The ol' one finger salute

Well this little nugget got me riled this morning. So to the City Council of Berkley, I give to you the ol' one finger salute.
You don't want to join, no one's forcing you to. You want the recruiters out of your city, fine kick them out like a man.... Oh wait, that would make you lose some federal money. They leave on their own, then you lose nothing, eh?

Winter

Got the first sticking snow of the year last night. Way to cold for my taste. I believe I was created to be in a more tropical environment. Someplace with white sandy beaches, clear blue water, rum, and scantily clad women, oh to dream.

Drama magnet

I seem to be a drama magnet, Mia has commented on this many times. Another friend pointed out that my weakness is damsels in distress (or at least the severely damaged ones). With the exception of one (mentioned her more than a few times, and can't wait for her to get back) they may be right I never go looking for it, it just falls into my lap alot. Starting to think my guardian angels are sadists. So on with today's drama (cue soap opera theme).

What they say:
"She knows what she's getting into, we've had this talk. You can't save her, let her fall."
"She's not worth the effort."
"She does not care, why do you?"

I'm not too good at letting people fall, goes against something hard wired in me. I have no problem with people reaping what they sow, but standing by and watching a fall that a person may not recover from. Not sure if I can do that. I care for the same reason I fight, don't seem that anyone else will.

Hope

"I had a job interview back in Korea today. Hopefully will see you soon." These words appearing on my monitor lifted my spirits. The thought of looking into those winter blue eyes again renewed me.

Maybe, just maybe angels can appear twice.

Born to be down.

In a funk today, think a lot of it has to do with how I feel folks are beginning to see me. Seems that lately I've become the safety net. I'm the reliable one that is always there when needed, never really minded that before. Only problem is that that is all I am now, now all I get is everyone's problems and pain. No longer am I called when there is fun to be had, now I get called when there are problems. It gets old, and I am damn well tired.

Where to go, where to go?

Got 5 days off coming up, and I need to get out of Korea for that time. The wanderlust must be sated. Thinking of heading to Thailand or back to the Philippines, some place where I can lose myself for a few days. In a spot where I need to hang up the white knight armor and recharge. Thinking to lose myself in the world for a few days would be just what the doctor ordered.

Glorious sleep

Really did not want to get up this morning, had thirteen hours of sleep and wanted more. Just something about the cold winter mornings when you are wrapped up in a nice warm bed, that makes you want to stay there and hibernate. Cursed work strikes again.

Trust

One of the hangups from my sailor days is trust. When you are in the middle of the ocean, the only people who can help you are the people next to you. You may hate the guy you're working with, but you know when push comes to shove he'll have your back and you'll have his. That is why crews are so tight, these are the people who keep you alive. At sea these are the men and women who stand with you against the sea, and in port are the ones who get you back to the ship safely. They do it for you, and you do it for them.

People trust me here because they know I will not betray that trust. Lately had a friend here who has broken that trust, not just with me but with other people in our circle. He has apologized and seems sincere, but he has time and time again proven to be duplicitous. Can't tell if it's really him, or just another mind game. If I can't trust you, I have no use for you.

Trust is very strange thing, it can be freely given but once broken is very hard to regain.

normal

I love reading posts that get me to thinking (sometimes not a good thing, but hey whatcha gonna do?). The Exception did this today, Craving to be normal got my introspection going.

A normal life, not sure if there is such a beast, but it is attractive. Wife, 2 kids, family dog, little house in the suburbs would be something. Not sure I was cut out to be that, too much left to do and see. Granted if I was in that life, I would do everything I could to make sure my family was healthy and happy, but I don't think I would be me. I can't imagine doing the 9 to 5 for 40 years and one morning looking in the mirror and wondering who is staring back at me. To have never sailed the oceans or have walked the world, that would do something worse than kill me it would steal my soul.

It does get hard, there are times I look at "normal" people and go "God, I wish I was like that.". One day I will be, not today but one day. I find that this song captures it.

Wish you were here- Pink Floyd

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Things I don't get

Lotta things in the world I just don't get, who knows could just be me.

