A Little Wisdom I Came Across

I recently came across a list of tips that can help us guys in life (because what else would I do since I'm sick and can't sleep).  This "wisdom list" really struck me so I felt like sharing it with y'all.

I think the reason why this list was so powerful to me is because it is so well-rounded.  It covers things from simple home tasks to life at the office to life experiences.  The list helped me realize that although I feel like it has been an eternity, my life is still in the early chapters.  I still have multiple opportunities to grow and face (and hopefully overcome) more obstacles that life throws at me.  

The two that stand out the most to me are #28 and #35.  

Let's start with #35 first.  By now I hope y'all realize my obsession with Spider-Man, so this one should make sense.  However, I've gone through this one first hand in both college and high school and for the most part overcame them.   I honestly think that we are dealt these struggles on purpose so we can become stronger and learn from these trials.  The only sad part is sometimes we are not strong enough at first to defeat these threats, so we fail.  But if we stand back up, dust ourselves off, learn from our struggles, and try again we will be successful at whatever we try to accomplish.  

Now #28.  I feel this one is my life story.  For those of you that know me you'll know that I always stop whatever I'm doing to help someone with something or do a favor.  Some of you might even say this is one of my flaws as a person, but I have to respectfully disagree with you.  I feel that if you always do good in a world that is filled with hate, it'll be contagious and others will catch on.  Is it hard for me to put others first all the time and not be selfish when I want to be?  You bet, and when I am selfish it makes me feel really guilty (thus why I hardly do it).  Some nights, I'm so bothered by the pain I see and feel that it keeps me up at night, but I know if I make a difference by doing that one good thing then there still is a chance for more good in the world.  

Well that's all I got today; hopefully I can get some sleep and feel better this weekend.  Thanks for reading and sorry about all the Spidey gifs (no, I'm not sorry).  

Oh, She Ratchet!

I'm going to go ahead and make a post complaining about how I'm sick and tired of all these ratchet girls when I go downtown.

First, I think I should explain what "ratchet" means.  Urban Dictionary (the only source for life's mysteries along with Wikipedia) explains it here, but I think a certain YouTube video can do the same.

Yes, things like that are what I've been seeing lately on 6th street, and this is not cool.  

I mean don't get me wrong, clubbing was awesome for a while.  Shoot, anytime you got 3 girls dancing on you is a good time, but I think I've reached the breaking point of how these girls act in public.  I'm minding my own business, enjoying a refreshing beverage, and these ratchet hoes just pop up and create a ruckus.  Like, for real.  You just going to show up like that and be all sloppy (and grabbing my butt doesn't give you a hall pass, just sayin').  

Why do girls think they are attractive doing this stuff?  I know you're probably just trying to get some, but damn you don't have to make it so obvious.  Homegirls look ultra desperate out there, and really that's a turn off for me.  Sorry, I'm actually looking for a classy girl who cares about her image and won't let herself be like that.  Is that really too much to ask for?  Then again, I'm looking at the dirtiest street on this side of the Mississippi, 6th street.  

But, us guys are guilty of doing the same thing as well.  For example, when I was out for my 22nd birthday I saw a bachelorette party where a bunch of young women were drunk and doing dumb stuff, but the thing that bothered me most was how all the guys around them were acting.  They were just looking at them like meat, and at that moment I realized the messed up world we live in.  

What happened to the morals that I learned from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The Cosby Show, or Boy Meets World.  I can't be the only person here that has noticed this, can I?  I understand that we are young and should have fun, but seeing the same girls week after week doing the same old tricks really bothers me.  Do not have any respect for yourself?  And us guys just use these girls like they have no feelings and stuff.  There is just no winning in this situation all together.  

But how the hell am I supposed to meet people then?  It's not like there's other social settings that people my age go to all the time other than the clubs.  I ain't going to the grocery store looking for a date, I'm there for bread and milk.  And now that I'm going to graduate college soon, it's only going to get tougher from here.  Plus, a lot of workplaces frown upon dating in the workplace, so there goes another opportunity.

