LUV2BUY

This was the license plate I saw while I was driving to church this evening. At first I got really upset and thought to myself "Geez. I hate people who are so caught up in material possessions. And to top it off this person obviously has no problem letting others know how selfish and materialistic she is."

This was until I realized I was listening to a $250 iPod in my $3,000 Mustang and would later be checking my Facebook and Twitter on a $1,000 Macbook while listening to all the hundreds of dollars worth of music I've bought on my iTunes, sitting in my finely furnished bedroom in my J. Crew outfit that costs way more than it should have.

This lady that I was driving behind was no different than me except she let everyone know that she liked to shop, while I on the other hand act like I'm better than most people because "material possessions mean nothing to me." Yeah, right.

And this is what's wrong this the World.

This is what's wrong with the Church.

This is what's wrong with Us.

Hypocrite.

Liar.

Thief.

I act no different than the people I feel are in so much trouble.

I'm not saying having nice things are bad. Buying stuff isn't bad, either. It's how we do it. So often I've actually let money control me. "I really want the new iPod Touch." or "I really need a new pair of khaki pants before I buy that shirt."

My college class at church has been going through an awesome book about the Love that God has for us and how intense His feelings are for us and yet how much we've ignored him and merely given Him our leftovers.

"Here, God. I've got a few dollars left after I bought that new system for my car. I guess you can have it. But I would really like a new jacket next week, soooooo.... yeah. I'll let you do what you do."

This is crap. The author of the book writes that it's not bad to have stuff, but stuff is just silly and unnecessary. Last week's and this week's chapters have really been about giving up everything we have. Not in a "Look how much I DON'T have and feel sorry for me" kind of way, but it's about us giving everything we have to each other.

"Hey. If you ever need a ride, give me a call."

or

"Hey. I heard you're running a bit behind on your rent. Let me help you out a bit."

This is what it's about. Let's not let our social status get in the way of giving. We've been given what we have to share. It's not like we'll be around to use it later.

So if you're reading this blog, LUV2BUY, I'm sorry that I judged you. I really am.

A little bit of the underground...

Lately I've been a bit bored with everything. Especially this week. After having my wisdom teeth removed I've come to appreciate the crunchy foods that I've always neglected and also come to detest milkshakes, jello, and yogurt. I miss eating cereal and drinking soda through a straw. I just hope that all will be back to normal soon. But this week I've decided that there are a few things that I really want to try to do eventually. Here are just a couple that I decided on today.

1) While watching an Saturday Night Live marathon on VH1, I noticed that many of the actors were also writers and this got me thinking that it would be really cool to work for SNL. I've recently started to idolize Tina Fey, but not in a creepy stalkerish kind of way. Just that she's hilarious and an amazing writer seeing as she not only wrote for SNL for a while but also because she writes for 30 Rock along with acting in it. Unfortunately I googled the SNL application process and found out that you don't apply for Saturday Night Live. They have to choose you.

So... a possible goal is to work for NBC, but I have to figure out a way to get noticed. *mental note*

2) I want to discover new things. I want to see things that most people don't see; either because we choose not to or because we are negligent of our surroundings. I want to go places people don't. This idea was spawned by the Infiltration: Zine. I found this while stumbling, which is a website I recommend for the bored. Stumble Upon, that is. But Infiltration is something that's sparked an interest. We'll see where it takes me.

So all in all, while avoiding two major papers that are due within the next few weeks, I have in turn made a few decisions. So. Wish me luck and we'll see where I go.

I found this today on the Post Secret blog. It's not my post card but it sums up where I am right now.

Welcome Back

An Inner Dialogue

Good Evening, Fellow Travelers. Welcome to These Wondering Thoughts. Thank you for joining us. Tonight we have, Caleb.

Oh. Hi, There. It's been a while since our last meeting, hasn't it?

Yes, it has been, Caleb. How have you been.

Oh. I've been doing well. Just staying busy with work and school. You know? Those papers aren't going to write themselves. And someone needs to keep track of those planets. Did you know they got rid of Pluto? What a shame.

You know, that happened quite a while ago. And they didn't get rid of pluto. They merely demoted it to "Dwarf Planet" status.

Either way. How would you feel if you were demoted from "Voice" status to just "That-noise-I-hear-when-I-don't-clean-my-ears-out-all-the-way" status? You wouldn't like that very much, now would you?

I've always liked Pluto. I also like the blue M&M's more than any other color.

What? They taste the same.

"If you close your eyes!" (RENT reference, sorry.) Yes. I know. I guess it's just more fun to eat the blue ones, though.

How's that?

I don't know. They Just are...

Hmm... Ok. Well, Let's get back on topic.

Excellent Decision.

So what all has been going on with you. You said you've been working and going to school. What else?

