Post #18- Peaks and Valleys...

I'd really like to thank everyone for the support both with comments and word of mouth. It's been a big help and although I strive to be self motivated, we could all use a pick-me-up. So I come to you now to fill you in on my life and my thoughts like I always have. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Someone left me a comment on my last post saying that life has it's peaks and valleys. I don't feel like I have to expand on that any further, but it is noted that life isn't always perfect. I spent a very thought provoking weekend at home spending time with family. I realized that although life has it's dips, bends, and grooves, it is not symmetrical. My life right now is a deserted rubble after the being pillaged and trampled (only to be rebuilt, of course). However, other people are on top of life's peaks. I would like to think of these ups and downs reflect that of a prospering business. Yes, there certainly are divots in the line that sink low, and major spikes where things are good. The trend is the important part, no matter low you sink it's not as low as you've been (despite how you feel) and you're still moving up, slowly. In a way we gauge our lives on the peaks, the happy or good times, that we prosper. You may not agree but think if lets say today was a bad day and yesterday was a great day. The first thing you think is today was not as good as yesterday. I know I do.

Speaking of gauging life on peaks, I've kept mine. Though "good times" are intangible there are ways to hold on to the next best thing. I have a box in my room full of at first glance garbage. Really, it's about anything I could get my hands on from the past. Programs from school events, old send off letters from middle school, notes from girls and encouraging doodles people have made me through my years. I don't ever really put anything in there, I don't really receive a lot nowadays. So for about an hour I thumbed through the peaks of my past lives and added a bit as well. I realized that though it was kind of depressing, it was also therapeutic. Like time travel thats kid tested and mother approved, safe. If you have a box and you're reading this let me know your favorite thing you know is in there. I'm curious to hear.

In previous blog posts I made mention to my menopausal mode of mobilization (to continue the alliteration). Sherrie is a indeed a sweet heart despite her promiscuous tendencies. However, I think that most the women in my life were sent a letter telling them to abandon me and hers definitely came in this weekend. Hot flashes engulfed her insides, making her lady bits weak and leaky. Although she did muster up a wink at our mechanic I knew deep down she was weak. She is being fixed however, I can picture a red ferrari hand feeding her a couple quarts of oil, and intensely studying her medical documents as if he knows what he's looking at, show off.

Here's another story. Although this isn't the full truth, I'm telling this story in a way that describes how I feel without deciphering the real from the fake. Yeah, I know that makes no sense. I was dragged into the garage and strapped to uncomfortable chair. It was so hot and I had a big suffocating tarp on me. Try as I may, I could not escape. FLASH. A bright light engulfed me and there was an image of women holding shears standing above me. "How do you want it cut!" Demanded the women. With a certain hesitance I replied "A little shorter than last time?". I could hear the drips of rain, leaking down the walls of the dungeon. The candle swayed with the sound of the wind. This is when I began to wonder, where would wind be coming from? All the sudden I hear a loud buzz far above my head. Oh god it was so annoying. I can hear a familiar cackling, footsteps and then a door slam. I'm alone. "Hello-o-o-o" I yelled only to hear myself holler back. That dreadful buzzing continued I can hear that it is swaying back and forth above my head. BZZZZZZ and back zzzzzzzBZZZZZZ. I desperately try to look around the clammy dark dungeon. Just then a glimmer hit my eye. A dancing light suspended above my head- a reflection. I watched the light skip back and forth, when I noticed it was getting closer. Even the candle was scared of it, for it would shudder every time it swung by. Naturally I was freaking out, yet that did not make it stop. As it drew nearer I noticed that it was a hair clipper suspended from its wire pendulous. I don't believe this. Suddenly, Vincent Price walked up to me and began to laugh at my hopelessness (See end of Michael's Jackson Thriller Music Video). The clipper was just inches above my head swinging back and forth across the room. The candle, my last friend, bailed. Woosh, darkness. The buzzing persisted and I could feel my hands tingling, and there were shivers down my spine. Then suddenly, BURSCHGERRR! Was the last thing I heard before the cries of a million little hairs falling further than they ever imagined possible. I could hear their sweet innocent bodies hit the floor, and give a last grown. I miss those hairs that belong nestled safely somewhere between the back and top of my head. I also miss having a haircut that was less 80's or less like a lesbians. Peaks and valleys. I am certainly more like in a never ending hole. Like the one where that guy from 300 is kicked in, except no one warned me and no one had something clever to say as I was kicked in.

That's it for me for now. I love the comments I've been getting and if your really enjoying it let me know. Tell your friends if you think they will like it. I want to know what your thinking so shoot me a comment. Lastly, don't be afraid to contact me other ways if leaving me a comment is not anonymous enough for you. Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #17- Hope You're Happy...

If I knew this week would be like this at the point of my last post I would have never came. Much like walking into a party, taking one look around and realizing you just do not belong. Despite the crack users in the corner you continue to walk in wondering if maybe theres someone you know. When you walk out the back door to the patio, you see people passed out by the pool, the keg is nowhere in sight and theres no one you know here or at least... conscious. Before you know it your surrounded by a bunch of things you don't understand and your too embarrassed to ask where the door is. Despite your situation you remain polite it's pretty obvious you just arrived (you still have your pants on). You probably have a few questions. "Why did I come here in the first place?", "Why is no one wearing pants?", and lastly "What can I do to improve the situation?". You begin to search for the door on your own and things are happening around you but you remain undistracted despite the fact you recognized how much fun these people seem to be having. This ain't your scene kid!

That's an overwhelming metaphor I know, but I'm not sorry because thats how I've felt so far this week. Regardless there are many things to appreciate: Like for instance I appreciate you've taken a moment to read the mindless ramblings of a 20 something like myself, and I appreciate things that happen to me that in turn give me wonderful things to tell you happy or sad.

On the lighter side... here's a story. I woke up rather surprised and I don't know if you do this but I do. Sometimes when recently I have been having trouble sleeping the morning after the night I do finally fall asleep I always wakeup surprised I ever fell asleep. The second reason was that where I woke up and that was under my bed. Now I can only speculate, but I am going to imagine I had some sort of dream where I needed to seek cover from an oncoming attack from an army known as "the Protagonists". Your probably realizing a couple things A. That is an extremely specific guess. To that I say you don't know me. B. If your a fan of literature much like myself the Protagonist isn't usually the ones causing the issues. Well to that I say I created them based on irony. I envisioned them of some type of power that claim to be one thing but really act another way. So even though they act more like antagonists they call themselves "The Protagonists" because they are in charge and who are you to say what they should be called. I hope you are recognizing the satirical brilliance of my brain matters conjugation. All this is neither here nor there. So a few things are happening here. My back hurts, theres an awful noise in the kitchen, and the first thing I think is "Where's my phone". I have to stop this story again because I'd like to, again, add commentary on the fact that the noise I heard could have very well been a tornado ripping through my apartment, and still, even then, I'd be more curious as to where my phone was and move on from there. Anyways, I walk out my door only to see a miniature bald man scraping up tile in my kitchen. I would have inquired further if he wouldn't have looked up to display more clearly his name tag to reveal that he was called Pete. I don't have

much of a relationship with Peter the maintenance gnome, but I do feel comfortable enough to say to him, "Excuse me sir, What the hell are you doing?". I know that I am not extremely well versed on things like tile or refurbishing things. Peter the maintenance gnome however doesn't know this so when I get an answer like, "routine maintenance sir.", I am left to believe this little bastard thinks I am a retard. "Now listen here I spent the whole night fighting off an army of-" Woah, brain got ahead of me there... I try again. "OK". I turn around go pee and walk back into my room. That didn't go as confrontational as I wanted, but i've heard some pretty powerful stuff about gnomes and I know better to disagree with one.

