Writing and more writing

Once again, I'm back to pollute your minds. Since I've already posted to my other blog, you don't have to worry about another long post today. I know I've been straining your attention spans with my recent entries, but not today. Like I said, I have another blog now, so I'll be splitting time between the two. I figured it was time to expand my writing a bit and go beyond what I normally consider to be enough writing for a day. It's my way of sticking with my New Year's Resolution to write everyday. I know there aren't a lot of people hanging on my every word, but I don't want to cheat those who do expect me to produce something worth reading. I came to this realization while visiting a few of my favorite blogs and noticing the lack of new material. It's not the end of my world, but I only read blogs by people whose writing styles almost speak to me through the screen. You can imagine the letdown when I click on these blogs and don't see a new post for a while. I vow not to put what readers I do have by doing what I did before the New Year. Well, I gotta run. See ya'll tomorrow. Hi-Lo.

People

Good morning all. This time slot is fast becoming the best time for me to write. I guess it's because I'm wound up right after getting off work. As the title of this post suggests, today I'm going to ramble about getting along with people. In my younger days, when people agitated me it usually meant fists were gonna fly. I had the worst temper in the world. Thanks to a lot of work on my part, and my wife's patience, I'm no longer a serious physical threat to people. One thing I had to learn was to accept people with all their traits. Having said that, it is my belief that everyone has something wrong with them. Think about it. How many times in your life have you met someone and thought,"She's a cool person, except she complains too much", or "She would be a model if she lost two pounds". Even the people you think the world of have something wrong with them; you just don't know what it is or you don't want to know. It's just easier not looking for it and getting on with life. Some of my friends have been singled out as having a character or physical flaw at some point, heck we all have. As it is, I'm known to get along with almost anybody nowadays. Since I'm also a good listener, I also hear a lot of people's deepest thoughts and desires. I'm not saying go out and make friends with the rudest person you know, I'm just saying you shouldn't be so quick to write someone off because they don't fit your exact specifications. The most important thing I did to be better around people was to shelve the perfectionist in me. It wasn't easy, but I managed to do it by 1) not setting these ridiculously high expectations of people, 2) NOT listening to someone's judgement of a person before getting to know them, 3) treating everyone with common respect, 4) listening to a person, I mean really listening to them talk, and 5) observing their actions in different situations ( how they treat people, how they act in good and bad times, etc.). This isn't in any order and some of you will find one more important than another. These aren't even all the ways I use to get along with folks, but they are certainly some big ones. Some things go without saying, like not going around telling someone's business after they just told you. If you can't be trusted with even the most mundane information, you'll be the person no one wants to be around. One final note on getting along with people; STOP BEING PETTY. I can't count how many times someone has complained to me about someone else they have a problem with because thay have a wort on their hand or they have a high voice or some other nonsense. There are more important things to worry about. Hi-Lo.

Advice

Hey ya'll. Ever notice how people give you advice whether you want it or not? I'm a person who constantly gets bombarded with this. Most of the time it's obvious stuff that any person with a functioning brain would know, but sometimes there's a golden nugget in the dirt. Since I look a lot younger than my age, anyone over two years older than me has to tell me some tidbit they think is need-to-know. I'll admit, I'm guilty of dispensing some knowledge of my own but only if a youngster asks me for it. I find that many of the youths out there are wandering the Earth with a serious deficit in the useful knowledge department(notice I said useful). I am not one of these poor souls who have trouble with something as simple as telling time on anything that isn't digital. Yes, kids, there was a time when people looked at the clock, saw two hands and a bunch of numbers and knew what time it was. Anyway, getting back to the subject, I was given some advice today by a co-worker about what women really want from us men before anything else. He said that a woman wants to know she can be safe in your company and be your friend before she considers anything else. This is something my wife told me a while back so I'm inclined to believe there's truth in it. Good advice or bad advice? Although I already know this, and the subject came up while discussing someone else, I'd have to say this is good advice for the brothers out there reading. It does seem elementary, but there are many young and old cats in this world who don't get it. I'm not a pimp, or even an assistant pimp, but I am comfortable around women and my experience tells me that they are more receptive when they don't feel like they're in the company of a stalker. Translation; don't approach a woman like you're a pimp and she owes you money. That goes double for brothers with a few nickels in their pocket and a car note! Another thing; if it's too easy, you don't want it! Matter of fact, RUN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!! If not, you too could be the winner of a baby's momma. You'll be standing at freeway offramps with a cardboard sign asking for change. And remember, 18-to-life doesn't just apply to prison. You could even win a psycho, hiding in the bushes just waiting for you to come home every night! Also, there is a difference between ghetto girls and the dreaded hoodrats. If you know what they are, you know the difference and the last time I checked, D-Con and Raid don't do a thing to hoodrats. Hi-Lo.

