Time to Play Catch Up!
Memorial Day Weekend
I had a busy and fun filled weekend full of movie magic and friends.
Friday I left my internship early. No one was in the office and I have my interactive finished. It just needs the blessing of the powers that be and they won’t be in till Tuesday. I went to the gym and had a pretty good arm workout. I like drop sets. Those are where you lift heavy and on the third set you lift till failure, take 10 to 15 pounds off and rep it out till failure again, then you take another 10 to 15 pounds off and rep till failure. By the time you’re done there should be a small amount of weight and you should burn like crazy.
I rewarded myself with a matinee showing of “Prince of Persia.” I went into the movie with very little expectations. The movie did deliver though. It was a good popcorn action movie. I don’t mind a good two hour escape from reality. I don’t want to write to much about the movie because I could give away what little plot there is. I won’t say anything as to not take away the fun. Except for the violence this movie could have been PG. It was kinda like Indiana Jones meets Aladin. On Bob’s movie meter I give it a matinee. Take the kids and have some fun.
The rest of my Friday was lounging around with Charley. He has a split nail that has been bothering him and I know spending time in his crate while I’m at work isn’t fun for him. I just watched some shows I recorded and Charley laid in my lap. He’s a good dog. I think he missed me.
Saturday I spent working on some internet projects. There was a Tosh.0 marathon on Comedy Central. Guess what I watched all day. I love that show. Some well needed laundry and was done too. I got some boxes out of my apartment storage and started packing up books and dvd’s. It’s hard to believe that I will be moving in a month.
Sunday was a strange day. It started totally weird. I got dressed to go to church and everything was fine. I drove to church and sat in my car for a good 20 minutes. For some reason I couldn’t bring myself to get out of the car and head to worship service. I’ve never had this happen to me before. Finally, I just started my car and left. I’m still freaked out by this. I don’t know what it was but I just couldn’t bring myself to get out of the car. This bothered me for the rest of the day.
Charley got groomed. He needed a hair cut. He get’s all fuzzy. The temperature has been in the high 80’s for the past week so having short hair helps him out a lot. I don’t leave Charley in the car anymore because of the heat. I know he likes to go for rides in the car but it’s too hot.
I took in another movie. Unfortunately it was the movie McGruber. It was horrible. I went on the recommendation of my uncle. I didn’t particularly care for it. I have the occasional mood to enjoy some low brow humor every now and then but this movie was too much. It was downright filthy.
I showed up 20 minutes before my movie to get some snacks and a good seat. The Cinemark I go to is quite large and they have a decent concession area. I ordered a pizza and it takes three minutes to make. While I was waiting I thought I’d get my slushie. In front of the slushie machine was a family trying to situate themselves. It was a mom, the grandma and three kids. They bought a lot of soda, candy and popcorn and they were trying to find a way to carry it all. Been there done that! So I stood there and waited till they moved. No hurry. The mom with hands full turned around and said “excuse me.” I said not to worry there’s no rush. The grandma gave me a look and said, “There three other pop machines you can use.” I told her, “Yes. But there is only one slushie machine.” The grandma started to get defensive and her voice was getting louder. I saw where this was going and I immediately went into damage control. I told her that It’s all good and that my movie doesn’t start for another 20 minutes. That wasn’t enough. The grandma was about to fire another salvo and I cut her off with the question, “What movie are you going to see?” She said Shrek 4. I told her that was a great movie to go see and the kid will love it. I told her my favorite character is the cross dressing wolf. The kids heard this and began to share who their favorite characters are. The mom was still juggling food and trying to pay for it all at the register. My question diffused the situation. Everyone calmed down and the grandma was no longer defensive. I told them that I hope they enjoy the movie and to have fun. They all smiled and went on their way.
I find going to the movies traumatic. There are so many different kinds of people and situations that arise in a movie theater. Some good. Some bad. This seemed like a good family with behaved kids who were out to see a movie together. I’m glad nothing was blown out of proportion that would have ruined their movie experience.
Monday I went to the gym to get in a good leg workout. I made plans to head to Ohio so I went home, took a shower and Charley and I headed to Elyria. I had a great cookout with the Slones. We dropped some food off to Carrie’s grandma and then headed back to her parent’s to hang out. We were watching the news and we saw a segment on flag vandalism. I think we would have been madder if we weren’t so shocked. Who would do that? Why would you do that?
That story ruined what was a wonderful Memorial Day. It was great to enjoy it with close friends and to celebrate and remember those who serve and gave their lives for our freedom. I hope they find who did this and deport them. If you don’t like it here then leave. Sadly, these people will probably wind up teaching on a college campus.
My Memorial Day ended with a viewing of the 20th anniversary edition of Monty Python’s Holy Grail. That movie never get’s old. I hadn’t seen it in it’s entirety in quite some time. Carrie’s husband had never seen it. It’s always fun to watch a classic with someone for the first time.
I left Elyria around midnight. I have class in the morning. A large thunderstorm front swept through northeast Ohio and of course I drove home in it. It was a spectacular light show. I haven’t seen a thunderstorm like that since I left South Carolina. I had to drive 45 all the way home or I would have hydroplaned. Charley hates thunderstorms so he kept trying to crawl into my lap while I was driving. So I had a dog half in my lap and half on the arm rest. Crazy dog.
I got home around 3am and I made it to class thankfully.
That was my Memorial Day Weekend.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
5-26-10
Water...
Been a little bit busy this week. I made the mistake of writing down the wrong due date for an assignment so I've been working on getting it done on time. It's due tomorrow. I'm two thirds done so I'm not sweating it as much as I thought I would. I was pretty shocked in class when my teacher said that it was due on the 27th. I thought I had another week.
Recently an opportunity to move back to where I grew up has arrived. I'm exploring it and if everything pans out I will do it. I was in Ohio this past weekend and I started to get anxious. I have a lot of mixed emotions about the whole situation. I think in many ways it's probably time to head back to a place I'm familiar with. It hasn't been home for over ten years. Maybe it's time to return?
The thing I miss the most about where I grew up is the lake. I grew up a ten minuted drive from lake Erie. I remember when I moved to South Carolina and I was three hours away from the ocean. I found it odd to be so far away from a large body of water. My friends would plan an entire day to go to the beach. I'm used to a ten minute drive.
I miss the sound of the waves, the breeze off the lake and the sounds of the seagulls. Next time I head to Ohio I am going to make it a point to head to Lakeview park in the evening and watch the sun set over the lake. It's so peaceful when no one is around. I miss the water.
Back to work. I'm almost done. I may get some sleep tonight yet.
Been a little bit busy this week. I made the mistake of writing down the wrong due date for an assignment so I've been working on getting it done on time. It's due tomorrow. I'm two thirds done so I'm not sweating it as much as I thought I would. I was pretty shocked in class when my teacher said that it was due on the 27th. I thought I had another week.
Recently an opportunity to move back to where I grew up has arrived. I'm exploring it and if everything pans out I will do it. I was in Ohio this past weekend and I started to get anxious. I have a lot of mixed emotions about the whole situation. I think in many ways it's probably time to head back to a place I'm familiar with. It hasn't been home for over ten years. Maybe it's time to return?
The thing I miss the most about where I grew up is the lake. I grew up a ten minuted drive from lake Erie. I remember when I moved to South Carolina and I was three hours away from the ocean. I found it odd to be so far away from a large body of water. My friends would plan an entire day to go to the beach. I'm used to a ten minute drive.
I miss the sound of the waves, the breeze off the lake and the sounds of the seagulls. Next time I head to Ohio I am going to make it a point to head to Lakeview park in the evening and watch the sun set over the lake. It's so peaceful when no one is around. I miss the water.
Back to work. I'm almost done. I may get some sleep tonight yet.
Monday, May 24, 2010
5-24-10
What a weekend...
This was one of those weekends that I needed. Just the right amount of work and play to set up this week.
What to know what I did Friday? Nuthin! Yup! Nuthin. I got some rest.
Saturday I went to the gym and then I went to Ohio. I needed to take more pictures for the website I'm working on. I thought my weekend would be mostly business but time was taken to go bowling Saturday evening. I had fun.
Sunday I went to church and then lunch with friends. After lunch I took my pictures at the coffee shop. I didn't stay long after though. I had to get back to Pittsburgh in time for the Lost series finale.
I made it home in time to get some snacks, sit back and watch some Lost.
I know some people that are upset because they wanted answers to the mythological aspects of the show. We all want to know what the island is and who built all the temples, why Hurley can see dead people etc. etc. In reality, that not the point. The island isn't what matters. What matters are the people on the island.
Lost is the story of Jack Shepherd and how he finds himself through the relationships he has with survivors of Oceanic 815. The island is a mysterious and magical place that provides opportunities for the survivors to learn and grow as people. For five seasons everyone on that island has changed except for Jack. I guess some people are more stubborn than others.
Lost is a well written show with an excellent cast. They brought these characters to life and made you care about what happened to them. Last night millions of viewers said goodbye. Like a good book it has a final page. And like a good book you can always go back and read it.
This was one of those weekends that I needed. Just the right amount of work and play to set up this week.
What to know what I did Friday? Nuthin! Yup! Nuthin. I got some rest.
Saturday I went to the gym and then I went to Ohio. I needed to take more pictures for the website I'm working on. I thought my weekend would be mostly business but time was taken to go bowling Saturday evening. I had fun.
Sunday I went to church and then lunch with friends. After lunch I took my pictures at the coffee shop. I didn't stay long after though. I had to get back to Pittsburgh in time for the Lost series finale.
I made it home in time to get some snacks, sit back and watch some Lost.
Goodbye Lost
I'm still trying to process everything that I saw last night. I understood what happened. I'm still trying to process the emotional impact. Believe me. It was emotional.I know some people that are upset because they wanted answers to the mythological aspects of the show. We all want to know what the island is and who built all the temples, why Hurley can see dead people etc. etc. In reality, that not the point. The island isn't what matters. What matters are the people on the island.
Lost is the story of Jack Shepherd and how he finds himself through the relationships he has with survivors of Oceanic 815. The island is a mysterious and magical place that provides opportunities for the survivors to learn and grow as people. For five seasons everyone on that island has changed except for Jack. I guess some people are more stubborn than others.
Lost is a well written show with an excellent cast. They brought these characters to life and made you care about what happened to them. Last night millions of viewers said goodbye. Like a good book it has a final page. And like a good book you can always go back and read it.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
5-22-10
Blog Break!
I won't be posting this weekend. I'm heading out of town and I won't have time to add a little ditty.
I'll be back Monday.
Have a good weekend everyone!
I won't be posting this weekend. I'm heading out of town and I won't have time to add a little ditty.
I'll be back Monday.
Have a good weekend everyone!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
5-19-10
Standing By Principle...
So I'm out at Don Pablo's with some friends. My buddy Justin brought his girlfriend who is a huge Twilight fan. We have been teasing her relentlessly for months about her obsession with the Twilight novels. She tries to defend them but you just can't. It's like a guy trying to defend the pink shirt he's wearing by saying it's "salmon."
