Always Befriend the Bartender

Befriending the local bartender has been an idea my friends and I realized should have been done a lot sooner. Instead we have spend the last 2 years of legally drinking Bartender-freindless. Until now and this is the story behind it.

Recently, my friends and I have gotten in the habit of going to the bar earlier rather than later, and it has had its perks. Since we live is a small town in the rural area of Middle of Nowhere, bar choices are limited and are always bodies to the wall packed by 11pm. For my friends birthday in the beginning of March, we made plans to all meet up at 7 at our favorite spot because we were all super busy to be out late. This was probably the first of many great decisions we have made since.

As we walk in, looking business casual, we see that the place is nearly empty with the exception of a few intoxicated townies. We should have realized where the night was about to go with the meth-addicted looking townie woman face planted and got stuck in the door on her way out. This incident also was a great gateway conversation to the bartender, who isn’t all that bad looking. He ended up using my friends and I as test dummies to practice making drinks for. Did I mention at no charge? Yes, FREE. By 9pm, we were quite the happy patrons. We ended our night around 11 and went on our ways. This was the start to an amazing relationship with our main man, The Bartender.

As weekends passed, we continued this tradition and it evolved. Instead of being test dummies, we realized our service was better and that our bills were A LOT cheaper than what they should be. The Bartender told us crazy stories that took place that we thought only happened in movies told us the bar had their own “Burn Book” for those loyal customers. This was Mean Girls for alcoholics. He would tell us if we were in it, or show it to us, but we will hopefully talk him into it soon.

We also made friends with the other bartender that is usually there when our main man isn’t. We even talk at the grocery store if I see him. Not only is it great for your wallet to be friends with bartenders, but they know EVERYTHING! I could blog some crazy stories I have been told, names confidential of course, and probably make a movie out of it. The moral of my little story is: Make Friends with your Bartender”. It pays off.

Here is the list of reasons why you should Befriend the Bartender:

1. Drinks are cheaper and stronger.
2. You hear the best stories.
3. Bartenders really are psychologists and help with your drunk emotions.
4. They protect you from the creep-o hitting on you.
5. They know what you like and don’t like.
6. They are great people and turn into good friends!

The Perils of Packing

Everyone has packed for a trip of some sort in their life time. You think that with all this packing that we have done through the years we would be experts at it. Sadly, we aren’t, nor are we even confident when it comes to stuffing the suitcase with everything essential to life. I know myself I am constantly forgetting things- socks, toothbrush, charger, or PANTIES. Usually when I forget something it is because I am freaking about about remembering the small details to my outfits rather than the whole picture of what I need.

I think the paranoia of forgetting something stems back to my youth. When I was eleven, my mother allowed me to pack my very own suitcase for the first time. We were heading to my aunt’s in Atlanta for Thanksgiving, we were going to be there for a week. I made sure to find the largest suitcase in my house because you need a lot for a week. As I looked around my room at what I would need I remember thinking, “I need everything”. And by everything, I mean EVERYTHING. The next day while packing up the car my parents wondered why my suitcase was so heavy. I told them it was my stuff and that was that. When we made the twelve hour drive from Pennsylvania to Atlanta in amazing timing. I took my stuff to my room and proceeded to unpack my luggage. About an hour later, it was to my family’s horror that I had packed everything in my room, besides clothing. I brought my bowling pin that was signed by all my friends at my tenth birthday party, my cat snow globe, the picture from my wall, and even the pink fuzzy rug on the floor. These were of course the essentials that I would have needed for a week. Looking back on this incident, it was the perfect opportunity for a shopping spree at my parents expense. It was their fault they let me pack alone right? If only this kind of thing was excusable at age 22 when I really enjoy clothes and shopping.

The reason I am reminiscing about this (which I still get made fun of by my family and their friends) is because I need to pack for Spring Break. There are so many questions that pop into your head when it comes to pulling clothes out of the closet and putting together outfits. What will the weather be? Weather man is never right. What is everyone else wearing? We need to be on the same level. How do people in the area dress? Yes, this is a real thought of mine. What am I going to be doing while there? My trips seem to never go as planned, usually for the better. These are the stresses that all packers go though, I think. Lastly, besides forgetting things, there is the problem of luggage size. Luckily I’m driving. Last time I flew I went over the weight limit, and I consider myself low maintenance (Haaaaaa).

Trying to figure out the best way to pack is nearly impossible. There should honestly be a general ed class where this is in the syllabus. After much thought, I have ‘calculated a formula’ on how to pack best. At least to me this method will hopefully go over smoothly- I’ll let you know if I defeat of perils of packing.

