The Pretty People

Does anyone else wonder if pretty people have better access to opportunities in life simply because of their outward appearance? Part of me is hesitant to think it's entirely true (largely because I'm afraid that if it is true, I am doomed to a limited future). But seriously, do pretty people have opportunities handed to them for superficial reasons?

I was looking through Facebook and encountered the profile of a guy who went to UCSB while I was a student there. He's gorgeous. He's popular. And he seems to live his life on permanent vacation post-college. Yachts, exclusive clubs, pictures of him meeting and talking with Barack Obama. Really? No offense to him, he wasn't the smartest guy on the block. He's certainly not a moron either, though. Granted, I can't truly gauge how his life is panning out based on some pictures posted on Facebook. But it really does seem like his life is damn near close to perfect. I can't help but think that his looks and his confidence, rooted in his good looks, have played some sort of role in all of that.

This isn't to say that I couldn't go spend a bunch of time at the gym and get fit and reap some of the benefits that a nice body can afford a gay guy living in Southern California. Even with that being the case, I can't help but feel that even that wouldn't get me anywhere significant; nor would I want it to. Idealism dictates that I would flip the system on its head... obliterate the blatant favoritism toward the aesthetically pleasing in our society. But since that's not going to happen any time soon, do I need to work on playing within the confines of our societal system? Do I have to find some sort of happy medium between physical beauty and quality of mind that will push me forward? I just hate the idea that I have to work harder than some people just because they have the advantage of looks (for which they didn't have to do anything). I suppose the answer to that is... this is life. It's unfair, biased, and janked.

I hope that I don't feed into the system, but I know I do on a multitude of levels. While I'm friendly to everyone, I find that I become increasingly friendly to attractive men. They don't deserve my added kindness, but I do it without even thinking.

I suppose the questions is: how do I get out of that mindset? Thinking on the subject probably helps. At least I'm not acting blindly.

Maybe everyone should walk around with bags over their heads. Let's even the playing field a little bit, shall we?

Blog reboot, take 492

Here I am again. Months later. When was the last time I posted? May? It's not even 2008 anymore! Man I am so bad with this stuff. AAAAnyway...

What should I be doing right now? Working. What am I actually doing right now? Perusing facebook and blogs and playing scrabble on my iPhone. Someone should seriously look into firing me.

We'll back that up just a smidge. While I'm not being all that productive at the moment, I am generally quite capable and efficient in the office and get my work done when it needs to get done. I haven't caused any disasters or lost any paperwork (at least not that I know of). Although, I did lose an endorsement stamp somehow. Which is weird, considering it never leaves my cabinet except for when I'm endorsing stamps. Hmmm...

So, back to my point. I should be able to write in this more frequently. I waste a lot of time every day watching tv when I could be writing things down. Exercising my brain a little bit, whether it be in an intellectual way or in catharsis. Lord knows my brain never shuts off, so there's bound to be something to write down every day.

Let's start with choir. Last night we had our first rehearsal for our Motown show. I am ECSTATIC! The Christmas show was fun, but the song selection was a little obscure for my taste. While I had a great time in the end, it took me a while to get into it all. But THIS show hits on all of the big songs of Motown. The Supremes, Temptations, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin. FINALLY music I can embrace and really put my heart into. The solos for this show are fantastic and in my range; I will probably audition for all of them. Well, not ALL of them... but a good portion. Whatever the case, I will be up there working my R&B edge. :)

I suppose I should do some sort of work today. Just to keep things interesting.

I said BURR! It's cold in here.

Go cheerleader, go!

We don't need no water, let the....

Stone

Fire and Brimstone!

More flowers

SO many flowers sprouted up this weekend. Spring is in the air.

Or some shit like that.

On a roll! Or... slightly bored.

I believe I took this picture at The Griffith Observatory. Granted, the sky has probably looked like that many-a-day.

The sweet scent of my youth

We have always had Jasmine growing in our front yard. I can remember being a little kid and falling asleep to the scent of the flowers out front. Every time I encounter that familiar smell, I am instantly transported back to those days. A smile always creeps onto my face as I think about how simple things used to be. Or about how blissfully ignorant I was. :)

Fogging up my window

Yay for the rain!!!!!!!