Conforming to the latest fad. I don't really care if all the cool kids are doing it, it still looks stupid.

Believing the media. If it bleeds it leads, Nuff said.

Believing politicians. If you need this one explained, I got a bridge to sell you.

Cause Zealots. How the hell do you find time to protest things? Does your job give you that much time off?

Instructions on soda can pull tops. If you need instructions on how to drink a Coke, do you need to be breeding?

Famous activists. Just because you played the president in a movie, does not mean you know a damn thing about running a country. You are paid to entertain us, so shut up and act.

Drivers in Korea. After living in Korea for 2.5 years I can safely say you folks need to walk. (If you think I'm being racist saying this, come here and try driving. I dare you!)

Bush Derangement Syndrome. We get it, you don't like the man. Idiot cowboy or evil mastermind bent on world domination, pick one and stick to it. He can't be both. Nor is he responsible for every bad thing that happens.

Racism/Reverse racism. A friend of mine always says "Hating someone because of the color of their skin is stupid, get to know them and you'll find much better reasons to hate them.". Gotta admit that's pretty true. There is no such thing as reverse racism, it's racism. Hatred is hatred no matter how you slice it.

Socialized anything. It looks good on paper, but it does not work. Just like communism. Capitalism may be the unequal distribution of wealth, but Socialism is the equal distribution of poverty.

Anti-gun zealots. Owning a firearm does not automatically turn you into a blood crazed killer, nor will it magically cause all crime to vanish. If you don't want to own one, don't buy one.

Censorship. Almost all electrical devices today have this neat little on/off button. If you don't want to see what is being shown push that button.

Thinking about the children. If you don't want little Johnny playing the violent video game or watching the things on tv, you're the parent do the job and see above response to censorship.

Anti-religion fruitcakes. Congratulations you're an atheist, quit trying to force your beliefs on others. (side note: The belief in nothing is still a belief)

Religious fruitcakes. Congratulations you're religious, quit trying to force your beliefs on others. (side note: Faith is a beautiful thing, it can not be spread at the point of a sword.)

Just how I see a few things

Angels and demons

"Come on, show me what you got." The jeer hits home, it's been a long night I'm tired and more than a little angry. The coldness takes hold, it's been a long time in coming and I owe him this in spades. The world around me slows down, senses dulled by fatigue burst into high definition, muscles rejuvenate as adrenalin hits them. Our eyes lock, I see the overconfident swagger change to fear. In that instant he knows he went too far, and God help me, I want to prove him right. Winter blue eyes flash in my mind, she would be disappointed. She would understand, he has caused hurt to myself and those close to me, but she would be disappointed. She always thinks higher of me than I am, I have no wish to prove her wrong. A thousand miles away and she still holds sway. I stay my hand, turn and walk away. The world returns to normal speed, I smirk up to the night sky "Thanks dove, looks like you saved me again.".

Angels appear but once, but what they leave behind lasts.

Superiority, Moi?

The Recipe For seven seas

3 parts Enchantment 2 parts Brilliance 1 part Whimsy Splash of Superiority Limit yourself to one serving. This cocktail is strong!

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

I figured that there would be rum.

Randomness in the new year

Happy New Year's

Why is being the nice one never as fun as being the utter bastard?

Last night I watched a guy nearly break his own wrist trying to win a video game, some folks get way too competitive.

Why do bad pennies always show up, but angels appear but once?

Just watched a friend's relationship go from "I'll let her know I'm buying this." to "I'll see if she'll allow me to buy this.".

Always surprising when the "or else what" results, not in a fist fight, but in a phone call being made. Very sobering to realize, as a Sergent, you've just had a Colonel woken up at 3 am. This is why annoying the ex-sailor when drunk, after your curfew is a bad thing.

"She said you were a protector, we're gonna be great friends." This phrase marked the shortest time ever to get shifted in the "friend" category. ~sighs~ Preemptively placed in the friend slot, just can't win.

This brought me down. I am saddened greatly by Mr. Prachett's news.