Another Inspirational One.

To my friends,

I hope you follow your heart before you follow your mind,
Take risks, never give up, and of course always be kind,
Never sell-out, and think of others before you think about you,
Make someone smile everyday, keep old friends but make room for new,
Don't judge, believe in fate, and keep a smile on your face,
Mind your own business, don't start rumors, and keep a steady pace,
Go with the flow, don't be so uptight, and laugh when you can,
Climb a mountain, jump out of a plane, fly like Peter Pan,
Live while your here, check things off of your bucket list,
Help someone when you can, use the mind and never the fist,
Don't take anything for granted, and never get taken over by greed,
Talk less, listen more, whenever you find a chance, do a good deed,
Stay optimistic, shoot for the stars, and slow down once in a while,
Take the road less traveled now and then, even if it's an extra mile,
Never take more than you need, and get up and try again if you should fall,
Stand up for what you believe in, and never give up if backed against a wall,
Always tell the truth, give God a fighting chance, and never practice self pity,
Don't tattle on someone else, never back down, and explore the country and the city,
Get the most out of life, and be the best you can be is all I'm trying to say,
Enjoy the blog and I hope I inspired someone in any sort of way.

Peace

Life is What you Make It

Hello everyone,

I apologize for my lack of writing these past few days.  I have been really busy at work so time did not allow me to entertain the masses.  While I was on my hiatus, I received a blog comment from an anonymous reader on a post I had about a year ago.  The blog was written about the passing of my neighbor, Ron Losey.  It can be read here, Heaven Landed a Hell of a Man Last Night.  Anyway, someone posted a comment on there, and I'm pretty sure I know who it is, but it was out of line. You can read it below.

My first reaction was to slam the person for many reasons unrelated to this blog.  The person responsible for this comment doesn't want me to write about the way they view their own family and how they have stooped so low in the past to call out multiple people in my life who have passed.  What kind of person takes a shot at the dead?  Very few, which is why I narrowed it down to this person.  I will not mention their name because I respect this person way more than they respect me.  The person isn't even worthy of writing about but I am spending time on this topic because I don't understand how someone can live a life full of hate?  Hate takes more energy than any other emotion.  If you actually spend time hating someone, you are probably giving them the attention that they want.  This person who wrote this comment has so much hate built up in them, it's oozing out more than the amount of times they overused ellipses in the comment.  You don't have to read this blog if you don't want to.  No one is making you, but you referenced 2 of my blogs in this comment so you must be enjoying yourself.  Thank you for the page views. I'm glad to be writing at a 6th grade level, because I at least know that ... is an ellipses and there is really only need for one period after each sentence, so get off your ever long period and start smiling.  Hate makes you miserable.  It doesn't do anything to you.  I have had disagreements in the past and my heart was filled with hate, but it never solved anything for either side.  I forgive a lot now.  It may take some time for certain things, but learn to shake hands.  My mom always says, "Life is what you make it," so if you want to be miserable, go and be miserable, but keep it to yourself.  Don't take it out on others just to make yourself feel better.  Before you start judging everyone else, start with yourself.  Look in the mirror. Be kind.  That is always my mother's number one rule and it is a good rule of thumb.

Bullying & Some Local Sports

In 2008, Jessica Logan of Sycamore High School hung herself after sending nude photos of herself to someone and he, in turn distributed the photos to classmates.  The classmates then harassed Jessica.  The teen's parents settled in a lawsuit for an undisclosed amount against the school for failure to protect their daughter.  You can read more about this story here. 

Jessica Logan

I bring this up because it reminds me how cruel school can be.  How many of you have been bullied in your lives?  There is always someone bigger and willing to pick on someone weaker than them.  I'm sure many of you reading this have bullied someone in your lives as well.  Maybe just tried to get a cheap laugh when you did it or maybe it was to feel better about yourself.  We do it because we are selfish people.  We do it because we never think about what is going on in that other person's mind.  This girl's whole world was ruined when she sent a picture to this jerk of a boy who probably whispered sweet nothings into her ear, with no real feelings for the girl at all.  He most likely promised these pictures would be between just he and her.  He probably then sent them to these other girls who passed them on to others.  She probably had the worst feeling seeing all of the eyes in the hallway fixating on her and hearing giggles as she passed.  We have all seen movies like Never Been Kissed, where the boy asks the girl to prom just as a joke to throw eggs at her as he drives by or the cruel betting game from She's All That.

