Mason Inn

Coming into 2017 I told myself that I would break out of my shell when it comes to attending different social events. Typically, the extent of socializing in a group setting for me would be myself and a group of my friends that all know each other with maybe one or two individuals who I am not that close with. But, with the determination and peer pressure applied per my friends who don't have any issues with socializing in large group settings, I have learned to slowly chip away at the anti-social shell that I sometimes blockade myself within.

December 21, or this past Friday, I was invited on a trip to D.C. with a couple friends to see Don Fredrick play at a local bar. No prior planning was made and no adjustments were accounted for, as this was a last minute trip for myself and probably others. The normal LJ would have declined due to the ambiguities that lie inside of a non-well thought process. Instead, not so normal aka socialable LJ decided to go and he had a blast (sorry for talking in third person right there). Maybe it's only me who thinks that they have this outer shell that they still need to break out of to reach their full potential, or maybe I am overthinking it like I do with 98 percent of my life. Only time will tell!

I stopped writing this blog post right before I went to bed I think 2 nights ago, and now it's Christmas Eve! An acquaintance of mine threw a Christmas party at her crib and it turned out to be a lot better than I expected for reasons I choose to keep to myself (lol). The holidays are such a trying, yet rewarding time of the year.

First Week Out tha Feds

First week out of school I meant.

Well, the first couple days out of school. I've just been relaxing a lot to be honest, something that I find myself straying away from in the form that I need to be doing more on a consistent basis. There's nothing wrong with being busy all the time, but it's really good to dedicate a day or two just to recuperate from all of the shit you put your body through. One could go about it in several ways, whether it's eating at home for a few days (we should all eat at home more frequently, though), staying in bed and watching videos of your choice (for me that's basketball/hockey highlights or watching skate videos) or just taking a couple hours out of each day at a time for yourself. Ya know, not texting anybody or worrying about who is gonna retweet your last tweet. Take some time for yourself and only yourself, become one with your element, whatever that is.

It's actually the first time I have done this in about a month, I'd say. My dog is laying on the floor adjacent to my bed as he snores louder than I do. I am also pretty damn sure that he farted twice as I was watching Girl, Interrupted also. Winona Ryder, a god amongst women... just saying.

I am starting to see that proactivity in your daily life is really important to becoming an adult. It doesn't matter per say what you are being proactive about, hell, it could be you being proactive about brushing your teeth every morning (ok, if you don't brush your teeth every morning that is a little wonky). But you get my point. Proactivity is proactivity and taking mindsets that you have while you are being proactive in one area of your life can translate easily and effectively to other areas where you need to be proactive as well. Proactivity.

I am supposed to be meeting a local journalist for coffee in these upcoming weeks and the owner of an art gallery in Richmond to talk about volunteer work. I've never actively volunteered anywhere, so I might as well do it in an environment where I feel will be enriching not only to myself but others. And who knows, maybe it can turn into an opportunity in the future.

Winter break has just begun and I am currently loving it. The fact that school will not be here to haunt me for the next month is only but a dream. It's imperative to enjoy these moments while they last.

DON'T DOUBT YOURSELF

DON'T DOUBT YOURSELF.
DON'T DOUBT YOURSELF.
DON'T DOUBT YOURSELF.

Maybe one of the most important things in life is to experience new things and be open to change things up a little bit. Coming into this school year, I really had high hopes for more academic success than previous. With the onset thoughts of those previous years and the grades that I did receive, it made an impression in my head that I was just going to stay in my old ways and fiddle away my fingers while watching NHL highlights in my lecture class and fall asleep only to find that my teacher woke me up just because I was snoring. DON'T DOUBT YOURSELF. I made a decision to stick to my word and it's done wonders. A paper that I just got back from my teacher just said 96% percent on it as a grade and I had to look at it 3 different ways to make sure it wasn't a joke or a typo. I'm happy to say it wasn't. Sometimes all it takes is one good grade from you to jump start a chain reaction of multiple good grades and soon enough it becomes a habit. Luckily for me this process has been true! DON'T DOUBT YOURSELF. Whether it be school, your job, making friends, sports, or anything! Have the confidence that you can pull up on a kid and show em' what you're made of. Have that confidence that when you're playing 2K18 on career mode against the Warriors that you can beat them. Have the confidence to ask the girl/guy out you've been wanting to, DON'T DOUBT YOURSELF.

And to the one person I can't beat in NHL17, just know that I am coming for you.

First Semester Wrap Up

The semester ends in 2/3 weeks. It's been my best year academically so far, and I am really proud of myself for saying that. Straight B's are better than 2 B's a C and a D, I am not mad at that at all...

I have 2 research papers that are due days apart and I am currently screaming internally everyday until I get those sons of bitches done. Progress is being made most definitely, but man oh man I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL I SUBMIT THEM BOTH AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT THEM.

I went to my 2nd college basketball game with a few buds this past week also. We played App State, and the only thing that I could think about when they were on the court were Eric, Mel, Walker, and all of the homies down in Boone, N.C. That place stole my heart and wont give it back, man. A trip back to the mountains is way past overdue.

Skinny Dipper Magazine featured me in one of their videos online for the new apparel they are dropping and that is also something I am pretty excited to see. The video drops sometime today and I can't wait.

Winter break will be here before I know it, and that means the onset of 2018. 2017 was a crazy year to say the least in the realm of politics, sports, social trends, the whole 9 yards. I have this saying that I believe with all of my heart, that every year things will be better. In my life, at least, I have noticed a steady uptrend for myself and the things I spend my time on as the years progressively add on to each other. I'm not saying this to brag or to say "Your life sucks and mine doesn't." because that is so shallow for someone to say. Rather, I am saying that I believe that I am doing the things that need to get done in life (go to school, work, kinda save money but also spend it irresponsibly (which makes me feel bad and leads me to save more money) being kind to others, eating well, skating, etc.). I'm not perfect at all and understand there are plenty of things that I can work on with myself and myself in relation to others, and solving those issues might take months or years. But it is all a part of the process that most humans, at least I think, go through as they walk this earth.

It's important to know that through the hardships, great times, work, and other tasks that are bestowed upon us that we stay true to ourselves and live life to the fullest. As cliche as it is, it's the fucking truth.

I also watched this show called "Black Mirror" on Netflix with my buds the other night. It's a show that talks about technology and gives instances where it would be a driving force (bigger than it is today) on how we live. The episode I watched was about how a man got caught booking a hooker online through his phone and "They", a term they used in the episode for the technology that was overseeing them, made him do tasks all over London in hopes that he wouldn't be exposed to the world for having cheated on his wife. He was sent commands through his cell phone the whole episode. He did everything that They asked him too, and They still told his wife that he booked the hooker. T R A G I C!

I bought a new laptop

I have been telling myself for the last couple weeks that when I get the money I would buy a new laptop. With hesitation and heavy thoughts toward my decision to buy one, I finally took the time out of my day, took a deep breath, and just did the damn thing. It's great, I can go on my Tumblr and not have to worry about my laptop crashing or anything like that.

School is school, I guess. Ya know that part of the semester where everything is just starting to pile up and you recognize that it's happening and you kinda just watch it build up until it topples? Yeah I think that I've said enough...

I have also decided with the inauguration of my new laptop, it gives me zero excuse now to not try and bulk up on my writing skills and get another article of mine published. It's a journey that has to start somewhere if I want to become a journalist, and I think that it is going to start today.

