Entries collected at:
Spence Cafe
15 North
Vincents
Rexs
Kildares
The Square Bar
Tattooed Mom
Sugar Mom’s
East End Cafe
The World Cafe
"I met a sensual musician at a picnic in June, and we had sex in a field: great, passionate, mind-blowing sex. We're still having the same passionate sex today - but it's love. "
"Music affected my life in the largest way. Without the gift of music I would be hollow and empty, I would have no substance. I first heard music when I was in 1st grade and started playing violin. Music became the voice of my soul, it became a way to cry and a way to shout for joy. Without music in my life my soul would be rendered mute, without voice. –M.W."
"I.D. - I came here all Summer long + was welcomed at the door. Last week I got harassed for having a cheap paper I.D. + the door men made me feel like shit. Yesterday I got a plastic ID + five minutes ago I was welcomed back in the bar."
"I joined a music tour! Absolutely love music and traveling so having a job that combines both is a God send. I brought Marijuana out on tour to fully corrupt her. So far, it seems to have worked. In other news, I puked from boozing for the first time in years. The best part was that it was directly in front of an Amish Choir at Penn Station. Rock on. - J.K."
"Internet surprise - Life is cool. Life is short. Thank God for the internet. Without you there would be no greatness. The day we call pull out the tweezers. Can you find your favorite website? Yes it's boobies.com. Without this it would be dropping $14.50 on a six month subscription to Playboy mag. That just pays for my high speed connection. Well it's been a good 20 secs. Thanks Bill Gates or Thomas Edison or somebody..."
"The thing that has had the biggest impact on my life was meeting my new husband Bob. We met when we were working together at a new.com called Half.com. We both worked on the customer service department on the 3-12am shift. There were only about 7 or 10 people working that shift at the time. I had just married a man from Ireland so he could get his green card. Bob was always the most knowledgable person in the group... he became that way by being personable w/ the other departments and not being afraid to ask questions. I always went to him when I had a question. Soon, my marriage went sour and I took up with another member of the night crew for compassionship. I always considered Bob as "just a friend" because he was fourteen years older then me. Eventually, as all superficial relationships do... the current one ended. I spent some time alone - and not exactly alone - until November of 2001. I asked Bob out for a birthday drink (his birthday is in September and we were trying to plan a night out since that day). Our "not a date" turned into the most romantic evening of my life. I knew @ about 5am that my life would never be the same. He abolished all the bad thoughts and feelings the other men in my entire life had given me and left me feeling that the only thing I had left in my life was to feel good about myself. It has been a long road, but I have started my life with my soulmate and all is right with the world. -J. A. D."
"We come to escape, but, what we really come to do is connect... We are all human, and despite all the individual things that separate us, all we really want to do is celebrate life and join together with others and find some sense of commonality. -S"
"It always has been
and will be till time lose breath
love is a sport to a man
but to a woman is life or death. -M. T. M."
"Living in the Netherlands I frequented the North End Pub an English pub in Leiden. I met two people from Whales + Scottland who changed my whole outlook on life. Carol + Steve. Both over 60 retired living the good life. Steve had been in the royal navy most of his life + had an amazing outlook on wars. Long story shorter we (Jonah) + I made sure we never ate tuna again..."
"Do you know what its like? I mean. The tormoil associated with a life unrelated to anyone else? you should all be saying "fuck yeah" cause we all have a life of our own, but how many of us are really happy w/it? How many of you, reading this, think, damn, its time I made a change. Live life for yourself. And once you've begun.. Come back and tell me how to do it!"
"Nothing imagined is as beautiful as is real
No high feels as good as what feels right
and no song sounds as sweet as a soul."
"I met a transvestite at a Women's gay bar. He talked about his heels and his 501 jeans. After a while I got sick of his stories about relationships - 'No shit', is what I thought...'hmm' is what I said. Then I saw my glass was empty and he went to play pool. Later on I met a girl who was a flirt and pushover all in one. Unfortunately, I knew her from my professional life - sex was out... only nasty rumors. I went home by 3A - full to the brim, but capable of navigating public transport. I never forgot the 'sweet n' sour sauce' red heels of the transvestite. Why? Never met anyone quite like him."
"A life change? A real one? Try New York City at the age of 18, tripping drunk in the lower East Side or reading library books in Washington Square, a gorgeous urban infection that grows + grows + grows until it's five years later and you live alone in Harlem you know all the subway lines you teach in the South Bronx + you write like a mad woman and where you come from is a zip code, an area code, an Amtrak train, a Chinatown bus, it is a balmy day in West Chester with the girl you knew since you were 8, and your cousin. Like always, it just goes on and on. What would life have been like without that skip - jump North? That follow your drumming heart to Nueve York mi grapa? i couldn't tell you. i couldn't even guess." -C.
“In seventh grade, I discovered Metal… or maybe I should say, Metal found me (it was almost inevitable). And I’m talking real Metal, not that pansy, hair – band crap I’d been led to believe was Heavy Metal until that point. The exact order of events is hazy to me now, but the effect I remember clear as day – one complete and utter awe, as if for the first time I was hearing music AS IT SHOULD BE. It was either Maiden, or Metallica, or Slayer, but when I first heard their kind of music, it was unlike anything else I’d ever heard before. It spoke of possibilities, it reawakened a kind of curiosity I hadn’t felt in many years. It was as if I had discovered buried treasure, a rare gem in my own backyard. There was an honesty, an intensity to the music that I suddenly realized, had been sorely missing from EVERYTHING I had heard before that moment. I’d had but a taste, yet I was already hooked. I scrounged allowances together in an attempt to purchase as much of this music as possible… For the same purpose gave my first serious thoughts to getting a paying job. I reconceived my entire approach to drum–playing, I had just begun the previous year. In short, the trajectory of my life shifted – and ever since, I’ve been on that road, trying in my own life to achieve the same kind of purity revealed to me that day when I first heard Metal.”
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Entries collected at:
Spence Cafe
15 North
Vincents
Rexs
Kildares
The Square Bar
Tattooed Mom
Sugar Mom’s
East End Cafe
The World Cafe
"I met a sensual musician at a picnic in June, and we had sex in a field: great, passionate, mind-blowing sex. We're still having the same passionate sex today - but it's love. "
"Music affected my life in the largest way. Without the gift of music I would be hollow and empty, I would have no substance. I first heard music when I was in 1st grade and started playing violin. Music became the voice of my soul, it became a way to cry and a way to shout for joy. Without music in my life my soul would be rendered mute, without voice. –M.W."
"I.D. - I came here all Summer long + was welcomed at the door. Last week I got harassed for having a cheap paper I.D. + the door men made me feel like shit. Yesterday I got a plastic ID + five minutes ago I was welcomed back in the bar."
"I joined a music tour! Absolutely love music and traveling so having a job that combines both is a God send. I brought Marijuana out on tour to fully corrupt her. So far, it seems to have worked. In other news, I puked from boozing for the first time in years. The best part was that it was directly in front of an Amish Choir at Penn Station. Rock on. - J.K."
"Internet surprise - Life is cool. Life is short. Thank God for the internet. Without you there would be no greatness. The day we call pull out the tweezers. Can you find your favorite website? Yes it's boobies.com. Without this it would be dropping $14.50 on a six month subscription to Playboy mag. That just pays for my high speed connection. Well it's been a good 20 secs. Thanks Bill Gates or Thomas Edison or somebody..."
"The thing that has had the biggest impact on my life was meeting my new husband Bob. We met when we were working together at a new.com called Half.com. We both worked on the customer service department on the 3-12am shift. There were only about 7 or 10 people working that shift at the time. I had just married a man from Ireland so he could get his green card. Bob was always the most knowledgable person in the group... he became that way by being personable w/ the other departments and not being afraid to ask questions. I always went to him when I had a question. Soon, my marriage went sour and I took up with another member of the night crew for compassionship. I always considered Bob as "just a friend" because he was fourteen years older then me. Eventually, as all superficial relationships do... the current one ended. I spent some time alone - and not exactly alone - until November of 2001. I asked Bob out for a birthday drink (his birthday is in September and we were trying to plan a night out since that day). Our "not a date" turned into the most romantic evening of my life. I knew @ about 5am that my life would never be the same. He abolished all the bad thoughts and feelings the other men in my entire life had given me and left me feeling that the only thing I had left in my life was to feel good about myself. It has been a long road, but I have started my life with my soulmate and all is right with the world. -J. A. D."
"We come to escape, but, what we really come to do is connect... We are all human, and despite all the individual things that separate us, all we really want to do is celebrate life and join together with others and find some sense of commonality. -S"
"It always has been
and will be till time lose breath
love is a sport to a man
but to a woman is life or death. -M. T. M."
"Living in the Netherlands I frequented the North End Pub an English pub in Leiden. I met two people from Whales + Scottland who changed my whole outlook on life. Carol + Steve. Both over 60 retired living the good life. Steve had been in the royal navy most of his life + had an amazing outlook on wars. Long story shorter we (Jonah) + I made sure we never ate tuna again..."
"Do you know what its like? I mean. The tormoil associated with a life unrelated to anyone else? you should all be saying "fuck yeah" cause we all have a life of our own, but how many of us are really happy w/it? How many of you, reading this, think, damn, its time I made a change. Live life for yourself. And once you've begun.. Come back and tell me how to do it!"
"Nothing imagined is as beautiful as is real
No high feels as good as what feels right
and no song sounds as sweet as a soul."
"I met a transvestite at a Women's gay bar. He talked about his heels and his 501 jeans. After a while I got sick of his stories about relationships - 'No shit', is what I thought...'hmm' is what I said. Then I saw my glass was empty and he went to play pool. Later on I met a girl who was a flirt and pushover all in one. Unfortunately, I knew her from my professional life - sex was out... only nasty rumors. I went home by 3A - full to the brim, but capable of navigating public transport. I never forgot the 'sweet n' sour sauce' red heels of the transvestite. Why? Never met anyone quite like him."
"A life change? A real one? Try New York City at the age of 18, tripping drunk in the lower East Side or reading library books in Washington Square, a gorgeous urban infection that grows + grows + grows until it's five years later and you live alone in Harlem you know all the subway lines you teach in the South Bronx + you write like a mad woman and where you come from is a zip code, an area code, an Amtrak train, a Chinatown bus, it is a balmy day in West Chester with the girl you knew since you were 8, and your cousin. Like always, it just goes on and on. What would life have been like without that skip - jump North? That follow your drumming heart to Nueve York mi grapa? i couldn't tell you. i couldn't even guess." -C.
“In seventh grade, I discovered Metal… or maybe I should say, Metal found me (it was almost inevitable). And I’m talking real Metal, not that pansy, hair – band crap I’d been led to believe was Heavy Metal until that point. The exact order of events is hazy to me now, but the effect I remember clear as day – one complete and utter awe, as if for the first time I was hearing music AS IT SHOULD BE. It was either Maiden, or Metallica, or Slayer, but when I first heard their kind of music, it was unlike anything else I’d ever heard before. It spoke of possibilities, it reawakened a kind of curiosity I hadn’t felt in many years. It was as if I had discovered buried treasure, a rare gem in my own backyard. There was an honesty, an intensity to the music that I suddenly realized, had been sorely missing from EVERYTHING I had heard before that moment. I’d had but a taste, yet I was already hooked. I scrounged allowances together in an attempt to purchase as much of this music as possible… For the same purpose gave my first serious thoughts to getting a paying job. I reconceived my entire approach to drum–playing, I had just begun the previous year. In short, the trajectory of my life shifted – and ever since, I’ve been on that road, trying in my own life to achieve the same kind of purity revealed to me that day when I first heard Metal.”
Spence Cafe
15 North
Vincents
Rexs
Kildares
The Square Bar
Tattooed Mom
Sugar Mom’s
East End Cafe
The World Cafe
"I met a sensual musician at a picnic in June, and we had sex in a field: great, passionate, mind-blowing sex. We're still having the same passionate sex today - but it's love. "
"Music affected my life in the largest way. Without the gift of music I would be hollow and empty, I would have no substance. I first heard music when I was in 1st grade and started playing violin. Music became the voice of my soul, it became a way to cry and a way to shout for joy. Without music in my life my soul would be rendered mute, without voice. –M.W."
"I.D. - I came here all Summer long + was welcomed at the door. Last week I got harassed for having a cheap paper I.D. + the door men made me feel like shit. Yesterday I got a plastic ID + five minutes ago I was welcomed back in the bar."
"I joined a music tour! Absolutely love music and traveling so having a job that combines both is a God send. I brought Marijuana out on tour to fully corrupt her. So far, it seems to have worked. In other news, I puked from boozing for the first time in years. The best part was that it was directly in front of an Amish Choir at Penn Station. Rock on. - J.K."
"Internet surprise - Life is cool. Life is short. Thank God for the internet. Without you there would be no greatness. The day we call pull out the tweezers. Can you find your favorite website? Yes it's boobies.com. Without this it would be dropping $14.50 on a six month subscription to Playboy mag. That just pays for my high speed connection. Well it's been a good 20 secs. Thanks Bill Gates or Thomas Edison or somebody..."
"The thing that has had the biggest impact on my life was meeting my new husband Bob. We met when we were working together at a new.com called Half.com. We both worked on the customer service department on the 3-12am shift. There were only about 7 or 10 people working that shift at the time. I had just married a man from Ireland so he could get his green card. Bob was always the most knowledgable person in the group... he became that way by being personable w/ the other departments and not being afraid to ask questions. I always went to him when I had a question. Soon, my marriage went sour and I took up with another member of the night crew for compassionship. I always considered Bob as "just a friend" because he was fourteen years older then me. Eventually, as all superficial relationships do... the current one ended. I spent some time alone - and not exactly alone - until November of 2001. I asked Bob out for a birthday drink (his birthday is in September and we were trying to plan a night out since that day). Our "not a date" turned into the most romantic evening of my life. I knew @ about 5am that my life would never be the same. He abolished all the bad thoughts and feelings the other men in my entire life had given me and left me feeling that the only thing I had left in my life was to feel good about myself. It has been a long road, but I have started my life with my soulmate and all is right with the world. -J. A. D."
"We come to escape, but, what we really come to do is connect... We are all human, and despite all the individual things that separate us, all we really want to do is celebrate life and join together with others and find some sense of commonality. -S"
"It always has been
and will be till time lose breath
love is a sport to a man
but to a woman is life or death. -M. T. M."
"Living in the Netherlands I frequented the North End Pub an English pub in Leiden. I met two people from Whales + Scottland who changed my whole outlook on life. Carol + Steve. Both over 60 retired living the good life. Steve had been in the royal navy most of his life + had an amazing outlook on wars. Long story shorter we (Jonah) + I made sure we never ate tuna again..."
"Do you know what its like? I mean. The tormoil associated with a life unrelated to anyone else? you should all be saying "fuck yeah" cause we all have a life of our own, but how many of us are really happy w/it? How many of you, reading this, think, damn, its time I made a change. Live life for yourself. And once you've begun.. Come back and tell me how to do it!"
"Nothing imagined is as beautiful as is real
No high feels as good as what feels right
and no song sounds as sweet as a soul."
"I met a transvestite at a Women's gay bar. He talked about his heels and his 501 jeans. After a while I got sick of his stories about relationships - 'No shit', is what I thought...'hmm' is what I said. Then I saw my glass was empty and he went to play pool. Later on I met a girl who was a flirt and pushover all in one. Unfortunately, I knew her from my professional life - sex was out... only nasty rumors. I went home by 3A - full to the brim, but capable of navigating public transport. I never forgot the 'sweet n' sour sauce' red heels of the transvestite. Why? Never met anyone quite like him."
"A life change? A real one? Try New York City at the age of 18, tripping drunk in the lower East Side or reading library books in Washington Square, a gorgeous urban infection that grows + grows + grows until it's five years later and you live alone in Harlem you know all the subway lines you teach in the South Bronx + you write like a mad woman and where you come from is a zip code, an area code, an Amtrak train, a Chinatown bus, it is a balmy day in West Chester with the girl you knew since you were 8, and your cousin. Like always, it just goes on and on. What would life have been like without that skip - jump North? That follow your drumming heart to Nueve York mi grapa? i couldn't tell you. i couldn't even guess." -C.
“In seventh grade, I discovered Metal… or maybe I should say, Metal found me (it was almost inevitable). And I’m talking real Metal, not that pansy, hair – band crap I’d been led to believe was Heavy Metal until that point. The exact order of events is hazy to me now, but the effect I remember clear as day – one complete and utter awe, as if for the first time I was hearing music AS IT SHOULD BE. It was either Maiden, or Metallica, or Slayer, but when I first heard their kind of music, it was unlike anything else I’d ever heard before. It spoke of possibilities, it reawakened a kind of curiosity I hadn’t felt in many years. It was as if I had discovered buried treasure, a rare gem in my own backyard. There was an honesty, an intensity to the music that I suddenly realized, had been sorely missing from EVERYTHING I had heard before that moment. I’d had but a taste, yet I was already hooked. I scrounged allowances together in an attempt to purchase as much of this music as possible… For the same purpose gave my first serious thoughts to getting a paying job. I reconceived my entire approach to drum–playing, I had just begun the previous year. In short, the trajectory of my life shifted – and ever since, I’ve been on that road, trying in my own life to achieve the same kind of purity revealed to me that day when I first heard Metal.”
"I think the one thing that has affected me was this nonrecipricol love affair between me + this boy, fun. It went on for 5 years + we only touched sexually a few times. I've compared all my lovers to him, + the majority of guys I've been w/ resembled him in some fashion whether it be only sexually, emotionally or mentally"
"The thing that impacted my life in a major way was the romance with a yonger man I met in internet dating. Prior to meeting him I thought it impossible to love commonality with someone ten years younger than me. He is actually wiser, and more mature than me in so many ways - emotionally, sexually, & spiritually and then his ex wife wanted him back so I had to let go & hope he would come back to me. As of this writing I am still waiting & hoping." – J. L.
"Plain and simple. I took all the drugs (prescription and otherwise) I could find in my apartment with a manhattan chaser. I turned on Basquiat with the volume off and waited for the pain to subside. I don't remember what happened until I woke up with a tube down my throat and a hospital gown and my parents crying in the corner. My cell phone was full of messages of people I though didn't care, saying they did. So what was my life changing event? A switch being flipped in my self conscious. My abandonment from the quest towards death and deciding I might be ok living."
"The thing that impacted my life the most would be breast cancer. It was a brick wall that taught me about real life. Honesty, truth and love. All of us get the chance to live life to the fullest experience. It's about who we really are not who others want us to be. We are all connected and worthy of love. Life is great enjoy!" – D.
"8/17/05 - So this guy approaches me in a bar to write about my own life's impacts. Where should I start? I am 28 and I have been transformed by each day. Each relationship, each experience by people I meet and each travel I have made. I feel that perception & expectations have changed my life. Is it the disappointment by people that have hurt me or the expectations that I have for myself & others that have fallen short. Let's not beat around the bush this American mentality, hedonisst approach to relationships does not work for me. Why does averyone want ratification now? Is everyone still finding themselves? How long does it take prior to figure out their beliefs, wants and passions? Everone I meet is incapable of giving and only capable of taking. Wher do I fit in? A whole reason just waiting to share my life with someone. Is anyone going to want what I have to often or are probably seeking from others what can they do for me? Unselfish love does it exist? A whole person trying to find another. People try to wear to many masks covering who they really are. Why can't people just expose themselves? Just get to it who are you - what do you want?"
