4/17/2019 0 Comments Happy 4/20
There's an easy way to tell when you're too drunk. You've had too many drinks, you become impaired, you're stumbling, you're texting your ex, you're crying in the bathroom for no apparent reason, you're throwing up. Getting drunk doesn't sound as fun when you're a grown up.
You've got shit to do. People to do, things to see.
How high is too high?
That question doesn't even really make sense if you don't think about it. Someone passes you a joint after you've already smoked two, you're not going to just say no. That's rude.
Anybody who is willing to share their weed with you should be celebrated. So you grab that joint and you take at least one hit. One good one, ya know. After you pass it, you're kinda just sitting there. You're friends are having a conversation about whether or not self-driving cars are a good idea. And wondering if there will eventually be some kind of taxi service with these self-driving cars. It's like in that one Will Smith movie, where all the cars drive themselves and you have time to work and do whatever else. You're just sitting there in the driver's seat doing your thing, and next thing you know you're at your destination. A lot of it will have to do with how the roads are constructed and whether or not we can find a way to keep trash, debris, and animals away from the street so the self-driving cars aren't confused on whether or not what they're seeing is something they can drive past or something they need to stop for. In an ideal world for self-driving cars, it would have to be a situation where all the cars on the road were self-driven. There would have to be some type of communication between the cars themselves to let each other know how fast they're going and where they're going so that the car can make decisions ahead of time. And . . . wait we got off topic. Ok, hold on.
Smoking! Yes. That's what we were talking about. Ok, so you're sitting there and you're friends are smoking a joint and you're listening to them.
You finally are ready to put in your two cents into the conversation and BOOM, another joint is in rotation again. Are these guys joking? Like are they trying to get you to a new level of high? Do they hate you or something? Nah. As you sit there looking at your friend handing you the joint, you're about to say no and next thing you know you're taking another puff. Four joints in, you damn pothead. How did you get here? But like really, how did you get here? Just a couple years ago, you had a completely different group of friends. One's who didn't smoke you out. They were like "Are you going to drop on it?" Drop on it?! Is this a fucking pool where everyone pitches in to try to win the lottery and split it up? No. It's weed, dude. And you had friends who were asking you to drop some money? Wow, that's fucked up.
Imagine you're at your friends house for dinner. As they're making the food they're like "Hey this chicken cost me $11 and the potatoes cost $5 and the veggies cost $8. Can you drop $5 on a plate?"
That's your friend? Nah, that's not your friend. They probably never even smoked weed before. And if they did, take away they're weed privileges. Smoking weed is all about sharing. Sharing stories, experiences, water, conspiracy theories, snacks, water, weed, water, weed. Treat this 4/20 like it's Christmas. Gather your friends, family, and someone who could use some love and smoke some weed. Wear your comfiest clothes and take a load off. Roll ten fucking joints, who cares? It's Weed Christmas. And if they don't smoke weed, just give them an edible. They'll be fine, they're not going to die.
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4/10/2019 0 Comments Spring CleaningPeople always look at New Year's Day to create a resolution for the year. But the real time to create a resolution should be when Spring comes. There's nothing like that first sunny and breezy day that makes you feel like a new person. Those long cold winters always seem to give us a sense of comfort and warmth from being inside all the time. Spring is the time for weather change, and a mental cleanse. Let's change the meaning of Spring Cleaning. Typically it's about donating your old clothes, getting a start on your yard for the summer, or cleaning out the garage. But let's do a Spring Cleaning for our lives. The best part of winter and staying inside these days is watching Netflix and eating snacks all day. But those days are over. The sun is out and the flowers are blooming. They say April showers bring May flowers, but in Northern California, it's more like February to April and then May starts to get hot as hell. There's a very small window for Spring here, so don't waste any time! Think about one specific goal you wanted to reach this year. If you haven't really gotten a start on it or are not where you'd like to be, now is the real time to start. You may be feeling down on yourself for not doing what you said you would, but that sunshine will give you some Vitamin D and some positivity. Let this beautiful weather not only motivate you to clean your house, but also motivate you to cleanse yourself of all that is weighing you down or holding you back. Take a look at the people around you and ask yourself if these people are motivating you to be better or are allowing you to continue living your simple and comfortable life. People will come and go in your life, so don't be afraid to use this time as a way to evaluate the friendships you have.
