Why We Shouldn't Cuss

Andie and I, who are long time fans of The Midnight Claw, found out Olan Rogers was in town a couple Saturdays ago... so we rushed up to Sugarhouse Park to stand in line for three hours to meet him! I am truly such a nerd because after all the laughter and delight I've had in watching this guys online videos I just feel like he is one of my dear friends, which is why I wanted to meet him. He is happy, original, hard-working, funny, and inspiring (see my other posts about him here and here). As the above picture suggests, it was worth the wait to meet him, what a role model.

I love when happy and creative people have success. I also love when comedians who aren't crass and crude do well. It seems like the world and mainstream media laugh the most at inappropriate stuff, which I think is cheap and easy. While I do enjoy a well placed cuss word every now and then, I think using less cuss words and more clever words takes more thought and makes you a delight to be around and a thrill to listen to.

Apparently Olan has been asked why he doesn't swear enough times that he has written an answer on his FAQ page... I love his answer.

Q & A: Why don’t you cuss in your videos?

SOOOOOO MANY PEOPLE ASK ME THIS hahaha

There are multiple reasons for this!

One, stems back to my high school T.V production class where it was a guideline in order to have your videos shown to the school.  This naturally made things very difficult in a world where comedy and cussing go hand in hand. I just keep this guideline.

Two, I sound like a idiot if I cuss like some people can cuss and sound like a boss and their delivery is just golden. I remember back in the 4th grade me & my friend Stephen were being chase down by some bullies and my friend Stephen yells out this string of curse words, freaking it was like slicing through Mozart butter, I mean for cursing it was art. So I decided to try my hand at it right after him and I come up with something that was so freaking stupid everyone starts laughing even Stephen hahaha I knew then I wan’t very good at it but the bonus the bullies were laughing so hard we got away and we got slushies. :)

Three, I began to realize cursing is the quick laugh everyone can cuss but not everyone can truly make someone laugh by doing honest comedy for example Monty Python, Charlie Chaplin & Buster Keaton. I laugh harder at that stuff then any comedy made today because modern comedy is all about gross out factors which I get why they do it but I’ll take Monty Python and the Holy Grail over any modern comedy hands down.

Four, I honestly don’t find it that funny, I’ll admit I do laugh at comedies/comedians who do it but that’s because they have crafted it so well or it’s done in moderation. But I think a lot of comedians just do it because every other comedian does it and it’s just accepted as what to expect from comedy. So naturally I like to do what makes me laugh.

.....

Using a cheap easy way to make a joke shows just how far and broad your thoughts and responses truly are. I, personally, haven't perfected it yet... which is why I get such a kick out of watching Olan's videos, I'm envious and fascinated by his proper wit and story-telling skills.... which are skills every proper mountain woman should work on to acquire.

These are just some of my on-going thoughts on the matter.

Thanks for reading,

Whitney Joy

Go! Turn The Ignition!

You know how people say if you need something done, have your busiest friend do it, or something like that? If that is really a saying, I don't know, I may have made it up just to start this post...

"If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it" that really is a saying, I just looked it up! So, ya know how people say that? It basically means that the busy person... the one that is already moving and grooving, crossing things off her to-do list, firing on all cylinders... will barely notice another thing being added to her list, and she will get it (whatever it is) done in a timely and proficient manner. On the other hand, the person who has nothing to do, even though they have all the time in the world to do it, they are going to take all kinds of pushing and prodding to get their engines going. The simplest task might take them weeks because they are so used to doing nothing at all!

Right now I am this second person. The person that can't seem to turn the ignition over and get a single thing done! I feel like I should be more depressed about it, but I am feeling pretty apathetic too. I had a job interview a couple weeks ago at an engineering firm I really want to work at, and the interview went really really well. I mean, it went so well that they are going to hire me, they just don't know when... so, I'm in this weird lazy void. I don't have any responsibilities, I have nothing to do all day.... I should be exercising, eating well, and getting all sorts of projects done, but I'm totally not. I have been eating junkie food, sleeping in, staying up late, and basically letting myself do whatever I want whenever I want to... no self discipline at all. 

Well, I am finally to the point that I need to start getting my butt in gear. I am a happier better person when I am more disciplined, and when I am working hard at something.... so, today, I start anew! And if I fail today, then tomorrow!

Self-discipline is the most allusive virtues for me, and one I hope I get better and better at it throughout my life. I enjoy reading about people who seem to have mastered it to understand it more. One of my all-time favorite self-discipline examples is from a book called "The Man Who Rode The Thunder" written by Lt. Col. William H. Rankin. It's all about his life as an aviator in the marines during the 40's and 50's, and about his amazing story of having to parachute from an F-8 fighter jet through a thunder storm (the only person who has survived such an event). His book is also full of his positive outlook on life, hard-work, and discipline.

