I sometimes forget what it is to be Jon (not meaning to talk in the 3rd person). I spend so much time being a dad/husband/employee, that I don't really get a lot of time to just kick back and be random. It's always so strange to have people who see me at work, see me outside of work. They're always like "You're a really different person". I wouldn't say I'm completely different, but I do tend to filter myself a little bit more between 8-5.
When you run into me at say, a wedding, or biking around the lakes, you'll probably get a very different side of me. A more authentic me. The kind that probably has a marker in his pocket out of habit for writing things on trash cans. Not that I'm out hitting train yards anymore, but I still have a backpack in my basement "just in case". And every so often I may get the itch. Age doesn't stop that. Though it's more so for my own benefit than trying to get up for 16 year old kids.
I guess the point of all this, is that there is no point to this blog. Welcome to my randomness.
Deuces.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013
This Ain't No Game
Now, in no way do I think it will ever overtake The Wire as my all time favorite show, but it's getting up there. The Wire not only made me think, it actually made me feel. I wish I would have watched The Wire live instead of through the DVDs.
I think the reason I love it so much is that I have feelings for the characters. I seriously hate Joffrey. I mean, REALLY hate that kid. If I could, I would punch him in the neck.
And I LOVE Tyrion. I want to hang out with that guy so bad. I could see the hashtag now: #TyriJonB #BFFs. And I totally have celeb crushes on most of the females on that show. I mean, Margaery and Sansa? Never had girls like that in my high school. But let's be honest: I've been to the Renaissance Festival. Girls like that didn't exist back then.
I'm only now catching up. I just finished season 2 and can't wait to get into season 3 sometime soon.
Sidenotes:
- Have you heard Anthony Hamilton's "Charlene"? It came out a while ago, but damn it's a good jam. Currently listening to it now....on repeat.
- I cannot wait for softball season to start up
- The best thing to pair a glass of red wine with is another glass or red wine. FACT
- I hate Youtube ads
- I need to get up on Tumblr
- I need to get back out to San Francisco. I miss Mike Boo
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Happy May Day
Had a super deep conversation with one of the closest homies I grew up with last night. It made me question a lot of what I know. Mostly, around what makes us happy. The quote he said that really sparked me was "Jon B, if I can just make like $30k a year, I'd be straight". I didn't laugh, but I asked, "how could you possibly live off that"? He thought I was nuts. I mean, how COULDN'T I live off that?
Our perceptions were just very different. With 30k, he could afford a used car for his girlfriend and pay rent at his current place. He would also be able to take her out on dates, buy some shoes, and enjoy things that brought him happiness. My perception was that I wouldn't be able to afford the mortgage, my every-4-week-haircuts, and tailored clothes.
But it really wasn't that long ago that I could have actually been in the same mind set as him. For a long while, I wanted to teach and was prepared to make $28k starting out. I was going to teach, live in a studio on the south side, bike to work and buy used clothes. And that would have made me happy.
But as I grew, promotions came, life shifted direction and slightly spun out of control. If I could, I would still be content living in a small loft, biking to work and spending time at a library,
But other questions started to come out in our conversation last night. Like, how did I make it out? Almost all of my friends followed the same paths: jail, no college, moved to a different city or passed away. But I'm the only one who followed the "normal" path: Graduated college, got a great job in corporate america, got married, bought a house in the burbs, had a kid. The only thing I'm missing is a mini van.
I had the exact same environment as my friends, yet turned out very different. The strange thing is, I only feel different on the outside. I will still hit a train yard every once in a while. I will still get random and find myself in questionable situations. It's like a part of me never grew up....
I really had no idea where this blog was going. I guess I sort of rambled on and on. I guess the bottom line is that I somehow turned into a successful yuppy. And a yuppy that is going to jump on his fixed gear and bike down to Powderhorn Park for May Day to hang out with a ton of like minded folks.
Our perceptions were just very different. With 30k, he could afford a used car for his girlfriend and pay rent at his current place. He would also be able to take her out on dates, buy some shoes, and enjoy things that brought him happiness. My perception was that I wouldn't be able to afford the mortgage, my every-4-week-haircuts, and tailored clothes.
