Showgirls

Today's Topic: Showing Jersey Cows

It might seem crazy to get dressed up in all white clothes and parade around a ring. It might seem crazy to become "cattle hair dressers", teasing it, combing it, spraying it and giving them an essential royal treatment. It might also seem crazy to drive thousands of miles for cattle shows, truck the girls 14 hours across the states to Kentucky, or 13 hours to Wisconsin or stay for a week at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto at the Royal Winter Fair. Yes, it's all part of the game. The job. And the business.

Ever since I was old enough to walk, I was helping my parents show dairy cattle; with a white shirt and pants, a hatband or a harness and a lead strap in my hand. Growing up, I was involved in this culture, completing 4-H projects year after year, and doing my best with the jersey(s) I was showing. Well, 11 brown haired girls, countless local shows and 5 National Shows visits later, I still fine myself completely immersed in this culture several weekends (and sometimes weeks) of the year; along with thousands of other people. 

There is...so much to showing dairy cattle. I couldn't possibly think of every show moment or every single detail from the shows I have been too and sit down to write it all in a single blog. Countless hours of preparation, feeding, bedding, and clipping of hair. At the shows, you don't run on a good nights rest or a healthy meal. Sleep comes in small doses, food comes with "whatever is quick and easy" and your body hates you for several hours up until showtime. But then the day comes. Showday arrives and all of a sudden all the hours you have deprived your body of sleep, food and just plain common sense don't seem to matter anymore. You're instead running on adrenaline and the thrill of being able to show off your prize winning cows to friends, family, the general public and interested breeders and buyers. Ribbons, trophies, jackets, prize money and a picture in the winner's circle; and it's over just as fast as it began. And then comes more work; loading up, packing up, tearing down, etc etc. It's both physically and mentally exhausting. But in between the work, I can still manage to sneak in a pop...or two. Our farm has had our share of success in the showring at some of the biggest cattle shows in the world. This has lead to great business partnerships and a sense of belonging to a community; a community of like minded people who all love the same thing; showing cows. Just like how people show horses, chickens, pigs, dogs, or whatever the animal...it's a unique thing we do. 

I think in my second life, I'm going to be a show cow. A typical fair for one of our jersey cows is like a day (or sometimes week) at the spa; that's how I like to describe it to people when asked what exactly is involved in showing these beauties. A hot bath with soap, getting all your hair clipped, the best bedding and all the food you can eat. Then on showday, more manicure procedures take place; styling that hair with cow hair products, a black show shine added to the hoofs, a flower type spray to make them sparkle, shine and smell pretty and then, a walk around to the people looking on. Oh, and did I mention getting your ass wiped as well? Because that happens too. So to all of that, SIGN ME UP.

And yes you heard me right, cow hair products. A whole line of them. From hair dying colours, to soap and brushes, to clipping equipment, to hair dryers for blowing up and teasing hair...I would need a whole separate blog session to detail the players involved in selling this stuff to we, the "showgirls" consumers. It's a niche market, and they make a fortune.   

Even though I'm not quite as involved in my family farm operation as what I used to be, I love people that still say to me "You're just a farmer." Yep, just a farmer. The business that we are in, is a business just like any other. High pedigreed show cattle can go for big dollars. I have seen people spend up to $100,000 on a single female cow at public auction; only to turn around and DOUBLE their investment. If you have the genetics, the right market and the right sales pitch, you can make a dollar in this show industry that people regard as "just farming." Brazil, China, Guatemala, Denmark, India, Australia, Europe, Uruguay and so on...they all want Canadian genetics. And we can't produce them fast enough. Embryos (or "cow eggs" if you will) are being shipped daily, and literally across the globe. Every farm that is involved in this business, this business of marketing cows, strives to keep up with these markets and to find the next "great one." It's a whole new way of thinking. At the end of the day, the cow still produces it;s product and simple business strategy will tell you that the product is what creates the business. Only showing dairy cattle takes it to the next level. To have one of these prized possessions to call your own; it's honestly an experience like not other. It's so hard to write about it, you simply have to live it. 

So the next time you are out and about or you happen to drive by the local fair, take the time to appreciate the days of preparation that go into those shows. The hours of washing, bedding, feeding, training and grooming that go into those bovine beauties. It's a culture like no other. Call us crazy, but that's the business. And when you hit the business at full stride, you discover how insane we really are. The miles we travel, the hotels we stay in, the drinks we down and the friends we make; all thanks to the girls at the barn. Not bad for a group of big, hairy animals. Not bad for a group of showgirls.              

Views of some of the competition walking around the colored shavings in Kentucky in 2008. Our showgirls attended and our farm was their with a full lineup...it was an incredible journey!

People helping People

Today's Topic: The People We Meet

I have been fortunate this year to have met people from all over the world...literally. My travels this year have taken me to Texas, Las Vegas, all across Eastern and Western Ontario and the upcoming East Coast Canada trip. The family business has allowed me to meet people from Uruguay, Malaysia, Italy and Brazil...just to name a few. There is something that I just find completely awesome about meeting people from around the world, learning about different ways of life and why people do what they do.

I sit back as another year is coming to a close and I am starting to reflect on just the different outlooks of life people have. It's a proven fact that this can affect choices and decisions we make in our own lives and whether we just take it for what it is on the surface or embrace it and try to find a hidden meaning or understanding. Of course, I seem to take the latter of the two and look for a discovery or why I feel so happy talking about these people and sharing my stories with friends, family and even random people who happen to stumble across the Sunday Sitdowns.

When I was playing poker in Las Vegas earlier this year, the locals seemed to start to respect me when they realized I wasn't just a typical tourist who didn't understand the fundamentals of a game that TO THEM, is a way of life. It was because of this that the locals started to share some real Las Vegas stories, to which I was more than eager to listen to. When you start to hear about people throwing away $6,000 thousand dollars only to show up the next day with a smile on their face, you don't feel as bad for losing $20. Only guy told me for ten years, it was his profession to be a poker player, and thanks tourists for allowing him to make a living. I thought isn't it funny how the world works? Vegas and the people made me realize how insignificant money can be. Especially when you take out $200 at the debit machine, only to get two $100 dollar bills and not the usual mitt-full of twenties. In staying within America, the people in Texas were something else. Southern drawl, friendly going, kick up your boots and have a drink sort of folks. Eat until you are busting a gut and living the truth slogan of everything is bigger in Texas. To me, America is almost culturally separated by states, and every state has people that are completely different from the last state you resided in. No two are really alike.

I sat at the table in my parents house today and realized just how many international guests we have entertained over the years. The laughs, the good times, the huge meals...everything just gives you a feeling of pride for the country you live in and what is means to have a country to call home. There hasn't been one negative business deal that we have dealt with (knock on wood) where people from different parts of the world couldn't find an equilibrium or a universal understanding. I feel fortunate that I can educate myself from people who drive down our driveway, to educate myself on the inner working of the world. It's impossible to see this entire planet. Its impossible to meet every face. But when we do, we are connected through our common knowledge of what life is about: Happiness, Success, Laughter and Grasping Knowledge...the list could go on. What I'm starting to realize is that we are all in this thing together, a true people helping people scenario. What we learn, what we do, what we share all becomes a collection of what we stand for and what we understand. Ignorance is no longer an excuse to me, because it really is that easy to say Hello to a stranger, a person from another country, and share a laugh, a smile, a drink or a meal together. Enjoying the people that make up the moments, that seems to be the answer.

It's a powerful thing to learn about a different culture and people that live in it. It's even more powerful to share common interests. After all, isn't that a part of life?

