I have been searching the internet for some blogs to follow. I have noticed that everybody starts off with a bang and few continue.
I never intended to start something I would not be steady at and discontinue after a while.
I love quite a few subjects.
I am a huge history buff and not just any one subject or time in history but a lot of different times and events. War is a favorite topic. Also love exploration of early America.
Just hard to find good blogs on historical things.
I like music. I love me some movies.
Love investing and business topics.
It's just hard to find good blogs.
As for my own blog, I intended to make this one a personal blog about me. I would like to blog about subjects that I know a lot about or like a great deal.
But, that would be saved for another site or another address on this site.
The thing is consistency. It's good to know that I am not alone in being inconsistent. That doesn't mean I have to like being cursed with the attention span of a fruit fly.
I promise to try to be more reliable in the future and yes I am writing this to myself. It's often hard to stay motivated when life throws so many curve balls your way at times.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Kids, and Droggy People, Say the Darndest Things
Bill Cosby made this phrase and title famous, I think. Kids Say the Darndest Things. But, it may have been Art Linkletter, my memory isn't clear.
I am ashamed to admit, but older guys on drugs are right up there with kids.
I was in the hospital on Tuesday right before Thanksgiving. I was there again about 4 days around Christmas, off and on.
My heart has been giving me a little trouble.
The first trip was the worst as far as embarrassing moments. I said a lot of things I would have liked to have taken back. I think I learned to control myself during my next two visits a little bit better.
Let's just blame it on the drugs.
I am ashamed to admit, but older guys on drugs are right up there with kids.
I was in the hospital on Tuesday right before Thanksgiving. I was there again about 4 days around Christmas, off and on.
My heart has been giving me a little trouble.
The first trip was the worst as far as embarrassing moments. I said a lot of things I would have liked to have taken back. I think I learned to control myself during my next two visits a little bit better.
Let's just blame it on the drugs.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
sick
I have not been writing lately because I have been sick.
I plan on getting back after it soon as possible.
I plan on getting back after it soon as possible.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Guess I'm Just Not Officer Material
I stole a line from one of my all time favorite movies.
But, when push comes to shove, I really am not officer material. I don't believe there's anything wrong with that.
Not everybody is. Not everybody needs to be. Somebody has to be a follower.
Problem is, I am not much of a follower either.
I'm kind of my own guy.
I have been in situations where leadership was pushed on me. I was told everyone was a leader. Funny thing is, these so called leaders that pushed this on me were not really good leaders either.
I do believe that people should be leaders in their own house and do their best to lead their families to greater levels. Obviously, considering all the dysfunctional families throughout the world not many are equipped for leadership even in their own household.
Most of these people that like to call themselves leaders have broken families. Look at politicians and others in power and examine their personal lives.
I am a very hard working individual and I mean that seriously. Not like many that are called working men, I am a true working man and do my best to get as much done in any given day as I possibly can. I am not worried about taking breaks, or puffing on worthless cigarettes or any of that stuff. It's not my God given right to take a break and to stick it to my employer.
It is my right to give my boss my very best day in and day out and if you don't get that then you are part of the problem and not the solution.
Instead of coming in late and leaving early, why not try coming in on time or earlier and leaving after the bell for a change. Why goof off while their is work to be done takes the same amount of energy to throw rocks as it does to get something done.
So, I guess, I lead myself into doing the right thing and that does make me a leader of some degree.
Now, if I could just get those around me whipped into shape. :)
But, when push comes to shove, I really am not officer material. I don't believe there's anything wrong with that.
Not everybody is. Not everybody needs to be. Somebody has to be a follower.
Problem is, I am not much of a follower either.
I'm kind of my own guy.
I have been in situations where leadership was pushed on me. I was told everyone was a leader. Funny thing is, these so called leaders that pushed this on me were not really good leaders either.
I do believe that people should be leaders in their own house and do their best to lead their families to greater levels. Obviously, considering all the dysfunctional families throughout the world not many are equipped for leadership even in their own household.
Most of these people that like to call themselves leaders have broken families. Look at politicians and others in power and examine their personal lives.
I am a very hard working individual and I mean that seriously. Not like many that are called working men, I am a true working man and do my best to get as much done in any given day as I possibly can. I am not worried about taking breaks, or puffing on worthless cigarettes or any of that stuff. It's not my God given right to take a break and to stick it to my employer.
It is my right to give my boss my very best day in and day out and if you don't get that then you are part of the problem and not the solution.
Instead of coming in late and leaving early, why not try coming in on time or earlier and leaving after the bell for a change. Why goof off while their is work to be done takes the same amount of energy to throw rocks as it does to get something done.
So, I guess, I lead myself into doing the right thing and that does make me a leader of some degree.
Now, if I could just get those around me whipped into shape. :)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Best Movies Ever
This is a list of some of my all time favorite movies. They are not in order by any means and even if they were, they would be subject to change due to differing moods or surroundings.
This list will be far different from any critics and those guys are just wanting to prove how cool they are by agreeing with what everyone else thinks, anyway.
1. The Shawshank Redemption 1994
This movie is about hope. Having hope when a person's surroundings look pretty bleak. If the main character of this movie can hope after having 20 years of his life stolen from him, then shouldn't all of us not have hope?
Prison life is much worse in reality than this movie but it's still bad and it was great to see the victim hand it to the man when the man is pure evil.
Hope, we should all have it.
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981
Possibly the greatest action movie of all time. Probably started new trends in Hollywood. Star Wars and Raiders made Harrison Ford a household name. These Indiana Jones movies created an all new interest in archaeology.
It is true that Adolph Hitler was fascinated with this Biblical type stuff and mistakenly believed that it would give him power. Didn't work out all that well for Mr Hitler and we are all glad of that. This movie starts with a bang and ends with a bang and is all bang in between.
3. Forrest Gump 1994
Light movie in a lot of ways, but for me it's much deeper. My favorite is Lt Dan having it out with God from the top of their shrimping boat.
But, there are too many things about this movie that are pleasing to me to name. Great music throughout and his love for Jenny through the ups and downs is admirable. Yea, yea, I know he's not a smart man but he knows what love is.
Wish we were all a little bit more like Forrest Gump.
4. Saving Private Ryan 1998
The opening battle scene with our soldiers hitting the beach on D Day in Saving Private Ryan has got to be one of the more intense moments in movie history. One can only imagine what the guys that landed on Normandy beach must have felt. Glad I wasn't there.
Did Private Ryan live a life that is worthy of the sacrifice? Do any of us?
5. Braveheart 1995
Underdog vs Bully. This is the classic tale of a great man leading his people into an attempt at independence from the powers that be. In the end, he was not really successful but showed tremendous courage and leadership ability.
Not sure how much of this movie is realistic. But, who cares, it's a great movie regardless.
6. Gran Torino 2008
To me, this is Clint Eastwood's way of saying goodbye to me personally as his all time best fan. Lots of great lines delivered before he says goodbye. Seems a bit like The Shootist for John Wayne.
This movie seems a bit racist at first but it's funny how a young Asian boy steals his heart with his work ethic and character and becomes his favorite person over his spoiled family.
Definitely one of my all time favorites.
7. Unforgiven 1992
Another Eastwood classic. This movie has one huge message. Killing a man is not all it's made out to be. Tough to live with killing but I wouldn't know first hand.
The movie is slow at times but the ending, the saloon scene, is one of the all time great movie scenes. Eastwood's character makes things right in one vengeful moment of time.
If I don't want to sit through the whole movie, I will just watch the ending. Greatness.
8. The Great Escape 1963
Talk about an all star cast. This one has it. Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Garner and James Coburn are just a few of the big names from the day.
This is not a flick for somebody looking for a happy ending. Prisoners escape and most are caught and dealt with in not a good way.
This movie shows a perfect example of why Steve McQueen was one of the coolest guys ever. Toss up between McQueen and Paul Newman.
9. Jaws 1975
Really fantastic action/horror movie that easily surpasses most anything else I have seen before or since. The cast of characters is really good but Robert Shaw playing Quint steals the show.
Truly one of the all time great movie scenes happens when the three main stars of the movie compare battle scars and Quint tells of his horrifying WWII experience.
The ending is predictable but that doesn't take away from the greatness of Jaws.
10. Cool Hand Luke 1967
Probably Paul Newman's best movie. Newman plays a petty thief that somehow becomes leader of a merry band of prisoners. He's really just another poor fella trying to deal with killing people in the war and coming from a broken home. Like so many of us, he's looking for God and not finding him. Luke has a problem with God and with authority in general.
Irregardless, Newman demonstrates clearly in this great classic why he was among the coolest human beings to ever live.
11. Platoon 1986
War is hell. Not much more than that, just pure hell. It's not as glamorous as it is made out to be in so many other movies. This movie is one of the better war flicks in regard to showing how much war is terrible.
The battle with good and evil and evil between two rival Sargent's is classic. Officers are non-existent in this movie about Vietnam, the Sargent's run everything.
It's not a pretty sight but that's what makes this movie so appealing.
12. Good Will Hunting 1997
Will Hunting is a genius, but he is afraid to act upon it because of an ugly past. He talks tough, he acts tough, but he is really too afraid to step outside of his comfort zone. Sounds familiar.
Robin Williams is great in this movie as is Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
I like this movie for a lot of reasons but lets just say I like the idea of a man dealing with things that haunt him and makes a move to correct things.
13. Fandango 1985
Not many have ever even heard of this movie, but it's one of the movies I have watched the most. It's set in Vietnam era Texas, 1971 to be exact. These guys were older than me because I was in junior high in that year, but I can totally relate to what they must have been going through. Vietnam was a huge fear of most guys my age and we all knew we were either going to have to go or run away. I'm honestly not sure what would have happened if I had been old enough because it ended right before I got out of high school.
Fandango is about boys becoming men and facing up to fears and responsibilities. One of my all time favorites and not that many people have ever even heard of it.
14. Tombstone 1993
This might be my all time favorite movie, if my list was in order this could be at the very top. So many good lines in this one and I have watched it a bunch of times.
I know it's not realistic and is pretty much a fantasy. It's another good versus evil encounter only the good guys really aren't all that good to be perfectly honest.
I've been a huge fan of Kurt Russell since his days as a Disney star and I think this is his best movie. But, Val Kilmer cheats him from owning the film. Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday character is one of the great ones in any movie ever.
Definitely a man's movie and I'm a man.
15. Dances With Wolves
Love/hate relationship with this movie. Love the ideal, hate that it viewed the ending of a way of life that I admire so much. Native Americans often took in whites and treated them like their own but it never worked in the opposite direction. White America never accepted anyone other than it's own and even some of it's own are outcasts.
I loved watching the relationships build between the characters. I am a person that loves to watch great movies and some of my favorites I have seen many times. But, I have never watched Dances With Wolves again just because this was an ending and it's too depressing.
16. Blackhawk Down
Make no mistake about it, I like action movies of all kinds. I have a lot of war movies at the top of my list and Blackhawk Down is one of the best.
No real theme here for me, just American soldiers kicking butt. Some die, but a lot of enemies die in return.
17. Windtalkers
Another war movie and a very good one. This one involves Native Americans and racism surrounding them.
Windtalkers is pretty intense throughout and has an unhappy ending but is definitely worthy on being at the top of my movie list.
This list will be far different from any critics and those guys are just wanting to prove how cool they are by agreeing with what everyone else thinks, anyway.
1. The Shawshank Redemption 1994
This movie is about hope. Having hope when a person's surroundings look pretty bleak. If the main character of this movie can hope after having 20 years of his life stolen from him, then shouldn't all of us not have hope?
Prison life is much worse in reality than this movie but it's still bad and it was great to see the victim hand it to the man when the man is pure evil.
Hope, we should all have it.
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981
Possibly the greatest action movie of all time. Probably started new trends in Hollywood. Star Wars and Raiders made Harrison Ford a household name. These Indiana Jones movies created an all new interest in archaeology.
