Inspiration, Coffee, and a Ten Gallon Hat

Sometimes the best surprises can come of the most routine situations. Norm 1) I was at Starbucks. This really should not be a surprise to anyone who knows me well and for readers who are just beginning to know me, you will surely realize that Starbucks is a staple food group for me. Norm 2) I was at work. Specifically, I was at my 3rd job at Brookstone. I work full time in my internship, part time for my dad, and part time at Brookstone in the mall. So, between the three, it is quite often that I am "at work". Norm 3) It was time for a free refill as I was thoroughly exhausted...I have a gold card and it's the best perk they offer.

So, my trip up the escalator to the Starbucks did not feel different to me at all. When I reached the store, I spotted a couple to whom I had just sold a $200 back massager heat thing. They were quite different from most customers we see in the store. Their accents were so southern, even Chuck Norris would have to process their words for a minute. The husband was also wearing a very impressive 10 gallon hat...I know it was a 10 gallon hat rather than a 9 or 11 gallon hat because it had a big "Ole Dallas, 10 Gallon, Texas Whiskey" emblem on it. I am not from the south, so I did appreciate the clarification regarding of how many gallons was his hat. His belt buckle was larger than the smaller-sized hubcaps and was likely the largest to have ever entered the Starbucks premises.

As I neared the store, I saw them walking into line and my head immediately thought "Hmm...I didn't exactly peg them as Starbucks fans." Is this judgmental? Probably...but that is another issue for another day.

At this point, you are waiting for a big climax. Aren't you? A big WOW moment that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Well, be prepared to be underwhelmed.

 After they order their coffees (which took like 10 minutes), the wife turned to me and asked what I was getting. I explained my drink and offered to give her a recommendation or advice on Starbucksology...but then she simply said: "No need for advice, I was just going to buy you a coffee." Although I explained that I got free refills and there was no need, the simple gesture meant more to me than they could imagine. It gave me a burst of positive energy that I really needed to make it through the rest of my shift.

This experience taught me a number of things. First, God works in crazy ways and gives you exactly what you need to get through the "tough stuff" even when the tough stuff isn't really all that tough. Second, Southern hospitality really does improve everybody's days. But finally, it really was pathetic how out of the ordinary this simple, caring gesture seemed. I have began to wonder WHY people do not act like this more often. 

I know it has been done before, but the next time I go to Starbucks, I am going to pay for the drink of the person behind me in the drive-through because more than anything, this nice lady made me realize that not only are acts like this too vacant from the world in general, they're too vacant because normal people like me never even realize exactly how self-centered they have become. That is just how the world is...and it often takes small reminders to put things back into perspective.

Venti Mocha Frapp With a Shot

Since I am 19 years old, in college, and have decided that I have quite a bit of wisdom to offer the world about life in general, I have decided to analyze my life. I don't exactly believe that I consciously flipped a switch and now analyze my own action, but instead gradually have begun to do so over time so that I do not get bored during the pockets of time when both of my radio stations are on commercial break simultaneously. Today's profound realization:
My life is a Frappuccino.


Like a Venti Frapp (yes, Venti for my ridiculous size), I combine a small amount of awesome ingredients (chocolate, coffee, etc.) with a whole bunch of filler B.S. (scoops on scoops on scoops of ice). However when you blend it together with industrial strength spinny-knives, the result somehow works. There is some substance to my life (my studies, my job, random skills, etc.) but I have found that the result is far from impressive unless you blend them all together with enough filler B.S. to spread the legitimate far enough to fill the venti-sized cup.

I guess my point is people shouldn't feel bad when they don't have something remarkable to say all the time. However what I have learned and what has lead to the small victories I have experienced thus far is that you need to spread out your skills, passions, and sweet side as far as you can. The further you stretch them, the more Frappuccino you will be able to create.

The most important thing is the extra shot of espresso I always order. The flavor of the extra coffee overpowers the otherwise mediocre combination and brings everything together. For me, that's intensity--everyone who knows me will tell you regardless if I am attempting to make a really good salad or studying for my accounting final, I do it with intensity. Some people would say the extra espresso makes my Frappuccino too strong, too bitter, or not sweet enough...but for me it's just right. The intensity with which I approach life is not exactly common among others my age. However, for me it tastes just right every day. It's my recipe and blend it up just the same almost everyday.

Playing in the Sand

I've been home from school for a couple weeks now and there are several things that have been large parts of my summer 2012 in Powell. Work, Sleep, and Sand Volleyball. My brother and sister both play on their school teams and for club teams here in Columbus. Clearly, since I have an impressive 0 school records compared to my brother's 2 he broke as a sophomore, my technique is spectacular. This is about how I look most of the time...

which usually makes my opponents look like this...


My siblings and I play at the park at least twice a week and it's a good way to stay in shape. My friends and I started a very informal no-skill-required volleyball league last summer: PAVLOV (Powell-Area Volleyball League Of Volleyballing Velociraptors...our name really exemplifies exactly how serious we are about the sport. This year, however, we will be making t-shirts. If elementary recreational sports taught me anything, it was that it's okay to suck as long as you have matching t-shirts.

Despite the Footpath

I decided to follow the lead of most bands these days and put the title post, like most album-title songs, second. So why did I decide to create the name "Despite the Footpath" for a blog about my life? Ever since I was young, I have never followed the stereotypical journey of my supposed "peers" that surrounded me everyday. I have never made decisions based on what people around me have assumed I would or should do...I have never really cared what has been established as "normal" by the world around me. I have often thought of it as a footpath I have decided not to take. I would like to rewrite the classic Frost poem, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...and I chose to take neither. Instead, I turned around to face the untamed jungle behind me that Frost neglected to mention and trampled through all the green stuff to make my own path." I don't love my life because I follow a prescribed path to success...rather, I love to succeed despite the footpath.

Exactly What You'd Expect

I'm starting a blog. Whoopee. I guess somewhere inside of my mind, the little man that shouts "You're important!" all day found a mega phone and the sudden onslaught of cacophonous ego-trip-shrieking in my cranium drove me to the point of insanity where I am not only thinking crazy things, but I decide it would be a fantastic idea to post them on the internet for everybody to see. 

Seeing as this is the first post of my career, I obviously spent 17 hours artfully crafting several options on how to begin my foray into the blogging universe. They were all so brilliantly unique from anything ever posted on a new blog, I decided to share each of them with you as to not waste any of the never-before-seen literary brilliance therein.

Post 1, Option 1) Sooo....I really don't know much about this whole blog thing, but I guess this is like a place for me to like share my thoughts and stuff about my life. Like, I really don't know if anyone will actually read this, but like this is all about like my life and stuff...soo....I hope you enjoy.

Post 1, Option 2) Test..........did this work? I think I got it this time......

Post 1, Option 3) Oh, Hello! I didn't see you there. This is my blog (in case you couldn't tell) and I can't wait to share with you my thoughts about life, love, and all of the wonderfully exotic places I have traveled. Look forward to next week when I take you through New York's China Town...but not the touristy areas!

Post 1, Option 4) Through persistent pondering of pertinent political and philosophical propositions, I have taken it upon myself to provide a fresh perspective on what it means to really, really be happy. As the atrophy of our societal vision of ethical and moral boundaries comes to a crescendo, much can be taken from the philosophers I now study as a Ph.D. candidate at Ithaca College to provide perspective to those, who often remain blind.

Post 1, Option 5) This is my diary...readers beware.

Now you see why it was so difficult to choose!? Why does this man have so much originality to offer the world...? Despite my obnoxious dilemma and lack of decisiveness, I'm just really glad I could avoid saying exactly what you'd expect here in this first post.