how about love?

How do you measure a year in the life?

So I've been listening to Weezer's Red Album and there's this song on there, "Get Dangerous" and it just reminds me of all the stupid shit I used to do. Growing up in suburbia, my homeslices and I didn't have many things around here to entertain ourselves with. So we would take to terrorizing the neighborhood for plain old shits and giggles. We did just about every silly shenanigan imaginable. Since our two feet would be our main form of transportation, you often found us at the shopping center, playing around in Rite Aid or the grocery store. Doing stupid stuff like racing in shopping carts, etc. It was basically our version of getting dangerous. And I loved it. I miss being carefree.

Today I read an article on CNN about the government SNAP program (aka Food Stamps). Did you know that the most food stamp money a person can get per month is a maximum of $176? Try splitting that up, day by day. It's just a little over $6 per day to eat off of. $6 might not be that hard to eat a few meals off of...but $6 to eat healthy, nutritious meals...that might be a problem. We wonder why 1 out of 3 kids in the U.S. is overweight or obese...look at their average family income... I will bet that most of the time, they are from families with an income below average.

I'm lucky to have been born into a privileged life, but sometimes when I read stories of disadvantage and struggles, it just makes me so heartbroken. Almost every news story on CNN's front page has been depressing as of late, with the poor economy and all. People losing their six-figure annual salaries and scrambling to get hired at thier local Kohl's for a part-time retail job that pays $8-13/hour. It's not like they chose to get fired, shit happens to the best of people too.

Some shady guy approached me last week at a gas station asking me for a couple bucks. Sure, he was shady, and there was the very high possibility he was also an alcoholic looking to feed his addiction. And yet...I know some may call me an 'enabler', but when I'm approached by people like that, I can't help but wonder...what if...what if...you really just need a couple bucks for gas...to get home, to get to your job, to feed your family? So I gave him a couple bucks. Was I a sucker? Possibly... I just don't like to make judgements or decisions based on someone's appearance or impression...there can always be a back story to everything. I guess that's just my way of saying that I choose to believe in the good of people...

I'm not sure what else to say...except to end this on a happier note...I totally watched Gossip Girl tonight. I can't express how much I secretly love that show. The manipulation, the ridiculous behavior, the juicyness of it all...it makes for good entertainment.
Oh, and I watched the Super Bowl this weekend! I was rooting for the Cardinals...not like I'm a real fan, but because they were the underdogs and no one else in my house was on their side. They played a good game though, gotta give them that...and a 100 yard sprint to touchdown? Baller.