Goodbye, Hello (Part 2)

Last week I said goodbye to something I love and hello to something I love just as much.  Today, I say goodbye to something I haven't been a part of since my parents gave me permission to dress myself, and hello to something I never leave home without.  Unlike leggings, I am not saddened by the fact warmer weather will force something into early retirement.  Many females will disagree, even more males will feel disrespected, but there is something I need to get off my chest.

Dudes who wear flannels... why?  Unlike leggings, flannels are not acceptable everywhere!  There is a time and place for them.  Like country concerts, county fairs, if you are in a Nirvana cover-band or if you are Al Borland (Home Improvement).  I thought this trend would only last a winter or two, it has been going on for far too long and I need to explain why it is not ok.  Much like winter Starter coats, I am hoping this flannel trend has ran its course.

Goodbye (hopefully for good),

To horrible men's fashion created by yesterday's lumberjacks and made socially acceptable by cast members of HBO's True Blood; flannel shirts.  I have friends who wear them, I know girls who find them, "sexy" but I guess I don't understand it.  Until someone gives me a rational explanation as to why they are socially acceptable, I will continue to SMH (Scratch My Head, I really think it's catching on).  I see them everywhere.  At the bar.  At the grocery store.  At the gym.  I even saw a kid who wore a flannel suit to prom.

Is it because they can make anyone look tough or mask winter weight?  Much like leggings can "tighten" up a women's back side, flannels create a mirage that makes any guy look more muscular?! Those horrible colors and wacky patterns really do confuse a person's vision.  I couldn't pull one off if I wanted to.  But to those of you who do, please retire them after this winter.  I promise you they won't be around next year and you will end up being that one guy who still wears all white Nikes because Nelly made a song about them 10 years ago.  

Hello,

To the male version of leggings, wife beaters.  Just like leggings can make a women's lower half appear fit, a wife beater can do the same for a man's chest.  I am personally a "chesty" fellow.  This is a great thing when I am going to the gym on a daily basis.  If not, I am left with Moobs (man boobs).  NO WOMAN wants a man with bigger breasts than her.  So, just like women with their leggings, it is important to maintain a regular workout schedule to fight against gravity.  Flannels can do wonders for any dude during the winter, but throw that guy a wife beater and see if he still looks like Paul Bunyan.  Probably not.

I think we can all agree that flannels don't belong near water.  You can't hide behind those square patterns during these warmer months my friends.  And you are no longer in 6th grade, no one is going to believe you have "sensitive skin" and that is why you wear a t-shirt in the water.  Throw on a wife beater instead.  I don't go anywhere without one under my shirt.  I guarantee they will make you feel a little closer to having pecs rather than moobs.  And like I said last week, it all starts with confidence and wearing the right size! If not, you will either look like a 6 year old boy with that belly shirt wife beater or an actual crack-head wife beater if it is too big.  And please, throw away those wife beaters that used to be white.  Yellow wife beaters are not acceptable.

We are all responsible for our own bodies.  Don't expect every female to look like Mila Kunis when you are walking around as the mirror image of Jonah Hill.  Winter attire can mask a lot of physical flaws.  But it is nearly summertime baby, get with it.  If you aren't completely confident with your body, do something proactive to make that change.  This isn't the winter, you can't hide behind flannels and leggings!

Goodbye, Hello! (Part 1)

Although I can't take full credit for this topic, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to write about it.  And yes, there is a Part 1 and a Part 2. Why? Because I don't have enough readers to piss off one particular gender so I have to poke fun at both.  Plus there are certain things that I need to tell both sexes... because everyday I see something that makes me SMH (scratch my head, i'm hoping that catches on).  Oh, and when I have a Part 1 and a Part 2 there is a 93.47% chance it will lean towards the funny side (it's been awhile).

With the weather changing it is time we say our goodbyes to some of winter's perks while saying hello to what spring has to to bring.  Nothing helps me come up with things to say about this topic more than spending an hour at the gym.  Months ago I would find endless rows of black leggings lined up on ellipticals.  Today, those rows have been replaced by neon color short shorts followed by tone legs that stretch for days.  It's like trading a Picasso painting for a van Gogh... they are both beautiful pieces of art and look great in your bedroom.