I'm glad you've enjoyed my anti-climaticism (which my computer tells me IS a word so ha. I knew what you were thinking), however there is a lesson to be learned. You don't get it? Duh, don't get drunk bring home the first short homeless guy you find, dress him up like a gnome as a joke, and let him free in your apartment and black out under your bed only to wake up in the morning forgetting everything. I wonder how much he sold those tiles for...

Writing a blog has proven to be pleasantly challenging. Some days the most difficult task I face is having to reach all the way to the shift key to capitalize my I's. Other days it's so difficult for me to figure out something to write about I give up. Hence the consistently infrequent posting I do now. So I guess you can just treat that like an explanation if you were wondering.

I did mention that this week so far has not been the best week at all. Without delving into the logistics and such I'd like to thank, my friends/family who have come together to let me know they care and be there for me. In a way losing has been reassuring to me at least to know that someone is there for me, or in this case a lot of someones are there for me. There's nothing more I can ask for and realize that now I find myself glad thats all I have, I could be left with worse. No one's perfect, no one has everything they want, and certainly no one person will be around forever. Enjoy the time, remember the laughs, and be prepared to accept the changes of life that come at you, sometimes faster than you know. Life has a way of keeping you in check. Be ready.

I thank you guys all for reading, hopefully my story wasn't too farfetched for you, but I certainly enjoyed writing it. Have a wonderful rest of your, day/week. Leave me comments, let me know whats on your mind, I got a lot on the last post so keep it up! "I hope your happy, you really deserve it". Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #16- Don't call it a comeback...

WOWZERS! It certainly has been too long, I see this not as a disappearance, but more of a temporary hiatus. A lot of positive things have come from this hiatus though. Firstly, the encouragement to write another blog has been beyond abundant and also has come from a lot of different people, which I personally believe is great news. Secondly it has given me a lot of time to rest and relax making me, more willing to sit down and devote a certain amount of time to entertaining you in someway. I thank my "readers" for coming back, sitting down, and sharing the proverbial tea of conversation known as "The Adventures of the Toddilus".

As you may or may not know I am what the world would call a student. Personally I find it more of a temporary career choice. I pledge my current career of academia to Florida State University. College is certainly an interesting place and you are certainly guaranteed to see interesting things. Not only that, but for some its a place that will define the rest of their life. There's a reason why your parent's college buddies are the one you hear about more than their High School buddies. It can be a very confusing place for those of us who approach it the same way that we've approached school in the past i.e high school/ middle school. In a way you can argue that is a completely new culture surrounding college there are new traditions, new collective beliefs, and for some completely different behaviors. Sounds a lot like a culture to me. So what do we do? Well, as now you have found yourself literally an immigrant to a college campus. There's a certain amount of fitting you will or won't do. Are you still an Eagle or a Bear ( or in my case a 'Cane) or are you a LSU Tiger or a FSU Seminole, or whatever other college you may belong to that is obviously not worthy enough to be mentioned ;). So, just like any other culture there is a lot of assimilating to be done and it can become quite overwhelming especially when coupled with being away from everything you left behind. Just some mind candy to ponder.

Personally I find the greatest challenge of college is parking. Here's one of my amplified stories that I'm sure you've missed sooooo much! "It's 11:00, I may just make it to class at 11:15" I say to myself as me and my appropriately named car, Sherrie, turn down the street en route to the parking garage. Sherrie is an older but very attractive women and even though the skirt suit isn't her apparel of choice she still maintains a very classy look. However in her old age despite the level of desirability she holds with the male cars around her there are certain things that just don't work like they should. Most people call it over-heating and probably call a mechanic. I call it hot flashes and remind myself that hormones are something that you can't really do much about. So after ten minutes (which makes it 11:10), of circling the parking garage like I am playing bumper cars Sherrie says "Oh Todd..?" "Yes Sherrie, What is it? Can't you see I'm trying to park?" If Sherrie were more of a typical women she'd see a gynaecologist instead of my mechanic Rick. "I just wanted to let you know that I am aware that it's over 90 degrees outside. However I am having hot flashes and the only way to alleviate that is to turn on the heat to get it out of my fluids... dear". "Sherrie, I kid you not I'll just die." Needless to say just like any women she got her way. This did not solve the parking issue, and it was closing fast on 11:20. "Sherrie, Sweetie... I'm sorry but I'm going to have to leave you here" "Here!? Well, that says tow away zone!??" Before she could say any more i shut the door and ran to class drenched in sweat, and actually kind of relieved because the air outside was now cooler than the heat pouring air in my car. I was worried about Sherrie though. After class I ran back to the parking garage only to find that I was not towed, but instead boxed in by a bunch of other cars. Most people would say I started a trend for other late students (or in my case my co-workers) who also decided to leave their cars in a tow away zone. However, I know what's really going on. I wouldn't describe Sherrie as promiscuous, but she does have some commitment issues which is something all relationships encounter. We are still working on our issues. I never did find a spot you could say I was sad... I am not looking forward to seeing her tonight to move her so I don't get a ticket.

Even though its coming to a close, I did have a fulfilling summer. It's always good to know when you feel like shits hitting the fan theres always a group you can turn to and it may not be the same group, but that at least someone(s) is(are) there to help you forget about stuff and continue being a somewhat productive member of society. I hope that you've encountered this as well and that you also had a summer full of stories and laughs that one day, you'll sit in the horribly colored electronic lazyboy 3000 as you sip on pressurized food derived from some new technology to harness nutrients that are healthier to break down. You and your 600 year old self sit in front of your old beat up panoramic TV and crack somewhat of a smile as much as you can to not allow the energy saving motion sensing (heat sensing is too expensive) light system flash in your eyes, and for that one moment and maybe for the last time for the rest of your life you again feel the same joy you did this summer remembering all the faces and stories of past.

I leave you all wishing you a great beginning to your school year as I suspect the demographic is all students, correct me if I'm wrong. Same old thing though I love comments and I love even more than that, suggestions (Because they require you leave a comment too!).

Hope you enjoyed reading, Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #15 People are talking, talking 'bout people...

Hey guys! Although my girlfriend wanted me to write about licorice and babies, I think today's topic will be people. If you are a constant reader you know that I spend a lot of time at work. One of the perks of working somewhere like I do and have been since I've ever had a job is being exposed to "older" people. What's amazing about that is they have gone through a lifetime of information and have mounds of stories to share and I feel that people never really want to hear them because when you ask it just comes piling out. I've met a former chief of police in Illinois, a former airplane engineer, WWII vets, retired cops, and still all of them managed to be family men. One particular story I've held goes something like this... "When I got out of the service, I got married had 4 kids. Things were great for a while, you know? Then all the sudden my wife left me, no real reason why, she just wanted out. Kids were pretty old by that point too... I knew nothing about running a house the wife cooked, the wife did the laundry... Me, I was screwed. Maybe about a year or two later my best friend's husband left her. She had 4 kids too. So I picked up the phone and said, 'Hey, I don't have a wife, You don't have a husband... lets make it work' And so that was that... the eight kids and us been together all these years." When I heard that story I was like wait... what? You mean to tell me that you and your best friend just got together under the same roof and raised all your kids completely platonically, "Well, no... We got married" Ok so out of no where you married your best friend to raise your children. They do love each other but what an abnormal situation to conjure those feelings!

I think the most important thing to remember ( at least in my personal belief) is that all things happen for a reason. Not to say you don't have control of your own life because you certainly do. I just it's nice to keep in mind that there is a balance. I can't remem

ber who it was that always said this to me but every time I was having the crummiest day they would say "Well, it can only go up now". So I think that it's oddly comforting that when your at your lowest things will only get better.

