smile :)

SMILE :) why? because you're prettier when you do! or because it's easier than frowning, or simply because of that age old reason, because you're alive and you can. Suppose Michael, Heath, or Ed wish they could one more time? Then why not throw one on just for them, you know Billy would have!

Gotta find somethin funny to crack one? How's this for ya http://www.hulu.com/watch/82783/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-new-state-quarters#s-p9-sa-i1 or perhaps http://www.hulu.com/watch/76270/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-celebrity-survey-part-1#s-p13-sa-i1 is more your style (this one with kirsty alley is super bueno http://www.hulu.com/watch/76264/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-celebrity-survey-part-2#s-p12-sa-i1).

So maybe it's just not a good time for smiling, life has ya down and your future holds nothing but bleak miserable lameness. Well then it's time to take register of what you've got to be happy about, go ahead and write it down in a "gratitude journal", sounds lame I know but what do you have to lose?! From the words of a non-believer, you will be pleasently surprised what power browsing pages or even just a few bullets of things that made you smile will do!

The most important thing to remember about your promblem's is just that, they are YOUR problems meaning you posses them, never the other way around. You control your own mind, schedual, physical and mental being, so everything in YOUR life is essentially what you make it. The world is what it is, whatever that may be, because of your take on it. So why not make a take that's a little lighter on the doom 'n gloom?

Almost everything in todays world is controlled and judged by perspective. Who's right or wrong in the senate, was the man a glorious freedom fighter or a loathsome terrorist? Is your perfection full of new people or void of everything but yourself? Do you have it hard or does the guy living in a box under the bridge? Do you feel for his lack of comfort or does he feel for your daily grind? Everything is perspective, mind over matter. And forunately, if you try hard enough, maybe you can alter your perspective a little. Fortunately, however we came about being here, we came with a little extra in between the ears and it's that bit that we can use to alter ourselves however we see fit. This quote puts it well:

"The happenings in the world are neither happy or sad, the world we live in is in our head, we form thoughts and emotions that affect our personality, mood, and well being, we are in power of these thoughts and emotions, so why not make them all loving and kind?".

Think your problems are too big? inescapable you say? Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjMEMgLAmbE&feature=fvw. Look what there is out there. You think you can't leave things behind and be what you want? Then let me end on this one last semi-inspirational quote:

"Whether you believe you can or can not, you are correct"

frustration station: quality over quantity? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills

As the summer wears on I keep finding myself in the same dilemma. Anytime an activity is planned whether it be a night float, camping trip, boating at the lake or whatever it may be the result tends to be the same. Around a third of whoever was invited shows up with another third calling(or more likely sending A text) to cancel and the final third going M.I.A. This is assuming it's a polite group and any call to cancel.

What the booF? At first I figured it was just my lack of charisma and natural charm so I decided to step back from the wheel for a bit and see what the rest of my friends could muster. Chadwick, king of all things social and charismatic took the next turn organizing a massive(30+) guest list for a 3 day boating and camping expedition to the local waterhole. He solely toiled over phone numbers and lists of guests whilst the rest of us invited whomever we bumped into whilst imagining a grand spectacle of boat(s) towing away at tubes and skis, mass' socializing around campfires till the wee hours of the morn, and ne'er a dull moment.

Failure ensued. However I use the word failure loosely. In the aforementioned ways of mass' and grand spectacles we fell slightly short. There were in total around 10 of us there for the full stint. And while it could definitely be categorized as a letdown and failure, I firmly disagree. While I won't deny feeling a bit blue over it, after seeing the size of the guest list I was not-so-secretly stoked for this epic congregation, I had a hell of a time and it further expanded not only the amount of those I hold close but also my undying loyalty and love of those that I already surround myself with.

Previous to seeing it happen I definitely harbored my own doubt over how things would go. Not because of Chad by any means, au Cointreau, I hoped with every inch of my being that Chadwick would be the savior of summertime extravaganzas, and that it was simply my own lack of "cool" that had caused the failures of yore. But only when the time actually rolled around and the people didn't was it that I realized I couldn't hold back my Cheshire cat "I told you so" grin when I looked at Wick. It would seem when it comes to being invited to these sorts of things people are just A) inconsiderate B) lazy and/or C) indifferent. Now with that being said I realize things like this need time to develop and people need time to get time off to do them and sometimes people are just busy or don't feel like it when it comes down to it. But that can't be the case, too many of these things are so very easily avoidable and these excuses run dry long before the opportunities do. Not to mention at least this time around we gave people a couple weeks notice.