To strive, to seek, to find, and not, to yield.

When Duty Calls...

Today's Topic: Superheroes

I have always been really jealous of Batman, even though I know he's not real. When I first saw the new "Batman Begins" series several years ago, I became even more intrigued and wondered, "What would it be like to be a superhero?" The thought of being an unsung hero has always interested me for some reason. Maybe because it is one of the only noble things a person can do anymore, and not have to ask for anything in return, get paid for it or get recognition for doing it. To become Batman would be a thing of sheer beauty; to roam the streets and protect the innocent or ones who can't protect themselves.

There was a time when the comic book was considered to be a stereotypical "nerd" thing to hold in your hands. It wasn't a cool or flashy hobby to be into men flying around in capes, super human beings with their laser eyes or lighting fast speed and even scientists that were the result of a science experiment gone wrong. I was watching a show on HBO called "Superheroes" and the show dealt with real life people who have taken on the hobby of making the streets safer in their communities. And they are everywhere! One man has formed the XJL...Xtreme Justice League. Another married couple spend their down time together and make it their duty roaming the streets as Zetaman and Apocalypse Meow. The Dark Guardian, a man who calls himself Life...the list goes on and on. Even individuals who have had extensive jujitsu or martial arts training make it their citizen duty to be a silent (or sometimes very vocal) protector. I think Marvel and DC Comics have done an incredible job making the superhero "cool" again by pushing out successful summer blockbuster movies and really getting people back into the newly discovered comic genre. Mix incredible graphics and a director's passion for a project and you can really see the magic on screen when you watch films like The Dark Knight, X-Men, Watchmen, Transformers and Ironman...just to name a few. You don't have to be a comic lover to appreciate a brilliant on screen performance.

I think the thing about superheroes that really impresses me is their alter ego. We all do have an alter ego or quirky thing about us, and that's completely normal. Just not all of us dress up in a costume or wear a mask to show it. In fact, there were times when I seriously questioned myself and wondered what it would be like to become a superhero like Batman. So I picked up a book called "Becoming Batman" which was a neuroscience professors look at the possibility of a superhero. In his opinion, to become a superhero like Batman could actually be possible. If you think about it, Batman does not have any superhuman qualities or strengths. He just has a cape, really good equipment, years of training in martial arts, a really sweet vehicle and busloads of money; all things that would be required to become a man of his stature. You also have to keep in mind the extreme dedication to the process it would take someone...the food you would be required to eat, how to improve your reaction time, the dangerous situations you would be throwing yourself into and the hours of training it would take to become a masked vigilante. We are looking at a least 20 years for all of these to fall into place. And then once you're in the position, realistically, how much physical abuse could you put your body through and still function a day to day basis?

I think at one point growing up, we may have all dreamed (or maybe it was just the guys) of being a hero, sweeping the pretty girl off her feet and saving people from crime, one day at a time. Many argue saying, "that's what cops are for." But superheros generally don't have rules to follow; they are just more interested in preventing mass chaos (which is why they signed up to be a superhero in the first place). If I had all of those things required to do the job (including thousands of dollars), I think I would seriously consider becoming a superhero. It would be the ultimate way to give back selflessly, and not need to have anything come back in return for the service you provide. Even thrilling television shows like Dexter have taken the possibility of a noble man into consideration. Only for Dexter, a question of morals comes into play, even though he is killing criminals and evil doers who pray on the innocent. It is something that I find truly fascinating, which some would say doesn't sound normal. But others would stand up and applaud, because the world will always look for a hero.

5 Must See Movies

Today's Topic: Movies

I've decided to do something a little different on the Sunday Sitdowns this week. Instead of a over-analytical column on a life topic about crazy situations that probably only I ever think about, I've decided to come up with a list of 5 movies that you may not have seen before. They are movies that had an impact on me. While it's easy to come up with a list of classic movies and everyone's "favourite" flick on all time, I have chosen 5 movies that "relatively" flew under the radar when they were released and movies that may/may not have found their way into your movie collection. They are movies that get you thinking. So here it is: my top 5 movies that are hidden gems in the video store and amongst people's collection


5. Man on the Moon (1999)- When I first saw man on the moon, I was in awe. Jim Carrey showed why he can be taken seriously as an actor in this movie portraying the life of the long time comedic wonder, Andy Kaufman. The movie has an underlying comedy theme but at the same time, really makes you think about a life where nothing could seem real and you should never trust what you see or hear. Carrey does an incredible job in this movie of convincing us that he is a different person all together. I think what really sets this movie aside is the acting, inside the acting. Carrey is playing a character, who was full of characters and different personalities. As you watch this movie, you start to question everything and realize what it would be like to be a person who questioned everything, everyday. A brilliant film that will leave you wanting more, man on the moon has to be one of my all time favourites.



4. The Prestige (2006)- This is a movie that keeps you guessing until the very end. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman star in this film directed by mastermind Christopher Nolan (yes, the same man who brought you the Batman Begins and Dark Knight instant cult classics) What makes this movie so captivating is the ongoing rivalry between Jackman's and Bale's characters. Two magicians try to out perform one another in this movie and while the momentum switches back and forth between the characters, the movie takes you on twists and turns that makes you continuously wonder "who will get the last laugh?" Of all the movies I;m putting in this list, this one many people may have seen only because it was released after the Batman Begins movie, and people were hungry to see Bale in anything because of the quote/unquote instant star power you receive for portraying the "caped crusader." If you're looking for a mind bending trip, pick this movie up. You will not be disappointed.

3. One Week (2008)- This is a movie made right in our own backyard. Shot across the breathtaking landscapes in this glorious country, Joshua Jackson plays a terminally ill patient who begins to understand what life is all about. He is diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, with his odds of survival being slim, and his doctors urging him to start treatments immediately. But before he becomes a patient, Jackson takes life by the horns, purchases a motorcycle, and tours across Canada in the hopes of having his own adventure. Sometimes it takes a movie like One Week to bring us back to reality and make us realize how fragile life really is. Although I've never been a fan of Jackson, he pulls of a very convincing character who seems to start playing the cards he is dealt instead of folding every hand for fear of failing. The "narrator"in this movie also charms in with some very interesting asides and "stories from the road", making this Canadian inspired film a top shelf pick in my eyes. It asks the age old question, what would you do if you had one week to live, and the film helps put into perspective what one person tried to accomplish.

2. Barney's Version (2010)- Every once in awhile, a movie comes along where you just happen to be in the perfect mood to watch it. This happened when I watched this movie. I wanted to watch a movie that was unpredictable and one that lead me down a path only to quickly guide me down a side road that I never knew existed. Paul Giamatti turns out a brilliant performance in this movie, and I understand better why he won the golden globe for best actor last year with his portrayal of Barney Panofsky; a man who's life story covers his three marriages and the many ups, downs and curve balls life throws at us. This is the most recent movie on this list, and one of the more intelligent scripts I have seen in awhile. The movie dominates your mental capacity, keeping you awake, attentive and interested from beginning to end. The greatest gift this movie gives is the things in life we cannot control and on the reverse, those that we can. A brilliant comedy/drama (or dramedy as I like to coin them) that you need to see. And then own.

1. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)- A genius movie. In all aspects. A family that couldn't be more different travels across the country to get their youngest to a beauty pageant final that she has dreamed of winning. What the girl lacks in looks, she makes up for in winning charm. Along with Olive, we have a brother who aspires to be in the military, an award winning-on-suicide-watch homosexual uncle, a desperately over-bearing and over-the-top father, a drug addicted grandfather and a mother who seems to be lost in the shuffle on her life. It's a recipe for both comedic genius and a family unit that shows even the most odd ball and outcast family members can still pull together as one and embrace the obstacles placed in front of them. There are so many memorable lines and scenes in this movie that I can almost guarantee you'll want to watch it a second time the very moment it ends. Greg Kinnear and Steve Carell round out this low budget production built on high energy and an entire family who become the most unlikely of heroes. Personally, this movie taught me to not take life so seriously and that in the end, nothing lasts forever. What seems to be a big deal actually isn't and what matters at the time, won't matter anyway. You may not get that deep message out of it, but what you will get out of it is the urge to go out and purchase this piece of cinematic brilliance.

I hope you enjoyed the list and maybe even consider that some of these films are in fact worth a peek. Each of these films has a special way of captivating you while you watch it and I hope for you that these movies make you say, "I love that movie." After all, that was the whole point!

The randomness of it all

Today's Topic: Circumstance

I must have a comforting face that people recognize. It doesn't seem to matter where or when I go but the most random events and even more random people seem to find me, approach me and are willing to have a conversation with me. About anything. For example, yesterday a pregnant 30 something year old came up and started talking to me in a cafe while I was waiting for my food. She literally told me her life story. What's even more interesting is that I wasn't really planning on going into the cafe at all, it just sort of happened while I was waiting for someone. It brought me to a place of realization and that random circumstance and events seem to control my life. And if anything, it's made me realize two things.

The first thing is about trust. People often pressure people to trust themselves, put their trust in individuals and in other people. The world is only as scary as we make it out to be. It's not so much about our own perception, but about the trust we put into someones hand (I never truly realized that until recent, but that is another sitdown topic in its entirety) It's hard to open up to someone and let people in, but yet people will do it, time and again, based solely on trust alone. Trust is in every day situations. You trust that the person making you your coffee isn't going to put anything into it and on the flip side, the person making it trusts that you're going to enjoy it and pay for it. When you get into a cab, you're trusting that the driver will get you to your destination quickly and safely, and they trust that when you get there, you'll pay your bill. It really makes the world go round.

The second thing I realized is that random events happen every day and that you're not the only one who's happy, upset, depressed, confused, energetic, drunk, thoughtful or embarrassed. I'm not the only one who met a stranger at that exact moment, that exact location in that city. It happened somewhere else too. I began to think of the millions of cafe's around the world, the millions of people in them, and wondered if circumstance had led someone else to having the same conversation that I had with a person. Odds would say yes, that patterns and events leading up to moments makes you believe that. You're probably asking yourself at this point, who the hell thinks of this stuff anyway Donnie? I sometimes catch myself thinking the same thing.

I really believe that at some point in your life, everyone realizes how insignificant each one of us is on our own. That you will at some point give up on yourself and wonder why do it all anyway. Why does it even matter. You live and die. That's it. The in between in all of that is just humans walking around, eating and drinking. People spend their entire lives trying to plan for something and finding THE answer, when 99% of the time, it's staring them right in the face. Life is a mess, and people screw up. But I believe that it really is out of our control and we all do our best to interact and find happiness. Random circumstance makes me this way and life is an uncontrollable pattern of events that unravels one day at a time. The sooner you embrace that, the sooner you live.

Let's go crazy!

Today's Topic: Canada's Pastime

The stage was set. The ducks were in a line. The hype was loud. The fans were psyched. All the bars in downtown Vancouver had "Sorry, we're full"signs in their front window. Yes, the Vancouver Canucks seemed poised to take home Lord Stanley. It seemed like the perfect scripted story was going to have the happy ending. All the stats, the players, the coaches...everyone seemed optimistic. Without actually saying it, everyone felt it. The media covered it remarkably. The lead story most nights on CBC involved the Canucks. From the experience I had in this industry, it is a rare thing to be a positive story and be the lead night after night. One win would pull it all together and you could here the "I believe" slogan in the echos of the city.

On the other side of the coin, it was the story of the old boys club taking to the ice. A team hell bent on trade deadline day to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a championship contender. You had to give Boston a lot of credit. They stuck to their blueprint. I also bet a lot of fans watching the Stanley cup finals didn't recognize Tomas Kaberle with facial hair, since it seemed he never ever had any while he was in Toronto. But it was more about the team, the adversity and the game 7 wins that brought them to the most prestigious trophy in all of professional sports.

As I watched the days leading up to the final, I remember thinking what would happen if the Canucks lost. It seemed like everyone was still riding the wave of the Olympics and that Vancouver was the magical city where dreams came true for so many athletes. Watching Canada AM, they were interviewing sports psychologist to determine what goaltender Roberto Luongo had to do and how his mind set had to be in order for the Canucks to have the glorious victory they so desired. How close they were.

Most players on that team may never get that shot again. A game seven in the Stanley Cup finals seems to be a once in a lifetime experience. I still get chills when I think about players lifting the Stanley Cup, what runs through their mind when they finally hoist it over their heads, while the ghosts of past players surround the prize and the sacred feelings of it all. To actually touch the real thing. I don't think there would be a better feeling in sports and few sports trophies can rival the history that the cup has. True Story: In 1996, Mike Ricci of the Colorado Avalanche brought the Stanley Cup to a party. The Riley's attended this same party; a couple who had given up hope on having a child after trying for almost 14 years. That night on a whims and a prayer, Cheryl Riley kissed the cup for good luck. 9 months later, little Stanley C. Riley was born. Like I said, true story.

It's amazing in Canada how attached people get to hockey. It's literally like a drug and who among us can honestly say that they don't enjoy those simple little montages they play before or after every game. You get chills thinking about some of your favourite ones. But why do Canadians crave the sport more than any other country? Is it the thrill and love of the game, the past time of the backyard rink? Is it the entertainment and the fans that drive it's success? Is it the loud sounds of the crowds, the atmosphere of the rink? Or is it because of the grand prize? I think you could answer yes to all of these questions and maybe it's a little bit of everything but sometimes the obsession takes it to the next level.

The Vancouver riots blew my mind. The images were ridiculous. The reasoning just seemed illogical. Tipping over a car because someone let a puck in a net? Setting a car on fire because the hometown team never came out on top? Looting? Really? It was like a damned Apocalypse scene that you see in the movies. And everyone just stood by with jaws dropped. The wow factor. The "are they seriously doing that" looks. Yep, along with game 7, the Vancouver riots will also go down as a once in a lifetime thing. The question no one can seem to answer is why it all happened. I mean yes, there are thousands of opinions and for radio shows across the country, it was radio chat gold. Dig in and make wild accusations, make the biggest assumptions possible and point as many fingers as you can. Some say the NHL should take responsibility and claim the one million dollars in clean up expenses. Others say sock it to the cities taxpayers. Some would argue to bring the ones responsible to justice. It boggles my mind when I look at countries having riots over poorly run governments, war and famine and here we are throwing riots of rage because we lost a game. Now ask the question, is it more than just a game. Does it now become a political debate? Does the past time constitute as an enterprise needing it's own set of city laws and protocols? These are all valid questions and I don't even know the right answer. I do know that hockey does not justify the total thrashing of a downtown, but maybe it's our own fault for giving into the hype and temptation of the thought of winning the best trophy sports has to offer.

So to recap, that is Canada's favourite past time and that is what we cheer for; a silver cup lined with legendary names, a cup that has literally been through hell and back, has seen thousands of homes and has been touched by millions of people. Few get the quote "religious" privilege to hoist it over their head, a dream that almost every child growing up with a stick in his hand dreams of. It's a past time that is enjoyed by millions and a game that shows no mercy for the weak. Vancouver gave the country hope that it was time for Canada to take back the hockey reins and join in on the cup craze. But for now, and as they say in sports, there's always next year.