It is true that Adolph Hitler was fascinated with this Biblical type stuff and mistakenly believed that it would give him power. Didn't work out all that well for Mr Hitler and we are all glad of that. This movie starts with a bang and ends with a bang and is all bang in between.
3. Forrest Gump 1994
Light movie in a lot of ways, but for me it's much deeper. My favorite is Lt Dan having it out with God from the top of their shrimping boat.
But, there are too many things about this movie that are pleasing to me to name. Great music throughout and his love for Jenny through the ups and downs is admirable. Yea, yea, I know he's not a smart man but he knows what love is.
Wish we were all a little bit more like Forrest Gump.
4. Saving Private Ryan 1998
The opening battle scene with our soldiers hitting the beach on D Day in Saving Private Ryan has got to be one of the more intense moments in movie history. One can only imagine what the guys that landed on Normandy beach must have felt. Glad I wasn't there.
Did Private Ryan live a life that is worthy of the sacrifice? Do any of us?
5. Braveheart 1995
Underdog vs Bully. This is the classic tale of a great man leading his people into an attempt at independence from the powers that be. In the end, he was not really successful but showed tremendous courage and leadership ability.
Not sure how much of this movie is realistic. But, who cares, it's a great movie regardless.
6. Gran Torino 2008
To me, this is Clint Eastwood's way of saying goodbye to me personally as his all time best fan. Lots of great lines delivered before he says goodbye. Seems a bit like The Shootist for John Wayne.
This movie seems a bit racist at first but it's funny how a young Asian boy steals his heart with his work ethic and character and becomes his favorite person over his spoiled family.
Definitely one of my all time favorites.
7. Unforgiven 1992
Another Eastwood classic. This movie has one huge message. Killing a man is not all it's made out to be. Tough to live with killing but I wouldn't know first hand.
The movie is slow at times but the ending, the saloon scene, is one of the all time great movie scenes. Eastwood's character makes things right in one vengeful moment of time.
If I don't want to sit through the whole movie, I will just watch the ending. Greatness.
8. The Great Escape 1963
Talk about an all star cast. This one has it. Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Garner and James Coburn are just a few of the big names from the day.
This is not a flick for somebody looking for a happy ending. Prisoners escape and most are caught and dealt with in not a good way.
This movie shows a perfect example of why Steve McQueen was one of the coolest guys ever. Toss up between McQueen and Paul Newman.
9. Jaws 1975
Really fantastic action/horror movie that easily surpasses most anything else I have seen before or since. The cast of characters is really good but Robert Shaw playing Quint steals the show.
Truly one of the all time great movie scenes happens when the three main stars of the movie compare battle scars and Quint tells of his horrifying WWII experience.
The ending is predictable but that doesn't take away from the greatness of Jaws.
10. Cool Hand Luke 1967
Probably Paul Newman's best movie. Newman plays a petty thief that somehow becomes leader of a merry band of prisoners. He's really just another poor fella trying to deal with killing people in the war and coming from a broken home. Like so many of us, he's looking for God and not finding him. Luke has a problem with God and with authority in general.
Irregardless, Newman demonstrates clearly in this great classic why he was among the coolest human beings to ever live.
11. Platoon 1986
War is hell. Not much more than that, just pure hell. It's not as glamorous as it is made out to be in so many other movies. This movie is one of the better war flicks in regard to showing how much war is terrible.
The battle with good and evil and evil between two rival Sargent's is classic. Officers are non-existent in this movie about Vietnam, the Sargent's run everything.
It's not a pretty sight but that's what makes this movie so appealing.
12. Good Will Hunting 1997
Will Hunting is a genius, but he is afraid to act upon it because of an ugly past. He talks tough, he acts tough, but he is really too afraid to step outside of his comfort zone. Sounds familiar.
Robin Williams is great in this movie as is Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
I like this movie for a lot of reasons but lets just say I like the idea of a man dealing with things that haunt him and makes a move to correct things.
13. Fandango 1985
Not many have ever even heard of this movie, but it's one of the movies I have watched the most. It's set in Vietnam era Texas, 1971 to be exact. These guys were older than me because I was in junior high in that year, but I can totally relate to what they must have been going through. Vietnam was a huge fear of most guys my age and we all knew we were either going to have to go or run away. I'm honestly not sure what would have happened if I had been old enough because it ended right before I got out of high school.
Fandango is about boys becoming men and facing up to fears and responsibilities. One of my all time favorites and not that many people have ever even heard of it.
14. Tombstone 1993
This might be my all time favorite movie, if my list was in order this could be at the very top. So many good lines in this one and I have watched it a bunch of times.
I know it's not realistic and is pretty much a fantasy. It's another good versus evil encounter only the good guys really aren't all that good to be perfectly honest.
I've been a huge fan of Kurt Russell since his days as a Disney star and I think this is his best movie. But, Val Kilmer cheats him from owning the film. Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday character is one of the great ones in any movie ever.
Definitely a man's movie and I'm a man.
15. Dances With Wolves
Love/hate relationship with this movie. Love the ideal, hate that it viewed the ending of a way of life that I admire so much. Native Americans often took in whites and treated them like their own but it never worked in the opposite direction. White America never accepted anyone other than it's own and even some of it's own are outcasts.
I loved watching the relationships build between the characters. I am a person that loves to watch great movies and some of my favorites I have seen many times. But, I have never watched Dances With Wolves again just because this was an ending and it's too depressing.
16. Blackhawk Down
Make no mistake about it, I like action movies of all kinds. I have a lot of war movies at the top of my list and Blackhawk Down is one of the best.
No real theme here for me, just American soldiers kicking butt. Some die, but a lot of enemies die in return.
17. Windtalkers
Another war movie and a very good one. This one involves Native Americans and racism surrounding them.
Windtalkers is pretty intense throughout and has an unhappy ending but is definitely worthy on being at the top of my movie list.
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Competition
I am a very competitive type person. If we are going to the grocery store to buy groceries, I want to beat you at it. If we are walking around the block, I want to be at the destination before you.
I suddenly find myself in a work out/weight loss type of competition with a 23 year old woman. I have no idea how this came about either.
I am at a slight disadvantage because I am way older and not the physical person I was so many years ago.
But, I will win.
I can guarantee that right now. :)
We have three months to make our goals.
She will try all kinds of fancy new gadgets, I am sure.
I will use old fashioned free weights and just cut back a little here and there on my diet. I don't eat all that much anyway.
Biggest thing here is that it's a win-win situation. We both win no matter what because we both will look and feel so much better at the end of this.
But, I like to win. Winner has bragging rights, forever. Or, until the next competition.
Should be a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too.
I look forward to thrashing her.
I suddenly find myself in a work out/weight loss type of competition with a 23 year old woman. I have no idea how this came about either.
I am at a slight disadvantage because I am way older and not the physical person I was so many years ago.
But, I will win.
I can guarantee that right now. :)
We have three months to make our goals.
She will try all kinds of fancy new gadgets, I am sure.
I will use old fashioned free weights and just cut back a little here and there on my diet. I don't eat all that much anyway.
Biggest thing here is that it's a win-win situation. We both win no matter what because we both will look and feel so much better at the end of this.
But, I like to win. Winner has bragging rights, forever. Or, until the next competition.
Should be a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too.
I look forward to thrashing her.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
My top 5 Country Songs
I am not a big country fan. Or, let me say that I am not a big modern day Nashville Country fan.
But, I like old school Country music occasionally and I like Texas Country music.
For whatever it's worth, which is probably nothing at all, here is a list of some of my favorite country songs.
1. Tammy Wynette- Stand By Your Man
To me, this song captures the spirit of Country music and old school American values. Standing by the person you love no matter what and no matter if they are wrong sometimes. You stand by those people that you love and support them through the good times and the bad.
Plus, I just like the tune.
One of the funniest movie scenes of all time was in the movie Blues Brothers when their Blues Band got a gig and unknowingly to them was a gig in a country bar. They knew no country songs really, so they started playing the theme from the old television show, Rawhide, and then broke out the Stand By Your Man song. Very funny stuff.
2. Garth Brooks- The Dance
Anything by Garth Brooks really, I could have changed out this song with several others including Shameless, the Rodeo, the River and more.
But, the Dance kind of sums up life for me. Don't be too scared to live your life just because bad things can happen to you. Live on and enjoy the moments while they are here in spite of bad things happening to you. I have had a lot of bad things happen in my life in the last few years, but there have been a ton of good things too.
Glad I didn't miss the Dance just to miss the pain of living life.
3. George Strait- You Look So Good in Love.
Like Garth Brooks, just about any George Strait song will do. George used to hang out in the same places I did years ago. I knew of him when he was small and physically he's always been pretty tiny, but he sure can sing.
This song really just takes me back to a certain time in my life. But, it also is about appreciating what you have while you have it. We can always look back on our lives and see things that we kind of missed out on and they start to look better for us now than they did then.
So true for me right now. I wanted better but had it pretty good.
4. Gary Stewart- Quits
This song is one of the greatest beer drinking songs ever written, and Gary Stewart has one of the greatest country music voices of all time.
He died sometime back but he had a lot of good heart breaking, beer drinking, wife leaving type songs that sum up the true feeling of country music like almost no other artists or songs ever.
This song makes me want to put on my wife beater shirt and stop off for a six pack of Keystone, but I don't even own a wife beater and I don't even like Keystone. That's how good this song is, though.
5. Merle Haggard- I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall
Like most of the people on my list, just pick a song. This one is one of my favorites from Mr Haggard. He, to me, is a symbol of a certain time period and a certain way of life. Hard to argue with his points of view on some things.
Still, not a great example for a young man growing up in that time period. But, I like this guy's voice and his music.
It's never a good time to fall but it's always harder when you are on top.
Like I said, I am not a huge country music fan but I do like it and I like a lot of older performers. These are some of my favorites and kind of what they mean to me.
I am working on a list of all time favorite songs and none of these are actually even on my list. But, then, I like a whole lot of music.
But, I like old school Country music occasionally and I like Texas Country music.
For whatever it's worth, which is probably nothing at all, here is a list of some of my favorite country songs.
1. Tammy Wynette- Stand By Your Man
To me, this song captures the spirit of Country music and old school American values. Standing by the person you love no matter what and no matter if they are wrong sometimes. You stand by those people that you love and support them through the good times and the bad.
Plus, I just like the tune.
One of the funniest movie scenes of all time was in the movie Blues Brothers when their Blues Band got a gig and unknowingly to them was a gig in a country bar. They knew no country songs really, so they started playing the theme from the old television show, Rawhide, and then broke out the Stand By Your Man song. Very funny stuff.
2. Garth Brooks- The Dance
Anything by Garth Brooks really, I could have changed out this song with several others including Shameless, the Rodeo, the River and more.
But, the Dance kind of sums up life for me. Don't be too scared to live your life just because bad things can happen to you. Live on and enjoy the moments while they are here in spite of bad things happening to you. I have had a lot of bad things happen in my life in the last few years, but there have been a ton of good things too.
Glad I didn't miss the Dance just to miss the pain of living life.
3. George Strait- You Look So Good in Love.
Like Garth Brooks, just about any George Strait song will do. George used to hang out in the same places I did years ago. I knew of him when he was small and physically he's always been pretty tiny, but he sure can sing.
This song really just takes me back to a certain time in my life. But, it also is about appreciating what you have while you have it. We can always look back on our lives and see things that we kind of missed out on and they start to look better for us now than they did then.
So true for me right now. I wanted better but had it pretty good.
4. Gary Stewart- Quits
This song is one of the greatest beer drinking songs ever written, and Gary Stewart has one of the greatest country music voices of all time.
He died sometime back but he had a lot of good heart breaking, beer drinking, wife leaving type songs that sum up the true feeling of country music like almost no other artists or songs ever.
This song makes me want to put on my wife beater shirt and stop off for a six pack of Keystone, but I don't even own a wife beater and I don't even like Keystone. That's how good this song is, though.