A reason to write

I know some of you probably think I'm crazy since I went off for what looks like no reason yesterday, but we've all had days when we had to get something out of our systems. I find that when I get these things out of my head and onto some form of written communication, I feel better all around. Like I said, not all things I write are fit to be read by the world so I put the stuff here that doesn't sound like the ramblings of a madman. Yes, I do get more enigmatic than the words you see here lead you to believe. I did speak to one of my co-workers today and I found out that I'm not the only one in the workplace who spills out thoughts on paper just because. It always amazes me when I find out someone, who I never expected, is a closet writer. All I could do is encourage him to keep writing down his thoughts everyday, as he's been doing for years, and something good will come of it. It doesn't matter if it's ever published. Just the practice of doing it is enough because you find out so much about who you are and what kind of person you were at one time, sometimes in disbelief of what you wrote so long ago. That's what he conveyed to me and it reaffirmed what I have known for some time about why I write. It's the biggest reason to write; for yourself before anyone else. Hi-Lo.

Red eyes

Well, I'm sitting here emptying my thoughts on the screen at this hour because I got off work two hours ago and I can't sleep guilt-free unless I've fed my blog. It's part of my New Year's Resolutions, in case ya'll are wondering. I swore I would write everyday, as a writer should, on paper or screen. I didn't specify what I'd write, just that I'd write something everyday. If you don't see a post from me for a day, chances are I did my daily writing in one of my notebooks instead. You know, not everything you write should be seen by everyone. Some stuff I write shouldn't be read by anyone but me. I tend to go off about things that mean nothing to ya'll and everything to me. I don't want to waste your time because I know that when we surf the Net, our attention spans are microscopic. Most of you who read my thoughts here are probably frustrated by the same issues that bother me. As a writer living on the broke side, I force myself to find the good in my everyday life since I see so much ugly in the world. True, I'd be a lot happier with a bigger bank account, but until I get there, I'm going to continue this daily writing therapy to get me through. If pride wasn't such a big deal to me, I would sell that fluffy writing to pay my way. I just can't do it! I'm not the Blue Eyed Sellouts. I want my writing to mean something; to make people think, to inspire, to touch lives, to be remembered for more than the money I made off it. So, if you're looking for me to write and put a blonde out in front of me to help me blow up, think again. I don't hate white, I'm just down for the brown, in all of it's beautiful shades, because that's what I am and that's what I know. Anyone who questions that definitely isn't feeling me. Yeah, I'm a funny person most of the time, but I can be real serious when necessary. I have a lot of thoughts streaming in my head all of the time and writing is what keeps me from overloading. I believe if more of us picked up a pen instead of a gun, we would deal with people better and our situations would improve. As you read my words this year, you will see my life change for the positive. That's the reason I do this. If you're feeling my words, holla. Hi-Lo.

Watching TV

What's goin on everyone? I'm just sitting here watching the Jamie Foxx special on the tube in between surfing the Net. It's really good . For all of you who have missed most of it to this point, it's supposed to come on again Friday. I won't give away any of the highlights so you'll just have to watch then. I didn't see anything too interesting online today, but it's hard too concentrate when there's something good on TV. The only thing I did see was the article about the Ron Artest trade. Great, now the Kings have a viable defender who can score! I don't think Artest is going to be too happy in the capitol city. You have to deal with the locals sure, but it's not them he has to worry about. The chance exists that he might run into that so-called Governor up there. I hope he's got a shovel. Hi-Lo.

