The Crossing Guard

Every morning on my drive to work, I see the same things, because I am very regimented and leave the house at the same time each day. I see the same 30 something year old woman jogging along the Wantagh Parkway, rain or shine. I see the same Burgundy Jeep Liberty with the NY Yankee plates and the LA Lakers bumper sticker in the back window. I also see the same crossing guard in front of MacArthur High School. I have a problem with this lady. First of all she has to be 70 years old, and moves slower than a fucking turtle. Secondly, she has eyeglasses so thick, she can probably see Saturn and all of its moons. How are we trusting kids to cross the street directed by this lady? This morning it was drizzling and foggy, and she is wiping off the Hubble telescope (aka her eyeglasses) while she is walking with these kids. We may as well have Stevie Wonder at that intersection...at least he'd have a fucking seeing eye dog.....

What is the world coming to?

No Rest for the Weary

I only watch a few shows a week on television. Most nights, I find myself reading online, listening to music, writing on this silly blog, or keeping busy in the house. Monday Nights I have no shows to watch, but like to chill and channel surf. I just bought a new 37" HD LCD wide screen TV last weekend, so that has peaked my interest a bit more in television.

So tonight, I was all ready to relax and flip around the channels...when I realized the "State of the Union" is on like every channel tonight. I say to President Douche Bag, why even bother? Get to bed early by wrapping it up in two words "IT SUCKS!" That about describes the state of our union. The only saving grace...this is the LAST time this asshole will be delivering this speech!!!!! Just like the old TV show..."EIGHT IS ENOUGH!!!!!" Although, one was enough for me from this guy......

Want to make this speech fun tonight??? Make it ten cent beer night and bring in the 5,000 fans that sit in the Yankee Stadium bleachers. I want to see booing, heckling, the throwing of objects at the podium, a Monica Seles stabbing of Dick Cheney, a little organ music, now that's worth the hour of viewing time.

This whole Presidential Campaign has sucked. I've watched every debate...and quite honestly....we are fucked!!!!!! Seriously people, we are fucked! Whoever thinks ANY of these candidates is going to bring about the change we so desperately need, you better hit the snooze button and go back to sleep...it is not happening.

I have never voted Republican, nor will I ever. But are these registered Republicans hitting the pipe???????? McCain???? Are you fucking joking????? The guy is old and out of touch. Vietnam ended 30+ years ago, stop playing the POW card. Nobody cares anymore. I didn't care that Kerry was aboard a swift boat back in the 2004 race...and I certainly don't care about your POW dilemma 30 years ago..we have bigger issues.

Huckabee?????? Yeah, just what we need another religious nut.....8 years was enough of that.

Giuliani?? All I can do is laugh. Bratton cleans up the crime in NYC and this guy takes all the credit......9/11 never happens...this guy is selling cars in Brooklyn right now.....

Romney??? Enough said!

Democrats. Obama???? All sizzle and no steak. He is happy because the old drunk fuck Ted Kennedy endorsed him today? Yeah, that means a lot. Obama has no experience, a shady past, and he flip flops on every issue. Great speaker, but it ends there. I get inspired for about 2 minutes, until I realize how full of shit he is.

Hillary? I don't think SHE believes a word SHE says. I think she just says what she thinks everyone wants to hear and believes none of it. Sure, I'd take Clinton over the asshole we have now....but that's not saying much. Bill was supposed to be that "man of change" that he ran on in 1992. I was never so excited and happy over an election. I thought he was so inspiring...and what did he do....he never lived up to what he was capable of because of his personal issues and demons.

Edwards. Probably the best of the bunch...but if he tells those fucking "father working in the mill" stories one more time, I will snap. Come up with some new material already. He says the same three stories over and over...dad in the mill...the girl who died because the insurance company wouldn't pay for her operation, and about the 200,000 veterans sleeping on streets and on grates tonight. ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Face it people....unless the exhume Bobby Kennedy, FDR, or Truman, we are fucked.

Who Needs To Laugh? I Mean REALLY Laugh?

Jen's Dad sent me this, turns out this guy is a legend on YOUTUBE! I laughed so hard over this I seriously cried. If you are watching from work...watch your volume, he curses a lot......

“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”-Robert Kennedy

Selling Out

Selling out refers to the compromising of one's integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, 'success' or other personal gain. It is commonly associated with attempts to increase mass appeal or acceptability to mainstream society. A person who does this, as opposed to following the original path s/he laid (or claimed to lay) out for him/herself, is labeled a sellout and regarded with disgust and immediate loss of respect. Selling out is seen as gaining success at the cost of credibility.

I can be called a lot of things. Cynical, moody, jaded, impatient, sarcastic, and intense are just a few. I would agree with all of those. A sell out, never! For those of you who really know me, you know that I am a person who is passionate about what I believe in and would never stray from my convictions for personal gain. People who do that really bother me.....and I see it daily, whether it be on the news or in my day to day dealings. Being a "sell out" is what's wrong with the world, and what's especially wrong in America.

Politicians sell out for campaign contributions/favors/etc. They put the best interests of the people they are supposed to represent after their own personal gain and success. You see it every day. Selling out is the reason we still depend on foreign oil, the reason our infrastructure is crumbling, the reason we have a shitty health care system, I could go on and on.

