Cold cold, go away!

Many things piss me off in this life: people that litter, people who talk on their cell phone in a tight public place, drivers who don't use their single light to turn or change lanes and on and on.

But there is something in particular that I hate, maybe more than anything else. That is - COLD WEATHER! This year has been the absolute worst. Here we are in late April and I'm still seeing temperatures in the 60s and 70s. What the hell is going on!? I could be wrong about this but, I don't remember a time when it was this cold this late in the year, at least not here in my beloved South Texas. And it never seems to fail, the days that I'm off from work are the days that are colder and the days that I'm working are the warmest. That, of course, is a visceral observation. 

But damn it already, I'm so tired of this cold. I know, I know, to most people 60 and 70 degree weather is far from cold. But, not in my book. If it's below 78 - I'm cold!!!!!!!!!

Alas, this has to end sometime. We're almost in May and I'm so hoping hotter weather is coming soon. When I see 90 degree and 100 degree forecasts I will jump for joy and sing Hallelujah.

Procession to Calvary by one

As I was on my way back home from my mother's home on Easter Sunday, I came across this person recreating Christ carrying the cross. I managed to snap a few pictures of him as I was driving, but this is the only one that was in decent focus.

Many of us have heard the story of the Procession to Calvary time and time again. But, as I'm writing this post, I can't help feeling so very sad for our Lord and savior. How must it have been like to lug this heavy mass, trundling to your final destination knowing that soon you're going to be nailed to it and die.

Moving.

The Impatient driver behind me.

The other day I was coming up to a stop sign and at the very moment I stopped, the driver behind me began honking their horn at me. I looked back at them on my rear view mirror in amazement. Not only had I just stopped, there was another vehicle coming down the street that I had to let go by before I could make my turn. The moron honking behind me was in plain view of the vehicle I was waiting to go by but continued to honk their horn, annoyed that I wasn't moving fast enough.

Finally, relieved that I had this clown away from me, that wasn't the case. The nimrod turned the way I was turning and was behind me at a red light. Well, again when the light turned green for a millisecond, the moron started honking at me.

I'm sure a lot of you have been in this same situation and know what I'm talking about. I so empathize with you. It's unnerving knowing we have to share the roads and streets with these types of seedy people.
So annoying!

My Three Rings

My Three Rings
I've never been the type of person to own very much jewelry. In the past I've owned a few silver and gold bracelets, necklaces with a few charms and a few rings here and there.

Currently, the only jewelry I own are in the picture to the left. I do, however, plan to buy a few more rings and maybe a necklace later on.

I just don't put too much stock into possessing jewelry in any great amount. It's kind of like my attitude about clothes. I don't put too much  stock into that either. Got a pair of faded jeans, a solid black t-shirt (always solid color, never patterns) and hiking boot and I'm good.

In any event, let me tell you about my three rings:

• I forgot exactly where I bought the skull ring. I think I got that one at a flea market. Why a scull ring? I think it's my "metal/bad boy side" of me being represented as well as the rebel inside me.
• I bought the middle ring in Laredo, Texas. I had been looking for a shinny silver ring in Nuevo Laredo but never did. When I crossed back to the US side, I happened to walk past a jewelry store and spotted this beautiful ring. It's pure silver, I love the design and at the moment, is my favorite ring.
• The last ring on my ring finger I bought at a garage sale. It is not silver and I have no idea what type of metal it's made from. I have to constantly clean this ring before I wear it because I turns green in a matter of hours. But, I love the design.

I finally did what for many years I had just been playing lip service to. Leaving a job that I had absolute no interest in and quite frankly, hated. I told myself in the beginning, "I can do this for 6 months to a year MAX" and then I would be out. Unfortunately, it became 10 years of hell. From the first moment I stepped into the hospital I felt so uncomfortable. It wasn't the people (well, most of the people) it was the field I was going to be working in. The medical field. From a journalist prospective, I love the medical technology, science and innovation related to medicine. However, working as a direct care personnel, I HATED IT!

