Lack of Sensitivity

Some people leave their hearts in other places.

While I guess that could be true for me on a few different levels, seeing as how ever since I visited friends in Chicago, I've yearned to maintain a residence there, however, I left a little more in the windy city from which four of my top 10 musical artists hail.

No, I left a little piece of my central nervous system.

Ever since I've returned from my wonderful trip, nearly seven months ago, I haven't been able to feel touch on my right forearm. I can still use it just fine (although, the first few times I attempted to work out, a shooting pain would run from my elbow down to my wrist), but I still can't feel when it's touched. It just tingles. There have been times when I've bumped up against things -- chairs, kitchen appliances, sharp knives (kidding) -- and haven't felt a thing. Sounds like something I should probably get checked out, I know, but no health insurance means Sean goes without sensory for a while...at least until this magical, mysterious, elusive new job comes along.

It was chilly, but there's no way that caused it. Maybe when I go back, I'll get it back. Now that would be blog-worthy!

Romancing The Love

So, what is this silly thing called love?

Recently, I've had discussions with plenty of people on the subject. I'm what can probably be called a classic romantic. I like to do things for the lady I'm involved with or like and enjoy the wooing process. I guess you could call it courting, but I'm not sure that term has been actively used in the last 50 years. Most of my conversations -- all, in fact -- came with people who do not consider themselves "romantic" by any means. They'd prefer to call themselves "realistic."

Now, this I have a hard time understanding. Since when does being romantic somehow absolve the ability to be realistic? I'd like to think of myself as a pretty logical guy. When people come to me with problems or matters of the heart, I'm usually going to break it down logically before I do anything else. It is also true, though, that I don't always follow my own advice. Either way, I don't see how being romantic and realistic have to be mutually exclusive.

Not all reality is loving, but love is real, no?
Exactly.
But here's where it starts to get tricky...

I was talking to my mentor about things related to this and he completely separated romance from love. "Romance comes and goes," he explained, "but love is built over time and endures through time, if properly worked on. " He went on, saying, "Marriages built on romantic feelings alone will quickly die. Those feelings don't last. That isn't love; it takes hard work."

Now, I know there's a difference between romance and love, but I'd never heard the contrast being made so sternly before. I've heard couples who've been married for longer than I've been alive say that the key to maintaining their marriage has been the fact that they never let the romance die, that they still do those little things to let the other person know they love each other.

I've also heard of couples who don't do any of those "special" things and still manage to make it together for decades. I guess they've had to work on it a little more.

Love should be a verb, not a noun, I know this.

But there's also something about it that makes it so special that everyone on this Earth looks for it. Think about that...everyone. Whether they admit it or not or even realize it or not. Sure, it manifests itself in other ways for some, but it all comes down to one little four-letter word.

I believe in love as a force. I believe that it can transcend time and age and distance. I do believe in soulmates, that there are those people out there meant for us and if we follow His plan, we'll find them. Or they'll find us. Or we'll find each other...however you want to say it.

It may be an old-school thought process, but I've seen it first-hand with Ryan and Holly (even if he doesn't believe in souls). I knew from very early on with them that they were getting married. God knows when and where and how and the other W's in the equation. I guess it's just up to us to trust Him and let the love -- with or without romance -- flow freely.

Inspiration?

If you're like me and have seen The Dark Knight more than once, then you've probably noticed the trailer for The Watchmen, an adaptation of a graphic novel. (Think Sin City, but with superheroes.) I bring it up because, while I'm not yet sold on the movie, I loved the fact that they played Smashing Pumpkins' The Beginning is the End is the Beginning as the music. There's something about that song that makes it fit perfectly with a movie that has apocalyptic subtexts.

So, I was looking around YouTube for the song, so I could listen to it right now and I found this, from 2006:




Now, if you remember the movie trailer, it must seem a little similar no? That's what I thought too, so just to be sure, I found the Watchmen trailer, released this year:



Hmm...

Eerie coincidence?
Was inspiration taken?
Or was it blatant idea theft?

Sooo....

If you'll remember, just before Ryan's wedding, I spoke of possibly howling in celebration of the blissful ceremony. I extolled the benefits of such an action yadda, yadda, yadda...

Well, if anyone is wondering, I did not howl at said beautiful wedding. I did smile a whole lot, though. And, from the pictures that I've seen, was also able to successfully look like a swollen peep ready for Easter consumption. All the leaping for the wedding photos untucked the shirt a little more than I realized and my true, slimmer form wasn't seen by the guests. However, my other assets* were prominently displayed.

I'm sure glad I didn't howl, too.

Cause the guy who does do that, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, yea he kind of went crazy. First this happened, then this happened.

I guess he was just trying to live up to his name. If that's the case, mazeltov!




*My pants were perfect for my waist, however, i'm not built like a normal human being, so my legs were mighty tight in them, thus accentuating my buttocks and other things.



On a side note, another sad day in the "Sean's Favorite People" list. One of my favorite singers, the icon Isaac Hayes (aka Black Moses), who pretty much paved the way for music as it's done today, passed away in his home in Memphis. They found him next to his treadmill. At least he was trying to stay in shape. It comes just a day after one of my favorite comedians, Bernie Mac, passed. They say these things come in threes. I'm just praying Ernie Banks or Jim Brown or somebody isn't next...

The Rebuilding Process

Rome wasn't built in a day. Hell, it wasn't even burned down in a day, much to Nero's chagrin, I'm sure. But when it did burn down, it was rebuilt. Things might have been lost in the fire, the oldest library known to man at the time might have gone up in the blaze, but they still rebuilt. They went on.

They persevered.

God is faithful.