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Control is huge. That is why I prefer the Dom role! Haha.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
[quote quote=750]Thanks Spike. I am greatly impressed by your recovery emotionally from a terrible loss and also join in grief for the folks who didn’t make it out. God Bless Sir.[/quote]
Thank you for the kind words. I didn’t come out of it totally unscathed. I now have to take blood pressure meds, although I am looking to get off of them if I am able to regulate my BP with a bit more exercise and healthier diet, etc. Sometimes something seemingly small gets to me. My public speaking voice now betrays me and cracks no matter how tough I think I am or how well I think I am doing. I just have to accept it and continue on. I helped the Butte County Sheriff’s office reduce their Missing List following the fire by tracking people down. Unfortunately, the grandmother of a young man that took my daughter to their high school prom lost her life in that fire. PG&E pled guilty to 84 counts of manslaughter last week. Somber moments.
My wife and I had led a lay team for a faith based 12 step meeting for all life controlling problems at our “former” church for 2 years until the Camp fire occurred. She and I had also counseled couples in crisis, since I took my lovely bride to hell and back a couple of times over the years when “Spike” was a hellraiser. I kind of miss helping others now, but I had to take a time out while dealing with what life dealt my family. We will certainly begin helping others again once I reconnect with my wife who already resides in Texas (where all of the kids and grandkids now reside too) following my retirement from my engineering firm here in Chico, California.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
De nada, mi amigo. The Grateful Dead song, “Hell in a Bucket” breaks down the analysis a little differently, but worth a listen if you have a couple of minutes. Often the destination ain’t all that. Link to the song:
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
I spent 40 years in the low desert between Yuma, AZ, Desert Hot Springs, CA and Ocotillo, CA pondering this question. It was too damned hot all of the time to get fixated on a hot drink like coffee! Just sayin’. I believe Thomas Jefferson erred with that “pursuit of happiness” line; happiness is a feeling and a thing of constant pursuit, and even when attained, it is momentary and once again elusive. Perhaps in his zeal to make that Declaration, he overshot the real goal a bit. Just my personal opinion. Pursuit becomes tiresome at times. After much consternation and effort on my part in this rat race, I now promote contentment, because “it” is attainable and sustainable. Solomon has a soliloquy called Ecclesiastes that discusses the futility of the pursuit of all kinds of things and attributes. Worth a read for those pondering such questions.
Everything I owned and labored for vaporized in the Camp Fire of November 8, 2018, but it is very likely that event is going to turn out to be a blessing for me! I am retiring 5 years earlier (67 days from today) to enjoy my wonderful wife of 36 years (come twelve days thence), my three adult children, their spouses and my three grandchildren (#4 is due next month!). Before that, I witnessed two men die in a trench collapse way back on September 13, 1995, which caused me a good deal of soul searching and priority setting that eventually led me to make more balanced career and lifestyle choices. This Frat Boy would have been dead by now had I not done such; in fact, some of the brotherhood were quite certain that I most assuredly should be dead already based on their knowledge of who I was and how I lived in my youth. But people can change.
I am a very blessed man.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
Legend replied, “I guess he was important to even some people on this board. Money does that.”
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
I’m not responding to the Spartacus reference. I am responding to the part below the line where the coach takes you aside. I was almost 15 when the freshman basketball coach took me aside and asked me if I had ever considered wrestling? Look, I was 5′-8″ tall and weighed about a buck forty-five wringing wet, so he could tell I might be a better fit for the mat. I hadn’t ever heard of the sport other than those guys screaming that came on the same channel as roller derby, but from this inquiry sprouted the beginning of a multi-generational love for the sweaty sport. I never became very good, but my boy sure did.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
So, you are/were a dentist Rocky!!; then you should appreciate the billboard from one of the local Oroville dentists when I first moved there after the Camp Fire. His motto, “Life is better with teeth!” made my entire family laugh every time we would drive by. We were never certain how that motto was derived, but we speculated that all of the toothless methheads had something to do with it. He has a different motto now, but I still smile when I drive by that billboard…
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
[quote quote=573]One question Shooter…. Is Calexico part of Canada?[/quote] Since I was born twenty minutes north of Calexico (Brawley, CA), I can definitively say that Calexico is in Canada. That’s why NAFTA passed in the first place to make North America one big happy family.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
I’m just glad my daughter isn’t in Jammu any longer.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
I saw this yesterday and was a little sad. I get it, but I still grieved a bit.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
I only took one Sociology class at the Farm, but it was a fun one: “Deviance and Social Control”. One of the two “A”s I received, so I remember it! Haha. There was a member of the local punk rock band, “Whipping Boy” in the class that often had some gnarly gashes in his skull, but I digress. It is hard to tell when new boundaries are being established while anarchy is prevalent. Sometimes it takes a while for society to respond. There will be blowback at least through the presidential election. Interesting times.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
Growing up in a border town, I personally preferred CQC (close quarters combat) to CCW until my wrestler body failed me in my early 50s (torn/ruptured distal bicep). I bought my first handgun in 2016 at 55 years old and obtained my CCW after much practice and training around my 56th birthday. I still doubt I would draw first and would only do so after much provocation where I could not talk my way out of a bad situation (deescalation) and was certain that deadly force would be warranted. Of course, the smartest way out of a bad situation is to never to put oneself in harm’s way in the first place. Avoidance is using common sense to steer clear of likely dangerous engagements or situations. Some CCW trainers on YouTube call it “situational awareness”; most call it “street smarts”.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
It all started when the “Indians” became the color “Cardinal”. I remember the administration had the student body vote for a new mascot in the early ’80s and everyone I knew voted for “The Robber Barons” or “The Griffons”, but mysteriously, we became a color.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
I just figured it was one of Walt’s or Jesse’s “Breaking Bad” buddies… or one of Bob & Tom’s fans that goes by the moniker, “El Conquistador”.
“I am not a sir. My title is ‘El Conquistador'”
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
I had just watched a documentary on the lawlessness in Seattle about a month ago. How the police had stopped arresting addicts/homeless that had 60 to 70 prior arrests without consequences. The lawless already controlled those streets; they just made it official now. I had desired a bit of anarchy since 2016 when all of the polls showed Hillary had the election in hand. Oops! Fortunately, I began building an arsenal then, though somewhat slowed by California’s regulations. Unfortunately, most of those weapons burnt up in the Camp Fire and I had to start over in December 2018. Fortunately, my Army Captain just discharged from the Army and we can combine weapons/forces once we are together in Texas come September. There are lots of old white guys that have been anticipating an uprising for a long time. Should get interesting. Haha.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Charles Bukowski
