Paris

I ended up in Paris in two Februaries over the course of four years. The two weeks I spent there render my heart broken to this day and unable to forsake the romantic ideals that pervade my conscious.

It’s impossible to say whether I was in love with Jackson or whether I was in love with Paris itself. During my first visit I was barely a teenager at fourteen, incapable of understanding what it meant to hurt and what it meant to love someone else to the point of one’s own destruction. Over three years I received e-mail and snail mail and post cards from far away places that I wished I could go- it could have been wanderlust, or it could have been missing him; it felt the same. There wasn’t a single moment when I forgot, one day he’ll come home. But this was no longer his home. I viewed it as a kidnapping, as a forced act of abandonment, despite him having no say in the matter of leaving this place for that one- still he was leaving me. My body remained where it had always been, but my heart has never returned. Still.

My home was never special- my home was lacking. His home was beautiful and romantic, history and allure through every threshold. His home had become the stations of the Métro, the Boulangerie with the chocolate croissants and sesame baguettes his mother sent him out to buy, and the foggy rows and rows of graves inside the guarded walls of Père Lachaise. My heart became lost among the dead there, and on the cobblestones my spirit lay down to rest.

New loves I find can’t compare to the love I had in Paris. No song I hear is as beautiful as songs heard while we walked beside the Seine and through the neighborhoods he knew, where no one else went. On rainy days, I can still smell Paris. I can smell the wet stone buildings, the dampness of my clothes that I had to change out of back at his place to warm up again. I can still smell the laundry detergent he used in the apartment, and I see the long hallway to the living room, shadows asleep on the wooden floor between doorways, and lazy winter light coming through the French windows in his bedroom. When it snows, the first few snowflakes that touch me return me to La Défense and the Grand Arch, and his voice in my ear saying, “I’ve hardly ever seen it snow it Paris! It must be special because you’re here…”.

Inside the walls of La Cathédrale de Notre-Dame I questioned God as I walked hand in hand among the candles with my lover, and we were young; we clung to one another like the frozen blades of grass on the lawn behind the Nave. We stopped on the corner across the street and bought cups of warm spiced wine that filled us with heat and desire for a closeness that can’t be expressed in words or writing or song. Since then I have not experienced a desire so strong and I ache to feel it again.

I have never felt as heavy and light simultaneously as I did walking down endless winding streets and through the quiet halls of the Louvre. I felt weightless with the breath of an infant love I held in my lungs until I could no longer bear it, weighed down with the imminence of my departure and journey back over the cold Atlantic, caught between ocean and stars.

Paris in the summer, Paris without him, was like making love with a stranger- everything thing looked different and yet somehow felt painfully, exactly the same. Every breath felt too big in my lungs, all the trees were green and vibrant colors flooded my eyes like a brand new world, the sun glittered on the water in the Canal Saint Martin- and the quiet heartbeat of our winter was like that of a dying child in my arms. It was too young to die but too weak to survive; starving, thirsty- but I could not let it die. I cannot let it die.

All photos by Joni Hayward

Photo 1: View of the Eiffel Tower from Île des Cygnes (former island) in the Seine

Photo 2: A grave in Père Lachaise Cemetery, 20^th arrondissement,

Photo 3: French windows in Jackson's apartment, Avenue de Wagram,

17th arrondissement

Hannah's Obsession

Run

Obsession is a word that indicates admission, almost shame, but not all obsessions are bad. For example my sister obsesses about her teeth, brush, floss, mouthwash, everyday, twice-a-day at least. I too have a healthy obsession—running. I wake up in the morning and fall asleep at night wondering when and where I will run. I see people run by as I make my way to class and wonder who they are, how much they run, where are they coming from, where are they going, are they training for something or just out for their fix of endorphins. I am not alone, ask any runner. Usually my obsession is enjoyable. After all, I would not be obsessed if it were something I hated; however, when I can not run is the only time I wished I were not obsessed with it. Every runner, or athlete, or human, has his fair share of injuries as I do right now which makes me wish my thoughts were consumed by something else. The less I run, the more I think about running.

