So, here's a question for all of (us) to answer for ourselves.
After all of the mud that was thrown into the race for the White House, after all the campaign bloopers we have seen over the years. After the scandals, the blame games, the finger pointing, passing the buck etc...are we all better than the ones running the country? Really?
What makes us better? What about the CEO's of the Big Auto industry? Did they get the right scolding for flying to Washington to ask for help? Ford's CEO drove a Hybrid back to kneel in humility and ask for the help he knows his company really needs.

We have barely elected our new "Chief" and the media, opposition parties (namely the GOP) has brought dirt into the new office. First and foremost....the "Holy Grail" of proof that Obama can legally occupy the office he was elected to run. Hawaii has delivered his birth certificate, but many out there do not belive the State officials. Look, he was fairly elected, the opposition LOST, markedly so. He is already experiencing the shoe of the prior occupant. I believe he has his work cut out for him. We have a failed, not failing, economy, national debt that continues to grow and without limits it seems. We owe almost all that we still have to China. We have 2 wars going on, bailouts on the horizon for many if not all of our economic standbys. Gas prices are falling, much like the stock market. I believe WE CAN make it. Sure, it seems bleak right now, cause we are allowing ourselves to believe the bleak outlook forced upon us by media, government forecasters and others. If it's up to us, the PEOPLE, we should remember that ALL civilizations have either supported their economies successfully over the years, or they have fallen. We had a depression, as many remember, either by history or experience. We too made it on the other sided of that. Not unscathed mind you, but stronger after the test of time.

We ARE on the verge of that fall again. Many businesses have fallen prey to the already obvious fact. We owe our souls to foreign oil moguls! Insurance is a joke, 401K's have fallen to the market woes. People have forgotten that we have to depend upon each other for support, not finances, but moral support. We can't allow our feelings and opinions lead us to our deaths. Look, our government cannot fix every issue for us. They also cannot be blamed for everything that is happening. Can we point our finger and wave it uselessly? Sure, why not, it just means that we are at the other end of the finger. Unless things go completely to the dogs in the next year, I plan on working at my job, trying to make the bills disappear, raise my child and support myself the ways I know how.

Songs, poetry, stories will emerge into our culture to remind future generations of our issues we now face. We are in uncertain times you and I. That is what makes us so alike, so close to family and community with the similarities we share. Yes, WE share this trying time we live in. That is what is SUPPOSED to happen when times get tough. Trouble is, people are so scared to trust their neighbors again. Can't say I blame 'em much.
Times are coming whether or not we choose to accept that truth. Times when families and friends will hunker together in the same house for severl months if not years, just to make the ends meet. Ride Share, public transportation, cost effectiveness will finally raise it's head into the mainstream lifestyles of even the rich. I say let the economy crash, maybe it will remind us all of how human we all really are after all.

Well bloggers and blog readers. It's been quite a while since last we wrote and read.
A lot has changed in my world since May. I am now back in the USA, working and living in Texas again. I am a fingerprint technician for the state of Texas, doing the same thing I was doing for our Govt, but on a local state level. I am taking fingerprints from our State educators and submitting them for background checks. Nice, safe, relatively secure career.
I get to see firsthand how our schools function, seeing as how I see our youth everyday, just not as a teacher. Fairly interesting to be sure.

I am currently becoming more involved with the Native American population in the area. I went to the Traders Village Pow Wow over the weekend. Got to see a lot of fancy regalia and the dancers wearing them. I felt so welcomed by the attendees and the vendors. They were all so warm and friendly to me. I even got to meet the staff and radio personalitites of the KNON "Beyond Bows and Arrows" radio show from Dallas, TX.
I have been invited to attend a Pow Wow in Weatherford, TX in October, the weekend of the 17-19th. I was even invited to dance on the behalf of my father, as he is a Veteran and will not be in attendance. Camping, dancing, reveling in the company of some very intersting cultures, that until now, had been very elusive to me.

I also did a sweat lodge on this past Saturday night with my good friend and room mate. We spent about 1 hour or so in sweat, lost a few pounds in the process as well, so all was good. It feels good to be toxin free, at least I feel great. I have no desire to put toxins back into my body at this point, save some coffee or the occasional soda. :)
I look forward to the next time I do sweat. It's very liberating and causes my thoughts to be pure, as well as my spirit being charged for a good amount of time afterwards.

I will post some pictures from the next sweat we do, so you that actually read my posts can view the progress as we experiment and try new ideas.

Peace, TO the Middle East (as I am no longer over in the thick of it all in Iraq)

So, I know it's been QUITE some time since my last post...LOTS has happened since Dec 1st I can tell you! I went home on vacation, to see the dentist and give him my hard earned cash, spend some money partying like a rock star, b uying a newer vehicle, Toyota 4Runner, getting new tattoo's and spending time with my son and my family. WOW, the 49 days I was home went quicker than I expected it to. But, now I am back in Iraq, since Feb 12th. I have moved out of Baghdad, since the beginning of April, since the insurgents decided they wanted to make my living area their bombing targets. Go figure eh? Bastards! So, I moved to Tallil, the City of Ur...Lot's of history and ancient civilizations to be remembered there. Such as: Sumerians, dating back as early as the 21st century BC...I saw, toured and took pictures of the site of the Ziggurat of Ur, the surrounding area with the House of Abraham and various other archaeological excavation sites to include: King Shulgi (circa 2048 B.C) What an humbling experience that was, I assure you...to walk in the sands around the old remains of the King of Sumer's palace, something many will never get to witness unless you come over here to work that is.

I will post some pics on here as soon as I figure out how to do that. Seeing as how I cannot post pics without my laptop or a thumb drive. Now, I am in transit to the northern most points of Iraq to the Nineveh Province, Tall'Afar. Interestingly enough, I get to possibly see other parts of biblical history in this area. Perhaps even some more of the Sumerian dynasty artifacts or ruins? I hope so. This has made my trip over here complete.

Well, I shall save more for later, no need in writing it all down this time.

Peace, FROM the Middle East.