The End of an Era?

My car died today.

I'm taking it pretty well, I'd say.

It was a teal Ford Escort, which served me well for the two years I drove it, but I never felt like it was "my car". I never felt I could love it, and care for it, and roll it into my identity. In fact, it was just the opposite. Often, I found myself apologizing for it, neglecting it, and feeling as if it was simply just a transport from point A to point B, as bland as white bread and water. Ultimately, that's what a car is for, I suppose; it just needs to get you from one place to the other -- that's bare minimum.

Now, I realize that I've been extremely lucky with cars, and that there's plenty of people out there that don't have vehicles and get along fine without them. Well, I'm not those people.

For me, a car is essential, I need it for my job, for my social life, and for my sanity. There's nothing more lyrical to me than an open road and a full tank of gas -- ten times a day, I'd trade anything to be in that situation. Maybe that says something about our culture, and I could spend hours dissecting the love affair between America and its cars, but I wont go into that, I'll just say this: "If the shoe fits: wear it."

The bottom line is that I want a car I can care about, something that I've bought with my hard-earned cash, something that I choose, not something that was handed down to me. Really, it's a rite of passage. It's about growing up.

And that's why I'm not too upset about it at this point. Yes, maybe I'm only looking at the sunny side of this and haven't fully grasped the consequences and financial impact this will have on me, but I do know this:

It's the end of the Escort era...

[I will survive]

Half the fun is getting there.

I'm just going to go ahead and term the entire trip as "the unintentional exploration of parts of Illinois and Indiana".

Such was my journey to the Farm.

I embarked from the fair Grand Rapids at around 6:30 in the evening, for, that is when I had finished with my work for the day.

The sun was high and golden, and there wasn't a cloud in sight. It was a beautiful time to be on the road.

The weather continued like this for the duration of the Michigan leg as I traveled South down the I-196 corridor. It was slow and calm and peaceful. My music of choice was the Elizabethtown soundtrack (specifically designed for such a trip) and I believe there was some Arcade fire in there as well.

Rounding the tail-end of Lake Michigan, I now found myself in Indiana, and a bladder full of raspberry tea, and so, a quick stop in Porter was in order to take care of the problem.

The pumps were packed, as was the giant warehouse of illegal fireworks across the street (let's think about that for moment). I parked my car and, while walking inside, spied one of those creepy, idiotic motorcyclists that still thinks Easy Rider is "liek teh best movie evar!1!!" Yeah, those guys. I wish I carried more random weapons in my car to appear more intimidating, but, I suppose that's what the New York accent is for.

My point is that you havent' really stared danger int he face until you've pulled over for gas at a truck stop in Indiana.

Moving along now, having missed my exit, I find myself in the thick of construction, and searching for a way out. Enter the iPhone, my trusty little electronic map (that requires batteries to use it. more on that later...) I use the iPhone to fine myself an alternate route.

Indiana 394 as it was just drifting into twilight. Ah, beauty. Rolling stones compelemented the setting sun perfectly, and a smoky-voiced Norah Jones took me through the maroon and deep purple of the dusk. This combination mixed with the country breezes wafting through the open windows and you have perfection, magic, enchantment, so much so, that I missed my road... again.... while I was taking this picture... like an idiot...

To be fair, this being the Illinois countryside and all, the road wasn't exactly labeled.

It was, however, only a few minutes after I passed these towers that I realized I was lost for that was when I saw the sign welcoming back to Indiana. Curses.

I looked down at my traitorous phone, trying to parse the necessary information to right my course, and when I looked up, all had gone dark, and I entered the woods. For just a moment, I was tempted to run my car into the ditch, fearing I'd just entered a waking nightmare and Freddy Kreuger would be showing up at any moment.

But I suppressed that, and promptly turned around (cursing, of course) and drove back. Then, I took the picture on the left, and made my proper turn. Then, my phone died.

So, I had to pull out the ol' sextant and chart my way home using the stars.

I made it to my destination, of course, but now, I have scurvy.

I can only hope my trip back is as eventful.

Cheers,

[Wouldn't it be nice if we were older? Then we wouldn't have to wait so long]

The Findings of the Day - 6/28

Just one noteworthy finding today, it is, however, of utmost importance.

#1

Seashells are the ultimate way to tell someone, "I'm sorry for your loss."

According to 50% of the bereavement cards at Rite Aid.

I don't really get it. "Sorry about your friend's passing -- here's some things I dug up at the beach!"

Perhaps seashells are made of pure sympathy. Though, I couldn't find any information to back that up on seashellafficianado.com...

Weird. Just weird.

[But my eyes: they don't see. They don't see the way they used to.]

The Findings of the Day or Stephen Slowly Discovers the World

#1

Refried beans are quickly becoming my new tomato soup, that is, my go-to bachelor food of choice. I do put a little taco cheese and Newman's salsa in there to make it gourmet.

Look at the bachelor. See how he makes food from a can. He is a man. A single man.

#2

Mexican coke is the tops. Granted, I found this out a long time ago, I just picked now to share it with you. It's also the recommend complement to a refried bean/tortilla chip entree. I looked it up on refriedbeanafficianodo.com.

#3

In the event of an explosion, diving underwater at the right moment can save your life. Thanks, Mythbusters.

#4

"The protagonist is the character who suffers the most"... Thanks, Michael.

