Yep, you read that right.....I'm DONE with all the mediocrity in my life! For at least the past 15 years I've done everything half-assed and just been mediocre at everything (except when I was in high school, I did everything I could to not be a mediocre drummer). But everything else I did, I just did it halfway. I didn't really put much effort into it. But starting today, November 21st, 2010 I am making a vow to "Just say NO to mediocrity!". That will be my motto from this point on in my life. And if anyone would like to have a couple T-shirts made for me with that slogan on them just make sure to get them in X-Large because I'm not quite down to just a large yet *wink*.
But in all seriousness....after this past week of school (my first week of college by the way) and the two 100s I got (one on my "homework" the other on my first test) I decided that rather than just do what I had to in order to graduate and get my degree that I would do everything in my power to graduate with honors. As hard as it will be my goal is to graduate as Summa Cum Laude because that is the highest honors classification there is. But even if I don't graduate with that high of a GPA I would still like to graduate as Magna Cum Laude or just Cum Laude because I know I'm smart enough to graduate in any of those three categories. You see I used to just think that graduating college and getting my degree in Computer Networking would be good enough for me but I have realized that I won't be satisfied with "just graduating". While graduating college is an accomplishment in and of itself to me that won't be good enough. I'm so tired of being an underachiever. And I would feel like an underachiever if I only graduated college and didn't do everything I could to graduate with honors because I know I'm more than capable of doing better than that. And I wouldn't consider graduating with honors as overachieving either because even though nobody even expects me to graduate I know that I expect myself to graduate and do it with honors. That is definitely a goal I know I can achieve even if everyone else in the world believes I will just do whatever it takes to barely get by.
I'm also tired of the mediocre life I've been living for the past 8 years. I mean, I don't do anything new and exciting so I've just been doing the same boring thing over and over and over for the better part of the past 8 years. I need a break from the monotony of my life and I need new and exciting things to try. I need to find things to do outside of the normal things I'd usually do. I can't sit around all day anymore just watching TV, or chatting online, or messing around on Facebook, or playing mindless video games, or just sleeping. I want to get out into the world and go biking, hiking, fishing, walking, or even join a book club. Maybe get involved in something local like volunteering to help out with a food drive, or volunteer for Good Will....hell just volunteer to help with any good cause. Who knows, maybe when I get a car again I can make cards and pass them out at the local bars with a number for people to reach me at so they can call me to pick them up and take them home when they feel they are too drunk to drive and make it a free service. It would keep the streets safer and keep people out of jail for driving drunk. These are just ideas that are popping into my head and if anyone else has any ideas as to ways I can make my life more exciting and meaningful I'd love to hear them in the comments or on Facebook or wherever. It doesn't have to be something for a good cause. You can just respond with the different things you do that may be out of the norm that you do to make your life less monotonous and more exciting and meaningful. Because right now I'm feeling like there's no real meaning to my life and I would just like to create a discussion with you guys and gals on the different ways you occupy your time. I'm a very curious guy.
So just in case I haven't made my point clear yet.....I'M DONE WITH JUST BEING MEDIOCRE AT EVERYTHING AND LIVING A MEDIOCRE LIFE! I put that in all caps because that's me standing on a mountain top screaming it to the world. From this day forward I will put everything I've got into everything I do no matter how small or big the task may be. I plan to be that somewhat annoying overachiever that always seems like he's trying WAY too hard to be good at everything he does. While some people may think that is going overboard I've got 15 years worth of mediocrity to make up for and I plan do to that in the only way I know how....by giving everything I do everything I have. Don't forget about the T-shirts *wink*. That would make a great late birthday present or a perfect Christmas present. So in closing I will leave you with my new motto and I hope you all apply it to your own lives as well:
Just say NO to mediocrity!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
What is wrong with some people?!?!?!?