Who said what about Kobe Bryant?

Once again, I'm here. The good news is that I'm blogging at a later hour because I have the night off. The bad news is that I'm not feeling very well today. I haven't eaten much all day since my stomach is bothering me. I went to the farmer's market in town and was surrounded by food that smelled so good even the barbecue smelled like dessert! Don't you just hate it when there's all this great food nearby and you can't eat because you're sick? And , of course, that's when the food commercials come on every thirty seconds. Right about now a cracker sounds like filet mignon. Still, despite my ill condition, it's nice to have a day off. I was checking my e-mail today and one of the sports headlines said that Vince Carter thinks that Kobe Bryant's 81 point game the other day set a bad example. What kinda crap is this? Is someone jealous that he hasn't scored that many points in a game? I saw the highlights and if Kobe hadn't carried his team, they wouldn't have won. Considering Vince Carter admitted to giving less than his best effort while "playing" for the Raptors, I didn't give the article a read beyond the headline. Say what you want about Kobe, when he plays, he brings it all EVERY NIGHT. When you're team is shooting with no ammo what are you supposed to do? Fake an injury and watch them suffer? Oops, I guess that's been done. Call us when you got a ring or three Err Canada! I would respect it if it would have came out of Allen Iverson's mouth. Why? Because rain or shine, blizzard or earthquake, sprained ankle or broken ass, AI shows up, all 165 ounces of him. Yeah, I'm a disappointed Laker fan since Shaq left town, but I'm going down with this ship and if Kobe has to score 80 for us to win, I say drink your Gatorade and fire away young fella! Hi-Lo.

Surfing and writing

Hello again. As you may have noticed, I put Google ads on my blog the other day. I pondered about it for the last six months and came to the conclusion that since I have already have a Google link on my blog, I might as well put a few Google ads here as well. The good thing is that the only stuff that should show up here is stuff that directly relates to the content I write in my blog. I know, I know, the other day I went off about flogging, but this is different in that I am not personally vouching for any of the ads that appear on my blog. Besides, I figure the stuff I write shouldn't bring too much related-content ads. I'm kind of curious to see what would be stimulated by these musings of mine. Still, it is an experiment of minute proportions in my little world. I don't think or expect to become a millionaire from this, but I do expect to see some funny things to pop up on my blog since I write about a variety of topics. I didn't find anything really interesting during this session of surfing. I did the usual e-mail check, the craigslist scan and, of course, updating the blog. You can really waste some time being on the Net and get a lot done all the same. Today was one of those waste-time days. As long as I, as a writer, have put some thoughts down, it's never a waste. Well, I have somewhere unimportant to be to bring home a couple of pieces of bread so until tomorrow. Hi-Lo.

Cool writing sites.

Hello all. I said I'd be back to let y'all know about those cool websites I looked at yesterday and here I am. If you're already a writer and surf the Web regularly, you probably know about these sites. Although there are a million sites about writing, I'd say these are some of the most helpful that I've seen to date. They also link up to other helpful sites so there's no need to tell you about the other dozen sites I feel should have your attention. They are writersdigest.com and absolutewrite.com and they are freakin' great. Remember, I wouldn't waste my time tellin' you about them if I didn't try them and if they weren't good. Any question you have about writing could most likely be answered by these sites and, if they can't, they link up to other sites that can. Well, it's back to the wonderful world of wage slave for now. Peace. Hi-Lo.

