Pull my finger, you'll live longer

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go... actually, Megabus' small print says passengers are only allowed one suitcase each, so I'm still trying to jam two bags worth of stuff into one before I take off for New York City tomorrow morning. Maybe I'm not worrying about packing so much because I don't want to feel like I'm moving permanently. But, I probably am. Uh. Being in Rochester at home with my family has spoiled me. They're crazy about me here. Now I have to face not only outsiders in "the real world," but New Yorkers, and they're a tougher crowd. This is something I've wanted for a long time, and just the thought of the noises and smells and smorgesbord of different people and places is enough to make my heart go pitter-pat. Ever since graduating from college dawned on me, I've been spending large portions of my time analyzing my life, my family, my goals- and it's not all about me, I think about society and the world in general, sometimes. And while this chronic sentimentality is beautiful and all, now it's time to start doing stuff. Just one last philosophical gem before the action starts. An older but arguably not wiser friend recently said something in passing that thoroughly surprised me, coming from her. I'd likely heard a similar sentence hundreds of times before but at that moment, it caught my attention. We were talking about failed relationships, and she announced "I don't care what he looks like or how much money he makes, I just want a guy who makes me laugh. That's all that matters." Well said, girlfriend. If a person makes you laugh- be it friend, lover or family- it makes everything better. Life is unbearably short, and there's really no time to waste being unhappy. So no matter where you're heading or been, regardless of the emo, existential crisis phase I'm, or whoever, is going through... always be around people who can squeeze a nice big laugh out of you. Plus, I heard on the radio that it helps prevent heart disease:)

Riding the dangerous wind

The quarter-life crisis. So much to do...so little time. I'm moving to New York City in a couple of weeks and the idea of starting my adult life has been freaking me out. Deciding between acting classes and interning, applying for jobs and setting up interviews has me on-edge and out of whack. But this post is inspired by what I've realized just a few moments ago- I should only be so lucky that my biggest worry is which path to choose for myself- which adventure to go on next, how to make a name for myself after graduating college- I have no restrictions or obligations right now. I am free. At least for now. And starting now, I will take advantage of my advantage and do anything and everything to get to where I want to be figuratively, no matter where I am literally. It seems like this quarter-life crisis is striking a lot of people my age, but like a Chinese proverb says "a crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind." Besides sounding like a magic carpet in a sand storm, the crisis metaphor does hold true. Growing up and moving on is rough but also exhilirating, and I'm starting to see that anxiety can work wonders when channeled into creativity and action. I mean, I started a blog for goodness sake. Looking for a cure for post-college woes? Move. Do things. Explore. And if you're so inclined, get a job. But take it easy. I'm starting with the basics. Going to NYC. I've been enfatuated with the Big Apple forever, and going that is the only thing that feels right, right now. For today, that's enough.

And the beat goes on...

My dream of lounging on the beach in Australia has been crushed. Not because my competitors had better videos and not because of any lack of qualifications on my part, but simply because Tourism Queensland's computer systems could not support the massive amounts of applications they received. I was told there was nothing I could do, even though I uploaded my video on two occasions well before the Feb. 22 deadline. My anger and frustration quickly turned to productivity as I registered an account on CNN's iReport and posted my video and my complaint for the world to comment on. Lots of friends and Facebook-acquaintances left me kudos and encouragement, but surprisingly, I heard from no one else that had suffered similar circumstances to mine. The mass e-mail I received had said 4,000 people lost out on their chance at The Best Job in the World on the final day alone. So I figured I'd be greeted by a slew of other distraught travel journalist hopefuls who would view my video, comment and boost my ranking until CNN had no choice but to air my piece and shame Tourism Queensland. I mean how do you hold a competition with a prize of $100K during a devastating world-wide recession and not prepare for tens of thousands of applicants? As I mentioned in my post at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-218526, in the end, Australia is the real victim of this fiasco. My video is creative, fun, and a definite contender amid the mass of web-cam creations featuring snorkel-masks and fish tanks. My original goal after hearing the bad news was to gain so much attention for my misfortune, that Tourism Queensland would appreciate my resourcefulness and allow me to resubmit my application. But the response I've gotten from family, friends and people I hardly know has given me the ego boost I needed to dust myself off and get back to planning new ideas for videos, trying new things, chasing my dreams. Below I've uploaded my first travel package about Syracuse, New York. Where will I travel to next? What new endeavor will I pursue? I change my mind daily, thanks to all who understand that and support me as I keep searching for happiness, and my very own Best Job in the World.