30-Day Challenge-- Day-23 Something you always think "what if" about

So when approaching this prompt, I had a few routes I could go. I could go the sentimental route, the clever/witty route, the practical route the possibilities were endless.

I don't like to ever wonder "What if..." because I don't believe that regrets and thoughts of that nature is healthy. A person could literally drive himself crazy thinking about things like that. You know the classic "what if..." what if I was 10 years old but had the knowledge I have now. People always get off on the thought that they would go back and make a shit load of money, people forget that money doesn't make you happy. Sure it helps, but who's to say that you winning all that money wouldn't change all the great memories you have growing up. Who's to say you'd turn out the same?

I'm at crossroads here trying to decide where to take this prompt... Here's what I decided to do.

The "What if..." I'm choosing to talk about is What if I had gone to a different high school. ( I know intriguing and interesting, etc. etc. lol)

I chose this one because I loved my high school experience. I made great friendships, and strengthened old ones.

If I had not gone to San Jose High Academy, there is a big list of things I would have never done (probably)

1. I would have never met my best friend.

2. I would have not been able to write and speak as fluently as I do in Portuguese.

3. Rapaziada, would have never existed.

Just those three things and really only two of them are important to me.

When I met my best friend, he knows who he is haha, we didn't really get along. I didn't like him, I didn't know him. But as gay as it sounds, I thank God everyday that he didnt listen to me when I told him to get the fuck away from me. I would be a much different person today if I had never met him.

As a result of our friendship, Rapaziada was born. I would not trade those memories for all the money in the world.

Had I gone to another school, maybe I would have focused more on school, maybe I would have become a more professional person, or successful even. But I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world, to not only have the friends I have, but the memories and life I have.

Going back to the classic "What if..."

Being rich is over rated. That's why so many rich people end up killing themselves. More money, More problems!

Check in tomorrow for Day 24 of the Challenge with its prompt, "Things you want to say to 5 different people."

30-Day Challenge-- Day-22 Ten things about you people don't really expect.

This prompt is super tough because I live my life as an open book. I don't keep anything from my family and friends. I've been sitting here close to an hour thinking about what I could write about, and I have nothing. Not even one little thing I can list that people don't know about me.

So this prompt is a dead end for me. There isn't ten things people don't really expect. They expect everything that I am, because I'm consistently myself.

Instead I'm going to write about Ten things that I didn't expect to happen in 2011.

1. I didn't expect to have successfully published my novel. I was pleasantly surprised, and

truly proud of myself for doing such.

2. After years of having the insurance company fuck with me, I'm happy that I will finally get

my Gastric bypass surgery this year.

3. I didn't expect to find a girl that truly gets me. Someone that makes me as happy as I

am.

4. I didn't expect my sister to move away so soon. I really miss her, but am truly proud of

her for all her hard work and great accomplishments.

5. I didn't expect to have two pygmy/nigerian dwarf goats as pets. They are as playful, tame

and loyal as dogs.

6. I didn't expect that this list would be so hard to write...

I tend to expect the unexpected so all I could think of is 5 things. So sue me for false advertisement. :-)

Bottom line is I am thankful for all the good things in my life, and in the lives of the people I love. May we all continue to reap the benefits that comes with being Good People.

Check in tomorrow for Day 23 of the Challenge with its prompt, "Something you always think 'what if..." about."

30-Day Challenge-- Day-21 Something you can't seem to get over

Today's prompt is very near and dear to my heart.

I'm going to keep it short and sweet, because this is a topic I can go on and on about.

5 years ago, one of bravest, most amazing people I've ever had the good fortune to know was taken from us. He was only 22 years old, but in those 22 years of life, he truly touched every person he came in contact with. I always admired him for being original, for being himself, in a world full of clones. He didn't mind being different or straying from the pack. He was one of the most caring, loving kind people in the world, and I miss him and I think about him every single day.

I'll never forget all the amazing time we had together. Lots of them coming from Rapaziada gigs. We partied, played music, and slept in hotel rooms up and down California with a tight knit group of brothers like I've never seen.

Rapaziada wasn't just a band, we were a family! We are a Family!

Sometimes, especially now that we haven't been playing, I think back to all the gigs, and all the songs, and all the parties, and it chokes me up. I genuinely miss being on stage with those brothers of mine, rocking out. I miss looking over to my right and seeing Kevin holding his trumpet and screaming I LOVE THIS BAND! I miss Tiago walking to the front of the stage to play his solo on Chorando se foi. I miss Makadoo's stick counts, and Cesar's mess ups. I miss Roger's Michael Jackson yelps, and Eric's fog machine antics. I miss Paul jumping up on stage and tripping over a bail of hay. I miss little Kevin's Disappearing acts, and John crying about not getting a solo on I wanna be like you.

I miss it all.

I hope we decide to play again. Because even though Kevin is up in heaven now, every time we play a gig, I know he's there!

Check in tomorrow for Day 22 of the Challenge with its prompt, "10 things about you people don't really expect."

30-Day Challenge-- Day-20 Make a playlist to someone and explain all the songs.

Well today's prompt is rather tough. It involves actual work, looking up songs, figuring  out which ones fit with the person you'd like to dedicate this post to etc. etc.

So, I've decided that I'm going to dedicate one song to a few of the most important people in my life. I'm not going to name them, for those who know me well, it'll be obvious which songs are for which people.

This will consist of TEN songs.