Drew Barrymore as Josie Geller in Never Been Kissed

What I don't get is as a society, most of us root for the underdog.  We hate Duke and the Pittsburgh Steelers because they always win.  We hate the rich.  We love Robin Hood and David.  We hate Mr. Burns and Donald Trump, yet we always tease a kid to impress these kids who are labeled as 'cool'  because they have a furry letter on their chest with leather sleeves.  Why must we pick on people if they are different than us?  Does it really make you feel better about yourself?  No.  Maybe you will be 'cool' in someone's eyes because they will see it as funny for about two seconds.  Well, that kid you just said something to has been thinking about it all day, because he looks up to you.  He admires you.  He's different.  He plays in the band. You may not like the band but you don't have to hate him for liking them.  People die for stupid reasons in this world.  People die for believing in a different god than someone else and then people die from hate crimes, and people kill themselves for bullying.  I remember reading The Slam Book back in middle school about this school who made this book kind of like the book in Mean Girls where you put someone's name at the top and you can anonymously write whatever you want about someone underneath. 

The Slam Book by Ann M. Martin, author of The Baby Sitter's Club Series

The thing got passed on and on until a chubby girl read it and slit her wrists.  A little laugh that most people will forget about after 5 minutes isn't worth someone's life.  How could you live with that on your conscience?  I'm always nice to people because you never know how hard of a day they had.  Maybe they need someone to talk to.  I was on both ends of the bullying spectrum in high school but I beat it by laughing at myself.  If you give them nothing to make fun of you about they will stop.  Now I was a jerk to some people back then because I wanted to fit in, but I also learned from it and I stopped midway through high school.  What is the point of being popular when being mean comes with the territory?    Bullying is not something I comment on often.  I actually have never been too passionate about the anti-bullying cause or anything like that but teens can be cruel, man.  That's all I have to say and there is no reason.  Reading that story about Jessica, made me think back to some of the things I went through and I know a lot of us went through in high school so I thought I'd give my two cents on bullying.

Winner of the Day: My Cincinnati Reds!  They won the first two games of the division series after losing their ace after 8 pitches Saturday.  They had plenty of excuses not to win but came together as a team and won that one.  They followed with a dominant pitching performance by the veteran, Bronson Arroyo.  Now they can sweep tomorrow with the next three, if needed, at home.

Loser of the Day: My Cincinnati Bengals.  They looked awful yesterday in a loss to the infirior Dolphins in Cincinnati.  Dalton struggled, and turnovers were the downfall.  I should make my fantasy team the loser of the day though as I have the worst luck again (even though I don't believe in luck) because I lost again by less than 2 points.

Quote of the Day: "I've been actually really very pleased to see how much awareness was raised around bullying, and how deeply it affects everyone. You know, you don't have to be the loser kid in high school to be bullied. Bullying and being picked on comes in so many different forms."-Lady Gaga

Song of the Day: Don't Laugh At Me by Mark Wills

Non-Bullying Mean Comment of the Day:

For Love of the Game

For the second time in three years, the Cincinnati Reds will be headed to the playoffs beginning Saturday against the San Francisco Giants.  Last time they got a no-hitter thrown against them and committed countless errors, which they didn't do all season.  The moment was too big for them.  They went in with the "happy to be there" mentality and never really even got their feet wet.  They were blown out of the water by a much better Philadelphia team.  This 2012 team is different.  They are ready this time. In 2010, the team had no ace, go to pitcher.  This year they have two: Cueto and Latos.  Chapman was a rookie in 2010 and had little experience all season in the majors.  This time, he is possibly the most dominating closer in the game, which you could never say about Francisco Cordero in a Reds uniform.  Even with getting the #2 seed in the National League, I think it will be a disappointing season if the Reds do not win at least one playoff series.  This city craves it.  Cincinnati has always been a baseball town.  Cincinnati is known for goetta, chili, euchre, flying pigs, and the Cincinnati Reds.  The Reds are the favorite team of Charlie Sheen and George Clooney (also Nick Lachey but let's just leave that out).  

I know most of my readers for some reason are female so I won't spend too much time on sports but the Reds earned it.  The last time this team won the World Series was when I was 5 years old. 1990 (sorry I could only find a card of 1991).

 I was becoming a Bellevue Vets T-Ball All Star.  I loved baseball from the first time I played a game.  I know from my parents telling me mostly that I ran to third after hitting the first time.  I think it's the smell.  It's hard to explain.  It's the sound the ball makes when it hits a catcher's mitt.  It's the chewing of sunflower seeds on the bench.  It's the strapping of batting gloves over and over until they are on just right.  It's putting on eye black.  It's the sweat bleeding through the cap.  It's the moment you turn the perfect double play for the first time.  It's the teasing of your teammates and still knowing they have your back.  It's the toughness of not rubbing your skin after getting hit by a pitch.  It's the chalk.  It's the shining in the lights, and the cracking of the bat. It's perfect games and triple crowns.  It's when 162 games isn't enough.  It's America's past time.  That's why I love baseball.  There is no other sport like it.

