Never say goodbye

I'm tired of being philosophical. Tired of thinking. Thinking. Thinking. All this jumbled shit in my head. Always trying to find a reason for what I see or think. Some kind of rationalization or even just stringing the words together to be eloquent. To make a statement with language. To make some kind of difference. Trying to make an impact on life. Or trying to evoke a feeling.

I love the non-sensical line in Forrest Gump: Stupid Is, Stupid Does. From the first time I heard it, I didn't have a clue what it meant. Years later, I still ponder those four words. Stupid Is - inescapable. Regardless of where you are, stupid is there. Then it acts. Stupid Does. Hmmm...

Gone RED

There is a new way to help people you might have heard of. It's called RED. Still in it's infancy, RED is a way to fight AIDS in Africa. Among companies that have begun to participate you'll find American Express, Apple, Converse and even Armani.

I took the opportunity and designed my own RED shoes by Converse. In 3 short weeks, delivered right to my door was a pair of RED shoes I designed. Not only did I help a great cause, but I have not new fashion to boot (or shoe).


























Play or don't play, but keep your eye out for a company that goes RED that you can get behind.

Legacies

Today I spent several hours as the purveyor of death to a bunch of shooting clays. Shooting trap is more art than science. The science was provided to me in the form of a six thousand dollar shotgun. Yeah, I didn't stutter. I've shot with with equally beautiful and expensive guns before. On two other occasions, I've been in the position to be allowed to shoot what can only be termed a legacy gun

(this image is as close as I could find to the guns I shot).

These shotguns are simply works of art. Deadly and beautiful at the same time. Perhaps they are an analogy for love. They were certainly created with a loving hand. The delicate scrollwork and hand smoothed walnut stock gleaming in the afternoon sun. The trick to shooting is to not think about it. Thinking causes you to hesitate. The ultimate test. Thinking = Failure.

How much time do we spend over thinking our lives? The decisions before us? The possibilities that exist? Not enough? Too much? Perhaps, we should apply more of the shooting ethos to our thought process and simply eliminate it. If thinking = failure, does not thinking = success? Maybe, maybe not. The reality is that the $300 shotgun the next guy is carrying is just as effective in the right hands. In the wrong hands, it's a simple blunt instrument. All the engraving in the world isn't going to make you look good when the chips are down and the clay is in the air. Only the artisan with the right eye hand coordination is going to walk away with the sense of satisfaction that they did it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a wild card shooter. I can be awesomely on target on the hardest sections of the course (freakishly so) or I can miss six straight passes on easy traps. Perhaps this is the perfect analogy for my life. I'm a wild card. I've missed a lot lately, but I'm not putting up the gun. Reload muthertrucker and bring your best, cuz I'm coming for you. Six straight passes... whaddya say?

In the end, it's about the legacy you leave behind. Chin up, eyes defiant 'til the end or meekly into the mist of night? The choices look easy 'til you have to say 'pull'. The time for snickering, smirking and feeling superior are over. It's time to put up or shut up. Like the magnet on my fridge says, "Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.” - Mary Anne Radmacher

Older and wiser

You ever notice as you get older how much more attractive nap time becomes? I recall as a kid fighting my mother tooth and nail to keep from having to take a nap. Now, the concept of a nap brings a rich smile to my face. Of course, it being Thanksgiving, many people get to indulge in nap time as they claim Triptophan (sp?) overdose from Turkey (Note: you'd have to eat enough turkey to kill you to make the stuff effect you, but hey, whatever.)

OK, it's nap time, so you'll have to fend for yourself the rest of the day.

It's all about ME

Did you ever notice that the people in WalMart ads on TV have absolutely nothing in common with an actual sample of the true WalMart demographic. Now, if you shop at WalMart, I'm not down on you. I've been in WalMart, but I can't say I'll ever go back. It's not that they don't sell product that I'd buy, it's more the atmosphere and the denizen's of the WalMart jungle. Again, if you are one, no offense intended. It's not individuals there that freak me out, but rather the collective.

I realize that putting people on TV that actually represent the WalMart demographic might be a little bit of a bad idea. I mean, how do you sell your mega chain with a beer guzzling, tooth missing, hair awry mother of 6 squalling children as your spokes person. Again, if this is you, no offense intended.

I'm actually starting to become a big fan of the shop naked ethic. You know this... shop via the internet. Let's see. I don't have to fight traffic, I don't have to stand in lines. The stores are open 24 hours a day. I shop non-regional ethnic stores. (This week, I've ordered custom made Converse All-Star hightops, Lefse from Minnesota and a book off that store named after a Brazilian rain forest. Starbucks now has drive thru coffee shops and when they start delivery, I may never leave the house again (just kidding on that one).

Our paradigms are changing. More and more people are working outside the office. They vacation further away and more often. We need more consumer need fulfillment stores/organizations. The days of pushing a product to consumers is fading and the days of fulfilling consumers desires are entering. Kind of like Middle Earth, we are at the dawning of a new Age.