We wind up talking about politics. Specifically the Arizona immigration bill. I mention that Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano criticize the bill but haven't taken the time to read the all whopping ten pages of it. My point is that no one in Washington reads bills anymore (health care bill ring a bell?) and politicians shouldn't open their mouths until they read what their criticizing. That's when Justin's girlfriend says "I totally agree with you. Especially when someone criticizes a novel they have never read."
Oh snap! I just got served!
I consider myself a principled person. I try to be authentic and even handed. She makes a good point. I have not read a Twilight novel. I have only seen the awful tweener crap they peddle as motion picture entertainment. No one who writes about sparkling vampires should ever have a book deal. But to keep with my standards I am going to put my money where my mouth is. I am going to Barnes & Noble tomorrow and I'm going to purchase the first Twilight novel and I will read it. I will read it on the principle that one is not entitled to criticize the book until one has read it.
Me reading a Twilight novel is the intellectual equivalent of a stunt on Jack-Ass!
I love 80's music and one of my favorite 80's bands is Duran Duran. I have my Aunt Theresa to thank for that. She was a teenager when they were big and being around her growing up I guess rubbed off.
Through the years I have followed them and kept up with their music. I have always enjoyed their debut album. It's the pinnacle of the New Romantic Period. From there they became a marketed boy band machine until they broke up in the mid-80's. I don't particularly care for the boy band stuff. For the next 15 years they meandered with one or two hits every few years. In 1993 they released the "Wedding Album" which put them back on the map. Songs like "Come Undone" and "Ordinary World" were huge hits. Then they disappeared again.
In 2005 the original five got back together for a reunion tour. Then in 2007 their lead guitarist left the group again. Trust me. He's not missed. They are working on a new album that should be out this fall. I'm looking forward to it.
EMI Records has released a remastered version of their debut album. I purchased it and it is amazing. Simon LeBon's vocals are cleaned up and certain background sounds that were lost in production to album are clearly heard on the remastered disc. It's like listening to the album for the first time. The songs that benefit from being remastered are "Planet Earth" and "To the Shore." Planet Earth is one of my personal favorites and to hear it cleaned up and balanced is fantastic. I love when you can feel a song. To the Shore is a song that was on the UK release in 1981 and was replaced by "Is There Something I Should Know" on the US release in 1983. Not many people in America have heard it. The song has always had a melancholy eeriness to it. Remastered with the reverb taken off LeBon's voice makes the song truly ominous.
It's a two disc set and the second disk has a bunch of goodies. There are some alternate versions of early hits. Girls on Film is done with a glam rock feel. A rare unreleased version of "Tel Aviv" is my favorite right now. The song is stuck in my head. Remastered demos and live performances fill out the rest of the disc. This is a must have for any Duran Duran fan. I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves 80's music. You'll listen to this and understand why Duran Duran was as big as they were and why they are still around today.
I think it will be a good idea to add some pictures. I plan on going back and adding pictures to chapters one and two. Sometimes it's confusing for people to understand the terrain of the farm and where certain important items are. I will provide visual aids to help. Plus it gives me an excuse to post picture of cute farm animals.
My goal is to post a chapter a week. That is my goal and I'm going to do my best to stick to it. Chapter three may take a few days longer because it's the introduction chapter to some major events and people on our lives. I want to make sure everyone and thing is introduced.
Stay tuned.
So I'm out at Don Pablo's with some friends. My buddy Justin brought his girlfriend who is a huge Twilight fan. We have been teasing her relentlessly for months about her obsession with the Twilight novels. She tries to defend them but you just can't. It's like a guy trying to defend the pink shirt he's wearing by saying it's "salmon."
We wind up talking about politics. Specifically the Arizona immigration bill. I mention that Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano criticize the bill but haven't taken the time to read the all whopping ten pages of it. My point is that no one in Washington reads bills anymore (health care bill ring a bell?) and politicians shouldn't open their mouths until they read what their criticizing. That's when Justin's girlfriend says "I totally agree with you. Especially when someone criticizes a novel they have never read."
Oh snap! I just got served!
I consider myself a principled person. I try to be authentic and even handed. She makes a good point. I have not read a Twilight novel. I have only seen the awful tweener crap they peddle as motion picture entertainment. No one who writes about sparkling vampires should ever have a book deal. But to keep with my standards I am going to put my money where my mouth is. I am going to Barnes & Noble tomorrow and I'm going to purchase the first Twilight novel and I will read it. I will read it on the principle that one is not entitled to criticize the book until one has read it.
Me reading a Twilight novel is the intellectual equivalent of a stunt on Jack-Ass!
Duran Duran Remastered
I love 80's music and one of my favorite 80's bands is Duran Duran. I have my Aunt Theresa to thank for that. She was a teenager when they were big and being around her growing up I guess rubbed off.
Through the years I have followed them and kept up with their music. I have always enjoyed their debut album. It's the pinnacle of the New Romantic Period. From there they became a marketed boy band machine until they broke up in the mid-80's. I don't particularly care for the boy band stuff. For the next 15 years they meandered with one or two hits every few years. In 1993 they released the "Wedding Album" which put them back on the map. Songs like "Come Undone" and "Ordinary World" were huge hits. Then they disappeared again.
In 2005 the original five got back together for a reunion tour. Then in 2007 their lead guitarist left the group again. Trust me. He's not missed. They are working on a new album that should be out this fall. I'm looking forward to it.
EMI Records has released a remastered version of their debut album. I purchased it and it is amazing. Simon LeBon's vocals are cleaned up and certain background sounds that were lost in production to album are clearly heard on the remastered disc. It's like listening to the album for the first time. The songs that benefit from being remastered are "Planet Earth" and "To the Shore." Planet Earth is one of my personal favorites and to hear it cleaned up and balanced is fantastic. I love when you can feel a song. To the Shore is a song that was on the UK release in 1981 and was replaced by "Is There Something I Should Know" on the US release in 1983. Not many people in America have heard it. The song has always had a melancholy eeriness to it. Remastered with the reverb taken off LeBon's voice makes the song truly ominous.
It's a two disc set and the second disk has a bunch of goodies. There are some alternate versions of early hits. Girls on Film is done with a glam rock feel. A rare unreleased version of "Tel Aviv" is my favorite right now. The song is stuck in my head. Remastered demos and live performances fill out the rest of the disc. This is a must have for any Duran Duran fan. I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves 80's music. You'll listen to this and understand why Duran Duran was as big as they were and why they are still around today.
Working on Chapter 3
I've been writing chapter 3 of my story. As I outlined the major events of the story I noticed that certain points in time could be separated into chapters. I was going to make chapter two deal with a period of about a year and a half but as I wrote the story it seemed prudent to split things up. Chapter two finishes out 2002. Chapter three will deal with 2003 and early 2004.I think it will be a good idea to add some pictures. I plan on going back and adding pictures to chapters one and two. Sometimes it's confusing for people to understand the terrain of the farm and where certain important items are. I will provide visual aids to help. Plus it gives me an excuse to post picture of cute farm animals.
My goal is to post a chapter a week. That is my goal and I'm going to do my best to stick to it. Chapter three may take a few days longer because it's the introduction chapter to some major events and people on our lives. I want to make sure everyone and thing is introduced.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
5-18-10
Random Thoughts on a Long Day...
The fifth and final piece for my portfolio is a surprise. I don't want to spoil it. It's a website but the person I'm doing it for doesn't know.
For some time now I've been studying early 20th century history. I didn't learn a lot about it in school and I didn't get enough in college. I bring up this time in history because I view the oil rig explosion as our "Titanic." The Titanic was supposedly unsinkable. It was the technological marvel of it's day. We all know the story of the Titanic. It was going too fast, hit an iceburg and sank two hours later. Now look at our oil rigs. They are modern technological marvels. They are virtually unsinkable. They withstand hurricanes and anything else mother nature throws at it.
Titanic was built in a time when man was growing and the industrial revolution was in full swing. Titanic symbolized what man could achieve but also man's arrogance. White Star built a ship that would be the 20th century equivalent of the tower of babel.
My point is this. Do I think we can extract oil from the earth in a safe and responsible manner? Yes. Do I think the price is worth it? Yes. Who is to blame for what happened? Easy. The pride and arrogance of man who thought that their own machines would not fail. They had conquered the elements and mastered their destiny.
Since Titanic, we have built bigger and faster ships. We have implemented the S.O.S system and other regulations to make sure that passengers and ships are safe. We didn't stop building ships. We made them better. The most important thing is that we never forgot the thousands of people who died on Titanic. In the back of our minds we remember their tragedy.
In the future, when we drill for the precious oil the flows through America's veins, let's not forget the 11 people who died on that oil rig. Let's never forget that we are not gods.
Working the Web
Yesterday and today I have been working on a website that will be the fourth piece in my portfolio. It's also the website for my friend's coffee shop. The structure and make up of the site is sound but I need better images. I may have to head to Ohio this weekend again to get better pics.The fifth and final piece for my portfolio is a surprise. I don't want to spoil it. It's a website but the person I'm doing it for doesn't know.
Bring on the Improv
Tonight was a great night of improv. We had a small group for rehearsal but the kids did great. With the smaller group we were able to concentrate on more and develop a better communication between each other. Everyone benefited all around and it came together towards the end. We did a long form structure and one group kept it going for 35 minutes. That's pretty darn good.Oil in the Gulf
I am bothered by that oil spill in the gulf. I read and keep up on what is going on. What's bothering me right now is that everyone is pointing the finger at each other and using the spill to score political brownie points. From what I've read it looks like there is plenty of blame to go around for everyone.For some time now I've been studying early 20th century history. I didn't learn a lot about it in school and I didn't get enough in college. I bring up this time in history because I view the oil rig explosion as our "Titanic." The Titanic was supposedly unsinkable. It was the technological marvel of it's day. We all know the story of the Titanic. It was going too fast, hit an iceburg and sank two hours later. Now look at our oil rigs. They are modern technological marvels. They are virtually unsinkable. They withstand hurricanes and anything else mother nature throws at it.
Titanic was built in a time when man was growing and the industrial revolution was in full swing. Titanic symbolized what man could achieve but also man's arrogance. White Star built a ship that would be the 20th century equivalent of the tower of babel.
My point is this. Do I think we can extract oil from the earth in a safe and responsible manner? Yes. Do I think the price is worth it? Yes. Who is to blame for what happened? Easy. The pride and arrogance of man who thought that their own machines would not fail. They had conquered the elements and mastered their destiny.
Since Titanic, we have built bigger and faster ships. We have implemented the S.O.S system and other regulations to make sure that passengers and ships are safe. We didn't stop building ships. We made them better. The most important thing is that we never forgot the thousands of people who died on Titanic. In the back of our minds we remember their tragedy.
In the future, when we drill for the precious oil the flows through America's veins, let's not forget the 11 people who died on that oil rig. Let's never forget that we are not gods.
