http://josserbrown.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 20, 2003
Spoken @ 8:00 pm

There's an exception to every rule,
the exception being this one.

It's also probably why Tiffani Amber Theissen shortened her name to Tiffani Theissan. That name really was way too Sorority Girls House Party 3.

Hmm, maybe the names of the eighties are synonomous with stripper monikers because these "professional dancers" are young, (sometimes) hot chicks who were born in the early eighties. Then again, I may not be an expert on stripping, but I think these names have been popular on the dancing runway for at least ten years, when our girls of the eighties were too flat-chested young to strip. This a perplexing discovery, folks.

A startling revelation: those popular first names of the eighties--- Brittany, Tiffany, Nicole, Alexis, Amber, and so on--- are the same names long popular of strippers (they especially work well in combination: "Amber Nicole to the Champagne room, please."). Face it: Generation Y was doomed at the first signature of their birth certificates.

Only on Valentine's Day could you get a nickname like that...

So what do you think of the nickname "Cuddles"?

Look above these words. Look at the maroon banner complete with photos of yours truly in posing in various emotions. Look just to the left of my face. Do you see that phrase, "The Happy Wanderer"? That would be the title of this journal. Now why would I have given an exposition of my writings and feelings such a moniker? Is it a nickname I have embraced? Is it a song lyric from my favorite musician? Is it an original assembly of words? Is it a lesson for us all?

"The Happy Wanderer" is the title of a Sopranos episode and focuses on Tony's self-revelation that he scours at other people's happiness yet so desparately yearns for what they have. He notices the upbeat, optimistic people on the street--- whom he refers to as "happy wanderers"--- and wants to strangle them for twiddling their thumbs and singing a happy tune and waving their top hat in public. Happiness comes from one's own perceptions, though, and Tony recognizes that at times he is the happy wanderer. When the joy is his to hold, he wears it on his sleeve proudly. You might be in a down mood one day, and it seems as though the streets are littered with people who could never be happier. Part of you grows envious and angry, but Tony decides that even when his day is not the brightest, he should say, "Ah, good for him," whenever he sees those people who seem to sparkle with glee. Feel good for other people's happiness even when your star is not as bright, for your time to shine will come.

I believe it was the great Arnold Schwartzennegger who once uttered that classic phrase, "I'll be back." Ah, Last Action Hero, what an incredible, poignant movie...

In the meantime, if you enjoy the stylings of Dashboard Confessional, Two Thirty Eight, Starflyer 59, and The Beatles, I would recommend looking into Galvaden. It should help pass the time. Enjoy.

My personal favorite is BSB's 9th Symphony in A minor.

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For each day that passes, thousands upon millions of people celebrate a birthday, an anniversary of their admittance into this life. On February 3, an infinite amount of households turned out their lights and presented a flaming cake to a special someone while singing that popular tune we memorized long ago. My birthday wishes go to three particular people today:

Happy Birthday, Shannon. I did not know you had a February 3 birthday until today, when I bumped into you outside the library. You were one of the first people I met at UF. You were a year older, a year wiser, and the people of Honors Ambassadors assigned you as my mentor. You arranged little socials with me and five of my fellow freshmen, where we were supposed to find a new friend and get better situated with life at college. In the end, I clicked with you the best, and you're the only one from that group I still see. You have a sophistication complemented with a youthful spunk that I admire. You're an all-around genuine girl, probably the main reason that I've never heard nor thought a bad thing about you.

Happy Birthday, Lisa. I have never actually met you in person, but I still feel a unique connection with you. You have a love for The Sopranos, and I first talked to you in a Sopranos chatroom. We had a lot of common interests, and to this day you are the only person I have ever befriended online. You are quite the strong girl, in the physical sense and in your general nature. There have been times when your powerful, determined attitude has rubbed me the wrong way, and we live polar opposite lifestyles, but you and I have talked about nearly everything, and through it all I know how wonderful you are and how successful you can become.

Happy Birthday, Jess. It's been a little over a year since I met you in New York's JFK International Airport. We were two of 39 college students on our way toward a life-changing experience in South Africa. Before our trip, I was worried that I would be the loner in the back corner of the bus, but immediately at the airport we developed our ten person click. You were my closest friend during the trip and the closest friend I still have from those two weeks last January. I hate the phone, yet we recently talked and confided for 3.5 hours, an attest to how comfortable I feel talking with you. You are definitely wilder than I am and could crack me out of my shell more often if you lived nearby. You are responsible for my fondness of Rose wine, and for that, your openness, and your energetic charm, I am forever indebted.

So this goes out to the three wonderful ladies in the back...

Happy Brithday to you.
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday, Shannon/ Lisa/ Jess.
Happy Birthday to you!

Now blow out your candles and make a wish...