It feels so good beyond belief knowing I will no longer have to endure the nightmare of working in a situation that was an anathema to me. I have absolutely no idea how I stuck it out for so long just beating my head against the wall. It was becoming so very hard to make it through the work day. I had become short tempered and some of the time, not a very nice person to be around. But, it was all related to the situation I had put myself in. It was no ones fault but mine that I was in a horrible place.

Now that I'm no longer in that dark situation, I have vowed never (at all cost) to put myself in that kind of situation ever again. For as long as I have left to live, I will be committed to going where I want to go and work to reach the place I want to be.

Tom Brady: Catch him while you still can

I remember during the 1970s watching NFL greats like Terry Bradshaw, Fran Tarkenton and Bob Griese slicing and dicing defences. And, during the 1980s I watched future hall of famers like Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Joe Theismann create headaches for many a defensive coordinator. I watch, but mostly I was cursing at them when they played and beat my beloved Dallas Cowboys. At that time I heard all the praises from fawning sports reporters and just wanted to gag. I was never interested in hearing how great these and other players where, I was just interested in how the Cowboys were fairing in the standings and how they were going to make it to the Superbowl. I knew how good someone like Joe Montana was, but I didn’t care. I wanted to see him beat. I knew Joe Theismann was good, but I wanted him beat. Immature? Yes. Jealous? Yes.

Fast forward to now. I wish I could go back in time to watch those players and others like them and appreciate just how good they really were. I wish I could go back in time and watch every game they played; to see greatness playing out before me. Yes, we now have the wonder of ESPN Classics and, of course the Internet. But, it’s not the same. Reliving some of those great games via Youtube is neat, but it can never replace actually being there or even watching it as it happened.

There is someone playing in the NFL right now who is about to embark on another season, which may or may not be his last. Whether or not it’s his last, he is certainly nearing the end of his NFL career. I’m talking about Tom Brady - quarterback of the New England Patriots. I want to make a suggestion to those of you who are in the mind frame I was in during the 70s and 80s. Whatever negativity you feel about Tom Brady, step outside of that. Take advantage of the time you have right now and realize that an NFL legend is making history right before our eyes. In fact, that whole team is making history right before our eyes. I’m not suggesting you cheer for the Patriots when their playing your team, but don’t miss out on a once in a lifetime chance to see a great player and a great team make history. Don’t wait until you’re 40, 50 or 60 years old and wish you could have watched the Patriots make history, AS IT HAPPENED. Don’t wait and watch archived footage. It won’t be the same, I promise you.

Where the wind blows

I'm in total amazement. I'm baffled and perplexed. 

What I've witnessed happening in the National Football League in the past few weeks is an organization sticking a wet finger in the air and wherever the wind is blowing, is where they have been driven to.

The Ray Rice situation, along with the other alleged domestic violence issues has cast an ominous cloud over the entire NFL. But, how can the league act on punishing players who have not yet had a court hearing? Other players who have been convicted of breaking the law have, and should, be punished by the league as it sees fit. However, in the case of Rice, he admitted to hitting his female partner. He said himself he did it. So, the league acted and gave him a two game suspension. Then there was the other part of the film footage showing him hitting her and a subsequent indefinite suspension from the NFL followed. That, to me, is a "head scratcher." The guy said he hit her, 2 games. The guy is seen hitting her, indefinite suspension. WHAT? College quarterback Jameis Winston blabs his mouth and utters  obscenities, he's suspended for the first half of his next game. There is public outcry, he's then suspended for the entire game. WHAT?

A situation like the Rice case is one thing, but public outrage is not a way to manage your internal affairs. If that were the case, many many people would be unjustly jailed or put to death. The court system must speak first then punishment should follow if a party is found guilty. We are all innocent until proven guilty. Right?

I can't stand the climate of ever changing stances based on the level of public outcry. Let the facts come out, let both sides make a case, send the issue to a jury and then take a stand. It's not perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than trail by sentiment.