Winner of the Day: Oakland A's.  They won the AL West Yesterday.  They were not leading the division a single day until the last game of the season.  They were as much as 13 games out.

  
Loser of the Day: This Man.  He stole a pizza man's wallet, but left his own wallet behind. The Story.

Quote of the Day: "Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days."-Bull Durham

Song of the Day: The Scientist Willie Nelson Version

NBA Roster Move of the Day: Rasheed Wallace is back in the league.  He is one of my top 5 players of all time so naturally I'm excited about this.  The Knicks signed him as a 38 year old.  He had been retired.

Superstition, Fate, Oedipus Rex, and Peanut Butter

I'm not much of a superstitious person.  I don't believe in jinxing.  I don't believe knocking on wood will prevent something from happening.  I don't believe stepping on the chalk will keep you from getting a hit in a baseball game. I don't believe wearing a certain hat will help your favorite team win.  I don't believe in rabbit feet being lucky or wearing the same under shirt under your basketball jersey because you dropped 30 last game will help you do it again.  I believe more in creating your own luck.  I believe in being in the right place at the right time.  I believe luck is created by momentum.  Say two guys are commentating about Lebron James not missing a free throw in 50 tries.

  He will always miss, right?  And then your buddy will turn to you and say, "They jinxed him."  This is a myth.  He doesn't always miss.  We just remember them being wrong, but countless times I have seen them not jinx the player by saying that and no one ever brings those times up.  People magnify an instance when they are trying to prove jinxing exists.  I named my Summer volleyball team Back on Top this year. Now after winning two straight championships, we followed with two forth place finishes.  I named the team after the two championships Three Peters because we were going to win our third straight championship (and we had three males hence the three peters reference).

We of course flopped and didn't win.  Some would say I jinxed my team (including my cousin on the team who was angry at me for naming the team that).  In my opinion, jinxing can get into your head and cause you to play worse or do something worse.  If you are spinning a ball on your finger, you may say to someone, "I've never gone less than 10 seconds spinning this on my finger."  When you go to show them maybe you only last 5 seconds.  Maybe it's because it's in your head not because you jinxed yourself.  Anyway back to Back on Top.  I named my team that, with everyone saying, "No, don't do that you will never win now."  I did it to show my team I had confidence in them but to also prove we didn't lose 2 years before because I named a team Three Peters.  We won the whole thing this season, with no jinx.  I bring this all up because I lost a fantasy football game by .4 points yesterday.  If you remember a blog I wrote on September 13, 2011, I lost by .3 in the first game of the season (You can read it here). I know no one cares to listen about someone else's fantasy team but even the other players in my league feel bad for it.  For two years now we had a decimal system.  I have been the only victim of it not once, but twice now.  I had a pretty comfortable lead going into Monday Night Football and then Brandon Marshall decides to score a garbage time touchdown in the game.  A lot of people have been telling me I have bad luck.  It got me in the mindset that I did.  Until I started writing this blog.  I mean nothing I did was going to stop Marshall from scoring that touchdown.  Crossing my fingers wouldn't have done anything, which by the way I always say cross your fingers or knock on wood, but that doesn't mean I believe it will work; it is because society taught me to say those things and do those things.  I believe everything happens for a reason.  I kind of believe in fate.  Have any of you ever heard of Oedipus Rex, aka Oedipus the King?  It's an ancient Greek tragic play by a dude named, Sophocles.  

Sophocles

Basically, the moral is you can't escape your fate. Oedipus father hears from an Oracle that his own son was going to kill him so he gets rid of him.  Oedipus then hears his fate that he will end up being with his mother and will kill his father.  Of course he doesn't want to do this so he decides to leave his adopted parents.  He didn't know he would run into his true father, kill him in battle and wed his former wife at his kingdom which was his mother.  It was my fate that I was going to lose the game this week, nothing more or less.  

Winner of the Day: Brandon Marshall.  That bastard accounted for way too many fantasy points so I will give him kudos.  Well played sir.

  

Loser of the Day: Peanut Butter.  A lot of it has been recalled from major grocery stores. The Story

Quote of the Day: “Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like.”-Lemony Snicket

Song of the Day: Beautiful Boy by John Lennon

Michael Clarke Duncan Facts of the Day: Not only did he supposedly give five dollars to anyone who recognized him on the street and knew what his full name was; he also Did bodyguard work for Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and The Notorious B.I.G.; he let a friend take over for him the night Notorious B.I.G. got shot, which prompted him to quit that line of work.

