2ndclepunkbuddha

As another year comes to a close, it's time to once again wax poetic and look back on what we have experienced and learned.  It was a difficult year, like the last few years have been for all of us.  I learned a lot, I had some wonderfully happy moments and my share of horrible moments, it was not as bad nor as good as some have been, and yet it certainly hasn't been boring.  Made some wonderful new friends, had a few new experiences, and discovered much about the world and within myself.  Certainly more than most people get to do with themselves, but most people aren't committed to such experiences in life.  The literal education experience continues for me.  After having been kicked out of the redneck middle school at the end of last year, had to petition with CSU to put me, once again, into Practicum.  As I am now familiar with the process and how it goes, when this happens (and I am not the first by any means) the higher institution that is wanti...

Years ago I was sitting with a fellow coworker and was trying to have a chat about things, some ice breakers and getting to know you type of questions.  I said when I was a little kid I wanted to become a superhero of some kind, hoping that I would discover, like in the folklore of Superman, that I would find that mysterious person or event that would transform, change or awaken a mysterious power or force within me that would give me the invincible powers I needed (super strength, the power of flight, x ray vision, etc.) in order to become one.  Of course, I realized that was downright silly and it wasn't going to happen, but in the innocence of youth you hope for things like that.  I asked the coworker before me what she wanted to be when she was a little kid when she grew up.  Instead of an astronaut or cowboy or movie star, she said "I figured whatever would happen to me would happen to me."  Of this answer I was disappointed, but have found this to be the c...

Someone posted some old photos on Facebook a few days ago.  Sure, that's what they all use it for, as a means of embarrassing others here or there with old memories which usually involve questionable or ill fated fashion or cosmetic choice (haircut, make up, etc.).  We all have a laugh about it and say "Well, that was the trend at the time" or "I didn't know any different", etc.  I saw one of these photos in question of, once again, a gal I went to high school with who used to astound me.  I won't name a name, of course, because, as I have said in many situations I AIN'T CRAZY (at least, not that crazy. Anymore that is.)  Anyone who may be reading this potentially I may have attended said institution in question and pass it onto the individual, but hey, don't we all have things we're embarrassed or ashamed about?  The particular in question used to sport a black leather jacket, wore vampire clothes and make up like the others in her goth rock...

Today I went online to register for my final CSU class which will begin in January.  Part of me is sad that this has come to an end, as I have truly thrived and enjoyed this (and all previous) academia.  I have learned a lot about myself and others, knowing what I do and don't want out of life through these last years.  Part of me is angry at the world and how it has treated all of us, this economy took a horrible dive, our world has changed quite a bit, and we are here living in the horror story of it.  Corporate jobs have all but dried up for most, we are living hand to mouth and in debt up to our armpits.  We have every reason to be bitter, and yet, I am filled with hope and many dreams at this moment.  Why now and not before?  There are several reasons. 1) The Scene - Ever since I came into The Scene 16 years ago, I have managed to surround myself with creative, talented people from all walks of life.  Much of it was centered around partying...

Hard to believe, but a third friend has died this year.  It's been rough having to see those who we love die around you, but this was truly unexpected.  Just last Saturday night, I was in Munroe's presence at the first Halloween party of the season and he was perfectly fine.  Bedecked in hip hop clothes, a sideways baseball cap and plastic, fake gold jewelry, he looked hilariously age inappropriate as a man in his early sixties.  We talked about nothing, or we talked about everything, or just how good the cupcakes tasted and he showed me he had brought a jug of vodka as it was a BYOB party.  And then, only two days later, he died of a heart attack (although not confirmed as the autopsy is not back yet as of this writing). Munroe was part of the Tremont scene, a staple at the main bar, Edison's (a.k.a. The Office).  He was an artist with a definite sing song quality about his voice, and he managed to be artistic without being pretentious about it.  He...

