Personal exploits

I saw something today that I had never seen before and it made me chuckle to myself inside. First I’ll start with the setting. Melissa and I, having a small surplus of money, decided it would be nice for us to go buy some new clothes for ourselves in Kohl’s (I ended up only helping her shop for clothes so I could use my allotment of our funds to get new tires for my car). We were having fun looking at dresses and such so Melissa decided to go try on some of the clothes we had picked out. I would pick out a few more things here and there while she was in the fitting room for her to try on until she seemed to be content with all of the items we had picked out.



After the clothing escapades were over we decided to pay for our merchandise and then leave to go relax before work (or class for me). As we walked up to the cashiering tables and registers we noticed an elderly couple in the line opposite us getting their items ring into the computer. The first thing I noticed about the couple was the man who had a wooden cane sticking out of his back-right jeans pocket. I thought it was a little odd but noted that the cane seemed pretty interesting to me because of the spiral design etched into the shaft half of the walking stick. I walked a little past them in order to wait for my wife so she could get her merchandise scanned and pay for it with a little breathing room.


As the first couple of my wife’s items were scanned she leaned over to me and whispered something into my ear. “Look at that man’s shoe.” I looked at her strangely in confusion and curiosity at what could have been important enough to initiate this need for me to look at an elderly man’s shoe. I looked down at the man’s black shoes and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary and looked back at my wife. “What?” I whispered quiet enough for her to hear but not the cashier. I moved a little closer and she whispered a quiet, “the other side.” So I nonchalantly moved a little closer to my wife to get a better vantage point of what it was she was trying to show me so desperately. I looked down and rested my sight on what she had been eyeballing this entire time and my jaw nearly dropped to the floor.


There, hanging out of the man’s pant leg, had been hanging out a tag that lay against the right side of his black shoes that I had not yet noticed. Within a half second my mind raced with questions about this tag. Did he just steal those pants!? He must have forgotten to remove the tag after deciding to swipe the pants! If not, then how long has it been on there? It couldn’t have been on there too long, right? If he’s not stealing them then what could have possibly happened to the pants he had been wearing when he forgot to take off this pair?


I looked back at Melissa and leaned in close whispering, “Oh my gosh!” Needless to say I did not point this out to the clerk because I didn’t want to make a scene, but I did happen to find the situation funny. I still wonder if they were being cheap, senile, or just trying to live life on the edge because theirs was getting dull. I honestly have to say that I have kind of an unfair discrimination or prejudice against older people (especially men). It seems like they think they can get away with anything because they’ve lived so long. Its almost as if they think they deserve to get what they want, when they want it. I don’t know, I just think they’re kind of selfish (not all of them, no; just most of them).


Do you want to hear the strange irony from all of this? As we finished paying for all of our merchandise as an honest couple we began walking towards the door for the drive home. As we get close to the door an older woman starts walking through the opposite side of the double doors we were walking out from. Melissa, the older woman, and I stepped through the sensor that scans for stolen merchandise and it sets of the alarm! Like respectful individuals, my wife and I walk back for the cashier to recheck all of our merchandise for any that might still have a sensor on them but of course none did. I bet that man that (possibly) stole those pants got out without an issue. He’s the one that (possibly) steals the pants and we’re the ones that get caught by an alarm!


One more note about this event that shows the audacity of old people. When we walked back through that scanner the alarm should have went off a second time because the cashier could not find anything that would set it off, but the alarm never re-activated. I’d be willing to bet that lady that walked in as we were leaving had stolen merchandise and was coming back for more!

Discussion: Games vs. Movies

So let's start with a random topic and discuss our views upon it. Seeing as I have very few followers at the moment, I will pick today's topic for everyone. Today we will talk of something small to get us started off in the right directions. Let's say, hmm . . . Video Games vs. Movies. Which is better? Why? Any special memories relating to either subject? Which takes up more of your time? Which do you think is worse for your procrastination habits? How much time do you spend playing/watching said subjects?

I personally have a passionate love for both and it's probably somewhat unhealthy. I get distracted with games with the utmost ease and movies just seem so convenient to multitask with. Procrastination is a key element here that is ultimately my downfall.

I am going to have to make my stand saying games are better because they are so much more alluring than movies. Then again, I am more of a caveman, never wanting to leave the hallowed corners of my house. I am definitely more of a hardcore gamer as well, not playing often, but when I do I want to play or five or more hours wasting away the entirety of the day. I remember my two older brothers starting me into gaming with games like Super Mario World, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, Duke Nukem, and eventually with the birth of the Playstation 2 Dynasty Warriors (DW3 and up). I became so enthralled at a young age with secret agents, knights, magic swords and the like that it shaped who I am today. I stand before you (or sit rather) as a medieval-nut, hell bent on writing fantasy novels because of my abounding sense of creativity I get from playing so many video games. I will admit books had something to do with it, but that's not what we're talking about right now. I am always interested to talk about video games because they are what started my fascination with fiction.

As for movies, I believe they are more for a group of people to share in the experience than for a single person to enjoy in their spare time. I like movies because I like to see people's reactions to things and share the adventure with them. This drives my wife nuts because she always catches me saying things like "you'll love this next part" or "remember what he said for later". I guess I'm kind of a movie spoiler and just never fully came to the realization until now. I always do enjoy a good epiphany.

So what do you think? Throw me some comments and I'll do my best to reply to all of them.

Philosophy: You can't have a cake and eat it too

I've been thinking lately about the phrase "you can't have a cake and eat it too". The definitive meaning of the phrase is that you cannot have the best of both worlds of most things in life. In this way, you can't have a cake if you eat it because it will no longer be there to have after it is eaten. I know, it's a little deep when you think about it. Let's go a little deeper. The real question is: Which is better, having your cake or eating it? I guess it really does depend on what the "cake" actually signifies in order to make an honest answer, but let's just speak generally. I would have to say I'm a cake "eater". I'd rather take an opportunity while it exists even though I may use it up in the process. Then again I am also very indecisive; so that's probably only true about fifty percent of the time. Though I believe it would be better to be a cake "eater" than a cake "haver". I think this because there are so many people nowadays that let opportunities slip through their fingers because of a risk that they might not have their "cake" anymore.


What about you? Are you a cake haver or a cake eater and why? Throw some comments at me and I'll do my best to reply to any and all of them.

Poetry: I Burn

Here is another early poem of mine that wasn't quite as good as I would have liked it to be. Still, it is creative and original to say the least.






I Burn…




I would give up the sunset


So I might gaze on your face,


Along with the touch


Of the hand I embrace.


You accept me for me,


For on you I rely


To hold my heart true,


As an arrow through the sky.


Just seeing you now,


Causes my feelings to kindle


Into a burning inferno


That doesn't seem to dwindle.


When I fall from high places,


I fall into your care.


For long ago, dear fox,


My heart you did ensnare.


I have one thing left to say


Oh, apple of my eye.


That last thing is simply


Time to say goodbye.