“One bar experience that had a huge impact on me was one that involved a very upset customer who I was serving. He came in with some buddies in the early afternoon – typical construction worker types – and proceeded trying to get smashed. One fellow in particular seemed pretty worked up, and was whispering to his friends about something, and naturally, I turned a deaf ear. But soon his friends began laughing hysterically, and his face dropped further. They told me that there was something their friend had to tell me. I had no idea what it could be, until he said he thought he was going to break up with his girl later. Of course I asked why, and his friends nearly dropped to the floor in hysteria. Turns out he was really sad and depressed because his girlfriend said she needed to show him something. Being the good boyfriend, he asked what it was, and she proceeded to put his hands down her pants, directly onto some horrendous hemhorroid that sprouted overnight. The man was traumatized beyond rectification, and he was driven to sit at my bar, get smashed, and finally cry. This was quite possibly the most sad, strange, and ultimately life altering experience I have ever witnessed in a bar. – K.S. 8/13/05”
“Moving to West Chester, PA from San Diego, California…. I knew life would be different, but holy shit ‘different’ ain’t the right word. Adjusting to cold winter days, skipping over the shortest spring, diving right into the hottest summer heat only to find we are on the tail of winter yet again. Life in San Diego is now like a dream + referring back to that dream only makes me want it more. So tomorrow I am getting into my Volkswagen Jetta Station Wagon + heading back west to San Diego, where I no longer have to fight with weather + no longer have to succumb to life indoors. Coming here helped me heal, helped me see, helped me to realize the importance of Family, the importance of connection + love + most of all the importance of being selfish + happy. – M. H. 8/9/05”
“In a bar
I danced
For the first time
In public
Yep, me
Ms. Self Conscious
Always inhibited
Self conscious
Concerned
I felt
Free
Amazing
Maybe even sexy
I still get that feeling
Sometimes
Well, most of the time
Dancing
In a bar
-E. M. 8/13/05”
“Music. When I was a kid, & used to ride in the car with my step-father, we listened to what is popularly known today as ‘classic rock’. To him it was the only music. And we all know that music is life, right? So we rode , & we listened, & then after I learned enough, we sang it:
‘In the sunshine of your love…’
‘All along the watchtower…’
‘You don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows…’
‘Me & Bobby McGee…’
Then, once I knew the words, we would sit & wait for a song to come on –
One, two, three notes & then he turns the radio off. ‘name it?’ ‘the Byrds’
‘Yep.’ And off we would go. Eight miles High, not even needing the music - but he would turn it back up. Music.”
“I have done many things in my life. I would have to say the one most vivid, that stands out most to me is my experiences in San Francisco, developing my skills as a piercing artist w/Master Shaman Fakir Musafar. The piercing aside, it was the energy that encompassed my surroundings that was moving. There were a small handful of us all joined together in one of the oldest bathhouses still standing – in San Francisco. On the final day of our experiences we each partook in a ceremonial rite of passage. People were pierced, mind you in a sterile environment, music was played, chanting was sung, some were dancing, but the energy and emotions in the room were magical. Pure and intense almost indescribable. I have never had another experience like it. Magic and Beauty. – T. Z. 8/13/5
"The thing that impacted my life in a major way was the romance with a yonger man I met in internet dating. Prior to meeting him I thought it impossible to love commonality with someone ten years younger than me. He is actually wiser, and more mature than me in so many ways - emotionally, sexually, & spiritually and then his ex wife wanted him back so I had to let go & hope he would come back to me. As of this writing I am still waiting & hoping." – J. L.
"Plain and simple. I took all the drugs (prescription and otherwise) I could find in my apartment with a manhattan chaser. I turned on Basquiat with the volume off and waited for the pain to subside. I don't remember what happened until I woke up with a tube down my throat and a hospital gown and my parents crying in the corner. My cell phone was full of messages of people I though didn't care, saying they did. So what was my life changing event? A switch being flipped in my self conscious. My abandonment from the quest towards death and deciding I might be ok living."
"The thing that impacted my life the most would be breast cancer. It was a brick wall that taught me about real life. Honesty, truth and love. All of us get the chance to live life to the fullest experience. It's about who we really are not who others want us to be. We are all connected and worthy of love. Life is great enjoy!" – D.
"8/17/05 - So this guy approaches me in a bar to write about my own life's impacts. Where should I start? I am 28 and I have been transformed by each day. Each relationship, each experience by people I meet and each travel I have made. I feel that perception & expectations have changed my life. Is it the disappointment by people that have hurt me or the expectations that I have for myself & others that have fallen short. Let's not beat around the bush this American mentality, hedonisst approach to relationships does not work for me. Why does averyone want ratification now? Is everyone still finding themselves? How long does it take prior to figure out their beliefs, wants and passions? Everone I meet is incapable of giving and only capable of taking. Wher do I fit in? A whole reason just waiting to share my life with someone. Is anyone going to want what I have to often or are probably seeking from others what can they do for me? Unselfish love does it exist? A whole person trying to find another. People try to wear to many masks covering who they really are. Why can't people just expose themselves? Just get to it who are you - what do you want?"
“One bar experience that had a huge impact on me was one that involved a very upset customer who I was serving. He came in with some buddies in the early afternoon – typical construction worker types – and proceeded trying to get smashed. One fellow in particular seemed pretty worked up, and was whispering to his friends about something, and naturally, I turned a deaf ear. But soon his friends began laughing hysterically, and his face dropped further. They told me that there was something their friend had to tell me. I had no idea what it could be, until he said he thought he was going to break up with his girl later. Of course I asked why, and his friends nearly dropped to the floor in hysteria. Turns out he was really sad and depressed because his girlfriend said she needed to show him something. Being the good boyfriend, he asked what it was, and she proceeded to put his hands down her pants, directly onto some horrendous hemhorroid that sprouted overnight. The man was traumatized beyond rectification, and he was driven to sit at my bar, get smashed, and finally cry. This was quite possibly the most sad, strange, and ultimately life altering experience I have ever witnessed in a bar. – K.S. 8/13/05”
“Moving to West Chester, PA from San Diego, California…. I knew life would be different, but holy shit ‘different’ ain’t the right word. Adjusting to cold winter days, skipping over the shortest spring, diving right into the hottest summer heat only to find we are on the tail of winter yet again. Life in San Diego is now like a dream + referring back to that dream only makes me want it more. So tomorrow I am getting into my Volkswagen Jetta Station Wagon + heading back west to San Diego, where I no longer have to fight with weather + no longer have to succumb to life indoors. Coming here helped me heal, helped me see, helped me to realize the importance of Family, the importance of connection + love + most of all the importance of being selfish + happy. – M. H. 8/9/05”
“In a bar
I danced
For the first time
In public
Yep, me
Ms. Self Conscious
Always inhibited
Self conscious
Concerned
I felt
Free
Amazing
Maybe even sexy
I still get that feeling
Sometimes
Well, most of the time
Dancing
In a bar
-E. M. 8/13/05”
“Music. When I was a kid, & used to ride in the car with my step-father, we listened to what is popularly known today as ‘classic rock’. To him it was the only music. And we all know that music is life, right? So we rode , & we listened, & then after I learned enough, we sang it:
‘In the sunshine of your love…’
‘All along the watchtower…’
‘You don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows…’
‘Me & Bobby McGee…’
Then, once I knew the words, we would sit & wait for a song to come on –
One, two, three notes & then he turns the radio off. ‘name it?’ ‘the Byrds’
‘Yep.’ And off we would go. Eight miles High, not even needing the music - but he would turn it back up. Music.”
“I have done many things in my life. I would have to say the one most vivid, that stands out most to me is my experiences in San Francisco, developing my skills as a piercing artist w/Master Shaman Fakir Musafar. The piercing aside, it was the energy that encompassed my surroundings that was moving. There were a small handful of us all joined together in one of the oldest bathhouses still standing – in San Francisco. On the final day of our experiences we each partook in a ceremonial rite of passage. People were pierced, mind you in a sterile environment, music was played, chanting was sung, some were dancing, but the energy and emotions in the room were magical. Pure and intense almost indescribable. I have never had another experience like it. Magic and Beauty. – T. Z. 8/13/5
”
“Traveling! I’m always looking for something new. Landscape that I have never seen. Music that I have never heard. People who I have never met. Life is traveling. I was born in small island on Japan. When I was a child, I knew my only neighborhood but I searched something on the earth in the sky. I found the nature’s breathing. When I was 18. I moved to Fukuoka then I lived in Osaka, Tokyo. I traveled to Alaska, Seattle, Boston, New Orleans, and now I am in Pennsylvania. World is large global. Intercontinental. Make friends all over the world. Find something… Everywhere, I am alone at first time but talk with someone. My travel continue…. –M. O. 8/13/05
“A friend of mine picked up 2 girls on the board walk. 1 of them was talking to a guy and they all came back to our shore house. The guy ended up being a cop. We underage drank w/ him all night and at like 3 a.m. he brought us back a free 30 pack of sliders from white house… From a cop. That shit was better than having kids. – S.”
“The birth of my first child. Had a major impact on my life. How couldn’t have. The introduction to a new planet. The brightness of his eyes looking wandering pondering. What’s going on? Where am I? What are these things around me?
I connected deeply within my soul. It brought me back to my inner child.
If we all saw what kids saw the world would be a better place. You heard?!
-S. 8/9/05”
“Dear Memoirs, It must have been 6 years ago now. I felt wonderful at the time. It was the best decision I could make, boy was I wrong. -R. G. P.S. In the end, I should have kept the dick.”
“I won’t lie, this is a difficult subject to pindown, many things have impacted me in many ways, directly and indirectly, that I am sure of. These things include the following; learning to walk, to talk, to speak, as well as my discovery of the ‘finer things in life’, certain drugs, certain drinks, and unfortunately nicotine, and awareness of self in various stages, toddler to teenager, and the open door law policy of hitting 18, 21 (and sooner or later 40 for my mid-life crisis, can’t wait). If there was people to impact me, in a cliché way, I’d say, everyone I have ever met. I like the belief that everyone you meet has some sort of “path intake”, in other words an impact. From a stranger holding a door open, to a lover riding me right, everyone you meet should be able to learn/live directly out of you, and vice that versa. To narrow it down Mr. Farley my fourth grade teacher, even at that age he taught me to look at life outside of cookie cutter standard box tombstone thinking. Both sides of the coin kind of bullshit, and it has always worked to my advantage. To specify a thing, it would have to be music, music my savior, my muse, my band and lament. There’s too much to say how much music impacts me, that should tell you in a very non exciting way how much it draws me in, digests me, and dictates my mood and sway. Without it I would not know how to sustain, for lack of a better term, I could not live without it. For a place, I wish I was comfortable enough to say, wherever I am at the time, but all that comes to mind right now, and it may sound cheesy, but the only physical stretch of land to impact me was the Vietnam memorial in D.C., though I was not born then and only know second hand stories, and second person losses, I was so moved to break down in front of so many names. The somber tone alone of the black marble and various trinkets flowers, laid there before it. So many questions, how did this happen, at what cost, war what is it good for and all that shit. Anywho, I’ve gone on long enough, hope someone can take something from all this however Mr. Pevar puts it together, good luck and thanks for the opportunity to share, very rare indeed. Thanks – S. M.”
“A horse once kicked me square in the groin. Impact. Absolute. –M.”
“So, about 10 months ago, my mom passed away in a nursing home that’s right down the street from here. Not that it’s easy to see at any age, but she wasn’t in the demographic that the others at the home were. She was 45. And I was 21. Being 21 at this college means trashed nights and blurry classes. Hazy, but crazy memories, and hours at bars and with friends. Not nights in the ER and hours spent trying to calm a mother who knew she was dying. I lived w/ her when she collapsed, just north of campus. I gained a roommate to pay for rend, worked two jobs, and somehow aced my classes. I also ‘somehow’ stayed alive. I ended up becoming a machine of sorts – but, eventually, it was in the best way imaginable. I didn’t take shit from anyone, I spoke up, I talked back. Priorities become undoubtedly clear in a state like that. I was free to be my true self because I had to be; it was the mechanical process of denying anything but what I deserved that ended up saving me in the end. Was it easy? Saying ‘not in the least’, doesn’t even describe it. It is still an ‘easy yes, no’ determination of what I want/will tolerate? Not at all. It’s only been 10 months. I watched her die for a year & a half. It’s only just begun. For that I’m thankful. I get to learn that much more while I’m here. If this is what I’m getting at 22, and I’ve made it this far, so be it. The more I learn this time, hopefully the next time I’ll get it just a bit easier. Because, really you only really should get it easier next time if you grow in this one. Hopefully I will grow. She changed my life, and I’ll be smart enough to make it to her level one day. Until then… -A. S. W.”
“Something that has impacted my life was the death of my close friend Crystal. She was 15 years old, it was Thursday night & she was out with her boyfriend & friends for a joyride but she was also high. In an abandoned parking lot they let her drive. She ran into a pole and out of 6 people my best friend Crystal is the only one that died that night. I’d known Crystal for 3 years & all of those years she was against drugs more than anyone I’d known. She must have been ‘experimenting’ but that experiment killed my best friend, and made me realize how serious experimenting was. –S. L.”
“Here is my night sitting
at the bar, my mind just
visible over the chatter shouting
inside the music playing.
She’s singing blues and
Protecting her space.
Let’s all be more real
And raw like this tune, here
Inside American blues fumbling
Against the smoke & television
Screen. -L. G.”
“Traveling! I’m always looking for something new. Landscape that I have never seen. Music that I have never heard. People who I have never met. Life is traveling. I was born in small island on Japan. When I was a child, I knew my only neighborhood but I searched something on the earth in the sky. I found the nature’s breathing. When I was 18. I moved to Fukuoka then I lived in Osaka, Tokyo. I traveled to Alaska, Seattle, Boston, New Orleans, and now I am in Pennsylvania. World is large global. Intercontinental. Make friends all over the world. Find something… Everywhere, I am alone at first time but talk with someone. My travel continue…. –M. O. 8/13/05
“A friend of mine picked up 2 girls on the board walk. 1 of them was talking to a guy and they all came back to our shore house. The guy ended up being a cop. We underage drank w/ him all night and at like 3 a.m. he brought us back a free 30 pack of sliders from white house… From a cop. That shit was better than having kids. – S.”
“The birth of my first child. Had a major impact on my life. How couldn’t have. The introduction to a new planet. The brightness of his eyes looking wandering pondering. What’s going on? Where am I? What are these things around me?
I connected deeply within my soul. It brought me back to my inner child.
If we all saw what kids saw the world would be a better place. You heard?!
-S. 8/9/05”
“Dear Memoirs, It must have been 6 years ago now. I felt wonderful at the time. It was the best decision I could make, boy was I wrong. -R. G. P.S. In the end, I should have kept the dick.”
“I won’t lie, this is a difficult subject to pindown, many things have impacted me in many ways, directly and indirectly, that I am sure of. These things include the following; learning to walk, to talk, to speak, as well as my discovery of the ‘finer things in life’, certain drugs, certain drinks, and unfortunately nicotine, and awareness of self in various stages, toddler to teenager, and the open door law policy of hitting 18, 21 (and sooner or later 40 for my mid-life crisis, can’t wait). If there was people to impact me, in a cliché way, I’d say, everyone I have ever met. I like the belief that everyone you meet has some sort of “path intake”, in other words an impact. From a stranger holding a door open, to a lover riding me right, everyone you meet should be able to learn/live directly out of you, and vice that versa. To narrow it down Mr. Farley my fourth grade teacher, even at that age he taught me to look at life outside of cookie cutter standard box tombstone thinking. Both sides of the coin kind of bullshit, and it has always worked to my advantage. To specify a thing, it would have to be music, music my savior, my muse, my band and lament. There’s too much to say how much music impacts me, that should tell you in a very non exciting way how much it draws me in, digests me, and dictates my mood and sway. Without it I would not know how to sustain, for lack of a better term, I could not live without it. For a place, I wish I was comfortable enough to say, wherever I am at the time, but all that comes to mind right now, and it may sound cheesy, but the only physical stretch of land to impact me was the Vietnam memorial in D.C., though I was not born then and only know second hand stories, and second person losses, I was so moved to break down in front of so many names. The somber tone alone of the black marble and various trinkets flowers, laid there before it. So many questions, how did this happen, at what cost, war what is it good for and all that shit. Anywho, I’ve gone on long enough, hope someone can take something from all this however Mr. Pevar puts it together, good luck and thanks for the opportunity to share, very rare indeed. Thanks – S. M.”
“A horse once kicked me square in the groin. Impact. Absolute. –M.”
“So, about 10 months ago, my mom passed away in a nursing home that’s right down the street from here. Not that it’s easy to see at any age, but she wasn’t in the demographic that the others at the home were. She was 45. And I was 21. Being 21 at this college means trashed nights and blurry classes. Hazy, but crazy memories, and hours at bars and with friends. Not nights in the ER and hours spent trying to calm a mother who knew she was dying. I lived w/ her when she collapsed, just north of campus. I gained a roommate to pay for rend, worked two jobs, and somehow aced my classes. I also ‘somehow’ stayed alive. I ended up becoming a machine of sorts – but, eventually, it was in the best way imaginable. I didn’t take shit from anyone, I spoke up, I talked back. Priorities become undoubtedly clear in a state like that. I was free to be my true self because I had to be; it was the mechanical process of denying anything but what I deserved that ended up saving me in the end. Was it easy? Saying ‘not in the least’, doesn’t even describe it. It is still an ‘easy yes, no’ determination of what I want/will tolerate? Not at all. It’s only been 10 months. I watched her die for a year & a half. It’s only just begun. For that I’m thankful. I get to learn that much more while I’m here. If this is what I’m getting at 22, and I’ve made it this far, so be it. The more I learn this time, hopefully the next time I’ll get it just a bit easier. Because, really you only really should get it easier next time if you grow in this one. Hopefully I will grow. She changed my life, and I’ll be smart enough to make it to her level one day. Until then… -A. S. W.”
“Something that has impacted my life was the death of my close friend Crystal. She was 15 years old, it was Thursday night & she was out with her boyfriend & friends for a joyride but she was also high. In an abandoned parking lot they let her drive. She ran into a pole and out of 6 people my best friend Crystal is the only one that died that night. I’d known Crystal for 3 years & all of those years she was against drugs more than anyone I’d known. She must have been ‘experimenting’ but that experiment killed my best friend, and made me realize how serious experimenting was. –S. L.”
“Here is my night sitting
at the bar, my mind just
visible over the chatter shouting
inside the music playing.
She’s singing blues and
Protecting her space.
Let’s all be more real
And raw like this tune, here
Inside American blues fumbling
Against the smoke & television
Screen. -L. G.”
“When I was 18 I went to New York City for the first time. Being young and stupid and from Dover Delaware. I thought I’d seen all I had to see. I sat one morning in my friend Ronnie’s apartment in Brooklyn and watched the sunrise out the window while everyone slept, smoked cigarettes, listened to PJ Harvey, and watched the city start to glow with sunlight. I was left with the humbling experience of realizing how big and strange the world was and how I nearly knew nothing about it. –M. A.”
“A true impact in my life… I turn 24 in 3 weeks and there are so many people, places, and things that I’ve come across that have moved me in one way or another. I must say that a key moment in my life is when I had enough courage to get onto my bike @ 10 years old & just ride… having been scared for years, I never had enough courage to overcome my fear. Yet one day I woke up & decided to start riding. I rode up & down the street yelling for everyone to watch & to get the joy I was feeling out of my mouth. The best part of the day was when my brother got in front of me, and being so inexperienced I didn’t know what to do or how to stop, so I ran him over. From there I knew no one or thing could stop me from trying & accomplishing something I wanted to do! –J. 7-21-05”
“There is a hill in central Vermont managed as wild blueberry habitat with steps taken to ensure the habitat remains suitable. Recently I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon there staring out at 35 acres of blueberry bushes and a beautiful panoramic view of the Green Mountains. While looking out from this blissful spot I realized how at peace I was. Partly because of the endless supply of free nutrition and partly because there were no stop lights, no highway, no cities, no anything really. Just harmony and peace and sharing. What a wonderful world all made possible by blueberries. Shame they don’t grow the world over. – I. 7-27-05”
“Ever since I can remember I have had a fetish with footwear. I think that shoes make the man. You can wear a t-shirt and jeans and a nice pair of shoes will set the entire outfit off. I have spent thousands of dollars on shoes that I only wear once or twice then I store in the closet just to bring out years later when knowone else has them anymore. The in vention of EBAY has made my addiction even worse. Logging on every night to see what’s new and what I can find from China, Japan wherever. Shoes are my life and I have spent thousands of dollars on them. For my 25th birthday I got a Michael Jordan tattoo on my ancle to compliment my shoes. I never knew that shoes could impact my life. My modoo is shoes make the man. Air Jordan ‘4 life. 7/30/05. – T. T.”
