December 2007
It was cold and things at work were very stressful most of the positions in the units were open and people were leaving in droves. In under 18 months 19 people had left or moved out of the unit. Leaving on average for over a 12 month period 3.5 investigators for over 100 complaints a month.
Doodle is living with her grandmother still and seems to be doing well but is having some ups and downs with the new school and people she shouldn’t be having problems with at all.
Stunt-boy is enjoying the last year of elementary school. Somehow convince S to go to the holiday performance - He does really well. CPG is late arriving to the performance. What can I say there.
Doodle came in and spent the night before Christmas here it was nice to have her here in the house again. She did show off a bit for S and I think try to intimidate her some.
I cooked a very nice dinner for which S was late but nervous about having a formal thing with my mother, stunt boy whom she was comfortable and doodle my teen daughter whom she had not met yet and we have been dating at this point since September.
Things go well enough for the holidays stressful as always but not over the top.
S came over between X-mas and news years after my family had gone and we had our private Christmas together. It was nice to be with someone again for the holidays.
We, S and I, spent new years eve at her friends apartment until the ball dropped and then went up stairs to her apartment for the first part of 2008.
I’m writing all of this a year later and knowing things about now that I didn’t know then make it a bit hard to be gentle so if it all seems a bit out of the ordinary for me it is out of the ordinary for me. I had slowed down a lot on my writing in 2007 and wrote nearly nothing in 2008. So now I’m trying not to let a lot of important things slip out of my head. So I will end up with some brief things in here about the year and the events. Mostly one per month and try to keep pace to get something up every day.
So that was December 2007
Get up go to work come home rinse repeat.
I still smoked over a pack a day at this point and should have had a caffeine IV but still opt for the oral consumption.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
I'm sure Pink Floyd has a title for this...
I haven't written a lot of anything lately. I need to return many emails, I haven't been blogging and the few e-mails I have sent it seems that cyberspace has eaten and are lost in the void.
So if I haven't written to you lately I will, If I've sent you something and you didn't get it I'm sorry, If you have been wondering about what is going on in my life and why I haven't been around that is my fault and my choice.
I'm not trying to avoid anyone or anything for that matter. I have been searching and trying to make sense of so many things in my life and juggling a lot of chaos. No I don't think my life is so bad most of the time.
There are things I wish I could change, things I wish were different, things I wish I knew the answer too and some things I'm just trying to come to terms with and except them for what they are in the world. I'm just trying to find my place in the universe.
Perhaps that is a pretty tall order. Trying to find yourself in something so vast as the universe. As Douglas Adams wrote in one of his novels and I'll paraphrase, the universe is so vast, so big in deed that if you took the size of the universe and the number of living things in the universe and compared the two numbers size verses the number living things the population of the universe would be zero. That is how large the universe is, pretty scary. We live in a place so big that our existence is nothing. And not just me, all living things.
So if all living things amount to nothing in the universe what does one person amount too in something so big.
I would suggest that if you take any anti-depression medication not to ponder on that thought for too long or those little happy pills may seem to be a lot less helpful after a bit.
Ponder away though I have. What does it all mean and why. Where is my place in it all.
Hell for that matter on a much smaller scale. What does it all mean just to me and those closest too me.
I wonder about that and get so few answers. I see them sometimes in smiles and in a few words.
However mostly I don't see that in the faces most important too me.
I think too about love and what it all means. But it's more and if you are reading this, most likely it's not about you. If by chance the one person who I worry about most is reading this … there is so much more that I want to be able to say to you but somehow all those doors are closing.
Some of them are supposed to be closed now and I know that. However there should still be a door to walk threw now and then. Somewhere we can still talk.
Somehow to reach out and say the things that are there but are unsaid.
If you are reading, but I know you aren't. I spend more time thinking about you than anyone or anything else in the world right now. You mean so much more to me than I think you ever will understand. And perhaps one day you will or at least that is my hope.
I fear that you are lost on your journey and while there are parts of that I can't help you with there are still many more miles that I can be there to say left instead of right. Or push instead of pull. Or just stop for a second and listen to the wind.
Love doesn't just happen, it isn't a magic spell, or a wish we make. It is the hardest thing in the universe to build. It takes trust, respect, listening and conversation. It needs to be worked on every day. Some days it only needs a light dusting other days major repairs and renovations. However it is fragile too and while it breaks it never really dies and that is the worst part about love. True love anyway, that it never dies. Unconditional love even if unreturned never dies but it does cause pain.
Because love needs to be coupled with other people and without it turns to shards which cut and gash. But never dies. Sorrow is the opposite of love not hate. Loss and emptiness not bitterness and jealousy. Those are others emotions unrelated to love
I wish I knew more about it though what I do know is that it can't be bought in a store, or paid for no matter how much you offer.
You do have to work for it though
It can't be measured in carats, or dollar signs or in the number of things
Funny how love can make you seem lighter than air one minute and heavier than lead the next
Strong or weak.
Beautiful or ugly
Wanted or unwanted
Needed or useless.
Found or lost
I keep looking for that open door and hope that you know no matter how far or long There is always love here for you.
So if I haven't written to you lately I will, If I've sent you something and you didn't get it I'm sorry, If you have been wondering about what is going on in my life and why I haven't been around that is my fault and my choice.
I'm not trying to avoid anyone or anything for that matter. I have been searching and trying to make sense of so many things in my life and juggling a lot of chaos. No I don't think my life is so bad most of the time.
There are things I wish I could change, things I wish were different, things I wish I knew the answer too and some things I'm just trying to come to terms with and except them for what they are in the world. I'm just trying to find my place in the universe.
Perhaps that is a pretty tall order. Trying to find yourself in something so vast as the universe. As Douglas Adams wrote in one of his novels and I'll paraphrase, the universe is so vast, so big in deed that if you took the size of the universe and the number of living things in the universe and compared the two numbers size verses the number living things the population of the universe would be zero. That is how large the universe is, pretty scary. We live in a place so big that our existence is nothing. And not just me, all living things.
So if all living things amount to nothing in the universe what does one person amount too in something so big.
I would suggest that if you take any anti-depression medication not to ponder on that thought for too long or those little happy pills may seem to be a lot less helpful after a bit.
Ponder away though I have. What does it all mean and why. Where is my place in it all.
Hell for that matter on a much smaller scale. What does it all mean just to me and those closest too me.
I wonder about that and get so few answers. I see them sometimes in smiles and in a few words.
However mostly I don't see that in the faces most important too me.
I think too about love and what it all means. But it's more and if you are reading this, most likely it's not about you. If by chance the one person who I worry about most is reading this … there is so much more that I want to be able to say to you but somehow all those doors are closing.
Some of them are supposed to be closed now and I know that. However there should still be a door to walk threw now and then. Somewhere we can still talk.
Somehow to reach out and say the things that are there but are unsaid.
If you are reading, but I know you aren't. I spend more time thinking about you than anyone or anything else in the world right now. You mean so much more to me than I think you ever will understand. And perhaps one day you will or at least that is my hope.
I fear that you are lost on your journey and while there are parts of that I can't help you with there are still many more miles that I can be there to say left instead of right. Or push instead of pull. Or just stop for a second and listen to the wind.
Love doesn't just happen, it isn't a magic spell, or a wish we make. It is the hardest thing in the universe to build. It takes trust, respect, listening and conversation. It needs to be worked on every day. Some days it only needs a light dusting other days major repairs and renovations. However it is fragile too and while it breaks it never really dies and that is the worst part about love. True love anyway, that it never dies. Unconditional love even if unreturned never dies but it does cause pain.
Because love needs to be coupled with other people and without it turns to shards which cut and gash. But never dies. Sorrow is the opposite of love not hate. Loss and emptiness not bitterness and jealousy. Those are others emotions unrelated to love
I wish I knew more about it though what I do know is that it can't be bought in a store, or paid for no matter how much you offer.
You do have to work for it though
It can't be measured in carats, or dollar signs or in the number of things
Funny how love can make you seem lighter than air one minute and heavier than lead the next
Strong or weak.
Beautiful or ugly
Wanted or unwanted
Needed or useless.
Found or lost
I keep looking for that open door and hope that you know no matter how far or long There is always love here for you.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Pirate Laws
A pirate does not ask for directions. He relies only on his gut feeling, a compass, or a treasure map.
Parrots are the preferred pirate companion. Monkeys are an acceptable substitute, unless they fling their feces at people. Then they are an awesome substitute.
When fishing, a pirate uses either a sword, a knife, or his bare hands. Use of a hook is only acceptable in the event the pirate is missing a hand.
Pirates shall always wear boots, except in the case of a peg leg. Then one boot is acceptable. Flip-flops are right out.
Pirates do not cry, except in the case of the loss of a shipload of rum.
When describing the size of a treasure, a pirate is required to exaggerate by at least 130%. Flowers are not treasure under any circumstances, unless said flowers are made out of gold.
A pirate shall never wear lipstick, nail polish, or capri pants. Actually, that kinda goes without saying.
No pirate shall discuss his feelings, unless his feelings include gutting a man from stem to stern and spilling his entrails.
A pirate should always remove his hat in the presence of a bartender.
During a swordfight, swordfighting insults are required. In the event both participants are still alive at the end of the fight, the participant with the superior insults shall be declared the victor.
No pirate shall ever wear a "fanny pack".
All foods prepared by a pirate must include rum, grog, or beer. Boone's and other "Wench Punch" is prohibited.
A pirate may never compliment another pirate on the softness of his hands.
