Why I Endorse Josh Ross

“A big endorsement deal would be awesome.”~ Matt Emmons

First off, I’ve realized that its been five years since I’ve known LISAFAYECHARDONNAY from YouTube. Wow, how time flies. Happy five years.

But I’ve been thinking about this for a while. But this is the first time (and only time) that I am going to bring this up in the public forum.

I’ve been doing a lot of talking with regards to the local band, BLACK HEART SAINTS. They truly are one of these kinds of bands that you don’t want to miss. You don’t want to come towards the end of your life and be full of regret knowing that you could have seen them play live in concert or listened to one of their songs.

However I do that with a lot of bands that I strongly believe in. So what’s the difference and why now?

The past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to watch lead singer Josh Ross perform in a couple of his solo acoustic sets around town. I never really knew that he could play guitar. I kind of thought it would make sense to know that he did, but during BLACK HEART SAINTS shows, he’s performing as the singer, not the guitar player.

I have heard plenty of fans of BLACK HEART SAINTS simply say that they are a fan, because of two reasons: They rock. And because Josh is hot. (Physical attraction speaking.)

But all of that sexual tension from females set aside. I choose to take back the layers one by one and figure out just what it is that is making this band tick. I am eager to search out what it is that Josh is doing or not doing that is making their audiences go absolutely bat shit crazy.

So I asked around. I asked female friends and I asked male friends. And as you can expect, the female friends were more willing to discuss the matter than the male friends were. And none of the answers that I received sufficed.

I had known about the acoustic sets but had firmly believed that I could ever attend them. Working all night and into the day, I didn’t think that I would have the strength to even bother considering it. Until recently…..

I think I pretty much shocked Josh when I went for the first time. Although he was very thankful and appreciative.

Then it all happened. He was doing his own thing with his guitar and he opened his mouth. Clear as day, this man’s vocal talents were like I had never heard before. His range, his vibrato, his breath, and his control.

I never heard him strain. I never heard him stretch. All I could do was sit there and applaud at the end of every stinking song that he chose to play. Coupled with whoopin’ it up…… a lot!!

Now that I have had a chance to speak to him personally, it is clear that Josh Ross has his eye on the prize. And its been fixed there for a long, long time. I took it upon myself to give him a list of questions as an interview. I will be publishing the Q&A on the Review page very soon.

Josh has kept his focus purely on his music and craft. So far, nothing has stood in his way for him to come closer to reaching his dreams in the music industry.

He as a musician has always been so appreciative of his fans. He talks to as many as he can after his set. He’s willing to stand there for several minutes just taking photographs or give an autograph or listen to you talk about your grandmother’s surgery.

Back to his voice however, after this evening’s set, I found myself just wanting more and more. I didn’t want him to stop singing.

No matter what he is singing, this man has the courage and the pure talent to take a song and truly make it his own. And then turn it all into gold. It is amazing to watch him sitting there, with nothing but a microphone and a guitar and turn it all into audible miracles.

Josh Ross deserves that shot to make his career explode to bright lights and Hollywood smiles. World tours and platinum selling albums.

There’s only so much a person can do. And I as a person, can do so little. I just hope that Josh Ross crosses paths with someone that’s from the big time and gives him one chance.

Sex appeal? Well of course. But its just the outside coating to a definite gem that has yet to be discovered yet.

Saying Those Words: The Final Day (And Results Of)

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ~ A.A. Milne,  author of Winnie-the-Pooh

The moment is gone. She is gone. And now it is Friday evening with the knowledge that I will never see our social services coordinator again.

Another person will come and take her place. Just like the people before her.

The residence, MY NEIGHBORS, altogether collected $295 for her. I think they tossed it into a money order and put it in one of two greeting cards that were set aside for her.

This apparently is the most money that was ever collected for any member of SGC staff who was leaving their position here. And yes, this is saying a lot. Many of us were waiting for her to go to lunch. This morning as I was having my morning coffee, Mrs. Irwin mentioned that she was going to have lunch with two co-workers from which the agency that hired her.

It was going to be a 90 minute lunch. What were they going to do, fire her?? It was her last day of work here.

90 minutes was all that was needed in order to set up the room, put out a spread of finger foods and snacks, decorate a little with flowers and balloons and then sit and wait for her to return back to work in the dark.

She actually arrived a little bit after 1:00 PM and some of the neighbors were getting ants in their pants. But eventually she arrived back to work from lunch and the lights went back off, the door shut, and about HALF of all total residents who live here….. sat in total and complete silence.

The apartment manager was behind it all. And so was Mr. Irwin, her husband. He would show up later and join us for a brief time.

It worked. She admitted that she had convinced herself that she only THOUGHT something was coming, but couldn’t quite say for sure what exactly it would be. All of those neighbors who would have been the perfect candidates for letting the cat out of the bag, either by accident or on purpose, never gave her a clue that we were planning a gathering in the afternoon.