When I can run, my thoughts are always indecisive about where and how far. Should I run up Green Mountain, along the Mesa Trail, up Sanitas, on the creek path, Bear Peak, South Boulder Peak, Shadow Canyon, etc.? When I am injured I suddenly realize that running lets me connect with the outdoors in a way nothing else can. I have seen bears, coyotes, hundreds of deer, hawks, eagles, owls, wild turkeys, and the beautiful flora that decorate the borders of the path. From beautiful beaches to rainforests to mountain trails to farm roads to urban streets, one can never be bored with the sights and sounds outside. I never listen to music when I run and do not even wear sunglasses because I feel like it takes away from the simplicity and connection to my surroundings. I have never understood people who would rather run inside on a treadmill. Riding a bike is fine, but I’m not a cyclist, nor is it legal, to bike on the trails I can run on. Also, I am not a mountain biker and prefer to ride on the roads, which means you have to ride for a much longer time in order to get the equivalent of a run. Hiking can be pretty close to running in terms of the outdoor interaction, but it also takes longer and, with my current injury, it is just as painful. Do not get me wrong though, cycling and hiking can be just as difficult, just as good exercise as running, but ultimately they are not running.

Running, for me, gains much of its appeal from my ability to control it. I am able to run as hard or easy, long or short, as I want. I am a very independent person and I do not like to rely on people. The only conflicts I have are with my own indecisiveness, but I would rather fight with myself than someone else. Most running days are not easy and I ask myself if the pain is worth it; then, like a fisherman finally reeling in the big one, I feel amazing and words cannot express the pure happiness and elation. Days like that keep every runner going, those moments when the obsession is fed and the fire burns a little stronger. Running as a sport has definitely seen a boom in popularity so there exists a plethora of information from books to blogs that consumes the time when I am sitting at home. I follow about five blogs of runners who live around town, so now that I am unable to run I can live vicariously through the ramblings of people I have never met. Reading the posts are a guilty pleasure much like watching reality TV or reading magazines. In other words, it is a waste of time. Minutes blow by that I could have used in a much more productive manner such as homework, cleaning, laundry, exercising, or running itself.

I am ready for my injury to heal, but I realize that my obsession with running is what caused it in the first place. I ignored the signs simply thinking I was being a wimp and needed to be tougher. Running, like many sports, is a little masochistic, the pain felt from an injury does not trigger any sense of pleasure. Aches are part of the game, until they get worse and you can not play any more. Similar to someone with an addiction, first comes the admission of the problem and then comes the acceptance of responsibility. As all the doctors and running magazines state, listen to your body. Hopefully I will learn to control my passion and obsession, enjoy it rather than become obliged to it. I know for a fact that I will not stop thinking about it all the time. I wish I knew how to turn off the thoughts, but unfortunately I am still looking for the switch.

(*the picture above was taken during one of my runs earlier this summer)

Lane's 1st assignment

An Afternoon Snack

“No, thank you”, I say to the large British woman towering over me, “I don’t like carrots”. The lumps in her midsection take on different shapes as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. Her wrinkly face is telling me that she is not happy. “It is snack time,” she projects, and proceeds to move the carrot even further into my face, “We all eat snack here.”

I wasn’t pleased. Not only does my mother force me to attend a summer day camp that I am far too outgrown for, but now I am having the one thing I hate forcefully shoved into my face. I try again.

“Thank you but, I’ll be okay without snack today.” This lady wasn’t budging. I sigh signaling my surrender and take the dreaded vegetable. She finally backs out of my personal space, keeping an eye on my next move. I sit there in Indian style, contemplating my options, British eyes piercing through my skin. “This is fucking stupid,” I think to myself as I continue to sit awkwardly on the floor, uneaten carrot still in hand. Where were all the damn granola bars like every other camp? I feel footsteps heading toward me through the floorboards. I spin around to face the monster again. She leans down to put her face real close to mine. “Eat. Your carrot.” My eyes begin to dart around the room, looking for an escape route. I knew one thing; I wasn’t getting out of there without a bite. I had to cave.

