Echoes

I've been writing my own music for about 2 years now, and every time I want to write a new song, I sit down, and I write it.

Music has always just been something that flows. Poetry flows. Words flow. (Sometimes) I am good with words.

Tonight (saturday) I sat in a long tunnel that runs underground between two buildings on campus. The acoustics there are amazing. Even a whisper can be heard from end to end. The tunnel is a few HUNDRED feet long. Talk about unbeatable.

After sitting for an hour, leaned up against the wall, singing my heart and soul out in this amazing environment, I quietly packed up and went home.

No one ever knew I was there, besides the friend that tagged along (Eric), and I expect no one will. I do however, plan to return every weekend to hear the echo as it rings on through that beautiful concert hall.

As for my road to financial freedom, I am on my way. I have payed off any and all fiscal responsibilities and am moving quickly into the black!

I am still searching for a job, I am focused on schooling, and I love my life.

But then, isn't that just an echo? Yes, I think I've played this song many times before.

Old Magic.

From day to day, things tend to stay basically the same. As of today, one thing is still very much the same as every other day before.

I, am still a muggle.

My weekend (freebie!) date just happens to be centered around a University sponsored Harry Potter themed dance. I, of course, am a Harry Potter fanatic. For this reason I will be attending dressed as Draco Malfoy post death-eater initiation.

After I carved my wand, put away my garb, and got ready for bed, I got sad.

Unlike Draco, I will always be a muggle.

Also, unlike Draco, I am not tied to The Dark Lord.

One thing that me and Draco do have in common? A boyish figure.

Today I successfully built up enough funds on my dining card to fund a meal for my brother AND myself.

I know!

To take advantage of all possible knowledge gaining opportunities (as well as good friends and comfortable seating) I will be attending my favorite unregistered class tomorrow: Astronomy.

In Astronomy I usually update my eBay account, perform seo for my blog, knock out some homework, or even search for a job! (Imagine that).

Tomorrow as the talk of old magic in the sky passes into and back out of my head, I will whisk away the time turning over pages of new thought, forgetting then, that I am spell-bound to be ordinary.

But then, what fun is being extraordinary anyways?

Goodnight, moon.

Recycled

I got a call today from my mom. I was in class, so i had to silence it and keep my focus (eh).

At 2:19, I called my voicemail. As I walked through the cold rain, I learned that my Aunt, Judy, of Columbus Ohio, had passed away an hour earlier. I could hear my mom choking back tears as she told me she loved me, and how she would wait to tell my brother and sister.

I held back tears as she struggled to tell me the good news. She had finished rolling my change. The total came to somewhere around $90. I quickly responded, remembered it was a recording, then hung up the phone.

It's funny how things come, and how they go just as soon as they'd arrived. My aunt was a beautiful woman, whose life ended years before any of us expected.

I sat thinking about my mom, sitting alone in our house, rolling change to pass the time, to keep her thoughts occupied. I sat and cried. I love my mother. I love her.

Now, from my wet cheeks, I can force a smile. I never cried for my aunt. A time not long, Judy, till we meet again. I cry for my mom. She meant lots to her.

When bigger things enter into our lives, sometimes it is nice to just pause. Sometimes we need to just sit, and roll some change. Life cycles, and recycles, and really we are all just rolling change to pass the time from on place to another.

I time not long, Judy. Mom, I love you.

Rolling Thoughts.

The key to finding inspiration for anything is opening up your head, clearing your thoughts.

Everyday before I sleep I have a brain storming (more like brain draining) session to get all my thought onto my computer. As an ad major, the ideas are often for a new campaign. As a poor college kid, they're sometimes about how to make money. As a thinker, they're sometimes about thoughts that I think.

A recent thought I've thunk is a business proposition. I would write the thought i thunked down HERE, but then that thought would be thought or thunked by multitudes of other thinkers.

If you have thoughts, write them down. One day those mind sketches might be given an opportunity to move from paper space to reality.

