So…
There is a blacks only online dating site, a Jewish only site, an over 50 only site and an American Indian only site.
But I’m racist because I’m a 40-year-old Anglo/Protestant male.
Got it, thanks for the help.
Inmates Are Running the Asylum
If you can get arrested for hunting or fishing without a license, but not for being in the country illegally …you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If you have to get your parents’ permission to go on a field trip or take an aspirin in school, but not to get an abortion … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If the only school curriculum allowed to explain how we got here is evolution, but the government stops a $15 million construction project to keep a rare spider from evolving to extinction … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If you have to show identification to board an airplane, cash a check, buy liquor or check out a library book, but not to vote who runs the government … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If the government wants to ban stable, law-abiding citizens from owning gun magazines with more than ten rounds, but gives 20 F-16 fighter jets to the crazy new leaders in Egypt … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If, in the largest city, you can buy two 16-ounce sodas, but not a 24-ounce soda because 24-ounces of a sugary drink might make you fat … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If an 80-year-old woman can be stripped searched by the TSA but a woman in a hijab is only subject to having her neck and head searched … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If your government believes that the best way to eradicate trillions of dollars of debt is to spend trillions more … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If a seven-year old boy can be thrown out of school for saying his teacher’s “cute,” but hosting a sexual exploration or diversity class in grade school is perfectly acceptable … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If children are forcibly removed from parents who discipline them with spankings while children of addicts are left in filth and drug infested “homes”… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If hard work and success are met with higher taxes and more government intrusion, while not working is rewarded with EBT cards, WIC checks, Medicaid, subsidized housing and free cell phones … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If the government’s plan for getting people back to work is to incentivize NOT working with 99 weeks of unemployment checks and no requirement to prove they applied but can’t find work … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If being stripped of the ability to defend yourself makes you more “safe” according to the government … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
Act 2
Life is starting to turn around.
My job is taking off because of a promotion. I have moved into a leadership role, training and mentoring new agents.
I have a girlfriend. This is uncharted territory and not just a little scary. I’m not sure how this whole thing works having come out of a bad relationship but she’s an amazing person and trying to help me through the process. I can only hope her patience holds out.
Hopefully, I am moving towards the greatness that this second act can be. At the very least, I will be writing more and recording more of my thoughts and experiences.
Day Drinking
So I’m day drinking today. Figure I’ll be home and in bed by 7 but having a few beers first. Happiness is still allusive for me but beer is good and next week will begin the next chapter in my life. Might as well have some fun before I have to be a grownup again.
Book Geek
In the last six weeks, I have read four books. I have always loved to read but technology has redoubled that feeling. My new iPad and the Kindle app have me waiting for the next book. I mean what’s better than instant download and the ability to start the next book as soon as I finish the last one?
All outstanding reads for slightly different reasons.
World War Z is interesting in the fact that it is written as a collection of interviews with survivors. It makes the book slightly choppy, but it’s a unique take by including first hand accounts from different regions and points of view spanning the globe.
The Road is amazing in its vivid description of a world in ruins. However, it’s a little hard to read because there are only two characters. There is also very little discussion of what happened, no time line. Only vague references to the man’s life before whatever cataclysm the befell the planet. Given that, it is an amazingly written book with deep, dark visions of a grotesque world.
Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter simply makes me intrigued. It’s an incredible mix of history and horror. As historical fiction goes,it is very well written. Pact with facts and intermingled with vampire horror, this one was a big hit with me.
The Heroin Diaries struck numerous chords for me. While I do not profess to be a rock star, nor do I claim to have every sunk as deep as Nikki Sixx did, I can say the book resonated with me in a profound way. It was interesting that he wrote exclusively from his old journals and that really brought the demons to life. Holy shit… Well done.
So there is the run down on my reading list this summer. I will continue to update as I add new books to my iPad…. What should I read next?
Crazytown
I said I would get back to my personal madness later… It’s later.
