I recently got into an argument with my girlfriend. I won't go into particulars, but I will say it got me pretty upset. I stewed about it for a full day and spent half of the day continuing to argue with her in my head and going over the whole argument again and again in detail, the other half. My inner monologue can be very destructive at times and very therapeutic at others.
During the argument I was convinced I didn’t do anything out of line and she was blowing things out of proportion for what seemed the 5,238 time. As I argued with her in my head the next day, I grew even more convinced that I was right and I'm not the one who should change. She just doesn’t understand me the way I thought she did and is never going to.
About halfway through the day, for some reason I decided to take a look at things from her perspective. Sure, some things were misunderstood, but others, when looked at from the other side, were very valid points. This change in perspective made me realize that she doesn’t always blow things out of proportion, and sometimes I do. It made me realized I haven’t been making strides in the relationship that she has. It made me realize that she isn’t as hard to understand as I thought. I get it! I just need to take a look at the context in which she views the situation. When I look at things she is upset about from my perspective, of course she's a wackjob! How can I be wrong? But when I can flip it around and see what she is seeing and understand why she see's it that way, I know she's so upset because she loves me and she knows bringing it up will only make me a better person, even though I may not think so right away.
I have known, since I began to claim to know things, that men and women view similar things in very different ways. I don’t think I have ever applied this logic to my own situation though. It's amazing what your inner monologue will teach you, if you just let yourself listen. It's even more amazing what someone else can teach you, if you just let yourself see their side.
Song of the day...I'm No Superman by Lazlo Bane
Friday, June 23, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
Do you understand the words that are comin' out of my mouf???
I learned that there is a new category of music I have yet to have exposure to, Screamo. I also learned that Screamo is not Emo music. Screamo’s are very sensitive to being called Emo, so be careful if you’re talking to one. Apparently Screamo, is heavy metal music where the lead vocals are screamed at the top of their lungs.
Emo, if you don’t know, is the answer to heavy metal music for those that want to express their angst without all the anger. It’s usually filled with solemn voices, lonely rifts and songs filled with depression and sorrow. Screamo has, apparently, the same type of lyrics but are, instead, screamed to a background of crunching guitars and squealing metal rifts. It can be difficult at times to tell them apart.
Be careful! Their appearance is similar. You can’t tell an Emo kid and a Screamo kid apart just by looking at them. You’ll have to get close to them and listen carefully to their conversations for the subtle differneces. I don’t think that either is dangerous, so you’ll be safe either way, but who knows what would happen if you called a Screamo, Emo or an Emo, Screamo. Depending on what position they hold in the group, any number of things can happen. Drummers might sit down on your chest and beat the top of your head with their fingertips, guitarists may throw picks at you like ninja stars, and if you happen to be talking with a vocalist, you might want to keep some breath mints handy. The odds of anything they say to be understood is slim. But with the mints at least it won’t all be bad. My advice is to offer one at the beginning of the conversation, just in case.
Approach with caution and handle with care until the proper breed is determined. It can be a very volatile situation until you have sorted out which is which. Good luck and happy hunting…
If you need some help determining what Screamo is, just checkout this link for an example.
Song of the day...Bring The End by 7 Horns 7 Eyes
Emo, if you don’t know, is the answer to heavy metal music for those that want to express their angst without all the anger. It’s usually filled with solemn voices, lonely rifts and songs filled with depression and sorrow. Screamo has, apparently, the same type of lyrics but are, instead, screamed to a background of crunching guitars and squealing metal rifts. It can be difficult at times to tell them apart.
Be careful! Their appearance is similar. You can’t tell an Emo kid and a Screamo kid apart just by looking at them. You’ll have to get close to them and listen carefully to their conversations for the subtle differneces. I don’t think that either is dangerous, so you’ll be safe either way, but who knows what would happen if you called a Screamo, Emo or an Emo, Screamo. Depending on what position they hold in the group, any number of things can happen. Drummers might sit down on your chest and beat the top of your head with their fingertips, guitarists may throw picks at you like ninja stars, and if you happen to be talking with a vocalist, you might want to keep some breath mints handy. The odds of anything they say to be understood is slim. But with the mints at least it won’t all be bad. My advice is to offer one at the beginning of the conversation, just in case.
