I've been hustling a long time...

I know it's been awhile blog. Here is what's been going down.

I have a job now (look at those clouds open up and listen to those angels sing) and it literally happened overnight. It hasn't been easy making the adjustment from playing Super Mario Brothers 3 everyday to actually going into an office everyday and being a professional. I've been ready to start work ever since I graduated (almost a year to the day... Jesus), but you do get used to a sweatpants wearing, slump-like way of life when you don't get into a routine. Well, I guess that is your routine. Anyway, the point is that it's been great and weird at the same time.

I have a cubicle-esqe nook that I work in making cold calls to people who are very angry, deadlines, and my very own stapler. Yes, it is just like Office Space. I'm not even trying to be a sarcastic punk, I'm so happy to have a job, it's just...weird. The good news is it's Friday tomorrow and I officially survived my first week. Only a million more to go!*

*Unless I make my fortune via some scheme I am most likely cooking up right now.

Million dollar idea?

For anyone who knows the Hudson Valley area you may know that there are some seriously creepy areas around here. One area that always weirds me out is route 9w going past Indian Point, which creepily enough is a massive power plant. You have to pass through all these small towns and there is always only one other car on the road or none at all. So, you basically feel like if your car breaks down there you are screwed. At the same time, it is a nice scenic route so I often choose to drive up this way if I can.

Yesterday, I was driving home from my brother's house and sure enough I chose this way to come home. This time there were zero cars on the road and it was a dark and cloudy day. Real scary movie weather. I'm traveling through the windy roads and I see something that catches my eye on the side of the road like a flash. One white sneaker. It was right by a heavily wooded area and just chilling there. Where was the other sneaker? Whose was it? Did a jogger get hit by a car and only his sneaker remained? Was someone disposing of this sneaker? Why was it there? These were all questions that popped into my mind and at that moment I wished I was a writer like Stephen King, because you know he could turn something like a lone sneaker on the side of the road into a million dollar novel. Damn.

Meetup and Get Out

Recently, I've been thinking about my time in England and how much I miss traveling. I feel really lucky that I was even able to go to another country. I hope that one day I'll be able to see all the places I've dreamed about visiting. I might be dreaming for a looooong time. Unfortunately, my budget is a little tight for traveling right now, but whose isn't? Also, it's not really the most appropriate time in my life to be gallivanting across the country, but that is another story. So, I've had to discover some less expensive ways to cure my travel bug. As my blog is so aptly named, I'm going to share a "recession-proof" travel tip with you right now.

I live in the Hudson Valley area of New York and it really is a beautiful place. Sometimes, we take the places we grow up in for granted because they are always there. We may overlook what visitors to the area may find beautiful. Sometimes, you have to look with a traveler's eye. With that being said, I discovered a great site called Meetup. The whole purpose of using the site is to connect people in person to give them a break from the computer. At Meetup, you can sign up for any group of your interest for free and you get to meet new people, try new things,and travel to different places. Even if the different places are local, it's still a new discovery. I signed up for a hiking group and my first meetup is next week. I'm pretty excited to discover new mountains to hike. I feel like the traveler in me will be able to rediscover the Hudson Valley.

*Blogger's note: Now, I know that meeting people off of the internet can be a little scary, but I've done my research and I've only heard good things. Obviously, there is always a risk involved so stay safe. If something doesn't seem right it probably isn't.

New Discovery

When I'm at the gym I need music to run with because I lack the motivation to go more than a mile if I don't have anything with a beat. I usually stick to listening to bands like Muse when I workout because well, they are awesome. Lately though, I've been letting my shuffle setting on the Ipod run wild and I usually end up listening to ridiculous songs like, "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. There is a point to this blog I promise. My recent kickass workout song discovery is, "We didn't start the fire" by a Mr. Billy Joel. I'm serious. You are learning history and burning cals at the same time. The next time you are working out, try it. I bet you will be so surprised at how much it amps you up. Plus, no one at the gym will mess with you because you are super intensely listening to this song and people will be weirded out. It's win-win.

Don't worry about that hole in the backyard, it's only the gate to hell.

The other night I was flipping through some movie channels when I came across a movie that used to really scare me when I was younger. I'm talking about The Gate. The plot is pretty simple: A young Stephen Dorff plays a kid who discovers that a hole in his backyard is actually a gateway for demons to come on out and frolick (cause you know demons be frolicking)in our world. After his friend Terry (who is the token nerd), plays a metal album backwards and they conveniently have to bury the family pet(which acts as a sacrifice)in a hole in the backyard, they awaken demonic spirits which destroy the home and try to kill them! Simple. Seriously though, I'm not doing it justice. The idea of it is actually really scary and although the graphics are kind of cheesy, I think the movie still holds up. I still jumped a couple of times while re-watching it.




Those monsters were total jerks. I believe the whole movie is uploaded on YouTube. It's definitely worth a watch.

Oh the 80's

80's music is awesomely bad. The lyrics make no sense, the beats are futuristic and weird, and the videos are insane. That's why I love it. It's embarrassing to admit, but 80's music would have to be my guilty pleasure. So, with that being said, I've been watching the "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders" on Vh1 this week and I decided to make my own list of my favorite 80's songs. Here are what I believe to be the quintessential "members only" decade tunes:

1. A-Ha- "Take On Me"



When I first saw the video I really liked the comic book coming to life and it has an awesome beat.

2. Hall and Oates - "You Make My Dreams Come True"



LOOK AT THIS VIDEO. What kind of craziness is this? There is nothing more 80's than this song. Whenever I hear it I think of Adam Sandler movies, cause its the type of song that would be in one. Also, I'm pretty sure my Dad had the same moustache as Hall or Oates. I don't remember which one is which.

3. Modern English- "I Melt With You"



You know it's 80's when the budget for the video looks like it was $25 dollars. Great song.

4. Peter Gabriel- "Sledge Hammer"



You know this video BLOWS YOUR MIND!


5. Tears For Fears- "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"




Best Beat of the 80's. Holla.

Obviously, this was a hard top five because there are a billion 80's songs out there. I'm just scratching the surface people. Feel free to comment on any you think I may have missed.