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About Tom Stortz

Enjoying my last few responsibility free years left.

Throwing A Pity Party

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I’m aware the post I made yesterday was throwing a pity party and that’s never a good look.  I just had a rough day and needed to vent some frustration.  My car was parked under a tree and shat on about 25 times and that just exacerbated an already mind blowing day.  I think it had something to do with this Vitamin B supplement that I took a few times to help counter act nights of drinking and even though I felt fine on Sunday, I get hit hard on Monday because I didn’t take it.  This is one of those things that if you never start, you never have to deal with.

I purchased a book on Amazon for 1 dollar called the 18 keys of happiness and all I got to was the first.  It said never fall into self pity.  I don’t necessarily think my post was self pity as much as it was self realization.  I think the concept behind this first rule of happiness is fine but also absurd.  It’s the same reason why every kid in intramural sports gets a trophy.  It’s for ideological to think they are improving society when in fact the harsh realization of life is sometimes the best wake up call.  Sometimes things in life are worth waiting for.  Sometimes you just have to go with it.

Just Go With It

 

 

 

By |2014-03-11T18:45:07-04:00March 11th, 2014|My Brain|0 Comments

Worse By Comparison

Have You Reddit?

in-truth-reddit-does-indeed-have-a-bigger-audience-than-places-like-the-new-york-times-web-site.jpgI’ve been going on Reddit a lot lately and when my blog posts become ones that I’m just re-posting from Reddit, I’m not coming up with good original content. When I compare my own site to entries created by thousands of people who are smarter and more creative, not to mention they only have to think of one good idea to make a splash, how can I compete? My traffic has been going down and my formula for this site is growing stale once again. I’m in this constant vacuum of everything I do is not quite good enough. I’m honestly not sure how people deal with this on a consistent basis but I get the feeling most people don’t think about it.

Let me tell you why I suck. I should clarify that it’s not necessarily sucking as much as it’s not clearing the hump. I’m pretty good at something but never good enough to either 1) excel at it 2) make money doing it.  Many times it’s that the idea or training isn’t right.  Take Reddit and how its content is created by users.  It’s already a better platform than my site.  In skill based games, it’s having the right people teach you.    A quick list of activities that I’ve spent way too much time doing that have resulted in 0.

 

Dead Ends

RunningRunning – I enjoy running because it keeps me in shape and makes me feel good. The competitive angle is a nice quality but means nothing to me.  I may start doing a few more races just for something to do and I’m getting older, but it’s purely for enjoyment.  This is actually the most worthwhile activity on this list because MY EXPECTATION IS 0.

poker_11Poker – Playing poker could possibly be the biggest waste of time in my entire life. I’ve spent thousands of hours playing and it resulted in 0.  0 not in a dollar amount but 0 in that I neither won or loss any significant amount of money for all the time played.  This is a good example of not being good enough to overcome the real grinders and guys with too much talent.  Time spent didn’t warrant profit.

tcx2Rnningfool.com – I enjoy maintaining my website but the vision of this being anything but a pet project are fading. My analytics start May 2nd, 2009 which will be coming up to 5 years working on this site. This past period of time has been the most consistent traffic I’ve received ever. I was getting about 20,000 people a month which sounds impressive but not when you realize what pages they are visiting. It’s not like I have 20,000 people reading my homepage anxious for updates. They are people finding some picture I posted of Katy Perry or another big boobed bimbo. Over the years I know I’ve created some good posts that will just go down with the archives.  I like to look at this site as my life though and no dollar amount can be paid for my life.

stortztoolsFamily Business – This one has been killing me the most as of late. I’m sure people think working for a family business is a cake walk but you have no idea what it takes when no one is telling you what to do. I’ve poured my time and energy into this business and at the end of the day it’s not like we are making money hand over fist. It gets difficult devoting your time day in and day out to something that doesn’t pop like you really want it to.  These other examples don’t add up to a 40 hour week for 8 years straight.

