- Over the years, something that many people have noticed about me is that I tend to want to be early for things. There have been more than a few people that have wondered why and some of them noticeably annoyed by it. Some believe that it has to do with paranoia that I'm afraid to be late for anything or that I'm trying to compensate for something I don't have. Given my issues I will admit that that does apply to jobs or things I haven't looked forward to back in the day but that's as far as it goes on that front. When it's about things I look forward to, however, it's actually different with me. When it comes to fun stuff, like going to a park, hanging out with friends or heading out to the club (especially this which will be more clear in a moment), I start thinking about all the possible good times, the great moments and greatness in general that comes with such fun things. My mind gets to racing thinking about all the potential that comes with something good or even great coming up, hence the name for the subtitle of this edition. My parents have even called me the "ultimate optimist" at times back in the day because of this. It's been like this for me since I was a child. I think to some degree that holds true for everybody but for me it is one of the few traits I have that has probably uniquely defined me throughout my life. It's hard for me not to get excited about that potential and the hope that comes with it. Sometimes I'm supremely impatient and bursting at the seams in anticipation of some events.
I think most people have observed this when it came to nightlife especially since it played such an important role in my life. Contrary to some beliefs, it wasn't always about the dancing for me. Sometimes it was about getting the chance to have a long conversation with a friend or even just seeing that person, whether it be a fellow clubgoer, a deejay, a bartender or the other staff. Going early especially made that possible because usually those folks will be busy later on or the music gets so loud later on that I couldn't understand what they say then or I wouldn't be able to talk to them outside of the club because they're busy in their own lives. Sometimes I would go early to see the women come in before the nightclub really gets going. I'm telling ya...you can't imagine some of the good-looking and ridiculously hot women over the years I've seen come through the door at a club. Those of you who have come with me early know this firsthand and have seen it for yourselves. Trust me, that was a major motivation behind the early arrivals and a great stimulator of conversation with my friends. Given my shyness to approaching women it astounds me to this day how many of those women became friends. Sometimes I would wish for more but at least I got to look...heh heh. Anyway, back to the potential, I think the most obvious realization of that potential of something big happening related to the club happened on that first trip down to the then-Big Easy 10 years ago with my friends Stan and Darryl. I wanted for the longest time to bring my friends who hung out with me at the old Harry Buffalo in Akron down to Columbus in the hope that they would get out of it what I did from 1996 to 1998. I was nervous because I badly wanted them to have the kind of good time I had there and there was no guarantee of that at the time. I was hopeful of the potential but I wasn't sure it was going to happen. That initial trip didn't just go beyond the potential I foresaw for that evening but it did so for some time afterward. As I've said before, more trips were taken, more people started coming down, several moved there and lived there for years, relationships were formed and some families came of it...it was a game changer. It became more of one for me when I realized I was going back to Ohio State (according to a re-reading of my journal, that news wasn't certain until a few days after that first trip down there). When you hope for things to go well and they go way beyond that, it's more that you could hope for and that's what happened there.
Before I continue, I wanted to note that these days it seems like this is happening more and more for DJRT-related stuff than anything else going on in my life, especially since I haven't gone out to a club in so long. Honestly, I can't get enough of the potential I forsee for what may be coming regard DJRT and my life in general. That is the main reason why I wanted to bring this up here in this edition.
Getting back to the larger point, even with all that potential there comes the risk of disappointment and let down. Have I had that? Unequivocally, yes...I have. I've had some major let downs especially when my expectations didn't meet whatever standards I had in my head at any one point to have a good time. It's happened a decent number of times. I can say with confidence that in contrast I have had my expectations met in most instances even at times when it didn't seem like it to others (I speak of internal expectations here, not of those widely talked about around other people). I do get downright quixotic sometimes about the potential for great things to happen and I have been asked in the past to temper that because it gets to them. I hate to inform some of those folks but this is something that is hardwired in me. It's how I am and it's who I am. It's gotten me through some of the roughest times of my life, especially when I've had trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. There are times where I'll be able to temper it somewhat but it's not going to be often. It's one of the few things about myself that, even in the worst of times and I'm down on me, I like about myself. That is not going to change and I really don't want it to.
- As far as where I'm at with this crossroads, it's just same stuff, different day for now. I'm hoping the stuff I've talked about continues to help me with that but I'm still there for now.
- Speaking of the former Big Easy/Screaming Willies, it looks like the person who bought it has turned it into a concert hall called "Xclusive Venue and Elite Nightclub." I don't believe it's the kind of nightclub that also doubles as a dance club anymore but if it is the kind concert hall that can be rented, maybe there could be a "one night stand" kind of reunion if someone wanted to put one together. That might be a long way off but it is something to think about. Speaking of concerts, FYI for those of you in Columbus, Bell Biv Devoe is playing there this Saturday night.