Doing some research

Hi everybody! Once again I've been neglecting my little blog for a few weeks, but one of my unwritten resolutions for this year is to keep spilling my thoughts here daily. As for today, I've been around the Web doing some reading about improving my writing skills and getting paid to be a scribe in '06. One thing I don't like is the idea of flogging. For those who don't know, that's when a blog is nothing more than an advertisement for a product or products for money. I simply won't put anything on this here blog hawking products simply to get paid. I don't think that's what this is all about and there are other outlets for that kind of activity. Yes, I do have bills to pay, but there are more honorable ways to go about meeting those ends. Hell, I'd rather write cookie-cutter romance novels than push stuff I don't believe in on my blog. To me this is my own little ranting board and I like to provoke thought, not a mindless buying spree. It's all about expanding your minds. That being said, if I do tell you about something I find helpful, you can be sure of three things; 1) I have tried that product, service or website, 2) I truly believe in that product, service or website and 3) I didn't get paid anything, not a piece of lint, to tell you how good it is. Also, I won't bash any products on this blog. If it's useless, I won't waste energy on it and it will eventually be discovered by all that it's useless. Don't get nervous everyone. If ever I tell you about anything worth mentioning, it will be rare. Just know this about me; my writing comes first here and with that comes my opinions of the world. Don't ya'll just love the Internet? I did find some very helpful resources today. I won't go on about them here right now because I've already been running off at the keys for a minute, but I'll tell all about it tomorrow. Later. Hi-Lo.

Livin' in L.A.

Hey Y'all. Yes your boy is living in the City of the "Angels". At least I get to watch Laker games more often. Sorry for not writing for so long, but you know how it is when you work 16 hours a day and move to what seems like a different world. I can't write a whole lot more since I'm at the library and I have to keep my savage beast of an opinion to PG-13 levels so until I get my broadband hooked up at my new digs, the powers that be will be pleased; but never fear, I SHALL RETURN!

L.A. update

What's up people? Well, this is fast becoming a weekly thing so I'll get you caught up on our situation. When last I wrote, my wife had gotten the job in L.A. offered to her and we were awaiting the negotiations to take place. The money they offered wasn't nearly what we were expecting so it looked as if it wasn't going to happen. Alas, we talked it over and we are making plans to leave our beloved Bay Area and move to the City of Angels. She accepted the part and we are looking for a place out in L.A.. I figured we're not making much here and her career isn't moving at light speed so we might as well go where her opportunities are better. Following a dream and turning it into a reality isn't easy otherwise everyone would do it. I haven't been keeping up with the news much except that I did hear about the massive quake over in the Pakistan area and the high death tolls. I can't help but wonder about the state of the world considering all of the recent disasters and loss of life. People keep telling me it's the "end times" and folks need to get right before it's too late. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, but I choose not to live in constant fear of what lies ahead or what judgement might be coming. I feel that if you've been doing wrong for a lifetime and you suddenly find the right path at the last moment, it's not going to make a difference in the eyes of our Creator. It wouldn't work with your mom so how do you think it would work with The Lord? Hi-Lo

What? I have a blog?!

What's up ya'll. Well, as you can see from my lack of recent activity, the whole sixteen-hour-a-day thing is siphoning my energy to the point of neglecting my blog, but there is good news. My wife put in for a musical theatre review in L.A. and they offered her the part. YAY!! That means more money in the bank and I won't have to kill myself working all these hours much longer. Of course, this means I will have to move to L.A. soon to accommodate her job, but it's a step I'm willing to take. It also appears that she might have found me a job there already! Sweet! Now all I have to do is get used to living in L.A. as opposed to the Bay Area. Before I start making plans for the U-Haul though, they have to offer her the right amount of money or it's a no-go so wish us luck. I'm so proud of her and I'll let you know how the negotiations turn out. Hi-Lo.

Busy little bee

Hey ya'll. Thought you'd gotten rid of me, huh? I'm still kicking, just not as spry since I've been pulling sixteen hours a day between both jobs. That's not the reason I've been missing in action though. As many of you might know, I have a dinosaur of a computer and, on occasion, it has a problem or two with the hardware. It happened again and I didn't have ample time to address the issue 'til today. So I'm back and pissed as ever with the state of the world around me. Did you notice how quick Dubya raced to the scene when Rita was bearing down on his home turf? Didn't take five days to make a decision on that one did it? Wait 'til you see how fast the aid gets there. Won't be any massive red tape getting in the way now. When do we impeach this clown already? The government doesn't help it's own people because of what? Be it color or social class or laziness, this can't fly anymore! We need to bounce that ass out of office because we can't survive another three years of this Bushit. What do we do when the next big disaster hits? I don't know about ya'll but I don't want to tell one of these survivors that we can't help them because we're still making payments on our desert-front property in Iraq. Think about it. Hi-Lo.

