June 19, 2006

Write as though everyone you know is dead.
~~Unknown.  I think this one is pretty self-explanatory, but it's a fantastic quote.  It's hard to be true to yourself as a writer if you're constantly thinking about what someone else will think. 

April 12, 2006

There are two ways of spreading light: To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
~~Edith Wharton

April 5, 2006

The National Enquirer has reported that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were married eight months ago by a chaplain in the Church of Scientology.  The Groom wore a casual linen suit while the bride wore an expression of slowly awakening terror.
~~David Spade on The Showbiz Show 

March 26, 2006

Lead me not into temptation.  I can find the way myself.
~~Rita Mae Brown

August 31, 2005

Praise is universal.  Blame is one man's burden.
~~I think I came up with this one myself when I was in the AFROTC, as a paraphrase of a particular edict of leadership.  But it seems appropriate now, doesn't it?  But who could we blame for the major things going wrong in our country these days?  Who, who, who...?

August 5, 2005

History repeats itself because no one listens.
~~unknown.  This seems particularly appropriate these days, doesn't it?  I'm not saying there is any group of people who are particularly guilty, but the President and his posse of good ole boys certainly jumps to mind.  You know how I say stupidity pisses me off?  Well, that bunch really pisses me off.

August 2, 2005

I cannot help but notice that there is no problem between us that cannot be solved by your departure.
~~unknown, but scarily close to my own feelings a lot of the time.  I know,  I know, what does that say about me?

July 22, 2005

How to Clean a Cat

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet
2. Lift both lids and add shampoo
3. Find and soothe cat as you carry him to the bathroom
4. In one swift move, places cat in toilet, close both lids and stand on top so cat can't escape
5. The cat will self agitate and produce ample suds (ignore ruckus from inside toilet; the cat is enjoying this)
6. Flush 3-4 times, this provides power rinse which is quite effective.
7. Have someone open the outside door, stand as far from the toilet as possible quickly lift both lids.
8. A clean cat will rocket out of the toilet and outdoors, where he will air dry.

Sincerely,
The Dog

May 21, 2005

Books invite all and they constrain none.
~~ LA public library entrance.  I love this.

March 1, 2005

It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.
~~ As seen on a bumper sticker, and oh, so true.

December 20, 2004

Remember the whole thing about colors that I thought was so cool?  This is kind of like that.  Not so much wisdom, but... 

I went to a shoot the other day (don't worry about it, it wasn't that interesting), and on the way I was listening to a MP3 CD I'd made.  I got to the location, got out of the car, and proceeded to spend the next 6 hours covered in fake blood, with my intestines hanging out, alternately lying on frozen concrete or being dropped off of a stretcher by the rescue personnel.  Ok, maybe it was a little bit interesting.  After six hours or so, the shoot is over, I'm walking back to the car, and I start to sing a song.  It's not something I've been singing the whole time, it just popped into my head on the way back to the car.  I get in, turn the key, and the same song starts to play where it left off that morning, at the same spot I was singing!  Now, I don't know if this ever happens to you, or if you find it as amazing if it does, but I have a horrible memory.  Horrible.  "Like a steel sieve," is the joke I say, but it's true.  I can get a person's name and forget it before they've finished saying it.  But this "last song heard in the car" phenomenon is really strange to me.  

Thanks for staying with me on that one.  Next time, because I actually have been asked to do it, I'm going to lay my beliefs on the line.  Mmm, fun.

October 18, 2004

In the beginning, there was nothing.  Then God said, "Let there be light!"  Then there was still nothing, but you could see it.
~~From the October '04 issue of L.A. Mentary, and soon to be my email signature.

September 24, 2004

You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says "My god, you're RIGHT.  I never would have thought of that!"
~~Dave Barry

It's funny because it's so, so true.

August 5, 2004

No man ever became great except through many and great mistakes.
~~William E. Gladstone 

Given to me by a customer for some odd reason.  I'm hoping she wasn't trying to tell me I was doing something wrong.  However, I do plan on making many and great mistakes.

February 2, 2004

Now, I normally don't like email forwards and chain letters, but I got this from a friend of mine who knows I don't like them, and I'm glad he sent it anyway.  The word is that they're quotes from the Dalai Lama, and they're cool whether that's true or not.  I just wish he had cut out the stuff about good things happening in ever greater significance the more people I sent it to (even if I'm not superstitious.)  But seriously, if you don't forward a link to my site to ten people within the next five minutes, a piano might fall on your cat.  I'm not saying it will.  I'm just saying it might.