Monday, May 17, 2010
My Story: Chapter 2 - How I Got There Pt. 1
Finishing out 2002
My parents moved to the farm and I stayed in South Carolina. I was enrolled at USC and working so I kept busy. My new responsibility was to watch over the house they owned. I kept up the yard and packed up their belongings so that when they would drive down every few weeks to visit, their belongings were ready to go back with them. Usually it was my mom that drove down. My dad would stay on the farm and take care of the animals. I would head up to the farm on my breaks from school.
One of the first things my dad wanted to do was renovate the farm house. The house was built in 1883 and hadn’t been upgraded since World War II. I was sad to see some of the interior go. Growing up and visiting the farm was like taking a trip back in time. The house was so vintage. It really was like stepping into the 1940’s. Since my parents were going to be living there it was time to upgrade the electric, plumbing and the house in general. My parents hired a contractor named Kevin Fortney. He immediately gutted the house. During Thanksgiving break my parents were renting a duplex in Shinnston. When I saw the farm house for the first time since the funeral I was surprised to see nothing but outside walls and a wooden skeleton on the inside.
Christmas break was fun! My parents had left the duplex and bought a fifth wheel. This thing was heated on propane and you had to plug it in for electricity. I don’t know what possessed them to leave the duplex and live in this thing but they did. They parked it right across from the farm house. They didn’t tell me they had bought it. So I wasn’t happy when I showed up on the farm and saw that I was going to spend Christmas in something smaller than a mobile home. What made things even worse was that the propane would run out in the middle of the night. By morning you could see your breath. I remember many a day on my Christmas vacation where we went and stayed at the Red Roof Inn. I never got a reason as to why they felt it a stroke of genius to live in this thing during winter. Maybe to be closer to the animals? I don’t know.
The farm is 117 acres and hadn’t been fully functional since the 80’s. My grandfather tried to keep it up as much as possible but he suffered a stroke in 1991 and passed away in 1994. So for eight years the farm was in what I would call a sleep mode. The only animals were ducks, geese, two cats and a dog. My dad went and purchased a large Kabota tractor. We were all excited when he bought it. It was a symbol to us. It symbolized the farm coming alive. We had an instrument that would help us mow the fields and complete the work needed to get the farm up and running again.
The animals we inherited were of course the ducks and geese. We used to have chickens but they died of old age a few years back. My Aunt Mary used to get a kick out of me mimicking the rooster’s crow. We had one rooster and he would get so upset when he heard me crow. He would puff out his chest and look around the yard to see where the crow was coming from. Aunt Mary would be in tears.
We inherited a German Shepherd mix dog named Sam. Sam was an old dog. I grew up with him. To be honest I don’t remember coming up to the farm without Sam being there. Sam loved people. He would wag that tail and cry every time someone came up to the farm. He was an outside dog and we kept him on a run so he had room to move and hang out in his dog house. Sam had one problem. He smelled horrible. You wanted to go up and love on him but you would smell him before you got to him. It was uncomfortable petting him. A lot of groans and oh’s from people. We would give him baths but it didn’t matter. Sam would go and find the freshest deer poop and roll in it. Within minutes of taking a bath he was back to smelling again.
We inherited two cats. One was a calico named Buffy. I have a calico named Buffy but this is a different one. This Buffy is long haired and nuts. My Aunt Mary didn’t care for the cat that much. I think she only kept her around to catch mice. Buffy wasn’t too keen on people so you would love on her and then she would try to bite you and scratch you viciously. She was a psychotic and mean cat. We also inherited a grey cat named Smokey. I actually brought Smokey to the farm for my Aunt Mary. I was living in Ohio in an apartment and when I came home there was this kitten in front of the complex door meowing. I took her in. I wasn’t allowed pets so my parents suggested I bring her to the farm. My Aunt Mary fell in love with her the first time they met. She named her Smokey. She was an outside cat but sometimes she would sneak into the farmhouse. Aunt Mary would try to put her outside but Smokey would crawl onto her lap. That did it. Smokey was inside until she wanted to go back out.
Work on the house was slow moving. Kevin Fortney and his crew rarely came up to the house to do work. Kevin always made excuses as to why they couldn’t make it up. When they did make it up the work they did was so shoddy that my dad would go back over what they did and reinforce it. Finally, it got to where Kevin and his crew just quit showing up. Calls were never returned. We decided quickly that this was grounds for breach of contract. We were out a lot of money and left with an empty shell of a house.
My dad grew up in West Virginia. I grew up visiting my grandparents and Aunt Mary. I was unaware that I had cousins that lived in the area. There was this entire side of the family that I didn’t know. They lived just over the hill too. These family members belonged to my grandmother’s side of the family. They are the Besedich’s. Aunt Jean and Uncle Danny to be exact. All of their kids lived in close proximity so on weekends and holidays everyone was at Aunt Jean and Uncle Danny’s for some type of get together. Since I was on Christmas vacation and didn’t have to be back to South Carolina till the second week of January, I got to experience something called Serbian Christmas. Uncle Danny was Serbian and he kept the traditions of the old country. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with new found relatives. It gave me a deeper connection to the area and to my family.
Reconnecting with family helped my dad a lot. My grandparents had passed away and my dad’s brothers and sister lived hours away. My mom’s family all lived in South Carolina. Having family around to spend time with does matter. I noticed a difference in my dad’s demeanor. He was more comfortable. He and my mom seemed quite content. I drove back to South Carolina knowing that my parents weren’t alone. I was happy for them.
Before I went back to South Carolina my mom asked the question I knew was coming. She asked if I would move up to the farm. I quickly said no. Spring semester starts soon and I’m quite happy in the palmetto state. My feelings are that the farm is a nice place to visit but I would not want to live there. I’m a suburban/city guy. No way!
Next: How I Got There Pt. 2
Sunday, May 16, 2010
5-16-10
Thank You...
It's been four years. Four years since that horrible day. Believe me. It feels like four years too. Some days it feels like time flies by. Other days it seems like everything is at a standstill. Loss and tragedy are a tricky thing. It brings out the best and the worst in people. I've witnessed and experienced both.
I know that today there are many who have my parents on their hearts and minds. The sadness and loss never goes away but we all manage. Take comfort in knowing that the memories you have of my parents are of them smiling and laughing. Rarely did you see them upset if ever. That was who they were. That is the way they should be remembered.
The greatest gift my parents gave me is the wisdom to live life. They raised me to have a strong belief in God. They raised me to work hard. They raised me to live life to the fullest. They instilled in me the virtues and principles that I have used to get me through the past four years. For that I will forever be thankful. Thank you Mom and Dad.
I have struggled the past four years. I have had my ups and downs. It's difficult sometimes when you can't seek the advice of your Dad. It's an intense sadness when you can't receive your Mom's hug and hear her say she's proud of you. They had been an anchor for me all of my life. Learning to live life without them has led me to be vulnerable and lost at times. It's been rough learning how to stand on my own. Luckily I have people in my life who have been there to help me pick up the pieces of a shattered life.
My brother has been exceptional through all of this. We have grown closer over the past four years. What Chris lacks in words he makes up for in deed. There have been times where I have needed someone to make the tough decision. I have needed someone to say what I really didn't want to hear. I needed someone to help me let go. Chris is the one who rose to that occasion.
My parents and I were fortunate enough to belong to a wonderful church family. They prayed for us and stood behind us through adversity when my parents were alive. They protected and helped heal me when my parents were gone. South Ridge Church lost something too. They lost close friends who were part of a spiritual family. Without them I don't know if I could have managed. I will forever be grateful for everything they have done for me.
Throughout my life I have met many people. As we live life we go different directions and we lose touch. In the last four years I have been able to reconnect with so many of you. You have reminded me of the wonderful memories that my family and I have shared. You have reminded me of happier times. I am thankful that we are back in touch. I cherish your friendships.
I have continued my education and spend a majority of my time around people younger than myself. Being around them and their youthful energy has had a positive effect on me. It keeps me young. I spend time around so many young adults who still have yet to find themselves. Their journeys have just begun. I am thankful to be in their lives. I hope and pray that through my example and experience that they don't let life overwhelm them. I hope they look at each new day as something special and spectacular. It's only the beginning.
I am thankful for family and friends who have been there to listen to me ramble, put up with me when I'm obnoxious, and give me the occasional kick in the pants whenever I needed it. I know that I can be difficult at times. I've always been like that. It puts a smile on my face to know that you care enough to listen and share even when we may not agree. A special shout out to my Uncle John for not killing me when I missed the bus in D.C.
A special thanks to God. It's through your word and your son Jesus Christ that I have been able to have a forgiving heart. It is through your Spirit that I have not become bitter and resentful. Your guidance has helped me control my anger and doubts. I know that you know my pain and suffering. You suffered on the cross so that I may know eternal life with you. My prayer is that you continue to guide me and show me the person I can truly be.
Thank you everyone for contributing to my healing in the last four years. No matter how big or small the relationship, you have all made a difference in my life. You have helped me recapture the wonder of living and the joy of the simplest aspects of life. Thank you for making me laugh and vise versa. I care for you all more than you know.
Pain and loss is a part of life. We cannot escape it. But we can deal with it through the relationships we have and the wisdom of others. Through these relationships and experiences we realize who we are and what it is we can truly accomplish.
I will end this with a verse from Micah 6:8. It's something we can all live by.
Thank You
It's been four years. Four years since that horrible day. Believe me. It feels like four years too. Some days it feels like time flies by. Other days it seems like everything is at a standstill. Loss and tragedy are a tricky thing. It brings out the best and the worst in people. I've witnessed and experienced both.
I know that today there are many who have my parents on their hearts and minds. The sadness and loss never goes away but we all manage. Take comfort in knowing that the memories you have of my parents are of them smiling and laughing. Rarely did you see them upset if ever. That was who they were. That is the way they should be remembered.
The greatest gift my parents gave me is the wisdom to live life. They raised me to have a strong belief in God. They raised me to work hard. They raised me to live life to the fullest. They instilled in me the virtues and principles that I have used to get me through the past four years. For that I will forever be thankful. Thank you Mom and Dad.
I have struggled the past four years. I have had my ups and downs. It's difficult sometimes when you can't seek the advice of your Dad. It's an intense sadness when you can't receive your Mom's hug and hear her say she's proud of you. They had been an anchor for me all of my life. Learning to live life without them has led me to be vulnerable and lost at times. It's been rough learning how to stand on my own. Luckily I have people in my life who have been there to help me pick up the pieces of a shattered life.
My brother has been exceptional through all of this. We have grown closer over the past four years. What Chris lacks in words he makes up for in deed. There have been times where I have needed someone to make the tough decision. I have needed someone to say what I really didn't want to hear. I needed someone to help me let go. Chris is the one who rose to that occasion.
My parents and I were fortunate enough to belong to a wonderful church family. They prayed for us and stood behind us through adversity when my parents were alive. They protected and helped heal me when my parents were gone. South Ridge Church lost something too. They lost close friends who were part of a spiritual family. Without them I don't know if I could have managed. I will forever be grateful for everything they have done for me.