 

What’s Your Point Vanessa?

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I’m in the B portion of the human population and this is not as ideal as it seems because I’m tormented by being good but never good enough.  An example, I like playing Chess but what the hell is the freaking point?  I get shit on when I play the chess geeks and the amount of time I would have to spend to get better will result in exactly 0 except personal satisfaction which only takes you so far.  At 30 years of age, there isn’t any random talent that I haven’t discovered about myself.

If you’ve read Outliers, you’d know 10,000 hours of time is what it takes to be an expert at something.  People who can spend 10,000 hours doing something have passion .  I’m a dabbler.  I don’t have one thing in particular that I’m wonderful at, I’m just mediocre in many different things and this leads to nothing.  Enjoy the activity but that’s all there is.  I’m tired of the dicking around process when I already know what the end result is.  This takes me to spending my time doing something that has a purpose.

I’m not a fake person who does things to feel better about themselves.  I would never volunteer to be a firefighter because I’d have no interest putting other people’s lives in my hands (nor getting near fires).  Leave that up to people who actually want to do that.  Which leaves me in this dark, unsettling mindset of not knowing what to do.  I spent a week traveling and that was 10x better than this shitty routine life that I’ve been living for lord knows how many years.  I think getting a taste of that made me realize how much I’m tired of this life I’ve chose.  This post should outline some frustration that I have to imagine other people feel at some point.  I’m putting my foot down an doing something about it.  I don’t know what yet, but expect some changes.

By |2014-03-10T22:00:08-04:00March 10th, 2014|My Brain|2 Comments

Boy – Little Numbers

“You’re giving us goosebumps.” I liked the reaction and think the music isn’t half bad either. I’ve listened to some other of their songs through Spotify and approve. The reaction hits at the 1 minute mark.

By |2014-03-09T16:42:00-04:00March 9th, 2014|Music, Videos|0 Comments

What Would You Say You Do?

I’m going to use this post to write about what I currently do. Work is work, but after work I have a fair amount of free time that I use on various life exercises. My thought on being a human is that you are always trying to improve. Therefore, I try to mix an amount of self improvement as well as activities that are pure fun factor. Here’s the Breakdown:

 

Reading

polls_bushreading_0057_128876_answer_1_xlargeAfter talking to Sam and Alex on Tuesday, everybody doesn’t like to read.  If you are a slow reader and it takes weeks or months to finish books, then reading as pleasure is an afterthought.  I’m not a speed reader but I can push through books if I put my mind to it.  I have probably read a little of everything in terms of genres so I know what I like and what I don’t.  My favorite type books are:

  • Chuck Klosterman and humorous observation of society.
  •  Anything that is popular ie.  Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I do this to be able to hold conversation with others who read with the masses.
  • The classics.  Books that are widely held in high esteem like Atlas Shrugged or Dracula.  I recently finished The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain because it was free on my Kindle.
  • My least favorite books are history and religion.  I’ve been trying to slog through them as of late because they are easily my weakest subjects and I try not to sound like a complete tard.

 

Television

TrueDetectiveHBOI haven’t been watching as much TV which is usually when I decide to read.  True Detective is obviously the #1 show right now and I’ll put on Walking Dead while I’m doing something else because the show has gotten so bad.  I watched the first 2 episodes of the arm wrestling show, Game of Arms, on AMC and it’s watchable but only to see how looks can be deceiving in arm wrestling.  I intend to speed watch House of Cards in the next few days.  I’m looking forward to GOT in the Spring obviously.

 

Movies

ninja_terminator_poster_01I think movies have gotten difficult to watch.  I’m constantly hearing about how good movies are, then I watch them, then I leave feeling like they sucked.  Silver Linings Playbook sucked.  I liked American Hustle but I feel like I’ve seen that 10x over with movies of the past.  Captain Phillips wasn’t bad but I didn’t feel a lick of suspense throughout it.  I’ll DVR movies from the past and catch up on GOOD movies.  ET and Blade Runner were ones I DVR’d.  Movies are usually when I’m pretty bored.

