New ‘Lectric Jams
The Breakfast Diet
There’s a new craze among young adults across the nation, but not necessarily throughout the world. It’s called ‘The Breakfast Diet,’ a food eating pattern where one has a meal within the first hour or so of waking up.
The word ‘breakfast’ is actually pronounced like ‘brekfist’ in English, which translates to the act of breaking a fast, or an overnight hunger strike, if you will. Scientists do not research the phenomenon, but scholars maintain that breakfast IS, in fact, the most important meal of the day. The Breakfast Diet is a great way to harness large amounts of life force energy for the day that lies ahead. Nutrients from foodstuffs consumed provide protection against evil spirits like fatigue and irritability.
There are many ways to enjoy trying the Breakfast Diet on, like a new pair of skinny jeans:
-By yourself in your home. This works great for introverts!
-With a loved one at a diner. Or a loved two or three . . . if you’re into that sort of thing.
-At a fast food restaurant, although it may give you more of a stomach ache than peace of mind.
-At a Bed & Breakfast, a hotel-like location more popular in the ancient 1900s where breakfast is served and beds are supplied.
-At a hotel, which does the same thing as a Bed & Breakfast but is way more legit.
Believe it or not athletes around the world swear by breakfast, as well as other people who eat breakfast. You may not lose weight right away by trying the Breakfast Diet, but I do promise you from personal experience:
It feels wonderful to wake up, eat something you made yourself, and not spend the rest of the morning thinking ‘What the fuck is my life?’
Try the Breakfast Diet. It will take your fucks away. – RSM
Cigarettes on the Balcony
I sit in a chair suited for a poor king.
Jacket open, wind swirling about
as I light a cigarette and put it to my mouth.
Inhaling what’s no good for me, I ponder
why the pigeons change directions so abruptly
as they follow the wind currents, flying
unpredictably as the the air’s force coerces them.
A feeling of peace enters my nervous system
as I exhale into the sun. Free. Serene. Euphoric.
I look down at the streets below me and think of
how many tiny humans exist from here to Long Island.
How different and similar it would be to live somewhere else.
This little moment of clarity reminds me
that we all take smoke breaks here and there
and there’s no shame in it, even if you don’t smoke.
This overwhelming peaceful feeling
that invades my body like nature’s hippie bacteria
is nothing short of a miracle;
I let my body hang over the chair
and soak in the sun.
Contra La Corriente
Certain songs leave me paralyzed.
It’s not easy to relive childhood memories
when growing up is all that’s on your mind.
Singing along to Marc Anthony
was my reality across this living room
twenty years ago.
It’s on VHS tapes
that will never see the light of day
except for family gatherings
of rarity and importance.
I exist as I always have, yet
so much has happened since
I was in diapers.
My life has seen many a happening.
throughout this experience I’ve danced,
sang, laughed and lived too many times
to not say it all brings me back to my origins:
Salsa music, the living room
where I’ve always lived
now a beautiful collection of framed pictures
each recanting memories of sonrisas y bailar
and trips to places I never thought I would go.
I don’t know how to fail because
all is never lost if I can smile
through all the personal tragedy.
I was born to laugh
and trained to work hard;
a combination that left other
dancers in the dust.
Be it plaques on the wall
or lighting up the eyes of others,
I live to be happy.
Of all the hard times, accomplishments and
memories for better or worse
the smiles resonate so radiantly
and I am proud of who I am. – RSM
On ‘Adult World’
As I watch other poets
retell their fake lives
on this nightmarish eve that falls
a strange sense of jealousy comes over me.
Am I living mine or giving mine to them?
As Ms. Roberts goes on her own journey.
Good gone bad gone bored gone to be mystified
by the hypnosis machine of old.
How awkward things have gotten in the realm of Ms. Roberts.
I love it. Tres adventurous. She just puked. – RSM
Shame Is A Hoax
As I pass my high school on ye olde bus route
I feel a redemptive chill run down my spine,
Striking a chord that no song could touch upon
Nor any words could make me think about.
I was a good boy, following all the rules
To get into a good college.
