R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find Out What It Means To Me

Ok, so I was thinking about how many times my parents have asked me to 'respect them' in my life and what I always thought when they uttered this: " I do". Then I started thinking about how many times I've seen kids straight out insulting their parents in public and always thought 'man, if that were my kid I'd smack the crap out of them'. This is, of course, a child that I'm refering to.

So, I dug a little deeper. I began thinking about the way that children have changed in more recent times in comparison to previous generations. My parents both have told me about 'the look' that would make them basically wet themselves when they were younger, presumably the same look that indicated to them that there was a beating in their near future. I, along with my two siblings, was rarely ever hit for misbehaving.. we were punished, frequently.

I have been known to get myself in trouble a few times because of my mouth, I've always 'talked back' and had this uncanny ability to press my parents buttons with one word. Call it what you will... I say its brilliance! Anyway.. on the rare occasion that I would be pushed to act immaturely in public or when I stood up and straight out refused to do something (always with reason, mind you, I was generally a good kid) I remember hearing the phrase 'You have to respect me'. And it always boggled me.. why did they choose that time to say it?? Because I'm not doing something they are perfectly capable of doing but want me to do?? What gives???

So.. here it is, my dissection of the word respect. I think that 'the look' that my parents referred to when they were younger was not respect.. it was fear, fear of getting their asses beaten. I've heard allot of stories (mainly from my father) and the things that he did are not things that someone who 'respects' would do. Of course, it's all written off as young mischievous acts, and I don't really care either way, but respect? Not in my opinion. Then I started thinking about the times that I choose to say things to burn my parents at times, and although I can't say I'm proud of it, I think I figured out why it happened. It's because respect is a two way street, in order to be respected by someone.. you have to show them some respect. I also don't feel like you show your respect by 'not answering back' or 'ignoring someone'... you show it my attempting to make them proud of you and being there when things get rough. After all... when there is true respect between people you should be able to say anything to them. Also, respect is earned, not forced upon people because of circumstance. So.. reguadlress of the relationship I feel like you need to make an effort. *cheers*

We're Metal

Every so often something happens to me that makes me question the general sanity of everyone in the world. It doesn't have to be anything major, truth be told its more often then not something that I probably notice on my own. Since my attention is grabbed by the strangest things sometimes. This weekend I was a participant in a conversation that at best I can only describe as the feeling of a giant spoon being inserted into my head that stirs my brain around untill my ability to process something as fact is disabled. This is the conversation, word for word, and you'll see why I am so dumbfounded...

Dude: Hey, whats your name?
Me: V, whats yours?
Dude: We're Metal.
Me: What the hell does that mean? Is your name metal?
Dude: No.
Me: Are you in a band?
Dude: Yea.
Me: Is your band named 'Metal'?
Dude: No.
Me: Do you guys play metal?
Dude: No.

After further analyzing the next morning I can only assume that this character has split personalities and that these sub-personalities are in a metal rock band. He did, after all, address himself as 'we're' not 'I'm' .. which means that he must think of himself as more then one entity. And to clear any questions up before they start, he was completely alone when he was speaking to me, no one was around him giving him a reason to use the term 'we're'. I don't know whats up with this guy.. but he seems like he is a few cards short of a full deck. Either way, when I think about his response it always raises a heavy chuckle out of me. So, despite any confusion on my part, he did create a happy memory for me.. even though the humor is at his expense. You can't win them all. *cheers*

The Ghost Of Vaneltine's Day Past

This weekend was certainly busy, it seems like we had people over all weekend.. oh wait, we did.

It began with a party on Friday night, a celebration for the reuniting of a great band that we all were fans of. It was great. A really old friend joined us, Jake, who I hadn't seen in years. Catching up was really nice, our lives are actually really similar at the moment. A good number of people showed up, not too many, and not too few, just enough heads to keep everyone entertained but not enough to leave my house looking like a tornado passed through it when everyone was gone. I also met two friends of my sisters.. well, met is a strong word, I had met them before but we hadn't really ever spoken till this night. They were both pretty down to earth people who were generally a pleasure to converse with. All in all friday's festivities were so good that we decided that all the singles should come back on Saturday (the 14th) so we can do like a little Valentine's Day Getty.

