Not Always Inside

Sometimes true inner strength comes not from inside, but from our outer environment. A comment, a touch, a smile. These items and others of a similar nature are sometimes all we need to trigger than mechanism within ourselves that gives us that adrenaline push we need.

When you feel that need to give someone that needed compliment or advice, that touch on the shoulder or simply a smile in their direction, you may have just given that person what they needed at that time to help them gain that "inner" strength.

NOPE!

One of the things you risk when you have a blog is comments. Some are good, some are not, some are kind, some are not, and sometimes you just have to scratch your head and wonder...

Such is the case recently with one of my Faithful Few, whose identity I do not know, nor do I ever expect to know, mainly because that is their wish.

Recently this one individual has been making some strange comments, almost like they are trying to either pick an argument with me or just simply hurt my feelings. Why they have chosen this path, I have no idea. But, this is their choosing, not mine, and my best response is to try and "guess" why they have taken this stance.

Our local newspaper has recently changed their web design. One of the things they did was remove the "leave a comment" application. Personally, I'm glad they did, because some of the comments that used to be left were an embarrassment and to me, they left a black eye on our community as a whole.

This same person I'm referring to asked me to "promote" myself thru the newspaper website, which I did not do. I don't "advertise" myself, I simply write because I like to write, and this seems to be a good outlet for that purpose. I'm glad for each and everyone of my Faithful Few, but I don't actively go out of my way and try and attract more of them. I'm glad when others do that for me, but I choose for it to be thru them, and not thru me.

Apparently this individual thought enough of my blog go ahead and promote me thru the paper, totally without my knowledge until the info appeared in "Rants, Raves and Random Thoughts." While I found it a bit embarrassing when folks mentioned it to me, I took in stride and thanked the person for giving me some unsolicited PR in a comment on one of my blogs.

Now, I have to wonder, since the local paper has taken the "leave a comment" capability away, does this person feel a need to vent and attack me on my own blogpage that they themselves have tried to promote, simply so they can see their attempt at an argument in print?

I can take criticism, when I feel that criticism is left constructively. But when someone takes the time to belittle people by name and basically try and tear down things that I hold near and dear to me, that, to me, is no longer commenting but intentionally trying to hurt, defame and otherwise and try to create an argument.

Number one, I publish ALL comments I feel are left with good intentions, whether I agree with them or not. However, I will not, in any way, shape or form publish any comment that names someone and tears them apart regarding their weight or their appearance, or if the comment tries and tears down who that person is and/or what they are doing.

I won't engage in a public "pissing contest" with someone who tries and pick an argument with me over any subject, when it appears to me they are simply trying to engage me in an argument so they can see it in print. If they miss reading their arguings with others on the newspaper's website, I don't think I should allow them the opportunity to use my blogpage as another source of "showing off."

That's not why I blog, and it never will be.

I write, I give my opinions, and I try and give folks something to read, to remember and to ponder. If you want to leave me a comment about what I've written, chances are it's going to get printed.

If I read it and you tear it or me down, guess what? DELETE!

I write about a lot of things, and a lot of those things are real people. I absolutely refuse to publish comments that tear this person down, especially when it's someone I know and care about.

Also, if you want to really engage me in conversation, don't hide behind an alias. I'm here, wide open, exposed, and you know who I am. Why don't you show me the same respect and get out from behind your alias, and if you want to get involved in some in depth discussion, hell, I'll meet you in person, have a drink with you and talk to you for hours. I'm open minded and I'm a damned good listener. Also, there is a link on my page to my e mail addy, which you can use as well.

However, I'm not your personal punching bag to use when you've had a bad day, a fight with the spouse or if it's your time of the month to be an asshole.

I've had enough of that in my life, I go out of my way NOT to hurt people or their feelings, and all I have ever asked in return from anyone in my life is to pay me the same courtesy.

I stand by my comments I have made in my blogs. No, they aren't all right, but they are how I feel. They are my perceptions, and I'm allowed to have those perceptions and for those of you I talk to and for those of you who tell me face to face how you feel, whether we have agreed or not, I thank each and everyone of you for doing that.

