Just What I Do

Find Something That Inspire You

2011-01-12T13:23:00.002-06:00

In 2011, as I talked about in my last blog, we need to make changes that are going to make this a better year for us individually before we can work on helping others.

I have been an avid reader of Break the Illusion for quite some time now, and there are countless entries that have been posted that have inspired me. Davey Wavey's newest entry, A Fresh Start in 2011, really hit home with me; leaving the past behind you to make a better future.

Check the video out here:

2011 - The Year of Change?

2011-01-09T17:51:00.002-06:00

We all say that, with the start of the new year we are going to make changes to our lives. Studies have shows that most resolutions that we make last less than 2 weeks, and we're back to business as usual. The more people I talk to, I get the feeling that this is a thing of the past.

Over the holidays, I for one, along with many people I know, had a tough going and weren't in the holiday spirit. Having had a rough year, many people vowed never to be in that situation again. People are figuring out why they had such a bad time in 2010 and are, 9 days in to it, still making the changes they need to in order to make 2011 successful.

Little things that you do in your life can make a huge difference. For example, writing blog entries or writing down your thoughts/frustrations in a journal can make room for the more productive thoughts in your mind. Making a change in your diet or adding exercise to your weekly routine can make a difference in your mental state as well; I know that I think much more clearly after a trip to the gym. If you are fortunate enough to be able to take a (much needed) vacation for a couple of days if for nothing else than to clear your mind, do it. Keep in mind that you don't need to go somewhere where the hustle and bustle of the city will consume you; make that choice wisely.

Perhaps the simplest thing that a person can do to make a difference is to change their way of thinking. If you're constantly thinking that you're going to have a horrible day and that nothing will change - guess what, it's going to be exactly that. You have to manifest what you want and how you see things going for you. A dear, dear friend of mine declared that this is the year of "doin' me", and I couldn't agree more. There are enough things in this world that are going to make life hard on people. If you wake up one morning and decide that this is the day things are going to be different, I firmly believe that is the exact moment that things will turn around for you. We are all going to have bad days where you think that things couldn't get any worse, there isn't much we can do about that. We do, however, have the power to change the things we can control.

Before you can make a difference in the lives of those around you, you must first be able to make a difference in your own life.

Go out and live like you have never lived before. Make 2011 the year of "doin' you".

I've Voted... Have You?

2010-11-01T19:08:00.000-05:00

I know that we're all busy with work, school, kids, etc., but tomorrow is Election Day in America again. I know that some people think they don't have time, but it doesn't take very long to fill out a form and slip it in to a box. Although we aren't determining who is going to sit in the Oval Office again quite yet, we are going to be determining the direction this country is going to go. With many seats up for grabs in the House and the Senate, we all need to take interest in what is going on and where we would like to see the country go in the future.

While I would love for the election to go one way, and others would like it to go another, that is besides the point. Getting out and having your voice heard is the biggest thing about election days. Here is the way I look at it, if you don't get out and vote, you don't have a right to complain about what is going on in this country. Is there something that you want to get done? Is there something that you don't want to see get passed? Vote. It's that simple.

Voting not only makes a difference on the State/National level, it also makes a difference in your local community. Take, for instance, the voting in Iowa's Pottawattamie County. For people like myself, and thousands of other people, our jobs are on the line. What is something that many people, old and young, like to do for a night out? People like to go to the casino; whether you're pulling a lever or playing cards, that could all be gone because of one vote, don't let it be yours. Every eight years the casinos are put up for a vote, each and every one of them. Just because you may not like Ameristar or Harrah's, but love playing at Horseshoe, you must vote (for those of you in PottCo., please vote "YES" on C & D (one is for the riverboat casinos (Harrah's and Ameristar) and the other is for Horseshoe)) to be able to continue to enjoy that.

I can't stress enough the importance of Election Day. We need to get this country back on track, and back on the forefront of economic development, putting people back to work and making sure that people know that the United States is back in action and means business.

Tomorrow. Election Day. Get Out. Vote.

The Real Me

2010-07-10T20:49:00.003-05:00

Bars and clubs aren't really my scene.

I don't really drink.

I'm more comfortable at a hole-in-the-wall bar if I do drink.

I don't dance.

I like to be home before midnight.

I would rather spend my nights curled up with a good book or watching a movie with someone.

I can get very uncomfortable, very easy.

I don't like to be around a lot of people I don't know.

I can only be the third wheel for so long before it gets old.

I like to help others.

I am a good listener.

I am always going to be there for you.

I may be single, but I'm not miserable.

There are times when I want nothing more than to be left alone.

Then again, there are times when I want nothing more than to be with someone special.

I have a big heart.

I am willing to let you in.

Thank You...

2010-03-10T18:24:00.003-06:00

To those of you who continue to stand by me: I thank you from the bottom of my heart. There have been times lately, and now, as they continue to arise, that I haven't been the easiest person to be around, but knowing that I have people there for me when I need them means the world. If I'm going through something and it seems like I'm taking it out on you, yet you have nothing to do with the situation, or you're just caught in the middle, please forgive me.The person that I'm around when things go down is usually the one that gets the brunt of the venting.

I'm one of those people who is great at wearing their heart on their sleeve, but when it comes to hiding their emotions, that's when I'm not seen at my best. I'm now at that point in my life where I'm just becoming more and more vocal about how I feel after I get past the "I'm not talking to anyone stage".

There are things that come up in life that I find incredibly easy to deal with, and then there are things that, no matter how hard I try, for whatever reason, I just can't cope. Perhaps it's the insecurities I have in my life, most of which have nothing at all to do with the situations at hand, or perhaps it's something else completely that I have no clue about. Whatever it is, it seems to, nine times out of ten, get the best of me.

This year I told myself that I'm not playing games with people, nor am I pulling any punches when it comes to letting people know how I feel, but overall that hasn't gone too well. I still just sit back and let it happen, unless it's something that I feel someone should know. There are also certain times where I get so worked up about something, and I swear I'm going to tell someone off, yet when the time comes and I have the chance, I usually respond with some half-assed remark and let it go. It's like I can't find a happy medium. I'm either telling someone to go to hell or telling someone that it's okay when it really isn't.

What a way to turn a short message in to a long, overdrawn post, huh? Anyway, I really just wanted to thank everyone who has stood by me in the past and who are still there for me today. You are my rocks... I truly couldn't do it without you.

It's Almost That Time Again

2009-12-10T10:01:00.002-06:00

Now that we're almost half-way through December, Christmas is right around the corner. It's funny... Christmas is my favorite holiday, but this year I couldn't help but want it not to come. It's been one of those years where nothing seems to go as planned and you just can't wait for it to get over.

I still have well over half of my shopping to do, and that's something that I'm just not looking forward to one bit. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving we put our tree and decorations up, and after a week and change the house still doesn't feel like it usually does around the holidays. We, like every family, have our "Grinch", but usually that doesn't stop anyone from having fun and enjoying themselves. This year, however, even the most festive of people just can't get in to that holiday spirit.

All we can hope for is that something great will happen and that our luck will turn around and that next year will bring nothing but the best of everything. High hopes are what I've found can get a person through the toughest of times. All I know that I'm looking forward to next year is my baby brother getting here! February 12 is the day that my dad, Audra (my step-mom), and I are all waiting for!

Italy, Here I Come!

2009-09-22T18:33:00.003-05:00

Those are 4 words I want to hear come out of my mouth like you would not believe. I've always wanted to go to Italy, but over the last few months, the urge has become greater than ever. Just today, I finished reading "Italian for Beginners", by Kristin Harmel which, no doubt, fueled the desire even more. It was an amazing book and one that you'll just have to read to find out more.

My family on my grandfathers side, came from Italia-Sicily, to be exact-and that's been part of the reason I've always wanted to go. I want to be back in the home country and experience Italy like so many family members must have done in the past. The country itself is home to some of the most beautiful landmarks the world has and will ever see, and I can't imagine myself never getting over there to see them.

I'm hoping that, at least one of my friends-she knows who she is-will be able to go over with me when I'm finally able to. I'm sure that Italy would be a great place to escape to, but it's one those places, to me anyway, that you shouldn't experience on your own. (Besides, who's going to take my picture in front of the Colosseo and the other places that I know I'm going to visit???)

I'm sure that millions and millions of people will be able to have those "stories" that will be told for years and years to come about the fantastic time they had in Roma, and I just want to be able to join the ranks of Americans who have been to Italy and can just say "been there, done that".

I know this post wasn't much of anything and was kind of just put together in a hurry, but it was something that I wanted to get out there. Someday, you'll be getting a post while I'm sitting at a cafe in some piazza in Italy sipping some espresso, prosecco or limoncello just having the time of my life.

Sometimes I Just Don't Get It

2009-08-16T00:33:00.004-05:00

I often find myself thinking of random things throughout the day, but at times I surprise myself by thinking of something on topic. Granted, that topic may have just come up because of something that I just came across, but it's on topic nonetheless.

I know you're not suppposed to judge a book by its cover, but sometimes it's just hard not to. Many times throughout the day I was trying to figure out why some people are attracted to and/or marry the people they do. Some people are just so standoff-ish at times that it just seems impossible that they're not like that all the time. What could have possibly happened in a person's life that they can't even say hello or bring their nose down, stop being a little snob, and join the real world for two seconds when I'm trying to talk to you.

I really do try and be nice to everyone I come across, after all, first impressions make a lasting impression. At least that's how I still see it. Sometimes there are circumstances that you just can't help, but about nine times out of ten, there is no reason you can't be polite to the people around you for the brief moment you have to have contact with them.

After 9/11 this country turned it's attitude around. It seems like we're back on the "piss off, I'm too important to be dealing with you" bandwagon. What's pathetic is that it took an event like that to make people realize that life is too short, yet almost 8 years later, we're back to the way we used to be!

I just there are just some things we're not meant to understand.

