Nik's Random Thoughts

Too Funny Not to Post...

2010-01-12T12:58:00.002-05:00

25 Things You Didn't Need To Know...

2009-02-08T13:27:00.002-05:00

...But Will Anyway Because You Must Be Bored If You're Reading This...

The first 6 have been imported from a previous blog...

1. I never thought I would work for the government...but boy does it pay well!

2. If I could, I would probably sleep 12 hours a day, almost every day. I just love sleep, especially when Pam's in the bed with me! *No, I don't mean any funny business*...

3. I am obsessed with finding the best 'diet' and 'fitness' routine. I do however lack the motivation in both categories to keep myself in tip top shape. I am happy with being 'average'...

4. I love listening to my parents have discussions. When I lived at home I would love when my mum came home from work because she and my dad would always talk about their days. They are so animated in their conversations and it never seemed forced. That's why I like talking to Pam about our days as soon as I get home...

5. I wish Pam and I could afford more date nights. This refers to #4 a bit, but I love just going out to eat with Pam and talking about anything and everything. I love my kids to death, but it's always the best when there aren't any distractions...

6. Despite what Pam thinks, I still love Professional Wrestling. If I had the time I would train again as a wrestler (I did while in college) for fun and hopefully participate in a few live matches in an Independent League. I would not want to do it for a living though. I want to be able to walk when I'm 50...

7. I find armpit hair utterly disgusting on both women and men. Blah!

8. Superman will always beat Batman in a fight. Don't even try to argue with me on this one...

9. I hate sitting in a classroom/training unless it has to do with writing and or film making only because then I would be forced to write/film/edit stuff since I would have a deadline to make. I absolutely love doing it, but without a deadline my creative side tends to get lost in the shuffle...

10. I'm a Harry Potter freak. I've read all the books 5 times and also listened to the Audio Books while at work. I also love the movies because I know that books and film are two different mediums and it is impossible to copy from one medium to the next without changing things. I see each as two different ways of telling the same story...

11. I have a unique Superman (see #8) tattoo on my back. I actually sat down with the tattoo artist and came up with something totally original. I love it...

12. I love Thursday nights because that's grocery night and we usually go to Papa Gino's or somewhere with the kids beforehand. I always want to be able to take the family out and just have a nice dinner. It makes me smile...

13. I weighed 230lbs and was 3 inches shorter then I am now when I was in High School. I wouldn't say I was fat, but I was chubby and hated my image. I lost a ton of weight in college and toned up quite a bit. Now I'm average (as noted in #3) and happy, but always strive for perfection...

14. I still have very vivid dreams that can effect my whole day afterwards depending on what happened in them...

15. My crazy imagination is both my greatest feature and my Achilles heel. It's what inspires my creativity, but also makes me think of every possible scenario to everyday life. It definitely wears down my mind sometimes...

16. I love when my kids are sick because that means they want to cuddle more and we can take naps together in the recliner...

17. Sometimes I feel like I need to help and 'save' everyone. I might push too hard or motivate too much, but it's only because it is what I truly desire in return. I need that constant push and motivation to succeed in life...

18. I love the days when I'm outside doing chores and the kids are playing in the yard and maybe Pam's making a big dinner. Those are the days worth living for...

19. I'm always very timid at first, but very outgoing once you get to know me. It must be my split personality since I am a Gemini...

20. I'm always more comfortable in a leadership role. I think it relates to #17...

21. Few things are better than being out in the open air, having the smell of a fine cigar at my fingertips, listening to my iPod and just letting my mind wander. It's great for my creative process...

22. Y-O-U-'-R-E is You Are...Y-O-U-R is Your!!! Get it right people! *for the 'Friends' fanatics out there...

23. I've brainwashed my son to love Superman just as much as I do. But I also let him play with Batman. I will not force him to like one more than the other, although if it's not Superman, he's no son of mine...

24. I would not say I am religious, but in a way I am spiritual. I would have to be if I believed in ghosts right?

25. I truly believe that if people I cared about were in danger I would not falter and be there to save the day even if it meant sacrificing myself in the process...

Turns Out I Already Saw It...

2009-01-18T22:19:00.001-05:00

And I didn't even know it...Well that saves me some time I guess...

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump - watch more funny videos

My Quirks (Part 3)...

2009-01-14T06:25:00.002-05:00

I definitely have someone to blame for this one and he has a blog that I frequent here. So thanks a lot for this man. Thanks...

When I go shopping for a DVD I cannot take the first DVD on the shelf. I will look at the first DVD on the shelf, but I will never take that one if I decide to buy it. I will put it back on the shelf and then reach back 3 or 4 deep and take that copy of the DVD.

This is strictly because one time I was in college with my friend noted above and I witnessed him do this. When I asked him what he was doing he explained to me. I thought he was crazy at first, but then it got me to thinking.

If everyone that walks by handles the first DVD when they are browsing then that DVD is more apt to be damaged or soiled in some way. I have actually shook the first DVD on the shelf and noticed that more times then not the DVD is loose on the inside because it has been damaged from so much handling.

So it's a smart thing to do and I no longer see my friend as crazy. I've even taken it a step further and will do this little trick with more then just DVDs. Not always, but most of the time. When it comes to DVDs and Games though I do it every single time...

My Quirks (Part 2)...

2009-01-13T06:42:00.002-05:00

Now, I never worked at a Retail store, or giant chain store or even a grocery store. What am I getting at with this?

When I go to any of these stores and use one of their carts I am amazed at how disrespectful people are when they are done with them. I hope it's just laziness and not that people think they are too good to do the right thing.

When I use a cart and put my bags in my car I ALWAYS return it to the designated areas even if there isn't one near me. Some of you might be saying, 'Well, so do I Nik, so do I...' I applaud you for doing so as well, but my quirk goes one step further.

If there is even just one other cart in the designated area I have to 'organize' the carts. I never just toss the cart in the area and go. I will always neatly connect my cart with any other carts.

THEN, if there are other carts just tossed about in an unorderly mess I will almost always organize them together the way the were designed to go. It's not that hard people and takes less than a minute to push your cart all the way to the end of the row and into another cart.

Why leave it in a way that makes it harder for others to put their carts away and for the jobs of the attendees who have to gather them up.

Do your part people. It's the little things in life that count. It's called Karma...

My Quirks (Part 1)...

2009-01-12T07:35:00.002-05:00

So last night I was sitting down to watch the much anticipated season premiere of '24' when I realized something that annoys me to no end. When a television show goes to commercial the volume increases, I would say about 10% at the very least.

So if I have my Television volume set at 20 while watching explosions galore and Jack Bauer jumping on people and snapping necks it will suddenly jump to a volume of about what 30 or more on my television would sound like during the commercials.

I don't know about you, but I can't stand hearing commercials about a pill that has more side effects than if you got the plague. Why does it have to be so damn loud?

I think this is a conspiracy. A few years ago when Tivo first came out Ad agencies sat down and said,

"How can we piss off people even more with our commercials?"

Okay, maybe they didn't say that, but it was probably,

"Now that more people are fast-forwarding through commercials, how can we make sure the ones that aren't can hear them?"

"Well, we could increase the volume of our commercials in post-editing by say 5% so if people get up to go to the bathroom or get a drink they can still hear them. Because we all know they really don't want to miss them."

"Let's make it 10% and call it good."

Seriously...It annoys me to no end to have to keep hitting the volume so that when my show comes back on I have to turn it back up so I can hear the dialogue.

Definitely a conspiracy...

This...Would...Be...Awesome...

2008-12-22T21:05:00.001-05:00

Am I the Only One...

2008-12-10T07:12:00.002-05:00

I realized something yesterday as I was searching the Internet through 'Google'. I absolutely refuse to click on the 'sponsored link' web sites at the top of the search page.

I'm not sure exactly why I won't click those links, but maybe it's because I feel like the website that got their site to the top of the page by buying an ad is cheating.

I also think it's funny when a site such as AT&T Wireless has a sponsored link at the top of the page and then the first non-sponsored link is the same site right below it. What a waste of money huh? Even in these instances I will not click the sponsored link though...

Maybe I'm just paranoid that those links automatically bring viruses or steal my data. Maybe I just want to help out the little guy who doesn't have the money to pay for their site to be on top.

Maybe, just maybe, I'm crazy for even bringing this up...

You Got Me Liz...

2008-12-02T13:56:00.003-05:00

These are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you. (see above)
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random, arbitrary things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

6 Random Things (that I don’t mind being posted on the Internet) :

1. I never thought I would work for the government...but boy does it pay well!

2. If I could I would probably sleep 12 hours a day almost every day. I just love sleep, especially when Pam's in the bed with me! *No, I don't mean any funny business*...

3. I am obsessed with finding the best 'diet' and 'fitness' routine. I do however lack the motivation in both categories to keep myself in tip top shape. I settle for being 'average'...

4. I love listening to my parents have discussions. When I lived at home I would love when my mum came home from work because she and my dad would always talk about their days. They are so animated in their conversations and it never seemed forced. That's why I like talking to Pam about our days as soon as I get home...

5. I wish Pam and I could afford more date nights. This refers to #4 a bit, but I love just going out to eat with Pam and talking about anything and everything. I love my kids to death, but it's always the best when there aren't any distractions...

6. Despite what Pam thinks, I still love Professional Wrestling. If I had the time I would train again for fun and hopefully participate in a few live matches in an Independent League. I would not want to do it for a living though. I want to be able to walk when I'm 50...

I tag Pam, Rawson, Jim, Torrey, Hayley, and Simon (I don't think you have a blog, but I'm interested to hear your 6 random facts about you).

Am I the Only One Who Doesn't Get It?

2008-11-24T10:34:00.002-05:00

British humor...I just don't understand it. Here are a few examples:

Mr. Bean: He's a bumbling idiot who doesn't talk, but just mumbles through the episodes...huh?!?

Monty Python: A bunch of random sh*t where British guys talk in high pitches voices. Am I the only one who thinks this stuff is quoted WAYYYY too much?

Dr. Who: Too bizarre for my tastes...The old version that is...

Slapstick Humor: Basically British people playing practical pranks on people with the video sped up. Why do I want to see people sit on Whoopie Cushions or Women's blouses popping open to the astonishment of random people?!? Especially who do I want to see it sped up?

The only British comedy I can stand is 'The Office' and it was only after I started watching the US version first.

Is it just me?!? Anyone?

Another Do It Yourself: How To...

2008-11-18T07:31:00.003-05:00

...Rest for a Day with an infant daughter and two and a half year old son:

Step 1: Dad wakes up with son (8am)...

Step 2: Dad eats breakfast with son (8am-8:30am)...

Step 3: Dad puts son's favorite movie on and sleeps on couch (8:30am-10:30am)...

Step 4: Mom wakes up with daughter (8:30am)...

Step 5: Mom feeds daughter and showers (8:30am-10:30am)...

Step 6: Dad wakes up and gets son dressed (10:30am-11am)...

Step 7: Mom feeds daughter again (10:30am-11am)...

Step 8: Dad plays with son (11am-12pm)...

Step 9: Mom sleeps with daughter in bedroom recliner (11am-1pm)...

Step 10: Dad eats lunch with son (12pm-12:30pm)...

Step 11: Dad reads story to son and puts him to bed (12:30pm-1pm)...

Step 12: Son takes nap (1pm-3:30pm)...

Step 13: Mom wakes up with daughter (1pm)...

Step 14: Dad reads book and takes nap in bed (1pm-3:30pm)...