In the end of the day, I'll probably find a way to meet more people, but I just don't know how yet.  I just really wish that people will wake up like I did the other night and realize that this is just disgusting.  But maybe this is just my insane opinion, and I'm not thinking rationally.  So I'm just going to stop going downtown for a while and watch some Spider-Man and James Bond movies, and hopefully Miss Right will be down to watch to, once I meet her.

That's my take on this so hopefully I'm not to insane, and I'm making up all this ratchetness in my head.  

Thanks y'all for reading and Happy Easter!

The Day I Became a Champion

I mentioned it in my last post, so I guess it's a good time to discuss it.  That's right, I'm going to talk about my love for the New Orleans Saints.

Now before people start to think, "Oh God, not another post about how this team is better than others," is this not going to be that.  I'm going to take you through my journey as a Saints fan (and trust me, it's a journey alright).  

My first memory had to be when the Saints drafted Ricky Williams, a running back out of UT.  For those of you who don't know, the team traded the Washington Redskins all of their draft picks that year and some the next so they can pick Williams; the trade was so outrageous that the head coach at the time, Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, and Williams posed on the cover of ESPN Magazine dressed as a bride and groom.  

Let's just say that this didn't work out to well, (they SUCKED) and we ended up starting over with a new cast of players.  Two of those players were Joe Horn and Deuce McAllister.  They set numerous team records for the Saints and helped lead the team to their first playoff victory against the defending Super Bowl champions, the St. Louis Rams, in 2000.  

Then they continued to disappoint year after year, flirting with the playoffs but never delivering, and then Hurricane Katrina hit.  There were talks about the team moving because no one thought people would move back to New Orleans and blah blah blah.  I mean y'all remember the damage and stuff like that form the news so we don't need to go into details, but eventually the Saints did came back.

And then September 25, 2006 rolled around.  This was the first game the Saints played in the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina, and I was lucky enough to attend.  That game had a lot of emotion in it.  People cheering, crying, embracing total strangers because of what this team means to us, and when long time fan-favorite Steve Gleason blocked that punt against the Atlanta Falcons, I had never seen a stadium like that ever.  I was in shock of what happened; maybe because I was overwhelmed, but this night was truly special to me.

The team did really good that year making one game short of the Super Bowl, but they lost to the Chicago Bears in a heartbreaker.  Over the next two seasons, they acquired talent and a reputation of being an explosive offense, but injuries stopped them from returning to the playoffs.  

Then came the 2009 season.  The Super Bowl Championship season.  The team had high expectations for itself, while people around the country wrote them off.  Before I go into the NFC Championship and Super Bowl games, let me explain why this team was so perfect for the city I called home.  I often refer to that team as "The Island of Misfit Toys," because their were so many key players that were discarded from other teams around the NFL.  Drew Brees, the quarterback, tore his throwing shoulder all up the year before the came to New Orleans in 2006.  Jonathan Vilma, our middle linebacker and defensive captain, was traded to us because his old team thought he didn't fir there.  Multiple other players had similar stories like this, and this made them fit into a city that was always odder than the rest.  

So fast-forward to the NFC Championship game.  The game was back-and-forth the entire night, and late in the game the opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, were driving down the field to get a late field goal to win.  Me, being EXTREMELY superstitious, was on my way to church when all my friends watching the game yelled for me to come back.  Legendary quarterback Brett Farve threw a interception that gave the Saints new life in overtime, but I had to go to church.  

