20 November, 2012

MUSIC




Music is a powerful wonderful thing, it can make us remember the good times and bad, cry smile laugh and feel all the emotions associated with the first time we hear a song.
I don't know why, I am feeling so nostalgic lately, I would like to say it is because I am yearning for a simpler time, but those times I find myself thinking of are far from simple.
I find myself questioning every choice I have made in life, wondering if  I should have zagged when I zigged, or should have turned when I stayed the course.
There are many questions I will never have the answers for, and it hurts, but that's life I guess.. So I will live where I have before,  doing much the same that was done before, only older now, and think of the good times, which were there, but to far and to few to share.. I will wonder  why it couldn't have been better, and why I was the target of so much violence and anger, when I offered the softer things?
Now maybe you have come to realise that you can not be that way with people, but why did you learn that lesson at mine and our childrens expence?
Makes no difference I guess, you have moved on and I did too, just this horrid place,  and the fact that all the music I listen too I was introduced to by you.. At least we shared something right? (wasn't that Who Concert great, and who could forget the two times we saw Robert Plant?)
So here's to music and all the  good and bad memories that come with it.
Guess if I wasn't feeling  something, I would be dead, which sometimes I do feel that way.
But There is Music that also renews my spirit and makes me remember the MUCH better things , the promises of happier times, the promises of  the rose bush, of home and the "guy " and joy that is to be had.. The promise of a future like none other.
And perhaps this has taught me that the past is not something to be wallowed in, or regret, but to think of once in a while, as where a few mistakes were made,  other choices led to the great things of today and better things of tomorrow.
A simple , complicated, Cheers to the Future, and thanks to the past.

16 November, 2012

Observations on Disney World Part 1


Disney World in Florida is truly a fantastic and magical place; it lives up to all the hype (both negative and positive) These are a few of my observations, from my many many visits to the Wonderful World that is Disney.

Disney World is known as the happiest place on earth, and I can see why, it’s a dream come not only for the children, but Disneymaniacs  and it’s a shopaholics paradise, you can’t walk two feet without hitting some sort of gift shop.
Word to the wise, for the happiest place on earth you will hear an awful lot of crying and screaming. ( and sometimes not just from children) Truth be told there are an awful lot of sad , tired, misbehaved children in this magical paradise.




WARNING DO NOT GO  HERE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE AROUND CHILDREN (OR ADULTS WHO ACT LIKE CHILDREN, OR ARE YOUNG AT HEART)


This is not the place for grouches, grinches, or grumps. If you are miserable sod at heart, a vacation at the Magic Kingdom (should actually be the Magic Empire if ya ask me, but they didn't and I guess that doesn't have the same ring to it) is not quite the right fit.

Here are a few things to determine if a trip to the Mouse  House is right for you.

1) Do you have a tolerance for  yelling and screaming children, who despite the fact the parents are right there still manage all sorts of mischief, from falling over to grabbing toys off shelves, to running into people without nary an apology.

2)Do you posses a strong immune system, as the selfsame children will be sneezing and coughing all over you,  and sad to say they will not be the only ones. Many adults will hack and sneeze all over your direction.

3) Do you have a high tolerance for rudeness. It's one thing for an over excited child to forget  how to say excuse me and please and thank you, and push past you ,run into you, smash into you or kick you, now flash forward to the adults! For some reason some adults find it perfectly acceptable to check their manners and common sense at the door.  You will often find  them  forgetting   how to say excuse me and please and thank you, and push past you ,run into you with the push chair and smash into you with the massive camera around their neck. And lets not forget pulling  any toy or merchandise out of your hand (this applies to either adult or child)

4) Can you process massive amounts of stimulation of all senses, causing near sensory overload.Are you willing to overdose on the sugary sweetness of just walking in the Magic Kingdom, the smell of caramel and candy permeate the place. If you are traveling with children can you harden your heart to not be suckered into buying everything  they want (or for that matter can you do the same for your self if not traveling with kiddies?) Are you are prepared to hear have a magical day at least 5 times an hour, and have a certain song stuck in your head for the rest of your natural existence?

