These Kicks Were Made For Stomping!

And that’s just what they’ll do…and this April these kicks will be stomping for my boy B-radly and Peggy too!

Sorry for the song but nothing rejuvenates my heart like doing something for people unprovoked.

I’ve participated in the MS walk for a number of years and have finally decided to form my own little clan.  Soldiers’ of hope walking beside me trying to make this world a better place and raising money to hopefully, one day, end this terrible disease.

MS is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system and every hour of every day more people are diagnosed.  This “prime of life” disease is first detected in people between the ages of 20 and 50, however, we are starting to see more and more children diagnosed.

Did you catch that??  “Prime of Life” disease.  Take that in for a moment.  Think about it… imagine living with this disease.  The horrific difficulties people suffer from its devastating affects. 

I walk not because I feel I have too… but because I can and for the people inflicted with MS that can not. 

I remember on my first walk I really didn’t put much thought into what I was doing.  Sure I was walking for my friend, but it felt more like a social gathering as me and my group of friends marched on.  Cold, rain soaked and 7 miles later I was tired and cranky.

However, as I walked thru the door to the center where they housed the free meal for walkers afterward’ I was greeted by survivors of MS.  There was a line of people, some with tears streaming their faces.  They stood there stood in a line… some in wheels chairs… waiting for people to finish the walk. 

And suddenly it hit me. 

They are the reason I walk.

“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.”

If you’d like to make a donation in my name please click the link below.  You can also register and join out team.  Contact me for info!

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/WIGWalkEvents?px=9304753&pg=personal&fr_id=16671

Stay Young My Friend

I was forwarded this email from a co-worker and loved it.  So I’m sharing with you all of you.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1.  Try everything twice.
On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph:
"Tried everything twice. Loved it both times!"

2.  Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down.
(Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)

3. Keep learning:
Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever... Never let the brain get idle.  'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'
And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud.
Laugh until you gasp for breath.
And if you have a friend who makes you laugh,
spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.

6.. The tears happen:
Endure, grieve, and move on.
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.
LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love:
Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever..
Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips..
Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county,
to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10.. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
I love you, my special friend.

Do share this with someone. Remember! Lost time can never be found.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Wine does not make you FAT ...

- it makes you LEAN ....
(Against tables, chairs,  floors, walls and ugly people.)

The House That Built Me

I heard a song the other day during a trip back home.  It was on one of the country channels… which is, usually, my last resort for anything catchy as I incessantly channel surf between songs.

In the past I have felt so much distance between the person I am or at least the person I was to my current state of being.  As though I was living a life that I didn’t belong in… I found myself so disconnected and lonely.

Leaving the cesspool city I grew up in and moving out to the quiet and desolate county was a blessing in disguise.  Though moving away from my family wasn’t easy, over time I sank into a routine that made it tolerably.

After a few years I managed to settle into the area and began to love “country life” as my love for what I used to call home dissipated.  I miss my family but would never consider moving back.

You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.

There is this place in this world that I retreat too in order to revitalize my spirit.

I sit soaking in the surroundings.  The smell of fresh brewed coffee, giggles from children, and a table full of people that I adore.  We sit telling each other stories and listening to the stories shared by others.  Laughter ensues as my troubles, regrets and frustrations melt away.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.

Being home again is a cherished feeling for me.  This house in which I grew up in has the key to my heart and the kitchen table that I ate dinner at with my family is a sacred spot.  It’s there that I sit looking for advice or offering it if needed.

If I could walk around I swear I'll leave.
won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

I’ve made many mistakes in my life and let many people down.  I’ve done what I can to repair the relationships that matter to me.  To the rest… I’ve thrown in the towel and called it a day.  Maybe it’s harsh but some people just aren’t worth it anymore.  It’s it easier to let them go then to constantly be under pressure to maintain their happiness.

This journey I’m on isn’t about them but more about coming back into my true self.

Over the years I’ve lost and gained many friends.  Some have changed the color of my heart where others have left it broken.  In the end I’ve learned who to trust, who to count on and more importantly, who to tell to fuck off.

“We can never turn back the pages of time, though we may wish to relive a happy moment, or say goodbye just one last time, we never can, because the sands of time continue to fall, and we can’t turn the hourglass over.”

– Unknown

A never ending journey...

That was rough.... Thing to do now is try and forget it.... I guess I don't quite mean that.  It's not a thing you can forget.  Maybe not even a thing you want to forget.... Life's like that sometimes... Now and then for no good reason a man can figure out, life will just haul off and knock him flat, slam him agin' the ground so hard it seems like all his insides is busted.  But it's not all like that.  A lot of it's mighty fine, and you can't afford to waste the good part frettin' about the bad.  That makes it all bad.... Sure, I know - sayin' it's one thing and feelin' it's another.  But I'll tell you a trick that's sometimes a big help.  When you start lookin' around for something good to take the place of the bad, as a general rule you can find it.  ~From the movie Old Yeller

Despite the turmoil over the past year there are things that I love… things that I adore.  People that I adore and that have reminded me how wonderful life can be and places I’ve visited that have sparked hope in my diluted and obsessive little world.

I’ve learned to love the little things.  The way the sunlight sneaks through the tree branches and dances on the water edge.  Waking up before the sun to take a walk along the shoreline.  The way the air feels crisp and cool while the sun warms my back.

Taking the time to have an ice cream while chatting and watching people walk the streets of Lake Geneva.  Mid-week shopping and Starbucks trips with Becc’s and Lucas.