- DJ Customs: The pic at the top of this edition with the Ohio State logo and the Browns elf on the front in scarlet and gray. I created that about a year ago for someone who was looking for a way to make good on a bet (don't ask...it's sorta twisted why I came up with this pic for that) but it is a pic that shows where my sporting alligences lie and it might be one of my best customizations.
- Speaking of my sporting alligences, it seems that while the OSU Buckeyes keep rolling on with winning (not sure even if they win out they make the national championship game this year), the Cleveland Browns have started to slide when QB Brian Hoyer got injured and was lost for the season. It's obvious by now that Brandon Weeden played himself off the team and maybe out of the league. Jason Campbell is serviceable for now but it does look like next year I wouldn't be surprised if a high draft pick was used on the quarterback position. It's going to be a rough ride for them the rest of this year, methinks.
- One more thing about both the Browns and the Buckeyes...on the weekend of November 9th and 10th, I think that is the first weekend in a long time that I can remember that both teams have a bye at the same time. That might be a weekend to do something big, though I don't know what.
- About a week before Christmas I am going up to Cleveland to take in a Cavaliers game. I have two tickets and I'm not sure exactly who I'm taking just yet but I did get upper level seats near mid-court so whoever I take with me is hopefullly going to enjoy the view with me...I hope.
- Query: Every once in a while I'll see a question that's been asked a few times previously that at the times they were asked I'd want to answer but couldn't get all my thoughts together in a convenient enough time to do so. By the time I had the thoughts to that question ready it would be way too late for it to matter, so I would save the question and answer I had for it later just in case someone else asked it again. Recently, one of my friends happened put out there one of those questions I had hoped would be asked again by someone at some point. It's the first time I can recall that I've been able to put out there my answer to such a question that I've been saving. For those of you curious, here was the question that was put out there: "They say if you really love someone, you believe in them no matter what. At what point do you need to stop believing?" Here is the response I gave:
This is something I've had to deal with several times. There is a difference between believing someone and believing "in" someone. When you believe in someone, you believe in their intentions and in their soul that they will do right by you, right by others, and right in general. That's why in a lot of cases that even when somebody is completely bullsh*tting you with something that may be an absolute lie, you may tend to gloss over it because you want to believe in an overall sense that they are ultimately still trying to do right and be worth believing in (believing in them as a person as opposed to believing their words, in this case). In other words, you're hoping and praying for the best regardless. That is something I believe Jesus teaches us to do to a certain degree. When you start feeling in your heart or you see outright demonstrated that a particular person's intentions are not true or they're just outright hurtful or spiteful for the sake of being that, that is probably the time to let them go. That is hard to do because of the investment (mostly the emotional kind) we tend to put into most of our relationships with those folks and just the general complications that come with letting go, but the bottom line is that we all have the right to a clear conscience or at least minimal confusion about where we should rightfully and respectfully stand with those particular people. If you choose to stand with them, then so be it because it's ultimately your decision how you handle them, but you do have every right to walk away if they are too toxic for you or the people around you. Something my pastor would tell me when I've dealt with this was to "let go and let God." I don't know if any of what I said will help you or not but at least you know you're not alone when it comes to this stuff.
The question posed is not the actual query I have. I wanted to know about the quality of the answer I put up and if there was anything more that could be said about how I could have answered it. I'd love to hear about what you folks think of it because it might determine how I answer others in the future, so I've very curious what you think.
- For anybody that questions whether the Ohio State Marching Band is "the best damn band in the land," I would like to point out that in just the last couple of weeks they performed marching formations of Michael Jackson moonwalking, the Superman symbol, Superman changing in a telephone booth and flying off, Harry Potter-type stuff, and a T-Rex eating someone. In the immortal words of Damien Sandow...you're welcome.
- As Halloween approaches, I would like to present to you a link to a YouTube video that may scar some of you for life in ways you would never expect. I now give you the most potentially horrifying experience of your lives that will change you all forever...Winnie the Pooh as Darth Vader! (with a cameo by Darkwing Duck)
- I've used a lot of big words today...hope my brain doesn't explode from all the awesomeness.
- Song on Repeat: "Workin' For A Livin'" by Huey Lewis and the News. This is a get-up-and-go type of song that can pump up the adrenaline and since I'm on a bit of an 80's kick right now, this is what I have for ya.
- Shoutouts: Mindy, Aunt Sue, Debbie, Heather, Kristin, Cheryl, Jennifer S., Andrea, Scarlet, Holly, Bob, Lynn and Uncle Larry.
That's it for this time out. A couple things before I go here. First, there are elections taking place a week from today (next Tuesday). If you have stuff on your local ballots and you are registered to vote, don't forget to go vote on that stuff. Also, this weekend in most of the U.S. (doesn't necessarily apply to my international readers) Daylight Savings Time ends so that means set your clocks an hour back either Saturday night before bed or Sunday morning whenever you get up...if you're not already up. With all that, I now bid you all adieu. For those of you celebrating Halloween this week, I have a message for you....BOO!!! Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
DJ