"Man In The Mirror" cover by Jay Brannan

2009-06-25T22:33:00.003-05:00

There has never been a better time to pay tribute to Michael Jackson. The Man. The Legend. The Icon.

Follow Jay on Twitter: twitter.com/jaybrannan
Visit Jay's YouTube: wwww.youtube.com/jaybrannan

I found these quite interesting...

2009-06-18T17:36:00.003-05:00

Here are some links that I came across while working my way through some online newspapers and news websites. If you're my friend on Facebook or if you follow me on Twitter, you may have already seen these, but, in case you haven't, I thought I'd post them here.

World War III w/ the North? @HuffingtonPost "North Korea May Fire A Missile Toward Hawaii" http://twurl.nl/5gmib3

The Princes and Combat Time? @HuffingtonPost "Prince William Hints At Ambitions for Combat" http://twurl.nl/7gfx6m

A Sign of the Times @NYTimes "Army Challenges Older Recruits, and Vice Versa" http://twurl.nl/5unax7

What Next? @MikeAlvear (www.mikealvear.com) "Perez Hilton throws Dustin Lance Black under the bus" http://twurl.nl/m65btu

Brady & Cora's Day at the Park, Part 3

2009-06-04T14:28:00.000-05:00

Brady & Cora's Day at the Park, Part 2

2009-06-04T14:27:00.000-05:00

Brady & Cora's Day at the Park, Part 1

2009-06-04T14:26:00.000-05:00

You've GOT To Be Kidding Me!

2009-05-24T13:34:00.001-05:00

How can the U.S. State Department even consider granting same-sex benefits to partners of U.S. diplomats when we are struggling to get same-sex benefits (via same-sex marriage) passed state by state in this country? Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, is preparing to send a notice out to State Department employees about the proposal. In the notice, she states that “these inequities are unfair and must end.” NO KIDDING!!! That’s what gay and lesbian people have been trying to get through people’s heads since the whole Prop. 8 thing took center stage in California!

Normally I don’t get all huffy and puffy about the gay rights situation in this country, after all, my being gay is just a part of who I am, I don’t let it consume me, but this is outrageous. According to an article on CNN.com, “Until now, the State Department had withheld these benefits citing the Defense of Marriage Law, which restricts the recognition of same-sex marriages on the federal level. … ‘Providing training, medical care and other benefits to domestic partners promote the cohesiveness, safety and effectiveness of our posts abroad’, the note says. It will also help attract and retain personnel and, the note adds, ‘it is the right thing to do.’” It’s obviously the right thing to do, but why would we show good faith to our Foreign Service members, but not to the citizens of this country? This is what people have been fighting for for decades and with an interagency review and the stroke of a pen, we’re going to allow it for people who aren’t even citizens of this country. It blows my mind.

Through the Eyes of an Openly Gay Man

2009-04-17T18:44:00.001-05:00

As an openly gay man living in the world today, there are so many prejudices to get past and so many myths that we have to work hard to disprove. What many people in this world fail to realize is that, before we came out to live our lives as who we really are, we were just like you; we were your friends and family, neighbors and co-workers.

There is one defining day in the life of a person living in the LGBT community. One single day in our entire life will, for some people, make or break how the rest of our life plays out. Thankfully, I'm one of the lucky ones. I have a great group of friends and family that I have surrounded myself with over the years; they are all very supportive of every thing that I do in life. My decision to finally come out was not an easy one, but it was something that needed to happen. For anyone, making the decision to finally come out is not an easy one. It can sometimes take years and years of struggling with your own personal demons to finally come to terms with the fact that you're going to be living a very different lifestyle than those around you.

While I can't speak for every gay person in the world, what finally pushed me "out of the closet" was the fact that I couldn't stand living a lie any longer. While you can be yourself to some extent before you come out, you can never truly live your life because of what you're hiding from the rest of the world. If I'm being completely honest, telling everyone my biggest secret was terrifying. It's something that, once the cat's out of the bag, so to speak, you can't take back.

When I made what I consider to be the ground-breaking first step, I couldn't even say it, I had to write it down. After that, the person that it took the most courage to tell was my dad. I cried like you wouldn't believe when it came time to finally tell him. After he and I had become so close, I didn't want to let him down. He reassured me that he was going to be there for me regardless and let me know that nothing had or was ever going to change between the two of us. Considering the level hesitation that I felt with the first person that I let in to that part of my life, it has become easier and easier with each person that I tell. This experience is unlike any other that I can think of. The coming out process is something a gay person will be doing this for the rest of his/her life.

The vast majority of people who choose to come out, especially teenagers, face the possibility of rejection from friends and family. Being faced with this rejection can push them in to different stages of depression, and can possibly push them to consider, or even commit suicide. For just such reasons, programs like The Trevor Project have been created and are available for gay and questioning youth who feel that they have no one left to turn to.

Recently, we have seen both defeat and victory in the battle for equality. The first major blow was Proposition 8 in California, reversing and banning the same-sex decision that was put in to effect by the California Supreme Court. Since then, several states have granted same-sex couples the same rights as the other citizens of the individual states. Among the most recent, Iowa, by way of the state Supreme Court was the first state in the Midwest to grant equal rights. Vermont, however, made history by being the first state in the Union to grant equal rights on a legislative level. The Supreme Court of California must rule by June 3, 2009 on the legal status of same-sex marriages in that state. One would assume that, since the Supreme Court was the body that made them legal the first time in California, they will make them legal once again. Although we still have a long way to go in this country before all is well, and while we'll never be able to forget what so many have gone through to get us to this point in history, I firmly believe that a major change is coming our way.

With time, we will inevitably get past the prejudices that are currently making headlines today. It's hard to believe that this is going to be the last great struggle for equality this country will ever see, but I have faith that we will learn from the mistakes we've made in handling situations like this. I suppose that only time will tell, but I've got a good feeling that things will start to turn around.

Friends... At Least That's What They Used To Be

2009-04-10T10:08:00.002-05:00

As I go through life, I'm starting to realize that you shouldn't care about how many friends you have, but the quality of the friends you hold dear. There are times when I try and figure out what I've done to make people not want to be friends with me any more, but then I find that I really don't care. I know who my true friends are and I've come to be able to pinpoint those who are just there when they need something from you.

There have been people who have come and gone, and regardless of how it happened, I suppose there's a reason for it. Perhaps we're to learn life lessons from failed attempts. One of the things I don't understand is why some people let their relationships get in the way of their friendships. Nine times out of ten, the person you're letting slip away has been there longer than the person you're dating. As harsh as this may sound, there are people in my life I could take or leave right now. Then again, there are some people who I know I couldn't get through life without and I won't let anything come between those relationships.

I'm sure we've all received those e-mails that say what "true" friends are and that you should pass it along to half of the people you've ever known if you life or you'll get horrible news in the next 5 seconds. To me, there are a few simple things that define a friendship: knowing that you and that other person are there for each other any time, any place; wanting nothing in return for befriending someone; and, even if after not talking on the phone or seeing each other in person for a while, you pick up right where you left off and it's never awkward.

Today, it's no secret that we live in a world where technology basically consumes our lives. I have to say, however, it's the little things from my friends that make my day. Like this morning, for example, a friend and I were going back and forth on Facebook, another friend commented on my status and I'm sure when I'm at work, my IM will be going off at least a few times throughout the day. Just a quick "hello" or asking how some one's day is going can mean the world. I'm sure this is starting to sound like another post I did a while back, but I think it's worth repeating.

Make sure you're in your current friendships for the right reason. Few things hurt more than realizing that you're being or have been used by someone you thought you had a connection with.

Some may come, some may go, but those you can't live without will always be right here...

And The Good News Keeps On Coming

2009-04-03T21:15:00.002-05:00

On what seems to be a landmark day, especially for Iowa, it seems that the good news keeps on coming! Below are two (2) links that I would like you to check out. The first is one of the many articles out there today about the Iowa Supreme Court finding that the gay marriage ban is unconstitutional. On a personal note, let me point out that I've never been more proud to say that I am from, and am still living in the first state in the Midwest to legalize gay marriage. The second link is somewhat on the same subject. It's a clip from the ABC TV show called "What Would You Do". It placed actors (they're a real-life couple as well) in a New Jersey sports bar with and were told to act themselves. They also paid another (straight) couple and a "gay basher" to try and get reactions out of people in the bar. It's interesting to see how it turns out. Maybe there's hope for this country after all?

CBS News Story: http://twurl.nl/0nmy4y

"What Would You Do" Clip: http://twurl.nl/naxtn5

Gahmy's Idol Thoughts - Top 13

2009-03-11T07:34:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I just got done watching American Idol from last night and while the thoughts are still fresh in my mind, I figured I'd put my feedback on how the kids did out there and see what the rest of you thought. (By the way, I think next week I'm going to do this from my room when I'm actually watching the show so that I can give feedback as I'm watching it) The order in which the contestants are listed below are not the order in which they performed, just a heads up...

Kris - Let me say first off that I think he's freaking adorable! Behind his guitar, we were able to see a different side of him and I think he really shined bright. His "Man in the Mirror" performance and his performance from last night were two that I'll remember. I think we're going to see a lot more of Kris in the future!

Megan - I think Simon was off when he said that it was a stupid song choice. That is one of the songs that I grew up listening to and it's always nice to hear a new rendition of it, provided it's not horrible. I don't think it was her best performance by any means, but I think she did alright. She should, in my opinion, try and stay with the type of songs that she's already performed so that she can show off her unique talent. I think that, with stars like Duffy and Adele in the forefront today, Megan will have a chance if she can make it for a few more weeks. The kind of rough tone that she has is what is going to be the new "in" thing with music.

Anoop - When the judges were announcing the Wild Card picks, I was so upset that Anoop didn't make it in to the Top 12, but when Simon announced that it was going to be a Top 13, I couldn't have been any more excited. I think that, given the right song, Anoop can make it quite a ways in the competition. I have to agree with Paula, however, I think "Beat It" should be left to Michael Jackson. I would really hope that he doesn't leave the show, but given some of the other performers from last night, it might be a little tough for him.

