Sometimes it’s nice to reminisce about your past.  I was watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving last night with my roommate and her boyfriend, and I started thinking about all the great Holiday movies I loved as a kid….Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, Charlie Brown The Great Pumpkin, ect.  it’s a family tradition to watch Christmas Vacation together sometime over Christmas.  Some of my brothers and my mom hate it, but I LOVE it!  Not only is it hysterical, but i like tradition.  I like the idea of doing special things at certain times of the year.  This year I wasn’t able to make it back to my parents house for Halloween, so I had to buy my own pumpkin cookies.  Sadly they were’nt as good as the ones my mom used to bring home, but I still had this urge that I needed to have these cookies to celebrate Halloween. 

I think it’s great to reflect on great times in your life, as long as you aren’t living in your past.  I’m definitely a story teller, just as my dad loves to tell stories.  I hope I keep living life to tell interesting stories, and not reliving the past.  I’d hate to be the guy that brings up in 6th grade I was Linus in my school play…..oh wait I did that last night.  I guess there’s nothing wrong with becoming your father.  He is a great man and all.

I haven’t always thought before I spoke, and usually it has gotten me in trouble.  Sometimes I forget that I grew up DuPage county, one of the most conservative counties in Illinois.  I have friends with all different political views, from socialists to hardcore conservatives, and I respect each one as a person. 

Last week I got a “cause” request on Facebook from an acquaintance in my youth.  The cause was One Man One Woman….Support Prop 8.  Now I know having not seen or talked to this person in 15 years, she doesn’t know that I’m a “crazy” liberal that loves my equal rights for all.  At first I just thought this girl was an ignorant idiot that has no class (I can tell that she has no class by the pictures of her half naked in her photo album).  Then I realized she just has no class, but not for sending me the Support Prop 8 cause.  I realized that this should have been my opportunity to write to her and say Hey (girl’s name), I see that you sent me this cause, and I’m perplexed as to why you feel that marriage should just between one man and one woman?  I’d love to hear your thoughts and discuss why I’m against Prop 8.  Hope you’re doing well!  Regards, Ryan 

I read a great article in the Washington Post today that made me come to this realization (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/23/AR2008112302039.html).  I need to open up with other people about their views in order to fully understand both sides.  I hope the passing of Prop 8 has the effect that more people will discuss their views on Gay rights, and allow for more education on both sides of the issue.  Feel free to bring it up anytime over a beer.  I’m happy to hear your thoughts!

I really prefer going to the gym in the morning at around 9 or 10 am.  Sadly having a full-time job doesn’t allow me to do that on a regular basis.  Saturday morning I got to the gym just a little before 10, and I got on my treadmill to watch Headlines on CNN.  As I looked around the gym, I couldn’t help but notice that the majority of men and quite a few women were all wearing baseball caps.  Now I have to admit I really don’t care what I look like when I go to the gym…my hair is using crazy and I am usually wearing an old Bloomingdale Park District Manager shirt (I like to show people how cool I am).  So why do people care if they have crazy hair at the gym?  I’ve come to realize 3/4 of these elusive people wearing these hats were UGLY.  Now I know some guys try to hide their age with hats (Go to Roscoe’s any Friday or Saturday night and you’ll see at least 10 guys over the age of 35 trying to look like their 21 still) but come on!  Why do people think that wearing a hat will hide their ugliness.  Stick to wearing hats on sunny days when you’re outside and need shade for your eyes (i.e. baseball games).  Don’t wear a hat trying to cover up your ugly mug.  Have a great weekend, and hope I don’t see as many hats at the gym tomorrow!

As I was perusing through the newsfeed on Facebook, I came across another In a relationship to single.  I think, “Oh know, what happened?”  And then I remember that I haven’t talked to that person in 5 years, and why does it matter to me if he broke up with his girlfriend?  For some reason, it does now.  I want to write on his wall, “Sorry to hear about the break-up.  Let’s get a beer sometime.”  If facebook didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have any idea, and frankly wouldn’t of cared at all.  A friend of mine was in a very long relationship, and ended recently.  She had the dreaded in a relationship with that person on her page.  She had the brilliant idea to delete everything from the page in order to not have her relationship has ended with this person.  This is why I have a psuedo-open relationship with one of my bestfriends.  You will never see an actual relationship on facebook, for fear of the random consolers that will be typing me messages asking if I want to get coffee and talk about it.   

It fascinates me to catch up with people just by reading up on their page.  I feel like there is no need to go to my 10 year reunion, because I already know everything that is going on with old friends and acquaitences from high school and grade school.  Having talked with some of my older friends, they are usually suprised by how many of my friends are from my childhood.  I know I will probably lose a few more since I’m only 26, but still impressive that I hang out with friends from when I was as young as 3 years old. 

Anyway, no need call me to catch up.  I’ll just read your facebook page.

Working in an office with the average age of 47 makes for an expanding waist.  Everyday  I walk to the water cooler and to my delight (and dismay), I find some sort of sweet sitting in the kitchen.  This morning I walked in to find a post-it saying Happy Friday with a dozen donuts, and this afternoon a basket of candy.  My co-workers last day consisted of a three course celebration.  Every two hours we would meet to eat cake, pastries, and other goodies.  This has become a regular tradition whether it be a new hire, birthday, anniversary, baby/wedding shower, or just because it’s Friday.  When I was first hired they told me about the UHC 15, but I didn’t actually believe it was true.  Sadly, they were correct about gaining 15 lbs. in your first year. 

I am offically sick of cake, and choose not to eat it anymore at work.  When it’s my birthday, I will say no thank you.  Who would have thought I would be sick of cake?