I'm 21 (and 2 Months) Why am I Not Looking for Someone to Date?

I have noticed lately that a lot of my friends (many younger than me) are either getting married, having babies or dating. So wouldn't that make me want to date too? Actually, not really. Some nights, I will go to bed wondering "Will I ever get married, be kissed, or even go on another date?" Oh yeah, I have only been on one date in my entire life and to be honest, it wasn't that great. Plus, I have been rejected 4 or 5 times since. One of my fears is rejection and God forbid that ever happens again. Fact is, I will be probably a number of times more.

I think I do know why I am always rejected, though. I'm a pretty vulnerable guy when it comes to liking someone. I reveal my feelings through a text or a message on Facebook. I have also asked a girl to Homecoming through a freaking tweet lol. I just find it so hard to ask a girl in person. It really is hard. I COULD take them to coffee but then they might even reject my chance really to just hang out. But that isn't really the reason that I don't want to date anyone right now. There's a big reason that I don't want to.

I DON'T HAVE A JOB

Now you may be saying "Not all girls want a guy with money." Now I'm saying "I know that." Then why don't I want to date? Because I'm a romantic guy and wanna surprise my girl with chocolate or flowers or HOW ABOUT CHIPOTLE? Everyone loves Chipotle so its a win/win. Not that if a girl came along, I would say "no." If it was God's plan, I would be all for it. Honestly. But right now having quite a few female friends and Taylor Swift being my wife (in my mind I guess? She hasn't responded to the wedding invitation to our own wedding yet) I am learning what girls do and don't like. It will teach me how to be the best boyfriend ever.

Now let me tell you, I wanna be kissed. I want someone to love. I'm a human, its our instinct. One day "Mrs. Vanderspek" is going to come along. She's gonna have a similar past with relationships as me. She's gonna be beautiful. Shes gonna be the best thing ever, next to God. Babe, whether you're reading this now or whenever, I can't wait to be your husband. Just understand at this point in life I'm not ready to date and/or meet you. Hell, maybe I have met you haha. Thanks i advance for dealing with me.

Until Next Time, Alex

Top 5 Albums of the Third Quarter of 2015 (July - September)

5.) Beauty Behind The Madness by The Weeknd

4.) Copacetic by Knuckle Puck

3.) BADLANDS by Halsey

2.) We Came As Romans by We Came As Romans

1.) Uncomfortable by Andy Mineo

Talking Dreams (Echosmith) 2 Years Later

When the LA-based Indie Rock band Echosmith first came out with their debut album Talking Dreams two years ago today (October 8th 2013 was the official street date), almost no one knew who they were. I mean, you would think after being on Warped Tour, touring with the likes of Owl City, Twenty One Pilots and Tonight Alive, they would be big by then. Unfortunately not. It was not until early 2014 when they started becoming a household name. You started hearing "Cool Kids" everywhere and somehow everyone loved it. Then they jumped on their second year in a row on Warped tour and that sealed the deal. I was at their hometown Pomona date and there was easily 200+ people in their crowd. Compared to the year before where they were lucky to get 50 people watching them. I've known the band since 2011, almost on a personal level. I was friends with all 4 members of Facebook, that is until they deleted their personals. I talked to them on twitter and even got a handwritten letter from them back in April 2014. I waited so long for them to make it and was so proud of them when they finally did. Believe me when I saw when you need to check out their debut EP (Under Ready Set Go!). You can still find it on last.fm, too which is pretty cool because its not like their Echosmith material.

As you can see, I got off track lol. The album came at the perfect time in my life. I was just starting college, trying to find who I was and what I wanted to do in life. It came when I went to a public school for the first time. Where I knew no one. It was a perfect album for everything that was going on in life. I have made friends fans of the band. I have met fans via the internet that are now friends. Thanks, Echosmith and WBR for everything this album has done. When I am sad, I just put this album on my ipod or play it on my record player and it is literally a mood changer. Now what about album 2? All I know is they are starting working on it starting in January 2016. Its also gonna be different than Talking Dreams. But it'll will be filled with catchy songs about love and life and we all cannot wait.

Until Next Time,
Alex Vanderspek

PS if you want to read my original review of Talking Dreams, click here.

Taylor Swift Is the Greatest Performer of All Time

Taylor Swift performing at Petco Park in San Diego on August 29th, 2015

The title says it all. You may say "Oh, well you've never seen Michael Jackson or U2." Believe me, I have always wanted to see both. Unfortunately MJ is dead so that's out for me. But for real, let's take a look at Miss Swift.

Nothing. I literally mean NOTHING will stop her from performing. On the Red Tour, she chipped her tooth. That hurts. A lot. You know what she did? Acted like it didn't even happen and finished the rest of her show. She has performed in Pouring rain. Several times, actually. The other day (Saturday August 29th, 2015) I saw her and she was sick and losing her voice. While she was talking, you could tell she was, but when she was singing, you would never be able to tell. Shes performed with the stomach flu. 

She plays about 5 different instruments. She is like the Dave Grohl of pop music. Not to mention, shes arguably one of the best songwriters of all time. You may disagree, but come back to me when Bono or Springsteen hide a mini story in the lyrics of their songs. 

Nothing is stopping her. Even though her songs are more or less about breakups, she will still be performing long after she is married. Maybe she will do a hiatus, but I think she will be like MJ and literally do this till she dies on a stage. Its her life. Its what she loves. And when you have 100's of millions of people in love with you, no way would you stop anytime soon.