Here is an excerpt from the book that I still think about often:

"In the past, I had always reconciled myself to un-exciting duty because I knew that by doing my very best sooner or later the duty I wanted most would come along. But as a logistics officer I discovered something more. I discovered that when dull, routine, colorless chores depress us, it is most often we, ourselves, who are at fault. For we allow that which is petty or dull to conquer and suppress that which is unsuppressible -- the human spirit. There is nothing on earth above which the human mind cannot rise, there are no dark corners of life that we cannot brighten, even a bit, for ourselves, if only we allow the human spirit to ignite a little flame now and then - to create a little perspective, a little humanity, a little sense of humor, a sense of the pride of accomplishment, even when there are no medals to be handed out, and we must feel that pride only in our hearts."

I love that.

Another person who inspires me is Olan Rogers. This morning he had a new YouTube video posted, so I clicked over to check it out and ended up watching his spring apparel video again, and loving it even more. I had my mom listen to me read his uplifting definitions for each graphic in his spring collection, and she was so inspired that she ordered his shirt "rise and rise again" right there on the spot.

This is what Olan Rogers has to say about "taking the road less traveled":

"There used to be this idea that through hard work and blazing your own path you could achieve anything you wanted. I believe this concept has become pretty watered down. It seems now that success is simply based on popularity and a lot of people believe that the world will just be handed to them. Unfortunately, foregoing the process of working your butt off to build yourself from the ground up shapes the person you become. My Dad once told me that the right way will never be the easy way. Take the road less traveled! It's by no means easy, but those who take it truly appreciate the journey, much more so than those who would have just had it handed to them."

Feeling inspired yet? And less lazy? I sure am! Time to start working my butt off and getting my huge list of things I want to get done, done.

My mom and I are also starting the 7-day GM Diet tomorrow morning... if any one would like to join us, please do! We are shifting gears over here!

Olan Roger's Spice Of Life

 (this pullover is fantastic, what mountain woman wouldn't want a wolf howling across her bosom?)

I have been a long time fan of Olan Roger's youtube channel, his stories and the way he tells them delight me to no end. I think his zest for life, and what he shares with the world is positive and happy.

I may have mentioned it before, but I think about my future as a proper old lady quite a bit. It's sometimes hard to think past the fun part of the future, the part of owning my own land, having money, being successful, accomplishing goals, spending time on hobbies, raising a family, and so on... all that sort of stuff is exciting and easy to think about, but I try to look at the future that is up and over that mountain of goals, and sneak a peak at the little old lady I will be one day be on the other side of it. It will still be me, an older version of me. I can't get rid of myself... down the road of life and through the next few decades people will move in and out of my life, if I'm lucky I will pick up good friends and have loved ones close by... but one thing is for darn sure, I am still going to be stuck with me. 

It's an eye opening view, but it helps me in my progression. 

Why do I bring this up? Because I think view points are important. What you see in life, your outlook, your thoughts, the things you find important... they contribute to you and the stories you tell.

Some people feel they need to do extravagant things in order to be interesting, or to be impressive. I submit to you that that is simply not true. You can become a beautiful proper old mountain lady, who is charming, witty, and who can inspire with a happy outlook on something ordinary... just by living and LOVING your life.

I'm not sure if this post will make sense to anyone but me.

I just feel that the world doesn't celebrate the quaint and charming parts of every day life. Because of social media, TV, and the internet we think we have to be a jet setter, spend lots of money, stay up to date on trends, be the best at something, do something ridiculous, try something naughty, or be stunningly beautiful to be somebody interesting. Well, I think this guy can put an end to that argument right now. His stories are from simple things, happy outlooks, and childhood memories... and I could listen to him for hours. (bonus points because he doesn't even cuss)

As a proper modern day mountain woman, in my quest to becoming a charming old lady whom you'd be thrilled to sit by at a dinner party, AND in my quest to being a delightful person for myself to grow old with... this young man is a modern day hero and good example.

Olan Rogers recently came out with a new fashion line for fall. Spreading his cheerful perspective to the public, "injecting positivity". I love these tops because they are happy, and also.. very mountain woman chic.

Love YOUR life. I love that.

Read Olan Roger's beautiful words about his fashion line and positivity.

I Am Soft Serving It!

Is this guy single? Does he have a brother? Have I ever posted his videos here before??? I'm sorry if I have... it's just that no matter how many times I watch them they always make me laugh.

This handsome happy man is a dream boat: