A Rare Politial Rant......

       Okay.  I am well aware that everyone is  sick of all the political crap, and for the most part I am too.  I can assure you I won't make a habit of posting political views here.  That said,  I need to take a moment to outline the dangers of Obama's tax plans,  and the all out lies he has been telling.  His programs simply can't be funded by "only taxing the wealthy a little more."

"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic"

-Benjamin Franklin.

       Does "Healthcare for all" sound like a great idea? Absolutely.  Does shoving 800 billion dollars into the economy sound like a great plan? Sure!  I also think we each need a Ferrari, and we should all have six figure incomes, and government supplied 30 acre estates, with 6,000 square foot homes.  I even know how to pay for it!  Tax the rich!  They have so much money anyway, they won't even miss it! As a matter of fact those selfish bastards should have given it to us already, Jerks. 

"I have never understood why it is "greed" to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else's money." -Thomas Sowell

       Aside from the thieving mentality of Obama's plan, the numbers don't even exist to support it.  Obama has often spoken of taxing "the millionaires and billionaires" or taxing only the "richest Americans"   or how his tax plans will only affect the "top two percent" of income earners in the nation.  The fact of the matter is, if the government confiscated every dime of the income of the top 10% of American households it wouldn't even cover the cost of medicare, medicaid, and Obama-care (let alone defense spending, and all the other federal responsibilities and debts).  So where does that money have to come from?  The middle class.  Obama's regime will have to bleed funds out of the pockets of middle class America just to make ends meet. Don't believe me?  A detailed explanation of why Obama's plans will bleed the middle class dry can be found HERE. I encourage you to follow that link. The current entitlement plans are simply not sustainable.  If something isn't done to curb the rampant spending (currently at an all time high since WWII as a percentage of the total GDP) the people of this country will know exactly how it feels to be a citizen of Greece. 

       Please don't get me wrong, medicare, medicaid, and social security are needed.  My grandmother depends on them, and at one point so did I.  These programs don't need to have spending cut to stop them from existing, reform is needed so that they CAN exist.  If current trends continue, only two solutions remain.  Either the programs will self destruct, or the middle class (and rich) will be bled dry to keep them, given the choice which do you think Obama would choose?  So, this November, vote wisely vote informed.

Rant Concluded.

He Ain't Heavy..... I am

This one is somewhat of a difficult subject for me to write about.  It is personal in nature, and to be honest it started out as a personal journal entry that I didn't really intend on posting here.  Oh well, here it goes....

       In High School I was an athlete. Specifically I was fast.  I loved to run, cross country, track, it didn't matter.  I weighed 160lbs soaking wet and I could fly!  Then something changed,  college.  My dorm cafeteria had a waffle bar and it was all over.  I stopped working out and started gaining weight.  By the end of my freshman year I was up to 175lbs.  From there things got worse.  My at the time girlfriend got pregnant, we got married and I had twins.  Suddenly I realized that when I got stressed I ate.  my weight climbed to 207 lbs, and I realized something had to change.... I started working out, eating right, and fought my way to 185lbs and was dropping fast!  Then two years ago I got a divorce, lost my job, and broke my ankle inside of a 6 week period.   Needless to say that much stress, coupled with immobility, I started to gain weight again. As of January 1st 2012 I weighed in at an unhealthy as all living crap 220lbs.

        Even with that number staring me in the face I didn't start to fight it until June.  One day I was watching a Rockies game on TV when my daughter jumped into my lap and declared "Fat daddy! so comfy!" that was a breaking point for me. Currently I'm down to 206, and steadily loosing, but it hasn't been easy.  This time I'm trying to shift my focus from losing weight to getting healthy, and that seems to be working.  Instead of just running every day, I lift weights a couple times a week in my basement, ride my new mountain bike on the wicked trails next to my house, and yes I still go for a run now and then (it is in my blood).  I'm determined to be healthy, to get in shape, but I'm still frustrated.  I'm not a patient man, I just wish I was where I wanted to be.  I struggle every day with self-esteem, jealousy, some days I can barely stand looking in the mirror.  The more I work the better I feel, and the less frequent those days become.

     However, the last few days I've allowed my diet to slip into old habits.   Drinking soda, snacking on chips, hell last night at 11:00 I ate three tamales. Yesterday I skipped my workout.  So today,  feeling not so well when I got home, I jumped on my bike and was quickly reminded how difficult it is for your body to run on crap  food like that.

     So, to get to the point.  Why am I writing this?  Simply put, I'm writing this because today I'm discouraged.  I'm not happy with my health, I'm not near my goals, and for some reason they seem so much further away than usual.  So  writing this serves two purposes, to put myself on public notice and ask you, my readers, to hold me accountable for my health.  Secondly, if anyone is fighting the same battle I am, I want you to know you aren't alone.  As Red Green says "we're all in this together."