“Last year a buddy & myself flew to San Diego & rented a silver mustang. We stayed at a friends house & his porch overlooked the glittering lights of Tijuana Mexico. We decided to drive over the border & check it out but as we crossed past the border police we realized neither of us spoke any spanish which led to our 3 hour drive through back roads & slums of Mexico. When I tell this story to people they look horrified & amazed we lived. Two white boys in a silver stang have a good chance of getting shot I’m told. It was very scary… dirt highways, gangs of kids & dogs roaming around & gunfire in the distance. Wow, what a trip. –C.”
“Last time I was here I was masquerading as a cuben. This time, I’m taking in as myself. Incognito is not necessary when you generally go as unnoticed as I do. But the thing that has had the most major impact on my life has not changed. It is still traveling. I love to go new places and meet new people. Every time, I learn something about myself and about humanity. As of late, I have learned that traveling a mile or less can be as enlightening as traveling 1000’s of miles. It took a long journey and an understanding of people to see this. But now I know that if you look at everday as an adventure or day spent traveling, possibilities are endless. –D. D. ‘if D. D. wrote it, It’s gotta be true!’”
“When I saw my friend’s girlfriend go into seizures from an ecstacy overdose, it changed my view on the world of drugs forever. Her frail tiny body violently jerked on the hotel bed for the first time since I had embarked on a wild ride of sex, drugs & alcohol, I felt completely out of control – and I didn’t like it. I felt like a little girl, and I wanted my mom. But my mom wasn’t coming, and this girl was dying right in front of me. –V.”
“Moving to a new town is not always easy, in fact sometimes it is downright lonely and you recognize how much you miss your family + friends. How do you meet new people? How do you get your new circle of friends? Move into a complex that is next to your friendly neighborhood bar. In West Chester, that would be the Square Bar. They fed me more meals than my Mom. My new best friend found me at the Square Bar and introduced me to all of my ‘new’ family in West Chester. Complete with a Patriark + Matriark of the entire crew, I now have a family away from home and enjoy barbques, building projects and lots of love when I need it. Morale of the story is, don’t stay inside go out be yourself and maybe you will just find what you are looking for and need. –R. P., West Chester, PA”
“Sexuality is part of all Human Existence. Yet, we as human beings are so scared of not only our sexual nature but our curiosity and mysticism about the subject itself. Life is full of wonder and experience and at the core of that is our sexuality. To be human is to be sexual in any and all ways. –Dr. D. L. L., Sex therapist”
“LA JOYA IS SETTLED (IF THAT IS POSSIBLE 10 YRS AFTER CIVIL WAR) BETWEEN WHAT REMAINS OF THE JUNGLE, AN ACTIVE VOLCANO AND THE ONLY SOURCE OF WATER A RIVER BARELY ACCESSABLE BY A FOOTPATH. A FEW DOZEN ACRES OF MAIZE MAKE UP THE FOOD SUPPLY AND CASH CROP FOR 200 OR SO VILLAGERS. THE PEOPLE LIVE IN SHACKS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND FALLEN TREES. ANEMIC COWS AND DOGS ROME THROUGH THE VILLAGE. CLOTHIN IS MADE OR PURCHASED IN SAN SALVADOR AT STREET VENDERS WHO RECEIVE THEIR PRODUCTS FROM SWEAT SHOPS. THE HEAT IS SO OBTRUSIVE AND OPPRESSING. POSSIBLY A REMINDER OF PAST ‘EL JEFES’ THERE IS NOT ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER, BUT PEOPLE HEAR THE NEWS BY COLLECTIVELY LISTENING TO A BOOMBOX POWERED BY A CAR BATTERY. TRANSPORT IS ONE PICK-UP TRUCK OWNE BY THE TOWN WHICH OFTE BREAKS DOWN 20 MILES FROM ‘CIVILIZATION’. EDUCATION CONTINUES IN ONE SCHOOL ROOM THROUGH 6TH GRADE. YET THE PEOPLE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE INFORMED OF GLOBAL, POLITICAL CLIMATE. ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE BOUGHT IN THE UNITED STATES. – M.”
“A true impact in my life… I turn 24 in 3 weeks and there are so many people, places, and things that I’ve come across that have moved me in one way or another. I must say that a key moment in my life is when I had enough courage to get onto my bike @ 10 years old & just ride… having been scared for years, I never had enough courage to overcome my fear. Yet one day I woke up & decided to start riding. I rode up & down the street yelling for everyone to watch & to get the joy I was feeling out of my mouth. The best part of the day was when my brother got in front of me, and being so inexperienced I didn’t know what to do or how to stop, so I ran him over. From there I knew no one or thing could stop me from trying & accomplishing something I wanted to do! –J. 7-21-05”
“There is a hill in central Vermont managed as wild blueberry habitat with steps taken to ensure the habitat remains suitable. Recently I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon there staring out at 35 acres of blueberry bushes and a beautiful panoramic view of the Green Mountains. While looking out from this blissful spot I realized how at peace I was. Partly because of the endless supply of free nutrition and partly because there were no stop lights, no highway, no cities, no anything really. Just harmony and peace and sharing. What a wonderful world all made possible by blueberries. Shame they don’t grow the world over. – I. 7-27-05”
“Ever since I can remember I have had a fetish with footwear. I think that shoes make the man. You can wear a t-shirt and jeans and a nice pair of shoes will set the entire outfit off. I have spent thousands of dollars on shoes that I only wear once or twice then I store in the closet just to bring out years later when knowone else has them anymore. The in vention of EBAY has made my addiction even worse. Logging on every night to see what’s new and what I can find from China, Japan wherever. Shoes are my life and I have spent thousands of dollars on them. For my 25th birthday I got a Michael Jordan tattoo on my ancle to compliment my shoes. I never knew that shoes could impact my life. My modoo is shoes make the man. Air Jordan ‘4 life. 7/30/05. – T. T.”
“Last year a buddy & myself flew to San Diego & rented a silver mustang. We stayed at a friends house & his porch overlooked the glittering lights of Tijuana Mexico. We decided to drive over the border & check it out but as we crossed past the border police we realized neither of us spoke any spanish which led to our 3 hour drive through back roads & slums of Mexico. When I tell this story to people they look horrified & amazed we lived. Two white boys in a silver stang have a good chance of getting shot I’m told. It was very scary… dirt highways, gangs of kids & dogs roaming around & gunfire in the distance. Wow, what a trip. –C.”
“Last time I was here I was masquerading as a cuben. This time, I’m taking in as myself. Incognito is not necessary when you generally go as unnoticed as I do. But the thing that has had the most major impact on my life has not changed. It is still traveling. I love to go new places and meet new people. Every time, I learn something about myself and about humanity. As of late, I have learned that traveling a mile or less can be as enlightening as traveling 1000’s of miles. It took a long journey and an understanding of people to see this. But now I know that if you look at everday as an adventure or day spent traveling, possibilities are endless. –D. D. ‘if D. D. wrote it, It’s gotta be true!’”
“When I saw my friend’s girlfriend go into seizures from an ecstacy overdose, it changed my view on the world of drugs forever. Her frail tiny body violently jerked on the hotel bed for the first time since I had embarked on a wild ride of sex, drugs & alcohol, I felt completely out of control – and I didn’t like it. I felt like a little girl, and I wanted my mom. But my mom wasn’t coming, and this girl was dying right in front of me. –V.”
“Moving to a new town is not always easy, in fact sometimes it is downright lonely and you recognize how much you miss your family + friends. How do you meet new people? How do you get your new circle of friends? Move into a complex that is next to your friendly neighborhood bar. In West Chester, that would be the Square Bar. They fed me more meals than my Mom. My new best friend found me at the Square Bar and introduced me to all of my ‘new’ family in West Chester. Complete with a Patriark + Matriark of the entire crew, I now have a family away from home and enjoy barbques, building projects and lots of love when I need it. Morale of the story is, don’t stay inside go out be yourself and maybe you will just find what you are looking for and need. –R. P., West Chester, PA”
“Sexuality is part of all Human Existence. Yet, we as human beings are so scared of not only our sexual nature but our curiosity and mysticism about the subject itself. Life is full of wonder and experience and at the core of that is our sexuality. To be human is to be sexual in any and all ways. –Dr. D. L. L., Sex therapist”
“LA JOYA IS SETTLED (IF THAT IS POSSIBLE 10 YRS AFTER CIVIL WAR) BETWEEN WHAT REMAINS OF THE JUNGLE, AN ACTIVE VOLCANO AND THE ONLY SOURCE OF WATER A RIVER BARELY ACCESSABLE BY A FOOTPATH. A FEW DOZEN ACRES OF MAIZE MAKE UP THE FOOD SUPPLY AND CASH CROP FOR 200 OR SO VILLAGERS. THE PEOPLE LIVE IN SHACKS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND FALLEN TREES. ANEMIC COWS AND DOGS ROME THROUGH THE VILLAGE. CLOTHIN IS MADE OR PURCHASED IN SAN SALVADOR AT STREET VENDERS WHO RECEIVE THEIR PRODUCTS FROM SWEAT SHOPS. THE HEAT IS SO OBTRUSIVE AND OPPRESSING. POSSIBLY A REMINDER OF PAST ‘EL JEFES’ THERE IS NOT ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER, BUT PEOPLE HEAR THE NEWS BY COLLECTIVELY LISTENING TO A BOOMBOX POWERED BY A CAR BATTERY. TRANSPORT IS ONE PICK-UP TRUCK OWNE BY THE TOWN WHICH OFTE BREAKS DOWN 20 MILES FROM ‘CIVILIZATION’. EDUCATION CONTINUES IN ONE SCHOOL ROOM THROUGH 6TH GRADE. YET THE PEOPLE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE INFORMED OF GLOBAL, POLITICAL CLIMATE. ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE BOUGHT IN THE UNITED STATES. – M.”
“In 1990 I heard Elvis Costello’s “Veronica” on the radio for the first time. Years later, I heard “Deep Dark Truthful Mirror” on an MTV ‘unplugged’ CD compilation. Few years after that, in my Punk/Ska, bad-ass high school years, I picked up a specials Album on saw that none other than E.C. himself produced. Ever since then I’ve been hooked. I’ve played music, all instruments, all genres, and modeled it after E.C. I know it’s not cool to have heros in an Indie/Punk Rock/hardcore scene... but Elvis Costello has impacted my life more than anyone ever could. –Bernie
“Failure, Everbody has failed at something in their lifetime. Its all part of the learning process in life. Their have been times in my life where I have failed and instead of looking at all the negatives, I try to see the positives. For example, I experienced a failed relationship and I focused on anything positive I could. I tried to realize that instead of mourning and being sad all the time, I realized that maybe being single was better off, for me or even that maybe this girl wasn’t the one and now I might be able to meet her in the future. –K.”
"The music makes me and makes me think of the girl I love. She don't know it yet, but when I show her she will know the feeling. 7/15/05"
"I sit here, pen in hand, trying to pinpoint what major thing has impacted my life, but there have been so many. To choose out of the myriad of experiences, all precious and crucial in their own right... the ugly, the beautiful, the cynically in-between... is as hard as choosing the big dick, the small -but hard working, and the median. They may all feel good, but in different ways. But we're at Rex's. Live music is the medium of sound. So I will choose music. The big dick (rap) taught me how to dance, the small dick (the likes of Billy Joel and Elton John) taught me how to croon without the element of self-consciousness, and the inbetween (disco) taught me how to be alive yet loved, wild yet tameable, delicious yet tasteable. And I taste good."
"Moving into the New Brunswick NJ area, in the mid 90's, where I discovered the New Brunswick music scene. This rejuvanated my passion for music & writing, which I had abandoned for over a decade. Since the spark hit, I began writing a music collumn covering the music scene, managed a local artist + DJed at my almamada - college of S.I. - WSIA-FM. Began writing lyrical poetry, performing my poetry with musical accompaniment, put togethor a CD which was favorably reviewed by several publications. Now, living in West Chester, PA, I found similar situations, artists, scene and am working on my 2nd cd with mainly musicians I met in PA. Turning point was, while looking through stuff to throw out, finding a letter that a high school friend wrote me while he was in the Navy. It said something like 'you wrote me a 3 page letter and not one word about Music. Jeff is sitting on his ass again.' The letter was written 15 years prior + it still held true. It inspired me to check out the New Brunswick scene that I had been living near for 2 1/2 years. –J. M.”
"American children are being raised in a bubble... Ask me what impacts my life? Watching others in this country who are oblivious to the priveledged society they have been raised in impacts me every day. In this country, children are raised to believe that they are "entitled" to a certain quality of living. They do not comprehend that the the things they take for granted, (sodas, electricity, water, telephones, etc.) other people have never even experienced. Americans get angry when the power goes off for no reason. But there are people who live their entire lives and never have electricity. Children here believe that they are gauranteed certain things, and watching these naive children live this way makes me grateful for every day that I wake up in such a priveledged society. I wish everyone could truly appreciate everything they have."
"Iron maiden had a major impact on my life dan. If it weren't for the monster clad record covers i'd probably be paying child support to a woman who hated me. iron maiden taught me to look outside of the world that existed around me. taught me to think critically - question things and make decisions for myself. long live heavy metal. –E."
"Christmas Eve 7 years ago, as 26 guests arrived @ my home for a holiday party - my house caught fire. 4 firetrucks later & a lot of surprised guests - in a moment I realized truly that everyone is on loan to us. Grateful to be alive, having lost all my worldly possesions - I walked away with the clothes on my back - covered in soot, I began a different path - one which I walk not alone but with an ever present reminder that we are souls in a human condition. I practice gratitude on a daily basis - for my family, friends, life itself. It is not possessions but kindred spirits, honestly, truth is unconditional love that are important. Everyone has something."
"One time I was waiting for an airplane and it was delayed by 3 hours because of storms. So I played soccer in the terminal with 4 other kids. My team lost 7.4. I scored 2 goals. From that time on I decided I should try to go pro in soccer. –S."
"I borrowed an ashtray once. The man slid it down the bar and the ashes flew into the air disrupting the other patrons. It was an abomination to them to have cigarette ash blown in their faces. I sweetly smiled grabbed it and lit my cig. –C. J. F."
"I guess Death is popular but... Any near death experience will make you look at something a little closer. One time I was held under water by a wave, and thought I was never comin up. It was a slow thought about a moment, trust me, it just made me realize that it could happen when you least expect it. Live it up!"
“Failure, Everbody has failed at something in their lifetime. Its all part of the learning process in life. Their have been times in my life where I have failed and instead of looking at all the negatives, I try to see the positives. For example, I experienced a failed relationship and I focused on anything positive I could. I tried to realize that instead of mourning and being sad all the time, I realized that maybe being single was better off, for me or even that maybe this girl wasn’t the one and now I might be able to meet her in the future. –K.”
"The music makes me and makes me think of the girl I love. She don't know it yet, but when I show her she will know the feeling. 7/15/05"
"I sit here, pen in hand, trying to pinpoint what major thing has impacted my life, but there have been so many. To choose out of the myriad of experiences, all precious and crucial in their own right... the ugly, the beautiful, the cynically in-between... is as hard as choosing the big dick, the small -but hard working, and the median. They may all feel good, but in different ways. But we're at Rex's. Live music is the medium of sound. So I will choose music. The big dick (rap) taught me how to dance, the small dick (the likes of Billy Joel and Elton John) taught me how to croon without the element of self-consciousness, and the inbetween (disco) taught me how to be alive yet loved, wild yet tameable, delicious yet tasteable. And I taste good."
"Moving into the New Brunswick NJ area, in the mid 90's, where I discovered the New Brunswick music scene. This rejuvanated my passion for music & writing, which I had abandoned for over a decade. Since the spark hit, I began writing a music collumn covering the music scene, managed a local artist + DJed at my almamada - college of S.I. - WSIA-FM. Began writing lyrical poetry, performing my poetry with musical accompaniment, put togethor a CD which was favorably reviewed by several publications. Now, living in West Chester, PA, I found similar situations, artists, scene and am working on my 2nd cd with mainly musicians I met in PA. Turning point was, while looking through stuff to throw out, finding a letter that a high school friend wrote me while he was in the Navy. It said something like 'you wrote me a 3 page letter and not one word about Music. Jeff is sitting on his ass again.' The letter was written 15 years prior + it still held true. It inspired me to check out the New Brunswick scene that I had been living near for 2 1/2 years. –J. M.”
"American children are being raised in a bubble... Ask me what impacts my life? Watching others in this country who are oblivious to the priveledged society they have been raised in impacts me every day. In this country, children are raised to believe that they are "entitled" to a certain quality of living. They do not comprehend that the the things they take for granted, (sodas, electricity, water, telephones, etc.) other people have never even experienced. Americans get angry when the power goes off for no reason. But there are people who live their entire lives and never have electricity. Children here believe that they are gauranteed certain things, and watching these naive children live this way makes me grateful for every day that I wake up in such a priveledged society. I wish everyone could truly appreciate everything they have."
"Iron maiden had a major impact on my life dan. If it weren't for the monster clad record covers i'd probably be paying child support to a woman who hated me. iron maiden taught me to look outside of the world that existed around me. taught me to think critically - question things and make decisions for myself. long live heavy metal. –E."
"Christmas Eve 7 years ago, as 26 guests arrived @ my home for a holiday party - my house caught fire. 4 firetrucks later & a lot of surprised guests - in a moment I realized truly that everyone is on loan to us. Grateful to be alive, having lost all my worldly possesions - I walked away with the clothes on my back - covered in soot, I began a different path - one which I walk not alone but with an ever present reminder that we are souls in a human condition. I practice gratitude on a daily basis - for my family, friends, life itself. It is not possessions but kindred spirits, honestly, truth is unconditional love that are important. Everyone has something."
"One time I was waiting for an airplane and it was delayed by 3 hours because of storms. So I played soccer in the terminal with 4 other kids. My team lost 7.4. I scored 2 goals. From that time on I decided I should try to go pro in soccer. –S."
"I borrowed an ashtray once. The man slid it down the bar and the ashes flew into the air disrupting the other patrons. It was an abomination to them to have cigarette ash blown in their faces. I sweetly smiled grabbed it and lit my cig. –C. J. F."
"I guess Death is popular but... Any near death experience will make you look at something a little closer. One time I was held under water by a wave, and thought I was never comin up. It was a slow thought about a moment, trust me, it just made me realize that it could happen when you least expect it. Live it up!"
"On discovering Touch & Go Records when I was a young lad of 22 or 23 I had a defining moment. Life was simple and easy. I had just transferred from the University of Pittsburgh - the Johnston Campus, thank you. And I had gone there D.J. training for there radio station. My limited exposure to Touch & Go - the label was a lime - green album. I didn't remember the name of the band so I looked for the lime green album. The album turned out to be Big Black - 'Song about (?). The song I chose for that show was the 'power of independent trucking'. I played many more Big Black song and did an entire talk show. A band from England had just released an album on the label, Silverfish and I called the label and 'interviewed' the band for a fanzine that is still to come out. Since then I have been relentless on finding and following music I like. Thanks. D. 7-15-05"
"Just when you think you're getting to understand life, what it is and what it offers, along come "the kids". An incredible addition to the dimension of life. A whole nother plane of feeling, loving and yes worrying.... But I'd experience all over again in a heart beat... even though six years ago three little boys exited my body and entered my heart. Oh yes, they're triplets. -I. N."