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation.  Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go some place you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

January 23, 2004

Funny story about that last post.  Shortly after it went up I got an email from Valerie @ Sprint.  Now, right away I'm feeling pretty cool that people are actually reading the site, because I was under the impression that they weren't.  And even so, I'm reasonably certain that Val wouldn't have seen it if Steve hadn't bought it to her attention (hi Steve).  But that's irrelevant.  Val was very angry in her email, because I had said something bad about her on my website.  Well, first, it wasn't that bad.  Second, it was true, and it hurt my feelings to be treated with such contempt.  Third, like I said, I'm pretty sure no one else even reads this website, so what is she worried about.  And lastly, it's my website.  I can pretty much say whatever I want to.  

In any case, here's some back-story, and then an update.  I had originally called Val to ask if she wanted to come to Six Flags Magic Mountain with me and some friends, because I had really cheap tickets.  Yes, it was selfish of me because I did it because I wanted more company, but I didn't call everyone.  Just people I consider friends.  So, fast forward.  Even after she reads my post, she doesn't call me.  I had given her one of my cards, the ones with my name, number, URL and picture on them.  Instead, she writes in her email (I wish I still had it) about how she was right in the middle of something when I called, and besides she has so many friends to keep track of and three of them named Travis, and she called the wrong one back.  So, ok.  Weird, but no skin off my back.  I had a great time at the park with the friends who did come, I was just trying to include her.  But this is where it gets even better.

Next time I went to the Sprint Store for a new headset, I saw Val and she gave me a stern look and I smiled because of all the silly this situation entailed.  She told me again of the three Travii, and said she'd definitely call me.  I gave her another one of my nifty new business cards.  Wanna know how many times she's called?  No, less than five.  Less than three.  Uh-uh, even less than one.  What's less than one, you say?  That's right, zero.  

So here's what it boils down to.  Val, if you end up reading this, go ahead and delete me from your phone book.  It's just taking up space anyway.  You've now become "the one who never calls."  It's a prestigious thing to be.  And now remembered forever on my little side street of the information superhighway.

January 12, 2004

Hey, it's been a while since I've had a rant here, hasn't it?  I'll make this short.  If you can't talk right now, don't answer your cute little cell phone just to tell me "I can't talk right now, can I call you right back?"  And especially don't tell me you'll call me right back and actually call me back never.  I mean, I know you have caller ID.  If you don't' want to talk to me, just don't freakin' answer.  Ok?!?  I hate that.

This wasn't directed at anyone in particular.  Certainly not Valerie.  Valerie at the Sprint Store.

December 15, 2003

"It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating."
~Oscar Wilde, courtesy once again of Mike Joerndt

Oooh, gotta talk about this one.

October 28, 2003

"Arnold Schwarzenegger Elected First Horseman of The Apocalypse."
~The Onion fake news headline from a couple weeks back.  Doesn't seem so funny now, does it, wiseass?!?

October 14, 2003

"There's no fraud in coffee."
~Mary Coit

This relates to my job, where I was recently the victim of fraudulent activity.  I had a customer come in posing as someone who they were not, and set up an account with me.  Because of recent developments with telecommunications in general and Sprint in particular and my store even more specifically, I've been looking around at other opportunities, including a frontrunner manager position at Starbucks.  Well, Mary is one of the great ladies I work with that knows about my job hunting, and said this to me after I found out the account I set up was bogus.

October 2, 2003

"And so I stood naked on top of the world, but no one would raise their eyes to see me."
~Travis Richey

Do I explain this one?  It has several different meanings for me, from the more literal to the metaphysical to the symbolic.  If you think it's just a load of hooey, just click here and check back for a different quote next time.  But if you let it sink in a bit, you may find yourself thinking about it more and more.  I know I have several friends this could apply to.

September 22, 2003

With acknowledgments again to Mike Joerndt's site, I give you today's wisdom: 

"Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well."
~Josh Billings

It's self-explanatory, no?  I feel very much that when it comes to my life-goal, I hold precious few cards.  I have no connections, I have very little money to invest in myself, and I don't come from a family that encourages my choice to be an actor.  This last also resulted in rather a late start, but I don't blame or begrudge.  Rather, I concentrate on my strengths.  My talent.  My perseverance.  My absolute conviction that if I do not succeed in my goal than I will have failed in my life's purpose.  My face, though not symmetrical, is attractive and different enough to set me apart from the crowd.  My intelligence and creative fire burn strongly inside of my and give me energy to keep searching for the path that will eventually lead me to triumph.  This was a bit of shameless aggrandizement, wasn't it?  No.  It wasn't.  Welcome to my world.  I'm glad to have you along for the ride.