This blog post was actually written yesterday as in monday, but I forgot to post it. So, I suppose I will continue it as a double post scenario. I washed my dog tonight we suspected she had fleas although my

search led to no suspects. Ferdinand Flea bandit and his funky bunch of "fleaing" fiends managed to escape, however my dog, Martha, is now safe. Dogs have a tradition of wearing celebratory headdresses to not only notify their high priest of purity but also signify that they have been cleansed of all foreign contaminates. There is joyous sounds of barking and other music the dog species have been known to make. If you ever have the chance to catch one it is truly remarkable. To further illustrate the occasion I've included a photo of Martha in her homemade celebratory headdress.

I got my hair cut today and I absolutely hate a fresh hair cut, actually I hate anything new. If I buy a new pair of shoes I have no idea if I like em until I just get used to them. Same with hair cuts, two days go by and I don't remember I got one and I'm cool with it. It's not that I don't like the way my hair looks when I get it cut, most of the time, I just think its that I look at it not cut most of the time and then boom. Change. Perhaps I found out something about myself. I don't like a lot of change, but that doesn't seem right. I like going and seeing new things, and I don't really like much of a routine either. Hmm. I'll figure this out.

Thats it for me tonight. Keep up the hype, tell all your friends or w/e. You know what don't tell your friends I don't care anyways. Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #14- Calling Dr. Love...

Hey hey... I've been doing a lot of promoting trying to draw people in and get reading. I started a Facebook group just so I can organize and possibly make it easier to add extra little tidbits and allow "readers" to post suggestions. So if you read this and are not a fan I added a cool little side bar that will hook you up. You can totally help me out by telling your friends that you read my awesome (wishful thinking) blog ;).

I said at the end of my last blog I was going to "take two" on the pesto pasta. So in a way this next part will act as a continuation of a previous blog topic so if you haven't read them all you should!! Okie, so Tuesdays are my night to cook, which I actually enjoy (to a certain extent). So last night I decided as you now know to retry making pesto pasta, a Maravel family secret. So I spent about an hour calling forward the god of pesto, using the teachings of mother Maravel. Epiphanies come in all forms, and most people want to ask did you meet Pestus (greek god of Pesto)? The answer is no, but he entrusted to me the knowledge, almost like a meditation e-mail. Boom. Just like that my eyes snapped open and I awoke- wise and swift to my cause. There was sizzling and pots flowing with steam and smells. Suddenly

the doors bursted open and orders started filling the queue. Someone shouted "Don't boil the bisque!". "Bisque? Who the hell ordered bisque?". This wasn't important my task as Chef Todd was the pesto pasta. The basil and tomatoes danced, the noodles did a jig in the water, and even the pesto sauce mustered up a bit of a two-step. The pots were now filled with a spectacular array of colors and smell that only the Maravel family, Pestus, and I had the power to control. Just at the peak of the music, the lights, the excitement, the dancing, cocktails, party favors, dashes of salt, the singing, laser light spectacular, breakfast cereals, and orangoutangs, the meal was complete. Did it look marvelous.. No, it looked Maravelous... Even Pestus Himself shined his gaze of satisfaction upon it. It tasted quite good in my opinion and the consensus of my family indicated the same. If you cook, I highly recommend Pesto Pasta its a very tasty italian dish that can be challenging for beginners, but where there is a big challenge there is an enormous reward... trust me I'm a doctor.

On to other business, it's summer time and I don't know why but I always notice a lot of relationship shifting during this time. Perhaps it's the heat, maybe its just a trend that has no explanation what so ever. At my age a break up occurs over issues like not knowing what you want, just wanting to be single, or the very popular "I have no clue why we broke up". I think these are normal. It's scary to think our parents were getting married at my age (20) and starting families. Even if marriage isn't a direct goal to us now at this age in our generation it's still a priority to date and make commitments. It's so important that sometimes who we decide to do this with isn't always important. I have had a lot of people question my record of dating people I'm good friends with, and really I don't see a point in doing it any other way. You don't go out with someone to get to know them as a person, you go out with them to form a bond with another person that is worth taking the time to strengthen. Going out with someone you don't know, is comparable to making a business investment without knowing anything about it. Of course some people are after just "hooking up", I won't lose friends over it but you, said person, are gross. So to all those people who are out there reading this that just lost someone or in anyway decided you needed to bail, I'm sure it feels pretty upsetting, but remember years from now you will look back on this and wonder why you spent so much time worrying about it. I am sure there are some of you that feel like your world is coming to unstoppable and painful end.... it's not and you're over reacting. Stop! Cheer up it will all be over soon, well, wait not your world just the feeling that you're world will- you get it. Maybe that will make someone feel better, probably not.

I don't normally do any news, but today shanghai revealed

it's shrine to Apple Inc. I myself am a fan of Apple products. Worship however, I don't think so, apparently the rabbit hole goes much deeper than we think. There was ceremony, and a sample of Bill Gate's hair and a Dell were sacrificed, only 50 attendees where there to tell the tale, all of which were members of some form of Shanghai Apple freemasons... weird. They were all wearing jeans and turtlenecks, they sang some kind of canticle and parted ways. I snagged a pic so you can really take in the severity of the situation.

Ok, that's it for me tonight. Remember tell all your friends, if you have friends. If you don't have any friends which I really doubt, but if you don't, introduce yourself to someone and tell them about my blog, so now you have 1 friend and I have 1 new fan, together we could change the world. For all of you guys too cool to spread the word, it's cool, I get it, I mean I don't like you, but we can make things work... for the kids. So yea join my page ----------->

and keep reading. I really am thankful for the few fans I have! Remember stay classy (where ever you are). Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #13- PostSecret...

Just when I thought I was running out of ideas and was getting ready to close shop, a wonderful few suggestions come in and boom. Back in business. I have to apologize for yesterdays post it was rubbish and I'm sorry I didn't put a disclaimer on Francis' execution video, it was indeed graphic.A good friend suggested I talk about the PostSecret phenomena and asked the question "Why is it that we all love to tell secrets to the world but not each other?". If you have an opinion of your own please please comment I'd like to hear! PostSecret has been around a really long time and really I forgot about and was very pleasantly reminded

about it just now. I think it's a great example of the conflicting tendencies for us to be both transparent and have secrets. Not everything about ourselves do we want everyone to know, but at the same time doing so kills us. I've chosen some of the lighter ones I've seen, however if you peruse PostSecret (which I strongly suggest), some of the stuff can be very emotional and sometimes scary. I love it. It certainly has become an internet craze. I'd like to make the point that there are people in the world who are helpless in many ways. People who need desperate help and opening up to the "world" about their issues is probably the only sense of therapy they have. I saw one that said "I told my dog I was gay. I think she is the only one that hasn't changed her opinion about me", it's funny when we call ourselves a progressive society most of the time, but things like this people refuse to tolerate because it may not be easy for them, its disturbing. At first I thought it was about a cry for help to their family or friends and communicating to them wasn't enough so make a public confession was made. The more and more I read them, however it seems like these people are at the point where their friends and family aren't there for them and the cry for help is to the world, maybe not for them specifically, but for everyone in their situation, everywhere. "How was your life? Well, mine sucked." I'm glad PostSecret has made it to the status where a lot of people are reading these posts and hopefully people around the world are learning about these emotions that society usually can disregard, and make a difference. We are ina time where we shouldn't have to be afraid of who we are and hopefully this, like many other things in the past, will get better.

