So, it's been almost 60 days with no smoking. I am starting to feel better about doing physical labor again. It wears me down a bit at first, but then again I have been on the inside office workforce for a long time running.

I am doing better than I could be. My job and I parted ways amicably, sort of...

Anyway, I am going camping this weekend with my son and a few friends. We are going to celebrate my sons 7th birthday in the woods. He'll be leaning about camping, fire safety, how to dig a fire pit, how to hike and search for "treasures", seeing the stars without the impedence of the city lights to stop him. I am pretty sure I have more fun outdoors then most folks. If the temparature were to dip below freezing, I would feel at home. I've camped in colder! Of course, when it starts to get hot, and I do mean Texas hot, it's not nearly as fun anymore. So, that's when you break out the perma shade (AKA 12X20 Pavillion Tent) That actually keeps the temparature 10-15 degrees lower than the outside. Amazing!

Back in the day, you had no options. You either camped out primative like, or not at all. Motels were for sissies! (or for those of us that might like a dirty little tryst every now and again)
So, we plan on being out there in the woods on a 50 acre semi-primative camp spot the whole weekend. I think it's fantastic that my son chose camping for our weekend together! I didn't even have o say it more than once! That's my boy! My mini-me, my clone....okay, my reality. ;)

Well, I guess I'll stop here for today. Not too much going on in my mind regarding outside influences such as News, local or worldwide right now. Employment is my focus at the very moment.

Peace.

50 Days no smoking! I have had a few dreams that I was smoking though....YUCK! I even have to brush my teeth after I wake up from a dream like that!

On other fronts....Nazi style management techniques reign supreme in my company lately. Seems as though the old adage "Shit rolls downhill" is for real.

Snooping on websites I visit, not that it's my own personal PC, but, seems to me that some of the paranoia derives from someone in the company sending an anonymous email that sparked a rage.

Well, it's the price you pay to be employed, right?

Okay, this guy is a class A "nutso"! But, how many people will agree? If in fact, this guy is "Antichrist" and has 666 tattooed on his body, I am assuming that he is nuts to believe that he is Christ in the flesh (this according to theology teachings and in-doctrination throughout my life in a ministers household).

Even those following him are convinced he is Christ or AntiChrist in the flesh, but his absence of logic suggests that he is the type that would hold some kind of mental hypnosis or some sort of mind control over his followers. I suggest that he is just one of many to come in these troubled times to rope, swindle or otherwise fool those foolish enough to believe him.

Read on...


MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- The minister has the number 666 tattooed on his arm.
But Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is not your typical minister. De Jesus, or "Daddy" as his thousands of followers call him, does not merely pray to God: He says he is God.
"The spirit that is in me is the same spirit that was in Jesus of Nazareth," de Jesus says.
De Jesus' claims of divinity have angered Christian leaders, who say he is a fake. Religious experts say he may be something much more dangerous, a cult leader who really believes he is God. (Watch followers get 666 tattoos for their leader )

"He's in their heads, he's inside the heads of those people," says Prof. Daniel Alvarez, a religion expert at Florida International University who has debated some of de Jesus' followers.
"De Jesus speaks with a kind of conviction that makes me consider him more like David Koresh or Jim Jones."
Is de Jesus really a cult leader like David Koresh, who died with more than 70 of his Branch Davidian followers in a fiery end to a standoff with federal authorities, or Jim Jones, the founder of the Peoples Temple who committed mass suicide with 900 followers in 1978?

Prophets 'spoke to me' De Jesus and his believers say their church -- "Creciendo en Gracia," Spanish for "Growing in grace" -- is misunderstood. Followers of the movement say they have proof that their minister is divine and that their church will one day soon be a major faith in the world.
But even de Jesus concedes that he is an unlikely leader of a church that claims thousands of members in more than 30 countries.
De Jesus, 61, grew up poor in Puerto Rico. He says he served stints in prison there for petty theft and says he was a heroin addict.
De Jesus says he learned he was Jesus reincarnate when he was visited in a dream by angels.
"The prophets, they spoke about me. It took me time to learn that, but I am what they were expecting, what they have been expecting for 2,000 years," de Jesus says.
The church that he began building 20 years ago in Miami resembles no other:
Followers have protested Christian churches in Miami and Latin America, disrupting services and smashing crosses and statues of Jesus.
De Jesus preaches there is no devil and no sin. His followers, he says, literally can do no wrong in God's eyes.
The church calls itself the "Government of God on Earth" and uses a seal similar to the United States.

