James Cameron has explored some of the deepest depths
on earth-
but so has anyone that has lost a loved one in a
catastrophic event-
Edmund Hilary ascended the highest peak in the world-
so has anyone that has received a donated organ and a
new chance at life-
so many are emotionally crippled,
spiritually paralyzed,
and motivationally alone
that they forget the ways that one can overcome-
we are the first letter in our own sentence, and our
actions become our words-
those words become a regimen, and beautiful
paragraphs fill the novel of our lives-
one day, we’ll look upon that volume gracefully
and with pride,
accepting of both highs and lows,
and comfortable in the knowledge that we are all the
authors and biographers of our own personal text*

The clouds do not hear us,
yet we wish and gaze upon them-
from the comfort of our seats, we float alongside them,
free of the reality that binds us-
in our hearts we drift with them,
free of the past that clings to us-
in our minds, we are one with them,
willing, able, and independent-
the clouds have carried many of my dreams-
some have been lost within their ample tufts-
others have been carried home-
while others still have been stolen and have
never been returned to me-
up high they remain, scattered amongst
the expectations of all dreamers-
it’s a kingdom up there, high, and rich
and majestic-
a powdery mass of anticipation, of hopes,
of fragile imagination-
how many cares have I sent into them-
how many problems have they absorbed,
and hopes have they digested-
how many wishes have been kissed into
their masses and rained back down upon us
as a collection of liquid aspirations?
I think these things as I look up into them*

Das Boot (The Boat) – 1981

Der Untergang (Downfall) – 2004

I grew up attached to classical music; it was my first musical love, and I spent my days listening to tapes of Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, and all of the greats. I was pretty excited when I caught the trailer for this film back in 1994, and I must say that it is an impressive movie. As a ritual, my sister and I watched it ever summer (remember that, Geik?). Check it out!

“Immortal Beloved”

Day 21 – Find a job ad in the paper. Write about your life if you had that job.

For this particular post, I picked a random job (in the $100,000 plus salary range, or course) from http://www.indeed.com, which just so happened to be the Chief Operating Officer position at UnitedHealth Group. As stated in a previous post, I’d always dreamed of being a big shot executive; growing up, I dreamed of having a hot chocolate brewing secretary, sending faxes all over the place, talking on the phone, wearing a suit, making reports, scheduling meetings, and being in a traffic laden city full of high rise buildings and taxis. Growing up in front of the TV gave me the impression that those elements were the foundation of a successful career.

During my senior year of high school, I’d stare out of the window during trigonometry class at a high rise building a few miles away, and dream of being that high powered, tie wearing executive that sipped his hot cocoa like a true boss while faxing and dealing with clients all day. Real life soon followed, and I realized that being a hot shot big boss (the way I’d envisioned it) was not the mark of a man’s happiness. I’m getting a little off center with this post, so I’ll cut to the chase.

As the high powered COO of UnitedHealth Group, life would be gravy with thick chunks of meat in it. Not only would I have my secretary (she’d brew up fresh pots of whatever I’d like), but I’d possess the freedom to make decisions that have an impact on company policy. In short, life would be awesome. I’d earn the respect of my peers, knock out some kick ass company directives, collect my fat paycheck, and spend my free time traveling, exploring, and soaking up life to the fullest. I could totally see myself as the COO of UnitedHealth Group. Life would be just capital.

What career did my sister choose? Check out http://www.concreteorchid.com and read away.

This question is very interesting, and very open to interpretation.

Day 20 – If you could go on only one more vacation in your lifetime, where would you go and why?

I’ve always had an intense fascination with remote locations; the more remote, the more that it has intrigued me. It’s not just the obvious peace that comes with solitude, but it’s the challenge of conquering the fear and trepidation that often comes with being alone. It’s the chance of self discovery that really stands out. It takes a lot of gumption to adapt to the prospect of being alone for lengthy periods of time; some people can’t even go to the bathroom by themselves. I have always loved interaction, but I don’t need interaction in order to thrive. Therefore, I’d more than likely scour the globe for a relatively off the beaten track type of place, where I could unwind and recharge my batteries with minimal interruption.

So, either a private island, or someplace like the Faroe Islands, where one can socialize when necessary, and do one’s own thing when one needs to. I could retire in a locale like that and live my days easily. I got a little off track, but to answer the question, if i had to choose just ONE more vacation, I’d check out the Faroe Islands for a taste of a culture very different from my own.

Travel to http://www.concreteorchid.com to see where my sister would end up!

If you know me, you’ll agree that I’m a bit of a dreamer, so the list below could literally fill volumes. I’ve enclosed a very concise version so as to prevent you from spending the next five years reading this page.

