Hey semi- faithful readers. I'm currently on vacation with mi familia in the wonderful state of Nevada, specifically the Las Vegas area. You may be asking yourself, "But Ben, why are you not partaking of the many amenities Vegas has to offer, especially with your family?" I'll tell you why- cause I am going to my summer job in a few short days, and I am an obnoxious selfish blogger who just wants to add more material for the internet stalkers and/or federal government to obtain about myself. So, this is day three... I think ... of Vegas Vacation. I'm gonna try to recap it for you and muse about things.
So I finished just recently a Work Weekend for Wah- Tut- Ca Scout Reservation. That ended Sunday. That same Sunday I changed three time zones and pulled my first 24 hours! ( Staying up that is) Okay, it was kinda wonky because I went off of Eastern Time, not Pacific, so when my clock said Three, my body told me I was staying up until 6 in the morning. Anyway, in the past. After staying in the Stratosphere hotel, where insane people actually jump off the top, ( I'm serious. World's Tallest Free-Fall Bungee Jump. Look it up). we proceded to drive over five hours to get to California. Five hours. After being in a plane for six hours. My knee developed a cramp that has yet to go away. That's not even mentioning the freaky canker/? going on in my mouth giving constant pain. It stopped, but that Monday it was so bad I nearly couldn't chew. Oh yeah, Monday. We stopped in a tiny little town called Kelso in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Used to be a boom town, but now its soley the headquaters of the park there. So anyway, we had some lunch and I was all set to travel and then my mom said " Let's go to some dunes. " I was annoyed because previously she made a big show of how much time was necessary. But I quickly accepted it and moved on- after all, it was a FAMILY vacation. We get to the hotel- nothing to write home about. Comfortable sheets though. Then we went to Legoland the next day, practically the sole reason for this trip. I had a semi panic attack- was I too old for this theme park? How old was too old? Would I crush any small children with my gargantuan size? But I was plesantly suprised. I found things to enjoy, and even my kid brother insisting to go on rides he was too old and big for by about 10 years couldn't dampen my spirits. I had fun. Then I managed to walk in the Pacific Ocean. Still kinda cold, but nice to do that with my family.The real lesson came that night, at a fabulous Italian resturant named Gregorio's. Take note. If I ever plan a road trip, I am going out of my way to include this place. This guy donated 100% of his profits to the Boys and Girls Club last year, and is on track to do it again this year! The meal was superb- fresh made pasta ( Not by him, but from an Italian pasta maker) and tender meat sauce, heavenly homemade potato chips ( served still warm from the fryer with Parmasean cheese) delicious homemade lemonade with free refills, and wonderful bread- even put LuiLui's to shame, and if you know me, thats saying something. OMFG!!!!!!! I can't say enough about this place! Our waitress was a great person, humoring my brother with his schemes to get more Caffinated root beer and making suggestions and afferming our choices. We found time to talk with her and when she found out that we were from Massachusetts, she stated that she loved Massachusetts. When pressed, she said that "Everyone out there places so much more connectedness on family and friends. Out here ( West Coast) everyone's driven, but it's all personal. Not much of the interconnectedness you get out there on the East Coast. I love the entire East Coast because of that." I think that perfectly sums us up- but it was humbling. Above all, it was humbling to learn of the differences and how apparent they were. Then, today...Back in the car! Back to Vegas! Wait, we're gonna stop off at a blatant tourist trap ghost town! I was not happy, I have to admit, because I didn't think it was a REAL ghost town. It was restored for the tourists. If it was real, you know, waiver, and barely any maps, I would be satisfied. The lunch before the town made up for it. It was a fifty's themed diner, done really well. Meal was okay. The cool thing was it was located right across from the Marine Corps Logistics Base. I saw tanks on flatbed train cars- having typed that, I will now be persecuted by the government. Then we came back to Vegas, and we saw David Copperfield. I read a book with skeptism of magic playing a big part, so I went in with low expectations. However, I was pleasantly suprised. He is undoubtably a great showman, and also hampered by the confines of the space. He did some nifty bits with making a motorcycle, car and various other sundrys appear and disapear. I liked it. Then we came here. I don't know what the future will hold so I hope it is good things. Keep in touch, stay alive, and have a good summer guys. I know I will.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Graduation, Loss, and Eagles, Oh My
Hey all,
I was sitting here wondering " hmmm, how can I procrastinate more"
and this popped into my head. Since I have this idea floating around, I figured why not give it a shot. I first have a question for you. Which, since no one is reading, will remain a convienent ( and rhetorical) question to jump-start a conversation.