Goodbye,

To my favorite season of the year; Legging Season! - For the past so several years, leggings have replaced those 7 to 8 months where men actually had to use their imagination to see a woman's...lower half.  They provide a perfect silhouette of the areas that in the past, would go into hibernation.  For many male college students, leggings are the only motivation for them to walk to class in 6" of snow.  These things have seriously revolutionized the world! 

But lets be honest, they have done just as much for women as they have for men.  For example, during those same 7 to 8 months the majority of women used to let themselves... go a little.  You know what i'm talking about.  Rather than taking those 2 flight of stairs, you may decide to use the elevator.  Instead of that side salad, you get an order of fries.  Leggings now allow you to do so without feeling guilty.  Why? Because if you wear the right size they make you look like you do 500 squats and 1,000 lunges every single day.  But finding the right size is key because I can't tell you how many women have a hard time with this.  They should fit tight enough to prevent the "loose change" look in the back, but loose enough so you can still breath regularly.  

It seems like recently leggings have fallen into the, "one size fits all" category of the fashion world.  I don't know what magazine you ladies have read that suggests a size 10 can share leggings with her size 2 friend.    Leggings aren't for everyone.... if you are wondering if i'm talking about you, you probably shouldn't be wearing them.  Unless of course, you find that perfect size and you wear them with confidence.

Hello,

To everything warm weather brings! Less clothing, tan skin, those big ass sunglasses and flip-flops! Like I said, not a bad trade.... unless of course you were NOT one those ladies filling the leggings that were lined up at the gym.  Because with all the good leggings bring, they also come with a reality check.  That reality check usually arrives during this time of the year.

You see, the women who were actually in the gym wearing those leggings were doing so because they were preparing to trade them in for less material (shorts).  Leggings can hide a lot, shorts expose your bottom half to the world.  But women, don't worry, you have many other options; capris, skirts, (you can still wear leggings), and those sexy/mysterious towel looking things to wear over you bikini bottoms (you know, the ones Kim K wears. Because we go swimming together all the time).  I guess what i'm trying to say is you can still look amazing without those leggings! You just need to find what accentuates your body, and do it with confidence!

If I offended any of you women, sorry not sorry.  I didn't invent warm weather and I didn't advise you to "get fries with that".  Plus I will be doing the same to all the fellas out there... including myself! So if I did piss you off you should still tune in for the next post.  No one makes fun of me better than I do!

And to those of you who smiled during this post, good for you! You have been waiting to show those legs off haven't you?!

P.S. if you know what those little towel things are called that celebs use at the beach, please leave a comment.  Maybe I'll buy one for each of you (and the friend you share this with)!

  

Dreamers vs Realists

I have been wanting to write about this for awhile now.  This quote has been in the back of my mind for over a month and the appropriate time for me to post about it has finally come.  Before you read the second sentence, you probably already determined which one you are; the dreamer or the realist.  Then of course there will be the few of you who will say, "Ehh... i'm a little bit of both" (you are the weakest link in any group).

There has never been a doubt in my mind which one describes myself.  I have a lifelong list of ideas and personal goals with only a post-it note full of achievements.  A scary thought that would force most to make that jump into the realistic world.  The same world where decisions are made with your brain rather than your heart.  Where results are measured upon immediate physical evidence rather than limitless potential opportunity.

One of my closest friends once described me as the kind of guy who swings for the fence every at bat.  At first I didn't know how to take that.  It hasn't been until recently that I take pride in this.  Everything that I have accomplished thus far has been on my own account.  I have been fortunate enough to have friends who support me and for family who believes in me.  By no means do they understand my personal ambitions but they respect it.  That's all I can really ask for.

When you are a dreamer, you must establish some form of tunnel vision.  There will be doubters and even people who take jabs at what you are trying to accomplish.  It is these people who will keep you from fulfilling those dreams.  Not because they are unattainable, but because you allow them make you believe it is.

Are realists the doubters? Not necessarily.  They are the reason things actually get accomplished.  They are the stage crew.  They work behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly.  They have thought of every situation and will make sure everyone is fully prepared.  Without them, the show could potentially turn into a disaster!

But what most realists don't understand or appreciate is the fact that without the dreamers, there would be no show.  The dreamers want to change the world because they truly believe they can.  But it takes the realists to make these changes become something real.  Without the dreamer's attitude towards the phrase, "it can't be done" as unacceptable, imagine where our world would be.  For every innovative idea, there were millions who laughed at it or said it couldn't be done.