She admitted rather quickly that she became misty-eyed. But she did not actually break down into tears. She was given a plant from the collective group. She also received a nice bouquet of flowers that I know of and the money.

I personally wrote her a poem. Telling her that it is hard to say farewell but that we here on the property would remember her and miss her.

Her response?

“That’s impressive.”

Then someone just jumped on in and bragged that poetry is what I do best. I don’t know why they jumped in like that. Mrs. Irwin knew that I wrote poetry.

The event came to an end and Mrs. Irwin made a point to visit those who were unable to get out of their homes to say goodbye to them.

I told her personally that I would be back and I came home to take off the black suit I had put on. I did see her going along the sidewalk, passing by my front door, but I never chased her down.

I went over to her office and she was still gone. Or so I thought.

She was in the apartment manager’s office behind closed doors with all three members of staff together.

I kept getting looks from our maintenance man. A person who doesn’t have a very high score for resident approval ratings. He never gave me any indication of whether or not they were having a private conversation or just chit-chatting with the door closed. He just kept looking at me like he was privileged and I was an outsider.

It was pissing me off because he kept looking through the window in the door, but would not acknowledge anything about me being there. So I left.

Then a little bit later, no more than fifteen minutes I had received a telephone call that a home health nurse was coming to visit. So I scattered to go back to the office area to do what I had to do and say those words that I hate saying and be able to find closure to the situation.

But when I got into the building, she was gone.

I felt the tears building up. But the wind that was powerfully blowing into my face prevented them from falling down my face. I was asked later by the visiting nurse if I cried but I told her that I almost did but could not.

I never got to say goodbye to her. I did get the chance to give her the poem that I wrote and to take a photograph with her. But I did not get that opportunity to say farewell to her. 

And as you probably can already tell, I am so frustrated and disappointed and actually BLAMING the maintenance man for this missed opportunity. Usually when a door is closed, that means privacy. But he could have given me some sort of indication. And he didn’t. He could have, what a selfish man.

I’m pissed.

I ran outside and looked at the parking space that she had been parking in for the past eight or nine months and it was empty.

She was gone. The apartment manager even told me that she was gone and it was final.

Some will argue that since I didn’t actually tell her goodbye that I don’t have to and that she will come back. I do believe that anything is possible. But for her to come back to visit or whatever is less than favorable. At least for now. Maybe down the road.  

I begin the weekend, angered and hurt and disappointed.

So farewell Mrs. Irwin. You’ve done so much more than what you realize for me and for the rest of us. I am going to miss you.

 

 

 

11 January 2014: Surprise Visitation To Six Minute Century

“You must spray that shit for da bitches, sir.”~ Dr. Froth

I know that back in October I mentioned that I would not be continuing my trips to Houston.

However, this time around the premise and purpose was no different but there circumstances were.

Back in December, Mrs. Froth put out a message for those who were going to be involved in the January 2014 show to help me out, financially. Members from both SIX MINUTE CENTURY and ECHO TEMPLE were kind enough and gracious to have donated all of the money needed to make sure that I had a successful journey to the show.

I cannot say thank you enough to the people who did donate!!!!!!!!!!!!

And as a matter of fact, I ended up with a little MORE than what was originally designated based on their generosity. So I came home with MORE money than what I had coming. So humbled.

Off I went again on the bus to the great wonders of Houston, Texas.

It probably wouldn’t have been nothing but just another show, but Mrs. Froth had given birth to a son a few days later and this was going to be my chance to see the baby first hand. There was nothing that was going to get in my way.

Its weird that with the bus, that I can delay the bus driver to get me properly secure inside and that will take ten minutes out of his time from handling other passengers. End up anywhere between fifteen and twenty minutes late departing, and still some how make up time.

Going TO Houston, fifteen minutes behind. Arrive ten minutes early.

Leaving FROM Houston, twenty minutes behind. Arrive only ten minutes behind.

Thankfully for this blog post, I don’t have anything CRAZY to report. No staring strangers, no dead cats in luggage, no bratty children…. nothing at all. Just a peaceful to and from in which somehow I fell asleep and screwed up the back of my neck. Yipppppppppeeeeee!!!

Dr. Froth and his newborn son, Merlin. At the hospital.

When I arrived though, I got swept up by Dr. Froth, got fed, and then off to the House of Froth to meet the newest addition.

I was there for a few diaper changes. I was there for a few feedings, a few belches.. which surprised me a little bit. They were bigger than I expected.

“Baby Froth” is a sight to behold. That is for sure.

I got to hang out for a while and listen to Dr. Froth play around on his bass as he got ready for the show.

Then he realized that this was about to be his son’s first ever experience listening to music, and listening to his father play music.

A few jokes about him not sucking were passed around and Dr. Froth took that NSStick and TORE-IT-UP!!!