Christian Bailey

Homer Bailey.  He accomplished something on Friday that no pitcher on the Reds have accomplished since Tom Browning in 1988.  Tom's was perfect, but Homer pitched a no-hitter.  Homer has owned the Pirates in his career.  He's had 3 complete games, all at PNC Park.  This time, he took it to another level.  Homer came to the Reds with high expectations.  He was a high draft pick and considered the future ace.  When he first came up, he was cocky thinking he could own hitters with is fastball.  He found out quickly he wasn't in the minors anymore.  He gave new meaning to "Homer" giving up home runs left and right.  Pitchers like Cueto and Volquez moved ahead of him and he became an after thought. This year, he has been the 4th best pitcher on a very good pitching staff. Homer is the only one to throw a no hitter and it was a long journey to get there.  I am happy for him, and it's perfect to help the team going into the playoffs.  Until this no hitter he was probably more well known for looking like Christian Bale.

Christian Bailey celebrating his no hitter

Relationship Advice Column: Volume 2, Edition 1 -The Relationship Food Chain

When I previously wrote regularly back in 2011, every Friday I would write a relationship advice blog.  Sometimes I would have people write in, others I would just go on some most likely confusing talk about a topic in relationships, so I thought I would bring the advice column out of retirement since today is Friday and all.  It baffles me how being attracted to someone works.  It always seems like whenever someone likes you, you could care less.  I mean you dig the attention and all but in reality you want nothing to do with them. This mostly is solved with a lot of ignoring.  On the other side you are always chasing after someone else.  You like someone but they are always ignoring you.  It seems like when looking for a mate, most people chasing after you are inferior and the people you are chasing after are superior.  It just baffles me.  Every single person who has ever dated is guilty of this.  When you ignore someone, they want you more.  When you give them attention, they pretty much want nothing to do with you.  It's just odd and I can't figure it out.  If any of you have the answer please let me know. I will call it, The Relationship Food Chain.

Why does game playing even exists?  Is it because human beings have the ability to lie.  Why do women play hard to get when all they want is to be with someone?  Why do men pretend to be into a girl when all they want is to well you all know what most men want?  Game playing makes no sense to me.  Someone is always hurt in the end.  I get that no one is ever themselves on the first date.  You are like the date version of you on steroids.  You dress the nicest on date 1.  You smell your best and you use your best jokes and never bring up your flaws.  I understand why.  It's almost like a job interview.  Everyone does it.  You may actually be yourself just like an exaggerated version.  I just wish it were easier.  I wish people were just themselves.  I want to see what you will be like on Date 12 or Date 279. As you get to know someone, little things start to show up that may annoy you.  Maybe someone licks their teeth, or taps their foot.  Stuff like that may start bothering you.  Every couple has this.  If you can fight through this and let the little things go, you're going to have a successful relationship.

Quote of the Day: Sometimes the cards we are dealt are not always fair, but you must keep smiling and moving on. -Tom Jackson

Song of the Day: Circle of Life by Elton John

My 101st Blog Celebration!, Listening, and a thank you speech

Today marks my 101st blog on this website.  I feel like I missed my moment to celebrate yesterday with my 100th blog because I was too busy writing a song.  Do people celebrate blogging milestones?  Why is 100 a big deal in everything anyway?  Fans get free tacos at basketball games if the home team scores 100. Wilt Chamberlain is the only NBA player ever to score 100 on his own (Would it have been a big deal if he only got 97?).  

Wilt Chamberlain after his 100 point game (There was no video footage of the feat)

We all get excited when Aroldis Chapman hits 100 on the radar gun.  We want the Reds to win 100 games this year, which they'd have to go 7-0 the rest of the season to make it and I don't see that happening.  We make a big deal when someone makes it to 100 years old.  What is the fascination with 100?  I don't really understand but I am victim to it as well.  I missed my opportunity.  It is a pretty astonishing feat to blog about completely nothing 100 times just to hope you make someone smile or laugh for just a second.  I blog for you guys.  I blog for my friends.  This is all for you as much as it is for me.  I know life isn't always great, and if one sentence in this makes you forget about all of your problems and smile, that's why I do it.  I of course do it for me as well.  When I rant on here, I do it because I need to vent.  You guys are my ears.  Well eyes actually because you are reading and not listening.  This world needs to learn to listen more.  A lot of people I know never listen.  They hear, but they don't listen.  I'm guilty of it as much as anybody.  If I have a thought and someone is talking I usually just talk louder and louder until I win out, but the fact of the matter is this: if you don't listen nothing can ever be solved.  You will never learn. You will never be able to compromise, and most importantly, when you are listening you will never get yourself in trouble.  Your tongue can get you in trouble a lot of the time, but your ears are your ally.  