Step 15: Mom feeds daughter and eats lunch (1pm-2pm)...

Step 16: Mom and daughter nap in bedroom recliner again (2pm-3:30pm)...

Step 17: Son wakes up (3:30pm)...

Step 18: Dad gets up with son (3:30pm)...

Step 19: Mom and daughter wake up (3:30pm)...

Step 20: Rejuvinated all parties go downstairs to play (3:30pm)...

That's basically how our Sunday went...We needed to recharge the batteries I guess you could say and it was a great lazy day...It's as simple as that...

Do It Yourself: How To...

2008-11-16T22:14:00.002-05:00

... Get Inspired to Clean the Underside of Your Fridge:

Step 1: Sit quietly enjoying a nice peaceful night of television with you lovely wife...

Step 2: Get annoyed that your dog won't leave you alone as you sit on the couch trying to have a peaceful night...

Step 3: After about an hour (10pm local time) realize your dog is sniffing for scraps of food that must have been dropped by your 2 and a half year old son...

Step 4: Reach under the couch and find none of said scraps of food...

Step 5: Annoyed further make a point to dog that no food exists under the couch by pulling the entire thing away from the wall in a big huff...

Step 6: Freeze in panic as you see two little black eyes staring back at you from under the heating vent behind the now pulled out couch...

Step 7: Freak out your wife by saying, "Oh shit!" and quickly putting couch back up against the wall...

Step 8: As panic builds look for something to trap said creature...

Step 9: Place one month old and dog in safe places as hell is about to be unleashed...

Step 10: Let the chase begin as you pull the couch back out and a Flying Squirrel dashes past you into the kitchen behind the refrigerator...

Step 11: Start to actually think logically about how the f*ck you're going to get this damn thing out of the house...

Step 12: Swear menacingly as you pull the fridge out and see the creature scurry under the fridge...

Step 13: Search the house for a flashlight to shine under the fridge hoping to scare the thing out from under it...

Step 14: Notice how f'ing dirty it is under the fridge with dust and clumps of dog hair...

Step 15: Get vacuum and have wife tip fridge to one side (note to take any thing off top of fridge to avoid breakage of said things first)...

Step 16: Vacuum up huge amounts of dog hair and dust that have collected since 2004 under the fridge...

Step 17: Notice squirrel is no longer under the fridge and panic as you realize it must have gotten trapped in the bottom part of the back of the fridge where the fan and other moving parts belong...

Step 18: Get out electric screw driver and unscrew back panel to fridge...

Step 19: Give BBQ tongs to wife to try and grab creature with them unsuccessfully...

Step 20: See creature retreat even further back into the back part of fridge and realize there is no way to get it out...

Step 21: Accept defeat and screw back on panel to the back of the fridge hoping said creature will eventually die and then will be able to dispose of body...

Step 22: Go to bed in annoyance...

----------------
Additional 'Optional' Steps:

Step 23: Wake 2 hours later (12:30am local time) to wife waking up saying the squirrel just scurried across her back on the bed...

Step 24: Sleepily laugh off her fear as just a dream...

Step 25: See wife get up and head cautiously toward the end of the room only to screech again saying she was right and the squirrel was in their room...

Step 26: Wonder how the f*ck the thing got out and happened to make its way up to our bedroom of all places...

Step 27: Corner squirrel into the Office in the next room and stuff towels under the doors so there are no getaways...

Step 28: Try many many times to get it out from behind bookcase, computer, subwoofer, etc trying to trap it in a trash bin...

Step 29: Successfully watch wife scare it out of its hiding place while you trap the sucker in your trashcan...

Step 30: Wait for wife to get cardboard from garage to slide under trashcan creating a trap...

Step: 31: Carefully slide cardboard under trashcan and holding tightly to both...

Step 32: Hurry down the stairs and out the front door as your wife slams the door shut behind you leaving you on your front steps in just your boxers...

Step 33: Watch as you release menace into the wild cursing them all to hell as it scampers into the woods...

Step 34: Bang on front door notifying your wife it is okay to let you back in...

Step 35: Go back to bed wondering how the f*ck another creature of the night could not only get in our house, but make it way to our bedroom as the asinine time of night that it was...

Too Important NOT to Post...

2008-11-11T11:08:00.002-05:00

If You Think You Have a Reason To Be Against This then you're an idiot...

I apologize if that comment offends anyone...well if I'm being truthful then I'm not really apologetic since this topic below will have no affect on anyone who is against it, thus having no good reason to be so...

Transcript:
--------------------
Finally tonight as promised, a Special Comment on the passage, last week, of Proposition Eight in California, which rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry, and tilted the balance on this issue, from coast to coast.

Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.

And yet to me this vote is horrible. Horrible. Because this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics. This is about the human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.

If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want—a chance to be a little less alone in the world.

Only now you are saying to them—no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights—even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?

I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage. If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal in 1967. 1967.

The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.

You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are gay.

And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing, centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children, all because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage.

How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?

What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.

It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.

And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?

With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness—this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness—share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate.

You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know. It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow person just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.

This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.

But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:

"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge. It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all: So I be written in the Book of Love; I do not care about that Book above. Erase my name, or write it as you will, So I be written in the Book of Love."
------------------------

I hope you think about your actions and words and how they affect others...

Wow...

2008-11-04T06:53:00.001-05:00

Do we really want this guy 'running' for office?*

*Get it? Hahaha

GO VOTE!

Thought This Was a Good Read...

2008-10-28T11:59:00.002-04:00

This was pretty long, but an enjoyable read. You can read the whole thing here if you like. I am posting just the very end of the article that really struck me as well written and worthy of my thoughts about Republican Senator Chuck Hagel...

--------------------------------------
“There was a political party in this country called the Know-Nothings,” he continued. “And we’re getting on the fringe of that, with these one-issue voters—pro-choice or pro-life. Important issue, I know that. But, my goodness. The world is blowing up everywhere, and I just don’t think that is a responsible way to see the world, on that one issue. And, interestingly enough, that is one issue that stopped John McCain from picking one of the people he really wanted, Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge”—the Independent senator from Connecticut and the Republican former governor of Pennsylvania. (Both men are pro-choice.)
------------------------------------------

I think the thing I agree with most in this whole article is just the quote about the 'one issue vote' that many conservatives go by. There are a lot of issues in the world and I just don't understand how one's Religious belief on "Pro-Choice" or "Pro-Life" can dictate how they vote.

I understand it's an important issue. But when it comes down to the economy, education, foreign policy, etc. how really important is it if the government decides what is right or wrong on something that will never effect you as a person. (If you are Pro-Life then you obviously aren't going to say, 'Well, I'm pro-choice now that the government says I can be!')

If you don't believe in abortions or don't believe in gay marriage that is fine. That is your moral religious belief and I have no problem with that. I wouldn't think any less of you. But, to put these two issues at the top of your 'reasoning' for voting the way you do, that makes no sense to me.

Just remember that we live in America and it's a place with religious 'freedom' meaning the government should not have the right to decide these issues. I thought I remember reading in History class that this country was built on a seperation of Church and State? Forcing these issues and using them as your 'points' of voting does not sound like Religious Freedom to me.

I'm not really very religious, I'll admit that. Answer me this though; would I not go to Heaven if the teenager down the street decides to get an abortion or if my friends who are gay decide to get married? Am I just confused because that's the way I understand it when people tell me they could never vote for a pro-coice and pro-gay marriage president...(I also thought Lieberman or Ridge would have been a great choice for McCain's VP)

I guess I just don't get it and all I can plead with anyone out there is to look at ALL of the issues. Take this quiz and tell me honestly out of all the questions who you are closer to on the grid...

Whoops, I talked about politics AND religious today. Only a week left! :)

I Don't Think He Thought This Through...

2008-10-27T11:20:00.003-04:00

I Rest My Case...

2008-10-22T22:17:00.002-04:00

I believe I discussed this in detail here, but I thought I would add this little tid-bid as exibit "B"

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

And I wrote this blog with one hand while holding my 5 day old daughter in my other arm and the opposite end of a pacifier in my mouth. How awesome am I? Eh? Eh? Eh? *Give me a break; holding down the shift key and a letter at the same time is hard!*

Socialist My A$$...

2008-10-20T00:14:00.002-04:00

You're really stretching it now huh?

Colin Powell makes his case and it's honest and informative. Check it out...

Only 16 days left before we can stop talking about this. :)

PS: I have a beautiful new daughter: Kate Elizabeth Marie
Born: 10/18/08 @ 5:05am

As My Dad Said...

2008-10-17T09:04:00.002-04:00

They almost seem human...

R-E-L-A-X Conpiracy Theorists...

2008-10-16T09:20:00.003-04:00

ACORN article that I think everyone should read. A lot of people need to relax. I would also be saying this to people back in 2000 and 2004 when Democrats cried 'foul' in Florida and Ohio respectively.

Cracking the ACORN Case

I can only hope this election is won by a wider margin just so there's less doubt in people's minds that this election was 'stolen' like the last two supposedly were.

I'm all for conspiracy theories. I think a lot of them are cool and have actual merit to them. Maybe I'll blog about that idea sometime, but this ACORN stuff is grasping as straws here.

Notice I'm not posting on and on about the debate last night. I think it was the best of all 3 of them and McCain brought his 'A' game, but I don't think it was a 'game-changer' for him and his campaign. That's all I will say...

Cant......Resist.....Posting......

2008-10-15T15:32:00.002-04:00

I'm thinking tonight's final debate is going to be a snoozefest and more of the same from both candadites so here's something that made me laugh today:

I can honestly say that I think McCain is a good guy and could have possibly been a great president at one time, but his campaign has royally screwed him over in this election. I really believe that...

PS: I'm glad I never became a journalist...

PSS: Is it November 5th yet? I feel like I've lost the will to think of actual random things to post here because it seems every website I go to is obsessed, as I am, with this damn election...

One way or another it will all be over soon. I promise!

More Research...

2008-10-13T08:56:00.002-04:00

Ask and you shall receive. I knew there had to be idiots on both sides of the fence. Here's the evidence.

A few 'bias' comments: (at least some will think anyway)

1. Mostly boos and middle fingers. One person did say something about Nazi's, but at least every other word wasn't something about people being 'gay' or 'commie f*gg*ts' etc.

2. At least no random chants of U-S-A or horrible renditions of "God Bless America" as if they were at a wrestling event where Nikoli Volkov and Hacksaw Jim Duggan are facing off during the Cold War...

3. When you decide to do a march in a highly 'liberal' populated area, don't cry about the fact that people are going to heckle you. The other video's didn't call foul because they were being heckled at a convention from the opposition.

4. The text and 'patriot' music is a little dramatic. It seems that in order to be a 'patriot' you have to support McCain. Another example of saying if you don't vote Republican, you don't deserve to live the great U-S-of-A...

Research...

2008-10-10T10:37:00.002-04:00

This was easy to find. What I can't find is Obama supporters being as stupid. I'm sure they are out there. Can someone please send me a clip of Obama supporters acting as dumb as these McCain supporters are? If you do I will update this profile with the link.

Is it Bad That This Makes Me Teary-Eyed?

2008-10-09T10:11:00.002-04:00

With the boredom that is work I have been reading past blogs of my dear friend in Ireland when I came across the lyrics to this song. I had to immediately go find it on YouTube...

It never fails...*sniff*

I proclaim this to be Liz and Simon's wedding song. And it has to be this version, preferably with video splashed up in the background as you dance...Make it happen...

