Big Face
It's new and quickly upcoming. It is going to be the face of the new marketing.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Natasha hits Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnhmDNQkxlU&feature=channel_page
This is from Cadaver Memorial
go ahead to about 5:30 minute mark to see her.
This is from Cadaver Memorial
go ahead to about 5:30 minute mark to see her.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
They got the Poppy Seed Chicken right there between the Meatloaf and Roastbeef!
I laugh even as I begin to write. It is funny how we organize things in our life. What people either see as more important or how they should organize the structure of life. On a smaller scale, Natasha was recently reading through the Taylor Methodist Cook Book. It had the dishes organized alphabetically. This might not seem like a big deal at all but little do you know. The conversation:
"David, I can understand putting the Index in Alphabetical form, that is what it is for"
ME: "Okay"
"But the whole cookbook?"
ME Again: "Yeah....."
"I mean look here, They have the Poppy Seed Chicken right here between the regular ol Meatloaf and some sort of Roastbeef!"
Currently, we had a chicken thawing in the kitchen, This angered her because she just wanted to look through the book for chicken recipes. Now she has to flip through the whole book simply because they didn't have the book divided by type of dish. AHHHH, now I see your problem. It was great. The anger as she continued to flip was priceless indeed. She would eventually set it down and go through one of the 9 cookbooks she has.
One persons organization of the little things in life can be totally different that some one else's. It's just like going into an office and some one saying, "It look a mess but I know where everything is." Yes, true, you do but no one else does.If we all would consider the "customers" in our lives, then maybe organizational skills as whole would raise. If maybe we release the control and/or selfishness of un-organization, then we can better serve the people around us. I will dip deep into serving others as we go along.
Natasha has struggled with organized religion lately, I guess the Methodist are out again. That line is full of humor.
"David, I can understand putting the Index in Alphabetical form, that is what it is for"
ME: "Okay"
"But the whole cookbook?"
ME Again: "Yeah....."
"I mean look here, They have the Poppy Seed Chicken right here between the regular ol Meatloaf and some sort of Roastbeef!"
Currently, we had a chicken thawing in the kitchen, This angered her because she just wanted to look through the book for chicken recipes. Now she has to flip through the whole book simply because they didn't have the book divided by type of dish. AHHHH, now I see your problem. It was great. The anger as she continued to flip was priceless indeed. She would eventually set it down and go through one of the 9 cookbooks she has.
One persons organization of the little things in life can be totally different that some one else's. It's just like going into an office and some one saying, "It look a mess but I know where everything is." Yes, true, you do but no one else does.If we all would consider the "customers" in our lives, then maybe organizational skills as whole would raise. If maybe we release the control and/or selfishness of un-organization, then we can better serve the people around us. I will dip deep into serving others as we go along.
Natasha has struggled with organized religion lately, I guess the Methodist are out again. That line is full of humor.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What is it?
I stole this title off a piece of paper that I stare at. The purpose of this question was to define a certain program we are currently involved in for the summer. Just to inform you, I am currently devoting all my time to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), you most likely call it the Stimulus bill. You can find our marketing at http://letsgo2work.org/
I didn't come to talk about work though nor give them free marketing. I came to answer the question of "What is it?" In defining that, I shall ask even more question I suppose. Definitions are funny. The search for answers to the strangest things draw the craziest conclusions are mind will allow. Do we search to deep to define all that are possible? Are we scared to not understand something. This can be either ourselves, others, persons, places or things. Now it sounds as if I am looking for a Wheel of Fortune catergory.
Why do we search for answers? Why must we know things? Can people not just be happy in the process rather than to define the measure of the adventure?
I didn't come to talk about work though nor give them free marketing. I came to answer the question of "What is it?" In defining that, I shall ask even more question I suppose. Definitions are funny. The search for answers to the strangest things draw the craziest conclusions are mind will allow. Do we search to deep to define all that are possible? Are we scared to not understand something. This can be either ourselves, others, persons, places or things. Now it sounds as if I am looking for a Wheel of Fortune catergory.
Why do we search for answers? Why must we know things? Can people not just be happy in the process rather than to define the measure of the adventure?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Long Line of Losers
I have started listening to this new guy, Kevin Fowler.
This is my favorite, including the line: "I was born with a shotglass in my hand"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdsplfldbSQ
If you can pull up the link, search Kevin Fowler, Long of Losers on youtube
This is my favorite, including the line: "I was born with a shotglass in my hand"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdsplfldbSQ
If you can pull up the link, search Kevin Fowler, Long of Losers on youtube
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Remember the Pony
This is one of my favorite stories of all time. Mort was an amazing speaker and delivered some powerful things while I was working at Southwestern Company.
http://ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY4CIPBWkKY
Remember the Pony
Tom Peters posted this on his blog
"How to survive a recession"
You work longer. You work harder. You may well work for less; and, if so, you adapt to the untoward circumstances with a smile—even if it kills you inside. You volunteer to do more. You always bring a good attitude to work. You fake it if your good attitude flags. You literally practice your "game face" in the mirror in the morning, and in the loo mid-morning. You shrug off shit that flows downhill in your direction—buy a shovel or a "pre-worn" raincoat on eBay. You get there earlier. You leave later. You forget about "the good old days"—nostalgia is for wimps. You buck yourself up with the thought that "this too shall pass"—but then remind yourself that it might not pass anytime soon, so you re-dedicate yourself to making the absolute best of what you have now. You eschew all forms of personal excess. You simplify.You sweat the details as you never have before. You sweat the details as you never have before. You sweat the details as you never have before. You raise to the sky the standards of excellence by which you evaluate your own performance. You thank others by the truckload if good things happen—and take the heat yourself if bad things happen.You behave kindly, but you don't sugarcoat or hide the truth—humans are startlingly resilient.You treat small successes as if they were Superbowl victories—and celebrate and commend accordingly.You shrug off the losses (ignoring what's going on inside your tummy), and get back on the horse and try again.You avoid negative people to the extent you can—pollution kills. You eventually read the gloom-sprayers the riot act. You learn new tricks of your trade.You network like a demon.You help others with their issues. You give new meaning to the word "thoughtful." You redouble, re-triple your efforts to "walk in your customer's shoes." (Especially if the shoes smell.)You mind your manners—and accept others' lack of manners in the face of their strains.You are kind to all mankind.You leave the blame game at the office door. You become a paragon of accountability. And then you pray.
[This post sent to you from the business lounge aboard the M/S Star, en route Tallinn to Helsinki—and fully wired, or, rather, wireless, at Sea, crossing the Gulf of Finland. Photo above.]
[The list is also available in PowerPoint.—CM]
http://ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY4CIPBWkKY
Remember the Pony
Tom Peters posted this on his blog
"How to survive a recession"
You work longer. You work harder. You may well work for less; and, if so, you adapt to the untoward circumstances with a smile—even if it kills you inside. You volunteer to do more. You always bring a good attitude to work. You fake it if your good attitude flags. You literally practice your "game face" in the mirror in the morning, and in the loo mid-morning. You shrug off shit that flows downhill in your direction—buy a shovel or a "pre-worn" raincoat on eBay. You get there earlier. You leave later. You forget about "the good old days"—nostalgia is for wimps. You buck yourself up with the thought that "this too shall pass"—but then remind yourself that it might not pass anytime soon, so you re-dedicate yourself to making the absolute best of what you have now. You eschew all forms of personal excess. You simplify.You sweat the details as you never have before. You sweat the details as you never have before. You sweat the details as you never have before. You raise to the sky the standards of excellence by which you evaluate your own performance. You thank others by the truckload if good things happen—and take the heat yourself if bad things happen.You behave kindly, but you don't sugarcoat or hide the truth—humans are startlingly resilient.You treat small successes as if they were Superbowl victories—and celebrate and commend accordingly.You shrug off the losses (ignoring what's going on inside your tummy), and get back on the horse and try again.You avoid negative people to the extent you can—pollution kills. You eventually read the gloom-sprayers the riot act. You learn new tricks of your trade.You network like a demon.You help others with their issues. You give new meaning to the word "thoughtful." You redouble, re-triple your efforts to "walk in your customer's shoes." (Especially if the shoes smell.)You mind your manners—and accept others' lack of manners in the face of their strains.You are kind to all mankind.You leave the blame game at the office door. You become a paragon of accountability. And then you pray.
[This post sent to you from the business lounge aboard the M/S Star, en route Tallinn to Helsinki—and fully wired, or, rather, wireless, at Sea, crossing the Gulf of Finland. Photo above.]
[The list is also available in PowerPoint.—CM]
Friday, April 3, 2009
Florida to New York
My first summer selling books was living in the town of Pottsville, PA in 2001. My two roommates and I were able to score a huge place where three priests lived from the local Catholic Church. This place was huge because at one time it had held over eight priests. Also this place was right next door to the Yuengling Beer Brewery, American’s oldest brewery. It was a great smell to wake up too every morning.