September 30th 2017

The month of September is coming to an end, fall weather is stating to begin, and the amount of empty beer cans I have stashed in my book bag because I am too lazy to find the nearest trash can is piling up. Man, I love this time of year.

My JV team had a volleyball tournament today from around 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon, and I was impressed with the level of play that they brought. One of the kid's parents bought me Chic-Fil-A, apparently being able to see the hunger in my stomach from 15 feet away.

School is actually going really well! (Something that at this time of year I usually would not be saying.)

Also, LeBron and DWade are teammates again... very hype.

Social Media in the Middle East

Much of the content that is in the readings assigned for this week explains what social media has done for the Middle East and the direction that it seems to be going in for the future.  In the article from the Pew Research Center “The Role of Social Media in the Arab Uprisings” authors Heather Brown, Emily Guskin, and Amy Mitchell delineate what is thought to be happening versus what is actually happening in regards to the effect of social media in the Middle East during the Arab uprisings. To clarify, a lot of what the Arab uprisings are about deal with the exile of Mubarak, the riddance of the former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the civil/political unrest that is underway in Syria.

One would think that social media and internet access is found everywhere in the world, but that is not the case for certain parts of the Middle East and other regions in different countries. 65% of Egypt is without internet use, but the 81% of those who do have access to internet claim to use that force in order to stay in tune with all things political. This could be a solid representation of the rest of the Middle East. Most individuals in the region who have access to internet and new technologies use social media and other sorts of communication to let the rest of the world know what is going on in their hometowns, signaling the universal community of the travesties triumphing in their areas. Included with social media are the use of bit.ly links, an app that makes internet links shorter and more accessible to a mobile device. The age we live in now is very important for those in the Middle East, as young as the area is, where they can use social media and different apps to communicate with other individuals in efforts to get the word out about current situations happening there.

In Aljazeera’s article “What next for the media in Middle East and N Africa?”, several media related topics are underscored with details about where it could be headed in the future. One topic, Media and government, indulges readers about how some country’s governments appoint selected officials in certain agencies to regulate what is being exported by the media. This can create issues in regards to the legitimacy of what is being digested by its viewers. Media and surveillance is another key topic. Surveillance of consumers by the government has increased while the number of government leaks like Snowden’s case and the recent Panama papers case. The use of anonymous Twitter accounts to divulge important information in nations like Turkey and Morocco have also brought attention to other governments worldwide, letting them know that people like Snowden are out there in their communities ready to show the public what they think needs to be shared. Incidents such as those lead countries to make stricter security and surveillance policies, each country having distinct and different ways at approaching the matter.

In my opinion, social media has only heightened the way information is expedited to other parts of the world. Without social media during the Arab uprisings, who knows how many more people would have not been able to escape certain areas or assemble counter-protest groups to combat the evils upon them? But, with that being said, more and more government intervention is also going to come out of this, I believe. Surveillance techniques are only going to get stricter and stricter, and government censorship in countries that have not fully liberated their people (especially in the Middle East) are going to increase as well. It is up to those who are protesting, us as citizens and advocates for their cause, and the increasingly evolving world of technology to give the people what they deserve which is the right to live freely without the threat of intermission of a selfish government.

Sources

Sonay, Ali, and Roxane Farmanfarmaian. “What next for the Media in Middle East and N Africa?” Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera, 7 May 2016, www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/05/media-middle-east-africa-160504131354194.html.

Heather Brown, Emily Guskin and Amy Mitchell. “The Role of Social Media in the Arab Uprisings.” Pew Research Center's Journalism Project, Pew Research Center, 27 Nov. 2012, www.journalism.org/2012/11/28/role-social-media-arab-uprisings/.

My car battery is running low

This last week at school has been pretty good. I talked to my professor about what I can use my degree for once I graduate, and got some really good answers from him.

I skipped class Friday cause I needed to study for a test in the class of the professor who I previously mentioned, actually. Feeling pretty good about what my grade is going to be on it. It's nice having that feeling of certainty instead of the hard plunge you feel in your stomach when you realize that you didn't study at all for the test and prepare to suffer the consequences of a dreaded 65 or below. But that wasn't this time so I am really excited about that.

This Friday night/ Saturday morning was pretty fun. Me and a few buddies went to a show to see the guys we know in Nesta and two other really good bands (Plunge, Dirty Turtles). The venue was someone's garage, and oddly enough it wasn't just a run of the mill garage either. It was spacious, but still standing room only with the amount of people there. Great music and even better times!

I also think that I am going to quit Mellow Mushroom soon and get a job somewhere else. Being a server really isn't as cut out as it is. A friend of mine told me that this was going to happen after the first couple of months, and I knew she was going to be right. I'm not mad at all or upset, but it's definitely time that I find another job instead of slinging pizza and hoagies.

Also, my car battery is running low. Should probably get that fixed soon...

21

Tomorrow, September 8th, will be my 21st birthday. One can consider this part of their life as a milestone, a time for celebration, and the start of your real "adult" life. But, I don't know how I want to feel about it yet. Yes, it is cool knowing that after tomorrow there will never be an issue with me purchasing alcohol or being carded at a bar. On the other hand, whether I was 21 or not, I would still be drinking on the weekends with my friends and enjoying my time. Like always, I really think I am just overthinking on the subject and should be very excited to drink legally! And go to bars! And call an Uber at 3:45 am to get home alive! (Don't know if I want to get that belligerent, but it is always an option).

I really am excited to urn 21, though. In my eyes, turning 21 marks a new chapter in your life where you aren't really just a college student (for those who are in school) or just someone who is working full time or just graduated high school a few years ago. I feel like turning 21 is the start of something new. New mindsets, new responsibilities, new areas of life to be explored. Shoot, I'll be turning 30 soon and who knows what I'll be starting in that part of my life. Hopefully it'll be something that consists of having a steady and well paying job with a family that my wife (whomever that will be) (if I find one) (I'm already stressing about my life 10 years from now) and I will take care of and support through thick and thin. It seems that I have strayed away from the idea of me turning 21, lets backtrack a little bit.

New responsibilities, new areas of life to be explored. Lots of my buddies have told me "Dude you gotta go to the bars downtown!" or "Let's go to Cha-Cha's!" and many other things that are related to those. I'm not too sure if I'll ever be a bar or club kind of guy, but who knows. I didn't think I'd be at VCU 3 years ago, and look at where I am now. I'm actually in the library right now making this post on a school computer because my lovely laptop is lingering at home with some technological issues that neither myself or the IT department at VCU can figure out. But hey, that's how life goes sometimes!

I skated for the first time in what, 2 days yesterday? 2 days isn't a lot to be honest, but sometimes when I'm not skating all I can think about is the next time I'll be back on my board. That's true love right there!

School is going well so far, but I've been sick for the last couple of days and I want to scream and break a wall and make a scene. I'm not going to do any of that because that's dumb but thinking about it makes it seem less unrealistic.

So what should I do tomorrow? There's a beer and wine festival at Maymont, or Byrd Park. Not too sure. Maybe I'll buy a case and crack open a few cold ones with the boys. My birthday is on a Friday, so I kind of HAVE to do something exciting, right?

Either way, whatever that happens tomorrow is what happens tomorrow. I'm excited to turn 21 and be able to go out with my buddies and not have to use the excuse "I'm too young!". I am finally of age... :)

But until the clock strikes 12 tomorrow, I have a boatload of homework and studying to do. Which means I'll be looking up random facts and articles in Google for about an hour or so. Cheers!