I Didn't Know We Controlled the Sun!

2008-10-09T07:25:00.001-04:00

Sometimes you just have to say, "Really? I mean no, seriously, REALLY?"

This Guy Is Smarter Then He Looks...

2008-10-08T19:49:00.001-04:00

This is long, but really good. He says more in 8 minutes then the candidates have said in the last year and a half...

Nooooooooo.....

2008-10-05T22:34:00.000-04:00

This scares me...Seriously...

Finally Someone Explains the Bailout...

2008-10-03T22:39:00.002-04:00

It's like the McCain of 2000 who I would have voted for is fighting his 2008 version in this interview...It's insane. Somehow it seems he lost his way after losing the primary in 2000 to Bush. I wish he hadn't...

Screw this...I'm Voting For Senator Obiden...

2008-10-02T23:44:00.002-04:00

Quick overall impressions of tonight's VP debate. If you didn't watch it in it's entirety please do because we all know how the media will dissect this over and over tonight and tomorrow. Form your own opinions first before reading all the 'expert' opinions...

Joe Biden was phenomenal.

I will admit I didn't know much about him or where he stood on many things until tonight. He went above and beyond all expectations. He was calm and collected throughout. He refrained from attacking Palin and focused on what matters most; the differences in issues between Obama and McCain. He had specific points and gave examples of policies in the past as well as specific examples of policies he and Obama have for the future.

Overall grade: A-

Sarah Palin was moderately good.

Her strength is definitely on showmanship and adding pizazz to the ticket. She did better then I thought after all the gaffes she made this week in her recent interviews. She seemed nervous at first and was addressing the camera even when she was talking to Biden, but she loosened up toward the end there. I don't get the winks to the home viewers though. Is she flirting with me? Do I trust her because she's got that Hot Librarian look to her? I just didn't get it...

Still, I was unable to hear specifics from the Republicans. This has been a major point in my criticism of the McCain/Palin ticket all along. I have heard what they have done (maybe a little embellished, but who doesn't embellish their resume) but I have yet to hear concrete ideas on how they are going to 'change' and 'reform' Washington. Biden had specific points one what an Obama administration will try to accomplish. Palin just went on using flashy words like 'Alaska' and 'maverick' and 'straight talker' and 'reform' and 'corruption'...Please for the love of all that is holy tell me what your actual plan is...Her grade got bumped a little because she did help her image, but I don't think she helped the McCain ticket any.

Overall grade: C+

Does this debate change the tide of the election? Not really because tomorrow the House votes on the bailout and by the end of the weekend that is what everyone will be focused on and then Tuesday is Debate #3 so overall this debate won't sway the tide of the election either way.

It was a better debate than the first one though...

F*ck You Stub Hub...

2008-10-01T17:42:00.003-04:00

So I get home today and find a voice mail on the machine. It's an automated message from my Credit Card company saying they found some suspicious charges and to call back at the following number.

Well, I compare that number to the fraud # on the back of my credit card and it's different so I immediately think SCAM...but after a while I decide to call the # on the back of my card to verify and make sure.

When I get on the phone the automated messages says I've made like 4 or 5 charges today and wanted me to verify they were correct. Ummm, no, the only charge made today was my pregnant wife going to Dunkin (shakes fist in her direction). So I wait on the line for a rep.

I then tell him the situation and he asks if I have my card. Well, I just told you I called the number on the back of my card so what the f*ck do you think buddy? Yes I have my card.

He verifies the transactions that I didn't make and then says he thinks I need new cards. YOU THINK? So he sets me up for the new cards and convinces me to spend $7.95 on fraud protection (I smell a set up) since now I'm paranoid, but I can cancel it at any time. (I will be if they every charge me more than that 1st charge)

After all of that he forwards me to the Fraud Department (isn't that the # I called?!?) and I get a women who again goes through the transactions that I didn't make all from websites. She has a bunch today and one on the 29th and then she asks about one on the 28th.

She asks if I bought anything from Stub Hub (sells tickets for games like the Red Sox) and I immediately say, "Oh f*ck!" I then explain that I did not buy anything, but signed up in case I found any Playoff tickets for the Red Sox. (Thanks for that bright idea Jim!!! *jk*)

She says that is probably where my card # and info was hacked and told me to make sure nothing else was compromised. She takes off all the transactions and tells me it will take up to 5 business days for our new cards to come in.

F*ck, what am I going to do until then? I usually make all my charges on my credit card and then pay it off at the end of the month to get the points. The worst part is I have to make sure I don't have any bills charged to my old #.

So that's what I'll be doing tonight. Ugh...

Thank you credit card company for fixing the problem without too much hassle. F*ck you Stub Hub for making the next week or two hell for me. Now I'm off to their website to give them a piece of my mind...

PS: Don't use Stub Hub! (For those of you that didn't get that message from the rant above)

The Old Double Standard...

2008-09-30T11:25:00.003-04:00

I am not posting this to compare the Democratic Presidential Nominee to the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee because I know that's not who he's running against. I am posting this because some people seem to be able to accuse a candidate of one thing or another, but when it's reciprocated on their favorite person of the day it doesn't seem to count.

----------------------------------------
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* Name your kids Willow, Bristol, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

* Attend five different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you spend three years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend eight years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the State Senate's Health and Human Services Committee, spend four years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs Committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, four years on the city council and six years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're acting very responsibly.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

* If your husband is nicknamed 'First Dude', with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of
Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.
----------------------------
I guess I just don't get people's arguments and haven't heard one good reason yet as to why some are voting the way they are especially since 75% of them (that's being generous) didn't even know Palin existed 2 months ago and now think she was 'born for this position'...

Please feel free to correct me on this one...

Primitive Male Instinct Maybe?

2008-09-30T09:14:00.002-04:00

As I was in the bathroom just moments ago I had a thought. This was not a new thought, but something that my brother and I have discussed on more than one occasion. The question is, why do men spit and more importantly why do we spit when we take a leak?

Now I know this is a strange topic, but I want to see if anyone else out there has thought about this. I have searched a little bit online for some answers, but really got no where and read nothing about a reason for spitting while going to the bathroom.

Here are some theories we have tossed around:

- It's a primitive instinct, sort of like marking your territory
- Because males pee standing up it triggers a reaction, creating excess saliva
- Another way of releasing unnecessary toxins and build up in the body

I know my brother has even taking this a step further and took a poll at one of his previous jobs. I do not have the full results of that poll, but have an idea of what he found:

- Not all men spit while peeing
- Some men spit only when using the urinal
- Some men spit only when going outside
- Some spit before they pee
- Some spit during
- Some spit after going
- Some spit more than once or randomly

I fall under the last category. I don't always feel the need to spit per say, but sometimes I do at the beginning, during or at the end and sometimes more than once. It all just depends on how I feel I guess...

There is no rhythm or reason to it really. I know we aren't alone here. We have the initial research that tells us this is not just some wacky "Starkey" trait. But I am curious. Has anyone else actually stopped to think about this?

Men, tell me your thoughts about it and women, ask your significant others or brothers or dads about this. Let me know what you find. I will get to the bottom of this mystery...

I Don't Get It Either David...

2008-09-25T06:56:00.002-04:00

If you're trying to convince people that you are capable of running the Free World shouldn't you be able to do more then one thing at a time? It's called multi-tasking right?

I'm not a big fan of Letterman, but he has a good take on this whole thing especially being a close friend to McCain:

--------------------------------------
Oh boy. Looks like the long-friendly relationship between Sen. John McCain and David Letterman may be on the skids.

The late-night comedian was none too pleased that McCain decided to bail on an appearance on the “Late Show” tonight so he could rush back to Washington to deal with the economic crisis –- particularly since he stopped and gave an interview to CBS News anchor Katie Couric along the way.

The Republican presidential nominee was supposed to make his 13th appearance tonight on Letterman’s show, the venue where he originally announced his White House bid in 2007. But he backed out late Wednesday afternoon, saying he was suspending all campaign activities to focus on getting a financial bailout plan through Congress.

During the taping of tonight's show, Letterman told the audience that McCain had called him personally to apologize for standing him up and said he was rushing to the airport to get back to Washington. The late-night host called McCain “an honest-to-God hero,” and questioned why he needed to halt his campaign. Couldn’t his running mate, Sarah Palin, take over while he was in Washington, Letterman asked.

“I’m more than a little disappointed by this behavior,” he said. “We’re suspending the campaign. Suspending it because there’s an economic crisis, or because the poll numbers are sliding?”

The audience whooped and applauded.

“You don’t suspend your campaign,” Letterman added. “Do you suspend your campaign? No, because that makes me think, well, you know, maybe there will be other things down the road –- if he’s in the White House, he might just suspend being president. I mean, we've got a guy like that now!”

Things got worse for McCain when Letterman, in the midst of interviewing substitute guest Keith Olbermann, learned that the GOP candidate was actually still in New York. Not only that, but McCain was about five blocks away at the CBS News headquarters, sitting down for a last-minute exclusive interview with Katie Couric.

Incredulous, Letterman interrupted his chat with Olbermann to show the audience a live shot on the internal CBS news feed of McCain getting touched up by a makeup artist as he waited to talk to Couric.

“He doesn’t seem to be racing to the airport, does he?” Letterman said, shouting at the television monitor: “Hey John, I got a question! You need a ride to the airport?”

Letterman's extensive criticism continued:

We’re in sorry need and short supply of actual heroes like John McCain… But when you call up at the last minute and cancel a show…This is not the John McCain I know, by God. It makes me believe something is going haywire with the campaign. Someone got to him and said, blow Letterman off, he’s a lightweight.

Sure, there’s an economic crisis. And here’s what you’re do if you’re running your campaign in the middle of an economic crisis and its about to crater…You’re a fourth term senator from Arizona. You handle what you need to handle. Don’t suspend your campaign. You let your campaign go on, shouldered by your vice presidential nominee. That’s what you do…

You say, I gotta get back to Washington to save this country. Good for you. And while I’m gone, campaigning in my stead will be my great running mate from the state of Alaska, Sarah Palin. And she comes out and campaigns. What happened there? What’s the problem? Why isn’t she doing that?

This doesn't smell right. This just doesn’t smell right. Because this is not the way a tested hero behaves. I think someone's put something in his Metamucil.

And let’s say there’s a time of crisis, and the poor guy, because he’s a little older…Palin takes over as president, well, she ought to be ready, because she’s handled crisis like these in the past. Oh, wait a minute, she really hasn’t handled a crisis like this in the past.

He can't run the campaign because the economy is about to crater? Fine, you put in your second string quarterback. Well, where is there second string quarterback?

After Letterman learned that McCain was sitting down at that moment with Katie Couric, he had this to say:

I don’t want to keep beating this thing, but it just really is starting to smell now. Because he says to me on the phone, I took a phone call from John McCain – a lot of senators don’t call me – and so I felt like OK, as part of the national good, I understand and I said good luck and thank you for being attentive to the cause. And he said maybe next time I’ll come in and I’ll bring Sarah Palin. And I said, fine, whatever you need to do, that’s just fine. And he said, yeah, we’re going to go save the country. And then it’s like we caught him getting a manicure or something!
-------------------------------
Again I agree that if Palin is McCain's #2 gal then she needs to step up if he can't handle everything right now. This is her time to prove to me that she is capable of taking the reins when needed. I still have not seen this...

And I Thought This Was Once a Great Cartoon...