German and Photoshop

I’ve had these on my list to do for a long time and I will continue to increase my skills in them.  These are those useful skills that require actual thought that I add into my life.  I’ve noticed that unless you implement them in your daily routine, the knowledge tends to fade away.  Now that I have more free time again, I’ll make sure I enhance these two practical skills.  I quit this post out of sheer laziness.  I could have kept adding more but it’s Friday and I’m ready to call it quits.

By |2014-03-07T15:48:59-05:00March 7th, 2014|My Life|0 Comments

Wawa Is The Best Place On The Planet

Are you a fan of Wawa?  Read this article and become one.  In it contains 11 reasons why Wawa is popular.   The reasons are their tasty hoagies, fresh food, free Atm’s, touch screen ordering, service, convenience, house brand items, breakfast, 24/7 hours, the place to be, and uniqueness.   As a frequent Wawa customer, I have developed a few of my own particular reasons I love Wawa.

 

Coffee

Wawa-CoffeeHow to miss this one on the list is frightful.  Wawa coffee could be the most highly anticipated reason I go to Wawa out of everything.  It’s almost always piping hot and you get to put in your own cream and sugar.  This last point is so key that there is nothing worse than having my coffee not exactly the way I want it.  Maybe I want 2 truck-loads of sugar and half milk in there, I can.  There are a wide variety of flavors as well which I don’t partake but is certainly a bonus.  Plus it’s so damn good and reasonably priced.  The person who wrote the article should be fired for missing this one.

 

Consistency

ConsistencyI know the Wawa in Fort Washington, Pa is going to be the same in Wilmington, De.  The stores are all the same and the consistency of quality is unmatched.  I know what I’m getting every single time and I like it.  This gives a sense of security and when I see a Wawa in any single location, I identify it with a good experience in a myriad of locations.  This is key in a chain because I don’t stick to just one, but I’ll buy from any of their 625 locations.

 

Gas

Wawa GasNot every Wawa has gas but the ones that do are usually fairly priced in relation to the market.  Is this true or is my bias towards Wawa making me think this?  Do a few cents a gallon even matter?  Whenever I’m out of gas, I’m actively seeking a Wawa for other reasons than just gas.  It’s my survival hub.  I don’t have physical evidence to back up low prices but here’s an article about a Wawa opening in Orlando and charging $2.99 per gallon for gas while others in the article are price gouging at $5.99.  What do you think about their prices?

 

Brands I Like

SAM_1369When I’m at a Wawa, I’m able to get products that I want to buy.  I like Nantucket Nectars and they have Apple, Orange Mango, and Half and Half every location.  I like Smartfood which is a staple.  When I get sick of that I go Honey BBQ Fritos.  Every store, every time.  The bottom line is that I always find something I like.  I’ve gone to CVS and 7-11’s and even if I want to buy something, I don’t.  The other stores don’t pay attention to what the consumer wants but tend to sell items with the vendors they are currently set up with.  They sell you what they want, not what you want.

 

You Don’t Want To Be Competing Against Wawa

7-11The final and ultimate reason why Wawa is the best.  If you are Cumberland Farms in Dresher and the Wawa just opened up in the perfect spot next to the on ramp by the turnpike, you just shit your pants.  The owner of that Cumby is the last person on Earth you want to be right now.  For the reasons listed above, for the reasons listed in the Business Insider, and for the reasons listed by BuzzFeed, you don’t want to compete against Wawa.  The only reason people don’t like Wawa is because they are scared of the first-rate convenience store that does everything perfect.  Wawa = Joy.  Most company’s don’t instill this level of excitement and satisfaction.  Wawa does.

 

Did I miss anything?  Like if you agree!

