It'd be nice to read something pleasant for a change . . .

Wouldn't you agree? Well, no worries; here, you don't have to worry about the problems of the world or the biases of a particular individual. The sentiments shared here are intended to appease to the majority of individuals - to please and be an enjoyable experience. If you are upset by something shared, feel free to comment and express, else your voice be unheard - and that is something we do not want happening!

Love you. <3

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

MY PROBLEM IS I`M p e a c e f u l . . . && ~ [ I . BELIEVE . ] - intheppl;

I finally found out where a friend of mine got the line in her windows messenger status from: I do believe it was the same line that is the headline of what you're reading, which is from the song "Words I Never Said" by Lupe Fiasco, featuring Skylar Grey. It's pretty impressive and... yeah. I like it a lot.

Well, I'm at my dad's, in my sister's bed, Nephew was just playing on my legs, and my family are littered about the house. It's Tuesday, and, this time around, my weekend was pretty awesome! I tried to write something to precede it on Thursday, but I didn't really get to do anything. Oh, hello. Nephew has returned to absentmindedly rub my leg while watching television. Such a strange child. Anyway, yes: the weekend was magnificent.

I can simply tell you that I hope my friend and all of his guests had the best possible time they could have, because I am certain that it was a very enjoyable experience. Best of wishes go out to my good pal, everyone. Thanks!

Of course, we made new friends and shared laughs, which I am grateful for. Got to spend some time with familiar faces, too, which is always a good thing. Now Nephew is sitting on my leg. Just thought I should share. Back to the weekend, it was an overall good time. Not much else I can say, but I found it interesting how we each had our ventures for the summer - the summer before Senior Year. I don't know if it's a standard thing, because whatever's "normal" isn't quite definite to me anymore, but we've expressed more interest in our particular areas of interest as of late. It's most certainly a good thing, but I can't help but feeling as if it's a bit of a late-start.

Even if it is, of course, I'll be chasing after the others to catch up, keep up, and then pass them when I'm finally done playing around. Speaking of playing around, Nephew just climbed atop my back and shoulders, covered my eyes for the sentence before this one and part of this one. Pretty funny stuff. Sorry if it's a bit difficult to follow jumping back and forth between the content and occurrences, but it's feasible. You wouldn't continue reading if you weren't interested, would you?

Right.

Back to particular areas of interest. I've been doing these covers regularly for the summer [ my next is to be Adele's cover of "Black and Gold" by that marvelous Sam Sparrow fellow for my darling Kat. It's gonna be fun stuff! My friends are pretty supportive of what I've been doing, and I've been receiving tokens of benefit from all directions: experience in more areas than one. Good for me, yay yay yeah, all that nice stuff, but I was speaking with a friend of mine today who asked me to do a favor for her before I started writing tonight. Stephanie asked me for a favor which included going out of my way - which I don't mind in the least, mind you, so if you ever ask me for a favor, just ask, don't even bother with "can you do me a favor?" [ oh, and she wants me to include that she's awesome ] - and when I did it, it astonished her how simple of a matter it was to me.

I'm not entirely sure why, but people seem to make a big deal out of nothing. Not from her perspective, but in retrospect, if I would have declined her of her favor, which she probably could have very well done herself, I would have been denying her for what reason? Other than any other selfish reason that you can think.

Right.

I don't know if I've ever mentioned it before but selfless deeds are not over-rated at all. People put them down, claiming that there's a hint of a selfish desire in every charitable and acclaimed "selfless" deed. So what if there is? By their logic, there's a selfish desire in every action, every thought. We survive to live, and to protect our own lives is our first instinct - to protect someone else via putting ourselves in danger is something similar: your desire to keep them alive is something precious to you, and therefore it is selfish.

I am not saying that it is completely infallible substance what has been brought up here, but the gestures of generosity, I am sure, were established out of the pure and wholesome kindness in our hearts, regardless of whether we wanted something in return. I know when I gave a gift, I was racking my brain to think of a gift because I needed to get my friend a gift! I wanted to give him one, despite his nonchalant dismissal of the matter. "Oh, it's no big deal - you don't have to get me anything": the general gist of whatever we say to be bashful, polite, or what have you.

Our desires drive us, but it's our minds that establish what we desire. And, of course, how badly.

Now, I have no clue where I'm going with this - as if I ever do - however, the lyrics of this song, in particular the chorus, are as follows:
It's so loud inside my head,
With words that I should have said
As I drown in my regrets,
I can't take back the words I never said.