Fortune! (Cause I don't like the cookies)

How fitting.

Abstract

Boredom, an overcast day, and iphoto.

Glorious!

Oh my....

"of course it's built to take on big loads"

Thank you, Maytag, for a hideously misconstrue-able line.

Background Extraordinaire!

It's kind of sad that the only purpose my photography serves these days is to fill space as my desktop background.

Through someone else's eyes

About a week ago, I took pictures and helped out at a luncheon held for a group of mentally disabled people.






It was very heartwarming, indeed. There is just something about the way that they view the world with such wide-eyed enthusiasm. Seeing santa made them ecstatic; singing Christmas Carols got them all riled up (they didn't really know the words all that well, but it didn't matter); they were so happy to just be in the moment and enjoy what was in front of them.

I feel like we can all learn a little from that. It at least served as a shift in perspective. The opportunity to be selfless (for once in my damn life) was also quite refreshing. I've noticed I spend an awful lot of time thinking of myself and catering to my own needs. Stepping outside of that seems to act as a soul rejuvenator.

I hope everyone has a great holiday. :)

Oh James...

What a FANTASTIC desktop!!

I enjoy James Marsden, but this picture makes me looooove him.

*Swoooon*

HOLY SHIT!

I am mortified and elated all at once!!!!

There is nothing new on television. Is this necessarily a bad thing? :P

I am excited to see what they do with the Eliminator. My guess is that it will be like the old Eliminator, but on crack. I'm hoping for live alligators!

The only thing that will be missing from the new American Gladiator?


Look at that glorious hair. I bet it shimmers in candlelight.

I get goosebumps just thinking about it! RRRooowwwrrr...

Ha ha ha

I just found this entire concept amusing:


That would be my friend's expensive-ass Mercedes with a Christmas Tree tied to the roof. Fun times.

I don't know what Meme means, but I'll go with it...

My friend Nikki tagged me to do this; normally, I wouldn't do something like it, but I love her so much that I couldn't resist. So... 7 random things about me:

1. I can kick myself in the forehead. This would be surprising, except I have shown most people this nifty trick. This caveat doesn't make the statement any less random though. :)

2. My first kiss didn't happen until I was almost 22 years old. I figured out that I'm gay when I was around 10 or so. I came to terms with it fairly quickly; however, I knew that most other people would not be so hunky-dory about that fact. So I stayed closeted until I was 21 (when I couldn't hold it in anymore). I've never been much for misleading people (too hard to maintain a false front), so I didn't date any women before I came out. As a result, I didn't have my first kiss until I was out and dating.

3. I LOVE Hannah Montana. In fact, the most played song in my itunes is "If We Were A Movie" (look it up... it's AMAZING!). I am not all that different than an 8 year old girl.

4. I learned how to say the alphabet backward. Why? Because of my paranoia about cops pulling me over and potentially accusing me of drunk driving. I can say it very quickly too!

5. I own 29 pairs of shoes. I only wear about 4 or 5 on a regular basis. The rest collect dust under my bed. I've been trying to branch out and wear different shoes as of late. I think I have been quite successful so far. Oh, and I keep them all in their original boxes.

6. When I sleep, I make no noise and barely move. I'm not exaggerating either; most people that have shared a bed with me or seen me sleep literally think I am dead. I usually suggest that they check and make sure I'm still breathing. :)

7. I do metric-english conversions in my head. I know the conversion rates for centimeters, liters, etc. and have known them since 7th grade. I can't really explain how my brain works, but needless to say it is pretty odd. I also have a mental GPS and rarely get lost (and no, I don't mean that in the "I'm a guy and never get lost" way).

There you have it. Those really aren't all that interesting, but I never know what to share in these kinds of fact-divulging activities. I think I'm supposed to tag someone else to do this, soooooo.... I pick... hmm. I'll get back to you all on that one.

I left my heart...

...in San Francisco:


View from my hotel room


A random church while riding the cable car


Coit tower, seen from my hotel room


Saks Fifth Avenue and a cable car


Approaching the station


Dining hall in prison (Alcatraz)


Inmate's view