Click, Click, FLASH!

Today I actually was able to fully use my new camera.  The experience was orgasmic.  Like, seriously.  Using this camera was such a great experience; I do not have any idea how I survived just using a digital camera before.  I took hundreds of pictures (I think 600).  Some were good, and some were fantastic.  I deleted most, but I saved around 15.  The following six pictures are the elite of the group- at least,  I believe they are.  I hope you enjoy!

BRILLIANT PHOTOS FROM 7/28

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Caleb Deveraux Photography

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Caleb Deveraux Photography

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Caleb Deveraux Photography

 Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Caleb Deveraux Photography

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Caleb Deveraux Photography

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Caleb Deveraux Photography

My Darling Creature

Photo taken by Caleb Deveraux with Caleb Deveraux Photography

Turtles.  Sometimes awfully small or rather large, but always adorable.  I've always wanted a turtle, but for some reason, I seem to have never acquired one.  I believe they are currently endangered and are not permitted as house pets in NJ?  Idk.  I could be wrong.  I'm going to go get me one though, regardless!

I was sitting in my friends room last night thinking about it- what kind of boy has never had a turtle?  They're like the most chilled evverrr.  Like, even more than fish.  So, the next time I get paid, I am going to run over to Pet Smart and see if it actually is legal to have turtles as pets.  If so, I'll have a tank and some turtles set up somewhere in my ridiculously cluttered room by Saturday morning.

Oh!  I'll have to think of some names.  I've decided I am not going to be ridiculously generic and name one Franklin, so I'm going to need some suggestions guys!  Do you have any good turtle names in mind?

Okay, Okay, I'll Tell You About It...

Dear Advice Columnist probably named Abby or Agony Aunt:

I am at a precipice, and this is why...

Okay, so I am presented with three meals.  They all look spectacularly delicious and will put me into a coma and give me the itis like NO OTHER, but I cannot have all three, even though that would be fantastic.  I'd probably gain ten pounds and look as if I was ready to squeeze out some twins, but it's still possible.  Nontheless, I can have two of these wonderous gifts from the universe.   First, there's the pizza with it's cheesy cheese, spicey tomato sauce, array of meats toppings, and the doughy goodness termed crust.  For desert, there's cookies.  Tons and tons of cookies.  I can also have the deluxe bacon cheeseburger topped with bacon (obviously), tantilizing mushrooms, ketchup, mayo, lettuce, and tomato.  What's for desert you ask?  Well,  Good 'ol chocolate cake!  That's what.  Lastly, I can have the spaghetti with meatballs, with homemade red sauce and celery and peanut butter for dessert.  If you know anything about me, you'd know the first two options are my most favoritest meals ever.  Ever, you guys.  Evveerrrrrrrr.  The spaghetti is also a favorite of mine; however, it lacks in comparison to it's counterparts.  You're probably thinking to yourself that there's no competition at all.  For one, there's cake.  Who in there right mind denies cake?!  Also, if the spaghetti is inferior to the pizza and deluxe bacon cheeseburger, why even reflect on the dilemma?  You have your answer, fool!  But, here's the problem.  While the pizza and deluxe bacon cheeseburger are both extremely pleasing and desired, the spaghetti seems to be more lucrative.  I mean, it's much more healthier. It has presence. It has personality.  Annnd you can twirl it all fancy like around your fork and slurp it at the dinner table and annoy the hell out of everyone!  This is where the problem lays though.  Do I pass up the opportunity to scarf down one of my favorite meals and replace it with the spaghetti?  Solely because it has the potential to be more lucrative.  Or do I remain faithful with what I love and enjoy, for it will bring me the greatest pleasure of all, kinda like that pleasurable experience I had when I read the last sentence of Breaking Dawn and was like, "Thank you gawwwd for ending this wretched concoction of trite motifs, elementary vocabulary, self-destructive teenagers, and polyamorous relationships involving creatures of the night, creatures of the moon, and palefaces.  Thankkkk you."

You've probably deduced that I'm not truly talking about food.  This post is all about career opportunities and the education that is involved.  At the moment, I am attending nursing school.  I am almost finished the curriculum; however, my interest and desire of the field dwindles every day.  If I do stick it out, I will not only have a very prosperous career that will present me with a number of venues, but and I can also make others refer to me as Florenco Nightingale: the new and improved, while also darker and manlier version of Florence Nightingale. Why settle though?  Why continue down a path that I know is going to bring me misery.  I mean, how could I, a being who loves the arts and intellectual conversations about Thoreau and the latest gadgets, be content with cleaning up poopie and treating infections.

I have always had a passion for English and computer science (English represents the pizza and computer science the deluxe bacon cheeseburger).  I can see myself performing as an English and Computer Science teacher.  I can see myself embracing the role of a publisher or a literary agent.  I can see myself working in a career that revolves around computer programming or graphic design.  I dream about these jobs daily.  I covet these dreams more than I covet a sex slave that plays the piano and violin.  However, there is the possibility that I will not have a fruitful career with these majors.  There is the possibility that I will not make it through the course load.  And if I am unhappy after pursuing English and Computer Science, I will be incensed because I could have just been unhappy with nursing, a job that would have allowed me to experience various atmospheres and still collect a substantial salary.

What should I do?

-Gloomy and Perplexed,  xoxo

Where Art Thou, Love?

