I like change - mostly. And so here I am once again on the verge of another change. We came back home to Pueblo, for the 3rd time in nearly 20 years, and as per usual, find ourselves leaving again a year later. We have dubbed Pueblo our 'layover' town; it's where we stop on our way to somewhere else; it just always seems to work out that way.
I initially had high hopes that this time around would have us living here for a good spell, but alas, being in the IT field isn't conducive for long-term living in this town. I guess it's just as well, we tend to get antsy staying in one place too long anyway... it's the gypsy in us.
I like to think of ourselves as God's secret missionaries. Secret because no one sees us coming, not even us; but wherever we go He finds a way to use us to affect people's lives for His glory. Cool.
And so, away we go on another safari to an unknown land (Wyoming - it's pretty unknown most would agree), and another potential mission field as God sees fit. For how long? Who knows. One thing is certain though, it'll last as long as it lasts, and not a day longer.
In the words of Bilbo Baggins... "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure."
Religion of Peace Update
Oh but it's not ALL muslims, right? No, in this case, it's the one's that govern the country of Pakistan.
Money, Politics, and the American public. (and bonus movie review!)
One of my all-time favorite movies is Tommy Boy (1995) starring Chris Farley and David Spade (Side note: This is NOT the movie I will be reviewing - that comes later.). Although, WHY it's my favorite movie may surprise you. Yes, it's loaded with the usual SNL antics and one-liners that we all love from that genre, but there was one role played by an SNL legend that makes the movie in my opinion. Introducing the venerable Dan Aykroyd as hukster auto-parts company owner, Ray Zalinksy, delivering the two most DEAD ON and tragically hilarious quotes of any modern movie (in context of course).
Ray Zalinsky:
"What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public."
"Truth is, I make car parts for the American working man because I'm a hell of a salesman and he doesn't know any better."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
My wife rented the movie Food Inc. (she just does stuff like that), so I was obliged to give it a go. One thing that always tickles me about shockumentaries like this one is how the writers, producers, and directors involved make such a show of how their in-depth investigative journalism is exposing the dirty underside of all these goings on as if nobody would be the wiser if it weren't for them. They of course assume that the American public, being the dim-witted masses that we are, has no idea any of this big business/governmental collusion is occurring at all and if only they were to expose it all for what it is, we the public will rise up in outrage, take our brigands and pitch forks, and storm the very gates of D.C. and big business and burn them all to the ground.
Reality, I dare say, is much different. We, the American public, know full-well that there is corruption at every level of government. We know full-well that big business is all about the almighty dollar and cares for nothing else. How can we not?
Let me tell you why things have gotten as bad as they have and why they aren't likely to ever change. Apathy. That's right. Remember Ray Zalinsky's words of truth? Well I'll tell you now that they are only partially correct. The real reason the American public "doesn't know" isn't because we actually DON'T KNOW, rather, it's because we don't care to know. If it doesn't effect us directly, who cares, right??? We'll just keep right on eating our feed lot beef and crawl back under our rocks thank you very much.
Oh you're sure to hear some say, "Even if we did care this is all going on, what the heck can we do it about it? You can't take on city hall AND big business right?". Or maybe, "Hey, that's just how the world turns man... deal with it.". Or my personal favorite that I hear all the time, "Ahhh it's a shame... whatya gonna do though, right?". Right.
I'll tell you what I have done and will continue to strive to do. I'll also tell you what I'm NOT going to do. First the "not"s. I'm not going to decry or bemoan the horrors of big business, at least not while I rely on them to do pretty much EVERYTHING I do in life. Oh what? You think you're exempt? Hey mister anti-establishment blog writer, who made the laptop/PC you're writing your blog with? Who carries your insightful little scribblings to the interwebz and then hosts them on web servers so your equally anti-establishment fan base can read your "insights"? Try to make an egg or brush your teeth without using something made or brought to you by some corporate juggernaut that exploits workers near and far to get those products into your home at the best possible price! That's what I thought. End rant.
Here's what all of us can do, and what I continue to strive to do. Yes, it's a compromise, and yes, I don't always come through like I'd like to, but it's better than nothing and may just be enough to stem the tide, or maybe even turn it. Hopefully the reasons for the following will be self-explanatory if not, "... just ring your call button and Tommy will come back there and hit you on the head with a tack hammer because you're a *retard*." (My OTHER favorite Tommy Boy quote)
1) Buy used whenever possible.
