Random thoughts...

[entirelyturbo]

Just need to spill this stuff so I can go to bed

I paid off my credit card!!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!

You all can answer these questions if you like:
Would you rather: Spend 3 months amongst a bunch of people, 24/7, no escaping them at all? Or would you rather spend 3 months alone, 24/7, no direct communication with anybody?

Would you rather: Take an opportunity to achieve an elevated level of existence, ultimate feeling, state of bliss, what have you, but give up everything you've ever known in your life to reach it? Or would you rather just continue on as you are now, ignoring this opportunity? (Yeah, I know, basically a "red pill or blue pill" question, but hey...

Here's the things I really, really wanna get done to my Legacy before I start school again in January:

- Get an absolute top-of-the-line paint job, all the dents fixed, have the grill and door handles painted body color, black out the chrome under the windows and on the rear taillights, new moldings, new trim around windows, chuck a rock at the windshield and get a new one, basically make the car look brand new. This is the costliest thing on my wish list, and the last after the rest of this stuff.

-Put the XT6 wheels on after the paint job.

- Rebuild/reseal the oil pump and replace the cam seals. They were leaking when I last did the timing belt and I was dumb to not replace them. Plus my engine is making a bit more noise than I'd like. Not valve tapping, just a tad bit noisy.

- Redo the A/C. New R134 hoses, rebuilt Zexel compressor (if I can get it to fit), basically a completely new R134 system instead of a retrofit.

- This big suspension project: Remove all 4 hubs and take them to a machine shop to have 4 new wheel bearings and 20 new wheelstuds pressed in. Replace the garbage Monroe struts with GR2's. Replace all 4 axles so they're all new. Remove the rear diff, replace any bushing that I can while it's apart, and reseal the diff (I think it's leaking). Take the rack off and remove as much fluid as possible, then reinstall it with new bushings (probably Whiteline), and also rebuild the JY PS pump I have and install it, having a refreshed PS system. Then have 4 brand-new rotors with fresh pads (I'm thinking mild EBC's this time around).

- Possibly redo the upholstering on my seat. It's dirty and torn while the rest are fine. Maybe, just maybe, I can get new fabric from the dealer.

- Fix the damn door locks!! My LR door lock completely conked out, I can only open the door from inside.

- Get some new stereo stuff. My head unit is old, skips sometimes over bumps. Stock speakers are good... for stockers. I'll do a mild upgrade. No box though, not into that much sound.

That should do it. The car should be good to go after all that.

I have pretty much given up on women entirely. No I'm not going gay either! I just figured, I've never had a real girlfriend, I've never had a true love, I'm practically still a virgin, twice in my life, over a year and a half ago. Let's face facts, I'm just not cut out for it. I'm not upset over it, I don't really care anymore. Life goes on.

Ok I'm tired now. Good night!

[scottzg]

I'm gonna shoot at Q#1

Over the last 6 months i have done this exact thing twice, two 3 month stints. First time i was a participant in a NOLS course. Outdoor education. I lived, cooked, learned, excersized, slept, whatever, with the same 12 people. 3 months of camping is pretty hard on the psyche (and ive been living in the woods since i was a toddler) as a result, we all grew together and, to varying degrees, loved eachother.

The second time i was with 5 other people doing work for the forest service. We lived in the same living space (2 cabins of 3 people) and worked together. Sometimes we would cook or go out together. I can't speak for the others, but i was kind of sick of them after 3 months.

I think the degree of proximity and what we do in that proximity has a large effect on how we view our fellows. In the first case, we were entirely dependant on each other and there was no way to isolate ourselves from them. You can't mask who you are. In the second case, we were unhappy to be there when we were together (at work, occupying the same living area), and we didnt depend on eachother beyond getting a ride to town. Although they were all good people, they were more of an inconvienence than comrades.