Waiting for my friend to let me know if the won or not was the longest experience of my life.  I didn't have a data plan on my phone so I couldn't check the progress (1st world problems).  But then I got the text, "THEY WON!  YOUR SAINTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!"  I started shaking. It was the hardest thing in the world to not just start breaking down and crying because I was so happy. People saw my reaction and my Reggie Bush jersey and knew the good news I had just received.  There were a lot a memorable quotes from that night like, "Pigs have flown, hell has frozen over, the Saints are on their way to the Super Bowl," but the one that stood out to me the most was from our head coach Sean Payton, "This is for everybody in this city, this stadium used to have holes in it, it used to be wet.  It's not wet anymore.  This is for the city of New Orleans."  (I may or not not have tears running down my face right now)

Then February 7th, 2010 rolled around, a.k.a. the happiest day of my life.  I was watching the game in the common area of my dorm, made all my friends wear Saints gear, and was nervous the entire day.  The game didn't start to hot for the Saints, but they fought back, clawed their way, and got the lead.  Then Tracy Porter picked off Peyton Manning and I fell to the ground in disbelief, happiness, and joy that my team is on their way to become Super Bowl Champions, something many fan would never thought could be possible.  When they won, I started running around the dorm, jumping, screaming, crying, and just expressing an emotion that I don't know how to describe.  

This team made me feel worth something for the first time in forever.  They should me the power of hard work, that adversity does make you stronger, and never give up no matter what life throws at you. 

So hopefully you understand a little bit better now about why I'm crazy about this team, and why when they are playing I disappear from the planet to watch them.  Because it's so much more than a game, it's a representation of a city and its story of coming back.  It shows how a small thing like winning a football game can bring hope, uplift spirits, and rebuild a great city through one of the toughest tragedies in history.  

Thanks for reading, and hopefully next time I won't have an emotional roller coaster while writing a post, smh.  

My Bucket List

Well I figured today I would make a bucket list and share somethings I would like to do in my life before I "kick the bucket."

• Go Back to Washington D.C., Go to All the Landmarks, and Take my Good Old Time - I've been to D.C. already for sponsored trip back in my senior year of high school, but I felt I was rushed and didn't really have the freedom that I wanted to have.  When I go back, I really want to soak things up and appreciate an amazing city.

• Go See a Broadway Production - I believe that this will ultimately make me realize the brilliance and dedication that some people have in order to accomplish their dreams with their gifts and talents, and the finished product looks like when it has manifested.  

• Witness the New Orleans Saints Winning a Super Bowl - Y'all really thought I would leave this one out?  I'll explain this one some other day.

• Graduate College - I'll be able to cross this one off in a couple of months hopefully, but this would mean a lot not only to me but also my parents, because even though me may not have the greatest relationship they still love me and want me to succeed.

• Own a Brick Oven (and Maybe a Hibachi Table) - If you didn't know, one of my favorite food in the world is pizza.  I think the idea of having my own brick oven and be able to cook pizza the way I want would be amazing.  And a hibachi table would be dope too.  

• Get a Dog - I know this one is really simple, but it means a lot.  Ozzy, my dog back at home, is one of the greatest companions someone can ask for.  He is always there for you, listens to your problems, and finds a way to put a smile on your face.  Even though he's a dog, Ozzy is my best friend and hopefully when he is no longer with us I can find another four-legged friend like him. 

• Meet and Marry the Girl of my Dreams - I know this is cheesy and cliche, but if ranked these this would be in the top 3.  I feel like that person who is my Miss Right would except the fact I'm obsessed with silly stuff like superheros or a football team, and she might even pretend to like them just so I don't feel bad.  I'm a firm believer in the quote, "Behind every great man, there is a greater woman."

• See Ne-Yo (again), Usher, Kanye, Drake, and Childish Gambino Live - Y'all should know by now how much I love music, but unfortunately I haven't seen a lot of concerts.  These are the artists that I would really like to go see live because their music has touched in some way.  

• Spend a Month Alone at a Fishing Camp Living the Life - Here I just want to reflect on life, catch some fish, and breath in the great outdoors.  Some of the most relaxing days I had was when I just went to a dock and fished.

• Have a Family and Watch my kids Grow-up - This one is another Top 3.  I can't imagine how awesome it's going to be, if I have kids, to watch them grow and become their own.  

