The Truth About Reality

The truth about reality is that it can be disappointing. I mean, I build up these ideas in my head that seem realistic and attainable until that time comes for reality to prove itself, alas, it does not.

Reality has taught me how completely neurotic my sense of it was, however. (I had to pause watching a mom challenge her sons to a race home from the bus stop; she is on foot running in sandals and jeans and they are on bikes. She just wants to have fun with them. My mom would do that to this day. It makes me feel better seeing that.) So, I can even see my own neurosis from a scene like that. I think like the boys must be thinking...how fun, I'm going to beat mom, then what if she wins? No fair! She's bigger. And if she loses? Did you let me win? With me, it seems, nobody wins. Boy, maybe those boys don't think like that. I've gotten to this point where I think reality is exactly what happens in my head and it sadly is not. When things go contrary to reality, I freak out and surrender control of my thoughts and emotions.

Poor Kent. He's been getting the brunt of it all, lately. Just the other day we were house sitting for some friends and watching their dogs (I would take care during the day and Kent would stay the night there. We took shifts, in a way.) So I was there and was tired, trying to nap in the other room and I heard him walk in. I thought "Great, we can hang out." But I wanted to make sure that was his thought so I waited, and waited. I could hear him doing anything he could other than come let me know he was there. Finally I walked out a little frustrated and asked "Why didn't you come find me?" He said that he wanted to let me sleep since he knew I was tired. I then threw out my typical "You aren't thoughtful," and he, his typical retort "You don't understand." (Man, we really are a pair.) The moral I learned is this: he is very thoughtful (he wanted me to get rest) but he just didn't do what I had built up in my mind as the thoughtful thing to do. So, there are all kinds of thoughtful and I have to accept them all, be they my idea of thoughtful or not. Kent has also learned that I really do understand, I just don't understand how he thinks I should understand.

It's strange that we can both speak English and yet say things that mean nothing until translated.

I'm learning that I can't be disappointed when reality isn't what I have built up in my head, starting with accepting that I'm lucky if 50% of the world like or agree with me. Also, relationships, even when...no, especially when you are in love, don't make life any easier. Often they make it harder. But, if it's worth it, the challenge just aids in bringing on the love. Oh yeah, and good conversations always come after a disagreement/fight, when the humility finally sets in.

All the love. Matt
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

John McCain Praises Barack Obama For \'Historic\' Victory - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

I was able to get tickets to McCain's election party. Sad day, but I had a great time. I saw John Voigt, mingled with some powerful people...and saw Sarah Palin, in the flesh. I love her.

Anyway, after McCain's speech I was interviewed and here it is for you to see. They didn't include my favorite part where I called for anyone who is so unhappy with the turn out that they would rather not live here, to move so that we no longer have to deal with them. We don't need people like that here. Check out the last paragraph!

John McCain Praises Barack Obama For 'Historic' Victory - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

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Camping

I went camping with my friends Ashley and Jay and we had a great time. Javi loves the outdoors and he just runs and plays near the camp.

After we woke up and ate breakfast Ashley noticed something moving and thought it might be a snake. So we checked it out and indeed it was. It was a Mohave rattler, I think that's what it was.


So, we decided to get it so that Javi could continue playing around without threat of death. So we began to stone it. How terrible it would have been in the old days to be stoned. This poor snake (right) tried to slither away and wouldn't even rattle, the wuss.

In the end Jay killed it with a shovel and we had a fun photo opp.

As we were taking one photo the snake bore its fangs right as the camera flashed and we did not see it coming and we screamed as I pushed Ashley down and ran. It was a good time.

Javi

So I have been trying to teach Javi tricks. The little guy is so smart yet so stubborn and I can't take it sometimes. But, we are making progress. It also doesn't make it easier that he has to learn in two languages. Yes, Javi is bilingual, Spanish and English. I mean with a name like Javier, he would have to be. I have attached videos for you to see. The one I have yet to teach him is to come on command. He knows when I am calling him, yet her exercises his little agency and refuses when he knows it's something he doesn't want to do. What ever happened to taking away agency?

The end of summer

Alright...so it finally ended. My dreaded summer is over and I thought I would be so happy. Well, I was, but that now means I have to rush to get my applications for med school done which I really didn't procrastinate doing, but my life plan wasn't as specific as I had thought. When I decided that I would be finishing school in three years rather than four it totally messed up the plan. Not complaining, I am so glad to be out of here in three, but it has caused a little extra stress. Got to love that.