No pirate shall wear a bracelet or a necklace, unless it is the tooth or tusk of an animal he killed. If in the presence of cannibals, a necklace is acceptable camouflage, but only if said necklace is made of human toes.
Pirate Law: Dousing oneself in beer is a perfectly acceptable replacement for a shower.
No pirate shall drink Grog out of a glass. Grog is only to be consumed either straight from the barrel, or from a mug heavy enough to to kill a man.
Three-cornered hats, headbands and bandanas are the only acceptable headwear for pirates. Fedoras, bowler derbies, baseball caps, mickey ears, top hats, sombreros, or anything with lace and flowers will be removed from the vessel-- head included. A grace period of one minute is allowed for hats looted from a tailory.
A pirate shall never wrap presents. The only thing a pirate gives is a bludgerin'.
Pirate Law: A pirate does not use the word "Fabulous". Ever.
No pirate shall attend a movie with less than an Arrrr rating.
Only a pirate is capable of killing another pirate. If you are not a pirate (let's say a ninja) and wish to challenge a pirate, they have a word for that. Corpse.
Pirate Law: "ARRRRRRRRRRR..." is a perfectly acceptable answer to any question.
A pirate does not "go shopping". Unless by "shopping", you mean "killing".
Peglegs must be made of timber or some other suitable wood. Plastic, ceramic, porcelain, or metal peglegs are utterly unnacceptable, simply because it complicates the use of the phrase "shiver me timbers".
Real pirates have chest hair. If you cannot grow chest hair, you may be a cabin boy.
Under no circumstances is a comb-over an acceptable pirate hairdo.
No pirate may ever change his shirt because it is "wrinkled". A pirate may only change his shirt if it is completely soaked in blood.
When drinking, Pirates may sing. "Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest" is preferred. Kelly Clarkson songs are not allowed.
No pirate shall ever drive a minivan, unless he drives the minivan into a tavern, for the purposes of looting barrels of rum from said tavern. Upon completion of this task, the minivan is to be burned. No exceptions.
No matter how hard it is raining, two pirates may never share an umbrella. Pirates do not fear rain.
If circumstances demand a career change, a move into real estate brokerage or tax collection shall be considered a lateral move and said individual may keep their pirate status.
A pirate does not snuggle with an animal, unless he is trying to snap its neck. But I guess that wouldn't really be "snuggling".
A pirate may never wear another man's clothing, unless he first kills that man.
Two pirates must never share a bed or a hammock. It is perfectly acceptable for one pirate to sleep on the floor, or on a pile of treasure.
Pirates do not wear eyeglasses or bifocals unless they are looking at a treasure map, and even then they are allowed only a monacle. Any comments about "Mr. Peanut" while wearing the monacle are prohibited.
When setting out on a voyage, a pirate does not pack a suitcase. He is only to bring what he can carry under his arms, or what his wench can carry on her back. -->
Pirates do not go shopping. They go lootin' and plunderin'. -->
A pirate does not mow the lawn. Lawns are for landlubbers.
Lifting or removing one's eyepatch is extremely impolite but is not considered an insult. It's just kinda gross. Likewise, one should never remove another pirate's eyepatch, except with a sword to the face.
Pirates never use the words "fresh" or "feelings," and certainly not together (as in "I have that not-so-fresh feeling").
A pirate must never visit a tanning salon. If he is not already tan enough from searching for treasure, he hasn't been searching hard enough.
While creativity is encouraged during any barfight or battle at sea, pirates may only use the following types of sword; falchions, scimitars, rapiers, and particularly long knives. Katanas or any other Ninja sword are strictly forbidden, unless the Pirate rips off a Ninja's arm and hurls the arm, and attached Katana, as a projectile.
No pirate shall ever sit on a toilet seat, for any reason.
Kidnapping is an acceptable substitute for killing, but only if it is for the purpose of plank walking at a later time.
When swimming, pirates do not dive. They cannonball.
Cannoneers aboard a pirate vessel are not allowed to use hearing protection of any sort. No matter what the OSHA regulations say, if ye can't stand bleedin' from the ears, you have no business being a Pirate.
A pirate will never wear a patch that is any other color than black; unless it's halloween. then they can wear a patch with an eyeball painted on the outside. Polka dots are not permitted under any circumstances.
Female pirates are allowed some exception to rules concerning hygiene and garmentry, but must make up for it by using twice as much profanity.
Hooks are the only acceptable hand substitute. However, they may not have secondary attachments such as screwdrivers, bottle openers, corkscrews, or nail files. These are Pirates we're talking about, not Inspector Gadget.
A pirate's diet consists mainly of meat. If at sea, and meat is not available, shoe leather is an acceptable replacement.
Pirate Law: You can't spell pirate, without "irate". There's a reason for that, so don't even try.
No pirate will ever, ever raise his pinky when drinking any sort of beverage.
Pirate Law: When choosing clothing, even if it looks dirty, or smells dirty, it is clean.
A pirate may ride in a rowboat, if traveling to or from his ship. Use of a Kayak is only permitted if used for cannon target practice.
When drinking rum, the only thing a pirate adds to the rum is more rum.
The official Pirate religion is Pastafarianism.
No pirate shall ever play wiffle ball.
Under no circumstances does a pirate speak with a Ninja, unless he first decapitates that Ninja and uses his head like a sock puppet.
When at the office, answering the telephone with "Arrrrrrr" is perfectly acceptable for pirates. Other acceptable choices are "Avast!", and "Ahoy Matey!"
A Pirate does not read poetry, unless said poetry is scrawled on the wall of a bathroom.
All women are to be referred to as wenches, with the exception of female Pirates, who can be referred to as "lass".
Pirates do not clean up, except when gold falls out of a treasure chest.
Spilling rum is not acceptable, except in the act of "pouring some out for dead mateys".
A pirate may tell any tale of swashbuckling without being called on the details, as long as at least 51% of the story is true.
A pirate may never shave below the neck. Shaving above the neck is allowed, but only if the pirate shaves his entire head. In the presence of cannibals, a mohawk is acceptable.
No pirate may do the arm movements for "YMCA", or engage in country-western line-dancing.
Pirates do not say "please" or "thank you". The phrase "Arrr, I'll probably kill you tomorrow" is an acceptable alternative for "Thank you".
Should the ship's bow have a carving of a naked wench, mermaid, or something of the like, crew members should not touch it. Feeling up a wooden statue is unbecoming of a pirate.
Pirates do not "IM". The only instant message allowed is a sword through the chest.
Dental Hygiene for Pirates is not a priority. Should there be occasion, however, strong rum or salt water can be used as mouthwash. Anything "minty fresh" is strictly forbidden.
Pirates never, ever obey laws. Period. Ironic, I realize.
And finally, How do you know if you are a pirate? You just "Arrrrrrrr"...
Parrots are the preferred pirate companion. Monkeys are an acceptable substitute, unless they fling their feces at people. Then they are an awesome substitute.
When fishing, a pirate uses either a sword, a knife, or his bare hands. Use of a hook is only acceptable in the event the pirate is missing a hand.
Pirates shall always wear boots, except in the case of a peg leg. Then one boot is acceptable. Flip-flops are right out.
Pirates do not cry, except in the case of the loss of a shipload of rum.
When describing the size of a treasure, a pirate is required to exaggerate by at least 130%. Flowers are not treasure under any circumstances, unless said flowers are made out of gold.
A pirate shall never wear lipstick, nail polish, or capri pants. Actually, that kinda goes without saying.
No pirate shall discuss his feelings, unless his feelings include gutting a man from stem to stern and spilling his entrails.
A pirate should always remove his hat in the presence of a bartender.
During a swordfight, swordfighting insults are required. In the event both participants are still alive at the end of the fight, the participant with the superior insults shall be declared the victor.
No pirate shall ever wear a "fanny pack".
All foods prepared by a pirate must include rum, grog, or beer. Boone's and other "Wench Punch" is prohibited.
A pirate may never compliment another pirate on the softness of his hands.
No pirate shall wear a bracelet or a necklace, unless it is the tooth or tusk of an animal he killed. If in the presence of cannibals, a necklace is acceptable camouflage, but only if said necklace is made of human toes.
Pirate Law: Dousing oneself in beer is a perfectly acceptable replacement for a shower.
No pirate shall drink Grog out of a glass. Grog is only to be consumed either straight from the barrel, or from a mug heavy enough to to kill a man.
Three-cornered hats, headbands and bandanas are the only acceptable headwear for pirates. Fedoras, bowler derbies, baseball caps, mickey ears, top hats, sombreros, or anything with lace and flowers will be removed from the vessel-- head included. A grace period of one minute is allowed for hats looted from a tailory.
A pirate shall never wrap presents. The only thing a pirate gives is a bludgerin'.
Pirate Law: A pirate does not use the word "Fabulous". Ever.
No pirate shall attend a movie with less than an Arrrr rating.
Only a pirate is capable of killing another pirate. If you are not a pirate (let's say a ninja) and wish to challenge a pirate, they have a word for that. Corpse.
Pirate Law: "ARRRRRRRRRRR..." is a perfectly acceptable answer to any question.
A pirate does not "go shopping". Unless by "shopping", you mean "killing".
Peglegs must be made of timber or some other suitable wood. Plastic, ceramic, porcelain, or metal peglegs are utterly unnacceptable, simply because it complicates the use of the phrase "shiver me timbers".
Real pirates have chest hair. If you cannot grow chest hair, you may be a cabin boy.
Under no circumstances is a comb-over an acceptable pirate hairdo.
No pirate may ever change his shirt because it is "wrinkled". A pirate may only change his shirt if it is completely soaked in blood.