But it really wasn't that long ago that I could have actually been in the same mind set as him. For a long while, I wanted to teach and was prepared to make $28k starting out. I was going to teach, live in a studio on the south side, bike to work and buy used clothes. And that would have made me happy.
But as I grew, promotions came, life shifted direction and slightly spun out of control. If I could, I would still be content living in a small loft, biking to work and spending time at a library,
But other questions started to come out in our conversation last night. Like, how did I make it out? Almost all of my friends followed the same paths: jail, no college, moved to a different city or passed away. But I'm the only one who followed the "normal" path: Graduated college, got a great job in corporate america, got married, bought a house in the burbs, had a kid. The only thing I'm missing is a mini van.
I had the exact same environment as my friends, yet turned out very different. The strange thing is, I only feel different on the outside. I will still hit a train yard every once in a while. I will still get random and find myself in questionable situations. It's like a part of me never grew up....
I really had no idea where this blog was going. I guess I sort of rambled on and on. I guess the bottom line is that I somehow turned into a successful yuppy. And a yuppy that is going to jump on his fixed gear and bike down to Powderhorn Park for May Day to hang out with a ton of like minded folks.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Happy Easter
As a non practicing Catholic, I always feel slightly guilty around Easter and Christmas. Right now, at this very moment, I'm drinking coffee, eating some toast with raspberry jam and have my feet up on my couch. I should probably be in church. Oddly, I observe Lent. I always have. But yet I skip church on Sunday.
If there was any a Easter for me to be at the Basilica, it would be today. We have a new pope. Which in the Catholic world, is a pretty big deal. But I'm more content with blogging about random ass things, going to the gym and browsing the Internet. I'm the worst kind of Catholic.
I'm not 100% sure where my faith went stray. Probably sometime during junior high school. My parents were obviously raised strong Catholics, but never made me go to church. Mostly because they didn't attend themselves. I think they felt they paid their dues during Catholic school or something. So needless to say, I never made it a priority. Living across the street from a church, lent itself to easy come, easy go. So I would drift in and out during random Sundays. But I found myself more preoccupied with things like graffiti, sleeping in and riding my bike.
But as I sit here looking at my kid, I wonder what I'll do with him? I doubt I would ever push any kind of religion on him, but I also want to provide him with some guardrails in life. But it's hard to say "Observe Lent because the bible says so", but then also saying that I feel the bible is flawed in it's verbiage of marriage. We can't pick and choose what sentences to model our lives after when it's convenient.
In unrelated news, it is starting to finally get nice out. My bike is all prepped for when this snow is gone I'm super excited. And I can't wait for the Cubs to start playing again.
If there was any a Easter for me to be at the Basilica, it would be today. We have a new pope. Which in the Catholic world, is a pretty big deal. But I'm more content with blogging about random ass things, going to the gym and browsing the Internet. I'm the worst kind of Catholic.
I'm not 100% sure where my faith went stray. Probably sometime during junior high school. My parents were obviously raised strong Catholics, but never made me go to church. Mostly because they didn't attend themselves. I think they felt they paid their dues during Catholic school or something. So needless to say, I never made it a priority. Living across the street from a church, lent itself to easy come, easy go. So I would drift in and out during random Sundays. But I found myself more preoccupied with things like graffiti, sleeping in and riding my bike.
But as I sit here looking at my kid, I wonder what I'll do with him? I doubt I would ever push any kind of religion on him, but I also want to provide him with some guardrails in life. But it's hard to say "Observe Lent because the bible says so", but then also saying that I feel the bible is flawed in it's verbiage of marriage. We can't pick and choose what sentences to model our lives after when it's convenient.
In unrelated news, it is starting to finally get nice out. My bike is all prepped for when this snow is gone I'm super excited. And I can't wait for the Cubs to start playing again.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Better Than Ezra
Remember that band? They had that one good jam called "Good". Loved that song...
Anywho. I got into a great discussion with a friend yesterday over lists. We love lists: Who is the best basketball player ever, what was the greatest movie ever, etc... We live for lists. We love to organize and prioritize for some reason. But it got us thinking - what are the best things in life (from only my perspective)? So I thought I would put together the Jon B list or random ass things. Most people who don't know me, probably won't understand this, but that's ok.