First Week(ish) of Semi-Senior Year Reflection

This is the beginning of the final stretch for myself and many of my friends, companions, acquaintances, and colleagues as we enter our last couple of semesters at our respective universities. It is so crazy that often I still cannot believe and fathom that I was a freshman just like so many of the newcomers at VCU. What really put this part of my life into perspective is when one of my former volleyball players that I coached last year at Midlothian sent me a SnapChat video of him moving into his dorm and gallivanting all around his campus with his buddies. All I could think of was when I was his age and doing the same shit that he is probably doing right now. Life is crazy!

School has started off nice so far. We went to some frat party, my Spanish professor is gorgeous and gave me a traditional Spanish name for class (Lorenzo), all of my classes are pertaining to my major and really have me interested and in-tune to what the professor is saying, and I finally feel like my education is right in front of me instead of somewhere far off in a land that is unknown. In the last few semesters I have had struggles trying to figure out what it is that I would like to do when I graduate, but as of late I have been setting time aside from the semi-chaotic schedule that I have at hand and digging deeper discovering my likes and interests. I also think that the classes that I'll be taking for the next few semesters will really open my eyes to some things that I have not seen before and give me an even better sense of what my true calling/passion is. Usually I would not be that excited for class to start or anything like that, so that fact that I can truly say to myself "I am actually looking forward to going to class today." really astounds me and makes me very hopeful of my future in and after college.

I have not been skating as much as I would like just because of the magnitude I believe my studies are carrying at the moment. I'm doing my best to skate at least every other day, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get what you want and need. Lord knows I would love to be doing some nose-grind 180's right now, but my grades say "look over chapters 1-5 and annotate key topics.". Hopefully I find some better ground in between the two and make happy balance.

I have also come to realize that I am not that much of a complicated person in regards to my daily routine and schedule, yet I have had multiple constituents bring to my attention that I am very "hard to read." I don't really care that much for other's opinions (I mean that in the best of ways), but I think it's just funny that some think that I am complicated when I think that I am pretty basic. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I'm not. No big deal. Also, this whole post was fueled by a large iced coffee that I purchased from Starbucks about 15 minutes ago. Coffee! Academics! Blogging! Yeah!

BumF*ck Middle of Nowhere, VA

This weekend, a few buddies of mine rented a cabin in Floyd, Virginia. Where is Floyd? Good question! It's southwest Virginia around the same area Roanoke, Christiansburg, and Blacksburg are, about an hour or so away from those places. Most cities in southwest are very small and antiquated, so if you are not familiar with any of the geography related to that part of the state don't take it too hard. If I had to point on a map where we were this past weekend I probably couldn't do it.

I almost didn't go due to my job(s). I completely forgot that I am a volleyball coach everyday of the week and can't really miss practice. Luckily, the head varsity coach came in the clutch and covered for me. I was hoping he would have told me earlier than Friday which is the day that I left for the cabin trip. My plan was to get confirmation from him sometime early in the week so I could pick up a server shift at Mellow Mushroom and use the money from that shift on miscellaneous garb. Since I couldn't work the day that I left, I spent the weekend with $10 in my wallet. But, I only spent 4 dollars and some change on a McChicken and medium fry from McDonald's on our way out of the small town of Floyd.

I drove with my pals Brittany and Brianna. They are both great people, but are maniacs behind the wheel. Speeding, swerving, you name it. They can't be too bad of drivers though since I made it home and back in one piece.

A quarter of the way into the drive we're on I-64 and Brittany's car starts smoking. We panic for a second, debating whether we should continue our endeavor out west. The ultimatum ended up being us turning around, dropping Britt's car at the auto shop, then taking Bri's car for the trek. With her kind of driving we at least shaved 30 minutes off of our trip time.

The last 3 miles of the trip getting to the cabin were treacherous. Paved ground turned into gravel, road got windier and windier, and the sunshine soon sifted away into the night sky. With our luck up to this point, all that we could think was "We're going to this cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere and we are all going to die." Although that mental preset was the only thing going through my mind, once we stepped into the cabin all sense of fear went away. We were miles away from most civilization and our closest neighbors were about a mile away. We blasted music, cracked open a few cold ones, and just kicked it. I was enjoying myself with in the middle of nowhere with booze, bud, and my bros.

The next day we went hiking at Buffalo Mountain. This was my first hike and my excitement levels were off the charts. Once we got to the peak of the range my mouth was wide open trying to take in the beauty that was bestowed right in front of me. I've always wanted to go hiking just for the experience and to see what the world looked like from above. I was not disappointed whatsoever.

Tons of other shenanigans went on like shooting .22 rifles. grilling hotdogs and hamburgers, and setting off fireworks in the middle of the night. Needless to say this was a fun ass trip and plan to enjoy times like this with my buds more in the future.

Also, school starts this week and summer is officially over. That shit just blows my mind!

A good weekend and a bad weekend

This past weekend was a blast, in fact in was fun as hell.

My really good and best friend Martin Stellato gave me the privilege to stay at his cribbo from Saturday to Monday. We drank a little, played darts, just bro things. Good times, good times..

Even with the fun times at McFly's crib, there was havoc raining down southwest of McLean in Charlottesville, where Neo-Nazis and White Nationalists/ Supremacists came together to reclaim what was rightfully theirs, at least that is what they thought they were doing.

The whole point of what they were doing was to conserve their culture, a culture that they demonstrated to be hatred and bigotry on major levels. I am not an anthropologist, a history major, but I am an educated young man who can see that what those groups of people who came to terrorize the city of Charlottesville had no right to be there doing what they were doing. Why go around telling others of different creeds and colors that they are below white people? Why attack peaceful counter-protestors that obviously had better intentions than those of their own? That shit doesn't make any sense to me.

It baffles me that grown men and women have the audacity to think they are in the right. It baffles me that KKK members can walk out without a fucking hood and their ugly ass getup and not receive any sort of punishment. The idiotic, unethical ideals that these men and women uniting together to preserve are sub par and are only fit for degenerates.

What could possibly be worse, a president who doesn't care about the condition of his country's states and the turmoil that has been left? Pff, that would never be the case!

Sike, because it actually IS the case.

Trump delivered two speeches, one of them on Saturday and the other on Monday. Saturday's address to the media about the situation at hand was absolute garbage. His delivery, his tone, everything about it was terrible. He didn't even make it known that Neo-Nazis and White Nationalists/Supremacists were and still are the root of the issue. Monday's speech was a notch better, but still nothing to be impressed about. This time he actually called out the two groups that were responsible for most of what has happened these last few days and struck down the ideas of racism, hatred, and all things evil. Still, the execution of his speech was trash.

I would be lying if I said I'm not worried about what the future holds for our society. For lack of better words, this shit is crazy.

3am Thoughts

My parents have started to notice that I never am home as much as I have been in the past. I don't think they have a problem with me being out late and doing other things besides staying at home, but I feel like I am in that part of a movie of a kid who grew up to be a semi-mature adult. Ya know, the part where the guy's parents are standing on their porch saying "They grow up so fast" while a tear drop falls from the mother's eyes and the father has to bring her inside so she doesn't make a scene in the neighborhood. That's where I am at right now, at least that's what I think.

A major reason as to why I stay out so late is because majority of my buddies are either working super long shifts or are asleep during the day, making the time frame of 10 pm to 2/3 am prime time for shenanigans.

