Am not!- AM TOO!

And so here we meet, all together, very different but all the same in that fact. (thanks ryan). Spanish has been enlightening on so many levels. Beyond the basic need to breakdown the communication barrier, I have learned so much about myself and my tendencies through the mirror of language. Samuel Fernandez, my spanish teacher explained to us that in Espana, people are more apt to use the present tense juxtaposed against the tendency of Americans to speak in the future and the past.

Take a step back, now why does this even matter, and what are the implications?

First, calm down, its going to be fine. Secondly, let's examine our own culture. So much of what America is founded in is focused on prospering, and excelling in hopes of a fulfilling life down the road. People working to retire (and then enjoy life) or get to gray hair and tell stories all day long.

Something called life happens in between all of that static. There is never enough family in Spain. Lunches for 3 hours, joking, chatting, and the world comes to a halt for it. Most of you can count on one hand how many times your family has gotten together in the past year. Most of the time, it is simply tolerated.

"But I have to work, to get things, to make money, to have a family, and leave them content."
Just show up and be there, that is where it's at.

By golly, just give everyone a chance to prove themselves.

So go make a jello mold for your neighbor. Everyone deserves a thumbs up.

Ciao- Gooford.

and for a bit of musica for those who need a kick

The French Kicks- So Far We Are
check the side bar

Wake Up

so people. who ever is out there. this is appropriate for two reasons. gooford is back, but never really got started, so wake up already! And arcade fire is a finer thing of life. 

ciao

-gooford

Wake Up from gohn on Vimeo.

Peace and Mullet Grease

Bigger is better, Manifest Destiny lives, and capitalism and materialism define an identity that is America. Indulge as much as you please in this society wherever, at a buffet or a mall. Thank the Lord for the economy bringing us back to the root of what matters, people. Gooford is moving to Spain. In order to truly appreciate and intentionally experience what is in store, we must define what is America. Then we can vividly see the dichotomy in the cultural boundaries. Instead of taking the easy way out, we took the pathway that would lead us to understanding these American ideals. Its name is I-40. 

Oxford, MS to Orange County, CA is 1,876 miles. The trip took us through the Ozarks of Northern Arkansas, through the barren wasteland and densely native Oklahoma, to Shamrock, TX, to Santa Fe, NM, to the Grand Canyon, arriving at the paradigm of bubble lifestyles in Orange County. Experiencing the culture, the people, and the quaintness in America gives me a pretty good idea of what we are. I may not always look like everyone I come across. Some people tend to have more body odor than others, or look like me in the 90’s, but in the end people are people. Although many of us find identity in our culture as well as a level of comfort, that should never get in the way of people being people and interacting without deprecation or prejudice.

-Gooford S.

So, what do you mean?

It seems that it is an opportune time to explain the state of Gooford, as well as defining really what on earth Gooford is. The blog has been stagnant, but the time has been used to figure out the beginning of our direction and our pursuit.

 

There is so much out there that does not get noticed, whether it is a nuance or something marginalized. Embracing this reality and bringing issues to light are the ideas that Gooford will embody.

 

Gooford is not me or someone else, it is a perspective that is shaped by the embrace of culture, and the good within all people.

 

All of this will be taken in the most lighthearted way possible because reality is already blunt enough.

 

Because this stage of the idea is about defining, then we must dive into what defines our culture and what is around us. Keep in touch with things. 

fine, fine, fine!

the finer things club is a group of individuals that meet on a consistent basis to discuss the finer things of life. Including but not limited to: art, literature, music, and so on. The times have been excellent. We wrote this poem to commemorate our times together, as we will be in a hiatus from meetings. 

The stench of moth balls burned his nose hair as he searched through the old boxes in the attic The box was large, its contents unknown It perplexes me as I gaze at it and wandering and peeping I do not condone The box lay still by the hearth that was lit until the cat got to it This boys eyes were shut tight with only the cat as his friend he could not see the light uninvited and rejected little did he know how much he was affected The cliches abounded, pathetic fallacy too black clouds surrounded his feeble form frozen with fear he lifted his eyes heavenward his gaze set as little black drops pelted his nose with inspiration he rose to his feet he did gain no longer did he want to put a bullet in his brain! so he said, Bump That. fellas want some sugar Na more suckas droppin' like flies.

-Meg Johnson (wanted credit so she gets it, only for being a closer)

crack open the craic

In the appreciation of things that are good, all of them in fact, and awareness. I would like to approach this in a manner with a lack of restraint. It is what it is (and that is good). With that said, let us begin being.