2) In conjunction with #1, don't throw it away, fix it, recycle it or donate it.
3) Shop on the outside aisles of the grocery store. This means buying fresh fruits, veggies, and meats and NOT pre-packaged, "engineered", highly processed food. You'll not only be saving the planet from having to deal with production and subsequent waste materials from the packaged foods, you'll lose body fat. Trust me, it works.
4) Buy organic whenever possible. Why? Watch Food Inc., you'll see why. Plus, the extra money you spend on organics will come back to you in the form of savings on medical bills as you age. Give some, get some. Simple.
5) Stop falling for the designed obsolescence of electronic gadgets and the like!! Yes, you consumer-whore, the reason they came out with version 1.0 first is so you'll buy version 2.0 next year! My Apple Shuffle I bought 4 years ago magically still does the same thing as the one 6 versions later, PLAYS MUSIC!
6) And last but not least, wake the hell up people! Quit going through life like a sheep letting advertisers and marketers tell you what you need and how to live!
If we really want to change things we have to become AWARE of what we are doing, the decisions we are making every day about EVERY THING. We absolutely can change our world-driven-mad-by-the-pursuit-of-the-almighty-dollar-at-all-costs. How? Well guess what? That almighty dollar they are after? It's YOUR almighty dollar. You effect change by not giving it to 'them' and by giving it to the one's who are doing something right! Do your research - LEARN which businesses out there are trying to be responsible and do the right thing, they're out there I assure you, but you're going to have to put some effort into it. In short, vote with your wallet.
Can we do it? Hell yes we can. Will we do it?
Ray Zalinsky:
"What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public."
"Truth is, I make car parts for the American working man because I'm a hell of a salesman and he doesn't know any better."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
My wife rented the movie Food Inc. (she just does stuff like that), so I was obliged to give it a go. One thing that always tickles me about shockumentaries like this one is how the writers, producers, and directors involved make such a show of how their in-depth investigative journalism is exposing the dirty underside of all these goings on as if nobody would be the wiser if it weren't for them. They of course assume that the American public, being the dim-witted masses that we are, has no idea any of this big business/governmental collusion is occurring at all and if only they were to expose it all for what it is, we the public will rise up in outrage, take our brigands and pitch forks, and storm the very gates of D.C. and big business and burn them all to the ground.
Reality, I dare say, is much different. We, the American public, know full-well that there is corruption at every level of government. We know full-well that big business is all about the almighty dollar and cares for nothing else. How can we not?
Let me tell you why things have gotten as bad as they have and why they aren't likely to ever change. Apathy. That's right. Remember Ray Zalinsky's words of truth? Well I'll tell you now that they are only partially correct. The real reason the American public "doesn't know" isn't because we actually DON'T KNOW, rather, it's because we don't care to know. If it doesn't effect us directly, who cares, right??? We'll just keep right on eating our feed lot beef and crawl back under our rocks thank you very much.
Oh you're sure to hear some say, "Even if we did care this is all going on, what the heck can we do it about it? You can't take on city hall AND big business right?". Or maybe, "Hey, that's just how the world turns man... deal with it.". Or my personal favorite that I hear all the time, "Ahhh it's a shame... whatya gonna do though, right?". Right.
I'll tell you what I have done and will continue to strive to do. I'll also tell you what I'm NOT going to do. First the "not"s. I'm not going to decry or bemoan the horrors of big business, at least not while I rely on them to do pretty much EVERYTHING I do in life. Oh what? You think you're exempt? Hey mister anti-establishment blog writer, who made the laptop/PC you're writing your blog with? Who carries your insightful little scribblings to the interwebz and then hosts them on web servers so your equally anti-establishment fan base can read your "insights"? Try to make an egg or brush your teeth without using something made or brought to you by some corporate juggernaut that exploits workers near and far to get those products into your home at the best possible price! That's what I thought. End rant.
Here's what all of us can do, and what I continue to strive to do. Yes, it's a compromise, and yes, I don't always come through like I'd like to, but it's better than nothing and may just be enough to stem the tide, or maybe even turn it. Hopefully the reasons for the following will be self-explanatory if not, "... just ring your call button and Tommy will come back there and hit you on the head with a tack hammer because you're a *retard*." (My OTHER favorite Tommy Boy quote)
1) Buy used whenever possible.