I don't do a lot political commenting, mainly because I'm not a politician. The few times that I have, yeah, I've heard about it, in both positive and negative ways.

I'm about as middle of the road as you can get when it comes to politics, and I have probably never voted a straight ticket, EVER, except when you have to in the primaries. I live in a very conservative community and I realize most people in my community can't see the middle of the road because they are so far over to the right side. Trust me, you have your side of the road, others have their side of the road, and I like to hang out here in the middle.

So quit trying to tell me that I'm WRONG when I'm NOT!

Quit trying to act like when I write something on my page that it is a personal attack on you.

It's not.

It's just how I feel, and quite honestly, the more you try and tell me how damned wrong I am is just going to reinforce in my mind just how damned RIGHT I am!

Again, if you want to talk, let's talk!

If you want to disagree, that's fine.

But if you expect me to engage in a pissing contest with you simply because you want to just argue, it's not going to happen, especially when you hide behind your alias.

Again, thanks to ALL of my Faithful Few, including that one of you who knows who I'm referring to.

I really do appreciate each and every one of you.

More than you will ever know.

Thanks, and please keep reading!!!

Assuming

So many things in our life that we are met with we don't take the time to research. We simply "assume."

You receive a well intended e-mail informing you that our president is a Muslim, but you never take a moment and research it. You assume it to be true, because, hell, someone e-mailed it to you so it's got to be true.

Since I started on the internet all those many moons ago, I have received one e mail over and over again. It's the one that tells me of a senator from Florida in a certain congressional district that has introduced legislation to start adding a charge on every e mail you send. I received it again last year, and each time I get it I have to laugh. The senator from Florida does NOT exist, never did exist and Florida doesn't even have a congressional district by the number listed in that e mail.

I recently received a notice in my e mail about President Obama CANCELLING the National Day of Prayer. Uh, excuse me, but last I noticed our country did indeed have a national day of prayer. I figure some disgruntled sore loser decided to concoct yet another story about our President and try and discredit him. Get over it, folks, he WON! Get a life and start worrying about who you plan to run in the next election, and please, dear Lord, don't let it be that book burning quitter from Alaska!

I was recently informed that someone I enjoy listening to musically is a cheap rip off. Actually, this individual who I know and who I have listened to on XM's channel BB King's Bluesville was interviewed on internet blues radio and was asked about the comparison between her and someone else. She explains that though there are similarities between them, it's simply just the way she sings and even though she is flattered by the comparison, it's not what she is trying to do. Anyone who listens to the blues regularly understands that there is a "feeling" you convey as you're singing this genre, and that feeling is what you bring out of yourself. If one would listen to ALL of the different songs this person sings, they would realize that only a portion of her songs could even be compared to this other individual. Do I think she is a cheap rip off of someone else? Absolutely not. Do I hear a resemblance in their styles? Of course I do, which is one of the reasons why I enjoy listening to her.

A word of advice is all I'm trying to get across here. Check out before you accuse or "assume" or share info. Research before you speak to soon and don't simply try to discredit because it makes you feel good to do so. When you are dealing with people you are dealing with someone's life and someone's feelings and it isn't your place to try and discredit or hurt someone with your words.

Before you pass on info you receive in e-mails, take the time to check out the info. A great places to do this is www.snopes.com

Thanks for reading.

Cee Cee James, Red House

Check out this video from this totally blazing gal from Washington state. So awesome, such a great voice and such a great individual. Remind you of anyone?

Indianapolis 500 2010 - Mike Conway final lap crash

This accident, if you haven't seen it, happening between turns three and four on the last lap of this year's Indy 500. I was sitting in turn three and just happened to see it when Conway's car hit the fence. Amazingly he escaped with only a broken leg.

Waiting

Waiting on my ride to go see the Indy Racing League's premier event, the Indianapolis 500. Hoping it's over in time to head back home and watch the majority of the Nascar Spring Cup Coca Cola 600 from Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte.

It has been 40 years since I last attended an Indy 500 and I'm really looking forward to seeing it live. I am NOT looking forward to the crowd, the unruly drunks and the near 90 degree temps sitting in the hot sun in turn 3, but hey, that is the price you sometimes have to pay.