Life is too short to worry about hurting people's feelings. If there are people in your life who are not encouraging you to get your ass off of the couch, then it's time to live and let live! Wake up and realize that you are in control of who you surround yourself with, and you are only as strong as your weakest link. This doesn't mean you have to cut people out of your life, but it does mean that you need to evaluate what's important. Life goals, physical health, and mental health. The only time you should be on your phone when the sun is out is to be taking pictures of the sky and the flowers and your beautiful face with your Spring glow. Look at how you spend your free time. Relaxing and enjoying some alone time is great, but are you being productive? Sitting on the couch and watching television isn't exactly the best use of your time. Ask yourself what you can do to move forward. When the time changes this time of year, they call it "Spring Forward." And usually it sounds like a bad thing because you're losing an hour. But just use it as a reminder that time is wasting! Like really, what are you waiting for?! 4/3/2019 0 Comments Do You Have a Dollar?When was the last time you went to the Dollar Tree? That place has everything. You go in there with $20 and you are literally a king. They're not kidding when they say everything is one dollar. Shit, some stuff is even cheaper than that. They've got Hallmark greeting cards two for $1. Those things are like $5 at Target. A five pack of Top Ramen, trash bags, a 40 pack of envelopes, a liter of Pepsi, silverware, deodorant, and whatever else you can possibly think of. So the real question is, why don't you shop there more often? They have everything that you can find at any other store. Maybe other stores have better lighting and are more comfortable. Maybe it's because they sell everything in smaller packs so it could get annoying having to go back more often. Or maybe it's because it makes you feel broke.
Whatever the case is, let it go. The Dollar Tree kicks ass. When you see someone asking for money on the corner, we should be giving them gift cards to the Dollar Tree. At least we'd know that it's going to something other than alcohol and cigarettes. There's really no deeper meaning here. Just be financially conscious in everything you do, and don't be afraid to shop at a place that was invented for #BrokeBoyz. Because if you keep spending more on stuff that you could be getting for a dollar, then you yourself with be a part of the #BrokeBoyz. This one is for the cheap asses who like to buy Arizona's and Pringles and a bunch of stuff they don't without even spending $10. 3/19/2019 1 Comment Five Minutes of InspirationImagine if life went exactly the way you planned. You'd accomplish all of your goals, you'd keep all the people in your life that you think will guide your future, and you'd run into little to no adversity. And while that all sounds great, it also sounds kind of boring. You're not boring. You weren't made to be boring. Your future won't be boring. It would be great to live a comfortable life and never have a feeling of sink or swim. But that's not how people grow and learn and move forward. It happens through the unexpected.
The unexpected is exactly what you need to push you in the right direction. If you're the type of person to crumble in the face of the unexpected then maybe your life will be boring. You'll allow yourself to fail in the face of adversity, and you'll shy away from a challenge. You'll continue to hang out with the same friends who do the same things every week. You'll never meet new people who genuinely impact your future positively. So if you want to live boring, go ahead. Don't take challenges head on. Allow yourself to fail when the unexpected hits you. Hang on to all the people who are perfectly fine with you staying in the same position you are in. People who genuinely care about you will root for you no matter where you go or what you do. It's the people who display jealousy and resentment towards you when you move on that you need to let go. So take on a new challenge. Surround yourself with people who want you grow. Don't be boring. Be dope. Putting your phone down, the most impossible task in the world. Everything in the world is right there at your fingertips. Social Media, News, texts from your mom asking you to take the chicken out of the freezer. Being able to disconnect from the item that has seemingly become another part of our body is harder than it should be. Can you live without your phone? Of course you can. But can you live without your phone? Probably not. The Apple iPhone has a setting that takes into account how much Screen Time you have used daily and weekly. It's actually a really scary thing to look at. Realizing how much of your day is being taken away because of the black hole of information that is contained in that tiny rectangular screen. Putting your phone down and enjoying the world around you sounds like a simple solution. Yet it isn't that easy. But why? Let's start with the essentials, because there are some things that you do actually need your phone for. The clock, because you need to know what time it is. Most people don't wear regular watches anymore unless its strictly for fashion. Keeping in touch with your family. Grandma sends you that text every night "Goodnight sweetie. I love you!" And if you don't text her back she thinks something terrible has happened to you. You need to check those emails, whether its for work or they're statements for your bills. You need to know what the weather is going to be like. And you need GPS to tell you where you're going. But everything after that is what gets us in trouble. We need entertainment. Whether its Netflix, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or NBA League Pass, theres a plethora of entertainment that we can indulge ourselves in. And indulge we do. If you're reading this right now, you're a reader (Which we promote here). But even reading stuff like this is for the use of entertainment. And although we must be entertained, there must be balance. There's thousands and thousands of apps for gaming. This can be a fun little getaway from the realities of life at times, but I'm sure some modern day Oompa Loompas would have a song about why its bad for you. But the biggest battle most people have with putting their phone down is because of social media. There's a million ways to stay connected with your friends, family, celebrities, your favorite restaurants or sports teams. Pretty much anything or anyone you can think of has a social media page. It's