Superman the President!

            This is a short one. I’ve recently been involved in politics again. In the past I’ve help set up debates, pissed some people off along the way. It’s all normal political bullshit.

            Lately I’ve been seeing more and more political comments on various social media sites like Facebook and Twitter from people whom I am associated with in one way or the other. Mainly these people are family friends, but some are fellow students or associates.

            It would seem that everyone has one thing in common. They believe that the President of the United States of America is mother-fucking superman/Jesus/Buddha. I mean people believe that ONE person can solve all of our problems. Did you know that when the position of President was made it was originally designed to be a position with no power? That’s right, the first Presidents, before George Washington had virtually NO power. None. They couldn’t command themselves to shit their pants even if they wanted to they had so little power. It’s true.

            Today however, it would seem that the people of the United States have somehow made the President a divine figure. I mean, they can fix all of our Economical issues with the swipe of a pen after all. I heard he could even heal the sick!

            I’m sorry reader; I’m being sarcastic again. I know I do that a lot. Just bare with me. Its true the President has some powers, Ok more power than you or I,  but he can’t do everything with out the approval of about 485 people split into two separate bodies known as the House and Senate. These people share virtually the same amount of power as the President and most people don’t realize that. I will say though that he probably doesn’t put his pants on like the rest of us, he’s probably got a guy for that.

            So the next time you feel like yelling at the President or telling some one off for voting for that guy, stop and think; am I divining the President? If you are then stop, look and listen, you’re doing it wrong!

Good Night to You

            There comes a time in your life when the plane of existence you’re living on flips over and dumps you from one skillet to another. This one is almost always much hotter and has more oil, therefore cooking you faster. Visualize this for a moment if you can. Got it? Good.

That point that I’m talking about is about half way through 30 for my wife and I. I’m finding that there are many different situations I find myself in where I look around and go “I’m to old for this shit, get off my lawn you damn kids!”. Life is damn short and I’m quickly realizing it. Between my kids getting older, my little quirky health issues, friends being handed major medical issues that will forever change their lives, etc. I’ve found that all the little stuff is meaningless.

It’s the flavors of life that we should appreciate, not the silver flatware, or the fancy China, it’s the bubbly, the spilt chocolate milk, the look on your kids faces when you’re all having a good time, it’s the random and every day crap that we take for granted.

As some of you know I served in the military and was stationed in Afghanistan for a little over a year. During that time, death was a reality and we all knew it. I remember our first mortar attack, and I was scared to death. My very good friend Travis Edwards had a tent flap open so when the sun rose it hit him in the face to wake him up. I asked him to close it, he wasn’t fazed, but I was scared shitless. Being a good friend he closed it. At that moment I knew that one-day I would realize that LIFE is fucking short and at any minute it could end for all of us.

Stop and smell the roses, see your friends, go to that concert you’ve been wanting to for years, DO IT! Stop living in regret because before you know it, it will be over.

This is directed at some people in particular and I’m not going to say whom it is. If you think it’s you, then it’s probably not. Please take my advice Reader, and live life to the fullest.

“See the birds fly round and round and watch the sun go by

Take another look at your self and wave the last good bye …”

When I'd rather be shot at

            I’ve never been one for speaking in public. I’ve been an attention getter plenty of times even if I didn’t know what I was doing. I’ve had no problems being in front of a large group of people playing music, but if I have to say something, forget about it. I shake, I sweat, my heart races, I get nervous. I mean, I’d rather be taking fire. That’s easier for me to deal with.

            Earlier this year (2011) I had the opportunity to speak for about 2 minutes in front of about 300 or so people for a Mayoral Candidacy question and answer platform that I helped set up. We wrote questions for the candidates etc. and they were asked these questions. As the forum was beginning my instructor introduced the core 4 of us who had basically done a majority of the grunt work for it. We in turn went up and explained either what was going on, the process for elections or why we were even doing this in the first place.

            I wasn’t really nervous before hand. I had a script that I’d written and could just read strait from it if I wanted to. I had planned to look up every so often so as to not appear to read strait from the paper. I was even going to make a joke about the speaker before me being the oldest student at the school. I even let him know what I was doing; you know, to be friendly.

            So the time comes and we begin taking our turns when I noticed something. My palms were sweating, my stomach was in a not, I was quivering a bit. What, what was this? Wait a minute, wait! This isn’t my PTSD, this is different. Oh shit, it’s my turn to talk, lets do this.

            I remember when I got up to the podium I squeaked out a crude “Hello …”. I looked up at the enormous crowd and said to myself Nick ma boy, it was a nice try read from that god damn paper and if you look up so help me I’ll bring out the stuttering and make you forget where your at. So I tucked my head down and read strait from the paper.  No one, except my wife; laughed at my joke. I went at a normal rate, spoke up etc everything you’re supposed to do in a public speech EXCEPT LOOK AT THE CROWD! I wimped out and took the easy route.

            Fast forward to yesterday. I’m now in a Public Speaking class … and I have to give a speech today. Guess what, I’m even more nervous at that moment then when I was speaking in front of the 300 or so people back in April. Mind you it’s a smallish class of about 20 people, however; 19 of them are under the age of 20 and 10 of those are under the age of 18. I’m having trouble connecting to these kids (literally they’re kids!). I’m like that creepy old guy who’s sitting in the damn corner in the back.

            So I wait to go last, dragging my feet as slowly as I could. I get up there look at my note card real quick. I have to speak for at least 2:30 but not more than 3:30. Ok lets do this and bam. I put on my Military uniform (mentally) and I’m kosher. I’m looking around the room, smiling, telling funny jokes; people are laughing at my jokes about being the old creepy guy in the corner. I talk for about 3 minutes, which is a good amount for the assignment. I end up getting an –A on the assignment, which; is much higher than I expected to get.

All the kids are trying to talk to me now about stuff and I’m like, look kid, I’m trying to learn here. I have to pay for my education (actually YOU pay for it, so thanks). You get the point though.

Hey you kids! GET OFF MY LAWN!