These are the suggestions for you and for me to follow:
-Google the town if you have never been there- weather; attractions; ect
-If you’re going with friends, coordinate
-Take basics. Don’t judge me, but you can wear the same pair of pants for 2 days, jeans also match everything.
-Other ‘bottoms’ such as (skirts, leggings) pair them well with tops
-Roll your clothes, it takes up less room
-Jewelry, put it in a compact case in a zipper compartment. & match them to multiple outfits
-Make up and Toiletries- you don’t need full size, put your stuff in travel bottles, make up can go in your purse
-Shoes- seriously the worst part. I try to make it a 3 pair maximum (hopefully this works this time)
-Technology- I found it is best to just have the spare charger in your travel gear at all times. No worries. Try to use a bag/purse big enough for all your work toys.
-Lastly, try not to tear your room entirely apparent. Unless the work hurricane comes before your name there is just no need.

 

These are some of my tips. Basic, I know. But it’s a start. If you know or are a professional packer, let’s talk and teach me your ways. Now it’s off to pack..

Smile, & Mean It.

A week or so ago I wrote about how I would write down my life altering speeches of advice. Well, here is that first post. What started as a Twitter joke among friends mixed with me trying to get back to my bubbly self (winter weather really brings me down) has been a huge hit among my followers so it is now my first “advice” post. Enjoy.

Everyone wants to be happy, and everyone gets in those ruts where nothing seems to be going right and you’re just, well, miserable. What helps a lot of people to get out of that bad place is remembering these 12 Steps that I am currently trying to live by. With a little help from my friends, especially Samantha Spieller for help on Steps 8 & 9, I was able to compile a list. Here are the steps to getting happy (or staying happy):

Step 1 – Don’t sweat the things people say who don’t particularly have your best interest in mind.

Because it just doesn’t matter!! This goes back to the playground days. You are always going to have the people who just don’t like you, even if you’re basically the most like-able person in town. These people are going to try to bring you down and rain on your parade. Just don’t let them! I know it’s impossible to ignore the negative things that are said about you, but push them to the side and remember the good things. Screen shot them and reread them if you have to. You are a great person, it is their character that should be judge for their actions. Now if your friends start saying things, you might to re-evaluate something in life.

Step 2 – Surround yourself with positive, “go get ‘em” people who also want the best for you.

If you want to do great things with your life, surround yourself with people who want you to do great things. This will also help with making those connections you may need down the road. If people tell you that you can’t do something, prove them wrong. Find your motivators.

Step 3 – Do what makes you happy, not what others want you to do.

There are always those people who are telling you to do things or what would be “better”. Yes, do listen because sometimes they are right. But, is that advice going to make you happy? Always pick the road that will give you the joy and excitement that you deserve. Pick the roads that you want to take, not what is being told to you by the GPS, because they sometimes get you lost.

Step 4 – Be independent.

This is basically straight forward. No one like that clingy person who give you no room to breath. Be able to do things on your own. Even if you have a significant other, have time for yourself as well. You’re an individual, you can do things for yourself.

Step 5 – Find someone who loves you, even at your worst.

You can find someone that loves you when you love yourself. The key is finding someone who loves you when you might not be your own biggest fan. They need to be your motivation and help you through those tough times that you can’t seem to get out of on your own. You should do the same in return for them. Even though you’re an independent individual as said in Step 4, everyone needs a companion. Have someone in your corner even when you’re losing.

Step 6 – Keep your friends close.

Duh, don’t let those people who know you best slip through the cracks of life. You may not need fifty friends, but a handful of them can do wonders for your life. Make sure they are trustworthy and suit your life. Forget the saying keep your enemies closer, this isn’t a battle ground.

Step 7 – Be positive even when things appear to be negative.

Even when the tough gets tougher, look at it as building your character. How you act in these situations can make or break a person. If you look at the bright side, you can easily pull through with your best. People also rather having friends who can see the sun in the dark.

Step 8 – Take things one day at a time.

Now I am not saying don’t plan for the future, but do not stress about things that have not happened yet! worry when they are knocking at your doorstep. Time management is key to success, doing what needs to be done today is the best way to succeed.

Step 9 – Don’t stress about the future.

This an almost repeat of Step 9, but I see it in a different light. If you stress about the far future (such as what is happening a few months down the road) you will never enjoy today. Carpe Diem – live it, love it, abide by it.

Step 10 – Don’t live with regret.

Justify things. Even if you want to kick your own behind for not doing something, or doing something, don’t. Instead, look at it as a stepping stone to what is molding your future. Just don’t let it happen again if the same opportunity arises.

Step 11 – Take the road more traveled.

Not hating on Robert Frost or anything, but why make your life harder? No one likes unmapped territory. You don’t need to live a simple life, but look at how others got to where you want to go and make it your own!

Step 12 – Be yourself.