When drinking, Pirates may sing. "Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest" is preferred. Kelly Clarkson songs are not allowed.
No pirate shall ever drive a minivan, unless he drives the minivan into a tavern, for the purposes of looting barrels of rum from said tavern. Upon completion of this task, the minivan is to be burned. No exceptions.
No matter how hard it is raining, two pirates may never share an umbrella. Pirates do not fear rain.
If circumstances demand a career change, a move into real estate brokerage or tax collection shall be considered a lateral move and said individual may keep their pirate status.
A pirate does not snuggle with an animal, unless he is trying to snap its neck. But I guess that wouldn't really be "snuggling".
A pirate may never wear another man's clothing, unless he first kills that man.
Two pirates must never share a bed or a hammock. It is perfectly acceptable for one pirate to sleep on the floor, or on a pile of treasure.
Pirates do not wear eyeglasses or bifocals unless they are looking at a treasure map, and even then they are allowed only a monacle. Any comments about "Mr. Peanut" while wearing the monacle are prohibited.
When setting out on a voyage, a pirate does not pack a suitcase. He is only to bring what he can carry under his arms, or what his wench can carry on her back. -->
Pirates do not go shopping. They go lootin' and plunderin'. -->
A pirate does not mow the lawn. Lawns are for landlubbers.
Lifting or removing one's eyepatch is extremely impolite but is not considered an insult. It's just kinda gross. Likewise, one should never remove another pirate's eyepatch, except with a sword to the face.
Pirates never use the words "fresh" or "feelings," and certainly not together (as in "I have that not-so-fresh feeling").
A pirate must never visit a tanning salon. If he is not already tan enough from searching for treasure, he hasn't been searching hard enough.
While creativity is encouraged during any barfight or battle at sea, pirates may only use the following types of sword; falchions, scimitars, rapiers, and particularly long knives. Katanas or any other Ninja sword are strictly forbidden, unless the Pirate rips off a Ninja's arm and hurls the arm, and attached Katana, as a projectile.
No pirate shall ever sit on a toilet seat, for any reason.
Kidnapping is an acceptable substitute for killing, but only if it is for the purpose of plank walking at a later time.
When swimming, pirates do not dive. They cannonball.
Cannoneers aboard a pirate vessel are not allowed to use hearing protection of any sort. No matter what the OSHA regulations say, if ye can't stand bleedin' from the ears, you have no business being a Pirate.
A pirate will never wear a patch that is any other color than black; unless it's halloween. then they can wear a patch with an eyeball painted on the outside. Polka dots are not permitted under any circumstances.
Female pirates are allowed some exception to rules concerning hygiene and garmentry, but must make up for it by using twice as much profanity.
Hooks are the only acceptable hand substitute. However, they may not have secondary attachments such as screwdrivers, bottle openers, corkscrews, or nail files. These are Pirates we're talking about, not Inspector Gadget.
A pirate's diet consists mainly of meat. If at sea, and meat is not available, shoe leather is an acceptable replacement.
Pirate Law: You can't spell pirate, without "irate". There's a reason for that, so don't even try.
No pirate will ever, ever raise his pinky when drinking any sort of beverage.
Pirate Law: When choosing clothing, even if it looks dirty, or smells dirty, it is clean.
A pirate may ride in a rowboat, if traveling to or from his ship. Use of a Kayak is only permitted if used for cannon target practice.
When drinking rum, the only thing a pirate adds to the rum is more rum.
The official Pirate religion is Pastafarianism.
No pirate shall ever play wiffle ball.
Under no circumstances does a pirate speak with a Ninja, unless he first decapitates that Ninja and uses his head like a sock puppet.
When at the office, answering the telephone with "Arrrrrrr" is perfectly acceptable for pirates. Other acceptable choices are "Avast!", and "Ahoy Matey!"
A Pirate does not read poetry, unless said poetry is scrawled on the wall of a bathroom.
All women are to be referred to as wenches, with the exception of female Pirates, who can be referred to as "lass".
Pirates do not clean up, except when gold falls out of a treasure chest.
Spilling rum is not acceptable, except in the act of "pouring some out for dead mateys".
A pirate may tell any tale of swashbuckling without being called on the details, as long as at least 51% of the story is true.
A pirate may never shave below the neck. Shaving above the neck is allowed, but only if the pirate shaves his entire head. In the presence of cannibals, a mohawk is acceptable.
No pirate may do the arm movements for "YMCA", or engage in country-western line-dancing.
Pirates do not say "please" or "thank you". The phrase "Arrr, I'll probably kill you tomorrow" is an acceptable alternative for "Thank you".
Should the ship's bow have a carving of a naked wench, mermaid, or something of the like, crew members should not touch it. Feeling up a wooden statue is unbecoming of a pirate.
Pirates do not "IM". The only instant message allowed is a sword through the chest.
Dental Hygiene for Pirates is not a priority. Should there be occasion, however, strong rum or salt water can be used as mouthwash. Anything "minty fresh" is strictly forbidden.
Pirates never, ever obey laws. Period. Ironic, I realize.
And finally, How do you know if you are a pirate? You just "Arrrrrrrr"...
Monday, September 24, 2007
Why and Why not
My blogging gap hasn't been as long this time. Spending time with my son. My daughter is still living with my mother. They seem to be getting along for not which is good I hope that they will continue to get along.
Found out some things that I'm not really happy about and also was not surprised to find out. My family immediate and extended if all brought together would make for a seasons worth of TV shows, well my cousin already did that and only really just touched the surface of things.
I may start doing a high lights of my family thing. I think the classic was when the peacemaker got a restraining order on the beta unit.
If you don't know who they are sorry, you'll have to pull out your handy dandy invisible don decoder ring. For those of you how haven't yet received your invisible don decoder ring you'll just have to ask who is who.
Meanwhile back at the invisible fortress things are just dandy.
I have one thing going on at work that has me a bit confused and I'm not getting into it right now. I'll just say that I think I'm right but being right isn't everything. Which leaves me with the question, Why?
Many things are leaving me that question why lately and no one seems to have an answer or have an answer and aren't willing to say what it is.
I'm asking Why not a little at a time. No need in pissing off karma you know I have enough negative points there from somewhere.
Started a new project last night. Hopefully and I'll leave it at that.
More later, as always play nice in the neighborhood
Ciao
Found out some things that I'm not really happy about and also was not surprised to find out. My family immediate and extended if all brought together would make for a seasons worth of TV shows, well my cousin already did that and only really just touched the surface of things.
I may start doing a high lights of my family thing. I think the classic was when the peacemaker got a restraining order on the beta unit.
If you don't know who they are sorry, you'll have to pull out your handy dandy invisible don decoder ring. For those of you how haven't yet received your invisible don decoder ring you'll just have to ask who is who.
Meanwhile back at the invisible fortress things are just dandy.
I have one thing going on at work that has me a bit confused and I'm not getting into it right now. I'll just say that I think I'm right but being right isn't everything. Which leaves me with the question, Why?
Many things are leaving me that question why lately and no one seems to have an answer or have an answer and aren't willing to say what it is.
I'm asking Why not a little at a time. No need in pissing off karma you know I have enough negative points there from somewhere.
Started a new project last night. Hopefully and I'll leave it at that.
More later, as always play nice in the neighborhood
Ciao
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Things that make you proudest of your children
Well some of you may know this and some of you may not. My daughter has gone to live with my mother. I am not very happy about this and as a parent I miss her very much. This is a rather complicated thing and I'm not really sure what all to say about it all.
Teens push their boundaries and test limits I know this so my daughter is closer to 16 now but is still 15. I have seen her make very good choices and also some pretty dumb ones. Who hasn't done that as a teenager. She has made more good ones than bad ones and I'm very proud of her for who she is as a person. She really does try not to follow the flock, herd group and remain her own person. Which has in many cases left her standing on the outside because most of her peers aren't strong enough to go against the group or their friends when they don't agree with them. Doodle will and has not played along just because and said things which has in some cases placed her on the outside of a group because she won't just blindly follow along. I am proud of her for that, However I have also seen this make her question if it is worth it or not when the people she thought were her friend abandon her because she stands up for her own principles and doesn't cave in to peer pressure.
I have also seen the opposite of this where she has given in to peer pressure and done things which I sure she wishes she had not done. I won't get into those because those are her things to talk about or not to talk about. I've tried to be supportive of her in everything she has done right or wrong and to let her know that when she makes mistakes she is still my daughter and I love her regardless of what she did or didn't do.
It's a fine line you have to walk as a parent with kids, especially teens. Then in my situation which is by no mean unique in the US that she has parents who don't live together and one of them who will not cooperate in coparenting from separate households.
Doodle choose not to live with her mother following things her mother said to her which I don't know she has ever forgiven her. So for two and half years she live with me while her brother went back and forth spending a week with me and a week with her. I encouraged my daughter to attempt to make amends with her mother and she may have at some point. I know had the roles been reversed that her mother, CPG, would not have done the same thing. Does not do the same thing. Her mother still continues to undermine my relationship with my children and thinks of herself first in every situation before the children.
I don't put my kids first because I have to, I do it because I want to and I see being a father as the most important thing I do every day. Yes I make mistakes I'm not perfect and I never have said that I am nor do I think I'm better than anyone else. However many people accuse me of this including my ex.
While it pains me everyday for my daughter to be living so far away I'm trying to accept that this is something she feels that she needs to do to find out who she will be later in life. I try to find the positive in the situation and there are several.