"When my sister Rachael was born - I've met tons of great people, have so many acquaintances and a few handfuls of meaningful friends - but noone makes me laugh - until I pee - cry or go crazy like me sister. –V. C."
"Since the time I was 7 I have listened to music. Sometimes I write my own lyrics but don't show them to anyone. Real poetic shit right!"
"Down by Shilo Creek
We were gone 'bout two days
Came up from behind us
and we lost our bags
with a power seldom seen
and even rarer known
but felt hard by the
crescent moon, that spoke
only apparition"
"The thing that has impacted me the most was being a caregiver for my sick parents... I would it all over again! The hard part of it all is realizing that my siblings were willing to leave me stranded with all of the responsibilities, and not realize that they dropped their responsibilities... it has been very sad!!! I will move on with the positive energy that my mother gave me, with a smile that she energized!!! -C.D.H"
"I think the most impactful thing in my life was when I found Jesus. I found him in a small jar at the foot of a dumpster by the 7-11 on cottman ave. ‘Help me, you idiot,’ the tiny imprisoned savior said. ‘God helps those who help themselves,’ I retorted, and went inside to get a coke slurpee. -J."
"In 1977 a police officer came to my Junior High School and presented to the 8th graders a program designed to keep kids off drugs. I had never seen any drugs before. He had a 2’ x 3’ board with marijuana pipes arranged in a fanned fashion around a pot leaf that was in the center of the board. I would estimate that it was made via 1972 or so, because of the quality brass pipes I saw. The year was winding down and school soon was out for Summer… My mother loved to garage sale. So one day she stopped and had a particularly long conversation with our neighbor through the woods. I was tired and wanted to go home. I told my mother I would walk through the woods and se her later… I come upon 3 marijuana plants growing in the nook of some tree branches and grabbed a branch off one recognizing the leaf from Officer Friendly’s pipe board. I showed it to my neighbor who immediately called his friend and the three of us set off to see the harvest. A solumn oath (that I now break) was made never to divulge the theft of the green bootie… We don’t need no…No more….education…."
"It’s all about my mother she was the one that was able to comfort me at the worst time in my life. It was Sept 10, 2001and me and my girl decide to abort our child and we cryied all night until we fell asleep. Then we woke up and it was the worst day in American History. So I called my Mom and she said just come home and I will take care off you. I went home and she said "what do you need, anything just tell me". I said I need to get my nut off. So she blew me and it was the best blow job I ever had."
"Just when you think you're getting to understand life, what it is and what it offers, along come "the kids". An incredible addition to the dimension of life. A whole nother plane of feeling, loving and yes worrying.... But I'd experience all over again in a heart beat... even though six years ago three little boys exited my body and entered my heart. Oh yes, they're triplets. -I. N."
"When my sister Rachael was born - I've met tons of great people, have so many acquaintances and a few handfuls of meaningful friends - but noone makes me laugh - until I pee - cry or go crazy like me sister. –V. C."
"Since the time I was 7 I have listened to music. Sometimes I write my own lyrics but don't show them to anyone. Real poetic shit right!"
"Down by Shilo Creek
We were gone 'bout two days
Came up from behind us
and we lost our bags
with a power seldom seen
and even rarer known
but felt hard by the
crescent moon, that spoke
only apparition"
"The thing that has impacted me the most was being a caregiver for my sick parents... I would it all over again! The hard part of it all is realizing that my siblings were willing to leave me stranded with all of the responsibilities, and not realize that they dropped their responsibilities... it has been very sad!!! I will move on with the positive energy that my mother gave me, with a smile that she energized!!! -C.D.H"
"I think the most impactful thing in my life was when I found Jesus. I found him in a small jar at the foot of a dumpster by the 7-11 on cottman ave. ‘Help me, you idiot,’ the tiny imprisoned savior said. ‘God helps those who help themselves,’ I retorted, and went inside to get a coke slurpee. -J."
"In 1977 a police officer came to my Junior High School and presented to the 8th graders a program designed to keep kids off drugs. I had never seen any drugs before. He had a 2’ x 3’ board with marijuana pipes arranged in a fanned fashion around a pot leaf that was in the center of the board. I would estimate that it was made via 1972 or so, because of the quality brass pipes I saw. The year was winding down and school soon was out for Summer… My mother loved to garage sale. So one day she stopped and had a particularly long conversation with our neighbor through the woods. I was tired and wanted to go home. I told my mother I would walk through the woods and se her later… I come upon 3 marijuana plants growing in the nook of some tree branches and grabbed a branch off one recognizing the leaf from Officer Friendly’s pipe board. I showed it to my neighbor who immediately called his friend and the three of us set off to see the harvest. A solumn oath (that I now break) was made never to divulge the theft of the green bootie… We don’t need no…No more….education…."
"It’s all about my mother she was the one that was able to comfort me at the worst time in my life. It was Sept 10, 2001and me and my girl decide to abort our child and we cryied all night until we fell asleep. Then we woke up and it was the worst day in American History. So I called my Mom and she said just come home and I will take care off you. I went home and she said "what do you need, anything just tell me". I said I need to get my nut off. So she blew me and it was the best blow job I ever had."
"In growing up on a dairy farm, it’s obvious I spent a lot of time around animals. And as I reflect on what’s most impacted my life, I’d have to say cows. But not just cows in general… one cow, little Bubschki. She was the runt and was quickly rejected by the other cows and by my father. I watched as, early one morning, he took the unnamed baby cow and walked her around to the back of the barn. She was mooing happily, thinking life was grand, apparently not noticing the shotgun cradled in my father’s arms. I decided to do something and ran out of the farmhouse shouting for my father to stop. He did and agreed to give the cow to me. I named her Bubschki (that’s another story) and brought her to the farmhouse. She lived in my room for a while until she crashed through the wall into my sister’s room. My mom shouted something about a Fido and announced that the cow was to move outside. So I built Bubschki her own little barn adjacent to the big one. As the years passed and I got older. I began spending more and more time with Bubschki in her little house. I’ll be honest, I was falling in love with her. My human relations suffered and I was rejected by society. Then, one night when I was 16, I awoke inside the little barn to find Bubschki gone. I jumped up and went searching for her. To my shock and horror, I discovered that some local boys had gone on a late night crime spree and had passed through our field. They’d gone cow-tipping. My Bubschki was dead… and my soul with her. I shall never forget my little cow, Bubschki. May she rest in peace."
”A moment that stands out in my mind is standing at the Grand Canyon, having just survived a horrifically bumpy plane ride from Las Vegas on a 10 seat puddle jumper. My friend actually got off and puked; my face was merely green; but seeing that vast, open slice of rock made me realize 3 things: life is way to short; notice the beauty in everything around you; and don’t get on a small plane with a hangover from the night before!! -K."
"The one event which has made me who I am is an easy thing to choose. When I was in first grade at Plymouth Elementary, this fight broke out on the playground. I can’t remember the names of the two kids who started it but I doubt they’d make it to print anyway. But these two kids started hitting each other and eventually one of them landed a hit firmly on the other one’s nose. He wailed and covered his face with his hands. When he took his hands away there was just a bloody mess. He stared at his hands for a moment, curled one up, and with the other he slammed the other kid right back in the nose and that kid began bleeding as well. But the kid who bled first didn’t seem interested. He had uncurled his hand and just kept staring at it. Then he held it out and they both just looked at it. Me and a few of my friends thought this was mighty odd so we headed over. In this kids hand was a small rod about the size of a lighter flint. We looked at the second kid and he held out his hands and he also had a metal rod. Or something metallic at least. So of course my friends and I started punching each other in the nose as hard as we could. Soon we were all covered in blood and looking intently at each others rods. But I didn’t have one. People kept hitting me and I kept checking, but nothing. We looked around on the ground, maybe it had slipped? But a teacher took notice finally, screamed, and came over to break us up and drag us all off to the nurse. After that they all acted differently around me. They treated me like a leper or something. People still treat me like that a lot. I think it’s unfair. For all I know, my rods still in there. Maybe I never had one. Maybe they were right to treat me like an outcast. Who knows? -G. O., Phoenixville, PA"
"Cotton, oh cotton. You soften each step from room to room. Your fibers slide between my toes, easing step from gravity-ridden step. You cover my bottom from my coarse jeans and the souls of my feet from shoes who need Dr. Scholls. You cover my body from the shame of nudity, but wear as softly as nothing at all. You are the fabric of all our lives. Cotton, oh cotton… are you edible? -L. 7/7/05 "
"The best + worst thing that ever happened to me was getting kicked out of the religious university I was attending b/c my best friend, who was the same sex as me, fell in-love w/me. When I told her I was straight she went to university officials + told them we were lesbians. They freaked + my straight – A semester went down the drain. My parents reacted by kicking me out of the house and telling me to spend Christmas alone. But that’s when I took a crappy job at CVS + met the man who later became my husband! He chased all the suicidal loneliness away + taught me how to stand on my own 2 feet. I’m still very religious but now I’m not the brain-washed lamb I was."
"July 1st, 2005, One steamy day. I was walking through the streets of Camden. My family and I were on our way to the waterfront to sightsee. Some guy got shot and I realized that life is short. His spewed brains on the side of the road reminded me of slugs I used to step on. That changed my life forever. –D. M.
Conshocken, PA"
"The day I buried my father I relized that no matter how many people you have in your life, you end up with only yourself. And, it is yourself only that you have to answer to. -F. M."
”A moment that stands out in my mind is standing at the Grand Canyon, having just survived a horrifically bumpy plane ride from Las Vegas on a 10 seat puddle jumper. My friend actually got off and puked; my face was merely green; but seeing that vast, open slice of rock made me realize 3 things: life is way to short; notice the beauty in everything around you; and don’t get on a small plane with a hangover from the night before!! -K."
"The one event which has made me who I am is an easy thing to choose. When I was in first grade at Plymouth Elementary, this fight broke out on the playground. I can’t remember the names of the two kids who started it but I doubt they’d make it to print anyway. But these two kids started hitting each other and eventually one of them landed a hit firmly on the other one’s nose. He wailed and covered his face with his hands. When he took his hands away there was just a bloody mess. He stared at his hands for a moment, curled one up, and with the other he slammed the other kid right back in the nose and that kid began bleeding as well. But the kid who bled first didn’t seem interested. He had uncurled his hand and just kept staring at it. Then he held it out and they both just looked at it. Me and a few of my friends thought this was mighty odd so we headed over. In this kids hand was a small rod about the size of a lighter flint. We looked at the second kid and he held out his hands and he also had a metal rod. Or something metallic at least. So of course my friends and I started punching each other in the nose as hard as we could. Soon we were all covered in blood and looking intently at each others rods. But I didn’t have one. People kept hitting me and I kept checking, but nothing. We looked around on the ground, maybe it had slipped? But a teacher took notice finally, screamed, and came over to break us up and drag us all off to the nurse. After that they all acted differently around me. They treated me like a leper or something. People still treat me like that a lot. I think it’s unfair. For all I know, my rods still in there. Maybe I never had one. Maybe they were right to treat me like an outcast. Who knows? -G. O., Phoenixville, PA"
"Cotton, oh cotton. You soften each step from room to room. Your fibers slide between my toes, easing step from gravity-ridden step. You cover my bottom from my coarse jeans and the souls of my feet from shoes who need Dr. Scholls. You cover my body from the shame of nudity, but wear as softly as nothing at all. You are the fabric of all our lives. Cotton, oh cotton… are you edible? -L. 7/7/05 "
"The best + worst thing that ever happened to me was getting kicked out of the religious university I was attending b/c my best friend, who was the same sex as me, fell in-love w/me. When I told her I was straight she went to university officials + told them we were lesbians. They freaked + my straight – A semester went down the drain. My parents reacted by kicking me out of the house and telling me to spend Christmas alone. But that’s when I took a crappy job at CVS + met the man who later became my husband! He chased all the suicidal loneliness away + taught me how to stand on my own 2 feet. I’m still very religious but now I’m not the brain-washed lamb I was."
"July 1st, 2005, One steamy day. I was walking through the streets of Camden. My family and I were on our way to the waterfront to sightsee. Some guy got shot and I realized that life is short. His spewed brains on the side of the road reminded me of slugs I used to step on. That changed my life forever. –D. M.
Conshocken, PA"
"The day I buried my father I relized that no matter how many people you have in your life, you end up with only yourself. And, it is yourself only that you have to answer to. -F. M."
"I thought cancer was just a dancer and her body was the stage. –J. H."
"At Jake’s Bar a few nights ago some random 65 yr old lady who was extremely lit decided to start chatter with me and my buddy. Little did we know that if we responded she wouldn’t leave us the fuck alone, and she didn’t. For the first time in my life I had to pretend as if I was gay, so some obnoxious filth would leave me alone. On the norm I would say, "18-80 deaf, deaf, dumb, blind or stupid, I’ll carry her – if she can’t walk –but for the first I had to go against all principles. Solid way to spend my fist week in town, ah?"
"I arrived on a redeye. I took my last E pill on the ride from the airport. At the flight gate he said "I love it when you look like a punk slut". We were on the 4th story of his house when he fell asleep mid-kiss. I slip away from his dead embrace onto the balcony. What was the point? Why keep doing any of it? I look down at my body & see a whore. Tired of being stared at, jerked off to, raped, and sick of empty love. I climb over the rail. The balcony door slides open "What are you doing?" I reply with a cold stare + a fake smile. I jump. I feel bliss as I rush toward concrete. I never splatter. I feel a rude awakening as stillness jolts me when his hand catches my arm. Thank you Matt. That was the last time I tried it. –S. P."
"The thing that impacted my life most would have to be when I lived in Rome, Italy. It was the first time I had left Pennsylvania, the first time I had been anywhere off the eastern seaboard. When I was in Rome, I studied painting in a place where Caravaggio and Bernini thrived. I rode a vespa through the cobblestone streets and took trips on weekends to Egypt and Greece.
Now I realize I don’t have to be in Europe or Africa to explore and learn. I’ve seen so much in the states to inspire my art. My heart will always be in Rome, but I’ve learned to appreciate the place where I came from. –A. M. Y."
"There have been a lot of things that have impacted my life. It’s so hard to just choose one but if I had to choose, I’d write about how my mom gave me pictures of my biological father, or as I like to call him, "sperm donor". That’s all he was. He left my mother and I with nothing, not even a fucking dime. He fucked another woman, got her pregnant and left us. My mother was devastated and I hate him for hurting her. But what I hate the most is that when I saw the pictures, I realized I looked like him and I hate how I look even more. I never liked how I look and now I think I know why. I don’t hate him for what he did to me, but I hate him for hurting my mom. She had been through so much and he hurt her and had another woman pregnant. My mom showed me a picture because she said I deserved to know. Now I do and I want to cry but I won’t. If I saw him I’d spit in his face. I have a dad. We may not be blood related but sometimes there are stronger things than blood. I wouldn’t trade my dad for anyone else. That’s my impact. I love my family and friends. S. C."
"E. R. IMPACTS ON LIFE
Kicking twin brother out of the womb.
Christmas – 9 years old – my first pony.
Ant enchanted kingdom.
Pilgrimage to Bob Marley’s birthplace in 9 Mile, Jamaica.
Liberal Democrat in Lynchburg Virginia – 2 years.
Student of "developing world" – 3 years.
Who knows? Can’t wait."
"This pen, had a major impact. The fact that someone cared what I thought. The fact that I could make a difference. Maybe it's this pen."
"When I was much younger in elementary school I had a best friend named Jenny. When we got to 7th grade, I was dumb & decided I didn't want to be friends anymore & started to make fun of her. I destroyed her emotioanlly. I moved away. Several years later another long time friend called me. Asked if I remembered her! I had to think about it, it had been so long. Yes! I remember. I was an ass to her. I should call her & apologize! I was such a bad person! I was about to ask for her # when I found out she died 2 months prior. I would say that it's a pretty big impact & a long feeling of guilt never will I betray someone."
"Last year I meet someone who I didn't know was going to have the impact on my life that he has had since. His name is Tim. We met last Summer. After a few months of knowing him we had planed a roadtrip together. It started on the coast of North Carolina in (?), a very small fishing town. The trip took us from there to New Jersey. One thing that I claim is that I am a climber! I love the sport and the focus it takes to excell at this exciting yet dangerous sport. Along the way Tim and I had many adventures, of course, but most importantly he helped me discover who I am. It is very rare in this day that you meet people that are able to have that deep of an impact on your life. He is a very strong christian and spreads the word of love and faith where ever he goes. Through the passion of climbing and discovery of friendship he was able to help me see where I wanted to be in life.
We had an amazing day down in (?) West Virginia. We had just gotten done climbing a (?) - what this means to non-climbers is we were about 500 feet above the ground, sitting on a fin of rock, hanging our feet over the side without another living person in sight. - We felt like we were on the top of the world! Through our conversations we realized that there is an amazing world out there that has been there hundreds of years before we have been there and will be there hundreds of years after we are gone This is the "world" we live in. An amazing, God giving world that we have no control over. This is the world that we are so blessed to be a part of. This is the world that I need to be grounded in, and this is the world that Tim helped remind me of. -always remember to love life and bow blessed we are - there are amazing people out there that will help remind you of this. –J."
"At Jake’s Bar a few nights ago some random 65 yr old lady who was extremely lit decided to start chatter with me and my buddy. Little did we know that if we responded she wouldn’t leave us the fuck alone, and she didn’t. For the first time in my life I had to pretend as if I was gay, so some obnoxious filth would leave me alone. On the norm I would say, "18-80 deaf, deaf, dumb, blind or stupid, I’ll carry her – if she can’t walk –but for the first I had to go against all principles. Solid way to spend my fist week in town, ah?"
"I arrived on a redeye. I took my last E pill on the ride from the airport. At the flight gate he said "I love it when you look like a punk slut". We were on the 4th story of his house when he fell asleep mid-kiss. I slip away from his dead embrace onto the balcony. What was the point? Why keep doing any of it? I look down at my body & see a whore. Tired of being stared at, jerked off to, raped, and sick of empty love. I climb over the rail. The balcony door slides open "What are you doing?" I reply with a cold stare + a fake smile. I jump. I feel bliss as I rush toward concrete. I never splatter. I feel a rude awakening as stillness jolts me when his hand catches my arm. Thank you Matt. That was the last time I tried it. –S. P."
"The thing that impacted my life most would have to be when I lived in Rome, Italy. It was the first time I had left Pennsylvania, the first time I had been anywhere off the eastern seaboard. When I was in Rome, I studied painting in a place where Caravaggio and Bernini thrived. I rode a vespa through the cobblestone streets and took trips on weekends to Egypt and Greece.
Now I realize I don’t have to be in Europe or Africa to explore and learn. I’ve seen so much in the states to inspire my art. My heart will always be in Rome, but I’ve learned to appreciate the place where I came from. –A. M. Y."
"There have been a lot of things that have impacted my life. It’s so hard to just choose one but if I had to choose, I’d write about how my mom gave me pictures of my biological father, or as I like to call him, "sperm donor". That’s all he was. He left my mother and I with nothing, not even a fucking dime. He fucked another woman, got her pregnant and left us. My mother was devastated and I hate him for hurting her. But what I hate the most is that when I saw the pictures, I realized I looked like him and I hate how I look even more. I never liked how I look and now I think I know why. I don’t hate him for what he did to me, but I hate him for hurting my mom. She had been through so much and he hurt her and had another woman pregnant. My mom showed me a picture because she said I deserved to know. Now I do and I want to cry but I won’t. If I saw him I’d spit in his face. I have a dad. We may not be blood related but sometimes there are stronger things than blood. I wouldn’t trade my dad for anyone else. That’s my impact. I love my family and friends. S. C."
"E. R. IMPACTS ON LIFE
Kicking twin brother out of the womb.
Christmas – 9 years old – my first pony.
Ant enchanted kingdom.
Pilgrimage to Bob Marley’s birthplace in 9 Mile, Jamaica.
Liberal Democrat in Lynchburg Virginia – 2 years.