not just one page, theres Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Reddit, and whatever else the kids are using these days. And with so many options, it may turn you into Veruca Salt. Wanting everything at your fingertips with the push of a button. This epidemic stems from a couple of reasons. The least worrisome is FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). People want to constantly stay connected with the happenings in the world because they think if they don't check their phone every 20 minutes they might have missed out on something important. And in most cases, you're not missing out on much. This dependency we have created for ourselves may not seem like much, but it is a small form of anxiety. Being behind everyone else who is staying up to the second with their feeds stresses us out. It gives one a sense of relief knowing that they're up to date with all their social media followings. But the most troublesome reason is one that most of us may have trouble seeing within ourselves. There is a desire for others to see what we're up too or what we've posted. When you post a picture on Instagram, you expect to get likes from your friends. When you send out a tweet on Twitter, you're hoping people either like it or retweet it or respond to it. It is a constant seeking of approval from those around you in the social media world. There is nothing wrong with posting things that interest you and that you hope others are interested in as well. But its the underlying driving force to want to be liked that could lead you down a slippery slope. So what can we do to not only limit our screen time, but make our screen time more valuable? It's starts with taking a look into the mirror. Or in this case, your front facing camera.
Look at your Screen Time and see what is taking up most of your time. More than likely it is going to be dominated by either Social Media, Entertainment, or Gaming. If you don't fall into any of those categories than you're probably a robot who lacks culture. If you don't like what you see from your results, do something about it. If you're on social media too much, delete a couple of your apps. You don't need to stay connected through every social media app, most of them contain the same news just presented in a different way. If you're indulging in too much entertainment, put a limit on how much Netflix you allow yourself to watch in a day. I'm pretty sure those movies and shows aren't going anywhere. You don't need to Binge Watch 5 hours of "Workin' Moms" in one day. If you're playing too many games, delete all the apps except for one or two. Keeping just a couple on your phone at a time can help you limit yourself from trying to play every game every day. You don't need to stop using your phone in order to stay connected with the real world. It's all about limiting the amount of useless crap you put into your brain. You need entertainment, social connections, and gaming to allow the creativity juices in your brain to flow. But whatever you do, don't stop reading! 3/5/2019 0 Comments Rainy DayzPhyllis Vance once said, "It's raining Cats and Dogs out there." And although that doesn't really make any sense, she's right in more ways than one. In this particular moment, she only meant it figuratively speaking as she was referring to how much rain there was. But life is so much like these rainy days, but it's really all about your perspective on how to weather the storm. Each and every day is unique in it's own way. Think of every new day as a person's fingerprint. Every fingerprint is similar, but none are the same. Not even identical twins have the same fingerprint. So how are you treating each and every day? Are you treating them like they are similar? Or are you celebrating them in all of their uniqueness? There is beauty in everyday, its just up to you to find what it is about that day that is special to you. Or how you're going to make that day special. Too often, people get comfortable with being comfortable. When life gives them rain, they sit inside with a blanket and watch Netflix until the storm passes. But there is no better time than now to face the storm head on. Whatever it is that you're going through right now, it's time to get your rain boots and get out there and put in work. The weather isn't going to change for you, the weather is the weather. So stop worrying about what you can't control, and take control of your situation. Even if it's something small, a change for the better is always better. By the end of the day Phyllis Vance's view on the storm changed because of her perception. I mean normally the rain would make me want to stay at home curled up with a good book. But everyone is being so nice to me today, I'm really happy being here So find your happy place in the middle of the rain, and you'll find yourself wishing for gray skies. 2/14/2019 0 Comments Is it Pronounced "GIF" or "JIF?"The English language has never really made sense. I before E except after C, or when sounding like A, as in neighbor or weigh. But thats a lie anyway because there are like nine words in the English dictionary that don't even follow this rule. And they're in the damn dictionary! So what is right? The word weird itself is spelled weird. The irony of the word weird breaking English language law is uncanny. There are words that are in the Merriam-Webster dictionary now that aren't even words, they're just abbreviations. But because Americans use them so much in everyday language, they had no choice but to add words like GIF to their dictionary. So how the hell do you even pronounce GIF? GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. But you probably didn't even know that. And thats fine. It's not your fault. They put the word in the dictionary, so there would be no need for you to ever know what it stands for. You just know that is the word to describe a picture that moves but isn't quite a video. So the dictionary has the pronunciation on their site as "Gif" with a hard "G" sound. However, the inventor of the web format itself has declared that the word should be pronounced "Gif" with a hard "J" sound. But he isn't an English major, he's a web designer. So what does he know? He only invented the damn thing. It only makes common sense that it would be pronounced "Gif" with a hard "G" sound, seeing as how the word starts with the letter G. But does it even really matter? This whole debate is all about whether or not you choose to pronounce this word a certain way. Some of you are right and a lot of you are wrong. But that is besides the point that is trying to be made here.