Waiting. The story of your life.

Today's Topic: Waiting


Do you ever sit and wonder what your life would be like if everything fell perfectly in to sync, just the way you wanted it to, 100% of the time? Life without boundaries or hurdles, no more lines or what seems like frozen time. You would be in complete control of your life, but, unfortunately, you're not and you never will be...and that sucks.

Perhaps it's the idea of waiting that drives us absolutely insane. Some call it fate, others call in randomness or coincidence. The only certainty in this world is that every time we wait, that leads us into a routine or some next phase of our day, unravelling our existence one passing minute at a time. I read an article in Maclean's magazine the other day about how much time the average commuter spends waiting in traffic. In Toronto alone, the average commuter spends an hour or more sitting in traffic, to and from work. That's 60 minutes a day. 60 minutes less to eat, sleep, be active, walk your dog, spend time with someone, read, watch television, have a beer...the list goes on. Now average that over a week. Over a month. And when averaged over a year, that is almost a month of a year spent waiting. In traffic. Absolutely staggering and mildly depressing. As much as I miss the city that I feel transformed me into the cultured individual I am today, that is one statistic I am happy not to be a part of.

If you added up all the time you wait over your lifetime, we are talking years of your life that are spent waiting for something to happen. You wake up, hopefully not having to wait to use the bathroom, hoping not to wait to use the toaster or oven or on those really cold winter mornings, waiting for your car to warm up. If you drive, you're waiting your turn at a stop sign, a traffic light, a pedestrian crossing or on some occasions, construction signs, school crossing guards or other vehicles on the road. How many times have you gotten into an accident or ran over something on the road, and you count up the seconds leading up to that moment and how things had to fall perfectly into place for that event to take place? Or was it the opposite; when you stopped only inches away from an accident, barely missing that person on the bike or running the light when it's yellow. If you don't drive, you're waiting for the bus, the train, the airplane, the subway or the crosswalk. The stops people make, the time they take to get on or off the bus, and then the factors that make them wait. For all those people who get Tim Hortons or breakfast or lunch from a restaurant, think of the minutes you wait in line, the time that ticks by while you wait to be "processed" from the other person on the till. Waiting for the debit machine to say "approved," waiting for the elevator door to close, waiting for a cab, waiting for a friend (who by the way always apologizes for MAKING you wait), waiting in a line to get into the club, wait for drink service and the classics of all waiting, the mother load of all manners; waiting for your turn. Yes we wait, and then wait some more. And after that, we wait. And while we wait, we are waiting to wait. Then there's the methods of "passing the time" as you wait; check your phone, people watch, read, listen to music or just twiddle your thumbs (literally). Do you notice how we always say, "Sorry I'm late." It's rarely "Oh, I was just late on purpose." Are we actually sorry that we are late and had to make someone late or exhausted? Do we really care or are we just programmed to say, "Sorry I'm late." That's a tough one, right?

Imagine again, after reading about just some of the ways that we wait, if everything just went your way and how time would move if we never ever waited. For anything. Those years that seem to fly by, the time that we never get back. The time that we waste every day on waiting for something to happen. Wouldn't it be incredible at the end of our life while we are waiting to die or when we do die, we would get all of the wait time that we have "banked" over the years and then have complete access to that extra time to do whatever we wanted WITHOUT having to wait? Pretty unique concept I know.

Waiting is a part of life, I get that. Maybe I'm just stating the obvious, but doesn't waiting suck? It sucks to wait. Yes, waiting controls our lives, simultaneously everyday to the hope that one day in which we exist in time, we live for the hope and dream that we don't have to wait. That everywhere we go, we could flash our VIP card and zoom through feeling like an important sort of person. I think at some point, one has to ask themselves if we, as a human race, could be a better living, better functioning society if we didn't have to sit around and wait for everything in our life. If instant recognition was possible, would the process still be enjoyable?

I think about all the things living and dead, and I look at lifespans of various things on our earth and our earth alone. There are so many things that we just won't outlive but there are things that we outlive everyday. The fly we just killed, the ant we squashed; superior to both. However, that oak tree that has been on that corner or in that forest for hundreds of years or that house, that museum or that lasting legacy of a piece of furniture or object from history; it has waited for a much longer period of time on this planet, but waiting for what?

What is it in life, in our existence, that we are waiting for? And if no one or no one thing is ever perfect, why do we wait? What are we waiting for? Is there something better? What is the answer? If you're going to realize one thing, realize this. There are so many things that we will never experience and it's all because we have to wait. As much as you may think you control your life and how it happens, we wait for life to happen. Every, single, day. Our patterns and routines are part of large scale sequence of a life clock somewhere that determines our existence. Our start and our end. We sing about waiting for the world to change, waiting on the wonderful, waiting for a loved one or just simply waiting to be loved. Is it hope that drives us to wait? Or is it fate?

In all aspects, we wait for a reason and a purpose. And while you sit there and wait, it just depends on who crosses the finish line first. Or last. However you look at it. Think of everyday as a race you are running. When you finally get to the end, then what? I hope you look forward to waiting tomorrow and then after that, waiting the next day. It's inevitable and unavoidable.

Choosing to Choose

Today's Topic: Choices

I want to take an opportunity to point something out. If you are reading this right now, you are functioning as a human. You have made a choice, for whatever reason, to visit the Sitdown page, probably while sitting down. Let me also say that you have made a good choice by deciding to read this week's post. But since you have chosen to sit down, chose to read, chose to go on the computer or phone in the first place, chosen to come to this site, you have made several choices in the last few minutes. Amazing, huh?

We all have the power to choose to be a success or a failure. They say (and more recently I have said quite a bit) that life is defined by moments. I have more so discovered that life is defined by choices. Every day, we make hundreds of choices. You have your general choices; what to eat, what to wear, what to do and where to go. Our brains function in a pattern of repetitive choices and we get so caught up in making choices all the time that we sometimes forget why we do the things we do. What makes us want a hamburger? Or a salad? How do we decide between the two? People will say "you just know". Hmmm, you sure about that? I'm really going to try to look deeper into this.

The human brain is an amazing thing, there is no doubt. A miracle that we can walk, and talk, laugh, make people laugh, and be laughed at. All choices. We get in our cars and drive, we need to close the door, turn on the AC or heat, roll down the windows or leave them up. Step on the gas or the brakes. Run the yellow light? Look at that hottie running. Shit, I need gas. This song is awesome. Turn up the volume. ALL MORE CHOICES. How do we do all this and not work our brain into overdrive? It's no wonder why we spend almost half of our life sleeping. It's no wonder we all die. We all just become exhausted! We do this same routine, every single day without fail because we have decided this is how we live.

Think about that concept for a second. You are a living specimen on this earth. A walking, talking, eating, choice maker that drinks, laughs, cries, plays, and drives. I think about how many choices we make even when we do something. Go to Starbucks, what coffee do I get, how do I order it, how much is it, what do I pay with, where do I stand to wait, how long will it take to get it. I absolutely realize we can't possibly think about every single choice we make. But one choice affects another. While I have sat here writing this, I've already thought about sex, how I'm hungry, what movie I should watch after this, and how many people will read this.

How do we know how to think? How do we decide? How?