Throughout my life I have met many people. As we live life we go different directions and we lose touch. In the last four years I have been able to reconnect with so many of you. You have reminded me of the wonderful memories that my family and I have shared. You have reminded me of happier times. I am thankful that we are back in touch. I cherish your friendships.
I have continued my education and spend a majority of my time around people younger than myself. Being around them and their youthful energy has had a positive effect on me. It keeps me young. I spend time around so many young adults who still have yet to find themselves. Their journeys have just begun. I am thankful to be in their lives. I hope and pray that through my example and experience that they don't let life overwhelm them. I hope they look at each new day as something special and spectacular. It's only the beginning.
I am thankful for family and friends who have been there to listen to me ramble, put up with me when I'm obnoxious, and give me the occasional kick in the pants whenever I needed it. I know that I can be difficult at times. I've always been like that. It puts a smile on my face to know that you care enough to listen and share even when we may not agree. A special shout out to my Uncle John for not killing me when I missed the bus in D.C.
A special thanks to God. It's through your word and your son Jesus Christ that I have been able to have a forgiving heart. It is through your Spirit that I have not become bitter and resentful. Your guidance has helped me control my anger and doubts. I know that you know my pain and suffering. You suffered on the cross so that I may know eternal life with you. My prayer is that you continue to guide me and show me the person I can truly be.
Thank you everyone for contributing to my healing in the last four years. No matter how big or small the relationship, you have all made a difference in my life. You have helped me recapture the wonder of living and the joy of the simplest aspects of life. Thank you for making me laugh and vise versa. I care for you all more than you know.
Pain and loss is a part of life. We cannot escape it. But we can deal with it through the relationships we have and the wisdom of others. Through these relationships and experiences we realize who we are and what it is we can truly accomplish.
I will end this with a verse from Micah 6:8. It's something we can all live by.
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Thank You
Saturday, May 15, 2010
5-14-10
Sports, Athletics, blah blah blah...
I have a new injury. I'm pretty sure I strained a ligament in my wrist. At first I thought it was an re-injury of the bone I broke in my wrist a few years back. I checked it out and deduced that it was a strained ligament. I was benching some heavy weight and I curled my wrist the wrong way. I'm icing it and I'll give it a few days. It only hurts when I move my wrist a certain way. There are exercises I can do that will replace the range of motion that aggravates it. I should be alright.
Baltimore had an excellent draft. They found guys that will replace the future hall of famers when they retire.
The Bengals got a good tight end. That's about all I can say for their draft. They drafted for need but no one stands out to me.
The Steelers I think had the worst draft. They hit a home run with a center in the first round and then I just scratched my head for the rest of their draft. They need help in the secondary. This draft was deep in secondary talent. They instead trade for a player they used to have. The Steelers also took project players and special teamers too high. You want potential starters in rounds 1 through 3.
So that's my take on the draft. Sorry it took so long.
I live in Pittsburgh and I do believe the Pirates are worse. Sadly, I love PNC Park and really only go to enjoy the stadium. I don't thin I've actually watched a game when I'm there.
I will be sad to see LeBron leave but to be honest it doesn't bother me either way. I understand that professional sports is a business and my life and where my soul goes after I die is not effected by the events that happen in professional sports. I will sleep well at night if LeBron is gone and all my favorite teams suck.
So I don't have any baseball to check out realistically and Football doesn't start till August. So my summer is pretty much open to everything else.
Bob Injury Update
My shin splints are gone. I plan on resuming some light sprinting in the next couple days. I've been doing stretches and exercises on the treadmill. Ten minutes of walking on my heels and toes. To get my endurance up I've been working out on a machine that simulates sprint mechanics. It's pretty grueling. Two minutes into this machine and I'm already sweating hard.I have a new injury. I'm pretty sure I strained a ligament in my wrist. At first I thought it was an re-injury of the bone I broke in my wrist a few years back. I checked it out and deduced that it was a strained ligament. I was benching some heavy weight and I curled my wrist the wrong way. I'm icing it and I'll give it a few days. It only hurts when I move my wrist a certain way. There are exercises I can do that will replace the range of motion that aggravates it. I should be alright.
Football
I never did say anything specific about the NFL Draft. I think the Browns filled some needs. The secondary got better immediately with three players drafted and they got a stud running back if he can stay healthy. The Browns still have some glaring holes though. They may have gotten closer to the other teams in the AFC North but they are still one or two years away from being a consistent winner.Baltimore had an excellent draft. They found guys that will replace the future hall of famers when they retire.
The Bengals got a good tight end. That's about all I can say for their draft. They drafted for need but no one stands out to me.
The Steelers I think had the worst draft. They hit a home run with a center in the first round and then I just scratched my head for the rest of their draft. They need help in the secondary. This draft was deep in secondary talent. They instead trade for a player they used to have. The Steelers also took project players and special teamers too high. You want potential starters in rounds 1 through 3.
So that's my take on the draft. Sorry it took so long.
Baseball
I am an Indians fan and I have decided that as long as the Dolan's own the team I will not pay to see an Indians game. This off season the Tribe thought is would be great to hire the manager from the worst team in baseball with the worst record in baseball. So far the results have been predictable. They are awful. I'm so despise the Dolan's and Mark Shapiro that I'm rooting for the Tribe to have long losing streaks and lose at least 100 games. Let's get back to 2000 people game attendance. We need to send a message to the Dolan's that they need to go. I miss you Dick Jacobs.I live in Pittsburgh and I do believe the Pirates are worse. Sadly, I love PNC Park and really only go to enjoy the stadium. I don't thin I've actually watched a game when I'm there.
Hockey
Penguins are out of the playoffs too. After the Capitols went down it though it was theirs to lose. Well, they lost it.Basketball
The Cavs are out of the playoffs. LeBron is probably going to play somewhere else. The Cavs can get back to normal. Normal for them is bottom feeder team. The past few years it has been weird to see the Cavs in the playoffs. For most of my life it was embarrassing to admit that the Cavs even existed. Every now and then they would overachieve and the Bulls or Pistons would nip that in the bud real quick.I will be sad to see LeBron leave but to be honest it doesn't bother me either way. I understand that professional sports is a business and my life and where my soul goes after I die is not effected by the events that happen in professional sports. I will sleep well at night if LeBron is gone and all my favorite teams suck.
So I don't have any baseball to check out realistically and Football doesn't start till August. So my summer is pretty much open to everything else.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
5-13-10
Getting Things Done...
I got to Elyria late last night. I was pretty beat so I didn't get to visit my Carrie and Steve that long. We all went to bed. I got up early and went to the coffee house to take pictures. I'm impressed with the pics I took. I found a setting on my camera that makes them look professional. I'm happy with how they turned out and I'm excited about putting the website together.
Charley and I left around noon and I got back in time to head to the gym. I didn't think my workout would be that good considering how tired I was and being in a car for a total of 5 hours in less than a day. But I eeked it out.
I've been getting some odds and ends done before NBC Thursday. I love my NBC Thursdays.
I finally posted the first chapter of my story. I know it's a long time coming. It was difficult to start. I tried a number of ways to start things off but nothing seemed to work. I started thinking about when I first decided to write a book. It was in the hospital. I incorporated my early hospital thoughts into the first chapter and everything started to flow from there. Now that I have a beginning I hope to stay on top of things and continue in a more frequent manner. Keep me in your prayers as this is a story of intense highs and extreme lows.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy sharing.
I got to Elyria late last night. I was pretty beat so I didn't get to visit my Carrie and Steve that long. We all went to bed. I got up early and went to the coffee house to take pictures. I'm impressed with the pics I took. I found a setting on my camera that makes them look professional. I'm happy with how they turned out and I'm excited about putting the website together.
Charley and I left around noon and I got back in time to head to the gym. I didn't think my workout would be that good considering how tired I was and being in a car for a total of 5 hours in less than a day. But I eeked it out.
I've been getting some odds and ends done before NBC Thursday. I love my NBC Thursdays.
I finally posted the first chapter of my story. I know it's a long time coming. It was difficult to start. I tried a number of ways to start things off but nothing seemed to work. I started thinking about when I first decided to write a book. It was in the hospital. I incorporated my early hospital thoughts into the first chapter and everything started to flow from there. Now that I have a beginning I hope to stay on top of things and continue in a more frequent manner. Keep me in your prayers as this is a story of intense highs and extreme lows.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy sharing.
My Story: Chapter 1 - Homecoming
The silence is uncomfortable. I stare up at the ceiling of my hospital room wishing that a fan would turn on or some machine will hum to break the silence. Nothing happens. I just lay there. I’m surprised I don’t feel anything. I can feel how swollen the right side of my face is but I can’t feel the pain. I guess the doctors gave me good medication. I’m without my glasses so I can’t see. The paramedics took them off when they found me. No pain. No sound. No sight. It’s just me in a hospital room with nothing but the memories of what happened.
I’m not shocked at what happened. I feel a sense of finality. It’s as if witnessing everything dissolved any hint of disbelief. I accept everything immediately. It makes the silence more uncomfortable.
I have no concept of time. My room is dark. I have no window and the door is always shut. I get a few hours of sleep here and there. I usually wake up when the nurses tend to me. I like it when they stop by. It breaks the silence. The nurses do their work and leave. I continue to stare up at the ceiling and try to get some sleep. It’s hard though. When I wake up from something other than the nurses it’s not pleasant. I dream. I don’t dream of anything special. I dream of simple mundane things. It’s quite peaceful. Then I hear the gunshots. I wake up.
It’s time to ask questions. I want answers. I need answers. Decisions must be made. They must be made now and the decisions must be final. Prudence may say that waiting till my head is clear would be best. I know myself. I have to deal with this now. I can think of no better place than in a hospital bed with nowhere to go and nothing to do.
How did this happen? How did my family and I wind up in a position where something like this was possible?
I grew up in modern American suburbia. All my life I’ve lived in the safe confines of a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood west of Cleveland, Ohio. I went to a safe school in Amherst where the biggest problem was a scheduled fight after school behind the bus barn. In my neighborhood if there was conflict between neighbors it was hashed out by competing for who had the best looking landscaping in their front yard.
Lying in the hospital bed I focused on those memories. We were safe. We were comfortable. My dad worked at the Ford Plant. My mom was a travel agent. My brother and I participated in sports and other activities in high school. We were always at a football game, track meet or theater event. We had friends and family that we were close to. We went to church and had church friends that we hung out with. My dad was originally from West Virginia and he moved after high school to get a job at the Ford plant. He met my mom and they got married. They provided a great childhood for me and Chris. I’m thankful for that.