One thing that I will never forget was Mrs. Froth singing “Under The Moonlight” to her son as her husband dwindled away at the NSStick to an album recording of the song.

It was one of the most precious parent/child moments I had ever witnessed.

Also…. did anyone else know that Dr. Froth was a man of many huge talents?? He cooked up some walnut chicken and we all had a good time with it. Dr. Froth really is an extraordinary cook as well as a well-talented musician.

I’m blown away!!

But all good things had to come to an end, before the next good thing was allowed to happen. It was upsetting for me internally as Mrs. Froth would not be joining us at the show.

My first SIX MINUTE CENTURY show without my +1 of many, many years! Very strange!!

I was greeted by members of ECHO TEMPLE who were already there. It was like a meeting of the brotherhood. At least that is what I personally call the members of ECHO TEMPLE… my brotherhood, my brothers. And bountiful and moist conversations took place before the music got started.

It was there that I would actually be greeted by and then introduced to the original bass player of SIX MINUTE CENTURY, John Sample, aka Sampy. I had never met him. By the time I got to see the band in person, he had already left and Dr. Froth was in his place.

A really nice and gentle guy. He’s the kind of bass player that plays with a unique style that he bends over at the waist and lets his bass guitar drop to around his ankles and sits there and plays. He was part of MYSTIC CROSS, the headlining band.

Then I saw the succubus. If you go back to about August 2013 with Dr. Froth’s last birthday extravaganza post… there’s a little something there to it. But again, its not worth complaining about.

But with all the women that I have ever had trouble with, that I had met in Houston during a show…. she was not someone that I thought I would ever see last night.

I was kind of hanging out near the bar where the restrooms were and she had to get by to go to the ladies’ room. But coming out was a different story as the crowd shifted around and she couldn’t go back the way she came. She had no other choice but to walk right by me.

Let me just say that my peripheral vision kicks ass. I knew the moment she walked out of the bathroom and I knew the moment that she found that she could not “avoid” me on her way back from the bathroom.

So she touched my shoulder, said something while VICIOUS CYCLE was playing, but I can’t hear crap in there. So she asked another question that I understood.

She asked if I had gotten into town yesterday and I acknowledged that was fact. Then she said that it was great to see me again and she walked away. I never bothered with her again. Even though I had thoughts of trying to take a photograph with her. But why bother? ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

VICIOUS CYCLE got up there and played first. And it sounded really good. I didn’t know them from before. I’ll have to keep a closer eye on them.

Don LaFon

SIX MINUTE CENTURY took on second and so many people were having a great time. But again, I was entirely disappointed with the numbers that were in attendance. There had to be less than 60 people at the peak. What the hell has happened in Houston and what is going on with music fans? I understand most of them got sick, and even Mrs. Froth was honestly in no condition with a new baby… but what are the excuses for the rest of them? I don’t freakin’ get it!!

Those who were there, were celebrating guitarist Don LaFon’s birthday. I too, have a birthday this month but SIX MINUTE CENTURY removed my favorite song of theirs of all time from their rotation. So no more birthday dedications at the January show. Damn….

At least now I know who was responsible for that. Ironically enough, I’m not mad…?

Lead Singer Chuck Williams didn’t even mess with LaFon as much as he usually does about how OLD of a man LaFon really is. And I keep forgetting the cantaloupe to hurl at the request of Frothtonomy and its followers. I think though that was a 2012 request. It may be void and no good any more.

I’ll have to check with Dr. Froth.

MYSTIC CROSS got on stage and it was sooooooooo fucking loud that it even pushed me outside into the back, out on to the patio… where it was a nasty 42°F/5°C at that time of night. Well, even though it is winter, this is still TEXAS! That’s not supposed to happen until next month some time where it will get nasty and bitter cold.

Dr. Froth then came running out and decided that he was going to pass out cigars like the old tradition after having a baby. He gave me one of his very select collection of very few. I was honored. A group of us stood there outside puffing away like dragons and even fewer of us knew what the hell we were doing.

I  think for many of them, it was their first cigar. And others their first tobacco experience EVER. I kept the tube in which it came in and put it away, this will be a souvenir to keep until the end of days. My first ever “Baby Cigar.” 

And still since the music was so loud we could enjoy the sounds of MYSTIC CROSS, which is another band that Don LaFon plays in.

Then when the cigar silliness was over, ECHO TEMPLE took the stage and I hugged the stage like a mad man. The same as I would always do for SIX MINUTE CENTURY. A monitor in my face and a filler at my chest… beating away.

And I’m not deaf yet?

As I was enjoying ECHO TEMPLE, Chuck Williams came by and hugged me. He slurred his “I love you man.” for whatever reason. I guess he was thinking about it too hard and he panicked. Oh well. The poor guy had teeth pulled less than a week before and he admitted this afternoon that he was in pain at the end.