6 months ago, i would have happily been alone, I'm accostomed to a lot of space and few people. 3 months ago, i would have immersed myself in others again in a second. Now, I think either alternative is preferable to the middle road.


The last thing is that the car really isnt that important. For most people, it's a form of transportation. For us on the bbs, it's a hobby. Just a hobby. It's great if it purrs and has shiny paint, but do we really need that, in the hunter-gatherer sense of the word?

[BAC5.2]

Q #1 - Like Scott said, it all depends on the people. If I have things in common with them, I could deal. I've been planning on doing a NOLS course or something one summer, I have just yet to get around to it. If your life depends on your ability to get along with people, then you'll get along just fine. If your life DOESN'T depend on them, and you DO have time away from them, it's fine.

Personally, I'd be happy if my roommate here at school would have never shown up.

Q #2 - Depends on what I'd be giving up. If I had to give up family, friends, and everything I've known, loved, and earned in my lifetime, then why would I want to do that? I find happiness, love, and self actualization with those things as a part of my life and as a part of both my past and present. I don't think I would be willing to give EVERYTHING up to acheive a vision of higher existance. Once I saw that vision, who would be there to back me up?

All the stuff you plan on doing sounds pretty sweet. I'd like to list everything I want to do, but I'm sure you'd all get bored by the 3rd or 4th page

Don't give up on women permanantly. Take a break, sure, but I've always found that you find it when you least expect it. You've gotta be happy and content by yourself to be able to allow someone else to love you and allow yourself to love. You DEFINATELY find love when you least expect it. It happened to me.

[tris91ricer]

YUP. I'm with phil on the love thing..

and if your cousin's hit it first, then you know she's the woman for you. (does that sound southern, or what?)
Anyway, yeah, when you 'give up' on women, or quit looking/trying is when you need to keep on keepin' on.. be the natural pimp that you are.. I've seen your movies.. you a pimp. what's your game, playa? You got game? No? well, that might be it.. you gotza have G.A.M.E.
Girls Are Man's Everything. Ok, i just made that up, but the point is, find some confidence, go up, and start talking. What's the worst that could happen? She turns you down. Its even quicker if she's brutal about it.. but you gotta maybe get yourself an image, (i know you's a geek) and roll with something your style.. heck, do what i do --be a prick. You know why girls like those asshat guys? Cause they're high profile. They stick out. And behind closed doors, they're just as insecure as you. Girls like that insecure part. (that whole being needed thing) So be an asshat, and find yourself a friend first. If you and her can be 'best friends' before ANYTHING else, then you know you're ok. Look for that instead of creating a high-pressure situation on yourself by going on a million 'dates'.. hehe, dating.. what a trip!
Good luck.. and BTW, congrats on paying off the card.. good step, cause real pimps have houses, they don't rent.

just my dollar and 15 cents, playa.

-=tristan

[evolutionmovement]

Q1 - Barring my ex, there's no one I could stand for that long. I'd much rather be alone, no question. Hell I drove cross country for a few weeks alone and loved it. I don't care to know other people as much as myself and you learn alot that way.

Q2 - I don't know about enlightnement, but I suppose I'd have nothing to lose by giving up the shit that is my life now. I guess I'd lose all the pain from my past, too, so that can't be bad. Still I don't want to be enlightened if that means always peaceful and passive, acting like some kind of hippie turn-the-other-cheek shit or something. I still want the ability to take people out if required.

Steve

[entirelyturbo]

Take a break, sure, but I've always found that you find it when you least expect it.

Phil, please don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to be a jerk, but you've only told me what every person I've ever talked to has already told me 12,354,866 times. This might work for some people, but it doesn't for others.

I'm serious. I'm not taking a break, I'm not putting on a show to see if it gets me any attention, and then a piece of ass. I give up. Permanently. Period.

Put Anna Kournikova butt-ass naked in front of me right now, and I will tell her to get lost. That's right.

