I have a theory about having a job, if you're not doing what you want then you get sick of it really really REALLY quickly. I have had numerous jobs in my short employment life-span: pizza boy, host, Hot Topic, stock boy, copy boy, Barista (coffee boy), Delivery Boy, Teaching Assistant, Distribution (warehouse worker), Teacher; the only problem is that I only wanted to do one of these jobs for more than 2 years. Why 2 years? My theory centers around a 2 year shelf life for jobs you don't want to do for the rest of your life. I have never been employed at a job that I haven't questioned after 12-18 months and then left after 2 years. The only job I would love to do for the rest of my life is be a Delivery Boy, or at least perform/write sketch comedy.
The only reason this is coming to mind is because my 2 years is up at teaching and I am feeling the same thing again. I thought when I started teaching that it would be close enough to something slightly resembling psychology that I would be ok with it, that it would soothe me into being comfortable. I just realized something though, teaching is a very shallow pond. There is no real room for growth, once you're a 6th grade teacher there isn't much else you can change about it. I've hit the ceiling and it scares me. I know that all I have to do is go back to school and get more education and I can teach in different settings, but I DON'T WANT TO TEACH! At least not yet in my life. I want to be a counselor, I want to do what I know I was meant to, I want to feel like I have purpose. I want to provide for my family, I want to help people... most of all I want to be happy. What depresses me (all most everyday) is, I don't see any of this happening any time soon.
This post was originally supposed to be about Michael Jackson (The King of Pop); how he was so influential, his philanthropy, his escapades... (*voice trails off*) I do owe some people a joke that voted for it on my facebook so... "The coroner found Micheal Jackson's To-Do list in his pants pocket during the autopsy. The coroner was confused because the only thing written on the list were the names of boys from Michael Jackson's neighborhood!" PA-ZING!
Slight digression, Billy Mays a true American Icon died at 50 just a few short days after MJ. To compare these two men in the same sentence is an abomination, borderline sacrilegious. I argue that MJ had no where near the influence and power of Billy Mays. Billy Mays has been and will be one of my favorite people in the entire world. His fervor for useless consumer products model the stereotypic American Lifestyle: What can I buy that 1) Doesn't cost a lot of money 2) Will get the job done with minimal effort on my part 3) Fix my dumbass mistakes. Those 3 steps answer the American Dream and that's what Billy Mays was selling.
I, no lie, grew up with Billy Mays. He was my late night BFF. Ask my parents about how on the weekend mornings during JR. High and High School I would tell them of the next amazing (no pun intended) product that I saw on TV at ,of course, 2:30am. Oxiclean, Orange Glo, Hercules Hooks, the Awesome Auger, Kaboom, Big City Sliders and my favorite of all time ESPN360.com; each of the these products were talked about in length over the weekend breakfast table. Not just how amazing they were, but also the incredibly cheap cost! How could you turn down a deal that Super Sized your tub of Oxiclean to 6 lbs and included a spray bottle, super shamy and Orange Clean spray all for only $19.95! And if the price didn't get you Billy Mays did. You can't say, "NO" to that man (insert sexist joke here).
What kills me (also no pun intended) is that the cause of death is being ruled heart failure. He was only 50 and the medical examiner is saying it was most likely a heart attack in his sleep that lead to his death. This is where things get strange... I always pictured the "infomerical/pitchman" business to be a pretty close-knit fraternity. So my question is why wasn't Billy Mays in better health? Didn't he rub elbow with Tony Little, Suzanne Sommers, Richard Simmons?! He didn't have a Gazelle, a ThighMaster, Sweatin' to the Oldies DVD's?! No Bender Ball, Ab Rocker, P90X or Crunchless Abs? Nothing resembling a Bow-Flex?!
Billy you will be missed; the infomerical realm has lost its king and no one is good enough to replace you on the thrown. We mourn this unfathomable loss.
Don't just get it clean, get it Oxiclean.
It has become frighteningly clear that I am completely dependent on every aspect of technology. Do I dare remember the days before iPods, cell phones, digital cameras, portable dvd players, Tivo, DV-R, Axe Body Spray, CD's and Notebook Computers?! Not only does my iPod play music from its' own personal hard-drive, but it also let's me surf the Internet where the Internet is now broadcast "invisibly" through the air! Does anyone remember when a cassette tape was an amazing thing to have, and e-mail was unheard of? Instant messaging, text messaging, mySpace, Facebook, Twitter?! How in the world are we supposed to keep up with everything that is surrounding us; understand it, utilize it, technology mutates faster than comprehension.
I don't want to come off as anti-technology that's not what this post is about, it's more about the memory of simpler times. The image that keeps popping into my head is Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell with his giant cell phone that was the only thing that he could fit into his back pack at one time. I still don't remember him ever really using it that much either. The only reason this comparison has any relevance is because I feel the same way about my cell phone today. How I loath the moment that it rings it's downloaded mp3 ring tone, I check my free caller ID feature, and low and behold it's someone I could care less about talking to. Not that I'm too busy, but just the fact that I don't want to talk to the person on the other end. I would so much rather them text message me, so I can text them back and have no real human contact. Technology has completely erased the tactile face of society. Sure we can reach out and touch pretty much anyone and anything, but look at how much we are now taking for granted.
The #1 beef I have with the advances in technology is print. The printed word is an endangered species. Books no longer hold their vast mystery and appeal. Pursuing library or book store shelves for hours just to look and possibly find the next great novel of your life. It's a lot more difficult to throw a book away in the trash than just delete it off your iPod or eBook Device. My question is why would someone pay $350.00 for an eBook that is close the the same size as a normal paperback book, when you could buy 25 real books for that price... or 2 textbooks ;). But you still have to pay for the book to download it to the device so you are basically paying an extra $350.00 for a book cover? I am proud of my small library of books that live on my 2 book shelves. Yes, they collect dust and take up space, but they talk about the type of person I am (likes, views, ideas, values).
ANYWAYS!!! While we navigate through an ever changing technological jungle, we remember that there is someone on the other end.
Starting a blog... something I never thought would ever appeal to me. I have to find a hobby; right now hiking is taking up most of my life, but that can only happen once every week (if I'm lucky). Not that I have anything to complain about, I could have worse excuses for not being able to get outdoors as much as I want. My family always has to come first, if it's a question between hanging out with my wife and boys and going for a hike I choose family. I just can't wait until I don't have to make that choice and I can start to bring my family on hikes.
I think that the hardest part about keeping up with something like this is finding "stuff" to talk about every couple of days. As much as I say my life is boring and mundane, I can't help think that having a blog will help me recognize how much excitement surrounds me at almost every point of my day. I really want to get into writing and what better way than starting something that possibly no one will read or care about. I'll be able to post, vent, rant and rave about whatever I see or hear that interests me.
I don't keep up with a whole lot other than my family, job and sports. My political prowess holds enough strength to destroy a wet paper bag, something that I have been telling myself I need to start studying up on. Major plans: relax, apply to Grad. School, understand politics, unlocks secrets to the universe and get in shape... probably listed in order of importance for me. Should probably have put finish laundry and pack for vacation starting on Sunday. Oh! And get fitted for tux for Mikey's wedding.
I have a lengthy to-do list, I should start investing in Sharpies and wash my forearm off to make sure I have a large enough surface to write this down on.