She is in a new school but has several relatives there and people she has known for a number of years. Even as the new kid in school she knows people and has made friends with a few others. She does experience the new kid things especially as a girl. My daughter is attractive and this is a fathers nightmare, however it is also nightmarish for a teen age girl. Because other teen girls see her as a threat first to "stealing the attention of boys" rather than as a person. Guys do the same thing but not to the extent that girls do this. She is living with a family member who she has always had a close relationship with and has a job. Something I couldn't encourage her to do here despite numerous efforts.
So there are a lot of good things going on yet I miss her terribly every day. I tell her these things and also still try to encourage her to be her own person. Hard to put that want as a parent to have your children in your lives and letting them explore who they want to be.
To end this on a happier note. I went to she her cheer at a football game this week. Yes she is a cheerleader. Yes I did say she isn't a follower earlier and she still isn't one. She is her own person out there on the field in her squad and she is a team player. You can do both. While the others girls are stiff and rehearsed in their movements I see my daughter enjoying herself and being herself in facial expressions and her demeanor. At the end of the game the football team got beat rather soundly too. Well the opposing team's cheer leaders decided to yell taunts to my daughters squad. Well they responded yelling back in true cheerleader fashion. All the cheerleader are yelling were number one even though the score board clearly states that not so much today. My daughter isn't yelling we're number one she is yelling bring it and is throwing out gang signs and grabbing her crotch and being all urban thug to a bunch of Westby god cheerleaders.
Now my daughter isn't a thug and isn't in a gang but I think she recognized that the cheerleaders really had nothing to do with the score at the end of the game and wasn't going to be the dower little girl to taunts
Not my proudest moment as a dad seeing my daughter be all urban thug but not my worst nightmare either because she is her own person and I would like to think I played some role in giving her the courage to do that by always treating her with respect and listening to her.
Anyway that's my thing for today, I'm home with my son because he isn't feeling well. I guess all the pirate fighting he has done lately has taken a toll on his little ninja self.
Ciao
Teens push their boundaries and test limits I know this so my daughter is closer to 16 now but is still 15. I have seen her make very good choices and also some pretty dumb ones. Who hasn't done that as a teenager. She has made more good ones than bad ones and I'm very proud of her for who she is as a person. She really does try not to follow the flock, herd group and remain her own person. Which has in many cases left her standing on the outside because most of her peers aren't strong enough to go against the group or their friends when they don't agree with them. Doodle will and has not played along just because and said things which has in some cases placed her on the outside of a group because she won't just blindly follow along. I am proud of her for that, However I have also seen this make her question if it is worth it or not when the people she thought were her friend abandon her because she stands up for her own principles and doesn't cave in to peer pressure.
I have also seen the opposite of this where she has given in to peer pressure and done things which I sure she wishes she had not done. I won't get into those because those are her things to talk about or not to talk about. I've tried to be supportive of her in everything she has done right or wrong and to let her know that when she makes mistakes she is still my daughter and I love her regardless of what she did or didn't do.
It's a fine line you have to walk as a parent with kids, especially teens. Then in my situation which is by no mean unique in the US that she has parents who don't live together and one of them who will not cooperate in coparenting from separate households.
Doodle choose not to live with her mother following things her mother said to her which I don't know she has ever forgiven her. So for two and half years she live with me while her brother went back and forth spending a week with me and a week with her. I encouraged my daughter to attempt to make amends with her mother and she may have at some point. I know had the roles been reversed that her mother, CPG, would not have done the same thing. Does not do the same thing. Her mother still continues to undermine my relationship with my children and thinks of herself first in every situation before the children.
I don't put my kids first because I have to, I do it because I want to and I see being a father as the most important thing I do every day. Yes I make mistakes I'm not perfect and I never have said that I am nor do I think I'm better than anyone else. However many people accuse me of this including my ex.
While it pains me everyday for my daughter to be living so far away I'm trying to accept that this is something she feels that she needs to do to find out who she will be later in life. I try to find the positive in the situation and there are several.
She is in a new school but has several relatives there and people she has known for a number of years. Even as the new kid in school she knows people and has made friends with a few others. She does experience the new kid things especially as a girl. My daughter is attractive and this is a fathers nightmare, however it is also nightmarish for a teen age girl. Because other teen girls see her as a threat first to "stealing the attention of boys" rather than as a person. Guys do the same thing but not to the extent that girls do this. She is living with a family member who she has always had a close relationship with and has a job. Something I couldn't encourage her to do here despite numerous efforts.
So there are a lot of good things going on yet I miss her terribly every day. I tell her these things and also still try to encourage her to be her own person. Hard to put that want as a parent to have your children in your lives and letting them explore who they want to be.
To end this on a happier note. I went to she her cheer at a football game this week. Yes she is a cheerleader. Yes I did say she isn't a follower earlier and she still isn't one. She is her own person out there on the field in her squad and she is a team player. You can do both. While the others girls are stiff and rehearsed in their movements I see my daughter enjoying herself and being herself in facial expressions and her demeanor. At the end of the game the football team got beat rather soundly too. Well the opposing team's cheer leaders decided to yell taunts to my daughters squad. Well they responded yelling back in true cheerleader fashion. All the cheerleader are yelling were number one even though the score board clearly states that not so much today. My daughter isn't yelling we're number one she is yelling bring it and is throwing out gang signs and grabbing her crotch and being all urban thug to a bunch of Westby god cheerleaders.
Now my daughter isn't a thug and isn't in a gang but I think she recognized that the cheerleaders really had nothing to do with the score at the end of the game and wasn't going to be the dower little girl to taunts
Not my proudest moment as a dad seeing my daughter be all urban thug but not my worst nightmare either because she is her own person and I would like to think I played some role in giving her the courage to do that by always treating her with respect and listening to her.
Anyway that's my thing for today, I'm home with my son because he isn't feeling well. I guess all the pirate fighting he has done lately has taken a toll on his little ninja self.
Ciao
Monday, September 17, 2007
Pirates v. Ninjas
Ninjas v. Pirates
A conversation which just sprang out of the mind of a 10 year old boy. No not me silly my son. Now while I many at times think like a 10 year old, I see that as a good thing.
"Dad, who would win in a fight a pirate or a ninja?"
I say " I really like pirates"
"Are you kidding, there is no way a pirate would win, ninjas would win every time."
"Why is that" I ask
"Well pirates are drunk all of the time and ninjas don't drink. Pirates are always laying around and ninjas are always on task, ninjas have better armor and smoke bombs, cool swords and throwing stars. Pirates only have clothing and swords. Plus pirates aren't very smart and you have to be smart to be a ninja.
I say, "well pirates have cannon"
Without hesitation he replies, "you have to see the ninjas coming to shoot them"
"good point"
So I guess that is why pirates stayed on the ocean because ninjas don't have ships. So the moral of the story is that while it may be better to be a ninja but pirates work less and have more fun.
Yay, for being a pirate but watch out for ninjas because they'll kick your butt.
A conversation which just sprang out of the mind of a 10 year old boy. No not me silly my son. Now while I many at times think like a 10 year old, I see that as a good thing.
"Dad, who would win in a fight a pirate or a ninja?"
I say " I really like pirates"
"Are you kidding, there is no way a pirate would win, ninjas would win every time."
"Why is that" I ask
"Well pirates are drunk all of the time and ninjas don't drink. Pirates are always laying around and ninjas are always on task, ninjas have better armor and smoke bombs, cool swords and throwing stars. Pirates only have clothing and swords. Plus pirates aren't very smart and you have to be smart to be a ninja.
I say, "well pirates have cannon"
Without hesitation he replies, "you have to see the ninjas coming to shoot them"
"good point"
So I guess that is why pirates stayed on the ocean because ninjas don't have ships. So the moral of the story is that while it may be better to be a ninja but pirates work less and have more fun.
Yay, for being a pirate but watch out for ninjas because they'll kick your butt.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
I don't have mother issues
Well my run in's with karma never seem to end, it's not that these are life ending run in's or anything I'm either a walking poster boy for Murphy's law, or a real life Forrest Gump.
Being that I'm not entirely mental and look nothing like Tom Hanks I'm going with the Murphy's Law poster boy.
Murphy's Law being that which can go wrong will go wrong.
Most of the cases I have to work on have some new and interesting twist to them that no one has ever happen to them or that happen so infrequently that that they can't remember the last time that happened.
It's not just the job, if I get in line at the store - it's the slowest line
At a light I'm behind the person waiting for a different shade of green or trapped behind that guy who won't pull up so you can get to the turning lane
If I say something it's the wrong thing
Try to do the right thing and it turns around and bites me in the ass
Try to do a favor and it turns out it didn't need to be done.
I'm not complaining mind you I'm just making observations
Who knows all this new experience has got to pay off at some point right?
Right?
So karma is still keeping me around as her whipping boy. Yay
Oh wait my mother is calling
Ciao
Invisible Don
Song Mother by The Police
PS I just thought the song would be a funny way to end the blog so If I have dated you I don't think you have become my mother
Being that I'm not entirely mental and look nothing like Tom Hanks I'm going with the Murphy's Law poster boy.
Murphy's Law being that which can go wrong will go wrong.
Most of the cases I have to work on have some new and interesting twist to them that no one has ever happen to them or that happen so infrequently that that they can't remember the last time that happened.
It's not just the job, if I get in line at the store - it's the slowest line
At a light I'm behind the person waiting for a different shade of green or trapped behind that guy who won't pull up so you can get to the turning lane
If I say something it's the wrong thing
Try to do the right thing and it turns around and bites me in the ass
Try to do a favor and it turns out it didn't need to be done.