What do you think about regrets? Do you have any regrets? I don't think I have any that are eating away at me, seeing as how "everything happens for a reason", right? Well, let's see if we can make a connection here: if you keep something in your head, but you desire to say it aloud, why curb your tongue? People are overly-sensitive. At least, the people I've encountered, with exceptions that probably can be countered by the many others I actually aren't familiar with. If everyone was as blunt and straight-forward as needed, there wouldn't be as many dilemmas in the world, do you think? I mean, it wouldn't be an immediate change, or an easy one, but this line in the song - "I think that all the silence is better than all the violence" - can be used on both sides of the perspective here.

Do you think ignorance is bliss, or is it necessary to act upon kinds of aggression to get people going in the direction they need to?

Personally, I do not think that violence is always the answer. However, ignorance most certainly is not bliss in certain cases. It's all subjective, surely, but - to get into what I've learned of Philosophy so far - I concur with Immanuel Kant, for those of you who are familiar with the categorical imperative. It was a big deal that was in objection to most of my classmates when we were taught of it, but I found it interesting and took a liking to it.

Of course, peoples' opinions are different and their perspectives are varied. Granted, it makes finding out the truth all the more difficult - if it's even there at all.

Strange, ending on a foot like this. Since this is ending the way it is, I'll ask a follow-up question: if your take on approaching life is the right one, why?

<3 ~ Monty

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

YOU`RE RUNNING L A T E ! - - - - - - - [ the | doors | are | closing ] . . . ~

This train won't stop ~
         For anybody to get off.

Rollerblades by Eliza Doolittle! When I skipped to it, it perked me up instantly. I'll let you guys know, there's probably a lot more drama around me than I'm noticing, but I'm just shielding myself from all of it. Not the way to go about doing it, but it's the best option I have. I missed Friday, but the thing I wanted to focus on resurfaced today. I'm not entirely sure what to actually dub it as, like with a single-worded theme or whatever, but the message is what's more important, right?

I think it was Thursday, when I shared my upload for the person who requested the song [ Rainy <3 ]: she asked permission to quote me on her tumblr. Of course, I don't have a tumblr myself [ though it is in consideration, but will be sorted out when I've the time ], but I'm vaguely familiar with the site. The quote was from my last blog! How exciting, yes?

So, let's try to change the world, even if it's the smallest gesture you've ever made. People say we can't, but those are only words - show them what you can do with your actions. Show them who you really are and what you're made of.

Make someone else smile today.
- Monty


I was pretty flattered when I actually saw it up on her Tumblr and was honored at that. Pretty redundant, I know, but the whole point is certainly to spread the word. These words are not mine - I didn't create any of them - and these thoughts are all influenced by the world around us. However, these messages I have taken as my own to carry as an obligation to be delivered. I always say "think of me as you will", in the sense that I'm not entirely concerned with what you personally think of me at all, because that's not why I'm writing this message.

Anyway! Back to the aforementioned message!

So I scoured her Tumblr and saw that she wrote a blurb herself, letting all her Followers and whatnot know how her life was going. It wasn't anything to specific that I wanted to share, but there was this one part when she said she felt inferior to most of those in a particular area as her - this  was what I wanted to write about. I'm sure I can go on for hours on end, pumping empty, hollow words into your minds and make you think that everything's fine and dandy, but I don't sugar-coat these things. Not in the least.

Life is as enjoyable as you make it. The circumstances we "fall into" are only repercussions of the actions that direct our lives. We can't change the impact something has on us or anything like that, but we can most certainly maneuver the direction it shoves us in. Hard work and perseverance are never easy to attain, but as long as we're working towards a goal, that's all that matters, right?

There are always going to be people better than us and lesser than us - it's a fact as true as life. What part of the spectrum we land in doesn't really matter, because we've got to make due and can only go up! What you need to concern yourself is how to improve - how to become better than what you are at now. There is no ceiling to the sky, but there most certainly is a ground for us to stand on. You can say that it's possible you'll dig yourself down into the ground, but why waste that effort making it harder for you to ascend when you can just take off right here and now?

Your state of mind is the only thing that truly matters. If you're a pessimistic individual, things will only be at the bottom of the ball for you. That isn't to say that optimists have it easy or are better off - as true as I wish it were, it's simply not. Another reference; I spoke with my eldest sister earlier, and she's going through some hardships herself. As we all know, the current status of the economy makes things tight, and while I don't think she necessarily needs your pity, it's an alarm to all of you out there. She's struggling on her own, but is surrounded within a household of about five or so, not including me. She has provided for all of them at least once - at least once - and now that she needs help, she can get none in this particular instance.

