Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Finally

Well, it took me awhile, but I figured it out. I have a direction to head with my life. See? That's why this post is called "Finally."

I am going to head in the direction of the restaurant industry. I would love to own my own restaurant, but I'm gonna try some things with Outback and see where it takes me. I don't want to go to culinary school or anything because gay men have no business being in the kitchen (yes, I just generalized and stereotyped myself). I want to deal mostly with the front of house (the dining room/bar/lounge) and really focus on providing a laid back but fun atmosphere while developing a great staff.

Other options that probably won't happen but could be amazing are: being a restaurant critic for a large newspaper, having my own travel show, running the front of house for some amazing chef that's really well known in some large city like Seattle, and marrying someone rich so I can just do whatever.

Short post, but there you go.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Quick Update

My cutting back on alcohol has been fairly successful, partly because I'm so busy, and partly because I stopped drinking beer at all. It's carbonated, and it's killing my running efforts, so I stopped having cerveza.

I haven't had fast food in weeks, and that alone makes me feel great, but I also don't eat fried food or anything with a lot of sugar or fat. I run at least four times (sometimes more) a week, and most of my liquid intake is water (as it should be). I've been getting plenty of sleep, and I'm probably going to get a membership at Anytime Fitness soon so I can get some quick strength training in after work or while I'm just chilling on the weekends. There's one close to my house, one close to the University, and one close to Outback, so it seems pretty ideal. Plus, for me, being healthy means not losing any weight... Gotta keep working the muscles or they will be even more non-existent.

Things are going well at both jobs, and my class is pretty straightforward, so things are good. Just wanted to let y'all know that I feel great.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

I can't believe I'm saying this...

I'm thinking about cutting way down on my drinking.

(Pause for reaction.)

Yeah, I'm serious. I have a few reasons for this, and they are as follows:
  1. It's expensive.
  2. It doesn't help when I'm trying to run the next morning.
  3. It has become my job.
The expensive thing is self-explanatory, but seriously, I spend a lot of money on this little hobby of mine. Like most other things that I like, I want the best, so I (almost) always get premium drinks, and I stopped being a light-weight a long time ago, so it adds up quickly.

I may or may not have mentioned that I'm training for a marathon, but now you know. I was trying to run this morning after having a VERY good time last night, and I was struggling. I swear I thought I was gonna die. I can't do that to myself, or I'm never gonna reach my running goals, which are a higher priority for me.

The last one is hard to explain. A wise man (probably more accurately described as a "wise-guy") asked me recently if I drank socially or if it was my job. I thought about it for a long time because I'm not a raging alcoholic or anything, but I decided that people expect me to drink. They expect me to drink good stuff, and they expect me to drink a lot of it. It's the precedent that I have set. Of course, I'm not one to do things because people expect me to, so after reading Rachel's blog, (where she mentions doing something unexpected) I decided to cut back. I know that "cutting back" sounds like a soft commitment, but I'm going to really try to do it.

I want to end up as a "social drinker." If I'm out with some friends and we decide to have drinks as adults, then I will be happy to pick up a glass, but I want to cut it out of my lunches (yes, I drink at lunch), I want to stop spending so much money on it, and I want to quit drinking earlier in the night than I have been. This little boy needs to get to bed so he can run before it gets blazing out.

Thoughts?

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

My signature cocktail

I'm currently on a quest to find my signature drink. I do enjoy a Tito's (that's vodka, for those of you who live under a rock and don't know how amazing Texas vodka is) with orange juice and red bull in a tall glass. However, I feel like energy drinks are very young, and when I go to a bar or dinner with co-workers or people higher up, I want a drink they can respect, so my quest begins.

I don't want the drink to be too simple like a Cape Cod or something too fruity like a Cosmo. I want to steer clear of tequila. Milky or creamy drinks are also eliminated because they can only be drank at certain times and with certain things.

Martinis have their options because you can get them up or rocks, dry or dirty, olives or no, twist or no, and you can style them up different ways. However, so many people drink martinis and I want something slightly more original, a little less ordered.

Yesterday, I discovered my liking for Manhattans. This simple but manly drink starts with whiskey (preferably rye), adds a bit of vermouth (sweet or dry), and just a dash of bitters at the drinker's discretion. I had one with Maker's and sweet vermouth, a bit of bitters, up with a twist. It was quite tasty, but still unmistakably whiskey. I also asked for a rocks glass with some cherry juice in it (an idea I stole from a bar regular (real juice, not grenadine)), and I dabbed just a little bit into the drink over time. It's color and taste brightened only slightly, but amazingly.