I then was told that Mrs. Froth was having a difficult time at home with the baby, and Dr. Froth handed off the duty of getting me safely back to the hotel to Don LaFon… but I freaked out because — its his birthday show– hadn’t he been drinking?

A few minutes later I realized that my luggage bag was in Dr. Froth’s vehicle so I sent a text message to him expressing my concern. No response came.

It worked out though because Dr. Froth had forgotten some equipment that was still on stage and so he waited to get it all at the end of the night and THEN he brought me back to the hotel.

The biggest surprise (for me) was that the drummer of MYSTIC CROSS would come up to me during the ECHO TEMPLE set and try to talk to me while music was going on. I couldn’t hear. So he left and a few minutes later, he gave me the printed out set list of MYSTIC CROSS.

Drummer Austin Gartman was totally adoring me and I couldn’t figure out why. It was then that I found out that Don LaFon was at it again, adulating me to anyone who would listen to explain that “the guy in the wheelchair is SIX MINUTE CENTURY’S #1 FAN EVER!” and that he takes the bus every time to come to a show.

Yep, he had done it again and this time it caught the attention of Austin Gartman. It blew his mind! So then he swiped the set list away from my hands and grabbed a Sharpie and made everyone in MYSTIC CROSS  autograph it.

Now keep in mind, Don LaFon has autographed many things for me personally as many things. Mainly SIX MINUTE CENTURY, but he is probably getting used to it all by now.

Austin Gartman gave me many bro hugs and nearly he cried. I saw this with my own eyes. And he thanked me profusely for my dedication.

Now with Mrs. Froth gone, there was an option of going out to eat without her OR Dr. Froth would just drop me off. But since things were getting a little hairy at home with the newborn… I was dropped off at the hotel.

But its a trade-off and I understand it. I can either stay out a few more hours and then have to stay awake long enough to go get on the bus to come back OR I can leave and go back to the hotel earlier and attempt a few hours of sleep before having to get up and get on the bus to come back.

I didn’t mind taking sleep. Trust me on that!

I laid there in bed with my eyes probably sore from being red and I thought about all the wonderful things that everyone had done to get me to that show. All the love, all the financial assistance, all the support. I literally wept in the darkness until I fell asleep.

I took in four hours of sleep. Not bad, considering that the last couple of times I’ve had less than an hour while still in Houston. Its a little easier to get motivated to go when you have a little sleep.

It is abundantly clear though. I still will not be using my own money to make these kinds of trips to Houston. If anyone wants me there, they can pitch in. They’ve done it before. Last night was not the first time this has happened this way.

However, if there is any hope or idea or belief that there will be “more” after the show, then I am simply going to have to take in two nights in Houston. That first night will be the night of the show, and then take that night to sleep. The following morning I can do whatever. Watch television in HD or anything else and then go to bed early that second evening and then get up in the morning the second morning and return.

When I returned, my brain just wasn’t working well. So I’m going to need more sleep.

All in all, I totally enjoyed the trip. Glad that I didn’t have to deal with any stupids with the bus too! Meeting with old and making new friends. And enjoying music. How can you beat that???

 

 

Get Out Of My Way

“Don’t be mad because I don’t care anymore. Be mad because I once did, and you were too blind to see.”

Perhaps you feel that it is too difficult. Maybe you feel that it is too much money or expensive. Maybe you think that its a waste of time and resources.

Maybe it is because you don’t like the idea and you personally don’t want me to do it. And that probably is coming from the fact that you are either jealous because it seems like to you that I have a better life than you or you want me to be as miserable as you are because it seems like to you that you have no life.

Or you think that I am not going to be successful in life and will just fail and want me to stop.

If any of you fit the above descriptions. I have a few things to say to you.

First off- GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is NOT up to you to dictate what I do or don’t do in my life. I did not come out of your birth canal. And the fact that I am a grown adult. Your argument is invalid!

My successes and failures come from one person and one person only: ME!

Should I fail miserably, it is because of me. And if I succeed, it is because I had the will to try hard enough.

Keep your hands off of me and stop trying to drag me down to the ground so that I will fail. Your name is not “God” and my destiny is not in the balance because of your own opinions or actions. Again, get out of my way and let me try!

You tell me that I shouldn’t disturb people or step on their toes. YOU are the one who who has been stepping on my toes this entire time. Keeping me from accomplishing what I have been wanting to all along in the first place. Maybe it is time to step on toes and knock on doors. Because with as many times as I will be told NO (and I will be- I understand that) there will be someone who will tell me YES. Let me find those people!

If you are not going to support me, believe in me, or even let me try? Then all you will find is the back of my head as the dust begins to rise.

 

 

Six Minutes Of Total Respect

This morning began with a bit of misty wet weather. It had cleared up around lunch time.

The apartment complex went on our monthly outing to lunch at the nearest Denny’s, where as I watched out the window, I could see the interstate highway.

