Fact. We are all born of woman. Fact. We (heteros) spend the rest of our lives seeking women. Fact. We will spend the majority of that time aggravating said women. These are the basic truths of man, as I see them.
We grow up(most of us) and never really understand that which is female. Nor do most of us care. I'm not being chauvanistic or callous, it's just the way things are. Some men find women that they are happy with, are comfortable with and love and they marry them. But let's back up: When we were children, we played boy games, with boy toys(no pun intended)and we practice whatever local arts we grew up around, i.e.-hunting, fishing, trucking, farming,etc. Those that didnt grow up in rural Appalachia practice things city: business, public transportation, insurance salesmen, strip malls and the like.
We spend our youth playing towards some sort of dominance, whatever the field or ambition. Our knowledge of female anatomy and mindset is limited to family, a few schoolmates and the occasional skin magazine. So, unless the rare, insightful male finds the right forthcoming, enlightened female and gleans the knowledge from her, we basically live in ignorance of womens feelings for most of our lives. That is, until they are pissed enough that we have to suck up and placate them. After all, unless you want to get divorced(assuming we're talking about married couples), you have to make them think they're loved/taken care of/special/empowered/needed/a good wife-mother/loved/sexy/attractive/talented/great cook/loved/queen of the house and the world.
Teenage boys, pre-teens, adults, it makes no never-mind. We are all guilty of female-ignorance. Some have the knowledge, but they often ignore it, usually at their own expense, after, of-course, the womans feelings have already been compromised. I'm telling the truth: this rant was just interrupted because I hinted that (after she cleaned my side of the closet, organizing my clothes) Roz had clothes that SHE didnt need. I will NOT be drawn into that mess. I built a closet big enough to park a volkswagen in so we didnt have to get rid of stuff. Leave my shirt from 1992 alone. Nuff said.
As dating goes, we woo, get used to you and then slack off. Women of course, dont want you to slack off. Ever. You're supposed to be on your game at all times. We, of course, arent. Guys just want the goal-now that we have you, it should all be hunky dory. Women want it all and they want it all the time. We just want to watch March Madness, or pre-season football, or movies with boobs, eat wings and NOT have to think about who's leaving Grey's. (Heigl, for those of you that dont know).
It's hard to be on our game all the time. Think about lions. Female goes out, kills something, the male eats his fill and then the rest of the pride gets theirs. He goes back, lays in the shade and protects the females and cubs. His job is done. She cleans up, raises the cubs and sweeps and mops the savannah after she comes home. We dont want to be much different. It's just nature. Women's minds have evolved planning on how to get, keep and maintain their pride, men's minds look for the easiest way to get a female and keep her around so he can eat his wings, look at other females and daydream about not working but getting paid for it.
Let's talk about one of those last little bits a little more. We WILL look at other women. Just because you have some self-perceived flaw, our looking at other women will not cause us to stray(most of us) and we do not hold you to that standard. I personally find the stick figure, tic-tac eating bitches in magazine(the glossy kind that are all ads) to be in the least bit attractive. J-Lo asses and a little curve is waaayyyyy better than a girl that could fall through the cracks in a weathered back deck, so dont attribute your self-inflicted sort of flaws to us looking at a 25 year old with a pert rack and nice teeth. Just because we look doesnt mean we're wanting to go find her and bring her into the fold...or does it?
That is left for fantasy. Most guys have down and dirty, unrealistic fantasies. We just dont always voice them and if we do, you are sure to have a fit. "Oh woe is me! I'm not good enough for you!" and then it turns to anger. This much most of us figure out after the courting period is over. Guys: You have to pick your battles. Either keep your trap shut and your fantasies to yourself, or find a woman that is into them. Before you get married, dumbass. Women: we will fantasize whether you like it or not. When you close your eyes, you can conjure up anyone or anything you want. Well, most of us can. Anywhoo-I will never understand how you can be mad at us if we even THINK of another girl. Thinking and acting are two different things. Yes, some men are dogs and will act on their thoughts. The majority of us are loyal even if we are not on our game 24/7.
So, if you played with a Barbie or grew up with all sisters, I wish you the best. You probably have a little more insight in the female psyche than the rest of us. If you neither know nor care about female disposition, I feel for you. You will lead a rough life. But then, dont we all? Guys just dont WANT to be on all the time. Yes, we want you. No, we're not plotting how to cheat or neglect you. Personally, I want to go back to playing with my Tonka trucks and playing guns with the neighborhood boys. Wait...I have a license, real guns, a big 4x4 and I'm over 21. Oh, and a wife. Love you Honey! Gotta bounce: Duke's losing to Baylor at the half. Go EERS !!!!!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
100 The Body Deluxe
Sitting on the wooden floor, a small pillow under me for comfort, I straighten my spine, close my eyes and relax. The trick is to let the tension leave your body, starting with one area and working your way along. From my shoulders down usually works. As you reach a certain point of relaxation, your body(keep in mind if you're not used to doing this) sometimes begins to vibrate, almost sing, with odd feelings of almost electrical shocks. There is a mystical power in your body, waiting for you to discover it and use it to your advantage. You've heard tales of amazing feats performed by people. You dont have to levitate or have out-of-body experiences. You can feel your own power while being relaxed and learning a little something about yourself. This can also be a time of introspection while you learn to relax.
If you can manage a quiet space, slightly darkened, you would be well served. There is a certain force of will that you must possess, much as with any disciplined endeavour such as a fitness program or even like quitting smoking. You have to be able to retain the fortitude or self-discipline to keep the concentration levels. Calm yourself for as long as it takes to feel your body processes slowing. When you feel that you are relaxed enough, let the tension ease from your head and neck, allowing the muscles to go as slack as possible while still keeping your head up. Your shoulders are usually the worst source of tension, so take particular care in relaxing them. I try to imagine the tension as waves of heat, radiating away from my body, often like a slow explosion. I suppose that isnt exactly the best way to describe it. Let's say you should let is expand in waves away from you. I have often imagined that I am sending energy out to others that may be in need of it. After all, energy is energy, the only difference is how it is applied.
Work your way out to your fingertips and down through your legs to your toes. When you feel that as much tension as you can rid yourself of is gone, begin concentrating on your breathing more. Often you are told (in yoga, esp) to breathe through your nose. I say whatever suits you best. I have seen people breathe through pursed lips and inhale by nose/exhale by mouth, the point is to keep up(so to speak) your relaxed state.
If you choose to do so, begin concentrating your breaths through the chakras. Begin breathing as though you can feel the breath going through your body, down until it reaches and flows through the area at the bottom of your pelvis. Breathe through it a few times and then begin moving the breath up to the point between your navel and your spine. Again, breathe at least a few breaths, but you can do this as long as is necessary. Move the breath up to around the area of your sternum and breathe the same as before. When you're ready, move the breathing up to around the middle of your throat. Breathe into this area as long as is necessary to feel the full relaxation. When you're ready, move the breathing up to a point behind your sinuses, and when you're ready, move it again to the top of your head. Each breath should feel like it is literally flowing through each area, cleansing it and relaxing it.
Time is not important when you are doing these rituals, only that you are relaxing yourself, cleansing as much of the stress and tension from your body. Try not to rush any part of it and if you find yourself rushing, remind yourself with as much sternness as you have to, this is for YOUR benefit, slow down. After a few attempts, you should achieve some level of enjoyment from the whole process. You can come away from the whole thing quite refreshed and relaxed. I found that even when I wasnt excercising on a regular basis and had put on a lot of extra pounds that this was still quite beneficial. You need to let go of tension, you need to center yourself and you need to be more aware of your body.
I have sensed that some of you thrive on misery, others thrive on strife and discourse and some of you seem to value the need for peace through religion or spirituality.(there's a difference) You should try at least some avenue for relaxation. I only suggest this because it has worked for me for some time now. As I've already said, it has worked for me when I was quite out of shape, injured and either depressed or angry. You have to feel the flow of energy, relish the strain and stress leaving your muscles and organs. If you have time to couple this with some sort of excercise, all the better. Take pride in keeping your heart rate down as you practice it more and more and you use the memory of its calming effects in time of stress.
Every one of us has griped on facebook about some stress or the other, how do you handle it? You dont have to be comfortable with meditation or yoga to ease your conflicts. Do what works for you. I know many of you reading this are housewives or girlfriends. Your man would be surprised if he is the type that can be adventurous and try something that is out of his norm. He can go back to being the he-man tomorrow at work, tell him today he needs to learn this type of control. Let's face it: there are OTHER perks to learning this type of control;).
As you go about your days, if you are trying this or something like it, try to notice if you start catching yourself applying the calming effects when you are stressed. It really does go a long way if you give it a chance. I have even done the ridding of strain and breathing while I was lying down. The principal is always the same, the technique can vary as long as it suits you.
Let me know if you try it and how you feel afterwards. I wouldnt expect you to start having mystical experiences or travel out-of-body, but I would like to hear if it has been beneficial to you. This is the point where I should say "Namaste", but I've over-used that enough on status-updates. So, as I bid you adieu, I would like to add that fishing is also beneficial, and if the scenery is appreciated as it should be, can be almost as liberating, but not quite. There is nothing quite like exploring your inner-self. Make the most of what you choose to do, but for the love of God, quit touching yourself when you meditate. Save that for when your partner learns to meditate.....or goes fishing.
If you can manage a quiet space, slightly darkened, you would be well served. There is a certain force of will that you must possess, much as with any disciplined endeavour such as a fitness program or even like quitting smoking. You have to be able to retain the fortitude or self-discipline to keep the concentration levels. Calm yourself for as long as it takes to feel your body processes slowing. When you feel that you are relaxed enough, let the tension ease from your head and neck, allowing the muscles to go as slack as possible while still keeping your head up. Your shoulders are usually the worst source of tension, so take particular care in relaxing them. I try to imagine the tension as waves of heat, radiating away from my body, often like a slow explosion. I suppose that isnt exactly the best way to describe it. Let's say you should let is expand in waves away from you. I have often imagined that I am sending energy out to others that may be in need of it. After all, energy is energy, the only difference is how it is applied.
Work your way out to your fingertips and down through your legs to your toes. When you feel that as much tension as you can rid yourself of is gone, begin concentrating on your breathing more. Often you are told (in yoga, esp) to breathe through your nose. I say whatever suits you best. I have seen people breathe through pursed lips and inhale by nose/exhale by mouth, the point is to keep up(so to speak) your relaxed state.
If you choose to do so, begin concentrating your breaths through the chakras. Begin breathing as though you can feel the breath going through your body, down until it reaches and flows through the area at the bottom of your pelvis. Breathe through it a few times and then begin moving the breath up to the point between your navel and your spine. Again, breathe at least a few breaths, but you can do this as long as is necessary. Move the breath up to around the area of your sternum and breathe the same as before. When you're ready, move the breathing up to around the middle of your throat. Breathe into this area as long as is necessary to feel the full relaxation. When you're ready, move the breathing up to a point behind your sinuses, and when you're ready, move it again to the top of your head. Each breath should feel like it is literally flowing through each area, cleansing it and relaxing it.
Time is not important when you are doing these rituals, only that you are relaxing yourself, cleansing as much of the stress and tension from your body. Try not to rush any part of it and if you find yourself rushing, remind yourself with as much sternness as you have to, this is for YOUR benefit, slow down. After a few attempts, you should achieve some level of enjoyment from the whole process. You can come away from the whole thing quite refreshed and relaxed. I found that even when I wasnt excercising on a regular basis and had put on a lot of extra pounds that this was still quite beneficial. You need to let go of tension, you need to center yourself and you need to be more aware of your body.
I have sensed that some of you thrive on misery, others thrive on strife and discourse and some of you seem to value the need for peace through religion or spirituality.(there's a difference) You should try at least some avenue for relaxation. I only suggest this because it has worked for me for some time now. As I've already said, it has worked for me when I was quite out of shape, injured and either depressed or angry. You have to feel the flow of energy, relish the strain and stress leaving your muscles and organs. If you have time to couple this with some sort of excercise, all the better. Take pride in keeping your heart rate down as you practice it more and more and you use the memory of its calming effects in time of stress.
Every one of us has griped on facebook about some stress or the other, how do you handle it? You dont have to be comfortable with meditation or yoga to ease your conflicts. Do what works for you. I know many of you reading this are housewives or girlfriends. Your man would be surprised if he is the type that can be adventurous and try something that is out of his norm. He can go back to being the he-man tomorrow at work, tell him today he needs to learn this type of control. Let's face it: there are OTHER perks to learning this type of control;).
As you go about your days, if you are trying this or something like it, try to notice if you start catching yourself applying the calming effects when you are stressed. It really does go a long way if you give it a chance. I have even done the ridding of strain and breathing while I was lying down. The principal is always the same, the technique can vary as long as it suits you.