Photo taken by Crystal DeJesus

Ah, true love. Such a fantastic occurrence. Many people spend their entire lives searching for "the right one" and that head-over-heels feeling. While some do find it, many often do not. It is tragic when this happens because everyone deserves to be with their soul mate. When I was a kid, Aladdin was my favorite movie. I watched it numerous times each day. It'd be an understatement to say that I loved the film. I was OBSESSED. And not with just the storyline and the prospect of a commoner becoming a prince and winning the princess.  The love story as well; it was the most important and exciting part! The relationship Aladdin and Jasmine shared was bewitching. I remember imagining myself on that carpet, singing to a beautiful woman. I remember wanting the chase, the passion, the devotion.

15 years later, I am still the romantic I was when I was a child. The thrill of that magic carpet ride still has me enthralled; however, it also has me weary. Love has done both wondrous and destructive things for people, and it's as if it's a coin. As of now, the only side of that bittersweet coin I've experienced is the destructive one. I know the risk that falling in love presents; however, I love being in it's iron grip. It has me singing, and dancing, and dreaming.  One day we will all hopefully find our mates.  As for now though, keep living life!

Love is a common motif in most films; however, I have always thought the Disney movies have been the most romantic.  Which was your favorite Disney movie/ and or couple?

Let's Change Lives Today

In the words of Maryanne, the extremeists Jesus freak who stars as the antagonist to the ever so charming Olive Penderghast in the film "Easy A", lets change lives today.  There's something about the prospect of helping a fellow human that makes me want to jump up and down and squeal with delight.  Even if it's in a simple way, like giving a homeless man half of my Wawa sandwich.  The feeling is gratifying.  It's... natural.  And it's exactly what Libba Bray did to me at 4 a.m on July 21st, 2011.

Last night I finished the book Going Bovine by Libba Bray.  I think it would be an understatement if I said that she is a YA goddess. Her writing is so beautiful and original- witty and strong.  It's so powerful that I was hooked by page seven and did not eat, rest, or slumber until I was done the book.  Even after I finished the book, I couldn't seem to move.  I was in awe.  I stayed in the same spot, barely managing to tweet my reaction to the goddess herself, for an hour.  Now what did I do in this hour besides give into my addiction to Twitter, you ask?  Well, I reflected of course.  My process of thinking was altered by Libba's masterpiece.  In a sense, she attacked my brain cells in a similar way that the condition the protagonist of Going Bovine had attacked his.  While I was left still healthy with no hallucinations, I went through a metamorphosis, stimulated by Libba's awesomeness, that turned me into the person I've always wanted to be.  For years, I have been attempting to live a joyous and optimistic life.  It was a daily struggle, and effort was always needed.  Now that I'm a sparkling butterfly though, I no longer need to put in that effort!  As I join in on my own thought parade and observe all of my thoughts, I can see that the evil that was once laced around each of them has disappeared.  I can feel the silver lining of the universe wrapping itself around me, forming a cloak that glows and radiates love and happiness (Oh my, I just sounded like a hippy -_-).  'Tis my Cloak of Giggliness.

Now, how could a book possibly do this to me in an hours time?  What subliminal message did I interpret from the journey of two adolescent boys that was etched in the form of a NY Times Best Seller? Two words: live life.  There is nothing more important than living life.  Having fun, making friends, meeting new people, falling in Looooooove.  It's all necessary.  It's all important.  TRYING to be optimistic used to inhibit my ability to truly live.  I often focused more on trying to get over something horrendous than actually doing it.  No longer will I be hindered by these inhibitions though.  Because of the tragic, yet inspiring and completely "nuclear", journey of young Cameron Smith, my perspective on life has been altered- which subsequently allowed my thought process and personality to form anew as well.  The darkness that once coated my life has been expelled, and now, nothing but a pure bright light of happiness and bliss remains in it's place, begging for me to live life.  For, for every awesome experience I have, there are a thousand more waiting to occur, and life is wayyyyy too short to stress about the negative.  Who knows when I'll slip away into that in-between place that processes your soul and reincarnates it as a flower, rock, or cockroach.

So, as Libba Bray has changed my life, I tend to attempt to do the same for every being I encounter.  It is a personal mission, and I shall do it to the DEATH!

My Favorite Portraits (Taken by Me)

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Deveraux Photography

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Deveraux Photography

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Deveraux Photography

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Deveraux Photography

I will live here one day!

Photo by Caleb Deveraux with Deveraux Photography

John & Heather

Photo by Caleb A. Deveraux with Deveraux Photography

There was Romeo & Juliet, Tristian & Isolde, Kate & Leopold, Noah & Allison, and then John & Heather. Love is an aspect of life that should be experienced by every living being.  You know, that type of love that makes you weak in the knees.  That love that makes you unattractive because it's made you sob uncontrollably for hours and excrete snot like a dog does slobber.  That love that also makes you overcome any obstacle that is laid before you.  And lastly, that love that will allow you to think back on your life when you're old, gray, and wrinkly and remember how lucky you were to find that one.  That one that loved you for you, and that one that ordered you Chinese take-out at least two times a week.  Who wouldn't want someone like that?!

Teaser Tuesday!!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following to participate:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title &; author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 My teaser this week comes from...

Going Bovine, Libba Bray

"The Wizard of Reckoning points his finger at me again, and my body screams in anguish, as if I'm on fire.  It brings me to my knees, shutting my eyes against the searing pain."