Matt - I think Matt's version of the song that he performed last night was a good one. The song choice fitted the piano and his voice. I know that a lot of people say this, but he does kind of remind me of Timberlake. It would be kind of interesting to hear him sing one of his songs. I think that we'll see Matt on the show for at least another week.

Danny - Danny, Danny, Danny... What can I say about him other than his performance was AMAZING!!! I've loved Danny since his audition! He's probably in my Top 3 right now, and I definitely wouldn't mind seeing him win the show, but he has some tough competition in Adam and Lil. Danny, setting his voice aside, has a great stage presence that I think is going to take him a long way. We'll have to work on the dancing a bit though ;~).

Alexis - Alexis did a great job w/ Dirty Diana last night. I have to agree with Paula when she said that she needs to work on not over singing the song, but all things considered, she did a great job and I think we'll see her again.

Allison - Allison is one of the people that I've liked since the beginning of the competition, but she didn't shine bright enough for me last night. For me, her past performances are the ones that I'm going to remember and not the one from last night. It's going to be interesting to see how she adapts to the other genres that are inevitable on Idol.

Adam - Two words... SIMPLY AMAZING!!! The BEST performance of the night for me! I think that he's going to be around in the competition for a while, and may even win it! Being an actor has treated him well. He knows how to work the stage and he obviously knows how to put on a good show. I could probably go on and on about his performance last night! AMAZING!!!

Scott - Scott did a great job last night, but his Mandolin Rain performance still sticks with me and I think that's what I'm going to be comparing all of his other performances to from here on out. When you have a great moment such as the one he had last week, it's hard to beat it. Seeing Scott on the piano, you just know that's where he belongs. He looks so much more comfortable behind the piano and I think it gives him much more to go off of. Even if Scott doesn't make it in the competition, I think he'll have a record deal after the show is done.

Jasmine - For being 17, Jasmine has a voice that you don't hear every day. For Randy, after pointing out that he recorded that song with Mariah, to say that she did a good job of mixing different versions of that song to make it her own definitely says something about the potential she has.

Jorge - For some reason, I really can't stand Jorge. I don't know what it is about him, but he just doesn't do it for me. I'm all for the diversity on the show, but not with him. Personally, and as much as I'm going to hate myself for admitting this, I think that Tatiana is a better performer than he is. Having said that, I'm not sure I'd like to see her on the AI stage again, but regardless, I think she would have done a much better job than he did.

Lil - AMAZING!!! What a way to start the show! She is a power house and everyone else in the competition needs to watch out for her! She's going to make it a long way on this show! Between her, Danny and Adam, I believe you're looking at the final 3 on American Idol! What a great job!!!

Michael - Michael did what he does best last night. Singing songs like that are what made me like him in the first place. These contestants need to learn that, while taking risks can work out and other times you can make a fool of yourself doing it, you need to stick with what you know. Granted, Michael can't always pick slow songs, but he can pick songs that are from the heart and that will portray who he is as a person and as an artist. I think that if there's a country week, which I'm sure there will be, he'll really come through during that time. There are TONS of country songs that are from the heart and that I'm sure he'd do a great job at making his own.

Over all, I'm quite pleased with the show from last night. There are a lot of people that I can see making it through and there are the obvious people who, even if they don't win the show, will have record deals and we'll be hearing a lot from in the future. If I had to pick the two to leave tomorrow night, I would have to say they would be Jorge and Anoop. As much as I like Anoop, there were too many other performances that cast him back in to the shadows. And what is this twist that Ryan mentioned at the end of the show? Something that will change the face of the competition, but it has to do with the Judges? Personally, I can't wait to find out, and I'm not quite sure what I'm more excited for, the results or the twist!

Trying To Make Goals

2009-03-04T20:30:00.000-06:00

As many, if not all of you know, I am the proud owner of a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo! It's pretty exciting, albeit dirty from the snow melting... ugh! Since I was able to get the Jeep and had to actually sit down and work out my finances, it got me thinking that working out bills is something that I'm going to have to do for the rest of my life. This is the first real responsibility that I have and I'm pretty excited to officially be in the grown up world.

Over the past week or so, I've also been thinking about what a waste of money apartments are, considering the fact that I want to be able to buy my own house within the next 5-ish years, so I've also decided that I'm going to start saving where I can for a down payment on a house; when my car is paid off, that's going to be my next endeavor. I'm sure the market will rebound again by the time I'm ready to buy a car and housing prices are going to be through the roof, but if I find a decent house with reasonable payments, I don't see why there should be anything holding me back, barring any unexpected things that may arise. I think that I'll be able to do it and, sure, it's going to be a challenge, but I think I'm up for it!

I suppose I'll come to learn that there are things that I can live without, no matter how much I think I can't live without them right now. There are just some things that a person has to sacrifice in life to get what they want. By the way, for those of you thinking "I wonder if he realizes that buying a car and a house are two totally different things", yes, I'm fully aware of that. I just wanted to spare us from having that conversation down the road ;~).

Eyes Kept Tearing Up...

2009-02-06T20:05:00.001-06:00

What Next?!

2009-01-31T08:16:00.005-06:00

With the economic news having been so grim as of late, many people have been forced to cut back on the amount of lavish spending they have become so accustomed to. Those having to do so, have been "forced" to spend more time with their family and find things that they can all do together. Among things such as going to the movies, a play or other things in the community, going to the zoo has always ranked among the top family outings.

With the current state of the economy, zoos may be the next thing added to the Endangered Species list. New York Governor David Paterson has proposed a budget that will undoubtedly cut the state funding for zoos across New York. According to an article from CNN.com, "New York's 76 zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens will lose $9.1 million in state funds next year". (CNN.com article, Budget Cuts...)

When I was reading this article, I had hoped that there would be some good news on the horizon, but I was sadly mistaken. The new $819 billion stimulus package that is currently making the rounds in Congress doesn't allow for any wiggle room for many of the staples of the American family. "Section 1109 of the stimulus bill ... forbids the use of federal taxpayer money to plug the budget gaps. Taxpayer watchdog groups lobbied to keep zoos, aquariums, swimming pools, golf courses and casinos out of the stimulus,arguing that there are higher priorities for Americans' money during a recession". (CNN.com article, Budget cuts...)

Luckily not all of the money for the zoo and aquarium budgets come from the state; there are still private backers that could come out and help the zoos and aquariums, but I can't see it happening. There is plenty of what people call "old money" in New York and other cities that will see their local zoos and aquariums affected by this. I think that the people with the type of money that could possibly make a difference have grown accustomed to having not been relied on by these organizations. With any luck, we won't see the fall of our local zoos, much like we've been forced to watch the fall of the banks and our financial future as we know it. This is something that we could actually work to prevent.

A Little Bit of Everything

2009-01-29T13:59:00.001-06:00

As everyone knows, this year I vowed that I was going to start to exercise and diet because I need to get in shape. This year, as we all know, my Dad is getting married in June and I'm his best man. I told myself that I'm not going to look like I do now when it comes time for the pictures. Most people would have given up by now and completely fallen off the wagon; I, however, have only fallen off part way. While I've only had fast food (I don't count Subway as fast food) only one time since the first of the year, I haven't really had the exercise routine down that I should have. Out of the 4 weeks in January, I've worked out 2 of them. I need to get back on the wagon. After watching last night's Biggest Loser, Daniel (Orange Team) was voted out by his fellow teammates. On his exit interview he said that he had tried to lose weight before because others wanted him to and felt that it was important for him to do so. He's ready to finally do it for himself and it shows! From the starting weight on the show to what we saw him look like last night, he has it in his heart to do it and stick to it! That's what I feel like this year. I still have just over four months to actually make it happen.

I'm only going to be 21 this year and have a long life ahead of me. I want to able to live it to the fullest and experience all that life has to offer. Although it may be hard given the current level of discrimination in this country, I want to be able to have a family and watch kids grow up and have a family of their own. There are too many things in this world to see and I'm not ready to give up on that.

In other news, I'm working my way towards getting a Mac. I've priced one online and it's going to run me about $2400, which, all things considered, isn't that bad of a price. I've had many, many people tell me that getting another PC isn't worth it and they've fallen in love with their Macs. Of course, I'll be getting a laptop because I like to be able to stay connected wherever I decide to go. When I get my taxes back this year, I've decided that I'm going to be getting an HDTV for my room and I'll probably get a Bu-ray player to go with it. I also have to get my window fixed in my car, a tire checked out and a new brakes on the thing too! I hope after I get all that fixed that I'll be good to go for a while!

Any person who knows me knows that I talk a lot about going on vacations and that, because of work, money or some other excuse, I rarely end up going. This year, I'm going to try and change that as well. Even if I only get one vacation a year, it will be a vast improvement over what I'm taking now. I don't think that I need a two-week vacation or anything either, four or five days would be nice. Seattle is always a city that has intrigued me and just the other day I was checking out a little vacation there and it was running just under $1k! That's for round-trip airfare and a hotel downtown… it would be AMAZING!!! I also want to move just about everywhere that I've ever been in my life, so I'm sure that when I take a trip to Seattle, I'll want to move there too. To be honest, I've already looked at apartments in and around the city and they're really not unreasonably priced! There was one complex, as a matter of fact, that was just about 30 minutes away from the city, was going for $775/month and if I read it right, all utilities were paid, but I could be mistaken. I've looked in to quite a few places over the past few years that I've toyed around with going to, but in reality it's mostly just a dream that won't go away. I certainly can't see myself living here for the rest of my life, but I'm not quite sure where I'll end up. Then again, with the rest of my life ahead of me I could end up in several different cities yet. Only time will tell.

Over the past couple of weeks, I've really been paying attention to the different types of photographs that I've seen, both in person and on the Internet and they've given me good ideas for new shots. I'm trying to expand my horizons and go beyond the comfort zone of animals, although I fully enjoy that. When the weather starts to warm up, I'm hoping to be able to get out and go different places around town that I either haven't been before or to places that I haven't been to in a while and see what they have to offer. I think I'm going to start looking for new ideas to do black and whites in. B&W is very "in" right now and depending on the shot, I think it looks quite elegant.