Although I didn't hang out with anybody or do anything crazy last night, I just couldn't fall asleep as easily as I should have. So, I stayed up for hours upon hours just thinking about anything that came o my mind.

One of those random thoughts that came over me is how humans pronounce words. If you think about it, words are just a bunch of letters strung along one another and we pronounce them as such. It just blows my mind for some reason and I am not too sure why. Especially when you stumble across a word that you just said and take a second to think about why the word is like this. "Why does "especially" sound the way it does and why is it spelled like that?" Questions like that and others rattle my psyche to no end.

Another concept that I thought about is how great dogs are. They are some of the most pure animals on the planet. My dog is old and sleeps a ton but he is the apple of my eye undoubtedly. Most dogs that I have met are always so nice and genuine and like to make you feel welcome. And, no matter what, they are always by your side. There have been times where I accidentally have stepped on my dogs paw or tail and he just licks me as if I had just given him a treat. Needless to say, I love dogs. A lot.

In other news that is unrelated to this blog post, I am going to D.C. this weekend to see one of my best friend's new house that he and some others bought for this upcoming school year. I plan on getting very belligerent this weekend and hope others around me choose to do the same. Cheers!

Coffee

We all start our mornings out in our own unique way. It could be your mom yelling at you for not doing the dishes the night before, birds pecking at your window, or having the sunlight peek through your blinds enough to force you out of your slumber. While all of those ways one could start their day sound thrilling, I think a lot of people turn to coffee to begin their day instead of those mentioned previously.

Why coffee? Is it the taste, the aroma? Does drinking coffee make you feel smarter? All valid reasons, especially the latter.

I enjoy drinking coffee to start my mornings because it is an instant pick-me-up. As soon as I feel the coffee hit my body I am automatically locked in for what my day (at least a few hours of it) has in store for me.

The amount of flavors and tastes that reside in the coffee spectrum are almost endless. French Vanilla, Brazilian, Colombian, the list goes on. Plus, you can get your coffee in more ways in than one. Frappe, frappucino, latte, you name it. There is always something right for everyone when it comes to coffee. Some people don't like coffee and that's ok, maybe they're a tea and crumpets type of person. Who knows...

A fairly big reason as to why I enjoy drinking coffee so much, paired with all the others that I have named, stems from the fact that there are coffee shops all over the Richmond area. It's really cool going to different places and trying new types of coffee and just taking in the experience you're having while you're there. It truly is a great feeling. Maybe I am going too in depth about a drink that I sometimes spend way too much money on, or maybe I am just giving the nectar of the gods its rightful credit. Either way, I foresee a long and everlasting relationship with the coffee and all that comes with it.

Vacation

These last few days have gone by so fast, and I don't know why. Could it be due to the fact that it's starting to get darker earlier, or could I have slept majority of those days away? I can't even answer that question.

School starts back up in about two and a half weeks and I'm more excited than anything. I told myself that this year was going to be excellent for me academic wise and hope that I can hold myself accountable. Jesus, I hope so... (I mean that in the most lighthearted way possible).

I'm going to visit one of my buds in Arlington/D.C. this upcoming weekend and the weekend after I am going to Willis, Virginia (???) with a few of my other friends. We booked a cabin that has five acres of space which is more than enough for recreational activity of all sorts.

It's crazy how summer is steadily coming to an end, but I am pretty sure I say this to myself every year at the end of summer so I'll just end on that note.

Mid-Point of Summer: Thoughts and Reflections

The halfway point of summer.

Around this time of year, I always think about what I previously had planned for this time of year and put it against what has actually happened.

In March/April, I designated this time of year to visiting my friends in New York, D.C., and Boone. The New York trip is at least $200, going to D.C. for a few days is no more than $150, and the only problem with Boone is the 5 hour drive on a super busy interstate. Fun fact: the last time (and my first time) I went to Boone, the person that I hitched a ride with got a reckless driving ticket in Lawrenceville, Virginia (hilarious) and I saw my first overturned car on the freeway. Landmarks in my mental fortitude.

Those were all things that I had PLANNED for this time of year. Life has a funny way of putting detours and road work signs in places where you would least hope they would be. As much as it sucks, it teaches you how to roll with the punches and learn how to run straight through those detour and road work signs. In real life you should never actually run through a road work or detour sign though.

Even though my big summer plans are still on hold, these last few months have been great. I got my first article published by my internship about a week and a half ago. I received the email about it while leaving the skate park and I had to jump for joy. I've been enjoying the river as much as possible with the hot summer air looming all over the place. The thing is that it really isn't that hot outside, it's just so damn humid outside! Virginia weather is something else...

I also started my new job at Mellow Mushroom which I fucking love. The hours are long, but it's nothing new. My managers are awesome and my coworkers are just as great. The pizza is even better. At first I was afraid that I'd get tired of eating the restaurant's food over and over again, but it's been about a month and I have yet to get tired of their cuisine.

So, even though my summer didn't go as planned it has turned out to be an awesome one! I've tried to stop focusing on what is not there and looking at what's staring right at me. At times it is tough to not get caught up in the normal mental rhetoric of always questioning yourself "Why don't I have xyz?", I still even have issues with it. I believe we all expect great things for ourselves, which is normal and should be expected. But, when what you're expecting doesn't happen don't freak out! Examine what is in front of you, see what can be changed/fixed, and make the best out of your situation. I promise it will lead to not only great summertime fun but an exuberant everyday life as well. Cheers!

Money

The Andrews Sisters made the song "Money Is the Root of All Evil". But what about it makes it so evil? I mean, what is money anyway? To put it simply enough, it is a piece of paper. A damn piece of paper. A piece of paper that we ALL, no matter how much we deny, give a damn about. The benefit of the doubt is that we do need money to do everyday things. We use money to buy groceries, personal items, mortgage, all of that jazz. Money is a means to an end, and we all need it. So is the actual money evil, or is it the person behind the dollar dollar bill, y'all? It has to be the person behind it. How can an inanimate object with a dead president's face on it be evil? A piece of paper literally does not have a pulse, a heart beat, none of that nonsense.

Why are so many people infatuated with them racks? It's understandable as to why. Some think that the more money that you have the easier your life will be... Not entirely true. I am an extremely broke college student who made $4 after working 8 hours as a server at my job. It wasn't really necessary for me to share that but man was I pissed off.

Anyway, some think that with more money then more of your problems will just dissipate into thin air. Almost as if the problem never existed, right? Sadly that isn't how life works. I was watching Forensic Files with my dad and brother the other night and an extremely wealthy doctor decided to kill his wife after she figured out he was spending quality time with an enchantress after hours at the local strip club. Racks upon racks were tossed at this lil mama and the trend never seemed to end. I came in halfway in the show, so I am not too sure why he was being unfaithful to his supposed soul-mate. Maybe it doesn't even have anything to do with money and this guy's intentions were absolute shit to begin with. But, maybe he was in it just because he could afford to do it. And if that was the case, it just goes to show that just because you have money doesn't mean you have to spend it like he did and it DEFINITELY doesn't give you the right to be an asshole. Spending money just to spend it is called conspicuous spending. Like I said before, it's just spending money because you have it. It is almost as if those who participate in conspicuous spending feel like they NEED to spend it since they have that kind of wealth. In reality, that's not the case. Side-note: I learned the term "conspicuous spending" (at least that's what I think the term is) in my Modern Novel class. Turns out VCU's education is kind of working.