Forgive me if I sound angry in this post because I am angry. Angry at people who are so unhappy with their lives that they do whatever they can to make the people around them be unhappy too. I've been dealing with a friend who is allowing himself to keep being hurt by someone who pushed him out of her life like she didn't give a damn about him anymore. For the past 3 months I've had to watch him hide himself in his music on his mp3 player and shut out the rest of the world and just cry because this girl, even though she told him she wanted him out of her life, won't let him move on and be happy. She'll pretend like she is his friend, like she cares, like she wants him to move on and be happy (which he has) so he'll talk to her as a friend again. But then after a couple of days she finds a way to bring him down and create drama that leaves him crying again. And I know, there is nothing I can do about it and it's not really "her" fault that this is happening because all he needs to do is get her out of his life and he'll be fine. But after you had 2 kids with this person and spent almost an entire decade together it's pretty hard to just forget about them and shut them out of your life.
Here's the scenario: Female and male are together off and on for almost an entire decade. They both have 2 kids together and somehow, someway, they lose these kids. By no fault of the guy (from what I know). But we won't go into that part of the story. She says she's not the only evil one in the relationship but from what everyone else can see when they are around each other we see him doing anything and everything to make her happy and dealing with her bitchy attitude. When they were together and his friend's were over hanging out with them she'd find anyway she could to humiliate him and make herself look like she ran things in the relationship. But he dealt with it because he's truly in love with her. Well apparently a former lover of hers will be coming back into town in less than a year and as soon as she heard this she kicked him out, told him she didn't want him in her life anymore, just out of the blue. So I let him move in with me because all of us were so happy that they had finally split up...even if she was the one who pushed him out of her life. Well for the past 2 and a half months that he's been living with me he's done everything possible (except just letting her go for good) to move on and be happy. And from what we can all see he is happy. That is until she finds a way to crawl back into his life and pretend to be his friend for a couple days just so she can try and get involved in his personal life and create drama for him.
Why am I allowing myself to get involved and upset by this you ask? It's because he's a close friend of mine and he's my friggin roommate! See it doesn't bother her at all that she's doing this to him, in fact I think she enjoys it. She gets a kick out of knowing she still has this effect on him so she keeps on pushing and pushing and pushing until he just breaks down. She knocks him down about every other day and I have to be the one to pick him back up. It's tough because I have my own problems to deal with but his problems overshadow mine and I can't stand to sit back and watch him be down like this. I've done everything I possibly can to try and get him some help since apparently he's not willing to listen to me. I even talked to the girl and told her the best thing for her to do if she TRULY cares about him like she says she does is to just leave him be for a while. Let him enjoy some peace and happiness and cut off all contact with him. Well of course she told me she would and acted like she just can't handle him anymore so she's gonna leave him alone because SHE wants to leave him alone, not because I asked her to. Well this lasted all of one day and of course she found a way to crawl back to him just so she could punch him in the heart again and make him unhappy.
I'm at my wits end though. I don't know how to handle the situation anymore because the ONLY way he is going to truly be happy is if he just lets her go and cuts off all contact with her. That will eliminate ALL the drama in his life and he will finally be happy. But he refuses to do that. He says he's trying but for some reason I don't believe him. So it looks like I will have to continue to deal with this. I will have to continue to try and support him until he just can't take it anymore and throws her out of his life like she supposedly did to him a few months ago. It's extremely tough though when you see a great guy going through crap he doesn't need to go through. But there really isn't anything else I can do but be here for him when he needs me. He's going to have to make the decision on his own to let her go....if he's capable of doing that. So here's to another couple months of having to pick him up everything she knocks him down. Yay for me and BOO for him :(.
Here's the scenario: Female and male are together off and on for almost an entire decade. They both have 2 kids together and somehow, someway, they lose these kids. By no fault of the guy (from what I know). But we won't go into that part of the story. She says she's not the only evil one in the relationship but from what everyone else can see when they are around each other we see him doing anything and everything to make her happy and dealing with her bitchy attitude. When they were together and his friend's were over hanging out with them she'd find anyway she could to humiliate him and make herself look like she ran things in the relationship. But he dealt with it because he's truly in love with her. Well apparently a former lover of hers will be coming back into town in less than a year and as soon as she heard this she kicked him out, told him she didn't want him in her life anymore, just out of the blue. So I let him move in with me because all of us were so happy that they had finally split up...even if she was the one who pushed him out of her life. Well for the past 2 and a half months that he's been living with me he's done everything possible (except just letting her go for good) to move on and be happy. And from what we can all see he is happy. That is until she finds a way to crawl back into his life and pretend to be his friend for a couple days just so she can try and get involved in his personal life and create drama for him.