I begin to empty out of new houses with one small mining town and so it was time to move on to the next town. I slip out onto interstate 81 to get over to the next town quickly. It’s only about a 10 mile difference but I want to get over quickly to do some afternoon mapping. As I begin to slip out on the road, I notice a man hitch hiking. Strangely enough he is holding sign that just says the next town up. I picked him up and offer the lift. He gladly accepts and we are on our way. As I begin to speak with this gentleman or let him speak mostly, I figured I talked to people all day and he has been to himself, so he could do the talking. He began to speak of his past and how he had gotten to this point. Somewhere along the story I caught that he was from Florida. I ask why on Earth was headed to Frackville, PA from Florida. He replied “I’m not; I am headed to New York.” In my lack of understanding I asked about his sign. He kindly replied, “You see David, you can’t just leave Florida and write New York on your sign. That isn’t how it works. I just write the next town up. Then, when I get there, I re-write the next town up. If I keep my head up to just one town at a time, I’ll get to New York. You can’t make the long trip all at one time”
By this time I was pulling off the interstate, it was time for him to make a new sign. I gave the guy the 2 sandwiches I had packed for the day. It was the least I could offer for the life lesson. Since then I have remember that story whenever I get frustrated about not hitting my goals all at one time. It was a tremendous lesson for a 20 year old man to have for the rest of the summer and the rest of my life. I don’t have to get the end just to the next spot along the way and one day I will look up and be in New York or in my case, a sunny central American island where I scuba dive all day! So maybe that is why we are here.
I begin to empty out of new houses with one small mining town and so it was time to move on to the next town. I slip out onto interstate 81 to get over to the next town quickly. It’s only about a 10 mile difference but I want to get over quickly to do some afternoon mapping. As I begin to slip out on the road, I notice a man hitch hiking. Strangely enough he is holding sign that just says the next town up. I picked him up and offer the lift. He gladly accepts and we are on our way. As I begin to speak with this gentleman or let him speak mostly, I figured I talked to people all day and he has been to himself, so he could do the talking. He began to speak of his past and how he had gotten to this point. Somewhere along the story I caught that he was from Florida. I ask why on Earth was headed to Frackville, PA from Florida. He replied “I’m not; I am headed to New York.” In my lack of understanding I asked about his sign. He kindly replied, “You see David, you can’t just leave Florida and write New York on your sign. That isn’t how it works. I just write the next town up. Then, when I get there, I re-write the next town up. If I keep my head up to just one town at a time, I’ll get to New York. You can’t make the long trip all at one time”
By this time I was pulling off the interstate, it was time for him to make a new sign. I gave the guy the 2 sandwiches I had packed for the day. It was the least I could offer for the life lesson. Since then I have remember that story whenever I get frustrated about not hitting my goals all at one time. It was a tremendous lesson for a 20 year old man to have for the rest of the summer and the rest of my life. I don’t have to get the end just to the next spot along the way and one day I will look up and be in New York or in my case, a sunny central American island where I scuba dive all day! So maybe that is why we are here.
Monday, March 30, 2009
All out of Pledge and my dust rag is clean
It has been awhile. Things are busy in the world of David lately. With work, the stimulus bill has kept me extremely busy. Busy is a good thing in employment work. It has been a great opportunity to get out and meet new people and get acquainted with different companies. The shear size of the stimulus bill is crazy. If you want an insiders view on it, I would be happy to share it with you but not here or not on here today anyway. There is always tomorrow for you.
So travel, again. About a week ago, I was able to head back to MS for a couple days. It was more of a purpose trip as oppose to just simple pleasure. Yet, I managed to find a little fun in the mix. We visited Natasha's family, a hospital visit to see her cousin and then headed to Oxford. We caught then end of game 2 of Ole Miss/Alabama, which we won to claim the series. We, including Ben, Natasha, her dad, and I went out to the Sports bar to get into March Madness. It was a great success and the crowd was not to crazy. We then ate sushie, yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, what I miss living in Pikeville, and called it a night.
Sunday brought more of the same, except a loss at the hands of Alabama, ahh you can't sweep them all. We then headed out to Taylor Grocery. It was good food and even better friends. We were able to have a good crowd of Natasha, Ben, I, Jenny, Byrd and Rachael (this was a good friend of Natasha back at Community College and they have sense rekindled their relationship)(this is good). The more long term friends you can have, the better. I was sadden to the fact that we really were planning on going to Yocona this weekend. With it burning down, this brings much grief. For those of you who don't know, Natasha and I had our first date there and were engaged there as well. We also had dates there in between. They are saying they will rebuild, which is good, they needed some construction anyway. Hopefully it will look closely to the same!
It brings up a good point. Why do we attach ourselves to possessions? Not so much places of memory as much as material things. We have a family member die and we want to keep every thing they had in their place. We will take that old stuff and store it up somewhere forever. Some things we look at but some we never even get out of the attic. Then when someone comes along and mentions getting rid of it, oh no, that is important. Really, really, is it that important setting up here with 12 lbs of dust. I don't know, maybe that is what comes with moving and traveling a lot. You begin to limit your material things, so you don't have to load that shit up 2 flights of stairs in the middle of July, (right Ben)! I can handle the occasional picture or antique but not every little piece of $25 Wal-mart furniture. I mean really, I don't want everything in my closet to be something I pull out and look at once in a blue moon just to remind me I miss someone. I'll miss them anyway, they were apart of my life, I'll show it with a picture on the wall or antique in the dining room but not every sock they wore back in 82.
That always leads to the discussion Natasha, I and a friend of ours had last night. What is the goal in life? What we attempting to accomplish overall? This will be the next discussion, I'll leave this on topic today.
So why are we here? Is it to collect things of people past? Is this what we truly what to keep when people are gone? Is it their memory or their material possessions that we should keep? If it is the latter, I better get more stuff so I can fill up your attic too! Oh who am I kidding, I am going to live to be 119. I'll explain this theory later. Hope you guys don't mind if your stuff ends up in a yard sale. I don't want to seem shallow or that I don't care about others, I do. I just not a believer in building items to leave being is a sign of success nor is collecting people left over possessions a way to show you care more than others. I guess it relates back to when I acted in a scene of "Death of a Salesman." A complex play dealing with just this fact. A guy realizes, as he is being released from his job, that he truly has nothing material to leave behind. He become fearful that people will forget him and he begins to do crazy thing to leave things behind. It is good, you can read it yourself. Well long story longer, It is simply that we have our time and our family and friends have there time here is this world. There is the chance to make this world the best possible without leaving that VHS copy of Christmas Vacation for me to keep for 25 more years. "But It was his favorite movie........."
We can't all be Martin Luther King Jr but our impacts to a community, a state or a nation can be long felt with the ripple effect long after our departure. Even more so than those 3 dining room tables in storage. Maybe I just don't like to dust so much furniture.
So travel, again. About a week ago, I was able to head back to MS for a couple days. It was more of a purpose trip as oppose to just simple pleasure. Yet, I managed to find a little fun in the mix. We visited Natasha's family, a hospital visit to see her cousin and then headed to Oxford. We caught then end of game 2 of Ole Miss/Alabama, which we won to claim the series. We, including Ben, Natasha, her dad, and I went out to the Sports bar to get into March Madness. It was a great success and the crowd was not to crazy. We then ate sushie, yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, what I miss living in Pikeville, and called it a night.
Sunday brought more of the same, except a loss at the hands of Alabama, ahh you can't sweep them all. We then headed out to Taylor Grocery. It was good food and even better friends. We were able to have a good crowd of Natasha, Ben, I, Jenny, Byrd and Rachael (this was a good friend of Natasha back at Community College and they have sense rekindled their relationship)(this is good). The more long term friends you can have, the better. I was sadden to the fact that we really were planning on going to Yocona this weekend. With it burning down, this brings much grief. For those of you who don't know, Natasha and I had our first date there and were engaged there as well. We also had dates there in between. They are saying they will rebuild, which is good, they needed some construction anyway. Hopefully it will look closely to the same!
It brings up a good point. Why do we attach ourselves to possessions? Not so much places of memory as much as material things. We have a family member die and we want to keep every thing they had in their place. We will take that old stuff and store it up somewhere forever. Some things we look at but some we never even get out of the attic. Then when someone comes along and mentions getting rid of it, oh no, that is important. Really, really, is it that important setting up here with 12 lbs of dust. I don't know, maybe that is what comes with moving and traveling a lot. You begin to limit your material things, so you don't have to load that shit up 2 flights of stairs in the middle of July, (right Ben)! I can handle the occasional picture or antique but not every little piece of $25 Wal-mart furniture. I mean really, I don't want everything in my closet to be something I pull out and look at once in a blue moon just to remind me I miss someone. I'll miss them anyway, they were apart of my life, I'll show it with a picture on the wall or antique in the dining room but not every sock they wore back in 82.
That always leads to the discussion Natasha, I and a friend of ours had last night. What is the goal in life? What we attempting to accomplish overall? This will be the next discussion, I'll leave this on topic today.