5. Merle Haggard- I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall
Like most of the people on my list, just pick a song. This one is one of my favorites from Mr Haggard. He, to me, is a symbol of a certain time period and a certain way of life. Hard to argue with his points of view on some things.
Still, not a great example for a young man growing up in that time period. But, I like this guy's voice and his music.
It's never a good time to fall but it's always harder when you are on top.
Like I said, I am not a huge country music fan but I do like it and I like a lot of older performers. These are some of my favorites and kind of what they mean to me.
I am working on a list of all time favorite songs and none of these are actually even on my list. But, then, I like a whole lot of music.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Big Brother is Watching
After last night's blog, a bunch of ads popped up on my blog.
We are not alone here.
Is it because I typed out the word depression that a bunch of ads about depression came up? Is that the key word?
Or, is it some other much larger conspiracy? Inquiring minds want to know.
They know what searches you perform on google or any other search engine, whoever 'they' is.
It's understandable with all the freaks we have in the world today.
People want to blow up airplanes or use them to fly into other things.
People molest children. People willingly harm innocent others.
I suppose being searched in an airport is the least I can do to help. I guess it's OK that they know what I am doing on the internet all the time.
I guess it's OK that Big Brother is watching over me at all times.
But, I would like to think that I have a little more freedom than that.
We are not alone here.
Is it because I typed out the word depression that a bunch of ads about depression came up? Is that the key word?
Or, is it some other much larger conspiracy? Inquiring minds want to know.
They know what searches you perform on google or any other search engine, whoever 'they' is.
It's understandable with all the freaks we have in the world today.
People want to blow up airplanes or use them to fly into other things.
People molest children. People willingly harm innocent others.
I suppose being searched in an airport is the least I can do to help. I guess it's OK that they know what I am doing on the internet all the time.
I guess it's OK that Big Brother is watching over me at all times.
But, I would like to think that I have a little more freedom than that.
Monday, December 6, 2010
One More Negative before Turning this thing around tomorrow
Things are pretty scary right now.
I am tired of being broke and I know this won't last forever.
Being broke is not so bad if you have never tasted the other side. But, alas I have, and I am fighting off depression day after day.
Worse thing about all of this is that it's all my fault. Every damn bit of it. I have to live with that and it's not all that warm and fuzzy right now.
I keep telling myself this is only temporary and tomorrow will be better. But, sometimes I just don't know anymore.
Last negative one for a while.
I am tired of being broke and I know this won't last forever.
Being broke is not so bad if you have never tasted the other side. But, alas I have, and I am fighting off depression day after day.
Worse thing about all of this is that it's all my fault. Every damn bit of it. I have to live with that and it's not all that warm and fuzzy right now.
I keep telling myself this is only temporary and tomorrow will be better. But, sometimes I just don't know anymore.
Last negative one for a while.
I Miss Me
I was a dreamer.
Always dreaming about doing this or doing that. A couple of slick and nasty con men pretty much killed that side of me and I can't seem to get it back.
Losing a bunch of money does that to people sometimes.
I miss the dreams of what life will be like some day. Where I will live, how it will be then, living the life of my dreams.
I know now that the life I dreamed of will never happen. It might happen to a lessor degree but it's impossible to live the quality that I dreamed about and worked so hard for.
Now days, I just plod along trying to complete my day and my week. There's really not that much to look forward to anymore in reality. I put myself in a huge financial hole and may never be able to dig completely out.
Still, times have been hard before and I kept going and dreaming. I do want that part of me back in the worst way.
Sometimes, I just wake up mad. Sometimes, I wake up with a glimmer of hope. And, sometimes, I just wake up.
I started going back to the gym yesterday. Due to health issues I had quit going for a few months and I felt it.
I am hoping this is the first step back. Get the body pumping and the mind flowing.
I need those ideas back. I need to feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel again.
I need to feel hope.
Maybe today is the day that I feel that hope come back.
I hope so.
Always dreaming about doing this or doing that. A couple of slick and nasty con men pretty much killed that side of me and I can't seem to get it back.
Losing a bunch of money does that to people sometimes.
I miss the dreams of what life will be like some day. Where I will live, how it will be then, living the life of my dreams.
I know now that the life I dreamed of will never happen. It might happen to a lessor degree but it's impossible to live the quality that I dreamed about and worked so hard for.
Now days, I just plod along trying to complete my day and my week. There's really not that much to look forward to anymore in reality. I put myself in a huge financial hole and may never be able to dig completely out.
Still, times have been hard before and I kept going and dreaming. I do want that part of me back in the worst way.
Sometimes, I just wake up mad. Sometimes, I wake up with a glimmer of hope. And, sometimes, I just wake up.
I started going back to the gym yesterday. Due to health issues I had quit going for a few months and I felt it.
I am hoping this is the first step back. Get the body pumping and the mind flowing.
I need those ideas back. I need to feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel again.
I need to feel hope.
Maybe today is the day that I feel that hope come back.
I hope so.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Providence
Providence, Rhode Island is one of my favorite American cities.
We've been there several times and I can say I wouldn't mind going back.
The city is big enough to have that big city feel with all of the conveniences. Yet, it's small enough to make it easy enough to find your way around.
It's close to Cape Cod and much easier to get in and out of than nearby Boston. It's also close to beautiful Newport and to Block Island.
The airport is much like other cities of similar size, just really easy to get in and out of.
I have not been there enough to make recommendations on what to do or where to eat. But, let's just say that I love Irish Pub Ri-Ra which is located downtown. I also loved Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House which is located in Warwick and Point Judith.
You have to get Chowder if you come to this area.
Nearby attractions include Block Island, Cape Cod, Newport and Martha's Vineyard. Of all those places, I would have to say that Block Island is my favorite.
Some people think there's not much to do there, but I think that's kind of my point. It's a nice, quiet island just big enough to have attractions, but small enough to not be a major tourist stop like the Vineyard or the Cape.
Like everyone else, we rented the mopeds and toured the island at 30 mph. What a blast we had, though.
The ride over on the ferry in the choppy seas was an adventure in itself.
I highly recommend Block Island and Point Judith.
Newport is also great. I am not so much into the mansions, but love other things about the city.
Castle Hill Inn is a cool place to stay with nice harbor views.
I can see why the mega rich loved this place.
Rhode Island is a tiny state so it doesn't take long to get around and see most everything. I am not trying to be an expert but highly recommend a vacation to this area.
Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and the other attractions are for another blog.
We've been there several times and I can say I wouldn't mind going back.
The city is big enough to have that big city feel with all of the conveniences. Yet, it's small enough to make it easy enough to find your way around.
It's close to Cape Cod and much easier to get in and out of than nearby Boston. It's also close to beautiful Newport and to Block Island.
The airport is much like other cities of similar size, just really easy to get in and out of.
I have not been there enough to make recommendations on what to do or where to eat. But, let's just say that I love Irish Pub Ri-Ra which is located downtown. I also loved Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House which is located in Warwick and Point Judith.
You have to get Chowder if you come to this area.
Nearby attractions include Block Island, Cape Cod, Newport and Martha's Vineyard. Of all those places, I would have to say that Block Island is my favorite.
Some people think there's not much to do there, but I think that's kind of my point. It's a nice, quiet island just big enough to have attractions, but small enough to not be a major tourist stop like the Vineyard or the Cape.
Like everyone else, we rented the mopeds and toured the island at 30 mph. What a blast we had, though.
The ride over on the ferry in the choppy seas was an adventure in itself.
I highly recommend Block Island and Point Judith.
Newport is also great. I am not so much into the mansions, but love other things about the city.
Castle Hill Inn is a cool place to stay with nice harbor views.
I can see why the mega rich loved this place.
Rhode Island is a tiny state so it doesn't take long to get around and see most everything. I am not trying to be an expert but highly recommend a vacation to this area.
Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and the other attractions are for another blog.
I didn't Always Hate my Phone
I didn't always hate my phone, but I do now.
I have a Blackberry and it's fine. It has the GPS on it that's fun to play with even if it does drain my battery way too fast.
I love text messaging and do it all day long. I have a few people that I text, others don't respond to texts and I eventually stop with them.
What I hate about my phone is that every time I try to do anything, I get a call. It's not that I hate talking on the phone so much but it's always untimely and usually it's bad news like work.
I also don't mind work. In fact, I kind of like working. It's just that I like for it to be my idea and at my convenience sometimes.
I almost never get any social calls, just work or worse.
It was different when I was dating or when one of my kids wants to talk.
Then, everybody today has caller ID. Everybody.
There's no need for certain people to call me and identify themselves because I know fully well who you are and that you have bad news for me. You want me to stop everything I am doing and go work.
Text messaging is one of the better things that's happened in technology in a while.
Send me all the text messages you want, I have unlimited texts. That's how I communicate with most people.
Just don't call me unless you just particularly like me and have something good to say.
I have a Blackberry and it's fine. It has the GPS on it that's fun to play with even if it does drain my battery way too fast.
I love text messaging and do it all day long. I have a few people that I text, others don't respond to texts and I eventually stop with them.
What I hate about my phone is that every time I try to do anything, I get a call. It's not that I hate talking on the phone so much but it's always untimely and usually it's bad news like work.
I also don't mind work. In fact, I kind of like working. It's just that I like for it to be my idea and at my convenience sometimes.
I almost never get any social calls, just work or worse.
It was different when I was dating or when one of my kids wants to talk.
Then, everybody today has caller ID. Everybody.
There's no need for certain people to call me and identify themselves because I know fully well who you are and that you have bad news for me. You want me to stop everything I am doing and go work.
Text messaging is one of the better things that's happened in technology in a while.
Send me all the text messages you want, I have unlimited texts. That's how I communicate with most people.
Just don't call me unless you just particularly like me and have something good to say.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A Brother's Love
A brother's love is a brother's love.
A person should always love his or her brother.
That's not always how life turns out.
Creedence Clearwater Revival was my favorite all time band. It was made up of two brothers, Tom and John Fogerty, Doug Clifford and Stu Cook. They were from Berkeley, California.
Tom Fogerty was the oldest so he had his own band first and met with modest success. What took Tom and then later Creedence Clearwater Revival to the top was younger brother, John.
Make no mistake about it, John was CCR and his voice took them to a level of greatness that few people have ever known.
Problem with that was that Tom had some talent, too, and it burned him deep inside that John got all the glory and respect.
Whether Tom was right or wrong is not for me to say. But, the band wound up breaking up over it in 1972.
Tom died in 1990 and as far as I know he never patched up things with his brother.
Sad story.
I had a brother named Roger, who also passed away. We were exact opposites in everything imaginable.
But, through it all we still loved one another.
Not bragging on myself by saying any of this, just saying that a brother's love is important in spite of differences of opinion or any outside forces.
We were on good terms when he was taken away.
It saddens me greatly that Tom Fogerty died with anger in his heart for his brother, John.
Wish things had been different for them, but it's too late now to change things.
Hopefully, if anyone reads this it will inspire them to make peace with anyone and not just a brother. I would hope it would inspire somebody to make things right with somebody in their own life.
A person should always love his or her brother.
That's not always how life turns out.
Creedence Clearwater Revival was my favorite all time band. It was made up of two brothers, Tom and John Fogerty, Doug Clifford and Stu Cook. They were from Berkeley, California.
Tom Fogerty was the oldest so he had his own band first and met with modest success. What took Tom and then later Creedence Clearwater Revival to the top was younger brother, John.
Make no mistake about it, John was CCR and his voice took them to a level of greatness that few people have ever known.
Problem with that was that Tom had some talent, too, and it burned him deep inside that John got all the glory and respect.
Whether Tom was right or wrong is not for me to say. But, the band wound up breaking up over it in 1972.
Tom died in 1990 and as far as I know he never patched up things with his brother.
Sad story.
I had a brother named Roger, who also passed away. We were exact opposites in everything imaginable.
