FW: The End is Nih
February 28, 2008, 9:56 am
When the world ends, I hope to hear by text message. After all what is there to talk about anymore. Walk down the street, get on a train, there’s very little human interaction. Anyone not lucky enough to have their ipod blasting their eardrums to pieces is glued to there blackberry. What’s so important, usually it’s solitaire.
I am guilty of it, completely blocking out the world as I weave in and out of people and traffic, jay walking like a modern day Jesse James…Ok that’s a stretch, but I wondered if the reason divorce, single parenthood, gangs, Sex in the City, Perez Hilton, and all the other evil doers of the world could be prevented if everyone just took the time to listen to each other. Do people sit down and talk anymore? How long can you have a comfortable conversation without excusing yourself to take a call or respond to a text or email?
I am as guilty as any, my cell phone has been the cause of many an argument, but I am trying…yesterday I went to the store without it. Today, I may take a walk…and only answer really important calls. Hey One Day at a Time.
Click to Enlarge (Photo By Michael Sanders aka Pretty Mike) “Stoplight Sky”
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Burn the Ships!
February 27, 2008, 9:48 am
I am going to through my ritual 3 pots of coffee, reading through various newspapers when I see an article that catches my eye.
The Advantages of Closing a Few Doors
“Xiang Yu was a Chinese general in the third century B.C. who took his troops across the Yangtze River into enemy territory and performed an experiment in decision making. He crushed his troops’ cooking pots and burned their ships.”
The writer takes it in a different direction, but to me it meant to train oneself to not even consider defeat. When we doubt ourselves we are taking time away from when we could be working towards our goals no matter what they are, fight like there’s no way home. BURN THE SHIPS.
Click to Enlarge (Photo by Me) “Sage”
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My Juices are starting to flow again-
February 26, 2008, 10:11 am
So I’ve been in a funk- it’s no secret. I have been dealing with the harsh beautiful reality of the past, present, and future; just like Ebeneezer Scrooge.
I have not felt like taking pictures, writing, or speaking. Entering a Monastery was a brief consideration…
But to create anew, we must do anew-
So last night I tried cooking a whole bird, a 7lb chicken I named Henry. It’s funny how brazen I was in my local marketa, deciding to make a mango glaze (WHAT?), I’ll use ginger, squash, some Yukon golds…I had no idea.
Attempting to inspire myself with a new form of expression always begs the question “what if?”…”what if it sucks?”, “what if it’s uneatable?”. When cooking for others, the question is no longer just lingering doubt but pressure instead. Someone has left their appetite in your hands, it’s a mission you cannot fail.
As I walked in the door my immediate thought was “I am in over my head”…”I am going to waste hours then have to go back to the store starving and buy noodles and prego”…but I pressed on.
After 3 hours, and calls to every woman I know asking questions like: “Are you suppose to put potatoes in its butt?” and “Do I need to flip it over or something?”, all my questions were answered by the pop of the thermometer and Henry looking tan and ready to eat.
Do I feel inspired…No, but thats because I have to eat chicken for the next week in order to “waste not want not”. But I did gain the self confidence in the kitchen to try new things and will not be AS scared the next time I am feeling bold…and hungry.
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As many of you were kind enough to point out-
February 25, 2008, 8:10 am
I have not posted in a bit. Well, Piss off- I was/am taking a little me time to recharge my creative juices…I’ve been crazy busy and it’s hard being creative 24/7.
Since January 2007 when I started photo blogging on Myspace, and then converted to writing and posting a photograph here on Pretty Mike I have posted 332 times, Had 15,298 visitors and received 180 comments by a cast of characters.
So I am recharging my creative juices for another day or two until something inspiring happens…it always does!
Here’s an album I’ve never shared here- It’s my pregnant ex wife with hopefully her last kid, her other two kids and my daughter. If you don’t understand don’t worry about it, I don’t either.
You have to watch the slide show to get the full effect.
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Don't look in any direction too long-
February 19, 2008, 7:16 pm
If we don’t look to the past how can we prevent ourselves from making the same mistakes?
If we choose not to look forward how can we see what direction we are heading?
I had a chance to speak to a mental health professional today and although it was not as cathartic as writing for my fan worldwide I admit that it did help.
To be fair refilling my meds helped too, but I realized the value of speaking to someone who is not judgmental nor have a personal interest in your life.
So here’s to mental health professionals everywhere who listen to the problems of the world.
Obviously I am cured so I will not need to be going back- after all I am not a freak who needs to cry about my problems every week. But once or twice a lifetime is definitely a useful experience.