What can we do to celebrate a 101st blog?  This isn't really my 101'st blog being that I've blogged on Myspace back in the day, where some of my most awesome, raw, work can be read.  This is just number 101 on this site.  I'm trying to think of times where 101 is significant.  Are joke books 101 jokes about whatever or is it 1001?  Gosh, I got nothing.  So I guess this will just be another blog, and no one probably even cares because the world wide web is busy celebrating Google's birthday.  Google is a teenager now at the ripe age of 14.  Blogger is a part of Google so I guess I should say, Happy Birthday big brother.  Thanks for taking all of my glory.  I will end with this.  I will attempt to remember to celebrate 200.  I've always wanted to do an Oscar-like speech so I will wing it in writing.  I want to thank my writing teachers for getting me to 101:  Mr. Mayer, Mrs. Barr, Sunny Monig, Ms. Scharber, and I know I'm leaving some of you out but thank you guys.  I want to thank the world for continuing to spin.  I want to thank my advising board, from Mindy to Mallory to Jill to Nicolette to April on what I should write about when I have a writer's block day.  I want to thank those of you who wrote in and participated in my relationship advice columns.  I would have far less than 101 blogs if it wasn't for you.  I want to thank my mystery commenters who made it fun to try and unravel who you are.  I want to thank a particular mystery commenter who showed me how to make the ¢ symbol.  That person never revealed themselves.  I want to thank God, for making so many ridiculous people to have commentary on. I want to thank my family for producing such a creative mind in my massive head.  And finally, I want to thank you, my fans (yes, here is where I land my huge applause if I was actually at an awards show, but why would I be at an awards show for a blog anyway? Are there such shows?  And this isn't even an award, just an accomplishment.  Well yesterday was, not so much 101, so this may qualify for some sort of lifetime achievement blog).  Without you fans, I would not see any need to write.  Do you take offense to being called fans?  I can refer to you as readers, but really all of you are my friends.  So, thank you friends for making me smile everyday.  Peace out.

Winner of the Day: Me. For making it to 101 blogs.

Loser of the Day: Me. For forgetting to write about making it to 100 blogs yesterday.

Quote of the Day: 

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Song of the Day: : "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang

Instrument of the Day: Harp

Zebra Paradise

So I saw this parody of "Call Me Maybe" about the replacement officials in the NFL, which I have yet to blog about but I don't see a point to because we all agree so there really is no reason to keep blabbing about it.  Anyway I was inspired to write my own parody.  I unfortunately can't sing it and put it on youtube because I'm at work but you get the lyrics. First here's the video that inspired the blog...

Now here is mine, I'm no Weird Al but here it goes...

Zebra Paradise

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of the shield,

I take a look at my life, and refuse to think to yield,

Cause I've been callin' lingere games for too long,

But now I'm reffin the NFL, so hopefully those days are gone,

But I ain't never made a bad call to those who didn't deserve it,

I ain't no worse than Hoculee, I know he ain't perfect.

You will even keep watching, even with all my botching,

So you and your homies keep up your talk.

I really hate to trip but I gotta say,

We never croak, Golden caught the ball through the smoke fool.

I'm the kinda ref no little homies wanna be like,

Fans on they knees in the day saying prayers that we go away.

Been spending 3 weeks of our lives livin' in a Zebra Paradise,

Can't get a single call right, livin' in a Zebra Paradise,

Giving more challenges every night, living in a Zebra Paradise,

We see nothing, we have no sight, living in a Zebra Paradise,

Look at the situation the got me facin'

I can't live a normal life, every fan hates me,

so I gotta be down with my replacement team,

Too much fightin' on the field makes me wanna scream,

I went to referee training and filled my mind,

Got a zero on my test and a tear in my eye,

But I keep on reffining, cuz I'm a fu*king gangster,

And my homies back my calls so we ain't gonna change em', fool

Real refs ain't nothing but a heart beat away,

I'm enjoying my 15 minutes, do or die, what can I say?

I reffed the first 3 weeks, but will I be around for week 4?

The way things is going, I don't know.

Tell me why are we so blind to see,

That the ones we blew made your team 0 and 3?

Been spending 3 weeks of our lives living in a Zebra Paradise,

We are hated by players from Brees to Rice, living in a Zebra Paradise,

We piss off everyone, including our wives, living in a Zebra Paradise,

Goodell is the only reason we survive, living in a Zebra Paradise.

Power and the money, Roger's got all the power,

waiting on the lockout to end, hour after hour,

Everybody's hatin, but no one stops their watching,

NFL ratings are higher than ever, cuz they wanna see our sucking,

They say I gotta learn, but the real refs won't come teach me,

If they can't be nice and do it, how much better can I be?

