Friday, March 30, 2012

Star Grill Saved My Life

Hello,

So last night, I sort of witnessed the shooting that happened down by Granville and Broadway. I was going home from the bar, so I had been drinking. Please, it is important that you keep that in mind. Throughout this whole story, because there are definitely holes, and that's one reason I think I would be no help to the police.

So I'm walking back and of course I'm hungry. Alcohol makes anyone hungry, so I make the wonderful, never regretful decision to go to Star Grill. I go in, get the usual, and leave. It takes about 10 min, I know because for some odd reason, I was completely aware of the clock, probably because I was starving and was waiting for my damn food.

I leave and set off down Broadway towards Granville. The whole time I was walking, the only thing I could focus on was my food, that's all I cared about. Just strutting along, smelling that "aroma a la star" which has that perfect mix of awesome wrapped in a thick,sad layer of sadness. I get to right around the "Antique Mall" area, and I hear a "pop," look up a bunch of people scatter down side streets, and the two cars in the middle of the road, one pedestrian car and one taxi take off. The taxi pulled up right by me, and got out. The other car, just sped off.

I think the other car was the target, but once again I remind you I had been drinking. I'm not sure what I saw, but I want to say I saw a guy pull a gun back when he scattered. Another part I'm a little fuzzy on, is whether they were at Granville or Rosemont. I want to say Rosemont, but apparently it was Granville. I'm not sure, about many things. The only things I am sure about are the sound, the cars, and the food.

I talked to the Cabby and he was fine, and he had some "dent" in the back of his car. I don't know if that means it got shot, or he did that some other time, and now is gonna try and bank of that insurance.

I do want to say, that the email we received today about it, confirmed my experience, but more so this part of the email definitely was important

"Campus Safety wants to take this time to remind everyone that it is imperative that you remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Stay alert and able to recognize behaviors that may be considered suspicious or unsafe. "

It is important to understand, how I followed none of these guidelines when I was walking home...alone.... at 2:40 in the morning with some of the most desirable pieces of food available to students.

The reason I say Star Grill saved my life is because had I not gotten it, maybe just maybe I would've been down by that intersection whenever that shit went down. Maybe I would have gotten shot (which is sort of a messed up fantasy of mine). Not fatally shot, just through the shoulder or something of my left arm, missing anything really important.  I don't like playing the victim, but the sympathy and story alone would be so truly epic how could you not love it. I guess the actual getting shot part might be undesirable to most.

If I would have died, probably no one would have known until like 4 days later just because that's my guess. Anyway, I don't find the incident a laughing matter, I find my stupidity hilarious, but people did get shot and that's never a good thing (they are alright, apparently).

Still, I guess I should uphold Campus Safety's reminder and actually encourage people to do everything they say, and don't succumb to the temptation of staying healthy and avoiding that late night snack, because god knows where I would be right now without Star Grill.

It saved my life, and I owe it everything. I dedicate this post to it and all other awesome fine late night open establishments that may have saved other nights.

Let's make food not war! 

Up with philly cheese down with bashing knees! 

Pro-Grease, Anti-Decease!

All those and well that's about it there isn't a food and gang terminology crossover, even though you think there would be. Even those are a giant stretch, I admit it.

Be safe, watch yourself, and eat food because fat people are entirely to lazy to be violent.
Night, Nite, Knight,
Jarrad

Monday, March 26, 2012

Appropriately Unreachable

Dear everyone,

I've been re-watching a lot of Scrubs recently, and one of the best things about that show is the soundtrack. Those of you who are not fellow "Scrubers," first off should change that immediately, and secondly understand the greatness behind some of their song selections.

Often when it comes to movies and TV the right music can make a scene great, but it's really phenomenal, when the right scene can make a song great. Most people don't know this, but The Fray's "How to Save a Life" got its recognition in one of Scrubs best episodes of all time "My Lunch."

