If at first you don’t succeed…

So guess what… I jacked up my chili. I didn’t take my time and messed it up. I am not very pleased with this. And instead of just taking the L, I am going to punish myself by making another batch. That is what happens when you don’t pay attention. It is because I haven’t been cooking as much as I used to.

Today I felt a little lost in the kitchen. It sucked because I like to pride myself in my ability to cook. Lately I really haven’t been in the mood to cook and I really didn’t feel any big urge to do so today. However some co-workers have been asking about my chili and it makes me happy that they actually liked it. So now I am getting ready to make another batch. The worst part of it is that I would have been fine if i would have just slowed down and paid more attention. Lesson learned… for now.

FDC…

Growing up, I knew that there were things out there that I wanted to do. I wanted to travel to crazy places and I wanted to eat new foods. I wanted to go on crazy adventures and I wanted to experience new things. For a large part of my life I didn’t do many of those things and there are still things that I want to do, but I am starting to do more and more of them.

While in college I invented a group with a bunch of my friends called the Fine Dining Club (FDC). While we haven’t been as active lately as we would like, together we have gone to many restaurants and eateries. I really love my FDC members. They are among my closest friends that I have. First and foremost is the member that likes fancy food the least is my wonderful wife Taria. She would rather have a hot dog instead of satay, but I love sharing new experiences with her. The second member is my old boss and buddy for life, Scott. Scott is a great guy who always has my back and is one of the wiser people that I know. My buddy Mary is one of the most loyal and giving people that I know. She is always down for some good food and great conversation (even if she is usually quiet). My sidekick Nichole is always a joy to be around and she is a great compliment to such a diverse group. And last but not least is the vegetarian of the group, Jermel. While he is the butt of 85% of my jokes, he is a true friend indeed. We have a good rivalry going on and I know that he is a true friend to the end.

I am lucky to have such a cast of characters to share my joys with. There is nothing better than good friends and good food.

Never too much…

There are plenty of things that I am trying to do and I believe that they will bring me toward my goal in life. What is that goal? Well, all I really want to do is to enjoy life. I want to be productive and share my talents with others. That is why I really want to get my act together now.

I have always had the problem of wanting to do too much. I want to draw, write, take pictures, create podcasts, make books, make magazines, make videos… I want to do some of everything. I don’t think that I can be satisfied if I don’t at least give it a try.

 

Quickie

Basketball season is back and with it begins the best television viewing time for me. This year will be extra cool because for the first time in over 10 years, I am going to a professional basketball game. Actually I am going to see the Chicago Bulls play. I have always been a Bulls fan and I am excited for this years season. I won’t get into all the reasons why I love basketball or the Bulls, but I am a fan.

On another note, I am playing league basketball again and I really need to get in shape. My team is pretty damn good, but they need me to play better. right now I can’t give my all because I am a fat punk. Actually not that fat, but I am out of shape. I am working out and I am pretty sure that in one more week, I will be ready to be a bigger contributer than I am right now.

Oh, while I am here, I should mention that I still am on track to have a comic started by the New Year. I am still thinking of a complete plot and such. I still need lots of work, but I am still moving toward my goals. Like blogging. I am doing that now. I am thinking of tweaking this blog to something else, but I doubt it. Seriously, I really doubt it. Well I am off. Time to roll out.

Comics…

I like to think that I am a smart guy with many talents. One of them is drawing. I am hoping that another one is storytelling. I really want to create a comic and I have made up my mind to do it. This is my plan.

1. Practice my drawing skills. I am a little rusty, but I still got it.

2. Figure out how to write a decent comic story (i.e. plot, character development, all that other stuff that I don’t know…)

3. Do it (actually I need to rename it to: Buy shit. I need to invest in a Wacom tablet and other stuff)

I think that I am ready to try something new and I have always wanted to do a comic. I am thinking that I am going to make it a webcomic, but not quite like the ones that I usually read. It is going to be kinda traditional or not. I really don’t know. What I do know is that I am going to need you guys to bother me and push me. Just like I need to start updating my blog more. But I am excited. I am thinking that I will have something before the new year. I can’t wait.

Where have I been?

So yet again I haven’t been blogging much. It is mainly because I am getting worn out. But other than that, things are not really that bad. I am trying to develop a web presence. So what does that mean? That means that I am either going to change the direction of this blog or start up a new one. I have been mulling around the idea of creating a “hub” of sorts and I have been trying to figure out how to do this while keeping my sanity. So far I haven’t found a solution, so what I have decided to do is to slow it down.

I am concentrating on launching my portfolio site (still not done) and after that I will begin the work on something that I hope will become amazing. I have also been drawing some, not enough, but some. Lately I haven’t been as creative and willing to learn new things, but I know that it is only a short time that I become as awesome as I feel that I should be. Well that is about all. Back to work for me.

HealthCare and Altruism…

I am for Universal Health Care. I think that it is the job of the Government to look out for the people and providing health care can be a part of that. I understand some of the arguments against it, but I think that the benefit can outweigh the negatives. The question I have would be is if we as American’s and the American Government are ready for this type of systematic change. I am not to sure on this, but the more I think about it, the more it seems that it should be in our future.

