I'd like to first say that this blog post is brought to you from the comfort of my house. The reason I pointed that out? My weekend was spent with good ol' Mother Nature and my family. Yes, I went camping.

To be completely honest with you guys, I thought I would HATE going camping, because I'm so anti-nature 95% of the time. Boy, was I wrong. Everything was awesome pretty much. The only thing I hated was trying to sleep, but that was mostly in part to laying on a spot that just so happened to be all rocks (that, and my Uncle was snoring at one point). But, and here's where it becomes ironic that I'm mostly anti-nature comes, there was something that really made me enjoy the trip. What that was? Look at the headline again.

Now, those who know me know that I have a pretty sentimental side to me that is capped off by my love for sky-gazing. And anyone who has been camping will tell you that, when the weather permits it, looking at the stars is one of the highlights of the trip. There's only one word to describe the sky Saturday night: beautiful. Honestly, "beautiful" may have been an understatement. I could've laid there all night and looked up at the stars.

Just looking up at those things put me at ease. It was calming, among other things. It provided a chance to just relax and soothe my mind, and resulted in me not giving a slight care for the world at that point in time. I'm sure all of you have done this at some point, but if you haven't, just find an empty lot near your house (or go in your backyard) and just stare at the sky at night when it's clear. I'm willing to put money on the fact that, if you are having a bad day, you'll feel better afterwards in some form of fashion.

Welp, time to go enjoy my non-rocky bed. Though I wish I could see what I saw one more time. You don't see that kind of starry night everyday, but that's because we don't all live in a tent 24/7.

Pardon my indulgence.

Yes, I'm alive. Just had writers block, and nothing really popped up the past few weeks that would make for a good topic. Until now.

Remember that previous post I had a while ago where the topic was something along the lines of "people need to let things go"? Well, tonight I have a perfect example. A rumor was going around about me months (again, months) ago, and for whatever stupid reason, the person who started it put on a huge act throughout the duration of it. Ironically, the girl loves acting. So for a long while, people actually believed her and started to question my character and wonder if everything they knew about me was a lie. After awhile, people got to their senses and realized it was simply a rumor. 

Why do I bring this up? You guessed it; that person is back. 

I don't get people. Sure, I can slightly understand vendettas and everything. But what if the vendetta is false? Just a random excuse to make someone's life hell? It all goes to one thing that I think to myself when someone mentions her: "GET OVER IT!!" Hell, I've been over it for a while. But if you're going to want to open old wounds, don't expect me to take it lightly.

This is why I don't like people. Or just girls. Nope, it's definitely just people in general.


Pardon my indulgence.  

First off, allow me to point this out: it's about damn time I update this!! I know, peeps, it's been awhile. But I'm working on something special for you guys, so stay tuned..

And with that out the way, on to today's topic.

So today I was at the park just shooting some free throws, despite the heat, since it's been awhile. A few people I know also went to the park after awhile, so naturally we played a few games. But it's what was talked about after that is significant to me.

Without dropping names or saying everything that was said, I'll sum it up by saying it ended with talking about what we'd do around girls (vintage teenage boy conversation, I know). Whether or not we'd be talkative, joking around, slightly shy, or just straight up mute. Me? I've been all of them. More so the mute part, though. Most people are when you are initially around their crush, whether you're a guy or girl. More often than not, it's followed by remarks of, "Quit being a punk!"

Sure, it could be fear of screwing up. Yet, it's got to be somewhat understandable, right?

Picture it like this: you're in position to get a job. Not just a job, though. You're dream job, a job you would love to have. There you are, right before the interview, and you are as frozen as ice. Why? Infatuation leads to fear. When you love something so much, you become almost paranoid (in my opinion) that you'll screw up and watch it go away. Quite frankly, you want everything to occur as if it it's in a perfect scenario. Everything, I tell you.

Oh, and something else: you couldn't look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't be nervous at all if your dream celebrity mate stared you right in the face. I dare you to, and honestly mean what you say.

Long story short, being crazy nervous (you know, stammering or even going mute) when around someone that you like A LOT is more understandable than people think. Like I said, infatuation leads to fear. That's not a bad thing, as long as you know how to keep it in check and not let it 100% consume you.

Pardon my indulgence.

They are some of my closest friends, and they mean a hell of a lot.

How was everyone's July 4th? Hopefully no one got burned or did anything too stupid!

I don't know about you, but I love this time month: the 4th of July weekend. Not only is it awesome to sit around and stuff your face with food (and let me tell you, there's no food like the food on my Mom's side of the family on the 4th of the July), but then there's fireworks. Pretty rad, right? But really, it was cool this year more than anything because I got to see some family that I haven't seen in years. Now, grant it, I had absolutely NO IDEA who these people were at first, but then it finally dawned on me and that's when it became pretty cool.

Oh, and I'll be going to a lakehouse this weekend. A FRIGGIN' LAKEHOUSE!!

Going to the lakehouse not only gives me an opportunity to be around family and to hang out with my cousins, but it also offers something a lot more appealing: an escape. An escape from nonsense. An escape from annoyance (at least I think that's the case) and ignorance. An escape from this town...'nuff said. No offense to some you, but I need at least a day away from Elgin. 

There will probably still be some nagging, but hey, you take the good with the bad. Now, if only I could find a way to get Ariana Grande and/or Jennete McCurdy to go to the same place....

Happy 4th of July weekend, everybody!!

Pardon my indulgence.

Here's another one of those "deep thought posts."

Whether you're white, black, Asian, Hispanic, straight, Gay, purple, blue, WHATEVER.....if you live in this country legally, you are included when someone mentions the phrase "We the People." But honestly, do "we" really know who the "people" are?