As always thanks for reading, and I apologize for the complete lack of humor/ advice, but hey, read the description.  This is after all a blog without a purpose. 

Say it ain't so...

      The country is preparing to brace itself for the impact of another election. Politicians are spending millions upon millions of dollars trashing each other,  the national and worldwide economies are in a seemingly constant state of uncertainty, but the most troubling thing is the fact that absolutely no one is talking about the greatest impending national tragedy since 2004. We are staring down the barrel of a gun, and nobody seems to care.  I would venture to guess that most of you aren't even remotely aware of the true danger the United States is facing.

        For the first time in almost a decade, the NHL season may be a total loss.... again.  Now I know some of you are already offended.  In the back of your mind (possibly in the front of your mind, wherever you generally keep your thoughts) you are thinking "how can he possibly compare the NHL lockout (that I was probably unaware of anyway) with the importance of an election?".  Or perhaps you are concerned with my characterization of the potential loss of the upcoming NHL season as a "tragedy".  Especially in the wake of such a terrible thing as the Aurora Theater shootings. You ask "How can the word "tragedy" be used so lightly?" I understand your concerns, my response tis simple.  Shut up, I don't care what you think, this is serious business.

        People around here (Denver) seem to have already forgotten that prior to 1996 Denver was a professional sports waste land, who's only claim to fame was most Super Bowl losses. I was 12 years old when the Avalanche came to Denver, and sports haven't been the same since.  There is no greater sport than hockey, any other conclusion is absolutely illogical.  It combines the strategy of baseball, the brute force of football, the scoring system of soccer (with a rule prohibiting flopping), the endurance of marathon running, and the boxing of  uh... boxing, the incomprehensible rules of Cricket, and adds to them a tempo and speed that is beyond comparison.  Oh and they put it all on freaking ice.  No sport compares to Hockey, no sport ever will, and I'm not sure if it will survive another missed season. ESPN dropped hockey like a bad habit after the last lock out, as did almost half of its fans.

     The big dispute this time? Revenue sharing, the league want's 10% more than they already get, which seems a little ridiculous to me.  Especially considering that there is a good chance that if they don't resolve this they might be arguing over 10% of zero dollars. Gary Bettman bent over the NHLPA last time, beat them like red-headed step children and is just itching to do it again.  The man is a terror, and a joke.  Let the players play so I can teach my kids the joys of hockey fandom.  So the "I remember when" stories I tell about hockey are about old players, not an old league.   Don't leave us with nothing but the boredom of baseball, the thuggery of the NBA, and the nothing but big hits NFL, and a slew of painfully boring sports (golf, tennis, croquet, etc...) Just give me my hockey... and no one has to get hurt...

If you are seriously upset with my comparisons, you fail to grasp the concept of both sensationalism, and sarcasm.  I weep for you (more sarcasm).

The Crazy Final Truth

There are few things that I believe to be an absolute truth. The existence of God, the positive power of happiness, the destructive power of anger (a demon I continue to fight everyday), and the importance of being at  least a little bit crazy. 

PART 4: CRAZY

       Admittedly, my last two entries were a little generic, and for that I apologize.   I felt it important to start this "thing" giving my readers (as few as you are)  a good understanding of where I'm coming from.  So I thank you for bearing with me through this four part series.  The fact that you are still reading this tells me something about you.  It tells me that you don't need to be reading this entry, because you must already have the crazy part down (with the exception of my mother who would be offended by the assertion that she is in any way insane and is reading this simply because she is my mom and is genetically driven to do so).

       Crazy breeds invention, innovation, and creativity, but more importantly it keeps life interesting.  I try and let my crazy out whenever I get the chance, and it often baffles people around me.  A little more than two years ago I was skateboarding with a few kids from the youth group I ran.  I'd been on the board for about 10 minutes or so, having a great time.  I turned the corner to find my future wife Laura standing in  the middle of the road. "What the HELL are you doing?!" she said indignantly. Shocked I stopped  dead in my tracks, and simply stared at her blankly.  The youth group kids simultaneously  lowered their heads, slowly and sheepishly the took a small step back from Laura, each looked like a dog about be get scolded by an angry owner. One of them murmured to me under breath, "told you she would be mad".  Apparently she had some sort of illogical issue with me skateboarding with the kids in the youth group.  She immediately explained the outlandish reason for her objection "Listen," she said sternly "You already have one broken ankle, and I don't think balancing yourself on one foot and using your crutches to push yourself down a hill on a skateboard is a great idea.  Especially considering your lack of health insurance."

