David AKA So-Crates the Philosopher, My Country Lyrics, And Doing it My Way.

So this wasn't really a New Year's resolution or anything, but sometime in the past few months I've been living the philosophy I've been preaching since they started calling me So-Crates at sand volleyball back in 2009. Yes, that's a Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure reference if you picked that up.

I've always been one of those people others come to for advice.  I always picture myself as that Rafiki-like guy in the movies who has these wise cracks that people see as wisdom to live by.

Maybe I'll have a long gray beard and incense burning while people come to me.  I'll probably have a velvet robe, stunna Oakley aviator shades, and a bad ass diamond studded grill because I would want to give my advice in style but maybe I'd get rid of the incense because I'm allergic and the stench would get in my robe.

 But anyway, I started living my life how I wanted. I'm just going to do what I want.  I mean I'm still going to be an ethical person and follow morals, but I'm not going to care what others think of me in any way.  I have strong opinions about things and I don't really back down.  You can read about several of them I have written about in past blogs, but I haven't really just put myself out there.  I haven't been myself.  I've always been an image of what society expects me to be.  I'm not that anymore.  I'm still a gentleman, I'm still chivalrous, and I still believe you should treat every woman you run into like a princess.

With that being said that's not what I was meaning by living how I want.  I'm just getting out of this box I put myself in by doing the 9-5 thing, well actually 8-4:30 thing and just going home and being boring.  I'm going to put myself out there and do things I've always wanted to do.  Life is too short to not be who you want to be and after my scare with my damn diabetes I started realizing not to take any day for granted.  I want every day to be better than the last and I can't achieve that by not being myself.  I want to see the Great Pyramid at Giza before I die (Of course I have to wait for the fighting to stop in Egypt first).

I want to write a movie script good enough to send to Hollywood.  I want to pay for someone's meal behind me in a drive thru.  I want to stop eating fast food.  I want to produce a rap song. Not just the Phathead KingofCOV stuff but an actual song.  I can write lyrics pretty well and we all know I have flow.  I want to meet John Malkovich. I want to stand for something.  I want to give anonymously.  I want to be remembered for being a good person. I want to help cure diabetes.  I want to move people with the words that I write.  I want to make a stranger smile every day.  I want to make my friends laugh to the point of tears but I warn you I'm so funny it may hurt after a while.  I want to get deeper into faith and listen to my heart more.  I want Jesus to be my homeboy, and God to be my dude.

I have worn this crucifix around my neck every day since I received it for Christmas while I was still in high school.  A painting of Mary hangs on my wall to protect me and was given to me for that purpose after my lung collapsed by some wonderful people.  Sure I was drunk once and made out with the photo, but that isn't blasphemous at all! I want to be a better person each day, and I want to keep a smile on my face.  I want to stay happy and optimistic. I want to do it my way like Frank Sinatra.

I don't want to mask and hold in my problems. I want to be able to talk about them.  I'm glad I have this forum and wonderful readers like you to listen.  I want to talk less and listen more.  I want to look at the stars and be hypnotized by how wonderful this universe is.  I want to learn more and write more and learn to play an instrument other than the snare drum in 7th grade. Gosh I remember when the Yeti powerbombed Tony Cummings into a chair in 7th grade before a band concert and knocked out his tooth.  Tony was a trooper though! He went on stage after. I want to learn from the past but remember the good times.

There are so many other things I want to tell you guys, but I'm writing this because I wanted to share this country song I wrote.  I wrote the lyrics and I am having a work friend's minister write the music for it and possibly sing it for me.  I was very inspired by God writing this and it kind of brought me closer to him.  It has a lot of pain I've gone through in my life and I wrote it thanking God for helping me through it.  This relates because I just woke up the other day listening to country music, George Strait, Luke Bryan, etc. and I wanted to write a song. I've always written rap song but country captures the down home feel and it tells an amazing story.  I've written before about how I believe rap and country are very similar in roots and have very similar qualities in a 2011 blog, http://davidbrooks1985.blogspot.com/2011/09/is-rap-music-bears-vasolene-kills.html. Rap and country both tell a story and both are based on territory and love, and they both talk about struggle.  Tupac writes about the pain he went through and his life struggles.  Listen to George Jones. It's the same thing. Nelly gets it, and so does Ludacris.  They are crossing over in songs, and Jason Aldean had a huge hit that was more rap than country.