The whole paragraph prior to this one is a little messy and isn't as concise as I intended. The moral of the story is that we all need money to survive. It is awesome to make money because you can do cool things with friends and family and all that good stuff. Just don't let the greediness that often accompanies money creep into your lifestyle and turn you into a money hungry twat.

Summertime by Will Smith

The school year for VCU has just ended, so everybody who isn't a Richmond native or close-by native or a NoVa kid staying in the city for the summer is gone. One of the things that I have noticed when summer comes to the city is a sense of calm when I go on my daily commute. You can hear yourself think a little more, you aren't as paranoid about getting hit by a bike or a runner while walking across the street (at least not as much), and you can find parking spots exponentially easier than ever before. It's ironic that I got my car towed the other weekend though.

Summer is a time for relaxation, cookouts, summer flings, the river, the list goes on. The world seems to slow down just a little and you can enjoy it! I've been to the river 3 times in the last 3 days and it's been great since I am not stressing about a 15 page paper about the difference between pornography and obscenity for my constitutional law class.

Some are not as lucky as they have decided to dedicate 94.87% of their summer to either MORE classes, working full time, interning, or what have you. That is not to bash those who have made the choice to endeavor in those areas. It's great to see others take initiative in their lives and make waves of their own for success in the future.

What I don't like seeing is those who have so many responsibilities on their plate like working full time or interning being miserable and not enjoying the beautiful summer breeze with some bros drinking brews. It's one of my pet peeves seeing good homies get consumed by the every day responsibilities that grow by the minute. I've had multiple people give me a yell and rant about how much they work, how much they wish more time was in the day, and how they wish they weren't so swamped with shit to do. It sucks seeing people you care about be down like that, plain and simple.

So, what is the point of me deliberating my thoughts on this topic? It's just to say don't work too hard, man. Yeah, we all have to get used to working our asses off and then not see the amount of time we just put in reciprocated on the flimsy checks we receive. But while we're still young and have the leisure of that let's go and do something dumb. Go on a road trip with your buddies for a few days. Take a few days off just to kick it by the pool. I don't want to sound like a condescending airhead who thinks that we should be on vacation 24/7, rather I want to inform people not to forget about themselves when this awesome time of year comes and for them to, for a lack of better words, TREAT YO-SELF!!!

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4

Skateboarding. What is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it yelling "Do a kickflip!!" to a passerby that is riding a skateboard? Is it the video game EA Skate? Or is it Tony Hawk? With all of these being plausible and acceptable answers, everyone has a different view on what skateboarding means to them.

For me, skateboarding is a way of life. It influences how you dress, who you hang out with, the way you talk, and how you live on a day to day basis. Who would have thought that skateboarding in 2016 and 2017 would make cargo pants, Dickies, and long sleeve shirts under short sleeved shirts cool again? If you were a time traveler, it's a possibility that you would think the year was 2002.

I first stepped on a skateboard when I was 1. A buddy of mine lived down the street from my house and would leave his board in his front yard. While everybody else was jumping on the trampoline in his backyard, I was struggling learning how to do a proper ollie. Soon enough, I got a board of my own. It was a yellow World Industries deck from Dick's Sporting Goods right across from Chesterfield Towne Center. With it being a Christmas gift from my parents, all I could do was stare at it under our plastic Christmas tree, waiting to give it a whirl. Ever since I stepped on that board on December 25th, 2007 I was addicted. You could say skateboarding was my true first love.

That's a bold statement coming from a guy who still doesn't know how to keep is girlfriend from being upset at him for more than 2 days, but that is a different story for another day.

Skateboarding has taught me a boat load of life lessons. One of them is never quit chasing your dreams. Obviously, when you're young and you just start skateboarding you automatically think of becoming a professional skateboarder. You see pros all over the internet on websites like ThrasherMagazine.com doing these insane tricks and envision yourself in that position. Although becoming a professional skateboarder is a feat in itself, it is definitely something that possible for those who really want to make that dream of being a pro into a reality. To be completely honest, I still plan on becoming a professional skateboarder one day. That is a promise that I made to myself when I first started skating which I hope, pray, and meditate on the daily about. Whether I make my dream come true or not, that still is not going to stop me from having fun doing what I love.

Another lesson that skating has taught me is that SHIT HAPPENS. And sometimes you just have to roll with the punches. It could be an injury, breaking yourself off, or focusing your board after a rough skate session. The decision to get up and try again after a mishap is all up to the skateboarder. Do they have the courage to keep going? Or is there something holding them back mentally? On some occasions, you have to get up and give it another go. If you break yourself off a countless number of times yet see that you're so, so close to landing the trick it is almost an unspoken feeling that submerses itself around you saying get off your ass and land that shit. The adrenaline pumping through your body, the thoughts going through your head, the beauty that is found inside the madness. Hopefully, you'll land the trick and all of your homies will go crazy celebrating with you as you roll away from it. And if you have someone filming it, you go back to watch the footage soon after landing the trick while simultaneously thinking of the hardships you went through to land it.

There are also times where you know that you aren't going to land the trick and decide that it would be better to try it another day. A small defeat that usually drives skateboarders insane and gives them a sense of revenge to land the trick the next time they try it.

I could go on for days on the subject of what skateboarding has done for me. But before I end this blog post and skate to my car so I can head home, I'll tell you what it means to me.

Skateboarding in my eyes is art. There are no rules, there are no guidelines. The board is your paint brush, and the streets are your canvas. Once you have been skating for a while, you start to envision objects seen on a daily basis as something that could be skated on. Whether it is a set of stairs that you can envision yourself doing a backside 360 ollie down or a handrail that would be excellent for a 50-50 grind, skateboarding gives you a sense of creativity that cannot be fathomed by non-skateboarders. That is not a shot at those who don't skateboard or saying that people who skateboard aren't as "cool" or "trendy" as those who do. It's just that people who do not skateboard have a harder time understanding what skateboarders are thinking in regards to how they see objects that are skateable.

Skateboarding is personal. Everyone has their own style, or at least TRIES to have their own style. It is very common nowadays to see skaters try and imitate other skateboarders. And I am not saying that it's wrong. I think that it's great that one skaters style can influence another's, but sometimes I think certain people try too hard to imitate someone that they just look unruly in whatever they are doing. Besides the style imitating, watching the set of styles at a local skate park among the pool of skaters is truly a sight to see. You have some skaters that have a laid back style, others who are more rugged than most, and others that are individualized in their style so much that you can't even put a label on it. It's amazing how all skateboarders are essentially riding the same piece of wood with 4 wheels and maneuver the object in so many different ways. I think of it as poetry in motion.

I hope to have the ability to be able to kickflips and backside 360's for as long as I am alive. Realistically, that probably won't happen. Imagine a 70 year old man with knees made of glass trying to skate as if he was 20... not the BEST idea.

my parents

Your parents are supposed to be your role models. They're supposed to be your number one support group. They teach you life lessons in some of the lamest ways, whether it be making your bed every morning or closing the toilet seat once you've finished your business. Parents can be rough some days, weeks, hell even years! But regardless of how your parents raised or disciplined you, they brought you into this world and that is the one thing we should all be grateful for.