Growing up we would go to West Virginia every few weeks and visit my Grandpa Slatt and Grandma Annie. We would also go to the farm. My family owned a farm in a secluded country area called Four States. The farm sat about half a mile back from the county road in a nice bowl shaped valley. My Aunt Mary lived there. She lived there alone since the mid 80’s. We enjoyed visiting her. Aunt Mary was one of the kindest and loving people I’ve ever known. The farm was a peaceful place. When we would visit it was easy to lose yourself and any concept of time. My family owned the farm since the early 20’s. My dad grew up there. As kids my brother and I would explore the hills and swing on the grape vines over ravines. My dad and I went arrow head hunting one time. The farm was always a great place to visit. It was sometimes sad to head back to the house in Bellview to stay with Grandpa Slatt.
After my brother graduated from high school my parents moved. It would be their first stop in West Virginia. I remember when they decided to move. They went to visit my Aunt Mary one weekend and when they came back they told me they took jobs as managers of an apartment complex and they were moving. Just like that. I was surprised to say the least. But they did it. My brother was in college at South Dakota and I was hanging out in Cleveland doing Improv theater.
They stayed in West Virginia for about a year and then they moved to South Carolina. My mom got a really good job working for the AAA Travel Agency in Spartanburg. It was an offer they couldn’t pass up. So they up and moved again. I continued to live in Cleveland until I was burned out by the rigors of city living. I eventually moved to South Carolina to be near my parents.
My parents weren’t the only ones in South Carolina. My grandparents and my mom’s sisters lived down there too. We all lived just a few miles from each other and spent a good deal of time together. I got a job at the local Outback Steakhouse and attended the University of South Carolina. Again, we lived in a nice cul-de-sac and life was safe and peaceful. The south is laid back so I enjoyed the change from the fast paced city life. In time I started to like living down there.
I made a lot of friends and made a decent life for myself. In my spare time I worked with my dad on a side business he had called DDIY. That stands for “Don’t Do It Yourself.” We did odd jobs like plumbing and dry wall. It was a good gig. My dad wound up getting an electrician’s job with a company and I got politically involved. I worked on some campaigns. It was a lot of fun. My mom continued to work as a travel agent.
In the summer of 2002 we got a phone call from my Aunt Paula and Uncle Rick. They said that my Aunt Mary had cancer and she was in the hospital. My parents left immediately to be with her. On September 23rd 2002 she passed away. The farm had animals on it and someone had to stay and take care of them. My parents stayed and took care of the animals. We later found out that my Aunt Mary willed the farm to my parents. My mom and dad never returned to South Carolina. I had built a life there so I decided to stay.
As I lay in the hospital bed I realize that this is where my story begins. This is where all of our lives changed. We had moved around so much. In the process of moving I think we left pieces of ourselves until we became suburban drifters. The farm would change all that. There was a reason my family lived there for so long. For my mom and dad it was a homecoming. Little did I know that eventually it would be a homecoming for me also.
Next: Chapter 2: How I got there
I’m not shocked at what happened. I feel a sense of finality. It’s as if witnessing everything dissolved any hint of disbelief. I accept everything immediately. It makes the silence more uncomfortable.
I have no concept of time. My room is dark. I have no window and the door is always shut. I get a few hours of sleep here and there. I usually wake up when the nurses tend to me. I like it when they stop by. It breaks the silence. The nurses do their work and leave. I continue to stare up at the ceiling and try to get some sleep. It’s hard though. When I wake up from something other than the nurses it’s not pleasant. I dream. I don’t dream of anything special. I dream of simple mundane things. It’s quite peaceful. Then I hear the gunshots. I wake up.
It’s time to ask questions. I want answers. I need answers. Decisions must be made. They must be made now and the decisions must be final. Prudence may say that waiting till my head is clear would be best. I know myself. I have to deal with this now. I can think of no better place than in a hospital bed with nowhere to go and nothing to do.
How did this happen? How did my family and I wind up in a position where something like this was possible?
I grew up in modern American suburbia. All my life I’ve lived in the safe confines of a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood west of Cleveland, Ohio. I went to a safe school in Amherst where the biggest problem was a scheduled fight after school behind the bus barn. In my neighborhood if there was conflict between neighbors it was hashed out by competing for who had the best looking landscaping in their front yard.
Lying in the hospital bed I focused on those memories. We were safe. We were comfortable. My dad worked at the Ford Plant. My mom was a travel agent. My brother and I participated in sports and other activities in high school. We were always at a football game, track meet or theater event. We had friends and family that we were close to. We went to church and had church friends that we hung out with. My dad was originally from West Virginia and he moved after high school to get a job at the Ford plant. He met my mom and they got married. They provided a great childhood for me and Chris. I’m thankful for that.
Growing up we would go to West Virginia every few weeks and visit my Grandpa Slatt and Grandma Annie. We would also go to the farm. My family owned a farm in a secluded country area called Four States. The farm sat about half a mile back from the county road in a nice bowl shaped valley. My Aunt Mary lived there. She lived there alone since the mid 80’s. We enjoyed visiting her. Aunt Mary was one of the kindest and loving people I’ve ever known. The farm was a peaceful place. When we would visit it was easy to lose yourself and any concept of time. My family owned the farm since the early 20’s. My dad grew up there. As kids my brother and I would explore the hills and swing on the grape vines over ravines. My dad and I went arrow head hunting one time. The farm was always a great place to visit. It was sometimes sad to head back to the house in Bellview to stay with Grandpa Slatt.
After my brother graduated from high school my parents moved. It would be their first stop in West Virginia. I remember when they decided to move. They went to visit my Aunt Mary one weekend and when they came back they told me they took jobs as managers of an apartment complex and they were moving. Just like that. I was surprised to say the least. But they did it. My brother was in college at South Dakota and I was hanging out in Cleveland doing Improv theater.
They stayed in West Virginia for about a year and then they moved to South Carolina. My mom got a really good job working for the AAA Travel Agency in Spartanburg. It was an offer they couldn’t pass up. So they up and moved again. I continued to live in Cleveland until I was burned out by the rigors of city living. I eventually moved to South Carolina to be near my parents.
My parents weren’t the only ones in South Carolina. My grandparents and my mom’s sisters lived down there too. We all lived just a few miles from each other and spent a good deal of time together. I got a job at the local Outback Steakhouse and attended the University of South Carolina. Again, we lived in a nice cul-de-sac and life was safe and peaceful. The south is laid back so I enjoyed the change from the fast paced city life. In time I started to like living down there.
I made a lot of friends and made a decent life for myself. In my spare time I worked with my dad on a side business he had called DDIY. That stands for “Don’t Do It Yourself.” We did odd jobs like plumbing and dry wall. It was a good gig. My dad wound up getting an electrician’s job with a company and I got politically involved. I worked on some campaigns. It was a lot of fun. My mom continued to work as a travel agent.
In the summer of 2002 we got a phone call from my Aunt Paula and Uncle Rick. They said that my Aunt Mary had cancer and she was in the hospital. My parents left immediately to be with her. On September 23rd 2002 she passed away. The farm had animals on it and someone had to stay and take care of them. My parents stayed and took care of the animals. We later found out that my Aunt Mary willed the farm to my parents. My mom and dad never returned to South Carolina. I had built a life there so I decided to stay.
As I lay in the hospital bed I realize that this is where my story begins. This is where all of our lives changed. We had moved around so much. In the process of moving I think we left pieces of ourselves until we became suburban drifters. The farm would change all that. There was a reason my family lived there for so long. For my mom and dad it was a homecoming. Little did I know that eventually it would be a homecoming for me also.
Next: Chapter 2: How I got there
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
5-12-10
The Following Events Take Place Between 7pm and 8pm....
Marathon Tuesday was a lot of fun. Class was easy going. My workout was completely off the hook! Today I'm so sore. My shoulders feel like they're about to fall off. I went to drama rehearsal and I got to teach some improv. We had a blast. I've been able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of everyone in the drama club and I think I know what we can do to put on a good improv show.
I got to introduce them to my favorite game. It's called Kitty Wants A Corner. Ask me about it. You'll be glad you did! :-)
Watched Lost and then went to bed. I was pooped.
Got up early and went to my internship. I had a longer lunch than usual because some friends came into the area and I had lunch with them. I couldn't stay long but it was nice to see them.
Now I'm home and getting ready to head to Ohio. I have to take pictures for a website and be back in Pittsburgh by 4pm tomorrow.
Yeah. I'm automatic. 24/7.
Marathon Tuesday was a lot of fun. Class was easy going. My workout was completely off the hook! Today I'm so sore. My shoulders feel like they're about to fall off. I went to drama rehearsal and I got to teach some improv. We had a blast. I've been able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of everyone in the drama club and I think I know what we can do to put on a good improv show.
I got to introduce them to my favorite game. It's called Kitty Wants A Corner. Ask me about it. You'll be glad you did! :-)
Watched Lost and then went to bed. I was pooped.
Got up early and went to my internship. I had a longer lunch than usual because some friends came into the area and I had lunch with them. I couldn't stay long but it was nice to see them.
Now I'm home and getting ready to head to Ohio. I have to take pictures for a website and be back in Pittsburgh by 4pm tomorrow.
Yeah. I'm automatic. 24/7.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Supreme Court Hope & Change
Tell me if you have heard this one...
Charismatic and intelligent upstart rises quickly through the political ranks.
Is selected to fill a federal position to which they have no experience.
No experience but everyone says is well qualified.
Very little paper trail.
Not much is known about them.
Does this sound familiar?
Elena Kagan - The Obama of the Supreme Court.
God help us.
Charismatic and intelligent upstart rises quickly through the political ranks.
Is selected to fill a federal position to which they have no experience.
No experience but everyone says is well qualified.
Very little paper trail.
Not much is known about them.
Does this sound familiar?
Elena Kagan - The Obama of the Supreme Court.
God help us.
Monday, May 10, 2010
5-10-10
You Are What You Eat...
For anyone that knows me knows I am living proof that what you eat has an effect on disposition. In the past whenever I was in a bad mood, my mom would always say "When was the last time you ate something?" I am one of those people that if you don't feed me, I get very grumpy.
In the past few weeks I have not been eating as well as I should. I have my healthy food that I eat during the day but I tend to eat junk after 8pm. It takes time to make all the food I eat during the week and if I don't make the food then I resort to the usual fast food. I'm also a huge snacker. I love snacks. I love the occasional Pay Day or Butterfinger.
I have noticed that my moods and disposition change in correlation to what I eat. If I eat junk I become sluggish and depressed. When I eat clean and healthy foods I have energy and I get things accomplished. I've noticed this change in moods in the past few weeks. I have been keeping a food journal and I believe it no coincidence that on days that I feel intense feelings of loneliness and depression are the days I eat junk.
I enjoy a show on Bravo Network called "Workout." It's about personal trainers in Beverly Hills. The owner of the gym is Jackie Warner. I just picked up a book of hers called "This Is Why Your Fat." In the book she talks about how food changes moods and the wrong foods cause depression. She's speaking from experience as she too has dealt with the mood swings. I can identify with Jackie because when she was younger she was very thin. So was I. I weighted 130 pounds in high school. In the book she talks about how she ate anything she wanted and never gained weight. Same here. The she talked about how she got older she dealt with mood swings and depression. I can't say mine are as severe as hers but I've had more than one day of complete darkness. So I'm reading this book and I hope to incorporate more of her diet suggestions into my diet. She makes sure that the foods recommended are items easily found at a local grocery store. No obscure or rare roots you can only get at a Hollywood organic store. I've never been so excited to go grocery shopping.
