A friend of mine asked me to post a blog with 15 weird, random facts, habits and goals. The I have to tag 10 people who will do the same thing. It's not a chain letter, you're not going to hell or meeting Bill Gates if you do or don't copy it and tag 10 of your friends. You can't tag me (I don't know why, I didn't invent the game, and if I had I would have taken the two line pass infraction out the day Gretzky retired) but if I'm not subscribed to your blog give me a heads up if ya do waste your valuable corporate time letting people know embarrassing shit about you.

1.I cannot stand the taste and texture of mushrooms.  maybe it's because it's a form of MOLD! (Those of you who know what I do for a living will understand this more than others)

2. I hate math, but I'm still a scientist.  Go figure.

3. Slapshot! Is still, my favorite Paul Newman film of all time.

4. I eat Mexican at least 3 times a week.  Does that  make me a beaner? (At least an honorary one??)

5. I'd rather hunt for my food, than have to listen to others bitch about the drinks/food/or the service at a restaurant/bar.  Most of these boobs have never served anyone, and have no appreciation for their servers or what it takes.

6. I don't just like redheads, I'm the President of their club!.

7. My extended family is somewhat "bi-polar."  Not the disease, but moreso polar opposites. You see, my Mom's side is really successful and content, my Dad's side is not so much and mostly disgruntled, if not prematurely dead or in jail.  My Dad is the exception to that rule from his side...Thanks Dad!!  :)

8. I looked the same from 1987-1996, bought booze from day one of '87.  I turned 21 in 1991, imagine the looks on the faces of all the liquor store clerks if they'd ever found out...LOL

9.  It's not that I don't like supermodels, but my ideal woman wouldn't throw up after I feed her.  I like a woman that'll appreciate my cooking as more than a gesture, she should actually find it to be a source of delightful nourishment.  Right B?.

10. Tennis, is not often referred to as a "tough sport."  I guarantee you that I will make you sweat, cry, and bleed, or all of the above if you ever get on a court with me.  Wanna try me?  No? Who's the pussy now?

11. I'm likely to fart more in a day, than your entire family.

12. My Dad never drank or smoked after the birth of my oldest sister (1965).  For real!

13. I like the rockabilly look on a woman, but cannot stand most women that are into the "rockabilly (detroit) scene."  They typically are TOO stuck on themselves. Typically.

14. I survived from 1987-2005 on an average of 4.5 hours of sleep a day (and/or night)

15. I peed in the bucket of the Douglas Houghton statue in downtown Houghton at 3 am.

Now I gotta tag 10 people:

1. B-Dizzle

2. Diane B.

3. Diane R.

4. Heather

5. Margaret

6. Marc

7. Mel

8. Sam S

9. Amy

10. Andrea

Now Introducing...Virgil!!

Virgil is a Blue Tongued Skink who also goes by "Fluffy" a nickname suited for his, umm, "build." 

Fluffy enjoys fruits, mostly berries, an occasional insect, old time jazz, and a rousing game of cribbage.  He's quite the handsome gentleman, isn't he?

Musically speaking, he seems to really dig ska.  Mustard Plug, Bim Skala Bim, Skazilla, and local legends, Gansgster Fun are his favorite bands to skink, err, I mean to skank too.  Yes, he has the checkered tie and matching shoes.  LOL

"Are you talking to me?  You must be talkin' to me, since there's no one else here..." Enjoying his reflection.

Playing peek-a-boo from under one of his logs.

I'm a born and raised Irish-American Catholic guy.  However, I'm increasingly disillusioned with all that has gone on in the Catholic Church, and it's inability to change with the times.

I'm done with the "Do this, don't do that, go here, worship only here, and for the love of God, never get a divorce" mentality.  Catholicism, it's get a clue time!  Here, let me help you with a few high points:

Women would make as good a minister of "your word" as any man could. 

Using birth control doesn't someone evil, it makes them responsible. 

Grant an annullment every now and then, or you'll just continue chasing more and more away, who may actually want to get married again (after divorce), which is one of your bigest stigmas/problems.

Stop moving around/hiding/covering up/covering for your child molesters.  It's pretty damn obvious that we need to prosecute these guys, ok?  Quit sending them away to do more harm elsewhere.

You, Catholicism, have seen drastically declining numbers in your worldwide congregation for many reasons.  You're a Black and White aerial reception only TV, in a Satellite Cish/Cable Color Hi-Def World.

I'll take my spirituality and Christianity with me into this new millenium, and I'll make it what I want it to be: Right for Me.

Jimmy Doom got me started...(read his blog, dated earlier today) I'm just the follow up act, much like a pooper scooper after the circus was in town...

God how I needed to hear another sobering rant about America's Political landscape.  (In response to Mr. Doom's earlier rant)

You and I could be the "New Style American Political" News Anchor team.  Screw watching FUX, CNN, And MSNBGates.  We'll be the straight shooters, drinking Guinness to cool down the scalding after effects of the Jamesons, a ritual we'll do everytime BarakO'Clinton sit themselves down in front of the cameras and make nicey-nice during a debate. WTF?  Tear each other a new ass like they did in "them-thar-olden days of politics!"

When did American Politics turn into mamby-pamby, "everyone gets a pat on the ass for trying" or a "participant trophy just for joining the team" type of a society? Fawwwwwwwk me. 

I know I don't have the answers (yet...), but I'm not letting my guard down just yet either.  I'll keep listening, educating others, voting, and speaking my mind until I lose it (it might be too late already), or they take away my rights to do so.