For now, I'm going to continue the rest of my shift here at work and see where the world takes me after that, aside from the fitness center after I get off. I hope that you all have a fantastic night and an even better tomorrow!

A Good Omen?

2009-01-21T22:11:00.004-06:00

With Barack Obama's first full day in office having come to a close, so has another day at the stock market. With the Dow closing at 270+ points up, here's hoping that's a good omen and things will go the way Obama and the rest of the country is hoping they will!

Madame Secretary

2009-01-21T17:01:00.003-06:00

The United States is even more ready than we were yesterday to make the necessary moves the country so desperately. We not only now have Barack Obama heading the country, we also have Hillary Clinton leading the foreign front as our Secretary of State.

Best of luck, Madame Secretary!

A New Beginning

2009-01-19T08:04:00.005-06:00

Tomorrow we start anew here in the United States. At 12 noon on January 20, 2009, we will inaugurate the 44th President of the United States. After eight long years, we are finally able to set aside some of the worst times in the history of this country. We will still, however, have many things that have yet to be fixed and more things to crop of that will need fixing. The old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems to have gone by the wayside under Bush II, much as they seemed to under Bush I.

As the country and the world prepare to bare witness to the largest showing of people coming together in years, we must not forget the challenges we have overcome to get to this point in time. With numbers expected to reach over 1 million people attending the inauguration tomorrow in Washington, the rest of the world is going to be watching as we, the United States of America, take the next step in securing the future of not only our own, but the future of the citizens of the world. I don't know if anyone would agree with me on this or not, but we are still the strongest nation in the world. The United States is involved in many, many agreements that happen around the world. Just the other day in fact, Condoleezza Rice, in one of her last duties as Secretary of State, assisted in signing the cease-fire agreement in Gaza. We are a major backer of legislation around the world, so it makes sense that the rest of the world is watching. This is the first of many new hurdles that will be knocked down in the coming years.

There are generations before us who were never able to see what we are about to, and there are generations who never imagined that they would live to see the day when an African-American man would be elected President of the United States. I don't know about anyone else, but hearing that and knowing what happened on November 4th speaks volumes to the growth that this country has made.

While we have grown as a nation, we have also fallen back. We still have a lot of discrimination to try and get past in this country, but considering what we've already overcome, I have faith that we'll be able to get through the rest with little resistance.

Tomorrow, for at least one day, we are no longer Democrats and Republicans, red states of blue, we are citizens of the United States joining together to bare witness to what is possibly the biggest day in our nations history. Tomorrow, Barack Obama officially becomes the 44th President of the United States. Tomorrow we will once again become a force to be reckoned with. Tomorrow...

Quite Possibly Fell In Love

2009-01-18T21:14:00.003-06:00

"Love" - Matt White

"Best Days" - Matt White

Matt White... Visit him on YouTube!

The Next Step

2009-01-15T09:35:00.003-06:00

Today I make the first step towards my new found independence, I'm starting to put money aside for an apartment. The past few days have been spent trying to figure out what I'm going to put in my apartment, and I have to say that it's been really exciting! While I've figured out most of the things and I'm quite sure that I'll be able to make everything work, coming up with the money for everything is going to be the next part in the process. I'm going to be taking money out of each of my paychecks and put it aside and then take an additional sum out and put it towards buying things that I'm going to need to make this a reality. Hopefully soon I'll be getting my tax information and be able to file relatively quickly and get my return back so that I'll be able to use that money as well. This is something that, if I really want to show myself that I can do what I set out to get accomplished, I can't back down from. I'm starting to take control of my life and am finding out that it comes with a great feeling, one that I don't know anyone feels until they actually do it.

I would like to thank everyone who is standing by me during this transition, your support means the world to me! As the time gets closer for me to move, I'm sure there is going to be added stress but the end result will be worth any of the difficulties. I'm ready to embark on a new path in life and can't wait to become the person I know I can be as a result of this new experience in life.

The Journey They Call Life

2009-01-09T00:22:00.005-06:00

I'm kind of one of those people who want to change, but would like to find the most direct route and just get things done and not have to worry about it. As we all know, the universe has a different plan for us. We simply run on a schedule that no one can control, regardless of how hard he or she may try.

I firmly believe that we were all on this earth (regardless of the individual thoughts on how we got here) for a reason. I believe that we are here to make changes in our own lives and a difference in the lives of others. Each of us can make a difference in someones life whether we know it or not.

Being gay is taking me on a journey that has just only begun, however, I'm not taking this journey on my own. Obviously I have friends that are going along for the ride with me, but I'm also picking up new passengers along the way. We're all a little different for a reason; maybe I'm "different" to show people that, while we are different, we're all the same. Just because I'm gay and you're straight doesn't mean that we don't want the same things or have the same feelings.

All of the new people that I encounter along the way, I'm going to be teaching them about my life and they about theirs. We are never too young, old, stupid or smart to learn new things. With every story there is a lesson and with a lesson, a story. The lesson that we can learn from a story that was just told may end up saving a life down the road or helping to point someone in a new direction. We're constantly shedding light on new situations that our friends go through, we should extend that courtesy to our acquaintances and those we may have just met.

At times I may not be the best friend in the world or the easiest person to get along with, but as I'm sitting here reflecting tonight, I've learned something from each and every one of those situations. I'm learning how to change to try and be a better person, but I'm not doing it for anyone else. To change, you have to be willing to do it for yourself. If you constantly try and change for other people you're never going to find that you're any better off than you were yesterday. The only person in your life telling you what to do, what you're doing wrong and how you can change should be you. We spend too much time trying to please everyone else and it doesn't get us anywhere.

In what is going to be a year of change, I hope that you all find what makes you happy. If finding what makes you happy means that you'll have to change one thing or a million, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. And please, whatever you do, keep telling stories, you never know whose life you could change.

Will you TAKE THE VOW?

2009-01-07T08:23:00.004-06:00

Peace is something that I would assume we all would like to see one day. A very popular blogger, Davey Wavey, posted a blog this morning saying that he took the vow "of non-violence in my thoughts, my speech, and in my actions". In taking the vow, you do just that; you promise to use peace as a way to make a difference. Deepak Chopra's goal is to have 100 million people take the vow. All he is asking is for you to take the vow along with the thousands that already have, ask 2 people to do the same and hope that those two people will pass it on.

I took the vow, will you? For more information, please visit http://www.itakethevow.com.

Thank you.

Is it time for a healthier you???

2009-01-06T22:03:00.006-06:00

In just under five years, my body has gone through quite a transition. From my sophomore year student ID photo to my junior year photo, there is a noticeable difference. After my mom left, I was forever a changed person; my weight peaked, as I eat when I'm stressed. I've been struggling with my weight ever since and it isn't something that I enjoy. As I may have posted before, my Dad is getting married in June and I'm going to be his best man; I refuse to look the way I do now in those pictures. I think this was the push that I needed to get going and make myself healthier.

A friend from work and I were working out for a while and then the holidays came. Well, now they're gone and there isn't any excuse. Tonight we went and worked out, and while I didn't go as far as I know I can, I still surprised myself. We haven't been working out for about two or three weeks now and I still did 7+ miles between the treadmill and the bike. When we were done, I realized why people work out, besides from getting healthier - you feel great afterwards! I always feel amazing when I work out and I feel like I could go for days! Well, for me, it's time to step it up. I have just over 5 months before I have to get in to that tuxedo and, while I'm not going to be anywhere close to where I want to be, I'm going to be far enough away from where I'm at not to make a difference to myself.

I think there are always ways that one can make him or herself a healthier person. Even if you're physically fit, there is always your mental health that could be worked on.

2009 is going to be a year of MAJOR change for a lot of people and I hope that you'll join us as we go along this journey. The support of our friends and family mean the world.

From everyone trying to make a difference in their lives, thank you...

Best Gay Commercials

2009-01-05T08:38:00.000-06:00

Say Cheese!

2009-01-02T10:13:00.004-06:00

I just finished transferring the pictures that I wanted from my laptop to CD before I experience another dramatic event involvng the loss of what I work so hard at. This will be the second time that my current laptop has crashed; neither time have been my fault. This time, I, like so many others, have fallen victim to the IE virus that was put out and infected many, many computers. Unfortunatly for me, the virus was too advanced to do much of anything about it.

Now that I have the pictures saved on something other than my computer, I feel much better. While I don't get the opportunity to go out and shoot pictures often anymore, I cherish the (good) few that I do. As I stated in another blog, this is a year of new beginnings for me. I'm going to try and focus more on my photography and see where it takes me. People aren't given skills for no reason, there is obviously some meaning behind why they have the skills they do. I believe that we each have our own skills, it just takes some time for each of us to find them. Luckily, I found mine early. This may be a year (after Dad's wedding, of course) where I start to take a little more time off from my full-time job to get out and explore the world in a different way. After all, there is so much to see just in the United States; I've got to tackle that before I can move on to bigger and better things abroad. World... Here I come!

New beginnings in the New Year

2008-12-30T10:12:00.005-06:00

Tomorrow is the last day of 2008 which, of course means that we'll be once again starting a new year. I just read a bloggers post in which he stated that he "would rather just wake up tomorrow and find that everything had passed by, that I could resume normal life on a Monday morning and move on from this holiday season"; I couldn't agree with that more (Frozen Underwear; blog post: Holidaze...). This year has had so many things go wrong that I don't know it's possible to name them all. I think that 2009 is going to be a year of new beginnings, not simply putting the past behind us.

I have a feeling that for me, 2009 is going to be a year of big changes. I'm going to have my 21st birthday, which is a "landmark" birthday. I'm going to try and make that big step in life and finally move out and get my own place, leaving a certain amount of dependancy behind me. I'm going to try and live life to the fullest and, if at all possible, try and not turn down any opportunities that may come my way. I think that I'm going to try and focus a little more on some of my photography and see where that takes me; after all, if it doesn't work out, maybe it wasn't meant to at this time.