I then went through the same process, but with Korbel brandy instead of whiskey, this time with half sweet and half dry vermouth. Same up and twist with a side of cherry juice. As long as the cherry is used sparingly, I do not feel like it would be easily criticized.

Though I do feel like I am going to experiment a bit further with this drink, I do feel like it may become my signature cocktail.

Any further suggestions?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Scott's Charm School #1: Taking Charge

You know how you look at people that are older, wiser, sometimes even just better looking. You know when you are around specific people and you feel like you're seeking their approval? You are hoping that they will not think you're weird. You are hoping that they will not blow you off. You know how they seem to be superior to you? That's because, either consciously or subconsciously, you allow yourself to think of them that way.

Some of this you might have heard before. A parent, a teacher, or a mentor might have mentioned it in the past. It's knowledge that is given, but few people grasp it: "When two people are in any form of a relationship, there is a person who is in charge." This can be explained many ways, but I want to give you my take. Let's define our terms.

"Relationship" is going to be the connection between any two people that have met and at least one remembers the other. There are special exceptions to drunken nights and random acts that go along with blacking out, but in general, at least one remembers the other.

"In charge" is going to be the person in the relationship who is superior to the other person. We will call the people in charge the "Leaders," and the people who are inferior the "Followers." Do not be confused. We are all both because we are in charge of some relationships, and not of others.

This is an issue of confidence. When making a new acquaintance (even if you have a pre-existing knowledge of that person), it is up to you to decide that you are equal to or better than that person. Do not misunderstand me; I'm not telling you to be a snot box, just to know that no one can be better than you without your permission. Acquaintanceship is the first level of a relationship, and the things that I am about to talk about apply to everyone: your girlfriend or boyfriend's parents, your potential future employer, the friend of a friend, etc.

Here are some things that you can do:

Make sure that you introduce yourself, shake hands, make eye contact, and if you stick your hand out for the shake first, you are almost automatically in charge. Shaking someones hand is a sign of respect and of respectability. Remember the person's name. It is also a sign of respect, and if they forget yours, you've gained more ground ahead of them. Be gracious about reminding them, and you're still moving forward. Smile, and appear confident, even if you're knees are clattering together. Appearing confident when you're really not is a form of confidence, is it not?

Once you have made the initial greet, be sure to stay a Leader by never being afraid to give your opinion, when it's your place, with confidence (funny that I keep using that word). Do not wait for someone else to give their opinion and then half-heartedly agree with them to seek approval. Listen intently, deliberate politely, discuss peacefully; however, never give in. If they have a point, agree to give the matter some thought, and discuss it at a later date. Sophistication is what we make of it.

From that point, always be sure to greet that person by name and with a hand shake. Make sure that you ask about something in their life that you remember, and actually listen to the answer to make further conversation in the future.

Doing these few things can make you the person in charge. It will make you the object of admiration. Be the person that people want to know, and people will know you. I know I have made it sound like these situations always take place in a formal setting, but these are guidelines for any time that you are meeting someone new. Take charge, and you'll be the Leader.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Overload?

You know when you get in a mood, and you just wanna change things, and be a better person, and do things that you don't do anymore, and some things that you've never really done? You don't even know why you want to do those things, but you decide that you should, and you buy stuff to start, and then you work at it for awhile, and you begin to wonder why you're doing it, and you wonder when the "new" is gonna wear off. This is the current list of things I'm working on:

Going to class more (tough one)
Drinking less (real tough one)
Learning Spanish
Reading more
Running (getting ready for my Marathon class)
Playing piano
Being better at both of my jobs
Spending more time with my family
Making gay friends (cause the list is short)
Eating better

Yeah, like I said, it's a lot. I'm not overwhelmed by it, but I'm wondering which ones are important to me and why. Those are the things I should focus on.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

The Laramie Project

The Laramie Project is a play that depicts the life of Matthew Shepard, who was tied to a fence post, beaten, and left for dead in Laramie, Wyoming because he was gay. He died three days after the brutal beating. The show was put together by a team that traveled to the town of Laramie so that the same fate might not happen to others. To find out more about Matthew Shepard, click here.