2008-09-23T19:23:00.001-04:00

The shorts of "Legend of Zelda" were the best part of the 80's Super Mario Brothers cartoon. Or so I thought. Just watch. And watch the whole thing...It's worth it! ;)

His Secret Identity Revealed

2008-09-21T11:25:00.001-04:00

Halloween is right around the corner. I have taught him well...

Does Advertising Work?

2008-09-17T09:18:00.003-04:00

So last night Pam was on her computer and said to me, "Oh, looks like the government is bailing out another company! They just loaned 85 billion to AIG!"

My response was, "You mean that company that has the commercials with the bench and the lion and people ask, 'What is AIG?'"

I guess I never listened to those commercials properly or they never answered the question of 'What is AIG' properly because I, until this morning, still had no idea what AIG was.

Chalk one up to bad advertising...

At least Aflac has a duck...silly duck always getting into trouble...

I See No Problem With This...

2008-09-15T09:58:00.002-04:00

And this is why we keep our secret identities...

Who Likes Random Quotes?

2008-09-09T20:00:00.002-04:00

I do I do...

Here was a quote someone said to me today about something or other that made me laugh...

"That's what they do. They make up stuff instead of backing up what they believe to be true because they know deep down that they are wrong and you are right..."

So true...

Man I love training...Okay, not training, but goofing off and making a ruckus during training is fun! *evil grin*

What Are They Going to Do?

2008-09-09T06:39:00.006-04:00

On Sunday 09/07/08 New England fell silent...

But behind every great man stands a Cinderella story waiting in the wings...

Can an unknown beat the odds when the world has given up...

It's happened before...

Don't give up hope...Believe in the impossible...

Comparing Tax Plans...

2008-09-07T12:23:00.002-04:00

This is a good read for those confused by all the he said she said about both candidates tax plan proposals.

Taxing: Obama vs. McCain

Remember, like the article states, these are proposals and no matter who is elected they will have to go through Congress to get passed so we can't assume either will get exactly what they are proposing here.

Unless you are super rich, which I doubt anyone reading this is, it looks like Obama's plan has the edge when it comes to taxes. Enjoy the article...

Are You Kidding Me???

2008-09-05T21:00:00.002-04:00

From CNN.com:

Barack Obama continued to hammer the McCain campaign on Friday for manager Rick Davis’s comments that the election would be more about the candidates’ personas, not the issues.

WHAT? I'm sorry, but if McCain thinks that personality is more important then the issues that need to addressed in the USofA then he is sadly mistaken and an idiot. Maybe just the people that work for him are idiots for saying it's not 'about the issues'...

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

Oh and to comment on McCain's speech. I will admit I fell asleep after the 45 minute mark. He did finally get into some of the things he plans to do, but I just don't see Nuclear Power and More Drilling as the answer. That's just my opinion. His speech was okay, but I noticed 3 things:

1. It was awkward when there were 3 protests during his speech. I did feel bad and you could tell McCain was biting his tongue trying not to get angry. I guess the chants of USA that were suppose to surpress any possible distractions did not work very well.

2. His delivery was a little off. You could tell that he had points in his speech where he was to 'pause for applause' which is normal, but obvious that this is what he was doing.

3. The crowd was probably 80% older white adults which I am sorry to say are not the dominant demographic in the country right now. There was hardly a trace of different ethnic groups throughout the audience which was a little disheartening to me.

But I am just floored that someone from his campaign would say this election is about 'personalities' and not about 'the issues'...Simply floored by that...

Wow...

What Happened to Being Random?

2008-09-04T06:57:00.002-04:00

To break up the political talk:

Greatest moment is Professional Wrestling History:

This one is for you Torrey! ;)

I'm Not Trying to Start a War Here But...

2008-09-04T06:13:00.005-04:00

Here are a few excerpts from the media's reaction to last night's GOP convention that reciprocated my thoughts as well:
--------------------------------------

Palin's Speech:

1. She joked that the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is …lipstick. Clearly, in the next few weeks, she will play the role of a pit bull with lipstick. My sense is that she will very likely connect with blue collar America but may be much less successful in suburban America.

2. Her personal story is also one that will relate well to people. She has a quality of seeming like the girl next door.

3. She showed a lot of confidence in addressing energy toward the end of the speech, which gave her more substantive depth.

Now let us be clear: there will be tons of Democrats and others who will disagree with her and will take sharp exception with her views. Her jabs at Barack Obama and the Democrats were surprisingly personal at times. And she will face tough questioning ahead from the press. After all, there are still some serious questions about what kind of president she might be. We are going to have a rough and tumble race down the home stretch.

Giuliani's Speech:

This speech is about mockery – and I wonder whether that’s appealing to voters. I really think this tone is going to turn a lot of voters off – it’s ugly, it’s bitter, it’s nasty. There is a bullying tone to this speech, and to Romney’s speech, and I just don’t think it works.

Even less appealing: “When they gave up on Iraq, they gave up on America”? Now that’s insulting.

What they’re doing is re-running the 2004 campaign, which the Republicans won on the issue of terrorism. He’s saying the war on terror should be the supreme issue – but for most voters it’s the economy.

The left wing and Hollywood celebrities are the true stars of the evening, prompting another chant of “USA!” from the crowd.

How did “USA” become a term of defiance and division? It sounds ugly, like they’re saying: “We’re real Americans – and you’re not.”

Giuliani, like Romney, relishes the attack. His language is stinging. The crowd keeps chanting “zero” – as in the talking point that Obama has no executive experience, and has never run anything. Except his own campaign. Obama beat the Clintons, and the inevitable candidacy – that’s not nothing.

Romney's Speech:

What's happened to Mitt Romney? He was a pretty strong campaigner, but at the convention he fell into self-parody.

A guy from Massachusetts who's worth $500 million, whose father was the president of American Motors, the governor of Michigan and a cabinet secretary — he's criticizing the "Eastern elite"?

Who is he kidding? Again and again he spat out the word "liberal." I was waiting for him to attack the pro-choice, pro-gay-rights, pro-universal health care liberal governor of Massachusetts — Mitt Romney.

I suppose Mitt has decided to rise above principle.

Huckabee's Speech:

Mike Huckabee’s is the first speech so far that really seems to understand the voters’ point of view.

People are hurting economically, and looking for real change. And he’s a good man to deliver that message — Republicans always do best with candidates not born to wealth and privilege, like Eisenhower, Nixon and Reagan.

Huckabee also hits the right notes for this crowd: To these delegates, Europe = socialism.

A good line from Huckabee, if it’s true: Sarah Palin got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden did for President of the United States. Then again, he was only an active candidate in one state – a caucus state, Iowa. And he’s a sitting senator, who drew many times that number of votes in his last statewide election.

There was a touch of authentic populism there in Huckabee’s speech – but I’m still waiting to hear talk about what they’re going to do about the economy. That’s what voters want to hear.

And Finally the conclusion...

Here’s what Republicans got out of the evening:

1: They proved that Palin’s no pushover. They clearly established that.

2: They established a tough, even bullying tone to this night of the convention which bordered on the ugly, mocking their opponents.

3: Speakers gave strong testimony to McCain’s character.

Here’s what they didn’t accomplish: An answer to what they will do to solve this country’s economic problems. Without that, they’re not going to get anywhere.

And now it rests with McCain.
------------------------------------------

Again it seems the Republicans are insulting anyone who's not 100% Republican and also missing the major issue that we are all facing right now: The bad economy. All I want to hear is how they plan on helping America create more jobs and boost the economy, but I'm just not getting any answers...(And drilling for oil and creating more Nuclear plants with no place to dispose of the nuclear waste is not the answer in my mind)

But I want everyone to know I value your opinion as long as you back it up. I want to learn everything about each candidate so I can make the right choice come November 4th. If you have information I'm missing here or just not getting please feel free to comment.

In the mean time: Can't we all just get along?
Time For Some Campaigning

What Does This Have to Do With Anything?

2008-09-03T06:12:00.003-04:00

I'm all for supporting the troops, but what does this heart-wrenching video have to do with being a Republican?

I'm not a Republican nor a Democrat, but when I turned on the TV to catch a bit of the Republican Convention last night I was a little turned off by this video and their "Country First" slogan.

It just seems kind of like a slap in the face to anyone who's not a strict Republican and doesn't support the war in Iraq. I guess Freedom of Speech and having an opinion isn't in the Republican Party's vocabulary. At least when it's the opposite opinion of theirs.

I want to hear about policies, not chants of U-S-A and who's more patriotic. I hope they do better tonight and at least go into some detail of what their plans are for the next 4 years...

Walter 'Killer' Kowalski (10/13/1926-08/30/2008)...

2008-08-31T10:47:00.002-04:00

I am not a very religious person. In fact I don't really talk about what I believe in because I don't even really know myself most of the time. Pam put it best and told someone once that I am not religious, but spiritual. This is probably the easiest way to describe me.

Anyway, I briefly mentioned in one of my earliest posts that I was a short lived trainee in professional wrestling. I spent the better part of 2 years going down to Malden, MA working out at Walter 'Killer' Kowalski's school of professional wrestling.

Without going into much detail right now due to time constraints I will just tell you this. Walt was a very philosophical man. He was also well respected. Not one person would enter his class without walking over to him and shaking his hand. Nor would anyone leave his class without doing the same. This was the ultimate sign of respect for an icon in the profession.'

He unfortunately passed away yesterday. It is very sad news. But rather than talking about that I want to just tell you of an experience I had with him that I will always remember...

It was probably toward the end of my training as a professional wrestler. I had many injuries by that time. Mostly bruises and such, but I had also once fractured my wrist and blown out my knee a few times as well.

This was probably the 3rd time I had tweaked my knee while in the ring. It was very discouraging especially since no doctor could tell me what was wrong since my knee looked 100% health.

As I sat outside the ring watching other young athletes running the ropes and doing drills I seemed pretty down. My knee ached and I knew that I probably wasn't going to be able to do this for much longer. Walt must have seen this because he got up from his bench (which he rarely did except to come in the ring and show us a move to or two from his days dominating the ring) and walked over and sat down next to me.

He had a nice long chat with me and told me that he saw great things in my future. Now this is always something great to hear from loved ones, family and friends, but when you hear it from someone that has barely a relationship with you, especially someone as iconic as Walt was, say that to you, it can only lift your spirits.

He then got something from his bag. It was a laminated piece of paper. He may have had more then one of these likely, but he gave this one to me and said, "Always live life now. Don't dwell on the past or think about the future." He then got up and went back over to his bench.

Here is what was written on the paper he gave me:

---------------------------------
God is Now

We spend so much time in the past. Dreaming about things that have been and have gone. These things no longer exist. The past does not exist! So, also, we worry about the future, something that has not yet occurred. The future also does not exist. There is only the present. We should make the present, this instant, our very own and personal creation of joy and happiness. just think, each instant starts with a clean, new, pure birth, and it last forever.

The is continually changing from one moment to the next.

Now, God does not change. God is, and has been, the same and always will be. Since time is always changing and God does not change, there is no God in time. In other words, God does not require time to act for you. God is now.

Each instant, every moment, starts a pure new birth; it starts holy. We ourselves desecrate this holy instant. Each holy instant is full of love. Let us expand it, and make it last forever.

We start each and every moment a holy person, make it last forever. This moment, as you read this, I start my holy love expanding in your world.

All my love for you, to last forever.

Walter Kowalski
-------------------------------

Thank you Walt...

Seriously? No, SERIOUSLY???