Via : John August

#5

When I apply myself and stretch my creativity, I can accomplish anything. Conversely, when I DON'T apply myself, I sit on the couch, eating refried beans, drinking Mexican Coke, and watching Mythbusters re-runs.

Oh, discovery.

[I have never envied folks with money -- millionaires don't get along so well]

Crawling back

Ok, my original twitter account, you've got me. You keep bringing me back to you....

I wish I knew how to quit you.


[Allow me to reintroduce myself]

New Splash Site

Stephen Pell: "Greatest Hits Vol. 1"

Oh, the wonders of social networking.

Actually, this turned out pretty spiffy. A very easy to use site with a nice, crisp flair to it. It's also a great way to keep all of your sites on one page for easy navigation.


It's also a great way to streamline your shameless self-promotion.

errrrgh...


[swim to reach the end]

Run

Tomorrow morning, I will run.

Oh yes, a run, shall I take. I have my music, and my shorts, and my shoes, and my will.

And so, tomorrow morning, when I wake up, I will turn off my alarm, put on my shoes, and run.

For twenty (20) minutes, if necessary!

And the next morning, I will run again. Body aching, body hating me, body broken (that's a little dramatic), I will run again.

And the next next morning, when my mind just isn't feeling it, and my legs burn, I will run again, because, it's what I will do.

Tomorrow morning, I will run.


[Sooner or later, God'll cut ya down]

Han F. Solo

"If I could be anyone else besides me, I would be Han Solo".

You know it.

Han Solo is a badass, let's get that out in the open right now, because it's essential to the rest of the argument.

(granted, with the previous statement alone, I could parry any counter-argument leveled at me, but I'd prefer to expound upon my aforementioned original hypothetical identity swap.)



When I was just a young boy, I wanted to be Luke Skywalker. Can you blame me? After all, Luke is the protagonist, and yes, he was whiney, but so was I at the age of three -- I could identify. Don't get me wrong, Luke is an all-around nice guy, certainly someone you'd want to be friends with (Han was his friend), even family (Han marries Leia), and besides, Luke blows up the friggin' Death Star, so he's got to get some points there.

Then, he becomes a Jedi, and fights a bunch of people and becomes a wise old Jedi Master and blah, blah, blah.... The Jedi parts of the books always bored me, (there's much less lightsaber-fighting than you'd think) and by the time I actually started reading the books, I was over Luke anyways.

But, he'll always hold a place in my heart...



Then along came Boba Fett.

All throughout my formative High school years, I was enamored with Mr. Fett. His armor, the fact that he's a bounty hunter, he's popular with the ladies... It all seems to add up to the perfect life to covet, but is it really?....

I came to find out, as we all did, that Boba was wearing two suits of armor, one for his body, and one for his heart. You see, Boba, as a lad, watched as his father was cut down by the powerful Jedi, Mace Windu (never wanted to be him) and for the rest of his days, he lived with that weight upon his shoulders. What an awful burden to live with. That's probably what drove him to become a cold, heartless bounty hunter (plus, he already had the armor, and the weapons, and the ship, and the... same DNA), and yeah, it would be cool to be Boba for a moment, as he swoops through the air with a jet pack, blowing away a bunch of lowlifes for money, but at the end of the day, who does Boba go home to? Who makes him his favorite Salmon dish and listens while he tells them about his day? Who stays up late with him to watch Seinfeld reruns on the couch?

No one.

So, for all those wishing they were Boba Fett: Even lone wolves get lonely sometimes...



This brings us to Han.

Han is a badass (as previously stated), he shot (first) Greedo, he helped blow up the Death Star (twice), and he makes out with the hottest girl in a gold bikini this side of Alderaan (which has no sides... since it's gone). He's lived a wonderful life, full of many daring exploits, friendship, love, and happiness.

He's also a scoundrel, and that's the best unintentional compliment you can ever get when you're a bit of a self-involved asshole at times. I mean, who doesn't want to be known to his friends as, "kind of a scoundrel"?

I know I do, which is why:


"If I could be anyone else besides me, I would be Han Solo".


[Jolene, I ain't 'bout to go straight; it's too late.]

Rawesome... a brand new word

The definition is as follows:.

(Do yourself a favor and watch it full-screen)



Somebody get Webster on the phone...



[Last night, I had a dream about you]

And so...

I didn't get the job I was hoping for.

And, I found out this information over a week ago. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I was planning the many ways to compose this post, and I feel that I'm best prepared to write it now, this far afterwards.

For, you see, though I did not get the job of Director's Assistant, I still got a job as an Office PA, which is still loads of cool, after all, I've got paid work until the end of September, and, I'm makin' a freakin' movie! I'd be an absolute fool to complain.

Yeah, when I found out the news, there was that part of me that felt bitter and jealous, and the part that felt depressed because "this was my one big shot, and it will never come again!", but then I punched that part in the face. After all, this PA gig is an amazing opportunity in itself. Everyone in the state wants to get on this show, and I'm one of the lucky few who's been honored to be among the chosen.

This is going to be a great (work filled) summer, I can taste it.

And none of this would've even happened if it weren't for my friend, Paula, who's the main reason I was even considered -- in any aspect -- for a job on this film, but what do you expect?She is the coolest person in the industry today, if you haven't heard.

Bottom line. I'm very happy, and I'm glad things worked out this way. Now, I'm going to go fix mah bike.

cheers,

[All you ever wanted was someone to treat you nice and kind]