But, the summer of Hell is over. The late days at school and then late nights of studying and doing homework...which I probably skipped all too often. The labs and the classes and the MCAT prep, so much to fit into a summer...yet, I wouldn't take it back. I would take the MCAT sooner, would prepare for it sooner but I am so glad to get it out of the way and on with my life. I would really like to get my scores back but I have to wait another three weeks. Not soon enough might I add. Anyway, I thank you for your prayers and your concern. I will let anyone that wants to know how things go and look so forward to finding out where I get to move next year.

Now I get to finish school and work out some new stresses which I am certainly apt to come across. And I'll do it with my shirt on.

My new life partner.

Hey there....it's been a little while since I updated so I thought I would inform you all of the new addition in my life. His name is Javier, I call him Javi. He is so cute and so fun to be around that I wanted to let everyone know and put some pictures up so you could all see what I am talking about. I am sure that if you met him you would love him too.


This was taken the day we met. Cute, am I right?

This is him sleeping with my roommate Cody, it's a good thing I'm not a jealous guy.

Anyway, thought you would all agree with me that he is great. And yes, we do birthday parties.

VA BEACH

So I went back to Virginia to spend time with the family. It was an awesome trip. I think with us all being older we get along a lot better, and probably that we haven't seen eachother all together in a year. Anyway, I got there on May 8th, Jake's birthday and we celebrated that and just caught up a little with one another. We then spent the next day around the house and went out and saw Ironman, which is a great movie. Then we went to VA Beach where it started out a little rainy. We celebrated Mother's Day on Sunday, my mom's birthday on Monday, took the family photo on Wednesday, Jake and Sarah's anniversary on Thursday. Congrats to them making it a year. We drove back to the house on Friday and celebrated Gracie's birthday She is three. Saturday was Lara and Matt's anniversary...6 years. Sunday I came home.
This is at the aquarium in VA Beach...the turtle is real...crazy huh? He was just chillin above me, swimmin around.


This is my nephew and his plummer crack...I thought it was so funny.




He also liked to make faces into the mirror when he thought nobody was watching.

My parents takin a walk -

Spring Break '08 Rocky Point

So for Spring Break '08 I went to Rocky Point with Robbie, Matt and Tommy. George, Shane and Kelci met us there. We had a pretty great time and it is as crazy as they say. The craziness is avoidable so don't decide to not go because of the partying and nudeness. It's really not that bad. Anyway...we hit up the clubs, showed off some moves and rocked that beach. You should have been there.


oh yeah, I got a tattoo of a naked mermaid.

About a month and a half late...

So, I guess it's probably safe to post and go public about it now because my parents know and seem okay with it...maybe not with the attachment of photos, but since they left our house completely empty and nobody had made an offer...it was a great temptation to throw a party there. I gave in and threw a rockin party. It was spring break that I decided it. Robbie Reader, Matt Barker, Tommy Tew and I were driving home from Rocky Point and wanted to bring a little Spring Break Rocky Point to Mesa. So we set the date and got to work on the plans....it was a great party and you don't hear much of foam parties so I think people liked it in that regard. We tarped off the walls so there would be no warpage and had the foam dance floor

in there and the regular dance floor in the family room. Even though we were very careful and courteous the neighbors still called the police who came and checked everything out and were very appreciative of our cooperation and left us in peace saying, "Have a great night." And that's that.


Oh yeah...if anyone wants to rent or buy a foam machine, give me a call.

Check me out!

So I thought I would update after last....with the picture of my tattoo up comes an interesting story. I received an email from the brand manager of Amadeo Decada regarding my tattoo. She had been searching for links to the brand and my blog came up, she said that they were all so excited to see it and asked to put my picture in the gallery...its sweet, check it out http://www.amadeodecada.com/pages/gallery.html click on Amadeo Friends.

Anyway, otherwise life is going well...I turned 20 two days ago. I received much love and for that I am grateful. I was thinking about it too, you often hear of people's concern for growing older...in movies we see people staring into the mirror to see what new wrinkles or gray hairs could have grown over night. It never happens quite like that, but people are at times in awe of why they don't feel any different. Well, as I sat pondering this thought, I realized something: I do feel different, as I have on every birthday. Birthdays are a wonderful thing to me. I feel like there is more wisdom in age, maybe more respect. But, I just feel like I am more me. I don't know. But it's a good feeling. That's about it for now. Later.