I guess they can't, I guess they won't 

I guess they front, that's why I know my time will be short lived, fool

Been spending 3 weeks of our lives living in a Zebra Paradise,

What are we gonna call? That's the roll of a dice, living in a Zebra Paradise,

We aren't very good, we as blind as mice, living in a Zebra Paradise,

We make the most religious fan scream Jesus Christ, living in a Zebra Paradise.

Tell me why are we so blind to see,

That the ones we hurt include Tom Brady,

Tell me why are we so blind to see,

Fu*k it you're right we are too blind to see.

The Police

I know I've covered this before on my blogs, but I must say this, the way cops do things just baffles me.  It's sad that I am a law abiding citizen and I hate the police.  That shouldn't be the way it works.  I am supposed to like them.  I am supposed to see them as a protector.  I am supposed to trust them to keep those who are doing wrong off the streets.  The cops do the exact opposite.  They punish those who obey the law and let those who do not off Scott-Free.  They pulled me over again.  I now must go to court for going 38 in a 25 school zone.  I will go and I will pay for the court costs because I follow the rules and the government knows that.  As many of you know, I have been on driving probation.  I have never been pulled over for a DUI.  I have never been in a car accident when it is my own fault yet my licence was on probation because I didn't go to some bull crap class that everyone there doesn't want to be there and hardly listens.  I am a safe driver.  That's a fact.  You can ask anyone who rides with me how many risks I take.  I very rarely do take a turn when there's a car within 50 feet.  Yet I have been on probation for speeding.  I know people who have been pulled over 10 times with no tickets.  I have been pulled over 6 times with 5 tickets.  I guess I rub cops the wrong way.  I am nice.  I refer to them as sir.  I do everything you are supposed to do yet I receive a ticket.  In the mean time, some people I know have done way worse on the road and receive a slap on the wrist.  I just think the system is messed up.  Now I will be going to court to get some ridiculous fine.  I just can't stand it. I feel like I'm being bullied.  That's all.

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The Only Time I will bring up Politics in this 2012 Election & Jesus is Back

I have the right to vote.  I voted in every single presidential election and most other elections since I turned 18 and was eligible to vote.  That means I voted in 2004 and 2008.  I am registered republican, but many of my views are not conservative or liberal they are kind of in the middle.  I used to be really into politics, but lately all they do is make me sick.  Nothing ever gets done because frankly both sides refuse to budge.  Nothing ever gets passed and the economy goes down, gas prices go up, and the morale of this country in general goes down.  That's the problem with people.  They are all talk and never listen.  Your ears are your most powerful tool.  They will never get you in trouble you know.  They help you to gather information and learn unlike the mouth which if you are always preaching how can you learn.  If people just listened to each other, problems would get solved.  People need to be nicer, also.  I am considered in many circles to be a nice person, which is scary because I feel like I'm mean often.  It scares me because if I am considered nice, how mean is everyone else? Everyone seems to have road rage all the time.  Even when they aren't in a car if that makes any sense.  I got cut off twice yesterday with people merging into my lane after the cut this massive line, but I let them go.  Some may ask, "Why didn't you get all up on their bumper and honk and scream?" Well that just isn't me.  I believe in paying it forward, not so much karma.  I am not very superstitious, but I believe in paying it forward, like the movie.  Do something nice for someone else and they hopefully will pay it forward to someone else.  I also believe everything happens for a reason.  I don't understand why our country is put in the hands of the dirtiest people in the United States but there is reason I guess.  Whether you are republican or democrat, independent or libertarian, I don't care.  Politicians do not look out for you.  They look out for their own gain.  They throw everyone they can under the bus so they can achieve office.  A lot of the times they use that power to trick some girl into sleeping with them, but that's neither here nor there, hence the plot of  The Ides of March.  

Politics are so nasty and hateful, and politicians are on the ball of everything, my plan this and his plan that, but they forget about two things: actually doing anything about it and most importantly you.  The government  as so poetically stated in Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, is "of the people, by the people, and for the people.  Lately it's been of Barack Obama, by Mitt Romney, and screw the people.  I am not anti-government.  I am just anti-politicians.  Winning president does not mean do in 4 years something people remember so you get 4 more years.  How about doing something because you lead this great country of ours?  I know throughout history, no power has ever survived.  Egypt crumbled, Rome was defeated, England lost to us, and the U.S.A. will not be on top forever.  With that being said, with the right leaders we can be for some time, but where they come from is a tough question. Obama isn't the answer, but neither is Romney.  After this election, I don't see a bright future for our country.  I see republicans fighting with democrats, and the stalemate will continue and to quote Lady Gaga, the only victims will be, "You and I."  Who will I vote for? Who cares? 