Do you think humanity as individuals attaches unnecessary need to inanimate objects? I ask this becasue this has been on my mind a fair amount. I recently went on a college tour. While there, I lost my favourite green bandana. I had picked this up at a fair down in New Jersey. I bled in it, wiped sweat with it, and generally sat on it all day. But when I lost that, I mourned as if I had lost a friend. It was however a simple piece of cloth. It couldn't comfort me, it couldn't help me, but I still mourned it.
The other instance I had was Tyngsborough High's 2011 Graduation. I saw many of my friends graduate, and I saw many people leave. Throughout the weekend, I had a sense of loss- so great it felt like there were holes in me. As Harry Dresden said " Sometimes there are those moments of sadness that come with intense joy- knowing that you never will feel this happy again, and that time is fleeting for spending with loved ones" That's what happened with me. On one hand, I wanted them to stay, so I could legitimantly point to those people and say I have friends. I enjoyed their company, and I wasn't sure how to deal with them leaving. On the other hand, I didn't want to be selfish and hold back their progress. It was a fine line, and I was straddling the middle of it.
I think, though, that that capacity for love and loss is what makes us human. Even the most sociopathic person, deep in his heart of hearts, cares about something. Parroting social scientists since the beginning of time, love and the ability to form bonds is what makes us, well, us. I think its reall cool that somehow, the default setting of humans emotion is to form bonds with others. Maybe that is just Western thought. I need to get out into the world more to see how it happens. Thanks for listening once again, sports fans.
I was sitting here wondering " hmmm, how can I procrastinate more"
and this popped into my head. Since I have this idea floating around, I figured why not give it a shot. I first have a question for you. Which, since no one is reading, will remain a convienent ( and rhetorical) question to jump-start a conversation.
Do you think humanity as individuals attaches unnecessary need to inanimate objects? I ask this becasue this has been on my mind a fair amount. I recently went on a college tour. While there, I lost my favourite green bandana. I had picked this up at a fair down in New Jersey. I bled in it, wiped sweat with it, and generally sat on it all day. But when I lost that, I mourned as if I had lost a friend. It was however a simple piece of cloth. It couldn't comfort me, it couldn't help me, but I still mourned it.
The other instance I had was Tyngsborough High's 2011 Graduation. I saw many of my friends graduate, and I saw many people leave. Throughout the weekend, I had a sense of loss- so great it felt like there were holes in me. As Harry Dresden said " Sometimes there are those moments of sadness that come with intense joy- knowing that you never will feel this happy again, and that time is fleeting for spending with loved ones" That's what happened with me. On one hand, I wanted them to stay, so I could legitimantly point to those people and say I have friends. I enjoyed their company, and I wasn't sure how to deal with them leaving. On the other hand, I didn't want to be selfish and hold back their progress. It was a fine line, and I was straddling the middle of it.
I think, though, that that capacity for love and loss is what makes us human. Even the most sociopathic person, deep in his heart of hearts, cares about something. Parroting social scientists since the beginning of time, love and the ability to form bonds is what makes us, well, us. I think its reall cool that somehow, the default setting of humans emotion is to form bonds with others. Maybe that is just Western thought. I need to get out into the world more to see how it happens. Thanks for listening once again, sports fans.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)