I look at it the same way as I look at my Calculus class. I'm just not cut out for it. The person that I am just doesn't have the ability to comprehend Calculus, no matter what I do. Likewise, the person that I am just doesn't have the ability to attract women. I don't make myself stand out, I don't kiss people's asses, I don't like the idea of being around someone constantly.

I'm not upset about it, it does kinda make things a bit glum for the future, but why should I bitch and moan about something I can't change? I'm in a perfectly good mood right now, because I'm not letting the idea of being alone bother me.

Which kinda leads into the other part of the discussion. I have to agree with Steve, and he's the only person I've seen come up with that answer. I can't think of anyone on this earth that I'd spend 3 months straight with. I find myself to be complicated enough, so just getting to know who I am is a challenge enough If I had the means, I would definitely drive cross-country by myself, and enjoy every minute of it.

I'd give up everything for the enlightened existence too. I didn't necessarily mean peaceful, just having a better awareness of what's going on around you than the rest of the world. If that means eliminating those that stand in your way, then by all means...

91legacy_sleeper, I can't say I appreciate the way you added to the discussion, it made you look very immature. It didn't even really make sense to me.

[BAC5.2]

I'd be willing to drive across country by myself, but I could stand to be around the same people (assuming that I don't hate them) for 3 months. I have this innate ability to ignore people when I don't feel like listening to them.

Sorry you've given up on women. As long as your happy, that's all that really matters. Fuck everyone else.

And I'm with Steve, I like not being a puss. If being enlightened turns me into a pushover, then screw that.

[evolutionmovement]

Yes! Celebrate the asshole within!

Welcome to your places as High Priests in the Evolution Movement.

Steve

[scottzg]

I look at it the same way as I look at my Calculus class. I'm just not cut out for it. The person that I am just doesn't have the ability to comprehend Calculus, no matter what I do

This quote makes me sad.

I hope nobody is confusing "relationships" and "women."


I typed quite a long response here, but this is all i really mean to say.

[Lunatech]

I look at it the same way as I look at my Calculus class. I'm just not cut out for it. The person that I am just doesn't have the ability to comprehend Calculus, no matter what I do

This quote makes me sad.

I hope nobody is confusing "relationships" and "women."


I typed quite a long response here, but this is all i really mean to say.

I'm sure that LaureltheQueen isn't.

[LaureltheQueen]

i'm confused now.

[azn2nr]

[quote="BAC5.2"]Sorry you've given up on women. As long as your happy, that's all that really matters. Fuck everyone else.
quote]

you know what sucks. when youve given up on women and your not happy. like me. i have enough money to play around with all the inexpensive cars i want. but that tempory happiness is over shadowed by the realization that "i just spent 500-5000 dollars on something that made me happy for 2 hours and not only has it spent my money but continues to suck money for me to make me happier and throwing me a curve and pissing me off. life sucks. i just cant wait to get to the point where i can get a lambo wreck it and not care. maybe then ill be happy. until then . meh

[entirelyturbo]

I'm hardly ever truly happy. Hate to be so negative, but it's true. I can't think of the last time I thought to myself "Everything is absolutely peachy right now, everything is going right with my life." Granted, some things that don't upset others do upset me, but still, I'm a very pessimistic person, things could always be better.

I'm not happy being single, but I'm really not happy chasing after women who could give a rat's ass about me.

I know exactly why too, and it's I'm not these things, which attract 99% of all the women in the world:
1) Being an asshole
2) Being filthy rich
3) Being smooth with words

If you've got 1 and 2, you won't have any problem. Women like rich assholes. If you've got a VERY good handle on 3, you can get by without 1 and 2. I have none of these characteristics, so I'm screwed.

And am I going to kick myself in the ass doing everything I can to acquire one of these traits JUST so I can get a woman? Fuck no.