Why am I allowing myself to get involved and upset by this you ask? It's because he's a close friend of mine and he's my friggin roommate! See it doesn't bother her at all that she's doing this to him, in fact I think she enjoys it. She gets a kick out of knowing she still has this effect on him so she keeps on pushing and pushing and pushing until he just breaks down. She knocks him down about every other day and I have to be the one to pick him back up. It's tough because I have my own problems to deal with but his problems overshadow mine and I can't stand to sit back and watch him be down like this. I've done everything I possibly can to try and get him some help since apparently he's not willing to listen to me. I even talked to the girl and told her the best thing for her to do if she TRULY cares about him like she says she does is to just leave him be for a while. Let him enjoy some peace and happiness and cut off all contact with him. Well of course she told me she would and acted like she just can't handle him anymore so she's gonna leave him alone because SHE wants to leave him alone, not because I asked her to. Well this lasted all of one day and of course she found a way to crawl back to him just so she could punch him in the heart again and make him unhappy.
I'm at my wits end though. I don't know how to handle the situation anymore because the ONLY way he is going to truly be happy is if he just lets her go and cuts off all contact with her. That will eliminate ALL the drama in his life and he will finally be happy. But he refuses to do that. He says he's trying but for some reason I don't believe him. So it looks like I will have to continue to deal with this. I will have to continue to try and support him until he just can't take it anymore and throws her out of his life like she supposedly did to him a few months ago. It's extremely tough though when you see a great guy going through crap he doesn't need to go through. But there really isn't anything else I can do but be here for him when he needs me. He's going to have to make the decision on his own to let her go....if he's capable of doing that. So here's to another couple months of having to pick him up everything she knocks him down. Yay for me and BOO for him :(.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Lazy Sunday
So today is a Lazy Sunday....as is every single other Sunday. The only thing I have going on today besides football is my first day of classes at CTU (Colorado Technical University Online). I don't actually have to be there for class because it's not required to show up to online sessions. The ONLY thing I have to do is make sure to do the required homework and group projects and participate in online discussions in order to get good grades. I kinda like the whole idea of not actually having to show up to class and learning everything on my own. I'm a lot better at learning on my own than I am in a classroom setting. I tend to pick up on things faster than everyone else and sitting through class just bores me because 90% of the other students learn slower and the teachers usually teach slow and that is a bad combination for someone like me because then I get frustrated and just quit. So I won't have to worry about that this time around.
I did ALL my laundry on Friday so there was nothing for me to do this weekend. I took care of ALL the extra paperwork I had to fill out before classes started on Friday. I bought enough groceries to last me until I get paid again this next Friday so I don't have to worry about that either. I don't think I have anything left to do today besides my first class assignment which is just a 2 or 3 paragraph introduction about who I am, why I chose to go back to college, why I chose CTU, and all of that other boring stuff. And for those of you who read my blogs you know I have no problems talking about myself so they may get 5 or 6 paragraphs instead of the required 2 to 3.
As for NFL football today. I'm gonna watch the Cowboys play only because no matter how bad they are I still root for them. But since their season is pretty much over I have decided that I will pay most of my attention on the Browns and the Titans. I love knowing that Colt McCoy is playing well and proving everyone wrong. He's showing them he CAN be a good NFL quarterback and silencing all the doubters. And well, Vince Young is injured but I still care about watching his Titans because regardless of whether or not they are still playing for UT I care about both our former quarterbacks.
So that's it for my Sunday....I had a video I was gonna show you guys from The Lonely Island called "Lazy Sunday" but apparently I can't post youtube videos on here. I'll have to figure out which sites it will let me post videos from so I can start adding them to my entries. Anyways, enjoy your Sunday folks and I hope everyone's Sunday is as lazy as mine!