Her situation is connected to the lives that we live every day. My point here is that things always happen for a reason. That was a philosophy that I seem to have forgotten in my frenzy of the ending summer - there's no way we can change what's to come, no way to change what's gone, but within our control is where we're headed, indeed. Whether we're on the ball that keeps rolling, leaving us behind when we fall off or to trample over us when we get ahead of ourselves, we need to find an acceptable medium. Something like that is always the most difficult to maintain - as most things are "easier said than done" - but "in order to gain, you must sacrifice".

This does not entail fasting or giving up your favorite activity for a particular allotment of time, but sometimes there are things in the long run that are more important than what you want right now. Strange: it's funny how sometimes, when you think your parents aren't in the ballpark at all, they're right on the money, huh?

Well, I leave you this Tuesday, requesting you to find a medium. Take it easy, but don't completely relax to the point where you'll lose all effort and drive. Channel all your energy in taking your one road, your one goal, your one dream head-on, full speed ahead. A back-up plan's perfectly fine, but if you don't give it your all, you won't even get so far as to gawk at what you want. Accept life the way it is and try to make it the best you can.

The only way to go is up!

<3 ~ Monty

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

" && t h e [ world ] will ~ know . . . "

"Where did Friday's blog go?" You may ask. Well, to clear things up, I was feeling a bit under the weather Friday, and my weekend was a bit busier and inconvenient than I anticipated, so I decided to simply wait until the next day for blogging to do so. So, here is Tuesday!

This time The Script's Before the Worst is playing. I love The Script, as I'm sure many others due. For those of you who aren't familiar with their name, their song Breakeven was probably the one that put them over the top. I don't think there's much else to say, but while this song sounds pretty sad [ because it kind of is ] I love it. Has an underlying message of hope and optimism - all that nice stuff!

Mm, let's see here. Oh! Right. It rained a bit today. Think of me as you will, but I like to make connections with what I think and what I do to the differences in days sometimes. Not all the time, but whenever I think there may be some kind of weird connection. As most of you probably have been taught, rain is simply precipitation with all the natural occurrences within the biosphere and what have you - I'm no ecologist or whatever. Rain symbolizes many things: tranquility, cleansing, sorrow, rebirth - a lot of other things too. And it only rained for maybe... half an hour or something like that, but I enjoy Summer rains, don't you?

Now, others who are familiar with video games / cartoons / manga or anime may recognize the name Naruto, which is a very popular story of a special ninja. No, I'm not going to blog about Naruto or its characters, but I was playing a very nice game - Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 for Sony's PlayStation 3 - and I couldn't get past a particular individual: Pain. I won't spoil anything by speaking any further of it, but it was a fairly arduous task, and I just found it strange that it rained after I got past that.

Connection? There is nothing other than the rain, and if you understand from that simple statement then you're fine; if not, then it's nothing more than actual rain falling from the sky. But, now that we're on the subject, if you were to look up into the rain, what would you see? Cloud-filled skies or cloudless skies beyond the field of droplets that incessantly pelted at your face, causing your eyelids to flutter every time the splash of water threatened to enter your eyes? What do you think of the rain? Does it make you depressed because you're confined to your home or do you enjoy it because it seems refreshing? How would you spend your day in the rain if you had nowhere to go?

On countless Bridges runs - essentially an organization driven on volunteer services to aid the homeless and less fortunate - we've been told by one of the greatest and magnificent souls I've encountered yet [ Mrs. Catherine Marshall <3 ] so many things. So many words of wisdom have left her mouth and hoped that most of us, if not all, have absorbed her selfless and gracious words. To think of the less fortunate is something I do oft, and I've heard so many things from different people: they've made the wrong choices; it's their fault because they didn't do something properly; it's not my issue because I'm not them - all of these things wrench my heart. It makes people sound heartless and ignorant, and it's a steadily growing trend that people are attempting to "spread the word."

You can see there are a lot of results this particular entry can fan out to, but I suppose this is oriented around a selfless desire, an action. People can argue that there's some selfish desire within a selfless desire, but even if it were to be selfish, does it make that much of a difference? Which sounds more practical: helping someone because you want to seem "selfish" or not helping someone because you don't want to seem "selfish"? End result is that you're helping, and that's a step in the right direction - while it may not be a step in the right direction, it's best for people to at least look in the same direction before taking a step forward.

Or else we'd all just be looking different ways and step right into each other, onto each others' toes, and stifling progress altogether.