This is where I should have listened to my inner gut.. from the time I got up I questioned whether trying to have two great nights would be too much of a feat. I seriously thought it would be like tossing dice into the air and expecting it to land on the same number twice.. impossible. But, I carried on as planned, and the time rolled around for people to arrive. Arrive they did.. it started out well enough... a chill evening of card playing, music, drinks.. nothing too crazy. Then it happened... dumb drama that turned the whole night sour, and fast. At first, everyone that wasn't involved (including myself) tried to calm the situation but it was like a snowball that kept getting bigger and more annoying as the situation progressed. Eventually destroying all hopes of the evening returning to its former pleasent self.

So everyone left, and I was left cleaning up all kinds of messes.. from beer bottles, to peoples feelings.

I would love to say that it was a learning experience for me, but that would be a lie. It was actually really predictable.. as a matter of fact, I called it the night before. It's all water under the bridge now, and I've made contact with the people who may have felt uncomfortable to smooth things over, so I feel fine with everything. But if I have to offer one piece of advice it is this... send countless shots over to someone when they are causing drama in a party... at best, they will just pass out and everyone can carry on, and at worst they will get so hammered that they will forget what it is they were getting crazy about in the first place. *Cheers*

The More You Know

The Day Of Love

It's February 12th.. the day before the day before the dreaded day of love. Let me be clear... I do not hate Valentines Day, I just hate the impact it has on everyone, single and attatched alike. For the past week I've been talking my friends of ledges and these are successful, smart, intelligent people. The kind of people who stand up in the word and make differences and shit.. and yet somehow this stupid day makes them question every desicion they've made in the last 365 days.

It's not that phone calls asking me if 'I should have called him one more time' aren't always nice to recieve but.. this coming from someone who is so strong, sure of themselves, and otherwise perfectly in contol of everything else is a little disconcerting. It seems that even those who have their lives in order somehow feel a litle sensitive around this time of year. My theory is that its all about timing... Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years have only really passed about two months ago. And we all know the added pressure to 'have a date' on those wonderfully miserable holidays. Where every relative we have (who we mysteriously never see untill the end of every year) asks us where our boyfriends are or when we are thinking of settling down. Thereby forcing us to think that maybe we aren't as complete as we had thought we were.. right? Well.. I feel that after New Years Eve is over (lets not forget about the New Years Kiss) we only get two months to recoperate before we are forced once again to be in a position to explain our 'single-ness'. Not enough mental rehabilitation time if you ask me. But c'est la vive. We'll do it all over again next year. The best advice that I can offer anyone interested in recieving it is: Valentine's Day is only as important as you make it out to be. Don't fret... after all, you'll have all of the 2009 Holidays to feel miserable. *Cheers*

Drama-tastic!

They say that women are the dramatic ones, and yet somehow I keep dating the most sensitive, puddle of tears whenever I can't answer my phone guys that exist. I had to post the picture of this ridiculous text message I received about an hour ago. Keep in mind, this is a guy I haven't laid eyes on in over a year and have only reconnected with in the past couple of weeks. He called me last night but I was in the middle of a movie with a friend of mine. He left a message asking if I was "Available".. so weird. So I didn't call back, besides I was otherwise occupied and I'm not about to drop my shit cause some dude is bored and I happen to become 'available'.

Who even says that to anyone anyway? 'Are you available?' Whatever. I remembered this guy being a little 'passionate' about things but it seems that time has taken his emotions to a whole different level.

What ever happened to people just being regular and setting up a time and a place to hang out and then following through on plans? It seems that calling someone at some random time when you're bored and not getting them to drop their lives to come entertain you warrants sad/angry text messages the next day. Lame. Guess who's not getting a call back? *Cheers*

The Best Moment In Grammy History

I can't tell you how excited I am about Blink 182 finally coming to their senses and reuniting. They are such talented musicians and seem to bring the best out of eachother. No matter what bands they have been in independantly they always seem to shine the brightest when they're creating with one another.. FUCK YEA!!!!! BLINK IS BACK!!!!!!!! WOOOO!!!!!*cheers*