I've been taking a few summer classes and things are beginning to wind down now. I don't really like taking classes at home, probably because the classes here really blow. I'm ready to go back to Tallahassee, I love it there. My second family is there so I am very anxious about seeing them! Not to mention things are a bit easier being able to be captain of my own ship. I've been thinking a lot lately about life on my own. It's not that, I can't stand my house or family or anything of that nature. I just know that soon I will be on my own and I'm not necessarily dreading the idea. I actually have a few friends who are buying houses to move away and be on their own. I am not sure I'd want to buy a house at this stage of the game. I feel like I'd rather live in an apartment before I planted my feet in somewhere a little bit more long term. I've been thinking about where I'd stay, like what cities or towns I like. I don't like where I am now much, despite most of my family being here. I just don't see myself sticking around this area for very long. Everyone says France is nice, and I'm not sure I like this country very much so thats an option. Do you know where you'd like to live? Drop a line I want to know!

Just to let you know I'm going to go for attempt 2 on my pesto pasta endeavor, if you are a constant reader and remember the nightmare I had the last time. Tonight should be interesting.

If you've been wanting to ask something, or give suggestions let me know! I really like to know what you want to read about I mean how else will it be interesting? I mean every now and then my life happenings keep you entertained, but more is better, Right? Looking forward to hearing from YOU! Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #12- Gonna get along without you now...

Woah, I must be really selling out I'm all google aded up.

Another Independence Day down and really I'm not at all one to praise war. I hate everything about war, its completely unnecessary. However, there are people out there who chose to fight for our country when our country deems it must be so and I honor their commitment.

I'm going to be completely honest I got completely nothing for todays post and fishing about on facebook for ideas and all i got was THIS IS SPARTA! which my friend from work has been posting on everything I post.

I spent the weekend on a little island off the coast of Florida, it was a very pretty place. Much like a movie the only way too and from the island was by boat, and as we came up to it, you could tell it was like in jurassic park all the trees were huge and animals were bustling about. I was just waiting for a t-rex to blow threw the house and eat us. I did have a certain encounter with a dangerous creature however. Islands to me say "walk around barefoot". Like literally I got there and I heard a whisper in the distance that said that very phrase over and over. Anyways while walking about I saw a dark shape lurch at me so using my nifty iPhone I illuminated what looked to be a fast moving scorpion named Francis.

So there took place a public execution, the crime: Attacking a human with his pointy little Francis tail. I was nice enough to add the video.

Upon other things I found a very pretty fountain, that I named the trickling waters of time and fascination, I don't know why. Other than the fact that it rained the entire weekend it was pretty relaxing just would have liked a certain amount of sun. On a scale of zero through Chronicles of Riddick I would have settled for about a 4. Oh well. It just kept raining but it was nice because you could see it running towards the house in sheets.

All I got today, tomorrows will be better I promise now that I am home. Read past blog posts n comment n ish! Your like what thats it! Yea i know todays was rubbish but I have plans for tomorrow. Give suggestions! Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #11- I don't care to beg your pardon, we should live until we die...

Today turned out to be pretty good, despite the rain and having to work all day and then go straight to class afterward. A friend of mine introduced me to an interesting machine. Not your everyday machine- there a very few moving parts, however its cleverness surpasses even the most advanced machinery we have on this earth. For those of you unfamiliar with something called "perpetual motion" it would be best described as something that is once motion is caused it will continue to be in motion indefinitely. So with that said the machine works on two separate but important facts. 1. A cat always lands on it feet, and 2. buttered toast always lands butter side up. These two facts are understood by all. Combining these two "rules" creates a machine thusly dubbed as a "perpetual motion" machine. By strapping toast butter side up on the back of a cat we can see that on one side is the feet of the cat, the other butter toast. Applying the facts we know, with these two together the cat/toast can never land. The forces placed on the object will cause it to spin without ever being able to stop hence- perpetual motion. Here's a diagram:

Its amazing what technology can do these days. WARNING: Do NOT try this at home. Can cause severe vomiting, uncontrollable bowel syndrome, headaches, vertigo, and death to your cat. Also you will have wasted a piece of perfectly good toast after it is covered in one or all of the following: fecal matter, vomit, and fur.

So, as you can tell by most or all of the titles and some of the subject matter music is a large part of who I am. When I hear a song when I shuffle my iTunes Library (which is 22.56 GBs large) it takes me back to when I listened to it most. All it takes is any Dashboard Confessional song and I feel like I'm back in high school laying in my bed thinking about who knows what, probably self inflicted love sickness (you know how high school is). I think thats a powerful affect that shouldn't go unnoticed. One time my girlfriend told me the brain responds most to smell, which is true. However a song, at least to me, has the same affect. For example a wedding song. A couple chooses a wedding song and years after their marriage they hear that song and you can see the nostalgia. I know that at least when they were dating my parent's song was black coffee in bed by squeeze (and if you watch closely frankenstein is on the keyboard) I don't know why, but still. If it comes on the radio they seem all upbeat and what have you. I don't know just a thought. Whats your favorite music?

If you are one of my regular "readers" then you will have noticed that I changed the name of the blog. I realized there about a million Todd Blogs. This no bueno and unacceptable so I chose a more original one.

The other day for whatever reason we (my parents and I) got on the subject of the difference between going number 1 or 2. I think I may have asked when my dad came back and he said he didn't know, so... I just had to ask how didn't he know he was the only one there. Well according to him he's never really known and I don't know how he's survived all of his life never being able to distinguish between going number 1 and number 2. He seemed to be confused with who ever was in authority of deciding which would correspond with which number, and how did that person rationalize that decision. According to my mother whom explained it with this question "which do you do every time you go" and the answer she was searching for was go pp. "so thats number one" and my only answer to all this was "glad thats cleared up... I gotta go number 2". If you've ever wondered what its like to eat dinner with my family, there you go.

Well, I must sound like a broken record by now, but please please please, comment if you're reading I get like 20 page views a day, new post or not. So comment! Hope you enjoyed reading! If theres anything you'd like to know about or feel I could talk about that you (yes you specifically) would enjoy reading, or think others would enjoy reading comment, I promise you I will consider all suggestions/answer all questions! Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #10- Walcott, don't you know that it's insane...

Hello, a lot to talk about today so we shall dive right in. I get home from work and the first thing I see when I walk in the door is my mother blubbering on the reals. So of course I panic cause well I thought something terrible had when really all that happened was she had a bad day and a dead pigeon on our lawn threw it over the edge. Mr. Birdie laid sprawled out on our lawn almost as if he was mid-flight and crash landed. My immediate fault was technical difficulties but it appear both engines were intact and there was no real body damage to the craft. I am not sure what brought Mr. Birdie down butone thing can be certain that was the last landing he will ever make. The only one willing to touch him was me so I was the mortuary for the day. Upon further inspection I noticed he was wearing an anklet that had some form of a serial number on it... Robot spies. I must say their technology has increased over time, he indeed looked very real. I buried Mr. Birdie at 6:29.45.

I fashioned him a small burial site behind a flower bed near a leaf that looked like heart that almost seems to fuse with his bamboo tomb"stone". RIP Mr. Birdie.

Again, I spent most of my day putting up tags at the store over 500 today. AHHH. I feel cross eyed! The perk was I got a little rolling workstation that I like to call my Moss Covered Three Handled Family Gradunza from the Cat in the Hat, If you remember the cartoon version I sure do. Of course on one in the store has seen it so I felt like a cheese ball singing the song up and down the isles, yet I continued.