God Bless America, STILL the greatest country on this rotting planet.

http://walk.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/MichiganInc?pg=personal&fr_id=1162&fr_id=1162&px=1004348

I am participating in the NKF walk in May.  Please visit my personal page for this charitible (and tax deductible) event, by clicking on the link above.  I'd do it for YOU!

Thanks and God Bless.

The Reverend Good

Hi Yanks,
I thought you all would like to see the real figures from Down Under.

(Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not and criminals still possess their guns!)
While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly, while the resident is at home. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in "successfully ridding Australian society of guns."

You won't see this on the American evening news or hear your governor or members of the State Assembly disseminating this information. The Australian experience speaks for itself.
Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens. Take note Americans, before it's too late!

FORWARD TO EVERYONE ON YOUR EMAIL LIST....... DON'T BE A MEMBER OF THE SILENT MAJORITY. BE ONE OF THE VOCAL MINORITY WHO WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN IN THE U.S.A

It's about the hardest thing to get in life: Balance.  Balance across the board...how does one generate a balance with family, friends, significant others, pets, their career, hobbies, charity, personal development, and religion in today's society?

Hell if I know!

We find ourselves always running from one place to another, from one event to another.  I too, for many years have been guilty of not "properly prioritizing" and running myself ragged in the process.  I was trying to keep everyone happy, safe, busy, working, entertained, enlightened, and learning.

I burnt my candle at both ends and was starting a fire in the middle while I was at it.  That pace of life couldn't continue. It would've killed me. 

Then I was blessed to renew my faith in love and humanity (not all of it, not by a long stretch, but when and where it mattered...to ME).  I saw the Brass Ring, and not only did I reach for it, but when I grabbed it, I yanked from someone else's hands, and I held on for dear life. Since then I've polished it, nurtured it, and I'm making it my own now. 

Someone else's loss has been my greatest gain.

A love of my own.  All mine, for me.  And a decent life to go with it.  All of the challenges, but half the calories.

And it took a little doing...ok, a lot of doing.  But I like what I am, where I am, and I'm thankful to all who've seen me through the darkness to the lighness that I've found.  I found myself in a very bad place once, one that many in similar situations, never recover from.  Others, well they "try to escape it."

Steven Grant and many other "normal guys" capable of far less than I am, have snapped.  Stumbling to to despicable depths, grabbing media headlines for the horrors that they've committed.  Their pain, their stress, their lives no more complicated than mine. 

It was their "tolerance for life, it's pain, and it's pressure" that are far less than mine.  None of my problems would've been solved looking at them through the crosshairs.  They wouldn't have been solved by lying, cheating, and conniving my way out of them either.  I own my problems.  I hold myself accountable.

I  have the "inner calm" that most can only dream of.  So while finding my balance took some time, I've found it.  I only hope that my friends, family, and colleagues can do the same.  I hope that they see my journey, not as over, but just as taking on a path different that their own. 

We all have dreams, hopes, and goals.  I hope that I will always be as respectful and supportive of yours, as I hope that you are of mine. 

So come along for the ride; keep your hands inside the car at all times for your own safety; please be kind to each other; and we'll all get along fine.

Tag

Once you have been tagged you have to write a blog with 10 weird, random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself. At the end choose 10 people to be tagged,listing their name.  Don't forget to leave them a comment (tag you're it!!) and let them know to read your blog. You can't tag the person who tagged you. Since you can't tag me back, let me know when you've posted your blog so I can read your answers.

1.) I'll be 39 on my next B-Day  That's Dec. 27...people, be ready!

2.) By this time next year, I'm hoping to have fininshed my first novel (and be started with the second), be published, and be well on my way to fame...or at least cover the cost of publication!

3.) With a rifle, I've never needed a "finishing shot."  Ever. One shot, one kill.

4.) I studied Aikido for years during Jr. High and HS.  I can still throw you through a wall/window/door (my choice) or break your wrists at least 5 different ways.  I don't care who you are.

5.) I have had the same 2 friends since before grade school, that's 34+ years.  I've also have 10 friends from Jr, High and HS that I still hang with all the time, for over 20 years now.  Since school(even college ended), I've made over a dozen friends that I still hang with whenever I can, there's about 15 of them, and I've known most of them for over 10 years now.  I'm a lucky guy.

6.)  Behbeh, BDizzle, and Cupcake are nicknames for my one true love.  She's my salvation, my guiding light, and my hope for a happy ending (which hopefully won't be for another 60 years.) .  The journey was treacherous, but well worth reaching her...

7.) Beef Barley, from the New York Deli (Sterling Heights or St Clair Shores) is my favorite soup.  Serve me this with a NY Strip steak , side salad, and 'dirty' mashed potatoes and I'll be forever happy.

8.) I think that people that are afraid of bugs, squirrels, clowns, horses, birds, cats, or dogs are only harboring deeper issues...and that they probably weren't breast fed.

9.) I have some very cool tattoos (each with it's own profound meaning/story), more than your Mom does, as a matter of fact!.

10.) Social Distortion is probably my favorite band of all time, but I love many bands, too many to list here. 

I tag: BDizzle, Dawn P, Li, Diane, Lea, Carol, Margaret, Mel, Aubrey, Sam, MikeyChopStix, JohnnySexCrime, VicVictor, Jami, Andrea, Christina, KellyHell, Adrienne, Dr Amanda, Marc, Joy, and Lauren.  (Because I know that you guys will do this...for me!)

5 out of 10  women that were in my life in the past 4 years are pregnant.   I have a few other friends who are currently preggers too.  Must be something in the water!

I know something like 8 people who have either just had babies or are about too. Crazy I say, crazy!

lol