I have really slid backwards lately. I’m drinking too much again and have generally been my old self, the one I don’t like (and no one else does either). I haven’t been able to figure out why. The divorce? The job? My relationship? I was really happy for like 6-8 weeks, then suddenly, not so much.
I don’t understand why I can’t be happy. I don’t understand why I went to a bar Monday night, it never leads to anything good. I just want to be normal again or at least as normal as I was 2 weeks ago. I should be happy, things are going well in my life (job, girlfriend, kids) but I can’t seem to grab on to happiness and make it last.
I am readingThe Heroine Diaries, Nikki Sixx’s first book. I’m really enjoying it, but holy shit he was fucked up. I will not pretend to be on his level, I’ve never done heroine. But I can relate to the premise of the book. The crazy shit we can do to ourselves as we sink deeper down the rabbit hole.
I thought maybe I was just sinking back into my head reading all the madness in Sixx’s book. But then I read a passage where he talks about Prozac saving his life and it occurred to me that I’ve been off my meds for days. I’m supposed to take them at bedtime but invariably, I’m out-of-town or just out and can’t remember to take them. So I took my pill this morning and I’ll be damned if I don’t feel a ton better. Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe this time I can recover.
Hope I don’t fuck things up…
Another Bit of Madness
My madness has it’s own story (more on that in a bit) but this is about her…
Things have been progressing quite well with my divorce, or so I thought. She has been dragging her feet for months and although she was given papers several weeks ago that were supposed to be final, I haven’t heard anything from here. The only frustrating thing about that (I’m used to her slow playing) is that the papers were based on a conversation we had during which we agreed on everything, supposedly. I say supposedly because yesterday I got an email from her outlining a couple of “requests”.
The first on wasn’t all that crazy. She wants to have the right of first refusal. Simply, if I have plans, she wants to be asked to keep the kids before I make other arraignments. Not unreasonable.
Here is where her madness appears. Her second request is that she meets any girlfriend I may have and approve the relationship and if the girl can meet the kids…. WHAT THE FUCK!!!! It’s none of her damn business who I see or when or how. Plus, can you imagine that request, “Hey baby, let’s go meet my ex… No she’s not crazy at all, you’ll love her.”
It seems to me that she is fishing. Wanting to know what I’m up to. You know what? I divorced her on purpose….
Anyway, after all of this time, her crazy can still amaze me.
NCAA Sanctions
These sanctions are devastating, probably worse than SMU. Penn State may not recover for 20+ years. It’s a rough situation for the current players, probably unfair. All of that being said, it might not be enough.
Football isn’t all about winning. Lou Holtz made a great point when he said that BCS football is out of control. The size, money and power is out if hand.
Crazy is really the only word that comes to mind. I have talked several times about the rabbit hole. Obviously, this is a unique situation and I don’t mean to imply that these things are rampant in college football. However, Paterno and Penn State with out question exhibited an over riding and pervasive lack of control at best and total lack of concern at worst. Either way, they deserved what they got.
Thus closes the book on Joe Paterno as anything other than a footnote in football history. Good riddance.
Weekend Review
Today I did absolutely nothing. My kids are here and I’m still just laying in bed. I really ought to get up. But they are preoccupied and fed, so it probably doesn’t matter now.
I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately. My dark places aren’t near as dark as they used to be but they do rise up sometimes. My only saving grace is that I have a great girl in my life right now. She really keeps me above water, she doesn’t put up with my bullshit.
Maybe I will be normal and have real happiness again someday, but right now I’m still fucked up.
One day at a time and things will work out, or so they say…. More beer and maybe some whiskey that always helps for a while.
My new iPad
I just got an iPad. Let’s just say, wow! Once again, Steve Jobs was an amazing dude. I can’t even express how much I love it.
I’ve had an iPhone for a long time and the iPad is just that piece of technology beefed up, but still. All the things that can be done with this platform, I’m writing this post on the iPad right now, is just amazing.
So, as I continue to play with it, new posts and cool stuff are on the way, I hope.