Let me know if you try it and how you feel afterwards. I wouldnt expect you to start having mystical experiences or travel out-of-body, but I would like to hear if it has been beneficial to you. This is the point where I should say "Namaste", but I've over-used that enough on status-updates. So, as I bid you adieu, I would like to add that fishing is also beneficial, and if the scenery is appreciated as it should be, can be almost as liberating, but not quite. There is nothing quite like exploring your inner-self. Make the most of what you choose to do, but for the love of God, quit touching yourself when you meditate. Save that for when your partner learns to meditate.....or goes fishing.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
99 Wii, Wii monsieur
Paige Browning started something again. How many times have you heard that in your life? Ha. As I just recently purchased a Wii, I am still learning all the games that we have for it. Wii fit, Wii this and Wii that--There are so many games just on the Wii Fit that it will take forever to master them.
I have developed a particular fondness for Wii bowling so far and I really DONT like the Yoga. The live yoga that I do suits me much better. Snowball fights, hula hoops, flapping my arms to fly like a fat idiot in a chicken suit, are all pretty entertaining and I suppose(gasp) healthy. You really do get up and burn some calories without knowing you're doing it.
Let's get to the "meat" of the subject, if you'll allow me to phrase it thus. Paige suggested that they should invent Wii Sex. After much consideration(about 5 minutes), I have concluded that they should invent it and to further the suggestion, let me put it to you like this: (pun intended) They should have a mat with one of those triangular sex cushions, full of sensors and maybe a web-cam. ( you know, for comparison purposes) You get points for balance, force, style, duration and position changes(cued, of course by your Wii Mii Wee Wee. There should be couples competitions, partner changes and liberal amounts of free-style. Lots of rhythm change excercises with varying time trials, change-ups and the like would put lots of calories and time in your Wii piggy bank.
If they really wanted us to lose the weight and Bii Fit, wouldnt it make sense to have a couple's game like this? Husbands and wives everywhere, getting up from the chair/couch, getting together(so to speak), girlfriends keeping their boyfriends off xbox live, lions and lambs living in harmony, peace onearthandfortheloveofallthatisholywillyouPLEASEmakeoneofthesedamnedthings?
Sorry. Lost my composure there. Wii Sex will bring peace and harmony to America. Many of the problems we're facing now will disappear. Let me expound on that for a moment: If couples are excercising(lets face it, that IS the best form of non-cleat required contact sports) health problems will begin declining. Many people too lazy to get healthy will have more of a reason to lose weight, get some cardio and maybe get off of their pills and potions. Lower back pain will either increase ten-fold or disappear from all but the seriously injured or the aged. The health-care industry wont be in as much of a shambles and congress wont have as much to bitch about to each other because the health-care reform that no one can agree on will be much less of an issue. Fast food sales will decline, thereby leading more and more people to eat more home-cooked meals. Organic foods, candles, fung-shui related items, pillows, sheets and thong sales will soar. Baby sitters will make a fortune because parents will be shooing the little buggers out of the house more often, as well as after-school sports and clubs.
The school systems will then benefit as well as the Scouts both boy and girl, malls will profit because teenagers will be there co-habitating and co-miserating more(here's 40 bucks, go the hell to the mall and leave me and Mom alone). Cuddle-related items sales will soar as well, along with stock in KY, beer, chocolate, Victoria's Secret, Adam and Eve and pork-related products.(we need comfort food too, ladies) Silk industries, cotton, ear plugs(for elderly neighbors, singles and kids that wont leave) will also benefit. In fact, there are so many industries that would benefit, it would almost be a crime if they DIDNT invent the Wii Sex.
Health and industry would benefit, people will be spending more time together, we'd be using our time together(as couples) more wisely and thusly--more marriages would succeed. Less divorces would hopefully get rid of more lawyers, but unfortunately, like cockroaches, they would probably just go elsewhere in the legal profession. Drug use would go down because, lets face it, the endorphin rush is better than most drugs. Alcohol consumption may rise slightly, but it would possibly be mostly red-wine related and we all know that the anti-oxidants are good for you.
Religion may even benefit. Neighbors(elderly and single) would hear you lifting your voice to God and become engrossed in their bibles, maybe even attending church more because they are wondering why so many of their neighbors are suddenly praying so loudly, over and over and over.
So. We know that many of the problems our deteriorating nation are now facing could be addressed and at least partially or wholly fixed by a Wii Sex. So? Where the hell is it? Why are we still waiting for it? When will they get off their asses and get it to market? The biggest problem I can see is what department at WalMart would they put it in? Video games? No, too many kids. Furniture and bedding(it would be a mat with a pillow-ish thing)? No, again, too hard for some people to think to look for it there. Fitness? Maybe. Right next to the Yoga mats is a possibility. Health products? Possibly. They already have all kinds of KY stuff and pregnancy tests. We'll leave that to marketing.
I know that some of you will think about this and come up with some bad points, but for the life of me, I cant think of any. It's about 6:40 PM. How long do we have to wait for it? Hurry up. Call somebody at Wii. NOW! ....Damnit...I suppose I'll have to try out those new waders in the morning, but by God, that frickin Wii Sex better be in the news tomorrow. God I love you Paige...Roz and about a 100 million other women will too, if somebody gets off their ass and gives us something to put ours on!!!! Oh, WVU --SWEET 16 !!! (not as good as Wii Sex, but it'll do for a few minutes). See Ya on Wii live!!(gotta invent that too).
I have developed a particular fondness for Wii bowling so far and I really DONT like the Yoga. The live yoga that I do suits me much better. Snowball fights, hula hoops, flapping my arms to fly like a fat idiot in a chicken suit, are all pretty entertaining and I suppose(gasp) healthy. You really do get up and burn some calories without knowing you're doing it.
Let's get to the "meat" of the subject, if you'll allow me to phrase it thus. Paige suggested that they should invent Wii Sex. After much consideration(about 5 minutes), I have concluded that they should invent it and to further the suggestion, let me put it to you like this: (pun intended) They should have a mat with one of those triangular sex cushions, full of sensors and maybe a web-cam. ( you know, for comparison purposes) You get points for balance, force, style, duration and position changes(cued, of course by your Wii Mii Wee Wee. There should be couples competitions, partner changes and liberal amounts of free-style. Lots of rhythm change excercises with varying time trials, change-ups and the like would put lots of calories and time in your Wii piggy bank.
If they really wanted us to lose the weight and Bii Fit, wouldnt it make sense to have a couple's game like this? Husbands and wives everywhere, getting up from the chair/couch, getting together(so to speak), girlfriends keeping their boyfriends off xbox live, lions and lambs living in harmony, peace onearthandfortheloveofallthatisholywillyouPLEASEmakeoneofthesedamnedthings?
Sorry. Lost my composure there. Wii Sex will bring peace and harmony to America. Many of the problems we're facing now will disappear. Let me expound on that for a moment: If couples are excercising(lets face it, that IS the best form of non-cleat required contact sports) health problems will begin declining. Many people too lazy to get healthy will have more of a reason to lose weight, get some cardio and maybe get off of their pills and potions. Lower back pain will either increase ten-fold or disappear from all but the seriously injured or the aged. The health-care industry wont be in as much of a shambles and congress wont have as much to bitch about to each other because the health-care reform that no one can agree on will be much less of an issue. Fast food sales will decline, thereby leading more and more people to eat more home-cooked meals. Organic foods, candles, fung-shui related items, pillows, sheets and thong sales will soar. Baby sitters will make a fortune because parents will be shooing the little buggers out of the house more often, as well as after-school sports and clubs.
The school systems will then benefit as well as the Scouts both boy and girl, malls will profit because teenagers will be there co-habitating and co-miserating more(here's 40 bucks, go the hell to the mall and leave me and Mom alone). Cuddle-related items sales will soar as well, along with stock in KY, beer, chocolate, Victoria's Secret, Adam and Eve and pork-related products.(we need comfort food too, ladies) Silk industries, cotton, ear plugs(for elderly neighbors, singles and kids that wont leave) will also benefit. In fact, there are so many industries that would benefit, it would almost be a crime if they DIDNT invent the Wii Sex.
Health and industry would benefit, people will be spending more time together, we'd be using our time together(as couples) more wisely and thusly--more marriages would succeed. Less divorces would hopefully get rid of more lawyers, but unfortunately, like cockroaches, they would probably just go elsewhere in the legal profession. Drug use would go down because, lets face it, the endorphin rush is better than most drugs. Alcohol consumption may rise slightly, but it would possibly be mostly red-wine related and we all know that the anti-oxidants are good for you.
Religion may even benefit. Neighbors(elderly and single) would hear you lifting your voice to God and become engrossed in their bibles, maybe even attending church more because they are wondering why so many of their neighbors are suddenly praying so loudly, over and over and over.
So. We know that many of the problems our deteriorating nation are now facing could be addressed and at least partially or wholly fixed by a Wii Sex. So? Where the hell is it? Why are we still waiting for it? When will they get off their asses and get it to market? The biggest problem I can see is what department at WalMart would they put it in? Video games? No, too many kids. Furniture and bedding(it would be a mat with a pillow-ish thing)? No, again, too hard for some people to think to look for it there. Fitness? Maybe. Right next to the Yoga mats is a possibility. Health products? Possibly. They already have all kinds of KY stuff and pregnancy tests. We'll leave that to marketing.
I know that some of you will think about this and come up with some bad points, but for the life of me, I cant think of any. It's about 6:40 PM. How long do we have to wait for it? Hurry up. Call somebody at Wii. NOW! ....Damnit...I suppose I'll have to try out those new waders in the morning, but by God, that frickin Wii Sex better be in the news tomorrow. God I love you Paige...Roz and about a 100 million other women will too, if somebody gets off their ass and gives us something to put ours on!!!! Oh, WVU --SWEET 16 !!! (not as good as Wii Sex, but it'll do for a few minutes). See Ya on Wii live!!(gotta invent that too).
Friday, March 19, 2010
98 FedUPS with Mixups
As I am already tired, our little discussion of service people and delivery people may be fraught with a little more anger and a little less understanding. I would like to say that I am sure that most of the people we will be talking about are, in general good, hardworking people. The ones we're complaining about are incompetent asses.
Should we start with the classic cable guy cliches? You call the office when you move into a new place, they give you an approximate time and even though you know the score, you will arrange to be there, full of hope and excitement at getting your idiot box hooked up. You were told that the service person would be there anywhere from 9 am to 5 pm. Yeah, right. If they say 2 you better figure 5, if they say 10 am you better figure 1 or 2 because, heaven forbid, they dont get to take their lunch. You know? It couldnt be because their paltry ...what? 15, 16, 17 dollars an hour or more...wont be enough for them to soothe the ache in their guts for the half hour they would have to stop at your house? So, you sit and wait, stare at the clock or watch a dvd you've seen a hundred times and when Billy finally decides to show up with his "up yours" smile on his face(because he knows he has you at HIS leisure) you're mad, frustrated and half depressed because you know he has you at his leisure and if you want your cable/satellite, you'll keep your trap shut and put up with it. Fair? NO. Should be considered a criminal enterprise, much like mob dealings? Yes. Phone companies, power and water arent any different, so feel free to interchange them in the above paragraph.
Package delivery guys? Here we go. A couple years ago, my niece ordered a game system and the package never came. After a while, they called the Ups-chuckers that were supposed to deliver it. They said it WAS delivered. They took it to the wrong house. Down the road. Not even close to the same address. A couple weeks ago, Roz's sister ordered a laptop for Nathan for graduation. It was supposed to be delivered(sic)Saturday of last week. They never showed, she checked the website to find out why and the reason? Road conditions. You know, the week when the temps were in the 50's and the roads were bare? Somebody probably only had one or two packages to come to lowly old Kingwood and didnt want to drive all that way just for THAT, so, use the snow still on the ground(not the roads mind you) as the excuse to put it off til Monday. Jack...ass. How many times have you waited on something that took ffoooorrrreeevvvveeerrr to get there? Wanna bet somewhere along the way, barring the origin not actually putting it in the mail/ups/fedex, somebody just didnt feel like messing with your package because it was the end of the day or Friday or some other piece of laziness? Mind you, it doesnt happen all the time, but it usually seems that it happens when its something you REALLY want. NOW!
I supposed human laziness and apathy toward their job boils up in every job, but you only notice it when it inconveniences YOU. I ordered a chicken biscuit at Hardees one day last week, got it home and discovered that it had turned into a porkchop biscuit. Minor, yes, but I dont care for the pork and I wanted and paid for chicken, damnit. Yes, you make around minimum wage, yes its hot, cruddy, thankless work, but for crying out loud, try to take a little pride in it. There really is some satisfaction in a job well done.