Anyway, I could write for hours on this subject, but here's the song: I promise it will be way better once you can hear it!!

Thanking Him

(Verse 1)

As I look out on this beautiful sky,

I thank god that I'm still alive,

I've been through hell and back again,

My lung collapsed when I was ten,

God's tested me in many ways,

And I'm thankful I wake every--day,

He gave me a crutch a couple years later,

Diabetes still didn't convert me to being a hater,

He helps me fight through all that is wrong,

And I'm thanking him-- by writing this song....

(Chorus)

I got a good head on my shoulders and a mom who loves me,

Whether life throws a boulder or a sting by a bee,

He's there walking me through when times get tough,

Calming the storm when the waves get rough,

And I thank god...

I praise The Lord...

I thank Jesus...

I praise The Lord.

(Verse 2)

He was there for me when I took my first ride,

When the bicycle chain twisted I thought I had died,

He helped me up and he dusted me off,

He's also the medicine I need when I have a cough,

He's the gps navigating when I lost my way,

He's a forgiving spirit when I forget to pray,

He's that inspirational tune when you're kinda down,

He's the company you need when you're alone in this town,

He's with you through distances whether short or long,

And I'm thanking him.... By writing this song...

(Chorus)

I got a good head on my shoulders and a mom who loves me,

Whether life throws a boulder or a sting by a bee,

He's there walking me through when times get tough,

Calming the storm when the waves get rough,

And I thank god...

I praise The Lord...

I thank Jesus...

I praise The Lord.

(Bridge)

Verse 3

There are countless events he has helped me through,

But don't forget... He's there for the good times too!!

Like my first home run in a little league game,

And that sunny spring morning when my mom first said my name,

He placed me in the great country U. S. Of A.

And I have a family who loves me each day,

We take him for granted but he's always there,

Whenever you need him he will always care,

When you are at your weakest, he will stay strong,

And I'm thanking him... By writing this song...

(Chorus) I got a good head on my shoulders and a mom who loves me,

Whether life throws a boulder or a sting by a bee,

He's there walking me through when times get tough,

Calming the storm when the waves get rough,

And I thank god...

I praise The Lord...

I thank Jesus...

I praise The Lord.

(Spoken) And I am thanking him.... By writing this song. Thank you Lord

Winner of the Day: The Minnesota Vikings.  They landed my favorite coach from the Bengals as their head coach today, Mike Zimmer.  He's a great man and coach.  The scene where the Bengals won after he lost his wife is the most powerful scene I've seen in football back in 2009. He will be missed here after he leaves and I will be rooting for him.  I'm a Mike Zimmer fan.
The locker room<<click there to see Zimmer in the locker room.

Loser of the Day: Curtis Reeves. This man killed a man in a theater for texting during the previews of a movie. Now isn't this a little extreme? It's getting a little scary to go to the movies with all the shootings. Link >>> http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/14/justice/florida-movie-theater-shooting/index.html

Quote of the day: I just need to tell you a few things. You always listen to your mother. You understand? Do what she tells you to do. She’s your best friend. You tell her you love her every day.
You’re too young for girls right now, but… there’s going to come a time. When it does, you treat them like princesses. ‘Cause that’s what they are.
When you say you’re going to do something… When you say you’re going to do something, you do it. Because your word is your bond, son. It’s all you have.
And money. You make money if you get a chance, even if you got to sell out once in a while. Make as much money as you can. Don’t be stupid like your father. Everything is so much easier with money, son.
Don’t smoke.
Be kind to people. When somebody chooses you… We talked about this. You stand up. You be a man.
You stay away from the bad things, son, please. Don’t get caught up in the bad things. There’s so many great things out there for you.
I’ll never leave you. I’m always with you. Right there. I love you, son.

-John Q. (Denzel Washington as John Q.)

Song of the Day: Grillz by Nelly ft. Paul Wall Ali and Gip.

Man Bear Pig of the Day:

The Brainey's (Winners, Losers, and other things of 2013). From Miley to Mandela and teacher sex scandals

2013. In a year that marijuana became legal in 2 states, the royal family of England had a new baby.  All I have to say to that is who the hell cares? Last I checked we won our independence from England over 230 years ago so why should we care about the royal family?  Why all the hype?  Please explain it to me.  Benjamin Franklin would be appalled that so many Americans were anxiously awaiting a baby to be born from Prince William of the freaking UK. And when was the last time that the royal family did anything significant in their own country?  You can't think of it either.