So why are we here? Is it to collect things of people past? Is this what we truly what to keep when people are gone? Is it their memory or their material possessions that we should keep? If it is the latter, I better get more stuff so I can fill up your attic too! Oh who am I kidding, I am going to live to be 119. I'll explain this theory later. Hope you guys don't mind if your stuff ends up in a yard sale. I don't want to seem shallow or that I don't care about others, I do. I just not a believer in building items to leave being is a sign of success nor is collecting people left over possessions a way to show you care more than others. I guess it relates back to when I acted in a scene of "Death of a Salesman." A complex play dealing with just this fact. A guy realizes, as he is being released from his job, that he truly has nothing material to leave behind. He become fearful that people will forget him and he begins to do crazy thing to leave things behind. It is good, you can read it yourself. Well long story longer, It is simply that we have our time and our family and friends have there time here is this world. There is the chance to make this world the best possible without leaving that VHS copy of Christmas Vacation for me to keep for 25 more years. "But It was his favorite movie........."
We can't all be Martin Luther King Jr but our impacts to a community, a state or a nation can be long felt with the ripple effect long after our departure. Even more so than those 3 dining room tables in storage. Maybe I just don't like to dust so much furniture.
Monday, March 9, 2009
People in places...
Maybe that could be a Wheel of Fortune category, maybe it already is. I got told the other day at work that the Thank you email I sent out was too wordy. To wordy you say, I thought about that. I wrote it down, I thought about it some more. I felt it was constructive criticism, as was so carefully stated in the email, along with a great compliment at the end. Someone has been reading their manager manual. Yet, there is something larger about that concept that has bothered me. It's not because I don't use the phrase myself. I have previously used it here to describe mine and other people’s writings. The fact that it is a business letter, it maybe does make sense. They are attempting to keep the document more professional. Don’t let your guard down; don’t open up too directly with your clients. Don’t write like you talk, keep it professional. I’ve heard it all before. There is feeling that causes restraint of the mind in this context. This is the great thing about blogs. There is no restraint. You can write what you want and how you want to write it. You can say what you feel. You might pay the price of putting out on the line, but it’s your chance too. No criticisms, just free roam. People will then take the time to click on your page, read your thoughts and then they can do as they please. Therein lays the question of why are we here. What causes people to come to his or her blogs to write and to also go to others blogs to read? It is the pull to express ones potential of freedom and the principal of opening up your thoughts, mind and feelings.
So let us get on to this wordy discussion. I always ponder what makes people stay where they do. What makes people commit to a certain area? What makes them center their self in that location? These are questions I have no answer, yet that is. I will give us examples of people intertwined into their atmosphere. I'll give you case 1: Big One staying in Oxford.
Big One and Little One had been enjoying the evening events of the college town. It had involved quite a few cocktails at one of the many waterholes so carefully placed throughout the square of Oxford. After making sure the bartenders weren't serving any more these two determined individuals continued their dream of total intoxication to a common event known as a late night. These so cleverly named events award you the opportunity of continuing to wet your whistle at late event beyond the hours of operation of the pub. After a few more hours, pushing their watches into times only used for hunters and night shift workers, the Ones are perplexed to their need for nicotine. As they begin the roll up to the late am service station, the vehicle of choice would sputter using their last fumes of gas. This occurring at roughly a 75% incline of a hill. They were able to get the mass of metal to remain braked at close to the center of this hill. Now getting the hollowed out jeep to the side of the road would be another adventure all in itself. They request the assistance of a 350 lb fellow friend, which was called out from his deep slumber. He helps push the vehicle up the incline to the side, not with Big One, nope, with Little One, all 75 lbs of him. Good thing the friend didn't let go, the story would end here. Yet the story continues with Little One sent after the gas. Big One gives Little One 5 dollars with specific instructions as follows:
"Get 1.88 in gas, a Mountain Dew and a pack cigarettes" Yes you guess it, this was exactly 5 dollars. Taking that he knew this exact total meant that this wasn't his first adventure with only getting 1.88 in gas, maybe why he was running so low. Anywho, the story then goes with Little One's question "What do I put the gas in" Big One quick on his feet replies "Just borrow a can from the gas station" Heaven forbid you skip on the MD or cigs.
We move forward with the return of Little One. Big One and friend still remain in car. Little One lights a cig, good investment and begins to put gas into truck. Little One tells Big One that he is done. Big One turns the key over, no start, tries again, still no start. Big One gets out in a whisk to see what the hell the problem is. He then notices that Little One had not poured the gas in the truck, OH NO, yet down the side of the truck and all onto the ground. Now sitting broke, out of gas and nothing but a half MD and pack of cigs minus 2. All in all, the truck is stranded there, friend is now disgusted and proceeds to let them know that they now have only the option of returning with him and that is it. You can't make this up.
I don't recall how long the truck set there. I do recall this was either not the first time or the last these two adventures ran out of gas on this same hill. I guess it hard to keep 1.88 in gas flowing through the pipes. Luckily, some years later, these late nights don't happen, well not at the bottom of that hill anyway. Good thing, guess it tough to pour gas on an incline.
So let us get on to this wordy discussion. I always ponder what makes people stay where they do. What makes people commit to a certain area? What makes them center their self in that location? These are questions I have no answer, yet that is. I will give us examples of people intertwined into their atmosphere. I'll give you case 1: Big One staying in Oxford.
Big One and Little One had been enjoying the evening events of the college town. It had involved quite a few cocktails at one of the many waterholes so carefully placed throughout the square of Oxford. After making sure the bartenders weren't serving any more these two determined individuals continued their dream of total intoxication to a common event known as a late night. These so cleverly named events award you the opportunity of continuing to wet your whistle at late event beyond the hours of operation of the pub. After a few more hours, pushing their watches into times only used for hunters and night shift workers, the Ones are perplexed to their need for nicotine. As they begin the roll up to the late am service station, the vehicle of choice would sputter using their last fumes of gas. This occurring at roughly a 75% incline of a hill. They were able to get the mass of metal to remain braked at close to the center of this hill. Now getting the hollowed out jeep to the side of the road would be another adventure all in itself. They request the assistance of a 350 lb fellow friend, which was called out from his deep slumber. He helps push the vehicle up the incline to the side, not with Big One, nope, with Little One, all 75 lbs of him. Good thing the friend didn't let go, the story would end here. Yet the story continues with Little One sent after the gas. Big One gives Little One 5 dollars with specific instructions as follows:
"Get 1.88 in gas, a Mountain Dew and a pack cigarettes" Yes you guess it, this was exactly 5 dollars. Taking that he knew this exact total meant that this wasn't his first adventure with only getting 1.88 in gas, maybe why he was running so low. Anywho, the story then goes with Little One's question "What do I put the gas in" Big One quick on his feet replies "Just borrow a can from the gas station" Heaven forbid you skip on the MD or cigs.
We move forward with the return of Little One. Big One and friend still remain in car. Little One lights a cig, good investment and begins to put gas into truck. Little One tells Big One that he is done. Big One turns the key over, no start, tries again, still no start. Big One gets out in a whisk to see what the hell the problem is. He then notices that Little One had not poured the gas in the truck, OH NO, yet down the side of the truck and all onto the ground. Now sitting broke, out of gas and nothing but a half MD and pack of cigs minus 2. All in all, the truck is stranded there, friend is now disgusted and proceeds to let them know that they now have only the option of returning with him and that is it. You can't make this up.
I don't recall how long the truck set there. I do recall this was either not the first time or the last these two adventures ran out of gas on this same hill. I guess it hard to keep 1.88 in gas flowing through the pipes. Luckily, some years later, these late nights don't happen, well not at the bottom of that hill anyway. Good thing, guess it tough to pour gas on an incline.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
A one part series...
I always begin my post by reading my previous post. This not to duplicate. In the last one I noticed I had become some lengthy. There also was discussions in the last travel that eluded to the fact that it is negative when blogs become to wordy and tell to much. I begin to lose focus. Speaking of focus, ten hours down and ten hours back of traveling alone gives you all type of time to think. Thinking can be good and can be bad. We'll see later. I know many of you have been patiently sitting and waiting for the next entry from our great lives.
I have been given a request to talk on the some great friends of ours. In order to hide their identity, we will refer to them simply as the Coopers. Say I stole hiding identity in blogging from my mother, it won't be the first thing I plagiarise throughout these entries. To further examine them, we will label them as Big One and Little One. Oh but don't get to excited, they are to come later.
This entry will be on this weekend's adventures. The Toyota was loaded down with two empty coolers and a suitcase stuffed with clean clothes as I pulled out of Pikeville, KY at four pm on Thursday afternoon. I laid the hammer down headed for the interstate. This is not always an easy thing to do when leaving extreme eastern KY. Regardless I made it. While cruising through Knoxville, TN, I called into a radio sports program to discuss SEC sports with some TN fans. It was fun, put me on live and they were cordial. It wasn't the first time I had been on the radio, not even that day. I had put on a Career Fair, partnering with all the area schools, and hit heavy on the marketing events.
