2.12.2010

Once upon a time not too long ago, I met someone. I didn't particularly care for this person the way a normal human being should, and as such, they are gone. Now, months later, I find that it takes everything in me to not think about her. She haunts my dreams.

That's all for now.

Remember me? I barely do.

Luke Burton

I first came to know of you through Chamberlain's Charge. I was 14 and in the 9th grade, and going to see you at Swayze's to play and share the stage with Nor Am I and others would be the highlight of my week. Your presence was phenomenal, your vocals piercing, and your words provoking. While we have never been proper friends, we were in the same circles, and knew many of the same people. Your brother is a friend of mine and has been since high school.

I saw you a few nights before the crash. Ethan, Zach, Chris, and I were coming home from a late night of skating around Atlanta, and we stopped at the QuikTrip on Barrett Parkway to get gas and watch some footage. It must have been at least 4 AM. You, too, were getting gas. We exchanged pleasantries, did a little chatting, and then you were gone. I heard about a month later that you were in a crash and weren't doing so well.

I found the Facebook group for you and read the updates whenever they arrived. I watched the videos showing your progress, and prayed for you and your family nightly. Your flame may have burned out, but the fire you have set in this life will continue to spread. You will be surely missed, but I choose not to grieve for you. Instead, I hope to join others and celebrate your life.You will never be forgotten.

11/19-11/23

11/19
Wednesday: I get up to go to class, only to realize that it's 2:30 and my second class started 30 minutes ago. I say fuck it. I go to work, make $100.

11/20
Thursday: I get up early to go to class, only to find that my first class is cancelled. I go to Waffle House with other classmates, and have a wonderful chat. I go to work, make $98.

11/21
Friday: I get an email saying I have no class, so I go back to sleep. I dick around until it's time to go to work. I go to work, make $80. After work, I go to Ethan's. We play Monopoly. Allison wins.

11/22
Saturday: I sleep in, and get up to get ready for work. I go to work, make $140. (!!!) As I'm leaving work, I get T-boned. I'm fine, and my car is repairable. There was barely a scratch on his car. He is the at fault driver, and his insurance company is going to pay to fix my baby. I go to Ethan's. He makes foodies and we eat. We smoke some cigars and then call it a night.

11/23
Sunday: I sleep late. I get up, eat some lunch, and go over christmas magazines with my brother until it's time to go to work. I go to work, make $80.

The more I read, the more I wish my writing was better. I'm currently reading Al Franken's The Truth and Kevin Smith's autobiography, My Boring Ass Life. On top of those, I also read two blogs regularly, and they are both musicians. Their (the musicians) writing and stories fascinate me. If I have an extraordinary experience, I can convey it as such. However, I cannot take the mundane and turn it into something exemplary.

The Truth is an account of the second half through the beginning of the second term of President Bush. It is very critical of every choice he and his staff made, and rightly so. However, it is hard to read the book at times because it either gets very tedious or just really pisses me off. To think that this person was reelected is incredible. I was 10 when he was elected, but I knew I didn't like it. 8 years later, I now know why. The Iraq War, our economy, his policy of "shoot first, ask question never" on every subject just kills me. I cannot fathom any other "free" country electing someone of this nature. Al Franken surely has done his job with me with that book. Lies, and the Lying Liars who Tell Them is on my Christmas list.

Kevin Smith's autobiography is a lighter read. I'm only a few pages in, but he's very candid, and I've always been a fan of his work. His movies, blog, and speeches always intrigue me. What I would give to sit down one day and just pick his brain.

I recently finished Bill Maher's New Rules. I didn't know what to expect because I never watched his show, but the book turned out to be a collection of a skit he does on his show. Snarky, but funny. Typical Maher.

Michael tells stories, people pay attention

If there is one about myself that I take the most pride in, it is my storytelling ability. Not in the written form, but the vocal. I have the uncanny ability to captivate people with creative adjectives and sensationalist stories. I received a wonderful compliment the other day regarding this very subject. A friend told me, "When you speak, everything you say sounds important." I regard this as one of the greatest things that anyone has ever said about me.

It reaffirms the thought I have that one day, I will make an excellent educator.

We did it

It took 8 years, but the White House has been taken back by the people.