I hope that all of us have learned more than enough from the mistakes of 2008 and that we can get past them and make our lives better. We all need to start living for ourselves, we can't live for anyone else.

I hope that you will all join me in saying goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009 with open arms! It's going to be a great year! What will it bring for you? Only time will tell...

The lucky one?

2008-12-22T08:17:00.002-06:00

Yesterday before I left the house, I was reading another blog post, specifically about a break-up that this person had gone through. Lately I've been thinking that the people who are actually in the relationships are the lucky ones, but now I don't know what I think. In a way, they are, but on the other hand, am I to be considered the lucky one because I don't have to go through the pain of a break-up?

I suppose that people in both situations could be considered lucky. The people who are in the relationships because they've found someone who (at least for the time being) can share and experience things with that they would otherwise be unable to. People in my situation, however, have the relative freedom to do whatever, whenever (within reason, of course) and not have to worry about not being there for their significant other, etc..

On the subject of relationships, I'm kind of scared. Not of being in a relationship, but that I won't be in one. The similarities between one of my Aunt's and I are uncanny and, for the most part, our lives seem to be running on the same track. A few years ago she was in a relationship and then, all of the sudden, she was out of it. A middle of the night phone call to my Grandma was the start of something new for her, something that she was going to start on her own. Trust me, I know that people are in and out of relationships a few times throughout their life, but it just sucks.

At last, I leave you to ponder this question... Those taken or those who are single, who is luckier?

Winter in the Midwest... Gotta love it...

2008-12-19T10:22:00.003-06:00

This morning, I again quesiton why I still live in the Midwest. I knew that it wasn't going to be much fun getting my car driveable (i.e. windows de-iced, etc.) but it was by far worse than I expected; there was easily 2 inches of ice on my windows! AND on top of that I had to pry my door open so that I could run the heat and defroster!

~*~ Dear God, please make it warm soon ~*~

Prop 8 - The Musical

2008-12-12T09:12:00.000-06:00

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... by Jack Black

Is there something in life you wish you would have followed through with?

2008-12-10T22:45:00.000-06:00

In life we all say that we’re going to do certain things and then, for whatever reason we don’t. (Before I start my little story here, I have to preface it by saying that I think I’m the kind of person who is always going to fall in love with somewhere new that I visit.) When I visited Tampa last November I didn’t want to leave! I thought it would be nice to just call back home and say that I’ll come home long enough to get my stuff and then head back out, but that obviously didn’t happen. When I was down there, my Great-Aunt and Uncle had said that I could live with them until I got on my feet and was able to get a steady job and a place of my own; I thought this was the best offer ever!

When I came back home I started looking for places to stay in Florida that weren’t too far from Tampa/Orlando and I actually found a couple of really nice places! I came up with this plan to start saving x-amount of dollars per payday and then I’d be able to move by my birthday this past June. Well, as this always happens, it was one thing after another that prevented me from going; for a while there I was actually doing pretty well! After things started looking up with my finances, I always seemed to have something standing in my way of setting money aside again. As I sit here now, it’s below the freezing mark and the wind chill makes it even colder than people could imagine! My Aunt from Florida recently got a Facebook when her sister was down there. While Teri was setting up her profile, Jan (her sister) put up some pictures of Teri with the beach in the background; that made me miss Florida that much more! I constantly think about “what might have been” had I actually moved down there and sometimes I’m glad I didn’t. Had I moved down there, I would have missed the birth of my sister and small little things that I’m glad I’ve been home for. There are still those times, like today for example, that I really miss not being there. Of course, I always have an open invitation to come back down whenever I’d like, but that’s easier said than done, especially in today’s economy.

Everyone has at least one thing, I’m sure that they’re still kicking themselves for not following through with, what’s yours?

Thank you!

2008-12-10T22:44:00.001-06:00

As we (rapidly) approach Christmas and the New Year, I tend to find my thoughts, especially when I’m reading the New York Times, to the soldiers fighting for our freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. These men and women volunteered for what could be the fight of their life. Selfishly putting aside their family and their lives back home, these brave warriors have gone in to the unknown to face the unknown. I can’t even imagine walking down the streets of Kabul or Baghdad on patrol and having to be on constant alert even if you’re surrounded by children the same age as your own. We live in a time where we are suspicious of everyone we come across, especially if they look different than we do; we shouldn’t be living in that world.

Since 9/11, America and the rest of the countries around the world are on constant alert. Terrorists have basically found a way to control the world and that is completely uncalled for. I’ll be one of the first to sound off and say that I vehemently oppose the war in Iraq, but at the same time I’m glad that Saddam isn’t in power any more. With Barack Obama having been elected as the next President of the United States and having so many countries support him as America’s newest leader, it gives me great hope. I think that we will be able to get a great deal of good things accomplished that were either put on the back burner with Bush II or that were never allowed to even be considered by the current administration.

Supporting the troops that are fighting for freedom against terrorism is one of the greatest things that anyone can do. These brave men and women deserve our respect and support and should never have to ask for it. With the level of troops spread thin enough already, I think it’s time that this country rethink the battles it gets itself involved in. I hope that the agreement between the Iraqi government and ours keeps true and we’ll see a troop reduction in Iraq soon. Hopefully when that happens, the military will start rotating troops out of Iraq in to Afghanistan where our focus should have been this entire time. Osama bin Laden was the one that attacked us on our own soil, not Saddam. It’s entirely possible that because of the war in Iraq, bin Laden was able to cross the mountains in to Pakistan and could now be hiding out there. Why our attention was diverted somewhere else in the first place still blows my mind. Shouldn’t we have “kept our eye on the ball” instead of getting distracted? We, as a country need to figure out a way to regain our status as a country with a revered military. Under President Clinton we went eight years without being involved in a war and now we find ourselves involved in two, one of which (like I said before) we shouldn’t have been involved in in the first place.

As many people struggle to find a way to give back this holiday season, I think that supporting our troops tends to get overlooked. Supporting our troops can be as simple as thanking a soldier for what they do, sending care packages or sending letters to the troops fighting overseas. Let us not forget, however, about the rest of the troops that we have stationed around the globe who are keeping the peace that we have already restored.

I hope you will join me in taking a stand and supporting the troops this holiday season. Thank you to all the men and women in and out of uniform for all that you have done; we truly appreciate it!!!

What are you looking forward to?

2008-12-10T12:41:00.002-06:00

As we get ready to close out what has been one heck of a year it's time to get out that pen and paper and write down your New Year's resolutions again. Most of us, after giving it a valiant try, don't stick with it for one reason or another or we just never get around to trying one of the things on the list at all.

Not that this should be surprising or anything, but one of my goals for this new year is to actually stick to my diet. I started one last week that I seem to be doing fairly well on. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the reason why people don't stick to what they plan to do is because they feel that they can't start it until the new year and that builds up too much anticipation and worrying. Why not start early? I have something pushing me to keep going with my diet this year and I can't afford not to stick with it.

Finally I ask, what are you looking forward to getting accomplished in 2009? Is there something that's going to push you to keep at it? What are you looking forward to?

Some things in life I will never understand

2008-12-10T09:44:00.003-06:00

I am very fortunate in life to have been surrounded by friends who, for the most part, believe in what I do as far as morals go. I have had the occasional friend who didn't, but I'm sure that everyone has. I was reading a blog just before I posted this and this guy was talking about sleeping around and how he was trying to come up w/ excuses for why he was doing it. I realize that life is full of mysteries, but sleeping around is one thing that I will never understand. Does it make people feel better about themselves that someone is willing to tell them whatever they want just so they can have their way w/ them? For me, and this is something that I will never do, it would kind of take the intimacy out of any relationship once you've slept with half of the city. I suppose that some people are going to have one night stands or what have you, but once those ONS's turn in to a new fuck buddy every night, that's where the problem starts. I guess some people really are just a horse of a different color, but I don't think I'll ever understand it...

Do you have a dream?

2008-12-06T07:41:00.000-06:00

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

2008-12-04T07:49:00.002-06:00

I'm all for getting rid of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but I always think if they get rid of this policy, won't the military just have to work that much harder to get rid of hard working men and women who want nothing more than to serve their country?

Survey Time!!!

2008-12-01T21:56:00.002-06:00

1. What's your name?
Gary

2. What is your favorite thing to wear?
Boxers and a t-shirt!

3. Last thing you ate?
Lunch from BK

4. One place you will NEVER eat at?
Long John Silver's

5. I say Shotgun, you say:
Damn it!

6. Last person you hugged?
Brandy

7. Does anyone you know wanna date you?
Yeah

8. Would you date anyone you met online?
Depends... perhaps ;o)

9. Name something you like physically about yourself:
My hair on a good day

10. The last place you went out to dinner to?

Does the EDR count???