But, through it all we still loved one another.
Not bragging on myself by saying any of this, just saying that a brother's love is important in spite of differences of opinion or any outside forces.
We were on good terms when he was taken away.
It saddens me greatly that Tom Fogerty died with anger in his heart for his brother, John.
Wish things had been different for them, but it's too late now to change things.
Hopefully, if anyone reads this it will inspire them to make peace with anyone and not just a brother. I would hope it would inspire somebody to make things right with somebody in their own life.
Off to see the Wizard
I am a coward. There, I said it. I don't really feel all that much better but at least it's out in the open.
I am afraid of everything and I pretty much always have been. As I get older it's a lot easier to admit shortcomings and other faults.
Being afraid of your own shadow is definitely a shortcoming. It means you seldom leave your comfort level to try new things.
It's tough. You miss out on a lot of things by being afraid. You might want to accomplish big things but you seldom even try because it scares you.
I fear public speaking.
I signed up for karate because I was scared. I was too scared to advance all that far in karate because of the that fear thing.
I once wrote an entire book. I was afraid to send it anywhere because I feared rejection.
In the Wizard of Oz the crew went to see the Oz so that he could fix everything. In real life, there obviously is no Oz. There is no quick fix.
But, there is something of a fix.
Public speaking is hard for most people, but talking in front of people time after time helps out a lot. I spoke in front of churches and other large groups and while it's still not comfortable, it's not paralyzingly painful anymore.
Heights, lots of people fear it. I made myself work on top of a very tall ladder for a long period of time. Rock climbing in a safe environment helps out a lot, too.
I still don't like hanging off the edge of the Empire State Building, but my fears are much less than before.
To overcome fear the only thing to do is directly attack that fear.
It would be much easier to have an Oz to fix everything but since there's no Oz I need to stay busy.
I am afraid of everything and I pretty much always have been. As I get older it's a lot easier to admit shortcomings and other faults.
Being afraid of your own shadow is definitely a shortcoming. It means you seldom leave your comfort level to try new things.
It's tough. You miss out on a lot of things by being afraid. You might want to accomplish big things but you seldom even try because it scares you.
I fear public speaking.
I signed up for karate because I was scared. I was too scared to advance all that far in karate because of the that fear thing.
I once wrote an entire book. I was afraid to send it anywhere because I feared rejection.
In the Wizard of Oz the crew went to see the Oz so that he could fix everything. In real life, there obviously is no Oz. There is no quick fix.
But, there is something of a fix.
Public speaking is hard for most people, but talking in front of people time after time helps out a lot. I spoke in front of churches and other large groups and while it's still not comfortable, it's not paralyzingly painful anymore.
Heights, lots of people fear it. I made myself work on top of a very tall ladder for a long period of time. Rock climbing in a safe environment helps out a lot, too.
I still don't like hanging off the edge of the Empire State Building, but my fears are much less than before.
To overcome fear the only thing to do is directly attack that fear.
It would be much easier to have an Oz to fix everything but since there's no Oz I need to stay busy.
Hey Clint Eastwood!!!
Look at me! Look at me!
No joke, I always wanted to be Clint Eastwood. Coolest actor ever, in my opinion and it's not even close.
My secret fantasy, and I have never told anyone this so you will be the first, is to be walking casually somewhere minding my own business and Eastwood walks up to me and asks if I would like to be in one of his movies because I reminded him a little of himself.
Yeah, fat chance that will ever happen. But, a guy can dream, can't he?
If I were to have to pick one role he played that was my favorite, I honestly couldn't.
Was it the man with no name trilogy from his spaghetti western days?
Dirty Harry Callahan role as a modern policeman in San Francisco?
Was it the wronged gunfighter just trying to survive in the Outlaw Josey Wales?
Was it the tough, drunken Marine sergeant in Heartbreak Ridge?
Or, even the revenge minded ghost of a sheriff in High Plains Drifter?
Was it Philo Beddoe from the silly Every Which Way but Loose and Any Which Way You Can movies?
I really don't know if I have an absolute favorite. I love them all.
Just please read this blog, Clint Eastwood, and pick me as your successor. I promise, I can act.
Seriously, Eastwood turned 80 years old this year. He won't be here forever, unfortunately, and like John Wayne we all must go on without him.
I will weep openly. I'm going to go ahead and reveal that now.
No joke, I always wanted to be Clint Eastwood. Coolest actor ever, in my opinion and it's not even close.
My secret fantasy, and I have never told anyone this so you will be the first, is to be walking casually somewhere minding my own business and Eastwood walks up to me and asks if I would like to be in one of his movies because I reminded him a little of himself.
Yeah, fat chance that will ever happen. But, a guy can dream, can't he?
If I were to have to pick one role he played that was my favorite, I honestly couldn't.
Was it the man with no name trilogy from his spaghetti western days?
Dirty Harry Callahan role as a modern policeman in San Francisco?
Was it the wronged gunfighter just trying to survive in the Outlaw Josey Wales?
Was it the tough, drunken Marine sergeant in Heartbreak Ridge?
Or, even the revenge minded ghost of a sheriff in High Plains Drifter?
Was it Philo Beddoe from the silly Every Which Way but Loose and Any Which Way You Can movies?
I really don't know if I have an absolute favorite. I love them all.
Just please read this blog, Clint Eastwood, and pick me as your successor. I promise, I can act.
Seriously, Eastwood turned 80 years old this year. He won't be here forever, unfortunately, and like John Wayne we all must go on without him.
I will weep openly. I'm going to go ahead and reveal that now.
Friday, December 3, 2010
What if He Had Just Kept Walking?
It's funny how memories just hit me sometimes, just out of the blue.
Once, my parents were fighting as I am sure most parents did, and it got rather ugly. My family was driving down the road and I don't even remember where we were but there were six of us total in the car counting my parents, myself and my three siblings.
We were driving a long distance and My mom was driving so that my dad could rest up a bit, Suddenly, she slammed on the brakes and he opened up the door and got out and started walking.
Everyone in the car was in tears.
He was our daddy. This was our lives and it looked like we were about to lose our daddy for good.
That didn't happen. Cooler heads prevailed and my mom picked my dad back up and we went on about our not so merry way.
I must have been eight or ten years old when this happened and I will never forget.
I will never know what life would have been like if he had kept on walking.
Fast forward to the year 2001. It was August. The infamous 9/11 hadn't even happened yet.
But, my dad was sick.
They called all the kids in to see him and they told us the news that he had a brain tumor. I will never forget as I was being told he probably hadn't much time to be with us.
My dad was watching my face during the whole process and I will never know if he was pleased with my reaction.
It's been many years since that day, and my dad passed away not long after that.
There are many questions I would have for my dad if I got to see him again and this would be one of the first questions out of my mouth.
Was he pleased with my reaction? Did I show that I loved him by reacting or lack of reacting?
Our house was never a walk in the park growing up, but I am glad my dad didn't just keep on walking that day so many years ago.
Once, my parents were fighting as I am sure most parents did, and it got rather ugly. My family was driving down the road and I don't even remember where we were but there were six of us total in the car counting my parents, myself and my three siblings.
We were driving a long distance and My mom was driving so that my dad could rest up a bit, Suddenly, she slammed on the brakes and he opened up the door and got out and started walking.
Everyone in the car was in tears.
He was our daddy. This was our lives and it looked like we were about to lose our daddy for good.
That didn't happen. Cooler heads prevailed and my mom picked my dad back up and we went on about our not so merry way.
I must have been eight or ten years old when this happened and I will never forget.
I will never know what life would have been like if he had kept on walking.
Fast forward to the year 2001. It was August. The infamous 9/11 hadn't even happened yet.
But, my dad was sick.
They called all the kids in to see him and they told us the news that he had a brain tumor. I will never forget as I was being told he probably hadn't much time to be with us.
My dad was watching my face during the whole process and I will never know if he was pleased with my reaction.
It's been many years since that day, and my dad passed away not long after that.
There are many questions I would have for my dad if I got to see him again and this would be one of the first questions out of my mouth.
Was he pleased with my reaction? Did I show that I loved him by reacting or lack of reacting?
Our house was never a walk in the park growing up, but I am glad my dad didn't just keep on walking that day so many years ago.
Shane
Second blog in a row about Western movies.
I wrote a paper about Shane as a freshman in college and my professor read my paper to the class. One of my proudest moments in life, actually. Maybe that's a sad commentary about the quality of my life, but it made me proud for my English Prof to single me out.
I won't even try to duplicate what I wrote then and I really don't remember much about my paper at all other than it was meant to expose the myth of Hollywood and the fast draw in movies.
This blog is not about Hollywood, or the fast draw, or old Westerns or any of that old nonsense. This blog is actually about a line at the end of this old classic.
To set things up, I kind of have to give a summary of the plot to this flick.
It was filmed in 1953 and every actor in the movie is now deceased including the little kid that adores Shane.
Shane was a gunfighter that sees the end for his kind of life. He rides into this small community right in the middle of the typical Western feud between invading farmers and Cattlemen.
Shane joins up with the farmers and tries to lay his guns down and retire.
Obviously, that didn't sit well with the Cattle baron who brought in a gunfighter to deal with the farmers. The gunfighter brought in by the ranchers was played by Jack Palance, possibly the all time greatest bad guys ever in film.
To make a long story short, Shane puts back on his gunfighter clothes and deals with the situation the way a gunfighter does.
Great, great movie set with some of the most beautiful mountains in the world as the background, The Grand Tetons.
My favorite line happens as the Shane worshiping kid begs Shane to stay with them instead of riding off into the sunset.
"A man has to be what he is, you can't break the mold".
One can take that sentence a lot of ways.
You can argue against my point and say that a person can be anything they want to be if they put their minds to it.
But, for me it was always an inspiration to be all that you could be as a man. If I as a man have certain gifts and skills then why break the mold, just be what I am.
I have a lot of favorite movie lines and this one is not my favorite or probably even close to the top. Still, it's a nice line from a really good old fashion movie and inspires me to be a man.
I wrote a paper about Shane as a freshman in college and my professor read my paper to the class. One of my proudest moments in life, actually. Maybe that's a sad commentary about the quality of my life, but it made me proud for my English Prof to single me out.
I won't even try to duplicate what I wrote then and I really don't remember much about my paper at all other than it was meant to expose the myth of Hollywood and the fast draw in movies.
This blog is not about Hollywood, or the fast draw, or old Westerns or any of that old nonsense. This blog is actually about a line at the end of this old classic.
To set things up, I kind of have to give a summary of the plot to this flick.
It was filmed in 1953 and every actor in the movie is now deceased including the little kid that adores Shane.
Shane was a gunfighter that sees the end for his kind of life. He rides into this small community right in the middle of the typical Western feud between invading farmers and Cattlemen.
Shane joins up with the farmers and tries to lay his guns down and retire.
Obviously, that didn't sit well with the Cattle baron who brought in a gunfighter to deal with the farmers. The gunfighter brought in by the ranchers was played by Jack Palance, possibly the all time greatest bad guys ever in film.
To make a long story short, Shane puts back on his gunfighter clothes and deals with the situation the way a gunfighter does.
Great, great movie set with some of the most beautiful mountains in the world as the background, The Grand Tetons.
My favorite line happens as the Shane worshiping kid begs Shane to stay with them instead of riding off into the sunset.
"A man has to be what he is, you can't break the mold".
One can take that sentence a lot of ways.
You can argue against my point and say that a person can be anything they want to be if they put their minds to it.
But, for me it was always an inspiration to be all that you could be as a man. If I as a man have certain gifts and skills then why break the mold, just be what I am.
I have a lot of favorite movie lines and this one is not my favorite or probably even close to the top. Still, it's a nice line from a really good old fashion movie and inspires me to be a man.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
True Grit
There's no replacing John Wayne. The Duke is not replaceable.
Did I make myself perfectly clear? There is absolutely no chance Mr John Wayne will ever be replaced in American history or culture. Not ever going to happen in our lifetimes.