One of the best scene in Scrubs history...the history of the world even, involving Dr. Cox, J.D., and some sad things. I don't want to ruin it for those of you who plan on watching it. The scene was so powerful and moving along with the song complementing it perfectly, you can't ask for a better combination of passion and emotion.

Joshua Radin's "Winter," became famous in another popular (and ever so good) episode "My Screw Up." Not only launching the song, but his career as a musician. 

This post isn't about Scrubs though and their great music selection, it is about one song in particular and more so what that song means. In the episode "His Story III," which revolved around the point-of-view of the Janitor, Neil Flynn, instead of JD (which is the norm). The song in that episode is Augustana "Boston."

Now, I don't know anything about this band, other than this song. Whatever else I've heard, I didn't care much for. Regardless, if you like the band/song or not is irrelevant, this song definitely brings about interesting ideas to think about it, and for me it was sort of the this appropriately unreachable dream.

The sort of dream that you'll never follow through with because it means losing so much, but you could if you really wanted to be that guy or girl, but in some ways you think it could be amazing if you ever actually went through with it. This song is that dream.

This guy talks about leaving the place he's been his whole life, where he's been established and known and go off to somewhere where "no one knows my name" (This song is the complete opposite of the "Cheers" theme song). About leaving your comfort zone and going somewhere uncomfortable, where you know no one, and you can start fresh. It's all about having no obligations to anyone or anything, and never having to worry about keeping in touch with people or visiting people, but just living your life on your own terms. It does sound sort of selfish, but incredible at the same time.

I'm not sure how deep the guy from Augustana was really going in the song, but in my mind I thought of it much like the "Into the Wild" with Chris McCandless. (Which I talked about with ANNE! on Wednesday, gotta love it when things come full circle).

If you read the book or saw that beautiful ass movie, he's sort of the extreme of that dream. He really goes out of his way so no one really knows him, and/or can contact him. He burns his social security card and all his money, and just disappears. That is some liberating shit right there. Taking yourself off the grid.

Maybe it's because graduation is approaching, and the reality of life after school is starting to sink in that I'm feeling this way, but I know that I've had this mind-set for a long time, ever since the first time I read that book, which I think was middle-school.

Like I said, it's a ridiculous dream because I never would do it. There's too many people in my life I actually care about, that did so much for me, that to disappear would only be seen as selfish. I'm lucky in a lot of ways, and when you are that lucky you can afford to think this way, but I know not everyone is. It's easy to see the glamor in another person's life when your apart of the audience, but to live it is much different.

But still, there is a great feeling in just thinking that way though, imagine never fearing the disappointment in others, living according to your own rules and agenda, that's something special. It's just not realistic, at least for me.

I don't think it is a bad thing, I encourage all of you to think that way, because if anything you realize more of what you want, and appreciate more of what you already have. I'm getting a little too deep for this blog, these are the epitome of high thoughts, although I do see relevance in it for everyone.

In a lighter, more awesome note, I got the great pleasure of meeting Steve Cady (Chris "Capades" Cady's nicer twin) this weekend. I'm thinking I like "The Flow" as a nickname for him, cause he's got some great flow, I mean damn good, and as a hair enthusiast, I always appreciate some good flow.

Hope you all have a good week, and take care for now.

Night, Nite, Knight,
Jarrad

Friday, March 23, 2012

Bumping of the Geese

Greetings,

Have you ever noticed how weird goosebumps are? Your body physically reacts to certain emotions as it does temperature change. Sometimes where you're in a situation where both come into play, you're not sure which of the two possibilities ignited them. For instance, the national anthem at a hockey game. It's cold and patriotic, which could be Nighttrain's natural environment.

Patriotic things get my geese bumpin', I'm just that guy. Call me corny, call me cliche, even call me a sap, but I do find something special in most patriotic moments, and most of the time they don't even have to be real. Pretty much every firework show I've ever been to, anytime they sing the National Anthem at some sporting event I'm probably going to bumps some geese.

