Recover

me: It's like once every 30 days I'll feel like being creative, like writing. Then, I'll sit down and do it. Pretty soon I get frustrated because it's just not coming out right. Then, I end up quitting. It takes me so long to recover that the feeling doesn't come back for 30 days.
What is it with being creative?
What is it with having a creative job? (are most jobs 'creative jobs'?)

For whatever reason, I feel like listing out my fondest memories associated with my friends from back home:

Katie Schwyhart: We met in marching band. She was a sophmore and I a junior, and she had a conjoined (but unrelated) twin named Sam. I don't really know how we hit it off, but we did and ever since we've been hanging out together. My fondest memory is coming back from Juneau, Alaska, eating at the P, hanging out at Laura's house, playing spoons... just catching up. Katie and her parents supported me richly on that mission trip, so it made it extra special to come home and get to share stories right away. Other memories: playing baseball at clinton lake together with Justin; bowling; our last hang out at Mass St. Deli before I went off to LA; Katie coming to Chicago, then to Cole's house for Thanksgiving in May. Katie coming to Chicago for Christy Nichols (we all know it was to hang with me...) and then getting Thai food.

Justin Davis: We also met through marching band as sophmores. He quickly introduced me to Nick Ryan and Mike Powell. The four of us took Japanese together our junior years... it was a joke... I don't know if any of us learned anything... poor Holt sensai. (pssssssssssttt.) We drove to Vail with Matt Lawrence for spring break '06. That was awesome b/c of the hookup in the Mariott at the base of the mountains, and b/c of the snowboarding. My favorite memory is when we were driving to his house after school and the whole "shi... I mean shiiiiit." incident. Also, the burpage down Mass St. It was also fun catching up over spring break '05 when he returned from Paris and we drove back to KS together. He was the star of my first digital movie for media class... the movie that won the film festival in high school. He's one of those guys that I'll never speak to for like 3 months, and when we talk again, we catch up in an instant. Good friend, and I think had a role in me turning my life around and starting to follow God (mostly because of his example as we lived life together through high school). We also drove to Ft. Benning, GA to see Nick graduate from boot camp... good times. Oct. 11, 2001 - Alien Ant Farm at the Granasty... awesome. Justin's b-day, our favorite band at the time, and a small crowd = surfing, and general rocking out.

Nick Ryan: Great guy... so full of passion and vigor (case in point: driving back from Ft. Benning, Nick sat the whole time in the passing lane, never getting over. When questioned about his slow speed and other people being forced to pass in the right lane, Nick said, "That's their problem, not mine"... not funny to me then, but histerical now). Nick likes to disagree, but will occasionally be a softy. I love to hang out with him because he's such a change of pace from normal, boring people. My favorite memory with nick is getting lunch together every day during Mr. Wells 'writing for college bound' class. We'd run to BK or Subway and run back to school scarfing down our 2000 calorie meals. He had a big yellow van (not mini van, but van) when I first met him and we'd go driving around Lawrence and Nick would drive through grassy knolls and over curbs and didn't care b/c it was a crappy old van. Later, he got the usagi. I love hanging out with Nick. Also had a blast at the aforementioned 10/11/01 rock concert.

Josh Spradlin: Favorite memory -- wrestling in his basement for no real reason after school... and nobody would win, but we'd carry on forever... really wierd. I met Josh when I transferred to Prairie Park elementry in 5th grade. He took care of me (literally) when I had my 9 month long leg surgery in 6th grade. Every day from 5th grade on, I'd go to his house after school and play video games... a tradition we still hold. We also make a great basketball team (against Kiel and Dennis). We tend to have an esp going on the court. As I think back, I think I made fun of Josh a lot as we went through junior high and high school together... something I regret. Josh has a soft spot for pussy (cats) named Ava (that's an inside joke). I remember going to Royals games with Josh and cheering for Chili Davis together. I also remember him taking me to many a KU basketball games. Josh had a stellar line in my movie titled "attack of the grocery store" (which was essentially a huge inside joke based off my first music video and based off of all my friends working with me in the movie). His line was "Moma done call me..." and I can't remember the name, but it was hilarious... probably the only special effect we planned going in to the shoot... we slowed down his voice in post production so it was super slow motion... it was awesome. It only took him five or six takes to keep a straight face.