Last night, I chose to drink alcohol. A lot of alcohol. I decided that I needed to let loose, finally just give in and make the choice to party hard. This is something I've done many times before and we have all done that at least once in our life. And if you haven't, honestly, get with it. Not because you need to party and get silly, not because it's the cool thing to do but because it's a part of life. And you have to, and I mean this, HAVE TO try new things. A club, a food, a mall, a trip, a pet, a new friend, a job. Get out and get with it.

I remember the first time I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and I remember first of all thinking, what a great choice I had made to watch this movie. There's a part in the movie when Brad Pitt says it's never too late to be who want to be and do what you want to do. Without regret. I thought to myself....yes. It's that simple. I want to make great choices in my life and be happy at what I'm doing. I don't want to limit my choices. Ever. Even when I'm sick or even when I'm old. The most rewarding thing about life is that we all get the power to choose. My thanks go out to whoever created human existence. Why be mean? Why not choose to be happy? Why not choose to let loose? Why not choose to be nice to at least one person a day.

My parents bought me a picture that hangs up in my house. I call it the life tree picture and it describes, in the simplest of terms, how to live life. And every time I look at it, I think about the meanings in what it says and how to CHOOSE. Choosing to make a handshake mean more then a pen and paper and choosing to count your blessings and thank the powers that be. To look at what you have instead of what you don't have. To smile and to search for you purpose as best as you can. Awesome stuff.

The greatest documentary I have seen in awhile was called Lucky, a story about people who became overnight millionaires from playing the lottery. I thought about all the choices they would have had to make and all of the things that would have had to have gone perfectly, in a ideal scripted sort of way, in order for them to hit it big. The time they got the ticket, the people they passed gripping the same hope in a piece of paper with numbers, the store they went to and the complete RANDOMNESS of it all. The odds stacked against them and for some, choosing the numbers to play. And them comes the choice of what to do with all that money once you have it. Wow. Just wow.

Choosing to choose is the greatest gift of all. In some way, shape or form, I am absolutely floored with how the brain works and how we decide. It really just depends on like...so, many, things. Choices occur every second. Everywhere. What choice will you make next? Will it be a good one? Or a bad one? What will that choice lead to? How will your script go? I can tell you that this writer is amazed and baffled by it all. Thinking about choices has made me think twice about the choices I make everyday. Deeper thought processes that ignite conversation; it really is what life is all about.

The Charlie Sheen Effect

Today's Topic: Two Epic Meltdowns

I remember when I watched a shaggy, out of work, bearded fellow on David Letterman a few years back who appeared to have completely lost his mind. The entire gullible audience bought it. Joaquin Phoenix had slipped into insanity. What was this all about? It couldn't be a prank, could it? He played it so well, it seemed so real. No one thought that it could be possible, to act this strange out of no where. It's what he wanted you to think. Somewhere under that beard and those dark shades, Joaquin was smiling a "gotcha" grin. He Charlie Sheened the audience.

Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck simply did it for kicks to make a mockumentary movie about the whole celebrity meltdown phenonmenon. There is a speech in the movie unoffcially titled the Mountain Top Water Speech which Affleck wrote and Edward James Olmos performed. Below is the excerpt of the speech:

"That's you, drops of water and you're on top of the mountain of success. But one day you start sliding down the mountain and you think wait a minute; I'm a mountain top water drop. I don't belong in this valley, this river, this low dark ocean with all these drops of water. And you're confused. Then one day, it gets hot and you slowly evaporate into air, way up, higher than any mountain top, all the way to the heavens. Then you understand that it was at your lowest that you were closest to God. Life's a journey that goes round and round and the end is closest to the beginning. So if it's change you need, relish the journey."

Fancy metaphors really draw this picture of a sort of inmortality, as if celebrities are a different kind of lifeform in general or a seperate identity from people in groups. I have been able to draw many similarities in this speech to what Charlie Sheen is putting us through right now. He's a celebrity who rose to fame and became the highest paid per show actor in television history. And now he has arguably become the most highly paid actor turned lunatic in history.

Clearly like the mountain top water drop metaphor says, Sheen needs a change and he is in fact relishing the journey he is on. In present day, we now gaze at the former star of two and half men and listen to his rants on YouTube entitled "Sheen's Korner." It's this sort of drug we have become addicted to. A case of the Sheens if you will. The recent rantings about winning and tiger blood are arguably part of a larger issue on the table. But is it insanity? Or is it genius? I'd like to think that the years of substance abuse have finally caught up with the star and like all stars, something goes of in their head where they just snap. And luckily (or unluckily) for the TMZ society we live in today, everyone is there to capture the latest breaking updates.

As for Sheen? Call it a project if you will. Capture an audience by sitting down with 60 minutes, calling in to Howard Stern, making videos on YouTube that seem to exceed high intellect levels, proposing that the audience must first believe that everyone else on this earth is the enemy. Then comes the merchandise. The coffee mugs people take into work, the t-shirts that you wear on the streets, showing off your Sheen pride, the facebook updates, the profile picture changes, the twitter updates...it takes the world by storm. When he finally tipped over the boiling pot, Sheen ripped through social networks like an F5 tornado ripping through a path to ultimate destruction. The fact that you can completely lose your mind, do drugs, party like a rockstar, make ridiculous videos, and then go on a world tour and sell tickets to a show where people can witness your meltdown live...it absolutely blows me away. Bravo Mr. Sheen. Bravo indeed. You did what few celebrities dare to ever do; have a public meltdown and get rich off it. I have to hand it to the man; he knows what people want and what they want to hear.

As some point, I think we need to ask ourselves if we can be held partly responsible for the ripple effects of this meltdown. If we had responded to Sheen with tired yawns, would he have pursued the tour? Did his manager realize that what he was doing seemed like a stroke of genius because we are all just a bunch of numbskulls? Whether it's real or not is still debatable. I'm sure cameras are rolling somewhere, capturing all the Sheen antics that have come thus far. A "Winning" movie is likely in the works and tigers will soon become an endangerged species because of the demand for their blood. Until then, I continue to applaud a celebrity like Sheen who defies the critics, rises above the banter and haters, and gains momementum in an otherwise need-to-know society hanging on to his every word. Perhaps we are looking at this the wrong way and maybe he has us all fooled like Joaquin did. Until I hear the word gotcha come out of his mouth, I'm classifying this case under the sheer brilliance file and part of me is sort of jealous.

Rolling Up Hope

Today's Topic: Winning "Free" Stuff

I love getting free stuff. Or what seems like "free" stuff. No matter what anyone ever tells you, there is always a catch to getting something free. Nothing, especially in this economic state, is free anymore. You have to spend something to make anything, even if it means spending your time. More times then not, anything that you get for free, comes with a string attached to it, an obligation or a responsibility. But the fact that it's "free," gets our attention 100% of the time. At least when I throw myself at the "free"stuff only to be rejected, I'm asked to "please play again." Isn't that nice?

You really have to hand it to the fine folks at Tim Horton's. Roll up the Rim could possibly be the best marketing strategy any restaurant chain has ever come up with. I would imagine that coffee sales skyrocket for the six-eight weeks the roll up the rim contest takes place. A 1 in 6 chance of winning seem like okay odds. However, technically speaking, your chances are much worse then that, especially the longer the contest continues. How many of us go in to Tim Horton's year after year without even winning so much as a donut? The strategy of roll up the rim is almost to get as many people into the coffee shops as possible, getting regulars to bring their friends for the excitement of rolling up a cup, with the hopes and pipe dreams of winning a new BBQ or car. I would like to know one thing though...if someone buys you a coffee, and you win a prize, who ultimately should get the prize? Do you count it as a "gift"? Does whomever made the transaction take credit for the prize? I remember reading about two best friends fighting over a coffee cup that rolled up a car. Oh yes, it went to the courts. Outcome went to the individual who drank the coffee, thus making it her property, and the other had to plea that the coffee "was intended as a gesture and token of good faith." Really? I bet those two are still friends (sarcasm).