Back to the road, I hit Carthage about 1:30 am, gaining an hour to central time. It was good to smell the fresh uncoil air, have a good pressure hot shower, and eat an omelet and biscuits. I loaded up the smoker that I had stored at the in-laws. Now, this isn't your every day run of the mill, I remember when I had first grill, smoker. This is a man's man smoker. One that you sit around with your other guy friends and say yeah, it's a hell of thing. We did. It's an over compensation thing. Like the guy on the lake with the boat that is to large and to loud and looks like it belongs on the ocean. Yeah, it for sure that he is not packing. We also tauted other people in right field with there small gas and electric compact grills and such. I imagine they were laughing as we load in the pouring sleet and snow. As long as well get to laugh, it's all fun.
So long story longer, I was able to get to Oxford, MS by Friday afternoon. Big Al (if you don't know him, I will introduce him through out post, we take some of the same travels with us) and I began the prep work on 4 10 lb Boston Butts, 16 slab of ribs, 10 lbs of sausage and 4 whole chickens. I think we had a couple can of beans and some chips to go with it. Staying focused on the key food groups. All we needed was a Diet Coke and we want looked like a McDonald's order. "I'll have a big Mac, Fish sandwich, and Super Size fries.......and a diet coke"
The Friday game was cancelled for rain and it was close to freezing cold. We opted out for the Japaneese place Kabuka (sp). Nine guys and an open flame was an entertaining time to say the least. Across from us sat 7 women and 1 guy. Now this brings up an interesting topic. Was he the being that guy, you know the one who just can't let the girls go out and have a good time. Surely he isn't that boyfriend or guy that thinks, hey "7 women and me, wow, that sounds hot" because it's not as "cool" as you think it is. OOOOOOOORRRRRRR was he just gay. If so, then I understand more. yet, it does bring up another question and conversation? How much and far are you allowed as a gay man to take that. I mean would you include yourself in "ladies night' functions. If so, this it becomes a purely sexual based night out. Saying, "If you are more likely to have sex with men..night out" Doesn't have quite the same ring to it. I'll leave this one for you guys to discuss. It just needs to be addressed that even though you would rather be with men, it doesn't include you. Women have other matters/problems/fun things to discuss on ladies night. Don't be that guy! Hell, maybe I am way off base and it was simply that he has cancer and it was his Make a Wish gift. He did down that 15 second gasoline shot like a champ. I was impressed he took all our pranks we pulled out. Big Al not to be out down with the young lady called him out.
Moving on, We did make it to the baseball field the next day. At 8:00 am for a 12:00 game. It was roughly some where between Montana and Alaska Cold. Yet to decide what kind of cold that is, I don't consider Canada at all. Nothing is really Canadian, they combined everyone elses things. The meat cooked slow, but we ate very well. This brings me to the main discussion. I know I know, said I would shorten this one up.
Why do people insist on telling you how freezing cold it is when it is cold. This is such a simple topic of negative behavior. I know people that will constantly deliver bad news. Hey David, it's going to rain, it's going to be cold, it is raining, it is snowing, it is cold, the event is going to suck, yah yah yah yah yah yah, shut it. Doesn't matter, really. It is not perfect weather conditions for baseball, but it was perfect weather for B^3 Baseball, Beer & BBQ. This event occurs on opening weekend of baseball. Guess what, that is always and is always going to be in February. Most likely going to be ugly weather. Not bad but ugly. Let's move on. I could go on and on with a rant about this relates to life and the negative behavior have towards their situation and how that leads into a projected bad time, but I have done that and you have heard that way before me. Does it matter, if you don't like the event, the experience, then "WHY ARE YOU HERE" Just enjoy the situation, live the moment and I promise you that it will leave you with hell of stories later. Ones that will leave you saying things like Natasha's favorite words "You can't make this shit up!" I'll give you this from the late Paul Harvey: a great loss this past week.
"People like bad news because it makes them feel better about themselves. We like to hear of others struggles because it will let us say to ourselves at least I am not like that person."
There are a lot of stories from this weekend of travel. It is always fun to head to Oxford and to MS in general. They were only able to get one game in with the freezing rain coming in side ways. The next was canceled for snow and then the next day was concealed as well. It happens. I will return. I also went and played a little poker as well. It was fun and entertaining. Then I headed down to Jackson, MS to see New Site (my high school) Girls Basketball team play in the state tournament for the first time ever. They lost by four, great to see old friends.
Speaking of Friends, I will begin to introduce friends in different writings. I think it is important to not only know why are we here as far as locations but why we associate and interact with certain people. People are the back bone of a happy life. It is what makes us rich in life, not the travel to destinations but the people we see and the experience we create.
" But it's not how big's the house, it's how happy's the home, How poor is a rich man who lives all alone" Aaron Watson, Shut Up and Dance
I have been given a request to talk on the some great friends of ours. In order to hide their identity, we will refer to them simply as the Coopers. Say I stole hiding identity in blogging from my mother, it won't be the first thing I plagiarise throughout these entries. To further examine them, we will label them as Big One and Little One. Oh but don't get to excited, they are to come later.
This entry will be on this weekend's adventures. The Toyota was loaded down with two empty coolers and a suitcase stuffed with clean clothes as I pulled out of Pikeville, KY at four pm on Thursday afternoon. I laid the hammer down headed for the interstate. This is not always an easy thing to do when leaving extreme eastern KY. Regardless I made it. While cruising through Knoxville, TN, I called into a radio sports program to discuss SEC sports with some TN fans. It was fun, put me on live and they were cordial. It wasn't the first time I had been on the radio, not even that day. I had put on a Career Fair, partnering with all the area schools, and hit heavy on the marketing events.
Back to the road, I hit Carthage about 1:30 am, gaining an hour to central time. It was good to smell the fresh uncoil air, have a good pressure hot shower, and eat an omelet and biscuits. I loaded up the smoker that I had stored at the in-laws. Now, this isn't your every day run of the mill, I remember when I had first grill, smoker. This is a man's man smoker. One that you sit around with your other guy friends and say yeah, it's a hell of thing. We did. It's an over compensation thing. Like the guy on the lake with the boat that is to large and to loud and looks like it belongs on the ocean. Yeah, it for sure that he is not packing. We also tauted other people in right field with there small gas and electric compact grills and such. I imagine they were laughing as we load in the pouring sleet and snow. As long as well get to laugh, it's all fun.
So long story longer, I was able to get to Oxford, MS by Friday afternoon. Big Al (if you don't know him, I will introduce him through out post, we take some of the same travels with us) and I began the prep work on 4 10 lb Boston Butts, 16 slab of ribs, 10 lbs of sausage and 4 whole chickens. I think we had a couple can of beans and some chips to go with it. Staying focused on the key food groups. All we needed was a Diet Coke and we want looked like a McDonald's order. "I'll have a big Mac, Fish sandwich, and Super Size fries.......and a diet coke"
The Friday game was cancelled for rain and it was close to freezing cold. We opted out for the Japaneese place Kabuka (sp). Nine guys and an open flame was an entertaining time to say the least. Across from us sat 7 women and 1 guy. Now this brings up an interesting topic. Was he the being that guy, you know the one who just can't let the girls go out and have a good time. Surely he isn't that boyfriend or guy that thinks, hey "7 women and me, wow, that sounds hot" because it's not as "cool" as you think it is. OOOOOOOORRRRRRR was he just gay. If so, then I understand more. yet, it does bring up another question and conversation? How much and far are you allowed as a gay man to take that. I mean would you include yourself in "ladies night' functions. If so, this it becomes a purely sexual based night out. Saying, "If you are more likely to have sex with men..night out" Doesn't have quite the same ring to it. I'll leave this one for you guys to discuss. It just needs to be addressed that even though you would rather be with men, it doesn't include you. Women have other matters/problems/fun things to discuss on ladies night. Don't be that guy! Hell, maybe I am way off base and it was simply that he has cancer and it was his Make a Wish gift. He did down that 15 second gasoline shot like a champ. I was impressed he took all our pranks we pulled out. Big Al not to be out down with the young lady called him out.
Moving on, We did make it to the baseball field the next day. At 8:00 am for a 12:00 game. It was roughly some where between Montana and Alaska Cold. Yet to decide what kind of cold that is, I don't consider Canada at all. Nothing is really Canadian, they combined everyone elses things. The meat cooked slow, but we ate very well. This brings me to the main discussion. I know I know, said I would shorten this one up.