This is probably the most important step. If you can’t let your personality show through, then you can never find that happiness you seek for. If people cannot accept who you are under your skin, you probably were never actually that great of friends. Be true to not only yourself, but to the world.

Now that you have gotten to read though it, how do you feel? Can you live a happy life by following these steps? Untangle your spiderweb of a life and focus on the right now.

–Your’s truly, j.r.

From Third World to the New World: Africa on the Rise

The African continent has long been thought of as a third world lost in economic and political devastation. The hardship that has polluted Africa dates back to the colonization period when the European colonizers striped the people of their culture and overused the land for their own good, not giving any of the money back to the people. With unstable governments and next to no infrastructure, the world thought that there was little hope for them. Recently, there has been a change in what the future has to hold for the continent.

According to Charles Robertson, a global economist for Renaissance Capitol, he predicts that by 2050 the African GDP will surpass the US and the Euro. Not only that, but the political and social scape will also drastically shift for the better. The growth of population and GDP has been based off the model that India had followed in the 1990s. While many people think it is impossible, they have to remember that we has seen this happen before with China and other Asian countries.

What has prompted this change to happen is the easy accessibility and movement of technology and the amount of raw resources the country has to offer. The extremely young population of Africa has used their accessibility to technology to it’s full advantage, just as we have done here in the US.

The big question is– Why has Africa not developed earlier? While China took advantage of the technological era early on, Africa has been stuck in the dark longer as the rest of the world moved on. In addition, Africa did not have the education opportunities or resources that were offered to the Asian countries by the global community. It is no secret that their leaders in the political realm did not help make their countries better, instead were greedy, lacked experience, and never listed to advice on how to build infrastructure to strengthen the country. During the Cold War, the only interests in the continent were geopolitical. Any presence from a world power in Africa was not there to help, but to have dominance to scare the opposer. Civil war has given the continent bloody and unstable history (such as Rwanda and Liberia). Not only has it made for the continent to be unstable, but also a place that is insecure for Multinational Cooperations to invest in. It would be a waste for a company, such as Walmart, to invest any money into an area that was in constant strife. They would lose money instead of make a profit.

A change has come to Africa. Governments have learned from their mistakes (hopefully) and have looked to China and India as models for their own economic dominance. While they don’t have to power to make one giant reform to cure all their downfalls at once, they have seen that small steps that work together for a specific outcome have been working just as good. Maybe now MNCs can invest capita into this part of the world and soon they will be able to have a strong stable backbone to be able to stem from.

I still need to do more research into what is happening, but just as the rest of the world is doing, I am going to be keeping a close eye on what is going on in Africa. They have the kets to success- young population, raw resources, and a technological revolution- there is a lot of work to be done. I do have my doubts with what is going to happen because of the turmoil that still dominates the country side and the lack of infrastructure. However, I am sure that they are on track to becoming developed (but I wouldn’t call it the “fast track” by any means). It will still take a while to really see what type of future lies ahead for the African countries. Hopefully my doubts are proven wrong because everyone deserve a safe place to live with many opportunities.

Sometimes, Everyone Just Needs Some Reassurance

While I am by no means an expert, nor do I often listen to my own words of wisdom, my friends and classmates often come to me for advice on just about everything. Many of times I repeat the same thing over and over again to the same person or a few. Because of this, I have decided to start a subcategory in my blog and call it “Advice from Me to You that I Most Likely Should Follow Myself”.

Seriously though. I am going to start blogging all my profound speeches I give to my friends on anything from relationships, eating healthy, classes, all the way to the “You Can Do It!” corny speeches. Hopefully I can make them interesting, funny, and actually help someone out on their journey though life. Not only can I send my friends to one source to read my posts (and get more hits on the page!), but I can also read them myself in hopes that one day I will follow it as well.

Remember, I am not educated or have a job is the Advice Giving industry, but I’m sure I have enough life experience to be able to offer my help to whoever wants it. What you do with the advice is up to you, I am in no way responsible with the actions that happen after you read my posts (but I’ll take full credibility for the good outcomes!). This is just a little fun I want to have with the blog, and it will help me post more on the regular. The posts are soon to come. Enjoy!

PS- Feel free to make suggestions or ask about anything!

2013: Time for Self Improvement, Self Fullfilment

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” -Bill Vaughan

Every year we welcome in the new year with celebration, big or small. Every person who watches the clock strike midnight has hoped that the year to come will be better than the previous. Everyone makes resolutions to improve themselves in a variety of ways from health changes, career goals, all the easy to personality changes. Resolutions has been being made since Babylonian times when they would make promises to their gods to return things front objects to debt. The Romans would promise things to the god Janus (what the month on January gets its name from), and in Medieval times a peacock vow was taken by Knights to show their commitment to chivalry after Christmas. While the meaning of a resolution has drastically changed, we still make them in order to better a ourselves. The irony of these resolutions is that people rarely stick to them no matter how much that want to abide by them.

