The One about ELO and the McAllisters.

Day #2 isn't even over yet and I feel mentally exhausted. Confessing that my mind is already running on empty is extremely embarrassing for me. It's kind of like exercise. When you stop going to the gym, it's hard to exercise for extended periods of time without becoming winded. I haven't exercised my brain or even my free thought on a routine basis. When I started writing on Day #1, I took off like a bat out of hell, (Meatloaf pun entirely intended). I knew I should have paced myself.

In order to keep myself from getting writer's block, I thought I would journal some more random thought from my solitary confinement.

Earlier this morning, as I woke up, I noticed through the curtains that the sun had not yet risen. I quickly jumped out of bed, grabbed my cigarettes and lighter, and headed outside to watch the sun rise. That would've been fine and dandy except as I opened the front door, I was greeted with cool air and an overcast sky. "That's why it looked like the sun hadn't risen yet", I thought to myself, "The clouds are blocking the sun's rays." Regardless, it felt nice this morning to step out into the arms of a mild and temperate Mother Nature. I sat down on the sidewalk and surveyed the teal colored sky all around me. I crossed my arms over my knees and finished my nicotine breakfast, slowly.

Aside from everything else, it's been AMAZING having the week off from Starbucks. Don't misunderstand me, I LOVE working at Starbucks, but sometimes I need some solitary confinement to...Think about things and survey things I normally wouldn't notice on a busy day.

Wait, I take that back. That isn't true because I notice and memorize every detail of people, places and things that intrigue me, no matter how busy I am.

Would it be safe to say that sometimes I just need a break from the world? I don't even know if that's a true statement because I'm not trying to get away from the world. I love the world and the people in it. But being alone brings on a feeling of weightlessness that can only be matched during deep sea diving or space travel, I'm sure. Being alone allows me to freely get in touch with my ridiculous and irresponsible side because I'm only accountable for one person when I'm alone.

Myself.

A perfect example of the irresponsible behavior I partake in when I'm alone was showcased earlier. I ditched my writing for a few hours so I could listen to Electric Light Orchestra while I pondered the meaning of life for the millionth time, today. This is what happens when thought is able to roam, free-range style. Lost in free thought, I humored myself by trying to guess which of my friends could possibly be hiding a secret love for ELO and staring out into complete oblivion.

I can't put my finger on what it is about ELO that puts me in a trance-like state, freezing me so I can't stop listening to their wonderful, catchy songs. Watching ELO music videos today, I can definitely see where the FLIPs get a big portion of their influence. Maybe that's why I like ELO so much? No matter what the reasons are behind my love for experimental spacey music, I salute them. The music serves as the perfect soundtrack to my irresponsibility, distracting me from focusing on work and from feeling guilty for doing nothing except enjoying radical amazing-ness.

I also have to take my hat off to the idea of voluntary, solitary confinement. (I stress the word voluntary as I have no desire to be arrested and forced into solitary confinement.) Being alone has its perks outside of simply allowing me more time to work. It gave me the opportunity to nerd out in privacy and exercise my free thought. I got to do it in my pajamas too, and no one cared.

I wonder if this is how Kevin McAllister felt when his family left him home alone, twice.

Really?
What are the odds of accidentally leaving your bratty, smart-mouth kid at home by himself while you go on vacation....

Twice?

Analyzing the parenting skills of the McAllisters is a perfect example of the ridiculous behavior I partake in when I'm alone.