  
Winner of the Day: Jesus.  After Touchdown Jesus was destroyed in a storm up in Monroe, Ohio, a new structure was put in his place.  Cincinnati.com article here.

Loser of the Day: Jesus' wife.  Yes a Massachusetts professor is claiming Jesus cited having a wife in an ancient script.  She loses because if she existed, Jesus obviously didn't give her enough attention to be noticed for 2,000 years. The Story.

Quote of the Day: "Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want." - Jim Rohn

Song of the Day: Neil Diamond "Coming to America"

Cool Jesus picture of the Day:

Fall...uh I mean Autumn is Here, the McRib, and Cats in weird places

Summer is finally coming to an end.  I usually consider summer being Memorial Day to Labor Day, with the much over-rated WEBN Fireworks being the grand finale for this city (You can read my thoughts on the fireworks from a blog I wrote in September of 2011 here: http://davidbrooks1985.blogspot.com/2011/09/webn-fireworks-suck-bra-thieves-and.html).  Gosh does summer seem like the longest season there is?  I am a male; I love cooler weather.  Fall could be my favorite season.  I'm going to refer to fall as autumn for the rest of this blog just because it sounds cooler.  Anyways back to summer.  Do the seasons take the feel of the sport that is played in them?  Look at baseball.  It's such a slow paced game.  Each 9 inning game seems like it is a marathon, much like a summer day.  It seems like 45 hours are in each day in the summer.  Sure you have plenty of things to fit into the long day from grillouts to swimming to vacations to hiking (well I hear some people do such things; not my thing but if you do it in the summer more power to you).  The day is still long.  The sun beams down on you all day. Each drip of sweat is replaced by another.  I know that you look forward to summer as a kid, but not so much when you have a job.  It kind of sucks wearing pants and a collared shirt out in 100 degree weather and let's not even bring up Cincinnati's humidity.  Anyway, I'm happy the season of outdoor concerts, beer, Nascar, and baseball season ends.  As you know I'm as big of a baseball fan as anyone.  I actually watch as many games as possible or at least listen to them.  Most people think I'm crazy for watching so much of a boring sport, but I'm old school and I like it.  With that being said, a season of 162 games is grueling and long and by the end of the summer you are just ready for it to be over.  The best baseball is played in autumn anyway.  The Reds are on the verge of making it to the playoffs for the second time in two years.

They have a legitimate shot at the World Series which I'm excited about.  The last time the Reds won the World Series was 1990 when I was starting kindergarten and Chris Sabo was patrolling 3rd base. I will be rooting for them throughout these playoffs when most seasons I sit and watch the Reds hoping they stay competitive until football season came along so I don't get bored.  Now the Reds are going good and they are going to be playing in autumn, a much better season than the blistering heat that is summer.  I used to say when I owned a house, I just wanted a room designed like a beer cave, but not for beer; just for me to cool off when I am sweating bullets after destroying everyone in sand volleyball which I only like to do at night even though the humidity is still high but the sun isn't slicing through the particles in my t-shirt which I love going up to NKU playing volleyball when all these built dudes think they're going to destroy us (I know this is a long run on sentence) and then they go and play us and we put them in their place.  I do play during the day in leagues, which my team took home the first place trophy for the third time in five years this year.  Shout out to them.  I named our team Back on Top before the season as a risky cocky play, and as it turned out we cut down the nets.

Back to what I was trying to write about, autumn.  Autumn is the season that comes with a smell.  It has this smell in the breeze that takes you back to cow bells and high school football games.  You smell turkey and dressing, pumpkins being carved, leaves being burned and polish on the gym floor of your favorite basketball team.  You go to Bengals tailgates and complain how the team will never be good without having someone other than Mike Brown calling the shots.  You watch your favorite basketball team take the court for the first time in Midnight Madness which isn't midnight anymore which is kind of like calling the Big10, "The Big10" with having 12 teams, but whatever.   You get to dress up once a year and be whatever you want in autumn which is an awesome concept.  I mean for one day, I was William Wallace.

Autumn is a time of cool weather, with a rough neck sport carrying you through most of the season.  Autumn is a time to gather around a campfire, more so than in the summer time.  It is a time to be thankful for what you have and go out and be a complete hypocrite and buy a whole bunch of complete crap the next day. Gosh I feel like with the way I'm writing today, there should be some awesome like classical music playing in your head while you read.  If you made it this far you are a trooper.  Anyway, I'm happy autumn is here.

Winner of the Day: Summer, because it beat the living daylights out of me every day since Memorial Day.

