Author: Keiran

Put your silver key into my cold ignition

Last week, I was attempting to start a wish list at Wists, but I wasn’t getting very far due to website issues, and the bookmarklet not wanting to cooperate. The one website I was trying to bookmark a camera on was wonky and wouldn’t let me access anything. So, I did a quick Google of the camera, and found out news. I admit, I’m late in finding this out, but it still is very very sad news for me. Apparently? Konica Minolta is no longer making cameras. This is EXTREMELY disturbing and disheartening for me, especially considering they sold off their camera business to Sony (ew ick). My film SLRs have always been Minolta. I love Minolta. So I have to decide if I want to get a camera that’s discontinued, and won’t have further support… or if I should try and decide on a new digital SLR to get. The Canon film SLRs never impressed me (in fact, often doing the opposite when I’d use a friends), and after a very bad experience with a Sony digital camera – I cannot stand them. The higher cost of Sony equipment is typically for the brand name, and not for better quality. Sure, I get an employee discount off any digital camera I want, as long as we sell it, but that doesn’t make a Sony any more desirable.

Migraines have been getting the better of me the past few weeks, with a few even messing up my vision. It’s very weird when it looks like things you’re watching aren’t real. For instance – I was writing addresses on checks to be mailed out Thursday, and it didn’t seem like it was my hand that I was watching write the words. The screwed up vision made me feel very disconnected from it. I swear it seems like I’m always falling apart. If it isn’t one thing, it’s something else. I’m getting sick of it. Anyone know some place where I can trade my body in for a new one?

I’m getting incredibly restless again. Back when I first got my driver’s license, any time I got bored, restless, frustrated, etc – I would just hop behind the wheel of my car and drive. I’d travel all over the Metroplex just driving, with absolutely no destination in mind. Just being on the road was a catharsis for me, releasing a lot of that tension. I could have the radio blaring as long as I wanted, singing along at the top of my lungs without worrying about anyone else hearing my terrible voice unless the windows were down. 😉 I could even scream as loud as I wanted if I felt the need. (Side note: Sometimes, when friends and I would go out cruising, we’d get to a red light, count to 3, and all scream as loud as we could. It would make us feel better, and then collapse into laughter.) The world seemed so full of possibilities, like there were so many places I could go in that driver’s seat.

Granted, I did end up going a lot of places. I drove to/through 19 of the 21 states I’ve been to so far. The travel to 13 of those 19 states was between ages 16-22, with a great majority of the time me traveling by myself, or with one close friend. I know I was very very lucky to get to do all the traveling I did. Of course, I did lie to my parents about a lot of it – telling them I was going one place, and then heading off many many miles further away instead. :-X While most teens were rebelling by partying and drinking and the like – I was rebelling by traveling cross-country without my parent’s knowledge, often staying in the homes of people I knew only from the internet. I guess I got lucky that nothing bad happened to me – I’ve always been too trusting for my own good.

I miss that, though. Like I was saying, I’m getting incredibly restless. I NEED to travel, desperately. I don’t like being all cooped up and stuck in one place for so long. I’ve got a nomad soul that longs to travel and roam and explore. Work’s one of the two things that has me cooped up now a days. I can’t travel as far as I used to, since I can’t miss work. My schedule isn’t as flexible as it once was. (The job I had before my current one? I loved for traveling. If I worked a holiday, I had my choice between getting paid Double Time+Time & 1/2 OR getting paid normal time and get an extra 8 hours of PTO. I always opted for the PTO, and had plenty of paid time off to travel on!) The other thing, of course, is the goddamn gas prices. I used to be able to travel all the way from Dallas to Nashville on roughly the same amount of money that it now costs for a single fill-up. I would probably be able to go one way to Nashville on what it used to cost me to make the round trip, and then some. I cringe every time I see that total on the gas pump as I fill it up, and it creeps over $30 a tank. That evil price of gas makes it so I can barely do any necessary travel around town, and there’s just no way I can travel much further anymore. It’s a very sad day when it’s cheaper for me to fly somewhere than drive there.