All of the overpasses were filled with people and American flags and signs.

The funeral procession for former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle went on for 200 miles until it reached the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

And there off of the highway and St. Johns, being able to watch everything that passed southbound on the highway.

All I wanted to do was feed the burning inside and run out to the overpass and be a part of everything that was going on. But I couldn’t do that. I was already engaged with several of the neighbors in the breaking of bread.

At 11:55 AM, local time, began this very long funeral procession heading south towards the State Cemetery. Scores and scores and scores of veterans riding on motorcycles as well as the Patriot Guard. That was followed by law enforcement vehicles with their bright lights flashing and then the rest of the processional.

It took a full six minutes for it all to pass by the Denny’s and continue on its journey.

What a very honorable yet solemn thing to experience. To know that the body of Chris Kyle had passed right by. A man who was trained by the Navy SEALS and was the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. His life tragically brought to a violent end last week. 

I literally had tears forming in my eyes. But they never fell down my cheeks.

The funeral was private. And rightly so. Although it is being reported that Chris Kyle is buried only a few feet away from Darrell K. Royal, a former coach of Texas Longhorn football fame.

I can only imagine how flooded the sides of the highways were on its journey through town. 200 miles is a long way. Lots of land for people to stand on the side of the road to show their respects or be a part of something special. 

I am hoping that his mourning family sees the throngs of people that are behind them. Support them. And then care about them.

Yet I wonder if and when the Texas State Cemetery would be open to the public and whether or not if I went there, whether or not I would be able to find his grave site and pay my own respects.

REST EASY.

 

The Stance Of Support

Karen Alloy

“In a relationship each person should support the other; they should lift each other up.”– Taylor Swift

More than a week ago, I checked my mail to find an envelope from Karen Alloy, aka spricket24 from YouTube. I had been following her through her videos for many years now and find that a lot of what she does is hilarious. Especially since the one time early in her YouTube career where she supposedly consumed body deodorant.

Now she currently is making homemade soaps on the side. I’m not sure if this is some kind of extra means of income or not, as she does really well with her YouTube videos. Well enough to have won an Emmy.

But I figured I’d get in on an opportunity where she was promoting her homemade soaps and offering a headshot photograph with any purchase of her soaps.

And so I bought some and purchased some soap and received as promised, the photograph. I was relieved to find it signed.

A lot of people who know me better personally would automatically assume that I support her because of her looks and beauty. But that’s not the case.

Around the same time, I gave a generous donation via PayPal to another YouTube personality that I find fascinating and interesting with her knowledge of certain things.

I think that in our own lives, we all have a list of people that we would definitely stand up and support in whatever endeavors that they choose to do in life. And we have our own list of reasons as to why we do it.

Most people online by now see me as the “mouthpiece” of the band SIX MINUTE CENTURY. In a sense, they are correct. I do talk about the band and their music constantly and whenever I get a chance. Why???? Because I enjoy their music and I support their future projects. I just believe it to be a very great bonus that I have become friends with them all and have been added to their circles.

With spricket24 and the person that I gave the donation to, I just really appreciate their hard work and dedication. As I said, I think Karen Alloy is hilarious. And she’s even a strong woman to deal with the sexually graphic comments that she receives constantly. Some of her responses back to these morons are just as funny as the content in her videos.

This afternoon, I was having a conversation with a “nay-sayer” and needless to say that it was quite ridiculous that I found myself in that situation to even entertain their thoughts and feelings. Their suggestion was to chill out and cut back on the amount of support that I give to certain people.

And yes, I thought that was quite ignorant, irresponsible, and honestly dumb.

When there is something or someone that makes us happy, we all have the tendency or feeling to want to shout it from the top of the mountain. I do not believe that there’s anything wrong with that feeling. However, one must understand that once you’ve climbed up there and started shouting that you are going to eventually cry out to someone who disagrees with you for whatever their own personal reasons may be. And while you are up there, sometimes its good to analyze the point of WHY you are shouting. Is it because you want the world to know that something or someone has made you happy, or is it because you want to be heard and noticed? If by chance it is the latter, then perhaps you might not want to shout so loudly.

Am I trying to get the attention of spricket24? Nope. If I wanted to do that, I can just e-mail her or send her a letter. Am I trying to get the attention of others? No. I already received it in some way or another, and I simply support those who I care about. A majority of them that end up being some of my best of friends.

But again, there’s nothing wrong with sharing with one another your joys and your blissful moments. I don’t believe that anyone should have the right to tell you what you can and cannot like or support. Its your life.

Life is too short to be someone else’s puppet. Do what you feel is right in your heart. And support whatever and whomever you enjoy!!

 

Success Through Encouragement

“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”~
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Some would argue that I become fascinated with the smallest of things in life. Others would say that I don’t become stimulated enough when certain situations come my way.

We all have our own little things that cause our happiness and and our sorrows.