I did ALL my laundry on Friday so there was nothing for me to do this weekend. I took care of ALL the extra paperwork I had to fill out before classes started on Friday. I bought enough groceries to last me until I get paid again this next Friday so I don't have to worry about that either. I don't think I have anything left to do today besides my first class assignment which is just a 2 or 3 paragraph introduction about who I am, why I chose to go back to college, why I chose CTU, and all of that other boring stuff. And for those of you who read my blogs you know I have no problems talking about myself so they may get 5 or 6 paragraphs instead of the required 2 to 3.
As for NFL football today. I'm gonna watch the Cowboys play only because no matter how bad they are I still root for them. But since their season is pretty much over I have decided that I will pay most of my attention on the Browns and the Titans. I love knowing that Colt McCoy is playing well and proving everyone wrong. He's showing them he CAN be a good NFL quarterback and silencing all the doubters. And well, Vince Young is injured but I still care about watching his Titans because regardless of whether or not they are still playing for UT I care about both our former quarterbacks.
So that's it for my Sunday....I had a video I was gonna show you guys from The Lonely Island called "Lazy Sunday" but apparently I can't post youtube videos on here. I'll have to figure out which sites it will let me post videos from so I can start adding them to my entries. Anyways, enjoy your Sunday folks and I hope everyone's Sunday is as lazy as mine!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Stats
This entry will be short only because I'm currently reading over my stats and I'm noticing the different traffic sources to my blog and ways people find it. Most of the time all I see is how many readers I've had for the day/week/month and at what times my blog was accessed. Then it tells me how many times each blog has been read and the comments left and such. But anyone who uses blogspot for your writing knows all of this already. The real reason I am typing this up is because I just noticed today that there are people actually out there searching on Google for the keywords "A Tireless Mind". My blog has started to garner enough attention through word of mouth and Facebook and just by me talking about it with family and friends that I now have people logging onto their computers, going to Google, and typing in the words "A Tireless Mind" specifically looking for my blog. I never imagined that I'd have any readers outside those who see the link to my blog on Facebook so I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at my stats today and noticed there were people searching for my blog specifically on Google. This just blows me away and motivates me to keep on writing. Now that I know that not only do my Facebook friends care to read my blog and that people I might not even know are out there searching for it specifically I will definitely do my best to keep making daily posts. Only from now on my posts won't just be boring ramble talking about myself and my life. Yes I will keep on making posts like that for those of you who like to be updated with what's going on in my world but I will start to find new and more interesting things to talk about that have nothing to do with me. Who knows....I could be the next Perez Hilton (only a lot less gay and a hell of a lot more interesting). I won't be focusing on entertainment and celebrities though to write about. And I don't want to be like him. I want to be original (if originality is even possible now days).
I don't want to get too excited because having my blog specifically searched for on Google might not mean anything at all. But I'm not going to let that tiny little detail keep me from feeling good about this. So yes, I'm bragging....just a little. But I'm bragging with good reason because it feels good to know that I'm starting to get known outside the Facebook world.
I don't want to get too excited because having my blog specifically searched for on Google might not mean anything at all. But I'm not going to let that tiny little detail keep me from feeling good about this. So yes, I'm bragging....just a little. But I'm bragging with good reason because it feels good to know that I'm starting to get known outside the Facebook world.
Friday, November 5, 2010
And I thought my life couldn't get any better.....
So as I stated in my last blog entry "The Future's So Bright, I gotta wear shades". Well I don't think shades will be enough anymore....I need blinders! I didn't think my life could get any better after I found out me and my friend would be starting our own Graphic Web Design business but boy was I ever wrong. In fact, so many great things have happened to me since then that well, I'm going to take a few minutes to brag about them to all of you.