11. Who is your best friend?
I refuse to answer this online

12. What time of the day is it?
9:58PM

13. Who/What made you angry today?
Grandma/Grandpa

14. Baseball or Football?
A little of both, but only college FB

15. Ever gone skinny dipping?
Does a hot tub count? If so, yes....

16. Favorite type of Food?
Italian/Breakfast

17. Favorite holiday:
Christmas

18. Do you download music:
Nope, not any more

19. Do you care if your socks are dirty?
I would prefer them to be clean

20. Opinion of Chinese symbol tattoos?
Don't really care

21. Would you date the person who posted this?
N/A

22. Has anyone ever sang or played for you personally?
Yupp!

23. Do you love anyone?
Of course!

24. Are colored contact lenses sexy?
Nope, and I wasted money on some... Fuck...

25. Have you ever bungee jumped?
Not yet - maybe when I lose some poundage

26. Have you ever gone white-water rafting?
No

27. Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you?
Yes

28. How many pets do you have?
Dos (that means 2)

29. Have you met a real redneck?
How many truckers have come to work from Sapp Bros.???

30. How is the weather right now?
FREEZING... Literally!

31. What are you listening to right now?
The news in the background

32. What is your current favorite song?
"Soda Shop" - Jay Brannan

33. What was the last movie you watched?
"The Holiday" w/ Cameron Diaz & Jude Law

34. Do you wear contacts?
Oui (that means yes)

35. Where was the last place you went besides your house?
Walgreens -

36. What are you afraid of?
Losing my closest friends/family members

37. How many piercings have you had?
1

38. What piercings do you want?
None

39. What's one thing you've learned this year?
Some people are better friends than others

40. What do you usually order from Starbucks?
Nothing

41. What Magazines are you reading?
Nothing

42. Have you ever fired a gun:
A pellet gun, yes

43. Are you missing someone?
Isn't a person always missing another?

44. Favorite TV show?
Will & Grace

45. Do you have an obession with WoW?
Never played it, probably never will

46. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celeb?
Not that I remember

47. What celeb do you look like?
Hell if I know

48. Who would you like to see right now?
Good question...

49. Favorite movie of all time?
I don't know that I can say just one

50. Do you find yourself loved?
Yes :)

51. Have you ever been caught doing something you weren't suppose to?
I'm sure -

52. Favorite smell?
The coming rain

53. Butter, plain, or salted popcorn?
Butter -

54. What's something that really bugs you?
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT!!!

55. Do you like Michael Jackson?
Some of his songs are aight

56. Taco Bell or Burger King?
That's a tough one...

57. What's your favorite perfume?
How about cologne? Euphoria Men - CK

58. Favorite baseball team?
Cardinals

59. Ever call a 1-900 phone number?
Nope

60. What's the longest time you've gone without sleep?
Almost 24 hrs once

61. Last time you went bowling?
FOREVER AGO!!! I think I might be going on Friday though... :-/

62. Where is the weirdest place you have slept?
The bathroom floor after I got sick

63. Who was your last phone call?
Incoming: Brandy; Outgoing: Dad (Audra answered the phone)

64. Last time you were at work?
Yesterday

65. What's the closest orange object to you?
Marker

WTF?!?!?!

2008-11-29T10:21:00.004-06:00

This is just going to be a quick blog before I head off to work... I was on the NYT website and an article on the side caught my attention; it was about the black vote in California for Prop 8. The article said that the black vote in California was largely in favor of Proposition 8 which banned gay marriage. WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?! Half of the country sees this as another issue for the civil rights battles that we're all familiar with. Why would a group of people who have been through so much trying to get what they want (i.e. freedom, right to vote, etc.) discriminate against another minority fighting for what they want?!?!?! This really pissed me off. I don't understand the people in this country sometimes. People think that now that they have what they want, FUCK everyone else. Let them fight for it, it's not our problem. I guess that this country is more fucked up than we thought.

Time for reflection...

2008-11-26T08:13:00.003-06:00

Every so often I believe that people should reflect on what has happened in their life. Now, I've said this many times, my motto is "Live life; no regrets" so sometimes when people reflect they think, "Well, if I hadn't done that..." or "If only I had done that differently...". When I say we should reflect I simply mean thinking about what all you've come through and the things that you've learned from.

Tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I feel it's important to reflect if only to realize what you're thankful for. Too many people take everything for granted; that's a big problem. Of course we're all, at some point in our lives going to take things for granted but it's those who take everything for granted that screw things up for the rest of us.

I often look back on what has been and then I remind myself that I've overcome all the obstacles that are behind me (which I'm thankful for) and start to look ahead to the future. I know that there are going to be great things in store for me, but at the same time there are going to be hardships that I must get through as well. I truly believe that we're given no more than we can handle. It may seem impossible at times, but look at what you've already come through.

What are you reflecting on? What are you thankful for?

Nature's Power and Beauty

2008-11-20T10:12:00.004-06:00

We often find our breath taken away by pictures or scenes that we see on the Internet or television. Nature is something that is constantly changing; it brings such joy to our lives. People often talk about the changing colors of fall, the powerful thunderstorms that roll across the country and other natural phenomena as the most beautiful pieces of art, brought to us by nature. I, however, think that there is one thing that sums up the power and beauty of nature in one.

The killer whale (orcinus orca), the "wolf of the sea" is one of the most beautiful animals and one of the most powerful at the same time. There aren't too many animals that trainers can work together with that are as powerful (and sometimes unpredictable) as orcas. I'm sure most people have seen Free Willy and followed the story of Keiko (Willy) with the rest of the world as he was released off the waters of Iceland; tragically, he died and never really got to live in the open waters (I say "really" because he passed not long after being released).

Many millions have passed through the gates of SeaWorld parks across the country and have been witness to one of the greatest shows outside of Broadway, the Shamu show. This showcases the relationship that one can have with what is arguably one of the most powerful animals in the world. The grace and elegance that these animals posses is second-to-none. Being able to lift their massive weight out of the water and look like it takes no effort at all is incredible. Let's not be fooled by their grace, however.

We have all heard and possibly seen attacks by these animals. These animals rarely attack humans, but the attacks they make in the wild are far more impressive. These animals work like well-oiled machines, working together to accomplish something. These animals have been known to attack other whales, dolphins and even sharks. Since these animals aren't around heavily populated beach areas, they don't really get much publicity unless something goes wrong at an animal park; this is why they are under estimated.

The above and many more facts can be given to show that this animals is (possibly) nature's finest creation, but I'll leave that for you to decide. So for now, if you get the chance to enjoy these creatures in the wild or otherwise, please take the time to do so.

Just be happy!

2008-11-17T22:34:00.008-06:00

I've learned a lot in the past 20 years, there's no doubt about that. One of the things that I've learned that keeps coming back to me is that you can't please everyone. I'm sure there has been a point in every persons life where they've taken a step back and thought about the decision they were about to make and if it would make someone else happy, angry or even sad.

Keeping in mind that you only get one to live, you can't constantly try and make everyone else happy. Happiness comes from within. If you're constantly trying to work around other people's emotions and push your own aside, can you ever make yourself happy? At the same time it's important to be a good friend but you can't put your feelings on the back burner. Sometimes you need to be able to decide if the problems your friends are coming to you with are really worth you pondering over and putting your life on hold to help them or whether you need to find some way out of helping them. If you're able to do that, which a lot of the time I'm not, some people might see that as you not caring and you're being a bad friend. What they need to realize is that you'll be able to be a better friend when you've got your ducks in a row and can think straight.

I think sometimes that we're too dependent on one another but then I really get to thinking about it and, at times that's what really keeps us going. Knowing that you have someone there for you is one of the most comforting things in the entire world. Granted, cheesecake at times is more appealing than dumping your problems on someone else but that heavenly dessert is only going to be there for a limited time; a good friend will be there forever.

I am blessed to have the friends that I do. Some of my friends and I don't talk often, but I know that I can count on any one of them when I need something, anything.

In life I want each of us to find that one thing that makes us happy and hold on to it. Being happy is one of the most important aspects to truly living life. If you haven't yet found that "thing", strive to find it! Having something to look forward to can keep us all going. If at times it seems impossible all you have to do is look back on the times in your life when you thought something else seemed impossible and look at how you got through that. We're all faced with problems and obstacles, but we're meant to get through them.

Things, especially now with the economy the way it is can seem bleak but there's always that silver lining or the light at the end of the tunnel; keep looking for it.

Happiness. Live. Love. Strive...

It's Not Easy

2008-11-09T23:26:00.004-06:00

It isn't easy trying to stay positive, I'll be the first to admit that. I think it's something that always needs to be attempted. I'm one of those people that others come to when they're down or need someone to talk to and I don't mind that at all.

Everyone needs to have that one person who they can just talk to and if I can be that one person for someone, I feel incredibly blessed. If we keep everything in because we are afraid that we'll be burdening someone else with our problems it does nothing else but create more problems for our self. People were made to listen to one another and we should all try to do that. I think that some of the people who commit suicide really, deep down just needed someone to talk to and someone to listen. Not necessarily someone to give advice, but just to listen. They feel trapped and don't know who to turn to or where to go.

If you can open up to just one person, think of what that could mean to them. If you open up to them, they, in turn may open up to someone else. We can all make a difference in this world, even if it's one conversation at a time.

In the words of Dr. Frasier Crane, "I'm listening...".

History Has Been Made

2008-11-04T22:12:00.003-06:00

Ladies and gentleman, just moments ago the entire world witnessed history in action as Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. This is a great victory for not just this country but for the world. We now have someone who, I truly believe is going to stand up for each an every American and not give up.

There are still a few states that haven't been declared for a specific candidate but right now it doesn't really matter. There have been so many people for both campaigns that have worked so hard for this one night. I really can't find the words right now to complete this blog, so I think that I'm just going to post it and wait for the acceptance speech from the next President of the United States.

Obama '08

Times Are Changing

2008-11-03T09:00:00.003-06:00

This is something that I wrote a couple months back when I was at work... just thought that I'd share it w/ you!

In my everyday life, having grown up in the generation that I have, I’ve seen things that my parents and grandparents hoped that I would have never had to see. Things they hoped that I would never have to live through because of the sacrifices their generation and generations before made for the sake of their country and their families freedom.

In speaking with one of the guests that frequent my place of business, I realized when people say, “you kids have it so much easier today than we ever did growing up” that they’re wrong and there are so many things that we can say to prove that. We are currently fighting a war that we should have never been involved in the first place. We are always looking over our shoulder for terrorists that are just laying in wait to strike us down when we are at our weakest. We are constantly watching the stock markets in fear of another “Black Friday”. We are always wondering when we wake up in the morning whether we are going to have a job to go to tomorrow or fearing that we will be sent home early and we’ll have to figure out a way to tell our family that we were just laid off. We are struggling, with the rising cost of gas and other things that are so essential to everyday life to make it day-to-day and with that more and more people are living paycheck-to-paycheck than ever have before.