That, I suppose, it what it all boils down to. That and people ona power trip. The self-same ones who make us want to beat them about the head and neck with a brick. People, in general, dont teach their kids the same work ethics and morals and how to find that satisfaction that used to be taught. Yes, I'm sure you did, but for the most part, no. If they did and people would take a little responsibility for themselves and a little pride in what they do, we wouldnt have near the problems with the various services and service industries.
Facebook friends Peggy and Melanie, I can vouch for you guys. I have witnessed first hand the great service you give, but lets face it, you are both mature and were raised in at least a bit of a better age. I know you've all(those of you in service occupations)had punk kids hired that you wouldnt let clean your toilets if you had a choice. They werent taught what hard work and pride were. Money is not everything, either. Yes, the utility people and many of the delivery people are paid well, but as I've ranted before- you dont have to make a fortune to be happy. You have to be able to live, but you should appreciate what you DO have, whether it's a lot or a little. There are always avenues for you to enjoy yourself and your loved ones, and again, it boils down to partially how you were taught and partially your own desires, your own standards.
I rarely had complaints about the money I made. I may have WANTED more, but if I liked what I was doing, so be it. I tried to teach our boys that they should do what they liked, what they loved and the money will always follow. It may not make you a millionaire, but I think being happy at what you do usually leads to a decent level in the occupation and a passable (at the least) living. What you do to make yourself happy with what you have, is up to you, not the people you're working for.
So, Mr. Cable Guy, Mr. FedEx man, countless lost souls working at McD's or wherever: take a little pride, put your paycheck to good use and if you dont like what you're doing, for crying out loud, center yourself, decide what you want and go for it. I've said it many times before: Change is sometimes painful. It often involves some kind of sacrifice. It works for the the bottom and the top. The choice is yours. Do the right thing, your heart and your head need to make an agreement. Dont do the job for the paycheck and then half-ass it. Dont half-ass it because of the paycheck. So, now that you know your choices, go get my frickin chicken biscuit and God help you if it isnt right this time. I'll call the electric company and tell them to shut your water off...;)
Should we start with the classic cable guy cliches? You call the office when you move into a new place, they give you an approximate time and even though you know the score, you will arrange to be there, full of hope and excitement at getting your idiot box hooked up. You were told that the service person would be there anywhere from 9 am to 5 pm. Yeah, right. If they say 2 you better figure 5, if they say 10 am you better figure 1 or 2 because, heaven forbid, they dont get to take their lunch. You know? It couldnt be because their paltry ...what? 15, 16, 17 dollars an hour or more...wont be enough for them to soothe the ache in their guts for the half hour they would have to stop at your house? So, you sit and wait, stare at the clock or watch a dvd you've seen a hundred times and when Billy finally decides to show up with his "up yours" smile on his face(because he knows he has you at HIS leisure) you're mad, frustrated and half depressed because you know he has you at his leisure and if you want your cable/satellite, you'll keep your trap shut and put up with it. Fair? NO. Should be considered a criminal enterprise, much like mob dealings? Yes. Phone companies, power and water arent any different, so feel free to interchange them in the above paragraph.
Package delivery guys? Here we go. A couple years ago, my niece ordered a game system and the package never came. After a while, they called the Ups-chuckers that were supposed to deliver it. They said it WAS delivered. They took it to the wrong house. Down the road. Not even close to the same address. A couple weeks ago, Roz's sister ordered a laptop for Nathan for graduation. It was supposed to be delivered(sic)Saturday of last week. They never showed, she checked the website to find out why and the reason? Road conditions. You know, the week when the temps were in the 50's and the roads were bare? Somebody probably only had one or two packages to come to lowly old Kingwood and didnt want to drive all that way just for THAT, so, use the snow still on the ground(not the roads mind you) as the excuse to put it off til Monday. Jack...ass. How many times have you waited on something that took ffoooorrrreeevvvveeerrr to get there? Wanna bet somewhere along the way, barring the origin not actually putting it in the mail/ups/fedex, somebody just didnt feel like messing with your package because it was the end of the day or Friday or some other piece of laziness? Mind you, it doesnt happen all the time, but it usually seems that it happens when its something you REALLY want. NOW!
I supposed human laziness and apathy toward their job boils up in every job, but you only notice it when it inconveniences YOU. I ordered a chicken biscuit at Hardees one day last week, got it home and discovered that it had turned into a porkchop biscuit. Minor, yes, but I dont care for the pork and I wanted and paid for chicken, damnit. Yes, you make around minimum wage, yes its hot, cruddy, thankless work, but for crying out loud, try to take a little pride in it. There really is some satisfaction in a job well done.
That, I suppose, it what it all boils down to. That and people ona power trip. The self-same ones who make us want to beat them about the head and neck with a brick. People, in general, dont teach their kids the same work ethics and morals and how to find that satisfaction that used to be taught. Yes, I'm sure you did, but for the most part, no. If they did and people would take a little responsibility for themselves and a little pride in what they do, we wouldnt have near the problems with the various services and service industries.
Facebook friends Peggy and Melanie, I can vouch for you guys. I have witnessed first hand the great service you give, but lets face it, you are both mature and were raised in at least a bit of a better age. I know you've all(those of you in service occupations)had punk kids hired that you wouldnt let clean your toilets if you had a choice. They werent taught what hard work and pride were. Money is not everything, either. Yes, the utility people and many of the delivery people are paid well, but as I've ranted before- you dont have to make a fortune to be happy. You have to be able to live, but you should appreciate what you DO have, whether it's a lot or a little. There are always avenues for you to enjoy yourself and your loved ones, and again, it boils down to partially how you were taught and partially your own desires, your own standards.
I rarely had complaints about the money I made. I may have WANTED more, but if I liked what I was doing, so be it. I tried to teach our boys that they should do what they liked, what they loved and the money will always follow. It may not make you a millionaire, but I think being happy at what you do usually leads to a decent level in the occupation and a passable (at the least) living. What you do to make yourself happy with what you have, is up to you, not the people you're working for.
So, Mr. Cable Guy, Mr. FedEx man, countless lost souls working at McD's or wherever: take a little pride, put your paycheck to good use and if you dont like what you're doing, for crying out loud, center yourself, decide what you want and go for it. I've said it many times before: Change is sometimes painful. It often involves some kind of sacrifice. It works for the the bottom and the top. The choice is yours. Do the right thing, your heart and your head need to make an agreement. Dont do the job for the paycheck and then half-ass it. Dont half-ass it because of the paycheck. So, now that you know your choices, go get my frickin chicken biscuit and God help you if it isnt right this time. I'll call the electric company and tell them to shut your water off...;)
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
97 Silver Thread
A week or so ago, my field operations supervisor was replaced without much warning. The new guy showed up at my meeting spot for my people. I instantly took a liking to him but I wasnt sure why.
He is a gentleman of about 60, white hair, neatly trimmed, tall, well groomed and well mannered. Okay, I can see already as I write it down that this should be an indication that he probably has his stuff together. He has a well-weathered look about him and his skin has been blessed by age with many lines, telling stories of his past and maybe his future. Lots of wrinkles from smiling, some from worry and a few I attributed to his smoking.UGH. Bad habit to say the least, but, to each his own. He is slightly taller than myself, thin and looks as though he could still hold his own in a tussle.
As I spoke to him, I learned he was prior military like myself, although he stayed in considerably longer. He was a first sergeant when he retired. That explained the previous couple paragraphs. His voice was what drew me to him. The timbre of his voice was exactly like that of an uncle I have that used to be near and dear to me. I havent spoken to my uncle for quite some time, and even though we are at loggerheads, this gentleman's voice immediately put me at ease. Deep, but not too deep, it was both soothing to hear and I suppose, for lack of a better word: nostalgic. It reminded me, as so many little things often do, of fond memories from my youth. We have spoken often in the last couple weeks and he never fails to take the stress from me, even if it is not spoken aloud. I believe we have become fast friends.
Isnt it funny how the links and bonds between people can carry over and through the people that you meet? People come in and out of our lives, each taking a piece of you and leaving something. This man, simply by being born with a certain growth pattern of his vocal chords, coupled with a personality that is both no-nonsense and charming, struck a chord with me, a total stranger, within seconds. We probably wont work together more than 6 months or so, but if I live a thousand years, I'll remember him fondly.
A couple days ago, at the same meeting spot, my workers were meeting, getting and giving paperwork and assignments. My f.o.s. came in and sat down, talking a bit here and there with the people around us. A girl of around 30 was near me and I noticed that she had quit working and was staring intently at him. She didnt blink, didnt move and I noticed that the blood vessels in her eyes were getting larger, almost as though they would burst. She was flushed, breathing very shallow and her eyes never wavered from his face. At first I thought she was angry or that maybe she knew him. It appeared she was ready to scream at him(at the very least) or that she might jump up and hit him with the nearest blunt object. After a moment or so, I saw her eyes welling up with tears and I asked her if she was alright. That's when she lost it. She began sobbing and told the gentleman that she was sorry. When she calmed down, she said that when he had sat down, she had thought it was her Dad. She had to stare for a while to make sure that it wasnt him. He'd passed away in August of last year. She said the resemblance was so uncanny, she really thought it could have been him.
As she left to compose her self, I was reminded of so many other incidents like this. People having a thin line of "something" running through them and carrying on, into others. A stranger, standing in line somewhere, not looking at all like your friend/loved one, but the feeling you get from them making you think about the other person. There is a feeling there that you got from your friend, and sometimes, without saying a word, a stranger has that same feeling.
My Grandad passed away two years ago and often there are those among my family(myself included) that will smell cigar smoke where there is none and be reminded that wherever he is on his journey, he still looks back to us, to this point in his existence. My nephew was quite small when Pap was almost gone. Lying in his bed, coming in and out of consciousness, we took turns holding the little boy. One of the last things Pap said was his name. Not long after, my nephew, River, began the usual toddler things: talking, walking, picking up bad habits from uncles, you know? Roz and I and my sister began noticing little things at first. He had many of the same mannerism that Pap had. He displayed the same, defiant attitude towards life. Not just a toddlers attitude, mind you. The physical resemblance is nil. He looks more like me than Pap, but the "vibe" you get from him is all Pap. He is raucous and ornery, incessant and inquisitive. Yes, most toddlers are, but this seems different to us. He simply exudes the same feeling that we got from Pap. Now if we can keep him away from alcohol and loose women.
Some religions talk of a thread or line connecting the soul and the body. I believe the Hindus that practice having out-of-body experiences, describe their travelling spirit, or soul or what-have-you, as being connected to their physical body by a thin, silver chord. What if it this chord that weaves in and out of the 6 or 7 billion people on this planet? I think it is many different chords, weaving by chance or not, through one or many people. There is a sort of ethereal connection between many of us, although you may or may not ever run into someone that you get this feeling from. If you have, you simply "know" that the person in question is a kindred spirit to either you or the person you are reminded of.
Long years ago, I left my wife and home for my adventure in the Army. Upon arriving at MEPS in Pittsburgh, I met a young man, destined to be a friend for life, although we rarely get time to see each other any more. We spoke briefly in the various lines and departments as we were in-processed, but not until we were transported to another location did we get to talk much. I felt like I'd known Tim my entire life, yet I didnt know any details of his life before we met. It didnt really matter to me what the details were, I simply "knew" that we would be good friends. The thread, or line or whatever you want to call it, travelled through us both, and upon a chance meeting, has bound us together for life. We hadnt seen each other in years, but in 2003 or so, we visited Tim and his lovely wife Judy. It was like we had never left. There were no presumptions made, no false sentiments exchanged. We simply picked up where we had left off.
If this line or thread had not existed, could we have done this? I dont think so. At least not without some effort. So here we are. Your mind will lead down many paths in life, past many people and into some of their lives. More often than not, I think, the ones you are drawn to, whether perfect or flawed, have a piece of that thread sewn into them. Into their souls and maybe, if not through yours, it goes around you, close enough(if it is to your liking)for you to feel it. These are the ties that bind, the thread of life, that tells your soul it is there, waiting to be grasped, and it is for you to decide whether to hold on or let it slip by you, perhaps to loop around or near once again, someday...
He is a gentleman of about 60, white hair, neatly trimmed, tall, well groomed and well mannered. Okay, I can see already as I write it down that this should be an indication that he probably has his stuff together. He has a well-weathered look about him and his skin has been blessed by age with many lines, telling stories of his past and maybe his future. Lots of wrinkles from smiling, some from worry and a few I attributed to his smoking.UGH. Bad habit to say the least, but, to each his own. He is slightly taller than myself, thin and looks as though he could still hold his own in a tussle.
