My what grand dreams I had for this place. Oh well, such is life.

I didn't know where else to write this so it goes here. I had an insight into "the smart kid who doesn't succeed (or at least not yet)". This is admittedly based off personal experience, though I have recognized the behavior in others that I've known. I apologize in advance, but for the sake of ease and time (I have to be up early tomorrow) I'm going to put this is in terms that might feel a bit exclusive. You are free to debate my usage later. I however, will not be joining you.

I want to clear up a misconception. We do not enjoy school any more than you. It is as equally challenging, or as equally, boring as it is for you.

There are those who are driven to success, and those who are not. Intelligence has little to do with this. When a truly intelligent person becomes an astrophysicist, a mathematician, a nuclear chemist, a psychiatrist, a medical researcher, a whatever-you-get-the-point, it's usually a side effect. It's because they've found something that catches their attention, and they've run with it. They will follow it to the ends of the earth if they have to, and devote their life to the pursuit of it.

But if it ever becomes boring, they will lose interest and walk away. It's what we do. Everyday (mundane) life generally lacks interest for us. Let me rephrase: there's precious little in everyday that holds our attention. Most actions can be done without thought. That's not to say that you don't think while you're doing them; you just don't have to think while doing them. And thus is the fatal flaw. We don't stop thinking.

[random transition of narrative perspective]

I have a running train of thought. It is near-constant, stopping only when my full attention is required (which is rare) or when my interest is caught (which is, unfortunately, also rare). This is why I spend most of my free time the way I do: reading books, watching movies or television series, or less often, playing video games. Because I want to be actually interest in something for a change. Because everyday life is almost unbearably tedious and boring.

And so is school.

And some of us don't succeed because we don't find something to catch our interest, something to single-mindedly pursue, before the tedium becomes too much to bear and we walk away.

The dreamer....

I am a dreamer, I always have been. I dream during the day, but not at night.

Lost in thought, I tend to dawdle, and soon I fall behind.

When I realize how far back I've fallen, I panic and I begin to run.

Trying to catch up, I run full tilt. But I am clumsy and prone to disaster.

It is not long before I stumble, and fall to the ground.

But my spirit is strong. Though battered, I am undeterred.

And so I pick myself up, wipe the dust from my clothes, the blood from my knees, and the tears from my eyes.

And I begin to run again.

I wrote a song for you...

I originally wrote (and posted) this about five years ago for no one in particular. It's now been slightly revised and is being re-posted for someone special...

"I Wrote a Song for You..."

I was sitting in my room all by myself
And took my notebook from the shelf
I didn't know what else to do
So I wrote a song for you
What to write I didn't know
But soon the words began to flow
Things come fast when they're from the heart
For me, keeping up was the hardest part

After a while I set my pencil down
And looked at what I'd written with a frown
I couldn't finish it alone
So I called you on the phone
You came over really quick
And I guess that did the trick
It didn't take me long to finish
And begin to play, as was your wish

At first I played it oh so soft
As we sat up in the loft
When that didn't feel right we went outside
It just felt wrong for us to hide
As I played you began to dance
With movements so gentle they could entrance

Confident now, I began to play it loud
And soon the two of us drew a crowd
Everyone began to dance and sing
Filled with the love that comes with Spring
Nothing could stop our joyous fun
Until the light faded and the day was done
And when I left you at your door
We were closer than we'd been before

But for now it’s not meant to be
And you feel so very far from me
Once again I'm by myself
And I take my notebook from the shelf
I have nothing else to do
So I’ll write another song for you

Remembering the 60th place...

"the Broccoli tree..."

Won't miss the house, but I will miss the tree.

Morgan Territory

In the Amphitheater...

Berkeley...

Bus sketch