Doing God's work with a Lexus and Rolex
If Creciendo en Gracia is an atypical religious group, de Jesus also does not fit the mold of the average church leader. De Jesus flouts traditional vows of poverty.
He says he has a church-paid salary of $136,000 but lives more lavishly than that. During an interview, he showed off a diamond-encrusted Rolex to a CNN crew and said he has three just like them. He travels in armored Lexuses and BMWs, he says, for his safety. All are gifts from his devoted followers.
And what about the tattoo of 666 on his arm?
Although it's a number usually associated with Satan, not the son of God, de Jesus says that 666 and the Antichrist are, like him, misunderstood.
The Antichrist is not the devil, de Jesus tells his congregation; he's the being who replaces Jesus on Earth.
"Antichrist is the best person in the world," he says. "Antichrist means don't put your eyes on Jesus because Jesus of Nazareth wasn't a Christian. Antichrist means do not put your eyes on Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Put it on Jesus after the cross."
And de Jesus says that means him.
So far, de Jesus says that his flock hasn't been scared off by his claims of being the Antichrist. In a show of the sway he holds over the group, 30 members of his congregation Tuesday went to a tattoo parlor to have 666 also permanently etched onto their skin.
He may wield influence over them, but his followers say don't expect them to go the way of people who believed in David Koresh and Jim Jones. Just by finding de Jesus, they say, they have achieved their purpose.
"If somebody tells us drink some Kool-Aid and we'll go to heaven, that's not true. We are already in heavenly places," follower Martita Roca told CNN after having 666 tattooed onto her ankle.

Day 47 is here in the non-smokers realm!

Damn, I feel as though every where I turn in this life thing, stress tries to make itself so apparent to me, it's as if I try to remove stressful situations and all I get is more to deal with. You know? First off, my GF says she feels lied to about some situations we have been discussing. We were discussing us moving in together in March or April. Well, I finally told her, in a not so subtle way that I don't want to live in the trailer she has, mainly because it's out of the way to my job, another thing is, I don't want to put myself in a stressed situation living in a trashy trailer park or in a delapidated trailer that isn't worth the money she pays to live there! I have a crappy apartment that is 2 times better than where she lives right now. But, our son goes to school out where she lives. In almost everything we've talked about, it feels as though I am supposed to compromise on what I want, just to please her. And if I don't do what pleases her, I feel as though she will lord our son and visitation with him over me as she's done in the past years. I called her today to talk to her and she is "mad" over the fact that where she "thought" we stood, we don't, that's where her "I feel lied to" comes from.

I say I should remain single, get regular visits with my son and let that be the extent of it all. Besides the fact, her family doesn't think I am worth a shit, for her or our son, not that they really count in my worthy opinion category. So, I think I will forget trying to maintain anything but a "professional" relationship with her and keep all else as it should be. I'll finalize my divorce and move on with my life the way I thought it should have been to begin with.

So there!

So, it's been 44 days no smoking for me! I still feel like I should be happier than I feel right this minute. But alas, I can only feel as jovial as I am feeling. You know?

Does anyone else feel like the IRS is part of a scheme in alliance with the Mafia? Like, in order to work or do anything in this society you have to pay the government! Did you know that the IRS was an invented office by the President and Congress to help the USA out of the great depression? Yes, after all of these years, they only exist because someone, in their great understanding has allowed this office to remain in action, even though we really don't have a need for them! So, in effect, we should lobby to dis-assemble the IRS completely! After all, why should we bust our asses day after day just to see our hard earned dollars get taken from us a 2nd time? We already pay to live, eat, stay dressed, travel, own cars etc, why should we be robbed even more?

So, how do we amend this office? Do we even stand a chance with such an "incredulous" idea?

Even so, I guess I am still happy with the majority of our freedoms in our "lovely" country. At least I can speak my mind, for now. Just wait til some goon out there decides that I am a threat because of my views. LOL! I would love the publicity that would give me! Bring it on!!!

Anyway...I have a word that I figured I would share with whoever reads this blog.

It's a word I think every person involved with A "religion" should know. Dispensationalism. Look it up. I bet the majority of people would either recoil in horror or be completely confused. I think that because of the introduction of this term/belief system, there has been a GIANT misconception related to this thought process. Not only has it been taught to me all of my life, unknowingly, but it has been the foundation to almost every denomination we have in our country. That's why I am spiritual, not religious.

Anyways, happy Presidents day to America. Go spend as much money as you can while it's worth a crap.

Peace.

Well, it's been 41 days and I'm still counting the days, yes I am! Not smoking was one of, if not the greatest decisions I have made so far this year.

As for the news, well, it's no surprise that someone has killed someone else in our country. First up:

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) -- A trench coat-clad teenager opened fire on shoppers at a mall with just one thing in mind: "to kill a large number of people," the police chief said Tuesday.
The gunman likely would have killed more than the five victims who died had an off-duty officer not confronted him, Police Chief Chris Burbank added.