So, let's try to change the world, even if it's the smallest gesture you've ever made. People say we can't, but those are only words - show them what you can do with your actions. Show them who you really are and what you're made of.

Make someone else smile today.

<3 ~ Monty

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

WIDE i's & a [ c - c l o s e d ] ___ blind .

Okay, so it's Tuesday. Just got home from a long weekend with half of my family. I figured I'd make this a regular thing to happen Tuesday and Fridays - Tuesdays to recuperate from the weekend and the splenderific start to a week and Friday to sum up what marvelous things happened during the week and to look forward to the weekend. Sounds like an infallible system, don't you agree?

I'm currently listening to Blinding by Florence and the Machine. Way back when she had the single Dog Days Are Over, I'll admit I wasn't all over her, but now that I've buckled down and taken a particular interest in several artists who I think would be able to define me fairly well with their music and lyrics [ or who I just enjoy listening to 8D ] she's flourished on me. Regardless of what everyone else says, trending opinion or not, I'll like who I please, and you shouldn't take it of the utmost concern whether I listen to music or not. I share these songs that I scramble for and put on repeat to give you an understanding of how the mood is set when I type this.

Alright, enough of this, time to get into it, shall we?

So, all throughout the weekend, I was thinking of what I was going to do. And, from that initial thought, I should have known better - I don't anticipate things as well as I probably should be able to. I mean, I'm able to prepare for something with the proper information, of course, but something that is simply to happen as it does is not supposed to be pre-meditated, you get what I mean? That being said, I racked my brains for some kind of meaningful message to give you all - something that would be borderline cheesy and sappy but realistic all the same. I mean, if you spoke with me, you'd understand how caring I can be, but I don't think that a constant feeding you icing and sugar is going to make your problems and worries go away.

In fact, I'm no miracle-worker, I'm just me.

But, as it seems, all of this is irrelevant, because a friend of mine tagged me in this thing on Facebook. Ah, yes - good ol' Facebook! Now, now, whether you have a Facebook or not, mediums or communication amongst all your friends is most likely an important asset to you, whether a youth or an elder, as friendships are what makes life so much more enjoyable, don't you agree? And this friend of mine, I call her Ashycat and she's a lovely gal pal of mine who I'd do anything in the world for [ except maybe hug her cat Edward because he and I are already on bad terms for him blocking the television ], she had this note on Facebook. I don't exactly recall what it was, so I'm going to run and check it. And then I'm going to post it in here on this blog. =D

Joy~!

Apparently, there are layers [ visual of an onion ] and each layer has a question. Fascinating stuff. At the end, you are to tag eleven people [ significant of the eleven layers ] that you would like to know the layers and its contents of. Feel free to do this exercise yourself if you ever find the time to. I'm doing this here because I owe it to her - it's the least I can do. <3

Try to enjoy and understand my answers, please and thank you? I haven't really read it through, so if it's the first time you're seeing this, then it seems that's one thing of many we may have in common!

LAYER ONE: On the Outside--
Full Name: Darin Frank Earl Jr.
Birthday: Janurary 3rd, 1994
Single or Taken?: Single
School: Oratory Preparatory School
Major: Currently in High School
Eye color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

LAYER TWO: On the Inside--
Your Fears: Being lost without direction; Not being able to achieve dreams / happiness, seeing as reality likes to beat down on everything. But, remain optimistic!
Goals: Become an influential individual, no matter what I do in life or where I may go; as for career aspirations, I hope to become an entertainer or performer of sorts: particularly vocal performance or theatrical arts.
Regrets: Quite the number. If it's requested to share, I will share without discretion.
Relieve Stress: Music, writing, admittedly talking with someone to distract self.

LAYER THREE: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow--
Your first thoughts waking up: I'm not entirely sure. Probably something to do with the dream I may or may not remember or something to do with the day ahead of me. Or maybe I just don't think of anything - normally, I'm interested in waking up and checking stories.
Today: Beg your pardon? I don't know what this is asking, but if it's about my morning thoughts, I have no recollection. I woke up about three times because of the inconvenience of sleeping spaces, so my mind was greatly out of it. But, in regards to what I did, I pretty much lounged about and wrote... And that's about it. Haha.
Your most missed memory: Mm, interesting. I don't miss ones who've passed because, whether I truly think so or not, they're with me and watching over me. I've subconsciously been moping over my older brother, and as I wrote that, something concurred within me, so I guess the memory of my childhood and my older brother Christopher would be a legitimate one. Though, he hasn't passed, he's with his family in Jamaica - alive and well, I hope.