Everyone is so enamored with the idea of being right nowadays. If you post an opinion on social media, be prepared to be told you're wrong. Hell, you can even post a fact like global warming online and you can somehow be proven wrong by the President of the United States of America. North America. If you want to pronounce the word with a G, then go right ahead. If you want to pronounce it with a J like the brand of peanut butter, then by all means do you. But whatever you do, do it because of personal choice. You live in America. You have free will to do just about whatever you want. They tell you not to break the law, but the language we speak breaks its own laws. So screw the English language. And if someone ever tries to tell you that you are pronouncing a word wrong, tell them that everything in life is about perception. It may not make you right, but it will in your own mind. Common sense tells us that the cereal should go into the bowl first. But what if you only wanted a certain amount of milk to go with your cereal? It's easier to see how much milk you are using with no cereal in the bowl. It's a bold strategy, but maybe it works for some. It all depends on how you perceive your bowl of breakfast. Are you adding cereal to your bowl of milk? Or are you using milk for your bowl of cereal? Your chances of spilling increase when you try to plop some cereal into a bowl full of milk. From a scientific standpoint, the cereal may be doing cannonballs into your milk. It's going to look cool if you record it in slow motion from an aerial view. In the end, it'll all taste the same. This is so similar to how goals can be perceived. Common sense will always tell us to take the route that sounds right. You're so hungry for your goals that you put them first, and view the goal as the only thing you're trying to get to. But you're forgetting about everything that comes with it.
Putting the work in first is going to be messy. There is going to be times when you can't find the balance between your goals and the work to reach that success you are looking for. Your bowl will be overflowing with questions on whether or not you're following the right path to your goals. There is no right or wrong way to reach your goals. Every situation is fluid and different. So don't worry about how the neighbors create their bowl of cereal. And remember that as long as you are eating you are blessed. But just to be clear, cereal goes first. If you put the milk first, we're most likely going to see a Netflix series on you that is something similar to the Ted Bundy Tapes. You're a weirdo. 2/8/2019 1 Comment NEXT UP: Ricardo AparicioVery few times in your life, you will run into people who will make a lasting impact on you and your perception on the world. They may not always be the person you expect. In this case, it was a young hispanic kid who used his humor to get through every minute of every day. Not to say he never took anything seriously, but... well yeah he pretty much never took anything seriously. Which was inspirational for me to be around, because sometimes shit just really ain't that serious. Ricardo Aparicio Skateboarder - Photographer - Comedian - Cat Lover - Great Human The first time I met Ricardo Aparicio was at his niece's birthday party, I think he was like 15 or 16 years old. He was a pretty funny kid, but I was closer to his older brother at the time who I worked with. His brother went on and got a job somewhere else, and Ricardo ended up working with me. The thing that stood out to me was his ability to make me genuinely laugh. Most of the time at work I just laugh at people's stupid ass jokes because I feel obligated too. But this kid was really fucking hilarious, even when he wasn't trying to be. He lightened up every situation, no matter how stressful work got. As he has gotten older, it has been fun to watch him continue to be himself and make an impact on others. I know he's probably reading this like "This doesn't describe me at all, I'm just a normal ass dude." But it's a front he puts on, he really is a nice guy with good intentions and cares about others I don't care what he says. When I started this series of interviews, I knew Ricardo was someone who would be a fun read for y'all. How it all started Ricardo is a young 24 year old who was born and raised in Salida, California. Through the years, I have heard people talk a lot of shit about the people from the Modesto/Salida/Ceres area. But honestly, some of the most unique people I have ever met are from there. The diversity this area offers allows the people to connect with people of all races, backgrounds, and classes. Being the youngest of all his siblings helped shape him into the man he is today, kinda. When I asked him what it was like, he said "As the youngest you’re kind of house bitch aha I’ll tell you what, I am so good at watching people play video games." It's pretty funny imagining him just sitting there never being allowed to play, but that's how it works when you're the youngest. He still has family there for him, even if they probably made him feel like he never belonged and that he should just find a new family. (That's sarcasm, but he gets it) The Power of Skateboarding