About a week after finding out about the business opportunity that was presented to me I decided to look online for colleges that were in Colorado so I could work on finishing my Bachelor's degree in Computer Networking. Well I wasn't expecting to find Colorado Technical University Online because I was only looking for colleges with campuses that I could attend when I decided to move to Colorado. The idea of taking online classes to get my degree didn't even cross my mind at the time so when I found CTU and saw that not only could I attend classes on campus but I could get my degree completely online if I wanted naturally I was interested in them. So I requested more information from them and well, the very next morning I got a call from one of the advisers there. After talking to him and him showing me the degree programs and what was available they quickly became my first and only choice for which college I wanted to attend. Their Bachelor's in Computer Networking also throws in some programming classes in with it so that would definitely help when it came to programming and designing websites. So I got the call on Friday morning (Oct. 29th) and by 6pm that day I was already enrolled and accepted into the Bachelor's of Science in Information Technology - Computer Networking program. Then by that following Tuesday after filling out all the paperwork for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and Vocational Rehabilitation I found out that my college degree would be completely paid for by the government and I wouldn't have to get any student loans and no money would come out of my pocket for it! So I start my first class on November 14th and if all goes as planned come the end of November in 2013 I will have my Bachelor's in Computer Networking from Colorado Technical University!
If you think that's where the good news for this blog ends then you're mistaken my friends. After being encouraged by my friend Luke to do some research on getting paid to write blogs (because apparently my writing style is enjoyable, interesting, and fun to read) I decided to do some research on how to go about doing that. Well I found this company that is basically a portal for other websites and companies that need writers to do blogs, write articles, and promote products for them through talented writing and after signing up with them and letting them see my blog (A Tireless Mind) they contacted me a few days later and offered me the opportunity to get paid to use my talents to get paid writing for other websites and other companies. So after I finish the orientation and a few phone interviews and what not then I'll start getting paid to write as many blogs/articles as I want for many different companies. It just depends on how many or how few blogs/articles I'd like to type up because there is no requirement for me to do any at all if I don't want. I'd basically be a freelance writer which is perfect because I write for enjoyment not because I'm being forced to because it's my job. Being required to write and having a deadline would take all the fun and creativity out of my writing so this is the perfect way for me to make some extra money while I'm a full-time student.
Well I'm done bragging about the great things that are happening in my life right now. This last part will be me expressing my excitement at the return of one of the greatest things to EVER be created in the history of food.....yep.....you guessed it right.....The Mcrib Sandwich! Now I understand many people can't stand them and bash them because it's not really a rib and it's not really pork or any of that stuff. I'm not exactly sure what kind of meat is used to make them but in all honesty I don't care! They taste so good that if Mcdonalds made them year round I would weigh a good 50 pounds more than I do now because I'd eat them so often that our local Mcdonalds would run out just because of me and I'd have to drive an hour out of my way each day just to satisfy my cravings. These miracles of a sandwich are only around at the most 8 weeks a year and during those 8 weeks I would have to say I spend at least $50 a week specifically on them....well, I used to at least. Not having a car has limited the amount of times I can make it to Mcdonalds to get them so this year I won't get to eat anywhere near as many as I'd like which could be a blessing because I'm in the process of trying to lose 35 pounds and if I had access to the Mcrib every day I'd never lose weight. But trust me, before they go away for yet another year I will make sure to have eaten my fair share so that I can be sure to have satisfied my craving for these delicious little fake rib sandwiches to get me through another year without them.
Well friends, the time has come for me to end this book of a blog entry. I've got to start doing some research on the many different ways to blog so that I can utilize some new ideas on how to best illustrate my stories and the things I'd like to say. I also need to decide which style of blogging I would like to use in order to create the most interest that way I can make more money. So if any of you have any ideas on how to be a better blogger then I'm open to suggestions. If you think my style of blogging is just fine and is good enough already then let me know that too. I need feedback people! Whether you're a blogger or you just enjoy reading blogs I need to know what keeps you coming back to read either my entries or any other people's blogs you frequent. So don't be afraid to give me some constructive criticism...I'm open to any ideas and advice you have. In fact....I look forward to it!
