers.

Although seeing their shock and awe of our life in America is amusing it's really their opinions on our way of life that is truly fascinating.

I recommend you watch the show but here are a few of my favorite moments from the few episodes I saw:

1.  While in NYC, they go to the Metropolitan museum.  The tour guide takes them to a section containing artifacts from their part of the world and they ask the guide why they stole their things? 

2.   Also while in NYC, they run into a homeless man in central park.  They have difficulty understanding why this old homeless man has to sleep outside when there are so many homes all around them. 

3.  In the O.C. episode they go to a spa and one of employees asks one of the natives if he'd like to look younger.  He says that he'd rather live longer.

4.  They go to a "botox party".  They wonder if the "medicine" also makes the life inside younger as well.

There's many other interesting moments and I find it really insightful and refreshing hearing their take on war, gay marriage and even economics.  If you get a chance, watch it. 

Season of Loneliness

So, its' been officially Autumn for a couple weeks now and this is a blog I meant to write a little sooner.

September is one of my favorite months. I don't know why. Maybe it's the nostalgia having to do with the beginning of a new school year. It has nothing to do with my birthday falling on this month. What's strange is that although this is one of my favorite months it's also one in which I feel the loneliest. It could be a feeling of loss. A loss of a summer, one without a memorable summer fling. A wasted summer maybe. Does anyone else feel the same?

The air changes this month and I feel so blissfully lonely and happy about it at the same time. Maybe it's the warm and glowing bodies from the summer sun. The air suddenly gets dry but heavy in your chest. There's an odor too, it smells as though the earth has matured. Everyday the sun settles sooner and leans southerly. The days are still temperate but the night brings a gentle chill. A warning for the frigid cold in the coming months. Then the winds start and so do the fires in this part of the country. The wind filters through the trees and the rustle is different. Not a playful chatter like in the summer, but more like an exasperated sigh. Those Santa Ana Winds, they sweep across the land and it feels like a baptism. A cleansing, a wiping of the slate. A reminder that the end of the year is quickly approaching and there is no time to waste.

You might be wondering how much more lonely I get during the holidays, but I don't, well not much really. I've associated those holidays with friends and family. And they're always there, keeping me busy. Valentine's day? When I'm single I see it as an opportunity to hang out with my single friends and not be bothered by the couples. I'm not self-loathing right now if that's what you're thinking. Just sharing my feelings about this season.

If a year was a story beginning in January, right now we should be in rising action, approaching the climax. Where are you right now in your year? What actions are to be made? Do you see the final conflict, goal, or obstacle ahead? Of course life doesn't fit into our man-made paradigms. I don't see any of it now for me and I've been doing a lot of thinking. My favorite part is the denouement(between Christmas and New Year's). It's always a thankful time. A thoughtful time, coming to conclusions and accepting the changes that occurred.

Well, one final thought. I was listening to Gravity by Sara Bareilles again. That is one seriously sad and tormented song. If I was a girl feeling lonely, longing for someone and I heard that song, I think I'd bawl my eyes out. I could not understand why so many women I know love that song so much. And then a few days later my friends and I were talking about "old school" R&B songs(All-4-one, boyz-2-men, New Edition, etc) and someone mentioned IV Xample's song I'd rather be alone. I remember listening to that song in my teenage years, driving in the rain, feeling sad and lonely. No one had even cheated on me, which is what the song is about, but I felt connected and loved that song. I'm not sure if I was even "in love" with anyone at the time. So, I came to wonder if loneliness is actually a positive emotion. Do we like feeling lonely? And do we complain about the feeling because that's just the way you behave when feeling it? Or does the loneliness actually feel bad but indicates the good will feel good when it comes? And has it occurred to anyone that loneliness is one of the most self-centered emotions? It's the feeling you get when you don't have a person that loves and adores you. Then again, it's one of the emotions that indicates that we're human and longing for something good. Ok, I think that was more than one thought. Anyway, the song Gravity makes me want to kill myself....in a good way.