Al Capone...No Comment

Here is a tribute photo for my friend Steve that passed December 1, 2006. He was full of life & live a life beyond the years he spent here. He loved Al Capone cigars & this is a picture of me smoking the last cigar I had that he had given me. I wish he were here for me to tell him that I too got my dream job, just as he did before he passed away. That's right, I got the promotion, and though it is so sweet, I can't help but know I could share it with him.

I am so grateful for all of the recent events that have occured in my life, I think it is time for a gratitude list...

This list can not bear the true emotion of it, but I am so truly grateful for:

• My wife.
• My son.
• My country.
• My truck.
• Loving, laughing, and living. (Sometimes all at once.)
• My tax return.
• Paying off my bills.
• Spending time with family in Las Vegas & San Francisco.
• Soon spending time with my wife and two fellow bloggers.
• My two friends named Mike.
• My other friends; Dave, Pete, Rose, Christy, Vic, Randy, and many MANY more.
• Taking a chance on a friend I wouldn't normally make.
• Getting surprise invites via e-mail.
• My new job!!! I start April 23rd.
• That my family will soon all live in one house.
• That my wife puts up with my shit.
• That all of you and more believe in me.
• That the HP carried me through when I didn't believe in myself.
• That I will be sunbathing on the beach next week, taking in some baseball, and enjoying the comfort zone that only true friendship can create.
• That so many of you told me that you were proud of me, when the one person who should have didn't.
• That I have loved, and been loved.
• My houses.
• My motorcycle, it's almost time for one of my favorite stress relievers to put the wind back in my sails.
• That I have found the will to begin to work on my weight issues.
• That there is even more than I can list here that I am grateful for in life.

Until next time take care of you.

Old skool...

I decided today to clean some house, ironically while I was cleaning house. I had the XM Radio rolling when one of my old skool pick me up and move my ass songs came on. It still moves me the same way. It makes me think about shit, and then pisses me off so I get moving and rid myself of the dirt before it becomes resentment. Anyhow, I just thought I'd share it with you. Maybe you'll laugh, maybe you'll feel what I feel. Either way, here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzfLZ8SSrrA&mode=related&search=

If you buy that I'll throw the Golden Gate in free...

I used to laugh at that country song everytime I heard it. Any how speaking of the Golden Gate, I uploaded my pictures. My most recent absence has been due to work, and play. There has been to much work & not enough play. It is really starting to get to me. J & I went to Las Vegas & San Fran for a few days with some of my family. I laughed so hard I felt like I did 1000 sit ups. It was fun. Click here to see the pictures (can you tell which ones J took? ROFL)

I have been working away from my family 5-6 days a week for three months now & it is really starting to take its toll on me. Though I am not the main concern, it is REALLY affecting my son. I am glad that stretch is over. This weekend is my last short weekend at home, then back to the schedule I was working before.

This is a really good thing too. Without any obligations there in Chicago (other than work), I was beginning to venture out once, maybe even twice away week for drinks with my friends. The other night when we went out I was pissed, and pounded them down. BOY did I regret that. I haven't been that drunk or that hungover in years.

I decided while I was in recovery for my father's drinking that I would NEVER be like him. That is a non-issue, I won't be like him, my resolve is too strong. I know that I have an addictive tendency so I try to focus on positive addictions, like music, writing, photography, or just learning any random tid-bit of information I can. I realized on my drive home last night that I was bored, and that is why I have been drinking so much.

Life there is hard. We have no furniture really in the house I stay in, and it is a very hard pill to swallow to just sit in an empty house. The nostalgia of owning two houses has worn off, and the fatigue of my commute has set in. I am in a rough spot, and I need to buck up and get refocused.

It is too cold for me to head off to the Gorge, and the family schedule won't allow that right now. I have a couple of trips planned this month so I hope that will help. In the mean time, my poetry writing has been rather active lately, and this is helping too. I spent a major portion of my day today strumming my guitar and jamming out to my CDs. It was nice to be home alone.

Now my family is home and it is time for me to focus my attention there. I am going to spend my weekend not answering my cell, maybe not even the house phone, and visiting my family, maybe even some friends. I will be back to write more next week. Until then, know that I am thinking about all of you.