Student of "developing world" – 3 years.
Who knows? Can’t wait."
"This pen, had a major impact. The fact that someone cared what I thought. The fact that I could make a difference. Maybe it's this pen."
"When I was much younger in elementary school I had a best friend named Jenny. When we got to 7th grade, I was dumb & decided I didn't want to be friends anymore & started to make fun of her. I destroyed her emotioanlly. I moved away. Several years later another long time friend called me. Asked if I remembered her! I had to think about it, it had been so long. Yes! I remember. I was an ass to her. I should call her & apologize! I was such a bad person! I was about to ask for her # when I found out she died 2 months prior. I would say that it's a pretty big impact & a long feeling of guilt never will I betray someone."
"Last year I meet someone who I didn't know was going to have the impact on my life that he has had since. His name is Tim. We met last Summer. After a few months of knowing him we had planed a roadtrip together. It started on the coast of North Carolina in (?), a very small fishing town. The trip took us from there to New Jersey. One thing that I claim is that I am a climber! I love the sport and the focus it takes to excell at this exciting yet dangerous sport. Along the way Tim and I had many adventures, of course, but most importantly he helped me discover who I am. It is very rare in this day that you meet people that are able to have that deep of an impact on your life. He is a very strong christian and spreads the word of love and faith where ever he goes. Through the passion of climbing and discovery of friendship he was able to help me see where I wanted to be in life.
We had an amazing day down in (?) West Virginia. We had just gotten done climbing a (?) - what this means to non-climbers is we were about 500 feet above the ground, sitting on a fin of rock, hanging our feet over the side without another living person in sight. - We felt like we were on the top of the world! Through our conversations we realized that there is an amazing world out there that has been there hundreds of years before we have been there and will be there hundreds of years after we are gone This is the "world" we live in. An amazing, God giving world that we have no control over. This is the world that we are so blessed to be a part of. This is the world that I need to be grounded in, and this is the world that Tim helped remind me of. -always remember to love life and bow blessed we are - there are amazing people out there that will help remind you of this. –J."
"People ask why music is being cut from public schools of America. The answer is simple. Music has been transformed in this country into an industry of image and lifestyle. The "Industry" has made music into pure entertainment. Musicians no longer realize their social responsibility. Musicians of today are trained to think that how they look and how they live is more important than thier talent. To believe that music is purely for entertainment is to commit musical suicide. Music is a reflection of our culture. It is what our culture is measured by, and years form now it is what historians will use to gauge the success... or failure... of our society. Music must always be used as a vehicle for social change and if it strays away from that, then it becomes expendible. To make music expendible is to make it obsolete, and to make it obsolete gives reason to erase it from school cirriculum. Musicians need to become more responsible citizens of the universe and return to a time when music was used to express politics, drama, and social injustice in the world. Not to realise this is to ensure the demise of music, and to ensure the demise of music is to ensure the demise of our own society. It will take brave musicians to step up to the plate and take the emphasis off of image to fix this problem, and my only fear is that this minority will not be vocal enough to save our culture. –L. F. K."
"My Dad impacted my life. It wasn't that he was great or bad but that he died when I was 19. That may not seem young to you but I'm 38 and it seems an age ago. It made me think that maybe soon I'd be dead to. (I may be!) so if I didn't have long left, ... what would I do with my life?? I reckon it's not about the length of your life, but the quality. Was the world better or worse as a result of your brief life?? I had a couple of people say tonight and I recon the world was a better place as a result of their times...."
"Only a week from today a baby was born. This baby is only 1/4 me yet he feels just like one. He is my nephew. Colin Gray. Seeing this new life so close to mine encourage my own life and the choices I make from now on. Cause ya never know when life will fall right into your lap."
"I'm Darkhappy. I had a kidney transplant. But Im sexy."
"ONE THING I IDENTIFY WITH IS CLIMBING. I'M AN OUTDOORSMAN....A MOUNTAINEER IF YOU WILL. IF YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, YOU MIGHT FIND THIS FUNNY. LAST SUMMER SOME FRIENDS AND I TOOK SOME TIME FOR A ROADTRIP TO DO SOME CLIMBING IN WEST VIRGINIA. I MET UP WITH SOME FRIENDS ON A ROADTRIP OF THEIR OWN FOR THE CULMINATION OF A GREAT TIME. WE GOT OUR CLIMB ON, DRANK THE HIGH LIFE (I DON'T CONDONE THIS AT ALL) AND HAD AN AMAZING TIME. ON OUR LAST DAY TOGETHER AS A GROUP WE WENT TO ONE LAST CLIMBING SPOT, ABOUT SEVEN OF US IN ALL. IT WAS ABOUT 8AM AT THE TIME WE PULLED IN TO THE CRAG. WE WERE ALL SET TO HIKE DOWN TOGETHOR WHEN, MY AS OF THEN NEW FRIEND, TIM, DECIDED HE NEEDED MORE TIME TO COLLECT HIS THOUGHTS AND GEAR. FOR SOME REASON I DECIDED TO STAY BEHIND WITH HIM, WHICH, UNBENOUNCED TO ME WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION OF MY LIFE. ALL OF OUR FRIENDS WERE DOWN CLIMBING, AND... KEEP IN MIND THAT TIM AND I ARE CLIMBERS AND MOUNAINEERS...ARE UNABLE TO FIND OUR WAY DOWN TO THEM) HE AND I SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY TALKING, GETTING TO REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER. IT WAS THEN THAT WE FOUND OUT THAT WE SHARE THE SAME FATHER. FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I HAVE DEVOTED MY TIME, THOUGHTS AND LOVE FOR THAT FATHER AND HAVE GIVEN MY LIFE TO CHRIST. –J. M."
“The ocean is the source. All is right. Go back to the source within. All is right. Go back. Go back. Go back.... Go back to your source. All will be alright."
"One Thing? Oxygen. Everything else can be improvised.
-B. P. June 3, 2005"
"I've been in bars, and I've seen people get nasty, when they'd otherwise not be! Booze does cause people to do what they'd not do normally. Therefore, the thing that's changed my life is to be a happy (Happy is underlined twice) drunk.
-A. P. 6/3/05"
"Bars are not about liquor
They are a medium to allow you interaction with your friends.
-P."
"The thing that impacted me the most was when I was committed to a mental institution at the age of 16... greatest time of my life" (you should see Tom's crazy handwriting... just kidding...ha ha ha... it's just a little bit drunken...)-T. M."
"IF YOU EVER CARED TO HEAR GOD LAUGH.... TELL HIM/HER WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE. KEEP LOVING BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST FEELING YOU WILL KNOW AND ONE DAY THAT SOMEONE HOPEFULLY, MIGHT UNDERSTAND WHAT LOVE IS. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO EXPERIENCE LIFE DON'T FORGET THE ONE YOU IN!! Love can hurt more than the thought of Death. -R. E. M"
"Here's what I've learned...
My padre was primarily a SURFER, in his heart of hearts, but was a banker by trade. He always dreamed of living in the Islands, surfing, and renting bikes out for somethin' to do while the waves were flat. As he said - Better Days Are Ahead - so the future was always on his mind, but I lost him to cancer at 58... So here's what I learned - do what's important NOW - one never knows, so... here's what I've done - gone & graduated from Nursing School and I will go on to be a MIDWIFE, something I've always wanted, but always feared... this is what my dear POP taught me... T.W. 6-3-05"
"6/9/05 - MAJOR IMPACTS @ 58 YRS. OLD!
-FAMILY -CHILDREN
-RELIGION -GRANDCHILDREN
-EDUCATION -SPORTS
-CAREER -FRIENDS
-VIETNAM ERA
DON'T MEAN TO PROVIDE LAUNDRY LIST, BUT THAT'S WHY LIFE IS. EACH ONE OF THE ABOVE TOPICS COULD HAVE PAGES UPON PAGES WRITTEN, BUT TIME IN A BAR DOESN'T PERMIT ONE TO WAX ELOQUENTLY. BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR PROJECT. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!"
"A man can know himself.
A man can know his surroundings.
A man can know of unknowable.
-M. G. 2005"
"My Dad impacted my life. It wasn't that he was great or bad but that he died when I was 19. That may not seem young to you but I'm 38 and it seems an age ago. It made me think that maybe soon I'd be dead to. (I may be!) so if I didn't have long left, ... what would I do with my life?? I reckon it's not about the length of your life, but the quality. Was the world better or worse as a result of your brief life?? I had a couple of people say tonight and I recon the world was a better place as a result of their times...."
"Only a week from today a baby was born. This baby is only 1/4 me yet he feels just like one. He is my nephew. Colin Gray. Seeing this new life so close to mine encourage my own life and the choices I make from now on. Cause ya never know when life will fall right into your lap."
"I'm Darkhappy. I had a kidney transplant. But Im sexy."
"ONE THING I IDENTIFY WITH IS CLIMBING. I'M AN OUTDOORSMAN....A MOUNTAINEER IF YOU WILL. IF YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, YOU MIGHT FIND THIS FUNNY. LAST SUMMER SOME FRIENDS AND I TOOK SOME TIME FOR A ROADTRIP TO DO SOME CLIMBING IN WEST VIRGINIA. I MET UP WITH SOME FRIENDS ON A ROADTRIP OF THEIR OWN FOR THE CULMINATION OF A GREAT TIME. WE GOT OUR CLIMB ON, DRANK THE HIGH LIFE (I DON'T CONDONE THIS AT ALL) AND HAD AN AMAZING TIME. ON OUR LAST DAY TOGETHER AS A GROUP WE WENT TO ONE LAST CLIMBING SPOT, ABOUT SEVEN OF US IN ALL. IT WAS ABOUT 8AM AT THE TIME WE PULLED IN TO THE CRAG. WE WERE ALL SET TO HIKE DOWN TOGETHOR WHEN, MY AS OF THEN NEW FRIEND, TIM, DECIDED HE NEEDED MORE TIME TO COLLECT HIS THOUGHTS AND GEAR. FOR SOME REASON I DECIDED TO STAY BEHIND WITH HIM, WHICH, UNBENOUNCED TO ME WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION OF MY LIFE. ALL OF OUR FRIENDS WERE DOWN CLIMBING, AND... KEEP IN MIND THAT TIM AND I ARE CLIMBERS AND MOUNAINEERS...ARE UNABLE TO FIND OUR WAY DOWN TO THEM) HE AND I SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY TALKING, GETTING TO REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER. IT WAS THEN THAT WE FOUND OUT THAT WE SHARE THE SAME FATHER. FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I HAVE DEVOTED MY TIME, THOUGHTS AND LOVE FOR THAT FATHER AND HAVE GIVEN MY LIFE TO CHRIST. –J. M."
“The ocean is the source. All is right. Go back to the source within. All is right. Go back. Go back. Go back.... Go back to your source. All will be alright."
"One Thing? Oxygen. Everything else can be improvised.
-B. P. June 3, 2005"
"I've been in bars, and I've seen people get nasty, when they'd otherwise not be! Booze does cause people to do what they'd not do normally. Therefore, the thing that's changed my life is to be a happy (Happy is underlined twice) drunk.
-A. P. 6/3/05"
"Bars are not about liquor
They are a medium to allow you interaction with your friends.
-P."
"The thing that impacted me the most was when I was committed to a mental institution at the age of 16... greatest time of my life" (you should see Tom's crazy handwriting... just kidding...ha ha ha... it's just a little bit drunken...)-T. M."
"IF YOU EVER CARED TO HEAR GOD LAUGH.... TELL HIM/HER WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE. KEEP LOVING BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST FEELING YOU WILL KNOW AND ONE DAY THAT SOMEONE HOPEFULLY, MIGHT UNDERSTAND WHAT LOVE IS. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO EXPERIENCE LIFE DON'T FORGET THE ONE YOU IN!! Love can hurt more than the thought of Death. -R. E. M"
"Here's what I've learned...
My padre was primarily a SURFER, in his heart of hearts, but was a banker by trade. He always dreamed of living in the Islands, surfing, and renting bikes out for somethin' to do while the waves were flat. As he said - Better Days Are Ahead - so the future was always on his mind, but I lost him to cancer at 58... So here's what I learned - do what's important NOW - one never knows, so... here's what I've done - gone & graduated from Nursing School and I will go on to be a MIDWIFE, something I've always wanted, but always feared... this is what my dear POP taught me... T.W. 6-3-05"
"6/9/05 - MAJOR IMPACTS @ 58 YRS. OLD!
-FAMILY -CHILDREN
-RELIGION -GRANDCHILDREN
-EDUCATION -SPORTS
-CAREER -FRIENDS
-VIETNAM ERA
DON'T MEAN TO PROVIDE LAUNDRY LIST, BUT THAT'S WHY LIFE IS. EACH ONE OF THE ABOVE TOPICS COULD HAVE PAGES UPON PAGES WRITTEN, BUT TIME IN A BAR DOESN'T PERMIT ONE TO WAX ELOQUENTLY. BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR PROJECT. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!"
"A man can know himself.
A man can know his surroundings.
A man can know of unknowable.
-M. G. 2005"
"The thing that lights a fire under me to succeed in life is my father. He has struggled his whole life to give my brother & I what we need - but he was never really able to give us everything. At 22 I just graduated from University of Delaware & am on my way to Brooklyn Law school - so that I can give my dad everything he ever needs. He suffered from triple bypass surgery last summer. Stressed out from money things. Mostly money. I want him to spend the rest of his life on a boat. On whatever lake he chooses doing what he loves -fishing.
-A. C."
"About three weeks ago, I got so drunk that I fell in my driveway & knocked out my front tooth! But before that unfortunate dental disaster, it had been a great night. I had been drinking w/my friend Michael, speeding down 202 at speeds we shouldn't have been, his car a red slash against the night sky. It was raining and gray but we only hit green lights. green smears on the asphalt. We drank ridiculously that night. telepathicly. shot in my hand before I even ordered one. I was wearing my pink tank top and the sequins were falling off. but we sparkled that night on our own. Vodka shots - clear, crystalline, pure. We danced and lived our motto, "It's our time -we're young." It's those moments I always find myself chasing -those carefree, youthful, blood pumping in the veins moments. And the next thing I remember is asphalt, blood threading red over my palm. even as I insisted I was fine. And I am fine. even though I'm 23, still living at home, unsure of where I'm going, living for the feeling of Red Bull and Vodka -alcoholic lull vs caffeine, fighting it out in my veins. "I don't fear storms, because I'm learning to steer my ship" –L. A.
"an influential memory of mine of would be the time when I was five years old and my father had come in work and passed out on the couch. You see my father was a heavy alchoholic and drug abuser, well before long he started haveing ceasers in his sleep. Well I watched him have a massive seacere and he had bit his toungue off while having a ceasere. Well after he came out of his seasere he blamed me for not taking his belt off and putting in his mouth so he wouldn't bit his toung off. after taking a harsh beating right then their I decided I never wanted to be like my father. I wanted to be the best father I could if I ever was to be. -I. K."
"I'M WORKING ON A NEW MOVIE. ITS A GLADIATOR, MANS BEST FRIEND THING CALLED AIR CALLIGULA, IT'S LIKE AIRBUD, BUT THE DOG THROWS A JAVELIN" (unsigned)
"PLAYING MUSIC WHLE TRIPPING. HANDS DOWN, CRAZIEST THING POSSIBLY I'VE SEEN MY SOUND WAVES, I HAVE LEFT MY BODY, AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER PLAYERS AND I. DISSOLVING REALITY AND THE SEPERATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSE AND MYSELF... IT WAS ALL ONE, IN AN ESTATIC WAVEY, HAZEY, BEAUTIFUL SONG. SO...GO OUT THERE AND TAKE SOME DRUGS (unsigned)"
"6/13/05
"I liked boys. I always have. However, the other day I had a life changing experience. It was a hot + sweaty day. I was with two friends: one a girl -name not needed, and the other a boy -name not needed, we decided we were so hot that we wanted to go swimming in the near by stream. On the river bank stood a tree, attached was a rope. Being the crazy up for anything 21 year olds we are we decide what the hell who needs bathing suits. Stripped down to the nude and jumped in. This was the moment me and my girl friend's life changed. We couldn't stay away from each other accidental (?) kept occuring. Eventually it just happened we got caught up into the hottest most passionate make out session. After a good five mins in our own world we realized our guy friend was jelous and feeling left out, so we let him in on the action. This was our life changing moment and not to mention the begining of a beautiful relationship. -K + M, Lovers for life"
"1999 - Charleston, SC
had to hitchhike to my next festival, got a ride w/an old truckdriver - the motherfuckers going 75 mph in an overloaded Mack truck (18 wheels!!!) he's so interested in what i'm saying - he asks me to grab the wheeel -so i do- then he jumps to the back-leaves me to- crash or drive the fucking thing! So i take the wheel - and ask what the fuck??? -he says - i thought you wanted to live!
-L."
"Some times I go to church drunk. I think some of the congregation members notice too. however I always go to church high. I'm pretty sure nobdy notices, and if they do, they appreciate my enthusiastic singing more than accusing me of recrational drug-use. After a very spiritual Saturday night of binge drinking, it is easier to go to church if you drink + smoke weed beforhand. Be sure to sing good! C. M. B."
"February 28, 2000
Choice changes your life. Every day I try to validate mine - but that validation will never come. I'll never know if I made the right one- But it's changed my life forever and brought me where I am. Feb 27th I had a child, the next day she was gone. And my life will never be the same. -B.D."
"Waiting for inspiration to greet me at the crossroads of my dreams and my direction, I mused for a moment on the nature of the creative faerie, fickle and transient unless bliss precedes and follows. And washing up, like so many iridescent jellyfish. My pearls of words and music converge and shine as if tomorrow no longer held meaning. I began to move forward, and the perpetual motion of Fate met me halfway... From then on, I followed my intense, instinctive happiness and have been content ever since. -Just this Girl"
"Me and my friends were out at the bars in Barcelona over spring break. Needless to say, we were all shitfaced. girl drama proceeded to unsue, full force I might add. It ended on a tragic climax back at the apartment we were renting when a glass door was slammed in my best friend, Leigh's face. The glass shatered as she fell backward, penetrating her right leg. She suffered extensive nerve damage and lost over 20% of blood. Simply put, she nearly lost her life. This tragic event which began at the bars impacted my life in ways I cannot describe. Watching you best friend bleeding to death in a foreign country really puts things into perspective. -MAF"
-A. C."
"About three weeks ago, I got so drunk that I fell in my driveway & knocked out my front tooth! But before that unfortunate dental disaster, it had been a great night. I had been drinking w/my friend Michael, speeding down 202 at speeds we shouldn't have been, his car a red slash against the night sky. It was raining and gray but we only hit green lights. green smears on the asphalt. We drank ridiculously that night. telepathicly. shot in my hand before I even ordered one. I was wearing my pink tank top and the sequins were falling off. but we sparkled that night on our own. Vodka shots - clear, crystalline, pure. We danced and lived our motto, "It's our time -we're young." It's those moments I always find myself chasing -those carefree, youthful, blood pumping in the veins moments. And the next thing I remember is asphalt, blood threading red over my palm. even as I insisted I was fine. And I am fine. even though I'm 23, still living at home, unsure of where I'm going, living for the feeling of Red Bull and Vodka -alcoholic lull vs caffeine, fighting it out in my veins. "I don't fear storms, because I'm learning to steer my ship" –L. A.
"an influential memory of mine of would be the time when I was five years old and my father had come in work and passed out on the couch. You see my father was a heavy alchoholic and drug abuser, well before long he started haveing ceasers in his sleep. Well I watched him have a massive seacere and he had bit his toungue off while having a ceasere. Well after he came out of his seasere he blamed me for not taking his belt off and putting in his mouth so he wouldn't bit his toung off. after taking a harsh beating right then their I decided I never wanted to be like my father. I wanted to be the best father I could if I ever was to be. -I. K."
