Brady's Blog

After my last post about my dream #236 of 842 (yes, I used random numbers), I had a few people come to me with the question, "Then, what is your #1 dream?" This did not cause any pause on my behalf. I knew immediately in a general sense what my biggest dream is. (For the sake of this post I will call it my Dream.) I doubt this will be a surprise to anyone but I might as well clear the air for those who asked the question. I personally dislike the term "hopeless romantic" because on the surface it sounds like there is no hope to get what is wanted out of love. This being said, I am a "hopeful romantic". I know that love is good and that I can get everything I want and need from love. That is why my Dream revolves exclusively around my future family. As a kid I had two main goals. Go to college and get married. Well, I have graduated college without getting married so that means I still have one goal left to achieve. Although when it happens, it may no...

In two weeks time, the fashion world will be buzzing and for the duration of the month, new designs will be on display throughout the four corners of the fashion world: New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Those of you who know me also know that somewhere along the line, I got hit by the fashion bug. By looking at me and what I wear you may never guess that but I will say that if I had more money and opportunity, my personal style would be a reflection of the best of the best from the world of sartorial prowess. September 10 is the beginning of New York Fashion Week as designers and style mavens from all over the world congregate in Lincoln Center and surrounding venues to see what is "in" for fashion. Once this fashion week concludes the processions move to London for a week, then Milan, and ending in what many consider the fashion capital of the world, Paris on October 7. One of my favorite things to do, it to look through as many collections as I can (mainly menswear ...

I have spent some time this morning thinking. No, more than thinking; getting my thoughts organized. There is a big difference between where I am now and where I want to be. I know that had things turned out differently in my past, I could be where I want to be right now...or I could be even further. It is, however, useless to think about what would have been or could have been. I cannot change the past no matter how hard I try. I want to though. My thought process this morning was focused on what I wanted out of life. What I want right now that I can do something about. For example, I want a successful career. I can start working on that now. I want to be physically healthy and, let's face it, sexy. I can start that now too! I want to be scholarly in my knowledge of my field of study. Yeah, that is possible too! I want a girlfriend that will become my wife. I want to magnify my church calling perfectly. I want to travel around the world. I want to read all of the literary classi...

I have never been a hunter or an outdoorsy guy of any kind. It's just not my style. Aside from the often cold mornings and the necessity to be still to not scare of the animals of choice, I just can't do it. That necessity to stay still is what baffles me about how the word "hunt" as used in situations other than game hunting. My two "hunts" that I find myself knee-deep in today are these: Jobs and Girls. As the overly stereotypical 26-year-old, unemployed, single male, living in my parents basement, I feel like I am Matthew McConaughey's character in "Failure to Launch"...except that he even has a great job. Thus it is not only a necessity but a goal and great desire to "hunt" for both a job to help me get on my own two feet and a girl to provide me with some companionship (which is on the third tier of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs). To take my initial example with the given explanation (hunting game and staying still) I wou...

I would say this is a decent topic for my 100th blog post!!! (Congratulations to me!) Last week I returned home from the greatest adventure I have ever had. Yes, when I served my LDS mission it was quite an adventure but this was was a bit more...how should I say...extraordinary. Ever since I was younger, Europe has been the one place in the world I have wanted to go. Originally, I specified Italy as the first country only because of my deep and abiding love for pasta. To be super technical, Italy was my first place since I had a layover in Rome, and my love for pasta has expanded to all Italian food, much of which was experienced in Albania (which is very close to Italy if you didn't know). The three months I spent out of the country went by very quickly (especially on the sunny days) and were filled with extensive domestic travels. I would say that for someone who is not from Albania, I am more expert than most. My travels took me from the southern beaches of Vlore to the nor...

In "Fiddler on the Roof, "Tevye speaks some of the most quoted (and danced to) lines in existence. Among those is one which has materialized before my eyes as I have been in Albania: "Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as...as...as a fiddler on the roof!" It is the line that give the show its title and spells out the main theme of the performance. The question arises, how do traditions shape our lives? Do we create ourselves based on traditions? Are they so important that they are nigh unbreakable vows? (Points for a Harry Potter reference? No?) The past couple of weeks have provided personal anecdotes for the term "cultural dissonance" as what I believe to be standard is not how other people live. Thanks to Albania and my friends here, I now have a new understanding on not only tradition but on the seasons of the year and birthdays. Let me elaborate. In my comfort zone known as the United States, I was raised on four seasons each ...

Last Wednesday night I got myself all dressed up as I had my ticket to attend the "Night Ballet" at the Opera House performed by Tirana's "People's Ensamble". I had never heard of the "Night Ballet" but was excited to go to a real Opera House and see professional dancers plie their way across the stage. Straightening my tie I walked in via the red carpet and found my way into the auditorium envisioning it as a grand room with flying buttresses and box seats lining the sides with a balcony or two filled with classy, sophisticated people and an orchestra the size of a full symphony. I should have known better. Being the first one there, I got to see the auditorium in all its glory. Wooden seats with small pads. There might have been one balcony but there was a maximum seating of less than 500. No actual pit for the musicians but 10 chairs with rusty music stands. With all of this, I surprisingly not turned off. Though a bit shabby, it was charmin...