August 27, 2003

On the subject of Contractions;  I've been in heated debate recently over the correctness of double contractions.  For example, instead of "You should not have done that," you get "You shouldn't've done that."  Now, my computer highlights that as a misspelling, and indeed, I can't find any double contractions in the dictionary.  But I'm not so sure I trust the dictionary anymore.  I mean, this is supposed to be a scholarly book used by the world over as a source of information, nay, of correctness itself.  Well, then what the hell is "bling-bling" doing on the Oxford English Dictionary?!?!  See, my spell checker doesn't like that one either.  My point is, and this is where the wisdom and learning comes in, is that contractions in general are simply abbreviated speech.  The dictionary tells us that much.  It's not that "shouldn't" is correct or anything.  It's not, in fact.  It's only accepted because people talk that way, so they wanted a way to spell it on paper, too.  Well, "shouldn't've" is a word people say and it's correct when spoken, insomuch as it's not a double-negative or anything.  This is my argument.  

And now I'm vindicated because J. K. Rowling used a double contraction in book 3 (update: and books 4 and 5) of the Harry Potter Series (which I'll talk about in the journal section one of these entries).  Hagrid said it, and she wrote it down that way.  

So there.

August 2, 2003

Here's a bit of wisdom for you:  If you've got a website, and you know at least a few people read it, don't be a dick.  Update it more than once every three months.  No, I don't care what it takes, just do it.  Jerk.
~Travis, to yourself

April 11, 2003

"Working out is kind of like drinking.  If you're doing it alone, you know you have a problem."
~Brandon Hayes Burton
Hey, I just realized that I repeated myself on that last quote.  I'm hereby making up for it with another from Mike's site.

"Even Barbarians like chocolate chip cookies."
It's funny because it's true.

March 17, 2003

"Don't sweat petty things.  Or pet sweaty things."
~no clue.  Courtesy of Mike Joerndt's web site.

January 19, 2003

"Life is a tragedy to those who feel, and comedy to those who think."
~inputted into my Palm w/o permission by William T. Richey, Jr.  Author unknown.

December 19, 2002

"Over seven hills and seven valleys, there are seven things seven times as nice."
~Walter Alwin, my grandfather, as told by my dad.  "Things" is whatever it is you or your child just has to have, but don't need.  Next time the aforementioned unauthorized wisdom.  I'm building suspense.

December 9, 2002

"Why is it that everything is always in the last place you look?  Because once you find it, you stop looking."
~Brent Alwin over Thanksgiving.  It's so brilliantly obvious, I love it.  An unauthorized wisdom next time.  You're intrigued, aren't you?

December 2, 2002

"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.  That way, you're a mile away before you criticize them, and you've got their shoes."  
~As quoted by Keith Hampton in the Kohls in Johnson's Creek.  Original Author unknown.  If it's you, congratulations, you're on my site.

October 29, 2002

Back to basics.  A real piece of wisdom.  This time from the wrapper of a Dove chocolate.

"Footprints in the sands of time are not made by sitting down."

This is very similar to how I always explained my views of the afterlife, and the meaning of our existence on this little rock.  I see our lives like boats moving through a lake.  The power and speed of the boat relates to how we live our lives.  People who know me know I don't have faith in an afterlife in any traditional sense, but I do believe it is possible to leave a wake, make some waves.  It's how you live that determines how big those waves are, how long they last, and how far behind you they go.  Some people live lives that send currents through time that last long after they've sailed away.  Some barely make a ripple.  Make your waves, people.  Make your footprints deep and fast.  

October 23, 2002

Found my Palm.  It was under the bed.  Like so many other things.  And the wisdom?  Pretty interesting, actually.  Not so much wisdom as things that make me go "hmmm..."  