That got me thinking about what else get's my geese bumpin'. Well, in order to do that, I had to go back and think about all the moments in movies and shows that I think are pretty  heartfelt, beautiful, somewhat corny, somewhat special. They have to be able to tip-toe that ever so thin line between inspirational and corny, and that being said we all don't have the same line, but still we can appreciate most things for what they're worth.

Sud was here a couple weeks ago, and got me watching those soldiers coming home videos. I dare you not to get goosebumps when you watch those, they are the best, got me teary-eyed behind the desk of my job looking like an idiot. Still, I do like them and would watch them a million times again, just cause that feeling is awesome.

I've put together a group of some of my favorite moments from television shows and movies that always really get me choked up and bumpin' geese.  There are many, just beware, you don't have to watch them all, and they are not just the good part, but what I could find. You know the good part when you feel those bumps creeping up on you.

Also, I understand part of the experience of these moments are the context in which they are in. In that case, I encourage to watch what you will, but take it more as a reference to a movie or show you haven't seen and may want to. These are in no particular order

American Beauty- is B-E-A-utiful


Scrubs - has many, I picked a few






Fresh Prince of Bel-Air- Great acting on Will Smith's part, always nice to see a comedy take a turn to the Drama side for a moment. Really humanizes the characters

Fresh Prince - Two Sad Scenes


Armaggeddon- Michael Bay definitely knows how to get people excited


Independence Day- Arguably the best alien v. the world speech ever



Boy Meets World- Again, so many great moments. The final moments of the show just was too sad to pass up


The Majestic- Jim Carrey proves he can give an awkward tough speech, good movie about the magic of movies.


Patch Adams and Jack- Robin Williams does a great job in both just really appealing to the heart.




Remember the Titans- One of many great sports movies, but this one just came around in my prime years


Coach Carter- Sad and beautiful


Lion King- standard animation just making me cry.


The Dark Knight- Final speech delivered by the Commissioner, just makes you realize how perfect Batman is.
A Watchful Protector...

These next two are by far my favorite out of any of these. The first one is from the West Wing which is arguably one of the best shows of all time, and although its based on a fake event, it ignites those feelings just as good as the real thing. So beautifully written by Aaron Sorkin and Acted out by Martin Sheen.

The other being Charlie Chaplin's the Great Dictator Speech, beautiful, reasonable, and passionate. Still upholds to this very day. (This version is cut with images, but the original is just as good).





I've realized that often times when we feel this way we are so engulfed in what is going on around us it overwhelms us to the point of exceedingly happiness and confusion. This is the point when someone looks at you and  you strike the resemblance of a 6-year-old whose biggest dream just came true. You look like an idiot, because you're not used to being that happy. It's so special you understand it's about so much more than just you, it's about the experience you're sharing with a larger group of people. Regardless of how many or who, it's a feeling of shared experience that can't be handled by just one. That's why we love that feeling, even though it may feel awkward and unexpected it's awesome every time.

I don't get goosebumps when I get scared. They should have called those books "Pisspants" because that was more likely to happen than "Goosebumps."

I don't expect everyone to like these, but I'm sure you have your own too.

Be Safe and continue to Bump those Geese

Night, Nite, Knight,
Jarrad

Monday, March 19, 2012

Smell May Cause Memory Gain

Hello,

The weather has been amazing lately, and as Spring approaches during a time that doesn't make any sense to me, I'm excited for so many things.

First off being Baseball, best time of year when Baseball starts up. Especially Fantasy Baseball, and I have to continue my streak of slightly below mediocrity finishes, and the waste of money I definitely don't have. Fantasy Sports is a serious addiction, right up there with tearing down Nickleback and clearing the memory on a calculator.

The best part about Spring is by far the smell, and if you think I'm weird for saying that, Then you're damn dirty liar. After 4 months or so of not being able to smell anything, it feels great to be able to smell again. Each smell of spring is so new each year, it's like experiencing it for the first time. Which makes a lot of sense if you know anything about sense...senses, your senses, you have five of them you know? Six if your Haley Joel Osment. Seven if you're Janitor.