Dennis Mersmann: My friend since 1st grade... my longest lasting friendship... ever. He's the guy out of all my friends who did everything first... girls, smoking, drinking, etc. He was probably way too cool for me and my other friends, but somehow he still chose to hang with us. There are so many memories that I can't even begin to list them... My favorite was driving in my car around the outskirts of Lawrence and talking, all night. He'd listen and listen, and he'd give advice and he'd relate to me... and that was super special to me. He perfected the 'let's turn down the music, but not turn it off while we're talking' saying. He introduced me to weezer and cake way before I was ready for it. Dennis also got me interested in the arts... he was a naturally gifted artist (probably straight from the womb), and he'd have the classicly cluttered desk all through grade school, but he'd also have lots of neat drawings. He always wore birkenstocks way before they were cool. We watched the NBA finals when it was Michael Jordan and the Bulls vs. Karl Malone, John Stockton and the Jazz. For some reason, we rooted for the Jazz. Recenlty, I've enjoyed drinking beer with Dennis, catching up, and playing mad basketball. We, too, made a pretty good basketball team (me and dennis vs. josh and kiel... ) I also loved playing Mario Tennis with dennis, and being on his team for Madden games. We also went to a Get Up Kids concert in KC together... awsome stuff.

Kiel: I would hang out at kiel's house every day after jr. high school. We'd stay up late and play each other in half life (because his family was cool and were the first one's i knew that had cable internet and cd burners... remember when those weren't common?) I remember going to the Sunflower Music fest with Kiel in Jr. High. We went with his dad and their Brazillian exchange student. I got so sunburned and didn't get to see Everclear, but did see Incubus, and Reel Big Fish... got their autograph. Kiel's funniest line was the whole "What would they call the sequal to 'Gone in 60 Seconds?" line... I was laughing on the floor in the middle of Hastings... and all the way out the door, and into my drivers seat, and through a red light at the next stop light. I guess he really didn't mean to be funny, but he was. My fav. moments with Kiel include our talks over eating food, our awesome games of pool in his basement, the awesome 4th of July parties on his block, going to the huge apartment fire that one 4th. We met through Ryan Nairn in 8th grade... lot of fun ensued. I really admire Kiel for getting engaged and for doing nursing school -- doing what he wants to do.

Camron Flanders -- we met senior year of high school through my soon to be future girlfriend, Sonja. We were all slated to go to prom together, and Camron invited me to his house to hang out before hand. We clicked and like to drive around making fun of people, listening to 50 Cent's 'in the club' before it was popular, and play half life together. Favorite memories include going to Dillons on 6th late at night and having a histerical convo about hydrogenated fats in Oreo cookies, and Camron coming to Chicago to discuss, among other things, Meghan and Annie. It was cool to hang out with a guy much cooler than myself. Camron was cool -- he introduced me to Apple Computers. I've been in love ever since. Camron had the first iPod I'd seen. He also now has the coolest car I've ever seen - a VW VR6 -- it's his baby. And although the girls don't always work out, Cam does date the coolest girls ever... including Lindsey (sorry if I misspelled) right now. I hope they work out. I know some of his coolness must of rubbed off on me at some point along the way. He introduced me to Ben Turner, who is an amazingly witty man.

Sonja Fleischauer: We dated for a long time... she's a really cool girl. Fav. memories include Myrtle Beach (although I must think of only the good things, not the overwhelming high number of bad things that happened on that trip), going to Purdue numerous times, and of course the millions of awesome and brilliant and intimate conversations we had over the years. I met Sonja through working at Hy-Vee in high school. I liked her a long time before we started dating. Sonja was there when I started to follow God (by the grace of God). We loved watching movies together, and sharing our poetry and all that gooey boy-girl stuff. A really cool girl... glad I got to spend some life with her.

Kyle Fowler: I loved hanging out with Kyle. He was tall, atheletic, and a very humble guy. I wish I had more to say... I regret not spending more time with him.

Well, that was fun. I wish I could say more, and say what I already said better, but I'm tired, and my carpel tunnel is kicking in. Merry Christmas.

-C

Jobbing

Issue: The famous rapper (insert name) said it best when he said 'Mo money, mo problems.' I'm already thinking about how I'm going to spend money I'm not close to earning yet. I want: a new car, a better sound system in the new car, a phone/pda with internet, to eat out, HDTV, a Playstation 3, cable television, and on and on. Technically, I'm in the lowest pay bracket I'll ever be in my life, and already I can't find enough ways to spend money. What happens when I actually have money to spend?

Conversation with Josh:
What is money good for? I mean, if I make more money, then I just buy nicer things than what I already have, right? Even if I have millions of dollars, it can't buy me security. Money still exists outside of real security (ie. peace of mind and heart). So, what's the point of getting money? (we like questions)

Conclusions:
1.) Money is good for making things... not buying produced things, but for buying raw things to produce something yourself or with other people. This stuff is called ART. You don't need money to create, but you can creat more complex art with more money (sometimes... obviously this does not apply to hollywood blockbuster films or anything).