Okay, now we cannot count on the killing happening in just anyplace outside of malls, now our shopping experience can be or will become a massacre? You know what? If and when we really start to pay attention to the mass of young people reaching out for help in this messed up world, we MAY be able to catch some of the distressed ones BEFORE they go crazy on our town/cities.
For real though, how many folks will claim that this young man was "the kid next door"? How many will claim that he had a perfect life, good parents, good neighborhood, above average in school etc...like it matters! I'll tell you straight, right now...I have great parents, I grew up in a family that believed in talking about issues. True, I was not the picture of perfection in school or otherwise everyday of my life, but, if I had a bad day at school or wherever, I could count on my family to let me talk it out. I have never thought seriously about killing anyone in revenge or because I was distraught. I have had some very stressed out days to be true, not unlike many of us out there. I think that our society is headed for a major breakdown. I feel as though these local and nationwide killings are just the beginning of some serious community issues. Are we ready to deal with the reality of it all? I don't think anyone is truthfully ready for this. I believe that with proper upbringing some of this could be avoided. I also believe that with certain restrictions on our young people in place, we may be able to avoid repetitions in the future. I know this doesn't cover or make much sense after the fact, but, we need to be more involved with our young people! Not just in after school sports! Not in just what happened at school and then leave the kid alone after a pat answer! Be involved!! Ask questions of your child, press for answers when they balk! DOn't be afraid that you're invading their privacy, if they live at home, then privacy should not be an issue! Parents, rise up and take responsibility for our actions! The younger generation is busy killing itself rapidly. Almost too rapid to keep up. Before long, gangs, murders on the streets will pale in comparison to what happens in middle class America, suburbia etc.

Not that it matters, I know I have a limited if that is the correct term for my reader base, or fan base, whatever. But, if I cause offense to anyone out there, I hope it provokes some if not all to take a short time out and consider the true reason behind my rants. To remain provoked to think independently of the norm, circumvent the typical thought process. To think outside the freaking box! That is the real reason I started blogging to begin with!

Well, until tomorrow, or the next time I write...

Peace.

Okay, okay, so someone else died that was in Hollywood's limelight. And then? If someone from my hometown died, do you think that the media would know about it or even care?

I understand, even sympathize with the faqmily and friends of Anna Nicole, but, with all this attention she's getting after her death, it makes the news appear as though she was an important icon in our world. For real! I have nothing but disdain for the media and their reasonings for making a big freaking deal out of a star dying. Since she was well known for her diet pill endorsement, her lack of intelligence, obvious fake beauty, (fake body parts), parentage questioned etc.....now that she's dead, everyone is coming out of the wood work to say how much the United States cared about her. Ummm, WTF? I would understand if she had been "like" Marilyn Monroe, but, I think she was a far cry from her.

Okay, okay, maybe I'm being a bit hard on her......whatever! The media should be concerned about what's going on in our nation, not in Hollywood. Cause guess what? The majority of us have lives we are more focused on than the entertainment arena. I mean, if I wanted to know about the rich, famous and celebs in the world, I'd look online! Papparazzi needs to be more concerned with invasion of privacy issues that they are always seeming to ignore. The fact that they have nothing better to do than to try and publicize the lives of the entertainment world 24/7 is ridiculous! Are there no other stories out there? CNN doesn't seem to have any problems getting news. VH-1 has no shortage of stories to show.

I guess I feel a bit confused as to why we care so much about what others are doing, like there is not enough to keep our attention in other realms, or is it because we have been so de-sensitized to world events that we have to focus more on star's lives and their trashy lifestyles rather than the obvious WAR, MURDER, VIOLENCE, HOMELESS, WELFARE, IMMIGRATION, CORRUPT POLITICS, LACK OF DOMESTIC POLICY REFORM etc.

If we knew what was good for our nation, we would divert our troops back to our shores, rally them to the borders between us and our Mexican neighbors, pay them to actually do something worth wile, like protecting our borders from intruders. Hmm, I bet that'll never happen, seeing as how it actually makes sense. I get so tired of ranting about things that I can truthfully not do anything about. Even as a voter, it seems that the general public have become so dazed with policies, laws, lives, personal problems, Hollywood stars lives, that we don't care about the "real issues". And not a damn one of the upcoming presidential campaign runners will ever be able to address properly the real issues in front of us in this world today. Bush, well, all I can say about him is, I'm glad he's on his way out! Thank God! But, how can I be happy with any of the upcomings? They all pretty much suck for their own reasons. I have an idea...why don't we have a debate between the campaigners and the general public. So we can present the issues to them on an upfront platform, rather than having our corrupt senators, representatives or congress men/women do it for us. Isn't it "supposed" to be , Of the people, by the people and for the people? Why don't we take a more active role? I can give one or two good reasons why we don't. Because we are so used to having everything done a certain way, "I only vote republican, or I only vote Democrat" forget voting for a good choice. It's better to vote for a loser than to vote for a winner, cause that's what we did the last 2 terms of Bush' office. He's a true blue loser republican thief and liar. He's proven that over and over, but he still got re-elected!!! Again I ask, WTF?!?!

