My Week in the OBX - Part I

I am very happy to report that I am writing this from the ultra-beautiful Outer Banks. Kill Devil Hills, NC to be exact. I love it down here, and this is my first foray south in four years. It is 3:30pm as I begin writing this, and for that I am VERY unhappy. You see, it takes a particularly talented individual like myself to ruin the first full day of an eagerly anticipated vacation. Why am I here in front of the computer instead of relaxing on the beach with my family? Because I do not listen.

I have walked on hot sand many times. I am no beach expert by any means, but I am not a neophyte either. Today, against the warnings from my wife and mother-in-law, I was intent on ditching my flip-flops and walking to our beach spot bare-footed. I hate the way flip flops drag and kick sand up as I walk, and I have an easier time without them. The sand was hot. I was one third of the way on to the beach before I realized just how hot it was. A few steps later I knew I was in trouble. The sand was hot enough today to actually burn my feet. I sit here with two ginormous blisters on the bottoms of both feet, and smaller blisters that are strewn from heels to toes. Yes, this sucks and I am very angry at myself.

Day 2 (Monday) and vacation remains in tough start mode. We didn't get any significant beach time in today due to thunderstorms that rolled through the peninsula. We took Zachary to the aquarium and saw some very neat things, including a couple of big nasty-looking sharks. Zachary loved the ocean last year but seems almost petrified of it now. I have my work cut out for me this week. I was looking forward to taking The Man Zachary swimming, but I am going to have to ease him into it.

I am pleased to report that I am able to walk without much pain, thanks to something called spray-on new skin. Liquid bandages, friend of idiots like myself.

The missus and I are heading out tonight to catch the new Potter movie. Speaking of Harry Potter, my plan was to bring the 7th book down here with me but I couldn't wait. Yes, I am a geek. I blew through the book in a few days and all I can say is "wow". Any of you that have already finished the book and want to discuss make sure you drop me a line. I can't remember ever being emotional at the end of a book before. Many thanks to J.K. Rowling for creating a magical universe that I was able to get lost in for awhile. As much as I loved all of the books (and the movies for the most part), I would find myself complaining from time to time about Rowling seemingly liberally borrowing from other works. But all in all I have to say that the Harry Potter books should go down as one of the great literary series of our age.

[Currently Listening: Bad Manners - "Sally Brown"]

Paris Hilton, Wendy's and the Aliens

Ok, no more feeling sorry for myself and no more crying about how worthless I am. A wise man recently wrote "if you have nothing to say, say nothing". I have been trying to adhere to that but the truth is I do have a lot to say. I am going to stop worrying whether or not my opinion should count for anything to anyone - because this is my blog. If people read it, great. If not, I get my regular dose of get-it-off-my-chest therapy.

I had to wait a little while for the whole media smorgasbord that was the Paris Hilton "incarceration" to blow over before I could process my thoughts on the issue. I am completely sickened by just about everything surrounding this case. I still can't believe there weren't riots in Los Angeles over what went down.

Sheriff Lee Baca first tries to send Paris Hilton home on Day 3 of what was supposed to be a 45-day sentence (which had already been reduced to 23-days for "good behavior". I would think you would have to be REALLY good over the course of a couple days to get treatment like that!). The reason? A medical condition. The medical condition? Being a rich celebrity. Depending on what reports you read the actual affliction was either a rash, Attention Defecit Disorder, or depression. Are you kidding me? I honestly could not believe it when I heard the reason for Sheriff Baca's "compassion".

There were riots in LA over the Rodney King beating (somewhat understandable). There probably would have been riots in LA if O.J. Simpson had been found guilty (completely silly). I simply can not believe the people of Los Angeles, chiefly those in minority groups with family members incarcerated in L.A. County jails, sat silently while a rich celebri-tard was allowed to leave jail under the cover of darkness. The people of Los Angeles have gotten soft. Can you imagine if you could get home confinement for any county prisoner with a rash, ADD or who might be bummed that they are in jail? I guess that is one solution to prison overcrowding. If I lived in L.A. and had family in jail (a good possibility given my family) I would not have taken this slap in the face laying down.

I have no idea why I still allow certain things to make me crazy but I can definitely say that I have now seen the worst advertising campaign in the history of the free market economy. The current campaign for Wendy's includes two of the worst commercials I have ever seen. Ever. In the whole of television advertising these are the most abhorrent that I can remember. Those of you who know me realize I like fast food. I really like Wendy's. They at least give you hope that you are eating real meat. However, I will not eat at Wendy's again any time soon. The commercials make me that angry. I thought the Burger King commercials with a giant Howard Eskin standing outside people's bedroom windows holding breakfast sandwiches were creepy, but these commercials are worse. Much worse. I would normally include a You Tube link but I feel I would be doing Wendy's a favor. The first commercial involves a large group of people in the woods kicking trees. One has a red ponytail wig and leads the tree-kickers into a chant of "hot juicy burger" or something. The second commercial contains another jackhole in the same wig looming over a city where crude cut-outs of screaming young girls (screaming as if it were the 60's and the Beatles just arrived) with old man faces are running amok. They are both annoying. I believe in rewarding clever advertising. I also believe in punishing brutally bad advertising. Will one man's abstinence from the Big Bacon Classic value meal make any difference? Probably not, but I will sleep at night with a clear fast-food conscience.

