I did journey Eastward.

For those of you of who aren't of "Mormon Descent" or even "Mormon Inheritance," (meaning, of course that you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) the title to this blog post may seem somewhat odd. "He put a did instead of adding a "e-d" on the end. What's this guy's problem? Hu?" 

There are several instances in the Book of Mormon (a record of God's dealings with the people on the American continent(s) through prophets, including a visitation from Jesus Christ after his resurrection in the Holy Land. For more information, visit www.mormon.org or talk to members of our faith, or to the young-bucks who walk around in suits on hot days wearing name tags.) where the vernacular as aforementioned is used. And, being a member of this said faith, I tend to use it and enjoy it quite well (the faith as well as the vernacular from the scriptures).

Anyway, my point is that I have moved from Salt Lake to New York. The change hasn't been too drastic, other than the fact that no one drives cars, there are about 7 million more people, they have great pizza and delis here, oh, and advertising agencies in NYC are considered "real" and not "make-believe." 

It's great here. My first night here was a bit jarring, as we hauled 12 over-sized bags from JFK to the place we are living (a tad north of Central Park... See?), after hours, and in heavy rain. This was all post-"get stuck in Chicago O'Hare int'l airport because of weather in NYC).

As I walked into my room, it felt a little bit like being admitted into a mental hospital: The sole light in the room swung methodically from the power cord intravenously transmitting low-grade power... providing a treatment for the room that was merely prolonging the onset of death. A drop from the sink fell like a metronome for a dying instrument. The bed, which had sheets folded up and set atop to provide "comfort," was quickly dismissed as a light at the end of tunnel as it was juxtaposed next to the bars on the windows, painfully reminding me that any and all dreams and aspirations were held within this tiny, dank room.

Okay, so it wasn't that bad. My room is actually pretty nice. I have a nice desk, a well kept dresser and shelves, a nice light and fan, a great sink, sweet closet, etc. It is a nice room, provided that it is the size of an american-made sedan.

The city, however, proves to provide much more life and hope. It's easy to feel the energy of achievement as it lifts you gracefully above the smell of urine and alcohol (which, as a sad side note... Urine actually smells better than nasty alcohol... But that's just my opinion. Some people also like the smell of skunk.).

It really is cool. I start work tomorrow at Renegade, providing my "valuable" insights as a young, fresh mind, ready to be molded and set free to learn to hunt on my own, so that I, too, my bring home a meal for the pride of "Morris" lions.

Also, the pizza here is good.

Choose Your Own Adventure

I've decided that life is a lot like a "choose your own adventure" book, less the "choose." It is definitely your own adventure... one which despite whatever self-help book you are reading at the time tells you otherwise, you have no control over. Here's why:

Girls have free agency. They can choose at any minute to stop making sense (before all you Alanis Morrissette-listening feminists dog on me for this comment, hold on... This isn't a sexist comment... Guys are just as bad... we can choose at any minute to stop paying attention, and we often do. We're all in this together.)

School, while seen as "useful" usually turns out to be nothing more than professors stroking their own egos at $300/credit. It's a fail-proof system if you ask me... They get their ego satisfied, and we get to listen to them satisfy it... and we feel like we are accomplishing something. 

(on this note, Alex Bogusy, perhaps the best creative mind in the advertising industry right now came and spoke to the advertising students Tuesday night... Keep in mind that this guy has made himself wildly successful by simply following his heart for what he loves, and working hard at it... He doesn't have a degree higher than a high school diploma.)

 Am I promoting not attending college? Of course not. Doctors, as much as they love medicine, can't do it on passion alone. The majority of degrees and fields are that way. Artistic/creative fields? Well.... Let's just say this semester was the best $2000 I've ever spent to feel like I've wasted 4 months of my life.

The plus side to the fact that life is a "(You Won't)Choose your own adventure," is that many good things come as well... I have great smelling hand soap that I bought on accident. Marvelous. Also, I am going to New York in about a week to live for 3 months and work at an ad agency... This was picked for me, and offered to me by other people. Total Blessing. I also received a full-tuition scholarship for the time I have left in school before I graduate. So, there are perks as well.

The trick, then, is to find something you love and you have total control over... Like... what type of cheese you put on your sandwich.