Having actually talked to and invited so many people face to face I still cannot explain why it is that people my age seem to be so intent on avoiding either new places, new things, or just short term plans. I know I'm a little more open and random than most people but I mean come on now people! Sun, beach, boats, fun...certainly someone can explain to others why I like these things right?!

Anywho, I finally digress. As I said, all in all it was a great trip and one that will hopefully be repeated soon. But the problem still lingers, when faced with The Outside Lands Festival in S.F.(pearl jam, incubus, DMB, beastie boys...) plans were made only for those who created them to fall through. One super sweet 1-2 week long boarding road trip from Seattle to San Diego has been sitting around waiting only for someone else to actually be willing AND able, a feat I thought very accomplishable when I created it 2 years ago. 4 best buddies moving out and getting a tight domain together now withers to 2 buddies. These are the things I face and wonder why? Well for now I'll chalk it up as a motivator for further expanding my base of friends and traveling solo to strengthen myself and to try and find someone with the will and imagination to match my own. In the mean time, DON'T FORGET THE RULES!!!

#1: NEVER REFUSE AN OPEN INVITATION

#2: NEVER OUTSTAY YOUR WELCOME

#3: JUST TRY TO OPEN YOUR MIND AND TAKE IN THE EXPERIENCE, AND IF IT HURTS A LITTLE,WELL IT'S PROBABLY WORTH IT!!!

Ya know what really grinds my gear? : Patriotism Edition!

Well obviously first off I would like to wish anyone reading this a Happy Independence Day / 4Th of July! With that being said, HOW IN SKELATOR'S STAFF IS IT ALREADY THE 4TH OF JULY?! Every time I think I've come to terms with the speed that time passes, I find myself waking up 25+ days down the road! WTF.

Anywho, like anything else, there's a bright side to this. With every moment that passes I come yet another step closer to fulfilling my destiny of moving out... that and my not so imminent future downfall, which I suspect will inevitably be caused by my own doing. AAAnnywho, since I first made the decision to inhabit my own abode, I have been producing personal goal lists at an astronomical rate. It became fairly evident from early on that I really wanted myself to commit and use having my own place to take myself to the generic and stereotypically named "next step".

You see to me moving out really means moving on and moving up, pretty much that this event will be the means for me to become whom and what I want. While I do both love and treasure my current home, (Bend, and more importantly my family) I cannot live there without being tormented by the Ghost of Woodsington past. Fore I can, most unfortunately, tell you without a whim of doubt that I WAS a slacker, a pile if you will, with a will power and fortitude that makes Kirstie Alley look like Gandhi. Fortunately, the past few years have been ones full of self-realization and self-appointed improvement, and at this point in time I am proud to announce my However, a long earned reputation cannot be overturned in a single day and, as is the situation here, I still sometimes face blatant doubt and skeptisism whenever being left in charge, being given chores, borrowing items, etc... The worst contributer to this general lack of faith being mine own mind. See dear reader, I am one not so proud owner of a pretty debilitating case of A.D.D.. And as I'm sure you can imagine, not being able to focus on anything I don't find thrilling, paired with a less than stellar drive does not equal fruitful success. But even that has changed now, yes I, Scott the Bringer of Change, has tamed my stampeding daydreams and love of all things shiny with the introduction of a wonderous thing called Amphetamine Salts AKA Adderall. I dunno if thats what it's like to be "normal" but oh my god is it wonderous! Being able to focus on the person in front of me instead of the t.v. the next room over or even have a full conversation with someone only to remember what it was we just talked about is an all too wonderful realization.

I see it as the chance in which I can hone and perfect my character to becoming my ideal me, becoming fully fluent with a vast collection of skills and abilities, and fortunately I have managed to collect 3 potential housemates who see this as their opportunity for the same thing. Together we have all agreed and collaborated to create a pact for the means of holding eachother reasponsible not only for basic household duties but for moving up in life. whether it be by waking up someone to hold them to working out, or reminding a friend of spanish class, or even partaking in the same goals so you have someone to work side by side with, the possibilities seem very great indeed.

Corvallis Corvallis (pt. 1)

Well....that went well. I just returned last night from my improve vacation in Corvallis. All in all things went brilliantly. I couldn't wish for a more relaxing vacation, I can't think of how things could have gone better( short of a few certain people still being in town), and I cant help but miss the hell out of it.