If any of the people quoted in this story are to be believed, none of the above really matters. Are we alone in the universe? After reading this article a couple of weeks ago, I am thinking not. I have read a zillion alien articles but for some reason this one creeped me out big time. Apparently there was a mass UFO sighting in Arizona in 1997. The story was actually covered by ABC News and the incident is known as the "Phoenix Lights". Government officials claimed the craft, described by onlookers as V-shaped with a visable length of 5000 feet, was a military test aircraft. The incident was witnessed by thousands of people in Arizona, and while this took place over a decade ago, the thought of a possible alien intelligence flying 5000-foot craft in our atmosphere is somewhat troubling. Here's hoping they are nice, that they bring peaceful solutions to the problems of man, and they are here to take the advertising execs behind the Wendy's ad campaign back with them.

[Currently Listening: Kanye West - "School Spirit Skit 2"]

Why I Haven’t Been Blogging

In the month-plus since my last entry I have had quite a few people ask me why I haven’t been blogging much recently. There are a few reasons for it actually. A lot has been happening with me and in the world but I just haven’t been able to muster a post. I have never written my blog with any measure of self-importance as I’ve always looked at it as a combination of therapy (an avenue to vent thoughts and feelings) and a fairly easy way to keep friends and family apprised on what is going on with me. Today it seems everyone has a blog. The internet is drowning in the blogosphere. Blogging is trendy. I hate trendy.

I have gone through a lot in my life, and that has been magnified somewhat over the past few years. Other than my beautiful son and ultra-understanding wife, it feels as though everything I touch turns to crap around me. My professional life has been a roller coaster and my mental state has gotten ridiculously fragile as a result of it. I can’t imagine how anyone who knows me can look at me and take me seriously. Now, I have overcome a lot since my childhood and I continue to fight like all hell to put myself and my family in a better place. However, no matter what I have overcome and what could have or should have happened to me given my upbringing the truth of the matter is I have accomplished exactly nothing in my 34 years that warrants my spouting my opinions about most subjects at anyone. Why I haven’t been writing? It is pretty simple: who cares what someone thinks if they haven’t really accomplished anything? I could have the whole world and what is wrong with it all figured out but what is it worth if I have never worked a job longer than 3 years and can’t figure out what to do with myself?

As I said, a lot has happened since I last wrote. I will sum it up as succinctly as I can. I did start the new job at the big company I referred to in my last post. The company is great, and things are going well so far. It is a completely different universe than what I have grown accustomed to professionally (and I use that term loosely). This is a make-or-break week for me, as I have to process the monthly financial analysis reports for my department. It involves some computer skills that I am not all that familiar with. I probably wouldn’t be stressing about it as much as I am if recent history wasn’t what it is. So, say a prayer for me, wish me luck or whatever it is you feel like doing. I know I could definitely use it.

I had to stop seeing the counselor I was going to after three sessions until my insurance situation sorted itself out. I plan on resuming those sessions soon. I started going to a chiropractor/wellness coach a few weeks ago as well. The guy makes my neck sound like a bowl of rice crispies when he works on me but I know it will help me. I also farted on the guy last week when he was trying to adjust my hip and lower back. Between my hip, back and butt it sounded something like this: “pop, crack, crackle, phhhpbbbbbtttt, pop, crack”.

My poker game is starting to come around as well. Finally won some money playing with the Berwyn crew a couple weeks back, and I won a small 6-person tourney this past weekend. I got a nice run of cards in the Berwyn game, including K,K twice and A,K six times during the 5 hour session.

Zachary gave us a scare a few weeks ago when he started limping out of the blue. It seemed to be getting progressively worse and the doctor was perplexed. X-rays came back negative and he seems okay now. I will say that thinking there might be something wrong with your child is a quick-snap dose of reality that helped me stop hating myself for a little while. Speaking of Zachary, we had a very cool Father's Day this year. Kim's Mom (my Mother In Law is a saint) came with us to the Strassburg Railroad where we saw Thomas the Tank Engine. I thought it was going to be lame, and I worried that Zachary wouldn't be all that into it. I was wrong on both counts. Zachary had a blast, and I enjoyed the trip as well. We might even make it a yearly thing.

I am excited by the prospects for my new job. The money is good, benefits are great and the people I work with are all pretty okay. I have a lot to learn, so I am busting my hump to learn everything I need to in order to be successful. I am tired of hating myself and having no confidence. I might deserve the bad things that happen to me but my family doesn’t.

Speaking of family I am thankful to have been able to talk to and spend time with my youngest brother Paulie over the last few months. He is still stuck in the old neighborhood, and I am afraid for him. He has cleaned up his act and seems to really be on the road to recovery. I tookhim to the batting cages two weekends ago and had a blast. It was the type of thing two brothers should have done a hundred times and it made me realize that I was never there for him growing up, and I feel some responsibility for how all three of my younger siblings turned out. I wish I could help him more now either with a place to stay or help with rent, but I’m not in a position to do that right now. My sister was doing okay for awhile and is in full relapse. My parents are now stuck with her second child, and it has caused a lot of tension between them and I. I guess prayers aren’t just needed for work these days.

[Currently Listening: U2 (Starring Johnny Cash) – “The Wanderer”]