"I'M WORKING ON A NEW MOVIE. ITS A GLADIATOR, MANS BEST FRIEND THING CALLED AIR CALLIGULA, IT'S LIKE AIRBUD, BUT THE DOG THROWS A JAVELIN" (unsigned)
"PLAYING MUSIC WHLE TRIPPING. HANDS DOWN, CRAZIEST THING POSSIBLY I'VE SEEN MY SOUND WAVES, I HAVE LEFT MY BODY, AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER PLAYERS AND I. DISSOLVING REALITY AND THE SEPERATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSE AND MYSELF... IT WAS ALL ONE, IN AN ESTATIC WAVEY, HAZEY, BEAUTIFUL SONG. SO...GO OUT THERE AND TAKE SOME DRUGS (unsigned)"
"6/13/05
"I liked boys. I always have. However, the other day I had a life changing experience. It was a hot + sweaty day. I was with two friends: one a girl -name not needed, and the other a boy -name not needed, we decided we were so hot that we wanted to go swimming in the near by stream. On the river bank stood a tree, attached was a rope. Being the crazy up for anything 21 year olds we are we decide what the hell who needs bathing suits. Stripped down to the nude and jumped in. This was the moment me and my girl friend's life changed. We couldn't stay away from each other accidental (?) kept occuring. Eventually it just happened we got caught up into the hottest most passionate make out session. After a good five mins in our own world we realized our guy friend was jelous and feeling left out, so we let him in on the action. This was our life changing moment and not to mention the begining of a beautiful relationship. -K + M, Lovers for life"
"1999 - Charleston, SC
had to hitchhike to my next festival, got a ride w/an old truckdriver - the motherfuckers going 75 mph in an overloaded Mack truck (18 wheels!!!) he's so interested in what i'm saying - he asks me to grab the wheeel -so i do- then he jumps to the back-leaves me to- crash or drive the fucking thing! So i take the wheel - and ask what the fuck??? -he says - i thought you wanted to live!
-L."
"Some times I go to church drunk. I think some of the congregation members notice too. however I always go to church high. I'm pretty sure nobdy notices, and if they do, they appreciate my enthusiastic singing more than accusing me of recrational drug-use. After a very spiritual Saturday night of binge drinking, it is easier to go to church if you drink + smoke weed beforhand. Be sure to sing good! C. M. B."
"February 28, 2000
Choice changes your life. Every day I try to validate mine - but that validation will never come. I'll never know if I made the right one- But it's changed my life forever and brought me where I am. Feb 27th I had a child, the next day she was gone. And my life will never be the same. -B.D."
"Waiting for inspiration to greet me at the crossroads of my dreams and my direction, I mused for a moment on the nature of the creative faerie, fickle and transient unless bliss precedes and follows. And washing up, like so many iridescent jellyfish. My pearls of words and music converge and shine as if tomorrow no longer held meaning. I began to move forward, and the perpetual motion of Fate met me halfway... From then on, I followed my intense, instinctive happiness and have been content ever since. -Just this Girl"
"Me and my friends were out at the bars in Barcelona over spring break. Needless to say, we were all shitfaced. girl drama proceeded to unsue, full force I might add. It ended on a tragic climax back at the apartment we were renting when a glass door was slammed in my best friend, Leigh's face. The glass shatered as she fell backward, penetrating her right leg. She suffered extensive nerve damage and lost over 20% of blood. Simply put, she nearly lost her life. This tragic event which began at the bars impacted my life in ways I cannot describe. Watching you best friend bleeding to death in a foreign country really puts things into perspective. -MAF"
"I was dating this guy and his parents were away for the weekend. I went over to his house, we hung out, & threw back some beers. This guy I was dating was a total stoner surfer dude. I could never understand what he was saying, I would just nod my head & say yeah, he was really hot so I didn't care. So, I was hanging out w/his brothers & his boys, and "the guy" I was dating disappeared. About 10 minutes later, he came up to me grabbed my hand & led me upstairs. All of a sudden we're in his parents bathroom, candles are lit & a bath had been drawn. Next thing I know, we're fucking in the tub. I was sitting on this ledge & there was this damn fern tree behind my head. So, me & this guy are really going at it, fucking like crazy, and the whole time these damn branches from this tree are in my face. I felt like the bride from 'sixteen candles' trying to brush her veil out of her face. It was such a pain in the ass. Eventually we finished & went to bed. So, my learning experience & that BIG IMPACT on my life is...never have sex near trees, plants or bushes b/c they just get in the way, make things awkward & kill the mood... but it was still good to a certain point. –M."
"So my learning experience is never be satisfyed with where you are. There is always a better place and people will appreciate your wanting to escape. (unsigned)"
"I woke up at 4:13 AM, walked out my front door neglecting to put on clothes. In my yard I began digging. By the time I was done I had fashioned a roughly conical hole 4 ft 7 in deep and 2 ft 6 in in diameter. I crawled in, tucking my knees against my chest in an attempt to look inward. Gradually the darkness enveloped me and I began to see through my surroundings, seeing my hand and arms as the bone and tissue they really were, seeing the dirt, roots, and sod as their constituent atoms, electrons circiling nucleii in an endless race around a sphere that could have been the giant orb we call earth I was sitting in. I was able to reach downward and inward to peer down with a bird's eye view at this microscopically enormous world. As I concentrated I could see oceans and landmasses clashing and sturggling, fire and ice destroying and creating in endless cycles. My view turned to the green color of chlorophyl as life sprouted and spread, engulfing my view with shapes and colors oddly familiar. From the algea and plankton sprouted trilobites, crustaceans, fishes, amphibeans, reptiles, mammels, primates. For the last tenth of a second I saw all of human civilization pass by in a flash untill nothing was left but gray dust. From my unique godseye vantage point, I briefly understood not the true question or meaning, but the innert motives of life. As a human mule, I understood we were neither the first or last to exist on this planet, our uniqueness stood in the fact that we are the first one's here to discover love. Now that we have braved the struggles of nature to retrieve the gift of love, what as a human race are we supposed to do with it?
-W. N. R."
"When I was seven or maybe six, whatever. My "cool" next door neighbor gave me my 1st skateboard. I didn't know + he sure didn't know how that 1st little mini freestyle deck w/no tail, no nose, tiny trucks + redish pink worn down wheels would impact the rest of my life. I was hooked on skateboarding like a junky is hooked on dope. I had to have it, couldn't live w/out it. I needed it in my system on a daily basis. Now almost 18 years later I've gone through a stack of skateboard decks waist high and somewhere I still have that tiny freestyle deck + thoughs little red wheels somewhere in a box in a bastement. The point is that skateboarding has had a positive impact on my life since a very young age + still does stronger than ever, + always will as long as I can stand on a board + give one little push.
-L. D. P."
"I TOOK A CRAP THAT WAS LIKE 20 INCHES LONG... THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME, IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, NO SEPARATION. IT WAS PART OF ME, BUT BROWN, AND WHOLE..... IT WAS FUCKING SO REAL, BEAUTIFUL, YET KIND OF SMELLY. THEN IT SNAPPED OFF AND WENT DOWN THE TUBE NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN, WHAT A PUSSY."
"Something that changed my life...
-well most recently I met a guy here a Spence Cafe and I brought him home and he materbated in my bed. Who does that? He thinks he's so cool. But more importantly my father passed away my senior year in high school... I am now a graduate of West Chester and it's just begun to impact my life. Love and respect to whoever has experianced a loss of a parent. I know what you your going through and I'm there for you wherever you may be. -D?"
"9-11-01 has been the most major impact on my life. This was a very tragic day for our country, but it was a life lesson for me. I am a firefighter and I was a firefighter when this event occurred. Unfortunately this event demonstrated that our country was no longer invincible. This inspired me to take my volunteer activities to the next level. I now work for Congressional Fire Services Institute, an organization which is a non-partison policy making institute charged with educating members of congress on fire saftey issues. I was also inspired to go out on my own and lobby for funding for our nations first responders. God Bless USA. T. L."
"The biggest impact on my life has been joining my sorority. I never imagined I could be so close to 56 girls. I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. Some people have negetive pre-conceptions of sororities that are completely false. My sisters are the most genoune, caring, and beautiful people I know. They are the most important people in my life. (unsigned)"
"I had a one night stand with a married man. The doozy of it is that I have to work with him every day. I experienced bad Karma right away. $600 later I am still healing from the evening. Lesson: DON'T DRINK & FLIRT! (unsigned)"
"One Sunday at church, where I had just started to go after an (?) 10 or so years there was a guest speaker and something he was saying just went right home to my heart. I couldn't progress in my spiritual life until I abandoned my anger and resentment. I had to FORGIVE. For my own good. Like lots of girls I was perpetually pissed at my fucked up dad but this was just holding me back from being an open and pure and loving spirit. So after a week or so I did it. I wrote it down in a list to let him know just incase he wondered if like most girls I was pissed at my imperfect dad and I let go of the ugliness and I was set free. And I think, no I know he was set free too. That was more significant than the news that came 3 weeks later that he had inoperable lung cancer. I am eternally thankful that I learned my lesson before it became a regret I'd have to live with for the rest of my life. God is good. Live, Love, Forgive – C."
"Out on a date. Rainy night - cold. Although feeling cheery. Go out w/ a guy who lent his car to a Mercedes Dealer for a "test" He drives a diesel VW. Mercedes wants to produce a diesel - his excuse. Two trashy thin blondes walk into the bar we are having drinks at. He walks up, leaving me at the table, to hit on them. Started talking to the HUMBLE guys next to me, and made a rreally great friend. (unsigned)"
"Well, about one week ago... I went to this CRAZY hippy/redneck festival which took place in the mysterious Pine Barrons of NJ... There, we made friends with a guy named Wavy Davy...AKA...The JERSEY DEVIL... He inspired me to live in a trailor, have fun, take home-made acid and not give a fuck about this psuedo-perfect society we call the United States of America...Long live Wavy Davy and his alternate reality, which for some reason seems more real then this world's actual reality... Much love to ya Davy – B."
"5/28/05 Sorry, I'm not writing about the topic. Driving into town tonight reminded me of the last time I was here. It was Joe's sportsmans Lounge then, and frequented by the likes of George Thorogood. Years ago, believe me and I'm feeling to old at 40 something, to be here but I got talked into it so I could hear the band. I also remember when the laundromat around the corner was the Corner Bar and Jitters was a hippie hang out! Turks Head. The Right to Life Office was a store called Mother Earth and I bought my first pair of hip-huggers (with much trepidation on my mother's part). Life's a trip. -M
"So my learning experience is never be satisfyed with where you are. There is always a better place and people will appreciate your wanting to escape. (unsigned)"
"I woke up at 4:13 AM, walked out my front door neglecting to put on clothes. In my yard I began digging. By the time I was done I had fashioned a roughly conical hole 4 ft 7 in deep and 2 ft 6 in in diameter. I crawled in, tucking my knees against my chest in an attempt to look inward. Gradually the darkness enveloped me and I began to see through my surroundings, seeing my hand and arms as the bone and tissue they really were, seeing the dirt, roots, and sod as their constituent atoms, electrons circiling nucleii in an endless race around a sphere that could have been the giant orb we call earth I was sitting in. I was able to reach downward and inward to peer down with a bird's eye view at this microscopically enormous world. As I concentrated I could see oceans and landmasses clashing and sturggling, fire and ice destroying and creating in endless cycles. My view turned to the green color of chlorophyl as life sprouted and spread, engulfing my view with shapes and colors oddly familiar. From the algea and plankton sprouted trilobites, crustaceans, fishes, amphibeans, reptiles, mammels, primates. For the last tenth of a second I saw all of human civilization pass by in a flash untill nothing was left but gray dust. From my unique godseye vantage point, I briefly understood not the true question or meaning, but the innert motives of life. As a human mule, I understood we were neither the first or last to exist on this planet, our uniqueness stood in the fact that we are the first one's here to discover love. Now that we have braved the struggles of nature to retrieve the gift of love, what as a human race are we supposed to do with it?
-W. N. R."
"When I was seven or maybe six, whatever. My "cool" next door neighbor gave me my 1st skateboard. I didn't know + he sure didn't know how that 1st little mini freestyle deck w/no tail, no nose, tiny trucks + redish pink worn down wheels would impact the rest of my life. I was hooked on skateboarding like a junky is hooked on dope. I had to have it, couldn't live w/out it. I needed it in my system on a daily basis. Now almost 18 years later I've gone through a stack of skateboard decks waist high and somewhere I still have that tiny freestyle deck + thoughs little red wheels somewhere in a box in a bastement. The point is that skateboarding has had a positive impact on my life since a very young age + still does stronger than ever, + always will as long as I can stand on a board + give one little push.
-L. D. P."
"I TOOK A CRAP THAT WAS LIKE 20 INCHES LONG... THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME, IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, NO SEPARATION. IT WAS PART OF ME, BUT BROWN, AND WHOLE..... IT WAS FUCKING SO REAL, BEAUTIFUL, YET KIND OF SMELLY. THEN IT SNAPPED OFF AND WENT DOWN THE TUBE NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN, WHAT A PUSSY."
"Something that changed my life...
-well most recently I met a guy here a Spence Cafe and I brought him home and he materbated in my bed. Who does that? He thinks he's so cool. But more importantly my father passed away my senior year in high school... I am now a graduate of West Chester and it's just begun to impact my life. Love and respect to whoever has experianced a loss of a parent. I know what you your going through and I'm there for you wherever you may be. -D?"
"9-11-01 has been the most major impact on my life. This was a very tragic day for our country, but it was a life lesson for me. I am a firefighter and I was a firefighter when this event occurred. Unfortunately this event demonstrated that our country was no longer invincible. This inspired me to take my volunteer activities to the next level. I now work for Congressional Fire Services Institute, an organization which is a non-partison policy making institute charged with educating members of congress on fire saftey issues. I was also inspired to go out on my own and lobby for funding for our nations first responders. God Bless USA. T. L."
"The biggest impact on my life has been joining my sorority. I never imagined I could be so close to 56 girls. I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. Some people have negetive pre-conceptions of sororities that are completely false. My sisters are the most genoune, caring, and beautiful people I know. They are the most important people in my life. (unsigned)"
"I had a one night stand with a married man. The doozy of it is that I have to work with him every day. I experienced bad Karma right away. $600 later I am still healing from the evening. Lesson: DON'T DRINK & FLIRT! (unsigned)"
"One Sunday at church, where I had just started to go after an (?) 10 or so years there was a guest speaker and something he was saying just went right home to my heart. I couldn't progress in my spiritual life until I abandoned my anger and resentment. I had to FORGIVE. For my own good. Like lots of girls I was perpetually pissed at my fucked up dad but this was just holding me back from being an open and pure and loving spirit. So after a week or so I did it. I wrote it down in a list to let him know just incase he wondered if like most girls I was pissed at my imperfect dad and I let go of the ugliness and I was set free. And I think, no I know he was set free too. That was more significant than the news that came 3 weeks later that he had inoperable lung cancer. I am eternally thankful that I learned my lesson before it became a regret I'd have to live with for the rest of my life. God is good. Live, Love, Forgive – C."
"Out on a date. Rainy night - cold. Although feeling cheery. Go out w/ a guy who lent his car to a Mercedes Dealer for a "test" He drives a diesel VW. Mercedes wants to produce a diesel - his excuse. Two trashy thin blondes walk into the bar we are having drinks at. He walks up, leaving me at the table, to hit on them. Started talking to the HUMBLE guys next to me, and made a rreally great friend. (unsigned)"
"Well, about one week ago... I went to this CRAZY hippy/redneck festival which took place in the mysterious Pine Barrons of NJ... There, we made friends with a guy named Wavy Davy...AKA...The JERSEY DEVIL... He inspired me to live in a trailor, have fun, take home-made acid and not give a fuck about this psuedo-perfect society we call the United States of America...Long live Wavy Davy and his alternate reality, which for some reason seems more real then this world's actual reality... Much love to ya Davy – B."
"5/28/05 Sorry, I'm not writing about the topic. Driving into town tonight reminded me of the last time I was here. It was Joe's sportsmans Lounge then, and frequented by the likes of George Thorogood. Years ago, believe me and I'm feeling to old at 40 something, to be here but I got talked into it so I could hear the band. I also remember when the laundromat around the corner was the Corner Bar and Jitters was a hippie hang out! Turks Head. The Right to Life Office was a store called Mother Earth and I bought my first pair of hip-huggers (with much trepidation on my mother's part). Life's a trip. -M
"Redemption 5/30/05. My best friend Birdie has had the biggest effect on my life. We met one cold, stormy night in the dead of summer. It was 1998. And yet, when I met her I had the odd feeling that we'd met before. It was like we were soulmates. She, with her dark curls and emrald eyes seemed to radiate light. But I was more taken aback with the way she said "Henry". To some people Henry seemed like a lame, broken down horse. But to Birdie, Henry was a work of art.
And now, as I sit next to Birdie and ponder our life as best friends, I'm reminded by the fact that she's getting married in 2 months...actually 5 weeks. Suddenly our lives are going to drastically change. She'll be married and I'll be living in Mississippi. And now as we sit in a crowded bar with our dear friend Constance, we hold on to these memories. Change is inevitable but our friendship (fueled by our mutual love for Miller Lite, Rum & diet Coke and Rasberry Martinis) is eternal. Signing off for now, F. O. D."
"Me and Jen are the best people ever & Pearl man woooo! We're at the bar for my 21st birthday & I'm very horny & wearing a condom hat!!! Who wants to use it w/me? -L. & J."
"Dear fellow bar goers- So many people focus on the responsibilities of life, such as doing good in school and being the best they can at their job. People focus on that so much that they loose touch of who they are and things that really matter in life. The important things in life is frieds ad family- without those things, nothing else matters. In my opinion, a truly succesful person loved their friends, their family, and themselves first, and does their "job" (whatever it may be) to better their surroundings. Above all, do what your heart tells you first, and don't worry about waht the "popular" desicion may be. Your heart never lies. -B.
West Chester"
"I would like to breed humans and sell them to Nike for a lot of money. For example if you took Shaq and Lisa Leslea and breeded them it would turn into the best basketball player. Only if i could sell them to Nike, cause Nike would nurish them and train them into being a great ball player. But that is just fer fun."
-(unsigned)
"5/21/05 I was suffering from Major writer's block about 7 years ago. then I heard "Ana's Song" by Silverchair, had a good cry, and found I could write again. It impacted me in a huge way, cuz if it hadn't happened, I never would have written again. And then I wouldn't have written this. And the page would have been blank here." -(unsigned)
"5/21/05. I thought it would be cool to take this girl I was dating to a concert because she is a musician. Unfortunately the concert we ended up going to was Tantric. Ifelt like an ass because they suck. What made the night worth it was the fact that she tole me she was in love with me. I'm still with her today. She's the best thing that has happened to me. Thank you Tantric! Haha. " -(unsigned)
"5/21/05. Not being positive about which had the greatest impact on my life, I would have to say discovering that there were alternative healing opportunities such as reiki and shiatsu. Realising you have the opportunity to heal others as well as yourself is a life changing moment. Especially when you never imagined you could. -M.G."
"Upon my travels to the north one place has found a deep impact on my young life. Algonquin Provintial Park is in the Ontario provience and incudes 76,000 square km witch is filled with hundreds of lakes, protected animals including moose, timberwolves, lake trout, and (?). My grandfather introduced this region to me at an early age. I highly recomed this land to anyone who is trying to find themselves, or seeking true adventure. -A.B.R"
"My mind is as blank as this page of paper..... –C."
"Next week I am going to Mexico. Not the first time, it's not that adventuros, just the second. My father lives there, I sort of met him a few months ago. I mean, I knew he was Mexican but when my adoption records were finally made public to me (after months of waiting) I went down. Its kind of what I expected-not poor, but not wealthy by any means. Anyway, next week I'll be visiting Chico for the second time. xoxoxxx. -J."