2008-08-27T06:21:00.002-04:00

I know I said I wouldn't talk about politics in this blog, but I also said I could break any of my own rules too so sorry if I disappoint.

Whether you are Republican or Democrat or Independent, it doesn't matter to me. The only thing that matters is if you have a way of reasoning your choice that isn't total BS. Just don't be for one group or the other because you 'always' vote that way or because you're 'upset' about something. Vote because you believe in the policies that each candidate brings to the table.

What I can't stand is people like this: (note: Not Clinton supporters, but people who make no sense in their reasoning and can't back up their statements)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVHZHuyVeio

I really hope these people are Republicans just trying to cause controversy at the DNC because if they aren't then they are just idiots.

PS: Here's the link where CNN debunks these statements way back in 2007...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/22/obama.madrassa/

Why is Oasis Underrated in the USofA?

2008-08-25T15:25:00.002-04:00

I recently (back in May) got a newer iPod. Up until then I had an iPod Mini (old school baby) from way back in 2005. It did it's job well, but I was never able to keep all my songs in it. There just wasn't enough room. So I went from a 4GB Mini to an 80GB iPod Video.

Granted, I will never have over 20,000 songs which this thing can hold, but at least now I can hold every album on it rather then only a select few 'favorites' from each of my CDs that I've collected over the years.

I'm so glad I got it too because now I have gotten reacquainted with some of my favorite bands along with their lesser known songs that are greats. One band in particular has peaked my interest as of late and that band is Oasis. I know you're surprised aren't you since the name of the band was no where to be seen until now. I'm clever like that. I like to hold you in suspense. What? It was in the title? Oh...

Anyway, Oasis is a great band and I don't think they get enough props here in the USofA. I asked my good friend Liz, who lives in Ireland if Oasis was popular over there in Europe and she said they were very much so. I am glad to hear it, but wish we Americans appreciated the band as much as our fellow Europeans do.

To state boldly, Oasis is not just a cheap knockoff of the Beatles. This is 100% false and any American who thinks so is a moron. They are also not just a few 'hit' wonders with hits such as "Wonderwall," "Champagne Supernova" and "Don't Go Away"...

There are so many songs that I will admit I forgot that are wonderful from this band. Each album is different and wonderful. "Going Nowhere" for instance, (what I am currently listening to) is great. One of my favorites at the moment is "Half the World Away"...

Some others to consider:

"Some Might Say"
"Talk Tonight"
"Morning Glory"
"All Around the World"

I'm not a music junkie at all. I usually am a person who likes this song or that song from an album, but never the whole album. There are only a few bands that I can listen to the whole album and go, "Yeahhhh." Oasis, thankfully is once again one of those bands.

I am grateful of my new iPod and this re-discovery of a great great band...

Are the Olympics Finally Over?

2008-08-18T14:33:00.002-04:00

Well, not really, but to me they seem to be. Whenever the Olympics comes around I am never really interested in them. I have no investment in it and would rather watch yet another Red Sox game on another channel instead.

But then the Olympics start. At first I stubbornly look away and don't sit down to watch. Pam has them on constantly because she can't get enough of them. I find other things to do, like going online and playing old school classic Nintendo and knocking some homers in the greatest baseball game for the NES of all time, Bad New Baseball...

10 o'clock at night rolls around and Pam is still fixated on the games. Some guy named Phelps is swimming or something. Yeah he's famous I think. He won a bunch of gold's 4 years ago and broke a lot of world records. I remember that. Did I watch the Olympics in 2004? No way, I'm not a big fan.

Then Phelps first meet comes up. I decide to pick my head up and indulge Pam for a moment and watch with her. WOW...holy crap was he fast! That was awesome...Is he part fish or something?

I'm forever hooked. Every night I stay up later then I should just to get a glimpse of Phelps break another record and win another goal. And then I find myself watching the other swimmers as well and rooting for them. Go USA!

It's infectious. Phelps makes it so. His dominance of the sport makes you want to know who his competition is and ask why he doesn't do every race there is. Why only 8 of them? Well, for one it's because he has to qualify which accounts for 17 total races in just over a weeks time. That's a lot. Just doing one race is tough to do. If you don't think so, why don't you go start training for 2012 already. Yeah I THOUGHT so!

Anyway, for some reason now I am just as obsessed with the Olympics as Pam is. It's on all the time at our house. We watched most of the women's marathon for goodness sake! Beach volleyball is fun to watch too. Well at least Girl's beach volleyball. Haha, just kidding...or am I? *duh duh duhhhhhh*

Now it's mostly track and field events. They are okay, but nothing tops swimming. I never thought I would say that, but Phelps made swimming the most entertaining sport of the Olympics. He does things right. He doesn't show boat (No thanks Lightning Bolt or whatever the hell you call yourself). He is just an all around stand up guy and a great role model for young kids. Hard work, dedication, and doing things right can get you far in life.

I'm a little burnt out right now, but will probably still watch many more Olympic events this week. I feel like I need to. It's time to be patriotic and root for the men and women like Phelps that bust their butts year round for a chance to represent our country and show that it's okay to root for the home team and chant U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!

Go Team...

Why Does Fruit Suck So Much?

2008-08-13T06:43:00.002-04:00

Let me be Frank for a minute here. I love fruit and eat it every day, but I still sometimes think it sucks. And here is why:

Since I have started my new schedule of four 10 hour days with Friday's off we have started to get our groceries done early every week and gone to Hannaford Thursday evening after I get out of work. I love doing this because it frees up time for my three day weekends I now have. Plus, we always go as a family and usually make good choices about what to get and what junk not to be tempted to get.

Anyway, I am a strong believer in having 6 small meals a day. I have been doing this routine for about a year now and let me tell you it works. I eat a small breakfast in the morning (usually cereal) and then have some kind of fruit for a snack a few hours later (back to that in a moment). Then I have a nice lunch which is usually either a sandwich, salad with chicken or left overs from the previous dinner. When I get home from work I have a small snack like crackers or something similar to keep me satisfied until dinner. I have a nice meal for dinner (usually my biggest meal of the day) and then a small snack before 9pm for dessert. (I try to stay away from too much sugar so I sleep better)

Basically I try to space out the 6 meals evenly throughout the day so I never get those hunger pains which will tend to make me eat more then I normally would. It doesn't always work out perfectly, but I tend to follow this plan 4-5 days a week which is great.

This routine has really helped my metabolism. My weight use to fluctuate 5-10 pounds easily all the time before I started eating like this. Now I can easily maintain the weight I am at as long as I don't over indulge myself on sweets or extra snacks. This is very hard at the moment since Pam is pregnant and needs to snack more frequently. I love her though and it's not her fault I can't resist temptation when she is up for something sweet.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. My morning snack, as I said is usually some kind of fruit. My problem with fruit is that it never lasts as long as it should. When I pick it up on Thursdays at the store it always looks absolutely delicious. There are also many different types of fruit I like as well. Here are some examples:

-Apples (Cortland)
-grapes (big green kind)
-pears
-bananas

I like oranges as well, but they are way too messy to eat while at work. It's also a pain in the ass to peel them. Maybe someone should sell pre-peeled oranges. Those I would buy!

But the big four listed above is what I normally get. And always by Wednesday they are already soft and mushy and bruise. It annoys me to no end. I still eat them because I need the natural sugars to keep me going (I don't drink coffee) but it's not as delicious as I imagined while picking them up at the store.

Pam suggested we go later in the week so they don't do this, but this mushy fruit is not a new trend. It has been happening for a long time. Even if I buy the fruit on Saturday or Sunday it always seems to ripen too fast.

I've tried refrigerating some, but that usually tends to speed up the process and make them bruise faster (except for grapes). Does anyone else have this problem? I don't want to have to get fresh fruit every day in order to have it at the perfect ripeness and I don't see much fruit on the shelves that look like they have past their prime anyway.

How long does fruit stay on the store shelves to make it look so tasty? A day before it's replaced? Is this some sort of trick by the grocery stores into making me think I am getting good fruit, but as soon as it's taken off their 'magic' shelves it will ripen beyond repair?

It's a mystery that bothers me because it's a vicious cycle that I can't control. I know tomorrow will come and I will look and see some fruit that will look amazingly good. But if I don't eat it the second I take it off the shelf I know I will be in for disappointment...

Why Does it Matter if it's a Boy or a Girl?

2008-08-11T14:45:00.002-04:00

I've had this conversation with many many people since before Dougie was born. It was again brought up when Pam got pregnant back in January. This is how the conversation usually went...

--------------------------------
Someone: Oh, what are you having?

Me: A baby!

Someone: No, I mean a boy or a girl?

Me: A surprise!

Someone: You're not finding out?

Me: Nope. We didn't with Dougie either.

Someone: How do you plan?

Me: It's not that hard. We're having a baby...It's not a big difference like a dog vs. a donkey or something...

Someone: I could never not know! I need to plan...

Me: For what? A baby's a baby.

Someone: Well, I need to know so I can buy stuff for it...Like clothes.

Me: You do know the stores don't close when the baby is born right?
---------------------------------

These are conversations both Pam and I have and it's just funny to me. People always seem to freak out and can't believe we're not finding out. I just don't see the problem I guess. I ask most people if they care what they are having and they say that they don't because in the end we all just want a healthy, happy baby.

So why all the fuss? A baby is TINY when it's born so it's not like you have to purchase a whole wardrobe for it beforehand. Usually for the first 3 months babies wear these things called 'onesies' that are usually 'white' which is a pretty neutral color. It's not until after that when they start wearing 'outfits' relating to the gender...

And besides, Pam and I picked out two outfits for when the baby comes home from the hospital. A boy outfit and a girl outfit. Yes, we spent an extra $10 for not knowing, but then again, if it's a boy, we have a nice girl outfit to give to one of our many friends that are also having a baby. We just killed two birds there you see?

Some people ask in almost hysterics, "Well, what about painting the room or car seat or crib sheets or the pack n play or ahhhhhhh!" I always think their head is going to explode as if me not knowing what gender my future child is affects them in some way. But to answer that question we pick neutral colors.

We do not pick neutral colors just because we don't know the sex of our baby, but because it's common sense. There's plenty of time later to get blues or pinks in relation to the baby, but when you're talking about room color? Well, I don't want to have to paint that room every time Pam pops a kid out so 'yellow' is good for me.

Also, I know money doesn't grow on trees so if I knew Dougie was a boy beforehand I still would not have bought blue sheets, a blue car seat, a blue pack n play etc. etc. because then what if this one is a girl? Now all the $$$ I spent on that stuff is wasted because I 'obviously' can't put a girl in blue stuff. So now I need all pink stuff. I guess it's back to the drawing board...

As you can see by the 'quotes' throughout I am trying to use a tone that everyone can come on board with. Frankly I believe capital America came up with the boys are 'blue' and girls are 'pink' for this very reason. To get gullible people to think they have to obey these two laws when it comes to new babies which gives the big companies to suck you dry once you have a baby of each sex. Silly people...

But in all seriousness folks. The main reason why we don't find out if we are having a boy or a girl is because it doesn't matter to us. Yes, we may have a preference, but in the end as long as it's healthy that's all that matters. And it's the greatest feeling when the grueling labor (love you Pam) is all over and out comes a baby and you get a first look and see if it's a boy or a girl is the best feeling in the world.

Because then as a dad who mostly sits by and just tries to comfort his wife as much as he can through all the pain has the pure joy of going out into the delivery room and telling everyone, "It's a BOY!" and proclaiming the name we have picked out as husband and wife together. It truly is a magical feeling...

