Look around...

Here we are in contemporary America, a country supposedly at the edge of everything from technology to medical care (and a combination of the two). Yet, we have nothing without the hard work and time of other countries. We get our technology from Japan and China( for the most part) and the mass majority of our products are made in places like China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and the list continues down to tiny little countries half of us have never heard of.
So, how are we the most developed country ? How are we the place of dreams ?
The answer is quite simple actually, on the backs of other ( supposedly less developed ) countries.
Though slavery ended a long time ago, in the well thought of variety, here in America. We still live in a world of paid slavery. Those people in Taiwan that made your baseball cap or your push-up bra, how much do you think they're making a year ?
That answer is the saddest part of this post, what you make in a month is close to or less than these people make in a year.
Sad isn't it, we have so much to complain about, yet there are so many things going on in the world we'll never see or understand.
While we complain that our cell phone isn't getting a signal or getting upset that the waiter didn't bring the ketchup, there are people dying all over the world for no other reason than the leader of their country would rather have a golden lion statue, than feed his/ her people.
There are millions of people in " third world " countries dying of starvation, A.I.D.S., a bullet, and ignorance.
But, darn it, Liz has a better cell phone than Mary or Frank can't afford a Mercedes, guess he'll have to (ugghhhh) settle for the Porshe.
I know, I know, same thing half of our parent's told us growing up, " Eat your dinner, there are people starving all over the world".
So, if you're so comfortable with it, get on your expensive computer ( I'm guilty as charged ), go to Google.com, click on images, and look up starvation, death, murder, genocide, chemical weapons, and any other thing that goes on in the world around us that disgusts us pampered Americans. Than, after viewing at least a half dozen of these images, decide if your life is so bad.
I'm, as I said above, guilty of this ignorance of the world. But, it's never too late to get a different perspective. And, I'm not asking you to look at these things and read up on these things, give up all your worldly possessions and live the life of a monk or saint. I'm just asking you to inform yourself so that you can understand how lucky you really are, be grateful for the things you have, and stop complaining every time the RedSox don't win the pennant.

Believe

I've come a long way in my life, like most people. I've experienced a worthless father who ditched me, my mom and my sister to pursue a life of alcohol and drugs. Slept on floors where bugs cuddled in my sleeping bag at my feet, ridden in the back of my fathers pick-up truck while a thunderstorm raged. I spent 11 years of my life being picked on and bullied, even being beat up, kicked in the ribs, head, and stomach right in front of a teacher.
My throat has had the joy of meeting the barrel of a warm gun, my head and throat the wonder of a barrel pressed firmly against them.
I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and suffered the dazzlingly wonderful effects of panic attacks, including but not limited to, days on end with puke at the edge of my throat, shakes so bad my knees knocked and my teeth rattled, and the overwhelming urge to pass out while gasping for air although I was still breathing.
But, you know what, I'm okay.
I don't sit in solace and destroy the brain cells floating inside my skull with alcohol or drugs to escape any part of my past or my present.
I believe in fate, God, and that everything will in fact be OK.
Life, and all the burning embers that eat away the pages in the books of our lives, may not always be easy. It's not supposed to be easy, it's not supposed to be a stroll in the park.
This cane we all hobble upon sometimes it a necessary implement for true living.
There's no reason to run from it, hide from it(you don't need to drink or smoke pot to be "you" or be "happy", that's an excuse).
Yet, there is plenty of reason to enjoy it, believe in happiness and dreams, wake up every morning and see that every day truly is a new day.
In all, I've seen and been through a lot of crap, but my life isn't crap.
Hopefully I can inspire people to walk tall without the need for escaping into whatever your drug may be (drugs, alcohol, sex, suicide, cutting yourself), there's too much to see, to many majestic sunsets and sunrises to watch. There are too many clouds to look for shapes in, to many breezes to feel blowing over your face, too many streams to feel running between your toes.
If you want to know more about the things I've been through, e-mail me, I'll tell you plenty of stories, or tell me yours.

Wedding News...

I wanted to wait until it got a little closer to announce it, but I'll soon be the proud husband to my fiancee of almost three years. August 9th is the date, it's getting closer and closer, I can't wait. There's always so much planning to do, as far as weddings go, but isn't it all worth it to spend the rest of your life with the one person who means the world to you.
I know I haven't always been the most romantic guy, or the greates listener, I know how unbelievably lucky I am to have found the woman who loves me just as much as I love her, the woman who really understand me, the woman whose eyes blow me away.
To all you married or engaged couples out there, I send out my blessings and hope you send the same back to me. It's worth everything you put in to it, just remember just because it's not always easy, I think it's the thing most worth it.

Dog Bite, AHHHHHH!!!!

I had my first dog bite tonight, I know, 25 years old and I've never been bitten by a dog before. And no, it was not a pit bull, German Shepard, Rottweiler or any of those supposedly vicious breeds. That's right, it was a much worse, more dangerous and vicious breed. It was, bum, bum, bum........ a Shih-Tzu( pronounces Shit-Zoo).
That's right, that teeny, weeny, usually fuzzy, mouth full of sharp teeth(let me tell you) Shih- Tzu. If you don't know the breed, look it up online (right now, go look). They aren't exactly the scariest looking dog in the world.
That little *&^%$ left some pretty good bite marks on me too, one almost too the bone, another tore the top half of my fingernail.
That's right people of the world, pit bulls, Rottweiler's, German Shepperd's, etc... are not in fact the vicious man eaters that most of you think they are.
I've heard and read stories of those wonderfully, small, cute breeds ( Chihuahua's, Shih-Tzu's, Pomeranian's, etc.) attacking people too.
And, I know what you're thinking, they don't kill people....wrong.
The stories I've read and heard are of children and infants being mauled to death by these little buggers.
So, next time you go on a rant about the evil pit bulls and other "dangerous" breeds, take a look around, start listening to something other than the attention grabbing "pit bull attack" headlines and do some reading on the attacks(especially on children) from other dogs.
Ol' Trusty, your golden retriever, or Bell, your chihuahua, can be just as( and sometimes more) dangerous than any of the marked dogs that the news and government target for death.

It's made for me and you...

I hate to sound like a salesman, but i have found something that may help just about anyone tremendously.
The Wii Fit is an amazing little bit of technology, and for alot less than you'll spend on gym memberships or exercise equipment, you can have fun and get a great workout for around $320.00 dollars(around 250 for the Wii and 90 for the Fit, you can always get on sites like Craigslist.com and find the Wii a bit cheaper).
My wife and I just purchased one three days ago, and it's been a great time since we got it. Everything from snowboarding(you'll earn this one with your fit points) to yoga, the Wii Fit has it all. It also gives you your weight and B.M.I.( Body Mass Index ), and tell how balanced you are (and we're not talking mentally here, so don't set your spirits too high). Helping to improve you're balance, it also helps you reach a healthy B.M.I. and weight through directed training.
Finally, you even get your own personal fitness instructor who helps you through the exercises and you can go totally physical and challenge your fitness instructor in strength training.
Once again, I highly suggest the Wii Fit for everyone, and the Wii, for great family fun and an awesome workout. Even if you don't consider yourself a physical person, both can help you get more active and burn off all those McD burgers without having to eat a bunch of crap Jenny G meals or drive(especially with soaring gas prices) out to a gym everyday.