Here's hoping for a safe and very competitive race!

Oh, and yeah, maybe a cold beer or two!

Two and A Half

Sometimes the voices from the past begin speaking again.

It's always good to know they still can!

Forever

Will you meet me on this side of Forever
Or shall we rendevous just south of Destiny?
Sometimes the things we want
Are the things that aren't meant to be,
Regardless how badly we both want them.
The physical part of me stands here,
In this world,
While another part of me continues
To hang out
Waiting,
Wishing,
Hoping
Yet never being fulfilled.

Just this side of Forever...

Never Enough Time

Sometimes life needs to slow down a bit. Other than the couple or three five mile walks I take each week, I haven't had a lot of time to myself lately.

Work responsibilities, the possibility of clerks being cut in our office(yes, I could be as well,) the alpaca farm work and my responsibilites with the concert series, I do have a bit of time tomorrow, although it will be hectic.

For the first time in 40 years, I get to go to the Indy 500, thanks to my brother in law Jerry who gave me two tickets. Jerry is in Atlanta and couldn't make it, but thanks to his generosity, my friend John and I are heading to the 500.

I do believe I'll be receiving a visit from Coors Light and if all works out and the traffic permits, John and I should be back here tomorrow evening with most of the Coca Cola 600 to watch on TV.

Apologies to my Faithful Few for not having written anything lately, but with all that's been going on, this part of my life has been shoved onto a back burner.

Hope to do better in the future.

Thanks for hanging in there.

Shearing Day, April 19th, 2010

Our annual alpaca shearing day was today at my sis's farm down in Franklin County. A total of 25 head were shorn today, and unbelievably in a relatively short amount of time.

In years past, this dreaded day has been spread out over two days and the past three years has become a nearly twelve hour event. Last year 21 head shorn in 11 hours and 40 minutes. Today, we sheared 25 in three hours.

This year we hired a crew of four young men who really know their way around the world of alpacas. Not only did the 25 get a much needed haircut, but toenails got trimmed, teeth got shortened and fighting teeth were removed.

The stress time on the animals was amazingly short this year, and we can only hope that this will now set a precedent for many, many years to come.

Remembering Summer Heat, Part Nine

After the fiasco at the Lincoln Center for Franklin College, we returned to our home turf, namely the Rush County Fairgrounds Community Building, and we continued with what we were most comfortable with, which was playing to our hometown fans. Although most of those next hometown shows proved to be fun but uneventful, we had a chance to return to Greensburg and play for the High School once again.

This time, the dance was without a theme, a different crowd seemed to be in attendance that night, and for some reason a large number of boring and show off types seemed to be there. Our buddy Val was nowhere to be seen this time around, which came as a forewarning to me that this was NOT going to be the same type of show we had played last time here.

I can't remember the reason why, but Jim was not going to be able to play this show. We decided that Bill would be a great fit, since he came to most of our hometown dances and pretty much knew our repetoire. Bill filling in for Jim would work out just fine and we were sure he would have no problem drumming to our music. This proved totally right and more than once that evening I recall Jay telling Bill how much BETTER a drummer he was than Jim.

I was without my fake long hair this particular night, even though I had showed up at Mike's with it on. A vote was taken by 3 fathers that I should leave the hair at home and not show up with it on that night. Ah, what the hell, at least we were going to be going back to where the crowd really loved us last time.

From the get go when we started setting up, we had a small group of "locals" who seemed intent on making us feel uncomfortable. Not a single one of these guys made an attempt to even ask if they could help us carry any of our equipment in. They stood back, watched us, made snide remarks quietly that they all laughed loudly at while we brought in our equipment and set it up.

Flip had left Rushville by this time, so we knew we would be minus our plate smasher that night, but we had no idea how lucky he was that he wouldn't be there for what lie ahead of us for the next three hours or so.

We actually started playing before a large crowd got there, more as a sound check for us than an actual start, but once we got to playing those first couple of songs, things just seemed to fall into place and we entertained the small group of students that had decided to forego going to the game.

