My 1/4 Life Crisis with Minka Kelly

So I just saw that Minka Kelly is the Sexiest Woman Alive for 2010 for Esquire Magazine. I know it's 2011 and I'm kind of late on the news. But I read a little bit of the article of her on their website about her and what struck me was that she was 30.

THIRTY! Minka Kelly is 30.

Well first off she's hot for a 30-year-old. But damn. While others are dreading that age, she's embracing it. That made me wonder. The past few days I've been living in this sort of quarter-life crisis thinking about who I am, who I'm going to be, where I am, and where I should be. A lot of thinking's going on in my head. But the what struck me was how she embraced it and I thought, "Wow!" That's where I need to be.

Well not as the sexiest man alive, although I wouldn't mind that award if it was given to me, but at that state of mind by the time I become 30.

I want to be able to be happy at where life lead me by the time 30 rolls along. I want to have accomplished something great. Complete an amazing feat. Go to amazing places. Experience the world. LIVE. That's what I want.

Here's my take on this whole "quarter-life-crisis" thing. It's this condition that people get when their in transition. When I mean transition I mean a pivotal or key moment in life where change is either coming is about to happen. Quiting my job and finding my next career has been more of a journey to find what I really want.

I really thought it my old job was going to be my career. But now I'm off to something else.

I'm on the "other side" where the grass is greener and I'm just finding which land I want to build on.

I'm a big fan of signs. That everything happens for a reason. These next few weeks I'll find my reason. Can't wait.

Finding My Passion

How to Find Your Passion

I'm in a crossroads in my life now.

And it's not one of those maybe moments where it's like I think I'm in a crossroads but I'll know it later. No. I am right in the middle of it. It all started when I quit my job a few weeks ago. There were a few factors that why I left. I wasn't making any money and I started hating the bulk of what I was doing. Now don't get me wrong a part of me still loves the job and there's many aspects of that job that I would do free, at times I felt like that's what I was doing, but there was a part of me that just wasn't happy.

Well now's my chance to do what I love. To go out there and make a difference in the world. To start making my millions. To be the entrepreneur. But I'm staring at myself right now and I'm just saying... Now what?

What do I do? And it's coming from everywhere. Because that's the NUMBER 1 question people ask you when you leave a job. What do you want to do now? Where do you see yourself working? Now I have a few things in mind. But isn't it okay to just say "I don't know?" I think it is. I was a mentor in college and whenever I asked a mentee what they wanted to major in when they were undeclared I would say, "That's okay. It sucks how society and college gives you two years to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Chances are you probably need more time." Now I feel like them.

But what it really comes down to is to find a job that I'm passionate about. Something that I wouldn't mind working weekends on. Because the passion is what's going to drive me and make my dreams come true. I know what I need to do, I just need to do it. I only have myself to blame for this one.

How to find my passion?

developing, learning, growing, freedom. That's what makes me passionate.

Developing - Something where I can help or watch something develop is something that I would love to do. Some place where I can develop an idea into fruition or help someone gain a skill. Teach basically. That would be easy to be passionate about.

Learning - A place where I am constantly learning. A place with no last page, no final chapter to finish reading. A constant hands on learning environment. That would be awesome and never a dull moment.

Growing - Or should I say personal growth. A place where I can see myself maturing and growing every week. A place where I can see the progress I have made since I've started and seeing that what I'm doing is making me a better person.

Freedom - I want to be able to do shit. Where I can set my own hours. "Be my own boss". Work where I want to work. I want to be able to go places without worrying clocking in an out. I want the time to live my life.

Now it's time for me to find this opportunity and seize it. Where do I see myself a year from now? It's time for me to find out. I'll tell you when I do.

Palladia. Epic. Awesome. Music.

Palladia

One of the things that I do to pass the time is to watch Palladia. It's an HD channel that shows nothing but music.

It's like what MTV, Music Television, would be if it did what it's name said. They always have concerts, artist documentaries, and music videos. It's a great channel to just leave on while your working in your room. For instance I'm watching Jason Mraz playing in concert while I'm typing this blog. They played Mariah Carey's concert last night along with a documentary about Woodstock.

This is an HD exclusive channel, which means it's only for cable boxes who have high definition. Which sucks for everyone else but is a blessing because every program is in HD. Blu-ray quality concerts for free. Pretty sweet.

My Jam Right Now...

This is my favorite song right now. This song is called "He Won't Go" from Adele's sophomore album, 21. The song is perfect. From the raw beginning of just the drums it builds as the haunting piano comes in. By the time Adele speaks your drawn by the song. The chorus just hits you. The best of the song is the bridge when each instrument comes in after another to just build it up again to the chorus. The song is just overall sick. Just listen and enjoy. The overall cd is pretty good but I'll chime in on that on a later time.

Homemade Skittles Vodka

This sounds delicious!

Homemade Skittle Vodka



Skittles Vodka (with instructions)
Desperate times call for desperate measures. This means that K-Rudds Alcopop tax has driven girls to making their own! Here are some bottles of skittles vodka that Erin made. I actually haven't tried it yet, other than a little bit of leftovers, which seemed all right. I'll update this later to say how it is (if I remember).

The difference in colour of the two leftmost bottles is clearer than on my other photo, which is good.

The instructions are quite long, but that's because they like to state the obvious an awful lot. It really boils down to this.

1. Separate your skittles into colours
2. Mix 60 skittles and approx. 180mL vodka in empty water bottles
3. Shake the bottles well and leave them overnight.
4. Lots of white residue will be left, filter this out using a coffee filter or similar. Depending how viscous it is you may have to repeat this step.
5. Chill (in freezer) and serve.