5)  STAMINA! If you are not prepaid to walk miles and miles, stand in queue for great lengths, again this is not the place for you. Depending upon when you go, the weather can range from lovely to hellish! There are days in July through September that can reach well above 90 degrees F (add the walking and the standing in queue to that).

6) CASH/TRAVELERS CHEQUES/CREDIT CARDS (WITH A VERY LARGE LIMIT)
Disney is expensive, even on a package. Trinkets, toys, clothes, food water, and incidentals all add up. Make sure you are all stocked up and ready dish the dosh.

Check and re-check your list!  If you are 100% certain you can survive all of the above (and the weather if in summer through early autumn)  Congrats You've decided to take that epic journey to the magic that is Disney World!

(can you hear  the fan fare?  don't worry you soon will)

More tips coming soon.

13 November, 2012

A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN TO U.S. of AMERICA


A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN TO U.S. of AMERICA
by: Michael Yon


To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

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1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

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2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

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3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

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4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.

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5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

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6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

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7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

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8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

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9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

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10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialect in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

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11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

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12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

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13.. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

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14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

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15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!



PS: Only share this with friends who have a good sense of humour (NOT humor)!

08 November, 2012

Sarcasm Picy


Life Lessons




NEVER ASK WHAT CAN HAPPEN NEXT
becasue there's ALWAYS something, and it's usually just as bad if not worse than what happened in the first place!
NEVER SAY WHAT COULD BE WORSE
Cause sods law, you'll find out what could be worse.
NEVER THINK THAT CAN'T HAPPEN TO ME
Becasue it can and often does.
 With all this there is one more never..
                       NEVER GIVE UP HOPE

I Need a Raise


 Money and I seem to disagree.. I don't know how this happened as I rather like money, but it seems it does not like me, it evades me, it's elusive, and runs like the rapids in the Colorado River, even on pay day.

I have this mysterious affliction that when I cash my pay check, suddenly the money disappears, it sprouts wings and flies away.
  Sure I put petrol in my car(which never seems to get to a full tank,  there is the food I buy so that the teenagers won't starve.. ah and the payment for said car, and the money pit that I live in which I now suspect is a black hole with gravitational forces sucking only money into it.. (it's a conspiracy)

Add that to the fact  I live in a "be thankful you work state." (and trust me I am thankful I work, but the pay cuts have cut way too deep . While I need to look for another job, for right now I would like to keep the one I have thank you very much.

I just wish there was some way to make more money, though it seems with all that has to be done it's never enough. I wonder if Bill Gates or Donald Trump ever feel they don't have enough?? 

I bet to have those types of money worries are fantastic!

"Oh No I only have 9 billion pounds, I need that 9 billion and 1..."
Money may not cure all problems, (and sorry to say Sir Paul it bought love fo you, (for a while any way))  It would cure the problems I have.. and as for buying happiness, it might not make you happy but it sure could buy that fantastic new car, house on the beach,(or where ever your ideal house happens to be) or other things needed and wanted.. (in my case I wouldn't have to chose between food and medication, and I need my medication.)
That’s a different subject, why medications have to be so damned expensive! If someone with insurance can get medications at a fraction of the cost, why should someone with no insurance and on the same meds have to pay so much?  55 dollars for a needed antibiotic, or blood pressure medication 75 dollars.. and the other meds and supplies YOUCH!  I should have been in pharmaceutical   research!
Hmmm I think I need a raise

Is life supposed to be this confusing?


How can you tell when something or someone is right, or the time for something is right?
Is it that butterfly feeling in the  stomach, the need to take a deep breath and swallow hard, as your heart pounds faster and  you get that  excited and curious feeling ? 

The unknown is a frightening and dark place at times, and yet exciting and very inviting, I want to take that step, but is it a void I enter, or an opportunity that I am going for.