Besides the obvious sweetness of just seeing my close buddies again, I couldn't help but notice that pretty much every person in my former circle, at one point or another during my trip, hit me up to hangout and see me before I left. This in it's self is enough to make me go all giggly n' giddy but then the fact that I didn't really give anyone a heads up to the fact that I was there and haven't talked to most of those people regularly since I left really makes it all the better. Clearly one of two things has happened here. Choice A) I'm the shit B) I over estimate the sheer boredom caused by being in Corvallis when 75% of OSU isn't. Either way the cookie crumbles, it still tastes like a cookie. :)

Starlog 613.09: Long term, short term, Seth Rogan

Holy fear-of-underachievement Batman! Seriously? I'd officially be a junior in college if I'd stuck with the program. Instead I've earned the rank of Seth Rogan....sweet. The things I will never learn and never experience there will most likely linger on in the back of my mind, waiting to pounce on every moment of regret and "I told you so" to come. On the plus side though, I relish being able to quote Kanye every time I run into an old classmate:

"Told em I finished school, and started my own business; they say "oh you graduated?", nah I decided I was finished"

So it is with future redemption in mind that I write this.

Currently I'm kickin' in O.G. style in my hometown, Bend, with little to no "new" in my life. It is a plague on my morale and state of mind, only kept in check by the best of friends (which will be referred to as"bodes"(boe-deez)), travel, and the sheer beauty and variety of Bend. Longboarding, floating, and exploration are my favorit-est ways to change up the day to day, but even the best of those are beginning to spoil with repetition. My business life does add a great dimension to my life. And while I see my future business plans as a super sweet means for living the rest of my life and a way of proving myself, at this point they can be described as little more than a twinkle in my eye. In this recipe for financial success it seems at this point the key ingredient is time.

In the long term scheme of things I hope to build up a rep with several breweries here in town that I'm currently working with. My job with them could best be described as freelance hand giver and part time buddy-o-the-brew master. It's sort of a cool deal. Basically since the actual paper pushing internships go to the recently graduated, little ol' me just went straight to the brew master's and got the ok to help them with their jobs. Yea how's that feel Mr. Bachelors Degree, like a $40,000 hole in your pocket? Anywho, after I'm up to this for the next 2 years I'm heading out into the world...again. Most likely to someplace like Portland or Seattle, given my unconditional love of the North West. This is where I'll try to gain more workforce experience at breweries/wineries/distilleries. After a couple years of life at large I hope to come back to Bend in order to open my own place, details at a later time. So, there's my big picture. I'm pretty stoked and optimistic as to how it's gunna' go down. Pretty much if i can pull off this master plan I'll be in a good place, surrounded by good people, doing all the good things I want. Not too ambitious/general and completely inviting failure, right? Honestly, this is one of the few things I am stoked to call a career, I see few other options that end this well and that wouldn't drive me to spilling my own blood.

As for short term, I'm not too worried. Dare I say I like where I am? Seth Rogan?! Fuck yea! That man is unparalleled in his contribution to the large-dude scene. Seriously, I know more men that worship Seth Rogan than Christianity. He's the first of his kind, large, attractive and funny. Before now large mammals had to stick to rooting for those that nailed just being funny and large (Kevin James, Gabriel Iglesias), which while being ha-larious, has sadly never gotten anyone who resembles them laid. Anywho, I digress. After 18 years in one place the "new" can only go so far, and as such it's only the beginning of summer and already i fear the inevitable boredom period. You know, that time in late August/September when every one's friends are busy and your day seems to circulate around lounging about in the uncomfortable heat, searching fruitlessly through a fog of I-Dont-Care-Whadda-You-Wanna-Do, for something to make you forget you're wasting your summer. Think this might be the summer of demise? Yet again, fear not dear reader, for a plan has been put into action! To move out of the parental abode in order to move in with my three dearest Bodey's in the coming months. Nothing like a change in head quarters to spice things up.

Foreward/Prologue?

So, as you may have guessed this is a blog, but not just any mere blog! Oh no dear reader, this is MY blog, and as such I hereby vow to keep it R-E-A-L, er at least I would if I were less white. As is the case(or race) though, I will always do my damndest to keep this thing flowing with emotion & meaning, teeming with excitement, ripe with semi- relevence, and sometimes riddled with the type of quality journalism best described as a clusterf*** . I'm making it the mission of this thing to give me a medium in which I can voice myself on whatever's important without running the actual risk of having to take responsibility of my actions or words. Or just catch up whoevers listening in on my half ass attempt to harvest all that writing potential I was told I had lying around in school. This things gunna get (action)packed with everything from the obligatory passing thoughts of a twenty something college dropout dude (cars/longboarding, girls, style, life), to empassioned soap-box style speeches(enviroment, government, T-pain) and finally a nice scattering of stories, handpicked by your humble nar'ator to fill all that deadspace inbetween thoughts worth manifesting. And so on that note, I would like to thank you for checking this out and encourage you to check in occasionally cuz' it's only getting better from here.

p.s. I promise to try and make you giggle