Why do people insist on telling you how freezing cold it is when it is cold. This is such a simple topic of negative behavior. I know people that will constantly deliver bad news. Hey David, it's going to rain, it's going to be cold, it is raining, it is snowing, it is cold, the event is going to suck, yah yah yah yah yah yah, shut it. Doesn't matter, really. It is not perfect weather conditions for baseball, but it was perfect weather for B^3 Baseball, Beer & BBQ. This event occurs on opening weekend of baseball. Guess what, that is always and is always going to be in February. Most likely going to be ugly weather. Not bad but ugly. Let's move on. I could go on and on with a rant about this relates to life and the negative behavior have towards their situation and how that leads into a projected bad time, but I have done that and you have heard that way before me. Does it matter, if you don't like the event, the experience, then "WHY ARE YOU HERE" Just enjoy the situation, live the moment and I promise you that it will leave you with hell of stories later. Ones that will leave you saying things like Natasha's favorite words "You can't make this shit up!" I'll give you this from the late Paul Harvey: a great loss this past week.
"People like bad news because it makes them feel better about themselves. We like to hear of others struggles because it will let us say to ourselves at least I am not like that person."
There are a lot of stories from this weekend of travel. It is always fun to head to Oxford and to MS in general. They were only able to get one game in with the freezing rain coming in side ways. The next was canceled for snow and then the next day was concealed as well. It happens. I will return. I also went and played a little poker as well. It was fun and entertaining. Then I headed down to Jackson, MS to see New Site (my high school) Girls Basketball team play in the state tournament for the first time ever. They lost by four, great to see old friends.
Speaking of Friends, I will begin to introduce friends in different writings. I think it is important to not only know why are we here as far as locations but why we associate and interact with certain people. People are the back bone of a happy life. It is what makes us rich in life, not the travel to destinations but the people we see and the experience we create.
" But it's not how big's the house, it's how happy's the home, How poor is a rich man who lives all alone" Aaron Watson, Shut Up and Dance
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Friendly Budget Travel
Travel is so important. The questions are were to and why are we there. For starters, you’ll have to work with me here. I have managed to slice the tip of my pointer finger off of my left hand last night. I was slicing potatoes and slicing towards me slowly like you should, but then there was this tip on the other side that needed to be sliced, quickly acting, I just nipped the tip, well bad thing is this included my finger on the other side as well. Fun times! Good thing I have a 1/8 doctor in the house, yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh the $40,000 a year student loans are already starting to pay their self off.
Honestly back to the important stuff. What an amazing adventure and enlighten time going out to Utah this weekend. Five of us, which included Natasha, I, Damian (a classmate of Natasha’s that lives in the only other apartment in our building, we have become good friends, share a lot of the same ideas on life, religion, the pursuit of happiness, except he voted for McCain, I’ll work on him, his dad is coal miner, most likely why), Damian’s fiancé Jennifer (she currently lives in Bristol pursuing a degree in photography, she is really good at pictures, we hope she captures that magic shot some day) and Regina (who also is a classmate of Natasha’s, she is from Mobile, AL, has a fiancé that I hope moves up here soon, he likes sports and good beer too). Regina’s brother also flew in from Mobile to join us on this trip as well.
So the trip begins with us five. Jennifer conducted the red eye drive to Louisville, getting us to the end of our 4 and half hour car ride to the airport at 5 am in order to catch the 7 am flight out. It was 3 degrees with snow on the ground when we left. We flew out of Louisville instead of Lexington because it saved us roughly 50 dollars a ticket, totaling to savings of $250. Well worth the extra drive. We fly into Minneapolis (which also is cold and full of snow) and catch the flight to Salt Lake City. We are in SLC by 11:30. We picked up the rental, got an upgrade which we already had a family discounted car from my brother/cousin Big Al, total cost with gas purchase and all of $30 a person for three days.
The drive up to the Wasatch Mountains begins bringing us to the place of stay. This is Rhonda’s and Gary’s home. These are friends we made while working in Utah last year. Natasha met Rhonda as she too worked part time for Deer Valley. She was retired from Delta Airlines where she worked for 28 years. Rhonda and Natasha hit it off early last year because Rhonda is originally from Louisiana and lived some of her life in Southern MS. Gary is originally from Texas and went to Texas Tech; I didn’t rub the Cotton Bowl win in too bad. He also works at Deer Valley one day a week (it is a common practice for people in Park City to also work at the resorts one or two days a week in order to get free ski passes) and works for stock investment firm. He retired from Delta as well with 30+ years. These are amazing people. They let all of us stay for free at their beautiful home. Gary also has put in a new hot tub. This was ammmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzinnnnnnnnngggggg on Friday night.
We then went to get our ski and boot rentals. For all 6 of us (Regina’s brother included) it cost us 7 dollars. That is 7 dollars totalllllllllllll. A girl that is good friend of Natasha’s and mine, works at a place. Needless to say, she hooked us up. We tipped the guy well and everyone was happy. We then went on to ski that day for a few hours for free. All the resorts there have a fly in and ski for free package for your day of arrival. We ate dinner at a swanky but not too expensive pizza place. Our tab was picked up by Natasha’s old boss. Amazing! Afterwards, we were feeling the exhaustion from the 36 hour day.
The nest day we hit the slopes of Deer Valley again. Oh, all sixxxxxxxxxxxx of us skied for freeeeeeeeeeeeee. Kris Anderson, who is the head manager for the food at Deer Valley, had plenty of friend passes and was amazing enough to share them with us. These are Deer Valley $85 passes. What an amazing place this is. Kris and Natasha seemed to hit it off well. Kris is an amazing person and I could and will use a whole entry devoted to her one day. W Damian, on only his second day of skiing, was ready to go. He picked it up so quickly. Almost to the point I was angry at him for being so good so quickly, jealously is so ugly so I let it go. Lunch was at Royal Street Café, a high end lunch spot at mid mountain, 8,500 ft. We enjoyed this, almost to the point where we couldn’t ski in the afternoon but we managed. On to dinner to we went, then back to the place to stay and get some much needed wine and hot tub time. The wine selection in Utah is amazing. The liquor laws are crazy but the wine and beer sure are good.
The next day, Natasha and Jennifer opted out of skiing. Jennifer was feeling the effects of the altitude, cold and travel. Natasha had so many people to still visit. The men would take to the slopes today! Damian and I went back to Deer Valley to up our skill (at least to run every green run). It was a great day, huge snow coming for the last two days. We skied quit hard. We actually did stop for a quick snack and a few beers at Stein Erickson Lodge (this is place I worked last winter). It is a five star, five diamond place. Once again, our tabs were picked up by the head restaurant manager. Nice way to say $60! Oh and I did I mention we skied for free this day too.
Am I getting my point across yet? Needless to say we headed back to SLC at about 10:00 that night, caught the red eye to Atlanta, then back to Louisville that morning. We drove back Sunday to Pikeville and back to work yesterday. It is an amazing thing knowing people all over the place. It is amazing how much people will give, how much people will do for friends. No matter the about of money a person will make, the amount a person will spend on a trip, it will never compare to getting a trip like this. This trip was earned by being willing to explore and meet new people. It is nothing more, then the investment of time and energy into good people. This is made possible by Natasha going to Deer Valley and doing something she never had even tried before and by I traveling to Steins at 8200 ft six days a week willing to work 9 hour shifts of serving in order to have a new experience.
Damian and I discussed the matter greatly. It burns us up when people use the phrase “Oh it must be nice.” This implies that things have been handed to you. That is was sure a gift and not something you created. My mother talks about making decisions in our lives. She talks about how those decisions cause circumstances later. These results can also be such positive results. These results are nothing more than merely taking the challenge of getting out of your comfort zone.
The thing that burns me more about Southeast US than anything is the lack of adventure. The lack of wanting to get out of your comfort zone is simply shocking. I am not in any way saying comfort and staying home is wrong. I just can’t understand why people say they cannot. They don’t “have time” to travel. They don’t “have money” to travel. I do not understand. As a friend, put it to me last night. Our generation does not understand the word no. We have always had we wanted. Now, don’t mistake that for have been “given” what we always wanted. It is the willingness to go out and get it. It does not want the feeling of doing without. Now for some our generation, that has back fired. Why? Simply because, they have mistaken wants for needs. This causing us to feel we need the big house, the new car, and the new plasma TV. These causing a huge over spend which further more has caused a huge economic crisis, where people now can’t afford their wants that were mistaken as needs and millions of stores have invested in a market that cannot survive itself on a regular basis. People were foolishly spending on the newest clothes when last summer clothes are not that bad. It is now they don’t have the money for those clothes now and the stores are stuck thinking this was going to be forever. So back to “It must be nice.” This is a comp out way of saying, you didn’t do anything harder than me, and it is just your circumstance that allowed you do that. It is the lack of want too.
I believe travel better helps people to understand more people in this world. It is not about me, it’s about you and the fact that this world has other people in it. John Mayer once quoted:
“Life is like a box of crayons. Most people are the 8-color boxes, but what you're really looking for are the 64-color boxes with the sharpeners on the back. I fancy myself to be a 64-color box, though I've got a few missing. It's ok though, because I've got some more vibrant colors like periwinkle at my disposal. I have a bit of a problem though in that I can only meet the 8-color boxes. Does anyone else have that problem? I mean there are so many different colors of life, of feeling, of articulation.. so when I meet someone who's an 8-color type.. I'm like, "hey girl, magenta!" and she's like, "oh, you mean purple!" and she goes off on her purple thing, and I'm like, "no - I want magenta!"”