Who do you think is the best performer of all time? And why? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

Alex

You Only Love Jesus If You Like This Photo

We've all seen those photos on Facebook. "Like if you love Jesus. Keep scrolling if you love Satan." Probably hundreds of times. I'm just gonna come right out and say those posts tick me off almost more than anything. Imagine if a new Christian is scrolling through Facebook fast and passes by one of those photos on accident. He (or she) is gonna think they are going to hell. Well let me tell you one thing: As a loving Christian I'm 100% sure Jesus is going to love you no matter what you do. He isn't gonna think a stupid picture on Facebook is going to prove your love for Him. As long as you say and prove you love Him, you're in the clear. Now, I'm not saying go out and do drugs, get drunk or have sex with a bunch of people. Read the bible. Go to church. Expand the kingdom. That's all you need to do. End of rant.

21

Today (August 25th) is my 21st birthday. The 21st birthday is a milestone for many people. You get to celebrate another year of life. Although I won't, people use their new found ability to drink to celebrate and get drunk. I wanna share with you guys 21 things I have learned in my 21 years of life. And if you are asking, yes, I added the twenty one pilots logo because my age is the number in their name. Here goes nothing!

1. Don't turn on that computer at 4 AM at age 13 and start what would soon be a 7 year porn addiction. 
• I unfortunately still struggle with it but it is better than it has been.
2. Don't call the girls "sexy" on the first day of school at a new school
• Yeah I (used) to be immature.
3. Not every girl you meet is your girlfriend
• I have made this mistake too many times and it will lead to heartache.
4. (Most) friends from high school aren't forever
• Another thing that'll cause heartache and you damn well better learn this now. Shane and Melissa, Thanks for sticking with me for 8 years. Love you two
5. The girl you take to Prom isn't forever and it'll most likely go down in flames
• She might even give her number to another guy who had 2 girlfriends and took a whole different girl to Prom. Can someone say player?
6. Don't spend your money on whatever you want
• Shouldn't you tithe and put some in savings? It's not good to be at $0 at 21.
7. Don't get a credit card just to get the teller to shut up
• I'm actually in debt and have no way to pay it off because I'm out of a job and it sucks. Once it's paid off, I'm gonna be shredding it.
8. Whether you are a girl or guy, you will cry. All this is true because it rhymes.
• You're gonna cry over your first heartbreak. You can't fight it.
9. Someone close to you will die
• I've never met anyone my age that hasn't had someone close to them, whether its a family member or friend.
10. Stop eating when you're full, not until you're sick
• I know the food kicks ass but really its not worth weighing 260 lbs. 
11. Go to the gym
• Workout till it hurts and don't quit just because you can't pay for it
12. It's okay to be 21 and not have been in a relationship yet
• Eventually you're gonna get over it and it will be around your 21st birthday. Plus, being single is fun!
13. It's okay to be 21 and not have had your first kiss
• Seriously I've heard you better be ready for it though. Gonna be amazing
14. Don't tell the boss at your first job that you need every weekend plus next Wednesday off.
• He will schedule you only for every Friday, Saturday and occasionally Sunday. He will still tell you "You kick ass" or "You're my best employee." Doesn't add up.
15. Writing songs will make you one of the most popular kids in school
• One of my worship songs was played in chapel like my freshman year and the rest is history.
16. Don't reply to emails from the girls in home school
• It can get you into a heap of trouble and sin
17. Writing songs or poems really helps
• Writing a song or a poem can really get your mind off things. Hey, one day it could be a hit song or poem.
18. Music saves lives... it literally saved mine
• I was considering suicide after Miss Prom girl back in 2012. God played "He Said" by Group 1 Crew and I cried because that song prevented me from ending my life.
19. Stay in contact with your former Youth Pastor... Even when he moves away to Seattle
• Just like the song, he saved my life by giving me a call. God put that in my life
20. Don't stop going to church
• Church can help you with a lot of your problems and most of the time, any of the pastors are available to talk to you if you need someone
21. PRAY
• Last but not least, praying is the only way out because as I have said before, God is the only one who is there to listen.

If you read this, thank you. It took me a couple days to write and I'm hoping these help you. Some of them were hard to write and share with you.

Until Next Time,

Alex

I Want Hillary Clinton to Win the Democratic Nomination For President

Before I actually start this post, I should let you know that I am Republican. Being Republican, you might see that title as an oxymoron, but I challenge you to read on as I make some very valid points.

I'm sure all of you have heard about Clinton's email scandal. People don't trust her. Its as simple as she cost the lives of Americans and she doesn't give a flying fig. I saw a comment on a Facebook post the other day asking "If you could ask Hillary Clinton anything, what would it be?" The comment was "Would you act differently on this situation if your daughter was in Benghazi when the killings happened?" Also let me say if a Republican did this, they would have been sent to prison with no bail and forced to stop running for president.

She is just like Obama and doesn't care about Americans. She is a female version of Obama.

Another thing that is getting on both Republicans and Democrats nerves is Planned Parenthood. If you didn't know, they are taking aborted babies parts and selling them. THAT IS ILLEGAL. Clinton has the guts to say she supports it. Which leads me to the same question that was stated before. "What if your daughter got an abortion on the baby she just had?" Again, of course she would feel different.

My point here is, if Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, she can't win the oval office. She isn't trusted enough. That way we can get a Republican back in the office for the first time in too long