The next day, we awakened to trek out to a local movie theater that was rented so we could view the most recently released live concert footage DVD, "A Diamond in the Mind", on the big screen.  This was kind of the Comic Con moment since those who were hosting the event as well as those who had just finished some creative projects (related and unrelated to DD) were presenting a showcase for their work.  While sitting there listening to their presentations, I could not help but think of something in the recent past.  I managed at some point during this busy weekend to approach our cohosts, R and A, and told them that I too had hosted a fan party in my hometown in 05 for my a-ha group, and I knew the time and effort and tremendous stress involved in events planning and I commended them for their undertaking.  But I also backed off as well, because there are times that you as the host are so frazzled by all the craziness and organizational skills called to arms that the...

Social media has truly changed our lives.  Weeks ago, I had friended someone on Facebook who I knew was also a DD fan and who would be coming to the Chicago weekend.  We began chatting on the Instant Messenger and, long story short, we decided to become roommates for the weekend.  Some said when I explained it to others that I was crazy to room with a bunch of people I don't know, but I said it's kind of like college, boarding schools, summer camp or even starting a new job : you are suddenly thrown in with a bunch of people you don't know and you have no choice but to be friendly.  If they turn out to be psychos, you'll find someplace else to live.  It is a hotel, after all.  Just a few days before we left, C mentioned to me that there was someone else that she had met on Twitter who said that they were also from the Cleveland area who would be traveling on the same bus as me!  I searched for Twitter handles that might be who I was or wasn't looking f...

I am fully aware of the fact that people find me a bit odd, they always have from the time I was a child.  It doesn't bother me that much, it's just a fact that I was born that way and this fact is not going to change anytime soon.  True, I would like to think that I have changed and matured over time, as we all do.  We outgrow some things and we create new ones.  During that changing period from childhood to young adulthood (now referred to as the Tween years, approximately age 9 through 13-15 depending on maturity levels), while hormones were raging, causing us to go through physical and mental changes nearly psychotic in nature, there is a tendency to lean towards obsessive behaviors.  At some point, a thoughtful and innovative person or persons in publishing, marketing and entertainment industries decided to apply products, create an industry, and make a profit out of it.  Hence, the teen idol. Having written on this topic before, ...

I've gotten inquiries as to what the movie is/was that I was referencing in the last blog.  Someone was so generous as to upload the entire movie onto YouTube.  So here is the movie in question.  You've been warned, it's pretty bad.  And not so bad that it's good, but here it is.

Just recently, I came across a title on Netflix that jarred a long since dormant memory, A Night in Heaven.  It came out in 1983, when I was a scant age eight or nine.  We had just gotten HBO and Cinemax at some point and we had a subscription to a color printed periodical similar to that of the old TV Guide and I was thumbing through it for local listings.  MTV had just arrived as well, I cannot recall my first time viewing anything on that channel, but for some reason I did (and still do) remember seeing the ad for the movie A Night in Heaven.  It was a single photo of teen heart throb Christopher Atkins in sort of a John Travolta finger pointing up and down (you know that move, but I don't know what kind of dance move it's called) on a disco light dance floor.  Years later, I would actually see this cinematic gem (whose term I use sarcastically, of course).  It was about this guy who works nights as a male stripper who has an affair with his communi...

A Facebook friend posted this earlier today on the art of cow tipping.  That is, according to urban legend, legions of drunk men (and you would have to be in order to attempt such a feat) would sneak up on a cow, presumably while it's standing in a rural area asleep or minding it's own business, and shove it over.  Then, once witnessing the cow in complete distress, one would have a good laugh at some abusive expense similar to that of torturing a small animal or insect.  I have never witnessed this phenomenon, cow tipping nor animals of any kind being abused.  It is, as previously stated, an urban legend.  According to this online article, it might be nearly impossible to actually achieve : http://modernfarmer.com/2013/09/cow-tipping-myth-or-bullcrap/ I had not heard the term "cow tipping" in a very long time, but it reminded me of the last time I had had anything associated with the term.  A childhood friend of mine went to college in the Philadelphia...

