A Credit List

They say that if you wind up with 3 good friends in life, you've lived remarkably well. I have lived a life of total luxury if that's the case.

Walter: Thank you for being there to help me through schoolwork, bike stunts, bad ideas, and good times.

Ben: Your pennywise sense has rubbed off on me finally. I'm glad you made me do your laundry back in college.

Craig: My first friend, your life is a veritable tome of accomplishments. Every time we speak, I feel like a kid again.

Matt: If there is a man more baddass and intense on a daily basis, I don't think he'd really compare to you.

Evan: Technology makes sense because of you. You make me feel dumb in a learning way.

Kurt: Music has never been more enjoyable. My instrument sounds great because of you.

Dré: You turned me from a brooding sociopathic boy to a semi-socially savvy man. You put me onto the path I am on today.

Adam: I finally enjoy being behind a computer again, like I did in high school.

Webb: I am of the strong opinion that everyone needs a mad scientist for a friend.

Renny: You help me deal with everyday. You help me feed my addiction, and keep me sane.

Andy: Every time I hear from you is a total joy. I love just talking about what's going on with you.

Gigi: You're the best of the kin, and you make me swell with pride everyday.

Mom: You help me deal with life crises. You keep me well furnished, and you keep me going with my grind.

Dad: My ultimate role model. If I wind up half the man you are, I've done very well.

Dr. Girlfriend: You make me want to be the best man I can.

Edits to follow, as I think of more things to say about the best people in my life.

-The0

A side of Irritation, and a glass of Cliché, please.

I believe the tone of this web log has been set nicely, and I have had a bit of work since the last post. There are many injustices, or at the very least, habits about society that annoy and anger me deeply. Allow me to please present one of them.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter was once reported as having said that he would prefer to eat the rude. After dealing with certain people in exacting situations, I can understand the sentiment. Jean-Paul Sartre once said "Hell is other people." After simply observing how humanity interacts at times, I can see the motivation in that remark. The fact of the matter, as I see it, is that everyone needs to calm down, communicate, and for the love of God, remember what the word "respect" fucking means.

I'm never going to claim that I am perfect, nor will I claim that I know what's best. But honestly, would it hurt anyone to take the extra 0.5 seconds to say "Please", "Thanks" and fucking mean it?

Here's a situation with which I'm all too familiar, a nice example. Everybody is running around, and everybody needs somebody else to get something done. Do we cohere as a team? Do we realize that we each have our own work to do as well as get something done for somebody else? Not a chance. We shout what we need at someone, and expect it to come to fruition exactly after that shout. Not "I need five of these, please" or "As soon as you can, could you help me with _____?" No. It's everyone barking at each other, implying like their situation is the most important to grace the goddamn globe. Everyone is isolated on their own pedestals, professing their needs to be met by the underlings (or in the case of this metaphor, across to another pedestal). Disgusting.

Just the way we interact in American society is cold like that. People can scuffle over a bumped shoulder. Ladies yell their brains out at a barista who is simply trying to make it through the rush with accuracy and precision. Guys give hell to telemarketers, like cold-calling people for a job isn't tough enough. I think the worst way I've heard it put is "You have to earn my respect, I don't just give it away." Deplorable. 

Granted, my previous post was welling with hate and disrespect. It even may have been closed- minded and classist. But a core tenant of my being is to meet everyone with a smile and a chance. I shake your hand assuming that you already work harder than me. How hard can that be? I still say "please" to everyone I can and “thank you” at every turn when relying on someone. And for fuck's sake, I leave a tip whenever I can. It’s their time as much as it is mine.

The next time you have someone on your ass to get something done, don't be afraid to request a bit of courtesy. The next time your bartender is clearly slammed, order something simply, politely, and thank them when you get it. You’re going to get it anyway, why not just take a few seconds, go an extra step, and respect the people around you? Or do you not work hard enough to know what “respect” is?

-The0