We need to get our head out of the 8-color boxes and live in the 64. It is a much better world. It makes for a much cheaper trip. If so, why are we here?
Honestly back to the important stuff. What an amazing adventure and enlighten time going out to Utah this weekend. Five of us, which included Natasha, I, Damian (a classmate of Natasha’s that lives in the only other apartment in our building, we have become good friends, share a lot of the same ideas on life, religion, the pursuit of happiness, except he voted for McCain, I’ll work on him, his dad is coal miner, most likely why), Damian’s fiancé Jennifer (she currently lives in Bristol pursuing a degree in photography, she is really good at pictures, we hope she captures that magic shot some day) and Regina (who also is a classmate of Natasha’s, she is from Mobile, AL, has a fiancé that I hope moves up here soon, he likes sports and good beer too). Regina’s brother also flew in from Mobile to join us on this trip as well.
So the trip begins with us five. Jennifer conducted the red eye drive to Louisville, getting us to the end of our 4 and half hour car ride to the airport at 5 am in order to catch the 7 am flight out. It was 3 degrees with snow on the ground when we left. We flew out of Louisville instead of Lexington because it saved us roughly 50 dollars a ticket, totaling to savings of $250. Well worth the extra drive. We fly into Minneapolis (which also is cold and full of snow) and catch the flight to Salt Lake City. We are in SLC by 11:30. We picked up the rental, got an upgrade which we already had a family discounted car from my brother/cousin Big Al, total cost with gas purchase and all of $30 a person for three days.
The drive up to the Wasatch Mountains begins bringing us to the place of stay. This is Rhonda’s and Gary’s home. These are friends we made while working in Utah last year. Natasha met Rhonda as she too worked part time for Deer Valley. She was retired from Delta Airlines where she worked for 28 years. Rhonda and Natasha hit it off early last year because Rhonda is originally from Louisiana and lived some of her life in Southern MS. Gary is originally from Texas and went to Texas Tech; I didn’t rub the Cotton Bowl win in too bad. He also works at Deer Valley one day a week (it is a common practice for people in Park City to also work at the resorts one or two days a week in order to get free ski passes) and works for stock investment firm. He retired from Delta as well with 30+ years. These are amazing people. They let all of us stay for free at their beautiful home. Gary also has put in a new hot tub. This was ammmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzinnnnnnnnngggggg on Friday night.
We then went to get our ski and boot rentals. For all 6 of us (Regina’s brother included) it cost us 7 dollars. That is 7 dollars totalllllllllllll. A girl that is good friend of Natasha’s and mine, works at a place. Needless to say, she hooked us up. We tipped the guy well and everyone was happy. We then went on to ski that day for a few hours for free. All the resorts there have a fly in and ski for free package for your day of arrival. We ate dinner at a swanky but not too expensive pizza place. Our tab was picked up by Natasha’s old boss. Amazing! Afterwards, we were feeling the exhaustion from the 36 hour day.
The nest day we hit the slopes of Deer Valley again. Oh, all sixxxxxxxxxxxx of us skied for freeeeeeeeeeeeee. Kris Anderson, who is the head manager for the food at Deer Valley, had plenty of friend passes and was amazing enough to share them with us. These are Deer Valley $85 passes. What an amazing place this is. Kris and Natasha seemed to hit it off well. Kris is an amazing person and I could and will use a whole entry devoted to her one day. W Damian, on only his second day of skiing, was ready to go. He picked it up so quickly. Almost to the point I was angry at him for being so good so quickly, jealously is so ugly so I let it go. Lunch was at Royal Street Café, a high end lunch spot at mid mountain, 8,500 ft. We enjoyed this, almost to the point where we couldn’t ski in the afternoon but we managed. On to dinner to we went, then back to the place to stay and get some much needed wine and hot tub time. The wine selection in Utah is amazing. The liquor laws are crazy but the wine and beer sure are good.
The next day, Natasha and Jennifer opted out of skiing. Jennifer was feeling the effects of the altitude, cold and travel. Natasha had so many people to still visit. The men would take to the slopes today! Damian and I went back to Deer Valley to up our skill (at least to run every green run). It was a great day, huge snow coming for the last two days. We skied quit hard. We actually did stop for a quick snack and a few beers at Stein Erickson Lodge (this is place I worked last winter). It is a five star, five diamond place. Once again, our tabs were picked up by the head restaurant manager. Nice way to say $60! Oh and I did I mention we skied for free this day too.
Am I getting my point across yet? Needless to say we headed back to SLC at about 10:00 that night, caught the red eye to Atlanta, then back to Louisville that morning. We drove back Sunday to Pikeville and back to work yesterday. It is an amazing thing knowing people all over the place. It is amazing how much people will give, how much people will do for friends. No matter the about of money a person will make, the amount a person will spend on a trip, it will never compare to getting a trip like this. This trip was earned by being willing to explore and meet new people. It is nothing more, then the investment of time and energy into good people. This is made possible by Natasha going to Deer Valley and doing something she never had even tried before and by I traveling to Steins at 8200 ft six days a week willing to work 9 hour shifts of serving in order to have a new experience.
Damian and I discussed the matter greatly. It burns us up when people use the phrase “Oh it must be nice.” This implies that things have been handed to you. That is was sure a gift and not something you created. My mother talks about making decisions in our lives. She talks about how those decisions cause circumstances later. These results can also be such positive results. These results are nothing more than merely taking the challenge of getting out of your comfort zone.
The thing that burns me more about Southeast US than anything is the lack of adventure. The lack of wanting to get out of your comfort zone is simply shocking. I am not in any way saying comfort and staying home is wrong. I just can’t understand why people say they cannot. They don’t “have time” to travel. They don’t “have money” to travel. I do not understand. As a friend, put it to me last night. Our generation does not understand the word no. We have always had we wanted. Now, don’t mistake that for have been “given” what we always wanted. It is the willingness to go out and get it. It does not want the feeling of doing without. Now for some our generation, that has back fired. Why? Simply because, they have mistaken wants for needs. This causing us to feel we need the big house, the new car, and the new plasma TV. These causing a huge over spend which further more has caused a huge economic crisis, where people now can’t afford their wants that were mistaken as needs and millions of stores have invested in a market that cannot survive itself on a regular basis. People were foolishly spending on the newest clothes when last summer clothes are not that bad. It is now they don’t have the money for those clothes now and the stores are stuck thinking this was going to be forever. So back to “It must be nice.” This is a comp out way of saying, you didn’t do anything harder than me, and it is just your circumstance that allowed you do that. It is the lack of want too.
I believe travel better helps people to understand more people in this world. It is not about me, it’s about you and the fact that this world has other people in it. John Mayer once quoted:
“Life is like a box of crayons. Most people are the 8-color boxes, but what you're really looking for are the 64-color boxes with the sharpeners on the back. I fancy myself to be a 64-color box, though I've got a few missing. It's ok though, because I've got some more vibrant colors like periwinkle at my disposal. I have a bit of a problem though in that I can only meet the 8-color boxes. Does anyone else have that problem? I mean there are so many different colors of life, of feeling, of articulation.. so when I meet someone who's an 8-color type.. I'm like, "hey girl, magenta!" and she's like, "oh, you mean purple!" and she goes off on her purple thing, and I'm like, "no - I want magenta!"”