As I spoke to him, I learned he was prior military like myself, although he stayed in considerably longer. He was a first sergeant when he retired. That explained the previous couple paragraphs. His voice was what drew me to him. The timbre of his voice was exactly like that of an uncle I have that used to be near and dear to me. I havent spoken to my uncle for quite some time, and even though we are at loggerheads, this gentleman's voice immediately put me at ease. Deep, but not too deep, it was both soothing to hear and I suppose, for lack of a better word: nostalgic. It reminded me, as so many little things often do, of fond memories from my youth. We have spoken often in the last couple weeks and he never fails to take the stress from me, even if it is not spoken aloud. I believe we have become fast friends.
Isnt it funny how the links and bonds between people can carry over and through the people that you meet? People come in and out of our lives, each taking a piece of you and leaving something. This man, simply by being born with a certain growth pattern of his vocal chords, coupled with a personality that is both no-nonsense and charming, struck a chord with me, a total stranger, within seconds. We probably wont work together more than 6 months or so, but if I live a thousand years, I'll remember him fondly.
A couple days ago, at the same meeting spot, my workers were meeting, getting and giving paperwork and assignments. My f.o.s. came in and sat down, talking a bit here and there with the people around us. A girl of around 30 was near me and I noticed that she had quit working and was staring intently at him. She didnt blink, didnt move and I noticed that the blood vessels in her eyes were getting larger, almost as though they would burst. She was flushed, breathing very shallow and her eyes never wavered from his face. At first I thought she was angry or that maybe she knew him. It appeared she was ready to scream at him(at the very least) or that she might jump up and hit him with the nearest blunt object. After a moment or so, I saw her eyes welling up with tears and I asked her if she was alright. That's when she lost it. She began sobbing and told the gentleman that she was sorry. When she calmed down, she said that when he had sat down, she had thought it was her Dad. She had to stare for a while to make sure that it wasnt him. He'd passed away in August of last year. She said the resemblance was so uncanny, she really thought it could have been him.
As she left to compose her self, I was reminded of so many other incidents like this. People having a thin line of "something" running through them and carrying on, into others. A stranger, standing in line somewhere, not looking at all like your friend/loved one, but the feeling you get from them making you think about the other person. There is a feeling there that you got from your friend, and sometimes, without saying a word, a stranger has that same feeling.
My Grandad passed away two years ago and often there are those among my family(myself included) that will smell cigar smoke where there is none and be reminded that wherever he is on his journey, he still looks back to us, to this point in his existence. My nephew was quite small when Pap was almost gone. Lying in his bed, coming in and out of consciousness, we took turns holding the little boy. One of the last things Pap said was his name. Not long after, my nephew, River, began the usual toddler things: talking, walking, picking up bad habits from uncles, you know? Roz and I and my sister began noticing little things at first. He had many of the same mannerism that Pap had. He displayed the same, defiant attitude towards life. Not just a toddlers attitude, mind you. The physical resemblance is nil. He looks more like me than Pap, but the "vibe" you get from him is all Pap. He is raucous and ornery, incessant and inquisitive. Yes, most toddlers are, but this seems different to us. He simply exudes the same feeling that we got from Pap. Now if we can keep him away from alcohol and loose women.
Some religions talk of a thread or line connecting the soul and the body. I believe the Hindus that practice having out-of-body experiences, describe their travelling spirit, or soul or what-have-you, as being connected to their physical body by a thin, silver chord. What if it this chord that weaves in and out of the 6 or 7 billion people on this planet? I think it is many different chords, weaving by chance or not, through one or many people. There is a sort of ethereal connection between many of us, although you may or may not ever run into someone that you get this feeling from. If you have, you simply "know" that the person in question is a kindred spirit to either you or the person you are reminded of.
Long years ago, I left my wife and home for my adventure in the Army. Upon arriving at MEPS in Pittsburgh, I met a young man, destined to be a friend for life, although we rarely get time to see each other any more. We spoke briefly in the various lines and departments as we were in-processed, but not until we were transported to another location did we get to talk much. I felt like I'd known Tim my entire life, yet I didnt know any details of his life before we met. It didnt really matter to me what the details were, I simply "knew" that we would be good friends. The thread, or line or whatever you want to call it, travelled through us both, and upon a chance meeting, has bound us together for life. We hadnt seen each other in years, but in 2003 or so, we visited Tim and his lovely wife Judy. It was like we had never left. There were no presumptions made, no false sentiments exchanged. We simply picked up where we had left off.
If this line or thread had not existed, could we have done this? I dont think so. At least not without some effort. So here we are. Your mind will lead down many paths in life, past many people and into some of their lives. More often than not, I think, the ones you are drawn to, whether perfect or flawed, have a piece of that thread sewn into them. Into their souls and maybe, if not through yours, it goes around you, close enough(if it is to your liking)for you to feel it. These are the ties that bind, the thread of life, that tells your soul it is there, waiting to be grasped, and it is for you to decide whether to hold on or let it slip by you, perhaps to loop around or near once again, someday...
Sunday, March 14, 2010
96 Mini Skirts, Mind Control and the Abominable Mountain Ape
Lets start with the obvious: I cant sit here and drool over teenage girls. First, a lot of you have teenage daughters and I'm old enough to be their father, so it's a creep thing. Second, it's illegal in practice so talking about it wont be much better and might just insight some sort of riot.
What I would like to say is: Where were all the girls that looked like that when WE were 17? Ha. There were always good looking girls, but it seems as I get older, they dress to make themselves look older. They wear clothes that 25 year olds in a club looking for a weekender would wear. They strike some awfully seductive/suggestive poses on their myspace or other accounts and frankly, a lot of them could just plain pass for 20+. Of course, to be fair, I have seen a lot of you my age posing for the "I-took-my-own-photo-in-the-bathroom-with-my-phone" poses. Wife beater looking skin tight, lips pursed in the"I'm too sexy for you, I'm nice-to-a-point-but-dont-f*ck-with-me, pout and head cocked to the side to accentuate it all.
I have both been blessed and cursed for not having girls to raise. I often wish that I had been able to experience the joy of having a "Daddy's girl", but I will suffice with a "Grandpap's girl" someday. I have been told that the teenage girl is not so very different from the teenage boy. They both act like they are possessed from about the time puberty hits. We start by standing over their crib, watching to make sure they are safe. We now stand as far away as does not permit us smacking them up side the head. Hormones, school and peer pressure and perceived pressures from us make them do crazy things. They rebel, they act like they hate us, they often say things that break our hearts. I think the majority of them will come around as they get older....we did.
Someone suggested they were possessed by aliens. Possibly. More likely the primal urges. I say that as parents, we need to accept that, remember what we did(or wanted to do), take a deep breath and just keep loving them and not killing them.
So, if aliens do not possess teenage girls in general, is it possible they possess us? Maybe. I dont really believe in possessions of any sort(the mental kind, not the kind you buy with a dollar for all you smart-asses who were going to say something). I think your mind is either mainstream, in and out or you're gone,baby gone. You cant have your cake and eat it too, so make up your own mind. So to speak. You see people all the time, that act flaky or make crazy decisions. They invite trouble into their lives at every turn and some of them seem dull and lifeless, an empty shell. These are married people. Just kidding. Just like many spiritual or religious feelings, its all a mindset. Some people are born okay and turn doofy, some are born doofy and some are born just plain crazy.
We have seen those among us make horrible choices and never blink an eye. Most people need a swift, spiritual, kick to the head--shaka buku.
Then you have the real alien-possession cases: havent you met someone, somewhere that just seemed a little "off"? They dont seem like they're really, well, human. Kinda like the bald man from "Fringe". They have dead eyes and they move and talk like the body they wield is just a shell, like I mentioned a moment ago. Automaton is the word that comes to mind. So how do we know if its just a mentally deficient person or is it really some spy sent from above to keep tabs on something? I have met people just like this, they answer your queries and pleasantries with a no-nonsense, curt reply usually. There is a vibe they give off that just screams to you that something isnt right. Can you honestly say you've never met someone that gave you that feeling? I have, they usually worked for the government. LOL. Seriously, I've met people in my travels that almost seemed like, well, an android, for lack of a better term. They didnt "feel" like they were real, that is to say, I just didnt get an inkling that they were human. They literally made me feel they were just empty husks.
In the same vein, I would like to touch on the other big question we of the modern video age have: If there is life "out there", is there also life here that we dont have physical proof of? Yes, I think there probably is. Not that long ago we thought the celocanth was extinct and then some fishermen pulled one up in a net. Numerous sightings around the world, recorded even back hundreds of years ago, have told of men-like creatures that live furtive, secretive lives. They have been caught on fleeting bits of film and also been made the object of ridicule. Our friend Steven has asked why there is no serious research being done on them. Well, just like the celocanth, until someone comes up with a live one or a corpse, there probably never will be. I know of a couple instances where more than a few people saw a creature moving in daylight, albeit at a distance. You can make fun of me if you wish, but even with all the things I joke about, I believe there are things out there that we still dont have an inkling about. There are creatures yet to be discovered, probably because they are smart enough to avoid us. I will leave these subjects to be covered in depth at another date.
As I leave you to your thoughts about what I have touched upon tonight, I would like to remind you again that aliens do exist, but they are waiting til Chuck Norris dies to attack. Have a great night, rant again tomorrow. Leave me some suggestions if you have a mind to. Or do you HAVE a mind????.....androids....
What I would like to say is: Where were all the girls that looked like that when WE were 17? Ha. There were always good looking girls, but it seems as I get older, they dress to make themselves look older. They wear clothes that 25 year olds in a club looking for a weekender would wear. They strike some awfully seductive/suggestive poses on their myspace or other accounts and frankly, a lot of them could just plain pass for 20+. Of course, to be fair, I have seen a lot of you my age posing for the "I-took-my-own-photo-in-the-bathroom-with-my-phone" poses. Wife beater looking skin tight, lips pursed in the"I'm too sexy for you, I'm nice-to-a-point-but-dont-f*ck-with-me, pout and head cocked to the side to accentuate it all.
I have both been blessed and cursed for not having girls to raise. I often wish that I had been able to experience the joy of having a "Daddy's girl", but I will suffice with a "Grandpap's girl" someday. I have been told that the teenage girl is not so very different from the teenage boy. They both act like they are possessed from about the time puberty hits. We start by standing over their crib, watching to make sure they are safe. We now stand as far away as does not permit us smacking them up side the head. Hormones, school and peer pressure and perceived pressures from us make them do crazy things. They rebel, they act like they hate us, they often say things that break our hearts. I think the majority of them will come around as they get older....we did.
Someone suggested they were possessed by aliens. Possibly. More likely the primal urges. I say that as parents, we need to accept that, remember what we did(or wanted to do), take a deep breath and just keep loving them and not killing them.
So, if aliens do not possess teenage girls in general, is it possible they possess us? Maybe. I dont really believe in possessions of any sort(the mental kind, not the kind you buy with a dollar for all you smart-asses who were going to say something). I think your mind is either mainstream, in and out or you're gone,baby gone. You cant have your cake and eat it too, so make up your own mind. So to speak. You see people all the time, that act flaky or make crazy decisions. They invite trouble into their lives at every turn and some of them seem dull and lifeless, an empty shell. These are married people. Just kidding. Just like many spiritual or religious feelings, its all a mindset. Some people are born okay and turn doofy, some are born doofy and some are born just plain crazy.
We have seen those among us make horrible choices and never blink an eye. Most people need a swift, spiritual, kick to the head--shaka buku.
Then you have the real alien-possession cases: havent you met someone, somewhere that just seemed a little "off"? They dont seem like they're really, well, human. Kinda like the bald man from "Fringe". They have dead eyes and they move and talk like the body they wield is just a shell, like I mentioned a moment ago. Automaton is the word that comes to mind. So how do we know if its just a mentally deficient person or is it really some spy sent from above to keep tabs on something? I have met people just like this, they answer your queries and pleasantries with a no-nonsense, curt reply usually. There is a vibe they give off that just screams to you that something isnt right. Can you honestly say you've never met someone that gave you that feeling? I have, they usually worked for the government. LOL. Seriously, I've met people in my travels that almost seemed like, well, an android, for lack of a better term. They didnt "feel" like they were real, that is to say, I just didnt get an inkling that they were human. They literally made me feel they were just empty husks.
In the same vein, I would like to touch on the other big question we of the modern video age have: If there is life "out there", is there also life here that we dont have physical proof of? Yes, I think there probably is. Not that long ago we thought the celocanth was extinct and then some fishermen pulled one up in a net. Numerous sightings around the world, recorded even back hundreds of years ago, have told of men-like creatures that live furtive, secretive lives. They have been caught on fleeting bits of film and also been made the object of ridicule. Our friend Steven has asked why there is no serious research being done on them. Well, just like the celocanth, until someone comes up with a live one or a corpse, there probably never will be. I know of a couple instances where more than a few people saw a creature moving in daylight, albeit at a distance. You can make fun of me if you wish, but even with all the things I joke about, I believe there are things out there that we still dont have an inkling about. There are creatures yet to be discovered, probably because they are smart enough to avoid us. I will leave these subjects to be covered in depth at another date.