I miss the days of deciding I wanted to go to a concert, picking up, and just taking off to go. The location didn’t matter – I would travel anywhere I wanted. I didn’t always even have tickets in advance. My friend Anita and I drove all the way out to Nashville to see Garth Brooks without tickets. We just went to the ticket window the morning of the shows to see if any tickets had been released, and we were able to get into every show we wanted. Now? If I didn’t have a guarantee that I could get in to that concert in advance – I wouldn’t be able to justify the expense of travel to get there. I can barely even justify the cost of getting across the Metroplex to Ft Worth for a concert anymore. I can’t even recall the last time I went to Billy Bob’s. It had to be some time last year.

I still go on trips, but they’re almost always by plane now. There’s also a lot fewer trips than I used to take. I guess I’ve got to find a way to get used to it… to find some other way to take care of my restlessness. I miss driving. I think this ramble lost it’s steam somewhere along the way. Oops? I’m sure it will end up being revisited again.

More memes. I got addicted.


You Are 50% Boyish and 50% Girlish

You are pretty evenly split down the middle – a total eunuch.
Okay, kidding about the eunuch part. But you do get along with both sexes.
You reject traditional gender roles. However, you don’t actively fight them.
You’re just you. You don’t try to be what people expect you to be.


Your Personality Profile


You are dreamy, peaceful, and young at heart.
Optimistic and caring, you tend to see the best in people.
You tend to be always smiling – and making others smile.

You are shy and intelligent… and a very hard worker.
You’re also funny, but many people don’t see your funny side.
Your subtle dry humor leaves your close friends in stitches.


Your Personality Is

Idealist (NF)

You are a passionate, caring, and unique person.
You are good at expressing yourself and sharing your ideals.

You are the most compassionate of all types and connect with others easily.
Your heart tends to rule you. You can’t make decisions without considering feelings.

You seek out other empathetic people to befriend.
Truth and authenticity matters in your friendships.

In love, you give everything you have to relationships. You fall in love easily.

At work, you crave personal expression and meaning in your career.

With others, you communicate well. You can spend all night talking with someone.

As far as your looks go, you’ve likely taken the time to develop your own personal style.

On weekends, you like to be with others. Charity work is also a favorite pastime of yours.

You Are 70% Normal

Otherwise known as the normal amount of normal
You’re like most people most of the time
But you’ve got those quirks that make you endearing
You’re unique, yes… but not frighteningly so!


Your Birthdate: August 8


Watch out Donald Trump! You’ve got a head for business and money.
You’ll make it rich some day, even if you haven’t figured out how yet.
A supreme individualist, you shouldn’t get stuck in a corporate job.
Instead, make your own way – so that you can be the boss.

Your strength: Your undying determination

Your weakness: You require an opulent lifestyle

Your power color: Plum

Your power symbol: Dollar sign

Your power month: August


Your Aura is Blue


Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life.
You are very giving of yourself. And it’s hard for you to let go of relationships.

The purpose of your life: showing love to other people

Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah

Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor


Your Love Element Is Fire


In love, you are a true listener and totally present.
For you, love is all about feeling more alive than you’ve ever felt.

You attract others with your joy and passion.
Your flirting style is defined by your strong ability to communicate.

Fun and play are the cornerstones of your love life.
And while your flame may burn too brightly, it’s part of your appeal.

You connect best with: Wood

Avoid: Water

You and another Fire element: will likely burn out quickly


Your Heart Is Blue


Love is a doing word for you. You know it’s love when you treat each other well.
You are a giving lover, but you don’t give too much. You expect something in return.

Your flirting style: Friendly

Your lucky first date: Lunch at an outdoor cafe

Your dream lover: Is both generous and selfish

What you bring to relationships: Loyalty


Your Five Factor Personality Profile


Extroversion:

You have medium extroversion.
You’re not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party.
Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences.
But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your “down time.”

Conscientiousness:

You have medium conscientiousness.
You’re generally good at balancing work and play.
When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.
But you’ve been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it.

Agreeableness:

You have low agreeableness.
Your self interest comes first, and others come later, if at all.
In general, you feel that people are not to be trusted.
And you’re skeptical that anyone else really feels differently.