More random thoughts

Have you ever noticed that either your oral or written vocabulary is larger. Mine is obviously written. Erudite. Is this just another word for geek or nerd? Probably. *sigh*

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Strange phenomenon - I used to listen to heavy metal when I was in high school and college. Dio, Iron Maiden, etc... I still love the albums these bands put out then, but I was flipping channels this weekend and saw a video for a new Iron Maiden tune. I wondered if it was any good. I honestly couldn't tell. I love hearing classic Maiden, but the new tune just didn't do anything for me. Same goes for Dio. A friend sent me a link to an old Dio video on You Tube and while the video itself sucked (can you say LOW Budget?) the song kicked ass. Then I saw a link for a new Dio video featuring Jack Black with his new movie... you guessed it... SUCKED like an Electrolux.

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I'm a visual spatial thinker, but I can't organize storage space for JACK. I don't understand this at all. I should excel at this endeavor. Yet, I still have unpacked boxes littering my office from when I moved in March. Someone help me...

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In Miami, I saw dozens of people wearing a single Dog Tag around their neck. When did this trend start? What's the meaning behind it?

Slogans

So what does it say when every Burger King employee you see on break is eating a salad? Are BK salads particularly good now or is it perhaps that the BK burgers and other foods (chicken fries?) aren't good or good for you? It's a rare occasion for me to eat at a Burger King, but I'm stuck in an airport and my choices are Pizza Hut Pan Pizza (all carbs, all grease) or a Snickers bar from the news stand. I opted for the Burger. It was only after I received my food did I realize that all the employees on break were eating salads. Grrrr... Kinda like... I could've had a V8. *sigh*

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The best thing CNN has to report is a buck deer in a store (was it Walmart by chance? Can you say redneck?). Kind of a funny video, but I'm surprised someone didn't open up on it and claim it for dinner. (In best Homoer Simpson) Mmmm... Deeeeeer... lol

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The Army has a new slogan. Instead of Army of One, they are now Army Strong. Hmmm... An Army of One was only five years old. How bad does a slogan have to be to change it that quickly. I remember for decades the Army slogan was Be All You Can Be. Now there's an idea I can get behind. It asserts challenge and personal growth. More than 70% of Americans want jobs that challenge them. They desire that more than they do high salary. Rewarding, challenging work. Pretty simple concept. Why is it that so many people are unhappy with their jobs?

I know people that are absolutely miserable in their jobs. They complain about them all the time. They blame the people they work with for making them miserable in those jobs. Yet, they go to work everyday. Security of a paycheck is a strong motivator. On the flip side, are you healthy if you hate your job? If the thing you spend the majority of your waking hours doing is agonizing, then don't you owe it to yourself to try to change the status quo?

I'm not advocating quitting your job tomorrow if you are one of these people, but if you are still doing the same thing in 6 months, then I have to seriously wonder if you don't like the misery. The ability to complain about your job. Powerful is the draw to be bitter about our advocation. It becomes an identity you can cloak yourself in. Bitter, angry and vocalizing it. A slippery slope. Get too comfortable there and you may never escape.

Personally, I thrive on the idea that someone told me I couldn't do something. You'll never... or... You can't... I CAN. And I'm going to prove you wrong. Whoa, I just gave myself a tiny shiver. The power I hold in my hands, my head and my heart to accomplish the impossible. Is there a stronger drug than that? The satisfaction, the feeling you get when you succeed where you were told you couldn't? Oh, I just got another shiver. The energy and strength in that is worthy of allowing it to consume you. To rule you. To own you.

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I saw a T-shirt in a shop window in South Beach and it drew me into the store. It was hip, urban and a little ostentatious. I browsed through different items in the store. Jeans for $369, $149 T-shirts and then I found the one in the window. $289. Yes, $289. Not $2.89, not $28.90, but $289. Does it come with a blow-job from the cute blonde in the back of the store watching me move up and down the aisles? Didn't think so. What would motivate someone to spend that much money on a T-shirt that they would probably only wear a few times. The fabric was very delicate. Like an Armani silk tie, it's not made for everyday wear. Perhaps if I were a rockstar with unlimited funds to purchase a rockstar wardrobe with, I might think about buying and wearing a garment like that. Speaking of Rock Stars, I wonder how Tommy Lee or someone in his status level buys his clothes. I really don't see him heading out to the local rock n roll shop to see what new bedazzling style is available.

As seen on TV

So I am going to be on television. Well, part of me is. Some of my skin to be specific. We're not talkin' the local news either. But a national TV show that is actually seen in other parts of the world as well.

What part of me? Well of couple of my tattoos, of course. Here I was minding my own business (read that skulking by Miami Ink in hopes of a glimpse of the tattoo TV stars) and a guy with a video camera asks if he can shoot some of my tattoos. "What for?" I play stupid. "Miami Ink." He seems taken aback that I have no idea why a bunch of people with radios and cameras would be hanging around a tattoo studio in South Beach. heh heh

In any event, he shoots my new MUNKEY tattoo that I picked up in Rio a few weeks ago and the wizard on my arm that you've seen previously in HNT posts. What, You wanna see the tattoo? Well, soon. I'm waiting for a little more healing for the actual photos. They'll zoom by it quick as one of the South Beach tattoo clips as they fade in and out of the show. So, tune in or not. A little piece of me is gonna be famous again. lol