I'm not complaining mind you I'm just making observations
Who knows all this new experience has got to pay off at some point right?
Right?
So karma is still keeping me around as her whipping boy. Yay
Oh wait my mother is calling
Ciao
Invisible Don
Song Mother by The Police
PS I just thought the song would be a funny way to end the blog so If I have dated you I don't think you have become my mother
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I should really, just not say things like that
The other day I was in someone's office at work because I had to be there. This person likes to talk and talk and talk. Well I find a way to leave the conversation and then on my way out, on their radio I hear a song I really like playing. So I say you know I really like this song just as a matter of passing. You know as if to say I really like sunny days.
Well now this really simple comment has lead to a lot of analysis about why do I like that song and what does it mean to me. Well that is sort of personal question. So I say I just like it. It's not an upbeat song but it isn't all that sad, a little bit though. The song does have a special meaning to me but I'm not sharing. I'm not even going to say what it is here in this blog.
I'm really sort of glad it wasn't one of my really guilty pleasure songs like Hanson's M-bop or something by Marilyn Manson like Beautiful People or Pepper by the Butthole Surfers. Now there are three bands you won't see in the same sentence often. I can only imagine what the comments would be had I said you know The Ballad of Resurrection Joe and Rosa Whore by Rob Zombie is one of my favorite songs.
That isn't entirely true but I do like that song. I guess my point is can't you just say something in passing anymore without everyone taking it so far out of context.
I mean I rarely give compliments to people anymore that I haven't known for a very long time because it might be sexual harassment. To either gender.
It has gotten to be a world where every thing we say has to have some deeper meaning or that we are trying to say something we aren't saying.
Maybe it's just me but I don't think it is … and as far as the Hanson thing goes you know you love that song too. MMM BOP Oh yeah have a good day and if you are on myspace I'm posting MMM Bop as my video pick of the day. Feel free to call me freak if you like but I know you'll play it and sing along too. Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du
Yeah
MMMM BOP
Now that I have succeeded in getting that song stuck in your head
WHY DO YOU LIKE THAT SONG????????????
Just because, right.
See I'm not wrong
That’s all for now other stuff tomorrow, have a great day and play nice in the neighborhood.
Ciao,
Well now this really simple comment has lead to a lot of analysis about why do I like that song and what does it mean to me. Well that is sort of personal question. So I say I just like it. It's not an upbeat song but it isn't all that sad, a little bit though. The song does have a special meaning to me but I'm not sharing. I'm not even going to say what it is here in this blog.
I'm really sort of glad it wasn't one of my really guilty pleasure songs like Hanson's M-bop or something by Marilyn Manson like Beautiful People or Pepper by the Butthole Surfers. Now there are three bands you won't see in the same sentence often. I can only imagine what the comments would be had I said you know The Ballad of Resurrection Joe and Rosa Whore by Rob Zombie is one of my favorite songs.
That isn't entirely true but I do like that song. I guess my point is can't you just say something in passing anymore without everyone taking it so far out of context.
I mean I rarely give compliments to people anymore that I haven't known for a very long time because it might be sexual harassment. To either gender.
It has gotten to be a world where every thing we say has to have some deeper meaning or that we are trying to say something we aren't saying.
Maybe it's just me but I don't think it is … and as far as the Hanson thing goes you know you love that song too. MMM BOP Oh yeah have a good day and if you are on myspace I'm posting MMM Bop as my video pick of the day. Feel free to call me freak if you like but I know you'll play it and sing along too. Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du
Yeah
MMMM BOP
Now that I have succeeded in getting that song stuck in your head
WHY DO YOU LIKE THAT SONG????????????
Just because, right.
See I'm not wrong
That’s all for now other stuff tomorrow, have a great day and play nice in the neighborhood.
Ciao,
Monday, September 10, 2007
Beer with Bhudda or Budda as you will discover
From back in the day
So recently many people have suggested that I start blogging again, well with a bit more frequency than I have been. Well nothing much is going on in my life.
Work, come home, sleep repeat. Do the dad thing every other week and that is about it for my life right now normal - well minus all the drama that happens in my life with the RIAA lawsuit, my mother hating me yadda yadda yadda
So to find anything worth writing about I either have to bitch and complain like you need to hear my problems or get all political or write about stuff that has already happened.
I picked C for today boys and girls, ladies and gents, people of all ages. Because I was reminded of a story of how the military some times messes up orders when I was talking with a person at work whose son is in the military and his orders got screwed up.
So this one is from back in my days in the military, yes I was once a member of our nations armed forces you may remember a period of time some years ago when felt really safe and nothing bad could happen. Well that was when I was in the military and that is why you felt really safe. Not the point of the story or the story at all.
While I was in there were a large assortment of people I was serving with and one of my friends Jay was call Budda pronounced Buddha. yes I know it isn't spelled like Buddha but that is how it was said . Budda was thusly named because he
1) was a war comic book fan,
2) always wanted the machine gun
3) the word war comics put in for machine gun fire is Budda as in BUDDA BUDDA BUDDA and really big on the page
So every one called Jay Budda, oh and by the way like normal Jay's name isn't really Jay but we did call him Budda I change real names to protect people in my stories
Well Budda was a cool guy and was fun to be around and funny as all hell. The entire Flight (platoon for you non air force people) was really sad when Budda got sick. Really sick
He had to go to the hospital on the base and didn't get any better for a long time. Was then sent to a larger hospital in Germany and treated him there for a while. Well the other hospital was far enough away that most of us couldn't visit Budda very often. Then we get the news that Budda had died.
WTF? Yeah no kidding we have a ceremony and send his family our deepest sympathies.
Well about 6 months later give or take. I was patrolling on the base and I see BUDDA walking on the base. I'm like WTF? I stop the car. Get out and Budda says, Hey Goose whatcha doing I was called Goose in the military and not invisible don as in the last story I wrote about cursing in Russian. So I say, You're dead. Because at this point I'm wondering Ok
1. I'm dead and Budda is here to help me - ironic that I'm Buddhist and Budda is coming to meet me.
2. I'm going insane and having audio and visual hallucinations
I don't remember dying so I'm going with I'm insane for the moment.
Budda says What?
I say, You are dead Budda what are you doing here.
Budda says, I was in a US hospital.
I say what?
Budda says, yeah they shipped me there from the hospital here because I wasn't getting any better there either and this other hospital in the US had the idea that they could treat me and had access to other doctors that aren't over here.
Ok now I'm thinking I'm not dead and probably not insane. Because as the military is known it has some major SNAFU's. The term comes from the military because they happen so often. SNAFU means if you don't know
Situation
Normal
All
FUCKED
Up
This is a MAJOR SNAFU, Major still just means really big even in the military unless you are talking rank and it's a middle rank but up there.
Budda you have to come with me. He says What again. I said I'll explain on the way so I take him to the Flight Chief and explain they told us you died and we sent sympathy cards to your mother. Then I'm like when was the last time you talked to your mother?
Budda rubbed his chin, he did actually do that all the time and says I guess about a year ago. Oh man major FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond All Reason) Also has it's roots in military mistakes
So this has gone from Snafu to Major Snafu to the end all beat all Snafu Fubar of the century.
I get Budda to the Flight Chief and have him wait outside because not everyone deals well with the dead coming back to life and all. So I walk in ask for permission to speak freely and then I say Sir I think we have a situation. Situation means really big problem in the military.
The Flight Chief says Well what is it
I say, do you remember Sgt. Budda?
Yes he died.
I say no he didn't.
What the fuck are you talking about?
He is standing outside I just saw him on the base he is here he was in the US.
FC. You are fucking shitting me.
In the military fuck is used in most nearly every sentence. I'll edit for content sake
No Sir he is here and Sir his mother isn't aware that his isn't dead.
The FC is still not really quiet grasping the fact that Budda is alive. You know that look a dog does when they look at you sideways. All confused. Well the FC looks like this now. I told you most people don't deal well with the dead coming back to life it doesn't happen. Well that one time but other than that jesus guy not so much . So I figure the only way to snap the FC back out of the doggy stare is to bring Budda in to the room
TA DAH as if by magic, fucking magic at that. This is the military and all.
Well the flight chiefs next sentence consisted mainly of the f word in ways that I had never heard them before and more often than I had heard, ending with the phrase some one's fuckin head will roll for this.
Heads roll often in the military, more so when there is a SNAFU or a FUBAR involved.
Well to make a longer story short. Budda was alive. His Mama found out he was alive and she was very happy. Budda got to go on leave because of the major snafu and see his mama and was actually offered an early discharge and compensation for pain and suffering.
Heads did roll though. Some one who handles military orders some how never sent the hospital transfer papers through the chain of command. Then when our duty station had to do it's accounting of troops it was reported that Budda was gone. That person took gone to mean DEAD not transferred. So they killed him on paperwork
There was a congressional inquiry and all sorts of mean ugly nasty things going on and heads did roll. Budda and I got to have a beer or two or ten before he went back home. I wonder if he laughs about that, probably. Anyway that story made the mom here feel better about her son's one week delay in coming home over a minor mistake in his orders.
So recently many people have suggested that I start blogging again, well with a bit more frequency than I have been. Well nothing much is going on in my life.
Work, come home, sleep repeat. Do the dad thing every other week and that is about it for my life right now normal - well minus all the drama that happens in my life with the RIAA lawsuit, my mother hating me yadda yadda yadda
So to find anything worth writing about I either have to bitch and complain like you need to hear my problems or get all political or write about stuff that has already happened.