Sometimes I wake up from these dreams that the floor of my room drops out and to the theme of Stanley Kubrick's Space Odyssey I fall thousands of feet to the earth. All I can do the whole time is lie completely flat and just stare at the sky till I smash into the ground. I can see clouds as I go by and the occasional bird. One time I actually hit a plane and spun all the way down, that was the only time I've ever seen the ground. When I make it all the way down and watch as my bed is leveled by the impact I think about all the things I could have done to make this wreckage at least less. I always forget I had no control over my body. I lay there still among twisted metal of my bed frame, other miscellaneous body damage and all I can think is- This is all my fault. Great way to start a day.

Last blog, I think, I mentioned the bit about how you have friends in the past you will never talk to again. Well, I thought about how that really should not be true, it just seems kind of negative so to help my conscience and out of curiosity I texted three old friends today. Responses: 0 for 3... theres always tomorrow. I think that the possibility of phone switches is high so I won't read into it much.

I noticed that mostly girls are giving feedback on my blog and I'm not really sure what that means, not saying that that is bad I'm just curious. I would really like to know what you think about the blog and a lot of people comment on my Facebook status I post for each blog post I have, which is fine. I could use some sleep. Goodnight everyone, hope your Tuesday doesn't play tricks on you... When I'm president I'm going to get rid of Tuesday as my only law. Oh well. Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #9- I like to be gone most of the time, and you like to be home most of the time...

Hello "readers"! Another little break between posts I am not going to sweat over it much I think that 9 posts is surely a achievement.

This week was an interesting week. Not the type of weeks that seem to go on forever, but a pleasantly interesting and desperately concise week. A week of firsts: On Thursday you probably watched a new clip of herds of people lining up for an iPhone all day outside of your local Apple product distributor. Well, I was one of them, it is ok I forgive what you unknowingly said about me. I thought that since I had pre ordered mine I would be able to just walk and say "Hello, my name is Todd" to be answered with a swift "We've been expecting you."Which in turn would lead to the revealing of a secret and very secluded stair case that winds down to a very dark corridor lined with a million doors. I wouldn't be lost because an Apple Employee would lead me to the 33 door on the left. I would be surprised when I look up and see the name "JOBS" posted on the door. When just as I'm about to open the door it opens automatically and there is no one other than... George Clooney. "George?" (we are besties) "What are you doing in Steve Jobs office?

" In which case he will reply "Ya know, it's a summer job. It's for fun. How the hell are ya Todd?". About this time the amazed Apple Employee has left us, and I can here her iShoes as she goes up the stairs. "We'll I guess this one is yours. Peace." Which is when I leave walking past the herds of people and drive home only to crawl back in bed nestling my shiny new iPhone 4 tightly to my bosom (yea bosoms, get over it). This was all the fabricated dream of some hopeful who thought it'd be easy. I waited 7 hours 7am-2pm to get it. Missing class, and barely making it to work after the hour drive home. Phew. Definitely going to reconsider the next time, whenever that is. Quick review incase your planning to pick one up. iPhone 4= Aluminum free completely recyclable sex.

Things have been kind of rough mentally for me lately. I feel like I'm losing all my closest friends to an evil monster named Europe. I don't know if they picked up their tourist

attraction guide game or something but all I know is I never got the cool new pamphlet that everyone else did! Anyhow my gf is there, and a couple my friends are going in the near future. I think I can deal without a few friends, but my girlfriend is gone most of the time (over the summer) and that is pretty difficult for me. We get to talk for maybe 30 mins tops every other day like prison visits. The visitor her and me being the one sentenced to eternal missing my lady. Phoooey.

Yesterday, I was privileged enough to spend about an hour with a group of High School boys (my friends brother and his friends) and they were just chit chatting about school (girls). I realized that although I was the same way in high school, kids spend most of their time talking about other people. She's hot, she's not. He's so funny, He's a loser. I have to admit some of the stories were nostalgically entertaining. I just could not stop thinking about how much life can change and the realization came to me that thoug

h this wasn't guaranteed it was highly possible that these kids will get to college and never speak to one another again (fight, loss of contact who knows). I also came to the realization that this was very normal. It's funny how quickly you can go from being absolute best friends with someone and feel like you don't even know them in a short amount of time. I like this about life. I know that some of the things that make me the happiest is when an old friend calls me. "catching up" is almost more fun than keeping up. Thats all I really have to say about that don't really know where I was going with it... just popped into my head.

I was at Steak n' Shake recently and I was waiting on the ketchup because my friend was

using it. He was squeezing the living ketchup out of it and holding it at least a foot and a half away from the table. Seeing this I thought- "Geeze, that's a tough ketchup bottle". However my faith was too strong in the ketchup for when I took a squeeze or two it erupted into a fiery ball of ketchup madness that overwhelmed (and frightened) both my plate and my french fries. Bodily damage minimal, however I am not sure those fries will ever be the same again. Needless to say our completely enthusiastic and smiley waiter (sarcasm) acted like nothing happened, and couldn't even spare a napkin. It's ok though because they were real yummy!

Well, it's sunday night. So with that I wish you all a very splendid beginning of your week. Remember that its not Monday you got to worry about its Tuesday... Damn you Tuesday. Hope to hear your feedback and read your comments!! Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #8- I'm so excited, I just can't fight it...

Another day, another post. To answer your question Mike the grass daydream was "pure" and needed no narcotic stimulation, no matter how crazy it may sound. Apparently everyone enjoyed the pesto story, I was indeed a little displeased with my abilities and to add to it someone had suggested that the pesto comes pre-made. This I know and I used that variety of pesto just apparently not enough. I also wanted to add onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms (because i'm cool like that).

Onto other things, I'm tearing at the seam with unstoppable joy. I'm like an over enthusiastic christian summer camp leader. Why? Tomorrow is the official release of the iPhone 4 and I will be getting one!!! AH! Really there is absolutely nothing else on my mind, but I'll try to conjure something up.

Today I was vacuuming out my car minding my own business when suddenly I was attacked by a bee. Mr. Herman A. Bee to be exact. As I was tediously combing through each individual fiber of my soon to be perfectly groomed interior Herman decides he's going to fly into the car and sit on my newly polished seat dangerously close to my hand. "Herman A. Bee you oughta' know better" (which was the moment Herman A. Bee became- Herman A. Bee) I said. With one swift assassin like motion I lowered the hose to the vacuum pointing it at Herman. In my head I realized that I had to make a cool pop-culture reference in order to elevate the B.A.ness of my action. The only thing I could think of was... "This is from... Matilde" and woosh gone Herman A. Bee was. Lost forever. I have an hour long drive to class and I couldn't help but think if somehow Herman found his way out of that vacuum and is in the garage plotting his revenge. I thought about what doom awaited me- possibly he used his bee cunning to hideout in the air ducts only to strike when I least expected. Herman's family suspect him dead after being missing for 5 hours (bee life goes much quicker than a human's). Despite how polite his family was to me at the funeral I knew that they were uneasy about my presence.

Further more said the Rebel... I think today was a good day. No rain, although it was very hot and I'm positive that I have third degree burns on my butt from the scorching hot car seat. Nonetheless, it still turned about to be a good day. How was yours?

A little update I mentioned my summons for Jury duty a couple of posts ago, well the case was dropped and I no longer have to go. The mystery of Jury Duty continues, maybe Gene Hackman didn't need me after all...

Well I got to go to bed early tonight if I want to beat the sun to the Apple Store! I would love to hear from you guys, FEEDBACK!! Lets get a comment record here or something! Ok, hope you enjoyed todays post and remember, help control the pet population have your pet spayed or neutered. Thanks

-Bob Barker

EDIT:

-ToDD

Post #7- Keep the Stream Alive...

Tuesdays, I dont know what about them makes them so annoying. Its like out of all the other days I'm usually most disappointed by tuesday. Monday I expect to be annoyed by so therefore I get what I am expecting, but Tuesday. Oh Tuesday. Shame on you.