Through the blog though, there are definite factors that I notice that actually makes me stop and believe that I just might be doing something, and doing it well. Encouragement is one of those things.

WordPress now has something that they like to call “badges”. I got my first one last week. Throughout this entire blog, I had received my 50th “like” to a blog post. I honestly had no clue that throughout the pages of blog posts that I have written over time that I actually had that many individual “likes” to specific blog posts. And its spread out, indiscriminately from post to post.

I then went to see my blog stats. Today, I have over 17,500 views since the beginning. That too, is something that I have always found encouraging. And it shows in a  few blog posts when I have written about how excited I was to have reached a certain number of total views.

Especially after months and months of self-doubt that “anyone was paying attention” to the blog, regardless of how many people were either following or subscribed. I do sometimes, write with those people in mind though. Often, I never think about those who are the silent readers or those who are looking for a specific topic and stumble across my blog. Thus, the entire advantage of using “tags” because it does work!

Yet with being unsure of either the success of the blog, or lack of the definition of “success”. Or it just might be the insecurity within myself that would lead to the doubt.

What has always worked for me in the past, is the feedback. I know from receiving both negative and positive feedback where I should focus attention or begin to work on other things to make things even better and more enjoyable for anyone who may be reading.

I think what I find interesting and just a little funny are those who end up giving feedback without them knowing that’s what they are doing. Their admitting to have read my blog or certain blog posts is sometimes just enough to know that I want to continue writing. Some (or most) having something comical or funny to say about what they had read or how they enjoyed the stories of experiences in my life that I often include in my blog.

And yes, some even admitting to the fact that they like the eye candy that often comes along with my blog posts. An effort that I started in order to gain the attention of male readers once I learned that a large percentage of readers, subscribers, and followers were actually female. I knew that I was taking a bit of a risk with female readers by including such images, and hoping not to offend… I think so far, I have been able to accomplish that.

Perhaps I am sounding like I am making excuses. But that isn’t what I am striving for.

When a person tells me in one way or another that they’ve read my blog… it is totally encouraging for me to keep it up and keep going.

This morning, I received feedback. It caused a glow to my heart in a sense. They said:

“You are an amazing writer.  I love how you talk to the reader as if they are sitting at the table with you in conversation.  Which is what a good writer does.”

I didn’t know what to say, other than to thank them for their words. And with those words, that was even more encouragement for me to continue what I am doing. I don’t get that every day, and neither do I expect it. But once it is offered, I definitely ponder it.

I used to think that the more subscribers and followers that I had meant that I was having more and more success. But honestly, success is defined in so many different ways that one specific definition can’t hold up. So… that means that I have to define for myself whether or not I am being successful in what I am doing.

If I have helped someone in some way and they’ve learned … that is success.

If I have shared a life experience, and they have laughed until they cried… that is success.

If I caused someone to smile, and they haven’t done that in a long time… that is success.

And that is just how “I” measure my own success with this blog. With that success, I am honestly grateful and appreciative of those who do read, comment, “like”, follow, subscribe, and leave me feedback. Without all of it, I probably would have quit a long time ago. Thank you for being the encouraging support in this continuing endeavor.

Silent Support

“proud of you”~ S.K.

This morning I was awake and mobile very early. With the fact of Daylight Savings Time going on, it kind of messes up everyone’s body schedule and clock. But I was awake also because I knew that the telephone was going to be ringing pretty early this morning.

My doctor was going to be making another visit. And to me, it was an important visit. Luckily for me, I was the first one being seen this morning and the question would not hang in the balance for much longer of whether or not I can go back to playing sledge hockey. This weekend marks an important one for the team, and I wanted to be back on the ice with my team.

The doctor came by, and it was a very short visit. I told him about the hockey events coming up and he said, “Sure! Go for it!!”. I think he trusted that things are starting to get back in order as they were before my trip to the emergency room over a month ago. Yes, it’s been that long already.

He trusted in it so much that he didn’t even bother checking the wound. Going by the notes that were left by the nurses who are doing wound care and my word that things are going in the right direction that he just simply never looked.

So now, I can get back out on the ice. And not a moment too soon!

In my jubilation I had shared the news on Facebook.

What happened after that would stun me. It would make me realize a few things and in that time of realization would reduce me into a sobbing mess for about five or ten minutes.

There were over a dozen people in support of my Facebook status that they would click “LIKE”. Others would go further and leave comments of cheering and applause in text form.

And then there was this:

“proud of you”.

Those three small words, a simple and strong phrase, took me by surprise and then rendered me into a smiling, yet weepy mess for a few moments.

I sat there, thinking about all of the people that I have met in my life in one way or another, that are genuinely supportive of the fact that even though I do have a physical disability, that I am participating and playing in a very physical sport. And they all know just how important it is to me.