Sometimes I wonder if the realists wish they could actually be dreamers.  Whether they are too afraid of failure or they simply don't have the confidence to stick their neck out.  Either way, it's ironic how the dreamers are those who are most excited to get out of bed to make their dreams become reality while the realists fantasize about their dreams.

  

Small Town

It isn't often that I brag about where I come from.  Guernsey County (Senecaville, OH to be exact) is not the most exciting place to grow up.  Without a shopping mall, only one movie theatre and a hand full of McDonald's, the majority of entertainment rests on late night trips to Wal-Mart.  Sure, there is plenty of land to hunt, multiple lakes and ponds to fish, and endless dirt roads to explore but I never wanted anything to do with that.  I was too busy anticipating the day I could graduate and move away to college.  But as my number of returns back "home" decrease each year, my appreciation for the place that allowed me to become the person I am today continues to grow.  

In such a small community; there aren't many strangers, not a lot of secrets and certainly not much privacy.  During our teenage years this is what we dread the most.  When everybody knows everybody, it isn't hard to open the door to certain judgments and criticism.  It can make it difficult to truly express yourself without the fear of who will say what.  The same community that can make you feel like an outcast is the same community that comes together whenever tragedy strikes.  In such a safe environment, it isn't often we are faced with bad news.  But when we are, it affects us all.  

A few days ago we were forced to face such news when we lost a member of this tight knit community. Although she hasn't been the first person to leave us too soon, it still hurts like a new experience.  It's an experience we all fear.  To hear the news that someone who always seemed within an arms length is no longer with us.  The inability to see her smile again or the chance to say a final goodbye will forever create an internal emptiness.    

I never had the opportunity to actually meet Natalie, but it is obvious to see the joy she spread to those who did.  It makes me regret never taking the time to actually get to know someone who was a Facebook friend.  Her pictures would pop-up on my timeline and she always seemed like such a free spirit. The kind of girl who was brave enough to express herself without the fear of what the community may say.  Her impact on her friends, family, and peers will leave a lifetime impression. 

An impression that should be applauded by all.  For living in fear is not the way we should conduct ourselves.  After reading every post on her timeline, it is encouraging to see the love people had for her.  I just hope she knew this while she was still here.  

New York, New Projects

Every so often it's important to switch things up.  Falling into a stagnant lifestyle where every day consists of the same routine is not healthy.  You will lose your edge.  If you are anything like myself, you will also lose your mind.  Challenging yourself with new surroundings and new tasks will keep you on your toes.  It will allow you to adapt to certain situations.  When tomorrow begins to feel a lot like yesterday, this is when your brain becomes lazy which eventually leads to complacency.

To personally avoid complacency, my roommate and I began planning last November for a weekend in New York City.  When I say planning I really mean we agreed upon the dates we would arrive and depart.  We wanted to go into Manhattan care free.  Zero plans, no itinerary, and certainly not a to-do list.  I guess you can say we didn't want to feel like tourists.  Each day we would wake up and discuss the day during breakfast.  No stress.  No schedule.  

This lifestyle wouldn't last if we actually lived in New York.  There are 2 types of people in NYC.  Tourists and residents.  Slow walkers and speed walkers.  Those who stop at "don't walk" signs and those who don't flinch at the sound of car horns.  It's obvious to see who is who.  By the end of our visit, I was annoyed with the tourists.  New Yorkers stop at nothing until they get there.  It wouldn't take long to fall behind in this city.  

People are on the move not because they have places to go or people to see, but because they are pursuing their dreams.  Every individual we talked to told us their story.  The common denominator is that they understood the opportunities available in the city and the endless possibilities that may result from them.  They understand that every customer they wait on or every random conversation they have has the potential to open new doors.  Doors that can fulfill their dreams.

The pride I felt after publishing my first book was a brand new experience.  The title, Young and Hungry was something that not only described myself, but also my peers.  The rest of Generation Y.  I would be lying if I didn't question my own hunger while observing the hustlers and grinders in New York City.  From street show performers to hot dog vendors who couldn't even speak english.  They are all just trying to make it.  That definition of "make it" varies from person to person.  It could mean reaching their career aspirations to making enough money to put super on the table.

New York was a serious gut check.  It opened my eyes to another world where nothing is guaranteed.  The city never sleeps because it doesn't have an option.  Everyone is spending every second simply trying to "make it".  When you are truly pursuing something you love there is no time for sleep.  Because if you really are pursuing a passion, you would rather be working to make that dream a reality rather than dreaming about it becoming a reality.