There is an obvious issue with national security in this country since 9/11; however, the government is trying to take things too far. It seems that any phone calls that may seem “suspicious” to the government may now be monitored and the reason for this is to protect the interest of national security in this country. I hardly think that monitoring phone calls of normal, everyday citizens such as you and I pose any a threat to the future of this country. What would help is if the FBI and the CIA would start sharing information that they receive instead of being so territorial and possibly putting the country at risk. Sometimes I wonder if the members of the Bureau and the Agency forget the oath they took to protect their country and the citizens that inhabit her.

In the past few years, but more prevalent in the news this year, we have people speaking out on key issues and calling people out on issues that need to be brought to the attention of the American public. Instead of us being guaranteed this right under the First Amendment we are finding ourselves punished by the government, but they’re doing it in a way that seems subtle at first. Suddenly, normal Americans, some of whom may have just coincidentally released a New-York Times Bestseller or are a journalist for a major news organization are now finding themselves on the “No Fly” list as suspected terrorists simply because they do not agree with the way the country is being run and are speaking out either on their own free will or because it’s their job to do so. Are we all of the sudden turning in to Communist China where speech, television and even how many children a family can have is being regulated by the government?

The end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 are going to be all about change, regardless of how you look at it. For the first time in history, we have an African-American male and a man who, if elected will be the oldest man ever to take the oath of office as President of the United States in contention for the most prized seat in public politics. Both men, Barack Obama and John McCain have differing platforms that they are running on and both have found a way to back up what they’re looking to get done. Obama and McCain also have strong forces behind their campaigns from Bill and Hilary Clinton and Al Gore on the Democratic side of the aisle to George W. and George H.W. Bush on the Republican side. Regardless of who the President-Elect turns out to be, we need someone who would leave the partisan politics of today behind and start reaching out to the other party and work together to get things accomplished.

Having, for the past 8 years, been lead by a President that seemingly only cared for the country after the despicable acts of September 11, 2001 we, as Americans, have been constantly left to believe that we are still the strongest nation in the world. We have been left to believe that nothing more would happen to the United States of America, a country that once was revered for the power and strength of its military. However, with the world news that is constantly breaking regarding the newest current threat level just issued by the Department of Homeland Security or the current actions being taken against our fighting men and women overseas it is constant proof that this country is living in a world of fear that never should have been. Let’s face it, ladies and gentleman, we’re not who we think we are anymore. We are not what the faces of Washington want us to believe. We are now a nation struggling to live for tomorrow.

All Eyes on America

2008-11-01T10:24:00.004-05:00

Next Tuesday, all eyes will once again be on America as we get ready to elect the next President of the United States. Regardless of who wins, there is no doubt that history will have been made that night. Leading up to November 4 we have already seen history made with the record turn-out for early voting in the just under 40 states that allow it.

At a time in our country's history where we can't afford any more instability that is exactly what we're facing. I, however, have faith that the two parties will pull together and at least try and get something accomplished over the next 4 years. Both parties have already called for change, now we just have to see if we can meet in the middle somewhere to get things done.

The winner of this election will almost certainly impact the way that we are viewed as a country to the rest of the world. We, as a country, need to learn how to play nice in the sandbox; it's going to be something that we have to learn all over again. I think that we have two men who would be great leaders, don't get me wrong, but they would each be great leaders in different times. The time for a leader who is willing to break boundaries and try and make nice with other nations who we haven't been the most loyal ally to is now. I'm sure that it's well known to everyone who I'm going to be voting for, but now isn't the time for me to plug my candidate.

Now is the time to get out and vote. Now is the time to make your voice heard. Now is the time to make history. Regardless of your political stance, make sure that you get out and vote.

We need to make America what it once was, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I Want to Travel While I'm Young...

2008-10-28T18:17:00.004-05:00

So I've really been thinking lately about traveling while I'm young and not tied down. There are so many places that I want to visit inside and outside the States, but right now I'm really interested in international travel.

I don't want to be single forever, but while I am I wouldn't mind taking advantage of the perks for as long as I can. I've always had a "special place" for Europe and Australia/New Zealand in my heart, although I've never been there. There are so many places to visit and so many things to see! My family is originally from Italy (Sicily, to be exact) and that is one place that I want to visit before I'm either to old to travel or kick the bucket. Over the past couple of days, I've been looking in to travel options for later next year to London and/or Italy. When I was at work yesterday, however, a guest was telling me about how she had been to New Zealand a couple of times and has always wanted to go back; she's supposed to be bringing some booklets or something for me.

I don't want to be one of those people who always wished that they had traveled but never did. I want to have stories to tell. I want to have pictures to tell stories. I think that international travel is going to be amazing and it's something that I can't wait to do! Obviously I'm not going to be able to go all the time, but once every couple of years or so wouldn't be too bad! It would also be nice to, when I find someone be able to take trips like that with them so that we'll have experiences that not really that many people can share.

I'm kind of thinking that I might take my taxes that I get back this year and put that towards a trip and then save some money here and there when I get the chance.

Wishing you happy travels in whatever you choose to do,

Gary

What's on your list?

2008-10-26T22:11:00.002-05:00

So I watched The Bucket List for the first time tonight and I'm just wondering... what's on your list?

"Housewife" - Jay Brannan

2008-10-26T08:22:00.002-05:00

Life's Unexpected Turns

2008-10-23T22:26:00.003-05:00

Today I was actually having a fairly good day. Today was the start of my "weekend" away from work and, after lunch and getting a haircut I went shopping with my soon-to-be step-mother. After we went shopping, I went back to Dad and Audra's to drop off a couple PJ outfits that I bought for Kenna when we were out today. After playing with Kenna and talking to Dad for a little while today I decided to get home because I knew that dinner was ready and I wanted to get my stuff put away before my shows came on. The night seemed like it was going to be uneventful until my phone started to vibrate; my mom was calling.

When I picked up the phone my mom was crying and I thought it was news about her grandmother who we know isn't doing too well. As it turns out, my Uncle Kurt who lives in Tennessee passed away tonight. This comes as such a shock to the entire family, even my Dad and Grandma (Dad's mom) who aren't even close to my Mom's side of the family were taken aback. Right now we're waiting to hear something from the authorities or the hospital where his body has been taken. Luckily, from what one of my other uncles had told me, Kurt's boys weren't there when he died. My Grandparents aren't taking this well, obviously, but I can only imagine what this is doing to them. Unfortunately since Kurt and the boys lived down south we weren't very close, but he's always been a part of my life and now I don't have that any more.

I suppose that everything happens for a reason, but this totally came out of the blue. I'm hoping that we'll have some sort of an idea fairly soon but only time will tell. I keep thinking about what's going to happen to the boys. Kurt and the boys' mom are divorced but (from what I understand) lives in TN as well so I'm assuming that they'll stay with her and her husband? I really can't even think what to write. My mind keeps going blank mid sentence and I have to keep starting over.

With this news it just goes to show that you need to live life while you can. Life every day like it's your last.

I love you, Uncle Kurt!!!

Every Gay Person

2008-10-23T22:15:00.001-05:00

This is a video that speaks volumes. This is a video that speaks the truth. This is a video that a gay person in America shouldn't have had to make. This is a video...

Is It Really That Time Again?

2008-10-17T22:19:00.004-05:00

Well ladies and gentleman... the holidays are right around the corner. Halloween, the start of the holiday season is almost here! This means that as soon as the ghoulish decorations come down, it's time to put up the Christmas decorations in the store. Granted, we still have Thanksgiving to get through, but when it comes to the stores there really isn't much that they put out.

In these tough times it's not that hard to find people (more than usual) who don't want to talk about Christmas simply because they aren't going to have the "normal" gift giving money. I honestly have been thinking about bringing up the idea of just either postponing or canceling the holiday for the older people in the family. I say just the older people because no kid should have to go without a Christmas when they're growing up. Christmas is, along with many people, my favorite holiday but it's not because of the presents. Let's face it, the gifts are always nice but that's not what the holidays are about. Many people forget that Christmas isn't about who can buy the biggest gift but about spending time with your family and being thankful for what you have.

Each and every year the holidays sneak up on people; while the days go by so slow, the weeks just fly by! We're half-way through October already!!! Fairly soon here in the Metro area we'll have one radio station playing Christmas music 24/7 until December 26th. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas music but that's just a little extreme. I'm sure, however, that I'll find myself going back and forth between 104.5 (Christmas over-kill station) and others that I normally listen to... this way I'll be able to get a little more variety.

I know that some people, for whatever reason don't like the holidays and that's cool with me; to each his own, but please don't try and impose that on others. There may have been something that happened in your past to make you not like this time of the year or you may just simply not like what the holidays have become, but there are some people, children included who live for Thanksgiving and Christmas for one reason or another.

I have been lucky enough to have been brought up in a family where I was taught what the real meaning behind the holidays is. My family is in no way "comfortable" when it comes to money so we've learned to live with what we have and that we can count on one another for just about anything. This was reinforced each and every year when I was growing up at Thanksgiving. Granted, we were all looking forward to Grandma's Thanksgiving dinner and Grandpa's homemade sides and desserts but we were, at the same time glad to be together if only for a couple of hours. This really is the time of the year to come together; set aside your differences with others if at all possible.

With all of that being said, let me be the first to wish all of you Happy Holidays!

Inspiration... What's Yours?

2008-10-14T08:44:00.009-05:00

Each day I try and find something to inspire me. Yesterday I read an entire book in my 8-hour shift at work and it was truly inspiring, but I needed something more. When the phones were slow I took a little trip to the Gift Shop and was just going to get something to drink but these mugs and clocks kept staring at me from across the room.

A couple of months ago, I was in the Gift Shop and was having a rough day and just needed a pick-me-up and I came across a mug with a saying from Thomas Fuller, "Great hope makes great men". Those simple words were enough to keep me going that day. Since then I really haven't looked in that corner of the shop, but yesterday my curious mind overtook me. Two things stood out yesterday, a mug that said "Live as brave men" (Cicero) and a little desk clock, "Character is man's guiding destiny". It may seem silly to some, but these two things, I have each sitting on my desk at home, just make things easier for the time being. All I have to do is remember those two quotes and I'll be good for a while.