Now that I got that out of the way, I have always done an awards of the year stemming back to my Myspace blogging days. They were called The Diesel of the Year Awards, but on this new blogger format, I have called them the Brainey's. They are kind of like high school superlatives. These are the winners, losers, and other things of 2013:

Winner of the Year: Boston.  The Red Sox won the World Series and in all seriousness that was not who I was rooting for.  They won after a terrible season the year before.  But that's not why I gave Boston the win in this category.  The city of Boston wins because of the terrible terrorist attack and how they responded to it.  Even though I am not a fan of the city, I support them through this tragedy and I know no one from there will acknowledge this from the city but stay #bostonstrong (first hashtag in any blog).

Loser of the Year: Pacman Jones. Yes I am a fan of this guy. I feel like he truly rehabilitated his life and he's just in the wrong place at the wrong time sometimes.  But I can never defend violence against women.  He hit a woman who was screaming at him. I don't care what she said, it is never okay to hit a female and that's what he did.

Man of the Year: Pope Francis because he is bringing a swagger and a new attitude into the Catholic faith and is actually changing a lot of things for the good and bringing the Catholic faith into the new millennium. Finally.

Woman of the Year: Jennifer Lawrence.  She took Hollywood by storm with her cute but sexy smile and her ability to actually act.  We all know her as Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games but she showed incredible performances in Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle (which is what I'm told as I haven't seen it yet).

Quote of the Year: “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell, and that’s really embarrassing, but thank you.”-Jennifer Lawrence after she won best actress at the Oscar's.

Song of the Year: Royals by Lorde. Just 16, this Australian star burst on to the scene with this hip new sound and took America by storm.

Joke of the year: I was accused of being sexist several times.  You can read about it here. http://davidbrooks1985.blogspot.com/2013/05/sexism.html I will never back down from my chivalrous ways or call myself sexist for believing in them.

Blog of the Year: My blog about teachers and sex scandals was the most read blog since 2011 and it's popular because it is intriguing and interesting to everyone from many different perspectives.  Read here: http://davidbrooks1985.blogspot.com/2013/07/teachers-and-sex-scandals-bellevue.html 

Underachieving Team of the Year: The Cincinnati Reds.  They really struggled down the stretch and had no sense of urgency or team unity as they failed to win the one game playoff against the Pirates and ultimately got Dusty fired.

Ginger of the Year:  Andy Dalton. Why does he win this?  Well he broke the Bengals' passing yardage and touchdown record, all the while leading the Bengals to their 3rd straight playoffs.  There tends to be a good Andy and a bad Andy as they played this year and as Dalton goes the Bengals will go this playoffs.  I can't think of any other gingers who could win this as Yukon Cornelius has been missing in films since the 1960's.

Most changed since Last Year: Miley Cyrus. Is this even debatable? And who didn't see it coming? Child star wanting to rebel from Dad and apparently sticking your tongue out is rebelling? Well anyway, I'm of the belief that it's all an act, because it's working and she's selling a bunch of records.  It's hard to transition into the adult industry after being a child, ask ginger Danny Bonaduce who will never win the above award.

Goodbyes in 2013:

Paul Walker: Died in a car crash. There will be no more making fun of him.  He deserved an Oscar for his role in Joy Ride.  Not really.  He's no Daniel Day Lewis but he is Paul Walker and it is sad that he is gone as the Fast and Furious series will not be the same. And since most of my viewers are ladies, see below.  Just don't think about him being dead or that's just awkward.

Chris Kelly AKA Mac Daddy of Kriss-Kross.  We've all jumped to them. and we all owe him a tribute as he died this year.  He is miggidy miggidy miggidy macing in heaven.

Thomas Howard: Former Bengals linebacker passed also in a car crash.  He was going over 100.  Don't speed.  

Nelson Mandela: RIP to the man who changed a nation when all hope would have been lost by a weaker man.  He beat apartheid and saved South Africa and brought together the most racist nation of the 20th Century.

Corey Monteith: Glee actor who died of a drug overdose.  I did enjoy the first season of Glee and then it started going downhill

Mindy Mcready: The troubled country singer died of a suicide.  She had her whole life ahead of her and was on top of the world in the 90's.  