Easter Sunday

In the past, Easter Sunday meant going to church with my Grandma.  Since I can remember, every year was the same routine.  My grandma would welcome us with a glowing smile and embrace us with a hug.  It was always obvious how proud she was to walk into those doors and show off her family to the rest who were in attendance.  These people would only see myself and the rest of my immediate family twice a year.  It is as if we are her most luxurious accessories.  After church we would grab some brunch.  We have gone to the same place for the past 6 years.

At least until this year.  Instead of walking my grandma through the doors of our church, I'll be in New York City preparing to watch a Knicks game in Madison Square Garden.  Is that what I would rather be doing?  Not at all.  It's actually a big leap for me to break from tradition and adapt to change.  I'm not a big fan of change.  But sometimes it's necessary to break out of your comfort zone and try something new.  I will still call my grandma and wish her Happy Easter and fill her in on this New York trip.  I'm sure she's been worried since the moment my mother told her where I was going.

In a city like New York, you really get a taste for every culture this world has to offer.  You see people who don't know where they will be spending their night tonight.  You see people who don't have family to call to wish Happy Easter.  It gives you a chance to appreciate what you truly have and feel blessed to feel a little bit of guilt for breaking such a tradition because I have family who will miss my presence.  New York is always on the go, but I will be sure to stop to make sure my family also feels the pride I have for them.

Happy Easter everyone and remember why we celebrate.  And Mom, if you're reading this, I do expect an Easter Bunny basket to be waiting for me on my bed when I return on Monday.

YOUNG AND HUNGRY

It's finally published!!  For the past 10 months I have been diligently writing, editing, researching, editing, planning, editing and living my first book, YOUNG AND HUNGRY; A College Degree is Expensive Cooking Spray.  I emphasis the "editing" because I finished writing in January.  Since then I have been erasing, rewording and stressing before I finally closed my laptop.  Now that I can recite the entire book from front to back, I'm comfortable to share it with the rest of you.

What is the book about?

I'll give you the very first paragraph:

"After my initial four years of college, I was not ready to graduate.  I knew that if I did, I would forever miss the place I spent the most important years of my life.  The four years that equipped me to look at life through the lens of an egotistic entrepreneur with little experience and a life long list of ideas.  At the end of those four years, I was not yet prepared to say goodbye to the friends who eventually became more like family.  Not ready to begin searching for a real job that would lead to a career.  Not willing to exchange my drunken debates with boring meetings.  I wasn’t even ready to replace ramen noodles with steak and shrimp."

Since the moment I crawled out of my cap and gown I have experienced mixed feelings towards my college degree.  It seemed like my most successful friends were those who didn't shake a man's hand on stage.  The same people I shared a college campus with were those feeling pressure to become waitresses, cold callers and bartenders.  Not the most ideal careers to pay off thousands of dollars in student loans?!

One day while feeling undervalued at my internship (I settled for an internship after graduation) I decided my degree wasn't worth the tree they cut down.  From that moment I decided to share my personal thoughts and experiences of my first full year in the real world.  I can honestly say all I have to show for the past 12 months is a story... that I hope you can relate to, learn from, or laugh at.  The memories I have created, people I have met, and lessons I have learned are far more valuable than any 9 to 5 salary.

My goal in life has always been to leave an impression.  With this book I intend to do just that.  Generation Y is a different breed of individuals.

"Generation Y is by far the most versatile and unique group of individuals.  Our competitiveness separates us from previous generations.  Our will to succeed without the patience to start from the ground and work our way up leaves many in a confused state of mind.  We are always thinking of that next innovative idea that will generate millions of dollars while influencing the world.  We know what we want and we want it NOW.  Success has replaced the dollar sign.  The definition has evolved into something more than returning to your high school reunion in a Mercedes."

I guess what I am trying to do is encourage my peers (and those who will find themselves in our shoes) to pursue your dreams and to not give in to the constant pressure to simply "pay the bills" with a job that you will regret accepting when you're 40.

Although YOUNG AND HUNGRY is primarily intended for Generation Y, I hope this gives older generations a better understand of what we are about.

We all know we are Young and Hungry, we just prefer to take our time looking at the menu for exactly what we want.

(Click on the Book's cover at the top right of the website purchase the ebook.)