As of late, my parents have been a really big help to myself financially and mentally. I used to work at sub shop in the city called Stuffy's Subs, and it wasn't all that bad. Except that my boss was a schizophrenic asshole with no interest or regards for his employees feelings. This is a guy who when I first began the job "worthless" because I didn't know how to work the cash register. For one, I had never touched the register for the 1 or 2 months I had been there. Second, you don't call your employees worthless or some other downgrading phrase just because things aren't going as smoothly as you would please. Understand that you have to treat your employees right in order for them to be able to come into work and not groan with an undertone that sounds similar to "I deadass do not want to be working here!"

I decided that after 7 months of bickering and chatter from my boss that it was time for me to part ways with Stuffy's. Do I regret quitting? Hell no.

I quit no longer than a month ago. And currently, I am still looking for a job. During this transition phase of not having a job and searching for one, my parents have come in big to help me out with daily expenses. Whether it is gas money for a road trip or a few bucks so me and my buds can go to Cookout for the infamous 5 dollar tray, their help is greatly appreciated.

Mentally, my parents have also done an excellent job as of late to keep me sane with the craziness that comes with college and any and all problems that a 20 year old male would be going through. The other night I ventured to my mother's apartment to give her debit card back. That whole day I had felt like nothing went my way. The emotions of negativity had broken my spirit. How and why? I couldn't even tell you. I guess we all just have some days where we feel like we're in a downward spiral.

As I get to my mom's crib, my somber mood rose a little bit solely because I was in the presence of my mother. Usually when I'm with my mom, she bombards me with questions that range from "what girl are you talking to now?" to "Did you see what lies the politicians tried to feed us today?".

The topic this time was my school work and what my major was. She was asking how my semester was going and what my aspirations were once I graduated. Honestly, I couldn't tell her a straight answer with my utmost confidence. Currently,  my major is international studies. But, I really do not want to be in that program. I made the decision to make that my major just so I could please my parents with an answer to the most dreaded question every college student wants to hear from a family member, "What's your major/what's your GPA?". But, I soon realized that international studies is not a field I see myself flourishing in. My goal is to be in the journalism program at VCU by the beginning of next semester.

She started getting into more details about what it is going to take for me to be successful in the real world. Phrases like "you need a haircut.", "you need a new wardrobe.", and "you need to have the right attitude!". My mother never says these kinds of things to criticize me or my siblings. She is just really blunt in what needs to be said. Her goal is to never hurt anybody's ego or their feelings.

But her tone is so stern. It is almost that of a fearless leader. She is so firm with her words and the affirmation she puts behind them hits you harder than a Draymond Green kick below the belt. This is completely unrelated to what I am currently writing about but I absolutely detest the Golden State Warriors.

Anyway, my eyes began to water and the tears began to shed. I began to contemplate my whole life after she told me all of these things that I need to do. I questioned my whole existence in a span of 30 minutes, whilst wondering if I was doing anything in my life right. I was the equivalent to a soggy piece of cereal left in lukewarm vat of milk that is still in the bowl that's been sitting on the table for 3 hours. Yeah, I was that low.

Slowly but surely, my mom noticed my waterworks and gave me the best hug of my entire life. All of my life questioning and sorrows were put on hold for a minute as my mom whispered to me that everything is alright. She later told me that at this point in my life I'm not supposed to have everything figured out. She told me I was too hard on myself. She told me to take it slow and enjoy being young while I still have that luxury. She told me that everything was going to be alright.

Immediately, my mood changed for the better. I could hold my head up and not be worried about my what my financial or marital status would be in 15 years. My mind was at a calm and it was more than needed.

My dad has helped me just as much or even more than my mom has. If I were to list the amount of times they have helped me out of a pickle collectively the list would go on forever and I would never stop writing this post. I have equal love and appreciation for both of them.

Your parents are a blessing. They help you when you expect it least, discipline you for the better, and are a reassuring shoulder to cry on as my mom was for me.

Some people don't have a great relationship with their parents, and I am sorry for those who don't have that luxury that I do. For those who do not appreciate their parents, I suggest that you get on that. There are so many things in life that we wouldn't have if it wasn't for the hard work and effort that our parents gave. I would understand if someone didn't have strong feelings for their parents if they did not have that much of a positive influence on their lives, and that is something that I cannot tap into because it is different for every individual. I really just wanted to take some time out of my day to write this post and show appreciation to my mom and dad.

Also, Drake dropped "More Life" today and I have come to the conclusion that I am keeping this album on repeat for the next few months. If you follow me on Twitter or any other social media, be prepared for late night Drake lyrics that I think describe my mood at that time. Sheesh!

Motorla Razr

In the world that we live in today, almost anything is possible. We have a man as the president of the United States who has NO prior political experience, the Cleveland Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals last year, and the Cubs came back from a 3-1 deficit in the World Series against the Indians this past season. And through all of these defying moments and many more, we all stay tuned to the latest stats, happenings, and breaking news through technology that has almost become a necessity to keep up with current trends...SMART PHONES.

They aren't a bad thing when used right. The many amenities that accompany these devices like wireless internet, video calls, and gaming apps make having a smart phone worth while. They make getting in contact with others close and far from you easier than it has ever been. Not to mention the social media apps that are made specifically for mobile devices so you can stay up to date on all of the latest fashions, trends, and memes floating through the internet. If you had just read this and never decided to pick up a smart phone, I would bet that you would think there can't be a downside to owning one of these great inventions. But when you are walking down the street and notice that every other person adjacent to you on your daily commute is so engulfed by whatever they are indulging in on their phones, maybe your opinion shifts from "there can't be anything wrong with this thing!" to "wow smart phones can be addictive!'.

The thing is that we are all victim to whatever curse keeps us locked into our phones for so long. You are probably lying if you say almost ran into somebody on the street with your head down scrolling through cute dog/cat videos or the latest internet comedy. We all fall victim at least once. What matters most is that you notice how out of touch you are with reality when you are only paying attention to what is going on in your phone.

So what makes it so hard to put your phone down during the day? Maybe its the fascination of stalking people you see around but don't know personally on their social media accounts (usually Twitter and Instagram). Or maybe it's your online shopping that just HAS to get done before you realize your bank account doesn't need the abuse. Could it be the latest Twitter beef between two opposing political affiliations? The list goes on, but the gist is still the same. That being that internet and our social media accounts are interesting enough through our mobile devices that we succumb to it. By succumbing to it, we soon lose touch with reality and what is going on in front of us.

It's a sad sight to see when you are at a restaurant or an eatery with a friend or family and you look at the table/booth across from you and all you see is them staring into their phones. It is almost like saying phones have taken away our ability to communicate when they were made for communication in the first place. Oh, the irony! What is worse is when a parent is out to eat with their children and all the kids are doing is playing on their phone. Not only is it disrespectful, but it is taking away the quality family time that is at hand. Yes, it's alright to take a picture of the food and put it on SnapChat for all of the world to see. However, what is not alright is staying on your phone for the rest of the meal after you post the picture of your food on SnapChat. Start a conversation! Ask whoever your with how their day was and what they have planned for the next few days. You don't have to be on your phone all the time.

We all have some days where it is hard to put the phone down and see what is going on around you. The key is making those amount of days get smaller and smaller and smaller. You'd be surprised what your day would be like. Maybe a girl/guy will come up to you when you don't have your phone in hand and ask for your hand in marriage. That probably won't happen but anything is possible. Make more conversation without using your phone.

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia is a unique city. We have the James River where you can find local drunks, conceited high school girls, dumb college kids (I am one of them), and about four hundred and twenty empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans clustered in the crevice of a rock.