A Very Thankful Thanksgiving (and some other off the wall stuff)

Tomorrow marks Thanksgiving and I am thankful for a lot of things.  I am thankful for beginning to take care of myself.  Things got scary for a minute but I truly believe everything happens for a reason so maybe my neuropathy actually came as a warning to begin to take care of myself.  I am thankful to feel better.  I still have some bad days but mostly good.  I am thankful to my wonderful mother for helping me get through this. She won't read this because I banned her from reading my blogs so I'm sure she will hear from word of mouth.  I don't tell them enough, but thank you to my sisters for putting up with my shenanigans this year and helping me through my medical issues.  My dad is also very important in my life and without him I wouldn't be the man I am today, even though I still can't beat the guy in mercy and he lets me know.  He is the most intimidating sweet person I know and that makes him super cool.

I am thankful for my readers.  You all have seen my moods all over the map, mostly dry humor and sarcasm, but lately sad and angry posts.  This is my journal sometimes and I make it public so maybe I can make someone laugh here and there or help one person in some way.  I also like the attention and I like to share my writing talent.  I love every single one of you even the haters, because you improve my blog stats. And here's a little bit of a shuffle because I'm so happy you read!

I am also thankful for teachers sleeping with students because the blog I wrote on that subject became #1.  Here's the blog: Teachers and Sex Scandals Obviously that's my sarcasm coming in.  This is becoming a bigger and bigger problem in schools and I believe the cougar thing that is big now among teens and that along with teachers being super horny, and some teachers stuck in the still wanting to be in high school and those wanting more than what their marriage brings is a perfect recipe for these stories to pop up.  I'm not blaming either side.  I'm blaming society and the world we live in.  You can't make a teacher go look like the sub in Miss Nelson in Missing.  That's not fair to them. Yes I just referenced a children's book.  I took Children's Lit in college for a 300 level elective and I was the only male in that class which was horrible because I got called on every day because the teacher knew my name immediately.

I'm thankful for Arnold Schwartzanegger (doubt I spelled it right), and Samuel L. Jackson.  I'm thankful for being myself and being as patient as I am.  I'm thankful for my friends.  Without them I wouldn't have made it through the tough times. From the many fights about my blood sugars with Nic, to the partying at Bubba's. Even the talks with Elyse about my life at work.  Mindy saving me on the day I forgot my pump. April being there whenever I need to talk. Wow so many friends I owe a thank you to: Brad and Laura during the Halloween party for being with my while I was down, and so many more I'm leaving off but thank you all for being there and your prayers because without all of you I wouldn't be here and that's a fact.  I don't sweat the little things, and I let a lot of things go because I see the big picture and this beautiful life we are all blessed with so do something with it.  Make a difference.  Be a good person even when all of the odds are against you.  I will stop being philosophical now and get back to it:  I'm thankful for the discovery of cheese, or the invention of cheese.  I don't know what is considered to be the correct way of putting it and I'm too lazy to look it up.  I'm thankful for being cheesy.  I'm thankful for French Toast and movies that you don't want to end.  I'm thankful to have a job, and a roof over my head.  I'm thankful to make someone smile every day and I'm thankful that I'm here.  I'm thankful for God giving me a white beard. I was never able to grow a blond beard, even in my peach fuzz days. It's always came in white and that's cool.  I'm thankful for the way Breaking Bad ended.  It could have been better, but I'm glad it went out on it's own terms and didn't come to a slow death like ER or Grey's Anatomy.

I'm thankful for 25 cent wings after midnight at Applebee's even though sometimes they are super slow.  I will never a few weeks ago a few friends of mine, Justin, Jeni, Laura, Brad, and I went for the wings.  First of all I had to sit on the end chair which no one wants and I'm a big guy but I was the 5th wheel so I guess that's fine but it took forever to even order and then even longer to get the wings.  It used to be a big secret and there'd only be a few tables at midnight.  Then high schoolers learned about it and overtook Applebee's like the Swine Flu was supposed to take over America but never did.  Well during this time I hash tagged everything Jeni was wearing. I kept doing the "hash tag hoodie, hash tag PalmBeach, hash tag, pony tail," and doing the hand gestures like Jimmy Fallon and JT's segment on the Jimmy Fallon late night show which I don't know which one he's on anymore and I don't feel like looking it up.