I stand up in front of her and take a breath of preparation. I bring the awful carrot to my mouth and let my teeth snap off a bite as a look of satisfaction begins to cross the large lady’s face. I start to chew the bite as she continues to watch me. The chewing seems to last forever and I finally struggle to swallow the orange mush. Relief washes over me and I relax as I head to the trashcan to discard the rest. A hand grabs my shoulder from behind me. I thought the one bite would be more than enough of a concession, but apparently not for this broad. “The whole thing,” she says to me with a cocked eyebrow.

I have had enough.

I snap off a second bite and begin to chew, the agitation building inside me. I look her straight in the face as I continue to chew until the bite has become the consistency of baby food. She seems pleased, until I let the saliva-y, carrot-y wad of disgusting out of my mouth and on to her brand new white Keds.

I think she’s pissed.

With no words and a rigid snarl, she marches over to the cordless phone to, I can only assume, call my mother. The conversation is quick. “Your mother will decide how to deal with you.”

Mom runs in a few minutes later, expecting the worst. “I don’t know how you raise your children, Mrs. Mitchell, but Lane has decided to spit half eaten carrots all over my feet.” The massive lady looks at my mom, surprised that she is not horrified. “Didn’t she tell you?” my mom asks confused, “Lane hates carrots.”

Lane's Intro

1. 1. My favorite course of study is art by far. Anything to do with it, but mainly the making part. They are the only classes that I have ever actually looked forward to going to. Making things just makes me feel right.

2. 2. Honestly, I have no idea. I would have to guess a high school research paper with end notes and bibliography that was about 10 pages.

3. 3. It was not really a paper….more like a screen play. It was about to twins, a boy and girl, who find their dads bong…

4. 4. I love conversation. So I love to write screenplays or stories that are focused on the characters conversations.

5. 5. I am reading “The Help” right now. I wanted to read it before I see the movie. It hits a little close to home….New Orleans hasn’t changed much from those times.

6. 6. This is hard considering they change all the time. Writer wise, I would have to say Kevin Smith. His one-liners are priceless. As far as visual art, right now I am very interested in Eva Hild, a ceramicist who sculpts huge organic ocean-like figures.

7. 7. Almost all of my main interests have to do with art, so besides anything art related, my dogs would be my main interest.

8. 8. I recently read an article somewhere about three men who had recently ran out of pot. They decided it would be a good idea to smoke some of the local plants outside of their home instead of giving their trusty dealer a call. These three 26 year olds just happened to pick up one of the most poisonous plants in the area and smoked it just as if it was their friend MaryJane, although the side effects were not the same. I have to say, its hard for me to feel bad for them, but may they rest in peace. It's things like this that really make me question America's future.

9. 9. Red Rocks. Every time.

10. 10. As shitty as Hurricane Katrina was, it has definitely shaped who I am.

11. 11. It may seem selfish at times but, do you. Nothing can be achieved when your not happy with who you are and what your doing. So, do everything you can to make that possible.

Ruvini's Introduction

1. My favorite course in college would be my creative writing class which is strange considering I don't enjoy writing. This was my favorite class because the professor really cared about each individual student and their writing style and writing ability. He truly wanted to help us improve and did so using interesting writing exercises and tell stories about his experience in the writing world and traveling.

2. The longest paper I have written was 5 pages. It was a research paper in my high school British Literature class. I can't remember what it was about however.

3. My favorite paper was on the book Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I read this book in my World Literature class. I enjoyed it because I got to pick the book and analyze it without feeling like it was work. The topic of the paper was balance and how the author, Lisa See, was able to use this theme with characters, situations, memories, and sentences structure in her writing. This paper was the first paper that I felt proud to turn in.

4. I love to write reviews of art exhibitions, food, dance recitals, and cultural events. Though I don't enjoy writing because I want more movement to be involved, I am interested in writing reviews because they involve interacting with other people and experiencing something different and experimental.