We have Carytown, where you can feel the amenities of a place like Georgetown without having to travel as far and its denizens dress as if they are heading to a Broadway show when they're actually just going to Mellow Mushroom. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is only a few blocks down the street from Carytown, and meets the aesthetic of up and coming "photographers" who take pictures of famous paintings just show their friends that they're cultured. 

VCU is minutes away with students from all over the country coming here for its art program. But, if you didn't know that, you would think that every student that attends the school is from some county or city in Northern Virginia. I can almost guarantee that if you asked a random passerby around campus where they were, their response would be "Oh, I'm from Woodbridge" or "Yeah, I'm from Alexandria". 

The local music scene is bumping with tons of underground music ranging from alternative to rap and hip-hop and everything in between. Local houses tend to be the place for most of these musical showings or at an established music venue like Strange Matter, the Canal Club, and the Camel. There are tons of other interesting things that happen in the River city. Whether it be the serenade of gunshots (or fireworks, still not sure) that you hear all through the night, the sound of police sirens careening down Broad Street, or cops busting some frat party where Brad and his brothers were playing their dubstep music so loud that it woke the neighbors. Richmond is a fun place to eighty nine percent of the time. The other eleven percent is spent dodging homeless people that constantly beg you for your last dollar 15 minutes after you told them no across the street.

Richmond is usually categorized by the direction you're traveling. Northside, Southside, East End, West End. Northside isn't an ideal place to raise a family. News reports are ran daily about breaking and enterings, homicides, drug overdoses, the list goes on. Southside isn't as bad as Northside, but many of the same issues stated before with Northside resonate here. Plenty of shootings, drug busts, murders, you name it. The East End is quieter and borders our neighboring county, Henrico. Church Hill is a place chalk full of history and the viewpoints from the outlooks are breathtaking. The West End is more Henrico than Richmond. You don't hear as many things going on out there than you do with everywhere else. Short Pump is really nice if you haven't been there before, but after a while you realize the only reason you venture such a ways is because of how great Cheescake Factory and Dave & Busters is.

Technically, I am from Bon Air, and depending on which part of Bon Air you could be twenty five minutes or ten minutes to the city on a good day. I live right next to the border between Chesterfield and the city, so it gives me a tiny bit of leverage to tell people that I live in Southside. 

Now that I have given a below average synopsis of Richmond, I am going to give my reasons on why I like the city.

Before I really even knew the relative layout of Richmond, the only places I was familiar with were the James and Carytown. I believe that a common misconception that you can find around the metro Richmond area and places that are in close proximity of the city is that those two destinations are all that the city has to offer. If you think that, like I once did, you are sadly mistaken. 

I never took the time to appreciate Richmond until I transferred from my school in Arlington, Marymount University, after my freshman year. When I learned that I would be attending VCU the upcoming fall, I was anything but excited. I thought that I would never get immersed into the culture of Richmond and would miss too many of my friends to make any new ones here. Turns out that I was absolutely wrong. 

My sophomore year I had an apartment in the middle of VCU's campus, which made it really easy for me to get from place to place by foot. Myself, I hate being trapped indoors. I get antsy. Lots of times I would find myself riding my skateboard around the city just to take in the scenery. Even today when I get free time with the busy schedule that I have I'll take a stroll through an unexplored neighborhood. Venturing through neighborhoods leads you on to find many places, like local thrift shops, coffee shops, eateries, you name it. This leads me into my point that I love the localities that Richmond has to offer. I've been getting really into coffee lately, solely because I fall asleep really quickly and I honestly don't know why. The amount of local coffee shops is grandiose. Each one with its own genuine aura. Coffee shops are great places to read a book, do homework for a class, or to relax while reading a newspaper. The role they play in their communities respectively is another reason why am so fond of them. As a safe haven for some or a place of relaxation and stress relief for others, coffee shops are one attribute of Richmond that I think that I will always appreciate.

Another great thing about Richmond that I like is the diversity. Even though I did make a statement earlier about how almost all the students at VCU are from Northern Virginia, the amount of different linguistics, dialogues, and cultures is breathtaking. Around VCU's campus, you can hear conversations in three different languages in a span of three blocks. It's a great thing to see. The food joints narrowly tucked into small spaces on the strip of West Grace street also succumb to the amount of diversity Richmond has. There is an authentic Mexican food place facing Panda Express, several Indian cuisine eateries, an Insomnia Cookies, an Italian themed pizza place, you name it. 

This one is kind of cliche, but I love the murals painted all throughout the city. I think that it gives Richmond character and a welcoming vibe to those who are not familiar with it. 

I could go on for hours what I like about this city but I don't think I'd have the attention span to focus enough while listing them all.

Richmond is a great city that has it's downfalls. At one point, we had some of the highest murder rates in the country. But that is in the past. Richmond was just voted one of the best river cities to live in. What article was that in? I don't know personally but I saw it somewhere on the internet and that is good enough for me. I also just peeped the VCU game highlights against Dayton from tonight and we lost so I am going to stop writing so I can sulk for a bit. 

Go rams? Go rams. 

Night Shift

With brutal honesty, I am admitting to myself that I've been in a slump for the past few months.

Actually it's been more than a few months. About 6 months or so. 

I am not attributing how my mental is working now solely because of one person, it's wrong to blame someone else for what is going on in your head or how you act unless the actions they impressed on you are at such a degree that it leaves a long lasting mark. 

Flashback to February of 2016. I meet a girl I've been talking to for months at a party in the city. All I was expecting that night was to hang out with someone new, go home, and crash on my bed. I probably had homework that needed to be done that night too...

As both of us are exiting the house where the function was at, I begin to tell her goodbye and that I'll give her a yell the next day. She came with a friend, so I was expecting that she would go back with her friend just as she came with her. Instead, she follows me as I am walking back towards my place and decides to stick around for the night. At this point, my mind is questioning the situation with phrases like "What the hell is going on?" and "I really thought I was going to get some sleep tonight, guess that isn't going down.". We get pizza from the local eatery and watch a really, really bad scary movie on the couch at my apartment. Eventually, she decides to stay the night. In one night I met a really pretty girl, cuddled with her on my couch, and had her in the same bed as me to snooze for a few hours. Oh, and everything that transpired that night was unintentional.

That's how we met. Conventional? Not so much. Traditional? God no.

For the next 3 months after the night I met her, the same trend would transpire 5 out of 7 days of the week. Usually we would get dinner, walk around the city, go to the river, relationship things. Even with all the time that we spent together on a daily basis, this girl wasn't my girlfriend. 

One night we're walking back to my car so I can take her home. We had just finished relaxing at my place, so the mood was extremely mellow and calm. Ideal time to ask a girl to officially be yours, right?

She said yes, although it wasn't an enthusiastic "Oh my God, yes I'll be yours!". Maybe that should have been a sign to me that I shouldn't make the situation that I am in with this girl more complicated than it already is. The subsequent months after we began dating were a roller coaster of emotions, thrills, vocal matches, partying, distress, and disappointment.

We never really fought, and if we did I was never the one to ignite the fire. I'm usually someone who likes to avoid conflict and any kind of altercation. 

There were many, many occasions where I would be in the dog house with her. Whether I was late to dinner by a few minutes, talking to all of my so called "other girlfriends" (complete bullshit), or not being talkative with her, something I did on the daily irked her to no end. I could not appease this girl as much as she wish I would.