When I was younger I went to a camp or event or something where I was able to learn about the five senses, and I don't remember much, but what I do remember is that 1.) Smell is the closest related to sense to the triggering of memories and 2.) I got a shirt that I wore until I was a senior in high school. Odd facts aside, smell is one powerful sense.

The ability to trigger vivid memories is so powerful. To have the ability to shift our mood instantly without a second thought. The few other things that I can chalk up to triggering vivid memories are dreaming and drinking, or better yet dreaming after drinking. Seriously, I bet you're most memorable dreams were after a night of memorable drinking. The best are napping dreams after drinking, those dreams are so vivid I've woken up screaming, laughing, and worst of all crying. A crying dream is sort of like the first time you find out Santa Claus doesn't exist, at first shocking and a bit skeptical followed by the overwhelming feeling of sadness and reality that that new knowledge has brought you. I'm not saying that smell triggered that emotion, but I do remember the smell of that dream to this day, but don't remember a lot of the other details.

Smell literally trumps all other senses because of it's involvement with all other senses. If you are sick and have a stuffed up nose, you're screwed. It ruins food, which is probably the best part about life. For instance, let's say you're at a birthday party and it's time for cake. You're eyes see it which sends a message to your brain that it wants to taste it, and the idea of how that tastes is going back to all the other times you've had cake, but yet we can't repeat that experience until we taste this cake, which is so different, new, and mysterious. Still, we don't eat the cake yet, we watch other people eat the cake, we hear and see their reactions only to confirm what we believe these next few moments of eating are going to be like. Well, we finally take a bite of the cake, the texture or touch isn't the same because the taste isn't there. You're looking at this amazing piece of food art, yet nothing. All because we can't smell, our seeing, tasting, touching, and hearing all just ruin the idea of cake. Now, we have that shitty thought in our head forever, but it won't ignite again very easily because we have no remembered smell to recall it at a later date.

When we sneeze, is it not everything that is affected? We taste the spit, our ears sometime pop, we have to close our eyes or they'll pop out of their sockets, and we can't touch anything until we clean up. All because our nose had to have all the attention of the four other senses.

I'm not making it out to be a bad thing, it's great when it works in your favor. Not all memories are bad memories, I'd like to think most of them are great, even the ones we didn't think were going to be at the time. I guess there's no way to realize how much a smell is going to affect you until years later when it comes creeping up. Like the smell of summer dirt, that is a dynamite smell that ignites the memories of any kid who played outside. One being scabbed knees and crying kids...kid, really just me surrounded by normal not crying kids. Or cut grass, which reminds me of Lake Farm Park, which makes me think of the first time I got to touch an utter...so tender and beautiful. All you need to know about Lake Farm Park is the farm part, and how it never changed, yet they kept having field trips there.

These memories are what make me sane, therefore without my nose and the sense to smell, I'm lost. Therefore, I dedicate today to all noses out there the "Protectors of sanity" and "Ejectors of really disgusting bodily fluids." We need 'em.

Hope everyone survived this weekend. Have a good week.

Night, Nite, Knight,
Jarrad

Friday, March 16, 2012

Distraction

Hello,

I went and saw the movie, Safe House, the other day. It was alright, not my favorite, but I'd probably wait for it to come to Netflix to watch it. It is tempting though because Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds are just two names you go out of your way to see. Looks aside, I think both did a great job acting.

Anyway, in the movie there's this part where Denzel is talking to Reynolds about something standard to the movie, and I won't ruin it, but somewhere in the talk he drops the words "...desire to believe" or "...our desire to believe." It hit me, smacked me right back into the movie. I thought about it for a while after the movie ended, and it definitely made me think of movies and television in as general of a sense that you could think (he wasn't talking about movies in the movie by the way).