On the other hand, nobody is trying to replace John Wayne either.
We, as a society, are just trying to move on and have a little fun.
I have heard the grumblings about the new movie, True Grit. John Wayne is not in it. Thus, it can't be any good.
I am looking forward to this movie, probably more so than any movies in recent years. I am probably setting myself up for a let down because highly anticipated things are often a disappointment.
But, I am glad they are making the movie and I am glad I will have the opportunity to watch it by around Christmas.
Jeff Bridges is not a bad actor, you have to admit. Actually, he's a really good actor. Now, he's no John Wayne and he probably knows that as well. But, he has the unenviable task of trying to play the Wayne role of Rooster Cogburn. This is probably the part of this new film that worries me the most, but I feel that Bridges can pull it off.
Wayne and film legend Robert Duvall aside, the surrounding cast for this new movie will probably be a major improvement over the last.
Glen Campbell vs Matt Damon? Come on, Damon smashes Glen Campbell. First of all, Campbell was a singer and not a bad one for his time. But, as an actor, he is rather annoying to be perfectly honest. Matt Damon, yes the Good Will Hunting and the Bourne Movies, Matt Damon.
No comparison there. Damon rules.
The Mattie Ross character was played by Kim Darby in the original and she almost ruined the movie for me in all honesty.
I don't know who the new actress is, but she has to be an upgrade over the original. Her name is Hailee Steinfeld, and I am going to give her a chance.
I don't know if the new movies sticks with the original movie as far as plot goes, but with new technology and the addition of Damon and Josh Brolin, I think this movie is a definite must see for me and possibly on Christmas day.
See ya there.
Did I make myself perfectly clear? There is absolutely no chance Mr John Wayne will ever be replaced in American history or culture. Not ever going to happen in our lifetimes.
On the other hand, nobody is trying to replace John Wayne either.
We, as a society, are just trying to move on and have a little fun.
I have heard the grumblings about the new movie, True Grit. John Wayne is not in it. Thus, it can't be any good.
I am looking forward to this movie, probably more so than any movies in recent years. I am probably setting myself up for a let down because highly anticipated things are often a disappointment.
But, I am glad they are making the movie and I am glad I will have the opportunity to watch it by around Christmas.
Jeff Bridges is not a bad actor, you have to admit. Actually, he's a really good actor. Now, he's no John Wayne and he probably knows that as well. But, he has the unenviable task of trying to play the Wayne role of Rooster Cogburn. This is probably the part of this new film that worries me the most, but I feel that Bridges can pull it off.
Wayne and film legend Robert Duvall aside, the surrounding cast for this new movie will probably be a major improvement over the last.
Glen Campbell vs Matt Damon? Come on, Damon smashes Glen Campbell. First of all, Campbell was a singer and not a bad one for his time. But, as an actor, he is rather annoying to be perfectly honest. Matt Damon, yes the Good Will Hunting and the Bourne Movies, Matt Damon.
No comparison there. Damon rules.
The Mattie Ross character was played by Kim Darby in the original and she almost ruined the movie for me in all honesty.
I don't know who the new actress is, but she has to be an upgrade over the original. Her name is Hailee Steinfeld, and I am going to give her a chance.
I don't know if the new movies sticks with the original movie as far as plot goes, but with new technology and the addition of Damon and Josh Brolin, I think this movie is a definite must see for me and possibly on Christmas day.
See ya there.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Cute Older Girls,The Coffee House, and Creedence
In the early 70s, when I was a kid, Christian churches tried to give kids an alternative to running around all night out in the wild.
They set up buildings where kids could come and hang out and named them coffee houses.
I don't know if they actually served coffee at these Coffee Houses. I never drank any there.
I feel fairly certain that some kids might have, but not I.
They set up pool tables, ping pong tables, Foosball tables and all sorts of other tables and game boards.
They also had strobe lights set up which were some of the coolest lights of our day and time. Just gave the place a really cool feel.
My favorite memories of all from these early days at Coffee Houses were not of pool tables or any other games.
I liked the games and I liked the lights and all the other goings on in these places.
But, what I liked most of all was the music by Creedence Clearwater Revival and GIRLS.
Honestly, I don't remember listening to any other bands other than Creedence on these weekend nights spent at the Coffee House. They may have played some others, but Creedence or CCR as they are commonly referred to, dominated the scene in those days.
Girls also dominated the scene.
I was only a 12 year old, but, that didn't stop me from wanting to hang out with 14 and 15 year old girls.
I was way too shy to ever actually approach any of them, but its the thought that counts and those were the days of dreams.
It's now been nearly 40 years and those memories of cute older girls, the Coffee House and Creedence still linger and give me the warm fuzzies.
They set up buildings where kids could come and hang out and named them coffee houses.
I don't know if they actually served coffee at these Coffee Houses. I never drank any there.
I feel fairly certain that some kids might have, but not I.
They set up pool tables, ping pong tables, Foosball tables and all sorts of other tables and game boards.
They also had strobe lights set up which were some of the coolest lights of our day and time. Just gave the place a really cool feel.
My favorite memories of all from these early days at Coffee Houses were not of pool tables or any other games.
I liked the games and I liked the lights and all the other goings on in these places.
But, what I liked most of all was the music by Creedence Clearwater Revival and GIRLS.
Honestly, I don't remember listening to any other bands other than Creedence on these weekend nights spent at the Coffee House. They may have played some others, but Creedence or CCR as they are commonly referred to, dominated the scene in those days.
Girls also dominated the scene.
I was only a 12 year old, but, that didn't stop me from wanting to hang out with 14 and 15 year old girls.
I was way too shy to ever actually approach any of them, but its the thought that counts and those were the days of dreams.
It's now been nearly 40 years and those memories of cute older girls, the Coffee House and Creedence still linger and give me the warm fuzzies.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Tyson the Flying Dog
This is a totally true Story.
I have seen with my own eyes a flying dog. Yeah, I know you think I am full of it.
It happened long ago in a neighborhood not far away. We had some neighbors with two of the wildest boys I have ever seen.
Dad was a truck driver and was always gone. Mom was a housewife and raised the boys. The boys were at my house more than their own so I raised them a bit myself and I am afraid I did them no good at all. I saw the younger one years later and he had turned out all right much to my surprise, but even that was many years ago now. I can imagine the other might be in jail somewhere.
That would not surprise me at all.
They had a white boxer with black spots named Tyson. I am sure he was named after the heavyweight boxer who was all the rage back in those days.
As all boxers are, he was a really good dog. Really sweet and loving but he ran wild just like the boys of his family.
If the boys don't have discipline then why should I have expected more for the dog.
We lived in a corner house with one street being somewhat busy and the other not quite as much. They lived right across the street from me on the not so busy street.
The busy street led from one of the local Universities to one of the major town thoroughfares. College kids have been known to drive pretty fast and this street certainly did not miss out on that. It was also on a hill and always an adventure during a snow or ice storm.
This particular day, they were playing across the busy street and sometimes right in the middle of the busy street.
Tyson, the boxer, was everywhere running back and forth and very playful. Thinking back, I probably should have put him in my own back yard and been done with it. But, I didn't and I was very concerned for not only the dog but the boys as well.
I was working in my yard but I was also keeping an eye on what was going on. I stopped several times and yelled at the boys to get out of the street. I yelled at them to get Tyson out of the street.
As was very typical, nobody listened to me at all.
I just happened to be facing the correct way when the inevitable finally happened. A couple of college girls driving something like a Pontiac Fiero came hauling around the corner at seemingly over 50 MPH which is very common.
The car hit Tyson broadside as he just happened to be running back across the street yet again. Imagine that.
What happened next I will never forget as long as I live. I have told the story a million times which probably helps my memory, but this part seems like yesterday. The entire dramatic event also seems like slow motion in my memory.
Instead of going under the car as they often do, Tyson went airborne.
We lived not only on a corner but there was a bridge and a creek right behind our house. Our yard was huge and if you had ever mowed it you would definitely agree.
Tyson got hit at the front of our house area and flew at probably 10 feet in the air from the front area down to almost the creek. As I wrote already, it seemed like slow motion and Tyson spun slowly.
Boys started crying instantly. I started running instantly. Our yard was elevated and was terraced from the street. I jumped down one level and then the other level and by the time I hit the street, here came Mr Tyson running at break neck speed.
He ran past me without even slowing down. Boys ran to their house and I was right behind as the concerned neighbor fatherly figure.
College girls pulled up right behind us all in tears. Family members start appearing from nowhere and everyone extremely concerned.
It was a madhouse.
Strangest and funniest thing of all is that Tyson wasn't even injured at all. Not even a bruise.
Tyson disappeared one day. Boys mother was involved in a horrendous wreck along with one of the boys and was never the same. Dad was off cheating with another woman and was caught during the wreck ordeal. They divorced, moved off, and I have only seen the youngest son since.
We moved off and sold the house and all is water under the bridge now.
Only, I will never forget Tyson the flying dog.
I have seen with my own eyes a flying dog. Yeah, I know you think I am full of it.
It happened long ago in a neighborhood not far away. We had some neighbors with two of the wildest boys I have ever seen.
Dad was a truck driver and was always gone. Mom was a housewife and raised the boys. The boys were at my house more than their own so I raised them a bit myself and I am afraid I did them no good at all. I saw the younger one years later and he had turned out all right much to my surprise, but even that was many years ago now. I can imagine the other might be in jail somewhere.
That would not surprise me at all.
They had a white boxer with black spots named Tyson. I am sure he was named after the heavyweight boxer who was all the rage back in those days.
As all boxers are, he was a really good dog. Really sweet and loving but he ran wild just like the boys of his family.
If the boys don't have discipline then why should I have expected more for the dog.
We lived in a corner house with one street being somewhat busy and the other not quite as much. They lived right across the street from me on the not so busy street.
The busy street led from one of the local Universities to one of the major town thoroughfares. College kids have been known to drive pretty fast and this street certainly did not miss out on that. It was also on a hill and always an adventure during a snow or ice storm.
This particular day, they were playing across the busy street and sometimes right in the middle of the busy street.
Tyson, the boxer, was everywhere running back and forth and very playful. Thinking back, I probably should have put him in my own back yard and been done with it. But, I didn't and I was very concerned for not only the dog but the boys as well.
I was working in my yard but I was also keeping an eye on what was going on. I stopped several times and yelled at the boys to get out of the street. I yelled at them to get Tyson out of the street.
As was very typical, nobody listened to me at all.
I just happened to be facing the correct way when the inevitable finally happened. A couple of college girls driving something like a Pontiac Fiero came hauling around the corner at seemingly over 50 MPH which is very common.
The car hit Tyson broadside as he just happened to be running back across the street yet again. Imagine that.
What happened next I will never forget as long as I live. I have told the story a million times which probably helps my memory, but this part seems like yesterday. The entire dramatic event also seems like slow motion in my memory.
Instead of going under the car as they often do, Tyson went airborne.
We lived not only on a corner but there was a bridge and a creek right behind our house. Our yard was huge and if you had ever mowed it you would definitely agree.
Tyson got hit at the front of our house area and flew at probably 10 feet in the air from the front area down to almost the creek. As I wrote already, it seemed like slow motion and Tyson spun slowly.
Boys started crying instantly. I started running instantly. Our yard was elevated and was terraced from the street. I jumped down one level and then the other level and by the time I hit the street, here came Mr Tyson running at break neck speed.
He ran past me without even slowing down. Boys ran to their house and I was right behind as the concerned neighbor fatherly figure.
College girls pulled up right behind us all in tears. Family members start appearing from nowhere and everyone extremely concerned.
It was a madhouse.
Strangest and funniest thing of all is that Tyson wasn't even injured at all. Not even a bruise.
Tyson disappeared one day. Boys mother was involved in a horrendous wreck along with one of the boys and was never the same. Dad was off cheating with another woman and was caught during the wreck ordeal. They divorced, moved off, and I have only seen the youngest son since.