2) In conjunction with #1, don't throw it away, fix it, recycle it or donate it.
3) Shop on the outside aisles of the grocery store. This means buying fresh fruits, veggies, and meats and NOT pre-packaged, "engineered", highly processed food. You'll not only be saving the planet from having to deal with production and subsequent waste materials from the packaged foods, you'll lose body fat. Trust me, it works.
4) Buy organic whenever possible. Why? Watch Food Inc., you'll see why. Plus, the extra money you spend on organics will come back to you in the form of savings on medical bills as you age. Give some, get some. Simple.
5) Stop falling for the designed obsolescence of electronic gadgets and the like!! Yes, you consumer-whore, the reason they came out with version 1.0 first is so you'll buy version 2.0 next year! My Apple Shuffle I bought 4 years ago magically still does the same thing as the one 6 versions later, PLAYS MUSIC!
6) And last but not least, wake the hell up people! Quit going through life like a sheep letting advertisers and marketers tell you what you need and how to live!
If we really want to change things we have to become AWARE of what we are doing, the decisions we are making every day about EVERY THING. We absolutely can change our world-driven-mad-by-the-pursuit-of-the-almighty-dollar-at-all-costs. How? Well guess what? That almighty dollar they are after? It's YOUR almighty dollar. You effect change by not giving it to 'them' and by giving it to the one's who are doing something right! Do your research - LEARN which businesses out there are trying to be responsible and do the right thing, they're out there I assure you, but you're going to have to put some effort into it. In short, vote with your wallet.
Can we do it? Hell yes we can. Will we do it?
Sick and Tired
Been a busy past few weeks with my current job, interviewing for a new job, training, and studying to renew my Cisco certification. Seems everything came to a head last night/this morning. This morning was test day finally which included a 1 hour drive to the testing facility in Colorado Springs (it should've been 40 minutes but I got lost, or rather, google maps got me lost!).
That run down, achy, nasty feeling started hitting me after dinner last night and by 8:30 I pretty much passed out. Woke up this morning feeling none better but knew I had to get up there and get it done so... drank some coffee and ate a few cookies - a "good" breakfast wasn't likely to stay down.
Arrived at the testing center (20 minutes late!) and get started. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to actually focus... aside from my stomach growling so loud I was obliged to do a few "cover up" coughs as to not scare the other testers in there with me.
I passed. Actually, I kicked ass. Stopped at Mickey D's and got a celebratory Big Mac which I wolfed down on the way home. Once home I took some Tylenol, hit the sack and passed out for 4 hours. Feeling much better now and hopefully well enough to hit a light session tomorrow at the gym.
Looking forward to another 3 solid weeks of studying for the second leg of my certification. Oh joy. Hopefully I'll hear this week if I got this new job - 3 interviews and 4 weeks of waiting seems a bit much - sick and tired of stressing about it though.
Onward.
That run down, achy, nasty feeling started hitting me after dinner last night and by 8:30 I pretty much passed out. Woke up this morning feeling none better but knew I had to get up there and get it done so... drank some coffee and ate a few cookies - a "good" breakfast wasn't likely to stay down.
Arrived at the testing center (20 minutes late!) and get started. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to actually focus... aside from my stomach growling so loud I was obliged to do a few "cover up" coughs as to not scare the other testers in there with me.
I passed. Actually, I kicked ass. Stopped at Mickey D's and got a celebratory Big Mac which I wolfed down on the way home. Once home I took some Tylenol, hit the sack and passed out for 4 hours. Feeling much better now and hopefully well enough to hit a light session tomorrow at the gym.
Looking forward to another 3 solid weeks of studying for the second leg of my certification. Oh joy. Hopefully I'll hear this week if I got this new job - 3 interviews and 4 weeks of waiting seems a bit much - sick and tired of stressing about it though.
Onward.
The Storage Gym Solution
When I moved back home to Pueblo, CO. last year from Phoenix, I left behind my training partners and their garage gym where we spent many (many) hours moving some serious weights. It was a sad time.