Even with all of the negative, there were many great things about her. She's a humanitarian in my eyes, loves the outdoors, and has a great sense of style. The list goes on. She was smart, adventurous, exquisite music taste, and made some great coffee.

Fast forward to June/July of 2016. Our relationship is getting bumpier than an unpaved back road in Powhatan. It seems as if she is upset or displeased with me everyday, and I could not deal with another one of her tantrums consisting of quiet rage and incredulous insults.

I eventually break up with her, and I didn't take too much. When you feel as if you are being attacked and unappreciated by someone you've devoted your time, effort, and emotion into it isn't difficult to become unattached from them. We both shed a few tears and gave each other one last kiss. It wasn't really the last kiss though...

We would still spend loads of time together, hanging at her parents house or her best friends abode. But during this awkward limbo of our "not dating but were still together, kind of? " phase, one night really defined where we stood in regards to our relationship.

August 2016. I'm at a party with my friends in Washington D.C/Northern Virginia. Earlier that day, I had posted a picture of me and two of my closer companions (both of them of the opposite sex). It's getting really close to 12 am, and I receive a phone call. At this point of the night, I've already downed several beers and other alcoholic beverages to quench my thirst. To no avail, it is my almost girlfriend but not girlfriend lighting my line up. She rings me out about hanging with other girls and posting them on social media. She would later exclaim "I would never do that shit to you, so why the fuck would you do it to me?" and "You never cared about me to begin with." Drunk, none of these statement really phase me. It was more of a in one ear, out the other feeling. But, one phrase she did sling out that caught my attention was "If you ever post another picture with another girl, I will never talk to you again.". How did I react to this? My first reaction was one of confusion. Why is this girl yelling at me still about something that is REALLY not that important? Does she really think she is going to control how I act? Does she actually think I'm disrespecting her?

At that point, I was completely over whatever was left of our relationship. I could not deal with the ambiguities and ailments that lied between us. 

So, how did this girl affect my mental? Today, I am still not even sure what she did to my mind. All I do know is that I haven't been able to think like I used to. I have more mental lags than before. I feel lost, and that is probably the worst of them all. Maybe all of the negativity that transpired between us is still lingering in my noggin. Maybe it's the fact that I occasionally think about her smile or how sweet her hugs were. Or, it could be the fact that I got a concussion in September.

Nevertheless, girls that you allow to be in a position of importance in your life, like your girlfriend, really play a major role in how your mind works and how you act. Whether you are broken up with her or not, the effects from your relationship will tag along with you for a very, very long time. 

Northside Social

Earlier on this fine Saturday morning in Arlington, Virginia I decided that I needed a jolt to my day in order for a smooth drive back to Richmond. The local coffee shop, Northside Social, was only a ten minute drive from where I stayed the previous night and a strong urge for an iced coffee with vanilla syrup accompanied by three shots of espresso had draped itself upon me.

The drive to the crowded coffee joint was great, blaring my blues music with the windows down with seventy degree weather surrounding me. Paying to park for the solemn fifteen minutes that I stood in line was pretty bogus, but the sensation of being immersed into the local scene of a small city made up for the time that was stolen from me. But there was one minuscule observation that came to the forefront while standing in line... I was the only black person there.

Which isn't bad at all. I've been to many places where I have seen only one white person in line surrounded by plenty people of color.

Usually I wouldn't notice such things, as I like to keep color, race, gender, sexual orientation, beliefs, and traits/attributes in hindsight so that when I am interacting with someone who doesn't look, talk, or act like me that I know that they are being treated fairly. We all would like the same to be done for us, right? I am sincerely hoping that if anybody takes the time to read this that it doesn't come off as me being insecure with my ethnicity. That is the exact opposite of what I am trying to explain.

When I noticed that I was the only black person in there, I was a little shocked. Maybe it is because Richmond is a more diverse place, with VCU playing a major factor in that. The lack of diversity that I saw in the coffee shop was just slightly odd, at best.

However, after the weird sensation of being one of the few people of color in the establishment dissolved, a feeling of uniqueness and belonging came over me. Not to say that white people aren't unique, everyone has a unique side to them. What I am saying is that even in a room full of people who don't look like me, I felt just as I would in a room full of people of color.

I solely share this experience because I happen to know several individuals who are not comfortable in their own skin, black white and everything in between. I believe that it is truly important to have the comfort of knowing that you belong in this world and that regardless of how you look or what guidelines you live your life that YOU BELONG in this world.

Now, this experience of mine is not to say that all of the white people in the coffee shop earlier this morning don't appreciate or like people who aren't white. That is not the point I am trying to get across. I personally did not know anybody in that coffee shop or had any previous relations with anybody in there. I don't know their lives. Therefore, I can't judge and can only think positive things about them since they have not given me a reason not to think highly of them.

What I am saying is that earlier today I noticed that I was the only black person in the coffee shop. And while being the only black person in there, I did not feel any different than how I would feel any other day of the week. I felt comfortable. I felt good. I felt comfortable in my own skin, and in retrospect felt grateful for being able to feel something that I know others have difficulties with.

Also, the coffee was great.

The Thrill is Gone

That song is made by the late and great BB King, a song that I am currently listening to while stoned in my mothers car. Not a bad Thursday spent in the city of Richmond.

Earlier in class today we had a paper that was due. Of course with my bad habit of procrastinating, I waited until today to get it done. To top it off, when I went to turn in the paper I noticed that everyone had brought a folder to set their assignment in. Guess I didn't get that memo...

Two minutes before class starts and you see my darting across Franklin street to get a useless folder. Nevertheless, the folder was purchased and the paper was turned in.

My First Post

Hello. My name is Lawrence Jones III. Currently, I attend Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. I am not your average broke college student. I am broke, emotionally unstable occasionally, slightly an alcoholic, and have an unexplained accent.

I think that my life is interesting enough to where I could update a blog several times a week and not get bored. Life is dynamic, always changing right before your eyes. And I think that using a blog or any kind of writing mechanism is a great way to note and mark down the scenes that you see on a daily basis. Whether it is about having a thriller of a day filled with smiles, cotton candy, and weed, OR a bad day consisting of a hangover, failed assignments, low test grades, or anything along those lines.

A little about myself... Originally, I am from Chesterfield, Virginia. But locals call my side of town SOUTHSIDE. It gives us a sense of entitlement and makes us feel different from everybody else. What's funny is that as we're trying to be different from everybody else it's almost like we're all the same (because everybody is trying to succeed at being different).

At the age of 20 years old, I have managed to: be in Thrasher Magazine twice, severely damage my rotator cuff, break 4 girls hearts in the span of 3 years, and amass 1,000+ followers on my Twitter account by tweeting meaningless garbage like memes and how I get heartbroken by the same girl for almost 3 months.

There is not much else you need to know about me. I love skateboarding, Cookout, dairy products, the simple things in life. (Sidenote: I have written almost a page about myself in a span of 5-6 minutes while I can't write a paper that is due tomorrow at 3:30 EST about a book that I didn't read...)

At this stage in my life, I am confused about tons of things. Where I am going to be after I graduate, who I should be giving my precious time to, whether I should jump in front of the next GRTC bus that passes. It's pretty fucking frustrating at times. Alas, there is beauty behind the madness. And I am going to do my best to exfoliate and extract every ounce of beauty that is available in this topsy-turvy road of life that I can!