Approach with caution and handle with care until the proper breed is determined. It can be a very volatile situation until you have sorted out which is which. Good luck and happy hunting…
If you need some help determining what Screamo is, just checkout this link for an example.
Song of the day...Bring The End by 7 Horns 7 Eyes
Friday, June 02, 2006
Due to technical difficulties
Some recent events have enabled my household to get free HBO and Showtime over the next 6 months. It has been going on about a week now and I've already noticed a weird phenomenon. I consider myself a movie buff and connoisseur to an extent. But the crap I watch, just because it’s on, is unbelievable! I noticed it the other day when my roommate emailed me, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is on. Do you want me to record it for you?" That was funny, I have to admit. But then realized that what we call the "Blue Crush/2Fast 2Furious Syndrome" was starting.
You see, about a year ago we were privy to a month or so of free HBO. During that month, we both admitted to watching Blue Crush and 2Fast 2Furious, not just once, but multiple times. If you have never seen those movies, both are like watching someone get kicked in the groin. You know its going to make you cringe, but you just can’t look away. And so the syndrome begins. I have already seen Batman Begins at least 3 times. I watched Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure twice in the same day! Granted, both are great movies in their own right, but geezy chreezy, there HAS to be something else on!
Over the next 6 months, I know this phenomenon will grow and there will be some really crappy movies that will be memorized and watched until I actually begin to wonder if getting kicked in the balls is such a bad thing. I've been able to not watch The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants so far, thankfully. I can't say the same thing for my roommate.
Pray for us...we're going to need it.
Song of the day...Friend of the Devil by The Grateful Dead
You see, about a year ago we were privy to a month or so of free HBO. During that month, we both admitted to watching Blue Crush and 2Fast 2Furious, not just once, but multiple times. If you have never seen those movies, both are like watching someone get kicked in the groin. You know its going to make you cringe, but you just can’t look away. And so the syndrome begins. I have already seen Batman Begins at least 3 times. I watched Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure twice in the same day! Granted, both are great movies in their own right, but geezy chreezy, there HAS to be something else on!
Over the next 6 months, I know this phenomenon will grow and there will be some really crappy movies that will be memorized and watched until I actually begin to wonder if getting kicked in the balls is such a bad thing. I've been able to not watch The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants so far, thankfully. I can't say the same thing for my roommate.
Pray for us...we're going to need it.
Song of the day...Friend of the Devil by The Grateful Dead
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Because punk rock is too hard to sing
Climbing competitions start up again around October in my area. That gives me about 4 months to get into shape and hone my skills to the next level. I think I’ll keep working on my beer belly and watching my free HBO and Showtime for the next month or so, then tackle the training I need to do to get up to the next level. Although I should tell you that it is extremely hard for me not to engage in some kind of activity on a regular basis. I just got done telling you that I'm going to be watching TV and drinking beer for the next 30 days, but I failed to mention that I am also training for a half marathon in October as well. Should probably also mention that I am in pretty good shape now. I run about 5 miles a week, climb 2-3 days a week and play some mean NBA Ballers on PS2 with my buddy the narcissist from time to time. For me to get in “competition shape,” I need to lose about 6 lbs. I think I can do that over the next 4 months. It’s not really the poundage loss I'm going after, it’s the fat percentage. Right now I'm about 14.5% and Id like to be just under 10% come October. Hopefully, I will gain enough muscle that I wont have lost much weight at all. I’ll keep you (who the hell are you anyway?) posted on my progress.