Inspiration can be found in many forms. Each and every day I'm inspired by something or someone. I am incredibly grateful for each day that I am allowed to spend on this earth. I am inspired by the things that I see going on around me; they teach me to either never do something or to always push forward. Each of the people in my life, even if I have only met the once have inspired me to be a better person. Each interaction that I have with a guest at work, either good or bad inspires me do what I do best, make a difference in this world.

As I have said before, it only takes you smiling at one person that you pass in the hallway or on the street to make their day better. By taking a split second to smile or say "hello" to someone, you may have made a bad day a tiny bit better or a great day 10x better that it was before. Each of us have a specific purpose in this life. If you have yet to figure yours out yet, please, I beg you to keep looking. It will come to you.

So, today I ask, "What is your inspiration?". Your inspiration could be your children, family, friends, striving to be a better person, the beauty of nature or many other things that I did not list.

"Live, inspire, be inspired..."

National Coming Out Day 2008

2008-10-10T22:21:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow, October 11, 2008 is National Coming Out Day. For members of the LGBT community this, aside from "Pride" is a day that we can celebrate who we are. Slowly but surely, the United States is coming around to seeing that being gay isn't a bad thing and are actually starting to acknowledge it.

Today for instance, Connecticut was the third state in the Union to overturn the ban on same-sex marriages. Although the governor said that she doesn't agree with the decision she wasn't going to fight it because she didn't think that trying to overturn the decision would work. Even though the Court decided to allow same-sex marriage, Connecticut, along with California will have the chance to either "shoot it down" or change the two states' Constitutions.

Being gay should not prevent anyone from being able to marry who they love. Just because I'm gay doesn't mean that I can't have a husband some day; I'm am American, I should have that right. People think that by letting their neighbor get married they are somehow going to be affected. NEWS FLASH... It won't affect you at all. There is one thing that is going to harm the institution of marriage, and that is divorce.

Here is something to think about... in this time of economic despair, what is one thing that could boost an economy? Answer: allowing gay marriage in your state. Let's think about it... your state is considering allowing gay marriage and you are a small business owner. If I were to get married I would want a real wedding... flowers, tuxedos, cake... the whole nine yards. This means that I would somehow have to come up with the money to pay for these things which end up going in to your bank account and, at the same time help the economy. We have to have to pay for a marriage license, catering, the church (or some other rental site), invitations, EVERYTHING... all of that is putting money back in to the economy. Now, multiply my wedding by thousands of gay men and women in your state who want (and deserve) to get married and... KA-BOOM... money in your pocket and the economy starts to hurt less and less with each wedding.

For the many of you who have other "social networking sites" (MySpace, Facebook, etc.), I ask that you show your support for your friends and family and here's what you can do... update your status to show "(Your Name) is _____ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or if you support the LGBT community, ally)".

Also, if anyone is thinking of coming out but can't quite figure out how to do it or you need someone to talk to, please feel free to contact me... my MySpace and e-mail address are in my profile, so feel free to check that out!!!

Have a GREAT rest of your night!

Unexpected Visitors

2008-10-09T21:33:00.003-05:00

There are few things that I hate more than people who I don't know or don't really like dropping by unexpectedly and it just happened. Two people from my dad's past just, out of no where came to my house and are now chatting it up with my grandma at the dining room table.

Many of the people that my dad are in his past for a reason and it's better that they are. My dad wasn't always the "poster child" for what a teenager should be, but who really is? Dad is doing really well right now, or as well as can be expected of someone living in today's society. He is getting married next June, he has 2 boys (I'm 20 and graduated and Blaine is a Junior in high school) and a 1-year old girl that is amazing; I would hate to see him get mixed up with the wrong people again.

One of the people who are here right now I kind of know and she seems like an okay person but the other person I don't ever remember seeing in my entire life. In the beginning of the conversation happening behind me, my grandma had mentioned something about the guy having been in and out of rehab a couple of times and you can TOTALLY tell!!! Two of my cousins are here and I don't really condone having at least one of the people here for that reason alone, but this isn't my house and I really can't say anything. It's not like my cousins are babies but they're still young enough.

I'm sure that some people reading this won't agree with me because anyone who can come out of rehab and not be doing drugs/drinking right now is someone who should be commended. I understand where you guys would be coming from but I just don't want kids even around people like that unless it is someone who is speaking to a class/group. I have very strong opinions on things (as is well noted in the blogs posted below) and this is one of them; I don't know that anyone will be able to sway me on this.

I just needed to get this off my chest and since I can't really say anything to anyone else I thought that I'd blog and see if that helps...

Have a great night, kids! :o)

-Gary

The Zero Dollar Bill...What does that mean to you?

2008-10-09T01:39:00.006-05:00

Artist Laura Gilberts' print 'The Zero Dollar' protesting the breakdown of the American economy. Gilbert distributed 10,000 of the fake greenbacks in front of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008 to call attention to the economic crisis gripping the nation.(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

On the subject of our economy and our look of demise...I caught this article as I was about to log off the computer tonight. It really caught my attention.

This is a real stand out protest! This artist also handed these out in front of the Washington Monument and I think they said even the White House.

Rock on Laura!

I'll probably write more later but it is 2:00 a.m. and I need to sleep!

Here's a thought to ponder... By creating the "Zero Dollar Bill" she was able to express how she feels and get her thoughts and opinions out to people. What would you do?? How would you do it?? And with that said...why aren't you doing it?? Think about that!!

The Future of NASA

2008-10-06T09:24:00.002-05:00

I was just reading on the New York Times that, from 2010-2015 the United States' space program will now be reliant on the Russians. From what I can gather from the article, and this isn't really surprising to me, George W. Bush made the decision to "86" the shuttles without consulting with the folks at NASA. First off, (and I know the president is above the vice-president) the VP is the head of NASA and secondly, shouldn't we have at least talked to them to see when it would have been feasible?

Currently NASA is in the middle of making plans to get us back to the moon but it seems as though we have another runner-up in the return to space... the Chinese. According to many, China's space program is quickly on the rise. The US is trying to make it back to the moon by 2020 but people think that China is going to get there quicker.

For years the future of this country was in the hands of NASA making a name for the US again. After the landing on the moon, which is still a subject of controversy, we really haven't done a whole lot of anything. With Bush cutting the space program until we get the new launch program "Constellation" off the ground we have to rely on a country who, just a couple of months ago was thought to have been starting the next World War. I don't know about anyone else, but I think that this is going to affect the view that many of our allies, provided we still have any left, have on the United States.

The discontinuance of the current space program is going to cut a lot of jobs in an already struggling economy. The good thing is that both candidates have vowed to get us back to the moon and not leave NASA behind as a thing of the past.

From where I stand, the country is basically screwed even more so than we were when Wall Street took the 700+ point drop a few weeks back. This is a scary time and nothing should be taken for granted. I'm going to advise that everyone live life to the fullest before we don't have a life to live anymore. European markets took a nose dive this morning so it isn't something that's just happening at home. It's a domino effect that can't lead to good things in the future. I suppose that we could look at it this way... after the Great Depression the country rebounded and was stronger than it ever has been, so is that what we need to happen again? I'm not looking forward to the next 5-10 years if the economy stays along its current path...

Sarah Palin's Run for the White House and Other Political Rants

2008-10-05T20:31:00.006-05:00

After the VP Debate this past week, many analysts have said that Sarah Palin feels as though John McCain can't win this year (I think that's more evident now that he's pulled out of Michigan). There have been many speculations that she is "testing the water" for her own run for the White House in 2012 (as if we haven't had enough of her already). Granted, Hillary wasn't my first choice for president, but why would Americans elect another woman, except for Nancy Pelosi maybe, to President of the United States before Hillary Clinton???

I fully expect to see Hillary's name thrown back in contention for the "highest office in the land" in 2012 if John McCain wins (God willing that won't happen...) or in 2016 when, if he wins, Barack Obama gets out of office. I'm making a prediction here and now... within the next 4-8 years we are going to see many new, young faces in politics taking a page out of Obama's book and trying to make it big while they're young. Just across the river in Omaha, we are seeing new, younger faces that are trying to take out the people that have been in office for as long as I can remember; I'm sure this is a familiar scene throughout the country.

The people of this country are finally sick and tired of the "status quo" that has taken over Washington in years past and are standing up for change in America. Like I said in my previous post, I really don't care who you vote for (well I do, but that's not the point I'm trying to make) so long as you get out and vote. The only way that things are going to get done is if "we the people of the United States" say "NO MORE" to what we have come to know and welcome change with open arms.

Granted, with everything comes with consequences and a trial and error period, but can we really do any worse that what we've done this far? I really wonder what the founding fathers of this country would say now if they could see the shape this country is in... Interesting thought, isn't it???

November 4, 2008

2008-10-05T08:16:00.003-05:00

November 4, 2008 is going to be a history making day in the United States and around the world. We as citizens of the United States have two decisions to make; vote or not to vote and Barack Obama or John McCain for President. It is none of my business who you decide to vote for, but I do hope that you vote.

Attached is a link to a PSA headed by Leonardo DiCaprio and many other stars who are getting the message out there that this is the biggest election of our lifetime. Voting isn't required by law but it's something that every eligible American should do. If you aren't registered to vote, please get out and register. I am also attaching the link to the "Declare Yourself" website that gives information on early voting and voter registration.

It is imperative that in this election every voice is heard. It is imperative that we stand up for change. It is imperative that we leave a better future for our children. It is imperative that we vote.

I ask you to send this to at least 5 people hoping that they will do the same to get the message out there that, to stand up for change we can't be silent.

Peace, Prosperity, Liberty... Vote '08

PSA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAU1vEDXKIQ

Declare Yourself:

http://www.declareyourself.com/