There are people that only know me through the social networking sites such as Facebook, that know me well enough that I enjoy playing so very much. And quite honestly, I was reminded that there are people all across this world who quietly support the idea of me playing as well as others who participate rather than sit at home and do nothing. I was reminded also that even though there are some who do not interact on Facebook as much as others, but it does not mean that they are watching, learning, and keeping informed.

My own personal support group, cheering section, or fan club… whichever term you wish to use… is actually much larger and goes so much further than I had previously believed.

And with that, I’m in a steady stream of appreciation and love for each and every one who does take that piece of their own personal lives and allows me for just a few minutes to enter into it.

After all, who am I to have so many in my corner? That I would have their faith in all that I say and do. I have to remember that the answer is: I am me. And it is their personal choice that they are in my life, and I am in theirs. And I should never take that for granted.

Though they are not there every day to tell me so, I should never believe that they are gone. Most of them already have a place in my heart, and I will never let them go.

 

 

 

Military Mayhem

“I’m inclined to think that a military background wouldn’t hurt anyone.”~William Faulkner

 

So I am going to speak out about this. Some will agree, some won’t.

 

Yesterday morning I noticed that the weather was a bit chilly, so I grabbed the first jacket that I could find. That jacket or at least that decision caught so much crap that it really annoyed me to death.

 

What I wore was a BDU jacket. Or in civilian terms, the dark green camoflauge jacket that we all can identify.

 

But this jungle or forest green BDU evidently caught the attention of some people, and they threw one of the worst hissy fits in the history of mankind.

 

They shouted at me that it was illegal for me to wear the jacket because I am not personally active duty or a military veteran. Needless to say that the pants that I wore had nothing to do with camoflauge. And I was wearing a common t-shirt and not the camoflauge shirt. Nor was I wearing any military style boots or shoes.

 

It was just the jacket. And they screamed and cried that what I was doing was totally illegal. So I researched it. This is the only thing that I was able to find:

 

“In accordance with chapter 45, section 771, title 10, United States
Code ( 10 USC 771 ), no person except a member of the U.S. Army may
wear the uniform, or a distinctive part of the uniform of the U.S.
Army unless otherwise authorized by law. Additionally, no person
except a member of the U.S. Army may wear a uniform, any part of which
is similar to a distinctive part of the U.S. Army uniform.”

Here is the applicable federal statute:

Sec. 771. – Unauthorized wearing prohibited

Except as otherwise provided by law, no person except a member of the
Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, as the case may be, may wear –

(1)
the uniform, or a distinctive part of the uniform, of the Army, Navy,
Air Force, or Marine Corps;

or

(2)
a uniform any part of which is similar to a distinctive part of the
uniform of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps

 

So this tells me that perhaps that they might have been correct. However, I found another answer to the question that states as long as there are no insignia or marks or names of the military branch worn, then it is okay.

 

This law however, is not exactly enforced. The law makers do not necessarily jump at the opportunity to arrest people for wearing camo or military gear. They do not actively pursue the law because they do not wish to cause a situation where the support of the military would begin to decrease.

 

After all, a few years ago it was quite fashionable to wear camoflauge. From head to toe!! And nobody got arrested.

 

So then what is the big deal?

 

I looked back at my BDU jacket and I actually do have some insignia attached to the jacket. My last name and a few patches from different units and companies. Particularly from the Second Armored Division, which used to be called “Hell On Wheels”. Before was re-assigned to the National Guard and removed from the regular Army.

 

Now if you knew me, you’d get the joke. “Hell on Wheels” and I am a paraplegic in a wheelchair. That’s not harmful to the country, nor is it harmful to the military. It’s quite fun as a matter of fact.

 

I think though that there is one piece of insignia that actually has caught the attention of civilians and veterans alike. And that is the insignia pin for a colonel.

 

And I also have OTHER pins and other decorations that are on the jacket that do NOT come from the military at all. So the jacket is not exactly a replica of what is worn by active duty soldiers, at all! 

Army Colonel Insignia

 

I asked someone who is a veteran where it belonged on the jacket and he told me. And that’s where I had placed it. But since then, I have actually had someone call out to get my attention by saying, “Hey, Colonel?”. It actually kind of frightened me so immediately I turned around and explained that I was not a military veteran, and I wasn’t 100% sure that the pin was in the right place. The person actually noticed a POW/MIA patch on the left breast pocket and was wanting to know where I may have been taken prisoner. But once I explained that I was not actually a veteran, they apologized for the assumption and backed off.

 

I wear the BDU jacket with pride for this country and support for our military men & women on key dates throughout the year. Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. But as I said, the jacket is the only thing that I wear that would confuse someone that I might be former military.

 

With the exception of a set of dogtags that I wear around my neck and NEVER remove.

 

But I will defend by saying this: A civilian obtaining dogtags is ohhhh so easy!! There are a lot of places that will make you a set of dogtags for a price. Mainly at tourist attractions that may or may not be militarily themed.