I've been doing a lot of driving lately and I often find myself thinking about what I want to be, and sometimes it evens goes so far as me talking to myself as if I was me- from the future. This may sound crazy and in my defense- it completely is, my god save me! Any ways I'm usually some big time CEO at a make believe company named Todd Co. and although if you've been my friend for some time you would know, this company has been (not) established for at least a handful of years already. So among these years and years of being a well respectable company I have yet to know what it does. Do we manufacture shoes, sell snow globes with flamingos in them that say "welcome to florida"? So in other words I'm crazy, and I'm completely inefficient as well. Really what I think I'm doing is perpetuating myself as some separate entity so that I may more accurately define myself. To this I say... Hi my name is Todd, and I am a suffering lunatic.

Further I digress, because today I was walking across my lawn and I imagined myself as a blade of grass. To further enable my mind I walked inside and laid down where I actually fell asleep. Nonetheless, I was a blade of grass. People came and went not really caring about my existence. Bugs even scurried by just whispering to one another saying how it was a nice day. I remember trying to well say "Hey, how are you... I'm a blade of grass", but I had no mouth. The main point here is that there wasn't really much to do as a blade of grass and I felt really useless there which is probably why I fell asleep. I don't even like the color green all that much, and left me to hate my grassy self. Then I woke up to my dad flashing the lights on and off in my room.

On to more complete irrelevance, I attempted to make Pesto Pasta today. An idea sparked from eating at a friends house and it was really good! Her mother sold it to me as simple, easy, just whistle out your window and all the birds and wildlife will enter and do it for you as we all sing a song! Delightful, I thought- I may have to do some extra vacuuming but I like animals... Pesto Pasta it is. Although I had no actual recipe I considered it a quest... I AM ON A QUEST! I jumped in Sherrie (my car) and set out to the nearest Publix. Surely it was destiny, because at Publix shopping is a pleasure and according to mama pesto it was indeed supposed to be a rather fulfilling experience. "la la la la" I giggle with glee as I sautéed a variety of wonderful things not forget of course the most secret ingredient, which of course was pesto, never would have guessed. "OOO HE HE HEE" The pasta is boiling- just as I planned. I pranced about the kitchen much like spongebob in the first episode where he makes Krabby Patties for the first time. Finally, the quest was complete! To be completely frank and to cut down the time of this story, it tasted just shy of old white dog poop. Needless to say, I failed at making pesto... but there will be a day when I succeed and all will rejoice and sing my name!

In other news, I'm watching someone literally take apart an iPhone. I was scared at first because I did not want to witness the man melt in front of me like Indiana Jones when they opened the arc of the covenant, and although I'm certain if they continue it will indeed, it has not happened yet. Speaking of people melting I was skimming news update headlines some time ago and I stumble across "People melting for global warming awareness in germany". Wow, talk about commitment, you believe in global warming so much that you would literally melt yourself to get your point across... talk about irony. I clicked, really not so much for the read but praying they had pictures. Well, to my dismay I misread the headline in the first place, but just incase you are interested anyway. People Melting... HA.

Well, I'll let you know if anyone melts. Until then keep giving feedback I love hearing what you have to say! I don't care if its completely unrelated! So far the feedback has been really good, I really am thankful, let me know what you think. Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #6- Get Up, Get On Up...

Miss me? No? OK. Fine. Screw you too. Alrighty well, another Father's Day here and gone, if you're a father I hope you had a good one! Getting a lot of good feedback and I am really glad keep it coming, I love to hear from you guys.

For those of you who read my last blog post and are wondering- No I did not have another Gary Coleman dream last night. Sorry I was actually hoping to so I could fill you in on what our short baby faced friend had to say but unfortunately I am unable.

In other news, today among other things I was given a Mets baseball cap that my grandfather used to wear. Now I'm just gonna say that I do not like the Mets I never have, and most of my income as a kid was betting against them when my grandfather and I watched the games together. Anyways, its sitting here in my room on the knob of my closet door, looking at me. Although I did put it on just to wear it in front of my family like he used to, we got a good laugh out of it and I added a good visual so you can just imagine, I don't think I'm ever going to have a use for it again. My grandfather has become quite of a legend within my family, though they all say I am the most like him out of anyone in our family, I still feel like I could have learned more about him. He was funny, loud, deaf as can be, stubborn, and smoked constantly. I do not smoke, but I think I fit in to all those other things. He was a real jokester, when I knew him (at my young age) everything he said made me laugh. He was a very hard worker and he liked everything a certain way (even his dinner). The real legend in my opinion was my grandmother because she was the one that dealt with him all day everyday, cooking his breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You'd be surprised someone so geared towards serving her husband would have a sense of humor as well. Well believe it because I honestly believe my grandmother is the funniest and strong willed women I've ever met. Its been 8 years since he died and now all we do at family gatherings is tell stories about when he was here. I hope my children/grandchildren immortalize me in the same way. Just some food for thought.

People get up! and drive that funky soul! I just "obtained" James Brown's Greatest Hits... I may never listen to anything else ever. Well, I know thats not true, but you get me.

Writing a blog I have developed some new words for myself that I use to describe certain issues I run into like this gem... "Blog Block". Now I certainly do not think you are idiots and you can probably figure out what "Blog Block" is but just in case its basically the blog version of writers block. So in a situation like this I would ask a friend... "Give me ideas for my blog..." this usually never avails to anything because well, no one has ideas. Today however I asked someone for ideas and all they said was "fuck." Needless to say that sex does indeed sell, but I don't think my blog is that desperate for readers, not to mention any of that variety.

Thats all for me tonight. Hope you guys enjoyed, give me some feedback!!! I hope you all are having a fulfilling summer. For those of you who aren't for whatever the reason remember that there is no reason to hang your head down and stare at the bad times, rather raise your head and look forward to the future and make some changes to get back in the game. Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #5- A Kiss to Build a Dream On....

Well, I feel like it has been awhile! I appreciate the input on the last post, Michael I feel like the majority of people would share the same view, it is up to you guys to figure out who is right. It is going to be rare that I allow this much time between posts so I apologize for the delay (if you even care).

When you read a book in high school among the first few questions like what was the plot, or theme. There is one that at least in my class was very important.... What was the mood? Most of you try to figure it out from the title of the post. To save you from hours of analyzing the text of this post I'm just going to tell you. This week was great... The heavily breathing girlfriend you may have heard about in past posts came down from her tropical prison to spend sometime with me. Though a week straight may be a long time for some people, well not when you have waited for 7 weeks to see someone in the first place. Now however I'd like to say I am doing "great", but I feel far from it.

Enough of sulking though because it is not funny and it is boring for you to read. I went rock climbing at some point this week it was soooo fun! I don't know if you guys are interested but if you are ever in the tampa region and your standing in front of a rock climbing gym- go inside. I cant remember the name of the place and if the people I went with read this remind me through comment because I had fun! I have no clue why but for the past couple of days I have been having crazy dreams where Gary Coleman is my landlord and apparently I keep drinking all the cranberry juice in his "coolerator". I don't even like cranberry juice... so step off Gary Coleman.

I usually "browse" Facebook when I can't think of anything else I can do and I realized something. People are in A LOT of pictures. It's like all of my friends are followed by the paparazzi because literally everything they do is properly documented in picture form possibly by the minute. Sometimes I say well gee I wish I had more photos...( I really strain to keep my profile pic updated), but then I think Facebook is such an incredible waste of energy. See most ambitious people in life would say it was a waste of time... However, us lazy people believe it is a waste of energy, because well, we have all the time in the world.

