One thought I'm carrying with me into 2009

There are several, of course. But this one might be the most important. Good things are coming.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "Press On" has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race.”

—Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), 30th U.S. president

It was dope all along!

A certain someone used try to pick on me for rocking a super fly Ralph Lauren Polo sweater with a bear on it. Today I found out the same exact sweater in my repertoire turned up in a Kanye West photo shoot from a while back, confirming my fly fashion sense!

They didn't have this when I was a kid!!!

All I can remember is sledding on trash can lids. I give you the Porsche sled...

Zen and the Art of Happiness

Key thoughts from the best book I've ever read...

"Obey the nature of things, and you will walk freely and undisturbed." - Seng-Ts'an

"Even if it is painful and lonely, associate with worthy companions." -Dogen

"The highest nobility lies in taming your own mind." -Atisha

"Think with the whole body." -Taisen Deshimaru

"My mind is the guiding rein." -Buddha

"Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, no one can help you as much." - Dhammapada

"If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?" -Dogen

"If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?...Smiling helps you approach the day with gentleness and understanding...Smile with your whole being." -Thich Nhat Hanh

"Every day is a good day." -Ummon

The true man sees what the eyes see, and does not add to it something that is not there. He hears what the ears hear, and does not detect imaginary undertones or overtones. He...is not busy with hidden meanings." - Chuang Tzu

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts." - Dhammapada

Perfection is everywhere if we only choose to recognize it." - Okakura Kakuzo

Bah, humbug.

I turned 27 yesterday to little fanfare. It didn't even feel like a birthday to me. Remember the parties we all used to have as children? We'd invite half of the 3rd grade class. There were balloons, cake, skating, presents; lots of presents. My 27th birthday had none of that - not even a single present. I got a phone call from my mom that lasted all of sixty seconds. That was my birthday: boring, lonely, uneventful. It felt like any other day, and I'm scared Christmas is going to bring more of the same. Growing up I'd always heard adults talk about how the holiday season tends to lose its luster and sparkle as one grows older, but I never believed them. Well, now I do. Decorating is no longer exciting. The presents bore me, the music makes my ears bleed, and the ridiculous movies on network television depress me. I think these days it's the movies that get me the most. We as viewers are shown these near perfect people and all the friends they have, all the family they spend time with, all the exciting days and nights they spend throughout the holiday season. Well, not me. This Christmas, I'll be alone. For the first time ever, my parents have decided to go out of town and visit family. I was semi-excited about this, until I found out I had to work the day after Christmas. So this Christmas, while you're opening presents with family, or cuddled in front of the fire with your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife, just remember how much I hate each and every one of you. That is all.

GQ has a feature on classic Presidential Style! Pretty dope!

The entire feature can be read HERE.

Goodbye, 2008.

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Goodbye, 2008. I will not miss you one bit. I think it's safe to say you were the worst year of my life, even with fifteen days left to suffer through. Perhaps I should have waited until January 1st to write this parting letter to you, for you can still impart your wrath upon me over these remaining couple of weeks. You and I got started on the wrong foot, 2008. It should have been clear to me right away that the three hundred and sixty five days we were preparing to spend together would not be pleasant, yet things were hazy. Maybe it was blind ambition on my part, fueled by dwindling youth and a generally positive outlook. After all, with the way your friend 2007 and I left things, my relationship with you couldn't possibly be worse, right?

Wrong.

One would think that being lied to and cheated on and confronting the guilty party about it on one's birthday would be among the worst possible things that one could fall victim to, right? Because that's what your friend 2007 did to me. That's how we left things last December. And then you came into my life like a breathe of fresh air, and brought with you someone new: a beautiful, intelligent, promising young woman with whom to spend my days. You and I were going to get along great it seemed.

Wrong again.

I fell victim at the hands of a whore. Again. I was lied to. Basically cheated on. Left out in the cold and oblivious to what was going on around me. If I didn't know better I'd swear that you and 2007 conspired against me the last couple of years. At least you forced your ill will upon me early on in the year. That way I still had eight plus months left to make the best of a year out of my life. But you weren't done, were you? Oh, no. You were just getting warmed up. Shortly thereafter you left me unemployed for six months, wondering just what in the hell I was going to do with myself and my life, and questioning everything and everyone around me. Thanks a lot, 2008. And to think, you saved your best for last.

You set me up with a pretty good new job near the end of the year, and promised me an extra degree or two, free of charge, at one of the country's most prestigious Universities. You and I were starting to get along. But just before our relationship could reach its peak on December 31st, and the memories of you wouldn't be all bad, you snuck back up and bit me in the ass. Thanks again, 2008. If only I could speak of your latest exploits here. I'm sure everyone would love to know what you did to me at 12:30 in the morning on Thursday, December 10th. It certainly was exciting theatre for me. You even went so far as to ensure that the start of my relationship with 2009 would no doubt get off on the wrong foot. You really out did yourself my friend. So just do me a favor, please. Stay silent and inactive during these last remaining weeks of your life, and I'll keep your name out of my mouth and off of my blog.

Screw you, 2008.

At least I got a novel out of you.

Poignant PostSecret card

Dope new Adidas commercial with KG and Jeezy!