I often wonder how fate determines who walking among us gets the stroke of good luck. Lottery winners, coffee drinkers, fast food eaters, gamblers and just ordinary everyday citizens; life can turn around and change for you in a split second. One night you go to bed broke, and the next you could wake up, wondering if today is the day you make it big. So many people hold onto hope like a last resource of life, clutching a lottery ticket like it's made of pure gold or sipping a roll up the rim coffee, wondering if you're one sip closer to making life "easier" for yourself and those around you. Even McDonald's gets in on the free stuff giveaway, by proclaiming that eating their food is more socially acceptable when the Monopoly sweepstakes is taking place. Of course, they make it seem like the million is in reach, by giving every average joe the "Park Place" piece. Oh wow! If I could just find Boardwalk, I would be a millionaire. The reality? There is one game piece world wide. Your odds of winning it are literally in the hundreds of millions. I hate the people that stuff their face and say to me, "You can't win if you don't play!" Actually, I can win if I don't play. By not stuffing fat ingested piles of lard and reprocessed Grade D beef into my body just for the hope that I "might" find the winning game piece, I am winning.

Free stuff is never free. You don't ever win a "free" coffee during roll up the rim. You pay to win a "free" coffee. Ironic right? You don't ever win money when you gamble. You pay money in the hopes that you will win a prize. The word "free" has become the perfect marketing tool to get our attention, in the hope that one day we too can become the person on the television saying "Tim Horton's changed my life." I mean by all means, spend the money, but do it for the right reason (if there is one).

I manage Sidney Crosby. No big deal.

Today's Topic: The Fantasy Sports Arena

If you're a true sports fan and really enjoy watching fast paced games in HD or live in the arena, sports fans like this have at some point asked themselves "I wonder what it would be like to manage a professional sports team." Thanks to Yahoo!, every sports fans gets that opportunity to be a GM. To run the show. To decide whether to play Tom Brady or Brett Favre. To bench Sidney Crosby or put him in your lineup. And the cost? Not a cent.

I've been playing fantasy sports on Yahoo for almost four years now. I've been the GM of a top tier basketball team, fearless hockey squads and even a football team. Through all the up and downs that a sports season brings, I feel like I have learned so much more about the ins and outs of sports with fantasy teams. It dedicates you to the game, following every night of the season on who to start and who to sit. I've always been a huge sports guy, watching all the big games on all the big nights. Yahoo has developed an incredible empire by putting users in the driver's seat of a professional sport. From drafting, to trading, to starting guys day in and day out, working the waiver wire and picking up free agents; the only thing a person can't do is sit down and talk to his players after a great or poor performance. For me, it's almost like a therapy for what seems like a pipe dream and the possibility that I will ever own a sports franchise.

I am in a hockey league with my friends from school and it has become the best way to keep in touch with all of my close friends from my university days. If you want to know how a guy is doing, just check the fantasy league and drop a message on the board. I feel like if it wasn't for this league, it would be almost impossible to stay in touch with 10 of my closest buddies from the college days. This league has become so big for us now that we are now entering into keeper status, meaning we keep some of the players we drafted last year. Yep, we are essentially building our own fantasy franchises. And it is awesome. There's something very empowering about being in control of a sports team. It's highly addictive and it's highly entertaining. Girlfriends don't get it. They don't get why we get excited when Ovechkin gets a hat trick or Carey Price gets a shutout. And you know what? It doesn't have to make sense to anyone but us. When I'm checking my stats or making moves, I'm in my own little fantasy world, hence the name Fantasy Sports. It's a dream to have all the best NFL, NHL or NBA players all under one roof. You become your own legend, your own coach, your own general manager and your own boss. Wins become rewarding, and losses...well, they still sting the same as real life. Bragging rights are huge in fantasy sports, and maybe that's why chicks don't get it either. It goes back to the whole "dominant male of the tribe" mentality and a ruthless battle for a higher position.

If you're a sports fan and you've never tried managing a team, trust me when I say it is a must that you manage at least one. Once you manage one, you'll want to manage two. And once you manage two, you'll be hooked. Join the literally millions of other fans out there who become the most epic managers of their time. Where else can you make the decision on who will be the best fit for your team and who will help you win the sought after fantasy cup. Real players, real rules. Yes, it's just players in a lineup and you don't win thousands of dollars. But, you call the shots. And you can't put a price on that.

Just Be

Today's Topic: Living Life

I've learned to not give up on life. Even when the darkest clouds have been cast upon me, what seems permanent is usually only temporary. Pain is not forever and nothing is infinite. Except maybe wisdom. The best answer for any life experience is to take a lesson from it. Yes, you can label today's sitdown under the "slice of life" category.

In the last few months, I've really gone through some deep thought processes. I've talked to a lot of people, young and old. I've watched a lot of movies, listened to a lot of music and even traveled to different parts of North America. Through all of this, I've discovered that "living life" is really the only option anyone ever has. When I say living life, I mean just...live. Enjoying all the simple, yet awesome, things life has to offer. The simplicity of singing a song when no one is listening, eating chocolate, a perfect fitting shirt, your hair just the way you like it, a good meal that has more fat content then what you're "suppose" to intake, a really good piece of fruit, a simple text from a friend and the best parking spot in the place. Yep, all the simplicities make for a great day.

A friend of mine often jokes about "just living your life." It became a running joke thanks to the song "Live your life," but I do know that deep down he means it and I understand what he means when he says it. Some people just have a natural zest for the life they live and the people they interact with. Some people, when you say their name, people just laugh or smile. You know why? Because they live their life. And I think maybe deep down, that's what living your life is. It's so easy to get caught up in the negative things in life, so easy to fall in a hole or a rut and be stubborn and refuse to move on. But life doesn't stop. Ever. The sun rises and the sun falls, and you live your life in between those hours, defining your character and human existence.

I'm reading a book right now called "How We Decide," which a fellow blogger and friend of mine posted about in his blog awhile back. His blog inspired me to pick up this book, as he did a good job selling it in the words he wrote and it seemed like the perfect therapeutic type of book I needed to read. The book talks about the choices we make everyday, and what it would be like if we couldn't make a simple choice. How praise works on children and depending on how we word things, how that affects our choices that we make. The average person makes hundreds of choices everyday, from the very moment of whether we decide we are going to get out of bed or not. And how funny that our choices end in completing the circle, when one of the last decisions we make for the night is when we are going to close our eyes and fall asleep. Choices define us, and make us who we are.

No one ever wants to make a bad choice. It's human nature to want to be happy all the time, to strive for perfection and the pursuit of happiness. Somewhere along those lines, we hurt people. maybe not intentionally, but we are human, and it happens. It takes a bigger person to realize a mistake when they make one, and it takes an even bigger person to apologize for hurting someone down to their core. Bad choices are the result of a person saying "Hey, I'm human." Emotions run high when we make choices, but they seem to run even higher when we are affected by a negative one.

Regardless, good or bad, everyday you live becomes a memory. There is no going back in time and changing what has been done. Everything that you have done rests up to this moment in time. Every minute that you have lived brings you one day, one minute and one second closer to your destiny, your calling, your empire and your legacy. We all become but memories in the world, a name on a stone, a thought in the wind. Nothing is left behind, only the sound of our voice and the "remember when" stories that people tell from time to time.