I think about what I go through with food and then I think about other people. How many people do we know that are on medication for depression and the real cure may be a change in diet? I don't think we honestly look at how much food really affects us. I could have saved myself from some awkward and embarrassing situations in the past if I would have just eaten something or eaten healthy.
I have an aunt that I don't really have a relationship with anymore. It's hard to talk to her because she's in a bad place. She has a lot of problems and I don't think the loss of my parents helped. She's incredibly overweight and she only eats junk food. There can be healthy food in the refrigerator and she won't eat it. I believe that if she started eating healthy and lost some weight she would be a completely different person. I think my old aunt would be back. We could go to concerts again and hang out. She used to be a lot of fun but like I said, she's in a bad place right now. I could suggest this to her but like most people, it has to be their decision to eat right. They must WANT to change. You can't force someone.
I'm struggling with my diet right now because I'm adjusting to working a 9 to 5 job. I need to find healthy snacks and make time to plan lunches and dinners. I'm working on it.
In the meantime, If I seem out of sorts or a bit sporadic. I apologize. Just be sure to ask me if I've eaten anything yet. Also, don't ask me to eat out. I hate eating out. Let's make some chicken on the George Foreman instead.
For anyone that knows me knows I am living proof that what you eat has an effect on disposition. In the past whenever I was in a bad mood, my mom would always say "When was the last time you ate something?" I am one of those people that if you don't feed me, I get very grumpy.
In the past few weeks I have not been eating as well as I should. I have my healthy food that I eat during the day but I tend to eat junk after 8pm. It takes time to make all the food I eat during the week and if I don't make the food then I resort to the usual fast food. I'm also a huge snacker. I love snacks. I love the occasional Pay Day or Butterfinger.
I have noticed that my moods and disposition change in correlation to what I eat. If I eat junk I become sluggish and depressed. When I eat clean and healthy foods I have energy and I get things accomplished. I've noticed this change in moods in the past few weeks. I have been keeping a food journal and I believe it no coincidence that on days that I feel intense feelings of loneliness and depression are the days I eat junk.
I enjoy a show on Bravo Network called "Workout." It's about personal trainers in Beverly Hills. The owner of the gym is Jackie Warner. I just picked up a book of hers called "This Is Why Your Fat." In the book she talks about how food changes moods and the wrong foods cause depression. She's speaking from experience as she too has dealt with the mood swings. I can identify with Jackie because when she was younger she was very thin. So was I. I weighted 130 pounds in high school. In the book she talks about how she ate anything she wanted and never gained weight. Same here. The she talked about how she got older she dealt with mood swings and depression. I can't say mine are as severe as hers but I've had more than one day of complete darkness. So I'm reading this book and I hope to incorporate more of her diet suggestions into my diet. She makes sure that the foods recommended are items easily found at a local grocery store. No obscure or rare roots you can only get at a Hollywood organic store. I've never been so excited to go grocery shopping.
I think about what I go through with food and then I think about other people. How many people do we know that are on medication for depression and the real cure may be a change in diet? I don't think we honestly look at how much food really affects us. I could have saved myself from some awkward and embarrassing situations in the past if I would have just eaten something or eaten healthy.
I have an aunt that I don't really have a relationship with anymore. It's hard to talk to her because she's in a bad place. She has a lot of problems and I don't think the loss of my parents helped. She's incredibly overweight and she only eats junk food. There can be healthy food in the refrigerator and she won't eat it. I believe that if she started eating healthy and lost some weight she would be a completely different person. I think my old aunt would be back. We could go to concerts again and hang out. She used to be a lot of fun but like I said, she's in a bad place right now. I could suggest this to her but like most people, it has to be their decision to eat right. They must WANT to change. You can't force someone.
I'm struggling with my diet right now because I'm adjusting to working a 9 to 5 job. I need to find healthy snacks and make time to plan lunches and dinners. I'm working on it.
In the meantime, If I seem out of sorts or a bit sporadic. I apologize. Just be sure to ask me if I've eaten anything yet. Also, don't ask me to eat out. I hate eating out. Let's make some chicken on the George Foreman instead.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
5-8-10:Addendum
I Love Turbulent Weather...
Last night I was up pretty late. I went to a late showing of Iron Man and didn't get home till almost one. When I left the movies the wind started blowing and storms were rolling in. It was lightning while I drove home.
I settled in for the night and opened my patio doors. The storm rolled in and I sat out on my porch and watched the light show. Charley wasn't too happy. He hates thunderstorms. He curled up in my lap and stared at me as if to ask if I was crazy.
Today the wind was pretty rough. I liked it though. I reminded me of the trees moving and the sound of the wind on the farm. I used to stand in the field and watch the wind rush through the high grass or watch the trees wave around while the wind blew. It's hard to stop and enjoy something like that in Pittsburgh. I tried to in the parking lot of the gym today. Didn't really work.
Today was a lazy day. I did clean my spare bedroom and I packed some items to get ready to put them in storage. I will be moving out of my apartment in a few months. Better start preparing before it creeps up on me.
Last night I was up pretty late. I went to a late showing of Iron Man and didn't get home till almost one. When I left the movies the wind started blowing and storms were rolling in. It was lightning while I drove home.
I settled in for the night and opened my patio doors. The storm rolled in and I sat out on my porch and watched the light show. Charley wasn't too happy. He hates thunderstorms. He curled up in my lap and stared at me as if to ask if I was crazy.
Today the wind was pretty rough. I liked it though. I reminded me of the trees moving and the sound of the wind on the farm. I used to stand in the field and watch the wind rush through the high grass or watch the trees wave around while the wind blew. It's hard to stop and enjoy something like that in Pittsburgh. I tried to in the parking lot of the gym today. Didn't really work.
Today was a lazy day. I did clean my spare bedroom and I packed some items to get ready to put them in storage. I will be moving out of my apartment in a few months. Better start preparing before it creeps up on me.
5-8-10
Iron Man 2
The summer movie season started this Friday with the release of Iron Man 2. I have been pretty pumped to see this movie for a few months now. I loved the first one and Robert Downy Jr. is a great Tony Stark.
I feel the need to explain the context of this movie to everyone. I won't give away any of the plot. Just understand that this movie was made the way it is intentionally. Unfortunately what could have been a really good movie is just a good movie.
Iron Man 2 is not really a sequel. It's a piece to a larger puzzle called "The Avengers Movie."
Marvel Comics got this bright idea to make movies featuring characters that will eventually join the Avengers. For those that don't know The Avengers is one of Marvel Comics premiere super hero teams. They rank up there with the X-men and Fantastic 4. Iron Man is not the only character who belongs in this line up to get movie treatment.
The Incredible Hulk has already gotten movie treatment. Part of the reasons for a Hulk reboot from Ang Lee's movie was to make the Hulk better suited for the Avengers movie. It's also why we meet Tony Stark at the end of the last Hulk movie.
Two more characters will get movie treatment before the Avengers movie is made. Captain America will be one of those characters.
The other will be Thor - The god of thunder!!!
Some supporting characters of The Avengers have already showed up in these movies. In Iron Man we meet Black Widow played by Scarlett Johannsen and Colonel Nick Fury - Agent of Shield played by Samuel L. Jackson. These two characters will have bigger roles in The Avengers Movie.
An animated version of The Avengers is already out. You can check it out on DVD.
With that said, I must say that Mickey Rourke is amazing. He acted more through his non-verbals than he did his dialogue. That's a great actor. Sam Rockwell was excellent. I didn't miss Terrance Howard one bit. I was totally sold on Don Cheadle as Rhodie.
If you can overlook the distraction of another movie infringing on this movie, then you will enjoy Iron Man 2. Great popcorn movie. Even greater way to start off the summer movie season.
I recommend staying after the movie credits. There is a surprise.
The summer movie season started this Friday with the release of Iron Man 2. I have been pretty pumped to see this movie for a few months now. I loved the first one and Robert Downy Jr. is a great Tony Stark.
I feel the need to explain the context of this movie to everyone. I won't give away any of the plot. Just understand that this movie was made the way it is intentionally. Unfortunately what could have been a really good movie is just a good movie.
Iron Man 2 is not really a sequel. It's a piece to a larger puzzle called "The Avengers Movie."
Marvel Comics got this bright idea to make movies featuring characters that will eventually join the Avengers. For those that don't know The Avengers is one of Marvel Comics premiere super hero teams. They rank up there with the X-men and Fantastic 4. Iron Man is not the only character who belongs in this line up to get movie treatment.
The Incredible Hulk has already gotten movie treatment. Part of the reasons for a Hulk reboot from Ang Lee's movie was to make the Hulk better suited for the Avengers movie. It's also why we meet Tony Stark at the end of the last Hulk movie.
Two more characters will get movie treatment before the Avengers movie is made. Captain America will be one of those characters.
The other will be Thor - The god of thunder!!!
Some supporting characters of The Avengers have already showed up in these movies. In Iron Man we meet Black Widow played by Scarlett Johannsen and Colonel Nick Fury - Agent of Shield played by Samuel L. Jackson. These two characters will have bigger roles in The Avengers Movie.
An animated version of The Avengers is already out. You can check it out on DVD.
Back to Iron Man
I had to talk about The Avengers because I believe that the shortcomings of the sequel stem from setting The Avengers up. If this was a straight up Iron Man movie I do believe it would have been much better. Instead this movie played like a 200 million dollar episode of a television show you didn't know you were watching. Too much attention was paid to story and characters that will have larger roles later in another movie.With that said, I must say that Mickey Rourke is amazing. He acted more through his non-verbals than he did his dialogue. That's a great actor. Sam Rockwell was excellent. I didn't miss Terrance Howard one bit. I was totally sold on Don Cheadle as Rhodie.
If you can overlook the distraction of another movie infringing on this movie, then you will enjoy Iron Man 2. Great popcorn movie. Even greater way to start off the summer movie season.
I recommend staying after the movie credits. There is a surprise.
Friday, May 07, 2010
5-7-10
I'm Going To See Iron Man 2!!!!
That's my reward to myself for a strong finish to this week. Who am I kidding! I was going to see this movie no matter what.
I was going to go last night to the midnight showing. I would have if I didn't have my internship. That blasted responsibility thing got in the way again.
The Cavs play this evening. I don't plan to watch. They look pretty much done. I will watch the last game of the series though. If the Cavs can't beat the Celtics then it will probably be the last time I see LeBron in a Cavs uniform.
I'll post my review of Iron Man 2 tomorrow. I'll let yall know how it went.
That's my reward to myself for a strong finish to this week. Who am I kidding! I was going to see this movie no matter what.