Anyway, at Applebee's the waiter seemed to get Jeni a drink so fast it seemed he lifted his armpit up and squirted her strawberry lemonade out of the pitted area.  Anyway I said "hash tag shhhhhhhhhhhh" and did an arm movement simulating drink coming out of my pit and everyone died laughing. I know it doesn't translate well in writing but it was funny.  I'm thankful for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Raisin Bran Crunch.  I'm thankful for pasta and elevators so I don't have to walk 20 stories.  I'm not gay but I'm thankful that those who want to be can live the way they want to and they shouldn't be judged for it.  I believe they should be allowed to get married.  I'm a republican and I am saying that.  I'm thankful for cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving because its really the only time I eat it and I'm not really thankful it comes out looking like the can but I'm thankful I get to eat it because some poor people unfortunately aren't as lucky as I am to eat such a meal tomorrow.  I'm thankful for not judging anyone and living in a world that I can live with freedoms although I still believe we should only have to put on our seatbelt under our own free will. UGH, I'm still mad about that.  And that my friends is the first time I've used ugh on a blog.  I'm thankful for The Temptations and Notorious BIG; They are the two artists I turn to when I need some chill out in my life.  I'm thankful for football, even Andy Dalton.  He doesn't need to be Tom Brady on this team.  He just needs to stop throwing picks.  I'm thankful for Bronson Arroyo.  I believe he deserves to be in The Reds Hall of Fame when he retires.  He played on good Reds teams and bad but ultimately he never missed a start in the 9 years or whatever he was on the team and he was consistent.  You knew what you were going to get out of him.

I'm thankful for John Calipari and his amazing recruiting classes, restoring UK to where they should be.  I'm thankful for technology and the improvement of cell phones and laptops and ipads so fast I am always outdated.  That makes me seem retro fast which is cool.  I'm thankful that TMNT is back to being popular among kids.  I'm thankful for NKU going D1 and snapchat.  I don't know why I use it but I do.  I'm thankful for the sun not blowing up on us, and days when the humidity isn't high.  I'm thankful for Chinese buffets and there being a Chipotle on every corner.  I'm thankful for being me and I'm tired of writing so I'm going to stop there.  I will not be doing Black Friday, not only because its hypocritical of being thankful one day only to turn around and punch someone for a crappy stereo the next, but also because I'm cool with spending 10 extra bucks to not have to wait in line.  I may hit up the 50% off everything at Old Navy though. I need some new work clothes.  My pants are shredding, and ladies as much as you'd like to see that, it is not work appropriate.

Winner of the Day: Us.  Be thankful for the life you have and don't sweat the small stuff.  The greatest gift of all is life so be thankful for it.  Live the way you want.  Gosh I'm sounding like a damn hippie but I'm being real.  You don't have long on this earth so live while you are here and be thankful for what you have.  It's better than the alternative.  If you are reading this you have internet, so your life can't be that bad, unless you bored yourself to death reading this but if you have you probably haven't read this far.

Loser of the Day: Us.  We have been tricked in our history books about Thanksgiving.  The first Thanksgiving has one surviving letter about it and it says nothing about them for sure having turkey.  The Pilgrims also were firing guns which lead to the Indians coming to investigate. Then they let them sit in.  They weren't actually guests but because the Indians helped the Pilgrims make it through the first harsh winter they kind of felt obligated to let them eat the huge feast.  The hisory books make it more of a legend that we want to believe.

Quote of the Day: “In 1492, the natives discovered they were indians, discovered they lived in America, discovered they were naked, discovered that the Sin existed, discovered they owed allegiance to a King and Kingdom from another world and a God from another sky, and that this God had invented the guilty and the dress, and had sent to be burnt alive who worships the Sun the Moon the Earth and the Rain that wets it.” 
― Eduardo Galeano

Song of the Day: "Thank You" by Alanis Morisette 

California Gold Rush Drawing of the Day: 