       As I've mentioned before actions have consequence, but sometimes you just have to say "screw it" I'm in.  Now it is important to use a smidgen of judgment here. Skateboarding while already injured, is a far cry from say, robbing a bank.  While both may start out fun, the consequences if something goes wrong are severely different.  All I'm saying is if you have a chance to throw your able bodied mother off a small porch into a giant snow drift, do it.  Make jokes, laugh whenever you can,  and keep in mind that pranks aren't always a bad thing (in fact the opposite is usually true).  Don't let the fear of getting hurt stop you from covering yourself in football padding, getting on a bicycle and jousting with PVC pipes.   Play ultimate Frisbee with rotten two month old pumpkins instead of a Frisbee.  Put something freezing cold on the exposed lower back of an unsuspecting loved one.  Scare the living daylights out of someone (preferably someone you know, with no apparent heart conditions) for no good reason. Go water skiing,  but substitute a dirt road for water, and a Toyota for a boat (actually don't do that, but I had fun).  Most importantly, love every second of it when you find yourself the victim of someone's prank (because honestly, you deserve it).

      One of my good friends, Dustin Cabeal, once told me something that has always stuck with me....

  "People never really mature, they just learn how to act in public."

 So do me one favor, don't be afraid to let your crazy out, it's good for ya.  Life is too short to be burdened with sanity.

oh... and congratulations, you survived reading about the four primary pillars that  support my life philosophy, I truly appreciate it.

COMIC FANS!!!! Please take the time to check out Dustin's fantastic review site Comic Bastards

Truth The Third, Anger.

There are few things that I believe to be an absolute truth. The existence of God, the positive power of happiness, the destructive power of anger (a demon I continue to fight everyday), and the importance of being at  least a little bit crazy.  

PART 3: Anger

"A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." -Proverbs 14:29

       Anger comes easily to me, I'm really good at it, and that has caused me nothing but problems.  Don't get me wrong anger has a purpose, and a place.  There is a type of righteous anger that can be a powerful motivator, and useful tool.  Hell even Jesus got angry, and it wasn't a bad thing  (if you don't believe me just look right here).  That is not the kind of anger I'm talking about.  I'm talking about blood pumping, profanity slinging, wall hitting, x-box controller throwing, steering wheel punching, adrenaline fueled, burning rage.  I fight it all the time, and it freaking sucks (damn Irish genetics)

      Mark Twain said it best, "Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured."  I can barely begin to fully describe the feeling of anger taking complete controll of my body.  The muscles in  my arms  and legs feel as though they are on the verge of bursting into flames, my vision blurs and the edges  of my field of vision start to go white, the urge to scream is almost unbearable (I've yelled so hard in the past that I literally tasted blood), It's like every fiber of my being has one goal in mind.... destruction.  Something, or someone, needs to get the *#!$ beat out of it.  Reason,  and thought of any kind completely vanish. I go virtually deaf, no one can say anything to stop me, because I can't hear them anyway.  However that isn't even the worst of it, the aftermath is. Coming out of a fit of rage like that is almost like waking from a coma, not realizing what has happened until afterward. Only one thing remains, Shame. Just the overwhelming embarsassment I have just become, nothing but guilt, and fear of the consequences of my moronic actions.  For me, there was no worse feeling in the world.

      Happily, I haven't felt that kind of blind rage in over a decade, but it terrifies me to know that anger like that is inside me, or at least it was.  It is a feeling I can't and won't ever forget.   I have read an extreme amount about anger, I've learned to controll it, learned that forivness is more powerful than hatred.  That anger truly does have the ability to destroy lives.  Still, I have moments. That is what bothers me so much about it, I still get angry, and it burns inside (at least a little), I still have moments where I feel like I want to explode turn on the world for all of its (percieved) transgressions against me, and it doesn't do a damn bit of good.  Nothing is solved.  If anything at all is accomplished it is more along the lines of a trip to Wal-Mart to buy a new XBOX controller, and some spackle.  

    I wish I could spend this last bit telling you all my sure-fire secrets about controlling and dissiapting anger.  The fact is, there aren't any.  For me it took years of self-reflection, and counseling, and a lot of just plain growing up.  Today most people would describe me as fairly laid back, able to deal with stress better than most, and I suppose there is some truth to that, but it took work.  A LOT of freaking work, and I'm still far from being an anger-free human being.  The bottom line is, anger sucks, and if you find yourself consatantly fighting it, get help, it will destroy you ( if you're lucky).

Quick Thought....