Family movie night on the weekends that we have the kids and everyone is curled up on the couch all snuggled in with popcorn, pillows and blankets.  In general, I love being with my family.  I love my dramatic-less life and have settled in quite contently to my surroundings.

As I stand on the edge of winter looking over the field outside of my window, I see signs of spring, signs of rebirth and now have a reassuring sense that everything is going to be alright.  Better then that… I can breathe easy and comfortably knowing that I have everything I could ever ask for.

For that I thank my family and more so I thank Adam… for had it not been for them I don’t know where I would be today.

The best thing you can do is get good at being you. ~ Dennis the Menace

Kickin' it old school...

So this past Saturday I spent a day in my old shoes and I gotta tell ya… it felt good.  From the beginning of the day until I curled back up in bed it was a great day.

I started my day out meeting Pookie (a.k.a. Big brother Craig) at the Milwaukee Auto Show.  In classic me tradition the start wasn’t so great.  Got to the gates and tried to pay with my credit card (I never carry cash) and was told that if I wanted to pay with credit I’d have to go to the main gate just below where I was trying to get in. 

No problem… it’s only one floor down.  Unfortunately, the elevator that I can see is just inside the gate… which I can’t get to… cuz’ I haven’t paid.  Now we parked in the garage and walked the sky walk to avoid carrying our jackets all day.  To make things worse in order to get outside we have to back track thru the cheese maze skywalk to where we started… go outside and cross 2 streets to get back to the lobby just below where were standing.  Seriously? 

In a flash of brilliance I see that the Hyatt is attached to the garage and skywalk.  Great news… hotels always have ATM’s which will spare me from the blistering winds of down town Milwaukee.  So here we go storming the lobby of the hotel searching for the ATM… which we find… and discovery is out of money.  Bloody hell.

Checking with the front desk they tell us the bar directly across the street has an ATM.  So we dash across 6 lanes of traffic and arrive at the bar and grill.  Get to the ATM…get the money… dash back across 6 lanes of traffic, thru the hotel back to the cheese maze skywalk and back to the entrance of the Auto show.  So after a 30 minute delay we finally get in.

The car show was great… we saw a lot of cars we like.  I’m so picky when it comes to car.  Not so much on the type of car but the fit and comfort.  I could give two shits how much the car cost… so long as it gets me to and from where I need to be and I don’t have issues.

After the auto show we met Craig and a bunch of friends in downtown Racine to attend Thoughts for Foods.  Of all the “Racine things to do”… this is my favorite. 

Had a chance to catch Rude Rooster and visit with my girl “V-luv” as her hubby jammed out on the drums.  Great band… wish I would have caught his next show but didn’t get a chance.

It was a great time bar hoping back in the old neighborhood.  Boy… have things change since then.

For starters I don’t drink… not that I’m an active non drinker.  I just can’t remember the last time I did drink.  I never go out… due to my over hectic schedule I just can’t afford to waste too many days being carless. 

Second I have lost my tolerance to alcohol.  It’s nice on one hand as it’s cheaper for me to go out these days but then on the other hand I used to be able to hang.  Now… not so much. 

Lastly… I don’t miss the bar scene.  I can’t tell you how many arguments I saw going on around me.  Not with the people that I was with but just other patrons.  I don’t miss the drama or the catty bullshit that came with the night life.  For that matter I certainly don’t miss spending my Sunday’s recovering from my hangover.  (Sorry Jessica… had to throw that in since I just talked to you and you reminded me how the day after goes)

The bands we saw this weekend were all amazing and as we come upon spring I’m happy to see winter come to an end.  I can’t wait to sit in the warm sun listening to live music again.  It feels like it’s been forever.

To all that shared in the events of this past weekend I’d like to say thank you.  You’ve reminded me that there are so many great people in my life. 

Till next time… keep your eyes open for them damn Zombies.  Follow the rules… and always double tap them bitches.

“We are friends and I do like to pass the day with you in serious and inconsequential chatter. I wouldn't mind washing up beside you, dusting beside you, reading the back half of the paper while you read the front. We are friends and I would miss you, do miss you and think of you very often.” 

~ Jeanette Winterson

Censorship? Wha!?

So the FCC won't let me be
Or let me be me so let me see

I’ve always been a writer; I’ve kept journals since I was 9 years old and although I’m a verbal wizard when it comes to sarcasm, any real feelings are a bit harder for me to express.  So I write what I think, what I feel, or what I fear.

Mostly it helps to clear my mind.  I get stuck in thoughts and they bounce around in my head like a racquet ball.  In order to get a grasp on them I write them out, read over them, add to them and correct them until they accurately describe the way I feel.

To me it’s very therapeutic.  Once it’s written out, the thoughts behind them no longer plague me.  I’m free of the weight that they carry and my heart no longer aches.

Some have read my blog and been motivated or comforted by knowing someone out there is feeling the same things.  The overwhelming support that I have received from people has inspired me to continue in my sharing.

Though I understand that my feelings, stories and honesty may affect people negatively because of the honest portrayal of circumstances… there just isn’t anything I can do about.  I can’t stop people from turning into Wondercunt and nobody can stop me from having an opinion.  Trust me when I say people have tried.

Frankly, I’ve grown tired of being judged by degenerates and social parasites.  If the pot isn’t calling the kettle black then the bitch in the glass house is throwing stones at everyone. 

Seems the second I feel I’m past the dramatic bullshit and life has a sense of normality some assholes gotta remind me that some people refuse to stay dead. 

Fucking Zombies. 

And finally I twist my heart round again, so that the bad is on the outside and the good is on the inside, and keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would so like to be, and could be, if there weren't any other people living in the world.  ~ Anne Frank