5. I took 11 credits this summer so sadly I was reading textbooks all summer. The last book that I was reading...and am still reading is A Tale of Two Cities. A book that I would like to read soon is The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

6. Jane Austen is a writer that really impresses me because of her timeless writing and ability to portray the complicated feelings and situations of the women and men she writes about. Jane Austen has been my favorite author since I was in 9th grade and every time I re-read her works I don't feel bored and can keep experiencing something new or understand a character better.

7. I am a MCDB (Biology) and Studio Art major. One of my major interests is working to improve the medical systems for orphans both in the U.S. and around the world. I am planning on going to medical school and then going anywhere that feels right.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

Life n 'trash land' is an photo slideshow and article showing the photography and work of Jose Ferreira in the Hulene garbage dump in Moputu, Mozambique. This article inspired me because next summer I am planning on going to Kenya to work with orphans. This is an article I'm reading that inspired me for my next print in printmaking with the theme trophies. For the people of the Hulene garbage dump every piece of trash and recycled material is a trophy in the sense that it is a means of living another day and eating another meal.

9. A cultural event that inspired me was going to the drive-in with my family for the first time. I have been to the drive-in in Ft. Collins multiple times with my friends, but never with my family. My cousins were over so there was about 20 of us. When a group of Sri Lankans get together we always have Sri Lankan food and snacks. My mom surprised me by pulling out two coolers full of Sri Lankan foods such as vada (fried split pea dough, chilies, curry powder, turmeric, onins, and coriander) , cadala (spiced chickpeas with onions), thothal, and dry rubbed chicken curry. I had been at school all summer and was surprised to remember that when Sri Lankans get together there is always enough food for twice as many people as have gathered. It is interesting that no matter how poor a Sri Lankan family is they always eat abundantly, even if it means rice, dahl, and malung. This re-birth of my own culture made me proud to be Sri Lankan and get to experience different foods and relax with my family.

10. A non-cultural event that has effected me would be hanging out with my transfer students this weekend and learning about their families, lives, and dreams. I find that each individual has so much to offer and a beautiful story to share behind the masks that sometimes are put on for the fast paced lifestyles we live.

11. A thought that has widened my idea about life was something one of my friends told me the other day when I was worried about my future and what was in store for me. Sometimes I can be a little...maybe a lot a bit of a control freak and I had details of my future planned. She told me I don't need to worry about where I'm going to go or what I'm going to do, but that I just need to be open to the future. I just need to allow it to happen and try my hardest to overcome the trials and obstacles that come my way in order to open all possible doors to the future. When the time comes for my future to be decided as long as I have opened the doors to possible paths I can't be unhappy with the outcome. what open means to me

Hannah Green Introductions

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

My favorite course of study has by far been art, both studio and art history. Despite having only taking the first studio class, I love it. I am the type of person who does better under deadlines and tasks. Making art just for myself is something that I can never justify the time for it has to be for someone or something. I also enjoy dipping my feet into different mediums and processes that I wouldn’t learn otherwise. Art history is one of those subjects that I will be perpetually learning about until I die. In my family, art is always a topic of conversation. My dad has this insurmountable knowledge about art history that I hope I will have someday.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

16 pages including endnotes and bibliography

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

My favorite paper was actually one I wrote in Spanish about the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon. The Tarahumara are known for their ability to run, and by run I mean distances ranging from 10k to over 100 miles.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

I particularly like research papers that involve a topic of interest. Whether directly related to the topic or not I always learn way more than I expect after sifting through so much information.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

Oh geez, it sounds horrible but I honestly have not read a book for pleasure outside of school in over a year due to a busy schedule. I do read short articles and blogs daily just no books. The last one I finished, however, was Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall and loved it. A while back I started Stories in Stone, by David Williams, which is about a discovering geological history through the stones and architecture of urban buildings.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

So many artists and writers really impress me that it is impossible to choose one. After googling some ceramic artists for my studio class I discovered the work of Nathan Craven. His pieces are so unexpected when you realize they are ceramic. The intricate, yet contemporary and modern look of his work is unlike anything I have seen recently.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