As I leave you to your thoughts about what I have touched upon tonight, I would like to remind you again that aliens do exist, but they are waiting til Chuck Norris dies to attack. Have a great night, rant again tomorrow. Leave me some suggestions if you have a mind to. Or do you HAVE a mind????.....androids....
Saturday, March 13, 2010
95 Mid-life, Mid-dle of the Road
I thought about the mid-life crisis that someone suggested today and then I thought about how a lot of kids are disrespectful. Someone else suggested how the crap on tv was so suggestive and/or explicit. Then it occured to me: they're all connected.
Those damned hippies were inspired by the beatnicks to challenge the establishment and they thereby began a downward spiral of loosening morals and a widespread acceptance of lowered standards, mainstream drug-use and a laissez-faire attitude about a wide range of our morals that helped keep America rock steady(for the most part) for decades.
America has never been perfect, but by the world-standard, we were an example for the better part of a century. We were the pinnacle of industry. We were developing a global-class military, although it didnt become complete until WWII. We spent half of the last century learning how to cope with our might and power and how we wanted to live our lives with the modern, linked world. Our roads, rails and phone systems were finally able to link just about every corner of the nation and most mainstream folks were settling down to the little, pink house with a cat a dog and 2.5 kids.
By the time the 60's rolled around, we were embroiled in an endless war by a president that was at best, corrupt. Not the one at the beginning, the one that looked like a used car salesman mated with an oil baron. The first shot was fired at mainstream society by protesting youth, looking for an escape. They railed against every established notion we had cultivated and they managed to produce a sort of tolerance for all things- "me". The 70's gave us drugs, debauchery and disco and that rolled into the 80's stigma of Coke, coke and computers. Thank all that we hold dear, disco died. Drugs evolved from pot, coke and heroin into pot, crack, speed, meth and a host of other drugs.
Computers brought us into the birth-pangs of what we have now: the electronic or digital age. During the eighties, yuppies lusted after dollars, dope and dames and it almost looked like we would have a resurgence of old-fashioned morals. We morphed into the 90's with grunge music, CGI and oil-based wars. As we are now a tenth of the way into a new century, we have molded the past 40 or so years into a well-dressed, well-housed, well-connected travesty of the former America. We have the ability to talk instantly from coast to coast and beyond. We have easy access to the best of absolutely everything: clothes, cars, food, housing, medicine, booze and drugs. We have a standing Army that, if used properly, could bring just about every country on the planet to its knees.
What we dont have is a majority of youth that can keep the advancements of the last half century moving in the right direction. There are plenty of youths with talent, smarts and motivation, but what about the attitudes of the majority? Screw you, screw the teachers, screw everything. I want to brood and do my "thing". I want to wear my Abercrombie and Fitch or whatever and be left alone to my texting. I want my x-box and a Monster and get the hell away from me. I know, I know: dont generalize all of them into that lump. Well, how many of your kids friends act like that? How many horror stories do you have to hear?
Those of us that are approaching what I guess is considered middle-age are products of that first writhing, screeching, clicking digital revolution. We are all a part, large or small, of the me, me, me attitude that has led to the current mess our country's in. We had both the advantages of the ultimate, modern conventions and the ease of access to drugs, both illegal and prescribed. I listen when my kids tell me about the kids in the bathroom at the high school, crushing their parents medicines and snorting them. Yes, it happens in Kingwood. It happens just about everywhere. No, not all your kids are innocent. They have sex, just like we did. They sneak drinks, just like we did. They might smoke a little leaf, just like you did. ( I did not fall into that category, although I wanted to try it, I figured I could stay in the minority) Now they have a computer and phone hooked to the internet to answer any questions they have. They dont have to spell much correctly because everyone "gets it". They have the benefits of the pharmaceutical research of the last several decades and they can always live at home if things dont work out. Right?
It's not really fair of me to generalize, is it? I know. YOUR kid doesnt do that. YOUR kid is going to be a millionaire astronaut doctor. YOUR kid stays straight and narrow. Just...like...you....did.
Many of them will go on to college, but how has it all changed? Are they dumming everything down? Have you ever watched the movie Idiocracy? It made me laugh when I watched it, but then I realized that it could almost happen. There would be just enough smart people to build the things that need built and made to keep us happy, healthy and wise and the rest will have become a race of idiots, consuming, copulating and co-habitating.
I see a ray of light with every smart kid that doesnt appear to back-talk teachers, parents or friends. I feel hope with every kid I see at least acting like they have some school spirit or interest in something other than a keyboard, that they will bring back some spirit, some magic, to our people. Is this how the American Indian felt, watching their once-proud people turn to alcohol after disease and war decimated them and they had been subjugated? Watching their remaining kinsmen being herded onto reservations and there-to-stay?
I wonder what mid-life will mean in a generation? Two? It used to mean a sports car, a girlfriend on the side or at least a dangerous hobby. I'm just not sure any more. We watch shows on tv that say and show everything that only real-life used to hold. They glamorize sex, drugs, business, school and everything in between and we watch it with our kids.
We tried to teach our boys as best we could. We tried to lead by example and we held their hands long enough for them to hopefully know they are loved and will be helped when they cant help themselves. We are beginning to pull back on the apron strings and I hope every day that we did it right. Do you? Are you more concerned with them or yourself? Think about it.
I, for one, cant wait for my razor not being used on a peach-fuzz face and not having to spend the gross domestic product of Uruguay each month on groceries, but only with a measure of relief. I will always look back at those little diapered butts and fuzzy heads and remember wondering: " How will you grow up? What kind of man will you be?". Well, what kind of man are YOU? What kind of woman are YOU? I wonder if I'm too old to have more kids? Someone tell Roz to find a 20 to 25 year old surrogate. Besides, the other side of the bed's a little cold.....talk about mid-life crisis. Sheesh.
Those damned hippies were inspired by the beatnicks to challenge the establishment and they thereby began a downward spiral of loosening morals and a widespread acceptance of lowered standards, mainstream drug-use and a laissez-faire attitude about a wide range of our morals that helped keep America rock steady(for the most part) for decades.
America has never been perfect, but by the world-standard, we were an example for the better part of a century. We were the pinnacle of industry. We were developing a global-class military, although it didnt become complete until WWII. We spent half of the last century learning how to cope with our might and power and how we wanted to live our lives with the modern, linked world. Our roads, rails and phone systems were finally able to link just about every corner of the nation and most mainstream folks were settling down to the little, pink house with a cat a dog and 2.5 kids.
By the time the 60's rolled around, we were embroiled in an endless war by a president that was at best, corrupt. Not the one at the beginning, the one that looked like a used car salesman mated with an oil baron. The first shot was fired at mainstream society by protesting youth, looking for an escape. They railed against every established notion we had cultivated and they managed to produce a sort of tolerance for all things- "me". The 70's gave us drugs, debauchery and disco and that rolled into the 80's stigma of Coke, coke and computers. Thank all that we hold dear, disco died. Drugs evolved from pot, coke and heroin into pot, crack, speed, meth and a host of other drugs.
Computers brought us into the birth-pangs of what we have now: the electronic or digital age. During the eighties, yuppies lusted after dollars, dope and dames and it almost looked like we would have a resurgence of old-fashioned morals. We morphed into the 90's with grunge music, CGI and oil-based wars. As we are now a tenth of the way into a new century, we have molded the past 40 or so years into a well-dressed, well-housed, well-connected travesty of the former America. We have the ability to talk instantly from coast to coast and beyond. We have easy access to the best of absolutely everything: clothes, cars, food, housing, medicine, booze and drugs. We have a standing Army that, if used properly, could bring just about every country on the planet to its knees.
What we dont have is a majority of youth that can keep the advancements of the last half century moving in the right direction. There are plenty of youths with talent, smarts and motivation, but what about the attitudes of the majority? Screw you, screw the teachers, screw everything. I want to brood and do my "thing". I want to wear my Abercrombie and Fitch or whatever and be left alone to my texting. I want my x-box and a Monster and get the hell away from me. I know, I know: dont generalize all of them into that lump. Well, how many of your kids friends act like that? How many horror stories do you have to hear?
Those of us that are approaching what I guess is considered middle-age are products of that first writhing, screeching, clicking digital revolution. We are all a part, large or small, of the me, me, me attitude that has led to the current mess our country's in. We had both the advantages of the ultimate, modern conventions and the ease of access to drugs, both illegal and prescribed. I listen when my kids tell me about the kids in the bathroom at the high school, crushing their parents medicines and snorting them. Yes, it happens in Kingwood. It happens just about everywhere. No, not all your kids are innocent. They have sex, just like we did. They sneak drinks, just like we did. They might smoke a little leaf, just like you did. ( I did not fall into that category, although I wanted to try it, I figured I could stay in the minority) Now they have a computer and phone hooked to the internet to answer any questions they have. They dont have to spell much correctly because everyone "gets it". They have the benefits of the pharmaceutical research of the last several decades and they can always live at home if things dont work out. Right?
It's not really fair of me to generalize, is it? I know. YOUR kid doesnt do that. YOUR kid is going to be a millionaire astronaut doctor. YOUR kid stays straight and narrow. Just...like...you....did.
Many of them will go on to college, but how has it all changed? Are they dumming everything down? Have you ever watched the movie Idiocracy? It made me laugh when I watched it, but then I realized that it could almost happen. There would be just enough smart people to build the things that need built and made to keep us happy, healthy and wise and the rest will have become a race of idiots, consuming, copulating and co-habitating.
I see a ray of light with every smart kid that doesnt appear to back-talk teachers, parents or friends. I feel hope with every kid I see at least acting like they have some school spirit or interest in something other than a keyboard, that they will bring back some spirit, some magic, to our people. Is this how the American Indian felt, watching their once-proud people turn to alcohol after disease and war decimated them and they had been subjugated? Watching their remaining kinsmen being herded onto reservations and there-to-stay?
I wonder what mid-life will mean in a generation? Two? It used to mean a sports car, a girlfriend on the side or at least a dangerous hobby. I'm just not sure any more. We watch shows on tv that say and show everything that only real-life used to hold. They glamorize sex, drugs, business, school and everything in between and we watch it with our kids.
We tried to teach our boys as best we could. We tried to lead by example and we held their hands long enough for them to hopefully know they are loved and will be helped when they cant help themselves. We are beginning to pull back on the apron strings and I hope every day that we did it right. Do you? Are you more concerned with them or yourself? Think about it.
I, for one, cant wait for my razor not being used on a peach-fuzz face and not having to spend the gross domestic product of Uruguay each month on groceries, but only with a measure of relief. I will always look back at those little diapered butts and fuzzy heads and remember wondering: " How will you grow up? What kind of man will you be?". Well, what kind of man are YOU? What kind of woman are YOU? I wonder if I'm too old to have more kids? Someone tell Roz to find a 20 to 25 year old surrogate. Besides, the other side of the bed's a little cold.....talk about mid-life crisis. Sheesh.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
94 Too Much For One Day
The following letter was written in response to yesterday's rant. If you know me, I am not being patronizing or sarcastic. I call it like I see it. My cousin that I wrote it to has experienced some very amazing healing and other physical issues. She has been a lifelong friend and loving relative, so take what I say at face value....
I know that over the years you have experienced some truly amazing things. It would be hard not to feel like you do. The whole point of my rant was about tolerance. You've never said anything to me about how I might think, only offered to show me your side of it. I have all the respect in the world for those who have a deep and abiding faith. Mine just lies elsewhere. The biggest issue I had was with the other friends of mine that dont get the tolerance thing. Most have never pushed their religion on me, but can be very vocal about me being wrong. I have learned to appreciate some aspects of ALL religions, but I dont look down on any of them just because I dont agree with them. There are religions that are thousands of years older than Christianity, and there are those that come and go(cults). The bigger religions are mostly the same at the root: they preach love, tolerance and peace. While I will say it is wonderful and amazing that you had some awe-inspiring things happen to you, there is still the bad things that happen to other good people. And then, good things happen to "bad" people. Sometimes it seems that there IS NO method to the madness and when enough piles on, people lose their "faith", whatever religion that may be. I did not so much lose my faith as I gained a deeper understanding of MY world, of how I VIEW my world and how I want to continue travelling through it. That Spirit you talked about dwelling in you is something that many want to experience, but few truly do. Who's to say that the Buddhist that feels HIS god's presence doesnt feel EXACTLY the way you do? Or the way my other friend does? Or for that matter, the way I do? I feel an awesome wonder every time I look at the world. I see good and bad and I reconcile them in a way that makes my world and my self feel whole. You know I love all of you, and I would never put down how you feel. That is all I was asking of my other friends, it just bugged me that some of them could not see that there are always other sides of a coin. I'll probably rant many more times on this subject, so some of them are probably going to have a stroke!!!
