New Blog

I just stared another blog. This one focuses on Hiking and Camping. I hope I have time to update and put forth some effort in maintaining it. If you want to check it out, it's the Louisiana Hiker. The link will also be in the side favorites.

Fireproof Your Marriage

Tonight the wife and I will start a six week study at our church on building a stronger marriage. I initiated this, so I am excited to do it. Six weeks is a long time to devote, but our marriage is worth it. The study is called Fireproof Your Marriage. It's based off the movie Fireproof with Kurt Cameron. We shall see it is worth while or not.

Yeah Bohemians

Found this online news article saying the Highland neighborhood in Shreveport is one of the 15 Up and Coming Neighborhoods. I found the article when I was checking out the HRA blog. This rocks for property value among other things. I knew I liked Highland.

Check out the article here: Business Week Article

Disappointment has a face...actually a Mascot

The cubby bear stands beneath the shadow of goat. No this is not the newest Chinese zodiac, nor a prophetic voodoo ritual. It 100 years come and gone. 100 years with no world series bid. 100 years of disappointment.

This was suppose to be the year. The defense was here. The pitchers were wicked good and deep. The bats were swinging hard. But that just wasn't enough for those flaky west coast dodgers. They swept the Chicago Cubs in a three game series. Damn it!

I've believe this to be the biggest disappointment of 2008. Am I exaggerating? I think not.

Love in Haiku

the glint from my ring

brings a smile to my wife's face

time stands still for me

Hanging in the Hotel Lobby

The car door shuts, the luggage is removed from the trunk, and rhythmically the windshield wipers rock back and forth tossing ice and snow from the bonds of the car. At this point I realize I am in a strange city, alone. I rejoice as I love a good adventure, but my smile gives way to a concentrated grimace as I navigate the icy freeway wondering what is this "black ice" I hear so much about. My 3o mile traverse to my hotel goes off with out any problems. But now it's only too quiet. I have just spent the past week with two other work peers. The jokes, the senseless poking fun at each other, and even the constant, loud talking of one particular one fades into dead silence.

I am comfortable being alone, even for long periods of time I can handle solitude. That doesn't mean I won't strike up a converstation with a stranger for poops and giggles, but I'm ok in the corner by myself. This is were I was, the corner, as the only place I am guaranteed to have an Internet signal in my room is in my bathroom, as fate would have it, near the toilet. So, to save myself the discomfort, well really the seceret embarrassment of sitting on the john, checking my email, I decided to go to the lobby. That's were I was reminded of how blessed I am.

I sat through overheard conversations from a crying mother who's account had been overdrawn by the hotel, a hotel employee who did not have enough gas or any money to get home, and a baby sitter who did not show up. Life is hard, shit happens, and I am reminded of how good I have it and how blessed I am. Public places are good for a pick me up.

Sangano!

If people would only listen more and shut their pie hole, especially when they don't know all, or most, of the details things would go more smoothly. You won't have 30 minute conversations with threats of lawyers and what not. Don't be afraid to listen to everything first. Who are you to think you know it all the first time you talk to me. Jackass!

What does the future hold...

Maybe another, yes another, attempt at keeping up my blog. Hopefully with renewed fever towards documenting the social oddities, I can produce more than a bi-yearly written thought.

Gandhi Had It Right

Ok so here's what chafes my hide at this moment...

So, I decided to take the plunge into ancientness by going to the grocery store at 9pm on a Friday night. As my constituent’s are dolling up there hair, dabbing cologne and stuffing down the sock for a romping good, yet predictable night, I choose to go to the supermarket, Wal-Mart to be precise. I almost broke out the black socks with my sandals just to make it feel right, but I did restrain myself from that. I arrived, gave my normal pleasantries to the octogenarian guarding the door under the guise of a "greeter," and went about my shopping. A task made easy by Verizon's free night and weekends, as I talked to my dear, sweet girlfriend for most of the time. Rounded up with the vegetables I join the masses trying to find a free or at least low volume check-out line. My luck was in tonight as I didn't have to wait and even had a nice and friendly conversation with the lady checking me out. I left my wallet lighter and my mind wondering if the choice of plastic bags had completely negated all the organic food I had just purchased. I walk out side and instantly sweat in the August humidity, find my car, and unload my groceries. The trouble began when I looked around to find a buggy return caddy (hence known as BRC, a term coined by me).

One was easily found. As I stroud over to it I looked around and realized there was, from any place in the Wal-Mart parking lot, roughly 20 yards to the nearest BRC. I thought, "Wow, that's convenient." But, then I noticed how, despite the rampant availability, there were buggies discarded throughout the parking lot. They rested there as soldiers fallen from battle with no regard to the proper placement. I was disgusted to think that someone couldn't take the extra 2 minutes and walk a maximum of 40 yards to drop off the buggy. Then I realized that was a shinning example of the stereo typical American.

Laziness is the cause of the problem. People are too lazy to replace the buggies, but that carries further. Obesity (not that I am a bean pole), Heart disease, kids playing video games instead of going outside to play and using that long lost art of imagination. Shame on us for letting this happen. We are too quick to blame with responsibility never falling on us. We blame our parents, other people's parents, politicians, minorities, majorities, other countries, but how often do we say, "Yeah this was my fault," or "This may not be my fault, but I will do something about it." If only that phrase rolled off the tongues during the times of conflict.

One of my favorite quotes, and something I have been trying to live by since I heard it last year is by Gandhi. He says, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." It's not easy, but I try everyday to live the example of what I want. This is where you would think I would say how we should all do that and live one happy life together. Bang that. That's what I am going to do, you can too, but you have to be your own example. Let's just hope our change is for the better.

Rebirth

I find being forced with solitude switches my gears inward to both self evaluation and self reflection. It also paves the way for distraction free time in which I can put down on paper (so to speak) my ramblings. So, lacking the strength in my fingers to write out multiple pages of brain spew, I turn back to my long forgotten blog. I wonder if the once faithful constituents now find they have pushed the memory of my writing out of their mind like some ill wont childhood experience. That is not only understood but acceptable. I maintain I only write to release my thoughts, but I know in the peak it was for everyone else too. But, with my rebirth to the blog world, I will attempt to be more diligent with posts. However, we all know that hollow promise has been made many times before and as soon as I get home and back in the swing of things, these posts will, most unfortunately, take a backseat to living life. I am ok with that. But, as for now we will continue later with my Grinch Theory as present in my current life.