Any day now…

Four places I would rather be right now (call it a lack of imagination – but considering the things going on in my life – I am happy exactly where I am right now.. so…):

Somewhere in the mountains, fishing on a lake, with a case of beer, and a friend
On any stage with my band
On a vacation with Richelle in Ireland, London, or Rome
Hey… can we do time travel?

Four bloggers I am tagging (the chances of each continuing this, I realize, are remote at best…but why not :)):

What is a friend? Dave and Andrea’s thoughts

Posted on January 28, 2006 by Karl

Go read both original pieces, I’ve only quoted parts that I relate to, but I’m sure you will find your own.

snooble.dot.com: Friendship:

I’ve noticed that most times in conversation I’ll mention a casual aquaintence and preface their name with “my friend.” But is that person really my friend?

I got rid of my MySpace account months ago when I got annoyed with the fact that there were so many “friends” on my list, and I didn’t even know half of them: bands I’d never see, people I’d never meet. Social networking sites like MySpace give me no feasible way to distinguish between my best friend from high school and the person I met in the bar last week.

And even though flickr differentiates between “friends” and “contacts” there is no middle ground. There are plenty of people on my contacts that I like or respect. They are more than just contacts, but they are not my friends.

Friends know when they are needed, and they also know when to need. They know they can burden you with their problems just as easily as they can lend their shoulders to cry on. They know when to push and when to back off, and they’ll never pressure you for favors. They’ll be there when their presence is most appreciated and never ask for thanks or kudos.

Dave’s WordPress Blog: What is friendship?:

I write a blog, have since the mid 90s or so, and I sometimes write in a personal fashion, and people connect to that, which is fine, but it often creates misunderstandings that, I think, go deeply into how humans evolved, and how that evolution never anticipated a medium where a written word could be heard by so many people without a connection coming back.

This leads to a sense of familiarity, which is expected, but it can also give a sense of intimacy, even friendship, which is wrong, because what’s going on here is not friendship, although inside us many of the feelings that come from being a regular reader of a weblog are the same ones we feel as we are developing a friendship, in the world evolution designed us for. But this is not that world.

And with this comes a tough lesson, and unfortunately it seems, you only learn this by living, television doesn’t teach it, schools don’t teach it, and if you’re above a certain age, our parents didn’t teach it. You have to learn it by living, by thinking of someone as a friend, only to find out they don’t think of you as a friend. It can be devastating, I know, I’ve been there myself. But all the wishing, all the manipulation, all the determination, just serves to push the would-be friend further away. Because friendship is something you choose to do, you don’t do it out of a sense of obligation. To force someone to be a friend is to not have a friend.

…I learned a lot about friends when I got sick in 2002. I learned that a friend is someone I trust to be with me when I am at my weakest and most vulnerable. And they are people who, no matter how painful it is to see, are willing to be with me when I am so helpless and weak. If I would trust my life with you, and vice versa, we are friends. It’s not about whether you are trustworthy, or whether you are friendly, it’s the actual act of trust that is the basis of friendship. If I trust you to be truthful, then you’re a friend. If I find I must be careful how I say things, then it’s something other than friendship.

Friendship is not a state of mind, it’s an act. It’s something you do, it’s not about whether you’re good or not, it’s not a reflection of you, it’s a balanced relationship between people. That doesn’t mean it’s always balanced at every moment. Sometimes you “need a friend” and other times it’s the other way. It’s a trust that’s returned.

Can’t believe I wrote that last post

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Karl

Some people just take themselves waaayyy too seriously and don’t know how to chill out and be tolerant and accepting of others.

I mean, some things are important, and some things just aren’t ya know?

A special word to my umm… detractors

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Karl

*This* blog is a personal blog. Its for my friends, my family, my co-workers, anyone looking to learn a little bit about me, and anyone else who decides to hang out.

If you have constructive criticism – please give it – feedback provides a great opportunity to grow and learn.

However, telling me this blog “sucks”, serves no purpose, or the number of comments shows no one cares, is entirely besides the point:

People who say “blogs should be more like this…” are either selling something, or closed minded. The web is diverse – as is humanity.

You don’t like this blog – don’t come here – don’t link here. Go the fuck away.

Congratulations Katie!

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Karl

Katie, congratulations on earning your degree in practical nursing. You’ve overcome so much, worked your ass off and fought hard for your dream. You’re going to be a terrific nurse.

A word for my brother Dante – you’re not just a great husband, father and brother – you’re a great man.

I am so proud of both of you.

Love yas.

Too much to do, too little time

Posted on January 26, 2006 by Karl

Check out the latest Philly Future news…

paradox1x.org

Karl Martino, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Category Archives: Friends, Family, Life

Any day now…

Other notables for some friends

Notables

This is a new headline

Four Things

What is a friend? Dave and Andrea’s thoughts

Can’t believe I wrote that last post

A special word to my umm… detractors

Congratulations Katie!

Too much to do, too little time