Honestly, my cousin feels very intensely about her faith and I again have to say that I admire that. I feel that way about all of you, whether you have a faith or not, so long as you are comfortable with yourself. I am NOT singling out any one of you, I just think this subject will never be over, and I simply would like everyone to be tolerant of each other. It is an interesting subject, not just one to be argumentative about. I suppose that would be my goal: to discuss religion now and then, although I dont want this rant to become solely about that, and be able to explore all aspects of peoples' spirituality, no just one or the other.
Let's just say that those that have a religion to express their spirituality, all have intense feelings and opinions and I think we should all be able to explore them together, as a family. That is what we are, isnt it? We rejoice and comiserate together, we wish each other well and we keep the sick, dead and dying in our thoughts and good wishes. We commune daily, making each other laugh, cry and love. We make each other think and we ALL can agree to bitch about Farmville and the way Facebook keeps changing. We look at each other's pictures, we watch and listen to each others' music and we talk about daily life whether exciting or mundane.
Whether you like it or not, I consider you all my family. I care about you, I sympathize with you and I wish you well, every time I read your posts. This is not to be construed as an open invitation to drink all my wine, at least until this summer when I can make some fresh batches, crimony, I only have about 15 bottles left. A guy's gotta have his priorities....
I know that over the years you have experienced some truly amazing things. It would be hard not to feel like you do. The whole point of my rant was about tolerance. You've never said anything to me about how I might think, only offered to show me your side of it. I have all the respect in the world for those who have a deep and abiding faith. Mine just lies elsewhere. The biggest issue I had was with the other friends of mine that dont get the tolerance thing. Most have never pushed their religion on me, but can be very vocal about me being wrong. I have learned to appreciate some aspects of ALL religions, but I dont look down on any of them just because I dont agree with them. There are religions that are thousands of years older than Christianity, and there are those that come and go(cults). The bigger religions are mostly the same at the root: they preach love, tolerance and peace. While I will say it is wonderful and amazing that you had some awe-inspiring things happen to you, there is still the bad things that happen to other good people. And then, good things happen to "bad" people. Sometimes it seems that there IS NO method to the madness and when enough piles on, people lose their "faith", whatever religion that may be. I did not so much lose my faith as I gained a deeper understanding of MY world, of how I VIEW my world and how I want to continue travelling through it. That Spirit you talked about dwelling in you is something that many want to experience, but few truly do. Who's to say that the Buddhist that feels HIS god's presence doesnt feel EXACTLY the way you do? Or the way my other friend does? Or for that matter, the way I do? I feel an awesome wonder every time I look at the world. I see good and bad and I reconcile them in a way that makes my world and my self feel whole. You know I love all of you, and I would never put down how you feel. That is all I was asking of my other friends, it just bugged me that some of them could not see that there are always other sides of a coin. I'll probably rant many more times on this subject, so some of them are probably going to have a stroke!!!
Honestly, my cousin feels very intensely about her faith and I again have to say that I admire that. I feel that way about all of you, whether you have a faith or not, so long as you are comfortable with yourself. I am NOT singling out any one of you, I just think this subject will never be over, and I simply would like everyone to be tolerant of each other. It is an interesting subject, not just one to be argumentative about. I suppose that would be my goal: to discuss religion now and then, although I dont want this rant to become solely about that, and be able to explore all aspects of peoples' spirituality, no just one or the other.
Let's just say that those that have a religion to express their spirituality, all have intense feelings and opinions and I think we should all be able to explore them together, as a family. That is what we are, isnt it? We rejoice and comiserate together, we wish each other well and we keep the sick, dead and dying in our thoughts and good wishes. We commune daily, making each other laugh, cry and love. We make each other think and we ALL can agree to bitch about Farmville and the way Facebook keeps changing. We look at each other's pictures, we watch and listen to each others' music and we talk about daily life whether exciting or mundane.
Whether you like it or not, I consider you all my family. I care about you, I sympathize with you and I wish you well, every time I read your posts. This is not to be construed as an open invitation to drink all my wine, at least until this summer when I can make some fresh batches, crimony, I only have about 15 bottles left. A guy's gotta have his priorities....
Friday, March 5, 2010
93 Post This, Blog That
You know what really burns my ass? A flame about this high. Buh dump shhh..... Really, you know what is funny to me? I blog when I can, I occasionally take requests and often I talk about what is bugging me at the time. Sometimes I get all sappy or melancholy or angry and I never know which ones you guys will respond to or relate with the most. Therein lies the rub: Do I play to the crowds? Pander outright? Do I try to be noble? Hmm. Maybe just keep doing a little bit of everything.
Death seems to be a hot-button as well as getting screwed over at work or in the past. Go figure. Oh, and the whole religion vs. atheism vs. alternative views thing. That one is a particular favorite of mine, not because of the controversy necessarily, but the unwillingness of some to keep an open mind. As I grew older and made up my own mind about death, taxes and the afterlife, I learned to keep as open a mind as possible. If I am guilty of anything, it is cannibalizing many viewpoints and constructing my own. I didnt necessarily like any single viewpoint, so the next logical step was peicing the parts together that made the most sense to me. I can be both logical and illogical at times, so what eventually became my spiritual views contained a little bit of everything. I have never seen a true "miracle" unless you count a child's cancer disappearing or someone in a horrific accident walking away with no or minor injuries, or some such thing. No, I'm talking about water-to-wine kinda stuff or fishes and loaves.
I used to take the Christian Bible at face value when I was young. As the years marched on, I started to step outside of that box and look at it as a whole. For the times the ancient scrolls and sheep skins or whatever were written and on to when the first scribes droned on and on, transcribing handwritten accounts over and over so that the pious priests would have their own bible, to the first printed versions, I wonder how many religious zealots, priests, kings and queens changed bits and pieces to suit themselves. How often did they have it written so that a lesson or ultimatum could be given that suited the time and event at hand? Before you start screaming at me, think about it: As a whole, the Bible gives lessons on how to interact with your fellow man, refraining from anything that would create anger with your friends, family and strangers. Dont kill, dont steal, dont hump your neighbors wife/husband, etc. There are enormous amounts of lineages and descriptive accounts of places and things that could have been left out, but I imagine that someone along the line thought "Hey, these people are important because they lead to ______, so let's make sure they stay in here."
So, by now, thanks to the Discovery channel and Tom Brown, everyone has heard of the Council of Nicea. They get most of the blame for amending what books we now have in the Bible, but I wonder what happened in the many centuries before and after? How many throats have been slit over that book? How many people burned at the stake, impaled and tortured? There will always be some twisted monster that distorts a viewpoint for his or her own sick enjoyment or agenda. The Bible was, in my and many others' opinion, meant to be a set of rules or guidelines for living your life in harmony with others and the world. It is woefully outdated in some ways, timeless in others. All this being said, I think it is a wonderful tool and reference if you want to remind yourself how to live well and be harmonious.
But....there ARE other alternatives. You have to remember, the only way to prove or disprove God is to die. Permanently. You dont come back and tell stories. If you did die for 10 minutes on the operating table and now you have a newfound love of religion, maybe it's just you being grateful for NOT being dead. Again, that doesnt mean its a bad thing, I just dont know if I believe in the whole " I saw heaven and so-and-so was there and told me to come back and Jesus was leading me there" thing. It's great if you got the comfort you deserve from all that, and if it made you a better person, then it was worth it. I suppose I'm just a have-to-touch-it-or-see-it kinda guy.
I've said it before, I dont think people like me have a bleak future. As I said yesterday, I feel more in tune with myself now than I ever have. I want to embrace the world as it comes, good or bad, learning as I go. New events, new experiences are all welcome, I love diversity. I feel like a child again, filled with wonder every time I open my eyes, and often when they're closed. Is that so bad? I believe there has to be some consciousness out there somewhere, watching, abiding, maybe with the same eyes as me, maybe not, but it is not necessarily what many of you call "God". I still dont see it as a bad thing. I was given the tools, it has taken me a long time, but I have begun to use those tools to wonder at the things around me. I DO wonder about the rest of the cosmos, but not so much as what we have at hand here. We are for all intents and purposes earth-bound, so what goes on here is what I want to love, cherish and understand before my time is done. I can look at the same blade of grass a hundred times and see a hundred different things. The water that runs down the hill still amazes me as it did as a child. There is so much beauty and wonder here, as well as the pain and suffering. All of it is to be wondered at and I always attempt to decipher it, to understand as best I can what purpose it serves.
Often, I think maybe the purpose of the earth is for us to attempt to attain a harmony or method of coping with diversity by utilizing the countless differing lifeforms and climates and attitudes that exist here. A small planet, true, but teeming with different things and situations. If we move on after we shuffle off the mortal coil, maybe those of us that can grasp those methods will have a chance to experience new ones or at least ones we didnt get to experience the last time around. Learn--move on, dont learn--stick around til you do. Either way, I think if you enjoy your viewpoints, dont abuse them and make the best of what you do here, my heart of heart and soul of souls says that you wont be punished or admonished for any "transgressions" you committed along the way.
These should not be confused with twisted, evil souls that exist only to commit evil acts. You know what I'm talking about, so no nitpicking.
If I'm right, maybe next time around I'll get to choose where I go and what I get to see, If I'm wrong, well, you'll never know will you? I'll be sure and send you all letters. Wait, I said I was going to live to around 130....hmm...SEE YA THERE!!!!
Death seems to be a hot-button as well as getting screwed over at work or in the past. Go figure. Oh, and the whole religion vs. atheism vs. alternative views thing. That one is a particular favorite of mine, not because of the controversy necessarily, but the unwillingness of some to keep an open mind. As I grew older and made up my own mind about death, taxes and the afterlife, I learned to keep as open a mind as possible. If I am guilty of anything, it is cannibalizing many viewpoints and constructing my own. I didnt necessarily like any single viewpoint, so the next logical step was peicing the parts together that made the most sense to me. I can be both logical and illogical at times, so what eventually became my spiritual views contained a little bit of everything. I have never seen a true "miracle" unless you count a child's cancer disappearing or someone in a horrific accident walking away with no or minor injuries, or some such thing. No, I'm talking about water-to-wine kinda stuff or fishes and loaves.
I used to take the Christian Bible at face value when I was young. As the years marched on, I started to step outside of that box and look at it as a whole. For the times the ancient scrolls and sheep skins or whatever were written and on to when the first scribes droned on and on, transcribing handwritten accounts over and over so that the pious priests would have their own bible, to the first printed versions, I wonder how many religious zealots, priests, kings and queens changed bits and pieces to suit themselves. How often did they have it written so that a lesson or ultimatum could be given that suited the time and event at hand? Before you start screaming at me, think about it: As a whole, the Bible gives lessons on how to interact with your fellow man, refraining from anything that would create anger with your friends, family and strangers. Dont kill, dont steal, dont hump your neighbors wife/husband, etc. There are enormous amounts of lineages and descriptive accounts of places and things that could have been left out, but I imagine that someone along the line thought "Hey, these people are important because they lead to ______, so let's make sure they stay in here."
So, by now, thanks to the Discovery channel and Tom Brown, everyone has heard of the Council of Nicea. They get most of the blame for amending what books we now have in the Bible, but I wonder what happened in the many centuries before and after? How many throats have been slit over that book? How many people burned at the stake, impaled and tortured? There will always be some twisted monster that distorts a viewpoint for his or her own sick enjoyment or agenda. The Bible was, in my and many others' opinion, meant to be a set of rules or guidelines for living your life in harmony with others and the world. It is woefully outdated in some ways, timeless in others. All this being said, I think it is a wonderful tool and reference if you want to remind yourself how to live well and be harmonious.
But....there ARE other alternatives. You have to remember, the only way to prove or disprove God is to die. Permanently. You dont come back and tell stories. If you did die for 10 minutes on the operating table and now you have a newfound love of religion, maybe it's just you being grateful for NOT being dead. Again, that doesnt mean its a bad thing, I just dont know if I believe in the whole " I saw heaven and so-and-so was there and told me to come back and Jesus was leading me there" thing. It's great if you got the comfort you deserve from all that, and if it made you a better person, then it was worth it. I suppose I'm just a have-to-touch-it-or-see-it kinda guy.
