Be careful making wishes in the.. dark, dark,
can’t be sure when they’ve hit their.. mark, mark,
and besides in the mean, mean time,
I’m just dreaming of tearing you apart..

~ Fall Out Boy, My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light ’em Up)

I never update as much as I want to, leaving all of the impromptu things that I’d like to post less impromptu and more playing catchup. But hell, might as well put them out there to make it known that it actually occurred rather than to just say so. Although I said last time that there wouldn’t be another fustercluck of adventures posted at the same time.. my bad. Oh well. We’re all here now, so…

The Gauntlet
There was a bit of a month long stretch where a weekend wasn’t spent at home, whether it be for work or not so much. It was definitely daunting, as it felt like I was unable to get any rest, or any type of recovery, since it was one city (or state) after another each weekend. Don’t get me wrong, it was definitely an experience, but the process was also very tiring. However, we don’t live to be stagnant, so best to fly by the seat of your pantalones.

Anaheim, CA:
It seems like for the longest, I was here every month. Disneyland passes aren’t cheap, so might as well make the most of it, yeah? So, since I was in the area for a couple different reasons, it was probably high time I came back to see a mouse’s house. Plans were aligned to be there anyway, so it was probably fate that all occurred the way it did.

As much as I am not the biggest fan of Southern California, Anaheim has been a mainstay over the last decade. Whether it be friends, girlfriends, work, or absolute randomness, Disneyland has been something that has been a staple for a while. Even if I’m not there, I’ve found myself buying DVD’s, watching the movies that come out, or impersonating a blue alien experiment. Enough exposure will do that, I guess. Never thought Disneyland would be such a part of my life. But, it’s not a terrible thing. Each time out brings a new aspect.

Nashville/Memphis, TN:
I swear I hear a little “twang” when I hear that city’s name. I’d never been to the South (with Orlando being the exception, but not truly the South in culture), so it was a great experience to be a part of.

If you know me (and you should get to, if you don’t already), I’m a foodie at heart. And in spirit. And in figure. But that’s not important. Food is. I always want to try the specialties in the cities that I visit. Tennessee is no different. As good as there are barbecue spots in the Bay Area, they pale in comparison to the barbecue that is in Nashville. And of course, the whiskey is a tad (read: hell of a lot) stronger in these parts. Pretty sure it’s mixed with some sort of moonshine.. if it’s not moonshine already.

Might I also add.. SEC football is king over there. We watched a barnburner of a game between Georgia and Tennessee, where Georgia took the lead with 10 seconds left in the game. The bar was filled with Volunteer orange, but you could hear a pin drop in the grass when that happened. However, when Tennessee threw a Hail Mary into the end zone with no time left.. and it was caught for the game winning touchdown… I have never (and I mean NEVER) seen a bar react like that. Fans hugging each other wildly, throwing barstools, jumping on tables, crying in pure joy and ecstasy. It makes your bar look wack wherever you’re reading this from. Tell your fans to step your game up if you’re not from the SEC already. #justsayin

Nashville may not be a huge metropolitan area that’s spread out like San Jose or San Francisco is, but that does not mean whatsoever that they do not enjoy the nightlife. Broadway (fitting street name) keeps karaoke bars every second door, so they know how to keep you entertained. I did not sing at these karaoke bars. I might have twerked at these karaoke bars. It might have been to The Thong Song. It might have been while some other dude was singing. I might not have cared. (shrug.)

Nashville reminds me of a southern Las Vegas. People drinking in the street, music down every building, people having a good time. What I will say is this: Southern hospitality is not just a song by someone who spells ludicrous differently. It is a trait that was constantly shown and proved by multiple residents of the city/state. It honestly made me feel like I would be welcomed back here with open arms, and I would absolutely go back. There is no sense of entitlement, there was just people wanting you to feel welcome. Next go around, I’d like to see an SEC game (and wear the right colors, cause I’m not getting jumped), walk down Broadway and take all of the culture in. Thank you, Nashville. We will meet again.

Grand Canyon, Arizona:
Some of the most awe-inspiring things on this earth reside in Arizona. After driving for goodness knows how long, we all finally reached one of the world’s most dazzling attractions, the Grand Canyon. Folks, I can’t even begin to figure out how big the actual canyon is. We spent our time on the South Rim only, as driving to the North Rim would have taken 5 hours. Y’all. 5 hours. That’s just driving straight with no stops… so the South Rim was just fine with me.

There were some crazies that decided to constantly wanted to cheat death and climb up/down these rocks to get these shots. I get living in the moment, and kudos to them.. but I also like solid ground below me. I did take a couple of pictures with me in some precarious situations, but nothing like the people I saw (or was with).

On the horizon, you could see lightning strike in the canyon, which was my cue to quickly and efficiently get the hell out of dodge. I’m sure it wasn’t that terrible, but with it getting closer, and rain coming down at a quicker pace made it an easier decision to git. Next time, I promise I will be much more daring with my pictures.. although I must say that the photoshoots I had made the shots much more epic.

Las Vegas, NV:
Oy. Drinks ahoy here. Fat Tuesday is my best friend and my worst enemy.. even when I don’t drink it. But, since I get the brunt of the shenanigans, I might as well partake. At least then, I can be a part of the ridiculousness, rather than just playing nurse/babysitter. Normally, whatever happens in Vegas gets put on Snapchat, but I figure that this wouldn’t be the time to do so. This is more of an “ask me what happened, and I’ll clue you in” type of deal than a tell-all. Many good reasons, and I’m being especially vague for said many reasons.

All in all, while I’m excited for all of the things that happened (and the ones that are not on this page), it was good to not be in a hotel bed. A few were super comfy, not gonna lie. But I couldn’t fit them in the car or plane, so all for naught.

 

Spinning The Wheel

I have to say that Bojack Horseman is one of the realest shows I’ve ever seen.. and its latest season has me taking a long look at myself. You wouldn’t think a cartoon would have that type of effect on you, but lo and behold…

Cuddlywhiskers: “Sometimes you need to take responsibility for your own happiness.”

Diane: “You don’t think that’s a little selfish?”

Cuddlywhiskers: “I don’t know what to tell you. I’m happy, for the first time in my life, and I’m not gonna feel bad about it.. it takes a long time to realize how truly miserable you are, and even longer to see that it doesn’t have to be that way.. only after you give up everything can you begin to find a way to be happy.”

Well, damn. You wouldn’t think someone by the name of Cuddlywhiskers would have something as deep as that. Truth be told, it honestly hit home for me.. both in witness and in experience. Honestly, bringing it up is difficult because of what it entailed. I’ve deleted what I was going to say about 25 different times, just because I don’t even know how to approach it without feeling some type of way about it. It’s not the best look, I know.. and it’s not to discredit what (and who) is important to me, as there have been times where I can remember being on the brink of me doing some very regrettable things and being talked out of it. Thank you for being there and making sure I didn’t.

Bottom line: I’m not the same person I was 6 months ago, much less 6 years ago. If I was, we would be having a much different (and probably more somber) conversation. Change is an integral part of growth. But as I’ve said before (whether you heard it from me or not), in this life you either create or consume. For any type of interaction between two people, be it platonic, professional or intimate, there needs to be as much (if not more) creation than consumption, otherwise what good is the interaction good for any party involved? Someone’s going to get hurt.. and it doesn’t end well when the dust settles.

Thanks, Bojack.

This just turned into a very pensive, intense post. I apologize to those I’ve done wrong.. past, present and future.

Can we just fast forward to New York? #30daystoNY #33daystoLondon