Well, that's about it, but I can always add some more.  I know y'all might be a little disappointed that this post wasn't full of laughs or gifs, so here is some to make up for it.  

Thanks for reading!

Life After College

I turned in Submission 2 of Capstone today (for those of you who don't know, Capstone is a research project about a modern problem), and I came to a sudden realization.  I'M ABOUT TO GRADUATE AND GO INTO THE REAL WORLD!!!

Seriously, where the hell did these last 4 years go?  I remember like it was yesterday sleeping on the couch of my freshman dorm because my roommate was an inconsiderate jerk.  I thought college was going to seem a lot longer than this, and the worst part is I still have no clue about what I'm going to do.  

I mean, yes I do know that I want to go into event planning/marketing and coordinate awesome events so people can have a great time, but there are still a lot of other questions.  Like, am I going to stay here in Austin, or is there a chance for me to get a good job in New Orleans should I go back?  If the majority of my friends leave Austin, how will I react to being left behind.  

 

Back to the point I made about my friends.  I pray to God that all of them become elite in their fields and become very successful and happy in life, but I'm scared of them out-growing me.  I know this might come off a little selfish but I just don't want to be that guy who just comes home to an empty home everyday.  The past 2 years would have been a living hell without them and the thought of moving on without them sucks.  

And I know that people are going to read this and think that I'm just having a really low self-esteem day, but this is really how I feel.  I wish there was some kind of manual that gave us a clue on what to do after college.  TV gives us an idea, but really no guidance on how to start over from scratch.  

Also, I don't want to end up at a job where I'm miserable every waking moment I'm there.  I had that experience when I worked construction and I think I'll become this monster of a person if that became my everyday life.  

I guess what I'm most scared of is the uncertainty that is looming after graduation, not only for my future but also the people I care about.  What if everything that I planned for goes down the drain?  What if I can't find a job because of the economy?  I guess this just ties into my greatest fear of being alone with no one caring about me.  

However, I realized that the only way I can prevent someone from throwing a wrench into my future is to be positive and do everything in my power to prevent the bad from happening.  And just like all the other obstacles life has and will throw at us, we can defeat them.  So, now that I overcame the assignment from hell (Sub 2 of Capstone), I can focus on seeing my friends and enjoying what many people say is the greatest moment of my life.  

But I'm going to do them one better.  I'm going to try to make every moment from this point on the greatest moment of my life.  Every small thing is a blessing: when I see some random stranger and say hello, having a conversation about anything, and every breath of air I breath.  You and I have to take advantage of these things because it's a shame not to and you never know when you won't be able to anymore.  

Thanks for reading guys, and I'm sorry about the lack of posts.  I've been preoccupied with Capstone and other school stuff, but I should be able to post more often now.  

Corey

How I became a Gentleman

So today I'm going to touch a little on my past and talk about how Ne-Yo became such a strong influence in my life and why his music has impacted me so much.

Before I even knew Ne-Yo existed as an artist I was a fan of his work.  Before starting out as an artist, Ne-Yo was a songwriter for different artists.  Two of the songs he wrote I really liked was Marques Houston's "That Girl" and Mario's "Let Me Love You."  Still to this day, "Let Me Love You" is one of my top 10 favorite songs; I don't know what part of it hooked me, but the song does tell a story that most can relate to with a smooth melody.  

However, the first time I listened to Ne-Yo's voice was in the parking lot of a Walgreens freshman year of high school.  I was waiting in the car for my dad, listening to the radio and suddenly a song caught my attention.  It was his breakthrough hit "So Sick," and it really moved me because of the situation that I was going through at the time.  After weeks of searching for the song and the artist, I found him and instantly became addicted to his music.