If you don't know much about climbing there are three general types of climbing. The first and easiest is called “Top-Rope.” This means that the rope runs to the top of the route and back down. The potential of a “fall” here is minimal at best. As the climber ascends, the belayer takes up the slack in the rope. Therefore, if the climber “falls,” he may fall, at worst, about a foot. Top-ropers are limited in the height they can climb, to the length of their rope
The second two types of climbing are equally as hard in my opinion. Each has its own strengths and difficulties. If you are going to continue to use a rope, you will naturally progress into “lead climbing.” In this type of climbing, the entire length of rope is on the ground to begin. As the climber ascends the belayer feeds rope upward and the climber secures the rope through a series of protection devices. A fall on lead can result in quite a distance sometimes. This type of climbing requires a lot of mental concentration and endurance to be able to either place your own protection, or clip into a carabiner, while in some precarious positions. Lead climbers can climb any height, since the lead climber can anchor himself in at some point and assumes the belayer duty, while the person on the ground climbs up and begins the next “pitch.”
The third type is my favorite and the one in which I compete most frequently. It’s called bouldering. In bouldering, there isn’t a rope at all. Typically this style of climbing is very strenuous and technical, but doesn’t involve great heights. Generally about 15-20 feet is as high as you get. Although, there are problems involving greater heights, called “highball” problems. After a pretty serious ankle injury last year, I stay away from those for now. This type of climbing involves putting as many powerful and strength oriented moves into a relatively short distance. Sometimes the moves involve a small (or in some instances, great) leaps from one hold to another. If you ever get the opportunity to watch some kind of bouldering, I highly recommend it.
I will still lead and top rope from time to time, but bouldering is where I am focused for competition. Currently I can flash V4, and send up to V6 on good gravity days. For competition in October, my goal is to be able to flash V5 and send at least V7 on occasion. It’s going to be tough, but I think it will all work out.
Ill keep you posted on my training regimen when I get it all worked out. For now, it consists of pizza and beer and a lot of HBO.
Song of the day…Faithless Street by Whiskeytown.
If you don't know much about climbing there are three general types of climbing. The first and easiest is called “Top-Rope.” This means that the rope runs to the top of the route and back down. The potential of a “fall” here is minimal at best. As the climber ascends, the belayer takes up the slack in the rope. Therefore, if the climber “falls,” he may fall, at worst, about a foot. Top-ropers are limited in the height they can climb, to the length of their rope
The second two types of climbing are equally as hard in my opinion. Each has its own strengths and difficulties. If you are going to continue to use a rope, you will naturally progress into “lead climbing.” In this type of climbing, the entire length of rope is on the ground to begin. As the climber ascends the belayer feeds rope upward and the climber secures the rope through a series of protection devices. A fall on lead can result in quite a distance sometimes. This type of climbing requires a lot of mental concentration and endurance to be able to either place your own protection, or clip into a carabiner, while in some precarious positions. Lead climbers can climb any height, since the lead climber can anchor himself in at some point and assumes the belayer duty, while the person on the ground climbs up and begins the next “pitch.”
The third type is my favorite and the one in which I compete most frequently. It’s called bouldering. In bouldering, there isn’t a rope at all. Typically this style of climbing is very strenuous and technical, but doesn’t involve great heights. Generally about 15-20 feet is as high as you get. Although, there are problems involving greater heights, called “highball” problems. After a pretty serious ankle injury last year, I stay away from those for now. This type of climbing involves putting as many powerful and strength oriented moves into a relatively short distance. Sometimes the moves involve a small (or in some instances, great) leaps from one hold to another. If you ever get the opportunity to watch some kind of bouldering, I highly recommend it.
I will still lead and top rope from time to time, but bouldering is where I am focused for competition. Currently I can flash V4, and send up to V6 on good gravity days. For competition in October, my goal is to be able to flash V5 and send at least V7 on occasion. It’s going to be tough, but I think it will all work out.
Ill keep you posted on my training regimen when I get it all worked out. For now, it consists of pizza and beer and a lot of HBO.
Song of the day…Faithless Street by Whiskeytown.
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