I picked C for today boys and girls, ladies and gents, people of all ages. Because I was reminded of a story of how the military some times messes up orders when I was talking with a person at work whose son is in the military and his orders got screwed up.
So this one is from back in my days in the military, yes I was once a member of our nations armed forces you may remember a period of time some years ago when felt really safe and nothing bad could happen. Well that was when I was in the military and that is why you felt really safe. Not the point of the story or the story at all.
While I was in there were a large assortment of people I was serving with and one of my friends Jay was call Budda pronounced Buddha. yes I know it isn't spelled like Buddha but that is how it was said . Budda was thusly named because he
1) was a war comic book fan,
2) always wanted the machine gun
3) the word war comics put in for machine gun fire is Budda as in BUDDA BUDDA BUDDA and really big on the page
So every one called Jay Budda, oh and by the way like normal Jay's name isn't really Jay but we did call him Budda I change real names to protect people in my stories
Well Budda was a cool guy and was fun to be around and funny as all hell. The entire Flight (platoon for you non air force people) was really sad when Budda got sick. Really sick
He had to go to the hospital on the base and didn't get any better for a long time. Was then sent to a larger hospital in Germany and treated him there for a while. Well the other hospital was far enough away that most of us couldn't visit Budda very often. Then we get the news that Budda had died.
WTF? Yeah no kidding we have a ceremony and send his family our deepest sympathies.
Well about 6 months later give or take. I was patrolling on the base and I see BUDDA walking on the base. I'm like WTF? I stop the car. Get out and Budda says, Hey Goose whatcha doing I was called Goose in the military and not invisible don as in the last story I wrote about cursing in Russian. So I say, You're dead. Because at this point I'm wondering Ok
1. I'm dead and Budda is here to help me - ironic that I'm Buddhist and Budda is coming to meet me.
2. I'm going insane and having audio and visual hallucinations
I don't remember dying so I'm going with I'm insane for the moment.
Budda says What?
I say, You are dead Budda what are you doing here.
Budda says, I was in a US hospital.
I say what?
Budda says, yeah they shipped me there from the hospital here because I wasn't getting any better there either and this other hospital in the US had the idea that they could treat me and had access to other doctors that aren't over here.
Ok now I'm thinking I'm not dead and probably not insane. Because as the military is known it has some major SNAFU's. The term comes from the military because they happen so often. SNAFU means if you don't know
Situation
Normal
All
FUCKED
Up
This is a MAJOR SNAFU, Major still just means really big even in the military unless you are talking rank and it's a middle rank but up there.
Budda you have to come with me. He says What again. I said I'll explain on the way so I take him to the Flight Chief and explain they told us you died and we sent sympathy cards to your mother. Then I'm like when was the last time you talked to your mother?
Budda rubbed his chin, he did actually do that all the time and says I guess about a year ago. Oh man major FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond All Reason) Also has it's roots in military mistakes
So this has gone from Snafu to Major Snafu to the end all beat all Snafu Fubar of the century.
I get Budda to the Flight Chief and have him wait outside because not everyone deals well with the dead coming back to life and all. So I walk in ask for permission to speak freely and then I say Sir I think we have a situation. Situation means really big problem in the military.
The Flight Chief says Well what is it
I say, do you remember Sgt. Budda?
Yes he died.
I say no he didn't.
What the fuck are you talking about?
He is standing outside I just saw him on the base he is here he was in the US.
FC. You are fucking shitting me.
In the military fuck is used in most nearly every sentence. I'll edit for content sake
No Sir he is here and Sir his mother isn't aware that his isn't dead.
The FC is still not really quiet grasping the fact that Budda is alive. You know that look a dog does when they look at you sideways. All confused. Well the FC looks like this now. I told you most people don't deal well with the dead coming back to life it doesn't happen. Well that one time but other than that jesus guy not so much . So I figure the only way to snap the FC back out of the doggy stare is to bring Budda in to the room
TA DAH as if by magic, fucking magic at that. This is the military and all.
Well the flight chiefs next sentence consisted mainly of the f word in ways that I had never heard them before and more often than I had heard, ending with the phrase some one's fuckin head will roll for this.
Heads roll often in the military, more so when there is a SNAFU or a FUBAR involved.
Well to make a longer story short. Budda was alive. His Mama found out he was alive and she was very happy. Budda got to go on leave because of the major snafu and see his mama and was actually offered an early discharge and compensation for pain and suffering.
Heads did roll though. Some one who handles military orders some how never sent the hospital transfer papers through the chain of command. Then when our duty station had to do it's accounting of troops it was reported that Budda was gone. That person took gone to mean DEAD not transferred. So they killed him on paperwork
There was a congressional inquiry and all sorts of mean ugly nasty things going on and heads did roll. Budda and I got to have a beer or two or ten before he went back home. I wonder if he laughs about that, probably. Anyway that story made the mom here feel better about her son's one week delay in coming home over a minor mistake in his orders.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Malleus Maleficarum
Ever notice that we just love a good ol'fashion witch hunt.
Doesn’t matter about the facts.
We just want blood
I find that in my job I read the information I get and I have to catch myself from drawing conclusions until I get more facts.
But there is that part of me that starts carrying wood for the pile and lighting the torches.
Ciao,
invisible don
Doesn’t matter about the facts.
We just want blood
I find that in my job I read the information I get and I have to catch myself from drawing conclusions until I get more facts.
But there is that part of me that starts carrying wood for the pile and lighting the torches.
Ciao,
invisible don
Monday, January 15, 2007
Castle Elsinore
Welcome dearest friends to Castle Elsinore
For I find in the recent rising and falling of Apollo's orb
Hath discovered me to be not a friend with Pan but rather my heart doth dwell with hades
Ciao,
invisible don
For I find in the recent rising and falling of Apollo's orb
Hath discovered me to be not a friend with Pan but rather my heart doth dwell with hades
Ciao,
invisible don
Thursday, January 11, 2007
2006 Awards
Invisible don’s Awards for 2006
1) DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR
Smoking Buddy and Brand A
2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD (longest friend)
Alexis,
3) NEWCOMER AWARD - NEWEST FRIEND?
This third grade teacher I know - pretty damn good friend
4) RECONNECT OF THE YEAR:
L
5) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Not having to do AITS
6) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
Getting laid off
7) BEST HOLIDAY?
Christmas was pretty good
8) YOUR SONG FOR 2006
TISM - Everybody has had more sex than me
9) MOVIE FOR 2006?
Cars
10) WHO DID YOU SPEND Valentine's DAY WITH?
Me myself and I
11) BEST RELATIONSHIP?
Didn’t really have one
12) WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN
A dad on a stoop handing out candy
13) RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR?
Jimmy Buffets in Myrtle Beach
14) BOOK OF THE YEAR?
Dahlia Lama
15) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
16) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
Get up, work, come home sleep repeat and spending time with my kids .
17) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
This looks like a good spot to park
18) TV SHOW OF THE YEAR?
ROME
19) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
Starting a new job
20) BIGGEST DUMBASS AWARD?
CPG - almost killed herself this year drinking
21) NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?
Don’t make them
Ciao,
Invisible Don
1) DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR
Smoking Buddy and Brand A
2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD (longest friend)
Alexis,
3) NEWCOMER AWARD - NEWEST FRIEND?
This third grade teacher I know - pretty damn good friend
4) RECONNECT OF THE YEAR:
L
5) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Not having to do AITS
6) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
Getting laid off
7) BEST HOLIDAY?
Christmas was pretty good
8) YOUR SONG FOR 2006
TISM - Everybody has had more sex than me
9) MOVIE FOR 2006?
Cars
10) WHO DID YOU SPEND Valentine's DAY WITH?
Me myself and I
11) BEST RELATIONSHIP?
Didn’t really have one
12) WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN
A dad on a stoop handing out candy
13) RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR?
Jimmy Buffets in Myrtle Beach
14) BOOK OF THE YEAR?
Dahlia Lama
15) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
16) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
Get up, work, come home sleep repeat and spending time with my kids .
17) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
This looks like a good spot to park
18) TV SHOW OF THE YEAR?
ROME
19) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
Starting a new job
20) BIGGEST DUMBASS AWARD?
CPG - almost killed herself this year drinking
21) NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?
Don’t make them
Ciao,
Invisible Don
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Attention span
It is said that an audience in ancient Rome or Greece could hear a play and most of the audience could if asked recite the play near to perfect.
This is nearly 2500 years ago for the Greeks and 2100 years for the Romans
We laud ourselves as being greater than our ancestors. And there is probably Greek and Roman blood all over the world not just in the soil but also in the DNA being that soldiers like to have sex a lot more than they like killing.
The liking of sex bit isn’t the point though.
The idea is if we are related to societies which boasted such recall and not to mention that the Greek and Roman civilizations had nearly 100% literacy rates where in the US literacy is estimated to be around 45%.
Not that literacy denotes attention span but I think it does help a bit.
How is it in a mere blink of time most of us walk away from speeches, plays and lectures with only a bit of information. How have we been able to come so far yet loose so much.
Ciao,
invisible don
This is nearly 2500 years ago for the Greeks and 2100 years for the Romans
We laud ourselves as being greater than our ancestors. And there is probably Greek and Roman blood all over the world not just in the soil but also in the DNA being that soldiers like to have sex a lot more than they like killing.
The liking of sex bit isn’t the point though.
The idea is if we are related to societies which boasted such recall and not to mention that the Greek and Roman civilizations had nearly 100% literacy rates where in the US literacy is estimated to be around 45%.
Not that literacy denotes attention span but I think it does help a bit.