I've said it before, I dont think people like me have a bleak future. As I said yesterday, I feel more in tune with myself now than I ever have. I want to embrace the world as it comes, good or bad, learning as I go. New events, new experiences are all welcome, I love diversity. I feel like a child again, filled with wonder every time I open my eyes, and often when they're closed. Is that so bad? I believe there has to be some consciousness out there somewhere, watching, abiding, maybe with the same eyes as me, maybe not, but it is not necessarily what many of you call "God". I still dont see it as a bad thing. I was given the tools, it has taken me a long time, but I have begun to use those tools to wonder at the things around me. I DO wonder about the rest of the cosmos, but not so much as what we have at hand here. We are for all intents and purposes earth-bound, so what goes on here is what I want to love, cherish and understand before my time is done. I can look at the same blade of grass a hundred times and see a hundred different things. The water that runs down the hill still amazes me as it did as a child. There is so much beauty and wonder here, as well as the pain and suffering. All of it is to be wondered at and I always attempt to decipher it, to understand as best I can what purpose it serves.
Often, I think maybe the purpose of the earth is for us to attempt to attain a harmony or method of coping with diversity by utilizing the countless differing lifeforms and climates and attitudes that exist here. A small planet, true, but teeming with different things and situations. If we move on after we shuffle off the mortal coil, maybe those of us that can grasp those methods will have a chance to experience new ones or at least ones we didnt get to experience the last time around. Learn--move on, dont learn--stick around til you do. Either way, I think if you enjoy your viewpoints, dont abuse them and make the best of what you do here, my heart of heart and soul of souls says that you wont be punished or admonished for any "transgressions" you committed along the way.
These should not be confused with twisted, evil souls that exist only to commit evil acts. You know what I'm talking about, so no nitpicking.
If I'm right, maybe next time around I'll get to choose where I go and what I get to see, If I'm wrong, well, you'll never know will you? I'll be sure and send you all letters. Wait, I said I was going to live to around 130....hmm...SEE YA THERE!!!!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
92 Hen-e-ry the 8th I Am, I Am, Hen-e-ry the 8th I Am
Here we go again: I am risking life and limb from retribution by the lackeys at Homeland Security. Once again, I feel the need to give my points on the shambling, lurching mess that used to be a once-proud leader and example among the nations of the world.
America the Brave, America the Beautiful. America the gutless, indebted miser that thrums its long fingers, stroking piles of ill-gotten cash while paying evil minions to keep its bloated, falsified empire afloat. Sounds a little cynical, doesnt it? Well, I am. You should be. Corporate greed, politicians with misguided agendas or outright "for sale" signs on their foreheads...all this and more is what America has become. In the back of my mind, I envision a mish-mash jumble of buildings perched upon a festering plot of earth, all of which is held up by splintered, broken boards. All things good and solid should have a sturdy foundation, right? We used to.
What has become of us? Ideals we only see in 50's reruns and read in antique books are just that: antique. People here and there say they love their fellow man, but oh how little they show it. It's easy to stammer and spout about the poor Haiti survivors, the poor Chilean survivors, the poor, oppressed people in China, and on and on. What about the poor guy down the street trying to keep his family warm and fed? The place he worked at failed because the greedy corporation that owned it propped up its books with falsified numbers and data so that higher-ups could have UNGODLY bonuses and salaries. What about the mother who worries about something breaking down because she can only buy groceries and pay part of her bills this pay and if the furnace breaks she either wont pay the mortgage or buy groceries and electric this month? What about the young couple that, so full of hope when they got married, now have to worry about losing their new home that was such a part of their young dreams?
Maybe we should kill all the politicians and hire oil company execs and drug company czars to fill their places? You know, cut out the middle man. They could in turn, hire bank execs and foreign investors to fill any remaining posts. I have no problem with a free-market economy, but this is ridiculous. At the first sign of a politician selling out or being pressured by MONEY, they should be removed from office. At the very least. There's a BIG difference between someone making a profit at what they do and a gargantuan company bullying and buying their way into being a vast empire, so large it literally takes an army of employees to run it. They buy and sell politicians so efficiently, they should probably diversify into illicit drugs and prostitutes.
Again, I havent covered NEAR the amount of subject matter these issues require. In the name of space and your patience, I have attempted to whet your appetite, or at least make you stop and think about what's going on. Tax and spend, reduce government, add more government, cut taxes, raise taxes, it's all a game. Our tax system is an absolute fraud. There are probably a dozen solutions, but I'm not really qualified to suggest anything. Or am I? I HAVE suggested everyone paying an equal portion of their earnings, no breaks for giant, lying corporations or anything like that. A sort-of FLAT tax. Hmm.
There is hope, though. In a few billion years, us and the earth wont be here anymore. Well, in the short term, I wonder if the people are REALLY as apathetic as I make them out to be. Are we going to continue taking all the graft and corruption, even though it is continually ferretted out(even if its a little bit at a time) and let the many control the few? Are we going to allow a slow dissolution of everything our forefathers held dear for the gain of a sackfull of coin? Our hearts usually tell us what to do, our heads and wallets control the rest.
Every day I hope to see a glimmer or a growing faction of similarly distressed folk wanting to or starting to, affect a change. I would go so far some days as to say I would welcome revolution, but no noble endeavour such as our founders undertook will happen. Any hint of rebellion or strife would result in anarchy. Too many small-minded people would think only of the now, not of the future. We would soon descend into warring factions, raping, pillaging, looting, murdering at leisure. Sounds kinda like wall street, doesnt it?
In all seriousness, I would welcome a dramatic and far-reaching restructuring of our system. I will NEVER understand why we sit back and let politicians sugar coat and lie about their positions on important issues, elect them and then bitch about them putting the screws to us by voting for anything that benefits their money or that of their lobbyists. We may have it better than some countries but I dont know which ones. Probably China, Russia and most of Africa and the Middle East. I guess we have better health care.... that few can afford. We have more to choose from to eat...that's processed, greasy, salty, sugary and causes diseases that require expensive drugs and health care....that few can afford. After all, eating healthy and working hard are respectively expensive and, well, hard.
We DO have freedom of speech, unless you offend someone or piss off the wrong politician or rich person. We can buy a big screen t.v. cheaper than we can buy our kids a good, private education.
Hope and Change? Not for me brothers and sisters. While we still have the freedom to do it, I will keep doing my own thing, trying not to buy any more frivolous things than necessary, growing and hunting things to fill in where we're trying not to buy from giant chain-stores.
Now, I will leave you to your thoughts as I have a bowl of whipped cream covered white house cherry ice cream in front of me and our ginormous t.v. is blaring a cherished Simpsons episode....Hey, a guy's gotta have his standards.
America the Brave, America the Beautiful. America the gutless, indebted miser that thrums its long fingers, stroking piles of ill-gotten cash while paying evil minions to keep its bloated, falsified empire afloat. Sounds a little cynical, doesnt it? Well, I am. You should be. Corporate greed, politicians with misguided agendas or outright "for sale" signs on their foreheads...all this and more is what America has become. In the back of my mind, I envision a mish-mash jumble of buildings perched upon a festering plot of earth, all of which is held up by splintered, broken boards. All things good and solid should have a sturdy foundation, right? We used to.
What has become of us? Ideals we only see in 50's reruns and read in antique books are just that: antique. People here and there say they love their fellow man, but oh how little they show it. It's easy to stammer and spout about the poor Haiti survivors, the poor Chilean survivors, the poor, oppressed people in China, and on and on. What about the poor guy down the street trying to keep his family warm and fed? The place he worked at failed because the greedy corporation that owned it propped up its books with falsified numbers and data so that higher-ups could have UNGODLY bonuses and salaries. What about the mother who worries about something breaking down because she can only buy groceries and pay part of her bills this pay and if the furnace breaks she either wont pay the mortgage or buy groceries and electric this month? What about the young couple that, so full of hope when they got married, now have to worry about losing their new home that was such a part of their young dreams?
Maybe we should kill all the politicians and hire oil company execs and drug company czars to fill their places? You know, cut out the middle man. They could in turn, hire bank execs and foreign investors to fill any remaining posts. I have no problem with a free-market economy, but this is ridiculous. At the first sign of a politician selling out or being pressured by MONEY, they should be removed from office. At the very least. There's a BIG difference between someone making a profit at what they do and a gargantuan company bullying and buying their way into being a vast empire, so large it literally takes an army of employees to run it. They buy and sell politicians so efficiently, they should probably diversify into illicit drugs and prostitutes.
Again, I havent covered NEAR the amount of subject matter these issues require. In the name of space and your patience, I have attempted to whet your appetite, or at least make you stop and think about what's going on. Tax and spend, reduce government, add more government, cut taxes, raise taxes, it's all a game. Our tax system is an absolute fraud. There are probably a dozen solutions, but I'm not really qualified to suggest anything. Or am I? I HAVE suggested everyone paying an equal portion of their earnings, no breaks for giant, lying corporations or anything like that. A sort-of FLAT tax. Hmm.
There is hope, though. In a few billion years, us and the earth wont be here anymore. Well, in the short term, I wonder if the people are REALLY as apathetic as I make them out to be. Are we going to continue taking all the graft and corruption, even though it is continually ferretted out(even if its a little bit at a time) and let the many control the few? Are we going to allow a slow dissolution of everything our forefathers held dear for the gain of a sackfull of coin? Our hearts usually tell us what to do, our heads and wallets control the rest.
Every day I hope to see a glimmer or a growing faction of similarly distressed folk wanting to or starting to, affect a change. I would go so far some days as to say I would welcome revolution, but no noble endeavour such as our founders undertook will happen. Any hint of rebellion or strife would result in anarchy. Too many small-minded people would think only of the now, not of the future. We would soon descend into warring factions, raping, pillaging, looting, murdering at leisure. Sounds kinda like wall street, doesnt it?
In all seriousness, I would welcome a dramatic and far-reaching restructuring of our system. I will NEVER understand why we sit back and let politicians sugar coat and lie about their positions on important issues, elect them and then bitch about them putting the screws to us by voting for anything that benefits their money or that of their lobbyists. We may have it better than some countries but I dont know which ones. Probably China, Russia and most of Africa and the Middle East. I guess we have better health care.... that few can afford. We have more to choose from to eat...that's processed, greasy, salty, sugary and causes diseases that require expensive drugs and health care....that few can afford. After all, eating healthy and working hard are respectively expensive and, well, hard.
We DO have freedom of speech, unless you offend someone or piss off the wrong politician or rich person. We can buy a big screen t.v. cheaper than we can buy our kids a good, private education.
Hope and Change? Not for me brothers and sisters. While we still have the freedom to do it, I will keep doing my own thing, trying not to buy any more frivolous things than necessary, growing and hunting things to fill in where we're trying not to buy from giant chain-stores.
Now, I will leave you to your thoughts as I have a bowl of whipped cream covered white house cherry ice cream in front of me and our ginormous t.v. is blaring a cherished Simpsons episode....Hey, a guy's gotta have his standards.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
91 Plexus of my Nexus
Many times in my rants I have spoken about various ways I have come to a "reckoning" with myself, with my soul. I have spent a lifetime talking to strangers and family, scholars and friends. Over the lifetime of a child, I was eyeball level for the better part of it with dirt and grass, dusty roads and bugs and toads. I spent hours behind the pages of books... more like days. I liked talking to anyone who spoke back and I could wander off, staring intently at something for hours, oblivious to the world. Little was witheld from me, most people I met parted wisdom(sometimes their own brand) and lore without holding back. Every step I took, every moment I stole was spent watching the world with wonder.
Over the years, I learned, at least to myself, there was no difference between a millionaire and a homeless man, harlots and clergymen. Everyone is equal and yet different, but not in the modern "PC" way. Politically correct bull makes me nauseous. Each man alive has the same desires, the same needs. Usually the biggest difference is the cost. All of us work towards a goal or goals, the methods differ, the details as well. They say the devil's in the details and therein lies the method to MY personal madness. I love listening and watching to figure people out. It's not always easy, it's soemtimes frustrating, but I love it.
The "center" of me, the core that all of us want, the thing that we crave, is sometimes lost along our journey. Sometimes people find it again, sometimes they dont. Sometimes they discover it again and again. I personally never thought I would lose mine, even over years of raising a family and work. Somewhere along the last five or ten years, pieces of me slipped away, gently, quietly, unnoticed. I used to draw a lot, do various "arty" things and I read a lot, even through my busiest years. Busy this, hurry that, each compromise nibbling a piece here and a bit there. In our minds, we dont actually become a zombie, but sometimes we feel that way. Day to day becomes week to week and so on. Tasks and habits become so engrained in our every day, we lose something by giving. We give that time to help with our families or work and one day, you look up and years have gone by along with the center we loved. You have a center to calm yourself but your REAL center left only fleeting shadows on the edges of your soul.
Not so long ago, I got back to a baser, more simplistic me. I spent more time outside, hunting, fishing, wandering the woods and fields. Family joined me from time to time but it still helped me, not hindered. When I began writing for you, rather should I say, for me, it awakened a vast, long untapped source of wonder and energy. I have spent almost a year trying to figure out how best to use it and have come to a few conclusions.