It's about time we get someone in office that is closer to the public in the way of issues dealt with, policies not heard about, laws written under our noses without so much as a vote to let them become law. How many times are we going to allow our government to push us down, walk all over us and smile while they do it? I'm not smiling! Iam not even bitching or whining. I'm simply stating what is on my mind. I won't even bother to refer to the freedom of speech bull crap. Nothing in this country is truely free. We pay the government for the right to vote, live, work, eat, buy and sell, pro-create, worship, even pay to go to war for ignorant politicians right wing agenda's! We are the suckers in our nation. We allow unchecked policy to be written for us, because we elect the ones making those policies. We pay for corrupt Policemen and women to guard our sorry lazy asses. We pay for the economy to sag and cause poverty upon our people. We pay to support foreign nations while they are in the middle of civil war among their own countrymen. We support actions against our own people while in the midst of fighting war on a never ending supply of insurgents, in a country that was not even minutely suspect for bombing the World Trade Center Towers. We are paying for the WMD action, that never amounted to anything except a vendetta against the King of Iraq. Never mind the fact that he was as insane as we all thought! And a murdering scum like the rest of his abominable countrymen. We are paying to school foreigners that are embedded in our country even now, despite Homeland security trying to secure our land from terrorism. WTF?!?!

Anyways, I could rant and rave a long time on these topics, but I have to go throw up now. I am so sick of bitching to a government that doesn't care about it's people. Just the almighty dollar and what it can do to win at the "Most popular nation contest."

I wish that Global warming would hurry up and wipe out the population that has scattered itself upon the planet. Then we could think about getting back to the real issue. Life, the way it was intended. Innocence, without tarnished opinions or expectations.

Okay, I'll stop for now.

By the way, it's been 37 days without smoking! At least I can keep my word to myself.

Peace or pieces, whichever comes first.

So, it's 36 days into the non-smoking venture.

I went to the doctor today to check out my ear, as it hurts. I found out that I have a slight inner ear infection, similar to "swimmers ear", it affects the inner ear canal due to an abrasion caused by, likely a q-tip. Go figure!

I also found out that, since my physical in January, I have gained almost 10 pounds. My blood pressure is good, as good as can be considered. I need to watch my sodium intake and caffeine. I also need to start my cardiovascular exercise. The doctor says I should start low impact and move into more as I go. So.....you heard it here first folks. I am starting my program to get fit....next week. LOL. I love procrastinating!


On another note, a sad one even....I learned yesterday that my Grandfather is nearing his last days on earth. He suffers from Alzheimers disease. He is in the last stages, in care of a Hospice facility. He is at the same stage that his mother was at when she passed away. So, my sister and I will go up to Oklahoma over the weekend to see him with our father. I am not looking forward to seeing him so emaciated, but I know that if I wish to see him alive, then I had better go while I have time.

Anyway. I hope that when Grandad passes that his passing is done with no pain and is with those that love him.

Peace.

So, it's day # 34 in my no smoking life. I have yet to actually start my work out routine though, I am ashamed about that. That's okay, I won't feel too guilty about it yet.

I have an experience to share from the weekend.

Saturday afternoon, I went to the Irving Wal-Mart to purchase 1 item. I get there, and as always, it's so busy I want to get in and out quickly. I mean, there were crowds of folks, all shopping like there was no tomorrow! I really loathe having to wade through the masses to get to a register (out of 20 or so registers only 5-10 were open, and all of them were full).

So, I'm walking determined to get out fairly quickly, when ahead of me, I spot a line of larger than normal women blocking the aisle. I don't mean just walking wither. They weer stopped completely. They were causing several folks to stop in their tracks! It was like trying to get aorund DFW during rush hour!

So, in my "inside voice" I was telling these certain women to "move out of my way". Well, I think the inside voice came out a bit quicker than I anticipated. Because, as I reached the jam, I said, quite loudly might I add, "MOVE". The outburst echoed through the store even! But, to my surprise, they moved like the Red Sea opening up before me! So I was able to walk along through the mess unhindered from that point on. Just wanted to share my laugh.