On my damn nerves

Hey ya'll. So, a couple of posts ago, I shared the fact that I'm going to work two jobs very soon. Well, if the clowns in control keep pushing my buttons, one of those jobs will be replaced. My longstanding gig is run by a few morons who think they can talk to people like they ain't got no damn brain. Yesterday, I got into it with the laziest person I've ever met. Apparently, a diet high in Krispy Kreme doughnuts makes you lose your senses, because this tub o'shit started talking to me like I was his sorry bitch. So what did I do? C'mon, ya'll, you know your boy had to check that ass. Why is it that some of the sorriest sombitches get ahead while the hard working, weight-of-the-world-carrying folks get jacked? In the case of the clown I'm talking about, I know he got them knees dirty to get where he is. Yep, he can't move if it ain't beer or doughnuts, but Humpty can sure suck-up with the best of 'em. I'll probably get a write-up for lettin' loose on that clown, but damnit I got my moneys worth. That's allright 'cause there's only so far you can go being a low-level scavenger. The real crime is that pet rock actually got Labor Day off! I keep it all in perspective, though. Many more people have it much worse than I. Besides, I take comfort in knowing that my future is unlimited and his is unchanging and without honor. I also know that his racist ass already has a ticket on the Helltanic and all the money he supposedly makes in this life won't save him in the next. He'll be sitting right next to Dubya and Condosellout. Hi-Lo.

Hey Dubya, what's that on your face?

First things first. Ha Haaaaa!! I got to give it up to Kanye for verbally pimp-slapping Dubya on almost nationwide TV (those of us out West got the edited version which I didn't get to see). That handprint will be there for a while. I couldn't have done it better myself. The only way it would've been better is if when they cut over to Chris Tucker, he screamed," Yeah!" So where's the aid, Dubya. All you got to say is you agree that the response has been bad? Would you like another so the other cheek matches? Folks, I could make a career out of busting that grill like EV-ERY-DAY, but it won't make a bit of difference on my end. Now, if we all do it, you got something to work with. The mainstream media has already acknowledged us bloggers for digging in that ass this past week so keep it up ya'll. The more noise we make, the more aid they send down south and I'll holla from the rooftops if it does the victims any good. I gotta say what's up to Waset at The Power Journal for being the first blog I read to have the Kanye surprise on it. Much respect to all my fellow bloggers for keeping up the pressure on those in a position to send help. Keep doing what you're doing. And to my brothers and sisters in the Military, I'm not on the bash the Armed Forces bandwagon because I know ya'll don't go unless you're ordered to go. Same with FEMA and the other Federal agencies. The people up top need to make the call if the help is going to come and that's real! Hi-Lo

New millenium, same old game

Hey everyone. If ya'll are like me, the central thing on your minds is the Katrina aftermath. My mind is scattering all over the place all day long thinking/hoping/praying for the folks down south. One thing I do have to get off my chest right now. I was reading The Power Journal blog and Waset brought up a very valid point; why is it that media choppers can fly overhead and zoom in on the panties at a celebrity wedding and they can't do anything for the refugees? You mean we can film the tragedy but we can't save those affected by it? The world has hit rock bottom when the color of people's skin and money determines the level of response in a disaster. Like the people in Mississippi said, they don't want the President to come there, they want the FEMA trucks to come there. Hot air don't do a damn thing to save anyone, but food and water sure does. And, by the way, have you noticed how they keep talking about the lawlessness in New Orleans and nowhere else? My wife knows folks around the area and they made it clear; it's not anarchy!! The media is trying to scare rescuers into not going there and letting the people suffer. Why? So they can plummet into armageddon and do themselves in. Have you also noticed how they've said the French Quarter is a loss just like everywhere else, but have you seen it on TV? No, because it's not lost and the white folks there are still on Bourbon Street partying like it's 1999! In fact, I read a Miami Herald article that said they were back at it the day after the hurricane. Oh, don't get me wrong, they took a hit, but the locals said it was nothing compared to Mardi Gras. Like my Mom always said," If the milk stinks, it's bad." Same old story. Hi-Lo