VCCC

I have Peripheral Neuropathy and Throwback Thursday Blog,

Hello people,

In light of me retrieving my Myspace blogs and in the spirit of Throwback Thursday, here is one of my excerpts that I re-read and it helped me to get through these tough times I'm having with my hands and my feet.  I'm almost positive I have peripheral neuropathy.  At least my endocrinologist believes it to be.  It is common in diabetics and it just makes my life miserable.  It makes me feel tingling and pain in my hands and my feet.  I haven't written down these feelings at all and I have kept how I feel from most people.  Friday night I had a breakdown about it and I knew then that I have to spill out what I have been going through (Thanks to Laura Brungs, Brad McIntosh, Devan Daily, and Nicolette for helping me through that time).  I put a smile on my face everyday and I am doing my best to not let it affect my everyday life, but I am not going to lie, it's been in the back of my mind every moment since August.  I am on meds that are calming my nerves and tomorrow I will be learning a lot more about it at my appointment.  I am not going to lie, I'm scared. I'm not the type to seek pity from anyone.  I don't like talking about my problems or diseases and I certainly don't want people to treat me any different for them.  I just wanted to write this because this is my journal.  You guys have lived with me through the good times and bad while reading my words so I have no problem sharing this with you.  If I have treated you any worse in the last few months and you thought I wasn't myself, this is why.  It has driven me from being able to do things I enjoy doing but I still play volleyball but it just hurts more after.  I have had pain in these three months more than I have had since I first got diagnosed with diabetes in 1997.  It has driven me to tears several times and through it all I smile through the tears, because I want no one else to be affected by my issues and I just want my family and friends to get the same old me who cheers everyone else up.  I love and appreciate you all and I want you to know that I am going to beat this bastard body of mine and I will still be there to be the friend I am to all of you.  Please don't show me mercy.  I don't like that.  I just thought you all should know and it feels better already writing it down on paper.  Yeah I'm scared, but I made an oath to myself to take care of myself and I want to be here a long time and I will be.  I'm stronger than all you guys give me credit for I just hide what I'm truly fighting. I have only shared this with a few people until now and it feels like a relief to announce it this way.  Don't treat me any differently please.  That just makes me sad. And for some reason I'm tearing up writing this... What the Hell?  Now for what you've all been waiting for.  The Throwback Thursday part of the blog that inspired this blog. Sorry I wasn't a very good blogger back then.  I've definitely improved.

Peace

Now to my throwback blog from 1/24/2007-Written on Myspace

Straight Up Thoughts

What's up people?  I haven't just talked to you guys in quite some time.  I've been hiding behind awards, and Pat Diesel, and anything else, but here goes some straight talk.

I've been sitting here thinking... What is my purpose in life?  Everyone has a purpose I just don't know what mine is yet. 

Also, why do people go through life just being mad all the time?  At the beginning of the summer, when I became single, I made a vowel to never get mad.  For the most part that's been the case, I haven't been really that mad.  The only thing that has pushed me through the edge from now and then was the Bengals loss to the Steelers on New Years Eve, and I fixed that with tequila that night.

Another thing, why does the world have to be such a rough place?  Why does life happen to us why we are busy making other plans... Why are we always working?  Why not sit back and enjoy life every once in a while.  I do and it feels great.  It makes me forget about my diabetes and it makes me think of only good things.

Why is school getting less and less entertaining.  I've been there so long.  I'm getting tired of it.  I've been going since I was 5 years old.  I'm 21 now soon to be 22.

What is the point of life?  Is it to be happy? to have fun? to feel like you meant something?  Why isn't everyone doing that?  Whether you dont have a dime or have 18 million bucks it shouldnt matter.  Money is not happiness... Just live your life and be happy.

That's the problem I see with the social landscape today.

D.W.B.J.

_____________________________________________________________________

Winner of the Day: Juvenile Diabetics.  Yes all of you out there. Jonathan Stefanopoulos, Devan Dailey, That one Jonas Brother, Jay Cutler, The lead singer of Poison, Pfieff Dogg from my favorite Rap Group A Tribe Called Quest, Jay Leeuinburg, and anyone I forgot to mention.  Dude I get you all, and no matter how much you try man, no one else gets it but us.  This month is Diabetes Awareness month and we have one month to give ourselves pats on the back, unfortunately it follows Breast Cancer Awareness month, but this small blog is to give all of you out there with type 1 diabetes a voice and that I know how tough the grind is every day.  Keep grinding all of you!