Now my life is all about ‘been there, done that,
Appointment this, appointment that’
And yet I feel a regretless sense of satisfaction
To know Im making better decisions sooner than later.
I’m doing what I must to show who I trust
That I’m a swimmer, not a sinker.
A former party boy nowadays
With no intention of going back to his old ways.
I never asked anyone to ‘Put the money in the bag’
Because good times on my mind was all I ever had.
Let this be a lesson learned to myself:
There are other ways to heaven,
Dont put yourself through hell.
Relax
As my crooked jaw line clicks into place
I hear the ambient sounds of the air propelled
from my netbook into my eardrums.
I press and switch away on the keyboard
to combat boredom hand-to-hand.
A serenity-ridden, guilt-stripped night
where I have thus far achieved my ultimate goal.
Rewinding time is as impossible as it sounds,
even memories get distorted.
Late is better than not at all to right wrongs
and improve on self-perceived imperfections.
Xes not on my mind for once, seY I’m a mirror
Of what I’m used to being lately; calm, cool,
collected my thoughts and placed them in order.
Does that make me the same? Different?
Was I ever addicted to anything but love, really?
It does make the world go round, ya know.
Aristotle was onto something when
he equated the rotation this oblate spheroid
having it’s power come from laughter and joy
Yet everyman wants to be more, not less,
It’s always No, not Yes.
As the music pumps peace through my veins
I smile at these words, not even caring that
life will never be the same.
It will be better. – RSM
Music is My Antidote
An infinite shame hath been cast on my imagination
and that is where it will stay.
Curiosity made the cat ask ‘What’s that’?
but as I now embark on a quest to
Take Back Sunday with fortified Sleep Armor
I find myself the Master of my Domain;
a musically learned Kobra with no need for
a crafty snake charmer.
I have the venom in my veins that could sting so hard
the moon and stars have to shield their word processors
for the intellect about this repaired little canoe is so TRUUU
you’ll wonder, if you’ve done me wrong why I’ve spared you.
A meditative Chinese Snake I am,
forming figure 8s as I shed my old skin,
all the while old memories of being the life of the party
makes my muscles clench like a high flying Hardy
boyyyy you have no idea where I’ve been, how many
blocks I’ve been around, how many towns across the
Atlantic I’ve unleashed my party animal for a swim,
I still didn’t drown.
How playfully ironic Life can be
when you can poke fun at you, yourself and me.
Admitting faults is the name of the game
when you’re rebuilding confidence and keeping yourself sane.
The End never comes until you’ve lost the will
so I’ll sit back, relax and chill
as these words escape my mind at my discretion,
regardless of their affiliation or impression
I forgive trespasses with the expectation of vice versa,
Typing these lightning bolts or writing in cursive,
hitting high notes and being subversive,
Tone is the difference between speaking to los Reyes
and letting the Devil come out, then you’re the ‘True Playa.’
Don’t play the game unless you’ll be a good sport
If you lose, don’t be a sore one at that.
Black, White, Pink, Purple, we’re all from the jungle
so be respectful to all the Cool Cats. – RSM
5 Ways To Overcome The Quarter Life Crisis
I was going through it from late summer until mid October. If parents are reading, Johnny and Jane aren’t just going through a phase if they’re freaking out over post-college plans or if they can’t seem to find that one stable job.
Growing up has taken a whole new meaning to the generation with the social label of ‘Millenial’ placed on them. The economy in the United States has shifted many a mindset from saving to holding onto what you have for dear life, for the ‘kids’. If 20-somethings aren’t kids anymore (we’re not) we are now at the very bottom of the totem pole in the adult world.
Things are different. A friend told me once, “Getting a good job nowadays is like getting a record deal.” This is what my personal quarter life crisis had centered around. This is how I managed to keep on keepin’ on through some recent hard times:
1. Self Awareness.
I made a lot of friends and memories in my young adult years (18-24 years old). Looking backwards and forwards like a confused driver who can’t fit into his parking spot, I’ve realized what kind of person I am. Mistakes were made and awesome times were had. I hold no regrets in my mind or on my chest or anywhere else in my proverbial anatomy. Growing up doesn’t always mean logging your height on your doorframe. It means taking a step back and looking around to see what it is you want in life and how to achieve it. Achieve on, friends.