This year, 2013, holds many changes that are about to come my way, just as it is for every one else. The next step in life is fast approaching. My undergrad career is ending a a few short months and graduate school is to follow (fingers crossed). In another 365 days there is no telling where we will be, who we will be with, and how much your state of mind will change. Looking back on 2012, I would have never imagined that I would be where I am today, it is almost impossible to grasp my mind around everything that has happened and what is is going to happen. This past year was truly one of the best of my lives and I want to bring that into 2013.

When New Year’s Eve comes around again I hope to be satisfied with myself as we’ll as being happy where I am at in life. To do this, I made my self a list of resolution ops that I can hopefully stick to in order to be as good as a person as possible. I feel as if I can follow at least one of them, I can grow as a person. I already started my list by branching out to people who I was once close with and drifted apart and to speak my mind to avoid conflict and sour emotions that could cause problems down the road.

This is my list of resolutions for 2013:
I must give people the benefit of the doubt.
Make amends with my past to make the future better.
Think about the outcomes of my actions and/or words before I execute them.
Plan my future.
Simply love.
Be the best I can be at any task.
Look at the best in every situation in order to maximize happiness.
Know when to ask for help when I need it.
Speak what is on my mind to avoid a conflict over bottled up thoughts and doubts.
Be healthy.

While some of these I already follow sometimes, I want them on my list so that I can be better set them. Self improvement is something everyone needs since no one is perfect. The start of a new year is the perfect time for it. Maybe this is why we out so much emphasis on this particular day. Everyone has traditions for the new year. One tradition my family has is to eat black eyed peas for good luck in the new year as part of our first dinner. My family also keeps scissors in oil to keep away “bad juju”, the only superstition they have.

Many resolutions are forgotten by time January 2nd rolls around, the failure rate for resolutions is near 90%. So I am making sure that I abide by mine, hopefully. I am using January 1st, 2013 as my redo button and I believe everyone should aka advantage of the opportunity as well. Best wishes to you and yours.

Facebook Takeover

Social media has been on the up and up for years. MySpace was said to launch the movement followed by its even more popular predecessor, Facebook. Recently, Facebook has gotten some negative press with its battle with Twitter (whom is forecasted to become even more popular that all other social media platforms), when it bought out Instagram and withdrew its compatibility with Twitter. While Twitter and Facebook operate in different ways, there seems to be a heated competition between the two. Facebook is having a hard time converting to a mobile presence, something Twitter is excelling on, and struggling to keep up with the demands of its users who use mobile devices to use social media that computers these days. With the buying out of Instagram, Facebook altered it so that photos that were often posted to Twitter would no longer show up in the user’s TweetFeed, causing Twitter to update  mobile app to be able to have filters and editing capabilities within itself instead of outsourcing. While a link still appears in the Tweet, it is a hassle to click the link that diverts you to another site.

Facebook has changed Instagram since purchasing it. They have created a web presence for it which has many of its users up in arms because it makes it easier to search through a user’s photos and promotes them online, not to mention the selling of the photos without the owner’s knowledge. Instagram’s original use was intended, and used, as a mobile photo sharing app so that a user’s friends could instantly share photos with followers. With the mishap in the changes in the Terms of Use where Instagram stated they would sell users photos to advertisers, people avidly spoke out in outrage against this. Facebook and Instagram recanted this statement and are trying to fix the mistake, or possible bad wording, to clear the air. FourSquare became another recent victim of Facebook’s need to implement its own similar platform. The “Friends Near You” update is making FourSquare irrelevant. It seems that Facebook is trying to adapt itself by implementing different versions of already existing platforms, which backfired by making Facebook overwhelming to any user with the constant changes. In the case of Instagram, many people used it for Twitter for a place to store photos (Twitter only keeps the most recent 50), while Facebook already has albums for that purpose. So why does Facebook need it?

This bitter battle between these social media moguls could possibly harm them both in the end with their constant changes and updates that make them harder for people to use and get used to. It is known that people do not like change, especially if that change happens every other week. The most recent Twitter update (at last in the Apple Store) they addressed the Instagram problem passively aggressively by saying they are addressing the problem of Instagram’s incompatibility.

With the Facebook versus Twitter fight still in its toddler years, there is no doubt that we are going to see a lot more change and battles in the near future and even the death of the smaller social media platforms. Surely, other larger platforms, such as Google, are going to join. Is this is dawn of World War III?

Here are the links to the articles that I have read on this topic, this post was just my own thoughts on the issue:

Facebook Makes FourSquare Irrelevant

Facebook Buys Instagram