Believe it or not, that was an 8 page email that I managed to abbreviate to five lines! I should get a job summarising government reports like on The Hollowmen (have you got a 1-pager?).

This photo was taken before they've been in the freezer.

My Country Music Picks

So this blog is my picks of country music songs that I am currently listening along with some songs that I feel would be a good base for those who want to give country music a try.

* BIAS DISCLAIMER - I almost always listen to the male country artists. I feel that I can relate to them more than the females.

Brad Paisley - She's Her Own Woman - This song doesn't sound country at all. It sounds more blues/jazzy but just goes to show that country can sound different from the stereotype. Anyway, the reason I picked this song is because this is the country version of Ne-Yo's "Ms. Independent" It talks about a woman who can take care of herself as well as the man.

Brad Paisley - She's Everything - It's one of those slow country jams that every guy can relate to. It talks about how this girl is everything he's ever wanted or needed. How he doesn't mind talking all day about her and that he loves everything about her. Plus its catchy.

Brad Paisley - Waitin' On a Woman - A story about a conversation between a young and old man waiting on their women. The old man talks about how much it pays to wait on a woman. Worth a listen.

Brad Paisley - The World - I don't know how many times I've busted this song out for my explanation to why I listen to country. The lyrics in this song are cute and feel that every girl wouldn't mind hearing someone say to them "they are the world." Also, I'm pretty sure I've used that line on a girl before, that or the refrain, "You may be one of millions, but your one in a million to me." hehehe.

Brad Paisley - You Have That Effect On Me - To me, I picture this as a sweet country song. It's slow and steady. The lyrics are nice as well and if your really into it you can feel it too. Pretty much the song talks about what the girl does to Brad Paisley.

Brad Paisley - Letter To Me - Brad talks about if he could write a letter to his younger self, what advice would he would give. The song is about encouragement through the younger years and not to fret about everything cause it all works out in the end. If your feeling down in the dumps, this is a good song to listen to.

Brad Paisley - Then - Another slow country ballad about how love grows even when you think it's enough.

Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried - To best explain the awesomeness of this song is to recite the second verse of the song:

Its the little things in life that mean the most. Not where you live, what you drive, or the price tags on your clothes. Theres no dollar sign on a peace of mind, this I've come to know. So if you agree, have a drink with me. Raise your glasses for a toast.

Zac Brown Band - Whatever It Is - Ever really like a girl but dont know why? Well this song talks about it.

Keith Urban - Somebody Like You - Shows the virtue of having the right girl with you and forgetting about the past and looking towards the optimistic future.

Keith Urban - You'll Think of Me - One of those sob songs that you play after a breakup.

Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying - Song about making the most of your life. Loving deeper and speaking sweeter.

Tim McGraw - Don't Take the Girl - a great county story song.

Billy Currington - Don't - Sounds like country meets the 80s. You can hear it in the guitar riff and the chorus. Song about the honeymoon stage of a relationship where you just met a girl you really like and dont want to leave each other. Plus it sort of has an 80s music vibe to it.

Rascal Flatts - Winner at a Losing Game - Song about loving someone who doesn't love you. Because if you love her but she doesn't love you, then its like your a winner at a losing game.

Rascal Flatts - These Days - A popular song from this song that talks about how a guy still hasn't gotten over her last love even after years. In the song the guy sees the girl after years and they reminisce about old times but he still can't get over her. He just spends his days thinking of her.

Rascal Flatts - I Melt - Good song about the feeling you get when you look at a girl you really like. How you lose your cool and melt whenever you see her.

Rascal Flatts - My Wish - Sounds like the perfect Hallmark encouragement song. Talks about how the singers encourage the listener to live life and love.

Rascal Flatts - Like I Am - Great song that talks about how the girl takes the singer for how he is and encourages him to be a better person.

Martina McBride - I Just Call You Mine - There's something about this song that is amazing. When I hear the song I picture someone saying that to me and it's such an ego booster. It talks about how her man is so amazing, how the whole world adores him, calls him amazing, but to her he's just... mine. POWERFUL STUFF! *Possibly one of the rare female songs I'd recommend.


The links go to a youtube music video or lyrical version of the song. That way you can hear what I'm talking about. Enjoy!

Pain and Hunger

I'm twenty-two years old, recently graduated from Towson University with a double major in Business Marketing and Electronic Business and in the process of getting a job. Granted I've only been trying the past day or so but I'm starting to feel scared of the person I'll become if nothing happens.

Most of my friends have school and classes to take care of. But as I'm playing on my PS3 I'm realizing that if I don't do anything I'll be doing this permanently. While there's nothing wrong with a little R&R, I have to do something. I just came back from my trip to Canada three days ago and I'm already applying for jobs. Would have applied sooner but I was still transitioning to life back in the States and I was trying to celebrate my birthday with a fever.

But the point is I need to work again. I need to feel that pain and hunger for something. I'm starting to think if I don't get a job soon I'll just be a bum with a degree. I want to start making something of myself and get my drive back. I feel that once I get that feeling of purpose things will start happening again.

I can easily turn on the PS3 and play a game. But I don't want to do that the rest of my life. I need to start doing something soon. I need to experience real excitement and feeling again. I think that's the only way that will get me out of this funk and start my next chapter in life. I know that I'm "in transition" right now but it's scary and I don't know what's going to happen to me. Guess we'll find out soon enough over the next coming weeks.