Most people would probably react with, “Oh, my!  I stink today!”  My actual reaction was, “Hmm, not bad.”

What you may not know is that, I do not wear deodorant.  I’ve stopped wearing it about 8 years ago.  It’s been one of the most pleasant changes I’ve made in my life.  I got tired of smelling fake and chemically modified.  I want to smell like me versus the same streamlined product that is designed to mask our natural body odor and falsely trigger our sexual instincts.

Now before you go “pew pew” on me, I would like to say that there are times when I do stink and outright reek.  Catch me after a long run or a night of soccer, I’m the last person you want to be around.  Heck, my cat knows my stench that he stays away from me until I shower.  But all other times, I just smell like a human being.*

As an adult, I never understood the need to hide one’s natural scent. At least not in today’s time when hygiene isn’t as much of an issue as in ancient times.  Though, one can make an exception for teenagers, but then I’m reminded by the cloud of Axe Body Spray in the hallways.  That’s a tossup.

Humans are beautiful.  And I mean that in all aspects of the word.  But we spend so much time hiding who we really are and often create this persona that is far from our true selves.  I’m in the same boat as the next person.  When I decided to stop wearing deodorant, I started to feel comfortable in my own skin. I began to stop being ashamed of who I am and what I smelled like.

We all have issues of self esteem and doubt. But when I decided to stop wearing deodorant, I felt like it was my first real act of defiance against cultural expectations.  I decided to not only smell myself, but smell people for who they are, not the mask they wear.  It has come to the point that I prefer the scent of someone after they sweat & work out than someone who is cleaned and dolled up. Because after a workout, we’re the most vulnerable and the most physically human; we’re undoctored.

What I’m trying to say is that as I grow older, I aim to no longer desire what culture and society dictates.  I want to be undoctored.  I have a long way to go, but not wearing deodorant is the beginning.

* I do own a stick of deodorant just in case I am unable to shower and/or clean up each day.

It’s been a long time.  Yeah, I have migrated to video but it doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about you.  Truth is, there are things I’m certain that I could voice better here than on video. 

I want to be back.  I hope to be back.  But in reality, I don’t know. 

I’m torn that this would either be a step backwards or perhaps a start of something new.  We’ll see what happens.  I hope you’re well.  Maybe we’ll see each other again.

Take a Seat & Make a Friend

This is a video response to Jackson Perkins about small time YouTubers struggling to make it big, while also presenting myself as a candidate for the “Less Than Famous” panel at VidCon this coming summer.

Once again, I participated in Improv Everywhere’s No Pants Subway Ride.  ENJOY!

If you’re like me, then you’re probably hung over.  So instead of sparing you to read more words, here’s a video for the new year:

I prepared myself for a bad year, only to be surprised of how much more wonderful it was when you make the little things count. I was caught off guard of how the little things added up. Honestly, this year was by far spectacular.  For all the hardships and sadness that this year brought, I was blessed with many little (and big) things to make it quite memorable.

I could list a lot of things, big and small, that made this year wonderful.  But in truth, it all came down to my friends, new and old, that made this year special. All the little hangouts and gatherings that decreased the world suck in my life.

I am truly lucky.  Thank you my dear friends for making the little things into a big memorable year.

No. 10:

No Sham, Pham Rocks – posted on April 6th.

Queued up in Corral B, I couldn’t help but choke back tears.  5 years ago, I was over a block back in the open corral with the rest of the masses. 

Today, I was mere yards from the starting line.  The only the elites and Corral A separated me from the start.

No. 9:

24 Hours, 2 Races, 23 Miles & 2 Honking Medals - posted on May 25th.

Note to self: never run 2 long races in 24 hours.

No. 8:

Coffee Soothes the Soul - posted on September 14th.

There’s something soothing about a cup of coffee.

No. 7:

What Would YOU Do for $1? - posted October 9th.

I was bored one night, like most nights, and this random thought popped into my head, “What would people do for one dollar?”

No. 6:

Journey Along the Great Ocean Road - posted on December 7th.

A cockatoo bit my hand.

No. 5:

The Old Rag of Virginny - posted on August 7th.

Where I summarize my visit to Virginia & show some “giraffe sex.”

No. 4:

Pooping, the Runners’ Dilemma - posted on April 17th.

Do you have a poop dance?

No. 3:

Summer Soccer Society - posted on September 5th.

Most of my running this past summer has not been on the trails but actually on the soccer field.  I started to play to help work on my intervals only to find out that team sports is really a lot of fun.  YAY SPORTS TEAM!

No. 2:

#STOP Bullying - posted on October 23rd.

It’s no secret that I was bullied in the past, both at school and at home. I mean, I’m a nerd & a geek.  I’ve embraced it now, but the scars are still there.

No. 1:

November 26, 2012: John Pham - posted on November 26th.

We are proud beings of habit. Life for us has become mundane and routine. We have programmed ourselves to believe that being lost is being weak in life. But the truth is the more lost we are, the stronger of a person we become.

No. 10:

“I think it’s amusing that girls realize that you’re not that nerdy. I would think it would be the other way. And I’ve seen you dance.”

- Karen P.

No. 9:

“I spent the last hour in the closet. There were four of us in there. It was small and it was hot.”

- Sergio A.

No. 8:

“Having a neighbor is better than being hot.”

- Jenn B.

No. 7:

“I can’t react to this without putting it on camera. Where’s my camera?”

- Louna M.

No. 6:

“Some people like smacking [ass]. I just like putting things in my ear.”

- Megan O.

No. 5:

“Nope dad, that’s my rubber penis from high school.”

- Jenn K.

No. 4:

“Wait until I market chicken milk. Chicken have breasts. The chicken industry is missing out.”

- Errin L.

No. 3:

“Keep on talking while I rub myself.”

- Mark U.

No. 2:

“One time in eighth grade, I watched a kid get his ass kicked.”

- Jenn K.

No. 1:

“I know you from the Internet.”

- Hank Green at VidCon

Previous Top 10 Quotes

2011     |    2010     |     2009     |     2008     |     2007

Christmas 2011  |   Christmas 2010   |  Christmas 2009

Christmas 2008   |   Christmas 2007   |   Christmas 2006

I’m still jet lagged from my trip.  Let’s just say these are the best ways to get over jetlag.