1.     Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd


This song brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.  It reminds me of great memories, and while my tears flow, I can't help but smile and laugh. The person this song is for, made a huge impact on my life. I love you Kevin James. R.I.P. (I know I said no names, but this will be the only name I drop)

2.  Another One Bites The Dust by Queen


This song might be a bit pre mature, but the person it's for knows exactly who he is. This person also made a huge impact on my life. He's like a brother to me. Someone I know will always be there. And he's a stupid bitch too.

3. We've Only Just Begun by The Carpenters
.
This song goes out to two of the most amazing, wonderful people walking the face of the Earth. They motivate me, inspire me, and love me unconditionally. Two of the best role models anyone could have.

4. Bass Solo by Billy Sheehan
.

This Solo goes out to another one of my best friends. Another one of my brothers. Another person I know will always be there for me. Another Stupid Bitch!

5.White Liar by Miranda Lambert


This song goes out to someone I love very much. Someone I will always cherish, and protect, and be there for. Someone I very proud of. Someone who is string, beautiful, intelligent, and most of all someone with a very good heart.

6. Let it Be by The Beatles


This goes out to another one of my brothers. A Person who I've known for 20+ years. One of the best people I know. Someone who I know will always be there when I need him. Another Stupid Bitch too.

7. The Fire Man Song by The Firemen

This ridiculously stupid song goes out to another of my brothers. This person is a person I always know I can turn to. He served as inspiration for my book. Another Stupid Bitch.

8. Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars

As gay as it sounds, this song describes the person I'm dedicating it to perfectly. She makes me smile, she makes me happy. She challenges me to be better, and I hope her and I stay together for a long time.

9. My Nose Is Big by Anonymous

This song is for a certain someone who I've grown very close to in the past few years. She is a lot younger than I am, but she's family and I love her! I am very proud of the woman is she is becoming, and although I joke with her a lot, I hope she knows that she's beautiful inside and out!

10. Rosa Baila by Eduardo Paim


This goes out to the rest of my brothers. You know who you are. Here's hoping we get together and play some music real soon.

So this is my playlist, Nothing special, I repeat myself a lot, but it is what it is. All these people are special to me and big way. I love you all.

Check in tomorrow for Day 21 of the Challenge with its prompt, "Something you can't seem to get over."

30-Day Challenge-- Day-19 Something that never fails to make you feel better.

There are lots of things that never fail to make me feel better. What I have chosen to write about though is my writing.

It doesn't matter what kind of day I've had, from Amazing to completely Awful, all I have to do is power up my macbook pro, open up a word document, and start beating at the keyboard.

I write because it brings me joy(especially on difficult days). It allows me to openly express my emotions and inspirations. It alleviates my stress, and empowers my confidence. It gives me an outlet to vent frustrations, or to praise successes. It allows me to let it all out, instead of bottling it up inside.

I have been writing poetry, short stories, and fiction since I was in Middle School. It has never failed to put a smile on my face, or make me feel better.

Just a side note, the same could be said for playing music. But that is another topic all together.

Check in tomorrow for Day 20 of the Challenge with its prompt,  "Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs."

30-Day Challenge-- Day-18 Disrespecting Parents

Today's prompt, is about disrespecting parents. Here's what I think:

Firstly, I consider myself to be one of the lucky one's, both of my parents are amazing, loving, and caring people. They have suffered and worked their asses off to raise both me and my sister.

They instilled in us, values, morals, the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and most of all how to live. My parents are my heroes, hands down.

I see a lot of my generation, treat their parents like shit. I see a lot of disrespect all over the place. And it makes me question our society's values. We have given up our values, as a society, for political correctness.

Our parents generation, had no choice but to respect their parents. If they didn't they'd swallow their teeth.

Here's what I see. two extremes, that don't work.

Our generation- disrespects their parents.

Our parents generation- Feared their parents.

So here's where I think we should live. The gray area. We have to want to respect our parents. We have to realize that they are the one's who gave us everything. Without them we would be nothing, we wouldn't even exist.

I think that arguments with parents are natural. Everyone is going to have them at one point or another. The point is even in the most heated of arguments, the respect must always be there.

We only have one mother and one father in this life time. We should do everything in our power to honor them, and show them that they raised us right.

check in tomorrow for Day 19 of the challenge with its prompt, "Something that never fails to make you feel better."

30-Day Challenge-- Day-17 Things that make you scared

Today's prompt is about things that make me scared. I try not to fear too many things, I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason and that everything resolves itself. (Wishful thinking sometimes)

Some people fear death. Not me. When it's my time to go, I want to make sure I did everything in my power to have lived a life to its fullest potential. I know the day I perish, that anyone who looks back at my life will be able to say, "He lived." Because so many of us never really live, I really like the famous quote spoken by William Wallace (Mel Gibson) in the movie Braveheart, "Every man dies, but not every man lives." I intend on being one of those who really live.

I am scared of failing. Now let me explain that a bit more. I'm not talking about failing my math test, or failing to watch a football game on sunday (even though that would be tragic lol) The failing I'm talking about is deeper than that.

I'm scared that all this reaching I'm doing for the biggest of my dreams, will Fail.

I'm scared I wont succeed in life the way I plan to. That I'll fall just short of reaching the top tier of my goals.

The fear though, only serves as a motivator. As I mention in my earlier blogs I am super stubborn. The thought of the challenge, definitely pushes me forward. The fear also pushes me forward, it helps keep me balanced, not cocky, and focused on what I need to do.

If I didn't fear Failing, I would have no consequences for not achieving my goals, and without consequences one rarely sees results.

So Im thankful for this fear, this chip on my shoulder, because I know it will inspire me to keep on truckin'

Check in tomorrow for Day 18 of the Challenge with its prompt, "Disrespecting parents."