Quote of the Day: God has brought you to it and he will bring you through it.-unknown

A Facebook Status I wrote at the beginning of the month:

Song of the Day: Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Thankful

I'm happy for what I have and I never let myself be down for too long. Just because a few things in life aren't going my way doesn't not change who I am nor will I let it affect others. Be thankful for what you have. Life is great. Don't let any one thing bring you down. Don't spread the negativity to others. Stay positive people. I almost lost an eye and got diagnosed with Peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes in the same week recently and I still keep a smile on my face. Life isn't all that bad people. Don't sweat little things and don't bring others down because you're miserable. It doesn't have to be that way.  Thank you to the higher power for giving me this fortunate life I have with an amazing family and wonderful friends who are a support system to me. All that's missing is that special woman but she will come. I have a job I am thankful for. I eat everyday, sometimes too many calories. I try to do what's right and be the best person I can be. I don't hate. I am an honest person and thank The Lord every day for all that you made me. I am a patient person and that is tested every day. But overall I'm thankful. Please take this as a lesson when you're having a bad day, be thankful for what you have.

Peace.

Not my Week, Obamaphone, Breaking Bad and Boomhower

So this week started with the Bengals losing to the Browns. They looked more like the 2002 Bengals instead of the team that knocked off Green Bay just one day earlier.

Just as that tragedy was being written in Cleveland, the Reds were busy getting swept by the Pirates, the same team they would be playing in Tuesday's wildcard playoff game. They didn't seem excited nor did they look like they played with any sense of urgency. They would later fall to the pirates in that playoff game. They played, it seemed with no enthusiasm or heart and it was more of a slow death rather than the shocker that happened in last year's playoffs.  The sad part of the game was that the big money players (i.e. Phillips, Bruce, and Votto) played with what seemed like no heart.

Congratulations though to the Pirates who earned it and their fans deserved it except that one kept punching Mat Latos' wife in the back of the head which is a shame.

Let's go back to Sunday. One of my top five shows of all time went off the air, Breaking Bad. The writing on that show was spectacular and the characterization, acting and directing was second to none. Vince Gilligan, the creator's premise was to turn Mr. Chipps into Scarface and that he did over five amazing seasons. He went out on top and on his own terms which is rare for any show. The ending did solve things which is better than any 'fade to black' ending and I definitely appreciated although the final episode would not make my top 5 episodes of the show. I am still in mourning over the show going off the air. I will be sad to see it go and I'm not sure there's anything on right now that compares other than maybe Mad Men. 

Yes that is an original drawing by me with the iconic sketch from the show that I drew to the best of my abilities. As you all know my talent is writing and not drawing but that is my first career self portrait and some say I look like a love child of Hank Hill and Boomhower from King of the Hill but I believe I look pretty sexy if I do say so myself. 

Anyway, I apologize that you had to get through all that boring stuff to get to what I wanted to write about I don't normally bury the lead but I wanted you to feel all the buildup of this terrible week to get to what happened today which is a ridiculous story that may be entertaining to you so I thought I'd share it. Well for about a week or so I've been nursing a red eye. Well it was sort of in both eyes so I attributed to allergies. My doctor had me taking this over the counter allergy medicine for eyes and Zyrtec. Well I was actually taking Kroger brand Zyrtec because for some reason real Zyrtec is through the roof expensive. All medicine costs too much so don't even get me started on that. Anyway it wasn't really cleaning up my eye. It kept getting worse until it became bloodshot red. People have been asking me to get it checked out like coworkers Mindy and Mitch so finally I went to the nurse at work. Turns out I have this rare form of pink eye which in my case should be called bloodshot red eye which is highly contagious. Anyway they send me home from work and I drive to Kroger to get my prescriptions. I decided to go through the drive-thru.  First of all, the car in front of me was pulled into the drive-thru backwards. What the hell right? So I waited a mile away so they could pull out so I can pull in the right way. I know, I know. That's what she said. I finally get pulled in there and the lady said they only had my antibiotic and not my eye gel. Please don't call it a gel lady because that sounds nasty. I prefer drops. Well they said they'd have it tomorrow. I was thinking to myself "lady can't you see my eye is redder than the inside of the sun. I need it now!" I ask her to see if any other Kroger in the area has it. The Kroger in Newport has the drug. Thank God. I couldn't get off my high horse yet though. The prescription is $47. She said that she just wanted to let me know. Well thanks lady. I could go buy a video game with that kind of coin and you say it as "oh by the way." I told her I'd call and see if my doctor had any alternatives. She then preceded to check me out with the antibiotic which was only $4. She sent me a slip to sign and I go to put my debit card and Kroger card into the tube and bam I forgot to put my car in park so I moved up some. My hand held onto the Kroger card but not my debit card. By now there is a car behind me waiting to go. I have to put the car in park and get on my hands and knees looking for this card. I, embarrassingly tell the woman I lost my card. After looking for it I noticed it had fallen into this slot on this tube machine that is impossible to get anything from. The employee and her manager brought brooms and flyswaters out to try and get it, but failed. I then, with my highly contagious eye, go into 5/3 bank to cancel my card, which was stolen two weeks prior and I just got, and ask for a new one. I then go to the pharmacy and ask for them to just get my $47 prescription filled at Kroger because  I'm over dealing with all of it. So that is how my week has gone and it is only Wednesday that's not even mentioning the lingering pain and nerve problems I've been having in my hands and feet. I'm still keeping a smile though and I hope this ridiculous story made some if you laugh. Beware I'm posting my eye next but in order to get to the "of the day" section you will have to scroll past it.

