I recently rediscovered my favorite poem. Here you go. :)

Foggy cafe window signs

Illuminated by neon light
A tear not unlike the streaking window panes
Slips ever so unwillingly down his cheek

The dreaded phone call
Quite possibly it could kill him
The cook remains oblivious
He is too worried with issues of games
Won and lost, but mostly the latter
Tries to drown his sorrows that consist of
Monetary failure, so he
Wages war with
The dishwasher and assorted cutlery

A college girl watches
From a spinning barstool
Knives flash, memories spin
Torn by fateful nights
Arms covered by sleeves
Else her lines of escape
Be forever unveiled
Yet her eyes focus elsewhere
Gazing outside
At a child
Wondering all that could have been

In the street, laughter
Why it reigns supreme
Days inevitably end
And a small child can only be carefree
Without the presence of slamming doors
Darker hearts, bruised bones

This child has someone
But that woman has no respect
Self and otherwise
As she hangs up the telephone
A now ex sits aimlessly
Stares out a foggy café window
His face outlined by neon lights
And weeps.

Renewable Days

*This post is credited to Florence + the Machine, for being my musical inspiration as of late.

Now that I have cited my sources like a good little journalist, lets get down to business. Or as business-like as I can get anyways.

Here we go. Today, I thought a lot. And good thoughts too, not just the average, “What are they thinking about me,” “When’s class done,” and the ever-popular, “I’m hungry.”

Instead, I shut those thoughts out and wondered why I take the same path to class every day. I considered switching it up, but I decided to look at it all differently and see what I could see. It was incredibly engaging, and my perspective on the pathway really shifted.

This experience centered around the notion of contentment, life, and curiosity. As a curious individual, I have a need to explore life thoroughly, constantly questioning and examining every little thing.

What it really comes down to, in the end, is living life like it is new every day.

And let me tell you, that is the way to live.

P.S. You really should check out these blogs! Jordan Eddy and Megan Corey are two of my housemates and both are fantastic writers.

Coffee coffee coffee, hot cocoa.

Wow.. it’s November. How did that happen so fast? One minute you feel like summer just ended, and the next you find yourself shivering because you didn’t wear a second sweater out.

Weird. However, I do love this time of year a lot. Something about the leaves on the ground, the bundled-up people, and the air that is so crisp you can nearly taste it is appealing to me.

It’s also the time for warm drinks! Coffee coffee coffee, hot cocoa. Gotta love it. Ooh, and throw in the occasional gingerbread latte. Man, I love this time of year.

Hey guess what? You can expect more poetry out of this kid right about now! As I was a complete flake about National Poetry Month this year, I sprung at the chance of redemption that my friend Laurel offered to me.

That offer was No-Prose November. For all of the month, I will be writing a poem a day in addition to taking a photograph daily. I am planning on having the pictures and the poems relate every day. We’ll see how that goes.

Bye for now guys! Stay warm!

What’s life mean, anyhow?

In this post, I intend to tackle the questions. The hard questions. Questions like:

1. What is this life all about?
2. Where in it do I belong? If anywhere in particular?
3. Why does ice cream disappear so quickly?

So yeah, the important stuff.

Let’s start out with that first one. What is life all about? Well, if you ask Webster, life is,

The quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body.

Okay, so that’s a start. However, that can be interpreted so broadly, and it really isn’t all that much to go on, so I guess I’ll use my own thoughts. Thanks for all the help Webster.

My idea of life, this mysterious quality, is “A string of experiences, both physical and spiritual, that make up a being.” Going off this, it seems that life is not measured by time, but instead by sequences of life really lived. If that makes sense.

So moving on. Or musing on. Whichever.

Where do I fit? Now that’s a good question. I’ve noticed throughout the years that I am quite good at popping in and out of groups, places, and circumstances. Most people attribute this to my personality, calling me an “extrovert”, which I definitely am. Although, I don’t think that is the reason why I am able to and also love to do this.

I think it is because I have no set spot. To clarify, I believe that I could end up absolutely anywhere in this world, and I have no qualms about whether or not I will enjoy the ride.

So do I fit? Of course! I could list place after place that feels like home, namely my actual home, of course. But even so, I believe that I am a boy of many homes, and I haven’t found them all yet, so I guess I should keep looking.

On that note, I’d like to say that life isn’t all about the adventure. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I go head over heels for it, but it isn’t all there is.

Life is also calling home. Life is taking the long way to class, and the short way back. Life is looking at your empty cup of ice cream, and wondering where it went in such a hurry.

So that brings us to question 3: Why does ice cream disappear so quickly?

Assassins: In My Bathroom.

Good morning all! I survived yet another night in the house, which is kind of surprising, all things considered. (and by all things considered, I mean considering that Nobu chases me down the hallways whenever he sees me.

Nonetheless, I still live. We’re down to four now, so I don’t see the game lasting for too much longer.. I have a plan for my next target, and I hope I live long enough to see it through.

Goodbye! And I hope to live to post again.

-Jt

Assassins: the story of.

It’s morning, and I survived the night, although i cannot say the same for Rachel H., Jamal, or Megan, who all met undignified ends. Personally, I think the high point was Jamal being sniped by a sock after being home for a grand total of 30 seconds.

There were 11 of us last night, and now the board reads 7. Who will be next?

This game is interesting, although it is destroying any trust that I have had for my housemates.. Funny how that works…

Well, I’m going to get back to homework now. Hopefully I survive long enough to post again.

-JT

Update time!

Wow. I’ve lived in Eugene for a month. It’s weird how fast the time goes by.

So am I loving it? Absolutely. There is so much potential for me here, in every sense of the word. I am simply and exuberantly excited, thrilled, and delighted about all of the opportunity here.

This, for instance: I am going to explore freelance work at this magazine. They have done everything from local human-interest stories to interview in Tibet with the Dali Lama.

Oh, and this:  I want to be in a musical so badly, and it turns out that this is a great town for it.

And all of my housemates are simply excellent. We do things all over the board. From watching The Walking Dead in a scared huddle, to adventuring around campus, we do it all. Even the little stuff, like dishes.

One month down. An undetermined amount to go.

Letsdothis.