"6/1/05. I'm thinking how much I love to be 21! Finally after all these years I'm finally able to enjoy what everyone else has been doing! There are so many options of things to do each night of the week that I never knew before I became 21, now I get to pay twice as much to be drunk as I did in high school, aren't I lucky?" -(unsigned)
"I might get published? Oh REALLY?! Well it's about fucking time. I finally got my first rejection letter last week and I was so happy. I told everyone I knew. Why so happy to be rejected, you ask? Well, after sending query after query, submission after submission into the black hole of the publishing world, I was just psyched to hear that someone even acknowledged my (albeit unskilled, unemployable) existance. And now, after running into the hundredth high school classmate, I get told the best thing that ever happened to any of them was not going to college, cause now they not only well paid employees, but sought - after positive job candidates. So, in conclusion, perhaps college really is a terrible idea, because I (along with my degree holding friends) have this strange idea that I'm supposed to do something I like with my weekdays (instead of just spending my week nights at fake Irish pubs and beijng satisfied with it.) -L.C.N."
"What had a major impact in my life? Well, my ex-boyfriend cheated on me about 15 times w/probably 7 different people. So, i learned not to trust dickheads and to stop being so damn naive. I learned that i can be alone and still survive on my own w/out a dickhead of a boyfriend. -M."
"Learning the meaning of deception at 13. After 1 year of pain believing my dear daddy was soon to die from lung cancer. Only to finally find out it was a lie. Good excuse to stay out at the bars & cheat on my mommy. Funny that he spent nights crying that he wouldn't see his little girl get married. He didn't. Not because he died... but because he lied. L.I.V."
"In the seventh grade, on a family vacation to the beach, over the unlikely medium of pop radio, I first encountered the blues. It was through the imperfect conduit of Tracy Chapman's "Gimme One Reason", but it was the blues nonethless. All week long I would sit by the boombox radio, pushing the manual station tuner wheel back and forth, listening for the sweet music. I loved it. Specifically, at one point - I remember I was cruising out of a parking lot in the family minivan as the song was playing, I told my parents of my new found love. "Welp, I think our boy likes the blues, Ma." said my dear old dad to mom. "I think you're right, Pa" I denied it vehemently, of course, but the damage was done. (unsigned)"
"6/6/05. Got wasted Saturday. Was escorted to my friends by 4 strangers, 2 chicks, 2 guys from Baxter's in Dub C. My friend informs me the next a.m. and I happen to watch the news that p.m. to see a girl on vacation in Aruba w/120 some friends and she disappeared the last day after she left 2/ 2 guys (obivously strangers since she was from the states), it's a week later and they're is a manhunt for her body. I have been blessed by the grace of God to not be in her position after the stunt I pulled Saturday. An eye opener! I'm almost, no I am scared straight, don't get drunk and stupid, people are more than happy to take advantage. Take care. J. N. S."
And now, as I sit next to Birdie and ponder our life as best friends, I'm reminded by the fact that she's getting married in 2 months...actually 5 weeks. Suddenly our lives are going to drastically change. She'll be married and I'll be living in Mississippi. And now as we sit in a crowded bar with our dear friend Constance, we hold on to these memories. Change is inevitable but our friendship (fueled by our mutual love for Miller Lite, Rum & diet Coke and Rasberry Martinis) is eternal. Signing off for now, F. O. D."
"Me and Jen are the best people ever & Pearl man woooo! We're at the bar for my 21st birthday & I'm very horny & wearing a condom hat!!! Who wants to use it w/me? -L. & J."
"Dear fellow bar goers- So many people focus on the responsibilities of life, such as doing good in school and being the best they can at their job. People focus on that so much that they loose touch of who they are and things that really matter in life. The important things in life is frieds ad family- without those things, nothing else matters. In my opinion, a truly succesful person loved their friends, their family, and themselves first, and does their "job" (whatever it may be) to better their surroundings. Above all, do what your heart tells you first, and don't worry about waht the "popular" desicion may be. Your heart never lies. -B.
West Chester"
"I would like to breed humans and sell them to Nike for a lot of money. For example if you took Shaq and Lisa Leslea and breeded them it would turn into the best basketball player. Only if i could sell them to Nike, cause Nike would nurish them and train them into being a great ball player. But that is just fer fun."
-(unsigned)
"5/21/05 I was suffering from Major writer's block about 7 years ago. then I heard "Ana's Song" by Silverchair, had a good cry, and found I could write again. It impacted me in a huge way, cuz if it hadn't happened, I never would have written again. And then I wouldn't have written this. And the page would have been blank here." -(unsigned)
"5/21/05. I thought it would be cool to take this girl I was dating to a concert because she is a musician. Unfortunately the concert we ended up going to was Tantric. Ifelt like an ass because they suck. What made the night worth it was the fact that she tole me she was in love with me. I'm still with her today. She's the best thing that has happened to me. Thank you Tantric! Haha. " -(unsigned)
"5/21/05. Not being positive about which had the greatest impact on my life, I would have to say discovering that there were alternative healing opportunities such as reiki and shiatsu. Realising you have the opportunity to heal others as well as yourself is a life changing moment. Especially when you never imagined you could. -M.G."
"Upon my travels to the north one place has found a deep impact on my young life. Algonquin Provintial Park is in the Ontario provience and incudes 76,000 square km witch is filled with hundreds of lakes, protected animals including moose, timberwolves, lake trout, and (?). My grandfather introduced this region to me at an early age. I highly recomed this land to anyone who is trying to find themselves, or seeking true adventure. -A.B.R"
"My mind is as blank as this page of paper..... –C."
"Next week I am going to Mexico. Not the first time, it's not that adventuros, just the second. My father lives there, I sort of met him a few months ago. I mean, I knew he was Mexican but when my adoption records were finally made public to me (after months of waiting) I went down. Its kind of what I expected-not poor, but not wealthy by any means. Anyway, next week I'll be visiting Chico for the second time. xoxoxxx. -J."
"6/1/05. I'm thinking how much I love to be 21! Finally after all these years I'm finally able to enjoy what everyone else has been doing! There are so many options of things to do each night of the week that I never knew before I became 21, now I get to pay twice as much to be drunk as I did in high school, aren't I lucky?" -(unsigned)
"I might get published? Oh REALLY?! Well it's about fucking time. I finally got my first rejection letter last week and I was so happy. I told everyone I knew. Why so happy to be rejected, you ask? Well, after sending query after query, submission after submission into the black hole of the publishing world, I was just psyched to hear that someone even acknowledged my (albeit unskilled, unemployable) existance. And now, after running into the hundredth high school classmate, I get told the best thing that ever happened to any of them was not going to college, cause now they not only well paid employees, but sought - after positive job candidates. So, in conclusion, perhaps college really is a terrible idea, because I (along with my degree holding friends) have this strange idea that I'm supposed to do something I like with my weekdays (instead of just spending my week nights at fake Irish pubs and beijng satisfied with it.) -L.C.N."
"What had a major impact in my life? Well, my ex-boyfriend cheated on me about 15 times w/probably 7 different people. So, i learned not to trust dickheads and to stop being so damn naive. I learned that i can be alone and still survive on my own w/out a dickhead of a boyfriend. -M."
"Learning the meaning of deception at 13. After 1 year of pain believing my dear daddy was soon to die from lung cancer. Only to finally find out it was a lie. Good excuse to stay out at the bars & cheat on my mommy. Funny that he spent nights crying that he wouldn't see his little girl get married. He didn't. Not because he died... but because he lied. L.I.V."
"In the seventh grade, on a family vacation to the beach, over the unlikely medium of pop radio, I first encountered the blues. It was through the imperfect conduit of Tracy Chapman's "Gimme One Reason", but it was the blues nonethless. All week long I would sit by the boombox radio, pushing the manual station tuner wheel back and forth, listening for the sweet music. I loved it. Specifically, at one point - I remember I was cruising out of a parking lot in the family minivan as the song was playing, I told my parents of my new found love. "Welp, I think our boy likes the blues, Ma." said my dear old dad to mom. "I think you're right, Pa" I denied it vehemently, of course, but the damage was done. (unsigned)"
"6/6/05. Got wasted Saturday. Was escorted to my friends by 4 strangers, 2 chicks, 2 guys from Baxter's in Dub C. My friend informs me the next a.m. and I happen to watch the news that p.m. to see a girl on vacation in Aruba w/120 some friends and she disappeared the last day after she left 2/ 2 guys (obivously strangers since she was from the states), it's a week later and they're is a manhunt for her body. I have been blessed by the grace of God to not be in her position after the stunt I pulled Saturday. An eye opener! I'm almost, no I am scared straight, don't get drunk and stupid, people are more than happy to take advantage. Take care. J. N. S."
"After attending nursing school, I worked private care in a young mans home. He was unfortunate though to azuire a disease called muscular distrophy. He was wheelchari bound since the age of 19. He's now 27. He has taken a misfortune and turned it positive. When I sometimes complain about small things I just think back to this man and realize, wow, Jackie, you have things made. Lots of people take small things for granted such as walking and hopefully through-out my life, I will always be humble and above all, grateful for what I do have. J. M. S."
"One of the biggest things that has impacted my life was being involved in a near fatal car accident I lost 2 of my friends and was devestated. I never thought that I would be able to overcome this obsticle, but time heals all wounds. As time went by I was able to overcome my sadness and guilt. This has made me a stronger person and I now know that I can handle anything that comes my way-not a day goes by that I don't wish that I could change the outcome. Everything happens for a reason I now appreciate my life so much more and try to live life to the fullest. T. W."
"Dan, Being brought up in a catholic house, along with over 13 years of catholic schooling (K-12th grade) I was naturally, what I call now "Brain washed" to believe and live out a catholic ideal life. Though those years I blindly accepted many of the catholic church's teachings, until I got into the real world. Being slightly embittered by all of that, I did what every person enevitably does, question our humanity and "the question of a higher power"-----The event that gave me faith in a God (not a "labeled" God) was a near death experience by my Grand-Mom. Nearing death, dying of lung cancer, weakened to bed and small movements, she sprang her arms up-said she saw a "light" and was seeing old relatives (dead). Then said God gave her 3 days to live. Three days later she died. It still reminds me of a higher power. –J."
"BMX, bmx is what made a huge impact on my life. Ican't really put it into words on how much its made me, changeed me as a person but it did. From it came progression, pain *magic*, some of the most memorable and life lasting times in my life. I love it, forever its me, been me, will be me, for a long time, or at least till I cant anymore. Anyways back to the BASS. Oh and Big Brother, Big Sister, who ever you were, thank you! I'll never forget you. You made a huge impact on me and I thank you for that. –N. M."
”Dear Memoirs, I was a 20 year old adolescent that possessed the hormones of a 13 year old boy. Living in a Colorado mountain called Leadurlk, a town located 10,200 ft. above sealevel, did not help the situation. Much of my pickings to release my "extra energy" were smelly, heavy hippy chicks that were usually 30 1bs over weight. After months of banging a hispanic braod that had a 70s bush & talked excessively too much, my buddies & I ventured to the tourist town of Breckeridge to exploit the young, impressionable, weekly visitors. The first night in Breck did not produce the Tourist trim that I eaverly sought; unfortunately, a tall dark, brunette regular intrigued my eye. Eventually, after virtually no persuasion whatsoever the brunette convinced me to rendezvue back at her plush mountain pad. Once back at her place, intoxicated beyond belief by alcohol and the urge to ejaculate, my manhood, the brunette k& I made passionate love all over her dirty sheets. having the brunette on top ;of me riding me like John Wayne in a western flick was more painful than it was pleasurable. Fuck that, I thought, I been waiting for this for too long. The next morning, waking up with a pain in my abomen & my ego, I looked deeply into the eyes of the brunette and saw not the woman from the night before. Instead, a smelly hippy chick that was 65 lbs over weight that looked more like a meatball than a hourglass. What's the moral of story? Don't live in a mountain town, you willl fuck a fat chick. -AKA- that was the last fat chick I banged, I swear. -(unsigned)"
"My life with an Israeli... From an american woman's perspective
hard-working, over-working, money-driven, family, sincere, so very different, attempting to break cultural boundaries, love, tears, miscommunication "lost in translation", determined, enamored, beautiful, new, eye-opening, future together, judeism, christianity, clashing, new rules, commited, un-broken, different directions, dark skin, light skin, soul, unity, alone. Love is not always enough.
-(unsigned)"
“Ok, I walk into a bar and meet this guy who asks me to write a page or so about whatever I think or however I feel while here at the bar. So I start thinking. What should I write about. What possibilities exist outside a bar that don’t exist anywhere else? Lets begin this evaluation by figuring out why people go to bars shall we? Ok, number one. Alcohol. The main reason people go to bars is to drink alcohol. Massive fucking amounts of alcohol. This is the sole reason people don’t hang out often in groups where alcohol isn’t involved. For some reason the proportionality of alcohol increases when the amount of people in a group increases. Maybe this is some sort of escapism. Not totally sure but this is a problem I think we all have but can’t admit. For another reason right now the dude singing Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen makes me want to puke. He is absolutely awful. Back to my point. Okay, so anyway society or people or some sort of strange magic makes it so its fun when we all get together and act like fools. Not sure why alcohol does this. This dude singing right now sucks so bad. Now the bar is screaming and head banging. Escapism. Where are they right now. Why doesn’t alcohol do this. Put the same people in the same situation without the booze and this will not happen. Why. Why do we need this elixer to loosen up? Whey can’t we do this regularly? Does alcohol provide the excuse for us to do anything and then just wake up the next day and reconcile our actions by just saying… "oh, I was drunk." Why do we need to drink? Why do we gravitate towards less conciousness as the night grows older. Why do we somehow socially de-evolve to where we just go back towards our main instinctual actions and desires, specifically sex, and absolutely obnoxious behavior? Why can’t we do this soberly? How are we improving ourselves? How are we challenging ourselves? We’re not. We sit and drink like fools as the rest of the world slowly fades away. Last call is over. Lights fade up. Bouncers are going to start kicking us out soon. Wish I had more time to write, but that would require effort, and why waste efforts when I can probably get the bartender to give me one more beer if I hurry.” -J. M.
”Tonight I have had the opportunity to reconnect with a very special friend with whom I spend many fond years and adventures, in my childhood. We have not seen each other in many hears and through one of life’s strange twist of fates, have come together to recap, recap, and catch up on all that has happened in the time that has passed. Although much in our lives has changed, much of remained in the sense of the fondness, history and affection that truly counts. Realizing this gives me the strength and optimism to move forward in life knowing I maintain a connection to the past and those that have contributed to who and what I am today. These are the things that truly matter. -(unsigned)”
"One of the biggest things that has impacted my life was being involved in a near fatal car accident I lost 2 of my friends and was devestated. I never thought that I would be able to overcome this obsticle, but time heals all wounds. As time went by I was able to overcome my sadness and guilt. This has made me a stronger person and I now know that I can handle anything that comes my way-not a day goes by that I don't wish that I could change the outcome. Everything happens for a reason I now appreciate my life so much more and try to live life to the fullest. T. W."
"Dan, Being brought up in a catholic house, along with over 13 years of catholic schooling (K-12th grade) I was naturally, what I call now "Brain washed" to believe and live out a catholic ideal life. Though those years I blindly accepted many of the catholic church's teachings, until I got into the real world. Being slightly embittered by all of that, I did what every person enevitably does, question our humanity and "the question of a higher power"-----The event that gave me faith in a God (not a "labeled" God) was a near death experience by my Grand-Mom. Nearing death, dying of lung cancer, weakened to bed and small movements, she sprang her arms up-said she saw a "light" and was seeing old relatives (dead). Then said God gave her 3 days to live. Three days later she died. It still reminds me of a higher power. –J."
"BMX, bmx is what made a huge impact on my life. Ican't really put it into words on how much its made me, changeed me as a person but it did. From it came progression, pain *magic*, some of the most memorable and life lasting times in my life. I love it, forever its me, been me, will be me, for a long time, or at least till I cant anymore. Anyways back to the BASS. Oh and Big Brother, Big Sister, who ever you were, thank you! I'll never forget you. You made a huge impact on me and I thank you for that. –N. M."
”Dear Memoirs, I was a 20 year old adolescent that possessed the hormones of a 13 year old boy. Living in a Colorado mountain called Leadurlk, a town located 10,200 ft. above sealevel, did not help the situation. Much of my pickings to release my "extra energy" were smelly, heavy hippy chicks that were usually 30 1bs over weight. After months of banging a hispanic braod that had a 70s bush & talked excessively too much, my buddies & I ventured to the tourist town of Breckeridge to exploit the young, impressionable, weekly visitors. The first night in Breck did not produce the Tourist trim that I eaverly sought; unfortunately, a tall dark, brunette regular intrigued my eye. Eventually, after virtually no persuasion whatsoever the brunette convinced me to rendezvue back at her plush mountain pad. Once back at her place, intoxicated beyond belief by alcohol and the urge to ejaculate, my manhood, the brunette k& I made passionate love all over her dirty sheets. having the brunette on top ;of me riding me like John Wayne in a western flick was more painful than it was pleasurable. Fuck that, I thought, I been waiting for this for too long. The next morning, waking up with a pain in my abomen & my ego, I looked deeply into the eyes of the brunette and saw not the woman from the night before. Instead, a smelly hippy chick that was 65 lbs over weight that looked more like a meatball than a hourglass. What's the moral of story? Don't live in a mountain town, you willl fuck a fat chick. -AKA- that was the last fat chick I banged, I swear. -(unsigned)"
"My life with an Israeli... From an american woman's perspective
hard-working, over-working, money-driven, family, sincere, so very different, attempting to break cultural boundaries, love, tears, miscommunication "lost in translation", determined, enamored, beautiful, new, eye-opening, future together, judeism, christianity, clashing, new rules, commited, un-broken, different directions, dark skin, light skin, soul, unity, alone. Love is not always enough.
-(unsigned)"
“Ok, I walk into a bar and meet this guy who asks me to write a page or so about whatever I think or however I feel while here at the bar. So I start thinking. What should I write about. What possibilities exist outside a bar that don’t exist anywhere else? Lets begin this evaluation by figuring out why people go to bars shall we? Ok, number one. Alcohol. The main reason people go to bars is to drink alcohol. Massive fucking amounts of alcohol. This is the sole reason people don’t hang out often in groups where alcohol isn’t involved. For some reason the proportionality of alcohol increases when the amount of people in a group increases. Maybe this is some sort of escapism. Not totally sure but this is a problem I think we all have but can’t admit. For another reason right now the dude singing Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen makes me want to puke. He is absolutely awful. Back to my point. Okay, so anyway society or people or some sort of strange magic makes it so its fun when we all get together and act like fools. Not sure why alcohol does this. This dude singing right now sucks so bad. Now the bar is screaming and head banging. Escapism. Where are they right now. Why doesn’t alcohol do this. Put the same people in the same situation without the booze and this will not happen. Why. Why do we need this elixer to loosen up? Whey can’t we do this regularly? Does alcohol provide the excuse for us to do anything and then just wake up the next day and reconcile our actions by just saying… "oh, I was drunk." Why do we need to drink? Why do we gravitate towards less conciousness as the night grows older. Why do we somehow socially de-evolve to where we just go back towards our main instinctual actions and desires, specifically sex, and absolutely obnoxious behavior? Why can’t we do this soberly? How are we improving ourselves? How are we challenging ourselves? We’re not. We sit and drink like fools as the rest of the world slowly fades away. Last call is over. Lights fade up. Bouncers are going to start kicking us out soon. Wish I had more time to write, but that would require effort, and why waste efforts when I can probably get the bartender to give me one more beer if I hurry.” -J. M.
”Tonight I have had the opportunity to reconnect with a very special friend with whom I spend many fond years and adventures, in my childhood. We have not seen each other in many hears and through one of life’s strange twist of fates, have come together to recap, recap, and catch up on all that has happened in the time that has passed. Although much in our lives has changed, much of remained in the sense of the fondness, history and affection that truly counts. Realizing this gives me the strength and optimism to move forward in life knowing I maintain a connection to the past and those that have contributed to who and what I am today. These are the things that truly matter. -(unsigned)”
”Thelma?
