Valentine’s Day Playlist

William’s Valentine’s Playlist 2010

1. Set the Mood Prelude/Until the End of Time – by Justin Timberlake
2. Down (Candlelight Remix) – by Jay Sean
3. Two Is Better Than One (feat. Taylor Swift) – by Boys Like Girls
4. Need You Now (Video Version) – by Lady Antebellum
5. By Your Side – by Tenth Avenue North
6. Smash Into You – by Beyonce
7. Brave (Acoustic) – by Idina Menzel
8. Only You Can Love Me This Way – by Keith Urban
9. You Are the Best Thing – by Ray LaMontagne
10. I’m Yours (Live) – by Jason Mraz
11. You and Me – by Dave Matthews Band
12. Haven’t Met You Yet – by Michael Buble
13. Hey, Soul Sister – by Train
14. Love Story – by Taylor Swift
15. I Got You – by Leona Lewis
16. Then (Single Edit) – by Brad Paisley
17. Say Hey (I Love You) [feat. Cherine Anderson] by Michael Franti & Spearhead

Made for someone special…signed, sealed, delivered.  Just thought I’d share.

Click here for to go directly to iTunes and download my iMix.

Birthday Wish List

Another candle on the cake is in my immediate future…

People have been inquiring what I’d like for my upcoming birthday.  So here’s a list for everyone to access and you can pick from it…if you wish.

• Amazon Kindle (New Generation)
• Sony Blu-Ray Disc Player
• Renee Rouleau Purifying Face Wash
• Renee Rouleau Elderberry Toner
• Renee Rouleau Toning Cloths
• Renee Rouleau Citrus C Lotion
• Renee Rouleau Daily Protection SPF 30
• Renee Rouleau Vitamin C & E Complex
• Gift Cards (Apparel, Electronics, Target)
• Cash

There you have it – all things that I will eventually buy myself if no one buys it for me…but I’d love you more if I didn’t have to shell out the dough first.

-W

Anti-depressant

When I get depressed I usually just sulk and have a pity party. Today, instead of playing that game, I decided to do this. It worked.

Under 60

So, in lieu of writing an “about me” section of the blog, I decided to write a little “William in Under 60 Statements” type of post.  By no means is this the full extent of “me, myself, and I,” but I dug deep for some good stuff to know.  Its me.  All me.

1.  I drove a Jeep Grand Wagoneer before I got my license. It was my first love…short-lived.

2.  I watch TLC’s “What Not to Wear” religiously.

3.  I’ve never dated a redhead, but I’m not opposed to it.

4.  I once bought an engagement ring, but never proposed.

5.  I like to wrap one arm around a pillow when I sleep. It’s not only comfortable, but also comforting.

6.  I’ve spent an entire Sunday laying around watching TV in just a towel because I was too lazy to get dressed after a shower.

7.  I had a wreck in high school. I graduated early because I couldn’t try out for cheerleader because of the concussion.

8.  I really want to be a dad.

9.  I named one of my dogs Hitler. He never really lived up to the name.

10.  In high school, people thought I was banging our hot new theatre teacher…I didn’t deny it.

11.  My family is more important to me than I think they know.

12.  I love basketball.

13.  I took a sticker at the doctor’s office after a visit. I was 17.

14.  I know I’m my grandmother’s favorite.  It’s our little secret.

15.  I’m a stickler on the there, their, and they’re rules.

16.  I snuck in on a friend singing Mariah Carey in the shower at the top of her lungs.

17.  I can say my alphabet backwards.

18.  I always thought the term “love sick” was cliché, until I felt nauseas over a relationship.

19.  I can’t resist a woman in high heels.  Well…you know.

20.  I used to throw love around. I still do.

21.  A broken heart really does make your chest hurt.

22.  Love really is blind sometimes and can’t be explained.

23.  I’ll never say “I love you” unless I really mean it.

24.  I battle depression. I deny it and let it go untreated because I’m afraid people will think I am being silly to feel so down.