LAYER FOUR: Your likes--
Pepsi or Coke: I don't really have a preference. Either or give me the texture of acid eating away at my enamel, but if I was given the choice right then and there, I'd grab a Coke.
McDonald's or Burger King: McDonald's for certain.
Single or Group dates: Haha. Admittedly? I'ven't been on either or. With my "relationships" as you can call them, they've either just fallen into place or spring out of order. That's how things work with me, it seems. Though, I'll be more focused on my date in a single date, group dates do sound more entertaining, especially with my select of friends.
Lipton Tea or Nestea: Lipton Teaaaaa. =]
Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla, for certain.
Cappuccino or Coffee: I'd rather not, but I've never had a Cappuccino, I don't think. That being said, I don't really need any caffeine in my system - I mean, I'm always filled with enough energy already. ^^;;

LAYER FIVE: Do You--
Do Drugs: If you knew me, you wouldn't think I would need any. Sounds wrong, but when you can have your fun the most when you're sober and your system is clean, what good is drugs? No use for me.
Have a crush: Well, I kind of always do, so that question's like asking, "Do you have a nose?"
Think you've been in love: Key word "think" is indeed a key word; yes, I've fallen for an individual or two in the past. I don't say ignorance is exactly bliss, but with the way things turned out, I would have hoped to known otherwise. ^^;;
Want get married: It's been a thought in my mind, seeing as how I've encountered so many individuals who are reliable and seemingly the best people I know in my life so far. So, yes, there is one particular lady, whether she knows it or not, that I'm thinking of settling down with in the future. Thing is, I'm trying to line up all my cards so I don't have to worry about anything else the dealer dishes me.
Believe in yourself: To be honest, I've had the whole identification and self-esteem run too many times. I've finally decided that the only person who's going to indefinitely believe in me isn't one of my parents, nor is it my flesh and blood or even the greatest of strangers - it's me. So, yes, I do believe in myself, as you all should with yourselves.

LAYER SIX: In the Past Month--
Drank alcohol: What's that? ;]
Gone to the mall: Yes! I went with my good pal Matt. We had a grand time. I also went with my sister Bree and my Step-Mother. <3 We had fun as well.
Eaten Sushi: Nope.
Dyed your hair: I... kinda don't have hair for that. Ahaha.

LAYER SEVEN: Have You Ever?--
Hid something from someone?: Hahaha. I'm pretty sure I have and it totally was lame and not worth it. But, all in good fun, right?
Stolen anything: Like legit example of shoplifting? Well, I'm no perfect cookie, so I've fallen victim to temptation as just about every other human being has.

LAYER EIGHT: Getting Old--
Age you're hoping to be married: Actually, I'm not entirely sure. If it is sometime around the thirties, then so be it, but I'm dedicating my first half of my twenties doing as I please, I suspect.
Age you're hoping to have children: Ideally, after marriage would be perfect. And that goes for any time span after marriage: a week, a year, five years - whenever they're ready. Adoption or creating our own, it'll be a loving little family, I am sure.
Want to travel to: So many places that I'll knock them off when I go on a world tour. ;D

LAYER NINE: Perfect Mate
Eye Color: Doesn't matter what color, so long as I can see them every day and I can see comfort in them when I'm around, only to know it'll stay there when I'm not. -cue 'awww' here-
Best Hair Color: It'd be interesting to have children with brown hair, so however genetics work - I don't recall biology and hereditary stuff all that much - that's what I'd like.
Short or Long Hair: I suppose either is fine.

LAYER TEN: What were you doing-
5 MINUTES AGO: Typing this up, seeing as how it doesn't take less than five minutes to bold-face as we move along. Prior to that, if you must know, I was settling in from arriving home.
1 HOUR AGO: Waiting to be picked up and dropped off home; also was reading up on stories to analyze what I had to work on.
1 YEAR AGO: Enjoying Summer - in August, though, I think I was focusing on Junior year, but my focus kind of slipped right before it started. Heh - oh well~!

LAYER ELEVEN: Finish the Sentence--
I Love: All of you
I Feel: Content
I Hate: Nothing
I Hide: the truth when I don't want it interfering at that instant.
I Miss: the good memories.
I Need: an opportunity that will spring me up to where I need to be.




And that looks like it's it! =D I hope you enjoyed it, because now I'm tired and I'm going to take a shower! Thanks for reading, lovies. See ya Friday~ <3
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