Day 19 – Write a list of 25 (or just 5!) things you want to do in your life.

1. I grew up listening to my father’s tales of travel throughout Europe, so I developed an early fascination with exploring the globe. So first and foremost, travel is something that I’d love to fill my life with. Running with the bulls in Pamplona, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, trekking secluded beaches…..the list goes on.

2. To attend a Rugby World Cup – I am a devoted rugby enthusiast, and it’s my dream to check out a World Cup firsthand. As a consolation, I’d take tickets to Cape Town, South Africa, to cheer my favorite team (the Stormers) to victory.

3. To fix up my ’67 Chevy C-10. She has been collecting a bit of rust, dust, and crust over the years, but I’ll have her in clean riding shape sooner rather than later.

4. To view an Egon Schiele work up close. The guy is my favorite artist, so it would be a dream to scope his works.

5. To write for a living. This just speaks for itself. To make a living doing what you love? I’ll take that.

6. To take a cruise – not only would it be a unique adventure, but I’ve heard that the night skies are some of the most beautiful that can be seen.

7. To achieve success in some sort of business endeavor – because accomplishing this will make all of the other dreams possible!

In short, I’d like to experience all that life has to offer (there are a bakrillion things that I’d love to do); individual pursuits aside, nothing can replace having the love and support of one’s family. So to experience the wonders of the world with a loving family around is the cherry on top. Quality time with the fam is the most important of life’s activities. Cheers to living life to the fullest!

What goals has Andrea set for her life? Check out http://www.concreteorchid.com and find out!

I have been the victim of some bona fide slacking…but I have returned with some new material!

Day 18 – Take a reader behind the wheel with the worst driver that you’ve ever known.

I’ve known many a disastrous driver in my time; it’s a fair assessment to say that there are many people who truly don’t deserve to man a moving vehicle. Or a non moving vehicle for than matter. ***To protect the identity of the offender, all names have been changed***. One sunny, pleasant afternoon, *Johnny was gliding down the road on his way to work. He was around 17 years old, was fresh out of high school for the day, and was on his way to work sacking groceries at the local supermarket.

As he approached the entrance to the strip mall where the supermarket was located, he noticed an ambulance parked out in front of a book store parked at a four way stop. He slowed a bit and patiently waited his turn to proceed through the stop. After a brief wait, his turn arrived, and he began to drive through the stop; words cannot accurately describe what happened next, but Johnny, grossly miscalculating the distance between his car and the ambulance, did the unthinkable…he grazed the ambulance. And we’re not talking grazed…he straight up sideswiped a parked ambulance.

Johnny’s car shuddered violently as he slashed the parked vehicle, and the harshness of the blow must have triggered the ambulance’s siren a bit, as Johnny heard it yelp a bit as he scurried away. Not looking back, he gripped the steering wheel tightly and sped to the supermarket, white knuckled and sweating, and tried his best to wipe the horror story from his young memory. Poor Johnny.

*Names have been changed to protect the offender.

Read all about Andrea’s horrific driving tale at http://www.concreteorchid.com.

It’s been a while since I’ve refreshed you with a bit of the brilliance of Egon. This was actually the painting that exposed me to his work; a print of this hung on the wall of my high school art class, and I was hooked from then on out.

Seated Woman With Bent Knee

Day – 17 – Write a short scenario set in the kitchen of a fast food restaurant.

This is a brief, fictional summary of a recent article that I read concerning a kid who found a severed finger in his Arby’s sandwich.

“FUCK!”, she wailed quietly as the razor edged blade slashed right through the soft tip of her finger. The blow was so sudden that a few seconds passed before she fully realized just what had happened. She raised her trembling hand to her face, and looked aghast as the tip of her index finger was cleanly sliced off. The blood began to trickle slowly, and then flow heavily, and she ran to the supervisor’s office in a state of agony and fear.

Cut to Johnny, fresh out of baseball practice, a normal teenager grabbing a bite to eat at his favorite sandwich spot. He was so hungry after the day’s practice; all he could think about while running bases was biting into a thick, juicy roast beef sandwich. He sped to the nearest Arby’s, and hurried to the counter to order his bountiful meal. A sandwich was prepared with freshly sliced beef, wrapped, and placed on his tray. He paid, sat, and prepared to destroy this beast of a sandwich like a wild squirrel with rabies. It was the meal of his young life…until he felt something unusually rubbery grinding about between his teeth. “That doesn’t feel like beef”, he thought, as he grabbed for the mysterious oral invader. What he pulled out would forever alter his desire for beef; what he yanked from his mouth was the tip of the employees finger, which had been packed neatly into his sandwich with care.

Check out http://www.concreteorchid.com for Andrea’s culinary tale.