First, I like to write. I do it first and foremost for myself, for the release it gives me and the satisfaction. I like writing for you all and I like when it inspires or at least makes you think, but it has to be mine first and then yours.
Second, the things I write bring back little pieces of what I lost. They have put my soul back in order. I feel more whole than I have in a long time. Not to say that my family didnt make me feel whole, or things that happened along the way didnt, there's just a part of all of us that MUST be selfish, MUST be ours, to keep us sane and make us feel truly happy.
Lastly, the actual feelings that I get from listening to you respond to what I have to say, whether good, bad or indifferent, are priceless. They have defined me for the coming years. They keep me going and make my day when I falter.
You can find your "real" center. You may have already. What is it that, to coin a phrase, makes you feel whole? Knitting? Managing people? Keeping your house a home? Raising your family that you dont have a clue what to do next, but keep doing the right thing anyway? If you take a few moments a day for yourself and concentrate, but not too hard, you will soon notice the little pieces of you that you forgot or lost. Let the noise of the world subside, slip away. It takes some practice, but it can be done. Noisy kids, tv, radio? Find a way to get away from them for a few moments. It can be done. Close your eyes, clear your mind and sometime, the buzzing, thrumming noise that surrounds you will ease and at some point you will realize you are thinking about things that meant something to you..and still do. Use them, figure out how.
I have not just regained something, I have added something to my life. Letting your soul shine through in this hurried world is just what we all need. More people should let the tense, angry part of the world flow away and be simpler, more harmonious beings. Sorry if I sound like a hippie, but after 40 years, I REALLY DO understand what my version of the world is supposed to be. I'll keep writing if you keep reading, occasionally I'll ask for suggestions and occasionally you'll give them. My first gratitude is always to my family, but without you all, I shudder to think how long I may have gone before I felt this way.
Thank you, my friends, sincerely. You have helped a lost soul find his way back and yet go forward. I hope every time I write that you take something positive away from it. May you find your self if you havent already. Talk to you tomorrow.
Over the years, I learned, at least to myself, there was no difference between a millionaire and a homeless man, harlots and clergymen. Everyone is equal and yet different, but not in the modern "PC" way. Politically correct bull makes me nauseous. Each man alive has the same desires, the same needs. Usually the biggest difference is the cost. All of us work towards a goal or goals, the methods differ, the details as well. They say the devil's in the details and therein lies the method to MY personal madness. I love listening and watching to figure people out. It's not always easy, it's soemtimes frustrating, but I love it.
The "center" of me, the core that all of us want, the thing that we crave, is sometimes lost along our journey. Sometimes people find it again, sometimes they dont. Sometimes they discover it again and again. I personally never thought I would lose mine, even over years of raising a family and work. Somewhere along the last five or ten years, pieces of me slipped away, gently, quietly, unnoticed. I used to draw a lot, do various "arty" things and I read a lot, even through my busiest years. Busy this, hurry that, each compromise nibbling a piece here and a bit there. In our minds, we dont actually become a zombie, but sometimes we feel that way. Day to day becomes week to week and so on. Tasks and habits become so engrained in our every day, we lose something by giving. We give that time to help with our families or work and one day, you look up and years have gone by along with the center we loved. You have a center to calm yourself but your REAL center left only fleeting shadows on the edges of your soul.
Not so long ago, I got back to a baser, more simplistic me. I spent more time outside, hunting, fishing, wandering the woods and fields. Family joined me from time to time but it still helped me, not hindered. When I began writing for you, rather should I say, for me, it awakened a vast, long untapped source of wonder and energy. I have spent almost a year trying to figure out how best to use it and have come to a few conclusions.
First, I like to write. I do it first and foremost for myself, for the release it gives me and the satisfaction. I like writing for you all and I like when it inspires or at least makes you think, but it has to be mine first and then yours.
Second, the things I write bring back little pieces of what I lost. They have put my soul back in order. I feel more whole than I have in a long time. Not to say that my family didnt make me feel whole, or things that happened along the way didnt, there's just a part of all of us that MUST be selfish, MUST be ours, to keep us sane and make us feel truly happy.
Lastly, the actual feelings that I get from listening to you respond to what I have to say, whether good, bad or indifferent, are priceless. They have defined me for the coming years. They keep me going and make my day when I falter.
You can find your "real" center. You may have already. What is it that, to coin a phrase, makes you feel whole? Knitting? Managing people? Keeping your house a home? Raising your family that you dont have a clue what to do next, but keep doing the right thing anyway? If you take a few moments a day for yourself and concentrate, but not too hard, you will soon notice the little pieces of you that you forgot or lost. Let the noise of the world subside, slip away. It takes some practice, but it can be done. Noisy kids, tv, radio? Find a way to get away from them for a few moments. It can be done. Close your eyes, clear your mind and sometime, the buzzing, thrumming noise that surrounds you will ease and at some point you will realize you are thinking about things that meant something to you..and still do. Use them, figure out how.
I have not just regained something, I have added something to my life. Letting your soul shine through in this hurried world is just what we all need. More people should let the tense, angry part of the world flow away and be simpler, more harmonious beings. Sorry if I sound like a hippie, but after 40 years, I REALLY DO understand what my version of the world is supposed to be. I'll keep writing if you keep reading, occasionally I'll ask for suggestions and occasionally you'll give them. My first gratitude is always to my family, but without you all, I shudder to think how long I may have gone before I felt this way.
Thank you, my friends, sincerely. You have helped a lost soul find his way back and yet go forward. I hope every time I write that you take something positive away from it. May you find your self if you havent already. Talk to you tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
90 Eternal
First let me address a recent footnote of mine that seems to have bothered some people. This has to do with the way most people's minds process information. I called God--Her. Some of you seem to think God is a man. I beg to differ. While the God concept is both Alpha and Omega, it is not gender-specific unless you lived in feudal Europe or survived the Inquisition. I think the entity known as God leans toward the feminine and here's why:
First- The world and the universe contain great, vast beauty that is born from chaos.
Second-It's always changing, ebbing and flowing as with a purpose, yet often without rhyme or reason that can be seen or understood.
Third-If you try to understand the world and the universe, you will only be MORE confused in the end, yet if you simply try to live in harmony with them, you end up living a much more peaceful, easy life.
Fourth-Have you ever seen a Man that could manage this many children and homes and not have the whole thing burnt down, flooded and dirty dishes piled to the rafters?
That's all I have to say about that....
Last night, I saw the moon, hanging in a wispy sea of clouds. I felt the still breeze, NOT blowing through the window of my car. I saw the soft edges of the plow-cut snow, realizing they had melted the day before. FINALLY, I have a feeling of the coming warmth. I can smell the spring in the night air, feel it on my skin.
The previous postings had me at my wits end, writhing in the agony of endless white flakes with the rest of you. My patience was exhausted, my esteem at an all-time low. I can honestly say I have never felt that bad about something I couldnt control. I cleansed my soul in my own way and for a day or so, I literally felt "cleaner" and "refreshed". Last night, I noticed the change.
I like to think that I am somewhat attuned to nature: for cryin' out loud, I spend a lot of time out there. Like the old men of yore, I can tell when the weather's changing by the ache of an old injury, I often feel the changes in the barometric pressure in my sinuses(more injuries). Yeah, I know, what a hick.
I really felt something in the ether, in the moment. It made me feel refreshed in ways seldom experienced as we get older. Not quite the same as the birth of a child but better than buying yourself something nice. That really doesnt cut it either. There is a child-like euphoria involved in the liberation from a misery like that. I know it's not the same, but it at least has to be akin to a prisoner of war being released from a long captivity. You know that soon you will have room to breathe, the choice to go where you want without restriction and yet there's more to it.
Maybe I'm over-stating it, maybe not. Either way, it really has been another sort of awakening for me. Since I started blogging last year, there have been a lot of self-realizations for me. I think the process of putting the words down, at least for me, have stirred long-dormant cravings. It has dredged up repressed "talents" if you want to call them that, although I still find myself dubious in that area. It also brings me a newly re-discovered sensitivity to many things, in many ways. I have noticed myself having emotional experiences usually not expressed by most guys. I'm not sure if it's just the nature of someone who writes a lot, thereby being more expressive or if it's just that by BEING expressive it opens you to a lot of normally repressed avenues. (usually not the 'manly' avenues, you know?).
Any-whoo, my heart tells me what my mind has already processed: spring is springing. Slowly, methodically, tentative bit by tentative bit. A hint of a warm breeze here, a smell there. Occasionally a bird singing, the turkeys across the hill the other day that I heard clucking and purring. The tips of trees are turning, budding in spite of the incessant white tide. Soon the snow will melt, even though we may get a bit more here and there, maybe a good covering. Even so, deep in my soul, I know what awaits. It always comes back to us and few places let you enjoy it so. Our home in the hills sometimes holds terrible winters, winds and heat waves and yet, I have seldom seen such beauty, such life. Many places have I been when the spring life teems. This little chunk of the world has a bit of it all. We get the hills, the trees, the flowers and the bees. We see myriads of birds, animals great and small and the air itself becomes a living thing. All of it lies at the end of our fingertips. Patience, hope and that child-like wonder that feels so good have all been restored to me.
As you go about your day tomorrow, take a little breath. As you're outside on your way to and fro, pause, just for a moment and inhale the hope of spring. The proof is there, if you let yourself feel it. After all, hope springs eternal, right?
First- The world and the universe contain great, vast beauty that is born from chaos.
Second-It's always changing, ebbing and flowing as with a purpose, yet often without rhyme or reason that can be seen or understood.
Third-If you try to understand the world and the universe, you will only be MORE confused in the end, yet if you simply try to live in harmony with them, you end up living a much more peaceful, easy life.
Fourth-Have you ever seen a Man that could manage this many children and homes and not have the whole thing burnt down, flooded and dirty dishes piled to the rafters?
That's all I have to say about that....
Last night, I saw the moon, hanging in a wispy sea of clouds. I felt the still breeze, NOT blowing through the window of my car. I saw the soft edges of the plow-cut snow, realizing they had melted the day before. FINALLY, I have a feeling of the coming warmth. I can smell the spring in the night air, feel it on my skin.
The previous postings had me at my wits end, writhing in the agony of endless white flakes with the rest of you. My patience was exhausted, my esteem at an all-time low. I can honestly say I have never felt that bad about something I couldnt control. I cleansed my soul in my own way and for a day or so, I literally felt "cleaner" and "refreshed". Last night, I noticed the change.
I like to think that I am somewhat attuned to nature: for cryin' out loud, I spend a lot of time out there. Like the old men of yore, I can tell when the weather's changing by the ache of an old injury, I often feel the changes in the barometric pressure in my sinuses(more injuries). Yeah, I know, what a hick.
I really felt something in the ether, in the moment. It made me feel refreshed in ways seldom experienced as we get older. Not quite the same as the birth of a child but better than buying yourself something nice. That really doesnt cut it either. There is a child-like euphoria involved in the liberation from a misery like that. I know it's not the same, but it at least has to be akin to a prisoner of war being released from a long captivity. You know that soon you will have room to breathe, the choice to go where you want without restriction and yet there's more to it.
Maybe I'm over-stating it, maybe not. Either way, it really has been another sort of awakening for me. Since I started blogging last year, there have been a lot of self-realizations for me. I think the process of putting the words down, at least for me, have stirred long-dormant cravings. It has dredged up repressed "talents" if you want to call them that, although I still find myself dubious in that area. It also brings me a newly re-discovered sensitivity to many things, in many ways. I have noticed myself having emotional experiences usually not expressed by most guys. I'm not sure if it's just the nature of someone who writes a lot, thereby being more expressive or if it's just that by BEING expressive it opens you to a lot of normally repressed avenues. (usually not the 'manly' avenues, you know?).
Any-whoo, my heart tells me what my mind has already processed: spring is springing. Slowly, methodically, tentative bit by tentative bit. A hint of a warm breeze here, a smell there. Occasionally a bird singing, the turkeys across the hill the other day that I heard clucking and purring. The tips of trees are turning, budding in spite of the incessant white tide. Soon the snow will melt, even though we may get a bit more here and there, maybe a good covering. Even so, deep in my soul, I know what awaits. It always comes back to us and few places let you enjoy it so. Our home in the hills sometimes holds terrible winters, winds and heat waves and yet, I have seldom seen such beauty, such life. Many places have I been when the spring life teems. This little chunk of the world has a bit of it all. We get the hills, the trees, the flowers and the bees. We see myriads of birds, animals great and small and the air itself becomes a living thing. All of it lies at the end of our fingertips. Patience, hope and that child-like wonder that feels so good have all been restored to me.
As you go about your day tomorrow, take a little breath. As you're outside on your way to and fro, pause, just for a moment and inhale the hope of spring. The proof is there, if you let yourself feel it. After all, hope springs eternal, right?
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