Hakuna Matata

Wow, I almost got confused for a second and thought I could pose a question to my blog readers...but then I realized I have no blog readers. The question was going to be, what are some of your mottos or words you live by? I have many, which manifest themselves in various ways at various times or situations in my life. After all, it's all cyclical (there's a good one for ya). I sometimes try to come up with a few overarching ones that I seem to fall back to most often. One is, "Love hard, when there is love to be had." This is one of my most central beliefs.
In wading through my many mantras, I notice the trend towards a "let it be" philosophy. "So it goes," "It is what it is," and the song "What I Got" by Sublime all fall into this category. And yet I wonder, are these words I actively live by, or are they what I strive for? In day to day instances, I feel that I embody this attitude. I feel that I maintain a calm demeanor about most things. I get called into work on my day off, "so it goes." I have to deal with a particularly stupid customer at Subway, "I don't cry when my dog runs away, I don't get angry at the bills I have to pay..." sings its way into my brain.
And yet, there are many things in my life that, try as I might, I cannot approach with such a blase attitude. I want to, but I can't always bring the cool.
In these instances, my twin mottos emerge, with the wise truths of passion and adventure. Here, I can even more readily admit, these words are goals, rather than constants in my life. Things like, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing," may be what I want, but are certainly not my everyday realities.
Well, it's midnight on the dot, time to check my blog's stats and see that zero people have read this blog "today." And hey, share your mottos, folks!

Inspired by Eminem

They had the dynamic of gasoline and a lit match. They both played both roles well, each in turn. When he was the wallowing, puddle on the floor, she was there- always there- ready to set the fire that would engulf them both. Likewise, when her mood melted into that liquid fuel stage, he had the lighter poised and ready.
It was difficult to say why they did it. Maybe, in some weird way, they enjoyed it; all of it, the smell of burning hair, the sizzling, popping, broiling flesh, their bones incinerating. It has its appeal. Maybe neither of them knew anything else.
People warned them of course, their friends and families.
"Those who play with fire get burned," they'd say.
Does a lit match have ears for the wise words of loved ones?
Does gas give a fuck?

I think I'm getting saner

Wow, four girls just came into Subway and all ordered the same thing.
Oh, of course, they're part of the Spicy Italian club. Didn't you notice the pink bows in their hair? That signifies their membership into this cult.
Oh, that makes sense.
The guy behind them in line forgot to wear his bow, so he had to get his Spicy Italian with American cheese, instead of provolone, and got it toasted. The club also refused to acknowledge him. That's the rub.

Tyra says...

Yesterday I did something tres embarrassing, which I am only posting about on here because I have the preordained knowledge that no one reads this. Actually, 11 people do. Who are you?
Anyway, I know you're dying to know what I could possibly be embarrassed to admit to; well, here it is, I attended a modeling casting call. As I was walking through the city, trying to find the location, I stumbled upon a building I have long hoped to explore here in Philadelphia. In fact, it might be the landmark I most sought after. I saw it, looming in the distance, and immediately recognized the former home of my all time favorite, 6 strangers, picked to live in house and find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real. So many memories came flooding back to me when I saw the restored bank. I also noticed that a bunch of people were lined up outside, but I simply assumed it was a great photo op. However, after continuing for a ways, I realized that was the very TRUST building that I was looking for. I was going to get to go INSIDE the house! I did get to go inside!
The modeling itself is not something I am keen to share. Suffice it to say I wore heels and had to speak in front of over 200 people. Neither of these speak to any of my talents (swimming and sandwich making, nothing more, nothing less...unless you count blogging, but that's for you, oh Reader, to decide).
But, the bottom line is, that I was in the Real World Philadelphia house. I was barefoot inside the house- they made me take off my shoes to determine that I am, in fact, that ever feared 72 inches in height.
What can you take from this post? Two secrets that should never leave this sacred space: that I once walked a runway and that I am 6 feet tall.

More reasons to not go to The Pearl

You all think getting your news from me is bad, well, here's an example of how I find out the local scoop.
Last night at approximately 9:45, the self dubbed "bedouin" on the block came running into Subway.
"Yo, ya'll seeing the crazy shit going down out here, take a look out here man, some crazy shit. Down there by the movie theater, ya know the one? Where all them kids come on the weekend. All the white shirts are over there. Then all the girls are running. You know, the girls with the short shorts up to here. It's like, I don't want to see your panities man. What happened was the young bull did some dumb shit and then the old fellow pulled out his gun and he starts shooting. Shooting right into them kids and then he chased. That young bull did a dumb thing. He chased him back into the parking lot. Man, the bullets are flying. He could have been shot. I don't know man. Can I chill here?"
And that's how I found out that all the crazy noise and gun shots and screaming were because of said shooting.
I have to say though, Philly.com is not a whole lot more informative,and certainly not as colorful:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20100924_Two_teens_critical_after_shooting.html

A Penny Saved

No matter how you flip the coin,
I lose,
There’s a heart shaped hole,
Where you used to be,
Emptiness on both sides.

A Watery Grave

I know you guys are getting all dried out as summer fades and my pool-related posts dwindle- don't look back to see if I ever posted about the pool. Fear not though, Pearson pool at Temple University will help me fulfill your thirst for some splashy news.
Seriously though, my skin is really dry. Is this a seasonal thing?
Anyway, seeing as I am a woman of few skills, four of my six jobs consist of sitting by a pool watching people swim and hoping they don't drown. I'm a very hopeful person. Pearson pool stands out as the only indoor pool I work at. It is used primarily for lap-swim and swim classes. Up until recently, the pool complex consisted of two lap pools and a diving well, however, the diving well is currently under construction and the plan is to change it into a lecture hall-who'd of thunk?
A 15 foot pool of water has a sort of eery quality, but that's nothing compared to a 15 foot hole in the ground.
This post is dead in the water, do not resuscitate.