Did/Do I Have a Split Personality?

2008-08-05T13:33:00.002-04:00

I was trying to think of something random to blog about today when my good friend Liz suggested that I write about one of my favorite movies I had when I was a kid. Although, I am not going to take her idea and write about that subject, she is still brilliant for helping me come up with another tale.

To give you a little background about me I am a Gemini. I was born on May 31, 1981. I was actually due to enter the world on June 1, 1981, but decided to grace everyone with my presence a day early. My mum notes that I must have been impatient and have been ever since which may or may not be true!

Anyway, the definition of Gemini according to Wikipedia (the most accurate information site out there, let's face it) is that Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Gemini (also known as the 'Twins'). What the hell that means, well I have no idea, but the idea of "Twins" is a reference I want to focus on.

The 'Twins' of Gemini refer to several different things in astrology. Most notably in Greek mythology it refers to two actual twins, Apollo and Artemis, son and daughter to Zeus. But the reference to twins can also refer to one person or entity being with a 'twin' or duel personality.

A lot of people refer to us Gemini's as just that, someone who has two sides to them whether that is a good thing or bad thing. Sometimes I do wonder if I have a good and evil side to me, but I don't want to get too metaphorical in this blog. Instead I am going to focus on an actual split personality I had as a child.

It was a long time ago so the details are a little bit fuzzy. When I close my eyes and try to think of it I can see one main image in my head. It's a picture that my parents have in one of their albums my sister made them of us kids growing up.

Wait a second, this listening to Cranberries on my ipod while trying to visualize this is not working. I need to set the mood. Let's see here...Ah, the soundtrack to Shawshank Redemption should set the mood for me. Much better...

I was wearing a set of PJs...I know they had red in them, on the sleeves, and then white as well down the front. There was a picture of something...A cartoon? No...maybe it was a movie...it escapes me at the moment. All I know is it was a matching top and bottom pair...

I remember going into the Foyer (yes we were that special that we had a Foyer) closet. I would open the door and there they were. I can see them sitting there in the corner. Long brown boots and a matching brown hat. It was cowboy attire. I'm pretty sure the boots were mine, but I don't remember them fitting perfectly on me. I don't know if the hat also belonged to me or not, but I grabbed it anyway...

I think I had to go upstairs in my room or in the closet in the Family Room (which now is just a hole where my parents big wide screen TV is resting. I had a plastic gun holster belt and two sliver six-shooters. The paint was wearing off on the guns, but you could still cock them and pull the trigger to make a snapping noise. Actually, I think one was broken so the trigger just wiggled a little bit...

Once that belt was around my waste with boots and hat on I turned into a different person. And I don't mean just the "Oh look, he's pretending and playing dress-up, how cute!" kind of different. I mean I was actually a different person.

The reason I know this is for several reasons. For one, I never remember actually walking around in that ridiculous outfit, but I always remember putting it on and taking it off. Another reason is because of my name. When I was young everyone called me Niki for short. My family, friends, parents friend etc.

Eventually I got 'too cool for school' and dropped the last 'i' and went by Nik, but never when I was younger did I go by Nik. Except in this instance. And it wasn't just Nik that you had to call me, it was Cowboy Nik. That's right. Laugh all you want, but if you had tried to get my attention when I was in that getup I would simply ignore you. Just ask my mum's friend Jeanie. She knows...

I would strut into the kitchen making sure my heels clicked the ground first before my narrow-toed boots hit the linoleum. I would tip my cap to the ladies as I walked by. I didn't say much, maybe a "howdy ma'am" or something to that effect, but I moved like I was in the wild west looking for trouble at ever turn...

Except it wasn't the Wild West that I was from. Nope, I was Cowboy Nik from the Westside of Chicago. Had I ever been to Chicago or heard about it? Nope. But here I was, full character and everything ready and waiting to dispose of evil-doers...

I know you're thinking, 'But Nik, how do you know these details if you say you don't remember what you were doing while wearing that stuff?' Well, I'll tell you. Some of it is from first hand accounts from my parents and siblings. The other thing is I can picture it as if I were watching it happen. It's as if I were an invisible person in the room watching myself do these things. An onlooker if you will...

Was it a split personality? Maybe...It could have just been an active kids imagination as well. But being a Gemini is no coincidence. I don't believe in those anyway. If it wasn't just my wild imagination then what was it? And the biggest question is, where did Cowboy Nik from the Westside of Chicago go and will he ever return?

For your sake and mine, I hope not...

Why Do I Like Harry Potter So Much?

2008-07-30T10:34:00.002-04:00

Dork Alert: The following post shows just how much of a dork I am. Read at your own risk...

The first trailer for the next Harry Potter movie just hit the Internet last night. I've watched it several times now and get goosebumps every time I watch it. As I was watching it for the 4th time it made me wonder just why I love the Harry Potter Series so much. Am I just a dork at heart? Maybe so...

Just to prove to you how obsessed I am with the Series I will tell you right now that I have read through the Harry Potter books 4 or 5 times now. I've lost count. I also have the audio books on my iPod as well and have listened to them at work recently and will probably again before the next movie comes out in November...

I've read and liked other novels in the past, but I've never immersed myself so much into a book before reading Harry Potter. I just seem to get lost in the moment when I read them and everything around me disappears. It's like I'm inside someones memory just like the Pensive for those other Potty Geeks out there reading this...

Anyway, I chalk it up to great writing. It brings me back to my youth when I would imagine everything and anything. It also inspires me to be able to write something like that. Maybe not a novel because I don't know if I could every be so detailed and my vocabulary isn't stellar either, but maybe a short story or screenplay. I think my heart just tells me that I could do something like this, not at this level per say, but something that people might put down after reading it and say, 'wow'...

Another point I want to make is how the Books and Movies are the same story, but different takes of it. A lot of fans do not like the movies because they cut things and change things around to fit it all onto a screen in two and a half hours. I actually love that aspect of it even if I get disappointed from time to time when they don't include something here or there...

The tones of the movies have stayed true to the books in my mind and that's all that matters. My favorite book was by far the 4th book, but so far my favorite movie is the 5th one. I am so glad David Yates is directing the 6th and both parts of the 7th movie as well. I think all of the directors were able to capture the magic (no pun intended) of the books and tones well, but Yates has taken them to new levels...

I want to point out that although I am a pretty obsessed fan, I am not demanding that J.K. Rowlings write another book. I would definitely not mind if she did (perhaps a prequel about the Founding Members of Hogwarts?) but I am perfectly content reading the wonderful Series she has already created over and over again. They never get old or stale to me and each time I read them is like the first time...

I know not everyone is a Potter fan and I'm not trying to make you out to be one. I just hope there is something out there that can captivate you and inspire you as much as this series has done for me. It truly is a wonderful feeling...

Would I Do the Right Thing?

2008-07-28T09:08:00.002-04:00

Although many people want to hear my take on The Dark Knight I simple cannot write just another review of a great film. There was too many reviews and blogs about this movie out there already and I doubt I could put it any better or worse then the ones that have already been written. Plus writing a simple review would not be very 'random' which is the basis of what I blog about.

Instead I am going to talk about a dream I had this past weekend that got me thinking at 1:45 in the morning so much so that when I awoke from my slumber I was adamant about making sure I wrote it down right then so I would not forget any of the fuzzy details. As I was writing down a few points I realized that this dream can be related to The Dark Knight in a small way so that will have suffice for those of you wishing to hear my take on the film...

And heeeeere we go...
-------------------------
My eyes are open, but I am not awake. I am wandering. Wandering down random hallways. Are then dorm rooms or is this a hotel of sorts. It's a hotel. I see people in shorts and tee shirts. Where am I? I stand in front of a door. I think this is my room, but I do not have the key. The door doesn't open. I must be locked out.

I head to the elevator which takes me down, down, down...It opens at the lobby. Yes, this is a hotel, but where? I walk outside. I am on a strip of hotels. Is it Vegas? No, it can't be. There are beaches all around me. It's Miami of all places. It's weird that I know it's daytime and yet there's a shadow of darkness all around me. Am I on vacation? I need to get back to my room and figure out how the hell I got to Miami.

Everything's fuzzy. I'm now sitting in a home. It looks vaguely familiar. Maybe it's the home of one of my old friends from school where he grew up. It seems to be similar at least. I'm just a spectator now. Watching as two people fight. A man and a woman. The man is a friend of my dad's I think. Steve is his name. He's arguing with a girl my age or a little older. She may have been in my class, but I don't quite recognize her.

He says she tricked him. He was conned into divorcing his wife for her and then now she is taking all of his money. Is she a con artist? This is really strange. Why am I here watching this. I should go. I turn away and close my eyes. I don't want to hear this...

I'm at Starkey Ford in York, Maine of all places. My dad is with me. It looks more like a junk yard of cars though all piled and crushed on top of each other. We both get into the back of a car. Two other guys are in the front. They seem kind of sketchy. Wait I know why now. It's as if the information was downloaded into my brain suddenly.

These guys are crooks. They stole a big diamond. Why are they here? The driver also was accused of almost killing a man, but that charge was dropped so they could get him on the theft instead. Why would they do that? I don't get the judicial system sometimes.

They crooks drive us around front and let us out. I walk into the building first, but it's different. The shop is out front instead of the Show Room...That's so weird, but then again the place is a junk yard and I was just driven around front by some criminals.

Before I am in the building I hear my dad make a wise crack to the driver. I don't know what was said, but the driver is furious. He gets out of the car. I walk out back not thinking much of it. The place is kind of deserted. Is it the weekend or something? My dad is on the other side of the wall from me walking toward some offices. I'm in the shop area. I hear the driver arguing with my dad making threatening slurs. My dad's not paying attention.

The crook has a gun. I can tell. Can I see through the wall or did I see him pull it out before he went out of site on the other side? My heart starts pounding. He shoots the gun into the air to get my dad's attention. I get down. I'm scared now. I need to help my dad. I grab a broomstick. I don't think this is going to do the trick.

The crook is pointing the gun at my dad. I throw something in the opposite direction to get him to come back toward where I am. What do I do. I drop the stick and grab a garden edger. What is this doing here. It's made of pure metal. I don't want to die...

The guy comes around the corner. I smack him square in the face. I keep hitting him. All I can hear is my pounding heart. I'm not going to die. The second crook comes in to see what the commotion is. I swing wildly knocking him back while also knocking the driver over a ledge railing into a pitfall. Where did that come from?

I reach out and grab him. He's dangling there. I can see fear in his eyes. He was going to kill us. I should do the same. I should let him fall. That way I know we will be safe. If I let him live then I will live in fear knowing he can escape prison and come after us. I should let him die. It would be easier. The safest route.

But I can't. I pull him up. As I do so I start to fall into the pit. The second crook comes to my rescue. He's doing the right thing too. Why didn't he just let me fall? He's evil. But he's also human...

I roll over and wake up. It's 1:45am. I need to write this weird dream down...
---------------------------
You either die a hero...or live long enough to become the villain...

This dream got me thinking. It also reminded me of an underlying theme in The Dark Knight. I won't talk of any specifics for those of you who haven't seen it, but SHOULD! Anyway, there is a theme of 'Doing the right Thing" in several parts of the movie.

Do you sacrifice yourself to save someone else? Do you choose to let someone else die so you can live? Do you kill to ensure your safety and the safety of others in the future? Very powerful stuff to think about.