Ask yourself, are you really, living life? Are you getting the most out of everyday and every year that passes by? Can you say that underneath all the stress and misery that people go through, you can still smile at the end of the day, knowing that you lived the day out? The best you could? I hope for your sake, that answer is yes. I hope that you can look back on all the days that pass you by, and remember that you didn't let a moment slip when you didn't at least learn something new, something exciting or something challenging; even if it was about yourself.

You are the legacy you leave behind. Choose well. Choose often. Choose to live. Life is what you make it.

Puff Puff

Today's Topic: The Smokers Culture

Who knew that a little white rolled up stick of tobacco inhaled by millions everyday could have control over people's lives. Cigarettes and tobacco has been around for centuries but has had a complete revolution of cool. It used to be a sign of awesome, all the actors in the movies smoked and all the icons of the world would be more than willing to pose with a cigarette in their mouth. Everyone needed to do it. But at some point, the clouds of smoke made things hazy and someone decided that smoking was no longer cool. It was on that day that Joe Camel became Joe Chemo. The cigarette became the sin stick. The surgeon general stepped in and plastered the packages with horrific images and sad looking children. All at once, smoking was no longer cool. Everyone needed to butt out.

That cloud that the smokers culture puffed out everyday was viewed as an outcast, a taboo and a "dirty little habit." Some smokers say it's just the habit of having something in your hand. It's the motion of smoking that gets you addicted, not the ingredients in the cigarettes themselves. Others will argue that it's the stereotypical 9-5 'ers who need that smoking break to escape the office and cubicles they work in. Some would say that they do it to fit in, that smoking still can be cool depending on the people you are around. Others just don't care. And when someone says, "Didn't you know that smoking can kill you?" their response would be something along the lines of "So can getting hit by a bus" or "We're all going to die anyway."

Myself, I'm interested in the generation divide, how people young and old are still picking up cigarettes. For some, it starts in high school, kids sneaking cigarettes from their parents or getting their older siblings to buy them from the corner store. If you grow up in a house filled with smoke or your parents are smokers, chances are that it becomes more socially acceptable for you to join in. I often wonder when people buy cigarettes if they ever do look at the labels and think about just exactly what they are inhaling into their bodies. I'm curious if smokers ACTUALLY like what they are inhaling. Does it taste good? Is it that calming to your nerves? I think I need a smoker in the culture to explain this to me. Is it more addiction that anything? But if you don't like it, and it doesn't "taste" good, then why do it? Is it that impossible to quit? Is it actually that soothing? By no means am I trying to be rude, I'm just ignorant to the fact that I just don't understand it.

Tobacco is still a billion dollar industry and people still make a living being tobacco farmers worldwide. It's an industry just like any other, creating jobs for people to support one another. The tobacco farmers have their devoted smokers to thank for giving them such deep pockets. Does it not seem ludicrous to then turn around and plaster warnings on packages to warn people about the dangers of smoking? Yes, science has proven that cigarettes kill people and yes science has proven that cigarettes can cause cancer. But alcohol causes death, where are the warnings on those bottles? Does it not seem just as plausible to post pictures of wrecked cars from people who drank too much whiskey, decided to then drive a car after that and ruin their lives or the lives of others? What about fresh produce? Does it not seem just as plausible to make posters in groceries stores that say, "Just so you know shoppers, these heads of lettuce might have been sprayed by cancer causing chemicals to make sure there are no bugs in your food. Eat at your own risk." I really don't think I'm being irrational. Hopefully you can see where I'm going with this.

Maybe smoking gets such a bad rep because it's not convenient. When it's -25 outside in blowing winds, you can still see the cool puff of cigarettes going on around you and you look at the people and think one of two things: 1. That is just crazy or 2. Those people are so sad. I don't smoke cigarettes. I have smoked cigars but I've never puffed on anything else. So my question is simple, why does smoking get so much negative attention compared to any other habit that human beings have? Why so much hate? Is it because of all the lethal ingredients that are found in the sin sticks? Is it because when you tell someone they "shouldn't do something" that they are more likely to do it anyway, thus creating more wealth for cigarette companies worldwide?

I can't find a reasoning for some of this logic. But I guess talking about at least gets me thinking that smokers really are shunned by a lot of people in society. Personally, I will tell you one thing that drives me absolutely insane about smokers. I find it incredibly annoying when two people are standing outside, they approach me and ask if I have a lighter. Just a thought, but if you have habit like smoking, and you are spending that much money on cigarettes, wouldn't it just make SENSE to put a lighter in your pocket or purse, knowing that at some point you are going to light up a cigarette? Instead of relying on the general population to help feed you your habit? Matches are free at a lot of restaurants folks and are pretty much readily available at every gas station in the world. And after I say no I don't have a lighter, don't re-question me by saying, "Are you sure you don't?" Ridiculous.

There are many things I won't ever understand about people who smoke, but there are just as many arguments that support my reasoing to make me think that smokers get an unnecessary amount of negative attention towards them. Don't try to read into it people. Don't pass judgment. And to all the experts on offering your suggestion on how to quit smoking, honestly, just let them be. People quit things on their own terms, not because they need to be forced to do something. Remember, it's a habit, a culture and a way of life for many.

Pour me another

Today's Topic: Alcohol Culture

The pint, the bubbly, the fizz, the booze. Getting tipsy, getting hammered, getting tanked, getting wasted, getting annihilated, getting sh*tfaced, getting f*cked, getting drunk. The most common denominator of all social gatherings. As Homer Simpson once put it, Alcohol can be the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems. Yes, getting that liquid courage at the bar to talk to that cute girl is an ego booster. Some say that Jack Daniels real name is actually John...if you know him well enough. The wine-os in the crowd will tell you that class is the mask underneath the bottle.

We all experience it, especially in this day and age. There are so many emotions mixed into the culture of alcohol. Anger, sadness, happiness, love, depression and a sense of self worth. All of these emotions play to our personality and the slip of our tongue. It's true what they say, you really find out a person's core when you get a few pints or shots into them. We all have our so called "kryptonite" in alcohol that makes us go wild and lose all intuition. For some, it's the gin or the rye. Maybe it's the wine or martini. Maybe even that golden tequila. Some types of alcohol just have our number. I find it fascinating to be a sober person at a bar or pub and watch how people interact with a drink in their hand. The stereotypical jock picking up the hottie, the loud girl who hasn't had "girls night" in months, the one dude who has more drink on his shirt then in his glass, and the play it cool bar star who knows everyone.

It's almost as if you take on a new identity when you take a drink. People everywhere have their reason for drinking. Some say that alcohol becomes the ice breaker in getting to know your surroundings. It is the most frequently asked question: "Can I get you a drink?" A simple sign of courtesy. Who says no to that? Give me one good reason. If someone is polite enough to ask you, SAY YES. Even if the drink is just the water. Let me get you a drink is code for I want to have a conversation with you. Very rarely will someone just get someone a drink and then say "Okay... well, see ya!" The stories I could tell from the days at the bar would have you rolling on the floor laughing. We all have them. I love to get into some shenanigans and tom foolery when I get a few into me. Nothing extreme (usually) but those who know me, know I love to go out and party with two drinks in my hand. I don't do it often, but when I do, I do it like anything else in my life-all the way.