The only thing I want is for everyone to be able to take care of themselves and their loved ones (if they have them). We pay for children’s schooling. I don’t have kids, but I do want them to be able to learn. But again, there are many factors that are involved. I think I have some reading to do so I can be more educated myself. I think that we all need to look at this issue and go beyond what is best just for us. What is really best for America? Or lets think further, what is best for humanity.

Here are some Pro and Con arguments. Check them out, be informed.

Example of what happens if you give Free Health Care?

Pros and Cons

Case for Universal Health Care

Case Against Universal Health Care

Brits Defend their Health Care

Ranking show US Health Care in Unfair light

Universal Health Care Is the Wrong Prescription

A link with other links

Desire…

I hate to have too many sappy posts, but I was thinking about how I was a little upset with the fact that I didn’t receive a birthday card at my job. Actually I eventually got one, but it was after a nice co-worker had to point it out to someone. It got me thinking about how simple things in life can affect us a lot. I think that all my life I have wanted just to be recognized. That might be my greatest desire. I am not a glory whore or anything, but I want to get recognition. In life it can wear on you when you don’t get the props that you deserve (or think you deserve).

It must be an ego thing, but I’ll tell you one thing, my ego is starving. I don’t think things will change much because that is just the way it is. I want praise, but at the same time I shy away from it. I guess I better choose between keeping my cake or eating it also.

While you are still reading (I hope) I have come to the realization that I don’t think that I’ll ever be satisfied. I just feel that things are starting to get harder for me and I am getting to that point that I need to figure out what I want to do. How to keep myself happy. How to get in the position to be at my fullest. I am not sure if I will ever hit these goals. I am not sure if i’ll ever get to that point, but I’ll keep on trying.

Over-promising…

Sometimes I tend to take on more than I can chew. Lately I’ve been overwhelmed with stuff and it is starting to effect me doing small stuff. I won’t say that I am close to perfect, but that is defiantly one of my biggest flaws. I tend to over-promise and when I can’t get to that promise, I don’t always own up to my failings.

I’ll tell you a quick story about something that I just did. I got some cookies from a friend and was supposed to send some back. At first I was upfront about my not making them. I was getting home late and was too tired to think about making them. Other times I either forgot, or didn’t have all the ingredients. After realizing how much a lout that I was being,  I felt guilty and when asked about the cookies, I said that I made them. It was a stupid lie. I intended to make them that night, but I didn’t get in till late. And one thing came after another and so on and so on. So when I finally had to own up to my misdeed, I angered friends. I should have just told the truth.

The thing is that this isn’t my first time doing this. I’ve bit off more than I can chew before. It is mainly pride that keeps me from owning up on my inability to make good on my word. I really just don’t want to let people down, but by lying I am doing a far worse thing. Hopefully I will be forgiven, but at the same time I am disappointed at myself. I think this is one of the reasons that I took to blogging. If I air out my failings then I’ll have to own up to them. I need to finish things that I say that I will. And at the same time I hope to mend my relationships. Sorry guys to disappoint.

Talking about something, talking about Basketball…

What to post… I really don’t know. It really does seem like I am spending too much time bitching or acting bitch-like. So I’ll talk about stuff that I like.

Soooo… I was twittering (is it crazy that twittering is a common term?) with a co-worker/buddy about LeBron and other stuff. The 140 limit to the tweet and the nature of the wait and see constraints of the service did not allow us to have a valid conversation. But of course I thought about college basketball and LeBron James. I’ll put it is one of those list things that the kids like so much.

1. Why is it a big deal that some college kid dunked on LeBron? Basketball players get dunked on all the time. Yao Ming does. Alonzo Mourning did. Kobe Bryant did. Vince Carter has dunked on the entire world. Sheesh, LEBRON HAS AND WILL BE DUNKED ON AGAIN!!! That is the nature of the game. Face it, good players get dunked on.

2. College really isn’t that necessary for high level players. Seriously, who would be better at getting players ready for an NBA career? An NBA coaching staff and resources or a college coaching staff and resources? That is like asking what will prepare you for a job, that intro business class or an internship at a top company? They both are good, but on the job learning is almost always better.

3. LeBron James defense is highly overrated. Just wanted to put it out there for you guys. It isn’t bad, but it isn’t close to great. Didn’t Rafer Alston eat him alive durning the playoffs?

4. I really don’t like David Stern. He is the main reason that the NBA sucks. He is taking the passion out of the game. But I also don’t like Bud Selig. Actually I think they may be twins.

5. Steve Nash sucks. Sorry guys but I had to put that in there. I really don’t like point guards who can’t even spell defense. But I won’t get into that again. You can just read this.

6. College sports are a scam for the athletes. Actually it isn’t, but it is. It is hard to say. The colleges make so much money and gain so much prestige and honor for these sports programs. Sports create a good atmosphere around a college and it is a great recruitment tool. The intangibles that a good program gets you is almost unfathomable. It is a give and take, but it really is more take than give for the colleges.

7. I just wanted an excuse to show more dunks. MJ, Vince Carter (Way too many), More MJ and the top all time dunks that You Tube is providing me. Oh and here are some random dunks if you didn’t get enough.

Well that felt good. I should blog about sports more often.