Tyler Civic Theatre recently said that they were going to produce this show, and rehearsals have already begun. The show is being funded by Tyler Area Gays. In the past couple of weeks, people have gone to the board of TCTC, and told them that they would prefer that the show not be done because it would promote the "gay agenda." This is the letter that I wrote to TCTC in response:

To Whom It May Concern,

I understand that The Laramie Project is going to be performed at Tyler Civic Theatre in June. This is a great opportunity not only for the performers to be able to play such difficult and stretching roles, but also for the people who choose to come. They will be educated as to the effects that prejudice has had on many people, including myself. Having seen the show in the past, I must say that it had a profound impact on my life and the way that I think about the people around me.

The show is not just a play; it is the story of a young man who was killed because of the type of person that he was. He was killed because of hate, and also because of fear. People fear what they do not understand, and pulling the plug on the show would be allowing prejudice and hate to continue.

I urge you to stand up for the young man who was helpless, who was beaten, and who was left for dead. Stopping the production of this show is agreeing with Matthew Shepard’s killers. They too thought his life meant nothing.

If TCTC’s mission truly is to educate and to enrich through theatre, then this show is the perfect way to do that, and I hope that no hate or fear will stop it. Thank you for your time, and I hope that open minds will prevail.

-Scott Good


If you would also like to write them a letter, please send it to info@tylercivictheatre.com

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Quote

Not sure who said it, but this is all I've got for today:

Never confuse the will of the majority with the will of God.


That's all.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

260 days...

So, I've only got 260 days until I graduate, and I'm still deciding what I want to be when I grow up, but the more I talk to people about it, the more I realize that that's not such a bad thing.

I could try to find something at Southwest Airlines. While I was in Dallas on Tuesday I went to see my old team from last summer. They were all happy to see me, and many inquired as to when I would be applying at SWA. That's something that I'm obviously interested in, but it's hard to find a job there because no one really leaves...

I could do restaurant management (briefly) and hope that I can either own my own place one day or eventually become a consultant. We'll see.

Another possibility is working for a University in Career Services and getting a free Masters. I am already more than qualified for many of the positions that I've viewed at many places. Plus, FREE MASTERS!

Event planning is something I've got under my belt, and I feel like I'm pretty good at speaking in public, and with the experience that I've gotten in the last two years, I would have to say that that is something that I can pursue later in life.

The point is: I've got options. I am realistic, and I know that I won't have my dream job right off the bat, but I'm confident that I can find something enjoyable with enough money upon graduation or shortly thereafter.

On a completely different subject, I finished Up In The Air (the book), and it was incredibly anti-climactic, but it was still very good. The language is incredible, and the moral of the story is something that we only passively realize. The book faces the subject head-on. Ready to see the movie.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Dallas Weekend


So I went to Dallas on Saturday for my brother's proposal, as you might have seen on facebook. They've been together for a little over two years now, and I was glad that I got to be there. My mom cried, and we all talked about how much we love both of them, etc. It was a great time.
After that, I went and hung out with some friends in Uptown. We chilled and cooked and watched TV, but it was better because it was in a city, and there's just something about being away.
We went to a comedy club later and had a great time. We got priority seating, sat on the front, and of course, one of the comedians asks for my name and proceeds to use it throughout the whole show, because I'm Scott Good, and this is what happens to me. Btw, Brad Williams is a hilarious entertainer. And everything is funnier when a little person says it.
After that, we just went back, went to sleep, got up, cleaned up, had lunch and headed out. It was so great to be out of town for even 24 hours. It was a ton of fun, and it put me in a much better mood. I'm ready for Spring Break though. I'm gonna stop through Dallas on Wednesday of next week then head to Austin probably the next morning.
Have a good week.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Bored at the Office

I'm really, really bored, so in an attempt to be introspective, I'm going to write 25 things about me that people may or may not know.