I was going to go last night to the midnight showing. I would have if I didn't have my internship. That blasted responsibility thing got in the way again.
The Cavs play this evening. I don't plan to watch. They look pretty much done. I will watch the last game of the series though. If the Cavs can't beat the Celtics then it will probably be the last time I see LeBron in a Cavs uniform.
I'll post my review of Iron Man 2 tomorrow. I'll let yall know how it went.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
5-6-10
I Feel Like A Ninja Turtle!!!!
I needed a day like today. It's been productive and energetic.
It started last night actually. I got home from my internship and was ready to go to bed. I've been down in the dumps for almost a week. My apartment was a total mess. I had clothes everywhere and dishes were stacked out the sink. The nasty part was that I needed to change the litter box a few days ago and I hadn't. So all this going on and I wanted to sleep my life away.
I made myself continue. I changed the litter box, washed the dishes, and began my massive laundry day. Funny thing is, the more I got accomplished the better I felt.
I didn't stop till one in the morning. My apartment looks normal and all my clothes and dishes are clean. My cat is happy. My dog is not because he likes to get into the litter box for a snack. Sorry Charley. No more snacks for you!
I don't have class till 10:30am so I slept in this morning. In class I took out my itemized list of things I needed to accomplish and I got two thirds of it done. I got a lot done. This made me very happy. I was so worried I was going to fall behind.
After class I headed to the gym. Today is back day. I dead lifted as my major exercise and then we worked out the rest of the back. Today was monstrous!!! We hit every muscle in the back. Plus I got secondary work on my arms and shoulders. I was completely drenched in sweat when I was done. Oh it felt amazing.
I went home to take some post workout supplements and eat a light meal. I returned to the gym to try a new cardio machine. It's like a stair master/elliptical hybrid. What's cool about the machine is that you can mimic sprint movements. I modified the machine to simulate long sprints and then jacked up the resistance. This rocked my world. After 10 minutes on this machine I was completely drenched in sweat again. Crazy!
I'm beat now. It's a good beat though. I got a lot accomplished today plus a great workout. I almost forgot. My shin splints are feeling better. I'm still tender in one small area but I can manage. I'll keep off hard surfaces and run on that monster machine for a few more days. That should keep me in shape for the time being.
Tonight is Thursday night. That means from 8pm to 10pm I will be unavailable. One of the very few joys of life that I cherish is NBC Thursdays. Community, Parks and Recreation, The Office and 30 Rock. I call it my giggle time.
I may take a nap. I think I deserve one.
I needed a day like today. It's been productive and energetic.
It started last night actually. I got home from my internship and was ready to go to bed. I've been down in the dumps for almost a week. My apartment was a total mess. I had clothes everywhere and dishes were stacked out the sink. The nasty part was that I needed to change the litter box a few days ago and I hadn't. So all this going on and I wanted to sleep my life away.
I made myself continue. I changed the litter box, washed the dishes, and began my massive laundry day. Funny thing is, the more I got accomplished the better I felt.
I didn't stop till one in the morning. My apartment looks normal and all my clothes and dishes are clean. My cat is happy. My dog is not because he likes to get into the litter box for a snack. Sorry Charley. No more snacks for you!
I don't have class till 10:30am so I slept in this morning. In class I took out my itemized list of things I needed to accomplish and I got two thirds of it done. I got a lot done. This made me very happy. I was so worried I was going to fall behind.
After class I headed to the gym. Today is back day. I dead lifted as my major exercise and then we worked out the rest of the back. Today was monstrous!!! We hit every muscle in the back. Plus I got secondary work on my arms and shoulders. I was completely drenched in sweat when I was done. Oh it felt amazing.
I went home to take some post workout supplements and eat a light meal. I returned to the gym to try a new cardio machine. It's like a stair master/elliptical hybrid. What's cool about the machine is that you can mimic sprint movements. I modified the machine to simulate long sprints and then jacked up the resistance. This rocked my world. After 10 minutes on this machine I was completely drenched in sweat again. Crazy!
I'm beat now. It's a good beat though. I got a lot accomplished today plus a great workout. I almost forgot. My shin splints are feeling better. I'm still tender in one small area but I can manage. I'll keep off hard surfaces and run on that monster machine for a few more days. That should keep me in shape for the time being.
Tonight is Thursday night. That means from 8pm to 10pm I will be unavailable. One of the very few joys of life that I cherish is NBC Thursdays. Community, Parks and Recreation, The Office and 30 Rock. I call it my giggle time.
I may take a nap. I think I deserve one.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
5-5-10
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!
Did you honestly think I would pass up the opportunity to blog about illegal immigration?
Yeah.
So I've been thinking about this since the bill was passed. What angle? Should I do an in depth report on immigration? Maybe a historical run down? Maybe I should propose my own solutions to the problem? I decided to blog not so much about the issue but about how we perceive the issue.
Since Obama took office America has been overrun by racists. Racists seem to hide behind every corner and jump out to scare us away from our diverse and tolerant society. As if my white guilt wasn't enough, Attorney General Eric Holder called us a nation of cowards when it comes to race. I can't watch MSNBC anymore because they continue to expose all the hood wearing whities and their tea-bagger gangs of ruffians. To think that in the 35 years I have been alive I never knew that racism was such an epidemic in America. If only there was a anti-racism flu shot. Maybe we need to spend billions more on diversity training. Maybe we just need to heed Dr. Martin Luther King's words and judge people by the color of their skin and not their character. Yes. I meant to write it that way.
If you look through the sarcasm my point is that "racism" is en vogue these days. It's the cool thing to point a finger at someone or some group and scream "racist!"
I had to go off on a tangent for a minute. Sorry. I do have a point.
So what's the big deal?
I believe that people fall into two categories when it comes to this bill. Those who oppose it for being racist view the bill with a "Crash" mindset and those who support it view the bill with a "COPS" mindset.
I am referring to the movie "Crash". It's a movie about a bunch of characters in Los Angeles who live their daily lives. What binds them all together is their RAGING racism. One character which is quite relevant to my blog is played by Matt Dillon. He plays officer John Ryan. Officer Ryan is a racist cop who pulls over Terrence Howard and Thandie Newton because they are black. Dillon's character then sexually assaults Newton in front of Howard. "Crash" is full of moments like this. It's a movie about some really messed up people. Fortunately it's just a movie.
Or is it?
Does the new immigration bill entitle Arizona police to behave like Officer Ryan? If you watch the news or listen to our President you would think that this bill does.
The "COPS" mentality is of course based on the long running television show that allows America to see how stupid criminals really are. All across America there are 70 pound toothless women turning tricks for crack and the men who love them.
The Arizona immigration bill allows police to arrest and deport the illegal equivalent of our criminals. That is something which Arizona police are not allowed to do currently.
So here's how the bill is intended to work. Police patrol a patch of highway known for it's human trafficking. Suddenly, a 1996 Honda Civic passes by doing 53 in a 35. Oh! That's speeding. The police pursue and pull the car over. The police approach and find six individual of Hispanic descent. After searching the car the police find two hand guns and three pounds of marijuana. Surprisingly, none of the six know who these items belong to. Just like on the TV show, it just magically appeared or belongs to a cousin who isn't in the car with them. The police have a hard time communicating because everyone is speaking Spanish. Well, that is until they hear the words "Under Arrest." Then English is spoken fluently.
The Arizona bill allows the police to check to see if they are here legally. If they are not they will be arrested and deported.
Here's another scenario:
The police pursue a car that is going 53 in a 35mph area. The car pulls over and the officer sees a person of Hispanic descent is driving. The officer asks for a license and registration and proof of insurance. The driver provides the information. The driver is then given a ticket and let go.
Gosh! Racial profiling is awful!!!!!
Arizona is a state that is on the front lines of a horrible border war. I am lucky enough to live in a state that doesn't have such problems. If you view America as one large "Crash" movie scene, I feel sorry for you. We have a problem with our borders in this country and it's about time someone did something about it. This bill gets rid of the riff raff, druggies, gangsters, and other hoodlums that cross or borders.
Illegal immigrant is not a race.
One day we may find a way to deal with those who come to America to work hard and support their families. I admit I have a soft spot for those folks. For now we need to focus on those who would do us harm and who go beyond breaking the law of crossing the border illegally.
It's unrealistic to send everyone who crosses our border back. Let's at least try to send back those who have no business being on the streets let alone in this country.
Did you honestly think I would pass up the opportunity to blog about illegal immigration?
Yeah.
So I've been thinking about this since the bill was passed. What angle? Should I do an in depth report on immigration? Maybe a historical run down? Maybe I should propose my own solutions to the problem? I decided to blog not so much about the issue but about how we perceive the issue.
Since Obama took office America has been overrun by racists. Racists seem to hide behind every corner and jump out to scare us away from our diverse and tolerant society. As if my white guilt wasn't enough, Attorney General Eric Holder called us a nation of cowards when it comes to race. I can't watch MSNBC anymore because they continue to expose all the hood wearing whities and their tea-bagger gangs of ruffians. To think that in the 35 years I have been alive I never knew that racism was such an epidemic in America. If only there was a anti-racism flu shot. Maybe we need to spend billions more on diversity training. Maybe we just need to heed Dr. Martin Luther King's words and judge people by the color of their skin and not their character. Yes. I meant to write it that way.
If you look through the sarcasm my point is that "racism" is en vogue these days. It's the cool thing to point a finger at someone or some group and scream "racist!"
I had to go off on a tangent for a minute. Sorry. I do have a point.
Are you "COPS" or "Crash"?
When it comes to the Arizona immigration bill there are two ways of looking at it. The main point of the bill is if police pull you over and cite you for some violation, that is considered cause and they can ask to see proof of citizenship. Sounds simple. I show proof of residency all the time. It's the law that non-americans are to carry their papers.So what's the big deal?
I believe that people fall into two categories when it comes to this bill. Those who oppose it for being racist view the bill with a "Crash" mindset and those who support it view the bill with a "COPS" mindset.
I am referring to the movie "Crash". It's a movie about a bunch of characters in Los Angeles who live their daily lives. What binds them all together is their RAGING racism. One character which is quite relevant to my blog is played by Matt Dillon. He plays officer John Ryan. Officer Ryan is a racist cop who pulls over Terrence Howard and Thandie Newton because they are black. Dillon's character then sexually assaults Newton in front of Howard. "Crash" is full of moments like this. It's a movie about some really messed up people. Fortunately it's just a movie.
Or is it?
Does the new immigration bill entitle Arizona police to behave like Officer Ryan? If you watch the news or listen to our President you would think that this bill does.
The "COPS" mentality is of course based on the long running television show that allows America to see how stupid criminals really are. All across America there are 70 pound toothless women turning tricks for crack and the men who love them.
The Arizona immigration bill allows police to arrest and deport the illegal equivalent of our criminals. That is something which Arizona police are not allowed to do currently.