Running on the trails, never the treadmill, whether it’s 95 degress or 5 degrees I am out there…except now I have an injury and still have not mustered up the willpower to drag myself into a pool. It has been years since I actually swam laps, the last time was probably in high school. Needless to say, I am more comfortable on land.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

Recently I was reading an article about Detroit, The Future of Detroit: How to Shrink a City by Daniel Okrent and Steven Gray, because my brother and his wife relocated there last year while he is doing his residency for medical school. The article talked about how so many people have a negative connotation of Detroit that has caused the city’s population to drop drastically as a result of the economic decline. The article was interesting because it focused more on the way Detroit could be revived. By condensing the city and congregating the residents into a smaller area the city might be more appealing. Detroit literally has blocks where only one house is either inhabited or habitable by citizens. After visiting Detroit, it was interesting to see all the entrepreneurial businesses that are thriving in smaller, peripheral communities such as Royal Oak and Ferndale, while the actual center of Detroit proper only has skyscrapers and offices. The city has the potential to be resurrected so long as people are willing to change and reconvene to make a community.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

Not exactly recent, but last summer I went to Lady Gaga’s concert in Denver. Prior to this, I thought she was just like any other famous person doing whatever it takes to be known (I didn’t even know most of her music). Since then though I have been impressed with everything about her, from her cultural revolution of telling people it’s okay to be themselves and love themselves, to the quality of her music, and the charitable work she is constantly engaged in. She has become a cultural event herself. I would even go so far as to say she is making more of an impact on her audience than Madonna or Michael Jackson because she really focuses on her fans, or “little monsters” as she calls them, and inspiring each to be the best he or she can be. It doesn’t matter your religious, sexual, political preferences so long as you are true to yourself.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

The death of my uncle when I was in high school truly affected me. He was the uncle my siblings and I were closest to and loved the most. He died from liver failure after a drinking problem had consumed his non-working hours. Alcohol has been a struggle in the family, but his death probably saved my mom’s life. She realized her alcholoism was killing herself and the family and has been sober since his death. I look up to and appreciate everything she has done for me. As they say, through death comes life.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

The idea of being truthful has really allowed me to expand intellectually. I can not bring myself to lie about anything and therefore I don’t do anything that would ever make me consider of lying. I am always on a quest to do, write, say, what I honestly think. Although, I must admit that being kind comes before lying. After all, you don’t ever tell someone they are fat if she asks, that’s just rude.

I don't know how to post papers without losing the proper indenting and italics, so please excuse the lack of indentation and other punctuations. Anybody let me know if there is another way to post Word Docs without messing up the format. - Sierra