I'm not sure what I would do. I hope in the time of crisis I would do the right thing. If someone I loved was in trouble I would do all I could to save them. But if I had the chance to save my villain from doom would I? Would I let them live or would I act as Judge, Jury, and Executioner and ensure the safety of everyone around me?

If you had a gun pointed at you and you had two choices:

1. Disarm your attacker and let them live, possibly giving them a second chance to kill you in the future?
2. Kill them then and there. End it so the fear would be gone...

That's a question that's not so easy to answer. I know if the time came I would protect those around me whom I love dearly, but would I take that last leap and kill to ensure their safety? Maybe out of fear I would. A struggle for sure that I hope I never have to make...

Who Has the Best Pizza?

2008-07-23T14:06:00.002-04:00

As I was sitting in the cafe during lunch a conversation was brought up about pizza. I can honestly say I have no idea how the subject came about, but what stood out was the bickering back and forth between fellow lunch goers as to what pizza was better. For example here was a quick excerpt of part of a conversation between two people:

"La Festa is good, but if I'm going to Dover to get pizza, I'm getting Rogers!"

"Eww...Are you serious?"

"Oh Rogers is the best...I would eat it every day if I could!"

"That's funny because whenever I drive by Rogers I actually think to myself, 'God that stuff is awful!'"

As the two and others threw their opinions back and forth I sat there thinking, what is my favorite place? I chimed in a few times, but as I sat back at my desk this afternoon I really had to think. It's a very hard question. There are so many factors to think about. So many tastes and flavors to savor in my mouth.

Plus there's the fact that I love pizza and would eat it every single day if it didn't mean I would weight a thousand pounds because of it. I decided it was hard to state one pizza is better then all the rest so I decided to list my top 5 pizza places.

First I need to give a shout out and express my love for this "honorable mention" pizza place that won't make the list. I worked at a place in York, ME called La Stalla Pizza which was run by the same place at Fazios Restaurant. I loved their pizza. Unfortunately after I left those summers working for them the food went a little downhill. The pizza dough got a little too 'doughy' for me after that. Then they shut down, so I am excluding them off the top 5, but wanted to at least mention them....

#5. Best Fast Food Pizza: Domino's Pizza

Domino's is one of those cravings you get where you can't stop thinking about it. You get all hyped up for it and then eating it is delicious until the very end. Then you regret ever touching the stuff. You realize that the crust is all bubbly and dry and cheese isn't the best either. It's a quick fix when you're in a bind and out does any other big chains in my book. (IE: Pizza Hut, Papa Gino's etc.)

#4. Best Greasy Pizza: Joe's NY Pizza

Joe's has amazing pizza, but it can be tough to handle at times. It is very greasy and sits like a rock in your stomach afterwards, but you still don't regret it quite as much as you would Domino's. The best portion is the Meat Pizza which has about a pound of meat in each slice. This is an artery clogger if there ever was one. Delicious...

#3. Best I'd Travel Far Far Away to Get it Pizza: Village East Pizzeria

This is a pizza place in the East Village of New York City. I lived there for a summer while attending New York Film Academy (another story for another time). This place was off the beaten path in the East Village. We were shooting in the area one day and decided to stop in this little pizza shop. (I may have gotten the name wrong though because I could not remember the exact location, but would find it if I were there)

I saw a pizza with little bits of sausage with peas of all things. I thought to myself that it looked like the grossest thing I had ever seen. Peas on a pizza? No way! But I decided to try it for whatever reason and it was amazing. I loved it. I loved it so much I went out of my way to go back there again on two different occasions. One of those occasions I was with my future wife, brother-in-law and pregnant older sister. My apologies to them because it was not an easy place to get to from the subway station...

#2. Best Slices of Pizza: La Festa Pizza

This pizza place is right in downtown Dover, NH. It has great slices. Although they can be greasy at times, they are thin crust and very tasty. I would highly recommend getting a white buffalo slice and a bbq chicken slice. Those are my favorites. They are excellent pieces of pie and don't make you feel like crap afterwards either. Nice and crunchy crust too which is always a plus...

#1. Best Overall Pizza: Bratskellar

Simply the best BBQ Chicken pizza I have ever had. The pizzas are small, but fill you up so much. Lots of cheese, flavorful sauce and big chunks of BBQ chicken to boot. The crust is crunchy and not too thin or thick, but a perfect mixture of the two styles. If I could only eat one type of pizza for the rest of my life this would be the one. It melts in your mouth what can I say...

I can't go without mentioning the World's Worst Pizza: Some place in Italy (yes the country)

I don't know if I was just tired from the long flight with my fellow seniors on our class trip or what. Maybe I expect too much of it. We were in the Pizza capital of the world. I was expecting heaven on my mouth I guess. What I got was this crappy doughy pizza with splattered on chunks of tomato (chunky sauce is a big no-no in my book) and sparse amounts of some gawd awful cheese. It was disgusting. I hope it was only the one place, but maybe that's just how they roll in Italy. It was a major disappointment...

But again, these are all just one man's opinion...

Man vs. Sleep: Who Wins?

2008-07-22T06:38:00.002-04:00

My apologies for the lack of entries lately. Apparently I had the 'Man Flu' last week and had a hard time being inspired to write anything worth noting. But, enough of the excuses and here's the next entry.

It was a night like any other. Pam and I had gotten into bed at a decent time (before 9:30pm) and were having our nightly chat as we always do before falling asleep. I was very comfortable thinking that I was finally going to get a good night's rest. After discussing the days topics I turned the TV to the "Soundscapes" channel and rolled over. My arm curled around Pam's pregnant belly and we both quickly drifted off...

It was late...It felt like 2 in the morning maybe. We could hear the faint cry from Dougie coming from the monitor. It seemed he had lost his 'Ogg' which is his trusted friend and stuffed animal, the Frog. After a deep sigh, Pam slowly rolled out of bed. My head stayed resting on my pillow quickly starting to let my dreams whisk me away once more. My eyes shut...

A TERRIFYING SCREAM rings throughout the room. My head darts up and I sit up in bed. My heart is pounding. I could see Pam's silhouette at the end of our long master bedroom, just next to our master bathroom door and a few paces from the door to the office. Her image was dark, with an eerie blue hue forming around her from the night light in the little hallway there between our closets and the bathroom.

ANOTHER SCREAM. This time I saw it...Something was here that did not belong. It was too mammoth to be a moth. It whooshed by Pam's head. She ducked. The creature of the night squeaked and darted into the main part of the room. I jumped out of bed and kneeled behind the mattress as if I were avoiding cover fire from the enemy.

With the shadow of what appeared to be a six foot wing span swooping around the dark room Pam ran out to do her duty as a mother and make sure our son was okay. His cries were the reason we had been awoken in the first place. Our little furry friend was just an added bonus.

It turned out that Dougie's frog was simply next to him where he couldn't see it. Pam placed it in his hands and kissed him back to sleep returning quickly to the battle at hand. She made sure to keep the door between the bedroom and office shut. With her quick thinking she moved into the bathroom and grabbed the bottom piece of Dougie's Potty Trainer (it was clean since he rarely uses it. You can't rush boys you know!).

As she came back out of the bathroom she shut the door so we could trap it in the room. Except our room was rather big. Plenty of room for this devil to flap around and dive bomb us at any chance it got. Still behind the bed trying to think quickly I said, "Should I whack it with a pillow?" Pam, kneeling down low responded, "It's not a bug!!"

With pillow in hand and made a waving motion and realized Pam was right. This flimsy thing was not going to work against this beast. My eyes, adjusting to the darkness moved quickly to something near the TV. Thank you Dougie for playing with our mesh trash bin that we never use anymore. It was laying there dormant on it's side.

I inched my way over to it staying low and grabbed the bin. We needed to trap this thing. Meanwhile as I got closer to the task at hand Pam was taking mighty whacks with her small contraption trying to trap the monster. After a few swipes as it criss-crossed around the room she got a piece of it and it moved closer to the door. Again Pam got a handle on it as I moved closer and whacked it to the floor right next to the door. We got it...

I was too confident. Within seconds it wiggled UNDER the door and out into the office. This was about to get much more difficult for us if it made it into the main part of the house. Right behind Pam we inched out way out into the office. I shut the door behind us cutting off our pathway. All was quiet except for the quick beating of our hearts as the battle continued.

The shadow fluttered from the hallway into the office and then back into the hallway. We needed to trap it in the office or else the battle would be lost. Sneaking over to the door it darted back into the office. As it darted back toward the hall we cut off it's access and shut the door. We once again had it trapped.

Staying low we waited for it to move. It did. We both took ferocious swipes at the air trying to knock it down with out weapons. Several near misses. Then finally Pam gets her device on the mighty thing and stuns it. Another WHACK and Pam releases her weapon in the air. It catches the creature and both weapon and demon fall behind the TV laying on the floor.

We move in. The bat is stunned laying in the bottom of Dougie's Potty Trainer. Quick as a whip I slam my trash bin down on top of it trapping this thing that has disturbed our slumber. Keeping the bin tightly on top of the Potty I pick both up. The beast is furious...or scared I can't tell, but it lets out an awful screech.

Pam opens the door and we move down the stairs and into the kitchen, then out to the mudroom. I beckon Pam to open the sliding glass door. She does and flicks on the light outside. I look back and say, "Shut the door behind me..." It's up to me now to finish the job. The door shuts and all is silent in the woods around me except for the squeaks coming from the man made cage I hold in front of me.

I pull the two pieces apart and wait. It doesn't move. I shake the bin to try and force it out. It clings on. Several intense moments pass when I think I'm going to have to reach in there and pull it out. I didn't think to just leave the bin outside and walk away. Thankfully the time never came. Within a few seconds the creature of the night darts for freedom and flies away into the night.

The war is over. We won...Battle worn, and dripping with sweat Pam and I move back into the house and check for damages. We check every nook and cranny to make sure this was a one time incident and there would be no more disturbances that night.

Although it felt like an eternity, only 15 minutes had passed from the moment of those first screams of terror. Suffice it to say, it took us awhile to feel comfortable and drift back to sleep...There goes another good night's rest for us...

Am I Prejudice?

2008-07-14T14:48:00.004-04:00

I've spent all weekend wondering if I should write this blog. I still haven't been able to collect my thoughts on the question so I'm worried what I say will come out wrong or be mis-interpreted or even just be babble and not make a lot of sense. Well, here goes nothing...

On any other day, before Thursday night I would say, no way. I am not a prejudice person. I don't judge people on their religion, political views, color of their skin, sexual orientation or preference. That's just not me. I had to learn all of this as I grew up, but I was never forced to believe in one thing or another.

I wasn't always smart about each subject and don't claim to be an expert on any of it either. For instance, I used to use derogatory terms growing up until I used one of those phrases in front of someone who found offense to it. Even though I was not using the words in a derogatory way, it was a moment where I realized how dumb I had been all those years just from the expression on my friend's face.

It wasn't a look of anger, but more of a look of shock that I would say something so out of context. He even started laughing. I proceeded to blush in embarrassment and realized I was in fact an idiot. It never happened again and for good reason.

Before that moment I would not have thought of myself as prejudice, but in a way I was. It may have only been sub-consciously or because of pure ignorance, but I was. Once I realized my mistake I got the confidence back that I was a better person from then on.

Then last Thursday came around. I was out and about running some errands with Pam and Dougie. As we were walking through the store Pam went to retrieve an item that we needed while Dougie and I waited in the wings. A man who was passing by stopped and smiled. I felt a brief moment of hesitation from the start.

