peaks and valleys

It's not until you truly hit rock bottom that you realize how good feeling average felt. However, it's not until you soar to new heights that you realize how far from average you really are. Success and failure all seem too relative at this point. It's all the "middle of the road" stuff that can really get you down.

Let's Get to the Grillin'

Ah yes, Memorial Day weekend. Last year, I attempted to make a "bullet" blended frozen beverage for all of my friends at a backyard BBQ bash. Allow me to explain. You know those popsicles that are red, white and blue-- most commonly from an ice cream truck or the grocery store? They are often called bullets- probably due to their shape and the association of guns with patriotism in the US of A. Back to my drink... I got three blenders. I made frozen pina coladas in two and strawberry daiquiri in one. I also brought blue food dye to add to the second pina colada, to create one white, one blue and one red beverage. Then I used clear plastic cups, and poured in the frozen drinks in layers, as to re-create the "bullet" popsicle appearance.

Long story short, I failed. The drinks pretty much came out purple. In my mind, this drink was going to work out perfectly. The taste, however, was a success. I believe this drink is actually known as a Miami Vice-- pina colada & daiquiri together. Not a bad combination, especially if you're wearing an open Hawaiian shirt.

I need to come up with something sweet to add to tomorrow's BBQ. I also really wish I had been spending my time brusing up on my 4-square skills, as the last time I played was probably last year's BBQ. How am I suppose to dominate? I'll play hard. That's for sure. In it to win it.

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend!

Wearing a denim vest,
Mark

Studio

I am in the studio right now... and it feels so right.

I was on mini-tour / vacation last week... and it felt so right.

I will be enjoying Chipotle about two hours from now... and it will feel so right.

In short: I can't complain right now.

I take that back, what is up with the Kars 4 Kids radio advertisements? They've got what they wanted, here I am blogging about it. Any promo is good promo, right? But seriously, I can't handle that song even one more time in my life. Within the very first 1/2 second of that first piano note I've already changed the station, but I still feel like I've lost the battle having heard it at all. Good cause aside, I really hate that song. If I'm in bad traffic, it's ten times worse.

Listening to an egg shaker,
Mark

This is normal.

All Purpose

I was thinking about the concept of something being "all purpose". If something can really be applied to everything, than how good can it really be at anything? An all purpose cleaner, for example, can be used on tile floors, the kitchen table, in the bathroom, on the microwave, on your front door, and so on and so forth. How good of a job could it possibly be doing at all of these things? It's like when you walk into a restaurant and the menu is just a little too eclectic? I remember a place in Eudora, KS (town where Spitalfield recorded "Stop Doing Bad Things") that was a Chinese/Mexican food restaurant. Honestly, the food wasn't too bad-- but you had to have your doubts. You make Chinese and Mexican food? Okay, cool, I'll have some general tao chicken and a beef taco.

I think the only thing in my life I'd really like to be "all purpose" would be my best friends. And even then, I'd probably prefer "all porpoise". Think about that.

Is Rusty still in the Navy?

Getting into rhythm. Setting the bar higher. Giving more than usual. Honestly answering honest questions. Taking advantage of opportunities. Understanding, but not accepting. Appreciating those who appreciate. All things I am looking to expand upon, effective as of now.

As a Chicago Bulls fan, this season can best be described as frustrating. I've made it out to a whole bunch of games this year (thanks to a "perhaps shady" contact), and enjoyed most of my time spent at the United Center. For anyone who has attended a Chicago Bulls game before, you know that half of the fun (more than half for some) is what's going on during time-outs and in between quarters, on the court and on the jumbo-tron. At a recent game, I had the pleasure of seeing this during every game break.



But I really shouldn't complain too much... there was that five minutes during the halftime show where the man-wall disappeared, only to return with one beer for each hand.

One more Bulls note. I woke up the other day, and did a double take when I glanced in the mirror. This really happened without any alteration of my hair.



It's a sign.

I also heard that Benny the Bull makes $200,000 a year. That is so awesome. He earns every cent.

Listening to a female pig-dog snore,
Mark

Let's be passionate. It's not like we'll get another chance to do this.

I guess, sometimes, you have to take the highs with the lows, the good with the bad and the fresh with the expired (scratch that last one-- never take the expired). I've got so many things I feel like I am holding back on right now. So many ideas that I want to explore, so many corners I'd like to turn-- even if it's only to see what is there, and then come right back. Well what's holding you back, Mark? I have been burned before by simply following my heart and doing what I think is right. Too many times. I'm learning from my mistakes, at least on some level, and hope to write the next chapter of my life in pencil, rather than ink. I can always type it out once it looks the way I want it to.

I heard a very interesting point of view on the topic of "looking to the future" on the Stephen A. Smith show on ESPN Radio a couple weeks ago which I have been thinking a lot about. The person being interviewed was Steve Harvey, and they were talking about passion and goals. Here is my attempt at summarizing his thoughts on the subject.

A lot of people, when they are younger, are told: Find something you are passionate about and do it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something or be somebody-- that you're not good enough, not tall enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough-- and so on and so forth. Why tell them that? That's not how the real world works. Why not rework the whole concept to something like: Find something you're gifted at and develop it. Too many people are living in a world of disappointment because they thought their passion and hard work alone would eventually lead to success. It might! IF you're talented in that field to begin with. IF you have the means to be successful once you get there. Getting there isn't the hardest part. Not that it's easy-- because it's not. But once you're there-- it gets harder. Why lead kids to believe they can do anything they put their mind to? We should be telling them to find something that they are good at, and to put their minds to that. To develop the gifts they have. To be who they are. To try to be the very best they can be at what they're good at. Not to say that dreaming big or trying new things is wrong, because it's not. This isn't about limiting what you do for enjoyment-- as a hobby or in your free-time. By all means, try to be happy and have fun. Try everything. Don't limit yourself. But when it comes to your future, be smart about it.

Okay, I know that was long winded-- and, again, that was just my understanding of what he was saying. Talk about a great "modern issues" style topic. Before I give my thoughts and response, I am really interested in hearing what you guys think. I have been thinking about this a lot and would really be interested to see some opinions.

On the North side,
Mark