Sierra Weir Assignment 1

Sierra A. Weir
WRTG 3007 – 001

Taking Marie Antoinette to Heart

Everybody is infatuated with something that goes beyond basic fascination and grows into an obsession. When I was six, I had my first bowl of Lucky Charms cereal at a friend’s house. I immediately was on a five-year quest for family-sized boxes of the stuff despite my mother’s vigilant health watches. Up until last Christmas, I hadn’t seen Lucky Charms in our pantry since those glory days. My parents humorously wrapped a box in fancy paper and my obsession was revisited without being rekindled. Obsessions are like that. They are fads for your soul. For now I am consumed by a new obsession. I am obsessed with baking. More specifically, I am obsessed with baking cakes of all kinds.
I love the way a finished cake sits on its stand with a neat, regal air, channeling a courtier all dressed up in frothy buttercream instead of tulle and lace. For me, the sight of a cupcake conjures images of cartoon forest creatures frolicking around a tea party. Like I said, this is just me on this one. Desserts are far from being a basic need. However they are a necessity. I would blame my baking obsession on satisfying my sweet tooth, but baking triggers a compulsive therapeutic and meditative feeling while exercising my creativity.
I wouldn’t say that I have the “sweet thumb” for baking. I just really like to experiment and create a finished product. I began baking with my mother when I was little. She always had me roll out the cookie dough and clean the dishes afterwards. Fortunately this type of work had great upward mobility. Soon enough I was adding the ingredients into the bowls, learning about fractions and food reactions as I followed her lead. I remember my first five or so cakes always stuck to the pans even though I had used nonstick surfaces. My frostings were less smooth and fluffy and more drippy and unbearably sugary. I took Mom’s tips and read our family’s monthly Food and Wine subscription. I learned a whole lot. A pastry chef is analogous to a chemist. Food’s chemical differences combined with temperature create reactions that result in the flavor combinations people love in desserts. I now know certain flavor complements that bring out the key ingredient. Want an extra decadent chocolate cake? Add espresso. High altitude baking became my forte. I felt like a genius. I could change and adjust recipes that were tried-and-true to fit a specific want. No fairy dust is required; one has to just do it and take risks and yes, blow some money on certain ingredients that may or may not end up as a burning mess in the oven.
I don’t keep a journal anymore. Not a bound one anyway. When I was younger I liked writing down favorite quotes or records of the day. Now I daydream about desserts and different cakes that I want to bake. The imagined recipes bombard my thoughts while walking to class or flipping through magazines. I jot down made-up recipes on scraps of paper, in my notepad function on my phone, and in my binder of my go-to recipes. I’ll think of unlikely flavor combinations and add them to basic recipes. I think my worst idea was a cucumber cupcake with a lemon cream cheese frosting. It was 98 degrees at the time and cucumbers are refreshing, to my defense.
When I am feeling extra creative, I bake. When I am feeling sad, I bake a whole lot, especially with chocolate. When I am feeling health conscious, I substitute good ingredients for the bad. I like the presentation of cakes and cupcakes. I hate it when they don’t turn out the way I originally imagined them. I love giving them away to friends. Now my friends see me as quite the domesticate. Bonus: baking saves money on birthday presents and it looks like a lot of effort went into something as delicious and beautiful as a triple layer caramel birthday cake for the roommate. By the way, caramel cakes are very difficult to make, but that’s a different story.
Just yesterday I made chai cupcakes with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting. I was feeling comfortable and cozy at the time. My obsession with baking the perfect cake has turned into a series of edible diary entries. I’m not saying anything hokey like, “A dash of love, and a shake of joy” go into my baking. I have noticed that my emotions at the time determine the ingredients that I will use. I have a constant need to bake because I love using it as both a creative and emotional outlet. Incidentally my friends and family love it too. To clarify, I’m not a compulsive eater either. I just enjoy making a finished product that both others and I admire and critique. That’s the artist in me.

Hailey V.O Introduction

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

Most definitely my film classes, which is my major. More specifically, editing in Final Cut, After Effects, Photoshop all that fun stuff.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

My longest paper was 8 pages on marijuana and yes, that included bibliography. Pretty mild.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

Although it was also my hardest paper, the essay I wrote for my Nietzsche class on the philosophy of the death of God was by far my most passionate and profound paper I've written and even though I didn't get an awesome grade I still loved writing it.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

I'm not a huge fan of writing even though my mom always said I was good at it. I suppose my favorite might be poetry.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

I am obsessed with Dan Brown books. I love me a good conspiracy theory.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

Sofia Coppola. Such an inspiration as one of the few female film directors.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

You wouldn't think it by looking at me but I love competitive cheerleading. I've done it most my life until now and I really miss it.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

I stay away from the news.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

I go to a lot of concerts. I live for them. I recently went to see Incubus at Red Rocks. Concerts can be such a spiritual experience and I love that it brings so many different people together to all enjoy one thing.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

I went to rehab when I was 17. This definitely put a lot of things into perspective for me and changed me for the better.. I think.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

Recently I've been thinking a lot about how important it is to do whatever you want if it makes you happy. Even if that means going against rules or norms. The catch is that it must not effect anyone else besides you. I think that's how we should all live our lives, screw the cops, parents etc., do whatever the hell you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.