A couple of years later he released The Year of the Gentleman and a whole-new me was solidified.  I remembered the first time I listened to the album in its entirety in my room and thought that there was not a single song I disliked on it.  From that point on, I molded my life around the concept of the album and trying to be chivalrous at all times.  Year of the Gentleman might have been topped by R.E.D., which came out earlier this year.  R.E.D. features, in my opinion, a more mature and reality-based lookout on life; it highlights the fact that we all have flaws, but deep down we have that spark of goodness in us.

I guess I could talk a couple of songs that really stick out to me by him.  The first one I'm going to talk about is from 2008 called "Go on Girl."  There are a lot of songs that give women empowerment and the closure in past relationships, but this is really the first song like this that is from the male point-of-view.  Ne-Yo pretty much sums up a crappy situation, and is able to move on because he knows he deserves to be treated better.  

The second one is currently the most played song on my iTunes with 359 plays called "Part of the List."  It's a sad but beautiful song about a past love; Ne-Yo brings us on a journey about little things that we grow to love about a person and how they grow on you.  However, once this person leaves you're pretty much a train wreck.  It's a very relatable song because there is always that one person in your life that got away and something reminds you of them constantly.  

And finally, the last song I'll cover today is "Jealous" from R.E.D.  This is #2 on my most played and it came out about 4 months ago, so you can probably tell how much I love this song.  This extra smooth song is explaining how a beautiful woman, both inside and out, makes you jealous everytime she gives her attention to someone else.  It's to a point where you just want to be everything she interacts with so you'll be the only person/thing that makes her happy.  My favorite lyric from the song is, "Tattoo on your waistline. Oooo what I wouldn't do, Said what I wouldn't give to be a permanent part of you."  In my opinion, it is the ultimate song you can use to show your love and affection to her.  

Yeah, I might get a lot of crap with people saying that I'm gay for Ne-Yo (this might also be a reason everyone think gay too, smh), but I'm happy I chose to idolize him because of the class he brings and him broadcasting that it's okay to be the good guy in this world.  

So hopefully y'all understand me a little more now, and enjoyed the song links as well.

Until next time,

Corey

The Drama of Relationships

Why not?  Valentine's Day is in a couple of days.  First of all, I should probably say something about how I'm an expert in the dating world, so here's a picture to help explain.

Yeah.... So after reading this you should probably not cite me in a Capstone paper or something.

The second thing I want to point out is how hard it seems to be to find someone that is actually looking for some kind of relationship while attending college.  And by relationship, I think of someone to relate with and care for physically, emotionally, and mentally.  It just seems that everywhere I turn people just want to hook up; the whole companionship thing is thrown out the window.  I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with it, but the fact is it sucks for people looking for more.

While we're on this subject, let me talk about the people that be trifling with emotions.  I understand (and this is mainly for the guys but some girls) that you want to get it in but at what cost?  Some people do get attach when it comes to this stuff, and you're just going to replace them like a pair of sneakers?  It's hard to recognize the individuals that are looking for more than a fun night, but there needs to be better communication so the drama and foolishness doesn't happen as often.  Then again, alcohol plays a role in this often, and we know what our good friend "Da Drank" can do.

Now let's talk about my wonderful life.  I don't usually like a ton of girls, but when I do I usually feel like this (side note, this sounded a lot like a freaking meme):

However, believe it or not, I become the shyest person on earth when talking to this person or asking her what she is doing that particular weekend and suck at this part of the social game.  "But Corey, didn't you just complained about how people need to communicate better?"  Yes reader, but I never said I was perfect.  There was a past experience that sort of made me like this but I'll get over it eventually.

When you really want something you'll stop short of nothing to achieve it.  For me it is to find that one particular person that is my soulmate.  Scratch money or fame, I'll take love any day of the week (even though having the other two also wouldn't be a bad deal).

In the mean time, I'm just going to enjoy my last semester of college, Capstone, HOMECOMING WEEK, job hunting, my wonderful internship, parents coming in for my birthday, and Graduation. Sometimes you just have to realize how blessed you are before you get what you really want in life, and I feel I'm at that crossroad in my life.

Thanks for reading and see ya next time!

Corey