We moved off and sold the house and all is water under the bridge now.
Only, I will never forget Tyson the flying dog.
Helping People
Seriously, I already have written that I am not going to talk about the past few years and all it's pain and suffering.
But, I feel I must say one more thing. I do so need to move on.
I spent a life time helping other people.
It was actually a daily goal of mine in my written down goals which I have since thrown away, to help at least one person in some way during my day.
I can't tell you the number of times I have jump started a car, or taken out somebody's trash, or secretly mowed somebody's yard and I can go on and on.
Seriously, I never really expected anything in return, just wanted to make a difference in the world and to possibly spurn others on to do the same.
Random acts of kindness, I called them.
A movie was made some time during this process called Pay it Forward and in it a small child was doing what I intended to do every day. I didn't like the movie because in the end the child was murdered.
But, that is the point of my blog as well.
People that spend time helping people are often the ones that get abused or mistreated.
Their hearts are in the right place but instead of making a difference in the world they are torn down or destroyed.
I have to admit now that I don't care anymore. I still have compassion for people, but truthfully, nobody was there for me when I needed it and nobody really cared outside of my family.
I do not help other people anymore. That's not totally true because I occasionally do still but not intentionally.
Maybe that was the way it was supposed to be. Maybe we are all supposed to go into our own little worlds and be with ourselves and help out number one.
It seems most people would feel that way.
In the end, did I really make a difference at all with anyone?
Don't know that I will ever have an answer to that question. Maybe before my life is done, somebody will step forward and say you were the one guy that helped me out when I needed it.
Time will tell.
But, I feel I must say one more thing. I do so need to move on.
I spent a life time helping other people.
It was actually a daily goal of mine in my written down goals which I have since thrown away, to help at least one person in some way during my day.
I can't tell you the number of times I have jump started a car, or taken out somebody's trash, or secretly mowed somebody's yard and I can go on and on.
Seriously, I never really expected anything in return, just wanted to make a difference in the world and to possibly spurn others on to do the same.
Random acts of kindness, I called them.
A movie was made some time during this process called Pay it Forward and in it a small child was doing what I intended to do every day. I didn't like the movie because in the end the child was murdered.
But, that is the point of my blog as well.
People that spend time helping people are often the ones that get abused or mistreated.
Their hearts are in the right place but instead of making a difference in the world they are torn down or destroyed.
I have to admit now that I don't care anymore. I still have compassion for people, but truthfully, nobody was there for me when I needed it and nobody really cared outside of my family.
I do not help other people anymore. That's not totally true because I occasionally do still but not intentionally.
Maybe that was the way it was supposed to be. Maybe we are all supposed to go into our own little worlds and be with ourselves and help out number one.
It seems most people would feel that way.
In the end, did I really make a difference at all with anyone?
Don't know that I will ever have an answer to that question. Maybe before my life is done, somebody will step forward and say you were the one guy that helped me out when I needed it.
Time will tell.
My Favorite American Cities.
1. Manhattan. Duh.
I think it's the greatest city in the world, although, I haven't been to many outside the USA.
New York City is the melting pot of the world. Culture, museums, parks it's got it all. My favorite city in America hands down.
2. San Francisco, California.
I love the weather here more than any city I have ever been, and I know its not for everybody. But, in the summer, when it's hotter than hell in Texas, the weather is nice and cool in San Fran. I love the fog. I love the hills and the mountains in the background.
I always expect to run into Dirty Harry while walking down the streets of San Fran. That's not going to happen, obviously, but just a great city. Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and so many other things make San Fran my second favorite US city.
3. Seattle, Washington.
I actually had a bad time in Seattle, but that doesn't take away from it's great qualities. The scenery around this city is some of the top on the planet. I love the rain and I love the Space Needle. I love Pike's Market even if it is sort of over popularized by the media. Downtown is pretty cool and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking.
I don't like the tons of homeless people hanging around, but other than that one of the world's great cities.
If I go to Seattle, I expect to eat some Salmon and I expect it to be the best I have ever eaten.
4. Boston, Massachusetts
Historically, Boston is up at the top of my list. There are a lot of old buildings that are interesting to find out about and to view. Close by is New England and all it's scenery.
Paul Revere lives on in my heart.
5. Providence, Rhode Island.
Big enough city to have all the conveniences, but has a smaller town feel to it. Providence is close to New England as well, it's close to New York and it's close to Cape Cod. I love nearby Block Island and Point Judith.
You could probably set the entire state of Rhode Island in the city of Dallas or Houston but I like it there.
6. Chicago
I haven't spent enough time in Chicago. But, like that it sits on Lake Michigan.
Supposedly, the winters are brutal here and I wouldn't know but there are a lot of attractive things for me here.
7. Austin, Texas
Too hot for my taste but a very cool city that is supposed to be the live music capital of the world. Sits right on the edge of the Texas Hill Country and Lake Travis is a nice place to spend your summer. But, wear lots of sun screen.
8. Greenville, South Carolina
Beautiful city sitting right on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. It's a half hour drive to the mountains from here. Greenville is really a green village with huge trees everywhere. Downtown is small but that is a good thing sometimes.
9. Denver, Colorado
I don't know that I like the city of Denver all that much, but I do like the setting. Nestled right against the foothills of the Rockies some of the most beautiful mountains and it's high elevation make it definitely appealing to me.
10. Nashville, Tennessee
I am not a big fan of Country music, at least the stuff that comes out of Nashville, but I love this city. Downtown is beautiful nestled among the hills and rivers and has a very modern feel to it.
I am not a big fan of it getting dark at 4:30 during the winter months. But, I am a big fan of the fairly nearby Smokey Mountains and housing here is fairly affordable. I could live here.
Almost made it and other than the top 2, these cities are subject to change, are places like Atlanta, San Diego, Portland, Spokane and quite a few others. Maybe next time on some of them. Thinking more about it, I might want to replace any one of these but the first two with Spokane and Portland.
Bottom of my list:
1. Houston- don't like that place other than Vince Young coming from there. Way too hot and people are way too rude.
2. Miami- Thug, thug, thug. Not my kind of place really.
3. Detroit- Just move out and let the rats have it already.
I think it's the greatest city in the world, although, I haven't been to many outside the USA.
New York City is the melting pot of the world. Culture, museums, parks it's got it all. My favorite city in America hands down.
2. San Francisco, California.
I love the weather here more than any city I have ever been, and I know its not for everybody. But, in the summer, when it's hotter than hell in Texas, the weather is nice and cool in San Fran. I love the fog. I love the hills and the mountains in the background.
I always expect to run into Dirty Harry while walking down the streets of San Fran. That's not going to happen, obviously, but just a great city. Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and so many other things make San Fran my second favorite US city.
3. Seattle, Washington.
I actually had a bad time in Seattle, but that doesn't take away from it's great qualities. The scenery around this city is some of the top on the planet. I love the rain and I love the Space Needle. I love Pike's Market even if it is sort of over popularized by the media. Downtown is pretty cool and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking.
I don't like the tons of homeless people hanging around, but other than that one of the world's great cities.
If I go to Seattle, I expect to eat some Salmon and I expect it to be the best I have ever eaten.
4. Boston, Massachusetts
Historically, Boston is up at the top of my list. There are a lot of old buildings that are interesting to find out about and to view. Close by is New England and all it's scenery.
Paul Revere lives on in my heart.
5. Providence, Rhode Island.
Big enough city to have all the conveniences, but has a smaller town feel to it. Providence is close to New England as well, it's close to New York and it's close to Cape Cod. I love nearby Block Island and Point Judith.
You could probably set the entire state of Rhode Island in the city of Dallas or Houston but I like it there.
6. Chicago
I haven't spent enough time in Chicago. But, like that it sits on Lake Michigan.
Supposedly, the winters are brutal here and I wouldn't know but there are a lot of attractive things for me here.
7. Austin, Texas
Too hot for my taste but a very cool city that is supposed to be the live music capital of the world. Sits right on the edge of the Texas Hill Country and Lake Travis is a nice place to spend your summer. But, wear lots of sun screen.
8. Greenville, South Carolina
Beautiful city sitting right on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. It's a half hour drive to the mountains from here. Greenville is really a green village with huge trees everywhere. Downtown is small but that is a good thing sometimes.
9. Denver, Colorado
I don't know that I like the city of Denver all that much, but I do like the setting. Nestled right against the foothills of the Rockies some of the most beautiful mountains and it's high elevation make it definitely appealing to me.
10. Nashville, Tennessee
I am not a big fan of Country music, at least the stuff that comes out of Nashville, but I love this city. Downtown is beautiful nestled among the hills and rivers and has a very modern feel to it.
I am not a big fan of it getting dark at 4:30 during the winter months. But, I am a big fan of the fairly nearby Smokey Mountains and housing here is fairly affordable. I could live here.
Almost made it and other than the top 2, these cities are subject to change, are places like Atlanta, San Diego, Portland, Spokane and quite a few others. Maybe next time on some of them. Thinking more about it, I might want to replace any one of these but the first two with Spokane and Portland.
Bottom of my list:
1. Houston- don't like that place other than Vince Young coming from there. Way too hot and people are way too rude.
2. Miami- Thug, thug, thug. Not my kind of place really.
3. Detroit- Just move out and let the rats have it already.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Eating Humble Pie
I have never eaten poop so I have no idea what it might taste like. But, I can imagine humble pie tastes a lot like dog excrement.
I've had to eat a lot of humble pie in the last few years and let me tell you it does not taste very good at all.
Once, I was a bit of a hero.
I had recently moved to Austin and gotten my real estate license. I then went into the real estate sales business with the largest company in Austin.
I quickly became known as the guy that owned all the apartments and rental property. Of course, I was all too quick to help those rumors and enjoyed the limelight. I am not going to deny I liked being something of a cult figure hero. I kind of had a swagger in my step.
Coming from my background, it felt pretty cool to be the guy.
That didn't last long.
The Outhouse doesn't feel so bad if you've never been to the Penthouse. I went from Outhouse to Penthouse and then back to the Outhouse.
I said I wasn't going to write about that stuff on my blog and this was not my intention.
Just wanted to say that I have eaten a lot of humble pie in the last few years and the aftertaste right now is not so good.
I've had to eat a lot of humble pie in the last few years and let me tell you it does not taste very good at all.
Once, I was a bit of a hero.
I had recently moved to Austin and gotten my real estate license. I then went into the real estate sales business with the largest company in Austin.
I quickly became known as the guy that owned all the apartments and rental property. Of course, I was all too quick to help those rumors and enjoyed the limelight. I am not going to deny I liked being something of a cult figure hero. I kind of had a swagger in my step.
Coming from my background, it felt pretty cool to be the guy.
That didn't last long.
The Outhouse doesn't feel so bad if you've never been to the Penthouse. I went from Outhouse to Penthouse and then back to the Outhouse.
I said I wasn't going to write about that stuff on my blog and this was not my intention.
Just wanted to say that I have eaten a lot of humble pie in the last few years and the aftertaste right now is not so good.
Conquistador
Conquistador means conqueror in Spanish. The actual Conquistadors haven't been around in centuries and they were definitely some of the more controversial figures in the history of the world, but that's not my point in this blog.
Conquistador was also a song by Procol Harum in the late 60s.
Even though it was an anti-war song and I was way too young to get into any of that, I always loved this song.
It brings back a lot of memories for me to this very day.
When I was young, I had a good friend and neighbor, Boyd Baker. Since he lived so near, we were nearly inseparable for a few years.
I think he was probably the best guy friend I ever had which is kind of sad since I haven't really seen him since about 1973.
Recently, after a bunch of internet and phone work, I ran him down and found out he is alive and well in Austin, Texas. He went to the Naval Academy after high school and joined the Marines as a fighter pilot. Now, he flies for Southwest Airlines.
How cool is that?
Glad my old friend is alive and well.
Boyd, besides being a buddy, had a very nice looking older sister named Frances Baker.
She was the talk of the town and really the first extremely good looking woman I had ever seen.
I have no idea what she looks like now, some 40 years later, but I would guess she still looks nice.
She was not the reason why I went to my friend's house, and she was even rude to me at times. Once, she looked into a room when I was in there and said 'I thought I smelled something'. I was crushed and I'll never forget that. It's not like I ever even dreamed I had a shot with her, but it's nice to be liked.
Another thing I will never forget about her is the time she brought her newly purchased Procol Harum Album home. I just happened to be at their house and she came in all excited.
She played Conquistador on her record player and I have been in love with that song ever since.
Lots of great memories.
However, for me, there are a lot of other memories involved with this song and they weren't so great.
I was going to blog about them here but decided not to.
Conquistador was also a song by Procol Harum in the late 60s.
Even though it was an anti-war song and I was way too young to get into any of that, I always loved this song.
It brings back a lot of memories for me to this very day.
When I was young, I had a good friend and neighbor, Boyd Baker. Since he lived so near, we were nearly inseparable for a few years.
I think he was probably the best guy friend I ever had which is kind of sad since I haven't really seen him since about 1973.
Recently, after a bunch of internet and phone work, I ran him down and found out he is alive and well in Austin, Texas. He went to the Naval Academy after high school and joined the Marines as a fighter pilot. Now, he flies for Southwest Airlines.
How cool is that?
Glad my old friend is alive and well.
Boyd, besides being a buddy, had a very nice looking older sister named Frances Baker.
She was the talk of the town and really the first extremely good looking woman I had ever seen.
I have no idea what she looks like now, some 40 years later, but I would guess she still looks nice.
She was not the reason why I went to my friend's house, and she was even rude to me at times. Once, she looked into a room when I was in there and said 'I thought I smelled something'. I was crushed and I'll never forget that. It's not like I ever even dreamed I had a shot with her, but it's nice to be liked.
Another thing I will never forget about her is the time she brought her newly purchased Procol Harum Album home. I just happened to be at their house and she came in all excited.
She played Conquistador on her record player and I have been in love with that song ever since.
Lots of great memories.
However, for me, there are a lot of other memories involved with this song and they weren't so great.
I was going to blog about them here but decided not to.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Scorpion Check
The year was 1972. I had recently moved to a new town and was the new kid on the block.
One of my new friends, young Roy Stephens, had ridden his bike over to my house and we were going to go play some football at the high school football field which was about a stone's throw from my new house.
A stone's throw if you had a cannon for an arm, that is.
Our family had never had much. We were pretty poor back in the day. We had moved from town to town and from house to house and never really had a home that was all that nice.
But, now we had a brand new house.
The amount they paid for the house has dimmed somewhat in my memory but I believe they paid around $25,000 for it.
Wow, how times have changed.
My shoes were muddy from the day before, so I left them outside by the front door. Hey, I was a little kid what did you expect?
Thinking nothing of it, I put on my shoes to ride my bike over to the field.
Of course, as anyone would probably do, I looked a the field as we were riding up to see who our competition was likely to be. Sometimes there were some nice looking high school girls playing and we would mix it up with them.
I was way too shy to say anything to them, but it's the thought that counts, right?
It was empty this one fine day and we would have to throw the ball to one another only.
That was OK, too.
As I got off my bike it suddenly hit me.
A sting in the front of my toes like I had never felt before. I hurriedly pulled off my shoe to see to my complete surprise a big old ugly scorpion fell revealing the sinister cause of my pain.
I have felt much pain worse than that and many, many times since that day. But, at the time, it hurt more than about anything I had ever felt.
The pain, after much yelling, would eventually go away.
But, one thing didn't.
Since that day, almost 40 years ago now, I have never put on a shoe without shaking it violently to check for those hideous scorpions.
I have never found another one, but I will go to my grave never taking the chance that another might be lurking there.
Scorpion check.
One of my new friends, young Roy Stephens, had ridden his bike over to my house and we were going to go play some football at the high school football field which was about a stone's throw from my new house.
A stone's throw if you had a cannon for an arm, that is.
Our family had never had much. We were pretty poor back in the day. We had moved from town to town and from house to house and never really had a home that was all that nice.
But, now we had a brand new house.
The amount they paid for the house has dimmed somewhat in my memory but I believe they paid around $25,000 for it.
Wow, how times have changed.
My shoes were muddy from the day before, so I left them outside by the front door. Hey, I was a little kid what did you expect?
Thinking nothing of it, I put on my shoes to ride my bike over to the field.
Of course, as anyone would probably do, I looked a the field as we were riding up to see who our competition was likely to be. Sometimes there were some nice looking high school girls playing and we would mix it up with them.
I was way too shy to say anything to them, but it's the thought that counts, right?
It was empty this one fine day and we would have to throw the ball to one another only.
That was OK, too.
As I got off my bike it suddenly hit me.
A sting in the front of my toes like I had never felt before. I hurriedly pulled off my shoe to see to my complete surprise a big old ugly scorpion fell revealing the sinister cause of my pain.
I have felt much pain worse than that and many, many times since that day. But, at the time, it hurt more than about anything I had ever felt.
The pain, after much yelling, would eventually go away.
But, one thing didn't.
Since that day, almost 40 years ago now, I have never put on a shoe without shaking it violently to check for those hideous scorpions.
I have never found another one, but I will go to my grave never taking the chance that another might be lurking there.
Scorpion check.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Why are you writing?
I quit writing in my blog last year because nobody was reading it. I have no followers and there are no comments on my blogs now.
Doesn't matter.
I came to realize during my absence that I really enjoy writing and will continue to write even if nobody ever reads any of it again.
I write for me. I don't care if I have any support. I don't care if I get any positive feedback or even any negative feedback.
Because I enjoy writing.
I am not going to go to any trouble to get people to read anything I have written. I don't need to enter popularity contests. I don't need to go on facebook and try and get thousands of friends and try to get them to read my stuff.
I write for me.
If you read my blog and you want to leave a comment, then great.
But, if nobody ever reads it, then that is perfectly fine as well because I enjoy this and will continue.
Doesn't matter.
I came to realize during my absence that I really enjoy writing and will continue to write even if nobody ever reads any of it again.
I write for me. I don't care if I have any support. I don't care if I get any positive feedback or even any negative feedback.
Because I enjoy writing.
I am not going to go to any trouble to get people to read anything I have written. I don't need to enter popularity contests. I don't need to go on facebook and try and get thousands of friends and try to get them to read my stuff.
I write for me.
If you read my blog and you want to leave a comment, then great.
But, if nobody ever reads it, then that is perfectly fine as well because I enjoy this and will continue.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Finding Dead Bodies is Not that Much Fun
It's that Halloween time of year once again.
I like this time of year for a number of reasons such as cooler weather, the changing of the leaves, family time, festivals and especially Halloween candy.
I am not as big with the ghosts and goblins as some are but I have my own share of spooky stories and adventures.
This is actually a true story.
What we have done for a number of years is invest in real estate and manage the properties for ourselves. My main role through all these years has been maintenance on some level, whether that was doing it myself or being in charge of other maintenance guys.
This has been a family business with several members of the family involved at one time or another. Our daughter, Tara, happened to be working with us at the time this story took place.
Some rather strange people lived in this one particular apartment that we owned. They were already living there when we purchased the place and they had done nothing wrong. They just were a little strange.
Nobody had seen these people in several days and concerned people started to call. There were notes for them left on their door. After a few days, we also grew concerned about them and wanted to make sure everything was all right.
My daughter asked me to check it out and she would come along.
After knocking loudly and waiting, we knocked again and there was never and answer at the door.
I stuck the key in the door while yelling the usual warning words in this situation. No answer still.
Furniture was still everywhere as if somebody still lived there. It was a mess and I said as much rather loudly as I tend to do at times.
There was nobody around in the living, dining and kitchen areas. No lights were on. Nobody home it appeared from all evidence.
As it looked like nobody was home, my confidence increased and I made several comments about how sloppy they were. There was clutter everywhere and I wouldn't exactly hire these folks to clean anything if I needed that type of work done.
The bedroom door was shut. Once again, I knocked on a door to make sure they were not inside.
No answer.
We opened the door slowly into a very messy bedroom. My voice was louder yet again as I declared the residents to be filthy to the core.
Nobody was in the bedroom, and the lights were off. There was only one more door in the apartment that we had not opened and it was the closet.
Thinking nothing of it, I opened the closet door for whatever reason.
I may have screamed "they're dead" like a little girl, I am no longer sure as I saw the bodies of two people laying on the closet floor.
I slammed the closet door and we ran yelling like a couple of cowards. I am no longer sure who hit the doors first, Tara or I. But, out the door we ran not even taking the time to lock it.
I had never seen dead bodies before other than at a funeral and didn't like what I saw.
They were as white as sheets, or more fitting in the situation, ghosts. She was completely naked and laying face down. He was laying face up in his underwear. I had never seen whiter skin in my life which I had imagined dead skin to look like.
Tara called the police. I tried to gather myself and remain calm. Dead bodies were not my thing. I am no ambulance chaser.
The cops took their time arriving and it seemed like an eternity. In reality, it was probably half an hour.
The rest of the story is almost as weird as the first beginning. The cops came. They knocked on the same door I did.
The people answered the door and were watching TV as if nothing had ever happened.
Nothing was ever said about this again. Nobody knows why these people were in the closet and I never asked. I never looked at them directly again the remainder of their time living in their apartment. Never said a word to them or had any contact at all with them.
Did they think they were vampires? Why passed out in the closet? These are questions I will never know the answer to.
The story is funny to me now. I am sure glad they were not dead and sure glad I did not discover dead people in our apartment.
As far as I know they are still alive somewhere, just not in our place.
Not really a spooky story, but a true one and a little spooky to me at the time.
Happy Halloween.
I like this time of year for a number of reasons such as cooler weather, the changing of the leaves, family time, festivals and especially Halloween candy.
I am not as big with the ghosts and goblins as some are but I have my own share of spooky stories and adventures.
This is actually a true story.
What we have done for a number of years is invest in real estate and manage the properties for ourselves. My main role through all these years has been maintenance on some level, whether that was doing it myself or being in charge of other maintenance guys.
This has been a family business with several members of the family involved at one time or another. Our daughter, Tara, happened to be working with us at the time this story took place.
Some rather strange people lived in this one particular apartment that we owned. They were already living there when we purchased the place and they had done nothing wrong. They just were a little strange.
Nobody had seen these people in several days and concerned people started to call. There were notes for them left on their door. After a few days, we also grew concerned about them and wanted to make sure everything was all right.
My daughter asked me to check it out and she would come along.
After knocking loudly and waiting, we knocked again and there was never and answer at the door.
I stuck the key in the door while yelling the usual warning words in this situation. No answer still.
Furniture was still everywhere as if somebody still lived there. It was a mess and I said as much rather loudly as I tend to do at times.
There was nobody around in the living, dining and kitchen areas. No lights were on. Nobody home it appeared from all evidence.
As it looked like nobody was home, my confidence increased and I made several comments about how sloppy they were. There was clutter everywhere and I wouldn't exactly hire these folks to clean anything if I needed that type of work done.
The bedroom door was shut. Once again, I knocked on a door to make sure they were not inside.
No answer.
We opened the door slowly into a very messy bedroom. My voice was louder yet again as I declared the residents to be filthy to the core.
Nobody was in the bedroom, and the lights were off. There was only one more door in the apartment that we had not opened and it was the closet.
Thinking nothing of it, I opened the closet door for whatever reason.
I may have screamed "they're dead" like a little girl, I am no longer sure as I saw the bodies of two people laying on the closet floor.
I slammed the closet door and we ran yelling like a couple of cowards. I am no longer sure who hit the doors first, Tara or I. But, out the door we ran not even taking the time to lock it.