As a young kid, he fell in love with skateboarding. It all started with video games ironically, he would play Tony Hawk Pro Skater with his best bud Devin. He specifically remembered a time when he was walking home and saw some older kids skateboarding in real life, and he used his knowledge he got from the game to help him sound cool and seek acceptance. He never viewed skateboarding as something that was tangible, but he would soon find out how much it could change his life. Skateboarding created characteristics within Ricardo that would mold a carefree kid into a compulsive worker. He would spend hours trying to perfect tricks on his board, never stopping until he felt that he had succeeded. It reminded me of the traits of Kobe Bryant, just an unbelievable amount of time dedicated to perfecting his craft until it was right to him. But one of the things that stood out to me was his use of the word "brotherhood." He treated the people he would hang out and skate with as his second family. Just learning how to navigate through life as a young kid, and trying to talk to girls which I'm sure he probably failed at multiple times. He has since improved his game, and that is an inspiration. It shows anything is truly possible. But seriously, his building of relationships and just learning how to grind out there in the streets gave him an edge that allowed him to be successful in any atmosphere. The Lessons I asked Ricardo who some of his biggest influencers in skateboarding and life were and his answer was simple, yet insightful. He said "In life, I am not sure. Just anyone who I've ever met that were themselves. I really like people." If you've ever met Ricardo, you know he really means that, and that shit is deeper than even he realizes. The day and age we live in, people glorify famous people like they are god-like figures or are viewed as role models, when in reality it's the everyday people who go through the same bullshit we have to go through everyday that are the true role models. He has created a platform to share with the world his vision of skateboarding. Whether it's him behind the camera getting some dope ass photos or videos, or him gripping a brand new board, or him writing about some dope kids he's met at the park. His website has inspired me to grind harder, and his photos give us an insight to how intricate this sport really is. Droid is just the beginning for Ricardo, and the world will soon know that it is more than just about skateboarding, it's about life. Just like in many sports, you can find something relatable from skateboarding and show how it translates to the real world. Ricardo was able to find the words to describe it when he said, "Trial and error. It starts creating patience. It forces you to really take in self-awareness and think about what you got to do yourself to get the result you need." Practice makes perfect. It may not make you into the greatest at whatever it is that you're doing, but it'll definitely help you master your craft and perform at your highest potential. Failure is just a lesson, it's what we do after failure that defines us. The Message Being a part of a community is vital in how we change the future of our country and how we influence the youth. Ricardo has been a part of a group that has been building a skatepark in Woodland to create a new place for people to skateboard and just hang out. I remember him always telling him about skating in vacant parking lots, downtown on weekends, and other random spots that he probably wasn't supposed to be skating at. So to hear that he is doing something for the future of skateboarding, and for the kids who need a place to chill is pretty dope. His website is an escape from reality. It allows the viewer to see a side of skateboarding they may not be accustomed too. A view through the lens has given us a glimpse into what is like to build a skatepark, and the challenges that come with it. It takes an entire community to come together for a project, and Ricardo is an important piece to that puzzle. The thing that caught my attention most from our interview was when I asked him how the sport of skateboarding could help build a better future for the youth. Instead of giving me some fluffy bullshit answer, he was straight-forward and honest. Well what if it isn’t? The thing about skateboarding is that, it’s not like karate This kid just gets it, that’s the best way I can describe it. He understands that life is complex, and sometimes it's better to see things as they are instead of trying to sugar coat everything. He never takes things too seriously, yet he knows how serious everything he does is. He helped me realize a few things about myself throughout my time knowing him, and I needed to share it with you all. The only way to get through this bullshit we call life is to laugh through it all. Not to say it's all one big joke, but I mean Donald Trump is our president for Christ's sake, that's the biggest joke of them all. Ricardo is better than Donald Trump, and if you ever get the chance to have a conversation with him and you disagree with that then you're just a douche. Check out his website here!
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