Oh, Louis Armstrong.... you are a gentleman. Sometimes I wish I could get dressed up put some awful grease in my hair, bow tie, cummerbund, Black slacks (single grey stripe down the side), Coat, and take my girlfriend out to what would then be known as a club. Instead of raunchy ear-bleedingly loud music, and randy college kids rubbing on any surface available, we would be dancing swing or enjoying some fancy drink watching the trumpets, the piano player, drums splash away. Sometimes when I am really depressed I just clothes my eyes and think about dancing like a real human to music that I've heard since a kid eating a whole jar of "S" cookies in my grandmothers living room. On that same wooden coffee table that sits in my living room (and only then did I see what it actually looked like my grandmother kept it wrapped in this unbearably bright yellow plastic table cloth that came complete with a zipper for that added extra snugness). Now I cant stand the damn thing its what I like to call a shin grabber.

I'm excited. I was able to pre-order an iPhone for when it comes out. So thursday morning bright annnnd early Ill be getting up to get my new iPhone every seem excited really its ok I wont tell. Which is actually a pretty interesting point I haven't brought up here on this blog. I am an Apple freak, and although most people think I'm this bandwagoning typical new college student with his macbook you couldn't be more false. My family has been using Apple Computers since they were ugly and and took 4 inch floppies to run. I can also say that the first windows capable hardware I had still ran like windows 2.0 and I just liked to mess around with it but never touched one till I got to high school where they gave us all one for to use (nightmare). Although I think windows 7 is cool, its mostly because it runs like mac software soooo Yeah, no talking me out of that one.

I am tired tonight! Oh well I have been tired for the past couple of days well thats gonna be it for me tonight. Comment!!! Let me know you are reading. Have a good night/day. Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #4- Word of Mouth

Well, I certainly missed staying up extremely late last night and writing a blog, so tonight here I am. Got some comments from the masses on my second blog probably got nothing on the third one because it was rubbish. Some key quotes that I see from the people who do comment is to keep writing or kept me reading so I think that's great you guys take a short couple a minutes to give it a read. To address Michaels comment (if thats even your real name) I mean I like the blog to seem like an informal entrance to the mind, the garage door entry if you will. In doing so the blog is written grammatically sound, yet is free form like butter on a warm pan. Pennnamedbooks, no I did not take your creative writing class however, you did inspire me with the will to be spontaneous and therefore I grant you permission to resume taking credit on my writing if you so choose. OK. The video blog thing, I'm not shooting down the idea. Time constraints right now are a big concern, so TBD on the Vblog.

Being home from college is bittersweet for a lot of reasons. Some people don't like it because there are rules at home. Some people don't like it because some of their better friends are at school(totally me). Some people can't stand their home towns. Whatever the reason its good and not so good to be home. We get home cooked meals, you're guaranteed a quiet nights sleep without four other grown men screaming while playing some MMORPG (geek speak for- massively multiplayer online role playing game) or easier known as "waste of time", theres your favorite home town restaurants, the clean smell of your house and so on. What I am getting at and what the title portrays from this post is the wrecking ball effect of the word of mouth- lets say phenomena. The he said she said of "home" though you thought you escaped when you left for college, surprisingly it is waiting here for you as soon as you got back. "Well, I heard that timmy got pregnant at a party... yup, had the baby right there on the couch while he was watching the world cup- had a mouth full of chips too". These people aren't the catalyst of this phenomena, however. Its the guy listening who says "What!? No way, I don't believe that I'm telling everyone!" If you didn't see it, it isn't worth talking about, and I guess that's all I have to say about that- just kind popped into my head.

On to other things, went to the airport today, and though Jack Johnson and I both agree that "people watching" is quite a learning experience its not always pleasant. I watched a young girl age cap of 28 lets say, she was beaming. Hair did, nice clothes, fancy shoes. As she exited her gate waiting (I assume) to be greeted by her man friend, she kind of swiveled about from what I could tell she was looking for someone and by the time I noticed her again she wasn't smiling anymore and maybe 5 minutes had gone by. Well, she pulled out her cellphone and this very pleasant young women turn into a very ugly screaming tribal women ready to start the feast of souls (totally national geographic). Apparently, "eddie" forgot about her and failed to make a timely appearance to retrieve his women. That "Piece of shit bastard- retard" had best A. Pick her up and B. buy her "sexy ass" (confident, but in my opinion total lie) a hotel room for just her because she wasn't going to stay with "eddie the great asshole of the century". Two snaps of a gold studded finger and that phone call was over. Lesson: Long nonsensical insults are not only productive but can be very entertaining to passerby's (or eves droppers like me), giving the asshole of the century not only the opportunity to know the location of, but also pay for where you'll be staying is a smart thing to do. Listen up America, society is changing... resistance is futile.

When I started this blog I decided lets not go political but the purpose of this blog in my opinion is learning and IF you read this blog you intend to learn about me, and really IF you comment I'm learning about you and I like that. Lets talk about BP- I'll go first. Here's what I have to say. It is scary when a single company has the ability to completely destroy an ecosystem and I totally understand the alarm- we need to fix this. However, as American people we have the freedom to make money any way we wish as long as its within a certain guidelines of ethics, etc. The gray area here is where the finger is being pointed. We aren't supposed to be mad at BP for drilling oil, that was what they are making money to do. Where we should be mad is that BP, wasn't taking the proper precautions in doing so. MEANING- that the repercussions of BP's actions should be dealt with BP, and not the oil drilling business. As soon as that problem is fixed I hope that someone comes right to that same spot and keeps making money with the BP spill as an example of what not to do. I'm hearing a huge out cry for not allowing people to drill, and more regulation and why isn't the government stepping in. What we are failing to realize is that A. BP is liable to the damages caused and although the fish dead won't come alive and all the similar analogies, but them and them alone are to be held accountable. B. The US Government is 13 trillion dollars in debt according to the US National debt clock. Would you make someone that in debt pay for another entities mistakes? NO!

In the heart of all this I feel deeply bad for the people of Louisiana two major disasters in too little time. Times like these I hope they learn to quit relying on their gov't officials to do damage control and instead make the right voting decisions to make the free market truly free, so that someone who has the money can take care of things right.

I'm not close minded so I'd really like to hear your thoughts on todays blog. I know I have some strongly politically geared friends out there on both sides. Keep it nice, keep it friendly but I'd love to hear from you. Otherwise any other general comments, concerns, suggestions are also welcomed. Love that you guys are reading I'm truly thankful for the feedback both on here and Facebook. Hope you guys had a great start of your week. If not, because summer is not always sunny, remember that like I said in my past blog what seems unbearably important today is simply a well learned lesson tomorrow. Thanks.

-ToDD

Post #3- Tuesday night's plastic corrosion awareness meeting, was I think, a big success...

In some ways I feel like a late night radio host... soft spoken voice maybe like Delilah or something, and of course I know you don't necessarily read these when I write them but for me this is that last thing I do before I go to bed.