Today I spent $16.00, outside of my daily food budget. I bought a tuxedo shirt, tuxedo shoes, and two ties from a thrift store. I now have a full tuxedo (minus jacket, including vest). Total cost: around $30. It took me a year, but it's all put together now.

I learned today that not all spending is bad. Stupid spending is bad. Smart spending is not all good, but it does curb desires. Remember, you always have the liberty to choose.

Oh. And. Today my mom called.

"Guess what." "what?" "I found the spare change jar you used to fill." "And?" "I've started rolling the coins. So far you've got $60.00."

Sometimes we work for the things we need. Sometimes they just turn themselves in.

Walking

Today was my first day without my bank card.

Today was the first day I did not spend a single cent outside of my alloted college funds (meal plan-$12/day).

Today was the first day I did not ask my friends for money.

Today was a good day :)

I think that sometimes when we free ourselves from what holds us back, we can more easily see what pushes us forward. I mean it like this: everyday I walk to class, probably ten minutes up onto campus then into the right (sometimes wrong) classroom. Every time I make this walk I have between 10-15 interactions (I've been counting!). Today I appreciated my 26 (13/walk) interactions much more than usual.

Without worries of money money money riding heavy on the brim of my brain, pulling down my brow, I was able to sooooaaaaakkkk it all in. I have so much to be happy for. Thank you numbers 1-26; you make my walk worth every step.

Letting Go of the Credit Card

I called my parents for help last night. They have access to my accounts and know just how broke I am.

I asked my dad what I should do, and in the meantime I reminded him that I need to stay focused on what is most important: my schooling (my social life...).

Both my parents agreed on one thing that was best for me.

Today, at noon, I will walk shamefully to the post office, and mail my bank card home. I am officially cutting off my ability to spend money.

I also paved some new ground: friends with cash. I'm going on a date this saturday night. And guess what? She's paying for it! After digging $100+ in on dates, I think it's about time for a role reversal.

The next step: sell everything. That's right, I'm selling almost everything I own (including half of my wardrobe). Check out my "What's For Sale" page. You'll laugh, I guarantee it.

Now that I'm completely cut off, there's no way I can spend. This is going to be rough.

Poor Man In College

What do you do?

I'm in College. I've flown the coop. And now, I've blown my savings and checking account on who knows what. Well, that's where I am.

For the first four months of college I was sailing high. I'm a lucky guy. My parents have paid my way-knowledge, food, and shelter-all included. Some people might say that I'm spoiled. Maybe they're right?

I started the school year with around $2,000 dollars in my savings and checking accounts, plenty to get me through (AT LEAST) the entire year.

Half way through Fall semester I saw both my accounts hit $500. I needed a job. A quick search through the University Job Search site and I had found just the thing: $8.75 an hour. Doing the math.....20 hours a week....multiplied by 8.75 per hour....that's what..?..$175 a week.

So for the last half of Fall 2009 I spent my mornings from 4 - 8 am scrubbing toilets, vacuuming hallways, and dusting door frames in the student athletic building.

I had once told my father that nothing in the world would ever make me clean toilets for a living. Now, though I wasn't exactly in survival mode, I learned an important lesson about making money: do anything to make it happen.

My dad also told me that no job is more important than any other. He always shows respect for everyone, no matter the situation.

"Always show them respect Sean. Every job is important; it all has to be done."

After my 4 - 8 shift I'd slump over in bed and sleep through my first class, then quickly hurry to the shower and rush to Sociology. Usually by 1 pm I could accumulate enough non-consecutive sleep hours to get me through the day.

By the end of the semester I was completely burnt out. My GPA dropped from a potential 4.0 to a 3.6 and I didn't even care. All I wanted to do was sleep.

What was the worst part of all? I was still somehow LOSING money. My bank account was waning.

Christmas break was sweet relief.

Then school started again.

Then $400 dollars later, I was broke.

And that's when I realized: "hey, I have a mild spending problem."

I spent myself into a giant hole. I now have $20 to my name.

I'm starting from the ground up here at college, and it's rough. I'm glad that I'm doing it now though, still under my parents wing.

It's time to turn this thing around. I'm walking out of the dark. Walk with me.