Let me keep it real by stating the following: there are A LOT of ignorant people in this country, and in this world. Hell, you might be one of them! Oh, and by the way, if your reading this and you already don't like where I'm going with it, hit the giant "X" in the top right of your screen. Simple as that. With that said, time for me get to my point.

Lets start with Blacks, shall we? I don't need to tell you what we (and yes, I'm going to say "we" whenever I mention the community I'm a part of) have gone through in this country, and the hardships we faced then and still face now. And if you think that there isn't any form of racism in this country still, then you must really be looking through life with rose-colored glasses (though, I credit your optimism). For example, I've gone through so much regarding my skin color this year, it's a damn miracle I didn't completely break. But that's what "they" want, and by "they" I mean the ignorant, racist bastards of the world who like to say "If it ain't white, it ain't right." Those people want blacks to snap off, just so they can point the finger and say, "He/She is just a loose cannon ghetto [insert word here]." 

Let me sum that point up with this: whether you like it or not, the Black community is making progress in this world. Get with the program, and deal with it.

Now on to the biggest topic: gay rights. Again, everyone in this country knows what gays have gone though and what they still go through. Between name calling and just not being accepted for who they are, gays go through a lot. Why? Just like us, the general population who aren't gay, gays are also PEOPLE. You know, PEOPLE?? That word that some like to exclude others from? 

While I'm on that topic, let me just say this: despite what people say and think, I'm true and honest believer in gay rights. Yes, I'm guilty of dishing a few gay slurs here and there, but that was me being stupid and ignorant. We all have times where we might say something ignorant, but still. Homosexuals should NOT be denied their rights. You are who you are, and you love who you love. Who am I, who are we, to judge if someone wants to love someone of the same sex? 

Now, everyone has their reasons as to why they are anti-gay. If it's part of your religion, then you have the most legitimate reason, in my opinion, to disagree on gay rights. I can't judge you on that one, because it's who you are. Then there are those, however, who are so empty-minded and so ignorant towards the issue. There's a phrase that goes, "People fear what they don't understand." Sometimes fear turns to hatred, and if that's what is happening to those who vehemently hate gays (and it's not heavily focused on in your religion), then shame on YOU. 


Remember that phrase "We the People"? Well, you may hate it, but facts are facts: homosexuals, bisexuals, and others as well are included, and SHOULD BE INCLUDED, in that phrase. You may not believe it, nor want to believe it, but I have news for you. For everyone that doesn't support gays, there are a hell of a lot of people who do. 


For a country that holds people who are hardcore believers in the phrase "We the People", I have this question: do they really know who the "people" are?

Pardon my indulgence.

If there's one word I've probably seen and heard being tossed around lately in the sports world, it's everyone's favorite-only-because-we-love-to-call-people-out-on-it word: bandwagon.

While posting the last part of last night's post, a thought popped into my head.

Remember when I mentioned that people start to flock to you in huge numbers when you're at the top, or are on the cusp of doing great things? How many of those people can honestly say they've had more than one actual conversation with you? Wait, here's a better one for you. How many of those said "supporters" were supporting you when you were at your lowest? 

Exactly. Little to none.

From professional sports all the way down to the average Joe, people love you and want to be with you when you're doing great and could possibly benefit them. They love you when you're on top, and will do anything to be remotely associated with you. All of a sudden you have all kinds of "best friends" that you never even knew you had to begin with. But that's when you're successful.

When you fall, though, those same people leave just as fast as they arrived. Those same people that said that they've been "with you" or that they "know you" truly don't after all. You already know that by now, or at least I hope that you do. It just goes to show...if the public puts you on the pedestal, they can just as easily take you off of it. I guess that's why DJ Khaled made that song "No New Friends", huh? Also, I guess that should be the theme song of anyone who is becoming pretty success at a fast rate. Basically, if someone wants to truly say that they "know you", make sure that they "knew you".


As Drake said once in a song (and yes, I looked this up and he actually said it. Unlike those crappy pictures that just slap a quote on there and claim that Drake said it): "To say there is a know me, is to say there was a knew me."


Pardon my indulgence.

Today was my second day of having a job. Yes, an actual job. And to tell you the truth, it isn't too bad....yet. I mean, a job is a job, right? As a result of that, I now have more of a right to say the following:

Hello real world. Nice to meet you.

Yep, I'm getting to that age now where, whether I like it or not, the real world is going to start creeping up to me. I mean, lets look at where I'm heading/already at:

1. I have a job.
2. I'm about to be a senior once school starts up again (thank goodness).
3. I've had my license for awhile now.
4. I turn 18 this year.

Need I continue? All that is just a drawn out version of me saying that good ol' Connor is growing up. As my family would probably say, where has the time gone? Honestly, it feels like just yesterday I was growing up in the City of Chicago, playing baseball all the time and enjoying what many refer to as "childhood innocence". Fast forward some years and a move to Elgin later, and now I'm roughly a year away from stepping on a college campus as an actual college student and not just a visitor. Just looking and talking to all my friends who have just recently graduated, it definitely looks like a good ass feeling having finished high school. Especially considering the high school they went to, and that I currently still go to.

I can't tell how excited I'll be to finally permanently leave Central, but that's a topic for another entry.

Fact of the matter is that I'm going out into the real world pretty quick. Whether or not that's a good thing or bad thing remains to be seen. What I do know, however, is this: I know it'll be tricky, but I'm ready for whatever the real world holds.

Oh, and also this: I don't have to 100% worry about that stuff for roughly a year. So, until then, I'm just gonna kick it. 

Pardon my indulgence.