25.  There were times when I should have swallowed my pride and spoke up because inside I was begging for help.

26.  I’m not really afraid or embarrassed to be naked.

27.  Like many when I lost my virginity, it was confusing, fast and not memorable.

28.  At times I can be quick to judge people, but even faster to accept them.

29.  I wear boxers, briefs, boxer briefs, and go commando.

30.  I actually like to cuddle

31.  I often start things I never finish.  Its something I’m working on.

32.  I’m angry at those who blame their childhood for every problem they have thru adult life.

33.  I spend a fortune at Starbucks.  It’s an addiction.

34.  I’m one of the few white boys that can actually dance.

35.  I’m not easily offended.  But if you push my buttons hard enough, you’ll set me off.

36.  I made the Honor Roll thru high school.

37.  I’ve lived in this state my whole life, but I want to move away to NY because I love it there.

38.  I like being challenged, but I’m learning to be careful what you wish for.

39.  I believe in chivalry.

40.  I love romance. I feel it’s the best part of a relationship.

41.  I have a sentimental keepsake box from past loves and childhood memories.

42.  I love an adrenaline rush!

43.  Although, I would trade an adrenaline rush in for that “rush feeling” of falling in love.

44.  I’m lonelier more than I’d like to admit.

45.  I’ve never been to Vegas.

46.  Having regrets in life is bad, not being able to change is worse.

47.  I’ve had sex in a car.  Not the brightest idea.

48.  Sometimes love is a battlefield.  And sometimes its worth the fight.

49.  I’ve had botox…I’m only 23.

50.  I never get tired of the Legally Blonde movies.

51.  My biggest fear in life is not living up to my full potential.

52.  I am my biggest critic.

53.  I self-sabotage many great things in my life.  I’m slowly trying to un-sabotage them.

54.  I flew to LA one weekend when I was 19 to audition for the national tour of Rent.  I got typed-out and never got to actually audition.

55.  I once wanted to get my masters degree.  I gave up that dream my first year of college.  I haven’t looked back.

56.  I was on an emotional roller coaster with a relationship for too long. I’m glad the ride is now over.

57.  I don’t trust people as much as I once did.

58.  Much of this was hard to write because it brings up memories and feelings I don’t always like to admit are part of me.

Zap!

We all make mistakes – and have to pay for them later.  My mistake cost me $100.00 in 2004.  It’s costing me $2500.00 in 2009.  If this was an investment opportunity – I’d jump all over it.  But…not so much.  Here’s some shots of me getting one of the final (hopefully) treatments in the removal of my first tattoo.  Enjoy.

If you have an medical/cosmetic needs – lemme know – I know just the place.  Dallas Medical Spa.  Tell them I sent ya!

beating a dead horse

what a kick in the pants!

growing up is proving itself to be quite a ride.  yesterday, on facebook, i put out a posting about “friends” and “acquaintances” and the fact that i was saddened by my inability to correctly categorize a few people in my life and how they showed their true colors and positioned themselves in my life accordingly.

first of all, i shouldn’t be such a whiner, right?  from the comments that i got on that post, many of my friends and/or acquaintances have experienced the same damn thing and shared their sentiment.

when did i become such a sap?  i guess when you’ve got this amicable personality and you like to befriend people, its tough when people don’t want to either be your friend because of their own issues or they act like a friend then do…non-friendlike things (yeah, i made that word up).  perhaps unknowingly, but hurts either way.

so.  up the walls go again.  can’t say i’m not surprised.  true friends…you know who you are.  fake friends…you’ve shown your true colors.  i don’t like that game.  acquaintances…as long as we both know the difference and the fact that “acquaintances” move to “friends” often, i like you in my life.

emotional post – done.

brand new day

so, lately things haven’t been going the way i want them to in life. yeah i’ve got great friends, a bright future and i’m really impatient with my dreams. i want everything now now now. i know its not the way to be and it really gets me down when i don’t get what i want right away.

today i decided to get up with all the fervor i could muster, clean my studio, get some free coffee(!!!!) and start to get shit done in my life. i have the radio on and “brand new day” by joshua radin came on. never heard the song in my life but it fit so well with my new found attitude.

i am the only one responsible for my life. i need to stop relying on anyone else for my happiness. until i can be happy alone, i can never be happy with someone else.

revelation.

struggle to grow

The past few months…years even, I’ve been struggling with life’s difficulties. I know I’m not alone in this struggle. Everyone has their problems, their fights…as Miley would put it…their “climb.” I heard a great story/lesson yesterday in the Kabbalah Dallas class. I’ll try my best to retell the story.

How does a butterfly come into existence? We all know the basic concept of an egg hatching into a caterpillar and at some point in its life, it decides to make a cocoon out of its own body. Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar is transforming into a butterfly.