This week, I was faced with a tough decision at my job. Rather than agree to a position within the company where I had the potential to make an additional $20-$25k per year, I chose to remain where I am. The reason, I wasn't going to sell out. The person/people I would have been working for/with I genuinely don't like. I don't like their approach to business, the way they treat others... both personally and professionally, and quite honestly...their character. The industry I work in is large...but in the same sense, it is small. You always run into someone who knows someone you know, etc. And, despite a very big financial gain personally if I had accepted this position....I did not want my name to be associated with theirs. I don't want to run into someone a year from now, when perhaps I am seeking employment elsewhere, who associates me with them. My name and my character are more important than $25k. I am at peace with my decision. I'll leave you with this:

Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'bout the dues you've been paying
Future's coming much too slow
And you wanna run but somehow you just keep on stayin'
Can't decide on which way to go

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Now you're climbin' to the top of the company ladder
Hope it doesn't take too long
Can't you see there'll come a day when it won't matter?
Come a day when you'll be gone

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Take a look ahead, take a look ahead

Now everybody's got advice they just keep on givin'
Doesn't mean too much to me
Lot's of people out to make believe they're livin'
Can't decide who they should be.

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Take a look ahead, take a look ahead. Look ahead

A Sunday Classic

No not today's GIANT upsets in the NFL! The Sunday Classic we all came to love and enjoy years ago. American Top 40 with Kasey Kasem!

Do you remember waking up and knowing it was Sunday morning because you would roll over, push the on button on your "boombox" radio and there was Kasey Kasem saying, "Now, on with the countdown." Where was your favorite song going to end up? Did Madonna make it to number one again? The suspense was just too much some weeks.

Well, after sleeping in late and watching my Sunday Morning political shows "Meet the Press" and the McLaughlin Group in bed with Jen, we ventured into the living room and kitchen to prepare breakfast. As Jen sliced fruit for our fruit salad and I toasted a bagel and set the table, I flipped on the XM Satellite radio that Jen bought me for Christmas...and to our surprise, Kasey Kasem was just starting the top 40 countdown. They play the actual countdowns from when they aired. Today's was the second week of January, 1983. As we sat and ate breakfast, it brought back soooooo many memories. I mean Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" just breaking the top 40 at number 37! Who knew how big that song would be and how it would propel "Thriller" into one of the best selling albums in history? It was surely a trip down memory lane.

I remember listening to those countdowns with my sister and brother each week. We'd have our "blank cassettes" loaded in the cassette decks of our radios to start recording a song we "didn't have on tape" yet. You could get a bunch of good ones from those countdowns...even if Kasey talked through the opening line of the song....

I can also remember being upset when a song I didn't like made it to #1! I remember Kenny Roger's song "Lady" being number one for something like 10 or 12 straight weeks....and I wasn't a fan of him or that song.....and I would be upset that he blocked one of my favorite songs from being number one......if only that were all I had to worry about these days.....

Hearing the countdown this morning brought back memories while Jen and I shared childhood stories as we had breakfast. It was definitely a treat.

So tonight, "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars".

Battling Winter

As I sit here at 9:51PM on Sunday January 6th, 2008 with "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd blasting into my ears from my IPOD....I realize that the holidays are over and we all have a 90 day battle against winter ahead of us. Some call it the "post holiday blues" being that we really have "nothing to look forward to" until Spring...especially if you live in a region of the country where it snows/it is cold.

I truly take this time each year to focus on things. I probably run/exercise the most and eat the healthiest from January-March each year. Although the treadmill is a complete bore compared to running on the beach/boardwalk...I find inspiration in seeing the determination of others at the gym. On the boardwalk or beach, you run past someone or they run past you...and you really don't get to see their efforts, or struggle if you will. When you spend 60 minutes running 2 feet away from someone else....you quietly inspire one another.

Coming down from the high of the holidays is tough on a lot of people....my advice....spend this "down time" getting your "house" in order...so that come the Spring...when "hibernation" is over, you'll be at your finest both mentally and physically. Spring isn't as far away as everyone may think...time goes rather quickly...make the most of it!

Small Talk

If there's one thing I really hate, it is small talk. I hate running into someone at the store that maybe I know...or in some cases someone that I have never met before and small talking. Or as Larry David calls it "The stop and chat."

It usually consists of the same talking points:

1) The weather. Suddenly everyone is a fucking meteorologist. Or they say something obvious like, "It's cold out there!!!!" Or even better "Is it cold enough for you???" Fuck off Al Roker, I just want to check out and get my groceries home. If I want the 5 day forecast, I will put on the Weather Channel....and get the local forecast on the 8's.

2) The family. The concern people all of a sudden have."How's Mom???" If you want to know how Mom is, fucking call her you cheap minute rationing fuck. "How's Mom???" And it is always the generic "She is good" or "Fine" answer. Never "She is still a crazy ass who is driving us all into alcoholism." No, we give the generic answer...so what's the point??????

3) Work. "How's work/your job going????" Like what am I supposed to say...that it blows...that I am underpaid, work too many hours, get no lunch break, and work with a bunch of fucking idiots????? Or they ask..."Still at the same job?????" No asshole, didn't you see me on the news, I cured cancer last week, right after I got all of the Jerry's kids to walk.

4) Inquiring about a mutual friend/neighbor. "Have you seen/talked to Joe lately??" No, and there is a reason, he is a douche bag.....same reason I haven't talked to you in 2 years fucko.

5) Where you are living. "Still living in (enter town name here)?????" No asshole, I live in Memphis now, but the produce here is so good, I make the trip on Saturday afternoons and knock out my weekly shopping...then turn around and head back.

So, if you spot me in a store, or anywhere...you better have something interesting to talk about or ask!!!!!

Happy New Year!!

Wishing Everyone all the best in 2008! :)

New Years Eve was a blast, here are some photos!