Neuroticism:

You have high neuroticism.
It’s easy for you to feel shaken, worried, or depressed.
You often worry, and your worries prevent you from living life fully.
You tend to be emotionally reactive and moody. Your either flying very high or feeling very low.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is high.
In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.
You’ll try almost anything interesting, and you’re constantly pushing your own limits.
A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.


You Are 72% Open Minded


You are a very open minded person, but you’re also well grounded.
Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints.
But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line.
You’re open to considering every possibility – but in the end, you stand true to yourself.


Your Life Path Number is 1


Your purpose in life is to lead others.

You have great drive and determination. Nothing is going to stand in your way.
You seek out challenges and the spotlight. You’ll take all the work – and all the glory.
Status and success are important to you. You demand the best from everyone and everything.

In love, you tend to take a protective role. You enjoy being the provider in relationships.

You expect others to be like you, and as a result, you are often disappointed.
A little selfish and vain, you always put yourself first.
Remember, everyone already knows you’re great – you don’t need to remind them!


You Are Royal Blue


People find you difficult to understand. In fact, you often find it hard to understand yourself.
You think so much that sometimes you get lost in your own thoughts!


The Keys to Your Heart


You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you’re told that you’re loved.

You’d like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.

Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything… no secrets.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You’ll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You’ll do anything for love, but you won’t fall for it easily.


Your Hair Should Be Red


Passionate, fiery, and sassy.
You’re a total smart aleck who’s got the biggest personality around.


Your Inner Child Is Naughty


Like a child, you tend to discount social rules.
It’s just too much fun to break the rules!
You love trouble – and it seems that trouble loves you.
And no matter what, you refuse to grow up!

I disagree with the honesty part… I do value it, but the amount of value depends on the situation.


Your Values Profile


Loyalty:

You value loyalty a fair amount.
You’re loyal to your friends… to a point.
But if they cross you, you will reconsider your loyalties.
Staying true to others is important to you, but you also stay true to yourself.

Honesty:

You don’t really value honesty.
You do value getting your way, no matter what.
And if a little lying is required to do that, no problem.
A few white lies never hurt anyone (at least, that’s what you tell yourself!)

Generosity:

You value generosity a fair amount.
You are all about giving, as long as there’s some give and take.
Supportive and kind, you don’t mind helping out a friend in need.
But you know when you’ve given too much. You have no problem saying “no”!

Humility:

You value humility a fair amount.
You tend to be an easy going, humble person.
But occasionally your ego takes over.
You have a slight competitive streak – and the need to be the best.

Tolerance:

You value tolerance highly.
Not only do you enjoy the company of those very different from you…
You do all that you can to seek it out interesting and unique friends.
You think there are many truths in life, and you’re open to many of them.


And that wasn’t even all the ones I took.

Then the boredom sets in…

And I start taking those annoying memes.

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There’s no one even close to being like you.
Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible.
While you are a bit offbeat, you don’t scare people away with your quirks.
Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.

You are Agnostic

You’re not sure if God exists, and you don’t care.
For you, there’s no true way to figure out the divine.
You rather focus on what you can control – your own life.
And you tend to resent when others “sell” religion to you.

I don’t know about being “shocking” or “avant garde”, but I agree overall?


Your Blogging Type is Unique and Avant Garde


You’re a bit … unusual. And so is your blog.
You’re impulsive, and you’ll often post the first thing that pops in your head.
Completely uncensored, you blog tends to shock… even though that’s not your intent.
You tend to change your blog often, experimenting with new designs and content.


You Are 23 Years Old


Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view – and you look at the world with awe.

13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what’s to come… love, work, and new experiences.

30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You’ve had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!

40+: You are a mature adult. You’ve been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.


Orange County


You’re rich, pretty, and living a charmed life. (Or you seriously wish you were.)
From Disneyland to Laguna Beach, you’re all about living the California dream life.
Just make sure to marry rich – so you don’t have to work for it!


Your Ideal Pet is a Cat


You’re both aloof, introverted, and moody.
And your friends secretly wish that you were declawed!