I had never seen dead bodies before other than at a funeral and didn't like what I saw.
They were as white as sheets, or more fitting in the situation, ghosts. She was completely naked and laying face down. He was laying face up in his underwear. I had never seen whiter skin in my life which I had imagined dead skin to look like.
Tara called the police. I tried to gather myself and remain calm. Dead bodies were not my thing. I am no ambulance chaser.
The cops took their time arriving and it seemed like an eternity. In reality, it was probably half an hour.
The rest of the story is almost as weird as the first beginning. The cops came. They knocked on the same door I did.
The people answered the door and were watching TV as if nothing had ever happened.
Nothing was ever said about this again. Nobody knows why these people were in the closet and I never asked. I never looked at them directly again the remainder of their time living in their apartment. Never said a word to them or had any contact at all with them.
Did they think they were vampires? Why passed out in the closet? These are questions I will never know the answer to.
The story is funny to me now. I am sure glad they were not dead and sure glad I did not discover dead people in our apartment.
As far as I know they are still alive somewhere, just not in our place.
Not really a spooky story, but a true one and a little spooky to me at the time.
Happy Halloween.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
How bout them Rangers?
I'm American and I like baseball. It's not my favorite sport, but I like it.
I also like the standard hot dogs and apple pies, but you probably knew I was going to say that.
I don't watch baseball all that much anymore but I used to watch a lot. The team that I have always watched was the Texas Rangers.
Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever dreamed the Rangers would make the World Series this season. But, they did and did it in spectacular fashion beating the traditional best team in baseball, the Yankees.
This blog is not really about the Rangers, however. It's about my grandfather whom we all called Pawpaw.
My grandfather didn't like baseball. He loved baseball and the Rangers were the team he loved the most. He was retired and his health was failing fast and he watched baseball every chance he got.
It wasn't exactly a huge secret around my family's house that I was probably my grandfather's favorite. I'm not bragging when I say that, just stating the way it was back then. Lots of great memories.
My grandfather passed away when I was 29 years old and within a week of the birth of my son. Today is my son's birthday and he is 22 years old now so my grandfather nearly the same amount of years.
Still today, there are a number of things that I see, or hear, that remind me of him.
One of the biggest reminders is the Texas Rangers.
I wish my grandfather was alive today to see his Rangers in the World Series. I wish he had seen them beat the mighty Yankees and he had felt the joy that all of us long suffering fans have experienced in the past few days.
Win or lose, Rangers, thanks for stirring up in me memories of one of my all time favorite people.
I also like the standard hot dogs and apple pies, but you probably knew I was going to say that.
I don't watch baseball all that much anymore but I used to watch a lot. The team that I have always watched was the Texas Rangers.
Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever dreamed the Rangers would make the World Series this season. But, they did and did it in spectacular fashion beating the traditional best team in baseball, the Yankees.
This blog is not really about the Rangers, however. It's about my grandfather whom we all called Pawpaw.
My grandfather didn't like baseball. He loved baseball and the Rangers were the team he loved the most. He was retired and his health was failing fast and he watched baseball every chance he got.
It wasn't exactly a huge secret around my family's house that I was probably my grandfather's favorite. I'm not bragging when I say that, just stating the way it was back then. Lots of great memories.
My grandfather passed away when I was 29 years old and within a week of the birth of my son. Today is my son's birthday and he is 22 years old now so my grandfather nearly the same amount of years.
Still today, there are a number of things that I see, or hear, that remind me of him.
One of the biggest reminders is the Texas Rangers.
I wish my grandfather was alive today to see his Rangers in the World Series. I wish he had seen them beat the mighty Yankees and he had felt the joy that all of us long suffering fans have experienced in the past few days.
Win or lose, Rangers, thanks for stirring up in me memories of one of my all time favorite people.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Think your words don't matter?
I had been looking for one of my childhood friends for a long time.
I wanted to tell him something.
Something that he did once made a big difference in my life.
This kid was one of the cool kids. He had cool hair when the rest of us had to get buzzes because our dad's made us.
He wore cool clothes when I had hand me downs from my older brothers. He had a motorcycle when my parents wouldn't let me near one. He had a drum set and could play the drum solo from In-a-gadda-da-vida when he was in elementary school. Think about that for a minute because that was a pretty big accomplishment.
His dad was cool and he had a cool older brother. We all loved going over to their house because there was always a blast to be had.
Lots of great memories of Brad McFarling.
I don't think I have seen Brad since my family moved to a different town when I was going into the 8th grade.
But, I wanted to find him for a number of reasons. Most of all, I wanted to tell him what he had done for me so many years ago that I still think about almost daily.
In the 7th grade I played football as I did every year I was in school that had a football team to play on. I use the word loosely when I say I 'played' football because truthfully I was never really very good. Easier to admit that now than it ever has been before.
Football season came and went and we entered into a time of the typical school off season program where coaches try to get you in shape and built up for the following season.
I will also admit now that I was a lazy kid.
When you are lazy and you are working out, you look for shortcuts to makes things easier on yourself. Sometimes you don't even do it on purpose. It just happens because you are looking for the easy way out.
I was working out next to my friend, Brad, and obviously I was taking the quickest route to rest my sorry butt. Brad said something to me that I would use the rest of my life and I say it to myself almost daily still to these day almost 40 years later.
"Don't cheat, when you cheat you are only cheating yourself". Bravo, Brad, thanks for those words.
I believe in doing things right and I feel bad inside when I cheat and take shortcuts.
I usually try and tell myself and those around me the same thing Brad told me so many years ago. This doesn't just work at the gym, but with work and everything else you attempt in life.
I wish I had said something to somebody back in the day that made a difference in their life. I fear I didn't.
This works in reverse, too, and I remember comments about me that were negative from the same time period but I try and blow those off.
But, we all have the same opportunities to bless others with words that build them up or straighten them out in some way if we would just take the time to do it.
This story has no ending. It's not over yet, not by a long shot.
But, it's got another chapter.
This weekend I found my old friend Brad McFarling on facebook.
I let him know that he made a difference in at least one person's life. Of course, being the great person that he is he gave his Dad credit for putting that in him instead of taking the credit.
Sometimes all it takes to make a difference is to just say a few words.
I wanted to tell him something.
Something that he did once made a big difference in my life.
This kid was one of the cool kids. He had cool hair when the rest of us had to get buzzes because our dad's made us.
He wore cool clothes when I had hand me downs from my older brothers. He had a motorcycle when my parents wouldn't let me near one. He had a drum set and could play the drum solo from In-a-gadda-da-vida when he was in elementary school. Think about that for a minute because that was a pretty big accomplishment.
His dad was cool and he had a cool older brother. We all loved going over to their house because there was always a blast to be had.
Lots of great memories of Brad McFarling.
I don't think I have seen Brad since my family moved to a different town when I was going into the 8th grade.
But, I wanted to find him for a number of reasons. Most of all, I wanted to tell him what he had done for me so many years ago that I still think about almost daily.
In the 7th grade I played football as I did every year I was in school that had a football team to play on. I use the word loosely when I say I 'played' football because truthfully I was never really very good. Easier to admit that now than it ever has been before.
Football season came and went and we entered into a time of the typical school off season program where coaches try to get you in shape and built up for the following season.
I will also admit now that I was a lazy kid.
When you are lazy and you are working out, you look for shortcuts to makes things easier on yourself. Sometimes you don't even do it on purpose. It just happens because you are looking for the easy way out.
I was working out next to my friend, Brad, and obviously I was taking the quickest route to rest my sorry butt. Brad said something to me that I would use the rest of my life and I say it to myself almost daily still to these day almost 40 years later.
"Don't cheat, when you cheat you are only cheating yourself". Bravo, Brad, thanks for those words.
I believe in doing things right and I feel bad inside when I cheat and take shortcuts.
I usually try and tell myself and those around me the same thing Brad told me so many years ago. This doesn't just work at the gym, but with work and everything else you attempt in life.
I wish I had said something to somebody back in the day that made a difference in their life. I fear I didn't.
This works in reverse, too, and I remember comments about me that were negative from the same time period but I try and blow those off.
But, we all have the same opportunities to bless others with words that build them up or straighten them out in some way if we would just take the time to do it.
This story has no ending. It's not over yet, not by a long shot.
But, it's got another chapter.
This weekend I found my old friend Brad McFarling on facebook.
I let him know that he made a difference in at least one person's life. Of course, being the great person that he is he gave his Dad credit for putting that in him instead of taking the credit.
Sometimes all it takes to make a difference is to just say a few words.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Things I found in the fire
Well, technically there was no fire. Not in my own life, anyway.
Yes, I have had to deal with fires and more than once, but this was different.
The fire I am talking about was in my soul.
My very life, my very belief system, my very thoughts and my entire being was rocked to the core by situations that were now out of my control.
I was at the bottom.
The fire was in my soul and it was not a pleasant experience.
I won't go into my life's disaster details here and I may never really write about it in this blog. In fact, I am really tired of thinking about it and trying to explain what happened to people that can never really fully understand what I am talking about and probably really don't care all that much, anyway.
So, while it was true that there was not a real physical fire, but the destruction was complete much in the same way a real fire does a person's home or belongings.
Not only did I lose so many material things but making things even worse, I lost my brother from cancer during this process which only added to my pain.
My life was a mess and maybe it still is.
During these dark days of my life, I rediscovered a true love for MUSIC.
I have to say rediscovered because I used to listen to a lot of music as a younger person but had lost touch while raising a family, growing a business and other details of a busy life.
Listening to music was a part of the healing presence. Oh, I am not healed yet, but I am working on it even if I have a ways to go.
Music is a part of the process.
I started with music that I grew up with such as Creedence Clearwater Revival and a lot of other groups from back in the day.
My playlist grew from there.
It has taken a lot of time but has been so much fun to discover one new music group after another and even find some I had forgotten about.
I have cried through this process and I have laughed as well. But, through it all I have kept moving forward and finding song after song and enjoying myself.
I love the Blues, Classic Rock, Alternative Rock, Texas Country and many other genres. .
Almost every night I am online searching for new music discoveries. During this time, new music has gotten harder and harder to find but I am still out there searching.
Maybe some day my spirit will heal up. In the meantime, I have my music.
It's my life, give me that remote.
Yes, I have had to deal with fires and more than once, but this was different.
The fire I am talking about was in my soul.
My very life, my very belief system, my very thoughts and my entire being was rocked to the core by situations that were now out of my control.
I was at the bottom.
The fire was in my soul and it was not a pleasant experience.
I won't go into my life's disaster details here and I may never really write about it in this blog. In fact, I am really tired of thinking about it and trying to explain what happened to people that can never really fully understand what I am talking about and probably really don't care all that much, anyway.
So, while it was true that there was not a real physical fire, but the destruction was complete much in the same way a real fire does a person's home or belongings.
Not only did I lose so many material things but making things even worse, I lost my brother from cancer during this process which only added to my pain.
My life was a mess and maybe it still is.
During these dark days of my life, I rediscovered a true love for MUSIC.
I have to say rediscovered because I used to listen to a lot of music as a younger person but had lost touch while raising a family, growing a business and other details of a busy life.
Listening to music was a part of the healing presence. Oh, I am not healed yet, but I am working on it even if I have a ways to go.
Music is a part of the process.
I started with music that I grew up with such as Creedence Clearwater Revival and a lot of other groups from back in the day.
My playlist grew from there.
It has taken a lot of time but has been so much fun to discover one new music group after another and even find some I had forgotten about.
I have cried through this process and I have laughed as well. But, through it all I have kept moving forward and finding song after song and enjoying myself.
I love the Blues, Classic Rock, Alternative Rock, Texas Country and many other genres. .
Almost every night I am online searching for new music discoveries. During this time, new music has gotten harder and harder to find but I am still out there searching.
Maybe some day my spirit will heal up. In the meantime, I have my music.
It's my life, give me that remote.
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