Big Ups to Katherine Auerswald, M.D she’s been taking great care of me for the last 3 years and has got me in tip top shape.
(Photo By Pretty Mike, Click to Enlarge)
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Don’t look in any direction too long-
February 19, 2008, 7:16 pm
If we don’t look to the past how can we prevent ourselves from making the same mistakes?
If we choose not to look forward how can we see what direction we are heading?
I had a chance to speak to a mental health professional today and although it was not as cathartic as writing for my fan worldwide I admit that it did help.
To be fair refilling my meds helped too, but I realized the value of speaking to someone who is not judgmental nor have a personal interest in your life.
So here’s to mental health professionals everywhere who listen to the problems of the world.
Obviously I am cured so I will not need to be going back- after all I am not a freak who needs to cry about my problems every week. But once or twice a lifetime is definitely a useful experience.
Big Ups to Katherine Auerswald, M.D she’s been taking great care of me for the last 3 years and has got me in tip top shape.
(Photo By Pretty Mike, Click to Enlarge)
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The Intruder
February 16, 2008, 9:27 am
I had a feeling something was not right as I walked to my apartment, I am pretty good at remembering to lock up when I leave so I thought it was odd my bedroom window was open but quickly dismissed it as forgetfulness and went in after a long week.
Much faster than I, but considerably less powerful- we danced the dance of two primal beings fighting for their very existence in this world…we were playing for keeps and both of us knew it. I am sure had I seen this debacle from the outside I would have thought it comical, however; in that moment I was pure rage with a single mission: destroy intruder.
The fight went from one room to the other, I was huffing and puffing, sweating and had proceeded to turn my apartment upside down in the execution of my mission: destroy the intruder.
As I delivered the final blow I screamed “YES- I got you, you sonuvabitch…I won”.
The intruder fought a good fight…it just wasn’t good enough to best Pretty Mike on this day, on this field of battle…
Stupid fly.
Photo By Me (Click to Enlarge)
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Struggling with demons from the past and present.
February 15, 2008, 11:08 am
It’s like being out with your new love and seeing a less than desirable one night stand you had 5 years ago…facing the demons from past and present.
If I was a “therapist person” I would have called late last night and needed her to “talk me down”, I wasn’t on a ledge- I was in a panic, angry, sad and every time my phone would ring my stomach would go immediately into a giant knot…then night sweats followed by terrible nightmares made it a most pleasurable evening of quiet rest.
As the dawn of a new day peaked I was still panicking, edgy, and frustrated but could not put my finger on why. Where was this coming from, how can I effectively deal with it?
I decided this morning I need a new set of coping skills, to learn how to effectively deal with situations that make me uncomfortable without acting out or doing things dangerous for my mental, physical and spiritual health.
Wish me luck-
(I have not felt like shooting this past week so there is nothing new to share in the visual stimuli department. I decided to make myself shoot all weekend. So stop by next week!)
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Happy Hallmark Holiday-
February 14, 2008, 10:08 am
If you don’t celebrate your love, do something special for those you care about…if you don’t cuddle, kiss and do “it” like monkeys any day except for today then you should probably find someone new.
I know this isn’t the most romantic of post; however, I feel like Faith, Hope and Love should be celebrated daily. Maybe it’s corny but if we do not love as a people, if we have no hope and have lost faith we are dead anyway.
The unknown, can be scary but to me the attempt of great things is life’s most difficult challenge. Feast or Famine- win or lose, it’s the courage to attempt the great which is the true victory.
Having the courage to fail will eventually lead to the experience of Victory.
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The Strangest of Days Banking
February 13, 2008, 10:58 am
I had roughly 30 people working the exit polls for my candidate in Maryland yesterday, so when I went to the bank late yesterday to get $3000.00 out to pay them all for the day and do a couple other things I ran over through the wind, rain and ice and saw the young girl who I am always asking to do fancy bank maneuvering for me, you know the guy you hate in the bank line on his cell phone whose at the window so long you think he’s applying for a loan…that’s me.
As I am collecting everything I need I say:
Me: “Sorry for being a pain”
Her: “Your not a pain, I miss you…but your the only one.”
Me: lol “Thank you, Did you get another job?”
I thought she had said “I will miss you” as if she wasn’t going to be at my branch anymore.
Her: “no, I just like seeing you”
Me: “Well I like seeing you too- thanks for all your help, I will see you soon.”
I left with my ego somewhat inflated and the reminder to myself, I can’t be so sexy all the time…I give the wrong impression.
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