  1. I was born in Mississippi, but I consider Texas to be my home for sure.
  2. I have extreme road rage at times. Ask my close friends.
  3. I'm a mama's boy.
  4. I have very few gay friends; the vast majority of my friends are straight males.
  5. Even though I despise it at times, I know I will miss working in restaurants.
  6. When it comes to drinking, most of the time, I prefer beer over anything else.
  7. I pretend to be much nicer than I really am.
  8. I very, very rarely cry; not my thing. It's easier to just be angry.
  9. I'd rather eat at a local place than a chain any day.
  10. I don't like coffee; I'm weird; I know. Please stop gasping when I say it.
  11. I'm a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, largest social fraternity in the world.
  12. People abusing animals makes my blood boil.
  13. I want to have a library in my house.
  14. I also want to have a wine cellar/bar in the house.
  15. I want to live in a city, but I'll always have a soft spot for the country.
  16. I love my friends, but I hate weddings. If I go, it's for the open bar.
  17. I do not use any form of racist/prejudiced/bigoted language. It's foul.
  18. My favorite cookies are oatmeal chocolate chip.
  19. I love hearing history; I hate learning it.
  20. I suck at being by myself; I'm a very social being. One person's company is enough.
  21. I'd rather buy an excellent photograph than a painting.
  22. I love to cook, but hate doing dishes more than I love cooking, so I eat out a ton.
  23. I play up my southern accent for people up north because it makes me more intriguing.
  24. I have two dogs, and they are like my children.
  25. I need to know things. I don't like secrets.
Yeah, I'm that bored.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Bittersweet

As much as I talk about getting out of East Texas, I do realize that it will be bittersweet.

I'm pretty comfortable here. On campus, I know who I need to talk to to get what I want and need, and people know me well enough that it doesn't take a lot of effort to get it. When I go out to eat, I only have a few places that I go, and they know me, some know my name, and they know what I like to drink and some of my favorite food items.

I went in to a promotions company today to see if I could get a gift for someone, and I've done a large amount of business with them over the years. They got the gift for me even though you're technically supposed to order at least 25. They told me I was such a great customer that they didn't mind and would make it work.

It's hard for me to go out without seeing a number of people that I know where ever I am, and it's gotten to be very normal for me. I don't know what it will be like when I have to start over again. It will be exciting in some ways, and I got a taste of it this past summer, but it'll be a building process all over again.

Ready for Spring Break! ATX, here I come!!

Also, 298 days til I graduate.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Maturity

I can feel it, and I notice it all the time. I'm getting more mature. I've always been pretty grown up, a little ahead of people my age, but lately I've started to actually feel like an adult.

Part of it is my self control. I've been in some really stressful situations in the past couple of months, and instead of panicking, I've been just handling it. I've realized that panicking doesn't do anything but make things worse. I choose not to stress, and I deal with the problem at hand.

Other self control things have been that I used to be a great procrastinator, and even though I still push things off sometimes, it now resembles prioritization. I deal with the most important things at hand, and then I take care of other things down my list. Even if it's something that I don't want to do, I just do it. It has to get done, and I might as well get it over with.

A lot of the changes have been subconscious, but other things have been intentional decisions. I've begun budgeting. I pay much more attention to the things that I spend my money on, and I consider the payments that I need to be making. I'm almost out of the small amount of debt I had accumulated, and I'm catching up on some other things as well.

Clothing was another choice; Before I buy, I think, "Would a professional wear this?" Not that I dress for the office all the time, but my purchases look less and less young all the time. At work, at both jobs, my professionalism has increased. I take care of things in a timely and polite manner, and my presence in meetings is more mature than ever.

Don't get me wrong: I'm still the same fun guy. I know how to have a good time, but time and place is something that I've learned to adapt to. I like it.

Btw, I didn't really get "arrested." I had an outstanding speeding ticket, and the City Marshall took me to the court to pay it. No booking or anything crazy, but it was an interesting morning for sure.

Also, I just made plans for Spring Break. Just going to Austin to see some friends. Should be a good time. Not going til the second half of the week (the 10th of March) so hit me up about plans before that.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Long time, no blog!

So… yeah, I'll skip the apologies and head straight into what's going on.

It's 313 days until I graduate from UT Tyler, and that's exciting. You know what else is exciting? SAINTS WON THE SUPERBOWL! FINALLY!

Anyway, I'm only taking 15 hours this semester, and it's still pretty brutal. Work in Career Services has picked up immensely. I had to take the laptop home and work over the weekend. This was in between working at Outback in Longview, which is also getting busier, which means the money is improving. I'm excited about that, too.

I do feel a little stagnant because I feel like my classes are very, very repetitive, and I'm still not meeting my full potential because all I can do is part-time jobs. 313 days. I just keep telling myself that. Then I'll be gone for good. This is not to say that I'm not happy; I'm quite happy, but I'm ready to go out and make my mark on society. I'm ready to live in a more open-minded region.

Someone gave me the greatest compliment the other day; he told me that I seemed like I was from the city. What a nice guy.

That's just a quick catch-up. I'll try to stay on top of things, and if you're good then I'll post about getting arrested a couple of weeks ago.