About a week after finding out about the business opportunity that was presented to me I decided to look online for colleges that were in Colorado so I could work on finishing my Bachelor's degree in Computer Networking. Well I wasn't expecting to find Colorado Technical University Online because I was only looking for colleges with campuses that I could attend when I decided to move to Colorado. The idea of taking online classes to get my degree didn't even cross my mind at the time so when I found CTU and saw that not only could I attend classes on campus but I could get my degree completely online if I wanted naturally I was interested in them. So I requested more information from them and well, the very next morning I got a call from one of the advisers there. After talking to him and him showing me the degree programs and what was available they quickly became my first and only choice for which college I wanted to attend. Their Bachelor's in Computer Networking also throws in some programming classes in with it so that would definitely help when it came to programming and designing websites. So I got the call on Friday morning (Oct. 29th) and by 6pm that day I was already enrolled and accepted into the Bachelor's of Science in Information Technology - Computer Networking program. Then by that following Tuesday after filling out all the paperwork for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and Vocational Rehabilitation I found out that my college degree would be completely paid for by the government and I wouldn't have to get any student loans and no money would come out of my pocket for it! So I start my first class on November 14th and if all goes as planned come the end of November in 2013 I will have my Bachelor's in Computer Networking from Colorado Technical University!
If you think that's where the good news for this blog ends then you're mistaken my friends. After being encouraged by my friend Luke to do some research on getting paid to write blogs (because apparently my writing style is enjoyable, interesting, and fun to read) I decided to do some research on how to go about doing that. Well I found this company that is basically a portal for other websites and companies that need writers to do blogs, write articles, and promote products for them through talented writing and after signing up with them and letting them see my blog (A Tireless Mind) they contacted me a few days later and offered me the opportunity to get paid to use my talents to get paid writing for other websites and other companies. So after I finish the orientation and a few phone interviews and what not then I'll start getting paid to write as many blogs/articles as I want for many different companies. It just depends on how many or how few blogs/articles I'd like to type up because there is no requirement for me to do any at all if I don't want. I'd basically be a freelance writer which is perfect because I write for enjoyment not because I'm being forced to because it's my job. Being required to write and having a deadline would take all the fun and creativity out of my writing so this is the perfect way for me to make some extra money while I'm a full-time student.
Well I'm done bragging about the great things that are happening in my life right now. This last part will be me expressing my excitement at the return of one of the greatest things to EVER be created in the history of food.....yep.....you guessed it right.....The Mcrib Sandwich! Now I understand many people can't stand them and bash them because it's not really a rib and it's not really pork or any of that stuff. I'm not exactly sure what kind of meat is used to make them but in all honesty I don't care! They taste so good that if Mcdonalds made them year round I would weigh a good 50 pounds more than I do now because I'd eat them so often that our local Mcdonalds would run out just because of me and I'd have to drive an hour out of my way each day just to satisfy my cravings. These miracles of a sandwich are only around at the most 8 weeks a year and during those 8 weeks I would have to say I spend at least $50 a week specifically on them....well, I used to at least. Not having a car has limited the amount of times I can make it to Mcdonalds to get them so this year I won't get to eat anywhere near as many as I'd like which could be a blessing because I'm in the process of trying to lose 35 pounds and if I had access to the Mcrib every day I'd never lose weight. But trust me, before they go away for yet another year I will make sure to have eaten my fair share so that I can be sure to have satisfied my craving for these delicious little fake rib sandwiches to get me through another year without them.
Well friends, the time has come for me to end this book of a blog entry. I've got to start doing some research on the many different ways to blog so that I can utilize some new ideas on how to best illustrate my stories and the things I'd like to say. I also need to decide which style of blogging I would like to use in order to create the most interest that way I can make more money. So if any of you have any ideas on how to be a better blogger then I'm open to suggestions. If you think my style of blogging is just fine and is good enough already then let me know that too. I need feedback people! Whether you're a blogger or you just enjoy reading blogs I need to know what keeps you coming back to read either my entries or any other people's blogs you frequent. So don't be afraid to give me some constructive criticism...I'm open to any ideas and advice you have. In fact....I look forward to it!
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