We need to get our head out of the 8-color boxes and live in the 64. It is a much better world. It makes for a much cheaper trip. If so, why are we here?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Test time
Well, it is block time again at Pikeville College School of Ostopathic Medicine. The sounds of a silent home or the mumblings of phrases and words no man has ever heard before. All I need to know about the body I learn in a song, it goes like this: "the leg bone is connected to the knee bone.." Ahhh, if it was that easy, we would all be doctors. Guess that is why I let her do the med school things. For all you that don't know, the way Natasha's school does test is a different format. About once a month, they take block testing. They take all their courses test on the same day. This is suppose to prepare them for their boards, at which they take all areas at the same time. Let us hope it works. This usually means time for me to play cards and stay away from my lovely wife except to cook and clean, yet this time is different. Another test will be in place, my father is arriving---oh scratch that, arrived in the late hours last night. He got a hotel one mile from house because he insisted on leaving last night, the only night I told him I was busy. Anyway, I am changing my opinion on how this lovely adventure shall be. I listen to a lot of thought and or thinking material with Natasha. One striving reoccurring point is the fact that we are what we think about. It is the notion that if assume something to be negative that it shall be. I am firm believer in this. I'll give an example. I was sitting at the Apris Ski bar that Natasha ran a few days a week at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah back about this time last year. As I sit there and enjoyed my after work beer, a gentleman dressed in ski clothes comes in with a huff and a puff and sits down with his friend. As they immediately sit down, they begin to swivel their heads looking for service. He had not even taken his outer layer off yet. He began to huff and puff. "Where is service, where is service..." To knock the story shorter, he eventually came out with the great saying "This place has gone down hill" (your opinion is fine)and then the big one "I knew it when we pulled into the parking lot!" REally, Real--ly, when you pulled into the parking lot. Now, most people that read our blog understands this, but I am here write so let me explain the terribleness. If you are spending let us 200 a person for entertainment that day, you are going to bring your $2 attitude along with you. So my favorite question WHY ARE YOU HERE! In your head, you thought how bad the place was going to be, how is it going to be any different. How is the outcome suppose to be any different when you have already made up your mind it is going to suck. So let us ask ourselves today, what have we made up our mind about already. What have we told ourselves that we will lose, be mad, be upset, be lonely, be tired, be ugly about today? It is a valid question and a big one. Just think, if we had the attitude about every thing like we have the night before we leave on awesome vacation attitude. i can remember as a child being so excited about going to Disney. I couldn't sleep, I didn't sleep, I didn't bitch about not getting sleep. I have decided that this will be a great day ( i mean really it is Friday), a great weekend and I will be happy and relaxed all through out. I can't wait until we go skiing in Utah next weekend and get to say "I knew this place had changed when we pulled into the parking lot" ha ha, good day
Friday, January 23, 2009
Coffee
Is it good or bad? One day I hear this way then I hear this way. It is like the winds of time, they blow this way, they blow that way. Alright, enough of that.
With a extremely intelligent wife, I have begun to constantly here how more and more things are unhealthy. She is closer and closer to everyday pushing me to run every where I go, only eating carrots, organic lettuce, apples, and getting as much sun as possible without letting it touch my skin. Okay, may this is a little far, I mean, being a butcher, I will never give up the meat, but yes honey, I will cut back on the red meat, promise. Well, as soon as all the deer meat is out of the freezer. By the way, she killed that deer. Natasha is having more and more trouble shooting the animals. I blame this on her feeding the calf over Christmas at her dad's farm. It puts you in touch with animals that will later be burgers. That is such a weird wrong feeling I suppose.
So back to the coffee. I like it in spurts. I get to were I will drink for a few months, then I take a few months off. The best thing is that first cup after a few weeks without it. Like a good drug, coffee is there. Wow, that sounds like a State Farm commercial. Like...a...good...drug, Coffee is there. That was fun, back to point. "After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that compared with not partaking in America's favorite morning drink, downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's by 30% over java avoiders." By Sid KirchheimerWebMD Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD
This article by Sid goes on the exclaim other great things coffee can do. Natasha is a big advocate of WebMD. It has a lot of great information and is a constant contact point for many things. Yet, we have to put this disclaimer in. There are by far to many people in the USA who have begun to self-diagnose themselves. Then they begin to go to their doc for this or for that. Docs don't mind to sell meds for this and for that (yes I use the word sell there, they are the best pharmacy reps out there) That is another post entirely. I will get a lot of Natasha's help for that one. I am excited already to write it, maybe it is the second of coffee though, oh well here is to good health, drink up!
With a extremely intelligent wife, I have begun to constantly here how more and more things are unhealthy. She is closer and closer to everyday pushing me to run every where I go, only eating carrots, organic lettuce, apples, and getting as much sun as possible without letting it touch my skin. Okay, may this is a little far, I mean, being a butcher, I will never give up the meat, but yes honey, I will cut back on the red meat, promise. Well, as soon as all the deer meat is out of the freezer. By the way, she killed that deer. Natasha is having more and more trouble shooting the animals. I blame this on her feeding the calf over Christmas at her dad's farm. It puts you in touch with animals that will later be burgers. That is such a weird wrong feeling I suppose.
So back to the coffee. I like it in spurts. I get to were I will drink for a few months, then I take a few months off. The best thing is that first cup after a few weeks without it. Like a good drug, coffee is there. Wow, that sounds like a State Farm commercial. Like...a...good...drug, Coffee is there. That was fun, back to point. "After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that compared with not partaking in America's favorite morning drink, downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's by 30% over java avoiders." By Sid KirchheimerWebMD Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD
This article by Sid goes on the exclaim other great things coffee can do. Natasha is a big advocate of WebMD. It has a lot of great information and is a constant contact point for many things. Yet, we have to put this disclaimer in. There are by far to many people in the USA who have begun to self-diagnose themselves. Then they begin to go to their doc for this or for that. Docs don't mind to sell meds for this and for that (yes I use the word sell there, they are the best pharmacy reps out there) That is another post entirely. I will get a lot of Natasha's help for that one. I am excited already to write it, maybe it is the second of coffee though, oh well here is to good health, drink up!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Lost
I really want to write today. I am at a low level of words though. It seems nothing has struck me to put on the paper today. I was glad to see the celebration for the new president went off with out a hitch yesterday. It is amazing how people see things completely different. I followed along with all the communication devices of today as the process went along. It was amazing to see all the views of the new beginning. I find myself getting angry at what I feel is stupidity. I constantly read people's remarks about how much they fear the new president. Either the world is going to end in 6 months, the USA is going into a downward spiral, or we will have a communist country now. It is not the fact that they believe all this that bothers me. It is simply that none of them realize all this has already happened under the Bush administration. Furthermore, some of them even have the notion to applaud Bush in his efforts.
I have learned to channel this anger. Natasha has informed me that I tend to come of angry and airogant when I talk politics. Since I have not come over these thoughts, I choose not to discuss them with people. Yet, I do want to make this one point. No wait, never mind, it will just make some look stupid. I can't be hurting ignorant people's feelings.
To move on, I will change this to a happier post. I think we might be going to Park City for a few days in a couple weeks. This means I need to go work out hard to get into ski shape. I can't wait! I wish I was going to Belize to scuba dive instead, but it isn't always my decision. This is a lot of words to not have a lot to say.
I am beginning to get more involved in Pikeville. I have befriend the local bar owner here. Go figured right. Anywho, I think we share of a lot of great ideas for this town. This place has a lot of potential for developing into a nice small town. It just needs more activities. (Lots of room for activities) If I am going to be stuck here for three years, I might as well make a stab at change. I have a lot to do today, so fair well my friend.
I have learned to channel this anger. Natasha has informed me that I tend to come of angry and airogant when I talk politics. Since I have not come over these thoughts, I choose not to discuss them with people. Yet, I do want to make this one point. No wait, never mind, it will just make some look stupid. I can't be hurting ignorant people's feelings.
To move on, I will change this to a happier post. I think we might be going to Park City for a few days in a couple weeks. This means I need to go work out hard to get into ski shape. I can't wait! I wish I was going to Belize to scuba dive instead, but it isn't always my decision. This is a lot of words to not have a lot to say.
I am beginning to get more involved in Pikeville. I have befriend the local bar owner here. Go figured right. Anywho, I think we share of a lot of great ideas for this town. This place has a lot of potential for developing into a nice small town. It just needs more activities. (Lots of room for activities) If I am going to be stuck here for three years, I might as well make a stab at change. I have a lot to do today, so fair well my friend.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Carthage
This is the bad politics that Natasha's dad is going through in Carthage, MS
The article about the bid is on the front pg. Natasha's letter to editor is on next.
http://www.eclassifiedsnetwork.com/content.aspx?IsHome=1&MemberID=1182&ID=1342&Module=Quickpage
It is awesome! She is my hero. They took the word Bullshit out with a few other statements, but overall in got the point across. We'll write more on this later or maybe not.
The article about the bid is on the front pg. Natasha's letter to editor is on next.
http://www.eclassifiedsnetwork.com/content.aspx?IsHome=1&MemberID=1182&ID=1342&Module=Quickpage
It is awesome! She is my hero. They took the word Bullshit out with a few other statements, but overall in got the point across. We'll write more on this later or maybe not.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunshine and Summer time
It's not here, but doesn't mean I can't talk about it. We alluded to this in the previous blog. There is a great book called "The Geography of Bliss." I am not going to take the ideas of this and put them as my own, yet I will reference it. This is great book for any one who loves to travel or has lived many different places. I feel that many of us fit into this category. With that being stated, you should look for this book (if you are located in a third world country, I can get a copy sent to you).
This book references the different reasons of what makes a country happy. It discusses how it is not always the riches, the hardest working or the laziest places that are the "happiest." It goes through 10 "happiest" countries and examines what he thinks that makes their people bliss.
It made me think a lot about what truly makes a person think and feel bliss. One of my thoughts is that it is the amount of sunshine a place receives. I like to use the word receive there because it's not that just the fact the sun shines yet how much the people are able to enjoy it. In Belize, the sun shines amazing. The people that are receiving that sun shine are regarded as happy. Utah, although cold, had a huge amount of sunshine. The people that felt this, seemed to be happy. I can remember days of March, when it warm up over 32, the restaurant would open the deck. I loved serving on the deck. It didn't even feel like work really, just a day in the sun hanging out getting people drinks and over priced but amazing food.