It was time to pay the piper with the dreaded Student Loan.  It have not been feared, I knew it was inevitable.  What made me cringe was the fact that I would have to face Dad with this, and he was not a happy camper.  True, I keep in mind we are all in the midst of our own financial crisis all over the place and my family is no exception to this rule.  Mom and Dad have downsized just like the rest of us, but when your father says to you "This is the worst thing you have ever done", that makes your self esteem go right down the gutter.  I have come to realize in the last few years that is what men in general seem to like to do to women in direct or indirect ways : put down your self esteem because it makes them feel good about themselves.  Perhaps this is why women find themselves in such terrible situations with Alpha Males (aka Bad Boys), due to such mixed signals we get from our fathers.  How many times have I been at the mercy of one of his verbal ...

2013 and the last few years have proven to be difficult ones.  I have reached a certain point in life where people are just as likely to be dying as they are reproducing.  In the last few years, we have had to face quite a bit of death unfortunately.  Last week, one lost his battle and didn't make it.  He and I barely knew each other, we had had maybe three or four conversations since I first came into the scene sixteen years ago.  Tony played in many Cleveland bands such as Sissy, Backmonkeys and, most notably, Starvation Army.  I knew his wife before the two of them got together, and when they did, it was a wonderful yet tragic moment.  Without getting into too many details, it was a wonderful meeting of two people who met and fell in love.  Although they were both over forty (and I'll be there before I know it as well), they had a baby because neither had given up that it would or could happen for them.  A few days after their son was bo...

Some out there know what it is that I speak of when I say "panic attack".  This is not the same thing as a temper tantrum when things are not going your way or you don't get the things you want immediately.  Someone eats the last cookie or cupcake and you go ballistic because you wanted it.  So you come back around and say "there will be more cookies or cupcakes in my future".  A real panic attack can hit you out of no where, you believe that you are having a heart attack or a breakdown.  When this happens, you feel your heart beating like a five cylinder engine.  You break out in cold sweats.  It's hard to draw breath normally and it's shallow in your chest.  You can't concentrate, you're shaking, feeling a sense of numbness or tingle all through your body.  Your stomach is burning up and all foods taste like rubber.  Intestinal upsets also follow.  The worst of the worst I ever experienced hit me like a tidal wave, it spiked ...

When about to begin a new job the other week, I realized the other day that it has been more or less 15 years since I entered the workforce, and I wish I had a happier tale to tell than I have.   What would I say to my 22 year old self when about to start my first day as a full time working person that life would be good, that everything was going to be fine, that it would all be alright somehow?   Unfortunately I would not say that to my 22 year old self, or any other 22 year old self out there.   Work is a universal experience, something that is necessary in order to survive and have some kind of monetary gain coming into your bank account to fund what you would otherwise like to be doing.   That’s why it’s called “work” rather than “having fun”, after all.   After said 15 years in the workforce, this is what I have learned.             Many have chosen to go a more creative route when talking about w...

I was supposed to start a new job this week.  No, this is not a repeat of the nonsense of 2006 when I managed to go through three jobs in a year (the third one I was let go from because the whiner who I was working as a receptionist for said that he wasn't ready to get used to a new person and the woman who had quit and gone to another job he had asked to come back.  Insidentally, I dropped into that office a few weeks ago to give that guy a piece of my mind and there were two new people working there.  So much for resisting changes.)  This one is, once again, for a health company whose primary focus is to enter data.  It went through Congress a few years ago that all medical records have to be available on an Intranet system so all in clinical capacity have to be able to pull patient information up on a desktop, laptop, or tablet when seen.  Now all practices and facilities are in a mad scramble to get all their paperwork put onto said system, either by ma...

It has been said that if you want to know who your friends are, get yourself a jail sentence.  Dare I say that the same applies to one who has been admitted to the hospital or going through a divorce, as all three are like nightmares that you are never going to wake up from.  Some may say that the three may be worlds apart, but they are somewhat similar when you think about it.  You're confined to a place with others suffering but in just as much pain and mental illness as you, others are angry that you ended up there, and you want it to be over and done with as much as possible.  Forget about sleeping or being comfortable.  Of course, I have never been to jail for any reason.  I know enough about jail to know that there is nothing pleasant about being incarcerated.  For those who do not believe that, I say they don't have to listen to me but go there themselves and find out.  Also, I have never been through a divorce, but know that it too is like...