When the butterfly is ready, it starts to break through the cocoon. First a hole appears. Then the butterfly struggles to come out through the hole.

If you try to “help” the butterfly by cutting the cocoon, the butterfly will come out easily but it will never fly. Your “help” has destroyed the butterfly.

The butterfly can fly because it has to struggle to come out. The pushing forces lots of enzymes from the body to the wing tips. This strengthens the muscles, and reduces the body weight. In this way, the butterfly will be able to fly the moment it comes out of the cocoon. Otherwise it will simply fall to the ground, crawl around with a swollen body and shrunken wings, and soon die.

If the butterfly is not left to struggle to come out of the cocoon, it will never fly.

If we do not have struggles and challenges in our lives, we will never grow strong and capable. If life has no difficulties, we will become weak and helpless.

This really had a lasting impression on me and I wanted to share it. I can bitch and moan all day long about the struggles of everyday life…or I can learn from my climb and hurdles that I leap and better myself.

this Park is the place

last night, i was invited to mock service at a new Dallas restaurant called Park.

its in a great space at 1921 Henderson next to Barcadia and offers up style that Dallas has yet to see…until now.

the space: a fusion of 3 different spaces, spanning the early 1900s to the newest of the fused spaces of the 1970s. the decor is solid throughout. its hippy-chic, artistic, mellow, and cool. but don’t let the design fool you. this space is full of energy. a wall of palm leaves at the back, a huge framed mirror in the upper dining area, bright red painted air ducts give off the funk vibe that really invites you in and makes you want to return. the patio is AMAZING. Jason Pautz is responsible for the landscaping and Breck Woolsey for design of the indoor-outdoor restaurant, which includes the Bocce Bar, with two full-size bocce courts. There’s an air-conditioned patio, complete with roll-up garage doors for the evening, and also an outdoor dining as well. I dared not to venture to sit out there…it was 100 degrees but there were a few brave souls basking in the setting sun.

the food: for starters, i had the meze platter. pita with hummus, couscous, and a black-bean purree. it was a great mix of texture, color, and taste. there was just enough to soothe the appetite but not fill up before a main dish. the menu consists of an array of starters, some great looking sandwiches and salads, meat dishes, and pizzas. the menu caters to any and all tastebuds and budgets. vegetarians can actually get some decent food without sacrificing taste or nutrition. for main course, i had the chicken fried flat-iron steak, “mashers” and some string beans…and gravy. extra care was notably taken to prepare this otherwise typical dish. it was the best chicken-fried steak i’ve ever had. dessert was carrot cake with cheesecake icing. think of heavenly and you’ll see this dessert. the presentation was immaculate and the helping…just right. (cost for 3 courses…about $30. you could easily have great dining experience for under $20).

the drinks: Park has a list as long as my leg of specialty cocktails. i had a pineapple infused margarita and a drink called Marsha Marsha Marsha (muddled blueberries and other yummy goodness). in a few months, Park will open $8/each.

the staff: decked out in jeans, sneakers, and crisp white short sleeved bowling shirts. they all exuded the ambience of the restaurant. seamless integration of good looks without effort and a friendly, mellow yet attentive and knowledgeable air…kudos to the hiring manager.

my 2 cents: Park will be the place to be for the cool Dallas crowd. the Henderson area is becoming more and more hip and with Park in place…its only up from here. i’ll definitely make this a regular hang out. see you there!

Park

1921 Henderson

Dallas, TX

www.parkhenderson.com

attitude adjustment

maybe its the weather.

today has just been an awkward day. not bad. not great. just ok. days are what you make of them, i suppose.

i’ve had a difficult time over the past few weeks since moving into my new place. i feel myself just sitting around doing virtually nothing. and most of the time, i wouldn’t be complaining, but i actually want to be doing something productive with my time. for some reason, i’m lacking motivation and i feel myself sliding into what could be considered…depression? maybe a mini dose.

i want to be moving forward…i seem to be at a standstill. going thru the motions. not fun. and i guess, i just don’t know how to get out of the funk. sometimes i think i’m out of it, then i slip right back into this mentality and i’m right back where i started.

time for an upswing.

wimbledon has been on the past week and its really given me something to focus my attention on. i watch it everyday…hardly miss a match. love it.