How is it in a mere blink of time most of us walk away from speeches, plays and lectures with only a bit of information. How have we been able to come so far yet loose so much.
Ciao,
invisible don
Saturday, January 6, 2007
60 Questions
60 Questions
1. How do you take your steak?
Still alive, I don’t eat the animals
2. When was the last time you took a nap?
A nap, the other day but it was an accident I was waiting on a phone call which didn’t come, how pathetic is that sitting by the phone.
3. What's your favorite soda?
Diet coke, but I’m trying to stop drinking them altogether
4. What was the most exciting thing to happen to you in the last month?
I probably shouldn't talk about it and it was just once and it doesn’t look like its going to happen again
5. Who was the last person to call you?
Smoking buddy
6. To text you?
Her
7. To send you a Myspace message?
Carmen
8. Do you still talk to your ex?
My ex wife? Bahahahhahaha if you count her calling me bad names and me saying have a nice day when I really mean fuck off and die and you skanky whore then yes we still talk
9. Last person you rode in a car with?
Stunt boy
10. Ever kiss anyone on your friends list?
Yes
11. who was it?
I decline to acquiesce to your request … means no
12. Do you have cingular?
Nope
13. What's your favorite thing to do?
Traveling and writing
14. How old will you be on your next birthday?
One year older
15. Do you wear makeup?
Nope
17. Do you like to ski?
Yes, used to be a ski instructor
18. Ever meet anyone famous?
Ryan Reynolds bummed a smoke from me in Vancouver and talked to my brother and I until I embarrassed the shit out of him
19. What instant messaging service do you use?
None
20. Have you ever been out of the country?
Yes several times
21. Who is your 5th contact in your cell's phonebook?
I can't believe it… it’s the ex wife.
22. What is your favorite number?
7
23.Most hated food?
meat
24.How many animals did you pet today?
three
25. Who was your favorite teacher when you were a freshman in high school?
Father Bell
26. What are you worried about?
no worries, not really
27. Have you ever had a panic attack?
No
28. Do you like anyone?
l like someone but I don’t think they really like me
29. What color is your hair?
brown
30. What do you smell like right now?
One of those Bath and Body Works men’s colognes
31. How old are your siblings?
Younger than me
32. What names do you go by?
Don, D, invisible don, invisible d, the priest, the pope, Martha, Machete, hey you , and king of the bastards
34. What is something you want very badly at the moment?
Just to know what’s going on
35. What is a major pet peeve of yours?
Lying
36. Last thing you ate today:
coffee
37. What are you doing today?
Driving to DC in a while
38. Is your myspace display name from a song?
No
39. Do you have over 100 friends?
Yes but most of them are bands
40. About how many myspace comments did you get today?
none
41. Did you ever sneak into a rated R movie?
no
42. Do you have a wood floor or carpet in your bedroom?
carpet
43. Do you have a hidden stash of candy somewhere?
no
44. Do you have over 100 Cds?
yes
45. Would you ever sing a solo?
no
46. Is your phone right beside you?
of course
47. Are you cold?
no
48. What will you be doing in 2 hours?
Driving to DC
49. Recently done anything you regret?
nope
50. Ever trip over your own feet?
yep
51. Favorite color pen ink to use?
black
52. Do you fill out a lot of these surveys?
when I have time
53. Where did you take your default pic?
In an elevator
54. What exactly are you wearing right now?
Jeans and a T-shirt
55. What is your current problem?
None really, well nothing that will end the world
56. What makes you most happy?
I'm pretty happy most of the time just have a roller coaster life so happy is less happy at times
57. What's the name of the song that you're listening to?
none
58. Has anyone you've been really close with passed away?
yes
59. Do you ever watch MTV?
no
60. Name something that's really annoying you?
Define annoyed
1. How do you take your steak?
Still alive, I don’t eat the animals
2. When was the last time you took a nap?
A nap, the other day but it was an accident I was waiting on a phone call which didn’t come, how pathetic is that sitting by the phone.
3. What's your favorite soda?
Diet coke, but I’m trying to stop drinking them altogether
4. What was the most exciting thing to happen to you in the last month?
I probably shouldn't talk about it and it was just once and it doesn’t look like its going to happen again
5. Who was the last person to call you?
Smoking buddy
6. To text you?
Her
7. To send you a Myspace message?
Carmen
8. Do you still talk to your ex?
My ex wife? Bahahahhahaha if you count her calling me bad names and me saying have a nice day when I really mean fuck off and die and you skanky whore then yes we still talk
9. Last person you rode in a car with?
Stunt boy
10. Ever kiss anyone on your friends list?
Yes
11. who was it?
I decline to acquiesce to your request … means no
12. Do you have cingular?
Nope
13. What's your favorite thing to do?
Traveling and writing
14. How old will you be on your next birthday?
One year older
15. Do you wear makeup?
Nope
17. Do you like to ski?
Yes, used to be a ski instructor
18. Ever meet anyone famous?
Ryan Reynolds bummed a smoke from me in Vancouver and talked to my brother and I until I embarrassed the shit out of him
19. What instant messaging service do you use?
None
20. Have you ever been out of the country?
Yes several times
21. Who is your 5th contact in your cell's phonebook?
I can't believe it… it’s the ex wife.
22. What is your favorite number?
7
23.Most hated food?
meat
24.How many animals did you pet today?
three
25. Who was your favorite teacher when you were a freshman in high school?
Father Bell
26. What are you worried about?
no worries, not really
27. Have you ever had a panic attack?
No
28. Do you like anyone?
l like someone but I don’t think they really like me
29. What color is your hair?
brown
30. What do you smell like right now?
One of those Bath and Body Works men’s colognes
31. How old are your siblings?
Younger than me
32. What names do you go by?
Don, D, invisible don, invisible d, the priest, the pope, Martha, Machete, hey you , and king of the bastards
34. What is something you want very badly at the moment?
Just to know what’s going on
35. What is a major pet peeve of yours?
Lying
36. Last thing you ate today:
coffee
37. What are you doing today?
Driving to DC in a while
38. Is your myspace display name from a song?
No
39. Do you have over 100 friends?
Yes but most of them are bands
40. About how many myspace comments did you get today?
none
41. Did you ever sneak into a rated R movie?
no
42. Do you have a wood floor or carpet in your bedroom?
carpet
43. Do you have a hidden stash of candy somewhere?
no
44. Do you have over 100 Cds?
yes
45. Would you ever sing a solo?
no
46. Is your phone right beside you?
of course
47. Are you cold?
no
48. What will you be doing in 2 hours?
Driving to DC
49. Recently done anything you regret?
nope
50. Ever trip over your own feet?
yep
51. Favorite color pen ink to use?
black
52. Do you fill out a lot of these surveys?
when I have time
53. Where did you take your default pic?
In an elevator
54. What exactly are you wearing right now?
Jeans and a T-shirt
55. What is your current problem?
None really, well nothing that will end the world
56. What makes you most happy?
I'm pretty happy most of the time just have a roller coaster life so happy is less happy at times
57. What's the name of the song that you're listening to?
none
58. Has anyone you've been really close with passed away?
yes
59. Do you ever watch MTV?
no
60. Name something that's really annoying you?
Define annoyed
Friday, January 5, 2007
Not so yay
Gee, one minute I'm all yay then not so much
Just once, I would like to fucking have a clue what the hell is going on.
Just once, I would like to fucking have a clue what the hell is going on.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
On interconnectedness
On interconnectedness
In the a few of the last entries I’ve noticed I’ve made references to my Buddhist studies and how I’m feeling a good connection with the ideals of Buddhism. My intent with that is not to become some Buddhist freak and it will be all I talk about any more.
However, reading the Dali Lama two themes he comes back to time and again in his teachings are compassion and interconnectedness.
I’ve been meditating on these and while much of it I already understood the connectedness of man to one another but I think my understanding of if has increased recently.
We don’t always think of the interconnectedness of ourselves to others and the more we think of our self above others we usually end up causing our self more pain and grief and suffering.
Every action of every other person affects our life. We may not see it directly in our daily lives and maybe not for years.
This morning I was meditating on coffee and how my enjoyment of it presents an extreme form of interconnected which I experience everyday.
From the ditch digger who put in the water mains which bring water into my house, the electrician, the house builder, the potter who made my mug, the person who dug the clay, planted the seed which grew and produced the coffee beans. The host of people I’ve never met whose actions some many years ago have all come together for a moment of taking a sip of coffee in my house early in the morning before the sun comes up.
What effect will my actions have on those around me and those I’ll never meet even years from now. This is where the spirituality of it comes into play do you want the impact to be positive or negative. How can you know the whole possibility of the impact? We are deeply connected to every person. Then I mediated on the recent execution of Saddam Hussein. While many people wanted this man to die, there are many people who did not. I’m not saying his actions were excusable he brought pain to many thousands of people and in a sense he touched the lives of every person on the planet and even those who are not even born yet. Now though the judges and jury in Iraq to extract justice for the past actions of one man have put in to play an action which will impact every person further into the future than the actions of the person they punished.
Our leaders I think do not think enough about the impact of their actions and the interconnectedness of those actions and the impact it will have for generations to come. Perhaps the oath of public office should include a line from the Hippocratic Oath, First do no harm.
Ciao,
invisible don
In the a few of the last entries I’ve noticed I’ve made references to my Buddhist studies and how I’m feeling a good connection with the ideals of Buddhism. My intent with that is not to become some Buddhist freak and it will be all I talk about any more.
However, reading the Dali Lama two themes he comes back to time and again in his teachings are compassion and interconnectedness.