Well... Not much really. Between my last update and now I got a Twitter, but I don't do much with it. Mostly I just read people's thoughts. I'm pretty boring which makes me wonder why I even have this blog in the first place, but that's a different story. Let's see... New stuff. Well. I bought a car in May. A White 1996 Mustang. It's nice. Needs some repairs, but I like it. It feels good to have a car, especially one that I've purchased on my own. I've made friends, I've lost friends. I found some friends that I thought had gone away and I'm holding on to some friendships that I secretly fear will dissolve soon. And I have glasses. But not the cool kind that I have to wear all the time. Nope. My glasses are specifically for reading. Like an old person's, which makes simple tasks difficult.

Difficult? I thought glasses were supposed to help. Care to elaborate?

Well.. Not really "difficult". But when I'm writing or reading I'm supposed to have them on. So When I'm sitting there doing whatever and someone decides to talk to me I have to either remove my glasses (Which gets annoying after a while. Taking them off. Putting them back on. On. Off. On. Off) or I can look over the edge of my glasses like I've seen countless elders doing. I'm not to fond of either choice. Also, I'm vain.

Yes. You are, but we won't get into that. You said You wonder why you even have this blog. Why is that?

I guess I started this blog originally because I'm a horrible trend follower. I hardly can think on my own. But I also started this blog in hopes that I would write more. As you can see it never caught on with me. But I'm hoping to start updating more often.

And why exactly is that?

Honestly, I decided to start this thing again because of a phone call a few weeks ago. I had just gotten out of class and I wanted to go out to lunch but I didn't feel like eating alone so I called a good friend of mine who, as it turned out, was unable to meet up that afternoon but still decided to hold a conversation with me. Now, I HATE talking on the phone. Probably one of my least favorite forms of communication mainly because there are no visual cues as to when the conversational partner is about to speak next, so I often accidentally interrupt or seem to rush him or her off the phone. But as it was, he and I continued to talk for about 15 or 20 minutes about a lot. Basically catching up because we hadn't seen each other in a few months. (I tend to cut myself out of groups if I feel uncomfortable. I don't see a reason for me being there, so I leave). He and I talked for about him being a college graduate and my goal of graduating eventually. I thought it was neat that he remembered that I was an English major and he congratulated me on decided to pair it with a second major and a possible minor to make myself more marketable. As we went on he challenged me to start writing again. Stories. Poems. Anything. So I guess I listened to him. He's always been a mentor for me. Luckily he's never steered me wrong. So I guess that's where I am.

And you would say your hope is...?

My hope is that I continue this blog and keep it up regularly. Not that I'm interesting or have anything exciting to say, but more so as an outlet. Maybe this'll turn out good. I hope so. As I sit here I can think of about 4 other things I SHOULD be doing but choose not to. Procrastination is my disease and I hope maturity is the cure. God, please let that cure come soon.

I sure hope so. It's been a pleasure, Caleb.

Thanks. Yes, it has.

Good evening. And many thanks to all of you who finished this.

Evening thoughts with no direction...

In 18 years of living, I have yet to find a person who likes Mondays, but I honestly don't understand where this dislike of Mondays comes from. I personally dislike most any day in which I have to wake up at a predetermined time for some activity in which I do not want to participate in. Yes, I know I have committed myself to the responsibilities of work and school, but I'm not going to say that I enjoy either one. I merely attend these two institutions because I must. I work for money. I am not financially stable, so I have chosen to work and buy things instead of not working and not being able to buy things. It's a simple process that requires minimal thought: Step 1) Work; Step 2) Buy things; Repeat. It is a shampoo simple process. You repeat as many times as needed. Sadly, it's an endless cycle. I need money, so I need a job.
Now on to school. Do I enjoy waking up at 6:30 a.m. again just to be assigned work that I do not want to do? Simple answer: No. As a High School graduate, I am able to sit and bum around and not learn anything. I finished the 12 to 13 years required by law. So why did I choose to keep going? To be completely honest, I don't know. I have chosen another 4 to 6 years of school in order to acquire a slip of paper that, layman's terms, says "Hey. You are good at English." But I did. I now wake up at 6:30 to fight over a bathroom so that I can be somewhat presentable for the upcoming day of school. Monday through Thursday, I attend Calhoun Community College from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 am and from there, I trek to Off Campus College Bookstore (hereon referred to as The O.C.) and earn an income that is unsuitable for anyone to fully live off. Needless to say, I'm still at home.
All this said, I'm actually quite happy with my situation. Yes, I do put up with annoying and sometimes seemingly stupid people almost everyday, but it is a job. A good job. And I am on my way to an English Major. Don't ask me what I plan on doing after college, but right now, this is what I want. We will see where this goes... Kudos if you got through this whole thing.
-Caleb

By The Way...

I'm not so sure how I feel about this...
-Caleb