After watching the “Makin’ Changes” episode of Happy Endings for the second time, I realized I have an addiction. Much like Dave, I will typically pick a v-neck shirt over anything else in my closet. I am not exactly sure how many v-neck shirts I own, but I do have many varieties in numerous colors. Why do I like to v so much?

I guess it started a few years back when I realized that v-neck shirts can really accentuate your overall look. As a shorter guy, I think they create some sort of optical illusion, making one appear just a tad taller. Personally, I think they just look better on me than a crew neck shirt.

Some people, both male and female, consider v-necks obnoxious and often assume that men who wear them are either gay or over-macho tools. I think that these people are being misled. Many guys who wear v-neck shirts just like the way they look. Sure, you will have those that take the v to a whole other level and may choose to rock the deep v, which for many is incredibly unflattering. Some people should simply be outlawed for wearing these low cut threads.

I may need an intervention, but it won’t help. I need my v. Sometimes I like to double-v. And I have triple v-ed before, which is is just plain silly. I will stop that immediately.

It’s happening. Youth as I know it, will soon be a past memory in approximately 5 hours, 35 minutes and 42 seconds. I am now experiencing the final hours of my 20′s.

I don’t feel 30. I don’t think I look 30. But the world we live in is very appearance-driven and youth indulgent. We strive to be people we aren’t, with significant focus on physical appearance. It’s not good.

But you can’t change time. The Earth continues to spin on its axis and we can’t stop it. So I guess I will take this whole birthday thing with a grain of salt and just continue living the same exact way I do now.

I will always be a kid at heart. I will always laugh. I will always dance. I will always love. I will always be me.

And in the celebration of my birth (and recently posted by many on Facebook), I provide you with the hit song on January 12, 1982. Now let’s get physical.

December has been an insane month. It always seems to go that way. Work never seems to slow down in the office. The shopping and endless preparations for your holiday of choice is in full swing. You often find yourself barely treading above water.

I couldn’t possibly imagine having children during this time. I would surely have a nervous breakdown. Props to all you parents out there for raising kids, working, cleaning, teaching and providing plentiful holidays for your kin. You all need a day, week or month of relaxation.

Make sure to treat yo self in January. Better yet, take one day a month this year to pamper yourself with life’s indulgences.

TREAT YO SELF!

When the month of December arrives, we all know that winter has begun. Thus far, the CLE area has had a very mild late fall and by now we should have already seen some sort of snow accumulation. But in the days of December, personally I would rather take just that. Instead of dreary, cold and wet, give this guy some of that white stuff! I mean, it’s freaking Christmas time and I want some holiday cheer. Let it snow!

Today was one of those miserable, grey days that makes one want to fly away to the tropics where palm trees and sandy beaches blanket aqua coastlines. It makes me want to go back to Mexico, for just a week, to get a little taste of cielo. Maybe a nice trip to Barbados?

And while on the topic of Barbados, I must express my enjoyment of the new Rihanna album. Her people really produced a fantastic pop paradise for the masses and I have found it very difficult to not car dance to “We Found Love” whenever I hear it. But her new single, “You Da One” really gets me too, which exudes a more Caribbean feel. If you close your eyes while listening, you can almost feel the sea breeze and taste the pina coladas.

I almost forgot the password for WordPress to add this post. That’s how long it’s been since I last blogged. What are you going to do…life has been busy.

In the spirit of Halloween, please enjoy the best, most thrilling song/video ever created by none other than Michael Jackson.

Happy Halloween!!!

Driving into work this morning felt similar to a music video. The grey clouds broke way to let the blue sky and sun shine through on the skyline. At the same exact time, “This City” by Patrick Stump started to play on the radio (KISSFM).

I immediately thought about the great weekend I had just had, seeing friends and family, eating a “Sexy Burger” from Reddstone, chomping on frites from Lava Lounge, having good conversation with the bartender at Stone Mad Pub and having Sunday brunch at Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar.

My thoughts got a little deeper as I pondered about my life and all the good things that surround me. I won’t get into details, but in a nutshell, life is pretty good. And CLE is part of that reason. Though we have numerous issues, the heart of our city and its people (not talking about the naysayers, here) are strong. We have people who care and who are willing to put every ounce of energy into making our city a better place to live, work and play.

And like Patrick says, “I was born and raised here. I got it made here. And if I have my way, I’m gonna stay here.”

Can I just get a few more weeks of summer? I mean, the current weather conditions are beyond glorious, but I need to get in a couple more trips to the marina and/or beach. And after a fantastic little vacation during the holiday weekend, it’s hard to say goodbye to the sweet, sweet summa.