 

By |2014-03-06T21:07:00-05:00March 6th, 2014|My Brain|3 Comments

Missing Birthdays

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It was the Shee’s birthday yesterday and I had no idea so I obviously missed it.  I feel bad about it but I’m not sure what I could have done other than known when it was by memory.  There was no Facebook reminder and it didn’t spring up in conversation in the weeks leading up.  This is the 2nd birthday in the past month or two of a person who is close to me that I wasn’t aware of.  I’m indifferent.

I know 8 people’s birthdays by heart.  Each member of my family, my oldest friend Bud, Evan’s because it’s New Years, and Ck4 because I’m reminded by the 24th and it happens in the month of our family vacations.  To everyone else, I have no idea when your birthday is and have no future plans to learn them.  This doesn’t make me a bad person.  People who put credence in others remembering their birthday take it way too seriously.  It’s a nice thing to have someone wish you a happy birthday, but it isn’t a deal breaker.   A friendship isn’t about one moment in time.  We live on this Earth for 75 years and you know who your friends are based on a body of work that goes way past remembering birthdays.

1281019696184_38616041Friends are people who pick you up when your car dies.  Who let you stay with them when you are locked out.  Who hang out until 3 in the morning talking drunk talk.  My brain doesn’t program around birthdays and their importance.  If I remember a birthday, I remember a birthday.  I’m not a guy who marks every friends birthday in my calender so I can remember to wish them a happy birthday and get them a present.  The fake friend Facebook happy birthday is an abomination.  I’d rather real miss your birthday than fake Facebook it.  This may not be thoughtful but this is my truth.

By |2014-03-05T23:38:54-05:00March 5th, 2014|My Life|1 Comment

Dominique, Pipe Down!

I read an article on Yahoo where Dominique Wilkins was downplaying Lebron’s 61 point performance and calling out that there was no defense and it was against a sub .500 Bobcats team.  You’ll have to find him on Twitter to get each and every Tweet on the subject but here are the key ones.

 

 

 

Warranted Comments?

The real Shack was an NBA Starter

The real Shack was an NBA Starter

What I took from this isn’t Dominique critiquing Lebron’s game which is what the average layman would think.  Nor the odd egotistical nature of Dominique Wilkins thinking he could drop 40 points against any team currently.  It’s his final Tweet which I believe is accurate.  I was a huge basketball fan when guys like Jordan, Barkley, Ewing, and Nique were in their prime.  I was a little kid who didn’t understand basketball like I do now, but I did grow up surrounded by these legends.    With these comments, Nique is pointing out how wide the range of talent on the floor is today which I can’t decide if it was the same as in the 80’s and 90’s when basketball was considered great.  This is the key question when thinking over these comments.  Were the 5 starters on all teams closer in talent than in today’s game?

sfl-miami-heat-lebron-james-mask-s022914-001I would consider myself a Sixers fan if there is such a thing today.  Watching a team lose 15 straight and winning a 100 dollars betting against them the last two nights, I know that the talent on the floor is sad.  Lebron would be a knife cutting through the Sixers defensive butter and could probably score 100 against them if he wanted to.  Does this belittle the fact that he can do it in an NBA game?  I don’t think it does.

If it were so easy to score 61 points in a game, wouldn’t anyone be able to do it?  “After all, it has only happened 31 times for 18 players in the last 51 years — those are numbers that indicate just how difficult and rare the accomplishment is.”  The answer is that even with no defense and below average NBA talent, 99% of the players in the league are not dropping 61 points.

So this brings about, Dominique, why on Earth are you making this a discussion.  Is it to make you feel better about yourself?  When I read articles like this, the only reason I write about them is to point out how stupid it is for 1) to make the comments and 2) to turn them into a story.  When aging stars make ridiculous comments comparing themselves to the present, no one should listen.  Sit back in your recliner and sip a beer while enjoying this unevenly talented NBA.  However, I think it’s fair to say The Human Highlight Film may know a thing or two about basketball.

By |2016-10-29T13:14:37-04:00March 5th, 2014|Sports|1 Comment
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