Little by little the crowd started getting bigger, but it wasn't as large a crowd as the first time we had played there. The first time we had played there it was to an after basketball game crowd, and if memory serves me correctly, this time it was an after football game crowd. What difference that might have possibly made is beyond me, but it did indeed make a difference on this particular night.

We hadn't even gotten thru our first set when the first requests of the evening started coming in. Requests for top 40 tunes, bubble-gum music, and the dreaded request for something by the Cowsills.

People we yelling at us to play something off current radio, and I'm not talking rock radio, I'm talking off of AM rock stations, which mostly consisted of boring music that we simply didn't play.

We took our first break and a couple of the "locals" who had been there while we were setting up asked us if we knew any GOOD music, and could we stop playing that hard rock crap we were playing. It felt like someone was pouring acid on top of our heads, and no, not the LSD kind, either.

During break, Denny and I started trying to figure out just what the hell was going on with the crowd tonight. How could a crowd that had been so into our thing a few months ago mutate into something like a top 40 bubble gum crowd?

We started off set two with something by either Zeppelin or Hendrix, and the tension in the crowd grew. We could feel the resentment in the eyes of those in the crowd. It didn't feel like we had one person in that audience that was enjoying anything we were playing. During the last ten minutes of that second set, after we had delivered some killer rock songs, a lot of the crowd simply stood or sat down and quit dancing.

Denny walked over to mike and looked out at the crowd and asked them if anyone wanted to hear any Steppenwolf. A few mumbles came back at him, to which he turned and looked at us and said,"Let's give 'em The Pusher."

We did, but this time we added nothing extra, no smashing guitars, no attempt at crowd shocking, just a really damned good delivery of a great rock tune. As soon as it was over, we took our final break of the evening and started our plan of attack during our third and final set.

Bill had brought along with him a spiral notebook of poems he had written. I still don't know why he had brought it along, but I'm ever so glad to this day that he did. It would prove to be the accelerant we needed to push this group of "fans" over their collective edges.

We started our third set off with something totally bizarre, which I can't remember now, but it was more or less the type of song this crowd had been wanting all night. During the instrumental part of the song Denny once again walked over to his mic and looked over at me and asked me over the mic, "Charlie, did you know Greensburg had such a plastic group of people in it like the ones who are here tonight?"

I walked over to an open mic and answered him back." No, Denny, I didn't, but these folks seem to have a monopoly on the plastic industry tonight."

Jay walked back over to his mic and finished up the last verse of this really intensely rotten song and laughed most of the way thru it until the end.

As soon as that song was over, Denny grabbed Bill's book of poetry and started reading a poem to the crowd. No background music, no explanation as to what he was doing, just started reading a poem over the PA. Mouths dropped open in the audience, people started hollering for music, but Denny kept right on reading.

When he finished, Bill took the book and started reading a poem. That was followed by Jay reading one. Boos started coming up from the crowd, and despite the fact that this was a school sponsored dance, a barrage of cuss words came from the crowd and pretty much told us how much they loved our show and what we were doing. You could not only hear the anger and the hatred in those words, you could see it on the faces of a lot of those close to the stage.

We jumped into "Communication Breakdown" by Zeppelin and it was a totally rocking performance. It didn't seem to matter though, because most of our dancing audience had exited already. During the next 3 or 4 songs our crowd of over 200 had shrunk to probably about 30, and most of those were guys.

This didn't look pretty at this moment in time.

I can't remember what song we finished that final set with, but I do remember Jay telling the crowd that this would be our last song and he hoped if we ever came back to play there again that we had a totally different audience in attendance.

Thankfully for us, a number of teachers and chaperones remained after we finished. We carried our equipment out to the van, not taking our time, because a large number of the local jerks positioned themselves along the corridor to our exit. As we carried our equipment out, low spoken threats were made to us, pretty much assuring us that once we left the school we wouldn't make it out of Greensburg alive.

I'm not sure if any of the teachers or chaperones would have stopped any violence or not that night, because you could tell by the disgusted looks on their faces that they weren't Summer Heat fans either. They did come down to where the van was parked and more or less supervised us loading up, and when a couple of the "locals" stepped closer to the van, they were escorted on out of the building.

I watched as they left and watched as they got into automobiles in the parking lot and started them up, but a few of those vehicles stayed, appartently waiting on us.