During my ventures to Roaming Shores and Milwaukee, I experienced some interesting firsts. All of which I will recap in a later post, but in the meantime I would like to share my current obsession with Foster the People. I know I posted the video for ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ this past spring, but I am not sure all of you have listened to the entire album. Well, it’s awesome with a capital A.

For the past couple weeks, I have had this little jam on repeat. It’s one of those songs that make you go “oo laa laa.”

After a fantastic weekend filled with perfect weather and loved ones, I realize I have much to be thankful for. I am in love with just about everything around me and things are looking smashing. Except for the fact that my birthday is just over four months away (and it’s a milestone bday).

I will once again be MIA for the next few days. Tomorrow is my very last day of work as I start a new chapter of my career. But before I get into the new work groove, I will be spending a little time at a lake house and taking a road trip to Milwaukee for my cousin Jenny’s wedding. Labor Day weekend is looking G-double-O-D-good.

Change is good. Life is good. It’s all good.

P.S. If you frequent Little Italy and have not yet taken a trip to Michaelangelo’s, you are missing out. I can safely say that I consumed the best pasta I have ever had in my life. Try the black truffle stuffed Sacchetti with black truffle cream sauce. You will not be disappointed.

 

This is my hell.

After reviewing my tweets since this past Friday, the majority of the content includes ripping on the suburbs and those who reside in them. I should probably take some of my own advice from my previous post, “you should probably watch what you say“, and do just that.

Part of my problem is that I am such a loyal advocate of the city of CLE and urban living in general, that I get defensive and territorial while not realizing how crass I can be. So to those who I may have offended, please accept this as an apology. However, I must provide you with some observations why suburban folk get on my nerves.

  • You think I live in the ghetto
  • You take up my parking spaces in Tremont
  • You look at me like I am crazy for wearing something somewhat fashionable
  • You have never been anywhere else in CLE except for a sporting or concert venue
  • You cannot drive downtown even though it’s incredibly easy
  • You take over my favorite places on the weekend and then look at me like I don’t belong there
  • You say how nice things are developing in the city and don’t have the guts to move here
  • You think you live a “better” life in that subdivision
  • You keep your children from the city, depriving them from culture and local history
  • You think using a bicycle to get to places is crazy talk

Whether you live in the city or a suburb, I guess the snobbery goes both ways. I just have a difficult time understanding why suburban life is so much better. But one day things will change. People will sprawl once again, but this time it will be back to our urban cores — mark my words.

*Disclaimer – I do not believe ALL suburbanites agree with all of the above statements. I have family and friends who call suburbia home and I love them with all my heart (but they should consider being my neighbor).

I am not one to pick a fight. I get along with most everyone. I express my excitement and happiness for our great city through verbal and written words. However, sometimes one must share his thoughts and opinions on matters in which they feel important. Which is what I am going to do right now.

If you are active in any social media platform, you have created a personal brand. You divulge your thoughts, opinions, passions and views onto the world for all to see (or at least those individuals who follow you). Which brings me to my main point of this post: WATCH WHAT YOU SAY.

Last week I was scrolling through random tweets and came across this…

S***eC****e11“@C_Wardo: I want to yell from the top of a mountain!! ” You are gayer than the HIV virus…

The only reason why I started following this Shane fellow was due to his “marketing account manager” status listed in his profile and our affiliation as Kent State alumni. I immediately was disgusted by this statement, so I immediately responded with this…

seanski82 If you follow @S***eC****e11, you may find it amusing. Pretty blunt and ignorant tweets for a “marketing consultant”.

And then his final response…

S***eC****e11 Just lost a random follower over that HIV comment.. $5 says he is HIV positive.. Another $5 says I’m not sry about it… #AIDSface

REALLY!?! Now I don’t know Shane, but judging by his many words of wisdom, he is not a young marketing professional. What kind of marketing or advertising company does this ignorant “bro” work for? And if you consider passing out coupons for Jimmy Johns on the streets of Kent “marketing”, than you are clearly mistaken.

The Cleveland and Akron marketing communications industry is a small community. We basically all know each other or at least recognize the names and faces tied to our agencies and clients. And we all know as marketing professionals, that one must be very careful when expressing themselves via social media platforms. Your social media actions and statements are a reflection of your personality — you’re personal brand.

I could continue judging this young man, but I am a bigger person than that. However, if you want to investigate a little more and happen to find Mr. Shane’s Facebook profile, you can judge for yourself. And if the person at large happens to read this, you may want to watch what you say. Especially if you plan on getting a job anytime soon in the marketing communications industry. Just sayin’.