Loser of the Day: Anyone who loves the McRib.  If you didn't hear McDonald's delayed the McRib's release until December.  I'm sorry for all of you fans of this gross sandwich.

Quote of the Day: "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."-Albert Camus

Song of the Day: You've Got A Friend by James Taylor

Odd Tattoo of the Day:

The 90's in Music but Not Really

Hey everyone.  I know it's been a while since I checked in with this blog thing.  It's not like I disappeared.  Most of my readers I get from Facebook anyway and I chime in there or on Twitter from time to time with quirky jokes or something I think is funny, but I can't fully be myself in 140 characters or less so I thought I'd write a blog to get you all caught up on what's been going on.  Since I last wrote I moved into my own place.  I am living solo for the first time ever, which is different.  I usually have something to do but not every night.  Alright writing about myself is pretty boring.  I will say that I've been trying to live as 90's as possible.  The music was so much better in that era you know.  From gangsta rap to the beginnings of grunge to the Latin invasion and boy bands of the late 90's; almost all of the music is better than this Lady Gaga Glee stuff there is now.  The rappers just repeat everything over and over again.  They don't tell a story which is all they did back in the day.  I mean has Drake or whoever else is big now ever heard A Tribe Called Quest album? 

The Low End Theory, A Tribe Called Quest

#154 best album of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine

They don't even know what rap is.  I'm no expert and I know the 90's had groups like Kriss-Kross and feel good songs like Jump, but the feel good music now comes from LMFAO and The Black Eyed Peas.  That's crap.  Music has lost it's soul in this new millennium.  I don't want Nicki Minaj up in my ears.  Give me Lil Kim or Lauryn Hill. In 1990, I was 5 years old with my whole life ahead of me.    I grew up in the 90's and had some of the best times of my life, bicycling all over Dayton.  I would hunt for snakes and go fishing at Belmont Lake.  I loved the Ninja Turtles and later the Power Rangers.  My family really liked country music during this time, so I grew up listening to Dwight Yoakam, Garth Brooks, Alabama, and Sawyer Brown.  My other roots came from exploring on my own.  As most of you know I love writing poetry.  No I'm no helpless romantic Fabio looking guy trying to romance women by writing a few sweet lines.

My poetry is me.  It's hard to explain unless you've ever gotten a poem from me, but they are serious with funny one liners here and there.  This stuff I'm blabbing about, well not blabbing, actually typing about, has nothing to do with my original point which is I love poetry.  I really enjoy narrative poems.  I think this is what got me into rap music.  Back in the 90's most rap music told a story, like many rock and roll songs did as well.  Nowadays, rappers just say f*ck this and b*tch that.  Their rhymes have no substance.  Sure the pioneers of rap music cussed now and then but it wasn't just to say the words.  It was to emphasize what they were spitting about.  Rappers nowadays are a dime a dozen, but there are few MC's anymore.  Anybody can rhyme cat and hat and be a rapper, but an MC puts on a show.  They make the audience feel. They run the show with talent and skill and now I'm getting off track again.  I'm trying to write about 90's music influences and I keep slipping into these webs I can go off on and I have commentary on but let's get back to what I'm meaning to speak on.  How is this even about music anyway?  Is this blog about music, or everything 90's?  The alternative rock genre also took off in the 90's.  It seems like every hit came out of this genre.  R&B also took off in the 90's but never gets as much attention on any throwback stations.  If you ever turn on Pandora, you'll hear Smells Like Teen Spirit or Runaround, when playing a 90's station, but how often do you hear Lately by Divine or I Don't Have the Heart by James Ingram?   Until recently I never really got into the R&B hits of the 90's but once my ears were turned to these songs I really believe this genre is underrated in the whole scheme of 90's music.  There are a lot of cliche songs from the 90's.  I mean who doesn't know the words to Gangsta's Paradise, I Swear, or Iris? Cliche or not, all of the songs had substance that today's music seems to lack.

Winner of the Day: Anybody who goes by 3 names.  I realized most of them are awesome.  This is in honor of a great loss we had.  We recently lost Michael Clarke Duncan.  I heard that if you knew his full name when he was out, he'd give you a $5 bill on the spot.  Other great three named people include James Earl Jones (Mufassa and Darth Vader voice) and Billy Bob Thornton.

Loser of the Day: Replacement Referees in the NFL.  They can't catch a break.  Without them, there would be no football.  With them, the calls are horrendous and the games are getting as long as baseball.  Let's get a contract and get the real refs back out there.

Quote of the Day: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -Aesop

Song of the Day: I Don't Have the Heart by James Ingrim

Thought of the Day: Be yourself.  Never change who you are for anyone else.