James Roller
Stories (11/0)
Ash vs Evil Dead
The best show on television begins airing its new season in a few weeks. It airs on the Starz network, a channel not normally known for its original programming. Forget about other shows that purposely manipulate your feelings, tug at your heartstrings, or dive into convoluted storylines. Or shows that continues with an every-changing mythology just for the sake of shock, or perhaps writers that had run out of ideas and attempt to cram a show with whatever they can to see what sticks. No, no. Give me this show. A straight up horror show that bares all, keeps it simple, is nostalgic at the right moments, yet keeps it fresh with new characters and engaging storylines. Ash vs Evil Dead, the perfect show and binge-worthy treat.
By James Roller6 years ago in Horror
Job Hunting
Living with depression is not easy. Living with depression and being unemployed? Even worse. It is not an easy situation for anyone to be unemployed. In the state of unemployment, there are a lot of unknowns (when will money run out, when will I find another job, do I take a job out of necessity or want, etc.) that runs through a person’s mind. When you add depression to the mix, and a side of anxiety, it makes life harder and at times unbearable. You question every decision you have made in your life leading up to this point and time. What’s worse, you start to mentally list all the regrets in your life, both professionally and personally. It’s not easy for an individual to take stock of their lives when they are possibly at their lowest points, as most thoughts automatically lead to the negatives. Yes, there are bright spots in one’s life, both past and present. Being unemployed can also lead one to be creative and resourceful. Overall, though, it is not a fun or productive mentality to live through as there seems to be more questions in your life, and the answer become few and far between.
By James Roller6 years ago in Psyche
Super Bowl 2018
The Super Bowl is the biggest party of the year, every year. Not necessarily for the game itself. Oh no. This is about much more than a simple championship for arguably America’s biggest sport. There is so much more going on that the game itself is almost seen as anticlimactic. An afterthought. At least that is the way it seems for us fans in the Philadelphia area, and more specifically, Philadelphia Eagles fans. There is a lot to see and do that surrounds the Super Bowl. There are the hours upon hours of pre-game shows to watch (or not, seeing how it gets redundant quickly), the singing of the National Anthem. The pre-game concert. The halftime show. The commercials. Of course, the food and adult beverages. If anything, the food and drinks take center stage for me, since I host a yearly party for this event. I plan, prepare, and cook the refreshments for the game. I love doing it. Family and friends come over, relax, enjoy themselves, and enjoy whatever that makes them happy (game or not). It is a true party for us. The 2018 game, however, will take on a more personal significance. Our home team is playing in the game. And for us, the party is going to be special.
By James Roller6 years ago in Unbalanced
Jim Thome's Case for Hall of Fame
The Baseball Hall of Fame honors the all-time greats of the game. For over 80 years, the best of the best (and some not so best) have been enshrined into the highest honor of the game. Players from the all-time greats of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Cy Young, to those of “lesser” pedigree, as Phil Rizzuto, Bill Mazeroski, and Dave Bancroft have all found their way into the doors of the Hall. In all, 319 people have called the Baseball Hall of Fame home. Although the qualifications and requirements for enshrinement can be subjective at times, there is no doubt that being called into the Hall of Fame is a truly high honor for any person. There has been resistance to those persons who have been proven or accused of “cheating the game,” with stars ranging from ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson & Pete Rose to Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa. With a glut of worthy candidates on the way in the future ballots, one name that stands out as truly worthy, and hopefully is rewarded with a first-ballot enshrinement when the results of the upcoming 2018 are announced, is Jim Thome.
By James Roller6 years ago in Unbalanced
Fraud Victim
I never thought it would happen to me. I always try to be careful, too careful, and skeptical in every situation. I see the downfalls, pits and valleys, roadblocks, lapse in common sense and logic, or whatever else there is to see to make me doubtful of a successful outcome in every situation. It’s the way I have always been. Low-risks for me. Slow and steady. Don’t take a too great of a risk, won’t get hurt too bad if it fails. Always be protective of myself. A recent situation, however, has changed my outlook on taking risks, even small ones. I was recently a victim of fraud. A scam is more like it. Whatever terminology one wants to use, I was the victim of it. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I took a risk that I ended up on the losing side. I feel ashamed and embarrassed. Mostly, I feel anger. A lot of anger at myself for sure. A lot of anger, though, at those that scammed me and my financial institution’s response towards me in this situation.
By James Roller6 years ago in Journal
Connections
I am a difficult person to get along with. I know this. I understand this. I realize my faults and shortcomings. I am not naïve or ignorant to the fact that I have issues connecting with people. Yet, at the age of 41, why do I keep falling into the same trap repeatedly? I acknowledge I have issues. In my mind, I run scenarios on how to break my old habits and start anew, do things differently—all to no avail. I keep resorting to what I have always done, act how I always acted, and say what I have always said. I want to change. I want to behave differently, but my fresh look on life never seems to last, much less begin. I realize now that, at my age, opportunities to meet people and make sustaining friendships are fleeting. I would love to imagine I have lived a life that had a significant impact on other people, and while I do interact with a few people occasionally, I yearn for something more. Something to validate my journey through life.
By James Roller6 years ago in Humans
Happiness
There comes a point where you just don’t care anymore. Care about what everyone says about you. Care what everyone thinks about you. Society gives us a whole list of things that we “have to do.” Just simple things that I, as a person, must do to comply with everyone else and be deemed socially accepted. When I was growing up, my mom was a major influence on me. I wasn’t a very confident or socially outgoing child. I kept to myself. I didn’t have many friends. I didn’t really have the urge or want to do what everyone told me I had to do in life. But why? Why can’t we all make our own way in life without having to give in to what everyone expects us to do and behave. More importantly, why can’t we all make our own decisions in life without being attacked or marginalized for doing what makes ourselves comfortable.
By James Roller6 years ago in Psyche
Being Single
Being 41 is not easy. I have gotten to an age where I realize I have wasted a lot of my time; time doing nothing that has gotten me anywhere in life. One of those aspects, where I have wasted, is in the relationship department. Not that I am ashamed at being this age and single without any children. But today, it seems we are defined by our marital status and/or starting a family. Seems like those are the only things that matter in life. That is not true.
By James Roller6 years ago in Humans
Thanksgiving
For years, Thanksgiving has been an afterthought in my family. Seemed like we always went from fun in September and October of Halloween directly into the festivities of Christmas in November and December. Aside from the Football games on Thanksgiving and the shopping afterwards, there wasn't much love for turkey day. We would go to an aunt's or uncle's house or my mom's cousin's house for the meal. No real traditions. No real celebrations. Just another day to get together with the family. My mom wasn’t big on cooking a Thanksgiving feast. I remember probably 2 or 3 times she hosted dinner for the day. The holiday never really had any significance for us. Just eat and watch football. Just like anything else in life, the day holiday took on a more significant meaning after the lose of my mom, which in turn helped to build my relationships with my family.
By James Roller6 years ago in Families
Remembering Roy Halliday
When the news broke of Roy Halliday's death in the late afternoon of November 7, I was in shock. “No way,” I thought to myself. “It can’t be him. He is young and just retired from baseball.” But, as the news continued for the day, and his passing was confirmed, a wave of grief and loss hit me hard.
By James Roller6 years ago in Unbalanced