Hop's Thoughts

Day 73: Late night/Early morning edition. I'm saddened by the posts during the summer that talk about parents wishing school would start and their kids would be out of their hair. Especially when I see them with more than a month of summer to go. I don't think there are any times in my life I'd rather revisit than the time spent with my parents each and every summer of my childhood. To even for a second think that I was the last person they wanted to be with is unfathomable. Last year I wrote about a similar situation and I joked about making a log and then sending it to each and every kid on their graduation day. A present of sorts, letting them know that there initiation into adulthood is complete and now they should know just how those proud parents really felt. Obviously, this isn't something I would do, but remember folks, who knows what kids will be able to check on in the future. How do you think they'd feel at 15, knowing at 12, you wanted them anywhere, b...

  Day 72: I haven't used this to attack articles really, but this one has me livid. http://m.huffpost.com/us/ entry/ 5644250?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000 063 I'm pretty sure this is a reason people hate bloggers. This woman takes everything that makes a solid, conscientious parent and makes it a negative. Using rich, entitled person, low IQ humor, she pokes fun at the most important aspect of being a pare nt....parenting and nurturing a child's future potential. I'm too frustrated by shit like this right to think. I can just imagine parents giggling and high-fiving over this. Sharing with all their like-minded parent friends, who at one time faced each of life's hurdles with the moronic answer to every woe, "let's have another kid." This is the reason, educators and instructors have such a difficult job. Parents who feel they've patented enough. That they deserve a morning off. That because they did this for kids #1&2, they shoul...

Day 70: While I don't expect a response, I have a very simple question. How does anyone watch TV anymore? I've been without TV for almost two years, maybe three, I honestly can't remember. Aside from movies and sports, I could care less about most of it. Even when I did have a TV, aside from the the aforementioned, I only watched Criminal Minds, Jon Stewart and cooking shows. Occasionally I'd watch BBC news or Craig Ferguson, but this was about it. Recently, I've been spending some time up at my father's house and have realized the horror that is today's television. There are literally 700 channels and not one decent thing to watch. Aside from the World Cup, Wimbledon, a half a Red Sox game and Jon Stewart, I've watched three or four movies and a few Will & Grace repeats. I can't even stomach the other stuff. Can someone tell me what you find entertaining about today's television? The reality shows are a complete insult to anyone with a k...

Late night searches. Trying to start over in some ways, but searching my past. Old friends, teachers, streets with names and some without. Looking for parks I sat in, sipping 40s like I was a big shot. Always striving to be older than I was, but none the wiser.  Even know, it seems like the wisdom I've gained from all these years, is useless for what I need. I can give advice with the best of them, but here I am, sitting in the fifth hour of these new day, looking for old comforts. The Brooklyn promenade, a tiny park on a residential street or the fence we called a home run. Things change and so much opportunity is lost of which we're not to speak of. A teacher's embrace on the last day of school, wishing me luck, never knowing I didn't believe in it and it never arrived. Maybe luck is our god and without faith in good luck, we're destined to have bad. Maybe it's 4:23 and it's time for bed. Would have been nice to see Jenny one last time. That nervous laugh,...

Day 68: Can you all stop... I just can't - yes, I'm sure you could OMG - to non-exasperating moments LOL - at things that are only mildly amusing To the moon and back - what are you Neil Armstrong? I'm blessed - you weren't made holy and you didn't go from a miserable **** to feeling blissfully happy in two seconds. I Love You - How many people do you truly love? Just because it happens to be someone's birthday, doesn't mean you love them for the day. Sending prayers your way - huh? LIKE - Stop hitting like when someone says their grandmother died. I know, commenting means you get a notification, but liking it is creepy. SHARE - sharing anything that tells you to share, because it will save someone, raise money or just because it told you to. Also, can people stop posting, liking or joining in on the abuse by commenting on people who aren't what you consider normal. Why is it not OK for me to mock a dog that's been beaten or a kid who is c...

Day 67: Maybe this is a repeat of something I've mentioned before, but I'll say it again. You don't need to give up anything, not a single thing, to better your life. Facebook, social media, television and radio is constantly telling us to give up. Religion is telling us to repent, to fast, to suffer. Everyone has this silly idea that to better yourself you need to give up something and fill it in with something better. Who is to say what is better? Why is yoga better than laughing with friends? Why is running better than sitting watching a game? Why is a salad better than a steak? Why is a smoothie made with foods contaminated by all the chemicals that fill our grounds and skies any better than having a cup of coffee and a bagel? Why is your religion better than my spiritual freedom? Why is anything you chose in a moment of weakness, better than something I embrace in a moment of strength? I'm all for people doing what they think is needed to feel and look better. I...

For a time I'd look back on months and review, but they were generally negative and I wanted to look back on this one with a little happiness and possibly insight. Things are not good and they didn't get better in terms of the big picture, but July allowed me to breath for the first time in a while. I didn't have to drown my sorrows by overstating the value of insignificant things, in a cold alcoholic beverage, in escapism or in my actual tears.  I was able to truly breathe and the air was cleaner, fresher and possibly a little more life was inhaled. July didn't move quickly for me. Summer months are usually those we grasp so tightly that they squirm away faster than we can ever hope to catch them. This has never been the case for me. The summer, historically has been my busy time. The time the casual jobs become serious work and the hours become days. The responsibility greater and people's trust in me is tested. I've never failed, but this summer there are...