Our culture lives in a unique situation with alcohol. Unique in the fact that you have to be nineteen to do it legally and twenty-one in the united states. I remember so many people always arguing about the legal age, why it is so high. The answer- we punish ourselves with alcohol. Nine times out of ten, we don't drink just for the sake of drinking. We drink to drink. We drink to party. We drink to take the edge off. No matter how you look at it, it is dangerous in what we are doing to our bodies. In a place like Europe, the legal drinking age is in the teens. It's a whole different world across the sea. Most people don't get why you can buy a beer out of a vending machine. It's because people over there are brought up on alcohol. Parents sit down, have a glass of wine with their kids and enjoy food with their beverage. Sip vodka and eat bread. Sip vodka and eat handfuls of almonds and nuts. For North Americans, most would just love to have an intervenes tube hooked into us, as to not delay the inevitable of being drunk. Now I'm not saying ALL people go out and get completely wasted ALL the time. Even I don't do that. Some people just love to go out and dance or listen to live music, sipping on a beer or as the party animals put it "nursing" their drink. You know what, nothing wrong with that. Some people enjoy the gin and tonic with a good conversation. One or two is sufficient enough. Regardless of the drink, people always want the "cheap drink." In my opinion, I think that's mainly because we don't have a strong appreciation for alcohol. We don't care about the process, we just want the product. And we want it for as cheap as we can get it. Just remember that someone serving you is a cost in itself. Include that in the drink next time you order. Remember that alcohol is a service being rendered. I am currently taking my bar tending course to get my mixology degree and I am amazed at my new found appreciation for alcohol. Bartenders who get schooling on this stuff discover not only what mixes well with what, but why it does. Learning the fine art of alcohol is pretty invigorating. When you learn about what alcohol actually is and why we consume it, it becomes a whole new game to play.

It's everywhere. On every street corner, in every home, on the radio, the billboards, the t.v, you can't deny or hide from it. I think the important thing to keep in mind with alcohol is that yes, it is a drug. Know the limit of how much you put into your system. Also, try not to drink alone. It's just common sense that beer tastes so much better when you have someone to drink it with. We all have that memory (or lack of) of that one night when it got the best of us. Or we look back on the best times with friends to the nights we don't remember. The poison just tastes so good, that we do it all over again.

Raise your glass and propose a toast.

Do you ever really LOL?

Today's Topic: Laughter

We live in such a serious world. Crime, poverty, human suffering, war, disaster, end of the world theories, loss, death, etc etc etc. I firmly believe that it is because of this that people do not laugh as often as they should, or at least never seem to. People rushing around day to day; I guess that's why they call it the "human race." Think back and ask yourself, "When was the last time you actually just stopped to laugh?" Or actually LOL?

If you look closely, the expression of happiness is everywhere, even behind the more serious of issues. It's just whether we take part or not that makes the difference. Myself, I try to laugh at least once everyday. My fix: Michael Scott from The Office or Kramer from an old rerun of Seinfeld. If you were to actually look up the meaning of laughter, one might suggest that laughter "helps humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and provide an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group—it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. When you laugh, 90% of the time others laugh because they either agree with you (or are laughing at you). These can both be equally funny at any given time or situation.

I got my parents tickets to the Second City for Christmas, hoping that they would enjoy what I cleverly coined "the gift of laughter." My sister also tagged along, rounding out the group that was set for a much needed night out. After having a long week, with only a seldom laugh here and there, all of my emotion was released on Saturday night. If you haven't been to the Second City, you have to take in their live theatre. By the end of the night, my sides hurt so bad from laughing for nearly two hours straight. It was the facial expressions, the sexual innuendos, the constant barrage of inappropriateness and just the writing in general that makes this place a comedy heaven. These people are absolutely hilarious. If you ever need a night out of just laughter, this is the place for you.

Life is a serious thing, I get that. However, laughter makes the world we live in so much more livable. I think about how lucky we are for the culture we live in, to laugh and not be judged or deemed "inappropriate to society" and for the many times that we laugh, even at the most awkward times. But as a species, we are also pretty sick minded. You Tube any video about "man falling down stairs" or "lady getting hit with broom." Maybe even "guy getting slapped in the face," and 10 times out of 10, you can't help but at least smile. Why is it that we find these things so funny? Is it the shock factor in that "I can't believe that just happened" moment? What about swear words? Who told everyone that it was okay to laugh at swear words? Who made it funny? Was it because it was so taboo?

Why is being "dumb" funny? I think what makes shows like The Trailer Park Boys overnight success stories. They are actually brilliant at being dumb. Great acting is the source for their humor. Anyone of us can be a jackass like them, but it's being good at it, so to speak, that makes for humor in it's truest form. The movies, the television, the morning radio shows, yes even the everyday labelled "idiots" walking among us; it all brings joy and laughter into our lives. It's funny how laughter goes in revolutions. The classic water cooler joke is easily replaced by the funny email forward, which was replaced by the You Tube video. The silent Charlie Chaplin mishaps was replaced by the married couple sitcom scenarios, followed by the bugs bunny and tweety show sound effects laughter, taken over by general shows about "nothing," followed by human pain with America's Funniest Home Video's as the source for laughter.

I am able to draw a simple conclusion: Idiocracy makes the world go round. We feed off stupidity like it's a drug. The dumber they are, the more times we'll slap our knee. It's messed up, but it's undeniable. Yes, it certainly is a funny world we live in. There is no escape from it. So go ahead; burst into laughter! The sound is contagious. Make the joke, watch the movie, or tape it for all your friends to see. Accept it, live it, and think about what a greater world we would live in if we could just laugh a little bit more everyday.

The Meaning of Friends

Today's Topic: Good Friends

There are few things in this world that make you happier then good friends. A good conversation, a good laugh and just a general get together filled with good times...it's what makes the world go round. Friends help you when you're down and pat your back when you succeed. When you are in a time of need and you lean on people for support, that's when you really find out who your friends are.

People walk into and out of your life all the time. Some friends stay awhile, others check out early. Some friends you grab coffee with, some friends you grab a beer with. You might stay up late, watch you tube and laugh your ass off or you might just watch a movie at home, enjoying the other person's company. It's amazing what we will do for others and what others will do for us. You're no where without friends. Period.

I can honestly say that I finally understand what it means to have good friends, and surrounding yourself with good people. This past weekend, one of my best friends flew home for his birthday. It's one of those friendships that even though you are both doing your own separate thing in your own separate life, seeing them once reconnects you and the past you shared, followed by laughter and a cold beer. There really is no greater feeling then seeing a familiar face that you have missed. I also was fortunate enough to see some University friends this weekend for a friends going away party. It was her event that brought us together; a rare occurrence for so many friends from school to have nothing planned but this party. It was a chance to reconnect and catch up and I was talking to people I hadn't seen since June 2009, when we stepped across the stage at graduation. Within minutes of seeing them, it was like we never left, and it brought me back to a simpler time when life seemed so care free. I realized that its true what they say; your college and university days are some of the best years of your life. You're with a group of people who all have the same goal: trying to better themselves. And you all share the same passion. For us, it was media studies. It was journalism that brought us together. Without trying to age myself or sound like a broken record, you look back at memories in your rear view mirror and you smile or reminisce of days gone by. To each of us, we opened up our lives for four years, partied, and shared unforgettable moments. And for each of us, we all look back and say, "Wasn't that just awesome?" The pictures tell the stories.

That is what life is all about. Surrounding yourself with great people that you can communicate with is the reason we are all here. Deciphering meanings and messages is something we do together. Opinions and voices are something we begin to understand. Yes, we have our favourites and it's finding the people who are saying the same thing you are that creates bonds and solidifies friendships. Friendship is the greatest gift to have and give. Never turn your back on it.