"Good Evening ladies and gentlemen, this is The Todd Blog typing out all your literary favorites, we've got a wonderful list lined up for you tonight. So if you're out there maybe sitting in your living room or on a late night cross country summer car ride, you can sit and think about your high school sweet heart, those cool summer nights, the unstoppable acne, and how it felt when you held each other until you saw the sun come up over the horizon. Well enough of that at the top of the hour its me Todd Blog Signing off"

Right after work today some friends came over, and though its always fun to chit chat and joke around, a movie was on. Not just any movie we are talking Toy Story (now the post title is making sense). When you watch anything really- TV shows, movies and you see child actors from when you were a kid, you think "Wow, that kid really looks different. He's gonna be around a while." or "Oh my God, I really wish his career ended after this show". I am sure names like (for my generation) Amanda Bynes (all that) , McCullough Culkin (Home Alone), Raven Symone (Cosby Show, Thats So Raven), or Danielle Fishel (Boy Meets World) ring maybe a slight bell. The first one I think of, is Andy from the Toy Story, because I mean technically though he's not really a person he is growing with my generation. Toy Story 3 is coming out and Andy is going to college. I think that's what made Toy Story such a good movie he was a 3D animated illustration (seems like an oxy-moron) of my generation. Same toys, same worries, same kid. I remember losing my Jack Skellington doll that would speak when you pushed his stomach. "Eureka, I've done it!" must have drove my parents nuts, but as any kid would I lost it once and was heart broken I am sure we all have the same stories in a different way. Can't wait to see the new one.

I think after today I'll refrain from posting on weekends, its kind of late by the time I can get on here and its hard for me to think straight. That's actually a nice segue into something I had planned to explain. My blogging "procedure" as of right now. You can tell by my time stamps that I write around 6-8 depending on the night... well that's actually misinformation- I start, writing around 6-8 and don't post till now... and despite what the time stamp says now is... 12:19. I write get up walk around a bit think of more to write sit back down. Grab a waffle, feed the rest to my dog. Look out the window, pace around my house, read emails look on Facebook and write the rest. Then I re-read what I've written fixing any major typos and post it. So the lovely little time ranging from 6-8 is not when I actually finish my posts,

Going to keep it short today though not a lot happened today, worked ALL DAY! If you are a new "reader" then its a perfect opportunity to catch up on my first two posts and I hope you enjoy them. COMMENTS! Questions, comments, concerns... If you left/leave me any comments I'll get to them Monday, kind of wanted to keep this post more concise. I would really love to hear from you though I probably say it too much its true. Thanks.

- ToDD

Post #2- Complete Control... or not.

Hello, "readers"! I was actually surprised at the amount of people who either gave me feedback by commenting or just simply said "oh, I read your blog". I actually received a comment from my sister basically saying my blog wasn't flashy enough, and although this is coming from a student of Ringling College of Art and Design, she may be right... I'll work on it. However, from a good friend at FSU I received a wonderful comment- "You are my hero", although I laughed because not every day am I told that, I am extremely grateful she enjoyed my post.
You're going to notice I do this a lot, however last night I was laying awake thinking about going to sleep (obviously I was laying down) and I realized that its apparent that I have set myself up to go to sleep and I obviously chose that at that time I would "go to sleep", but I was still awake. This made me realize how out of control the human entity really is. I don't mean out of control like you're mom tells you, "you are out of control" I mean actually "not in control". This made me expand, when someone pulls out in front of you when you're driving you stop. Why? Now you're saying "Duh, Todd. You stopped because you didn't want to hit the person, object, or whatever- Old lady who knows" Agreed, you're so smart! However, is that really what you thought or did you just hit the brakes out of reflex? Total reflex, don't try to disagree. Never once has that happened and someone said "Fuck this old lady she's going down" on the spot. People say all the time I want to be in control of my life! Well, sorry dude but you cant even go to sleep when you want to, you just have to lie there and wait till you fall asleep, when's that?... No idea.
Today I received a jury duty summons. Haven't even opened it yet, may not even go, have no opinion on it what-so-ever... Dont even know why I brought it up... Perhaps you've been, I'd like to hear about it if you have. I can only imagine walking in on my first day and Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman are grilling me about my personal bias'. If you don't get it, see Runaway Jury... good flick. Enough on that though.
I was called in early to work this morning and normally it's an outside set up for me, loading mulch and other heavy things, today... not the case. My assignment as my boss says "If you're willing to accept... but you don't have a choice" was to change most of the bin tags in the store. A bin tag is the little labels in store that show the price and have a small description of what the product is, in the store they are basically the only way to know where a product goes. So telling someone to change the bin tags is like saying... "Hey you, touch everything in the store and in the order I say" I am not sure I'm conveying accurately how hideously boring that can be if you're doing it from 9-6. So as I am sitting there with nothing to keep me company but my brain parts, I think (at least now) "What am I gonna write in my blog?" I must go through a million things and say to myself great idea Todd, do that. Not one of those things made it in here yet and not one of them I actually remember. Afterward my parents dragged me to Lowe's and all I could think about was how all the bin tags where staring at me...

Speaking of my family I think it's a good time to describe them in the only way I know how, which is comparing them to pop culture characters. My mom probably Lucy from "I Love Lucy", Her nosiness gets her in to trouble, sometimes her voice can get on your nerves, she's hilarious to watch, she loves her husband greatly, and she keeps our house spotless. My dad Clark Griswald (Chevy Chase), he is very funny, never gets mad, but one day he will pop and go bat shit insane on everyone and its even funnier if you aren't on the receiving end and he really knows how to pack a van. My sister well.... idk how to describe her she is a plethora of characters, keeps me on my toes, we will get back to her, I love her, as I do all my family.

I think that's a sufficient second post, eh? Again, I love comments, if you read it and only if you just let me know you stopped in read a few lines and left, I want to hear what you gotta say about dis mang?(totally went gangster on you there... will not happen again) Really though suggestions anything... I hope this was more enjoyable than the last post... if not I'll work on it.

Thanks guys.

-ToDD

Post #1- IDK Y

Well, I decided in my infinite wisdom (which as I get older seems to dwindle) to start a blog and though I have no idea what I'll write about or even if I lead an interesting enough life to entertain my "readers". I use quotes there because I don't have any readers... and to be honest I'm not sure I want anyone to read this garbage. Embarrassing. While on the subject of my "readers" (you see I'm beginning to develop a little blog inside joke, don't you feel blessed?) I asked a close friend if he would read my blog if I had one and he replied "Yea, Sure...Maybe". Another one said "Of Course, It would be on my bookmarks bar at the top of my browser...Definitely man". Sadly I know which one was lying.

So if you call that an introduction, then this I suppose this is where I would begin... as if this whole time you thought you'd be inspired but really you turn the page to realize you were just reading the preface. Sorry.

Damn it, I did it to you again. I promise it won't happen again. Any-who, last night I laid awake listening to my girlfriend breathe into the receiver of the phone, thinking who am I?What brought me to well, me? Where did I begin? I was a babbling baby in someones arms once, right? I wasn't always stressed out about school and staring at my hair in the mirror for half an hour... I think? This is all completely common sense. Well, of course! I guess the point is that its easy to forget what brought you to where you are, all those first days of schools (and the brand new sneakers that went along with), all the fights with your biffles (yup, just said biffles get over it), hours on the phone with the girl(s) you thought you could never live with out and look I'm still here and to think I never thought of that until last night... Oh well.

That last bit, complete rubbish... You don't even really know who I am and I got all philosophical on you like a high old man sitting on the stoop of a gas station. Hi, my names Todd. Though I can never be sure I can only imagine my friends like me because more often than not I'm bluntly honest, I make them laugh (if you've ever received this compliment it doesn't necessarily mean you're funny... learned that the hard way), I love making an ass out of myself, and I know how to conduct a good H2H. It's never been hard for me to make friends and it's been just as easy to lose them, and I tell myself all the time... "to hell with them" and it never works. I love music and though I do agree there is no such thing as bad music... the only thing is I don't consider rap to be music so we're still straight right?

Ok so Post #1 out of the way, now that we know each other I suppose I can be less boring in the posts to come... feel free to comment, give suggestions, and ask questions wouldn't that be an interesting part of my blog "This week bob from illinois writes...."(wishful thinking) I believe the main word here is FEEDBACK. Thanks.

-ToDD