While re-reading and adjusting my previous entries I've noticed something about myself. I seem to look for life's answers in one of two places. 

1. Religious/ spiritual leaders and writings.
2. Comedians.

I think that may be indicative of  my priorities.

The Second Truth- Happiness

There are few things that I believe to be an absolute truth. The existence of God, the positive power of happiness, the destructive power of anger (a demon I continue to fight everyday), and the importance of being at  least a little bit crazy.  

PART 2: Happiness

        First of all, the above video is the greatest music video of all time.  If you disagree stop reading right the hell now, you and I have nothing further to discuss.... WAIT! NO! COME BACK! on second thought you might be the only one actually reading this, so we can agree to disagree, I thank you for continuing to read my blog (but will secretly resent you for all eternity).  To make sure we are all clear, that is Bobby McFerrin, NOT Bob Marley. (but that is Robin Williams in the Video)

       Happiness. Happiness and I were great friends growing up.  I had a fantastic childhood.  My parents are awesome.  I had great friends (some of whom are still my most valued relationships), I love the living crap out of my sister, my extended family is supportive, loving, and fun, a perfect recipe for a great childhood.  But somewhere along the way Happiness and I began to grow apart.  For a long time I thought that was simply because the world is a cruel place, out to get all of us, but the truth is, it was my fault.  I drove happiness away, for the better part of a decade.

       "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." -The Dalia Lama.  

It took me a long time to realize that.  I've read quite a few things from the  Dalia Lama over the years, but that quote had the most significant personal impact. Here's another one....

" I, not events have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.  I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet.  I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy 

in it." - Groucho Marx

       Don't get me wrong, I have bad days, I'm not always a vision of happiness, but I  continually and consciously work at it, and it makes all the difference.   Finding happiness is a different process for everyone, for me, meditation plays a key role in maintaining my outlook. It will probably be different for you, but the fact is, if you are reading this blog you have a reason to be happy.  More that likely you live in a country that doesn't understand the true meaning of poverty, and where true tragedy is simply a distant cousin that drops in every once in a while. You are more blessed than you can imagine. 

      But before you can learn to be happy, you have to learn to deal with worry (hence the video).  Two things help me deal with the stress and troubles of daily life.  The first is a scripture passage, Matthew 6:25-34, I won't post the scripture here (just to keep the entry concise) but the passage can be found in its entirety right here. In short, the passage is about the how worthless worry is. It also poses a fantastic question "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  This is similar to a second philosophy summarized by the Dalia Lama (notice a trend?)  His approach to life's problems is simple. There are two kinds of problems in this world;  Problems that have solutions, and those that don't.  There is no point in worrying about a problem with a solution, because it is temporary, and can be resolved. As for the problems, that have no solution, there is no purpose served in worrying about those either.  If there is no solution, why waste the energy on something that cannot be changed?

       I urge you to find your happiness, work for it, it is absolutely worth the effort.  Discover the power of happiness, and remember "Don't worry, BE HAPPY!"


      

The First Truth- God

        There are few things that I believe to be an absolute truth. The existence of God, the positive power of happiness, the destructive power of anger (a demon I continue to fight everyday), and the importance of being at  least a little bit crazy.

PART 1: God

      

         The existence of God, has never really been a question for me.  I don't struggle with my faith in God, but I do find myself frequently confounded by many that follow him.  As followers of Christ we are challenged to be as much like him as possible, to live our lives as he lived his.  Christ was loving, compassionate, fair and honest. While being subjected one of the most sadistic death sentences in history, he spoke of forgiveness.  He didn't speak of hate, or vengeance, he spoke forgiveness. So why is it that so many followers of this great man are so driven by hate? So many believers viciously denounce and degrade other religions, sexual preferences, and political views.  It absolutely sickens me. You don't agree with another religion? Fine. You think homosexuality is a sin? Fine.  You disagree with someone's political views? Fine! In what scenario is attacking those that have a different world view going to persuade them to change their mind and follow a fear mongering hate monkey such as yourself? You have a right to your opinions, and you have a right to voice them, but you don't have to do so in a moronic, borderline militant manner. As Christians we are called to be a light in the dark, not a screaming lunatic in the crowd. You  want to show the true power of Christ?  Do it with compassion, acceptance and love.  Let God be the judge of what is right and wrong, we need to simply spread the word, and that word is LOVE.

      I'll end with a quote that I both love and hate.  I love it for its honesty, and hate it for its truth.  “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” - Mahatma Gandhi

       I'll admit, I got a little carried away on that first bit.  I wrote more about what bothers me about Christianity than why I believe the existence of God to be an absolute truth, but it's my blog dammit and I'll do what I want.