Pay it Forward

Good morning friends,

With coffee in hand and the sun streaming in through my office window I wonder what I should blog about today. For the past few months my blogs have gotten farther and farther apart. It’s not that I have been lazy, it’s just that I started writing the rough draft on my first book. Once this project started all other writing seemed to have taken a back seat. I have however been encouraged my writing mentors to not let my articles and blogs fall by the wayside just because I have another project going. They say to remain sharp and to continue learning the craft one must write everyday. So here I am.

I’d like to touch on a problem today that affects us all in some form or fashion most everyday of our lives. That problem would be complaining. This problem often starts for me early in the morning at home and then seems to follow me to work as well. No one seems to ever be satisfied with anything anymore. Kids don’t like the groceries we buy or seem to appreciate the fact that WE buy them in the first place. Co-workers complain that breaks aren’t long enough…even though some take twice as long a break as others and the past few days we all are complaining about gas prices. I find no fault in that last one.

I must admit that I too have been known to be a complainer at times. But in all honesty, I don’t think it’s ever done me very much good except to maybe annoy those around me. I have to wonder what a difference it would make if the whole country decided on the “pay it forward” attitude for just one day. Just think about all the good and positive feelings that would quickly spread across the land. The taxi driver dropping the little old lady off at the grocery store might simply say “Hey this ones on me, have a nice day.” What if the media decided to dig a little deeper and find something positive to write about for a change instead of how bad things are getting. The power of suggestion truly is powerful and it does work. These are only a couple of things that can be done but there are millions more waiting for the chance to happen. Why not give it a try, certainly can’t hurt anything and it sure does feel good.

Pray for Andrew and Hunter, these two young men need all the help they can get.

Life

Ever wonder why life seems to beat and batter us around so much. At times I often feel like a small boat drifting aimlessly around at the mercy of wind and water. Watching the struggles that go on daily with hands tied and unable to help. I wonder why some seem to have all their hopes and dreams realized but don’t seem to appreciate it or deserve it while others seem to continuously have theirs ripped away from them.

I watch many that aren’t as lucky as I seem to be. Their little boat too is being blown around to and fro but it has a leak and is sinking. I think there comes a time when the little boat becomes to much a burden and tiresome and a decision must be made. To either bail harder and faster or simply swim to shore and start over.

Sometimes when the decision to make a change has been made a great burden is immediately lifted. With the new boat now splitting through the waves you realize just how heavy and cumbersome the old boat was, and just how much it was holding you back. Now instead of bailing continuously you can set your sights on new and better horizons. New dawns and spectacular sunsets now await you. Sometimes the grass is actually greener on the other side.

Serial Killers in Training

Ever wonder what motivates serial killers and why they can do what they do with no feeling or remorse? Some say it’s their background and environment. Others blame mental illness of one kind or another. While all of these causes are probably correct, some killers are just plain ole mean and rotten to the core. These are the types that kill for the simple pleasure of it.

I logged into Facebook this morning and found a horrifying site. Two teenage punks had hung two dogs from a tree. They were quite proud of what they had done because they show themselves in the picture smiling, drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette. Unfortunately this was not the first time I have seen these two. The last picture they posted they hung a little puppy.

I am not the only one outraged by this for over 31,000 people have shared this photo in hopes that someone will step forward and rat these two up and coming serial killers out. What happens when killing family pets of others no longer is satisfying enough for these two deranged punks. Will small children begin to go missing.

If I had to guess there is another party involved in these ruthless acts, someone is taking the pictures while these two pose with the dead animals. I hope the picture taker knows that he or she is just as guilty as the other two and when caught will be held accountable.

I have a feeling that the best thing for these two pieces of trash will be to be caught by police and not by a loving dog owner. I feel sorry for what ever is broken inside these two but not for whatever happens to them when they get caught.

Note...I went back to Facebook to copy the photo so I could put it here in hopes of getting these two caught but it was already gone. Maybe there won't be a next time but if there is I'll act a little quicker.

As I get on up in years every now and then a song comes on the radio that just for a moment takes me back in time. It’s funny how music can transport us so completely back to our youth in a matter of seconds…often with just the first few notes. Boston’s “More than a feeling” definitely has that effect on me every time I hear it.

“More than a feeling” is as good now as it was when it was released back in 1976. From the first note to the last note it was beautifully written all the way through. This song was off the self titled album from the band “Boston” and it gave rock n roll fans a sound like none they had ever heard before. This wonderfully unique sound was is credited to guitarist Tom Scholz, Scholz by the way is an MIT graduate and a genius in the recording studio.

“More than a feeling” is truly a rock n roll classic that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. It is my opinion that it should be put high on a pedestal with other greats such as AC/DC’s “Black in Black” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” These too are songs that when the first notes are played seem to take me back to a different time and place. Hey if ya don’t believe me just plug the headphones in and listen for yourself…enjoy.

More than a feeling- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzcSvPeWxcg

My son and I went to Decatur today. Spent about half a day just walking through stores and looking at stuff. Not having been to the mall in years, we made that our first stop. Only problem with that was that we got there too early. While waiting for the stores to open, we had the pleasure of watching all the walkers walking in the mall. I don’t ever remember seeing that many people making use of a mall for exercise before.

Most of the people walking were older and most likely retired. Some walked alone and some either in pairs or small groups. I was amazed to see some of these elderly groups make lap after lap around the place. I was winded just watching. It was also interesting to watch as the faster paced power walkers came by navigating themselves through the others like racecars on a track.

While all walkers seem to all be moving at a different speed, they all seemed to have time for a smile and a wave as they passed. It was a very pleasant early morning atmosphere.

Well, as we left the comfort of the warm dry surroundings we ran into street flooding outside. Driving was slow and tedious at times and we passed two or three accidents on the way home. From what I could tell they were all minor and more of an inconvenience to those involved than anything else.

Arriving back in Cullman I took my son into Wal-Mart for a haircut. While he was getting all trimmed up, I had the pleasure of sitting on the little bench just outside and got to watch all the people come and go. To me, this was priceless. I got to see and hear the shoe squeakers and the umbrella drippers. Got to see a few wet t-shirts and one really wet young man who had been outside collecting buggies. But, the thing that will stick in my mind for a while wasn’t really what I wanted to see. A rather large woman, not fat mind you just large, walked in front of me. Why she needed to stop where she did I’ll never know, but it was right in my line of site. There in front of me was a big ole’ half moon coming up. She was wearing her jeans like she was a full fledge lil punk with his britches half off. And let me tell you these were half off. It was kinda like a car wreck, you couldn’t help but look and I couldn’t help but smile. What’s even funnier was that the people she was with were walking behind her and never said a word. Damn, only in Wal-Mart.