Yes. Louise. – what?
This is great. Yes. This is great. We are over 20 years older than anyone here and we are the only ones dancing. Why is that?
Because we are asses. We know we should dance – others are just watching. The night will be over and they haven’t danced.
What dance are you dancing Louise?
It doesn’t matter. Over hills, high fences or a sunny day – new + old friends – just dance when the music plays.
Louise –does that mean we don’t have to do the cliff thing? Should we keep dancing?
Always. Always. -(unsigned)”
”Boredom drove me away from my home. Yes, pure boredom impacted my life so much so that I had to get away from it, far, far away. So I ran; I packed up my jeep with my life’s belongings and ran south. I ran to the Keys – I thought how great it would be to party 24/7 in Key West – that could never be too boring. Right? Well, I was wrong; after a few days the Keys got a bit boring. So, I headed back north. Back home towards PA. And I stopped just off I 95 in Savannah, GA + loved it! It seemed quaint, yet fun, and not to too boring. I ended up staying for almost 2 years + got my first apartment, a puppy, some friends… And I found myself. It was absolutely fabulous! So boredom drove me there but my family, my soul, my ambition and a few other things brought me back. It’s changed me a lot, but it’s good to be home! -(unsigned)”
I met a guy in college. We liked each other, hung out + had a good time. Then he called me one night + told my roommate that I was hot + looked like a Thundercat. Who says you’re hot + Thundercat in the same sentence. What an idiot. If that wasn’t enough of an insult he said that it was the male Thundercat that I reminded him of… not the female. What does that say about him? Anyway, long story short… I liked him + he called me a cartoon animal. He sucks. -(unsigned)”
”Every day at least one person asks me if I know how short I am? Like living in this body day after day doesn’t remind me of being 5 feet tall. But the sole reason I got shafted on the hieght is that my twin brother stole my milk from me everyday. He finished his bottle and then crawled his chubby little ass across then floor and drunk mine. He is the reason I am so short and that I hate milk today Damn Brubby!!! -(unsigned)”
”I was sitting in the bar with Quinny she was nakes it was nice. To much people to much noice. I love to be next to a nake girl but the noise get to me I can’t see her. The noise is too much the noise inspires me to write and to dance with her naked. Ohh laha –J. P.”
”The one thing that had a major impact on me – would have to be a friend of mine named Carl. We have known each other since Kindergarden. He had different views on life + especially music. He opened up new doors to my way of thinking + writing music + introduced me to music genres I wasn’t familiar with. Music has always been the main "connection" between us. We still are friends to this day. Music at different points in time almost – well – I should say – DID always cause us to fight + tear us apart. But always brought us back – to talk to one another throughout the years. He has now gotten out – on his own with some friends of his + is playing out for the first time in his life. He’s happy. I don’t do music that much any more except for my own entertainment.
-N.”
”Every minute in a person’s life has the opportunity to make an impact. It’s realizing the moment that truly makes the impact. I am mainly impacted by people, one in particular though. One moment w/one person. It was a summer evening on the cusp of dusk. I can + believe that a sensible person like myself is vulnerable to a summer’s eve at dusk but stranger events have happened. That night I found all the missing pieces to a poor man’s jig saw puzzle. It was raw, unforgiving, and hard to take but made me a softer person for it. The person that was with me that night has grown to be a perfect person in my eyes. On the road that evening my life took a turn… I have never looked back. -(signed illegibly)
The major impact on my life; acid, XTC, Xanex, weed, loratabs, vicodin, oxycotin, Crown Royal, Hieniken, Miller Lite, Bud, Bud lite, 40's, Blunts, & bitches! Sex!! -G. P.”
”Psalms 19... The Heavens "declare" the work of the Lord. The laws of the Lord are sweeter than honey from the comb. -B. S.”
”My sister's divorce had a major impact on my life. It was the first time I had more than a cursory intamacy with either of my siblings. We've since been extremely close and cannot remember a time when we weren't. It took an adverse event, but it taught the three of us, albeit late, both the meaning and purpose of family. –M. F.”
”Having to quit my first job...
I never thought about what I wanted or should want out of life during my late teens and early twenties... I just kind of went with the tide. I was hired immediately out of college - great job with great pay, great benefits, great future - I hated it. So, I had to think for the first time. I decided to change course - go from business to teaching, which required a whole new degree. All is well now. Working with kids is what I was meant to do! -J.”
”Photography. Being able to capture the moment in time in a still frame and sharing it with the world exactly the way you saw it. Letting people see through your eyes. –J.”
”Giving birth and raising a child has been the most rewarding, enlightening, challenging, and life/mind/body/soul - altering thing. I now know true worry, concern, selflessness, and unconditional love. Any parent would agree that there is no greater impact than your love for a child. –D. S.”
”To learn the true meaning of friendship is a bitch! That's one thing that has impacted my life forever & always! Never trust the first person who pretends to care, never give a shoulder to cry, cuz where are they now? Their shoulder's not there when your lifes in despair. Love yourself first and maybe if someone's worthy enough love them with caution. –An Angry Bitch”
”My ex-fiance deciding he was gay. –L. C.”
Yes. Louise. – what?
This is great. Yes. This is great. We are over 20 years older than anyone here and we are the only ones dancing. Why is that?
Because we are asses. We know we should dance – others are just watching. The night will be over and they haven’t danced.
What dance are you dancing Louise?
It doesn’t matter. Over hills, high fences or a sunny day – new + old friends – just dance when the music plays.
Louise –does that mean we don’t have to do the cliff thing? Should we keep dancing?
Always. Always. -(unsigned)”
”Boredom drove me away from my home. Yes, pure boredom impacted my life so much so that I had to get away from it, far, far away. So I ran; I packed up my jeep with my life’s belongings and ran south. I ran to the Keys – I thought how great it would be to party 24/7 in Key West – that could never be too boring. Right? Well, I was wrong; after a few days the Keys got a bit boring. So, I headed back north. Back home towards PA. And I stopped just off I 95 in Savannah, GA + loved it! It seemed quaint, yet fun, and not to too boring. I ended up staying for almost 2 years + got my first apartment, a puppy, some friends… And I found myself. It was absolutely fabulous! So boredom drove me there but my family, my soul, my ambition and a few other things brought me back. It’s changed me a lot, but it’s good to be home! -(unsigned)”
I met a guy in college. We liked each other, hung out + had a good time. Then he called me one night + told my roommate that I was hot + looked like a Thundercat. Who says you’re hot + Thundercat in the same sentence. What an idiot. If that wasn’t enough of an insult he said that it was the male Thundercat that I reminded him of… not the female. What does that say about him? Anyway, long story short… I liked him + he called me a cartoon animal. He sucks. -(unsigned)”
”Every day at least one person asks me if I know how short I am? Like living in this body day after day doesn’t remind me of being 5 feet tall. But the sole reason I got shafted on the hieght is that my twin brother stole my milk from me everyday. He finished his bottle and then crawled his chubby little ass across then floor and drunk mine. He is the reason I am so short and that I hate milk today Damn Brubby!!! -(unsigned)”
”I was sitting in the bar with Quinny she was nakes it was nice. To much people to much noice. I love to be next to a nake girl but the noise get to me I can’t see her. The noise is too much the noise inspires me to write and to dance with her naked. Ohh laha –J. P.”
”The one thing that had a major impact on me – would have to be a friend of mine named Carl. We have known each other since Kindergarden. He had different views on life + especially music. He opened up new doors to my way of thinking + writing music + introduced me to music genres I wasn’t familiar with. Music has always been the main "connection" between us. We still are friends to this day. Music at different points in time almost – well – I should say – DID always cause us to fight + tear us apart. But always brought us back – to talk to one another throughout the years. He has now gotten out – on his own with some friends of his + is playing out for the first time in his life. He’s happy. I don’t do music that much any more except for my own entertainment.
-N.”
”Every minute in a person’s life has the opportunity to make an impact. It’s realizing the moment that truly makes the impact. I am mainly impacted by people, one in particular though. One moment w/one person. It was a summer evening on the cusp of dusk. I can + believe that a sensible person like myself is vulnerable to a summer’s eve at dusk but stranger events have happened. That night I found all the missing pieces to a poor man’s jig saw puzzle. It was raw, unforgiving, and hard to take but made me a softer person for it. The person that was with me that night has grown to be a perfect person in my eyes. On the road that evening my life took a turn… I have never looked back. -(signed illegibly)
The major impact on my life; acid, XTC, Xanex, weed, loratabs, vicodin, oxycotin, Crown Royal, Hieniken, Miller Lite, Bud, Bud lite, 40's, Blunts, & bitches! Sex!! -G. P.”
”Psalms 19... The Heavens "declare" the work of the Lord. The laws of the Lord are sweeter than honey from the comb. -B. S.”
”My sister's divorce had a major impact on my life. It was the first time I had more than a cursory intamacy with either of my siblings. We've since been extremely close and cannot remember a time when we weren't. It took an adverse event, but it taught the three of us, albeit late, both the meaning and purpose of family. –M. F.”
”Having to quit my first job...
I never thought about what I wanted or should want out of life during my late teens and early twenties... I just kind of went with the tide. I was hired immediately out of college - great job with great pay, great benefits, great future - I hated it. So, I had to think for the first time. I decided to change course - go from business to teaching, which required a whole new degree. All is well now. Working with kids is what I was meant to do! -J.”
”Photography. Being able to capture the moment in time in a still frame and sharing it with the world exactly the way you saw it. Letting people see through your eyes. –J.”
”Giving birth and raising a child has been the most rewarding, enlightening, challenging, and life/mind/body/soul - altering thing. I now know true worry, concern, selflessness, and unconditional love. Any parent would agree that there is no greater impact than your love for a child. –D. S.”
”To learn the true meaning of friendship is a bitch! That's one thing that has impacted my life forever & always! Never trust the first person who pretends to care, never give a shoulder to cry, cuz where are they now? Their shoulder's not there when your lifes in despair. Love yourself first and maybe if someone's worthy enough love them with caution. –An Angry Bitch”
”My ex-fiance deciding he was gay. –L. C.”
”Realizing that the answer to all of Life's unanswered questions about male behavior lies in the book, "He's not that into you", if you're female that is.
-L., J., and J.”
”I cannot isolate one experience or person or thing. –(unsigned)
"Pussy (underlined four times), Good or bad that's one thing that has had a major impact on my life. I guess mostly like an addict to crack. Good boys can't get those pleasures togethor. Wanting it, craving more than I want . Not leading to long term happiness. Turning women into objects, but only when I've been wanting. There is that beauty too, that it distracts me from... having a beautiful moment and then once my mind hits upon it, it sticks and is stuck like glue. Some people can handle their pussy, and some can't, or at least can't go without. Yes there is also the level it allows you to get to, the openness, the comfortability. Then again there is also what it is misused and abused for; stress, emotion, to be needed, anger, lack of love, dominance, domination, ego. Would I live without it? Would I have us live without it? No! Only if it was replaced with another way to get to the intimate level. Once the good boy, then a guy let loose, now just a person... -G.
"The night I discovered I could eat pussy... and like it! A male friend and I used to go to strip clubs togethor. I discovered I could get a great two for one deal by sharing lap dances with him because strippers and bouncers assumed we were a couple. Well one night when we went to one of those fine establishments (fine in a mid-priced, full nudity including slower show kind of way), we requested a lap dance from a hot stipper in a catholic school get up named Misty. We waited anxiously togethor in the booth and finally after a long 30 seconds, Misty came over. Now, the lap dances at this establishment weren't actually lap dances. They were actually sit-in-a-booth-while-I-stand-over-you-&-grace-your-face-with-my-pussy-and-ass dances. So, Misty did just this... and fully nude. Well, all I remember after that is not seeing or noticing anything but her wet, sweet-smelling pussy about 6" from my face. After it was over and I was nice and wet myself, and after taking a picture with Misty and my friend like a cheshire cat as if he had never been so happy in his life, I talked to my friend about my realization that OH MY GOD, I THINK I CAN ACTUALLY EAT PUSSY... AND LIKE IT. He in turn, observed that he could tell because the look in my eyes was all too familiar to him when Misty was dancing... And he had plenty of time to observe me because as usual, I got more attention from the stripper then he did ( he was starting to get a bit tired of the two for one deal that I loved for obvious reasons). So, after that, I of course, had to go on a determined search for pussy I could eat. This worked well for me, and pussy very quickly became my meal of choice. That was until six years later when I discovered the power of the penis in a way I never expected. But then... what's a girl to do without choices. –T”
”As I sit here with my family celebrating my 22 year old son's 1st job acceptance after 4 and a half years of college, I realize that my deciding to have a baby at the age of 18 has had the biggest impact on my 41 year old life. This night solidifies that the choice I made at the age of 18 to have a child that was not planned was the best choice I ever made. Now I will let him venture into the world, make his own choices, and hope that I have made enough of an impact on his life that he will be happy with the choices he will make in the future! -D.”
”My father and I haven't always seen eye to eye over the years, but I've always respected him. One evening my wife and I took him out to a bar to celebrate his birthday. Now, my father has always been something of a wildman. His mother owned a biker bar in Mechanicsburg, PA, and he grew up pretty quickly. He joined the army out of high school and wound up stationed at a listening post on the West German border as a tech (?) during the cold war. He and his army buddies opened up a small cinema with a bar to pass the time. It was the local "bad" hangout where the young german ladies used to go to enjoy the adventurous american G.I's company. My mother apparently used to be quite the drinker in her younger days and would move from single gentlemen to single gentlemen at the bar, drinking them all under the table - enjoying free cocktails.
The story that I did not hear until that fateful evening, was that my father was a rather jealous boyfriend. Apparently, while he and my mother were having difficulties in their relationship, my mother's local old flame from her hometown began to try to rekindle their relationship. In the midst of a drunken reminisce, my father finally confessd to gathering his group of G.I. buddies togethor and physically discouraging the former boyfriends overtures. The crowning moment was when he proudly declared that after beating the crap out of the guy, he urinated on him for good measure. I never looked at my father the same way again. -B. W.”
”It was my junior year in college, and for spring break I decided to visit my friend Sarah, who was studying abroad in Wales. We spent a couple days in Swansea, and the decied to go spend a couple nights in Snowdonia National Park. We picked a small town near the park to stay in, and after a day of hiking we decided to visit a local pub for dinner. In the U.K. they have no laws regarding animals in pubs, so in this bar they had a dog named Kali and a cat named Barnaby. We were the only patrons that night, so Barnaby found us especially interesting. the menu had many options, one of which was a half chicken. The bar patron warned us against ordering it, as it was Barnaby's favorite dish. Being ignorant Americans, we didn't give it a second though and ordered it. Sure enough, after about ten minutes after our food was served, Barnaby picked the moment none of us were watching and pounced on my friend Dave's chicken. The cat dragged it away and under the next table where we were treated to the sounds of snapping chicken bones for the rest of the evening. The moral of the story is to not order poultry without checking for feline bar patrons. -A. V.”
-L., J., and J.”
”I cannot isolate one experience or person or thing. –(unsigned)
"Pussy (underlined four times), Good or bad that's one thing that has had a major impact on my life. I guess mostly like an addict to crack. Good boys can't get those pleasures togethor. Wanting it, craving more than I want . Not leading to long term happiness. Turning women into objects, but only when I've been wanting. There is that beauty too, that it distracts me from... having a beautiful moment and then once my mind hits upon it, it sticks and is stuck like glue. Some people can handle their pussy, and some can't, or at least can't go without. Yes there is also the level it allows you to get to, the openness, the comfortability. Then again there is also what it is misused and abused for; stress, emotion, to be needed, anger, lack of love, dominance, domination, ego. Would I live without it? Would I have us live without it? No! Only if it was replaced with another way to get to the intimate level. Once the good boy, then a guy let loose, now just a person... -G.
"The night I discovered I could eat pussy... and like it! A male friend and I used to go to strip clubs togethor. I discovered I could get a great two for one deal by sharing lap dances with him because strippers and bouncers assumed we were a couple. Well one night when we went to one of those fine establishments (fine in a mid-priced, full nudity including slower show kind of way), we requested a lap dance from a hot stipper in a catholic school get up named Misty. We waited anxiously togethor in the booth and finally after a long 30 seconds, Misty came over. Now, the lap dances at this establishment weren't actually lap dances. They were actually sit-in-a-booth-while-I-stand-over-you-&-grace-your-face-with-my-pussy-and-ass dances. So, Misty did just this... and fully nude. Well, all I remember after that is not seeing or noticing anything but her wet, sweet-smelling pussy about 6" from my face. After it was over and I was nice and wet myself, and after taking a picture with Misty and my friend like a cheshire cat as if he had never been so happy in his life, I talked to my friend about my realization that OH MY GOD, I THINK I CAN ACTUALLY EAT PUSSY... AND LIKE IT. He in turn, observed that he could tell because the look in my eyes was all too familiar to him when Misty was dancing... And he had plenty of time to observe me because as usual, I got more attention from the stripper then he did ( he was starting to get a bit tired of the two for one deal that I loved for obvious reasons). So, after that, I of course, had to go on a determined search for pussy I could eat. This worked well for me, and pussy very quickly became my meal of choice. That was until six years later when I discovered the power of the penis in a way I never expected. But then... what's a girl to do without choices. –T”
”As I sit here with my family celebrating my 22 year old son's 1st job acceptance after 4 and a half years of college, I realize that my deciding to have a baby at the age of 18 has had the biggest impact on my 41 year old life. This night solidifies that the choice I made at the age of 18 to have a child that was not planned was the best choice I ever made. Now I will let him venture into the world, make his own choices, and hope that I have made enough of an impact on his life that he will be happy with the choices he will make in the future! -D.”
”My father and I haven't always seen eye to eye over the years, but I've always respected him. One evening my wife and I took him out to a bar to celebrate his birthday. Now, my father has always been something of a wildman. His mother owned a biker bar in Mechanicsburg, PA, and he grew up pretty quickly. He joined the army out of high school and wound up stationed at a listening post on the West German border as a tech (?) during the cold war. He and his army buddies opened up a small cinema with a bar to pass the time. It was the local "bad" hangout where the young german ladies used to go to enjoy the adventurous american G.I's company. My mother apparently used to be quite the drinker in her younger days and would move from single gentlemen to single gentlemen at the bar, drinking them all under the table - enjoying free cocktails.
The story that I did not hear until that fateful evening, was that my father was a rather jealous boyfriend. Apparently, while he and my mother were having difficulties in their relationship, my mother's local old flame from her hometown began to try to rekindle their relationship. In the midst of a drunken reminisce, my father finally confessd to gathering his group of G.I. buddies togethor and physically discouraging the former boyfriends overtures. The crowning moment was when he proudly declared that after beating the crap out of the guy, he urinated on him for good measure. I never looked at my father the same way again. -B. W.”
”It was my junior year in college, and for spring break I decided to visit my friend Sarah, who was studying abroad in Wales. We spent a couple days in Swansea, and the decied to go spend a couple nights in Snowdonia National Park. We picked a small town near the park to stay in, and after a day of hiking we decided to visit a local pub for dinner. In the U.K. they have no laws regarding animals in pubs, so in this bar they had a dog named Kali and a cat named Barnaby. We were the only patrons that night, so Barnaby found us especially interesting. the menu had many options, one of which was a half chicken. The bar patron warned us against ordering it, as it was Barnaby's favorite dish. Being ignorant Americans, we didn't give it a second though and ordered it. Sure enough, after about ten minutes after our food was served, Barnaby picked the moment none of us were watching and pounced on my friend Dave's chicken. The cat dragged it away and under the next table where we were treated to the sounds of snapping chicken bones for the rest of the evening. The moral of the story is to not order poultry without checking for feline bar patrons. -A. V.”
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