 

What makes them different though- is their refusal to make a person a copy that is indentical to the active military. These items include:

 

• Last Name
• First Name and Middle Initial (although some will place full name on the first line)
• Social Security Number
• Blood Type
• Religion Affiliation

 

Places nowadays will refuse to add the Social Security Number and Blood Type. But they will be more than willing to put anything else in its place. So the dogtags that I wear around my neck are consistently INCORRECT.

 

What drives me nuts (as I come back to topic) is the fact that even when veterans find out that I am NOT actually a veteran or active duty and they see me wearing the BDU, they smile. Its the civilians that seem to have such the huge problem with it.

 

I’ve never intentionally told other people that I have been in the military. Even though several have made that mistake and assumption.

 

The worst story that I could tell you was a few years ago, it was windy day and the BDU jacket was again the first thing that I grabbed. I went to the grocery store with my ex-girlfriend and a man came up to me in the aisle and got my attention.

 

When I turned to him. He saluted me, then shook my hand and said, “Thanks for your service. Do you mind if I ask what happened?”.

 

Just at that point when I was about to tell him that I wasn’t a veteran my nutball of a girlfriend came up to him and literally gave him a line of total and complete bullshit.

 

“He was in the Army. Remember a few years ago when we were in Iraq and we killed Saddam’s sons in that seige? Well, he was in there and was injured during that assault.”

 

I WAS STUNNED!! HOW COULD SHE LIE LIKE THAT???

 

The man suddenly had tears building up in his eyes. He saluted me a few times more and thanked me ever so profusely for the sacrifice and service that I gave to this country. He hugged me and then backed off thinking that he might have invaded my personal space and then walked away with yet one more salute.

 

I ripped into my girlfriend, asking her why in the hell would she do such a thing and lie to the man?

 

Her response was more or less as deplorable as her answering that man’s question with falsehoods.

 

“My father was in Vietnam. And when he came home, nobody saluted him. Nobody gave him a parade. Nobody liked him. They hated him. So if YOU get the praise and honor then my father can have it vicariously. Even though you, yourself were not in the military.”

 

Well, to set the story straight. I would hear stories from her father at that time about his military career. He was in Vietnam for less than a year. He was not involved in any particular battle or conflict. In fact, he never saw any action and did not ever fire his weapon. But he was there. After that time when he was in the military and at the point where I had met him… well, let’s just say that her father was almost 10% of the reasons as to why I broke up with her in the first place.

 

It bothered me that she would lie like that and so willingly!!

 

So all in all, I do not think that it is illegal to wear my BDU jacket. It IS illegal to actually lie and present falsehoods to say that I was in the military. It is illegal for anyone in this country to lie about being a part of the military. But then again, if someone was actually caught doing it, I am not quite sure what the penalty has been or even if they actually brought charges on that person.

 

I recall many years ago that a man was arrested and imprisoned for impersonating being a firefighter. But that was so long ago.

 

This is not something that I am actually doing. I’m not out there in the world and telling people that I was injured in war, or that I was a part of the Army or anything like that. Because I knew that was illegal.

 

But it cannot be and is not illegal for me to wear a military style jacket. Otherwise the courts and jails would be full of people.

 

These civilians need to get off my back about it. I wear it because I am proud of those men & women who serve and those who have served and even those who gave their lives in the line of duty so that this country can be as free as it is.

 

Many members of my family have actually served. Grandfathers, uncles, cousins, and even my own younger brother! (Which is where I got all this stuff from in the first place!) I love my family and am proud of them. This is how I show support.

 

So to those who want to argue that what I am doing is wrong, back off and mind your own business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Quick Post

“Leaving on a jet plane”~ John Denver.

Okay, I didn’t leave on a jet plane, I took the bus. It makes better sense to have taken the bus. Plus I didn’t even travel over 200 miles. I’m not going to pay over $300 just to go up into the hour for about 50 minutes only to come back down again.

But I have been away so that I could attend a show by SIX MINUTE CENTURY. Also to have a visit with romance author, Jessica Trapp. Whom I adore both professionally and personally.

And that is why I have been absent from posting anything as of lately. But I wanted to write this post for My subscribers and readers and let you all know that I am okay.

NO, I did not fall off the planet. I did not end up in the hospital, and I did not die. I have received scores of e-mails asking these questions. Good grief, people!! Control your cognitive distortions!!!!!

But I had a wonderful time while I was away. But tonight I am totally spent. But future blog posts will be written as I am able to get well rested again.

Oh!! I noticed that I had 59 views yesterday alone. Thank you to whomever decided to pillage through my posts. That is the most views in a day that I have had since the 2nd day this blog has been in existence!! Which that total number was 43. Those people who viewed my posts yesterday deserve a cookie. And as always, special thanks to the disciples of Dambreaker… Thank you for always having my back!!