2.) Money is good for giving away. Even though it can't buy anyone else real security or happiness, it can temporarily help with other needs.

People can have all kinds of money, and the next day, sometimes literally, it's gone. Other people never have money their whole lives, and are no better or worse off.

All this being said, I still want money. I still want my HDTV and my nice sound system. God help me.

Mae. Check them out! I've been in love with them the last week or so. Great songs, lyrics, melodies... ugh. Good.

I'm going to bust open soon about this whole church discussion Josh and I had a while back... well, have been having for the last 5 months. Later, though.

Eyes open. Ears aware. Mouth ready to talk. You know where to find me.
-C

Fozzle Tov

News Flash:
Collin Pittier just won a million dollars. He intends to spend his money on a lifetime supply of those moist little muffins he had at work last week and on one new pair of shoes. If he has any money left over, the Associated Press reports, he'll give it all to his friend Dennis Mersmann so he can continue to write poetry, be a deskie, and make Collin laugh.

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Here I am, a little ashamed b/c I've not sent my dad's x-mas present yet... and he's not going to get it for a long while... probably like 3 or 4 weeks (he's in Kuwait right now). I feel bad, and I hope he forgives me... I'm sure he will, I just feel bad about the situation.

I went to a preschool's Christmas play tonight... really a blast. All the little kids were awesome. The event started off with each little kid coming in to the room representing a different country of the world. My favorite was the little German kid... I told Lizzie about it afterwards and she told me that his name is Colin Friend. I have a natural gravitation towards kids with my name i guess. Anyway, he was dressed up in classic German attire... I don't know what the outfit is called, but he was cute with his blonde hair and overalls. I don't necessarily want kids of my own right now or anything, but it dawned on me the incredible responsibility and joy it must be to raise a child. I remember back in 5th grade my class went down to the kindergarten class and was assigned a kid to show around the library... part of some program to have kids help other kids. I was only in 5th grade, but it was great to have responsibility of my boy - Evan -- also small with blonde hair (and I think Evan was my alternate name if my sister had been a boy). Kids, out of nature, have to rely on their parents. And parents have to invest in their children, or else the kids get even more messed than normal. On some level, I guess that appeals to me out of my desire to be needed by someone... you know, that natural high you get from helping someone out, or filling a need someone asks you to fill. Bottom line: kids are a blast to watch and enjoy.

What is life but a chance to pass along blessings to others, ease the burdens of others, and enjoy the company of others? Merry Christmas.

The East Side

I want to talk about 'moving on up / to the east side' but all I can really think about is the impact of the Lord's prayer on my life. I've been praying it almost every day, and trying to think of it during work. What amazing words, and what an amazing God... and I know He hears.

Prayer is not some action I do as a christian... not anymore.

I've been thinking about the way Dallas Willard translates the opening line of the Lord's prayer:

"Father, always near."

What a powerful address! Not, "Father way up in the clouds." or "Father way up in some heaven.". Rather, "Father of the heavens", including right here where you and I reside. The traditional translation of this address is "Our Father who art in heaven." Of course my view of God is changing, but my older view of God took that traditional address and pictured God far away. And along with that, I viewed my requests to God as items to be dropped in a postal bin and received by God in a few days. And beyond that, I thought that my prayers would be 'answered' only if it was already part of God's original plan... so my prayer was necessary to prove that I did believe God was up there, but not relavant to what would transpire in the heavens (here, there, everywhere). 'Father, always near." gives me the original intention of the traditional translation, "Our Father who art in heaven."

When I pray to God, he is aware of it just as a parent is aware of a request from a child. He hears me. As I speak or write or concentrate, He hears me. 'Father, always near' addresses our God appropriatly. It has been one of the most humbling phrases I've involved in my life in a while.

I have been promoted at work. Now, when you address me, please call me 'Collin 'on dubs' Pittier' b/c I be rollin' in the dub room. I have responsiblity and an opprotunity to use my brain to problem solve, multitask, and orgainze... and what I'm putting all this energy towards is editing. What I do plays a vital role in editors at my company being able to edit. I feel so much more a part of what happens at Flyer. Stress can be high, but I enjoy it... knowing that my work has meaning.

Have a wonderful December. I look forward to seeing my friends and family here in a little less than two weeks! My ears and eyes are always open.

Much Love
-Collin