As we finished loading up, one of the adults present shut the doors to the school behind us and locked them, leaving us outside to face whatever fate lie ahead for us.

I'm not sure if was merely by coincidence or if someone had made a call, but as we were getting into the van, a police car pulled into the parking lot and stopped. We started up the van and the car we had brought and slowly pulled out towards the exit to the street. Luckily, the police car followed us out of the parking lot.

The locals in their cars apparently decided not to follow us out and "take care" of us as we left Greensburg, probably because we had an officer of the law right behind us.

As we pulled out of town right before the SR3 and I74 interchange, the police car pulled into a business lot and headed back to town.

As great as our first show was in Greensburg a few months before, this one had been a total opposite.

Needless to say, we never played Greensburg High School again.

to be continued.....

Keep Mowin', Mowin', Mowin'...

My brother in law came out Thursday evening and replaced a $4.50 primer bulb on the John Deere push mower and it started on the very first crank.

Friday after work I was able to push mow my entire yard, including my "oh, hell!" hill. The yard looks great and it will probably need another trim by Tuesday.

The extra excercise I'm giving myself by NOT using the John Deere rider is probably doing me a world of good.

Spring had definitely sprung!

All Revved Up

I came home from work last night, had been talking all day about how excited I was that it's time to start mowing. I decided last night was the night.

I came home from work last night, changed clothes, opened up the garage, filled up the mower and headed out to the yard.

A half hour later the damned mower still wouldn't start.

Tonight, same scenario.

Tomorrow, my brother in law the lawnmower mechanic specialist.

"sigh!"

Poison

A few weeks ago I watched the most ridiculous display of disrespect I have ever witnessed when the Republican members of Congress sat like bumps on a log during President Obama's State Of The Union Address. To see these grown men act like elementary school kids who aren't getting their way embarrassed me to the point of anger.

Firstly, I'm not a politically motivated person. I always try and vote for the person I feel is best qualified for the job. I don't vote straight ticket, never have, can't say I never will, but I don't vote for any particular party.

I'm neither liberal nor conservative. I'm about as middle of the road as you can get.

To see elected officials act this way in public, and to have watched the recent fiasco on health care in the House, I can honestly wonder how any of these "jerks" got elected in the first place.

A Democrat could have one of the most wonderful ideas going right now, but the Republicans would shun it, tear it down and rip it apart, simply because it was the idea of a Democrat.

To hear John McCain talk about having the new healthcare bill repealed and using it as a political campaign tool reminds me of a little kid who doesn't get his way and picks up his toys and refuses to share and play.

The two party system of politics in our great nation has become a total sham and an embarrassment to our nation as a whole.

President Obama has been labelled as a Socialist, and I have to wonder how much of that has to do with the fact that he is a black man?

I would have hoped that prejudice had gone its way decades ago, but of course, it hasn't.

It's not just racial issues that create prejudice, but it's also politcal affiliation, whether you are of the same religion or not, whether you're fat, thin or normal, if you're Mexican, Puerto Rican, Indian, Caucasian or Middle Eastern.

The Bible teaches us that we are ALL created in the image of God, yet we fail to recognize this in our daily lives.

I listen to so-called holy men of God speak of "taking our nation back." Excuse me, but when did our nation go away? I read comments by so-called Christians about changing our world to better suit what they perceive to be their way of thinking, but they condemn other religions for attempting to do the same thing.

I thank God I was raised in a home where prejudice wasn't taught and that I was raised to recognize that all men are created equal.

I had hoped in my lifetime I would have lived to see an end to ALL types of prejudice, but that simply isn't going to happen, considering the age I am now and the current state of thinking in our country.

When the political leaders of our land act as they do, simply for the good of their party, it's a sure bet that they don't have the best interests of our nation at heart.

Will this archaic type of thinking ever truly come to an end?

Poll Results

For now, the poll remains as I had a total landslide of 100% to keep it. The hurtful problem was, the poll vote was the smallest vote yet. So, trying to keep my totally Faithful Few happy, the poll will remain, but it's taking a few days off until Spring Break is over.

We're Almost There, Folks!