Call me hostile, but I've just seen too many examples. SOOOO many girls that I find myself attracted to, tell me all the time: "You're so nice." "You do all kinds of stuff for me"... blah blah blah. Yet these girls always go head-over-heels for the big-chested illiterate Neanderthal who has a Von Dutch hat on twisted every direction but the right one, and who has the audacity to slap these girls right off their feet.

I am a quiet guy who draws little, if any, attention to himself, and would mostly rather just go his own way, but I am a caring person and if I can trust you to not screw me, I'll take the shirt off my back for you. These are not the things that women are attracted to.

Therefore, I'm just not cut out for enjoying the company of women. And I'm not going to go through a complete personality makeover to become as such.

I guess you could say I am the most unavailable single guy in the world right now

[Yukonart]

Hmmmm. . .

My only bit of advice is this. Short but VERY TRUE. . .

In order to be happy with other people, your surroundings, your company, your relationship status (or lack thereof), your current life situation and all the daily occurrences that sum it up. . . . you must first be happy with yourself.

Plain and simple. I used to get down on myself far too often when I was younger. I finally one day decided that I was just going to be happy, reagardless. Focus on the good, work on the bad, but overall just enjoy myself no matter what.

Guess what. It works.

[evolutionmovement]

You forgot one other that chicks like - closet gay guys. When I die, I want to come back as a rich gay firefighter who rides a motorcycle and plays guitar.

The less you care (or show you care) about the woman, the more they seem to want you. Except if you have the rare lucky occasion to meet someone you just click with. I don't know how it happens, but I hope it happens again for me.

I was the 'Steve's such a great guy' and 'but I don't want to ruin our friendship' asshole a million times before I met my ex (let's just forget that she's my EX for the sake of the argument). I even put thirty something hash marks on the door of my old wagon to represent how many women rejected me before her. We met as she was seeing a friend of mine (who didn't remain a fiend for long of course, but who cares?) and I almost immediately enjoyed talking with her more than him. He used to just sit there like a slug while we talked away. Then she dumped him and I asked her to the prom. I was as amazed as John Cusack at the end of One Crazy Summer when he gets the ball through the hoop on the mast of the sailboat when she said yes and that she had been waiting for me to ask her. We started as friends and remain that, but in between ... holy shit. Give me a second to think about that ... OK, I'm done now. Now while I take a cold shower, try to take heart that like inventing something or anything that's worth having, it takes a lot of tries before you strike platinum. In the mean time try to take comfort in that most people have relationships they regret and never have anything that means much at all. Don't settle like they do and take advantage of your free tikme as best you can as who knows when you'll no longer have it and look back and say, 'shit, now that I have all this pussy, I kinda wish I had a little free time to do some other shit'. Or alternatively, 'damn this pussy is great and the times we're just together and it's not about pussy are even better, but I wish I'd spent my free time better as now I have better things to do, but wish I had more to show for my past'.

Or something like that.

Steve

[scottzg]

I know exactly why too, and it's I'm not these things, which attract 99% of all the women in the world:
1) Being an asshole
2) Being filthy rich
3) Being smooth with words

Could also be interpeted as:

1) self empowered
2) viewing oneself as successful
3) Confident and comfortable with oneself

we are attracted to people who have a positive self image. Assholes know their better than everyone else, and everyone else picks up on that and thinks the same thing. Rich guys, well, money does promise good livin', but the rich guy knows that he has what it takes to succeed over his fellows. And everyone has the same capacity to be clever and whatnot, but the guy who isnt worried about how whatever he says will be taken by his audience has a lot more brain to figure out what is clever. How you see yourself is how others will see you. I wish i could follow my own advice better. :shrug:

One thing i can say though, you might as well get rich and clever, sure can't do any harm.

[Yukonart]

One thing i can say though, you might as well get rich and clever, sure can't do any harm.

Well, just working on being clever can make a person rich. So I guess that's the best advice, so far.

[azn2nr]

"ladies and gentlemen take my advice, take off your pants and slide on the ice.


-sydney friedman, mash 4077