Peace.

Day 33 no smoking!! YAY!

Oh, I need to pass along the info concerning my good friends latest web blog......please see "Tie Dyed Brain Rays" for the latest and greatest writing about local and or national news. In a format you will NEVER forget, I assure you!

I actually don't feel as though I have much to write about today. I am saving up for a real writers moment though, I bet I'll have something new to rant about before the end of the week.

Peace out Humans.

Day 30 in the smoke free environment I created for myself. Man am I tired though. I think I need a nap, even as late in the day that it is. I have too many things in my schedule from day to day that I feel I have to complete. So, even when I'm tired at night, I have to be at a stopping point in order to sleep. Sometimes I do not get to sleep as early as I would prefer.

Oh well, I'll sleep more when I can.

I am still very excited about not smoking. I get to go to my girlfriends house this weekend, so that will be a test of my will power over cigarettes (as she smokes).

I would love for her to quit smoking like I did, alas, that might or might not happen. We'll see.

Peace for now.

THIS is freaking hilarious!!

I can't believe that the people of Boston and law enforcement officials have given the cartoon network the very thing they wanted, PUBLICITY! Bunch of dumb asses! I swear, if a person wanted to cause a scare, you would think they would have been a bit more sneakiy about it all. These guys did exactly what they needed to get the attention of the public. All for a stupid cartoon called "Aqua Teen Hunger Force". I have watched that show and I still think it's stupid! I bet the general public or semi adult population will pay more attention to their everyday lives from here on out. (oh yes, for those out there that thought this stunt was dangerous, it was as dangerous as letting our children watch the cartoon network)

There, I've said my piece, so READ ON! (oh yeah, I'm on day 29 no smoking)


BOSTON - Two men who authorities say placed electronic advertising devices around the city were released from jail Thursday, apparently amused with the publicity stunt that stirred fears of terrorism and shut down parts of the city.
Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean Stevens, 28, were released on $2,500 cash bond after each pleaded not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct for a device found Wednesday at a subway station. They waved and smiled as they greeted people in court.
Outside, they met reporters and television cameras and launched into a nonsensical discussion of hair styles of the 1970s. “What we really want to talk about today — it’s kind of important to some people — it’s haircuts of the 1970s,” Berdovsky said.

Officials found 38 blinking electronic signs promoting the Cartoon Network TV show “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” on bridges and other high-profile spots across the city Wednesday, prompting the closing of a highway and the deployment of bomb squads. The surreal series is about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball. The network is a division of Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc.
“It’s clear the intent was to get attention by causing fear and unrest that there was a bomb in that location,” Assistant Attorney General John Grossman said at their arraignment.
The 1-foot tall signs, which were lit up at night, resembled a circuit board, with protruding wires and batteries. Most depicted a boxy, cartoon character giving passersby the finger — a more obvious sight when darkness fell.
The men did not speak or enter their own pleas, but they appeared amused and smiled as the prosecutor talked about the device found at Sullivan Station underneath Interstate 93, looking like it had C-4 explosive.
“The appearance of this device and its location are crucial,” Grossman said. “This device looks like a bomb.”
Some in the gallery snickered.
Boston mayor threatens legal actionOutside the courthouse, Michael Rich, a lawyer for both of the men, said the description of a bomb-like device could be used for any electronic device.
“If somebody had left a VCR on the ground it would have been a device with wires, electronic components and a power source,” he said.

Boston officials were livid when the devices were discovered.
“It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company would use this type of marketing scheme,” Mayor Thomas Menino said Wednesday. “I am prepared to take any and all legal action against Turner Broadcasting and its affiliates for any and all expenses incurred during the response to today’s incidents.”
NBC News
Two characters in the cartoon named Ignignokt and Err are "mooninites" — trouble-making characters that look like 1980s-era computer graphics. They are represented on the devices making a hand gesture they often use.
Berdovsky, an artist, told The Boston Globe he was hired by a marketing company and said he was “kind of freaked out” by the furor.

“I find it kind of ridiculous that they’re making these statements on TV that we must not be safe from terrorism, because they were up there for three weeks and no one noticed. It’s pretty commonsensical to look at them and say this is a piece of art and installation,” he said.
Fans of the show mocked authorities for what they called an overreaction.
About a dozen fans gathered outside Charlestown District Court on Thursday morning with signs saying “1-31-07 Never Forget” and “Free Peter.”
“We’re the laughing stock,” said Tracy O’Connor, 34.
“It’s almost too easy to be a terrorist these days,” said Jennifer Mason, 26. “You stick a box on a corner and you can shut down a city.”