Best movie:
1. Goodfellas. My all time favorite
2. Do The Right Thing
3. Clerks
4. Caddyshack
5. Full Medal Jacket
Best TV Series:
1. The Wire
2. The Sopranos
3. Mad Men
4. OZ
5. Tie: Parks & Rec/New Girl (both could change, as they are super new)
Best flavor of bubble gum
1. Bubble gum
2. There are no other flavors
Worst ideas for a blog:
1. A blog about lists. I've already lost interest, so I'll end here...
Anywho. I got into a great discussion with a friend yesterday over lists. We love lists: Who is the best basketball player ever, what was the greatest movie ever, etc... We live for lists. We love to organize and prioritize for some reason. But it got us thinking - what are the best things in life (from only my perspective)? So I thought I would put together the Jon B list or random ass things. Most people who don't know me, probably won't understand this, but that's ok.
Best movie:
1. Goodfellas. My all time favorite
2. Do The Right Thing
3. Clerks
4. Caddyshack
5. Full Medal Jacket
Best TV Series:
1. The Wire
2. The Sopranos
3. Mad Men
4. OZ
5. Tie: Parks & Rec/New Girl (both could change, as they are super new)
Best flavor of bubble gum
1. Bubble gum
2. There are no other flavors
Worst ideas for a blog:
1. A blog about lists. I've already lost interest, so I'll end here...
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Free Time. Oh I've missed you
Since having a kid, I get little to no free time. Except for times like right now when he's snoozing in his rocker. #dadprobs.
It's hard not to be somewhat resentful at the fact that I can't do anything for myself these days. For instance, I've been trying to start writing another book. But to actually get a few hours to do it doesn't exactly come easy. Last year, I tried to learn how to play the guitar. I've gotten decent, but I haven't picked it up in almost 2 months. Time with friends is out the window. Mostly because my friends are so random, just getting together for a beer and some shenanigans is no longer a monthly occurrence. Photography used to be one of my greatest pleasures. But I can't exactly go wandering the streets on a photog walk at random anymore.
People keep telling me it will get easier. I hope so. I feel like I've stopped growing as a human. I used to take great enjoyment in trying and experiencing new things. Now, my new things are seen through the eyes of my son. This post wasn't meant to sound selfish, though I feel like I'm feeling a little bit of that these days.
But I do pride myself on my ability to change, swaddle and repeat without fail these days. Will I one day become the Adam Breverman of Minneapolis? Possibly, though I fancy myself a little more of a Phil Dunphy.
It's hard not to be somewhat resentful at the fact that I can't do anything for myself these days. For instance, I've been trying to start writing another book. But to actually get a few hours to do it doesn't exactly come easy. Last year, I tried to learn how to play the guitar. I've gotten decent, but I haven't picked it up in almost 2 months. Time with friends is out the window. Mostly because my friends are so random, just getting together for a beer and some shenanigans is no longer a monthly occurrence. Photography used to be one of my greatest pleasures. But I can't exactly go wandering the streets on a photog walk at random anymore.
People keep telling me it will get easier. I hope so. I feel like I've stopped growing as a human. I used to take great enjoyment in trying and experiencing new things. Now, my new things are seen through the eyes of my son. This post wasn't meant to sound selfish, though I feel like I'm feeling a little bit of that these days.
But I do pride myself on my ability to change, swaddle and repeat without fail these days. Will I one day become the Adam Breverman of Minneapolis? Possibly, though I fancy myself a little more of a Phil Dunphy.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
A Year in Review
For those that knew Ma Cooper knew that she was something special. I think the only time I ever called her Pat was the first time. She quickly told me that since I knew Mike, I could call her Ma. The next sentence she uttered to me I will never forget: "You do that graffiti stuff? Well, I don't care if you do that tagging on planes, trains or whatever, but don't you dare do any of that crap in my house". I never did.
She was one of those women that everyone in a particular community group knew. I think she has fed or clothed damn near everyone of the Ted's Basement group. Obviously with growing up and moving away from the Southside, I didn't get the chance to interact with her as much as I used to. I really wish I had. She was always so full of energy, wit, sass and life when I did get to see her. I will miss her at random barbecues and holiday parties.
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