Driving to work, I have noticed two things recently.  The first is that when I forget to put the radio on and make the drive in silence, sometimes I'll just say something out loud, some voice, or part of a conversation I'm having with myself, and the noise kind of freaks me out.  Second, and this just happened to me yesterday;  I was coming to a stop at a light, and suddenly the car started rolling backwards!  I had a moment of panic because I already had my foot on the brake, and even when I pushed harder I didn't stop.  Plus, I knew the car was in drive and if the brake wasn't working should only have moved forwards or not at all.  After a split second where all of those thoughts of something horribly wrong went through my head, I realized that I was not moving backwards at all, but the car beside me was moving slowly forwards.  This particularly weird trick of perception has happened to me a handful of times in my life, and it fascinates me that the feeling could be so real, even the sensation of moving backwards was there.  Has this happened to you?  

October 15, 2002

I'm pretty sure that I had a thought for this update's Wisdom.  I had it written down in my Palm Pilot so I wouldn't forget.  And sure enough, I forgot.  Not just the thought, but where I put my Palm.  So, I guess the wisdom for this week is to not lose your Palm Pilot.  Crap.

July 31, 2002

So, the big thing about colors is this.  I've just always thought it was interesting that we can't really be sure that everybody is seeing the same colors.  After all, red has always been red, so however it looks to someone, they'll call it red.  Who's to say that everyone's brains (or their eyes, for that matter) interpret wavelengths of light in the same way.  It might explain why everyone has a different favorite color, or why some people thing pink is pretty.  So, you know...  It's just something I think about.  Good night.

July 25, 2002

Colors.  You know, after all this build-up, it hardly seems worth it.  

July 5, 2002

You know, even after all this time, I remember what it was I wanted to say about colors, and it's really deep and an interesting thought provoker to me, but I'll have to do it next time.  I went skydiving last weekend and it was pretty damn incredible.  I came up with this little blurb, and it's already mutated over the last few days so I wanted to put it down once and for all. 

Ahem.

"If men weren't meant to fall out of airplanes, they would've been born with wings." 
~~Travis Richey, June 29, 2002

May 7, 2002

Outside of a dog, a book is Man's best friend.  Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.

You'll have to ask Matt Runquist where this came from.  He's told me several times, but I just can't remember.  Note to self, talk about color next time.

January 7, 2002

When I'm in a coin toss, I usually call, "edge."  I haven't won yet, but when I do, it'll be really cool...

This also was not original.  But I like it a lot.  I was going to delay it another entry, though in favor of one about dogs and books that I got from Matt Runquist, but that one's much funnier, and if I did it first, this one would've just been dumb.

December 4, 2001

The point isn't that the emperor is unclothed, nor is it that no one dares acknowledge this. The point is that people think a naked emperor is sexier.

This is not original.  Fabulous prizes* go to he who can tell me where it's from.

August 31, 2001

Is it smarter to be lucky or lucky to be smart?  This is from a line in a musical, and it's not really wisdom, but it's an interesting question.  Especially since I didn't win the $295 million Powerball jackpot last weekend.   

August 1, 2001

I am now convinced that there is something fundamentally wrong with the people in Minnesota.  The Thank-You Wave is not a difficult concept, yet it somehow eludes these people.  Kind of like this new invention that is available called a turn signal.  I hear they're putting them in virtually every car nowadays, but I almost never see them used in cars that bear that familiar blue and white license plate.  Here it is, one last time, in plain English:  When someone does something nice for you on the road, like let you cut into the lane, give them a Thank-You Wave, which simply consists of raising your right hand and wiggling it a bit, thus signifying your appreciation for their simple act of generosity.

OK, now a quote, borrowed from my friend Mike's page, which I will also probably make the signature on my email:
"Don't sweat petty things....or pet sweaty things."
--Anonymous

July 16, 2001

Just a reminder as to the importance of the Thank You Wave.

Now then, I wonder if there are people out there who live there lives according to the release dates of big movies.  Waiting for Episode 2, for Lord of the Rings, for Spider-man or Superman, or Batman: Year One, or for Planet of the Apes.  Ok, so not so much that last one.  But still, these are events by which we time our lives, and it occurs to me to ask: Who made it so? 

March 25, 2001

Since no one asked me to explain why the egg came first, I'll assume that everyone agrees with me.

So another issue; don't other countries make enough fun of the U.S.? Now we go and put a Dick, a Colin, and a Bush in the White House? Yet another reason the next four years do not bode well... 

February 4, 2001

Ready for this?  I figured out the answer a long time ago and I'm going to share it with you now.  The egg came first.  There, I said it.  You got a problem with it?  email me.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Web site, already in progress...

* Prizes may not be fabulous.