2. Breaking up with Denial.
“My parents don’t want to me to do this.”
“I love him/her, it doesn’t matter if they’re not good for me.”
“I’ll do that life changing thing later, it’s too much work.”
Those statements are all BS. If you think BS thoughts then YOU are BS. Think about it. It’s one thing to take on too much at once and then implode; I did that and it sucks. But to deny responsibility for one’s own actions is an irreplaceable trait of the unwanted. No one digs a liar. Contemplate on that before you apply to do anything you have to apply to do. It will hurt you more in the long run to “Fake it ‘til you make it” then to “Be real and see what happens.”
3. Have Fun
You have a lot of responsibility, you young adult you, but it’s still a great idea to go to that concert, meet someone new, and kick ass on the dance floor when you can! This is the basis of life: enjoying it. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and chicks don’t go for the dull boys. Same thing applies to all other romantic combinations. If you can’t have fun while being destroyed by The Man or your job, then they have you on a tighter leash than you may be willing to admit.
4. Toning Down The Nonsense
Not enough fun, sadly is not as bad as too much fun. Such is the downfall of many a Millenial crossing over into young adulthood. I’m a victim of my own inner party animal running a bit too wild and free. We all love to party, but some of those late nights should count for something more than being the one to last the longest on a keg stand. Toning down the nonsense simply means every night is not a good time. Some nights suck. A lot. What matters is being able to hold back that rave-thirsty individual within you until the time is right and in moderation with more important priorities. I’ll be rereading this paragraph for months to come to let it sink into my own head.
5. Self Reassurance
Does life suck?
Yes.
Getting exactly what you want out of life is never easy and very rare. Working to get what you want makes whatever comes your way all the more easy to deal with. Times with friends can help you forget that you’re alone in the world, fighting tooth and nail to achieve whatever you set out to do. Family will always remind you that you never really were alone in the world. As long as you don’t get too down on yourself or go crazy with stress, you’ll be fine; I mean hey, I did both and I’m still hanging in there. – RSM
Writer’s Street Corner
When it hits it throws me into a fit.
I don’t call it a block, what a misnomer that would be.
when I can’t make a new line, a new sentence, paragraph,
I feel like I need to giraffe my neck over the clouds
and take a horizon-style gander at what I could write
or type down after the previous clause.
I don’t call it writer’s block because when I feel
that no new writing is harvesting on my mental farm
I feel trapped, suffocated; clause-trophobia sets in as
my life begins to implode.
What a silent freak out it always is.
My mind’s gears turn and turn
and churn out no result of the sort that
I feel that I was born to do, no due date needed
when my word mill’s gone a-dry.
No muse do I call but my own mirror, however, when
my and mice’s plans to write hath gone awry.
“Take it easy, take a break. No rush, it’s all great!”
Yet I feel stifled when I’m in such a state
where the national policy is cutting off the creative juices on tap
to those who depend on such an ale for all potential ailments.
Whether strong or frail as a Pensman or Penswoman,
Don’t let a simple situation like an idea drought
lead to your train of thought’s derailment.
Push through the block and get to the writer’s street corner.
You’ll find much surroundings to paint in your notebook,
or laptop or wherever you speak,
Like Jimi Hendrix playing from a hoopde down the street
and lots of beef down the block, in the butcher’s shop
cause the butcher just got arrested by the cops
for serving expired slop,
or
that time on that 90 degree angle
between Avenue X and Boulevard Y
when a mischievous child let water balloons fly.
Unsuspecting groceries got a bag full of wet
and the lady who owned them wanted his head.
On this writer’s street corner the positive reigns supreme
for a ‘block’ of such implies a stoppage;
Word to Goose Gossage, just write something random
and the writer’s apex-complex offers no more animosity.
Olly Oxymoron, oui, just let the words flow through you.
Take a walk outside when blocked, my fellow writers,
and remember how the streets once knew you. – RSM
Rubén Sebastián Muñiz | ∞ 