Summer is over. But this is my blog and it's a place I can write down my ideas and not lose them. One of my philosophical themes for the past few years has been the (non)-necessity of having firm values that you believe in. As an existentialist, an aetheist, and a libra, I find that I am able to see most sides of an argument. I can see how its constructed and its potential merit or worth, as far as the quality of construction goes. But how is one to make an evaluation for oneself?

By no means do I have any interest in an universal ethics or set of values. I am purely struggling with myself. What do I believe in? What do I think is right and wrong? Historically, my orientation has been towards placating other people who seemed to have much clearer values. "Yes, I understand where you are coming from, you've clearly articulated how that was wrong in your world, I'm aware of this wrongness, and I'm sorry for violating your rules knowingly," etc.

Let me back up and give some context. My fiancee and I stayed at my best friend's house in NYC. We came home drunk, late, after I had promised that we wouldn't cause a ruckus. My buddy and his wife got pretty pissed off and I tried my darndest to see it from their point of view. But we're not lawyers, we're friends. My conclusion: if you know your way of partying is more than your host can take, you need to find a new host. Don't expect them to deal, even if you think they're being weiners.