We spent the first month or so back here staying with my parents while we waited for our renter to vacate our house. My parents graciously let me keep my equipment in their huge basement even after we moved. The bad part was, they lived 5 miles past BFE and the drive was getting tortuous. Unfortunately, the house I own in Pueblo is small and doesn't have a garage.
Let me back up a bit before I go on. When we first got back into town last year we had all our house items and needed storage. Fortunately for us, the place we were returning the moving truck was also a brand new storage facility - very cool. Well, months later as I was contemplating my gym dilemma, I believe it was my wife who said, "Why don't we just get an indoor storage unit at that place we first stored our household stuff?" BRILLIANT! AND, it was just about 1.5 miles from our house! BRILLIANT!
The wife went down and negotiated TWO indoor units with them so we loaded up the truck with all our equipment from my folks' house and headed to the storage. Bad news. The indoor units were only 10 x 10 and on the second floor! I learned quickly this solution was not going to work out. My very first session in the new digs and I dropped a 70kg snatch and I thought for sure I was going to collapse the entire floor! Fortunately for us the very kind lady who ran the storage unit gave us a HUGE 10x30 outdoor space right next to an outlet for the same price as the two indoor units. We moved again.
We've been enjoying the new digs for about 6 months now and it suits all our gym needs - not bad for about $100 a month. Here's a pic of ASWC or Affordable Storage Weightlifting Club. :)
We spent the first month or so back here staying with my parents while we waited for our renter to vacate our house. My parents graciously let me keep my equipment in their huge basement even after we moved. The bad part was, they lived 5 miles past BFE and the drive was getting tortuous. Unfortunately, the house I own in Pueblo is small and doesn't have a garage.
Let me back up a bit before I go on. When we first got back into town last year we had all our house items and needed storage. Fortunately for us, the place we were returning the moving truck was also a brand new storage facility - very cool. Well, months later as I was contemplating my gym dilemma, I believe it was my wife who said, "Why don't we just get an indoor storage unit at that place we first stored our household stuff?" BRILLIANT! AND, it was just about 1.5 miles from our house! BRILLIANT!
The wife went down and negotiated TWO indoor units with them so we loaded up the truck with all our equipment from my folks' house and headed to the storage. Bad news. The indoor units were only 10 x 10 and on the second floor! I learned quickly this solution was not going to work out. My very first session in the new digs and I dropped a 70kg snatch and I thought for sure I was going to collapse the entire floor! Fortunately for us the very kind lady who ran the storage unit gave us a HUGE 10x30 outdoor space right next to an outlet for the same price as the two indoor units. We moved again.
We've been enjoying the new digs for about 6 months now and it suits all our gym needs - not bad for about $100 a month. Here's a pic of ASWC or Affordable Storage Weightlifting Club. :)
My life with women
As the father of 4 beautiful girls and the husband of one very lovely wife, I've learned many valuable life lessons, and of course, some important survival skills.
I was reminded of one such survival skill while in the shower this morning. As you may well imagine, living in a house with 5 females means living in a house with five heads of female hair. One annoying 'feature' of female hair is it's tendency to band together to form the mightiest drain clogging agent known to man.
As I was saying before, I was reminded of this trait of female hair as I showered this morning. Two minutes into the shower I looked down to see the familiar clogged drain and the subsequent, feet-wading-in-a-pool-of-my-own-dirt and thinking "Did I remember to by another gallon of Drano?"... of course I did - it's an ingrained survival skill in my life with women.
I was reminded of one such survival skill while in the shower this morning. As you may well imagine, living in a house with 5 females means living in a house with five heads of female hair. One annoying 'feature' of female hair is it's tendency to band together to form the mightiest drain clogging agent known to man.
As I was saying before, I was reminded of this trait of female hair as I showered this morning. Two minutes into the shower I looked down to see the familiar clogged drain and the subsequent, feet-wading-in-a-pool-of-my-own-dirt and thinking "Did I remember to by another gallon of Drano?"... of course I did - it's an ingrained survival skill in my life with women.
I'm... back???
I've been encouraged recently by my lovely wife and friend(s?) to resume my blogging for whatever reason. I guess I have to admit that in the brief time I was blogging I experienced some joy from it - some. There is something therapeutic in the act of writing out your inner-most thoughts and feelings and putting them on display for all the world to see... even if it's only 5-6 people in the world that actually care to see it. Fair enough... here we go again.
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