Exploring blogs

I'm back for more. I've been blog-hopping for a little bit and it appears the message is clear; people are pretty ticked off about the aftermath of Katrina, everything from the governmental response (or lack of it) to the subhumans on the prowl in New Orleans. We've seen amazing feats of heroism and unimagineable new lows of human nature. Listen, now is not the time to get that new TV at a 100% discount, clowns! Or take some new pants off the rack of someone's once prosperous store. Don't any of these idiots know the consequences awaiting them in the afterlife? Just because Officer Jones isn't there to catch you doing wrong doesn't mean that God's blind. Ya'll are headed to the hot place, on a rocket ship, wearing unleaded draws, standing on a lit match! Also, I'd like to acknowledge that thirteen year old M-A-N that saved his family from their flooded house. Not many grown folks could've done that. Much, Much Love young brother! For now, I'm saying prayers for the victims of Katrina, wishing I was in Dubya's place so I could make their pain go away. Peace. Hi-Lo

Pondering...

Hello again. I was talking to a fellow today about the disaster that is Katrina and he brought up a few nuggets I thought I should share with ya'll. First of all, where's the U.N. aid? Second, why aren't all the nations we call friends calling us to lend support? Seems all our friends of the world aren't that friendly when we're in a bind. Maybe we should divert some of that rebuilding money from New Texas, uh, I mean Iraq, and use it for the benefit of the victims at home. Or, maybe we could take a few of those gold doubloons from the gas pumps and put it in the pockets of those who really need it. Just trying to suggest some solutions since our leaders are too busy serving the rich and screwing the poor. Come on folks, New Orleans is UNDER WATER!! Where's the telethon man?!! Let's not forget about Alabama and Mississippi either. These are our brothers and sisters and they need help like yesterday. How is it that we can ride to the rescue of every island with a flag over there and we can't take care of our own people? This is a wake up call. God don't like ugly and we, as a country, have turned our backs on our impoverished citizens way too long. I bet if Louisiana was a foreign country sittin' on a gang of oil we'd send all the help they could stand and the government would slice up that pie amongst themselves. Karma will not be kind to those crooked clowns, I guarantee it. Hi-Lo

Killing time

Hey ya'll. I'm not doing much since my better half is out at rehearsal and I'm bored out of my brain. I read the paper today and the news is really depressing. That bitch of a hurricane caused a lot of damage down south. I saw the pictures of the Big Easy and I still can't believe that 80% of it is underwater. That can't be right. I read that the "resident" President is keeping an eye on the relief efforts already underway. The other eye is on the profits he's making on the recent oil price increases. Yesterday, gas right by my job was 2.70/gallon. This morning, it was 2.78/gallon and by this afternoon, it reached 2.83/gallon at the same station!! Are these gas prices or the Stock Exchange updates? Of course not, because the Stock Market moves up and down (mostly flat nowadays) while the gas prices only go up. Remember the good old days when Dollar Bill was running the show and gas prices were at an average of 1.15/gallon nationwide? I don't care if he had a line of interns waiting to "serve there country" outside of his office, at least there were jobs and I could afford to drive my gas-guzzling, four-wheeling, deer-stomping SUV without taking out a loan. Not that I would ever hit a deer or that I ever went four-wheeling, but at least I could afford it back then. Now, Jack in the Box is considered fine dining in my household! Let's make an Ammendment to nix the whole two term limit thing on Presidents and re-elect Dollar Bill to another term. Hell, make it two 'cause we've got a lot of Bushit to undo and one term might not be enough to reverse the damage. All blue-collar folks would definitely be happier. Think of the strippers, people! Nickels and dimes hurt you know. Hi-Lo