I’ve been meditating on these and while much of it I already understood the connectedness of man to one another but I think my understanding of if has increased recently.
We don’t always think of the interconnectedness of ourselves to others and the more we think of our self above others we usually end up causing our self more pain and grief and suffering.
Every action of every other person affects our life. We may not see it directly in our daily lives and maybe not for years.
This morning I was meditating on coffee and how my enjoyment of it presents an extreme form of interconnected which I experience everyday.
From the ditch digger who put in the water mains which bring water into my house, the electrician, the house builder, the potter who made my mug, the person who dug the clay, planted the seed which grew and produced the coffee beans. The host of people I’ve never met whose actions some many years ago have all come together for a moment of taking a sip of coffee in my house early in the morning before the sun comes up.
What effect will my actions have on those around me and those I’ll never meet even years from now. This is where the spirituality of it comes into play do you want the impact to be positive or negative. How can you know the whole possibility of the impact? We are deeply connected to every person. Then I mediated on the recent execution of Saddam Hussein. While many people wanted this man to die, there are many people who did not. I’m not saying his actions were excusable he brought pain to many thousands of people and in a sense he touched the lives of every person on the planet and even those who are not even born yet. Now though the judges and jury in Iraq to extract justice for the past actions of one man have put in to play an action which will impact every person further into the future than the actions of the person they punished.
Our leaders I think do not think enough about the impact of their actions and the interconnectedness of those actions and the impact it will have for generations to come. Perhaps the oath of public office should include a line from the Hippocratic Oath, First do no harm.
Ciao,
invisible don
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
To the way back machine Sherman. Sure thing Mr. Peabody.
Doesn’t any one read history anymore?
I’m sort of curious about this because all the classics are being turned into movies. Some of them are OK but they also twist things a bit to make it sell to the audience.
Troy for example, yes the Iliad is a bit dry to read but it is worth a look.
The latest dive into the classics is the movie 300. The Trailer for this looks awesome, but do you know this is a real story of ancient Greece.
The battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans hold back an army of millions of Persians and their Allies until the rest of Greece can get their shit together and form an army and prevent Greece from being over run. The 300 was more like 4000 to 5000 Greeks against the Persian Army of perhaps 200,000. These are still not really good odds but the Greeks did have the advantage of territory and the Persians the disadvantage of moving such a large army through a narrow mountain pass and that doesn’t happen quickly.
All of this is a bit over 100 years before Alexander, I’m not going to get into Mr. Stone’s account of the great one, and not to spoil the end of 300 but the Spartans all die. But then again the books about that have been lying around for a few thousand years just begging to be read.
Ciao,
invisible don
I’m sort of curious about this because all the classics are being turned into movies. Some of them are OK but they also twist things a bit to make it sell to the audience.
Troy for example, yes the Iliad is a bit dry to read but it is worth a look.
The latest dive into the classics is the movie 300. The Trailer for this looks awesome, but do you know this is a real story of ancient Greece.
The battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans hold back an army of millions of Persians and their Allies until the rest of Greece can get their shit together and form an army and prevent Greece from being over run. The 300 was more like 4000 to 5000 Greeks against the Persian Army of perhaps 200,000. These are still not really good odds but the Greeks did have the advantage of territory and the Persians the disadvantage of moving such a large army through a narrow mountain pass and that doesn’t happen quickly.
All of this is a bit over 100 years before Alexander, I’m not going to get into Mr. Stone’s account of the great one, and not to spoil the end of 300 but the Spartans all die. But then again the books about that have been lying around for a few thousand years just begging to be read.
Ciao,
invisible don
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Can you hang?
New Years Eve 2006 to New Years Day 2007 was pretty uneventful. Doodle went to a friends house and she hung out there.
Stunt-boy and I watched the Disney Channel Rock and Bowl New Years Eve something or other.
With the actors on Suite Life, Hannah Montana, Corey in the House and High School Musical.
Stunt boy loves those shows and they had little skits in between it all.
We switched it over to watch the ball drop on Times Square. Then back to the Disney Channel action
Oh yeah I can hear you thinking it now these two are the biggest party animals on the planet
Yup yup that’s what you are thinking.
And you know what - no hang over the next day either.
Jonzo called to see what I was up too and I laid out the whole plan before it had become the most awesome night in history - He was impressed but was afraid his spouse wouldn’t let him have that much fun in a single evening.
We are heading to DC later this week or more correctly this weekend. Doodle is on her way to LA for the week.
Yeah I know she has such the social life but nothing compared to stunt-boy and I.
Ciao,
invisible don
Stunt-boy and I watched the Disney Channel Rock and Bowl New Years Eve something or other.
With the actors on Suite Life, Hannah Montana, Corey in the House and High School Musical.
Stunt boy loves those shows and they had little skits in between it all.
We switched it over to watch the ball drop on Times Square. Then back to the Disney Channel action
Oh yeah I can hear you thinking it now these two are the biggest party animals on the planet
Yup yup that’s what you are thinking.
And you know what - no hang over the next day either.
Jonzo called to see what I was up too and I laid out the whole plan before it had become the most awesome night in history - He was impressed but was afraid his spouse wouldn’t let him have that much fun in a single evening.
We are heading to DC later this week or more correctly this weekend. Doodle is on her way to LA for the week.
Yeah I know she has such the social life but nothing compared to stunt-boy and I.
Ciao,
invisible don
Monday, January 1, 2007
Hang 'em High??????
This is something we have gotten away from in the US is the use of public punishment for convicted wrongs in the criminal justice system. Public hangings were part of criminal justice system as well as a lot other non-lethal punishments designed to deter wrong doing. The Middle East has not given up as well as many other countries in Asia, Africa and even with in South and Central America. Even parts of Eastern Europe use public punishment.
Public punishment is part of the criminal justice system in many, many nations around the world. Much of the rest of the world doesn't see this as entertainment but an extension of the justice system. While the execution of Saddam may be released on a world wide scale it was the justice system of Iraq which carried out the trial and the execution. I personally don't want to see it but I certainly understand the reason it was released and that there would be those who will exploit it as well.
However, the US is likely to return to a public execution system and legislation has been put forth to have executions broadcast on pay per view to off set the millions of dollars it costs to execute someone in the US criminal justice system.
It doesn't seem like there is a lack of people who would say that the death penalty is wrong and should be banned as a form of punishment. So why sweep it to the background if a society is going to uphold the death penalty as a form of punishment then it should be done in full light of public eye rather than hidden in dark corners.
My opinion on it is very mixed
Spiritually I see it as a waste, no matter how much pain you inflict on a criminal it will not erase their deeds. Better to put that person to some use in society and extract public good from them. This is my problem with the US correctional system we lock people away and the fester and rot within a micro-social structure associating with people who are as negative about the social structure. Then as a society we wonder why we fail to rehabilitate persons.
As a father, if anyone harmed my children I would want to see that person suffer, but I know no matter what it doesn't change the harm. I've lived with the loss of a family member from murder. The person sawed my aunts’ head off with a kitchen knife. Would the death of this person change that? No, would it make me feel better. Not really it would only mean that person was dead as well. So even to feed my own sense of vengeance it falls short. I prefer to remember my aunt for who she was rather than how she died.
Still there is an underlying gut feeling that anyone who takes the life of another person through the act of murder forfeits their life. However, I don't know that they should be executed.
Politically I think that if we are going to uphold capital punishment as a part of justice system it needs to be out in the public eye. If we are ashamed of it in any manner, then that begs the question why do it at all.
Punishment should serve to better society rather than extract revenge. To quote Gandhi, "an eye for eye makes the whole world go blind" Our laws are written to better society our corrections system should do the same thing. .
Ciao,
Public punishment is part of the criminal justice system in many, many nations around the world. Much of the rest of the world doesn't see this as entertainment but an extension of the justice system. While the execution of Saddam may be released on a world wide scale it was the justice system of Iraq which carried out the trial and the execution. I personally don't want to see it but I certainly understand the reason it was released and that there would be those who will exploit it as well.
However, the US is likely to return to a public execution system and legislation has been put forth to have executions broadcast on pay per view to off set the millions of dollars it costs to execute someone in the US criminal justice system.
It doesn't seem like there is a lack of people who would say that the death penalty is wrong and should be banned as a form of punishment. So why sweep it to the background if a society is going to uphold the death penalty as a form of punishment then it should be done in full light of public eye rather than hidden in dark corners.
My opinion on it is very mixed
Spiritually I see it as a waste, no matter how much pain you inflict on a criminal it will not erase their deeds. Better to put that person to some use in society and extract public good from them. This is my problem with the US correctional system we lock people away and the fester and rot within a micro-social structure associating with people who are as negative about the social structure. Then as a society we wonder why we fail to rehabilitate persons.
As a father, if anyone harmed my children I would want to see that person suffer, but I know no matter what it doesn't change the harm. I've lived with the loss of a family member from murder. The person sawed my aunts’ head off with a kitchen knife. Would the death of this person change that? No, would it make me feel better. Not really it would only mean that person was dead as well. So even to feed my own sense of vengeance it falls short. I prefer to remember my aunt for who she was rather than how she died.
Still there is an underlying gut feeling that anyone who takes the life of another person through the act of murder forfeits their life. However, I don't know that they should be executed.
Politically I think that if we are going to uphold capital punishment as a part of justice system it needs to be out in the public eye. If we are ashamed of it in any manner, then that begs the question why do it at all.
Punishment should serve to better society rather than extract revenge. To quote Gandhi, "an eye for eye makes the whole world go blind" Our laws are written to better society our corrections system should do the same thing. .
Ciao,
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