Gesundheit.

I love sneezing. Odd. I know. But it's just such a release. You're getting whatever crap that was bugging your nose out of your system, and you just feel good afterwards. Unless it's one of those series of sneezes that doesn't end quite right and you feel like you need to sneeze just once more but can't. That sucks. It's interesting too. I went onto Wikipedia (love that "non-scholarly" site) to look up how to spell "gesundheit" because I can't spell in English, much less in German, and I kinda glanced over the whole article. It talks about all the superstition and whatnot about sneezes and of course why and how a sneeze happens. It also has this old video clip from Thomas Edison's lab of a guy sneezing. Oh, Wikipedia.
Anyway, what caught my eye is this thing on the Photic Sneeze Reflex. Yeah, that's what it's called. A photic sneeze is that type of sneeze that makes you state that you are allergic to the sun, because nearly every time you step out into a sunny day, you sneeze. These kinds of sneezes are supposedly caused by a kind of nerve glitch.
But the cool thing is that, back in my high school days, some friends and I were having one of our typical pointless discussions (similar to those found on this blog; see below for details), and this one happened to be on the subject of sneezing as well. Somebody mentioned they sneeze whenever they walk outside into the sunshine, and I, and some other people there, said that it happens to us too, while others said it didn't.
Now, I had been recently studying genetics in one of my classes, and so I came up with this theory that sun allergies run in the family. And so the investigation of sun-sneezers and parent/offspring began, only to end about two or three days later due to lack of serious interest.
But now, all because of a nice relaxing sneeze, Wikipedia, and my unfailing curiosity, I stumbled upon an article all about the photic sneeze reflex, which is indeed genetic. It is an "autosomal dominant hereditary trait" and 15%-35% of the human population have ACHOO Syndrome, as it is also called.
And so now I know that my theory was correct and my sneeze nerves are all glitchy. Sweet.

Works Under Perpetual Construction

I have a lot of unfinished poems.
Some of them even just one line. I guess there are a few one-liners that could stand on their own... Huh.
Anyway, I was looking through a few of these and I saw this one that actually is on my blog post editor thingy saved as a draft. It is titled "I Didn't See the Sunset Today."
Deep, eh?
It's kinda cool though. It could mean that I'm too busy, too lazy, or just have my mind on other "more important" things than to go outside and watch the sun close the day.
Yes, I completely understand, and am guilty of, not having the time or just not wanting/needing to go and watch the sun fade and how unrealistic it really is to do so everyday.
But sunsets are pretty darn awesome. In the full meaning of the word.

There is this one moment, right before the sun disappears behind the horizon of complete majesty.
It makes me think of another Switchfoot song, "Daisy." There is this line that contains the phrase "a beautiful display of power and surrender." Granted, this line is actually about the rain - well, actually about the atonement, I think - but it makes me think of sunsets too. It's that moment where the sun lets loose a final, brilliant display right before it yields to the night. It's almost as if the sun is promising it will be back in the morning with a silent show of majesty.
That "power and surrender" right there is evident in almost every sunset I've seen, and it only lasts for a few fleeting seconds. You turn away and it's gone. All the bright contrasting golds, pinks, purples, reds, and yellows, are just gone; engulfed by the dull gray of dusk, and not to be revived until day breaks.
Well, that's kinda artistically depressing... But sunsets really are cool, and I definitely recommend watching one all the way through at least once in your lifetime; especially for that one spectacular moment.
Sunrises are pretty amazing also, but I'm too much of a lazy night owl to wake up early enough. But the ones I have seen are so refreshing. Watching the world wake up and begin a new day is something you don't forget very quickly. That feeling of peace, renewal, and hope really sticks with you.
 
I should start getting up earlier. Going to bed before 1:28 AM could be a good start.