It's nothing new that when we go to the movies or read a story that isn't necessarily true we "Suspend our disbelief," for the sake of understanding what's going on, getting the deeper meaning. That's got some great ideas behind it, but it doesn't do our own feelings and emotions enough justice.

Side Note: I am just now realizing that I think we talked about this in my Intro to Fiction class this week, but I'm not entirely sure cause I wasn't paying much attention.

Many people already know this, but movies were a huge part of bringing America back from the Great Depression. I think that is my single favorite moment of the history of the world. I mean everything, all parts of history, which is pretty ridiculous if you think about it, that is my favorite. Probably because it makes sense to me more than anything else.

The fact that people struggled so hard to just get by, but still went to movies is astonishing. Granted a movie ticket then was 27 cents and not 10 bucks (different times, different money situations, I understand). They wanted to be distracted from everyday life, they wanted to believe in what they were seeing, they needed that escape, even if it was worse than reality, it wasn't reality, and yet we still do this.

Movies and Television today play on this realness factor to life (I'm not talking about reality TV). Pretty much every Rom-Com ever made, the Office, Modern Family, Scrubs, Parks and Rec, all of these are suppose to be or have these realness elements to them, set in the "real world" that really make people believe that what happens would or could actually happen.

We're not idiots, we know these are movies and shows and not real life, but it places these ideas in our head to what real life could be like. It's "our desire to believe," we want these things to be true therefore we're going to continue to think they could happen. That's definitely dangerous, not to beat a dead horse with a stick here, but getting back to Inception. "...They come to be woken up," we chose which world we want to live in, and those of us not in the real world will be labeled "freaks," and those of us who chose to live in reality will be called "normal." It's not just two extremes, but a spectrum...(like in Donnie Darko, same idea, but different argument).

Before I go off on some psychoanalysis craziness, I don't want to stray from what I was saying. There's something far more shallow about movies and television. It's only a few hours long. I think a lot of the time I live too often in that distraction, but I know I come back, I have to because the movie ends... The movie will always end.

My own personal "desire to believe" is going to take what I want from that, because it's a selfish experience, and it should be. That's why I don't think you should listen to people about movies, at least at first. Go watch for yourself, and judge based on your own likes, dislikes, and desires. We are pigeon holed  into what is good and bad, but really it's not that simple. As many people call them, "Guilty Pleasures," I just call them "Pleasures." I do like a lot of "bad" movies, so that could just be me justifying myself...take it for what you will.

Now, that's my distraction. Although I do think movies have that ability for everyone, I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea. I'm just saying find your own "tea" and realize it. Life's tough enough, distract yourself.

Have a great and safe St. Patty's Day everyone, be drunk and merry (as borderline racist as that may be, sorry Irish people).

Night, Nite, Knight,
Jarrad

Monday, March 12, 2012

Growing Exercise

Greetings all,

Tonight I will be speaking to you of the dangers of moto-surf, made popular by the 90's comaction (comedy-action) hit Surf Ninjas. Although moto-surf (or as it's more popularly known now as Ghost Riding) seems like a grand old time for kids of all ages, but it's actually extremely dangerous. I only know after attempting it an empty parking lot few years back. Couldn't quite do it, I think due to lack of retractable roof but others think I just wasn't good enough, untrue. Regardless, had I gotten onto that roof, God knows I probably wouldn't be here now.

If I were to tell that story to someone, I would definitely embellish the fail. Not lie, but instead spruce it up a bit, nothing wrong with that. For instance, If I were telling the tale of the failed moto-surf I wouldn't just say I tried to get on the roof and failed, I would say "As I was climbing from my seat through the front window, my foot slipped on the steering wheel making me head towards a tree at a whopping 5 mph." See its cooler because It sounded more awesome, followed by a hilarious reality that the car wasn't going that fast. Embellishing, Hollywood does it all the time. I think I should start all of my stories by saying, "This is based on a true story." What makes a good story though? People doing stupid things, better yet people doing stupid things and getting caught...or injured.