The man was wearing a headgear (and not the dreaded headgear that goes with braces). He politely said hi to Dougie and then asked if I was from the area. We made polite small talk about where we lived and I mentioned that I worked at Pease. He mentioned he was from India and lived in NJ most of his life before moving up here a few weeks ago.

Before I knew it Pam was back at the cart and he said hi and we said we should continue shopping and said our adieu...

Now here was a man who was just making small talk and trying to get to know his local residents and here I was wondering every second why he was asking me these questions and whether or not he had an ulterior motive. I kept telling myself not to think these thoughts, but I couldn't help it.

I'm actually ashamed at myself for worrying about it. I probably shouldn't because as Pam pointed out later that weekend that even if he was a white man asking random questions she would still feel hesitant toward him. But still...

I blame two things besides myself for reacting this way. One is the media...Case in point, the New Yorker today depicting Obama as a Muslim on the cover of their magazine. Although they say it is satire, which is fine, it still shows that the media uses fear to get the attention of it's readers. Usually we only hear the media depict minority groups as doing something wrong and rarely do they show when these same groups are doing something worth mentioning.

The other thing I blame is that small 3% of any group out there. As the saying goes, those few ruin it for the rest of the class. It's a fact of life. It would happen in school, college and even now in the workplace. It will never go away. There will always be bad people out there of all races, genders and color.

I wish I could say I wasn't prejudice...and maybe I'm not...I know there are a lot worse people out there then me...but I strive for perfection in life and prove to myself that I am a good person. But being an optimist I will get through this and realize I am a good person.

Some people wouldn't of taken a second glance. I had no problems making small talk with a nice man. I wish I had gotten his name. And if he's out there I wish to apologize on behalf of myself and others like me...

Superman or Batman: Who is Superior?

2008-07-10T14:36:00.003-04:00

WARNING: This is an opinion and may not agree with plenty of you out there. It is only an opinion and I mean no disrespect to anyone who thinks differently. (I do not claim to be an 'expert' on the subject either so don't bash me for not being one)

Although my childhood bias had always led me to believe Superman is better than Batman in every way, I will admit that over the years that opinion has changed. I will state right now that I will probably always be a Superman fan first. That's just the way it is, but as I've learned more about the Batman mythos I will admit he comes in a very close second with Superman just tipping the scale in his favor.

Again this is an opinion in regards to the two characters as heroes and not which comic is better or which movies are better. Those are completely different subjects in my mind. I base my opinion on the two heroes lives as a whole.

Here is a bulleted point by point of why I believe Superman is superior to Batman:

1. Superman has "super" in it...SUPERior...Get it? Okay that was a cheap one, but I'm trying to keep this lighthearted.

2. Batman's has to deal with his parent's death...
Superman has to deal with Krypton's death and being the last of his kind... (+1)

3. Batman has to keep an eye on all of Gotham...
Superman has to keep an eye on the World... (+1)

4. Batman has 3 identities: Batman, Fake Bruce Wayne (The bachelor) and Real Bruce Wayne (which was excellently portrayed in Batman Begins by the way)
Superman also has 3 identities: Superman, Clark Kent (his secret identity) and Kal-El/Kansas Clark Kent (never fully developed in my mind unfortunately) (-1)

5. Batman has no super powers, but uses his skills and weapons as a means to fight justice...
Superman has many super powers, but has to keep them in control (just imagine being able to hear the world and having to block it out) (+1)

6. Batman could probably kill Superman if he had to...
Superman could probably kill everyone if he wasn't a such a boyscout all the time...(-1)

7. If Batman isn't killed he will be able to die peacefully. Well maybe not peacefully, but he will die eventually...
Superman will watch as anyone he has ever cared for will die off around him, once again leaving him alone in the world... (+1)

8. Batman knows when to bend the rules for the greater good...
Superman is always about Truth, Justice and the American Way...(-1)

9: If Batman had to I BELIEVE he would take over Gotham if it called for it...
If Superman had to I BELIEVE he would not take over the world (he is not there to control mankind)...(+1)

So I believe that leaves us with Superman up by 2. You have to give me credit. I respect Batman just as much as Superman, but this is just what I believe. I did not research this, but wrote it from the top of my head.

If you want to debunk my opinions I encourage you to do so. I will try and expand on these views if called for, but I didn't want this to be too long. It's just something I was and always think about so I thought it was random enough to post.

Am I an Optimist or a Pessimist?

2008-07-09T14:34:00.003-04:00

It is said that only 6% of the population can be considered optimists while a whopping 42% are true pessimists, leaving 52% of the population somewhere in the middle. That is a pretty revealing statistic, although I am a bit skeptical seeing as though 68% of statistics are made up on the spot to prove a point favoring an ideal.

So are you a glass is half full or half empty? Is the grass always greener on the other side...but then where is the other side? If you move from one side of a fence to the other don't you find yourself looking back and wondering if that move was right? That's what my discussion to today's question is about...

To put any doubters or worry warts at ease I will tell you flat out that I believe I am an optimist. I strongly believe that and will admit more often then not I lean toward that middle 52%, but feel that most of the time I lean toward that lonely 6% out there.

I could go on a rant about what a great life I have and how much I enjoy each aspect in it's own way, but I don't think that will be an interesting read. It will be too much babble and not enough of getting to the point of why I feel the way I do.

Instead I am going to tell you a little story about a day in the life of my days training as a professional wrestler (That full story is for another day) and how looking back at this event has made me an optimist. So buckle your seat belts and enjoy the journey. Come along with me will you?

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There was a drill that lasted about 5 minutes that we would do and incorporated both of these moves, plus a few others. The goal was for you and a partner to perform these moves in one fluid motion once taking the bumps (when you are tossed around and fall on the mat) and also once giving each move. It was a basic beginning of a match with all the fundamentals.

I was partnered up with one of the more skilled trainees this time and we were last in line. As we watched each pair of people go our instructor (Wagner Brown who always helped train while Walter "Killer" Kowalski watched from his post outside of the ring) seemed to be getting more and more annoyed. The action was just not working. People were messing their spots (when you do a certain set of moves to one another) left and right.

By the time I was up I think Wagner had lost faith in the class for that day. I was determined to get this routine down. I had done well with all the other drills that day and felt good. I just kept telling myself to let things happen and not worry about each spot. Once you start to think too much about what you are doing, it starts to look like the action is choppy.

Myself and Jake (I can't remember his name so Jake will work) paced around the ring. We locked up arm in arm. I grabbed his wrist and twisted it into a wrist lock, moving from there I swung his arm and wrenched it behind his back. Within seconds I pushed his shoulder in and pulled him into a headlock.

Jake pushed me into the ropes but I charged back knocking with his shoulder to mine making him crash to the mat. I jumped over his carcass and rushed toward the ropes springing off them. Jake kept low so I jumped over him laying on his stomach and hit the opposite ropes. Coming back he took a mighty swing at me.

I ducked and bounded again to off the ropes. This time I was ready as I swung my arm across his chest, clothes-lining him to the mat. He quickly got back to his feet and turn toward me. Just as quick I reached and scooped him up into the air in front of me and then body slammed him in the middle of the ring.

Jake ached in pain and forced himself back up. I locked up with him and push him into the far turnbuckle. A CHOP right across his chest rang throughout the building. I grabbed his arm and through him toward the opposite turnbuckle, but his quick thinking and brute force stopped in the middle of the ring and grabbing my arm whipped me toward the other turnbuckle.

I crashed my back into the turnbuckle pads. Looking up I saw I had seconds to react. Jake was charging toward me. I did the only thing I could and rolled out of the way sending him crashing chest first into the turnbuckle.

My knee popped as I rolled. Something was wrong. The adrenaline kept me going.

I bounded up from the roll and turned back to the middle of the ring. Jake was turning around in a daze right at me. I hooked his armpit and Hip Tossed him over me. He instinctively got back to his feet in pain being tossed toward the other corner. He turned toward me, but I was ready.

He swung lazily to the air dazed, but I was too quick. I had grabbed his arm and Arm-Dragged him straight across the ring. Dizzy he fell back into the corner. I show-boated to the the onlookers around the ring and that was my mistake. As I reached to pull him out of the corner of the ring I found a poke in the eye instead.

Within seconds I was locked back up in the middle of the ring with Jake. It was his turn now. The motions were smooth. Everything was repeated, but I was now the one taking each succession of bumps left and right. Clothes-lines and CHOPS to my chest making a red hand print on my skin kept me going.

Move after move was performed with ease and yet I knew something wasn't right. It didn't matter. I was Hip-Tossed and Arm-Dragged across the ring with ease. I got up in a daze and fell limp in the middle of the ropes. Jake charged at me with immense force and clothes-lined me straight over the top rope and out crashing to the floor below.

It was over. I remember echoes of claps ringing out in the loft and whoops and cheers of amazement. We perfected the drill. I got up on my feet and the adrenaline drained...I took and step and slipped. I could not put any pressure on my left leg. I had injured myself and this was an unique injury that would plague me for years to come. (Maybe I will go into detail on that at a later time if anyone wishes to hear it)
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You are all probably wondering why this makes me an optimist. Well, I'll tell you. I look back at that day, even now when I sit here writing this after just recently feeling my knee pop and having to hobble around for 5 days and think to myself, I did it.

I may not have been the best trainee in that room, but that moment and that day I was. Even if my knee kept me from continuing training and having fun with that hobby, I still look back and say I did it. I was able to do something that I told myself I could do. And that, my friends, is all that matters to me.

Who am I and Why am I Blogging?

2008-07-08T12:39:00.000-04:00

Hello folks,

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Nik and I am 27 years old. I work for the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, NH as a Passport Specialist. I have a wife and soon to be two kids. My wife, Pam is 28 and a 5th grade teacher at Marshwood Great Works School. She is currently pregnant with our second child due in late October. We have been together since 1998 and married for just over 4 years now.

We live in a nice Cape in South Berwick, Maine. We just finished adding a two car garage also known as 'a cahh hole' with a mudroom and master bedroom and bath above it. We have a 2 year old son Douglass Aiden whom we call Dougie. He's a handful, but well worth any little bit of trouble he may give us.

A little bit more about myself reveals that I have a bachelor degree in Media Studies with a concentration in writing and a minor in theatre. My job as a Passport Specialist does not require the skills of a writer/actor so this is why I am starting this blog.

I will basically use this blog to answer questions I've always asked myself and never written down. These may be basic questions, thoughtful questions, insights, opinions (of course), reviews etc, etc, etc. I may discuss certain interests I have, explain more of my background or rant about something that gets my blood boiling. I have two rules:
1. I vow to try not to offend anyone
2. I will not discuss politics or religion in this forum

The reason for rule #2 is that when it comes to politics and religion people tend to be close-minded, myself included and thus will tend to break rule #1. These rules are not binding and may be broken at anytime if I see fit. I will try to stay in the middle and not force my opinion on any subject on my viewers. We all are different and that's okay...

Again this blog is simply for my own interests. Anyone who wishes to view it and even discuss it is only an added bonus for me. My goal is to post at least 4 times a week. I think that is a moderate goal to have starting out.

If you have any inquiries about myself or anything mentioned above feel free to ask and I will be sure to include it in a future post. I hope this experience is a fun one and I hope anyone who does read this enjoys the experience as well...

Random Quote #1: "It's not who I am underneath...but what I do that defines me..."