A Time to Reflect...

Maybe its this time of year that has me reflecting on the things in my life that I am blessed for, or maybe I am getting older and more sentimental... whatever the case may be, I have decided to blog about it (most of you are probably thinking "no duh, stop wasting my time with this non-sense and just get to it" and that is a valued sentiment, but it is my blog after, so I will get to it when I feel like getting to it... and now I'll get to it).

-I am so blessed and thankful for my wonderful family: dad, mom, and brother.
-I am truly spoiled with the depth of character and genuineness of all of my friends... you guys (and girls) rock.
-I am thankful to be living in a country that I can be free to worhsip God without fear of consequences.
-I am thankful for all of the men and women serving in our military that serve and protect us in many ways that will never been seen or known by us.
-Even though I am single, I am thankful for the maturing and personal growth I have had before I can really be of any value to another person in a relationship.
-I am thankful for the woman that will someday be my wife... unless celibacy is a gift that I possess, then I am thankful for that (like how I covered all of my bases there?).
-but mostly I am thankful for you, my readers... just joking, I am not. But thats really because I know that I am already friends with all of you, so I already said I was thankful for you. So just get over yourselves already, OK? (I was just joking, so be happy and smile... I SAID TO SMILE!!!)

Woo-What The-Fest

O-M-Jeepers!!! Yes, that is right. I said that. For good reason too, might I add. If you couldn't gather from my extremely effiminate opening proclamation, I am talking about Woofest. After having watched this year's edition of the annual Vanguard tradition, only one question deserves to be raised and that is "WHAT THE @*$&#%*@!!!!!!" Yes, you read that right. No, that was not a typo (I already told you that you read that right). If you have not already heard aboout it, well you will now. It was the most eye-popping and jaw-dropping event I have ever seen at Vanguard, or anywhere for that matter... though not necessarily for the best reasons. The hijinks and shenanigans were on display throughout the evening... and I am not being a homer by saying this either, but my brother's floor (2nd FLOOR ALL THE WAY!!!) was robbed from winning (stupid girls that can scream abnormally loud).

Well, I guess that is all. Just wanted to Tweet about it, but since I do not have a Twitter account (or the desire to get one) I decided to go with this faithful blog. You are now the proud reader of my thoughts and opinions of this evening.

P.S. - I had a quart of chocolate milk after the show... and it was delicious!!! Just an FYI, to anyone that may care.

The Greatest Country on Earth

So I am watching the news right now... weird, I know... but there was just a story on that a middle school in California was not going to let a student put an American flag on the back of his bikenfor Veteran's day. The middle school eventually changed their stance on the issue, but why was there any hesitation to begin with?!?!?!?! We are in the United States of America are we not? So why would that even be an issue? Political Correctness is to blame. I am not saying that PC is bad, because it does take ignorance of differences into account, but COME ON!!!!!!! The PC in this story sought to not offend... well, I have absolutely no idea who the American flag would offend in AMERICA!!!! Should we go around being ignorant and offending anyone and everyone that crosses our path? No, of course not. But if our quest to not offend others takes away national pride that is not based upon bigotry or ethnocentrism, but rather upon the values that this nation was founded, something has been very perverted. It is sickening that the American flag could possibly be offended to another American citizen. I am sorry that the flag of the nation of which you are a citizen to is offensive... NOT!!! How could the symbol of our nation be offensive to anyone that calls this country home is beyond me.

I wonder what all of our ancestors would think of this? You know, those that worked so hard to get here and spent all the money they had just to make a better life for their children and children's children. Those that did whatever it took to make a living in this country because they had a freedom that was not present in their original country. Those that fought against the inhumanity taking place in other parts of the world during both of the World Wars. I'm sure they would blush or be filled with disgust at the very sight of the American flag. I hope you caught the sarcasm in that last sentence.

On a lighter note... during the same news broadcast, they showed a high school quarterback rush for a 99 yard TD... on a QB SNEAK!!!!! That is ridiculous! OK, enough of my pathetic musings for tonight.

GMH

So I have a slightly embarassing confession to make... I love the website GMH (Gives Me Hope) and also LGMH (Love Gives Me Hope). For a fairly manly, well, man that is somewhat hard to say out loud (or via keyboard as it may be). My emotions can get the better of me sometimes and some of the stories posted on those wonderful sites seriously tug at the old heartstrings. And yes, there have been several stories to bring moisture to my eyeballs... they are just so sweet. I have never advertised myself as a hardened, emotionless being but I have also never admitted my emotional side either. So with that in mind it may come as a bit of a surprise that it is not just these sites that can get to the core of my masculine heart. Other things that have too would include: A Walk to Remember, Old Yeller, and Marley and Me. Sometimes I'm not sure if I avoid some chick-flicks because they are girly or because I'm afraid my emotions would make an unwanted appearance. Curse such heartwarming things.

What was the purpose of this post? I'm not too sure. I guess I just decided not to hide from it anymore. There are somethings in life that are so tender and sweet and adorable that could even make the manliest man at least get teary-eyed and I am no exception. So please do not exploit this new knowledge you have acquired to get me emotional... that just wouldn't be cool. Thank you.

P.S. - give those sites a looksy and you will see what I mean... they are so, dare I say cute?