So here's how the bill is intended to work. Police patrol a patch of highway known for it's human trafficking. Suddenly, a 1996 Honda Civic passes by doing 53 in a 35. Oh! That's speeding. The police pursue and pull the car over. The police approach and find six individual of Hispanic descent. After searching the car the police find two hand guns and three pounds of marijuana. Surprisingly, none of the six know who these items belong to. Just like on the TV show, it just magically appeared or belongs to a cousin who isn't in the car with them. The police have a hard time communicating because everyone is speaking Spanish. Well, that is until they hear the words "Under Arrest." Then English is spoken fluently.
The Arizona bill allows the police to check to see if they are here legally. If they are not they will be arrested and deported.
Here's another scenario:
The police pursue a car that is going 53 in a 35mph area. The car pulls over and the officer sees a person of Hispanic descent is driving. The officer asks for a license and registration and proof of insurance. The driver provides the information. The driver is then given a ticket and let go.
Gosh! Racial profiling is awful!!!!!
Arizona is a state that is on the front lines of a horrible border war. I am lucky enough to live in a state that doesn't have such problems. If you view America as one large "Crash" movie scene, I feel sorry for you. We have a problem with our borders in this country and it's about time someone did something about it. This bill gets rid of the riff raff, druggies, gangsters, and other hoodlums that cross or borders.
Illegal immigrant is not a race.
One day we may find a way to deal with those who come to America to work hard and support their families. I admit I have a soft spot for those folks. For now we need to focus on those who would do us harm and who go beyond breaking the law of crossing the border illegally.
It's unrealistic to send everyone who crosses our border back. Let's at least try to send back those who have no business being on the streets let alone in this country.
5-4-10
Long Day...
Tuesdays are my marathon days. They start early in the morning and don't stop till late at night.
I have been sleeping on my couch the past couple of nights. A strange thing happens in my apartment. Around 2am my bedroom get's very warm. It's enough to wake me up out of a sound sleep. I've been sleeping on my couch so I can get a full nights rest. Plus my couch is super duper comfy. I was so comfortable this morning that I hit the snooz on my phone and almost missed class. That's a comfy couch!
I had portfolio class and I came up with a large list of things I must get done soon. I'm not behind yet but I do have a lot on my plate.
Went to the gym today. It was chest day. That's always fun. It was a good workout.
I didn't go to track practice. I'm still nursing the shin splints. I did go to drama rehearsal. They are doing an improv show. I got to play some improv games and hang out with friends.
Taco Tuesdays. Ah yeah!
There are only a few episodes of Lost left and with the endgame close it's certain that some favorite characters aren't going to make it to the end. Tonight two of my favorite characters didn't make it. I had an adverse reaction that blindsided me.
There is a Korean couple named Jin and Sun Kwon. At first I didn't care for them especially Jin. As the seasons continued they became my favorites. One of the compelling aspects of Lost is that the island has a way of testing people. Lost has been a story of some truly lost souls finding themselves and becoming better people. Jin and Sun started out with a dysfunctional marriage and ending with in my opinion one of the greatest love stories on television. Tonight, they died together.
It's strange how sights, sounds, even television can trigger emotions and memories that can effect you. I was sad to see two favorites go but most of all they reminded me of my parents.
I'm not going to elaborate any more. I think I've said enough.
It's getting close to the anniversary of their loss and I'm sure as the days get closer I will have days like today.
Some prayer would be nice.
Tuesdays are my marathon days. They start early in the morning and don't stop till late at night.
I have been sleeping on my couch the past couple of nights. A strange thing happens in my apartment. Around 2am my bedroom get's very warm. It's enough to wake me up out of a sound sleep. I've been sleeping on my couch so I can get a full nights rest. Plus my couch is super duper comfy. I was so comfortable this morning that I hit the snooz on my phone and almost missed class. That's a comfy couch!
I had portfolio class and I came up with a large list of things I must get done soon. I'm not behind yet but I do have a lot on my plate.
Went to the gym today. It was chest day. That's always fun. It was a good workout.
I didn't go to track practice. I'm still nursing the shin splints. I did go to drama rehearsal. They are doing an improv show. I got to play some improv games and hang out with friends.
Taco Tuesdays. Ah yeah!
Blindsided
My day ended with an episode of Lost. If you watch Lost and aren't up to speed then please stop reading.There are only a few episodes of Lost left and with the endgame close it's certain that some favorite characters aren't going to make it to the end. Tonight two of my favorite characters didn't make it. I had an adverse reaction that blindsided me.
There is a Korean couple named Jin and Sun Kwon. At first I didn't care for them especially Jin. As the seasons continued they became my favorites. One of the compelling aspects of Lost is that the island has a way of testing people. Lost has been a story of some truly lost souls finding themselves and becoming better people. Jin and Sun started out with a dysfunctional marriage and ending with in my opinion one of the greatest love stories on television. Tonight, they died together.
It's strange how sights, sounds, even television can trigger emotions and memories that can effect you. I was sad to see two favorites go but most of all they reminded me of my parents.
I'm not going to elaborate any more. I think I've said enough.
It's getting close to the anniversary of their loss and I'm sure as the days get closer I will have days like today.
Some prayer would be nice.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
5-3-10
Watching The Snowball Roll Down The Hill.
Massive oil spill in the gulf of Mexico.
Car bomb attempt in Times Square.
Tornadoes in Mississippi.
Flooding in Tennessee.
Arizona.
The Cleveland Cavaliers.
Shin Splints.
Barak Obama hell!
I need a break from the news and from the world in general. There's too much going on. I'm pretty fried. I will be posting my two cents about the Arizona immigration bill soon. I felt it appropriate to post it on Cinco de Mayo!
Other than interning and going to the gym, there's not much to report today. My shins feel better but I'm not at a point where I can full go yet. I'll be riding a stationary bike for few days. Why do they call it spinning?
I picked up Charley from the kennel today. He's so happy. He's resting comfortably in his bed.
Time for me to head to bed also.
Massive oil spill in the gulf of Mexico.
Car bomb attempt in Times Square.
Tornadoes in Mississippi.
Flooding in Tennessee.
Arizona.
The Cleveland Cavaliers.
Shin Splints.
Barak Obama hell!
I need a break from the news and from the world in general. There's too much going on. I'm pretty fried. I will be posting my two cents about the Arizona immigration bill soon. I felt it appropriate to post it on Cinco de Mayo!
Other than interning and going to the gym, there's not much to report today. My shins feel better but I'm not at a point where I can full go yet. I'll be riding a stationary bike for few days. Why do they call it spinning?
I picked up Charley from the kennel today. He's so happy. He's resting comfortably in his bed.
Time for me to head to bed also.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
5-2-10
Hanging With My Brother...
Yesterday was the Jesse Owens Classic at Ohio State. The weather was pretty nasty in the morning. You could feel that it wanted to be warm but the rain was freezing. Thankfully it stopped raining around noon. Chris jumped at 1pm.
The bad luck continued for Chris. He got three jumps. He jumped behind the board on the first two and faulted the third one. His hips were tight. When your body is tight like that, especially in track it's best to just stop what you're doing. To push it would more than likely cause injury. My brother has a horrible injury to he got his three jumps in and stopped. The positive was that he progressed on every jump. I recorded his jumps and we watched them at a friend's apartment. His first jump was alright. His second jump he had more control. I wish his third jump wasn't a fault because he seemed to get his rhythm and he jumped pretty far. His form was a little off. He jumped out instead of up. Still, he showed mad skills for jumping out off the board. If he had his hops yesterday he would have been a monster! But it is what it is. It's is his first meet of the outdoor season and you take what you had done and learn from it. I'm sure he'll do better next meet. Especially one closer to home.
It's funny. When Chris was jumping to try to make the Olympics or what not, he seemed uptight and stressed. Now that he jumps for the fun of it with no expectations he doesn't get injured and he tends to do better. Especially at hitting the board and not faulting. I'm glad he still jumps. I know he loves doing it.
After the meet we went to eat and then hung out at Greg and Roxanne's house. They are close friends of ours. Greg went to The Ohio State and is working on his PHD. It was fun to catch up with them. We watched the Cavs game. I'm so glad they pulled that out. After the game I drove back home.
I've been through a lot the past few years and I've dealt with adversity and suffering the best way I know how. That doesn't mean I'm not affected by all of it. I think with all that I've been through and the frustration of the shin splints I just put myself in a bad place. I kept thinking "God, you've delivered me from so much. Why can't I enjoy just one simple thing? Why can't I just run?" I don't know if that's a legit question or a pitty party. I'm still trying to figure that out. All I can say is that I'm not going to stop or give up. I really want this.
Today is my day that I'll finish some homework and make all my food for the week. Preparation is the key.
Yesterday was the Jesse Owens Classic at Ohio State. The weather was pretty nasty in the morning. You could feel that it wanted to be warm but the rain was freezing. Thankfully it stopped raining around noon. Chris jumped at 1pm.
The bad luck continued for Chris. He got three jumps. He jumped behind the board on the first two and faulted the third one. His hips were tight. When your body is tight like that, especially in track it's best to just stop what you're doing. To push it would more than likely cause injury. My brother has a horrible injury to he got his three jumps in and stopped. The positive was that he progressed on every jump. I recorded his jumps and we watched them at a friend's apartment. His first jump was alright. His second jump he had more control. I wish his third jump wasn't a fault because he seemed to get his rhythm and he jumped pretty far. His form was a little off. He jumped out instead of up. Still, he showed mad skills for jumping out off the board. If he had his hops yesterday he would have been a monster! But it is what it is. It's is his first meet of the outdoor season and you take what you had done and learn from it. I'm sure he'll do better next meet. Especially one closer to home.
It's funny. When Chris was jumping to try to make the Olympics or what not, he seemed uptight and stressed. Now that he jumps for the fun of it with no expectations he doesn't get injured and he tends to do better. Especially at hitting the board and not faulting. I'm glad he still jumps. I know he loves doing it.
After the meet we went to eat and then hung out at Greg and Roxanne's house. They are close friends of ours. Greg went to The Ohio State and is working on his PHD. It was fun to catch up with them. We watched the Cavs game. I'm so glad they pulled that out. After the game I drove back home.
Depression
I must say I got a little bit depressed while I was in Columbus. I showed up in Columbus frustrated because of the shin splints. Then I go to a track meet where everyone is running and competing. I miss it so much. I had to listen to all the cool stories and fun times that Chris and Greg had running and jumping at meets with their colleges and friends. I just sat there with a scowl on my face and throbbing soreness in my shins.I've been through a lot the past few years and I've dealt with adversity and suffering the best way I know how. That doesn't mean I'm not affected by all of it. I think with all that I've been through and the frustration of the shin splints I just put myself in a bad place. I kept thinking "God, you've delivered me from so much. Why can't I enjoy just one simple thing? Why can't I just run?" I don't know if that's a legit question or a pitty party. I'm still trying to figure that out. All I can say is that I'm not going to stop or give up. I really want this.
Today is my day that I'll finish some homework and make all my food for the week. Preparation is the key.
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