Pipe and thoughts.

I just finished enjoying a great smoke out of my pipe, a nice relaxing Captain Blend from a local tobacconist. I'd been thinking about that smoke all day and I finally got to get to it about an hour ago. I find I always do my best thinking while enjoying a pipe.
Maybe it could be from my mom because she seems to have a similar problem, but unfortunately when I think about upcoming events or due dates or other important things I have to take care of, I get this extremely uncomfortable anxiety. I have absolutely no idea why, but the pipe seems to help with that.
On the school front, things are looking up. Then again, it's easy for things to look up when coming from such a low spot. I start fall classes in two days, which I'm not particularly looking forward to, but it remains to be something I must do. Every semester I reserve my thoughts to making that semester a perfect semester where I do every little thing I'm supposed to do, and based on my past experiences of failure with that particular mindset, I think I'm going to avoid worrying about it and just take it in stride.
On the women side of life, everything's going smoothly. I'm still thoroughly enjoying my lovely girlfriend, something I haven't had in quite some time.
I hope I find more time for my pipe and this blog, which could either become more or less likely with the on-set of fall classes. I suppose we'll see. Cheers.

I miss You.

ugh

Most of the time we, as people, are coasting along the surface of life, content in our views, dogmas, families, and friends. Nothing is really that awful and things in general are good. Sometimes reality comes knocking on the door of our state of semi-ignorance induced bliss. This happened to me personally recently.
A friend I've had for a few years slipped and fell and did some significant damage to his head. I heard the news and went to visit him in the hospital.
The best way to describe my experience there is...saddening. This friend is one of those people who are just full of life. They take every opportunity to seize the day
and enjoy the night. He taught me how to drive the canyons, now one of my favorite things to do.
Now he's responsive but not quite there %100. It's painful to see. All I can do is hope with every fiber in my being that he'll make a full recovery.

Hookah, Cars, and Conversation.

I went out with my friend Justin, his friend Tasha, and her boyfriend Aaron (spelling?). Since Tasha is an interesting character fit for her own blog all on her own, I assumed she'd have an equally off-kilter but good-natured boyfriend. At first he didn't seem like it but he opened up a very interesting topic of conversation that I soaked in pretty well.
Building off of a conversation about college, he made a more generalized statement about how the past and the future are totally insignificant when it comes to the things that really matter, for several reasons. The past should obviously be kept in mind somewhat as to learn from one's mistakes but it must not control your thoughts. The future will work itself out if you focus on how you live your life in the presence.
The part that really hit home for me was the part about the past. He unknowingly brought all my past relationships and the regrets and emotions tied to those relationships. He mentioned something about how it's not the events or situations in the past that create the problems, it's the emotion that's tied to those events, and how one relates to those events. I realized that it had taken my something like two years to get over one of my ex-girlfriends all because of my lack of understanding of this concept. My regrets about my academic decisions and lack thereof has also been influencing my negatively. It's all a process. Life is graded on a curve so there's really nothing to worry about but the present, and life's easy to handle moments at a time.
In essence, this stranger opened a lot of doors for me, and shut a lot of doors that have been been open far too long. So thanks Aaron, you helped me more than you know with a few sentences. It's been a long day, I'm going to bed. Cheers.

ramblings and pipes

It's been a very long time since I've actually missed someone. Maybe it's because I'm a cold-hearted SOB, but I doubt that's the reason. Ashley's gone for two weeks on the East Coast and I'm missing her after a day. This could be a very long two weeks.
On a non-emo note, I've been enjoying my tobacco pipe from Dean for my birthday. The first time I tried it, I was less than impressed but I'm glad I gave it another shot. Talk about a relaxing activity. Enjoying a pipe is something I can see becoming a more regular occurrence. I'm also in need of a new interesting book to read. My recent choices have been failing me. A trip to the store is in order. Wish me luck. Cheers.

3eB

Seeing Third Eye Blind is always amazing.
The first time I had the privilege of seeing them I was hoping for them to play my favorite song, I Want You, and alas they did not.
When I saw them at the beautiful Ventura Theatre, they played I Want You in an acoustic set. It was ecstasy. Here's another song they played from that very same
show. Cheers.

Girlfriend.

It's been a very long time since I've been in a somewhat serious relationship, and that's not to say that this is serious or anything, I'm just saying it's more than messing around.
On the school front, I'm taking a summer class, which sucks, but at least I'm getting some work out of the way.
My car is running beautifully, and looking good.
This blog was in desperate need of an update.
Cheers.