Winner of the Day: The I Phone 5. I usually write these things at work but since I got sent home and my damn computer is cracked I wrote this whole thing on the Blogger app which doesn't have as many features but it got the job done!!

Loser of the Day: Obamaphone. Until my sister Laura brought Obamaphone up yesterday I did not know it existed. I could talk about government shutdown and Obamacare and all that. I have opinions but it is best I keep them to myself. Obamaphone however is crazy. They give people on welfare a cell phone and a plan. These people aren't getting the Jitterbug which is what they should be getting if this plan exists with basic features. They're getting IPhones which I'm paying an arm and a leg for and now I'm paying for theirs.

Quote of the day:

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Song of the Day: "Fly Away" by Nelly--look it up on YouTube. I have no idea how to post it on this app.

The just give it up hair of the day:

9-11-2001: Twelve Years Later

I was in Bob Runyan's homeroom 12 years ago today when I first heard what was going on. I saw he was nervous flipping through channels on the television and I thought Al Queda just bombed another embassy or something and then I saw The Trade Center in NYC smoking.

Then he received a call, flipped to NBC and said, "They hit the Pentagon too." That's when I realized the Trade Center wasn't an accident and we were being attacked. It was one of the scariest days of my life. Coverage on every station from ESPN to Cartoon Network. I remember the sights of people jumping out of buildings, ash flooding the streets of New York City. 

I remember wondering who would do such a thing. I remember the police and firefighters doing what they could to save as many lives as possible sometimes sacrificing their own life. I remember George W. Bush in an elementary school addressing the situation. 

The terrorists took 2,977 lives on 9/11/01 and today is a day to remember those who perished, but also to let other countries know we persevered and we are still strong. This did not crush our country. The United States stood strong and fought back, ultimately catching Osama Bin Laden. Thank you to all of the service men and women who defended our country in light of the attacks and we will never forget 9/11/01 just like Pearl Harbor before. Stand strong. I'm proud to be an American. We won't let those who hate that we are a free country bring us down.

Deaths by Area of Attack	Deaths
World Trade Center	2,606
Airlines	246
Pentagon Building	125
Hijackers	19
Total number of people who died in the 9/11 attacks	2,996
Casualties in the World Trade Center and Surrounding Area	Deaths
Residents of New York	1,762
Persons in North Tower (Tower 1)	1,402
Persons in South Tower (Tower 2)	614
Residents of New Jersey	674
Employees of Marsh Inc.	355
Firefighters	343
Employees of Aon Corporation	175
Port Authority police officers	37
Police officers	23
Paramedics	2
1 firefighter was killed by a man who jumped off the top floors
Casualties on the Airplanes	Deaths
American Airlines Flight 11 (North Tower)	87
United Airlines Flight 175 (South Tower)	60
American Airlines Flight 77 (Pentagon)	59
United Flight 93 (Shanksville, PA)	40
Casualties inside the Pentagon	Deaths
Military and civilian deaths	125

(Courtesy http://www.statisticbrain.com/911-death-statistics/)

As I sit here, working in Cincinnati's largest tower, I feel safe.  I feel like that because of our military and the safety measures airports take now.  The next time you complain about the way TSA handles things, remember why they are doing it, to protect you.  Freedom isn't always free and I'm willing to wait a little longer and even get stripped searched if it guarantees my plane isn't going to get hijacked and slammed into a building.  

Quote of the Day: "We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."-President George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks.

Song of the Day: Have you Forgotten by Darryl Worley