Continuing to improve from the "sneezing" injury, and hoping that within the next day or two I will be able to come in here, sit down for a few minutes, and do some serious catching up.

Again, to those of you who have waited patiently, I thank you and hope we don't have a long spell between posts again unless it's for vacation reasons.

Peace!

And Things Are Like This Now

Continuing to heal from my sneezing injury, busy working on taxes and the death of a friends wife this week. Getting a little easier to sit in front of the computer, not comfortably yet, but getting there.

Obviously from the voting results either my readership is down this week or folks are deciding to not vote in this poll.

Hopefully in the next week things will be better all the way around.

For those of my Faithful Few who are hanging in there with me, I thank you.

For those of you who are also voting, I thank you as well.

Hopefully things will be back to normal very, very soon.

And, OH, to be able to get back in the bed again soon...I enjoy my recliner but it certainly does suck as a bed.

Oooops!

One week ago this past Thursday a really strange thing happened to me. I was up and out of bed, grabbing some meds out of the cabinet, and I sneezed.

Next thing I know, I'm on the floor, on my knees, holding my left side, seeing stars and unable to breathe of talk.

Yeah, it was one hell of a sneeze, gang!

After struggling thru the day at work on that Thursday and discovering that night that I was unable to lie down in bed to sleep, I went to see the doc on Friday morning and discovered I had either pulled a muscle in my ribcage or ruptured it. The doc gave me some meds to help with the pain and discomfort and put me off work that day which allowed me three days in a row to take care of myself.

I'm sad to report that we are now a week and two days past said incident and the pain is still present and I am still unable to lie down to sleep. I have spent the past nine nights sitting in the recliner in an effort to sleep.

It hurts to sit, it hurts to stand, but it's impossible to lie down without it feeling like I'm ripping my insides out. It's painful to sit here in front of the computer, which is why I have had but one brief update in the past week.

With a couple of days lying (pun intended) before me, I'm hoping a couple of more days of taking it easy will do the trick and I'll feel better by Monday morning. If not, I would imagine another trip to the doctor will be in order. This has been a very strange incident indeed caused by one stinking sneeze.

Anyway, please hang in there with me, I haven't given up writing, have some great ideas I'm ready to work with, just can't sit here long enough to get them done.

Just remember to be careful the next time you feel a sneeze coming on.

Old Friends

I've managed to make it past my 58th birthday, and when I stop and think about that, it truly boggles my mind. In my youth, I never believed I would have lived to see 30, but as the time grew closer, I decided I wouldn't live to see 40. Of course, as I got into my late 30's, I knew I would never live to see 50. I'm pretty sure that was when I got out of that mode of thinking altogether.

In the Stephen King short story "The Body," which became the basis of the movie "Stand By Me," it is summed up at the end of the movie that we never have any friends any truer than the ones we had when we were twelve years old. While I don't necessarily agree with that statement totally, it does indeed have a large basis of fact that one certainly can't disagree with.

I believe as we get older, we are exposed more to the insincerities of the world, we see the falsehoods people tend to learn to live with, and "true" friendship mutates away from those friends we have when we are younger.

A lot of friends I had when I was younger have moved on in their own lives as I have my own, and some of those folks I haven't seen in nearly forty years. Some of my classmates from the Class of 1970 that I spend all twelve years of school with, I haven't seen since graduation night. Agreed, some of them I'm glad I haven't seen since grad night, but that's only a couple. I hope some of those folks I do get to see again before it's too late.

I had friends my age, younger than me, older than me and some that were years older than me that to me were still very good friends. Some have passed on, others are still around, but we just don't see each other any more.

The sad thing is, the friends that I had all those years ago and that I spent so much of my time with are no longer a part of my life.

How did that happen?

Why did that happen?

As often as they cross my mind, I can't help but wonder, do I ever cross theirs?

I'll probably never know.

Coming Soon....

My apologies to those of you who frequent this page. I've not done any significant posting as of late. There have been several reasons which I won't go into right now, but I assure you, I've several things planned to add very soon.

I appreciate your loyalty and your patience and hope that what I will be publishing in the near future will more than make up for my recent inactivity.