I think there are many other factors that come into play with bliss. The book does continue to drive toward the fact it's not just the simple "vacation" spots that have happiness. It goes on to describe the fact that people need to have purpose as well. Laying around on a beach all the time won't make us as happy as we think. I agree, people do need purpose.
It is amazing how some Americans believe that since we have the opportunity to make as much money as possible in this nation that we are the happiest. This illusion that every one has the same opportunity to get that 4 billion dollar pay check. It is funny how that countries that have a more equal balanced country are rated as a happier place. A country were people are awarded for doing the things they love. What an amazing concept?
All that aside, Pikeville does lack in the sunshine department. At least downtown has seemed so far. This is mainly due to the fact that it takes the sun to come back over the mountain on one side and gets blocked quickly by another mountain on the other side. There is a bar downtown that is beside the bank we use which is a large US Bank building. The outside is complete glass/mirror type of structure. When the sun is going, this creates a huge amount of shine. I have decided this why I frequent this place. So when I head down to Champs Sports Bar (I have already gotten to know the owner, he shares his court side basketball tickets with me) Natasha asks, Why are you here? I think I will reply "It's for the sunshine, Hun!"
But really, Why are you here?
This book references the different reasons of what makes a country happy. It discusses how it is not always the riches, the hardest working or the laziest places that are the "happiest." It goes through 10 "happiest" countries and examines what he thinks that makes their people bliss.
It made me think a lot about what truly makes a person think and feel bliss. One of my thoughts is that it is the amount of sunshine a place receives. I like to use the word receive there because it's not that just the fact the sun shines yet how much the people are able to enjoy it. In Belize, the sun shines amazing. The people that are receiving that sun shine are regarded as happy. Utah, although cold, had a huge amount of sunshine. The people that felt this, seemed to be happy. I can remember days of March, when it warm up over 32, the restaurant would open the deck. I loved serving on the deck. It didn't even feel like work really, just a day in the sun hanging out getting people drinks and over priced but amazing food.
I think there are many other factors that come into play with bliss. The book does continue to drive toward the fact it's not just the simple "vacation" spots that have happiness. It goes on to describe the fact that people need to have purpose as well. Laying around on a beach all the time won't make us as happy as we think. I agree, people do need purpose.
It is amazing how some Americans believe that since we have the opportunity to make as much money as possible in this nation that we are the happiest. This illusion that every one has the same opportunity to get that 4 billion dollar pay check. It is funny how that countries that have a more equal balanced country are rated as a happier place. A country were people are awarded for doing the things they love. What an amazing concept?
All that aside, Pikeville does lack in the sunshine department. At least downtown has seemed so far. This is mainly due to the fact that it takes the sun to come back over the mountain on one side and gets blocked quickly by another mountain on the other side. There is a bar downtown that is beside the bank we use which is a large US Bank building. The outside is complete glass/mirror type of structure. When the sun is going, this creates a huge amount of shine. I have decided this why I frequent this place. So when I head down to Champs Sports Bar (I have already gotten to know the owner, he shares his court side basketball tickets with me) Natasha asks, Why are you here? I think I will reply "It's for the sunshine, Hun!"
But really, Why are you here?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Rain
It's funny how rain sounds different when you are in different places. In Pikeville, I have never heard thunder. I should research as to why that is but I presume it has something to do with us being in a bowl of the mountains. What a great thing to never have to fear of Tornadoes either. Rain in Utah always sounds like a soft snow, this most likely is because it is. I don't recall it ever hearing Thunder there as well, hard to tell with the exploding of the ski hills for avalanche prevention. I can remember laying in the bed in the early morning hours first learning that it wasn't thunder. The sweetest rain sound is in Belize. To understand more of this you can read Suzassippi's Lottabusha County Chronicles blog at http://suzassippi.blogspot.com/ I won't still here thoughts, I will just add what a relaxed rain feeling this is. In Hot Springs, AR; rain hitting the lake was such soft sound, but one that could come in a blink of eye. If you have never seen hundreds of boats rushing to get back to shore, you have never seen a sight. Once, we were involved in this. The rain began to fall peacefully. It wasn't a big deal, we were already wet by being in the lake. Then that exciting thunder came, which of course was brought on by it's friend, lightning People quickly began to scamper to get items into the boat and get back to shore. Then it happened, not one but two boats would not crank. As fun goes....Natasha and I had picked one of these boats to be on. Long story longer, ends with us having a train of boats being pulled by one boat in front. Now this seems simple enough, but I forgot to add in the simple fact that you have to throw a nice long day of alcohol. It took a good hour to get a half mile. The longest part was trying to keep every one in the boat as we tried to pull to safety. As Natasha says, "You can make this shit up"
In thinking of the rain, it reminds me of the sun. As we travel more, I am coming closer to the conclusion that the more sunshine a place is subject too is directly related to the happiness of it's people. The sun could be even more fun to discuss. This could be another entry though. Why are we here?
In thinking of the rain, it reminds me of the sun. As we travel more, I am coming closer to the conclusion that the more sunshine a place is subject too is directly related to the happiness of it's people. The sun could be even more fun to discuss. This could be another entry though. Why are we here?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Back to Pikeville
We have made it back to Pikeville! The Christmas holidays were good and it was great to see so many people. The ride back was a simple adventure. We have a new addition to the family. Bear is our cotton de tulear dog. We did not name this dog; he has been adopted from other members of the family. He has been good and we look forward to the adventure of adding a dog to our many fish.
We realized on the way back that Mississippi is not really that far from here. This only makes us want to return there more often now. The trip back was fairly fast and it seemed to get Natasha really excited. It allowed me to realize that getting the trip to Oxford for Opening Day of Ole Miss baseball will be easier than first planned. That is truly my biggest non-work goal for now. It will be a good time for all.
So, in this thinking, why is it that Eastern KY feels so far from Mississippi? While in MS, I recall hearing people ask “How does it feel to be living with the Yankees again?” Really, would you consider the Appalachian Hills of KY to be Yankees? What is the difference between rednecks and hillbillies? I feel the southern hospitality is here. The people here are very inviting, very accepting. They also fit that small town mindset as well. They believe what they have for years and the thought of changing certain things is just absurd. There is a lack of travel much (actually hard to), University of KY is king (and the top place for travel), and you either live here or you are “born and raised.” Their peppers are hot and there moonshine is strong. The only thing I think hard on is the large separation between the have and have-nots here. Where is the middle class? Why are you here?
We realized on the way back that Mississippi is not really that far from here. This only makes us want to return there more often now. The trip back was fairly fast and it seemed to get Natasha really excited. It allowed me to realize that getting the trip to Oxford for Opening Day of Ole Miss baseball will be easier than first planned. That is truly my biggest non-work goal for now. It will be a good time for all.
So, in this thinking, why is it that Eastern KY feels so far from Mississippi? While in MS, I recall hearing people ask “How does it feel to be living with the Yankees again?” Really, would you consider the Appalachian Hills of KY to be Yankees? What is the difference between rednecks and hillbillies? I feel the southern hospitality is here. The people here are very inviting, very accepting. They also fit that small town mindset as well. They believe what they have for years and the thought of changing certain things is just absurd. There is a lack of travel much (actually hard to), University of KY is king (and the top place for travel), and you either live here or you are “born and raised.” Their peppers are hot and there moonshine is strong. The only thing I think hard on is the large separation between the have and have-nots here. Where is the middle class? Why are you here?
The Beginning
The idea of putting thoughts out onto the internet for the world to see has always been an uneasy feeling for me. Yet, with all that nonsense fear push aside, I think it to be necessary to begin putting words out to describe my adventures.
Many of you will already know this; I am accompanied in my adventures by my lovely wife. Natasha and I have been married since April 21 of this year. We were married in San Pedro, Ambergrise Caye, Belize. She is amazing in my life. I’ll leave that as for now, this will leave for better ramblings later.
So what are these works of art you will read? I am going to write on where Natasha and I are now, where we have been and maybe where we might be going in the future. The thought of this blog stems from a common question “Why are you here?” I have been asked this question for every where we travel. I have been asked that question by local people who want to know what brought us to their area and by past friends who want to know why we left their area. I hope this can brings the answer we might all need. I truly dream that it will bring more questions, as these are the best answers.
Many of you will already know this; I am accompanied in my adventures by my lovely wife. Natasha and I have been married since April 21 of this year. We were married in San Pedro, Ambergrise Caye, Belize. She is amazing in my life. I’ll leave that as for now, this will leave for better ramblings later.
So what are these works of art you will read? I am going to write on where Natasha and I are now, where we have been and maybe where we might be going in the future. The thought of this blog stems from a common question “Why are you here?” I have been asked this question for every where we travel. I have been asked that question by local people who want to know what brought us to their area and by past friends who want to know why we left their area. I hope this can brings the answer we might all need. I truly dream that it will bring more questions, as these are the best answers.
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