There are many stupid things I have done in my life. Most of them are more embarrassing than dangerous which as pathetic as it sounds... is actually just that, pathetic. Still they make for good stories, most of the time. That's really why I do them, My first thought isn't "Is this dangerous?" or "Will I regret this?" No, it is simply "This could sound really cool later with some added verbal flare." I like to commit to the act of getting the laugh, regardless of the cost. Unfortunately that has definitely got me into some trouble.

The moment that I regret it most, is the second I get caught. For two real reasons, the first being the instant shame that comes over me. I mean its incredible the amount of shame one could feel in one moment after feeling superior the second before, never liked disappointing people, didn't matter if I knew them or not (which is a whole other set of deep seeded issues that I plan on storing deep down and tightly locking them up, never to be dealt with in a smart, mature way). That shame is enough to make a bitch out of you, really apologize your ass off, and hope that you get some Nello luck, and pray you don't have to pay out the ass to get out of it.

Stories that I find to be the most entertaining to other people, are the ones that are the hardest to tell still, because I'm so embarrassed by them *cough St. Louis. The second being is that I know from that moment, the whole dynamic of how I tell that story goes from bad-ass super sweet amazing, stamos-Jarrad to pathetic, aww-poor baby sanjaya-Jarrad. If you don't know who that is, don't look him up. I was once called that at a Billy Joel concert, didn't appreciate that dick 4 rows behind me, I still cry a little when I think about it.

Story-telling is not easy, and although I think I have become slightly better at it, I still struggle. I've always admired people who could do it, but when the story is personal, its hard to have the same story-telling ability for all personal stories, because they're not all winners. These posts for example. Not all winners, I know that, I probably think that immediately after I post them. Then what do I think? I disappointed you. I'm sorry, but it's not going to make the posts any better, just some nights I'm more on than others.

I'm getting off topic, but I'm saying that when telling a story embellish a little bit, you will come up with things you didn't even know you had in you. It's a growing exercise, not a lying exercise.

Side-Note: exercise is a difficult word for me to spell, I just used it twice and misspelled it 3 times each. I say twice because I copied and pasted the last one into this sentence...and in the title.

I hope everyone who had a spring break this past week enjoyed it. if you're just starting or about to have a great one.

I have to mention this because I told Jim I would, but This group on Facebook is March Madness- Greatest Songs of all Time, endorsed by I, introduced to me by one of the founders Jim Razzante, close-friend with benefit, just one benefit. Guess. Anyway, they're searching for what people believe to be is the Greatest Song of all Time. Go on and like it, and just vote it's fun, easy, and maybe we can find out one of the secrets of life.

March Madness- Greatest Songs of All Time


Also, saw this kid posted these pictures of him with his horse mask all around Chicago on Reddit yesterday...this was his last pic.If you know where this is and you go to school here, good for you, if you don't...I don't know what to say to you.


Night, Nite, Knight,
Jarrad

Friday, March 2, 2012

Just sad.

Hi everyone,

I will not be talking about much tonight. I just really wanted to touch on one thing in particular.

As most of you know on Monday was another school shooting at Chardon High School in Ohio. That high school is only 30 min. from where I went to high school, and although I'm fairly separated from that time and place in my life it was close to home.

It's sad, and been a sad week. 3 kids killed 2 injured because one kid just wanted some attention or whatever he claimed his reasons were. I'm not going to sit here and say how ridiculous that is or how much I hate that stuff, because we all already know. It's just sad.

 Today it seems like high school has only gotten more difficult, you've got bullies who are pushing kids to the point of suicide, you've got crazies who want to gun down everyone, and then you get the kids in the middle who don't bother anyone and are unfortunate enough to get caught in the crossfire. That's got to be hell.

My best wishes go out to those kids and their families, as well as everyone else involved. It's easy to separate yourself from something like that, because distance does that, and I didn't know any of them, but people died, and I can't even imagine what that would be like to deal with...It's just sad.

Night, Nite, Knight,
Jarrad